Salute to Brant
Salute to Brant Business is an annual event that brings together leaders within the local business community, elected officials, community influencers, and various industry experts to celebrate the progress and achievements of businesses in the County of Brant and to share industry insights.
On this page:
- 2025 Salute to Brant Event Information
- Salute to Brant Award Categories
- 2024 Salute to Brant Winners
2025 Salute to Brant Event
Now more than ever, it's important to shine a spotlight on businesses that call the County of Brant home.
This year’s awards will focus on the Resiliency of Businesses during times of uncertainty. Join us on:
- Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- TF Warren Group Cainsville Community Centre
- Catered by Stillwaters Plate and Pour
- Bar by The Paris Beer Co.
- Coffee and Tea provided by Seventh Coffee Company
- Jan Vilaca
Jan Vilaca — known to many as Spicy Jan — is a local entrepreneur, business coach, and founder of Tasty Road Trips and Create Your Virtual Influence Consulting. A proud Brant resident for over 30 years, Jan is passionate about building strong communities, supporting small business growth, and shining a bright light on the incredible people behind local success stories. When she’s not designing and leading food tours, Jan works with entrepreneurs through the Build It Big Network, a local business connector and professional resource. Jan lives on a 100-acre farm in rural Brant, where she embraces creating a sustainable lifestyle and cooking garden-to-fork, as much as possible.
Jan’s honoured to be your emcee for the Salute to Brant Awards, celebrating the amazing businesses shaping the future of the County of Brant.
- Brock Dickinson
So, what’s President Trump threatening this week? From the chaos of tariffs, trade wars and international tough talk, to the challenges in our own back yard, we’re living and working in a difficult time. Entrepreneur and economic developer Brock Dickinson returns to our event with his mix of humour, insight and strategy to help us understand where things are headed, how it will affect us, and what we can do to prepare. After all, it’s NOT the end of the world!
| Accessible Brant Award |
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The Accessible Brant Award recognizes a business, organization, event, or program within the County of Brant that provides a positive contribution to preventing and removing physical barriers, providing exemplary customer service or creating meaningful opportunities through the respectful integration of people with disabilities into the workforce. Please provide examples of the impact of the nominee’s accessibility initiatives. |
| Brant Farms For All Agriculture Award |
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The Brant Farms for All Agriculture Award will recognize an agriculture business in the County of Brant or a business that directly supports the agriculture sector. Nominations should include examples of how the business has positively contributed to the agriculture sector of the County of Brant. As well, how the business addresses challenges related to Agriculture in Canada. |
| Brant Works Innovation Award |
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The Brant Works Innovation Award is presented to a business that has implemented innovative practices into their day-to-day operations. This can include but is not limited to, innovations in processes, innovations in workforce attraction or retention, or finding innovative ways to reach new markets due to uncertain trade conditions. This award will be judged on a business-by-business basis, regardless of number of employees or physical business footprint. Quantitative examples should be provided to assist judges in making decisions. |
| Good Times in Brant Award |
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This award is presented to a business or organization that is in the tourism industry, or directly supports visitation to the County of Brant. They must demonstrate how they have promoted visitation to the County of Brant, while creating a positive impact on the environment and the community. Please provide specific examples of operational practices, growth, sector development, and what makes the business/organization unique. |
| Our Future Brant Sustainability Award |
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The selected business awarded the #OurFutureBrant Sustainability Award is a business in the County of Brant that has implemented sustainable practices into their day-to-day practices. This includes, but is not limited to waste reductions, adoption of green energy sources, and total emission reductions. |
2024 Salute to Brant Award Winners
This 2024 award recipients were:
- Glenridge Hazelnuts - Brant Farms For All Agriculture Award
- Tigercat Industries - Brant works High Growth and Innovation Award
- Grand River Rafting - Good times in Brant Award
- Sensity - Accessible Brant Award
- Custom Steam Solutions - Our Future Brant Sustainability Award
Each year, the County of Brant Economic Development and Tourism division hosts the regions premiere business recognition event. Salute to Brant Business brings together leaders within the local business community, elected officials, community influencers, and various industry experts to celebrate the progress and achievements of business in the County of Brant, and share industry insights.