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Top 15 Most Famous Canadian Companies

Oh, Canada! A land renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, hockey prowess, and unfathomable politeness. However, one thing that often gets overlooked, is the country’s corporate world.

Canada boasts excellence across various sectors, including technology, telecommunications, mining, and finance. These industries have birthed titans that have conquered the Canadian market and then expanded into international markets.

From the bustling metropolis of Toronto to the dynamic streets of Vancouver, Canada has become a hotbed for top-tier businesses. Global players like Shopify and the Royal Bank of Canada have emerged as icons of Canadian ingenuity and success.

This article will highlight and discuss 15 of Canada’s most famous companies. Enjoy!

1. Royal Bank Of Canada

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RBC, the Royal Bank Of Canada, is one of Canada’s largest banks that has grown into a multinational financial institution. The bank was founded in 1864 in Halifax Nova Scotia and back then it was known as the Merchants’ Bank of Halifax.

RBC has its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario. A wide range of banking solutions, financial products, credit cards, mortgages, and insurance options make up RBC’s noteworthy products and services.

The bank’s operations in Canada are branded as either RBC Royal Bank in English or RBC Banque Royale in French. Outside Canada, the RBC has operations in 36 other nations.

Read about these high-street bank accounts in London here!

2. TD Bank

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The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank) is a Canadian multinational banking and financial services corporation with headquarters in Toronto, Ontario. The bank as it is known today, has existed since 1955 following a merger by the pre-existing Bank of Toronto and The Dominion Bank.

The TD Bank Group has expanded beyond Canadian boundaries to become one of the largest banks in North America. It also has an extensive presence in both Europe and Asia.

TD Bank has over 1091 branches in Canada, and over 1200 branches in the USA. With a rich history and a sizeable customer base, TD Bank continues to be a major player in the financial industry, providing comprehensive banking solutions to individuals, businesses, and institutions.

3. Enbridge Inc.

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Enbridge is a pipeline and energy company that is a major player in the oil and gas industry. It was founded in 1949 and was originally established as the Interprovincial Pipe Line Company (IPL).

The founders were a group of Canadian entrepreneurs, including Bill Georgetti and J. W. Mitchell. Enbridge, with its corporate headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, has developed into one of North America’s biggest providers of energy infrastructure.

The business owns and runs pipelines that transmit crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids across all of Canada and the United States. The company has expanded its portfolio to include wind farms, solar facilities, and investments in emerging clean energy technologies.

4. Shopify

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Perhaps one of the most known companies on this list, Shopify is a renowned Canadian e-commerce company. It provides a platform for businesses to create and manage their online stores.

Shopify was founded by famous entrepreneur Tobias Lütke, alongside Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake. Initially, they wanted an e-commerce solution to promote their snowboard business but ended up with this industry behemoth.

Read about the 10 most wealthy Canadian people including Tobias Lütke here!

Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Shopify has grown into a global powerhouse. The company powers millions of online stores across more than 175 countries. This makes it one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world.

5. BCE Inc.

Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) Inc., is a holding company for several companies including telecommunications providers and various mass media assets.

It is one of Canada’s largest corporations and was founded in 1983 after several companies became its subsidiaries. These include Bell Canada, Northern Telecom, and other related companies.

The headquarters of BCE is at 1 Carrefour Alexander-Graham-Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada’s Verdun neighborhood. As of 2016, BCE Inc. consists of three major divisions. That is, Bell Canada, Bell Mobility, and Bell Media.

Read about the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Canada here!

6. Canadian National Railway Company

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The Canadian National Railway (CN), is one of the largest North American transportation companies. It operates an extensive network of railroads that serves Canada and the Midwestern and Southern United States.

CN was founded in 1919 after the merging of several existing railways and was a public corporation until its privatization in 1995.

It is now a publicly-traded company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. With a 14.2% stake in CN shares, Bill Gates is the company’s greatest individual stakeholder as of 2019.

Read about the Revelstoke Railway Museum here!

7. Magna International

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Magna International Inc is a Canadian automotive manufacturing company. The company was originally founded in 1957 by Frank Stronach and his partner.

Initially, it was known as Multimatic Investments Limited before being renamed to the current name in 1973. Magna has its headquarters in Aurora, Ontario, Canada.

It has grown beyond Canada’s borders and has manufacturing facilities and engineering centers across North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions.

Magna International is an expert in creating and manufacturing automotive systems, technology, and components. They provide a wide range of products, including electronics, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), seating systems, engine systems, body and chassis systems, and seating systems.

8. Thomson Reuters Corporation

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Thomson Reuters is a multinational conglomerate with roots in Canada. The corporation specializes in providing business, financial, and legal information to professionals in various industries.

The company was born in 2008, following the merger between the pre-existing Thomson Corporation, a Canadian publishing company, and the Reuters Group PLC, a British news agency.

9. CGI Inc.

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No, not Computer Generate Imagery. CGI Inc. is a global IT and business consulting company. The business was founded in 1976 by Serge Godin and André Imbeau in Quebec City, Canada, originally as an IT consulting firm.

The company operates and provides consulting services in various industries including government, finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and more. With a strong global presence, the company has clients all over the world across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

10. Teck Resources Limited

Teck Cominco, also recognized as Teck Resources Limited is a mining and natural resources company. It was founded in 1913 by Norman Keevil, a mining engineer.

At the time, it was known as The Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada (Cominco). Teck has grown to be among the biggest mining firms in Canada and a pioneer in the extraction and processing of raw materials worldwide.

The company has headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia, and has significant mining projects in Canada, the United States, Chile, and Peru, among other locations.

Teck is engaged in the mining and extraction of several minerals including coal, copper, zinc, and energy. Other secondary products, minerals, and resources include, lead, silver, gold, molybdenum, germanium, indium, and cadmium.

11. Shaw Communications

As the name suggests, Shaw Communications is a telecommunications company doubling in a wide range of services such as internet, television, home phone, and mobile phone services. It was founded in 1966 by JR Shaw, a Canadian businessman.

Initially, it was known as Capital Cable Television Co. Ltd., a cable television company serving rural communities in Alberta. The company also delivers a wide range of services including high-speed internet, digital television, and voice services to millions of customers.

Other products and features from the company include Whole Home DVR, Shaw Go WiFi, and SmartVoice.

In early 2023, the company was acquired by Rogers Communications. While the brand remains active, this is only for the foreseeable future and will soon be replaced by the Rogers brand.

12. The Power Corporation of Canada

The Power Corporation is an international management and holding company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The company’s services are focused mostly on financial services in North America, Asia, and Europe.

The industries in which the company offers services include insurance, retirement, wealth management, and investment management. Power Corporation has grown to become one of Canada’s largest and most influential corporations.

It also has several subsidiaries in several industries including, the Great-West Life Co. (insurance), Power Financial Corporation, and Square Victoria Communications Group (media).

13. Rogers Communications

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Yes, the very same Rogers Communications mentioned above having acquired Shaw Communications. Rogers Communications is also a telecommunications and media company.

Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the company was founded in 1960 by Ted Rogers. It was established as a radio broadcasting firm known as Rogers Radio Broadcasting Limited.

As one of the largest telecommunications companies in Canada, it owns and operates one of the most extensive wireless networks in Canada. The company provides mobile phone and data services television networks, radio stations, and digital media properties.

14.Alimentation Couche-Tard

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Take a moment and appreciate the name first. Alimentation Couche-Tard, simply Couche-Tard, is a Canadian retail powerhouse. The company has many convenience store locations considered a treasure trove of goodies, from snacks and beverages to everyday essentials.

In Canada, the United States, Mexico, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Japan, China, and Indonesia, the firm operates 14,302 stores.

This corporation, which has its corporate headquarters in Laval, Quebec, has built a vast empire of convenience across continents to become a major power on the world stage.

15. Brookfield Asset Management

As the name clearly tells, Brookfield Asset Management is an asset management company. Based in Toronto, the company was founded in 1899 as the São Paulo Tramway, Light and Power Company.

The founders were William Mackenzie and Frederick Stark Pearson and the company operated in the construction and management of electricity and transport infrastructure in Brazil.

Brookfield’s current form took shape in the 1980s when it shifted its focus to a broader range of assets and expanded internationally. It oversees a vast portfolio of assets, which includes commercial real estate, renewable energy initiatives, infrastructure for the transportation sector, and private equity investments.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs), infrastructure funds, private equity funds, and partnerships for renewable energy are some of the notable goods and services provided by Brookfield Asset Management.

In conclusion, Canada’s remarkable roster of the top 15 famous companies showcases not only the country’s potential but also its diversity and ability to nature world conquering behemoths. While the established corporate giants have left an indelible mark, Canada’s startup scene is also vibrant and promising. Therefore, Canada’s place in the world markets is cemented for the foreseeable future at the very least.