18th Annual Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards 2015 winners.

• Position: NEWS

Presented by: Northern Ontario Business

The Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards program (IW) announced this year's northeast and northwest award winners in the following categories: Executive, Entrepreneur and Young Entrepreneur, Business of the Year, Aboriginal Leadership, Tradeswoman, Influential Community Trailblazer and the Influential Woman Essay Scholarship.

The IW program was launched in 1997 in order to seek out, honour and profile women in Northern Ontario who contribute to the North's economic success and expansion. Over 100 influential women have been recognized since the program's inception. The roster of award winners continues to grow.

The Northeast IW Awards Gala Dinner was held on Monday May 25th at the Comfort Suites and Quattro Conference Centre in Sault Ste. Marie. The Northwest IW Awards Gala Dinner was held on Thursday May 28th at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay. "We are so proud to be recognizing exceptional women in the North" said IW Founder, Patricia Mills. "Each year we receive more and more nominations. We are looking forward to receiving your submissions for 2016."

Thank you to this year's nominators, judges, and sponsors. The winner's profiles and photos have been posted on the IW website, influentialwomen.ca

NORTHWEST

Executive: Cathy Woodbeck, Executive Director, Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, Thunder Bay

Sponsored by: Porter Airlines Inc.

Entrepreneur: Suzanne Tighe, President, Nurse Next Door, Thunder Bay

Sponsored by: Northern Ontario Angels

Young Entrepreneur: Andrea Novoa, Owner, The World Dance Centre, Thunder Bay

Sponsored by: Rapport Credit Union

Business: Fireweed Crafts Inc, Thunder Bay

Sponsored by: Northern Credit Union

Aboriginal Leadership: Holly Prince, Project Manager, Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health, Thunder Bay

Sponsored by: Ontario Power Generation

Tradeswoman: Ruth, Jessica and Veronique Bjorkman, Prospectors, Bjorkman...