It is our honour to recognize amazing businesses and leaders within our community through the Mayor’s Innovation Awards. As we approach the ceremony, we would like to introduce the nominees.
The Shift Disturber award is a fan favourite, designed to recognize an individual who has championed innovation in their business, organization, or community. Where others see opposition, they see opportunity. This individual is a powerhouse of creative problem solving, shaking up norms and spearheading strategic solutions in the midst of uncertainty.
This year’s Shift Disturber Award is proudly sponsored by Adams Hamilton, a local business consulting firm. Adams Hamilton works with businesses that are encountering unprecedented marketing and technology obstacles, with a strong belief that within these obstacles lie opportunities for growth. Harnessing the power of innovative digital marketing, Adams Hamiton helps companies scale their businesses and realize their untapped potential.
This year’s Shift Disturber nominees include:
Craig Busch - Busch Systems
For 40 years, Busch Systems has been a shift disturber in sustainability, redefining waste diversion through innovation and collaboration. What began with a simple blue curbside recycling container evolved into market-leading solutions that set new standards for the industry. The company’s approach combines product leadership, thought leadership, and social leadership, inspiring others to follow while fostering a culture that embraces change and accountability. Challenges and setbacks, from early operational hurdles to product ideas that didn’t succeed, were treated as opportunities for learning and growth. This mindset has allowed Busch Systems to continuously push boundaries, turning obstacles into stepping stones for the next breakthrough. Through relentless innovation and a commitment to impact, they have transformed both their sector and the communities they serve.
The Huronia Symphony Orchestra (HSO) has become a shift disturber in Barrie’s arts community by continuously evolving and innovating its approach to orchestral performance. Founded from a small baroque ensemble, the HSO now celebrates its 57th season as the sole community orchestra in Barrie and Simcoe County, blending 42 volunteer musicians with six professional section leaders. Facing near closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, the orchestra pivoted through board reorganization and the hiring of a new Artistic Director and Conductor, Rafael Luz, to relaunch with renewed energy. The 2024-25 season featured five guest conductors, allowing the HSO to trial different artistic leadership styles while maintaining high artistic standards and community engagement. This approach not only ensured the right long-term leadership fit but also supported talent attraction and development within Barrie. By embracing innovation in governance, programming, and community involvement, the HSO has strengthened its role as a cultural leader and a model for sustainable arts organizations.
Leah Ashby - Crave Arts Academy
Leah Ashby has become a shift disturber in Barrie’s education and arts community by reimagining STEAM and arts programming to focus on empathy, teamwork, and creative problem-solving for all ages and abilities. After successfully growing The Art of Music Academy in Brantford, she pivoted her approach following personal and professional challenges, relaunching her summer camp programs at Sevenoaks Academy in Barrie and reaching maximum enrollment for three consecutive years. Her programs incorporate mentorship, peer learning, and hands-on activities to build confidence, communication skills, and social-emotional growth, addressing gaps revealed by the pandemic and rising youth anxieties. Recognizing barriers to expansion in public schools, she is launching the Arts for Empathy Foundation, a non-profit arm of Crave Arts Academy, to make her programs accessible to all students and break down systemic obstacles. Through innovation in curriculum design and community engagement, she has created a model that combines arts education with personal development and social impact. Her work demonstrates how creativity, persistence, and empathy can transform traditional education and inspire meaningful change in the community.
LifeVac Canada Inc. has disrupted the emergency response sector by introducing a simple, non-invasive suction device that clears blocked airways in seconds, creating an entirely new category of airway clearance devices (ACDs). Prior to LifeVac, interventions like the Heimlich maneuver had high failure rates, and invasive procedures carried significant risks, so this innovation provided a safer, faster alternative. Bringing LifeVac to Canada required navigating complex regulatory, commercial, and cultural challenges, including obtaining a Medical Device Establishment Licence, establishing traceability systems, and building professional trust through clinical validation and peer-reviewed evidence. Extensive public education and demonstrations in schools, nursing homes, and EMS agencies helped raise awareness about choking risks and the device’s effectiveness. LifeVac Canada also had to overcome skepticism from clinicians, retailers, and consumers, while protecting its patented technology against copycats and ensuring buyers accessed authentic products. Through persistence, innovation, and education, LifeVac has reshaped emergency care in Canada and positioned itself as a leader in airway safety.
Paula Beech - MAX PPERFORMANCE
MAX PERFORMANCE was founded by Paula Beech to address the unique challenges student-athletes face in balancing academics and elite sports. Recognizing a gap in support, she created an integrated program combining certified educators, athlete mentors, and individualized learning plans tailored to each student’s training and competition schedule. By partnering with organizations like The KAGE Baseball Facility, Freestyle Ontario, and Advantage Advocacy Inc., MAX PERFORMANCE fosters discipline, accountability, and confidence both in the classroom and on the field. The program overcame barriers such as traditional “student first, athlete second” thinking, school skepticism, and logistical challenges across time zones. Through innovative approaches, persistence, and a deep understanding of athletes’ needs, it has established a trusted model for academic-athletic success. Today, MAX PERFORMANCE is recognized as a shift disturber in supporting high-performance student-athletes.
Michael Beckley - Bektra Corp
Michael Beckley, President of Bektra Corp, has become a shift disturber in waste management by rethinking how odours are controlled in modern waste collection systems. Traditional solutions like liquid sprays and clay-based products proved ineffective, inconvenient, or unsustainable, prompting the development of Bektra Bin Balls — an ultra-light, plant-based odour counteractant embedded in post-consumer recycled mineral spheres. After two years of R&D to identify a sustainable carrier material, Bin Balls now provide instant, long-lasting odour control and can even reactivate after periods of dormancy. Their design reduces shipping costs and reliance on non-renewable resources, offering both environmental and operational benefits. Bektra has also focused on education and industry outreach, showcasing their innovations at events like the International Janitorial Product Expo. Through these efforts, Bektra has reshaped standards in odour management and positioned itself as a leader in sustainable waste solutions.
SEAN. has become a shift disturber in residential construction by reimagining what’s possible in homebuilding with a focus on sustainability and the next generation. By combining global design innovations with leading Canadian products, they’ve pioneered advanced building envelopes, Net Zero Ready and ENERGY STAR performance, and North America’s first cross-laminated timber and cold-formed steel hybrid mid-rise. Their use of locally manufactured, low-carbon materials ensures homes are healthier, more durable, and energy efficient, without sacrificing design or affordability. Overcoming skepticism and regulatory barriers, SEAN. has pushed the boundaries of what independent builders can achieve in Ontario. Their approach integrates technology, sustainability, and livability, setting a new standard for residential development. Through collaboration, curiosity, and conviction, SEAN. has demonstrated that innovative, community-focused housing is not only possible — it’s inevitable.
Shakir Barmare - Barrie Indian Association and Beyond Giving
Over the past decade, Shakir Barmare has become a shift disturber in Barrie by proving that creativity, community, and compassion can drive meaningful change. Through ventures like Beyond Giving, the Barrie Indian Association (BIA), and Rejoice Photo, they have united nonprofits, small businesses, and residents around shared goals of inclusion, impact, and growth. Beyond Giving transformed fundraising by using storytelling to inspire empathy, raising over $50,000 for local charities while building sustainable awareness. The BIA created one of Barrie’s largest community platforms, blending cultural celebration with commerce and launching initiatives like “Connect After 6,” the city’s first multicultural business networking series. Rejoice Photo leveraged professional media to help nonprofits and small businesses amplify their impact, collectively raising over $140,000 for local causes. Through persistent collaboration and purpose-driven innovation, they have shown that small, creative ideas can grow into citywide movements that transform community engagement and foster lasting social impact.Top of FormBottom of Form
Stephen Josephs & Shellie McLeod - Silver Breeze Construction
Silver Breeze Construction has become a shift disturber in the home construction sector by redefining how spaces can support aging and mobility needs. Recognizing that many individuals were forced to leave their homes due to accessibility challenges, the company pivoted to focus on creating safe, functional, and beautifully designed living spaces that allow people to age in place with dignity. Participation in the Starter Company Plus Program helped refine their value proposition, clarify their niche, and strengthen a purpose-driven brand identity. Their approach challenges the misconception that accessible design must be institutional or costly, demonstrating that thoughtful design can be both practical and elegant. By partnering with clients, healthcare providers, corporations, and community groups, Silver Breeze Construction educates the community and delivers real-world solutions. Through innovation, advocacy, and a commitment to inclusivity, they are reshaping how the sector thinks about accessibility and aging in place.
The Haunted Hounds Grooming Salon
The Haunted Hound Grooming Salon stands out by specializing in high-anxiety pets, offering a calm and welcoming environment tailored to their unique needs. Their innovative approach ensures both pets and pet parents feel comfortable and supported. By focusing on this underserved segment, they are redefining pet grooming standards in the community.
Tori Hathaway - Canadian Musicians Co-operative
The Canadian Musicians Co-operative, founded by Tori Hathaway, disrupts the traditional music industry by giving artists ownership and control over their work. Established in 2018 as a not-for-profit in Barrie, the Co-op provides affordable, professional shared studios, including a grand piano-equipped Studio A and a pre-production/ isolation Studio B. Beyond recording spaces, it offers professional development, job opportunities, and social programs like No More Starving Artists, supporting musicians at all levels. Run by its members, the Co-op fosters a collaborative and fair environment, helping artists build sustainable careers while challenging conventional industry practices.
Ryan Joyner - Victory Ridge Sports
Victory Ridge Sports, under the Maple Ridge Armoury brand, became a shift disturber in the Canadian firearms sector by turning regulatory challenges into an opportunity for innovation. When the 2020 federal ban on thousands of semi-automatic firearms threatened the business, the company responded by designing the Maple Ridge Armoury Renegade Rifle—a modular, adaptable firearm compliant with new regulations while maintaining performance and safety. The process required overcoming complex regulatory hurdles, extensive design and testing, and significant capital investment, but the team’s resilience and problem-solving turned the concept into reality. Launched from their Barrie storefront and select Canadian retailers, the Renegade quickly exceeded demand, prompting expanded production and nationwide distribution within a year. By reimagining firearm design and manufacturing, Victory Ridge Sports not only preserved their business but set a new standard for adaptability and innovation in the industry.
The YMCA has become a shift disturber in youth programming by reimagining engagement strategies post-pandemic. Partnering with Georgian College’s Social Innovation program, they adapted the #ChangeTheNow initiative to provide meaningful, innovative experiences for elementary and high school students, aiming to cultivate the next generation of community change-makers. With support from an Ontario Trillium Foundation Seed Grant, the pilot program trained over 140 YMCA staff and engaged 105 youth over one year. The initiative introduced fresh, exciting programming that went beyond traditional offerings, fostering leadership, creativity, and social impact. Encouraged by early success, the YMCA is now applying for a Grow Grant to expand and sustain the program over the next three years.
Congratulations to the nominees in the Shift Disturber category! Your resilience, creativity and willingness to shake up norms has set a high bar for our community. The Shift Disturber award recognizes those who have championed innovation in their business, organization or community. Your innovative thinking and opportunistic mindset have built strategic solutions and inspired a more dynamic and forward-thinking community. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition in the Shift Disturber category!
Stay tuned for the announcement of the winners following the Mayor’s Innovation Awards ceremony on November 27th!
Thank you to the sponsors of the 7th Mayor’s Innovation Awards, Adams Hamilton, Ain Whitehead LLP, Marquee Benefits, Innovative Automation, reIGNITE Conference and the Sandbox Centre for recognizing the importance of these local businesses.