Calgary, AB, May 1, 2025 – Startup Canada, in proud partnership with the University of Calgary, is pleased to announce The Hunter Family Foundation as the 2025 Startup Canada Impact Award recipient.
For over a decade, Startup Canada has celebrated the achievements of early-stage entrepreneurs through national awards that spotlight the bold ideas and innovative ventures shaping Canada’s future. This year marks a meaningful evolution in that tradition. The Startup Canada Impact Award honours the ecosystem leaders who make entrepreneurial success possible, the investors, institutions, and changemakers whose long-term vision and commitment strengthen the very foundation of Canada’s innovation economy.
No family has been more generous or more steadfast in their support of entrepreneurship in Canada than the Hunter Family. Their leadership and philanthropy have profoundly transformed the landscape for emerging entrepreneurs in Calgary and across Canada. In response to receiving the Startup Canada Impact Award, the Hunter Family shared the following statement:
“We are deeply honoured to receive the Startup Canada Impact Award. From the beginning, our support of the Hunter Hub has been grounded in a belief that entrepreneurial thinking can unlock potential and transform lives. Seeing the Hub thrive as a space for bold ideas, collaboration, and real-world impact is incredibly meaningful to us. Calgary’s entrepreneurial energy continues to inspire our family, and we’re proud to stand alongside the innovators and changemakers building Canada’s future. This recognition reflects not just our mission, but the incredible community making it real every day. We are pleased to be a catalyst for entrepreneurship in Calgary and Canada.” – Hunter Family/Doug and Adam Hunter
The award was presented on April 28 at the Startup Canada Impact Award Night, held at Platform Calgary, where members of the ecosystem gathered to celebrate the people, places, and partnerships that power innovation in Canada. The evening also featured a fireside chat with Guy Levesque, Executive Director of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, and Sasha Ivanov, founder of MapleScan, a Canadian-made app empowering consumers to support local businesses.
“This recognition is a small token for the immense impact the Hunter Family has had on Canada’s entrepreneurial community,” said Kayla Isabelle, CEO of Startup Canada. “The Family’s contribution is not just an investment – it’s laying a fabric of innovation and resilience for the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs who are building our future.”
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is the gateway to Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. We’re here to connect entrepreneurs with the support, community, and tools they need to build a successful business in Canada. Since our inception in 2012, Startup Canada has grown to support more than 130,000 entrepreneurs annually and has created an ever-growing grassroots community network from coast to coast to coast. Through our flagship and digital programs, we provide guidance, eliminate barriers, and champion the needs of each and every entrepreneur to private and public sector partners. Startup Canada supports entrepreneurs in starting up and scaling up to ultimately make Canada the best place to start and build a business. For more information, visit https://www.startupcan.ca/.
Media Contact:
Britney Bresciani
Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications
Startup Canada
press@startupcan.ca