A SPECIAL-INTEREST PUBLICATION: A HISTORIC LOOK AT CANADIAN INNOVATION SPONSORED EXCLUSIVE INSIDE! - The Spark Magazine
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A SPECIAL-INTEREST PUBLICATION: A HISTORIC LOOK AT CANADIAN INNOVATION
SPONSORED
EXCLUSIVE
INSIDE!
SUMMER 2021
thesparkmagazine.ca
CONTENTS
SUMMER 2021
A HISTORIC LOOK AT
CANADIAN
Innovation
DISCOVERING NEW FRONTIERS
IN INNOVATION
A collection of 25 incredible
companies that are moving
the needle with their ingenuity
10
and creativity. KEEPING CANADA SAFE
How four Ontario companies
are changing the game for
50
first responders.
Photo credit (top): iStock/Yarygin; (bionic man) iStock/RYGERSZEM.
ON THE
COVER
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION CREDIT SER VICE S W E O F F ER
Melanie Marler with photos
Office Leasing
and illustrations from
iStock/maystra, iStock/
Retail Leasing
MicrovOne, iStock/Eyematrix
and iStock/phokin.
Industrial Leasing
Commercial Property
Acquisition/Disposition
Industrial Property
SO YOU HAVE A GREAT IDEA Graham Healer Acquisition/Disposition
But how do you get it funded? Broker / Managing Director Business Brokerage
Venture capital associate
68
Aashna Kumar weighs in.
289-634-1525
WELL ON THEIR WAY
Coldwell Banker Commercial was first established in 1906 cbcrmr.com
WELL Health Technologies has
a vision: to alleviate health care
58
barriers for Canadians.
INNOVATION BEYOND BORDERS
The international Eureka
program drives best-in-class
64
research and development.
T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 3
SUMMER 2021
PUBLISHER
Kristina Svana
CONTENT DIRECTOR & EDITORIAL CONSULTANT
Katie Dupuis
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Melanie Marler
SENIOR WRITER
Melissa Nowakowski
WRITERS
“DIVERSITY
Erin Pepler, Karen Robock & Kailee Somers
SENIOR DESIGNER
Sunday Lek
RESEARCHER
Jen Batler
ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Frank Auddino
CONTRIBUTORS
MARK WITZEL IS THE ENGINE
OF INVENTION.
Mark Witzel is an Industrial Technology Advisor with the
Industrial Research Assistance Program at National Re-
search Council Canada located in Durham Region, with
25 years of industry experience in business leadership
IT GENERATES
and R&D roles.
ERIN PEPLER
Erin Pepler is a freelance writer who specializes in the
CREATIVITY THAT
lifestyle, parenting, op-ed and business sectors. Her first
book is set for release in early 2022.
ABOUT THE SPARK
The Spark is Spark Centre’s quarterly publication centred around ENRICHES
“
THE WORLD.
the incredible technology and innovation happening across
Ontario. We feature businesspeople, entrepreneurs and inno-
vators, leaders and companies doing amazing things in the
worlds of tech and innovation. If you have a story you think fits
The Spark’s editorial mandate, please email content director
Katie Dupuis at katie.dupuis@gmail.com.
THE SPARK
2 Simcoe Street South – Suite 300
Oshawa, ON L1H 8C1 JUSTIN TRUDEAU
905.432.3999 | sparkcentre.org
PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA
ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL INQUIRIES
marketing@sparkcentre.org
4 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 5
KATIE DUPUIS
Content Director
& Editorial Consultant
INVEST. VER.
BUILD. RECO
TOGETHER.
The definition of
INNOVATION
Ontario's Angels make a When we first started working on this and experience they bring to their jobs of Canadian innovation, to the people
positive impact on their issue, I thought I knew what innovation (not to mention their willingness to help we spoke to for the company profiles, I
communities and the future was. It’s something new and exciting, us out given their very busy schedules!). found myself thinking about how proud
NTARIO'S
of their local economy. right? Never before seen? A step for- It’s no wonder that they are well-versed I am to be from this country of prob-
If you are looking to be
F O
TO
ward in the pursuit of progress? in innovation, because their tireless lem-solvers, of people who wanted to
involved and apply your exper- It turns out that’s not really true. Sure, enthusiasm jumps off the page. make a difference so much that they
tise to Ontario's innovation it might be all of those things in one way Innovation is at Spark Centre’s took risks and leaps of faith to make
REC
economy's recovery, please or another, but innovation is less about heart. Supporting tech and innovation something, somewhere, easier, quicker
R
visit angelinvestorsontario.ca/
BE A PA
invention — making something brand companies in Durham Region, to help or more effective. It just seems like such
recover
OVERY new — and more about combining tech- them develop and grow, is Spark’s rea- a Canadian thing to do.
VISIT
nologies, new ways of thinking, different son for being. How fitting then, that as It would be interesting to repeat an
applications. Innovations often inspire we researched past Canadian innova- issue like this in years to come, to see
changes in behaviour and how things tions and the more than 40 companies how these companies have evolved and
ANGELINVESTORSONTARIO.CA/ RECOVER are done. The difference is subtle featured in this issue, it became abun- to see what new developments have
TO FIND OUT HOW but important. dantly clear that Canada has historically made their way to the world. There’s one
IN
GET
With that updated definition in been, and continues to be, synonymous thing I know for sure, though: Canadians,
VOLVED TOD
AY
my head, it was a privilege to speak with creativity and ingenuity. We are then and now, are experts at innovation,
to the industry leaders who wrote the responsible for so much growth and and if history is any indication, that
introductions for each of the sectors development both at home and abroad. simple fact will be true forever.
we’ve covered in this issue. I admit I was But what struck me most is that
intimidated at first, given the impressive so many of the innovations we feature See you next time,
backgrounds of each professional, but in this magazine were created to solve
as they began to send in their words real problems, to provide meaningful
/RECOVER about their life’s work, I became less in-
timidated and more awed by the passion
solutions across sectors. From the ar-
chival tidbits we included in our timeline
6 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 7
ARE YOUR VIRTUAL
TRAINING SESSIONS
NOT CUTTING IT?
PROVEN
LEARNING
SOLUTIONS,
CUSTOMIZED
FOR YOUR
BUSINESS
Discovering
NEW FRONTIERS IN
INNOVATION
TIME FOR A CHANGE…
Photo Credit: (background throughout) iStock/phokin; (cogs) iStock/MicrovOne; (hand) iStock/maystra.
Canadians have always
contributed to global advance-
CORPORATETRAININGSERVICES.CA
ment with fearless ingenuity.
Read on for a collection of
stories, across five different
sectors, that will go down in
history as important examples of
evolution and progress.
icarevirtual.com 1-855-icare33 10 LIFE SCIENCES &
ADVANCED HEALTH
The iCare Virtual Care Clinic provides comprehensive
family medicine via e-visits using a connected
18 ADVANCED MATERIALS
& MANUFACTURING
26
Electronic Health Record (EHR).
AGRICULTURE
This is especially useful for unattached and & TECHNOLOGY
high needs patients that may not have regular
access to a family physician.
34 DIGITAL MEDIA & ICT
42
Proudly serving Durham Region.
INFRASTRUCTURE,
Powered by Health Espresso Electronic Health Record (EHR)
CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN
8 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 9
Sciences
&
LIFE
ADAM DUBROWSKI
Professor and Canada Research Chair
in Health Care Simulation, Faculty of
Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University
There is a complex relationship between health care to evolve. So many compa-
science, real world problems and innova- nies are examining the obstacles patients
ADVANCED
tion, which is the birthplace of incredible and providers currently face, and are us-
development. ing new technologies and theories to ad-
Over time, my passion, and the dress these problems. The organizations
focus of my career, has become simula- you’ll read about in this magazine just
tion-based health professions edu- scratch the surface of what’s happening
HEALTH
cation. It is often said that “practice in the sector, and what will continue to
makes perfect” and simulation does happen for many years to come.
just that. Simulation is a powerful tool In addition to my research career,
for training health care professionals. I have been heavily involved in many
L
Trainees become proficient in per- leadership roles that put me close to the
forming routine skills, such as catheter end-point users of the very innovations
ouis Pasteur is one of my insertion, while experienced profession- I was researching in my lab. This unique
research and innovation role als can maintain skills required less mix of research and leadership has high-
models. Not only because we frequently, such as pediatric intubation, lighted to me the importance of strong
have a word in the dictionary or rehearse complex procedures, like tu- partnerships between researchers and
— pasteurization — that celebrates his mour removal. This work uses research end-point users. Although collaborative
work in food preservation and safety, but to find solutions, study their effective- models, such as living labs, exist and are
because he was one of the original think- ness and fuel transformation. very effective, they also highlight new
ers who seamlessly combined research Despite these great benefits of opportunities for innovation. Specifi-
focused on fundamental understanding simulation, it is expensive and not easily cally, researchers are good at solving
of scientific problems with innovation accessible in remote and rural areas. problems through research; however,
that solved issues impacting society. My research explores the application of they are not always good at moving
He showed us that we do not have to disruptive technologies, like 3D printing, these innovations past the research
choose between being a researcher and to make simulation more cost-effective laboratory. This leaves their partners
an innovator — we can be both. and accessible. For example, a surgeon and end-point users, those who invested
Along with many of my colleagues, preparing for a complex surgery would in the innovation development process,
I aim to be a researcher and a disruptive be able to send a patient’s scan to a wanting more. But this means there is
innovator, applying new technologies dedicated digital design laboratory, which fertile ground for entrepreneurship and
and theories to the health profession. would generate a 3D printable model of startups. Working across the fields of
The road to this stage of my career has the treatment. The physician can then re- rigorous research, practical innovation
allowed me to see and contribute to the hearse the procedure many times before and entrepreneurship is not an easy
evolution of so many areas of my field, performing it on the patient. journey, but it’s one worth trying. Pasteur
including technology and education. It is this kind of thinking that will help remains a strong inspiration for it.
1919
William Buckley’s Toronto pharmacy releases
Buckley’s, the horrible-tasting cough suppressant that
From easier access to medical records to advancements in meditation, is still on the market today. (The taste was initially
described as “brisk.”)
Canadian companies are working to revolutionize how we take care of ourselves. 1921
Dr. Frederick Banting and his assistant Charles Best discover insulin,
used in the treatment of diabetes, in a University of Toronto laboratory,
under the directorship of John McLeod. Banting and McLeod went on
to win a Nobel Prize for their work.
10 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 11
KINARM O C TA N E M E D I C A L G R O U P
Photo Crecit (timeline): (Pablum) The Hospital for Sick Children Archives; (electron microscope) https://www.doctorc.net/Labs/Lab2/Appendix/ems.htm; (thermometer) iStock/Gorbovoi; (heart) iStock/juliaart; (ribbon) iStock/LenaSkor.
This advanced tech company is bringing Canada to the forefront How this Kingston-based med-tech company is improving the standard of care in regenerative medicine,
Photo Credit (previous spread): (brain) iStock/Jolygon; (needle) iStock/channarongsds; (photo frame) iStock/U.P.images. Timeline: (Buckley’s) buckleys.ca; (needle) iStock/maystra. This page (background): iStock/Sergi Nunez.
of neurological research. from their intrepid approach to research to their company structure.
BY K AILEE SOMERS BY K ATIE DUPUIS
W T
hen it comes to brain injuries completing the task, the robot precise- he seeds for Octane Medical erative medicine, has been structured at the forefront, one of the companies —
and diseases, modern med- ly records their arm movements and Group — a Kingston-based since its inception. Octane is split into aptly called Octane Innovations — acts
icine still relies heavily on a upon completing the two- to four-minute medical technology company — six operating companies, with their own as a think-tank to the rest of the Octane
neurologist’s perception of a patient’s task, a detailed report of the subject’s were planted long before the business resources, innovations, patent portfolios Group of Companies. “This group works
brain function, which lacks the precision performance is provided, comparing was founded. In 1988, Tim Smith, who and commercial partners. This allows to supply ideas to existing Octane enti-
required to provide the personalized med- their behaviour to an age, sex and hand- co-founded Octane with fellow engineer the team at Octane to focus on what ties, but also to spin off new entities,”
icine expected of modern clinical care. matched control population. By follow- Ian Grant, led a commercial biomaterials they do best — develop game-changing says Smith. One company, Octane EXO,
Fortunately, Kinarm, based in Kingston, ing a suite of standardized protocols, research collaboration with the Universi- biotechnology — without the added layer which works with advanced materials for
has developed interactive robotic instru- a clinical researcher can assess the ty of Toronto and Queen’s University, at of an in-house salesforce. spinal reconstruction and bone grafts,
ments that enable the precise quan- neurological impairments of a subject in a time when industry-academic part- This “constellation of compa- was the result of an Octane Innovations
tification of human behaviour and, as a Kinarm Lab in just 30 to 60 minutes, ical assessment. To that end, they are nerships weren’t as common as they nies” approach, as Smith calls it, which initiative. There is also another potential
Anne Vivian-Scott, president and CEO, saving days of clinic time. “These are working toward the strict certification are now. The result of that partnership started with three stand-alone entities, spin-off company in the works, in the
says, “We’re providing a measuring stick tests of basic brain function that go requirements of medical devices. “We was a patented biomaterial formulation allows all stakeholders — employees, space of bioelectricity.
where one doesn’t exist right now.” across the three key building blocks of have a very complex mechatronic sys- used in osteoporosis diagnostics. In the suppliers, marketing partners, branding At the end of the day and with every
The Kinesiological Instrument for brain function — cognition, motor and tem that has to comply with all of these years that followed, Smith worked with
Normal and Altered Reaching Movement sensory,” says Vivian-Scott. “We’re standards and so we’ve been spending many other medical innovation startups,
(KINARM) was invented in 1998 by providing information to neuroscientists a lot of time these last three years doing from their discovery phases through to
Queen’s University professor Stephen and clinician-scientists that’s critical to really grunt engineering work to ensure practical application.
Octane is split into six operating companies, with their own resources,
Scott for his own neuroscience research, helping them develop more effective that our systems will be certifiable to At the same time, Grant was innovations, patent portfolios and commercial partners.
and it has been evolving ever since. The therapies for any brain injury or disease.” these international standards,” says building his career in manufacturing. He
company was formed in 2004 and for The Kinarm Lab approach allows Vivian-Scott. gained experience across sectors, in the
nearly 20 years Kinarm’s skilled team researchers to study a wide range of As they continue on the long road to food and drug industries, the plastics experts, clinical, regulatory and more Octane company, standard of care is
of experts in neuroscience, engineering injuries and diseases — from stroke medical device certification, they remain industry and more, before partnering — to understand and get behind the core to what they do. “We don’t do re-
and software development have devel- patients, to traumatic brain injury and committed to their core values. “The with Smith to found Octane in 2007. particular vision of an Octane company. search for research’s sake,” says Smith.
oped robust platforms to fit the needs of diseases such as Parkinson’s and good thing about what we do, because “Octane is the culmination of many var- This means that the companies, which “We develop bold, untraditional prod-
researchers around the world. Alzheimer’s — with exceptional precision. of how we built this business, is we’ve ied experiences — mine, Ian’s and those are all housed under one roof, are all giv- ucts, and we partner with companies
During an assessment, the subject This Canadian homegrown technology been selling as a scientific instrument of other team members,” says Smith, en separate but equal attention, and are who are willing to take risks to bring our
interacts with the robot and performs a has been implemented by researchers for use in research forever. That’s always “and experience has taught us that we the priority of a specific team of people. products to market. But we aim to sys-
task, such as directing a hand to a tar- from coast to coast and now has around been our core, serving the needs of neu- are good at development and manufac- “At Octane, we aren’t picking winners,” tematically think through the standard of
get, or interacting with an object in the 120 units worldwide. roscience and clinical scientists. […] We turing, so we focus our attention there. says Grant. “There is a very clear circle care and identify the gaps or pain points,
virtual environment. From the subject’s Moving forward, their goal is to continue to sell instruments that matter We then partner with multinationals for around each company, so the companies and ponder, ‘What would happen if….’”
perspective, it feels as though they take Kinarm beyond research use and to people’s research and that’s really market access.” This is the backbone of don’t complicate each other.” It’s safe to say that at Octane, it’s inno-
are interacting with real objects. While make it the gold standard for neurolog- how we’ve grown the business.” how Octane, which specializes in regen- To ensure that innovation is always vation in action, for the greater good.
1950 1951
1931 Wilfred Bigelow discovers that lowering a patient’s Drs. Sylvia Fedoruk and Harold Johns
Three Toronto pediatricians — Drs. Alan Brown, core body temperature can allow surgeons longer, at the University of Saskatchewan
Fred Tisdall and Theo Drake — develop Pablum, safer access to the heart for surgical intervention. use gamma radiation from cobalt
a nutrient-rich baby cereal initially created for The first open heart surgery, using Dr. Bigelow’s to successfully treat malignant
malnourished babies and kids. theory, was performed three years later. tumours in patients.
1940 1951
The electron microscope, which uses a beam of Engineer John Hopps at Canada’s
electrons for magnification up to 10,000,000 National Research Council develops
times (light microscopes are around 2,000 times), the forerunner to the pacemaker.
is created by U of T Ph.D. students James Hillier and
Albert Prebus. It is still used in labs around the world.
12 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 13
I A P OT H E C A MUSE
How one company is empowering independent pharmacies and getting prescriptions In a quest for better meditation, one company has developed a portable EEG machine
in the hands of Canadians who need them with their easy-to-use software. that supports sleep health and emergency healthcare.
BY K AREN ROBOCK BY ERIN PEPLER
“E I
veryone is benefiting from optimize their routes, saving a driver prep for inspections by receiving notifi- f you’ve ever wondered what your
delivery services right now on delivery time and fuel, and they can cations about which narcotics are due to mind sounds like, you might want
Photo Credit: (medication) iStock/Galina Shafran. Timeline: (cells) iStock/Kolonko; (pill bottle) iStock/jorgeantonio; (hand) iStock/Mellok; (needle) iStock/maystra; (ribbon) iStock/LenaSkor.
due to Covid-19,” says track their packages in real time and be reconciled and by creating a schedule to learn more about Muse. The
Rachelle Smerhy, Chief Operating Officer take payments at the door using to meet the frequency required by local brain-sensing headband was initially
of iApotheca Healthcare. These days Square integration. “Not all pharmacists regulations. Likewise, the iApotheca designed as a meditation tool but
everything from groceries to gardening are tech-savvy,” says Smerhy. “So, Smart Temperature Monitoring System soon found a secondary following as
supplies can be ordered right to your we’ve built the software to be very comes with email and text alerts, re- an effective non-medicinal sleep aid.
front door. Thanks to a key aspect of iA- user-friendly — it’s simple to use.” cording fridge storage temperatures for Muse headbands give users real-time
potheca’s software, called EconoRoute, That ease-of-use extends to creating an temperature-sensitive medications. This feedback on their meditation practice, Garten and business partners Chris In addition to supporting users with
that also includes critical medications accurate audit trail, too, to help maintain has the potential to save countless hours including body movement, heartbeat, Aimone and Trevor Coleman. The Toron- meditation practice and sleep health,
from more than 1,000 pharmacies and thousands of dollars in the event of breath and brain activity. This gives in- to-based company now employs dozens Muse has unlimited potential in the
across the country. a fridge failure. These types of software dividuals a holistic view of their efforts, of individuals and has an advisory board medical field. Research indicates that
tools can be game-changing, especially enabling them to make adjustments composed of experts in both medicine Muse can be used to detect strokes in a
in a small, independent pharmacy. and improve. and technology. Muse wants to help matter of minutes, making it invaluable
iApotheca’s EconoRoute software The big drugstore “Muse can create an auditory people live happier, healthier and more in an emergency room triage setting.
is empowering independent pharmacies chains already have experience where you can actually hear connected lives, and it all starts with a There are additional uses in pain man-
to get critical medications in the hands access to numer- the sound of your mind during your moment of quiet relaxation. agement and pain intervention that are
ous tech solutions, meditation experience,” says co-founder Garten credits Aimone for being currently under trial, and Muse is on the
of Canadians. says Smerhy. The Ariel Garten. “It lets you come closer the team’s technical and spiritual path toward FDA approval for several
idea here is to to yourself, as opposed to having the lead, calling his work an extraordinary clinical applications of the device.
It’s a matter of convenience, sure, give an edge to the technology take you away from it.” achievement. “The level of innovation After just over a decade in busi-
Photo credit: iStock/RYGERSZEM; (background right) iStock/tamayalper
but prescription delivery is so much independent pharma- With successful meditation came at Muse is off the scale,” Garten says. ness, Muse has close to half a million
more than that for people with limited compliance with narcotics regulations cies across the country. For example, better, more restorative sleep, and soon, “We took a clinical grade EEG that only users around the world and is available
mobility, the elderly and persons with as well. having a delivery option can increase a a new class of consumers. Muse head- worked in a hospital setting with goopy in French, Spanish and German as well
serious chronic illnesses, says Smerhy. But EconoRoute is just one compo- pharmacy’s revenue as it offers the best bands offer features that help users fall gel, wires and a technician, and went to as English. More than 200 medical stud-
Having the pharmacy deliver medica- nent of iApotheca’s offerings. Another in patient care. asleep and stay asleep, and recent iter- something small that uses a dry sensor. ies have been published using Muse as
tions can be of critical importance to a part of software, the iApotheca Narcotics After all, the need for home delivery ations of the product provide guided ex- You can put it on anybody’s head and a meditation tool or EEG machine, and
person’s health. “Delivery has been di- Reconciliation Module, allows pharma- isn’t going anywhere. “Big businesses ercises that are available by subscription get a clinical read in three minutes.” researchers in both Canada and Israel
rectly linked to medication adherence,” cists to make the job of reconciling their like Amazon have really altered the way through an app or smart home assistant. Muse uses a tiny EEG machine to are investigating the product’s use for
she says. In other words, it helps ensure narcotics inventory easier. The software we shop, and that’s not going to change, Muse’s sleep tracking technology is the read brainwaves and provide immediate rapid stroke detection. With so much
people get the meds they need, when can reduce this time-consuming task by even post-pandemic,” says Smerhy. “We most precise available on the market feedback. “It essentially is a home sleep on the horizon, Muse is poised to keep
they need them. as much as 80 per cent. Pharmacists only see the need for this service, and today, according to Garten. lab. It’s the only way you can properly growing and thriving — just as they hope
With EconoRoute, a pharmacy can can schedule quick weekly counts, and for this software, growing.” Muse was co-founded in 2009 by score sleep,” Garten says. their users will, too.
1971 1984
1961 A new prosthetic hand, the first to incorpo- Canadian cancer researcher Dr. Tak Wah Mak
Physician James Till and physicist Ernest McCulloch rate electronic and mechanical elements discovers T-cell receptors — a molecule found
accidentally develop stem cells, which are now used to help the user perform tasks like turning on the surface of T-cells that plays a major role
in treatment for a range of medical issues, from a doorknob or picking up a cup, is created in the immune system. This discovery became a
spinal cord injuries to cancer and Alzheimer’s. by Canadian scientist Helmut Lucas. major breakthrough in cancer immunology.
1967 1982
Childproof caps for medication are introduced, invented by The meningitis vaccine, developed by
Windsor’s Dr. Henri Breault. The “palm-n-turn” technology Ottawa-based medical research Dr. Harold
helped to cut the accidental incidents of poisoning in Jennings and his team, is finalized.
Ontario by medication by 90 per cent. The technology was
eventually made mandatory across the country.
14 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 15
H E A LT H E S P R E S S O
With the aging boomer generation leading to even higher demands on the healthcare system,
this company is giving a jolt to the way health care services are being delivered to Canadians.
BY MELISSA NOWAKOWSKI
C
anada’s health sector is blessed a patient-centered, collaborative Virtual patients by the end of 2021, with 12
with so many knowledgeable and Health Record (VHR) that connects hospitals and four Ontario Health Teams
Home Oxygen PAP Therapy
talented health care profession- allied health professionals, primary (OHTs) considering the remote patient
als, but the reality is, there are often physicians, hospitals, caregivers and monitoring solution for outlying patients
communication gaps between care patients on one secure, private, in-cloud and Indigenous communities. Talks have
teams — gaps that could have detri- platform, enabling health care providers also begun with additional organiza-
mental effects on patient care.
Some of the consequences
to virtualize their practices and make
informed decisions at the point of care
tions, including long-term care homes
and allied health and insurance com-
Providing Quality Community Respiratory Care Since 1995
include inefficient care and for more efficient outcomes. panies who recognize the benefits of a
duplication of efforts, which, Available as a free platform that streamlines their patient
in a critical health crisis, can mobile app for both iOS and care operations.
lead to overcrowding in hospitals Android, Health Espresso What’s next for Health Espres-
— often referred to as “hallway connects patients with so? New tech will soon be added to
Photo Credit: Timeline: (Dr. Abdullah Kirumira) Ugandan Diaspora News Team; (iTClamp) No known copyright restrictions.
medicine” — and higher costs to physicians to communicate the platform, like machine learning to
the health care system. COVID-19 real-time data and empower improve vocabulary, multilingualism and
brought many of these challenges patients to self-manage their customized voice alerts from familiar
to light as governments struggled to health. Taking seniors into account, sources like family members, as well as
manage patient testing, registration Health Espresso was created with an an upcoming feature that will monitor
and triage early in the pandemic, for AI-powered voice communication tool, patient lifestyles through matrix data
both COVID-19 patients and those who similar to Siri and Alexa, that generates readings like weight, temperature, heart
needed the health care system for other appointment and medication reminders. rate, blood pressure and more.
health issues. The in-cloud Electronic Health Record “With a patient-centred approach
Health Espresso — created by Rick (EHR) provides health professionals to care, Health Espresso’s revolutionary
Menassa, founder of award-winning access to vitals, medication lists, VHR propels the health care system
innovative care agency for seniors and appointment notes and patient histo- into a sought-after ‘one patient, one
children with disabilities, iCARE Home ries, and will soon include lab, imaging care plan’ territory,” says founder Rick
Health — is working to bridge this com- and hospital reports. The EHR is also Menassa, “Health Espresso is providing
munication gap at just the right time. outfitted with a medication adherence an integration of all electronic medical
Health Espresso was inspired by tracker, and also offers image capture record platforms, which will identify gaps
the current home care of seniors aging and sharing for wound-monitoring. in the delivery of care and prevent the
in place, and by post-discharge patients Currently, Health Espresso serves duplication of service for a highly effi-
experiencing preventable health events more than 67,000 patients, and is an- cient, cost-effective health equity system
that send them back to the hospital. It’s ticipated to have an additional 30,000 with better outcomes.”
1993
Professor Dr. Abdullah Kirumira at Acadia
University in Nova Scotia develops the world’s
first rapid HIV test.
2013
Trauma specialist and retired Canadian
Forces surgeon develops the iTClamp — an Monday to Friday: 8:00am-4:00pm 1414 King St E Courtice
easy-to-use device that closes a wound and
limits blood loss in seconds. Saturday: 8:00am-12:00pm 905-721-4800
16 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1
and 1:30pm-4:00pm 1-877-466-4253Materials&
ADVANCED PADRAIC FOLEY
Director, Strategy and Partnerships,
Acceleration Consortium
both issues that put a spotlight on our The AC’s robust and agile innova-
race against time. This is why there’s no tion ecosystem will allow members to
time for science in silos. capitalize on shared knowledge to more
A
This realization was a driving force easily commercialize technological
behind the creation of the Acceleration breakthroughs that address real market
MANUFACTURING
dvanced materials have the Consortium (AC), a global coalition of needs. It will train the next generation of
potential to change our lives academia, government, industry and researchers, creating a talent pipeline
and our world for the better. entrepreneurs transforming the devel- that drives industry, launches startups
For example, modified forms opment of advanced materials. Based and attracts venture capital.
of silicon semiconductors developed in at the University of Toronto and led The global and urgent need for better
the 1950s led to the digital revolution by world-renowned AI and advanced materials is never-ending: Cheaper, more
We may not always be able to identify that continues to define our age. The
discovery of lithium-ion battery materials
materials researcher Alán Aspuru-Guzik,
the AC will use self-driving labs to reduce
sustainable and quicker to manufacture
materials are required every day. New
advances in this sector in our everyday greatly impacted the global energy land-
scape. So, while the field of advanced
the time and cost of bringing advanced
materials to market, from an average of
materials with superior performance
characteristics are required for renewable
lives, but innovations in this category materials and manufacturing is not new,
it is an area that constantly needs to in-
20 years and $100 million to as little as
one year and $1 million. This transfor-
and clean energy storage, sustainable
polymers and packaging for consumer
are often life-changing. novate, and quickly. Even in the last few
years, there has been a revolutionary
mation is parallel to the relatively recent
revolution in biotechnology driven by the
products, biomedical applications, drugs
and therapeutics, lighter and stronger
shift in scientific discovery that promises development of rapid, low-cost genome building materials, quantum computing,
to accelerate technology development sequencing — another global effort. communication technology, eco-friendly
and commercialization. Largely material agnostic, MAPs transportation and more.
One of these shifts is the emer- use AI and computational modelling COVID-19 has accelerated digiti-
gence of self-driving laboratories, or to predict which advanced materials zation across a wide variety of sectors.
Materials Acceleration Platforms (MAPs). or molecules will have the properties Many who embraced the digital world
MAPs leverage the power of AI, robotics, required for a particular application. A early have reaped the benefit of their
engineering and chemistry, and they robotic lab then uses these predictions investment and foresight. The field of
can radically fast-track the discovery to autonomously synthesize, test and advanced materials and manufacturing is
and development of new materials and refine for these target properties. By no exception. If we are to truly compete,
molecules. Given that so many of the inverting the usual discovery process, we need to pay attention to those push-
problems we face in today’s world are this closed-loop technology allows you ing the boundaries of advanced materials
time-sensitive, MAPs can make a major to first define the desired properties and development and manufacturing, includ-
difference in finding solutions: Climate then work backwards to develop whole ing the ones making great advances right
change and the COVID-19 vaccine are families of new materials. now in our own country.
1833
Fisherman John Patch uses a two-blade,
fan-shaped propeller to move his rowboat across
the harbour in Yarmouth, NS. This effectively ended
the age of sail.
1843
John Turnbull of Saint John, NB, adds a spring-loaded,
crank-operated wringer to a washing machine, making laun-
dry day easier for homemakers everywhere (and thus creating
the first home appliance!).
18 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 19C A S TO O L TO O LI N G SYS T E M S E V E R C LOA K
Servicing the likes of Tesla and SpaceX, this Uxbridge-based company maintains their competitive edge This major disruptor in membrane technology is making nanofilms more sustainably
by focusing on product development and finding efficiencies. in the pursuit of a healthier world.
Photo Credit (previous spread): (machine) iStock/Nastasic; (screws) iStock/seamartini; (photo frame) iStock/U.P.images. Timeline: iStock/Chaidira; iStock/Joe_Potato. This page (background) iStock/cagkansayin.
BY K AILEE SOMERS BY ERIN PEPLER
I R
n 1952, a toolmaker named Harry mitted to lightweighting and Castool is they’ve brought on two staffers with ecent technological advance- a practical sense, this means using “They can transform seawater into drink-
Robbins, along with his wife Audrey, helping to make it happen. As a world- Ph.D.s who are dedicated to full-time re- ments have helped to make great their super-thin, high-tech nanofilms ing water in drought-prone areas. They
opened a small shop in Toronto class supplier, Castool is the primary search and advancement. “We’re doing strides in fighting climate change, to significantly reduce energy use and can improve batteries and solar cells,
called Extrusion Machine Corporation. source for both Tesla and SpaceX, and the latest simulation of temperature, of both in ways that are obvious to the av- greenhouse gas emissions in the dehu- making renewable energy more viable.”
Photo Credit: Timeline: (lamp) iStock/kameshkova; (papers) iStock/tanuha2001; (drilling) Provincial Archives of Alberta; (bulb drawing) Public Domain; (faucet) iStock/jgaunion.
Seventy years and a name change later, are currently shipping to plants in Califor- mechanical simulation, flow simulation, erage consumer and through incredible midification and air cooling processes. “We’re creating advanced ma-
Exco Technologies Ltd. is now the parent nia, Texas, Shanghai and Berlin. and thermal simulation. We’re trying innovations behind the scenes. A per- Think: drastically more efficient commer- terial manufacturing processes that
company of 15 others. (If that’s not a to deliver better products and reduce fect example of the latter is Evercloak: cial air conditioners, interior humidity can solve some of the world’s biggest
success story, we don’t know what is!) failure,” says Robbins. “In the old days, an advanced material manufacturer control and other large-scale applica- environmental issues,” the company’s
One offshoot is Uxbridge-based Castool you used to make some- based in Waterloo, Ontario. tions. A major disruptor in membrane founders assert. This is going to become
Tooling Systems, a leader in the Canadi- thing, and you would try Co-founded by Evelyn Allen and Dr.
an manufacturing landscape. it, and if it broke then Michael Pope, Evercloak produces thin-
Harry and Audrey’s youngest you would try some- film, high-performance nanomaterials “We’re creating advanced material manufacturing processes that can
son, Paul, has been the general thing else. […] With the simulation tools that range from single atomic layers to solve some of the world’s biggest environmental issues.”
manager of Castool since 2002, available today, we can reduce the time hundreds of nanometers in thickness
and he has propelled the company and the cost of product development.” — using a variety of materials including
forward with his commitment to innova- By introducing simulations, Castool can graphene oxide, graphene, carbon nano- technology, Evercloak nanofilms can even more important as global warm-
tion and adaptation. also better educate their customers and tubes, hexagonal boron nitride and other cut the energy requirements associated ing, urbanization and rising incomes in
Now a well-respected player in the Castool continues to see expo- help them visualize the end result. 2D nanomaterials — for use in industries with air conditioning in half. This makes developing countries contribute to an
global market, Castool designs and man- nential growth. Their market share in “We’re constantly pushing the like energy storage, smart packaging, commercial cooling systems both less increased demand for air conditioning,
ufactures tooling systems for aluminum die-casting has grown by around 50 per limits as far as efficiency and value-add. electronic devices and more. The com- expensive and far more environmentally both at home and in public spaces such
die-casting and aluminum extrusion for cent in the last three to five years, and, Failure is part of that game, and I think pany has commercialized a manufactur- friendly. as stores and offices.
a wide range of applications. As Paul because they are currently using around you’re allowed to fail as long as you ing platform that can produce contin- While the environmental impli- Evercloak is proud to be on the
Robbins says, “The aluminum industry is four million pounds of tool steel per year, recover very, very quickly,” says Robbins. uous, large-area nanofilms that are of cations of Evercloak’s technology are forefront of cleantech and climate
a good place to be.” they are opening their own heat treat- “On one side, you try to offer products exceptional quality without a high price unlimited, the costs are surprisingly tech innovation in Canada, and they’re
Currently, automotive manufactur- ment facility to avoid having to rely on that are cheaper, last longer, are safer, point. The startup began at the Univer- low. The company’s roll-to-roll coating poised to grow. The company is ready
ers account for approximately 75 per outside sources. Their global presence is easier to use, and on the other you have sity of Waterloo and has since been process requires minimal energy and to scale and looking to push forward in
cent of Castool’s market, as they seek also expanding; along with their plant in to be extremely efficient in the manu- funded in part by a number of grants produces very little waste, and the low-energy desalination efforts, which
to make their products lighter and more Thailand, they’re in the process of build- facturing of them. If you offer a product (including one from Spark Centre!). applications are wide-reaching. “Our ul- could have life-changing effects on at-
efficient (the industry term for this is ing factories in Morocco and Mexico. people can buy from someone else The company’s goal is to integrate tra-thin nanofilms can curb greenhouse risk communities around the globe. Just
“lightweighting”). Whether their goal is As the GM, Robbins is keenly aware and you’re as good as everyone else, graphene breakthroughs for a healthi- gas emissions by radically reducing the a few years post-launch, it’s incredible
to reduce emissions, stretch each drop that product development is instrumen- you don’t make any money. You er, more sustainable and comfortable energy required for commercial and res- how much this startup has achieved —
of fuel or increase an electric vehicle’s tal in maintaining their competitive edge. make money by that spread between world, transforming current technolo- idential air conditioning and dehumid- and now, we look forward to watching
range, the automotive industry is com- To keep them at the top of their game value-add and efficiency.” gy with more advanced materials. In ification systems,” Evercloak explains. how far they’ll go.
1846 1857
The discovery of a coal-distilled substance
The first oil well is dug in Bothwell, Ont.,
on the banks of the Thames River, by
1880
called kerosene by Dr. Abraham Gesner in The first hot-and-cold combined faucet
entrepreneur James Miller Williams.
Nova Scotia makes for a safer, more stable is created by Thomas Campbell of Saint
Williams built the country’s first oil refin-
way of providing light. John, NB, by adjusting the capacity of
ery the same year.
1874
the spout to accommodate the amount
1854 and pressure of water from both the hot
and cold valves.
Inventor Charles Fenerty, after observing wasps Medical student Henry Woodward and
chewing through wood fibre to make papery strips for hotelkeeper Mathew Evans fashion and patent
their nests, realizes a similar process can be applied the world’s first lightbulb. The patent was
to ground wood pulp to make newsprint paper. purchased and the design refined by Thomas
Edison in 1879.
20 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 21C A N A DA R U B B E R G R O U P A DA M S O N SYS T E M S E N G I N E E R I N G
Readiness and ingenuity combine to meet complex customer requests for this Meet the company dominating the global stage with their
Bowmanville-based mixed materials manufacturer. loudspeaker technology and innovative manufacturing approach.
BY K ATIE DUPUIS BY K AILEE SOMERS
F A
ounded in 1987, advanced agriculture sector, in delivery systems creating solutions with customers to s Canada’s most recognized Cabinetry is produced on a multi-tool
materials industry leader Canada for water and electricity. As Lyall says, give them the performance they’re look- professional audio brand, — multi-spindle CNC machinery and a
Rubber Group (CRG) has always “What we make tends not to be front ing for, so we’re constantly finding the Adamson Systems Engineering subsequent paint line. Secondary man-
called Durham Region home, with and centre, they tend to be hidden in our right combination of design, materials manufactures and exports loudspeaker ufacturing includes various assembly
Photo Credit: Timeline: (caulking gun) iStock/Malex92; (zipper) iStock/OlgaDan; (plexi) iStock/Aleksandr Durnov; (paint) iStock/opico; (batteries) iStock/Alexsandr Ermolaev.
their facilities located first in Osha- lives, but they are extremely important.” and production methods,” says Lyall. technology for the premium pro-audio lines, an electronics production facility these elements under one roof. Embracing
wa and now in Bowmanville. With 30 It takes a lot of work to be on top Secondly, CRG is consistently working to sector. Global tours and festivals, as and the final product assembly and this vision better equips the company to
years of materials experience to draw of the materials game. “We aggregate improve its manufacturing methods and well as installations in some of the most quality control lines. Finished goods are deal with every aspect of their position
on and a workforce of more than 60 materials from around the world,” says processes, in order to stay competitive prestigious venues around the world, shipped to more than 70 countries. in pro audio and leverage both their
people, CRG is 100 per cent Canadian Lyall. “We bring the materials here and and keep their business. “There has to have been their mainstay for more than Adamson’s top-down philosophy infrastructure and intellectual property to
owned-and-operated, but the compa- inventory them, and then customers be a lot of innovation in terms of how 30 years. The professional electronics of inspiration and innovation was adjust fluidly to market change.
ny serves customers from around the will come to us with their application to do things efficiently, and how to ac- and loudspeaker systems designed, de- spearheaded by founder and president Looking forward, “Technology conver-
globe. These are notable stats on their needs and we’ll work with them to find commodate change, so our production veloped and manufactured by Adamson Brock Adamson, and as he says, “Rapid gence will determine the future direction
own, but what this company does makes the materials solution.” That means the system has to be flexible and agile,” says are at the cutting edge of technology. prototyping requires the best software and shape of the entire audio ecosys-
it all the more impressive. company always has to anticipate what Lyall. Thirdly, CRG prioritizes the custom- With technology protected by roughly and machinery combined with the luxury tem,” says Adamson. “In the technology
In a nutshell, CRG “transforms ma- might get thrown at them. The answer er experience and is constantly looking 30 patents, innovation has always been of space. Space was the real motivation that we use, firmware, software and
terials and ideas into products that help is to have a wide variety of in-house ma- for ways to innovate and deliver what the Adamson’s focus. Whether it’s been in placing the headquarters away from hardware platforms have shown us how
customer needs. “A lot of companies are through product geometries or material the auditory distractions of major fluid they have become. Merging amplifier
going through digital transformation, for selection, the results are distinct and have highways and industrial noise. […] Our power, signal processing, system manage-
example, and we’re seeing more online set the company apart in system design production philosophy, from the acqui- ment and the loudspeaker, the resulting
“We bring the materials here and inventory them, and then customers
buyers, so we see value and opportunity and performance (plus all of the technol- sition of real estate to the construction systems become a testament to the raw
will come to us with their application needs and we’ll work with them to in that,” says Lyall. ogies are developed in Durham Region!). of infrastructure, hinges on the vertical impact of technology convergence.”
find the materials solution.” Canada Rubber Group’s ability to Adamson’s innovative approach integration of the manufacturing and Adamson has long embraced the
adapt became apparent during the is reflected in the Port Perry, Ontario, engineering processes.” reality of convergence, observing the
COVID-19 pandemic, too. The company headquarters and manufacturing facility, Since the best examples of vertical parallels found in the convergence of
shape the world,” says Angelo Lyall, Vice terials and production technologies and sought out partners and began manu- which is structured as a mixed mode integration are found in other industries, mobile phones, email, text, video,
Photo Credit: (background) iStock/NanoStockk.
President of Business Development. “As expertise, as well as extremely strong facturing face shields, ear protectors operation, with the primary operations Adamson has consistently integrated internet and cameras all on a single
a mixed manufacturer, we make prod- supply chain management in terms of and other parts for PPE. “This is a great being parts and assembly production. In concepts and processes from automo- hand-held platform, and applying these
ucts that meet a customer’s designed knowing what materials needs might be example of our innovation,” says Lyall. this computer numerical control (CNC) tive, aerospace and other technology realities across the product range. They
specs,” says Lyall. “So they’ll tell us they on the horizon for different sectors. “We used materials, relationships and and semi-automated area, laser-cut development and manufacturing com- are currently updating facilities to stream-
need a component, and we determine With this in mind, it’s easy to under- production capabilities we already had, sheet metal, multi-spindle turning panies. This approach is not only unique line continuous flow and improve output,
how to make that product, and out of stand why CRG has to have a foundation but we had just never combined them and palletized machining centres are to Canadian audio manufacturing, but and are well positioned with staff, inven-
what material.” You would find CRG of innovation. “We’re doing three things that way before.” Bottom line: Prepared- complemented by welding, powder globally, as there are no manufacturers tory and capacity to step up rapidly in
products in cars, in equipment in the when we take on a project. Firstly, we’re ness pays off. coating and other proprietary processes. of loudspeaker technology managing all the post-pandemic world.
1913 1955
Originally called “the hookless fastener,” the zipper
1933 U of T engineer Lewis Urry is asked by his boss-
The product we know as plexiglass appears es at the Canadian National Carbon Company
is invented by Gideon Sundback in St. Catharines, Ont.,
on the market, after the transparent polymer to extend the longevity of the zinc-carbon
but it doesn’t catch on in popularity until World War II.
is refined and patented by graduate student battery. Urry uses powdered zinc to invent the
William Chalmers at McGill University. alkaline battery we know so well.
1894 1939
Norman Breakey creates the first paint roller
Inspired by a cake-decorating extruder, British
for quick, more even application of paint.
Columbia baker-slash-inventor Theodore Witte
It’s too bad the Torontonian didn’t patent
adapts the premise to create the first caulking
his invention, because knock-offs
gun, the puttying tool we still know today.
soon sprung up everywhere.
22 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 23A DVO N E X I N T E R N ATI O N A L
Inspired by other companies who are addressing climate change,
this company is making renewable alternatives to petroleum.
BY ERIN PEPLER
W
hile it’s easy to understand tion. While this method is effective, the
the logic behind shifting away use of these oils has a significant impact
from fossil fuel dependen- on the environment. This is where Ad-
cy, it can be much harder to put that vonex has created an innovative solution
motivation into action. Our everyday lives that allows manufacturers to remove Consumers are reaching out to compa-
are flooded with products derived from fossil fuels while maintaining a high stan- nies and saying they want safer, more
petroleum — from the transportation we dard of quality. “Clearly, the ingredients environmentally friendly products.”
use to our personal care products, and that come out of petroleum have a value, In the late 2000s, Joshi and Horner
plenty in between. Fortunately, emerging but they are not sustainable to repro- saw alternative energy sources like solar
technologies are helping consumers gain duce,” says Joshi. “What we are doing is and wind power making significant early
access to a wide range of sustainable al- using plant-based materials to produce moves in the marketplace. They were ex-
ternatives, with companies like Advonex the same chemical compositions.” cited by the potential in these industries,
International leading the charge. Advonex typically uses sources but they saw a need to address petro-
Advonex makes renewable chem- like canola oil, which can be produced leum specifically. “[Observing companies
icals to replace ingredients that are without causing environmental harm. addressing climate change] is how we
traditionally produced from petroleum. In addition to being eco-friendly and got to where we are, and we’re still very
Photo Credit: (toothbrush) iStock/Tatiana. Timeline: (rubber) iStock/hanhsua; (money) iStock/ppart.
Their patented process replaces com- sustainable, plant-based hydrocarbons passionate about removing petroleum
mon petrochemicals with plant-based can often be offered at more competi- from our lives,” Joshi says. “It probably
hydrocarbons that reduce greenhouse tive price points than traditional fossil won’t happen in our lifetime, but we
gas emissions while delivering superior fuel-based lubricants. That’s good news need to forge the path and move people
performance. These sustainable alter- for personal care product manufacturers in that direction.”
natives can be used as ingredients in and other businesses who need to To date, Advonex has been recog-
personal care products, like shampoo or worry about their bottom line as well as nized for its innovative technology by
body wash, or as lubricants in industrial their ethics. World Bio Markets, Ecovia Intelligence
settings. “We want to take the petroleum Eco-friendly products aren’t just and the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.
out of everybody’s lives,” explains Chad on the rise; they’re in high demand. Their primary focus continues to be in
Joshi, who co-founded Advonex with “Consumers are demanding safer, more the personal care industry, and they’re
Glenn Horner in 2012. sustainable products for personal use,” currently leveraging partnerships with
Most personal care products start Joshi says. “They’re not only deciding large plants across North America to
with a simple mixture of oil and water. what to use, but looking at the ingre- increase production and distribution
Active ingredients are then added to dients — and quite often, they don’t opportunities. The future is bright — and
compose what will eventually be a sham- like the ingredients they see in their if Advonex has their way, it will be petro-
poo, hair spray or other unique composi- shampoo, toothpaste or deodorant. leum-free.
1982
Dr. Elaine Thompson of Winnipeg takes discarded
rubber tires and creates a new emulsified rubber
asphalt for seal-coating roads.
2018
In a chemistry lab helmed by Professor
Geoffrey Ozin at the University of Toronto,
new nanotechnology using light photons is
created to prevent bill counterfeiting.
24 T H E S PA R K // S U M M E R 2 0 2 1You can also read
