Carole Taylor broke ground as a journalist and has never stopped since. She has always seen service and giving back as part of life, which has driven her to a career path that includes being a chancellor of Simon Fraser University and a political career as an MLA and Minister of Finance. Most notably, she introduced North America’s first carbon tax, which served as a model for other provinces and states, as well as ending the corporate capital tax on banks.

John Montalbano did not come from money but he ended up being responsible for billions of dollars. Growing up, he experienced the pressures of living up to his parents’ expectations, with no role models to follow. It was not a path that he expected to follow, leading him to become one of BC’s most influential angel investors.

When Danny Sitnam saw an opportunity to connect Vancouver and Victoria via the skies, the answer was obvious. As a licensed pilot, it felt only natural that he would start a helicopter company that provided reliable and regular service between those two key British Columbia cities, making Helijet a widely recognized name in the province.

Making a difference has always been a top skill of Tamara Vrooman. As the former CEO of Vancity and current CEO of Vancouver International Airport, she has sought out to make positive change everywhere she works – it is what drives her passion and mission.

Look on the eastern shore of False Creek and you’ll see one of the most well-known icons and buildings of Vancouver. Stanley Kwok was the man behind this project, transforming the former Expo lands into the neighbourhood it is today – and facing the challenge of convincing longtime Vancouver residents that densification was the right thing to do.

Ned Bell is more than just a chef – he also advocates for healthy oceans and waterways, through his work with Chefs for Oceans, which aims to promote sustainable seafood. He believes that food can do so much more than just feed people – it can promote health while maintaining a balance with the nature where it comes from. His mission to promote food goes above and beyond in every way imaginable.

Jack Austin is a man with seemingly three separate lives – as a politician, teacher in law, and corporate executive. His work has shaped Canada’s relationship with the Asia-Pacific region, formed business deals with the United States, and readied Vancouver for Expo 86, with many of those pieces later playing key roles in the 2010 Winter Olympics. His work has helped secure the long-term future of British Columbia.

Peter Dhillon is known for his family cranberry growing business, The Richberry Group of Companies, which has become an economic driver in British Columbia. But his true impact on BC lies with his philanthropic and charitable service. It is not an exaggeration to say that his work has shaped the province, through serving on the boards of nearly every major organization possible. And his work has honour as well, through establishing the Rashpal Dhillon Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Endowment and the Rashpal Dhillon Track & Field Centre in the memory of his father. He wants to secure the future of BC in every way possible.

Crystal Smith’s journey to becoming Chief of the Haisla First Nation is not too surprising to many. Before she rose to that role, she already made a name for herself by advocating for opportunities for the Haisla community, including in employment and business. She wants to make her community prosper and strive towards true economic reconciliation.

When mentioning Vancouver, sports, and leadership, Trevor Linden is most likely the first name to come to mind. After a long career as the captain of the Vancouver Canucks, he has not stopped or slowed down, shifting quickly to owning one of the most recognizable fitness brands in British Columbia. Vancouver loves Trevor Linden, and the feeling is mutual.

Over four decades as a journalist, Daphne Bramham has seen the news industry move from typewriters to computers to remote work. Just like the news industry, the world changed around her as well – including Vancouver’s transformation from a sleepy forestry town on the coast to a bustling metropolis with big-city news. And she was there to document much of it, winning several awards in the process.

Working closely with senior business executives across the province, Jock Finlayson's policies have benefited the entire province.

She helped revolutionize how Vancouver saw Indian cuisine, while also focusing on local ingredients and reducing her business’s environmental footprint.

Through a love for design and housing, he built a BC real estate empire and became a major contributor in BC’s art scene.

He took the reins of the family business and built a lumber empire, before turning his attention to growing baseball in BC.

One of Canada’s leading environmental philanthropists, Ross has devoted his passions to protecting the environment and promoting biodiversity.

He shaped the country’s musical landscape and culture for generations to come.

Building a province both literally and figuratively, he enriched the experience of living in BC.

She laid the roots for the South Asian community and helped pave the way for ethnic broadcasting in BC.

He is the ultimate Renaissance man who took his family business by the horns and made it bigger and better – all while being a pioneer in the Chinese Canadian community.