Best of Torbay Awards

The Best of Torbay Awards celebrate the achievements of local businesses, entrepreneurs, volunteers and individuals that go above and beyond in our Town each and every day! 

The list of awards and recipients for 2025 include the following

Business of the Year Award

The Business of the Year award is given to the Business that exemplifies an all-round excellence in business as well as a significant contribution to the community.

The 2025 recipient of the Business of the Year Award is Made to Move Physio + Wellness.

Made to Move Physio + Wellness is owned and operated by Cynthia Littlejohn, who built this business quite literally from the ground up. She branded and marketed the business, renovated and modernized the business space, sought out Canadian made wellness products and established a retail space for these items, that promote wellness and sustainability.

Made to Move Physio + Wellness has grown to 2 full time massage therapists, a full time and part time physio, and now offering chiropractic care. They have helped establish the Torbay 5k fun run/walk that now happens every year in support of mental health and awareness.

Made to Move Physio + Wellness and Cynthia Littlejohn are strong advocates for the local business community and Torbay!

Ward Gosse Coach of the Year Award

The Ward Gosse Coach of the Year award for the Town of Torbay is given to an individual that has made a significant impact in a specific sport or activity in the community. This award is dedicated in memory our dear friend and colleague: Councillor Ward Gosse. Ward’s passion for participation in sport and community was one that was admirable by all of those who knew him.

The 2025 recipient of the Ward Gosse Coach of the Year Award is Danielle Stamp. 

Danielle is a coach with Torbay Minor Softball who goes above and beyond to cheer and coach each child to make them feel special and important when they step on the field. Her positive presence around children, parents and other coaches has and continues to build a lasting impact with Torbay Minor Softball. She has been a committee member and a coach with Torbay Minor Softball since 2019.

For Danielle, the children come first!

Chief McGrath Award

The Chief McGrath Award is presented to a student in Elementary, Junior High, and High School. The award is given to a resident of Torbay or Flatrock that best exhibit characteristics of leadership, commitment, community involvement, dedication and selflessness, while also being involved with various community groups and devoting time to volunteer initiatives.

This award is named after former Fire Chief Mike McGrath who was involved with the Torbay Volunteer Fire Department for over 47 years.

The 2025 Elementary Student recipient is Jagger White.

Jagger is a grade 6 student at Juniper Ridge Intermediate who is heavily involved in the Caring Cards NL program. This is a program devoted to providing cards and tokens of appreciation to seniors throughout the province in helping celebrate their accomplishments and brightening their days!

Jagger is also involved in various community groups and teams including Northeast Soccer Club and Northeast Eagles Minor Hockey!

The 2025 Junior High Student recipient is Maisy Pritchett.

Maisy is a grade 8 student at Juniper Ridge Intermediate and is a leader in the school community who devotes time to helping others through positivity, kindness, and willingness to helping younger students adjust to their surroundings. Maisy takes pride in her work and contributions to help make the school community a great place to be and completes all tasks in a timely and professional manner!

She is involved in a number of community groups including Shallaway Youth Choir, Salvation Army Band and numerous school programs and clubs including the Student Leadership program, French Club, Drama Club, Performance Choir and Grade 8 Girls Basketball Team!

The 2025 High School Recipient is Patrick Moores.

Patrick is a grade 11 student at Holy Trinity High School. He is a Highly respected individual in the basketball community for his dedication to growing and advocating for the sport in various roles such as playing, coaching and scorekeeping!

He is a true leader who supports the athletes in which he coaches by being supportive, understanding and respectful of his athletes’ strengths and weaknesses while building relationships with his athletes through effective communication and engagement to help grow their understanding of the game and adapting activities to their skill levels!

As an athlete, Patrick is a member of the Holy Trinity Highschool Senior A and Grade 11 Boys Basketball Teams. As a coach, Patrick is heavily involved with various age groups as an assistant coach with the Northeast Basketball Club and the Mary Queen of Peace Grade 4 Boys Basketball Team!

Customer Commitment Award

The Customer Commitment Award is given to the Business that delivers consistent, superior, customer service and commitment to their patrons.

The 2025 recipient of the Customer Commitment Award is Mary Brown’s Torbay.

Every time you walk into the Mary Brown’s location here in Torbay, you’re greeted with a warm welcome, friendly faces, and a big smile.

The staff always keep customers informed and updated on the latest specials and remind them to sign up for their loyalty program. Mary Brown’s Torbay is also very community-oriented, sponsoring local sports fundraisers and getting involved in events like our Town Trunk or Treat. Their support for the community shows just how much they care about the people around them!

Economic Impact Award

The Economic Impact Award is given to the Business that is viewed as an economic driver within the community through its sustainable approach to business, as well as investment in the Community that has significant positive impact on the economy of Torbay.

The 2025 recipient of the Economic Impact Award is Elite Kitchen’s and Design.

Elite Kitchens and Design prides itself on offering an unparalleled combination of craftsmanship, innovation, and customer care. With a clientele that spans across the province, their customers choose to spend their hard-earned dollars in Torbay, often extending their patronage to other community businesses.

For Elite Kitchens and Design, Torbay is all about family, community, and the shared goal of making this beautiful place even better. The legacy of Elite Kitchens and Design continues to grow, and with each project, they’re helping to make Torbay a more desirable place to live, work, and thrive!

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award for the Town of Torbay is given to an individual that has made significant contributions to a business, non-profit organization, cause or community.

The 2025 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award is Madonna Galway. 

Madonna, along with her husband, spent her lifetime giving back to community through volunteering their time and effort at the foodbank and fostering children in their home.

She embraced kindness as a guiding principle. With endless empathy, understanding and commitment to uplifting others through food security, toys for children and even furniture from her own home, her acts of generosity hold no bounds. Madonna’s name is a staple in the community of the Killick Coast for her volunteered time with the foodbank. Anyone in need, the schools, and community organizations always knew to call Madonna for direction, in the way of helping others!

New / Emerging Business Award

The New/Emerging Business Award is given to a business that has been in operation for more than 1 year and less than 3 years, has made a significant impact on the community, and shows promise to continue its success in the future.

The 2025 recipient of the New/Emerging Business Award is Kryptonian Ink. 

Kryptonian Ink, a newly opened private tattoo studio located at 1368 Torbay Road, have actively engaged with the local community and have experienced a steady flow of traffic in their studio since first opening its doors this past year!

The tattoo studio emphasizes high-quality artistry, specializing in various tattoo styles, including fine line, script, black and grey, realism, and micro-realism. Kryptonian Ink is operated by an extremely talented artist: Stephen Stacey, who opened his new studio here in Torbay after many years of success in Hamilton, Ontario

Senior of the Year Award

The Senior of the Year Award is given to an individual over the age of 60 that has made significant contributions to the Town of Torbay through service to the community, community social involvement, community pride, etc.

The 2025 recipient of the Senior of the Year Award is Fred Newell. 

Fred has been a dedicated and selfless volunteer for decades, making significant contributions to the community of Torbay through service, leadership, and community involvement.

Fred’s volunteerism began in his teenage years in Pouch Cove, where he helped with bingo and the annual garden party. After moving to Torbay, he continued his efforts as a Beaver, Cub and Scout leader, and an active member of the Holy Trinity Band Parent Association, serving as Vice President. He also held the position of Treasurer of the Senior Men’s Slo-Pitch League. His dedication extended to the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus where he held various executive roles and represented the groups at school and community events. As an active member of Holy Trinity Parish he has given his time as a collector and member of the Parish Hall Committee. Over the past few summers, Fred has continued to volunteer his time to the Eating Disorders Society of Newfoundland’s weekly drive in bingo fundraiser.

Fred Newell embodies the values of service, dedication, and community pride!

Volunteer of the Year

The Volunteer of the Year award is given to an individual that has made significant contributions to offering a service and/or increasing the quality of life for residents of Torbay through sport, recreation, charitable causes, social activities, etc.

This 2025 recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award is Ross Thornhill. 

Ross has made a significant impact through his contributions as the President and member of the Torbay Lions Club for many years. He has volunteered countless hours over the years, consistently going above and beyond to support the Lions and the community.

Over the years Ross has supported the breakfast program at the schools, pictures with Santa, Easter Bunny, Find the Ghost at Halloween, fundraisers to help individual community members who need help to purchase equipment, etc. His involvement has also included supporting a Meal at the Ronald McDonald house.

Ross is always willing to share his knowledge, mentor new volunteers, and foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute!

Volunteer Group of the Year

The Volunteer Group of the Year Award is given to a group who has made significant contributions to offering a service and/or increasing the quality of life for residents of Torbay through sport, recreation, charitable causes, social activities, etc.

This 2025 recipient of the Volunteer Group of the Year Award is the Torbay 50+ Active Group Inc.

The Torbay 50+ Active Group consists of 60 members and the goal of the group is to enhance the wellbeing of each of its members. This involves both physical and mental wellness. The group has a well-planned list of activities for all fitness and interest levels including snowshoe hikes with campfires and meals, trivia, pickle ball, etc.

Young Entrepreneur Award

The Young Entrepreneur award is given to an individual under the age of 35 that has made a significant impact on the community with regards to business success and contribution to community events.

The 2025 recipient of the Young Entrepreneur Award is Heidi Luby. 

Heidi found a way to touch many people through her counselling abilities developed working for a free counselling service.

Since then, she has opened her own business operating here in Torbay where she has already developed a large caseload and has received numerous letters of appreciation and recognition from those she’s helped through her counselling services.

Heidi has also recently completed in depth training for trauma therapy and numerous other certifications as she works to continue to provide up to date service catering to the needs of others!