Skip to main content

This is the weekly Report on Small Business newsletter. If you’re reading this on the web, or if someone forwarded this e-mail to you, you can sign up for it and all Globe newsletters on our signup page.

How Waterloo startup TextNow learned to battle scammers on its calling app

Tristan Huntington vividly remembers when he and the rest of his team at TextNow realized their free calling-and-texting app was being abused. It was 2011 and their Waterloo, Ont.-based startup was still small, with fewer than 10 employees. Story

Small businesses find creative ways to combat climate change

There’s little that Trish Tacoma can do from her small design studio in Victoria to fight the devastating wildfires in Australia or slow the rapid glacial melt in Antarctica. However, the owner of the Smoking Lily clothing and accessories brand is trying to do her part to combat climate change. Story

Sale of brewery to Labatt splits Calgary’s craft brewers in ‘Barley Belt’ trademark dispute

The sale of a craft brewery in Calgary has driven a rift through an area that’s become known as the Barley Belt, with several small brewers taking down flags identifying them as part of the informal brewing neighbourhood over what they see as the invasion of “Big Beer.” Story

Georgian Partners closes Canada’s first private sector $1-billion+ venture capital fund

Georgian Partners Inc. has raised Canada’s first $1-billion-plus private-sector venture capital fund. The Toronto late-stage financier has raised US$850-million ($1.1-billion) for its fifth fund, US$100-million more than it targeted when it informed the regulator about the offering in September. Story

WHAT WE’RE READING ELSEWHERE

Province introduces interim property tax relief for small businesses

The province has introduced a new interim program to allow local governments to provide property tax relief to small business and non-profits in the 2020 tax year. CBC

Alberta spring budget should boost innovation with tax credits, say entrepreneurs

Tech entrepreneurs say tax credits that the province scrapped in October are needed to boost diversification and innovation in Alberta, and are calling on the government to bring back investor certainty in this week’s budget. CBC

Cannabis manufacturing facility coming to Nipissing First Nation

The shovels are in the dirt for a brand new cannabis manufacturing plant on the Nipissing First Nation. Golden Harvest Organics Inc. broke ground on a new-state-of-the-art 30,000 square foot cannabis facility. CTV

Follow related authors and topics

Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.

Interact with The Globe