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Founder and Legacy Award Winners Announced for 2022!

October 31, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO, ON – 31 OCTOBER 2022

Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) today announced the recipients of the prestigious Founder and Legacy Awards, as part of their 2022 Business Leadership Awards. These awards celebrate and honour individuals who have helped champion diversity, inclusion, and economic growth in the Canadian LGBT+ community.

“The recipients of this year’s awards embody the essence of passion, drive, and leadership,” said CGLCC Co-Founder and CEO, Darrell Schuurman, “Over their careers, they have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to advancing inclusion and equity. They’ve consistently shown the importance, and impact, of being one’s true self.”

On Friday November 11, 2022, Hundreds of individuals from across the country will gather at The Carlu in Toronto to celebrate the achievements of Canada’s LGBT+ business community, hear stories from fearless LGBT+ leaders, and enjoy an evening of fantastic entertainment.

In addition to the awards ceremony, the 7th Annual Black & White Gala will include a lineup of noteworthy Canadian performers like Coko Galore, Miss Moço, DJ Recklezz, Indigenous Enterprise, and Sandra Bouza. More information on the Gala may be found at www.cglcc.ca/gala.

Winners of the 2022 Business Leadership Awards will be announced throughout the evening of the Black & White Gala.

Bobbie Racette, Founder & CEO, Virtual Gurus – Recipient of the 2022 LGBT+ Founder Award

The LGBT+ Founder Award recognizes an LGBT+ individual(s) that has founded a Canadian business that has had a significant economic impact on the local/regional/national community. Through their efforts, they have made an important contribution to advancing and growing LGBT+ business in Canada.

Bobbie is the Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus, a Talent as a Service Solution platform that matches its users with North American Remote Assistants and Freelancers. She has been recognized as one of 50 Changemakers for 2021 by Report on Business magazine and Startup Canada’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, and is an unstoppable force in the Canadian startup community. She is a Cree-Metis woman who prides herself on building an inclusivity-first company, championing for indigenous people and the LGBTQ+ community. She is a natural leader, sharing her passion by mentoring First Nations Youth who have demonstrated interest in Tech and Business.

Katie Dudtschak – Recipient of the 2022 Legacy Award

CGLCC’s Legacy Award recognizes an organization or individual that has made a significant contribution to the LGBT+ business movement in Canada and/or globally, and through their contribution has left a legacy to future LGBT+ businesses and entrepreneurs.

Katie is the former Executive Vice President, Regional Banking, with RBC, where she led Canada’s largest advisor force of more than 20,000 employees, who advised and served over 15 million clients representing over $1 trillion in business under management. Katie is a woman with gender affirming experience, publicly revealing her journey to embrace her true self in 2019. She is a deeply experienced business and thought leader in the areas of multi-horizon growth strategies; business transformation; and inclusive leadership.

A brief outline of each Award’s criteria may be found at www.cglcc.ca/awards.
Prior Business Leadership Award winners may be seen on CGLCC’s Business Leadership Wall of Fame.

Award Winners will be presented at this year’s Black & White Gala on November 11, 2022. Get your tickets today!

About CGLCC

Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) links LGBT+ businesses in Canada to the wider business and corporate community. It fosters economic growth by supporting and nurturing LGBT+ businesses, entrepreneurs, students and allies, and by helping Canada’s corporate world connect with the LGBT+ business community. www.cglcc.ca

Media Contact: communications@cglcc.ca