Kamloops is the Startup Canada Community of the Year

Kamloops was named Startup Canada Community of the Year at the national Startup Canada Awards in Ottawa last night. The award recognized Startup Kamloops as having an extraordinary impact on the local environment for entrepreneurship.

Kamloops Innovation executive director Lincoln Smith was in Ottawa this week to accept the award and take part in Startup Canada Day on the Hill, meeting with MPs to talk innovation and entrepreneurship.

#Kamloops, this award is for you. The entire community! @kicpeople 🙌🏼 https://t.co/FZbtATYPk9

— Startup Kamloops (@StartupKamloops) October 20, 2017

Kamloops joined the Startup Canada Communities network in 2016, a year after Kamloops Innovation was recognized by the organization for entrepreneurial support.

With leadership from Kamloops Innovation, Startup Kamloops brings together organizations like Venture Kamloops, the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, Kamloops Makerspace, Community Futures, the City of Kamloops and Thompson Rivers University to “create an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship of all kinds.”

Smith said collaborations such as this have enabled the city to attract talent, jobs and companies.

Kamloops' vibrant startup community is doing big things. Congrats to @StartupKamloops for this inspiring win! #StartupCanAwards https://t.co/8loNeRBSD9

— Todd Stone (@toddstonebc) October 20, 2017

Several local entrepreneurs have also been recognized through the Startup Canada Awards:

• Robert Atwood, CEO of Hummingbird Drones was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the regional awards in 2015;
• iTel Networks was awarded for High Growth Entrepreneurship regionally and nationally in 2016;
• Kamloops Innovation entrepreneur-in-residence John Zubak was given the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016;
• Hummingbird Drones was given the Innovation Award at the regional awards in September 2017;
• and Vicki Collett of Harper’s Trail Winery was named Senior Entrepreneur of the Year at the regional awards, also in September.