National Bank of Canada has opened an office in the Dubai International Financial Centre in the United Arab Emirates. This location will serve as a platform to support Canadian clients pursuing business opportunities in the Middle East. The announcement was made during an economic mission to the United Arab Emirates led by the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Canadian Minister of International Trade. As part of this expansion, Ali Fares, Managing Director and Head, Middle East and North Africa, Capital Markets, has relocated to Dubai to lead the Bank’s regional presence. With this new office, National Bank of Canada strengthens its position as a trusted partner for Canadian clients engaged in cross-border trade and investment. (National Bank of Canada – www.nbc.ca)…………….
Qu, a unified commerce platform helping quick-service and fast-casual restaurants boost efficiency and grow revenue, reports that Oakberry, the premium açaí and smoothies concept, has selected Qu to support the brand’s U.S. rollout. “Our growth ambitions in the U.S. require a platform that can scale with speed and accuracy while keeping operations consistent across every location,” said Tatiana Favery, Head of U.S. & Canada at Oakberry. “Qu’s open API provides the flexibility to integrate the tools and partners we already rely on, while delivering enterprise-level resilience.” Oakberry’s deployment of Qu comes as part of a broader expansion strategy. In 2024, Oakberry raised funding, noting a focus on growth in the U.S. The brand currently operates more than 50 locations and has a development pipeline of more than 250 planned locations nationwide. (Oakberry Acai – www.oakberry.com) & (Qu – www.qubeyond.com)………….
David Tardif, who helped build Équipe Tardif into one of Royal LePage’s top performing teams in Quebec since 2019, has joined eXp Realty as Endurance Groupe Immobilier/Endurance Real Estate Group to launch a national alliance that positions Québec expertise at the center of Canada’s evolving real estate landscape. Tardif brings his eleven-agent team to drive Mouvement Endurance, a countrywide alliance that unites Endurance Groupe Immobilier/Endurance Real Estate Group with Canada’s top-producing independent teams: Justin Havre Real Estate Team, KelownaHomes Team and KatrinaAndTheTeam. The alliance provides agents across the country with a streamlined platform for training, mentorship and long-term wealth creation. (Endurance Groupe Immobilier/Endurance Real Estate Group – www.enduranceimmobilier.com)……………
Varin, the clean THC beverage redefining the functional energy drink category, has become the first THC drink to be carried by Circle K franchise convenience stores. The partnership brings VARIN’s innovative hemp-derived THC beverages to dozens of Circle K locations across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, marking a major shift in how, and where, Texans can experience the next generation of functional, euphoric drinks. One of the world’s leading convenience store brands, select Circle K stores will also host multiple in-store tastings each week through 2026. (Varin – www.varinlife.com) & (Circle K – www.circlek.com)………..
In early January 2026, Quebec City-based Réseau MAclinique announced the formation of the Réseau MAclinique FMG Fund, the first fund in Quebec entirely dedicated to family medicine group clinics operating within the public system. This initiative enables physician owners of FMG clinics to join Réseau MAclinique by becoming shareholders in a structured primary care clinic platform, grounded in the conviction that physicians are stronger when they act together to address today’s challenges. Under this model, Réseau MAclinique assumes responsibility for the management and support of clinics integrated into the fund. Then, last week, Réseau MAclinique announced the acquisition of Clinique médicale Pierre-Boucher, a major medical clinic located in Longueuil. This transaction marks Réseau MAclinique’s first presence on Montréal’s South Shore and represents a key milestone in the deployment of its network across Québec. Established more than 30 years ago, Clinique médicale Pierre-Boucher is an integral part of Québec’s primary care landscape. It operates a Family Medicine Group as well as an FMG-R, and provides close to 110,000 patient visits annually, making it the fourth-largest clinic in the province in terms of appointments delivered. (Réseau MAclinique – www.reseaumaclinique.com)………..
Last week Strathearn Development Inc. announced the construction start on the first phase of the mixed-use community at 95 Ave and 87 St., directly adjacent to the Strathearn LRT stop in Edmonton. A co-venture of Rockwell Investments, Canderel, Nearctic Properties, and Westlake, this first phase will deliver 183 purpose-built rental homes in two six-storey buildings centered on a new public plaza with neighbourhood retail and enhanced pedestrian and cycling connections to the River Valley. GEC Architecture is providing master planning and architectural design and construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2027. (GEC Architecture – www.gecarchitecture.com)…………
Have a great week and don’t forget to return your calls, even if you don’t know who it is. That’s what prospecting and new business is all about………….