Eddy family to be honoured with Entrepreneur Of The Year family business award

EY celebrates outstanding family entrepreneurship

HALIFAX, Aug. 16, 2016 /CNW/ - The Eddy Group of Companies has literally built the foundation of Atlantic Canada over the past century. To celebrate their success and contributions to the community this fall, EY is honouring the Eddy family with the EY Family Business Award of Excellence.

Through selling and distributing building materials, hardware, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and municipal supplies, the family has provided the brick and mortar for many parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.

"The Eddy family shows what can be accomplished when families work together," says Gina Kinsman, EY's Atlantic Entrepreneur Of The Year program director. "George Eddy started as a wheelwright, but also carried an entrepreneurial spirit. That drive helped launch his company and establish a legacy that remains in Atlantic Canada more than 100 years later. The Eddy family has become engrained in the fabric of our community through innovation, leadership, and integrity. We are proud to recognize them with this award."

George Eddy of Bathurst, New Brunswick started the George Eddy Company in the late 1800s. By 1909 he was operating a sawmill, millwork shop, carriage shop and flour mill. His son Chesley ran it until the 1960s, expanding into forestry and lumber manufacturing. Six of Chesley’s sons took over the management, and then in the 1980’s a fourth generation of cousins joined the company. They continue to carry on the family legacy to this day.

"We are incredibly proud to accept this award. Our business philosophy has always been "building on service", and I think it's that effort that has helped us become a lasting part of the construction business in four provinces," says Robyn Eddy, President of Eddy Group.

Robyn Eddy will accept the EY Family Business Award of Excellence on behalf of the Eddy family at the EY Atlantic Entrepreneur Of The Year gala on 6 October, 2016.

For event updates, visit us at ey.com/ca/eoy or follow us on Twitter @EYCanada and use #EOYAtlantic to join the conversation.

For more information about the awards gala, please contact Kathleen Potter at 506 634 2135 or [email protected].

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in 50 countries.

This year's program national sponsors are TEC Canada, La Presse, RDI, The TMX Group, The Globe and Mail Inc., Merrill Corporation, Kira Talent, Air Canada and The Printing House Limited. Atlantic regional sponsors are Progress Media, Royal Bank of Canada and McInnes Cooper.

For more information about all the Atlantic region finalists, please click here.

About the Family Business Award of Excellence
The award recognizes leaders of outstanding entrepreneurial families, whose companies exist in at least the 3rd generation. It honours companies that have a tradition of successfully balancing business and family issues, growing the business through innovation, and contributing through philanthropic or social engagement. The selected families support these traditions with sustainable, long-term strategies that include effective and transparent corporate governance.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. For more than 150 years in Canada, we've delivered the insights and quality services that help build trust and confidence in capital markets here and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

SOURCE EY (Ernst & Young)

Sasha Anopina, [email protected], 416 943 2637; Julie Fournier, [email protected], 514 874 4308; Leigh Kjekstad, [email protected], 604 648 3807