BDC honors successful young Canadian entrepreneurs during Small Business Week

MONTREAL , Oct. 6 /CNW Telbec/ - The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) announced today that this year's Small Business Week(R) will take place from October 18 to 24 under the theme "Your dream, your business, your passion". Small Business Week is a BDC trademark event that highlights the important contribution small and medium-sized businesses make to the national economy.

"On this 30th anniversary, we are proud to see how the business community across Canada has embraced Small Business Week over the years", said Jean-René Halde, BDC's President and CEO. "Small and medium-sized businesses are the driving force behind our economy and the country's largest employer. They generate economic growth and contribute to the creation of a healthier, more robust market. Celebrating the success and resilience of Canadian entrepreneurs is now more relevant than ever."

Small Business Week activities provide established and prospective entrepreneurs with training and development opportunities, and create a forum for networking and sharing ideas. With the assistance of numerous public and private sector organizations, BDC branches play an active role in planning and publicizing local and national conferences, trade fairs, seminars, workshops and business luncheons under the Small Business Week umbrella.

The Young Entrepreneur Awards ceremony is the highlight of Small Business Week and will be held this year in Ottawa , Ontario on October 20 at the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel. Award recipients will be presented with a commemorative trophy, and applauded by the business community for hard work and ingenuity.

BDC Young Entrepreneur Awards

On October 20 , BDC will recognize the business and leadership accomplishments of young Canadians entrepreneurs aged 19 to 35. The winners are selected by panels of judges comprised of business professionals, entrepreneurs, BDC employees and members of local Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce. Selection criteria include the originality of the business concept, the success of the company, its growth potential and social involvement. The judges also take into account the entrepreneur's age when the business was started and any special challenges that were overcome.

Two special awards will be presented during the Young Entrepreneurs Awards ceremony:

The Export Development Canada Export Excellence Award rewards the winner with the most outstanding export results. This award comes with a $10,000 grant.

The Deloitte Corporate Social Responsibility Award is presented to the winner whose company stands out in terms of practices and policies promoting environmental protection, sound human resources management or community well-being. This award comes with general consulting advice worth $20,000 .

Media opportunities

BDC spokespeople are available to talk about the history of Small Business Week and how it has grown into a national event adopted by the entire Canadian business community.

BDC also makes available to publications across the country a Small Business Week editorial package. A series of six articles on key topics of interest to Canadian entrepreneurs as well as several Small Business Week fact sheets and banners are available for download free of charge at http://www.bdc.ca/en/about/events/small_business_week/article_series.htm

2009 Young Entrepreneur Awards and Small Business Week partners

Platinum partners of the 2009 Young Entrepreneur Awards and Small Business Week are Deloitte and Export Development Canada . Gold partners are Borden Ladner Gervais and Maclean's.

About BDC

BDC is Canada's business development bank. From more than 100 offices across the country, BDC promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital and consulting services to entrepreneurs. Visit www.bdc.ca for more information.

Small Business Week is a registered trademark of BDC. For more information visit: www.smallbusinessweek.ca.

For further information: Johanne Bissonnette, Media Relations Manager, BDC, [phone], [email protected]