The northeastern Ontario winners of the 2015 Influential Women Awards were named on Monday night in Sault Ste. Marie.
This marks the 18th year for the annual gala event, which celebrates the success and achievement of women role models from around the North. The Influential Women of Northern Ontario is hosted by Northern Ontario Business.
A list of the northeastern Ontario winners follows.
-Dr. Gayle Broad of Sault Ste. Marie was named executive of the year. Broad is the director of research, and a founder, at the NORDIK Institute in Sault Ste. Marie, and has had a long career in community-based research.
-Diana Fuller Henninger of Sudbury was named entrepreneur of the year. Fuller Henninger is the owner of Henninger’s Diesel Ltd., which refurbishes large industrial diesel engines for mining companies.
-Alicia Woods of Sudbury was named young entrepreneur of the year. Woods is the president and creator of Covergalls, a coverall designed to fit a woman’s body, for use in mining and other industrial fields.
-Crystal Kaufman of North Bay was recognized for her business, BioPed, earning the business of the year award. BioPed helps alleviate clients’ foot and lower limb pain through the use of a variety of services.
-Nancy Bruneau of Kirkland Lake was named tradeswoman of the year. Bruneau is a co-owner of NC Traffic Management, which provides traffic control services at road construction sites across northeastern Ontario.
-Karen Bird, of Batchewana First Nation, was bestowed the Aboriginal leadership award. Bird, who is the renewable energy director for Batchewana, has helped negotiate various renewable energy projects, including the Bow Lake Wind Project, one of the largest economic partnerships between a First Nation and an energy developer in Canada.
-Barbara Nott of Sudbury was named the influential community trailblazer. Nott has volunteered for more than 20 organizations, including the Girl Guides of Canada and the United Way.
Winners from northwestern Ontario will be announced in Thunder Bay on May 28.
