Rémi Lhomme expressed optimism about his future upon joining a travel startup in Calgary in the spring of 2024. Initially, he saw it as a promising opportunity to start fresh and progress alongside the company. Kanopii positioned itself as a disruptive force in the global online travel agency sector. However, Lhomme’s enthusiasm waned as regular paychecks ceased, culminating in a complete halt to payments by the end of 2024. The financial strain caused by the non-payment of wages left him scrambling to cover basic necessities like rent and food.
Unbeknownst to Lhomme, Kanopii was not the first venture of its CEO, which had left employees in financial distress. As per an Alberta government order, Kanopii owes Lhomme over $14,000. Numerous former employees, including Lhomme, claim to be owed substantial sums of money by the company. Public records indicate that Kanopii has outstanding debts exceeding $152,000 to its workers. Despite these claims, CEO Ifeanyi Daniels-Akunekwe denied any intent to deceive employees, stating that Kanopii was not a scam.
According to Daniels-Akunekwe, Kanopii faced insurmountable banking challenges that hindered its launch, relying on investor funding for payroll commitments. These delays exacerbated internal disruptions, delaying the company’s operations. Before the downfall of Kanopii, Daniels-Akunekwe had founded 3volution Homes Group Inc., a homebuilding firm that left homebuyers in northeast Edmonton with unpaid mortgages for unbuilt homes. 3volution currently owes over $80,000 in wages, vacation pay, and termination compensation to its workers, as per public records.
Questions have been raised by former Kanopii employees regarding how Daniels-Akunekwe could embark on a new business following the fallout of 3volution. Calgary employment lawyer Sarah Coderre highlighted the legal complexities in holding individuals personally accountable for business failures due to the corporate veil concept. The corporate veil legally separates a corporation from its owners, making it challenging to assign personal liability for company debts. Civil cases have been initiated against both Kanopii and 3volution.
The Alberta Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration emphasized that employment standards regulate conditions such as wages and termination, not broader business decisions. Employers are obligated to settle outstanding payments, and individuals can pursue collection independently or seek government assistance at no cost. The ministry employs various tools under Alberta legislation to aid in fund recovery, including issuing payment demands to third parties.