EY Announces Ontario Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013 Finalists Today

(Toronto, 4 July 2013) EY is proud to announce the 2013 Ontario Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists today. The announcement marks 20 years of shining the spotlight on leading entrepreneurs revving the job creation engine across Canada and around the world.

 

“Our Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists are helping lay the foundation for a better working world,” says Colleen McMorrow, National and Ontario Entrepreneur Of The Year program director. “In Ontario and across Canada, their contributions go well beyond the bottom line — they’re job creators.”

 

The theme of job creation was very clear at EY’s World Entrepreneur Of The Year (WEOY) awards held in Monaco last month. Together, the 47 companies gathered at the event represented a remarkable 59,000 jobs created in the last three years alone.

 

That finding was compounded by EY’s latest report, Global job creation, which found the leading entrepreneur survey respondents are continuing to hire, not only to support their entry into new markets but to meet new demand for goods and services. Accordingly, the future of job creation is set to come not from the big corporations or government, but from entrepreneurs, who represent 66% of job creation within the OECD and 85% within the EU.

 

“That’s why it’s so important to support our entrepreneurs and the next generation of entrepreneurial talent,” says McMorrow. “Because when we stand behind these business leaders and empower them to thrive, there’s no limit to what they can achieve.”

 

From coast to coast, our finalists represent 50,909 jobs in Canada.

 

That’s something that WEOY keynote speaker Kofi Annan called a crucial step toward tackling youth unemployment. McMorrow adds: “Entrepreneurs aren’t just creating a future for themselves, they’re creating a better future for the next generation, where jobs are attainable and dreams are within reach.”

 

Entrepreneur Of The Yearcelebrates the contribution and spirit of entrepreneurs everywhere. The Canadian program is in its 20th year of honouring the country’s most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business. Award finalists are chosen based on their vision, leadership, financial success and social responsibility.

 

The Ontario winners will be announced at a gala on 24 October. The overall winner will represent the region at the national gala held in Toronto on 27 November.

 

The 2013 Ontario finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year:

 

Business Services

 

Bill Shaver

DMC Mining Services | Richmond Hill

dmcmining.com

Provides mining services such as pre-feasibility studies, technical engineering services, raise boring and excavation, civil and mine construction, lateral development, shaft sinking and contract mining.

 

Peter Stavropoulos

FlexITy Solutions Inc. | Richmond Hill

flexity.ca

Provides infrastructure solutions, managed services, and full lifecycle support.

 

Ann Kaplan

iFinance Canada Inc. | Toronto

ifinancecanada.com

Provides consumer loans to Canadians for medical, dental, veterinary and home improvement needs.

 

Frank Wilson

TES The Employment Solution | Toronto

tes.net

Supplies handpicked contract, permanent and temporary personnel for IT, engineering, technical and skilled trades positions across North America, and implements large-scale IT infrastructure expansions/upgrades.

 

Business-to-consumer products and services

 

Christopher Szybbo

CBI Health Group | Toronto

cbi.ca

A health care services and management company, operates clinics and facilities for patients and communities in Canada.

 

Walter Heidary

ChildVentures Early Learning Academy | Burlington

childventures.ca

A multiunit business offering outstanding child care and preschool education to 0-6 year-olds using proprietary curriculum blends of three models.

 

Marion Witz

Elizabeth Grant Int. Inc. | Toronto

elizabethgrant.com

Manufactures and distributes a line of luxurious skin care on shopping channels globally.

 

Cleantech and manufacturing

 

Keith Bechard

Entropex | Sarnia

entropex.com

Makes sustainable packaging possible.

 

Ernie Lynch

Lynch Fluid Controls Inc. | Mississauga

lynch.ca

Conceptualizes 3D modeling/designing, planning, engineering, automated manufacturing, assembling and validating fluid power motion control manifolds and integrated hydraulic systems.

 

John Kimmel

Normerica Inc. | Mississauga

normericainc.com

Manufactures all-natural dog biscuits, treats and wet dog food.

 

Cathy Buckingham

TNR Industrial Doors Inc. | Barrie

tnrdoors.com

Manufactures high-performance rubber doors with patented curtain locks, guides and bottom bars for the industrial/commercial markets.

 

Emerging entrepreneur

 

Robert Offley

CentriLogic Inc. | Mississauga

centrilogic.com

Provides international hybrid hosting, cloud computing, co-location and data center solutions, with headquarters in Canada and data center facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

 

Luis Navas

Global Governance Advisors | Toronto

ggovernanceadvisors.com

A global professional advisory firm that exclusively assists boards, executives and investment organizations in maximizing the effectiveness of their executive compensation, board governance and overall human resources committee mandate.

 

Lawrence Krimker

Ontario Consumers Home Services | Toronto

ontarioconsumers.com

Long-term rental of high-efficiency products (furnace, air conditioners, water softeners, water filtration systems and smart thermostats). 

 

Shaheen Ahmad

SPL Consultants Limited | Woodbridge

splconsultants.ca

A multidisciplined consulting engineering firm specializing in geotechnical, environmental and hydrogeological engineering, materials engineering and inspections.

 

Food and beverage

 

George Croft

Brick Brewing Co. Limited | Kitchener

brickbeer.com

Manufactures and distributes beer and ready-to-drink beverages for consumption across Canada.

 

John Lettieri

Hero Certified Burgers | Toronto

heroburgers.com

The first Canadian franchise to offer 100% Heritage Angus Beef, completely free of additives, growth hormones, steroids and antibiotics. 

 

Paul Mastronardi

Mastronardi Produce Ltd. | Kingsville

sunsetgrown.com

A greenhouse operation that encompasses product research, growing, marketing and distribution of gourmet hydroponic produce while maintaining environmental priorities and exceeding industry food safety standards.

 

Mohamad Fakih

Paramount Fine Foods | Toronto

paramountfinefoods.com

Provides authentic Middle Eastern foods through its chain of restaurants, halal butcher shops and wholesale food distribution outlets in Ontario.

 

Mediaand entertainment

 

Alex Mustakas

Drayton Entertainment | Cambridge

draytonentertainment.com

An award-winning circuit of seven live theatres operating in six communities across Ontario: Cambridge, Drayton, Grand Bend, Penetanguishene, Waterloo and St. Jacobs.

 

Neil Sweeney

JUICE Mobile | Toronto

juicemobile.org

Provides solutions to brands and publishers looking to respond to the rapid growth and adoption of mobile devices among consumers.

 

David Ciccarelli

Voices.com | London

voices.com

An online marketplace that connects businesses with professional voice talents.

 

Real estate/construction

 

Geoffrey Smith

EllisDon Corporation | Mississauga

ellisdon.com

A general contractor specializing in construction and project management as well as a variety of construction services such as BIM, ICT and sustainable building.

 

Alan Whitten

Huntington Properties Ottawa Inc. | Ottawa

huntingtonproperties.ca

Asset and property management in commercial real estate focusing on the National Capital Region of Canada and the surrounding area.

 

Fred Losani

Losani Homes Group of Companies | Stoney Creek

losanihomes.com

A residential and commercial builder and land developer.

 

Mary Picard

Maram Building Corp. | Woodbridge

marambuilding.com

A general contractor specializing in new construction, development, renovation, structural restoration, commercial, industrial, institutional and residential construction.

 

Software and technology

 

John Baker

Desire2Learn Inc. | Kitchener

desire2learn.com

A global leader in cloud-based (SaaS) learning solutions with over 750 clients and 10 million learners in higher education, K-12, health care, government and the corporate sector.

 

Kyle MacDonald

Phoenix Interactive Design Inc. | London

phoenix-interactive.com

Designs and develops mission-critical software for banks that operate complex and sophisticated self-service systems commonly known as automated teller machines (ATMs).

 

Alex Rodov

QA Consultants | Toronto

qaconsultants.ca

North America’s largest software testing firm.

 

Young entrepreneur

 

Alkarim Nasser

BNOTIONS | Toronto

bnotions.com

Focuses on strategy, design and the development of mobile, web and social products.

 

Anatoliy Melnichuk, Michele Romanow, Ryan Marien

Buytopia.ca | Toronto

buytopia.ca

A leading online discount retailer offering deals on everything from restaurants, spas and activities to Canada’s largest retailers and branded products.

 

Matt Rendall

Clearpath Robotics | Kitchener

clearpathrobotics.com

A global provider for unmanned vehicle systems serving over 25 countries worldwide.

 

Lauren Friese 

TalentEgg Inc. | Toronto

talentegg.ca

Canada’s most popular job board and online career resource for college and university students and recent graduates.

 

Special citation — Social entrepreneur

 

Social entrepreneur is a unique category that awards a special citation to an entrepreneur whose achievements have driven large-scale social change and improved people’s lives or quality of life.

 

Scott Gilmore

Building Markets | Ottawa

buildingmarkets.org

Connects local entrepreneurs in developing economies like Afghanistan, Liberia and Myanmar to global contracts and credit.

 

About Entrepreneur Of The Year

Entrepreneurs turn us on. To new ideas, new ways of thinking and new possibilities. We’ve shone the spotlight on entrepreneurs for 20 years — and we’ve only just begun. Nominees are reviewed by an independent judging panel composed of several distinguished business leaders and previous award recipients. The 2013 Ontario judging panel consisted of John Albright, Founder and Managing Partner, Relay Ventures; Claude Haw, Managing Partner, Venture Coaches; Tim Jackson, Vice President, University Relations, University of Waterloo; Don Morrison, Senior Managing Director and Country Head, OMERS Private Equity; Nicole Musicco, Vice President, Funds & Co-Investments, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan; David Shaw, 2010 Ontario Entrepreneur Of The Year professional services category winner and Founder and CEO, Knightsbridge Human Capital Management; and Dr. Ilse Treurnicht, CEO, MaRS Discovery District.

 

For more information on the program, FAQs, and key dates, please visit ey.com/ca/EOY.

 

For more information about the Ontario Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards gala on 24 October 2013 and sponsorship opportunities please contact Julie Olden 416 943 2062 at Julie.Olden@ca.ey.com

 

Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada: #EOY20, #EOYOntario.

 

This year’s national program sponsors are National Post, La Presse, RDI and Merrill DataSite. In Ontario, Entrepreneur Of The Year is sponsored by RBC Royal Bank.

 

About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurial Services practice

Ernst & Young LLP’s Entrepreneurial Services practice guides Canadian entrepreneurs by delivering integrated services tailored to their goals and needs at every stage of the business lifecycle. We are the world’s leader in advising, guiding and recognizing the entrepreneurs who propel the economy — and community — forward.

 

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About EY 

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EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.