editor’s
letter
Dear readers,
It’s technological perfection. A Quebec company has created a process that could capture the carbon dioxide pro-
duced by a soft drink bottling plant and repurpose the gas to be used in their carbonated soda production. CO2 Solu-
tions describes it as “closing the loop”, but we call it another example of a Canadian company bringing innovation to
new heights.
This month’s issue is filled with similar stories of companies that have taken an opportunity and turned it into a
winning venture. LM Packaging was born when a pair of furniture manufacturers weren’t able to order the packing
supplies they needed to ship their products. Today, the eco-friendly business is developing some of the strongest and
most versatile packaging solutions on the market.
Cascadia Windows in Langley, British Columbia epitomizes the spirit of innovation. Realizing that windows were the
primary source of energy loss for most buildings, the company’s founders introduced the concept of fiberglass and
are now producing the most energy efficient windows in the industry. Their product not only meets but in most cases
exceeds building energy codes.
There’s no shortage of Canadian companies driving today’s economy and many of those have earned a spot on De-
loitte’s Best Managed Companies list. We spoke with Deloitte Managing Partner John Hughes, who told Business Elite
Canada that the most important factor in any company’s success “is the talent that you hire”. More companies, from
the smallest family-run business to mega-corporations, are realizing the power behind building the next generation
of leaders.
Developing talent often begins with education and for the construction sector, that means renewed efforts to promote
careers within the industry. The Saskatchewan Construction Association (SCA) has updated its strategic plan for
2014-2019, which aims to attract a more diverse workforce including women, aboriginal people and new Canadians.
They’re also determined to dispel the myth that working in a trade may be less academically challenging than other
careers. “Trades require as much intelligence and academic wherewithal as university goers,” says the SCA’s Doug
Folk.
Finally, we couldn’t put together this month’s issue of Business Elite Canada without reflecting upon Remembrance
Day of 2014. The horrific events that occurred so close to home this year brought a special poignancy to the day, but
they also highlighted how fiercely Canadians come together to bolster each other in times of adversity. While we
share in the tragic losses, we also revel in the spirit that rose up among tens of thousands of supporters, a determina-
tion to persevere that is uniquely Canadian.
NOV 2014
H
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