May 3, 2024, Canada-Poland Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Excellence Awards Gala and celebrated 30th anniversary of the Chamber’s founding. The excellence awards honoured nine recipients.

For 2024, the event returned to Clubhouse Eventspace in Toronto. The venue was filled with businessmen, businesswomen, and guests participating in this festive gala. The event began with a networking reception, followed by the official part with dinner, and ended with dancing and further networking until midnight.

The gala attracted many well-known Canadian politicians who wanted to meet with representatives of businesses and organizations associated with the Chamber. Among them were Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto; representing the Prime Minister of Canada, Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development; representing the Leader of the Opposition, Damien Kurek, MP of the Conservative Party of Canada; Bonnie Crombie, Leader of the Liberal Party in Ontario, and other political figures.

Representatives of the Polish Sejm also attended, including MP Marek Rząsa and MP Anita Kucharska-Dziedzic, as well as local Polish representatives, including Ambassador Witold Dzielski, Consul General in Toronto Magdalena Pszczółkowska, Economic Consul Michał Pszczółkowski, and Cultural Attaché at the embassy in Ottawa, Magdalena Miluski.

In his speech, Ontario Premier Doug Ford discussed the various investments made in Ontario, the province’s position on the international stage, and the strength of the Polish community in Ontario. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized the role of Poland and Poles in Toronto and on the international stage. Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen, MP Damien Kurek, and Ambassador Witold Dzielski also shared their remarks and congratulations for the Chamber and the award winners. MP Marek Rząsa delivered the gala’s keynote speech.

Other distinguished guests represented many small and large companies, industry organizations, non-profits, and members of other European Union Chambers of Commerce. Among the guests was also one of the founders of Canada-Poland Chamber of Commerce, Marek Dąbrowski.

The Chamber and award recipients received congratulatory letters from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and leader of the Liberal Party, Bonnie Crombie, which were included in the gala program available on the Chamber’s website.

This year, awards were presented in 9 categories, illustrating the diversity of the award recipients – from individual distinctions to those for corporations, for people and companies operating in Canada, Poland, and international markets, as well as non-profit organizations in healthcare and the arts.

The gala was a huge success! There were ample opportunities for networking and renewing contacts, the food was delicious, and the caliber of the award recipients was outstanding. It was a wonderful celebration of the Chamber’s 30th anniversary and the award recipients.

Review photo album and gala video, as well as the Gala program.