Sterlingbridge is a full-service firm with a collection of professionals that specialize in various areas including marketing, communications, government relations, development assistance, brokering and business consulting. All associates at Sterlingbridge have years of experience and proven track records in their specialized fields allowing us to provide your company with a variety of full service solutions to improve your business.
At Sterlingbridge our focus is to work with you and your company to provide and execute successful solutions in order to build your bridge to a better business.
Principal and Chief Operating Officer
Company Principal Bart Maves heads up our firms lobbying and brokering arms. Bart was an Ontario MPP from 1995 to 2003. During that time he used his expertise of finding his way through government to achieve an impressive and unprecedented record of success for his riding of Niagara Falls/Niagara on the Lake. In 8 ½ years as an MPP Bart brought over $2 billion of investment into his community including Casino Niagara; Fallsview Casino; three new long-term care homes; new secondary and elementary Schools; the Legends of Niagara Golf Courses; the new Ontario Power Generation hydro tunnel; additions to the Niagara Falls, Welland and St. Catharines hospitals; and millions of dollars invested into provincial highways running through the riding.
He was also largely responsible for shepherding changes to laws governing the grape and wine industry in Ontario; the amalgamation of the City of Toronto, ambulance services in the province and many pieces of labour legislation through the Ontario Legislature.
Bart was the first ever non-cabinet Minister to serve on Management Board of Cabinet. He also served on several Committees of Cabinet including serving as Vice Chair on the Economic Development Committee with Chair Jim Flaherty. Bart served as the Parliamentary Assistant to Ministers of Health; Community and Social Services; Labour and Transportation and has actively maintained his positive relationships with staff in those Ministries.
Bart recently concluded 8 years of service as a part-time Niagara Regional Councilor representing the city of Niagara Falls. In that capacity he served on a multitude of committees including Chairing the Public Works Committee; the Alternative Service Delivery Long Term Care Committee; and served as a member of many others like Planning and Economic Development, Public Health, Audit and Corporate Services.
As co-owner of a marketing company prior to forming Sterlingbridge, Bart did lobbying, brokering and marketing work for companies and institutions such as the Niagara Parks Commission; Mohawk College; Niagara College; Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority; the Apple Growers of Ontario, the Welland Food Festival; and the municipalities of Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland and Fort Erie. Bart's private sector clients included Thundering Waters Golf Course; the St. Catharines Racquet and Athletics Club; Niagara Falls Golf Course; the Niagara Falls Convention Centre; Osprey Media; Cirque Niagara; the St. Catharines Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club; Apogee Minerals; Crowflight Minerals and Alexis Minerals.
Bart has his Master of Arts (Political Science and Economics) from the University of Alberta and his Honours Bachelor of Arts (Political Science and Economics) from Carleton University in Ottawa. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara; a past member of the Board of Directors of the Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Services of St. Catharines; and a past member of the Board of Directors of the Niagara Falls Curling Club. He has also served his community as an active basketball and baseball coach for the past 35 years.
In 2019 Premier Ford appointed Bart to be one of the four Canadian Commissioners on the joint international Niagara Falls Bridge Commission which operates three international bridges linking Ontario and the state of New York.
In 2021 the Premier and Government of Ontario also asked Bart to serve as a Commissioner on the historic and prestigious Niagara Parks Commission.
He was promoted to be the Vice Chair of that Commission in 2022.
The Industrial Regional Benefits Policy ensures that Government of Canada defence and security procurements generate high value-added business activity for Canadian industry. The IRB Policy requires companies undertake business activities in Canada valued at 100 percent of the value of the defence or security contract they have been awarded by the Government of Canada. The IRB obligation is a contractual commitment and part of the overall government procurement contract.
Bart introduced Fleet to this program, and the governments IRB officers to Fleet. These connections opened many doors to Fleet, to companies that they had never previously bid work.
The Controlled Goods Program (CGP) was created in 2001 to strengthen the Canada-U.S. agreement on defense trade controls. Bart helped Fleet to acquire their security designations under this program thereby allowing them to bid work to international companies involved in both civil and defence industries. this again opened the door even wider to Fleet for potential work.
Finally, Fleet grew to a point that they required an equity injection if they were to continue to grow the company. Bart successfully found Fleet a new equity partner.
"Over his time with us Bart Maves and Sterlingbridge have made invaluable contributions to Fleet Canada. His vast contacts, knowledge, strategic mind and unique abilities would of great benefit to any Niagara business lucky enough to have him on board.”
- Glenn Stansfield, Owner and GM.
An international land development company. In addition to their properties in North America, Europe and Asia, Walton has several thousand acres in Ontario. Walton enlisted Sterlingbridge for assistance with land management of their properties in Ontario, for provincial level government relations input and for strategic advice on advancing many of their properties to development stage.
“Sterlingbridge’s contacts, strong reputation and creative problem-solving capabilities helped us to plot a course toward achieving government approvals at every level which moved our properties closer to the development stage than we had ever been in 10 years of ownership in Ontario. They have been an invaluable asset to us.”
- Craig Dickie, President Walton Canada.
A large Canadian based merger and acquisition company. They had an international client interested in making an acquisition in Niagara and contracted with Bart to assist. After reviewing many properties and opportunities, Bart led two parties to the negotiating table.
“Without Sterlingbridge’s plethora of Niagara contacts and strong reputation in the area – we would never have even gotten to that stage.”
- Mark Maybank, former Cannaccord CFO
A shipbuilder in St. Catharines, Upper Lakes Marine and Industrial asked Bart to help them through the maze of the federal government. Bart successfully helped Upper Lakes negotiate a long-term lease with the Seaway Authority and a contribution by the federal government to new 'Drydock doors'.
Bart acted as a gaming consulting on Head to Head sports betting and site redevelopment for Nordic at their Fort Erie Race Track facility. A CIP he proposed for the racetrack area was eventually passed by the Town of Fort Erie and Region of Niagara.
"Bart has a great ability to find creative solutions to all sorts of problems an organization faces. He's a great asset to an any organization."
- Bonnie Loubert
A Canadian based mining company with assets in Bolivia. Bart assisted Apogee with their relationships with Bolivian consulate and the Canadian federal government.
"International mining is a difficult business. Bart was invaluable at helping us keep Canadian officials up to date on our activities and on cultivating positive relationships with Bolivian counterparts."
- John Carlesso, President Apogee Minerals.
A Toronto and Hamilton based company which brought the fantastic Russian acrobat and horse show, Avaia, to Niagara Falls for two seasons had Bart help them with marketing and representations with the Niagara Parks Commission and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
"Bart was extremely helpful to us in our two seasons in Niagara. And has continued to be a friend to us in our other businesses"
- Peter Mercanti, Cirque Niagara and Carmen's Banquet Centre
"Bart did a great job working with us to build a consensus with all 3 federal political parties on allowing Head to Head sports betting in Canada. If the bill that passed through the House with all party support can find its way through the Senate, this will be a great boom for the gaming industry in Ontario."
- Gord Baker.
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Direct Email: hello@sbmc.ca
Direct Phone: (905) 323-5757