Staff
The deadline is fast approaching to nominate businesses for this year’s Northern Ontario Business Awards.
“The Northern Ontario Business Awards started 24 years ago, and it is a celebration of businesses and individuals across the north,” said NOBA event manager Kimberley Wahamaa.
The deadline for nominations is April 23, she noted, while encouraging entries for the various award categories.
These include:
•Company of the year (1-15 employees);
•Company of the year (16-50 employees);
•Company of the year (51+ employees);
•Entrepreneur of the year;
•Young entrepreneur of the year; and
•First Nations business award.
There also will be awards for innovation, entrepreneurial community, and judge’s choice.
As well, there is an essay scholarship contest sponsored by Union Gas.
This year’s awards ceremony is slated to take place at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay, with a welcoming reception Oct. 6 and then the gala itself on Oct. 7.
“We look forward to coming out to Thunder Bay to celebrate with everyone across the north,” said Wahamaa.
The event usually draws 400-500 people, she noted, including dignitaries and government ministers all there to “celebrate the success” of businesses in the north.
“It’s been very successful over the years, and it’s a great honour to be given this award,” Wahamaa added, noting videos of past winners are available online at NOBA’s website.
“I know a lot of winners come into this program and they don’t realize the scale of it until they’re asked to say their acceptance speech,” she remarked.
Nomination forms are available online at www.noba.ca
Past winners from Rainy River District include Kish-Gon-Dug Canada, a furniture manufacturing company based out of Naicatchewenin First Nation, the Fort Frances Times, and Norfab Building Components.
