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After more than 20,000 votes, the results of the first ever ByBlacks People's Choice Awards are in!
Here's how it all worked:
The awards were announced on December 21, 2018.
This was a public nomination process where our readers submitted nominations across 50 categories. Self-nominations were permitted. Nominations closed December 31, 2018.
ByBlacks took the top five nominees with the highest number of votes as finalists in each category.
Voting opened on January 28, 2019. Readers had up until midnight February 17, 2019 to vote, and were allowed to vote once per day based on their IP address.
There were two ties - in the Restaurant and Artist of the Year (major label) categories.
The Breakout Business of the year is a special category selected by the ByBlacks.com editorial team.
Congratulations to all winners! This award means you are loved out there - you must be doing something right! Look out for your invitation to a private reception to receive your physical award. And of course, get social with us! All award winners will also be announced on Twitter - so go ahead and RT your good news!
Accountant
GMS Professional Corporation Chartered Professional Accountants
Actor
Chantel Riley
Artist of the year - Independent
William Dolan
Artist of the year - Major Label
Daniel Caesar
Drake
Athlete of the year
Mikyla Grant Mentis
Author
Lawrence Hill
Auto Care
Baker
Barbershop
Beauty Salon
Hair By Glenna (mobile salon)
Beauty/Personal Care Supplies
Blogger
Bookstore
Chef
Clothing Brand
Comedian
Aaron Lewin
Dance Company
Dancer
Dentist
Disc Jockey
Doctor
Event Planner
Charles Matthews - CMJ Entertainment
Fashion Designer
Film
Oliver Jones: Mind Hands Heart
Film Director
Financial Advisor
Fitness Professional
Funeral Services Professional
Justin Carmichael, Chapel Ridge Funeral Home
Graphic Designer
Information Technology Company
Insurance Advisor
Gavin Douglas, Dream Insurance Brokers
Interior Designer
Jacqueline Onassis - Alluring Interiors
Lawyer
Anthony Stephen Benjamin, Benjamin Law
Marketing Company
Media - Radio Personality
Paula Letang
Media - TV Personality
Marci Ien
Model
Winnie Harlow
Mortgage Broker
Newspaper
Non-profit organization
Outdoor Festival
Durham Caribbean Festival
Paralegal
Everett Russel - Russell Legal Services
Photographer
Poet/Spoken Word Artist
Faduma Mohamed
Real Estate Professional
Restaurant
Harlem Restaurant
Stage production of the year
A Little Black Lie
Theatre Company
Crossfield House Productions
Visual Artist
Ashante Blackwood
Web Designer
Roushelle Reign
Breakout Business of the Year
VR Planet, possibly the first black-owned virtual reality arcade in Ontario opened in 2018 in Ajax and has been a popular spot ever since.
Click here to read more about the family behind this successful business.
