In January of this year Prime Minister Stephen Harper recognized 2011 as the Year of the Entrepreneur, highlighting the essential role that small and medium-sized businesses have played in our economy to-date, and will play in securing Canada's ongoing economic recovery.

The entrepreneurial spirit has always thrived at Speakers' Spotlight! We have been recognized in many ways including being listed on the PROFIT 100, Canada's authoritative ranking of high-growth companies; repeat finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards; and twice named one of the '50 Most Engaged Workplaces in North America'. And to think it all started by a young couple out of a tiny room in their apartment, with one telephone and a phone book.

As Global Entrepreneurship Week approaches this November 14-19, we celebrate entrepreneurs and the risks they take to make their visions come to life. You have the unique opportunity to hear their stories, learn from their experiences and be inspired by their success. Here is a select group of Canada's most celebrated business visionaries (click on their photos to learn more about each).

John Stanton - Founder of the Running Room
John Stanton created his first meeting place for runners over twenty-five years ago out of the back of a hairdressing salon in an old house. Now, John's family-owned company, the Running Room, boasts over 100 stores, over 1,300 employees, and has helped nearly a million people adopt a healthier lifestyle. John shares his passion for living a fit and well-balanced life with his audience, presenting his secrets to following dreams and staying motivated regardless of the challenges that life inevitably presents. John was recently selected as the 2011 inductee into the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame, and is a Member of the Order of Canada.

W. Brett Wilson - Renowned Entrepreneur and Philanthropist; Former Star of CBC TV's Dragons' Den; Star of Slice TV's Risky Business
W. Brett Wilson is living proof that it's possible to succeed in business without losing your principles. The co-founder of one of Canada's leading investment banks, FirstEnergy Capital Corp., Brett also spent three seasons as the lead deal-making Dragon on CBC TVs Dragons' Den, and currently stars on Slice TV's Risky Business where he works with other investors on deals over the course of 30 days. Brett's stories about success, loss, and finding balance leave his audience inspired to achieve their goals, both in business and at home. Brett is the founder of the W. Brett Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the University of Saskatchewan and was named a Canadian Nation Builder for his role in encouraging entrepreneurship. Brett was also recently appointed to the Order of Canada, among numerous other awards and accolades.

Barbara Stegemann - Founder of The 7 Virtues Beauty Inc.
Barb Stegemann, author of The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen, formed her entrepreneurial vision after her best friend was severely wounded in Afghanistan. Understanding that supporting Afghanistan's economy was a key way to help build stability for its people, Barbara created The 7 Virtues Beauty Inc., a company that sources organic oils from Afghanistan, Haiti, and other countries experiencing turmoil, to encourage change and reverse issues of war and poverty. Barb and her team purchase licit crops from farmers to give them alternatives to selling illegal poppy crops. 7 Virtues then turns these oils into fragrances which are now available at all 91 Bay stores across Canada. Although Barbara addresses complex global issues in her talks, she uses humour to explain in simple terms how individuals can effect change both at home and worlds away. Barbara was a nominee for Chatelaine's Women of the Year 2011 entrepreneur award and recently received the "Women Innovators" award from the US Secretary of State. She was also the first woman in Atlantic Canada to be awarded a venture capital deal through CBC TV's Dragons' Den.

Bruce Croxon - Co-founder of Lavalife; Newest Star of CBC TV's Dragons' Den
Bruce Croxon defines his entrepreneurial philosophy as 'serendipity mixed with smarts," an approach he brought to life in 1987 when he combined the growing interest in telepersonals with the burgeoning of the internet to co-create Lavalife, the internationally recognized web-based dating service. At Lavalife, Bruce guided the business to achieve revenues of close to $100 million, and from there he went on to found the well-known west coast chain, Vida Spas. Bruce is also the newest star of CBC TV's hit show Dragons' Den, and his other current ventures include Sprigg Software, Walkaway Canada and Mobilemiser.com. Bruce encourages his audience to embrace new ways to identify business opportunities and address challenges from unique angles to achieve unprecedented success.

Dave Chilton - Bestselling Author of The Wealthy Barber Business Books
Dave Chilton's recipe for success is hard work, a clear vision and some clever marketing. Whether it's helping thousands of Canadians achieve personal financial success or investing in new ventures, Dave has always had a knack for recognizing great entrepreneurial opportunities from the get-go. The author of Canada's all-time bestselling book, The Wealthy Barber, David's unique combination of knowledge and humour helps to take the intimidation and dryness out of financial planning. His latest #1 best-seller, The Wealthy Barber Returns, is already fast-becoming the new standard in understanding effective personal financial management. David's easy speaking style puts audience fears to rest as he breaks personal finance down in ways that everyone can not only understand, but also enjoy. But his speeches aren't about just money. They're about believing in yourself, overcoming mistakes (many of his are truly hilarious) and, most importantly, they're about perspective - the missing ingredient in many people's lives. As Pamela Wallin said, "... a Canadian icon returns just in time."