2025 Ontario Business Achievement Awards

The 2025 OBAAs Premiered on November 15 at 3:00 p.m., followed by an Encore Presentation on November 16 at 9:00 a.m eastern time.

For over 40 years, the Ontario Business Achievement Awards (OBAAs) have recognized the incredible innovation and success of businesses across the province, celebrating them under diverse themes that reflect the evolving economic landscape. The 2024 OBAAs were broadcast on TLN Television on October 14, 2024, with an encore presentation on October 15, 2024, to a national audience of over 200,000.

As Canada grapples with economic uncertainty, bold and strong leadership is needed to secure a prosperous future. This year’s Ontario Business Achievement Awards will highlight Ontario business leaders who have demonstrated courage and adaptability in driving the province’s economic competitiveness forward and fostering a more resilient economy.

Value of being awarded an OBAA:

• Our OBAA award recipients are featured in our cross-Canada broadcast on TLN, where thousands of viewers are exposed to their business success stories.
• OBAA recipients are featured on our website, YouTube channel and across our social media platforms.
• Past winners have noted increased sales, notoriety among Ontario’s business community, and better relationships across Canada and internationally.

2025 OBAA AWARD RECIPIENTS

🏆 CEO of the Year Award: Barbara Zvan, President and CEO of University Pension Plan Ontario.

🏆 Lifetime Achievement Award: Victor Dodig, CIBC.

🏆 Community Impact Award: Paulette Senior, Senator, Senate of Canada.

🏆 Beyond Borders Business Award: Aviation GSE.

🏆 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Daniel Moll, Founder and CEO, EarthSuds.

🏆 Accessible Employment Award: R. Denninger Limited.

🏆 SME Innovation Award: HandyBros. Home Comfort.

🏆 Excellence in Innovation Award: Chapman’s Ice Cream.

🏆 Sustainability Award: Jungbunzlauer Canada Inc.

MAJOR AWARDS AND THEMATIC EPISODES

The 2025 OBAA’s will continue as a television broadcast, featuring six back-to-back episodes — three spotlighting the major awards and three thematic episodes highlighting two of the six new award categories per episode — on TLN Television.

• The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a person who demonstrates leadership in a particular Ontario industry that has a significant positive impact on the province and beyond. The recipient’s business, personal, and philanthropic accomplishments are shared and celebrated by colleagues, friends, and family.
• The CEO of the Year Award is presented to a CEO who has provided exceptional leadership over the past 12 months, bringing their organization to a new level of growth and success as defined by their industry. Our audience will hear important details that help define outstanding leadership from the CEO and others within their influence.
• The Community Impact Award is presented to a leader or a business that has demonstrated positive socio-economic impact through activities across Ontario. Our audience hears important details that help define community impact, both from the recipient and others within their circle of influence.
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s also the right thing for business. In this episode, we uncover how embracing diversity strengthens organizations, fuels innovation and drives growth. Hear insights from leaders who have turned challenges into opportunities, building inclusive businesses that contribute to Ontario’s economy and beyond.
• Transportation: Trade in Transit. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes, speaking with drivers, dispatchers, retailers and business leaders to reveal what it takes to keep goods moving and trade flowing. We also examine today’s challenges, and explore the innovations shaping the future, from hydrogen-powered fleets to smarter logistics.
• Indigenous Entrepreneurship. What does it take to turn an idea into a thriving business? In this episode we spotlight two Indigenous entrepreneurs and their journey from concept to company, sharing the challenges they faced, the strategies that worked and the lessons they learned along the way.

Six New OBAA Categories

As part of the 2025 OBAAs, we are proud to introduce six new award categories to reflect the evolving spirit of Ontario’s business community. The recipients will be unveiled in our three thematic episodes.

• The Beyond Borders Business Award recognizes an SME with up to 250 employees that has successfully implemented an export strategy.
• The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes an Ontario entrepreneur who has successfully built a unique and game-changing venture.
• The Accessible Employment Award recognizes a business that has created an accessible work environment. This organization values the contributions of persons with disabilities and promotes the development of an inclusive workplace culture for all.
• The SME Innovation Award is presented to a business with up to 250 employees that exemplifies forward-thinking in all aspects of its operations, leading to increased productivity, business growth, and a positive impact on its employees, customers, and community.
• The Excellence in Innovation Award is presented to a business that exemplifies forward-thinking in all aspects of its operations, resulting in increased productivity, business growth, and a positive impact on its employees, customers, and community.
• The Sustainability Award is presented to the business that shows a sustainable and long-term commitment to improving the quality of life in its community and is recognized as being a leader and/or has implemented an industry-leading environmental or corporate sustainability initiative.