TORONTO, ON – The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) will present thirty-eight Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals to outstanding volunteers, including business mentors, whose expertise and dedication have played an instrumental role in helping launch young and emerging entrepreneurs' careers and businesses in communities across Canada. The medals are being presented as a special presentation for this year's CYBF Chairman's Awards Program.

The announcement comes during Small Business Week®, an annual celebration of Canadian Entrepreneurship, with the medals being presented at recognition ceremonies across Canada in conjunction with the Chairman's Awards.

'We're honoured to have a diverse group of inspirational volunteers helping to carry out our mission to champion and mobilize young and emerging Canadian entrepreneurs,' said John Risley, Chairman, CYBF Board of Directors. 'Our volunteer business mentors are the key to our entrepreneurs' success, providing invaluable business advice, support and encouragement that fuels their passion and ability to make their dreams a reality.'

'We are delighted to have the opportunity to recognize their support with these prestigious medals,' notes Risley. 'We sincerely hope the recipients will serve as inspiration for a new generation of volunteers and mentors, because we couldn't accomplish what we do without the involvement of these individuals.'

The commemorative medal was created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country. At the same time, it serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians.

The medals are presented on behalf of His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and the Diamond Jubilee Medal recipients nominated by CYBF are (by province):

• British Columbia: Sharon Barnes, David R. Bell, Rodger Darbey, Fi Dastoor, Ryan C. Fuller, Shannan Schimmelmann, Martin Thomas, Steven Walker-Duncan
• Alberta: Wayne S. Chiu, Cindy Priebe
• Saskatchewan: Frank Grolle, Rod Newlove
• Manitoba: Alec Leflour, Lindy C. Norris, Wayne Edwin George Scarrow
• Ontario: Jean Chow, David Hands, Joshua Adam Howard, Rajan Krishnamarchari, John N. Mayes, Lisa Patel, Salpie Stepanian, John Francis Stevenson, Raymond Shane Wali
• Québec: Marcel Bergeron, Normand Chevrier, Marie Legault Gaudet, Gisèle Lacasse, Marie-Michèle Lessard, Daniel Luquette, Fannie Pelletier, Normand Pinard, Yvon Turcot
• New Brunswick: Nicola MacNaughton
• Nova Scotia: Thomas Boyd, Terry Hickey, Kevin Schwenker
• Prince Edward Island: Rupert Sweetapple

For more about the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, visit The Governor General of Canada's website. For more about mentoring with CYBF, visit cybf.ca/mentors.

Canadian Youth Business Foundation –Canada's Entrepreneur Gateway
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the 'go to' place for youth entrepreneurship. As a national organization, we are dedicated to growing Canada's economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-39, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. CYBF is the founder of the G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit (G20 YES) and founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance (G20 YEA). www.cybf.ca.

® Small Business Week is a registered trademark of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).