Geoff Chutter, president and CEO of leading waterpark manufacturer WhiteWater, has been awarded with Ernst and Young’s prestigious Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year award.

These high-profile awards attract more than 300 entries from across Canada each year.

Sharing every successful entrepreneur’s characteristics of courage, vision, and a tireless work ethic, Chutter has had a profound impact on WhiteWater’s prolific growth. The company began in 1980 as one of Canada’s first waterparks, progressing as a leading international brand within the world of waterparks, employing over 600 people in offices in Dubai, Barcelona, Shanghai, San Diego, Vancouver and Denver.

Chutter, through a combination of strategic acquisitions and in-house innovation, has developed a diverse product portfolio, enabling WhiteWater to create pioneering water attractions to cater for the requirements of individual waterparks and theme parks with a water ride product line.

Lui Petrollini, EY’s assurance partner and the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific program director, commented on Geoff Chutter’s accolade: “Geoff’s and WhiteWater’s entrepreneurial ride towards being crowned the EY Canadian Entrepreneur Of The Year is truly an inspiring, ‘feel good’ story.

“It’s one thing to be acknowledged for entrepreneurial achievement, it’s another to be acknowledged in a sector that supports family values by enabling dreams to come true and lasting memories to be made. Becoming the largest global designer and the biggest manufacturer of water park products is no small feat.

“It’s taken Geoff, and WhiteWater, years of dedication to their business, product mix, and customer base to achieve this global reach and success,” Petrollini added.