FAQ

Getting Started

Who is eligible to be nominated?

To be eligible, nominees must be current members in good standing of the Carleton Place & District Chamber of Commerce at the time of nomination. If you are unsure whether a business is a current Chamber member, please consult the Member Business Directory before submitting a nomination.

Can I nominate my own business?

Yes. Self-nominations are welcome and encouraged.

Is there a cost to submit a nomination?

No. There is no cost to submit a nomination.

Can a business be nominated in multiple categories?

Yes. Businesses may be nominated in multiple categories. However, nominees may only compete in one category each year. If a business receives nominations in multiple categories, they will be asked to select the category in which they wish their nomination to stand.

The Nomination Process

What happens if I am nominated?

If your nomination is eligible, you'll receive an email inviting you to complete your award submission. Your submission will be reviewed by an independent judging panel after the submission deadline. You'll also receive information about the Business Awards of Excellence Gala, where finalists and winners will be recognized.

Do I need an Awardify account?

If you are submitting a nomination, no Awardify account is required.

If you're selected to move forward in the awards process, you'll receive instructions to sign in or create an Awardify account to complete your award submission.

What happens after a nomination is submitted?

Once nominations close, the Chamber reviews all nominations for eligibility. Eligible nominees will then be invited to complete a formal submission outlining their achievements, impact, and accomplishments related to their award category.

Completing Your Submission

Do nominees need any special software?

No. The awards platform is entirely web-based and can be accessed from a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile device using a standard web browser.

Can nominees save their submission and return later?

Yes. Once logged into Awardify, nominees may save their progress and return to their submission at any time before the submission deadline.

Can changes be made after a submission is started?

Yes. You may edit and resubmit your entry any time before the submission deadline. After the deadline, submissions become read-only and can no longer be changed.

What should I include in a strong submission?

Provide as much information as possible and assume the judges know absolutely nothing about you, your business, your team, or your accomplishments. Tell your story clearly and completely. Include specific examples, measurable results, testimonials, customer reviews, community impact, previous recognition, achievements, milestones, and any other information that demonstrates why you deserve recognition. Remember that judges evaluate submissions solely on the information provided. The more complete and compelling your submission, the better judges can understand your impact and accomplishments.

Judging & Results

How are submissions judged?

Completed submissions are reviewed by an independent judging panel comprised of Chamber professionals from outside our region. To ensure fairness and objectivity, judges evaluate submissions solely on the information provided and do not have prior knowledge of the nominees.

What happens after submissions are reviewed?

Following the judging process, finalists will be notified and award recipients will be announced at the Business Awards Gala.