Relive the 2026 Women Empowerment Awards

The 2026 Women Empowerment Awards brought together inspiring women, leaders and changemakers for an unforgettable night of recognition and impact. Relive the highlights and meet the finalists and recipients who made it special. 2027 nominations open March 8, 2027

MEET THE 2026 RECIPIENTS

MEET THE 2026 FINALISTS

Award Categories

Categories

Rogers Entrepreneur of the Year Grant Award

Exemplifying the ideals of entrepreneurship by running a successful start-up or being the driving force of a successful business (1-5 years). This award includes a generous $15,000 grant and recognizes an individual with a strong focus on vision, passion, and strategic direction.

Scotia Leadership Award

Leaders create leaders. This award recognizes an individual who is seen as an instrumental and influential leader in business or their community, demonstrating how their personal leadership has led to business growth and development, or how they have impacted the quality of life in their community. This award includes a $2,500 grant and financial wealth-building consultation to level up your business.

Mantella Corporation Entrepreneur BIPOC Grant Award

This award includes a generous $10,000 grant and recognizes successful BIPOC business leaders who have overcome great challenges, breaking through roadblocks to gain credibility and establish themselves in their industry.

Innovator Award

Impacting the way they do business and working with others in product and service development, this award recognizes an individual who demonstrates significant innovation within the scope of business. This include quality, sustainable, efficient, economic or creative innovation. The award includes a $1,000 grant plus a $10,000 pitching package and 10 hours of 1:1 pitch coaching by last year's award recipient, Rashmi Prakash of Aruna Revolution Health.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award is given in recognition to an individual who has made a significant impact on large number of individuals or organizations, having a distinguished career. Documented achievement must have taken place over a minimum of 10 years through individually designed or implemented high-impact programs or projects, the development of influential initiatives, publications, and community or business mentorships. This award includes a stunning red carpet custom gown by Jordan Stewart of RVNG Couture valued at $8,000.

Rising Star Award

This award goes to young individuals whose life examples serve to inspire our next generation through entrepreneurship, advocacy, community involvement or global change. The award includes a $2,500 Grant from Mary Kay Cosmetics and is presented to an individual who is seen to be an inspiration to our younger generation. (This Award is only open to those aged between 14–25 years.)

TD Businesswoman of the Year Grant Award

The world of business is full of talented, innovative leaders and entrepreneurs who run successful ventures. This award includes a $2,500 grant, financial wealth-building consultation and recognizes an individual who has shown dedication in achieving phenomenal success in business and continues to drive her business forward while fostering and encouraging female entrepreneurship.

Diversity, Equality & Inclusivity Award

Celebrating the diversity of ethnicities in the workplace, supporting colleagues with physical or mental health challenges, and for inclusion of the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community, this award recognizes an individual with a continuous and long-term commitment to Diversity, Equality & Inclusion (DE&I) within the workplace and community and includes a cover feature on Today's Confident Woman by The Open Chest Confidence Academy.

Global Impact Award

Impacting and inspiring women beyond our Canadian boundaries, this award includes a $2,500 grant from Kathy Cheng of Redwood Classics and recognizes the leadership, contributions, and actions taken to reach and impact women globally, making a difference within their local communities and in developing nations.

Mentorship Award

Inspiring and providing guidance to others, this award recognizes mentors that go above and beyond, empowering other women to accomplish their goals and fostering the next generation of leaders. In addition, the recipient will also receive a $2,500 Grant from The Abraham Family and a feature interview on Empowered with Elizabeth, a national TV show hosted by Elizabeth Naumovski, further amplifying her voice and her mission.