When the pandemic began slowing business around the world, apparently no one told Aqualitas.

The Brooklyn-based cannabis producer is having a banner year by any standard, garnering national awards and forging international partnerships.

Earlier this year, Aqualitas master grower Jake Ward beat 500 other licensed producers to earn the title of Canada’s top grower from Grow Opportunities magazine.

Myrna Gillis, CEO and co-founder of Aqualitas, calls the recognition for Ward one of the happiest days she’s had with the company.

“We do things the hard way. We grow organically, we’re certified organic. We do living soil and living water. We have a complex design with the aquaponics,” said Gillis. “There’s only one other company doing that right now in Canada. It was setting a high bar but we did it because we knew that it would matter in the quality of the product.”

Gillis said the company’s success comes from the hard work of a lot of amazing people.

Since launching in 2014, Aqualitas has grown to 80 employees in the Brooklyn production facility and 11 in their Bedford offices.

Gillis was pleased to say they were one of the few cannabis companies who hired through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those positions come as Aqualitas is finding its way into new markets. Gillis said in January 2020, just before COVID hit, the company was selling six SKUs (or distinct products) in three markets. Now they have 26 SKUs being sold in seven markets and are listed to sell medical cannabis on the Shoppers Drug mart site.

“It’s been tough. We took it on the chin just like everybody else did in a couple of those months but overall, when we look at where the year will end and where it began, we have a lot to be proud of,” said Gillis.

And the year is ending with big news for Aqualitas. The local producer has teamed up with U.S.-based edibles producer Sunderstorm to manufacture and distribute their Kanha line of gummies across Canada.

Gillis said funding from the national Industrial Research Assistance program and Nova Scotia Business Inc allowed them to pursue research into keeping the amount of THC consistent in edibles through water-soluble powders.

“Making a gummy, in and of itself, is not particularly complex,” said Gillis. “Making a really good gummy is very complicated.”

Gillis said they will be the only Nova Scotian producer making edibles, setting them up in a David versus Goliath scenario against larger edible producers out of Ontario.

“Our home province is, without question, our most loyal and our most important market to us. So, certainly it will help us here, but I think the quality and the brands outside of the province is what will drive it,” said Gillis.

She calls the partnership with Sunderstorm a great match for both companies.

While she has more big goals set for 2020, Gillis wants her team to take some time to recharge over the holidays.

“I’m hoping that everybody on the team tries to get a little downtime over the holidays because everybody has been just, it’s been such a Herculean effort by everybody.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson