June 2022
Hello and welcome to Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation (IEF) June Newsletter! We are excited to share some key IEF updates, spotlights, and other activities occurring across the Nation this month that can provide support and celebration for you and your businesses.

2022 CANIE Award Phase One Nomination/Application Extension

We are delighted with the volume of engagement and nominations we have received for our Phase One CANIE Awards. Many of you have also informed us that, with additional factors disrupting many founders and innovators’ businesses in May, the nomination window was too short.

For that reason, we are thrilled to announce that we will be extending our Phase One CANIE Award nomination deadline. The new deadline to apply to the Phase One CANIE Awards is June 13th, 2022, at midnight Pacific Standard Time.

Seniorpreneur Award for Leadership & Innovation
Global Impact Business Owner of the Year
Climate Related Product Innovation Award

Global Impact Business Owner of the Year (Presented by UPS) Awarded to a business that demonstrates outstanding achievement and social impact in both Canada and international markets. (Check out the winner of our 2021 Global Impact Award in our Innovation Spotlight below!).

Seniorpreneur Award for Leadership & Innovation (Presented by Arthur J E Child Foundation) Awarded to a new founder age 55+, leveraging their experience to deliver excellence and contribute to their community.

Climate Related Product Innovation Award (Presented by UPS)Awarded to an inspiring innovative product inspired that directly addresses climate change

Information & News

Phase Two 2022 CANIE Awards

The Canada Innovation & Entrepreneurship Awards – the CANIE Awards – is our flagship program, celebrating excellence in Canadian innovation and entrepreneurship by founders and innovators who are members of marginalized and under-represented communities.

We are proud to announce the details of the second phase of our 2022 CANIE Awards and categories.

2022 CANIE Awards Phase Two Categories:

The 2022 Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Presented by Prince’s Trust Canada

Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year Award

The 2022 Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Presented by Intuit

Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year

The 2022 Black Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Global Impact Business Owner of the Year
Nominations and applications will be accepted for phase two categories starting June 13th, 2022, at 9 am Eastern Standard Time, and will run for six weeks to midnight, July 18th, 2022, Pacific Standard Time.

If you have any questions about the nomination and application process, please reach out to us at awards@ief-fie.ca.

Do you have one dollar and three minutes?

That’s all it takes to help IEF in our efforts to win The Great Canadian Giving Challenge, sponsored by Canada Helps.

Every dollar donated to IEF between June 1st to June 30th, 2022, represents an entry for us to win a $20,000 donation from Canada Helps.

Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation supports founders and innovators from marginalized groups as they navigate the unfair barriers of institutional, structural, and interpersonal biases.

One hundred percent of every dollar you donate is invested into our services and programming that directly serves entrepreneurs and innovators from under-represented groups. Your donation will aid us in being a conduit for founders and innovators from marginalized communities across the nation to gain access to equitable support, resources, funding, and recognition in the fields and regions their businesses serve.

Please join our supporters, sponsors, and partners in catalyzing systemic change for how founders from marginalized groups are supported nationally.

Thank you to all for your ongoing support of the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation!

Innovation Spotlight: Lucky Iron Fish

We are so inspired by the ingenuity and resourcefulness that our network delivers, motivated to address regional, national, and/or global issues.

This month we cast our Innovation Spotlight on Dr. Gavin Armstrong, founder and CEO of Lucky Iron Fish, and winner of IEF’s 2021 CANIE Award for Global Impact, sponsored by UPS.

Iron deficiency is the world’s largest nutritional deficiency. Dr. Armstrong’s innovation was inspired by his desire to aid with a global nutritional deficiency that impacts over two billion people.

Made from food-grade electrolytic iron powder approved for food fortification worldwide, Lucky Iron Fish is a simple, reusable, and effective cooking tool that adds extra iron to your daily foods or drinks.

Learn more about Lucky Iron Fish here.

FREE Virtual Boot Camp: Understanding Legal Business Structures Hosted by Ownr

Understanding Legal Business Structures
Having a business idea is the first step in your journey as an entrepreneur. Now, it’s time to consider which business structure is right for you. What are the differences between sole proprietorship and incorporation, and is one better than the other for your business?

This webinar breaks down the differences between sole proprietorships and corporations, what the terms mean, and which business structure is best for your venture. Register here.

Startup Canada’s LGBTQ2S+ Podcast Takeover

We are excited to share that our friends at Startup Canada are hosting an LGBTQ2S+ takeover of their podcasts for the month of June! In honour and celebration of Pride Month, the Startup Canada podcast takeover is co-presented with Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC), and will feature four episodes with LGBTQ2S+ founders across Canada. We can’t wait to tune into Startup Canada’s podcasts this month!

Pow Wow Pitch Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards | Deadline June 21, 2022

We are thrilled with the tremendous work our friends at Pow Wow Pitch are delivering in providing platforms, programs, and resources to support Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Their Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement and impact. The Awards are open to Indigenous makers, creatives, artists, musicians, builders, professionals, entertainers, business owners, vendors, innovators, and entrepreneurial leaders who are making a difference. Apply today!

Thank you to our Partners & Sponsors

Thank you to our Partners & Sponsors

Presented in Partnership with UPS
CANIE Partners Ownr | Arthur J. E. Child Foundation | Giant Tiger

We want to hear from you!

Are you a business owner from an underpresent or marginalized group? Please share your stories and experiences with us.

info@ief-fie.ca | awards@ief-fie.ca

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