Vancouver, BC – May 13, 2019 | Today, Startup Canada joined forces with Startup Vancouver to celebrate and recognize the top entrepreneurs, businesses and support organizations in the BC at the 2019 Startup Canada Awards – BC Region ceremony. This year’s Startup Canada Awards in the BC region will be hosted by two of Vancouver’s finest – Katrina Carroll-Foster, CEO of Kollectively Business Strategies and Startup Canada Awards recipient, and Vivian Chan, Owner of Vivian Chan Consulting and Co-Chair of Vancouver Startup Week.
Ten winners from across the province were announced at the highly-anticipated ceremony held at the Imperial Theatre. The evening’s guests included leading Canadian investors, innovators, anchor company executives, and government officials.
“Congratulations to the 2019 winners of the Startup Canada Awards,” said Victoria Lennox, Co-Founder and President 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. We are proud to celebrate excellence and enduring impact across Canada by recognizing the entrepreneurs, innovators and support ecosystem making it happen.”
“Congratulations to all our 2019 Startup Canada BC winners!,”said Colin Weston, Community Leader of Startup Vancouver. “The depth and diversity of entrepreneurial talent in our province continues to blow me away, as the quality of the nominations gets stronger each year. I am very grateful and honored to be part of our vibrant innovation ecosystem which gives me and our Community Builders the opportunity to be connected to something bigger than ourselves.”
The 2019 British Columbia Region Winners are:
Bonnie Foley-Wong (Vancouver, BC)
Entrepreneur Promotion Award
sponsored by Intuit Quickbooks
TRU Generator (Kamloops, BC)
Entrepreneur Support Award
sponsored by Intuit Quickbooks
Iskwew Air Inc. (Vancouver, BC)
Entrepreneur’s Choice Award
RYU Apparel (Vancouver, BC)
Global Entrepreneurship Award
sponsored by UPS Canada
REITIUM (Vancouver, BC)
Innovation Award
sponsored by Intuit Quickbooks
NADA (Vancouver, BC)
Social Enterprise Award
sponsored by Sovereign Insurance
Immersive Tech (Vancouver, BC)
High-Growth Entrepreneurship Award
sponsored by Mastercard Canada
Mandy Potter (Vancouver, BC)
Woman Entrepreneur Award
sponsored by Business Development Bank of Canada
Sam Samida-Pugh (Vancouver, BC)
Young Entrepreneur Award
sponsored by Scotiabank
Manny Padda (Vancouver, BC)
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
sponsored by Scotiabank
In addition to the regional winners, the Startup Canada Awards Adjudication Committee also recognized seven other outstanding entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations as honourable mentions during the ceremony. Honourable mentions went to Henry Soo, League of Innovators, Purppl, Humaira Ahmed, Nazaneen Dizai, Mac Dykeman, and Trulioo.
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.
For more information and to schedule interviews, please contact:
Maddie Stiles
Media Relations, Startup Canada
maddie.stiles@startupcan.ca
613-627-0787 ext. 105 | 613-295-459
Colin Weston
Startup Community Leader, Startup Vancouver
604-838-8431
ABOUT THE STARTUP CANADA AWARDS
The annual Startup Canada Awards are the hallmark event that celebrates and recognizes 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. ###