Each year, we recognize at least four outstanding entrepreneurs with bestowed awards that honour their special achievements. The award recipients are chosen by selection committees appointed by the NEYA Nomination Committee.
For a complete list of past recipients of bestowed awards, click here.
Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award
Presented by Brock University, Faculty of Business
The Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an enterprising leader in our community whose contribution to the development of economic ventures in Niagara has spanned several decades. The recipients of these awards are then inducted into the Niagara Enterprise Hall of Fame, along with the Historical Hall of Fame inductees.
Historical Hall of Fame Award
The Niagara Enterprise Hall of Fame was created in 1994 to remind people of the rich entrepreneurial heritage of the Niagara Region. Our very first inductee was William Hamilton Merritt whose contributions to the region in the early 1800s are well known. Over the years, we have recognized other such individuals who have helped shape Niagara through enterprising innovation.
Community Contribution Award
Presented by Sun Media
The Community Contribution award is a special service award designed to honour those individuals whose dedication, commitment and philanthropy have had a significant impact on the greater Niagara community. Recipients of this award have served as role models by giving back to the community or local charities.
Gene Luczkiw Special Achievement Award
This award will be bestowed on an individual or group who has shown exceptional entrepreneurial spirit and achievements but does not meet the criteria for any of the juried categories.
Niagara Original Award
Presented by Niagara Economic Development Corporation
The Niagara Original Award is presented annually to a Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Alumnus who best exemplifies the four designated brand attributes of Niagara Original which are Inventive, Accessible, Abundant and Vivid. The Niagara Original Award was created to honour innovation and imagination in Niagara to increase the profile and involvement of Niagara business leaders and to build the Niagara brand. The NEYA ‘alumni’ are the region’s finest entrepreneurs, are among the best in the province and the country, and our goal is to continue to spotlight Niagara’s best and to help them become more widely recognized in the Canadian and international business community. The Niagara Original Award champions the finest from among our business community at the provincial level and beyond by supporting the Niagara Original Award recipient’s nomination into the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards program.
Gene Luczkiw Spirit of Enterprise Scholarship Award
The Gene Luczkiw Spirit of Enterprise Award provides financial support to one or more students who demonstrate the spirit of enterprise. The purpose of this Award is to foster, cultivate, and spread the “Spirit of Enterprise” amongst the youth of Niagara. Gene embodied this spirit as he tirelessly worked to help individuals discover their unique abilities and find meaning and purpose in their lives and careers. This minimum $1,000 Award, will be awarded annually to a student attending school in the Niagara Region.
Click here to review a list of past award recipients dating back to 1994. See also information on our Juried Award categories.
