Success stories

It's the individuals and businesses that continue to make a difference in the lives and communities in Western Canada. Here are their success stories.

Western Canadian success stories and how WD helped

Publication date	Region	Category	Stories
2021-06-11	Alberta	Digital technology	AltaML uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help businesses solve problems AltaML uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help Alberta businesses unlock the competitive advantage in their data. Publication date: 2021-06-11 Region: Alberta Category: Digital technology
2021-06-02	Alberta	Advanced manufacturing, Digital technology	Calgary’s Nanalysis is successfully disrupting scientific measurement for chemists worldwide From pharmaceuticals to agriculture: How Nanalysis is transforming scientific measurement for researchers worldwide. Publication date: 2021-06-02 Region: Alberta Category: Advanced manufacturing, Digital technology
2021-05-17	Alberta	Advanced manufacturing	From salon and spa to manufacturing leader From salon and spa to manufacturing leader, EC Labs is leading the charge to establish a personal care manufacturing hub in Alberta, while setting its sights on the global market. Publication date: 2021-05-17 Region: Alberta Category: Advanced manufacturing
2021-05-12	Manitoba	Innovation	Testing medical products like N-95 respirator masks to fight COVID-19 Martin Petrak, President and CEO, and Trevor Gascoyne, Director of Operations, share how the Orthopaedic Innovation Centre in Winnipeg has become an internationally accredited laboratory to help in the fight against COVID-19. Publication date: 2021-05-12 Region: Manitoba Category: Innovation
2021-04-13	Alberta	Community economic development	Keeping the wheels turning by putting service first For many Albertans, inter-city bus transportation and parcel delivery connects them safely to family, neighbours and medical services that are not available in their own community. COVID-19 public health measures are impacting this essential service. Publication date: 2021-04-13 Region: Alberta Category: Community economic development
2020-11-19	Alberta	Women, Indigenous	Colouring It Forward advances reconciliation through Indigenous art Colouring It Forward embraces art to advance education on Indigenous issues and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Publication date: 2020-11-19 Region: Alberta Category: Women, Indigenous
2020-11-17	British Columbia	Clean technology, Indigenous, Natural resources	FPInnovations: Powering Up BC Communities with Sustainable Energy Systems BC-based not-for-profit organization, FPInnovations, partnered with the Lhoosk'uz Dené Nation’s to develop a new biomass energy system to power community buildings, create jobs, stimulate the economy, and reduce reliance on diesel. Publication date: 2020-11-17 Region: British Columbia Category: Clean technology, Indigenous, Natural resources
2020-10-23	British Columbia	Women, entrepreneurship	Women-owned business creates diverse, sustainable feminine hygiene products Aisle is creating diverse and sustainable menstrual products for women across Canada. Publication date: 2020-10-23 Region: British Columbia Category: Women, entrepreneurship
2020-10-21	British Columbia	Business growth, women	Entrepreneurs supported through the Women’s Enterprise Initiative, gluten-free bakery prospers Origin Bakery co-owners Tara Black and Marion Scott have found their niche selling gluten-free goods in Victoria, British Columbia. With support from the Women’s Enterprise Center, Tara and Marion run a thriving business with a sweet future. Publication date: 2020-10-21 Region: British Columbia Category: Business growth, women
2020-10-19	British Columbia	Women, business growth, entrepreneurship	“The Werk” is an entrepreneur’s dream to transform how we work Christina Disler started Werklab with a vision to transform our relationship to work. Now she is helping entrepreneurs and small business-owners achieve work-life balance through “The Werk”, an online health and wellness editorial platform for business owners. Publication date: 2020-10-19 Region: British Columbia Category: Women, business growth, entrepreneurship
2020-10-16	British Columbia	Business growth, economic diversification, clean technology, clean resources	B.C.-based cleantech innovators envision a cleaner, greener future Hydrogen Technology and Energy Corporation (HTEC), Acuva Technologies, Quadrogen Power Systems, and BumperNow are four BC-based cleantech companies transforming the cleantech ecosystem Publication date: 2020-10-16 Region: British Columbia Category: Business growth, economic diversification, clean technology, clean resources
2020-10-07	Alberta	Advanced Manufacturing, Business Growth, Digital Technology, Economic Diversification	Calgary-based Attabotics is reinventing the supply chain Attabotics is taking inspiration from nature and disrupting traditional logistics, storage and fulfillment. This Calgary-based innovation combines robotics with efficient ant colony design to reduce warehouse footprints by 85%. Publication date: 2020-10-07 Region: Alberta Category: Advanced Manufacturing, Business Growth, Digital Technology, Economic Diversification
2020-09-21	Alberta	Advanced manufacturing, Digital technology, Life sciences	Kent Imaging provides healthcare professionals with visual insight Kent Imaging is expanding its services with the introduction of near infrared spectroscopy-imaging technology, which allows healthcare professionals to monitor tissue viability at a wound or surgical site in a timely and non-intrusive manner. Publication date: 2020-09-21 Region: Alberta Category: Advanced manufacturing, Digital technology, Life sciences
2020-09-10	Saskatchewan	Francophone, Skills and training	University of Regina program trains Francophone nurses A unique partnership between the University of Regina’s La Cité French language hub and faculty of nursing is preparing nurses to care for Saskatchewan patients in French as well as in English. Publication date: 2020-09-10 Region: Saskatchewan Category: Francophone, Skills and training
2020-08-19	British Columbia	Francophone, Tourism, Women	Local luxury hat shop attracts cultural tourists to Nelson, B.C. With the support of the Francophone Economic Development Organizations (FEDOs) and the Économusée network, Lillie and Cohoe is establishing its luxury hat shop as a cultural tourism destination in the heart of Nelson, B.C. Publication date: 2020-08-19 Region: British Columbia Category: Francophone, Tourism, Women
2020-08-13	Manitoba	Women	How an entrepreneur with disabilities grew her Dog Nerd business in Manitoba Lisa Hazelwood seized the opportunity to overcome barriers. She got the support she needed from Equal Opportunities West’s Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program. Lisa’s business, Dog Nerd, is a dog sport and training centre that uses positive training methods in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Publication date: 2020-08-13 Region: Manitoba Category: Women
2020-08-07	Alberta	Advanced manufacturing, Digital technology	Cochrane, Alberta’s, 4iiii blazes trail in global sports technology industry. With its light and robust power meter, Cochrane’s 4iiii is poised to take over the global fitness monitoring market. Publication date: 2020-08-07 Region: Alberta Category: Advanced manufacturing, Digital technology
2020-07-08	Alberta	Value-added agriculture, Women, Clean technology	Alberta-grown jobs, industry-wide innovation. Whole Leaf transforms the produce sector. Whole Leaf is transforming the leafy green section of the produce department. Using less water, its pesticide- and chemical-free produce brings new ideas to Canadian tables. Publication date: 2020-07-08 Region: Alberta Category: Value-added agriculture, Women, Clean technology
2020-07-17	Saskatchewan	Francophone, Tourism	Over the Hill Orchards, Saskatchewan's first Économusée ® Over the Hill Orchard and Winery is attracting attention as Saskatchewan’s first Économusée ®. Over the Hill makes wines and jams on site using fruit grown in their orchard, providing a unique artisanal experience to French and English-speaking visitors. Publication date: 2020-07-17 Region: Saskatchewan Category: Francophone, Tourism
2020-03-11	Alberta	Women, Business growth	AdaptAbilities - enhancing quality of life & fostering inclusion AdaptAbilities is an inclusive environment where people with special needs can develop essential life skills. Publication date: 2020-03-11 Region: Alberta Category: Women, Business growth
2020-03-09	British Columbia	Women, Francophone	Francophone women entrepreneurs boost each other in B.C. Francophone women in British Columbia are building their businesses with each other’s support. Their secret weapon is a program called Femmes d’affaires en Mouvement (FAM), which means “businesswomen on the move”. Publication date: 2020-03-09 Region: British Columbia Category: Women, Francophone
2020-03-05	Manitoba	Business growth, Francophone, Women	Bilingual business Julie’s Creations designs cabinetry, kitchens and bathrooms in Manitoba Julie Germain moved from Quebec to Manitoba to learn English. Now, she designs beautiful rooms for Manitoban homes in both English and French at Julie’s Creations. Publication date: 2020-03-05 Region: Manitoba Category: Business growth, Francophone, Women
2020-03-04	Manitoba	Business growth, Francophone	Support for Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities and entrepreneurs Bilingual entrepreneurs and municipalities in Manitoba have a lifeline. Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba (CDEM) is there to help them grow. Publication date: 2020-03-04 Region: Manitoba Category: Business growth, Francophone
2020-02-17	Saskatchewan, Pan-Western	Trade, Advanced manufacturing	WD helps Canadian farm machinery manufacturers market in Europe The Canadian-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has opened up new doors for Western Canadian agricultural equipment makers that are large enough to drive a combine through. Publication date: 2020-02-17 Region: Saskatchewan, Pan-Western Category: Trade, Advanced manufacturing
	Saskatchewan	Natural resources, Trade	Helping grow Saskatchewan’s industry and mining supply chain Through an investment of $185,000, WDis helping SIMSA build its capacity to connect local mining industry suppliers with large industrial and resource companies. Publication date: Region: Saskatchewan Category: Natural resources, Trade
2020-02-03	British Columbia	Advanced Manufacturing	Investing in advanced manufacturing centre at SFU in Burnaby, British Columbia These days, it seems like the online universe is expanding from computers to everyday items. With a smartphone, we can unlock doors and adjust thermostats. Publication date: 2020-02-03 Region: British Columbia Category: Advanced Manufacturing
2020-01-24	Manitoba	Francophone, Women	Educalme brings bilingual mindfulness to Manitoba schools Two young teachers in Manitoba wanted to share mindfulness practices with their French-language students, but they could not find bilingual materials geared to young people. So, they created their own, and Educalme was born. Publication date: 2020-01-24 Region: Manitoba Category: Francophone, Women
2019-12-17	Saskatchewan	Indigenous, Clean technology	First Nation creates carbon-free electricity and new economic opportunity With help from Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), Cowessess First Nation's unique hybrid renewable energy project is a first in Canada. Publication date: 2019-12-17 Region: Saskatchewan Category: Indigenous, Clean technology
2019-06-28	Pan-Western	Francophone	Official Languages: Who’s your “twin”? At Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) we’re bolstering our bilingual bench strength in both official languages. Publication date: 2019-06-28 Region: Pan-Western Category: Francophone
2019-02-05	Manitoba	Francophone, Community economic development, Tourism	Entreprises Riel At the Heart of Manitoba's Francophone Community is a documentary film produced by Tourisme Riel and Entreprises Riel, about the strong Francophone and Métis culture in the province. Publication date: 2019-02-05 Region: Manitoba Category: Francophone, Community economic development, Tourism
2018-09-04	Manitoba	Indigenous, Business growth, Skills and training	Vision Quest In 2018, Vision Quest marked its 22nd annual conference and trade show: "From Vision to Reality", through partnerships with 5 primarily Indigenous-based Community Futures Development Corporations. Publication date: 2018-09-04 Region: Manitoba Category: Indigenous, Business growth, Skills and training
2018-08-04	Manitoba	Women, Business growth, Skills and training	SHEday 2018 The one-day, annual conference sprouted from a desire to provide services to female business professionals and a venue for them to network. Publication date: 2018-08-04 Region: Manitoba Category: Women, Business growth, Skills and training
2018-08-04	British Columbia	Youth, Community economic development	Karina LeBlanc's Field of Dreams Canadian Olympic soccer star Karina Leblanc now has a sports field in Maple Ridge, BC, where she can share her passion for sports with the next generation of Canadian athletes. Publication date: 2018-08-04 Region: British Columbia Category: Youth, Community economic development
2018-08-04	British Columbia	Clean technology	Reduce, reuse… rethink recycling If only there were durable packaging materials that were also biodegradable. A western Canadian company may have the solution. Publication date: 2018-08-04 Region: British Columbia Category: Clean technology
2018-08-04	Alberta	Women, Skills and training	Women Building Futures - You got this! The pursuit of inclusive participation in the economy requires a change in perspectives and a change in traditional ways of thinking. This belief prompted a small group of women to set up Women Building Futures (WBF) in 1998. Publication date: 2018-08-04 Region: Alberta Category: Women, Skills and training
2019-02-05	British Columbia	Clean technology, Digital technology	Semios precision technology helps growers respond to crop threats Farmers and engineers are working together to keep fresh produce on our shelves. They are finding innovative solutions to challenges from climate change, harmful pesticides, and crop disease. Publication date: 2019-02-05 Region: British Columbia Category: Clean technology, Digital technology
2019-02-05	Alberta	Clean technology, Natural resources	Solving high pressure risk through intelligent innovation The aptly named, Intelligent Wellhead Systems (IWS) knows a lot about working under pressure in the energy sector. Publication date: 2019-02-05 Region: Alberta Category: Clean technology, Natural resources
2018-09-04	Saskatchewan	Skills and training, Youth	Saskatoon Trades and Skills Centre – creating inclusive and responsive opportunities Vulnerable, inner city youth lack the training, experience and, in a lot of cases, confidence to secure good jobs that can lead to careers in the skilled trades. At the same time, employers in many industries find it difficult to hire young tradespeople. Publication date: 2018-09-04 Region: Saskatchewan Category: Skills and training, Youth
2018-09-04	Saskatchewan	Digital technology	Solido Design Automation bought by German conglomerate Saskatchewan based Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative recipient, Solido Design Automation Inc, is a world leader in microchip design and characterization software powered by proprietary machine learning technology – a form of artificial intelligence. Publication date: 2018-09-04 Region: Saskatchewan Category: Digital technology
2019-02-05	British Columbia	Digital technology, Trade	Canadian Navigation Technology makes waves on a global level Over 600 naval vessels across the globe rely on tactical navigation software from British Columbia's OSI Maritime Inc. Publication date: 2019-02-05 Region: British Columbia Category: Digital technology, Trade
2019-03-06	Alberta	Francophone	Radio Cité brings Edmonton's Francophone community together Radio Cité brought the heart and the people. WD helped them with funding. Now Radio Cité is making beautiful music and so much more for Edmonton's francophone community. Publication date: 2019-03-06 Region: Alberta Category: Francophone
2019-02-05	British Columbia	Community economic development	Rebuilding after British Columbia wildfires The 2017 and 2018 wildfire seasons were the worst in British Columbia's history. British Columbians regrouped and WD was there to help. Publication date: 2019-02-05 Region: British Columbia Category: Community economic development
2019-02-05	Manitoba	Community economic development	Churchill Region Economic Development Fund The Churchill Region Economic Development Fund helped businesses survive when the town was cut off from ground transportation. Publication date: 2019-02-05 Region: Manitoba Category: Community economic development
2019-05-22	Saskatchewan	Clean technology, Francophone	Francophone farmers growing green with HumaTerra What do francophone farmers in Saskatchewan, an agricultural scientist from France and about a trillion microbial organisms have in common? The drive to make prairie soil more fertile and productive! Publication date: 2019-05-22 Region: Saskatchewan Category: Clean technology, Francophone
2019-02-05	Alberta	Indigenous, Skills and training	Investing in Indigenous Peoples in Alberta In 2015, Trade Winds to Success Training Society received $1,069,938 from Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) to support the expansion of pre-apprenticeship training for Indigenous Peoples in Alberta. Publication date: 2019-02-05 Region: Alberta Category: Indigenous, Skills and training
2019-12-09	Manitoba	Francophone, Clean technology, Trade	Raysolar brings renewable energy to Africa Manitoba’s Raysolar sets up solar and wind energy systems. Technical expertise combined with being able to work in both of Canada’s official languages has opened up doors to expand into Francophone African countries. Publication date: 2019-12-09 Region: Manitoba Category: Francophone, Clean technology, Trade
2019-02-05	Saskatchewan	Clean resources, Natural resources	Getting the MOST out of mine reclamation Returning a mine site to its original state is far more complex than covering it over and planting trees. The design and materials that go into the cover system must ensure that mine wastes are properly sealed off. Publication date: 2019-02-05 Region: Saskatchewan Category: Clean resources, Natural resources