A Year of Transition & New Strategic Vision
Impact Report, May 2025 – April 2026
Joint statement from our CEO and chair of the board
With new leadership came a new strategic vision for Rise
The 2026 fiscal year (May 1, 2025-April 1, 2026) was a year of transition. We welcomed a new CEO in June 2025 and immediately began the invigorating work of looking at Rise through new eyes. What we saw was an opportunity to deepen our impact by reimagining Rise’s role in Canada’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and evolving how we serve people with mental health and addiction challenges.
Throughout the year, we listened closely to our internal and external stakeholders to better understand our current reality, future opportunities, and how readily our work responds to clients’ needs. Through extensive consultations and careful review of our operations and clients’ experiences, we reached a clear conclusion: our mission remains as vital as ever, but how we deliver it must evolve.
Canada’s economy and Canadians’ mental health have changed so dramatically in recent years. To remain responsive to shifting socio-economic realities and the increasing complexity of barriers our clients face, our approach must adapt. One important step we took during this year of learning, evaluation, and planning was to focus our lending goals less on loan volume and more on client loan readiness. As a result, we delivered fewer loans than in the previous year, but with greater insight, intention, and alignment with client success.
The lessons of the 2026 fiscal year now shape the priorities of our 2027-2029 strategic plan:
- Enhancing our client support model
- Measuring our impact & extending our influence
- Building for sustainability
You can read more details of our strategic plan, A Changing Landscape: Reimagining Entrepreneurship in Canada, in the next section of this report.
Finally, to the Rise team – our colleagues, volunteers, partners, and the board – thank you for your resilience, innovation and support. To our clients, we are honoured to continue building alongside you.
Philippe Savoy,
Board Chair
Adwoa K. Buahene,
CEO
A Changing Landscape: Reimagining Entrepreneurship in Canada
Our 2027-2029 Strategic PlanNo matter how social, political and economic pressures shape Canada, at Rise, we believe that people living with mental health and addiction challenges deserve equitable access to the opportunities provided by entrepreneurship. We empower individuals to build small businesses because we know entrepreneurship is the most viable path to a future that balances greater financial self-sufficiency with meaningful self-care.
Our 2027-2029 strategic plan reflects both continuity and change. We will continue to deliver the high-touch, client-centred support that defines Rise, while evolving how we structure, scale, and measure our impact in response to an ever-changing operational environment. Guided by three strategic priorities and intentional goals, we’re positioning Rise to deepen its effectiveness while strengthening its role in Canada’s inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem.
#1: We will enhance our client support model by:
- Establishing a progressive level-of-service model that responds to the complexity of our clients in that moment of their entrepreneurial journey.
- Developing system-level partnerships to bolster our client referral pipeline.
#2: We will refine our impact measurement and extend our influence by:
- Building Rise’s profile as the premier national service provider of self-employment supports for individuals with mental health and addiction challenges.
- Positioning Rise as a thought leader on how to support individuals with disabilities to thrive as entrepreneurs.
#3: We will build for sustainability by:
- Securing stable, multi-year funding commitments to underpin Rise’s operating model.
- Securing blended-finance impact investments to responsibly increase Rise's capacity to deploy capital through its micro-finance program.
Read our 2027-2029 strategic plan, A Changing Landscape: Reimagining Entrepreneurship in Canada.
Dean Lucas
Small Business Lending Program
Louanne Desbiens
Women+ Entrepreneurship Program
Devin Davis
Small Business Lending Program
Client Story / Youth Small Business Program
When Mariam Oyinloye was 14, she started experiencing bad menstrual cramps. As she researched ways to address them, she learned more about potential downsides of traditional menstrual products—including environmental issues. While there were some alternatives on the market, few seemed to live up to their promise of being truly eco-friendly.
Mariam was inspired to create Abimbola, a business dedicated to selling chemical-free, reusable, eco-friendly menstrual care products. Launched in 2023, Abimbola has an e-commerce site and is earning revenue. Now, Mariam is focused on getting her products into stores and expanding across North America.
Mariam credits Rise’s Youth Small Business Program (YSBP) with helping her to develop entrepreneurial skills, including setting goals, creating a business plan, managing finances, and communicating her brand clearly. But the benefit of YSBP went beyond hands-on business skills.
“Rise helped me believe in myself,” she says. “I’ve become more confident in sharing my story, standing up for what I believe in, and making decisions that impact real people. Through this journey, I’ve grown not just as a business owner, but as a young leader.”
Mariam continues to see the fruits of her labour as her entrepreneurial journey progresses.
“The most fulfilling part [of entrepreneurship] has been hearing from girls and women who say Abimbola made them feel seen, supported, and confident,” she says. “Knowing that something I created is helping others is the best feeling in the world.”
Annual program snapshot
In a year of transition and change, we continued to deliver programs that empowered clients to build businesses and manage their well-being.
Our Small Business Lending Program served 337[1] clients nationwide, disbursing 66 loans with an average value of $3,615. We successfully delivered eight cohorts across our Youth Small Business Program, Peer Supported Startup Program, Women+ Entrepreneurship Program, and PAKEṈ (in partnership with the Victoria Native Friendship Centre). Add to that our self-directed online course, EntrepRISEing You, and we engaged 544 training clients. We also delivered 40 EmpowerU workshops to 320+ participants, including our business plan writing bootcamp and sessions on topics such as GST/HST, selling at local markets, and balancing business with mental health.
Program Highlight
Small Business Lending Program
Lending with intention & impact
The past few years have been marked by global instability, ongoing inflation, and economic uncertainty—and this fiscal year was no exception. The volatility has changed the arithmetic of lending, prompting both individuals and Rise to exercise greater caution. We continue to finance entrepreneurs who are excluded from traditional lenders, and we want to ensure that, when a client takes on debt, the timing is right for both their finances and well-being.
This year, we began strategically rebalancing our processes to recognize the invaluable role of our business advisors as self-employment coaches. They often spend hours with clients reviewing household budgets, navigating credit challenges, strengthening financial readiness, and advancing business plans—even if it doesn’t result in a loan. That’s why we’ve begun measuring not only loans disbursed (66), but also the number of clients served by our lending program (337). This shift means we disbursed fewer loans than the previous year, with greater intentionality—ensuring clients were both ready for and truly empowered by financing.
But don’t take our word for it—here is what some clients have had to say[2]:
“This program was designed with entrepreneurs like me in mind, because it was able to grow and adapt alongside my circumstances. It did not feel rigid or transactional; it felt genuine. That flexibility and responsiveness made me feel seen as a person, not just as an applicant or a loan recipient.”
“[Rise] not only provided financial support but also valuable learning and accountability, which gave me more confidence moving forward with my business.”
“The support felt practical and human, and I did not feel reduced to my circumstances.”
Client Story / Small Business Lending Program
Miodrag “Mikki” Kovacic’s business, TruffLove, offers something truly unique: a taste of his native Serbia combined with Canadian flavours. When he began his business, he was drawn to truffles, a delicacy that’s plentiful in Serbia but much rarer in Canada. Using Canadian syrup, he creates unique truffle-maple treats that have proven popular at local markets and online.
Mikki’s path to entrepreneurship, however, has been anything but simple. When his ex-wife chose to move from Serbia to Canada with their daughter, he followed, intent on staying in his child’s life. However, without a support system, the transition proved difficult for him, and mental health and addiction challenges began to take root.
“I went from having a bachelor [apartment], to a room, to shelters,” Mikki says. He lived on the streets of Toronto for three years.
With a friend’s support, Mikki eventually sought help. In rehab, he developed the concept for TruffLove. Then he found the Small Business Lending Program and, with it, the financing and support to build a display booth and begin selling his products at local events. But he says Rise’s faith in him was worth much more than the loan.
“I was literally in tears…that somebody trusted me,” he says. “I burned so many bridges…and somebody believing in me…that was a huge thing.”
“[Being an entrepreneur] gives me the opportunity to lead by example,” he says—not just for his kids, but his community. Mikki hopes that by sharing his story and his success, he can spark hope in others.
Who are Rise clients?
Client age
Client gender
Client diversity
Client location
65.5% of Rise clients are located in Ontario; 23.4% are in Western Canada (BC & AB); 4.4% live in the Prairies (SK & MB); 3.5% are in Atlantic Canada (NB, NS, PEI & NL); 2.8% live in Quebec; and 0.4% are in the Territories (YT, NWT, NU).
Program Highlight
Peer Supported Startup Program
Adult entrepreneurs building skills, confidence & connection
We continued to deliver our Peer Supported Startup Program (PSSP) for entrepreneurs aged 30+ thanks to the generous, long-standing support of the Azrieli Foundation.
A post-program survey of clients who participated in PSSP during the 2026 fiscal year confirmed that our responsive curriculum design, compassionate expert facilitators, and focus on peer support helped them learn and grow in myriad ways. Participants said, as a result of PSSP[3]:
Client Story / Peer Supported Startup Program
Dawn Kloster’s decision to pursue entrepreneurship is firmly rooted in her intention to build connections and create a better world. She saw a need for wellness spaces in her community of Sooke, BC and set out to create something meaningful.
Dawn credits Rise’s Peer Supported Startup Program with helping her to decide on and refine her business concept. “The idea of hosting wellness events was born from the space Rise created for me to dream big and think creatively,” she says.
Her business, Infinity Wellness Pop-ups, operates twice-monthly events, featuring yin yoga and sound baths. The company celebrated its first anniversary in late 2025, and things are going well: the pop-ups reliably sell out, and beyond the business, Dawn has built a community. She says she started noticing that participants would linger after sessions to chat and realized that her events were fostering a kind of connection she had been missing.
“I love watching that at the end of every event,” she says. “People just connect and build relationships, and I really want to encourage that.”
Dawn is focused on laying the groundwork for her big dream: to open a brick-and-mortar wellness centre. As a small business owner, she has found that trusting the process is an important part of her success.
“Just keep the momentum moving forward,” Dawn says, “because that’s what creates the foundation.
“I love what I’m doing, and I love the community that I’m building.”
Rise Community snapshot
Entrepreneurs need guidance, mentorship, and connection at every stage of their journey.
That’s why our support continues long after a loan is disbursed or a training program ends. Through bespoke one-on-one mentorship and our dedicated online platform – the Rise Community – clients access ongoing learning, expert advice, and peer connection.
Our volunteers power these supports. In fiscal year 2026, 111 active volunteers contributed as mentors, subject matter experts (SMEs), members of our loan review committee and our board of directors. On the Rise Community, 10 SMEs took nearly 200 client calls on topics ranging from sales and finance to marketing and wellness. We also welcomed entrepreneur-in-residence Laura Sultan, a former Rise client and award-winning entrepreneur.
Thank you to Scotiabank for its continued support of our volunteer initiatives and clients’ success!
Volunteer Story / Rise Mentorship
What’s the best part of volunteering with Rise? For Stephanie Markakis-Plouffe, it’s the “lightbulb moment” when an aspiring entrepreneur realizes that they really can achieve their dream.
Stephanie has been volunteering with Rise for more than five years, supporting dozens of clients through one-on-one mentorship and providing her expertise to many more as a subject matter expert on the Rise Community.
As a long-time entrepreneur, she’s built businesses that have both succeeded and floundered.
“I wish I had a mentor,” she says. “When I started in entrepreneurship 20-some-odd years ago, there wasn’t anybody.”
Stephanie understands entrepreneurship, but she also understands what it’s like to have mental health struggles, and she says these experiences have made her connection with her mentees more meaningful. “To support somebody who is going through something and let them know that they’re not alone…that is important to me.”
Stephanie describes volunteering with Rise as a special experience.
“Rise allows people who have mental health or addiction challenges to come in and start a new life; to start something that they’ve always wanted,” she says.
Stephanie credits her impact as a mentor to her breadth of experience, not just in business, but in life as well. She says having someone walk beside you who has been through it themselves can be life-changing.
“Knowing that I’ve come out the other end, even though I’ve had some failures along the way…allows [my mentees] to go ‘hey, if she can do it, so can I’.”
Partner Highlight
National collaboration to advance inclusion & cultivate community
We were proud and grateful to have the renewed support of the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy this year, enabling us to continue delivering the Women+ Entrepreneurship Program.
Supporting diverse cis women, trans women and non-binary individuals, women+ is more than a program—it’s about fostering inclusive entrepreneurship and building a connected, compassionate community. To advance that goal, we celebrated International Women’s Day 2026 by hosting Making It Work: Balancing Business and Mental Health as a Woman+ Entrepreneur. Presented in both English and French, these virtual panels featured honest advice and heartfelt insights from diverse women entrepreneurs across Canada. To hear from our inspiring speakers, watch the English and French events on YouTube.
Thank you to the We-CAN Project for its support of the Women+ Entrepreneurship Program and to Unsinkable for its support in developing and promoting these events.
Program Highlight
Women+ Entrepreneurship Program
Partner Highlight
Working with Ontario to empower young entrepreneurs
Recent instability in the labour market has hit youth employment especially hard, and approximately 1 in 5 young people in Canada is diagnosed with a mental illness by age 25[4]. These conditions underscore the importance of our Youth Small Business Program (YSBP).
Rise has proudly delivered YSBP with support from the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) since 2012. That partnership continued its successful trajectory this year, with Rise empowering more than 100 youth aged 16-29 to make connections, build confidence, and take the next step in their small business ambitions.
In a post-program survey of YSBP clients who participated in the 2026 fiscal year, 99% said that our facilitators created a safe space for learning. Further, they reported that as a result of YSBP[5]:
Program Highlight
Youth Small Business ProgramRotman Family Entrepreneurship Awards
Rise’s annual Rotman Family Entrepreneurship Awards are an incredible opportunity to recognize the impact of our clients, volunteers, and supporters. In 2025, we celebrated three diverse and inspiring entrepreneurs, the talent and dedication of a long-time volunteer, and a partner firm that helped to shape our growth over a decade.
The 2025 Rotman Family Entrepreneurship Awards recipients are:
- Mariam Oyinloye, Rotman Family Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- Miodrag Kovacic, Dr. Paul Garfinkel Resilience Award
- Dawn Kloster, Rise Small Business Start-up Award
- Stephanie Markakis-Plouffe, Scotiabank Volunteer of the Year Award
- LIFT Impact Partners, Dave Richardson Champion Award
Our recipients’ incredible stories are highlighted throughout this report and on our website.
“Rise is even more important now, because more people have mental health challenges, and...if we look at the economics, small businesses and entrepreneurs are going to make the difference for Canada in the long run.”
Thank you to our board of directors for its steadfast support.
Thanks to the care and dedication of our board, Rise had steadfast leadership throughout the 2026 fiscal year—recruiting a new CEO, welcoming Adwoa to the team, navigating transition, and entering a new era of strategic vision. They provided us with consistent support, guidance and encouragement, and we couldn’t be more grateful!
This year, we welcomed Mike Demeter to the board and thanked departing member and former chair, Lori Spadorcia, who served on our board for 7 years.
Tamara Bahry, Director Bahry Foundation
Alex Bellamy, Treasurer, Chair, Finance, Audit & Risk Committee Partner, Deloitte
Yelena Chorny, Director Addiction Physician, Healthcare Consultant
Mike Demeter, Director Partner & Head of Institutional Sales, Velocity Capital Partners
Patrick Dion, Director President, Patrick Dion Consulting Inc.
Harriet Goodman, Director Corporate Director, MBA
Boafoa Kwamena, Secretary, Chair, Governance & Nominating Committee Director, Strategic and Intergovernmental Policy Branch, Ministry of Infrastructure
Tom Little, Director Corporate Director, CPA, ICD.D
Philippe Savoy, Chair SVP Corporate Sales Canada, Corpay
Tom Scheuring, Chair, Fundraising Committee Managing Director, Global Equity Trading, RBC Capital Markets
Lori Spadorcia, Past Chair Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Partnerships, and Chief Strategy Officer, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Tassan Sung, Director Founder, SPOKEN Leadership & Education
Thank you, donors! You make our impact possible.
The generous support of our community of like-minded funders, partners and donors makes our work possible. Every dollar you give creates a meaningful impact in the lives of Rise clients across the country.
Footnotes
[1] Defined as clients new to the Rise Small Business Lending Program in fiscal year 2026 and who attended at least one lending program group session and at least one individual meeting with a business advisor.
[2] Excerpts of responses submitted via fiscal year 2026 Small Business Lending Program client surveys.
[3] Cumulative data collected from all PSSP cohorts (2) delivered during the 2026 fiscal year.
[4] Mental Health Commission of Canada. Children and youth. Accessed June 2, 2026.
[5] Cumulative data collected from all YSBP cohorts (4) delivered during the 2026 fiscal year.