Printing Industry News for Canada | RSS | 
15 July 2025
Maracle Press Goes Under.
OSHAWA—
Maracle Press, a staple of the Canadian commercial printing industry since 1920, has officially ceased operations. Michael Hothi, owner of Ottawa-based Trico, and Canadian Printing Resources, acquired Maracle Press in March of 2024. Maracle plant was about 55,000 sq. Ft., with a staff of over 50 employees, and at one time was doing sales of $12 million."Left behind is an incredible group of people and loyal customers who stood by us as we grew, evolved, and pushed the boundaries of what a printing business could do," said Michael Hothi, Owner and CEO.“
Clients include publishers, educational institutions, banks and financial service providers, professional associations, retailers, charity organizations, etc. Products range from catalogues to magazines, student planners, books, training materials, marketing collateral and many more. Michael Hothi, purchased Trico in late February of 2020. In the next five years he acquired Ottawa/Gatineau companies, Marquardt Printing and Sotek Graphics in 2022 as well as Rideau Mailing, assets of Imprimerie Vincent already, Harrison Mailing and Canadian Printing Resources in 2023. Albert Gelman of Toronto is expected to be appointed receiver for Maracle. There is the complication that some of the equipment at Maracle is from Canadian Printing Resources which is a separate company with different creditors .
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Was once listed in the Gold List as Canada's 105th largest printer.
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Owed Maracle Press $452,000 and Canadian Printing Resources $149,000.
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Comments (18) Post a Comment
Comments:
18. Harold says:
29 July 2025 at 11:28 AM
But I still don't understand how all the parties involved in putting this deal together along the way did not have any clue about this guy's reputation and past? It seems that this guy has a history that maybe suppliers, employees, anyone else in the industry could have shined a light on. If someone really checked out this guy's past, the deal probably would have been kyboshed and Maracle would still be operating today.
17. Disgusted Employee says:
28 July 2025 at 9:48 AM
"Left behind is an incredible group of people...." that you burned of their income and livelihoods that should have been very secure for years to come. Michael Hothi is a deplorable person and "businessman". How about a realistic quote from someone who personally tanked 3 successful businesses and didn't even care enough to show up or let his employees know what was going on.
16. Former Employee says:
19 July 2025 at 11:10 AM
Someone PLEASE investigate this guy!! 3 companies bankrupt within weeks. Where did all the money go? He will keep doing this and ruining lives until he is stopped. Put everyone on temporary layoff to avoid paying severance when THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY bank trustees were there taking over. He stopped paying all the bills as soon as he took over. 2m in outstanding payables. Sold the Maracle press without telling the bank, and got a rental (though he made it sound to us like he bought it) which was removed right before we closed. Weeks before closing he had a town hall meeting to address he Trico bankruptcy, which he didn't even fully acknowledge but just said "sometimes you have to cut off your toe to save the foot", try to make us feel sorry for him because the bank didn't give him enough money, nd tell us to stop gossiping, and he would not take questions. He tried to keep up appearances to the very end, and took no responsibility..classic narcissist. Vendors would come in looking to talk to him and he would sneak out the back door, would not look employees in the eye, and hated being questioned. Really hope he pays for this.
15. Payback says:
18 July 2025 at 11:41 AM
Wow, sounds like a lot of people are angry. Just think if Maracle was a 12 million $ company and lets say CPR and Trico were in the same range. That's 36 Million that is somewhere to be found or is hiding. Employees, Suppliers, anyone who has dealt with Michael Hothi should hound CRA. Go online and submit a complaint, call them. He has a number of Ontario Numbered Companies, Companies under family names. That's where you are going to find where all the money is. But people in numbers usually has the better hand. As life goes you can't hide from Death and Taxes.
14. Fled In The Night says:
18 July 2025 at 9:25 AM
The trico employees were told on a Friday that they would not be returning to the plant on the coming Monday, because they would be locked out. This was due to not paying the rent for months. The plant that held the presses, bindery equipment, client owned inventory as well as personal property for each employee. To quickly pack up offices and spaces that some had worked in for years in only a matter of hours and flee in the night is completely ludicrous and unseemly business practice. The lack of communication between this man and his staff as well as his customers while these companies crumbled under his feet has been a new level of disrespect that I never would have thought to see in a workplace environment. Not one person from Trico has yet to receive their ROE and some individuals were "temporarily" laid off in January 2025! The story is that the trustee can't figure out how to access them but there was no trustee involved when people lost their jobs earlier in the year. These people being fired was when production began to move to Maracle. Having to flee the building was when production fully moved as the staff left in Ottawa had no plant left to work in. Looking back now this must have been his plan from the beginning. Why treat so many people with such disregard? He should be investigated, there's no way he walked away from this with no money.
13. Dismayed says:
18 July 2025 at 8:02 AM
To think Mr Hothi has been able to dodge the bullets is unbelievable. Companirs detroyed, peoples lifes and carreers impacted. Dodgey temporary lay off notices with ROES that say not returning no sevefrance, no vacation pay paid out, All to avoid paying what is morally due to the employees that worked hard for what they receive. Source deductions NOT PAID!!! Former employees..LAWYER UP, DO NOT ALLOW this to happen. It is his trade mark!!!!!!!!!
12. Dd says:
17 July 2025 at 7:51 PM
What this man did and the lack of accountability is beyond words. He and his advisors should be held accountable financially and legally.
11. Burned Employee says:
17 July 2025 at 7:40 PM
Shut the doors with a temporary layoff off notice, but roe forms say not returning. No severance pay or vacation owed paid out. Source deductions taken are not registered in my service canada accounts. Not sure how this has been allowed to happen
10. Former Trico Employee says:
17 July 2025 at 5:44 PM
He did the same to us at Trico..
9. Mike says:
17 July 2025 at 3:45 PM
His former Controller at Trico was forced out by the banks. The money trail should be easy to follow, Hothi doesn’t seem to be the brightest.
8. Dm says:
17 July 2025 at 3:41 PM
There is no way him and Mike Renaud could ruin these companies so fast. Unreal what they have done to all the vendors and employees.
7. Disgruntled says:
17 July 2025 at 3:26 PM
Well Mike, seens everything you touch goes under, could it be your arrogance? Your lack of empathy? Now that CPR has closed as well I guess you aree on the street like the rest of your employees. The trustee should speak to the employees to get the full story of your deception.
6. Ryan says:
17 July 2025 at 3:07 PM
Sheer ugliness. Feel bad for the plethora of loooooong standing Maracle employees. Micheal leaves scorched earth behind every where he goes. Sad times.
5. Collateral Damage says:
17 July 2025 at 3:03 PM
Mr. Hothi called a town hall meeting in May to address all the gossip about the state of the company. He denied it all, basically blaming the employees for the rumours that had ‘no truth.’ All the while we had no plates , no paper… Then he tried to make us feel badly because he was having to move his family away from Ottawa to the TO area to keep a better eye on things. He refused to take questions after the meeting. But if we did have a question or concern…..we could make an appointment. Nothing is ever his fault. It’s always the banks fault. The suppliers fault. Man-up and take some god-damn responsibility for what you have done to hundreds of lives. This man should not be trusted.
4. Dd says:
17 July 2025 at 1:01 PM
The waters run deeper then what appears. This man has, with the collaboration of a few others completely scammed and destroyed reputable companies. He and his cronies are sitting back watching how this unfolds at the expense of vendors, employees and customers. He and others need to be held accountable!!!! Financially, morally and legally
3. Harold says:
17 July 2025 at 10:31 AM
Again, owners of printing companies need to properly do their due diligence and background check "buyers"! There were red flags all over this Hothi guy before and yet sellers and facilitating M&A company did not heed the warnings. Inevitably the good hard working employees all suffer because of this.
2. Former Maracle Employee says:
17 July 2025 at 9:20 AM
I am still in disbelief that this happened. Maracle was a viable company and he killed it in a year and a half. Banks should have seen this coming and taken action. I believe wholeheartedly he should be investigated for fraud.
1. X says:
16 July 2025 at 10:13 PM
Thanks for nothing Hothi only took you 15 months to destroy 50 people’s lives sold everything of value at Maracle funny u bet he’s still living the high life while we all try to find a new job some people have been there 20,30,40+yrs and this crook takes it down in 15 months
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