Sunshine coast business magazine fall 2014

BUSINESS

SUNSHINE COAST

Fall 2014 • Vol. 01 No. 02

MAGAZINE

PAGE 4

TAKING ROOT Local Entrepreneurs KEEPING IT

LOCAL PAGE 6

Spreading THE WEALTH Local CEO Advocates Social Enterprise

BUSINESS

SUNSHINE COAST

g it Ke e pini nthe

RIK JESP PHOTO

ERSEN

FA M I L

, General Copping

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Sunshine Coast Winery - Taking Root

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Sechelt Chamber of Commerce

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SCCU - Why we Love this Job

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Keeping it in the Family

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Sustainable Entrepreneur

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Launching your Business Dream

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First Nations Tourism and Culture

24

Pender Harbour Chamber News

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Heath Care Coast Style

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e • Fal

SUSTAINABLE Entrepreneur

sees PARTNERSHIPS as Aaron Joe, Salish

“I feel you have got to stand up and be loud and proud when you’ve got a vision.”

Soils

KEY

Salish Soils’ Aaron Joe seeks to widen the circle of success

the innovators behind a few local compa- turf mix nies, the highest-pro and two types of file being Salish bark mulch.

Soils, their thriving comp The not-so-secre osting enterprise t ingredient in operating on a busy most of those products 10-acre site just is fish waste from off East Porpoise Bay Road. local seafood processors and the Sechelt First Na“We started this tion’s food fishery project in the fall . of 2010,” said Joe. “The origin hose words “Salish al from Sechelt Soil is our fish comp concept was taking waste and turnin ost, and every businessman Aaron product that is g it into soil, not Joe pretty resale derived from that, just for much sum up but also to use whether it’s our fish garde his approach – in reclamation n mix or turf mix, for Joe Sechelt First Nation even though in ” which says “grows everyt person Joe is not lands that have especially loud, hing like crazy.” been mined – and to and while proud create new jobs The company site , that’s Sunsh leavened with for the is ine Coast.” also the locatio a thoughtful humil n of the main recycl ity. Not that he has a lot ing depot to be humble about on the midSalish Soils turns Coast under contra . out a number of ct from Joe and business garde Multiing nMaterial and agricultural BC, as well as the partner Jim Meket products, includ area drop-off for ich are two ing and clean garden kinds of compost, construction waste two garden mixes . The green , a waste – along with food scraps from the

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PHOTO COURTESY : SALISH SOILS

Little Beer Farm that Could

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Sunshi ne Coast Busine ss Magazi ne • Fall 2014

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Keep it Local

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COURTES PHOTO

Spreading the Wealth - Social Enterprise

Coast Ford

PHOTO RIK JESPERSEN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Taking Root

eneration Second-g , n be tricky success ca hine ns Su e es but th nesses Coast busi it out ed have figur

t’s nd. Tha er Mainla He in the Low ement chops. lership ast - dea he got his manag run South Co st com p g the mo visions where in 2007 to hel t amon back. returned peting say tha looked le s n’t com ert mb ng has hu uti ach ma h Exp problems are d and Brad ug ess fro and par ess wit p For n sin Do ns, sin shi bu mo tio bu for der ll era the lea we kids, family nween gen spring into Learning also worked own a to your tions ma r, f you s an bet g it on ed off he w opera start ha of passin st North Americ o unprepar ing , 27, no rpets. His fat n hopes pp int ers mo d Co nd Sau by far, es. m Ca succee ner Bill in Wilso get this: of rol s don’t pitfalls, ager at Custo Ford ow business e moverprise least two Coast th those d the family ent tion. But at und bo 0s befor t dealer- Paul, starte retail- South aro al d-9 ren the era ed loc mi w cur est t gen neuver in the to the Brad, no the nex ne Coast’s larg nd, big ma Creek to son m at rs later shi ative tre few yea ot showroo according al Manager. the Sun that neg ing to ing a ner bucking quare-fo ago, try ay 101. ship’s Ge ers are ess 10,000-s Highw g years after th Coast a busin llengin ad and 12, w Sou Ro ut cha ho s t’s arf time. s abo as of has “It wa Cop- Wh Sechel en I wa which e down to his ide the younger ners of t d here wh ers. “I’d com Carpets, River, are meet up The ow ,” said “I starte e he’s jus cleaning Custom Saund ell be run w becaus rs school,” said bage, and I worked Ford, and t and Pow s, and both should eral yea easier no the gar r, in Sechel kid 41. “It’s reins sev h it.’ here and do . Each summe did hardoutlets r to the me the od long- ping, want wit ing ll. I g it ove iving, with go handed handin kind of what you where the and sweep installers as we renticing thr ‘Do are d, es sai ff, app ud of of the business ago and d of stu ” for one he’s pro that kin mise. s Centre ing well. py and od tile, Familie ” term pro He’s hap going. We’re do o the wo a journeyman.

Business Columbia and ed out by the siness is uting int es round with parach Studies of British ess Institute bu rs in sal ore he up. was no iversity more yea g education bef Busin his way ing And there at the Un Family courag ut A few worked floorin dis abo ’s ing .-based e s pp ers wa U.S sam nd the owned top. Co when I rked Sau vily inealed the familystairs. ng cars wo of up rev I hea t l shi e ts, ved stil cen wa gen hav is per rted d in par s mo second Just 30 nders, 61, Father and son til I wa - “I sta recalls. “I worke Sau un into the l per e results: . up 12 Pau h viv Dad s sur shop, 12,” he business drops to days eac in the enterprise success rate inesse, in the th a few volved in servic The k and for ent duties at the family bus g from eration. mute bac em eneration atin ut 16.” d-g du com nag thir abo er gra 14 swap ma cent for d cars aft can Coast for week to sol ing the ing nn left n pla Copp then es. owned esses, successio ool and r familyensive all busin high sch anothe Compreh x, even for sm key reasons work at of ple years to be com are a number don’t. others re d where and the e succee l 201 4 why som

MAGAZINE

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Sunshine Coast Business Magazine is published twice a year by The Local Weekly Newspaper.

Cover Photo Courtesy of Chris Mortensen Featuring the Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, Halfmoon Bay This material written or artistic may not be re-printed or electronically reproduced in any way without the written consent of the Publisher. The opinions and statements in articles, columns and advertising are not necessarily those of the Publisher or staff of the Local Weekly. It is agreed by any display advertiser requesting space that the ownerʼs responsibility, if any, for errors or omissions of any kind, is limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the space as occupied by the incorrect item and there shall be no liability in any event greater than the amount paid for the advertisement.

Local

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#213 - 5710 Teredo Street Sechelt, B.C., V0N 3A0 Phone: 604-885-3134 Fax: 604-885-3194 Email: publisher@thelocalweekly.ca www.thelocalweekly.ca

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Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

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PHOTO: THE SECHELT CHAMBER

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK...

CONTRIBUTORS...

TAKING ROOT

W

elcome to the Fall 2014 edition of the Sunshine Coast Business Magazine. We enjoyed putting together articles on an eclectic group of business owners, leaders, and visionaries who share the theme of Keeping It Local. Taking Root was an easy theme when watching the harvesting of the first season of hops from Persephone Brewing, or learning about the vineyard plantings that the Sunshine Coast Winery is cultivating.

Meeting up with Brian Smith of Community Futures was a delight, or more appropriately, an inspiring meeting with one of the Sunshine Coasts local intellects. We learned a lot about what drives him, how he got to where he is today, his vision for the future and what he would like to see Taking Root here. We learned about social enterprise and about “the idea of taking business principles and practices and applying them to meet social ends.” This is a great read and we hope you enjoy it.

...think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another...

Susan Attiana is Publisher of the Local Weekly and the Sunshine Coast Business Magazine. She has 30+ years experience in the newspaper, media and magazine industry in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. She lives in Sechelt.

SUSAN ATTIANA PUBLISHER / EDITOR Rik Jespersen is a journalist, editor and television producer who has worked with various print, online and broadcast media across Canada over the past 30 years.

He lives in Roberts Creek.

RIK JESPERSEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Christina Johnstone is a Graphic Designer with 10+ yrs experience in the news industry. She produces the White Rock Real Estate Advisor and produces the Sunshine Coast Business Magazine. She spends her time between Sechelt and White Rock.

- Napolean Hill

We were thankful that the Copping family from South Coast Ford and the Saunders family from Custom Carpets & Interiors opened up to us about working in the family business. Both shared challenges that can arise when rubbing shoulders with the boss who also happens to be your dad.

CHRISTINA JOHNSTONE PRODUCTION / GRAPHIC DESIGN

Chief Calvin Craigan and Eco-tour business co-founder Candace Campo share with us their visions to “expand their capacity in business partnerships on the Sunshine Coast,” connecting band members and “Building Success through First Nation Tourism and Culture.” Salish Soils Aaron Joe, a sustainable entrepreneur sees “Partnerships as Key” and clearly advocates “Transforming Sunshine Coast Waste into Renewable Resources and Jobs.”

SALES AND MARKETING: Susan Attiana and Stephanie Taylor

With so much talent on the Sunshine Coast our collective goal of Keeping it Local and increasing sustainability in a number of different sectors surely has Taken Root.

PRINTING: International Web Express

CONTRIBUTING WRITER: Apryl Veld

We wish to thank the following Sunshine Coast Businesses for their time and support: Brian Smith CEO - Community Futures, Donna McMahon - Executive Director Gibsons Chamber of Commerce, Persephone Brewing Company, Sunshine Coast Winery, Sechelt & District Chamber of Commerce, Sunshine Coast Credit Union, South Coast Ford, Custom Carpet & Interiors, Salish Soils, Cheryl McNicol, Chief Calvin Craigan and Candace Campo, Pender Harbour & District Chamber of Commerce, and all other advertisers.

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Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

Talbot Insurance Services Ltd

TALBOT INSURANCE SERVICES LTD #112 - 1100 Sunshine Coast Highway PO Box 1580, Gibsons BC V0N 1V0 P: 604-886-2555 F: 604-886-2563 www.talbotinsurance.ca

Communication Caring Commitment

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Changing weather/climate patterns, aging municipal infrastructure and home plumbing/hot water tanks have “ resulted in Water Damage claims outpacing fire as the number one cause of damage and claims reported;

• Talbot Insurance processed approximately 7000 home & auto transactions in the last year and is in their 18th year of operation;

LTD

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COMMERCIAL OFFICE

From left to right: Donn York – Commercial, Anne Sharma – Personal Lines, Adam Etchart – Manager, Personal Lines, Brooke Twiss – Personal Lines, Jack Bott – AutoPlan, Wendy Booth – Personal Lines, Laurie Forshner-Talbot – President/General Manager, Kevin Forshner – Personal Lines. Missing: Louise West - AutoPlan

The Sunshine Coast Regional District is one of many organizations on the Sunshine Coast taking steps towards a more sustainable, economically viable and collaborative community. We are here to help your business: Reduce energy consumption We can provide advise on how your business can become more sustainable.

Become a leader in water conservation We will help you evaluate your business with respect to conserving water.

Participate in a healthy lifestyle Business employees and their families can enjoy a rich array of recreational opportunities.

Business friendly rural zoning New business owners are encouraged to contact the Planning and Development Department to discuss future plans.

STORE FRONT RETAIL LEASING IN SECHELT 604-740-3855 info@cedardaleholdings.com

For more informationt, visit www.scrd.ca or follow us on sunshinecoastrd Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

5

Spreading the WEALTH Local CEO Advocates Social Enterprise

I

t’s hard to argue with the view that Brian Smith is a unique and potent force for both economic growth and community building on the Sunshine Coast.

The Gibsons’ resident manages to juggle being a husband and father of three with business interests in the Lower Mainland, teaching courses at Simon Fraser University, and filling the roles of CEO for both the Persephone Brewing Company and Community Futures Sunshine Coast. In his spare time — and yes, he does actually manage to find it — he likes to get out on his bike.

Smith sat down with Sunshine Coast Business to talk about his background and the role of Community Futures.

PHOTO: STEPHANIE TAYLOR

Sunshine Coast Business: You started out working with people with disabilities. How does it relate to what you do now?

Brian Smith CEO - Community Futures

Brian Smith: I think of my career as progressive steps to figure out how I can have an impact. Because really when it comes down to it, that’s my personal mission–to have a positive impact on the world. So, I started when I was young. I got a degree in economics, with a focus on community development.

I did some international work in India, but found that I couldn’t have very much of an impact because I didn’t know their culture, I didn’t know their languages. They had

a much stronger connection than me to community, in the sense that they could develop their assets. So I came back and did a Masters degree in planning, because I thought that if I could learn how to plan better I could have a more of an impact.

What funded me through my degree was a job at a disability organization called PLAN, Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network, which had truly inspired leaders like Al Etmanski and Vickie Cammack (and others who started PLAN). Etmanski and Cammack both have the Order of Canada and both have had massive impact on the lives of people with disabilities and their families. And so to have inspired leaders around you inspires you. I consider them really instrumental mentors for me.

SCB: How did you get into social enterprise financing?

Smith: At the same time I had a keen interest and concern around non-profits systemically being underfunded. This is a profound problem in our society. There are non-profits who are doing really valuable work who are not funded enough to actually change anything for good. Things like literacy, health, housing; none of those problems have actually been solved. I really have a problem with that. PLAN now follows a path of social enterprise, which is the idea of taking

Financing for Small Business and Social Enterprises Dave Jephcott, Business Advisor

Cell: (604) 989-9918 Email: dave.jephcott@communityfutures.org

604-885-1959

www.communityfutures.org

#301 - 5500 Wharf St. Sechelt, BC (Above the Bakery) 6

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

Community Futures

Sunshine Coast

business principles and practices, and applying them to meet social ends. So, social enterprise was something around social change that really resonated with me. And really, my career since PLAN has been all about how we develop social enterprise and be innovative in doing so, that we apply business principles to change we want to see in our society.

I left PLAN and started in co-op organizing, because co-ops are in my mind one of the best ways to democratize our economy and democratize wealth, and that in itself is a social enterprise. So I spent some time at the co-op associations and then worked on the Downtown Eastside, because it’s one of the concerning parts of our society in Canada.

I really struggled emotionally with the idea that people who have no home, no support and have mental illness and addictions are cast aside and don’t have any social net that they can build a life around.

I worked in the DTES for about 10 years, with foundations that allowed me to think, “Where can I have an impact on these things that concern our society?” One of the organizations that I worked with is very similar to what I do at Community Futures which is financing community economic development strategies.

SCB: What led to working for Community Futures and relocating?

In fact, if we did the math on businesses that got started on the Sunshine Coast from Community Futures, it’s actually quite substantial, in the tens of millions of dollars over the 27 years that we’ve been here.

The other bucket of activity is around community economic development. That’s about identifying with the stakeholders and the residents the needs that a community has and to figure out a solution to those problems.

SCB: What kind of projects does this support?

Smith: I think the Gibsons Public Market is a pretty good example. A bunch of residents who didn’t have a grocery store in Lower Gibsons, and an empty piece of real estate that was a real asset and is just underutilized, come together as an economic development strategy. And lo and behold, we have a public market with public amenities, distribution channels for farmers, and so on.

SCB: What kind of businesses is CF looking to find financing for?

Smith: In terms of growth industries we think it’s important to be investing in value-added products, light manufacturing, whether it’s a consumer product or a food– and that those light manufacturing products are exportable. I think it’s always going

to be important for Community Futures to support mom and pop-size businesses; because there are many and they’ve provided lots of jobs on the Sunshine Coast. But I hesitate to suggest that that’s the most important, because there’s little growth in them. Whereas exportable products can grow past the Sunshine Coast.

SCB: How does CF support economic growth?

Smith: It’s less about economic growth and more about the impact it will have. For example, agricultural business, services to seniors in particular, and transportation. These sectors that are deserving of our collective investment, I think, are the types of businesses we see as attractive for investing in.

The seniors, the demographic shift that is happening: those are business opportunities, and we are going to less and less be able to lean on the public sector to pay for those.

As far as agriculture goes, only two per cent of our food is grown here and that’s a real concern, so Community Futures has a real interest in supporting agricultural business.

Small-scale farms that provide value-added food will not only diversify and strengthen our community, they will also make us healthier, not to mention providing jobs.

- APRYL VELD

Smith: My wife and I thought that maybe the Sunshine Coast is a place we could raise a family, and that brought us over here. I commuted for five years to the DTES and did a short stint with VanCity as a lender and financing social housing, then got the job with CF and it’s gone from there.

Smith: I think of Community Futures activities as two buckets. One bucket is that we do small business financing, so we have a loan portfolio and an investment portfolio.

Currently, we have about 60 businesses that we’ve invested money in, and those are, for the most part, repayable loans. But they can be a more diverse set of financial instruments. For instance, equity, mezzanine debt, and others that can help capitalize business growth, start-ups, businesses wanting to diversify, acquisitions, successions, lots of business scenarios need financing. Start-ups that don’t have a track record to lean against have a hard time getting bank funding. So people come to us and we’re able to take a bit bigger risk on them and get them started.

PHOTO: ARLENE LITTLER

SCB: What does Community Futures do?

Board of Directors - Gibsons Public Market 2014 Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

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A

s President of the Gibsons and District Chamber of Commerce, I am pleased to report that we have had a very active year representing our members.

We have been working with the Town and Regional District on economic development with initiatives such as car free tourism and providing information and support to new businesses and those relocating to the Coast.

We have grown our membership to over 200 businesses and organizations, strengthening our ability to speak on behalf of our members with all levels of Government regarding issues that affect your business. We’ve provided our members with a number of professional development seminars at no cost.

The Coast Makers Group that we helped to start is gaining momentum. And our Business After Hours networking events are growing every month. I am especially pleased to see some great business to business relationships develop from these networking opportunities.

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Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

We will continue to strive to serve you all in the year to come. Our amazing and dedicated team of Executive Director Donna McMahon and Office Manager Lyndie Dzuris look forward to helping with any challenges and concerns you may have.

Dean Walford President

KEEPit LOCAL

I

n a recent presentation at the BC Chamber Executives Conference, Dale Wheeldon of the Economic Development Association had some interesting things to say about economic development in small and rural communities like ours.

• Local businesses are the heart of our economy. Up to 80% of all jobs and investment are provided by local business.

• It’s far cheaper and easier to support existing companies than to attract new ones. (In North America over 15,000 economic development organizations are chasing fewer than 200 major business relocations each year.)

• Locally owned and operated businesses are the key to resilience. When times are tough, they stay, whereas branch offices or chain outlets may close.

• An important new sector is lifestyle entrepreneurs--people who could live almost anywhere, but move here because this is where they want to be. They are typically independent and skilled, and they bring new revenue and jobs into our economy.

• The attraction of new residents relies on amenities--not just schools and hospitals, but also arts and culture, recreation & community organizations. Home is where your friends are.

Photo of Upper Gibsons, Courtesy of: The Gibsons Chamber

• Traditional studies have undervalued the benefits of tourism in developing local economies. Tourism often develops amenities that benefit us all. And think how many times you’ve heard people say: “I came here on holiday and like it so much I stayed!”

The Gibsons Chamber works closely with the Town, the SCRD, private businesses, and community organizations on many activities that support economic development, including: • Hosting professional development workshops and networking events for local business.

• Developing tourism opportunities for the lower coast, with a focus on the Greater Vancouver market.

• Helping to build focused networking groups, such as the Coast Makers, Sunshine Coast Tech Hub and the Self Employed Women’s Network.

• Providing referrals and support for people exploring selfemployment or starting a business.

And much more. There’s a lot happening at the Gibsons Chamber.

Join us!

- DONNA MCMAHON Photo of Lower Gibsons, Courtesy of: The Gibsons Chamber

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

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Sunshine Coast

“BEER FARM” THAT COULD... ... AND DID!

T

ake a one-time flower farm, invest more than $1 million to turn it into a craft brewery, grow your own hops, and call it a “beer farm!”

That was the plan.

Risky? You bet. But just over one year in, the Sunshine Coast’s Persephone Brewing Company is already enjoying success more heady than CEO Brian Smith and his founding group of investors dared dream.

Total revenues have “far exceeded projections overall,” Smith said.

Just visible beyond its rows of ten-foot-tall hops plants, the brewery’s red farm building is ideally located (at North Rd and Stewart Rd.), on the way to and from the Langdale ferry terminal, and that’s been a boon to sales. Smith said that hundreds of people dropped by every weekend to quaff and carry all summer long.

“The sales, especially in the tasting room,

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are more than double my original projections.”

And it’s not just the funky on-site facility that’s moving product, including Persephone’s three main beers and a variety of seasonal brews.

“We have 110 accounts, on the Sunshine Coast and the Lower Mainland,” said Smith, with about half of them selling draft from kegs and the other half selling bottles and cans. Another local sales stream is provided by the brewery’s “growlers,” 1-litre and 2-litre refillable bottles. Not only are they efficient and ecologically responsible, Smith said, you can’t get a brew that’s any closer to the source than a growler-full, not even draft.

“There’s nothing fresher than this. It comes straight from the tanks,” he said.

Named after the Roman goddess of vegetation, and a boat that was featured

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

PHOTO: PERSEHONE BREWING CO.

The Little

The brewery’s distinct red barn sits among hops plants

every week in the long-running CBC series The Beachcombers, Persephone so far is a classic small business success story. And success came with one of the potential pitfalls of a hit product: It’s great when the public wants what you sell, but what if it wants so much that you can’t meet demand?

“We’ve been careful to manage the expectations of our accounts and walk that fine line of wanting to look big enough for people to care about us, but not outstrip our ability to provide really quality product,” Smith said. “And I think we’ve done a really good job of meeting that balance.”

With the brewery running at close to full capacity just one year after it opened, and the word about its quality beers spreading fast, expansion is already underway.

“We’re essentially maxed out on the capacity of beer we can make in that [main] building right now.”

So, the 11-acre property has seen the addition of a new 6,000 square foot warehouse that will house two new large brewing tanks and cold storage room, a packaging area and an area for drying and processing hops.

Despite going off the charts, sales alone can’t finance the next phase of expansion, so getting bigger means finding more investors.

Bringing a Business to

“We’re definitely growing and the market is definitely responding to our product, so it’s a fairly reasonable risk to continue to invest in growth and scaling up.”

Gibsons

?

Smith and the other owners are hoping to raise $250,000 to $300,000 through a combination of commons shares and a preferred issue that Persephone is calling “Beer Baron” shares.

At $12,000 a pop, Baron shareholders get a few extras.

“People get to say they own a piece of Persephone and get 24 free growler fills every year—and can come to meetings with brewers. So we’re really trying to build our community and our equity in the company.”

Good corporate citizenship has been a guiding principle at the beer farm. One of the founding partners was the Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living, and many in its client group are actively and gainfully included among the farm’s 25 staff members.

“We employ here, week to week, six to eight people with disabilities to help with the farming,” said Smith. “That partnership is really rich for us. It’s culturally rich, socially rich, and also works for our business model.”

Gibsons-based Smith not only runs the brewery, he oversees other business interests in the Lower Mainland, teaches parttime at Simon Fraser University and is father to three children. He’s also Executive Director of Sunshine Coast Community Futures, which offers financing, training, and advisory services for local small businesses and entrepreneurs.

But the partnership did it on its own, without Community Futures involvement, as Smtih frequently feels he should point out.

“Community Futures had nothing to do with Persephone, and Persephone has nothing to do with Community Futures,” he said.

Buoyed by their success, Smith and his partners are saying “pour me another one,” and want to try the beer farm business model elsewhere.

“Our next expansion plans are to buy another farm and build another brewery in another region.”

Sounds like another good bet.

- RIK JESPERSEN

Here are some reasons why you should!

CONVENIENT

Only 2 hours from Vancouver

AFFORDABLE

Affordable housing prices

RELAXED

A slower pace of life

CONNECTED

World class fibre optic internet

SMART

Electric vehicle charging stations and a geothermally heated subdivision

ACTIVE

Outdoor recreation abounds year-round

CULTURED

Outstanding arts and culture

Contact us for resources and information about moving, buying or starting a business, or working from home.

Insert you & your laptop HERE

Gibsons & District Economic Development Data about our region www.gibsonsanddistrict.ca

Gibsons Visitor Information Centre Open year round - 417 Marine Dr (across from Molly’s Reach) www.gibsonsvisitorinfo.com visitorinfo@gibsonschamber.com 1-866-222-3806 / 604-886-2374 Gibsons & District Chamber of Commerce Open weekdays, 10 to 2 in Sunnycrest Mall 604-886-2325 exec@gibsonschamber.com Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

11

COAST VINEYARD TAKING ROOT

S

unshine Coast Pinot Noir.... Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

Local wine lovers can look forward sometime in late 2017 to just such a vintage, from grapes grown and processed right here in this region’s first local winery.

Entrepreneur Iris Fan is in the midst of turning the one-time fiveacre dahlia farm on a plateau at the top of Selma Park Road into a growing concern, with plans to get their first grape vines in the ground early in 2015.

“We are getting the soil ready, because we have another 2,000 [pinot noir] cuttings coming in December and will be planting in April,” Fan said Pinot noir vines take a few years to establish in a new location before they produce worthy fruit. The business plan calls for two acres of vines, but that initial 2017 vintage will be a small run. In coming years, the output from the vineyard’s eight 2,000-litre stainless steel tanks will be available for sipping at restaurants on the Coast and in Vancouver, and for sale online, directly from the winery, and at private liquor stores.

The grape—a huge favourite among growers in the hills of northern California—can be a bit fussy, but it’s a good fit for the local climate, Fan said.

“The pinot noir is difficult to grow, but it’s good in this cooler weather here,” compared to the Okanagan, she said.

But you don’t have to wait any time at all to enjoy varieties like merlot and cabernet sauvignon made at the Sunshine Coast Winery. The grapes were grown at a leased vineyard in Oliver, B.C., and processed and bottled on site.

The winery has also turned out some fruit wines—the dry kind, not sweet—with blueberry, raspberry and blackberry among the popular choices for sale in the tasting room.

Fruit wines will eventually make up half the output at Sunshine Coast Winery. Planting has already begun on two acres of golden plum trees. When mature, the hundreds of trees could

each yield enough fruit for about 130 bottles.

Fan and winemaker partner Keith Lau say they have a whole list of fruit wine recipes they’d like to try, and they’re especially looking forward next year to what they expect to be an outstanding dark blend of blueberry and black currant.

Fan, who grew up in mainland China, spent 10 years in Hong Kong before immigrating to Canada in 1986. She bought the Sechelt property in 2012, and said by the time the operation is really on its feet, another $500,000 will have been invested in the business.

Interested investors from overseas have already been poking around, said Fan, but she and Lau want to be do-it-yourself artisans.

“We want to focus on hand-crafted wine,” she said. “To bring in investment, sometimes you can make it very big, but not be able to make it the way you want.”

Chinese wine merchants, for instance, aren’t interested in buying small lots of cases, said Fan. They want it by the shipping container.

Although Fan and Lau want to keep things relatively small-scale, there are some plans for eventual expansion at the vineyard. A finished 1,500-square foot residence that came with the property features a living room and huge deck with an expansive view of the Strait of Georgia, which will provide a perfect setting for a much larger tasting room than the smaller room the winery currently has.

Out in front of the house, a sizeable patio with small stage at one end also will enable visitors to enjoy some sunny sipping with live music.

The Sunshine Coast Winery is open for tastings a few days a week, and schedules change with the seasons. Call 604-200-8796 for more information or visit sunshinecoastwinery.com.

- RIK JESPERSEN

PHOTO RIK JESPERSEN

The Sunshine Coast Winery’s tasting room offers grape and fruit wines

12

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

WELCOME TO THE SECHELT AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Kim Darwin President

W

e consist of business and professional men and women who have joined together to promote the civic, commercial and industrial progress of this community.

The Sechelt and District Chamber of Commerce knows that tools and resources are essential to business success. That is why we have been supporting our local business community for over 66 years.

Our commitment to a sustainable local economy includes communication, education and a locally based network of professional services, all committed to assisting new and established business.

The Sechelt Chamber is able to offer our members tangible cost saving benefits, networking opportunities, and opportunities to promote you and your business, while still actively representing our Members and the community as a whole to municipal, provincial and federal governments on a myriad of issues. Recent events include Municipal All Candidates Forums, Minister Todd Stone

information session, working with the municipality on updating Zoning Bylaw #530, and Annual Mayors Breakfast.

Remember – progressive communities don’t just happen. They are the result of the combined efforts of our community and business leaders spearheaded by the activities of the Sechelt & District Chamber of Commerce. Give us a call 604-885-0662 or sdcoc9@telus.net

innovation EDUCATION

HEALTH & WELLNESS

ECO-TOURISM

AGRI / AQUA CULTURE TECHNOLOGY

Sechelt Innovations GROWING COMMUNITY

the application of new solutions that meet new requirements or existing market needs Sechelt Innovations Limited is the business development arm of the District of Sechelt.

We are a group of dynamic business leaders focused on developing an innovative and sustainable business environment.

We’ll help you construct and evaluate the business case for moving to Sechelt, and we’ll enable you to get things done once you decide to locate here. We’re experienced and capable, and we’re up for the challenge.

Get us working on your team, call 778.458.3044 today.

Unit #103 - 5674 Teredo St., Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 Ph: 778.458.3044 | info@SecheltInnovationsLtd.com SecheltInnovationsLtd.com Follow us at Twitter (@silecdev) and Like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SecheltInnovationsLtd)

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

13

WHY WE LOVE THIS JOB A Commercial Advisor’s View

Erin McGregor, Manager Commercial Lending with Sunshine Coast Credit Union

PHOTO: BRIAN LEE

T

he Sunshine Coast is brimming with entrepreneurs, small business and social enterprise. People are increasingly buying local and supporting Coast businesses for a variety of reasons: food security, economic benefits, convenience and value, just to name a few.

As demand grows both locally and afar for Coast-originated products and services, we see new businesses emerge and existing enterprises expand. It is our privilege to be a part of these exciting initiatives. We do this through financing but just as importantly, by sharing our local expertise and advice. Harbour Publishing, Rockwater Secret Cove Resort and Persephone Brewing Company are just three local businesses we’ve had the pleasure of supporting through their journeys.

Established in 1974, Harbour Publishing is an award-winning independent book publisher based in Pender Harbour. In addition to being well known for a series of anthologies

on British Columbia’s coast history and culture, the company is also the publisher of over five hundred titles. A long-time member with Sunshine Coast Credit Union, we’ve seen this company grow to be one of the largest publishers in BC, recently making a significant leap in size and scope by acquiring the historic Douglas & McIntyre.

Originally purchased by Calgary owners who were attracted to the beauty and affordability of the Sunshine Coast, Rockwater Secret Cove Resort has carved out a unique experience for the discerning traveler, featuring luxury tents perched on craggy rock face overlooking the ocean. Known for its romantic setting, the Resort was voted as the top Canadian seaside hideaway in the world

by Sunset Magazine in July 2014, and has been distinguished as the best wedding reception alternative location in BC from the professional BC wedding awards for both 2012 and 2013.

Newly formed Persephone Brewing Company is perfectly situated to capture the interest of tourists and locals alike. The 11-acre farm and craft micro-brewery was established in 2012 and integrates onsite farming of hops and other food crops in support of local food security. In partnership with Sunshine Coast

Rockwater Secret Cove Resort

The Sunshine Coast is a unique part of the world and has everything needed to attract families to live and work here. New business and expansion of existing business can provide employment for residents, building our tax base and creating a strong economy.

For business owners looking to the Coast, you will benefit from doing the research required to truly understand the local market.

This type of knowledge comes with years of being here, immersed in the community. Or you can rely on our commercial team; we’re mobile and resource rich with local expertise.

If you are considering the Sunshine Coast for your venture, I encourage you to contact us; we’ll come to you and provide you with the knowledge and insight you need to assess if the Sunshine Coast will be the perfect place for your venture.

We see Coast businesses succeeding and locals supporting their success everyday; it’s no wonder we love this job.

Persephone Brewing Company

PHOTO: CHRIS MORTENSEN

14

Association for Community Living, the Brewery employs persons with disabilities and relies on these employees to run the organization’s’ daily operations. It’s an example of a social venture, an organization that measures its success not only in profit but also, community impact.

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

PHOTO: JOHN KALMAN

Local Expertise.

Mobile Advice.

Mortgages 604.740.2089

Commercial 604.885.8789

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604.885.3792

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Securities and securities related financial planning services are offered through Qtrade Advisor, a division of Qtrade Securities Inc., Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Insurance products are offered through SunCu Financial Services.

Keeping it in the

PHOTO RIK JESPERSEN

FAMILY

I

Brad Copping, General Manager, South Coast Ford

f you own a family business with hopes of passing it on to your kids, get this: by far, most North American family enterprises don’t succeed into the next generation. But at least two of the Sunshine Coast’s largest local retailers are bucking that negative trend, big time.

The owners of Sechelt’s South Coast Ford, and Custom Carpets, which has outlets in Sechelt and Powell River, are handing it over to the kids, and both businesses are thriving, with good longterm promise.

Studies by the Business Families Centre at the University of British Columbia and the U.S.-based Family Business Institute have revealed the same discouraging results: Just 30 per cent of family-owned enterprises survive into the second generation. The success rate drops to 12 percent for third-generation family businesses.

Comprehensive succession planning can be complex, even for small businesses, and there are a number of key reasons why some succeed where others don’t.

16

Second-generation success can be tricky, but these Sunshine Coast businesses have figured it out

Experts say that among the most common problems are competing visions between generations, and parachuting unprepared offspring into leadership roles.

South Coast Ford owner Bill Copping maneuvered around both those pitfalls, according to son Brad, now the dealership’s General Manager.

“It was challenging years ago, trying to meet up to his ideas of how a business should be run,” said the younger Copping, 41. “It’s easier now because he’s just kind of handed me the reins several years ago and said, ‘Do what you want with it.’

He’s happy and he’s proud of where the business is going. We’re doing well.”

And there was no parachuting into the top. Copping worked his way up.

“I started washing cars when I was about 12,” he recalls. “I worked in parts, I worked in service, in the shop, up until I was about 16.”

Copping sold cars after graduating from high school and then left the Coast for 14 years to work at another family-owned

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

dealership in the Lower Mainland. That’s where he got his management chops. He returned in 2007 to help run South Coast Ford and hasn’t looked back.

Learning the business from a humble start has also worked well for Doug Saunders, 27, now operations manager at Custom Carpets. His father, Paul, started the business in Wilson Creek in the mid-90s before moving a few years later to the current 10,000-square-foot showroom at Wharf Road and Highway 101.

“I started here when I was about 12, after school,” said Saunders. “I’d come down here and do the garbage, and cleaning and sweeping. Each summer, I worked for one of the installers as well. I did hardwood, tile, that kind of stuff, apprenticing with a journeyman.”

A few more years in sales rounded out Saunders flooring education before he moved upstairs.

Dad Paul Saunders, 61, is still heavily involved in the business. Father and son commute back and forth a few days each week to swap management duties at the Sechelt and Powell River stores. These

newCOASTER

days, they mostly agree on business mat- “I’ve got two boys, two girls, and hopefulNEWCOMER’S TO THE LOWER SUNSHINE ly one or twoCOAST of them will come into the ters, but itAwasn’t always GUIDE so.

1.877.299.9492 www.newcoastermagazine.com “There’ve been some•tough times, but I business as well—and relieve me,” he said think that the toughest was when I was with a smile.

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young and learning, and thinking that I -ADVERTISEMENT RIK JESPERSEN knew just as much as he did,” Doug SaunPlease let us know of any changes within two days of receipt of this proof. Thank you! ders admits.

Now, the respect is mutual.

“We’re getting close to 50-50 on decision-making, and maybe sometimes even 75-25 in my favour, because he likes what he’s seeing.”

Saunders, newly-married and as yet childless, loves his work, even though sixday weeks and late-night business calls are typical. He’s not sure it would be a fun life for everyone.

“It’s a high-paced, fairly stressful career,” newCOASTER he said.

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PHOTO RIK JESPERSEN

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Family man Brad Copping has reasons for a different view.

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Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

17

SUSTAINABLE

Entrepreneur

Aaron Joe, Salish Soils

PHOTO RIK JESPERSEN

sees PARTNERSHIPS as

KEY

Salish Soils’ Aaron Joe seeks to widen the circle of success

“I feel you have got to stand up and be loud and proud when you’ve got a vision.”

the innovators behind a few local companies, the highest-profile being Salish Soils, their thriving composting enterprise operating on a busy 10-acre site just off East Porpoise Bay Road.

turf mix and two types of bark mulch.

T

“We started this project in the fall of 2010,” said Joe. “The original concept was taking waste and turning it into soil, not just for resale but also to use in reclamation for Sechelt First Nation lands that have been mined – and to create new jobs for the Sunshine Coast.”

“Salish Soil is our fish compost, and every product that is derived from that, whether it’s our fish garden mix or turf mix,” which Joe says “grows everything like crazy.”

Joe and business partner Jim Meketich are

Salish Soils turns out a number of gardening and agricultural products, including two kinds of compost, two garden mixes, a

The company site is also the location of the main recycling depot on the midCoast under contract from Multi-Material BC, as well as the area drop-off for garden and clean construction waste. The green waste – along with food scraps from the

PHOTO COURTESY: SALISH SOILS

hose words from Sechelt businessman Aaron Joe pretty much sum up his approach – even though in person Joe is not especially loud, and while proud, that’s leavened with a thoughtful humility. Not that he has a lot to be humble about.

The not-so-secret ingredient in most of those products is fish waste from local seafood processors and the Sechelt First Nation’s food fishery.

18

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

PHOTO COURTESY: SALISH SOILS

District of Sechelt’s curbside pilot project and from St. Mary’s Hospital – goes into the compost. The wood waste is ground up for the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper mill, which burns it to generate electricity.

Meketich and Joe already had two other businesses on the go before venturing into the waste-into-resources industry – Tymax Industries, a construction and forestry firm, and a marine-support company called Mayuk Logistics (“Mayuk” means grizzly bear in Salish).

HOLISTIC ENTREPRENEUR So, while you could say a guy like Joe is “all business,” there’s more to this 42-yearold than that implies. He’s clearly a holistic entrepreneur, whose agenda includes not just creating wealth in his own companies, but in the broader community as well.

“For me it was important to work with my people, but also to develop partnerships with non-First Nations, whether white, black, brown, blue, whatever colour you are.

We all must partner here to move forward.

those broader partnerships were the best way to go.

“First Nations have had a tough time getting to where we’re at today, due to bad deals. There’s not been a lot of trust on all sides, so it’s a very slow process. However, I have done, and continue to do a lot of inner work on myself. I am not perfect. I’m still learning from mistakes made in the past.

“And the more I started looking at what was going on in First Nations communities, it was really about finding a way out of dependency, becoming an entrepreneur, creating jobs,” said Joe. “Not by just saying, ‘This is ours. And that’s theirs.’ Everybody’s going to play a part in this and that’s really how we’ve been able to get this off the ground, by continually partnering and sharing in the wealth.”

‘I CHOOSE PEACE’ Joe’s soulful character and outlook has him in demand as an occasional inspirational speaker

“It was important for me to demonstrate how that works. Salish Soils is becoming a real example of that,” said Joe. “With that as the intention, more partnerships happen.”

“I’m not necessarily religious; I don’t go to a church. I believe every day is church, really,” he said. “It’s all about building relationships and communicating well.

The eldest of four kids in the family of First Nations’ mother Valerie Joe and of nonFirst Nations father Ken Bourne, Joe said that it took some time for him to see that

“My spiritual belief is that the world around us is the world that we’re creating. If there’s chaos around us, we’re creating it. We can be victims or victimizers, or we can be in

peace. So every morning I wake up and I choose peace. It might not work out every time, but I continue working towards that.”

The benefits of that view go beyond his personal life, he said.

“When I think about business and competition, it has become very simple: I keep choosing peace, and our business seems to roll on.”

And roll on it does. With a substantial amount already invested in Salish Soils, Joe and Meketich are looking to raise additional capital to make more efficient use of their property, including construction of a 38,000-square-foot greenhouse – which will be warmed with the heat naturally generated by their composting operation.

Meanwhile, hoping to transplant their business model, he and Meketich are in talks with two other First Nations groups looking to recreate what the pair have been able to do on the Sunshine Coast.

Aaron Joe: husband to wife and soulmate Lori Joe, father of their two school-age children, entrepreneur, innovator, role model and… politician? He won’t rule it out.

“I think it would be interesting because it might be a better way to pave the path, to get the Sunshine Coast community connected with First Nations – and we might be able to get through that trust issue faster.”

- RIK JESPERSEN

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

19

Transforming Sunshine Coast Waste...

...into Renewable Resources and COAST Jobs RTNERSHIP & INNOVATION ON THE SUNSHINE Innovative Innovative Technology Technology

Developing Win/Win Partnerships Cross Cultural Leading to less waste, Partnerships sustainability and one

State ofofthe facilityfacility ••State theartartcomposting composting High quality soil andheat mulch for ••Energy efficient recovery use in sports fields, courses system in our soilgolf production and highway projects facility for re-use in food production

Leading to less vision. waste, collective sustainability and one collective vision.

School School Programs Programs • School gardens

Green Waste Green Waste • Drop off green waste to Salish Soils

• School gardens students to plant, • Educating

• Teaching students plant, food and harvest, and to re-use harvest, and re-use food and green waste green waste.

salishsoils.com

Salish Community Organics Gardens • Fostering food security on the

sechelt.ca

• Public gardens flourish with Sunshine Coastour Salish Soils to enrich living spaces • Urban Farming

Curbside Food Curbside Food Waste Collection Waste • Weekly foodCollection scrap pick-up at curbside to beginBay Spring 2014 in Sechelt • Davis Pilot Project 2014 a success

• Unifying • Zero individuals Mile Diet in our community • Farm Gate established in 2014

BioSolids BioSolids&& Composting Composting

Sustainable Sustainable Agriculture Agriculture • Supporting local food systems

Innovative soil products created ••Innovative soil products created from biosolid from biosolidwaste waste Energy effimedia cient heat ••Growing forrecovery sportssystem fields,in our soil production facility for re-use in parks and highway projects food production

• Supporting local food systems • Providing food security • Providing food security

PART

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

Cross

www.salishsoils.com for C Sust

Salish Soils and the Distr solutions for all who live schools and government

School programs are bein experience for students w Elementary are collecting Students at Chatelech Ele in recycling food waste fr providing soil for elemen program.

Other gardens throughou Soils, including the comm community garden.

In partnership with the S composted at the brand n actively collected and wel This waste product is grou energy and reduce our car it straight to the landfill.

A brand NEW pilot projec

20

••Drop offwood greenconstruction waste atmaterials Drop off Salish Soils to recycle into biomass for renewable energyoff wood construction • Drop materials to recycle into biomass for renewable energy

LAUNCHING your BUSINESS

friends, Community Futures Sunshine Coast offers great mentorship and some loans as well. You might be eligible for the self-employment training program through the Open Door Group and the Sunshine Coast Employment Service Network. My company does all the training for them. People who are eligible actually get paid to go into the program. They get workshops, they get assistance in building their business plan and launching their business. It’s not a traditional “loan,” but you do receive funding for 48 weeks and that really helps you to get your business started

“Good resources available for Sunshine Coast start-ups” says expert Cheryl McNicol

G

DREAM

ibsons’ Cheryl McNicol [cherylmcnicol.com] is a business advisor, providing small business training and coaching. Cheryl has mentored more than 400 entrepreneurs and speaks from more than 30 years’ experience:

Sunshine Coast Business: What are a few fundamentals would-be entrepreneurs should consider?

Cheryl McNicol: Having a lot of passion about your idea, and actually doing the research up front to figure out exactly if this service or product is going to work in your community. You have to have access to cash or loans to invest in the business. You’ve got to have a solid team behind you, as well. It can’t be just you. You don’t have to have employees necessarily, but you do have to have a support team, whether it’s friends, family, whether you have a lawyer you can call on, an accountant. People who have the most success have some sort of support system or team behind them. So, a team, passion, and research are some of the fundamentals.

Also, if you’re between age 18 and 39, you can check out FuturPreneur (formerly Canadian Youth Business Foundation) at futurpreneur.ca. If you are a female entrepreneur, check to see if you are eligible for funding and mentorship through the Women’s Enterprise Centre, at womensenterprise.ca.

SCB: Are there some other good sources for business plans and mentoring?

CM: Definitely. There are a number of different sources online. I always refer clients to smallbusinessbc.ca. That’s one of the best resources. They have all kinds of different workshops. Some of them are free, some of them are fairly low-cost. They have all kinds of tools online. Some other good websites include Western Economic Diversification Canada [wddeo.gc.ca] and the Business Development Bank of Canada [bdc.ca/en].

SCB: Are there certain types of start-ups on the Sunshine Coast that tend to be more successful than others?

SCB: How available are investment dollars for start-ups on the Sunshine Coast?

CM: I have worked with a few retailers that have done fairly well. But the majority of people that I’ve been working with have been “solo-preneurs” who are working out of their home doing things like graphic design, web design, and that sort of thing. I have also seen new business people providing services to seniors, for instance, because we have an older population. Those types of businesses are doing well. We have a lot of creative people here, too. They have a great set of skills and experience and they really want to start up their own thing. We had the Holy Crap people go through the [Employment Centre] program a few years ago, and of course they’ve got a wonderful product and they’re doing quite well. We’ve had quite a few success stories. You just have to have the right combination, whatever the product is: it has to be the right timing, the right product, and you have to have done your research to see exactly what people want.

CM: If you can’t get a traditional loan from a bank, or from family and

- RIK JESPERSEN [This interview has been edited for length]

SCB: What’s the best way to do research on our business ideas?

CM: Typically, it’s actually face-to-face. It’s talking to potential customers. It’s figuring out who your ideal client is and going and asking them questions. Some people send out surveys on Survey Monkey. Even talk to competitors—maybe not in this community, where you’ll be competing, but in similar-sized communities somewhere else. Find out what they know, what they’ve learned. I’ve seen people completely change their product or service after doing that.

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Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

21

PHOTO COURTESY: SHÍSHÁLH INDIAN BAND

BUILDING SUCCESS

M

through FIRST NATION Tourism and Culture

embers of the Sechelt Indian Band are actively planning programs and projects that will both expand their capacity in business and forge partnerships with the larger community on the Sunshine Coast. The Band’s leaders are building on the success of their businesses and the professional experience of their members on the Coast and elsewhere to expand their participation in the local economy.

Eco-tour business co-founder Candace Campo and Sechelt Indian Band (SIB) Chief Calvin Craigan said they are keen to seize development opportunities and build their members’ capacity for professional development.

“The business opportunities for the Band will be so vast, it will be a major shift in mode to getting education plans in place to create managers and careers, rather

22

than just jobs,” Craigan said.

Chief since 2012, Craigan has an extensive background in business, and carries a leadership style that is committed to promoting economic development in harmony with Band values. Examples of businesses that were started by SIB members are many, including innovative projects like Salish Soils and the Tsain-Ko shopping centre.

Craigan said their efforts will be focused on career training and connecting Band members who have expertise they can offer. They’re also appealing to off-Coast Band members to provide input and take on key roles in the next phase of their growth.

“We have people with degrees in economics and business, who have skills in management and can bring home their talent

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

Longhouses are being erected around the Sunshine Coast

to the Band,” the Chief said.

One of those who have heard the call will be their new CEO, Nadine Hoene, an SIB member who worked for BC Hydro in Vancouver.

Craigan noted the Band is also considering hydro-electric projects as well as a wide range of other business proposals being brought forward.

“Members are fully aware of where we are going and we’re preparing ourselves for the future,” the Chief said. “Without our membership’s involvement, it would all be futile.”

TOURISM A ‘GOOD FIT’ Candace Campo, in partnership with her brother Rob, is one of those SIB members operating a successful eco-tour business.

Campo said there are many reasons a tourism business is a good fit for them.

“Meeting people throughout the world and North America is satisfying, and bringing dollars into the economy on the Sunshine Coast through tourism is also pretty important for a small community,” said Campo.

“I think what’s important in building tourism is that we need to provide that sense of place and sense of community, and

that’s best achieved by building relationships,” Campo said.

“So I encourage small companies, accommodations and tour operators to build a relationship with our community and local businesses,” she said, “and help them accurately share our culture with their guests.”

Campo recalled that Chief Craigan inspired her years ago with his vision for an expanded tourism business, partly based on cultural awareness.

“I remember when I was young hearing Calvin talk about the concept of building tourism here on the Sunshine Coast, so that’s always been a long-term goal,” Campo said. “I’m excited to be working with him because of his business background.”

Proud of her Shíshálh heritage, Campo said she started participating in the tourism business more than 12 years ago as a cultural guide.

“Immediately, I purchased equipment and I co-contracted myself and my equipment to other companies, then we slowly built from there,” she explained. With some business training and a lot of enthusiasm she and her brother Rob founded Aboriginal Eco-tours and Talasay Tours.

Craigan said he is pleased with the work Campo is doing, especially in her role as an ambassador for the Shíshálh and the Sunshine Coast area.

“Candace is ambitious, and she is able to communicate what our people have to offer,” Craigan said. “That is important for how people can go forward, by engaging and getting involved.”

PROMOTING CULTURE Campo said their short-term goal right now is to build and expand the businesses and to stretch the eco-tour months into shoulder seasons in partnership with the Shíshálh Nation.

“I see the tourism industry gives someone the necessary skills that a person needs to be successful in business or public relations,” Campo said.

A prime goal for the Shíshálh will be to promote the Sunshine Coast as a whole, Chief Craigan explained, which will be part and parcel in promoting their culture.

“It’s part of our agenda to not only promote who we are, but to profile who we are and to send that message out through the community,” Craigan said. “I think it’s important, as more and more people

come to our territory. Europeans and Asian visitors who want to experience our culture need to be aware of our identity.”

Campo and Craigan both expressed enthusiasm about the Band’s involvement with Sunshine Coast Arts Society and for Shíshálh artists participating in the Sechelt Arts Festival and Sunshine Coast Art Crawl.

“I think something that inhibits our young entrepreneurs is that they’ve got to get out there and network,” Craigan suggested. “And there are many different functions that will showcase your efforts.”

Craigan added they are planning annual events such as salmon and prawn festivals to create more opportunities for broader community social interaction.

“We’re going to be holding them in celebration with the community, and with the longhouse events, many will be open to the public; we want the people to know that they’re welcome,” said Craigan.

Longhouses are being erected around the Sunshine Coast with the intention of having more venues for culture which, he noted, is a major economic driver for the region.

- APRYL VELD

604-885-7595

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

23

PHOTO COURTESY: PENDER HARBOUR DISTRICT

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Pender Harbour and District Chamber of Commerce

By Leonard Lee - President

T

he Pender Harbour and District Chamber of Commerce is looking for new ways to sustain the economic viability of our region and ensure a healthy future for our communities here on the Sunshine Coast. Our Chamber works with Gibsons, Sechelt, other SCRD rural districts, the Sechelt Nation, Powell River and Lund to promote the Sunshine Coast as a good place to visit, live and work. Through our collaborative efforts we will build our communities and all be more successful.

Our Chamber represents a full range of residents involved in the local economy: retailers, self-employed people, tourism operators, independent business owners, construction contractors, artists, musicians, work-from-home professionals, loggers, fishermen and delegates from not-for-profit organizations.

What motivates the members to volunteer their time and money is a strong desire to grow our community, retain our schools and support our essential businesses and services. We want to continue living in this beautiful part of the world and to see more young people living and working in our communities.

24

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

Our region is rich in economic resources. An abundant ocean surrounds us, and we enjoy a large number of accessible lakes, an extensive network of hiking and walking trails, the protection of sheltered deep-water harbours and plenty of available all-weather moorage for visiting boaters. Our foundation businesses of fishing and logging remain viable, supported by a solid transportation network of planes, ferries, water taxies, tugs and barges.

Culturally we have a strong heritage of first nations and more recent arrivals sharing our environment, and excellent local artists, authors and musicians are doing a good job of telling the stories of our coast and our heritage.

A recent economic study conducted for our Chamber of Commerce said that the first step in reinvigorating our community is to articulate a clear understanding of who we are and why we live here. Then we should target as potential residents and business owners those people who likely share these values.

The study pointed out that Pender Harbour and District residents tend to be people who choose the rural experience and appreciate being surrounded by lakes, ocean and wilderness. We like the solitude, the natural beauty of our surroundings and the chance to share the environment with our local wildlife. We appreciate being able to walk in the woods or go boating, fishing and swimming within minutes of home. Yet we also enjoy our proximity to Vancouver, one of the major urban engines of the Canadian economy.

This year, the Chamber of Commerce will develop messages that clearly define our communities and then use the messages energetically to market our area to like-minded people.

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G IZIN S RELOCATIONS • INVESTM P ENTS • DO NSIZING • U W

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a key strategy for building a solid foundation for your practice “It’s good to have more than one job to grow a practice,” she emphasized, since it can take time attract people who might need your services.

COAST SUITED TO ALTERNATIVES Alicia Ladouceur said her practice as a doula, or birth coach, has been able to grow through caring about community and through generating public awareness about what doulas do in assisting mothers throughout pregnancy and childbirth.

She also organizes training and networking sessions.

“You have to market yourself,” Ladouceur said. “Every week, I meet a new family who has just moved here.”

Doing your research also counts. Ladouceur became aware of the shortage of alternative prenatal care in the region and also determined the Coast is a good fit for an alternative health business because of the population’s heightened interest in nutrition, exercise and non-drug therapies.

“People are aware of not just their physical,

PHOTO: APRYL VELD

eople in the alternative health and wellness industry on the Sunshine Coast say local success happens through a combination of factors: commitment to community service, accessibility, and the fact that locals demand choice in treatment.

Volunteering to make connections is also vital, noted Denise Woodley, an integrated energy healing practitioner and social worker.

“I started volunteering with Sunshine Coast Hospice Society because that was something I was drawn to,” Woodley said, adding that others find ways to contribute in ways that best suit them as healers and as individuals.

Tailoring your healing business to a patient’s needs can make a big difference in the number of clients you can attract, Woodley explained. She has a homebased practice with Ripple Wellness, but to be flexible, she will take her equipment to a client’s home or to hospital.

“Some people want to be treated away from home ... but some just can’t.”

Woodley believes that creating a situation where a business can grow slowly is also

26

Sunshine Coast Business Magazine • Fall 2014

PHOTO: APRYL VELD

COAST STYLE

but also emotional health,” said Ladouceur, adding, people are seeking out alternative methods more and more to meet their family’s health goals.

FLEXIBILITY IN TREATMENT Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner Sarah Gilbert sees a diverse cross-section of people who are seeking alternatives to drugs and surgery, and who look for a practice that includes a variety of treatments with herbs and acupuncture.

“I see seniors in their 80s trying Chinese medicine for the first time, and it’s a good reflection on their openness,” Gilbert said.

“TCM can also help them maintain health, and not just fix problems.”

Knowing what your clients need is crucial to keeping them, she said. The practice she shares at Lotus House in Sechelt strives to be flexible and responsive to clients with various conditions, degrees of acuteness, and income levels.

“To make more appointment times available, we hold community clinics,” Gilbert noted. Those are group sessions which share a time slot, but still cater to individual needs. They are available once a client has had an initial consultation. One such group is Mama Love, Gilbert said, which is held on a Saturday, “when mom’s have better access to childcare.”

The clinic tries to make therapy slots available for those who tend not to make time for self-care, said Gilbert, herself a mother of twins.

“Moms with young-ones usually need a back massage!”

- APRYL VELD

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