New Toronto startup has distributed 100,000 face masks so far during coronavirus crisis

Amid a global shortage for personal protective equipment, Toronto-based startup TakeCare Supply has risen to the challenge of keeping Canadians safe with non-medical face masks that are not only functional, but fashionable. As their website states, “In a crisis, we did what Canadians do—help.”

The founders of TakeCare Supply seem like an unlikely trio. Anna-Maria Mountfort has over 10 years experience as an accessories fashion designer. Kevin Vuong is a social entrepreneur and professor at Western University who likes to explore how businesses can be used to protect the most vulnerable. Larry Lau’s expertise lies in starting and growing a business.

Canadian pride certainly runs deep in this uniquely homegrown company. All 3 founders are first-generation immigrants, with Vuong’s parents having been welcomed as refugees from the Vietnam war after other countries closed their borders to them. Speaking to The Post Millennial, he said “One of the ways for me to honour that tremendous act of compassion by Canadians is to serve. All of us are looking for ways to be able to give back to the country that has given our families so much. And that’s what drives us. That’s why we work 7 days a week. That’s why we’re shipping and packing masks until near midnight on a Sunday.”

“All throughout this journey, however and whenever we can we look at ‘how do we make it as Canadian as possible?’ We’re here to support Canadians, and we want to create more jobs in Canada.”

Vuong said that when they started the company, they identified and sought to address two main problems: one was a shortage of masks, particularly for healthcare workers. The second was the economic hardships that came with it COVID-19. “There were members of the public who were concerned about their safety, but who didn’t necessarily need the medical-grade masks. We needed to preserve personal protective equipment for health care workers,” Vuong said. “But non-health workers in the grocery stores, working at banks, and delivering our packages needed masks as well.”

And so the team got to work developing a prototype mask while simultaneously retooling a factory and hiring staff to produce them. “5 weeks later we are proud to be supplying everyone who needs masks with something that is proudly made in Canada, and is evidence-based and useful.” They have already distributed 100,000 non-medical protective face masks.

The masks’ design was developed after studying medical literature and consulting with healthcare professionals. Anna-Maria Mountfort then got to work on developing a prototype. According to Vuong, “It was important to design something that doesn’t just look good, but feels good. If it isn’t comfortable, people have a tendency to touch it more to try and re-adjust it, which defeats the purpose. If it’s not breathable, people might use it less as a result.”

For production, they chose a factory that contained a unique Ontario-designed cutting system which is able to rapidly cut out the fabric for the masks in a way other factories could not.

TakeCare Supply currently employs 150 Canadians, and plans to open another factory will bring that number closer to 200. “My father was one of the job casualties of COVID-19,” Vuong said, “so being on the factory floor and seeing people who were laid off back and working again gives me a tremendous sense of pride.”

Looking to the future, TakeCare Supply is researching producing reusable medical-grade masks as well as other products for this pandemic and beyond. “I think this whole pandemic has highlighted the vulnerabilities in the global supply chain,” Vuong said, adding “It’s very much a matter of national security to ensure that Canada will always have capabilities to be able to manufacture medical-grade masks. Manufacturing over the last few decades was off-shored, and I think that there is going to be a reversal of that. I would like to think that our contribution is helping to accelerate that. There is value in supporting local workers, and about keeping Canadians employed.”

He feels that COVID-19 is also a dress rehearsal for climate change. “One of the things we’re also looking at is working alongside Ontario farmers, and really helping look at ’How can we repurpose what would otherwise be food waste, like ugly corn and ugly carrots?’ Instead of these being thrown out, can we distill them into hand sanitizer and provide something that people need, while at the same time doing our part around eliminating food waste?”

When asked if he had any message to others who want to join the fight against COVID-19 but don’t know where to begin, Vuong said “I think the first place to start is from a place of gratitude. If you are considering this question from a place of ‘how can I help?’, you are probably lucky enough to be in a place where you have a roof over your head and food on your table.”

“I think we are seeing some of the best of Canadians right now, and I hope that our small business owners continue to lead the way. Everybody needs to be a little bit more patient, and a little bit more understanding. I think that practicing that kindness and demonstrating that generosity and spirit, that is the Ontario spirit. That is Canada. I think it’s something that we all need right now.”