June 4th, 2020 – The Innovators and Entrepreneurs Foundation has named outstanding entrepreneurs, innovators and support organizations from across Canada as winners of the first CANIE Awards. The regional winners were announced from Ottawa, ON, where the Digital Ceremony was broadcasted and transmitted via Facebook and Twitter.  The ceremony was emceed by the nationally respected public figure, writer and entrepreneur, Catherine Clark and the Gala opening remarks were given by Honorable Michelle Mungall, BC Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness.

Winners shared their stories and spread a message of resilience and hope throughout the community while enlightening other entrepreneurs with strategies to reinvent themselves in moments of crisis.

“It is incredible to see the resilience of entrepreneurs and innovators across the country during times like this”, said Kayla Isabelle, Board Chair of the Innovators and Entrepreneurs Foundation and Executive Director of Startup Canada, “coming together to recognize the strength and tenacity of our community is more important than ever”

The 2020 British Columbia Region Awards Winners are: 

CANIE Enterprise Support Award
Sponsored by the Innovators and Entrepreneurs Foundation
DIVERSEcity
Florence Kao, Employment Specialist – Immigrant Entrepreneur Program 

CANIE Global Entrepreneurship Award
Sponsored by UPS Canada
Event Temple
Bob Graham, CEO

CANIE Product Innovation Award
Sponsored by UPS Canada
EnWave
Brent Charleton, President, and CEO

CANIE Social Innovation Award
Sponsored by Sovereign Insurance
Intuitive AI
Hassan Murad, Co- Founder and CEO

CANIE Woman Entrepreneur Award
Sponsored by the Innovators and Entrepreneurs Foundation
Kelly Ann Woods
CEO & Founder of Gillespie’s Fine Spirits

CANIE Indigenous Entrepreneur Award
Sponsored by Mastercard
Patrice Mousseau
Owner Operator of Satya Organic

CANIE Youth Impact Award
Sponsored by the Innovators and Entrepreneurs Foundation
Madison Guy
Founder of GrantMe

CANIE Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Sponsored by Scotiabank
Ashley Freeborn
Founder and Managing Director  of Smash + Tess

For more information, and to schedule media interviews, please contact:
Matthew Curtis
Media Relations, Startup Canada
1-613-627-0787 ext 103
matthew.curtis@startupcan.ca

About the CANIE Awards

The CANIE Awards celebrate and distinguish outstanding achievements in advancing Canadian entrepreneurship.

The objectives of the awards are to:

• Recognize excellence in innovation and entrepreneurship across Canada by celebrating the impressive journeys and achievements of disruptors that contribute every day to the country’s entrepreneurial landscape.
• Build a network of individuals and organizations that share our passion for supporting the Canadian entrepreneurial ecosystem and want to contribute to its future.
• Inspire Canada’s present and future generations to be entrepreneurial innovators by sharing stories of leadership, resilience, disruption, and success in entrepreneurship.
• Promote entrepreneurial mindsets among Canadian youth with workshops on innovation, ideation, and execution.
• Increase awareness of Canada’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and the importance of strengthening our culture of innovation.

For more information, visit www.ief-fie.ca. Stay up-to-date by following the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.