Opal Rowe Founder
Founder, Stush Patties
Dean Gamey
Co-Founder, Westman Soil Sampling
Purolator’s True North Small Business Grant Contest supports small- and medium-sized businesses in growing, thriving, and making ongoing positive impacts on Canadian communities.
As recently reported by Statistics Canada, nearly 1.2 million small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) do business across the country. Together, they employ 8.2 million Canadians, representing 67.7 per cent of the total private workforce.
A prosperous ecosystem of SMBs provides far-reaching benefits to the broader economy and within local communities. These businesses provide job opportunities, foster community identity and involvement, and build diversified, innovative local marketplaces.
Purolator – a leading Canadian integrated freight, package, and logistics solutions provider – understands the important role SMBs play in driving this country’s economic engine. To that end, it launched its True North Small Business Grant in 2021 to provide support to these vital organizations. More than $330,000 in funds will have been awarded by the end of 2023.
Supporting SMBs across the country to achieve their business dreams is one way we can also help realize our vision to make Canada stronger.
“SMBs are critical to the success of our economy yet can also be the most impacted by inflation, supply chain issues, and changing consumer behaviours,” says John Ferguson, President and CEO of Purolator. “We’ve seen these entrepreneurs adapt as they’ve changed business models to adjust to market influences. Supporting SMBs across the country to achieve their business dreams is one way we can also help realize our vision to make Canada stronger.”
Helping grant recipients thrive
The True North Small Business Grant is designed to help entrepreneurs scale up their businesses by improving operations, expanding into new markets and locations, and reaching more customers through marketing and increased brand awareness.
Opal Rowe is founder of Stush Patties, an Ontario-based gourmet Jamaican patty food operation, and a True North grant recipient.
“Starting a new business is tough and no amount of planning can prepare you for the challenges you’re bound to face,” Rowe says. “Winning the grant allowed me to buy new equipment and engage with new partners, which increased sales and helped Stush Patties grow.”
Another grant recipient is Dean Gamey, who was able to grow his Manitoba-based Westman Soil Sampling Ltd. “Winning the True North Small Business Grant allowed us to purchase more equipment to offer the best for our customers, Canadian farmers,” he says. “This allows them to adjust their soil, as needed, to optimize plant growth and deliver quality food for Canadians.”
An enhanced grant program each year
Every year, Purolator enhances its True North Grant program to meet the changing needs of SMBs and their communities – particularly important in times of economic disruption. Purolator uses its national reach as a major brand to promote these grant-winning SMBs online, and also empowers them to extend their support further through a community “pay-it-forward” component.
“We are committed to contributing to the well-being of Canadian communities,” says Stacey Cummings, Director of Marketing at Purolator. “That’s why we continue to invest in this annual small business grant, and ensure that in doing so we reflect SMB’s current needs and circumstances. It’s our way of recognizing the contributions of the businesses that support our local economies and help our communities thrive.”
SMBs play such an important part in Canada’s economy and prosperity, and when they reach newfound levels of success, we all win.
Learn more about how Purolator supports small- and medium-size businesses at purolator.com/en/services/business-solutions/small-business.
