Success Stories of the DMS Future Proof Program
Now more than ever, small businesses need to embrace technology to be able to react, adapt and keep pace with the changing environment.
The Digital Main Street Future Proof program was introduced at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to help arm main street businesses with the tools they need to go forward and thrive in the digital economy.
Below you’ll discover business owners who faced different challenges – but were supported in their digital transformation by talented Transformation Teams through the Digital Main Street Future Proof program.
Backcountry Wok
Melanie Ang, Founder
Backcountry Wok is on a mission to inspire sustainable, nutritious and inclusive adventures with convenient on-the-go meals.
Beck + Adele
Jeff Jenkins, Founder
Beck + Adele is “changing the look of sound” with retrofitted antique radios and solid wood speakers.
Calita Intimates
Rebecca Mazzara, Founder
Ottawa-based Calita Intimates offers comfortable garments in natural, breathable fabrics designed and made in Canada.
Carlington Booch
Jon Ruby, Co-Founder
Carlington Booch is a social enterprise that brews small-batch kombucha, a popular fermented tea drink, to help fight addiction in Ottawa.
Crowded Table Farm
Cynthia Franklin & Sarah Kerr, Co-Founders
Crowded Table Farm is a small-scale farming operation in Kinburn, Ontario aiming to provide fresh, healthy vegetables and eggs to the local community.
Deevey Strategic Communications
Roxanne Deevey, Founder
Through Deevey Communications, its founder Roxanne, advises clients across the public, private and non-profit sectors on how to improve their marketing and digital media.
Eventfluent
Nichol Turner & Mireille Faucon, Co-Founders
Eventfluent is a virtual event planning firm delivering digital support and organizational services for online conferences and engagements across Canada.
Faye Beverage | Jogo Juice
Marie Pierre Faye, Founder
Faye Beverage offers healthy and delicious vegan drinks containing only the finest and freshest natural fruits and superfoods.
Good Choice
Noelle Le Conte-Good, Founder
Good Choice Initiative is an online business hub that encourages people in the Ottawa-Gatineau area to live sustainably.
Good Habets
Chris Habets, Founder
Good Habets provides Eastern Ontario with unique and innovative engineering services with the goal of lowering utility bills across the region.
Heart’s Content Consignment
Jill Wright, Founder
Heart’s Content Consignment shop in Rockland, Ontario, gives second-hand clothing a new life.
Light Your Leadership Inc.
Lisa Anna Palmer, Founder
Light Your Leadership Inc. is a top leadership consulting firm in Ottawa on a mission to help managers and executives connect with their inner leader to engage and inspire their employees.
MLD Micro Labs
Lisa Desroches, Founder
MLD Micro Labs is a health and safety-focused, portable lab service provider that offers rapid on-site COVID-19 testing and infection control plans.
Mojo Creations
Jane Rogers, Founder
Mojo Creations offers a wide variety of handmade bracelets built with powerful gemstones that are believed to bring good energy and healing to the wearer.
MUST Boutique
Jessica Oliver, Franchisee
MUST Boutique sells Ottawa’s top fine Italian clothing and accessories in a personal and intimate storefront.
My ByWard Office
Eric McRae, Founder
My ByWard Office (MBO) is one of Ottawa’s premier co-working spaces.
NAFSI
Celine Hajjar, Founder
NAFSI is a slow fashion brand providing luxury, comfort, and self-expression through sustainably sourced and ethically made garments.
Notaring
Christian Azzi, Founder
Notaring is an innovative online notary service that is transforming how the legal industry serves its clients.
Odyssey Showcase
Deborah Davis, Founder
For over two decades, Ottawa’s Odyssey Showcase has contributed to the study of Canadian history, music, art, and performance through engaging and educational programming.
Oneness Career Coaching
Josephine Mensah, Founder
With dynamic career counselling and business advisory services, Oneness Career Coaching (OCC) is a leading name for Ottawa job seekers looking to make a big career change.
Online Food Bank
Omer Livvarcin, Founder
Through Online Food Bank – the first of its kind in Canada – vulnerable members of our community will be able to access local foodbanks safely, efficiently, and from the comfort of their homes.
Ottawa Samosa
Owais Khan, Founder
Ottawa Samosa is an online family business selling high-quality, Halal samosas.
OwnerShift
Andrew Scott, Founder
OwnerShift is a virtual consulting firm teaching restaurant owners around the world how to scale up their businesses and effectively manage multiple locations.
Productive to the Max
Ann Max, Founder
Ann initially founded her firm Productivity to the Max to organize professional office spaces but has since seen her practice evolve to exclusively help women entrepreneurs gain the strategies and tactics they need for business success.
Quinn’s Ale House
Art Hodgins, Founder
Quinn’s Ale House is a popular Ottawa bar that puts a unique twist on pub favourites with its own line of authentic ales.
Relationship Bliss
Marie-Claire Thauvette, Founder
Relationship expert Marie-Claire Thauvette (M-C) founded her personal consulting business, Relationship Bliss, to teach individuals and couples how to improve their intimacy, communication and connection.
Room2Breathe
Martha Tobin, Founder
We all have clutter in our lives, when it becomes too much, Room2Breathe is available to help clients take control and reorganize their belongings and lives.
Teslica
Kory Keogan, Founder
Teslica provides consumers with health, happiness and freedom through its modern electric bicycles.
True Bijoux
Lindsay & Stephanie Appotive, Co-Founders
True Bijoux offers a wide range of jewelry and personalized services and is the sister store to Ottawa’s long-loved Howard’s Fine Jewellers.
Unavailshop
Tevin Haye, Founder
Unavailshop is one of Ottawa’s leaders in sustainable fashion. Founder Tevin Haye launched the business with a mission to cut down waste produced by the fashion industry by recycling and selling pre-owned merchandise.
Urban Botanist
Emma Terrell, Founder
The Urban Botanist helps residents of Ottawa’s urban areas meaningfully connect with nature and gardening through events and workshops.
Vivic Research
Robin Shaban & Inez Hillel, Co-Founders
Vivic Research is an economic consulting firm serving advocates, think tanks, governments, and other agents engaged in public policy development.
wild idea co.
Ryan Gencarelli, Co-Founder
wild idea co. is a brand consultancy and creative studio for purpose-driven businesses in the nation’s capital.
Program Information & Partners
Introducing ShopHERE
We build your ecommerce website AND cover the cost
You want to sell your products or services online, but you need the ecommerce site to do it. ShopHERE is meant for you. If you apply and qualify, you’ll receive
- Discovery session to determine which ecommerce platform is right for your business
- A custom ecommerce website built by an expert
- Hands-on help to launch your ecommerce website
- Access to free tools that support the launch
- Training in digital marketing, shipping, and inventory management to support online sales
- Account setup for Google My Business or Facebook and Google Ads
- Digital ad credits for Google and Facebook
This program is powered by Google and includes critical support from Facebook, Mastercard, Microsoft, Square, and Shopify.
Grant Application
Get funding to help your business go digital
Thank you for your interest in the Digital Transformation Grant program. Applications are now closed.
The Digital Transformation Grant is $2,500 awarded to small, independent bricks and mortar business owners. The funding is meant to support training, advisory services, and digital technology adoption and implementation.
Program eligibility
Small, independent businesses are eligible based on the list below:
- Incorporated, registered, a home-based business, or located on a main street or in an industrial area, this includes independently owned franchises (non-profits, and technology companies are not eligible)
- Employ 1-499 employees
- Locally owned and operates in Eastern Ontario
- In business for 1 year or more
Small, independent businesses are eligible based on the below list:
- Incorporated (or registered), an artist, a home-based business or located on a main street or in an industrial area
- Employs fewer than 10 full-time employees or, you own a café, restaurant or bar that employs fewer than 25 people
- Owned and operates in Eastern Ontario, this includes franchises