EY celebrates Diamond family with Family Business Award of Excellence

Award recognizes outstanding achievements of prominent Vancouver family

VANCOUVER, Sept. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - EY is pleased to present Vancouver's Diamond family with the Family Business Award of Excellence at the Pacific Entrepreneur Of The Year gala on 30 September 2014.

"The Diamond family encompasses the true spirit of our family business award," says Lui Petrollini, Pacific Entrepreneur Of The Year program director. "They've overcome obstacles and achieved considerable success over the years. But at the heart of their business is what matters most: family."

This special award recognizes leaders of outstanding entrepreneurial families with a culture and tradition of successfully balancing business and family issues, growing the business through innovation, and contributions through philanthropic or social engagement. The families support these traditions with sustainable, long-term strategies that include effective and transparent corporate governance.

"Statistics show that fewer than 10% of all family businesses make it to the second generation," says Petrollini. "Even fewer are able to sustain an entrepreneurial mindset and the traditional values that brought the company to success. That's what's most impressive about the Diamond family. They're enjoying the support of a third generation while continuing Jack Diamond's humanitarian legacy."

Family businesses create immense value for our economy and communities. An impressive 90% of companies in North America are family-owned businesses. That's not all. Family businesses:

• Employ 57% of North America's workforce
• Generate 60% of Canada's GDP
• Create 70% of all new jobs in North America
• Provide 50% of all charitable donations

"Family businesses are the lifeblood of this country. We're proud to recognize their profound impact with the Family Business Award of Excellence," says Petrollini. "And it gives us great joy to present this year's award to one of Vancouver's most prominent families."

Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and Founder, Simon Wiesenthal Center, will present Gordon Diamond, Chairman, West Coast Reduction Ltd. with the Family Business Award of Excellence. Craig Diamond, President, Diamond Investment Group Ltd., will present Charles Diamond, Chairman, Diamond Investment Group Ltd. with the same award at the Pacific Entrepreneur Of The Year gala later this month.

For more information about the awards gala and to buy tickets, please contact Sandie Atkinson at 604 643 5486 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, 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 145 cities in more than 60 countries.

For more information on the program finalists, FAQs and key dates, please visit ey.com/ca/EOY. 

Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada: #EOYPacific.

This year's national program sponsors are National Post, La Presse, RDI, TEC Canada, Merrill DataSite, Pandora Jewellery, The Printing House Limited and Kira Talent. In Pacific, Entrepreneur Of The Year is sponsored by BC Business, Hunt Personnel/Temporarily Yours and Four Seasons Vancouver.

About EY's Family Business services
EY is a market leader in advising and guiding family businesses. With almost a century of experience supporting the world's most entrepreneurial and innovative companies, we understand the unique challenges they face — and how to address them. We offer a personalized range of services aimed at the specific needs of each individual business — helping it to grow and succeed for generations. Our Family Business Global Center of Excellence is a powerful resource that provides access to our knowledge, insights and experience, connecting family business owners to their peers and the strength of our global network. www.ey.com/familybusiness

For profiles of our Family Business Award of Excellence winners access our EY Global Family Business Yearbook 2014, here. Together, these profiles form an unparalleled collection of stories from some of the most successful multi-generational entrepreneurial family businesses in the world.

About EY's Strategic Growth Markets Network
EY's worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early-stage venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed.

For more information, please visit ey.com/ca/Entrepreneurs.

EY was recently named 2014 Professional Services Organization of the Year by Startup Canada. The Startup Canada Awards celebrate and distinguish the individuals, communities and institutions in Canada that have demonstrated innovation, excellence, outstanding achievement and impact in advancing Canadian entrepreneurship.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets 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 is proudly celebrating 150 years in Canada. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca. Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada.

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)

Erika Bennett, [email protected], 416 943 5497; Sarah Shields, [email protected], 604 648 3607; Julie Fournier, [email protected], 514 874 4308