MineConnect’s Marla Tremblay named one of Canada’s most powerful women
Marla Tremblay, a long-time leader in Northern Ontario's economic development scene, is being recognized with a 2025 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award.
Presented by the Women's Executive Network (WXN), the annual list draws from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors to recognize leaders from across the country for their contributions.
Winners are selected by WXN's Global Alliance for Inclusive Leadership, a partnership of established and influential corporations committed to helping women rise and lead.
Tremblay is the executive director of MineConnect, the organization representing Ontario's mining supply and service sector.
She took on the role in 2021 after serving as a board member since 2019.
“At MineConnect, Ontario’s mining supply and services association, Marla Tremblay has led significant membership growth, expanded operations provincewide, and strengthened industry advocacy,” reads the WXN synopsis on her achievements.
“With over 25 years in economic and business development, she is a bilingual certified economic developer committed to workforce development, Indigenous engagement and promoting women in mining. She has played a key role in major industry initiatives, including the award-winning Northern Ontario Mining Showcase.”
The Showcase is an annual exhibit at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference, giving more than 100 Northern Ontario mining supply and service companies an opportunity to network, exhibit their products and services, and connect with potential buyers.
“Marla’s passion for collaboration and her unwavering commitment to strengthening Ontario’s mining service and supply sector have not only elevated MineConnect’s members but have built lasting partnerships across communities, industry, and government,” MineConnect said in an online post.
“Her recognition as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women is a testament to her leadership, advocacy, and the impact she continues to make in advancing opportunities for others in the mining ecosystem.”
Tremblay also runs her own consulting company, Markey Consulting, working with public and private sector clients, and across industries.
A long-time venture that has benefitted from her work is the Northern Ontario Agri-food Pavilion, held annually at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
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Like the mining showcase, the Pavilion provides space for Northern Ontario agricultural and agri-food producers to showcase their goods and services, exposing them to new markets and potential clients.
The event is an initiative of the City of Temiskaming Shores and is funded by FedNor, but all the organization is done by Tremblay, who was previously an economic development officer with the City of North Bay, where she specialized in the immigration and mining portfolios.
Award winners will be recognized during a celebratory dinner and gala Nov. 27 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.