Minister Ambrose salutes RBC Women Entrepreneur Awards Recipients

TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2012 /CNW/ - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today congratulated the 2012 recipients of the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. The Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of women entrepreneurs from across Canada.

"Canadian women entrepreneurs are a driving force in the Canadian marketplace. They have a long history of business innovation and we can take great pride in their individual and collective achievements," said Minister Ambrose. "We applaud today's recipients for their commitment to excellence, their ability to inspire excellence in others, and their invaluable contributions to our country's economy."

This year's RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards recognized these recipients:

• DELOITTE Start-Up Award
  Rain Emily (Shi Yu) Zhang, President, Willowest Enterprise Co. Ltd.;
  
• HUB HKMB Impact Award
  Catherine Buckingham, President and CEO, TNR Industrial Doors Inc.;
  
• RBC Momentum Award
  Barb Gamey, President, Payworks;
• TPH Sustainability Award
  Jodi Glover, CEO and Co-Founder, Real Tech Inc.;
• Trailblazer Award
  Michèle Boisvert, President and owner, Homeocan Inc.; and
  
• PROFIT Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship
  Clara Angotti, President, Next Pathway Inc.

The RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneurs Awards were created in 1992 to provide national recognition to Canada's women entrepreneurs. Their successful businesses and achievements contribute to the Canadian and global economies, as well as to their communities.

More than 11,000 women of all ages and from every sector of the economy have been nominated for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneurs Awards. Since 1992, 111 outstanding Canadian women entrepreneurs have received these prestigious awards.

Since 2007, through the Women's Program of Status of Women Canada, more than $16.5 million in funding has been approved for projects that promote women's leadership and democratic participation.

SOURCE: Status of Women Canada