Nominations for the 2026 OBAA Extended Award Categories are open. The deadline is June 26, 2026. Click here to learn more.
The Ontario Business Achievement Awards (OBAAs) is one of the most distinguished industry celebrations recognizing business success in the province. For over 40 years, the awards have celebrated the incredible innovations and accomplishments of businesses of all sizes, sectors, and corners of Ontario. Now in its seventh year as a television broadcast, the OBAAs have expanded their reach across Canada.
Value of being awarded an OBAA:
- Our OBAA award recipients are featured in our cross-Canada broadcast on TLN, where hundreds of 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.
MAJOR AWARDS AND THEMATIC EPISODES
The 2026 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 extended 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.
EXTENDED AWARD CATEGORIES
- The Beyond Borders Business Award recognizes an SME with up to 250 employees that has successfully implemented an export strategy.
- 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 Creative Industries Award is presented to a business that has delivered original, high-quality artistic, cultural or digital work supported by industry recognition or measurable audience engagement, alongside clear economic or market success.
- The Diversity and Inclusion Award is presented to a business who has demonstrated leadership and commitment into embedding diversity and inclusion in their structure, strategy and decision making to foster an inclusive culture of belonging.
- 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.
For more details and nomination criteria, click here.
Broadcast Partner
