The Canadian art market contributes to thousands of jobs in creative employment annually, bringing millions of dollars into the economy. At the same time, the industry is fraught with stigma and buying art is seen as a luxury few can afford. However, RBC Canadian Entrepreneur Award-winning entrepreneur Geneviève Lévesque noticed a market: those who appreciate […]
It’s our 26th year of recognizing the top women entrepreneurs in Canada — and we’re excited to be celebrating another dynamic group of business owners. Representing diverse industries and business sizes, and hailing from across the country — from the Yukon to Newfoundland — here are the 2018 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award Finalists. […]
Janet Zuccarini already welcomes a million customers annually to her seven award-winning restaurants — and there’s plenty more expansion to come. With over twenty years in the food service industry, Janet shares the story of how she got started, and the hard work, grit, and confidence that propelled her to the top. By […]
Claudia Sjoberg is the founder and president of The Pedalheads Group, a thriving multi-sport enterprise with three brands and more than 1400 employees offering kids’ camps in 95 locations across North America. Her unique approach earned her the 2017 TELUS Trailblazer Award at the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards — a well-deserved honour for […]
By Karen van Kampen As a five-year-old girl growing up in a farming community on the West Coast of Newfoundland, Dr. Trina Bailey knew that she wanted to be a veterinarian. Surrounded by a “menagerie of pets” that included a bunny, dog, cat and gerbils, the veterinary surgeon says, “I don’t […]
Stephania Varalli, Co-CEO of Women of Influence, weighs in on why nominating an entrepreneur — or nominating yourself — for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards is one of the best things you can do to ensure more women take the plunge into business ownership, and gain control over their careers. By […]
It is exciting to see your business grow, but a surge in sales presents both opportunities and challenges. The big question for many entrepreneurs is how do you successfully manage growth? Here are five tips for handling your business growing pains. By Lynda Sydney It’s rewarding to see your business grow from a […]
TORONTO – JANUARY 22nd – RBC and Women of Influence are announcing the call for nominations for the 2018 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. This year’s Name Her, Nominate Her campaign marks the 26th year of the awards which provide national recognition to Canada’s most accomplished and impactful women entrepreneurs, whose successful businesses and […]
TORONTO, le 22 janvier 2018 – RBC et Femmes d’influence annoncent l’appel de candidatures pour les Prix canadiens de l’entrepreneuriat féminin RBC 2018. L’événement se déroulera cette année sous le thème Des candidatures au féminin. Les prix, qui en sont à leur 26e année d’existence, soulignent les réalisations remarquables d’entrepreneures canadiennes qui, par leurs entreprises et leur […]
November 22, 2017 – Women entrepreneurs deserve to be celebrated. We look forward to the gala every year because it provides the opportunity for women entrepreneurs to be honoured for their contribution to our economy. Thank you to our Presenting sponsor RBC, our Award sponsors Staples, Telus, TEC Canada, and to our official Gift sponsor Bulova.
Six entrepreneures remarquables se sont distinguées parmi 6 400 candidatures, un record TORONTO, le 22 novembre 2017 – Six lauréates, dont la fondatrice d’un organisme sans but lucratif qui fait la promotion de l’éducation dans le domaine des sciences, de la technologie, de l’ingénierie et des mathématiques (STIM) pour les femmes à l’échelle nationale, la chef de […]
Six outstanding female entrepreneur winners awarded out of a record-breaking 6,400 nominees TORONTO, NOVEMBER 22nd, 2017 – The 25th annual RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards have named six winners of this year’s prestigious awards, including: the founder of a non-for-profit that pioneers STEM education for women nationally, a blue-collar CEO […]
Meet the most successful entrepreneurs in the country. Now in its 25th year, the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards celebrates some of the country’s most successful female entrepreneurs. From industry trailblazers to leaders at the helm of inspiring social enterprises, these women show exemplary business sense, leadership ability, and the drive to […]
Allison Grafton President and Co-owner, Rockwood Custom Homes TEC Canada Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, EAST Rockwood Custom Homes is an award-winning boutique custom home construction and renovation company offering a full suite of construction, architectural and interior design services in Calgary and beyond. More than just custom homes, however, Rockwood is creating beautiful, […]
Christiane Germain Co-Founder & Co-President, Groupe Germain Hôtels TEC Canada Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, EAST Co-founded by Christiane Germain, Groupe Germain Hotels has set out to become the first truly pan-Canadian independent hotel group in the country. The company is family-run and owns and operates the six Le Germain Hotels and seven Alt […]
Janet Zuccarini CEO/Owner, Gusto 54 Winner, TEC Canada Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship Janet Zuccarini got into the restaurant business over 20 years ago, having found a way to marry her love for business, food, and world travel while also enhancing the neighbourhood she lived in. Her vision? To build the most culturally relevant […]
Natalie Voland President, Gestion Immobilière Quo Vadis/Complexe Dompark TELUS Trailblazer Award, EAST Natalie Voland is the owner and president of Montreal real estate company Gestion Immobilière Quo Vadis, which does development, management, and design work for their own properties as well as for third parties and investors. They are the first B Corp triple […]
Sharifa Khan CEO & President, Balmoral Marketing Inc. TELUS Trailblazer Award, CENTRAL Balmoral Marketing was established in 1989 by Sharifa Khan to address the multicultural communities in Canada and to offer companies a communications path to speak to these audiences. As such, it is the longest established woman-owned marketing firm in Canada. From strategy […]
Claudia Sjoberg President, The Pedalheads Group Winner, TELUS Trailblazer Award Founded in 1986, Pedalheads Group provides children’s instructional sports and recreation programs and camps. As President, founder and sole owner of all the corporations, Claudia Sjoberg’s mission is to provide fun, personable environments where all children can embrace challenges, discover independence, and develop skills […]
Cathy Deagle Gammon Executive Director, Dartmouth Adult Services Centre (DASC) Social Change Award, EAST DASC is a person-centered, non-profit organization that strives to enhance community, social and economic inclusion for persons with an intellectual disability, providing employment support, vocational day programs and recreation and leisure programs for 180 persons with intellectual disabilities, some of […]
Melissa Sariffodeen CEO, Ladies Learning Code Winner, Social Change Award Ladies Learning Code, founded by Heather Payne in 2011 alongside Laura Plant, Brenna Hughes and Melissa Sariffodeen, is a national not-for-profit organization championing digital literacy education for Canadians, working nation-wide and across all sectors to equip women and youth with technical skills. To date, […]
Glori Meldrum Founder & Chair of the Board, Little Warriors Social Change Award, WEST Little Warriors is a national, charitable organization committed to the awareness, prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse. The charity offers a free workshop to educate adults on how to help prevent child sexual abuse, and the Little Warriors Be […]
Kara Angus CEO, Go Go Group Inc. RBC Momentum Award, EAST Go-Go Group, launched by founder Kara Angus at just 22 years old, is made up of four divisions: Go-Go Gymnastics, Go-Go Events, Go-Go After School, and Go-Go Pre-School. From empowering and encouraging New Brunswick communities to participate in active and healthy lifestyles, to […]
Mandy Rennehan Founder and CEO, Freshco Winner, RBC Momentum Award Freshco is a boutique, trend-setting, construction and retail facilities maintenance firm comprised of three divisions: Maintenance, Projects and Reconstruction, offering customized, coast-to-coast, first point of contact service to clients across Canada and the Eastern United States. Its founder and CEO, Mandy Rennehan, left home […]
Rachel Mielke Founder and CEO, Hillberg & Berk RBC Momentum Award, WEST Hillberg & Berk is one of Canada’s leading high-end jewellery brands that differentiates itself through an established mission to empower women, creating beautiful jewellery not only to help women capture their unique sparkle, but also to support causes dedicated to women’s empowerment. […]
Trina Bailey Owner, Veterinary Surgeon, Bailey Veterinary Surgical Specialty Ltd. Winner, Staples Start-up Award Bailey Veterinary Surgical Specialty Ltd. of Newfoundland and Labrador began as a referral hospital offering advanced surgical care and diagnostic imaging for companion animals in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. They are the only hospital in the province providing […]
Rula Sharkawi CEO, My Little Chickpea Staples Start-up Award, CENTRAL On her 40th birthday in 2012, Rula Sharkawi was a mother of two young children who decided to leave her executive position in the corporate world to start My Little Chickpea Gourmet Foods, a manufacturer of premium grab-and-go ready-to-eat products, from salads to pita […]
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