Announcing the Southwestern Ontario 2020 Family Enterprise of the Year Award Recipient, North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd. and the Toivonen Family
LONDON, ON – February 26, 2020 – Family Enterprise Canada (FEC) is proud to announce North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd. and the Toivonen Family as the 2020 Southwestern Ontario Family Enterprise of the Year Award Recipient. This honour was celebrated at a luncheon on February 26, 2020 at Doubletree Hilton in London, Ontario.
North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd.
This second-generation family business has been serving Southwestern Ontario with interior building products since 1979. They aim to meet the needs of the residential home builder and the renovation trade. Their reputation has been built on delivering premium products on time and with the accuracy their customers demand. North Pole Trim was purchased 40 years ago by Ron and Trudy Toivonen, who — along with one truck driver — were the only employees at the time. Since then, the company has grown and evolved into an organization of over 90 employees and it is now owned and operated by sons Eric and Mike. The Toivonen Family are proud members of the FEC Community.
About the Family Enterprise of the Year Award
The Family Enterprise of Year Award (FEYA) was established in 1986 to celebrate and promote the achievements of Canadian business families and the considerable contributions they make to the economic and social fabric of both their local communities and Canada as a whole. In fact, FEC recently issued a report, Family Enterprise Matters, which explores the impact of family-owned enterprises on the Canadian economic landscape, producing the most comprehensive picture of family businesses in Canada to date. This report confirms that family enterprise truly matters; accounting for approximately 50 per cent of private sector GDP and nearly 7 million jobs across the country.
FEYA is unique among business awards in Canada, as it does not only focus on traditional business metrics. Instead, the selection committee also looks at how well the family enterprise integrates best practices that benefit the business, the family and their communities. Having demonstrated significant capabilities in these regards, FEYA recipients are examples of excellence and are integral to Canada’s economic future.
About Family Enterprise Canada
Family Enterprise Canada is a national community, resource center and learning hub for business families and designated Family Enterprise Advisors (FEA). We empower families with the resources needed to navigate challenges and embrace opportunities unique to working with loved ones.
Our members connect, learn and grow together through dynamic social and educational events, intimate peer-to-peer advisory groups, one-on-one mentorship, online and in-person learning experiences, and access to FEAs who are specially trained in family business dynamics.
We believe family businesses are essential to building a better tomorrow for Canada’s communities and economy. Our role? To foster their strength and success.
Media Contact
Sheila Scott
National Director, Marketing & Communications
Family Enterprise Canada
T: 647.521.7812
E: sscott@familyenterprise.ca
W: www.familyenterprise.ca
Alexa Zacs
Ontario Regional Coordinator
Family Enterprise Canada
T: 519-642-4349
E: azacs@fexcanada.ca
www.familyenterprise.ca