VANCOUVER, June 14, 2012 /CNW/ - BC Achievement Foundation chair Keith
Mitchell announced today that the call for submissions is now open for
the fourth annual BC Aboriginal Business Awards. "From young
entrepreneurs to joint venture businesses, we welcome submissions for
this unique awards program, which celebrates Aboriginal businesses from
across BC," says Mitchell.
The BC Aboriginal Business Awards honour business excellence in the
following categories: Young Entrepreneur (Male and Female), Joint
Venture, Community-Owned and Business of the Year awards for
one-to-two-person enterprises, two-to-10-person enterprises, and
enterprises with 10 or more persons.
"The continued success of these awards illustrates how much Aboriginal
business has to offer all of British Columbia in terms of drive,
innovation, and business expertise," says Mary Polak, Minister of
Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. "Last year, the award
recipients' businesses ranged from pilates to real estate, from
catering to construction and I encourage Aboriginal entrepreneurs from
across the province to participate in this year's awards by entering
their own submissions or nominating a business they feel deserves
recognition."
A judges' panel evaluates the submissions guided by the viability,
success, and competitiveness of the business. The panel selects a
first-place recipient and up to two second-place outstanding business
achievers in each category. All winners will be celebrated at a gala
presentation ceremony on December 5, 2012 in Vancouver.
"It was a tremendous privilege to receive my award and I hope my
experience will encourage and inspire other Aboriginal entrepreneurs to
consider entering the business world as I did," says Sharon Bond,
president of Kelowna's Kekuli Café Aboriginal Foods and Catering and
past winner of a Business of the Year Award.
"These awards are made possible thanks to a partnership with the
Province of British Columbia and our generous sponsors, New
Relationship Trust, BC Hydro, Teck, Encana, and Spectra Energy," says
Mitchell. "Thank you to all our partners for recognizing and
celebrating the value of our Aboriginal entrepreneurs."
For further information and submission forms, please visit: www.bcachievement.com The deadline for submissions is Friday, Sept. 14, 2012.