The CFA’s Recognition Awards celebrate individuals and franchise systems for their outstanding achievements, philanthropic endeavours, and contributions to the franchise community.
There are six categories to this award. CFA members can enter or can be nominated.
The CFA Recognition Awards celebrate individuals and companies for their significant achievements and continuous contributions to the franchise community. Franchising is a collaborative effort involving the support of one another in reaching our goals. The esteemed CFA Recognition Awards celebrate the dedication and commitment of individuals and companies who have contributed to the growth and strength of the Canadian franchising community and for their ongoing commitment to Growing Together®. We congratulate all the winners on their outstanding achievements.
Sherry McNeil, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Franchise Association.
Winners of the awards were recognized at the CFA’s Recognition Awards Luncheon during the CFA National Convention on April 7, 2024, at the Westin Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.
Here are this year’s Recognition Awards Winners:
Hall of Fame Award (available to Franchise Systems only): Subway Canada
In recognition of Subway Canada’s outstanding performance over many decades in the Canadian franchise community and its demonstration of exceptional business performance, leadership, and growth.
Since entering the Canadian market in 1986 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Subway has been focused on supporting its network of dedicated franchisees from coast to coast to coast. After almost four decades of operating across the country, Subway continues demonstrating exceptional business performance, leadership, and growth with a relentless focus on hospitality and franchisee satisfaction. There are almost 2,900 Subway locations owned and operated by Canadians in communities nationwide.
Supporting franchisees and their communities is a key pillar for Subway Canada with their Never Miss Lunch™ program. Never Miss Lunch™, a partnership with Food Banks Canada, provides fresh fruit and vegetables in 185,000 food packs in 200 communities to help combat childhood food insecurity.
Subway continues to be a leader in the Canadian Quick Service industry, focusing on menu innovation, crave-able offerings, and value for guests.
Lifetime Achievement Award (available to Franchise System and Franchise Supplier Professionals): Ryan Smolkin (Posthumous)
In recognition of his exceptional and significant contribution and commitment to franchising in Canada and abroad, demonstrating vision, leadership, and excellence throughout his career.
Ryan Smolkin, founder and CEO (Chief Entertainment Officer) of Smoke’s Poutinerie, passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2023. A long-standing member of the CFA, Ryan was an active volunteer and shared his knowledge, best practices, and expertise as a speaker at many CFA events. As the passionate, gregarious, and highly recognizable leader of Smoke’s Poutinerie, Ryan made a tremendous impact on the CFA community and everyone he met.
Throughout his career, Ryan mentored many new and emerging brands in the CFA community, donating thousands of hours of his personal time to helping others achieve the success that he had experienced. His actions, especially through his innovative marketing endeavours, benefitted the brands he worked with while highlighting the opportunities available within the franchising landscape at a national level.
“Ryan was a pillar of the CFA franchise community: an entrepreneur, franchisor, brand builder, and advocate for franchising,” says Sherry McNeil, CFA President and CEO. “He was a strong supporter of the CFA and gave freely of his time to support other members of the CFA community, including franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers. His passion, enthusiasm, and larger-than-life persona remind us to live each day to the fullest. Ryan and the positive impact he made on our community will be greatly missed.”
Ryan was a visionary leader, a legendary innovator, a true Canadian business and cultural celebrity, a social media influencer, and an experienced international speaker. His message was strong, candid, and always delivered with an unmatched, unique style and unbridled energy. He was passionate about many things, especially his long-term relationship with We Care, whose vision is “Enabling kids with disabilities to realize their full potential.”
In 2016, Ryan created the World Poutine Eating Championship (WPEC) in support of We Care, an organization dedicated to sending kids with disabilities to fully accessible camps throughout Canada. Held annually, the WPEC has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for We Care. The event also includes the CEO Challenge, which sees executives from across Canada’s food and beverage industry compete in a poutine eating content. Ryan became a director of the We Care board in 2018, and in his memory the event will be known as The Ryan Smolkin CEO Challenge in Support of We Care.
Outstanding Corporate Citizen Award (available to Franchise Systems only): Osmow’s Shawarma.
In recognition of Osmow’s demonstrated commitment to community, hospitality, youth involvement, and generosity.
Osmow’s was founded in 2001 with one location in Streetsville, Ontario. Since then, it has grown to more than 145 locations in major provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec, with new provinces allotted this year. The company has also begun expansion into the U.S., with its first location opening in Miami, Florida in 2022 and additional rollouts planned for this year. As the largest Middle Eastern brand in North America, innovation continues to be Osmow’s driving force, and its team continues to ideate and release new products that attract a wider audience and gain market share.
In 2000, the Osmow’s Hope Fund was created to help impoverished communities both locally and abroad. The initiative’s work has included providing funds to homeless shelters and food banks throughout the Greater Toronto Area and other regions. International efforts included partnerships with charities in Zambia, India, and Pakistan.
Through its charitable efforts (over $500,000 in donations and food), Osmow’s has been able to feed more than 3,000 children daily in places of learning, and the corporation has matched funds raised at the restaurant level.
Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award (available to Franchise Systems Professionals & Companies): UCMAS Canada.
In recognition of UCMAS Canada’s exceptional leadership and contribution towards promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Canadian franchising community.
For years, UCMAS Canada CEO Megha Karia has focused on helping new immigrants be their own boss and find success in Canada. Megha has also been a champion of promoting women in business, encouraging them to be financially independent and to tap their full potential.
Almost 100 per cent of UCMAS’s franchisees are immigrants from 20 different countries, and nearly 70 per cent of UCMAS franchise owners are women. Furthermore, Megha has run the entire network of close to 90 UCMAS centres across Canada through her head office team, half of which are women. Over the years, Megha has been instrumental in changing the lives of nearly 700 women by encouraging them to become Course Instructors at UCMAS centres across Canada.
Megha’s actions illustrate her belief that women and immigrants are two categories of people in Canada who are in need of additional support, and by dedicating her career to champion these workers, Megha has helped lead UCMAS in its goal of uplifting Canadians from all backgrounds.
Distinguished Franchise Support Service/Supplier (available to Franchise Supplier Professionals & Companies): Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).
In recognition of RBC’s exceptional efforts and contributions in supporting the Canadian franchise community through extraordinary involvement in CFA supplier and educational programs.
Since joining the CFA in 1980, RBC has been an active participant in various CFA committees, including the National Convention Committee, the Franchise Support Services/Supplier FSS Committee, and other educational programming committees. The organization’s involvement in these committees has demonstrated its commitment to advancing the Canadian franchise industry and the CFA at large.
Representatives from RBC regularly speak at CFA events and franchise tradeshows. They have also assisted many CFA members in navigating through the franchise financing process, providing expertise in the areas of franchise funding and government programs available to both franchisors and franchisees. RBC’s support of the CFA’s Franchise Your Business webinar series has been invaluable, providing aspiring franchisors with necessary information on business funding and the knowledge to become successful.
RBC’s involvement during the COVID-19 pandemic was instrumental in supporting the franchise industry. Following COVID, RBC representatives have been a wealth of help to the CFA membership, thoroughly explaining government programs and repayments such as the CEBA program.
Volunteer Leadership Excellence Award (available to Franchise System and Franchise Supplier Professionals): Larry Weinberg, Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP.
In recognition of his dedication and contributions in volunteer leadership, as a CFA ambassador, and in service to the CFA member community.
Cassels Brock & Blackwell joined CFA in 1997. Over the past two decades, Larry Weinberg has been an active participant in various CFA committees, including the CFA Board of Directors, CFA Franchise Law Day Committee, Legal & Legislative Affairs Committee, National Convention Committee, Nominations, B.C. Labour Relations Board Committee, the Changing Workplaces Review Task Force, and the Education Advisory Committee, and has spearheaded innumerable subcommittee and task forces supporting the CFA’s advocacy and government relations on behalf of the Canadian franchise community. Larry’s involvement in these committees has demonstrated his commitment to advancing the CFA and the Canadian franchise industry at large. In addition, Larry’s support of the CFA’s Franchise Your Business webinar series has been invaluable, providing aspiring franchisors with the necessary tools and knowledge to become successful.
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Larry’s franchise group, has also contributed significantly to the CFA’s educational programming, with staff regularly speaking at events and contributing articles to the CFA’s publications. They have assisted many CFA members in navigating through the franchising process, providing expertise in disclosure documents, franchise agreements, trademarks, and more. Cassels Brock & Blackwell also supports the CFA’s programming year-round as a CFA National Sponsor.
For his tireless work, commitment to the industry, encouragement of his team to participate in industry matters, and dedication to volunteer leadership, Larry is a deserving recipient of the Volunteer Leadership Excellence Award.
The 2024 Recognition Awards program is sponsored by The UPS Store Canada.