The Orillia Business Women’s Association (OBWA) has announced the two nominees for its coveted Nelle Carter Woman of the Year award, which will be presented at a gala June 8 at the Best Western Plus Mariposa Inn and Conference Centre (400 Memorial Ave.).
The Woman of the Year award is given to a woman who is respected for her outstanding work in the community, in the workplace, at home or all three but especially in the community.
This will be the 31st year of celebrating the Nelle Carter Woman of the Year.
This year’s gala will mark the 17th year the organization will present the Lisa Brooking Young Woman of the Year.
The Young Woman of the Year must demonstrate high scholastic achievement, participation in extra school activities, and volunteer work in the community and must be seeking post-secondary education.
The young women nominees are selected by their respective schools.
The voting for the Woman of the Year and Young Woman of the Year winners is done by independent, anonymous citizens from the area.
Tickets are available now on the group’s website only and they must be purchased by June 2 at 3 p.m. For more information, email the organizers at networking@
Nelle Carter Woman of the Year nominees
Tracey King
Tracey King is a part-owner of Tapps Performing Arts Studio in Orillia. She creates extra classes and will work later to help the kids reach their goals; often these extra classes are on her own time. Her passion finds her working with them year and after year, placing them in different classes to meet their needs. If there isn’t a class, she will make one.
King is constantly volunteering, both personally and through Tapps Studio with a variety of sponsorships. She volunteers with Orillia Minor Lacrosse, at Canada Day festivities, the Winter Carnival, Hewitt’s Farms and the Santa Claus Parade.
With the restrictions caused by COVID-19 over the last two years, King did not let that stop her. She understood the increased needs her students had. She did many things to try to keep dance a part of the kids’ lives.
She offered Zoom classes, outdoor classes and created an outdoor stage so they could have an end-of-the-year recital wherein their performances were recorded. These are designed for girls and boys to participate. She offers her lessons with loving encouragement and always tries to teach the kids life skills through dance.
King has hundreds of kids attending her school and not only works with them but also attends other games, shows and events they are in as a continuing show of support. By going above and beyond with her inspiration, she has selflessly had an amazing impact on families and the kids she teaches.
Amy Lewis
Amy Lewis runs a cloud-based bookkeeping practice, Lewis Bookkeeping Inc., serving Orillia and the surrounding area for approximately four years.
Lewis is involved in the bookkeeping community in Canada and a member of organizations sharing best practices and updates bookkeepers need to serve the public interest. She is constantly improving herself, her business as an employer, the way her business serves the community at large, frequently hiring co-op students and women re-entering the workforce.
She often helps direct individuals in need to programs and organizations that can provide education, funding and other direct support if she is unable to help them personally or through her business.
Since moving to Orillia in her late teens, she has been involved with several organizations, serving on the board of directors of Simcoe Contemporary Dancers, and has also volunteered with Mariposa Art Theatre and the Bravado Show Choir, where she was the treasurer. Lewis currently volunteers with the Salvation Army, the Orillia Silver Band and the Muskoka Concert Band. Her love of art and music continues to motivate her to change the conversation with regard to professionals being involved in the art community.
Lewis strives to be a person she would have looked up to growing up. She feels it is important all young women know they are supported and loved by other women in their communities. She has been very impactful in the lives of a few and has touched the lives of many, setting them up for future successes.
Lisa Brooking Young Woman of the Year Nominees
Olivia Emon (Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School)
Olivia Emon is a driven, trustworthy, mature, insightful young woman who has made a tremendous impact on school and community life. She is dedicated to improving the student experience at Patrick Fogarty. She mentors incoming Grade 9 students, served as a peer ministry student in the Student Support Resource Centre and on student council since Grade 9. She worked on the prom committee, annual Relay for Life, and volunteers during countless school and parish events.
She is dedicated to pursing a future in medicine. Her course load is extremely challenging, filled with many math and science courses, all studied at the academic/university level, with a current average of more than 96 per cent. Her intellect and dedication is evident in both her written work and classroom discussions.
Her community involvement includes being a competitive dancer at Tapps Performing Art Centre since 2007, volunteer dance teacher, and competitive hockey with the Orillia Hawks. She took part in a Leader in Training Program at Youth Leadership Camps Canada in 2019.
Recognizing a unique need during the COVID-19 pandemic, Emon grocery shopped and delivered essentials for residents of Tudhope Manor. She also volunteers at the hospital in both the pediatric department and as a porter.
Emon is a true leader in every sense of the word. Throughout COVID-19 school closures, she organized virtual events and now, this year, planned countless insightful events for the student body. She is passionate about helping others. In her future vocation as a doctor, she will no doubt balance her mastery of medicine with compassion and a respect for the dignity of all she serves.
Peyton Nie (Orillia Secondary School)
Peyton Nie will be graduating from OSS this year, where she has been on the honour roll each year with a more than 90 per cent average. Nie plans on continuing her education at Brock University for its concurrent education program, majoring in history. She would like to go on to become a secondary school teacher, where she can continue to motivate by making a change and a positive impact on her community.
While attending OSS, Nie has been a member of several groups and clubs within the school and community. Within her high school community these included Students for Change, student council, Link Crew, OSS swimming, OSS rowing, junior stage band, intermediate stage band, BrazzleDazzle, junior concert band, senior concert band, OSS Relay for Life and OSS badminton.
Outside the doors of OSS, Nie was a member of the Orillia Channel Cats and has since moved on to becoming the captain. She has also been a member of the Orillia Rowing Club and is now its social media co-ordinator.
Nie has been a recipient of many awards over the years for her contributions to the many clubs and teams she has participated in while attending OSS. They include the Optimism Award in English, and Rotary Student of the Month. During her time with the Orillia Channel Cats, Nie has won the Wavemaker Award of Excellence, Award of Merit and the Esprit de Corps. As a member of the Orillia Rowing Club, she won the Judy Gaudaur Memorial Award of Enthusiasm and Volunteerism, and Female Rower of the Year.
Kayleigh Noble (Twin Lakes Secondary School)
Kayleigh Noble wants to shoot for the stars. Being a formidable academic and athletic student, achieving honour roll with distinction (average of more than 90 per cent), she will no doubt achieve that.
Noble manages her academic and athletic endeavours with a positive energy and spirit. She participates in many extracurricular and volunteer activities with drive and passion.
Her volunteer contributions and her passion for helping others are an integral part of who Noble is. She is a Link Crew leader helping Grade 9 students manoeuvre high school. She contributes to the yearbook, is a grad wear organizer, raises money for muscular dystrophy through boot drives with Barrie Fire, and volunteers with Stamp Out Hunger. Noble also finds time to volunteer with the Great Lakes Canadians baseball team. She runs a charitable thrift business and volunteers with food and toy drives.
Her passion for helping others is a huge part of who she is. She feels her personal qualities include being dependable, honest, reliable, hardworking, and trustworthy. She is very goal oriented. Whether the goals she sets are small and achievable or are larger and tougher, whether sports related or academic related, she is bound and determined to reach them. In her words, “baby steps first.”
Noble is excited for the future and what it may have in store for her. Playing university volleyball is a dream of hers. She hopes to receive a degree in English and then return home to Orillia to teach. She would love to pass on to students the lessons she learned from her elementary teachers.
