SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – It’s nearly time to celebrate business at the annual Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce gala.
The 2019 Entrepreneurs’ Gala will be held March 16 with the spotlight’s focus on youth, more specifically, the finalists of the Enterprising Youth Award.
The event will also highlight the role women play in the provincial economy.
There are five nominees for the youth award, which parts from status quo as the Chamber usually only retains three finalists for each award category.
“We’ll now be able to pay tribute to all of these youth who invest so much effort in helping develop our communities and who literally represent our succession,” said Pierre Gallant, spokesperson for the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of P.E.I.
The Young Millionaires Award will also be presented at the gala.
Like in past years, more than half of the finalists up for awards are female.
“Eleven of the 18 finalists are female entrepreneurs or organizations that are managed by women or that have a female president. It’s great to see that women are really taking the place that they’ve earned.”
In total, the contest received 23 nominations for its six awards.
“Our finalists represent a wide range of sectors – performing arts, tourism, sales of various products and services, community development, personal development, manufacturing, communications, education, etc.,” said Gallant.
The nominees are as follows:
Young Enterprising Person of the Year
- Eliott Fraser, owner of Simply Sno-Cones / Simply Squeez’d of Charlottetown;
- Evan Gallant, hockey player from Abram-Village;
- Paloudes, musical group formed by Tianna Gallant, Gilbert Arsenault and Dawson Arsenault, from the Evangeline region;
- Rikki Delaney, young leader with the 4-H movement, from the Evangeline region;
- Shelaine Gallant, young community leader from Abram-Village who organized two Honour Runs.
Social Economy Business of the Year
- Le Centre Goéland / Le Village des sources l’Étoile filante of Cape Egmont;
- Evangeline Recreation Commission in Abram-Village;
- Wellington Co-op.
Business Personality of the Year
- Claudette Thériault, president of the organizing committee of Le Congrès mondial acadien 2019, Abram-Village;
- Francis Thériault, owner of PEI Agents Realty and three other businesses in Stratford;
- Stéphanie St-Onge-Cornish, owner of Blossom Foot Care in Summerside.
Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year
- Pam Arora, co-owner of jewel maker and retailer Pam & Joe Handcrafted in Charlottetown;
- Philippe Guidon, owner of Belgo Transport of Charlottetown.
Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year
- Ray Brow, owner of Britannia Corporation in Charlottetown;
- Yvette Deschênes, owner of Chez Yvette Bed & Breakfast in Urbainville.
President’s Award of the Year
– Le Collège de l’Île, which has campuses in Wellington and Charlottetown;
– Acadian Roofing (owner Robert Poirier) of St. Raphael;
– La Voix Acadienne of Summerside.
