Inaugural Built in Canada Awards Celebrates the Founders Shaping Canada’s Future

This section is Partnership Content suppliedThe content in this section is supplied by Business Wire for the purposes of distributing press releases on behalf of its clients. Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by Business Wire Built In Canada Award Winners, Award Presenters and Emcees for the evening. Business WireArticle contentOver 200 founders, investors, and policymakers gathered in Toronto to honour eight companies building in and for Canada.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentTORONTO — Build Canada and Simple Ventures, in partnership with TD Innovation Partners and The Peak, last night hosted the inaugural Built in Canada Awards, bringing together more than 200 of Canada’s leading entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers at the TD office at Toronto-Dominion Centre in Toronto.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentThe awards recognized eight companies and leaders across categories spanning innovation, impact, and leadership — selected from over 400 submissions representing every province and sector across the country. Awards were presented by some of Canada’s most accomplished business leaders, including Mike Katchen (Wealthsimple), Chris Albinson (True North Fund), Brett Chang (The Peak), Jason Goldlist (TechTO), Jeff Adamson (Neo Financial), and Daniel Debow (Build Canada).

Kids Help Phone was also featured, with remarks from Justin Scaini, Group Head & EVP of Strategy, Innovation and Transformation.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentCanada has the talent, the ambition, and the natural resources to be the most prosperous country in the world. What it needs is a culture that celebrates the people turning that potential into reality. The Built in Canada Awards were created to recognize the founders, operators, and companies building world-class businesses right here in Canada, and to show the country what its builders are capable of.Article content“Canada is full of people who are choosing to build here — not because it’s easy, but because they believe in this country,” said Lucy Hargreaves, Co-Founder and CEO of Build Canada. “Tonight was about celebrating them. The founders in this room are proof that Canada’s best days are ahead of us, and we’re just getting started.”Article content“We saw over 400 submissions from companies across 5 provinces and 8 sectors – the depth and quality blew us away,” said Rachel Zimmer, Co-Founder & CEO of Simple Ventures. “This isn’t a niche community. This is a national movement of builders, and tonight was about giving them the recognition they deserve.”Article contentShopify President Harley Finkelstein delivered the keynote address, setting the tone for an evening focused on ambition, optimism, and the strength of Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. A complete list of winners is below.Article content2026 Built in Canada Award WinnersArticle contentPay It Forward Award — Mike McCauley, Article contentGarage Capital Article contentArticle contentRecognizing an individual or organization that has gone above and beyond to support the next generation of Canadian founders.Article contentNext Great Canadian Company — Stephen Seibel, Article contentClutch Article contentArticle contentAwarded to an emerging company demonstrating exceptional growth, ambition, and the potential to become a Canadian household name.Article contentProudly Canadian — Mohammad Norouzi, Article contentIdeogramArticle content Article contentArticle contentCelebrating a company or founder who has chosen to build in Canada and whose work puts the country on the global stage.Article contentArticle contentImpact Award — Kyle Zien & Emma Stern, Article contentFelix Health Article contentArticle contentHonouring a company making a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians through its products, services, or mission.Article contentRocketship — Scott Stevenson, Article contentSpellbook Article contentArticle contentRecognizing the fastest-growing Canadian company that is scaling at an extraordinary pace.Article contentWelcome Home — Justin Herlick, Article contentPine Article contentArticle contentAwarded to a founder or company that has returned to or chosen Canada as their home base, strengthening the domestic ecosystem.Article contentOperator Award — Jenna Earnshaw, Article contentWisedocs Article contentArticle contentCelebrating operational excellence — a leader who is building a world-class organization from the inside out.Article contentJob Creator — Adrian Schauer, Article contentAlayaCare Article contentArticle contentRecognizing a company that is creating significant, high-quality employment for Canadians and investing in talent at scale.Article contentNominations for next year’s awards open Winter 2026.Article contentGet involved. Join the community of builders at Build Canada at buildcanada.com. Join or lead the next generation of great Canadian companies with Simple Ventures at simpleventures.ca.Article contentAbout Build Canada Article contentBuild Canada is a civic organization of entrepreneurs, leaders, and motivated citizens committed to making Canada the most prosperous country in the world. Learn more atArticle contentwww.buildcanada.comArticle content.Article contentAboutArticle contentSimpleArticle contentVentures Article contentSimple Ventures is a Canadian venture builder dedicated to building the next generation of great Canadian-founded companies. To learn more about Simple Ventures’ mission, visitArticle contentwww.simpleventures.caArticle content.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentArticle contentView source version on businesswire.com: Article content https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260401894176/en/Article contentArticle contentContactsArticle contentMedia Contact Article contentArticle contentLindsay SilverbergArticle contentArticle contentlindsay@lprconsulting.caArticle contentTrending Suncor reveals expansion plans as key oilsands mine enters its last decade Energy Terence Corcoran: Canada hates Trump but loves his economics FP Comment KPMG faces OSC allegations of blown audit in private credit collapse Finance U.S. within 'weeks' of oil shortages if war in Iran continues: Eric Nuttall Oil & Gas ‘Revoke the agreement’: Alberta-Ottawa energy pact faces pushback Energy Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Suncor reveals expansion plans as key oilsands mine enters its last decade Energy Terence Corcoran: Canada hates Trump but loves his economics FP Comment KPMG faces OSC allegations of blown audit in private credit collapse Finance U.S. within 'weeks' of oil shortages if war in Iran continues: Eric Nuttall Oil & Gas ‘Revoke the agreement’: Alberta-Ottawa energy pact faces pushback Energy