Business in Calgary - April 2023

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Cadillac Fairview offers a diverse real estate portfolio complemented with comprehensive property management services. Through the strength of ownership, strategic acquisitions, and development, Cadillac Fairview provides innovative, sustainable and functional facilities that are able to deliver exceptional

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Gold building serving a global tenant. Shell Centre is connected to the core via +15 walkways and blocks from Eau Claire and Calgary’s extended bike lanes.

CALGARY CITY CENTRE - 215 2 STREET

This LEED Platinum building opened the doors in 2016. Calgary City Centre is anchored in Calgary’s remarkable Eau Claire area. The building has a first-class fitness facility, professional conference centre and more.

Unbeatable location with easy access, in and out of Calgary’s core. Encor Place offers an efficient floorplate providing prominent layouts for all sized tenants. The building’s lobby is finished with stunning marble and granite making it bright and welcoming.

This vibrant building has a premier location offering effortless access, in and out of Calgary’s core. 635 8th Avenue is situated on Calgary’s intricate bike lanes. The building offers efficient floorplates and an energetic atmosphere.

ASK SAM

THE CALGARY REAL ESTATE MARKET IS A LOCAL PHENOMENON

QQ: I heard a news story that home prices are dropping and we are now in a market correction. What is happening?

Like the weather, the real estate market is very localized. Just because the weather report says that today it will rain in Toronto doesn’t mean Calgarians need to pack their umbrellas. Even within Calgary, there are moments when it is sunny in the SE and pouring in the NW. The real estate market is exactly the same. Conditions are different depending on your district, your price point, the type of property you own, and even the street you live on. That is why news stories that are Canada-wide don’t always apply to you. It’s imperative to find out what is happening in your corner of the universe. The real estate market is a local phenomenon.

ALBERTA VS ONTARIO & BRITISH COLUMBIA

The two provinces that have experienced the largest decrease in home prices are British Columbia and Ontario. Many economists predict that they haven’t hit the bottom yet. Since the population is greater in these provinces, data on the Canadian real estate market is skewed towards them. Also, we all know that Canada-wide news stories can be more representative of what is happening in Eastern Canada than here in Alberta. What we have been experiencing locally is a population growth, a strong job market, healthy oil & gas prices, and low inventory levels of houses available for sale. All of these factors has kept Calgary sheltered from the market correction experienced in other areas of the country. Our home prices are still on the rise and currently there are more buyers than sellers.

HOW MUCH IS YOUR HOME WORTH?

When I am asked to price a property, I do a careful analysis before I come up with a number. I consider the amount of inventory on the market, the migration rates into the province, and the unemployment rate as well as sales of comparable properties. Recently, I have been drilling down to comparable sales within the last 60 days. The sales data has changed so much over the last 12 months that often a sale a year ago isn’t current enough to reflect the real estate market trends. All of these factors and your home’s attributes, condition, and property type lead me to the market value of your home. This process is the only way you can determine the price of your home. It is not based on a news story about the entire country.

WILL WE SEE A DROP IN PRICES?

It is possible that prices may decline in Q3 or Q4 here in Calgary. In past recessions, Alberta was not as adversely effected as other areas of the nation. It’s hard to predict, but currently, demand is outweighing supply. And as demand stays strong, prices rise. It might be the right time for you to take full advantage of the current market conditions while they last If you are planning on selling in 2023. CALL

THE MARKET IS CHANGING. DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY.

FEATURED PROPERTIES

SPRINGBANK | $4,000,000

Fantastic opportunity to buy two adjacent Springbank parcels of land totalling 38 acres. Located at the intersection of Lower Springbank Road and Horizon View Road and bordered to the North by Escarpment Drive, these spectacular properties offer rolling hills and stunning mountain views. The north parcel consists of 22 +/- acres zoned R-1 (2 acre minimum) and R-2 (4 acre minimum). Currently, both parcels are being utilized for agricultural purposes. This beautiful piece of paradise is in a prime location, surrounded on three sides by paved roads with scenic countryside views and offers privacy, and proximity to Stoney Trail. This is a great opportunity to buy both parcels together making it the ideal picturesque spot for future development.

CURRIE BARRACKS | $2,395,000 65

No details were spared in this professionally designed, 5 bedroom home. With over 5,500 sq ft of space, you are bound to be impressed with every detail from the vaulted ceilings, wall paneling, fireplaces, chef-inspired kitchen, luxury master suite, extensive marble finishes and mountain views. An expansive kitchen is illuminated with statement lanterns. A huge pantry contains a secondary fridge and ample storage. The second floor has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a laundry room and a family room with built-in desks for the kids. Highlights of the third storey primary suite include a fireplace, private balcony, a magnificent crystal chandelier over a freestanding tub and a closet any fashionista would adore. Downstairs you will find a rec room, wet bar and gym. The triple detached garage has a self contained 800 SF carriage home above it providing the perfect spot for your home office or guest quarters. The dog park and playground is across the street and Marda Loop is minutes away. This beautifully appointed home is perfect for a family who appreciates luxury finishes and a fantastic location.

Tastefully updated brick bungalow in Coach Manor Estates with a fantastic floor plan and three bedrooms on the main level. A standout feature is the bookshelf lined office with soaring ceiling, bay window and hidden wet bar. The living room is separated from the dining room by a row of columns and is ideal for entertaining friends and family. A large kitchen with lots of storage, high-end appliances, granite counters and glass cabinets is open to the sunny dining nook and cozy family room. The primary bedroom contains a fireplace, sitting area, walk-in closet and large 5- piece ensuite. Two more bedrooms, a bathroom and powder room are on the main floor. Downstairs, a fully developed basement contains a bar, recreation room and large games area with space for a pool table and access to the yard. The triple garage makes coming and going a breeze. The extensively landscaped yard with mature trees offers multiple outdoor living areas. Quality finishes and the convenience of main floor living make this property a knockout.

TRASIMENO CRESCENT SW

COACH HILL | $1,195,000

COACH GROVE ROAD SW

HEMPALTA: THE LOCAL, INNOVATIVE COMPANY CHANGING THE WORLD

by Nerissa McNaughton

Hemp has the power to create a healthier and more sustainable planet and HEMPALTA is here to sow the seeds of change. Working with progressive farmers, world-renowned researchers and the most modern technology, HEMPALTA sustainably processes industrial hemp in Alberta.

Founder and CEO Darren Bondar started HEMPALTA after selling a previous company, Spiritleaf, to Sundial Growers in 2021.

“The serial entrepreneur in me was already searching for the next big thing. I was looking for an idea that was healthy for the planet, good for the community and sustainable as a business,” says Bondar. “HEMPALTA started as a way to create something innovative while addressing sustainability.”

Bondar continues, “HEMPALTA provides solutions for a wide range of industries, including food preservation, pet care, garden care and industrial. We proudly support our local community by buying 100 per cent natural hemp grown in Southern Alberta, which we sustainably process and package at the HEMPALTA facility in Calgary.

“As one of the only commercial-scale hemp processors in North America, HEMPALTA utilizes the state-of-the-art HempTrain™ Advanced Processing system in its operations. The advanced technology we use is far less damaging to the fibers, creates no appreciable dust and in a single process separates the hemp plant into four output streams: long; strong bast fiber; a nutrient-rich green microfiber; and clean, dust-free, sizespecified hurd and micro-hurd.”

In short order, HEMPALTA achieved many milestones, including earning one of 15 (out of 900 applicants) spots in the SVG Ventures|THRIVE accelerator program and being recognized as an investable Foresight 50 company for cleantech.

Bondar adds, “In November 2022 we successfully completed our first equity crowdfunding round with the FrontFundr platform, raising just over $1 million for technology acquisitions, support sales and marketing. Recently we entered a 30-month sponsorship with the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo to support their mission of animal care and sustainable habitat design practices through our premium hemp-based animal bedding for the zoo’s giraffes.”

Sustainable, ethical production is at the forefront of the work at HEMPALTA, where they believe that hemp is a miracle crop that will improve the earth with each use. “Hemp is 100 per cent biodegradable, recyclable and reusable. It can grow in almost any climate or soil conditions. It’s Hemp to Better the Planet™,” smiles Bondar. “Through advances in cleantech and sustainable hemp processing, the next revolution in agriculture is taking root at HEMPALTA. Our sustainable practices, clean technology, innovative products and passionate and experienced team are what make us different and successful. We’re a local company with the potential to have a global impact.”

With his characteristic positive attitude, Bondar ensures the challenges faced by HEMPALTA are turned into opportunities for growth and learning.

ABOVE: DARREN BONDAR: PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HEMPALTA.

RIGHT TOP: HEMPALTA TEAM.

RIGHT MIDDLE: HEMPYCAT, AN ALL-NATURAL HEMP CAT LITTER.

RIGHT BOTTOM: HEMP-FRESCO HEMP-BASED FOOD PRESERVATION PADS

“As of now, the biggest challenge is keeping up with the increasing market demand. We are preparing for a facility expansion in 2024,” explains Bondar. “Another challenge is the lack of education and awareness among consumers, companies and legislative bodies. Although hemp has been legal in Canada since 1998 and in the U.S. since 2018, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding its uses. It is often associated with the cannabis

market, especially in terms of advertising, which causes issues due to community guidelines and restrictions. At HEMPALTA, we’re working to educate our audiences on the science behind industrial hemp and how it can be sustainably processed into different products that make the planet healthier.”

HEMPALTA partnered with ATB, which also plays into the brand’s success.

“ATB has been a trusted partner that has accompanied us since the beginning and continues to support us as we grow,” confirms Bondar. “We used a number of their startup programs for our first year of operation, company credit cards and other services, all of which helped us achieve our financial targets with operations and achieve growth at an accelerated rate. Their team is an extension of ours as we work together to understand the market trends and scout for opportunities ahead.”

He points out why ATB is different from other financial institutions.

“ATB supports diverse businesses and plays a role in our local community. It has teams that specialize in local industries such as agriculture and the energy sector. Working with a team that understands the culture is key to success as they are aware of the best practices to adopt in our business model.”

Bondar is justifiably excited about the future of HEMPALTA.

“We’re preparing to enter a potentially lucrative new market through optimized hemp hurd in hempcrete formulations. Hempsulation is an environmentally-friendly alternative to insulation, made from a mixture of hemp stalk hurds and lime binder. The resulting product is healthy, durable and sustainable. The product can also contribute to achieving netzero GHG emissions in the residential construction sector. As we consider a future where home building companies are committed to providing sustainable and net-zero homes, HEMPALTA is committed to providing them with the cleantech solutions needed to accomplish that.”

To explore more about this innovative and fast-growing company, visit www.hempalta.com and follow HEMPALTA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

ATB is pleased to present a 2023 profile series on the businesses and people who are facing challenges head-on to build a strong Alberta.

By Shane Wenzel

By David Parker

We’re proud to support excellence in Canadian Commercial Real Estate

GDI Integrated Facility Services is your one call destination for expert facility maintenance across Canada. With thousands of team members, decades of unrivalled experience, the ability to service national and multi-regional property portfolios, and a commitment to health and safety; you can trust us to ensure ongoing customer satisfaction by creating clean and welcoming work and leisure environments.

Join us in the great city of Edmonton for three days of dynamic learning, connecting, world-class tours, and networking.

BOMEX is an integral part of Canadian commercial real estate, and our nine-year involvement is a testament to the continued growth and success of the conference.

Fred Edwards CMO, GDI Ainsworth

Why Calgary is hot

By John Hardy

Calgary housing market continues to cool, but experts anticipate warmer conditions ahead

By Jamie Zachary

A succession plan is risk management

By John Hardy

Yet experts still point to many opportunities on both sides of B.C. border

By Jamie Zachary

Providing person-centred, integrated oncology

By Erlynn Gococo

Lots of work. Not enough workers. By John

Hardy

By John Hardy

She’s been one of Calgary’s top selling Real Estate Agents for years. She has valuable experience working within Calgary’s Inner City Real Estate market and she understands every client is as unique as their home.

Tanya takes the time to listen; to understand your wants and needs. She doesn’t expect your trust, Tanya earns it by consistently remaining honest, accesible and tenacious. That’s what sets Tanya apart.

The Tanya Eklund Group was founded on Tanya’s principles. The professionals within her group don’t work for Tanya –they work for you, the client. They provide unparalleled expertise, skill and service to Calgary’s inner city

And their clients know it.

PUBLISHERS

Pat Ottmann & Tim Ottmann

EDITOR

Melanie Darbyshire melanie@businessincalgary.com

COPY EDITOR

Nikki Mullett

ART DIRECTOR

Jessi Evetts jessi@businessincalgary.com

ADMINISTRATION/ACCOUNTING info@businessincalgary.com

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

Shane Wenzel

Cody Battershill

David Parker

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS

Melanie Darbyshire Rennay Craats

Jamie Zachary

John Hardy

Erlynn Gococo

PHOTOGRAPHY

Cover photo courtesy of Phil Crozier

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How Will We Explain This Unusual Time in History to Future Generations?

BY SHANE WENZEL

With all the chatter around the Prime Minister’s proposed ‘Just Transition’ plan, and the nuances surrounding what caused the federal government to change the name to ‘Sustainable Jobs,’ I gathered the courage to download the 32 pages headlined: ‘Sustainable Jobs Plan.’ It turns out it is not something one does for entertainment on a Saturday night.

Calgary businesses in every industry have been facing serious staffing challenges since thousands of workers lost their jobs after 2015 when the Welcome to Alberta lights were turned off. Along with industry and investors leaving town, it appears so did many talented workers.

Business owners along with Stats Canada reported this year that up to 40 per cent consider their inability to hire skilled employees their core business threat. In the third quarter of 2022, there were 103,000 vacant jobs in Alberta. My industry, and others I speak to, are wondering ‘where all the workers have gone.’ And why are ‘job-ghosting’ incidents occurring?

Regardless of the fact that Calgary is still leading the nation in job growth, for our economy to keep growing we need to solve the ‘missing worker’ problem. It becomes even more imperative with the federal government and others still ‘riding the rail’ for ending fossil fuels and others planning replacement industries. While the training planners appear to know little about what we need, they have noted that a shortage of trades in particular is beginning to hurt our current and future economy, along with their ‘cash drawer’. But they do seem to believe there is an easy solution.

The idea behind their plan was to initially call it a ‘Just Transition’ which they also believed to be a winner. It

appears they wanted us to believe that government is here to replace what they are taking away. Premier Smith and other concerned Albertans took offense to the reference ‘Just Transition’ which explains the sudden name change to a ‘Sustainable Jobs Plan.’ However, the content still contains lingering references to a ‘Just Transition.’

The plan is long and tedious to read, so I am on my fourth reread looking for more clarity. There is a reference to the plan ending in March 2023, so we could be getting a new one. The plans for re-training have been allocating some large budgets but do reflect qualifiers. To participate, you must be in a sector deemed to be contributing to ‘a low carbon economy,’ and all funded training must be conducted by unions or notfor profits. No private ‘for-profit trainers’ need apply! The original name ‘Just Transition’ and the plan guidelines were also determined by the unions.

I recall there was a plan in Alberta piloted for phasing out coal-powered electricity by the Notley government which was also referred to as a ‘Just Transition.’ So, this reference is not new to Albertans. Any successes with that pilot program are still to be reported.

To end on a lighter note, does anyone think Calgary will follow Edmonton’s decision to allow ‘topless swimming’ in all public pools? And will that fall under ‘Sustainable Jobs’ training as it surely will require new jobs to manage.

Shane Wenzel is president of the Shane Homes Group of Companies. Follow him @shanewenzel on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.His column is written for the Alberta Enterprise Group, @AEG on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Calgary Co-op to Open New Stores and Retail Space in the Growing Town of Cochrane

Construction is set to begin in Fall, 2023

Calgary Co-operative Association Limited (Calgary Co-op) is pleased to announce plans to expand in the town of Cochrane. Calgary Co-op has purchased six acres of land in the commercial shopping centre of the new, centrally located mixed-use community of Greystone.

The development plan, which is subject to approval, includes a 35,000 square foot Calgary Co-op Food store including a Pharmacy, a Wine Spirits Beer, Cannabis and Convenience store as well as a six-pump Gas Station with a double touchless car wash, and an additional 30,000 square feet of commercial retail space. Construction is set to begin Fall 2023 with an anticipated opening date of Spring 2025.

“We look forward to delivering our exceptional shopping experience, and high quality of customer service and products to the town of Cochrane,” says Damon Tanzola, vice president, Real Estate and Development, Calgary Co-op. “This development will also bring in a diverse mix of retailers and restaurants who will further enhance this unique shopping centre in the heart of the community.”

Calgary Co-op has over one hundred retail locations across all its lines of business in Calgary and the surrounding communities of Airdrie, Strathmore, Cochrane and High River, and has been waiting for the right opportunity to further expand in Cochrane, one of the fastest growing communities in Western Canada. Currently Calgary Co-op owns and operates a Wine Spirits Beer store in the northwest Cochrane community of Mountain Ridge.

“We are thrilled to officially welcome Calgary Co-op to our exciting new community of Greystone. Having such a reputable and first-in-class grocer anchor our retail high street and serve the residents of Greystone and greater Cochrane is really special. We look forward to the entire service offering Calgary Co-op intends to develop,” says Josh Hagen, VP Development, BURNSWEST Properties.

Locally owned and operated for over 65 years, Calgary Co-op recently underwent a rebrand, marking a new era for one of the largest retail cooperatives in North America, with over 400,000 members in Calgary and surrounding areas.

“We are committed to serve the communities our members live, work and shop in,” says Ken Keelor, CEO Calgary Co-op. “Our expansion in Cochrane provides its residents with an exciting new option when shopping. Those who are looking to get more from their grocery store will appreciate our exclusive member benefits, the huge array of local products we carry, our unique programs and private brands and our community support.”

The opening of the food store alone is expected to create 125 jobs in Cochrane.

ABOVE: RENDERING OF CO-OP GREYSTONE.

Designing Success

Bow Valley College School of Technology congratulates Beatriz Hernandez, a Kitchen and Bath Design Post-Diploma Certificate graduate, on winning the prestigious National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Student Design Competition.

“Beatriz’s award-winning achievement is an inspiration for all aspiring students in our program,” says Alison Anderson, dean of Business, Technology and the Centre for Entertainment Arts, Bow Valley College.

“This post-diploma certificate is a great fit for people like Beatriz, looking for additional specialized credentials and an opportunity for experiential learning. We are thrilled to see her take top honours in this competition and look forward to her journey as an emerging professional in the design industry.”

Bow Valley College is a founding school in NKBA’s Affiliated Schools Program. For more information about the Kitchen and Bath Design Post-Diploma Certificate and other programs in the School of Technology, please visit bowvalleycollege.ca.

Now Leasing, New Residences

Live Above It All

Madison Avenue Executive Furnished Suites – by development leaders Centron - is designed for discerning clients who value the advantages of an exclusive residence in Calgary’s newest downtown property. Madison Avenue is located at The Oliver, a prominent inner-city development defined by exceptional quality and the simplicity of a turn-key lifestyle.

Living in a Madison residence is luxurious and convenient. Residents will take advantage of outstanding proximity to downtown and beltline communities, however, the most compelling destination might be here at The Oliver. Madison residents will enjoy numerous on-property dining options including the Fleetwood Lounge, Pazzi Pizzeria, Treno Coffee and Prosecco, and five star Luca Restaurant. The Oliver also offers a licensed market, Luca Mercato, for healthy breakfast, lunch and dining options.

Living in a Madison Avenue residence:

• Only NINE exclusive residences on a dedicated floor of The Oliver

• Expertly appointed and NEW, including furnishings, from 1,040 SQ F T to 2,440 SQ FT

• 500 – 1,000 SQ FT private terraces for select residences

• EXCLUSIVE storage, underground heated and SECURE parking

• Interior design by PAUL LAVOIE

• PRIVATE elevator and floor

• LUXURIOUS finishes and fixtures including Fisher & Paykel appliances

• CUSTOM kitchens and lighting

• Stone countertops

• 10-12 FT ceilings

• Electric blinds

• Audio visual system

• Carpeted bedrooms and luxury plank flooring

• Turn-key living

• Direct access to The Oliver’s FITNESS centre and NOTABLE building amenities

• IMMEDIATE POSSESSIONS, now leasing

Madison Avenue Executive Suites, make one yours at The Oliver!

Service and attention from the Centron team

For over 38 years, Centron has been one of the most prominent and well-established developers of real estate across Western Canada. Centron has earned its reputation for client commitment and a steadfast focus on quality, care and client satisfaction. Centron property management teams will bring a superior level of attention to residents at Madison Avenue.

CALGARY’S INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE BOOM

WHY CALGARY IS HOT

BY JOHN HARDY

It’s not that real estate professionals, particularly commercial real estate professionals, are stodgy, strait-laced and deal in hard-core numbers and percentages, with a weakness for adjectives and superlatives, but they are a bit skittish and touchy about using the word “boom.”

Even though Calgary’s industrial real estate sector is hot and, some say, the hottest it has been in almost 15 years, there is professional reluctance (maybe fearing a jinx) about calling it a boom. OK, OK. Calgary’s industrial real estate is soaring, not booming.

Some say it’s a pointless distraction to guess or analyze ‘why,’ although popular explanations include a post-pandemic boost and record-high activity for industrial space in Calgary. Also that the Calgary area is proving to be an exciting and viable industrial real estate market for national industrial tenants and developers alike.

But there are many reasons why, into Q1 of 2023, Calgary industrial real estate is booming – ah, soaring.

Eddie Lee, Calgary City Assessor and director of Assessment & Tax is positive and upbeat about the assessed value of Calgary’s industrial real estate. “We continue to see steady resilience and sustained growth for industrial and retail properties. Industrial property values have increased five per cent overall, with many typically sized warehouses reflecting value increases. Large format warehouses and newer constructed warehouses reflect higher value increases, as Calgary continues to be a choice distribution hub in western Canada.”

As of year-end 2022, there was about 3.5 million square feet of industrial space vacancy in Calgary, which worked out to approximately a 1.5 per cent vacancy rate. By comparison, Toronto had a 0.9 per cent vacancy rate, and Vancouver was at 0.8 per cent.

Perhaps it’s the comparable and competitive real estate reality that Calgary’s industrial vacancy rate and location make it an attractive alternative for companies needing space, and for businesses looking for facility space outside of pricey, major markets like Toronto and Vancouver.

A key reason may be that, while stats and rates are constantly in flux, Calgary’s industrial rental rates are fairly low compared to other major markets. At the end of 2022, Calgary had an average rate of $9.93 per square foot, compared to Toronto where industrial rent averaged $15.32 per square foot, and Vancouver’s $18.70 average rate.

According to Ian Huston, managing director with Colliers, Calgary, “The Industrial market in the Greater Calgary Area (GCA) experienced a record year in 2022, with very high positive net absorption compared to historical numbers. Typically, the Calgary market experiences 2M square feet to 5M square feet of positive net absorption. But 2022 saw a total of 11.7M square feet absorbed over the course of the year.

“Compared to the Toronto and Montreal industrial markets, Calgary offers a significant discount in asking rental rates, a strong pipeline of buildings currently being developed, and plentiful surrounding lands for future expansion,” he says. “This has kept the GCA as an enticing option for user companies looking for relief from the tight market conditions elsewhere, while still keeping them connected to the overall Canadian supply chain.”

Some commercial real estate experts even borrow from the residential real estate mantra of “location-location.” It is also a factor in the city’s soaring industrial real estate situation. Unlike other desirable industrial areas in Canada, Calgary has a location advantage. It is not constrained by things like mountains or the ocean and is earning a reputation for offering level topography with development-friendly soil conditions, and a natural location to develop large industrial footprint facilities.

Calgary-based Greg Kwong, regional managing director for the Canadian Prairies for CBRE is extremely industrial real estate savvy, and credits much of the soar to shifting business trends and, most of all, shifting consumer trends. “Actually, industrial space, basically worldwide, is on a hot streak. It started around five or six years ago, and the main reason was the increase in the supply chain business and the

ABOVE: GREG KWONG, REGIONAL MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES FOR CBRE.

“CALGARY’S INDUSTRIAL MARKET HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN CENTRED ON OIL AND GAS, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A SHIFT TO TAILORING TO OTHER INDUSTRIES, SUCH AS E-COMMERCE,” KWONG EXPLAINS.

worldwide growth in the movement of goods. That was the spark. And it is continuing to transform the demand for industrial real estate.

“Calgary’s industrial market has historically been centred on oil and gas, but there has been a shift to tailoring to other industries, such as e-commerce,” he explains. “Virtually every major retailer that has an e-commerce base component to their business –such as AWS, Amazon, Home Depot, Canadian Tire, Loews and others – are either already here, distributing through Calgary, or planning to be here.

“At the moment, Balzac is probably Calgary’s hottest industrial area. And there is also lots of warehouse and other industrial activity along the highway, in the Deerfoot Trail corridor. The signs are hard to miss while driving through those areas.”

Todd Throndson, managing director with Avison Young, Calgary underscores the numbers about Calgary’s industrial real estate sector. “The industrial market was moving at a blazing pace, especially through all of 2022. It was the continuation of a trend of the past few years. Vacancy is at an all time low, rental rates are on the rise, and space is in high demand.

“Together with those metrics,” he says, “the story continues to be about the delivery of space, with the city and region experiencing a run on industrial land that is unprecedented. There is a record amount of space in

It is with great pleasure that we announce that Ogilvie LLP has acquired Masuch Law LLP effective January 1, 2023.

A pillar of the Edmonton law community, Ogilvie is now a leading provincial Firm of Choice integrating the trusted and established Calgary office.

CALGARY HOUSING MARKET CONTINUES TO COOL, BUT EXPERTS ANTICIPATE WARMER CONDITIONS AHEAD

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL

BY JAMIE ZACHARY

Higher interest rates have cooled Calgary’s red-hot housing market so far in 2023, with both supply and demand backing off from its kamikaze tempo over the past few years.

Yet persistently low inventory levels could have trouble keeping up with a pace-setting provincial economy, resulting in further price increases and a sellers’ market.

In its early spring report, CREB notes both MLS listings and inventory levels have trended up so far in 2023 but remain drastically off balanced conditions.

In January, new listings fell to their lowest level since the late 1990s, recovering albeit slightly in February. By early March, year-to-date listings sat around 4,300, down 40 per cent from the year prior.

“We are not seeing listings grow at the rate we traditionally see, which means inventories are relatively low at the moment,” says CREB chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie, noting months of supply in the city is sitting at under two months.

This tightness is being largely reflected in the detached, semi-detached and row housing categories. And while the apartment condo sector has seen inventory levels gradually improve, persistent demand has similarly reduced supplies.

Regionally, it’s a similar situation in communities such as Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks where inventory levels have improved, but still remain well below historical averages, notes Lurie.

While tighter market conditions are creating upward pressure on prices, they are showing signs of slowing down. The year-to-date benchmark price in Calgary by early March sat at $525,900, a three per cent increase year over year, but well off the peak of $546,000 in May 2022.

“However, if we do not see a shift in supply, we could see further upward pressure on prices over the near term,” warns Lurie.

A slower start to the year has helped to mitigate some of those price gains. Sales activity through to early March was down 44 per cent year over year as buyers felt the heat of higher interest rates. Yet Lurie notes sales-to-new-listings ratio in Calgary still sat at 73 per cent.

In new home construction, there has been some good news when it comes to meeting demand. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) notes that while total housing starts for all areas in Canada declined 13 per cent to start the year, Calgary is bucking the trend with an 18 per cent year-overover increase in single-detached starts, and 131 per cent increase in total starts in January alone.

“That reflects a continuing trend of strong housing construction in Calgary,” says Michael Mak, senior economics analyst at CMHC.

“WE ARE NOT SEEING LISTINGS GROW AT THE RATE WE TRADITIONALLY SEE, WHICH MEANS INVENTORIES ARE RELATIVELY LOW AT THE MOMENT,”

SAYS LURIE, NOTING MONTHS OF SUPPLY IN THE CITY IS SITTING AT UNDER TWO MONTHS.

ABOVE: CREB CHIEF ECONOMIST ANN-MARIE LURIE

“A lot of these developers … are finding it difficult to build in Toronto and Vancouver, especially large multifamily projects. Land costs and financing are quite expensive, so it’s difficult to get the math working. That’s not necessarily the case in Calgary, Edmonton and the Prairies in general.”

Of note, Mak says there continues to be a lot of pent-up demand for multi-family housing in the city. He points to completed and unabsorbed units sitting at less than 700 units currently.

“This means builders have basically sold off all the units that were sitting unsold during the period when global oil prices collapsed and sent Alberta into a downturn,” says Mak. “It took a couple years, but all that inventory has been sold off and we’re now sitting at inventory levels comparable to the 2013-15 period.”

While the Bank of Canada’s continued decision to raise its benchmark interest rates have generally cooled housing markets across the country, many experts believe Alberta will still see strong activity in 2023.

Interprovincial migration has been exceptionally strong. In the third quarter of 2022, Statistics Canada reported that 52,582 people moved to Alberta, a nearly 207 per cent increase from 17,131 in the same quarter of 2021.

MEANWHILE, THE CONFERENCE

BOARD OF CANADA IS FORECASTING THAT ALBERTA WILL LEAD ALL CANADIAN PROVINCES IN GDP GROWTH THIS YEAR AND NEXT. THE BOARD PROJECTS ALBERTA WILL EXPAND BY 3.5 PER CENT THIS YEAR AND 2.4 PER CENT IN 2024.

To that end, CREB chair Christian Twomey says Calgary’s housing market continues to show resilient affordability relative to other urban centres in Canada.

“From your single-family detached and town homes to semi-attached and apartment condos, the affordability here comparative to the Lower Mainland and southern Ontario is night and day,” he says.

“Prices there continue to be significantly higher than here. And as a result, we’re continuing to see an influx of people moving here from those areas.”

Meanwhile, the Conference Board of Canada is forecasting that Alberta will lead all Canadian provinces in GDP growth this year and next. The board projects Alberta will expand by 3.5 per cent this year and 2.4 per cent in 2024.

“It’s definitely a different scene in Calgary and Alberta right now,” says Mak. “There’s a record number of people moving here, which has created some persistent activity within the housing market.”

Twomey believes buyers are going to get used to current interest rates and result in a strong rest of the year.

“I expect we’re going to see a bang-up spring market,” he says. “All the numbers are lined up for exciting things to happen. Not the rapid growth we saw last year, but a fantastic year in real estate.”

A LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT IN ALBERTA’S ENERGY INDUSTRY

SUE RIDDELL ROSE IS HONOURED BY THE CALGARY INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS PRESENTED BY AXIS CONNECTS

BY MELANIE DARBYSHIRE

“Ilive by the mantra ‘Say Yes’.” This is Sue Riddell Rose’s answer to why she does so much. “I’m interested in a lot of things,” she continues. “Saying ‘yes’ really opens the doors to things you don’t imagine. When people ask you to do things it’s because they need your help. And what are we here for? We’re here to serve, so that’s how I run my life. My one little life.”

An understatement to be sure, Riddell Rose’s life appears anything but little. A leader in Alberta’s energy industry, she is many things: president and CEO of Perpetual Energy Inc. and predecessor Paramount Energy Trust since inception in 2002; president and CEO of Rubellite Energy Inc., a company spun out of Perpetual in 2021; director of both Secure Energy Services and AltaLink L.P.; Governor of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP); member of the Business Council of Alberta. And these are just on the business side.

When it comes to charitable work, Riddell Rose is equally active. She is involved with UNICEF Canada, Fulbright Canada, Canada Powered by Women and Modern Miracle Network. She is past chair of the United Way of Calgary and Area. She has served as a member of the Board of

IT’S QUITE FITTING THEN THAT RIDDELL ROSE IS RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 CALGARY INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, PRESENTED BY AXIS CONNECTS. THOUGH THE HONOUR IS UNQUESTIONABLY DESERVED, SHE NEVER EXPECTED IT.

Trustees of Queen’s University, Mount Royal University and Alberta’s Promise.

It’s quite fitting then that Riddell Rose is recipient of the 2023 Calgary Influential Women in Business Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Axis Connects. Though the honour is unquestionably deserved, she never expected it.

“I was totally surprised, it wasn’t even remotely on my radar,” she recalls. “There are so many amazing deserving women, and quite honestly, I was taken aback by it.”

RIGHT: SUE RIDDELL ROSE

PHOTO SOURCE: PHIL CROZIER

Not one for awards, she highlights the important work that Axis Connects does: inspiring women to dig in and stay the course in their careers. “We go through some pretty busy times in our lives, and sometimes it’s tempting to say, ‘I’ll put this on hold and come back to this later.’ But when you see other women who have dug in and come through to the other side, a lot can be accomplished by that.”

Flexibility, she believes, is key. “A challenge in every profession is when women have families and elevate to a whole new level of busy,” she says. “I call it the eye of the storm, and it lasts for about 15 years. So it’s really important to figure out a way to provide flexibility for women, yes, but for everyone, to continue to grow in their careers while managing the many things that are important in their lives.”

“At Perpetual, we call this Flex Life, where, with accountability and communication, the day to day priorities

of our people can always be managed. We work around things, the same way families do,” Riddell Rose explains. “Flex Life has been foundational, and one of the secret sauces to keeping women at Perpetual through that eye of the storm, when their families are growing.”

She speaks from experience, having raised three boys with husband Mike Rose (founder, CEO and chairman of Tourmaline, Canada’s largest gas producer) while working at Perpetual and Paramount.

Also key to Perpetual’s culture is a focus on the team’s wellness. “We call it ‘WOW’ – Working on Wellness,” Riddell Rose explains. “We’re purposeful about it. It’s built into how we do things. We genuinely care about our people and our families. It has helped us build a cohesive, inclusive team that is striving to be our best.”

A native Calgarian, Riddell Rose is the daughter of Clay Riddell, a pioneer of Alberta’s energy industry whose

ABOVE: QUEEN ELIZABETH IL’S PLATINUM JUBILEE MEDAL WITH THE FORMER PREMIER OF ALBERTA, JASON KENNEY AND HONOURABLE SALMA LAKHANI, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF ALBERTA.

“I REALLY LIKED GEOLOGY,” SHE RECALLS. “I HAD WORKED AT PARAMOUNT IN THE SUMMERS AND MY DAD WAS A GEOLOGIST. I HAD BEEN AROUND IT A BIT AND STARTED TO REALIZE IT’S A PRETTY FUN PROFESSION. THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF GEOLOGY, ESPECIALLY IN EXPLORATION, THAT ARE LIKE BEING A DETECTIVE. IT’S A BIT OF AN INVESTIGATION, PUTTING PIECES TOGETHER TO BUILD YOUR THESIS.”

charitable giving and civic patriotism is legendary. A geologist by trade, he founded Paramount in the 1970s.

“My mom worked outside the home my entire life,” she says. “She was a nurse at the Children’s Hospital. The fact that she got up at 6:00 a.m. every day and drove herself to work, to put in a full shift with those kids, was really inspiring. It set the tone for what we were going to do our whole lives.”

“We had a lovely family life,” she recalls of growing up with three siblings. “My mom and dad were both big parts of our lives and our kids’ lives too. They were incredible role models for us. The never missed a baseball game, or a hockey tournament, often arriving at the puck drop with Starbucks in hand, running in from another event. We have a wonderful family that I’m still very close to.”

The family had a ranch south of the city and as a child, Riddell Rose spent much time working on the land and riding horses. She eventually became a show jumper. “There’s nothing better than loving and learning to care for an animal,” she reflects. “It really shapes the way you think about all your relationships, life, hard work and working for others.”

Strengths in math and science lead her to study engineering, first at the University of Calgary and then at Queen’s, where she pursued a geological engineering degree. “I really liked geology,” she recalls. “I had worked at Paramount in the summers and my dad was a geologist. I had been around it a bit and started to realize it’s a pretty fun profession. There are elements of geology, especially in exploration, that are like being a detective. It’s a bit of an investigation, putting pieces together to build your thesis.”

During the summer of 1985 she worked as a student for Shell in Calgary, where she met Rose, who was also working at Shell. After graduating in 1986, she worked five more years at Shell before joining her father’s company in 1990.

Riddell Rose held various positions at Paramount until 2002, when she lead the spin out of Paramount Energy Trust. She has been president and CEO of the latter organization for over 20 years, leading it through several strategic structuring initiatives including the corporate conversion to Perpetual in 2010, and the formation of Rubellite in 2021.

LEFT: PERPETUAL AND RUBELLITE BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S FIELD VISIT - DRILLING OPERATION NEAR MANNVILLE, ALBERTA

The company weathered ebbs and flows in the business and commodity cycles, in particular the technology revolution of horizontal multi-frac drilling, which precipitated the shale gas revolution. “Paramount Energy Trust launched with conventional mature shallow gas assets as the sector emerged from the price collapse of the late nineties into a period of scarcity for natural gas,” she recounts. “Five years later, with shale gas unlocked, prices really collapsed, so we pivoted to build a much more diversified asset base, pursuing acquisitions to set a new foundation for liquids-rich natural gas resource plays in the deep basin, and exploring our legacy properties to add some heavy oil into our mix.”

“Ours isn’t really a growth story,” she continues. “We’re an entrepreneurial company of about 100 employees, including our field team. We crystallize value at different times and invest in creative ideas to unlock new opportunities. Rubellite is a good example of that.”

Rubellite is successfully developing its pure play Clearwater asset base in eastern Alberta using the emerging multilateral drilling technology. Riddell Rose describes Rubellite as an enterprising solution to shore up Perpetual’s balance sheet while bringing equity capital to accelerate investment in the play. “It’s invigorating to be drilling again over these last couple years,” she admits. “We started that company with 350 barrels per day of production. A year and a half later we’re almost 3,000 barrels per day of production.”

ABOVE: UNICEF 25TH TEAM FIELD VISIT - MIDWIVES OF THE MATERNAL AND NEWBORN HEALTH CLINIC NEAR PUCALLPA, PERU.

INSET: UNICEF 25 TEAM FIELD VISIT - AMAZON RIVER COMMUNITY PRE SCHOOL NEUVA BETHANIA, PERU.

Having come through a major downturn in the industry, both Perpetual and Rubellite are more efficient than ever. “And that’s universal throughout the industry,” Riddell Rose points out of those companies that leaned up to survive. “We suffered through a downturn for close to a decade. It was tough for natural gas. And while this last surge of positive pricing has set both companies up for success, those tough times shaped how we do things now.”

A passionate advocate for her industry, Riddell Rose laments the denigration of the oil and gas industry, and federal policies aimed at curtailing it: “The targeted defamation overpowers the real story of the heavy lifting the industry has done on emissions reduction and how it’s driving clean tech solutions that make our oil and natural gas the cleanest in the world. Lack of government support confuses Canadians and makes it difficult to see the incredible positive contribution our oil and gas industry makes to Canada’s prosperity and its potential as a global emissions reduction solution for the world.”

It’s why she gives her time to organizations like Canada Powered by Women and Modern Miracle Network, whose purposes are to facilitate bold conversations that matter

around energy transformation and raise up the voice of the balanced middle.

The demonization of the industry, she continues, has deterred bright minds, and particularly women in sciences, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), from entering it: “Women in STEM tend to go into the biomedical or environmental sciences sectors to align with their passions. Part of taking back our reputation is illuminating that the oil and gas industry in Canada is the number one investor in clean technology and bringing ever-cleaner energy to our world is a noble life pursuit that will make life better for people and the planet. It’s a shame because the heavy lifting of building diverse and inclusive workplaces for women to thrive is well advanced in our sector.”

Riddell Rose adds that when she was in university, the energy industry had a great reputation and attracted many talented people.

“It can be discouraging when your industry is continually disparaged, but at the same time it’s important we defend it – for our kids, for Canadians,” she continues. “Because to lose this industry, and all it has generated for Albertans and Canadians, would be really sad for future generations.”

When it comes to the provincial government, Riddell Rose is pleased. “The government we have had over the last four years has really delivered a lot for Albertans,” she says. “There’s been significantly more stability. There’s good thinking and action inspiring innovation, particularly on the environmental and the emissions reduction front: our energy industry is a global emissions reductions leader. There’s been a real focus on red tape reduction. We’ve seen a lot of good, positive progress over the last four years.”

“Nonetheless it’s a challenging time,” she cautions. “But it’s really all about conversations, meeting people where they are, and finding ways to inspire and facilitate conversations.”

Despite the headwinds, Riddell Rose sees a future of innovation, a cleaner molecule and the export of Canada’s LNG to global markets. “I don’t think the industry’s going away, but it’d be really nice if someday the headwinds shifted to tailwinds,” she muses. “And if we could get a little bit of positive endorsement for the good we are all trying to do for the world.”

ABOVE: UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN LAUNCH - DO LOCAL GOOD

BOTTOM: UNITED WAY SPIRITS OF GOLD - SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AWARD

CALGARY INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS

LEADERS ACROSS CALGARY CELEBRATE THE STRENGTH GENDER DIVERSITY BRINGS TO BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY

BY ERLYNN GOCOCO

On April 13th, the Calgary Influential Women in Business (CIWB) Awards will be presented to six outstanding professionals recognized for supporting diverse leadership across the city. While their roles are all vastly different, each demonstrates a passion for elevating those around them by broadening representation at the table.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AWARD PRESENTED BY

NUTRIEN

SIPPY CHHINA, PARTNER, DIRECTOR AND VICE CHAIR DELOITTE

CANADA LLP

With over 23 years of leadership experience, including nine years in various management and operational roles, Sippy is currently partner, director and vice chair at Deloitte Canada LLP. Sippy also serves as a vice chair of the Board of Deloitte, overseeing matters related to the company’s enterprise risk framework, strategy, related risks and measurement KPIs.

“Winning the CIWB award is an incredible honour. It’s a recognition of my hard work and dedication to my profession. I feel seen and appreciated, and this award is the cherry on top of my rewarding career. To other women in business, I would say pause and reflect regularly on your journey. Don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo as you

are strong, smart and worthy. Always remember that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”

In the next phase of her career, Sippy wants to give back to her community by helping Calgary-based entrepreneurs achieve their goals. “I want to be their ‘wing person’ and support them in actualizing their ideas.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PHIL CROZIER

Kelly Schmitt is the CEO of Benevity, which provides corporate purpose software for community investment and engagement solutions.

With over 20 years of experience in growth company finance and operations, she was recently named an AACSB Influential Leader for her impact in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B).

“It’s humbling to be honoured alongside such a great group of leaders. But this award isn’t just for me, it’s for Benevity - a company where over 50 per cent of our team is women, including at the executive level. This is an example of what we can achieve when we really walk the talk on DEI&B.”

DEI&B in the workplace is important to Kelly. “If companies are serious about DEI&B, they need to hire CFOs who are six months pregnant (as happened to me), promote women who are on parental leave and pay bonuses to men who share the parental leave with their partners. There is much more than just setting targets and focusing on recruiting - it’s about modeling the behaviours that are needed to drive real societal change.”

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARD PRESENTED BY PWC CANADA ANDREA ROBERTSON, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

STARS (SHOCK TRAUMA AIR RESCUE SERVICE)

Andrea Robertson is president and chief executive officer of STARS, a role she has held for the past 12 years. She and her team have a singular focus – to deliver critical care to the most vulnerable and sick people, wherever and whenever needed.

In 2014, Andrea was named a Top 100 winner of the Women’s Executive Network Canada’s Most Powerful Women. In 2022, she was honoured with the Distinguished Business Leader Award.

“Being recognized as an influential business leader is a tremendous honour, but the recognition really belongs to the incredible team at STARS. I have been fortunate to be a part of the life saving care they provide every day across this province and Western Canada.”

The power of building connections is also important to Andrea. “Calgary is filled with awe-inspiring leaders. So, knock on doors, and stay connected. In a community and province with such a wealth of highly skilled and experienced business leaders, we are all well-served when we support each other. The greatest leaders I know are the most curious – there is so much to learn from one another!”

LARGE ENTERPRISE AWARD PRESENTED BY RBC KELLY SCHMITT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BENEVITY INC.

MARK BROWN, GENERAL MANAGER FLUOR CANADA

Mark Brown began his career with Fluor in 1999 as a construction engineer. Since that time, he has held various leadership roles in project management, business development and corporate portfolios in North America, Europe and Asia. In 2017, he was appointed General Manager of Fluor Canada.

On being recognized in the Male Champion category, Mark says, “We have such incredible talent and accomplished individuals in this city who are helping to shape our industry and drive much needed growth. I believe it’s important to recognize and acknowledge the individuals behind that. I’m humbled to be recognized as a male champion, however, I believe the real value behind the Calgary Influential Women in Business Awards is the demonstration of diversity in leadership across this city and shining a spotlight on the professional excellence of women in Calgary.”

“As a male champion, I’m honoured to share the stage and learn from such intelligent, accomplished and communityminded female leaders who are making significant contributions to the success of the industry and our great city.”

SMALL/MEDIUM ENTERPRISE AWARD

PRESENTED BY TC ENERGY

MANJIT MINHAS, CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

MINHAS BREWERIES, DISTILLERIES AND WINERIES

A born and raised Calgarian, Manjit Minhas is a petroleum engineering student turned beer baroness and Dragon on CBC’s Dragons’ Den. At age 19, Manjit co-founded Minhas Breweries, Distilleries and Wineries, making it the first successful company to enter the Canadian beer industry in decades. Her products are sold in five provinces, 47 states throughout the US and 16 other countries.

Manjit says being a Calgary Influential Women in Business awards recipient is impactful. “As an influential Calgary businesswoman, being recognized for this award is meaningful because it empowers other women to feel that they too can accomplish great things. Passion, dedication and drive are all factors that have contributed to my personal success. I hope to inspire others, especially women, to succeed.”

Her advice to other women is to dream big, work hard and never give up. “When there are setbacks in life, look at them as opportunities and learning moments, and just keep moving forward. Look to others to help support your goals – there is power in mentorship and following past leaders.”

MALE CHAMPION AWARD PRESENTED BY CIBC

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PHIL CROZIER

NO SUCCESSION PLAN IS A RISK

A SUCCESSION PLAN IS RISK MANAGEMENT

hile art imitating life doesn’t usually translate into the world of Calgary business, the latest TV season of Succession, about the scripted maneuverings and vicious shrapnel of Logan, Kendall, Roman, Shiv and the rest of the fictitious Waystar RoyCo family, may trigger more mundane but important interest about the critical issue of reallife business succession.

In many ways, and for various contemporary business reasons, succession planning experts are sounding an alarm about avoiding the business disaster of procrastination or no succession planning at all. They candidly but bluntly urge Calgary business owners and executives into action, warning that, in some situations, failing to plan translates into planning to fail.

The no-holds-barred business reality is that making no plan is also a decision. A risky and poor decision, but a decision just the same. And some recent Canadian business trends and figures make the decision even more critical.

• Some 76 per cent of Canada’s business owners plan to exit their business within the next decade, with over $2 trillion worth of business assets potentially changing hands.

• Only one in 10 business owners (9 per cent) have a formal business succession plan in place to ensure a smooth transition.

Trends and specific case stories echo the cause and effect that, without succession planning, a successful business is

The urgency around not planning for succession flags a checklist of weighty risks and consequences:

4 Owners failing to realize the full value of their business.

4 Alienating potential successors (senior management, family or outsiders).

4 Inability to achieve the mission and realize the vision and putting the business at risk.

4 Increased difficulty in obtaining longterm financing if lenders perceive inadequate business planning.

Alberta Business Exchange Paves the Path

Hammad Razzaq, Peter Yates, Randy Koroluk, Steve Brown and Rennay Craats.

Photo by Courtney Lovgren.

to Retirement for Calgary Business Owners

“We’re living in unprecedented times,” says Randy Koroluk, founder and president, at ABE. “Seventy-two per cent of all business owners in Canada have now surpassed retirement age. What that means is baby boomers are needing to sell their businesses, and ABE as a leader in lower-mid to midmarket transactions is there to help.”

That help is highly efficient. ABE boasts a near-perfect close rate achieved by employing Randy’s valuation model and system. This model, which he wrote a book about, explains business valuation to vendors who aren’t necessarily finance people, and this allows them to formulate a realistic asking price to facilitate a fair deal.

The team explains every step of the process to ensure clients understand what to expect, from the initial meeting through to signing on the dotted line. With complete transparency and honesty at every stage, ABE is able to broker great deals for clients while at the same time helping buyers realize their entrepreneurial dreams.

The ABE specialists do everything they can to earn clients’ trust so they can deliver a positive experience with a great deal. Once they commit to a client, they don’t punch a clock, remaining completely immersed in the deal and responsive 24/7 until it’s done. While many accounting firms and brokers work bankers’ hours and are pay-as-you-go, ABE gets paid when the deal closes.

“We don’t just talk the talk. We walk it. Ours is a successbased fee. That’s how confident we are in what we do,” says Hammad Razzaq, vice president at ABE.

And what they do has proven to be a winning formula. The company enjoys referrals from past clients and incredible success rates, with Randy closing his 160th deal at the end of March. The ABE team has become invaluable to both business owners looking to sell and entrepreneurs looking to buy.

“There are so many pitfalls and landmines along the way, so unless you’ve seen it before, you don’t know how to avoid it. That’s the value of having experienced transaction advisors,” Randy says.

Randy is as experienced as they come. He identified a niche in the market more than 20 years ago and has become a true expert. His hard work and expertise have earned ABE an impeccable reputation for delivering exceptional service and with the support of his team of legal, business, finance and creative specialists, he has significantly grown the business.

“It’s not one of these people that creates the success. It’s the culmination of all this experience that is largely responsible for the success at ABE,” Randy says.

Randy’s right-hand man, Hammad, joined ABE a few years ago as an associate to manage due diligence. However, Hammad’s background in finance, his strong work ethic, passion for deal making and the fact that he shared many of the same values as Randy led him to become a partner at ABE later that year.

As different banks have different appetites at different times, it’s critical to have a strategic partner like Steve Brown of TGC Capital. Steve knows what’s happening in the Calgary banking community and very often facilitates financing for ABE’s buyers. Peter Yates is ABE’s long-time lawyer who is responsive and committed to getting deals across the finish line. Peter is often on one side of the deal or the other to ensure a successful transaction.

Rennay Craats manages ABE’s buyer database, ensuring that the hundreds of registered buyers are active and ready for new deals. Randy and Hammad vet prospective buyers carefully to ensure they are serious and qualified before presenting them with any confidential seller information.

Rennay takes all of that seller information and prepares a comprehensive marketing package, which Krentz Creative then uses to create a beautifully designed information memorandum. These dossiers contain everything a prospective buyer could want to know about a business for sale, from history and competitive advantages to assets and balance sheets. It is a powerful tool for negotiations; at least half of ABE’s deals are struck by the first person that receives that package.

With a team of experts in place, the sky’s the limit for this firm that delivers big results.

“ABE is geared up and ready to help business owners get the retirement they deserve and move onto the next phase of their lives with peace of mind,” says Hammad, and Alberta Business Exchange looks forward to being a seller’s trusted partner for years to come.

4 Loss of expertise and knowledge about the business.

4 Leadership gaps and loss of continuity and naming an unprepared or unqualified successor who lacks personal drive, commitment, skills, training and education.

4 The owner taking a significant tax hit.

4 Damaged client and partnership relationships.

4 Uncertainty for staff and potential of low morale.

Some succession planning experts go as far as to warn that not having a plan is dangerous, risky and irresponsible. They point out that, especially in today’s business environment, succession planning IS risk management at its most urgent and important.

Of course, the most basic and obvious risk is that the business goes downhill, really fast. In many specific situations, the business has grown partly due to a leader’s experience, drive and ability. Without proper succession planning and strategy, the future success of the business deteriorates, when the leader’s experience, drive and ability are gone.

When the experienced leader goes, the business suffers and triggers lower productivity, lost work, a slump in business and low morale which causes lower quality of work. In many ways, succession planning is a matter of avoiding risks.

Experts suggest that a business’ financial risk increase exponentially without the buffer of a succession plan. The impact of a sudden departure or crisis for a key leadership role or mission-critical position is significant and could cause disruption to the business and financial damage. It is a notorious fact of business life that investors scare easily and often react to a change at the top, by assuming the worst. Some impact of business disruption includes issues such as suspended initiatives, disrupted third-party/partner relationships, poor financial performance, loss of revenue or shares, and more. There is a lot of uncertainty and turbulence posed by a sudden vacancy/departure of a key position within the organisation.

And no doubt about it. While business growth, revenues and cash flow are key factors, planned or unplanned succession does get personal.

EXPERTS SUGGEST THAT A BUSINESS’ FINANCIAL RISK INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY WITHOUT THE BUFFER OF A SUCCESSION PLAN. THE IMPACT OF A SUDDEN DEPARTURE OR CRISIS FOR A KEY LEADERSHIP ROLE OR MISSIONCRITICAL POSITION IS SIGNIFICANT AND COULD CAUSE DISRUPTION TO THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL DAMAGE. IT IS A NOTORIOUS FACT OF BUSINESS LIFE THAT INVESTORS SCARE EASILY AND OFTEN REACT TO A CHANGE AT THE TOP, BY ASSUMING THE WORST.

Stats show that most owners rely on the sale of the business as a source of retirement income, and not having a plan can reduce their chances of selling at the price they want. That means lower retirement funds. Obstacles encountered by the owner looking to sell the business may not only be problematic to the business itself, but the wellbeing of the owner and their family. Failing to plan also puts the employees’ livelihoods in jeopardy, as well as all the other risks.

Deferring or putting succession planning on the back burner is much too common and an easy to do, with the most familiar business excuse that “we’re all way too busy, and there are other pressing priorities.”

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), Canada’s champion of small business (SMBs) with over 97,000 members, is a dynamic advocate of succession planning. Regardless, its recent Business Succession Planning Survey acknowledged that some small business owners do procrastinate.

“Succession planning is a complicated process and, for one in four owners, it’s hard to know where to start,” explains

Secure Your Business’s Future and Leave a Lasting Impact through Strategic Generosity

by Brad Friesen, Gift Planning Consultant

Business succession planning can unlock the power of strategic generosity and make a meaningful impact in your community while also optimizing your tax benefits.

Did you know that most small and mid-sized businesses in Canada are owned by individuals over fifty? This means that within the next 10-20 years, many of these businesses will experience an ownership transition due to life events such as:

• Retirement

• Transitioning a younger family member to the business

• A disability or illness

• The passing of an existing owner

Transition is inevitable for every business sooner or later. This is why a well-drafted succession plan is important for providing the necessary stability for a business to continue to succeed. Introducing generosity into succession planning can be a powerful way to support the achievement of a business’s philanthropic goals.

Consider Strategic Generosity

Many business owners give to charity on a regular basis, either personally or through their business. However, charitable giving is often overlooked when it comes to succession planning. It might be forgotten in the rush of enacting a last-minute succession plan, as there are usually many other pressing issues to deal with, or it could be that the professional advisors involved may not be aware of your charitable intentions. This is why it is important to proactively discuss your charitable giving plans with your advisors when designing a succession plan that can be incorporated into your overall business strategy. When done right, this will maximize the opportunities to support the charities that matter most to you while also ensuring that you do so in the most tax e cient manner.

How Does Philanthropy Fit into Your Succession Plan?

There are several options when considering charitable giving in your succession plan. You can donate di erent types of assets, such as:

• Cash

• Private company shares

• Publicly traded securities

• Life insurance.

Of course, each situation is unique, and the best strategy will depend on your business ownership structure before and after the succession plan, as well as assets held personally and in the business. Abundance Canada is here to help you design a personalized Generosity Plan™ that fits into your overall succession plan strategy.

Working with your professional advisors, a gift planning consultant at Abundance Canada will provide valuable input regarding:

• The type of assets that can be donated

• The timing of these donations

• When the donated assets will be converted to cash.

Donations can be timed to align with taxable events resulting from the implementation of your succession plan.

Get Your Family in on the Giving

Some business owners use their succession plan as an opportunity to establish a private family foundation, allowing their family to actively participate in their philanthropy. A Generosity Plan™ at Abundance Canada can be created to provide the same benefits as a private family foundation (with fewer administrative responsibilities and more anonymity for the family).

All businesses, no matter the size or complexity, require some sort of succession plan. As you consider possible scenarios for transitioning your business and develop a plan to address them, don’t forget that charitable giving is another “what-if” well worth considering.

Abundance Canada is a public foundation that o ers Donor Advised Funds (DAF). For nearly 50 years, we have worked with individuals and business owners with tax-e cient charitable giving. To find out more about creating a Generosity Plan™ to complement your succession strategy, or if you’d like to know more about the tax e ciency of the various gift planning options available to you, visit abundance.ca or call 1.800.772.3257 to speak with a gift planning consultant today.

Introducing generosity into succession planning can be a powerful way to support the achievement of a business’s philanthropic goals.

Laure-Anna Bomal, CFIB’s research analyst. “Also, when planning does start, there are other obstacles.”

• 75 per cent of SMB owners will leave their business for retirement, while 22 per cent will leave because of stress or 21 per cent just to step back from their responsibilities as owners.

• 54 per cent says finding a suitable buyer is the most common obstacle to succession planning, followed closely by business valuation and reliance on the owner for day-to-day operations.

“Given the magnitude and complexity of the process, business owners may also be too busy running their business, do not have the time needed and may avoid or postpone any plans.”

The economy and recovering from pandemic and supply chain speedbumps certainly took a toll, particularly on SMBs. It could also be understandable – but risky – reasons for procrastinating succession planning. She points out the undisputed fact that the current value of some businesses is down, and owners may be holding off until their business is profitable again. “Conversely, there are businesses that are more profitable than ever, and owners may also be holding off to extract what they can from their success, before exiting.”

While most consultants and analysists stress the importance and urgency of SMB succession planning, they are reluctant to put all the blame on the leader. Recent stats and surveys illustrate the failure or lack of succession planning as often due to boards and stakeholders allowing it to fall-off their priority or agenda.

There are also other challenges, such as the lack of a structured process, ambiguity of accountability for succession planning, decision-making based on gut-feel over objective data, and other factors.

According to the CFIB survey, and unlike the fictionalized scandals and in-fighting of TV’s Succession family, real

families are not such significant speedbumps in real success planning. “Only 11 per cent mentioned that the conflicting business vision of family members was a barrier to succession planning,” Bomal notes. “When business owners are planning, they will reach out to accountants, lawyers, etc.

“The paperwork and contracts associated should protect them from any family sensitivities and alleviate the problems that arise from it. Our survey showed that most, 49 per cent, of owners will exit their business by selling to an unrelated buyer and only 24 per cent will sell to a family member.”

There is expert consensus. Businesses with good succession planning practices perform better financially compared to businesses which have poor succession planning. But, since procrastination is a documented, major risk, developing a solid succession plan also works out to smart risk management.

“SUCCESSION PLANNING IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS AND, FOR ONE IN FOUR OWNERS, IT’S HARD TO KNOW WHERE TO START,” EXPLAINS BOMAL. “ALSO, WHEN PLANNING DOES START, THERE ARE OTHER OBSTACLES.”

REALITY CHECK FOR REC PROPERTY MARKET

BY JAMIE ZACHARY

After a two-year sprint, Western Canada’s recreation and investment real estate market has returned to what many experts are calling “normal” levels.

Yet they still point to an ongoing wealth of opportunities throughout Alberta and interior British Columbia.

Pinnacle Lifestyles CEO Darvin Zurfluh notes that while market activity has slowed somewhat overall, he’s still seeing healthy interest throughout the two provinces.

“After breaking records over the last few years, we anticipate they’re naturally going to come down a bit, but still be well above pre-COVID levels,” says Zurfluh of Pinnacle’s portfolio of RV and cabin-style resorts in Edson, Alta., as well as Mara Lake, Sicamous, Revelstoke, White Lake and Crawford Bay, B.C.

YET EXPERTS STILL POINT TO MANY OPPORTUNITIES ON BOTH SIDES OF B.C. BORDER

“Our early season booking numbers are quite a bit higher this year already than they were for last year. So, we believe it going to be a great summer.”

Zurfluh credits this ongoing interest to many buyers who still haven’t forgotten that feeling of being cooped up during the pandemic, coupled with rising interest rates that is impacting many people’s bottom line.

“It’s no secret that rising interest rates have increased Canadians’ debt costs, which has many looking at something more affordable,” he says. “And then they realize, there are so many options in their backyard – opportunities to get away with the family, de-stress and reconnect.”

In the Kootenay Rockies, Bruce Seitz of Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty says he’s seen housing market activity return to a more balanced conditions after a whirlwind few years.

Of note, he points to buyers of all types being slightly more cautious before pulling the trigger, while sellers are subsequently resetting their overall expectations.

“Both parties are having to go through a bit of a reality check,” he says. “For buyers, they are coming to the realization that higher interest rates are going to be around for a while. So, they are being a little more cognizant of what they can afford.

“And for sellers, it is coming down to they’re not seeing as many showings coming through. That then generates less offers being presented. Things are still selling, and at close to asking price. It’s just taking slightly longer than 2021 and 2022.”

He notes sales in the Kootenays were down around 39 per cent to start the year. Meanwhile, inventory levels have started to recover, with active listings up more than 42 per cent.

“We are seeing those listing numbers come back up, but they’re still not nearly what we want to see it,” he says, noting new listings to start the year were down 3.5 per cent compared with 2022 and nearly 30 per cent off 2020 levels.

Seitz singles out Sparwood as a recent rec property hot spot within the Kootenays. The community near the Alberta-B.C.

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border is coming off one of its busiest years on record. He credits that to higher prices and limited opportunities in nearby Fernie.

Specifically, Seitz has seen interest from Alberta buyers remain relatively steady over the past few years – albeit still a small portion of overall sales.

“Only about 2.7 per cent of sales can be traced back to Alberta buyers, which is consistent with past years,” he says. “We’re actually seeing more people from the west coast or central B.C. coming to the Kootenays. Buyers from Vancouver/Fraser Valley account for around 12 per cent of sales, while Okanagan buyers represent 10 per cent.”

In the Okanagan, Sarah Johnston of CIR Realty notes the slower resale housing market has caught many people offguard. After hitting a peak in March, she says the market has since stagnated. Sales so far in 2023 through central, south and north Okanagan were down upward of 59 per cent year over year.

“And prices have come down substantially – anywhere from 15 to 25 per cent, depending on where you are in the Okanagan,” says Johnston.

It’s a similar story in the Shuswap/Revelstoke area where sales are down by nearly 30 per cent to start the year, while price drops have been slightly more modest.

“I think this is absolutely needed. I think that the prices needed to come down so that people … could actually afford to be here,” says Johnston. “Nobody’s panicking. Prices are still higher than before COVID hit. There was just an absolute time of crazy pandemonium where things spiked, and that spike has come down again.”

Unlike the Kootenays, the Okanagan is flush with listings so far in 2023 – including in the coveted sub $1-million detached market. In mid-February, active listings sat at more than 3,000, which was nearly double the same time in 2022. That has had a swelling effect on inventory levels – a jump upward of 162 per cent depending on housing type and location.

“We actually have a lot of inventory to choose from. And people are absolutely being picky right now, because they

have the ability,” says Johnston, with days on market doubling in some areas.

In the Shuswap/Revelstoke area, active listings are also up, albeit more akin to the pace seen in the Kootenays. This has improved inventory levels in categories such as detached by nearly 60 per cent.

Representatives from both the B.C. Real Estate Association and the Interior Association of Realtors declined requests for interviews.

Like Seitz, Johnston attributes the normalization in the market to rising interest rates, adding that the freedom to travel again has also been an influencing factor.

“The number of people coming from Alberta has actually dropped due to the fact that Alberta is doing so well,” she says. “Alberta is always doing ‘ying’ when the rest of Canada is doing ‘yang,’ which is exactly what’s happening right now.

“I have some clients who I helped purchase out here less than two years ago and they’re actually now moving back to Alberta. And then there are others who are absolutely loving it. So, it depends where you are in your life.”

Closer to home, rec property hot spots in Alberta such as the Bow Valley are seeing similar situations play out to nearby Calgary. Sales activity peaked mid-way through 2022 and have slowed since then. While sales so far this year have been relatively consistent year-over-year, inventory has yet to catch up and is creating tighter-thanusual market conditions.

For example, Canmore recorded just 77 residential and 25 short-term rental listings in January. While up from the year prior, it still represented less than half of inventory levels recorded in 2020.

“Looking at sales activity, their trends have been consistent with what I’ve seen elsewhere,” says Anne-Marie Lurie, chief economist for the Alberta Real Estate Association.

“Sales activity was strong in the first half of last, slowed in the second half and has remained that way through the first few months of 2023. In general, higher interest rates are impacting all markets, including places like Canmore.”

NEW CALGARY CANCER CENTRE

PROVIDING PERSON-CENTRED, INTEGRATED ONCOLOGY TREATMENT

BY ERLYNN GOCOCO

Slated to open in mid-2024, the Calgary Cancer Centre will be a major milestone in cancer treatment and care in Alberta. The state-of-the-art facility, which spans 1.4 million square feet and cost $1.4 billion, is expected to be the largest in Canada and second largest in North America. The facility will be a significant upgrade from the Tom Baker Cancer Centre that has been in operation for over 40 years.

Designed with care and compassion at its core, the centre will be a leading health care facility and centre for research and education in the field of oncology. It will feature 160 inpatient beds and more than 100 patient exam rooms, delivering integrated cancer care under one roof. Significantly expanded outpatient services will also be offered.

Dr. Don Morris is a medical oncologist and department head of academic and clinical oncology at the University of Calgary (U of C). He is also facility medical director at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and will occupy the same role when the Calgary Cancer Centre opens its doors.

When asked what the Calgary Cancer Centre means for patients and their families, Dr. Morris explains, “It affords an opportunity to centralize a myriad of distributed cancer activities into a comprehensive cancer centre that houses state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge therapeutic strategies. It will allow patients and families to be partners in their own care and treated under the rubric of precision oncology; so they get the best treatment at the right time.”

“THE CENTRE WILL BE A LEARNING HEALTH NETWORK, A LIVING LABORATORY, AN ECO-SYSTEM OF SORTS,” SAYS DR. MORRIS. “IT WILL BE A BUILDING THAT WILL WEAVE THE CONCEPTS AND DELIVERABLES OF RESEARCH INTO BEST CARE.”

He adds, “Pre-clinical and clinical research is embedded throughout the entire building. Every floor has research activity that is co-located adjacent to clinical activity.”

“The centre will be a learning health network, a living laboratory, an eco-system of sorts,” says Dr. Morris. “It will be a building that will weave the concepts and deliverables

ABOVE: DR. DON MORRIS, MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, FACILITY MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CALGARY CANCER CENTRE.

of research into best care. From a patient and family point of view, this means for example access to clinical trials and participation in and benefit from health service research.”

While the centre will focus on traditional cancer treatments and research, an important feature will be the Alberta Complementary Therapy and Integrative Oncology Centre (ACTION Centre). The ACTION Centre will provide patients under a research lens access to a range of complementary therapies such as acupuncture, yoga, meditation, arts-based therapies, massage therapy and more. It will be the first of its kind in Canada and play an important role in investigating how best to help patients manage the side effects of cancer treatment, improve their quality of life, and ultimately, achieve better treatment outcomes.

For the past 20 years, Dr. Linda Carlson has been a leading figure in integrative oncology. She is currently professor, Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine at the U of C and director of the ACTION Centre. Dr. Carlson’s area of expertise is in psychosocial oncology, which is a part of cancer care that deals with the social and emotional aspects of being diagnosed with cancer.

“From a patient perspective, they will notice they only have to go to one place for all their appointments. And the centre is going to be beautiful. There is a patient and family advisory committee that has advised on all aspects of the building to make it friendly and esthetically pleasing. It’s going to have more services for patient and wellness support. It’s meant to be a more soothing environment altogether and will even feature a healing garden. For the staff and researchers, it’s bringing all the research back into the cancer centre, which has been scattered all over the city. And Integrative Oncology, for the first time, is going to have its own space.”

Carlson adds that the new facility will provide a more person-centred holistic focus in care, which means looking at the person from their social environment. “What are their values? What are their beliefs? Having access to these different complementary therapies along with conventional cancer treatment can help patients cope better with the different symptoms and side effects.”

There are many survivor stories and with the Calgary Cancer Centre, hopefully that number will increase. In 2014, Carmelina Baccari was diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, she is healthy and happy. “My personal experience and journey with cancer almost seems surreal. You never think that it will happen to you until it does. I was committed to a healthy diet while I was going through treatments and am still very conscious of what I put into my body. It was all the parts together that worked for me, and I am grateful to be here today.”

Baccari’s battle with cancer led to her teaming up with friend Kacie, who lost her father to cancer in 2007. Together, they are the Nipple Sisters. “We work together as certified paramedical pigmentation specialists focusing on areola restoration through a give-back initiative called Procedures for a Positive Purpose. We have a lighthearted approach to a very serious matter. Our goal is to help women feel good, confident and whole again. Areola restoration is symbolic of the end of the journey. It is emotional and triumphant.”

“The Calgary Cancer Centre will support those who need it the most and give hope to every individual diagnosed with cancer. Hope is what is needed. The centre and people who work there all represent that hope,” says Baccari.

Many ACTION Centre programs are made possible through donations via the OWN.CANCER campaign. Jessa Landmann volunteers her time as a member of the steering committee for the ACTION Centre, where she is also involved with the education and fundraising committees. “I am passionate about the centre’s mission and believe that it will make a significant difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families.”

The fundraising committee for the ACTION Centre is currently working on several initiatives to raise funds for research, training and clinical programs beyond what is provided by the OWN campaign. The committee plans to host a variety of events to raise the necessary funds. It is also seeking donations from individuals and organizations who are passionate about improving cancer treatment and care through research and access to complementary therapies.

Double your impact – consider making your OWN.CANCER gift during UCalgary Giving Day. Between April 1 and 27, donations will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $2,500 per gift, and only while matching funds last. Give securely online at ucalgary.ca/support-own-cancer with ‘ACTION Integrative Oncology’ in the comment section.

Through the OWN.CANCER campaign, the Alberta Cancer Foundation, the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services have partnered together with a goal to raise $250 million in support of improved cancer research, treatment and care at the new Calgary Cancer Centre. To date, it has raised $117 million, across many diverse areas of cancer care and research.

As for other benefits, Dr. Morris is proud to say that the Calgary Cancer Centre will put the city on the map. “It’s not that we’re not already on the map, but it puts us on the map as one of the premier comprehensive cancer centres in North America. As well, it provides a home such that for those people going through a scary new diagnosis situation, they feel comfortable, warm, welcome and that they’re receiving cutting edge treatment. They don’t need to look outside of Calgary, outside of Alberta. They can feel like they are in ‘the place’ for treatment.”

“THE CALGARY CANCER CENTRE WILL SUPPORT THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST AND GIVE HOPE TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER. HOPE IS WHAT IS NEEDED. THE CENTRE AND PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE ALL REPRESENT THAT HOPE,” SAYS BACCARI.

ABOVE: CANCER SURVIVOR AND RESTORATIVE MEDICAL PIGMENTATION SPECIALIST AT NIPPLE SISTERS.

CONSTRUCTION’S DILEMMA

LOTS OF WORK. NOT ENOUGH WORKERS.

BY JOHN HARDY

It’s a high-stakes, cause-and-effect situation. It is no longer possible, likely or inevitable. It is serious. It is real. And it is happening now.

Despite plenty of residential, industrial, oilfield and high-rise commercial investment capital, Calgary builders, developers, and contractors confront an urgent dilemma: Lots of work, and not enough workers.

Construction insiders agree that money (investment) is not the problem. “Investment in residential construction has been on the rise since 2020,” notes the upbeat Bill Ferreira, executive director of BuildForce Canada, providing reliable

labour market information, tools and resources for the construction industry.

“In part, it is due to the low-interest-rate environment. Between 2020 to 2021, investment increased by 16 per cent and then a further 13 per cent between 2021 and 2022. Non residential investment increased by 19 per cent between 2020 and 2021, and a further five per cent between 2021 and 2022.”

He cites the most recent BuildForce 2023–2032

Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward report, showing that Alberta housing starts increased from 24,023 to 31,935 between 2020 and 2021, and up to 36,544 in

2022. Housing under construction increased from 22,982 in 2020 to 28,503 in 2021, and then up to 35,537 in 2022. At the same time, industry completions were also increasing, rising from 25,734 in 2020, to 26,408 in 2021 and 29,837 in 2022.

The stats and trends highlight construction’s dilemma: it is not a lack of work or a lack of capital.

For several years, Calgary’s construction sector shruggedoff the storm clouds and insider warnings about a looming trades crunch. Now that it is here, it’s up to Calgary construction sector to deal with it!

Being I told you so’s is not what the Building Trades of Alberta (BTA) – which promotes the interests of the 18 Alberta local residential, commercial and industrial construction trade unions – wanted or intended. Regardless, BTA’s cautions have now taken on new meaning, and getting overdue attention.

“The current employment situation is increasing in Alberta, and it didn’t just happen overnight,” says Terry Parker, BTA’s executive director. “Pre-pandemic, since 2016, the work situation had already started to slow down. And during the pandemic, major projects slowed down substantially.

“The most impacted trades in the commercial and residential sector were carpenters, electricians, cement masons, sheet metal workers and others.”

Parker urges action and doing whatever it takes. “The BTA forecasts a robust construction industry throughout Alberta over the next decade. This is partially due to several large green field projects that will require tens of thousands of construction trades.

“But reality shows that a trade shortage will be a serious problem across North America over the next decade, even if only half of the scheduled projects get off the ground.”

BuildForce stats underscore the construction sector’s key challenge directly tied to demographics. Despite Alberta benefiting from a younger population, the share of workers 50-64 is a low 18 per cent. And experts warn that competition for skilled workers will intensify, as all sectors of the economy will be competing to attract younger workers.

PARKER URGES ACTION AND DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES. “THE BTA FORECASTS A ROBUST CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT ALBERTA OVER THE NEXT DECADE. THIS IS PARTIALLY DUE TO SEVERAL LARGE GREEN FIELD PROJECTS THAT WILL REQUIRE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CONSTRUCTION TRADES.

There is growing industry caution that Alberta must be proactive to ensure enough young people available to replace the older workers expected to retire over the next 15 or so years.

BTA’s Terry Parker points out some reasons for the trades crunch. “People that left the trades due to lack of work during the pandemic, and also the lack of work after several mega project completions in Alberta.

ABOVE: TERRY PARKER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUILDING TRADES OF ALBERTA.

EVERYTHING Italian Fine Dining

Financial literacy is important for governments too

By Melissa From, President & CEO, JA Southern Alberta

Understanding the implications of personal and public financial decisions requires a strong background in financial literacy.

On February 28, Alberta’s Minister of Finance, Hon. Travis Toews tabled Budget 2023, showing Alberta will have a healthy $2.4 billion surplus in 2023-24, even as every program across government received operational spending increases, including the Ministry of Education.

Public finance is so closely linked to politics that it is sometimes easy to overlook all of the ways in which government, business, and community decision-making has become so highly integrated. The ways in which the government opts to allocate provincial revenues has a massive impact on our daily lives, but also the lives of future generations.

Because of this vast interconnectedness, it’s never been more important for individuals to understand the implications of public finance decisions made by our government.

Budget 2023 introduces the concept of fiscal frameworks–proposed legislation that will require the provincial government to balance the budget every year, that limits program spending increases to population growth and inflation, as well as setting policies for the allocation of provincial government surpluses–which JA is thrilled to see.

Since the 1960s, JA has been teaching young people the importance of financial prudence in conjunction with important entrepreneurial and career skills to empower them to thrive in a global economy. Seeing concepts we value in personal finance integrated into public finance will set an important example for our students. It reinforces the value in understanding cause and effect relationships between spending, saving, and investing decisions at a personal level, but also at a government level.

As more and more young people receive financial literacy training through the new Kindergarten to Grade 6 curriculum (thanks to the dedication of our committed teachers and support from community partners like JA Southern Alberta), our hope is that the perceived divides between private and public finances will lessen, and more Albertans will feel confident understanding the implications of government decisions

The more we can encourage Albertans to view the financial decisions of governments as consequential as their own personal decisions, the more we can reinforce the value of financial literacy, and engage individuals to participate in the budget process.

This will come as the government, educators, and organizations like JA Southern Alberta collaborate to ensure we’re providing the support required to navigate whatever uncertainty lies ahead.

To learn more about JA Southern Alberta, please visit jasab.ca!

“Of course, baby boomer retirements are a huge factor. And the shortage of new apprentices coming into the trades, during the past 10 years or so.”

According to Jason Gillespie, president of Calgary’s Pathfinder Group, specifically focused on construction and architecture industry recruitment, the urgency is about lots of jobs but not enough people.

“The current job vacancy rate in the construction sector is around 7.2 per cent, higher than it was this time last year. And age is very much a factor. Many skilled trades are retiring from the industry and there are gaps not being filled. The problem is the availability of skilled professionals for construction.

“In the 17 years I’ve been doing this, we haven’t seen this many people leaving the industry altogether, for whatever reasons. Some just wanted a change of pace, maybe get

into something more sustainable, something that fits their lifestyle better or they just wanted a change.

“There are lots of reasons why people have left the industry,” he says. “But the long-term impact is that builders and developers may not be able to meet their targets.”

Bill Ferreira emphasizes a double-barreled trades crunch problem. “First, the construction industry must stay focused on increasing domestic recruitment, particularly with underrepresented in the construction sector, such as women working onsite and Indigenous people.

“Women in onsite trades account for only 7.5 per cent of Alberta’s construction labour force, with a slightly higher share of women working in the residential construction sector. Indigenous workers accounted for 6.7 percent of Alberta’s construction workforce, higher than the overall share of Indigenous workers in the broader labour force.”

Ferreira also urges for more construction workers from abroad, adding the undisputed fact that Canada’s population is aging and, over the next decade, newcomers will make up an increasing share of the overall labour force.

“Newcomers are essential,” he says. “Currently, they account for 26 percent of the total labour force, although in the construction sector, they account for only 19 percent. Newcomers are crucial to supplement construction’s domestic recruitment efforts.”

The capital investment is ready. The projects and the work are ready. And the BTA’s Terry Parker is blunt. “We must prepare now, for the construction industry’s labour shortage. Waiting for the industry to correct itself during projects, could be disastrous for the economy.”

Photo by Neil Zeller Photography

University of Calgary (UCalgary) is more than a collection of buildings on campus; it’s the unique experiences of the people inside them and the vibrant community that they create together. When UCalgary created West Campus Development Trust (now University of Calgary Properties Group) in 2011 to develop land west of the University, it was imbued with strong principles of community and connection to optimize the return on land for the benefit of the University’s academic mission.

“It was important for the University to make sure that the activities of the development were conducted in a manner that befitted the University of Calgary,” says James Robertson, outgoing President and CEO of University of Calgary Properties Group (UCPG). “We have a fantastic team here that is passionate about the vision for the community.”

UCalgary was modelled after University of British Columbia (UBC) and is the first university in Alberta to set up a real estate trust designed to oversee the development and management of university land projects. This bold and innovative approach to investment allows the University to realize the financial potential of its land holdings while at the same time ensuring that the developments complement the University’s mission and vision.

There is no one better to manage this endeavour than University of Calgary Properties Group, which has become an award-winning

James Robertson, Outgoing President & CEO of UCPG.

Photo by Rebecca Hardcastle.

HOMES, BUILDING COMMUNITIES: How Rohit Leads in the Industry

Since 1986 Rohit has been a driving force in building sustainable communities, as a home builder and as a leader in the construction industry.

“Rohit is a real estate opportunity company that has developed specialty residential and commercial projects across Canada for over 35 years. At Rohit Communities and the Rohit Group, our purpose is to help everyone feel better about where they live and this drives everything we do,” says Michael Dziubina, Rohit Communities vice president, Calgary region. “It means offering purposefully designed homes and communities. Every detail has been carefully chosen with functionality, design and people in mind. Our interiors offer professionally curated, elevated and elegant designs that are approachable and attainable for our homeowners. Our focus is on helping our customers first and selling product second. We are real estate experts, and we look to lend that expertise to help our clients navigate their search for a home.”

Leadership is an important value in every aspect of Rohit’s operations.

Dziubina explains, “Our leadership team provides holistic guidance, shaping every problem into an opportunity for improvement. Rohit Communities takes an active role in home building associations on municipal and provincial levels to help shape and support the industry.”

The company is well known for giving back to the communities in which it operates. This principle has been a part of Rohit from day one.

“Our founder, Radhe Gupta, believes that giving is the only way of receiving,” says Dziubina. “When people perceive you as a giver, they work with you and want to be with you. If anyone is the beneficiary of a charity, it is the giver. This belief is an inherent element of our corporate governance.”

He smiles and continues, “It’s all part of helping everyone to feel good about where they live – be it their city, neighborhood or home through our expertise in home building and in building communities through volunteering and giving back.”

Rohit Communities Calgary Region is pleased to have homes located in the University District, which is managed by the University of Calgary Properties Group (UCPG). The UCPG is a leader in developing spaces where Calgarians thrive.

“The University District offers us an opportunity to showcase our unique designer product lines including our popular stacked townhomes and apartment condos,” says Dziubina. “Situated in the northwest corner by the North Pond, our location gives buyers the best access to CF Market Mall while being only two blocks from the wellestablished retail main street on University Ave.”

He concludes with why Rohit is proud to offer their high-quality, designer homes in the city.

“Calgary’s people, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to community make it a great place to live, work and visit. Calgary’s diverse population is friendly, welcoming and community-oriented, creating a sense of belonging for newcomers and long-time residents alike. Additionally, the city’s entrepreneurial spirit is exemplified by the numerous innovative startups and small businesses that thrive in the city.”

Learn more at rohitcommunities.com.

Michael Dziubina, Rohit Communities, vice president, Calgary region.

developer recognized locally and nationally for changing the face of real estate. As an active community member, UCPG is making a huge impact in the city. UCPG supports I Can for Kids (iCAN), a program alleviating food insecurity, and sponsorships like the Business in Calgary Leaders Awards event highlighting the achievements of changemakers and innovators across industries to celebrate pinnacle leadership fuelling Calgary’s economy.

Since the beginning, UCPG set out to build a community that offers diverse housing options, a great balance of residential and retail spaces and an amenity-rich place where people want to live, work and play. UCPG’s development projects currently include the nationally acclaimed community of University District and revitalization of University Innovation Quarter.

LAUNCHING UNIVERSITY DISTRICT

University District is located in northwest Calgary and the community started to emerge in 2011 when the Board of Directors were appointed. Construction began in 2015, and since then, the community has grown exponentially with nine completed residential projects, an estimated 2,000 residents, and over 30 retailers on Retail Main Street. University District is anticipated to be completed in 2034.

The Discovery Centre is an active hub housing the builder sales teams and is designed to promote the vision of University District. It launched in 2017 and quickly generated ongoing buzz and interest as new builders and retailers joined this unique mixed-use community. The first

residents moved in 2018 and UCPG continued to deliver on a strong community experience.

In 2020, University District launched its first stage of retail which was anchored around the Save-On-Foods grocery store and extended to include Monogram, Curious, Denim & Smith, Market Wines, YYC Cycle, Five Guys, OEB Breakfast Co., Orangetheory Fitness and Pet Planet, all conveniently located along Retail Main Street.

“In the last 100 years, we might have picked one of the worst possible times to open retail, but in working with our retailers, we had many successful openings in 2020. We managed to keep all of our retailers up and operating within COVID-19 guidelines and those retailers are still here today,” Robertson says. “Residents and visitors to the community really supported retail and while it was tough over COVID-19, we came out of it quite strong.”

The real estate market has fluctuated dramatically over the past few years, virtually grinding to a halt when COVID-19 first hit to surging back once restrictions relented. A storm of significant supply chain issues on everything from appliances to building supplies alongside spiking inflation and interest rates didn’t spare the industry.

“Interestingly enough, it appears to have impacted places outside of Alberta and particularly outside of Calgary more than it did Calgary, so with our relatively affordable housing rates combined with the pressures of the interest rates, we’re starting to see a fairly significant immigration to our city,” he says. What has resulted is a housing market that maintains a balanced volume and a strong demand for U/D’s diverse residential styles for new and long-time Calgarians alike.

Shaping our city together

Bold leadership. Thoughtful innovation. Endless possibilities for positive impact.

We’re proud to partner with University of Calgary Properties Group. Their passion for collective progress transforms our communities to bring out the best. The award-winning University District and the soon-to-come University Innovation Quarter are living proof.

UCPG has it figured out —the foundations of prosperous communities are its people.

Together, we will leave our mark. republix.com

YOUR CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS PARTNER

Graham is proud to be the Construction Solutions Partner for the following projects at the University District:

• Aria

• Block 23 & Central Commons Park

• Block 15

grahambuilds.com

UCPG continued to grow and evolve over time, which necessitated changes to the organizational structure so it could better reflect these developments. As the portfolio expanded and diversified, West Campus Development Trust became University of Calgary Properties Group Ltd (UCPG) in 2020 to represent the University’s expanded interests.

A GROWING PORTFOLIO

In 2020, UCPG announced that University Innovation Quarter (UIQ), located north of the UCalgary, would become part of the UCPG portfolio.

While UCPG operates independently of UCalgary, they are inextricably linked. The institution remains the owner of the land and financially benefits from the unique public-private development model. In the case of UIQ, the development will attract many businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs including businesses that have a relationship with the University. UCalgary is driving the academic and research programming that happens within it.

UIQ spans across 76 acres and features 12 existing buildings predominantly housing laboratory and research tenants. UCPG’s

Proudly Shaping Our Community Together

Photo by Rebecca Hardcastle.

mixed-use redevelopment will support Calgary startup companies as well as science, technology and research organizations. It will be UIQ’s responsibility to produce an active innovation district featuring quantum research, laboratory and advanced manufacturing facilities supported by a range of retail amenities. This innovation hub will allow creativity and research to flourish.

“The intent of UIQ will facilitate the University’s innovation agenda of commercializing creativity, research and ingenuity activity within the University and transition that into economic benefit, particularly creating jobs,” says Jeff Harris, VP Commercial Real Estate.

UIQ is uniquely positioned to support the University of Calgary’s innovation agenda with up to 3.5 million square feet of potential redevelopment which will include uses focused on research and innovation companies.

UCPG will also continue looking for opportunities to expand the current offerings. As there are limited lab facilities remaining, one of the first orders of business will be to create a new building to host labs that is expected to attract a combination of corporate research-oriented tenants as well as startups and next-stage companies to create a thriving ecosystem.

By the end of this year, UCPG will be managing more than 200,000 square feet of retail and office space in U/D and overseeing about 400,000 square feet in UIQ. With such a rapid growth and opportunity, it was time to bring in some exceptional hires to fortify the team.

Jeff Harris, VP of Commercial Real Estate for UCPG.

Photo by Rebecca Hardcastle.

A GROWING TEAM

Jeff Harris joined UCPG last fall and took on the role of VP of Commercial Real Estate, focusing on the construction and operation of retail, office and other commercial spaces including UIQ’s labs and advanced manufacturing facilities. Coming from WestJet Real Estate Group, Harris’ unique experience complements UCPG’s unique approach to development and he was thrilled to apply that experience to such exciting projects.

“To be part of something from the ground up, UIQ as a new development, was something that attracted me to the organization, and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up,” says Harris. “It’s going to drive economic growth and attract a lot more companies to Calgary.”

Not only will it drive the economy, Harris predicts that this incredible hub will attract established professionals as well as new UCalgary graduates which will help combat the skilled labour shortage. The team is talking a lot about flexibility and future proofing, as what might be happening in these worldclass labs and offices could be innovations that don’t even exist today.

The design of this unique environment replicates the sense of community and place that’s present throughout U/D, and prospective tenants are eagerly awaiting the chance to move in. UCPG has started design services on the three project – a quantum research facility, an office/ lab building and an advanced manufacturing building –and the team hopes to have shovels in the ground in the beginning of 2024.

BRINGING AWARD-WINNING CALGARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO LIFE.

As these projects grow, they will have continued impact on the city and the province and UCalgary will benefit greatly from the success of these developments.

“The unique opportunity that we have is our relationship with the University of Calgary,” says Amanda Wright, VP of Finance and Administration for UCPG. “Our goal is to create a financial legacy built

Borough Bar + Grill, a Murrieta’s Hospitality group creation, offers a unique dining experience. Located in the popular University District, we serve up North American culinary flavours and creative drinks in a relaxed, contemporary atmosphere. Whether you’re dining inside or on our heated patio, it’s inspiring. 3-hour underground parking comes free.

Amanda Wright, VP of Finance and Administration for UCPG.

Photo by Rebecca Hardcastle.

on the returns of the developments. Just as importantly, we’re building the future for Alberta both in terms of U/D and expanding the draw of the University’s innovation agenda with UIQ.”

UCPG’s mandate to deliver great results to UCalgary is matched only by its commitment to deliver on the vision for communities that was presented at the outset.

Trusted partners in building a vibrant future

McMillan is proud to be University District Trust’s legal counsel. We are excited to be a continuing part of this innovative community that is a great place to work, live and learn.

Building a better future.

“We’ve set out on a bold vision for a sustainable and progressive community design. How you develop out the community has a huge impact on peoples’ trust,” says Maureen Henderson, VP of Community Experience for UCPG. “Living in a community that delivers on the vision makes people feel confident that they have made an investment in the right location. We are dedicated to fostering the highest community experience to continue delivering this vision with a people-first approach.”

UCPG has made the amenities they promised easily accessible, from a wide range of retail to allow residents to live, work and play in the community to various events that bring people together like the U/D Night Market and annual community events. UCPG strives to ensure that residents, tenants and guests enjoy their experiences in the development and feel like they are part of the larger vision of what the community sets out to achieve. The result is a palpable sense of pride that enhances the city by creating a true sense of community.

James Robertson refers to Henderson as the “energetic force driving the team;” her expertise in both marketing

Proud to support the University of Calgary Properties Group and their commitment to building a thriving community.

Photo by Rebecca Hardcastle.

and communications as well as frontline real estate and development have contributed to how she tells the story of U/D and UIQ and elicits those feelings of pride and connection to the projects. Henderson has done a great job in promoting everything that the developments have to offer and creating a true sense of community even before the crews broke ground.

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT LIFESTYLE

Since breaking ground on their first stage of development, University District has become Calgary’s best-selling urban community and Canada’s best growing community. It doesn’t take long to see why its bold design and commitment to sustainability are attracting so much attention. U/D is offering much more than a place to live; it’s connection, it’s social, it’s convenience, it’s sustainability, and U/D’s walkable urban lifestyle is something more and more Calgarians are coveting.

That lifestyle is baked into the design. The 200-acre community includes 12 kilometres of interconnected

CIVIL ENGINEERING

TRANSPORTATION

GEOTECHNICAL GEOMATICS

Proudly partnered with the University of Calgary Properties Group in the creation of vibrant and livable communities

Maureen Henderson, VP of Community Experience for UCPG.

info@gracorp.com gracorp.com

“With three parks completed, there are a variety of options to explore on foot. Northwest Commons Park is a 1.5acre park with large open spaces but most importantly it is a Playcore National Demonstration Site recognizing its inclusive and accessible design for diverse mobility needs,” says Henderson. “We also have the North Pond on the corner of 32 Avenue and Shaganappi Trail which is more of a contemplative area but centred around an urban dog park. Most recently, we opened Central Commons Park, which is a three-acre all-seasons oasis with everything from fire features and BBQs to picnic tables and shade structures, and of course the seasonal ice rink and splash pad.”

With everything at residents’ doorsteps, they don’t have to leave the area to get groceries, grab a coffee, run the dog, drop their child at the 24-hour daycare, meet friends for dinner or get a haircut. This makes it easy to keep cars parked and put the ‘feet-first’ design of the community into practice.

A PLACE TO CALL HOME

After all, the neighbourhood was designed to promote connection through its amenities and residential

pathways perfect for running, walking the dog or cycling, along with 40 acres of green space where residents can enjoy the nature that exists right outside their doors.

Proudly shaping this great city together.

developments that allow people to live and work in the same area. Many people buying or renting in U/D are doing so because of its location amid one of the highest density employment hubs in the city. With its proximity to UCalgary, Alberta Children’s Hospital and the Foothills Medical Centre, not to mention retail and offices in the adjacent communities, it’s an easy commute that is also easy on the environment.

Arcadis IBI is pleased to be a part of the University District team.

We are proud to have University of Calgary Properties Group as a client and to be involved with this innovative project.

Whether residents are looking to own or rent, there is a style and size that fits every taste and lifestyle.

U/D’s renters have found a home in Aria by Harrison Group and Esquire by Truman, which offer a range of rental apartments in buildings that feature a myriad of amenities including a yoga studio, games room and lounge. More rental opportunities are coming to the community with The Forge from The Vivenda Group and Block 15 by Gracorp Properties. This will be U/D’s largest purpose-built residential building to date with 303 rental units and an anticipated occupancy slated for August 2025.

Some of Calgary’s top builders including Homes by Avi, Brookfield Residential, Truman, and Rohit Communities have all left their mark on this community with a wide variety of beautifully designed townhomes and modern condominiums. The latest project in the community is Dean’s Landing by Rohit, which offers buyers a variety of stunning stacked townhouses and condominiums. Argyle by Homes by Avi and Capella by Brookfield Residential are two condo developments currently under construction with final units remaining for sale in Capella.

The sales momentum in U/D has been brisk, which means two new developments will be coming in 2023. Homes by Avi is preparing to introduce a 150-unit condominium project in May 2023 and a new builder with luxury single-level living condominiums will be launching in September. More details will be announced as these exciting projects progress.

The Brenda Strafford Foundation’s Cambridge Manor and Truman’s Maple have brought amazing options for seniors in U/D and are linked by a plus-30 to make it easier for residents to access shared programming. Whether residents are independent active seniors or those needing more assistance, U/D allows residents to age in place in a vibrant community.

U/D will continue to see steady growth over the next decade. The community currently consists of 1,500 completed units and approximately 2,000 residents ranging from young professionals, first-time renters, “right-sizers” transitioning into retirement and seniors. At completion, U/D will expand to more than 7,000 residential units supporting a population of more than 15,000 people. In the next stage of new retail, approximately 45,000 square feet will be carefully curated on Retail Main Street.

SAVE-ON-FOODS: LEADERSHIP ON EVERY LEVEL

For more than 100 years, Save-On-Foods has delivered outstanding value to grocery shoppers. Known for its unique approach in customizing each store to best suit the needs of the neighbourhood, the chain carries more than 2,500 locally-made products from more than 2,000 Western Canadian growers and producers.

Paul Cope, Save On Foods Senior Vice President Operations, notes, “At Save-On-Foods, our mission statement, ‘Always Customer First,’ is evident in everything we do. We demonstrate leadership in the industry by showing how a larger chain grocery can still robustly support local suppliers and farmers. We have many green initiatives on the go as we work towards achieving zero-waste status as a company. We support the communities we serve by giving back where we do business, ensuring our customers and communities can count on us when they need us most.

Save-On-Foods, its supplier partners, team members and generous customers have donated more than $40 million to children’s hospitals. Every year, the company donates roughly $3 million to food banks across Western Canada.

“As a Western Canadian company built on a century of great customer service and entrepreneurialism, we have incredible people managing our stores who are committed to a culture of safety, wellness, diversity and inclusion,” Cope adds.

Innovative and high-quality products, the best customer service and a reputation as a good neighbour in every community the company serves are all factors that work together to ensure an outstanding customer experience at Save-On-Foods.

Save-On-Foods is pleased to have one of its 175 stores located in the University District. The District, which is managed by University of Calgary Property Group (UCPG), is a place of opportunity and growth where students, city residents and innovative businesses thrive together.

Learn more at saveonfoods.com.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

One thing today’s consumers are looking for is sustainable neighbourhoods where they can reduce their carbon footprint, and this has been a priority for UCPG from the start. UCPG’s mandate focuses on environmental sustainability, social responsibility and fiscal prudence, leading to University District earning an LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighbourhood Development) Platinum certification. U/D is the first in Alberta and the largest development of its kind in Canada to achieve this rating. This certification is a real feather in UCPG’s cap.

As UCPG continues to design, manage and develop University District and University Innovation Quarter, the excitement continues to build along with it. Whether it’s creating a vibrant walkable community with choice retailers and a plethora of residential options or revitalizing the innovation quarter that allow researchers, entrepreneurs, and startups to bring their ideas to life, UCPG’s team is making these thriving communities the heartbeat of the northwest.

Photo by Rebecca Hardcastle.

The Calgary Chamber exists to help businesses thrive. As the convenor and catalyst for a vibrant, inclusive and prosperous business community, the Chamber works to build strength and resilience among its members and position Calgary as a magnet for talent, diversification, and opportunity. As an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization, we build on our 131year history to serve and advocate for businesses of all sizes, in all sectors and across the city.

The Role of Chambers

Chambers of Commerce are integral institutions in their communities. What exactly do they do and how are they changing and adapting with their member businesses?

In 1891, 46 Calgary business owners looking to strengthen the growing business community came together on common ground to build something new and collective.

“The Calgary Chamber was established to build a network of business leaders who could collaborate to strengthen the business community and advocate to government on how to make Calgary the best place to do business,” says Deborah Yedlin, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “Calgary would officially become a city three years later – so the business community has always been one step ahead,” she jokes. These community leaders determined that a collective organization needed to be founded to better ensure the success of all businesses in the area, as well as to advance progressive goals of the business community including pay equity, integrity and good faith, and mitigating controversy. So, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce was born. Across the country, hundreds of towns, cities, regions and provinces have similar stories of business leaders and community builders coming together to help the communities they believe in become better places for businesses to grow and thrive.

“Local Chambers do so much to support their communities,” says Shauna Feth, president and CEO of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce. She and her team support the more than 115 Chambers across the province, identifying the immense value local Chambers bring to their members.

“They’re the ones hosting the major events for the betterment of the community,” she says. “They’re the ones advocating on behalf of their businesses to their municipalities.

Deborah Yedlin, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Photo by EWAN PHOTO VIDEO.

And then, with the broader network of Chambers, they’re also the ones developing policy for provincial and federal levels that will impact change for their local regions.”

More than anything – with engaged, diverse member bases –Chambers have extensive networks, to help bring people of all backgrounds together.

“The Chamber helps connects businesses with each other and with government, to build community, accelerate the success of businesses and make Calgary the best place to start and scale a business,” says Yedlin. Every year, the Calgary Chamber hosts over 60 events with leaders from all circles, including corporate CEOs, small business owners, government leaders and impassioned citizens wanting to learn more and make a difference.

KEEPING UP WITH THE EVOLUTION OF CANADIAN BUSINESS

As businesses change and industries shift, so do the needs of members. The way Chambers help businesses changes year after year, much different than the founding days of 1891 when the area had not yet reached a population of even 10,000. Calgary now has a population of over 1.3 million, with a greater diversification of sectors, people, skill sets and infrastructure, so the Calgary Chamber, like so many across the country, must keep its finger on the pulse of the business community and adapt quickly.

Seeing that many small Chambers across the province have limited staff or are volunteer-run, the Alberta Chambers will soon be launching a new Chamber online dashboard, offering a plethora of tools including

CHAMBERS BY THE NUMBERS

• 115+ Chambers across Alberta

• 400+ policy recommendations in 2022 given by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce to all levels of government

• 200,000+ businesses represented by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce

• 350,000+ individuals represented by the Calgary Chamber at member businesses

hosting Chamber websites, accounting tools, recruitment options, event management and much more.

“This is our way of future-proofing Chambers,” says Feth, “so even the smallest Chamber can cut down significantly on administrative costs.”

With a growing member base, a burgeoning startup scene and an expanding list of industries in the city, the Calgary Chamber launched a new, multi-level membership model with 10 tiers, including Startup for early-stage companies, Individual for independent contractors and employees who want more engagement, and Passport for international companies wanting a foothold in the city.

“With the ever-changing business landscape in Calgary and across the country, the Calgary Chamber is also changing, updating our membership model to better represent the diverse interests of each and every business in our great city,” says Yedlin.

This awareness of the needs of business owners is what makes Chambers unique and gives them the direction to address challenges faced across the business community, including talent retention and acquisition, dealing with inflation, and managing supply chain issues and logistics.

In talent, the Alberta Chambers developed the ACC-APSN Talent Development Task Force, in partnership with the Alberta Post-Secondary Network.

“Through detailed labour market information, we’re going to inform future needs in talent,” says Feth. All 26 presidents of universities and post-secondaries in the province are part of the task force, aiming to give students comprehensive business apprenticeships, work-integrated learning, micro-credentials – fully capitalizing on the four years students are completing their undergrad degrees. This, paired with aiming to have newcomers certified

more quickly, an authentic, effective Indigenous engagement strategy, supporting seniors and people with disabilities and more shows that Chambers are considering all options to support businesses.

In Q4 of 2022, the Calgary Chamber also focused on talent, releasing a comprehensive package of talent and employment recommendations, Unlocking our Talent Potential, with dozens of objectives for every level of government.

“These recommendations are intended to advance the conversation and spur increased collaboration on talent and labour shortages in Calgary,” says Yedlin. “Unlocking our Talent Potential tables creative ideas and opportunities that all levels of government can capitalize on to strengthen our talent pipeline and eliminate gaps experienced by many businesses – large and small.”

In the report, Chamber tables key solutions related to immigration, inclusion, upskilling and reskilling, and branding Alberta.

And these recommendations on talent only scratch the surface of the amount of lobbying Chambers do on behalf of the business community. In 2022, the Calgary Chamber made over 400 recommendations to all levels of government, with substantial impact on emissions policy, in childcare, downtown revitalization and infrastructure, to name a few.

“The Chamber network is the oldest and largest business association in the world,” says Feth, citing its innate value to its members and communities.

If you’re looking to be better connected with the business community, get in touch with the Calgary Chamber, the Alberta Chambers or any of the 115 Chambers across the province.

Arpi’s Industries, a 60-Year-Old Business Built to Last

WRITTEN BY RENNAY CRAATS | PUBLISHED BY COURTNEY LOVGREN

Arpi’s Industries Management Team: Mike Kaiser, Damien McCusker, Trevor Stunell, Cory Morrison and Jeff Johnson.

Absent: Bob Doerksen, Norm Asuchak and Vern Sebastian.

Photo by Riverwood Photography.

Alberta was built by hardworking entrepreneurs whose spirit fueled the province’s growth and shaped its future. It is no wonder, then, that Arpad “Arpi” Berdin decided to build his legacy in Calgary. He immigrated from Slovenia in 1954 to escape communist oppression and found work in Alberta’s booming oil patch.

“He was a tool push on the oil rigs, but he didn’t like what he termed the ‘gypsy life’. He wanted to settle down,” says Julie Berdin, Arpi’s daughter and president of Arpi’s Industries.

Arpi became a certified journeyman sheet metal worker in 1961 and set out to make his mark on the city and beyond. He borrowed $1,000 from his in-laws and established Arpi’s Heating Ltd. in 1963, operating out of his and wife Malvina’s home. Arpi’s Heating, with Arpi as the sole technician and Malvina helping with the books and administration, offered heating and air conditioning installation to Calgary clients. As the

““He was a tool push on the oil rigs, but he didn’t like what he termed the ‘gypsy life’. He wanted to settle down,” says Julie Berdin, Arpi’s daughter and president of Arpi’s Industries.

Arpi Berdin and his dog Chief - “Chief of Security”. DeLorme Photography Calgary.

business grew, Arpi could finally hire some help to share the heavy lifting and accommodate the growing demand. After he landed his first big commercial job in 1966, the company outgrew the garage and moved into its own commercial space in 1969 and moved again in 1971 as he expanded the business’ scope further.

The company started offering sheet metal installations and quickly earned the respect of custom home builders. From there he expanded into small commercial work, then larger commercial work until it became what it is today: one of the largest combined mechanical contractors in Western Canada and one of the top mechanical contracting firms in the country. The name no longer expressed what the company could do, so he rebranded to Arpi’s Industries to show the breadth of its abilities.

During that period of growth came another move to its current location in 1982, and a recent renovation modernized and freshened the space. Arpi’s operates out of a 100,000-square-foot facility on nine acres in the city’s southeast where the various disciplines can service all customers under one roof.

“We try to do as much in-house as we can to control quality and the safety of our employees,” says Julie.

“We try to do as much in-house as we can to control quality and the safety of our employees,” says Julie.

Arpi’s Sheet Metal Fabrication Facility - Duct Machine.

Photo by Riverwood Photography.

Its 20,000-square-foot sheet metal shop produces ducting for Arpi’s projects and is equipped with $5 million-worth of top-of-the-line machinery including a full coil duct machine. This allows the company to make over 2.5 million pounds of sheet metal product annually. The 7,000-square-foot fabrication shop boasts two five-ton overhead cranes to safely handle large piping and materials, three welding stations and two grooving stations capable of producing 700 weld-groove inches of fabrication per day. There is also a mechanic bay run by a full-time mechanic tasked with maintaining Arpi’s impressive fleet of over 200 vehicles.

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To learn more about our provided services contact us today at 403.253.0101 or Email us at information@freezemaxwellroofing.ca

We look forward to working with you. www.freezemaxwell.ca

Arpi’s Sheet Metal Fabrication Facility - Spiral Pipe Machine, Darrell Smith.

Photo by Riverwood Photography.

The three primary departments of residential, commercial and commercial service definitely keep Arpi’s inhouse shops, head office, various job sites in the greater Calgary area and the Banker’s Hall office busy. Arpi’s residential team services some of the city’s best-known new home builders, providing their services and innovations with duct work, plumbing, furnace installation, air conditioning and air filtration systems.

Calgary homeowners can also look to Arpi’s to install a new water heater or furnace in their home or invite one of the well-trained HVAC or plumbing professionals in to maintain or service their existing equipment. Residential crews visit about 130 homes each day, keeping clients’ environments healthy and their equipment running well. No matter the need, clients know they will receive great service and quality products. Arpi’s continues to maintain longterm relationships with major suppliers such as Lennox, solidifying themselves as one of the top 25 Lennox dealers in North America.

“ Arpi’s continues to maintain longterm relationships with major suppliers such as Lennox, solidifying themselves as one of the top 25 Lennox dealers in North America.

Julie Berdin. Photo by Riverwood Photography.

Arpi’s also seeks out ways to reduce its carbon footprint with its product lines and processes, both at work and onsite, whether that is installing smart thermostats in the office, supporting manufacturers prioritizing environmental innovations or installing heat pumps that optimize a furnace’s heating function so it uses less gas.

“We’ve been advocates for energy efficiency for 60 years, looking for energy savings by lowering utility costs. The future is very exciting with all of the

Congratulations to Arpi’s Industries on your 60th anniversary

LAD Power and Controls thanks you for your continued partnership and dedication to the industry. We are proud to be your preferred building automation controls supplier of choice.

The power behind your mission

Patrick Franssen welding a tee on a pipe spool being rotated by pipe positioner.

Photo by Riverwood Photography.

“Arpi’s also seeks out ways to reduce its carbon footprint with its product lines and processes, both at work and onsite, whether that is installing smart thermostats in the office, supporting manufacturers prioritizing environmental innovations or installing heat pumps that optimize a furnace’s heating function so it uses less gas.

Seth van der Zweep

latest technology, green initiatives and the focus on indoor air quality for a healthy environment,” she says.

On the commercial side, Arpi’s crews tackle large commercial projects and have been part of some of Calgary’s most iconic construction projects including The Bow tower, the new Central Library, National Music Centre and currently the BMO Centre Expansion. As the prime mechanical contractor, the team executes all plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, building management systems (BMS) and fire protection scopes of work and will deliver the project on time and on budget.

The commercial team manages all mechanical components such as plumbing, heating and ventilation all in house and subcontracts trusted partners to complete such services as insulation, BMS and fire protection. From data rooms to condominium maintenance to recreational and educational buildings, Arpi’s handles the gamut of HVAC/R and plumbing demands in commercial spaces.

The diversity of its offerings and the different client bases have allowed Arpi’s to weather the economic ups and downs over the past 60 years; if new construction or downtown markets soften, the service and residential arms pick up the slack. Arpi would say “a different horse pulls the wagon,” and that has really been key in the company’s longevity.

The Bow Building. Jason Pennoyer and Dean Noble.

“The diversity of its offerings and the different client bases have allowed Arpi’s to weather the economic ups and downs over the past 60 years; if new construction or downtown markets soften, the service and residential arms pick up the slack.

This full-service aspect has always been important to the Berdin family. In 1999, Arpi experienced health problems and sold the business to Lennox but after a few years, Lennox wanted to sell the commercial side and focus just on the residential business.

“My father, who was in his 70s at the time, said, ‘if you’re going to do that, let me buy it back.’ He bought the company back in 2004 and here we still are today,” Julie says.

This dedication to the well-being of both the company and staff has been paid back with loyalty. Julie is proud that of her 350 staff, 44 have been with the company for over 20 years and

about seven have been with Arpi’s more than 35 years. That is a testament to the positive environment, respect, fairness and a sense of being family that Arpi engrained in the company from its inception.

“I try really hard to be a small company at times because when you get too big you lose your personal relationships with your colleagues and clients,” she says.

No matter how large the company grows, it will continue to provide personal service to clients and support the community that has supported it. Every fall, Arpi’s and Lennox host the ‘Feel the Love’ event: a deserving family or hero is selected through a nomination process, Lennox donates a furnace and the Arpi’s team installs it for the winner for free. On top of supporting community causes

“I try really hard to be a small company at times because when you get too big you lose

colleagues and clients,” says Julie.

Photo by Riverwood Photography.

like the Ride for Cancer, Habitat for Humanity and minor sports, Arpi’s is also actively involved in the industry, sitting on boards such as the MCA, developing curriculum and apprenticeships through SAIT, innovating with processes and products to better serve their clients, mandating indentured apprenticeships for all applicable tradespersons, encouraging gold seal certification among many of their staff and utilizing industry specific courses through the CCA and partners.

Whether clients need a one-hour maintenance visit at home or a three-year commitment to manage a new commercial build, they know the award-winning teams at Arpi’s will deliver. Even after 60 years, Arpi’s Industries is just getting started.

HEATING AIr CONDITIONING PLUMBING

6815 - 40th Street S.E.

Calgary, Alberta T2C 2W7

Ph: (403) 236-2444

ARPI

Fax: (403) 236-8345

Email: arpiscal@arpis.com

www.arpis.com

Employee Service Awards at 50th Anniversary Celebration

DOING DIESEL DIFFERENTLY

Written by Rennay Craats |

Published by Courtney Lovgren

Photos by Riverwood Photography

Being in business for 10 years is a huge accomplishment but being in business for the past 10 years is nothing short of miraculous. Between the collapse in oil prices, an economic downturn, COVID-19, disruption of the supply chain and sky-high inflation, the past decade was less than welcoming to new businesses. Despite that, Brandell Diesel Inc. has become a leader in the industry since it started in 2013.

Founder Brandon Mandel moved to Calgary from the Taber area, and he realized that his small-town values and work ethic weren’t things readily found in the field. He knew he could serve the industry better.

“I noticed after being here for a few years that there was a need for a really good common-sense old-school repair shop – the kind your grandpa talks about. That was our reason for starting the company,” says Brandon Mandel, founder and president of BDI.

Brandon and his wife, Marisol, sought counsel from Chris Blundell, who is not only a veteran business owner but also someone Brandon thinks of as a second father. His advice was to do something different, do it well, and success will follow. Chris’s mentorship, guidance and support were impactful, so when they set out to name their company, they blended Brandon’s first name with Chris’s last to create Brandell Diesel. The Mandels honour him further by putting his sage words into practice every day.

LOCALLY DESIGNED, MANUFACTURED AND BUILT

CONGRATULATIONS BRANDELL DIESEL ON YOUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY!

through everything we’ve done the last 10 years. I think it’s really the only reason we are here today,” Brandon says.

In the early days, Marisol handled office responsibilities while Brandon, his brother Conner and one other mechanic worked in their onebay shop in the southeast. They grew quickly, adding staff and leasing the adjoining bay to accommodate the ballooning workload. They ultimately moved into a space that better fit the company’s path and BDI settled into their 22,000-square-foot facility conveniently located close to many of its customers in the Foothills Industrial Park. The industry recognized the quality and expertise coming out of the small shop that produced big results, and as word travelled, the

willingness to be first through any door. When oil prices crashed and the Alberta economy softened, BDI worked the problem differently. The team saw untapped opportunity, not downturn, and pivoted to become the only truck shop business outside specialty crane shops to service truck-mounted cranes.

did the

company enjoyed more and more repeat and referral business that kept the shop full.

BDI’s compulsion to do things differently never waned and neither did the team’s willingness to be first through any door. When oil prices crashed and the Alberta economy softened, BDI worked the problem differently. The team saw untapped opportunity, not downturn, and pivoted to become the only truck shop business outside specialty crane shops to service truck-mounted cranes. This allows BDI’s clients to come to one place to do service, maintenance and certification on their trucks as well as the cranes and truck mounted forklifts attached to them.

“That really exploded and set us up in the city as the place to go, so much so that other people copied and tried to follow us,” he says.

While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, there is no substitute for the real thing. Even the crane companies recognized BDI’s

CONGRATULATIONS

Brandell Diesel on 10 years of Business Excellence!

BDI’s compulsion to do things differently never waned and neither

team’s

invited BDI to become a sub-dealer for southern Alberta. This gave BDI’s clients access to Falcon’s quality services and parts so it could better maintain and repair everything from material handling cranes to truck-mounted forklifts.

“They’ve really been an awesome addition to our diversification of the whole business in the last four or five years,” Brandon says.

BDI clearly isn’t your standard maintenance and repair shop. As the city’s premier diesel specialist, BDI provides clients across sectors with exceptional service for a wide range of diesel and hydraulic equipment. To better serve these clients, it introduced a service truck in 2017 that clients could, with a call to one shop, address emergency issues with any combination of rail, crane or vehicle problems in the field.

In house, BDI services and maintains the gamut of highway, hyrail and vocational trucks along with specialized units like rigs, motorhomes and off-road vehicles. It’s reputation for professionalism and expertise makes BDI the first call for complicated or specialized issues too. The company has a large number of clients who look to have all their small and large fleet work done at BDI, from changing windshield wipers to major engine repairs; even clients who use a competitor for the basic repairs trust only BDI with advanced diagnostics and troubleshooting on their fleets’ specific engine, hydraulic or electronic work.

The company doesn’t stop at servicing large vehicles. It also accommodates the smaller oneton and three-quarter ton diesel trucks in its six automotive bays. BDI has a shop full of expert technicians to handle anything ranging from services and certifications to engine or electrical system repairs on large and small projects to sophisticated diagnostics and troubleshooting to get fleets back on the road. The technicians also have expertise servicing hydraulic equipment including cranes, truck-mounted forklifts and electric tailgates.

In and out of the shop, the innovative team is always looking for ways to support expansion, so they again did something none of the competition in after-market repairs were doing. After six years leasing the facility, the Mandels jumped at the opportunity to buy the shop in 2019. They completely gutted it and built it back to meet their specific needs. This included converting part of the shop into a machine shop to do specialized hydraulic machining. The shop can redesign, modify or custom build hydraulic components to provide superior solutions to clients’ challenging projects. This value-added service has proven to be such a huge growth area over the past few years that they decided to quadruple the size of the machine shop to 2,000 square feet to support it. BDI’s efficient and beautiful space both

“When you think of a diesel shop you might picture this dark, dirty, stinky, greasy place, but when you walk in to BDI, it could just as easily be a lawyer’s office as a diesel shop. We take a lot of pride in that,” Brandon says.

BDI continues to redefine what a diesel shop is as it perpetually improves and upgrades the space to allow the team to do its job better. The company recently embarked on another expansion that added wash bays and another 10,000 square feet to the facility’s footprint to accommodate more projects as well as the addition of a chassis dynamometer to the shop.

This specialized piece of testing equipment uses fixed roller assemblies to simulate driving in different road conditions to facilitate accurate diagnostics and troubleshooting. If a client complains that a truck shakes and smokes when pulling a heavy load uphill, dynos allow technicians to replicate those conditions, see the symptoms firsthand and fix the problem. This equipment also allows BDI to do a controlled break-in on components to increase the equipment’s life span, determine exact horsepower and torque as well as measure emissions.

While not yet required in Alberta, it won’t be long before fleets have to pass Clean Air Act emissions standards to stay on the road. As one of only three companies with a dyno in Calgary (and the only non-dealership), this will allow BDI to expand into compliance testing and emissions certification in the future.

“We’re going to be able to provide all these services for other competing shops that will bring their projects to us, too” Brandon says. “We’ll be the first aftermarket shop to have a dyno, and that will again set us apart and cement us even further to being the go-to company.”

“We have long-time employees and we’ve become like a close-knit family. We started off so small that you get to really know everybody, so the atmosphere is one of friends and family,” says Marisol Mandel, CFO of BDI. “We try to keep that atmosphere where everybody feels like a person, not a number.”

It’s a go-to company for prospective employees too, and as BDI grows, it becomes more invested in the industry and the people working within it. The team supports apprenticeship programs,

promotes the industry with youth programs and at career fairs, and welcomes several R.A.P. students to BDI to help them learn. There’s a strong focus on people as it’s those relationships that have built such a successful company. The old adage that there are no friends in business gets challenged at BDI, as not only is there a work-hard/play-hard philosophy in the office where colleagues are also after-hours buddies, but Brandon and Marisol’s long relationships with clients and others in the industry have also produced lasting friendships.

2903 61st Avenue SE Calgary, AB T2C 1R2

P|(403) 700 8778 • W|www.earthdrilling.ca

“We have long-time employees and we’ve become like a close-knit family. We started off so small that you get to really know everybody, so the atmosphere is one of friends and family,” says Marisol Mandel, CFO of BDI. “We try to keep that atmosphere where everybody feels like a person, not a number.”

It’s critical for them to maintain that family vibe to protect the common sense, small-town service upon which BDI was built. It’s a diverse group of hardworking, talented people that drive BDI, and the concept of family is metaphorical as well as literal. Brandon, Marisol and Conner Mandel work together as do a father-and-son team of heavyduty mechanics in the shop. The 25 dedicated members of the BDI family pride themselves on finding new ways to grow the company while providing unparalleled service to clients. And as Chris Blundell advised, they will always do so as differently as possible.

Building Business Communities with First Executive Centre

Written by Rennay Craats | Photos by Rebecca Hardcastle | Published by Melissa Mitchell

As a long-time client at First Executive Centre (FEC), Paul Gregus had grown to depend on the services, convenience and privacy the business centre offered his headhunting company. When FEC’s founder reached retirement age, Gregus knew he wasn’t the only one who didn’t want to lose it. He did what any good entrepreneur would do: in 2020, he bought the company.

“I was worried that the place might shut down. I didn’t want to go anywhere else,” says Paul Gregus, president of First Executive Centre.

Its complement of around 100 clients from a range of professional and business backgrounds agreed. First Executive Centre ticks all their boxes – it’s in the heart of downtown along the LRT track at 3 Street SW, offers amazing support services like document processing and personalized phone reception, and there is 24/7 manned security onsite. There’s a variety of spaces with flexible options on its two floors of the office building so whether clients are looking for a 150-square-foot fully furnished office or an 800-square-foot suite perfect for several employees, FEC has just what they need.

FEC’s reputation for providing exceptional service to clients is backed by 40 years in the business. It was one of the original shared office companies in Calgary when it started in 1983 and has been perfecting its value-added offerings ever since. From a kitchen stocked with coffee, tea and water that offers a place to network or just chat with neighbours, to state-of-the-art copiers, scanners and shredders, its elevated services make for a truly rewarding and productive experience.

“We invest in technology so clients can take advantage of what we offer,” he says.

In addition to secure, high-speed internet and WiFi throughout, the two large meeting rooms feature ClickShare wireless presentation technology for plug-and-play virtual meetings, devices that connect to the TV in the medium meeting room and two small rooms that are great breakout spaces. FEC recently introduced an Arbitration/ Mediation room that allows clients to customize their courtroom configuration and grants access to the technology (and IT support), whiteboards and breakout rooms for private consultation. The team

is exploring the possibility of using the space for corporate training as well.

It’s not your typical business centre, and from the time visitors and clients walk off the elevator, this becomes clear. The space is devoid of branding of any kind, leaving the size and scope of the companies working within it up to the imagination and there is always someone at reception to greet guests and to assist clients with whatever they might need.

“Our number one thing is our client service. If you need something, we’ll get it for you. There is no ‘no’ in our vocabulary. We just say, ‘how are we going to do this?’” says Shirley Hill, leasing manager and 40year employee at First Executive Centre.

That ‘yes’ attitude earned FEC a list of long-time clients and a lot of referral business. It also helped

it survive the challenges of COVID as regulations forced people out of their downtown offices.

“Business kept dropping off because people were working from home, but we battened down the hatches, were very careful about our expenditures and we made it through. Now it has picked up again and it’s booming,” says Gregus.

With companies returning to the core business district, First Executive Centre is welcoming small and large businesses back and is currently running at 90 per cent capacity. It remains flexible with lease commitment terms and accommodates the need to downsize or annex more space as clients grow and change. It also services virtual clients who can use FEC’s “centre ice” address as their own, book boardrooms and have reception answer and forward calls to present as a more established, professional company to their own clients. The team is there to help facilitate its clients’ success in any way they can.

After all, the business centre was built on service, and the team of four takes that core value to heart. From offering innovative technology and creative value-added services to leasing great spaces and providing unparalleled support, First Executive Centre continues its four-decade promise to deliver everything today’s clients could want at work so they can focus on growing their businesses.

CEDAR AND SO MUCH MORE AT THE CEDAR SHOP

In the 1970s, Jerry Palko regularly got calls from contractors and DIYers looking to buy quality cedar products, but as a lumber distributor, he couldn’t sell direct and had to say no. The obvious demand for these products ignited his entrepreneurial fire and in 1978 he and his wife, Bev, opened The Cedar Shop to meet it.

The small specialty store flourished and soon moved into a larger building on 42 Avenue SE to accommodate its growth. They operated there for 36 years, offering every cedar product imaginable, from shingles to decking. After Jerry passed in 2007, Bev carried on running the business, but she couldn’t do it alone.

“Bev hired me in 2015 because the company needed new leadership and management help,” says Mitch Wile, president of The Cedar Shop. “We were trying to compete with the big box stores in the marketplace and to succeed we needed a better facility so we could service our clients better.”

Mitch, who had extensive experience in the building business, made it happen. They had great brand recognition in the area and wanted to stay close so when a building across the street became available, they jumped at the opportunity. In 2018, only months before Bev passed and left the store to sons Tyler and Brad, The Cedar Shop moved out of the 11,000-squarefoot building and into their current 53,000-squarefoot facility. It now boasts a 15,000-square-foot showroom, ample storage, an onsite assembly mill and manufacturing space where carpenters construct beautiful custom furniture and yard accessories including cedar barrel saunas and custom lattice.

Written by Rennay Craats

Published by Melissa Mitchell

Mitch Wile, President and Tyler Palko, Owner. Photo by Riverwood Photography

Begaiym Khaldarova and Oliva Lloyd, CBE Interns. Photo by Riverwood Photography.

While the industry struggled through the downturn in Alberta, the new location breathed much-needed life into The Cedar Shop. Choosing to invest in more inventory so customers never left disappointed paid off and allowed considerable growth in a down market. Then COVID pandemic shut down travel in 2020 and people were staying home.

“The renovation market went crazy (with people) improving their backyards, fences and decks,” says Mitch. “We focused on making sure we had plenty of product in the building and we continually put new products on the floor.”

The company also invested in its delivery fleet so it could implement free delivery to remove barriers to shopping at The Cedar Shop. While they sacrificed their previous delivery fee revenue, delivery service more than paid for itself in increased sales. And as COVID relented, the Shop continued to get busier.

Customers came for the quality cedar decking, lumber, shakes, shingles and siding that they couldn’t find anywhere else, but they came back because of the incredible service and selection of products that extended far beyond just the store’s namesake wood. From an impressive list of exotic woods like ambrosia maple, walnut and rosewood to a choice of composite, treated or cedar decking, The Cedar Shop has amazing options to complete any project.

Cody Orr, Damien Thurston, Kevin Schmitz, Alex Palko, Talya Kitai, Mitch Wile, Randy Lazzarotto and Tyler Palko.

Photo by Riverwood Photography.

success and support!

www.goodfellowinc.com

www.fortressbp.com

www.fiberondecking.com

CONGRATULATIONS

It is one of the largest suppliers of treated lumber sourced from Spray Lakes in Cochrane and customers can give it the perfect finish with The Cedar Shop’s quality lines of SICO Proluxe oil-based stains and Sansin’s water-borne ones.

The team is dedicated to giving above-and-beyond service and exceeding expectations. The knowledgeable staff and well-stocked showroom help customers find what they need quickly so they can get back to their projects. That is why it has become a favourite stop for contractors as much as weekend carpenters embarking on DIY projects.

Congratulations on achieving this exciting milestone.

One of the most asked about projects is cedar saunas. While The Cedar Shop has incredible lines from builders like Bramari Design Build & Sauna Builder, complete with Harvia Sauna Heaters on offer, many people still want to do it themselves.

“We get so many people who want to build their own saunas, but they don’t understand what it actually takes. We are currently designing kits that will offer three different sizes for customers to assemble,” he says.

On behalf of Goodfellow and our manufacturing partners Fiberon and Fortress we congratulate The Cedar Shop on their 45th Anniversary and wish them many more years of continued

Alex Walsh & Chris Lattin in the assembly mill. Photo by Riverwood Photography

Standing: Alex McMaster, Kelly LaFave, Jeremy Moon and Alex Walsh. Sitting: Chris Lattin and Chris Kehn. Photo by Riverwood Photography.

The Cedar Shop is a great partner for customers, and the innovative, agile business has come into its 45th year stronger than ever. But what is more important to them than the bottom line is being a vital part of the community. As such, the company supports the Mustard Seed, Salvation Army and Heaven Can Wait animal rescue and proudly sponsors the Alberta women’s curling champions, Team Skrilik, as they leave their mark in the sport.

Whether in curling or business, The Cedar Shop recognizes the importance of having more women involved. Bev was the first female-only owner in a male-dominated industry and Mitch is continuing in her footsteps by encouraging women and young people to work in construction. He launched a high school internship with the CBE and The Cedar Shop welcomed its first two interns, Olivia and Begaiym, who gain credits

Open Stock on the showroom floor. Photo by Riverwood Photography.

and experience at the company. These young women have the benefit of great mentors in the business and Mitch hopes they’ll stay on as they head to university.

“It’s important that young people, especially women, view our industry as a career choice,” says Mitch.

With great staff in place and unbeatable products on the shelves, Mitch Wile is excited to see what’s next for the iconic Calgary business.

“We’ve been here 45 years and people still can’t believe we have all this,” he says, and he invites Calgarians to visit them online at Cedarshop.com or visit the showroom, breathe in the smell of cedar and see it for themselves.

GETTING READY FORE 2023

CALGARY’S NEW SEASON

BY JOHN HARDY

Calgary weather always makes it wishful thinking and iffy, but Calgary golfers are revved, ready and even anxious fore the 2023 season.

Ironically, as COVID scrambling is more and more distant in the rearview mirror, Calgary golf was one of the few, if not the only bright spots of the disruptive pandemic story. Lots of Calgarians happily escaped shutdowns and lockdowns by fleeing to local golf courses.

Of course, the focus is on Calgary golf and getting ready for the 2023 season but, the numbers underscore the tremendous popularity of golf throughout the province.

Golf is big business in Alberta. There are a total of 308 courses, and a majority (262) are 18 holes. Each year, the golf industry – from green fees, to equipment, club revenues, accessories – generates a staggering $2.8 billion into the Alberta economy, employing more than 34,000 people.

The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) data tracked that, from 2015 to 2017, just before the crazy COVID years, the provincial average golf rounds per course was 25,038. Although the 2022 numbers are not yet finalized, the seasonal numbers could be as much as 25 to 30 per cent higher.

That trend, combined with Calgary’s 2023 calendar and pending the cooperation of the weather gods, is encouraging news for golfers, as well as the hardworking crews getting ready for the season at Shaganappi, McCall Lake, Confederation and all seven municipal courses, as well as Calgary’s private courses, like the popular Springbank Links.

“In 2021, City golf set records with the number of rounds and revenue,” says the upbeat John Faber, the City of Calgary’s golf lead. “With more activities open and available last year, we anticipated a slight drop. But to our surprise,

we actually broke the records set in 2021, for both rounds played and for revenues.”

He cites the good-time stats that City of Calgary golf had 259,000 golfers play on municipal courses in 2022, and their impressive number does not include the people who went out to Calgary’s three driving ranges.

“Of course it’s overdue time to stop looking back on the COVID commotion,” says the personable Kevin Heise, general manager of Springbank Links. “But, despite all the negativity, it was a terrific boost, especially for Calgary golf. We saw more couples and families golfing, which really grew the game.

“There were lots of first-timers that kept our marshalls busy (which is a good problem to have), and many 1990 Spalding clubs and Big Bertha came out of retirement, from the back of Calgary garages,” he adds.

“And even though 2022 was a fantastic golf year, by comparison with the two pandemic years, actual numbers were down a bit.”

According to 2022 rounds-played numbers, “Shaganappi continues to ‘drive’ the popularity of City courses,” Faber says with a chuckle. “Mostly due to its easily accessible location, as well as the quality of the golf experience our team puts out. McCall Lake since the major renovation in 2018 has also seen a big increase in in turnout. The renovation modernized the course with new bunkering, many new putting surfaces, and the addition of more tee boxes for a wider variety of skill sets.”

As the calendar crept up on Calgary’s 2023 golf season, and surviving the usual highs and lows of Calgary winter, the workbooted and bundled crews have been at it, getting things ready for about three months. Their chores and

schedules include tarps to remove, spring debris to clean up, accessories to put out, the all-important initial mowing of all surfaces, irrigation system start-ups, clubhouse clean-ups and more.

“Fingers crossed there is little to no disease, as our turf teams did a great job last fall, prepping for winter,” Faber points out. “Of course there are always downed trees, branches and leaves to pick up, and snow fences and tarps to be picked up and stored. And the turf equipment has been picked up from winter storage and it’s ready to go.”

Golf professionals caution about the importance of getting the body ready, especially after a winter’s worth of couch potato hibernation. PGA surveys show that some 60 per cent of golfers suffer one or more golf injuries every season.

The culprit is the nature of the golf swing, and ignoring off-season strength and flexibility training. Back pain is the most common golf injury, primarily due to golfers spending four to five hours in a bent position, while applying pressure to the spine and back muscles. The repetitive movement of the golf swing, especially at the start of a new season, puts considerable strain on the back.

With the routine seasonal golf course getting-ready chores come the many planned and scheduled changes, renovations and course adjustments.

“Moving into spring, our biggest task is to quickly finish Springbank’s renovation to hole #7,” Kevin Heise says. “After a couple of years of golfer feedback like: When are you going to blow this hole up? and I have a D6 Cat you can borrow, or Put a windmill on this hole, we had to agree. It did play too tough and we finally made a fix – a big fix.

“The fairway was totally re-shaped, leveled, widened and lengthened, Now, it’s a beauty! We’re bringing a big load of sod to get it into play, and it will play as a par-3, until the sod catches.”

John Faber explains the City priority that Calgary courses continually look at ways to improve or expand on the allimportant customer golf experience, from booking online until the drive out of the gates at the end of a round and thinking about the next round.

But, like other popular courses, there are always changes made. “Maple Ridge will have newly designed and built 13th and 14th holes,” he says. “The changes were necessary due to some changes by Alberta Transportation, to the Southland interchange.

“Hole 13 will still have that great panoramic view, but from new tees to a brand new green. Hole 14 has become a long par-4, instead of a short par-5, because we had to shift the tees northwest to accommodate the roadway realignment. Confederation has had the bridge structures resurfaced and a new high net system was installed at the end of the range to help protect our neighbours.”

An important part of the getting ready for the season is planning ahead for lesson programs. As Faber points out, the City’s lesson programs are very popular and, in many cases, already with waitlists.

Springbank’s Kevin Heise mentions the enjoyable special and group events as key parts of any golf season. “Now that social distancing is long gone, we are seeing a healthy uptick in charity and corporate events bookings again. It’s such an important aspect of the Springbank good times. And we’re looking forward to another great year, especially showing off our revamped front 9,” he laughs.

Opening day? Always an iffy call for a Calgary golf season, pending pesky factors like hours of sunshine, temperatures and Chinook winds. For the course managers and crews, the key seasonal concerns are always the wet and soggy conditions that keep turf from being walkable and either causing turf damage or risking player safety.

“It’s a crazy wait-and-see situation,” Heise says. “We have been open as earlay as March 26, and one year we opened three times as the snow kept coming back. Typically, we will open the middle of April. Saying ‘middle’ gives us some flex!”

ABOVE: SHAGANAPPI POINT GOLF COURSE

McKenzie Meadows Golf Tip: More Distance Off The Tee

BY SCOTT ORBAN, PGA EXECUTIVE PROFESSIONAL, MCKENZIE MEADOWS GOLF CLUB

Anew golf season always comes with a lot of hoopla about the new technology and the driver that will give you more distance. All you have to do is purchase it!

Top end Drivers are expensive ranging from $500 to $800; so make sure it improves your distance and direction before you buy. Marketing and technology claims don’t matter unless they improve your personal results. There are multiple combinations of different Driver Specs, and they are available for you to try! But you may need a little help figuring this out.

Top manufacturers offer an incredible fitting service through PGA of Canada golf professionals and/or their sales representatives. Their fitting systems offer different head designs with various lofts, lies, face angles, as well as shafts of different flex, length and kick point. All of these affect the ball flight. A fitter considers all these factors when building a driver for you to try so you can see the results of each variation.

How do you see the results and how does the fitter gain information about each driver you try?

Launch monitors (Flightscope, Trackman, Foresight, etc.) have taken the golf club fitting process to another level by showing the golfer their results of distance and direction for every shot. This can be done indoors or out.

HTTPS://WWW.MCKENZIEMEADOWS.COM/ACADEMY/GOLF-TIPS

These monitors provide the fitter with data such as swing speed, path, clubface angle and other data to assist them in selecting a driver that will produce better results for you.

Invisible information about the ball’s flight that contributes to distance and direction is also provided: ball speed, ball spin, launch angle and smash factor of each individual shot. The fitter interprets this data and utilizes the fitting system to build you the driver that delivers the best results.

Below is some of the data produced by a launch monitor and the PGA Tour averages that the fitter may consider in working toward your best-fit driver.

• Ball spin rate – 2,686 RPM

• Launch angle – 10.5 degrees

• Smash factor (center-ness of the hit) – driver sweet spot = 1.50; PGA Tour average = 1.48

• Carry distance to fairway: PGA Tour = 275 yards, LPGA Tour = 218 yards

• Swing speed: PGA Tour = 113 MPH, LPGA Tour = 94 MPH

The best thing about getting a PGA professional to fit your driver is you will be confident in your purchase. Set all the marketing about more distance aside, the only thing that matters is the improvement of your own driving distance.

ABOVE: DRIVERS WITH INTERCHANGEABLE HEADS, MULTIPLE LOFTS, LIES, SHAFT SPECS. WHAT IS YOUR DISTANCE FORMULA?

Parker’s Pen

BY DAVID PARKER

Iwas thinking of the line ‘When will they ever learn?’ in the Peter, Paul and Mary song ‘Where have all the flowers gone?’ when I heard of the latest frustrating and maddening action by the city.

After learning of the generosity of MNP investing in a 10-year deal that will contribute to the expansion of the city-owned complex formerly known as the Repsol Centre, and being proud to have it re-named the MNP Community & Sport Centre, I also heard that the city had contracted a Cleveland, Ohio, firm to sell naming rights to other cityowned buildings and facilities.

What ever happened to ‘buy local’? When will they ever learn that we have businesses here to support, that are run by some amazing, competent and creative business leaders.

It is most frustrating for them to be shunned by Alberta Blue Cross hiring a Toronto agency, other government-funded organizations hiring lead architects for projects like the BMO, Stephen Avenue revival, Glenbow renovations, several building at the university, and, my big beef, paying a Vancouver company to design the new logo for the Alberta University of the Arts when it has lots of grads trying to earn a living in this city. When will they ever learn?

I am reminded that during the time I was responsible for this city’s film industry, trying to help win work for film, television and video producers. After lunch one day I got a call from one of our top producers, angry that the Stampede had hired a Vancouver company to make a new promotional video.

I walked over to Mayor Al Duerr’s office with the concern, and by that afternoon the contract was cancelled. The following day a Calgary company was given the job.

There are an amazing number of brilliant inventions over the past few decades that have helped life be a lot easier. But in thinking of those that make my day better, I have to thank the person responsible for coating drugs.

Just thinking of a spoonful of Beecham’s Powder with a dab of strawberry jam in the middle to try and hide the taste, and even a chalky aspirin makes me cringe.

One of the frustrations caused by online shopping is the growing number of reserved parking stalls for pick-up orders that take spaces close to the front doors and, in some lots, has moved handicapped parking farther away.

And I would think that buying groceries online must be hurting the chains somewhat.

Think of six needed items, order and then pick-up or have them delivered. Simple. But I know that if we made a list of six, after wandering up and down the aisles that number would easily be doubled. Especially on the sale items we were not aware of.

Reading about the visit to Ottawa of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his country’s need for liquified natural gas (LNG) in its energy transition plans, reminded me of a diner, many years ago, to discuss the very subject.

It was held at the Calgary Petroleum Club hosted by a former Consul General of Japan in Calgary, and besides me was attended by former MLA Wayne Cao and a senior representative of the pipeline industry.

The plea was for Alberta LNG to help Japan be less reliant on fuels from other nations that it might not be able to rely upon in the future.

Japan is still waiting.

Final Words

Getting angry is punishing yourself for the mistakes of others.