Congratulations Regional Group, recipient of the 2019 National Family Enterprise of the Year Award

TORONTO – September 18, 2019 – The Family Enterprise Canada (FEC) is proud to announce Regional Group, from Ottawa, Ontario, as the recipient of the 2019 FEC National Family Enterprise of the Year Award (FEYA). This honour was celebrated at a gala dinner on September 17, 2019, at The Boulevard Club in Toronto.

The Family Enterprise of Year Award (FEYA) was established in 1986 to celebrate and promote the achievements of Canadian business families and the considerable contribution they make to the economic and social fabric of both their local communities and Canada as a whole. In fact, FEC recently issued a report, Family Enterprise Matters, which explores the impact of family-owned enterprises on the Canadian economic landscape, producing the most comprehensive picture of family enterprise in Canada to date. This report confirms that family enterprise matters; accounting for approximately 50 per cent of private sector GDP and nearly 7 million jobs across the country.

 “On behalf of the whole FEC community, I want to congratulate the Potechin and Gordon family on receiving the 2019 FEC National Family Enterprise of the Year Award,” said Bill Brushett, President and CEO, Family Enterprise Canada, “This is a business family that exemplifies the key characteristics of being a successful family in business together; including effectively transitioning ownership and leadership across generations.”

Regional Group: Entering its 61st year, Steve Gordon leads the family and company founded by his father-in-law, Len Potechin. Steve has continued the legacy as CEO and President since 1984 to form the Regional Group of today: a unique, strong, vertically-integrated Capital Region real estate platform. With the 3rd generation groomed to take the helm, the company continues to build upon its innovative history, embracing the technology and systems changes required by their clients.

The Family Enterprise of the Year Award (FEYA) is unique among business awards in Canada, as it does not focus on traditional business metrics such as profit, size or growth. Instead, the selection committee looks at how well the family enterprise integrates what we know to be best practices that benefit both the business and the family. All the National FEYA Finalists have demonstrated significant capabilities in these regards and are examples of excellence and what is integral to Canada’s economic future – healthy family enterprises. Also honoured at the gala by the FEC community were the five National 2019 FEYA Finalists: 

• Barkman Concrete Ltd.
• Camp Arowhon
• Columbia Bottle Enterprises
• Lammle’s Western Wear
• Van Bree Enterprises

“Each one of the families who participated in this year’s award process demonstrated passion and commitment to the values we look for when determining the best example of what it means to be a family enterprise,” said Jim Burton, Chair, Family Enterprise Canada. “They have taken the time and resources to build a balanced and comprehensive plan to manage the challenges and opportunities that are unique to being a family in business in Canada, and we are thrilled to recognize them for their contributions.”

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