Becoming a Certified Supplier
You’re at the first step toward joining a national community of Veteran-Owned and Disabled-Owned businesses.
Why Become a Certified Supplier?
Have you ever wanted to be a supplier for the government, commercial banks, or other large corporations? Do you want to network with like-minded business owners who share in your experience? It’s an exciting prospect, but it can be daunting once you learn about how rigorous the procurement procedures are, and how inaccessible procurement officers are.
The IWSCC exists to enhance access to bigger and better procurement opportunities for our Certified Suppliers. As the only certifying body in Canada for Veteran-Owned and Disabled-Owned businesses, we pooled together all the resources and contacts we have that can assist you in growing your business.
“It totally has, we feel, enhanced our brand and what we believe in. Larger opportunities instead of small jobs being a smaller company. I can tell you we’ve grown 400% since 2020 so I attribute a lot of that to our larger opportunities through accessing procurement through a diverse perspective. It definitely removed barriers for us, being a small business trying to figure out how to access these opportunities…knowing that we can discuss disability openly… is a huge, huge huge huge, and I can’t say it enough, huge piece for everyone on our team.”
Jolene MacDonald: Founder & Creative Director, Accessibrand
How Do I Certify?
Our certification process, overseen by an internal committee, is designed to verify ownership of a business and confirm the Veteran and/or disability status of its owners. Our application collects a range of information to support these requirements, and to gain a deeper understanding of each business to help us support you better.
The information we ask for is only used for IWSCC certification purposes, and is never shared outside of our organization. It includes:
- Verification of business
- Legal confirmation of Veteran and/or disability status
- Ownership structure
- Organizational structure
Once your application is complete and we’ve collected an administrative fee, our certification committee reviews the application. Once that review is done, we either approve or deny your application, OR reach out to ask questions, confirm details, or fill gaps in information.
Every measure is taken by our team to ensure business owners feel confident that the IWSCC is right for their business, both to limit rejections and to make applying a smooth and easy process.
Who Can Certify?
IWSCC Suppliers are:
- Businesses 51% or more owned and operated by person(s) with a disability or Veteran(s).
- Businesses owned and operated by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
- Businesses or branches of businesses that operate legally and primarily in the Canadian marketplace.
What Are the Benefits?
- List your business on a directory accessed by our Corporate Members.*
- Pitch your business directly to Corporate Members in virtual and in-person matchmaking events.
- Access workshops, seminars, and other research-informed resources to improve your business.
- Participate in research projects by sharing your unique experience.
- Receive hands-on guidance on succeeding with big business through regular touchpoint meetings.
- Join a national community of Veteran-Owned and Disabled-Owned businesses.
*Certification is not a guarantee of business, but it can give you the edge you need.
Still have questions? Not sure if Certification is right for your business? Scroll down for some Frequently Asked Questions, or reach out to info@iwscc.ca, or use this link to book a meeting with us, and our team will be happy to connect with you!
The 2025 Community Spotlight Project
As Canada’s National Certifying Body for Veteran-Owned and Disabled-Owned businesses, connecting Suppliers and Buyers is just one of the ways we accomplish our mission.
The Community Spotlight Project is a platform for IWSCC Certified Suppliers to share their perspective, experience, and success stories with our community. The project will share virtual interview submissions by Certified Diverse, Canadian businesses, highlighting what success means to IWSCC community members.
Submissions are open to all IWSCC Certified Businesses. Use the button below to participate, or contact info@iwscc.ca to learn more.
IWSCC Suppliers Save When Our Community Grows
IWSCC Certified Supplier Referral Program
The IWSCC community is always growing! Do you know a Veteran-Owned or Disabled-Owned business who could benefit from joining a national network of Certified Suppliers and Corporate Members?
Save 100% on your next year of certification when you refer a new Veteran-Owned or Disabled-Owned business. Do you know more than one? Your savings keep growing! Help connect like-minded businesses with opportunity across Canada.
How Does It Work?
Welcoming new suppliers is easy. When an existing, fully-certified IWSCC Supplier invites a new Veteran-owned or Disabled-owned business, we follow the same steps as always to verify and certify.
Once our Certification Committee is able to verify and approve the new supplier, and their certification process is complete, you’ll receive your next year of certification for free!
The benefits don’t stop in your next year; additional referrals will stack on top of one another, saving even more on your next year and into the future.
Terms & Conditions
- The referring business (Business 1) must be a pre-existing IWSCC Certified Supplier in good standing.
- The referred business (Business 2) must meet all regular IWSCC Certification requirements, and is responsible for all regular fees attached to certification for new suppliers.
- Good standing means the business meets IWSCC Certification Requirements, has received committee approval, and any membership dues have been received by IWSCC.
- The 100% referral discount is applied to Business 1’s next renewal / year of certification. The referral discount cannot be applied retroactively or result in reimbursement of funds received by IWSCC.
- In the event that a given business refers more than one new supplier, the maximum benefit applied to any given year is 100%. Referrals that result in discounts greater than 100% are applied to following years, provided those years have not already been granted any reductions that would result in a discount greater than 100%.
- Currently, there is no limit to the number of referrals an IWSCC Certified Supplier may benefit from. This limit is subject to review and change by IWSCC at any time.
- Please contact info@iwscc.ca for questions or clarifications regarding these terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does IWSCC Certification Cost?
There is no cost to apply for IWSCC Certification. Once an application is approved, there is a $500 annual fee to maintain Certification.
Existing IWSCC Certified Suppliers can save on their next renewal when they refer a new business to IWSCC. Learn more when you read about our referral program.
Why do IWSCC Certified businesses need to be majority Veteran-Owned or Disabled-Owned?
The IWSCC’s mission is to create a more inclusive and accessible professional landscape in Canada today and into the future. By requiring businesses to have majority ownership by one or more Veteran(s) or person(s) with a disability, we can be sure we represent the interests of the communities we were founded to support. Veteran-Owned and Disabled-Owned businesses are more likely to to be accessible, more likely to hire other Veterans or persons with disabilities, and more likely to contribute their success back into their communities in other ways, which means their success creates a ripple effect that supports even more members of those communities.
How does IWSCC define "Veteran?"
IWSCC defines a Veteran by the same definition as the Canadian Armed Forces: “Any former member of the Canadian Armed Forces who successfully underwent basic training and is honourably discharged.”
Does IWSCC only certify Canadian Veterans?
No. IWSCC does certify Veterans of militaries outside of Canada (provided their business meets all other requirements) and considers their application and confirmation of Veteran status on a case-by-case basis.
How does IWSCC define "Disability?"
IWSCC uses the same two-part definition for “disability” and “barrier” as the Accessible Canada Act, which defines disability as “any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment – or a functional limitation – whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.”
And defines “barrier” as “anything – including anything physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communications or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice – that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation.”
The IWSCC does not certify businesses owned by persons with disabilities that are temporary in nature, such as injury or curable illness. If you are unsure if you would qualify as a person with a disability for the purposes of Certification, please contact us at info@iwscc.ca
Can I still Certify if my business is owned by multiple persons with disability or Veterans?
Yes. As long as the collective ownership of your business is more than 51%, and all persons who make up that portion are a Veteran and/or a person with a disability, you can still certify with IWSCC. Each individual must still provide confirmation of their Veteran / disability status.