2009 winners

Entrepreneur Awards by the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia

Wednesday May 12, 2010 at Hyatt Regency

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

Infinity International Enterprises Inc.
Recipient: Tony Lam

Tony Lam immigrated from Hong Kong in 1975 after a career with the stock exchange there. He found employment here with a plumbing distributor and when his employer retired he began his own store in Chinatown named “International Plumbing and Electrical Supplies”. Customers kept asking for rice cookers and soon he opened “Forum Home Appliances”. His next expansion was to Richmond and Burnaby with appliance stores, then in 1998 Tony became an importer and distributor of appliances to other retail stores across Canada. In 2003 he launched an online store which has also grown.

Tony became President of the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Society in 2004 and in 2006 was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Chinese Canadians by the Vancouver Sun. He has worked to beautify Chinatown, to attract both business and visitors.

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

GeoAdvice Engineering Inc.
Recipients: Werner and Sandy De Schaetzen

Werner de Schaetzen, Ph.D., P.Eng. has lived in Canada for only five and a half years and founded his company in 2006. He worked for an engineering consulting firm for two years, and then set up “GeoAdvice Engineering”, working out of his basement with the help of a co-op student. They offered engineering consulting services to cities to manage their water and sewer infrastructure systems.

Since its inception GeoAdvice has completed over 100 projects, reflecting Werner’s emphasis on excellence and efficiency. Their offices are now located in Port Moody and one of Werner’s passions is to raise awareness of the increasing need for safe and clean drinking water around the world. Werner and Sandy are the parents of five children.

EXPORT

Lulu Island Winery
Recipients: John Chang & Allison Lu

John Chang immigrated to Canada in 1998 after owning an electronics business in Taiwan. He took a different path here with a goal to become a winemaker, beginning at home making 300 different kinds of wine. Even though it involved a considerable investment every month, he knew it would be a long lasting business which can be continued for generations. Meanwhile he maintained a high level of quality; once dumping 9,000 litres of wine, even though experts insisted that it was good.

Lulu Island Winery is now a favourite tourist destination, much more convenient for Vancouver residents than travelling to the Okanagan. His wine is winning awards, and he and his team have moved to a new facility, where they plan to open a restaurant, a dream come true for a hard working man.

FOOD INDUSTRY

Fresh Direct Produce
Recipients: Davis Yung, Albert Lum & Kam-Chiu Lee

In 2003 three men had a dream, to build a successful produce business that would deliver the best produce at competitive prices and with unparalleled service. President Davis Yung came from Hong Kong in 1987 as a foreign student. He has overseen the rapid expansion of the company from 10 staff and 2 trucks in 2003 to 110 staff and 16 trucks today. Albert Lum, Director of Sales, has a hands-on approach to selling which goes back to his grandfather, who immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong in the 1950’s. Kam Chiu Lee, the Sales manager, was born in Hong Kong and came to Vancouver 31 years ago. He works closely with retailers to help them develop their business, and has spearheaded the business development in ethnic markets.

MANUFACTURING

Summit Clothing
Recipient: Leopoldo Gutierrez

In 1977, Leopoldo Gutierrez, came to Canada from Mexico, after completing a Bachelor of Engineer degree to study Masters in Systems Design at the University of Waterloo. Leopoldo later returned to Canada to study a PhD at the University of British Columbia in 1983.

In 1995, Leopoldo started Summit Clothing as a small clothing manufacturing company for corporations, starting from scratch with only one embroidery head. After 15 years of continuous re-engineering and adapting to the continuously changing business environments, Summit has grown to be one of the largest embroidery houses in Western Canada; recognized as one of the more innovative embroidery companies in North America, due to its creative technology. Leopoldo is a firm believer of community support and thus, Summit Clothing is a Provincial partner of the Salvation Army, and Tonic sponsors many events through out the year that promote a healthy lifestyle.

MANUFACTURING

Sunrise Kitchens
Recipient: Paul Bhogal

Sunrise Kitchens, a leading manufacturer of kitchens cabinets since 1983, has grown by virtue of its reputation as a trusted and friendly company that provides consistent quality products and service in the cabinet manufacturing industry.

The Canadian success story of Bhogal family dates back to 1980 when Sohan Singh Bhogal migrated to Canada with abundant experience in business back in India. In 1983 he started a small garage operation to manufacture cabinets. It was a promising start and within six months he had to shift from his initial garage to a bigger place in order to conveniently accommodate the new volume of work. Paul Bhogal joined his father’s business in 1990. His focus on automation and full integration of all business processes has taken the company to its new heights. By giving close attention to the customer’s needs and understanding their demands they have become the leaders in cabinet industry.

RETAIL

Monde Gelato (Gelarmony)
Recipients: Maurizio Grande & Andrew Cheung

Maurizio Grande immigrated from Rome to Vancouver in 1979. Growing up with the experience of authentic gelato only found in Italy, he made it his passion to bring this Italian tradition to the rest of the world.

Andrew Cheung immigrated from Hong Kong to Vancouver in 1969.. Andrew’s interest in gelato started back in 1999 when he was traveling in Italy.Determined to bring the very best artisan style gelato to North America, Andrew and Maurizio joined forces together and “Mondo Gelato” was born in 2000. With the growing popularity of “Mondo Gelato”, they grew to several stores in various locations. In 2010, “Mondo Gelato” changed their name to “Gelarmony” to make a better alliance with the original store Rome.

SERVICE

Bains Travel Ltd.
Recipients: Paul & Dolly Bains

Paul & Dolly Bains both immigrated to Canada in the 1960’s and 70’s. The pair had not met but their futures would be connected through marriage and through business. Paul joined Bains Travel in 1965 and married Dolly nine years later in 1974.  Dolly joined the business in 1984. Together, the couple along with their son, have increased the business to the well respected establishment it is today. With three locations and approximately 25 staff member, Bains Travel has weathered numerous storms in the travel world and have come out with a strong, successful and growing company.

WHOLESALE

Eminence Organic Skin Care
Recipients: Attila & Boldijarre Koronczay

Eminence Organic Skin Care embodies more than half a century of herbal craftsmanship and experience, and several centuries of unsurpassed skin rejuvenation techniques unique to Hungary and delivers the highest quality natural skin care to leading salons, spas and their clients all over North America and beyond.

While originally founded in Hungary in 1958, Attila and Boldijarre Koronczay immigrated to Canada with this revolutionary award winning green company more than 10 years ago with nothing more than a dream to spread the concept of organic skin care and healthy living. Since 1998 they have taken this little company and expanded it into more than 2500 spas and ultimately millions of homes coast to coast while still maintaining ties to their home in Hungary and their goal of remaining eco friendly and as carbon neutral as possible while always giving back to the community.