Chip Wilson is best known as the founder of the yoga-inspired company lululemon athletica, and as a visionary in technical apparel. He founded his first retail apparel company, Westbeach Snowboard Ltd., in 1979. The venture sold apparel targeted at the emerging surf, skate, and snowboard markets. Wilson would go on to sell Westbeach in 1997 and founded lululemon athletica in 1998. In 2004, Ernst & Young named him Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year for Innovation and Marketing and in 2012 the University of Victoria presented him the “Distinguished Entrepreneur” award.

Wilson is passionate about numerous philanthropic ventures. With his wife, he established the Chip and Shannon Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, committed to educating students in innovative design for fashion, interiors, graphics, product and technical apparel. Additionally, they founded Imagine1Day, a non-profit organization that’s committed to bringing quality education to all Ethiopians funded free of foreign aid by 2030. One of Wilson’s favourite activities is giving back to his home city, Vancouver. Each year the Wilson family participates in the children’s run with BC’s Children’s Hospital, and in 2012 he made a donation to the City to permanently own one of the city’s most beloved statues. He is also the proud father of five sons.

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