Multi-Year
Accessibility Plan

Intent

This policy and multi-year accessibility plan outlines Phoena Inc. (the “Company”) policies and strategy to prevent and remove barriers to address the current and future requirements of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act, 2005 (the “AODA) under the Integrated Accessibility Standards, Ontario Regulation 191/11.

In working towards its goal under this policy and plan, the Company is committed to becoming a barrier free environment, and will endeavor to do the following in accordance with provincial legal requirements:

  1. Identify barriers,
  2. Remove identified barriers,
  3. Prevent barriers,
  4. Increase awareness of accessibility initiatives at all levels of our organization,
  5. Promote compliance policies and procedures with respect to accessibility to our staff, as well as to our customers and consumers, and
  6. Provide appropriate training to our employees who deal with the public with a view to ensure greater awareness and responsiveness to the needs of those with disabilities.

A barrier is anything that prevents a person with a disability from fully taking part in society because of that disability. Some barriers include:

  • Physical barriers
  • Architectural barriers
  • Information or communication barriers
  • Attitudinal barriers
  • Technological barriers
  • Barriers created by policies or practices.

This policy and plan will be reviewed once every five years. A review will be conducted more frequently in the event of legislative changes or any changes to the work or the workplace that necessitates an earlier review.

Individuals can request a copy of this policy and plan at any time in a format or with communication supports that meets the needs of the individual.

Unless otherwise stated in this policy and plan or in accordance with applicable law, the commitments set out in the plan are being achieved and/or implement and/or planned as of the effective date of this policy.

 

Statement of Commitment

Phoena Inc. believes in equal opportunity and is committed to providing a barrier-free environment that allows all people to maintain their independence and dignity. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) and its associated Regulations and strive to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and effective manner.

The Company welcomes feedback in relation to this Plan, in the format most convenient to the persons providing feedback.  Feedback and/or request for copies of our Accessibility policies, procedures, and Multi-Year Plan can be directed to Human Resources via:

Email: info@phoena.com

Telephone: 1-855-794-2266

Mail: Phoena Inc. Attention: Human Resources

3280 Langstaff Road, Unit 1, Vaughan, ON L4K 5B6

 

Plan

Customer Service Accessibility Commitment:

The Company complies with the AODA and its regulation.  The Company’s goal is to deliver exceptional customer service and it is committed to servicing its customers in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.

Actions Taken:

Among the measures that have been implemented by the Company are the following:

  • The Company will ensure training is provided to every person who interacts with the public on the Company’s behalf, as well as to those who are involved in the development of The Company’s policies, procedures and practices governing the provision of goods or services to public. This training includes the purpose of standards regarding accessibility set by provincial legislation and related requirements, as well as how to communicate, interact, and support persons with disabilities in ways that take the person’s disability into account.  The training will be delivered as soon as practicable after hire and on an ongoing basis in connection changes to the Company’s policies or procedures governing the provisions of gods or services to persons with disabilities.
  • Persons with disabilities are permitted to use their own assistive devices to obtain, use or benefit from the Company’s goods and/or services
  • Persons accompanied by a service animal are permitted to enter areas of our facilities that are open to the public, except in areas prohibited by law
  • Where a person with a disability is accompanied by a support person, both the person with the disability and the support person are provided equal access to our goods and services.
  • Notice is provided to the public of any temporary or other disruptions to facilities or service usually used by persons with disabilities, including information about the reason and expected length of disruption with a description of any alternatives available.
  • The Company welcomes feedback about how it provides goods/services to persons with disabilities in the manner deemed most convenient to them.

 

Information and Communication

Commitment:

The Company is committed to making company information and communications accessible to persons with disabilities.  The company will incorporate new accessibility requirements under the information and communications standards to ensure that its information and communications systems and platforms are accessible and are provided in accessible formats that meet the needs of persons with disabilities.

Accessible Website and Web Content:

 

Action Taken:

  • The Company will ensure development of its digital platform for public websites, information technology infrastructure meet AODA Information and Communication Standards and that partnering vendors have necessary expertise with such technology.
  • New or substantially refreshed websites and web content for the Company will confirm to Level A of the Worldwide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0). All website will comply with WCAG 2.0 Level AA by 2021

Feedback, Accessible Formats and Communication Supports:

 

Action Taken:

The Company has ensured that:

  • Its processes for receiving and responding to feedback are accessible, by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports, upon requests
  • Upon request, the Company will provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities, in a timely manner.
  • Feedback and requests will be accepted by all employees and will be directed to their Manager or his or her designated, who will respond to the person giving feedback or making the request
  • Requesting persons will be consulted as to the suitability of an accessible format or communications support
  • Accessible formats and communication supports to make all publicly available information is made accessible to persons with disabilities upon request.

 

Emergency Procedures, Public Emergency Safety Information

Commitment:

Where the Company is aware that an employee has a disability and that there is a need for accommodation in an emergency situation, individualized workplace emergency response information will be provided to the employee as soon as practicable if such information is necessary give the nature of the employee’s disability.

 

Action to be taken

The Company will periodically notify employees of the availability of individualized assistance, and prepare individual plans for employees, in consultation with the employee, who advise of the need for accommodation in emergency situations.

If an employee who receives individualized workplace emergency response information requires assistance and wit the employee’s consent, the Company will provide the workplace emergency response information to the person designated to provide the assistance to the employee in the event of an emergency.

The Company will review the individualized workplace emergency response information that is in place for an employee (a) when the employee moves to a different location in the organization; (b) when the employee’s overall accommodations needs or plans are reviewed: and (c) when the Company reviews its general emergency response policies.

 

Employment

Commitment:

The Company is committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain employees with disabilities.  This includes providing accessibility across all stages of the employment cycle.

 

Action Taken and Planned Actions:

The Company has integrated accessibility into the Company’s employment-related practices, as follows:

Recruitment

  • Review and, as necessary, modify existing recruitment, assessment, and selection procedures and processes
  • Notify all job applicants and the public the accommodation is available during the recruitment process on request, by specifying the same in the job posting
  • Specify that accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities in recruitment-related materials and during scheduling of interviews
  • If an applicant requests accommodation, consult with the applicant and arrange for suitable accommodations that takes into account the applicant’s needs due to disability
  • When making offers employment, notify the successful applicant of the Company’s policies for accommodating employees with disabilities; and
  • Develop and provide appropriate training to employees responsible for recruitment, assessment, selection and on-boarding to ensure delivery of required actions, and accommodations requests are fulfilled in effective, timely manner

Workplace

  • Review and, as necessary, modify existing orientation and on-boarding processes to ensure new employees are provided information about the Company’s accessibility policies as soon as practicable after employment commences
  • Develop and integrate procedure for documenting and updating, as required, documented individual accommodation plans, which will provide for the method(s) by which requesting employees will be assessed and how they can participate in the plan’s development, and the method by which a copy of the plan will be provided to the employee in a format that takes into account the accessibility needs required
  • Develop and provide appropriate training to managers and employees responsible for supporting the individualized accommodation plan process, and a training schedule that will ensure the process is upheld in a continual basis

Return to work from Disability-Related Leaves

  • Review and, as necessary, modify and document existing return to work processes for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require accommodation in order to return to work
  • Ensure documented individual accommodation plans comprise part of the return to work process
  • Develop and provide appropriate training to managers and other employees responsible for supporting the return to work process for employees who require accommodation in order to return to work, and any ongoing training required to ensure the continual execution of the return to work process

Performance Management, Career Development and Redeployment

  • Review and, as necessary, modify existing performance management, career development, and redeployment processes to ensure that the accessibility needs and individual accommodation plans of employees with disabilities are taken into account
  • Develop and provide appropriate training to mangers and other employees responsible for supporting or impacting performance management, career development and advancement, and redeployment processes. Schedule training as necessary to ensure continual compliance with the process.

 

Company Premises

In accordance with the Design of Public Spaces Standard, the Company will ensure that if it is constructing a new development with respect to a public space or redeveloping a public space (this does not include maintenance), such as a parking lot or service counter, it will comply with its obligation relating to accessible public spaces.

The Company will also ensure compliance with any Ontario Building Code requirements related to accessibility.

 

Training

Commitment

The Company is committed to implementing a process to ensure that all employees, volunteers, third-party contractors who provide goods, services and facilities on the Company’s behalf, and persons participating in the development and approval of Phoena’s polices, are provided with appropriate training on the requirements of the AODA and on the Ontario Human Rights Code as it pertains to the persons with disabilities, and are provided with such training as soon as practicable.

 

Action Taken and Planned Actions:

The Company, has delivered, implemented and continually refreshes training to ensure that all employees and those who provide services on the Company’s behalf on the standards set by provincial legislation regarding accessibility as well as any aspects of local human rights legislation relating to persons with disabilities.

  • Developed and implemented appropriate training materials
  • Delivered training was provided before or as soon as possible after the trainee commences duties and whenever the Company alters its policies and practices regarding accessibility
  • Kept and maintains a record of the training provided, including the dates that the training was provided and the number of individuals to whom it was provided
  • Ensuring that training is provided on any changes to the prescribed policies on an ongoing basis.

 

Review and Update

We will review and update this policy at least once every five (5) years.

Corné Melissen

Interim Chief Executive Officer

Corné Melissen is the Interim CEO of Phoena. In March 2021 Corné founded Kenzoll, a Netherlands-based investment firm. Kenzoll in 2022 acquired a 90% equity interest in Phoena Holdings.

Corné has been in the private equity industry since 1991 when he started working for Dutch private equity firm Alpinvest. In parallel to his business career, he served as a reserve-officer in the Netherlands Army. He was mobilized as active-duty officer in various domestic and overseas deployments.

Since 2006 until 2021 he was a partner at Dutch private equity firm Ramphastos Investments. In 2021 Kenzoll carved out part of the Ramphastos portfolio (mostly energy and technology assets) in a buy-out.  Corné still serves as a non-executive director on the board of some Ramphastos owned investee companies, like US biometrics firm Lumenvox and upstream oil firm Mazarine Energy.

Corné has been involved in an extensive list of mostly special situation acquisitions across the globe, ranging from technology, energy, mining and retail (HEMA). Mr. Melissen holds a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Amsterdam.

DAN HOGAN

Dan Hogan is a seasoned executive with over 40 years of experience in consumer products companies. Hogan has strong operations, finance and executive leadership skills, as well as extensive experience in restructuring, remediation, continuous improvement, and strategic development.

Hogan is the former Head of Strategic Priorities at Phoena. His career spans multiple senior roles, including CEO of eBags Inc., COO and CFO of the Coleman Company, as well as senior international roles at Georgia-Pacific and World Kitchen.

GREG GUYATT

Greg Guyatt has more than 20 years of experience leading high-performing teams across the cannabis, CPG, retail, pharmaceutical and private equity sectors.

Guyatt is the current CEO of Phoena, following roles as our CFO, CFO of GreenSpace Brands Inc. and increasingly senior roles at Sears Canada.

Guyatt has extensive knowledge across governance, strategic planning, risk management, financial reporting and treasury, as well as a wealth of M&A and capital markets expertise, having begun his career at Deloitte, before spending several years as an investment banker with UBS in the United Kingdom.

DAVID BLAIR, CPA, CA

Chief Financial Officer

David Blair is the Chief Financial Officer of Phoena. Mr. Blair joined the business in October 2019 as the VP of Finance and leads all areas of the company’s financial planning, risk management, record-keeping, and reporting.

An accomplished executive, Mr. Blair has extensive public company controllership, operational and financial strategy experience. Prior to Phoena, Mr. Blair spent 18 years at Wajax, a Canadian distributor of equipment, power systems and industrial machinery, as a corporate controller, following 7 years as a financial analyst with companies including JD Edwards, Apple Inc. and Marion Merrell Dow.

Mr. Blair has a Bachelors in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and also holds a CPA, CA designation.

SHAWNA PAGE

Director

Ms. Page brings years of experience in both the capital markets, as well as the consumer retail markets.

Ms. Page spent 10 years working at Merrill Lynch Canada, followed by 10 years at TD Securities where she was Managing Director and Chief of Staff.

In 2007, Shawna launched a unique mass-channel brand of gender-specific and condition-specific products into the highly regulated nutraceutical industry across Canada, and later in various international markets, which she successfully exited in November 2016.

MARK DAWBER, FCPA, FCA

Director

Mr. Dawber is a FCPA with significant public accounting experience having been an Audit Partner at Moore Stephens Hyde Houghton from 1971 until 1998 and BDO Canada LLP from 1999 to 2000.

He has extensive public company experience having served on public company boards for many years as an independent director, chair of audit committees and as a member of governance and compensation committees.

He has conducted numerous assignments for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario’s Professional Conduct Committee.

MITCHELL SANDERS

Director

Senior Partner at Goldman, Spring, Kichler & Sanders LLP, an established boutique commercial law firm in Toronto.

Specializes in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and securities law to mid-market clients in Canada and the US.

Serves on the board of numerous companies and not-for-profit entities.

Former member of the Small Business Advisory Committee to the Ontario Securities Commission and TEC, an international organization of CEO’s.

ROBERT MARCOVITCH

Chairman of the Board

Mr. Marcovitch is a seasoned chief executive with substantial business experience, managing companies with in excess of $1 billion dollars in revenue.

Until recently, he was the President and CEO of K2 Sports, an international developer, manufacturer, marketer and distributor of winter sports equipment (and was previously with K2 from 1999 to 2011). His responsibilities included managing factories in Europe, the USA and Asia.

He was previously the Chief Executive Officer at The Coleman Outdoor Company from 2011 until 2015, and prior to that, was Chief Executive Officer and President of Ride, Inc. from 1994 to 1999, which prior to its acquisition by K2 was a large publicly traded company.

ANNA JAKOBSMEIER

Senior Director, Production

Anna Jakobsmeier is the Senior Director of Production, leading Phoena’s Vaughan Manufacturing Facility.

She began her tenure with Phoena in 2016, overseeing the extraction department and was responsible for launching our award-winning cannabis oils and capsules. In her time with the business, Anna has taken on increasingly more senior roles within the business and currently manages all production and manufacturing projects in our Vaughan facility. Anna has simultaneously led a number of special projects for the business, notably leading the redesign and renovation of Phoena’s GPP facility, while successfully maintaining operations.

Ms. Jakobsmeier brings significant international experience to the Phoena team having worked in numerous Countries in the beverage alcohol and agriculture industries, across operations and logistics roles.

When she isn’t travelling or exploring music and arts festivals, Anna enjoys spending time at home with her puppy Ralphie.

DAVID HAMBY

Chief Operating Officer

As an experienced farmer, David Hamby oversees the growing operation at Phoena’s greenhouse facility in Pelham, ON. Prior to joining the business, David was the President of Operations at the Cambridge Towel Companies where he was responsible for the oversight of manufacturing operations in Ontario, North Carolina and South Carolina.

He is also an inventor and holds the US and Canadian patent for an institutional towel format.

David obtained the rank of Sergeant First Class in the US Armed Forces and a Vietnam veteran, having spent five years in active duty and eight years in the Reserve.

CHARL VAN RENSBURG

VP, Sales and Business Development

Charl van Rensburg is the Vice President of Sales and Business Development. In his role, he will be responsible for managing all recreational, medical, and international sales, as well as driving existing and new product growth. He is a passionate and collaborative senior sales leader with 20+ years of international sales and business development experience in various sectors and regulated industries – including Consumer Packaged Goods and Beverage Alcohol.

Prior to joining Phoena, Charl gained vast experience working his way up in multinational organizations (including British American Tobacco, MolsonCoors Canada and Brown – Foreman) where he contributed strategically, operational and tactically to help drive and achieve corporate objectives. Brands he has managed include Jack Daniel’s, Heineken, Miller, Corona, Coors Light, Molson Canadian as well as du Maurier, Dunhill, Marlboro, Lucky Strike and Vogue.

Charl’s educational background lies in Business Administration and Marketing Management.

JEFFERY ZIETLOW, MBA

SVP & Chief Commercial Officer

Jeffrey Zietlow is the Chief Commercial Officer at Phoena where he leads the company’s marketing, sales, and innovation strategy. He began his tenure with Phoena as the Vice President of Marketing during which the company was recognized at the 2018 Licensed Producer of the Year.

Jeffery’s has vast experience as a senior marketing executive with broad operational expertise in corporate strategy, business development, supply chain and operations. Prior to joining Phoena, Jeffery provided executive leadership at Mill Street Brewery as the Vice President of Marketing. Prior to that, Jeffery was the Director of Marketing at Mother Parkers Tea and Coffee where he developed the vision, led the creation and launch of the new single serve beverage business, RealCup™, compatible with Keurig brewing systems, which grew exponentially over the first 24 months. It was during this time he developed a talent for building cross-functional teams and lead new product innovations.

His career began at Kraft Foods Canada where he excelled through a variety of positions in manufacturing, supply chain, strategy and growth before taking the reigns as director of marketing where he led strategy and business leadership of Premium and Super Premium Coffee Categories, including Nabob, Starbucks and Tassimo.

Jeffery earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from McGill University and later went on to earn his MBA from the Rotman school of Management at the University of Toronto.

DR. ILANA PLATT, PhD

SVP & Chief Regulatory Officer - RP & A/QAP

Dr. Ilana Platt is the Chief Regulatory Officer at Phoena.

She began her tenure with Phoena in 2013, overseeing all aspects of Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Analytical Sciences, and R&D.  Dr. Platt was instrumental in obtaining numerous key licenses for the company including the original licenses to grow, manufacture, and sell dried cannabis; to manufacture and sell cannabis oil; and the rarely issued Controlled Drugs and Substances licence, which permitted the company to conduct research on cannabis at a time when research activities were not permitted under the governing cannabis regulations.

Dr. Platt’s illustrious career includes more than 12 years as a regulatory science, regulatory affairs and quality assurance professional.  Her 18 years of research experience is vast, and covers clinical, animal, cell research and R&D.

Dr. Platt earned her BSc. At McMaster University in biochemistry and her PhD at the University of Toronto in medical sciences.  Following her PhD studies, Dr. Platt completed a Fellowship at Harvard Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine.  Dr. Platt is the recipient of 13 national and international awards, including a post-graduate scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

GREG GUYATT, CPA, CA

Chief Executive Officer

Greg Guyatt is the Chief Executive Officer of Phoena. He joined the business in February 2019 as Chief Financial Officer. Previously, he served as the CFO of GreenSpace Brands. Inc., a Canadian-based premium natural food product company, and brings more than 20 years of experience leading high-performing finance teams from the CPG, pharmaceutical and private equity sectors.

From 2009 through 2016, he held increasingly senior finance roles at Sears Canada, and prior to that spent seven years in the pharmaceutical industry. In these roles, he had responsibility for a broad portfolio of financial operations including governance, audit and risk management, financial reporting, treasury and strategic planning, and has a wealth of M&A and capital markets expertise.

He began his career at Deloitte, followed by several years as an investment banker with UBS in the United Kingdom. Mr. Guyatt holds a B.Comm from Mount Allison University, and a CPA, CA designation.