Recently celebrating its 35th anniversary, TOA Canada Corp. continues to shape Canada’s soundscape with a legacy of innovation, reliability and responsive service. As the Canadian arm of Japan’s TOA Corp., a global leader in audio and security solutions, the company has evolved from modest beginnings into a trusted industry name.
“TOA’s Canadian journey began in the 1960s when TOA Japan first exported audio electronics here,” said Director and General Manager Rico Lucia. “Our 1990 incorporation and Mississauga office opening marked a crucial development, enabling us to more effectively serve our growing national market.”
With staff positioned across the country, TOA Canada ensures coast-to-coast coverage, strengthened by the creation of its Product Development Department in the late-2010s.
“We take pride in engaging with the market, taking feedback, and creating unique systems tailored specifically to Canadian needs,” Lucia explained.
Today, TOA Canada’s portfolio includes nearly 1,000 products, from mass notification systems to background music solutions. Reflecting its high regard for education, TOA Canada’s standout innovations include the Infrared Classroom Voicelift speakers, which are designed to boost student engagement by “dispersing the speaker’s voice clearly without unnecessary strain,” and the IP-A1 network-based public address system, hailed as “a revolutionary step forward in facility-wide communication.” TOA’s N-8000 IP intercom system provides scalable solutions for security, access control and emergency paging across industries.
This product range is underpinned by strict quality control.
We investigate every possibility to enhance the user experience, and we don’t let that momentum stop until we’ve brought this new solution to the world.
Rico Lucia, Director and General Manager of TOA Canada
“TOA internationally is committed to the highest levels of quality assurance and our process consists of more than 500 check items,” Lucia emphasized.
Clients benefit not just from TOA’s robust equipment, but also from free project design services, technical documentation and lifetime support. “Whether through a phone call or site visit, we remain beside our clients throughout their journey.”
TOA’s innovative roots date back over 90 years, with the invention in 1954 of the world’s first electric megaphone. “That spirit still drives us today,” Lucia said. “We investigate every possibility to enhance the user experience, and we don’t let that momentum stop until we’ve brought this new solution to the world.”
As it looks ahead, TOA Canada remains committed to delivering sound that is reliable, reassuring and emotionally resonant — continuing a legacy built not just on engineering excellence, but on listening to communities, empowering communication and connecting people across Canada and beyond.
