2019 STARTUP CANADA NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN TORONTO

October 23, 2019 – Startup Canada, Canada’s entrepreneurship organization, today recognized and honored outstanding entrepreneurs, businesses and support organizations from across Canada as winners of the sixth annual national Startup Canada Awards. The national winners were announced at a red carpet ceremony at MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, ON. The ceremony was hosted by the nationally respected public speaker, writer and entrepreneur, Catherine Clark and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Hon. Victor Fedeli delivered opening remarks.

“The positive disruptive spirit and diversity of Canada’s entrepreneurial community have become the backbone of our economy and a key contributor to the nation’s prosperity” said Victoria Lennox, Chief Executive Officer of Startup Canada. “We are honored to recognize this year’s innovators and business builders and proud to support organizations across Canada on their entrepreneurial endeavors”

The Ceremony started with a candid roundtable discussion with award recipients, national corporate partners, and led by Ernest Manning, Founder of Manning Foundation and Manning Innovation Awards and Victoria Lennox, CEO, Startup Canada where participants discussed the challenges that entrepreneurs are facing across Canada, and strategies to foster the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our country.

After the Ceremony was blessed by  Claudette Commanda Executive Director of the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres, and heartfelt opening remarks were delivered by the Honorable Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, nineteen vibrant and successful entrepreneurs were awarded for their journey, accomplishments and contributions to the entrepreneurial scene.

The 2019 National Startup Canada Awards Winners are: 

Startup Canada Entrepreneur Promotion Award
Sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks
Larry Shaw
CEO, Ignite Fredericton and Knowledge Park

Startup Canada Entrepreneur Support Award
Sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks
OSMO
Patrick Gagné, CEO

Startup Canada Community of the Year Award
Sponsored by Sovereign Insurance
Startup Peel
Melloney Campbell, Community Leader

Startup Canada Community Leader of the Year Award
Sponsored by Sovereign Insurance
Colin Weston 
Startup Vancouver

Startup Canada Policy Innovation Award
Sponsored by Mastercard
Dr. Ailish Campbell 
Chief Trade Commissioner & Assistant Deputy Minister, International Business Development

Startup Canada High-Growth Entrepreneurship
Sponsored by Mastercard
LowestRates.ca 
Justin L. Thouin, Co- Founder and CEO

Startup Canada Global Entrepreneurship Award
Sponsored by UPS Canada
Hopper
Joost Ouwerkerk, Co-Founder and CTO

Startup Canada Innovation Award
Sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks
PROOF 
Benjamin Sanders, CEO

Startup Canada Social Enterprise Award
Sponsored by Sovereign Insurance
Arctic Fresh Inc.
Rhoda Angutimarik, CEO

Startup Canada Woman Entrepreneur Award
Sponsored by Business Development Bank of Canada
Mandy Potter
Founder & CEO,  Jane

Startup Canada Indigenous Entrepreneur Award
Sponsored by Mastercard
Bobbie Racette
Founder & CEO, Virtual Gurus

Startup Canada Newcomer Entrepreneur Award
Sponsored by UPS
Miryam Lazarte
CEO, LatAm Startups

Startup Canada Young Entrepreneur Award
Sponsored by Scotiabank
Claire Du
Co- Founder, AI4Youth Canada

Startup Canada Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Sponsored by Scotiabank
Vickie Joseph
Co- Founder, Groupe 3737 & President, V Kosmetik

Startup Canada Adam Chowaniec Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by UPS
Dr. Rustum Southwell
Interim CEO, Black Business Initiative

The ceremony also recognized and celebrated the winners of the The Ernest C. Manning Innovation Awards for their outstanding trajectory and their contribution in bringing innovation and disruption to their respective industries. This exciting new addition to the Startup Canada Awards family, will help amplify the work that entrepreneurs and innovators are doing in Canada. 

“When Innovation is united with Entrepreneurship, Canada’s prosperity is increased. The Manning Awards Foundation has long championed the recognition of Innovators and Startup Canada has long championed the recognition of Entrepreneurs said Preston Manning, Founder of Manning Foundation. Going forward we will together celebrate  their contributions to Canada’s economic growth and social development”

In 2019, the Foundation will grant four Innovation Awards. The Innovation Awards consist of the $100,000 Principal Award; the $25,000 David E. Mitchell Award of Distinction; and two innovation awards of $10,000 for those Canadian innovators who do not have the benefit of research facilities or advanced education in the field of their innovation.

The 2019 Ernest C. Manning Innovation Awards are: 

Principle Innovation Award
Andrew Vickerson, Oliver Kaulfuss & Reed Radley
Co- Founders, Enterra Feed Corporation

David E. Mitchell Award of Distinction
Geoff Clarkson
Chief Technical Officer, UTComp

Arthur J.E. Child Award Foundation Innovation Award
Scott Gravelle
CEO, ATTAbotics

Facebook Canada Innovation Award
Katherine Homuth 
CEO, Sheertex

The evening’s guests included leading Canadian investors, innovators, anchor company executives, and government officials.

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.

For more information and to schedule interviews, please contact:

Matthew Curtis
Media Relations, Startup Canada
1-613-627-0787 ext 103
matthew.curtis@startupcan.ca

About the Startup Canada Awards
The Startup Canada Awards celebrate and distinguish outstanding achievement in advancing Canadian entrepreneurship.
The objectives of the 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 community.

For more information, visit www.startupaward.ca.

About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is Canada’s entrepreneurship organization. Startup Canada promotes and supports the success and growth of Canada’s 3.5 million entrepreneurs, with a mandate to foster economic growth, competitiveness, and prosperity through entrepreneurship. Since launching, Startup Canada’s programming has directly supported more than 200,000 entrepreneurs and 50 grassroots Startup Community organizations. Working with over 750 ecosystem partners, including accelerators, incubators, research parks, educational institutions, economic development agencies, associations, and government programs, Startup Canada serves entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, industries, and stages of development, with a network reflective of Canada’s diverse population. Learn more at startupcan.ca.

About Ernest C. Manning Innovation Awards
The Ernest C. Manning Innovation Awards have been called the most prestigious in Canada. Since 1981, when Calgary oilman and philanthropist David E. Mitchell created the Foundation, it has recognized over 2800 nominees and awarded over $4.5M to 160 Manning Laureates. Their innovations span all areas of human endeavor, improving the lives of Canadians and others around the world while adding value to our nation’s economy. In all cases, the innovators have demonstrated entrepreneurial success.