MBiz

BIZ 'peg MAY 2014 8 | lgbt* chamber T he Spirit of Winnipeg Awards are all about innovation, so it's not surprising that no two recipients look the same. From hemp production pioneers to digital media upstarts and socially conscious artists, the 2014 awards went to a variety pack of creative organization. "We take a very broad defi nition to innovation and that's why when you look at who's winning these awards, it's across all different sectors," says Dave Angus, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. The chamber awards — co-founded with BDO Chartered Accountants and presented in partnership with Fillmore Riley LLP, were presented Feb. 28 at the fi fth annual Spirit of Winnipeg Gala at the Fairmont Winnipeg. The 18 fi nalists and the six award recipients were chosen for their contributions to Winnipeg's vibrancy. "I think it's important for a community to celebrate innovation because number one, when we showcase these examples, it helps to inspire others," Angus says. Chamber staff have been amazed to discover businesses and organizations who are taking innovation to new levels. Over the past fi ve years, the organization has received more than 200 applications for the awards. "We've been blown away by the number and the magnitude of the innovative examples that we're fi nding through this program," Angus says. The 2014 recipients are Advolve Media (start-up business), Graffi ti Art Programming Inc. (charity), IMT InfoMagnetics Technologies Corporation (small business), Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods (medium business), Shindico (large business) and The Manitoba Museum (not-for-profi t). Graffi ti Art executive director Stephen Wilson didn't even know a former employee had submitted an application until he was notifi ed that the organization was a fi nalist for the award. "I called her up and I said, 'You bum! What are you doing? Just going to get our hopes up?' We never get this kind of recognition." That all changed at the awards gala. "It was really, really exciting and once our name was called, it was like the rest of it was a dream," Wilson says. Graffi ti Art has shown that art is much more than a picture on a wall. It can change lives. "We're constantly reinventing and trying to be innovative and using this magical, mysterious and mystical thing we call art in different ways," Wilson says. Graffi ti Art uses art as a tool for community, social, economic and individual growth among youth. Its after-school art program has been especially popular, drawing participation from some 560 young people. AWARDS SHOWCASE INNOVATORS OF ALL STRIPES by Danelle Cloutier THAT'S THE SPIRIT MBiz_spring2014.indd Sec2:h MBiz_spring2014.indd Sec2:h 5/14/14 8:26:49 AM 5/14/14 8:26:49 AM

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