Northern business leaders honoured at NOBA

More than 400 business and opinion leaders from across the north celebrated the achievements of 11 companies and individuals at the 29th Annual Northern Ontario Business Awards (NOBA) gala Oct. 1 at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay.

NOBA has become the largest annual gathering of its kind in Northern Ontario since it was first launched in 1986. The NOBA event was co-hosted by Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs and Northern Ontario Business former publisher Patricia Mills.

NOBA is an initiative designed to celebrate successful businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Northern Ontario.

The award evening acknowledges the efforts of those who create the opportunities that allow everyone to enjoy living and working in the North. The event rotates annually among the five major cities in Northern Ontario.

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.
An independent panel of judges adjudicated nominations from around Northern Ontario.

This year’s judges were: Dave Rector, president – Rector Machine Works Ltd. (Sault Ste. Marie), Mark Sherry, president – Stroma Service Consulting Inc. (North Bay), Jennifer Taback, RGD partner – Design de Plume (Sudbury), Rob Frenette, president – TBT Engineering (Thundery Bay), and the Union Gas Essay Scholarship Judge, Laird Van Damme, managing partner for KBM Resources Group (Thunder Bay).

2015 NOBA Winners

Company of the Year 1-15 Employees
Winner: Northern Ontario Film Studios (Sudbury)
Sponsored by: TD Canada Trust

Company of the Year 16-50 Employees
Winner: Thunder Bay Xerographix Inc. (Thunder Bay)
Sponsored by: OLG

Company of the Year 51+ Employees
Winner: Ionic Engineering (Lively)
Sponsored by: Northern Credit Union

Entrepreneur of the Year
Winner: Crystal Kaufman, Owner of BioPed (North Bay)
Sponsored by: Kia Canada Inc.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Winner: Brigitte McLean, Owner of Tranquility Spa Salon (North Bay)
Sponsored by: CRIBE

Innovation Award
Winner: WipWare (North Bay)
Sponsored by: Porter Airlines

First Nations Business Award of Excellence
Winner: CreeWest GP Inc. (Timmins)
Sponsored by: Ontario Power Generation

Entrepreneurial Community of the Year
Winner: Northern Ontario Angels (Thunder Bay)
Sponsored by: Air Canada

Judges' Choice Award
Winner: Resolute Forest Products – Thunder Bay Sawmill (Thunder Bay)
Sponsored by: Bombardier Transportation Canada Inc.

Export Award
Winner: Kovit Engineering Ltd. (Sudbury)
Sponsored by: Export Development Canada

Union Gas Essay Scholarship
Winner: Can Cui (Sault Ste. Marie)
Sponsored by: Union Gas

The 30th Anniversary of the Northern Ontario Business Awards 2016 will be held in Sudbury. The networking reception will be held at Dynamic Earth Oct. 5, 2016, and the Gala Awards and Dinner at the Caruso Club Oct. 6, 2016. For more information on NOBA, contact Christine Sola, marketing and events manager, at 705-673-5705 ext. 381, 1-800-757-2766 or email inquiries to [email protected].