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    OUR STORY

    StriveYPG was developed in 2012 by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce to fill a representation gap for individuals between the ages of 19 to 40. This subcommittee of the Sault’s Chamber of Commerce has an elected executive, which is rotated annually based on its active membership votes. The elected executive of Strive works with other groups, individuals, and businesses inside the community to provide networking events, learning development opportunities, and community involvement initiatives.

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  • THE VISION

    To assist young professionals in reaching higher potential through community development, networking events, training opportunities, and recognizing achievements for the purpose of attraction and retention in the community.

    To be recognized as the principal representing body of young professionals in Sault Ste. Marie. Through our membership and community involvement, we can work together to make an impact in our community and provide a voice for young professionals. These benefits will provide an incentive for young professionals to stay and grow within the city of Sault Ste. Marie.

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  • WHAT WE DO

    StriveYPG is the voice of young professionals aged 19–40. As elected members of a subcommittee with the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, we work with other groups, individuals, and businesses in our community to provide networking events, learning development opportunities, and community involvement initiatives.


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  • GET INVOLVED!

    Members of StriveYPG gain access to networking opportunities to help grow social and professional connections. Gain access to workshops and training sessions, meet others and develop meaningful working relationships.

     

     


    Are you ready to take your professional journey to new heights? Join the vibrant community of entrepreneurs and local young professionals at Strive and gain access to a world of opportunities, connections, and exclusive benefits.

    With an individual membership priced at just $40 per year, you'll enjoy a host of privileges designed to support your growth and success. From access to all our enticing perks to participation in most Chamber of Commerce events, including the prestigious Algoma Visionary Awards (AVA's), your membership opens doors to invaluable networking opportunities and professional development resources.

    But that's not all – as a Strive member, you'll also gain entry to a range of curated events, workshops, and training sessions aimed at enhancing your skills, expanding your knowledge, and fostering meaningful connections within the community.

    Take the first step towards a journey filled with growth, empowerment, and limitless possibilities by joining Strive today!


     

  • ALGOMA VISIONARY AWARDS

    The Algoma Visionary Awards Gala is the pinnacle event in our calendar, a cherished occasion dedicated to honouring the outstanding contributions and achievements of young leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, volunteers, and mentors throughout the Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma region.

    At AVA's, we proudly spotlight 16 remarkable young professionals who exemplify excellence in leadership, community engagement, professional achievement, volunteerism, and mentorship. These individuals are the driving force behind positive change and innovation in our community, inspiring others through their dedication, passion, and vision.

    Our award categories encompass both the Awards of Distinction, recognizing overall excellence and outstanding contributions, and Industry Awards, highlighting achievements within specific sectors.

    Join us as we come together to celebrate the spirit of innovation, service, and leadership that defines the Algoma region. Together, let's honor and applaud the incredible accomplishments of our young professionals and pave the way for a brighter, more vibrant future for all.

     

  • Previous Recipients

  • 2025 2025

    • Arts, Music & Culture Industry Award sponsored by the Strive Young Professionals Group – Lucia Laford
    • Business Administration Industry Award sponsored by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce – Steph Luciani
    • Consumer & Retail Industry Award sponsored by the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area – Sophia Stone
    • Environment & Natural Resources Industry Award sponsored by Sault College – Stevie Luzzi
    • Health Sciences Industry Award sponsored by Sault Area Hospital – Sheena Erhardt
    • Hospitality & Tourism Industry Award sponsored by Destination Northern Ontario – Chad Coombs
    • Lifestyle & Wellness Industry Award sponsored by Dr. Floreani, O'Toole & Dool Orthodontists/Straight Smile – Erin Mezzomo
    • Public & Social Services Industry Award sponsored by Stone’s Office Supply Inc.  – Mansi Goyal
    • Trades & Labour Industry Award sponsored by PUC Services Inc. – Nikki Bouchard
    • Business/Professional Development Achievement Award of Distinction sponsored by Algoma Steel Inc. – Elise Schofield
    • Community Champion and Civic Pride Award of Distinction sponsored by Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation (OLG) – Luis Moreno
    • Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award of Distinction sponsored by Rogers Sports & Media – Robin Sutherland
    • Leadership Award of Distinction sponsored by the Algoma Workforce Investment Corporation – Michela Febbraro
    • Newcomer Achievement Award of Distinction sponsored by InterCultural Avec Immigration Inc. (iCA) – Mayesha Verma
    • Indigenous Visionary Award of Distinction sponsored by Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation (OLG) – Jonathan Boyer-Nolan
    • ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award of Distinction sponsored by Enbridge Inc. – Meaghan Kent
    • Young Professional of the Year Award of Distinction sponsored by Algoma University – Lucia Laford
  • 2024 2024

    • Arts, Music & Culture Industry Award sponsored by Skeggs Paciocco Lawyers – Taylor Jolin 
    • Business Administration Industry Award sponsored by Lallemand Plant Care – Ashley Valela 
    • Consumer & Retail Industry Award sponsored by The Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie – Connie Carello 
    • Environment & Natural Resources Industry Award sponsored by BrandHNB Consulting Inc. – Emily Cormier 
    • Health Sciences Industry Award sponsored by Health & Safety Professionals Inc. – Ashley Irwin 
    • Hospitality & Tourism Industry Award sponsored by Destination Northern Ontario – Julia Bungay 
    • Lifestyle & Wellness Industry Award sponsored by Dr. Floreani, O'Toole & Dool Orthodontists - Maria Coccimiglio 
    • Public & Social Services Industry Award sponsored by Stone’s Office Supply Inc.  – Samantha Boyer 
    • Trades & Labour Industry Award sponsored by PUC Services – Krishna Bharatia 
    • Business Professional Development Achievement sponsored by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce – Spencer Hogan 
    • Community Champion and Civic Pride presented by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) – Erica Hogan 
    • Excellence in Entrepreneurship sponsored by Rogers Sports and Media – Brittany Kennedy 
    • Leadership sponsored by the Algoma Workforce Investment Corporation – Piyush Shukla 
    • Young ATHENA presented by the 2000 – 2023 ATHENA Recipients – Erica Hogan 
    • Young Professional of the Year sponsored by Algoma University – Ashley Irwin 
  • 2023 2023

    • Arts, Music & Culture Industry Award sponsored by Skeggs Paciocco Lawyers – Patrick Hunter
    • Business Administration Industry Award sponsored by Lallemand Plant Care – Brianne Pringle
    • Consumer & Retail Industry Award sponsored by The Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie – Robin Weber
    • Environment & Natural Resources Industry Award sponsored by Lajoie Bros. Contracting – Carter Dorscht
    • Health Sciences Industry Award sponsored by Health & Safety Professionals Inc. – Danielle Ritsema
    • Hospitality & Tourism Industry Award sponsored by Destination Northern Ontario – Jamie Hilsinger
    • Information Technology Industry Award sponsored by Algoma Technology Services – Bassel Alkosani
    • Lifestyle & Wellness Industry Award sponsored by Dr. Floreani, O'Toole & Dool Orthodontists- Shawna Mornix
    • Public & Social Services Industry Award sponsored by Nogdawindamin Family & Community Services – Naomi Sayers
    • Trades & Labour Industry Award sponsored by PUC Services – Matthew Jakibchuk
    • Business Professional Development Achievement sponsored by Algoma Workforce Investment Corporation – Taylor Trecroce
    • Community Champion and Civic Pride presented by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation – Jairus Patterson
    • Excellence in Entrepreneurship sponsored by Sault Ste Marie Chamber of Commerce – Jane McGoldrick
    • Leadership sponsored by KMPG – Meaghan Kent
    • Young Professional of the Year sponsored by Algoma University – Naomi Sayers
    • Strive Member of the Year – Lovleen Sharma
  • 2022 2022

    • Arts, Music and Culture Industry Award sponsored by Skeggs Paciocco Lawyers – Meaghan Kent
    • Business Administration Industry Award sponsored by Lallemand Plant Care – Carly Creagh
    • Consumer and Retail Industry Award sponsored by The Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie – John Findlay
    • Environment and Natural Resources Industry Award sponsored by N1 Solutions – Elaine Ho-Tassone
    • Health Sciences Industry Award sponsored by Health and Safety Professionals Inc. – Nirosha Murugan
    • Hospitality and Tourism Industry Award sponsored by Destination Northern Ontario – Harsh Goyal
    • Information Technology Industry Award sponsored by Cavera – Steeson Mathew
    • Lifestyle and Wellness Industry Award sponsored by Dr. Floreani, O'Toole and Dool Orthodontists – Ali Greco
    • Public and Social Services Industry Award sponsored by Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services – Mitch Case
    • Trades and Labour Industry Award sponsored by Wardlaw Heating and Cooling – Kurtis McDermid
    • Business Professional Development Achievement sponsored by Algoma Workforce Investment Corporation – Carly Dool
    • Community Champion and Civic Pride sponsored by The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce – Marissa Ditoro
    • Excellence in Entrepreneurship sponsored by Sault Ste Marie Innovation Centre – Meaghan Kent
    • Leadership sponsored by Success with Digital – Harsh Goyal
    • Young Professional of the Year sponsored by Algoma University – Elaine Ho-Tassone
    • Strive Member of the Year – Katrina McMeeken
  • 2021 2021

    • Arts, Music & Culture - Annie King
    • Business Administration - Sophie Mackey
    • Consumer & Retail - Lauren DeVito
    • Environment & Natural Resources - Peter Greve
    • Health Sciences - Amanda Lambert
    • Hospitality & Tourism - John Armstrong
    • Information Technology - Tony Cavaliere
    • Lifestyle & Wellness - Katrina Francella
    • Public & Social Services - Caceila Trahan
    • Trades & Labour - Travis Seabrook
    • Business or Professional Development Achievement - Dave Thompson
    • Civic Pride - Katrina Francella
    • Community Champion - Krista Bissiallon
    • Excellence in Entrepreneurship - Lauren DeVito
    • Leadership - Liliana Bressan
    • Strive YPG Member of the Year - Emily Cormier
    • Strive Young Professional of the Year- Matthew Scott
  • 2020 2020

    • Arts, Music & Culture - Andrea Pinheiro
    • Business Administration - Lacey Petingalo
    • Consumer & Retail - Anthony Alfano
    • Environment & Natural Resources - Sandy Holmberg
    • Health Sciences - Amanda Richard
    • Hospitality & Tourism - Josh Ingram
    • Information Technology - Monique Morrison
    • Lifestyle & Wellness - Kyla Flaganely
    • Public & Social Services - Heather MacLary
    • Trades & Labour - Chad Leask
    • Business or Professional Development Achievement - Jennifer Matthewson
    • Civic Pride - Katrina Francella
    • Community Champion - Caceila Trahan
    • Excellence in Entrepreneurship - Diana Petainen
    • Leadership - Bridget Lamberts
    • Strive YPG Member of the Year - Patrick Lo
    • Strive YPG Game Changer - Katie Elliot
    • Striving Star - Erica Hogan
    • Strive YPG Male of the Year - Jeff Greco
    • Strive YPG Female of the Year - Jessica Belisle
  • 2019 2019

    • Arts & Culture: Miranda Bouchard
    • Business Administration: Derek Jackson 
    • Consumer & Retail: Kristina Koprash
    • Environmental & Natural Resources: Josh Ingribelli
    • Health Sciences: Tyler Onofrio
    • Hospitality & Tourism: Lindsey Ackland
    • Information Technology: Ryan Creagh
    • Lifestyle & Wellness: Alysia Mitchell
    • Public & Social Services: Ashley Daybutch-Bell
    • Trades & Labour: Kourtney Greco
    • Community Champion Recipient: Katrina Francella
    • Civic Price Recipient: Sandy Holmberg
    • Leadership Recipient: Jillian Sauerzopf
    • Business & Professional Achievement Recipient: Jane McGoldrick
    • Excellence in Entrepreneurship Recipient: Kevin Rusnell
    • Striving Star Recipient: Sarah Hollingsworth
    • Strive Game Changer Recipient: Will Hollingshead
    • Strive Member of The Year: Matthew Lance
    • Strive Male Young Professional of the Year Recipient: Ty Onofrio
    • Strive Female Young Professional of the Year Recipient: Ashley Daybutch-Bell
  • 2018 2018

    • Top 10 - Arts & Culture - Julia Piskiewicz
    • Top 10 - Business Administration - Luke Stilin
    • Top 10 – Education -Micaela Mansfield
    • Top 10 - Environmental Science - Michael Pratt
    • Top 10 - Health & Wellness - Jillian Ingribelli
    • Top 10 - Hospitality & Leisure - Erinn Esklisson
    • Top 10 - Public Service - Tessa Vecchio
    • Top 10 - Sales & Retail - Allison Kantovaara
    • Top 10 - Science & Technology - Jeff Greco
    • Top 10 – Trades - Tyler Rains
    • Community Champion - Katie Blunt
    • Leadership - Matthew Shoemaker
    • Business/Professional Development  Achievement - Angela Caputo
    • Civic Pride - Jasmyn Rowley
    • Excellence in Entrepreneurship - Katrina Thibodeau
    • Striving Star - Brianne Veale
    • Strive Game Changer - Robin Sutherland
    • Strive Member of the Year - Nelson Grant
    • Strive Male Young Professional of the Year - Paul Caputo
    • Female Young Professional Of The Year - Karen Lefave