Latest news with #Canadian-led
Cision Canada
21-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Rival Group and Angus Reid Group Merge to Create Canada's Largest Independent Research Company
New $60-million entity combines Canadian ownership, cutting-edge technology, and research excellence to lead North America's insights industry VANCOUVER, BC, May 21, 2025 /CNW/ -- In a major milestone for the North American market research sector, Rival Group and Angus Reid Group (ARG) are merging to form the largest Canadian-owned independent market research company, with projected annual revenues exceeding $60 million and operations across five major cities in Canada and the United States. ARG is joining Rival Technologies and Reach3 Insights, which will operate as independent brands under the Rival Group umbrella. This move creates a visionary North American research powerhouse that uniquely brings together three critical pillars of the modern research value chain — proprietary technology, high-quality research panels, and expert consulting — in one integrated group. At a time when businesses face rising uncertainty and tighter decision cycles, Rival Group is designed to deliver faster, clearer insights with greater value. Each operating company retains its unique focus and gains access to shared corporate services, enabling them to scale faster and deliver stronger outcomes for our clients. "With ARG joining Rival Group, we're building an organization that not only understands what Canadians think, but has the tools to ask, listen, and respond faster and better than anyone else in the market," said Dr. Angus Reid, who will take a strategic leadership role on the board of Rival Group. "While many in the industry are scaling back, we're scaling up by delivering a new kind of research company: one that owns the tools, the data, and the expertise to keep clients ahead of the curve." "By owning our technology, our panels, and our consultancy, we're uniquely positioned to offer clients a fully integrated experience ranging from agile data collection to high-impact strategic guidance," said Jennifer Reid, Co-CEO of Rival Group with responsibility for Research, Consulting and Panels. "With complete control of the process and a unified team behind it, we can deliver sharper insights with more speed, consistency and accountability than anyone else in the research space." "Rival Technologies has been growing at over 40% year-over-year, driven by rapid advancements in AI and the introduction of intelligent agents into our platform," said Andrew Reid, Co-CEO of Rival Group with responsibility for Rival Technologies. "This merger sets the stage for powerful new offerings that directly connect our conversational technology to the Angus Reid market panels, and ensure that AI is the driving force in our company going forward." A success story of Canadian innovation With headquarters in Vancouver, majority Canadian ownership, and all-organic growth since 2018, the new Rival Group reflects a rare growth story: one of Canadian-led consolidation in a globalized industry. The merged business will also have offices in Toronto, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The combined company supports more than 500 clients, including top-tier firms in consumer goods, technology, financial services, health and public affairs. This merger unites: Growth with purpose Closing May 30, the merger is a growth initiative, not a consolidation play. All three operating companies have demonstrated strong momentum in 2025, and the merger is designed to amplify that success, with no staff reductions or structural changes. Over the next 24 months, Rival Group will focus on expanding its U.S. panel presence, deepening AI-enabled insights, and establishing a London office to further accelerate global capabilities. Interviews are available upon request, and media b-roll is available here. About Rival Group Rival Group is Canada's largest independent research company. Headquartered in Vancouver with offices across North America, Rival Group uniquely combines proprietary research technology, certified panels, and expert consultancy. The company delivers faster, more authentic and actionable insights to over 500 clients across industries including technology, finance, consumer goods, media & entertainment, health and public affairs by redefining how organizations connect with people. Two of its operating companies, Rival Technologies and Reach3 Insights, earned spots on Greenbook's 2024 GRIT Top 10 Most Innovative Suppliers list after making the Top 50 list five years in a row.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MEC announces new Canadian ownership
At a time when consumer focus on Canadian brands is at an all-time high, Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) announces that it has been acquired by a Canadian-led ownership group. VANCOUVER, BC, May 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) has been acquired by a group of private Canadian investors with deep industry experience and a vision of reshoring some manufacturing to Canada. This transaction shifts MEC's ownership to a group of Canadian investors with domain expertise, a deep belief in MEC's purpose and a long-term vision for the business. The new investor group is led by Tim Gu, who brings a deep background in Canadian retail, manufacturing, and investment. Tim is Chairman of Unisync Corp. (TSX: UNI), a publicly traded Canadian uniform and workwear company, as well as an investor in Canadian heritage brands including Tilley and Roots. He founded and operates International Inc, a Toronto-based apparel manufacturing facility established in 1999, which supports Canadian jobs and champions "Made in Canada" production — values that closely align with MEC's heritage and mission. Partnering with Tim strengthens MEC's ability to reinvest in domestic manufacturing and enhance the authenticity, quality, and innovation of the MEC Label product line. "MEC represents the best of Canadian spirit — adventure, resilience, and community," said Tim Gu. "As a lifelong believer in Canadian manufacturing and innovation, I'm proud to join MEC's journey. Together, we'll strengthen its foundation, expand its reach, and ensure that MEC remains an essential part of Canada's outdoor culture for generations to come." Other Canadian investors joining Gu in the ownership group include MEC's Chief Executive Officer, Peter Hlynsky, as well as Chief Merchandising Officer Chris Speyer, both longtime MEC members, making this a partial management buyout. This underscores how much MEC's leadership believes in the future of the company. "There has never been a better time to celebrate being Canadian" says Hlynsky. "Today marks the beginning of MEC's next chapter, grounded in the values that built MEC from the start. We will continue to evolve and innovate in order to stay relevant to the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, and we will remain true to what sets MEC apart: expert staff who live and breathe the outdoors, stores that are anchors for outdoor communities and an unwavering commitment to providing the best assortment of outdoor gear found anywhere. MEC being back in Canadian hands means we are more committed than ever to equip Canadians for all trails ahead". Says Alex Wolf, Managing Partner at Kingswood Capital Management, "Kingswood has been pleased with the investments we made in the business in the past four years. Now that it's in a good place, we're happy to see control move to new ownership and grow MEC's presence across Canada." Kingswood will retain a minority interest in MEC. The sale has been in the works for months, and the timing aligns perfectly with the interests of Canadian consumers. ABOUT MEC has been Canada's leading outdoor specialty retailer since 1971, built on a legacy of expert staff, community connection, and a passion for the outdoors. MEC's purpose is to equip Canadians for a lifetime outdoors. Our team of gear specialists and experienced adventurers offer trusted advice, ensuring members get the right equipment for every adventure. With 24 stores and over 6 million members nationwide, MEC is more than a retailer—it's a community for outdoor enthusiasts. Tim Gu is currently Chairman of Unisync Corp. (TSX: UNI), a publicly traded Canadian uniform and workwear company. Tim is also an investor in Canadian heritage brands including Tilley and Roots. He founded and operates International Inc, a Toronto-based apparel manufacturing facility established in 1999, which supports Canadian jobs and champions "Made in Canada" production — values that closely align with MEC's heritage and mission. Kingswood Capital Management, LP partners with leading companies in the middle market which stand to benefit from its capital and extensive operating resources. Kingswood embraces complexity and believes it is well-positioned to support businesses at inflection points in their development to enhance value. Based in Los Angeles, Kingswood is a cohesive, entrepreneurial team with a long history of shared success developing "win-win" partnerships with its portfolio companies and management teams. For more information, please visit the Kingswood website at QUICK FACTS. Founded in 1971 - MEC is a 50-year-old Canadian legacy organization Kingswood Capital Management purchased MEC in 2020 Peter Hlynsky appointed CEO October 2023 – has been significant member of executive team at MEC since Nov 2020 (CFO & COO) Recent hire of Chris Speyer from REI Co-op where he spent the last seven years with US outdoor retailer serving as its Vice President, Vice President of Merchandising, and finally Chief Merchant of Co-op Brands. Chris has over three decades of leadership experience in the specialty outdoor retail, wholesale, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) businesses. MEC has 24 standalone retail stores - Whitby was most recent opening in July 2024 MEC has approx. 2000 employees across Canada MEC's new, majority ownership is led by Tim Gu in partnership with MEC CEO Peter Hlynsky and other supporting investors. SOURCE Mountain Equipment Company View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
16-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
MEC announces new Canadian ownership
At a time when consumer focus on Canadian brands is at an all-time high, Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) announces that it has been acquired by a Canadian-led ownership group. VANCOUVER, BC, May 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) has been acquired by a group of private Canadian investors with deep industry experience and a vision of reshoring some manufacturing to Canada. This transaction shifts MEC's ownership to a group of Canadian investors with domain expertise, a deep belief in MEC's purpose and a long-term vision for the business. The new investor group is led by Tim Gu, who brings a deep background in Canadian retail, manufacturing, and investment. Tim is Chairman of Unisync Corp. (TSX: UNI), a publicly traded Canadian uniform and workwear company, as well as an investor in Canadian heritage brands including Tilley and Roots. He founded and operates International Inc, a Toronto-based apparel manufacturing facility established in 1999, which supports Canadian jobs and champions "Made in Canada" production — values that closely align with MEC's heritage and mission. Partnering with Tim strengthens MEC's ability to reinvest in domestic manufacturing and enhance the authenticity, quality, and innovation of the MEC Label product line. "MEC represents the best of Canadian spirit — adventure, resilience, and community," said Tim Gu. "As a lifelong believer in Canadian manufacturing and innovation, I'm proud to join MEC's journey. Together, we'll strengthen its foundation, expand its reach, and ensure that MEC remains an essential part of Canada's outdoor culture for generations to come." Other Canadian investors joining Gu in the ownership group include MEC's Chief Executive Officer, Peter Hlynsky, as well as Chief Merchandising Officer Chris Speyer, both longtime MEC members, making this a partial management buyout. This underscores how much MEC's leadership believes in the future of the company. "There has never been a better time to celebrate being Canadian" says Hlynsky. "Today marks the beginning of MEC's next chapter, grounded in the values that built MEC from the start. We will continue to evolve and innovate in order to stay relevant to the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, and we will remain true to what sets MEC apart: expert staff who live and breathe the outdoors, stores that are anchors for outdoor communities and an unwavering commitment to providing the best assortment of outdoor gear found anywhere. MEC being back in Canadian hands means we are more committed than ever to equip Canadians for all trails ahead". Says Alex Wolf, Managing Partner at Kingswood Capital Management, "Kingswood has been pleased with the investments we made in the business in the past four years. Now that it's in a good place, we're happy to see control move to new ownership and grow MEC's presence across Canada." Kingswood will retain a minority interest in MEC. The sale has been in the works for months, and the timing aligns perfectly with the interests of Canadian consumers. ABOUT MEC has been Canada's leading outdoor specialty retailer since 1971, built on a legacy of expert staff, community connection, and a passion for the outdoors. MEC's purpose is to equip Canadians for a lifetime outdoors. Our team of gear specialists and experienced adventurers offer trusted advice, ensuring members get the right equipment for every adventure. With 24 stores and over 6 million members nationwide, MEC is more than a retailer—it's a community for outdoor enthusiasts. Tim Gu is currently Chairman of Unisync Corp. (TSX: UNI), a publicly traded Canadian uniform and workwear company. Tim is also an investor in Canadian heritage brands including Tilley and Roots. He founded and operates International Inc, a Toronto-based apparel manufacturing facility established in 1999, which supports Canadian jobs and champions "Made in Canada" production — values that closely align with MEC's heritage and mission. Kingswood Capital Management, LP partners with leading companies in the middle market which stand to benefit from its capital and extensive operating resources. Kingswood embraces complexity and believes it is well-positioned to support businesses at inflection points in their development to enhance value. Based in Los Angeles, Kingswood is a cohesive, entrepreneurial team with a long history of shared success developing "win-win" partnerships with its portfolio companies and management teams. For more information, please visit the Kingswood website at QUICK FACTS.
Ottawa Citizen
07-05-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Malfunctioning missiles purchased by Canadian Army for personnel in Latvia now fixed
The Canadian military says problems affecting its new anti-tank missiles have been fixed, but it is declining to provide details about the technical issues that caused the weapons to malfunction. Article content Article content Late last year, the Ottawa Citizen reported that more than half of the new missiles received by the Canadian Forces didn't function properly during testing. The federal government spent U.S. $32 million ($45 million Canadian) to purchase Spike anti-tank missiles for eventual use by Canadian Forces personnel in Latvia. Article content Article content The Canadian Army and Department of National Defence declined to outline what the problems were because they wanted to protect the commercial interests of the Israeli missile manufacturer, Rafael. No specific details were released on when the missiles would be sent to Latvia. Article content 'Full Operational Capability is still expected to be reached for winter 2026,' said DND public affairs official Alex Tétreault in an email response. Article content Rafael did not respond to a request for comment about the missile problems which were first identified in July 2024. Article content The National Post reported in November 2024 that the Canadian Army was considering cancelling the contract because of the problems. But DND has stated that will not happen and that the contract will proceed. Article content In February 2023, the Ottawa Citizen reported that the Canadian Army was fast-tracking its purchase of the anti-tank weapons as well as air defence systems for troops stationed in Latvia. The equipment was classified as an Urgent Operational Requirement, the same process used during the Afghanistan war to quickly obtain gear without going through the slower traditional procurement procedures. Article content Article content DND spokesperson Nick Drescher Brown previously stated that in the interest of getting the new missiles quickly for the Latvia mission, no live-fire tests or demonstrations were performed during the selection process. 'This technical risk was assessed and deemed acceptable as all of the potential bidders had delivered thousands of units of this product to other customers by that point in time,' he said in an email in December. Article content Article content The ongoing issues affected both the Spike missiles and launchers. Article content Canadian soldiers are in Latvia as part of the Canadian-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group to deter Russian aggression in the region. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau announced in July 2023 that, as part of a major commitment to NATO, Canada would spend an additional $2.6 billion to double the number of troops it stationed in Latvia. The government's plan would see up to 2,200 troops deployed for what is being called Operation Reassurance.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
What will Tori Murden McClure share at Wilson College's graduation?
Tori Murden McClure, a trailblazing adventurer and academic leader, will address Wilson College's class of 2025 at the 155th annual commencement ceremony on May 4, according to a community announcement. McClure retired from Spalding University in 2024 after 25 years, serving the last 14 as president. She is best known as the first woman and first American to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, a 3,000-mile journey she completed in 1999 after 81 days at sea. Her boat, 'American Pearl,' was crafted by hand and later donated to the Frazier History Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. A decade earlier, she was among the first two women and first 10 Americans to ski cross-country to the South Pole as part of a 50-day, 750-mile Canadian-led expedition. In 2009, Harper Collins published her memoir, 'A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean,' detailing her life and Atlantic journey. The book inspired a stage musical, 'Row,' which premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts in 2021. 'It is an honor to have renowned adventurer and scholar Tori Murden McClure providing the Commencement address to our undergraduate and graduate degree students this year,' said Wilson College President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D. 'Not only will her extraordinary journeys and academic insights help celebrate this occasion, but it is my hope that her experiences will also encourage Wilson's graduates to embark on their own journeys with a sense of lifelong learning and adventure.' McClure is also an accomplished mountaineer, having completed major climbs on several continents. She served as the former board chair of the National Outdoor Leadership School, a global wilderness school based in Wyoming. Additionally, she worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and wilderness EMT for nearly 25 years, also providing EMT instruction to firefighters. As a former college athlete, McClure is a proponent of collegiate and amateur athletics. At Smith College, she was a dual-sport Division III student-athlete in basketball and varsity crew, serving as a student athletic trainer. She was honored as the student who best represented the ideals of a Smith scholar-athlete, the college's highest athletic honor. She joined the Smith College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. She served as vice chair of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Board of Governors, chaired the NCAA Division III Presidents Council, and was acting chair of the NCAA Board in 2020. Throughout her career, McClure worked as a chaplain at Boston City Hospital, director of a Louisville women's shelter, policy assistant to the mayor of Louisville, and the first full-time employee of the Muhammad Ali Center. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Smith College, a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Spalding University. This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. The Public Opinion, The Record Herald, Echo-Pilot are growing their local news This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Tori Murden McClure to speak at Wilson College commencement
