Honouring the best in business.

• Position: NORTHERN ONTARIO BUSINESS AWARDS

TIMMINS--More than 400 business and opinion leaders from across the North celebrated the achievements of 11 companies and individuals at the 26th annual Northern Ontario Business Awards (NOBA) gala on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012 at the McIntyre Curling Club in Schumacher. NOBA has become the largest annual gathering of its kind in Northern Ontario since it was first launched in 1986. The NOBA event was chaired by Michael Atkins, President, Northern Ontario Business and co-hosted by Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren and Northern Ontario Business Publisher Patricia Mills.

"Our purpose is to honour the best among us, the people who build the North and cherish it. We focus on a different community each year, but we bring the big wide North with us wherever we go. A big thank you to Timmins for hosting us on your 100th birthday and for being such a big part of this grand land we are lucky to inhabit," said Atkins.

There were 10 business awards presented: Company of the Year (three categories, based on size), Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Entrepreneurial Community, First Nations Business Award of Excellence, Innovation, Export and Judges' Choice. The Union Gas Essay Scholarship, worth $3,000, was also presented.

This year's judges were: Marc Boudreau, President & CEO--BESTECH (Sudbury), Barbara Ray, Secretary/Treasurer--RES Equipment Sales (Dryden), Joe Parisi, Partner, Ross Pope & Company LLP (Timmins), Jeff Elgie, Partner, Lucidia (Sault Ste. Marie), and the Union Gas Essay Scholarship Judge Dr. David Pearson, Professor, Laurentian University (Sudbury).

Evans Bertrand Hill Wheeler Architects (North Bay), received the Company of the year (1-15 Employees) Sponsored by: BDC. "As a NOBA winner I can share on behalf of my partners and staff that the recognition has been a truly motivating experience. Equally inspiring was the opportunity for all of us to witness the accomplishments of other extraordinary and creative businesses in Northern Ontario. NOBA gave us a much better understanding of the North's true potential yet to come and brought us together to a shared vision," Ian Hill.

FORM Architecture Engineering (Thunder Bay) was the recipient of the Company of the Year (16-50 Employees). Sponsored by OLG. "It was an honour to celebrate and acknowledge the accomplishments of fellow Northern Ontario businesses at the NOB awards evening. These awards are important for nurturing and promoting Northern Ontario business. We are very...