Around here, we reward businesses making an impact
To celebrate Meridian’s 5th annual Small Business Big Impact awards, we rewarded more businesses than ever before. In January 2026, we gave out 15 community awards of $10,000 each, and beginning February 2, 2026, we invite you to vote for one finalist to receive an additional $50,000 as a grand prize. Learn more about the contest.
Meet the community award winners
Our judges reviewed over 6,000 nominations – businesses across Ontario making an impact on their communities through innovation, environmental stewardship, inclusive employment practices, and more. We were thrilled to see many businesses committed to driving positive change, and after very careful review, selected these 15 winners.
Get to know the Indigenous Entrepreneur winners
Miinikaan
Nominated for the Ontario Votes award
Lindsay, ON
Miinikaan Innovation and Design is a First Nations co-owned consulting business specializing in the design and installation of Indigenous healing gardens. Their portfolio of successful public-sector projects in the GTA includes parks, libraries, hospitals and educational institutions. These gardens foster cultural revitalization and ecological restoration while also serving as educational hubs for traditional agro-ecology, medicines, and biodiversity. They create space for environmental stewardship and healing through hands-on connection with the land.
Birch Bark Coffee Company
Birch Island, ON
Birch Bark Coffee Company unites tradition and sustainability to create an exceptional coffee experience with purpose. First Nations-owned and operated, Birch Bark has been delivering ethically sourced, high-quality coffee – and supporting Indigenous communities and tackling systemic challenges – since 2018. A portion of all profits goes to the Birch Bark Foundation Fund, which addresses vital needs such as infrastructure development, education, and access to clean water. The foundation supports seven charities dedicated to creating sustainable change in Indigenous communities, grounded in the teachings of the Seven Grandfathers.
Learn more about Birch Bark Coffee Company
Timber + Plumb Inc.
Windsor, ON
Founded in 2018, Timber + Plumb Inc. is a women- and Métis-owned design and renovation firm creating elevated, functional, and beautifully designed spaces and custom cabinetry for residential and commercial clients. They are also deeply committed to supporting local businesses, fostering entrepreneurship, and investing in the next generation. During the pandemic, Timber + Plumb launched its own self-funded small business grant to help local entrepreneurs. The firm also hosts women’s networking events for small business owners and industry leaders foster real connections and collaboration.
Learn more about Timber + Plumb Inc.
Get to know the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) winners
The Chance Centre
Nominated for the Ontario Votes award
Brampton, ON
The Chance Centre is a non-profit organization that creates economic opportunities for neurodivergent and underserved young people. Through job readiness training, the Skill Building Studio, employer partnerships, and paid social enterprise employment, Chance Centre empowers individuals who are rarely offered jobs, fostering their dignity and independence. Since 2023, participants have produced over 678 custom products, completed 598+ hours of hands-on training, and contributed to six strong community partnerships.
Learn more about the Chance Centre
Active Scholars
Ajax, ON
Through STEM learning and sports development, Active Scholars instills movement skills, character development, healthy mindsets, and teamwork values. Since 2018, the organization has served over 2,500 children aged 7 to 13, across Durham Region, Toronto, and Guelph – working to remove barriers to access among racialized, low-income, and newcomer communities. Led by teachers, coaches, and athletes, Active Scholars fosters creativity and problem-solving. Activities include robotics, soccer, coding, basketball, digital media, field hockey, beat production, and more.
Learn more about Active Scholars
Karma Co-Op
Toronto, ON
Karma is a not-for-profit, democratically-run co-operative owned by its 700+ members and specializing in organic, local, fair trade, and zero waste products. They carry bulk items, organic produce from Ontario farms, health supplements and eco-friendly, packaged goods. Their commitment to systemic change in food systems also includes hosting repair cafes, partnering with Community Fridges Toronto to stock fridges for those in need, donating nutritious local food to organizations addressing hunger, partnering with packaging return programs with Circulr and TerraCycle to lower environmental impact, and more.
Get to know the Niagara/Hamilton winners
Axe Living
Nominated for the Ontario Votes award
Thorold, ON
Axe Living is a modular and panelized housing manufacturer delivering high-quality, near-net-zero-ready homes at scale. By combining Canadian-made materials, standardized designs, and streamlined factory production, they help builders and municipalities unlock urgently needed housing with improved affordability, reduced waste, and predictable performance. In addition to supporting affordable and climate-conscious housing, Axe is also growing a skilled manufacturing workforce in Niagara, partnering with local colleges, and creating quality jobs in an industry urgently in need of capacity.
Apprenticeship Community Internship (ACI)
Mount Hope, ON
ACI offers apprenticeships for adults with disabilities to continue their education with hands-on experience in the classroom and community through work placements. They offer enriched courses, hands-on training, and career coaching to help students meet the needs to needs of future employers and increase the employment rate among adults with disabilities. The curriculum includes culinary studies, domestic/housekeeping studies, health and fitness, finance, horticultural maintenance, and more.
Learn more about Apprenticeship Community Internship (ACI)
Toques From The Heart
Hamilton, ON
Toques From The Heart is a social enterprise that believes that no Canadian should face our harsh winters without the proper winter gear. Through their buy-one-give-one program, they’ve been able to donate thousands of essential toques, mittens, and socks to Canadians experiencing homelessness, reducing their risk of hypothermia and saving lives. Founded in Hamilton in 2019, Toques From The Heart has now partnered with over 100 non-profit and charity organizations across Canada who help distribute our toques to those who need it most, when they need it most.
Learn more about Toques From The Heart
Get to know the Northern Ontario winners
theROC Youth Services
Nominated for the Ontario Votes award
Picton, ON
A non-profit organization serving youth aged 12 to 24, theROC offers free programs designed to foster growth, resilience, and opportunity. Since 2000, they have provided a safe, inclusive space where young people can access academic support, mentorship, nutritious food, life skills programming, mental health resources, and specialized workshops, all designed to help them thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. Key initiatives include the Youth Inclusion Program, Get Grounded wellbeing workshops, and IGNITE mentorship program.
Learn more about theROC Youth Services
EcoWool Canada
Ayton, ON
EcoWool Canada Inc. is a fibre‑processing manufacturer that transforms waste and unwanted wool from Ontario farmers into high‑value products, including roving, felt, pellets, and innovative packaging. Their flagship initiative, Inswoolation, is Canada’s only wool‑based, take‑back thermoregulating packaging solution, offering a sustainable alternative for food delivery and perishable shipments. Through research leadership, community‑powered production, and environmental partnerships, EcoWool drives circular‑economy innovation while reducing agricultural waste and supporting local producers.
Learn more about EcoWool Canada
Straworks
Peterborough, ON
Straworks is a women-owned, sustainable construction company. Since 2004, they have been designing and building beautiful, natural, high-performing homes that serve both people and the planet. By using more plant-based, carbon-storing materials and fewer high-emissions products, Straworks is committed to being more part of the solution. In addition to innovative, climate-conscious projects, they also provide education opportunities through partnerships with Camp Kawartha and Youth Leadership in Sustainability (YLS).
Get to know the Southern Ontario winners
The SEED - Guelph Community Health Centre
Nominated for the Ontario Votes award
Guelph, ON
The SEED is a non-profit program under the Guelph Community Health Centre focused on ensuring that everyone, regardless of income, has dignified access to fresh, healthy, and culturally relevant food. They operate an online sliding-scale grocery store, allowing individuals to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, frozen meals, and pantry staples at prices they can afford. Fresh Food Rx is an innovative “food-as-medicine” program that allows health professionals to prescribe fresh produce to patients experiencing chronic illness and food insecurity. They also have programs dedicated to affordable wholesale food supplies, reducing food waste, an urban farm, and more.
GROSCHE International
Cambridge, ON
GROSCHE is a Canadian brand for coffee ware, tea ware, and hydration drinkware, and a proud certified B Corporation. All of their high-quality, sustainable products are lead-free, PFAS-free, and BPA-free. Plus, every GROSCHE purchase directly supports their Safe Water Project. Every product sold provides funding for over 50 days of safe drinking water for people in need across countries like the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Uganda, Malawi, and South Sudan.
Learn more about GROSCHE International
Urban Stalk
St. George, ON
Urban Stalk is an innovative urban agriculture company delivering resilient, community-driven food production through proprietary technology. Local food resilience is an urgent need – 73% of Canada’s vegetables were imported in 2024 and 10 million Canadians live in food-insecure households. Through hyper-controlled systems that support over 50 vegetable cultivars, Urban Stalk aims to enable cultural and regionally relevant produce while maintaining agile, responsive local supply chains that can adapt to fluctuations in global trade, climate impacts, and geopolitical tensions.
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