Canadian artistic visionary Guy Laliberte has been named the world's top entrepreneur for taking a troupe of stilt-walkers and street performers and creating the internationally renowned spectacle, Cirque du Soleil.
He accepted the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year at a ceremony in Monte Carlo, beating out 39 entrepreneurs from around the globe. He had been named Canada's top entrepreneur last November.
"Guy has taken a great entrepreneurial journey from street performer to CEO of a globally recognized brand," said Ernst & Young's global vice-chairman Greg Ericksen. "Today he oversees every aspect of Cirque du Soleil, and his vision goes far beyond creating entertainment."
As soon as the award was handed out late on Saturday night, Mr. Laliberte hopped on a plane to return to Montreal to be with his labouring wife, model Claudia Barilla. The couple already has a one-year-old child.
Cirque du Soleil, a unique modern circus featuring original music and performances based on juggling, tightrope walking and any other imaginable form of human acrobatics, has grown from a staff of 73 to more than 3,000 employees -- including 900 artists -- from more than 40 countries speaking 25 different languages in just over 20 years.
In the mid-1970s, an impetuous Mr. Laliberte left his native Quebec to travel Europe, juggling, breathing fire and playing the accordion in the streets to pay for his travels.
He brought his skills home in 1979, and established a group that would be the beginning of Cirque du Soleil.
When Quebec City celebrated the 450th anniversary of Canada's discovery by Jacques Cartier in 1984, they needed a show that would carry the festivities out across the province. Mr. Laliberte stepped forward, launching Cirque du Soleil onto the national stage.
Since that day, the show has made nearly 250 stops in 100 cities around the world, and has been seen by more than 60 million spectators; close to 10 million will have seen one during 2007. It has spun off shows such as the water-themed O held at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and has received nearly 100 awards for its creativity and innovation, including several Geminis and Emmys. The troupe was given a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2002.
In 2004, Mr. Laliberte was honoured by receiving the Order of Canada, the same year he was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 1997, Mr. Laliberte received the Ordre national du Quebec.
While Mr. Laliberte may be comfortable rubbing shoulders with contortionists and acrobats, he now holds company with CEOs wearing power suits. Past nominees for the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year, the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs, include Michael Dell of Dell Inc. and Pierre Omidyar of eBay Inc.
More at:http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=4fdf93db-4b6b-4816-b57f-5b7a954d01a8&k=32726
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