providing companies the opportunity to share
        
        
          ideas and give council to others in the program.
        
        
          “We have a cumulative type program where
        
        
          the companies who win stay on the list and
        
        
          after four years can become a gold company,
        
        
          and after seven years can become a platinum
        
        
          company. They’ve been coming back year after
        
        
          year because of the learning experience,” says
        
        
          Hughes. “The program has taken on a life of its
        
        
          own.”
        
        
          “It’s all about connecting companies. Those
        
        
          on the list are not the high flyers but are stra-
        
        
          tegic planners that know how they will grow
        
        
          business and build a sustainable organization,”
        
        
          closes Hughes. “A number of people have told
        
        
          me ‘what you’re doing is great for Canada’ and
        
        
          that is our goal.”
        
        
          If you want to learn more about Canada’s
        
        
          Best Managed Companies program, you can
        
        
          reach John Hughes at 
        
        
        
          or visit
        
        
        
          JULY 2014
        
        
          H
        
        
          business elite canada
        
        
          
            21