Nominations open until April 3, 2018
February 9, 2018 – Startup Canada, the national rallying community and voice for Canada’s entrepreneurs, opened nominations today for the fifth annual Startup Canada Awards. The Awards are the hallmark event celebrating outstanding achievements in Canada’s entrepreneurship and innovation community.
Individuals, businesses, and organizations are invited to apply for 18 awards, including the Startup Canada Indigenous Entrepreneur Award, Startup Canada High-Growth Award and the Startup Canada Woman Entrepreneur Award, among many more.
“We take pride in Canada as a nation of disruptors, dreamers, and doers,” said Cyprian Szalankiewicz, Co-Founder and Vice President of Startup Canada. “The Startup Canada Awards celebrate the untold stories of Canada’s most creative and innovative entrepreneurs, and those who are supporting their success. We look forward to shining the spotlight on Canadian entrepreneurship and innovation through these Awards for the fifth year in a row.”
Every year, the Startup Canada Awards attract more than 500 nominations; celebrate more than 60 entrepreneurs, innovators, and support organizations from coast-to-coast-to-coast; and attract more than 1,500 attendees and 4,000 online viewers at regional and national ceremonies.
Recipients join the prestigious Startup Canada Awards Alumni Network – a platform to elevate their ongoing impact for Canada and to provide inspiration for the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs.
Past recipients include Anne Whelan, President & CEO of Seafair Capital Inc.; the Right Honourable David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada; the Hadhad Family, founders of Peace by Chocolate; Nicole Verkindt, founder of Offset Market Exchange; Clearbanc; Hootsuite, Patrice Mousseau, founder of Satya Organics Inc.; and, Shawn Smith, founder of Don’t Dis-my-ability Consultation Services Inc.
Individuals, businesses, and organizations can submit nominations for the 2018 Startup Canada Awards until April 3rd, 2018 at 11:59 pm PT. Regional award winners will be announced at grassroots startup events across Canada this summer, with the grand finale taking place in Ottawa on October 18, 2018. The complete list of awards and criteria can be found at StartupAward.ca.
Regional Awards ceremonies will be hosted by entrepreneur support partners in cities across Canada this summer. The following partners will host regional ceremonies:
- North Forge Technology Exchange in Winnipeg, MB
- La Gare in Montreal, QC
- Startup Miramichi in Miramichi, NB
- Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation in Sault Ste Marie, ON
- LIFT Startups in Comox Valley, BC
Startup Canada will also travel across Northern Canada to celebrate the winners of the Startup Canada Awards in the Territories.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ji Woo Kim
Media Relations, Startup Canada
1-844-782-7801 ext. 106
press@startupcan.ca
For nomination inquiries, please email awards@startupcan.ca.
About the Startup Canada Awards
The Startup Canada Awards celebrate and distinguish outstanding achievement in advancing Canadian entrepreneurship.
The objectives of the awards are to:
- Celebrate those working to advance entrepreneurship in Canada;
- Increase awareness of the importance of strengthening Canada’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and culture; and,
- Incentivize efforts and elevate the ambitions of the Canadian entrepreneurial community.
2017 finalists and recipients can be found here. Photos from the 2017 Startup Canada Awards can be found on the Startup Canada Flickr Page. For more information, visit www.startupaward.ca.
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is the national rallying community and voice for Canada’s entrepreneurs. Through flagship programs, digital platforms, and cross-sector partnerships between entrepreneurs, private sector, and government, Startup Canada offers training, resources, and a peer network to give every entrepreneur equal opportunity for success. For more information, visit www.startupcan.ca.