Congratulations to our grant recipients, finalists, and nomination prize winners!
Let’s celebrate our 4 Small Business Grant Recipients
These Canadian small businesses will each receive $20,000 in cash, plus $5,000 to pay it forward and $500 in free shipping with Purolator. Congratulations, and thank you for your vision, drive and commitment to success. Truly, you make Canada stronger.
Ruth
Edmonton, Alberta
“At Ruth, we are committed to bridging the gap between sustainability and convenience in the period care industry.”
Ruth’s environmental, social and equitable mission helps bridge the gap between care and convenience so women around the world don’t have to compromise their lifestyles for more eco-friendly solutions...
By offering both disposable and biodegradable menstrual pads, Ruth opens the doors to a practical hygiene solution that both considers the environment, and the people who use their products. Their products are 93% plant-based and bridge the gap between sustainability and convenience.
While typical menstrual products take up to 800 years to completely break down, Ruth helps to reduce this environmental waste that’s damaging the earth. Reusable period products can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Ruth gives consumers products that work so they don’t have to compromise their lifestyles.
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EarthPup
Toronto, Ontario
“To date, we have rescued over 2,000 pounds of vegetables from going to landfills.”
By diverting food waste from landfills, EarthPup encourages further sustainability efforts from other small businesses. From donations to generating new jobs to uncovering new revenue streams, EarthPup’s sustainable pet treats are also Canada’s first Certified Plastic Negative pet food company...
With over 1/3 of food being wasted globally, this startup is addressing the concern by turning waste into nutrient-dense dog food. For example, juice companies historically have thrown out their pulp and other produce-based waste. EarthPup provides savings on waste haulage, and creates new revenue for these companies.
Circular supply chain sharing with fellow small businesses helps fuel other economies. Additionally, EarthPup donates meals to Canadian animal shelters and promotes rescue organizations on their online platforms. As part of their Plastic Negative commitment, they employ members of their community, and remove two pouches worth of plastic from the environment for every pouch of EarthPup that’s purchased.
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Westman Soil Sampling
Brandon, Manitoba
“Work needs to be done. We look forward to taking it on and witnessing the resulting benefits to the community.”
With fertilizer shortages and environmental concerns about the impact of fertilizer, farmers are looking for alternatives. Soil analysis gives them the right information on what their farms need, and how to improve their soil health...
Plant-available nutrient levels are reported from soil samples and shared back to farmers so they can adjust their use of fertilizer as needed. Usually, their soil requires less fertilizer which provides many benefits: less run off into our water system, lower costs for the farmers, and greater income generation.
By keeping fertilizer out of waterways, Westman Soil Sampling Ltd. Is helping to reduce the blue-green algae problems in many lakes across the prairies so everyone can benefit from clean water. With fertilizer prices increasing 200% from the Russia-Ukraine war, many are looking for more optimal solutions. This grant will help increase operations and reach.
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Roadloft
Québec City, Québec
“We are currently developing new products to diversify our offering and help more people experience van life.”
With the goal of helping more people enjoy the outdoors, these founders have created a low-impact way to convert minivans into a safe and comfortable camper in 5-minutes...
Helping more people experience nature in a simple and eco-friendly way is the backbone of this business. By empowering people and families to experience the outdoors, Équipements RoadLoft Inc. also promotes independence and open-mindedness.
Since 2019, they have been able to put over 850 RoadLoft kits into the market. Along with actual products to convert vans into campers, they also encourage the vanlife community to clean up their sites and make it a welcoming space for all. Their fuel-efficient products offer multiple functionality, ergonomics, compact storage options and more.
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Small Business Grant – Our Finalists
We’re thrilled to recognize the many achievements and contributions of our finalists. Support these small businesses with your patronage, and give them the boost to achieve the next level of success!
“Able Sale provides mobility-challenged members with accessible and affordable opportunities for sailing.”
Sailing is one of the only activities that gives members freedom to pilot their own vessel. Able Sale has adaptive sailboats that allow people with diabilities to sail and express their independence...
Their mission is to give opportunities through sailing to folks facing mobility issues with a mission to help promote community and social inclusion, increase access, and relieve conditions associated with physical disabilities by providing specially-adapted sailboats and programming.
By continuing to upgrade facilities and provide more equipment to its members, Able Sail is able to engage more and more people with disabilities to explore the outdoors like never before.
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“Matt cares about his community. He’s worked so hard over many years to build something not only for himself, but to give back and inspire others.”
Every bottle of hot sauce sold equals a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society and First Nations communities. Along with using locally sourced ingredients, Liquid Gold Hot Sauces also employees citizens of a small rural community, while offering higher paying jobs...
Including a real edible 24 karat gold leaf, the unique blend does more than ignite your tastebuds. It also fuels passion. Young indigenous people get the funds they need to build their leadership and survival skills, and help find jobs in various fields of work. Using locally-sourced ingredients and a local workforce, Liquid Gold Hot Sauces are supporting the Canadian economy and employing Tofino community members.
In a region where the average pay is minimum wage, but the cost of living it $23+/hour, this business helps create second jobs and more higher paying employment.
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Alea de Castro and Arnaldo Betancourt Silva
Owners
Ottawa, Ontario
moovottawa.com
“Welcoming students of all levels and spectators who love dance, Moov Ottawa offers a creative outlet, a unique experience and guidance to Street Dance & Culture.”
Workshops are held to mentor BIPOC women and empower them through various dance styles. With the City of Ottawa, Moov also holds free Break Dance programs for underserved youth in the area...
As experts in their craft, Moov seeks to provide events, classes, showcases, programs and community work that reflects their beliefs and showcases their skills. By giving back, they help others feel empowered through movement and give back through compensating their artists and allow them to donate their time to community engagement.
Moov hopes to expand and operate on a larger scale, while keeping their events accessible and community-friendly.
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“Red Shed Malting is a family-owned business dedicated to producing premium quality specialty malt crafted from grains grown on our family farm for craft brewers and distillers.”
By taking locally sourced grains, Red Shed Malting promotes promote sustainability. With fewer miles travelled between farm to brewery, their crops also help build soil and reduce disease pressure...
These fourth-generation grain farmers are maintaining their family-owned businesses and the first craft malthouse in Alberta, and first malt roaster in Canada.
By providing specialty malts that add flavour, colour and aroma to beer, they also connect consumers to the farm. Red Shed Malting gives back to the workforce, works closely with barley breeders and supports under-represented industry groups. Fun fact, they are also the first North American beer to use Blockchain to trace ingredients throughout the whole barley value chain.
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“For every soap sold through e-commerce or retail, we donate a soap bar to a Canadian family in need.”
This Canadian entrepreneur has bridged the gap between soap bar waste from hotels and supporting Canadians who cannot afford to buy soap. With soap being the number one tool in protecting people against viruses and bacteria, this circular economy idea helps get suds into the hands that need them...
Canadian hotels throw out over 181 million bars of soap each year, most of them having been barely used. Along with discarded soap, also often comes plastic packaging. ReNu hopes to provide more options and education for more hotels to become more sustainable, divert wasted soap bars and plastic waste from landfills, and empower those who lack access to soap.
Along with redistributing previously wasted soap products, ReNu’s goal is to test a prototyped line of waterless, plastic-free shower concentrate products which would eliminate the need for bathing-related plastic from hotels and homes.
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Katie Mahoney and Cara Chisholm
Founders
Halifax, Nova Scotia
weareyoung.ca
“Time is of the essence, and we know that many seniors don’t have the time to wait for their wish to be fulfilled before it’s too late.”
By giving seniors the opportunity to have a wish granted, We Are Young promotes the importance of supporting Canada’s aging community and empowering them to enjoy more social comforts and boost their self-confidence. By changing the narrative, they can encourage others to pay it forward in their communities...
Currently, We Are Young is the only Canadian charity actively granting wishes to seniors. Throughout the COVI-19 pandemic, their efforts were halted. Many unfulfilled wishes have been put on hold and they now face a backlog.
With seniors, time is of the essence. We Are Young is urgently trying to fulfill 30 wishes this year, along with submissions to their Little Wishes program that help directly serve seniors and provide more comfort in their day to day.
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Nomination Prize Winners
The True North Small Business Grant Contest invited individuals to nominate their favourite small business throughout Canada. The following winners will each receive a $500 Visa gift card. Thank you for your dedication to supporting a local business!
Julie Glascott
Small Business Nominated:
TutorOcean
Richmond, Ontario
“After the last two very difficult years of COVID, I think all small businesses need as much support as possible, and I firmly believe in supporting the company I work with in any capacity.”
“I feel supporting Canadian businesses is probably one way you can show your fellow neighbours that we can make it in this giant world of business giants. We cannot become big without our neighbours for inspiration and support.”
Darryl Parado
Small business nominated:
Caleys Crease
Belleville, Ontario
“It’s important to support local businesses as they are people in our community and by coming together, we build a stronger community.”
Sarah Schofield
Support Operations Rep
Purolator
Kentville, Nova Scotia
Small business nominated:
What Steph Wears
“I think it’s so important to support small businesses across our country because they are really the back bone of our communities.”
Purolator front line employees are proud supporters of Canada’s small businesses, so we reserved one nomination prize for a team member in recognition of their dedication.
Victora Lennox
Panel Moderator and Founder of Startup Canada
Miki Velemirovich
Strategyzer CMO CMA B2B Council
Kanth Pathmanathan
Purolator Director of Revenue Management
Ann-Marie Fleming
Founder of Dog Quality Dream into Reality Grand Prize Winner
Amy Yamoah
Purolator Director Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Stacey Cummings
Purolator Director Marketing
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