With the geographical vastness of Northern Ontario, it can be a struggle for entrepreneurs to build a business, said the publisher of Northern Ontario Business magazine.
"When you make a business in Northern Ontario, it’s not like a business in downtown Toronto with everything within walking distance," said Patricia Mills. "We have a lot of obstacles to overcome."
So once a year the magazine hosts the Northern Ontario Business Awards to celebrate and thank the region’s businesses. This year the awards will be handed out in Thunder Bay Oct. 7 at the Victoria Inn.
"We can get together and applaud the tenacity of our entrepreneurs to stick with it, to be successful and to create wealth," Mills said. "It’s the small businesses that that create the wealth and make us all want to live here."
Businesses of all types will be in attendance at the 24th annual event from large manufacturers like Bombardier to engineering firms and single entrepreneurs; Mills said it’s the biggest business-to-business event in Northern Ontario and is a great networking opportunity.
‘People have used it for this yearly get together to find out what’s happening and to meet up with other businesses," she said.
Mayor Lynn Peterson said the business awards is an exciting event for the city and Thunder Bay has seen almost 30 winners from the city over the years.
"I’m glad I’m not a judge because I know the candidates are all quite extraordinary," she said, adding the event will bring an economic spin-off to the city.
"From the municipal side, there is an investment in your community when you have 400 people descend into the community for two or three days," Peterson said.
But the most important advantage to hosting the awards is acknowledging the entrepreneurs, businesses and creativity of Northern Ontario, the mayor added.
"The biggest piece is about understanding who the entrepreneurs in Northern Ontario are and to celebrate the best of the best," she said.
In addition to the awards gala at the Victoria Inn, there will also be a welcoming reception at Whitewater Golf Club on Oct. 6. The registration deadline isOct.1. For more information visit www.noba.ca
