Winner
MTRS Stereo Amplifier by EMM Labs
Made in Calgary
$65,000 US
emmlabs.com
This Calgary-based, family-owned-and-operated company has been designing and manufacturing audio products for nearly 30 years. In 1997, Ed Meitner was approached by Sony Music to design studio-grade converters. Meitner then used those converters to remaster albums from notable recording artists such as Pink Floyd and Roger Waters, the Rolling Stones, Tracy Chapman, Neil Young, and hundreds more. Those original studio converters are still used worldwide today and EMM Labs’ facility in Calgary makes approximately 500 individual audio products each year, supplying well-known names like Abbey Road Studios, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Sony Music, Universal Music and Virgin Records.
In its line of state-of-the-art amplifiers, the MTRS Stereo Amplifier upholds the industry-leading standard EMM is known for. Like all EMM products, the MTRS is produced with precise specifications and materials. It is crafted with an aerospace-grade aluminum chassis with custom-made ceramic and fibreglass printed circuit boards outfitted with the highest-tolerance electronic components available to the market; and custom-wound, hermetically sealed toroidal transformers for the power delivery. Tested for a minimum of seven days to ensure quality and that it meets professional standards, the 400 Wpc, class A-B amplifier, which is also handwired, has been in a state of development for the better part of a decade.
In a March 2024 article in Stereophile, reviewer Jason Victor Serinus called the EMM Labs MTRS, “the finest, most musically complete stereo amp I’ve reviewed to date.” And, according to EMM Labs, the popularity of the amplifier means this local company is on track to produce one MTRS Stereo Amplifier every week for the rest of this year.
What the judges said: “The reviews for the MTRS Stereo Amplifier sounded like we had our winner … in stereo. It is a level above, based on expertise, quality, and the true uniqueness of an electronics product few of us would have known was developed right here in our backyard — first for industry titans, now for consumers.” Kelly Jubenvill
Leisure and Lifestyle Category Runners-Up
The G12 by Arkto Campers
Made in Edmonton
$72,000 to $108,000
arktocampers.com
After building a couple of trailers for personal use, Aaron Nerenberg saw a gap in the market for a mid-sized trailer that was in between smaller “tear drop” style off-road trailers and other much larger versions. Nerenberg’s vision, to design and build a trailer that they would personally use, eventually evolved into the G12 Camper.
The 12-foot-long, off-road, hybrid-style travel trailer is designed and built from start to finish in Edmonton and can sleep four. Unlike most trailers that are made or framed with wood, the G12 is made of structural composite material, such as aluminum for the cabinetry, to prevent mold, mildew or warpage. It also has an independent suspension, which makes this overland trailer compatible with all kinds of off-road terrain.
Primarily geared towards the outdoor living scene, facilities like the kitchen are actually outside of the trailer. The G12’s sink, stove drawers and fridge are all mounted on heavy-duty drawer slides, covered by a 270-degree awning. And it features a pop-up roof, indoor and outdoor portable toilet, advanced electrical system, outdoor shower, hot and cold water, furnace and 105 cubic feet of storage, while only weighing 3,600 pounds.
Nomad Apron by Medium Rare Chef Apparel Inc.
Made in Calgary
$88.95
mediumrarechef.com
Chefs, woodworkers, grillers, tattooists and more will love this handmade, durable and ethically sourced cotton canvas apron from Medium Rare Chef Apparel Inc., a Calgary studio that’s been designing and manufacturing high-quality aprons for more than 15 years. The Nomad Apron is designed for functionality, versatility and longevity with a large, sectioned utility pouch and chest pocket, reinforced seams that help protect the apron’s shape, bar tack stitching at stress points and heavy weight thread. The natural cotton twill neck and waist straps are fully adjustable, and that, coupled with a neutral colour palette of canvas and navy, makes the Nomad Apron an easy pick for people across a multitude of industries.
Canoe by Backpaddle Canoe
Made in Calgary
$6,500 to $7,000
backpaddlecanoe.com
Nathan Ives’s love for canoes started 35 years ago from time spent paddling around the lake at his parents’ cabin in central Alberta. A year ago, the journeyman cabinetmaker found he had less time to get out and enjoy nature, so he closed shop on cabinetmaking to start Backpaddle Canoe, designing and manufacturing handcrafted cedar strip canoes that are small enough for easy transport while being able to hold the weight of two adults. The clear, western red cedar strips are sourced from Lethbridge, which Ives then rips into 1/4″ strips to glue, sand, shape and varnish with fiberglass, epoxy and varnish. The handmade, walnut tapered seats are woven with rawhide webbing. This standard canoe design has a rocker of 1.5-inches, making it ideal for lakes and slow-moving rivers. The entire process to craft one canoe takes Ives, who’s currently the sole owner and operator of Backpaddle, one month to make.
