During Small Business Month, Telus is shining a light on the hard work and optimism of local entrepreneurs who put everything on the line to create a better future.
Each year, Telus supports a slew of regional businesses with funding, technology, and exposure.
Through its annual #StandWithOwners program, Telus has invested a total of $7 million since 2020.
This year, Telus executive vice-president David Fuller says the applications reviewed “were a powerful reminder of the perseverance and unwavering belief that it takes to run a business in Canada.”
“Small business owners are the heartbeat of our communities,” he said. “We are proud to stand beside these resilient leaders, providing the tools and support they need to overcome obstacles and build a future where their businesses and communities thrive together.”
In 2026, three grand prize winners will receive $125K worth of support.
Those winners include Silverts Adaptive Clothing and Footwear, which earned the “Future Forward Award” for its product lineup serving aging adults and people with disabilities through magnetic closures, open-back designs, and wheelchair-friendly cuts.
Atome Bakery, meanwhile, won the “Business Growth Award” for its direct-to-consumer, ready-to-bake goods.
On the tech side of things, Kamloops-based Innovatree Carbon Group garnered the “AI Innovation Award” for its climate-focused LiDAR technology and AI-driven analytics platform.
Innovatree’s proprietary offering, Forest Guardian, utilizes advanced geospatial technology and machine learning algorithms to map woodland tree-by-tree.
Use cases for the software platform include automating timber planning, calculating carbon sequestration baselines, and identifying high-fuel zones for proactive wildfire mitigation.
In addition to the grand prize winners, Telus celebrated six Community Award winners: COCO Cafe, Hung’s Noodles, Ateliers de Régis, Simply Smile Studio, Uobo, and Zawadi Farm.
Community Award winners receive $10K in support.
Telus invites Canadians to champion their favourite winner through the People’s Choice Award, which grants one deserving business an additional $25,000 boost.
The telecom titan has also been helping equip remote and rural regions of British Columbia with high-speed internet while advancing AI data centres in the province.
In July, Telus unveiled leadership changes amid a corporate transformation to address a long-term slide in stock shares.
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