TORONTO – November 29, 2016 – North Forge Technology Exchange was recognized today by Startup Canada as a national winner of the National Startup Canada Entrepreneur Support Award. North Forge President Jeff Ryzner accepted the award at a red carpet ceremony in Toronto, Ontario attended by leading Canadian investors, innovators and anchor company executives.

“We are honoured to be nationally recognized for our work to support Manitoba entrepreneurs and innovators. This award is especially meaningful to our organization, as it has not even been a full year since the creation of North Forge. It is an acknowledgement of the success made possible by collaboration and a shared vision for the future of our province,” said Ryzner.

“Congratulations to the 2016 Startup Canada Awards winners, each of whom have been recognized by their peers as strong role models for Canadians of all ages and entrepreneurs across all sectors for championing a culture of entrepreneurship,” said Brenda Halloran, chair of the Startup Canada Board of Directors. “Each recipient is driving impact in Canada and globally, and represents the greatness and diversity of Canada’s entrepreneur community.”

After hundreds of nominations poured in from across the country this summer, North Forge was one of over 50 regional winners that faced a national adjudication committee comprising some of Canada’s leading entrepreneurship and industry experts.

As a national winner, North Forge joins an esteemed network of award alumni including the Right Honourable Paul Martin, founder of the Capital for Aboriginal Prosperity and Entrepreneurship (CAPE) Fund, Iain Klugman, CEO of Communitech, and Moncton-based RtTech Software, among others.

The Startup Canada Awards Grand Finale is the hallmark event and the largest celebration of the Canadian entrepreneurship community – recognizing the individuals, communities, and institutions that have demonstrated innovation, excellence, outstanding achievement, and impact in advancing Canadian entrepreneurship.