Startup Canada has opened nominations for its sixth annual Startup Canada Awards – a contest that Atlantic Canadians have always done well in.

Startup Canada, whose mission is to promote and nurture startups and entrepreneurship across the country, holds regional awards across the country in 17 categories. The regional winners in most of these categories then compete in the national finals.

“The Startup Canada Awards have become Canada’s leading platform to honour those advancing Canada’s entrepreneurial economy and to inspire all of us to take bigger and bolder steps to make a difference here at home and globally,” said Startup Canada President Victoria Lennox in a statement. “We invite entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, industries, and regions to apply and to nominate the organizations and champions that have supported them along the way.”

For the past two years, the national Entrepreneur of the Year Award has been given to an Atlantic Canadian woman. The winner last year was Lisa Williams, Founder of Unicare Home Health Care of Miramichi, NB, and in 2017 the prize went to Anne Whelan,​ ​President​ ​and​ ​CEO of ​Seafair​ ​Capital​ ​Inc. of St. John’s.

You can nominate yourself or someone else for a Startup Canada Award. Nominations are open until March 24, the forms can be found here.

Startup Canada is planning regional ceremonies this spring in Whitehorse, Vancouver, Edmonton, Mississauga, Montreal, and Fredericton, with a finale event taking place in Toronto in October.

Regional awards will be presented in the following categories:

For advancing the Environment and Culture in Canada

Entrepreneur Promotion Award

Entrepreneur Support Award

Policy Innovation Award

Community of the Year

Community Leader of the Year Award

Communities Collaboration Award

For entrepreneur-led Businesses Demonstrating Excellence

Global Award

Innovation Award

Social Enterprise Award

High-Growth Award

For exemplifying the Spirit of Canadian Entrepreneurship

Woman Entrepreneur Award

Young Entrepreneur Award (Under the age of 19)

Indigenous Entrepreneur Award

Newcomer Entrepreneur Award

For outstanding Impact in Canadian Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Adam Chowaniec Lifetime Achievement Award

Entrepreneur's Choice Award