Gerry Pond, the dean of the tech movement in Atlantic Canada, will receive the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Atlantic Lifetime Achievement award next month.

EY said in a statement Tuesday Pond would receive the award in recognition of his enduring contribution to Canadian business, philanthropic endeavours and outstanding leadership.

“It’s because of people like Pond that we created the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Lifetime Achievement award,” said Jim Lutes, EY’s Atlantic Canada Managing Partner. “His dedication to business and the community is a reflection of the values we should all strive to embrace. His devotion has had massive economic impacts and his caring nature is witnessed by countless humanitarian awards.”

Most recently appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, Pond was previously named the 2011 Canadian Angel of the Year; received the Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian award for New Brunswick; and was twice named by the Learning Partnership as a Champion of Public Education. He has received the Order of New Brunswick; the Wolf Blass Lifetime Achievement Award; and was named the first-ever Business Development Bank of Canada Entrepreneurship Champion.

Born in Québec and raised in New Brunswick, Pond earned a degree from the University of New Brunswick and has attended management programs at Harvard University, McGill University and the University of Waterloo. He has also received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of New Brunswick and Honorary Doctor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University.

As the Chairman and Co-Founder of Mariner Partners Inc., Pond has also co-founded a number of successful information and communications technology (ICT) businesses. He has become a cornerstone of entrepreneurial spirit through Propel ICT, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and East Valley Ventures, all aimed at accelerating start-up companies.

On the humanitarian side, Pond is a Director of the Upside Foundation and the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative (BCAPI) of Saint John.

“Pond has relentlessly and consistently given back to the community in a variety of ways,” said Lutes. “Whether you look at the jobs he’s created or hours of volunteer time he spent giving back, Gerry has and continues to inspire others. He reflects the kind of mentorship that helps Canada’s businesses operate at the highest level.”

EY will present the award to Pond at the Atlantic Entrepreneur Of The Year awards gala in Moncton, New Brunswick on 5 October 2017.