Contact: Jacqui d'Eon
Deloitte
416-874-3670

Toronto, December 14, 2005 — Inspired leadership, impressive growth, profitability and industry-leading business practices have earned 31 Canadian companies membership in Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies Platinum Club, one of this country’s most elite business designations.

Platinum Club members form an exclusive group of Canadian-owned and managed companies that consistently excel in every aspect of business. To become a Platinum Club member, companies must maintain their designation as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for a minimum of six consecutive years, subject to annual operational and financial review.   

“The achievements of these companies are truly remarkable by any standard,” says John Hughes, Partner, Private Company Services group with Deloitte and National Leader of the Best Managed program. “Sustaining business growth and profitability over a long period of time is extremely challenging. These dynamic companies are among the select few able to successfully make the transition from small entrepreneurial operations to multimillion-dollar, multi-functional corporations.”

Attributes of Platinum Club members include the ability to anticipate their customers’ future needs, develop the right set of products and services at the right time, successfully manage growth over time, expand operations nationally and internationally, and attract and retain the right talent. These companies also continue to demonstrate an entrepreneurial agility, responding nimbly to shifting opportunities and market demands.

“To reach the elite ranks of Platinum Club, a business needs to demonstrate repeated and consistent enterprise-wide excellence,” says James McSherry, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, CIBC Commercial Banking. “It’s a distinction that honours the entire company, not just the senior ranks. All 31 of these Canadian companies have turned in the required team effort.”

The 2005 Best Managed winners will be announced on February 3, 2006. A one-day symposium for winners follows on February 6, 2006 in Toronto. This symposium will provide an opportunity for executives to exchange ideas, and gain new management and leadership insights from their peers and from keynote speakers. At a black-tie gala that evening, Best Managed winners will celebrate their success with their executive management teams and fellow honourees.

2005 Platinum Club Members by Province

Company Name	City	Province	Industry
Komex Environmental Ltd.	Calgary	AB	Engineering Consulting
First Calgary Savings & Credit Union Ltd.	Calgary	AB	Financial Services
SMART Technologies Inc.	Calgary	AB	Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Palliser Lumber Sales Ltd.	Crossfield	AB	Manufacturing
PCL Construction Group of Companies	Edmonton	AB	Construction
Design Group Staffing Inc.	Edmonton	AB	Human Resources
Fountain Tire	Edmonton	AB	Retail
Canadian Securities Registration Systems	Burnaby	BC	Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada	Richmond	BC	Automotive
Boston Pizza International Inc.	Richmond	BC	Food Services
Odlum Brown Limited	Vancouver	BC	Financial Services
National Leasing Group Inc.	Winnipeg	MB	Financial Services
Canad Inns	Winnipeg	MB	Hospitality
Monarch Industries Ltd.	Winnipeg	MB	Manufacturing
WGI Westman Group Inc.	Winnipeg	MB	Manufacturing
Dufresne Furniture & Appliance Inc.	Winnipeg	MB	Retail
Bison Transport Inc.	Winnipeg	MB	Transportation
Maritime Travel Inc.	Halifax	NS	Travel
MSM Transportation Inc.	Bolton	ON	Transportation
Brock Solutions Inc.	Kitchener	ON	Engineering Consulting
Flynn Canada Ltd.	Mississauga	ON	Construction
Quik X Transportation Inc.	Mississauga	ON	Transportation
Wheels Group	Mississauga	ON	Transportation
Allied International Credit Corp.	Newmarket	ON	Financial Services
Modern Niagara Group Inc.	Ottawa	ON	Construction
Eagle Professional Resources Inc.	Ottawa	ON	Human Resources
Med-Eng Systems Inc.	Ottawa	ON	Manufacturing
D.L.G.L. Ltd.	Blainville	QC	Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Poulies Maska Inc.	Sainte-Claire	QC	Manufacturing
Aliments Carrière Inc.	St-Denis sur Richelieu	QC	Food Services
Yanke Group of Companies	Saskatoon	SK	Transportation

 

About Canada’s Best Managed Companies
Established in 1993, Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies (Best Managed) is the country’s leading business awards program, recognizing excellence in Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $10 million. Every year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates the caliber of their management abilities and practices. The awards are granted on three levels: 1) Best Managed winner (one of the 50 new winners selected each year),  2) Requalified member (repeat winners retain the Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review), 3) Platinum Club member (winners that maintain Best Managed status for a minimum of six consecutive years). Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, National Post, and Queen's School of Business. For further information, visit www.canadas50best.com.