May 2013 Business in Calgary by Business in Calgary

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the Big Draw

Friends of the Environment

Environmental Checkup

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Long Drives, Good Putts and Talking Shop

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Contents PUBLISHERS

Volume 23 • Number 5

On our cover…

Pat Ottmann & Tim Ottmann

EDITOR

Rich Waller, incoming president of the Calgary chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)

John Hardy

COPY EDITORS

Lisa Johnston & Nikki Mullett

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER

MAY 2013 $3.50

Jessi Evetts

ADMINISTRATION

Nancy Bielecki nancy@businessincalgary.com Sarah Schenx info@businessincalgary.com

www.businessincalgary.com

ART DIRECTOR

Cher Compton cher@businessincalgary.com

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Richard Bronstein Frank Atkins David Parker Lonnie Tate Mary Savage

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Camie Leard Heather Ramsay Jesse Semko Randy Williams Mary Moran Andrea Mendizabal Meghan Ockey Parker Grant Colleen Wallace Marlene Kozoway

[

PHOTOGRAPHY

the Big Draw

Friends of the Environment

Environmental Checkup

104

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CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Long Drives, Good Putts and Talking Shop

Cover 39 • Rich Waller, The Consummate Entrepreneurial Spirit by John Hardy

26 • The New Marketing - in Creative Calgary! by David Parker

30 • Forests, That Other Natural Resource By Colleen Wallace

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www.businessincalgary.com 6 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Golf

DIRECTORS OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING

Bernie Cooke bernie@businessincalgary.com Kim Hogan kim@businessincalgary.com Chad Ireland chad@businessincalgary.com

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Ron Goldberger ron@businessincalgary.com Renee Neil renee@businessincalgary.com Bobbi Joan O’Neil bobbi@businessincalgary.com Brent Trimming brent@businessincalgary.com Carla Wright carla@businessincalgary.com Evelyn Dehner evelyn@businessincalgary.com

Calgary,

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Cover photo courtesy of Ewan Nicholson Photography Inc.

Rich Waller The Consummate

Find us online! www.businessincalgary.com

109

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Contents

Volume 23 • Number 5

(This MonTh’s FeaTures ConT’d)

34 • Franchising: the Good and Bad of Being Your Own Boss By John Hardy

44 • The Mammoth Move

An enormous transport of 207 prefabricated modules from South Korea to the Alberta oilsands highlights the logistical innovations … and potential pitfalls … of mega-moves. By Marlene Kozoway

49 • Calgary, the Big Draw By Parker Grant

58 • May Real Estate Update

Change is afoot within the residential real estate market in Calgary, but experts anticipate moderate and manageable fluctuations in the coming months By Heather Ramsay

62 • Environmental Checkup

Business in Calgary takes a look at the city’s progress in meeting its sustainability targets By Camie Leard

104 • Long Drives, Good Putts and Talking Shop By John Hardy

hria 67 • HRIA Celebrating Excellence Awards

CoMpany proFiles 74 • Foothills Electric Ltd. Celebrates 40 Years

62 regular ColuMns 10 • Just-in Time By Richard Bronstein

12 • It is Time to Question Monetary Policy By Frank Atkins

14 • People in Glass Houses Do Throw Stones

A Powerful History By Camie Leard

76 • Calgary Stamp and Stencil Celebrates 110 Years of Service Protecting a Legacy, Building a Future By Camie Leard

79 • Carlisle Group Celebrates 30 Years By Mary Savage

99 • Ensteel Industries Ltd.

Supporting Alberta’s Infrastructure for 40 Years By Mary Savage

By Lonnie Tate

109 • Leading Business 113 • The Calgary Report

Current developments for Calgary Telus Convention Centre, Tourism Calgary, Calgary Economic Development, and Innovate Calgary

118 • Marketing Matters By David Parker

8 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

104

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Just-in Time • Richard Bronstein

BY RICHARD BRONSTEIN

Just-in Time

lthough this is written before the actual coronation of the new Liberal leader, I think we can safely assume that the next federal election will feature Stephen Harper running against Thomas Mulcair and Justin Trudeau. Oh yes, and Elizabeth May of the Green Party, too. The pollsters are telling us that the Liberal Party with Trudeau as leader is already more popular than the Conservative Party. That doesn’t necessarily mean a lot in two years when the next federal election is expected. But the Liberal surge on the coat-tails of Justin Trudeau has no doubt been well marked in the strategy rooms of both the Conservative and New Democratic parties. If this trend is a concern for the Harper Conservatives, it is positively a nightmare for the NDP. The Dippers made some very handsome gains in 2011 in Quebec and are now the official Opposition. But has Thomas Mulcair really been able to solidify the NDP forces in Quebec? My guess is that with Trudeau at the helm, Quebec is back in play for the Liberals. The victim of any possible Liberal success in Quebec would be at the expense of the NDP because the Conservatives are more or less dead in that province. While the Conservatives have given up on Quebec entirely, they should have concerns about a general Liberal resurgence under Justin Trudeau. The next federal election will mark close to 10 years in office for Prime Minister Harper. That can be a dangerous time, a time when people start to feel that the government is just the same old, same old. In other words, that elusive concept of “it’s time for change” takes on greater currency when someone has been in office for approximately 10 years. I think the Conservatives are particularly vulnerable on this score because Stephen Harper has just not managed to grow into the job with more grace and personality. I think the Prime Minister is seen as a solid, competent leader, but someone who lacks personality. There is just not much of a personal bond between average Canadian men and women and Stephen Harper. Does affection for a leader really matter? Well, if you attended the commemoration held for Ralph Klein or kept up through media accounts, you know of course that it does. 10 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Ralph was genuinely liked. Primarily for his role as mayor of Calgary. But he did pretty well on the national stage as well. Whatever his slip-ups, and there were a few, Ralph had authentic personal charm. He’d probably hate that sentence because he never tried to charm people. He was just genuinely warm, humble and truly interested in people. And he had a grand sense of humour. In other words, he had personality and in public life, having a huge personality matters. I’ve met the Prime Minister in smaller settings and he is a very decent, civilized individual. I’m sure he is a warm family man, too. But public life is like constantly being on stage in front of an audience of 30 million Canadians – you have to be able to project. That is not Stephen Harper’s strong suit. If Justin Trudeau can maintain some of that swagger from his father, it can create a snowball effect. If his personality continues to arouse the interest of Canadians, it will hardly matter what his policies are. He could say the sun revolves around the earth and people would still vote for him. Mayor Naheed Nenshi got elected and remains popular because he has the personality to draw people into his tent and to make them feel good about being party to a common cause. This reminds me of a pertinent story. Charles Revson was the inventor of the modern cosmetics industry. He did in his time what Facebook did in ours. He built an entirely new business. At the peak of his career, he was asked at a seminar at one of America’s top business schools to explain the nature of his success. That’s easy, Charles Revson replied: “In the factory I manufacture cosmetics. In the drugstore I sell hope.” This applies to business, politics or any sector you can think of. It’s good to get your policies and practices right. But if you miscalculate, details can be changed on a dime. What is much harder to do is to connect to voters and consumers in a deep and fundamental way. If you can scratch the public’s emotional itch, literally the sky is the limit. BiC

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It is Time to Question Monetary Policy • Frank Atkins

BY FRANK ATKINS

or reasons that I have never really understood, we tend to shy away from criticism of monetary policy. In fact, we treat the current (outgoing) Governor Mark Carney as some sort of a minor economic god. I think that it is time that we took a critical look at the history of interest rate movements in this country. I realize that a great many individuals find economics boring, and economic history virtually intolerable. However, there is a chilling lesson to be learned here. Prior to the recent period of extremely low interest rates, we looked longingly to the 1960s as a tranquil period of low and stable interest rates. Whenever interest rates are abnormally low for an extended period of time, this is a result of Bank of Canada policy. The 1960s could be viewed as an interesting experiment in progressive (that is interventionist or Keynesian) economics. The Second World War was over, the Korean conflict had wound down, soldiers were home and the baby boom was beginning. All of this meant that there was a great deal of demand for goods and services. In most markets when there is an increase in demand, price increases to moderate this demand. From a macroeconomic perspective, this dampening mechanism takes the form of interest rate increases. That is,

It is Time to Question Monetary Policy

the natural tendency of a well-functioning economy is to have interest rates increase when there is a boom and interest rates decrease when there is a slump. In the 1960s, we turned this around to suit the Keynesian view that we can help an economy, in the underlying belief that an economy always needs help. Monetary policy started using interest rates to attempt to control the economy rather than have interest rates react to economic situations on their own. We deliberately kept interest rates very low to prolong the boom period. The way that this is done is to keep monetary policy in expansionary mode to keep interest rates very low. The cost of this is that eventually we get inflation, just as the first-year textbooks predicted. In this case, eventually meant that the great inflation of the 1970s was caused by the great monetary expansion of the 1960s. The effects of this took nearly 10 years, which in political circles is more than a lifetime. Fuelled by the unwavering belief that monetary policy can always help, we got rid of the inflation by increasing interest rates to nearly 20 per cent in the early 1980s, which caused a massive recession. So, monetary policy fought off the inflation that it created by expansionary policies of the 1960s by creating massive unemployment

12 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

in the 1980s. We did it all over again in the early 1990s on a lesser scale. It took years for the unemployment rate to come down to anything resembling normal levels. Now here we are in the present time using interest rate policy in an attempt to battle the downturn that began in late 2008. Once again we are keeping interest rates abnormally low for a long period of time. How are we doing this? Monetary policy is extremely expansionary. What is the lesson from the 1960s? If you run expansionary monetary policy for a long period of time, eventually you run the risk of high inflation. It is worth remembering what happened the last time we got rid of inflation. Interest rates rose to nearly 20 per cent and the national unemployment rate went up to 13 per cent. Once again we run the risk of monetary policy causing inflation which monetary policy will eradicate by raising interest rates and causing high unemployment. In the words of Yogi Berra, it is like déjà vu all over again. BiC

FRANK ATKINS IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY AND A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

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People in Glass Houses Do Throw Stones • Lonnie Tate

BY LONNIE TATE

People in Glass Houses Do Throw Stones

few weeks back, we witnessed our school board approving administration salary increases while rejecting a three-year teacher wage freeze. Incredible! Then a minister in the provincial government was quoted as saying: “I can’t believe anybody would be that stupid.” Apparently he had forgotten that within the previous six months the provincial government had proposed increases for MLAs and senior bureaucrats. And all the while the government was preaching restraint. Also incredible! Now both groups have argued there are extenuating circumstances; perhaps there are. But change the department and the same tune is playing … but it is in a different key. The tune is a march called Pigs at the Trough. The march is played by bands of bureaucrats – it is not technically difficult – so there are many bands throughout our province that play the same tune. All the bands are led by a senior, experienced conductor. Those conductors are called deputy ministers, superintendents, senior vice-presidents or whatever. All the bands have decent performers who follow the conductor’s lead and produce melodious renditions of the march. The performances of the march are compelling – particularly to our elected representatives who are not familiar with this kind of music. They even become fans of the music. After listening to the music for years, our elected representatives are easy prey for the conductors. Every time they hear of one of these bizarre increases, the first justification is – we are keeping up with private industry. Wait a minute! Tell me which of our industries have universal pensions, short hours, benefits galore, extended vacations and so on? The answer is none. Which group of farmers and ranchers enjoy limited hours and responsibilities and earn big, guaranteed wages? Here too, the answer is none. And the professions? If professionals want to do well, it is long hours of dedicated work that make success and that after six to 10 years of education and some form of apprenticeship. Virtually every successful business requires a commitment 14 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

of capital and often sweat equity that civil servants avoid. Heck … civil servants join the service because they want to steer clear of the risk and commitment that business takes. And then, these nitwits want to be paid at rates competitive with industry. What a bunch of nonsense. There are huge benefits to being in the civil service. Look at senior lawyers in our midst who clamour to become judges. Now most have worked hard and earned the knowledge and respect required to serve in our courts. But upon appointment to the bench, most take serious cuts in their annual remuneration. Why? It is a combination of prestige of being a judge, less hours of work, and (drum roll please) pensions equal to their salary that are inflation indexed for life. So their annual salaries take a beating but other benefits like prestige, an easier lifestyle and a secure future income stream make up the shortfall. I’m here to argue that is true in virtually all civil service positions. We need to compare the entire compensation program for these folks and get a handle on the concept of value for services provided. Back to that march. It has a subtitle: March of the Lemmings. We taxpayers are becoming enamoured with the tune. We listen to senior civil service people and our elected representatives sing the tune, we start to tap our toes in time with the music … hold hands … and gleefully march off towards the cliff – just like lemmings. I am reminded that Beethoven composed his great symphonies and instrument concertos for orchestras of less than 30 people. Each musician needed to be very good because there was no place to hide. Play a wrong note and poof – the entire audience would know. Now we have orchestras of 70 to 100 playing the same stuff. Musicians say we need the power of massed instruments. Nuts! They need the force of the orchestra to hide mediocrity of many. Our civil service is just like a lot of orchestras – great masses of people churning out tunes that would be better played by a few. It is time to reconfigure our thinking about government organizations and how they can better serve us. BiC

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News • Off the Top

Jim Dewald appointed dean of Haskayne School of Business Effective immediately, Jim Dewald officially takes over the role of dean of the Haskayne School of Business. With strong leadership experience that bridges the business sector and academia, Dewald is a natural fit as dean of the business school. Prior to joining the University of Calgary, he was an accomplished member of the business community, serving as president and director for numerous successful property development companies, and

serving on many boards and committees in the Calgary area. Currently, Dewald is on the board of Boardwalk REIT, the largest residential real estate entity in Canada, and is a board member of the West Campus Development Trust. The school’s namesake, Dick Haskayne, endorses the appointment. “After thorough analysis of the potential candidates, the selection committee has recommended to the

president and board of governors of the University of Calgary that Dr. Jim Dewald be appointed as the new dean of the Haskayne School of Business. I believe the next five years under his leadership will be outstanding for the school because of his extensive business experience and superb academic achievements.” “It is a tremendous honour to take on this responsibility,” says Dewald. “As a business school, we now have

“I believe the next five years under his leadership will be outstanding for the school because of his extensive business experience and superb academic achievements.” ~ Dick Haskayne

Jim Dewald (Photo credit: Riley Brandt/University of Calgary)

16 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

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It started with a vision... It started with Prairies

Then and now

DAN BALABAN Greengate Power Corporation

DAN BALABAN

t was clear early on that innovation would be a hallmark of Dan Balaban’s career. Before he even graduated from the University of Toronto with a computer science degree, he was already working full time for Ernst & Young, consulting with companies on how they could make the most of an exciting new technology called the Internet. Balaban had established himself as an innovator in the business application of the Internet and was enjoying a successful career as a management consultant – but he wanted something more. “I always did the best job I could for my employer, but it was always with the idea of gaining the knowledge and experience I needed to eventually start my own business,” he says. Having come from a family of entrepreneurs, running his own business was in his blood. So, at the age of 24, Balaban left his successful career as a management consultant to start his own tech company – Roughneck.ca Inc. – an innovative company that quickly became a leading provider of operations management software used by some of the largest oil and gas companies in Canada. When Balaban sold Roughneck.ca for more than $5 million in 2005, he knew two things about his next venture: “I wanted it to be a great business opportunity and I wanted it to have a positive impact on the environment,” he says. After a couple of years developing real estate, Balaban read a story about a group of Calgary entrepreneurs who

had successfully developed and constructed a wind energy project in southern Alberta. “It was my ‘aha’ moment,” he says. “I realized there was an opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop wind energy projects in Alberta and I believed it fit my skill set.” Balaban founded Greengate Power Corporation in 2007 to develop large-scale wind energy projects across Alberta. But it wasn’t going to be easy. “Competition is tough in the Alberta power sector which is dominated by five large companies,” he says. “It is a dif difficult space for an entrepreneur to compete, but I knew if we did things differently, we could accomplish something really great.” And they did. First, instead of following the wind as most

a vision... Entrepreneurs turn us on.

erate massive investments in wind energy, to have a meaningful positive impact on the environment and to do it all with an amazing team of only 10 people – one of the best wind energy development teams in the world.” Enjoying entrepreneurial success, Balaban has now turned his sights on Alberta’s environmental policy. “In order for us to take full advantage of all the economic opportunities in Alberta, it’s vital that we have a strong clean energy policy,” he says. “Environmental challenges will only be overcome if we can find alignment between business and environmental needs – I think Greengate has demonstrated that it’s possible.” In addition to leading Greengate, Balaban is a founder of the Alberta Clean Electricity Coalition and a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. He is also a member of the boards of the Independent Power Producers Society of Alberta and the Pembina Institute. Balaban is the Cleantech category winner of Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Prairies.

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companies were doing, they followed the transmission lines. “We knew that if we developed along existing transmission lines, we could get our product to market much more quickly without depending on the government to build new infrastructure,” says Balaban. The next innovation was to monetize the environmental benefits of wind energy by selling environmental credits. Greengate closed the first and still the only international renewable energy credit deal approved in California – a state with one of the most aggressive renewable energy requirements in the world. Selling these credits provides an important additional revenue stream that supports the economics of Greengate’s first two projects. The first of Greengate’s projects, the Halkirk Wind Project, is a 150-megawatt project that Greengate sold, ready for construction, in 2011 for $33 million. It is now the largest operating wind energy project in Alberta. Next, Greengate turned its attention to the Blackspring Ridge Wind Project – a 300-megawatt project which is expected to be the largest operating wind energy project in Canada when completed in 2014. These two projects are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22.5 million tons over their lives, provide a clean source of power to 150,000 homes and result in $1 billion of investments in wind energy in Alberta. “It’s something I’m unbelievably proud of,” says Balaban. “To gen-

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News • Off the Top

“It is a tremendous honour to take on this responsibility. As a business school, we now have clear direction to charge ahead with our strategy, a strategy that is fundamentally a

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clear direction to charge ahead with our strategy, a strategy that is fundamentally a means of reaching world-class excellence by leveraging the natural advantage of being in Calgary, Canada’s most enterprising city.” No stranger to the university, Dewald has been interim dean since September 2012 and has been with the Haskayne School of Business in various leadership capacities since 2006. He has been a director, real estate and entrepreneurship studies, since 2012 and an associate professor, strategy and global management, since 2011. From 2009 through 2012 he was associate dean, graduate programs, and was seconded from 2006 through 2009 as development adviser for campus infrastructure while he was assistant professor of strategy and global management. Dewald earned his B.Sc. (Eng.) and MBA (organizational theory) from the University of Alberta and his PhD (strategy and global management) from the University of Calgary, with a doctoral thesis in strategic decisionmaking. He has a distinguished record of research, peer-reviewed publication and graduate supervision. A presenter and keynote speaker at numerous prestigious conferences around the world, he has also received many grants and awards for his research and teaching, including the 2012 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Grant.

20 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Jim Dewald (Photo credit: Riley Brandt/University of Calgary)

Dewald has a long history of community involvement and service, including volunteer roles with the mayor’s ethical city roundtable, imagineCalgary roundtable, and Calgary Attainable Housing. In 1999, he was the City of Calgary’s Citizen of the Year. During a time of great transition at Haskayne, Dewald has provided important stability. According to Dru Marshall, provost and vice-president (academic), “He is the right person at the right time for this important role – a terrific fit for the faculty and a great contributor to our deans’ table.” Marshall is confident he will lead Haskayne to the next level of excellence. BiC

News • Off the Top

Watermark at Bearspaw Wins 2012 National SAM Award for Community Development

The Community Development Award

recognizes a single community in Canada Macdonald Development Corporation is pleased to announce that Watermark at that has best achieved the creation of an Bearspaw has been awarded the Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s 2012 National attractive, exciting, innovative and SAM Award for Community Development. The Community Development Award environmentally responsible community. recognizes a single community in Canada that has best achieved the creation of an Watermark at Bearspaw was announced as attractive, exciting, innovative and environmentally responsible community. Watermark the winner of this prestigious award. at Bearspaw was announced as the winner of this prestigious award at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s 70th National Adding to the excitement of the evening was the fact Conference on March 8, 2013 in Lake Louise, Alberta. that Albi Homes, one of Watermark’s talented showhome “It was a tremendous honour just to be a finalist for the builders, took home the top prize of the Grand SAM Award, Community Development Award,” comments Matthew awarded to the builder who demonstrates the highest level Jones, associate vice-president of sales and marketing for of excellence in both the building and marketing of new Macdonald Development Corporation. “In essence, this homes. “With Albi Homes taking home the Grand SAM, we award recognizes the best community in the nation, so it now have the best builder in Canada building homes in the is truly a remarkable achievement to have won, especially best community in Canada,” adds Jones. given the calibre of communities that were nominated Up next for the national award-winning development this year.”

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Thank you to our Generous Corporate Donors $50,000 and over

$20,000 and over

Thank you to our Generous Corporate Donors $10,000 and over

The Galvin Foundation

The Hunter Family Foundation

The Riddell Family Foundation

$5,000 and over Dunfield Family Fund Lions Club of Strathmore Pirie Foundation

$2,500 and over ARC Resources Ltd.

BMO - Bank of Montreal

Bow RiversEdge Campground

Bow Valley Credit Union

BP Canada

ConocoPhillips Canada

Deloitte & Touche Foundation

Fluor Canada Ltd.

Kneehill County

KPMG

Human Resources Association of Calgary

Prairie Merchant Corporation

SAIT School of Business

Starland County

Talisman Energy Inc.

WorleyParsons

MediaWorks Corp SAIT School of Construction Vitreous Glass

For over 50 years Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta (JASA) has been engaging local business and community leaders in its mandate to help students develop an entrepreneurial attitude, a solid and practical understanding of business and finance and a commitment to community. JASA delivers both in-school and extra-curricular programs with the co-operation and support of corporate supporters, educators and over 1,400 business volunteers. This year, over 23,000 youth will participate in at least one of our eight middle and high school level financial literacy programs.

News • Off the Top

L-R: Ron Lanthier, executive vice-president; Ian Macdonald, director of sales; Matthew Jones, associate vice-president, with Macdonald Development Corporation)

Jones notes that the response to the new phase has been fantastic thus far and that interest will undoubtedly grow as word spreads about the national awards won by the community and Albi Homes. were the Regional SAM Awards that took place on April 13 in Calgary. Watermark was a finalist in three categories: New Community of the Year, Community of the Year – Calgary Region, and Best Moving Media. Watermark at Bearspaw is an estate home neighbourhood offering fully serviced lots ranging in size from one-quarter acre to one acre, with frontages from 80 to 150 feet and minimum spacing between homes of 25 feet, making it a truly distinctive offering in the Calgary marketplace. The community includes 46 acres of parkland, comprised of cascading streams, large ponds, and over five kilometres of paved trails. The centrepiece of Watermark’s amenities is a pond-side plaza complete with outdoor kitchen, pavilion, picnic tables, barbeques, fire pit with amphitheatre-style seating, basketball court, sports field and playground. 24 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Watermark has just released a second phase of lots within the community. Jones notes that the response to the new phase has been fantastic thus far and that interest will undoubtedly grow as word spreads about the national awards won by the community and Albi Homes. Featuring four of Calgary’s top homebuilders – Albi Homes, Astoria Custom Homes, Trickle Creek Custom Homes and Wolf Custom Homes – Watermark at Bearspaw is located two kilometres south of Crowchild Trail NW on 12 Mile Coulee Road. Watermark is conveniently close to a variety of shopping and dining venues, within walking distance of the spectacular Lynx Ridge Golf Club and a 20-minute commute to the downtown core and the airport. The extension of the northwest LRT line will bring a new station to within minutes of the community. BiC

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The New Marketing - in Creative Calgary! • Media & Marketing

The new marketing

marketing BY DAVID PARKER

t is not so many years back that many Calgary firms felt they had to get advertising campaigns designed by Toronto agencies; radio jingles written and produced and TV commercials shot by Vancouver production houses; even logos designed by U.S. firms. What a remarkable revolution has taken place in this city, particularly over the past decade, with experienced talent attracted to Calgary and a tremendous growth in the number of specialist houses, meaning there is absolutely no need to travel anywhere to get the best job done – we have a huge amount of creative expertise available here. And besides being as good as it gets in Canada it has become quite an important employment sector here, responsible for employing people in a wide range of different companies. None of the companies go by the title of advertising agency today – the industry is now made up of specialists in strategic marketing, brand imaging, web design, and public and media and corporate relations gurus. And the amount of national and international awards being brought back to this city is a reflection of the quality of their work. Most agencies are not full service in the same manner they used to be; even the larger ones hire outside expertise for various functions that require specialists.

Construction companies tweet on Twitter daily; grocery stores are on Facebook; liquor stores send out weekly emails; even law firms have QR codes on business cards. But perhaps the biggest industry need today is in the demand for video. Jeff Bradshaw, president and CEO of V Strategies, reports its use of video in social media jumped 67 per cent overall in 2012. He says, “Video is now being incorporated into communication strategies for employment engagement, investor relations, branded entertainment, business development, executive

Jeff Bradshaw, president and CEO of V Strategies

26 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

messaging and social media campaigns.” In response to this change the company shifted from a traditional video company, based solely on video production, into a creative video agency – and changed the firm’s name from Zoom to V Strategies. Bradshaw says his company doesn’t look at video for a specific project, but how video can fit within a client’s communications strategy. Whereas some companies had a video produced perhaps every couple of years, Bradshaw has clients that have him create eight to 10 a month. And his V Strategies doesn’t just

The New Marketing - in Creative Calgary! • Media & Marketing

creative

- in creative Calgary!

shoot but takes care of planning, production and delivery – where and when to use are key. Calgary has several companies that specialize in producing great video. Scott Henuset of Corkscrew Media says today’s videos have to be more entertaining in order to capture audiences, and production values must be high as they are compared with superb productions over the international marketplace.

A good deal of those audiences are found searching the web for click-and-view information so an increasing amount of corporate videos are being included as essential tools within a company’s web page. Corkscrew has earned a fine reputation in our local market with corporate videos and television commercials but has also become a recognized leader in film and television programming and music videos.

www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 27

The New Marketing - in Creative Calgary! • Media & Marketing

Scott Henuset, president Corkscrew Media

There are many ways to deliver a message but video has proven to be one of the most effective forms of communications – and Calgary has become a centre of video For the third year a Henuset crew was hired to produce the East Coast Music Awards and edit the show for broadcast on Eastlink TV. And in September they will be in Edmonton to produce the Canadian Country Music Awards for live showing on CBC Television and simulcast on CMT, plus cutting out the awards presentations to edit the music down for XYZ, Australia’s country music station. Anyone can buy a video camera and point and shoot, but there is a big difference between home movies and Hollywood productions. Chris Bedford, president and CEO at Karo Group, runs one of Calgary’s larger agencies and within his permanent staff has an experienced video production crew. He maintains that 28 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

excellence. because speed is essential to some clients who feel the need to get to market quickly, Karo is organized to be able to provide solid content that is fast and cost effective. Yet with its powerful campaign to engage youth in the Enmax Youth We Day Alberta event that required highend television commercial production, Karo went out and hired the best crews it could find – here in Calgary – to do the best job. We not only have a number of very capable professional production companies but Brian Vos and Jeff August of Jump Studios, besides keeping busy supplying design, animation, editorial effect and original creative, are setting the world standard in the colour science for digital imaging.

The New Marketing - in Creative Calgary! • Media & Marketing

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They have formed a new division called LookLabs that enables directors of photography, using its proprietary software, the ability to manipulate non-destructive deep colour correction in real time, using any make of camera. Jump Studios continues to provide excellent work for its long-term client ESPN – responsible for openings and segments for shows like NASCAR racing – and also for a number of other U.S. clients such as Discovery Network for whom it creates the sizzle for onair promos. White Iron has been a showcase for Calgary talent ever since it was opened in 1990 by Jean Merriman and the late Lance Mueller, last year earning an impressive six Telly Awards. It helped launch a brand-new Canadian Sports Network that included show opens for the Toronto Raptors, Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Blue Jays, and for ESPN produced the introduction to a brand-new stadium in Omaha, Nebraska, for the 61st College World Series baseball tournament. It also has a highly regarded pictures production division that was responsible for the hour-long CBCTV special Love Lies Bleeding and enjoys a long-standing relationship

with the Calgary Stampede, identifying and producing shows as a partner in Stampede Entertainment. Certainly one of our most successful film and entertainment houses is Larry Day’s Pyramid Productions with a history going back to 1983. It produced The Movie Show for 17 years that was aired in 70 countries, 27 episodes on A&E’s Biography show, the wonderful Ian Tyson: This Is My Sky documentary and this year has a series on CMT – Burger Wars, Taco Wars and Pizza Wars. But besides being great storytellers for film and television, Pyramid Productions is also a leader in corporate communications with documentaries, television commercials and multimedia enriched websites. Within his 23,000-square-foot facility in southeast Calgary, Day can offer his clients the benefits of sound stages, edit suites, post-production, audio facilities and 3D computer animation. Bradshaw says the process of communications is not complete until the receiver has understood the intended message from the sender. There are many ways to deliver a message but video has proven to be one of the most effective forms of communications – and Calgary has become a centre of video excellence. BiC

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Forests, That Other Natural Resource • Forestry

Forests,

That Other Natural Resource BY COLLEEN WALLACE

t’s not fair, although understandable, that with all the exciting and proud Alberta attention and fuss about oil and gas, some people would consider forests to be “that other natural resource.”

The forests were already lush with giant trees when they were just shortcuts for fur traders, buffalo still roamed the plains and foothills, natives and European settlers were already logging and the Cree were using the strange,

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thick, black surface deposits in the Fort McMurray area to waterproof their canoes. Fast-forward a few hundred years, fur is shunned, canoes are fibreglass and don’t need waterproofing, the oilsands are a vital world energy source that rock Canada’s world and hardly anybody talks about the lush forests (including the boreal forest, which makes up 48 per cent of Alberta) that continue as a key component of Canada’s economy and globally-envied natural resource wealth. The forest industry reluctantly accepts that it may never get nearly as much (especially Calgary) attention and exposure as the high-profile oil and gas industry. But the facts and figures are impressive and undisputable: nearly half of the country’s entire land surface is covered by trees; forestry employs more than 600,000 people and touches virtually every aspect of Canadian life. But as the wacky world of image, branding and marketing once cautioned, perception is everything. And in terms of dynamic, exciting and attention-getting 21st century global businesses and industries, the public perception of “just cutting down trees” is simply not a contender and functions in the shadows of other industries like technology and oil and gas.

Forests, That Other Natural Resource • Forestry

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“In terms of viability and business logic, forestry is an odd industry to understand,” says Dr. Marty Luckert, professor of resource economics and environmental sociology at the University of Alberta. “It certainly can’t compare apples to apples with any other industry, especially oil and gas. In terms of product and in terms of supply, demand and sales, there’s simply no comparison. Just provincial revenues from oil and gas are about $10 billion. Forestry revenues are maybe $30 million.” Dr. Luckert explains what the public and people in other industries rarely consider or grasp. In addition to the economic value (and two per cent of GDP is nothing to shake a stick at) the ecological, social, cultural, traditional and even spiritual benefits of forestry are so extensive that the provincial, territorial and federal governments continue to ensure that forests remain a vital priority. The professor is tremendously expert but wonderfully down to earth and personable, citing the not overly academic reasons why the forests and the forestry industry are so essential. Canada’s forested, other wooded land and other land with tree cover extend over about half of the country’s total land surface – nearly 400 million hectares – from coast to coast.

“To appreciate the true importance of forests, we have to consider the true value of forests, beyond just a source for lumber and pulp and paper,” he says. “The forests purify water, they stabilize soil and cycle nutrients. They also moderate our climate, create habitat for wildlife and they nurture biological diversity of our environment. And yes, they are the source for forest products which does create hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars into Canada’s economy.” Dr. Luckert also mentions, with some personal focus and interest, that Canada’s forests also provide landscapes and the sought-after resources for a long list of recreational, cultural, traditional and spiritual pursuits that many people consider a precious and unique Canadian feature. For the sake of blunt honesty, most industry experts and insiders regret the misinformation and superficially misleading environmental crusades against forestry. “They usually make dramatic accusations about deforestation and an exaggerated concept of hacking down mountainsides of trees and leaving barren ground where the forests used to be,” he explains. “Deforestation simply does not happen in Canada. Forestry is a highly regulated and complex industry with some of the most stringent resource and sustainability management rules

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Forests, That Other Natural Resource • Forestry

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in the world. For example, every single harvested tree (like spruce) which does not ‘come back’ on its own is replanted by seedlings. In Alberta, two new trees are planted for every one that is harvested.” As Dr. Luckert also points out, although the Canadian forest industry is in transition, constantly changing and diversifying, the two primary products of the Canadian forest business are 80 per cent pulp and paper and bioproducts and 20 per cent lumber. Government officials, natural resource researchers, academics and corporate forestry experts agree that things have not been easy. The Canadian forest industry has taken some very heavy and unexpected hits. The Canadian dollar reached par. Technology continues to move the world closer and closer to a paperless society. The steady decline in the popularity of newspapers keeps reducing especially North American demand for newsprint. And the sudden 2008 collapse of the U.S. housing market was a staggering blow to the supply, demand and prices for Canadian lumber. All four factors significantly impacted the pulp and paper segment of Canada’s forest business. “Especially when the American housing crunch hit, the Canadian forest industry woke up,” snaps Brady Whittaker, the pluggedin and gregarious president and CEO of the Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA), the non-profit group that represents Alberta companies that manufacture wood products. “All things considered,” he smiles, “we’re in a lot better position than five years ago. Prices for structural lumber have recovered and Alberta is in a very good position when it comes to the pulp and paper manufacturing. When markets are good and prices are high, Alberta invests in the optimization and technology of our mills. Our province’s producers are leaders in diversifying the way business is done. Alberta companies now use waste products such as bark from their mills to generate power and biofuels, in addition to creating marketable prod-

32 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Brady Whittaker, president and CEO of the Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA).

Ted Gooding, senior partner of Forcorp.

ucts from waste to ensure the entire tree is put to use. “It’s a surprise for some people but forestry is a big industry and the foundation of about 50 communities in Alberta,” he says with professional and Alberta pride. There are positive indicators and a consensus that Canadian forestry has weathered the slump-storm. “The amazing thing about Canadian forestry is that it keeps reinventing itself,” says Ted Gooding, senior partner of Forcorp, the respected,

Forests, That Other Natural Resource • Forestry

Despite the impact of some negative outside factors, Canada’s forest products industry is a $57-billion-a-year business, accounting for 12 per cent of Canada’s manufacturing GDP. Alberta-based company that has been specializing in natural resource and land use management for more than 20 years. He is practical, professionally realistic and bullish about the current, rebounding forestry situation and the outlook for the industry’s solid future. “There may be declining demand for some traditional paper products like newsprint but there are thousands of products vital to packaging, construction, education, communications, marketing and other uses which rank Canada second only to the U.S. in pulp and paper manufacturing. Undisputedly, we are definitely the first in pulp and paper exports.” Canada has about 140 pulp and paper mills and, as Gooding explains, many of Canada’s pulp and paper companies are adjusting and adapting. “Some older, less efficient mills in the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario and B.C. were not invested and unable to adapt like most Alberta mills. They have a huge challenge because their traditional processes make big changes difficult and expensive,” he says, trying his best to avoid industry jargon. Alberta is positioned very well in the changing forestry industry. Most Alberta pulp and paper mills are newer and adapting easily with new production technology – from chemithermomechanical pulping (CTMP) to nanotechnology which has already created revolutionary new forest products like nanopapers and nanocellulose. Gooding also echoes the encouraging and positive factor that the American housing bust has finally turned around, making Canadian

lumber operations (especially in areas like B.C. and Alberta) busier than ever. “There is an increased demand for Canadian structural lumber and for the new engineered products. The best indicator that things are turning around and recovering is that lumber prices, as well as forest company stock prices, are both noticeably up.” Although the U.S. continues to be Canada’s best customer for wood products, the past five years have made Canada smarten up and aggressively develop and expand to Asian markets (particularly Japan, South Korea and China). It’s working. Canada is quickly becoming the gateway of choice between Asia and North America. The increased demand and prices and the recovery good news about Canada’s forest industry may already have a downside consequence. “There is a staffing crisis,” Gooding cautions. “A drastic shortage, from the professional engineers to the people who build the logging roads. About 50 per cent are non-conventional forestry jobs with in-demand skills that are also being aggressively drained from the talent pool by utility companies and other recruiting.” Despite the impact of some negative outside factors, Canada’s forest products industry is a $57-billion-a-year business, accounting for 12 per cent of Canada’s manufacturing GDP. Whether some people still consider forestry that other natural resource, most government, natural resources, forest and independent experts agree: Canada’s forest industry is solid, strong and poised for a positive future. BiC

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The Good and Bad of Being Your Own Boss • Franchising

Franchising: the Good and Bad of Being Your Own Boss BY JOHN HARDY

franchise can be a challenging, exciting, rewarding, exhilarating and exhausting be-yourown-boss dream come true. And a franchise can be a challenging, demanding, exhausting and disappointing be-your-own-boss nightmare. There are so many factors and so many variables – some basic, proven and documented and some subtle, individual and personal – which earn franchise V 1-3page success or, 1 unfortunately, Island.pdf 2013-04-08 3:50:50 PM

cause franchise failure. And despite the cliché, both franchise success and franchise failure happens all the time. Although there is value in learning from good and bad experience, it’s virtually impossible (and pointless) to track franchise failures. Neither the failed franchisees nor the losing franchisors would ever want to talk about it. The positive facts of franchise life brag that more than 78,000 individual franchise operations are doing busi-

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ness in Canada, employing more than one million staff. The Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) is the national voice for franchising in Canada. It represents more than 550 corporate members (including brand franchisors, lawyers, banks and accountants). Contrary to popular assumptions about franchises, only about 40 per cent of CFA members are in the food business. The other 60 per cent are franchises ranging from financial services, in-home, in-store or website retail sales, office and home cleaning to health and fitness, lifestyle services like sewing and alterations, real estate and home health care. Most importantly, the CFA informs and educates Canadians about franchising, specific franchise opportunities and the vital due diligence that may well be the key to a successful franchise business. “Being a successful franchisee requires drive, dedication, enthusiasm and passion,” preaches Lorraine McLachlan, the upbeat, focused and revved CFA president and CEO. “They may not be defined skill sets or attributes listed in any franchising manuals or the stack of pages of franchise agreements but they are some of the most valuable basics about franchising.” Gung-ho independents and wannabe franchisees who opt to buy into an established brand and business system are in for parallel but drastically different challenges. The independents are on their own, from arranging and likely not getting a break on the price of the sign painter, the renos, the equipment, the supplies and materials, and the advertising.

The Good and Bad of Being Your Own Boss • Franchising

Top 10 List of Canadian Franchises*

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Tim Hortons: 3318 Subway: 2667 McDonald’s: 1433 H&R Block: 1189 Canada Bread: 1050 A&W: 759 KFC: 670

Royal LePage: 615 Jani-King: 593 Dairy Queen: 588 * SOURCE: 2013 FRANCHISE CANADA DIRECTORY * AS AT DECEMBER 31, 2012 (ALL NUMBERS ARE CFA ESTIMATES AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE)

“Our organization strongly emphasizes that, no matter how established, recognizable, new or obscure the brand” – from Tim Hortons, The UPS Store or Subway to Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop, Qualicare Family HomeCare or Watch It! the premium specialty watch, sunglass and accessory boutique – “the franchisee is going to work hard. But there is a lot to be said about sweat equity,” McLachlan says with a smile and years of success and failure stories to tell. “We stress that, regardless the high profile of the brand, franchisees are very much buying a business and must always remember that there are opportunities and risks involved. The risks can be minimized if proper thought, investigation and homework are done.” The business bible calls “homework” the sacred (and essential) matter of due diligence. The CFA, consultants and

They also don’t pay startup and longterm fees to a faraway head office. Franchisees basically buy into an established brand, a solid business system, shared expertise about everything from location, branding, marketing, the franchisor’s volume discounts on supplies and targeted customer service, in return for the determined royalty and franchise fees.

The King & I

Lorraine McLachlan, CFA president and CEO.

www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 35

The Good and Bad of Being Your Own Boss • Franchising

Some Calgary Franchisees

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Who: Jaime Thompson and David Puchalski What: Qualicare Family HomeCare Where: Calgary

Who: Chris Ostafie What: Watch It! Where: CrossIron Mills, Rocky View

“I come from a corporate, IT background. Jaime has a degree in nursing and worked in the Foothills Hospital. I was looking for something meaningful in life and admired the satisfaction Jaime was getting out of being a nurse and caring for people.” “David was always interested in doing something new and we are both passionate about people. We heard about Qualicare and found them to be an excellent Canadian organization – and that makes a big difference. Attitudes and approaches are different in Canada. We were both impressed with Qualicare’s focus and their experience.” “Some tax specialists helped us review the documents, we went through Qualicare’s screening and selection process – I guess they must have liked us as well – and we opened the doors of our Calgary office in February 2012. It is personalized customer care, listening to each situation because everyone is special and unique. We identify situations and implement the proper care.” “We are very happy with the feedback and the testimonials. Being a franchisee has exceeded our expectations.”

“After graduating from the University of Regina, I was a financial adviser with CIBC for about five years. My sister is a franchisee in a totally unrelated business but I always watched her and got interested in the franchisee way of business. In many ways, banking is a customer service, so the transition wasn’t very difficult. I looked into Watch It! and was very impressed with the company and the retail opportunity to sell the latest in watches and sunglasses from top brands such as Michael Kors, Diesel, Swatch, Timex, Ray-Ban, Oakley right here in Calgary. There are 23 Watch It! locations as far as Ottawa and Vancouver. It was both a thrill and a challenge to become my own boss and I quickly learned that the boss has to work harder than the staff and that I had to be a jack of all trades. The buck stops with me and, I suppose, that’s a good thing and a bad thing. There are many advantages to having a franchise: it’s a proven and tested business model with an established marketing and merchandising plan. My timing wasn’t great when I opened in 2009 – a new mall in a downturned market. But our staff is exceptional; we provide excellent product and a terrific customer experience. We had a very successful 2012.”

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Who: Rick Ball What: Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop Where: Southcentre Mall, Calgary SW

36 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

“I was an employee until 2002 and then my wife and I started an HVAC company. We met with the corporate people from the Chatters (Hair Salon) franchise and were very impressed. We opened our first franchise in 2006 and it’s been 100 per cent enjoyable. It’s a lot of hard work and finding and keeping the right staff comes down to a matter of trust. There are many advantages to being a franchisee, especially being able to rely on your hard work and your staff to make it a success. The cash flow is steady and the branding and marketing are looked after. Tommy Gun’s is new and fresh. We cater to men in a vintage barbershop kind of atmosphere. We were the fifth Tommy Gun’s in Alberta and now there are 13. Calgary is a terrific place to have a business.”

The Good and Bad of Being Your Own Boss • Franchising

industry experts agree, both potential franchisees as well as the meticulously selective franchisor must conduct proper due diligence. For the wannabe franchisee, effective due diligence invariably requires a lawyer – there are more than 50 law firms across Canada with in-house franchise specialists – and also something as simple and down to earth as personally tracking down other franchisees for a one-on-one, private conversation to get the real story about how they are treated by the franchisor, what they are happy and frustrated about, what their real cash flow is like and a better sense for the day-to-day good and bad of running a franchise business. The lawyer is invaluable to review and screen the complex and often convoluted, multi-paged legalese franchise agreement and the crucially important disclosure documents that the franchisor is obliged to provide, at least 14 days prior to the deal closing. Franchise specialists sift through the paperwork and advise the wannabe about: the actual term (length) of the franchise; renewal options; can the franchisor require expensive renovations which will bite into the franchisee’s profits; training; use of advertising funds; purchase restrictions; volume rebates; trademarks and licences; closures and termination rights; “what if” relocation rights if the store or office lease expires before the term of the franchise; exclusive and protected territory; a detailed listing of current and past franchisees; and other important franchise details, usually squeezed into some very confusing and fine print. “No matter what the franchise, it is a large investment and a demanding challenge,” McLachlan explains. “Franchisees must have the best facts, details and information possible because, in the end, it is a symbiotic relationship. A major chain with hundreds of locations or a small startup with a half-dozen outlets and growing, the franchisor succeeds only when the franchisee succeeds.”

Aside from the intricate and hardcore business aspects of a franchise agreement and readying for the business launch, the most common franchising factor is consistency of customer experience. Whether it’s Swiss Chalet, Mister Muffler, H&R Block or M&M Meat Shops, the franchise agreement usually gets very precise and specific about the layout, how the displays will look, the logos, the sizes, the colours, the appearance and often a corporate dress code. Part of the franchise logic is that head office as well as the customer expects a consistent look and feel, regardless of the location. A “Double Leg Chicken Dinner with fries, creamy coleslaw and Chalet dipping sauce” must be prepared, served in the same-looking Swiss Chalet dining room and look and taste the same whether it is brought to the (same) table in Moncton, Montreal, Airdrie or Kelowna. “It’s a myth that somebody ‘buys’ a franchise,” says Rhett Thurston, director of franchise development and real estate for The UPS Store, which currently has 360 franchise locations in Canada. “The person ‘selects’ the brand and applies for a franchise. The franchisor eventually ‘awards’ a franchise, usually after months of screening and checking everything from the applicant’s financial stability, business and credit background and their positivity to their attitude, their communication skills and their work ethic. “The absolute must-haves for any franchisee are a strong business sense, a willingness to roll up their sleeves if necessary, understanding customers and service and a genuine passion. From the vantage point of most Canadian franchisors, area demographics and site selection are also key.” The president and CEO of the Canadian Franchise Association agrees. “The franchisee is ultimately the cheerleader and ambassador for the brand. Passion and enthusiasm are the secret ingredients,” McLachlan says with excitement. “You must love what you’re doing.” BiC

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www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 37

Rich Waller: The Consummate Entrepreneurial Spirit • Cover

Rich Waller

The Consummate Entrepreneurial Spirit BY JOHN HARDY

t work and at play, Rich Waller is a dynamic, gungho people person. Everything else comes very close second. Being a proud husband and dad; a focused, hard-working and successful Calgary business executive; a passionate entrepreneur; an affably in-denial Type A dynamo who begrudgingly realizes that, sometimes no matter how hard he tries, the line between work and play does get hopelessly blurred; a tireless community booster; a really good friend to hang with; a constantly training marathon man; and a self-confessed pasta lover. And in his quest to find that elusive 25th hour in the day, Rich Waller also happens to be the incoming president of the Calgary chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) – the respected, global business network of 8,000-plus business owners in 35 countries. “When you get right down to it, it’s all about people,” Waller says with infectious determination. “Growing up, going through school, starting out in a job, competing, dealing with customers, having a family, enjoying friends and everything we do. It’s people.” Waller adamantly credits hard work (not luck) – and people – for his success, although he admits and cautions that today’s work world is demanding, competitive and not a cinch to manoeuvre. “One of the biggest and most important business challenges confronting most of us is finding a balance in life. How well everything works in life dictates how well everything works in business and caring about our community, how well everything works at home, how well everything

works with our friends and even the quality of our downtime relaxing.” He is undisputable proof that a balance may not always be easy but it is possible, if it’s considered a priority. By day – as president of Foothills Industrial Products Ltd. (FIP), the world-class and 57-year-old Calgary-based service supplier to Canada’s energy industry and an exclusive manufacturer’s representative and distributor of industrial products – he negotiates, builds contacts, cajoles and juggles details about flow measurement, operational products, the sealing of custody transfer instrumentation, analytical measurement and pressure control systems, calibration services, total data services, FIP’s wireless technology and web-based integration program and other highly technical shoptalk. And that’s just during a normal day in the office and very occasionally (wink, wink) breaking the distracted driver law behind the wheel, on his way to another meeting. Waller almost affectionately credits an early sixth sense for people that likely triggered his busy, balanced and highachiever good life. “I took a few years off school to see what I wanted to do with my life. My father knew Frank Sparks (the former FIP owner) and helped get me a starter job on the order desk,” he remembers. “The work and some invaluable mentoring and advice from Frank were a real eye-opener about the business world. “I worked at FIP for a year, went back to university and joined another company. It didn’t last. I called Frank, asked about his succession plan and bought into FIP. I have loved it ever since. Six years ago, when I bought the company in full, I asked Frank to stay on. What a blessing. I ended up www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 39

Rich Waller: The Consummate Entrepreneurial Spirit • Cover

“Good relationships are the keys to success and I’m so very lucky all the way around,” he says with positive emotion.

with not only an incredibly knowledgeable and respected business partner but a person who is an absolute pleasure to be with.” Waller’s remarkable work ethic, underscored by his uncompromising “customer-is-king” approach to servicing FIP clients, is an instant trigger for raving about the people who are at the core of his interwoven business, entrepreneurial and personal life. “Good relationships are the keys to success and I’m so very lucky all the way around,” he says with positive emotion. “It’s so much more than business. At work, we have truly amazing staff. Our bookkeeper recently retired after 45 years with the company. About a half of our staff has been with us for 10 years or more and we have terrific, long-term relationships with many of our customers. “And I have the absolutely most wonderful family in the world.” Clearly his favourite topic and biggest thrill, Waller warmly mentions the frequent family getaways and recites the exhilarating schedule of the family of four criss-crossing the province to cheer on their 13-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son at their many activities, especially competitive downhill skiing. “And my amazing wife Jane is the solid-as-a-rock glue that holds it all together. Like her mother (legendary Calgary philanthropist Ann McCaig) Jane has such a huge heart and such a remarkable community perspective.” His mother-in-law’s community involvement has seemed to also trigger his interest and Waller has served as the chair of the Calgary Zoo Foundation, on the board of the Operations Suppliers Executive Committee (OSEC), as a member of the Canadian Gas Association and as a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) since 2009. Like many hectically busy, overbooked and constantly plugged-in business types, Waller is conscious and concerned about finding less and less leisurely downtime and about always being connected. “I try really hard but it’s not easy,” he shrugs. “Very occasionally am I without my mobile device and my current goal is to ‘turn off’ more and maybe manage to just do nothing.” His family, his staff and his friends feel that’s a nice thought but may be wishful Rich Waller-thinking. Regardless, he is an exceptionally smart, savvy and disciplined Type A and he keeps stubbornly insisting and trying ... “to do nothing.” Every noon hour, unless he’s out of town or at an unbreakable meeting, he slips in to the men’s locker40 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

room at the Glencoe Golf and Country Club, gets changed into his trusty running clothes and heads out to pound the Calgary pavement for a carefully timed hour of a calculated gate-minimal sweat, huffing, puffing and running. Waller explains that he is perpetually in-training for “the big one,” the Boston Marathon. He has already competed in the iconic New York City Marathon and, last year, the Chicago Marathon. “Running is a precious hour of non-thought, a chance to deal with random things and an incredible way to just clear my head.” Despite being a skilful multitasker, shuffling his mental deck of being ready to pitch a potential new client about FIP’s calibration services, what time his son’s ski competition starts on the weekend, renewing a big service contract and the must-do midday run to and from the Glencoe, he excitedly admits to being preoccupied these days. Waller is the incoming president of the Calgary chapter of the international Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). He is anxious and proud of his added new role and although it will make him even more busy, he is fiercely proud of his hometown business community. Of the 122 global Entrepreneurs’ Organization chapters, the Calgary EO chapter is the fifth largest and most active chapter in the world. Serving the one-year term as EO Calgary president will come naturally because, in so many ways, he is a perfect fit. EO members have enthusiasm and drive. So does Rich Waller, sometimes overdrive. EO members are fuelled by an insatiable entrepreneurial spirit. So is Rich Waller. EO members are dynamic and successful. So is Rich Waller. EO members are focused, collaborative, professional sponges for business best practices and valuable experiences, learning from other people’s trials and frustrations and sharing better ways of doing business. So is Rich Waller. Interestingly, the documented Entrepreneurs’ Organization core values almost parallel Waller’s professional and private life. “A thirst for learning; make a mark – create something worthwhile and build a legacy out of passion for the business; trust and respect people; and (borrowing from Captain Kirk) boldly go with a willingness to take risks.” “Since I was very young, I have always enjoyed learning. And I still do. Added to all the other things the Entrepreneurs’ Organization does, we create a tremendous learning environment,” he says with energized enthusiasm. “It is peers with a solid set of similar core values and the vision to enable other members to openly discuss business goal strategies, successes,

Public Companies • Business

Managing Risk in Emerging Markets By Tricia Radison

Emerging markets have seen significant growth and expansion recently, creating opportunities for corporations and investors to expand into developing countries, discover new resources and identify new markets. But, operating in these markets poses potential risks that organizations need to be aware of and manage with effective risk management strategies. A Consultation Paper, issued by the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange (collectively, the “Exchanges”) in December 2012 underscores the importance of risk management in emerging markets and cites reasons why companies need to take action. “The Exchanges provide oversight of reporting issuers to strengthen capital markets and protect the interests of investors. The Consultation Paper proposes specific guidance and requirements applicable to listing of Emerging Market Issuers (EMIs) listed on the Exchanges,” explains James Fuerderer, CA, a Public Companies Advisor with MNP in Calgary. The paper focuses on the potential risks associated with listing EMIs and proposed measures that may mitigate the identified risks. For example, in the area of management and corporate governance there are a number of potential risks. They include lack of knowledge about Canadian regulatory requirements, the inability of the board of directors and management to communicate in a common language, and a lack of local business knowledge in the jurisdiction in which the business is operating. “To deal with that, the Exchanges want you to have at least one independent director with public company experience and significant knowledge of and experience in the foreign jurisdiction. Senior officers and directors should all be fluent in a common language, and at least some of them should be fluent in the primary language of the emerging market jurisdiction. They also need to have a good understanding of local laws and Canadian securities law,” says Fuerderer.

Other risks noted by the Exchanges are:

• • • • • •

Insufficient auditor experience and expertise Inadequate internal controls Insufficient CFO and audit committee expertise Lack of understanding of tax and foreign ownership restrictions Invalid title to principal operating assets Inability to legally operate in the emerging market jurisdiction

Fuerderer says that the first step for public companies is determining where they are at risk and what actions need to be taken to satisfy the Exchanges. In some cases, there are options in how to respond. For instance, EMI’s can obtain a legal opinion to support the validity of the corporate structure or engage a sponsor from a participating organization of the Exchanges to provide an independent due diligence and review of the listing merits of the issuer. “At MNP, we have significant experience working with EMIs throughout the world,” says Fuerderer. “We’re also a member of Praxity, which gives us access to over 100 fully independent firms. This allows us to ensure that EMIs have the kind of state-of-the-art accounting, assurance, corporate finance and tax advisory services they need—no matter where they are—to facilitate global business expansion.” Expansion into jurisdictions outside Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand presents many opportunities for public companies. Effectively managing the risks identified by the Exchanges and implementing strategies to mitigate those risks helps to ensure success in these new markets while protecting shareholders and your organization. James Fuerderer, CA, a Public Companies Advisor with MNP helps public companies comply with complex regulatory requirements, information security issues, managing shareholder expectations, privacy matters and investor relations. Contact James at 403.648.4155 or james.fuerderer@mnp.ca.

James Fuerderer, CA Public Companies Advisor MNP LLP 403.648.4155 James.fuerderer@mnp.ca

Rich Waller: The Consummate Entrepreneurial Spirit • Cover

He is anxious and gung-ho to start his one-year term as chapter president … to focus his own entrepreneurial spirit and lead his Calgary group of EO peers on an exceptional and valuable professional learning curve.

failures and ways to grow our businesses to the next level.” This will not only be a special year for Waller but, internationally, it is EO’s 25th anniversary year. Aside from exponential membership growth, likely nothing much will change for the widely-respected, solid but oddly (and intentionally) obscure and often misunderstood business organization. It’s often easier to explain what EO is not versus what it is. No official spokespersons. No issues, no policy stands, no position papers, no forecasts and no media releases. EO is not Rotary or the Lions nor do they pretend to be. No oath. No fundraising, although most EO members are active philanthropists and community boosters in their local areas. Membership is restricted, based solely on business criteria and contrary to some misperception, EO is not a “private club.” 42 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

As Waller readily explains it, “It’s entirely about networking and learning. It is a professional organization. Yes, there are intentional membership requirements based only on business volumes but EO is actually a huge, worldwide networking group where business leaders can compare notes, learn and share good discussion about ... business.” Somewhere, buried in the very brief Entrepreneurs’ Organization bylaws and officialdom, there is a formal mission statement that says it best: “to engage leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow.” That’s it. Simple and right to the point. Written and unwritten, EO does not allow shooting-fish-ina-barrel internal prospecting and drumming up business from within the group. It is a very, very serious and frowned upon no-no.

Rich Waller: The Consummate Entrepreneurial Spirit • Cover

(Clockwise from top left) 1: Rich and his family (daughter Emma, wife Jane, and son Anthony) on a glacier in Alaska as part of a dog sledding adventure. 2: EO Forum Retreat, jungle treking in Costa Rica. 3: Family vacation in the Caribbean; Blackbeard’s Castle in St Thomas. 4 & 5: EO Forum retreat last fall - the retreats balance adventure and learning. (4): Surfing adventures in Nosara, Costa Rica; and (5): Learning to handle stress in a high-paced environment from educators in the US military preparing soldiers for combat. 6: Rich participating in the 26-mile New York Marathon.

A misunderstood but key membership requirement is that members own at least a 25 per cent share in their business and that the business must generate more than $1 million in annual revenues. For some, the pricey membership rules may seem exclusionary but they are intentional. As Waller explains, the purpose is to have a network of peers in similar types of business situations who cannot only relate to each other but openly share experiences and network. After some finicky digging into the Entrepreneurs’ Organization files and considering the group’s sometimes controversial membership criteria, it seems the incoming Calgary chapter president Waller is in the right place at the right time. The EO concept and formula is definitely working – it’s established and it enables the organization itself to be very

serious business. The total revenues of all (8,000+) global EO members is a staggering $160 billion, employing more than 1.8 million staff in all kinds of businesses around the world. The average age of members of this unique business networking organization is 41. That prompts Waller to grin and shrug, being outside that one particular EO zone. He is anxious and gung-ho to start his one-year term as chapter president, not only for new ideas to enhance his Foothills Industrial Products business but the opportunity to focus his own entrepreneurial spirit and lead his Calgary group of EO peers on an exceptional and valuable professional learning curve. Besides, adding “president of EO Calgary” to his other energizing day parts will only reinforce Rich Waller’s professional and personal credentials as a true marathon man. BiC www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 43

The Mammoth Move • Transportation

The Mammoth

hen Imperial Oil decided to go ahead with its Kearl oilsands project in 2009, things were hopping in the oilpatch. Alberta-based manufacturers of large equipment were at capacity, and while Imperial managed to squeeze the majority of its prefabricated equipment needs into Alberta shops, the company had to look beyond our borders to manufacture about 20 per cent of the project’s equipment. As it turns out, Imperial had to go all the way to South Korea for 207 enormous modules that would be an essential part of the Kearl project. Located 70 kilometres north of Fort McMurray is the Kearl oilsands project, jointly owned between Imperial Oil (operator) and ExxonMobil Canada. Having begun production near the end of Q1 this year, it will be one of Canada’s 44 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

largest open-pit mining operations with the initial stage of the $12.9-billion project expected to reach 110,000 barrels per calendar day (bcd) in 2013. A future $8.9-billion expansion will boost that number to a total licensed production of 345,000 bcd by 2020. This kind of heavy production requires heavy equipment and Imperial turned to an experienced South Korean firm to get the job done. Fabricated by Sung Jin Geotec, the modules ranged from vessels to pipe-rack structures and other components that would serve to process Kearl bitumen for transport by pipeline. While the manufacture of equipment of this scale is a feat in and of itself, getting it from a seaport in South Korea to the oilsands in northern Alberta proved to be a journey of epic proportion.

The Mammoth Move • Transportation

Move An enormous transport of 207 prefabricated modules from South Korea to the Alberta oilsands highlights the logistical innovations … and potential pitfalls … of mega-moves. BY MARLENE KOZOWAY Weighing up to 300,000 pounds and measuring 30 feet high by 24 feet wide by 200 feet long, the original modules that came from Korea couldn’t fit under interstate overpasses so Imperial chose a more rural trucking route. Photo courtesy of Imperial Oil.

The first of 207 modules sat in Lewiston, ID for months waiting for court battles with citizen and environmental groups to clear the way. Imperial eventually had to disassemble the modules to nearly half their original size to accommodate a new route on interstate highways. Photo courtesy of Imperial Oil.

The journey began in Ulsan, South Korea where Sung Jin has been manufacturing power, process and offshore modules in five different factories since 1982. Prefabricating equipment like reactors, vessels, columns and regenerators, for refinery, petrochemical and oil and gas processing plants, Sung Jin has clients all over the world from Africa to Alberta including Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP, Suncor and others. The first 33 of 207 modules, representing a total $250-million investment, left the Ulsan port by ocean liner in early 2011 for a two-week journey to Vancouver, WA – but crossing the Pacific was the easy part. Pius Rolheiser, a spokesperson for Imperial Oil, says there are thousands of details to consider when transporting

equipment that can weigh more than 300,000 pounds and measure up to 24 feet wide, 30 feet high and 200 feet long. “We originally planned to move the modules by ocean vessel to the Port of Vancouver, WA and then barge them to Lewiston, ID via the Columbia-Snake River system and then truck them via U.S. Highway 12 and other highways through Idaho and Montana to the Canadian border,” he explains. “The size of the modules determined the route that we took. We looked at numerous routes on both sides of the border but because of closed bridge structures, underpasses and so on, we had to go with the Highway 12 route.” The massive shipment arrived safely in Vancouver, WA in early 2011 and made its way by barge to Lewiston. But it www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 45

The Mammoth Move • Transportation

The 207 Korean-made modules represent 20 per cent of Kearl’s total equipment, shown in place here prior to start-up. Photo courtesy of Imperial Oil.

The first Kearl modules made their way from the Port of Vancouver, WA to the Port of Lewiston, ID by barge via the Columbia-Snake River system. Photo courtesy of Imperial Oil.

The Kearl modules arrived at the Port of Vancouver, WA after an 8,500-km ocean liner journey from Ulsan, South Korea. Photo courtesy of Imperial Oil.

46 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

was there that Imperial hit a snag that would end up costing the company months in delays and millions of dollars. Citizen and environmental groups opposed the transport of the modules via the planned rural roads and, claiming the Idaho and Montana Departments of Transportation failed to perform adequate environmental assessments, filed injunctions with the district courts to prevent the loads from taking their original route on Highway 12. After months of negotiations and court battles, Imperial developed a plan to reduce the size of the modules and modify the route. “The original 33 modules sat in Lewiston for six to eight months through the court proceedings,” says Rolheiser. “Then we began the massive task of disassembling the modules to make them small enough to transport on the

The Mammoth Move • Transportation

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interstate highways.” Imperial hired 200 people to break up the 33 modules into 60 smaller units – a job Rolheiser estimates required 5,000 to 6,000 person-hours of work and cost of at least $500,000 per module. Using an alternative route from the Port of Lewiston, the smaller loads could be trucked up U.S. Highway 95 to Coeur d’Alene, east along I-90 into Montana and north on Interstate 15 to Canada. The remaining modules also had to be disassembled at the Port of Pasco in Washington as well as in Korea before making their way along the new route. Once across the border, the modules were reassembled in Nisku, near Edmonton, before making their way up to the Kearl site. The last of the modules arrived in the summer of 2012 for installation – about a year after the first of the modules left Lewiston. The marathon move, managed by the Edmonton branch of Netherlands-based Mammoet, took three years from planning through to installation in Q1 of 2013. The cost? Rolheiser says that’s not public information. At the time of printing, Kearl was poised to produce its first barrel – beginning an entirely new journey of bitumen from sand to market – but that’s another story. BiC

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Mammoth Move Fast Facts THE PROJECT Imperial Oil/Exxon’s Kearl oilsands project costing a total of $21.8 billion with an expected 4.6 billion barrels of bitumen over several decades.

THE EQUIPMENT 207 modules of vessels, pipe-racks and other bitumen processing equipment that weighed up to 300,000 pounds and measured up to 24 feet wide, 30 feet high and 200 feet long each and representing about 20 per cent of the plant’s overall equipment inventory.

THE MANUFACTURER Sung Jin Geotec., South Korea

THE MOVER The Edmonton branch of Netherlands-based Mammoet.

THE JOURNEY Approximately 8,500 km from Korea to Vancouver, WA and another 2.500 from Vancouver to Kearl for a total of 11,000 km by ocean liner, barge and truck.

THE TIMELINE Three years: Planning began in May 2008. The first 33 modules left Korea in mid-2011 and the last modules arrived at Kearl in July 2012.

THE PRICE TAG The Equipment: $250 million The Move: Unavailable

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Calgary, the Big Draw • Tourism

Calgary, the Big Draw BY PARKER GRANT

Regional tourists choose Calgary as a kind of urban getaway for arts, culture, concerts, rafting down the Bow, shopping, dining… International tourists choose Calgary mostly because we are world famous for the Rockies… Photos, this page, by Jay Russell.

getaway for arts, culture, concerts, rafting down the Bow, algary welcomes (and appreciates) tourists. They eat shopping, dining, and the Flames and Stampeders. Internain our restaurants, drink in our clubs, shop in our tional tourists choose Calgary mostly, but not exclusively, stores, stay in our hotel rooms, ride our taxis, pump a because we are world famous for the Rockies. They stay in billion dollars into our economy and (last year) $48 million Calgary and tour Banff and the foothills. Last year’s World just into city coffers. Junior Hockey Championships were a big draw and the CalTourists are thrilled and amazed by the view of the Rockgary Stampede and the Calgary Zoo each set new attendance ies, puzzled by our north, south, east, west directions but records with nearly 1.5 million visitors flooding through they don’t mind lining up for the Calgary Tower and lovably the gates. And Spruce Meadows has also become a popular ask if we all have boots and cowboy hats. international tourist draw. While all tourists get Calgary’s uniquely cos“North American tourists, from mopolitan version of western hospitality, the throughout Canada and the U.S., choose global travel and tourism industry splits the facts Calgary for all of the above. No doubt and figures into two related but separate categoabout it,” he professionally (and personries: business tourism and leisure tourism. ally) raves, “Calgary is a very, very hot Most business tourists come here because tourist destination.” they have to – either for meetings and other Williams and his high-energy team are work-related reasons or for the terrifically proud to recite amazing 2012 Calgary organized events and activities of Calgary’s tourism facts and figures. It was not only booming convention calendar. a historically banner year for Calgary tourLeisure tourists come here because they ism but it was a year of many milestones want to. that may not be topped for several years. “Different tourist markets have different More than 5.2 million visitors put motives for coming to Calgary,” beams Randy more than $1.4 billion into local cash Williams, the gregarious and gung-ho Tourregisters, and at various Calgary attracism Calgary president and CEO. “Regional tions, festivals and special events. That’s tourists choose Calgary as a kind of urban Randy Williams, president & CEO, Tourism Calgary.

www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 49

Calgary, the Big Draw • Tourism

Last year’s World Junior Hockey Championships were a big draw and the

Photo

s, this

page,

by Che

r Com

pton.

Calgary Stampede and the Calgary Zoo each set new attendance records with nearly 1.5 million visitors flooding through the gates. tor, followed in order by the U.K., Germany, Australia, Japan up more than 6.5 per cent from the year before. According and suddenly China. to the impartial Conference Board of Canada (for the second “For 200 years the Americans never had to worry about year in a row) Calgary ranks number one out of nine Canabranding their country. They were the centre of the tourist dian metropolitan markets for growth in visitors and growth universe with Hollywood, Florida, New York City, Disney in visitor spending. and Vegas. Now they have injected $200 million into their Even Tourism Calgary’s own dynamic and punchy visitcalBrand USA project, to not only intentionally poach Canadigary.com website broke records for tourist interest traffic with ans but target two of our key international tourist markets: nearly one million hits, more than doubling the 2010 interest. the U.K. and Japan. It’s extremely fierce competition, all of “Calgary tourism has worked terrifically hard and earned a sudden,” Williams warns. the tremendous growth and success. By all indicators, the There is consensus that the colossal new tourism facmomentum will continue,” says a confident and upbeat tor and opportunity for Alberta (and especially Calgary) is Royce Chwin, vice president, marketing and communicaChina. Until three years ago, only a few Chinese tourists tions, for Travel Alberta. actually visited Canada, because Chinese visa restrictions He must be provincially neutral and fair, and share the limited travel to Canada only for business enthusiastic Travel Alberta boosting with trips. It all changed in December 2009, when Edmonton, Red Deer, Rocky View (the home the Chinese government granted “Approved of the tourist-popular CrossIron Mills) CanDestination Status” to Canada. more, Banff and other Alberta areas – as well The decision meant that, for the first time, as Calgary. Chinese travel agents were allowed to advertise But, in the words of the iconic comic book and organize group tours to Canadian destinahero Popeye, facts is facts. tions and Canada could advertise in the Chinese “Calgary is such a potent draw for tourism market. And what a market. With a staggering that the city is now in competition and going population of 1.3 billion and a quickly growup against countries,” he explains the daunting middle class, tourism industry insiders like ing but proud logic. “By any standard that is Travel Alberta and Tourism Calgary are revved ambitious and impressive. Industry reality is and ready with their newly targeted pitches. that tourism has never been more competiChwin underscores some highlights of the tive than it is today.” Travel Alberta promotional blitz – includRoyce Chwin, vice-president, In terms of numbers of visits to Alberta, Global Marketing & Communicaing the Remember to Breathe video and TV undisputedly the U.S. is the biggest contributions, Travel Alberta. 50 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Houseboat

Vacations

Perfection, surrounded by sea... Breathtaking beaches, world-class golf,

photo: James Ingram

photo: John Sylvester

exceptional theatre. It’s summer on Prince Edward Island!

Prince Edward Island’s latest brand identity,

This national memorial to the founding of the

“The Gentle Island,” is a natural expression of the

country is best known as the home of The

province’s pastoral green countryside, red cliffs, and

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Anne of Green Gables–The Musical™

heroes, and the strength of the human spirit into one sensational journey. Also showing is Dear Johnny Deere—a poignant new musical inspired by the music of Ontario country legend, Fred Eaglesmith and written by Calgarian, Ken Cameron. As well, Confederation Centre presents free daily outdoor musical theatre, walking tours, shopping and dining, and the largest art gallery east of Montreal. Come visit us this summer!

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than doubled and in some cases quadrupled. When he started booking Chinese-language tours some 16 years ago, five or six people used to be an average-sized group. Now he’s busy with his 15-20 professional guides on the ready and booking groups of 25-30. “Until three years ago, the average Chinese person could not get a visa to Canada. Now, everybody can get one and they are very interested. Many come from Shanghai, some from Beijing and, of course, Hong Kong,” he explains. “Most of today’s Chinese tourists are between 30 and 50 years old and they have money to spend.” Huang says most of his groups land in Vancouver for a few days and then come east. The major rearea Photo credit: John Pierce Photo Sport International UK USA Asia sons why they come to Calgary is for side trips to the Rockies, Lake Louise, Banff, Jasper, the ColumColum Tour of Alberta bia Icefields and ... shopping. “They really like Eleven Alberta communities will serve as the official host communities for the inaugural year shopping at CrossIron Mills.” of the Tour of Alberta pro cycling event over six days at the beginning of September. While the There is some serious urgency and Calgary has detailed 850-kilometre route for the Tour of Alberta is still being finalized by the event organizers – the Alberta Peloton Association (APA) – Edmonton will be the start with world-class racers some important work to do, being ready for not only cycling through Alberta’s industrial heartland, down rural roads through central Alberta, circling the Chinese tourism but also tourism from other through the Canadian Badlands, climbing the Rockies through Kananaskis Country with the final emerging international markets like India and Brazil. stage winding through the foothills to the exciting finish line in downtown Calgary, on Sunday, “Direct air access and suitable airport facilities are September 8. critical factors for attracting the international tourtour ist,” Chwin urges. “We’re working closely with the Calgary Airport Authority to do whatever it takes commercial which has earned several North American and to get direct Chinese airlines flights into Calgary.” international tourism awards and went viral last year, getTourism Calgary’s Randy Williams is optimistic, not only ting 1.7 million hits on YouTube. The commercial has been about the airport as a clincher for increased tourism from adapted for the Chinese market, is already on China’s version China but about the crucial factor that the expanded Calgary of Twitter and is running as a pre-movie commercial in 56 airport will be for city’s tourism growth in general. “The airtheatres in Shanghai and Beijing. port is doubling in size. The expanded runways will be ready Few Calgary tourism professionals know the positive new by 2014 and the new terminal by 2015. It is, by far, the bigopportunity better than Edward Huang, the operator of Calgary gest infrastructure project in Calgary history. Tours, catering mostly to visitors from Taiwan, Hong Kong, “And the pandas are coming to the Calgary Zoo. Is this a South Asia and China. Huang says the numbers have more great city or what?” he roars with a hearty laugh. BiC

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56 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

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May Update â&#x20AC;˘ Real Estate

May

Real Estate Update Change is afoot within the residential real estate market in Calgary, but experts anticipate moderate and manageable fluctuations in the coming months BY HEATHER RAMSAY

algary is a vibrant, interesting city of diversity, character and opportunity. Recently named the best place to live in Canada by an annual survey conducted by MoneySense magazine that was based upon employment, housing prices, crime, weather and household income, it also a city in constant flux and adaptation. One significant area of interest and recent shift has been within residential real estate. According to the Calgary Real Estate Board, the month of March saw the lowest levels of inventory of active homes for sale in more than half a decade. With fewer and fewer new listings coming on stream, new listings dropped by five per cent over the previous year, were five per cent

Becky Walters, president of the Calgary Real Estate Board.

58 â&#x20AC;˘ May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Ken Rigel, realtor with Ken Rigel Group at Royal Lepage Foothills.

May Update • Real Estate

Voted by you!

“In a tightening market such as Calgary’s, it is ever more important for buyers to engage the expertise and experience of a real estate agent.” ~ Becky Walters, president, Calgary Real Estate Board lower in the first quart of the year, and March sales growth dropped by over two per cent in comparison to the same month in 2012. Albeit activity stood remotely higher than February of 2013, it was still far below levels a year ago. In March of this year, there were just 4,006 active listings. At the time of publishing, the benchmark price of a single-family home was $446,500, which was still 8.6 per cent higher than the same time last year. And just what does all of this mean? According to Becky Walters, president of the Calgary Real Estate Board, we are seeing a moderate shift in real estate within Calgary and area. “With lower inventory than

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www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 59

May Update • Real Estate

“Unlike other major cities in the country, we have already experienced significant price recovery and all indications are that we will continue to see moderate price growth within the local market.” ~ Ann-Marie Lurie, chief economist, Calgary Real Estate Board quickly. We are also seeing a shift in we’ve seen in years, sellers are in far the average price of homes. More and greater control and buyers have less more buyers are looking at a $750,000 choice and are therefore motivated to $1,000,000-priced property. They to purchase or find alternate options know they are going to get desirable in different markets or communiland, value in their home and access ties,” says Walters. “Homes are selling to the lifestyle and amenities,” says quickly and with ongoing limited Rigel. “We know we are amidst a marinventory, we are seeing increasing ket transition and seeing the interest pressure on pricing.” in other markets is encouraging. It will Walters goes on to explain that the also be interesting to see how the new overall economic trends in the United home market is affected in the balance States and Canada over the past year of the year.” had been hinting at the current state He goes on to state: “There is no of affairs. Markets in the U.S. and Cansecret that Alberta lives and dies by the ada have gained moderate strength oil and gas industry. As we continue and changes in real estate rules and to embark on the new and tenuous uncertainty in the global economy Ann-Marie Lurie, chief economist with the Calgary Real Estate Board. pipeline and projects, there is much all play significant roles in what we hanging in the balance for many. Sellare experiencing today. “There are a ers need to ensure their properties are well presented, priced multitude of variables at play in every market and Calgary appropriately and that they don’t become greedy. Today’s is now seeing spill over into other markets such as conbuyers must educate themselves, find a knowledgeable and dominiums, apartments, new homes and other towns and responsive agent, and be ready to pull the trigger and buy if communities, due to the reduction in inventory in singlethe property is right. Waiting, wondering and thinking too family homes. In a tightening market such as Calgary’s, it is long will mean missing out,” explains Rigel. ever more important for buyers to engage the expertise and As reduction in inventory continues and price gains are experience of a real estate agent. They have the finite pulse establishing momentum, experts such as Ann-Marie Lurie, on what is happening within any specific community and chief economist with the Calgary Real Estate Board, are conare able to jump on new properties quickly.” scientious in their projections. “There is no question that we In the month of March, condominium townhouse sales are seeing a shift in the local residential real estate market. activity continued to rise. As new listings increased over Calgary’s enduring economic state, pending developments March of 2012, sales slid by nearly three per cent. With more and net migration are indications that albeit the singleproduct available within this market, pricing continues to family home market is being depleted, there continues to remain affordable. The condominium townhouse benchbe opportunity for growth in other market segments. Unlike mark price in March was $286,800, which is a four per cent other major cities in the country, we have already experiincrease, year-over-year. Apartments saw a six per cent enced significant price recovery and all indications are that increase in benchmark price over the year previous, sitting we will continue to see moderate price growth within the at $257,700. local market.” Ken Rigel, realtor with Ken Rigel Group at Royal LepSo as we overtake Ottawa as the best place to live in Canage Foothills, is optimistic that the recent tightening in the ada, the top place to raise kids and the top large city in the single-home market will spur potential sellers to list their country, Calgarians can also take some comfort in knowing properties and buyers to consider other options. “Calgary that while the local real estate market is in flux, it continues is currently under-listed and we are seeing prices start to to be above par compared to other major cities. High creep upwards. We simply don’t have the inventory within incomes, an abundance of jobs, feverish entrepreneurship the single-family home market that we have had in the and opportunities of varying type and degree are all a part past. That being said, there is certainly a trend in hot spots of being a Calgarian and will no doubt help us all surf the such as Aspen, Altadore and Hillhurst. Properties that are proverbial undercurrent. BiC in good shape, priced well and presented well are moving 60 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

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Environmental Checkup • Friends of the Environment

Environmental Checkup Business in Calgary takes a look at the city’s progress in meeting its sustainability targets BY CAMIE LEARD

his is the story of a city in motion. After years of explosive growth and extensive consultation and planning around Calgary’s long-term sustainability, the City of Calgary is now taking the ﬁrst steps in bringing our city in line with environmental leaders around the globe. Tanya Lang, an environmental specialist with the City of Calgary, has been working on achieving the environmental targets set out in the 2020 Sustainability Direction – a 10-year strategy developed in 2010 to support the achievement of Imagine Calgary’s 100-year goals. “We have set out a number of goals and target areas to focus on between now and 2020 with long-term sustainability in mind,” she says. The goals include: • GHG Reduction • Brownﬁeld Remediation • Air Quality • Waste Management • Urban Biodiversity • Water Quality/Quantity • Smart Growth and Mobility

62 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Resources To learn more about Calgary’s environmental picture, see: • 2010 State-of-the-Environment Report at calgary.ca • Calgary 2020: The City of Calgary’s 10-Year Plan towards ImagineCalgary at calgary.ca • Calgary Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan at calgary.ca • Sustainable Calgary’s 2011 State of Our City Report at sustainablecalgary.org

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While the city has yet to publish new numbers, making it difﬁcult to track actual progress, a few of the current initiatives and their impact include:

GHG Reduction Community greenhouse gas emissions increased almost five per cent between 2005 and 2009, prompting the city to take a closer look at its own operations as well as the community at large. “Internally, we have systems in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in city operations,” says Lang, “including using green electricity contracts where electricity use is offset by renewable resources, energy efficient street and traffic lights, LEED gold standard requirements on new buildings and other initiatives.

Calgary is considered a leader in waste water treatment allowing us to safely return the vast majority of our treated water to the river system through plants like the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant shown here. Courtesy of the City of Calgary.

Calgary’s State of the Environment at a Glance Land • Calgarians’ ecological footprint is higher than the Canadian average and energy use continues to make up the largest portion of our ecological footprint at 71 per cent. • In 2009, Calgary adopted “Plan It,” an integrated municipal development plan and Calgary transportation plan supporting sustainable growth over the next 60 years. The plan focuses on public transportation and pedestrian-friendly communities as well as cycling infrastructure. • More than 690 natural areas make up more than 50 per cent of the park space in Calgary. • The city’s blue cart recycling program launched in 2009 to approximately 300,000 single-family homes and is expected to increase residential recycling by 75 per cent.

Air • Air quality in Calgary can usually be described as good, but new provincial and federal standards are under development and could result in more rigorous standards in Calgary. • Calgary Transit has become the most common commuting method to and from downtown during weekday rush hours but Calgarians continue to rely on their vehicles for trips throughout the city.

Water • The city is on track to meet its target of reducing total per capita demand to 350 litres per day by 2033. To help achieve this goal, council approved universal water metering to be completed by the end of 2014. Source: City of Calgary’s 2010 State-of-the-Environment Report

64 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Environmental Checkup • Friends of the Environment

The city recently completed an organics composting pilot project of 7,500 homes in four communities including Cougar Ridge shown here. Calgary will look to the private sector to help build a large-scale composting facility. Courtesy of the City of Calgary.

“We hope to lead by example and we have made significant advancements in lowering our GHG emissions as a corporation. We don’t have a big stick to tell Calgarians, ‘You must do this.’ It’s more of a collaborative effort to set our citizens up for success.” Target: By 2020, GHG emissions will be reduced by 20 per cent.

Water Demand Water use is also a bragging point for Calgary. While our population has exploded over the last decade, our water consumption has actually gone down. Target: By 2020, accommodate Calgary’s population and align water supply with water demand; the per capita daily residential demand will be 210 litres per person per day.

Waste Management Six years ago, when the city took a close look at what was going into Calgary landﬁlls, it discovered that only 20 per cent of household, commercial and industrial waste was being diverted to reuse and recycling, while 80 per cent was destined for the dump. Dave Grifﬁths, director of waste and recycling services with the City of Calgary, says the city had to make a paradigm shift

in order to improve that ratio. “When we looked at the type of materials appearing at landﬁll sites we knew we had to stop seeing it as waste and start looking at it as resources.” So, in 2009, the city implemented its blue cart recycling program in an effort to move towards reversing the 20/80 diversion ratio. And it’s working. The city estimates that the blue cart program has increased the amount Calgarians recycle by 75 per cent. Target: By 2020, achieve 80 per cent diversion of waste from city-run landﬁlls.

The Big Picture Noel Keough is an assistant professor of sustainable design at the University of Calgary and the founder and current board chair of Sustainable Calgary. He says Calgary’s doing a lot of things right – and a lot of things wrong. He says the C-Train, our land use policy, inner-city development plans and our water management are all points to be proud of. “Our rail-based transit system has been a resounding success reducing commuter automobile trafﬁc. Ridership is the best in North America for this style of system.” And while our LRT system enjoys exceptional ridership, transportation issues linked to urban sprawl continue to plague a city that drives more than any other in Canada. www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 65

Environmental Checkup • Friends of the Environment

The city’s blue cart recycling program, implemented with 300,000 single-family homes in 2009, is expected to increase recycling in Calgary households by 75 per cent. Courtesy of the City of Calgary.

So, when it comes to sustainability, Calgary presents a bit of a dichotomy. It’s at one of the greatest natural wonders of the world – the Rockies – with access to the world’s cleanest water, freshest air and most fertile land. “We’re shooting ourselves in the foot by continuing to build miles and miles of expensive new track as opposed to bolstering transit connections within established sections in the city,” he says, adding that light-rail transit services the very sprawl we’re trying to discourage. So, when it comes to sustainability, Calgary presents a bit of a dichotomy. It’s at one of the greatest natural wonders of the world – the Rockies – with access to the world’s cleanest water, freshest air and most fertile land. 66 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

The City of Calgary has implemented a number of internal initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions including adding electric vehicles to its corporate fleet. Courtesy of the City of Calgary.

On the other hand, it’s also major centre for oil and gas with a bad case of urban sprawl and an addiction to motorized vehicles. But with a growing population interested in creating new and innovative ways to build sustainability, Calgary is marching ahead – albeit more slowly in some areas than others – towards a greener future. BiC

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oss Gilker, CHRP demonstrates exceptionally strong community leadership values and provides support to a wide range of not for profit agencies which improve the quality of life for many people facing challenging circumstances. Through his riding team, called CycleTherapy, Ross has contributed to the fundraising of many important charities including the Alberta Cancer Foundation, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Kidsport Alberta and the Association for Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured (ARBI). Based on Ross’s personal experience with stroke, the work with ARBI has very significant meaning for him. Seeing how far Ross has come on his own path to recovery is truly an inspiration. CycleTherapy came into being when Ross was recovering from a stroke himself and cycling was part of his rehabilitation. Ross is tireless, not only in his own volunteering efforts, but by motivating other members of CycleTherapy to assume community leadership roles as well.

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elia Kohler, CHRP Candidate - has been an asset for Clique Hotels & Resorts since she started with the company in March 2012. Not only did she take the initiative to bring all Acclaim Hotel processes and procedures in line with current Alberta HR Standards, Celia also implemented safe work practices, created the entire staff incentive program and wholly designed the employee satisfaction program. This program was so innovative that it’s now being implemented at other Clique properties. Celia was the key in bringing about policies regarding Recruitment, Selection, Prevention of Bullying, Harassment, Violence and Equality. And to top it all off, Celia brought in new Environmental Responsibility policies as well, helping Acclaim Hotel acquire a 4th Green Key. Celia displays an extremely high work ethic and is a passionate and dedicated member of the Clique Hotels & Resorts team. With all she has accomplished so early in her HR career, the sky is the limit from here!

labour disruption can be one of the most challenging times for a Director of Human Resources. The NHL dispute was particularly unique in that the players were locked out but there were repercussions felt by employees across the organizations of the teams across North America. While many teams chose to take traditional approaches to cut costs, the Director of HR with the Edmonton Oilers, Tandy Kustiak, CHRP opted for a far more unique approach. Tandy recruited companies willing to go into secondment partnerships, whereby the Oilers would keep the employees on the payroll, maintain their benefits and pay a portion of their salaries while the partner companies would pay the balance of the salaries. The program was an instant success, as dozens of employees headed off to new work sites. Tandy’s dedication to this program has had an immeasurable impact on the culture within the Edmonton Oilers, and while this secondment project may be her crowning glory so far, you can’t help but think in the future she will have more innovative ideas that will have a profound impact on the culture of the company. 2 | HRIA CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE

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ervus Credit Union undertook the challenging task of converting its three banking systems into one unified banking platform. While the conversion primarily impacted operations, IT and accounting, the HR team played a key role in supporting the project team by forming an HR Task Force made up of senior managers from its functional areas, including Learning and Leadership Development, Change Management and Strategic Staffing. The HR Task Force was put into place to enable better integration of various HR functional areas and ensure a swift response to and support for different people aspects of the project. The HR Task Forceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate was also to bridge the gap between the conversion project and the organization when it came to addressing people impacts. Due to the work of the task force, the organization experienced minimal unanticipated employee or member impacts. Executives were directly engaged in communication activities on-site in branches and departments to provide required sponsorship for resulting changes. Leadership was provided with learning opportunities for change management coaching throughout the many months leading up to conversion. Thanks in part to the work of the HR Task Force, the system conversion was recognized as the most successful conversion that Servus and its legacy organizations have ever undertaken.

Front row (seated): Henriette Smith, Judy Ruth, Jana Radziewicz, Beate Maslanko, Nancy Pasquill, Jordan Pedersen Second row (seated): Carolyn Lesyshen, Kayla May, Melissa Boe, Jacqueline Elias Third row: Nancy Lussier, Treena Richards CHRP, Alice Bourget CHRP, Brenda Huizinga CHRP, John Hearn CHRP, Lisa Karpuk, Dan Bruinooge (Chief People and Corporate Services Officer) CHRP, Tannis Tetreault, Sandra Mellor, Blair Bilyk CHRP, Kim Yip, Nadim Chin Last row: Danny Fournier, Andrew Lawman CHRP, Daniel Leclair, Jennifer Corsi, Duane Clark, Kaitlin Olsen CHRP, Monika Alder, Kirk Nielsen

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oan Morgotch, CHRP has been with The Banff Centre for 31 years and will be retiring this spring. She has made diverse and invaluable contributions, in her career, Joan applied critical thinking to a wide range of situations and her energy and enthusiasm for her work engaged her audience and helped them buy into HR principles and practises that achieved retention. Joan relentlessly advocated for the importance of involving HR in matters that affected the functional areas. When Joan spoke, leaders listened as they respected her opinion and saw results when they followed her guidance. Her ideas and solutions always ensured the business values and needs of employees were considered along with the direction of the organization. Joan is a generous and skilled leader who takes any opportunity to empower individuals through information sharing, mentoring or networking. Because of Joan, staff know they are valued, leadership exists that appreciates the value of having an HR perspective in making strategic decisions for the organization and an HR department has been created that will be able to carry forward the values she has embedded in every facet of the Banff Centre.

enise Grondin, CHRP Director of Human Resources at Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) is a true example of an achiever. In a very short time, Denise has planned and completed a reevaluation and strategic direction for the compensation plan. She is an inspiration as an innovator and executor of her vision. Denise always seems to focus on innovative solutions to issues within the workplace. During a time of economic change, while other HR departments embarked on a restructuring campaign, Denise implemented the FIRST project that looked inside AIMCO and fostered growth and development from within. Her vision and persistence reduced the turnover by 21% and the costs of recruitment was reduced by 78%.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Denise Grondin CHRP

Denise’s excellence has been proven time and time again, her recommendations and policies introduced served as an inspiration to the people within AIMCO, now and will well into the future.

FELLOWSHIP AWARD Eldon Emerson FCHRP

ldon Emerson, FCHRP was the Chair of the founding Committee which collaborated over a number of years to develop key principles and operating terms to finally get independent groups to join under the then umbrella organization which led to the creation of HRIA. Eldon and the Board were not deterred by issues that arose because they knew the “CHRP” would become the recognized national brand for the HR profession and pushed ahead on developing the scope of what constituted professional practice of HR. Eldon was a strong advocate of recertification and the CHRP NOT being a permanent designation. He advocated PD as part of the raison d’etre of HRIA and that was reflected organizationally. If not for Eldon’s leadership and other committed Board members, HRIA may not have launched when it did. Eldon holds certificate #1, the first Certified Human Resources Professional designated by HRIA in 1991 and was granted Lifetime Membership by the Board in 1993. Eldon also served on the founding group that created the concept for a national HR body leading to the creation of the CCHRA. Eldon has been credited with leading innovative HR practices in the non-profit sector through his work in developing a shared services model for HR among six non-profit organizations in Edmonton. Eldon served as a founding board member for the HR Council of Not for Profit and chaired the Audit Committee, recently completing six years of service to this organization. www.hria.ca | May | 2013 | 5

LEADER OF THE YEAR Fran Parolin

Best Workplaces 2013 Canada

Devon employees put their energy, integrity and hard work into action.

Congratulations to Devon employee Fran Parolin, recipient of the Human Resources Institute of Albertaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leader of the Year Award. Advance your career in the oil and gas industry. Join Devon.

Commitment Runs Deep

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ran Parolin with Devon Canada Human Resources is a Learning and Organization Development Specialist. In addition to being an outstanding leader in volunteer role, she is a leader within her profession stemming from roles as a Business Leader and Team Lead, University Associate, Curriculum Consultant and Educator within her 27 years of her career. Her outstanding leadership style and her contributions to the organizations she has worked in are well respected. The foundation of her beliefs and work ethic whether personally or professionally is empowering people through a transparent approach. Within her career she has been an inspiration by creating a clear vision and empowering others to take the initiative to succeed. She provides possibilities, encourages, and never asks for more than she was willing to give of herself. Fran acts as both a mentor and a role model and is an individual who inspires by example. She says what she means, which allow others to trust her, motivate them to give her everything they have to give, and keeps people interested in their work. Through her openness she invites feedback because of her willingness for her own growth of learning. Fran is the epitome of an inspirational leader.

6 | HRIA CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE

Those who achieve the CHRP designation are at the leading edge of the HR profession in Canada. HRIA is proud to recognize the 241 new CHRP designates of 2012, congratulations to all for this achievement of excellence in HR! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW CHRP DESIGNATES OF 2012 Aaron Merkosky, CHRP Agatha Starczyk, CHRP Alycia Ho, CHRP Amanda Graham, CHRP Amanda Northcott, CHRP Amber Huniak, CHRP Amber Lienhardt, CHRP Ameera Bhatti, CHRP Amy (Eungyung) Lee, CHRP Andrea Brown, CHRP Aneela Ali, CHRP Anette Ceraficki, CHRP Angelica Yao, CHRP Angie Perras, CHRP Anjum Amin, CHRP Anli Bao, CHRP Anveshna Malik, CHRP Ashley Bacon, CHRP Ashley Petryshen, CHRP Ashley Trevelyan, CHRP Aundrea Sebjanic, CHRP Aura Popescu, CHRP Bernice Chan, CHRP Bess Leung, CHRP Blaise Lakusta, CHRP Brady Bajnok, CHRP Brianne Welch, CHRP Brittany Butterwick, CHRP Bryan Mosley, CHRP Caitlin Peacock, CHRP Calvin Chan, CHRP Carilene Agard, CHRP Carmen Pollock, CHRP Carolina Rojas, CHRP Carrie Manitopyes, CHRP Catherine Heggerud, CHRP Celia Stephanie Phaneuf, CHRP Charleen Pomerleau, CHRP Christina Baron, CHRP Christine Deagle, CHRP Christine Niemi, CHRP Christopher Burrows, CHRP Christopher Lui, CHRP Christopher Sopal, CHRP Christpetra (Petra) Okeke, CHRP Christy MacDonald, CHRP Cindy Go, CHRP Colleen Morgan, CHRP Connie Shieh, CHRP Corina Stevens, CHRP Cortney Peters, CHRP Crista Bobowski, CHRP Dana Boyko, CHRP Daniel Haberstock, CHRP Danielle Hook, CHRP Danielle Schramm, CHRP Danita Haysom, CHRP Darren Brown, CHRP David Whyte, CHRP Dean Bowles, CHRP Deanna Davies, CHRP Debbie Manovich, CHRP Dennis Gilson, CHRP Diane Little, CHRP

Dipti Sharma, CHRP Dmetri Berko, CHRP Edward Mowbrey, CHRP Edward Darrell Neuman, CHRP Elissa Hope Malone, CHRP Eri Fujio, CHRP Eric Fishleigh, CHRP Eric P. Thomas, CHRP Erika Federau, CHRP Evangeline Maurice, CHRP Evelyn Vendiola, CHRP Faye Johnson, CHRP Fiona Wong, CHRP Francois Fournier, CHRP Gillian Muhl, CHRP Gisele Wright, CHRP Heather Kennedy-Plant, CHRP Hemal Desai, CHRP Holly Underhill, CHRP Honorata Krzysiak, CHRP Ida On, CHRP Inderpreet Budesha, CHRP Jaclyn Bock, CHRP Jacqueline Vargas, CHRP Jane Osanife, CHRP Janelle Armstrong, CHRP Janet Warner, CHRP Jaylene MacDonald, CHRP Jeannie Hong, CHRP Jennie Vo, CHRP Jennifer Callicott, CHRP Jennifer Clarke, CHRP Jennifer Devolder, CHRP Jennifer Matthews, CHRP Jenny Beaudoin-Pigeon, CHRP Jenny Chia, CHRP Jessica Coulter, CHRP Jessica Rodrigues, CHRP Jessica Truong, CHRP Jessie Jones, CHRP Jill Mitchell, CHRP Jocelyn Doucette, CHRP Jodi Drozda-Murphy, CHRP Jodie Murray, CHRP Jody Jones, CHRP Joshua Emmerich, CHRP Joyce Wan, CHRP Julia Stabler, CHRP K. Lynn MacKinnon, CHRP Kaitlin Olsen, CHRP Karen Anderson, CHRP Kathryn Morgan, CHRP Katrina Gilroy, CHRP Kelly Mac Vicar, CHRP Kelly Waterhouse, CHRP Kerri Logan, CHRP Khristine Lavery, CHRP Krista Pearson, CHRP Krista Westly, CHRP Kristopher Bonnett, CHRP Lana Meaney, CHRP Lana Workman, CHRP Lanna Hojski, CHRP Laura French Meyers, CHRP

Leah Mawer, CHRP Leanna Kielau Craig, CHRP Leanne Randall, CHRP Linda McKeith, CHRP Linda Nguyen, CHRP Lindsay Hann, CHRP Lindsay Jacobsen, CHRP Lisa Shane, CHRP Lora-Lea Pitzel, CHRP Lori Kalwa, CHRP M. Grace VanderVelde, CHRP Majeda Fyith, CHRP Manveer Pnaich, CHRP Maria Bondarenko, CHRP Marianne Meijer, CHRP Marie Espina, CHRP Maris Bourdin, CHRP Marivic .L Cariaga, CHRP Mark Dyck, CHRP Marlane (Laini) Torgerson, CHRP Maya S. Kambeitz, CHRP Melissa Bellrose, CHRP Michael Downey, CHRP Michael MacLeod, CHRP Michele Rondot, CHRP Michelle Carlson, CHRP Michelle Kinzel, CHRP Michelle Shay, CHRP Michelle Unchulenko, CHRP Monique Goodwin, CHRP Mrinalini Jha, CHRP Nada Ladhani, CHRP Nasheena Chagani, CHRP Natasha Weisner, CHRP Nazia Viceer, CHRP Neil Palesh, CHRP Nicole Giler, CHRP Nicole Pasche, CHRP Nicole Quinn, CHRP Nicole West, CHRP Nikki Malcolm, CHRP Nina Benvenuto, CHRP Noorin Mitha, CHRP Pamela Nicol, CHRP Patrick Duffy, CHRP Paul Conway, CHRP Paul Dhanjal, CHRP Paul Rees, CHRP Paul van Steenbergen, CHRP Pinky Aulakh, CHRP Rajiv Sharma, CHRP Ran Tai, CHRP Reid Simonton, CHRP Rena Toor, CHRP Rhae Hansen, CHRP Rob Kilarski, CHRP Robin Lummerding, CHRP Robyn Wong, CHRP Rodney Miller, CHRP Ruby van den Hoff, CHRP Ryan Dimitriou, CHRP Ryan Harrison, CHRP Ryan Milligan, CHRP Sabine Dinnert, CHRP

Sabrina Khan, CHRP Sakulya Chandraratne, CHRP Sandhya Sharma, CHRP Sandy Metz, CHRP Sarah Boechler, CHRP Serena Staples, CHRP Shahenda Abou-Aly, CHRP Shalzah Visram, CHRP Shama Joynt, CHRP Sharon Colebrook, CHRP Shayantani Sarkar, CHRP Shujun (Sabrina) Zhang, CHRP Srimanti Nayak, CHRP Stacey Van Den Bussche, CHRP Staci Johnson, CHRP Stephanie Mongrain, CHRP Steve Peddie, CHRP Steven Ostopowich, CHRP Sujata Tadeparti, CHRP Sutton Bowers, CHRP Tabitha Bazely, CHRP Tammy Arseneau, CHRP Tammy Irving, CHRP Tanis Gee, CHRP Tegwen Jones, CHRP Teri Lawrence, CHRP Thomas Zabel, CHRP Thy Nguyen, CHRP Tiana Hanssen, CHRP Tiffany Keating, CHRP Tracey Nelson, CHRP Tracy Cook, CHRP Tracy Danis, CHRP Troy Davies, CHRP Tyler Jameson, CHRP Tynan Wong, CHRP Vanessa Lancaster, CHRP Vanessa Newby, CHRP Vanessa Pfunder, CHRP Veronica Thai, CHRP Victoria Hennessy, CHRP Vladislav Slavov, CHRP Wendy Allsopp, CHRP Wilhelmina Ashun-Codjiw, CHRP Wilma Li, CHRP Wing Chee Norraine Chan, CHRP Zaheen Mohammed, CHRP Zhiying Qi, CHRP Zoe Walton, CHRP

For details on what the CHRP designation can bring to your career or organziation visit

www.CHRPAlberta.ca

HUMAN RESOURCES INSTITUTE OF ALBERTA

www.hria.ca | May | 2013 | 7

FOOTHILLS ELECTRIC LTD.

A Powerful History Foothills Electric Ltd. Celebrates 40 Years Written and photographed by Camie Leard Muriel and Zygmond Piebiak

or as long as he can remember, Zygmond Piebiak has been a tinkerer. The son of Polish immigrants, Piebiak was born and raised in a log cabin on a farm near Eaglesham, Alberta where he rode horses, helped his parents farm wheat, barley and canola and, of course, fixed things. “Mechanical, electrical, it didn’t matter,” he says. “That’s just the kind of person I am. I want to know how things work and how to fix them. And I do.” This fascination with the inner workings of machinery led Piebiak to the commercial radio operator program at SAIT in 1961 and while farming was in his heart (he purchased his own plot of land in 1962) the development of severe allergies meant that under doctor’s orders, he had to move to the city and pursue another passion – the electrical/electronics field.

“I began my apprenticeship August 23, 1965 and have never looked back,” he says. While building knowledge and experience as an electrician, Piebiak met his wife, Muriel, at a dance hall in April of 1965 and they married after a year of courtship. A partnership from the beginning, they started a family. Three sons and seven years later, the two opened their own company, Foothills Electric Ltd. in 1973. “We’ve had 47 years of marriage and 40 years of working together,” says Piebiak. “She does the accounting and I do the electrical work. It’s important to have that division in a partnership – we each bring different things to the business.” It’s a business that was built on exceptional service and decades of expertise in fixing electric motors, pumps, welders and other machinery. Foothills has become known

Transmission Supplies Ltd. Your Bearing & Power Transmission Specialist 503 – 42 Ave SE, Calgary | 403-243-3261 www.transmissionsupplies.ca

Congratulations Foothills Electric on your 40th anniversary! Foothills Electric Ltd. | 40th Anniversary

“Be honest and do good work for people as all customers are kings. It’s that simple.”

Zygmond Piesiak

throughout the city, and across the country, as the place that can fix the unfixable. Just last month the team worked on a generator that was manufactured in Calgary in 1934 by Esco Electric Manufacturing – the first electrical company started in 1920. “We repair the things no one else works on,” says Piebiak. “We get phone calls all day from all over the place asking questions and we’re happy to offer an answer where other people couldn’t.” Quick with a joke or a tale from days gone by, Piebiak engages customers easily. From everyday homeowners to construction, mining and oil and gas operations, he and Muriel have built a loyal clientele. Like all industries, though, the electrical field has gone through great change over the last four decades. “Things used to be built to be repaired when they broke down,” explains Piebiak. “Now they’re built to be replaced – it’s like that with everything from electrical/electronics to cars – everything is disposable.” So, to stay relevant in a changing market, Zygmond, Muriel and their son, Doug, expanded operations to include the distribution of electrical products. Foothills sells electric deep well motors and pumps, battery chargers, electric motors, genera-

tors and other electrical equipment and is the only licensed Canadian distributor of Surge Pure surge protection bringbring ing the likes of the Calgary International Airport, the Alberta Health Region and other major clients to Foothills. At 70 years old, and after 40 years of entrepreneurship, Piebiak has only begun to think about retirement … well … semi-retirement. He has other passions to explore including writing and western art – especially the work of C.M. Russell. “I’d like to start a C.M. Russell museum – I have more than 650 framed prints of his work,” he says. “I’d also like to write a book about the 4th Elks Triwood Scout Troop – it’s 100 years old and I’ve been with them 35 years. I have colcol lected data back to the date of June 1920 when the Scouts started and have plenty of stories to tell.” In the meantime, Piebiak will continue to tell his stories, fix electrical/electronics equipment and maybe even invent a gadget or two (he’s already created an electronic device to ease pain) all the while sticking to the formula that has kept their business running for four decades: “Be honest and do good work for people as all customers are kings,” he says. “It’s that simple.” •

www.foothillselectric.com

For Plumbers and Electricians

Congratulations for your 40th year, FOOTHILLS ELECTRIC LTD 1-866-969-3522 | ZYGMOND PIEBIAK

4215 - 64th Ave. S.E. 403.292.9111 | www.kristian.ca

Congratulations

to Foothills Electric Ltd.

on your

40th Anniversary! Foothills Electric Ltd. | 40th Anniversary

Calgary Stamp and Stencil Celebrates 110 Years of Service WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY CAMIE LEARD

The team at Calgary Stamp and Stencil

W 250 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 200 Quarry Park Blvd. SE, Calgary, AB T2C 5E3 Contact Wendy Sunderland, VP Business Development 403-767-1540

Congratulations to Calgary Stamp & Stencil on 110 years in business!

hen Dickenson Stamp Works opened on 6th Avenue in 1903, Calgary was a much different place. Then known as the Sandstone City (even the Calgary Stampede was yet to be), this was a town on the rise with schools, banks and mansions popping up all along the Bow River valley. It was a great time to be in the stamp business as new companies and organizations began to serve the burgeoning city â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and Mr. Dickenson was committed to serving them. One hundred and ten years later, the company, now known as Calgary Stamp and Stencil, has gone through more than a few changes. New locations, new ownership and new technology have kept the business growing and evolving over the decades and while lead typesetting has been exchanged for digital imaging and laser technology has replaced Bakelite plates, some things never change.

“We’ve always had that customer service piece,” says Calgary Stamp and Stencil’s current owner Dave Bell from the shop in northeast Calgary. “That is one thing our company has been known for throughout its history.” Providing excellent customer service starts with having excellent staff. Bell, who bought the company six years ago, says he’s always amazed at the people who make Calgary Stamp and Stencil the city’s largest provider of rubber stamps. “There is very little turnover,” he says. “We have staff who have been here nearly 30 years. The previous owner worked here for 45 years. We love what we do and we love serving our customers.” Calgary Stamp and Stencil customers are returning time and again not only for rubber stamps but for daters, corporate seals, name badges, stencils, metal tags, signage and more. Bell says catering to this niche helps keep the company competitive and well positioned to meet customer needs quickly.

“When you’re dealing with custom products, you have to be very good at what you do to get it right every time,” he says. “Our goal is to continue to accommodate our customers’ needs innovatively and reliably.” This kind of specialization and innovation coupled with a customer service strategy aimed at turning customers into raving fans allows Calgary Stamp and Stencil to offer the best of both worlds – a fast-paced, state-of-the-art shop with 110-year-old roots supporting good old-fashioned values that nurture loyal customer relationships. “When you run a business with this kind of legacy in the community, you feel an obligation to protect it and strengthen it,” says Bell. And he and his team are doing just that. Most of Calgary Stamp and Stencil’s customers have been with them for years – some going back decades. “We don’t have salespeople,” he explains. “Our business comes from repeat customers and word of mouth. We are focused on building customers for life and we’re very proud of that.” •

A recent survey of Calgary Stamp and Stencil’s customers reassures Bell that his team is doing all of the right things to ensure the company’s legacy is carried forward for many years to come. Here’s what some of them had to say: “Price is somewhat important, but your service is second to none. We are extremely happy with the quality of service we get from your company.” “Service, quality and price! We have been longtime customers and do not foresee going anywhere else for the services we require.” “Your company should be proud of the work it does.” “Service is always very professional, friendly and prompt.” “I’ve used Calgary Stamp for years because they’re great to work with. I haven’t looked at alternatives because there’s been no reason to change.” “The turnaround time is great, the product is always well made and the staff is great.”

www.calgarystamp.ca

Bon Ton Celebrates 90 Years!

reat service, the highest quality products available and a dedication to the community, that is what it takes to be the best, and the best is Bon Ton Meat Market. For the 11th consecutive year Bon Ton is being recognized as a Consumer Choice Award winner. “It’s telling us that we’re doing something right,” says operator Greg Keller. Now in its 91st year of operation, Bon Ton Meat Market has had some changes over the years, but the way they do business has always remained the same. The market dates back to 1921, when it was first located on the corner of 7th Avenue SW and Centre Street. The meat market has moved locations a couple of times since then, and ownership has changed, but the commitment to service, products and the community still remain their top priorities. Located in the Stadium Shopping Centre on Uxbridge Drive NW, Bon Ton has a long history in Calgary of giving people what they want and seeing them come back for more. In 1997 Fred Keller and his family became the sole owners of Bon Ton and it has been an integral part of the family ever since. Now run by Fred’s son Greg, the success of Bon Ton Meat Market is a shining jewel in a community that appreciates a well-run, community-minded business.

Bon Ton Meat Market

During the recession they hardly felt any change because they continued to operate in the same honest, professional way since their inception. And, unlike many businesses, they are bucking the trend, when it comes to employees. Staffing is the last place they make cuts. When a customer walks into Bon Ton, they will receive the undivided attention of a qualified staff member. They are never passed off or ignored. The atmosphere is fun, and the staff is informative. “We really encourage and strive to have a fun, friendly yet very professional atmosphere,” says Keller. “You need to have knowledge, experience and the skills necessary to prepare all the different cuts of meat properly. The meat cutters at Bon Ton share over 250 years of experience between them which is something we are very proud of,” says Keller. The products and services they offer have expanded, but the care and quality remains the same. Today’s Bon Ton Meat Market goes beyond being a premium meat market as they also have homemade pies, other prepared dishes and a full-service deli. In the end, it all goes back to serving the community and respecting the great customers and people who make up Calgary. “It’s extremely important to give back and be a part of the community that supports you.”

Hand-crafted excellence.

Bon Ton is proud to be your Consumer Choice Award winner for 13 years in a row 13 -time winner

Our friendly experienced staff are always around to help make sure any customer will be a returning customer.

403.282.3132 | www.bontonmeatmarket.com 78 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

View our website to see our full range of products and to create your personalized spindle and rail pattern with our custom railing design program. www.prestigerailings.com

2777 Hopewell Place NE Calgary (403) 250-1020 • Toll Free: 1-800-382-8502

Carlisle Group

Celebrates 30 Years

Carlisle Group Celebrates 30 Years By Mary Savage

Our philosophy is simple… For most people, buying a home is the single, largest investment they will make, but not everyone has the ability to enjoy home ownership and for many, it is simply out of reach. On a very simplistic level, think of the home market as a pyramid: with the lowest price of a home represented by a line drawn across the middle of the pyramid, thereby giving you two demographic groups – those who can afford a home (above the line) and those who cannot (below the line). The segment of people who qualify above the line grows increasingly smaller as the price of Calgary’s real estate continues to climb. But there is one company in Calgary

that’s working to change things. Enter the Carlisle Group. Carlisle takes great pride in introducing the advantages of home ownership to those people who otherwise might not be able to afford it, and it all begins with Carlisle’s simple business philosophy: to get their costs as low as possible and then pass those savings onto their customers, while not compromising quality, thus their mantra “eye on quality, focus on value.” “We could sell our homes for more, but that is not our business model,” says Brian Stoddard, president, Carlisle Group. “We operate with the same principles as Walmart – best value, high volume – and we work very hard to achieve that goal with a dedicated staff who believes in what we are doing.”

“We operate with the same principles as Walmart – best value, high volume – and we work very hard to achieve that goal with a dedicated staff who believes in what we are doing.” ~ Brian Stoddard, president, Carlisle Group Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 2

Randy Klapstein, CEO and Brian J. Stoddard, CA, President & COO. (Photo by Camie Leard)

Carlisle’s philosophy is not new, in fact when the company was originally established this same objective was a guiding principle. The Carlisle Group evolved from Pointe of View, a brand the company operated under for many years. The transition from Pointe of View to Carlisle was to facilitate the introduction of the current president, Stoddard, as a new shareholder, and to take the company in a different direction, which ironically, was a return to its original roots. “Over the years, the company has built in excess of 25,000 condominiums with projects in several locations in Canada and the United States, and we’ve learned that being spread out across several markets is not necessarily better than

concentrating on a few strategic markets,” says Randy Klapstein, CEO, Carlisle Group. “Developments across North America made for some interesting challenges and certainly that was the case when the U.S. market collapsed,” he adds. Klapstein is definitely not one to look back and dwell on the past, but if you press him he will tell you that he watched 80 per cent of the company’s balance sheet evaporate overnight when the U.S. market collapsed. “For a couple of years, there was a period when we were not having any fun,” says Stoddard. “We worked very hard to liquidate projects in a market that was spiralling down-

Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 3

As the design process unfolded, they developed a number of typical buildings that offered about a dozen different suite layouts.

ward. We had to honour our bank loans and that translated into two years of hard work: many late nights and long weeks.” In order to restore the company’s original objective of providing affordable housing, Carlisle started with a clean slate and focused on the Alberta market. They hired employees who brought decades of development experience to the business, and they worked with numerous professional consultants, suppliers and strategic trades to design very efficient homes that maximize usable space. As the design process unfolded, they developed a number of typical buildings that offered about a dozen different suite layouts. While the exterior of the buildings will vary, the interior design is consistent and this affords Carlisle a great opportunity to reduce their design cost on each building. It also reduces the planning time and brings greater efficiencies to their building schedules – all of which results in cost savings that benefit their customers. Not surprisingly, a Carlisle home offers great value and new homeowners are very pleased when they see a neighbour flipping their home for $20,000 to 30,000 more than

what they paid for it. “It makes us happy to see homeowners who have doubled or tripled the equity in their home the day they move in,” says Stoddard. However the company limits the number of homes that it will allow each person to purchase at a sales launch to two. The company wants to see the benefits of their labour benefit people who are actually going to live in the home. “Many of Carlisle’s customers are first-time homebuyers and purchasing a condominium fits their lifestyle today. But in a few years, they can take the equity that has accrued in their Carlisle condo and use it to purchase a single-family home when their lifestyle needs change,” adds Stoddard. Carlisle also sees a lot of people wanting to downsize and enjoy the carefree lifestyle that condominium ownership offers. “For baby boomers who are downsizing, do the math!” says Klapstein. “A person can sell a single-family home for $500,000, buy a Carlisle condominium and still put $300,000 (tax free) in the bank to advance their planned retirement date or have the option to purchase a second condo in a warmer climate – depending on lifestyle needs.”

“It makes us happy to see homeowners who have doubled or tripled the equity in their home the day they move in,” says Stoddard. Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 4

Leveraging our buying power… This year, Carlisle will see well over 2,000 condominiums go into production – representing a significant share of the 2013-projected multi-family starts in Alberta. Currently, Carlisle has 14 projects in development across Alberta, including Calgary, Edmonton, Airdrie and Cochrane. They offer about a dozen models in each of their projects, ranging in size from approximately 550 to 1,025 square feet. Prices start from the $120,000s to just over $200,000 and underground heated parking is available. To illustrate how Carlisle leverages their buying power, consider just the kitchen component in each one of these 2,000 condominiums. Projected production orders with manufacturers will likely be in excess of 2,000 standardized kitchens. As a developer and customer, consider the price difference: 200 kitchens versus 2,000 kitchens. As Klapstein would say, do the math … and these are savings that are then passed onto their customers. The company is constantly fine-tuning their processes and procedures to ensure they are as efficient as possible. The company invests heavily in technology: from equipping their site staff with iPads to manage the construction process to creating proprietary software to manage their customer database. And they continually search for better products and better pricing to pass onto their customers. “We are relentless in our quest for every opportunity to improve the way we do everything,” says Stoddard. The company also has strategic relationships with architects, structural

Vantage Pointe, San Diego (Photo courtesy of Carlisle Group)

Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 5

“Over the years, we have helped thousands of customers personalize their homes with a great selection of options.” ~ Connie Hamilton, options sales associate

(Photo courtesy of Carlisle Group)

engineers, envelope engineers and the list goes on. “Our professional consultants are charged with the responsibility to ensure that our buildings are being built to the highest standards and each professional consultant inspects our buildings at various stages of construction to insure the highest quality,” says Klapstein. Carlisle offers about a dozen different suite designs with something to fit most people’s taste. They also have a design centre where each customer selects their colours along with

any desirable options. “Over the years, we have helped thousands of customers personalize their homes with a great selection of options,” says Connie Hamilton, options sales associate. “Carlisle tries to maintain its philosophy of offering great value,” she adds. “We import the granite directly from overseas – allowing our customers the opportunity to upgrade their countertops to granite in the kitchen and bathrooms for less than $800 which is an unbelievable value.”

Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 6

Congratulations

Carlisle Group on your 30th Anniversary!

We value our relationship, and wish you many more years of success. 104, 10720 25th St. N.E., Calgary T3N 0A1 P: 403-250-6675 | F: 403-250-5284 www.csminteriors.ca | ben@csmsales.ca

Hoover Mechanical Plumbing & Heating would like to congratulate The Carlisle Group on 30 years of operation and best wishes for your continued success! Hoover Mechanical Plumbing & Heating Ltd. has operated as a full spectrum mechanical contractor serving Calgary and area since 1998. We have become one of the leading contractors for multifamily, institutional and commercial projects. Hoover Mechanical emphasizes both customer satisfaction as well as employee safety in all aspects of our business.

2005A 10th Avenue SW Calgary AB T3C 0K4 Phone: 403.217.5655 | Fax: 403.217.5646 www.hoovermechanical.com | info@hoovermechanical.com

Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 7

When Carlisle releases one of their new projects, it’s a big deal – a very big deal. Normally the popular event is held as a one-day sales launch event and it’s not uncommon to see hundreds of people in attendance. Customers are also given the opportunity to customize appliances, flooring, lighting, cabinets and fixtures. But here’s the good news: if you choose not to change the standard specifications, you will still have a great looking home. “There’s a lot of work that goes into selecting the standard features of a Carlisle condominium to ensure we are providing great value, quality and presentation,” says Hamilton. “The average customer only spends about $5,000 when selecting upgrades – they simply don’t find it necessary to spend a lot of money customizing their purchase.”

Always in demand…

Riverfront Pointe, Calgary (Photo courtesy of Carlisle Group)

When Carlisle releases one of their new projects, it’s a big deal – a very big deal. Normally the popular event is held as a one-day sales launch event and it’s not uncommon to see hundreds of people in attendance. During the release of a Calgary project, over 2,000 people attended and the project was sold out within a few hours. In Edmonton, one of their launch events could have easily been mistaken for a shot at getting esteemed rock concert tickets. “It’s crazy … we had people camped out overnight to get the best selection at the sales launch,” explains Kim Laskin, Edmonton sales manager. What’s their secret to generating such hype? Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 8

Congratulations to Carlisle Group! Wishing you another 30 years of success. www.assetwest.com

CALGARY Showroom

Canmore 403.678.3000 • Calgary 403.290.1912 Edmonton 780.455.2211

7140 - 40 Street S.E. Calgary, AB P: 403.203.8200 TF: 1.800.297.6102 eDmonTon LeTHBRiDGe VAnCoUVeR KeLownA PRinCe GeoRGe KAmLooPS SASKAToon winniPeG

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Congratulations Carlisle Group on the occasion of your 30th anniversary. KingSett Capital values our association. Relationships, Flexibility, Execution. Let’s talk.

KingSett Capital is Canada’s leading private equity real estate business co-investing with pension fund and high net worth individual clients where active management creates premium risk weighted returns. Scott Coates, Managing Director, Mortgage Investments • 416.687.6702 416.687.6700 • www.kingsettcapital.com

Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 9

(Photo courtesy of Carlisle Group)

Quality and price aside, Carlisle intentionally withholds the details of the exact location until a couple of days prior to the event. Once the location has been announced, perspective buyers go to great lengths to take part in a Carlisle sales event. At a launch event a few years ago, the event was by invitation only and people actually forged invitations to gain access. If you attend a Carlisle launch you will find people of all ages – from empty nesters to entry-level buyers. The firsttime homebuyers are typically accompanied by their parents to provide advice and a bit of help with the down payment.

Carlisle tries to make it easier for these entry-level buyers by offering the opportunity to make their down payment in instalments over a few months. As Stoddard has observed, it’s really gratifying to see 30-something buyers, with a young child, looking to buy their first home. “They had been looking for an affordable home, but couldn’t find something to fit their budget,” he says. “To these folks, the opportunity for homeownership is a huge deal and that’s something that too many of us take for granted.”

Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 10

Calgary Real Esate Board Million Dollar Club since 1997

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank you to all of my friends and clients who have supported me over the last 45 years!â&#x20AC;?

Congratulations to Carlisle Group on their 30th Anniversary! For all of your real estate needs, feel free to call us at

403.270.7676

Small & large scale foundation

45 years of experience in all types of Real Estate

Congratulations to Carlisle Group on 30 years in business! We wish you continued success.

Techno Metal Post Alberta Inc. Phone (403) 701-3527 | Fax: (403) 226-3612 info.alberta@technometalpost.com

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Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 11

Some of our challenges… In recent months, Carlisle’s business has grown faster in Edmonton than Calgary, and Stoddard attributes this to the different permitting and approval processes within each city. “It seems to be much easier to get development permits in Edmonton, and as a result we have reallocated capital that was originally intended for Calgary. We have rerouted that capital to Edmonton because we simply cannot leave the capital sitting idle while we are waiting for permits,” he remarks. “The development business is very risky and at times, a very disappointing one.” Carlisle recently experienced one of those great disappointments in a proposed project in Kincora, located in northwest Calgary. The project, known as Emerald Sky, included 337 condominiums and 29 townhomes. Carlisle worked with the city for over a year and a half trying to get the project approved, but it was to no avail. They lost an appeal at the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board for reasons not yet disclosed at the time of printing this article. “This was our greatest disappointment in the last three to four years,” notes Klapstein. “The approval process, on this particular project, was being followed by many in the development industry, and Emerald Sky provides a perfect example of the challenges in getting projects approved in the city of Calgary today.”

The company has had several meetings with senior planning people at the City of Calgary and today, Carlisle is quick to point out they have seen improvements in the city’s approval process in recent weeks. Previously, Carlisle had frozen any new land acquisitions in Calgary, but Carlisle is once again looking to acquire additional land for development in Calgary – something that should make Calgarians very happy. “The construction business in Alberta is very significant to our economy,” says Stoddard. “There are several studies that suggest each construction dollar generates an additional $3 to $5 of economic spinoff. If the studies are true, Carlisle will directly contribute over $1 billion to the Alberta economy over the next few months.” Carlisle estimates the costs incurred during the approvals process for Emerald Sky are well in excess of $1 million, but what makes it particularly disappointing was that Carlisle had pre-sold approximately two-thirds of the condominiums to very excited customers. When they lost the appeal, Carlisle had to relay this disappointing news to its customers: the project could not proceed and the deposits were returned to their customers. Carlisle has not given up on Emerald Sky and they have gone back to the drawing board to redesign the project. As a result of Carlisle’s experience with Emerald Sky, they have changed the way they do business in Calgary. They are no longer pre-selling projects in Calgary, prior to the devel-

CEI

CHURCH EATON INSURANCE LTD

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Church Eaton Insurance Ltd. Phone: 403.296.2727 Fax: 403.517.4612 www.churcheaton.com Email: info@churcheaton.com

Congratulations to Carlisle Group on their 30th Anniversary! - from all of us at Church Eaton Insurance Ltd.

Corporate Commercial Insurance Programs • Course of Construction Projects • Transportation, Trucking & Taxi Programs Oil & Gas Production & Drilling • Technology • Hotels & The Hospitality Industry Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 12

E2K Engineering Ltd. Suite #190, 550 71 Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta T2H 0S6 403-450-9600

The management and staff of e2k engineering ltd. wishes to extend our congratulations to the Carlisle Group on 30 years of successful development within Alberta and British Columbia. e2k continues to provide value engineering with practical solutions on Carlisle Group projects. Specializing in: • Geotechnical Investigations • Environmental Site Assessments • Materials Testing • Retaining (MSE) Wall Design • Slope Stability Assessments • Deep Foundation Design

Energy driven, over three decades of service and an eye for quality. The Plumb-Line Group of Companies is building a Foundation for the future.

Congratulations to the Carlisle Group.

www.e2keng.com

Congratulations Carlisle Group on 30 years! - from your newest Mechanical Partners

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL BOILERS & CONTROLS Plumbing | HVAC | Furnace & hot water tank replacements

Fancy Doors & Mouldings congratulates the management & staff of The Carlisle Group on their 30 Year milestone of business in Alberta. We have worked closely with the Carlisle Group in the Edmonton area to support their focus & value on high density housing. We look forward to a long and valued business relationship for the next 30 years.

Fancy Doors & Mouldings Ltd. P: 403.253.5359 | F: 403.252.2235 | numun@numun.ca

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9129 – 35th Ave. NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 5Y1 O: 780.432.7700 | F: 780.432.7710 info@fancy-doors.com | www.fancy-doors.com

Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 13

ltd.

opment permit being approved. According to Stoddard, this significantly increases the development cycle and drives up the project costs – unnecessarily increasing prices to customers. Jim Mackey, vice-president of development for Carlisle, believes that the root of the problem is that multi-family developments are discretionary uses in Calgary. In other words, the city planners decide if a site is suitable for a particular multi-family project. “We purchase a multi-family site from a land developer and submit a development application – hoping the City of Calgary approves the application. Since multi-family developments are a ‘discretionary use’ they can deem the

particular site ‘unsuitable’ for a multi-family development because the city would like to see something else developed on the site or they may simply not like the look of the building,” adds Mackey. In contrast, Edmonton has sites that are specifically zoned for multi-family developments. “When you buy the site, you know that the City of Edmonton will approve the development permit for a multi-family project. In comparison, this makes developing multi-family projects in Calgary significantly more risky than Edmonton, and that is normally reflected in the final cost to the homeowner,” comments Mackey.

Congratulations on 30 years! S2 is proud of the work we have done with the Carlisle Group.

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We look forward to collaborating with you on more designs that inspire and define communities.

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Congratulations to Red is PMS 186 Carlisle Group on your 30th Anniversary!

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Our people are at the heart of it all

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403-267-8400 walshlaw.ca

Serving Southern Alberta for more than 50 years

“

Congratulations to Carlisle Group on 30 years of success in the industry! We are proud to be working with you. Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 14

Over the years, Carlisle has built many of the highrises that dot the west end of Calgary’s skyline. But for now the company seems to be very comfortable building four-storey wood-frame condominiums and bringing affordable homes to Albertans. “Like all businesses, we will respond to the marketplace in the future,” adds Stoddard. “We are a big company and our capital is very mobile, but we see a great future in Alberta – both for Carlisle and Albertans alike.”

Our current projects… Carlisle has a number of projects currently underway and some of their most exciting projects will be released in the coming months. In particular, the company is very excited about their project in Albert Park, located in one of Cal-

gary’s oldest southeast inner-city neighbourhoods. Carlisle worked with the community and the City of Calgary to re-zone what was formerly a school site, and they believe this has provided a great opportunity to revitalize this historic Calgary community and that this project will be well received by Calgarians. “The Albert Park project provides an opportunity for our customers to own a home that’s a short transit ride to downtown – at very affordable prices,” say Stoddard. “We also recognize it will give the residents in Albert Park an opportunity to acquire a home that might better fit their current lifestyle. We are branding the project ‘Albert Park Station’ and we are expecting it to be another home run.” Currently, Carlisle also has projects underway in Airdrie, Cochrane and several locations in both Calgary and Edmonton. “When it comes to the Calgary marketplace, our biggest frustration is that we cannot get development permits fast

Congratulations to the Carlisle Group!

Congratulations, Carlisle Group! We value our relationship, and wish you continued success.

Black Diamond Paving Ltd

Phone: (780) 328-6568 Mobile: (780) 885-2888

Ph: 780.435.2215 Fax: 780.437.5361

Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 15

Lake Windermere, B.C. (Photo courtesy of Carlisle Group)

enough to meet the demand,” asserts Klapstein. “This should concern Calgarians for two reasons: it is going to increase the cost of home ownership and it will affect those looking to immigrate to Calgary if affordable housing is not available. Both of these factors could potentially hinder our economy in the long run.”

The people we work with… Over the decades, Carlisle has developed several strategic relationships that are very important and beneficial to the company’s success. They have seen many of their trade partners grow their businesses – alongside of Carlisle’s. “Many of these relationships started years ago when we hired trades to work on our projects and in many instances, they have become long-term friendships,” notes Klapstein. Additionally, Carlisle has developed very strong relationships with its consultants, lenders and trade partners.

In December 2012, Carlisle met with their strategic trade partners to talk about future growth and plans for the year ahead – enabling their trade partners to more accurately forecast their 2013 business plans, prepare and plan for the deployment of their forces. In the past when Carlisle expanded its business into new markets, many of its trade partners followed them into these new markets, a testament to the loyalty that their trade partners have to Carlisle. But Carlisle’s strategic relationships reach beyond Alberta’s borders – spanning east to Quebec City where one of their primary lenders resides. They also cross the Atlantic where Lloyd’s of London underwrites all of their construction insurance needs, and over to China where some of their building materials are sourced directly. Although Carlisle’s head office is located in Calgary’s East Village, their partnerships span all borders – giving rise to both a local and global business.

Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 16

Tiger Lily

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Congrats to Carlisle Group on your 30th Anniversary!

Congratulations to Carlisle Group on their 30th Anniversary!

Consulting Engineers - Surveyors - Planners Ph: 403.995.0361 Fax: 403.995.0362 Email: info@mcleancontracting.ca

#200, 4393-14th Street N. E., Calgary, AB T2E 7A9 www.mcleancontracting.ca

Phone (403) 276-1001 • Fax (403) 276-1012

Unit 346, 16 Midlake Blvd. SE Calgary, AB T2X 2X7 P: 403.256.1113

Congratulations, Carlisle Group! We wish you many more years of success.

www.metroglass.ca Congratulations for 30 excellent years for the best products and service in Calgary!

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Congratulations to Carlisle Group on their 30th Anniversary!

Residential / Commercial Exterior / Interior Woodfinishing Specialist

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Congratulations to Carlisle Group!

Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 17

For the first-time homeowner, their purchase encompasses social and economic benefits, but it also helps to grow new communities and it assists in the revitalization of older neighbourhoods.

Rutherford Landing, Edmonton (Photo courtesy of Carlisle Group)

Charity begins at home… Without a doubt, Carlisle gives back to the community every time they provide new ownership that otherwise might be lost in a seemingly prohibitive real estate market. For the first-time homeowner, their purchase encompasses social and economic benefits, but it also helps to grow new communities and it assists in the revitalization of older neighbourhoods. Beyond affordable housing, Carlisle also gives back to the community by enriching the lives of those who are less fortunate – both in Alberta and abroad. During the Christmas season, they adopt families to ensure they have a memorable holiday. They also sponsor ongoing fundraisers for great causes. And last year they sponsored a special trip for a staff member who travelled to a Third World country and worked in a medical clinic in Guatemala. “You can always do more and in the coming months we are hoping to raise the bar a bit more,” says Stoddard. “The people of Calgary who work on the front lines as down-

town first responders provide an invaluable service to the city, and finding affordable housing near the core is almost impossible today. We believe our Albert Park Station project would be a perfect location for some of these folks and we are looking at how we can offer these people an opportunity to purchase a home in this project, prior to it being released to the general public.”

In a word or two … thank you As Carlisle celebrates 30 years of contributing to Alberta’s growth, they wish to take a moment to extend a sincere note of gratitude to all the businesses and trade partners, suppliers, employees and customers who have helped them achieve this milestone. Collectively, this group of people have achieved great things and they look to the next 30 years with a promise to keep raising the bar – even just a bit. •

Carlisle Group | 30th Anniversary | 18

GYPSUM DRYWALL (SOUTHERN) LTD.

congratulates

Carlisle Group

on their 30th Anniversary!

Proud to be working with you, and we wish you

continued success!

GYPSUM DRYWALL (SOUTHERN) LTD.

May 2013 | Issue twenty four

Financial Corporation

INDIGO SKY PHASE 1- 4 $31,460,000

First Mortgage Condominium Construction Loan

MCAP Development Finance Group provides financing for residential, commercial, and industrial projects including permanent take-out, construction, mezzanine, and equity / bridge financing ranging from $1MM to over $300MM.

$5,450,000

Mezzanine Construction Loan Facility 364 apartment condominium units Location: Calgary, AB

FIRST $50,900,000

The following is a brief summary of some of the recent transactions approved and funded by MCAP.

Condominium Construction Loan (Funding upcoming) 196 condominium units and 6,840 of retail space Location: Calgary, AB

CANALS PHASE 6 $10,410,000

Land Servicing Loan 148 single family lots; 3.5 acres of multifamily lands Location: Airdrie, AB

SAGE HILL CROSSING $70,000,000

Commercial Land Servicing 149 acres of commercial land Location: Calgary, AB

CENTRE 10 $66,350,000

Construction Loan 334,341 square feet office space 26,001 square feet retail Location: Calgary, AB

PILOT SOUND $5,000,000

Congratulations Carlisle Group on a successful 30 years and many more to come!

Equity Loan 467 single family lots, 6.4 acres of multifamily lands Location: Edmonton, AB

MICHAEL ROULSTON Managing Director 403.451.1192

Marc Prefontaine Senior Director 780.665.0962

Stephen Jones Senior Advisor 403.451.1194

Blake Lowden Senior Analyst 403.451.1195

MCAP Financial Corporation [a licenced brokerage] | Real Estate Finance Group Suite 645, 1331 Macleod Trail SE Calgary, AB T2G 0K3 T: 403.266.5722 F: 403.262.2685 www.mcap.com

Supporting Alberta’s Infrastructure for 40 Years Written and photographed by Mary Savage

A welder at work in the Ensteel Shop

hen you step inside Gerry Stotts’ office, the walls are lined with black-and-white photographs, awards and memorabilia that reflect a lifetime of hard work, dedication and accomplishments. He started working when he was 14 years old in his father’s machine shop – the first shop in Calgary to die-cast aluminum that came from recycled engine parts.

Since that time, Stotts has spent his career working both for and with companies that have helped build the infrastructure of Alberta – since the early 1950s. After graduating from the University of Alberta as a civil engineer, Stotts spent many years in the heavy equipment construction industry when road and development work, coal mining and surface mining were leading industries. After 14 years, he decided it Ensteel Industries | 40th Anniversary | 1

was time to start a business – known today as Ensteel Industries Ltd. The year 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of Ensteel Industries, a company that Stotts, Cliff Ratcliff and Sandy Harvey established in 1973. Originally, Ensteel evolved to meet a growing demand for customers that required large-scale material handling equipment. The components were shipped to Calgary and then modified, by Ensteel, for the

A Deep-Rooted Passion… When Stotts is not working on an Ensteel project, you will find him involved with the Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Heritage Society of Canada (RHHS), an association that was established to preserve and promote Canada’s construction heritage and it’s located next to the Leduc # 1 Energy Discovery Centre, near Devon, Alberta. In 1992, Stotts joined the advisory committee of the Reynolds-Alberta Museum (RAM) in an effort to help preserve Alberta’s vintage construction equipment. His deep-rooted passion for both preserving history and raising awareness led to his involvement with the RHHS, and today he sits as vice-president of the organization. “The construction industry is the largest employer of people in Canada, yet when it comes to heavy construction, Western Canada lacks training and publicity to entice young people. In addition to preserving history, we’ve had an ongoing effort to promote this sector as a career path,” he says. “Recent statistics indicate we are going to need between 45,000-50,000 people working in the oilsands in the next five years. By grade 10, most young people have decided what career path they want to pursue, so we are trying to expose kids to the heavy construction industry at a younger age – because all kids like to play in the sandbox,” he adds. One of the RHHS initiatives is located in Draft Horse Town, at the Calgary Stampede. You will find horse-drawn equipment on display, but you will also find a sandbox – and kids are encouraged to jump in and play. There are simulators and hands-on equipment designed to catch their eye and hopefully, spark their interest to pursue a career in road building and heavy construction. Last summer, the RHHS and Olds College hosted a program called “Women in Industry” and welcomed women from ages 18 to 60. As graduates, each woman walked away not only with their certification, but each one had secured a job. “From mining and pipelining to building roads, the heavy construction sector encompasses many aspects. We have a rich history and it’s through all of these industries that we are able to make Alberta a better place to live. And now we are connecting with the next generation who are going to continue to develop Alberta’s infrastructure,” says Stotts with a hint of excitement.

Our staff at Chinook Pumps would like to congratulate Ensteel on their 40th Anniversary. We wish you continued success.

3824 7th Street S.E. Calgary, AB T2G 2Y8 Toll Free in Canada: 800.784.4324 | Phone: 403.243.3310 | Fax: 403.243.2997 Ensteel Industries | 40th Anniversary | 2

Gerry Stotts

customer’s needs. Ratcliff was a welder and machinist, Harvey looked after sales and Stotts ran the engineering division – and the team worked together seam seamlessly. “During the early days, we would design and build the equipment to meet the specs of the contractor. We brought in the components, put them on a chassis and built the necessary hoppers, convey conveyors and controls,” recalls Stotts, founder. “And it was before the advent of computers! All the drafting and engineering work was done with a slide rule and cal calculator,” he adds. “And sales calls were made in person.” While Ensteel was growing the business, another industry was starting to emerge: sulphur – a byproduct of every gas plant in Alberta. “The sulphur was

poured into big yellow blocks and it was 99.9 per cent pure,” says Stotts. There was a worldwide demand for sulphur and Alberta responded – it had the raw commodity, but it was inefficient in the block form. Ensteel was involved in the design and building of facilities to process the sulphur blocks: Ensteel built equipment to melt, store, load to railcars and ship to Vancouver for worldwide distribution. By 1975, Ensteel needed more space and moved to barren farmland located southeast of the city. They were the first business to set up shop in what was to become the South Foothills Industrial Park. Over the next 20 years, Ensteel worked with companies across all sectors – fabricating machinery from gravel crushers and concrete aggregate production, to screening and washing equipment for the mining industry. They have shipped equipment as far north as the Arctic Circle, to Nanasivik, where a gravel crusher was used to build airport landing strips throughout the High Arctic. By the late 1980s, Ensteel recognized another growing need: transportation equipment in the concrete industry, also

known as transit mixers. Ensteel started a new division, Precision Concrete Mixers, and today the division continues to produce a complete line of concrete mixer units. In 2000, the third division of Ensteel emerged while working with a refuse container company out of Medicine Hat. Forty years later, Stotts is still involved with the company, but the second generation is sitting squarely at the helm. Two of Stotts’ children joined the company years ago and today his son, Joe, is the president. His daughter, Sheila, heads up the office and administration division. Joe joined the business in 1986 after graduating from SAIT as a machinist – starting out in the shop and working his way through the business. Sheila joined Ensteel in 2000 after a lengthy and successful career in the banking industry. As Ensteel celebrates their 40th anniversary, they pause from the workday to extend a sincere thank you to all the business partners, suppliers, employees and customers who have helped them to achieve this milestone. •

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The best success stories are the ones written right here.

Congratulations Ensteel, as you celebrate your 40th Anniversary! Proud to be your long-standing insurance broker.

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Congratulations to Ensteel on their 40th Anniversary! 315A - 39 Ave. SE, Calgary AB T2G 1X5

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Congratulations to Ensteel Industries Ltd. on celebrating 40 successful years. Calgary Chinook Branch 6606 MacLeod Trail SW Ph: 403.252.2299

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Tel: 780-413-1725 | Fax: 780-479-2551 | 9004 Yellowhead Trail, Edmonton, Ab T5B 1G2

Congratulations

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Ensteel Industries | 40th Anniversary | 3

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www.moderntool.com Ensteel Industries | 40th Anniversary | 4

Long Drives, Good Putts and Talking Shop • Golf

Long Drives, Good Putts and Talking Shop BY JOHN HARDY

nd so it begins. Everywhere you look, there’s lots of early green. The bunkers are whiter than dentist-bleached teeth. The tees have virtually no scar or divots to replace. The pin flags are gently blowing in the breeze. Many people still wear jackets or sweaters and seem to have fancy, new and cutesy club covers. The balls are still in boxes in the cases, the sun is shining and the days are nice and long. Spring golf in Calgary is so therapeutic. Any day now, the weekday traffic (and wait times) will be almost as heavy as the weekend traffic (and wait times). No matter. Golf in Calgary is a terrific way to spend a morning or an afternoon. For most casual golfers, it’s a relaxing good game with friends and with “contacts.” For many Calgary “here’s-my-card, send-me-an-email and let’s-do-lunch, one-of-these-days” types, golf is a terrific way to mix business with ... business. Business golf is not only popular, it can be important for networking and to develop relationships with prospective customers, existing clients, for referrals, to recruit new staff and some say it’s a great way to develop new businesses partners, vendors and suppliers. “The golf course is a great place to do business,” says Jim Hope, general manager of Calgary’s Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club. “Where else can you get a business contact’s close attention for four uninterrupted hours? “No phones, no drop-ins, no distractions. Just talking, laughing and more talking – in the cart, walking, standing on the tee or afterwards in the lounge. It’s a much more enjoyable environment than a fancy boardroom, an office or even going out for a drink,” Hope says with affable bias.

Jim Hope, General Manager of Calgary’s Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club.

Tim Watt, Manager of Operations and CPGA head pro at the D’Arcy Ranch Golf Club in Okotoks.

104 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Tim Watt, manager of operations and CPGA head pro at D’Arcy Ranch Golf Club in Okotoks, agrees. “Everyone – even the stressed and high-pressure people – are a lot more laid back and casual away from the office. They are relaxed, wearing casual clothes and in the warm sunshine. “It’s a much better way to ‘do business’ than tight business clothes and sitting in an office. Especially the afternoon games, when most people are not going back to work after or thinking about having to drive back to the office,” he says. Both Calgary golf experts sing the same sensible song. We live, work, drive, eat, go to the movies, take the kids to practice, buy groceries and get away on vacation in a hyper-connected world, and being disconnected for four hours – regardless what you do in your day job – may be a jarring but exhilarating experience. The possibility that it could even pay off with a business relationship (and even some deals) is a terrific bonus. While Twitter, Facebook, email and even texting have made it easier to communicate with more people in the course of a single day, the unavoidable trap, professionally and privately, is having less time (and less practice) with in-person interactions that are the building blocks of establishing relationships. That’s why a four- or five-hour face-time adventure through greens, fairways, bunkers and just bouncing along in a cart can be a refreshingly potent way to build or bolster some business relationship bonds. Beware! Just like the cautions and things to remember on your first interview or lunch with the boss – firm handshake, don’t chew gum, make eye contact, chew with your mouth closed, don’t mumble, use a napkin, don’t diss other people, etc. – a business golf game can also be a very subtle but telltale reflection of who you are. As with the slurped soup, limp handshake or bad breath, your behaviour and mannerisms during business golf will say a lot about you: how you approach and deal with different situations, your integrity, your self-control that you don’t take yourself, or the game, too seriously, your ability to focus and also relax when the timing is right. Business golf may be less of a game and more a revealing show-and-tell about how you deal with adversity and problems. Although business golf never had the advantage of a Dr. Phil or a Dear Abby, there are some important written and unwritten business golf etiquette rules to remember. Continued on page 108…

Improved GOLF EQUIPMENT Makes a Huge Difference to Your Game!

gnite your passion for the game by doing a little work on the most important part of your golf equipment – YOU!

Train Your Body Your muscles need to be ready to perform the proper swing. Get into a little better shape through introducing yourself to some exercise. At a minimum – a stretching program. The better shape you are in, the better chance you will have to perform the golf swing properly. If you are already in great shape, enrol in a golf specific stretching program. The Grip The grip can dictate how you swing the golf club and whether you have a square club face or not. Ask your CPGA golf professional to show you how to grip a club properly. It will probably feel uncomfortable if you have to make changes from your present grip. Now is a great time to learn to get comfortable with it. Practice re-gripping the club and compare it to the photos.

To ensure you have a consistent grip while practicing, consider getting a training

grip (shown in the pictures) put on one of your golf clubs. This makes it easy for you to get the feel for the grip during the swing. Athletic Starting Position Get yourself into a solid, athletic and balanced starting position on your feet. Watch the pros on TV; look at their starting position in magazines. Now copy them. Use a mirror and evaluate your starting position. Dynamic Golf Posture – How should your body move during the swing? 1. Get into your starting golf posture and place the golf club across your shoulder line, without changing your posture. 2. Turn your chest away from the target while maintaining your spine angle and simulating the back swing. When you do this, make sure that you have also maintained the flex in your right leg. Perform this action 8-10 times. Use a mirror at your side to ensure that you are maintaining your spine angle and maintaining the flex in your right leg. 3. Now try to rotate through the impact zone, turning your chest through to the target. Again, do your best to maintain your spine angle.

After you have made the turning drill a part of your exercise routine and feel you have developed the skill and the flexibility to perform it, it’s time to use your new posture in a swing. Make some small swings while consciously controlling your golf posture. The Full Swing Using your training grip club and incorporating the improvements from the above tips, make 10 full golf swings using ½ to ¾ back swing, and swing through to a full finish. Holding your finish position you should be in good balance on your target side foot at the end of the swing. To evaluate and improve your balance, swing the club 10 more times, but this time with your eyes closed, again holding your finish. This will give you needed feedback of just how good your balance at the finish really is. Scott Orban, CPGA Golf Professional Watch video golf tips regularly at www.mckenziemeadows.com.

New Rustica Steakhouse Opens at Eagle Ranch Golf Resort

agle Ranch Golf Resort, an affiliate of Stone Creek Resorts Inc., announces the opening of the Rustica Steakhouse on April 11, 2013. The restaurant opens with renovated premises that include an upgraded deck for a blend of fine and comfortable dining. The Eagle Ranch Rustica Steakhouse is based on the success and popularity of the Rustica Steakhouse at Silvertip Resort in Canmore, Alta., renowned for serving top quality, 100 per cent Canadian Prime steaks. Silvertip Resort is also an affiliate of Stone Creek Resorts Inc.

106 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

“Rustica Steakhouse procures the finest prime beef from the top one percent of all beef processed in Canada,” said Andrew Hickson, Eagle Ranch Clubhouse manager. “You won’t get a better piece of beef. It’s so tender we don’t use a steak knife. Our steaks are prepared with house-made steak seasoning, and then finished under a 1,500 degree broiler. ” To complement the indoor dining experience, Rustica sports a new 1,400 square foot heated deck. A new fire table and a stylish pergola create the perfect setting for guests to sip fine wine while enjoying the spectacular beauty of the Columbia Valley. Wine is given high priority. Eagle Ranch is a three-time recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, most recently awarded in 2012. The wine cellar contains more than 400 bottles. “Rustica Steakhouse offers an extensive wine list,” said Hickson. “Some of our selections are quite rare, which gives wine connoisseurs a wonderful opportunity to tempt their palate.” The Eagle Ranch Saliken restaurant has been closed to make way for the Steakhouse and extensive renovations to the premises. The opening on April 11, 2013, coincides with the opening of the Eagle Ranch golf course. The golf course was ranked 4.5 stars by Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play.” Rustica Steakhouse currently serves dinner only. Reservations are suggested. To book your tee time, or make a reservation at Rustica Steakhouse contact Eagle Ranch Golf Resort at: 1.877.877.3889 info@eagleranchresort.com

Holding your experience to as high a standard as the course you play or the menu you choose. The finest courses Mother Nature offers, both fairway and plated. Our best is nothing without exceptional service.

Join us for world-class golf and fine dining at Silvertip Golf Resort. Book your tee time or make reservations at silvertipresort.com or by calling 1.877.877.5444.

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STONECREEK_ST_ER_RUSTICA_BinCEd_6.875x8.875.indd Untitled-2 1 1

www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ 107

2013-04-05 13-04-05 2:46 8:04 PM AM

Long Drives, Good Putts and Talking Shop • Golf …continued from page 104

Business Golf Etiquette

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1. If you tend to lose your cool when your game goes bad, stay away from business golf. Your tantrums or sulking will not make a good business impression. 2. Be sure you know at least the basics of golf etiquette. Your host will not be impressed when you embarrass them – or yourself – in front of buddies at the club. 3. No cheating, in any way. No matter how cutesy or lovable your chuckle. It attracts mistrust and suspicion about you. 4. When unsure about a rule, discuss it with your business golf buddy. Playing according to their version shows that you are willing to ask for and listen to advice. 5. Ration the dealmaking and the shoptalk. Spend your valuable face time on the links building the relationship. Avoid talking deals and details until the 19th hole. Business talk during the game should be casual and if it’s an absolute must, business talk should not happen before the fifth hole or after the 15th hole. 6. No matter how important you are or want to appear, no cellphone on the course. Your game and your face time is the only priority. If they can’t do without you for four hours, golf is not your biggest problem. 7. Dress comfortable but business golf suitable. The coolest and priciest brand name of denims, sleeveless shirts and short shorts are not business golf suitable. 8. Invite your business golf guest to play first, at the first hole. At other holes, the person with the lowest hole score in the preceding round tees first.

6 7 8

9 10 11

9. If invited to play business golf, at least offer to pay green fees, cart rental, etc. If you have invited someone to play, be prepared to pick up all tabs. 10. Play the best game you can. Playing badly to “let the other person win” will be obvious and perceived as insulting and will likely damage your credibility. 11. No matter how gruelling, if your business golf buddy prefers to walk rather than use a cart – suck it up and get walking. When using a cart, join the buddy on the green when he gets out to play or look for a ball. Business golf or not, you’re there to shmooz. 12. You have four or five hours of precious face time. Use it well. Engage them and ask them questions. Even if you don’t really care, get them talking about themselves – their last score, their kids, their family, their last vacation or their favourite place to eat. Sure it’s small-talk but it creates a warm-’n’-fuzzy instant bond. 13. Be smart and pace yourself ... for business golf. Par is less important than pace of play. Don’t babble. When some people say that business golf is like a “five-hour sales call,” that includes post-round drinks. Five hours (or more) on the course is way too long, and your business golf guest may endure you versus enjoy you.

12 13

Remember, business golf or leisure golf is, first and foremost, a game of integrity and – one way or another – it brings out a person’s true character. Be yourself. BiC

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108 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

MAY 2013

Chamber opens nominations for Small Business Week Calgary Building on the success of Small Business Week in 2012, the Calgary Chamber has opened the nomination period for the Small Business Week awards to give companies more time to submit an application BY JACKIE MCATEE

and who has successfully implemented or marketed these advancements. Customer Service Excellence Award Ð Presented to the Calgary small business dedicated to customer service excellence through the delivery of ongoing staff training or the creation of a service program to improve customer service. Community Involvement Award Ð Presented to the Calgary small business whose owners or employees are involved in community groups (charitable, not-for-profit, business or professional associations), whose community work or initiatives have improved life for their fellow citizens.

Calgary Chamber president and CEO, Adam Legge (right), and past board chair, David Sprague (third from left) present Elevate Auctions with the 2012 award for Small Business of the Year.

mall businesses of less than 100 employees and under $5 million in revenue are encouraged to nominate in one of the five award categories for the Small Business Week awards. Last year 38 businesses entered the awards and more than 2,000 people voted for winners in each category. “The groundswell of activity from Calgarians who take the time to vote for their favourite business gives massive public exposure to those companies in the Small Business Week

awards,” says Adam Legge, Calgary Chamber president and CEO. “This has been known to attract new customers and business partners - and lead to an increase in sales.”

Nominations are now open in the following categories: Innovation Award Ð Presented to the Calgary small business demonstrating groundbreaking achievements in improving work processes, business concept development or product creation

Environmental Stewardship Award Ð Presented to the Calgary small business who has demonstrated a commitment to leading environmental stewardship through improving its operations and limiting its environmental footprint, and the environmental footprint of its suppliers and clients. Breakout Business Award Ð Presented to the Calgary small business poised for significant growth. This business demonstrates an original and solid business concept and is generating a buzz in the business community, based on the track record of their management team across similar ventures and the business potential.

www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 109

[title] • [section]

About the Nomination Process

2013 Board of

Directors Executive Joe Lougheed – Chair

Dave Sprague – Immediate Past Chair Leah Lawrence – Chair Elect

Nominations will be accept until August 30th, 2013. At that time, a group of selected judges will sift through all the nominations to select five businesses that become finalists in each category. Businesses that are shortlisted in their nominated category have the opportunity to be considered for the prestigious Small Business of the Year Award, which is presented to the Calgary small business who has demonstrated significant business achievement and sustained financial growth and performance. The Small Business of the Year Award winner excels in all five categories and has that something extra that makes a business great. Eligible businesses can nominate at www.SmallBusinessWeekCalgary.com.

Rob Hawley – 2nd Vice Chair Denis Painchaud – Vice Chair, Finance Adam Legge – President & CEO

Chamber Member Spotlights

Directors David Allen Bill Brunton Eva Friesen

As CalgaryÕ s leading business organization, the Chamber has the cityÕ s top companies and business organizations as its members

Guy Huntingford Rob Lennard Dilan Perera Linda Shea Paul Waddell Management Adam Legge, President & CEO Ben Brunnen, Chief Economist

RBC Royal Bank

Michael Andriescu, Director of Finance & Administration

Since opening its doors in 1864, RBC has grown to become one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies providing banking, wealth management, insurance and capital markets services on a global basis. They demonstrate the vision of “always earning the right to be our clients’ first choice” through its values – service, teamwork, responsibility, diversity and integrity. RBC believes in the power of communities and the individuals who live in them. As they continue to grow their presence globally, they offer the right advice and solutions to clients in an ever-changing economic environment and do their part to help in the community and the environment.

Jackie McAtee, Director of Member Experience Kim Koss, Vice President, Business Development

Leading Business magazine is a co-publication of the Calgary Chamber and Business in Calgary Calgary Chamber 600, 237 8th Avenue S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2G 5C3 Phone: (403) 750-0400 Fax: (403) 266-3413 calgarychamber.com

Fluor Canada Ltd. Fluor is a Fortune 500 company that delivers engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance (EPCM) and project management to governments and clients in diverse industries around the world. For over a century, clients have selected Fluor as their company of choice to complete challenging projects, many in remote parts of the world. Fluor first came to Canada in the 1940s under contract to Shell Oil of British Columbia, now Shell Canada Ltd., to perform engineering, drafting and supervision of construction on the Shellburn Refinery in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1949, The Fluor Corporation of Canada Ltd. was incorporated and in 1973, Fluor moved its Canadian headquarters from Toronto to Calgary to serve the growing oil and gas industry in Western Canada. Today Fluor Canada is one of Fluor’s largest execution centres, with clients in the oil, gas, petrochemicals, mining and metals, and power marketplace. 110 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

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The Banff Centre Founded in 1933, The Banff Centre is a globally-respected arts, leadership, and educational institute, located in the heart of Canada’s Banff National Park. At The Banff Centre, we accelerate ideas and host conversations to imagine and deliver on a better future. Our leadership programming equips people who want to change the world with the skills to do so.

Upcoming Events Breaking the pipeline bottleneck An in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities of getting AlbertaÕ s oil and gas to market Thursday, May 23, 2013 Ð 11:30am to 1:30pm The Westin Calgary, 320 4 Avenue SW Alberta is in a bind. Our oil and gas producers need to get their products to new and existing markets and the best way to do that is through pipelines. But the countryÕ s existing vast underground network of pipelines is already operating at full capacity and the development of proposed pipelines has been stalled by regulatory reviews in both Canada and the United States. These constraints have caused a loss of economic activity the Alberta government has pegged at about $30 billion a year. Join the Calgary Chamber and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) for a panel discussion with three of CanadaÕ s largest pipeline companies Ð Enbridge, TransCanada and Kinder Morgan Ð on the challenges and opportunities involved with getting AlbertaÕ s oil and gas to market. Moderator: Brenda Kenny, president and CEO, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association Panellists • Ian Anderson, president, Kinder Morgan Canada • Alex Pourbaix, president pipelines, TransCanada Corporation • Vern Yu, vice-president of business development and market development, Enbridge • Greg Stringham, vice-president oil sands and markets, CAPP

Individual tickets - Members $79 | Non-members $99 Tables of eight - Members $632 | Non-members $792 For more information, visit CalgaryChamber.com or call Marni at 403 750 0400.

112 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Competing in a global marketplaCe By most accounts, the global economy is improving and the marketing and sales team at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, (CTCC) remains focused on communicating the unique benefits and advantages Calgary and the convention facility offer to meeting and convention planners throughout the world. Calgary’s recent rating by MoneySense magazine as the best place to live in Canada provides excellent support for the CTCC’s business development activities. This ranking provides an excellent impartial endorsement of the city’s overall appeal. Members of the CTCC’s management and business development teams regularly participate in international industry conventions to create awareness of Calgary as an ideal meeting and conventions destination, and to communicate the benefits provided by the CTCC. Calgary’s important role in the global energy industry, the downtown location of the convention facility, and its close access to a wide range of leisure activities create a memorable experience for event participants. Participation with the Canadian Tourism Commission at international trade shows such as IMEX (The Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meetings and Events), and EIBTM, (European Incentive and Business Travel and Meetings), creates visibility for Calgary as an ideal meeting destination. The IMEX and EIBTM shows are an opportunity for CTCC team members to attend education sessions designed to stimulate innovation and challenge conventional industry thinking. More importantly, the shows are an opportunity for the CTCC’s business development team to network with several thousand meeting and convention planners from around the world. Attending international education and marketing gatherings is only one element of the CTCC’s integrated marketing and business development program. The international meeting and convention industry continues to grow with larger and newer facilities regularly added to the global inventory of available convention space. To compete successfully for events and ensure Calgary is a preferred option for planners, the CTCC’s marketing team utilizes a range of online and offline communication channels, including hosting their own receptions, to reach diverse target audiences. The Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, (CTCC) continues to generate substantial revenue for Calgary and the province. In 2013 the CTCC will generate an economic impact of over $50M in direct spending and in excess of $105M in incremental revenue. The Centre will welcome more than 350,000 visitors to Calgary who will spend, on average, between $300 and $500 per day. The positive economic impact provided by the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre is vital to Calgary’s continuing growth and retaining the city’s energy. Creating awareness of Calgary, the city’s advantages, and the CTCC’s location and facilities, remain an important step in growing the direct and indirect revenue the Convention Centre generates for Calgary.

Calgary-convention.com www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 113

Destination Calgary in 2020 BY RANDY WILLIAMS

s 2012 was winding down many in the tourism industry were wondering where we could go from here. After all, the past year was a remarkable year, a benchmark featuring so many records it was a fair question to contemplate how our industry could possibly grow from this point. How could we build on our current success and what did our collective future look like? Tourism Calgary decided to engage community and tourism leaders in a consultation about the destination’s future. We then took research to confirm some of the thinking and mixed reality with a little aspiration and arrived at a projection of where our industry will be in the year 2020. The full report resulting from that consultation – Destination Calgary in the Year 2020 – was released at Tourism Calgary’s Annual General Meeting on April 23, 2013. The document provides a clear perspective of where our industry is at today – the base we are starting from. We highlighted the current challenges and opportunities within the destination and then provide key areas for action in order to achieve our collective vision. Our hope is that this study will provide our industry with insights into our strengths and weaknesses and serve as a basis for collective action to overcome the challenges and harvest the opportunities. Without knowing where we are going, or at the very least having discussed our ultimate destination, how can we possibly plan effectively or maximize our potential? This study was undertaken to look at the attributes of the destination itself and not the organizations involved with tourism. This study is accurate as of April 2013 but with each daily step towards 2020 our actions will affect this forecast’s ability to become reality.

Calgary’s visitor economy reached new heights in 2012 with an increase of 3.9 per cent in overnight visits and 6.4 per cent in tourism spending. This vision is both aspirational and based on known future developments and trends. We plan to update this report as we move forward and new developments become clear and actions take place on our challenges and opportunities. As one of tourism’s key partners tells us “the future is friendly” – we are glad to have you along for the journey! The document is available in full in the industry section at visitcalgary. com. In this and two subsequent Business in Calgary articles we will share some of the findings of the report. Here’s an excerpt from the report about the current state of the tourism industry and the successful 2012 benchmark year.

State of the Industry Calgary’s visitor economy reached new heights in 2012. A forecast increase of 3.9 per cent in overnight visits, sharing the highest growth in overnight visits among the major metropolitan areas in Canada in 2012, generated an estimated $1.4 billion in visitor spending – which represents a 6.4 per cent increase in tourism spending over the previous year and the highest growth in visitor spending among the major metropolitan areas in Canada in 2012. The year started off strong with the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship setting sales and attendance records. A total of 571,539 tickets were purchased for 31 games, exceeding the previous record of

114 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

453,282 tickets. The event attracted close to 25,000 visitors to Edmonton and Calgary, generating visitor expenditures in these two cities in excess of $13.9 million. It is estimated that an additional 18,000 hotel room nights were sold in Calgary from December 19, 2011 to January 5, 2012. The total net economic activity (GDP) generated by the event was $56.1 million throughout the province, with $20.0 million occurring in Edmonton and $24.4 million occurring in Calgary. Attendance records continued to be set throughout the year. The Calgary Stampede attracted record-breaking crowds for its 100th anniversary, with more than 1.4 million guests passing through the gates during the 10-day event in 2012, surpassing the previous record set in 2006 by nearly 147,000 and beating 2011’s numbers by almost 235,000. The Calgary Zoo’s new Penguin Plunge exhibit was a big draw locally and regionally, bringing in a record number of visitors in 2012. More than 1.45 million people passed through the zoo gates in 2012, breaking the previous record set in 1988 (when Calgary hosted the Winter Olympics and giant pandas) by more than 100,000 visitors. The Calgary International Airport also set a new record in traffic with 13.6 million passengers in 2012. In the June edition of Business in Calgary we will share the developments we’ve learned about that will be realized by 2020.

Calgary.

Be Part of the Energy BY MARY MORAN

ontinued growth in the Calgary Region throughout 2012 led to the creation of 28,900 new jobs, an impressive 14.3 per cent of Canada’s total, the highest growth across the nation. The labour force grew by 2.7 per cent (22,500 jobs) and employment grew by 3.7 per cent (28,900 jobs). Statistics Canada, 2012. According to Alberta’s Occupational Demand and Supply Outlook 2011-2021, Alberta’s labour demand is expected to increase by 607,000 workers from 2010 to 2021 and is expected to experience a labour shortage of up to 114,000 workers. Much of this growth will occur in the Calgary Economic Region where labour demand is expected to increase from 755,100 workers in 2010 to over 943,000 workers in 2020, an increase of 187,900. Research indicates that (L-R) Loyola Hearne, Jeanette Sutherland, Mary Moran, Minister Jason Kenney, Lisa Corcoran at demographic trends will continue to pose a challenge the Working Abroad tradeshow in Ireland, Dublin. and the fact is, there are now more people eligible to leave the workforce through retirement, than youth integrating Be Part of the Energy into its brand; other city entering the workforce. With growing labour shortages partners and entities, who jointly developed the brand and increased planned investment in the province, the with Calgary Economic Development (Tourism Calgary, the competition for talent remains heated. Calgary Telus Convention Centre, Meetings and Conventions As catalysts, conduits and connectors, Calgary Economic Calgary) have enhanced their respective brands as well. Development promotes sustainable growth in the city and Through the integration of Be Part of the Energy into each with the primary purpose of people attraction, embarked on organization, consistency has been created to ensure a the third year of its marketing campaign Be Part of the Energy unified message is utilized across multiple channels and in January, 2013. Feedback from its primary shareholder, The multiple markets at all times. To build further awareness City of Calgary and campaign partners (via Calgary Economic of Calgary, a destination video was developed for the city Development’s Action Calgary Corporate Partnership program), which launched in April – check out bepartoftheenergy.ca has been positive and there is a clear understanding that the to view the video and learn more. organization’s role is to pave the way by telling Calgary’s story, Regardless of who you are or where you are – you are so companies can focus on selling their organization and job invited to be part of the energy in Calgary. opportunities to potential employees. This year, the 2013 marketing plan continues to take an “own the market” approach with the use of multiple channels Calgary Economic Development is an opportunity-maker, throughout Canada, the United States, Ireland and the U.K. helping to spark and fuel Calgary’s growth. Built primarily around three targeted missions, the marketing Our job is to connect people with resources that can help levers used to bolster attention for the city include public them grow their careers or businesses, thrive in new locations and media relations, signature events, advertising and social or markets and feel at home in our community. We offer media. The campaign is further supported by promotional a wealth of information to help everyone succeed and we tools such as brochures, videos and a website. The preliminary tirelessly promote Calgary, in Canada and around the world. schedule of events includes a mission with Mayor Nenshi to We’re exhilarated about our role in shaping and sharing Eastern Canada in June and a labour attraction mission to Calgary’s story, and we’re proud to be part of the energy. Dublin, Belfast and Manchester in October. For more information: calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com; Calgary Economic Development was not alone in Twitter: @calgaryeconomic. www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY May 2013 • 115

Stroke Treatment at Your Fingertips Mobile app changing the face of therapy BY ANDREA MENDIZABAL AND MEGHAN OCKEY

hen Morgan Moe entered her final year at the University of Calgary, she knew she wanted to make a difference, but what that meant remained to be seen. While completing her undergraduate in kinesiology, Moe volunteered for the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured (ARBI). It was there that she identified her desire to help people in a far-reaching way. “I could have gone into a role as a clinician in exercise physiology, or attended physiotherapy school and became a physiotherapist, and I could have had a certain level of impact,” says Moe, CEO of the recently founded Talem Health Solutions Inc. “But in developing StrokeLink, I could have a much bigger impact and cause change in the life of so many more patients who are struggling with stroke. It was almost a no-brainer to develop this.” Joined by some of Canada’s brightest students via The Next 36, a program that helps launch the careers of the country’s most innovative undergraduates, Moe went on to develop StrokeLink – a mobile application tool that is well on its way to impacting the lives of many Canadians. “StrokeLink is designed to empower stroke survivors and their family members throughout their care journeys by providing both the knowledge and tools for rehabilitation,” says Moe. StrokeLink brings the knowledge a stroke survivor needs to their fingertips. It allows them to track progress, follow therapy programs and connect with caregivers directly from their own homes using an iPad. It also allows family members that same access, so they can better support the patient. This reduces reliance on a physiotherapist and hours spent in hospital. “We’re growing all across Canada and we’ve had a lot of interest from hospitals from British Columbia right to Prince Edward Island,” says Moe. “A lot of hospitals are choosing to implement StrokeLink therapy stations and mounting them throughout the stroke unit.” At any point during their hospital stay, patients can visit the StrokeLink therapy station, log in, access their personalized therapy program and engage in their required three hours of therapy a day. “Right now patients are getting far less than the required three hours of therapy a day. StrokeLink aims to bridge the gap for those patients,” says Moe. The patient can then continue their rehabilitation process right from their own home using an iPad. 116 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Morgan Moe, CEO, Talem Health Solutions Inc. (left) and co-founder Anne Marie Paquette (right) developed StrokeLink, a mobile application tool that is changing the face of home rehabilitation for stroke survivors. Photo courtesy Talem Health Solutions Inc.

“This past April, we launched a new feature called Capture which allows therapists to use the iPad’s camera to take photos and video of the patient in order to develop or edit the patient’s personalized program, so it’s delivering a more personal form of exercise prescription,” says Moe. Talem Health Solutions plans on releasing StrokeLink into the United States later this year, and has plans to develop other mobile applications that feed into the same online management portal for clinicians. Moe is very aware that her experience isn’t the norm for a university student, deviating from the beaten path, and developing her own company, just a year out of her undergrad. “I had no idea what entrepreneurship was this time last year,” says Moe. “In retrospect, a lot of things I was doing were entrepreneurial but I never viewed it as such because I never had that lens. I have been fortunate to have had really amazing experiences outside of academia that have shaped my view and given me the ideas to create StrokeLink.” Talem Health Solutions Inc. is currently preparing for their first round of financing. To learn more about StrokeLink, or how your health-care facility can provide this tool to your patients, visit strokelink.ca. To learn about Innovate Calgary and how it supports new and emerging technology, visit innovatecalgary.com.

SPARK SUCCESS AT THE CENTRE OF ENERGY

MORE GROUPS WANT TO MEET AT THE CALGARY TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE THAN ANY OTHER CONVENTION CENTRE IN CANADA. –

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:

calgary-convention.com

David Parker • MarketingMatters

MarketingMatters

BY DAVID PARKER

can remember being really upset back when I was responsible for promoting Calgary’s film and video community at Calgary Economic Development Authority because one of our promotional agencies had contracted a Vancouver production house to deliver a new video for it. A visit to the mayor’s office and by end of day that contract was torn up and the job given to one of our very capable city companies. That’s a while ago but I still keep a watchful eye on who gets to do what, whether it be film, video, print advertising or a radio jingle. So I was delighted to hear from Stewart McDonough, director of communications at Tourism Calgary, that not only was a new destination video being produced by Calgary’s Joe Media Group, but four of the city’s promotional agencies had collaborated together in launching it. “Right Here” has been designed to broaden perceptions of the city whose youth, growth and opportunity are attractive to potential guests regardless of whether they are looking for a place to visit or live. Tourism Calgary, Calgary Economic Development, the Calgary Telus Convention Centre and the Calgary Hotel Association worked together with Joe Media to create a new video that will be used to attract people to the city to work, live, visit or study. The three-minute video also provides hours of B-roll that can be used in a variety of ways; high enough quality that any amount of still pho-

tography can be taken for good use by the agencies. And it is good to see that they will all be singing from the same song sheet. McDonough says it is already being used by representatives of the Calgary Marathon at the Boston Marathon to promote this city’s race and its energy. •••••••••••••• Now firmly re-established back in Inglewood, Foundry Communications continues to grow in people and clients. Britni Weston returned to Calgary after working in the U.K. where she spent five years marketing luxury brands in London including Zenith, Dior and Harrods. She has joined Foundry as director of account services, leading the charge for all strategic initiatives. New account manager Anastasia Columbos – besides being a national university volleyball champion – has a depth of experience as a strategic and public policy analyst with deep roots in our oil and gas industry. Alexa Aldman is yet another returnee to Calgary joining Foundry’s design team after a sojourn in San Francisco, as is Joel Harding who left this city to join a design studio in Copenhagen. Add new illustrator Colin Strange and print production artist and photoretouching expert Chantelle Sales and Foundry is able to offer its clients lots of talent. They include the recent partnership with ATB Financial in creating an exciting mutual fund campaign for its Compass Portfolio Series. Foundry owner and creative director Zahra Al-Harazi has always been very generous with the company’s probono relationships. It has teamed up this year with Classroom Champions that teaches students the power of hard work and dedication, and is also working with

118 • May 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Lunchbox Theatre to establish its 2013-2014 look. •••••••••••••• Congratulations to Jump Studios in being nominated for a Sport Emmy in the category of Outstanding New Approaches, Sports Programming for its “Numbers Never Lie Whiteboard.” It was produced as a series of quickdraw animated segments for ESPN/ ABC’s NASCAR Sprint Cup coverage. Fingers crossed for Jump at the 34th annual Sports Emmy Awards presented in New York on May 7. Jump general manager Brian Vos also tells me that it has been asked to bring a contemporary design approach to the promo for All The President’s Men – Revisited and is using a series of stock shots Jump tweaked, affected, graded and aged footage for Cult’s TV commercial for Harley Davidson Alberta. •••••••••••••• Gary Hendrick, owner of Hendrick and Associates, is flying to Zurich this month. He is one of only four Canadian agencies who are members of Worldwide Partners, the largest network of independent owner-operated advertising agencies, and will attend its annual conference. His Calgary agency is working on interesting assignments with new account Continuum Health Care Holdings, promoting its development of supportive living residences for seniors that are located primarily in rural Alberta.

Parker’s Pick: Congratulations to Rainmaker’s Canada Day International division that will carry the flag in New York as well as London this July 1.

Bow Valley College means Business. Just ask the Canadian Institute of Management. The Canadian Institute of Management recently accredited BVC’s Business Administration Diploma Program; acknowledging the quality of our faculty, our program, and results. The BVC School of Business offers more than a dozen certificate and diploma programs in high-demand business careers. Whether they studied in-class or online, our graduates are tomorrow’s leaders in business, accounting, tourism, human resources…and more.

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