A remarkable ensemble of imagination and entrepreneurial talent

Since its inception in 1997 The Nicol Entrepreneurial Award has consistently attracted some of our nation’s most celebrated and successful entrepreneurs. These individuals enthusiastically support the award program by participating as inspirational speakers.

This year we are honoured to have Annette Verschuren as our keynote speaker. Annette was formerly president of The Home Depot Canada and Asia, overseeing the growth of the company’s Canadian operations from 19 to 180 stores between 1996 and 2011. She, also, served as executive vice-president at Canada Development Investment Corporation, privatizing crown corporations, before joining Imasco Ltd. as vice-president, corporate development. Immediately prior to joining The Home Depot, Ms. Verschuren was president and co-owner of Michaels of Canada. Annette is the Chair of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference 2012 and is on the Board of Liberty Mutual, Icynene Inc., Habitat for Humanity and the Conference Board of Canada.

The list of past speakers at the annual gala awards reads like a “who’s who” of Canada’s most respected business entrepreneurs. Consider these notable business luminaries:

• Charles Chi, former co-founder of Lightera Networks Inc., and Executive Chairman of Refocus Imaging
• Richard L’Abbé, co-founder and former CEO of Med-Eng Systems Inc.
• Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair of TD Bank Financial Group
• John McLennan, former CEO for Cantel, Bell Mobility, Bell Canada, and AT&T Canada
• Eric Sprott, CA, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and portfolio manager, Sprott Asset Management Inc.
• Leonard Lee, founder of Lee Valley Tools
• Sir Terrence Matthews, Chairman of Wesley Clover, and also the Chairman of Mitel, March Networks, and former CEO and Chairman of Newbridge Networks Corporation