Rémi Lhomme expressed optimism about his future when he joined a travel startup in Calgary in the spring of 2024. Initially, he saw it as a promising opportunity to build his career from scratch alongside the company’s growth ambitions. The startup, Kanopii, positioned itself as a disruptive force in the global online travel agency sector.
However, Lhomme’s enthusiasm waned as issues arose with salary payments. Eventually, the paychecks ceased entirely by the end of 2024, leading to financial stress and uncertainty for him and his colleagues. Unbeknownst to Lhomme, Kanopii’s CEO had a history of launching businesses that left employees in financial jeopardy.
As of now, Kanopii owes Lhomme $14,001.56, as per an Alberta government order. Several former employees, speaking to CBC News, revealed that they, too, are owed significant sums by the company. According to Alberta’s public registry, Kanopii’s outstanding payments to workers exceed $152,000.
The CEO, Ifeanyi Daniels-Akunekwe, declined an interview but stated via email that Kanopii never intended to deceive its employees. Daniels-Akunekwe attributed the payment issues to unforeseen banking challenges that hampered the company’s launch and payroll obligations.
Prior to the troubles at Kanopii, Daniels-Akunekwe founded 3volution Homes Group Inc., a homebuilding company that left homebuyers in northeast Edmonton with unfinished homes and financial burdens. 3volution currently has outstanding debts, including more than $80,000 in unpaid wages and benefits.
Daniels-Akunekwe refrained from commenting on 3volution at this time. Despite the legal challenges faced by the affected employees, holding him personally accountable for the companies’ failures is complicated due to the legal concept of the corporate veil, which shields individuals from direct liability for a company’s debts.
Numerous legal cases have been initiated against both Kanopii and 3volution. Alberta’s Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration clarified that the province’s employment standards primarily regulate employment conditions like wages and termination, not broader entrepreneurial activities. The ministry emphasized that employers are obligated to settle outstanding dues, and individuals can pursue collections independently or seek government assistance free of charge.
The ministry highlighted the tools available under Alberta legislation to aid in recovering unpaid wages, including issuing payment demands to third parties. Despite the complexities and time involved in the collections process, efforts are made to recover funds owed to individuals.