Best Restaurant/Café

Gabriel Pizza, St. Joseph Boulevard

It was in February of 1977 that the Hanna family opened the doors at the very first Gabriel Pizza on St. Joseph in Orléans. After 45 years, Gabriel Pizza has become nothing short of an institution, not only here in Orléans but across Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, and even across the river! This Gem’s sparkle is only shining brighter every year.

Best Professional Service Business

Blackburn Pharmacy

Serving Blackburn and the surrounding areas, the Blackburn Pharmacy has supported the community for over 25 years! With an amazing team of knowledgeable staff, providing top-notch service to residents, this Gem is certainly one of a kind.

Best Retail Business – Merchandise

Red Dragon, Cards, Comics, Games

Red Dragon is the place to go if you are looking for comics, cards or games. With a friendly staff and an inviting atmosphere, it is easy to spend hours perusing games, or getting lost at one of their gaming tables. An unassuming store definitely hides any player or collector’s hidden gem.

Best Retail Business – Food (including take-out)

Golden Fries

Voted “Ottawa’s Favourite Food Truck” 3 years running? Anyone who has ever had one of their poutines or fries knows exactly why. Their French Fries are out of this world! If you haven’t been to this Gem, it needs to be on your summer to-do list.

Best Arts or Cultural Organization

Ottawa School of Theatre

Offering acting and theatre classes from beginner to advanced, for young and old, the Ottawa School of Theatre is near unparalleled in its programing. For over 30 years the OST has fostered a strong and vibrant theatre community in Orléans and supported hundreds of performers. The spotlight on this Gem shines brightly indeed!

Best New Business

Art of Bean & Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine

For the first time ever there are “Twinners” for the Best New Business Gem! Both the Art of Bean Coffee Co. and Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine are new businesses that have developed a dedicated and passionate following in only a short time. Anyone who has tried their coffee or food knows exactly why this Gem had to be split. The Art of Bean has some of the best coffee you will find in Orléans, if not all of Ottawa and their accompanying food does not fall behind either. Between the staff and the café atmosphere, this is one very special Gem for Orléans. Jamaican Homestyle Cuisine may not specialize in coffee, but they offer some of the most authentic and amazing Jamaican jerk and curry dishes in Orléans. After a bite of the roti, coffee will be the last thing on your mind. Their amazing service and friendly atmosphere had many residents raving that this Gem should never be hidden!

Best Community Service Organization

Fred Sherwin – Orléans Star

Since 1986, Orléans residents have turned to THE source for the East End’s local news – The Orléans Star and sister paper L’Orléanais. A reflection of our own community, these papers highlighted local issues, shared local stories, and supported local organizations. In 2016, it was a former managing editor who brought the paper “home”, purchasing the Orléans Star and ensuring that this beating heart of the community would become a locally-owned and operated paper. Thanks to Orléans Gem, Fred Sherwin, the man behind the pen (then keyboard) of countless articles, for dedicating your time and efforts to promoting and protecting local journalism.

Best Community Social Organization

Rising Stars Basketball Academy

Rising Stars Basketball is a grassroots, local community organization offering kids the opportunity to fine-tune their basketball skills at summer camps, while also building confidence in players both on and off the court. This Orléans Gem is now in its third year and has only shone brighter, growing in numbers.

Best Community Social Organization

Just Food

So much more than just the Big Red Barn, Just Food is an Ottawa-based, community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging sustainable food and farming. This Gem has been in the rough, both literally and figuratively. In addition to supporting agricultural programming at their site here in the East End, Just Food engages in food policy conversations at many levels, and they are a tireless advocate for vibrant, just, and sustainable food and farming systems in the Ottawa region.

Best Personal Service Business

Echo Audiology & NewU Physio

These Orléans Gems are certainly unique, in that both NewU Physio and Echo Audiology work out of a multidisciplinary setting where they often work in tandem to help patients meet their wellness goals. With services focused on excellent client experience and patient-centric quality care for the Orleans community, they are set apart as gems you can both see and hear!