It may be a sign of the times on P.E.I. with local microbreweries and a medical marijuana licensed producer capturing awards at the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce’s 12th annual President’s Excellence Awards.
“There’s not a handbook out there that can say this is how you run a legal and commercial marijuana business. A lot of it is trial and error,” said Alex Smith, vice-president of operations for Canada’s Island Garden – a medical licensed marijuana producer in Charlottetown that captured the emerging business award Wednesday night.
“It’s no different than any other business in a lot of ways from the business concept of it. But in terms of the industry and how quick it’s changing and how quick it’s evolving, you’re certainly on your toes at all times.”
The company was founded Edwin Jewell in 2013. Since then, Smith said there has been a lot of hard work and long hours to make the business idea a reality. The company got its license to sell its product in February.
“That’s kind of what that award represents for us. And, certainly represents a challenge to continue to improve and innovate, and hopefully have some long-term success,” he said.
Smith said the company is looking to expand its facility and get into the recreational marijuana market.
Rory Francis, the chamber’s president, said the awards are a way to acknowledge the hard work and success of businesses each year. The awards are also a good indicator of how the economy is performing.
“It just gives you a good window on the evolution of our economy, to see (which) companies are rising to the top,” Francis said.
P.E.I. technology entrepreneur and investor Jamie Hill was named this year’s entrepreneur of the year.
“It’s a real honour to be recognized by your peers and to receive this award,” he said Wednesday.
Hill, born and raised in Charlottetown, graduated from the computer programmer/analyst program at Holland College in 1984. Between 1985 and 2017, he was involved in a number of tech companies as a founder, president, investor or CEO, including Online Support (OLS), P.E.I. Net, Cycor Communications, Genticity (chairman of the board and investor) and iWave. Hill is currently an investor in start up tech companies and real estate.
“All my companies have been rooted here in Prince Edward Island. We hired Islanders, we built our products here. We executed them here. But all of our marketing and sales were off Island. So, a lot of times we flew under the radar. And, a lot of Islanders wouldn’t even know we existed.”
Hill said he was surprised to receive the award and is humbled by the recognition.
Francis said Hill was a great choice for the award and a “real risk taker” entrepreneur.
“Jamie was a serial entrepreneur in a sector when he began was hardly even a sector. It hardly even existed,” Francis said.
“The infrastructure around an IT company like his just didn’t exist. You were kind of on your own. There was a lot less sophistication in terms of the knowledge of the sector and what it took to be successful.”
Other award recipients were The Gahan House Pub (excellence in business), Peter Mullins (volunteer of the year), P.E.I. Brewing Company (excellence in export), Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation (not-for-profit excellence), Upstreet Brewery (retail excellence) and Grant Thornton LLP (workplace excellence).
About 550 people attended Wednesday’s ceremony at the Delta Prince Edward.
Twitter.com/terry_mcn
