We think we’re all winners – living, working and playing in such a great place, surrounded by people with such enthusiasm for the city of Saint John. So congratulations all!

New Business of the Year: Design 4 Space
Best Retail Award: Handworks Gallery
Residential Space of the Year: Historica Court (55 Canterbury)
Cultural Infusion of the Year: Asian Heritage Month Gala
Arts Infusion of the Year: Saint John Theatre Company “Theatre on the Edge” – Summer 2009
Best Restaurant of the Year: Opera Bistro
Commercial Space of the Year: Canterbury Dental Clinic
Best Event of the Year: Fundy Food Festival 2009
Best Freebie of the Year: Gallery Hops
Best Tourism-Related Business or Tourism Product of the Year: The Saint John City Market
The Live Green Award: Anne McShane, The Feel Good Store
The Thomas L. McGloan Award: Margaret Begner, Opera Bistro

And the big news is that we’ve chosen a winner in each category! But that’s a closely guarded secret – you’ll have to wait until the awards celebration on June 24^th to see who takes home the hardware. (Have you got your tickets yet? If not, call 633-9797.)

Today we’re thrilled to announce the top three candidates in each category:

New Business of the Year

• Urban Deli
• Design 4 Space
• Alley Gria Tapas Bar & Lounge

Best Retail Award

• The Feel Good Store
• Inprint Books – University of New Brunswick
• Handworks Gallery

Residential Space of the Year

• Historica Court (55 Canterbury)
• The Hydro-stone (247 Germain)
• Edward Teale & Sara Davidson (197 Princess)

Cultural Infusion of the Year

• Asian Heritage Month Gala
• Arc’f  - Franco Buzz at le Faubourg
• GeoWalk – New Brunswick Museum

Arts Infusion of the Year

• Saint John Theatre Company “Theatre on the Edge” – Summer 2009
• John Hooper Installation of “People Waiting” at Barbour’s General Store
• Stompin’ Tom Connors Day – August 2009

Best Restaurant of the Year

• Urban Deli
• Opera Bistro
• Thandi’s

Commercial Space of the Year

• Thandi’s
• Canterbury Dental Clinic
• Urban Deli

Best Event of the Year

• Saint John Wine Fair 2009 – Red Cross
• Fred Ross Tribute Gala – Beaverbrook Art Gallery
• Fundy Food Festival 2009

Best Freebie of the Year

• Gallery Hops
• Harvesting the Arts
• The Boardwalk at Market Square

Best Tourism-Related Business or Tourism Product of the Year

• The New Brunswick Museum
• The Saint John City Market
• Meet & Greet Committee – Cruise Saint John

The Live Green Award

• Anne McShane, The Feel Good Store
• City of Saint John
• Commercial Properties

The Thomas L. McGloan Award

• John Irving, Commercial Properties
• Margaret Begner, Opera Bistro
• Bob McVicar, Exit Reality

See you on the 24^th!

The Selection Committee is going to consider all the nominations, and choose a winner on June 21st. On that day they will publish the top three nominees in each category – but you’ll have to wait until the Awards event to learn who will take home the hardware. You need to be there to cheer on your favourites!

Have you got your tickets yet?

We’d love to see some nominations for the Cultural Infusion of the Year – and maybe a few more for the Tourism Business/Product of the Year too!

Also, we wanted to take this opportunity clarify that comments made on this site are not votes – but nominations. The Uptown Saint John Nomination/Selection committee will assemble all the nominations from this site and other sources – and then sit down to pick a winner. The top three nominees from each category will be made public on June 21st, and the winner in each category will be revealed at the big party.

We hope you’ll be there to cheer on your nominees!

Nominees must:

• be a business with an address within the BIA boundaries
• have been in operation on December 31, 2009
• offer products that are unique and/or high quality
• have demonstrated an ability to attract shoppers from outside the area
• have demonstrated an ability to connect with the community

To make a nomination, simply add a comment to this post. Tell us the name of the business you’re nominating, and why you think they deserve the award. Thanks!

Nominees must:

• be either a business or individual with an address within the BIA boundaries
• must have shown significant, measurable progress in reducing their environmental footprint during the 2009 calendar year

To make a nomination, simply add a comment to this post. Tell us the name of the business/individual you’re nominating, and why you think they deserve the award. Thanks!

Nominees must:

• be either new construction or a newly renovated space
• have completed construction/renovation in 2009
• have an address within the BIA boundaries

To make a nomination, simply add a comment to this post. Tell us the name of the developer/owner you’re nominating, and why you think they deserve the award. Thanks!

Nominees must:

• have taken place in 2009
• be an activity or event pertaining to heritage, history and/or linguistic culture
• have taken place within the BIA

To make a nomination, simply add a comment to this post. Tell us the name of the organizer/event you’re nominating, and why you think they deserve the award. Thanks!

Nominees must:

• have taken place in 2009
• be an activity or event pertaining to fine art and craft or live performance
• have taken place within the BIA

To make a nomination, simply add a comment to this post. Tell us the name of the organizer/event you’re nominating, and why you think they deserve the award. Thanks!