Being a small business owner isn’t for the faint of heart.

Every year, Small Business Week tips its hat to the entrepreneurs and owners who are making a difference in their community. This year, ATB was proud to sponsor the Small Business of the Year award - the ultimate award during Small Business Week in Calgary. The award was presented at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce Small Business Calgary Awards Gala presented by ATB.

The winner of the 2022 ATB Small Business of the Year Award went to Goodlawyer, a great example of a business applying innovation to make a difference. Goodlawyer connects business founders with skilled start-up lawyers, offering easy-to-understand legal service packages that provide pricing upfront in a straightforward manner.

Founded by Brett Colvin, a practicing lawyer turned entrepreneur who saw an opportunity in the business community, “Building a start-up is hard work. Providing a straightforward legal experience for founders gives them one less thing to worry about,” he says.

From navigating the pandemic, to inflation and supply chain, small business owners have shown dedication and resilience, particularly over the past few years. In Calgary, small businesses (less than 100 employees) account for more than 95% of businesses in the city,¹ and per capita, Calgary has the second highest number of small businesses of Canada’s major cities.²

Tanya Kroeker, Vice President, Entrepreneurial Growth at ATB says, “Entrepreneurs and small businesses are the cornerstone of the Alberta economy, driving prosperity and vibrancy in our communities.”

When it comes to entrepreneurship in Alberta Kroeker continues, “It’s so inspiring to see how entrepreneurs continue to navigate change, whether it be pivoting their businesses, expanding services, launching new ventures or accessing different distribution channels to get their products and services to market. Goodlawyer is a great example of a company leveraging technology, innovation and connectivity to fill an identified need in the marketplace.”

For Colvin, being the recipient of this award has provided his team with encouragement and recognition. “Winning the small business award is a huge honour for our whole team,” he says. I believe that Calgary is the best place to start a business in Canada today. The city has deep involvement in supporting and nurturing start-ups companies like ours, and we’re grateful for the success we’ve had to date.”

Other finalists for the award included Doodle Dogs, a chic and unique pet boutique with two locations in Calgary and an online store, along with Partake Brewing, which brews up great-tasting, low calorie and uniquely crafted non-alcoholic beers.

Is it true that solid ideas, hard work and some good old-fashioned inspiration can help an entrepreneur make the leap? For Colvin, his advice to the aspiring entrepreneur is unwavering. “Just go and build it,” he says.

Every day, ATB entrepreneurs and business owners can access the tools and resources they need to help them achieve their business goals.

Visit www.atbentrepreneurcentre.com to learn more.