Ottawa

Forty Under 40 recipients represent city’s best and brightest

April 24, 2017

A former Grey Cup hero and a founder of one of the city’s fastest-growing tourist attractions are among the recipients in the 20th edition of the Forty Under 40 awards.

More than 200 applications were completed this year, a record-smashing number. This year’s winners have excelled in many fields of commerce – not to mention on the playing field.

Among the newest crop of recipients is former CFL receiver Pat Woodcock, who was named the most outstanding Canadian in Montreal’s 2002 Grey Cup victory. Today, Mr. Woodcock is co-owner of Elite Performance Academy, an athletic training facility in Kanata that counts several CFL and NFL players among its clients.

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Other recipients include Escape Manor co-founder Chris Bisson. The company now boasts escape rooms in Cornwall, Regina and Brisbane, Australia in addition to two locations in Ottawa.

“I think that it’s terrific to see such interest in this awards program as we celebrate our 20th group of recipients,” said OBJ publisher Michael Curran. “I think it’s fair to say this might have been the toughest competition we’ve seen in two decades. The recipients should feel particularly proud.”

Forty Under 40 recognizes accomplished business leaders who are under the age of 40 and give back to their community. The awards are co-hosted by OBJ and the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce.

“The level of talent in Ottawa is second to none, as these awards once again demonstrate,” said chamber president and CEO Ian Faris. “The entrepreneurial spirit of this year’s recipients is sure to pay major dividends for our region in terms of continued economic growth and prosperity.”

Besides Mr. Curran, the judging panel included past recipients Iwona Albrecht of Soloway Wright, Patrick Dion of Greenbridge Consulting Group and Robert Rheaume of BDO Canada as well as Dirk Bouwer of Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP and OBJ print editor David Sali.

Recipients were assessed on a 40-point system, with a maximum of 20 points for business accomplishments, 10 points for professional expertise and 10 points for community involvement.

OBJ will profile each recipient in its June 5 issue, and the group will be celebrated at a gala at the Hilton Lac-Leamy on June 16.

The 2017 recipients are:

Eddy Abou-Nehme, seoplus+

Aali Alizadeh, Giatec Scientific

Janice Ashworth, Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-op

Laura Behzadi, Bicycle Craft Brewery

Chris Bisson, Escape Manor

David Bouchard, PureLogic IT Solutions

Rachel Caven, Caven Nutrition Group

Martin Cloake, Raven Telemetry

Gordon Cudney, Gowling WLG

Haissam Dahan, Ottawa TMJ & Sleep Apnea Clinic