Ryan Beedie earns top spot as Pacific Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The
Year(R)

Canada's outstanding entrepreneurs propel economy forward

VANCOUVER , Oct. 9 /CNW/ - The largest private landowner in British Columbia, Ryan Beedie of the Beedie Group, is this year's Pacific Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winner.

"At a time when entire economies and industries are reeling from the financial crisis and recession, the need to innovate and be entrepreneurial has never been more urgent," says Fred Withers , Director of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards for the Pacific region. "It's important we recognize these exemplary entrepreneurs like Ryan Beedie, who are driving our economy forward. Ryan has built his family's thriving business into a modern leader in real estate development."

Family owned and operated, the Beedie Group specializes in the design, construction and management of industrial and commercial buildings in Greater Vancouver and Alberta. Their real estate portfolio comprises more than six-million square feet in primarily industrial buildings. Beedie first learned the family business at the dinner table, and later, while accompanying his father on visits to development sites. Today, he is president of the 55-year-old organization originally founded in 1954 by his father, Keith. He is also this year's "Business family" category winner.

"This year's exceptional group of Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners proves that passionate people who nurture good ideas can deliver solid results and returns over the long term," says Withers. "Entrepreneurs can follow Ryan Beedie's lead, and seize these daunting times as an opportunity to sharpen their focus, stand out from the crowd and move the markets forward. Even in the particularly hard-hit real estate industry, Ryan is making great strides and inspiring others to follow suit."

Much like the entrepreneurial spirit, community service is a Beedie family trait. The Keith & Betty Beedie Foundation aids a number of health, education and other community initiatives, and the Ryan Beedie Annual Community Service Award in Business supports students at Simon Fraser University. Ryan Beedie has also been involved with the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation and the Family Services of the North Shore Foundation, and is a long-time supporter of BC Children's Hospital.

    
    Category winners of the Pacific Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year
    2009 Awards:

    Business family

    Ryan Beedie
    The Beedie Group/Burnaby
    beediegroup.ca

    Specializes in the design, construction and management of industrial
buildings in Greater Vancouver and Alberta.

    Business-to-business products and services

    Brett Hodson
    Corix Group of Companies/Vancouver
    corix.com

    Helps communities build and manage infrastructure for water, wastewater
and sustainable energy.

    Business-to-consumer products and services

    Queenie Chu, Kin Wah Leung, Kin Hun Leung
    Kin's Farm Market/Richmond
    kinsfarmmarket.com

    Retailer of fresh produce.

    Cleantech

    Brad Miller
    IMW Industries Ltd./Chilliwack
    imw.ca

    Designer and builder of high-pressure compressors for gaseous fuels used
for fuelling vehicles, bulk gas transportation for industrial/commercial
applications and power generation.

    Health sciences

    Scott Cormack
    OncoGeneX Technologies Inc./Vancouver
    oncogenex.com

    Develops and commercializes new cancer therapies that address treatment
resistance in cancer patients.

    Mining and metals

    Russell Hallbauer
    Taseko Mines Limited/Vancouver
    tasekomines.com

    Mining exploration, development and production company.

    Real estate/construction

    Mark Omelaniec
    Langley Concrete LP/Langley
    langleyconcretegroup.com

    Provider of concrete pipe, manholes, catch basins and box culverts for the
underground storm and sanitary construction industry, hydro/tel vaults,
oil-water separator systems, agricultural products and other custom precast
products.

    Technology and media

    David Paperny
    Paperny Films Inc./Vancouver
    papernyfilms.com

    Producer of documentary, comedy and reality television shows.
    

What's next?

As the Pacific region's Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009, Ryan will compete with top entrepreneurs from the Atlantic, Prairies, Ontario and Québec regions for the national honour of Canada's Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009, to be presented at a gala celebration November 24, 2009 , in Vancouver . In June 2010 , Canada's Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 will move to the world stage to compete with 50 country recipients for the title of Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year(R). Canada's own Guy Laliberté of Cirque du Soleil was the recipient of the World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2007 Award.

About the awards program

The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards honour the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. This year, the Canadian program is proudly celebrating 16 years of honouring Canada's outstanding entrepreneurs from all areas of business. For more information on the program, please visit ey.com/ca/eoy.

Nominees are reviewed by an independent judging panel, which is composed of several distinguished business leaders and previous award recipients. The members of the Pacific region panel for 2009 were Art Aylesworth , President of Osprey Management Ltd. and 2006 Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winner; Bev Briscoe , President of Briscoe Management Ltd.; Jim Case , President and CEO of Scotia Dealer Advantage Inc. and 2007 Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winner; Robert Gayton , Director, Western Copper Corporation; Tracey McVicar, Managing Partner, CAI Capital Management Co.; Jim Moore , President and CEO, Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc. and 2006 Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winner; and Grant Weaver , Partner, Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is sponsored nationally by Global Television Network, National Post, La Presse and RDI. Pacific region program sponsors are the Vancouver Sun and BCBusiness magazine.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 144,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca.

For further information: Amanda Olliver, [email protected], [phone]