Publisher's Message

Timmins looks pretty good for a 100-year-old that has suffered through the ups and downs of cyclical economies (forestry and mining), the challenges of being a Northern community, forest fires, and a myriad of other issues.

So it was a huge honour for us to be invited to help the city celebrate its 100th anniversary by hosting our annual Northern Ontario Business Awards (NOBA) in Timmins this year.

It was hard to say no to Mayor Tom Laughren, who is unabashedly passionate about his hometown. It was equally as hard to pass up the opportunity to host the North's largest gathering of business leaders in a town known for its superb hospitality.

This anniversary year is no different. Mayor Laughren, his staff, and the many people who invited us into the community have certainly put out the red carpet for everyone attending. It was a pleasure to work with the folks who manage the curling club and the adjacent restaurant as we planned to turn the venue into a posh dining hall, complete with an incredible menu and a unique décor.

During one of our many trips to Timmins to plan this year's event, we were dismayed by the damage from the forest fire that threatened the city earlier this year. That led us to think creatively about incorporating an element of nature into the event that recognizes the importance of our natural landscape and nurturing its health and growth.

With the generosity of Millson Forestry Services, we came up with the theme for the centrepieces on the tables, which includes eight tree seedlings. We encourage delegates at NOBA to take the seedlings home and plant them throughout the North to commemorate Timmins' 100th anniversary and to be reminded of our roots, so to speak.

We also plan to serve the special Timmins' 100th anniversary wine during dinner and incorporate the city's anniversary colours into NOBA's colour scheme for the event.

It was a lot of fun planning this year's event and seeing all the pieces come together so well.

None of this would be possible without the support and commitment of the Northern business community and our many sponsors to celebrate business excellence on a regional level and to honour the achievements of our entrepreneurs, communities, companies, leaders and investors.

Congratulations to this year's winners. A sincere thank you to our sponsors,nominators, judges, supporters, vendors, partners and delegates.

A special thank you to Kimberley Wahamaa, NOB's operations manager, the event staff – Tara Dumais and Brandi Ransom – and the entire staff at NOB who worked hard to make this a memorable occasion.

Patricia Mills
Publisher, Northern Ontario Business