And The Winners of the 2012 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Are…
2012 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award Winners Selected
Influential female business owners recognized at annual gala
TORONTO – NOVEMBER 29, 2012 – Women of Influence announced the recipients of the 2012 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards last night at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The six award winners, representing every region of Canada, were honoured based on their contributions to the local, Canadian and global economies.
“RBC is proud to honour these female entrepreneurs who are not only achieving their dreams, but who are also improving their communities through their successful business efforts,” said Andrea Bolger, executive vice president, Business Financial Services, RBC Royal Bank. “These annual awards serve to shine a spotlight on the increasing number of extraordinary, risk-taking female entrepreneurs we have in Canada,.”
The RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur award ceremony, now in its 20th year, was hosted by Diane Francis, editor-at-large, National Post.
“Passion, innovation and dedication are the cornerstones of the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards,” said Carolyn Lawrence, President and CEO, Women of Influence Inc. “Each winner has exemplified these characteristics, and is an inspiration to professional women across the country.”
The 2012 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards recipients are:
Deloitte Start-Up Award
Rain Emily (Shi Yu) Zhang, President, Willowest Enterprise Co. Ltd.
Hub HKMB Impact Award
Catherine Buckingham, President & CEO, TNR Industrial Doors Inc.
RBC Momentum Award
Barb Gamey, President, Payworks
TPH Sustainability Award
Jodi Glover, CEO & Co-Founder, Real Tech Inc.
Trailblazer Award
Michèle Boisvert, President and owner, Homeocan Inc.
PROFIT Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship
Clara Angotti, President, Next Pathway Inc.
The RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards are the pre-eminent national business awards recognizing the country’s leading female entrepreneurs. The awards are an initiative of Women of Influence Inc., an award-winning organization dedicated to advancing Canadian women in business. Women of Influence Inc. leads national women’s initiatives including the Women of Influence Luncheon Series, Young Women of Influence Evening Series, Senior Executive Dinner and Women of Influence Magazine. For more information, visit womenofinfluence.ca or theawards.ca
[Photo Credit: Grant Gaspari] From left to right: Carolyn Lawrence, President & CEO, Women of Influence Inc; Vijay Parmar, President, RBC PH&N Investment Counsel Inc.; Tina Sarellas, Regional Vice President, Commercial Financial Services, Greater Toronto Region, RBC Royal Bank; Trailblazer Award – Michèle Boisvert, President & Owner, Homeocan Inc.; HUB HKMB Impact Award – Jan Stinson accepting on behalf of Catherine Buckingham, President & CEO, TNR Industrial Doors Inc.; RBC Momentum Award – Barb Gamey, President, Payworks; PROFIT Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship – Clara Angotti, President, Next Pathway Inc.; TPH Sustainability Award – Jodi Glover, CEO & Co-Founder, Real Tech Inc.; Deloitte Start-Up Award – Rain Emily (Shi Yu) Zhang, President, Willowest Enterprise Co.; Diane Francis, Editor at Large, National Post; Peter Conrod, Vice President – Client & Business Strategy, RBC Royal Bank