Since 2020, TELUS has invested $5 million through the #StandWithOwners program,
providing essential funding, advertising, and technology to help
businesses thrive.
TORONTO, Oct. 30,
2024 /CNW/ - TELUS announces the winners of its fifth
#StandWithOwners contest—Canada's largest small business contest.
Chosen from thousands of applications from across Canada, 20 outstanding businesses have been
recognized for demonstrating what makes their business unique,
their use of technology to drive innovation, and a proven track
record of growth. These businesses not only demonstrated
exceptional leadership in their fields but also demonstrated how
they have made a tangible impact on their local economies and
communities.
Their recognition is part of TELUS' ongoing dedication to
supporting Canadian businesses. Since 2020, TELUS has invested
$5 million through the
#StandWithOwners program, providing essential funding, advertising,
and technology to help businesses thrive.
Six of the 20 winners were each awarded a grand prize, receiving
over $200,000 in funding, technology,
and national recognition—the largest prize package in the contest's
history. The remaining 14 winners each receive $20,000 in funding and technology. This year's
contest saw record engagement, with thousands of applications—a 60%
increase compared to last year—featuring a diverse range of owners
from across Canada in industries
such as manufacturing, retail, healthcare, technology, and food
services.
This year's six grand prize winners are:
- Blume: Blume is dedicated to creating a kinder wellness
world through superfood rituals. Founded by Karen Danudjaja, the
company started by selling in local coffee shops and has now
expanded to over 4,000 retailers across Canada and the US. Their products find the
perfect balance of function and taste as they look to build
accessible rituals that fill your cup literally and
figuratively.
- Happly Ai: Cofounder Thierry
Lindor is using AI for good, leveraging their intuitive
platform and technology to help businesses and nonprofits match and
secure funding tailored to their needs. With over 100,000 users,
the platform has unlocked nearly $70M
in funding, transforming how enterprises and organizations access
economic opportunities.
- Kidcrew Medical: Revolutionizing pediatric healthcare,
Kidcrew Medical combines primary, specialized, and allied health
services under one roof. Founded by Dr. Dina Kulik, the clinic uses innovative
technology and data analytics to serve 100,000 patients,
streamlining care for improved patient outcomes across its growing
number of locations.
- Legends Haul: Focusing on sustainability and continuous
innovation, Legends Haul has made a significant impact on the local
food ecosystem. Jill and Craig
Sheridan launched the business and grew it into a leader in
food distribution and manufacturing, with their own house brands
and a 30,000-square-foot distribution facility.
- Stoko: Originating from his personal experience with an
injury sustained on Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, Stoko founder Zack Eberwein set out to redefine expectations
for knee braces by creating revolutionary medical-grade Supportive
Apparel: the world's only all-in-one knee brace and compression
tight designed to help people get active again and stay active for
as long as possible.
- ZoRaw Chocolates: With a focus on societal wellness,
ZoRaw Chocolates was founded by Gigi
Gill, who along with her partner Tanveer, developed the
world's first protein-fortified, fiber-rich, and sugar-free
chocolate bars. Through an innovative production process, the
company can produce 30,000 chocolate bars a day, distributing to
over 3,000 stores across Canada
and the US.
"Small business owners put it all on the line with an unwavering
belief that it's worth the risk to create a better future for
themselves, their families, employees, customers and communities,"
said Roi Ross, Senior Vice-president & President, Small and
Medium Business at TELUS. "In a year marked by our highest number
of applications ever, our grand prize winners stood out for their
dedication to continually grow and innovate their businesses with
passion, purpose and perseverance."
To read more about all 20 of our inspiring winners and TELUS'
commitment to supporting Canadian small businesses through
#StandWithOwners, visit telus.com/Winners
Supporting quotes:
"Winning #StandWithOwners during such a competitive year is an
incredible validation of our mission. It's a stamp of approval that
what we're doing is working. With TELUS' support, we can
supercharge our efforts to make wellness more accessible and get
our products into more hands, while continuing to grow and
innovate." Karen Danudjaja, owner, Blume (North Vancouver, BC)
"Winning #StandWithOwners is more than business support—as a
diverse entrepreneur, it's about feeling seen in a world that often
makes you feel invisible. This prize is a testament to the values
of inclusion and representation fostered by TELUS, which is not
only standing with companies but building communities and sending a
powerful message: "Empowering small business owners like Happly Ai
is essential to shaping Canada's
future." Thierry Lindor,
Co-Founder, Happly Ai (Montreal,
QC)
"Funding for pediatric clinics is incredibly scarce, so this
support from TELUS is invaluable. It allows us to expand our
services and reach more children in need of care. It's an honor to
be recognized for the efforts of our entire team and we're excited
to continue growing and making a difference in the lives of the
families we serve." Dr. Dina
Kulik, owner, Kidcrew Medical (Toronto, ON)
"Winning #StandWithOwners is not just about us—it's about
celebrating our entire team. We've worked hard to make a difference
in the local food ecosystem, and this prize allows us to continue
innovating and supporting our community. It's incredibly rewarding
to have our efforts acknowledged on this level, and we're excited
to keep driving change towards a more sustainable future."
Jill and Craig Sheridan, owners,
Legends Haul (Vancouver,
BC)
"Our purpose at Stoko is to help people live an active
lifestyle, doing more of what they love, regardless of their age or
previous injuries. This support from TELUS will enable us to expand
our reach, give more people the opportunity to experience
Supportive Apparel, and help them in regaining their mobility so
they can get back out there. We're honored to have our vision
recognized on such a large scale and look forward to making an even
greater impact because of it." Zack
Eberwein, owner, Stoko (Vancouver,
BC)
"Winning has brought us a deep sense of gratitude and
reassurance. The entrepreneurial journey can be isolating, and
often the hard work goes unrecognized for a long time. This
recognition from TELUS has given us further inspiration to continue
our journey, combining innovation, technology, and health to create
the best products. This support empowers us to take our mission
even further, helping us reach more Canadians with products we
truly believe in. We're profoundly grateful for this encouragement
and validation." Gigi Gill,
owner, ZoRaw Chocolates (Mississauga,
ON)
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T) (NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading
communications technology company with more than $20 billion in annual revenue and over 19 million
customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice,
television, entertainment, video, and security. Our social purpose
is to leverage our global-leading technology and compassion to
drive social change and enable remarkable human outcomes. Our
longstanding commitment to putting our customers first fuels every
aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer
service excellence and loyalty. The numerous, sustained accolades
TELUS has earned over the years from independent, industry-leading
network insight firms showcase the strength and speed of TELUS'
global-leading networks, reinforcing our commitment to provide
Canadians with access to superior technology that connects us to
the people, resources and information that make our lives
better.
As a global leader in telecommunications and technology
solutions, TELUS Business empowers businesses to thrive in a
digital world. More than 6,000 team members at TELUS Business are
powered by this purpose, and with our powerful, world-leading
networks and intelligent solutions, we help owners, leaders, and
teams that use technology to drive growth and differentiation for
their business. To learn more, visit telus.com/business and follow
@TELUSBusiness on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn.
Operating in 32 countries around the world, TELUS Digital
Experience (TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital customer
experience innovator that designs, builds, and delivers
next-generation solutions, including AI and content moderation, for
global and disruptive brands across strategic industry verticals,
including tech and games, communications and media, eCommerce and
fintech, banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare, and
others.
TELUS Health is a global healthcare leader, which provides
employee and family primary and preventive healthcare and wellbeing
solutions. Our TELUS team, along with our 100,000 health
professionals, are leveraging the combination of TELUS' strong
digital and data analytics capabilities with our unsurpassed client
service to dramatically improve remedial, preventive and mental
health outcomes covering over 75 million lives, and growing, around
the world. As the largest provider of digital solutions and digital
insights of its kind, TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods
enables efficient and sustainable production from seed to store,
helping improve the safety and quality of food and other goods in a
way that is traceable to end consumers.
Driven by our determination and vision to connect all citizens
for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give
where we live has inspired TELUS and our team to contribute
$1.7 billion, including 2.2 million
days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and
unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company
in the world. Together, let's make the future friendly.
For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com,
follow us at @TELUSNews on X and @Darren_Entwistle on
Instagram.
Media Contact
Athyu Eleti
TELUS Public
Relations
athyu.eleti@telus.com
SOURCE TELUS Communications Inc.