Windsor-Essex's business community gathered for a night of celebration as Biz X magazine presented its 28th annual Biz X Awards. The prestigious event, held recently, spotlighted the exceptional individuals and companies driving the local economy forward.
Celebrating Excellence Across the Community
The awards process began with nominations from the magazine's readers, resulting in 208 nominees across a wide spectrum of categories. From this impressive pool, a panel of judges selected 24 deserving winners. The categories spanned the full breadth of the regional economy, honouring everything from new startups and retail shops to professional services and community activism.
This year's ceremony continued a nearly three-decade tradition of recognizing the heartbeat of Windsor-Essex commerce. Publisher Deborah Jones noted that the awards issue is traditionally the "biggest and most popular issue of the year" for the local business and lifestyle publication.
Spotlight on the 2025 Winners
The list of award recipients showcases the diversity and strength of the local business landscape. Hotel STRY earned the title of Outstanding New Business of 2025, while Bricetin Concrete Restoration Inc. was recognized for its solid work in the contracting field.
In the retail sector, Dutch Boys Chocolate was named the Best Little Retail Shop, and PeekabloomBaby.ca led the way as the top local e-commerce retailer. The food scene was well-represented with awards for Nico Walkerville as the hot restaurant for 2025, El Patron Mexican Grill for Mexican cuisine, and Butch’s Best BBQ Sauce for its Canadian-made product.
Honouring People and Community Impact
Beyond businesses, the awards celebrated influential people and organizations. Ward 3 Councillor Renaldo Agostino was named the 2025 Powerhouse Professional. The Artist of the Year award went to country singer Kelsi Mayne, and captivating content creation was recognized at Red Piston Inc.
Community-focused winners included Sleep In Heavenly Peace Windsor, acknowledged as an Exceptional Social Enterprise, and Windsor/Essex CPR & First Aid Training, celebrated as Heartbeat Heroes. The distinguished Business Champion of the year was Head of the Class Education Centre.
Other notable winners included:
- MacDonald’s Automotive Supercentre for automotive service.
- Giuseppe (Joe) Balsamo of Motor City Credit Union as a first-rate financial advisor.
- Amanda's Pet Sitting Services for pet care.
- Zuleeats as an ethnic enterprise making a difference.
The full list of all 24 winners is available in the November/December print edition of Biz X magazine, found at various local locations and online at bizxmagazine.com. The awards stand as a testament to the innovation, dedication, and community spirit thriving in Windsor-Essex.
