Dear ABMInsider,

Just before I walked off the Top 50 CEO awards stage in Fredericton back in May 2019, I told everyone we’d see them again the next year in Halifax. What is it they say about best laid plans? Little did I know it would be 3 years before I could keep my promise.

Soooo much has happened in the meantime. My colleague and friend, Tonia Hutton-Sheridan, and I became the co-owners of Atlantic Business Magazine. A few months after that, and mere weeks before the 2020 gala, the virus-that-shall-not-be-named put an indefinite pause on… well, everything.

For 2020 and 2021, we switched, transformed, embraced—anything but the p-word that rhymes with divot)—virtual events. It was a massive learning curve and I’m proud of what we accomplished, but damn… it’s good to be back. Back to the future 😊

What exactly does that mean? For starters, we’re going to take over the Halifax Convention Centre on May 12 for our first in-person awards gala since 2019. And we’re embracing the creative arts (music! comedy! drama!) in recognition of the creative thinking that enabled business leaders across the region and around the world to survive the past 24 months. I’ve been describing it as Broadway meets Bay Street on the Red Carpet.

But that’s just the foundation of what will make this an unforgettable evening. The BIG REVEAL of 50 award-winning CEOs… 22 first-time award winners… the youngest cohort of winners in the Top 50’s 24-year history… multiple levels of diversity (gender, geography, BIPOC)… representation of corporate leadership excellence from all four Atlantic provinces… a significant charitable component… And not one, but TWO surprise award announcements… the Stewart McKelvey Innovator of the Year and the overall CEO of the Year for the entire Atlantic region.

Teaser: the announcement of the CEO of the Year will be of historic significance. Trust me when I say you will regret not being there (and no, I’m not exaggerating).

Which is, of course, the perfect segue to this: you have just ONE week left to get tickets. Hope to see you there!

 

Dawn Chafe Executive editor & co-owner dchafe@atlanticbusinessmagazine.ca