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EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards 2019 Pacific

The EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 Pacific Awards announced Geoff Chutter, WhiteWater president and CEO, as this year's EY Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific winner

By Paul Duchart /

Credit: Paul Duchart
Master of ceremonies Chris Gailus, Global News Hour co-anchor

Whitewater CEO Geoff Chutter is Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific winner

Geoff Chutter, WhiteWater president and CEO, received the overall EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 Pacific Award at a ceremony on October 3 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. All nominees attended a VIP reception before the main reception. Winners were announced during dinner in the ballroom.

Credit: Paul Duchart
Geoff Chutter, WhiteWater West Industries president and CEO, and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Pacific Region winner for 2019; and Twilla Mills

Category award winners were: 
Business Disrupter Kristi Miller, founder and national managing director, First West Capital
Business-to-Business Geoff Chutter, founder, president and CEO, WhiteWater 
Consumer Products and Services  Jack Nicholson, CEO, Otter Co-op 
Emerging Entrepreneur Tara Bosch, founder and CEO, SmartSweets 
Environmental Products and Services Thomas Ligocki, president and CEO, Clevest 
Food and Beverage Dan Wilson, CEO, and Kyle Tweter, president, Warehouse Group  
National Resources and Energy Kamal Sanghera, CEO, and Suki Sanghera, president, San Group 
Social Impact  Derrick Emsley, CEO,  Kalen Emsley, VP content,  Stephen Emsley, VP digital, Arthur Kononuk, creative director, and David Luba, VP sales
Technology Laurie Schultz, president and CEO, Galvanize
As the Pacific region’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 overall winner, Geoff Chutter will compete with top entrepreneurs from the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic regions for the national honour of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 Canada, to be presented at a gala celebration on November 28 in Toronto. In June 2020, Canada’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 will move to the world stage to compete with more than 50 country recipients for the title of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year.
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year has recognized the endeavours of exceptional people who create the products and services that keep our local and global economies moving forward. Since its inception, Entrepreneur Of The Year has grown and now includes programs in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries worldwide. The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards has recognized the achievements of Canada’s top entrepreneurs for 26 years.

Credit: Paul Duchart
Blair Grabinsky, EY client executive; and Kristi Miller, First West Capital founder and national managing director

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Phil Jackman, Valley Traffic Systems owner; Jack Nicholson, Otter Co-op CEO; and Doug Warner

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Peter Armstrong, Armstrong Group founder & CEO and Rocky Mountaineer founder; his wife Suvina Armstrong; Michelle Collens, Sport Hosting Vancouver senior manager; Robin Dhir, Fasken strategic advisor; and Kirk LaPointe, Business in Vancouver editor-in-chief and Glacier Media VP editorial

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Dr. Jeff Roberts, Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine, reproductive endocrinologist; and Ken Seethram, Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine, fertility doctor

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Danny Chase, Chase Office Interiors president; and Jay Evans, Keirton CEO

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James Howey, Air Canada manager business development Western Canada; Lui Petrollini, EY Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific Program director: Ryan Moreno, The Joseph Richard Group CEO; and his wife, Cindy Moreno

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From San Group Global Forestry Products: Inder Johal, CFO; Iqbal Deol; Suki Sanghera, president; Kamal Sanghera, CEO; and Bob Bortolin, VP business development

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Peter van Stolk, SPUD.ca CEO; Derrick Emsley, Ten Tree International co-founder and CEO;  Aaron Chin, Organika Health Products CEO; and Daniel Frankel, Tap & Barrel Restaurants founder and CEO

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Steven Dean, Atlantic Gold Corp. CEO; and Don Konantz, Hops Connect Hop Trading Co. CEO

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Karm Sumal, Daily Hive co-founder and CEO; and Todd Nicklin, Enex Energy Corp. president and CEO

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Rav Grewal; and her husband, Raminder Grewal, Keystone Environmental president

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Taylor Gemmel, Anita’s Organic Grain & Flour Mill owner; and his wife, Michelle Gemmel

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Dr. Amin Shivji, 123Dentist CEO; and his wife, Sharon Shivji

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Hema Bhatt, Natu’Oil Services SVP; and Haresh Bhatt, Natu’Oil Services president

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Michael Sabatino, EY associate partner; and Maryse Belanger, Atlantic Gold Corp. president and CEO

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Steve de Jong, VRIFY Technology CEO; and George Salamis, Integra Resources Corp. president and CEO

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François Tellier, EY growth markets leader; Cristina Castagna, Enex Energy Corp. supervisor, credit; and Todd Nicklin, Enex Energy Corp. president

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James Howey, Air Canada manager business development Western Canada; Suzanne Girard, Suzanne Girard Travel & Communications principal; Jack Schmidt, Xpera, national account manage; Natalie Rossiter Lamborghini Vancouver marketing manager; Sulaimain Umar, London Air Services sales manager; and Nawal Tandon, Drishti Magazine founder & CEO

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Michelle Gemmel; Taylor Gemmel, Anita’s Organic Grain & Flour Mill owner; Kristi Miller, First West Capital founder and national managing director; Todd Nicklin, Enex Energy Corp. president; and Cristina Castagna, Enex Energy Corp. supervisor, credit

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Aaron Marcano; Christina Marcano, Silver Icing founder and CEO; and Michael Murazzo, EY assurance manager

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Lui Petrollini, EY Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific Program director, speaks at the VIP reception

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Corey Peck, Media One Creative co-founder and COO; and Derek Rider, Media One Creative co-founder and CEO

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Vern Milani, Milani Plumbing Drainage Heating president; and Jay Evans, Keirton CEO

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From the Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine: Caitlin Dunne, partner and co-director; Jon Havelock, co-director; Ken Seethram, co-director; and Jeff Roberts, co-director

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Nathaniel Sumal; Nav Uppal; her brother-in-law Karm Sumal, Daily Hive co-founder and CEO

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The EY Entrepreneur of the Year reception

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Master of ceremonies Chris Gailus, Global News Hour co-anchor