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Weekly UpdatesMoving a Gala Celebration around Northern Ontario every fall to a different venue and a different hotel is an exercise in creativity and sometimes, ingenuity.
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When we bring the Northern Ontario Business Awards (NOBA) to smaller cities in the North, there is always a challenge to find a large enough venue to accommodate our expected delegate participation. Few Northern Ontario hotels can accommodate 500 or more people in a setting that also requires room for staging and a technical crew.
This year in North Bay, we were certainly challenged to come up with a venue solution in a city that is known for its spirit and for celebrating entrepreneurial success.
Every time we host NOBA here, we are always sold out. In fact, we usually end up with a waiting list of those looking to fill spots through last-minute cancellations. This year was no exception. Interest in NOBA 2008 was at an all-time high and we wanted to celebrate our 22nd year with as many business leaders as possible.
We believe we came up with a unique solution to our problem of too many people to fill too few seats.
We used technology, creativity and good old-fashioned "keep-our-fingers-crossed that this will work psychology" and hosted the Gala in two ballrooms, with two hosts brought together on screen through video.
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With such an overwhelming demand for tickets, it was our way of accommodating those who wanted to celebrate the evening with the winners. It was also our way of providing a networking venue that has become such an important component of the Awards program.
NOBA is all about the winners and the quality of innovation, expertise, entreprenenurship and ingenuity that are hallmarks of success. The winners' stories of success help inspire and motivate us to continue to build our region's wealth.
NOBA is also about the networking. Meeting new people, seeing old friends and establishing new contacts. For the past 22 years, it has become known by many as an institution in the North.
We have held our Gala in skating arenas, vacant department stores and in many hotels around Northern Ontario, however, this marks the first year we required two ballrooms to celebrate the winners' success. It was because of all who attended that this Award ceremony will be remembered as an evening of celebration and overflowing support for the winners and the Awards. We hope that you enjoyed it.
We also hope that you enjoyed the equality of this year's winners, the many opportunities to network and meet people, and the uniqueness of the NOBA program, that will continue to be creative and innovative to bring the northern business community together for its annual business Gala.
See you next year in Sault Ste. Marie.
Patricia Mills
Publisher
Northern Ontario Business
FEED