Pinay entrepreneur Lorephil Toledo, the CEO and founder of Primekey Management Inc., a cleaning and property management company, recently received the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award in Edmonton, Canada. Toledo was previously featured on Business News Philippines. Her business started out as a janitorial services company CanaJan Inc.
The recognition is part of the Alberta Immigrant Impact Awards, which celebrate the outstanding contributions of Albertans who were born abroad. Toledo is qualified for the awards because she was born in the Philippines.
The nominees of this award must have been born outside of Canada but are currently Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are currently living in Alberta.
The awards are given to various individuals, including entrepreneurs, community builders, artists, and athletes of all ages and genders who have enriched the province of Alberta through their contributions in professional contributions, academia, arts, business, science and technology, sports, or volunteer efforts.
Toledo, along with the other winners of the 2025 Alberta Immigrant Impact Awards, received the recognition on September 30, 2025.
The recipients were awarded by Premier Danielle Smith and Associate Minister Muhammad Yaseen.
As you might recall, Toledo was featured on Business News Philippines. A single mom, Toledo proved that nothing is impossible when you truly put your efforts into your dreams.
Like many Filipinos, Toledo worked hard even at a young age. She was just 14 years old when she started selling various items, including underwear, garments, and shoes.
Amazingly, Toledo started dreaming of going to Canada even at this young age.
When given the chance to work in Canada back in October 2011, she immediately grabbed it. At the time, her eldest was just 2 years old.
Despite missing her kids, this single mom tried her best to overcome her challenges to build a life in Canada for them. She worked various jobs, including cleaning houses on the side, just to overcome her homesickness – and realized that this could earn her more. That’s how her business was born.
Fast forward many years later, who would have thought that this “simple” idea would eventually land her a prestigious award in Canada? Wow!
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