What is your primary service or product?

At BrokerLink, we find you the most appropriate coverage possible from quality insurance providers. Whether it’s for your home, auto or business, we make sure everything that's important to you is protected.

As a member of the OGLCC, you can get preferred rates on both home and auto insurance and save up to 10%. You can also receive extended benefits such as a Claims Service Guarantee, Novex Assistance Program and Identity Theft Assistance.

When was your organization founded and what is its history?

BrokerLink was established in 1991. The BrokerLink companies, which include Canada BrokerLink Inc., Canada BrokerLink (Ontario) Inc. and Canada BrokerLink Financial Inc., constitute one of the largest Canadian property and casualty insurance brokerage operations with over 50 offices supported by more than 700 employees across Ontario and Alberta. The BrokerLink companies are subsidiaries of Intact Financial Corporation (TSX: IFC).

What makes your organization unique?

At BrokerLink, we’re committed to providing expert advice and personalized service. We also make it a priority to stay in regular contact with our customers to make sure they always have the most appropriate coverage possible. Best of all, we have 35 local offices across Ontario, including one in downtown Toronto so we can meet you in person to discuss your insurance needs. Or, you can call us after hours (8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 9am-4pm Saturday) or visit us online.

Who would be a good client for you?

A good client for BrokerLink would be someone looking for tailored insurance solutions and great customer service.

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your organization?

Being a member of the OGLCC means we can work together to support a variety of local activities to build safe and healthy communities. In addition to helping the community, which is a core part of the BrokerLink culture, we can offer professional, personalized insurance advice that OGLCC members and employees are looking for.

Visit BrokerLink online.

What is your primary service or product?

RBC Wealth Management, Estate and Trust Services offers assistance in numerous ways. We provide estate settlement and trustee services by being appointed as executor or co-executor in a Will or as a trustee. Additionally, we can help an individual client who has been named executor or trustee carry out their duties by having them hire us as their agent. We also assist with the management of property for incapable people by being appointed Power of Attorney for Property or Guardian of Property.  Finally, we can also provide access to other RBC specialists not only in Canada but globally. 

When was your organization founded and what is its history?

We have been helping clients address their estate and trust needs for well over 100 years. Our legal entity name is Royal Trust Corporation of Canada, which was acquired by RBC in 1993.   RBC is a strong global business rooted in the strength of our Canadian heritage.  RBC Wealth Management is a top ten global wealth manager with more international wealth management offices than other Canadian competitors.  We are local experts (the undisputed leader in Canada) with global reach and capability. 

What makes your organization unique?

Estate and trust work is ever changing and has become increasingly complex over the years due in part to changes in legislation and tax rules. There is an emotional aspect to these situations and there can be issues of family dynamics. Individuals may quickly find themselves overwhelmed. As experienced professionals, we have the knowledge and resources to help Canadians successfully navigate the challenges they may face in these situations. And we do this with respect, compassion and understanding of the situation they are facing.

Who would be a good client for you?

Our clients are people who come from all walks of life and from all demographic backgrounds. They may feel the need to have knowledgeable professionals involved in this aspect of their financial lives. For instance, often our services come into play after there has been a death. The client may accept an executor appointment but find themselves unprepared for the responsibilities and the time required with settling an estate. Another situation that frequently arises occurs when a client is looking for professional help in setting up and managing a trust for a friend or family member. The family member may have special needs or the client may simply want to guarantee sound management of the trust for a child, spouse, partner or other family member. As well, our clients are people who may not have a trusted friend or family member to carry out their last wishes or to manage their property during incapacity. 

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your organization?

First, being a member provides a great opportunity to exchange information and knowledge about our respective businesses with other LGBT professionals.  But moreover, through the unique network that the Chamber provides, it enables us to learn business practices and techniques unique to our community from other Chamber members. As a result, we learn things that will benefit our own organization. The OGLCC provides the only vehicle to do this. It truly enables us to forge solid professional relationships that help our businesses thrive in a very competitive marketplace.

Visit RBC Wealth Management, Estate and Trust Services online.

What is your primary service or product?

Financial Studio provides the opportunity to assess the financial and tax issues of individuals, families, companies and employee programs by drawing on a wide array of product, resources and relationships to empower and engage an improved bottom line. We service the areas of lifestyle protection (life/health insurance/Group Plans), wellness solutions (corporate/employee services) and wealth creation/preservation (investments/estate planning).

When was your organization founded and what is its history?

Financial Studio was founded in 2007.  As Principal Consultant, my role is research and complimentary recommendation to product/resources/experts.  Licensed since 1983, I can underwrite life, health, investment and Group Benefits/Pensions.  I have held several sales and management positions within Canada’s largest financial institutions before becoming an Independent Broker in 1990.

What makes your organization unique?

We think and design outside the box ~ the ‘Studio’ solutions incorporate the most innovative and tax/cost efficient approach possible.  Our work is with leading edge solutions and our focus is on cost containment.  Advice and direction is provided with an innovative edge based on a broad understanding of products, refreshed by evolved research and interaction with experts in the field.

Who would be a good client for you?

Busy individuals and professionals interested in being progressive and financially organized, open to second opinion and new ways to bring forward success.

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your organization?

Membership in the OGLCC provides a comfortable atmosphere where we can promote our craft and network in an environment surrounded by knowledgeable and creative people.

Visit Financial Studio online.

What is your primary service or product?

Out in the County provides recommendations for the gay and lesbian (GL) traveler on GL-owned and GL-friendly businesses when visiting one of the most beautiful places in Canada: Prince Edward County. We offer exclusive itineraries and event invitations in Prince Edward County for the GL-travelers, their friends and families.
 

When was your organization founded and what is its history?

We travelled to Prince Edward County 8 years ago not knowing where to stay in which we would feel welcomed as a gay couple. Having heard the same story from many individuals visiting Prince Edward County, we started Out in The County in June 2009 as a static webpage on our art gallery website www.shopfad.com . Since then we have been covered by Bump of OutTV as a gay and lesbian travel destination which aired December 2009, as well we have had articles featured in xtra.ca, Ten Thousand Couples Magazine, Examiner, Muchmor Magazine, Out Maturity and Connextions Magazine. In June 2011 we launched our www.outinthecounty.com website and to date have received many visitors thanking us for creating such a website. We currently have over 40 Prince Edward County businesses part of Out in The County, welcoming the gay and lesbian traveler.
 

What makes your organization unique?

Out in the County’s main focus is promoting Gay and Lesbian lifestyle tourism.
 

Who would be a good client for you?

Out in the County was set up for the gay and lesbian traveler looking for an island adventure recommending both gay and lesbian owned and friendly businesses to visit during their stay. Prince Edward County has become Canada's very own hidden gem, Ontario's very own Provincetown. Anyone who enjoys travel destinations which feature 3 dozen wineries and vineyards, countless exciting art galleries and artists’ working studios, fine and casual dining, numerous tempting sweet and cheese shops, cooking schools, and the Sandbanks with its magnificent Sand Dunes; Prince Edward County has everything one would desire for an island getaway. Out in The County has everything the gay and lesbian traveler needs to unwind and slip into serenity on any budget.
 

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your organization?

It allows one to network with other gay and lesbian professionals and forge business ventures and cross promote eachothers businesses. I am also proud to chair the South Eastern Ontario chapter of OGLCC.
 

Visit OUT IN THE COUNTY on the web at www.outinthecounty.com

What is your primary service or product?   

Rainbow High Vacations is a full service retail and online travel agency and travel packaging wholesaler. We specialize in providing services for gay and lesbian travellers, which includes specialized travel information, destination advice for LGBT travellers, and LGBT-specific and inclusive vacations.

What is your primary service or product?  

Meyers Norris Penny Limited is a team of professionals providing solutions
for businesses and individuals facing financial difficulties allowing them to
choose the option that is right for them, including:
* Credit Counselling
* Debt Consolidation
* Informal Debt Settlement
* Orderly Payment of Debt
* Bankruptcy
* Consumer Proposal 

When was your organization founded and what is its history?

In 1945, when our founders sat down and discussed their ideas and vision, they set an example for the firm they would establish. Today, this philosophy remains the cornerstone of MNP’s success. For more than 65 years, relationships have connected us and defined our actions, keeping MNP focused on what matters most - helping people achieve their goals. We have grown over the years, one handshake and smile at a time to more than 50 offices across the country.   

I am a qualified Insolvency Counsellor and Estate Administrator with 7 years of solid experience in the Insolvency Industry and an educational background in Law Studies. I have worked for some of the most respectable insolvency firms in Toronto and helped hundreds of people to solve their financial problems and regain control of their lives.

What makes your organization unique?

For more than 50 years, MNP Limited has helped individuals resolve their financial problems by offering solutions that are tailored to each person’s unique situation. It is important to speak with a professional who understands you and your position in order to receive advice that is effective and has your best interest in mind.

My personal approach to the industry combines understanding and knowledge in dealing with the emotional side of solving financial problems while finding the best option for each particular situation. 

Who would be a good client for you? 

Individuals and businesses facing financial difficulties. The options available to solve financial problems vary on the amount and type of debts, assets, income and other variables that have to be considered and discussed before choosing the right option. This is also the reason why it is impossible to apply a general rule in finding a solution since each situation has to be assessed in relation to its particulars. 

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your organization? 

MNP honors one of its values: “We draw strength from diversity” and is very proud to be part of the OGLCC.

For me, it is the opportunity to engage with other professionals and being able to create a network that serves the needs we encounter as individuals and as a community.   

 
Visit Meyers Norris Penny Limited online.  

What is your primary service or product?  

OREM offers marketing, consulting and administration services exclusive to the Real Estate Sector.  I specialize in database and marketing programs, but also offer accounting, administration and consulting (hiring and training assistants for the Real Estate sector) to Real Estate Professionals. I have been involved in the implementation of large scale marketing programs for Toronto Real Estate offices, and worked one on one with realtors new to the business - training them in database and client management programs.

When was your organization founded and what is its history?

I am an experienced Real Estate Administrator with 10 years of solid work experience in the
Real Estate Industry and an educational background in business management. I have worked
with some of the top Real Estate professionals from Toronto to Ottawa.

I have worked on "both sides of the fence" as an assistant to a top producing Toronto realtor and also in operations for a large corporate Real Estate head office.   I now offer my services on a freelance basis from Toronto to Ottawa and in between, offering a variety of set ups to suit any agent’s budget.

What makes your organization unique?

My business is unique in the sense that I have specialized skills and knowledge exclusive to Real Estate and Real Estate programs.  I take 10 years of work experience in the Real Estate industry and offer it to busy Real Estate professionals who don’t have time to waste training or explaining projects to staff - I am able to grab the ball and run so to speak.

I have the most up to date training available in the programs needed to run a successful Real estate Practice. 

Who would be a good client for you? 

Real Estate professionals in Ontario! Every real estate professional MUST have a strong support system to succeed as a top-producing agent!  

The results Real Estate professionals achieve are in direct proportion to the time they can devote to prospecting, networking and follow up, giving listing presentations and wowing buyers and sellers with your excellent real estate knowledge and services.

Time to prospect, network, follow up and give listing presentations can propel them to the top of their field. You only need to have a look at what the majority of top producing agents are doing to realize that nothing is more important to your success than the time afforded to you by partnering with the right real estate consultant such as myself. With today’s huge abundance of real estate software and tools, an assistant like me is more important than ever! 

What is your primary service or product?

I work for TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice as Manager, Operational Risk Management. TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice is a premier full-service brokerage ideal for investors who want a one-on-one relationship with a dedicated and professional Investment Advisor. You will receive comprehensive and personalized investment advice while staying involved in the key decisions about your portfolio.

TD Waterhouse Investment Advisors can give you:

• Sound financial advice through all life's stages
• Personalized advice that reflects you and your family's unique needs and goals
• A customized investment and retirement strategy

When was your organization founded and what is its history?

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with 74,000 employees in offices around the world, The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Financial Group (TDBFG). TD Bank Financial Group offers a full range of financial products and services to approximately 18 million customers worldwide through four key business lines:

• Canadian Personal and Business Banking including TD Canada Trust and TD Insurance
• Wealth Management including TD Waterhouse and an investment in TD Ameritrade
• Wholesale Banking including TD Securities
• U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking including TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank

As of July 31, 2010, TD Bank Financial Group had CDN $603 billion in assets. TD Bank Financial Group also ranks among the world’s leading online financial services firms, with more than 6 million online customers. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol "TD".

The Toronto-Dominion Bank is a chartered bank. It was formed on February 1, 1955, through the amalgamation of The Bank of Toronto, chartered in 1855, and The Dominion Bank, chartered in 1869.

What makes your organization unique?

TD is unique amongst Canadian banks due to our focus on a superior client experience, as exemplified by the numerous awards my organization has received over the years in this capacity. Furthermore, TD is highly committed to diversity, as we know the value of working closely with the communities that we serve, and we want to attract the best and brightest to work for our company.

Who would be a good client for you?

While I don’t deal directly with clients, TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice is built for those who have built significant assets over their lives, and want those assets managed prudently. The ideal TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice client takes an interest in his or her portfolio, and is looking to work closely with their Investment Advisor to maximize returns and employ sound financial management.

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your organization?

As a primary sponsor of OGLCC, TD is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the community in building strong partnerships and businesses within the community. The OGLCC is a key promoter of business within the LGBT community, and it is this focus on encouraging our members to grow with the community which will strengthen the community further.

 
Visit TD Waterhouse online.

What is Out on Bay Street’s mission?

The mission of Out on Bay Street is to educate and increase the public’s understanding of the LGBTQA community, both student and professional, by supplying the resources and opportunities to foster Out on Bay Street’s fundamentals of Leadership, Mentoring and Networking.

When was your organization founded?

Founded in 2007 and officially registered as a federally recognized non-profit organization in February 2010.

What is Out on Bay Street’s history?

Out on Bay Street Inc. is a non-profit organization that highlights Toronto’s Bay Street as the symbolic focal point of business in Canada. Originating in 2007 as the sole Business Conference for Undergraduate and Graduate Students, organized by students across Ontario, the conference expanded in the following years to primarily focus on students in the specializations of Business and Law. In 2010, with much support from the Academic and Professional communities, the conference was incorporated as an ongoing effort to support the next generations of LGBTQA leaders in Canada. Out on Bay Street strives to have all institutions across Canada embrace inclusiveness within the workplace and diversity within the workforce and empower LGBTQA students to become the leaders of tomorrow.

What makes your organization unique?

Out on Bay Street Inc. is Canada’s First and only professional organization focused on supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally (LGBTQA) Undergraduate and Graduate Students in Business and Law.

Who would be a good member for you?

Any student or professional in the LGBTQA community who is striving for workplace diversity, inclusion, and equality.

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your organization?

This year, we are working more closely with other LGBTQA organizations in the community to foster better collaboration. It is important to us that the student members of Out on Bay Street know that there are other LGBTQA organizations that support them even their professional careers.

Visit Out on Bay Street on their website www.outonbayst.org.

What is your primary product or service?
We develop websites for small businesses via affordable monthly plans. We also offer search engine marketing services for our clients to drive traffic to their websites – particularly through Search Engine Optimization (SEO; the process of increasing a website’s ranking on search engines for keywords likely to be searched for by potential customers).
How long have you been in business?
We’ve been in business now since 2001.
What is the history of your business?
I started the company (Alcaris Inc.) in 2001 while I was still in high school. We were given the opportunity to develop websites and web applications for our local school board, and so that provided the original impetus to form the company. I then went off to university in Toronto at the University of Toronto in 2002 and took on the occasional website project while I was studying. After graduating in 2007, I devoted myself fully to the company and renamed our service Website On-Demand. Since the end of 2007, we’ve grown to a staff of five web developers here in Toronto including myself.  
What makes your business or service unique?
What makes us unique is our “Call-to-Action” based development methodology and adherence to SEO best practices. Through our initial interview process, we identify the actions that are most important for visitors to take on your website (e.g., making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, completing a contact form, etc.) and then design your website to increase the percentage of visitors that will take that action. We also integrate Search Engine Optimization best practices right from the beginning so our Clients websites are able to both attract visitors and convert them into potential customers once they’re on the website. It is not uncommon for our clients to catapult to the first page of a Google search for their most competitive keywords simply through our adherence to these best practices.
Who would be a good customer for you?
A good customer for us is a small business suffering from one of three common conditions:

1. No existing website
2. An existing website that receives no traffic
3. An existing website with traffic but that isn’t able to generate leads from that traffic

I encourage any business suffering from one of those three conditions to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (416) 963-8860 for a free web design consultation. Our portfolio, consisting primarily of local Toronto businesses, can be viewed on our website at http://www.websiteondemand.ca.
What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your business?
As an LGBTQ business owner, the OGLCC has offered me a means to connect with other LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly business owners here in Toronto. The life of an entrepreneur is hectic and often a bit isolating, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the networking opportunities the OGLCC offers. From a business benefits perspective, I’ve met many valuable business contacts through the OGLCC’s Open Minds Open Doors networking series, and my business continues to benefit from these relationships.