This year has been officially designated as the Year of the Entrepreneur by the Government of Canada.

Both the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) and the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) were on hand to mark the occasion with government.

Having represented small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for 40 years, CFIB knows British Columbia鈥檚 and Canada鈥檚 future depends on the continuing contributions of entrepreneurs.

SMEs account for 98 per cent of all businesses across Canada, including British Columbia, and with more than 19 per cent of owners planning to exit their business within five years, the Year of the Entrepreneur is a great opportunity to highlight the contributions Canada鈥檚 entrepreneurs have brought Canada 鈥� and flag opportunities for future entrepreneurs.

CFIB鈥檚 Western Canada vice-president Laura Jones said, 鈥淭he success of the small- and medium-sized business sector has contributed greatly to the economic and social success of Canada. As CFIB celebrates 40 years of defending small businesses, designating 2011 as the Year of the Entrepreneur is an occasion we should all be proud of.鈥�

Closer to home, CFIB is asking the provincial government what it can do to mark this special occasion.

鈥淏.C.鈥檚 economy has been strong for the past decade thanks to the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit in this province. What better way to ensure our long-term economic prosperity than to acknowledge the very people that have been driving growth in B.C. and across the country 鈥� entrepreneurs,鈥� concluded Jones.

鈥� Canadian

Federation of

Independent Business