This issue of the Southern Ontario Spotlight recognizes the growing number of achievements by female leaders and woman entrepreneurs in southern Ontario, in support of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2020.
FEDDEV ONTARIO’S FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MARCH 2020
In this issue 
MARCH 2020
ISSUES ARCHIVE
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Making Headlines
- Minister Joly visits southwestern Ontario
- Windsor-Essex becomes EPICentre for women’s entrepreneurship
- Ultra-sanitary Ever-Kleen® conveyor system grows revenues, not bacteria
- Finding truth in beauty with Think Dirty Inc.
- Custom packaging firm unboxes new tech and expands operations
- Exploring new depths with advanced underwater robotics
- Microsoft’s global start-up support program lands in Ottawa
- Multilingual business guides and services are only a click away
Making Headlines
“When it comes to economic diversification and job creation, we can’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why it was so important for me to meet with workers who are at the heart of this region, to understand their realities and make sure we are addressing their needs and leveraging regional strengths.”Mélanie Joly, MP for Ahuntsic-Cartierville, and Minister for Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario.
Minister Joly visits southwestern Ontario
Minister Joly and Parliamentary Secretary (PS) Kate Young toured southwestern Ontario from February 12-14, meeting local mayors, manufacturers and businesses driving growth and innovation in the region.
Following a facility tour at Laval Tool & Mould in Windsor-Essex, Min. Joly announced a contribution totaling more than $7 million to support the scale-up and growth of three local companies resulting in 42 new jobs in the region and significantly boosting local supply chain spending.
Minister Joly and PS Young then visited APAG Elektronik’s new 32,000 square-foot North American Headquarters in Windsor. They saw firsthand the impacts of FedDev Ontario support to outfit the facility with state-of-the-art equipment to increase productivity and meet growing demand for its automotive lighting and electronic components.
They then travelled to Leamington, where they toured food and beverage manufacturer Highbury Canco Corporation’s facility, and Minister Joly announced a $3.6-million contribution to support the adoption of clean technologies. Now one of the area’s largest employers, the company is nearing completion of a $16.8-million expansion at its 2.1-million square-foot facility.
Next, the Minister and PS visited clean tech business accelerator Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) in Sarnia. There, Minister Joly announced a $15-million contribution to strengthen the sustainable chemistry cluster in the Sarnia-Lambton region and to expand BIC’s reach by establishing a new cluster in eastern Ontario that will assist 150 businesses and organizations and create and maintain 700 jobs in southern Ontario.
With this investment, innovative SMEs will receive the support they need to overcome gaps to commercialization, attract new investment, further scale their companies and access global markets, which will create and maintain 700 skilled jobs, help 75 businesses, and leverage over $37 million in private sector investment. Supply chains will be strengthened across southern Ontario with new opportunities created for farmers and other natural resource producers across the region to sell their feedstock as a key production input for the manufacturing of these sustainable chemistry products.
The tour concluded with a visit to Nuts for Cheese, a London-based developer of artisanal 100% dairy-free cheeses. Vegan chef Margaret Coons established the company to “spread positive, sustainable change through food” and with the support of the Women Entrepreneurship Fund will be able to grow her business through the purchase of equipment to increase production and expand to new markets.
The EPICentre welcomes women-led companies Ground Culture, Beaux, Vectorgaze and Xpress Career LMS to the first EPIC VentureWomen cohort.
Windsor-Essex becomes EPICentre for women’s entrepreneurship
Only three percent of women in Windsor-Essex declare self-employment as their source of income, versus 17 percent of women nationally, and local officials are working to close the gap. The EPIC Venturewomen program, launched by the University of Windsor’s Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre (EPICentre), is an idea accelerator program designed to support women entrepreneurs with a business idea relating to an emerging or existing technology. Supported by FedDev Ontario’s $692,000 contribution to the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation (WE EDC) through the WES Ecosystem Fund, program participants benefit from one-on-one mentoring, business model validation, co-working space and weekly workshops on business marketing, financing, law and operations. Those who complete the program will compete for $3,000 in a Pitch Day competition and can apply for $2,500 in grants to support prototype development, customer discovery, marketing and other activities.
Follow @UofW_EPICentre for news on EPICentre programs, and read more about WE EDC projects on our website.
Established in 1985, Tri-Mach Group Inc. offers its clients turn-key solutions in design, millwrighting, metal fabrication, system integration and automation.
Ultra-sanitary Ever-Kleen® conveyor system grows revenues, not bacteria
Elmira-based Tri-Mach Group is gaining national market share with its sanitary conveyors and manufacturing solutions for the food and beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. Responding to changes in industry safety standards, the company developed Ever-Kleen®, a conveyor system made from sanitary materials that employees can quickly disassemble, without using tools, for frequent and thorough cleaning. Led by entrepreneur Krystal Darling, the company also engineers custom manufacturing solutions for its customers, which include Maple Leaf Foods, Unilever and Pepsi. Supported by a $2.1-million contribution from FedDev Ontario, Tri-Mach scaled up operations at its 80,000-square-foot operating facility, installing Factory Acceptance Testing lines and advanced manufacturing equipment with wireless and energy-efficient technologies, creating 25 new full-time jobs.
Think Dirty Inc. Founder and CEO Lily Tse: “A lot of things claim to be natural, but if you read the ingredients label it’s not exactly true, so I decided to create the app.”
Finding truth in beauty with Think Dirty Inc.
Think Dirty Inc. founder and CEO Lily Tse is leading the charge to connect consumers with safe, non-toxic beauty and cosmetic products. With the Think Dirty app, consumers can scan a product barcode to identify toxic ingredients, understand their origins and associated health risks, and find cleaner alternatives. If a product isn’t listed in the app, users can submit a request to have it analyzed and added to the company’s database of over 1.4 million products and 50,000 chemicals. Supported by a $90,000-contribution from FedDev Ontario through the Women Entrepreneurship Fund, Think Dirty is strengthening their app’s software and management skills, enhancing the user experience, and creating 10 jobs.
Sheen Legend is also the parent company of Beneco Packaging, which mainly targets large-volume orders, and SoOPAK, which specializes in small run, customized orders.
Custom packaging firm unboxes new tech and expands operations
Scarborough-based Sheen Legend Packaging is rolling forward with an advanced cardboard sheeting machine that increases productivity while significantly reducing waste. Led by President Carol Jiang, the company secured a $100,000 contribution from FedDev Ontario through the Women Entrepreneurship Fund to install a machine that uses rolls of cardboard as its raw material rather than individual sheets, leading to more efficient manufacturing processes with less waste, and the creation of four jobs. As the leader of a company with revenues now approaching $20M, Ms. Jiang was profiled by Chatelaine and Profit 100 as one of Canada’s top female entrepreneurs in both 2014 and 2015.
Read more about Ms. Jiang and Sheen Legend Packaging on our website.
Deep Trekker is bringing its technology to emerging markets in New Zealand, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East.
Exploring new depths with advanced underwater robotics
Deep Trekker is making a splash with its innovative line of underwater remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs), submersible crawler systems and subsurface surveillance cameras. Based in Kitchener, the company supplies durable and affordable remotely operated vehicle systems to more than 80 countries, with applications in aquaculture, environmental science and contracting, underwater archeology, military, search and rescue, shipping and infrastructure. President Sam MacDonald was recognized in The Fish Site’s Women of Aquaculture series for her work in supporting sustainable aquaculture, as Deep Trekker devices are used to perform underwater inspections at commercial fish farms. FedDev Ontario’s contribution of $100,000 supported the company’s expansion to new international markets and participation in 44 trade shows in 15 countries in 2019.
Startups active in the Microsoft for Startups program are on pace to close more than $1 billion in new sales opportunities over the next year.
Microsoft’s global start-up support program lands in Ottawa
Microsoft’s worldwide ecosystem and support program for start-ups will soon be available to Canadian entrepreneurs. In collaboration with Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards, the Microsoft for Startups program will enable high-growth technology firms to market their solutions globally by leveraging Microsoft’s cloud services, enterprise sales team and partner ecosystem. Joint marketing strategies, office hours and webinars will be available to participants, and a start-up showcase series will promote the program to potential applicants with a strong focus on women entrepreneurs and underrepresented minority groups. FedDev Ontario provided $16.9 million to Invest Ottawa as part of a combined $52.4-million investment to establish the Scale-Up Platform, with the goal of helping 30 companies in southern Ontario grow and achieve revenue objectives of $100 million or more by 2024.
Read more about Invest Ottawa and the Scale-Up Platform on our website.
FedDev Ontario Small Business Services offers business guides in English, French and 13 other languages.
Multilingual business guides and services are only a click away
FedDev Ontario Small Business Services' (SBS) new website makes it easier for entrepreneurs to access essential information about starting, growing and even exiting a business in southern Ontario. SBS provides multilingual business guides, “How-to” documents and direct information and services to business owners across the region. SBS information officers are happy to assist clients with their business needs on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Call 1-888-576-4444, visit the SBS website or talk to a team member at a business or entrepreneurship event near you. Look out for the team next at the 2020 National Mompreneurs Conference from March 27-28 in Toronto.
Project News & Updates
Baseball bat company hits expansion project over the fence
The Original Maple Bat Corporation produces maple bats for more than 20,000 customers around the world, including 100 professional baseball players.
Baseball bat company hits expansion project over the fence
Sam Holman changed Major League Baseball (MLB) from his Ottawa garage in 1996 when he developed the Original Maple Bat, or the “SAM BAT,” using a maple stair banister and a wood lathe. Now a primary MLB- and international league-supplier, led by CEO Arlene Anderson, The Original Maple Bat Corporation recorded its best first quarter earnings in company history with a 60% sales increase in Q1 2019 compared to Q1 2018. FedDev Ontario’s $98,000 contribution through the Women Entrepreneurship Fund supported the company to adopt advanced manufacturing equipment, hire two employees and develop a multilingual website to support international sales.
Business is heating up at Minus Forty Technologies
President Debra McCullagh has been growing Minus Forty Technologies since her appointment in 2002.
Business is heating up at Minus Forty Technologies
Minus Forty Technologies Corp. has been designing and manufacturing refrigerated merchandising products from its Georgetown factory since 1993. Led by President Debra McCullagh, the company is poised for expansion and growth with increasing demand from its industrial customers, such as Nestle Ice Cream, M&M Meats and Nature’s Variety. FedDev Ontario provided $750,000 to support a plant expansion which will double the size of the company’s current manufacturing facility, increase production by 33 percent and create 34 full-time jobs.
MediResource launches health and wellness platform with Canada Life
MediResource’s Health Connected® app is available to nearly all members of Canada Life group health and benefit plans.
MediResource launches health and wellness platform with Canada Life
Health management platform developer MediResource officially launched its Health Connected® product with The Canada Life Assurance Company™. This is the company’s first large-scale deployment of its software-as-a-service corporate wellness management platform. For employers, the platform provides detailed analytics on productivity and risk, and employees are able to build their health awareness, and reduce health risks and unnecessary healthcare costs. Led by CEO Lisa Heath, MediResource received a $964,450 contribution from FedDev Ontario to expand its sales office in Toronto and adapt its products for international markets. MediResource was recently certified by the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council as a business that is majority-owned, managed and controlled by Aboriginal peoples and/or visible minorities.
Success through self-care at Walton Wood Farm
Walton Wood Farm and CEO Leslie Bradford-Scott offer over 80 sustainable and cruelty-free personal care products.
Success through self-care at Walton Wood Farm
When CEO Leslie Bradford-Scott started specialty bath and body product company Walton Wood Farm in her kitchen in 2014, she was determined to do things differently. Seeking to distinguish her company, Leslie branded the emotion behind her products—with product lines like “Men don’t Stink” and “Me Time” offering customers quality, natural products with creative and relatable branding. Walton Wood Farm’s innovative thinking and quality products have led to success. By 2018, Walton Wood Farm was a $2-million company. FedDev Ontario’s $100,000 contribution through the Women Entrepreneurship Fund supported the company’s development of an all-natural pet grooming product line, a first in the giftware marketplace. With this support, the company was able to develop the pet line in three months, rather than three years, giving them a huge competitive advantage. Leslie and the team are now continuing to grow the company’s footprint in the USA and Europe, all while staying true to the company’s rural Ontario roots.
LinkedIn Highlights
Leading technology hub VentureLAB celebrated International Women’s Day on March 3 with the launch of its Tech Undivided Program, a six-month accelerator program focused on supporting diverse and underrepresented women-led tech companies. FedDev Ontario is proud to support this initiative with a $1.7-million investment through the WES Ecosystem Fund.
Led by CEO Miriam Tuerk, Clear Blue Technologies received an order exceeding $1.2M for its Smart Solar Off-Grid system, the company’s single largest order to date. Clear Blue will provide solar off-grid lighting to multiple locations in the Middle East and Africa, where reliability and security are key requirements. Using the company’s cloud-based management software, Illumience, the lights will be remotely monitored, managed and controlled by Clear Blue’s service team, lowering maintenance costs while delivering high reliability. FedDev Ontario supported Clear Blue Technologies with a $400,000 investment in 2017 to scale up activities for its solar and wind powered control system.
The Narwhal Project identified nine FedDev Ontario funding recipients as companies with the potential to scale up and reach world-class status. Congratulations to ApplyBoard, Alayacare, Ecobee, eSentire, Fiix Software, KOHO Financial, North, Stormfisher Biogas and Vidyard for making the 2020 Narwhal List!
FedDev Ontario-supported Dejero Labs was awarded its second prestigious Technology and Engineering Emmy® Award. Dejero topped the “Video over Bonded Cellular Internet technology” category with its innovative Smart Blending Technology and unique hybrid encoding approach, which provides high-bandwith internet connectivity and enables transmission of broadcast-quality live video from mobile and remote locations.
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