On Feb. 18, hundreds of community members gathered at the Radisson Hotel to honour those who go above and beyond to help Greater Sudbury's communities.

The annual Community Builder Awards are about building Greater Sudbury, a theme shared not only by award sponsors Laurentian Media, parent company of Northern Life, but others who spoke at the event.

“Our motto in this city is 'Let Us Build Together,'” Mayor John Rodriguez said, in his opening speech.

He said those who win these awards each year are "those who steer by the stars in the darkest nights.

“Over the past seven years the Community Builders Awards have been the mechanism for recognizing those who have created positive change in our community.”

Awards in seven categories are presented during the Community Builders ceremony: arts, economic development, environment, education, health care, sports and recreation, young leader and hall of fame. Winners in each category are selected by a panel of judges. This year the judges were Dana Jennings, David Courtemanche, David Robinson, Doug Nadorozny, Dr. Mike Staffen, Norm Lavallee, Paddy O'Sullivan and Stephen Monet.

Rodriguez gave credit to the president of Laurentian Media the creator of the awards, Michael Atkins.

"Michael Atkins is the ultimate community builder.”

Winners of the awards this year are Oryst Sawchuk (arts), Bestech (economic development), Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit (environment), Anna Maria Barsanti (education), Leo Thérrien (health care), Chris Gore (sports and recreation), Candice Kirkbride (young leader), and Risto Laamanen (hall of fame).

For more information about the Community Builder Awards and the winners in each category visit www.cbawards.ca.