Vishwa Mohan and his wife Claire Xu have travelled the world through-out their careers in the hotel industry. But when it came time to settle down in Toronto and purchase their first home, they found their permanent residency status worked against them, despite the fact they had solid work histories and money in the bank.

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That was 2002. Since then, Mellohawk Logistics has grown and become successful, shipping goods around the globe. Its budget has increased and the company now offers more competitive salaries and benefit packages. But about 80 per cent of its staff members are immigrants. This is not a coincidence.

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“We are pleased to announce that Mellohawk Logistics is the winner of the Small Business Big Impact Challenge in Leadership,” said David Wilton, Director, Small Business, Scotiabank. “While we had more than 175 entries in the Leadership Category, Mellohawk Logistics stood out to our judging panel for their exemplary commitment to the newcomer community.”

Mellohawk Logistics, with headquarters in Toronto, is an international freight forwarder, which arranges all the logistics movement for their clients’ cargo around the world. This business actively hires new immigrants to Canada and supports students in a mentorship program that allows them to learn about logistics and/or study English as a second language.

“As our economy becomes increasingly globalized, the role of businesses such as Mellohawk Logistics becomes even more important. The fact that they are so focused on giving back to their community is a bonus,” said CFIB President Catherine Swift.

”We are thrilled with this recognition from Scotiabank and CFIB,” said Peter Hawkins, Managing Director, Mellohawk Logistics. “We actively help people make better lives for themselves by giving employment to those who might find it most difficult to obtain and training to those who could benefit from it most.”

The Small Business Big Impact Challenge invited nominations of local small businesses across Canada that could demonstrate that their business made a difference in the community where they live and work in one of the following three categories:

• Providing Employment: Implementing employment practices that reflect and support community needs as well as employment opportunities.
• Offering Products or Services: Creating new industries or ways of doing business, or offering unique products or services that benefit their community.
• Demonstrating Leadership: Taking a leadership role in initiatives for their community that ultimately makes it a better place to live and work.

The Challenge attracted more than 1200 small business entrants from across Canada and was recently narrowed down to 15 finalists including nine businesses from Ontario. One winner has been selected in each of three categories: Employment, Products or Services, and Leadership.

About the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)

As Canada’s largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs™. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 108,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy. www.cfib-fcei.ca.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is one of North America’s premier financial institutions and Canada’s most international bank. With more than 70,000 employees, Scotiabank Group and its affiliates serve some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking. With assets above $571 billion (as at April 30, 2011), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com.

For more information please contact:

Karen Heath, Scotiabank Media Communications,
416-866-7238
karen_heath@scotiacapital.com.

Gisele Lumsden
Manager, Public Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
416 222-8022 ext. 268
public.affairs@cfib.ca

• Employment Category: Burrard Market Square of Vanderhoof, BC;
• Products or Services Category: Creek Shore Farms of Jordan Station, Ontario; and
• Leadership Category: Mellohawk Logistics of Toronto, Ontario.

“With more than 1200 entries from small business owners across the country, this Challenge truly emphasized the entrepreneurial spirit of Canadians and brought forward the best of the best small businesses in our communities,” said David Wilton, Director, Small Business, Scotiabank. “A key theme we noticed with all of the finalists was the importance of ‘paying it forward’ – the concept that a business repays the good deeds it has received by doing good deeds for others – and in the case of these small businesses, it is by positively impacting their communities. Congratulations to Burrard Market Square, Creek Shore Farms, Mellohawk Logistics and to all of the finalists.”

The Small Business Big Impact Challenge invited nominations of local small businesses across Canada that could demonstrate that their business made a difference in the community where they live and work in one of the following three categories:

• Providing Employment: Implementing employment practices that reflect and support community needs as well as employment opportunities.
• Offering Products or Services: Creating new industries or ways of doing business, or offering unique products or services that benefit their community.
• Demonstrating Leadership: Taking a leadership role in initiatives for their community that ultimately makes it a better place to live and work.

“It was very difficult to choose only three winners from among the many worthy entries. Congratulations to the three winning businesses, but also to all the many others making a positive difference to their communities,” said CFIB President Catherine Swift.

The Challenge attracted more than 1200 small business entrants from across Canada and was narrowed down to 15 finalists. One winner has been selected in each of three categories: Employment, Products or Services, and Leadership.

The 12 other finalists are:

• Halifax Backpackers, Nova Scotia – Employment
• That Extra Scratch Behind the Ear Grooming Salon and Daycare, Alberta – Employment
  Dolphin Digital Technologies, Ontario – Employment
  Civi Side Inc, Ontario – Employment
• Bossy Nagy Geoffrey Group Chartered Accountants, Ontario – Leadership
• Terrace Dining Room, Saskatchewan – Leadership
• Tattletales Books Ltd., Nova Scotia – Leadership
• Lighthouse Festival Theatre Corporation, Ontario – Leadership
• WindsorEats.com, Ontario – Products or Services
• Bryler Publications Inc., Nova Scotia – Products or Services
• ALIVE Outdoors Inc., Ontario – Products or Services
• Wendy’s Mobile Market, Ontario – Products or Services

About the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)

As Canada’s largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs™. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 108,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy. www.cfib-fcei.ca.

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is one of North America’s premier financial institutions and Canada’s most international bank. With more than 70,000 employees, Scotiabank Group and its affiliates serve some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking. With assets above $571 billion (as at April 30, 2011), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com.

For more information please contact:

Karen Heath, Scotiabank Media Communications,
416-866-7238
karen_heath@scotiacapital.com.

Gisele Lumsden
Manager, Public Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
416 222-8022 ext. 268
public.affairs@cfib.ca