Nominations are now open at www.luminaryawards.ca for the second annual Luminary Awards to recognize local women in business, including both business owners and employees.
Presented by the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, the Luminary Awards will be expanding with two additional award categories along with the original five categories from its inaugural year.
“I think it is amazing that the Luminary Awards give us a chance to lift up the incredible women in our region whose leadership, creativity, and resilience move this community forward,” says chamber president and CEO Brenda Whitehead in a media release.
“As nominations open, we hope people will reflect on the women who inspire them — those who champion others, break barriers, and quietly make a meaningful difference,” Whitehead added. “This is a warm invitation to recognize these leaders and share their stories so we can celebrate them together.”
Along with the five categories of Trailblazer, Barrier Buster, One to Watch, Emerging Entrepreneur, and Legacy, the 2026 Luminary Awards include the new categories of Building Belonging and Community Catalyst.
Last year, 56 women were nominated for a Luminary Award, with five award recipients announced at a sold-out celebration in May at Trent University. The inaugural recipients were Sheena Howard (Trailblazer – Entrepreneur), Jenisha Sanjit Arora (Barrier Buster – Employee), Rachel Stark (One to Watch – Employee), Tiffany Arcari (Emerging Entrepreneur), and Jeannine Taylor (Legacy).
“In our first year, the Luminary Awards sparked something powerful — women seeing and celebrating one another’s leadership,” says Susan Dunkley, chamber board chair and Luminary Awards committee chair, in a media release.
“The impact has already extended far beyond the event, strengthening connections across our business community. As we look ahead, we hope to reach even more women and supporters in 2026, whether as nominees, champions, or those quietly cheering on the incredible women who make our region brighter.”
Sullivan Law and kawarthaNOW are returning as presenting sponsors of the second annual Luminary Awards. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available; those interested should email Nigel Broersma at nigel@pkchamber.ca.
Nominations are open in the seven categories listed below until 5 p.m. on Monday, January 26. For nomination forms, visit www.luminaryawards.ca. The chamber will contect all nominees, and will also be offering a nominee information night.
Trailblazer (Entrepreneur) – Celebrating a business owner whose leadership, ingenuity, and boldness have sparked success and inspired others.
Emerging Entrepreneur – Celebrating a rising business owner who has launched a fresh, innovative venture that is already making its mark and shows exciting potential for the future.
Barrier Buster – Celebrating a remarkable woman who has excelled in her field by breaking through barriers. She has faced challenges — whether gender-based, systemic, cultural, language, disability-related, or otherwise — and risen above them with skill, creativity, and perseverance.
One to Watch (Employee) – Recognizing an emerging leader whose innovative ideas, meaningful contributions, and proven success show outstanding potential for the future. (Nominee may hold entry to mid-level management roles.)
Legacy – Honouring a woman whose career is defined by excellence, generosity, and community impact. Her vision and success have created opportunities for others — through employment, mentorship, philanthropy, or long-term influence — leaving an enduring mark.
Building Belonging – Celebrating a woman whose inclusive leadership and equity-driven innovation has reshaped how business is done—demonstrating that building for belonging is not just the right thing to do, it’s a strategic advantage. Nominees may focus on workplace culture, employee experience, and/or customer-facing innovation.
Community Catalyst – Celebrating an individual whose leadership, collaboration, and vision have sparked positive change in the community. A Community Catalyst brings people together, builds partnerships, and drives meaningful progress on local priorities. Nominees can be paid staff or volunteers of a not-for-profit organization, or be an employee or owner of a business or enterprise.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be the presenting media sponsor of the Luminary Awards.
