News Releases

Ottawa-based entrepreneurs Adam Miron, Sébastien St-Louis, & Julie Beun share $30,000 prize

Toronto, ON  November 16, 2022 – The jury for the 37th National Business Book Award today announced that Billion Dollar Start-up: The True Story of How a Couple of 29-Year-Olds Turned $35,000 Into a $1,000,000,000 Cannabis Company has been named the winning book for the 2022 award and its $30,000 prize. The book was co-authored by Adam Miron, Sébastien St-Louis, & Julie Beun, and published by ECW Press. The prize was presented to the authors at an award luncheon in Toronto, hosted by Peter Mansbridge, NBBA Jury Chair and best-selling author and award-winning journalist.

Billion Dollar Start-Up, told in diary format, recounts the story of how two brothers-in-law created a billion-dollar, award-winning cannabis company called HEXO. It also documents the history of Canada’s momentous road to legalization complete with government hurdles, intense competition, limited market data, a high burn rate for capital, and general chaos.

The book also offers a unique, behind-the-scenes view of the myriad of challenges facing an entrepreneurial start-up, which is relevant to all sectors at all times.

Presenting Sponsor Miles S. Nadal of Peerage Capital says, “We are passionate entrepreneurs who partner with other entrepreneurs, providing the resources for them to realize their full potential. Books like Billion Dollar Start-Up celebrate all it takes to beat the odds and achieve success in a fiercely competitive game.”

Today, Adam Miron is a well-known figure in political and media circles across Canada, with at least 20 start-ups under his belt.  He is the executive chairman of blockchain innovation company Brane; Sebastien St-Louis is one of the longest-serving and most dynamic CEOs in Canada’s expanding cannabis industry; and Julie Beun had a front-row seat to HEXO’s evolution as its publicist, content strategist, and senior writer from 2014 to 2019.

The 2022 finalists include: 

• My Best Mistake: Epic Fails and Silver Linings by Terry O’Reilly

Published by Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

• Opening Doors to Diversity in Leadership by Bobby Siu

Published by Rotman – University of Toronto Press 

The NBBA winner is selected by an independent jury which evaluates each submission based on originality, relevance, excellence of writing, thoroughness of research and depth of analysis. In addition to Peter Mansbridge, the jury includes: Wes Hall, The BlackNorth Initiative and Kingsdale Advisors; Deirdre McMurdy, Peerage Capital; Anna Porter, author and publisher; and Senator Pamela Wallin. 

Canada’s National Business Book Award is generously sponsored by presenting sponsor Miles S. Nadal and supporting partners Peerage Realty Partners, The Targeted Strategies Group, Stephen J.R. Smith, Manscorp Media Services, The Globe and Mail, The Walrus and Canadian Heritage-Patrimoine Canadien.  The Award Ceremony was hosted by FEI Canada – Toronto Chapter.

Follow us on Twitter @NBBAward and visit www.nbbaward.com for more information. 

For media information please contact: 

Mary Ann Freedman, Freedman & Associates Inc. 

Tel: 416-523-8681

Email: maf@freedmanandassociates.com 

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Finalists for 2022 business literary award announced

Toronto, ON October 19, 2022 – The jury for the 37 th National Business Book Award today announced the three finalists for the 2022 literary award. Presented by Miles S. Nadal, the $30,000 prize will be awarded to the author demonstrating the most outstanding Canadian business-related writing, research and originality. The winner will be announced at a live, in-person event on November 16, 2022, in Toronto.

National Business Book Award finalists have a tradition of identifying and documenting current issues, themes and trends in the business world and continue to do so, especially in this post-pandemic era. Leadership, overcoming adversity, diversity, cryptocurrency and start-ups are just some of the key topics addressed in this year’s book nominees. The authors of the nominated books share their stories, and lessons learned, at a time when the business world is looking for new ideas and ways to re-invent many aspects of their organizations.

The 2022 National Book Award finalists are:

Billion Dollar Start-up: The True Story of How a Couple of 29-Year-Olds Turned $35,000 Into a $1,000,000,000 Cannabis Company
Adam Miron, Sébastien St-Louis, & Julie Beun
ECW Press

Told in diary format, this collaborative fast-paced memoir recounts the story of how two brothers-in-law create a billion-dollar, award-winning cannabis company called HEXO and documents the history of Canada’s momentus road to legalization. The story unfolds between 2013 and 2019 and gives the reader a front-row seat to the early toehold in the cannabis business, complete with government hurdles, intense competition, limited market data, high burn rate for capital and general chaos.

My Best Mistake: Epic Fails and Silver Linings
Terry O’Reilly
Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

In a collection of stories CBC Radio host Terry O’Reilly recounts how some of the biggest breakthroughs and best-loved products originated with a mistake. Some people’s mistakes led to dramatic life changes – losing their jobs, their companies and often their credibility – only for them to discover new opportunities and a more successful outcome. With well-researched background, the author walks the reader through 24 fascinating stories from resolution of the problem to the happy ending including legendary personalities such as Steve Jobs, Steven Spielberg and Scotty Bowman, and famous brands, such as Ski-Doo, Kellogg’s corn flakes and popsicles.

Opening Doors to Diversity in Leadership
Bobby Siu
Rotman – University of Toronto Press

Using a psychological, organizational, and cultural framework, management consultant Bobby Siu builds a solid business case for addressing the need for greater diversity in leadership, recruitment, and retention. He looks carefully at how current leaders view the relationship between top-tier management and diverse groups and examines recruitment selection, performance evaluation, workplace succession, working conditions, and corporate culture and how they impact hiring, promotion and retention of diverse groups. This book stresses the importance of organizational review and self-reflection, as well as the pivotal role of removing unconscious biases from the workplace and identifying the systemic biases embedded in many aspects of human resources management practices.

The NBBA winner is selected by an independent jury which evaluates each submission based on originality, relevance, excellence of writing, thoroughness of research and depth of analysis. The esteemed jury is chaired by Peter Mansbridge, best-selling author and award-winning journalist, and includes Wes Hall, The BlackNorth Initiative and Kingsdale Advisors; Deirdre McMurdy, Peerage Capital and Adjudicator; Anna Porter, author and publisher, and Senator Pamela Wallin.

Past winners include Stephen R. Bown, Mark Carney, Jeff Rubin, Gordon Pitts, Naomi Klein, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Daniel J. Levitin and Andrea Benoit. For a full list of past winners, visit: www.nbbaward.com.

Canada’s National Business Book Award is generously sponsored by presenting sponsor Miles S. Nadal and supporting partners Peerage Realty Partners, The Targeted Strategies Group, Stephen J.R. Smith Manscorp Media Services, The Globe and Mail, The Walrus and Canadian Heritage-Patrimoine Canadien.

Follow us on Twitter @NBBAward and visit www.nbbaward.com for more information.

For copies of the books, author photos and interviews please contact:
Mary Ann Freedman, Freedman & Associates Inc.
Tel: 416-523-8681
Email: maf@freedmanandassociates.com

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Peerage Realty Partners joins in support of the $30,000 prize

TORONTO, July 21, 2022 – Freedman & Associates is excited to announce that Peerage Realty Partners has become a supporting partner for the 2022 National Business Book Award. A North American leader in premium residential real estate services, Peerage Realty Partners has committed to championing the next three years of excellence in business writing.

Peerage Realty Partners joins a roster of distinguished business leaders and partners including Presenting Sponsor Miles S. Nadal; The Targeted Strategies Group; Stephen J.R. Smith; Manscorp Media Services; The Globe and Mail; The Walrus; and Canadian Heritage-Patrimoine
Canadien.

The National Business Book Award promotes, commemorates, and facilitates excellence in business writing across Canada. The award’s esteemed jury is chaired by Peter Mansbridge and includes Wes Hall, chairman, The BlackNorth Initiative, executive chairman and founder, Kingsdale Advisors; Deirdre McMurdy, Adjudicator; David Denison, corporate director; author and publisher Anna Porter, and Senator Pamela Wallin. Nominations are judged based on five key criteria including originality, relevance, excellence of writing, thoroughness of research and depth of analysis.

“We are pleased to partner with the National Business Book Award as it enters its 37th year,” said Gavin Swartzman, CEO Peerage Realty Partners. “At Peerage, we believe in the importance of perspective and analysis. For 37 years, NBBA authors have used business stories to help us all better understand the often-complex issues we face as a country.”

“It is more important than ever before to encourage the exchange of creative and innovative ideas. The NBBA has remained dedicated to recognizing the business books which inspire and shape Canadian dialogues,” said Mary Ann Freedman, who has managed the Award for over 35 years. “The Award honours business authors who share new thinking and a better understanding of how we can shape the future.”

In a historic first, two books won the 2021 award for Canada’s most outstanding business book – Stephen R. Bown’s The Company: The Rise and Fall of the Hudson’s Bay Empire published by Doubleday Canada (Penguin Random House Canada) and Mark Carney’s Value(s): Building A Better World for All published by McClelland & Stewart.

The National Business Book Award is internationally recognized as a leader in spotting current and future Canadian and global business issues. Thought leadership and strategy, history and politics, and Canadian business are examples of the important topics and stories told over the history of the award. For the full list of past winners, visit: www.nbbaward.com.

The winner of the $30,000 prize will be revealed in November 2022.

ABOUT PEERAGE REALTY PARTNERS

Peerage Realty Partners is a leading residential real estate services firm, serving luxury markets across North America.

Peerage Realty brokerage partners include leading Sotheby’s International Realty franchisees, and renowned independent firms in both re-sale residential real estate brokerage, and new construction marketing.

Peerage Realty core service activities include real estate financing, transaction services, asset management, and home improvement for purpose-built rental properties. Peerage Realty has the unique benefit of being a privately-owned enterprise that is positioned to commit to long-term partnerships and investments.

Peerage Realty is currently one of the top 10 largest residential real estate service firms in North America with over 7,000 best-in-class sales representatives and employees with 276 offices across Canada and the United States.

To support growth and expansion among partners, Peerage Realty consistently provides strategic input, capital, technology, operational expertise, marketing, communications, and value-added products and services that differentiate and strengthen its partner firms in competitive markets. Its goal is to expand the suite of services that its partner firms can offer to enhance the client experience through all phases of a real estate transaction and beyond. www.peeragerealty.com

Follow us on Twitter @NBBAward and visit www.nbbaward.com for more information.

For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Mary Ann Freedman, Freedman & Associates Inc.
Tel: 416-523 8681 Email: maf@freedmanandassociates.com

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