The “Trade Heroes” series highlights Edmonton Region companies who have ‘exportitude’ — the mindset and commitment to think globally when it comes to their business.
Jerry Hanna’s journey from construction worker to global innovator began with a simple fish tank in his basement. What started as simple experiments with sediment and flow tests has now evolved into a global operation, supplying Clearflow’s pioneering gel flocculant technology to seven countries and counting.
Hanna grew up working for his family’s construction company before he entered the corporate world, overseeing Pepsi’s service departments across most of Western Canada. While working with Pepsi, Hanna learned that water quality was a primary concern. As a Metis person, Hanna knew the importance of environmental responsibility; considering it a “critical” aspect of his work to this day.
In 2005, he leveraged his experience to found Clearflow Group, of which he is now the sole owner.
“We started with a fish tank in my basement, running sediment and flow tests,” Hanna said.
Hanna’s efforts led to the development of Clearflow’s core technology: the Gel Flocculant®. This substance separates particles from water using the water’s natural movement. Hanna explained that using the “flow energy’ makes his material ideal for remote locations.
Gel Flocculant® can effectively remove heavy metals like lead and zinc, as well as phosphorus, arsenic, iron and copper, and other harmful sediments. While creating this substance Hanna envisioned a more holistic solution for treating both water and soil runoff.
Both Hanna and Clearflow have been recognized with numerous local, national, and international awards for this innovation in water treatment technology, including nominations for the Ernest Manning Award for Canadian Innovators (2014, 2016) and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Clearflow has also been recognized in Alberta’s Parliament for its contributions to environmental sustainability.
In addition to their nominations, Clearflow and Hanna have won several awards, including the Alberta Science and Technology Award (ASTech) for Outstanding Environmental Achievement (2014), the SPCC Environmental Achievement Award, the Business of the Year Award, and the Top 25 Technologies Award. Internationally, Clearflow was the winner of the Sustainable Earth Award (USA, 2022) and placed in the Top Three International Cleantech Awards (2021).
Hanna emphasized that perfecting the gel flocculant was a rigorous, multi-year process, involving collaborations with the National Research Council of Canada and the University of Alberta. This dedication has paid off. Clearflow now ships its products to seven countries through a network of local distributors.
“We have a distributor in the U.K. that ships to the U.K. and Europe… Australia and New Zealand … Brazil… [and is] starting up in Peru,” Hanna said. “We’re becoming globally known.”
Hanna also offered insight into the nuances of international regulations. Drawing from his experience, he advised companies to research regulatory timelines early and be ready for unexpected delays. While Australia approved Clearflow’s products for import in a short three months, the U.K. approval took a full two years. “That’s just for importing — nevermind the sciences or chemistry.”
In addition to their exports, Clearflow continues to do the majority of their work in Canada. They are trusted by the Government of Ontario to remove phosphorus from stormwater, a project that began in 2021 and now serves Toronto, Peterborough, and Richmond Hill. “We were able to improve the water quality, reduce the phosphorus by almost 90% … improve the efficacy of their stormwater ponds by 78%,” Hanna said.
While currently two-thirds of its business is within Canada, the remaining third is international. “But the way things are going right now … that is going to be outpaced very quickly by international,” Hanna added.
Clearflow’s international footprint includes a production and shipping facility in Phoenix, Arizona. The location was chosen as Hanna owns a home in the area, but it also provides a strategic advantage for operating within the U.S. market.
“I’ve always thought we have to go beyond our own borders. We’re only a province of four million people, and if you have to grow your business you can’t just grow within that.” He also cautioned against over-reliance on any single industry, advocating instead for diversification to ensure long-term stability.
That being said, Clearflow’s start in the Edmonton Region provided them with a supportive ecosystem that allowed them to begin their journey. Hanna highlighted their collaborations with ASTech, the University of Alberta, Alberta Innovates, and the National Research Council. Hanna added that receiving National Resource Council funding helped to give his product some credibility.The University of Alberta has also played a crucial role in connecting Clearflow with a global network of scientists and researchers, according to Hanna.
In 2025, Clearflow is set to launch an all-new groundbreaking water testing kit — the first of its kind. This new innovation will provide a faster, more efficient way to monitor water quality, further solidifying Clearflow’s role as a leader in the industry. As the company continues to expand its international footprint, this latest advancement reflects its commitment to protecting water sources and ensuring a cleaner future for generations to come.
“Our biggest thing is to continue our development and growth and bring a technology to the world that’s really unique and proven in the field … getting word out there that there are options available that are also helping the environment.”
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