Grow. Innovate. Connect.
Let's Connect.
Join us at Connect, the Canadian platform for collaboration and innovation in the pet industry!
We are dedicated to bringing together Canadian and global pet industry leaders-including manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers-to foster strong relationships and drive success.
At Connect, you'll find invaluable opportunities for networking, education, and dialogue, all designed to help pet businesses thrive in an ever-evolving market. Our Connect Tool Box vendors and expert speakers are here to share powerful insights and strategies to help you grow your business.
This event is more than just a gathering-it's a community committed to empowering retailers
with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to succeed. We advocate for innovative solutions and ensure retailers have access to brands that truly support them.
Built by pet professionals, Connect values your input! We invite you to share your vision and insights to make this experience even more impactful for your business. Join us in shaping the future of the pet industry-let’s grow together!
Connect:
A B2B pet trade event celebrating the Canadian pet industry hosted and created with a team that is 100% built with individuals and vendors from the Canadian Pet Industry.
Connect Lounge
Attendees and Exhibitors can enjoy all the amenities of the Connect Lounge. A spacious seating area with beverages, charging stations and plenty of seating area for impromptu meetings.
Education Stage
Connect brings 2 days of educational talks to attendees. Visitors will hear from Jennifer Murray, Jordan Milgrom, and financial advice through RBC, Moneris and ADP.
Fresh Food Showcase
A highlight of the show is Connect's Fresh Food Showcase featuring a variety of frozen and gently cooked products from many of the Connect Exhibitors. Thanks to Habco for the great looking freezer setup.
Connect Live
Thursday night features Connect Live at the NFCC with the Orange Man Band. The evening will kick off with $10,000 in cash giveaways to retailers and exhibitors.
Ontario’s ESA Update
New Hiring Rules for Ontario!
Ontario’s ESA Update
Posted on July 9th, 2025 in Human Resources Advisory
Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA) has undergone a series of important updates aimed at strengthening transparency, fairness, and staff protections. From new hiring disclosure rules to expanded job-protected leave and mandatory pay transparency, these changes, rolling out between June 2025 and January 2026, will impact how businesses hire, manage, and support their employees.
Effective June 19, 2025 – Long‑Term Illness Leave Introduced
A brand‑new, job-protected, unpaid leave allows eligible employees (13 weeks’ continuous employment) up to 27 weeks of leave within a 52 week window, for serious medical conditions. Specific requirements must be met to request this leave, and it may be extended under certain conditions. It is also not a requirement that the weeks of leave be consecutive.
Effective July 1, 2025 – Mandatory Written Hiring Details
Ontario employers with 25+ staff must now provide new employees, before (or as soon after) their first workday, written details that include:
Employer’s legal and operating name(s)
Complete contact information and at least one contact person
General work location
Starting wage rate or commission
Pay period and payday
Anticipated hours of work
Effective January 1, 2026 – Pay Transparency & Fair Hiring Rules
For publicly advertised roles, employers with 25+ staff are subject to new requirements:
Compensation Disclosure: Required if salary is under $200,000; salary range may span up to $50,000.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Transparency: Must disclose any use of AI in screening or selection.
Vacancy Status: Employers must specify whether a posting is for an existing vacancy.
Ban on “Canadian Experience” Requirement: Job postings can no longer mandate Canadian work experience.
Interview Follow-Up: Applicants must be notified within 45 days after the last interview about the hiring decision.
Record Retention: Employers must keep job postings, applications, and candidate correspondence on file for three (3) years.
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