TORONTO, ONTARIO -- 05/07/10 -- The Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) announced the winners of its 2010 CFA Recognition Awards on May 3, 2010. The awards were presented during a gala awards presentation dinner at the 19th annual CFA National Convention in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.
CFA Recognition Awards pay tribute to individuals and franchise systems for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the Canadian franchise community and for their extraordinary commitment and contributions to philanthropic endeavours. Nominations are solicited from CFA members across Canada and winners are selected by committee based on merit.
"The CFA Recognition Awards are about excellence in the franchise community," says CFA President and Chief Executive Officer, Lorraine McLachlan. "Franchising is a significant and growing business sector in Canada making positive contributions to the Canadian economy and the community-at-large. Our prestigious CFA Recognition Awards celebrate these contributions - whether corporately through the CFA Hall of Fame, individually through the CFA Lifetime Achievement Award and Vince Nichols Memorial Award, or socially through the CFA Corporate Citizenship Award. We are proud of all of this year's winners."
The recipients of the 2010 CFA Recognition Awards are:
Category: CFA Hall of Fame Award
Recipient: Expedia CruiseShipCenters
Founded in 1988, Expedia CruiseShipCenters has grown from a start-up to one of North America's leading companies in the cruise travel industry. The company's excellence and achievements have been recognized through multiple award wins, including the 2010 CFA Award of Excellence in Franchising Grand Prize. Expedia CruiseShipCenters' steady growth and incredible success are evidence of the strength and stability of the franchise model.
The CFA Hall of Fame Award is presented in recognition of outstanding performance by a franchise system over a significant period of time. Winners have high brand recognition (on either a regional or national scope) and are recognized for their solid business performance. They exhibit leadership in the franchise community in many ways including: encouraging excellence through sharing best practices; participating in speaking engagements; exhibiting a willingness to mentor new franchisors, and raising the profile of the franchise business model.
Category: CFA Lifetime Achievement Award
Recipient: Edward (Ned) Levitt, Partner, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP
Levitt has devoted over 30 years of his career to specialized franchise practice and is a strong advocate for franchising in Canada. His passion for franchising is evident through his involvement in numerous CFA committees as well as other industry programs and conferences. He has also served on the CFA Board of Directors and was the general counsel to the CFA for several years.
Levitt is also one of the first Canadian lawyers to earn the Certified Franchise Executive designation, awarded this past February at the International Franchise Association convention in San Antonio, Texas.
The CFA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes exceptional achievement and contribution to Canadian franchising and the community-at-large through demonstrated excellence throughout one's lifetime and career in franchising. This award typically honours an individual who may be a franchisor, franchisee, or a support services provider. Hallmarks of excellence include a high profile and leadership recognition in the franchise community, speaking engagements, published articles, mentorship and being an ambassador for franchising.
Category: CFA Corporate Citizenship Award
Recipient: 4Refuel
4Refuel makes it more than their duty to be part of a solution; it's their purpose. Charitable giving goes beyond corporate responsibility and the additional efforts of this franchise system's staff and franchisees has made real differences in their communities.
The franchise system has drawn special attention to the mental health issues faced by youth through the Blue Wave Foundation, working to remove the shame and stigma attached to mental illness, chronic depression and suicide. It works to address issues of early intervention and education, directing young people and their families to resources to help make challenges easier to deal with.
The CFA Corporate Citizenship Award is given to a franchise system that has demonstrated genuine and ongoing concern and support for a community or social service group(s). Award recipients are selected based on their philanthropic innovation, support and impact to the community whether on a local, regional, national or global scale. Elements taken into consideration include involvement throughout the franchise system and integration into the corporate culture, profile given to the support recipient organization(s), sustainability, innovation in how funds are raised, demonstrated benefit to the community, and amount of funds raised.
Category: Vince Nichols Memorial Award
Recipient: Cheryl Kostopoulos, President, Pak Mail Centers (Canada)
Kostopoulos is a long-standing and active member of the CFA with a history of volunteering, which includes serving on the CFA Board of Directors, various committees, and most recently, chairing the CFA Award of Excellence in Franchising committee. Her dedication to advancing the CFA's mission of promoting excellence and growth in franchising is a passion. Kostopoulos has worked tirelessly to champion the growth of the Award of Excellence in Franchising Program and has demonstrated commitment to helping all franchisors understand the value it can bring to their systems.
Presented in memory of Vince Nichols, the Vince Nichols Memorial Award is given to an individual who, through their volunteer activities and work as an ambassador for franchising, helps the CFA grow, evolve and deliver on its mission and vision. Vince Nichols was the Director of Franchising for Maple Leaf Mills and was a dedicated volunteer with CFA. His entrepreneurial spirit and dedication as a volunteer opened new opportunities for CFA to better serve the franchise community.
