MEDIA RELEASE
NOVEMBER 24, 2023
The Young Associates, part of the University of Manitoba Business School Foundation, are pleased to announce the 2024 recipient of the IGNITE award is Mark Chipman, the Executive Chairman of the Board of True North Sports & Entertainment and the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club.
Each year, the IGNITE award is given to a local leader whose passion, focus and skills have created an undisputed legacy in business and for the city and province.
Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business and CPA Manitoba Chair in Business Leadership, notes Chipman’s impressive impact in the local economy.
“Congratulations to Mark Chipman on this well-deserved honour! With True North Sports & Entertainment, Mark has revitalized the city and inspired a community of proud Winnipeggers and passionate hockey fans. He is truly a pillar of the Manitoba business landscape and an excellent recipient for the 2024 IGNITE Award. Thank you to the Young Associates for continuing to recognize the best of our local business community.”
Through his unwavering pursuit of bringing the Jets back to Winnipeg and into the NHL, Chipman has worked to restore civic pride to the community and provide foundational support for Winnipeg’s downtown economy.
“Mark Chipman and True North continue to take bold and innovative actions in business and community leadership which ignite and propel our city forward. When we think about a local leader to inspire Asper students, Mark is a first-round pick. I am thrilled to honour him as our next IGNITE recipient,” said Mathew Thomson, the IGNITE committee Chair.
Sponsored by the Associates, the IGNITE award dinner is an opportunity for the school and business community to welcome new students to Asper and encourage them to excel during and after their degrees. Tickets for new Asper BComm students are complimentary, so that they may join an evening with a leader whose relentless quest for teamwork in business and community endeavors has resulted in remarkable success.
“Excellence in business leans heavily on being part of teams. Anyone who knows Mark understands his commitment to being a team player–for his business and staff and his community and its people,” said Associates Chair Denise Zaporzan.
In addition to his business and hockey interests, Chipman is actively involved in several community efforts. He established the True North Youth Foundation in 1996 and founded Gonzaga Middle School in 2016. Chipman also led the creation of the Downtown Community Safety Partnership in 2020.
“We have a long history with the Asper School of Business and have long since understood the impact the faculty and students have had on our community. I am humbled to join Dayna and Ash as a recipient of the IGNITE award,” said Chipman.
Chipman joins previous IGNITE honourees Ash Modha, President & CEO of Mondetta Clothing, in 2022, and Dayna Spiring, past President and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg, in 2023.
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IGNITE 2024 will take place on September 18, 2024 at the RBC Convention Centre. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://ya.associatesmb.ca/events/ignite/