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Entrepreneur of The Year 2019 NOMINEE: Sylvio and Vivie Prophete
Sylvio and Vivie Prophete own Caribbean’s Finest Restaurant. The couple, has over the past 5 years worked greatly in developing their business and have contributed to helping the Haitian community by supporting and organizing fundraisers such as a fundraiser for the last Earthquake that hit part of our country, community events, and even volunteering their time, money and effort in order to promote the Haitian culture.
They have supported the Haitian community but also have supported the Edmontonian community at large. During the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfires, they opened their doors and offered food and beverages to all in need.
Caribbean’s Finest is more than a restaurant serving Haitian food. It is a hub where Haitian newcomers and also friends of the Haitian community come together and share information crucial for their integration in the community at large. It is where Haitians gather and are able to get help when need be.
Caribbean’s Finest Restaurant does not only employ Haitians, but they employ anyone that is willing to work. They employ members of the African community in their restaurant and studio. In 2018, Caribbean’s Finest Restaurant received an award celebrating its positive impact on 118th avenue as a business contributing to the development of the area.
Caribbean’s Finest owner Sylvio and his wife, have contributed to providing jobs, shelter and food to many Haitians in need and to non Haitians as well.
They are a pride for not only the Haitian Community but for the Edmontonian community at large and deserve this award in our view as they continue to expand their business which has opened a second location and in doing so, increase their impact on our community as well as other communities.
Entrepreneur of The Year 2019 NOMINEE: Charles Osuji
Charles Osuji is the owner/Managing Partner of Osuji & Smith Lawyers, an Alberta full service law firm that has been in business for over 38 years.
After graduating at the top of his 160 graduating class, Charles proceeded to the Nigerian Law School where he was called to the Bar in 2010. Shortly afterwards, Charles immigrated to Canada in 2011. He quickly completed his accreditation process, joined Smith Law Office as a law student in 2013 and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2014. A year and half later, Charles became a named Partner at Osuji & Smith and the sole owner of the firm a few months later. Shortly after Charles took over the Firm, Osuji & Smith was rated one of the best employment law firms in Calgary and has maintained that rating for 3 consecutive years. Osuji & Smith has also been rated one of the best business lawyers in Calgary. Osuji & Smith has also been nominated for the 2019 Employer Awards for Newcomer Employment, given by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Charles has been featured by the Lawyers’ Daily, IAF Canada and the Global News and has been nominated for the 2018 Immigrant of Distinction (Achievement under 35) Award by Immigrant Services, Calgary, the 2016 Professional of the Year award by OBSIDIAN and the 2019 Hope Awards for his community services. Charles is a passionate, dedicated and knowledgeable lawyer. He is one of the leading young lawyers in Calgary and takes pride in providing effective and practical legal advice to his clients: http://www.osujismith.ca.
Entrepreneur of The Year 2019 NOMINEE: Yinka Oladele
Yinka with her UPS store, also does a good job understanding who is doing what in the community career wise and is helping in promoting the various businesses in the community so as a Community, we can all support each other
Entrepreneur of The Year 2019 NOMINEE: Stuch Joseph
Stuch migrated to Canada from Antigua and Barbuda in 1981 with his mother and siblings. He always had the dream to have his own business and has always lived his life with an entrepreneurial spirit. Stuch became a self made business man, he gained experience in everything from hair & beauty, restaurants [Over by Stuch, The Caribbean; Chicken & Roti Restaurant], dj’ing [still presently known as DJ Stuch] and so much more. In May of 1993 Stuch opened his first business in the SE of Calgary, Alberta; Island Beat. Island Beat started as a small shop with records, cassettes and more carrying his Caribbean influence into a local Canadian shop, it developed into many things over the years. He had a turn at a clothing store, grocery store, dollar store, nail salon and even massage but Island Beats most reputable and most important influence had in the community is his reputation as the longest standing Unisex Hair Salon/Barbershop and Beauty Supplies Store in the city specializing in Black Hair. Over the years Stuch has been a staple participant in the community and many of you know him, too. Whether it was the man who DJ your wedding, or who hosted your favourite artists like Mighty Sparrow, Beenie Man, Chaka Demus & Plies, Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, Lady Saw, or Leroy Gibbons to name a few. Maybe the man who you use to see at the disco doing the limbo! Maybe he was the man who provided a consistent market place for you to purchase your hair & beauty needs and where you went or brought your kids to get their hair done, maybe you were in the Carifest or Cariwest dancing behind his truck in the parade. Maybe he was that loving father you saw with his kids. Whatever it may be, Stuch is the man who got to make his dream reality, that 38 years ago was just a seed, and now it is so much more.
Entrepreneur of The Year 2019 NOMINEE: Banyk Chia
Dear Sir/Madam My name is Banyk Chia I am the CEO of ALSF. Alternative Legal Service Firm Inc, Certified Mediator, Certified Entrepreneur and Qualified legal assistant with years of legal experience. I am writing you because I would want to nominate myself for the Entrepreneur of the year or Professional of the year. I landed in Canada in 2014 with my international Background as Lawyer. Being francophone in Alberta was challenging specially because I wanted to have legal experience in the Canadian legal system to build my future. In 2015 I graduated from CDI College with a legal assistant diploma. From 2015 to 2017 I was a job hunter hoping to find a job in the legal system as legal assistant no one wanted to hire me may be because at that time my English was not that strong. I had to volunteer from 2016 to 2017 with may law firms and organizations. While volunteering I learned it was possible for me to sell legal services as independent paralegal in Alberta.
In February 05 2018 I incorporated my company and since I have been running successfully. Why I deserve one of the Award is because of my perseverance, integrity and consistency I want to use my award to encourage all Internationally Trained Lawyer not to give up to their dreams just because of the adversity in Canada. Today I am not yet a lawyer but I got what I wanted a job and experience to better sell myself tomorrow when I become a lawyer. I will continue to fight hard until I am finally a lawyer in Canada. I want to use the award as a motivation to finally accomplish my dreams. I want the award to remind me how the road was not easy but I was able to make it happen. Sariette Banyk Kwedja Tanda CEO of ALSF. Alternative Legal Service Firm Incorporated Phone: 780-719-4113 website: www.alsfi.com
Entrepreneur of The Year 2019 NOMINEE: Alimamy Samura
Alimamy Samura, most popularly known as Papani or Papus is a popular community barber; certainly the most popular in the Sierra Leone Community and probably one of the well-known in the African Community. His barbing shop is ever so busy, always having customers from dawn to dusk, waiting for hair-cut and/or spending time there to get news of events/issues in the community, or merely as a pass time.
Alimamy started cutting hair at the age of 15 in Sierra Leone just for fun. He then went to Guinea, Conakry as a refugee and was cutting hair as a means to survive. Alimamy was among the lucky refugees who were re-located to Canada. When he came to Edmonton, he cut hair at the basement of his residence just for fun (Free of charge). His intention was not to show-case his inner talent but merely to help people in need. After offering this free service for a while, family members and closed friends of Alimamy kept telling him that he was good in the haircutting business and should charge for his service. Still, Alimamy refused to ask for money from people for his service unless they willingly gave him an offer. At that point, Alimamy started taking the barbing business seriously and went ahead to enroll himself in the Hair-styling Program at Marvel College. After graduation, Alimamy started working at Shadified Salon and Spa. That was the moment when Alimamy developed the belief that he will one day own his own salon.
Today, Alimamy owns his own barbing business at the Alma’s Beauty Salon, making a living for himself and his family and at the same time providing a very valuable service to his community.
Judges : I present to you, Mr. Alimamy Samura for the award of Entrepreneur of The Year. Thank you.
