Linda Hasenfratz of Linamar Corporation is Canada's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2014 National Award winner

Hasenfratz will compete for World title in Monaco next June

TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2014 /CNW/ - Congratulations to Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of Linamar Corporation, and winner of Canada's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2014 award!

Linda accepted the award at a black-tie ceremony in Toronto last night. The event marked the culmination of five regional galas which drew more than 5,000 attendees nationwide. Next up, Linda will compete for EY's World Entrepreneur Of The Year award in Monaco, June 3 to 7, 2015.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award, a leading business award for entrepreneurs, encourages entrepreneurial activity and recognizes leaders and visionaries who demonstrate innovation, financial success and personal commitment as they create and build world-class businesses.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners and National Special Citation honourees were selected by an independent panel of judges and from more than 63 regional award recipients.

Linda was chosen as the overall award winner for her inspiring work transforming and leading Linamar, a major automotive manufacturing business headquartered in Guelph, Ontario. Linda joined her family's business in 1990 as a machine operator on the shop floor. She learned the business from the inside out, building a dynamic growth strategy that she used to propel Linamar to new heights after taking the helm as CEO in 2002. She's cultivated a culture of investing in the company's people and the future of the broader community.

"If ever there was an entrepreneur who defied gravity – Linda Hasenfratz is it!" says Colleen McMorrow, EY partner and National Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director. "She's quadrupled sales and grown the company's workforce to 18,000 people during the most volatile times her industry has ever faced. She's changed the game, and the results are amazing."

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates the contribution and spirit of entrepreneurs everywhere. The Canadian program is in its 21st year of honouring the country's most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business. Award finalists are chosen based on their vision, leadership, financial success and social responsibility.

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Special Citations awarded:
Many of the award winners across the country stand out, not only as leaders in their industry, but also for the unique mark they've made on the entrepreneurial landscape.

The following entrepreneurs are EY Entrepreneur Of The Year category award recipients in their regions and were also selected by the national judges as Special Citation honourees.

These men and women have demonstrated outstanding innovation in globalization, business models, products and services and partnerships by embracing business challenges and opportunities with passion, purpose, execution, relentless customer focus and realized unprecedented financial results.

Pacific

Charles Chang
Vega | Burnaby
myvega.com

Special Citation: Product innovation
The leader in the plant-based natural health and performance products industry.

Prairies

Mike Fata
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods | Winnipeg, Manitoba
manitobaharvest.com

Special Citation: Entrepreneurial spirit
The world's largest hemp food manufacturer to grow, make and sell hemp foods.

Ontario

Emmie Leung
Emterra Group | Burlington
emterra.ca

Special Citation: Industry pioneer
A leader in waste resources management, collecting, recycling and marketing packaging, printed paper and scrap tires to convert waste liquids into green products.

Quebec

Bassel Atallah, Firas Atallah, Rami Atallah
SSENSE | Montréal
ssense.com

Special Citation: Marketing Excellence
A leading online luxury clothing boutique, carrying over 200 men's and women's wear collections, including shoes and accessories, from world renowned designers.

National Special Citation — Social Entrepreneur

Social Entrepreneur is a unique special citation awarded to an entrepreneur whose achievements have driven large-scale social change and improved people's lives.

Dr. John Mighton
JUMP Math
jumpmath.org

JUMP Math produces evidence-based curricula that accelerate math learning for all students. JUMP provides complete classroom math materials and teacher training for grades one to eight.

What's next?
The World Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards will be held June 3 to 7, 2015 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Linda Hasenfratz, Canada's Entrepreneur Of The Year, will compete with more than 50 other country recipients for the title of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year.

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.

The 2014 National judging panel consists of Fred Davidson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Energold Drilling Corp. (and 2012 Pacific Entrepreneur Of The Year Mining and Metals category winner, 2012 National Special Citation, Outstanding growth); Jon Hantho, President and Chief Executive Officer, Maxxam Analytics (and 2012 Ontario Entrepreneur Of The Year Services category winner, 2012National Special Citation, Entrepreneurial leadership; Nathalie Marcoux, Vice-president, Finance, Capinabel Inc. Ashif Mawji, Chief Executive Officer, NPO Zero Corporation (and 2002 Prairies Entrepreneur Of The Year Emerging category winner); Geoffrey Smith, President and CEO, EllisDon Corporation (and 2013 National Entrepreneur Of The Year winner);  Dr. Alan Ulsifer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, FYidoctors (and 2012 National Entrepreneur Of The Year winner); Jo Mark Zurel, President, Stonebridge Capital Inc.

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

Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada, #EOYNational

This year's national program sponsors are National Post, TEC Canada, RDI, La Presse, Merrill DataSite, Kira Talent, Pandora Jewellery and The Printing House Limited.

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 for Advancing Entrepreneurship 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. 

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.

SOURCE: EY (Ernst & Young)

For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com