Best of Aylmer Readers’ Choice award: an awards gala for all

An awards gala was held April 4 at the Gatineau Golf Club to announce the winners in 56 categories. Finalists were invited to the ceremony hosted by the Bulletin d’Aylmer, with the organizations, businesses or individuals garnering top votes being announced the winners, with categories ranging from Best Florist to Best Mechanic to Best Teacher and many more.

The restaurant and customer service categories were very popular among voters. Because the ballots offered categories with blank spaces for readers to fill out with their votes, a wide range of businesses were nominated. Some categories, such as Best Daycare and Best Teacher had a very long list of nominees. Best New Business (3 years) came in with 23 nominations, a delight for Aylmer as business grows alongside the housing boom.

Organizer Sophia Ryan noted the gala and campaign were more popular this year than ever before. “When we started the Best of Aylmer Readers’ Choice Awards, we were looking for a fresh new way to help promote Aylmer businesses.

By inviting readers to tell Aylmer about their favourites, we highlighted an unbiased opinion.” Five years later, the awards campaign and gala are part of what makes Aylmer unique. “No other sector of Gatineau is as appreciative of local treasures as we are here,” she said. Mayor of Gatineau Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin spoke prior to the awards ceremony, congratulating the gathered finalists for their popularity as well as the Bulletin team for the event. He noted the particularly fortunate situation of Aylmer to have such a rallying newspaper.  - Lily Ryan

 

Sophia Ryan, event organizer and co-publisher of the Bulletin.