Algoma Visionary Awards 2024: Celebrating Sault Ste. Marie's Top Young Professionals

Over 250 people attended the ninth annual Algoma Visionary Awards on Friday night, celebrating young professionals in the Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma district. There were 93 nominees in 16 different award categories. The following is a list of winners: The recipient of the Arts, Music & Culture Industry Award is: Katrina Francella. The recipient of the Business Administration Industry Award is: Autumn McLean. The recipient of the Consumer & Retail Industry Award is: Kristina Hudson. The recipient of the Environment & Natural Science Industry Award is: Daniel Featherstone. The recipient of the Health Sciences Industry Award is: Erin Ratelle. The recipient of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry Award is: Christopher West. The recipient of the Lifestyle & Wellness Industry Award is: Lovleen Sharma. The recipient of the Public & Social Services Industry Award is: Tashina Beith. The recipient of the Trades & Labour Industry Award is: Spencer Hogan. The recipient of the Leadership Award of Distinction is: Dr. Jennifer Loo. The recipient of the Professional Development Achievement Award of Distinction is: Stephanie Carrier. The recipient of the Community Champion & Civic Pride Award of Distinction is: Brittney Wabigwan. The recipient of the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award of Distinction is: Danielle Culbert. The recipient of the Newcomer Achievement Award of Distinction is: Minion Paul. The recipient of the Indigenous Visionary Award of Distinction is: Nina Toulouse. The recipient of the STRIVE Young Professional of the Year Award of Distinction is: Emily Arbour. For more information, see the press release below. On Friday evening, the STRIVE Young Professionals Group (Strive YPG) and the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce (SSMCOC) hosted the ninth Algoma Visionary Awards, celebrating the outstanding contributions and successes of young professionals across a wide range of business sectors in Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma district. More than 250 attended the popular annual event which shone a spotlight on 93 nominees in 16 different award categories. The evening’s event was emceed by previous AVA recipient and co-founder of Hogan’s Homestead, Erica Hogan. The STRIVE YPG and SSMCOC recognize the ongoing support of both Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) as the AVAs presenting sponsor and Sootoday.com as media sponsor, and thank them for their contributions to this year’s AVA event. “It’s a pleasure to be here tonight celebrating a group of people who are not just the future of our business community -- you are its momentum, its creativity, and its courage,” noted SSMCOC president, La-Na Fragomeni as she welcomed guests. “You are building careers in a time of rapid change. You’ve entered the workforce during economic uncertainty, technological disruption, and shifting expectations about what work should be. And yet, you continue to show up with ideas, resilience, and a willingness to lead before being asked.” “You value collaboration, inclusion, and impact. Those values are not only good for society -- they’re also good for business,” Fragomeni explained. There are two groups of Algoma Visionary Awards: The AVA Industry Awards highlight achievements by individuals within specific business and professional sectors The AVA Awards of Distinction recognize overall excellence and outstanding contributions and excellence within areas of personal profession and business development. Each of the individual AVA Awards was sponsored by an organization or business in the community that understands the importance in encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and ongoing professional development. They recognize that these attributes lead to more vibrant, resilient, and forward-thinking business and economic opportunities for our community. The following is a list of this year's Algoma Visionary Awards recipients along with the individual award sponsors: The recipient of the Arts, Music & Culture Industry Award, sponsored by the STRIVE YPG, is Katrina Francella. The recipient of the Business Administration Industry Award, sponsored by Scotiabank, is Autumn McLean. The recipient of the Consumer & Retail Industry Award, sponsored by the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area, is Kristina Hudson. The recipient of the Environment & Natural Science Industry Award, sponsored by the STRIVE YPG, is Daniel Featherstone. The recipient of the Health Sciences Industry Award, sponsored by Scotiabank, is Erin Ratelle. The recipient of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry Award, sponsored by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, is Christopher West. The recipient of the Lifestyle & Wellness Industry Award, sponsored by Floreani, O’Toole & Dool Orthodontists, is Lovleen Sharma. The recipient of the Public & Social Services Industry Award, sponsored by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, is Tashina Beith. The recipient of the Trades & Labour Industry Award, sponsored by PUC Inc., is Spencer Hogan. The recipient of the Leadership Award of Distinction, sponsored by the Algoma Workforce Investment Corporation, is Dr. Jennifer Loo. The recipient of the Professional Development Achievement Award of Distinction, sponsored by Brokerlink, is Stephanie Carrier. The recipient of the Community Champion & Civic Pride Award of Distinction, sponsored by OLG, is Brittney Wabigwan. The recipient of the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award of Distinction, sponsored by Rogers Sports and Media, is Danielle Culbert. The recipient of the Newcomer Achievement Award of Distinction, sponsored by Intercultural Avec Immigration Inc., is Minion Paul. The recipient of the Indigenous Visionary Award of Distinction, sponsored by OLG, is Nina Toulouse. The recipient of the STRIVE Young Professional of the Year Award of Distinction, sponsored by Algoma University, is Emily Arbour. Fragomeni encouraged those in attendance to stay curious, stay connected, and stay involved as they continue on their professional and personal journeys. “Say yes to mentorship – both receiving it and offering it. Take risks. Get uncomfortable. And remember that your Chamber and STRIVE YPG is here as a partner, a connector, and an advocate for your success,” she concluded. “Tonight, we celebrate your achievements. Tomorrow, we look forward to what you will build next.”