SPIRIT OF WINNIPEG AWARDS HONOUR INNOVATION

News Release
Five Recipients Announced at Gala Dinner

March 4, 2011 – Innovation enriches our city, but for many businesses and organizations today, innovation is about survival, says Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dave Angus.
The Chamber of Commerce and BDO Chartered Accountants and Advisors, together with Marketplace Magazine, presented a Spirit of Winnipeg Awards to five local companies, charities and not-for-profits that have embraced change by taking a concept or idea and choosing to do things differently.
“Innovation is about striving for better approaches and practices that contribute to the vibrancy of our businesses and our city,” Angus said.
Dave Anderson, office managing partner of BDO in Winnipeg, said: “BDO has seen first-hand, through our relationships with our clients, the pioneering spirit that so many businesses in Winnipeg possess. We are proud to be associated with the Spirit of Winnipeg Awards and salute the organizations that have helped this city grow.”
The award recipients, selected by an eight-member panel of judges:

NOT-FOR-PROFIT - Downtown Winnipeg BIZ



The BIZ is passionate about brainstorming and being innovative, which resulted in a social media initiative that has taken on a life of its own. Downtown Peggy, an attractive animated character whose name is a take on Winnipeg, is the positive face and voice of downtown, counteracting negative perceptions that exist.

She has become the go-to gal for all things downtown. She has her own Web site, and blogs and tweets about shopping, dining and entertainment. Soon, she’ll have her own app. She’s even made personal appearances downtown (life-size cutouts) and made Ace Burpee’s list of Top 100 most fascinating Manitobans. She has 1,360 followers on Twitter, growing by about 10 new followers a day.

Downtown Winnipeg BIZ

“Bigger is better” is the unofficial motto of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, which markets the city centre on behalf of 1,400 businesses, hosts events and runs programs targeting downtown image, cleanliness, safety, transportation and parking.

The BIZ is passionate about idea sharing, brainstorming and being innovative, which resulted in a social media initiative that has taken on a life of its own, thanks to the creation of Downtown Peggy. Downtown Peggy, an attractive animated character whose name is a take on Winnipeg, is the positive face and voice of downtown, spreading a positive message to counteract the negative perceptions that exist.

She has become the go-to gal for all things downtown. She has her own Web site and blogs and tweets about shopping, dining and entertainment downtown. Soon, she’ll even have her own app. Over the holidays, she made appearances around downtown (life-size cutouts for people to pose with), encouraged people to pledge to shop downtown and gave away merchandise from downtown stores in a Secret Santa promotion.

She made Hot 103 Ace Burpee’s list of Top 100 most fascinating Manitobans and has 1,360 followers on Twitter, which is growing by about 10 new followers a day. She’s become a credible, independent media source and was recently featured in a presentation at an International Downtown Association conference by an American presenter, who used her as an example of successful use of social media.