[1]Canada’s entrepreneurs contribute to more than the bottom line — they are powerful agents of change who create the products, methods, markets and solutions that drive the economy forward. Ernst & Young continues to recognize game-changing entrepreneurs with today’s launch of the 19th season of its Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards [2] in Canada. The firm is calling on Canadians to nominate outstanding local entrepreneurs from across the country. The deadline for applications is April 30th.
“In today’s uncertain economy, innovation is about understanding evolving industry and customer needs and improving on what already exists. Our entrepreneurs know this better than anyone and demonstrate their ability to adapt to new market conditions time and time again,” says Colleen McMorrow, National and Ontario Director of Entrepreneur Of The Year. “When our entrepreneurs succeed, Canada and Canadians succeed, too. That’s why it’s critical for the broader community to celebrate and recognize their efforts.”
That said, McMorrow worries our national entrepreneurial brand may not be resonating as well as it could. Ernst & Young’s recent report, Canada in a globalized economy: an investment perspective [3], shows very few international executives from high-growth companies see Canada as offering a strong entrepreneurial culture beyond the startup phase. And only one-third said Canada has superior market-growth prospects.
That’s a real gap that must be addressed. “Big or small, private or public, entrepreneurial companies are a key cornerstone for our economy. Our community must help entrepreneurs achieve their potential and create a brand that shines here and attracts critical investment dollars to Canada,” she adds. “From a business leader mentoring an entrepreneur or helping them network, to a college introducing an entrepreneurship program, to a government reducing red tape: every little bit counts.”
The call for nominations for Ernst & Young’s awards program begins today. Self-nominations are encouraged as well, and there is no fee to nominate. An Entrepreneur Of The Year nominee must be an owner, CEO or CEO-equivalent of a private or public company with primary responsibility for its recent performance and an active member of top management. The company must be at least three years old.
Award winners are chosen based on their vision, leadership, financial success and social responsibility. This year’s national program sponsors are the National Post, La Presse and RDI.