Prairies
Michael Owens
Absorb Software
Mike Bauer
Arcurve
Jay Gohill
Arcurve
Michael McGovern
Arcurve
Stuart O'Connor
Arcurve
Clay Purdy
Fluid Energy Group Ltd.
Debra Grund
GHC Systems Inc dba
Surface Hair Care
Wayne Grund
GHC Systems Inc dba
Surface Hair Care
Sam Prochazka
GoodMorning.com
Mike George
Steelhaus Technologies Inc.
Matthew McCarthy
Steelhaus Technologies Inc.
Hanif Joshaghani
Symend Inc.
Tiffany Kaminsky
Symend Inc.
Special citations*
Margaret Adu
Aomega Group Inc.
Human Impact Award
Jeremy Bryant
Mealshare
Societal Impact Award
Andrew Hall
Mealshare
Societal Impact Award
*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.
Meet the judges
Ashif Mawji*
Venture Partner Angel Investor, Rising Tide
How does entrepreneurial ambition help create global unity?
Entrepreneurs tend to gravitate towards other creative and innovative thinkers and are keen on coming together to solve larger problems. By creating a call to action, galvanizing our entrepreneurs and allowing them creative freedom, I know entrepreneurs can help bring the world together and work as a united entity.
Brenda Nowakowski
President, Brelin Holdings Ltd.
How will entrepreneurial ambition help regenerate economies?
It will be enterprise creation that regenerates economies, and this is driven by entrepreneurial ambition. It’s the drive and confidence of the risk takers. This ambition will be fueled by industry, opportunity and the extent to which governments at all levels support and stay out of the way of business. But make no mistake, it is action oriented. I am, I want, I will. The first two statements are nothing without the third. Ambition without action is just daydreaming; ambition with action is rocket fuel.
Desirée Bombenon*
CEO & Chief Disruption Officer, SureCall
Could the toughest time inspire the greatest solutions?
They always have. If you look back through history, and even during this pandemic, the most creative innovations emerge from crisis. This happens on a global basis, but also individually or in communities. When there is hardship, we all work to find solutions with a sense of urgency and with a sense of brethren, where we know there is much more at stake for everyone.
James Boettcher*
Chief Idea Officer, Custodian of Culture & CEO, Righteous Gelato
How do creative entrepreneurs help solve for the new world?
At the intersection of creativity, future looking, innovation and aspiration are the most important parts to creating the world we want to live in. We've always said that we want to create something that makes the world more awesome and a bit better than we found it. I believe that business is inherently responsible for creating that future.
Laura Kilcrease*
CEO, Alberta Innovates
What role do entrepreneurs play in helping Canada reach an innovation economy?
Entrepreneurs see solutions to problems that others only observe. Innovation is the means by which these new solutions are built, whether it be a new technology, business model or process.
Linda McCurdy*
President & CEO, K-Bro Linen Systems Inc.
How can diversity and inclusion be accelerators of innovation?
We have thousands of employees in Canada and the UK, and our entire team represents the highly diverse communities in which we operate. As the CEO of a company with a very diverse senior staff and employee base, it’s obvious how the quality and range of input and perspectives is so much greater with a fully diverse team, and we all understand that our decisions and outcomes are superior as a result of our diversification.
Mike Fata*
CEO, Fata & Associates, Inc.
How will entrepreneurs reframe our future?
Entrepreneurs innovate, and innovation drives growth.
*Entrepreneur Of The Year Alumni
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