Mayor's Innovation Awards

Thursday, November 27, 2025|6:00–9:00pm

Organization

Invest Barrie

Phone

(705) 728-9850

The seventh Mayor’s Innovation Awards is aimed to discover stories of strength, creativity and adaptation from across the city of Barrie. These awards recognize businesses, individuals and organizations whose innovative approaches and sheer determination contribute to a resilient foundation for our city.

Five award categories are returning in 2025, including Pivot Point, Creative Collaboration, Youth Innovator, Research & Innovation Contribution and crowd favourite, Shift Disturber. The Municipal Innovation category, which debuted in 2023, will also return, showcasing the City of Barrie’s commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in public service; this category has a separate nomination/submission process.

Nominations

Nominations for the Mayor's Innovation Awards 2025 closed on July 21, 2025 at 11:59pm. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination. Nominations will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges from across the region and the province.

Award Categories

Pivot Point

Recognizing a company or organization that has discovered and pursued opportunity to grow in unexpected directions when faced with market or operational challenges. A need to purposefully take action with risk was addressed and implemented. They have assessed, adapted and evolved with key changes to their business model or processes that show promising results. Actions may include new revenue sources, new uses for products, evolving to service new needs and more.

Gallery exhibit. There is a large pyramid structure in a room. The structure has colourful panes that are lit internally.

Crowd gathered in gallery room. There is art projected on the gallery walls.

Creative Collaboration

Recognizing two or more companies or organizations that have forged an alliance and reached new heights or achievements that they couldn't have reached alone. Contributions may be across sectors, industries, geographies or verticals. Milestones may span the development of new products, services, supply chains, operations and beyond!

Research & Innovation Contribution

Recognizing industry and academic researchers, as well as entrepreneurs, whose innovative activities have had high impact on their individual business or sector, engaging knowledge users throughout the process.

Person pointing at digital display. There is an icon of a head with gear silhouettes being prominently displayed.

Silhouette of large group of people in celebratory poses.

Youth Innovator

Showcasing youths’ creations and demonstrating the incredible learning that comes through entrepreneurship. This award encourages youth entrepreneurs of all types – from students working on capstone projects to those working on their own non-profit, for-profit or social enterprise – to develop their ideas, products/ services, or even improvements for an existing product or procedure. A monetary award will be assigned for the winner to put towards their venture. To be eligible, nominees must be under the age of 25 at the time of applying and either a full-time student or returning to school full-time in the next academic year.

Shift Disturber

Recognizing an individual who has championed innovation in their organization or community. Where others see opposition, they see opportunity. This individual is a powerhouse of creative problem solving, shaking up norms and spearheading strategic solutions in the midst of uncertainty.

Two performers doing light art at night. The moon is visible in the sky.

Municipal Innovation

Recognizes the individuals, teams, and departments at the City of Barrie for their commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in public service. Public nominations are not accepted for this category; projects are brought forward through a separate submission process.

Award Trophies

Local digital artists and graphic designers were invited to design the trophy that will be awarded at the seventh annual Mayor’s Innovation Awards. Proposal designs were due by May 12 at 5pm. The winning design will be fabricated by the Georgian College Makerspace. The call to artists remains available for reference.

Collaborating Partners

The Mayor's Innovation Awards is a massive community initiative that encompasses collaboration and bold new ways of moving forward in an ever-changing climate. Please stay tuned for 2025 sponsors.

Invest Barrie

Small Business Centre

Event Photos

Glass awards presented at the ceremony — 2024 trophies designed and created by Dwight Lahay, Georgian College MakerSpace Facilitator, and Nic Rodrigo, a Barrie-based artist and the sculpture technician for Georgian's Design and Visual Arts department

Group shot of award winners and Mayor Nuttall — Mayor's Innovation Awards 2024

Pivot Point Award Winners and Mayor Nuttall — 2024 Pivot Point | Mitch Greene, Ripley Antonacci, Mayor Alex Nuttall, Dr. Chris Zanette, Leanne Weeks & Sponsor, Steve Loftus of Innovative Automation

Mayor Nuttall presenting a giant cheque for $750 to the Youth Innovator award winner — 2024 Youth Innovator | Cristhian Cruz, Mayor Alex Nuttall & Sponsor, Graydon Ebert of Ain Whitehead LLP

Mayor Nuttall and the Shift Disturber award winner — 2024 Shift Disturber | Mayor Alex Nuttall, Jesse Kerr & Sponsor, Chris Adams of Adams Hamilton

Person digitally drawing another person — Mayor's Innovation Awards 2024 | Steve Loftus and local artist, Linda Laforge

Mayor's Innovation Awards 2024 | Stephannie Schlichter, Director of Invest Barrie, delivers an interview about the event for CTV

Podium and chairs set up for the Mayor's Innovation Awards — Mayor's Innovation Awards 2024 | Audio visual provided by local Barrie company, Multi Tech Audio Visual

Past Winners

2024 Winners

The winners of the sixth Mayor’s Innovation Awards were announced at the ceremony on November 28, 2024. Watch the 2024 Mayor's Innovation Awards playlist to learn about each winner.