xenophile media is a toronto-based cross-platform production company founded in 2002 by patrick crowe and thomas wallner .

they are best known for creating alternate reality games linked to television series such as the regenesis extended reality game produced in association with shaftesbury films and the fallen alternate reality game produced for abc family with matt wolf ( double twenty productions ) .

xenophile won an international interactive emmy for the second season of the regenesis game in april 2007 and an emmy for the fallen game in september 2007 .

xenophile also produces documentary films .

xenophile media

xenophile media produces innovative cross - platform television experiences , games and interactive media in documentary , drama and kids genres for broadcasters from disney to bbc .
xenophile media’s ‘reactor engine’ xenophile describe the reactor cmds ( content management and deployment system ) as proprietary software to assist the deployment of their alternate reality games . here is their description from their website :
that ' s a wrap ! atlas electric shoot ends in toronto - xenophile media’s latest production , atlas electric , . . .
xenophile media ' s latest project - - the hybrid feature film / web series anxietyville - - is covered in today ' s streamdaily .
xenophile media ' s latest project - - the hybrid feature film / web series anxietyville - - is covered in today ' s . . .
( toronto - september 23 , 2014 ) - today interactive ontario launched a new report designed to guide canadian interactive digital media ( idm ) producers in taking advantage of international coproduction opportunities . international digital media coproduction : a guide for canadian companies was created in association with deep inc and amythos media , with funding from the ontario media development corporation , the canada media fund and the bell fund .
presentation at the festival of new cinema and new media of montreal , canada .
xenophile was inspired to adopt vimeo ' s hybrid model following the success of the comedy series high maintenance .
robots invade the xenophile office . . . stay tuned for more robot fun with a new project this summer .
this blog is part of the indieweb philosophy and technology . this means this blog is my main hub that syndicates out to my social media , and pulls social media responses back here .
evan jones is the creative director of xenophile media xenophile which is a canadian cross media production company specialising in extended media experiences . evan is an interactive media producer from the combined disciplines of computer science , film studies and radio production . his projects range from narrative console gaming to interactive historical documentary . winner of the 2005 canadian new media awards for excellence in cross platform and banff television award for interactive television , his project ‘the regenesis extended reality’ game engages players to interact with characters from the series . the project has attracted a whole new audience eager for more than bios and episodic summaries . the game draws viewers into a conspiracy and mystery that weaves in and out of the tv series , using the internet , email and other media to immerse the viewer and blur the line between fiction and reality .
questions ? please contact interactive media peer group co - governors geoff katz or lori h . schwartz
alex combines poetic and aesthetic approaches to user engagement in digital media that blend gameplay with magical worlds to create unique media - based experiences . alex has also worked with internationally recognised artists such as
transmedia storyteller is about to go into beta , and will begin with social media deployment tools .
presentation at ‘the creative and the corporate’ , a lansdown centre symposium on the state of interactive media at middlesex university .
though digital media coproductions are outside the official treaty coproduction framework that exists for film and television , in october 2013 various canadian funding agencies released a framework for international digital media coproduction to facilitate digital media coproduction eligibility for their programs . the bell fund , the canada media fund , the independent production fund , the québecor fund and the shaw rocket fund collaborated to establish definitions , eligibility and minimum canadian participation to recognize and promote international coproductions in digital media between canada and other countries . this framework makes it much easier for non - canadians to work with canadians as the guidelines have been harmonized .
it is a resource listing technologies used to manage cross / trans / multi - platform / media projects . i’m not talking about cross - media measurement , but about the tools you can use to deliver and manage your content across media platforms . i’ve selected a range of technologies used in alternate reality games , pervasive games , location - based games and interactive tv :
about the canada media fund the canada media fund ( cmf ) fosters , develops , finances and promotes the production of canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms . the cmf guides canadian content towards a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation , rewarding success , enabling a diversity of voice and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships . please visit urltoken .
we connect to the human side of stories .
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patrick crowe is a toronto - based producer , writer , game designer , and filmmaker . he has worked for the national film board and the ontario media development corporation and as a producer for the cbc . he is the co - founder and president of xenophile media , a two - time emmy award - winning production company renowned for its work in content and technology , including the interactive documentary inside hana ' s suitcase .
we offer our belated but no less heartfelt congratulations to the team at xenophile media , who along with co - creator matt wolf were winners of a primetime emmy® award for outstanding creative achievement in interactive television , presented at last month’s ceremony in los angeles . the team got the nod for “ the ocular effect , ” the alternate reality game tied in to the abc family television movie , fallen . xenophile previously won an international emmy® for the regenesis extended reality game .
in stellaris xenophile / xenophobe is one of the ethical axis that empires can select . xenophiles have a bonus to diplomatic relations and will tolerate mixed - species populations more readily .
it’s been a crazy month for the guys at xenophile media . it started off back in march at the 10th annual sxsw interactive awards when occular effect ( the fallen alternate reality game ) won the award in the experimental category . but it was not about to stop there . the nominations were just beginning to roll in . fallen was nominated for a banff world television award and regenesis was nominated for both an interactive emmy ( pdf ) and a cnma award . the cnma and banff world television awards will be announced in the next few months , but last night the interactive emmy went to ( pdf ) … xenophile media for regenesis extended reality game !
a few different characters in larry niven ' s known space books . beowulf schaeffer and louis wu come to mind . at least one of them explicitly referred to himself as a xenophile .
according to xenophile media , the objective of love letters to the future is “to collect a critical mass of love letters – messages about people’s fears and hopes for the future , the stories they want to send to their children’s children . ” the website has already received over 2 , 000 text , image , and video submissions .
creating a research group focused on game and interactive media that combines practice based research with theory . originating new projects as well as continuing ongoing work .
thomas wallner is a rare example of a creative filmmaker who is truly at home in the interactive media world . his work earned him international recognition as a cross platform tv pioneer . over the past ten years thomas has consistently applied his award winning vision as a storyteller to push the limits of interactive narrative . a leading figure in the creation of participatory narratives he brought the underground genre of alternate reality gaming into the television mainstream , culminating in xenophile media’s emmy award winning genre - benders fallen and regenesis .
now , while we take the term alternate reality game in this context with a grain of salt , xenophile does have a decent track record with their past projects for fallen ( ocular effect ) and regenesis .
the academy of television arts and sciences ' interactive media peer group provides a forum for individuals contributing to the evolution of cross - platform engagement between creators and fans .
creating work that intends to push the creative boundaries of computer games and interactive media . giving creative direction on all zero - game projects as well as developing new projects .
yesterday , the winners of the 14th annual webby awards were announced , recognizing excellence in “interactive design , creativity , usability and functionality on the internet . ” this year , a trio of alternate reality gaming projects came home with accolades . so congratulations to the teams behind love letters to the future ( xenophile media ) , district 9 ( trigger llc ) , and true blood ( hbo ) .
a new article posted at urltoken ( also via urltoken ) hints at an upcoming game from xenophile media , tied in with a new show from the canadian network cbc called jpod , which premieres tuesday , january 8th ( on cbc of course ) . while much of the show’s online components are typical of the new trend of extended interactivity , the key point is noted in a later paragraph :
xenophile : a person who likes foreigners or things foreign [ from greek , from xeno - + - phile ] . and by foreigners , we mean aliens . and not just humans who live in another country , either .
thomas wallner , founder and owner of deep inc . is a producer , writer , director and game designer working in feature film , television , games and interactive media . in addition to producing innovative cross - media properties for television , he has written and directed eight award - winning feature documentaries that have been broadcast in more than 30 countries .
evan visited australia in november 2006 and in this presentation he focuses on two cross media / broadcast tv drama series projects : fallen ( urltoken ) and re - genesis ( urltoken ) .
we are also bursting our buttons with pride here at argnet , because our very own jonathan waite was a part of the ocular effect team . congrats jon , and rest of the crew at xenophile . we look forward to your future projects with great anticipation !
for two decades alex mayhew has worked internationally for high profile clients and companies across multiple platforms using cutting edge digital media to create iconic , engaging and effective projects that significantly enhance his client’s brand identity .
crossroads is the flexible solution for storytelling across multiple media channels , using technology already a part of the playerâ€™s life , such as cell phones , web pages and news feeds , to make the story come alive . literally .
cipher cities game builder australian project cipher cities is also a technology for pervasive games . but it is a free technology that enables people to create their own location - based games . it is based on newish media’s scoot camp .
* * alternate reality games ( arg ) blend the game world with reality , using many forms of media to deliver an interactive narrative . args empower players as investigators who collaborate to uncover the story and solve plot based challenges .
congratulations are in order for canadian production xenophile media as they captured the 2006 gemini award for best cross platform project at last week’s ceremonies in toronto , canada . their arg , the regenesis extended reality , won for the first time in the prize category , awarded to the “interactive project that best “enhances the users’ enjoyment of the television program / series through such platforms as mobile , the web and other portable devices” , ” according to a press release . regenesis is a canadian bio - lab drama available in canada and in syndication worldwide .
alex is focused on creating experiences that embrace user - generated content and social media as well as projects that span mobile , content management , communication and location - based experience . building on these interests he co - founded infinity labs with
ah , so many crafty toys to play with and come up with great experiences ( although my dream of a media integrated home entertainment system is still a bit off — hint hint…i want to develop projects in cool labs like that ) .
about interactive ontario interactive ontario ( io ) is a member - driven not - for - profit trade association committed to the growth of the ontario interactive digital content industry . io is the voice of the interactive industry in ontario , representing companies working in e - learning , video games , mobile app development , online storytelling , social media and other forms of interactive digital media . io’s programming includes x - summit , gameon : finance , the interact networking series and the ilunch series .
1 . love letters to the future . xenophile media and greenpeace launched this stunning project last year , leading up to the united nations climate change conference in copenhagen ( december , 2009 . ) the multiplatform initiative featured an online “open stage for the public to share messages of hope for the future so that children of today and tomorrow will know we cared about the planet . ” people from 128 countries contributed love letters and the top vote - getters were encoded and placed in a waterproof , shock - proof time capsule , so that they could be played on any device 100 years from now , assuming there’s still human life on the planet .
voiceover projects include… oxford business awards for wolfestone translation . poem for sony xperia . award winning narration for needless things . series of online commercials for griff films . promotional films for workare . audiobook narration excerpts for new book publication . training film narration for olympic swordfighting for beginners dvd . operation valkyrie history documentary for arts magic . 3 tv commercials for chelsea building society . viva piñata tv commercial for microsoft x box . radio commercials for brfm . narration for close protection security documentary . 6 documentary voices for the discovery channel . v oice of the poet milton for the life and works of milton dvd . documentary narration for sir gwain & the green knight dvd . character voice s for maersk shipping training resource . narrator & lead character for a national internet learning resource aimed at 8 yr olds . voice of beethoven and other characters for international multi - media game for synergy / xenophile media . promotional films for online music training resource . links and programme idents for bbc wales . . .
there isn’t much information on their website , but it is described as a “proprietary technology that links all these things together” ( phone , computer , email ) . â i presume it was the technology used to deploy their watchmen experience and so is similiar toâ seize the media’sâ web and phone technology .
apparently the time capsule will be a rousing success , since people who submit messages to the website receive a response from 2109 , courtesy of xenophile media . over the next three weeks , players will have the opportunity to unlock videos , clues and messages left by maya , hidden amongst the messages posted on letters to the future . upon submitting a message for consideration , players receive the first clue : the phrase “me2109 . ” maya’s final video will be unlocked by playing a locative game december 9 - 12 in cities around the world , including amsterdam , toronto , mumbai , sao paulo , hong kong and istanbul . maya’s videos will then be played at the climate change conference in copenhagen .
love letters to the future swept the green category , taking home both the webby award and people’s voice award for the category . the campaign sought to collect messages from the worldwide community to future generations : the top 100 messages were buried in a time capsule at the un climate change conference in copenhagen on december 13 , 2009 . providing an interactive undercurrent to the already interactive campaign , xenophile media hid a series of clues and messages from the future on the website , culminating a series of augmented reality images hidden at locations across the globe . to read more about the alternate reality game designed for greenpeace international , you can follow along with the game’s progress at the love letters to the future blog .
“we don’t have to dream some day that this technology will get cheap enough to use , ” said richard lachman , digital media associate professor and director of ryerson university’s rta transmedia centre . previous incarnations were “flops , ” he said , because headset viewers were uncomfortable , unresponsive and far too expensive for home use .
fuji australia’s xmpie vdp technology the xmpie vdp acronym stands for variable - data - publishing , and is specially designed for personalisation and has a cross - media publishing facility . now , this is one of my favourites because it involves three media , simultaneously . fuji australia created a special mini ‘be a superhero’ experience to market it ( which i spoke about on my previous blog ) . so you can test it out yourself . if you’re putting in your mobile number internationally ( outside of australia ) , then put in your country code ( no ‘ + ’ needed ) and your mobile number without the ‘0’ at the beginning .
mission control a game can also be provided with a web - based dashboard to help the player keep track of current missions , real - time story progression and character profiles . utilizing a user - friendly interface the mission is visualized through innovative use of google maps , and media playback and management . this dashboard can be provided for both browser - based and mobile platforms .
the system is especially relevant to xenophile’s projects as their tv - related work is often re - sold into new territories . this means they need to geo - lock the websites . they also control of access to game sites with passwords , which means only those who have already registered to play the games can see the content of the websites . this move ensures that it doesn’t get confused with real life content and helps to track player actions . see my previous discussion about how args cue their fictionality for more on the need to make fictionality clear .
you can watch the gemini awards gala will be broadcast on canadian network global on november 4th at 6 : 30 pm pst / 9 : 30 pm est . the gemini industry awards , which were awarded over a three night span , will be broadcast on rogers television in the toronto area , so if you want to see the xenophile folks accepting their awards , you’ll want to tune in on for the second of the three nights , dubbed the “gemini lifestyle , children’s and youth , ” which will be shown at 6 : 00 pm est on november 17th .
shaftesbury films , who produce the television series , has been forward - thinking in its attempts to connect to its audience , partnering with xenophile to manage the alternate reality gaming model which has delivered real - time content that is directly related to the weekly series for both of the show’s seasons . in the second season’s extended reality , players were treated to hours of video clips which broadened the overall storyline of the show , and the show reciprocated ( in a fine bit of pre - filmed trickery ) by acknowledging the efforts of the players as they attempted to aid the scientists working at norbac labs in ontario .
i’m not sure if it is the first . one cannot forget the pivotal project by spiderdance in 1999 . ‘ webriot ‘ was mtv’s first itv program and it was ( apparently ! ) , the world’s first tv show specifically designed for two - screen interaction . and , guess who was a designer ? drum roll… tracey fullerton ! yes , i’ve known about this for a while and have been quite chuffed that tracey has a cross / trans / multi - media past . 🙂
aliens can be intrigued by humanity or a fantastic anthropologist , but what about the inverse — when a human character is obsessed with everything alien ? this is often an evolved naïve newcomer character in speculative fiction , and serves the same function in being a go - between and ( sometimes literal ) translator between a strange alien culture and the reader / viewer . unlike a naïve newcomer , however , the xenophile doesn ' t need another character to tell him or her about the alien culture we meet — they can provide all ( or at least , most ) of the exposition themselves , cheerfully and enthusiastically ! in fact , they ' re so enthusiastic they probably have neglected their relationships with their fellow humans . in addition to appearing in science fiction , this trope can also appear in fantasy literature where a human character is enthusiastic about non - human races and cultures .
the core concepts are – the assets , comprising media that the system can output and real - world places and triggers that the system can recognise . – the game objects , comprising the places , objects and people that the game logic is about . game objects have parameters that change during the course of the game . – the game events , which translate the real world triggers ( e . g reading an rfid tag ) to a meaningful game event ( e . g . visiting a game location or being close to another player ) . – the actions , listing the things the system can output , which differ depending on the kind of device that the player carries .
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toronto filmmaker and game designer thomas wallner envisions a day when going to the movies becomes going into the movies .
“i don’t think you need this to tell better stories , ” wallner said of the liquid cinema software his company deep inc . ( digital entertainment every platform ) is developing to create immersive film experiences via virtual reality .
filmmaker and game designer thomas wallner , centre , demonstrates new software that allows for an immersive film experience .
by wearing a vr headset to watch projects made with 360 - degree cameras , a movie will seem to flow all around the viewer , opening the door for filmmakers to express themselves differently and engage audiences in new ways .
two major canadian directors have already expressed an interest in working with the expanding technology , wallner said .
the tech is rapidly evolving . virtual reality headsets oculus rift — made by the company recently purchased by facebook — and sony’s project morpheus are speeding through prototype stages . that involves getting the hardware to developers to allow them to create a wide range of applications for vr before the headsets , expected to be priced at about $ 300 or less , hit the market sometime in the next 18 months .
gamers are enthusiastically embracing vr , said wallner . now it’s the filmmakers’ turn .
“i think that the field is exploding right now and a lot of people are excited about different things , ” said brooklyn - based filmmaker and computer programmer james george . “it’s a convergence between the gaming world and filmmaking world . that’s the most interesting intersection . ”
clouds , the award - winning interactive documentary george and co - director jonathan minard debuted at the tribeca film festival in april , was viewable as an installation or through the oculus rift .
george also recently converted a friend’s 360 - degree - shot music video to vr , using what he calls “a very basic open source tool , ” that he made available free online through software development sharing site , github .
wallner had participated in shooting 360 video in the arctic for a documentary titled the polar sea and hit on the idea to watch the footage in vr . ryerson’s rta transmedia lab , which is now helping create the liquid cinema software , aided in setting up a viewer .
“we had no idea what to expect , ” wallner said . “so we created a viewer and we watched the footage and we were just amazed by it . ”
deep is using two very different projects to help develop the software tools for liquid cinema .
one is the polar sea , part of a multimedia project on the northwest passage for tvo , french - german public television network arte and british columbia’s knowledge network .
the other is heaven must be boring , a web - based 360 video comedy series co - produced through the rta transmedia lab . helmed by showrunner dan redican ( puppets who kill ) , heaven must be boring follows five comics from different religious backgrounds who are sent by a toronto - based ngo on a cross - canada tour to promote tolerance through laughter .
“i think we’re part of a historical development , ” said wallner . “i believe we’ll look back on this … and realize it was a very special moment in the history of cinema and imaging . ”
“it’s an innovation that allows storytellers to use forms that exist to address you directly with an explosion of creativity , ” observed lachman , who said putting the tools in the hands of filmmakers will define how liquid cinema is used . “it doesn’t mean staring at a screen ; i can be surprised , i can be shocked . ”
certainly , the two - minute highlight reel from the polar sea engaged those who put on the vr headset to view it at the star recently . the movie plays through the headset , giving you the ability to turn your head to see in a complete circle , as well as up and down , putting the viewer in the centre of the scene . we could even gaze up to see the drone that was used to shoot the footage , propellers whirring as it floated overhead .
there were sensations of flying over arctic landscapes , floating above a cruise ship’s deck to look out at jutting icebergs , or riding along bumpy roads on an atv , before popping into the ship’s kitchen and dining room .
“because i’m a filmmaker i’ve come to realize quickly we have the ability to capture and play this back but where it gets interesting is to evolve , to be able to bring narrative to the experience , ” wallner explained .
there are still many unanswered questions about filmmaking and vr . lachman believes it’s best suited to short films for now , rather than feature films . wallner , meanwhile , wonders how can a director work with actors if there’s no place to stand off camera when filming takes place in 360 degrees ? storytelling tricks like steering the viewer’s attention to a specific element or close - ups will also need to be rethought .
“i’m of the mind right now that i’d like to keep things simple and experimental and human , ” said wallner , adding he can see applications where vr is interspersed with conventional film and static images . “we just want to be taken somewhere and swept away . ”
george agrees . “i hesitate to guess what the future will hold , ” he said when asked about the potential for movie theatres filled with people in vr headsets or primarily solo use .
“everything will happen but to what degree and to what success ? ” he added . “for me what’s most exciting is there is really a context for people with a background in code to work with people with a background in film . ”
“this is not about technology , but an immersion into a piece of art , ” wallner pointed out . “and for that , we would like to create the tools . ”
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anxietyville : feature film and web series from indie director , rob stefaniuk , premieres in hybrid release on . . .
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one of the best features we managed to get a sneak peek of . . .
- - like the man said : gotta see this one . . . sff !
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went to @ realescapeto today with @ xenophilemedia ! we were so close ! it was a lot of fun . i ' d definitely recommend it .
pixel art games aren ' t retro , they ' re the future - about half a year ago , sony and microsoft started trying . . .
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there exists , in all of us , a deep - seated fascination for the unknown . an adventurous spirit that rejects the familiar and glories in the unfamiliar , whatever - or whomever - it may be .
note : this is not about a character who is attracted to aliens in another way . . . there ' s a different trope for that , although the two can easily be combined . contrast aliens are bastards . also contrast absolute xenophobe . again , aliens - liking - human - culture examples are a different trope and belong in intrigued by humanity or fantastic anthropologist . compare nightmare fetishist ; if the aliens are weird enough , both can apply to the same character . compare admiring the abomination , where a character ( often the smart guy ) reacts to an alien threat with both excitement and fear .
solomon in magi - labyrinth of magic is fascinated with the non - human races ' culture and was like a child in a candyshop when a group of manticore beasts invited him to spend the night in their underground city .
sodam yat was born and raised in an absolute xenophobe society . that didn ' t stop him from befriending an alien named tessog who crash - landed on daxam . sadly , his parents found out , murdered tessog , and brainwashed their son to hate aliens again . sodam only regained his memories when he saw his friend ' s stuffed corpse in a museum . he became disgusted with daxam ' s xenophobia and spent years repairing tessog ' s ship so he could leave daxam forever . the courage and determination it took for him to do this made sodam worthy of becoming a green lantern .
ellie arroway from contact , both the book and the movie - at least when it comes to the idea of aliens and how to make contact with them .
in enemy mine , a human and a drac pilot who are on opposites sides of an space war learn to set aside their racial and political differences to survive on a hostile planet . they start out trying to kill each other , but become good friends .
that all changes once she discovers the engineers are monsters that want to wipe out humanity .
dr . newton aka
newt
from pacific rim is a self - proclaimed kaiju fanboy . his torso and arms are covered in various tattoos of the monstrous creatures , and he reacts to hannibal chau ' s kaiju organ black market with a giddy nerdgasm . naturally , he ' s also a leading expert on kaiju physiology .
bren cameron of cj cherryh ' s foreigner series of books . meant to be an envoy / translator from the human government to the native aliens , he essentially defects to the alien side .
, turns out this way , getting a thorough education in drac culture after being stranded on an ice planet with a drac for quite a while . note that he and the drac were fighter pilots
in a subsequent story set in the same ' verse , the last enemy , we learn he ' s devoted his life to teaching little dracs the way of talman , the drac equivalent of a holy book / history of science / scientific literature rolled into one .
christopher holm in the people of the wind by poul anderson spends time hanging out with ythrians , is adopted into a ythrian clan , and translates ythrian poetry .
many of doctor who ' s companions seem to end up like this , so caught up with time travel they don ' t want to go back to their own time .
daniel jackson of stargate sg - 1 , seemingly much more at home interacting with the many different cultures and races he ' s met through the stargate than he ever is on earth . he is an anthropologist , after all .
in times of civil war earth propaganda works to paint sheridan as an insane minbari worshipper .
sisko meanwhile seems to love bajoran culture to the point that he decides to build a house there . despite being born on earth , as the prophets put it he is , like them ,
of bajor
.
xenophilia
is one of the possible disadvantages in gurps ( applying to anyone exotic , not just nonhumans ) . it ' s a disadvantage because it makes you trust potentially nasty creatures more than you should .
works very hard to avert . it doesn ' t always work , however , due to the monumental size of the task , the subtlety of some of the aliens or the humans involved , and the simple fact that you typically
many imperial citizens that live near the tau empire are attracted to their
greater good
philosophy , and its less brutal treatment of its citizens .
some members of the adeptus mechanicus are obsessed with the necrons and their mind - bogglingly advanced technology . and extreme fringe group of the mechanicus consider the necrons to be holy warriors . it doesn ' t help that the machine god is possibly one of the necron ' s own omnicidal deities chained down and sealed away . other , known as the xenarites , study any alien technology they can get , under the reasoning that since all technology comes from the machine god , all technology is sacred , even that of the xenos .
there ' s even a form of radical group in the inquisition known as the xeno hybris who believe that humanity has more to gain from cooperating with ( certain carefully selected ) xenos than through exterminating them .
not just humans : the eldar philosopher uthan the perverse holds that the orks of all species are the superior society , since they aren ' t best known for ripping open a negative space wedgie and birthing a god of evil through millenia of sadistic hedonism , or for half their elite military forces siding with chaos and their greatest leader stuck on life support for all eternity . then again , the guy ' s epithet is
the perverse
, so . . .
the orks are the pinnacle of creation . for them , the great struggle is won . they have evolved a society which knows no stress or angst . who are we to judge them ? we eldar who have failed , or the humans , on the road to ruin in their turn . and why ? because we sought answers to questions that an ork wouldn ' t even bother to ask ! we see a culture that is strong and despise it as crude .
the digganobz of the gaiden game gorkamorka are the descendants of humans who now seek to emulate the orks in every way they can , such as driving big impractical vehicles , shooting while shouting , and other activities which the orks find hilarious ( the main reason mad max fury road is considered a spiritual successor to gorkamorka is because the war boys are essentially digganobz without the green bodypaint ) .
is thoroughly fascinated by all aliens , which is rather untypical for a member of the pro - human extremist organization cerberus . however , she says that pro - human does not necessarily mean anti - alien . this stance changes in
anti - alien at its core , realising how she was manipulated by them .
paragon shepard definitely comes across as this ; and a shepard of any alignment has the option of having trysts and / or relationships with alien characters . in mass effect 3 , the respect and admiration that shepard has fostered throughout the galaxy is a key factor in bringing them together in the war effort .
an aspect of the knowledge aspiration in the sims 2 . most sims will fear being abducted by aliens and having sims they know get abducted ; knowledge sims will actually want to meet aliens , and with freetime get access to a perk that makes meeting aliens easier .
in spacetrawler dmitri is known for sleeping with any species that is at least 50 % sexually compatible with humans .
fabian of zoophobia is a known advocate of interspecies relationships , and is particularly attracted to humanoids ( he ' s a talking animal ) .
dex hamilton alien entomologist is absolutely fascinated by all types of alien insects , be they tiny or ginormous .
ask the tropers trope finder you know that show . . . trope launch pad reviews live blogs
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a person attracted to that which is foreign , especially to foreign peoples , manners , or cultures .
( in reference to andre kreton ' s erotic ode to oceania ) and , below that , phormium tenax ; next to t hung two leaves of new zealand flax amid a tangle of electric cord .
attitudes threaten a virtuous but naive male protagonist who eventually resigns himself to his original class status .
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in 2006 , murat kurnaz was released from guantanamo bay after being detained for 5 years without trial . the same year , matthew diaz , a navy lawyer was sentenced to 6 months of imprisonment for leaking the names of the detainees to a human rights organization . four years earlier , judge advocate diane beaver was also deployed in guantanamo . here , she became the author of a legal memorandum that would later be nicknamed : the torture memo . three encounters with guantanamo , three individuals , whose lives will be forever changed . their stories are exemplary and yet unique . the roles they played are ambiguous ; the usual definition of victim and perpetrator is secondary . in the legal grey zone of guantanamo , notions of good and evil , right and wrong lose their meaning . no one escapes guantanamo unscathed . not the law , neither morale – and certainly not the people . the film tells the story of the people and depicts their search for a life after guantanamo .
watch this powerful trailer about this innovative project and its immersive , interactive gaming component in which maya , a character who lives in the dysutopian future sends cryptic messages back to us , urging us to take action now . guaranteed to give you chills .
2 . syracuse diners is a clever and fun hyperlocal project served up by a multimedia journalism class at the s . i . newhouse school of public communications at syracuse university . it includes a super - cool video clip embedded in a 360 - degree panorama , along with video , text , maps and blogs about 13 diners in the syracuse area . the team also dished up a mobile “app - etizer . ” the site is sure to bring back memories of diner meals past ; but visitors beware : you might just get cravings for french fries and a chocolate shake . anyone up for a road trip ? click here for a taste .
3 . a story like no other is a website and iphone app developed by the louisiana office of tourism to engage visitors in the state’s rich african american history . “they blazed many trails , now follow their footsteps…for centuries , african americans in louisiana have changed the world with their ideas , art and action . from street corners and marketplaces to churches , cafes , universities , and beyond , come visit the places that have inspired generations of louisianans to add their unique flavor to the nation and the world . ”
in this post - katrina and presently - bp - oil - spoiled region , it’s good to be reminded of the powerful history and culture that the gulf coast has gifted to our whole country . the project is still a work in progress but it’s beautifully done and worth exploring , which you can do by clicking here .
anthroposts is a site that aims to “find community from forgotten notes . ” this cool artsy project collects and sorts and analyzes bits of ephemera found all over the world , creating an interesting picture of our small , mundane , daily lives through our lists and notes to self . more compelling than the content itself is the many ways site visitors can peruse these messages , supported by a subtle soundtrack of people reading them .
so , what do you think of these projects ? do they inspire you ? cool you down on a hot summer day ? the four projects mentioned above are all quite different , but all use multimedia , cross - platform engagement and storytelling approaches worth noticing ( and , perhaps , stealing ) .
have you found any fascinating projects lately ? this blog is a two - way street , so please point me in the right direction .
air cultivates and deploys talented producers through our international network , and connects them to opportunities , training , and each other .
second story press is dedicated to publishing feminist - inspired books for adults and young readers . we are proud to have been publishing award - winning books that entertain , educate , and empower for over 25 years .
2006 outstanding achievement in enhanced or interactive television ( new delivery platforms ) - abc . com full episode streaming player albert cheng ; bruce gersh ; alexis rapo
2004 outstanding achievement in interactive television programming - showtime interactive david preisman , opentv , echostar , brainstormcommunications - directv nfl sunday ticket enhanced service suzanne dunn ; seth shapiro ; tyler slocum ; tim traynor - celebrity mole : yucatan rick mandler ; jason r . grant ; richard cardran ; david jensen ; michael petrusis
over the next few weeks , love letters to the future will be collecting text , image and videos from users around the world sending love letters to future generations . and on december 13 , 2009 , the 100 most popular messages as selected by the site’s users will be sealed in a time capsule at the un climate change conference in copenhagen . the multimedia messages will be encoded and stored as a series of two - dimensional bar codes , stored on microfilm . the microfilm contains meta - information on how to decode the messages . that way , when the time capsule is unsealed a century later , people can access the information regardless of technological changes .
head on over to love letters to the future and leave a message for future generations . after all , how often do you get the chance to participate with a time capsule that talks back ?


metal supermarkets is a canadian franchise that primarily focuses on selling small quantity metals , cut to the customer ’s desired size .

metal supermarkets is the largest franchise in the small quantity metals industry and the only one with international reach .

metal supermarkets ’ main headquarters are located in mississauga , ontario .

the company ’s franchise locations spread across canada , the united states and the united kingdom .

currently , metal supermarkets operates 86 locations worldwide .

metal supermarkets

metal supermarkets® , the convenience stores of the metal industrytm , is the world ' s largest supplier of small quantity metals .
metal express ' business model closely mirrored that of metal supermarkets and was a natural , logical and synergistic fit to our own business ,
said stephen schober , president and chief executive pf metal supermarkets .
metal supermarkets offers over 8000 metal products , metal shapes and metal grades . we cut any metal to any size . we specialize in alloy steel , aluminum , brass , bronze , cold rolled steel , copper , hot rolled steel , stainless steel .
metal supermarkets® , the convenience stores of the metal industry ( tm ) , is the world ' s largest supplier of small quantity metals .
metal supermarkets® began with a single store in 1985 in mississauga , ontario , . our first store proved so successful , that additional stores were added in the ensuing years . customers began to locally recognize metal supermarkets® as the one stop shop for any metal cut and ready fast !
“we are excited to continue our u . s . expansion with our second location in the state of ohio , ” said stephen schober , president and ceo of metal supermarkets . “metal supermarkets columbus brings speed , variety and convenience to area businesses and consumers shopping for metal . ”
customer feedback for metal supermarkets villa park 1187 n . ellsworth avenue , villa park , il , 60181 - 1040 , us
metal supermarkets , the world’s largest supplier of small quantity metals , opened its 83rd store in june , 2016 in columbus , ohio . metal supermarkets columbus provides area businesses and consumers with exceptional customer service and instant access to the highest quality metal available , cut to size , with no minimum order quantity .
metal supermarkets corp . , a toronto - based steel distributor , has acquired 100 per cent of metal mart llc from a . m . castle & co . for an undisclosed price .
metal supermarkets franchise opportunities are not currently available on franchising . com . fill in the form below to be notified when they become available .
metal supermarkets franchising family of companies is pleased to announce that its president and ceo , stephen schober has been elected a director of the canadian franchise association .
metal supermarkets , a private company founded in 1985 , is a specialized metal distributor focusing on small quantities of virtually all types and forms of metals , custom cut to size . while most revenues come from corporate operations , the company is also the only small quantity metal dealer franchise in the world .
customers choose metal supermarkets because of our speed , variety and convenience . we provide same - day service and prepare orders quickly . we carry the widest variety of metal types , grades and shapes . we are conveniently located and offer fast and easy access to metal products and services . no need to wait .
customers who deal with metal supermarkets value and benefit from our key differentials and unique selling propositions including “cut to size” metal , fast delivery , and sourcing of non - stock and “hard to find” items , with no required minimum order size .
metal mart operates as metal express and has about 15 metal distribution centres in the united states . the distributor was an independent division of a . m . castle , ( nyse : cas ) a company based in franklin park , ill . which distributes metal alloys , stainless steel , copper and brass .
metal supermarkets , 2266 mcgarrigle rd . after a friend discovered this place , we ' ve been there for 3 different jobs over the past 10 days . helped me solve a potentially costly chimney cap problem . another
metal supermarkets is the world ' s largest supplier of small - quantity metals . with a network of over 80 stores worldwide , we help over 60 , 000 customers get the metal they need , with no minimum order quantity . visit http : / / www . metalsupermarket . . . for more or call 1 - 866 - 867 - 9344 for a quote . any metal . any size . cut and ready fast ! show less
metal supermarkets stores stock a diverse selection of metal types including hot - rolled steel , cold - rolled steel , stainless steel and aluminum in a wide variety of shapes including bar , tube , sheet , plate and more . the new store also offers value - added services such as production saw - cutting , shearing and same - day delivery .
we like metal supermarkets because we get the right amount of product for us , even if the order is 1 piece of small bar . we get the orders fast . when material isn’t available right away metals makes appropriate suggestions for alternatives .
we are now accepting submissions for this year ' s metal my way contest . your metal creation could be a winner . to enter , simply : 1 ) post a photo or video of the project 2 ) use
before today ' s acquisition , metal supermarkets operated 23 corporate operations in canada , the united states , england and scotland . in addition , the company has 60 franchised locations in the u . s . , canada , england , austria and the united arab emirates .
metal sales and distribution contributes $ 553 billion dollar to the economy annually , comprising 3 . 5 % of us gdp .
metal supermarkets columbus serves a wide variety of businesses and customers including tool and die shops , manufacturers , machinists , maintenance managers , fabricators , machine shops , contractors , construction companies , military , healthcare , education and other government departments , as well as hobbyists and home owners .
metal supermarkets is the world’s largest small quantity metal distributor . our stores are small metal warehouse and distribution centers , typically 4 , 000 – 6 , 000 square feet located in a medium to light industrial setting . our stores stock , and sell various grades , sizes and shapes of metals such as aluminum , hot and cold rolled steel , stainless steel , brass and copper in bar , tubes , channel and sheet . with over 75 brick - and - mortar stores across the us , canada , and united kingdom , our network of stores serves over 60 , 000 customers .
ahhhhh sweet , glorious 1095 steel ! ! ! ! my friends at metal supermarket ( jesse johnson ) and crew have me stocked . . .
the core focus of our business is not selling high volumes of metal used in manufacturing itself – that is for the major metal service center – but the maintenance and repair departments of manufacturers , distribution companies , food processors , machine shops , tool and die makers , government agencies and a wide and diverse variety of other companies as well as home owners and hobbyists . we are metal experts and have been providing quality customer service and products since 1985 .
not sure why they paint the ends of their steel stock , anyways , i love the look . always great to stop by the metal supermarket . . . .
metal supermarkets chicago ( niles ) has been providing the northwestern chicago area with fast and easy access to metal since september 2014 . we are conveniently located at 6285 w . howard . our warehouse is stocked full of all metal shapes , grades , sizes and dimensions , including hot and cold rolled steel , stainless steel , aluminum , brass , bronze , copper and more . our value - added services include production cutting , shearing , delivery , sourcing hard - to - find metals , plasma cutting , bending and press break , hole punching , miter cutting , laser cutting , notching and flame cutting . our shear is a 1 / 2
x 120
, we can shear stainless steel 1 / 4
or less and mild steel 1 / 2
or less .
any metal , cut and ready fast ! we are the world ' s largest supplier of small - quantity metals . find our stores across canada , the us and the uk , or order online !
dull grey saturday ? time to go to one of my favourite places and get some pieces from the metal supermarket and make some stuff ! yes , that ' s really what it ' s called . urltoken
starts july 9th ! ! ! we have some awesome prizes to award for this year ' s best metal - made projects . . . we can ' t wait to see what you ' ve been working on ! contest details :
just got a tour of @ metalsupermrkts everett location ! we had a great time demoing our robot and learning about the metal machines . thank you so much for the donation to help us get to houston ! # morethanrobots # omgrobots # loveoursponsors
the barriers to entry in metal supermarkets are not primarily financial . sure you need money to support start - up costs including an investment in inventory , fixed assets , leaseholds and trade accounts receivable , but most importantly is the knowledge transfer that we provide to our franchisee . with a track record of 30 years we know how to assist and guide franchisees in setting - up and managing the business , creating critical preferred vendor relationships , manage inventories , develop pricing strategies , and teach , coach and guide you on how to successfully sell and market our products and services .
these guys are great ! ! ! a + they are super guys and very helpful . i found them when i first started welding and i ' ll never buy my metal anywhere else . i have probably completed about 20 or more welding projects and these are my
go to
guys .
over the years , the core principles of our business have remained the same : wide - ranging products processed to customers’ exact specifications and fast , personable service , with absolutely no minimum quantity . while we remain true to our founder’s principles , our unique customer - centric approach has evolved over the years . the range of processing services we provide is broader , and in addition to our “bricks and mortar” locations , our online store offers the opportunity for customers to purchase metal 24 / 7 .
“i worked with metals in a family owned business very early in my professional career . after a 30 + year corporate career in glass , this business allows me to return to my roots , not only in metal , but with my son and daughter involved in the business , a return to a family based operation as well , ” stated franchise owner steve micheli . “our model of providing cut - to - order sizes of materials benefits the maintenance / repair professionals by eliminating the need for additional storage space and carrying costs related to bulk purchasing . this holds true for welders , contractors and diy’ers . ”
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launch trampoline park launch trampoline park is an indoor sports and entertainment facility featuring interconnected trampolines that form a giant jumping surface . our . . .
saladworks saladworks leads the exploding fast - casual salad space , with nine consecutive quarters of positive same - store sales growth through 2017 . america ' s . . .
redbrick pizza at redbrick pizza ( r ) , old world traditions meet new world recipes to create a better - for - you pizza experience . baking pizzas to perfection at 1000 . . .
del taco del taco , one of the nation ' s largest mexican quick - serve chains , first opened in 1964 serving up freshly prepared mexican menu items such as tacos . . .
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now that the election dust has settled , you may have a new member of provincial parliament ( mpp ) representing your riding . this is a critical time to start building relationships with those who represent your voice !
unfortunately , many mpps and members of government are still unaware of the complexities of the franchise industry . meetings go a long way to help paint a picture of the everyday franchise owner .
meeting with mpps is one of the most critical advocacy activities available and can be a very powerful tool . it gives you an opportunity to connect with them directly and share real - life experiences of what owning a business and creating jobs means to you , your family and your community .
inviting your mpp to visit your business will make the meeting that much more personal and memorable ; creating the opportunity for them to meet your staff and understand the dynamics of your everyday life as a small business owner . bringing a personal aspect to the relationship could make your mpp more likely to act on your behalf .
mpps are interested in hearing from constituents and those actively involved in the community . by taking the time to meet with your local mpp , you’re demonstrating that franchisors and franchise owners are active members of the community who care to take the time to develop that relationship . this benefits not only yourself , but the community in which your business resides , and the franchising community as a whole .
use this opportunity to explain who you are on a personal level and how it relates to the business . why did you chose franchising ? how does the business model help you and your community ? use the following sample speaking notes to lead you in the right direction :
discuss your community involvement ( i . e . donations , involvement in local boards or chambers )
for help finding your mpp’s contact information or booking a meeting , contact cfa’s government relations specialist , samantha sheppard at ssheppard @ urltoken .
any good businessperson knows that networking is a key ingredient for success . whether it’s forming partnerships with influential entrepreneurs , spreading your brand to target audiences , or learning effective business strategies from experts in the field , networking serves many purposes within the world of franchising .
fortunately for you , the cfa’s upcoming golf tournaments are designed to connect you with franchise leaders across the country ! join us at one of three golf classics in bc , ontario , and new brunswick this june and come prepared with these hot networking tips .
be on time : being late never looks good and never goes unnoticed . show your reliability by arriving on time ( registration opens at 9 : 00 for the atlantic golf classic and 10 : 00 for the pacific and central classics ) and come early if you plan on meeting franchisees or clients .
don’t start the day talking business : the golf classic is meant to be a fun , stress - free day in support of the cfa’s advocacy work ! acknowledge when business talk is and isn’t appropriate .
put your guests first : if you’re inviting employees or clients , ask them what activities they want to participate in , and play to their comfort level . in addition to golf , additional sports and spa options are available at our central golf classic .
stay engaged and listen : it’s not all about you ! although you may be eager to talk about your business , make sure you listen to what others are offering . engage , ask questions , and determine which systems would make for an ideal partnership .
research : if you want to connect with a specific individual or franchise system , come prepared with questions you want to ask , and make sure you know their business inside and out . trust us , they’ll be impressed !
articulate your goals : understand your business goals and be prepared to speak about where you are , where you’re headed , and what you hope to achieve in the future .
for sponsorship opportunities , please contact lou gervasi , events manager , at lgervasi @ urltoken or 416 - 695 - 2896 ext . 243 .
held at the westin in the heart of the nation’s capital , this year’s festivities brought together the best of the best in canadian franchising for three days of non - stop networking events , educational learning opportunities , and engaging presentations covering a range of pertinent franchise topics .
day 1 kicked off with a special fss / supplier forum hosted by trushield insurance’s tony o’brien . along with an expert panel , o’brien shared with franchise suppliers and support services providers how they can maximize the benefits of their cfa membership and network with top franchisors to achieve their business goals .
next up was our high - demand power sessions where world - class franchise experts shared insightful knowledge on sales , marketing , business development , and management . it was a full house later in the afternoon for the essential legal update . moderated by a panel of some of canada’s leading lawyers , franchisors learned about the latest legislative updates in canada , how these changes could impact their businesses moving forward , and what they could do to mitigate potential challenges .
new cfa members and first time convention delegates were then treated to a special networking cocktail reception before learning more about the new cfa branding , purpose , and mission statement . the cfa’s chair of the board of directors , john wissent , and the 1 st vice chair of the board of directors , john dehart , were on deck to share with delegates the cfa’s new brand , created in partnership with the cfa branding committee and branding agency , pigeon brands .
the exciting unveiling was followed by the first keynote presentation of the convention . charlwood pacific group’s ceo & chairman , u . gary charlwood , shared with delegates the inspiring story of how he worked his way up the corporate ladder before purchasing and growing century 21 into one of canada’s largest and most respected real estate organizations .
ceo & chairman of charlwood pacific group , u . gary charlwood , during his keynote presentation
the day ended with an informative presentation by the cfa’s vice president of government relations & public policy , ryan eickmeier , and president & ceo , lorraine mclachlan , on the release of the much - anticipated economic impact study , followed by the marketplace opening reception . open throughout convention , marketplace exhibitors got to showcase their innovative franchise - related products and services with franchisors .
sales expert todd cohen got the crowd laughing bright and early monday morning with his engaging keynote presentation on how to build a sales culture in your organization . using relatable anecdotes , cohen used his own business experiences to keep delegates engaged and drive home the point that creating a “sales” culture is a must to find business success . click here for a special thank you message from todd !
there were non - stop learning opportunities throughout the remainder of the afternoon as roundtable discussions , concurrent sessions , and a special closed - door ceo session with todd cohen took place . moderated by franchise experts from cfa’s membership , these sessions were a great way for delegates to learn more about a specialized topic , discuss challenges and opportunities they face in their businesses , and develop effective and efficient solutions with one another .
the day ended with the most anticipated event of convention…the gala awards presentation dinner ! co - hosted by propertyguys . com’s ken leblanc and walter melanson – who channeled bob and doug mckenzie from the “great white north” – the night was filled with laughs and canadian - themed jokes as attendees became true hosers for the evening .
in - between the on - stage entertainment , franchising excellence was celebrated with the presentation of the 2018 franchisees’ choice designation , recognition awards , and awards of excellence in franchising .
kumon math and reading centres received the hall of fame award in recognition of their outstanding business performance and unwavering commitment to educating children across the world .
the cfa’s changing workplaces taskforce took home the volunteer leadership excellence award , while the outstanding corporate citizen award was presented to bioped footcare centres for their work helping underprivileged communities through the goodytwoshoes foundation .
former president & ceo of mister transmission , randy moore , took home the lifetime achievement award for his 40 - year career with the automotive franchise , while ruthie burd , founder of the lunch lady , took home the first - ever diversity and inclusion champion award .
next up , excellence in canadian franchising was celebrated as wise cracks , lice squad . com , little kickers , symposium café , paul davis restoration , triple o’s , and pizza nova took home gold in their respective categories .
lorraine mclachlan took to the stage to present two of the gold finalists with the coveted grand prize for traditional and non - traditional franchise systems . for the second straight year , symposium café took home the grand prize for traditional franchise system , while little kickers won big for non - traditional franchise system !
the night wasn’t finished yet though , as the celebration continued at lowertown brewery in the byward market for the after - party .
the final day of convention started with a buffet breakfast in the marketplace followed by more roundtable discussions , concurrent sessions , and a closed - door ceo session with nurse next door and live well exercise clinic co - founder , john dehart .
dehart was on stage later in the morning for the final keynote presentation where he shared with delegates how they could build a hyper growth brand from the inside out by developing a positive work culture .
the closing luncheon immediately followed the keynote presentation , followed by franchise awareness day , where a group of convention delegates headed over to parliament hill for a full day of meetings with members of parliament .
thank you to all attendees , presenters , exhibitors , and sponsors for making this year’s convention one to remember . we’ll see you next april in niagara falls !
put your winter parkas in storage and get ready for the summer with the beauty , health & wellness issue of franchise canada ! now available online and on newsstands across the country , the may / june issue is equipped with the franchise knowledge you to need to successfully start your career in the nutrition , fitness and health industries .
eye of the beholder : beauty salons are in high demand and popping up across the country . take a look at four beauty franchises that have found their niche market and are using the franchise business model to partner with entrepreneurs as passionate about beauty as they are !
picture of good health : getting in shape means more than just breaking a sweat . in our picture of good health feature , we showcase four food franchises offering canadians flavourful and nutritional meal options including meat replacement proteins , plant - based menus , healthy beverages , and more !
aging gracefully : the home and senior care industry is more popular than ever and will continue to grow as baby boomers reach the age of 65 . in our aging gracefully feature we take readers on a journey of five unique senior - focused systems helping canadians from coast to coast .
if you’re a gym junkie looking to turn your passion into a successful career , get your hands on franchise canada today ! visit franchise canada magazine online to read articles from the may / june 2018 issue for free .
franchise canada is now available on issuu ! subscribe now and get six full digital issues of franchise canada , plus a free print subscription delivered right to your door for just $ 29 . 99 . click here to subscribe now !
toronto – april 25 , 2018 – yesterday , the canadian franchise association ( cfa ) convened on parliament hill to raise awareness about canada’s $ 96 billion franchise industry during franchise awareness day .
armed with the latest numbers from the cfa’s economic impact report , more than 75 franchise business leaders from across canada met with politicians throughout the day to educate them about the franchise sector’s significant contribution to the canadian economy and job creation .
the canadian franchise industry accounts for 1 . 5 million full - time equivalent jobs , and 1 . 8 million total jobs , representing $ 61 billion in household wages
the first of its kind in canada , the economic impact report was published by the cfa in partnership with the canadian centre for economic analysis ( cancea ) , a leading economic research organization .
“the numbers clearly show that franchising is an important economic driver in every province in canada , ” says lorraine mclachlan , the cfa’s president and ceo . “through franchise awareness day , we want to ensure government understands the contributions franchising makes to the economy , and recognizes the vital importance of franchising in the lives of canadians . ”
beyond the numbers , participating franchisors and franchisees also shared their own personal stories of how franchising empowered them to go into business for themselves , but not by themselves .
“behind these figures are thousands of everyday canadians who achieved their dreams of business success through franchising , ” mclachlan continues . “franchisees are the new mom - and - pop , and it’s their hard work and entrepreneurial spirit that helps drive the canadian economy . that’s why it’s so important for franchise leaders to come together and share their stories through events like franchise awareness day . ”
about the canadian franchise association the canadian franchise association ( cfa ) helps everyday canadians realize the dream of building their own business through the power of franchising . cfa advocates on issues that impact this dream on behalf of more than 700 corporate members and over 40 , 000 franchisees from many of canada’s best - known and emerging franchise brands . beyond its role as the voice of the franchise industry , cfa strengthens and develops franchising by delivering best - practice education and creating rewarding connections between canadians and the opportunities in franchising . canadian franchises contribute over $ 96 billion per year to the canadian economy and create jobs for more than 1 . 8 million canadians . learn more at urltoken or urltoken . media contact lisa raffaele | ( 647 ) 837 - 1265 | lisa @ urltoken
( toronto , on ) april 24 , 2018… the canadian franchise association ( cfa ) is pleased to announce that the traditional and non - traditional grand prize winners of the 2018 cfa awards of excellence in franchising are symposium cafe and little kickers , respectively . the cfa awards two separate grand prizes in its annual awards program to reflect the range of franchise opportunities in the market .
“franchising in canada is very diverse , ranging from home - based children’s sports franchises like little kickers to full - service restaurants like symposium cafe , ” says lorraine mclachlan , the cfa’s president and ceo . “to reflect this diversity , and to ensure that participating franchise systems are being rated against their peers , our awards program includes seven categories and two grand prizes . ”
considered the pinnacle of franchise achievement in canada , the cfa awards of excellence in franchising are given annually to franchise systems that have demonstrated the strongest , most mutually rewarding relationships with their franchisees . the grand prizes were presented during a gala awards presentation dinner at the 27th annual cfa national convention in ottawa , ontario .
“the cfa awards of excellence in franchising truly set a benchmark for franchises throughout canada and we are honoured to present the awards to this year’s winners , ” mclachlan continues . “no matter what size a franchise system is , or what format it takes , a solid relationship between franchisor and franchisee is vital to the system’s success . symposium cafe’s and little kickers’ strong results demonstrate they offer outstanding support to their franchisees . ”
open exclusively to cfa - member franchise systems who have been franchising for three years or more , the cfa awards of excellence in franchising recognize excellence in franchise operations . winning systems must demonstrate a dedication to superior franchisee relations , leadership , business planning , marketing , training and support , ongoing operations and communications .
this year , more than 70 cfa - member franchise systems participated in the competition , setting a new record . the winning franchise systems were decided based on the results of a survey completed by participating franchisors and their franchisees about their experiences and levels of satisfaction with the system . the cfa awards of excellence in franchising is sponsored by the cfa and administered by the portage group , a third - party research firm .
entries were separated into traditional franchises ( those with brick and mortar locations ) and non - traditional franchises ( those that are mobile or home based ) . within these categories , entrants were grouped based on number of franchisees .
these categories reflect the wide range of franchise opportunities in today’s marketplace and create a more even playing field for the ranking of each entry .
gold : triple o’s silver : ucmas mental math schools bronze ( tie ) : speedpro signs and wendy’s restaurants of canada inc .
gold : pizza nova silver : a & w food services of canada bronze : boston pizza international inc .
non - traditional franchises ( i . e . mobile , home - based , etc . )
for more information about the cfa awards of excellence in franchising , visit urltoken .
about the canadian franchise association the canadian franchise association ( cfa ) helps everyday canadians realize the dream of building their own business through the power of franchising . cfa advocates on issues that impact this dream on behalf of more than 700 corporate members and over 40 , 000 franchisees from many of canada’s best - known and emerging franchise brands . beyond its role as the voice of the franchise industry , cfa strengthens and develops franchising by delivering best - practice education and creating rewarding connections between canadians and the opportunities in franchising . canadian franchises contribute over $ 96 billion per year to the canadian economy and create jobs for more than 1 . 8 million canadians . learn more at urltoken or urltoken .
( toronto , on ) april 25 , 2018… the canadian franchise association ( cfa ) ( www . cfa . ca ) announced the recipients of the 2018 franchisees’ choice designation last night at a gala awards presentation during the 27th annual cfa national convention in ottawa , ontario . this is the eighth year for the annual awards program and , to recognize franchise systems that have been awarded the franchisees’ choice designation multiple years in a row , cfa has introduced special 5 , 6 , 7 and 8 - year logos that these companies can use to promote their consistent high marks from franchisees .
“the true strength of a franchise system lies in the mutually - rewarding relationship between a franchisor and its franchisees , ” says lorraine mclachlan , cfa president and chief executive officer . “being a franchisees’ choice designee is a high honour because the high rankings in franchisee satisfaction come directly from the franchisees themselves . to earn that honour year over year is especially significant because it shows that these recipients are consistently earning high marks from their franchisees . ”
the franchisees’ choice designees are cfa member franchise systems who voluntarily took part in an independently - administered survey . their franchisees were asked to rate the franchisor in key areas of the franchise business model , including leadership ; business planning and marketing ; training and support ; ongoing operations ; and the relationship between the franchisor and franchisee .
in the due diligence process of investigating a franchise opportunity , speaking with existing franchisees about the opportunity being explored is essential . for prospective franchisees , the franchisees’ choice designation identifies that a franchise brand has received solid endorsement and ratings from its franchisees . the 2018 franchisees’ choice designees are representative of the spectrum of franchise opportunities and the diversity and excellence of cfa members .
regardless of any awards or recognitions a franchise system may receive , cfa strongly recommends that prospective franchisees conduct thorough due diligence . cfa offers an array of products and events for prospective franchisees , including cfa’s official online franchise directory lookforafranchise . ca , franchisecanada magazine , the annual franchisecanada directory and the franchise show , canada’s largest franchise - only exhibition held across canada .
for more information about the franchisees’ choice designation program , visit www . awardsprogram . ca .
about the canadian franchise association the canadian franchise association ( cfa ) helps everyday canadians realize the dream of building their own business through the power of franchising . cfa advocates on issues that impact this dream on behalf of more than 700 corporate members and over 40 , 000 franchisees from many of canada’s best - known and emerging franchise brands . beyond its role as the voice of the franchise industry , cfa strengthens and develops franchising by delivering best - practice education and creating rewarding connections between canadians and the opportunities in franchising . canadian franchises contribute over $ 96 billion per year to the canadian economy and create jobs for more than 1 . 8 million canadians . learn more at urltoken or www . franchisecanada . online .
( toronto , on ) april 9 , 2018… the canadian franchise association ( cfa ) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 cfa recognition awards . the awards will be presented during a gala awards presentation dinner on monday , april 23 at the 27th annual cfa national convention in ottawa , ontario .
cfa recognition awards pay tribute to individuals and franchise systems for their achievements and contributions to the canadian franchise community , and for their commitment and contributions to philanthropic endeavours . nominations are solicited from cfa members across canada and winners are selected by committee based on merit .
“the cfa recognition awards are about excellence in the franchise community , ” says the cfa’s president and chief executive officer , lorraine mclachlan . “franchising is a significant business sector in canada making positive contributions to the canadian economy and the community - at - large . our prestigious cfa recognition awards celebrate these contributions . we congratulate all the winners on their achievements . ”
new this year , the cfa has introduced a diversity and inclusion champion award to recognize a company or individual for extraordinary leadership and contribution towards improving and promoting diversity and inclusion within their workplace and the franchise community in canada .
trail - blazer . it’s the one word that best sums up randy moore and his achievements as president and ceo of mister transmission , a leading brand in driveline repairs . from a single store in richmond hill , ontario in 1963 , ( where he was store manager ) , to more than 60 locations across the country , randy moore’s role in mister transmission’s growth is nothing short of exemplary . through the span of his 40 - year career , he’s gone above and beyond , mentoring franchisees across the automotive sector and forging one of canada’s most iconic and memorable brands .
with over 24 , 700 learning centres and 4 . 3 million enrolments to date , kumon is one of the fastest growing businesses , helping children achieve their academic potential worldwide . but back in 1954 , founder toru kumon was only intent on helping one child achieve his potential : his son . after coming home with poor test results , kumon created math worksheets for his son’s daily practice .
fast forward to 2018 and children all over world use kumon’s math sheets as a springboard to success . through an unwavering commitment , the kumon brand continues to ensure every child is able to reach their academic goals through partnerships with organizations like the japan integration cooperation agency and bangladesh rural advancement committee .
walking the walk , bioped is more than just a brand specializing in custom orthotics . it’s a brand that’s helped underprivileged communities around the world move safely , easily and comfortably through its goodytwoshoes foundation . partnering with charities like salvation army shelters since 2010 and soles4soles more recently , bioped has kept shoes out of landfills and provided footwear to people in need . from children walking to school to receive an education to women working out on fields to feed their families , bioped remains dedicated to providing the foundation for happy and healthy communities everywhere .
with potential changes to ontario’s labour laws posing a critical threat to franchising in the province , the cfa’s ability to advocate for franchisors and franchisees on this issue would not have been possible without the dedicated volunteers who made up the cfa changing workplaces task force . formed in november 2015 , the task force worked tirelessly to ensure that the government did not adopt recommendations for a joint - employer designation for franchisors , which would have destroyed the franchise business model in canada . as a result of these efforts , joint - employer was not included in ontario’s new labour legislation , and franchisors were not singled out in any of the amendments .
the cfa’s golf tournaments are back , and bigger and better than ever before ! join us this june for one of three golf classics in british columbia , ontario , and new brunswick .
exclusive to cfa - member and non - member franchisors and industry suppliers , each golf classic is designed to optimize your chances of making substantial business connections , connect with colleagues and industry leaders , and discover new ways to enhance the franchise business model .
all proceeds will go towards cfa’s advocacy efforts , which includes leading the fight against legislation that prohibits franchise systems from effectively executing their businesses , while simultaneously promoting excellence in canadian franchising .
golf competitions will be held throughout the day * in addition to the main 18 - hole tournament where you and your team can compete to win the cfa’s golf cup and be fitted for blue jackets .
registration for all three tournaments includes : green fees , a shared power cart , lunch , reception , and dinner .
for sponsorship opportunities , please contact lou gervasi at lgervasi @ urltoken or 416 - 695 - 2896 ext . 243
canada’s biggest franchise conference is just around the corner ! taking place april 22 - 24 in ottawa , ontario , the canadian franchise association ( cfa ) national convention is the best place to network with the industry’s top executives and create influential business connections with esteemed franchise leaders . click here to see who will be attending this year’s conference !
with convention just around the corner , anticipation is running high ! we asked our board members what they’re most looking forward to this year . from networking to learning to connecting with industry peers , here’s what they had to say :
“i am particularly excited and looking forward to the 2018 cfa convention due to the stellar line up of speakers and topics . i look forward to facilitating a roundtable session on how to make the most of your cfa membership , a ceo break out session , and to hosting several guest speaker sessions . most of all , i look forward to seeing friends and colleagues and to meeting new members and friends . networking and learning at the cfa convention is top tier and i always come away with new ideas and knowledge . ” – dawn mucci , lice urltoken
“the cfa convention is a great way to connect with the industry , explore new ideas , and discover opportunities . ” – hadi chahin , mary brown’s inc .
“the cfa national convention is about sharing ideas . i’m most looking forward to re - connecting with friends and colleagues from the franchising industry – and meeting a few new people , too ! ” – clark harrop , mcdonald’s restaurants of canada limited
“as a member of the board of directors for the cfa , i can say that the cfa has been working hard to support our members , including making changes to the lead generation platforms and hosting the toronto franchisecanada show free of charge to visitors . i am hoping to get some feed back from members on their successes and where we can help more . franchising is a big part of the canadian economy , and i am looking forward to many more years of success . ” – sebastian fuschini , pizza pizza
“i cannot wait for the convention this year ! it looks like there will be some great speakers but i like the roundtable discussions the most , as you get to hear views from other franchisors and take home some good tips for your own franchise program . the networking is another plus , along with meeting with all the suppliers in the marketplace . will never miss the convention and looking forward to another great one ! ” – joel friedman , pumpernickel’s
“it’s not just another convention – it’s a powerful meeting of the franchise business sector . each member , whether a seasoned franchisor or a new member , has the opportunity to exchange information , to freely share ideas , experiences , and knowledge , and to learn from each other . i always come away thinking , ‘wow , that program or idea could work for us . ' ” – terry hould , servicemaster of canada limited
don’t miss out on all of the excitement ! click here for full details about this year’s education and social program and register today .
( toronto , on ) march 28 , 2018… century 21 founder u . gary charlwood and nurse next door co - founder john dehart – two of canada’s greatest business success stories – are among the experts who will address franchise business leaders during the 27th annual canadian franchise association ( cfa ) national convention , to be held from april 22 to 24 at the westin ottawa .
more than 500 franchisors are expected to attend this year , representing canada’s leading brands including mcdonald’s restaurants of canada , propertyguys . com , dairy queen , boston pizza , kumon canada , mister transmission , and a & w food services of canada .
“as the premier event for franchising in canada , the cfa national convention offers unmatched learning and networking opportunities for all franchise professionals , from new and established franchisors to franchise industry suppliers , ” says lorraine mclachlan , the cfa’s president and ceo . “with a powerful lineup of keynote speakers and more than 40 educational sessions to choose from , the cfa national convention provides a forum for franchise business leaders to network , share ideas and work together to shape the future of franchise excellence in canada . ”
gary charlwood , founder , charlwood pacific group , will share his inspiring journey from an employee struggling to make ends meet , to an international franchising trailblazer .
in addition to learning and networking , attendees will also celebrate their peers at the much anticipated gala awards presentation on monday , april 23 , where the cfa will announce the winners of the awards of excellence in franchising , franchisees’ choice designation and recognition awards . these highly coveted awards celebrate excellence in franchising and the mutually - rewarding relationship between a franchise system and its franchisees .
the canadian franchise association ( cfa ) helps everyday canadians realize the dream of building their own business through the power of franchising . cfa advocates on issues that impact this dream on behalf of more than 700 corporate members and over 40 , 000 franchisees from many of canada’s best - known and emerging franchise brands . beyond its role as the voice of the franchise industry , cfa strengthens and develops franchising by delivering best - practice education and creating rewarding connections between canadians and the opportunities in franchising . canadian franchises contribute over $ 96 billion per year to the canadian economy and create jobs for more than 1 . 8 million canadians . learn more at urltoken or www . franchisecanada . online .
most people would consider it a fairly long – and risky – leap to move from the fast - paced high - tech scene to the more sedate , conservative field of health care services . not john dehart – he paid no heed to the risks , and jumped right in .
after making his mark as an entrepreneur in the heady new york tech scene in the ‘90s , helping launch five tech companies as a venture capitalist , dehart did some soul searching and decided the tech world was not for him . while it was fast and fun , the industry lacked the “heart and soul” the young cornell business grad was looking for .
“i spent five or six years building high - tech companies , until i woke up one morning and decided to quit . that was right before the 2000 tech collapse , ” says dehart , who eventually went on to co - found the successful home health care franchise brand , nurse next door . “i didn’t really love what i was doing . ”
just shy of his 30 th birthday , the okanagan native joined his wife in vancouver , where she was studying , and personal experience soon pointed him in the direction of health care . dehart’s future business partner , ken sim , was trying to find a caregiver for his wife when she went on bed rest with their first child , and it was a real challenge . “i had had previous challenges with my grandmother , who had alzheimer’s , ” says dehart . “the home care industry is unregulated , and it was like the wild west . you never knew what you were getting . ”
that spelled opportunity for the two , who decided to launch a business to fill what they saw as a vacuum in the marketplace . their goal was to put their finely - honed business sense to use by building a completely different , aspirational health care model that would deliver more than just run - of - the - mill home care . that model was nurse next door , which launched in 2001 , and is continuing to grow in leaps and bounds .
“our approach is different – we look at how we can bring a little bit of happiness into a senior’s life , and our service model revolves around that , ” explains dehart . “by focusing less on the clinical task and more on the personal experiences of the person , we deliver a very social model of care . it’s a radically different way to deliver health care and home care . ”
at nurse next door , the focus is on happier aging rather than just churning out a set of practical services . while the services are obviously provided , this is done within the framework of bringing happiness to the day - to - day lives of the company’s senior customers . a question asked of every client is : “what’s the one thing you love to do that you can no longer do ? ” caregivers then try to help clients rediscover lost activities and interests .