Fredericton, NB – June 11, 2019 | Today, Startup Canada joined forces with Startup Fredericton and Opportunities NB to celebrate and recognize the top entrepreneurs, businesses and support organizations in Atlantic Canada at the 2019 Startup Canada Awards ceremony. The ceremony marked the conclusion of the inaugural Startup Festival Week NB – a week-long celebration of New Brunswick entrepreneurship.
The Atlantic Canada region ceremony was hosted by two of Fredericton’s top entrepreneurs and startup community builders — Laura O’Blenis, Founder of Stiletto Consulting, and Norm Couturier, Leader of Startup Fredericton and President of 3D Planeta.
Nine winners from across Atlantic Canada were announced at the highly-anticipated ceremony held at the Fredericton Convention Centre. The evening’s guests included leading Canadian investors, innovators, and anchor company executives. Various government officials and leaders joined to deliver welcoming remarks and congratulate the regional winners including Minister Mary Wilson, the Minister of Economic Development and Small Business; Mr. David Coon, MLA for Fredericton South; and Mr. Michael O’Brien, the Mayor of Fredericton and Stephen Lund the CEO of Opportunities New Brunswick
We were thrilled to announce the launch of Startup Restigouche which is now one of more than 50 grassroots communities that empower and support entrepreneurs across Canada.
“Congratulations to all our 2019 Startup Canada winners” said Anastasia Valentine, Chief Executive Director of Startup Canada. “We are honoured to recognize vibrant entrepreneurs and disruptors across Canada. Each recipient is highly contributing to building our nation’s economy and strengthening the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. It makes me proud to celebrate the talent and achievements of each one of our winners. Thank you for being community builders, and role models for future generations.”
“We are happy to celebrate these outstanding Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs and support organizations. We have some world-class entrepreneurs right here and these awards help to shed some limelight on their achievements,” said Norm Couturier – Community Leader for Startup Fredericton & Co-Lead for Startup NB. “Congratulations to all the nominees and winners for making it to the stage – we look forward to seeing our winners on the national stage later this year.”
The 2019 Atlantic Region Winners are:
Larry Shaw (Fredericton, NB)
Entrepreneur Promotion Award
sponsored by Intuit Quickbooks
Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) (Fredericton, NB)
Entrepreneur Support Award
sponsored by Intuit Quickbooks
ThermalWood Canada (Bathurst, NB)
Global Entrepreneurship Award
sponsored by UPS Canada
Sona Nanotech Inc. (Halifax, NS)
Innovation Award
sponsored by Intuit Quickbooks
SucSeed (St. John’s, NL)
Social Enterprise Award
sponsored by Sovereign Insurance
HeyOrca (St. John’s, NL)
High-Growth Entrepreneurship Award
sponsored by Mastercard Canada
Natasha Dhayagude (Fredericton, NB)
Woman Entrepreneur Award
sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada
Noah Donovan (Quispamsis, NB)
Young Entrepreneur Award
sponsored by Scotiabank
Gary F. Keenan (Fredericton, NB)
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
sponsored by Scotiabank
In addition to the regional winners, the Startup Canada Awards Adjudication Committee also recognized eight other outstanding entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations as honourable mentions during the ceremony. Honourable mentions went to Planet Hatch, Proposify, SomaDetect, EhEye, ProcedureFlow, Bethany Deshpande, Harrison Smith, and Hal Somers.
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 Toronto in October 2019.
The Startup Canada Awards are supported by organizations from across Canada
The Startup Canada Awards are proudly supported by presenting sponsors Intuit Quickbooks and Sovereign Insurance; in partnership with Business Development Bank of Canada, UPS Canada, Scotiabank, and Mastercard Canada; with special supported by African Bronze Honey, Abeego, Firebean Coffee, Newfoundland Chocolate Company, Drizzle, Manitobah Mukluks, Her Braids, and Purdy’s Chocolatier.
The Startup Canada Awards for Atlantic Canada were regionally sponsored by Opportunities NB, the regional presenting sponsor and Freeman Audio Visual.
For more information and to schedule interviews, please contact:
Rachelle DeSorcy
Media Relations, Startup Canada
819-664-8701
rachelle.desorcy@startupcan.ca
Norm Couturier
norm@startupfredericton.ca
506-451-3461
ABOUT THE STARTUP CANADA AWARDS
The annual Startup Canada Awards are the hallmark event that celebrate and recognize those driving impact and demonstrating excellence in Canada’s entrepreneurship and innovation community. The objectives of the Startup Canada Awards are to:
- Celebrate those working to advance entrepreneurship in Canada;
- Increase awareness of the importance of strengthening Canada’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and culture; and,
- Incentivize efforts and elevate the ambitions of the Canadian entrepreneurial and innovation community.
For more information, visit www.startupaward.ca.
ABOUT STARTUP CANADA
Startup Canada is the national rallying community and voice for Canada’s 2.3 million entrepreneurs. Since launching in 2012, Startup Canada has grown to represent more than 200,000 entrepreneurs and 50 grassroots communities from coast to coast to coast. Through digital programs and flagship events, Startup Canada is the network promoting, inspiring, educating, connecting and giving a voice to Canada’s entrepreneurs; supporting them to start, operate and scale businesses that build a better Canada for the world today and for future generations. For more information, visit www.startupcan.ca.