"It's always a difficult task to narrow the nominees down," Andrée Bélanger, director general of the West Island Chamber of Commerce, told The Chronicle before a short ceremony Monday evening at the plush Théâtre Beaubois at Collège Beaubois in Pierrefonds.
For the first time this year, the nomination process took place thanks to the chamber's new website, explained Bélanger. "Most of the companies are referred to by their banks."
However, she encouraged companies that have seen growth to think of nominating themselves next year. "You see that you have had a good year, why don't you nominate yourself?" She asked.
There are a wide variety of categories, ranging from manufacturing to high technology and innovation.
Park Place Daycare, which opened its doors on Lakeshore Road in 2006, is one of the finalists in the new company category. Director Jennifer Park said she was very proud of having made it this far. "It's a good community in the West Island," she said. Park Place sets itself apart with a more flexible schedule.
Les Aliments M & M, up for a retail service award, is a long-time West Island business. Director and founder Paul Lachance, who started the frozen meat shop business out of his own basement in Beaconsfield, said is proud of the company's nomination. "I guess it's nice to have recognition for all the hard work," he said.
The winners will be announced at the 23rd annual West Island Chamber of Commerce Accolades Gala on June 5 at the Château Vaudreuil. For tickets, visit the Chamber of Commerce website at
www.ccoim.ca
THE 2008 ACCOLADES FINALISTS IN EACH CATEGORY ARE AS FOLLOWS:
RETAIL SERVICE HIGH TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
LA MAISON DE SPORT M.S. INC. ADVENTURE LIGHTS INC.
LES ALIMENTS M&M GVE GLOBAL VISION INC.
ZIGZAGZOO INC. OMNIGLOBE NETWORKS
DISTRIBUTION MARKETS OUTSIDE QUEBEC
CATHELLE INC. GVE GLOBAL VISION INC.
JAM INDUSTRIES LTD. OMNIGLOBE NETWORKS
LEEZA DISTRIBUTION INC. TOP ACES INC.
MANUFACTURING NEW COMPANY
GARDE CONFORT – COMFORT KEEPERS®
(less than 50 employees)
ADVENTURE LIGHTS INC. PARK PLACE
ASTOR STAINLESS STEEL PRODUCTS INC. ZIGZAGZOO INC.
PLANTERRA LTD.
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
MANUFACTURING WORKING IN SOCIAL ECONOMY
ANEB QUÉBEC
(50 employees and more)
PARTAGE-ACTION DE L’OUEST-DE-L’ÎLE
FLUOROSEAL INC.
SOS PLANÈTE
IMPRESSION PARAGRAPH INC.
KAMEK PRECISION TOOLS INC.
SMALL BUSINESS
(5 employees or less)
CLAUDE DACCORD & ASSOCIÉS
PROSPECTS PLUS INC.
WSI
SERVICES
ENTREPRISES DANIÈLE HENKEL
STICKY MEDIA
TOP ACES INC.
EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
BOUTIQUE DE MARIAGE PUNTA CHIARA INC.
YMCA, WEST ISLAND
by Raffy Boudjikanian 
Steven Guilbeault - 
