Responsible chemistry.
Innovative solutions.
Guardian Chemicals uses cutting-edge research to tackle modern day challenges through chemistry.
Headquartered in Sturgeon County, Alberta, Guardian Chemicals develops and manufactures over 220 specialty chemical products for multiple industries and applications. Whether it be oil and gas production, forestry, water treatment, or a new line of disinfectants and sanitizers in response to the pandemic, they're focused on creating reliable chemical solutions.
The Challenge:
Maintaining growth during COVID-19
Like many Canadian businesses, Guardian Chemicals felt the impact of COVID-19. With pandemic related closures and supply chain issues affecting sales, they needed to pivot fast. Connecting with the Accelerated Growth Service (AGS) at a crucial time helped Guardian Chemicals embrace new challenges to maintain their growth. With support from an Innovation Advisor, they took advantage of new avenues for growth by launching a new line of hand sanitizers and disinfectants. Through coordinated support from the Business, Economic and Trade Recovery (BETR) Team and other government partners, they developed several new products since joining AGS and continue to pursue international expansion.
How we’re helping them
grow their business
Support for international expansion
The Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) connected Guardian Chemicals with its international business specialists in various countries to identify potential customers and distributors, and provided CanExport funding to support their international expansion.
Advisory services
The Innovation Advisor connected Guardian Chemicals with key government partners to help advance their R&D, expand into U.S. markets, and identify COVID-19 supports.
Wage subsidies
National Research Council’s-Industrial Research Assistance Program’s (NRC-IRAP) COVID-19 wage subsidies helped Guardian Chemicals retain their staff so they could stay focused on growth throughout the pandemic.
Funding for R&D projects
NRC-IRAP funding is helping Guardian Chemicals advance R&D projects in their wood and engineered wood products division.
With the support of
BETR partners
- National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)
- Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) of Global Affairs Canada
- Export Development Canada (EDC)
- Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
- Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
We're also helping
them get
- Assistance with market entry through BDC
- Insurance for international exports through EDC
- Advisory services to support U.S. market entry through TCS, BDC, and Global Affairs Canada’s CanExport
- R&D support for technology innovation through NRC-IRAP
Because they’re helping
to build our economy by
Creating Jobs
Fostering Innovation
Growing Fast
Exporting Globally
About the
BETR Initiative
The Business, Economic and Trade Recovery (BETR) initiative was designed to support economic recovery post-pandemic while building a stronger, more resilient future for Canada. With representation across Government of Canada trade-related departments, agencies and crown corporations, BETR brings key players together to fuel the growth of Canadian businesses at home and abroad.
To learn more about BETR and how they’re supporting Canadians check out this article: Federal partners work to rally Canada’s recovery.
Think you’re AGS ready?
Get in touch
Call us, toll-free in Canada, at 1-833-201-4358 |TTY: 1-866-694-8389, or send us your details and we’ll get back to you.
Looking to find all the other ways government can help you grow, scale or take it global? Check out innovation.canada.ca to find the right supports for your business.