Announcing the 2019 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award Finalists!

This year marks the 27th year of recognizing the top women entrepreneurs in Canada. We are thrilled to be celebrating another influential collection of business owners. Representing diverse industries and business sizes, and hailing from across the country — here are the 2019 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award Finalists.

This was a record-breaking year for the program with over 9,000 nominations from across the country. After an intensive judging review, 18 finalists were selected across six legacy award categories. An additional five recipients were chosen to receive the Ones to Watch Award, which recognizes entrepreneurs who have launched businesses that have made an incredible impact in fewer than three years.

These exceptional women were chosen for their accomplishments in a diverse group of industries including finance, oil and gas, publishing, technology, construction, hospitality and health services.

“We are honoured to celebrate the accomplishments of our 2019 award finalists,” says Alicia Skalin, Co-CEO, Women of Influence. “These entrepreneurs have applied their intelligence, dedication and ingenuity to challenge the status quo of their industries. As we approach the end of the decade, the 2019 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award finalists are an exciting representation of the growth and innovation that is to come for Canadian business.”

The winners will be announced and celebrated at the 27th Annual Awards Gala, on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Keynote remarks will be shared by Jacqui Allard, Executive Vice President, Personal Financing Products, RBC.

The RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards recognize female business owners from across Canada who make impressive and substantial contributions to the local, Canadian or global economy. Candidates share a strong entrepreneurial vision and a relentless passion in pursuing their dreams. These awards recognize businesswomen from three major regions across Canada: East, Central and West.

“Women entrepreneurs are a powerful force in driving Canada’s economic growth and innovation agenda. Their leadership and economic participation generate more than $148 billion a year and their trailblazing efforts serve as an inspiration for the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs to rise to their potential,” said Greg Grice, Executive Vice-President, Business Financial Services, RBC. “In recognizing the tremendous accomplishments of Canadian women entrepreneurs and celebrating their stories through initiatives like this — and many others at RBC — we hope to accelerate our collective progress on the advancement of women in business.”

All nominees are required to submit thorough applications, which are reviewed and judged by a panel of prominent business leaders and subject to a due diligence performed by KPMG.

Without further ado, here are our 2019 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards program finalists and recipients:

The 2019 Recipients of the Ones to Watch Award are:

Benveet Gill, ReYu Paralysis Recovery Centre

Melissa Kargiannakis, skritswap

Melinda Rombouts, Eve & Co Cannabis

Dina Kulik, Kidcrew

Lisa Ali Learning, AtlanTick Repellant Products Inc.

The 2019 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award Finalists are:

Diversity Institute Micro-Business Award

West: Kelly Ann Woods, Gillespie’s Fine Spirits Ltd, Boozewitch Beverage Company, Switch Beverage Co.

Central: Megan Kalaman & Angelica Demetriou, K+D (Kalaman + Demetriou Inc.)

East: Connie McInnes, RSTUDIOS

Start-Up Award

West: Kiely MacLean, RJ MacLean

Central: Jayne McCaw, Jayne’s Cottages

East: Nathalie Kaspy-Shtern, DoughNats Bakery

RBC Momentum Award

West: Janet LePage, Western Wealth Capital

Central: Camille Jagdeo, Edge1 Equipment Rentals Inc. 

East: Youlita Anguelov, AgroFusion

Social Change Award

West: Laurel Douglas, Women’s Enterprise Centre

Central: Geetha Moorthy, SAAAC Autism Centre

East: Pascale Bouchard, Leucan

TELUS Trailblazer Award

West: Jesse Finkelstein & Trena White, Page Two

Central: Carinne Chambers-Saini, Diva International Inc.

East: Natalie Voland, GI Quo Vadis

Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award

Central: Anna Eliopoulos, byPeterandPauls.com

Central: Margot & Marion Witz, Elizabeth Grant International

East: Brigitte Jalbert, Les Emballages Carrousel Inc.

The 2019 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards are presented by Women of Influence. Award sponsors include RBC, TELUS, Diversity Institute and our official Due Diligence partner, KPMG.

View the full press release in English or French for more information and join in the celebration by purchasing your tickets to the 27th Annual Awards Gala on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.