Challenge
Ontario’s alcohol retailing system had remained largely unchanged since 1927, limiting competition and market access for new entrants. The government-owned LCBO and the foreign-owned Beer Store controlled distribution, leaving convenience retailers unable to participate. Despite modernization elsewhere in Canada and globally, Ontario’s system persisted—supported by entrenched interests and misconceptions about retailer responsibility and public safety.
Strategy
StrategyCorp was engaged by the convenience store industry, including 7-Eleven, to design and execute a multi-year campaign to unlock retail reform. The firm integrated public relations, grassroots’ mobilization, research, and government relations to shift both public perception and political will. Independent compliance testing dispelled myths about underage sales, while University of Waterloo studies confirmed that expanding retail access would increase government revenue without social harm. Sustained media coverage, valued at over $30 million, and a petition of 420,000 signatures, built visible momentum. StrategyCorp also worked with 7-Eleven’s legal team to pioneer an interim licensing approach that enabled early market entry.
Outcome
After 15 years of advocacy, the Ontario government announced that alcohol sales would expand to convenience stores. The campaign reframed the policy debate, forced incumbents into defensive positions, and demonstrated the effectiveness of a data-driven, integrated public affairs strategy. The result was a modernized retail framework benefiting consumers, government, and retailers.
Other clients
Advancing postsecondary policy and workforce innovation
Colleges Ontario
Colleges Ontario sought to strengthen its policy influence and expand educational opportunities for students across the province. The organization engaged StrategyCorp to analyze the long-term labour market impacts of COVID-19 and to develop a government relations strategy to advance key policy objectives, including approval for micro-credentials and...
Strategic planning and institutional renewal
Laurentian University
Following its 2021 restructuring under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), Laurentian University was required to develop a new strategic plan as a condition of exiting the process. The University engaged StrategyCorp to lead the engagement and planning process in collaboration with the administration, ensuring a transparent,...
Assessing local autonomy and fiscal accountability
County Policing Model
In early 2024, a county in Eastern Ontario retained StrategyCorp to review local policing services across seven municipalities served by three different providers. The county sought to evaluate service levels, governance structures, and cost efficiency, and to determine whether alternative policing models could deliver improved value and...
Aligning community trust
Mid-Sized Police Services Board
In 2023, a Police Services Board in Eastern Ontario retained StrategyCorp to develop a new Strategic Plan for the Police Service. The Board needed a plan that aligned with updated policing legislation while addressing evolving community expectations. The process required meaningful local engagement and a framework grounded...
Bridging community needs & strategic policing
Western Ontario Police Services Board
In 2023, a Police Services Board engaged StrategyCorp to develop its 2024–2027 Strategic Plan—a forward-looking, community-informed roadmap to strengthen trust, align priorities, and address emerging policing challenges. The Board sought a clear, actionable framework that reflected evolving community expectations and operational realities.
Global CEO transition & reputation management
International Natural Resources Company
The Board of Directors of a major publicly traded natural resources company— operating across five continents—engaged StrategyCorp to provide strategic communications and government relations advice during a sensitive CEO transition. The objective was to communicate the leadership change without disrupting operations, causing political disruptions in multiple countries,...
CEO transition & strategic communications planning
International Insurance Company
The Board of Directors of an insurance giant engaged StrategyCorp to advise on strategic communications surrounding a CEO transition. The Board required a clear, coordinated plan to communicate the change with internal and external audiences, while maintaining business continuity and protecting the firm’s long-standing reputation. The project...
Communications strategy for historic labour negotiations
College Employer Council
The College Employer Council engaged StrategyCorp to develop and implement a strategic communications campaign during the first-ever collective bargaining negotiations with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, representing more than 14,000 part-time support staff across Ontario’s 24 public colleges. The objective was to represent employer interests and...
Canada’s largest cheese acquisition
Kraft / Parmalat
Parmalat Canada pursued the CAD $1.62 billion acquisition of Kraft Heinz Canada’s natural cheese division, the largest transaction in Canadian dairy history. The deal required navigating a complex network of stakeholders, including multiple levels of government, employees, farmers, suppliers, consumers, and local communities where facilities operate. Ensuring...
Crisis preparedness & communications planning
The North West Company
The North West Company operates a complex retail and logistics business spanning remote regions across Northern and Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. Its diverse operations, including a cargo airline and multiple retail divisions, expose it to distinct operational and reputational risks. These...
Crisis resolution & community relations
‘Tent City’ Evacuation
A parcel of land at Cherry Street and Lakeshore Boulevard in Toronto, purchased by a major home renovation retailer for a new store, had become known as Tent City – a large homeless encampment housing over 125 people. Contaminated soil, fire hazards, and rising crime made the...
Crisis management & international coordination
Global Energy Company
When employees of a global energy company were taken hostage during a site visit in Nigeria, the situation escalated rapidly. With the safety of its staff at stake and international attention mounting, the company needed immediate crisis management and coordinated engagement with multiple governments.
Advocacy for children’s mental health funding
Children’s Mental Health Ontario
Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO), representing nearly 100 community-based agencies across the province, faced a complex advocacy challenge: securing sustained attention and increased funding for children’s mental health services. With member organizations spanning the full continuum of care from prevention to intensive treatment, CMHO needed a unified...
Federal visibility & procurement strategy
Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group (ITRG) sought to expand its federal government presence and secure contracts for its IT research and advisory services. Despite strong private-sector credibility, ITRG faced limited visibility in Ottawa and intense competition from U.S.-based firms dominating the federal procurement space.
Quantum innovation & tech sovereignty
Nord Quantique
Nord Quantique, a Canadian leader in quantum computing, is advancing the development of a fault-tolerant, efficient quantum computer. The primary global challenge remains error correction—a critical barrier to achieving utility-scale, commercially viable quantum systems. To maintain momentum and ensure Canada’s leadership in quantum innovation, Nord Quantique needed...
Procurement strategy for quantum innovation
Q-Block Computing
Q-Block, a Canadian quantum technology company, developed advanced products such as a quantum timing system, photonic platform, and memory system. However, the company faced slow procurement processes and difficulty building visibility with federal decision-makers, particularly in securing defence-related adoption. These delays hindered their ability to demonstrate value...
Geopolitical shifts in international education
Canadian Post-Secondary Association
Geopolitical tensions and shifting attitudes toward international students have created significant challenges for Canada’s post-secondary institutions. New federal research security guidelines and reduced study permit approvals disrupted long-standing recruitment and partnership models, forcing institutions and associations to adapt rapidly to a more complex operating environment.
Global climate policy engagement & representation
International Trade Organization
The annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meetings (COP) present both opportunity and risk for trade organizations influenced by global climate policy and its domestic implications. In 2023, COP30 in Dubai was a major policy-setting event. A leading trade organization, attending a COP for the...
Global policy advocacy at the G7 Leaders’ Summit
National Culture Association
The hosting of the 2024 G7 Leaders’ Summit created a unique opportunity for stakeholders to influence global policy outcomes. A national organization representing creative industry interests sought to shape the Leaders’ Communique but faced uncertainty navigating the opaque and fast-moving G7 process. With shifting geopolitical dynamics, including...
Municipal relations & permitting strategy
Prologis
In 2023, Prologis faced major permitting and planning setbacks across multiple Greater Toronto Area developments. In Scarborough, the company built without proper permits, triggering a Stop Work Order. Meanwhile, its Etobicoke project stalled due to disagreements with City Transportation staff over submission quality. Later, in Halton Hills,...
Stakeholder continuity & stability during receivership
1 Bloor St. West
Following the 1 Bloor West project’s entry into receivership, Alvarez & Marsal was appointed as receiver for Canada’s first “supertall” tower. The project faced immediate permitting, political, and community relations challenges that risked delaying construction and increasing costs. With new ownership and management in place, maintaining continuity...
Intergovernmental alignment & land-use transformation
Woodbine Entertainment Group
Woodbine Entertainment Group aimed to transform its 684-acre site at 555 Rexdale Blvd into a major mixed-use, transit-oriented community featuring 29,000 homes, up to 15 million square feet of employment space, and 70 acres of green space. However, the site faced major planning and infrastructure barriers, including...
Government relations & policy navigation
Greenbelt Foundation
The Greenbelt policy environment became highly charged as the provincial government’s boundary adjustments sparked public backlash, media scrutiny, and political opposition. With growing tensions between housing needs, environmental protection, and public accountability, the client faced significant reputational and political risk. They required strategic guidance to interpret shifting...
Council orientation & governance training
Ontario Municipalities
With every term of Council, newly elected and returning councillors benefit from training and education to understand their legal, ethical, and procedural responsibilities and the tools and strategies that can help them govern collaboratively and effectively.
Service delivery optimization & efficiency review
Town of Aurora
The Town of Aurora sought to enhance the quality and efficiency of resident-facing services while identifying opportunities for innovation and cost savings. To support these goals, the Town engaged StrategyCorp to conduct a comprehensive service delivery review that would assess current performance, future growth pressures, and resident...
Long-term financial planning
City of Toronto
For years, Toronto has faced mounting fiscal pressures, structural deficits, and expanded service responsibilities that threaten the city’s long-term sustainability. StrategyCorp, in partnership with EY, was engaged to deliver an updated Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) to support the city in charting a path towards future financial sustainability.
Strategic planning & community engagement
Town of Huntsville
In spring 2023, the Town of Huntsville sought to refresh its 2019–2023 Strategic Plan to align with the new Council term. The previous plan was lengthy and operational, with over 120 objectives. The Town’s priority was to develop a streamlined, strategic, and actionable plan that could guide...
AI leadership in healthcare
Trillium Health Partners
Trillium Health Partners’ Institute for Better Health engaged StrategyCorp to position the Institute and hospital as visible leaders in AI health research and real-world applications among researchers, clinicians, partners, donors, and media, including support for the Annual Lecture on AI.
Hospital site selection & future care planning
Grand River Hospital & St. Mary’s Hospital
Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital submitted a joint proposal to the Ministry of Health to modernize hospital infrastructure in Waterloo Region. A key component of the proposal was the development of a new joint acute care hospital to meet the region’s growing healthcare needs.
Hospital site selection & public engagement
Lakeridge Health
Lakeridge Health needed to identify a site for a new $1+ billion hospital in Durham Region. With multiple municipalities competing to host the facility, the process demanded a transparent, inclusive, and impartial approach.
Preserving heritage and climate change
The Nature Conservancy of Canada
For more than 15 years, StrategyCorp has been the trusted consulting partner to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). The NCC is Canada’s premier non-governmental conservation organization, working to accelerate its efforts to halt biodiversity loss and reduce the impacts of climate change. StrategyCorp has worked closely...
Public Education and Strategic Communications Strategy
Town of Caledon
StrategyCorp was engaged by the Town of Caledon to develop a Public Education and Strategic Communications Strategy to educate and engage Town stakeholders (real estate and trucking industries; the public; etc.) about the illegal storage of trucks; why it’s damaging to the Town’s operations and resident quality...
Public Affairs and Communications Program
7-Eleven Canada
7-Eleven is the world’s largest restaurant and retailer with over 80,000 global locations. StrategyCorp has been privileged to support 7-Eleven Canada since 2015. 7-Eleven’s industry is highly regulated so it’s important for 7-Eleven Canada to maintain strong relationships with decision-makers, regulators, industry, customers, and the communities in...
Strategic Communications Leadership
Lakeridge
The pandemic meant Lakeridge Health, like most hospital systems, faced enormous operational and communications challenges. StrategyCorp was tapped to provide strategic communications leadership for this five-hospital healthcare system.
Strategic Communications Counsel
Therme
Austrian-based Therme Group is the world leader creating urban wellness destinations; it turned to StrategyCorp to guide its entry into the North American market, entering the Ontario government’s global competition to select partners for the redevelopment of Ontario Place.
Strategic Federal Advocacy
Hotel Association of Canada
In spring 2020, the Hotel Association of Canada engaged StrategyCorp to secure an extension to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program through to the Summer of 2021.
Ecosystem Gap Identification
Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training
Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training received a grant from the Government of Ontario to better understand how the experience of urban Indigenous youth can be improved with the province’s skilled trades system. The project examined how young people experience the system, how organizations connected to the...
Strategic Planning
Town of LaSalle
Following a period of significant growth, and in continuing with its tradition of long-term planning, the Town of LaSalle sought to develop a new 20-year strategic plan. The Town required that the new plan was reflective of the community which it serves and was supported by residents,...
Delivery and Operational Reviews
Ontario Municipalities
As part of the Government of Ontario’s focus on driving efficiencies in Ontario’s municipal sector, it has provided several phases of funding through the Municipal Modernization Fund and the Audit and Accountability Fund to municipalities across Ontario, with a focus on identifying efficiencies and driving down costs....
Digital Transformation Strategy
Town of Newmarket
Newmarket engaged StrategyCorp to help design a Digital Transformation Strategy to improve resident services. This strategy needed to capture near-term improvement opportunities and define a vision and plan to fundamentally transform the Town’s operations and services in a practical, cost-effective manner.