Vancouver companies in the social and mobile media space claimed the most awards at Ernst & Young's Pacific Entrepreneur of the Year awards Thursday night, but it was the head of a Vancouver security firm that took top honours.
Ashley Cooper, president and CEO of Paladin Security Group Ltd., was named Ernst & Young's Pacific Entrepreneur of the Year at Thursday's gala in Vancouver. His company won the award for the business-to-business category for products and services.
Cooper was recognized for his success in expanding the B.C. company into Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia to become the largest privately owned security company in Canada.
"Innovation isn't a strategy, it's a way of being, and one that each of our winners embraces," said Ron Voyer, Ernst and Young's Pacific Director of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards. "Ashley's innovative employment screening, training programs and use of technology is not only carving out a competitive advantage for Paladin, it's changing the face of the Canadian security market."
Cooper will represent the Pacific region at Ernst & Young's national gala in Toronto on January 16, 2013.
Dr. Norman Keevil, chairman of Teck Resources, received the lifetime achievement award Thursday in recognition of his significant contributions to the local business community.
Ryan Holmes, founder of the popular social media dashboard HootSuite, picked up an award in the entertainment category.
Meanwhile, Kenshi Arasaki, Wilkins Chung and Eric Diep of A Thinking Ape Technologies , which makes games for social and mobile media, won in the Information Technology category, and Michael Fergusson, founder and CEO of Ayogo Games Inc., which makes games that educate, motivate and promote good health, received a special citation for Social Entrepreneur.
Other winners announced at Thursday's awards ceremony were:
• Emerging entrepreneur – Greg Blake and Andre Kroecher of Daiya Foods Inc., which makes vegan cheeses that are free of dairy, gluten, soy and nuts.
• Mining and metals – Frederick Davidson, Energold Drilling Corp.
• Real estate and construction – Ted Pickell of Arctic Construction;
• Manufacturing – John Bacher, Steven Gula and Paul Jean of NII Northern International Inc.; and
• Business-to-consumer products and services – Sylvie Rochette of Victorian Epicure Inc.
