Quality rather than quantity this year!
SUMMERSIDE, PEI – Feb. 12, 2014 – “This year, we can say that we’re highlighting quality over quantity as we announce the list of finalists for the provincial 2014 Lauriers de la PME entrepreneurial awards,” says Martin Marcoux, president of RDÉE Prince Edward Island, the francophone economic development council that manages the contest on PEI.
“In fact, we have 12 finalists this year, compared to 20 for our regular awards last year. However, once again, the judges were quite impressed with the quality of the nominations. They all deserve to win but, unfortunately, the jury had to make choices,” he adds.
Marcoux admits that this year, the RDÉE had a hard time soliciting nominations for the Island competition for small and medium-sized businesses and co-ops, which is part of RDÉE Canada’s national Lauriers de la PME contest that is back after a few years.
The local selection committee noted that categories for the awards usually given out by the RDÉE and its Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI are more adapted to PEI’s realities, which explains why this second contest usually attracts a greater number of finalists.
“In spite of the reduced numbers, after sorting through the submissions that it received, the selection committee was able to come up with a slate of extremely impressive finalists in each of our five award categories. We anticipate that our provincial winners will perform quite well in the national contest that will be held later this year,” added Marcoux.
Here is a list of the finalists:
2014 MANUFACTURING/PROCESSING AWARD
- Acadian Fishermen’s Co-op, Abram-Village
- Out of Africa Restaurant (Makena Tarichia), Charlottetown
2014 SERVICE BUSINESS AWARD
- Atlantic Roofers Ltd. (Jean Allain), Winsloe
- Coopérative de développement culturel et patrimonial de Mont-Carmel
- Coopérative du Village des Sources l’Étoile Filante, Cape Egmont
2014 RETAIL BUSINESS AWARD
- Acadian Fishermen’s Co-op, Abram-Village
- HMS Office Supplies Ltd. (Henri and Gloria Gallant), Summerside
2014 MICRO-BUSINESS AWARD
- Gracovir International Import-Export (Jean Ambassa), Charlottetown
- Promotion and Events International (Daniel Manibal), Cornwall
- Ron’s Construction (Ronald Arsenault), Urbainville
2014 YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS AWARD
- OMD Construction & Consulting Ltd. (Jamie Caissie), Maximeville
- T. Robichaud Consulting (Tina Robichaud), Summerside
The winners will be announced during the 2014 Acadian Entrepreneurs’ Gala on Saturday, March 15, at the Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside. This event, considered to be the most important evening of the year for the Acadian Chamber, will begin with a reception in the Pierre-Part Lounge at 5:30 p.m. and will then continue with the three-course banquet at 6 p.m.
Tickets for the gala, at $30 plus HST for RDÉE and Chamber members and $35 plus HST for non-members, will soon be on sale until March 7 at the RDÉE’s Wellington and Charlottetown offices as well as at the reception desk at the Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside.
Among the confirmed sponsors confirmed so far are the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the PEI Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development, CBDC Central PEI and the Royal Bank of Canada.
-30-
CUTLINE: Tania Bernard, loan officer with CBDC Central PEI, presents a $1,000 sponsorship cheque for the Acadian Entrepreneurs Gala to Raymond J. Arsenault, coordinator of the annual event taking place March 15 in Summerside.
For more information:
Raymond J. Arsenault
Coordinator, 2014 Entrepreneurs’ Gala
(902) 854-3439, Ext. 231
raymond@rdeeipe.org