2012 BC Aboriginal Business Awards Call for Submissions Launched

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.

Nora Newlands, Executive Director
BC Achievement Foundation
604-261-3348