Frontenac County Business Awards
A ceremony was held at the Piccadilly Hall on November 18 to hand out the 2025 Frontenac County business awards.
There were 38 nominees for the awards, each one accompanied by a letter explaining to the anonymous judging panel why the nominated businesses are the most deserving of recognition.
Four of the five winners were on hand at the ceremony to receive their awards.
The winner of the New Business Award this year is Rampant Kitchen of Inverary, , which is run by Elisa Corrigan. Rampant Kitchen has thrived in a difficult industry through innovation and excellent food, using the best in locally and regionally sourced ingredients. With Rampant Kitchen, Elisa is in turn a caterer and a private chef, and offers cooking classes as well.
The Rise Farm, Sarah Hannon and Rob Winney, have thrived in a small farm environment, learning as they have gone along, after jettisoning their urban past. They won the Partnership and Collaboration Award for their participation in every local food initiative going, from farmers markets (Sarah is the convenor of the Sharbot Lake market) to being the bedrock local farm, participating in the ever-evolving Open Farms events, in Frontenac County and Kingston.
Allie Montgomery, winner of the Women-Led Business Award, started off with a home-based massage therapy practice, and by partnering with other women practitioners, has created Back to Health Massage and Wellness in a thriving clinic just south of Inverary, on Perth Road. The clinic provides space for other local practitioners to grow and thrive.
Tristan Adams, winner of the Innovation in Sustainability Award for Parallel Studios. He has built an off-grid workspace and family home, where he pursues his design and fabrication work using wood, stained glass, metalwork and stonework to make furniture, design a variety of spaces, and create art pieces.
Daniel Lees, of Kick and Push Brewery, winner of Business of The Year, opened his business less than a year and a half ago, and in that short time has not only been developing his line of craft beers that are conceived, produced, aged and bottled entirely at the brewery in Sharbot Lake, but has turned both his tap room and backdoor patio into popular community spaces. The Friday Night Kick and Push Open Mic event has become the most consistent gathering spot in Sharbot Lake, even busier than the local Pickleball Court.
This year’s Frontenac Business Award was designed by Paul Outwater of Select Manufacturing and Supply Fabricating of Hartington (located in the former Hartington Equipment site) the builder custom ductwork for the HVAC industry.
