On March 28, 2022, on the last day in Ontario, the Minister for Slovenians Abroad, Dr Helena Jaklitsch met with businessmen of Slovenian descent who register success stories in Canada and beyond. On this occasion, she visited Nahanni Steel and Bigfoot door, two of the many successful companies run by Slovenians in Ontario.
At a working lunch, she spoke with representatives of the Slovenian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and ended the day with a reception hosted by Honorary Consul General in Toronto John Doma, who accompanied the Minister along with Ambassador Andrej Gregor Rodet throughout the day.
First, the Minister visited the company Nahanni Steel, where she was received by the Vice President of the Management Board Vlado Zupanec and the General Manager Sebastijan Zupanec. They took the Minister through production and presented a company with more than 50 years of tradition, founded by the late Paul Janza. They are engaged in the production of metals. They operate primarily in the automotive sector and produce parts for most car manufacturers. The company’s activities also extend to the field of mining and solar energy. Since 2013, they have also been actively involved in high-quality steel roofing, thus launching the company Armadura Metal Roof. They are always very connected with Slovenia, where Mr Zupanec returns every year. The Minister congratulated them on their successful work and wished the company all the best in the future.
In the afternoon, the minister went to the Bigfoot Door company. It is a successful company that is engaged in the production of above-standard and often for the production of extremely demanding windows and doors from aluminium and glass. The first company Just Aluminum & Glass, which is also engaged in similar activities, was founded by Just Žigante many years ago. He was later joined by three other sons, Denis, Dean and Daniel, who also received the minister today. The fast-growing company is intensively connecting with Slovenia, where it has many business partners, as well as one of its offices. They walked through the production premises with the Minister and presented the history and operation of the company. The Minister also congratulated them on their excellent work and wished them continued business and growth in the future. The family has a very genuine attitude towards their homeland, Just Žigante is the one who brought the Slovenian flag from Canada years ago, which is hung at the Governmental Office for Slovenians Abroad and is one of the 130 that were sewn in Toronto in only one night. They demonstrated with them in front of the Canadian government building in support of Slovenian independence 25 years ago.
The Minister ended the day in exceptional company, attending a reception hosted by Honorary Consul General Mr John Doma together with the Canadian-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce in honour of her visit to her compatriots in Canada. The event was attended by many compatriots who are successful in the economic field or are otherwise an important pillar of the Slovenian community in Canada. After a long period of epidemics made such meetings impossible, this was a great opportunity to talk and exchange views. In her welcome address, the Minister emphasized that it is very important for Slovenes to connect, and that cooperation in the economic field is of particular importance. said the Minister. She reminded all of the Slovenian global business connection, which came to life during the epidemic and connects Slovenian entrepreneurs around the world and encouraged them to become part of it. On behalf of the Republic of Slovenia and the Governmental Office for Slovenians Abroad, she thanked John Doma for his ten years of tireless work in strengthening economic and cultural cooperation between Canada and Slovenia and his invaluable contribution to the preservation of Slovenia in the national consciousness in Canada.
