After five years of successfully operating a circular manufacturing franchise in Calgary, ChopValue YYC is evolving to support larger-scale, locally made projects across Western Canada.

When we began expanding our circular economy Microfactory model across Canada, Calgary was not an obvious choice at first based on market size or timing alone. What set the city apart was the people behind the opportunity. Joanne Dafoe, a determined and deeply community-connected leader, saw the potential and brought ChopValue to Calgary, establishing our first franchise location in Alberta.

From day one, Joanne embodied what it means to be a ChopValue franchise partner. With a background in design and deep roots in the Calgary community, she brought both creative vision and operational discipline to the Microfactory. Central to her approach was a shared belief with ChopValue’s global network that waste only exists when we fail to reimagine its potential.

ChopValue YYC launched in 2020 during a period of global uncertainty. Its success was shaped by strong leadership, and Joanne’s ability to build momentum in a challenging environment laid the groundwork for long-term stability and growth. The team leaned into local relationships, building collection partnerships with restaurants, malls, offices, and community organizations across Calgary, adapting quickly as conditions evolved. 

In 2021, noteworthy retail partnerships enabled ChopValue YYC to scale production, delivering to clients such as Nordstrom, Hudson’s Bay, and FOOD52. This exposure led to an expanded portfolio of displays, fixtures and retail experience furniture for partners including Cadillac Fairview, Cross Iron Mills, and Googlesoc, alongside custom awards and medals for sporting events such as the FIS Ski Cross World Cup and the Canada Running Series.

As operations matured, ChopValue YYC aligned closely with ChopValue’s national strategy, contributing to coast-to-coast hospitality projects and serving as a trusted local manufacturer for multinational brands including A&W and Good Earth Coffeehouse, reinforcing a model that prioritizes production as close to the point of use as possible.

“Sometimes I forget to look back and truly admire the incredible impact we’ve had on the Calgary community,” Joanne reflects. “As a born-and-raised Calgarian, I’m most proud of the partnerships we’ve built with institutions that have helped shape this city. I love looking at businesses that were formed as I was growing up and realizing that, through ChopValue, I’ve now become colleagues, and often friends, with the leadership teams behind them.”

ChopValue YYC stands as a powerful example of what becomes possible when the right franchise partner meets the right mission. The team has maintained high standards for product quality, embraced innovation, and actively shared insights with the broader ChopValue network. Their experience as Alberta’s first Microfactory has helped inform best practices for future franchise growth in similar markets. Joanne’s commitment, leadership, and passion for sustainability have strengthened ChopValue’s presence in Western Canada and reinforced a shared belief that the future of manufacturing is local, circular, and human-centered.

Looking ahead, Joanne sees collaboration as central to the next phase of growth. “The next chapter for ChopValue YYC is about deepening impact, not just expanding our footprint,” Joanne shares. “We’re focused on building strategic partnerships that bring complementary expertise in design, fabrication, and millwork, allowing us to explore new applications for our material and take on more complex commercial and interior projects without moving production away from the region.”

With demand growing and a proven model in place, ChopValue YYC is now actively seeking strategic manufacturing partners to help deliver the next generation of circular, locally made interior solutions across Western Canada.

As ChopValue is committed to support the sustainable growth of Joanne’s success, we are actively investing in centralized design, engineering and technology services that allow her and her team to focus on operational excellence. If you are interested in becoming an approved manufacturing partner in the region, with the mission of building the future of circular interiors together, we’d love to hear from you at calgary@chopvalue.com.