Barrie's top innovators were celebrated Thursday night at the 2021 Mayor's Innovation Awards ceremony.
The Innovation Awards is an annual initiative recognizing and honouring the year's most innovative solutions from Barrie businesses, individuals, and community groups.
The awards were announced at a virtual ceremony.
“Navigating the changing landscape of COVID-19 has presented extraordinary challenges over the past two years, and we want to acknowledge the businesses, individuals, and organizations whose innovative approaches and sheer determination have contributed to a resilient foundation for Barrie,” said Deputy Mayor Barry Ward. “I’m honoured to celebrate the nominees, runners-up and winners tonight, who continue to inspire those around them, including myself.”
More than 40 submissions were evaluated by 15 judges.
The winners and runners-up of the 2021 Mayor’s Innovation Awards, by category, are:
Creative Collaboration
- Theatre by the Bay and Tourism Barrie (co-winners)
- UPlift Black and the Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre (first runners-up)
- Talk is Free Theatre (second runner-up)
Pivot Point
- Black Controls Company Inc. (winner)
- Ask for Directions Training (first runner-up)
- Baker Studios (second runner-up)
Community Impact
- Michael Agema of AGEMA Work (winner)
- Ryan’s Hope (first runner-up)
- YMCA of Simcoe-Muskoka (second runner-up)
Shift Disturber
- Marcia Woods of FreshSpoke (winner)
- Nikki Glahn of Barrie Families Unite (first runner-up)
- Brotech Precision CNC (second runner-up)
feature images via Mayor's Innovation Awards