Individual Achiever named for 2010 BC Aboriginal Business Awards

(Editors: Photo available)

VANCOUVER, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - Dolly (Watts) McRae of Port Alberni has been named the 2010 recipient of the BC Aboriginal Business Award for Individual Achievement presented by the BC Achievement Foundation.

McRae will be honoured on December 1, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver at the second annual BC Aboriginal Business Awards Gala, an evening celebrating and showcasing Aboriginal business.

"We are proud to recognize Dolly (Watts) McRae for her entrepreneurial spirit and business achievement," said Keith Mitchell, Chair of the Foundation.

The Individual Achievement Award honours a person who has made a significant impact in the Aboriginal business community and, in doing so, serves as an inspiration to all.

McRae, whose restaurant the Liliget Feast House on Vancouver's Davie Street was open for 12 years said she was thrilled to accept the award. "I hope that everyone who wants to go into business, will see that they too can do it."

The 52-seat restaurant received a four-star rating from the New York Times for offering the best Aboriginal food in North America.  McRae has also garnered her share of awards including the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 2001 and a gold medal in the Iron Chef competition, received at the age of 69.

A strong entrepreneurial spirit has motivated McRae from the time she was a young, resourceful child until her initiative inspired her to return to university as a mature student where she studied anthropology. Later, she established her catering business, which, in turn, led to the opening of The Liliget Feast House. McRae's legacy carries on with the 2007 publication "Where People Feast: An Indigenous People's Cookbook" which she co-authored with her daughter Annie.

Nineteen recipients of BC Aboriginal Business Awards will be honoured at the Gala event.

The BC Aboriginal Business Awards are presented by the BC Achievement Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and generously supported by New Relationship Trust, BC Hydro, Teck, and Encana.

The BC Achievement Foundation is an independent foundation established and endowed by the Province of British Columbia in 2003 to celebrate excellence in community service, the arts, humanities and business enterprise. Information on the BC Aboriginal Business Awards can be found on the foundation's Web site at www.bcachievement.com by calling 604 261-9777 or toll free at 1-866 882-6088.

Editors: A photo of Dolly (Watts) McRae is available at
http://www.bcachievement.com/aboriginalbusiness/2010/dolly.jpg

For further information:

Nora Newlands
Executive Director
British Columbia Achievement Foundation
604-618-6949