Outstanding achievements are meant to be celebrated. For the last nine years, that's exactly what the Community Builders Awards of Excellence have been doing — champions from every sector of the community are brought into the limelight for the work they've done to better Greater Sudbury.

This year's awards gala, which is presented by Northern Life, is no different: leaders in the arts, economic development, education, the environment, health care and sports and recreation, as well as a young leader and hall of fame guest, will be honoured.

The Community Builders Awards program consists of a call for nominations and judging process, an awards gala dinner, a special magazine-format souvenir program, a year-round website and video and TV broadcast of the Gala featuring winner profiles, according to Kimberley Wahamaa, operations manager at Northern Ontario Business, Northern Life's sister company.

“Over the past eight years, we have awarded 64 extraordinary community builders with a CBA for their efforts in helping to make our community the incredible place it is to live and work in,” she stated. “These outstanding individuals, businesses, groups, and organizations have contributed to the economic wealth and growth of Greater Sudbury, as well as to its vast heritage. It is for these reasons that we are proud to host the Community Builders Awards of Excellence.

“The CBA program is an important initiative designed to celebrate successes in leadership and commitment by showcasing extraordinary success stories from throughout our Greater Sudbury area. This event is widely regarded as Sudbury’s largest gathering of movers and shakers.”

Abbas Homayed, publisher of Northern Life, said the community has always supported the initiative.

“We are very pleased to host the ninth annual celebration of the Community Builders Awards,” he stated. “Every year, we showcase a group of individuals and organizations who truly inspire us and who have moved this community forward. This year is no different.

Tickets to the annual event, which takes place Feb. 16 at the Radisson Hotel, are now available. For more information or to purchase tickets, phone 705-673-5705 ext. 320 or visit cbawards.ca, where online registration is available.

Posted by Mark Gentili