EY - Atlantic

Atlantic

Jump to region:     Pacific  |  Prairies  |  Ontario  |  Québec  |  Atlantic

Learn more about Atlantic’s regional winners, finalistsjudges and sponsors.

Congratulations to the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Atlantic Award winners!

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EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 Atlantic Overall Award winner

Keith McIntosh | PLATO

Inclusive entrepreneur. Trail-blazing leader. Keith McIntosh believes inclusive growth is better growth. He created PLATO accordingly, prioritizing transformational career opportunities for Indigenous people at the heart of a socially responsible business.

During a break-out session at the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference, Keith sat down to discuss what it meant to be Canadian — and walked away with powerful ideas. Compelled to respond to the call for action laid out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s final report. Moved by cross-country visits to Indigenous communities. Keith channeled his industry and entrepreneurial experience to found PLATO: Canada’s only Indigenous software testing and technology company located in Atlantic Canada.

Through its unique, innovative and accredited train-and-employ model, PLATO opens new pathways to career success for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people from coast to coast. The model connects in-class learning, internships with corporate partners, real-world apprenticeships on active projects and blended teaming as program participants transition into software testing roles.

The result? Plato has been instrumental in offering numerous individuals their initial entry into the technology industry, granting them their first job opportunities. Additionally, they have provided training to over 300 Indigenous students nationwide, empowering them with valuable skills and knowledge. Today, Plato’s workforce of people spans across 12 delivery centres, more than 30% of the employees are Indigenous and 58% of Board members have Indigenous affiliations. The business has invested more than $14 million in salaries, and counting.

Keith defines success not only by bottom-line growth, but by the number of people impacted and the ability to reinvest back into communities. With that in mind, he’s now focused on expanding globally, creating meaningful and sustainable career possibilities for marginalized groups (including Indigenous people and inner-city youth) in the United States and Australia. 

  

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2023 Atlantic Award winners

EY - Photo of John Flewelling | CBCL Limited

John Flewelling
CBCL Limited

EY - Photo of Jon King | Milk Moovement

Jon King
Milk Moovement

EY - Photo of Rob Forsythe | Milk Moovement

Rob Forsythe
Milk Moovement

EY - Photo of Rob Lane | MOBIA

Rob Lane
MOBIA

Special citations*

Special Citation:
Emerging Entrepreneur
EY - Photo of Wally Haas | Avalon Holographics

Wally Haas
Avalon Holographics

Special Citation:
Community Builder

Special citations are non-competitive awards that recognize entrepreneurs for the unique mark they’ve made on the entrepreneurial landscape in a specific area and celebrate their outstanding achievements.  

View regional winners for:    Pacific  |  Prairies  |  Ontario  |  Québec  |  Atlantic

  

Meet the judges

The success of the program relies on the efforts of our independent panel of judges. These past Entrepreneur Of The Year program alumni and civic and community leaders devote significant effort to review and deliberate the merits of each nominee. We deeply appreciate their dedication to this process.
EY - Photo of Shakara Joseph

Shakara Joseph
CEO
Junior Achievement Nova Scotia

EY - Photo of Laurie MacKeigan

Laurie MacKeigan*
President
Backman Vidcom

EY - Photo of David Savoie

David Savoie*
CEO
Acadian Construction

EY - Photo of Peter Woodward

Peter Woodward
President & CEO
Woodward Group of Companies

Entrepreneur Of The Year Alumni

Meet the judges:  Pacific  |  Prairies  |  Ontario  |  Québec  |  Atlantic

  

National sponsors