A company that grew out of SooToday to become one of Ontario's largest digital news networks was one of seven firms and individuals recognized Feb. 12 at the 14th Annual SSMARt Innovation Awards in Sault Ste. Marie.
Sault-based Village Media Inc. won the Company of the Year award.
Hosted by the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, the SSMARt awards honour innovative contributions to the agricultural and science and technology sectors in the Algoma District.
"This local business is growing to make an impact on international scale," said Lisa Bell-Murray, chief financial officer with OLG, as she presented the Company of the Year award.
Village Media "is innovating and showcasing exceptional leadership in its sector daily," Bell-Murray said, adding that the company has "proven its dedication to supporting the Algoma region time and time again."
A day earlier, Village Media launched MidlandToday.ca as its 12th owned-and-operated Ontario news site.
Recently moved into the former Royal Bank/Credit Counselling building at 298 Queen Street East, Village Media has strategic partnerships across Canada with publishers including Dougall Media, Glacier Media, Great West Digital, Laurentian Media and Rogers Media.
(Northern Ontario Business is owned by Laurentian Media and is a Village Media partner.)
The firm also has international partnerships with McClatchy in the United States and Archant Media in the United Kingdom.
Also nominated for 2019 Company of the Year were Hydrotech Inc. and Thomson’s Farm.
Jake Alphonso, an Algoma University work study student, received the Innovative Youth of the Year Award. Alphonso solved a research data collection problem by re-engineering bird feeders to prevent squirrels from accessing them.
Mike Oliveira, a school-based mathematics facilitator with Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board, was named Educator of the Year.
Asima Vezina, president at Algoma University, received the Women in Leadership Award, but insisted on accepting it on behalf of Algoma University.
"I work with the most incredible team," Veznia said. "One leader cannot experience the success that we're experiencing right now. It's really taking the entire community."
Here's the full list of winners and nominees:
Innovation In Marketing Award
Future SSM (winner)
Invasive Species Centre, Asian Carp Canada, Jeronamo Solutions (nominees)
Innovative Project of the Year Award
Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall (winner)
Ammotext, Shifting Indigenous Frontline Tactics, EarlyON Mobile Services, Thomson’s Win Barn (nominees)
Innovative Youth of the Year Award
Jake Alphonso (winner)
Kaydee Brown, Meghan Gray (nominees)
Steve Butland Innovative Educator of the Year Award
Mike Oliveira (winner)
Mike Flammia, Kristen Berger, Lisa Keranen, Becky Hodgson (nominees)
Innovative Start-Up of the Year Award
Plato Testing (winner)
Findlay’s Fungus, TruNorth Chaga (nominees)
Women in Leadership Award
Asima Vezina (winner)
Jennifer Rushton, Laurie Zeppa, Sandra Holmberg, Terri Felix (nominees)
Company of the Year Award
Village Media (winner)
Hydrotech Inc., Thomson’s Farm (nominees)
This story originally appeared on SooToday.com.
