Market Research Consulting Services in Canada

Canada Market Research Consultants

Canada is more than just a sprawling nation of natural beauty and cultural diversity, it’s also a powerhouse of strategic insight. From Toronto to Vancouver, the country is home to some of the most forward-thinking market research consultancies in the world. These firms are shaping everything from political strategy to global product launches. Their leaders aren't just analysts; they’re architects of consumer understanding, masters of behavioral data, and champions of brand innovation.

At Digital Reference, we pride ourselves on spotlighting the best of the best. Our selection process for this article was built on rigorous research, deep dives into professional credentials, and an unwavering focus on authenticity and impact. We reviewed firm track records, client outcomes, thought leadership, and industry recognition.

This guide isn’t just a list. It’s a celebration of uniquely Canadian market insight, and the people pushing the field forward.

Before we begin, if you're looking for more ways to hire or showcase standout market research professionals, explore our guides on hiring standout market research consultants and how to collect and utilize professional references with confidence.

Illumina Research Partners

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Illumina Research Partners is a strategic insights and activation partner that helps organizations uncover deep understanding and turn it into clear, concrete action. They specialize in breaking down barriers within organizations to align stakeholders, build ownership, and drive long-term business success.

• 🔍 Holistic qualitative and quantitative research to illuminate human experiences
• 🧠 Experts in customer and employee experience, brand, innovation, and communications research
• 🛠️ Offer professional workshops and facilitation to engage teams in insight-driven planning

Meet the founder of Illumina Research Partners, Yvonne Brouwers

Yvonne Brouwers is President and CEO of Illumina Research Partners, where she brings over 25 years of experience as a researcher, consultant, and thought leader. Her mission is to transform insights into business growth by fostering collaboration and helping clients take confident action.

• 🤝 Dedicated to building solution engagement and stakeholder alignment
• 🧩 Combines strategic consulting with deep qualitative and quantitative expertise
• 🌱 Committed to delivering total solutions that lead to long-term success

Stone-Olafson

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Stone-Olafson believes that great decisions start with the right questions. Their philosophy is simple: ask better, listen deeper, and simplify complexity. This Calgary-based consultancy specializes in fact-based marketing and communications research, known for helping clients untangle challenges around branding, audience engagement, and organizational effectiveness.

• 🎯 Experts in turning complex problems into clear strategic solutions
• 🧭 Grounded in outcomes-focused research and audience engagement
• 🔍 Sought-after by tourism, arts, energy, and public sector organizations alike

Meet the founders of Stone-Olafson, Tim Olafson & Mathew Stone

Tim Olafson and Mathew Stone are seasoned strategists with a talent for cutting through complexity. Together, they’ve built Stone-Olafson into a trusted name for organizations under pressure, and offer clear insights, no-nonsense advice, and a knack for asking the questions others miss. Tim brings decades of senior leadership in research and a calm, consultative style. Mathew adds a background in brand, performance, and consumer strategy, with a fixer’s mindset and strong communication instincts. Their work spans sectors from tourism and utilities to culture and civic engagement.

• 🧠 Decades of combined experience with clients like Audi, Calgary Stampede, and Travel Alberta
• 🔧 Specialists in brand strategy, employee engagement, and communications testing
• 🎙️ Known for turning complex questions into simple, actionable direction

Abacus Data

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Abacus Data is one of Canada’s premier public opinion and market research firms, specializing in public affairs and generational insights. Known for their methodological rigour and innovative approach, Abacus delivers research that goes beyond the numbers, and helps clients translate data into strategy. Whether informing campaigns, corporate decisions, or public policy, their team provides a deep understanding of stakeholder attitudes across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.

• 📊 Experts in public affairs, generational research, and high-impact polling
• 💡 Boutique firm precision with global research capabilities
• 🎯 Guided by data, but focused on strategy and communication clarity

Meet the founder of Abacus Data, David Coletto

David Coletto is the founder, Chair, and CEO of Abacus Data, where he leads a team of strategists delivering research-driven insights to major corporations, advocacy groups, and political leaders. With a PhD in Political Science and a reputation as one of Canada’s most accurate and influential pollsters, David blends academic expertise with real-world impact. He’s a frequent media commentator, a sought-after speaker, and currently serves as the Official Pollster for the Toronto Star.

• 🧠 Trusted voice in Canadian politics, polling, and generational insight
• 🌍 Conducts research across a variety of sectors such as pharma, finance, and culture
• 🗳️ Led top-performing election polling in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2021

EKOS Research Associates Inc

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For over four decades, EKOS Research Associates has delivered scientifically rigorous, evidence-based insights to support strategic decision-making in both the public and private sectors. Rooted in a mission of “knowledge for action,” EKOS specializes in turning accurate, timely research into practical guidance across a spectrum of marketing, communications, and policy challenges. Their approach blends methodological precision with a clear focus on solving real-world problems.

• 📐 Specialists in public affairs, social policy, and program evaluation
• 🔍 Innovators in survey design and applied social research methodologies
• 🧩 Focused on objective insights to support client strategy and impact

Meet the founder of EKOS, Frank Graves

Frank Graves is the founder and President of EKOS Research and one of Canada’s foremost authorities on public opinion and applied social research. For over 40 years, he has led hundreds of large-scale studies on Canadian attitudes, earning a reputation for both intellectual leadership and methodological innovation. Frank is a Fellow of the Canadian Research Insights Council and holds academic appointments at Carleton University and the Sprott School of Business.

• 🧠 National leader in public opinion, social, and public policy research
• 🎓 Adjunct professor and advisor to academic and policy institutions
• 📊 Directed some of Canada’s most complex and influential studies

Mainstreet Research

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Founded in 2010, Mainstreet Research is one of Canada’s top public opinion and market research firms, widely known for its election forecasting accuracy and commitment to evidence-based strategy. With expertise in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, Mainstreet delivers custom research solutions for governments, media, and private sector clients across North America. The firm is a trusted partner for organizations looking to understand their audiences and make data-driven decisions.

• 📊 Proven track record in accurate election forecasting across Canada and the U.S.
• 🧩 Offers tailored, full-service research including surveys, focus groups, and analytics
• 🌐 Committed to global standards as members of MRIA, WAPOR, and AAPOR

Meet the founder of Mainstreet Research, Quito Maggi

Quito Maggi is the President and CEO of Mainstreet Research and a seasoned political strategist with a background in economics and investment analysis. A graduate of Carleton University, Quito began his career modeling investor behavior before applying those same analytical skills to the political sphere. He is a trusted advisor to leaders at all levels of government and a prominent voice in Canadian polling and political consulting.

• 📈 Combines investment analytics and political strategy to guide evidence-based campaigns
• 🗳 Trusted advisor in municipal, provincial, and federal political campaigns
• 📰 Regularly featured in national media for public opinion and election insights

Handmade Insights + Strategy

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Handmade is a collaborative insights and strategy firm focused on helping creative agencies and brand teams innovate through a human-centered design approach. They combine exploratory and evaluative research methods to guide clients in rapidly evolving markets, ensuring that new products and services are designed around real customer experiences rather than traditional market research alone.

• 🔍 Specializes in human-centered design to drive innovation
• 🎨 Uses a blend of exploratory and evaluative techniques
• ⚡ Supports faster discovery and development of meaningful customer solutions

Meet the founder of Handmade Insights + Strategy, Adam Collins

Adam Collins is an award-winning insights strategist with over 30 years of experience helping organizations create better brands, products, and services. As Principal of Handmade Insights + Strategy, he leads teams in applying creative research methods to uncover what really matters to people.

• 🏆 Over 30 years of experience in brand and innovation strategy
• 💡 Expertise in qualitative research, brand positioning, and customer experience
• 🚀 Founder of CreativeTest.ing, focused on creative and campaign testing

Kai Analytics International Inc

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Kai Analytics is a Vancouver-based data analytics and market research consultancy founded in 2017. Their expert team combines natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, and advanced statistical modeling to deliver end-to-end qualitative analysis, survey design, and data visualization solutions. Kai Analytics specializes in turning complex customer feedback into clear, actionable insights using innovative tools like Power BI dashboards and cluster analysis.

• 🤖 Leverages cutting-edge NLP and machine learning techniques
• 📊 Delivers comprehensive services from survey design to reporting
• 🎨 Creates clear, impactful data visualizations and dashboards

Meet the founder of Kai Analytics, Kai "Kevin" Chang

Kevin Chang is the founder and CEO of Kai Analytics with over ten years of experience in market research and higher education. Driven by a passion for making qualitative data analysis more accessible, Kevin champions the use of natural language processing to uncover meaningful human narratives from complex data.

• 🧠 Expert in natural language processing and qualitative data research
• 🌟 Passionate about making complex data understandable and accessible
• 🚀 Founder and CEO driving innovation in market research technology

inca | Nexxt Intelligence

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Nexxt Intelligence empowers businesses to gain deeper human understanding through their innovative Conversational AI Insight Platform, inca. Combining human-centered design rooted in qualitative research principles with purpose-built conversational AI technology, inca offers a superior participant experience compared to traditional surveys. This results in higher quality quantitative data and rich, diagnostic feedback from verbatim responses. Insights are delivered in real time through an intuitive dashboard featuring AI-driven theming and coding of open-ended responses.

• 🤖 Powered by conversational AI for richer, real-time insights
• 🎯 Human-centered design ensures better participant engagement
• 📊 User-friendly dashboard with AI-driven visualization and coding

Meet the founder of inca | Nexxt Intelligence, Kathy Cheng

Kathy Cheng is the founder of inca | Nexxt Intelligence with 20 years of global market research experience. She combines qualitative and quantitative expertise to provide clients with comprehensive, actionable insights. Outside of work, Kathy is an avid travel photographer.

• 🌍 20 years of global market research experience
• 🔍 Expert in blending qualitative and quantitative methods
• 📈Dedicated to advancing innovative market research solutions

Canadian Viewpoint

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Canadian Viewpoint has been a trusted leader in market research data collection and fieldwork for over 40 years. Serving a broad range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to boutique firms and academic institutions, they provide end-to-end solutions across qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Their commitment to quality, innovation, and client collaboration is reflected in their advanced proprietary panels, comprehensive methodologies, and cutting-edge technology, making them a one-stop shop for data collection needs in both English and French Canada, as well as internationally.

• 🔍 Expertise in online and offline data collection, including face-to-face, CATI, IDIs, and groups
• 🌐 Proprietary English/French Canadian panel with 300,000+ validated, double opt-in profiles
• 🚀 Innovative tools like EyeHome™ video verbatims and facial coding for deeper insights

Meet the President of Canadian Viewpoint, Carol Udell

Carol Udell represents Canadian Viewpoint, a globally recognized and award-winning provider of high-quality fieldwork and data collection services. With expertise in both English and French Canada, Carol and her team deliver innovative and customized solutions to meet diverse research needs. They focus on collaboration, inclusivity, and timely delivery, ensuring a friendly and professional experience for their clients. Their services span a wide range of methodologies, including advanced programming, hosting, sampling, and specialty techniques like eye-tracking and facial coding.

• 🏆 Part of GRIT Top 50 Most Innovative Suppliers and Field Service Companies
• 🌍 Expertise in Canadian and global fieldwork with specialized panels (medical, dental, pharmaceutical)
• 🔍 Dedicated to delivering precise, high-quality insights through advanced methodologies

Wrapping it up: What Makes Canadian Market Research Different?

Canada’s research scene isn’t just innovative, it’s deeply human. From AI-driven insight engines to empathy-fueled methodologies, Canadian firms put people first. This isn’t by accident. It’s a reflection of the country’s rich diversity, social values, and forward-looking business culture.

At Digital Reference, we celebrate that spirit. We believe in radical transparency, better hiring, and spotlighting real professionals, not just titles on paper. Whether you're a company looking for your next research consultant, or a professional preparing your story, we’ve got you.

Explore more in our guide to video resumes or check out our latest article on professional references.

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