The Alpha gala marks the best in business

Federal Liberal leader Stéphane Dion was among the dignitaries at the gala, whose theme was 'The culture of success.' The gala's other theme was an icon of a piano, so it was only natural that 'notes' were distributed to the winners of each category, while the music of young Chinese pianist Qiao Yi Miao Mu played softly in the background.

As the suspense mounted, magician Alain Choquette performed tricks in between awards to relieve the tension and distract participants.

The Alpha award for Business of the Year was bestowed on L'imprimerie L'Empreinte, which made the biggest impression on the jury – led by its president Danielle Cadieux and Saint-Laurent borough mayor Alan DeSousa.

"It's the concept of teamwork that has distinguished this gala and that takes strong leadership," said L'imprimerie L'Empreinte owner Luc Janson.

Other big winners were Rodimax, which gained a large foothold in Saint-Laurent last year, Sylvia Vogel, honoured for being the most influential businesswoman in Canada, and CAE, which received a special award for their performance over the last two years. Quebec Culture Minister Christine Saint-Pierre was also on hand for the gala.

In addition, a silent auction, featuring goods and services donated by Chamber member companies and other donors – both named and anonymous.