RBC Seeks Nominations For Extraordinary Women Entrepreneurs-Business Owners For Annual CWEA Awards Program
Toronto – RBC today announced a call for nominations for the 2009 RBC Canadian Entrepreneur Awards program (CWEA). The RBC CWEA program will recognize the many talented Canadian women entrepreneurs who thrive despite today’s challenging economic environment.
“Women entrepreneurs are one of the fastest growing segments of the Canadian economy, and RBC is proud to help celebrate their passion and success at this annual awards ceremony,” said Shauneen Bruder, executive vice-president, Business and Commercial Banking.
The RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards are the pre-eminent national business awards recognizing the country’s leading female entrepreneurs. For the first time since the creation of the awards program, applications received will be considered for two consecutive years.
“Whether starting a new business, sustaining the one they already have, or exploring new opportunities, Canadian women entrepreneurs continue to play a leading role in the Canadian marketplace,” explains Mike Michell, national director, Small Business and Women’s Market, RBC. “These women have incredible success stories that we believe other business owners can learn from.”
Candidates for the award must own a profitable registered business that is not a franchise and has operated in Canada for three full years as of May 31, 2009. Women entrepreneurs can be nominated by colleagues, friends and family, or can self-nominate by the June 29, 2009 deadline.
“It’s not about being the most profitable or having the most sales,” adds Michell. “These awards are simply about publicly recognizing successful entrepreneurs who demonstrate on a daily basis that hard work and proper planning can help achieve and exceed financial and business goals.”
Nomination forms and eligibility information are available online, as is advice from previous award winners. Winners will be honoured at the RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards dinner in Toronto on December 8, 2009.
Since 1992, 102 awards have been presented for outstanding entrepreneurial achievements. Previous winners have credited the heightened profile they gained through being honoured at this annual event with opening the doors to national and international growth opportunities, as well as to prominent board positions, other national awards and recognition, as well as – for the one previous winner – the Order of Canada.
The awards are an annual initiative of the Women of Influence Inc. (formerly called the PowerPoint Group), and are presented by RBC in partnership with Financial Post Magazine and PROFIT Magazine. They are supported by Deloitte, Bell, HKMB Hub International, Cassels Brock, Tiffany & Co, Evoke Solutions and Debbie Tait.