National Business
Awards 2019
Organised by CanadianSME Small Business Magazine
The CanadianSME Business Awards is an important date on our calendars because it marks the day that we celebrate and congratulate those who have made a positive contribution to our country’s economy. Last year we had a very successful turn out with over 400 guests and celebrated over 150 diverse businesses from across Canada. This year we want to continue to show that same support and appreciation for our small and medium-sized businesses.
Exclusive Partners - 2019
The journey of celebrating business success in Canada started with the support from Cisco, Lenovo and RBC
Kirk Simpson
Co-Founder & CEO, Wave
In 2010, Kirk Simpson co-founded Wave, and has since guided the company to 400,000 active small businesses registered, 260+ people on the Wave team, and over $100 million in funding raised from investors around the world. Wave was acquired in June 2019 by H&R Block for over $537M – the 7th largest tech exit in Canada since 2001. Under Kirk, Wave has won numerous awards for leadership, culture, and innovation, including the Deloitte Fast 50, the KPMG Fintech 100, Waterstone Canada’s Most Admired CEO, and Great Place to Work Canada. In addition, Kirk has served as advisor to the Next 36, and provides mentorship to young entrepreneurs and startup visionaries.
Shahrzad Rafati
CEO of BroadbandTV Corp
Shahrzad Rafati is the Founder and CEO of BroadbandTV (BBTV), a media-tech company that is advancing the world through the creation, distribution, management, and monetization of content.
Shahrzad actively pursues ways to encourage social change and is a champion for equality in all forms. She is passionate about job creation, education, and advancing opportunities for women and girls. In September 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed her to represent Canada on the G20 Business Women Leader’s task force, a global initiative to drive actionable, measurable, and results-driven solutions to impact women’s economic empowerment.
Shahrzad actively pursues ways to encourage social change and is a champion for equality in all forms. She is passionate about job creation, education, and advancing opportunities for women and girls. In September 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed her to represent Canada on the G20 Business Women Leader’s task force, a global initiative to drive actionable, measurable, and results-driven solutions to impact women’s economic empowerment.
Paul Downey
CEO, Pliteq Inc.
Paul Downey founded the engineering company, Pliteq Inc., in 2006 and has applied 25 years of engineering, manufacturing, R&D, and business development experience to ensure the success of Pliteq. He was an early researcher in the development and use of materials from recycled tires and built a business that supplies the construction industry with sound control products made of recycled rubber. Paul is the inventor and patent owner of over 20 applications globally and is proud of a team that inspires him daily. The focus at Pliteq is on innovation, focus and fun!
Maven Collective Marketing
Erica Hakonson, Principal and Founder of Maven Collective Marketing, is an award-winning entrepreneur, named Female Entrepreneur Silver Stevie Award Winner, MarCom Gold Winner, dotComm Gold Winner (X2), Standard of Excellence WebAward Winner, Summit Creative Bronze Winner and PRDaily Category Winner. Hakonson is dedicated to strategically and maniacally delivering results to both her clients and her community, sitting as a Board Director for multiple not-for-profits and launching the annual Maven Collective Marketing Pay-It-Forward initiative that supports female entrepreneurship, women’s health, nature conservation, microlending and local non-profits. Hakonson is also a frequent keynote speaker and panelist at Women in Technology, Entrepreneurship and Women in Business events. A mother of two awesome tiny humans, wife of a daily hero and an ultra-marathon athlete, Hakonson’s passion for life extends far beyond the office and into the woods.
Jim Estill
President & CEO, ShipperBee & Danby Appliances
Canadian tech entrepreneur, philanthropist and visionary Jim Estill, who launched a $2 billion business from the trunk of his car and has settled close to one hundred refugee families over the past four years, defines servant leadership. His mission: showing by example how business leaders can make a positive impact in the world.
Jim currently heads multi-national appliance company Danby Appliances and ShipperBee, a disruptor shipping company that is helping businesses reduce their carbon footprint, and is a firm believer in mentorship in business as well as in life. When settling refugee families, Jim moved from privately sponsoring as an individual, to making his company the first business in Canada to become a Sponsorship Agreement Holder.
Forty years ago, Jim started his entrepreneurial journey, distributing out of the trunk of his car while a student at the University of Waterloo in 1979. That company became Connect Tech, an embedded computing company, which still exists today, and EMJ Data Systems, which Jim sold to Synnex in 2004 and as CEO of Synnex, grew that company from sales of $800 million to $2 billion in just five years.
Jim currently heads multi-national appliance company Danby Appliances and ShipperBee, a disruptor shipping company that is helping businesses reduce their carbon footprint, and is a firm believer in mentorship in business as well as in life. When settling refugee families, Jim moved from privately sponsoring as an individual, to making his company the first business in Canada to become a Sponsorship Agreement Holder.
Forty years ago, Jim started his entrepreneurial journey, distributing out of the trunk of his car while a student at the University of Waterloo in 1979. That company became Connect Tech, an embedded computing company, which still exists today, and EMJ Data Systems, which Jim sold to Synnex in 2004 and as CEO of Synnex, grew that company from sales of $800 million to $2 billion in just five years.
The Logistics Factory Ltd
With strong network, key alliances and strategic partnerships in Asia, Europe, North American, South America, and all major trading countries around the world, The Logistics Factory Limited provides seamless freight forwarding solutions and logistics consulting services for the growing small and medium size companies.
Maxxeon
Founded in 2003, Maxxeon Inc. is a leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of portable task lighting for professional automotive and industrial technicians.
Impact Drywall Inc
Impact Drywall focuses on providing interior system services such as batt insulation, blow-in insulation, spray foam insulation, spray applied fibre insulation, steel stud framing, installation of sound proofing systems, drywall, acoustic ceilings as well as taping and texturing.
Juiceworks Exhibits
Juiceworks Exhibits began 20 years ago with a passion for marketing display fabrication and installation. Having built a wealth of market-specific experience, we’ve established ourselves as award-winning specialists with the in-house capabilities to create, manage and execute exhibit, event, interior, activation, tradeshow and display projects.
Dpm Energy
Utility engineers specializing in line-based power system engineering and illumination design projects. DPM Energy provides a full range of power system engineering solutions to meet the needs of municipalities, utilities and the developer market. Leaders in outdoor lighting design. Our custom lighting projects are attracting a lot of attention.
Volanté Systems
Volanté Systems was founded in 2004 by a group of University of Waterloo Computer Science graduates. What began as a three-person basement project has developed into an industry leading POS system with a team of over 100 employees in its Toronto, Ontario based office. From the beginning, Volanté’s point of sale software has evolved based on customer requests and requirements, and has continuously demonstrated its ability to be flexible, scalable and reliable in the most rigorous and unpredictable environments across a diverse range of venues.
Pawel Sandhu
CEO, Cargo Country Group
Young entrepreneurs possess a high level of strategic management capabilities along with technical skills required to guide an enterprise. Motivated to develop effective solutions for clients that make applicable sense in real world complexities of international freight management.
INKAS® Armored Vehicle Manufacturing
INKAS® Armored Vehicle Manufacturing is a leading Canadian-based company that specializes in the design and production of a wide range of armored vehicles, including executive SUVs, bulletproof luxury sedans, special purpose vehicles, personnel carriers, cash-in-transit vehicles, and others. Since 2000, INKAS® Armored Vehicle Manufacturing has been providing armored vehicles for banks, law enforcement agencies, corporate clients and individuals all over the world. Company’s worldwide sales offices and after-sale workshops are located all over the world.
ReMAP Network
ReMAP is a product-enablement network built with partners (start-ups, small-medium enterprises, large organizations and leading research institutions) from across Canada. Through shared resources and knowledge, ReMAP bridges the commercialization gap between applied research and industry in the Aerospace, Defense, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Healthcare, Industrial and Renewable Energy market segments.
Bassem Ghali
CEO & Head of Client Strategy, Green Lotus
Bassem is a search engine marketing strategist and speaker with more than 10 years of experience managing online marketing strategies for some of Canadian & International corporations including Canadian Tire, VistaPrint, Egypt Air, Xplornet, Direct Energy and Toronto Star.
Borrowell
Borrowell is a proudly Canadian company with a single goal in mind: to help people make great decisions about credit.
This is why we were the first in Canada to offer free credit scores and reports from our partner, Equifax, Canada’s largest credit bureau.
We wanted to do more, so we created Canada’s first AI-powered Credit Coach, Molly, who shares personalized tips that may help you understand and improve your credit. We also developed our recommendation engine that analyzes your unique credit profile to make personalized financial product recommendations.
Over a million Canadians have joined Borrowell and trust us to help them make great decisions about credit and achieve their financial goals.
This is why we were the first in Canada to offer free credit scores and reports from our partner, Equifax, Canada’s largest credit bureau.
We wanted to do more, so we created Canada’s first AI-powered Credit Coach, Molly, who shares personalized tips that may help you understand and improve your credit. We also developed our recommendation engine that analyzes your unique credit profile to make personalized financial product recommendations.
Over a million Canadians have joined Borrowell and trust us to help them make great decisions about credit and achieve their financial goals.
Dpm Energy
Utility engineers specializing in line-based power system engineering and illumination design projects.
DPM Energy provides a full range of power system engineering solutions to meet the needs of municipalities, utilities and the developer market.
Leaders in outdoor lighting design. Our custom lighting projects are attracting a lot of attention.
DPM Energy provides a full range of power system engineering solutions to meet the needs of municipalities, utilities and the developer market.
Leaders in outdoor lighting design. Our custom lighting projects are attracting a lot of attention.
Plotly
Plotly is a technical computing company headquartered in Montreal, Canada. We are transforming how scientists, engineers, and business analysts visualize data through precedent setting open-source software. Our work culture engenders skill-sharing, work-life balance, and open discussion.
Soapbox Innovations
A team building the first people platform designed for managers. They believe that managers are the single most important reason why an employee shows up and tries, every single day. That’s why they are building a tool that will help them coach, communicate and collaborate better with their team.
To build better workplaces by empowering managers with the tools they need to lead their teams.
To build better workplaces by empowering managers with the tools they need to lead their teams.
York Entrepreneurship Development Institute ( YEDI )
York Entrepreneurship Development Institute is a charitable organization (no. 81209 5735 RR0001) whose mission is to provide top-tier business education and mentorship to innovative entrepreneurs from any sector or industry in order to build and accelerate successful businesses and efficient not-for-profit organizations. YEDI is committed to ensuring that ideas with high impact are not lost due to lack of knowledge during the start-up process. YEDI guides innovators to refine their ideas and create tested proof of concepts that are attractive to investors and will benefit Canadian society.
Laipac Technology Inc
Laipac Technology, Inc, was founded in 1999 by Canadian entrepreneurs Maria C. Pacini and Diego Lai. The vision of Laipac was simple, even at its founding – provide peace of mind to customers by crafting the absolute best, most reliable, and easiest-to-use locator devices on the market.
Today, Laipac Technology has become an industry leader in the field of Internet of Things (IoT) products and services. But the vision hasn’t changed. At Laipac Technology, we build with the customer in mind – above all else.
Kidcrew
Kidcrew is a forward-thinking clinic focused on a superior patient experience, family centered-care and wellness for children and families of all ages through cutting-edge scientific research and the latest technology. From pediatricians, to allergists, neurologists, sport medicine doctors, and gastroenterologists. We have your family covered from head to toe.
Canadian Home Improvement Credit Corporation (CHICC)
CHICC is Canada’s preferred rental & home improvement financing company. Whether you are a homeowner or business partner, we pride ourselves on our personalized service and customer support. Providing capital solutions that work for your business
Today, Laipac Technology has become an industry leader in the field of Internet of Things (IoT) products and services. But the vision hasn’t changed. At Laipac Technology, we build with the customer in mind – above all else.
Today, Laipac Technology has become an industry leader in the field of Internet of Things (IoT) products and services. But the vision hasn’t changed. At Laipac Technology, we build with the customer in mind – above all else.
Alayacare
AlayaCare is a provider of revolutionary cloud-based home health care software. With an end-to-end solution spanning clinical documentation, back office functionality, client and family portals, remote patient monitoring, and mobile care worker functionality, we offer a platform for agencies to propel towards innovation and home care of the future.
F12
We are not strictly an “IT Provider.” Rather, we are a “Productivity Provider,” helping organizations be their best by doing what we do best. That’s why we are a leading source of comprehensive IT programs. We’ll deliver an inclusive program that’s designed to minimize conversations about networks and computers and maximize discussions about staff experience and company goals. Features may include IT strategy, cloud services, disaster recovery planning, simplified employee onboarding, and enhanced cyber threat protection. F12 exists to help your business thrive.
Safety First Consulting
Safety First Consulting Professional Corporation provides a total solution service to our clients. Our proactive approach drives preventative rather than reactive actions that aid in the prevention of incidents and accidents.
Vendasta
Vendasta is the easiest way to sell digital solutions, under your own brand. Start for free. Get up and selling in minutes. Generate recurring revenue.
Peninsula Canada
Since our inception in 2017, the Peninsula Canada family has grown from a few people to a much larger group; however, our commitment to providing exceptional service has remained the same.
Simply put, we provide small businesses with an alternative to an in-house human resources team. Peninsula started as a small business and our mission is to help other small businesses achieve their version of success!
Simply put, we provide small businesses with an alternative to an in-house human resources team. Peninsula started as a small business and our mission is to help other small businesses achieve their version of success!
The Leadership Agency
The Leadership Agency is North America’s Sales and Executive recruitment partner of choice for the technology and start-up community. We help build the most impressive companies of our generation and operate with the same tenacity and demeanor as our clients. With an exclusive focus on sales and executive roles, we’ve helped place best-in-class leaders for the fastest growing tech companies in the world. With a relentless desire to find and place top talent. With a combined experience of 10+ years, our highly skilled team are people experts – leaders finding leaders.
Macromator
To elevate customer experiences through the orchestration of technologies, people, processes, content and data. We strive to enable companies across different industries to deliver effective marketing operations services and strategies on a global scale.
Cole Diamond, CEO of Coinsquare
Coinsquare CEO Cole Diamond wants to build Coinsquare into a 21st century financial institution that disrupts how the financial services industry operates. He is a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record of taking companies from nothing to millions of dollars in monthly revenue, and brings that knowledge to further Coinsquare’s exponential growth. Diamond wants to build a transparent and entrepreneurial culture within Coinsquare in order to build the best technology company in Canada.
Transformer Table
Transformer Table is a Montreal-based commercial and manufacturing company that focuses on the development, innovation, production and commercialization of SMART products in the furniture and interior design industry.Transformer Table’s mission is to create/design the most versatile and multifunctional pieces of furniture ever seen, and this, below standard market prices. Giving access to all types of homeowners the opportunity to host all their family members and friends, no matter the size of their homes.
Alexio
Alexio’s founders have deep roots in the healthcare technology field. Since the 1990s, they have been a part of transitioning the industry from paper to digital patient records.
They applied their experience helping healthcare practitioners optimize, and show how dentists could use digital record-keeping to enhance heir practice with regards to diagnostics, treatment planning and payment.
Albaslist
The digital marketing platform for construction businesses . It is like a one stop shop for all the services that contractors need.
So far they have about 10,000 contractors registered. In addition they have about 9,000 contractors and 2,000 homeowners in their marketing platform.
So far they have about 10,000 contractors registered. In addition they have about 9,000 contractors and 2,000 homeowners in their marketing platform.
Smedia
Back in 2011, sMedia founders recognized one of the biggest problems in automotive advertising: Everyone is guessing.
Marketing teams run ad campaigns based on vanity metrics, attracting costly unqualified traffic. They don’t know where their engaged customers are, how to spot and reach them, and how much they need to spend in order to do so. Meanwhile, General Managers become lost in unactionable reports trying to justify high ad spend.
sMedia team believed that there’s a better way to acquire customers for dealerships, and it was backed with data.
Marketing teams run ad campaigns based on vanity metrics, attracting costly unqualified traffic. They don’t know where their engaged customers are, how to spot and reach them, and how much they need to spend in order to do so. Meanwhile, General Managers become lost in unactionable reports trying to justify high ad spend.
sMedia team believed that there’s a better way to acquire customers for dealerships, and it was backed with data.
Canadian Mortages Inc.
Whether you are buying your first home or looking to leverage the equity in your existing home, Canadian Mortgages Inc. (CMI) can help you obtain the financing you need at a rate you can afford.
Our team of certified Toronto mortgage brokers works with the nation’s top lenders to find the ideal financing solution for you. Our partnerships with these lenders give us access to excellent rates for a variety of mortgage products.
Our team of certified Toronto mortgage brokers works with the nation’s top lenders to find the ideal financing solution for you. Our partnerships with these lenders give us access to excellent rates for a variety of mortgage products.
Eco Guardian
Eco Guardian started with a simple idea: How can we help reduce the number of plastic bags we all use? From that thought came the product line that started our company; Reusable Bags. Every one bag we sold had the potential to, and did, replace thousands of plastic bags and over the course of a few years, we saw the industry begin to prefer reusable over single-use plastic bags.
We’re committed to protecting the environment by offering products that are organic or eco-friendly in nature. We are dedicated to providing consumers, food service companies, commercial and institutional customers with safe, trusted, durable and beautiful compostable foodservice and tableware solutions of the highest quality.
Ignite Digital Inc
Ignite digital marketing agency continues to provide high quality service and one of the most affordable enterprise pricing for clients. The company is based off four (4) critical posts; efficiency, automation, accountability and structure. Ignite Digital is a Canadian Digital Agency. We are proud to be Canadian and 100% Canadian owned. We currently provide digital solutions for medium to big brands. Our solutions combine content marketing, social media (community managers), SharePoint Website development, enterprise mobile applications to enrich our clients campaigns. The web is instant and evolving constantly. Our team is continuously monitoring and engaging in real time. While continuously measuring our performance and implementing efficiency to drive results.
Array of Stars
Array Of Stars is a creative services business that exists to drive business through innovative and strategic use of creativity, storytelling and technology. AOS has spent the past five years crafting beautiful, sophisticated and effective digital products and experiences for clients in numerous industries. Over the past three years, AOS has crafted an ambitious vision to ensure our work has deep connections to community and social engagement. As a result, we have worked on projects with the AGO, Sick Kids hospital, CAMH, Nuit Blanche, and recently became artistic director for the Toronto Public Library. This relationship will take place over the next year and we will be co-creating several meaningful events to drive awareness to the several outstanding opportunities the TPL provides for Toronto communities as the world’s largest library system
Green Lotus
Green Lotus is dedicated to providing businesses with effective online marketing strategies and lead generation solutions. With a focus on optimizing the number and quality of online leads, Green Lotus goes the extra mile to consult, create, and implement the most appropriate online marketing strategies based on business needs.
Green Lotus also provide SEO Tools designed to help small and medium business owners to get a handle on their SEO activities, and can scale up to meet the needs of savvy internet marketers who manage multiple websites on a daily bases, and want save time. Green Lotus Tools, with their simple yet insightful dashboards, are SEO-driven insights and competitive research for the most productive SEO beginner and marketing guru alike.
Green Lotus also provide SEO Tools designed to help small and medium business owners to get a handle on their SEO activities, and can scale up to meet the needs of savvy internet marketers who manage multiple websites on a daily bases, and want save time. Green Lotus Tools, with their simple yet insightful dashboards, are SEO-driven insights and competitive research for the most productive SEO beginner and marketing guru alike.
Simply Green Home Services
The Simply Group has become Canada’s fastest growing home energy servicing company through deep operational expertise, exclusive industry relationships and a diversified investment portfolio.
We have a genuine belief that our employees are our greatest asset and are a key reason why customers lease their units or partner with us. What makes us different from other HVAC companies is the pride we have in working for the Simply Group and our passion for being the absolute best we can be.
Our Senior Management Team consists of the people who lead and spearhead the vision for Simply Group to provide clients with the very best personal approach and the best tech service experiences in North America. We have an exclusive network of 150+ HVAC dealers and 100+ new home builders.
Our businesses are diversified across home energy, business services, utility services and consumer lending, allowing us to reduce risk while still maximizing economies of scale.
We have a genuine belief that our employees are our greatest asset and are a key reason why customers lease their units or partner with us. What makes us different from other HVAC companies is the pride we have in working for the Simply Group and our passion for being the absolute best we can be.
Our Senior Management Team consists of the people who lead and spearhead the vision for Simply Group to provide clients with the very best personal approach and the best tech service experiences in North America. We have an exclusive network of 150+ HVAC dealers and 100+ new home builders.
Our businesses are diversified across home energy, business services, utility services and consumer lending, allowing us to reduce risk while still maximizing economies of scale.