{"id":6093,"date":"2016-05-31T18:06:18","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T22:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/press_release\/futurpreneur-canada-presents-its-20th-anniversary-award-winners\/"},"modified":"2024-03-01T17:28:09","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T22:28:09","slug":"futurpreneur-canada-presents-its-20th-anniversary-award-winners","status":"publish","type":"press_release","link":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/press_release\/futurpreneur-canada-presents-its-20th-anniversary-award-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"Futurpreneur Canada Presents its 20th Anniversary Award Winners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Toronto\u2019s Kailey Gilchrist wins Clearwater Entrepreneur of the Year Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Halifax\u2019s Mary Jane Copps wins BDC Mentorship Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waterloo\u2019s Intellijoint Surgical Inc. wins Shopify Grit Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montreal\u2019s Bec Soda wins Youth Business International Beyond Borders Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Halifax\u2019s CEED Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development wins RBC Community Partner Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For immediate release<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TORONTO (May 31, 2016) \u2013<\/strong> At today\u2019s Action Entrepreneurship Canadian Summit in Toronto, Futurpreneur Canada announced the winners of five awards honouring entrepreneurs and their businesses, mentors and the organization\u2019s community partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur 20th<\/sup> anniversary is a celebration of all the people we\u2019ve worked with who are starting businesses, supporting businesses, and helping to create a more entrepreneurial Canada \u2013 and today\u2019s award-winners are fantastic examples of people who are doing just that,\u201d said Julia Deans, CEO, Futurpreneur Canada<\/strong>. \u201cWe\u2019d like to congratulate all the winners today on their achievements and to thank all of our partners who supported these awards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Futurpreneur Canada and its partners would like to congratulate the following award winners:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner of the Clearwater Entrepreneur of the Year Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kailey Gilchrist, NONA Vegan, Toronto ON<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kailey Gilchrist is the \u2018Sauce Boss\u2019 of NONA Vegan Foods Ltd., a Toronto-based start-up specializing in dairy-free, gluten-free, cashew-based cream sauces. Nona Vegan\u2019s Alfredo, cheese and carbonara-styles are sold across Ontario and a regular sighting at local food festivals and events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s such an honour to be recognized by Futurpreneur: an organization that I so strongly admire and one that has helped me so much in my journey as an entrepreneur,\u201d said Gilchrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a long-time entrepreneur, it\u2019s exciting to watch the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs like Kailey who are pursuing their ideas, taking risks and building a more innovative and entrepreneurial Canada,\u201d said John Risley, <\/strong>co-founder and President, Clearwater Fine Foods.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full Clearwater Entrepreneur of the Year Award media release here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner of the BDC Mentorship Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary Jane Copps, The Phone Lady, Halifax NS<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary Jane launched her first communications company in 1987 and, with a partner, grew it to a staff of nine. In 2006, she introduced The Phone Lady brand, and has since worked with over 400 businesses, providing them with the skills to communicate effectively on the phone. She believes in entrepreneurship and has been mentoring other business owners through Futurpreneur Canada for the last six years, knowing that providing support and sharing knowledge with others allows everyone to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m honoured to be chosen for this award – to be given the opportunity to champion mentoring,\u201d said Mary Jane Copps, Founder, The Phone Lady. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe congratulate Mary Jane on winning the BDC Mentorship Award and salute her efforts to support the new generations of business owners,\u201d said Michel Bergeron, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs at BDC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full BDC Mentorship Award release here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner of the Shopify Grit Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intellijoint Surgical, Waterloo ON<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born as a fourth year engineering design project, Intellijoint Surgical successfully commercialized a surgical medical device in the US and Canada. They are disrupting the surgical technology space by creating the new standard of miniature 3D surgical measurement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBusiness owners across this country face countless challenges, and we are humbled and extremely proud to represent the hard work and determination it takes to succeed,” Armen Bakirtzian, Co-Founder and CEO, Intellijoint Surgical Inc.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStarting a business takes dedication, hustle and a desire to succeed. We\u2019re excited to support the next wave of entrepreneurs, especially the incredibly talented team at Intellijoint Surgical,” said Harley Finkelstein, COO of Shopify<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full Shopify Grit Award media release here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner of the Youth Business International Beyond Borders Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bec Soda, Montreal QC<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August 2014, the Bec Soda team launched the very first soda made with maple syrup. Entirely local and certified organic by Aliments du Qu\u00e9bec and Ecocert Canada, it is the only organic maple syrup soda in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are very proud and honoured to have received the YBI Beyond Borders Award,\u201d said Olivier Dionne, Co-Founder, BEC Soda<\/strong>. \u201cBut we are most of all thankful to all of our partners, such as Futurpreneur, who have believed in our dream from day one and have supported us in our goal to conquer the world with our organic soda line. Thank you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe rapid success of the maple syrup Bec Soda and establishment of international distribution is a testament to the quality of the product and the confidence of the Bec Soda team,\u201d said Andrew Devenport, Chief Executive Officer, Youth Business International<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Youth Business International Beyond Borders media release here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner of the RBC Community Partner Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CEED Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, Halifax NS<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CEED has been committed to advancing and supporting the spirit of entrepreneurship in Nova Scotia for more than 20 years. The organization delivers innovative programs and services that empower individuals and communities to achieve their full potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“CEED’s vision is that of a vibrant and entrepreneurial Nova Scotia and we are strongly committed to working side-by-side with other like-minded organizations, such as Futurpreneur, to help Nova Scotian’s achieve their dreams,\u201d said Laurie Cameron, President and CEO, CEED<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur future will be directly impacted by the energy, enthusiasm and ideas of our youth.  CEED Centre exemplifies how communities can prosper by fostering and supporting young Nova Scotian entrepreneurs,\u201d said Valerie Chort, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship, RBC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full RBC Community Partner Award media release here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 30 \u2013 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Futurpreneur Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Futurpreneur Canada (formerly the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, or CYBF) has been fueling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada\u2019s young enterprise for nearly two decades. We are the only national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. Our internationally recognized mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,800 volunteer mentors. Futurpreneur Canada is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs\u2019 Alliance<\/a>, the Canadian member of Youth Business International<\/a>, and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week<\/a>. staging.futurpreneur.ca<\/a>. Facebook: Futurpreneur<\/a> Twitter: @Futurpreneur<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For interview opportunities and media inquiries, please contact: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meghan Paton
\nManager, Public Relations and Social Media
\nFuturpreneur Canada
\n416-408-2923 x 2207
\nmpaton@futurpreneur.ca<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Toronto\u2019s Kailey Gilchrist wins Clearwater Entrepreneur of the Year Award Halifax\u2019s Mary Jane Copps wins BDC Mentorship Award Waterloo\u2019s Intellijoint Surgical Inc. wins Shopify Grit Award Montreal\u2019s Bec Soda wins Youth Business International Beyond Borders Award Halifax\u2019s CEED Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development wins RBC Community Partner Award For immediate release  TORONTO (May 31, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","press_category":[],"class_list":["post-6093","press_release","type-press_release","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_release\/6093","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press_release"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_release\/6093\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"press_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_category?post=6093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}