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OBAA 2018 Finalists: SME Business Excellence Award

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OBAA 2018 Finalists: SME Business Excellence Award

November 2, 2018

Since 1983, The Ontario Business Achievement Awards (OBAAs) have been the most recognized industry gala in the province with a single focus on celebrating business success. Throughout the evening, we will celebrate our spectacular Ontario business community, highlighting the incredible innovations and achievements of each one of our 2018 OBAA finalists. Join us on Wednesday, November 21 as we reveal our winners at the Liberty Grand in Toronto!

Register Now


Presenting: The SME Business Excellence Award Finalists

The SME Business Excellence Award recognizes a small or medium enterprise that exemplifies forward-thinking in all aspects of their business. 

Finalist #1: Amgen Canada Inc

Industry: Biotechnology Industry

When did your organization first open its doors? What motivated you to get into business?

From its Canadian headquarters in Mississauga’s vibrant biomedical cluster to its research facility in Burnaby, Amgen has been a biotechnology pioneer in Canada since 1991. Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses. Research and development efforts at Amgen in Canada have not only served hundreds of thousands of Canadian patients but have reached millions around the world.

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What factors helped contribute to the success of your organization?

As Canada’s biosciences sector has grown, Amgen has grown its own business, creating over 400 new jobs and introducing innovative medicines to Canadian healthcare providers and patients. In its 27 years in Canada, Amgen has progressed from a single product company to a scientific powerhouse that has delivered 15 innovative medicines to Canadians, focusing on areas of high unmet medical need and dramatically improving people’s lives.

What does being an OBAA finalist mean to you?

As a leading member of the biotechnology sector, Amgen is proud to showcase its history as a biotechnology pioneer. Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise by bringing safe, effective medicines from lab to manufacturing plant to patient. Amgen is also proud to celebrate its commitment to research & development in Canada as well as to science education and Canadian youth. Amgen Canada is also proud to be a great place to work with a diverse culture and family-friendly policies.

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Learn more about Amgen Canada Inc.


“In its 27 years in Canada, our Mission To Serve Patients has guided Amgen Canada as we have progressed from a single product company to a scientific powerhouse that has delivered 15 innovative medicines to Canadians, focusing on areas of high unmet medical need and dramatically improving people’s lives.”

Francesco Di Marco, Vice-President & General Manager, Amgen Canada Inc


Finalist #2: WinAir

Industry: Aviation Industry

When did your organization first open its doors? What motivated you to get into business?

In the mid-1980s, WinAir’s founders recognized the need to utilize technology within the aviation maintenance industry, which was inefficient and operated from paper and spreadsheets. Their original software was designed around the concept of providing a software controlled production management system to the hangar floor. Bert, an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, and Helen, a Software Developer, turned their focus to developing additional functionality to handle purchasing, parts tracking, maintenance planning, and records keeping. In 1988, they launched the DOS-based AV-BASE system; a true pioneer and one of the first digital record-keeping and live inventory management systems in the aviation industry.

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What factors helped contribute to the success of your organization?

WinAir’s success is a result of the company’s ability to remain on the cusp of technological advancements, coupled with its desire to provide a software solution that is truly user-driven. Over the years, the company has incorporated a variety of new cutting-edge technologies into the software, which has assisted its clients with improving business efficiencies and growing their operations. WinAir has also expanded the scope of their business services to offer aircraft template building, data loading, and product hosting. By adhering to aviation industry best practices, WinAir has been able to, and will continue to, achieve significant success.

What does being an OBAA finalist mean to you?

Becoming an OBAA finalist is of significant importance to WinAir’s ownership, its employees, and to its clientele. The company is proud to be part of Ontario’s business success story. This valued recognition from the Ontario Business Community provides WinAir with the motivation to continue to exceed company and client expectations. The SME Business Excellence acknowledgment is a testament to the fact that WinAir is continuing on its path of success.

Managing director

Connect with WinAir on Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube.


“WinAir’s success is due to the company’s ability to remain on the cusp of technological advancements, while simultaneously staying committed to providing software that is truly user-driven. We listen to our clientele and incorporate their feedback into future software development. This has benefited both WinAir and its global clientele tremendously.”

Kyle Vergeer, Managing Director, WinAir


Join us on Wednesday, November 21 as we reveal our winners at the Liberty Grand in Toronto!

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