About three years ago, the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) realized there was a discrepancy between who was engaging with and participating in art and what the community of Burlington, Ont., actually looked like. To remedy this, BPAC started hiring external organizations to conduct annual diversity, equity and inclusion workshops with the goal of helping the centre learn how to better reflect the city’s diverse community. But the workshops weren’t as inspiring as they’d hoped they would be. The presentations lacked the emotional hook needed to spark real, lasting change, leaving the c ..read more

You don’t notice what’s missing at first. Toronto’s TIFF Lightbox—that unassuming glass grid, dwarfed by the enormous monolithic condo protruding from the top of it—still looks the same. Inside the five-storey space is a surprising 16,000 square metres containing five cinemas, a screening room, a gallery and a library as well as office spaces from which to oversee it all: the not-for-profit arts organization, which is dedicated to “transforming the way people see the world through film.” Then you catch it: The “TIFF” sign is still there above the entrance, but “Bell Lightbox” has been quietly ..read more

People with autism see the world through a slightly different lens—lights can appear too bright, noises might sound too loud. As a result, working in a busy environment like a restaurant can be kryptonite for those on the spectrum.  But this didn’t deter the Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN) from opening the country’s first neurodiverse café inside Canada’s second largest airport in the fall of 2023. Located in the busy domestic arrivals area of the Vancouver International Airport, Paper Planes Café hires and trains employees with neurological differences in the art of customer service ..read more

Welcome to CB’s personal-finance advice column, Make It Make Sense, where each month experts answer reader questions on complex investment and personal-finance topics and break them down in terms we can all understand. This month, Damir Alnsour, a lead advisor and portfolio manager at money-management platform Wealthsimple, tackles eco-friendly investments. Have a question about your finances? Send it to editor@canadianbusiness.com. Q: It’s Earth Month! And… there’s a climate crisis. How can I invest in companies and portfolios funding causes I believe in? Earth Day ma ..read more

On April 11, trailblazing entrepreneurs and business leaders convened for the second annual CB Innovation Awards Luncheon at the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s contemporary office and event space on the waterfront. Presented by signature partner BMO Financial Group and thought leadership partner Paralucent, the awards luncheon brought attendees together to honour some of Canada’s most innovative companies. The luncheon’s patron table sponsors included Air Canada, Canadian Western Bank, Café William, Moderna Canada, Parvis Investments, Qohash, 369 Global, Mastercard Canada, Flygreen and Tricon ..read more

Not long ago, the word “prosperity” might have evoked an image of financial security. But new research shows Canadians’ perceptions of wealth are changing. “Factors such as record-high inflation and the shifting nature of work continue to reshape Canadian perspectives on our economy and individual prosperity,” says Sasha Krstic, President of Mastercard Canada. “Canadians’ view of prosperity is evolving in tandem with global challenges and societal shifts.” Canadians Split on Views of Prosperity New research from Mastercard on Canadians’ economic outlooks reveals polarized views of the country ..read more

In the past year, businesses have had to navigate a landscape marked by whiplash-inducing technological advancements, undeniably urgent evidence of climate change and ever-shifting consumer values that increasingly prioritize social responsibility. The companies that simply keep up with digital transformation, sustainability best practices and workplace wellness trends can survive, but it takes a future-focused commitment to driving meaningful impact to truly thrive in 2024 and beyond. Together with judges Krista Jones, interim CEO of MaRS Discovery District, and Takara Small, award-winning te ..read more

This month, CB Insider welcomed Adam Froman, the founder and CEO of Delvinia, for a virtual fireside chat. In conversation with Jason Maghanoy, head of business development at SJC Media and publisher of Canadian Business, the two chatted about how Delvinia has evolved alongside digital technology and what the future of digital business in Canada looks like. The chat kicked off with Froman sharing his career journey: first earning a degree in engineering with an emphasis on human factors before earning an MBA in finance and entrepreneurship. It was then that he discovered his passion for digita ..read more

In an era where the pulse of finance is increasingly dictated by technological advancements, the industry stands at a crossroads. The trajectory of financial services is no longer solely in the hands of traditional banking institutions or even fintech disruptors. Instead, it lies at the intersection of two seemingly disparate realms: technology and creative. This fusion, which weaves together the analytical prowess of tech with the nuanced, human-centric approach of creativity, is a paradigm shift, signaling a new chapter in the evolution of finance. Making Things Accessible, Human and Underst ..read more

How do you transform a 100-year-old brand like Milwaukee Tool, taking it from the back of the pack in market share to the leading maker of professional power tools and equipment? “You don’t do it by setting goals you know you can achieve,” says Craig Baxter, group president of TTI Canada. “Very little that’s great has ever been achieved by setting easily achievable goals, I’m a strong believer in audacious goals,” says Baxter. “I love that word. An audacious goal changes everything. It changes the way you think, the way you plan, the way you behave. It changes your entire approach.” Sixth in a ..read more