Yellowknife (May 11/05) - Throughout Yellowknife he's known as a crackerjack businessman.

For those who don't know him, he drives the big Hummer. Daryl Dolynny recently won a top 40 under 40 business award from the Globe and Mail.

Daryl Dolynny, owner of the Shoppers Drug Mart, holds an award presented to him by the Globe and Mail for being one of the winners of the Top 40 under 40 competition. The competition recognizes 40 business leaders under 40 years of age.

He's the first pharmacist to receive the award.

Dolynny has a presence. He's a big guy, about 6'2" with slightly thinning hair.

"I just turned 39," he says.

He owns the Shoppers Drug Mart franchise in Yellowknife, is president of Aurora World Corporation and has other business interests in Yellowknife.

Dolynny refused to be paid CEO salary while helping pull the Northern Lights tourism company out of bankruptcy protection.

More than 500 people attended the May 3 awards ceremony in Toronto, including Dolynny and his wife Cindy.

Shoppers Drug Mart CEO Glenn Murphy and other senior executives from the company were in attendance at the awards ceremony.

Other 2005 award winners include Northern diamond explorer Eira Thomas and software gurus VerticoXmedia president David Wilkins and Upside Software CEO Ashif Mawji.

Dolynny's friends describe him as a family man who volunteers as a coach with the Polar Bear Swim Club and working with the Stanton Hospital Foundation.

MLA Robert Hawkins called Dolynny an unsung hero for his community work.

"Sometimes he likes to work in stealth mode."

Medic North owner Sean Ivens says some of the best times shared with his buddy come while casting a line onto one of the North's lakes.

Dolynny credits much of his success for winning the award to his wife. Together, the couple have two boys Tanner, 11, and Bronson, 7.

Past recipients include former NHLer Jim Peplinski and Leonard Asper, CEO of Canwest Global Communications Corp.

"I've got some big shoes to fill," Dolynny says. "Maybe with time ..." his voice trailing off, he decides not to say, "I can."