This week, Startup Canada hosted the sixth annual national Startup Canada Awards at MaRS Discovery District in Toronto.
The event’s attendees included Canadian investors, startups, anchor company executives, and government officials. The event was hosted by public speaker, writer, and entrepreneur, Catherine Clark and opening remarks were given by the Minister of economic development, job creation and trade Victor Fedeli.
“When innovation is united with entrepreneurship, Canada’s prosperity is increased.”
“The positive disruptive spirit and diversity of Canada’s entrepreneurial community have become the backbone of our economy and a key contributor to the nation’s prosperity,” said Victoria Lennox, CEO of Startup Canada. “We are honoured to recognize this year’s innovators and business builders and proud to support organizations across Canada on their entrepreneurial endeavours.”
Startup Canada also named the winners of The Ernest C. Manning Innovation Awards, which recognizes contributions in bringing innovation and disruption to an industry. This new addition to the Startup Canada Awards family is aimed to help amplify the work of Canadian entrepreneurs and innovators.
“When innovation is united with entrepreneurship, Canada’s prosperity is increased. The Manning Awards Foundation has long championed the recognition of innovators and Startup Canada has long championed the recognition of entrepreneurs,” said Preston Manning, founder of Manning Foundation. “Going forward we will together celebrate their contributions to Canada’s economic growth and social development.”
The Manning Foundation granted four innovation awards, consisting of: the $100,000 Principal Award, which went to the co-founders of Enterra Feed Corporation; the $25,000 David E. Mitchell Award of Distinction, which went to the CTO of UTComp; and two innovation awards of $10,000 for Canadian innovators without access to research facilities or advanced education in the field of their innovation, which this year were given to Scott Gravelle, CEO of ATTAbotics and Katherine Homuth the CEO of Sheertex.
The 2019 national awards winners are:
Startup Canada Entrepreneur Promotion Award
Larry Shaw
CEO, Ignite Fredericton and Knowledge Park
Startup Canada Entrepreneur Support Award
OSMO
Patrick Gagné, CEO
Startup Canada Community of the Year Award
Startup Peel
Melloney Campbell, Community Leader
Startup Canada Community Leader of the Year Award
Colin Weston
Startup Vancouver
Startup Canada Policy Innovation Award
Dr. Ailish Campbell
Chief Trade Commissioner & Assistant Deputy Minister, International Business Development
Startup Canada High-Growth Entrepreneurship
LowestRates.ca
Justin L. Thouin, Cofounder and CEO
Startup Canada Global Entrepreneurship Award
Hopper
Joost Ouwerkerk, Co-Founder and CTO
Startup Canada Innovation Award
PROOF
Benjamin Sanders, CEO
Startup Canada Social Enterprise Award
Arctic Fresh Inc.
Rhoda Angutimarik, CEO
Startup Canada Woman Entrepreneur Award
Mandy Potter
Founder and CEO, Jane
Startup Canada Indigenous Entrepreneur Award
Bobbie Racette
Founder and CEO, Virtual Gurus
Startup Canada Newcomer Entrepreneur Award
Miryam Lazarte
CEO, LatAm Startups
Startup Canada Young Entrepreneur Award
Claire Du
Cofounder, AI4Youth Canada
Startup Canada Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Vickie Joseph
Cofounder, Groupe 3737 and President, V Kosmetik
Startup Canada Adam Chowaniec Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Rustum Southwell
Interim CEO, Black Business Initiative
Image courtesy Startup Canada