You still have time to nominate an inspiring woman in business — whether a owner or employee — for the second annual Luminary Awards at www.luminaryawards.ca.
Nominations for the awards, which are organized by the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce, close at 5 p.m. this Monday (January 25). The awards are open to anyone who identifies as a woman and who lives or works in the city or county of Peterborough or who has demonstrated an ongoing impact within the region.
“Women have a lot of things that they balance, deal with, and keep sorted and I think taking a moment to pause and really celebrate all the hard work that women do in the community — celebrating the remarkableness of them — is something we should do and I’m really excited to do that,” says chamber CEO and president Brenda Whitehead.
Previously the CEO of the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce for more than seven years before joining the Peterborough chamber last summer, Whitehead says she was already aware of the Luminary Awards, which were launched in September 2024, and is “excited” for the second edition of the awards.
“It was one of the things that I really valued and appreciated, that the (Peterborough and Kawarthas) Chamber of Commerce was taking the moment to pause to celebrate women who deserve some focus,” she says. “The Luminary Awards, celebrating the luminaries and the people who are lighting up the community, is really a fantastic program.”
Along with the five previous award categories of Trailblazer, Barrier Buster, One to Watch, Emerging Entrepreneur, and Legacy, the 2026 Luminary Awards include the two new categories of Building Belonging and Community Catalyst.
“What the committee noticed through some of the nominations (last year) is these were characteristics of some really remarkable, rising women, and they realized they should probably think about celebrating those two components as well,” says Whitehead.
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).
“The committee that is responsible for the Luminary Awards are women,” Whitehead notes. “They are women leaders, they believe in the power of women, they believe in the power of Peterborough. They really do believe that leadership and innovation and having vision is important, and so they are trying to pay attention to the nominees, the lucky recipients, and what’s actually happening in the community as things arise around women in business.”
Whitehead suggests it’s important that the awards not just celebrate women who are entrepreneurs or who have built a legacy running their own businesses, but that they also celebrate women at all levels and stages of their career — which is why the awards also include two employee award categories.
“Leadership doesn’t come with experience, it doesn’t come with age, it doesn’t come with expertise, it doesn’t come with those things that can be typically associated with recognition” Whitehead says. “Leadership and setting an example and being a luminary can happen to anybody at any time because of who they are and what they do.”
“I think it’s important to remember that we’re celebrating who women are almost in their natural state and that’s why it’s important to have the different levels, different stages, and different accomplishments to look at. Leadership and lighting the world up happens at all ages and stages.”
With the exception of the Barrier Buster category where self-nominations will be considered, all categories are only open for peer nomination. The nominator will be asked to provide a brief overview explaining why the nominee is a candidate.
“We really want this to be a celebration of recognition, and the Barrier Buster category is one that we agreed to accept self-nominations for because it’s a different story to tell,” says Whitehead. “Not everyone knows how high somebody has risen above the barriers that are put in front of them, but we know our own stories from that perspective and some of them may be very surprising.”
Following the end of nominations on January 26, women who have been nominated will be notified in early February and invited to submit a full application package. The Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce will also be hosting an orientation session for nominees to learn more about the process and to ask questions.
Whitehead explains that many women who were nominated last year “couldn’t believe” they had been recognized by their peers, demonstrating the significance of the nomination process itself.
“It reminds them that the work they do is important,” says Whitehead. “It also reminds them that they can overcome things, that we all have our own story to tell, and that we need to pause and look at what women in business are doing.”
The award recipients will be announced and celebrated during an event scheduled for Thursday, May 7. More information and ticket sales will follow.
“The positivity from that first event has really amplified things so that we could add a couple more categories this year, and we’ll continue to watch the program sparkle and really light up the community,” says Whitehead. “Everybody knows a woman and it’s time that we give them ‘flowers’ for the great work they’re doing — those flowers are the nominations.”
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 contact 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.
