**NORTHERN ONTARIO BUSINESS MEDIA RELEASE**

For more than two decades, the Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards program (IW) has recognized the extraordinary accomplishments of women, awarding winners in the following categories:  Executive, Entrepreneur and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Aboriginal Leadership, Tradeswoman of the Year and Influential Community Trailblazer. The event also acknowledges a young leader through the presentation of the Influential Woman Essay Scholarship. This year 13 women from communities across the north will be celebrated.

 

The IW program was launched in 1997 as a way to seek out, profile and honour women who are making a difference in their communities and contributing to the region’s economic success. Over 300 accomplished women have been recognized since the program’s inception and the roster of award winners continues to grow with two 2018 award luncheons.  

 

The Northeast IW Awards Luncheon returns to Sudbury, Monday, May 28th at the Steelworkers Union Hall and Conference Centre. The Northwest IW Awards Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 31st at the Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre in Thunder Bay. “The quantity and quality of nominations continue to create a difficult task for our judges,” says Northern Ontario Business Publisher, Abbas Homayed. “The accomplishments of this year’s winners are truly remarkable. We congratulate all the winners for 2018”. 

 

Northern Ontario Business extends its gratitude to co- presenter Goldcorp, Gold sponsor Union Gas,  the judges and award sponsors highlighted below.  The winner’s profiles and photos will be posted on the IW website after the awards, at InfluentialWomen.ca

 

2018 Recipients of the Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards Program:

 

Executive:                               Tammy Morison – President and CEO

                                                North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation

                                                Sponsor: Travelway Inn

 

Entrepreneur:                          Nicole Guertin – Co-Owner

                                                Les Suites des Presidents

                                                Sponsor: PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise

 

Young Entrepreneur:              Alicia Pirie – Owner/Operator

                                                Chic Baby and Kids

                                                Sponsor: Ashley Home Store

 

Aboriginal Leadership:            Dr. Jennifer Jocko – Gynecologist

                                                Northeastern Ontario Women’s Health Network

                                                Sponsor: Ontario Power Generation

 

Tradeswoman:                        Armanda Quinn – Miner

                                                Goldcorp – Porcupine Gold Mines

                                                Sponsor: TESC

 

Influential Community

Trailblazer:                              Lise Armstrong – Transitional And Housing Support Program

                                                Genevra House

                                                Sponsor: Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce

Influential Woman Essay

Scholarship:                            Kora Wilcox – Elliot Lake

                                                Sponsor: Northern Ontario Business

 

Nominations are now open for the 2019 Influential Women Awards. Visit InfluentialWomen.ca for more information.