Started in 2015, the Leeds and Grenville Immigrant Entrepreneur Award aims to recognize the amazing contributions and dedication put forth by our local immigrant entrepreneurs! Becoming an entrepreneur is a daunting task, made even harder at times when you’re faced with the potential challenges of being an immigrant such as language barriers, access to funding, and learning a new business culture.
We receive nominations from throughout the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, from the general public as well as members of our own Immigration Partnership Council. From there, nominees fill in the nomination form, which is then scored by our panel of judges. Through that, our annual winner is decided, and recognized at a special ceremony.
Every year, we have an amazing array of people and businesses involved. The perseverance, adaptability, and hard work our local immigrant entrepreneurs have put into their business and communities is something we hope will be recognized, and maybe even inspire others.
Winners
2023
WINNER:
Harsh and Kanisha Patel of Parkedale Pharmacy (Brockville)
FINALISTS:
- Fares Alkhteeb and Lina Alakabani of A Taste of Syria (Gananoque)
- Dara and Anand Singh of Indian Cuisine Hub (Brockville)
- Nicola Craggs of Leave the Books to Me (Westport)
- Clint Wright of One Love Jamaican Cuisine (Brockville)
2022
WINNER:
Ujjval Prajapati of Pizza Pizza Brockville
FINALISTS:
- Wajahat Khaleeque of Sunset Grill (Brockville)
- Nataliia Edwards of Natasha’s Ukrainian Cuisine (Elizabethtown-kitley)
- Thangarajah Sam of M&M Meat Shop (Brockville)
2021
WINNER:
Marc Gómez Segú of El Rebost de les Mil Illes and European Quality Foods (Prescott)
FINALISTS:
- Alfred Missak of Athens Pharmasave (Athens)
- Harsh and Kenisha Patel of Parkedale Pharmacy (Brockville)
- Wajahat Khaleeque of Sunset Grill (Brockville)
2020
WINNER:
Maciej and Siobhan Brodowski of 1000 Islands B&B (Brockville)
FINALISTS:
- Samia O’Day of Canada Music Academy (Brockville)
- Paul Waenink of Marion’s Honey (Rideau Lakes)
- David Shanahan of The North Grenville Times (North Grenville)
- Harsh and Kenisha Patel of Parkedale Pharmacy (Brockville)
- Sam Rawas of Richard’s Coffee House (Brockville)
2019
WINNER:
Ting Tsai of Panache Bakery (Gananoque)
FINALISTS:
- Brenda Couchier of ATOR Properties (North Grenville)
- Annick Rousseau of Berry Homestead Farms (Leeds and the 1000 Islands)
- Claudia Mathieu of Katarina’s Coffee Shop (Prescott)
- Hasan and Yildiz Duman of Prescott Turkish Restaurant (Prescott)
- Sam Rawas of Richard’s Coffee House (Brockville)
2018
WINNER:
Magdalena Duris of Piccolo Cafe Plus (Prescott)
FINALISTS:
- Paul and Alison Goodyer of Cosies (Brockville)
- Frank and Judy Li of Dewar’s Inn on the River (Prescott)
- Don Szeto of Dragon Garden Restaurant (Prescott)
- Kutebah al Youssef of Horizons Painting (North Grenville)
- Sam Rawas of Richard’s Coffee House (Brockville)
- Anu and Guru Khosa of Tandoori Mint (Brockville)
2017
WINNER:
Kashif Riaz of Computer Liquidators (Brockville)
2016
WINNER:
Ahmad Khadra of Kinda Electronics (Brockville)
FINALISTS:
- Subhendu Mukherjee of 1000 Islands Catering (Gananoque)
- Peter Wilmer of Brockville Digital Marketing (Brockville)
- Gui Qing Lu (Joe) of Chinastudio 9 Salon and Day Spa (Brockville)
- Kashif Riaz of Computer Liquidators (Brockville)
- James Fuller of James Fuller New Building Design and Heritage Restoration (Brockville)
2015
WINNERS:
Dr. Raja Sandhu and Dr. Gurfateh Sandhu of Sandhu Dental Group (Brockville)
FINALISTS:
- Trang Le of Trang Le Salon (Brockville)
- Kashif Riaz of Computer Liquidators (Brockville)
- Tan Masong of Nahkon Thai (North Grenville)
- David Shanahan a Local media and historian (North Grenville)
- Vijay Beri of Electric Appliance (Brockville)
- Iran Saidi of Bebe’s Salon (Brockville)