September 19, 2017 | Whitehorse | Startup Canada
Startup Canada, the national rallying community for Canadian entrepreneurs, today named seven outstanding entrepreneurs, businesses and support organizations from all over Canada’s Northern region as winners of the fourth annual Startup Canada Awards. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Whitehorse, YT, attended by leading Canadian investors, innovators and anchor company executives.
The ceremony was hosted by Startup Whitehorse, YuKonstruct and (co) space – three organizations working in collaboration to help businesses start-up in the North.
“Hosting the Startup Canada North Awards this year has created sparks of new energy and motivation in our community,” said Lauren Manekin Beille, Director at (co)space, YuKonstruct Makerspace Society. “Our entrepreneurial ecosystem has come alive in new ways and innovative trailblazers have been coming out of the woodwork. This event has given Startup Whitehorse, (co)space and Yukonstruct a path to show the north just how much support there is up here to help bring to life our community’s startup ideas.”
“Congratulations to all of this year’s 2017 regional award winners,” said Victoria Lennox, Founder and CEO of Startup Canada. “Each and every one of these outstanding recipients have an immense impact on the future of Canada and they all represent the greatness and diversity of our nation’s entrepreneurship community.”
The 2017 North Regional Award Winners are:
- Chris Lane, Partner, MakeIT & Northmark Ventures | Entrepreneur of the Year, presented by Scotiabank
- Heather Dickson, Founder, Dickson Designs | Woman Entrepreneur Award, , presented by Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
- Mike Russo, Founder, Firebean Coffee Roasters | Young Entrepreneur Award, presented by BDC
- Robert Sharp, Founder, Yukon Green House Design | Senior Entrepreneur Award, presented by BDC
- YuKonstruct | Entrepreneur Support Award
- Proskida | Innovation Award, presented by Intuit QuickBooks
- Pinnguaq | Social Enterprise Award, , presented by Centre for Social Innovation
These winners join an esteemed network of award alumni including the Right Honourable Paul Martin, founder of the Capital for Aboriginal Prosperity and Entrepreneurship (CAPE) Fund, Mike Lazaridis, co-founder of Blackberry, Zita Cobb, founder of Shorefast Foundation, and Dax Dasilva, founder and CEO of Lightspeed, among others.
The regional winners will now be evaluated by the National Adjudication Committee; comprised of some of Canada’s leading entrepreneurship and industry experts. The national winners will be celebrated at the Startup Canada Awards Grand Finale in Ottawa on October 19, 2017 following Startup Canada Day on the Hill. Startup Canada Day on the Hill is Canada’s largest national entrepreneurship event convening leading entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, industry executives, and government representatives annually to raise the bar for Canada as a globally competitive innovation nation.
The Startup Canada Awards are proudly presented by Mastercard Canada and Scotiabank in partnership with Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Opportunities NB, UPS Canada, Intuit Quickbooks, MNP LLP, Lockheed Martin, Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), VIA Rail Canada, and Best Western.
For more information and to secure your media pass, please contact:
Lindsay Bright
Marketing, Communications and Digital Production Administrator
lindsay.bright@startupcan.ca
613-791-1743
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is the leading national social enterprise supporting and giving a voice to entrepreneurs through online programs, national awards, flagship events, partnerships with private sector and government to foster a community for startup and small business success across the country. Learn more at www.startupcan.ca.