Proudly Canadian

Through our venture capital initiative, Deloitte Ventures, we make minority equity investments in emerging technology companies and funds, and provide them with access to the firm’s network and our breadth of capabilities.

We aim to catalyze the growth of important verticals, such as fintech and work tech, in order to foster innovation, create jobs, and nurture a technology ecosystem that will move Canadian businesses and citizens toward a thriving future and empower the country to prosper domestically and globally.

In just two years, Deloitte Ventures has already made a profound impact—on our firm, people, and clients, and has extended its influence to our country and society at large.

For example, we have made investments in eight portfolio companies and five funds. Additional highlights include supporting the Upside Foundation of Canada, a charitable organization that assists startups who in turn commit to donating to their communities; sponsoring and hosting events with PORCH, an organization that brings together a community supporting newcomers and immigrant founders; and investing in StandUp Ventures and Active Impact Investments, venture funds that support the advancement of female founders and target the removal of 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (C02e) from the atmosphere, respectively. Moreover, more than two-thirds of our portfolio founders or managers are diverse in gender, race, or sexual orientation. A standout investment from this past year is PocketHealth, a SaaS platform that is revolutionizing the health care experience for patients and providers by enabling secure storage and sharing of medical-imaging information. More than 1.5 million patients and 775 hospitals and clinics thus far have benefited from PocketHealth’s permanent personal storage for medical images, with real-time sharing on any device.

Venture investing not only drives innovation, it also creates jobs, boosts productivity, and positions Canada competitively on the global stage. Deloitte Ventures remains committed to fostering this economic growth and creating value for our society at large. We look forward to continuing our support for groundbreaking startups that shape a better future for all.

Across the health sector, patients want reliable and accessible information, and care providers want to ease their administrative burden. The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) aims to achieve both goals with its GenAI-powered digital assistant, Digital Teammate.

For a pilot use case, Deloitte developed a virtual agent to interact with patients before surgery, equipping it to answer common questions based on an approved document base, and making it accessible 24-7 from any screen.

Leveraging the power of large language models, the avatar can engage in conversation and even pick up on both verbal and non-verbal cues, such as tone of voice and facial expressions.

Digital Teammate allows for human-like interactions at scale. Patients face less delay in getting information during their care journeys (e.g., no need to wait for medical consultations), and health care workers have more available time to prioritize value-added patient interactions. This innovation thus contributes to the well-being of health workers and their patients while driving significant improvements in our health care system.

“We end up with better patient care and better patient experiences,” says Niraj Dalmia, a partner at Deloitte Canada and the Life Sciences & Health Care leader for the firm’s AI practice, Omnia AI.

With subsequent stages of testing, Digital Teammate has shown promise for many additional uses at TOH. “We’ve been able to demonstrate technical feasibility as well as acceptance,” says Dalmia.

The technology, which benefited from Deloitte’s end-to-end development—from project management and coding, to deployment and training—as well as other contributions, is currently being explored for use in broader applications across Canada and globally.

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is a not-for-profit organization helping to ensure patients across Canada have safe, reliable access to blood, plasma, stem cells, and organs and tissues for critical, often life-saving procedures. Deloitte is proud to continue to support CBS across many of its most pressing and strategic priorities, including setting its ambitions and positioning itself for the future to best serve Canadians.

We helped CBS develop and launch its Strategic Plan 2024+, which defines key priorities to guide the organization as it responds to the rapidly changing needs of patients, donors, and health systems. Prime considerations range from continually matching products and services to patient needs, growing and diversifying a healthy and sustainable donor base, enhancing the entity’s infrastructure, and investing in its people.

Building on this plan, we worked with CBS to develop a corporate initiative to forecast how the growing demand for blood and blood products will evolve, and to determine how best to invest in a sustainable donor base and collections network to meet this demand.

A critical component of this plan focused on investing in an infrastructure that could support the rapidly escalating need for plasma, a product in especially high demand for transfusions and medications. We also engaged in an integrated effort to define the organization’s environmental strategy and enhance its ESG reporting.

CBS is purpose-driven. We are proud to help this crucial organization position itself for the future and continue to positively affect the lives of millions of Canadians.

EverWind Fuels, in collaboration with Deloitte, is pioneering a transformative clean hydrogen plant project in Nova Scotia, aligning with Canada’s net-zero emissions goals. This initiative not only aims to enhance the Canadian economy but also focuses on creating sustainable community development and maintaining environmental and social equity.

Our involvement in the project extended beyond being trusted advisors, emphasizing strategic support through government policy tools like investment tax credits. These credits are vital for securing the necessary funding and ensuring the project’s financial structure aligns with its intended outcomes.

The collaboration also included an economic impact study, showcasing the potential community benefits such as job creation, improved labor conditions, and local workforce development. This approach ensures that the project not only supports economic growth but also contributes to social and environmental reconciliation, particularly with Indigenous communities.

Through this collaboration, EverWind Fuels is demonstrating a sustainable model for energy transformation in Nova Scotia. Deloitte’s support in this project underpins its commitment to investing in a future where economic, social, and environmental domains thrive collectively.

Saint John Energy is looking to reach net-zero carbon emissions in operations by 2030 and collaborating with Deloitte to make that goal a reality.

Like utilities throughout the world, Saint John Energy is grappling with increased electricity demand due to new technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps. The complexity and uncertainty surrounding the energy transition is significant: Which technologies will be deployed? Where will they be adopted and how will they be used? Will the raw materials required to support the transition be affordably available? Will we have the infrastructure required to support the transition?

Saint John Energy is on a journey towards energy sustainability, strengthening Canada’s position as a global leader in the evolving energy landscape. As the world accelerates towards renewable energy solutions, Saint John Energy is leveraging what Deloitte and its teams have experienced, working with companies in Europe, Japan, Australia, and elsewhere across the globe.

ElectrifiedGrid, developed through Deloitte’s commitment to innovation, integrates cutting-edge modeling and a digital twin of the grid’s physical infrastructure to manage energy demand from generation to consumption. This platform harnesses energy-economy modeling and vast datasets to empower the energy leaders to make informed decisions. By forecasting adoption trends and consumption behaviors under diverse scenarios, ElectrifiedGrid helps mitigate the risks of sunk-cost investments and quantifies infrastructure impacts, helping leaders make strategic investments in grid resilience and efficiency with confidence.

In collaboration with clients from coast to coast, Deloitte’s work through ElectrifiedGrid not only addresses existing infrastructure challenges but also propels Canada towards a sustainable, low-carbon future. This initiative not only enhances local energy resilience but also positions Canada as a front runner in global efforts towards environmental stewardship.

Deloitte’s experience with Saint John Energy shows how proactive infrastructure planning and innovative solutions can pave the way for a greener tomorrow, demonstrating leadership in the energy transition on both national and global scales.

Visit Canada’s energy transition to learn more.

At Deloitte, working with purpose is fundamental to our mission. When Maple Leaf Foods approached us to align their business and sustainability goals, we were committed to making it happen. Their vision was to decarbonize operations and their supply chain through data-driven, targeted action, with the long-term goal of becoming the most sustainable protein company on Earth—without compromising their business.

We supported Maple Leaf Foods in areas such as greenhouse gas accounting, business strategy, financial modelling, risk assessment, and external reporting and disclosure.

Rob Saunders, our global specialist for power, utilities, and renewables, highlighted the importance of this work:

“Working with clients who are taking these leadership positions, who are rolling up their sleeves, is an important example of where we can collaborate on making an impact that matters for Canadians. Maple Leaf Foods set out to lead in decarbonization, showing how you can run a successful business while still hitting sustainability and climate targets. Most importantly, they wanted to give people the confidence that the products they're enjoying are produced in an environmentally conscious way.”

Supporting clients in leadership roles requires dedication—strategizing at the outset, building business cases, and understanding where investments will have the greatest impact.

“We helped Maple Leaf Foods refine and scale their sustainability goals. Together, we set science-based targets to reduce emissions and developed a comprehensive roadmap to achieve them. Our focus was on turning commitments into actionable strategies, ensuring they could meet their goals efficiently over time.”

At Deloitte, we’re committed to building a future where sustainability is in the spotlight. Our strength lies in blending strategic insights with technical and engineering expertise. With Maple Leaf Foods, we dove deep into their operations, helping them reimagine and transform how they work for the future. Together, we’re leading the way toward a greener tomorrow.

Established in 1993, Canada’s Best Managed Companies is the country’s leading business awards program, recognizing excellence in private Canadian-owned companies with revenues of $50 million CA or greater. 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.

Being recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies comes with a range of unique benefits that extend beyond simply winning an award. The application process itself is valuable, offering companies the opportunity to receive coaching from Deloitte and CIBC professionals, conduct a detailed self-analysis focused on strategic and operational issues, and gain insights into current best practices and areas for improvement. 

For those who win, the advantages are even greater. Winners gain exclusive use of the Canada’s Best Managed Companies designation, receive extensive media exposure at national, regional, and local levels, and enjoy year-round networking opportunities with other top business leaders. 

Additional benefits include enhanced ability to attract and retain talent, recognition at an exclusive gala attended by over 2,000 business influencers, and the chance to celebrate the commitment and achievements of the entire organization. Winners also receive access to professional development at the Canada’s Best Managed Companies symposium, which features the latest in business leadership and innovative thinking.

Applicants are evaluated against four pillars to determine whether they qualify as a Best Managed Company: Strategy, Culture and Commitment, Capabilities and Innovation, and Governance and Financials. 

Through the Canada’s Best Managed Companies program Deloitte is providing valuable guidance, resources, and recognition. By offering expert coaching, facilitating in-depth business analysis, and creating opportunities for networking and professional development, Deloitte helps companies sharpen their strategies, adopt best practices, and build operational excellence. This support not only strengthens individual organizations but also elevates the overall standard of Canadian business, fostering innovation and leadership that set Canada apart on the global stage.