Ernst & Young honours Quebec finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011
Firm calls on all stakeholders to help entrepreneurs drive economy (Montreal, 7 July 2011) Entrepreneurs are poised to drive the next major wave of economic growth, but the wider community must do more to support these creative-minded innovators, Ernst & Young said today when revealing this year’s finalists for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year®.
“Quebec needs entrepreneurial role models,” explains François Dufresne, Quebec Director of Entrepreneur Of The Year. “That’s why it’s essential that we highlight their success, and reward them. Paying tribute to entrepreneurs shows them that society appreciates their achievements. What’s more, successful entrepreneurs can inspire young Quebeckers and encourage them to go into business.”
Recognizing the immense potential entrepreneurs can bring to our markets and communities, Ernst & Young says governments, educational institutions, the financial sector and Corporate Canada must work together to create an ecosystem in which an entrepreneurial culture can thrive.
In a new global survey of entrepreneurs — Nature or nurture? Decoding the DNA of the entrepreneur — Ernst & Young found that entrepreneurs are generally in a positive position, but continue to face significant obstacles. The firm says entrepreneurs need improved access to credit in addition to new educational opportunities and less red tape. Establishing that kind of ecosystem can unleash limitless entrepreneurial potential.
The key to entrepreneurial success lies in the way entrepreneurs view the world, Dufresne says. Entrepreneurs see opportunity where others see disruption. Even the financial crisis generated opportunities for those willing to seize them, and that bolsters the economy. But stakeholders must renew their focus on this area to adequately support entrepreneurs.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards recognize the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. The Canadian program is in its 18th year of honouring the country’s most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business. Award winners are chosen based on their vision, leadership, financial success and social responsibility.
The Quebec winners will be announced at a banquet on October 6, and the overall winner will represent the region at the national banquet held in Toronto on
November 23.
The 2011 Quebec finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year:
Business-to-business products and services
Claude Bigras
Groupe Distinction Inc. l Lasalle
gdiservices.ca
A leading provider of building maintenance services with 9,000 employees and 17 offices in Canada.
André Gaumond
Mines Virginia Inc. l Quebec City
virginia.qc.ca
Mining exploration company that works with many projects in various stages of growth in order to develop mineral resources.
Sean Roosen
Osisko Mining Corporation l Montreal
osisko.com
A development-stage gold mining company, Osisko is currently completing the construction of the Canadian Malartic gold mine in the Abitibi mining district.
Business-to-consumer products and services
Sanjay Bakshani, Vicken Kanadjian
Cesium Telecom, Inc. l Mont-Royal
cesiumtelecom.com
One of North America’s leading distributors of wireless products, Cesium introduces the latest technology from the world’s top manufacturers to the North American market.
Guy Bessette, Manon Duplantie
Fix Auto l Blainville
fixauto.com
Franchisor specializing in autobody collision with key customers such as insurers.
Sylvie Myre
Voyages à rabais l Trois-Rivieres
voyagesarabais.com
Travel provider that offers vacations, flights and travel insurance.
Health sciences
Frank Baylis, Krishan Shah
Baylis Medical Company Inc. l Saint-Laurent
baylismedical.com
Recognized around the world for high tech cardiology, radiology and pain management products.upplier
of high-technology cardiology, pain management and radiology products.
Eve-Lyne Biron
Biron Groupe Santé Inc. l Brossard
groupebiron.ca
A leader in health services in Quebec, BGS is recognized as the partner of choice in health management, offering a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic services.
Danny Minogue
Minogue Medical Inc. l Montreal
minogue-med.com
A health-care organization offering medical supplies and equipment, energy supplements and nutrition.
Information technology
Gilles Létourneau
Groupe GFI Solutions Inc. l Montreal
gfisolutions.com
A leader in consulting, development and integration of technology solutions for business, accounting and banking using both traditional methods and software as a service (SaaS) in the cloud.
Mario Bouchard
iBwave l Saint-Laurent
ibwave.com
A Canadian-based company created in 2003 from a need to standardize the emerging in-building wireless market. Its software suite and certification programs have been adopted by over 270 telecom leaders in over 70 countries.
Marc-André Roy
R3D Conseil inc. l Montreal
r3d.com
An independent consultant in management and information technology, the company is distinguished by its expertise in offering customers combined business and technology services.
Manufacturing
Jean-Robert Leclerc
Groupe Biscuits Leclerc l Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures
biscuitsleclerc.com
Designs, produces and markets quality and innovative food products, including cookies, granola bars and crackers.
Louis Veilleux
Groupe Mundial l Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon
metalbernard.com
Sheet metal transformation, moulding and machining of rubber and other polymers.
François-Xavier Souvay
Lumenpulse Inc. l Montreal
lumenpulse.com
Designs and manufactures cutting-edge architectural solid-state lighting for both interior and exterior applications.
Service business
David Marotte
Groupe conseil FXinnovation Inc. l Montreal
fxinnovation.com
Provider of consulting services and business optimization solutions in information technology and communications.
Marcel Dallaire
L-IPSE Services conseil inc. l Quebec City
l-ipse.com
An information technology consulting firm.
Robert Frances
PEAK Financial Group l Montreal
peakgroup.com
A network representing more than 1,000 independent financial advisors to over 135,000 Canadian investors.
Technology solutions
Isabelle Bettez, Jean-Sébastien Bettez
8D Technologies inc l Montreal
8d.com
A world leader in developing advanced, intelligent wireless, machine-to-machine, multi-function
solar-based point-of-sale solutions.
Patrick Ostiguy
Accedian Networks l Saint-Laurent
accedian.com
A leading provider of High Performance Service Assurance™ solutions for carrier ethernet networks.
Vincent Chornet
Enerkem Inc. l Montreal
enerkem.com
A leading garbage-to-biofuel and chemicals company. It builds, owns and operates its compact facilities that employ its clean, proprietary technology.
Special citation – Social entrepreneur
This special citation is a unique category among the awards. It’s given in recognition of an entrepreneur whose achievements have driven large-scale social change and improved people’s lives or quality of life.
Gabriel Bran Lopez
Fusion Jeunesse, Montréal
www.fusionjeunessequebec.org
Youth Fusion establishes innovative partnerships between high schools and universities to counter high school dropout by creating and implementing projects that engage youth.
- 30 -About Entrepreneur of The Year
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards honour the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. Nominees are reviewed by an independent judging panel, which is composed of several distinguished business leaders and previous award recipients. The 2011 Quebec region judging panel consisted of Jean Cloutier, Vice President,Operations and Finance, Outdoor Gear Canada (OGC), 2010 award winner, Manufacturing category; Jean Gattuso, President and Chief Executive Officer, A. Lassonde Inc., Chief Operating Officer, Lassonde Industries Inc., 2008 Quebec Entrepreneur Of The Year; Nina Gupta, President, Greenlite Lighting Corporation, 2008 award winner, Social entrepreneur category; Andrée-Lise Méthot, Founder and Senior Partner, Cycle Capital Management; Pascal Pilon, President and CEO, Averna, 2009 award winner, Technology category; Alexandre Taillefer, Partner, XPND Capital, Étienne Veilleux, President and CEO, Distech Controls Inc., 2010 award winner, Cleantech category.
For more information on the program, FAQs, and key dates please visit ey.com/ca/EOY.
Entrepreneur Of The Year is sponsored nationally by National Post, La Presse and RDI. The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Quebec Awards are sponsored by Fonds de Solidarité FTQ.
About Ernst & Young LLP’s Entrepreneurial Services practice
Ernst & Young LLP’s Entrepreneurial Services practice serves Canada’s entrepreneurs by delivering integrated business advisory services in assurance, tax, transactions, and advisory services to help them drive growth and create value. Our team of professionals has a track record of focusing on the issues and needs of companies as they grow from early stage to become market leaders. Ernst & Young has long worked with and celebrated the achievements of Canadian men and women who create the products, services and jobs that propel Canada’s economy and communities forward. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca/Entrepreneurs.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 141,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.
