Announcing the Top 26 Canadian Female Entrepreneurs in the running for the 2020 Mompreneur® Awards

The 8th Annual Mompreneur® Award Winners will be announced at The National Mompreneurs® Conference and Award Show taking place March 27th-28th, 2020 in Toronto.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—TORONTO, ON—The list of Canada’s most powerful female entrepreneurs, presented by Mompreneur Showcase Group Inc was announced today. The Top 26 finalists have been selected for the eighth instalment of The Mompreneur® Awards, paying tribute to the exceptional women business leaders who advocate and inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

One of Canada’s most distinguished recognition awards for women entrepreneurs, the Mompreneur® Awards were created by Mompreneurs® Founder and CEO Maria Locker, to recognize the hard work and determination of busy female entrepreneurs who are armed with the education, drive and talent to make advances in today’s Canadian entrepreneurial business environment. This year, the 26 finalists across the nation will be vying for one of five prestigious awards, with the top prize valued at over $30,000 in cash and business services designed to drive the winners’ companies forward to further success. Inspired by new lifestyle norms and the desire to take charge of their economic livelihoods and career options, more women than ever are empowered to create their own business, while juggling new, scale-up, established or export-ready businesses with the demands of their families. Nominations began in October, and applications closed December 8th 2019 for the 2020 Annual Mompreneur® Awards. Over 1,200 women were nominated, and 136 entrants advanced. After accumulating points based on support from over 20,000 public voters within one week, as well as impression ratings from a selection committee, the finalists were narrowed down.

The final 26 Mompreneurs will be evaluated by an expert panel of respected judges, including CEO of Ehm & Co., and publisher of YMC, Erica Ehm; Co-Founder of Mabel’s Labels, Media Personality and Digital Influencer Julie Cole; and Tech-maven, best-selling author and President of AmberMac Media, Amber MacArthur. Judging will be based on criteria such as innovation, commitment to community, sales growth, leadership, and scalability, in five (5) award categories: Mompreneur Award of Excellence (exemplary product/service), Mompreneur

Startup Award (for a business under 4 years), Mompreneur Award of Merit (for a consultant, broker or franchisee), Mompreneurs Momentum Award (for a non-profit, charity, social enterprise, or community based organization), and Mompreneur Award of Distinction (for exemplary service and leadership). Drum roll, please! The finalists in each category are: Mompreneur® Award of Excellence AnnaMaria Di Nicolantonio, Olivia Rose -- Hamilton, ON Carinne Chambers-Saini, Diva International Inc. -- Kitchener, ON JennyLyn Pringle, Fusion Mineral Paint -- Toronto, ON Kalpana Kundra, UNSTICK By Daughkun Inc. -- Brampton, ON Mandy Wolfe and Rebecca Wolfe, Mandy’s Gourmet Salads -- Montreal, QC Mompreneurs® Award of Distinction Dr. Dina Kulik, Kidcrew -- Toronto, ON Jacqueline De’Ath, Homeworks Etc. -- Langley BC Julie Rock, Julie Rock Photography -- Milton, ON Kim Vopni, Pelvienne Wellness Inc. -- Port Moody, BC Patsy Commisso, Metabolic Care Clinics -- Oakville, ON Shontelle DuBois, DuBois Fitness Inc. -- Woodbridge, ON Mompreneur® Momentum Award Erin Woodward, The Girly Book Club -- Burlington, ON Julie LeJeune, Wish & Give -- Toronto, ON Kay Habib, Skilled Accents -- London, ON Melanie Levenberg, Pl3y International Inc. -- Vancouver, BC Nihal Elwan, Tayybeh Foods Ltd. -- Vancouver BC Mompreneur® Start-Up Award Charissa Floriancic, Crushed Aftercare -- London, ON Charlene Li, Eatable -- Vaughan, ON Laurie Franklin, Unique in the Creek -- Stoney Creek, ON Lyndsay Scott, Culture Kefir Co. -- Richmond, BC Rosy Atwal, Maple Organics -- Surrey, BC Mompreneur® Merit Award Bilie Aadmi, Holi-Wellness with doTERRA -- Vancouver, BC Justine Levenberg, Sportball Vancouver -- Burnaby, BC Kate Moir, Moir Bags Please with Thirty-One Gifts -- East Selkirk, MB Reema Rafay, Arbonne International -- Ajax, ON Tanya Vakil-Fernandes, Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. Keystone -- Milton, ON The winners will be announced in Toronto at the 8th Annual National Mompreneurs Conference on March 27th to 28th, 2020 at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto Airport & Conference Centre. For information on the 2020 Mompreneur® Awards and prizing, please visit themompreneur.com/award More information about the Annual Conference can be found at: themompreneur.com/conference/ To interview Maria Locker or any of these emerging Canadian business leaders and mentors, including sharing their stories, getting business/entrepreneur success tips and learnings, or showcasing their business ideas, please contact:

Rania Walker, Media Relations, Front Door PR 416-258-8953 rania@frontdoorpr.com

- 30 - Mompreneurs® Mompreneur Showcase Group Inc. (TheMompreneur.com) is the trusted national network that supports, educates, and empowers female entrepreneurs across Canada. With a team expanding across Canada, they boast a collective of over 20,000 members and subscribers, and an online community over 80,000 strong. @TheMompreneurTM