HSBC Bank Canada is pleased to announce the 12 finalists for the inaugural HSBC International Business Awards, which celebrate the best of Canadian companies doing business abroad.
The awards were developed by HSBC Bank Canada, in partnership with Business without Borders, to recognize Canadian firms that have made a real difference in taking their products and services to the world. An award will be offered in each of the following four categories: HSBC International Business of the Year Award – Small and Medium Enterprise; HSBC International Business of the Year Award – Large Enterprise; Leadership in International Trade in Asia-Pacific; and Leadership in International Trade in Latin America.
Finalists and winners will be honoured at a gala celebration on the evening of May 10, 2011, at the Art Gallery of Ontario, in Toronto. Brett Wilson, entrepreneur, philanthropist and CBC Dragon’s Den panel member will be the master of ceremonies.
“We are thoroughly impressed with the calibre of performance and results seen in our twelve finalists,” said Mark Watkinson, Senior Executive Vice President, Head of Commercial Banking, North America, HSBC. “We were particularly impressed by the diversity of industries and Canadian regions represented, as these speak volumes to Canadian companies successfully translating opportunity into success. While only four winners will emerge, all finalists deserve our attention and respect.”
The HSBC International Business Award finalists are:
HSBC International Business of the Year – Small and Medium Enterprise
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Oils, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Organic Food Products
Mad Rock Marine Solutions Inc., St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador
Marine Technology
Toon Boom Animation Inc., Montréal, Québec
Animation Software
HSBC International Business of the Year – Large Enterprise
Evans Consoles Corporation, Calgary, Alberta
Control Room Console and Technical Furniture Solutions
Forensic Technology WAI Inc, Montréal, Québec
Ballistics and Firearms Identification Technologies
Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., Richmond, British Columbia
Children’s Furniture
Leadership in International Trade – Asia-Pacific
B+H Architects, Toronto, Ontario
Architecture and Interior Design
BioteQ Environmental Technologies Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia
Water Treatment Technologies
Pacific Prince Investments Inc. (SPF Pre-Cut Lumber), Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Canadian Wood Products
Leadership in International Trade – Latin America
Bassett & Walker International, Inc., Toronto, Ontario
Agricultural Commodities
Energold Drilling Corp., Vancouver, British Columbia
Mineral Exploration
Groupe Fordia Inc., Montréal, Québec
Mineral Exploration
Finalists were selected by a judging committee drawn from Canadian Business magazine, The Globe and Mail Report on Business, Import Export Canada, Economist Intelligence Unit, the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University, and the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. PricewaterhouseCoopers has performed due diligence on all the finalists.
All applicants must be: majority Canadian owned (50.1 per cent); headquartered in Canada; generate at least 10 per cent of their revenue from activities outside of Canada; and have had minimum sales of C$2.5 million for each of the last two fiscal years.
About HSBC Bank Canada
HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, has more than 260 offices, including over 140 bank branches, and is the leading international bank in Canada. With around 7,500 offices in 87 countries and territories and assets of US$2,455 billion at 31 December 2010, the HSBC Group is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations.
About Business without Borders
Canada’s newest and best source of news and information for companies seeking to do business beyond this nation’s borders, Business without Borders was created by HSBC Bank Canada in association with Rogers Publishing Limited and the Globe and Mail. Business without Borders provides news, analysis, tools and inspiring profiles of Canadian businesses that are exporting, expanding their operations and sales abroad or relocating operations to other countries.
For further information:
Media Enquiries:
| Ernest Yee Vice President, Corporate Affairs HSBC Bank Canada (604) 641-2973 |
Fabrice de Dongo Senior Manager, Public Affairs HSBC Bank Canada (416) 868-8282 |
