Lauriers de la PME awards recognize Francophone and Acadian entrepreneurs who excel in business
November 7, 2014 – Moncton, NB – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
A total of nine Francophone entrepreneurs from Atlantic Canada have been nominated for the 2014 Lauriers de la PME awards, to be held in Moncton, New Brunswick, on November 15, 2014. This is the first time this prestigious national event is being held outside of the Ottawa, Ontario, region, since its inception in the early 2000s.
The Lauriers de la PME awards is a national biennial competition that honours small and medium-sized businesses in Canada’s Francophone and Acadian minority communities for their economic performance and social commitment. Businesses from Francophone minority communities that are at least three years old and employ fewer than 500 people are eligible to compete through their local Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité (RDÉE).
The Atlantic Canada 2014 Lauriers de la PME finalists are: from New Brunswick: Fundy Pros (Service Business), Audio Concepts Plus Inc. (Micro-Business); from Newfoundland and Labrador: Artisan Inn (Service Business); from Nova Scotia: Echovoix (Service Business), Galerie June Deveau (Micro-Business); and, from Prince Edward Island: Atlantic Roofers Ltd. (Service Business), HMS Office Supplies Ltd. (Retail Business), Ron’s Construction (Micro-Business), and OMD Construction & Consulting Ltd. (Young Entrepreneurs Award).
The awards are organized by the Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité du Canada (RDÉE Canada).
Quick Facts:
- The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is contributing $20,000 to the Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick toward the 2014 Lauriers de la PME awards being hosted in Moncton, New Brunswick. The funding is being provided through the Economic Development Initiative (EDI) – Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages 2013-2018: Education, Immigration, Community.
- The 2014 Lauriers de la PME competition includes five awards categories: Processing/Manufacturing Business; Service Business; Retail Business; Micro-Business; and Young Entrepreneurs Award. At the national level, a total of 29 finalists have been named in all five categories. The five winners from across Canada will be recognized at the awards gala in Moncton.
- RDÉE Canada is a national organization that encourages economic development and job creation in all Francophone and Acadian communities across Canada. The National Francophone Economic Development Network brings together 12 provincial and territorial RDÉEs across Canada, and is coordinated by RDÉE Canada.
- In 2010-2011, this national Network, comprised of approximately 100 people, worked with some 950 partners to generate over $23 million worth of activities. (source: Roadmap for Linguistic Duality 2008-2013: Acting for the Future, mid-term report, p. 14)
Quotes:
“Our Government is pleased to support RDÉE Canada’s Lauriers de la PME awards which help to highlight the significant contributions of Acadian and Francophone businesses to the Canadian economy. I extend my congratulations to all of the Atlantic Canadian awards finalists for their commitment to business excellence. By combining their outstanding business skills with their deep social commitment, they are creating jobs, growing and diversifying our economy, and building more prosperous communities for all Atlantic Canadians.”
- The Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
“The Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick is very proud to host Canada's Francophone economic community at its annual banquet. Awarding the Lauriers de la PME, alongside our Business of the Year Award, is a great way to celebrate the Conseil économique's 35th anniversary. This large business gathering also shows how committed the Francophone business community is to participating in the economic success of their peers and Canada as a whole. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, for its financial support.”
- Anne Hébert, Executive Director, Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick inc.
Associated Links:
Contacts:
Kelsie Corey
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Rob Moore
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
613-941-7241
Ronald Levesque
Acting Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-851-2085
ronald.levesque@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Chantal N.-Losier
Policy Analyst and Communications Manager
Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick inc.
506-869-9923
chantal@cenb.com
