Northern Ontario Business Awards.

Northern Ontario business leaders are a rare breed, with a distinct set of strengths required to succeed in a highly competitive marketplace. For 33 years, the Northern Ontario Business Awards (NOBA) program has celebrated the entrepreneurial spirit and winning achievements of the best companies, individuals and economic development initiatives.

"It is our belief at Northern Ontario Business that without locally owned private enterprise, our communities would be much weaker. Without locally owned business there would be no heart and soul, much less the philanthropy and volunteer power, to keep our communities vibrant and healthy," said Michael Atkins, president of Laurentian Publishing and Northern Ontario Business.

"There is nothing quite as gratifying as celebrating the best among us. Congratulations to our winners who are helping to build Northern Ontario brick by brick."

With a crowd of more than 350 guests in attendance at the Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre, awards recognizing outstanding contributions to the North were presented in 10 categories: Company of the Year (1 to 15 employees, 16 to 50 employees and 51+ employees), Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Entrepreneurial Community, First Nations Business Award of Excellence, Innovation, Export, and Judges' Choice.

One of the reasons for the longevity of the NOBA is the integrity of the awards program, adjudicated each year by a respected panel of judges from across Northern Ontario. They are asked to look at all aspects of business performance, from customer service and community involvement to human resource management and future planning. This year's judges were: Liana Frenette, CEO of TBT Engineering (Thunder Bay); Pat Dubreuil, president of Manitou Gold and entrepreneur (Sudbury); Steve Black, senior project engineer at Glencore Kidd Mine (Timmins); and John Febbraro, director of business development at the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corp. (Sault Ste. Marie).

NOBA has become the largest annual gathering of its kind in Northern Ontario since it was launched in 1986. These awards have served to heighten the visibility and influence of business in the North and bring peer recognition to the business leaders who create prosperity and economic growth. This year the Northern Policy Institute's State of the North Conference coincided with the event.

The 2019 Northern Ontario Business Awards program was co-hosted by Sault Ste. Marie Mayor...