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How B.C.’s EOY 2012 Winners Were Chosen

A look at the judging criteria, the judges, and the process of becoming B.C. Entrepreneur of the Year for 2012. Anyone can nominate a person for Entrepreneur of the Year, as long as the candidate is primarily responsible for translating an idea into a successful enterprise and is still active in a company that is at least three years old. A brochure describing the criteria and a nomination package are available at eoy.ca.

By BCBusiness /

2012 Entrepreneur of the Year Judging | BCBusiness
Return to: B.C. Entrepreneur of the Year 2012

A look at the judging criteria, the judges, and the process of becoming B.C. Entrepreneur of the Year for 2012.

Anyone can nominate a person for Entrepreneur of the Year, as long as the candidate is primarily responsible for translating an idea into a successful enterprise and is still active in a company that is at least three years old. A brochure describing the criteria and a nomination package are available at eoy.ca.

Nomination forms are initially vetted by staff at the Ernst & Young LLP Pacific Region office to ensure paperwork is complete. Then Ernst & Young conducts on-site interviews with all eligible nominees to gather information beyond the numbers. In three-hour interviews, candidates are grilled about everything from personal philosophy to their company’s financial performance.

The interview results are boiled down in summaries that are forwarded, along with the nomination forms, to the judges, who review the applications privately before meeting as a team to compare notes. Finally, the judges decide on a shortlist of three finalists in each category before deciding on a single winner.

What Do Judges Look For?

Judges consider the success of the business created by an entrepreneur, its treatment of its employees and its impact on the community. Key criteria include the following:

Vision
The ability to create a business concept and implement it effectively

Leadership
The focus and strength of character that enable the entrepreneur to move forward, and to inspire a team to do the same

Achievement
Driving business success by continually innovating in order to generate new ideas

Social Responsibility
Commitment and responsibility that aren’t confined to business, and leveraging energies and resources to give back to the community

2012 EOY Pacific Region Judges

Ryan Beedie, president, the Beedie Group
Peter Barnes, founding shareholder, DeepGreen Resources Inc.
Jim Case, CEO, Travelers Financial Group
Wanda Costuros, corporate director
Amar Doman, chair and CEO, CanWel Building Materials Ltd.
Mary Jordan, corporate director and chair, Vancouver Airport Authority
Catherine Osler, president, The Executive Committee Canada
Chad Wasilenkoff, CEO, Fortress Paper Ltd.