Premier Christy Clark and BC Achievement Foundation chair Keith Mitchell announced today that nominations are now open for the third annual BC Aboriginal Business Awards.

"Aboriginal businesses across British Columbia contribute to the growth and prosperity of our local economies," said Premier Clark. "These awards are a unique way to highlight Aboriginal business accomplishments and reflect on the importance of our Aboriginal businesspeople that employ families throughout B.C."

The BC Aboriginal Business Awards honour business acumen in the following categories: Young Entrepreneur (Male and Female), Joint Venture, Community-Owned and Business of the Year awards for one-to-two-person enterprises, two-to-10-person enterprises, and enterprises with 10 or more persons.

"The awards demonstrate the expanding role of Aboriginal business in the province," said Mary Polak, Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister. "To date, 43 B.C. Aboriginal businesses have been recognized, and I encourage Aboriginal entrepreneurs to enter their own submissions or nominate a business they feel deserves recognition."

A judges' panel evaluates the submissions guided by the viability, sustainability and competitiveness of the business. The panel selects a first-place recipient and up to two second-place outstanding business achievers in each category. All winners are celebrated at a gala presentation ceremony in the late fall.

"It was a tremendous privilege to receive my award and I hope my experience will encourage and inspire other Aboriginal entrepreneurs to consider entering the business world as I did," said Sharon Bond, president of Kelowna's Kekuli Café Aboriginal Foods and Catering and winner of a 2010 Business of the Year Award.

"These awards are made possible thanks to a partnership with the Province of British Columbia and our generous sponsors, New Relationship Trust, BC Hydro, Teck, and Encana," said BC Achievement Foundation chair Keith Mitchell. "Thank you to all our partners for recognizing and celebrating the value of our Aboriginal entrepreneurs."

For further information and submission forms, please visit: www.bcachievement.com

The deadline for submissions is Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011.

Contacts:

Chris Olsen
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
604 220-1640

Nora Newlands
Executive Director
BC Achievement Foundation
604 618-6949