Prairies region's legacy-building entrepreneurs advance to finalist stage of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ program

CALGARY, July 9, 2015 /CNW/ - Accelerating growth, driving innovation and building a strong legacy are what Canadian entrepreneurs do, every day. This year, EY is celebrating the achievements of 43 entrepreneurial stars in the Prairies region through the prestigious EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program. 

These inspiring category finalists were chosen by an independent panel of judges. One of these category winners will be named the overall Prairies winner, who will compete with winners from four other regions – Pacific, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic – to become Canada's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. The Canadian winner will go on to compete globally with more than 50 countries for the title of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year in June 2016.

"At EY, we applaud and champion Canada's entrepreneurial stars," says Rob Jolley, EY's Prairies Entrepreneur Of The Year program director. "Entrepreneurs light the way for others by accelerating growth and asking better questions. By asking better questions, they find better solutions to Canada's most pressing business needs."

The Canadian Entrepreneur Of The Year program is in its 22^nd year of recognizing, celebrating and telling the inspiring stories of the country's most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business and at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Award finalists are chosen based on their vision, leadership, innovation, financial success, personal integrity, and work in giving back to their communities.

The Prairies winners will be announced at a gala in Calgary on 15 October 2015.

More information
Follow @EYCanada, #EOY and #EOYPrairies on Twitter for the latest event updates
Visit ey.com/ca/eoy for more program details and a complete list of category finalists and gala dates in the regions. 

2015 PrairiesEY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists

Agricultural and Environmental Innovation

Dr. Jianhua Zhu
BioNeutra Global Corporation | Edmonton, Alberta
bioneutra.ca
Develops, manufactures and markets value-added agricultural products. VitaFiber can be found in protein bars, powdered protein drinks, baking, confectionaries and supplements.

Darryl Nelson, Warren Nelson
Nelson Environmental Remediation Ltd. | Spruce Grove, Alberta
nerglobal.com
An environmental projects corporation that prides itself on its first-class technology, experience and personnel.

Norbert Beaujot
SeedMaster Manufacturing Ltd. | Emerald Park, Saskatchewan
seedmaster.ca
SeedMaster manufactures seeding related technology designed for large no-till farmers.

Shane Olson
Shercom Industries | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
shercomindustries.com
A fully integrated tire recycling operation that collects scrap tires, processes them into crumb, and manufactures molded goods from the crumb to make consumer and industrial products.

Business-to-business products and services

Harry Sunner, Joe Sunner
Durabuilt Windows & Doors Inc. | Edmonton, Alberta
durabuiltwindows.com
A proven leader in product innovation, serving the new construction, renovation and commercial markets with branches in Alberta, Saskatoon and Manitoba.

Christopher Micetich
NAEJA Pharmaceuticals / Fedora Pharmaceuticals | Edmonton, Alberta
naeja.com
Conducts pharmaceutical drug discovery research for pharmaceutical companies and has discovered several life-saving drugs that are marketed worldwide.

Jack Tremain
Pumps & Pressure Inc. | Red Deer, Alberta
pumpsandpressure.com
A supply and service company headquartered in Red Deer, Alberta with seven branches in Western Canada.

Business-to-consumer products and services

Patrick Priestner
AutoCanada Inc. | Edmonton, Alberta
autocan.ca
One of Canada's largest multi-location automobile dealership groups, currently operating 57 dealerships.

Louis Stack
Fitter International Inc. | Calgary, Alberta
fitter1.com
Develops cutting-edge balance training products that have helped shape the rehabilitation, elite fitness and the everyday working world.

Milt Reimer
FXR Factory Racing Inc. | Oak Bluff, Manitoba
fxrracing.com
A manufacturer of world-class outerwear and accessories in 11 different countries with customers across the globe.

Greg Stahl
New West Truck Centres | Calgary, Alberta
newwesttruck.ca
Unified teams at three Alberta locations assist customers with heavy truck needs in sales, parts sales and repair services.

Emerging Entrepreneur

Dale Kearns
BrightPath Early Learning Inc. | Calgary, Alberta
brightpathkids.com
Canada's only publicly traded child care provider, designing and developing free standing, state of the art child care centres for more than 5,000 children in Canada.

Jeremy Leonard
Canada Pump and Power Corporation | Ardrossan, Alberta
mightypumps.com
A specialized industrial marine services company providing specially manufactured products and services to oil & gas, oil sands and industrial customers in Western Canada.

John Stevens
ENTREC Corporation | Acheson, Alberta
entrec.com
An employee-owned, integrated crane solutions provider to the oil and natural gas, construction, petrochemical, mining and power generation industries.

Todd Van Vliet
Frac Shack Inc. | Acheson, Alberta
fracshack.com
Advanced automated multi-unit refueling systems designed to provide the safest, most efficient and cost-effective technology available to onsite well completions.

Energy Services

Scott Dodds
HighMark Crane Ltd. | Edmonton, Alberta
highmarkcrane.com
Crane and hoisting business supporting power and utilities, and oil and gas industries across Canada.

Mike Schnell
Maverick Oilfield Services Ltd. | Calgary, Alberta
mavoil.com
Specializes in facility and pipeline construction through its heavy haul and over dimensional transportation division.

Troy Ferguson
Redrock Camps Inc. | Calgary, Alberta
redrockcamps.com
Provides unique, turn-key hospitality and modular workforce accommodation solutions to take care of workers on the energy frontier.

Ashley Godwin, Kyle Melnyk
TAHK Projects Ltd. | Sherwood Park, Alberta
tahk.ca
A leader in oil and gas construction from pipeline to facility construction.

Manufacturing

Shaun Semple
Brandt Group of Companies | Regina, Saskatchewan
brandt.ca
A dynamic group of companies that employs more than 1900 people across Canada and the U.S. and services markets in over 20 countries on six continents.

David Welsh
priMED Medical Products Inc. | Edmonton, Alberta
primed.ca
A leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of high quality single-use medical products with a focus on personal protective equipment for infection prevention and control.

Gary Haley
Vantage Foods Inc. | Calgary, Alberta
vantagefoods.net
A private label manufacturer of retail-ready fresh meats that has grown organically.

Peter Dueck, Sid Dueck
Vidir Machine Inc. | Arborg, Manitoba
storevertical.com
A family-owned manufacturing company of vertical storage solutions.

Oil and Gas

Pat Wilson
Camex Equipment Sales & Rentals Inc. | Nisku, Alberta
camex.ca
For over 20 years, Camex has been delivering customer specific oilfield transportation solutions to clients the world over.

Liam Balfour
New Wave Energy Services | Calgary, Alberta
www.newwavees.com
One of the few full water servicing companies in North America with customers in all key North American oil resource plays.

Pat Carlson
Seven Generations Energy Ltd. | Calgary, Alberta
7genergy.com
An independent petroleum company focused on the acquisition, development and value optimization of high quality tight and shale hydrocarbon resource plays.

Josh Thompson
WISE Intervention Services Inc. | Calgary, Alberta
wiseisi.com
A high-performance, results-driven well intervention services provider to the oil and gas industry in western Canada and U.S., optimizing reservoir performance.

Professional and financial services

Shannon Bowen-Smed
BOWEN | Calgary, Alberta
bowenworks.ca
Develops contractor management and on boarding support while executing highly complex recruiting projects for clients.

Fayaz Chunara
FC Telec Consultants Ltd. | Edmonton, Alberta
fctelec.com
Provides engineering consulting, project management and construction management services for the wireless telecommunication infrastructure industry.

Vivian Manasc
Manasc Isaac Architects | Edmonton, Alberta
ManascIsaac.com
An integrated architectural, engineering and interior design firm, and an award-winning Canadian leader in the creation of sustainable buildings.

Melanie Wildman
WLF Medical | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
wlfmedical.ca
Since 2009, WLF Medical has successfully treated thousands of patients across Canada, filling an urgent need for effective and safe bariatric treatment of obesity.

Real estate and construction

Bert DeBruin, Jeannette DeBruin
AltaPro Electric Ltd. | Spruce Grove, Alberta
altapro.ca
An electrical company providing services in Edmonton and surrounding areas, and a leader in the design build industry with 28 years of experience.

Brian Halina
Chemco Electrical Contractors Ltd. | Edmonton, Alberta
chemco-elec.com
For 50 years, Chemco has provided electrical services, design and engineering, construction delivery and maintenance support to industrial clients big and small.

Bob Dhillon
Mainstreet Equity Corp. | Calgary, Alberta
mainst.biz
A publicly traded residential real estate company with 9,159 units and approximately $1.3 billion in market value.

Technology and communications

Geoff Lyon
CoolIT Systems Inc. | Calgary, Alberta
coolitsystems.com
An innovator with 47 patents and more than 1.9 million liquid cooling units deployed. A world leader in Direct Contact Liquid Cooling for data centre, server and desktop markets.

Alex Webb
F12 Networks | Edmonton, Alberta
f12.net
Provides companies with complete IT services for a single monthly payment, eliminating the need for costly capital investments and offers a stable, budget-driven IT platform.

Lindsay Dodd
Savvia Inc. | Edmonton, Alberta
savvia.com
A technology advisory company specializing in creating high-performing IT departments by improving the performance, business alignment, and management of IT investments.

Geoff Thompson
Vintri Technologies Inc. | Calgary, Alberta
vintritech.com
An innovative tagging and software solution for asset traceability and tracking, conformance, and on-demand reporting in the pipeline industry.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in 50 countries.

The 2015 Prairies independent  judging panel consists of Saurabh Agarwal, Principle, Warburg Pincus; Allison Grafton, Partner & Founder, Rockwood Custom Homes and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Real Estate and Construction category finalist 2013, Prairies; Steve King, President & CEO, Alaris Royalty Corp and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Professional and Financial Services category finalist 2013, Prairies; Ashif Mawji, President, Trust Science and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Young Entrepreneur category winner 2002, Prairies; Prabha Vaidyanathan, CEO, Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.; Dale Wishewan, President & CEO, Booster Juice and 2013 Prairies EY Entrepreneur Of The Year winner; and Anita Wortzman, CEO, Acumen Corporate Development.

This year's national program sponsors are National Post, TEC Canada, La Presse, RDI, TMX, Merrill DataSite, Kira Talent, Air Canada and The Printing House Limited. Prairies regional sponsors are Business in Calgary and Business in Edmonton.

About EY's Strategic Growth Markets Network
EY's worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early-stage venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. For more than 150 years in Canada, we've delivered the insights and quality services that help build trust and confidence in capital markets here and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

For more information about the program, FAQs and key dates, please visit ey.com/ca/EOY.
Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada, #EOY

EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

SOURCE EY (Ernst & Young)

about this press release, gala information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact: Erika Bennett, [email protected], 403 206 5157; Julie Fournier, [email protected], 514 874 4308; Sasha Anopina, [email protected], 416 943 2637