Just one more month to submit nominations for Acadian entrepreneurial awards

WELLINGTON, PEI – Dec. 13, 2012 – The Island community has just one month left to submit nominations for the five entrepreneurial awards to be given out by the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI during its 2013 Entrepreneurs’ Gala next spring in Summerside.

“Last year, we received a record of 14 nominations for our five 2012 awards. Then, this fall, when we announced details of the 2013 awards, we had issued a challenge to the Island community to submit 20 nominations,” explains contest coordinator Raymond J. Arsenault.

“However, so far, let’s just say we’re not receiving nominations by the truckload! We are therefore calling on everyone – both members and non-members of our Chamber – to act immediately since the deadline for submitting nominations is Jan. 18.”

The five award categories this year are 2013 Enterprising Youth of the Year Award, 2013 Co-op of the Year, 2013 Business Woman of the Year, 2013 Distinguished Entrepreneur and 2013 President’s Award of Excellence.

“We know that there are many deserving businesses and entrepreneurs within the Acadian and Francophone community of PEI who have never received any recognitions of this kind so people should not be shy about nominating them. Business owners can even nominate themselves,” said the coordinator. “One of the primary criteria is that the nominated person must be able to speak French or that the nominated business must provide at least some of its services in French.”

Winners from the last three years are not eligible for the 2013 awards but only in the category that they won. They can be re-nominated in another category right away. Businesses that were nominated but that didn’t win last year can also be re-nominated.

“In addition to getting a beautiful trophy, the winners receive a vast amount of free media publicity. All of this promotion can only help attract new clients. So why not nominate yourself or another business,” concludes Arsenault.

To nominate someone, one must simply go to the web site www.rdeeipe.net then to the “Concours” tab. Click the words “TÉLÉCHARGÉ ICI” to download the nomination form, which also includes the award criteria. Please note that the form is available in French only. Or, people can request a form by calling Raymond J. Arsenault at (902) 854-3665 or by emailing him at raymond@rdeeipe.org.

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CUTLINE: Raymond J. Arsenault, coordinator of the 2013 Entrepreneurs Gala, and Jeannette Arsenault, spokesperson for the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI, examine the beautiful blue and clear trophy that will be presented during the spring Gala. They strongly encourage people to submit nominations for the five awards being offered by the Chamber.

For more information:

Raymond J. Arsenault
Coordinator
2013 Entrepreneurs’ Gala
(902) 854-3665
raymond@rdeeipe.org