EDAC / ACDE BRAND IDENTITY AWARD APPLICATION - Economic Developers Association of Canada
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YORKLINK.CA | JUNE 2017
EDAC / ACDE
BRAND IDENTITY
AWARD APPLICATION
THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK (YORK REGION)
YORK LINK
YORK REGION LOCAL CITIES & TOWNS
Markham | Vaughan | Richmond Hill | Newmarket | Aurora | Georgina | Whitchurch-Stouffville | East Gwillimbury | King
YORKLINK.CA | JUNE 2017
BRAND IDENTITY
YORK LINK
YORK REGION LOCAL CITIES & TOWNS
Markham | Vaughan | Richmond Hill | Newmarket | Aurora | Georgina | Whitchurch-Stouffville | East Gwillimbury | King
YORKLINK.CA | JUNE 2017
PROJECT PROFILE:
YORK LINK
BRAND IDENTITY
Description & Project Purpose
York Link is an economic development marketing campaign to attract knowledge-based businesses to move to or expand
within York Region. It focuses on facilitating new office development around the four high-growth mixed-use urban centres.
Campaign Development & Challenges
The campaign brand and strategy was developed with assistance from renowned marketing agency Shikatani Lacroix and
one of North America’s largest commercial real estate firm’s, Jones Lang LaSalle. The intention was to build a new brand
identity from the ground up, taking into account what target businesses and real estate developers were saying they desired
– access to a talented workforce and connections to amenities that lead to excellent employee experiences. Much of this was
driven by a live-work mismatch: the Region had grown significantly in terms of residents, but the industries and jobs that
matched their skill sets had lagged behind. At the same time, York Region had been investing in new infrastructure and
amenities – but the message wasn’t getting through, so a new campaign was needed to attract knowledge-based businesses
and jobs to reduce the mismatch.
The consulting team conducted stakeholder interviews, focus groups, online surveys, and tested marketing logo designs and
messages with different audiences to build the new brand. The result: York Link – represented by a styled logo of the
Region’s Urban Growth Centres. The logo won two prestigious design awards in 2016: Chicago Anthenaeum’s GOOD Design
Award and Graphic Design USA’s American Graphic Design Award. York Link was officially launched in July 2016.
Messaging, Target Audience and Campaign Sustainability
The campaign’s overarching goal is to transform the perception of York Region from being a suburban bedroom community
into a sought-after business destination with lively mixed-use urban centres. York Link positions the Region as the destination
for success - a booming, connected community that allows businesses and residents to thrive by connecting with the right
resources, talent, and opportunities - summed up well by the tagline - where talent and opportunity intersect.
York Link uses digital and traditional marketing channels to share messaging. This includes the website (www.yorklink.ca),
social media (Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn), print media (year in review magazine, transit ads, and advertorials),
influencers such as Marc Saltzman, a syndicated technology journalist (USA TODAY, Yahoo, MSN) who lives in the Region,
and large events including the York Region FinTech Summit and York Region Broadband and Innovation Summit.
News about business community successes (expansions, job creation, global impact, acquisitions, innovation), infrastructure
and city building (new subway and BRT lines, GO Transit, road improvements, condos, etc.), and quality of life stories
establish the narrative that York Region is an excellent place for knowledge-based businesses and their employees. The
narrative is reinforced through York Link’s digital channels with fact-based statistics about the strength of the workforce,
economic growth of local industry sectors, and the value/growth of the construction happening within York Region.
The target audience is comprised of key decision makers in knowledge-based businesses, land developers, the real estate
brokerage community, and local municipal government stakeholders. The campaign is set to run until 2019, but with the
current success being experienced it is anticipated that it will have long-term sustainability far beyond the next two years.
Effectiveness/Meeting Objectives
Target audiences have responded well to the York Link campaign. York Region-based businesses (many with global
operations) have begun to use statistics and other messaging taken from York Link content for their own talent attraction
campaigns. The effectiveness of York Link directly correlates to increased corporate engagements that otherwise
may not have been established via traditional outreach or lead generation methods. Samples in the attachment highlight
how businesses are embracing York Link messaging and their business presence in the Region while strengthening the
identity of the York Region business community on a local, national, and global scale.
A recent investment that the York Link campaign helped influence was GM Canada’s expansion into York Region with a
new Technical Software Centre that establishes 700 new software development and engineering jobs. GM Canada is
now using York Link campaign messaging in its own talent attraction efforts. Many other businesses in the Region are
highlighting their connection to the local business community such as KPMG Canada (opened a new Class-A office
tower in Vaughan), Huawei Canada (expanding its facilities in Markham), and others.
YORK REGION LOCAL CITIES & TOWNS
Markham | Vaughan | Richmond Hill | Newmarket | Aurora | Georgina | Whitchurch-Stouffville | East Gwillimbury | King
YORKLINK.CA | JUNE 2017
YORK REGION
NEW INVESTMENTS
2014 - PRESENT
KPMG Canada Head Office
500+ Jobs
GM Canada Aviva Insurance Canada
700 Jobs Citrix Canada Head Office
Head Office 1,000+ Jobs
Hallmark Cards Canada
TD Insurance Head Office Lenovo Canada Head Office
1,000+ Jobs 100 Jobs 300 Jobs
Morrison Hershfield
Head Office
KPMG Canada
400 Jobs
500+ Jobs
YORK REGION LOCAL CITIES & TOWNS
Markham | Vaughan | Richmond Hill | Newmarket | Aurora | Georgina | Whitchurch-Stouffville | East Gwillimbury | King
YORKLINK.CA | JUNE 2017
YORK REGION
BUSINESS EXPANSIONS
2014 - PRESENT
Huawei Technologies Canada Head Office
450+ Jobs
Under Armour Canada CIBC PWC Canada
New Head Office Wood Gundy New Regional Office
Toshiba Canada Lexmark Canada
New Head Office New Head Office
GET CONNECTED...
WWW.
YORKLINK.CA @YORK_LINK YORKLINK.CA/FACEBOOK YORKLINK.CA/LINKEDIN YORKLINK.CA/YOUTUBE
YORKLINK.CA | JUNE 2017
1.2 Million 51,000+ 600,000 4 Urban 4,300+ Information & Operations of
Residents Businesses Local Jobs Growth Centres Communications 15 Fortune 100
Technology Companies Companies
Located in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), York Region is home to nearly 1.2 million residents,
600,000 jobs and 51,000 business establishments. As Ontario’s fastest growing large municipality and third
largest business hub, York Region is a top destination in Canada for business, talent, and investment.
YORK REGION’S KEY BUSINESS ADVANTAGES INCLUDE:
• Unparalleled population growth: highest population • Strategic Toronto area location: Most central
growth rate of Ontario’s largest municipal jurisdictions access to greater Toronto’s markets and workforce
via 400-series highways, Bus Rapid Transit system
• Major and fast-growing business hub: and Toronto-York Subway (Dec. ‘17)
51,000+ businesses, 500 foreign subsidiaries, two of
GTA’s four major business nodes, with an average of • Top talent: third most educated workforce among
1,300 new businesses and 12,000 jobs added each year Canada’s largest municipalities
• Housing options: from detached homes to townhomes • Strong industry clusters: including the highest
to high-rise urban condos, in one of GTA’s most active concentration of tech companies in Canada and
and desirable real estate markets second largest financial services cluster in Ontario
• Cost advantage: Lowest commercial property taxes in • Unparalleled quality of life attracting top global
the Greater Toronto Area and competitive commercial talent: 50 of GTA’s top 100 neighborhoods and six
real estate options of the top 10 secondary schools are in York Region
See reverse for key industry sectors in York Region Additional information: YORKLINK.CA
YORK REGION IS...
YORK REGION LOCAL CITIES & TOWNS
Markham | Vaughan | Richmond Hill | Newmarket | Aurora | Georgina | Whitchurch-Stouffville | East Gwillimbury | King
YORKLINK.CA | JUNE 2017
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LIFE SCIENCES & HEALTHCARE DISTRIBUTION & LOGISTICS
• 4,300+ ICT companies: highest • 300+ Life Science and Health • Major Toronto area warehousing
technology sector concentration Tech firms and 1,500+ physician and distribution hub - corporate
in Canada relative to population offices, labs, clinics, and other and third-party
health facilities
• 4 of Canada’s Top 10 ICT • Over 130 local freight trucking
corporate R&D investors • 3 world-class hospitals with and transportation logistics firms
including IBM’s largest software Canada's first ‘smart’ hospital --
development lab outside of USA Mackenzie Health Vaughan -- AGRI-FOOD
now under construction
• Recognized as “Canada’s largest • Over 300 food processing and
Enterprise Solutions ICT cluster” • Hospital-embedded innovation distribution businesses, one of
and corporate collaboration Canada’s largest clusters
• Highest concentration of tech centres: Mackenzie Innovation
workforce in Toronto-Waterloo Institute and CreateIT Southlake • Home to the Holland Marsh: 120+
farms on 2,832 hectares of
FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTOMOTIVE agricultural land with estimated
$1B annual economic impact
• Second largest financial services • Canadian head office location of
cluster in Ontario with over 1,800 six global automotive firms MAJOR COMPANIES HAVE
firms and 30,000 local jobs OPERATIONS IN YORK REGION
• Head office and corporate R&D
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION center of Magna International -
North America's largest auto
• 2016 total construction value of parts supplier
$4.7B; second highest in Ontario
• Location of General Motors’
• Ontario’s second highest volume major new R&D center focusing
of new home sales and building on autonomous vehicles and
permits after the City of Toronto automotive software
development
• Some of Canada’s largest mixed
use development projects: • Canada’s largest auto parts
Markham Centre, Vaughan Metro manufacturing cluster: 100 local
Centre, Richmond Hill/Langstaff firms with 16,000 employees
and Newmarket Centre
• Assembly location of the Ford
• 10,000 construction firms, real GT ‘Supercar’ and Aston Martin
estate developers, engineering AM-RB 001 ‘Hypercar’
firms and trades contractors
GET CONNECTED...
WWW.
YORKLINK.CA @YORK_LINK YORKLINK.CA/FACEBOOK YORKLINK.CA/LINKEDIN YORKLINK.CA/YOUTUBE
YORKLINK.CA | JUNE 2017
YORK LINK
DIGITAL PRESENCE
YORK REGION LOCAL CITIES & TOWNS
Markham | Vaughan | Richmond Hill | Newmarket | Aurora | Georgina | Whitchurch-Stouffville | East Gwillimbury | King
YORKLINK.CA | JUNE 2017
YORK LINK
BUS AD & BANNERS SELECTED EXAMPLES
YORK REGION LOCAL CITIES & TOWNS
Markham | Vaughan | Richmond Hill | Newmarket | Aurora | Georgina | Whitchurch-Stouffville | East Gwillimbury | King
YORKLINK.CA | JUNE 2017
YORK LINK
SOCIAL MEDIA
12,200+ 3,300+ 183
Followers Page Likes Followers
Transitioned from a
group (850+) to a
page in April 2017
2015 - 2017 Twitter Analytics*
6,748,300 111,943 12,280
Impressions Profile Visits Engagements
*Detailed analytics of the York Link Twitter began in 2015, prior to this only followers were tracked.
Statistics: January 1, 2015 - June 19, 2017
YORK REGION LOCAL CITIES & TOWNS
Markham | Vaughan | Richmond Hill | Newmarket | Aurora | Georgina | Whitchurch-Stouffville | East Gwillimbury | KingLet’s get connected...
...and share the story together.
SOLUTION PROVIDERS
ARE IN
YORK REGION
Located in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area,
York Region is home to nearly 1.2 million residents,
600,000 jobs, 51,000 businesses and over
4,300 technology companies.
As Ontario’s fastest growing large municipality and
third largest business hub, York Region is a top
destination for IT business, talent and
investment. You should be here too (if not already)!
YORK REGION CITIES & TOWNS
Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill,
Newmarket, Aurora, Georgina, Whitchurch-Stouffville,
East Gwillimbury, King
YORKLINK.CA• The highest technology sector concentration in Canada relative to population and the second largest in total number of ICT companies • 4 of Canada’s Top 10 ICT corporate R&D investors • Recognized as “Canada’s largest Enterprise Solutions ICT cluster” • Highest concentration of tech workforce in Toronto- Waterloo Corridor with 9.2% of total workforce in ICT • Among global IT companies in York Region are IBM, AMD, Huawei, Qualcomm, Lenovo, SAP, Oracle, Citrix, CA, DFT, Avaya, Toshiba, CenturyLink, McAfee, Nokia, OpenText, Lexmark, Xerox, Honeywell, Digital Realty... YORKLINK.CA
YORK REGION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALSO INSIDE... New KPMG Office Tower Opens in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Huawei Expands 5G Research and Development Centre in Markham Talent, Opportunity Intersect in York Region
YORK REGION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BUSINESS COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS ...04
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS ...22
YORK SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE NEWS ...40
YORK REGION ECONOMIC INDICATORS ...44
YORK REGION ECONOMIC STRATEGY TEAM ...50
YORK REGION LOCAL CITIES AND TOWNS
Markham | Vaughan | Richmond Hill | Newmarket | Aurora
Georgina | Whitchurch-Stouffville | East Gwillimbury | King06 BUSINESS COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS | FEATURE STORY YORK LINK 07
General Motors Drives Investment and Jobs to Markham
Source: The Regional Municipality of York
June 2016 - Regional Municipality of GM’s selection reflects the top talent
York Chairman and CEO Wayne available in York Region’s communities
Emmerson and Markham Mayor Frank and follows business investments in
Scarpitti congratulated General Motors the Region by other major office
Canada (GM) on the announcement employers, including Aviva Canada’s
to establish a facility in the City of new Canadian head office, KPMG
Markham to develop new software Canada’s new regional office, and TD
and connectivity technologies for its Insurance. These investments mean
vehicles. thousands of new jobs for the Region,
in addition to the investment by GM.
“The General Motors announcement
is very welcome, and not surprising York Region’s economic development
– more and more high-tech firms are staff has worked in close partnership
selecting York Region for their with the City of Markham and industry
operations,” said Chairman Emmerson. stakeholders to facilitate the attraction
“Our extensive investments in modern of GM Canada’s new Markham facility.
infrastructure, rapid transit, complete
communities and economic General Motors is hiring for hundreds
development make us an extremely of positions at the new Technical
attractive location for leading-edge Centre - Markham Campus including
technology firms.” software developers and engineers.
For career opportunities at GM Canada visit: www.gminnovates.ca
“Straightforward choice given the density of
ICT, one of the highest per capita in North
America...”
- Steve Carlisle, President & Managing Director
General Motors Canada
Photo Source: General Motors Canada08 BUSINESS COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS | FEATURE STORY YORK LINK 09
KPMG Tower Opens in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre with
Direct Subway Access
Source: The Regional Municipality of York - York Link
On November 17, 2016, KPMG Canada business instead of landlines. Actually,
officially opened the doors to its new our office has more bells and whistles
Vaughan GTA North location. than what we have downtown [in
“Located in the heart of the GTA’s 905 Toronto].”
area, Vaughan was a clear choice for
us to set up a new office,” said Distefano cites strong infrastructure as
Sebastian Distefano, GTA Regional one of the drivers for KPMG’s planting
Managing Partner at KPMG. “Building of its feet in the Region. “The new
here allows us to best service our [Spadina] subway line extension
many clients situated in the area, coming this year was also a big factor,
today and tomorrow.” to easily move people to and from the
office, which will help with the already
“KPMG’s Vaughan GTA North location smooth commute even more. Plus,
was built with an open concept to there’s accessibility to highways like
facilitate collaboration, modern 407, and rapid transit along Highway 7
furniture, internal staircases to that also improves accessibility
encourage people to remain mobile through the area.”
and with the latest technologies”, said
Distefano. “All of our workstations The subway extension is supported by
have dual monitors to help reduce infrastructure investments from York
reliance on paper, there are smart Region, the Province of Ontario, and
boards to capture and share ideas in the Government of Canada.
meeting rooms, and Skype for10 BUSINESS COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS | FEATURE STORY YORK LINK 11
Talent, Opportunity Intersect in York Region
Marc Saltzman | Special to Financial Post
As you might expect, “Because we all get along, after hours “It’s no surprise York Region has million times, to date – global tech
making video games we’ll often go to the movies, rock experienced tremendous growth of giants have also chosen to open
for a living was a climbing, escape rooms, go-karting, or the past couple of years,” says Michael offices in York Region including the
dream job for paintball – and it’s all close by,” adds Uster, Senior VP Liberty Development likes of IBM, AMD, Lenovo, Toshiba,
Spencer Elliott – but the nearly 90 Apoong. Corporation, a leading residential and SAP, GE and Huawei. A whopping 10
minute commute to and from work commercial builder in the Region’s per cent of its workforce has
proved to be more of a nightmare. urban growth centres. Information Technology (IT)
And so the 27-year-old programmer Attracting, Retaining Talent occupations and the cluster is
at Game Hive – a popular developer of Canada’s largest on a per capita basis.
mobile games, including the ‘Beat the Elliott and Apoong are discovering
Boss’ series, ‘Tap Titans’, and ‘Battle what many others have before them: The region also boasts “big city”
Run’ – moved to a condo in downtown York Region’s top quality of life amenities, says Uster. That includes
Markham, a stone’s throw from the attracts and retains top talent from highly-rated restaurants, shopping,
studio. “It was a no-brainer to move to around the world. and entertainment options that are
the region,” says Elliott. “In fact, I wish easy to get to thanks to reliable public
I had done it sooner.” With nearly 25,000 new residents transit; which includes a new rapid
moving to the region each year, it’s “Combine more affordable living transit system, along with public and
Roy Apoong, an associate producer one of Canada’s fastest growing spaces with many employment toll highways, and the subway
at Game Hive, mirrors his colleague’s communities with almost 1.2 million opportunities, and you can see why extension into Vaughan in 2017.
sentiments: “Work is so close to my residents now calling it home. Money this is an attractive place to live, work
condo I can go home for lunch.” Sense’s 2015 rankings had half of the and play,” adds Uster. “Consider it a “The subway is very, very exciting for
Apoong says the young age and GTA Top 100 neighborhoods located ‘best of both worlds’ scenario.” the region, as you’ll soon be able to
similar hobbies among Game Hive’s in York Region and the Fraser Institute get to and from downtown Toronto
employees makes for a great work identified five out of the Top 10-rated Along with smaller companies like quickly and efficiently,” adds Uster.
culture. Walk into Game Hive and secondary schools in the GTA are in Game Hive – which may not remain “This leaves you more time to work or
you’ll see beanbag chairs, gaming York Region. small for long, given their games have spend time with your family or friends,
competitions, and a beer fridge. been downloaded more than 100 which is what we all want.”
York Region’s fast developing urban
centres in Markham, Richmond Hill,
Vaughan and Newmarket offer a wide
variety of housing options including
significant condo development
opportunities for young professionals
like Elliot and Apoong. In fact, York
Region had the highest increase in
high rise condo sales across the GTA
between mid-year 2015 and mid-year
2016, and issued almost as many
building permits for new condos and
apartments as the City of Toronto in
the first half of 2016, according to data
from Statistics Canada and BILD GTA.12 BUSINESS COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS YORK LINK 13
PwC to Anchor New Office Tower at Vaughan Metropolitan
Centre
Source: Bisnow
SmartREIT and Mitchell Goldhar unveiled plans for
a new 220,000 sq.ft. class-A office tower at the
Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC); with PwC
Canada as its anchor. The VMC, a new downtown
for Vaughan at Highway 400 and Highway 7, will
include 40 million sq.ft. of development centred
around new mass transit.
SmartREIT and Mitchell Goldhar Announced Harley-Davidson Canada and GFL
Environmental as New Tenants in the KPMG Office Tower at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre
Source: MarketWired
SmartREIT and Mitchell Goldhar announced they completed a lease transaction
with Harley-Davidson at the KPMG Tower at SmartCentres Place in Vaughan.
They also announced they have completed a 65,000 sq.ft., eleven year plus two
five year extensions, lease transaction with GFL Environmental in the KPMG
Tower. This will be the Canadian headquarters for both companies. Markham Headquartered Huawei Canada to Invest Over $300 Million in 5G Research and
Development in Ontario, Including a New Markham Research Lab
Source: Government of Ontario
American Multinational Software Company Citrix Systems
Relocates its Canadian Head Office to Markham The announcement supports 250 new jobs and retains an additional 250 R&D
Source: IT Canada Online jobs. Huawei intends to invest up to $303 million in 5G and related research
initiatives in Ontario over the next five years, $212 million of which is supported
Citrix Systems, a leading provider of desktop by the Province’s Jobs and Prosperity Fund investment.
virtualization and collaboration solutions moved
into a new “hoteling” office in Markham. Citrix
considered 21 different potential locations across Newegg Opens First Hybrid Centre in Richmond Hill
the GTA. Markham [York Region] was chosen “for Source: Business Wire
its accessibility, the area’s infrastructure and Newegg, a leading tech-focused e-retailer in North
amenities, and the local talent pool.” America, opened its Hybrid Centre in Richmond
Hill; the first of its kind in Canada. The Newegg
Newmarket Headquartered Wyse Meter Solutions Opens Vancouver Office to Accelerate Hybrid Centre serves a dual purpose: customers
Growth in Western Canada may pick up their orders and also explore the latest
Source: Business Wire
tech products and educational seminars.
Wyse Meter Solutions Inc. (Wyse), a growing submetering and utility
management company, announced it has opened a new office in Vancouver. It I.C.E Data Centers Opens Markham Facility
is the third office for Wyse, after Newmarket and Mississauga in Ontario. Source: DataCentreDynamics
Montreal headquartered enterprise and cloud
Japanese Company Mimaki Open Tech Centre in Vaughan colocation provider I.C.E Data Centers opened a
Source: PrintCAN new facility in Markham, the second one in the
Canadian city. The new data center in Markham
Japan headquartered Mimaki held a grand opening has access to 8MW of power from two
for its new Technology Centre in Vaughan. The independent substations, and is chilled by
11,000 sq.ft. facility will be home to Mimaki-trained proprietary ‘I.C.E Box’ cooling tech. Waste
sales and tech support staff dedicated to support heat is recaptured for community use, with
its Canadian business. the facility connected to the Markham
District Energy cogeneration plant.14 BUSINESS COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS YORK LINK 15
Fluidigm Opens New Customer Inspiration Center in
Markham for Mass Cytometry
Source: Globe Newswire
Fluidigm Corporation announced the opening of a
new customer inspiration center in Markham.
Providing researchers with firsthand experience on
the Helios™ system, the latest mass cytometry
instrument. The customer inspiration center will be
open to investigators around the world seeking to
incorporate mass cytometry in their own research
laboratories.
Denmark Headquartered LEO Pharma Launches First
North American Innovation Lab in Markham
Source: MarketWired
Photo Source: EP&T
LEO Pharma, Denmark’s oldest healthcare
company, announced the launch of its first
innovation lab in North America. Backed by $100
million in funding, LEO Innovation Lab will develop
Murata Power Solutions Expands Footprint in Markham
Source: Electronic Products and Technology (EP&T)
new, non-pharmaceutical solutions for people living
with psoriasis and partner with the startup U.S. Company Murata Power Solutions Inc. has doubled its footprint on
community to foster innovation in apps, web Canadian soil, expanding its engineering team and production capabilities to
platforms, wearables, virtual reality, tele-medicine, better serve its expanding and diverse customer base. The Mansfield MA-based
artificial intelligence, and other advanced tech. LEO manufacturer of DC-DC Converters and AC-DC power supplies marked the
Innovation Lab is LEO Pharma’s first innovation grand opening of its office expansion in Markham, with a special event in July.
venture outside of Europe.
Markham Headquartered Toshiba Canada Affirms
Commitment to Mobile Computing, Creates Toshiba Client
Solutions Canada
Source: Business Wire
Toshiba America Information Systems announced
the creation of a Canadian subsidiary, Toshiba
Client Solutions Canada. The company will maintain
its offices in Markham. This new subsidiary will Markham Headquartered Everlink Payment Solutions Expands into New Office; Wins
focus on delivering business-to-business mobile Business Excellence Award for Innovation
computing solutions to enterprise, government, Source: Regional Municipality of York
education and small-medium business markets.
Everlink Payment Solutions moved into their new office in November 2016 and
took the opportunity to highlight some major accomplishments for the year.
DuPont Fabros Buys Former Printing Plant in Vaughan for its First Data Center in Canada Everlink was the recipient of Markham Board of Trade’s Business Excellence
Source: Data Center Knowledge Award for Innovation, the first in Canada to certify the mobile payments
Data center company, DuPont Fabros Technology, acquired the building and interface to Interac’s Token Service Provider solution, and the first to enable
land outside of Toronto. The Vaughan site will become the Washington, D.C.- mobile debit payments for credit unions.
based company’s first location in the Toronto-area data center market. This is
also DuPont Fabro’s first foray into a market outside of the United States. RELATED:
Everlink and Thinking Capital Collaborate to Deliver a Small Business
Lending Solution Tailored to Canadian Credit Unions and Banks
Source: Canada Newswire16 BUSINESS COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS YORK LINK 17
Newmarket-Based PerfectlySoft Closes $1.5 Million
Investment Seed Round
Source: Canada Newswire
Newmarket-based PerfectlySoft Inc., announced it
closed its seed funding round of $1.5 million with
help from York Angel Investors, an investment
group based in York Region. The group supports
entrepreneurs and startup businesses throughout
the GTA.
TELUS Health Acquires Markham-Based Nightingale’s Canadian Electronic Medical Record
Crown Realty Partners and Crestpoint Real Estate Investments Complete Major Software Solution Operations
Commercial Real Estate Acquisition of Allstate Corporate Centre in Markham Source: MarketWired
Source: MarketWired TELUS Health announced it entered into an agreement to acquire the Markham-
based business of Nightingale Informatix Corp, including its proprietary
Crown Realty Partners and Crestpoint Real Estate Investments Ltd. announced
electronic medical record software solutions and other assets.
the portfolio acquisition of 11, 15, 19, and 27 Allstate Parkway, and 80 Frontenac
Drive. Crown will oversee the property management of the portfolio and will be
responsible for leasing and day-to-day operations. PwC Canada Acquires Richmond Hill-Based Salesforce Consulting Partner Cinovate
Source: Business Wire
PwC Canada has acquired Richmond Hill-based Cinovate Cloud Innovation Inc.,
a Salesforce Platinum Consulting Partner with extensive experience
implementing solutions across the Salesforce Customer Platform. “This
acquisition will help cement PwC as a leading Salesforce Platinum Consulting
Partner...supported by our strategy and business transformation capabilities,”
said PwC Salesforce Consulting Leader Justin Wortley.
Vaughan-Based Drone Delivery Canada Wants to Deliver
Supplies to Remote Rural Parts of the Country
Source: Globe Newswire
Drone Delivery Canada has been completing test
flights in Waterloo, and says it wants to use drone
technology to get much-needed supplies to rural
and remote parts of Canada.They are working with
Canderel and Fiera Properties Acquire 550,000 sq.ft. Office Building in Markham the federal government to gain operator status.
Source: MarketWired
Canderel and Fiera Properties announced that the companies completed the RELATED:
acquisition of 3500 Steeles Avenue East in Markham. This location is a 550,000 Drone Delivery Canada Receives Special Flight Operations Certificate from
sq.ft. office building home to TD Bank, Geodis Canada, and others. Transport Canada
Source: Drone Delivery Canada
Slate Office REIT Announces $57 Million Acquisition of Gateway Centre in Markham
Source: MarketWired Drone Delivery Canada and Staples Team Up For Drone Delivery
Development, Implementation, and Commercialization
Slate Office REIT, a leading owner of office properties in Canada, announced its Source: Drone Delivery Canada
agreement to acquire Gateway Centre, a major office complex in Markham for
$57.5 million.
Drone Delivery Canada Signs Agreement To Expand Drone Logistics
Platform with NAPA Auto Parts in Canada
Source: Drone Delivery Canada18 BUSINESS COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS YORK LINK 19
Tech-Sector Synergy in York Region as Markham
Companies AMD Canada and Sulon Technologies Partner
on Virtual Reality (VR) Headset
Source: MarketWired
At the Game Developer Conference, AMD said the
Sulon Q will be an all-in-one VR headset that won’t
have to be tethered to a system. AMD is working
with Sulon on the Sulon Q. It’s a headset that
serves up augmented reality and VR, complete with
Photo Source: BetaKit Windows 10, spatial recognition, and a “console-
level” graphics processing chip.
Markham-Based VIQ Solutions Announced New Secure Digital Modernization Wins in
Nigeria and Mauritius
Source: MarketWired
Photo Source: Canadian Business
VIQ Solutions Inc. in conjunction with partners Digital Voice Processing of South
Africa, has been awarded two new secure digital capture and management
contracts in Nigeria and Mauritius. The Nigerian contract calls for the installation Canada’s Next High-Tech Unicorn is a Platform for Appraising Mortgages - Real Matters is
of VIQ’s digital court recording solution in multiple courtrooms, with remote
Headquartered in Markham
stations for playback and transcription of court proceedings. The Mauritius win
Source: Canadian Business
relates to an ongoing environmental appeals tribunal.
From its Markham home office, Real Matters has quietly grown into a
RELATED: technology giant that’s now involved in 10 per cent of all U.S. mortgages. The
VIQ Solutions Announces Major Multi-Year, Multi-Million Dollar Contract for company developed a platform that, for a fee, connects lenders to a network of
Spark & Cannon with New South Wales Police appraisers and professionals, ranked on user ratings.
Source: MarketWired
Newmarket-Based XE Recognized as One of Canada’s Top
VIQ Solutions Unveils New Secure Cloud Based SaaS Workflow, Wins Contract
Small and Medium Employers for 2016
with UK Nursing and Midwifery Council Using Amazon S3 Platform
Source: Business Wire
Source: MarketWired
XE.com, known globally for its web-based and
VIQ Dataworxs Wins Secure Nuance Speech Recognition Integration Project mobile currency converters, has grown to 42 full-
With Australian Law Firm time employees. XE.com sums up its company
Source: MarketWired philosophy as R.S.S. Respect (for colleagues and
customers), solve (customer/business problems),
and simplify (the user experience).
Markham Headquartered Redline Communications
Awarded Contract for Wireless Network in Jordan
Source: Canada Newswire Twenty-Two York Region-Based Companies Make Computer Dealer News Latest Top 100 IT
Solutions Providers List
Redline Communications Group Inc., a provider of
Source: Computer Dealer News
wide area wireless networks for the most
challenging applications and locations, announced Twenty-two York Region based companies made the Top 100. From those
it was selected by the turnkey system integrator companies, two were within the Top 5. The list was released in April 2016.
Waseela to supply the networking equipment for a
highspeed wireless network that will provide Eight York Region Entrepreneurs Make PROFIT’S 2016 W100: Canada’s Top Female
connectivity between the Ministry of Education
local offices and approximately 3,000 schools in
Entrepreneurs List
Source: PROFIT
Jordan.
Eight York Region-based female entrepreneurs were acknowledged
for their efforts by PROFIT Magazine.20 BUSINESS COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS YORK LINK 21
Vaughan-Based Elias Custom Metal Unveils First Ever
Made-In-Ontario E-House and Advanced Manufacturing
Investment
Source: PrintCAN
Elias Custom Metal announced the first-ever
Electrical House manufactured in Ontario and a $2
million investment that will help grow the economy,
add 10 new jobs and strengthen manufacturing.
Kenyan Ministry of Education Selects Software From Markham Based Net Support to Aid
National Literacy Program
Source: Canada Newswire
NetSupport’s classroom management software, NetSupport School, has been
selected as the solution of choice to be pre-installed on over 695,000 education
devices as part of the Digital Literacy Programme in Kenya by Portuguese tech
Photo Source: Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Growth
design company, JP - Inspiring Knowledge (JP-IK). They will install the software
in over 13,500 classrooms, train approximately 33,000 teachers and impact over
695,000 students by March 2017. First New Ford GT Super Car Rolls Off The Line in Markham
Source: Yorkregion.com
Vaughan Headquartered Upstream Works Software The first of the brand-new Ford GT super cars rolled off the line at Multimatic’s
Expands with New Office in Europe and Receives Multiple assembly facility in Markham December 16. The carbon-fiber, $400,000 super
Accolades in 2016 car sports a twin-turbocharged, 600-horsepower engine under the hood.
Source: MarketWired / Upstream Works “When we kicked off 2016, we had two primary objectives for our Ford GT
super car – to excel at Le Mans, and to start deliveries before year-end,” said Raj
Upstream Works Software, Ltd., opened its new
Nair, Ford executive VP of global product development. “We’ve achieved both.”
European office in the United Kingdom. Upstream
was also named to CIO Reviews 20 Most Promising
Cisco Solutions Provider list. They also won the Ford to Extend Production Run on Markham-Built GT Supercar
2016 Company Award for Canada from Contact Source: Yorkregion.com
Center Global and TMC Labs UC Innovation Award. Ford Motor Co. has extended the production run on the second generation of
its GT supercar from two years to four. The decision comes after the automaker
Richmond Hill Headquartered N-Dimension Helps U.S. Utility Benton REA Improve Its accrued a significant wait-list for the lightweight carbon-fiber vehicle that packs
Cybersecurity Defenses more than 600 horsepower into twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engines. “While
Source: Business Wire we can’t build enough Ford GTs for everyone who has applied, we are going to
produce additional vehicles in an effort to satisfy more of our most loyal Ford
N-Dimension Solutions, a Managed Security Service Provider with innovative ambassadors,” Dave Pericak, Global Director of Ford Performance, said.
solutions that protect smart energy networks from cyber threats, announced
that Washington-based Benton Rural Electric Association has adopted use of
N-Sentinel Monitoring on its corporate network.
GO Double-Deckers Roll Out of Vaughan Plant
Source: Toronto Star
RELATED: Toronto area commuters have begun seeing
U.S.-Based Lockheed Martin Energy Partners With N-Dimension Solutions the first version of GO’s signature double decker
Source: N-Dimension buses. Scottish manufacturer Alexander Dennis’
new 45,000 sq.ft. facility near Langstaff Road
N-Dimension Selected by U.S.-Based Fayetteville PWC to Help Meet NERC CIP and Jane Street began production of the
Compliance buses in 2016. The plant will build chassis and
Source: Yahoo! Finance
install engines, axles and steering
components on a new “super low” double-
decker bus. They will build 253 buses over
the next five years.24 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS YORK LINK 25
New Marketing Strategy Geared Towards Business Promotes the Benefits of Locating in ‘York Link’ Campaign Icon Receives Two Prestigious International Design Awards in 2016
York Region Source: Shikatani LaCroix
Source: Regional Municipality of York
2016 GOOD DESIGN™ Award from The Chicago Athenaeum:
York Region’s new marketing strategy, York Link, targets executive decision Museum of Architecture and Design
makers across the Region, the GTA and internationally. The strategy reflects
findings of an extensive office market analysis study, which concluded that 2016 American Graphic Design Award from Graphic Design USA
promoting the Region’s advantages as a destination of choice for office users
would grow local jobs and attract quality employers – particularly in Regional These prestigious awards honour cutting-edge graphic design
city centres and along major transit corridors. from across the world. Shikatani Lacroix, the agency that worked
with York Region Economic Strategy on developing the ‘York Link’
“More businesses are choosing to locate in York Region due to our access to icon and tagline was recognized with these design awards. Our
talent and our extensive investments in modern infrastructure,” said York team worked closely with Shikatani Lacroix to clearly define the
Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “This new marketing strategy will Region’s point-of-difference through extensive consultations with
allow us to better promote all of the benefits of living, working and investing in private sector, municipal and regional stakeholders. The York Link
one of the fastest growing regions in Canada.” icon and message focus on York Region’s economic and urban
growth, and the tagline, “Where Talent and Opportunity Intersect,”
resonates with companies as an attractive location to establish
their business.
York Link Launches at Toronto Real Estate Board Commercial Development Forum
Source: Regional Municipality of York
Over 350 real estate, government and private sector professionals including
senior York Region staff convened in Markham on September 27, 2016 for
the Toronto Real Estate Board Commercial Development Forum. The first
time the event was held outside the City of Toronto. It was the public
launch of the York Link campaign, and included a presentation by York
Region Economic Strategy. Attendees discussed commercial real estate,
economic development and infrastructure growth in York Region.26 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS YORK LINK 27
York Region Business Advisory Services Facilitate Local Job
Creation and Economic Growth
Source: The Regional Municipality of York
Working in collaboration with local Examples of key local businesses York
cities and towns and an extensive Region Economic Strategy worked
network of partners, York Region’s with in 2016 are KPMG Canada, AE
Economic Strategy division delivers Engineering, General Motors Canada,
services in the areas of business Everlink Payment Services, Crown
advisory, economic research, Property Management, Drone Delivery
innovation and investment attraction Canada, ICE Datacenters, Bluewrist
marketing and sales. Business and ClearBridge mobile. This
expansion and attraction advisory publication features some of the
services are delivered region-wide Region’s business clients and their
via York Link, the Region’s investment success stories in 2016.
& marketing program. Small business
services are delivered to York Region’s Since 2010, services delivered by York
northern six towns by the York Small Region’s Economic Strategy division
Business Enterprise Centre. facilitated the creation of over 2,300
new and expansion jobs across the
In 2016, York Region’s Economic Region.
Strategy team engaged over 800
businesses and entrepreneurs both
within and outside York Region.28 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS YORK LINK XX
29
Greater Toronto Area Financial
Technology Leaders Take Part in
the York Region FinTech Summit
Source: Regional Municipality of York
The 2016 York Region FinTech Summit
took place October 28 in the Town of
Richmond Hill and was attended by
over 200 executives. The keynote was
provided by Ernst & Young, who spoke
about the state of FinTech in Canada.
The rest of the Summit included a work
group idea session and two panel
discussions on the Future of FinTech and
the FinTech Revolution as it related to
backend systems, mobile, and wearables.
The day was capped off with a chat
discussing the investors’ perspective on
fintech.
Companies participating in the York
Region FinTech Summit included Ernst
& Young, PayPal Canada, BioConnect,
MaRS, BDC, RBC, OMERS Ventures,
Everlink, Borrowell, Clearbridge
Mobile, Lendful, Strategic Information
Technology, and Questrade.
Missed out on the York Region FinTech
Summit? See what else took place using
#YRfintech on Twitter.30 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS YORK LINK XX
31
Broadband & Innovation Summit
Driving Economic Growth
Source: Regional Municipality of York
York Region held its second annual
Broadband and Innovation Summit in
Richmond Hill on Friday, October 28,
2016, in collaboration with the TAVES
Consumer Electronics Show. Over 140
professionals were in attendance and the
event provided insight and discussions
on York Region’s efforts to become
recognized as an Intelligent Community
by the Intelligent Community Forum.
“Improving Internet connectivity
throughout York Region is a priority
as it drives economic growth for the
region’s businesses – we need to
encourage our senior funding partners
and industry stakeholders to step up
their investments in modern broadband
infrastructure.” said York Region
Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson.
Missed out on the York Region
Broadband and Innovation Summit? See
what else took place using #IntelligentYR
on Twitter.32 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS YORK LINK 33
Newmarket’s Public Transit Bus Rapidway Cuts Travel
Times by a Third
Source: Yorkregion.com
Newmarket’s public transit bus rapidway has
significantly boosted travel times on Davis Drive,
York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson
said at an event to mark the official completion of
the project. “Along this key urban growth centre,
we have an efficient transit system that is now
moving people about a third faster than before the
addition of rapid transit,” he told a press
conference in the parking lot of Southlake Regional
Health Centre with Davis Drive as a backdrop. “We
are seeing increased ridership, which is helping to
improve the environment. We are supporting all
modes of transportation along this stretch of road.”
RELATED:
Rapid Transit Brings Rapid Growth to Vaughan York Region Economic Development Action Plan 2016 to 2019 Strengthens High-Tech
Source: Toronto Sun
Economy, Helps Attract Investments and Jobs
Source: Regional Municipality of York
Ontario Expanding GO Transit Rail Service on Stouffville Corridor in York Region
Source: Ontario Government York Region’s Economic Development Action Plan 2016 to 2019, released in
January 2016, continues to accelerate innovation, collaboration and partnerships
and build on the Region’s strengths as Ontario’s second-largest business cen-
York Region Building $50 Million Highway 404 Overpass tre and Canada’s second largest Information and Communications Technology
Connecting Markham and Richmond Hill Business Areas cluster.
Source: Yorkregion.com
“Economic growth and job creation are a priority for York Region,” said York
To relieve congestion along Highway 7, the Region
Region Chairman and CEO, Wayne Emmerson. “Our Economic Development
is building a bridge over Highway 404, linking
Action Plan sets out the next phase of our strategy to attract even more
business areas in Markham and Richmond Hill.
investment and employment opportunities for the benefit of our residents,
Hundreds of cars use the Highway 404/Highway
especially our young people.”
7 interchange. Now it’s the site of an intense and
concentrated three-part, $50 million project.
A status update on the 2016 to 2019 York Region Economic Development
Action Plan will be released in March 2017.
Four York Region Municipalities Among Top 30 Places to
Live in Canada York Region Reports Highest Total Construction Value in
Source: MoneySense
its History
How does it feel living among some of the best Source: Regional Municipality of York
communities in Canada? Because you are. Four
York Region communities - Aurora (19), Newmarket York Region’s 2015 Growth and Development
(24), Richmond Hill (27), and Vaughan (20) - made Review, released in May 2016, estimated the total
the Top 30 in the list of the Top 219 places to live in value of construction in 2015 at $3.89 billion, the
Canada, according to MoneySense magazine. The highest value in the history of York Region. “The
list looks at a variety of different socio-economic record amount of new construction activity this
factors to determine its rankings. past year reaffirms the fact that York Region
continues to be an attractive place to live, work
and invest,” said York Region Chairman Wayne
Emmerson.34 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS YORK LINK 35
Signs Are in the Ground for York University’s Markham Campus
Source: Yorkregion.com
York University officials, together with Markham delegates, unveiled a ‘coming
soon’ sign at a five-acre site located at Enterprise Boulevard and Rivis Road.
Now that the academic side of the equation is almost complete and the build-
ing siteplan is in progress. The university campus is expected to open for the
2020-2021 school year with an estimated 4,000-4,500 students, with projected
growth to 10,000.
Seneca College King Campus Expansion Takes Next Step Forward
Source: Canada Newswire
Seneca College and Infrastructure Ontario have awarded a contract to EllisDon
Corporation to design, build and finance Seneca College’s King Campus
Expansion. The 200,000 sq.ft. expansion includes 25 new classrooms, computer
labs, specialty labs for training health-care practitioners, a library, learning Vaughan Rising: Master-Planning a Downtown From Scratch
commons and student study space, plus other student-use areas. Source: The Globe & Mail
Canada’s Best Places for Business 2016: Top 10 Most The sister condo towers sprout out of south-central Vaughan like the first
Lucrative – Vaughan Tops List, Richmond Hill Sixth shoots of spring. Surrounded by one- and two-storey industrial, commercial
and retail buildings, the glassy high-rises make a big impression. It takes
Source: Globe Newswire
scanning the horizon for distant downtown Toronto to find any buildings that
Canada’s Top 10 Most Lucrative Markets for 2016 remotely compare to their 37 storeys. This Vaughan Metropolitan Project
ranked Vaughan at number one and Richmond Hill project – the biggest in the city’s history – is a true shift in how that growth is
at six. These communities boast the best to be managed.
combination of a large and growing population,
high household incomes and high educational The vision is closely tied to the $2.6-billion 8.6-kilometre York-Spadina
attainment—making them highly desirable for retail, subway extension expected to be opened in late 2017. It’s the first time
financial and service businesses that cater to a Toronto’s subway has reached past the city limits and will service
localized market. Vaughan with about a 45-minute ride to Union Station.36 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS YORK LINK 37
Richmond Hill-Based Mackenzie Health Revolutionizes “Smart” Hospital Support Services Construction Has Begun on State-of-the-Art Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital
with Innovative Partnership Source: CKNW AM980
Source: PR Newswire Construction has begun on a new hospital - the first in the city of Vaughan -
Mackenzie Health is expanding its innovation strategy by advancing how it that will provide advanced health care services to more than 500,000 people.
delivers non-clinical support services. As part of Mackenzie Innovation Institute’s Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital will help patients by providing modern surgical
first-in-Canada Innovation Unit, the hospital is partnering with its support services and operating rooms, advanced diagnostic imaging and other
service provider, Sodexo Canada to expand the interconnectivity of IT systems specialized services. The hospital will have 342 beds on opening day. Mackenzie
that manage service fulfillment to improve patient care. Health will use the most advanced smart technology available to enhance the
patient experience. With an integrated picture of a patient’s medical condition,
patients will be connected with support beyond the new hospital’s walls.
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Invests $15 Million in
Healthcare Innovation in York Region
Source: Government of Canada
Richmond Hill Headquartered Compugen Selected to
Implement Mackenzie Health’s Smart Hospital Technology
Residents will soon benefit from improved health care options to support the
in Vaughan
management of chronic disease as a result of a $15 million investment from
Source: Mackenzie Health
FedDev Ontario to York University and its project partners, Southlake Regional
Health Centre and the University Health Network.
Compugen was selected to provide the Managed
Information Communication Automation
Colliers Identifies Markham as an Advantageous Location Technology Services at the new hospital, expected
for Businesses With Extensive Fibre Optic Networks Throughout its to open in 2020. It will be the first hospital in
Employment Hubs Canada to feature fully-integrated “smart”
Source: Colliers Canada technology systems and medical devices.
Fibre optic Internet should be on the must-have list of
companies on the market for office space, according to the
Saint Elizabeth and ventureLAB Partner to Develop a Connected Health Innovation
report by Colliers International. It identifies Markham as an Cluster in York Region
advantageous location, with its numerous fibre optic lines Source: Canada Newswire
and commitment to continually enhance the
telecommunication infrastructure. Regional Innovation Centre ventureLAB and Saint Elizabeth, a national
health care provider established a partnership with the goal of
developing a vibrant health innovation cluster in York Region.38 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS YORK LINK 39
Aurora and Markham-Based Auto Parts Manufacturers Get Combined $5.48 Million Green Innovation Hub Slated for Kortright Centre in
Investment from the Government of Canada Vaughan
Source: Business Wire Source: Daily Commercial News
Axiom Plastics in Aurora received $881,000 to produce a new hybrid plastic/ Already considered Canada’s largest environmental
fabric vehicle component aimed at reducing noise and emissions. Ottawa education facility, the Kortright Centre in Kleinburg
provided Markham based Exco Technologies Ltd. with up to $4.6 million, is now on the cusp of also becoming the country’s
allowing the company to make lighter-weight high pressure die-cast moulds for first-ever Building Research Establishment
power train and other structural parts. Innovation Park and an integral part of a global
web of similar parks.
FedDev Ontario Invests in New Site in Vaughan to Create
Energy-Efficient Technologies
Source: Government of Canada
Energy conservation will get a surge thanks to a
$4.63 million federal investment in Mohawk College
which will help build a new test site at the Kortright
Centre for Conservation in Vaughan to develop and
commercialize clean energy tech. The technologies
developed at the site have potential to make
Markham-Based Robotics Systems Developer Bluewrist Inc. Receives $820,000 Funding electrical power systems more efficient.
from the Government of Canada
Source: Government of Canada Government of Canada Supports Markham-Based
Interconn Development Through Build in Canada
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic
Development announced a $3 million funding under the Automotive Supplier Innovation Program
Innovation Program. Bluewrist Inc., a Markham-based developer of robotics Source: Government of Canada
systems will receive up to $821,445 to develop an innovative scanning Former Minister of Immigration, Refugees and
inspection system that will be five times faster than existing technologies. Citizenship and MP for Markham-Thornhill, John
McCallum, announced the Government of Canada
FedDev Ontario Invests in King Township-Based Audio Technology Systems Manufacturer is investing in an innovative emergency response
Audera Acoustics vehicle made by Markham-based Interconn
Source: MarketWired
Development.
On behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science
and Economic Development, Deborah Schulte, Member of Parliament for King
NewMakeIt – A High-Tech Hub for Entrepreneurs,
Vaughan, announced an investment that will help the King Township-based Innovators and Artists
audio technology company develop new applications of its technology. Audera Source: Regional Municipality of York
Acoustics will receive up to $200,000 to finalize development and Newmarket’s NewMakeIt, supported in part by York
commercialization of its product. Region, is a makerspace with digital fabrication
equipment (3D printers, CNC mill and routers, laser
Canada and Ontario Investing in Aurora-Based Food Processor Treasure Mills cutters, etc.), woodworking and metalworking
Source: Ontario Government equipment. An electronics lab and co-working
spaces are available, as well as a shared meeting
The Aurora area food processor received $100,000 to support improved room. Rapid prototyping and small batch
efficiency and capacity in its facility by installing automated baking and washing manufacturing is offered on a contractual basis.
equipment and improving refrigeration and drainage systems. Various business and technical workshops are
available, for more details visit: www.newmakeit.caYou can also read
