Kamloops businesses take home Startup Canada awards

Two Kamloops companies took home Startup Canada awards on Friday. Kamloops Innovation hosted the regional awards at The Rex, where nine companies were recognized for excellence in B.C.’s entrepreneurship and innovation community.

It's all happening!! #StartupCanAwards #Kamloops #kamloopsbc #innovative #innovators #leadership #entrepreneurs #kamloopsbc

A post shared by Kamloops Innovation (@kamloopsinnovation) on Sep 15, 2017 at 6:33pm PDT

Hummingbird Drones was given the Innovation Award, presented to an entrepreneur-led business demonstrating excellence. Vicki Collett, co-owner of Harper’s Trail Winery, was given the Senior Entrepreneur Award for impacting Canadian entrepreneurship through exemplary activities and leadership.

Other winners included:

• Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Lynda Brown-Ganzert, founder and CEO, Curatio
• Woman Entrepreneurship Award: Catherine Dahl, founder and CEO, Beanworks
• Entrepreneur Promotion Award: Manny Padda, Founder, New Avenue Capital
• Entrepreneur Support Award: Accelerate Okanagan
• High-Growth Entrepreneurship Award: BroadbandTV
• Social Enterprise Award: Keela
• Global Entrepreneurship Award: Hootsuite

Thankful to be recognized at the #StartupCanAwards, Co-Owner Vicki Collett has been awarded the 2017 Startup Canada Senior Entrepreneur Award! 🎉 In her words tonight, "cheers!" 🥂 . . #kamloops #yka360 #explorekamloops #startupcanadaawards #bcwine #bcvqa #thompsonvalleywine #harperstrail #explorebcwine

A post shared by Harper's Trail (@harperstrail) on Sep 15, 2017 at 7:35pm PDT

We had an amazing time at the @startup.canada awards last night! Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!! #startupcanawards #startup #rtown #rtownlife #entreprenurs #awards #winning #kamloopsbc #canada #canadanow #bc

A post shared by RTOWN (@rtown_) on Sep 16, 2017 at 1:05pm PDT

Congrats @Hummingbirddrones on winning the 2017 #StartupCanAwards Innovation Award! Making #kamloops proud! #bctech

A post shared by Volunteer Kamloops (@volkam1) on Sep 15, 2017 at 8:51pm PDT

Winners from the regional awards will now be evaluated by a national committee and winners will be celebrated at the Startup Canada Awards grand finale in Ottawa in October.

Startup Canada recognized Kamloops Innovation for Entrepreneur Support in 2015 and Kamloops’ iTel Networks was given the award for High-Growth Entrepreneurship last year.