James Darnell

Echelon Wealth Partners, Inc. (Echelon) is a Canadian-owned and operated full-service broker-dealer headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The firm was founded by Robert Furse and David Cusson in 2010 as Euro Pacific Canada, Inc. They are owned by 1-UP Holdings Corp., a holding company. Echelon offers superior investment advice and efficient trade execution for their institutional and retail clients. In 2023, Echelon and PI Financial Corp. (now known as Ventum Financial Corp.) have agreed to combine in a merger of equals to create an investment advisory, wealth management, and capital markets firm.

Founded by Alfred Newton Wolverton in 1910, Wolverton Securities Ltd. is a full-service, independent, Canadian-owned investment bank and brokerage firm headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. The firm provides a wide range of financial services to both corporate and retail clients. They are connected with every principal stock exchange in North America as a member or through trading agreements. Wolverton Securities is the oldest member of the Toronto Stock Exchange Group. To serve the U.S. market, the firm owns and manages Wolverton Securities (USA) Ltd., a fully-licensed U.S. brokerage subsidiary. Wolverton Securities' investment products and services include: (1) Canadian, U.S. and foreign equities and options (2) Government and corporate bonds (3) money market instruments (4) RRSP eligible investments (5) public offerings (6) tax deferred investments (7) mutual funds and (8) wealth management services.

Part of Royal Bank of Canada, RBC Capital Markets, Inc. provides investment advice. The company is based in Albany, NY.

The Canadian Investor Relations Institute (CIRI) is a professional organization that aims to enhance the credibility and competency of the investor relations profession. CIRI has four chapters located in different regions. The organization also provides insights on ESG processes and reporting for issuers at various stages in their ESG journey. The non-profit company is based in Oakville, ON, Canada. CIRI provides resources, professional development, networking opportunities, and advocacy to support the IR community. The organization has over 500 members, with most responsible for IR at publicly-traded companies. Visible Alpha is a sponsor of CIRI that enhances the investment research process. CIRI publishes IR Directions, a magazine that explores current and emerging practices of board reporting and engagement. Nathalie Megann has been the CEO of the Canadian company since 2004.

National Bank Financial, Inc. (Broker) (NBF-Broker) is the broker/dealer division of National Bank Financial, Inc., a Canadian mutual fund manager headquartered in Montréal, Quebec. The firm was founded in 1902 and is a direct subsidiary of National Bank Acquisition Holding, Inc., ultimately owned by National Bank of Canada (TSX: NA). NBF-Broker provides retail advisory and brokerage services with institutional brokerage, investment banking, corporate finance and securities clearing services for third parties. The firm has a substantial presence in all regions of Canada, as well as operations in the US and Europe.

Odlum Brown USA Investment Management Ltd. (OB USA) is an independent, full-service investment firm headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The firm was founded in 2005 and is wholly owned by Odlum Brown Ltd. OB USA provides disciplined investment advice and objective value-based research to individuals, estates, trusts, corporations and similar entities.

Raymond James Ltd. operates as a full-service investment dealer. The firm operates under the divisions of personal investing and equity capital markets. Personal Investing offers solutions to individuals interested in ensuring income, asset growth, and retirement plans. Equity Capital Market provides expertise in investment banking, research, corporate finance, and institutional sales and trading. It caters to individual and institutional clients as well as corporate issuers. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered Vancouver, Canada.

RBC Global Asset Management, Inc. (RBC GAM) is an investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. They are an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Canada (TSX, NYSE: RY). The firm was founded in 2008 following the merger of RBC Asset Management and Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management in Canada, together with the US-based institutional asset management company, RBC Global Asset Management (US). RBC GAM provides global investment management services and solutions to institutional, high-net-worth and individual investors through separate accounts, pooled funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, exchange-traded funds and specialty investment strategies.

SimEx-Iwerks, Inc. specializes in designing and building 4-D Experiences. It offers 4-D F/X attractions which use 3-D digital projection, proprietary 4D sensory seats and a wide range of in-theatre 4-D special effects; 2-D/-3D/4-D motion ride attractions and extreme screen theatres. The company was founded by Michael J. Needham, F. Gerald Townsend and Shiori Sudo in 2002 is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Strategic Analysis Corp. (SAC) is an independent, Canadian capital markets research firm headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The firm was founded in 1978 as an economic research institute by physicist and economist, Dr. Verne Atrill. SAC provides independent and unbiased research and advice to individuals, financial professionals, and corporations. Their web-based investment research service covers over 4000 North American equities.

HSBC Securities (Canada), Inc. is a full service broker/dealer located in Toronto, Ontario. The firm is a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings Plc (NYSE: HCS, NasdaqGS: HSBA). They are a member of the TMX Group, the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). The firm offers their clients advisory and execution products and services in the following areas: M&A advisory, equity and debt capital markets, leveraged and acquisition financing, foreign exchange, fixed-income, derivatives and structured products. HSBC Securities specializes in 4 global sectors: financial institutions, consumer/retail Resources, energy and diversified Industries.

Raymond James Investment Counsel Ltd. (RJIC) is an asset management firm headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The firm was founded in 2003 and formerly known as MacDougall Investment Counsel, Inc. They are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raymond James Ltd., ultimately owned by Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE: RJF) in the US. RJIC specializes in discretionary investment management for private clients, families, institutional investors, pensions, and foundations.

Ventum Financial Corp. is a full-service Investment Dealer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The firm was founded by Max Meier and John Eymann in 1982 as Pacific International Securities, Inc. They became PI Financial Corp. (PI) in 2007 and changed their name to Ventum Financial Corp. in 2024 as part of the process of amalgamation between PI and Echelon Wealth Partners, Inc., previously announced in March 2023. Ventum Financial provides expertise across a variety of growth sectors and delivers a full range of capital markets services, which include equity research, investment banking, advisory, and institutional sales and trading to mid-market corporate clients in Canada. They prioritize minimal market impact during superior trade execution.

Dundee Capital Markets, Inc. provided financing and advisory services. It focused on specific sectors namely, resources, comprising mining, energy, forestry, fertilizers and agriculture, real estate, and infrastructure. The company was founded in December 10, 2010 and was headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Clarus Securities, Inc. is a broker/dealer located in Toronto, Ontario. Their research team covers a wide range of sectors and companies. The theme to all their efforts is the drive to find good investment ideas among the small- to medium-sized issuers in Canada. Clarus Securities' research focuses on growth opportunities in both traditional equities and the business trust sector. They cover a variety of sectors including: alternative energy, clean tech/power infrastructure, energy services, geothermal energy, industrial products, mining, oil and gas, solar energy, special situations and technology.

Travel Alberta operates as travel agency. The firm offers boating and swimming, camping, canoeing and kayaking, arts, hiking and golfing services. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.