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

Uchanics

Baker

Mellycakes

Barbershop

LocNTwists

Beauty Salon

Hair By Glenna (mobile salon)

Beauty/Personal Care Supplies

Up North Naturals

Blogger

Makeba Lindsay (ynotkeeb)

Bookstore

Knowledge Bookstore

Chef

Teneile Warren - Nyam

Clothing Brand

Deeply Dope Tees

Comedian

Aaron Lewin

Dance Company

Carnival Spice

Dancer

Bakari Lindsay

Dentist

Dr. Cyrus 

Disc Jockey

Lissa Monet

Doctor

Dr. Nekessa Remy

Event Planner

Charles Matthews - CMJ Entertainment

Fashion Designer

Catherine Addai (Kaela Kay)

Film

Oliver Jones: Mind Hands Heart

Film Director

Howard Davis

Financial Advisor

Ian Webster

Fitness Professional

Buffboy Fitness

Funeral Services Professional

Justin Carmichael, Chapel Ridge Funeral Home

Graphic Designer

Sophie Taylor - Castlefield

Information Technology Company

Geek Speak

Insurance Advisor

Gavin Douglas, Dream Insurance Brokers

Interior Designer

Jacqueline Onassis - Alluring Interiors

Lawyer

Anthony Stephen Benjamin, Benjamin Law

Marketing Company

Kapostrophe Media

Media - Radio Personality

Paula Letang

Media - TV Personality

Marci Ien

Model

Winnie Harlow

Mortgage Broker

Arica Bryan

Newspaper

Share newspaper

Non-profit organization

Black CAP

Outdoor Festival

Durham Caribbean Festival

Paralegal

Everett Russel - Russell Legal Services

Photographer

Samantha Clarke

Poet/Spoken Word Artist

Faduma Mohamed

Real Estate Professional

Kandice Henry

Restaurant

Harlem Restaurant

The Real Jerk

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.