Announcing the BC Region 2020 Family Enterprise of the Year Award Recipient, Akhurst Machinery Limited

OAKVILLE, ON – September 25, 2020 – The Family Enterprise Canada (FEC) is proud to announce Akhurst Machinery Limited as the 2020 FEC BC Region Family Enterprise of the Year Award Recipient. This honour was celebrated at a virtual event on Thursday, September 24, 2020.

Akhurst Machinery Limited: In 1938 at the age of 60, W.A. Akhurst demonstrated his courage and entrepreneurship and opened his own firm, W.A. Akhurst Machinery Limited. Operating out of his family home in Vancouver, the company offered industrial equipment primarily to sawmill operations in British Columbia. Now, with 80 employees in five offices strategically located across Canada, Akhurst Machinery has steadily grown to become one of the largest independent equipment distributors in the country. By bringing their family values to work and focusing on excellent service, they have earned many satisfied customers and loyal employees through the years and supported local charities (Alzheimer’s Society) and community sports.

Eight decades after W.A. opened his doors, Akhurst Machinery remains a family operated company, owned by fourth-generation family members Graham Akhurst, Ryan Akhurst, and Brent Akhurst. To this day, they work towards achieving business goals that are aligned with their values as a family business.

To learn more about the BC 2020 FEYA Recipient, watch our Akhurst Machinery Limited video.

About the Family Enterprise of the Year Award

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.

FEYA is unique among business awards in Canada, as it does not only focus on traditional business metrics. Instead, the selection committee also looks at how well the family enterprise integrates best practices that benefit the business, the family and their communities. Having demonstrated significant capabilities in these regards, FEYA recipients are examples of excellence and are integral to Canada’s economic future.

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