Through the Looking Glass: Glassopolis wins $100,000 Small Business Grant

But until now, high machinery costs have halted production and prevented customer distribution. Today, TELUS and The Globe and Mail named Glassopolis the winner of The Challenge contest, and awarded a $100,000 small business grant they will use to purchase new machinery and expand production across North America.

The Challenge invited Canadian small businesses to present their biggest business obstacles for a chance to win the $100,000 grant from TELUS. Entries were accepted between March 19 to May 28, 2012, and business owners were asked to outline their challenge and solution in 800 words or less. Submissions were judged by a six-member panel that included: entrepreneurs, Globe and Mail business writers and TELUS. Glassopolis was selected from more than 1,200 entries across Canada.

“This win is remarkable and a game changer for our business. As a small company, it is opportunities like this contest that move our business ahead by leaps and bounds,” said Rob Botman, general manager, Glassopolis. “Thanks to TELUS and The Globe and Mail, we’re able to aggressively improve our business and distribution plans and make a name for Glassopolis across North America.”

Glassopolis recently started working with special glass to suit larger spaces – from a car dealership to a classroom. The new glass is six times thicker and 16 times heavier than glass they were previously working with, built to withstand up to 120 minutes of intense heat. The business grant allows the company to buy top grade equipment to bring their product to market, and increase employee safety.

Glassopolis is profiled in today’s Globe and Mail and online at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/the-challenge/fire-resistant-glass-is-a-hot-commodity/article4253537/.

“Congratulations to Glassopolis, who impressed our judges with their tangible business goals, ambition and vision as well as their community values that are in line with TELUS’ Give Where We Live philosophy,” said Jim Senko, vice-president, Small and Medium Business Marketing, TELUS. “Glassopolis is manufacturing a niche product, which plays an important role in protecting lives. TELUS is proud to support their business with The Challenge $100,000 grant. It’s just another way we’re standing behind Canadian businesses, including more than a quarter-million small and medium business customers.”

“Entrepreneurs are the heart of the Canadian economy, and Glassopolis is a leader in its field,” said Sean Stanleigh, editor of The Globe and Mail’s Report on Small Business. “In partnership with TELUS, we’re pleased to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to overcome their challenges and to share them with the small-business community.”

The Challenge is an annual contest, which invites Canadian small business owners to present their biggest business challenge for the opportunity to win a $100,000 grant from TELUS, and a national profile in The Globe and Mail, as judged by a panel of entrepreneurs and small business experts.  

Canadians and fellow small business owners can continue to follow the small business conversation on Twitter via @TELUSBusiness and @GlobeSmallBiz, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/TELUSBusiness. 

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $10.6 billion of annual revenue and 12.8 million customer connections including 7.4 million wireless subscribers, 3.5 million wireline network access lines, 1.3 million Internet subscribers and 595,000 TELUS TV customers. Led since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including wireless, data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, television, entertainment and video.

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed more than $260 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 4.2 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Fourteen TELUS Community Boards lead TELUS’ local philanthropic initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this

prestigious international recognition.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

About The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail, through its newspaper, magazine, online and mobile platforms, is Canada’s foremost news media company. Each day, The Globe leads the national discussion by engaging Canadians in its award-winning coverage and analysis of news, politics, business and lifestyle. The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, founded in 1844, Report on Business, anada’s most influential business magazine, and globeandmail.com, the newspaper’s online and mobile media hub, reach a combined 5.7 million readers every month. The Globe has received numerous journalism awards, including the international 2011 prize for General Excellence in Journalism from the Online News Associations, nine Michener Awards for Public Service Journalism, and more National Newspaper Awards than any other newspaper in Canada. The Globe and Mail is 85% owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family, and Bell Canada (15%).

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: 

Elisabeth Napolano

TELUS Media Relations

416-906-9830

Elisabeth.Napolano@telus.com

Kristen Marano

Environics Communications

416-969-2730
kmarano@environicspr.com