Labour Day Pricing: Savings Until September 15

Early bird pricing has officially ended, but before regular rates kick in we are offering a Labour Day discount on all ticket levels, available through September 15. If you have not secured your spot yet, this is your window. And if you know someone who should be in the room, pass it along. 

Book Your Room Before You Miss It!

Group Rate Available at the Pinnacle Harbourfront

The conference is seven weeks away and our room block will not last. If you are joining us in Vancouver, we strongly encourage you to book your hotel now.

We have secured a group rate at the Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel; the same property where every session, meal, and reception takes place. Staying on site means no commute between sessions, easy access to the networking that happens in the hallways and at dinner, and harbour and mountain views to end the day on.

The Pinnacle is a four-star property in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour neighbourhood, steps from the waterfront and Stanley Park, with an indoor pool, fitness centre, and P2B Bistro & Bar on site. It is a great hotel in a great location, and the group rate makes it the obvious choice.

Rooms at the group rate are available until the block fills. Book early.

Speakers Announced 

We have been working hard to finalize our speaker lineup, and we are excited to share where things stand. This year’s conference brings together more than 25 speakers from across the employee ownership ecosystem: business owners, legal and financial advisors, economists, policy voices, and practitioners doing this work every day.

• The Honourable Christy Clark, Former Premier of British Columbia, Senior Advisor, Bennett Jones LLP & Podcast Host
• Senator Tony Loffreda, Senator, Senate of Canada
• Kevin Milligan, Professor of Economics and Director, Vancouver School of Economics at UBC
• Aaron Schroeder, CEO, Brightspot Climate Inc.
• Alexandra (Ali) Spinner, Partner, Tax and Estate Planning, Crowe Soberman LLP
• Andrew Dey, ALBA Business Advisory Services
• Brendan Friesen, CFO, Centra Windows
• Candice Hartwell, Partner, VEER Business Advisors Ltd.
• Chad Friesen, President & CEO, Friesens Corporation
• Chris Caners, Director, Brightspot Climate
• Craig Busch, CEO, Busch Systems
• Daphane Nelson, Business Analyst, CoActive Developments Worker Co-op
• Dean Psarras, Partner, Dale & Lessmann LLP
• Doug Ndegwa, President & CEO, Spartan Controls
• Elizabeth Nolin, Director of Design & Implementation, Rewrite Capital Advisors
• Jennifer Williams, Founder, Ownership Design Group
• Jeremy Herbert, Partner, Felesky Flynn
• Jon Shell, Chair, Social Capital Partners
• Kira Gregson, Partner, Sequeira Partners
• Lana Gordin, Director of People and Culture, Centra
• Larry Sparks, CEO, Confluence Group
• Melanie Russell, President and Senior Managing Director, Kalex Partners Inc.
• Michael Fotheringham, Chief Executive Officer, Taproot Community Support Services
• Odia Reimer, VP of People & Culture, Friesens Corporation
• Rachel Bachmann, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Institute for Economic Democracy
• Rob Germain, CEO, CHEK Media
• Robert Postlethwaite, Founder & Managing Director, Postlethwaite Solicitors
• Dr. Shelley Poole, Managing Director, Wellington HR
• St. John McCloskey, Associate, Clark Wilson LLP
• Wesley Novotny, Partner, Bennett Jones LLP

The full agenda for the 2026 Canadian Employee Ownership Conference is here. Across three days, the program features multiple stages and breakout rooms, more than 25 speakers, and sessions covering the full range of what employee ownership looks like in practice; from tax and legal frameworks to governance, financing, culture, valuation, and the big-picture economic case for keeping Canadian businesses Canadian-owned. Whether you are a business owner exploring your options, an advisor deepening your expertise, or a leader inside an employee-owned company, there is something in this program for you.

Visit our Resource Library

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Keynote Speakers Announced: 2026 Canadian Employee Ownership Conference

We have been sitting on this news, and we are thrilled to finally share it: three headline speakers have been confirmed for the 2026 Canadian Employee Ownership Conference, October 20–22 at the Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel in Vancouver, BC.

The Hon. Christy Clark: Day 2 Dinner Keynote (Sponsored by Bennett Jones)

We are proud to welcome the Hon. Christy Clark as our Day 2 dinner keynote speaker. Canada’s longest-serving female premier, Christy Clark spent more than 30 years in public service and is recognized as one of the country’s most dynamic political leaders. As Premier of British Columbia from 2011 to 2017, she oversaw six consecutive balanced budgets, the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, and landmark investments in childcare, Indigenous partnerships, and job creation. Today, she advises at Bennett Jones and speaks internationally on Canadian infrastructure, trade, natural resource development, and political leadership.

Her keynote will bring a big-picture perspective on what it takes to build an economy that works for everyone; a conversation that feels especially relevant now, as employee ownership moves from the margins to the mainstream.

Kevin Milligan: Economic Update

Economist Kevin Milligan will join us to frame the broader economic context for business leaders: with all the change of the last few years, where does Canada stand, and where are we going?

Kevin is Professor of Economics at the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia, Scholar-in-Residence at the C.D. Howe Institute, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. He has served as Co-Editor of the Canadian Tax Journal since 2011 and was Special Advisor on Economic Recovery in the Privy Council Office of the Government of Canada in 2020–21. His research spans public and labour economics, with a deep focus on how the Canadian tax and transfer system shapes decisions and well-being. 

Few people are better positioned to explain the current Canadian economy, and to answer questions about where employee ownership fits in.

Senator Tony Loffreda: Opening Remarks

We are delighted to welcome back Senator Tony Loffreda, one of employee ownership’s longest-standing champions in the Senate of Canada. Senator Loffreda represents the Shawinegan division of Quebec and was appointed to the Senate in 2019. A former Royal Bank of Canada executive and Certified Public Accountant, he has been a consistent and vocal advocate for Employee Ownership Trusts, calling for the capital gains tax exemption as far back as 2021 and writing publicly about its potential to transform Canadian business succession.

Senator Loffreda will join us again this year to frame the conference and celebrate the momentum behind employee ownership in Canada, including the landmark policy win that defined 2026.

The full agenda and speaker lineup are coming soon. Register now at employee-ownership.ca/conference.

With the EOT $10 million capital gains tax exemption now permanent, interest in employee ownership trusts is growing; and we are welcoming new members to the community every week. Whether you are new to EOTs or well into your journey, these resources are designed to help you and anyone in your network move from curiosity to confidence.

We have recently added the following to our Resource Library:

Valuation Essentials for Employee Ownership Transactions
A practical guide to fair market value, quality of earnings, deal structure, and financing for EOT and ESOP transactions.

Employee Ownership 101: A Guide for Business Owners
An accessible overview of the four primary employee ownership models, with Canadian examples and a quick-start guide to choosing the right path.

Employee Ownership Types: Comparison Chart
A side-by-side comparison of EOTs, ESOPs, Phantom Equity, Mutual Fund Trusts, and Worker Co-ops, covering ownership structure, employee investment, governance, and Canadian tax considerations.

Requirements for the EOT Capital Gains Tax Incentive
A clear summary of the owner, business, and eligibility requirements for the $10M capital gains tax exemption, including key considerations.

EOT Tax Incentive Eligibility Flowchart
A quick visual tool to help business owners determine whether they may qualify for the $10M EOT capital gains tax incentive, before engaging an advisor.

Also worth sharing: our latest blog post, EOTs Are Just the Beginning: A Guide to All the Ways Canadian Businesses Can Be Employee-Owned. A great resource for anyone in your network who is just starting to explore employee ownership.

Visit our Resource Library

Subscribe to The Ownership Update

Early Bird Pricing Ends August 14! 
October 20 to 22, 2026 | Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel, Vancouver, BC 

Tickets for the 2026 Canadian Employee Ownership Conference are now available, and early bird pricing is in effect. Include Membership at a discount to take full advantage of all Employee Ownership Canada offerings for the next 12 months. Save on every ticket category when you register now.

Conference Ticket & Service Provider Membership also available. 

For new members, this ticket tier includes conference registration plus a one-year service provider membership for professional service firms that serve the employee ownership sector.

Contact our event team for details.

About the Conference

This October, the people building the employee ownership movement in Canada are gathering in Vancouver. The 2026 Canadian Employee Ownership Conference brings together business owners, employee-owned companies, professional advisors, and policy leaders for two and a half days of practical learning, honest conversation, and real connection.

This year’s gathering carries extra significance. We arrive on the heels of a landmark policy win, with the Employee Ownership Trust capital gains tax exemption now permanently in place. The room will reflect that energy. Whether you are exploring succession options, advising clients, or leading an employee-owned company, this is where you need to be.

The conference kicks off Tuesday evening with the Annual General Meeting and a Welcome Reception. Wednesday is a full day of main stage panels, breakout sessions, a keynote, and networking. Thursday wraps with a focused morning of sessions and lunch. Additionally, there will be multiple opportunities for companies curious about a transition to Employee Ownership to ask their questions to professional advisors. The full agenda and speaker lineup are coming soon.

Hosted at the Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel, Vancouver, BC. Group rate available:

At the conference, you will:

• Hear from Canadian business owners who have completed EO transitions and learn what they would do differently
• Gain practical knowledge on EOT and ESOP structures, valuation, financing, and deal design
• Get up to date on the tax and legal landscape following the permanent exemption
• Learn best practices on running an employee-owned business
• Connect directly with leading lawyers, accountants, plan designers, valuation experts, and other advisors doing this work every day
• Join a national network of people committed to keeping Canadian businesses Canadian-owned

The EOT Tax Exemption Is Now Permanent

Canada’s Spring Economic Update delivered the news our community has been working toward for years. The $10 million capital gains tax exemption for business sales to Employee Ownership Trusts has been made permanent. This is a defining moment for employee ownership in Canada, and the coverage has reflected just how significant it is.

Read Employee Ownership Canada’s Statement: EOC Celebrates Landmark Government Decision on Employee Ownership

Media Coverage

The government’s announcement generated national coverage across business, policy, and mainstream media. Here is a selection of the stories covering this milestone:

The Globe And Mail: Tax Break To Help Business Owners Sell To Employees To Be Made Permanent 

Toronto Star: Carney’s Economic Update: A Glimmer of Hope Toward More Worker-Owned Companies

CTV News: PM Carney Spending Billions To Train More Workers, Deficit Decline Short Lived 

The Hub: How Ottawa’s Latest Tax Change Could Reshape Business Ownership in Canada

Future of Good: Explainer: What the Social Sector Should Know About Carney’s Spring Economic Update

Newswire: Spring Economic Update Won’t Halt the Shrinking Number of Small Businesses in Canada

Betakit: Ai Strategy Pillars, New Smb Procurement Program Revealed In Canada’s Spring Economic Update

Le Soleil: Et si vos employés étaient votre meilleur repreneur?

Investment Executive: Deficit Falls to $66.9B for 2026 Spring Economic Update

Policy Magazine: The Spring Economic Update: Canada Strong, Deficits Long

Advisor.ca: Interest in Employee Ownership Trusts Expected to Rise

C.W. Wilson: Tax Alert: $10 Million EOT Tax Exemption Made Permanent

BLG: Ten Tax Takeaways from Canada’s Spring Economic Update 2026

Mondaq: Tax Alert: $10 Million EOT Tax Exemption Made Permanent

Wealth Professional: Ottawa Rolls Out Sovereign Wealth Fund Open to Retail Investors

Read the Peak: An Under-the-Radar Tax Change Could See More Employees Become Owners in Their Workplace

Benefits Canada: Top 5 HR, Benefits, Pension and Investment Stories of the Week

“Canada’s next chapter of growth starts with investing at home.”

~ The Hon. Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue

These words, spoken as part of the Spring Economic Update announcement, speak directly to the spirit of employee ownership. When Canadians invest in each other, in their colleagues, their communities, and the businesses they have helped build, the result is an economy that is stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive.

The permanence of the EOT tax exemption is a direct expression of that vision. It is a policy designed to keep Canadian businesses in Canadian hands, and to ensure the wealth that workers help create stays in the communities where they live and work.

Read the full Spring Economic Update from the Government of Canada.

Visit our Resource Library

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Stories, insights, and action from Canada’s employee ownership community.

Advocacy in Action: A National Effort to Advance Employee Ownership
Over the past several months, we have seen a remarkable level of engagement, leadership, and collective action across the employee ownership community. Together, we have elevated this issue in meaningful ways and made a strong, unified case for why employee ownership must be part of Canada’s economic future.

Progress on Policy: Bill C-15

Recent updates passed under Bill C-15 have introduced important changes that improve access to employee ownership structures for business owners, enabling a greater number of businesses held in personal holding companies to qualify for the tax incentive. These changes were informed in part by the work of Employee Ownership Canada’s Expert Advisory Committee, whose coordinated efforts helped shape more practical and accessible pathways for sellers. This is a meaningful step forward and a clear example of how expert input and sustained advocacy can influence policy.

Business Leader Letter: A Powerful Signal to Government

We were proud to mobilize 32 prominent Canadian business leaders who stepped forward to publicly call on the federal government to strengthen employee ownership in Canada by making the capital gains tax exemption permanent.

This was more than a letter. It was a clear and coordinated signal from respected leaders across sectors who put their names, their organizations, and their networks behind this issue. They did not just sign. They led. They shared, amplified, and activated their communities to ensure this message reached policymakers and Canadians alike.

We extend particular thanks to champions including Darryl White (BMO), Douglas Ndegwa (Spartan Controls), and Geoff Smith (EllisDon Inc.), who played a critical role in engaging peers and expanding the reach of this effort. Their leadership helped transform this initiative into a national call to action.

Read the letter

National Open Letter: Canadians Stepping Forward
We also invited Canadians from across the country to lend their voices through a public open letter, and the response was immediate and powerful.

We surpassed our initial goal within days and this message resonated far beyond the business community. Employees, owners, and individuals new to employee ownership quickly recognized its potential to address succession challenges, strengthen local economies, and create more inclusive wealth.

View the full letter and supporters

Sector Collaboration

We came together with the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation and Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, to represent a broad and diverse ecosystem of employee-owned businesses, co-operatives, and the advisors who support them.

Together, we urged the federal government to act. Together, we reinforced that employee ownership is not a niche solution, but a national opportunity.

This collaboration reflects something bigger than any one organization. It represents a shared commitment across the sector to build a stronger, more inclusive Canadian economy.

Read the joint letter

Government Engagement
Over the past month, we had productive meetings with MPs, Senators, senior political staff and civil servants from the Department of Finance. This included a trip to Ottawa led by EOC board members Tiara Letourneau, Chad Friesen, and Mike Fotheringham.

In addition to these meetings, we have submitted formal recommendations ahead of the Spring Economic Statement and are continuing to advocate for the permanence of the EOT tax incentive as a practical, low-cost policy that supports Canadian ownership, productivity, and long-term economic resilience.

Our submission outlines a clear and urgent reality: without near-term policy certainty, new EOT activity risks slowing significantly, despite growing interest from business owners across the country. It also provides a practical path forward to stabilize the market and unlock broader adoption of employee ownership in Canada.

View our submission

Building the Evidence Base – EO Research
We are actively working to better understand the landscape of employee ownership in Canada.

Service providers in our network have begun contributing insights on companies that have transitioned or are exploring employee ownership. This work is critical. It will help us build a clearer national picture, strengthen advocacy efforts, and ensure we are developing the right tools and supports for businesses.

If you have received an email from us, or if you work with employee-owned companies, we encourage you to participate.

Complete the service provider form
Or email: info@employee-ownership.ca 

Ownership Nation Podcast Launch
We launched the first episode of our new podcast, featuring Aaron Schroeder of Brightspot Climate.
Watch the episode

Next episode will launch on April 15 featuring Mike Fotheringham (Taproot Community Support Services).

A National Media Moment for Employee Ownership

Our recent efforts urging the government to make the Employee Ownership Trust capital gains tax exemption permanent did not just reach policymakers. We reached Canadians across the country.

Through a coordinated media push, we successfully elevated employee ownership into mainstream national conversations. The tone was clear, urgent, and forward-looking. These stories positioned Employee Ownership Trusts as a practical, common-sense solution for Canada’s economic future, leaving many readers with a simple conclusion: this works, and it matters now.

The results were significant:

• • A Canadian Press story syndicated across 25 publications, spanning print, digital, and radio
  • CBC coverage and video features shared nationally, with additional reach through Yahoo News and Yahoo UK
  • Increased engagement from journalists, many of whom were introduced to EOTs for the first time
  • Growing inbound interest from business owners exploring employee ownership as a viable succession path

This was more than media coverage. It was a big boost in awareness.

We are incredibly grateful to the advisors, business owners, and employee-owners who stepped forward to share their stories and insights. Your voices brought credibility, urgency, and real-world perspective to this moment.

These stories below highlight the real-world impact of employee ownership and the leaders driving this movement forward.

• • The Globe & Mail:  Advocates call on Ottawa to extend tax incentive for employee ownership trusts
  • CBC:  Why some Canadian companies are turning their workers into owners instead of selling to the U.S.
  • CBC:  Pros and Cons of employee ownership trusts in Canada
  • CBC:  How an employee ownership trust actually works in Canada
  • CTV News:  Advocates urge Ottawa to extend ‘no-brainer’ tax incentive for employee ownership
  • Betakit.com: Business leaders urge Ottawa to extend employee ownership tax incentive
  • Canadian Business: How Employee Ownership Trusts Keep Wealth in Canada
  • FutureEconomy.ca: Why Canada Should Back Employee Ownership Trusts for the Long Term
  • Filmogaz: Canadian Firms Empower Employees by Embracing Ownership Over U.S. Sellouts

If you are an employee-owned company, exploring a transition, or willing to share your story, we would love to hear from you.

Become an EOC Member

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3-month free trial available

• Visit our Resource Library

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Stories, insights, and action from Canada’s employee ownership community.

Advocacy & Policy Momentum

• New advocacy templates and letters were developed advocating for the permanence of the EOT tax exemption. This includes a letter of support from leading Canadian CEOs, and one open to the public for signature, encouraging permanence as an inevitable solution to Canada’s looming succession crisis.  We encourage you to show your support, sign the letter and share among your networks.
  

• Our advocacy efforts are gaining traction in national media. With interviews and additional stories underway, we are elevating the case for employee ownership trusts across the country. Read recent articles by CBC News, The Globe and Mail and the Times Colonist.

• Ongoing meetings with policymakers focused on making the EOT tax incentive permanent.

• Continued coordination with service providers and business leaders to amplify real-world impact.
  

Community Engagement & Growth

• Our first webinar, Employee Ownership 101, welcomed 50+ registrants and strong live engagement.
• Over 45 outputs delivered since our last update, including newsletters, website updates, social content, webinars, and case studies.
• Growing interest from international audiences, alongside increased Canadian engagement with our events and resource library.

New Employee Ownership Transitions

• Continued momentum from recent transitions, including Paradigm Transportation Solutions Limited, demonstrating how employee ownership can protect culture, strengthen communities, and keep wealth rooted locally.

Insight

• We’ve updated our resource section with a new article, originally published in the Smith School of Business, outlining why employee ownership is critical for Canada’s economic future. Please read and share with your networks.

As employee ownership gains momentum in Canada, more founders are looking to EOTs to solve a familiar challenge: how to step back without sacrificing culture, mission, or fairness. For many, traditional exits raise fears of cultural drift, fragmented teams, or ownership concentrated in the hands of a few. Grantbook’s story shows how an EOT can offer a different path.

Grantbook co-founder Peter Dietz began exploring ownership options years before EOTs were on the Canadian policy agenda. A share purchase plan was the first attempt, but it quickly showed its limits. As Dietz reflects, “If we had done more of the share purchase plan, we wouldn’t have a buyer because the employee base didn’t have the cash available or interest necessarily in taking that risk.”

Management buyouts and third-party sales also felt misaligned with Grantbook’s collaborative, mission-driven culture. The EOT model offered something different: a way to make every employee a beneficiary, avoid financial barriers, and preserve the company’s “DNA.” The transition required careful governance design, outside expertise, and a clear explanation of what “ownership” would and wouldn’t mean in practice.

Looking back, Dietz credits the EOT model with making a values-aligned exit possible: “The elegance of the EOT model allowed me to exit freely, because without it I don’t know if I would have been able to complete the transaction.”

Read the full Grantbook case study

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