WTC Winnipeg's Podcast

In this episode, Carole Freynet-Gagné, owner of Apprentissage Illimité, discusses with Mariette Mulaire about how her business is using this slower period during Covid-19 to do some self-learning and planning.Apprentissage Illimité is a publisher of educational resources and fun and interactive materials (in print and digital formats) for children.

Dans cet épisode, Carole Freynet-Gagné, propriétaire de l'entreprise Apprentissage Illimité, discute avec Mariette Mulaire au sujet de la façon dont son entreprise utilise cette période de ralentissement due au Covid-19 pour faire de la planification et de l'apprentissage aprofondi.

In this episode, Rob Read, president of Bison Fire Protection, discusses with Mariette Mulaire about how his company continues to operate during the pandemic as an essential service but on reduced staff due to slower business activities.Bison Fire Protection provides fire safety and fire prevention.

In this episode, Todd Burns, president of Cypher Environmental, discusses with Mariette Mulaire about how his company is still operating full force during the pandemic all while maintaining safety measures. The company has started exploring digital options to service its overseas clients during the travel ban.Cypher Environmental provides environmentally friendly dust control, soil stabilization, and wastewater treatment products.

In this episode, Tyler Ibrahim of Protegra discusses with Mariette Mulaire how the newly launched Local Futures platform is a great way for Manitobans to support their favourite local businesses. This not-for-profit initiative will allow businesses to gain access to capital in the short term to support operations and ensure they will be there for Manitobans in the long term. Protegra is a software development company that helps businesses solve problems by offering customization at an enterprise-level software development. The company also builds its own products and services such as The Local Frequency and the new Local Futures. 

In this episode, Laura LaPalme, owner of L2 Marketing, discusses with Mariette Mulaire about the importance of remembering to promote positivity and continuing to move forward with your business' social media strategies in the current situation. Laura also addresses her love and appreciation for the trucking industry.L2 Marketing offers custom marketing solutions for medium to large-sized businesses. 

In this episode, Allan Friesen, International Business Development Manager for K-Tec Earthmovers, discusses with Mariette Mulaire about the changes in structure that they have been required to make on their manufacturing side. Allan explains how the Federal Government's 75% wage subsidy has been a big factor to allow them to keep going with projects such as one they currently have in Egypt which has challenged them to become innovative in their approach.K-Tec Earthmovers designs and manufactures earth moving scrapers and ships them to global markets such as Japan, Argentina, Egypt, Australia, and the United States.

In this episode, Judy Murphy, president and CEO of Safety Services Manitoba, explains how the COVID-19 pandemic has really turned their world upside down. She discusses with Mariette Mulaire the quick and unexpected changes that needed to take place to continue offering their safety training services to employers. She touches on what Judy likes to call the RUN analysis - Reinvent, Urgent, Near term and how they have converted their courses to a live remote training.Safety Services Manitoba helps employers create a safe workplace that ensures staff retention, keeps production lines moving and avoids pitfalls that might otherwise occur without an appropriate safety program.

In this episode, Fiona Webster-Mourant, president of Manrex Limited, discusses with Mariette Mulaire about the importance of being prepared and to not forget the lessons we're currently learning. She explains that going forward we have to be willing to learn to invest more to ensure that we support Canadian businesses. Ms. Mourant was part of the business pandemic planning task force with the International Centre for Disease Control (CDC) during the earlier 2000s H1N1 pandemic.Manrex Limited specializes in medication error prevention products for pharmacies, nursing homes and hospitals. As part of the supply chain for essential pharmacy services, the company focuses on medication management and safety.

In this episode, Bryan King, president of High Speed Crow, explains to Mariette Mulaire how their internet service has become even more significant during this challenging time. Rural Manitobans depend on his services in order to continue working and keep up with home schooling among other needs. Bryan also notes that he is fortunate for the upgrades that were recently completed in his company just before the beginning of the pandemic.High Speed Crow provides high speed wireless and fire internet to rural areas of Manitoba. In 2019, the company received a Workplace Safety Award and continues to make the safety of their employees a priority during COVID-19. The business itself stemmed from Bryan's own needs for internet in rural Manitoba after working the telecommunications field in foreign countries such as South America and China. 

In this episode, David Dandeneau of the fashion brand Anne Mulaire, reveals how the Métis fashion house and boutique pivoted to design and manufacture face masks to help protect the community. David discusses with Mariette Mulaire how the influx of requests for the masks might allow them to rehire some of their sewers.Anne Mulaire is a Métis fashion house based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They design durable, beautiful, eco-friendly clothing for women with bamboo as its core fabric. 

In this episode, Heidi Remer-Epp, CEO and Co-Founder of Botanical Paperworks, shares the impact of COVID-19 on her business and how they have adapted their strategy to get through this challenging time. Heidi shares with Mariette Mulaire what she calls the 2s and 4c strategy - Safety, Sales, Cash, Create, Cleanup, and Communicate.Botanical Paperworks manufactures special eco-friendly paper made from paper waste which is embedded with seeds. The paper is meant to be planted as it is entirely compostable. The paper then grows into flowers, herbs or vegetables.

Dans cet épisode, David Dandeneau, co-créateur et responsable de la stratégie et du développement d'affaires chez Anne Mulaire, explique à Mariette Mulaire comment la maison de mode métis a rapidement saisie sa nouvelle réalité pour fabriquer des masques de protection. Suite à un afflux de demandes, la maison de mode pourra potentiellement embaucher à nouveau ses couturières. Anne Mulaire est une maison de mode métis située à Winnipeg au Manitoba qui produit des beaux vêtements durables et écologiques pour femme.

In this episode, Amanda Buhse, owner and art director of Coal and Canary, shares the creative approach her company has taken to continue engaging with their customers through a new VIP program. She tells Mariette Mulaire how COVID-19 affected them at a very critical time with the spring trade show season which was already underway. Coal and Canary makes fun, cheeky candles for playful personalities. The candles crackle like a fireplace when lit, have very unique smells and are marketed in a very trendy fashion.

In this episode, Carly Minish, president and founder of Smak Dab Gourmet Mustard, expresses the importance of cooking for comfort during this challenging time. She discusses with Mariette Mulaire how her company which has 200 retail locations across Canada has been forced to focus on the e-commerce side of their business. She speaks about the strong approach they've taken towards social media and marketing to ensure value is given to their customers.Smak Dab is a western Canadian company that manufactures a line of specialty mustards. They have 200 retail locations across Canada. 

In this episode, Catherine Metrycki, founder of Callia Flowers, explains that from a process perspective her business has been busier than usual. She speaks with Mariette Mulaire about the challenges associated to managing customer expectations by ensuring consistency and quality which is proving difficult amid the pandemic. Catherine has had to find new sources of flowers to continue that trusted customer experience.Callia Flowers is a Winnipeg-based tech company that started up a few years ago. It delivers flower bouquets in beautiful packages. After landing a deal with Manjit Minhas on Dragon's Den in November 2019, Callia Flowers was able to expand into 23 Canadian cities. 

In this episode, Mariette Mulaire discusses with 3 of the 4 owners of St-Léon Gardens - Janelle, Luc and Colin Remillard. Fortunately for the company, they had recently tested a small online ecommerce store this past fall. This gave them a bit of a head's up on what expanding the sale of their products online would entail. They are also exploring curb side pickup in addition to online orders for their official opening this spring. St-Léon Gardens is a second generation family owned business which sells locally sourced groceries, plants and gardening goods. They employ young adults and summer students and continue to stay true to their francophone roots.

Dans cet épisode, Mariette Mulaire jase avec 3 des 4 entrepreneurs du Jardin St-Léon, Janelle, Luc et Colin Remillard. Ils discutent de l'évolution de l'entreprise et de son plan d'expansion. De plus, ils notent aussi les changements qu'ils entreprennent pour assurer la sécurité des employés et des clients en vue de leur ouverture le 1e mai. Jardin St-Léon est une entreprise familiale de deuxième génération qui vend des épiceries, des plantes et des produits jardiniers d'origine locale. L'entreprise emploie des jeunes adultes et des étudiants d'été et demeure toujours fidèle à ses origines francophones.

In this episode, Mark Myrowich, owner and CEO of ECBVerdyol, explains to Mariette Mulaire how they have taken a new SBA approach with their team amid the COVID-19 pandemic - Safety, Belonging and Accolades. He touches on the duty that companies have to work with governments to do the right thing and keep the economy going for the future. ECBVerdyol manufactures products such as erosion control blankets for the construction industry. They have two locations in Riverton and Steinbach. Their products are sold in North America through distribution and they import products from Sri Lanka, India and China.

In this episode, Colleen Dyck, owner of GORP, reveals to Mariette Mulaire the personal approach that her company has taken to help boost online sales. The company began offering personal notes and messages in their packages that customers could then send to their loved ones across Canada. GORP produces a clean, all natural energy bar made on the Canadian Prairies. They distribute their products in just about 2,000 stores across Canada. GORP also exports to the United States, China and most recently Jamaica.

In this episode, Brian Scharfstein, owner and president of Canadian Footwear, discusses with Mariette Mulaire how they've recreated their marketing to offer a new door to door delivery service at no extra cost for customers. The company has been busy delivering to hospitals, clinics, trucking companies, grocery stores and care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Footwear is a family owned business based in Winnipeg since the 1930s. The business consists of a retail footwear line as well as foot health clinics. They focus on getting people on their feet and keeping them on their feet! 

In this episode, Ed Dornn and Tilda Fortier of Greenstone Building Products, discuss with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the changes they implemented in their manufacturing facility due to COVID-19 such as a two-shift approach. An approach that has been working very well and will most likely be considered going forward. They also touch on the importance of listening to their team members and recognizing their input in offering solutions during this time. Greenstone Building Products is a Brandon-based company that manufactures greenstone panelized wall systems. Their product is energy efficient as it is non thermal and they sell across Canada, the United States and other southern markets. 

The WTC Winnipeg podcast welcomes Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, to join Mariette Mulaire in chatting with Manitoba businesses. In this episode, Kevin Klaassen, co-owner of SK2 Custom Homes, explains that his company is in fact busier than ever. He touches on the diversity of their target markets, the normality of working with clients remotely and how they've taken advantage of this time to double up on their digital marketing efforts to reach new potential clients.SK2 provides building solutions by means of custom homes. They are built on-site in Altona, Manitoba and transported in one-piece to their final location. 

In this episode, Daniel Blair, owner and CEO of Bit Space Development, chats with Mariette Mulaire about the interesting impact that COVID-19 has had on his business. The company's innovative technology is in high demand for things such as simulated training and classroom education. Daniel speaks about experimenting with different hand and eye tracking technologies and how his company has been able to practice with their own team what they've been preaching to their clients.Bit Space Development is a virtual reality and augmented reality development studio. They develop innovative solutions in interesting ways by using technology to immerse people in a new learning experience.

In this episode, Jack Maendel, CEO of EcoPoxy, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson how his company is developing epoxies made from annually renewable resources and sells to clients all over the world. Jack touches base on the importance of being a leader in his industry and that although competitors are inevitable, it is a compliment to be copied. EcoPoxy is a Manitoba farmer-based company that is one of the most exciting and fastest growing epoxy companies in the world. They create epoxies from bio-based ingredients. 

In this episode, Julie Michaud, CEO and Founder of Portia Ella, explains how quickly her team pivoted to the required changes needed to move forward during the pandemic. Julie informs Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about hiring a marketing agency to adapt their online strategy, moving the company's inventory from their retail stores in Winnipeg and Kelowna to a private warehouse and developing a new alliance with a Vancouver-based company.Portia Ella is a top ethical retail beauty store in Canada. Stemming from a home-based business, the company worked with over 50 women entrepreneurs and has grown exponentially across Canada since its inception in 2014.

Dans cet épisode, Julie Michaud, présidente et propriétaire de Portia Ella, explique la vitesse à laquelle son équipe a dû pivoter afin d'apporter les changements nécessaires pour faire avancer le tout en vue de la pandémie. Julie informe Mariette Mulaire qu'elle a eu à embaucher une agence de marketing, à déplacer tout son inventaire des magasins à Kelowna et à Winnipeg dans un entrepôt privé, et a acquis une nouvelle entreprise basée à Vancouver.Portia Ella fabrique des produits de beauté éthique. L'entreprise travaille avec 50 femmes entrepreneurs canadiennes et a connu une croissance impressionnante à travers le pays depuis sa création en 2014.

In this episode, Guy Chartier, CEO of BeeMaid Honey, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the rise in demand for honey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guy speaks about some of the social distancing measures they've implemented in their packing facilities as well as challenges their beekeepers have had with bringing in experienced foreign workers who usually arrive in Manitoba this time of year to begin the season. Interestingly enough as well, Guy chats about difficulties related to bringing in queen bees that typically arrive from places such as Hawaii and Australia. BeeMaid Honey is the largest honey packer in Canada. With two facilities in Manitoba and Spruce Grove, Alberta, the company is owned by 300 Western Canadian Beekeepers. Their product is found all over the country and is exported to the United States, Japan and South Korea.

Dans cet épisode, Guy Chartier, PDG de BeeMaid Honey, explique à Mariette Mulaire que son entreprise a pu donner ses bouteilles de plastique en ourson à deux distilleries en Alberta qui ont pivoté leur production de bière à une production de désinfectant. Guy informe aussi sur les défis associés à la transportation d'employés étrangers ainsi que des reines provenant de régions telles que l'Hawaii et l'Australie.BeeMaid Honey est le plus grand producteur de miel au Canada. L'entreprise a deux usines au Manitoba et en Alberta et appartient à 300 apiculteurs de l'Ouest canadien. Leur produit se trouve partout au Canada et est exporté aux États-Unis, au Japon et en Corée du Sud.

In this episode, Sue Leclair, owner of Pretzel Place and A Baker's Story, chats with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the challenges and effects the pandemic has had on her business. She has had to pivot by offering contactless deliveries – of which a daily record of 103 deliveries recently took place. Sue also speaks about her recent experience in Europe as part of a business exploratory mission to France. She was chosen as one of only 20 Canadian women entrepreneurs to take part in the mission. Pretzel Place offers delicious pretzels to Manitobans which they can find when attending a Bomber, Goldeyes or Winnipeg Ice game, an event at the Winnipeg and Brandon Convention Centres or a wedding!  A Baker's Story is a bakery located in Grunthal that sells its products to locals as well as to stores and restaurants. The bakery – which is still open – can be found all over as it typically holds popups at as many as 8 different locations twice per week. 

Dans cet épisode, Sue Leclair, propriétaire de Pretzel Place et A Baker's Story, raconte à Mariette Mulaire les défis associés à la pandémie et l'effet que celle-ci a eu sur ses entreprises et ses clients, dont plusieurs habitent dans des résidences pour les gens aînés. Cela dit, Sue discute d'une belle et unique opportunité qu'elle a eu au mois de janvier après avoir été choisie comme une de seulement 20 femmes entrepreneures canadiennes à participer à une mission économique exploratoire en France. Pretzel Place offre aux manitobains de délicieux bretzels lorsqu'ils se trouvent au stade des Bombers et des Goldeyes, au Centre des congrès de Winnipeg et Brandon, au jeu du Winnipeg Ice et à une variation de noces au cours de l'année.A Baker's Story est une boulangerie située à Grunthal qui offre également ses produits à plusieurs magasins et restaurants au Manitoba. La boulangerie, qui est toujours ouverte, se trouve un peu partout habituellement car son initiative de « popups » ont typiquement lieu 2 fois par semaine à environ 8 différents endroits. 

In this episode, Jason Leibert, VP of Business Development at MSPrebiotic, chats with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the world's best supplement grade resistant starch prebiotic fibre produced from potatoes – theirs! He also speaks about the growth pattern for the business and the interesting way COVID has impacted that growth, especially since immunity is a hot topic right now. In fact, MSPrebiotic has been running human clinical studies in and outside of Manitoba to learn its product's effect on the human body.MSPrebiotic produces a supplement grade resistant starch from potatoes. The company is owned by two brothers and is located in Carberry, Manitoba. They worked closely with potato farmers and have a global patent suite that is issued all over the world.

In this episode, Ryan Rawluk, Partner at Rawluk & Ryan Chartered Professional Accountants, discusses with Mariette Mulaire how impressed he is with the innovative ways his clients (small business owners) have adapted during the pandemic across various industries. He addresses the tax extension that was announced by the Canada Revenue Agency and how they've been diligently staying on top of the government programs to properly address their clients' needs.Rawluk & Ryan Chartered Professional Accountants serves a variety of clientele of which the majority are small business owners. The firm is a successor to a prior firm and they offer services such as tax returns and audits for not for profit associations. 

In this episode, John Sparrow, founder and CEO of Go Oil Canada, explains how his company was established following his participation in the 55-hour pitch competition led by North Forge and quickly flourished into a Canada-wide business. He discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about his contactless business model and how it has served him well during this pandemic as this new normal is arising. In fact, this past April, John notes that they broke a new record for oil changes. They serviced the same amount of oil changes in under 15 days than they would have typically done in 3 months.Go Oil Canada is a Winnipeg start-up company that now franchises across Canada. They have expanded to 14 vans in Canada and are also expanding to the United States. This upcoming fall, the company plans to launch a subscription-based approach that charges clients based on the kilometres driven. 

In this episode, Butch Bouchard, president of Arne's Welding, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the fluctuation in sales that his company has seen during the pandemic. His company has taken a corporate approach to implementing cleaning protocols and such during this time which has allowed them to continue operations. With clients from coast to coast, Butch speaks about the increase in business and in positivity he has been feeling from clients in the last few weeks, in turn, awakening sales once again. Arne's Welding is one of Winnipeg's oldest company. In 2019, the company celebrated it's 65th anniversary and sells across Canada and to the United States. Arne's Welding supplies transportation solutions and manufactures trailers mostly for the heavy construction industry which are used for things such as aggregate transport, road building, and equipment movers. The company is also a supplier of military products for the Canadian military. 

Dans cet épisode, Butch Bouchard, président d'Arne's Welding, discute avec Mariette Mulaire de son entreprise et des marchés dans lesquels elle opère. Avec plus de 65 ans d'expérience, l'entreprise était bien placée pour s'adapter rapidement à la situation en prenant une approche uniforme dans l'ajout de nouveaux protocoles de nettoyage, de masques, de distanciation sociale pour s'assurer d'offrir un environnement sûr pour ses employés. Ceci a permis à ses opérations de continuer sans trop d'interruption. Arne's Welding est une entreprise basée à Winnipeg depuis plusieurs années. En 2019, elle a célébré son 65e anniversaire. L'entreprise fabrique des remorques pour l'industrie de la construction lourde, le transport agrégat, la construction des routes, le déménagement d'équipement ainsi des produits spécialisés pour l'industrie minière et le militaire canadien. L'entreprise fait affaire partout au Canada et aux États-Unis. 

In this episode, Andrea Kraj, CEO of CORE Renewable Energy, speaks with Mariette Mulaire about her entrepreneurial journey and how her company came to be. She explains the importance behind helping rural farming communities develop their own energy projects at a utility scale – something that set a precedence in Manitoba as it was never done before. Andrea also brings another very important perspective as a mother of 2 and the ways she's approached new responsibilities such as homeschooling.CORE Renewable Energy was founded and grounded on the principals of bringing community oriented renewable energy to remote and rural areas. In fact, CORE recently received the Technology Award at the 2020 Spirit of Winnipeg organized by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. 

In this episode, John Wardrope, owner and president of Acryl Designs, speaks with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about his history of pivoting operations over the last few decades and how that has ensured his company's continued success. The last few months have been no different! John explains how at the beginning of the pandemic the work had just about disappeared, but then they quickly adapted and began manufacturing protective guards to supply grocery stores during the pandemic. Acryl Designs began as a costume jewelry company which quickly grew in the 1990s when a legislation was passed and over 30,000 locations were unable to sell cigarettes without having proper displays. That's where Acryl came in! Since then, they've invested in technology and machinery for the company and have had clients such as New Flyer, Walmart, Staples, Long & McQuade, to name a few.

In this episode, Jean-Marc Roy, owner of MacMor Industries and Arthur Roy, president of MacMor Industries, discuss with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about needing to build new relationships with suppliers in order to source an increase in demand for their PPE products. Although they were able to maintain their company objectives, they were required to shift their focus to different product lines in order to ensure stocked inventory and remain dedicated to their loyal clients which are mostly found in western Canada.  MacMor Industries is a Canadian distributor of industrial, safety and rigging products. The company is located in Winnipeg, Winkler, Brandon, Swift Current and Edmonton. As a distributor of PPE, they service vital industries such as pork producing, food processing plants, manufacturing, mining, and construction. 

Dans cet épisode, Jean-Marc Roy, propriétaire de MacMor Industries et Arthur Roy, président de MacMor Industries, discutent avec Mariette Mulaire de l'historique de leur entreprise et de leurs opérations durant la pandémie. Ils ont eu à rapidement trouver de nouveaux fournisseurs pour répondre à la demande d'équipements de protection individuelle (EPI) de leurs clients fidèles. Le tout n'a pas été évident car leurs plus grands fournisseurs étaient 3M et Honeywell. MacMor Industries est un distributeur canadien de produits industriels, de protection et de gréement. L'entreprise est située à Winnipeg, à Winkler, à Brandon, à Swift Current et à Edmonton. Comme distributeur de EPI, l'entreprise est essentielle aux industries telles que la production de porc, les usines de transformation alimentaire, la fabrication, les mines et la construction. 

In this episode, Rafiq Punjani, owner of Anago Cleaning Systems and Right At Home Canada, speaks with Mariette Mulaire about how both his companies came to be and the unique ways both were able to serve the community during the pandemic. Through Anago, they were able to provide Covid-19 protocol cleaning services to places where people had contracted the virus. And through Right At Home, they were able to take care of seniors, offer them support and improve their qualify of life when their own families weren't permitted to visit. Rafiq also offers critical advice for small business owners in surrounding themselves with key professionals to help their business.Anago Cleaning Systems offers hospital-grade cleaning services which consists of disinfecting all surfaces accompanied with spray treatment. They have more than 130 cleaners in Manitoba. Right At Home is a homecare service that supports seniors and offers them a better quality of life. An international brand, it was brought to Winnipeg about 2 years ago after Rafiq and his family identified a need for the service in the local market. They now have close to 100 caregivers in Winnipeg. 

In this episode, Michelle Lalonde, president and chief officer of growth and happiness at Tiber River, speaks with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about how her company experienced a drastic increase in its direct sales division and adapted a new direct sales model that has been thriving during the pandemic. So much so, that they plan on using that same approach when entering the U.S. market in late 2020/early 2021. Tiber River formulates and manufactures an eco-friendly line of personal care products. The company has two retail spa locations in Winnipeg, which were recently rebranded as coteries. With over 1,800 ambassadors across the country, the company was identified as one of Canada's fastest growing companies on the 2019 Growth 500 list. 

In this episode, Karly McRae, president and owner of Lakehouse Properties, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the impact the pandemic has had on the tourism industry. She shares insight on how the quick implementation of digitally focused changes to her boutique hotel, restaurant and coffee and ice cream shops was crucial to the ensuring guests continued to visit and felt safe doing so. Among these changes are contactless check-in, contactless concierge and restaurant services, online room service, and a touchless menu with QR codes. Lakehouse Properties encompasses a boutique hotel and the Arrowhead Family Resort in Clear Lake and Wasagaming. The company recently acquired a large event venue with three commercial tenants, which accommodates special events, weddings, and a third + bird market. Lakehouse Properties is highly community driven and plays a vital part in bringing people to its community to help it grow.

In this episode, Jamie Wilson, Vice President of Corporate Development of the Arctic Gateway Group discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about how northern regions of Manitoba have maintained their essential services during the pandemic. He discusses how innovative technologies were used to mitigate some of the impacts of permafrost and building on muskeg that allowed them to reopen this passage to the North. From the beginning, Arctic Gateway Group has been diligent in ensuring that their workforce reflects the demographics of northern Manitoba, striving to reach their target of 75% Indigenous employees. Arctic Gateway Group operates the Port of Churchill and cooperates with Hudson Bay Rail to support the Canadian supply chains which are vital to northern Manitoba and its continued growth. The group provides essential minerals like zinc to the pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries as well as other goods that impact global markets. 

In this episode, Cheryl Zealand, president and CEO of Cranked Energy, describes how her company was able to make a quick pivot to operations in order to maintain sales since retailers were not restocking orders as they typically would. She explains to Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson that by selling directly to the customer and offering free delivery in Manitoba and contactless delivery within Winnipeg, they were able to expand their outreach to new clients. Important motivators for Cheryl during the pandemic were to not only keep her staff safe, but to also continue to serve the community. Cranked Energy is a company that offers fresh bars that provide high protein and energy. Their products are available online with various delivery options as well as through 65 different retailers in Manitoba. They plan to continue with their expansion plan to other provinces later in the year. They continue to support community initiatives that surround wellness and health. 

In this episode, Riley Day, co-owner of Progressive Westman speaks with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about his company's beginnings in selling sanitation supplies which has expanded to include mats, uniforms and fire protection. In honouring their statement of "always be willing to try something different", the company quickly pivoted to bottle and label hand sanitizer when they noticed a shortage and high demand for the product. Riley expresses how being local first, when it comes to both sourcing and selling, has been a key point in their business. Progressive Westman began in August 2009 in Brandon, Manitoba. Over the years, they have expanded their products to offer more variety to their customers and have most recently moved into a new facility in Brandon allowing them to hire more staff and better serve the community. 

In this episode, Jessica Dumas, president of Jessica Dumas Coaching and Training, discusses her passion for helping businesswomen live more confidently and independently. She shares with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson how her coaching career stemmed from her own personal experience in identifying the lack of businesswomen around the groups or boards on which she had a presence. She speaks about her future plans to offer more automated programs to better serve clients.Jessica Dumas Coaching and Training empowers women to become better speakers, improve their professional presence and clarify the message they are conveying which, in turn, allows them to grow into stronger more impactful leaders. 

In this episode, Darrell Boyko, principal consultant for Boyko Innovations discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about how his company helps businesses that are over concentrated with few clients to go to the marketplace to acquire new business and find new solutions for long term planning. They work with companies in building new systems to improve on boarding, employee retention and sales. Boyko Innovations is a consultant firm that has developed a series of workshops to help guide businesses to build long term sustainability and continuous growth.  

In this episode, Rick Kemp, owner and president of Dimension Display, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about the need to stay mobile and modular to stay on the go. As a company that mainly sells trade show and conference exhibit pieces, they needed to pivot quickly and project where the industry was going. They were able to determine how to tie their primary product lines to people who might need them in settings that are less traditional. Dimension Display is a Winnipeg-based company that was established 30 years ago. Rick Kemp acquired the business 5 years ago and has since been offering face-to-face marketing solutions to Manitobans. Recently launching their new “Next Dimension” online store, the company offers renting, leasing and purchasing options for products allowing business owners to stay on brand at local, national and international trade shows. 

In this episode, Alfred Lea, founder and president of Tomahawk Chips, spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Chuck Davidson about his company's trajectory and growth during the pandemic thanks to an increase in e-commerce distribution. He elaborates on how he would like to expand his chip offerings and further develop his products. He touches on his involvement with the Friendship Centre in Riverton where he instructs young people how to do business. Tomahawk Chips was established in 2015 in Riverton, Manitoba and produces and distributes potato chips to the North American market. They have a variety of flavours available in individual bags for customers' convenience.

In this episode, Brett Carter, Co-founder and CEO of Goodeye Technologies discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about their new take on security automation, using AI to reduce security costs and improve the effectiveness of asset protection for their clients. Goodeye Tech is looking to solve inefficiencies in traditional security solutions by using proprietary technology to monitor for suspicious behaviour, creating more of a preventative solution for security. Brett speaks to his experience of starting a business and being able to find the expertise he needed from North Forge. 

In this episode, Declan McDonald, founder of PriceRazzi speaks with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about how he started his company and how he pivoted and grew over the past 6 years. After discovering the lengthy process for traditional price matching when purchasing appliances for his own kitchen, Declan made the decision to launch PriceRazzi with the goal of facilitating this process for others. PriceRazzi is a consumer and value added application for personal use as well as for larger companies to create more value for their customers in the financial services industries. Earlier in 2020, Meridian Credit Union won an innovation award for the integration of PriceRazzi's software, which was white labeled as a service offered to their members. PriceRazzi continues to offer what customers are wanting by developing what they need. 

In this episode, Carly Shuler, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Hoot Reading discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about how their online tutoring company helps kids improve and excel at reading. Hoot Reading's application connects kids with real teachers to help them learn. Their technology is based on research that was done at Sesame Workshop, where Carly previously worked. Over the past 2 years, Carly Shuler and her Co-founder, Mia Kotecha, have grown Hoot Reading to include English, French, and are now working on launching Spanish. Their catalogue of 600 books is designed for reading education to give kids the best tools to help them learn to read successfully.

In this episode, Dan Belhassen, president of Neovation, spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about how his learning and development company helps other businesses understand and retain information. Through Ottolearn, their software is customized for their clients by identifying where employees lack familiarity and focuses on those knowledge gaps for a couple minutes a day. Dan describes how this microlearning method leads to more effective long-term retention of information. Neovation launched in 2012 and has been recognized as one of the top growing companies in Canada by both The Globe and Mail, and Canada Business Magazine. Neovation is able to work with companies as they become more conscious of how they can improve their knowledge management. 

Le WTC Winnipeg est heureux d'accueillir Michelle Gervais, directrice de Tourisme Riel, aux conversations avec les entreprises manitobaines dans l'industrie du tourisme.  Dans cet épisode, Darrel Nadeau, directeur général du Festival du Voyageur, discute avec Mariette et Michelle comment l'organisme a dû adapter sa programmation au Fort Gibraltar pour sa réouverture cet été. En gardant la joie de vivre comme priorité dans l'expérience pour les visiteurs, Darrell vous parle aussi de leur évènement spécial le 30 juillet : Party de cuisine plein-air ouvert au public.Le Festival du Voyageur offre une programmation francophone et bilingue autour de l'histoire et de la culture canadienne-française. L'organisation gère plusieurs expériences artistiques, éducatives et culturelles tout au long de l'année, mais elle est surtout connue pour son festival d'hiver de deux semaines qui se déroule en février.

The WTC Winnipeg is happy to welcome Michelle Gervais, Director of Tourisme Riel, to our conversations with Manitoban businesses in the tourism industry. In this episode, Darrel Nadeau, Executive Director of the Festival du Voyageur discusses how they have adapted their summer programming in response to the pandemic restrictions while still showing their joie de vivre! In addition, he talks about how they are looking to kick-off their summer with an Outdoor Kitchen Party on July 30th.  Festival Du Voyageur offers francophone and bilingual programming around the French-Canadian history and culture. The organization manages several artistic, educational, and cultural experiences throughout the year, but it is most well known for its 2-week winter festival taking place in February.

The WTC Winnipeg welcomes Colin Ferguson, president of Travel Manitoba, to our conversations with Manitoban businesses in the tourism industry.In this episode, Barb Gluck, president of the Gimli Glider Exhibit shares the amazing story of how a plane that was transporting 69 passengers made an emergency landing on an air strip in Gimli on July 23rd, 1983. This world-famous aviation story is told with passion by volunteers that are dedicated to making sure that all visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. One of the highlights of the exhibit is the flight simulator which is appealing to visitors of all ages. The Gimli Glider Exhibit is a comprehensive display of the entire story, and the community involvement that surrounds the landing of the Air Canada flight in 1983. 

The WTC Winnipeg welcomes Dayna Spiring, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg, to our conversations with businesses in the Tourism Industry. In this episode, Jeff Mayo, General Manager or Thermea by Nordik Spa-Nature talks about how the lock-down period allowed them to do the necessary changes and renovations to ensure the safety of their staff and customers. The adapted contactless check in and cleaning procedures have been reviewed to enhance the customer experience. Thermea by Nordik Spa-Nature is a thermal spa located in Winnipeg. They offer their signature thermal experience as well as a restaurant, esthetics services and massage therapy. Their multisensory experience is designed to immerse guests in a natural setting to help promote health and well-being. 

In this episode, Adolfo Cuetara, Executive Director of the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Colin Ferguson about Manitoba's rich history and how archaeologists are still unearthing 80 million years later. The centre's tours and galleries continue to depict the large marine reptiles that used to inhabit this area of the world, including Bruce, the world's largest Tylosaur.The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre is located in Morden, Manitoba and focuses on interpreting life that inhabited the Western Interior Seaway, an area that covered most of what is now known as Manitoba, during the late Cretaceous period. 

In this episode, Trudy Schroeder, Executive Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Dayna Spiring about how they recomposed their current season to continue to enliven the summer through pop-up recitals, collaborations with local artists, and online events. They continue to strive to celebrate the community through music.The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) has been recognized for its emphasis on Canadian artists and composers. In fact, the Canadian Music Centre has awarded the WSO with an Award of Excellence for performing and commissioning the most new Canadian compositions of any orchestra in the country. 

In this episode, Jean-Marc Champagne, owner of Fromagerie Bothwell spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Michelle Gervais about being proactive in selling local products within his store. He reveals a new and exciting 'Picnic in St. Boniface' summer project in partnership with CDEM and Travel Manitoba. Jean-Marc is also the president of Provencher Biz and speaks to that role as well. Fromagerie Bothwell is located on Provencher Boulevard and is the factory outlet for Bothwell Cheese. They've been selling Manitoba products since their grand opening in 2018. With their mascot Teemoo perched on top of the store and always dressed to impressed, this quaint store has become a staple in St. Boniface.

In this episode, Jean-François Vary, General Manager of Fairmont Winnipeg, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Dayna Spiring about the procedures and incentives that they have put in place to help Manitobans be tourists in their own backyard. In addition to their rigorous cleanliness procedures that have been implemented with the guidance of specialists, they began offering special packages for guests such as the "Summer Staycation Package". The Fairmont Winnipeg is located on Lombard Avenue in downtown Winnipeg and the hotel offers world-class amenities such as a saltwater pool and rental bikes for guests to enjoy the city. 

Dans cet épisode, Jean-Marc Champagne, propriétaire de la Fromagerie Bothwell discute avec Mariette Mulaire et Michelle Gervais de l'appui continuel qu'il offre aux autres commerçants manitobains en vendant leurs produits dans son magasin. Jean-Marc dévoile un nouveau projet d'été en partenariat avec le CDEM et Voyage Manitoba qui encourage les gens de pique-niquer à Saint-Boniface et de découvrir davantage le quartier. La Fromagerie Bothwell est un magasin de distribution situé sur le boulevard Provencher et qui a ouvert ses portes en 2018. En plus de ses propres produits, la fromagerie offrent ceux de partenaires manitobains pour faire vibrer davantage l'économie locale. Avec leur mascotte Teemoo bien perchée (et toujours bien habillée) sur le toit de l'établissement, le magasin est devenue un arrêt essentiel à Saint-Boniface.

In this episode, Liz Wilson, President and CEO of FortWhyte Alive discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Dayna Spiring about the beautiful reclaimed greenspace that gives Manitobans the opportunity to experience the outdoors in a fun way. With modified hours and capacity, the establishment continues to engage visitors through their knowledgeable ambassadors who are always on hand to provide insight and a memorable experience for all.FortWhyte Alive boasts 660 acres of reclaimed land in the southwest corner of Winnipeg. These lands include outdoor recreation, education aspects and a unique bison safari. Among other amenities and activities, visitors are able to rent bicycles and watercrafts as well as enjoy 7 kilometres of quaint walking trails.

In this episode, Caleigh Christie, General Manager of Falcon Trails Resort spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Colin Ferguson about the 4-season experience they offer just a short drive from Winnipeg. Christie prides herself on the experience that her and her family have been able to offer their visitors through private lakefront properties. She also discusses the pandemic which has had minimal impact on their level of service, but has allowed them to upgrade their visitor experience by improving amenities. Falcon Trails Resort is a family owned and operated lakeside cabin rental resort. Their modern and rustic-style lakefront cabins boast beautiful views of Falcon Lake and High Lake located in the Whiteshell area. In addition to summer lakeside activities, they also offer a ski slope in the winter and a vibrant winter music festival. They also cater to those that are looking to experience living off-grid with their 3-season Eco Cabins that are on High Lake, operating fully by solar power.  

In this episode, Chris and Lawrence Warwaruk, owners and "beer brothers" of Farmery Estate Brewing spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Colin Ferguson about the positive impact that their rural brewery has had on the community. They pride themselves in focusing their efforts on the local economy and offering quality products. In addition to being available in numerous Manitoba locations, those products are also offered in a craft beer shop that they run on Highway 16. The modest brewery was in fact one of the first movers when the pandemic hit. They quickly pivoted production to make hand sanitizers for those in need. Farmery Estate Brewing is a located on their working farm near Neepawa, Manitoba, where they grow the barley and hops that are used in the production of their products. In 2019, the brewery received the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Outstanding Small Business of the Year.

In this episode, Brenda Cardenas, founder of Digital Army, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about her involvement in the evolution of AR and VR filters used in social media. With a background in digital marketing, Cardenas was 1 of 10 people selected to conduct some beta testing for Facebook in 2018 when creating filters for Instagram. Digital Army is based in Winnipeg and has an international reach. Their work has had over 2 billion impressions worldwide and been used by celebrities such as Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner. They continue to help SMEs with marketing and making AR and VR more accessible. 

In this episode, Melanie Derwin, founder of Serenity Productions, spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about her prototype and fem-tech company. She discusses her product development journey from applying for a patent, to finding engineers that would be able to help with a prototype and even how she was able to find funding opportunities for a niche market.  Serenity Productions aims to normalize and promote a conversation around female sexual wellness with their new discreet product. Their first product is still in the prototyping phase, but they hope to have a variety of products that will serve the niche market. 

In this episode, Kerry Stevenson, founder of Fabbaloo, discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about the advancements that are taking place in the world of 3D printing, and how his team uses its news service to keep on top of trends.  Kerry speaks about the technological advancements which have allowed them to go beyond prototyping and manufacture materials for custom markets making supply chains more efficient. Fabbaloo is a news service dedicated to innovation and advancements in 3D printing. They are one of the top 3 news outlets for this technology in the world and currently host 150,000 readers per month. 

In this episode, Ketaki Ogale, owner and co-founder of BHyve, spoke with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about their peer learning platform that she believes will innovate how skills and knowledge are exchanged in the workplace. She explains how knowledge can be lost in an organization if it is not necessarily part of their job description, and that is why she and her co-founder set out to resolve this issue. BHyve is a gamified peer-learning platform that is at the intersection of online learning and human resources products that are meant for engagement. They aim to help companies see meaningful interactions between their staff while creating a space to share proficiencies. 

In this episode, Chris Johnson, Co-founder and CEO of Permission Click discusses with Mariette Mulaire and Joelle Foster about how his company helps schools around the world to automate forms and workflows and establish a digital audit trail. With over 50 countries served so far, their goal was to make sure their program could just as easily be used in regions such as the United States and the Middle East as it is locally. Permission Click primarily serves the education market for schools from Kindergarten to Grade 12. After the idea stemmed from participating in one of North Forge's Ramp Up weekends, Chris knew that there was a problem to be solved. Since launching the company, their product offering has grown from permission forms to a full program that can be used at various degrees in schools and to improve time efficiency in administrative tasks.