Influential Women from northwestern Ontario were celebrated on Thursday night in Thunder Bay.
The 18th annual Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards were handed out during a gala evening celebrating successful women from around the North. The event is hosted by Northern Ontario Business.
A list of the northwestern Ontario winners follows.
-Cathy Woodbeck of Thunder Bay was named executive of the year. Woodbeck is the executive director of the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, which helps newcomers to Thunder Bay settle into their adopted community.
-Suzanne Tighe of Thunder Bay earned the entrepreneur of the year award. Tighe is the president of Nurse Next Door, a health-care company that provides in-home care for seniors who need everything from a few hours of companionship to end-of-life care.
-Andrea Novoa of Thunder Bay was named young entrepreneur of the year. Novoa, who owns The World Dance Centre, offers dance lessons in a variety of ethnic dance styles.
-Kerrie Atkinson, Cathy MacDonald, and Marie Clarke collectively earned the business of the year award for their venture, Fireweed Crafts in Thunder Bay. Founded 30 years ago, Fireweed Crafts is regarded locally as the “go-to place” to find quality locally and regionally created handmade gifts and crafts.
-Ruth, Jessica, and Veronique Bjorkman of Atikokan were jointly named tradeswomen of the year. The sisters are mineral prospectors working for their family’s company, Bjorkman Prospecting.
-Holly Prince of Thunder Bay received the Aboriginal leadership award. Prince is the project manager for the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health, whose research aims to advance health and social care for an aging population and promote the health and wellbeing of people aging across the life span.
-Nancy Angus of Thunder Bay was bestowed the trailblazer award. Angus is the community program developer for older adults with the City of Thunder Bay, and organizes activities to promote health and wellbeing in older adults.
-Julia Stolz of Thunder Bay was selected as the winner of the essay scholarship prize for her piece on the importance of women’s leadership in today’s society. The Grade 12 student is planning to study social work at Lakehead University, so she can continue her goal of helping people.
Winners from northeastern Ontario were announced in Sault Ste. Marie on May 25.
