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Celebrating Excellence: 2025 Women in Business Award Winners Announced
- Young Entrepreneur
Sponsored by Invest Barrie
Maguire Boucher, The Hound Lounge - Healthcare Hero
Sponsored by Superior Home Health Care
Laura Fess, VOX Mental Health - Creative Visionary
Sponsored by Downtown Barrie BIA
Daria Montague, Healing Arts Micropigmentation & Wellness Centre - Woman in Trade
Sponsored by Georgian College
Stephanie Gourlie Murray, Intent Stone Design958
- Visionary
Sponsored by Meridian
Rebecca Bartley, Trooper Pet Veterinary Nursing - Intrapreneur
Sponsored by Doane Grant Thornton LLP
Laura Payne, White Tuque - Community Impact
Sponsored by Alectra Utilities
Sharon Smith, Connect Hair Studio Inc. - Entrepreneur
Sponsored by Bill Gosling Outsourcing
Candice Thomas, Evergreen Wellness Studio
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Sponsors
- Meridian
- Bill Gosling Outsourcing
- Doane Grant Thornton LLP
- BDO Canada LLP
- Georgian College
- Invest Barrie
- Alectra Utilities
- Downtown Barrie BIA
- Superior Home Health Care
- TD Bank Business Banking
- Skinsational Day Spa & Skin Care
- BarrieToday.com
- Barriston Law
- Urospot
- Busch Systems
- MTAV (Multi Tech Audio Visual)
- Chambers Plan
- Olive Oil Company – Barrie – Newmarket – Midland – Orillia
- Bruton Investments
- Design by Size, Leah Smith-Size
- 107.5 Kool FM
- Barrie 360
- Rock 95
- Wild Lotus Floral Designs
Looking Ahead
About the Barrie Chamber of Commerce
Our Finalists Have Been Announced!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Barrie Chamber of Commerce, Press Reception
2025 Women in Business Awards Finalists
[Barrie, ON – Monday, February 10, 2025] The Barrie Chamber of Commerce is excited to unveil the finalists for the 2025 Women in Business Awards, proudly presented by Meridian. This annual event celebrates the outstanding achievements of women making waves in Barrie’s business landscape. We are thrilled to have Charlie and Amy Aust from 107.5 Kool FM as our Master of Ceremonies.
This year’s nomination process has highlighted incredible women and women-led organizations. Thanks to Awardify our awards management platform, every step of the nomination, acceptance and judging process was handled securely and transparently.
We’re blown away by the community’s response! Between December 2024 and February 2025, we received a record number nominations and acceptances! Our biggest year yet!
The Women in Business Awards shines a spotlight on women who are shaping Barrie through their innovation, leadership, social impact and fearless entrepreneurship. This is more than just an awards ceremony. It’s a celebration of trailblazers who continue to push boundaries and inspire leaders and innovators across the region.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our sponsors. Our presenting sponsor, Meridian, along with all our partners, have been unwavering champions of both the Barrie Chamber and the wider business community. A special thank you as well to Upsight & Sound for supporting today’s press conference. Please join us in recognizing these incredible organizations for their commitment to Barrie:
- Meridian
- Bill Gosling Outsourcing
- Doane Grant Thornton LLP
- BDO Canada LLP
- Georgian College
- Invest Barrie
- Alectra Utilities
- Downtown Barrie BIA
- Superior Home Health Care
- TD Bank Business Banking
- Skinsational Day Spa & Skin Care
- BarrieToday.com
- Barriston Law
- Urospot
- Busch Systems
- MTAV
- Chambers Plan
- Olive Oil Company – Barrie – Newmarket – Midland – Orillia
- Design by Size
- 107.5 Kool FM
- Barrie 360
- Rock 95
- Wild Lotus Floral Designs
Now for the exciting part….
The finalists in each category, in alphabetical order:
Creative Visionary – Sponsored by Downtown Barrie BIA
- Alexandra Giroux, The Arts House
- Daria Montague, Healing Arts Micropigmentation Centre
- Amanda Patrick, Ladr Consulting
Community Impact – Sponsored by Alectra Utilities
- Nikki Glahn, Barrie Families Unite
- Peggy Hill, The Peggy Hill Team
- Sharon Smith, Connect Hair Studio Inc.
Entrepreneur – Sponsored by Bill Gosling Outsourcing
- Gagandeep Randhawa, Hukam Law Professional Corporation
- Christina Romita, The Transformation Station
- Candice Thomas, Evergreen Massage Therapy & Wellness Studio
Healthcare Hero – Sponsored by Superior Home Health Care
- Jennifer Connor, Daisy a Day Home Care
- Laura Fess, Vox Mental Health
- Kelly Hubbard, Hospice Simcoe
Intrapreneur – Sponsored by Doane Grant Thornton LLP
- Laura Payne, White Tuque
- Charlotte Richardson, Superior Home Health Care
- Pauline Stevenson, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board
Visionary – Sponsored by Meridian
- Rebecca Bartley, Trooper Pet Veterinary Nursing
- Shannon Murree, Shannon Murree Group
- Kara Wardinger, Pawty Animals
Woman In Trade – Sponsored by Georgian College
- Courtney Bobbitt, Bertram Construction (Ontario) Ltd.
- Stephanie Gourlie Murray, Intent Stone Design958 / Discount Granite Plus Inc.
- Kim Roberts, Fix Auto Barrie North
Young Entrepreneur – Sponsored by Invest Barrie
- Emily Blocksdorf, Anchors Away Photography
- Maguire Boucher, The Hound Lounge Inc.
Celebrate women that inspire! Friday, March 7, 2025
Congratulations Ladies! You’re an inspiration!
Join us Friday, March 7th, 2025 at Liberty North for our luncheon gala as we celebrate the incredible women leading Barrie businesses. This promises to be a day of inspiration, connection and celebration.
Tickets are over 70% sold – don’t miss out! Secure your spot now at barriechamber.com/women. Ticket sales close Friday, February 28, 2025 at 11:59pm.
We look forward to celebrating these remarkable women with you on March 7th!
Paul Markle
Chief Executive Officer
Paul@barriechamber.com
121 Commerce Park Drive, Unit A
Barrie, Ontario L4N 8X1
(O) 705 - 721 - 5000 ext. 5
(C) 249-288-3540
The Barrie Chamber of Commerce is proud to offer the Women in Business Awards for 2025. An awards luncheon that provides a platform to recognize the women that lead and succeed in Barrie. The nomination process is open to members of the public to nominate, recognize and encourage a woman or woman led business or organization that has excelled beyond their expectations over the past year. This awards program aims to honour local women who have shaped our community! By acknowledging social responsibility, entrepreneurial spirit, risk taking and innovation; trail blazers and leaders in our community will receive the recognition and accolades they so richly deserve.
#WIB2025 #PowerfulWomen #BarrieChamber #WomenInBusiness
Meet our Keynote Speaker!
Andrea Khanjin, MPP Barrie-Innisfil
MPP Andrea Khanjin has served as a Member of the Provincial Parliament for Barrie-Innisfil since 2018. During that time, she has fought for core investments in the community like the new YMCA, repairing and expanding highway 400, expanding and building new schools and funding to build a phosphorous treatment plant to keep Lake Simcoe Clean.
She has worked with community partners to bring the first PET-CT scanner to the region, to secure a Regional Innovation Center at the Sandbox to boost local entrepreneurship and to establish a Nurse Practitioner-Led primary care clinic in Innisfil.
Andrea has served in various roles in the Doug Ford’s government, including Parliamentary Assistant for Environment, Conservation and Parks, Parliamentary Assistant for Intergovernmental Affairs, Deputy House Leader and Deputy Whip. She is currently the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Andrea lives in Innisfil with her husband Kevin, 3-year-old son Oliver, and newborn daughter Anastasia. She is a committed advocate of promoting Barrie-Innisfil businesses and shopping locally.
Meet Our MC's!
We're thrilled to announce that the ever-entertaining Charlie and the fabulous Amy Aust from 107.5 Kool FM will be gracing us as MCs for this year’s Women in Business Awards!
Charlie, whose wit and charm light up the mornings on 107.5 Kool FM. Known for sharing her hilarious and relatable 'mom thoughts', she's guaranteed to keep us smiling and engaged. Her knack for storytelling and bringing laughter to the everyday will make our celebration even more memorable.
Joining her is Amy, a Barrie native and a voice that's been captivating our airwaves for nearly two decades, will bring her dynamic energy and infectious enthusiasm. As a self-proclaimed foodie, pop culture aficionado, and social butterfly, her vibrant spirit is sure to add an extra layer of excitement to our event!
We can't wait to come together to celebrate the achievements of phenomenal women in business with our hosts who embody the spirit of our community. It’s going to be filled with inspiration, celebration, and thanks to our MCs, a lot of fun!
Speaker
Andrea Carmona, Senior Manager, Public Affairs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Andrea is a results-driven public affairs professional dedicated to advancing socio-economic progress and systemic change in Ontario and Canada. Known for translating complex policy challenges into compelling solutions, she describes her work as “selling impactful ideas.”
As Senior Manager of Public Affairs at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Andrea leads advocacy, communications, marketing, and design, driving initiatives that shape public policy and business competitiveness.
Passionate about innovation, inclusion, and sustainability, she works through consensus-building, advocacy, and storytelling to foster a more forward-thinking and inclusive society.
EVENT DETAILS
LOCATION
Liberty North,
100 Caplan Ave Unit 1, Barrie, ON L4N 9J2
DATE
Friday, March 7, 2025
TIME
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST
11:00 am- Registration & Networking
12:00 pm- Welcome from MC's & Lunch Served
Keynote Speaker: Charmaine Williams,
Presentation of Women in Business Awards
EVENT TIMELINE
*Subject to change
Launch of Nominations (and Acceptances Open):
Friday, December 20, 2024
Nominations Close:
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 2:00pm
Acceptances Close:
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 2:00pm
Judging Open:
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Judging Closes:
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 2:00pm
Press Reception:
Monday, February 10, 2025 at 12:30pm
Early Bird Ticket Rates Close:
Monday, January 27, 2025 at 11:59PM
Ticket Sales Close:
Friday, February 28, 2025 at 11:59PM
WIB Gala:
Friday, March 7, 2025
GALA MENU
Our menu will be enhanced by Olive Oil Co. Barrie-Newmarket-Midland-Orillia:
- Caprese & Charcuterie Skewers; A delightful pairing of flavors, featuring a fresh bocconcini, tomato, and basil skewer alongside a savory charcuterie selection of salami, roasted beet, and olives. Drizzled with rich Italian Fig Balsamic for a perfect balance of sweet and savory.
- Pan seared chicken supreme drizzled with Black Garlic Balsamic served over asparagus risotto and chefs vegetables
- Vegetarian option - Fresh vegetable stir fry with Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Spain served over rice
- Family style platter of mini pastel de nata custard tarts served with Coffee/Tea
Nomination, Acceptance and Judging Review Process
Our awards management platform, Awardify, is a user-friendly, secure, and Canadian-made solution specifically designed to streamline and enhance the nominations, acceptances, and judging processes. Its capabilities underscore the platform's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency and fairness.
Our esteemed panel of judges is carefully selected from across the Ontario Chamber network. This strategic selection of judges ensures an impartial evaluation of nominees, focusing solely on the merits of their applications and their business acumen. The Barrie Chamber is dedicated to a fair and unbiased review process.
To further support our nominees, we've introduced a Nomination Acceptance Tip page. This resource guides nominees through the acceptance process, offering valuable insights and tips to ensure they can fully leverage this opportunity. This initiative, accessible to all nominees, demonstrates our commitment to equality and support for every participant.
The Barrie Chamber elevates our awards approach with strategic judge selection, enhanced nominee support, and a strong focus on security and transparency. The very best of luck to all of our nominees.