Small Business Awards Canada
Presented by
Celebrating Small Business
Success in Canada
Be a part of the prestigious CanadianSME Small Business Awards Gala on June 7th, 2024, hosted at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
June 7th, 2024, 5 pm onwards
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto.
CanadianSME Awards 2023 Judges
Small Business Awards Canada

Matthew Foss

Vice President of Research and Public Policy at CCAB

Small Business Awards Canada

Christelle Francois

Founder & CEO of Untold & Co Agency

Small Business Awards Canada

David Nagy

Founder at eCommerce Canada

Small Business Awards Canada

David Smith

CEO – Logia Consulting Inc

Small Business Awards Canada

Faye Pang

Canada Country Manager for Xero

Small Business Awards Canada

Michelle Eaton

Vice President, Public Affairs, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Small Business Awards Canada

Miki Velemirovich

Senior Executive, Consultant, Strategic Advisor and Speaker in the exciting space of B2B Marketing

Small Business Awards Canada

Rick Moore

CEO and Veteran C-suite Executive

Ritu Kohli-Sethi

Managing Partner at Greater Toronto Executive Centre (GTEC)

Small Business Awards Canada

Shannon Lewis

President, Canadian Media Directors Council

Small Business Awards Canada

Cheryl Mitchell

Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship at Humber College

Kree Govender

Kree Govender

Senior Leader at Microsoft

Small Business Awards Canada

Chantal Mackenzie

Regional Vice President at Canada Protection Plan, a Foresters Financial Company

Small Business Awards Canada

Laura Williams

Founder and Principle of Williams HR Law

Small Business Awards Canada

Leigh Smout

President of World Trade Centre Toronto

Small Business Awards Canada

Young Lee

Market Lead at GoDaddy

Small Business Awards Canada

Felipe Zariquiey

Marketing Manager, Small Business Segment, UPS Canada

Small Business Awards Canada

Silvia Pencak

President of WBE Canada

Small Business Awards Canada

Stephan Sigaud

EVP of Marketing - Phase 5

Brianna Solberg

CFIB Director of Legislative Affairs for the Prairies and Northern Canada

Small Business Awards Canada

Nancy Wilson

Founder & CEO of the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce

James Arndt

Head of Enterprise Business Division, Samsung Electronics Canada

Grace Moores

Founding Partner | Director Of Partnerships at RevolutionHER™

Small Business Awards 2023

A.J. Stewart

Operations Manager For Supplier Diversity at Canada's 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC)

My name is Michelle Cameron. I was born in May 1977 and was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba in a single mother household and am the middle child of two siblings. With strong pride, I am a treaty status woman, a band member of Peguis First Nation, Manitoba and a mother of five beautiful children. As a child, I recognized how hard my Mom was working and I really wanted to help bring more money in the household. Because I am an entrepreneur by nature, I decided to bake cookies, cakes and had my Mom sell the baking to her colleagues at work.

Michelle Cameron CEO, Owner , Dreamcatcher Promotions

At Business Sherpa Group, we are honoured and thrilled to have been recognized as winners of a CanadianSME National Business Awards. This achievement is a testament to our commitment to excellence, innovation, and delivering exceptional value to our SME clients. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the CanadianSME National Business Awards for this recognition, as well as to our team and partners, and our clients who have entrusted us with their business needs. It is their trust and collaboration that continually drives us to excel and provide tailored solutions that make a positive impact.

Leanne Bell Marketing Manager , Business Sherpa Group

Being awarded the Technopreneur of the Year award by CanadianSME is truly a humbling honour. Being a Founder is both difficult and lonely, but awards from great organizations like CanadianSME are huge validators that we're on the right track - building great software to solve for real customer problems. Both I and our team take this award as a huge motivator to strive to do more to scale our business and make more of an impact globally.

Mark Bania Contractor Compliance

The staff at Canadian SME were wonderful and we are thankful and appreciative of the award we received. Our team is motivated and encouraged. Canadian SME brought together an impressive group of thought leaders, sponsors and dignitaries from all across the country that made this award prestigious and coveted. Thank you again for all your hard work.

Leslie Babel President, Digital Fire

Thank you again for the opportunity to receive the Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year Award. It is a significant symbol of the hard work of immigrant entrepreneurs within Canada. As a South Asian descent immigrant, we face many adversities navigating life in a new country and fighting to create a name for ourselves. I advise all young entrepreneurs to never allow others to decide the type of person you are. Instead, let your actions speak for themselves, continue to put yourself in positions where you are the minority, create room for yourself at the table, and never stop working hard

Brad Bhatti Fast Track Appliances

If we move forward in our chosen fields, in a good way, with good intentions and with big heart, we can light the way for our children to walk with ease through the two worlds they will come to know.

Mallory Yawnghwe SCMP, Indigenous Box Inc.

I am thrilled and honored to share that GDA Capital has been awarded the title of "Fastest Growing Company of the Year for 2022" by your prestigious organization. This recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment and dedication of our incredible team, as well as the invaluable support from our partners and clients. At GDA Capital, we have always strived to push the boundaries of innovation and excellence in our industry. This award serves as a validation of our relentless pursuit of growth and success. It reinforces our belief that by embracing disruptive technologies and fostering meaningful relationships, we can make a significant impact on the financial landscape.

Michael Gord GDA Capital Corporation

The spirit of the CanadianSME Small Business Awards is to celebrate the power of dreams, layered with the personal determination and ambition that turns those dreams into reality. As a 2022 judge for The Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, I was inspired by the incredible new ideas and initiatives put forward by small business owners across Canada. In celebrating these ideas and success stories, we support and encourage resilience and creativity among Canadian small businesses, and GoDaddy is proud to support entrepreneurs with the tools and resources to help them feel confident at every step of their journey.

Young Lee Country Manager of GoDaddy
Small Business Awards Canada

I was privileged with the opportunity to participate as a judge for the SME Awards for 2022. It was such an empowering opportunity to learn about all of the fantastic entrepreneurs and some of their journeys. I am humbled to have been asked to help select winners from amongst this group of outstanding contributors to Canada. The stories I encountered have created so much optimism that our future is bright.

Matthew Foss Vice President Research & Public Policy, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
Small Business Awards Canada

Canadian SME Magazine is a must read for all Canadian business owners. I am honored to be able to learn about so many great businesses as a judge for the Canadian SME Business awards, and I encourage all businesses to both subscribe to the magazine and to apply for the awards every year.

Rick Moore Business and Executive Coach
Small Business Awards Canada

The CanadianSME National Business Awards is such an important event where entrepreneurs, innovators and small business owners alike are recognized and celebrated for their contributions to Canada’s economy. I was fortunate to be a judge this year and it was such an amazing experience to be able to witness the passion and dedication of many Canadian entrepreneurs. It’s very important to support entrepreneurs as they have such a positive impact in their communities while fueling the Canadian economy through their determination and innovative ideas and I’m honoured to be involved with this event.

Felipe Zariquiey Manager, Marketing, Small Business Segment at UPS
Small Business Awards Canada

It’s an honour to have been recognized and named Inspirational Leader of the Year by the esteemed judges for the 2022 CanadianSME Small Business Awards. I’m so grateful and humbled by this experience.

Antoinette King Founder & Managing Partner, Options Consulting Solutions

The Experience as a judge was so insightful and learning about the amazing entrepreneurs which make up our current Canadian landscape was inspiring. I was amazed at the innovative solutions that were implemented by many of the competitors and how so many creative thinkers were showcased as participants. The winners did have their work cut out for them! It was tough competition the winners can certainly be proud of their accomplishments.

Chantal Mackenzie Regional Vice President – AB South, NWT/YT
Small Business Awards Canada

At Xero, we’re passionate about technology that makes the lives of small businesses easier and their operations more efficient. We were honoured to sponsor the Technopreneur of the Year category in this year’s awards. Being the judge of this category allowed me to see the innovative ways small businesses are embracing technology to drive growth and it was truly impressive. I’m really excited by each and every business that entered and encourage those that are contemplating entering to submit next year as it’s a brilliant way to build awareness about your business and meet peers in the industry. Congratulations again to all the winners and nominees.

Faye Pang Canada Country Manager, Xero
Small Business Awards Canada

As a judge in the Annual CanadianSME Small Business Awards, I was deeply moved and inspired by the ingenuity, creativity, and impact displayed by Canada’s small businesses. The innovative ideas and courageous spirit of not only the winners, but all the participants, have not only transformed their own businesses but also left a profound mark on the Canadian economy. These businesses embody the essence of entrepreneurship, inspiring us all to dream bigger and make a positive difference in our communities. I am in awe of their unwavering dedication and applaud their exceptional achievements in shaping a brighter future for Canada. I am honoured to have been part of this experience and I hope to get the pleasure to do it again.

Miki Velemirovich Head of Product, Alexa Translations AI
Small Business Awards Canada

As a judge, I was honored and humbled to have the opportunity to learn about so many incredible business ventures, start ups, business leaders across Canada. Also, the Canadian SME team was so helpful and responsive with any questions or clarifications I needed to ensure I could do the best job. My most memorable moment was meet my fellow judges and meeting the nominees at the awards ceremony.

Ritu Kohli-Sethi Managing Partner
Small Business Awards Canada

As a returning judge for the CanadianSME Small Business Awards 2022, I was again inspired by the remarkable experience. The event brought together a diverse range of SMEs, each presenting their innovative ideas and solutions. Witnessing the dedication and passion of these entrepreneurs left an indelible mark on me. The positive effects of supporting these businesses were evident, not only in their growth but also in the wider communities they operate within. One standout moment was witnessing the transformative power of a leader whose ideas gained such commanding traction in their market, they had to promptly scale up by investing in relationships with trusted advisors to help shape their future. It was an honor to be part of such an impactful event for small businesses in Canada.

David W. Smith, BCOMM, CMC, ACC, RPM Executive Leadership Coach & Mentor, Logia Consulting Inc.
Small Business Awards Canada