Victoria, BC \u2013 November 9, 2012 \u2013<\/strong> The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF), official host of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Canada, proudly partners with Startup Weekend Victoria to recognize the importance of entrepreneurship in Victoria and across British Columbia and to honour local entrepreneurial champions at an event held today at VIATeC Accelerate Tectoria in Victoria at 6:30p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n GEW Canada, which takes place from November 12-18, 2012, is committed to celebrating entrepreneurs and inspiring young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity from coast-to-coast. CYBF has mobilized dozens of partners to organize celebration events across the country, and the Startup Weekend Victoria event is the first in a number of activities that will take place across Canada as part of GEW Canada celebrations to recognize and congratulate those who are paving the way to success for young and emerging business leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today CYBF will present its Chairman\u2019s Awards for Outstanding Volunteers\u2014which includes the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals\u2014to business leaders Rodger Darbey, Steven Walker Duncan, Martin Thomas and David R. Bell, who will be on hand to receive the medals for their tremendous contributions as mentors to entrepreneurs in Victoria, British Columbia. Fi Dastoor and Ryan C. Fuller from Vancouver, and Sharon Barnes and Shannan Schimmelmann from Kelowna are also among the medal recipients in British Columbia for their support as mentors in their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur program of pre-launch coaching, start-up financing, business mentoring and ongoing support would not exist without dedicated business leaders who generously donate their time and experience to help young entrepreneurs across Canada,\u201d says Brendan Cooper, Senior Business Manager for CYBF in British Columbia. \u201cCYBF congratulates and thanks all of our mentors who so generously dedicate their time to the success of Canada\u2019s young entrepreneurs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the Outstanding Volunteer Awards presentation, Business Victoria will be honoured with an Outstanding Community Partner Award for its instrumental role in helping launch young and emerging entrepreneurs\u2019 careers and businesses in Victoria, B.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur valued community partners, such as Business Victoria, are the crucial first point of contact with CYBF and play an integral role in the start-up process,\u201d says Cooper. \u201cTheir knowledge of local economic conditions and personal interaction with many young entrepreneurs helps new businesses flourish in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The commemorative Diamond Jubilee Medal was created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country. At the same time, it serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information about Global Entrepreneurship Week Canada, visit www.gewcanada.com, or for more information about the Diamond Jubilee Medals, visit www.gg.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n -30-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canadian Youth Business Foundation \u2013 Canada\u2019s Entrepreneur Gateway<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the \u2018go to\u2019 place for youth entrepreneurship. As a national organization, we are dedicated to growing Canada\u2019s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-39, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. CYBF is the founder of the G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit (G20 YES) and founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs\u2019 Alliance (G20 YEA). www.cybf.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About Global Entrepreneurship Week Canada<\/strong>
\nBetween November 12-18, 2012, more than 100 countries will come together to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), a movement to inspire millions of people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity. GEW Canada 2012 is hosted by the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, a national not-for-profit organization that works to connect hundreds of organizations to champion a culture of entrepreneurship and mentoring, through local, national and global initiatives. www.gewcanada.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n