On Friday, May 2, 2025, the Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted its 21st Annual Business Excellence Awards Gala – a truly unforgettable evening attended by over 650 guests. Held just outside of Toronto, the event was a celebration of leadership, innovation, and community spirit within the Croatian-Canadian community.
This annual gala not only recognizes outstanding business accomplishments but also shines a spotlight on those who have made meaningful contributions – both to the Croatian-Canadian community and to Canadian society at large.
Honouring Excellence
A number of awards were presented to remarkable individuals and businesses:
Large Business of the Year: Krpan Group
Small Business of the Year: Bionic SportMed & Physiotherapy
Executive of the Year: Ivan J. Čondić, Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of NuVista Energy Ltd.
Entrepreneur of the Year: Sabrina Šančić, Founder and CEO of Bella Crystal Design
Professional of the Year: Dr. Agatha Komšić-Vranjković, PhD, Senior Research Associate at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute under the Chronic and Infectious Diseases Program
Community Achievement Awards: Ivan Basar and Frank Muretić, recognized for their dedication and service to the Croatian community in Canada
Each honouree received a signed and numbered print of “Girl with Morčić” by featured artist Tvrtko Klobučar – an elegant and symbolic gesture befitting such recognition.
Investing in the Future: Youth Scholarships
True to one of the Chamber’s most cherished values – supporting youth and education – five outstanding university students were awarded scholarships of $2,000 each. Congratulations to:
Roman Cubelic (McMaster University)
Josip Petruša (University of Toronto)
Adam Starčević (McMaster University)
Marija Blažević (Osgoode Hall Law School)
Zlatko (Gordon) Bobesich Law Scholarship Award
Natalie Kanceljak (McGill University)
Ilija and Dragica Smičiklas Scholarship Award
The Chamber is deeply grateful to all who generously support these scholarships, helping to shape the next generation of leaders and innovators.
A Special Guest Who Captivated the Audience: Iva Olivari
The evening’s most memorable moments came from a deeply engaging and heartwarming conversation with Iva Olivari, Team Manager of the Croatian Men’s National Soccer Team – The First Lady of Croatian Football.
Iva was interviewed by none other than Pete Radovich – 45-time Emmy award winner and VP Production and Senior Creative Director, CBS Sports, UEFA Champions League and Super Bowl. A true champion of storytelling and a great friend to this community, Pete brought his signature insight and warmth to the stage. The Chamber is incredibly grateful for his presence and the engaging, thoughtful conversation he led with Iva – one that left the audience both inspired and entertained.
Iva shared her remarkable journey in a male-dominated industry with warmth, humor, and humility. From personal insights and locker room stories to advice for young women breaking barriers.
The lineups were long as guests eagerly waited to take photos with Iva and her FIFA World Cup medals – the 1998 and 2022 Bronze, and the 2018 Silver.
Her presence was more than inspiring – it was empowering. She engaged the room with grace and wit, and despite her impressive resume and international profile, she remains humble, relatable, and wholly authentic. Her stories sparked laughter, reflection, and a well-deserved standing ovation.
A Taste of Croatia
Guests were treated to a Mediterranean-inspired dinner created by Executive Chef Petar Budiša of Dalma Catering. Deeply inspired by the bountiful ingredients of the Mediterranean, Dalma Catering has been making waves by bringing traditional flavors to life with a modern touch. Through their dedication to fresh, high-quality ingredients and time-honored techniques, they’ve created a unique dining experience that embodies both comfort and sophistication.
To complement the meal, guests enjoyed a curated selection of Croatian wines, including Kutjevo Premium Graševina and Dalmatian Dog Plavac, imported by Croatia Unpacked.
An Evening of Music and Connection
The gala also featured live performances from:
Julijana Hajdinjak and Andrew Šporčić (Canadian and Croatian anthems)
Ponosni Hrvati (traditional tamburitza music)
Thomas Šulug (piano)
Each performance added a layer of richness and culture to an already unforgettable evening.
A Community United
The Chamber is proud to announce that their Canadian-Croatian Chamber network has recently added an Alberta chapter to those in Ontario and BC and hopes that by the next BEA, there will be yet another new chapter in Canada to announce. To commemorate the expansion, as a symbol of unity and pride each guest received a key chain as a reminder of their roots and heritage and that “Together, we make success!”
The Chamber extends heartfelt thanks to its many sponsors, guests, and volunteers, as well as the Burlington Convention Centre and Courtyard by Marriott Burlington for their hospitality and Magarac Productions for audio-visual excellence.
The Chamber also gratefully acknowledges the support and contributions of The Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Ottawa, Canada, The Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia in Mississauga and Eurotrade Import Export Inc. to this year’s BEA.
Until Next Year…
The 21st Annual Gala was more than just a celebration – it was a testament to the strength, resilience, and vibrancy of the Croatian-Canadian community. With gratitude, pride, and excitement for the future, we look forward to many more years of excellence!
Event Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor CIBC
Dinner Sponsor NBM Engineering Inc.
Diamond Sponsors Baka Gallery Cafe, Bell, MNP LLP, Stikeman Elliot LLP
Gold Sponsor Frendel Kitchens Limited
Cocktail Sponsor Jones DesLauriers / Navacord
Award Sponsors Alpeza General Contracting, Krcmar Surveyors Ltd, Trinity Engineering and Consulting Inc.
Printing Sponsor Merrill Corporation Canada
Tourism Sponsor Air Transat
Supporting Sponsors Luxvue, Rapid Gear
Student Table Sponsors Basecorp, Coordinate Industries Ltd., Gagro Family, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Masters Insurance
Table Sponsors
AB&I Holdings | Akadami Holdings Ltd. | Alilovic Family | Ashley Oaks Homes Inc. | Bella Crystal Design | Bobesich Law | Burlington Convention Centre | Canadian Croatian Choral Society | Coordinate Industries Ltd. | Croatia Norval S.C | Croatian Parish Folklore Group Sljeme | DALI Local 675 Interior Systems | Hamilton Croatia | I.T. Mission Global Services | In2ition | Isabella Komsic | JITSU Mfg. Inc. | King East Dental | Krpan Group | KW Croatia Club |M & D General Contracting Ltd. | Medsport Ottawa | MiR Construction Inc. | Mr. Rooter Plumbing | Net Electric | Nexgen Property Management Inc. | Nexus Group | Pizza e Pazzi | Scotiabank | St. Joseph Homes | The Odan/Detech Group Inc. | Unified Engineering Corp. | Vrancor Group | Winzen
Student Tickets Sponsor
Crozier | MiR Construction Inc. | OakPark Mortgage Group | Tommy Skara
