Circus Founder is Canada’s Entrepreneur Of The Year

A Québec innovator whose creativity and bold vision have grown a small acrobatic circus from Quebec into an international entertainment phenomenon was recognized as Canada’s top entrepreneur at a gala celebration in Ottawa. Guy Laliberté, founder and CEO of Cirque du Soleil received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2006 award at a ceremony which brought together many of the country’s most esteemed business leaders. Top regional entrepreneurs and eight special citation recipients were also recognized at the premier business event. Read the news release.


The Awards Process
Read about the awards process to find out everything you need to know—from nomination criteria and award categories, to how the recipients are selected, and the benefits associated with receiving an award. Find out more about our past recipients, or visit the Media Centre to check out our Quick Facts and news releases from the last four years.

Bill Lynch Named Ernst & Young 2006 World Entrepreneur of the Year
At the culminating event of the World Summit, Bill Lynch from South Africa was named 2006 World Entrepreneur Of The Year, selected by an independent panel of judges from a group of 35 entrepreneurs representing 32 countries. View a picture of the Canadian attendees.

Our Sponsors
The Entrepreneur Of The Year awards were founded and are produced by Ernst & Young. We are grateful to our national co-sponsors—Global Television Network, National Post, La Presse, RDI and Roynat Capital—and to the regional sponsors who provide valuable support across Canada.

The Search Is On Regional Finalists Announced for Canada's Leading Business Awards
Entrepreneurs from across Canada who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, drive and innovation have been chosen from an impressive list of nominees as regional finalists in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2006 Awards. Regional awards banquets take place in October, 2006. Read about the finalists here: Pacific | Prairies | Ontario | Atlantic | Québec

2006 Regional Winners
Read about some of Canada's best and brightest. Announced throughout October, here are our 2006 regional award winners to date:

  • Pacific: October 4, 2006
  • - Energy Innovator, Art Aylesworth
  • Atlantic: October 5, 2006
  • - Electronics Leader, Chuck Cartmill
  • Prairies: October 12, 2006
  • - Real Estate Leader, Timothy Melton
  • Ontario: October 19, 2006
  • - Investment Leader, Eric Sprott
  • Québec: October 26, 2006
  • - Circus Founder, Guy Laliberté

2006 Lifetime Achievement Recipients
Vancouver High Technology Trailblazer John MacDonald and Québec's Joseph Kruger II have been named recipients of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Lifetime Business Achievement award.




Download our 2006 brochure
( - 154K) or read A Brief Background for a program overview ( - 54K).

For more information, call us toll-free at 1-888-WIN-EOYI (946-3694).