On Thursday, March 20, 2025, the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2025 Business Excellence Awards Gala, presented by Cowan Insurance Group. The Waterloo Region business community, local dignitaries, and community ambassadors came together to honour the extraordinary contributions of more than 130 nominees across 14 categories in a night of true excellence.
Congratulations to Amber French, Co-Founder, Catalyst Ventures for winning the Michael R. Follett Community Leader of the Year Award. This honour is awarded to an individual that continuously showcases the value of their community in their actions, work, values, and someone that has spent years paying it forward in the Region of Waterloo.
As Managing Partner at Catalyst Capital, she works tirelessly to connect investors with early-stage technology and tech-driven commercial real estate opportunities right here in the Waterloo Region. She’s also the Co-Founder of Catalyst Commons, the largest co-working space in Canada, now with 125,000 square feet and more than 150 startups and tech firms.
But it’s not just her business acumen that sets her apart; it’s her leadership in times of need. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when our community was facing unprecedented challenges, she stepped up as CEO of Supply and Protect, a not-for-profit dedicated to sourcing essential PPE. Within the first month, she had sourced and helped deliver thousands of medical-grade masks, surgical gowns and gloves for health-care workers in our community. Through her efforts, Supply and Protect became Canada’s largest marketplace for locally-made PPE, connecting businesses with over 40 Canadian manufacturers, enabling them to reopen safely.
Her commitment to supporting the local ecosystem doesn’t stop there. As a partner in revitalizing the iconic Boathouse in Victoria Park, she’s helped restore a cultural landmark… returning it to a vibrant venue for music and entertainment, that brings people together. Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, she’s an active board member with the Grand River Hospital Foundation and a proud mom to her two sons, Owen and Isaac. She embodies a “can-do” attitude – always rising to the occasion, tackling challenges head-on, and inspiring everyone around her to do the same.
Her unwavering dedication to building culture, supporting creativity, fostering collaboration, and empowering entrepreneurs has made a profound impact on our community. She has helped countless individuals and organizations build their big ideas and bring them to life.
