Spirit of Winnipeg gala recognizes great eight

At the 10th annual Spirit of Winnipeg Awards Gala on Wednesday night at the Club Regent Event Centre, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce recognized eight outstanding organizations that make Winnipeg a better city.

Purpose Integrated Pest Management — Rising Star (Start-Up) Award. Purpose is dedicated to providing not only affordable pest management solutions to low-income residents, but living wages to its employees who often face employment barriers.

Lumo Interactive Technology — Technology Award. This small Winnipeg team’s ground breaking and user-friendly motion and touch-reactive software is in demand around the world.

Mother Earth Recycling — Environment and Energy Award. Recycling primarily old computer hardware and mattresses, Mother Earth also recycles the time of the local youth who work there into time spent giving back to their community.

Invenia Technical Computing Corporation — Workplace Culture Award. Daily paid, order-in lunches, unlimited vacation days; Invenia truly believes that happy and unstressed employees are the most productive.

Marymound — Non-profit and Social Enterprise Award. Marymound provides grade-school education to children facing extraordinary challenges at home and in their communities.

Coal and Canary Candle Company — Trade Award. Their candles are loved here in Winnipeg, but Coal and Canary has grown to have an international reach, even landing themselves in the "swag bags" for the Oscars and Grammys in 2015.

BridgmanCollaborative Architecture — Design and Building Award. The team behind the local sensation that was the Pop-Up Toilets this past summer, BridgmanCollaborative has left its mark on Winnipeg with a number of notable projects.

Assiniboine Credit Union — Spirit of Winnipeg Award. Infusing a "people first" precedent into everything they do, Assiniboine Credit Union exemplifies the spirit of generosity and community that Winnipeg takes pride in.

— staff