Purdys Chocolatier's Karen Flavelle to receive EY's Family Business Award of Excellence

Prestigious award celebrates generations of entrepreneurial achievement

VANCOUVER, Sept. 23, 2013 /CNW/ - In honor of Purdys Chocolatier's generations of entrepreneurial achievement, EY will award its prestigious Family Business Award of Excellence in the Pacific region to Karen Flavelle at the Pacific Entrepreneur Of The Year gala on 4 October 2013.

"This is the first year we're presenting the Family Business Award of Excellence in Canada," says Ron Voyer, Pacific Entrepreneur Of The Year program director. "We could not be more honoured to recognize Purdys Chocolatier's success as a pioneer and continuing innovator in the confectionery business over successive generations."

The Flavelle family has run Purdys Chocolatier since 1963, upholding the traditions of its founder and continuing to demonstrate an unmatched passion for chocolate. The Canadian owned and family operated business has 63 stores in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. In fact, EY says the Flavelle family's success story truly beats the odds.

"Fewer than 10% of all family businesses make it to the third generation and beyond while still keeping the entrepreneurial spirit and traditional values that first made the business a success," says Voyer. "EY's Family Business Award of Excellence celebrates Purdys Chocolatier's inspiring story, which we hope will encourage today's and tomorrow's entrepreneurs to aspire to reach similar heights."

EY's Family Business Award of Excellence recognizes leaders of outstanding entrepreneurial families with a culture and tradition of successfully balancing business and family issues, growing the business through innovation, and contributions through philanthropic or social engagement. The families support these traditions with sustainable, long-term strategies that include effective and transparent corporate governance.

Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates the contribution and spirit of entrepreneurs everywhere. The Canadian program is in its 20th year of honouring the country's most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business. Award finalists are chosen based on their vision, leadership, financial success and social responsibility.

The Pacific winners will be announced at a gala on 4 October 2013. The overall winner will represent the region at the national gala held in Toronto on 27 November.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year
Entrepreneurs turn us on. To new ideas, new ways of thinking and new possibilities. We've shone the spotlight on entrepreneurs for 20 years — and we've only just begun. Nominees are reviewed by an independent judging panel composed of several distinguished business leaders and previous award recipients.

For more information on the program, FAQs and key dates, please visit ey.com/ca/EOY.

For more information about the Pacific Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards gala on 4 October 2013, please contact Sandie Atkinson 604 643 5486 at [email protected].

Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada: #EOY20, #EOYPacific.

This year's national program sponsors are National Post, La Presse, RDI, Merrill DataSite and Pandora Jewellery. In the Pacific region, Canada Wide Media is the platinum sponsor, Hunt Personnel-Temporarily Yours and Sauder School of Business are the silver sponsors, and Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver is the patron sponsor.

About EY's Entrepreneurial Services practice
EY's Entrepreneurial Services practice guides Canadian entrepreneurs by delivering integrated services tailored to their goals and needs at every stage of the business lifecycle. We are the world's leader in advising, guiding and recognizing the entrepreneurs who propel the economy — and community — forward.

For more information, please visit ey.com/ca/Entrepreneurs.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets 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, please visit ey.com/ca.

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)

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Erika Bennett
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