Category:      Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award

Recipient:            Donald Triggs

Growing up in rural Manitoba, Donald L. Triggs’ passion for the land and its fruits started at an early age. This passion, married with his obvious business acumen, has come full circle.

After receiving a B.Sc. (Honours) in agriculture from the University of Manitoba, he continued his studies at the University of Western Ontario, where he earned his MBA. Donald went on to work with several internationally-known companies before his most important career move came in 1989. He joined forces with friend Allan Jackson to negotiate the management buyout of Labatt’s Canadian wine interests.

Under Donald’s leadership, the new company – Vincor International – was steered through a series of strategic mergers and acquisitions to become the leading vintner in Canada and the eighth largest wine company in the world.

In fostering the science of viticulture and winemaking in Canada, in 1997, Vincor, under Donald’s leadership, made the founding donation to establish Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticultural Institute. Recently, Donald, along with his wife Elaine, created the Triggs Premium Vinifera Lecture Series, offered at Brock.

Donald has also been presented with a number of prestigious awards, including the American Marketing Association’s Marketing Hall of Legends inductee; an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Brock University; the Ernst & Young Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year Award; Christopher Newton Award for Extraordinary Vision in Business; Tony Aspler Award of Excellence and the American Marketing Association's Marketer of the Year.

In addition to all of this, Donald has made significant community contributions in Niagara and beyond, which led the Government of Ontario to honour him with a Ten Year Volunteer Service Award.

After dedicating 16 years of his life to Vincor, Donald has since sold the company for a price that reflected a 17% annualized rate of return for its shareholders from the company’s initial public offering, which speaks to his ability to deliver value for investors.

Donald is now seeking out other projects to which he can lend his passion, while keeping up his community involvement.

Donald L. Triggs is an accomplished individual and an inspiration to entrepreneurs across the region and throughout the world.