"It's okay to make a mistake as long as you're learning from it. I think the idea of waiting for things to be perfect is an illusion, it doesn't happen."

Khalil Khamis, who is based in Guelph, has been instrumental in shaping Crafty Ramen’s growth since joining in 2018 and becoming CEO in 2021. Under his leadership, the company has evolved from a local ramen shop into a nationally recognized food brand, expanding its chef-crafted frozen ramen line to make restaurant-quality meals accessible in homes across Canada. Today, Crafty Ramen products are available in more than 2,700 retail locations, with continued expansion into new regions alongside its existing restaurant presence in Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph.

During this period of growth, the company has received multiple accolades, including Canada’s Top Growing Companies (2022, 2023), FoundersBeta’s Top Companies to Watch (2024, 2025), the Guelph Chamber of Commerce Innovation Award, and recognition from Sobeys, Loblaws, and the Retail Council of Canada.

Beyond business, Khalil is deeply engaged in his community. He is the past Chair of The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital and serves on the advisory board of the University of Guelph’s J.F. Wood Centre. He was recently awarded the Frank Hasenfratz Award of Excellence for his leadership and entrepreneurial impact.

He remains focused on successfully scaling Crafty Ramen into the US market while staying true to its roots in craft, community, and creativity.

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CRA Audits Are Rising in Canada — What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know (Audit Shield Explained)

What would happen if the CRA audited your business tomorrow?

In this episode of Canada’s Entrepreneur, Managing Editor Mario Taniguchi sits down with Jason Koenig of Audit Shield and Morgan Lock, Founder of Cedar CPA, to break down what Canadian entrepreneurs need to know about CRA audits, reviews, and rising scrutiny in today’s AI-driven tax environment.

You’ll learn:

• Why CRA audits and reviews are becoming more common

• The biggest misconceptions business owners have about audits

• What triggers CRA attention (and what doesn’t)

• How much an audit can actually cost—even if you did nothing wrong

• Why having the right accountant matters more than ever

• How Audit Shield helps cover unexpected accounting fees

If you’re a business owner in Canada, this is essential viewing to stay prepared, protected, and informed.

Learn more about Audit Shield: auditshieldconnect.ca Speak to your CPA about whether Audit Shield is right for your business

#CRAaudit #CanadianEntrepreneur #SmallBusinessCanada #AuditShield #TaxTipsCanada #BusinessAdvice #CPA #Entrepreneurship #CanadaBusiness #TaxAudit #FinancialProtection #BusinessTips #Accounting

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CRA Audits Are Rising in Canada — What Every Business Owner Needs to Know (2026) Are CRA audits and reviews becoming more common in Canada? In this episode of Canada’s Entrepreneur, Managing Editor Mario Toneguzzi sits down with Jason Koenig of Audit Shield and Brock O’Reilly of O’Reilly CPA to break down what’s really happening behind the scenes.

From increased automation and AI-driven tax enforcement to the growing frequency of audit letters, Canadian business owners are facing a new reality: more scrutiny, more often — even if you’ve done nothing wrong.

In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why CRA audits and reviews are increasing • The biggest red flags that can trigger scrutiny • How AI and data analytics are changing tax enforcement • What types of businesses are being targeted • The real cost of responding to a CRA audit • What to do immediately if you receive a CRA notice • Why even compliant businesses are getting reviewed • Trends in GST/HST and payroll audits • How Audit Shield helps protect against unexpected accounting fees Whether you run a small business, side hustle, or growing company, this is essential insight to help you stay prepared and audit-ready.

Don’t wait until you get “the letter” — understand the risks and protect your business now. #CRA #CanadaBusiness #EntrepreneurCanada #SmallBusinessCanada #TaxAudit #AuditShield #CanadianEntrepreneur #BusinessTips #TaxTips #CPA #GSTHST #Payroll #SideHustleCanada #AIinFinance #BusinessOwners

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Chris and Alice came from humble beginnings.

Chris is the eldest of 11 and was often sent away because his parents could not pay rent.

Chris studied for 10 years in the seminary to become a priest. In his teaching sabbatical, a friend introduced a gorgeous woman to him. The rest is history. They now have 2 beautiful kids.

Both were scholars until their master’s education. They’re teachers by profession who became entrepreneurs.

They’re just around 3 years in Calgary. They are real estate investors with around 30 rental units.

They’re a team of realtor and mortgage broker. They’re with Remax Mountainview. Chris was rookie of the year in 2024 and became the number 1 realtor in 2025. Their goal is to become the number 1 team this 2026.

They’re featured in omninews for 4 times. From being homeless before, they now help people find a place they can call home whether they’re selling, buying, or investing.

They work hard and they pray hard. They believe that God is their ultimate CEO. 😇

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A dedicated community leader, educator, and entrepreneur, Shauna Ockey has spent decades empowering women, youth, and families across Calgary and beyond.

A registered nurse by training — graduating from Mount Royal University in 1985 — she built her early career in the Intensive Care Unit at Alberta Children's Hospital, where her passion for supporting vulnerable individuals took root. That same commitment to service has guided every chapter of her life since.

Recognized as Mrs. Calgary in 1999, she has served in numerous leadership roles across the city's nonprofit and educational landscape, including the Board of Calgary Academy and as Board Chair for the Flourish Foundation, the Flourish Centre, and Tanbridge Academy.

For over two decades, from 1995 to 2017, she served as a Faculty Instructor for the Hal and Barbara Barrington Jones Foundation, where she empowered women through the Be the Best You program — a signature initiative focused on self-esteem and personal development for youth — as well as the A New You program for adults. Locally she taught visual poise and etiquette, through the Patti Falkner Modelling Agency.

Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to found both Tanbridge Academy and Flourish Foundation, enterprises rooted in the belief that all should have access to good education and opportunities for sport.

Shauna is a founding member of the President's Leadership Council at BYU Hawaii and she and her husband Ryan are proud sponsors of the Great Ideas Competition at BYU-Hawaii, an entrepreneurship program cultivating the next generation of innovators. Through the Great Ideas Competition, they have supported community building initiatives in Tuvalu, Ivory Coast, Guatemala, Fiji, Mongolia, Costa Rica, and Papua New Guinea.

Shauna has unwavering belief in the potential of every person. She is a devoted mother of three and a grandmother — a role she considers her greatest privilege.

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MANMADE is a Canadian Montreal-based, direct-to-consumer men’s essentials brand founded in 2021 by four lifelong friends and former finance professionals – Anthony Ciavirella, Philip Santagata, Robert Marzin and Roberto "Berto" Rebelo. Anthony Ciavirella and Robert Marzin are two of the four co-founders of MANMADE, the Canadian men's essentials brand that's taking the country by storm. These guys quit their finance careers to solve a problem every guy has had but nobody talked about -- uncomfortable underwear. Since launching in 2020, they've grown from 150,000 to over one million customers, appeared on Dragons' Den, and just opened their first physical store in Montreal. Guys, welcome to the show. MANMADE appeared on CBC series Dragons' Den in 2022 and has partnered with celebrities, athletes and organizations including Howie Mandel, Georges St-Pierre, Bryan Adams, William Shatner, Colin Mochrie, Kris Letang, Jay Onrait, David Savard and the Montreal Canadiens. And I am excited to say that  MANMADE today announced it has been named the Official Boxer Brief of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The collaboration brings together two proudly Canadian brands with a shared focus on performance, passion and showing up every day.

Website: https://manmadebrand.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/manmadeofficial/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manmade.brand Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manmade.official

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Simran Singh, President & Chief Executive Officer of OPA! of Greece, first joined OPA! of Greece as a member of the accounting team in 2014 and has since held multiple leadership roles, most recently as the company’s Financial Controller. He is also a multi-unit franchise operator, with a portfolio of five total storefronts after his newest location, in Edmonton’s West Granville neighborhood, opened in December of 2025. His extensive experience across every level of the business has uniquely prepared him to lead the company into its next phase of growth.

In addition to his career at OPA!, Simran has worked extensively in the hospitality industry. Through his unique perspective as both a franchise operator and corporate controller, he looks to lead OPA! Of Greece with a focus on clarity, discipline, and long-term growth. He is committed to building strong systems, elevating franchisee operational performance and creating value for franchise partners, teams and guests. His goal is to guide OPA into the future with purpose and strategic focus.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simran-singh-4038360055/ https://opaofgreece.com/

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Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don't miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.

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Simon Gravel is the founder and CEO of freelance.group, the largest freelance platform in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and the fifth largest in the world. He is currently developing freelance.ca to become the leader in the Canadian market. With over 15 years of experience in innovation and internationalization, he has built a community of more than 1.2 million freelancers and 100,000 employers in over 15 countries across 3 continents. A visionary of the future of work, he connects specialized talent with businesses.

Active in his community, he chairs the Marcelle-Mallet High School Foundation and serves on governing boards in Europe. His vision is to offer every freelancer the best possible project and every employer the best expert for their project.

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Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don't miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy.

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