Some of northwestern Ontario most inspiring entrepreneurs and community leaders were celebrated by the PARO Centre at the 2012 Enterprising Women Awards Gala in Thunder Bay, Nov. 15.
The PARO Business of the Year Award went to Andrea Novoa of World Dance Centre.
Denise Fortin of Denise's Cafe in Thunder Bay received an Enterprising Women Award for a business with more than five employees.
Thunder Bay's Donna Brown of P.C. Media Computer received the award for a business of two to four employees.
The Francophone Entrepreneur went to Donna-Lynn Wiitala of Thunder Bay's Checkmark Centre d'Excellence.
Lac Seul First Nation's Penny Carpenter, business manager of K-Net Services was this year's winner of the Aboriginal Entrepreneur Off-Reserve Award.
The On-Reserve Aboriginal Entrepreneur was received by Shirley Cheechoo of the Weengushk Film Institute on Manitoulin Island.
Stephanie Ash of Firedog Communications received the Established Business Award.
Certified reflexologist Sandra Hay of Thunder Bay was this year's Social Entrepreneur winner.
Valerie Fraser of the Atikokan-Quetico Trading Post took home the New Business Award.
Carlene Graham is this year's Volunteer Recognition Award winner and Terri-Lynn Carter of Shades of Green Garden received the Breaking Barriers-Building Bridges Award.
Other awards of recognition were handed to the best peer lending circle and for the entrepreneurial cluster of the year.
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