Deadline extended to apply for a BDC Young Entrepreneur Award

Young entrepreneurs aged 19 to 35 have until December 7 to enter the competition

MONTREAL, Nov. 24 /CNW Telbec/ - Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) announced today that Canadian entrepreneurs aged 19 to 35 now have until December 7 to submit an application for Young Entrepreneur Awards (YEA). Winners will be announced on May 3, 2011, during a gala awards ceremony in Saskatoon, SK.

In 2011, the YEA will be presented in each of the ten following geographically defined regions: Newfoundland and Labrador; Prince Edward Island; Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Quebec; Ontario; Manitoba; Saskatchewan; Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut; and British Columbia and Yukon.

Selection criteria

The winners will be selected by provincial panels of business people, entrepreneurs, members of Chambers of Commerce and BDC representatives. Selection criteria include the originality of the business concept as well as a business's success, growth potential and social involvement. Judges will also consider a candidate's age as at the time a business was created and any special challenges that were overcome. Candidates from previous years may re-apply for an award.

Nomination procedure

Entrepreneurs can nominate themselves or be nominated by an individual, association or organization, or by a representative of a provincial or municipal government. Nomination forms may be downloaded from BDC's website at www.bdc.ca. To obtain a printed version, please visit a BDC office or business centre or send an email to [email protected]. For additional information, call 1 888 INFO BDC (1 888 463-6232) or visit www.bdc.ca/yea.

Winners of the 2011 YEA are also eligible for two special awards which will be presented during the gala in Saskatoon:

The Deloitte Corporate Social Responsibility Award, 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 $10,000.

The Cisco Innovation Excellence Award, presented to the winner who has demonstrated innovative spirit, creativity or originality in creating, marketing and promoting his/her product and service and in growing his/her business. This award comes with product/services worth $10,000 to support the winner's technology growth.

2011 Young Entrepreneur Awards sponsors:
Deloitte
Cisco
Borden, Ladner, Gervais
Sage Simply Accounting
Globe & Mail

About Deloitte
Deloitte, one of Canada's leading professional services firms, provides audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory services to a wide range of Canadian and international clients. Deloitte is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. In Quebec, Deloitte operates as Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche. www.deloitte.com

About Cisco
Cisco Small Business technology helps small and medium-sized businesses connect to the world, secure their businesses, and communicate more effectively using reliable, affordable options that work together and fit their unique needs. A local reseller, backed by Cisco support and expertise, can help make the right choice simple. www.cisco.com

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

For further information:

Geoffrey King
Director, Public Relations, BDC
514-496-4351
[email protected]