About Orillia Business Women’s Association

NOTE: OBWA Annual Membership fee is $100.
Membership renewals will be due on or before September 1st annually and will expire on August 31^st annually. This will make it easier for the executive and for the members to remember when they need to renew. You can pay your membership now via the ONLINE PAYMENT link on the website www.orilliabusinesswomen.com.

Founded in 1987, The Orillia Business Women’s Association is a non-profit, non-fundraising group that gathers in a safe and welcoming space for the purpose of networking, to build relationships, to showcase  businesses, to learn from others & the guest speaker, to establish support and to have fun.  ALL women in business are welcome.

The NEW Venue!
Our networking dinner meetings will be taking place at Bayside Restaurant located inside Barnfield Point at 500 Atherley Rd, Orillia, ON L3V 8B4.

We meet the second Wednesday of every month (except July and August) but always check our social media and the monthly bulletin for full details regarding the upcoming meeting in case there are changes. At the meetings a networking table is available to our paid members to display business cards, collateral and products. We begin the night with networking at 5:30 and dinner will be served at 6:30 pm. After dinner  a presentation by a guest speaker or another type of activity depending on the month will take place.

New Networking Dinner Ticket Purchase:
To attend our monthly networking dinner meetings you must purchase a dinner ticket each month based on your current standing with the OBWA, they are as follows:

Current Member Ticket is $30 – Select if you are a paid OBWA member in good standing.
Honorary Member Ticket is $35 – Select if you are a past WOTY or YWOTY recipient.
Visitor/Guest Ticket is $40 – Select if you are a guest of an OBWA member or visiting for the 1^st time.

Networking Dinner Meeting Ticket price includes: 
Venue, a set meal that will consist of salad, meal, dessert, coffee, tea, tax & gratuity (vegetarian option available) please see newsletter or bulletin for full meal details per month as it may change from time to time. A time of networking, introductions, business of the month, news and events, a guest speaker and overall a time of women supporting women in business.

Please note: alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase $.

Important: We will not be accepting walk-ins. Networking Dinner ticket purchase is mandatory.

Please purchase your networking dinner ticket before 3PM the Friday before our schedule meeting so we can let the venue know in advance how many meals, table set up and staffing will be require.
 

The Nelle Carter Woman of the Year & the Lisa Brooking Young Woman of the Year Event

Every year, the OBWA hosts the Nelle Carter Woman of the Year Awards & Lisa Brooking Young Woman of the Year Gala Dinner & Awards night. The Woman of the Year Award is given to someone respected for her outstanding work in her community, in the workplace, at home, or all three. The Young Woman of the Year nominees are chosen by their respective school’s staff. The nominees must demonstrate high scholastic achievement, participation in extra school activities, volunteer work in the community and be seeking post-secondary education.

The Woman and Young Woman of the Year Gala 2025, was an incredible sold out event. We are once again in the throes of preparation for our upcoming 2026 Woman of the Year and Young Woman of the Year gala event that will be held on May 20, 2026 at the HawkRidge Golf Club 1151 Hurlwood Lane, Severn, ON L3V 0Y6. 

Tickets will be available to purchase online through this link https://orilliabusinesswomen.com/GalaTickets at a later date or by visiting the OBWA website under the Online Payments menu tab and select Gala Tickets. The dinner menu is posted on the ticket link. If you have any questions please send them to networking@orilliabusinesswomen.com.

The WOTY & YWOTY Gala will be a fabulous evening hosted by the OBWA stay tuned for more details to come.

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About the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee meets on the Monday following the OBWA Dinner each month to review and plan the operation of the Association and to discuss how the dinner meeting went. This committee makes policies for the group and keeps things running smoothly. Motions affecting the members-at-large are brought forward at the dinner meetings if necessary and  are voted on by the paid members present. Ideas and suggestions are always welcome from the members because it is their group.