What is your business called and what does it do?

Toronto Adventures, a kayak, canoe, paddle board rental company that offers live shows, classes and more!

What made you want to do this work?

I am a producer, and my cousin is an entrepreneur, and now we get to hand out, have fun and support the community!

What problem did you want to solve with the business?

We just wanted to create a unique cottage experience in the city. A lot of people can’t afford to leave the city so having even a taste of the cottage life can be very rejuvenating!

Who are your clientele/demographics?

All ages and all types!

How does your business make money? How does it work?

We charge for tickets to our shows, which include boat rentals and more. Classes and tours as well.

Where in the city can we find your profession?

On the Humber River, near the Toronto Humber Yacht Club.

What is the best part about what you do?

Nature, people, and enjoying the water while working out.

What is your favourite joke about your own profession?

Canoe just answer this question?

Where can we follow you?

@Torontoadventure | @Showsontheriver | @Dgspecialproductions

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?

Rooms cafe on Dupont

The post Homegrown Business: Rosaire Cordina of Toronto Adventures appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

What is your business called and what does it do?

Borderless AI is a modern global hiring and payments platform that makes international hiring feel as seamless as hiring at home, without compromising on compliance or control.

What made you want to do this work?

Willson is a repeat Canadian entrepreneur who realized the difficulties companies have in trying to handle global hiring. He knew there had to be a better way. Borderless AI is an AI-native company that works for SMBs and larger organizations to make international hiring simple. Backed by and partnered with Canadian AI leader Cohere, Borderless AI is changing global hiring for Canadians.

What problem did you want to solve with the business?

Employment of Record (EOR) is a longstanding industry that’s made international hiring easier. However, the pandemic accelerated companies embracing global teams, with data showing that while domestic hiring in many countries remains flat, the share of global hiring is increasing, especially in countries like India, the Philippines, and Brazil.

Who are your clientele/demographics?

SMBs to large companies in Canada and the USA

Where in the city can we find your profession?

Based in Toronto currently

What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.

Why should I choose Borderless AI?

Borderless AI is taking a modern approach to global hiring and payments in a number of ways:

– AI-first approach
– Owned entities that allow companies to hire and manage employees without setting up foreign entities or going through additional third parties
– Real-time cross-border payments
– Borderless AI is a Canadian-founded company that helps companies stay local while also easily expanding their global footprint.

Where can we follow you?

LinkedIn | Website

The post Homegrown Business: Willson Cross of Borderless AI appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Driven by that experience and a deep personal passion for wellness, Jesse co-founded Heal Wellness in June 2019 — opening the first location in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, with a clear mission: to be at the forefront of the health food revolution. The concept was born from a real gap in the market for quick-serve, nutrient-rich food that fits a busy, active lifestyle.

Today, Heal Wellness offers a thoughtfully curated menu of smoothie bowls, smoothies, and breakfast waffles — each built around superfoods carefully selected to fuel the body while minimizing ecological impact.

What is your business called and what does it do?

My business is called HEAL. We’re a modern smoothie and açaí bowl concept built around the belief that healthy food should be energizing, beautiful, and community-driven.

We serve smoothies, açaí bowls, coffee, and functional add-ons like protein, collagen, and other superfoods — but what we’re really building is a wellness lifestyle brand. It’s a space people come to not just for nutrition, but for momentum — for energy, connection, and daily ritual.

We’ve grown to 33 locations across Canada, with another 30 opening this year, and we’re expanding into the U.S. We’re scaling quickly, but we’ve stayed very founder-led, grassroots, and community-first in how we build.

What made you want to do this work? What problem did you want to solve with the business?

I’ve always had the entrepreneurial itch, and I’ve always cared about maintaining a happy and healthy lifestyle. When creating HEAL, it felt like there was a gap between fast food and true wellness — you could eat quickly, or you could eat healthy, but rarely both in a way that felt exciting and accessible.

HEAL started with my partner Jason Zuccato and me. At the core, we simply wanted to build something together that had a positive impact on people’s lives. And do it in a way that puts more emphasis on the customer journey and provoking emotion rather than just the transactional part of the business. We wanted healthy choices to feel cool, social, and part of someone’s lifestyle.

The real problem we set out to solve was this: how do you make wellness part of someone’s daily rhythm instead of an occasional “I should eat better” decision?

HEAL was built on the belief that when people feel good physically, they show up better in every area of their lives.

Who are your clientele/demographics?

In the beginning, our core demographic was primarily 18–35 year olds who value health and community — students, young professionals, athletes, and entrepreneurs. What’s interesting is how broad it’s become. We see families coming in after hockey games, professionals grabbing post-workout smoothies, and customers of all ages who just love how they feel after eating with us.

HEAL tends to attract people who are ambitious, active, and intentional about their lifestyle. At the same time, we believe strongly in balance. The 80:20 rule is real — live well most of the time, enjoy life the rest of the time. Wellness should feel sustainable, not restrictive.

How does your business make money? How does it work?

We operate a mix of corporate-owned and franchised locations across Canada. Our revenue primarily comes from in-store sales of smoothies, bowls, and add-ons, and we’ve built a model that emphasizes strong unit economics and operational simplicity.

Franchising has allowed us to scale with passionate local operators who are invested in their communities. We provide brand, systems, marketing, supply chain, and training — they bring leadership and local energy.

As we grow, we’re also expanding into retail products and new concept development under our broader Happy Belly Food Group brand umbrella.

Where in the city can we find your profession?

In Toronto, you can find HEAL inside the Eaton Centre and at several other locations throughout the GTA. We’re continuing to expand strategically across Ontario and into new markets.

What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?

The best part is watching something that started small turn into something that impacts thousands of people daily. Seeing our franchise partners succeed, team members grow into leaders, and customers make HEAL part of their routine is incredibly rewarding.

The hardest part is that growth is relentless. Scaling a brand across provinces — and now countries — means constant problem-solving. There are always operational challenges, staffing issues, or strategic decisions to make. It forces you to evolve quickly as a leader.

But that pressure is also what makes it exciting.

What is your favourite joke about your own profession?

People think I spend my days in flip flops, surfing, and sipping smoothies on the beach because we sell açaí bowls.

In reality, it’s construction sites, lease negotiations, early-morning calls, and spreadsheets — just with an OG Açaí bowl in hand.

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok | Website

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?

Shoutout to Dustin and Daniel at Rosie’s Burgers. They’ve built their brand the right way — hands-on, detail-obsessed, and deeply rooted in the community. You can feel the owner-operator energy the second you walk in.

They’re great entrepreneurs, even better people, and they’ve created a product that speaks for itself.

And after a long 12-hour build-out or ops day… that banana pudding is undefeated.

The post Homegrown Business: Jesse Davidson of HEAL Wellness appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

What is your business called and what does it do?

Matt & Steve’s is proudly the only 100% Canadian made and Canadian-owned Caesar brand on the market. We craft premium Caesars, Ready to drink and Caesar mix. We also have a full line of pickled products, including our signature product, The Extreme Bean, along with The Asparagoos, Extreme Pickle Spears and Matt & Steve’s Baby Dills.

What problem did you want to solve with the business?

It all started with one simple idea: replace the celery stick with an Extreme Bean. We began pickling beans in our condo in Mississauga, and that was the start of our journey. That one idea has led us to where we are today—with a full lineup of pickled products, ready-to-drink Caesars, and Caesar mix, now available from coast to coast across Canada and in
several U.S. states.

Where in the city can we find your profession?

From coast to coast, Matt & Steve’s is proudly available at major retailers, including LCBO, Walmart, Sobeys, Metro, and Loblaws, along with restaurants, bars, and independent stores that champion local brands. We are also proud to be the Official Caesar Partner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, now available inside Scotiabank Arena, Coca-Cola Coliseum, and BMO Field. We have grown from a simple idea to a coast-to-coast presence with over 12 000 distribution points and listings in every major grocery chain.

What made you want to do this work?

Honestly, it started with curiosity. We were bartending, experimenting, and asking ourselves how we could make a great Caesar even better. Once we saw how people reacted, we knew we were onto something. From there, we took that idea on the road—traveling across Canada, meeting restaurants, bartenders, retailers, and Caesar lovers, and hearing their stories. That excitement and support from people coast to coast is what pushed us to keep going and turn a small idea into a brand.

Who are your clientele/demographics?

We do not chase demographics—we chase good times. If you love Caesars, pickled garnishes, and a little fun, you are our demographic. Pickled products and Caesars are loved across generations, cultures, and lifestyles, and our brand reflects that inclusivity. If you enjoy good times, good company, and a great Caesar, you are our people.

How does your business make money? How does it work?

We do not overcomplicate it. We make products we are proud to serve, that taste great, and that make people smile. When consumers connect with the brand and the moments around it, the business takes care of itself.

What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.

“Would you proudly serve this to your friends and family?”

Absolutely. Every product we make is something we are proud to serve and share ourselves. We obsess over quality and flavour, but we never forget to have fun with it. What we make is not about the product—it is about personality, good vibes, and the moments you remember long after you have enjoyed it.

What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?

I absolutely love what I do every day. Travelling across the country, showing up, sharing our story, and creating moments where people experience the brand firsthand is incredibly rewarding. Building emotional connections through fun, shared experiences is what drives me. There can be long days, but when the brand is part of who you are and the connections you make matter, it is always worth pushing through.

What is your favourite joke about your own profession?

The pickle and bean puns. We have heard them all… and yes, we’ve bean waiting for every single one.

Where can we follow you?

Website | Instagram

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?

Another local business we love: Sandbagger Hard Seltzer

The post Homegrown Business: Steve McVicker of Matt & Steve’s appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

After facing firsthand the challenges of finding the right care for his grandmother, Daniel set out to simplify a process that can feel confusing, stressful, and time-consuming. Today, Elderado empowers families—particularly those in the “sandwich generation”—to easily compare options like retirement homes, long-term care, and home care services. By making information more accessible and transparent, the platform helps families spend less time searching and more time where it matters most: with their loved ones.

What is your business called and what does it do?

My business is called Elderado. We’re a free website for families that makes it ease to navigate and compare elder care options for aging loved ones.

What made you want to do this work?

I have personal experience with this problem when I was a family caregiver to my Grandma, and we were looking for long-term care or assisted living. We were paired with a social worker who wanted to help, but in a lot of ways, her hands were tied. I couldn’t believe how hard it was for us to find and compare our options to figure out which home is the best option. It was frustrating, overwhelming, and kept us from being at my Grandma’s bedside.

What problem did you want to solve with the business?

How do we make it easier for every family to find the elder care information they’re looking for – whether you’re interested in long-term care homes, retirement homes, or home care? Families need to learn how elder care works, what public and private resources exist, determine their budget, assess their loved ones’ care needs, and more. Plus, there’s a whole new language filled with lots of acronyms to learn – what’s the difference between long-term care and retirement homes, what are ADLs, and more. Our goal is to help families spend less time searching for information and more time with their loved ones.

Who are your clientele/demographics?

Our primary demographic is ‘Sandwich Generation’ adult children. This is typically a female (often the eldest daughter) who is helping to support their aging parents, while having kids of their own. We also find that a lot of social workers, discharge planners, and nurse navigators use Elderado to support their patients.

How does your business make money? How does it work?

Elderado is free for families to use; we don’t accept any sort of referral fee or commission. Instead, we offer advertising opportunities to retirement homes and home care operators. For example, a retirement home hosting an open house can promote their open house on their company page on Elderado and the pages of all the other similar nearby retirement homes.

Where in the city can we find your profession?

Elderado is a free web platform that can be accessed anywhere from your phone or computer at elderado.ca.

What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?

The best part is getting to spend time with residents in retirement homes and long-term care. I toured 77 retirement homes in 2025, and I got to hear hundreds of residents share their stories.

The worst part is when I speak to a family who needs support but can’t get it. Our public elder care resources (long-term care, home care, etc) are falling well short of demand, and there is a tremendous amount of stress and responsibility that falls on the family. It’s a terrible situation when I speak to a family who is doing all the right things, but cannot get the support that they need.

What is your favourite joke about your own profession?

Not a joke, but something a resident of Scarborough Retirement Residence said to me that I loved was, “A lot of people worry that moving into a retirement home means losing independence. But when you think about it, having someone else cook, clean, and shovel the snow doesn’t sound like losing independence to me.”

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?

Viive Planning

The post Homegrown Business: Daniel Clarke of Elderado appeared first on Toronto Guardian.