12th annual influential women of Northern Ontario awards * 2009.

• Position: NEWS

NORTH HONOURS INFLUENTIAL WOMEN

Across the North, nearly hundreds of people turned out to honour the women who have made the biggest difference in their communities at the 12th annual Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards and Tradeshow 2009.

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Influential Women is a program hosted by Northern Ontario Business that was developed to seek out, honour and profile women in the region who have contributed to growth, wealth, employment and stability.

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"It's a true celebration of leadership and entrepreneurship across the North," said Patricia Mills, publisher of Northern Ontario Business.

The awards were held in two parts, one for the northwest, in Thunder Bay, June 2 and the other in the northeast, in Sudbury on June 4.

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Northwest winners included Private Sector Award recipient Norma Fawcett of Lake Helen-Nipigon, Public Sector Award winner Angela Bujold of Dryden and Young Entrepreneur Award winner Karen Kerk Courtney of Thunder Bay.

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A standing ovation brought Fawcett to tears, while Bujold expressed her gratitude in a heartfelt speech to her mother her colleagues and her community. Karen Kerk Coutrney was only too proud to stand with the two other women saying that she felt it a privilege to be considered for the award.

The northeast winners were Private Sector Award winner Bisma...