2013 RBC Canadian Women’s Entrepreneurship Awards Gala

The RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, Canada’s foremost women’s entrepreneurship and business awards, celebrated their 21st year tonight. The black-tie gala awards ceremony at the Fairmount York Hotel, Toronto, was full of Who’s Who of women leaders in Canada. Hosted by Diane Francis, editor-at-large of the National Post and author of “Merger of a Century,” the event was fast-paced and full of good cheer.

From a bagpipe start to a surprise closing keynote by Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women The Honourable Kellie Leitch, in between was a scrumptious three-course meal, as well as of course, the Awards themselves.

The 2013 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards recipients are:

Deloitte Start-Up Award
Lisa Tuningley, President, T-RAIL Products Inc.

Hub HKMB Impact Award
Judith Bobbitt, President, Oceans Ltd.

RBC Momentum Award
Victoria Sopik & Jennifer Nashmi, CEO and Co-Founder / CFO and Co-Founder, Kids & Company

TPH Sustainability Award
Tamara Barker Watson, CEO, Whitestone Developments Ltd.

TELUS Trailblazer Award
Shannon Rogers, President & General Counsel, Global Relay

PROFIT Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship
Suzanne Lee West, President and CEO, Black Shire Energy Inc.

Highlights of the event included Dr. Kellie Leitch‘s speech on engaging more Canadian women to become entrepreneurs, Suzanne Lee West sharing her determination to build her industry into one that focused on people, planet and profits, and when Carolyn Lawrence, President and CEO, Women of Influence Inc., spoke about WOI’s commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs.

Beautiful centre pieces at the tables

Event management was done by Bliss.

“On behalf of everyone at this year’s RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, we are so very proud to highlight the successes of the award recipients,” said Carolyn Lawrence. “Each winner is incredibly deserving of all the accolades bestowed upon her and the resulting momentum to propel the growth of her business. These women are incredible role models for future generations.”

Another successful year!

About T. U. Dawood

T U Dawood is a freelance journalist as well as the former Canadian representative to the YNS, the youth wing of the Associated Press. She is a specialist on entrepreneurship and is on a mission to educate girls in need throughout the world. Check out her Educate a Girl charity.