Press release

21 Jul. 2021 Halifax, CA

Seven unstoppable Atlantic entrepreneurs take top EY award

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Atlantic winners are creating meaningful global impact

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Victoria McQueen
Victoria McQueen

EY Canada Team Lead, Public Relations

Leading the development and distribution of external communications across Canada. Can be found by the lake in the summer and on the slopes in the winter.

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EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Atlantic winners are creating meaningful global impact

Global leaders, national players and local changemakers: seven businesses have taken the top regional title in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Atlantic program.

“From marine technology and sports nutrition, to sustainability sourced ingredients and specialty chocolates, this year’s winners are on a mission to make a global, lasting impact,” says Steve McLaughlin, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Atlantic Program Co-Director. “The drive, innovation and value these entrepreneurs are delivering is second to none. We’re excited to recognize and celebrate their achievements in the Atlantic program.”

EOY 2021 Atlantic Winners

Atlantic regional winners will move forward to compete against peers from the Pacific, Prairies, Ontario and Québec regions at the national awards celebration in November 2021, where 10 national winners will be named, including Canada’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 Award winner. The overall Canadian winner will go on to compete with national winners from across the globe for the title of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year in June 2022. The seven Atlantic winners vying for the title are:

  • Steen Gunderson of Bouctouche Bay Industries Ltd., a marine and aquaculture supplier delivering  continuous innovation and quality products and services across multiple, diverse industries.
  • Karl Kenny of Kraken Robotic Systems Inc. (TSX: PNG), a marine technology company engaged in the design, development and marketing of advanced sonar and laser sensors and systems and subsea power solutions for military and commercial applications.
  • John Williams of Nutra Holdings Inc., a company on a mission to build an industry-leading sports nutrition platform — with over 100 products and millions of customers around the world.
  • Darren Burke of Outcast Foods, a food tech company creating a sustainable revolution that eases food insecurities and lowers the carbon footprint of the food supply chain.
  • Tareq Hadhad of Peace by Chocolate Inc., a speciality chocolatier company that reopened in Canada following being forced to flee from Syria during the country's civil war — it now ships its confectionary treats and chocolates to customers around the world. 
  • Barb Stegemann of The 7 Virtues Beauty Inc., a perfume company making clean, vegan and sustainably sourced products using ingredients from nations rebuilding after war or strife.
  • Andy MacLellan of VERB Interactive, a conversion-focused agency creating beautiful, immersive platforms that drive measurable results to travel businesses through digital marketing.

“It’s amazing to see so many entrepreneurs in the Atlantic region driving forward with purpose to create meaningful value for their customers and communities,” says Gina Kinsman, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Atlantic Program Co-Director. “The social, economic and environmental change they’re creating for their stakeholders is inspiring.”

More information

Follow @EYCanada, #EOYCanada and #EOYAtlantic on Twitter for the latest program updates. Visit www.ey.com/ca/eoy for more program details.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. Winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. ey.com/eoy

The 2021 Atlantic independent judging panel consists of Andrea Feunekes, CEO & Co-founder of Remsoft; Anne Whelan, CEO of Seafair Capital Inc.; Kent Scales, CEO of Scales Group of Companies; Kim Keating, COO of Cahill Group; Laurie MacKeigan, President of Backman Vidcomm; and Robyn Eddy, former President of Eddy Group Ltd.

This year's program national sponsor is TSX Inc.

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This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP.