Hundreds of business and opinion leaders from across the North celebrated the achievements of nine companies and individuals at the 23rd Annual Northern Ontario Business Awards (NOBA) gala, Oct. 8 in Sault Ste. Marie.
 
NOBA has become the largest annual gathering of its kind in Northern Ontario since it was launched in 1986. The 23rd annual NOBA was co-hosted by Sault Ste. Marie Mayor John Rowswell and Northern Ontario Business publisher Patricia Mills. The awards are designed to celebrate successful businesses throughout Northern Ontario.
 
This year’s winners are Mark Torchia, winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Ahnisnabae Art Gallery, winner of First Nations Business Award of Excellence, Hydro Tech, winner of the Innovation Award, Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services Corp., winner of the Judges’ Choice Award. Jeff Elgie and JR Pierman of Lucidia Ltd. were honoured with the Young Entrepreeneur of the Year Award and MIRARCO Mining Innovation won the Entrepreneurial Community of the Year Award.
 
Thunder Bay’s TBT Engineering won Company of the Year (51+ Employees), North Bay’s Designed Roofing Inc. won Company of the Year (16-50 Employees) and North Bay’s Near North Laboratories was recognized as Company of the Year (1-15 Employees).
 
Grade 12 student Irina Cividino took home the Union Gas Essay Scholarship.
 
The event rotates annually among the five major centres in Northern Ontario. Next year it will take place in Thunder Bay.
 
An independent panel of judges adjudicated more than 100 nominations from to determine this year’s winners.