February 2026 - The Ownership Update
Stories, insights, and action from Canada’s employee ownership community.
Message from the ED
A Growing Movement, Stronger Every Month
As we move into 2026, the momentum behind employee ownership in Canada continues to build, and this past month has been a powerful example of what this community can achieve together.
We’ve been deeply active on the advocacy front, meeting with policymakers and developing practical templates and tools to support business owners, advisors, and partners as we collectively work toward making the EOT tax incentive permanent. At the same time, we were thrilled to host our very first webinar, Employee Ownership 101, and to see such strong engagement and thoughtful questions from across the country.
We’re also expanding how we show up: at conferences, in policy conversations, and through new resources designed to help people learn, decide, and take action on employee ownership. Whether you’re interested in sharing your expertise through an article or webinar, helping us raise awareness, or contributing to our research and advocacy efforts, there are more ways than ever to get involved.
Thank you for being part of this growing movement, and for helping strengthen Canadian businesses, communities, and wealth for the long term.
Warmly,
Justine Janssen
Executive Director, Employee Ownership Canada
In Case You Missed It
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.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
WEBINARS
Thank you for joining us, and what’s next
January (Completed):
Employee Ownership 101: A Practical Guide to Succession & Engagement
Thank you to our Executive Director, Justine and advisor, Jennifer Williams for breaking down EO models in a clear, accessible way.
Recording and slides are now available
FEBRUARY 25: 1:00 PM ET
EOTs Explained: Structure, Eligibility & Live Q&A
This session takes a deeper dive into how EOTs work in practice. We’ll walk through eligibility requirements, trust structure, governance design, and the end-to-end deal process, including what happens after the sale. The session will include a live Q&A and perspectives from practitioners involved in real EOT transactions.
Ideal for:
* Business owners considering succession
* Advisors (legal, financial, accounting, HR)
* Board members and senior leaders
* Policymakers and ecosystem partners
MARCH 25: 1:00 PM ET
Financing Employee Ownership Transitions
This webinar explores how employee ownership deals are financed, how businesses are valued, and how different entities and tax structures can support successful transitions.
We’ll cover practical considerations around tax efficiency, capital gains treatment, and common deal structures used in Canadian employee ownership transactions.
Ideal for:
* Business owners exploring succession options
* CFOs and finance leaders
* Accountants, tax advisors, and legal professionals
* Lenders and capital providers
APRIL: Date TBA
Building an Ownership Culture: Preparing Your Business for Employee Ownership
Employee ownership is more than a transaction, it’s a long-term shift in how a business operates.
This session focuses on the human and organizational foundations required for successful employee ownership. We’ll explore culture, leadership readiness, governance clarity, communication, and people practices that support sustainable ownership transitions and long-term performance.
Ideal for
* Business owners planning ahead for succession
* HR and people leaders
* Senior management teams
* Employee-owners and emerging leaders
PARTNERING WITH SETSI
We’re excited to partner with SETSI, a coalition of community activists, on a roundtable focused on Black-led and Black-serving businesses and service providers. This conversation will help surface specific policy needs and explore how employee ownership can support wealth-building and economic equity in Black communities.
More details coming soon.
NEW: OWNERSHIP NATION PODCAST
We’re launching our podcast, and you’ll start seeing clips from our first episode featuring Aaron Schroeder of Brightspot Climate.
Watch, share, and help spread the word. The more people who understand the power of employee ownership, the stronger this movement becomes.
PLACES TO BE
Building a strong employee ownership ecosystem means showing up, listening, and learning alongside others shaping the future of work and business in Canada. Here are a few upcoming opportunities to connect with the wider community.
- Economic Developers Council of Ontario (Feb 2–4)
- Future of Work Expo Canada (April)
- EDA Experience 2026 Summit & Conference (Alberta) (April)
Interested in joining us at conferences or helping with outreach?
FEATURE: Grantbook’s EOT Success Story: Protecting Mission While Passing the Torch
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.”
Get Involved
Why Become an EOC Member?
Membership gives you access to trusted insights, practical tools, peer connections, and opportunities to help shape the future of employee ownership in Canada.
3-month free trial for new members!
Join a Committee or Working Group
- Awareness Committee (presentations, outreach, education)
- Survey & research support
Help Shape the Movement
- We are looking for experts in Business Succession, Tax & Legal Structuring, Governance, Ownership Culture, and EO Storytelling. We have a specific list of toolkits, guides, and templates we are looking to develop and share. If you have expertise in these areas please let us know if you’d be willing to co-produce an asset.
If you’re interested in co-producing a tool or asset express your interest here.
We’re also always looking for members who are interested in:
- Speaking at webinars, conferences, or events
- Writing a guest blog, article or supporting advocacy efforts
New Stakeholder Intake Form
Whether you’re new to EOC or have been instrumental in our growth, this form helps us understand:
- Your role and interests
- How you’d like to participate
- How we can better support you
EOC Community Voices
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a message that strongly resonates with our shared call to keep businesses rooted in Canada:
“It means building what we claim to believe in, rather than waiting for the old order to be restored. It means creating institutions and agreements that function as described. And it means reducing the leverage that enables coercion – that’s building a strong domestic economy. It should be every government’s immediate priority.”
This call to strengthen Canada’s domestic economy mirrors exactly what employee ownership makes possible: keeping wealth local, empowering workers, and addressing the coming succession crisis in a way that reinforces both economic resilience and sovereignty.