Family Business Awards
This year’s Family Business Awards Dinner took place on May 4, 2023 at the Brightwood Golf & Country Club, where we were honoured to profile this year’s award recipients.
For the past 25 years, Family Business Association – Atlantic has been helping multi-generational family businesses
succeed by bringing them together to share knowledge, experience, and peer support.
During our 15 years of annual awards events, we have recognized, celebrated, and promoted the achievements and considerable contributions made by Atlantic Canadian family businesses and young entrepreneurs to our regional economy.
Our 2023 Presenting Sponsors:
The 2023 Awards Dinner celebrated
Women in Wine: Blending the Family and the Vine
Wine making is one of the oldest family businesses, where women are just now rising to the top tiers. From managing directors and winemakers to founders and oenologists, women are leading and shaping the future of the wine industry.
According to a US based report In 2020, women winemakers reported that out of 4,200 bonded wineries in California, only 14 percent had a woman as their lead winemaker and two years later and there’s still progress to be made. Happily, we are seeing a rise in female leadership in the industry right here in Nova Scotia. While the talent of women need no occasion to highlight, Family Business Atlantic’s Awards of Excellence program is the perfect opportunity to showcase four exceptional women who are making a difference in expanding the industry in our region.
FBA and our Presenting Sponsors, TD Bank, and Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub are honoured to share the family business stories of Ashley and Devon McConnell Gordon from Benjamin Bridge, Beatrice Stutz of Domaine de Grand Pré and Geena Luckett from Luckett Vineyards.
This is a new FBA Award category – Female Leadership in the Growth and Advancement of the Nova Scotia Wine Industry – and will acknowledge the success of Women in Wine who are blending family with the vine. We are delighted to shine a light on four trailblazing female entrepreneurs who have helped to shape the success of these three outstanding wineries. Join us as we learn more about their personal and professional journeys and sample some of the wines from each vineyard!
The evening included a cocktail reception followed by a three-course wine paired dinner.
Each winery had also kindly contributed to a silent auction package that includes the following: approximate retail value $1,100 including HST.
- Domaine de Grand Pré- One night’s stay in a king room at The Inn at the Winery with breakfast
- Luckett Vineyards- $200 gift card plus gift bag
- Benjamin Bridge – Terroir Tasting for two plus $100 gift card
- TD Wine Basket with wine from each of the three wineries and other wine items
Founder, Gerry McConnell with daughters Ashley and Devon McConnell-Gordon, Benjamin Bridge
Ashley & Devon now lead the small family-like team. As stewards of lands located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq First Nations, the team has carefully and meticulously grown Benjamin Bridge from a micro-boutique project into a dedicated sparkling wine house.
Beatrice Stutz is CEO and Vice President of Domaine de Grand Pré.
Family-owned and operated, Domaine de Grand Pré winery is the oldest farm winery site in Atlantic Canada and was built on love and passion for Nova Scotia and exceptional wine and food.
Geena Luckett is owner and General Manager of Luckett Vineyards.
Over the past decade Geena has overseen the continued growth of the family-run Gaspereau Valley winery, while maintaining the Luckett-brand commitment to customer service and quality.
Check out photos from our Women In Wine Event here!
Interested in supporting in our Family Business Awards event? Find out more about becoming a sponsor by emailing us through our contact us link below.
Past Award Winners
2022 – Dr. Margaret Humphreys, Watermark Consulting, East Coast Laundry and Lighthouse Transportation
2021 – Stephanie Clark and Jennifer Montgomery, Blue Door Group, The Italian Market, James F Lahey Glass
2020 – Dr. Robert Blunden, Blunden Construction Limited, Nevell Provo, Smooth Meal Prep, Aileen Reid, A.P. Reid
2019 – Beachcoast Earrings, Giffin Technologies, MacArthurs Quality Flowers and Plants
2018 – Northeastern Protection Services, Minuteman Press & Thian Carman
2017 – Stanhope Simpson
2016 – Fisher Transport Inc.
2015 – Cresco
2014 – Rideout Tools Inc.
2013 – Archway Insurance
2012 – Halifax Seed Company
2011 – J & T von Zutphen Construction Inc.
2010 – Polly Cello Ltd.
2009 – The Bragg Group of Companies
2008 – O’Regan’s
Special thanks to John Abbass of Econo Color for being our exclusive Association Photographer.
Most event photos are credited to Mr. Abbass.