KEEPING SASKATCHEWAN WORKERS SAFE WITH MISSION: ZERO
FALL 2013 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3
WORKPLACE
SAFETY
EDITION
WHAT’S IN YOUR WATER?
STEPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS WEALTH
north sask
PotashCorp: Safety is at Their Core
[ DEPT ]
Rediscover
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BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY NORTH SASK
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WE NEED YOUR HELP! TO HELP MAKE THIS THE
Sweetest
CHRISTMAS YET! TAKE PART I N THE 23 R D A N N UAL SASKATOON SANTA CLAUS PARADE
t h e t he m e thi s ye ar CANDY CANES & CHRISTMAS CAROLS
NOVEMBER 17TH 2013, 1PM
HERE’S HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY NORTH SASK
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CONTENTS 14 8 10
Economics
Growing Forward: Looking at Saskatoon Regional Development
Management and Human Resources
Promoting Mission: Zero in the Province, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board on Mission: Zero, PotashCorp on being a global leader and Sherry Knight on the safety department
44 Export and Trade
Planning and Vision Essential for Oil and Gas Sector
49 Science and Technology What’s in Your Water?
52 Marketing
How to Handle the Negative on Social Media
58 Finance
Safeguarding Your Business Wealth
Fostering A Culture Of Caring: POTASHCORP’S FIVE-YEAR SAFETY PLAN
39 66 Law
Your Legacy:
Privacy vs. Safety
The Power of Endowments
68 Properties, Offices
49 4
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY NORTH SASK
70 Philanthropy
Keeping the Workplace Safe:
and Interiors Janet Parkinson creates artistic glass
72 Leisure and Life Fleet service with Crestview Auto and event catering at Smiley’s
WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY NORTH EDITOR MICHELLE HATZEL
F
irst Word this issue belongs to worker safety, one of the most important concerns of the workplace in business and industry. The red Mission: Zero logo features prominently in these pages, profiling an initiative to raise awareness of safety in Saskatchewan. The Workers’ Compensation Board and partnering organizations are on a mission to decrease Saskatchewan’s incident rates to zero injuries, zero deaths. Read about some progressive business practices leading the way to zero injury as Saskatchewan gets on board with Mission: Zero. In the ongoing planning of regional economic development we learn about the process of growing healthy and strong communities. Paul Huber, associate publisher, draws attention to community safety, stating, “The development and expansion of industry in the province is a great thing, and our publication is working to promote and encourage conversation around any issues. Corporate social responsibility is an important part of this conversation.” To this end, we continue to look at some of the ways organizations work, donate and lead toward socially responsible initiatives in Saskatchewan. As stressed throughout the articles within, none of us works alone, and the success of any project depends greatly on those who work with us. This is also true for our newly retitled Business and Industry magazines. Joining the team late in this issue’s development, I’ve been given a humbling first lesson in seeing the tremendous effort it takes from the entire team to create this publication. I am honoured to write First Word, but the last word must be “thank you” to Associate Editors, Erin Legg and Sherry Lee, for their extensive work on this issue.
/ WELCOME / Business and Industry
The ultimate goal of this magazine is to help promote Saskatchewan business and industry so that our province can enjoy the kind of prosperity relevant to a progressive and forward thinking people. There is a common working attitude that, if you’re going to do something then do it well. This attitude is certainly appreciated in the province. Moving forward we can only hope that considerable planning and vision go into the development of our industries and economy so to make Saskatchewan the envy of the world for its efficiency and productivity. Associate Publisher Paul Huber 306.551.6632
paulh@bizmags.ca
north sask
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3 Editor Michelle Hatzel Associate Editors Erin Legg, Sherry Lee Graphic Design and Layout Danielle Austin, DeAnne Bell, Elisa Malfitana, Lisa Redden, Natasha Burkholder Staff Writers Apolline Lucyk, Courtney Tait, Katrina Geenevasen, Rebecca Schneidereit, Tobie Hainstock, Tonya Lambert, Trina Annand Contributing Writers Brook Thalgott, Byron Briske, Martin Ugwu, Michael Lieffers, McKercher LLP Barristers & Solicitors, Paul Huber, Phil Symchych, Saskatoon Community Foundation, Shannon Briske, Sherry Knight, Terry Friske, The Saskatchewan Research Council Photography Cover photography courtesy of PotashCorp, Athabasca Basin Security, Barndog Productions Inc., Calvin Fehr, Connie Cronin, Greg Huszar Photography, Heather Fritz, Lisa Landrie, Megan Antoniuk Photography, Nadine Peppler, Prairie Crane Inc. Advertising Consultants Crystal Reich Deborah Paul Jason Booker Paul Huber Randy Glascock
crystal@bizmags.ca debbie@bizmags.ca jason@bizmags.ca paulh@bizmags.ca randyg@bizmags.ca
Business & Industry North Sask is published four times a year. We reserve the right to edit any materials chosen for publication including photographs. We reserve the right to reject or accept any article, photograph, image or advertisement. All contents of Business & Industry North Sask is copyrighted 2013 with all rights reserved, except for original articles submitted to Business & Industry North Sask, where copyright resides with the author. No other part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Business & Industry North Sask or its writers. The name Business & Industry North Sask, its logo and material cannot be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in the expert advice columns herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Business & Industry North Sask or the companies it represents. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.
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EVENT CALENDAR Upcoming Conventions, Trade Shows, Workshops and Events
EVENTS OCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2013 1 OF 1
▶
OCTOBER 30 TO NOVEMBER 1
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour 58th Annual Conference
▶
NOVEMBER 5 TO 6
Mining Excellence in Saskatchewan Sheraton Cavalier, Saskatoon
TCU Place, Saskatoon
NOVEMBER 1 – 3 ▶
OCTOBER 31 TO NOVEMBER 3
2nd Annual National Mining Competition
▶
TCU Place, Saskatoon
▶
NOVEMBER 1 TO 3
Saskatchewan Association of Veterinary Technologists 29th Annual Conference & Trade Show
NOVEMBER 6 TO 8
Saskatchewan Water and Wastewater Association TCU Place, Saskatoon
▶
NOVEMBER 14
Pitch Party IV Prairieland Park, Saskatoon
NOVEMBER 14
Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon
▶
NOVEMBER 5
See Your Future Education & Career Fair TCU Place, Saskatoon
▶
NOVEMBER 20 TO 22
Saskatoon Regional Growth Summit Delta Bessborough, Saskatoon
NOVEMBER 20 – 22
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY NORTH SASK
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[ ECONOMICS ]
GROWING FORWARD LOOKING AT SASKATOON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BY TOBIE HAINSTOCK PHOTOS COURTESY OF POTASHCORP
It’s an exciting time to be living in our fair city with the economic growth and development that’s taking place; Saskatoon is currently the fastest growing city in Canada. With one of the most diversified commercial economies in the country, Saskatoon and area serves more than 300,000 people. Where are we at and where are we going?
F 8
rom the rapid growth of our economy comes a number of questions from the people and businesses in the area. What is the state of the Saskatoon region economy? How does it compare nationally
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY NORTH SASK
and globally? What are the challenges and opportunities? The Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority’s (SREDA) Fall Forum will look at these and a variety of other questions that citizens and business leaders are asking.
SASKATOON REGIONAL GROWTH SUMMIT The forum will take place on November 14, 2013 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Delta Bessborough. Keynote speaker will be Mario Lefebvre, director of the centre for municipal studies at the Conference Board of Canada. “The fall forum is a longstanding event that looks at what’s happening in our region and where we are going,” explains Tim LeClair, president and CEO of SREDA. LeClair is enthusiastic about the growth that’s happening in the Saskatoon area. “The current economic outlook for our area is very positive,” he states. “It’s great to be the bearer of good news. In fact, we expect our growth to be head and shoulders above and beyond comparable communities in Alberta.” LeClair encourages business and industry leaders as well as interested citizens to come to the forum and get a solid perspective of the growth activity.
NOV. 21 & 22
Minimizing the Growing Pains Will Saskatoon reach a population of one million in the next 20 years? Are we ready? “Presently, Saskatoon and surrounding area is experiencing levels of growth that hasn’t been seen in many years,” comments LeClair. “We need to ask ourselves if we are truly ready to accommodate this growth.” How does this growth affect Saskatoon and area?
will examine potential issues involved with rapid growth in the area. The focus will be on such aspects as planning and development, infrastructure, finance, transportation and governance. LeClair also states that this is a positive step toward building a proper framework in preparation for the expected upcoming growth.
According to LeClair, the Saskatoon Regional Growth Summit will be examining the prospective growth and the effects it will have on the region. Currently, the region’s ability to accommodate the growth is limited. To be prepared, there needs to be proactive planning, says LeClair.
“It’s a great problem to have,” LeClair chuckles, then adds, “but we have to be smart about it and plan now to help ease the growing process.” With SREDA, the City of Saskatoon and other communities and municipalities working together with a common purpose, we can be confident that the future of our area will be stable and well planned.
Organized by SREDA, the City of Saskatoon, the RM of Corman Park and surrounding RMs and communities, this summit will take place November 20 and 21 at Prairieland Park. Regional experts
For more information about the SREDA Economic Fall Forum and the Saskatoon Regional Growth Summit visit www.sreda.com or call 306.664.0727.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Terra Fehr, Brad Kraft, Kelly Martin, Chad Leier-Berg, Bernie Ness, Tim LeClair, Nicole Vassos PHOTOS BY Lisa Landrie
[ MANAGEMENT & HUMAN RESOURCES ]
Entrepreneurs Are you a female entrepreneur who is passionate about your business idea or existing business? Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc. (W.E.) can help you start, expand and succeed in business. By Laura SmaLL, CEO
W
Business Advising
The organization makes a difference in female-owned businesses throughout the province by offering business
Business advisors work one-on-one with you to find the information you need to make good business decisions. It’s our role to make sure you have the tools needed to start and operate successfully. From advice on how to start a business to managing your current business, our services are designed to assist you with all your business concerns.
.E. is a not-for-profit organization supported by Western Economic Diversification Canada that exists to support Saskatchewan women in all stages of business development from idea to maturity and beyond. Our priority is to help women throughout Saskatchewan achieve their entrepreneurial goals and provide them with the means to grow their business dream into a successful reality.
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advising, lending, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.
Lending Financing is a huge hurdle in the development of any business. W.E. guides you on the best options; provides financing and assists in developing credit relationships with other financial institutions. Since its inception in 1995, W.E. has lent over $28 million to Saskatchewan women in business.
Training Entrepreneurs usually start their business because they are passionate about their product or service, but they usually don’t have the same passion for business management. Whether you have a new business or one in operation for several years, you may struggle with understanding and applying essential business skills like forward planning, financial management, marketing or operational control. Business skills training is a must for small business owners. W.E. offers a variety
If I was looking for start-up or expansion capital, how long does it take to get a loan from Women Entrepreneurs?
of business development seminars designed to inform women and provide them with the tools to apply information on the various components of business.
Mentoring W.E.’s mentorship programs expose new entrepreneurs to successful business owners who can guide and support them during the establishment of their business venture. Mentorship relationships provide several positive benefits, including acquiring the skills and knowledge to tackle various business challenges. Mentors also feel a sense of renewal, become rejuvenated and are willing to try new ideas in their own businesses.
Networking W.E. understands the importance of business networking and provides opportunities every month for business owners and professionals to meet and get connected.
Do I need to be a member to access Women Entrepreneurs’ programs and services? For some services, yes. We have two different memberships available: full and associate. Both of these memberships give you unlimited access to our business advisory services where you have the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with a business advisor and specifically discuss any issues or challenges you would like help with in your business. Depending on the type, these memberships also offer other benefits, including discounts on training seminars, use of client
resources, networking and mentoring opportunities and access to our lending program.
I want to start a business. What do I do? Several likely steps include: •
Develop a concept or business idea.
•
Decide if this is right for you. Do you have the necessary skills and time to start this business?
•
Conduct investigative research and a feasibility study. Could this become a viable business?
•
Write a business plan. Your plan will vary based on the nature of the business you want to open.
While some of this may sound insurmountable, Women Entrepreneurs can help guide you through the process. Even though opening a business is a lot of work, it is fun and exciting as well; make sure you enjoy the experience.
How long it takes to get a loan depends on several variables; the most important is whether you have completed your business plan. A business advisor at Women Entrepreneurs will meet with you and assist you in compiling the necessary information. Once your plan is finalized, a loan application is completed. From there, a review and recommendation takes approximately two weeks. For further information on how Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan can assist you with your new or existing business, call to register for Business Beginnings. This is a free one-hour session offered twice a week in both Saskatoon and Regina that will introduce you to the entrepreneurial process and further describe all of the programs and services you can access in order to help you succeed. Women Entrepreneurs is supported by Western Economic Diversification Canada.
I have an existing business. How can Women Entrepreneurs help me? Women Entrepreneurs supports women in all stages of business: from start-up, to expansion, to succession planning. We can help you with business advising, expansion lending, training opportunities to further grow your business, mentoring and networking opportunities and various other aspects relevant to your current business.
Laura Small,CEO Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc. 108-502 Cope Way, Saskatoon 306.477.7173 100-1919 Rose Street, Regina 306.359.9732 info@womenentrepreneurs.sk.ca www.womenentrepreneurs.sk.ca
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[ MANAGEMENT & HUMAN RESOURCES ]
Since 2003 International Manpower has brought 40,000 skilled and unskilled international employees to Canada to work in a wide variety of industries.
Finding Workers for Your Company How can an employer fill open positions? BY MICHAEL LIEFFERS PHOTOS NADINE PEPPLER
F
irst, the job applicant needs to have all the necessary skills and qualifications. Then, the person needs be willing to move to where the work is – this may be remote locations or busy urban centres. Employers prefer to hire Canadians as it is costly to bring a worker to Canada from another country. Employers make every effort to fill open positions with Canadians, however in our busy economy we have labour and skills shortages. When this happens, International ManPower, a part of Mercan Group of Companies, has the resources and knowledge to turn to international workers to fill the gap.
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Hiring a foreign worker and bringing them to Canada is a tasking process. There are multiple governments (Canadian, provincial and foreign) with laws governing the process that must be followed. These laws and regulations are constantly changing and it takes an expert to keep on top of the situation. IMP has the professionals and specialists on staff to help client companies with this. Their team’s knowledge goes above and beyond the paperwork of entering workers into Canada. Mercan Group uses a multi-step approach to help its clients fill their job openings. The first step, says Lieffers, is “advertise the position
locally and nationally, including First Nations groups, educational institutes, youth, people with disabilities and other underrepresented groups. The preference is always to hire locally/nationally first especially as all costs are covered by the employer to hire internationally.” When international recruitment is needed, Mercan Group industry experts at their overseas offices source, assess and test the candidates. They often work with third party assessors, including the SIAST Skills Passport Program, to find qualified candidates who must first complete stringent practical and theoretical testing. When a successful candidate is found, Lieffers explains, “This is just the beginning of their relationship with us. Employers interview candidates using technologies such as Skype or travel to our overseas offices to a personal face-toface experience. If practical exams can be completed, often employers gain the results on the trip or with other documentation.” “I travelled overseas to find mechanics, welders, painters, and truck drivers. IMP had the overseas road test set up for the drivers. They had a welding facility ready for me to witness welding exams. I was able to see how the shortlisted candidates interacted with my instructions as well as the tasks presented to them. I would not hire workers without IMP and their testing processes,” says a client of IMP. Lieffers further explains, “The real work happens after they land in Canada. We not only make sure they have someone to pick them up from the airport, have a place to stay and arrange health care, but we also ensure their documents are in check. We ensure the employer has all their ducks in a row. The Government programs are stringent due to the ‘human factor’ and place an enormous responsibility on employers. Our In-Canada services for employers ease the pressure so the employer can run their business while we manage and monitor their corporate and foreign worker documentation. It is an ongoing effort for employers, as they must deal with the always changing government programs. With that said, we continue to work with employer to find Canadians to fill their future open positions.” Mercan Group works with numerous business owners across Canada that require and greatly appreciate the depth
of services that they would not be able to successfully run their business without. “I was not aware of the In-Canada tasks involved with hiring international workers. IMP’s team assisted my HR staff build their employee files and explain what items may arise in the work place. If workers had questions, IMP was a phone call away. If my HR team had questions, IMP was a phone call away. Our business crosses many provincial borders. The complexity of our international recruitment program is not easy to keep in check. We cannot employ international workers without IMP’s In-Canada services,” says a client. Mercan Group also aids workers who wish to gain permanent residency status in Canada. Lieffers adds that “a large percentage of the workers choose to stay – it is our job to find programs available to workers and employer to make this a reality. Even if they are in remote locations, they want to make Canada their new home. Canada offers them a
stable economy, health care, and good education - Canada offers newcomers the opportunity to be middle class.” Since Mercan Group has brought nearly 40,000 new employees to Canada to work in a wide variety of industries. If your company is having difficulty filling a position, International Manpower can help you to find a Canadian worker whenever possible and a foreign labourer whenever necessary.
International Manpower Canada & Mercan Group of Companies 1-305 Idylwyld Drive North, Saskatoon 306.651.5335 michael@impcanada.ca www.impcanada.ca
MAIN PICTURE AND TOP Clients BOTTOM Part of the Saskatoon team
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[ MANAGEMENT/HR SAFETY ]
PROMOTING MISSION:ZERO IN THE PROVINCE A logo is appearing throughout Saskatchewan. On television, in magazines, on vehicles and in newspaper ads, a red circle with white lettering is getting noticed by residents all over the province. The words spell Mission:Zero. The message? An injuryfree Saskatchewan — at work, at home, at play, on its farms and ranches and on its road system — in which the only acceptable number of injuries is ZERO. 14
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY NORTH SASK
Gord Moker PHOTO Calvin Fehr
BY COURTNEY TAIT
T
he Mission:Zero logo was adopted from WorkSafe Saskatchewan — the partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety — in 2009 by Safe Saskatchewan, a notfor-profit organization that aims to raise awareness of the province’s unintentional injury epidemic and coordinates provincial injury prevention initiatives. “Our belief is that no one has to suffer from a preventable injury,” says CEO of Safe Saskatchewan, Gord Moker. Supported by a consortium of 12 strategic partner organizations, Safe Saskatchewan is unique in that its partners span the public, private, cooperative and not-for-profit sectors. “We have senior managers appointed from our strategic partners who are on our board of directors,” says Moker. “With that level of leadership comes influence through their organizations and partnership networks.”
A 1998 report by SMARTRISK — a national organization that seeks to help Canadians manage the risk in their lives — revealed that Saskatchewan had the country’s highest overall injury rates, with 435 recorded injuries per day: one injury every 3½ minutes. Saskatchewan’s death rate from preventable injuries was shown to be 1.4 times that of the national average, and the injury hospitalization rate was twice the national average. Safe Saskatchewan attributes the province’s injury epidemic to cultural norms tracing back to its agrarian roots. “People accept injuries as a part of life in Saskatchewan,” says Moker. “There’s a philosophy of ‘get ‘er done’ at all costs, it seems, that’s been passed down.” Safe Saskatchewan is aiming to create a cultural shift in which injury prevention becomes a core value in the mindset of Saskatchewan residents and with Saskatchewan community leaders. “There’s a plethora of injury hazards out there,” says Moker. “The one thing we are working to change is the attitude that influences all the unsafe behaviours that
lead to injury. If we believe that injuries are preventable and we believe in the Mission:Zero philosophy, we are well on the road to ending our provincial unintentional injury epidemic that is responsible for countless hours of pain and suffering.” SMARTRISK’s report estimated the cost of preventable injuries to the Saskatchewan economy at just under $600 million. When that amount is indexed to today’s dollar value, and when workers’ compensation, auto and other private disability costs (that weren’t included in SMARTRISK’s report) are added in, the annual cost to our economy is conservatively estimated at $1 billion. “By working together in support of an injury-free Saskatchewan, millions of dollars in health and social costs will be saved, the economic environment for business will be enhanced, and the quality of life for our province’s people will be improved,” says Moker. A central step toward overcoming the injury epidemic and facilitating
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1=
one injury every 3½ minutes
change in attitudes toward injury has been the Saskatchewan Health & Safety Leadership Charter which is managed by Safe Saskatchewan. Comprised of seven principles, the Charter is a public commitment made by government, business, union and community leaders to advance health and safety in and away from the workplace, and work towards establishing injury prevention as a core value. Currently signed by 341 leaders in the province, the Charter’s tenets include subscribing to the principle that nothing is more important than the health, safety and well-being of employees, contractors, clients, customers, visitors and the surrounding community. It asks that its signatories integrate health and safety into business strategies, processes and performance measures, and that they manage health and safety risks by eliminating, minimizing or controlling hazards. With the goal of continuously
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improving health and safety strategies, programming and performance, the Charter also promotes participation within a health and safety leadership learning community, by providing and receiving information and best practices. Becoming a Charter signatory provides the opportunity to join in the leadership of creating a safer Saskatchewan and supporting the vision of an injuryfree Saskatchewan. Signatories help to position injury prevention as a core value, enhance engagement with employees, and contribute to reducing the cost of injuries to the province. In signing the Charter and the Partnership Agreement for Mission:Zero, signatories are entitled to use and endorse the Mission:Zero logo — with the intention to encourage change in culture, thought and behaviour to bring about an injury-free Saskatchewan. “In many cases, leaders have framed both the Charter and the Mission:Zero Partnership Agreement,
435
recorded injuries per day
and they are proudly displayed in their offices,” says Moker. Charter signatories gather annually at a Leadership Forum to discuss their progress, success and outcomes regarding injury prevention and promoting a healthy workforce. The 5th Annual Saskatchewan Health & Safety Leadership Charter event is being held at Conexus Arts Centre in Regina on Thursday, June 12, 2014. Saskatchewan community leaders can join the Health & Safety Leadership Charter by contacting Safe Saskatchewan to indicate interest in signing the Charter. “We want to maintain the momentum,” says Moker. “If people start to recognize, identify with and embrace Mission:Zero, we feel we are well down the road to cultural transformation.” Safe Saskatchewan 306.352.3810 info@safesask.com www.safesask.com
[ DEPARTMENT ]
KEEPING SASKATCHEWAN WORKERS
SAFE
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There’s a little red dot with the words Mission: Zero showing up on more and more work vehicles around the province, but what does it mean?
MISSION: ZERO “Mission: Zero is a call to action,” says Peter Federko, the CEO of The Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board. “It’s a call to all of us to live and work safer in this province. To adopt ‘zero injuries, zero fatalities, zero suffering’ as a goal.” BY APOLLINE LUCYK PHOTOS GREG HUSZAR PHOTOGRAPHY
T
he Mission: Zero initiative came about in 2008, and is being adopted by organizations across the province who are all committed to making Saskatchewan safer and improving Saskatchewan’s current ranking of second-worst in Canada for workplace injury. “It’s not a statistic any of us are proud of,” says Federko. “In our strategic planning session we were talking about creating some urgency, a call to action that might inspire others and cause the injury reduction to happen quicker.” He explains that within the meeting, they discussed potential target numbers, and questioned how far they could push the rate down, and concluded that “at the end of the day, how could any of us
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in good conscience say that any number is acceptable if this was our spouses, our partners, our brothers, our sisters, our friends?” It was thus that they settled on the target from which Mission: Zero was born: “zero injuries, zero fatalities, zero suffering.” Mission: Zero has proved very beneficial for Saskatchewan’s injury rate so far: “Our statistics show that employers who embrace Mission: Zero and commit to the Health and Safety Leadership Charter (formed in 2010) have better injury statistics than those who have not,” attests Federko. It is WorkSafe Saskatchewan’s belief that all workplace injuries are predictable and preventable. WorkSafe Saskatchewan offers training and support to help
employers and workers develop workplace health and safety programs with the goal of preventing, and eliminating workplace injuries and fatalities.
Why is Mission: Zero important for Saskatchewan Businesses? Alongside its employee benefits, Mission: Zero has also proved very beneficial for Saskatchewan businesses. It is more costeffective for an employer to maintain staff than recruit new staff. So it makes sense to invest in injury prevention. As Steve McLellan from the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce comments, “not only does an injury cause pain and discomfort, it also costs money and time, and costs the companies productivity.”
Preventing injuries saves money. Companies don’t have to re-hire and retrain new staff. Safety improves morale. In addition to the cost of the injury, there is often equipment damage when there are injuries. Investing in injury prevention, training for hazard identification and eliminating hazards before there are injuries is smart business. The team at WorkSafe Saskatchewan “have increased awareness for workplace and offwork safety, and have created an enhanced culture of safety,” says McLellan. “Less people are injured and more people are consistently in the workplace, which is very positive for the individual and the workplace.” “Mission: Zero represents an action that presents the single largest opportunity to improve the life and economics of this province, because we can save money, and we can save the pain and anguish that are caused by unintentional injury,” says Federko. “And while WorkSafe is very much focused on eliminating injuries that happen at work, the same is true for injuries that happen outside of work.” “We need to recognize that these injuries are preventable and that it is within our ability or those around us to eliminate them,” says Federko. “It is truly a change in mindset. For whatever reason, we in Saskatchewan seem to have the propensity to accept that injuries are inevitable, a cost of doing business. So what our campaigns, what our strategies and plans are centred around is the change of that cultural belief.”
SAFE WORKER AWARD 2013 Winner: Finalists:
2012 Winner: Finalists:
Carey Gleason - Terry Ortynsky Royal Ford Sales, Yorkton Calvin Greenstein - Novozymes BioAg Ltd. Darren Soyka - Mosaic Potash Leeanne Koshykowski - River Heights Lodge, North Battleford Raymond Campbell - City of Swift Current Randall Getz - Quorex Construction
SAFE EMPLOYER AWARD 2013 Winner: Finalists:
2012 Winner: Finalists:
Articulate Masonry, Prince Albert Titanium Tubing Technology Cenovus International Road Dynamics K-Line Maintenance & Construction Ltd., White City EMW Titanium Tubing Technology
Provincial Chamber of Commerce’s Involvement The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce has been very supportive of Mission: Zero, and has implemented a number of initiatives into their organization in support of Mission: Zero. “For our APEX awards, the largest business awards in the province, we ask businesses as part of the nomination criteria to show us their safety plans to ensure that they have one,” says Steve McLellan, the CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has also implemented Mission: Zero into their everyday routine. “At the beginning of all of our board meetings, we do a safety briefing, so that we know that all the people in the room or on the phone, or by video conference are safe in the environments they are in. It’s a reminder that we’re conscious of their
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Injuries causing a time loss claim have dropped by approximately 30 per cent.
30%
safety, and when they leave that meeting, we want them to carry that message forward,” says McLellan. Both McLellan and Federko stress the importance of implementing safety reminders into the everyday business routine, to raise awareness about the importance of workplace and off-work safety.
Provincial Safety Associations Mission: Zero has also been adopted as a mandate for safety associations across the province. One such safety association is the Saskatchewan Motor Safety Association (MSA). Founded in 1997, the Saskatchewan Motor Safety Association provides safetyrelated advisory and training services
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to both employers and workers in an attempt to proactively reduce the number of injuries in the C6 industry group Rate Codes. Marty Cobb, the executive director of the MSA confirms that the MSA has adopted Mission: Zero and endorses it to its members through member visits, during training workshops, through webinars, and on their website. “The MSA has also partnered with Safe Saskatchewan to provide a leadership breakfast meeting for their members in Regina, and plan to host one in Saskatoon as well,” Cobb says. “We are also involved with the various Industry Associations under our membership, communicating safety bulletins, participating in their safety committee meeting, and helping
17%
Number of employees working in our industry has grown by approximately 17 per cent.
them along the path of building a positive safety culture for our Industry and Province.” Cobb says that the MSA has recognized a great improvement in injury prevention over the past five years in the Saskatchewan Motor Industry. “When comparing year end 2007 to year end 2012, the percentage of injuries causing a time loss claim have dropped by approximately 30 per cent. In the same time period, the actual days lost due to an injury in the workplace has dropped by approximately 12 per cent, while the number of employees working in our industry has grown by approximately 17 per cent,” remarks Cobb.
Time loss injury rate in Saskatchewan has dropped
43.6%
“It is our belief that the positive results are not due only to the MSA’s efforts but also due to the efforts of our members, partnerships with various industry groups, Work Safe Saskatchewan, Safe Saskatchewan as well as other safety associations working together with the common goal of making Saskatchewan a safer place to work and live,” reflects Cobb. There are many other safety associations across the province who have adopted Mission: Zero, helping employers and employees remain safe. Other important safety associations include Safe Saskatchewan, a private-sector, publicsector coalition dedicated to reducing
unintentional injuries across the province both at work and at home, and ENFORM, which is the Safety Association for Canada’s Upstream Oil and Gas Industry.
Looking towards the Future: WorkSafe Saskatchewan and Mission: Zero have already had a positive impact on the rates of injury in Saskatchewan. Since the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety formed WorkSafe Saskatchewan in 2002, the time loss injury rate in Saskatchewan has dropped 43.6 per cent.
80%
of Saskatchewan employers achieve Mission: Zero annually
Every year since the launch of Mission: Zero in 2008, approximately 80 per cent of Saskatchewan employers achieve Mission: Zero annually and more and more business are implementing safety solutions all the time. However, Federko stresses that Saskatchewan is still not quite where we want to be in regards to workplace injuries. Now is the time to adopt Mission: Zero into your daily life, at work and at home. Saskatchewan is continually becoming a better, safer place to live, but safety remains as important now as ever. No one can keep us safe unless we are protecting ourselves.
“We need to recognize that these injuries are preventable and that it is within our ability or those around us to eliminate them,” says Federko. “It is truly a change in mindset. For whatever reason, we in Saskatchewan seem to have the propensity to accept that injuries are inevitable, a cost of doing business. So what our campaigns, what our strategies and plans are centered around is the change of that cultural belief.” – Peter Federko BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY NORTH SASK
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Keeping Our Industrial Sites Safe and Secure Athabasca Basin Security (ABS) provides security solutions and personnel specifically for large industrial operations. Since opening in 2002, ABS has amassed an impressive list of clients: Mosaic, AREVA, Conoco Philips, Japan Canada Oil Sands, BHP Billiton, PotashCorp and Cameco. Indeed, this list reads like a roll call for the oil and gas and mining industries. By TOnyA LAMBERT PHOTOS COuRTESy OF ATHABASCA BASIn SECuRITy
A
thabasca Basin Security was started to support the mining sector in northern Saskatchewan. It is part of Athabasca Basin Development, a company owned by seven First Nations communities in the Athabasca Basin.
Presently, ABS provides security for sites in Saskatchewan and Alberta, with a head office in Saskatoon and regional office in Fort McMurray. The company is preparing to expand into B.C., Manitoba and Ontario, as well. The company has grown nearly threefold in the past
two years alone, and currently has 140 security personnel and paramedics. Every ABS security professional undergoes a comprehensive 40-hour training course. Employees receive both general and site-specific security training. In addition, all ABS employees have their driver’s licenses and are trained in first aid. Further training in medical and security procedures is provided according to the needs of the contracting company. ABS employees are trained to keep people, information and property safe and secure. ABS is committed to its employees and to hiring locally whenever possible. Offering employees competitive wages and benefits, comprehensive training and a great work environment results in a very low turnover rate. This means that the companies which hire ABS to provide their security are getting a reliable, experienced workforce.
ABOVE L–R Sascha Sasbrink Harkema, director of operations; Ron Hyggen, CEO; Rod Genest, HSE manager; Claire Venne, accounting; Eric Tang, human resources manager; Corinne Greyeyes, office administrator PHOTO by Heather Fritz
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BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY NORTH SASK
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Since opening, ABS has built a strong foundation from which to expand. As the company has grown, it has been able to take on more and larger clients. Through its work with large international corporations, ABS has had significant exposure to these corporations’ systems and processes, contributing to ABS’s ability to adapt and meet the needs of new clients. They know that there is no cutting corners and are accustomed to regular audits. The ABS philosophy is “to lead rather than to follow,” taking a proactive rather than a reactive approach to safety and security. As ABS is still a relatively young company, it finds it easier than very large security companies to be flexible and to adjust. Often it is with significant hassle and delay that larger companies make necessary adjustments to increase safety and security measures on the job. “Athabasca Basin Security will not take on a new project, site or contract if they are not convinced that they can do the job well,” says Ron Hyggen, CEO of Athabasca Basin Security. When a company hires ABS to meet its security needs, they are in good hands. With ABS, a company deals with the entire team right from the very beginning, rather than just with a regional sale representative. ABS provides personalized, customized service to help its clients to both establish security and safety procedures on its sites as well as provides the personnel necessary to enforce them. ABS is constantly engaged with its clients, who are able to call and speak directly with top ABS personnel. ABS is an award-winning company certified by the four major directives for the security and safety industries. ABS is the recipient of the Skookum Jim Award. This award is made by the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada to a company that has “demonstrated exceptional achievement and/or service in an aboriginal-run service business for the Canadian mining industry or a Canadian aboriginal exploration or mining industry.” ABS has received its Certificate of Recognition for the Saskatchewan Construction Safety LEFT ABS employees
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Association. This is the national standard for certification in the construction industry. It means you are hiring a company that has “the knowledge and tools to develop an effective safety and health management system to reduce incidents and their associated human and financial costs.” Very few security companies have received their COR designation. Furthermore, ABS has been certified by ISNETWORLD as a safe, reliable contractor as well as by QAS International Ltd. by demonstrating, through documented procedures and manuals, that their operating practices meet set International Standards. This means that employers who hire ABS to look after the security and safety procedures on their sites know that they are minimizing the chance of incidents thereby reducing losses in time and productivity, while their workers know they are working in an environment that has been made as safe and secure as possible. ABS offers a full-range of security services from drug and alcohol testing to GPS tracking in vehicles to closedcircuit video monitoring. They provide static security as well as mobile units and foot patrols. ABS uses top-notch radio and electronic communication systems, and employs standardized and detailed documentation and reporting. “We’ve added a lot of services in the past few years that our clients really appreciate. Drug dogs, paramedic services, access control systems, and surveillance equipment — we work in partnership with our clients to deliver the best security products that are tailored to meet their needs,” states Hyggen. Sascha Sasbrink-Harkema, Director of Operations for Athabasca Basin Security, notes that ABS has recently assembled a Medical Mobile Team of paramedics that travels between the various Mosaic Esterhazy sites in southern Saskatchewan. They operate as the first line of defence. They conduct regular testing on such things as hearing and lungs and also provide treatment for injuries. They lead training and refresher courses for both Mosaic and ABS staff. “We use a collaborative approach with the companies that employ us in order to achieve their security objectives,” Sasbrink-Harkema says.
As part of the company’s commitment to workplace safety, ABS will be signing Saskatchewan’s Mission: Zero in November. “We are constantly exploring new opportunities and improving our company and services for our clients,” says Hyggen. “Our PACT is to be Professional, Accountable, Confidential and Timely, so you can be 100 per cent confident in the security of your site.”
Athabasca Basin Security 324-2555 Grasswood Road E,Saskatoon 306.382.2282 www.basinsecurity.com
ABOVE L–R Sascha Sasbrink-Harkema, director of operations; Ron Hyggen, CEO
PHOTO by Heather Fritz
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[MANAGEMENT/HR SAFETY ] In 2010, one in every 68 workers in the country was injured while on the job
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that checks the heart rhythm. If needed, it can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm.
Helping to Keep Saskatchewan’s Workers Safe BY TONYA LAMBERT PHOTOS MEGAN ANTONIUK PHOTOGRAPHY
H
uman Resources and Skills Development Canada notes that in 2010, one in every 68 workers in the country was injured while on the job, with the highest rates of injuries for 2008 being reported in the construction and manufacturing industries. Whether you work in an office or construction site, in a restaurant or on an oil rig, worker health and safety should always be a primary concern. Zee
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Medical in Saskatoon has the products and the knowledge to help lower the number of injuries in your workplace. Zee Medical in Saskatoon is part of a North American-wide company with over 50 years in the business. For over 30 years, Doug Agnew and his staff at Zee Medical in Saskatoon have been supplying companies across the province with first aid and safety supplies and training.
Businesses sometimes make the mistake of assigning workplace safety to an individual employee, who not only does not possess the necessary expertise but also has numerous other tasks to perform. This can lead to problems like not having aid and safety supplies when they are needed. Doug and his team at Zee Medical evaluate the safety needs of each business and tailor a package to meet those needs. They, then, replenish those supplies and equipment on a regular basis to ensure that everything is up-to-date and on-hand when required. The experts at Zee Medical also provide training in the use and maintenance of the safety equipment, such as Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs. Leaving workplace safety in the hands of experts, like those at Zee Medical, saves lives and money. Having the appropriate safety equipment on-site reduces both the number and the severity of on-the-job injuries — injuries which cost employers millions of dollars annually in lost time and productivity. Purchasing a customized package from Zee Medical also saves companies money by limiting expenditures to only the safety equipment needed for their particular type of business. As companies grow and expand, adding new products or processes and more staff, Zee Medical adjusts their first aid supplies and safety equipment to match these changing demands. This is vital to workplace safety, and something which is often overlooked when safety needs are left to non-experts. Zee Medical in Saskatoon services the entire province of Saskatchewan. Sales representatives cover every area of the province, visiting the companies in their region on a regular basis to ensure that the first aid and safety equipment at a site meet that business’ current needs. No matter what the size or nature of your business, Zee Medical can meet your safety requirements. You are in good hands with Zee Medical. Zee Medical 12-3111 Millar Avenue, Saskatoon 306.933.4681 1.800.465.8777 zeemedical@sasktel.net www.zeemedical.com
STAFF PHOTO L–R Doug Agnew, owner; Darcy Leffler, sales rep; Gord Sharp, sales rep; Brenda Agnew, office manager; Wayne Gerbrandt, sales rep; Ron Hoffman, sales manager
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[MANAGEMENT/HR SAFETY ] 100 per cent of our certificates are accepted by ISN
100%
In the past, limits of $500,000 or $1,000,000 were pretty common. Today, limits in the dollar amount of $2 or $3 million are much more common and many contractors are insuring to limits of $5 million or higher.
Protecting Yourself and Your Business BY TOBIE HAINSTOCK PHOTOS MEGAN ANTONIUK PHOTOGRAPHY
As a contractor, you’ve spent years working hard and building up your business to where it is today. If, as a business owner, you negligently cause bodily injury or property damage to another person, you can be sued. But your liability insurance will respond! Your insurer will legally defend you and settle on your behalf if necessary.
C
ontractors need liability insurance to protect them in the event that they cause bodily injury or property damage through the course of their operations. Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance protects contractors for lawsuits due to “bodily injury or property damage.” In the past, limits of $500,000 or $1,000,000 were pretty common. Today, limits in the dollar amount of $2 or $3 million are much more common. In fact, many contractors are insuring to limits of $5 million or higher. CGL protects the business, the
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owners, the shareholders and the employees when any of them are sued due to the operations of the business. When you’re working for someone else, they will often want to know that your business has liability insurance. In such a case, you will need to give them proof in the form of a certificate of insurance. Hoffmann Kool Insurance will provide these certificates to you free of charge. “Companies like ISNetWorld are corporations that manage certificates on behalf of other large corporations. They
have strict guidelines to follow in order to have the contractors acceptable to work. Hoffmann Kool has a good relationship with ISN and 100 per cent of our certificates are accepted by ISN,” states Bill Schwandt of Hoffmann Kool Insurance. Without acceptable certificates contractors are often not able to even set foot on some job sites. Schwandt advises that it’s important for contractors to accurately describe their entire operations to their brokers. This will ensure that they have liability insurance for each and every operation that they perform. “For instance, if you are a landscaper and you also do snow removal, you need to have both of these operations covered,” he explains. It’s not uncommon for general contractors to hire many sub-trades during the construction of buildings and homes. It’s very important that the general contractor checks to make sure that each individual sub-contractor has their own liability insurance. “The liability insurance carried by the general contractor will not respond to damages caused by the sub-contractors,” states Schwandt. There are other types of liability insurance that certain types of businesses will need to have, these include: • • • • •
Products Liability Errors and Omissions Liability Pollution Liability Non-owned Auto Liability Crane and Hoist Operators Liability
Another form of liability insurance that is becoming popular is one that will pay for any “mistakes” made by a tradesperson, such as the installation of the wrong type of flooring. Hoffmann Kool offers a wide selection of insurance products for small businesses and contractors. To get a complete picture of the type of insurance you need for your business, contact them today.
Hoffmann Kool Insurance 5 – 75 Lenore Drive 306.934.1999 www.hoffmannkool.com TOP L-R: Laurie Klassen, Tess Kuntz, Darryn Knibbs, Bill Schwandt, Jayne Schwandt, Aaron Beattie MIDDLE: Paul Douglas, CIP account manager
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Lifting Safety to New Heights BY TONYA LAMBERT
Lifting large, heavy objects high into the air can be a tricky and dangerous business. The potential for light injury or property damage to even severe injury is great. That is why the management and crew of Prairie Crane Inc. in Saskatoon go to great lengths to ensure the safety and well being of everyone present at all work sites on which they participate. “So much is on the line,” says operations manager Troy Regamey, “that it doesn’t make sense to skimp on costs.”
P
rairie Crane Inc., a family owned business, was opened by Don, Kathy, Matt and Stephanie Hnatuk in 2004. Presently, father and son are involved in the daily operations of the company but all of the Hnatuks’ are involved in the management decisions. Saskatchewan born and bred, the Hnatuk family understands the importance of family and teamwork. The Hnatuk family has an extensive background in the hoisting and construction industry which led Prairie Crane to its current successes.
Each of the company’s crane operators undergo extensive, rigorous training, both in class and on-the-job. Every one of their crane operators is trained in the specialized operation of each of the cranes in Prairie Crane’s fleet, ranging from 15- to 100-ton cranes, and soon their new 265ton All Terrain Hydraulic crane coming this December. The company takes great pride in ensuring that every crane as well as their other equipment, such as manbaskets, material buckets and spreader bars, undergoes safety testing twice as often as required by law. “At the end of the
day, we want our crew and our clients to all go home safe,” notes Regamey. Once on the job site, every person involved completes a Field Level Risk Assessment (FLRA) individually before getting together and comparing notes. This approach ensures that all safety hazards are noted: many eyes see more than a single pair. This assessment is completed on a daily basis unless there is a change in the weather, other environmental conditions or in the personnel involved, in which case it is
ABOVE L-R: Matt Baird, Everett Monea, Troy Regamey, Matt Hnatuk PHOTO BY Megan Antoniuk Photography
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completed again to adjust to the new conditions and to ensure that any new people on the scene are fully aware of the risks involved. This same approach is applied to the Job Hazardous Assessment (JHA) that is conducted. Furthermore, critical lift forms are also completed (when more than one crane is involved). Prairie Crane follows the rules and regulations set out by Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety, the CSA-Z150 guidelines for crane operations as well as individual site regulations as set out by their clients. The company has a 365-page safety manual which every employee is required to know and follow. Prairie Crane believes that teamwork is the key to safety and the crew engages in regular “toolbox talks.” The company is also actively involved with ISNetworld, Browz, CanQual and soon their “Certificate of Recognition” (COR).
“At the end of the day, we want our crew and our clients to all go home safe.” - Troy Regamey _ Prairie Crane operators, riggers and supervisors follow the same high standards of safety whether they are lifting a hot tub into a backyard with a single, small crane or setting a transformer in place at a refinery using two or more larger cranes. Safety guidelines are carefully followed no matter which of the company’s equipment is involved: crawler cranes, rough terrain cranes, hydraulic truck cranes, all terrain cranes, carry decks or jack ‘n’ rolls. The members of the Prairie Crane crew are always available to help with a job: “Rain or shine, night or day, we are available anytime,” says Regamey. With one of the largest fleets in Saskatchewan, Prairie Crane Inc. is sure to be able to help get the job done 24/7 – efficiently and safely.
Prairie Crane Inc. 814 50th Street Saskatoon, SK S7K 0X6 Saskatoon: 306.651.1272 Regina: 306.721.1272 Lloydminster: 306.825.2702 info@prairiecrane.com www.prairiecrane.com RIGHT: Photos Courtesy of Prairie Crane Inc. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY NORTH SASK
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ERCO Worldwide, Saskatoon: Committed to Safety at Work and at Home BY MARTIN UGWU AND TERRY FRISKE PHOTOS CONNIE CRONIN
E
RCO Worldwide is a global chemical manufacturing company with over 100 years in the business. In 1962, operations began at the Saskatoon facility at the corner of 71st Street East and Wanuskewin Road. The Saskatoon facility manufactures chloralkali based chemicals as well as sodium chlorate. Chloralkali based chemicals are used in a wide variety of industries such as steel production, petroleum and natural gas, food processing and water purification. Sodium chlorate is used mostly in the pulp and paper industry to generate chlorine dioxide, an important
chemical for bleaching wood pulp for manufacturing high quality and environmentally friendly paper and fiber products. Hydrogen, which is a by-product of the processes, provides additional value in combustion systems as an environmentally friendly fuel. It is also used in the food industries for the hydrogenation of fats and as a feedstock to other chemical industries. The products and processes of ERCO Worldwide, Saskatoon are recognized as meeting both national and international standards for sustainability, safety, environment and quality.
Safety is a core value at ERCO Worldwide, Saskatoon. Their safety vision is “Because I work at ERCO, I know I will be Injury Free.� This safety vision shows ownership by all employees for their personal safety as well as the safety of their co-workers. The belief that all accidents are preventable combined with a sincere concern for the health, wellness and safety of their employees led ERCO to sign the Saskatchewan Safety Charter. As a Charter signatory, ERCO is showing its commitment by providing a safe workplace environment and maintaining an incident-free operation. Photo Courtesy ERCO Worldwide
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The company has implemented a formal, functional safety management system designed to meet all requirements of the Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety regulations. Employee involvement and participation is critical to the success of the safety program. The active involvement of employees has strengthened their safety management system and established safety as everybody’s responsibility. In 2011, the company adopted the US National Safety Council world class standards in an effort to improve their safety record and bring them closer to their goal of “zero recordables.” The outcome of these efforts has improved safety performance all around. As a Saskatchewan Safety Charter signatory, ERCO Worldwide, Saskatoon, is committed to safety not only at the workplace but also at home. The site has partnered with WorkSafe Saskatchewan in its Mission: Zero program, aimed at reducing accidents in the province. Through this program, the site has distributed about 1,000 pairs of safety glasses to communities around the Saskatoon manufacturing site for use at their homes. As a member of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, ERCO Worldwide, Saskatoon is committed to the Responsible Care ethic and principles for sustainability. Responsible Care® is a voluntary initiative to manage products safely and to be responsive to the concerns of our community. ERCO Worldwide, Saskatoon is committed to doing the right thing by improving their environmental, safety, and health and wellness performance, using the guiding principles of prevention, preparedness and protection.
ERCO Worldwide 71st Street East & Wanuskewin Road Saskatoon, SK S7K 3R3 Phone: 306.931.7767 Fax: 306.933.0888 www.ercoworldwide.com
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One SOurce, One SOlutiOn: Magna ElEctric industry lEadEr By Katrina Geenevasen Photos Calvin Fehr
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O
ffering power system solutions to customers throughout North America and select international markets since 1996, Magna Electric Corporation (MEC) has become the go-to source for customers seeking quality products and service in the electrical power systems market. The industries that MEC support continue to experience significant growth, which allowed the creation of Magna Electric’s Major Projects division. It’s designed to deliver turnkey industrial and utility construction projects including new installations,
Photo courtesy of Magna electric Corporation
automation and control system upgrades, management services and upgrades to existing facilities. With unprecedented 700 per cent growth in the last seven years, the success of the company speaks for itself. “It’s been really incredible,” says Mike Tate, vice-president of business development with Magna Electric. “We pride ourselves in providing customers with a turnkey solution, and by doing so we’ve become known as a onesource, one-solution organization.” One of the products that Magna Electric designs and manufactures in-house are custom-built, portable mine power centres. These products power and protect important applications in the harsh and corrosive environments of the mining industry. They feature a modular design for flexible layout and interchangeability, along with meeting the aggressive schedules of their customers. “A lot of the mines we deal with are right in our backyard, and by custom designing the product we can deliver on specific client requirements,” says Tate. “Our specialized people can go right to site, inspect everything, talk to the people who work with the products every day and design around these opportunities,” he continues.
A large majority of Magna Electric customers are repeat clients. And that, says Tate, is the ultimate compliment. “When they call you back for further work, that says something,” he says. Comments from clients speak for themselves. “The company offers an innovative quality program that performs extremely efficiently. Across the board, we are always pleased with their work,” says Yvon Duguay, electrical superintendent of Mosaic Potash K2. While quality service in a time-conscious and cost-effective manner is a high priority for Magna Electric, dedication to safety is also fundamental. “Obviously, you don’t get a second chance if you make a mistake,” says Kerry Heid, Magna Electric CEO. “We’ll be working on a pipeline one day, we’ll be in an underground mine the next, and we could be in a power plant the next day. It’s really a set of dynamic job sites that we’re on, so we don’t have a lot of room for error.” Their award-winning safety program is second to none in the industry, with numerous accolades and awards to prove it. They have been given Saskatchewan’s Safe Employer Award, named as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies and were recipients of the ABEX award
as Saskatchewan’s Business of the Year in 2011. “We are working in an industry whose typical classification is one that has hazards to it, and we have been able to operate without hurting anybody, without fatalities, in an industry when fatalities happen every construction season,” says Luis Wilson, vice president of corporate services. It’s no surprise Magna has become one of the success stories that define what the new Saskatchewan is all about, says Heid. “We’ve grown exponentially, and had a lot of success doing it. I don’t know if a lot of people know what’s going on inside Saskatchewan, but it’s a pretty amazing place to be right now.”
Magna electric 843 58th St e, Saskatoon 306.955.8131 www.magnaelectric.com
Facing PagE BacK rOW l–r trent robbins, Jarret solberg, FrOnt rOW l–r Kerry heid, Mike tate tHis PagE tOP lEFt l–r Craig Zawada (WMCZ – award sponsor), Pam heid, Kerry heid, Catherine osler (teC CanaDa – award sponsor)
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[ MANAGEMENT/HR SAFETY ]
WORKPLACE SAFETY… EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY! By Sherry Knight
A
lthough we have a ways to go, Saskatchewan has significantly improved its safety record between 2008 and 2012. Phil Germain, vice president, prevention and employer services for Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) states workplace safety is everyone’s responsibility, not just that of a department in your organization. It’s critical: safety is important every second, every day. In many cases, those who lose their lives are those who work alone: for example, crop dusters (this has been a particularly
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bad year for accidents) and farmers working with their equipment. In his early life, my grandfather lost his left arm in a farm accident — it was caught in an auger when he was trying to free a stoppage. Fortunately, he lost his arm to just above the elbow and was able to carry on, losing the ability to do two things in life: he could no longer roll his cigarettes nor tie his shoe laces. The farming industry typically has about one-third the fatalities as all other industries combined. And, generally, farming injuries are not included in WCB statistics.
Youth aged 14 to 24 are 25 to 35 per cent more likely to be injured on the job than someone over the age of 25. Why? They are undertrained. They are naive. They are not assertive. Training is the employer’s duty, just as it is for a parent to teach a child how to stay safe around the home and on the streets. Every new employee needs to have training in all the work place situations — and this can be as simple as cleaning up spilled water, oil or any other liquids to reduce slips. If everyone was responsible, then it would not be a case of,
“It’s not my job!” which destroys much of one’s accountability.
Accountability is important; it is a job for everyone. Think about it: do you want your teenage child working at a company where the first day on the job is not spent indicating what the job is and how one needs to watch for safety issues? How is one to know what to do and what not to do if they are not shown the correct way to do the job? Even lifting is a safety issue: employees need to be trained in how to lift heavier objects in a manner that does not harm the body. Every employee, regardless of age, has the right and the responsibility of addressing any unsafe situation. Sometimes “newbies” are unsure about their responsibility and more seasoned employees fear retribution if they bring these issues to another individual or to the boss. Every person in the organization should care about their own and their co-workers’ safety. When it is addressed, it needs to be supported. Many large organizations have started health and safety departments. They have found their staff to be negligent in safety situations, so rather than change
attitudes and provide an environment where people hold themselves and their co-workers responsible for safety, they have put a department in place to help create a safe workplace. There a possibility this may allow staff to think, “Safety is not my job, it’s that of the health and safety department!”
Youth aged 14 to 24 are 25% – 35% more likely to be injured on the job than someone over the age of 25.
Let’s make everyone responsible for safety. Remember, if you are a director for an organization, you could be held personally responsible for the safety of the people in your organization. It seems the wallet is sometimes the best reason to help others stay safe. You don’t need a health and safety department. What you need is proper training to help everyone be assertive and be safe.
Even lifting is a safety issue: employees need to be trained in how to lift heavier objects in a manner that does not harm the body.
Sherry Knight is president and CEO of Dimension 11 Ltd., Saskatchewan’s human resource specialists dedicated to seeing businesses throve through talent management — recruitment, retention, executive coaching, training, organizational development and career transition. Sherry can be reached 306.586.2315 or by email sherry@dimension11.com.
at at Sherry Knight
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TAILORED TO ANY INDUSTRIAL/ COMMERCIAL NEEDS
INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL— PROACTIVE SAFETY TRAINING PAYS OFF IN SPADES! STAYING ON TOP OF YOUR BUSINESS MEANS LOOKING AFTER YOUR EMPLOYEES’ SAFETY We have a 1,600 square foot warehouse, fully equipped with all the necessary equipment and highly experienced instructors to properly assist and train your staff. We’ll provide the effective health and safety solutions and the right skills to help your workers succeed in the workplace. SERVICES • • • • •
Safety Inspections Safety Audits Safety Perception Survey Site Safety Support Ergonomics
COURSES • • • • • • • •
Lift Truck Overhead Crane Mobile Crane Rigging Skid Steer Aerial Lift Telehandler Trackmobile
• • • • •
Respiratory Protection Generic WHMIS Confined Space Awareness Supervisor Safety Safety Management Systems • OH&S Committee Training • Site Specific Courses
See our Course Schedule at www.proactiveconsulting.ca 135A HENDERSON DRIVE, REGINA 306-543-6108 | 1-877-543-6108 | WWW.PROACTIVECONSULTING.CA
Chris Budzich CRSP–Owner
[ COVER STORY ]
FOSTERING A CULTURE OF CARING: PotashCorp’s Five-Year Safety Plan BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY NORTH SASK
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BY TONYA LAMBERT PHOTOS COURTESY OF POTASHCORP
PotashCorp of Saskatchewan, with its five mines at Allan, Cory, Lanigan, Patience Lake and Rocanville, is one of the province’s largest employers. The company also has a potash mine in New Brunswick, as well as phosphate and nitrogen facilities in the United States and Trinidad. 40
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P
otashCorp not only employs people directly to work in its mines, it also hires numerous contractors to undertake projects at its different sites. Keeping thousands of workers safe is a challenge that requires constant monitoring. “Safety is an ongoing process and we can never get complacent. It requires commitment and continuous effort on everyone’s part,” notes Mark Fracchia, PotashCorp’s Vice President, Safety, Health and Environment.
Each site manager, working with their leadership team, is responsible for their facility’s safety. The effectiveness of the company’s safety systems are validated on a site-by-site basis through regular internal and external audits, and a continuous review of leading and lagging indicator data. With many people working on each site, PotashCorp feels it is important that every employee takes an active role in promoting safety. Each employee
receives safety training and is encouraged to conduct peer-on-peer observations. This no name/no blame, peer-onpeer, behavioural accident prevention process promotes an environment where employees feel empowered to approach each other on safety and to intervene, when necessary, without fearing reprisals. “We strive to impart to employees a strong personal safety ethic that is rooted in awareness, focused on prevention and motivated by concern for human life,” says Fracchia.
In 2008, the company began to include contractors in all its safety reporting systems. Contractors have always been required to meet all of PotashCorp’s safety standards, with the component of personal ownership and responsibility. “Our consideration for safety starts with selecting contractors who share our value for safety. We take the time to work with contractors to ensure that they understand our safety expectations, they receive a thorough orientation when they arrive on site and we monitor their safety performance until the job is done,” says Fracchia.
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PotashCorp launched its strategic five-year safety plan earlier this year. The plan focuses on four areas: systems and standards, training, employee and contractor engagement, and key safety metrics.
Each facility has teams who are trained mine. The underground rescue teams Led by a Senior Safety Leadership Team, successfully extinguished the fire and PotashCorp follows all OSHA, provincial to provide emergency response not only brought all miners, who were sheltered and state requirements on recording at their own site but also at other potash in refuge stations, to the surface safely. and notification of occupational injuries mining facilities, if called upon. and illnesses. All incidents, including PotashCorp’s emergency rescue near-misses are investigated and teams undergo regular training. “At PotashCorp, safety is not just a reported, and remedial actions To keep their skills honed, are implemented to prevent priority, it’s one of our core values.” they compete against similar a recurrence. The company is teams from other mining careful to monitor and respond - Mark Fracchia sites in competitions, such as to changes in legal and regulatory the Provincial Mine Rescue requirements, technical codes, Competition and the PotashCorp and improved knowledge of health and The company’s potash mines have both Firefighters’ Rodeo in Lanigan. environmental impacts. underground and surface mine rescue As part of its ongoing effort to improve teams. In September 2012, these teams While PotashCorp’s focus is on safety and achieve its goal of “No Harm were called into action when a fire broke prevention, the company also has to People,” PotashCorp launched its strategic five-year safety plan earlier emergency response procedures in place. out underground at their Rocanville
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Sys Sta tem n Me
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this year. The plan focuses on four areas: systems and standards, training, employee and contractor engagement, and key safety metrics. The plan will leverage existing systems, processes and training; identifying best practices and developing standards to be implemented at all facilities. PotashCorp understands that a central element of instilling a genuine value for safety is to effectively engage employees and contractors. As part of its five-year plan, the company is developing tools to assist leaders to involve employees in decisions that affect their workplace health and safety. The company has been focusing on identifying the greatest exposures and safety risks and on mitigating these risks through effective communication between supervisors, employees and contractors. “Our number one focus is to keep our people safe. We care about their well-being and work hard to prevent injuries by improving our safety systems, promoting safe behaviours, and through leadership and accountability across all our facilities,” says Fracchia. “At PotashCorp, safety is not just a priority, it’s one of our core values,” adds Fracchia. “This means making safety a habit; a natural part of every activity we undertake at all our facilities. No one can sit on the sidelines when it comes to safety.” According to Fracchia, “PotashCorp’s five-year safety plan will leverage our strengths, to lead us to become one of the safest resource companies in the world.” PotashCorp 122 1st Avenue South, Suite 500 Saskatoon S7K 7G3 P: 306.933.8500 F: 306.933.8844 www.potashcorp.com
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[ EXPORT & TRADE ]
Saskatchewan is currently the second largest oil-producing province in Canada with approximately 14 per cent of all crude oil production.
PLANNING AND VISION
ESSENTIAL FOR OIL AND GAS SECTOR
S
askatchewan has always been affectionately known as the “breadbasket of the world” with its rich soil and vast prairies. Naturally, our economy has focused primarily on agriculture, but it’s clear today that what is under the soil is changing the province’s economic landscape and making us the envy of the country. Saskatchewan is holding onto an abundant resource with potential yet to be fully developed. The oil and gas industry is booming in the province and production, though still second to Alberta, is at an all-time high. The development of this industry is an interesting one. Production has been climbing dramatically in recent years, and the general expectation is for this growth to continue. Since 2007, there seems to be a renewed business spirit establishing itself in the province, which is manifesting itself as prosperity and economic growth that
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are attracting immigration, migration and optimistic investment. In this economic climate, prospects for the province seem limitless. Spend some time down in the southeast of the province and certain issues emerge that concern not only the industry, but the province as a whole. Whether it is National Geographic’s damning depiction of Alberta’s oil sands, the contested development of national pipelines, or environmental spills and other catastrophes, oil production is a contentious issue. However, the reality is that this resource is going to be developed. The development and expansion of this industry in the province is a great thing, and our publication is working to promote and encourage conversation around any issues. Corporate social responsibility is an important part of this conversation. It is well known that Calgary is the corporate hub of oil and gas in the country, but as Saskatchewan expands its market share in this commodity there should be a migration east by corporate entities. The reason for this is two-fold: there should be the obvious desire to have close proximity and observation of one’s sector, and large corporations need to feel responsibility to profit margins and community investment. Our recent summer edition featured The Mosaic Company, whose corporate citizenship is an excellent example of community involvement and investment. Crescent Point is another example to highlight, considering their involvement in getting the STARS air ambulance program going in the province.
The demand for corporations to be socially responsible is simply a reality in the world we live in, and Saskatchewan is a region where the expectations are high. It has been mentioned that it is not business as usual in Saskatchewan. This may seem threatening, but really it is a testament to our strong communities and their expectations for fair business practice. Once trust is established, the rewards are numerous. Companies and corporations benefit from better recruitment, employee retention, risk management, and what one may call a communal license to operate. Opponents may argue that corporate involvement and investment does not benefit the financial bottom line, but much evidence points to the contrary. Saskatchewan is currently the second largest oil-producing province in Canada with approximately 14 per cent of all crude oil production. Figures from 2011 indicate sales of $12.7 billion with $1.7 billion coming back to the province in royalties and bonus bids. There is an estimated 33,200 person-years of direct and indirect employment associated with our upstream oil and gas industry alone. This kind of economic growth brings with it strains on infrastructure and community planning. Both inside and outside of oil-producing communities there is concern regarding the management of such lucrative sectors. How does a community effectively support an influx of transient workers? How does it cope with the strain on its roadways and utilities? Can it be expected that small communities such as Estevan, Weyburn, Swift Current or Kindersley handle the incredible planning strains associated with organizing an efficient infrastructure that will benefit not only the industry but also the community? These are areas of concern, and better involvement from corporations as well as government needs to happen. The opportunity is there to take the initiative to establish the most optimal of functioning oil sectors.
Proactive thinking can alleviate many of these issues. How do you provide communities with all the amenities to ensure a safe and functioning community? The answers are complex and certainly not obvious. Like infrastructure and community planning issues, this problem also deserves thought and consideration to help prevent its potentially hazardous consequences. In the issues ahead, we will continue to engage in discussing the Saskatchewan oil sector and its development into the future. Speaking at the Petroleum Safety Conference in Banff, Rex Murphy, CBC commentator, made some very endearing comments to the sector and its positive impacts on the country as a whole. He pointed out how the oil sector has been providing gainful employment to Maritimers since the collapse of their traditional fisheries sector. Mr. Murphy’s words address something most Canadians would hold sacred: the aid and assistance of their countrymen in need. They also point to the importance of learning from our mistakes — treating our natural resources with respect and harvesting them smartly and efficiently. The oil and gas industry in Saskatchewan holds incredible potential, and it is certainly an exciting time to be in the province. While we enjoy this prosperity, it is important to remember that good planning and vision ensure the continued success of the sector and the province.
It is wise to look to our neighbours to the south and west to consider their successes and failures while developing their oil and gas sectors. An obvious example of success is the twinned highway connecting Alberta to the United States. Another example is the promotion of Alberta’s eco-tourism industry. A major issue in Saskatchewan is that there is a lack of recreational activities. How do companies here attract employees when Alberta’s cities and their recreational venues are far more appealing? Why is there not a large-scale event complex like the West Edmonton Mall being planned for Regina? Why are our parks not being developed to help entice tourism to the province? Why are there so few direct flights in and out of the province? Our current situation can be easily remedied; we live in a great province and we need to promote it better. It is answering the simple question about why people choose one place over another to live and work. Public safety in the oil and gas industry is another concern. The rising crime rates in Williston, North Dakota have garnered international media attention. Violent crime rates for the small community back in 1999 were at very low levels (37.5); fast-forward to 2011, and the rates have already surpassed the national average (241.1). Crime, sex offences and property damage are all weighing heavily on this community, and it all adds up to a solid example of a community overwhelmed by the spin-off effects of an oil boom.
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& TRADE [ EXPORT & TRADE]]
Des Nedhe Development LP: The Power to Build the Future BY APOLLINE LUCYK PHOTOS MEGAN ANTONIUK PHOTOGRAPHY
E
stablished by English River First Nation in 1991, Des Nedhe Development LP is a key source of employment for Northern Saskatchewan, employing approximately 175 workers within their 19 companies at any given time. “Our mission is to engage in activities which will create sustainable employment
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and business opportunities for English River members” says Doug Reynolds, vice president of corporate and social responsibility at Des Nedhe. The largest corporation within Des Nedhe is Tron Power Inc., a highly respected industrial construction firm specializing in the mining industry over
the last 25 years. Tron Power has a team of highly experienced management staff who work together to deliver comprehensive services for all their clients’ mining needs. Tron Power often works with northern Saskatchewan uranium mining companies such as Cameco and Areva, as well as within joint partnerships such as their Mudjatik Thyssen Mining
(MTM) joint venture, which works within 13 communities in northern Saskatchewan. The MTM joint venture is one of the most successful joint ventures in Saskatchewan, bringing money and employment to 13 different communities in the north. Tron Power provides a vast array of infrastructure and construction services to northern mines, from simple cleaning and grubbing, to pond, tank and spillway construction, and surface and underground electrical and mechanical maintenance and construction. They also provide an extensive variety of engineering services, including estimation services such as conceptual and scoping studies, design services such as conceptual design drawing and tender documents, and building services such as tailing pipe systems, dewatering systems, and pilot plant testing facilities. This not only makes Tron Power a key source of employment in the North, but also an essential service provider to northern Saskatchewan industries.
“Our mission is to engage in activities which will create sustainable employment and business opportunities for English River members.”
Des Nedhe also runs a key mining supply company, Mine Tec Sales, which provides Northern operations with all the supplies they need, such as safety gear, personal protective equipment (PPE) and drill rods. They will even supply more general items such as fridges and stoves to worksites when necessary: “If they need it, we’ll get it,” says Reynolds. Northern residents can order a very wide range of supplies from Mine Tec, who ensures that all supplies are delivered right to the community or work site. They also successfully began English River Equipment Rentals 18 months ago, which provides powered mobile equipment, specialty tools and equipment to mine sites. Des Nedhe also owns and operates three full-service gas stations: one in Grasswood, south of Saskatoon, one in Beauval, and one in Patuanak — all which have convenience stores. Des Nedhe also owns and runs a full grocery store in Beauval, which offers northern residents a full selection of groceries at Saskatoon prices. Finally, Des Nedhe leases out office space in Grasswood, south of Saskatoon. They are continually expanding and seeking out new growth opportunities to
generate further employment opportunity for English River First Nation. Whether you are looking for an industrial construction company to service and renovate your uranium or potash mine, a company from which to order mining industrial supplies, affordable groceries up North, or to fill your tank at Grasswood, Des Nedhe has something for everyone. Visit their website below for more details on their exciting business plans for the future. Des Nedhe Development Inc. 301-2555 Grasswood Rd E. Saskatoon SK 306.652.4989 http://www.tronpower.com/
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. e f i L r o f y e n o I want M
Life insurance • Guaranteed investments • Payout annuities I can help with your goals. Let’s talk about Money for Life. Jeff Rask
Jeff Rask and Associates Financial Services Inc. 306-649-4000 ext 107 JRA.Financial.Services@sunlife.com www.sunlife.ca/jeff.rask 475 1st Avenue North Saskatoon, SK S7K 1X5
Life’s brighter under the sun Mutual funds offered by Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2013.
[ SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ]
What’s in Your Water? G By The SaSkaTchewan ReSeaRch council
rowing up, we were told in school that Canada contains more than half the world’s fresh water. This resource, it was said, would sustain this country and guarantee us a supply of fresh, clean drinking water for centuries to come. But then tragedy struck Walkerton, Ontario, when their water became contaminated with E. coli bacteria; this was followed by the cryptosporidiosis outbreak in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Both events caused thousands of people to become ill, and several residents of Walkerton died as a result of drinking contaminated water. Canadians in every region began to question the safety of their water supply, no longer taking its quality for granted. As a result, water quality testing has become an even more important need for everyone from global industry to municipalities to individual well owners. The Saskatchewan Research Council’s (SRC) Environmental Analytical Laboratories has expertise in this field, having provided water quality testing services to large cities and companies, as well as to homeowners and well owners across Canada for more than 40 years. Laboratory Manager Brenda Stanek says in a world where one billion people lack access to safe drinking water, water quality testing can truly save lives. “Even though most Canadians have easy access to clean drinking water, water quality testing is important to ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy
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this essential resource in the same way we do today.”
Municipalities Drinking water and waste water in municipalities across Canada are typically regulated by each individual provincial government. There are strict regulations that each municipality must adhere to and meet in order to ensure the safety of its drinking water and the safety of its citizens. Saskatchewan residents can visit http://www.saskh20. ca/MyDrinkingWater.asp to see the required tests and the test results for each individual municipality. Through specific bylaws, municipalities also regulate what can be discharged into the public sewage works and storm sewers. There are maximum levels set for parameters such as biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids and grease, as well as types of wastes that are strictly prohibited from being discharged into a sewer.
Business/Industry Businesses and industries and how they may impact the environment are also typically regulated by each individual provincial government. In Saskatchewan,
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the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment has proposed new and amended legislation that suggests resultsbased regulations for industry. This will mean that the new way of protecting the environment will be to define the desired outcome by law and then empower industry to determine how that standard will be achieved or surpassed. Stanek says that from an environmental standpoint, water quality testing is extremely important to the safety and long-term life of many industries, including key Saskatchewan industries such as mining, agriculture and oil and gas. “Companies nowadays have a responsibility to ensure that their operations aren’t negatively impacting the environment and the people around it.”
70
%
of the Earth is covered in water. 2.5% of that is freshwater.
Two reasons for businesses to test water: Special testing may be required. A company may require the water that they use for their process or for manufacturing to be purer than their local tap water. For example, minerals naturally present in tap water may be detrimental to their process or equipment.
Canada has the 3rd largest supply of renewable freshwater in the world, after Brazil and Russia.
Regulatory requirements to effluents.
due
Due to environmental concerns, there are different regulatory requirements in place depending on the specific industry and the different effluents involved. For example, the uranium industry is regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).
Homeowners/ well owners Stanek says that for homeowners or well owners, the responsibility to test the water is solely on the individual. “Water quality testing for homeowners is typically done to ensure tap or well water is safe to drink however, there are a few concerns to keep in mind.”
Five reasons for homeowners to test water It is a homeowner’s responsibility. It is the responsibility of the owner of a new or old well to ensure the safety and quality of the water. There are no legal testing requirements. However, when a new well is constructed, the water
should be tested before use. It is advisable to recheck the well annually or after modifying it in any way.
It is needed for a mortgage. When applying for a mortgage on a property with an independent water source, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) requires that the water supply is tested for nitrates and coliform before it will support the mortgage. Nitrates may occur naturally and are acceptable up to 45 mg/litre. There is no acceptable level for coliform.
It stinks. If water has a rotten egg odour or there is red slime in the toilet tank, this indicates the presence of iron or sulfur bacteria. These organisms do not pose a health risk, but their presence makes the water unpalatable and can corrode plumbing equipment and clog screens and pipes in a well. Disinfecting the well and water system using shock chlorination usually eliminates the problem.
Water is discoloured or it doesn’t look right. Water discolouration can be caused by the presence of iron and/or manganese. These are not detrimental to a person’s
health, but if iron levels are high, it could cause red, brown or yellow staining on laundry, dishes and fixtures. Manganese acts similarly, but causes a brown-black stain. Water may have an offensive taste and odour and water system piping and fixtures can get clogged. Treatment depends on factors such as the concentration and form of iron and manganese in the water.
There is worry about lead. Plumbing pipes can become corroded or show signs of mineral and lead buildup. Many older homes used lead pipes in their plumbing systems. Copper pipes have replaced lead pipes, but until the late 1980s, lead soldering was often used to join the copper pipes.
How is water tested? Water testing should be carried out by an accredited laboratory. SRC’s Environmental Analytical Laboratories is an accredited facility that performs a variety of specific tests. If you have questions about the quality and safety of your water or would like more information about SRC, go to www.src.sk.ca/analytical.
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[ MARKETING ]
How to Handle tHe negative on
Social Media
T
here’s not a business out there that hasn’t had an unhappy customer. And these days, because of social media, customers have ways to make their unhappiness known far and wide. Anyone with a social media account or access to online review sites can let the world know whatever they are unhappy about. Sometimes, customers have every reason to be unhappy and let people know what is going with a business in a reasonable, rational manner. And sometimes customers don’t, and business owners can be faced with a social media nightmare playing out for every customer and prospect to see. However, you can prepare yourself to mitigate the bad stuff before it gets out of hand. closely. Keep an eye on your social media pages. Answer questions and reply to comments in a timely manner – don’t leave people hanging and don’t avoid answering. Also, monitor review sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor, and the discussions people have on social media on Twitter and Facebook. It’s your reputation – protect it.
1. Monitor
2. React rationally. Don’t delete and don’t
ignore. Often, our first instinct when dealing with a negative comment is to hit delete. Resist. Unless the comment is profane, inflammatory or libellous, leave it there. Customers will react badly to what can be perceived as “censorship.”
3. Respond quickly. If someone has a
complaint, be polite and ask them to privately message you with the details, and let them know you want to help them. You do have the power to turn a negative in a positive. A 2011 study done by The Retail Consumer Report found that 68 per cent of consumers who posted a complaint or a negative comment on social networking sites about their negative experiences, got a response from the retailer. And, from that, 18 per cent of them turned into loyal customers and bought even more. 33 per cent of them turned around and posted a positive review
after that, and 34 per cent of them deleted their negative review that they had left earlier. 4. Personalize, apologize, and keep it professional. Don’t create a standard
and review sites featuring very negative reviews about the bakery. “These people wanted us to close down,” says Ashlee. “We contacted a lawyer and were told that there’s not much we could do.”
message to respond to every negative comment. Be sincere in your response. People respond better when they know they are dealing with a real person, not a faceless business. Sometimes, all it will take is an apology, and acknowledgement of the person’s issue. Your customers will appreciate that you’re making an effort.
Finally, they decided to address it publicly. The bakery told their story on its own Facebook page. The response was overwhelming. “Our customers were so supportive,” says Ashlee. “We’d been dragged through the mud for so long that we’d lost sight of the fact that many more people love our bakery than hate it.”
5. Inform. If you’re dealing with a
After Sweet Ambrosia went public, local media picked up the story, and not long after, the Facebook boycott group disappeared. “We still get the occasional nasty email and bad review online. It’s not entirely gone, but we’ve come through it,” says Ashlee.
situation where many customers are being affected, you can avoid being “piled on” by being upfront. For example, if your website is down, keep your customers informed. Let them know you’re working on the problem, and that you will keep them posted as information becomes available.
6. Persevere. Accept that you’re not
going to please everyone and don’t take negative comments personally. Acknowledge your own mistakes when they happen, and learn from the experience.
a case Study in Social Media Gone Wrong Social media can be rewarding, and tough: a lesson learned for Regina bakers Kim Flichel and Ashlee Mitchell. In 2009, Kim and Ashlee started a bakery on 13th Avenue – Kim and Ashlee’s Cakes and Cookies – and their business flourished. In 2011, they discovered a Facebook group calling for people to boycott the bakery. “We monitored it, and discovered that while some of the comments were cruel and untrue, the group was small,” says Ashlee. “So we chose to not acknowledge it. For a while, that was okay.” In 2012, the bakery relocated to Winnipeg Street, rebranded as Sweet Ambrosia. 2012 ended with the Facebook group’s posts getting nastier,
Ashlee and Kim have learned a lot about social media since their business began, and they have plenty of advice to share with other entrepreneurs. “Don’t be afraid of social media. We’re an extreme example of what can happen when things get irrational. Social media brought us down, but it also brought us back up,” says Ashlee. “And remember that the happy customers far outnumber the unhappy ones.” Social media is a place for people to share their thoughts and opinions – positive or negative – and it’s up to you on how you handle it. While it’s hard to see negative comments on social media, you can work your way through it. Don’t panic or overreact – think about the opportunities this presents. You’ll learn something about your business and your customers, and if you handle it well, you can come out the other side that much better off. Brook Thalgott is a Regina-based writer and consultant. Educated at the University of Regina, Simon Fraser University and BCIT, she has more than a decade of experience in marketing, communications and social media.
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[ MARKETING ]
Sign Here to Grow Your Brand Long-standing Saskatoon institution Abacus Signs has been meeting the signage needs of Saskatchewan’s businesses and organizations since 1979. 54
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BY TONYA LAMBERT PHOTOS LISA LANDRIE
W
ith new ownership this past June, nearly all the staff remains the same, and the company continues to offer the same excellent customer service and quality products as it always has. New owners Robert Cremers and Dale Soles are appreciative of employees’ loyalty to the business, knowing that they are the reason Abacus Signs has been such a successful company over the years.
Rob and Dale bring over 40 years of combined business experience to Abacus Signs. Since taking over the business, they have been working hard to reduce the company’s environmental footprint. A recycling program has been put in place, not only for the company’s scrap materials but also for the old signs and banners that their products replace, reducing waste by nearly 90 per cent. In addition, Abacus Signs uses a digital HP printer which has very low VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. Abacus Signs utilizes cutting-edge technology to produce a wide variety of interior and exterior signage options to meet every aspect of your business needs. From the smallest decals to large billboards, Abacus Signs can take the simplest concept and turn it into a spectacular product. With its largeformat digital printers, the company is able to print on canvas, wood, plexiglass
— almost anything. For example, the company can customize graphics for an office door, then run the door through its flatbed printer. Rob, Dale and the team at Abacus Signs have expanded their vehicle wrap services to include not only cars, trucks and trailers, but also RVs, boats, buses and snowmobiles. In addition, they are now offering onsite installations. Abacus Signs is a big sign store that offers personalized service. Whether you are looking for signage for your business venue, a trade show or a mobile unit, Abacus Signs has what you need to make your venture a success. An industry leader in the province, Abacus Signs has developed a strong, loyal customer base through its excellent customer service and top-quality workmanship. A strong supporter of the local community, the company
donates it time and skills to providing free signage to such organizations as: Saskatoon Zoo Gala, Pink House Campaign, The Bridge (van wrap), Stepping Stones, CIBC Run For a Cure, Hoops for Hope, Hockey Iceaholics and The Heart and Stroke Foundation. If you are in business and want to grow your brand, re-create your identity or maximize your visibility, Abacus Signs is here to help you. Abacus Signs 331 103rd Street Saskatoon 306.477.1900 www.abacussigns.com www.facebook.com/abacussigns
MAIN PICTURE Owners, Rob Cremers and Dale Soles ABOVE Tom Murphy, Anne-Marie, Studer, Rob Cremers, Dale Soles, Rita Denis, Janai Watson, Blake Stevenot, Elliot Wiebe; Missing Kathy Tillman
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[ MARKETING ]
Everything You Need for Your Next Event Have you ever had the responsibility for organizing an event, be it a board meeting, convention or the company Christmas party? Did it end up being more work than you had anticipated? It takes considerable effort to get an event to go off without a hitch. There is the décor and lighting to consider, as well as the audio and video requirements. Then, of course, there is the need to co-ordinate all the people who are supplying the equipment and setting everything up. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if there was a single company that could do it all for you? Well, there is. BY TONYA LAMBERT PHOTOS COURTESY OF BARNDOG PRODUCTIONS
B
arndog Productions of Saskatoon carries the province’s largest inventory of event equipment, stocking respected lines of industry-standard products. Owners Al and Cheryl Vickaryous and their staff are experienced with the latest technology and are capable of integrating complex audio, video and lighting
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systems to maximize performance and ensure safe functioning. Barndog Productions covers events of all sizes, from simple one-man presentations to large multi-company conventions. They tailor packages to fit the specific requirements of a client’s event. This flexibility allows them to construct a package to meet every budget and every need. Barbi G. Petersen of
The Black Door Events notes, “Al was creative, flexible, and his experience showed with all the last minute additions and changes. He created the ‘wow’ factor that sent our crowd home marking the date for Evening Under the Stars on their calendars for 2014.” The expertise and professionalism of the staff at Barndog has come from years of experience working with clients in the political, corporate, sporting and music worlds. Hugh Vassos, president of VMC Sports & Entertainment Co., says, “As an event manager specializing in major event productions for many years, I rely on Barndog to tell my group what it will take to make our events the best ever. They have never let us down and time after time, the final production draws the ‘wow’ factor from our audiences. Al, Cheryl, and their staff work with us from the drawing board to closing to ensure what they promise is delivered. I feel confident that with Barndog on our team, our event is going to be a success.” Barndog Productions also rents their wide selection of audio, video, lighting and backline equipment to individuals and other production companies across Western Canada. They stock everything from speakers and microphones to projectors and screens, from keyboards and drum kits to staging and drapery, as well as all items in between. Sales and financing are the newest additions to Barndog services. Barndog Productions is an authorized dealer for all the products they use, sell and service. “Meeting and exceeding our customers’ expectations is our number one priority,” says Al. Carl Schlosser, director of events at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park, is a longtime customer of Barndog Productions. “I have dealt with Barndog Productions for well over 20 years. During this time frame, I have found Al and his team to go above and beyond when it comes
“Meeting and exceeding our customers’ expectations is our number one priority.” to satisfying all the needs of his customers. I have the faith and the reliance in their company to put into their hands the requirements to follow through ensuring both our needs and our clients’ needs are met. Al is always looking to ensure that he has hit all the goals of the project and is always willing to be negotiable when it comes to the budget he is given.” Barndog Productions Inc. 149 Jessop Avenue Saskatoon 306.374.3944 Fax 306.373.6924 Toll Free 1.877.552.5557 rentals@barndog.ca sales@barndog.ca events@barndog.ca www.barndog.ca MAIN PAGE Owners Al and Cheryl Vickaryous
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[ FINANCE ]
The recent financial crisis wiped out half of the stock market’s value and devastated many businesses when their customers crashed and credit tightened up or disappeared. We don’t want to go through that again. BY PHIL SYMCHYCH
SAFEGUARDING YOUR BUSINESS WEALTH 58
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The Four Business Wealth Factors
Valuation
Cash Flow
Management Reputation
you with a complaint. The best car dealers thrive on customer problems that they can solve and thereby create a loyal customer. 4. Bad prospects make lousy customers. Qualify your customers. The final factor is management: can your management team run your business without you? Here are some tips:
H
ere are four steps to protect – and maximize – your business valuation and your wealth.
The Four Business Wealth Factors The first wealth factor is valuation: what your business is worth? Tips to increase valuation include: revenue: Companies that have ongoing maintenance contracts, for example, are more valuable than companies who must find a new customer for every sale. 2. Build up equity: Aggressive tax strategies that reduce retained earnings can hurt your valuation. 3. Proprietary processes: Obtain patent protection to protect unique ways of doing things. 4. Strategic buyer: A larger company that can leverage your proprietary processes or customer list can pay more. 1. Recurring
The second factor is cash flow: are you creating or consuming cash? A good business will use its cash to create more cash … it’s really the ultimate renewable
resource. You can maximize your cash by: 1. C = M V 2 where Cash flow equals your Margins multiplied by the Velocity (speed of payment) multiplied by your sales Volumes. Maximize all of the factors! Any single factor that is low (or nil) will kill your cash flow. 2. Be your own bank. Ensure that you have healthy cash reserves so that you don’t offer excessive discounts that reduce margins. 3. Borrow wisely. Interest rates are low. A good banker can help you accelerate your profitable growth. The third factor is reputation: how loyal and happy are your customers? Evaluate how much of your business comes from referrals or repeat business. To protect your reputation: 1. Talk to your customers and find out what they like and what else you can do for them. 2. Always use written contracts with your customers (and suppliers) and stipulate what both parties must do. 3. Offer a warranty or guarantee so that your customer is encouraged to call
1. Focus on results and metrics. 2. Draw an organizational chart of the key positions. 3. Ensure all key persons have a successor being trained to replace them. 4. Develop career paths to retain your best people. 5. Share real-time information to improve decision-making and accountability. The final tip: The average small business in Canada sells for three to five times EBITDA. Any improvement in EBITDA will strengthen the value of your business and your wealth.
What steps do you need to take to safeguard your business value? Phil Symchych CA, MBA is the president of Symco & Co., author of Phil’s Profit Points, co-author of the upcoming book called The Business Wealth Builder and an expert in maximizing business valuation for elite owners of privatelyheld businesses. For more information, go to www.symcoandco.com. Phil Symchych 306.992.6177 phil@symcoandco.com www.symcoandco.com
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[ FINANCE ]
trust /trust/
A trust is an arrangement in which a settlor enlists trustees to manage property on behalf of beneficiaries.
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s financial advisors, we work with business owners on a regular basis, and for many, a family trust can provide valuable tax savings. A trust is an arrangement in which a settlor enlists trustees to manage property on behalf of beneficiaries. Trusts established during an individual’s lifetime are commonly referred to as “family trusts.” They are frequently structured to provide trustees with the discretion to determine when, and how much, trust property each beneficiary will receive. This kind of structuring enhances planning flexibility and may increase future tax savings. Since family trusts pay tax at the top marginal rate, there is generally no advantage to retaining income inside the trust. Opportunities arise when trust income is flowed to beneficiaries before being taxed in the trust.
THE FAMILY TRUST: A TAX-SAVING TOOL FOR BUSINESS OWNERS BY BYRON AND SHANNON BRISKE
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Business owners often set up family trusts to facilitate income splitting with family members. When income, otherwise taxable in the hands of a high-income earner, can be paid to lowincome beneficiaries, and taxed in their hands at their lower personal tax rate, tax savings can result. For example, a trust that holds shares in a private corporation can receive dividends from that private corporation. Provided the trust is properly structured, dividends may be flowed to the corporation’s beneficiaries and taxed in their hands at their own marginal tax rates. In 2013, Saskatchewan individuals with no other sources of income may receive approximately $49,000 in eligible dividends and $19,000 in non-eligible
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dividends without incurring tax. Many of our clients find this to be a taxefficient way to pay education expenses for their adult children. Another significant benefit of a family trust is the possibility of multiplying the capital gains exemption on the sale of a family business. When a family trust sells the shares of a qualifying small business, it may incur a capital gain. It may be possible to allocate a portion of that capital gain to various trust beneficiaries, allowing each beneficiary to take advantage of their respective capital gains exemption. As of 2013, each capital gain exemption in Saskatchewan may result in up to $165,000 in tax
Family trusts can also be used to “purify” a corporation of non-business assets in a tax-efficient manner. This may be important for several reasons, including ensuring that a corporation’s shares qualify for the capital gains exemption. Family trusts used for this purpose often include a holding company as a trust beneficiary.
number of tax rules that can limit the income-splitting benefits of a family trust. It is important to consult with knowledgeable professionals who are familiar with your situation and the legal and tax issues of setting up a family trust. If you are looking at creating a trust and have questions, please contact Byron or Shannon Briske: we will gladly discuss potential benefits with you and your accountant. -
In many situations, a family trust can provide considerable income taxplanning benefits. However, it is not a simple undertaking, and there are a
Assante Wealth Management 301-500 Spadina Cresent East Saskatoon 306.665.3244 www.thebriskefinancialgroup.com
savings. Note that advance tax planning is required to take advantage of multiple capital gains exemptions.
Byron Briske is a financial advisor, and Shannon Briske is a senior financial planning advisor, with Assante Financial Management Ltd. Please contact a professional advisor to discuss your particular circumstances prior to acting on the information above.
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[ FINANCE DEPT ] ]
Create a Stronger Business Through Expert Professional Services BY TRINA ANNAND PHOTOS MEGAN ANTONIUK PHOTOGRAPHY
With advances in technology and business practices it seems like the corporate world is moving faster every day. When navigating the murky waters of business it helps to have the best people on your team. JPM Business Solutions was created specifically to work with businesses to make them more effective and efficient by taking the stress out of the everyday necessities of business.
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ot every business is large enough to need its own accounting, human resources and information technology departments, but all businesses require their services to function properly. JPM is fully staffed with experts in these fields that can help
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better manage a business, letting owners and staff focus on the more important parts of running a business. Key to the information technology (IT) approach at JPM is their full-time management services. With this program a client gets all their IT concerns handled
by a professional IT specialist for a flat rate. “By using this method we are able to create a long-term relationship with our clients. It gives us the opportunity to design a client’s network and track it over time. This allows us to get ahead of the game in terms of troubleshooting. We’re well-versed in the system and
get to know their environments,” notes Percy Hoff Jr., co-owner and head of the IT department. With this approach there is a predictable cost to doing IT business, there are no overages and the flat fee covers late night and weekend calls, as we all know problems don’t happen on a predictable schedule. JPM also offers hourly services for smaller businesses that do not necessarily need a lot of infrastructure. Dean Rumple of Pleasure-Way Industries says, “We have been using JPM’s managed IT service for the past three years. We have a dynamic organization with shifting needs and requirements and when it comes to our systems and networks, JPM always delivers promptly. If we have a technology need our first call is always to JPM, who either takes care of the problem directly or works with our various vendors to make sure we get what we need. In addition I receive the same benefits of ‘in-house’ service with a much lower and, more importantly, predictable cost.”
Hoff says, “Time is money, no matter how you slice it. Businesses need to be able to do their job in the most efficient way possible. If computers or servers are down no one can work, and that translates directly into money lost.” As part of JPM’s synergistic approach, they offer Chief Information Officer (CIO) services. The CIO can review
— which is evident in the company’s high client retention rates. “It is really rewarding to be able to find solutions for people and to be able to make their lives easier. With us on their side they don’t have to worry about IT: they can focus on their business. If our clients are happy, we are happy,” notes Hoff.
With this approach there is a predictable cost to doing IT business, there are no overages and the flat fee covers late night and weekend calls, as we all know problems don’t happen on a predictable schedule. a company’s technological business solutions ensuring that the technology not only supports their business strategy, but also saves money in the long run by avoiding redundancies. With a highly trained and skilled staff JPM is dedicated to providing the best possible service. Providing prompt expert service is not only their job, but their passion
If you’re running your own business you want it to succeed. If you want your business to succeed you need the best support system possible. You need JPM: work smarter, not harder. JPM Business Solutions 113-2750 Faithful Avenue, Saskatoon 306.955.5560 www.jpmsolutions.ca
L - R: Percy Hoff, IT consultant; Rob Cates Network Engineer, MCSE
[ FINANCE ]
A DynAmic Duo ProDucing DynAmite results By Tonya LamBerT PHoToS LISa LanDrIe
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erek Scott and Jeremy Taylor of Deeds Financial Group Inc. in Saskatoon are a dynamic duo. Young, progressive and forward-thinking, these Saskatchewan-raised men are ready to help you with all your financial needs with a unique home-grown perspective. Derek Scott, a Canadian Investment Manager, Certified Financial Planner and Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute, has been President of Deeds Financial Group Inc. since 2002 (formerly named Scott D Financial before rebranding in 2012). Derek joined forces with Jeremy Taylor, an independent insurance broker early in 2013. They rebranded the name to align the established financial company with a
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private equity partnership Derek founded, called Deeds Investments LP. Deeds Financial Group is unique in the diversity of its offerings as well as in the level of its expertise. Through one-onone service, Deeds can handle all your personal or corporate insurance, banking and portfolio needs. In addition to helping clients with a variety of insurance needs, Deeds can set clients up with traditional bank products or special all-in-one banking accounts through Manulife Bank or National Bank. In a few weeks, Deeds Financial Group will be launching its own in-house investment/ portfolio management division headed up by Derek as the firm’s first portfolio
manager, offering in-house management for your investments. Historically, Derek has always been drawn to investments, dealing mainly with direct securities. Jeremy will focus on the personal and corporate insurance aspect of the business. Together Derek and Jeremy can create some truly unique and attractive plans for the clients of Deeds Financial Group.
Deeds Financial Group 1-3728 Kinear Place, Saskatoon 306.384.4930 L–R Jeremy Taylor, Derek Scott
ENVIROTEC SERVICES INCORPORATED
[ LAW ]
Keeping the Workplace Safe: PRIVACY VS. SAFETY BY MCKERCHER LLP BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS
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mployers are responsible under occupational health and safety legislation to maintain a safe workplace, and they can face both civil and even criminal consequences for failing to carry out this duty. Drug and alcohol testing is a tool that some employers use to help ensure a safe workplace. Drug and alcohol testing, however, is one of the more complicated areas where the law intersects with employer
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policy. The legality and efficacy of such policies depends on compliance with multiple areas of the law, including Occupational Health & Safety, human rights and privacy. Unfortunately, the recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 30 v. Irving Pulp & Paper, Ltd. (“Irving”) has likely led to more questions than clarity in the area.
In Irving, it was ruled that random drug and alcohol testing of unionized employees is not permitted, unless it is proven that there is an existing workplace problem with substance abuse or in other “extreme circumstances,” which the Court did not define. While it was confirmed in Irving that employers can subject employees engaged in “safety sensitive” work to drug and alcohol testing, the Court went on to place serious limitations on testing, suggesting,
for example, that the employer needs to be binding, but it provides some insight able to demonstrate that it has reasonable into the Commission’s interpretation of grounds to believe that the employee is the law regarding testing as it applies impaired while on duty or involved in in Saskatchewan. an incident causing safety concerns. The While the Irving decision leaves many Court also left room for testing as part of questions unanswered, including a return to work program after treatment the absence of information on prefor substance abuse. Thus, in order to employment testing, it is important for justify a testing policy in the workplace employers who use alcohol and drug (at least in the unionized workplace) the testing to consider the implications employer will need to be able to prove more than the fact that the workplace Even in a non-unionized workplace, an involves safety risks.
employer must justify the intrusion on
The extent to which privacy resulting from random testing Irving will impact by reference to the particular risks in a non-union settings remains to be particular workplace. seen. However, it of Irving on employer policy. While was stated as an aside in the Supreme Court’s decision that “even in a nonemployers continue to be accountable to unionized workplace, an employer maintain a safe workplace, the Supreme must justify the intrusion on privacy Court appears to have endorsed the resulting from random testing by notion that employers can only use reference to the particular risks in alcohol and drug testing as a tool in very a particular workplace.” There are limited circumstances. somewhat conflicting decisions across Marie Stack is a lawyer in McKercher Canada on testing in the non-unionized LLP’s Saskatoon office, with a practice workplace. The Saskatchewan Human focusing on Corporate Commercial Rights Commission has published an Litigation and Employment Litigation online guide to drug and alcohol testing and Arbitration. in the workplace that is not legally
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RIGHT: Marie Stack, lawyer McKercher LLP Saskatoon
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[ PROPERTIES, OFFICES & INTERIORS ]
Castle Designer glass Offers aesthetiCs anD funCtiOn in Business DéCOr by Rebecca SchneideReit PhotoS LiSa LandRie
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t Castle Designer Glass — newly housed in a 105th Street studio — owner Janet Parkinson and her team specialize in creating decorative glass features for clients. They also install the pieces, handling both the work’s artistic and practical sides from beginning to end. The sheer range of interior and exterior features which can be fashioned from glass is astounding. Window and door panels are obvious, but glass accents like bannisters, lighting features and entire walls may also be shaped from glass; few decorative materials are so versatile and visually appealing. Parkinson and her team are capable of creating myriad colours and effects, and their finished products are varied. Their customers range from small businesses to larger enterprises, to individual designers. Clients may choose glass features to be contemporary or classic, fun or formal. Castle Designer Glass can work with designers’ specifications, fabricating exactly what is requested. The team can also help clients develop a concept that is well-suited to the space. To determine the design of a project, Parkinson begins an assignment with an interior walkthrough of the space, assessing its architectural
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Janet Parkinson, owner
features and design elements, such as lighting, to determine its artistic potential. “The process is collaborative with the client,” she explains. “I encourage clients to find images, anything to help articulate their idea.” Then, working with her design team, Parkinson drafts an initial prototype. With client approval, the piece is fabricated. Every stage of production, from the prototype to the creation’s final touches, takes place in-house at Castle Designer Glass’s Saskatoon studio. A showpiece of the company’s work is Oakville Properties Ltd. in Saskatoon. This property demonstrates the versatility of Castle Designer Glass’s designed products. Here, a glass whiteboard allows staff to brainstorm, and its kitchen has been fitted with gorgeous glass backsplashes and countertops. The show-stopping focal point at Oakville’s office are the glass panels flanking the fireplace. The panels stretch tall toward the ceiling, catching and reflecting light, imbuing the entire room with a luxurious feeling of warmth. The finishing touch? Sandblasted signage, painted by hand with Oakville Properties’ name. The accents are sumptuous, stylish and modern. Glass’s beauty is unique, combining a mirror’s shine and space-enlarging qualities with a window’s delicate translucence. Glass has the ability to diffuse light while adding colour and texture to a space. In an office setting, it’s innovative, eye-catching. If you’d like your business’s space to be as exceptional as the enterprise itself, you need look no further than Castle Designer Glass. Castle Designer Glass 139 105th Street East, Saskatoon 306.477.0098 www.castledesignerglass.com
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[ PHILANTHROPY ]
Your Legacy: The Power of Endowments Your community makes you, and you make your community.
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ost of us hope our lives will have a lasting impact. We want to build the best world we can for ourselves, our families and our community. We work hard to improve our standing in the world, and we give back where we think we can make a difference. The Saskatoon Community Foundation is a charity built on legacies. Following the lead of Governor General of Canada David Johnston, the Saskatoon Community Foundation is committed to the goal of building “Smart and Caring Communities” in Canada. Community
foundations are ideal institutions through which Canadians can build “Smart and Caring Communities.” Community foundations are based on the endowment model of philanthropy. What does this mean? In most cases, when donors make gifts to their local community foundations, those gifts are invested. The original gift is protected forever, and the income earned on the gift is used to support the donor’s charity of choice forever. The impact of an endowment is less immediate than a gift today directly to your charity of choice. The community foundation does not give the entire
donation to the charity, but rather only the income that is earned by investing the gift. It will take approximately 20 years for the original gift to be granted back to the community. However, the gift you give today is gone by tomorrow. In contrast, a gift to an endowment lasts forever and continues to support the community forever. After another 20 years have gone by, the community foundation will have given the value of the original donation to the community two more times. The idea of a legacy is the core of the community foundation approach. At some point, we must all depart this
L - R: Trevor Forrest, executive director; Don Ewles; Susan Skrypnyk; Kristy Rempel PHOTO: Heather Fritz
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[ DEPARTMENT ]
world, leaving behind the fruits of our life’s work for our families, and for our communities. When our assets are passed on to the next generation, there may be significant tax costs. However, because the government offers tax incentives for charitable giving, the cost of making a substantial gift to a community foundation may be significantly less than the actual value of the gift. In essence, you control the disposition of your assets rather than leaving that choice to the government. Most people are aware of the tax benefits of giving, but the core reason for making a gift is still a desire to
improve our community for ourselves, for our children and grandchildren, and for the community as a whole. Your legacy can live on through your assets. Unlike other charities, the Saskatoon Community Foundation has no cause of its own apart from making Saskatoon the best community in which to live. Whether your charitable goal is to support children, the arts, cancer research or family counselling, the Saskatoon Community Foundation can help you create a fund that will support that goal forever.
Saskatoon Community Foundation Suite 101 – 308 Fourth Avenue North Saskatoon, SK S7K 2L7 306.665.1766 office@saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca www.saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca
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[ LIFE AND LEISURE ]
GettinG Your Vehicle Winter-readY By ToBie HainsTock PHoTos Lisa Landrie
Love it or hate it winter is a fact of life in saskatchewan. With the weather getting cooler, there’s no time like the present to have your vehicle winterized.
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ccording to Kurt Blight, owner and service advisor at Crestview Auto Service in Saskatoon, winterizing should be part of your regular vehicle maintenance. “In fall when you bring your vehicle in, we will perform a comprehensive inspection that identifies how ready your vehicle is for winter,” he says. This includes a quick test of the starting and charging systems, cooling system, engine tuning condition and a lot more. Blight explains that all fluids are checked for proper level and condition along with the block heater, heating system and antifreeze. Crestview Auto is a TreadPro Tire dealer and has access to all brands of tires, summer and winter. For those that have winter tires, “We will also swap over your tires and balance them for you,” states Blight. He explains that when it comes to changing over to winter tires, it’s good to use daytime highs of less than 20 degrees as your benchmark. When changing your tires over, it’s not so much the amount of snow and
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[ DEPARTMENT ]
ice as it is the drop in temperature that should be your indicator. Any time the temperature is seven degrees or less the winter tires start to show their advantage even on dry surfaces. By being proactive and changing your tires before the snow flies, you won’t be skidding around those first few days when winter actually hits. “We can’t plan when winter will come, but we can plan to be ready for it,” he says. Crestview Auto Service uses NAPA AutoPro parts so you know you are getting reliable parts that will last a long time. “We also offer our ‘Peace of Mind’ warranty with a minimum one year, 20,000 kilometre on parts and labour,” comments Blight. Any work that you get done at Crestview Auto Service will comply with your new vehicle warranty. “No work is ever performed without your prior authorization: you are always in control,” he adds. Need a ride to work? A shuttle service is provided to get you where you need to
be promptly and safely. As the vehicle is being repaired, if any production issues arise, you will be notified right away. When you pick up your vehicle your service advisor will once again review services provided and explain all warranties for your peace of mind. Along with his business partner Don Klassen, Blight and the staff at Crestview Auto are dedicated to providing the best service to their clients. Because the condition of your vehicle is important to them, you will receive a call to remind you that your vehicle is due for its regular maintenance. This will also save you time and money in the end. “We get to know our customers and their driving habits,” says Blight. “We make it a point to provide the best possible service to them to keep them safely on the road.” By taking the time to answer their customers’ questions, the staff at Crestview Auto Service builds positive relationships with their clients. It’s their
dedication to customer service and satisfaction that has earned Crestview Auto Service credibility in their field and a membership with Trusted Saskatoon. Located at 24 23rd Street East in Saskatoon, Crestview Auto Service is open Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For an appointment to get your vehicle winterready, call 306.244.6522 or visit them at www.crestviewautoservice.ca.
Crestview Auto Service 24 23rd Street East, Saskatoon Open Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 306.244.6522 www.crestviewautoservice.ca.
GROUP PHOTO L–r Brett, dave, Matthew, Matt, Brandon, don klassen and kurt Blight
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[ LIFE DEPTAND ] LEISURE] screens and HD data projectors, and the full-service “loft” space is perfect for smaller board meetings. Audiovisual equipment may be rented, and Wi-Fi is available throughout the restaurant. Smiley’s can provide functions with a private buffet or table service (on request), and can also accommodate special dietary needs. Business hours are flexible, making it easy to host an early-morning breakfast function at Smiley’s, or allow guests to linger into the evening. When leaving the office isn’t an option, Smiley’s catering/delivery menu can keep your workplace fed. With just 24 hours’ notice, groups of 20 or more can have Smiley’s lunch or dinners delivered; smaller groups may place orders for pickup. Smiley’s online ordering system means that, whatever your preference (perhaps borscht, Chinese food, lasagna, or the legendary Smiley’s fried chicken) you’ll have your meal quickly, with minimum effort. If variety is key, buffet packages from their catering menu are also available.
Atmosphere, Food and Service to Make Your Office Smile Saskatoon businesses are discovering that Smiley’s Buffet and Events Centre — a licensed Saskatoon mainstay established in 1983 — is perfect for board meetings, corporate receptions, and more.
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miley’s offers a variety of hot entrees daily, plus salads and homemade desserts. It is also conveniently located, with plenty of free parking, and three private rooms available for reservation. Smiley’s private banquet rooms can host groups of a few, up to 200 people. The main floor’s two large, newly-renovated banquet rooms feature massive projection
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Smiley’s staff are happy to help plan events – but if you hope to hold a holiday gathering at Smiley’s, you’ll want to secure space in advance. It’s not easy to find a location that combines convenience, affordability, and fantastic food.
Smiley’s 702 Circle Drive East, Saskatoon 306.955.1926 http://www.smileysbuffet.com/
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THE WHOLE PACKAGE!
734 First Avenue Nor th | Saskatoon, SK | S7K 1Y1 P: 306.244.2521 | F: 306.244.4151 | TF: 1.866.460.2521 www.pgiprinters.com | info@pgiprinters.com 76
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