Arlene Dickinson
Entrepreneur
Self-made multi-millionaire who became a judge on Dragons' Den and The Big Decision and joined Venture Communications in 1988.
She became Venture Communications' sole owner 10 years later, growing it into Canada's largest marketing-communications firm.
She was the spokesperson for the Breakfast Clubs of Canada, raising awareness of children's nutrition and helping them to avoid coming to school hungry.
She had four children with her first husband, whom she divorced when she was 31.
She and businessman and philanthropist Duncan Bannatyne were both Dragons' Den regulars.