Standing, from left: Joe Loncarich, Tim Oreskovich, Mike Yelavich (board member), Janko Peric, John Marion (Chamber President), Mel Mekinda, Ivan Grbesic (Board Member), Michael Loncarich, Nadan Vidosevic (President, Croatian Chamber of Economy), Vesela Mrden-Korac (Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Canada), Joe Draganjac (Board Member), Dubravko Bandula, Mario Livaja (Consul General of the Republic of Croatia to Canada), Ivica Puhalo
Seated, from left: Drago Vuckovic, Slavko Rezo, Elena Spralja-Saldini, Nikola Vrdoljak, Antun Zlatar, Dr. Paul Biondich

Croatian business in Canada celebrated its own at the fourth annual Business Excellence Awards Evening hosted by the Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce on Friday, April 21, 2006 at the Mississauga Grand Banquet Hall and Convention Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Over 400 people attended the dinner, which has become the most eagerly anticipated event in the Croatian-Canadian business community.

Mr. John Marion, President of the Chamber and owner of Baka Communications, welcomed everyone and outlined the institution’s plans for the next year, the most important of which is the new membership campaign. He encouraged businesses, professionals, individuals, and non-profit organizations to join the Chamber in order to better promote Croatian-Canadian business and foster business growth. Mr. Marion also expressed that the Chamber will support political, cultural, and educational initiatives through its various sub-committees in the interest of the Croatian-Canadian community. This attitude is entrenched in the Chamber’s motto, “Together, We Make Success!”

Among the many political dignitaries in attendance were Ms. Vesela Mrden-Korac, Amabassador of the Republic of Croatia to Canada; Mrs. Hazel McCallion, Mayor of the City of Mississauga; Mr. Mario Livaja, Consul General of the Republic of Croatia to Canada; Mr. Refik Sabanovic, Counsellor with the Consulate of the Republic of Croatia to Canada; Mr. Bob Bratina, Councillor with the City of Hamilton; Mr. Berry Vrbanovic, Councillor with the City of Kitchener, and Mr. Janko Peric, former longtime Member of the Parliament of Canada. These were in addition to numerous other political guests from the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government.

The keynote speakers for the evening were Ambassador Mrden-Korac and Mr. Nadan Vidosevic, President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy. The Ambassador shared the most recent achievements of Croatian foreign politics and economic development and reaffirmed her government’s commitment to regional stability, investment in the tourism sector, and ongoing privatization and development of Croatia’s economy. Mr. Vidosevic’s address described the current economic situation in Croatia and emphasized that although the country has numerous problems, namely in restructuring the justice system and improving the government’s administration, it is still a land of opportunity. Capital investors have recognized Croatia as a potential investment zone and there is no reason for business people of Croatian descent worldwide to join in and multiply their profits while rebuilding the land of their ancestors.

Further, Vidosevic stated that the Croatian economy had no alternatives to the US market, which accounts for eighty-five percent of country’s foreign exchange. As such, the Canadian and Croatian governments have ratified trade agreements that will remove barriers to bilateral trade and investments. “We hope that Canadian-based businesses will seize this opportunity”, said Vidosevic and he offered active support from the Croatian Chamber of Economy and other Government agencies that can help limit risks for Canadian investors. Vidosevic congratulated the Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce for its sound organization and political influence and stated that its continued diligent work will be of great benefit to all Canadians of Croatian descent. In his closing remarks, Vidosevic recognized the Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce as one of the first organizations that stopped heavy criticism of the Croatian government in order to focus upon improving relationships between the two countries, which drew significant applause from the audience. The visit was particularly successful for Mr. Vidosevic as the Chamber arranged for him and Ambassador Mrden-Korac to attend the prestigious Luncheon with the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, hosted by the Empire Club of Canada.

Following Mr. Vidosevic’s speech, all attention turned to the awards. Mr. Steve Pozgaj, Board Member and Master of Ceremonies, eloquently guided the crowd through the awards which were established to formally recognize leadership, innovation, and business excellence within the Croatian-Canadian business community. Nominations are open to Croats from across Canada and are selected by a special committee. This year’s winners are as follows:

• The Small Business of the Year Award - ELENA SPRALJA-SALDINI, Owner/Manager of Joso’s Restaurant, Toronto
• The Medium Business of the Year Award - DUBRAVKO BANDULA, Owner of BMD Tool and Machine Co. Ltd., Mississauga
• The Large Business of the Year Award - MICHAEL LONCARICH, President of EA Abrasives, Hamilton
• The International Business of the Year Award - DRAGO VUCKOVIC, Builder of Kongresni Centar “Princess” in Jastrebarsko, Croatia
• The Professional Business of the Year Award - MEL MEKINDA, Mekinda Snyder Partnership Architects, Toronto
• The Executive of the Year Award - TIM ORESKOVIC, Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Novopharm Ltd., Mississauga
• The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award - DR. PAUL BIONDICH, inventor of the I-2 Technology Face Mask used in sports and athletics and Bionica Pain and Healing Gel
• The Community Achievement Award - IVICA PUHALO, longtime community volunteer and lifetime Honourary President of the Canadian-Croatian Library in Mississauga

In addition to the business awards, the Chamber honoured a number of individuals for their exemplary service to the Croatian-Canadian community in the following categories:

• JANKO PERIC, the first Croatian-born Member of Parliament who served a total of three terms in federal politics; longtime community activist and one of the founders of the Chamber Lifetime Community Service Award
• NIKOLA VRDOLJAK – Co-founder and President of the Canadian Croatian Folklore Federation and longtime instructor of the Zrinski-Frankopan Folklore Ensemble of Toronto.
• JOE LONCARICH – Tamburica maestro and longtime folklore instructor of the Croatian National Home in Hamilton, Ontario; co-founder of the Canadian-Croatian Folklore Federation; involvement in Croatian folklore spans over seven decades
• ANTUN ZLATAR – longtime instructor of Tamburica and folklore in southern Ontario
• SLAVKO REZO – longtime community activist through the United Croats of Canada, Canadian-Croatian Folklore Federation, three Croatian parishes in the Greater Toronto area, and numerous humanitarian organizations during the Homeland War

The evening’s ambience was of the highest quality thanks to the exquisite entertainment provided by Mr. Joe Loncarich and the Becar Tamburitzans of Stoney Creek, Ontario, who stirred many memories with their sweet melodies throughout the evening. They were joined by classical violinists Krunoslav and Tihomir Martinko of Mississauga who provided wonderful music during the dinner.

There was also a unique item that was the highlight of the dinner auction. Croatian soccer star Dado Pršo graciously donated an autographed, game worn Croatian national soccer uniform. The ensuing bidding war led to the uniform being sold for $ 4,000.00, the proceeds of which will be used to establish the Chamber’s national scholarship fund.

The evening closed with a renewed sense of pride in the accomplishments of the unique and dynamic Croatian-Canadian business community, and many have already inquired about reserving their tickets for next year’s event.