Another award for Raj Khanuja
FERGUS – Fergus dentist and community leader Dr. Raj Khanuja has achieved another milestone.
His organization Castlemore Dental is the first in Canada to be recognized for 10 consecutive years at the Canadian Business Excellence Awards.
The special recognition was presented on Sept. 23 by Excellence Canada, which recognizes outstanding Canadian organizations for employee engagement, customer service and innovation.
Castlemore Dental was the only organization to receive the 10-year distinction in 2026.
In his congratulatory letter, Excellence Canada CEO Sean Slater praised the organization’s sustained excellence, continuous improvement and commitment to its employees.
For Khanuja, who operates a network of 11 dental clinics across Ontario, including in Fergus, this achievement represents much more than business success.
“Ten years of recognition is something we are extremely proud of, but this award belongs to our entire team,” said Khanuja.
“Our dentists, hygienists, assistants and administrative staff work hard every day to care for our patients and support one another.”
Adding compassion to business excellence
While the Canadian Business Excellence Awards focus on three pillars – employees, customers and innovation – Khanuja believes there is a fourth pillar that makes excellence truly meaningful.
“We have tried to add a fourth pillar: compassion,” he said. “Because true excellence is not only about how far we go. It is also about reaching back and bringing others with us, so no one is left behind.”
This belief has guided Khanuja’s longstanding commitment to helping people who cannot afford dental treatment.
Through his dental practices, he has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in free dental care to underserved communities.
In 2025, he expanded that vision nationally by founding National Dental Care Day, an initiative encouraging dental professionals across Canada to dedicate one day each year to providing free care to people facing financial barriers.
The initiative marked its second annual observance on Oct. 10 this year, continuing its mission of making oral healthcare more accessible across the country.
Local roots, national impact
Khanuja’s dedication to community service has earned him several honours, including the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship, the Canada 150 Medallion, the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism, and Canada’s Volunteer Award.
Despite these achievements, he believes the greatest reward comes from helping those who might otherwise go without care. “Business success means more when we can use it to make a difference in someone else’s life,” he said.
Khanuja hopes the milestone will encourage other businesses and healthcare professionals to make community service part of their definition of success.
“Excellence is not just about building a successful business. It is about using that success to build a better community,” he said.
