Excellence Canada: Applications Now Open for 2017 Canadian Business Excellence Awards for Private Businesses

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - April 21, 2016) - Excellence Canada and PwC Canada are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2017 Canadian Business Excellence Awards for Private Businesses. This national award recognizes Private Businesses from all industries for their ability to earn the loyalty and satisfaction of their stakeholders which include customers, employees, suppliers, investors and the communities in which they do business.

Organizational excellence drives results and differentiation among private businesses. Recipients of this award have demonstrated a strategic approach to improving their business performance and achieving their goals. Businesses will be evaluated for excellence based on the following key performance indicators:

• Delighted Customers
• Engaged Employees
• Innovation

Businesses submitting applications must meet the following criteria:

• Privately held company operating in Canada
• In business for at least three years
• Over $1 million in revenue

There is no charge to apply for or to receive recognition under this award program. Applications can be submitted directly from Canadian-owned private businesses or nominations can be submitted on their behalf from customers, employees and other stakeholders that believe a business is deserving of recognition. Applications are made online and the deadline for submissions is August 1, 2016. The award presentation ceremonies will take place on November 1^st, 2016 at The Carlu in Toronto.

Award submissions are evaluated and benchmarked on their own merit against criteria reflecting industry best-practices as determined by Excellence Canada. The award adjudication committee is comprised of business experts from prestigious organizations that include BC Business Magazine, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Carleton University, CBC, CEO Global Network, MaRS, PwC Canada, and Excellence Canada.

Why Should Businesses Apply for the Award?

"Private businesses are the backbone of the economy. They benefit many important stakeholders including their customers, employees, investors and the community at large," said Allan Ebedes, President and CEO of Excellence Canada. "However, seldom do businesses, whether small, medium or large, get the recognition that they rightly deserve for having exemplary business practices. This award will give them that recognition and validation of stakeholder loyalty."

Tangible benefits for Award Recipients include:

• brand profiling on the national stage as an excellent organization with which to do business
• third-party validation of excellence by Excellence Canada, PwC Canada and a panel of experts
• an attractive award certificate for display
• listing on the Excellence Canada website
• name and logo celebrated in a feature article in Excellence.ca magazine
• the right to display the Awards logo on recipient's marketing materials and websites
• the opportunity to receive a complimentary strategic working session from Excellence Canada or PwC Canada

All applicants will receive feedback from Excellence Canada on the merits of their submission, regardless of whether or not they qualify for an award.

For complete details regarding submitting applications for the Canadian Business Excellence Awards for Private Businesses please visit https://www.excellence.ca/en/awards/ or call Excellence Canada at 416.251.7600 Ext 233.

About Excellence Canada

Excellence Canada is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that is committed to advancing organizational excellence across Canada. Since 1992, Excellence Canada has helped thousands of organizations become cultures of continuous quality improvement and world-class role-models, through its Excellence, Innovation and Wellness Standard and its four-level progressive methodology.

As a national authority on Excellence, Healthy Workplace®, and Mental Health at Work®, Excellence Canada provides frameworks, standards, and independent verification and certification to organizations of all sizes and in all sectors. It is also the custodian and adjudicator of the Canada Awards for Excellence program, now in its 32^nd year, of which the Patron is His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., Governor General of Canada.

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