"The BVI is a great tool & process. We need to have more people working with CIEL's tools to further Community and Economic Development in Canada."
- Hélène Deslauriers
Director General, Réseau des SADC in Quebec (Alliance of 63 SADCs)
Canadian Representative on the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) Forum on Partnerships
“Process was dynamic & engaged the community”
- Rami Rothkop
Harrop Procter Community Forest Co-op, BC
Community Entrepreneur and Innovative Community Organization Award Winners announced
The Centre for Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leadership and Community Futures are excited to announce the winners of our Community Awards.
Kootenay Forge Founder John Smith Takes Community Entrepreneur Award
Creston's Kootenay Employment Service (KES) Wins Innovation Award
Nelson, BC - John Smith, founder of Kootenay Forge, one of the East Shore's largest year-round employers, recently won the 2nd annual Community Entrepreneur award jointly presented by the Centre for Innovative & Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL) and Community Futures of Central Kootenay at an awards banquet in Nelson during BC Small Business Week. The award is given to the individual who best displays the attributes of an entrepreneur in creating a better community in the Central Kootenay. Those attributes are seeing opportunities where others do not, creating positive networks, persevering against all odds, and building a positive, sustainable community.
Smith landed in Crawford Bay 24 years ago and established Kootenay Forge, today, Canada�s leading producer of hand-forged home accessories. Smith has also contributed to the community as a scout leader, PAC chair, volunteer editor of the community paper East Shore Mainstreet, key member of the Chamber of Commerce, and was one of the founders of Starbelly Jam music festival. He was also one of the visionaries who helped to plan and build the East Shore�s highly successful Artisans� Strip, now a renowned tourist destination and key feature on the International Selkirk Loop.
Other nominees for the Community Entrepreneur award were:
Ed Natyshak, Nelson
David Glass, Nelson
Barry Auliffe, Nelson
Meredith McEvoy, Nelson
Jim Holland, Kaslo
Raven Gregoire, Nelson
Creston's Kootenay Employment Service (KES) won the Innovative Community Organization award as the organization that best supports innovative community based-approaches to assisting entrepreneurs and innovation in a community. KES, a charitable non-profit society started in 1990, has expanded beyond its original role of providing employment services to being a key resource for entrepreneurs in the Creston Valley. The organization maintains the most extensive up-to-date business database in the Creston Valley, hosts a state-of-the-art computer lab open to entrepreneurs undertaking business research, and has partnered with College of the Rockies on a wide variety of projects that have benefited local businesses, including the CEDTAP research fund development that has led to cutting edge market and cultivation intelligence being placed in the hands of Creston farmers.
Other nominees for the Innovative Community Organization award were:
Creston District Chamber of Commerce
W.E. Graham Community Services Society
Nelson's Tom Hierck was the winner in the Community Entrepreneur category last year. Nelson & District Credit Union and Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services were the joint winners of the Innovative Community Organization award last year.
CIEL (www.theCIEL.com ) is a Nelson, BC based organization dedicated to increasing vitality and entrepreneurship in rural communities across Canada.
Community Futures (www.futures.bc.ca) is a not-for-profit organization committed to business, entrepreneurial and community economic development in the Regional District of Central Kootenay.
For more information contact:
Mike Stolte, CIEL, 250-352-1933 x106
Andrew Earnshaw, Community Futures, 352-1933 x 118
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CIEL is seeking a joint sponsor for a Community Entrepreneurship Award Program; if you are interested, please contact the CIEL office.
