Two Niagara-on-the-Lake businesses were among those honoured last week at the 20th annual Niagara Business Achievement Awards.

Silversmith Brewing Co. in Virgil was named Business of the Year, the top award.

And Centennial Construction & Contracting Niagara Inc. won the Excellence in Business Award for companies with more than 25 employees.

As well, Janice Thomson received the Community Leadership award.

The NOTL native is CEO of Niagara Falls Tourism and has been a director of Niagara Health and the Niagara Parks Commission.

Mark Sherk was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Sherk is president of Verge Insurance Group, which operates Reimer Verge Insurance Brokers in Virgil.

The winners were among several businesses and individuals with NOTL connections who were nominated for the awards by people in the community.

The other NOTL finalists included: Rugged Books Inc., on Townline Road, (Excellence in Business), Budapest Bakeshop, Silversmith and Two Sisters Vineyards (Tourism and Hospitality), and Vineland Research and Innovation, chaired by May Chang of NOTL (Business of the Year).

Silversmith CEO Josh Graham was elated with being honoured.

“This award means a great deal to us,” he said.

“It’s provided us with some renewed confidence we are on the right path and others have taken notice.”

“Virgil is home” and Etobicoke is the company’s production location, but the company is expanding distribution across the country.

Silversmith is widely known for its award-winning Black Lager, it’s top seller.

“In 2023, we shipped beer into Newfoundland and Labrador,” Graham told The Lake Report.

“Last week, June 2024, to be specific we shipped beer into Saskatchewan. We will see product move into Alberta and Manitoba as well.”

“We love the Black Lager,” which makes up almost 40 per cent of the company’s beer sales, he added.

“Singlehandedly, it is the biggest part of our history. A close second would be our brewery being in a unique historic church” in Virgil.