Business in Edmonton - June 2022 by Business in Edmonton Magazine

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Better ways to solve business problems? That’s what the future is all about. As the world, the market and Alberta’s industries change, so do the challenges you face. Gone are the days of one-size solutions. You need a financial partner with eyes on years ahead—one who can anticipate your future needs, find the opportunity in every challenge and deliver customized solutions that move your business forward. Partner with ATB, and let’s take your business where it needs to go next.

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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 10 | Number 6

REGULAR COLUMNS

The Best Time to Plant a Tree Was 20 Years Ago By John Liston

A Reconciliation Plan Is Worth the Hard Work By Elan MacDonald

Petrochemicals Fueling Edmonton Growth By David MacLean

CONTENTS

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

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ights, Camera… L Production! Production World makes the events you know and love come to life By Nerissa McNaughton

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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 10 | Number 6

CONTENTS THIS MONTH’S FEATURES

COMPANY PROFILES

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D rader Manufacturing Celebrates 75 Years

anagement Makeovers in M Edmonton Coaching people and expectations By John Hardy

P agnotta

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Celebrates 30 Years

T aurus Woodwork Celebrates 20 Years

Sunfresh Farms Celebrates 25 Years

B OMA Edmonton News Summer 2022

Balancing Act Increase in hybrid work models demands new leadership skills and strategies By Natalie Noble

ederal Climate Policies F Frustrate Alberta Farmers As carbon taxes increase, growers brace for possible fertilizer reductions By James Snell

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JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

THE BEST TIME TO PLANT A TREE WAS 20 YEARS AGO // JOHN LISTON

The Best Time to Plant a Tree Was 20 Years Ago BY JOHN LISTON, VICE PRESIDENT, ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP

t is hard to keep up with all of the incredible things going on in Alberta these days. One of the shining lights is the development of our expertise in Artificial intelligence (AI). May 24 to 27 was AI week in Edmonton, presented by the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) showcasing this incredible work and Amii’s world-leading expertise. AI, in its simplest form, is the ability of a computer or a robot controlled by a computer to do tasks that are usually done by humans because they require human intelligence and discernment. “Companies around the world are leveraging AI to be able to create new competitive advantages and to grow. The opportunity we have in Alberta is that that expertise exists right here. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in that expertise and to create that competitive advantage for the next decade and beyond,” says Cam Linke, Amii CEO. Alberta Enterprise Group member Skymount Medical is one such company, recently awarded a Silver Award in The American Business Awards under Artificial Intelligence. The Stevie® Awards are the world’s premier business awards. They were created in 2002 to honour and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working professionals worldwide. In short order the Stevie has become one of the world’s most coveted prizes. Based in Calgary, Skymount Medical partnered with Louisiana State University (LSU) to work together on discovering new drug therapies. Their mission is to accelerate the development of better medicines using DeepDrug™, an AI and machine learning platform. The focus is to become the leading provider of innovative treatments, to improve global health conditions, and to provide better access to the most cutting-edge therapeutics.

A drug discovery company, Skymount Medical has a research pipeline of potential therapies to treat COVID-19 identified using AI. DeepDrug’sTM lead molecules, now a new twodrug combination, has proven to be 97 per cent effective in reducing the virus that causes COVID-19, in laboratory studies performed by Skymount’s pharmacology team. DeepDrug™ is an advanced AI platform that supports the science of drug discovery and has been rated as one of the top platforms in the world, according to a publication in Drug Discovery Today. It is a multidisciplinary platform that can reduce decades of research into months, which is more efficient and cost-effective than current methods. Its outputs feed early-stage research that is substantiated by pre-clinical and clinical studies. Fusing the disciplines of virology, computer science, pharmacology and advanced engineering, DeepDrug™ takes all known natural or synthetic molecules and processes recombinants, scoring the results at a speed that takes decades with current bench science. The DeepDrug™ AI engine is agnostic as to the nature of molecules and therefore can combine them in unique and innovative ways, drastically enhancing the speed of human creativity and drug discovery. Skymount Medical’s human studies are currently underway in the United States, with clinical trials ready to initiate this summer in Europe and the United Kingdom. Alberta has developed exceptional expertise in so many facets. The results of investments in the early days 20 years ago are showing up with world-leading knowledge today. As the old Chinese proverb teaches: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP (AEG) PUTS ALBERTA BUSINESSES FIRST BY SHARING INFORMATION, ADVOCACY AND BUILDING BRIDGES TO NEW MARKETS. AEG MEMBERS ARE BUSINESS OWNERS, SENIOR EXECUTIVES, INVESTORS AND ENTREPRENEURS REPRESENTING FIRMS IN EVERY MAJOR ALBERTA INDUSTRY. AEG MEMBERS EMPLOY OVER 100,000 ALBERTANS AND GENERATE BILLIONS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY EACH YEAR.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JUNE 2022

A RECONCILIATION PLAN IS WORTH THE HARD WORK // ELAN MACDONALD

A Reconciliation Plan Is Worth the Hard Work BY ELAN MACDONALD, VP EXTERNAL RELATIONS, U OF A

uring the pandemic, as business leaders, we were often planning only for the short-term. With health restrictions, supply chains and labour markets sometimes shifting overnight, staying nimble and adaptive was key. As businesses and organizations across the Edmonton Metropolitan Region ease back to the office, there are unprecedented opportunities to reshape our workforces for the future, and for the better. It’s an opportunity to create work cultures that embrace diverse ideas and experiences. In Alberta, the case to increase opportunities for Indigenous people in the workforce is particularly compelling. Edmonton has the second-largest urban Indigenous population in Canada and our province has one of the fastest-growing Indigenous populations. Statistics Canada has forecasted that as many as 526,000 Indigenous people will live in Alberta by 2041. Nationally, Statistics Canada reports that almost half (46 per cent) of the Indigenous population is age 24 and under. Over the next decade, an estimated 400,000 Indigenous youth will enter the workforce. At the same time, we are seeing vacancies across several industries across Alberta: health care, education, energy production, science and technology. These sectors need people but they also need diverse perspectives and lived experiences to drive forward innovation. Closing the education and labour market gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians would result in GDP growth of $27.7 billion annually, according to a study by the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board. It will also help address the current and anticipated labour shortages driven by the retirement of the baby-boomer generation. June is National Indigenous History Month, making it the perfect opportunity for business leaders across the region to consider how they are working reconciliation into their own business plans.

At the University of Alberta, we are working to take up the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, acknowledging the spirit of cooperation outlined in the treaty agreements. There is a unique opportunity to enact the Calls to Action as they touch on every aspect of the university mandate in teaching, learning, research and community engagement. Reconciliation starts with work across these spaces, asking key questions and looking at the history, policies and practices that shape our current reality. This month, the university will release the first Indigenous Strategic Plan to guide the university’s work across these areas. The plan is led by the Indigenous Programming and Research Portfolio, as an institutional collaboration and communication tool to guide the work of incorporating Indigenous worldviews and perspectives into all of our subjects and research activities. The plan will also help us to address the structural causes of the long-standing and pronounced inequalities faced by Indigenous peoples. The goal is to achieve this by increasing Indigenous representation across professions, in leadership and by improving equity, diversity and inclusion practices in recruitment and retention of Indigenous students, faculty and staff. These developments are a small part of the wide-ranging efforts undertaken to build a university that ensures that all students can attain their educational and professional goals and that we all live in a more just world. This is important work. It’s also hard work. Reconciliation is a necessary step towards reducing barriers to the inclusion of Indigenous peoples in all facets of life across the Edmonton region, including business. Reconciliation will be a long journey we take together. It is my hope that we can share the lessons we learn to ensure a prosperous future for everyone. ELAN MACDONALD IS PAST CHAIR OF THE EDMONTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND A FOUNDING DIRECTOR WITH EDMONTON GLOBAL. SHE ALSO SITS ON THE BOARDS OF COVENANT HEALTH, ATLAS BIOTECHNOLOGIES AND ALBERTA BALLET. SHE IS THE VICE-PRESIDENT (EXTERNAL RELATIONS) OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA. HER COLUMN APPEARS MONTHLY IN BUSINESS IN EDMONTON.

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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PETROCHEMICALS FUELING EDMONTON GROWTH // DAVID MACLEAN

Petrochemicals Fueling Edmonton growth BY DAVID MACLEAN

ometimes all it takes is being the right place at the right time. With $100 billion in potential petrochemical investment, Edmonton is that place – and the time is now. The biggest economic news to hit the region in years was last year’s Dow Chemicals announcement to build a netzero ethylene derivatives facility near Fort Saskatchewan. Rumoured to be in the range of $10 billion, the Dow facility is the first of its kind built in Canada in more than 20 years. This follows Inter Pipeline’s $4 billion investment, which will soon be fully operational. This could be just the beginning. The Alberta government says it’s committed to increasing Alberta’s petrochemical sector by $30 billion by 2030. Alberta, and the Edmonton region in particular, is uniquely positioned for petrochemical investment. First off, we have vast reserves of oil and natural gas that are cheaper than those in competing jurisdictions like the United States Gulf Coast. We have a skilled work force with experience in building major projects. For companies pursuing projects with net-zero emissions, Alberta is the answer. We have the world’s largest CO2 pipeline and already boast one of the world’s first carbon capture fertilizer facilities. Shell’s Quest project has stored seven million tonnes of CO2 two kilometers under ground since 2015. Shell’s proposed Atlas Hub could store 10 times as much carbon as Quest. Much of the optimism in petrochemicals can be attributed to good government policy. Alberta’s Petrochemical Incentive Program provides grants up 12 per cent of projects capital

costs, paid out once the project becomes operational. This levels the playing field with places like the Gulf Coast – which is famous for offering generous incentives. The reality is, if we want to attract investment, we must compete. Alberta’s low corporate tax rate doesn’t quite get us there, unfortunately. Also helpful is the federal government’s recently announced carbon capture, utilization and storage tax credit. The refundable CCUS investment tax credit will cover half the cost of equipment to capture carbon dioxide, and 37.5 per cent of the capital costs for transportation, storage and use of CO2 emissions. The federal budget also included a 60 per cent credit for investment in direct-air capture technologies to remove carbon from the atmosphere. There’s a lot of work to be done but the future looks bright in Alberta’s petrochemicals sector. When demand for hydrogen inevitably picks up, we are poised to become a global exporter. For so long Alberta has been maligned for the success of our energy industry. Now, we are part of the solution as the world pushes for decarbonization. That’s quite a turnaround. The growth of Alberta’s petrochemicals industry will be the gift that keeps on giving for Alberta’s manufacturers. Billions in new investment will drive demand for pumps, gauges, pipes and electronics – all of which is manufactured locally. We’ve experienced a lot of adversity in recent years. Growth in Edmonton’s petrochemicals sector provides a muchneeded boost.

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JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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The VAULTS Announces South Edmonton as its Fifth Development The VAULTS announced South Edmonton as its newest development, with construction expected to commence this autumn. This will be a 21-unit lifestyle storage condominium development, located in Discovery Business Park with quick access to QE II and Highway 19 and in close proximity to the Edmonton International Airport and RAD Torque Raceway. Individual units come complete with premium features including a spacious mezzanine and three piece bathroom. Sizes range from 1,677 square feet to over 3,300 square feet and are customizable for multiple purposes. Unit pre-sales commenced on May 12, 2022. Joe Mahovlich, the VAULTS’ founder and president noted, “We are pleased to announce South Edmonton as our fifth development. Demand for the VAULTS’ solution of premium lifestyle secured and private storage spaces continues to be strong, particularly in a time where COVID-19 has people looking for alternate spaces from their work and home.” Unit owners work directly with the VAULTS’ designers to create a space that is unique to their tastes and needs. At the VAULTS, “Your Passion Lives Here!” Premium standard features in all units include: • High 27’ ceilings. Mezzanines are placed at the perfect height to park large vehicles below and create a spacious mezzanine area. • Natural light from large upper windows enhances the space, while providing privacy and security. • Large electric overhead doors provide flexibility and increased manoeuvrability for interior parking and accessing vehicles. • Building with security in mind. Concrete construction is non-combustible, impact resistant and offers many additional benefits. • Fire suppression and air detection systems protects valued collections and provides a healthy unit environment.

The VAULTS is Canada’s premier secured lifestyle storage condominiums where owners’ benefits far exceed just peace of mind. The VAULTS become a personal space customized for cars, recreational vehicles and other storage needs. For information on the VAULTS, visit thevaults.ca. TOP: PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE VAULTS BOTTOM: LINDSAY NICHOLS PHOTOGRAPHY

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City of Edmonton Honoured by American Planning Association for Innovative Work In Carbon Budgeting Source: edmonton.ca/city_government/news-media The City of Edmonton was recognized at the 2022 American Planning Association Sustainable Communities Division Awards for its work developing the Edmonton Carbon Budget, a tool to integrate greenhouse gas emissions into the City’s budgeting and prioritization process. In December 2020, Edmonton became the first city in North America to develop a carbon budget, embedding it within The City Plan. The following year, the City took the concept one step further in its Community Energy Transition Strategy, asking: what if the City budgeted for carbon emissions the same way it handles finances? “This is North America’s first municipal carbon budget, meaning that in addition to measuring the dollars and cents of the budget, now Edmonton will also measure the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that a project adds or takes away from the environment,” said Howaida Hassan, general supervisor of the Urban Growth Unit with Urban Planning and Economy Branch. “Many people are putting time and effort into making this work. It’s an iterative project and we are still learning every day. As other municipalities begin to look at carbon budgeting as well, we are now able to share what works and what doesn’t to make sure the process is as effective as possible.” The carbon budget caps Edmonton’s total carbon emissions over the next three decades and allows the City to measure our planned actions and progress towards that goal each year and adjust as needed. “The City is integrating the carbon budget into the overall 2023-2026 budget cycle, which means that City Council will also be considering projects in terms of how they affect emissions,” said Harmalkit Rai, deputy City treasurer and branch manager of Financial Services. “For example, a road expansion will now be considered in light of its impact on the carbon budget and the project’s impact on air quality, public health and long-term costs.”

The Excellence in Sustainability Awards, which honour projects, plans, policies, individuals and organizations whose work is dedicated to supporting and growing sustainable communities, were presented May 2 in San Diego. The Edmonton Carbon Budget was recognized in the Policy, Law, or Tool Award category. TOP: HOWAIDA HASSAN, GENERAL SUPERVISOR OF THE URBAN GROWTH UNIT WITH URBAN PLANNING AND ECONOMY BRANCH. BOTTOM: HARMALKIT RAI, DEPUTY CITY TREASURER AND BRANCH MANAGER OF FINANCIAL SERVICES.

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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MANAGEMENT MAKEOVERS IN EDMONTON // MANAGEMENT & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

MANAGEMENT

MAKEOVERS IN EDMONTON COACHING PEOPLE AND EXPECTATIONS

BY JOHN HARDY

hether it’s competition, collaboration, teams and teamwork, conflict management, motivation, being revved and ready for wins or losses, business often compares itself with sports. Not surprisingly, when the team or team performance needs evaluation and adjustment, Edmonton businesses turn to coaches. “Organizations turn to management consulting firms for a variety of reasons,” explains Deanne Friesen, director with

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

the Edmonton office of Western Management Consultants (WMC), one of the longest standing and most respected Canadian names in management consulting. “Reasons include a lack of internal expertise to adequately assess and deal with opportunities and issues, program management, and organizational design and improvement. Another area where we are seeing companies come to us for support is in reassessing their operating models and strategies.”

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Choose Local, Keep Alberta Strong! She details the WMC expertise. “We are much more than problem solvers. Our approach is to provide ‘bespoke’ rather than out-ofthe-box support. In our current environment, we are finding that companies and organizations downsized to respond to pandemic and economic challenges, and are now looking to fill gaps. We are also providing support for reassessing operating models and strategies. The world has changed over the past couple of years and forwardthinking companies understand that ‘back to normal’ isn’t going to meet growth or innovation needs. We are doing a lot of recruiting and project management for clients and working with companies to help their teams thrive through change.”

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The bottom line, and consistent with the analogy to sports, Edmonton business seek out the expertise, the fresh perspectives, the focus and the motivation of coaches. While business advisor coaches invariably bring their unique styles, approaches, experience and expertise, being on the same wavelength and linking-up with the right coach can be challenging. “Some aspects of the management coaching process may include ensuring the intent behind requesting a coach is pure, and that management is prepared to be honest, open, vulnerable and transparent throughout the process,” says Nadine Badry, with a diverse Alberta School of Business portfolio from HR

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JUNE 2022

MANAGEMENT MAKEOVERS IN EDMONTON // MANAGEMENT & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

functions, project management, health and safety, wellbeing, mediation, leadership, risk management, emergency preparedness and space management. “Developing an understanding that no one will be penalized for being honest, open, vulnerable and transparent will be key to the success of the process. Without these intentions and creation of a safe space, the process will most likely be ineffective.” “An effective coach will not fix everything nor will they tell you what you need to do,” she points out, “but they will guide the process for you to get there. No one knows your business better than those who work in it, so it is best the people who know the business come up with the solutions and outcomes. If they can be a part of creating the solution, there is a greater chance of buy in to the changes, approaches and solutions.” Anita Veldhuisen Slomp, the respected, Edmonton-based conflict management practitioner who mediates for the Department of National Defense and coaches and instructs with the ADR Institute of Alberta and Edmonton’s University of Alberta School of Business points out that, “The field of coaching is unregulated, so it can be difficult to sift through the options to identify what is needed. Creating a list of questions that would provide insight into the experience, philosophy and skill of a coach is a good place to start.” WMC’s Friesen underscores that “the fit” of the coach in the organization is a bit tricky but extremely important. “We work hard to make sure that there is a mutual understanding of the needs, desired outcomes, the ways of getting there and, how the client prefers to work. There are also some important transactional things. There needs to be complete clarity and transparency on things like expertise and experience, budget, approach and methodology, deliverables and who will do the work.” Despite the collaboration and relationship with coaches, measuring the value of the coaching service can be tricky. “WMC provides clarity on outcomes and deliverables for every client, and delivery on expectations is key,” she notes. “Depending on the project, we often help clients develop evaluation frameworks and metrics, linking the work that we supported to overall business performance. If the consulting coach doesn’t provide a level of transparency the company is comfortable with, perhaps it’s time to look elsewhere.”

“AN EFFECTIVE COACH WILL NOT FIX EVERYTHING NOR WILL THEY TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO DO,” BADRY POINTS OUT, “BUT THEY WILL GUIDE THE PROCESS FOR YOU TO GET THERE.” In the best of businesses, there can be sudden or mounting issues, situations and subtle but corroding speedbumps. Leadership knows when it’s time for the fresh set of eyes, ears and approaches. There’s no troubleshooting menu to know when it’s time to enlist an outside professional or a coach to help dissect the problems into solutions. “There are times when an external management coaching resource may be helpful in moving a business forward,” Badry says. “Some of the more common issues may be business restructuring, sometimes involving layoffs, promotions, demotions, more work for the same pay, business moves, business expansion, business downsizing, etc. Change ABOVE: NADINE BADRY WITH THE ALBERTA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

MANAGEMENT MAKEOVERS IN EDMONTON // MANAGEMENT & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

FRIESEN ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMPHASIZES, “WE HELP CLIENTS management can be complex, and often leaders do not have the time or expertise to incorporate these practices into their restructuring initiatives.” According to Veldhuisen Slomp, a key to management coaching is the establishment of a relationship where the coachee is safe to be vulnerable and disclose where they are experiencing challenges, identify their weaknesses and be willing to look at how they can gain the skills needed to overcome those challenges. “In a good coaching relationship there is a balance between support and challenge,” she says, “and the coachee is feeling that they are partnered to walk the road of self development and challenged to honestly address their blind spots.” If the same issue keeps surfacing and issues keep going around in circles and never seem to be fully resolved, Badry suggests it is time to look at cultivating outside perspectives. She underscores that unresolved conflict can turn toxic to the business itself and all those who are exposed to it, and the longer it is left unattended to, the larger the problem may become and adds that great leaders take care of their people, and take time to foster a healthy culture. “Signs of an unhealthy work environment are both verbal and nonverbal. When employees feel valued and a culture of trust is continually prioritized, and the roots of a business continue to implant themselves deeper and stronger, which ultimately set the foundation for everything else.

ENSURE THAT SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED TODAY SUPPORT THEIR LONG-TERM ASPIRATIONS AND TO IDENTIFY IDENTIFY THE MOST APPROPRIATE KINDS OF LONG-TERM PLANNING FOR SPECIFIC SITUATIONS.” “It could be that management does not have the time to get involved and/or do not have the skills to take the situation in the direction it needs to in order to achieve long-term resolve. Conflict can be very intimidating for some to approach. Without proper skills to address it, issues can fester and teams can break down. “Management coaches welcome conflict,” Badry says, “and bring discussions to a level that has yet to be explored. A good management coach can move the team towards creating solutions that work for the long term.” Friesen enthusiastically emphasizes that the most successful organizations are always looking forward. “We help clients ensure that solutions implemented today support their long-term aspirations and to identify identify the most appropriate kinds of long-term planning for specific situations.”

ABOVE: DEANNE FRIESEN, DIRECTOR WITH THE EDMONTON OFFICE OF WESTERN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS (WMC).

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JUNE 2022

LIGHTS, CAMERA… PRODUCTION! // COVER

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

LIGHTS, CAMERA… PRODUCTION! // COVER

LIGHTS, CAMERA… PRODUCTION! PRODUCTION WORLD MAKES THE EVENTS YOU KNOW AND LOVE COME TO LIFE

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

roduction World is the name event planners, musicians and venues call for live, virtual and hybrid galas, fundraisers, award shows, musical events, conferences, and trade shows. To date, gala and fundraising events hosted in Production World’s studios have raised close to $2 million. This is the team that deliverers the clearest audio, stunning visual displays (including LED video walls), full service lighting (fixtures, trusses, chain motors, special effects), impressive staging; and for musicians, top quality backline services from full DJ gear to brand name instruments and special effects.

most diversified, tier-1, live event production company. The team consists of 27 core members including video directors, audio technicians, lighting designers, camera operators, video editors and script writers, along with various sub-contractors and production technicians. “Our success can be attributed to several factors,” says Beckett, “including the company’s experience in providing a full suite of services with sound, lighting, staging and video. We have honed in on the execution of live events of all types and scales, from concerts and festivals to corporate events.”

“In fact, says Beckett, “one of the things most people don’t know is that Kimo can play a guitar at the same level as Eddie Van Halen. Periodically, staff can hear him shredding a guitar in his office!”

He continues, “Production World has been consistent in attracting and employing highly experienced, creative and innovative individuals who help take the company’s productions to the next level. Diversity has also been a key factor for success. Beyond live events and live virtual event production, Production World also creates videos, offering everything from location shooting to editing. Additionally, there is a commercial division that sells, designs and installs high-level audio-video systems in all types of venues. We have also built long-lasting relationships by going the extra mile, providing whatever is needed to ensure the success of clients’ events.”

From the start, the business venture was a success. Quick growth saw a name change to AXE Productions. It was 2012 when the name changed again, this time to Production World to better reflect the full range of products and services. For 27 years the brand has grown continuously and is now Alberta’s

Those events include some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry such as Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman, Jann Arden, Foreigner, ZZ Top, Ice Cube, David Spade, Chelsea Handler and Howie Mandel, to name a few.

Production World’s journey started in 1995 when Jon Beckett, president, and Kelly Kimo, vice president, founded Angel Audio. The paring was ideal. Not only were both business partners entrepreneurial minded, but Beckett is also a live soundman and Kimo is a musician. They understand the industry on all levels.

LEFT: JON BECKETT, KELLY KIMO AND CHRIS DUNCAN. PHOTO SOURCE: KESARA KIMO, PRODUCTION WORLD

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JUNE 2022

LIGHTS, CAMERA… PRODUCTION! // COVER

Kimo adds, “We have been behind events featuring Canadian politicians, U.S. Presidents, actor William Shatner and the Aga Khan Foundation. Canadian Country Music star Brett Kissel compared Production World to companies he has worked with in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville. We have also had the pleasure of working with Trixstar and their team including last summer’s Together Again Concert Series, which involved some of the top entertainers in Canada. Production World provides services for multiple events at the River Cree Resort and Casino, working on, at times, more than 100 events a year in its entertainment centre. Some of the acts they have produced for River Cree include Diana Ross and Jay Leno. The company is also proud to have produced events at KDays for 25 years where the scope of production requires up to seven stages, from very large-scale concerts to children’s entertainment venues. Kimo says of KDays, “Although Northlands is now a past part of Edmonton’s cultural history, we truly remember and appreciate the team we worked with over the decades. When

there’s that much going on, it takes a remarkable team effort to entertain hundreds of thousands of people.” A feature of Production World is its ability to move and change with the times – and few times changed as quickly as 2020 and 2021 when live events around the world came to a standstill because of COVID. “It decimated Production World’s live event schedule,” Beckett admits of the challenges of the pandemic, “but we had already begun to produce hybrid events involving live streaming. The team decided to seek further opportunities to produce live virtual events and within the first month we had our first client. Since then, Production World has produced more than 300 live virtual events.” They produced the first large scale COVID-friendly event at the Edmonton Exhibition Lands Racetrack Infield, working with bands such as Blue Rodeo, Our Lady Peace and Tom Cochrane. When the momentum began to build, Beckett and Kimo made the bold decision to build a 3,000 square foot soundstage within its existing facility. It was a game changer

ABOVE: TOGETHER AGAIN PRODUCED BY TRIXSTAR.

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

New world, new insights and solutions The world has changed and so has the real estate and construction sector. Set yourself apart with innovative business strategies, efficient operations and a tax plan that takes you from where you are to where you want to be.

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LIGHTS, CAMERA… PRODUCTION! // COVER

that ushered in Production World’s current evolution as a masterful producer of hybrid and virtual events. Beckett reminisces, “Just a few months prior to COVID wiping out the events industry, we had the pleasure of hiring broadcast veteran Chris Duncan. He helped launch A-Channel in Edmonton more than 20 years ago and was an executive with Citytv, CTV and Shaw Television. Well, the timing couldn’t have been any better! Before you knew it live productions shut down and really the only work we could get was virtual. We built that state-of-the art 3,000 square foot production studio and the first event held was for Junior Achievement Alberta with a virtual live auction by Danny Hooper, in which we raised $75,000 for the organization. Chris really was a dream hire and we are forever grateful for all that he brings to the table.” “Like most live event production companies, sustaining momentum is always a challenge,” says Kimo. “This includes maintaining production inventory by investing in upgrades to keep our leading edge. However, the opportunity to work with great organizations and their people to realize a successful event is perhaps at the top of the list of what is rewarding for the work we all do here. The confidence and gratitude we have for our team is immense. We are able to accomplish what we do because our staff are among the best in the industry.” Everyone at Production World is highly invested in giving back. “We are very proud of the work we do, especially with nonprofit organizations,” says Beckett. “Over the years we have sponsored events well into the millions of dollars, helping charities throughout the community.” Kimo adds, “We have had the pleasure of working with the John Cameron Changing Lives Foundation for about 10 years. Through that relationship, we helped produce The Singing Christmas Tree at the Jubilee Auditorium as well as a very special event called Crescendo. This event takes place twice a year, once in Edmonton and then in Calgary. It is a major fundraiser for mental health organizations in the province. Being in the live event industry as long as we have, we feel these are the best locally produced events in the region. “In Edmonton, Crescendo takes place at the Francis Winspear Centre with a 60-piece orchestra that John TOP: GO WEST PRODUCED BY TIMEWIZE. MIDDLE: GARY V PRODUCED BY TRIXSTAR. BOTTOM: SOUTH STAGE KDAYS WITH CHEAP TRICK.

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

LIGHTS, CAMERA… PRODUCTION! // COVER

PRODUCTION WORLD IS YOUR LOCAL SOLUTION FOR THE FULL SPECTRUM OF PRODUCTION SERVICES FOR LIVE, VIRTUAL OR HYBRID EVENTS OF ALL SIZES. THE FOUNDERS, ALONG WITH THEIR TEAM, ARE COMMITTED TO EXCEEDING CLIENT EXPECTATIONS THROUGH INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND INVESTMENT IN THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE THAT KEEP THEM ON THE LEADING EDGE. Cameron and his team pull together, and a 60-piece choir with many vocal soloists. It is truly outstanding and all for a great cause. As a company, we really get to flex our strengths and capabilities in this event with 400 panels of LED video wall and a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system that boasts nearly 150 channels of audio. In our business, the level of production required is not for the faint of heart!” Beckett and Kimo are also proud of Production World’s 15year relationship with the Glenrose Foundation’s Courage Gala, production for the Festival of Trees for the University Hospital Foundation and for the Lois Hole Hospital Foundation’s Harvest Gala. “We have always been a big supporter of one our favourite charities, the Nina Haggerty Foundation and their yearly gala. The Here’s Nina production is always a wonderful event!” they add. In 2021, Production World began producing an event called Jammin’ for a Cure in association with the Cure Cancer Foundation; a live, virtual music marathon featuring many performers over two days. The first event saw 32 performers give their time and effort. Together with the second iteration of Jammin’ for a Cure in March of this year, the event has raised $100,000. Production World also created and managed the online silent auction in support of the event. Over the years, the company has been recognized by such organizations as the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards in 2000 and Jon Beckett won the 2019 Outstanding Industry Professional Award at the Edmonton Event Awards put on by Timewise Event Management. Any win, among a team member or for the company as a whole, is considered a win for everyone involved. Beckett and

Kimo credit the team and their hard work as an integral part of the success Production World continues to enjoy. Equally thanked are the many clients Production World has helped over the years, the non-profit organizations the company is fortunate to work with and the ongoing support of the community at large, especially during the fast pivot of COVID. “It goes without saying that the success of an event is the company’s ‘raison d’être,” say the founders. We are very optimistic about our future as live events return and the market adjusts. We feel we will see a combination of hybrid events and micro events right up to full-on sold out shows, assuming we can keep health measures in place to allow for a return to some sort of normalcy. What is also critical is the experience leading up to the final execution of the event. Production World wants its clients to feel that the journey was just as rewarding as the final product.” They conclude with a smile, “We are pleased to be an independent company controlling our own destiny, and to call Edmonton home!” Production World is your local solution for the full spectrum of production services for live, virtual or hybrid events of all sizes. The founders, along with their team, are committed to exceeding client expectations through innovation, creativity and investment in the tools of the trade that keep them on the leading edge. Production World will continue to provide that “wow” factor for events and drive meaningful change in the community by partnering with non-profit organizations. Learn more at productionworld.ca and follow the exciting developments and projects on their YouTube channel, by liking them on Facebook and Twitter (productionworld) and hitting that subscribe button on Instagram (production.world).

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JUNE 2022

LEADERS IN INNOVATION AND QUALITY

Photo by Rebecca Lippiatt

Drader Manufacturing Celebrates 75 years By Nerissa McNaughton

Drader Manufacturing • Celebrating 75 years

perating out of Edmonton, (headquarters) and Brampton, Ontario, Drader Manufacturing uses proprietary technology in a wide variety of products including milk crates, bread trays, warehouse bins, plastic welding and much more. In 1947, up in Alberta’s oil sands, a man drove a Caterpillar D8 bulldozer into a bog. The driver’s name is lost to history, but the man who pulled the Cat out was Clarence Drader. When he saw the Cat sinking into the bog, Clarence asked the people in charge what they were going to do. They replied, “We don’t know, but that Cat has to come out for environmental and safety reasons.” Clarence responded, “Okay, if I get it out, can I keep it?” A few wooden poles, beams and pullies later, Clarence was the proud owner of a used and slightly damp Caterpillar D8. He ended up selling it, but, along with the money he was paid to do the job, Clarence used the funds to expand his business, C. H. Drader Garage and Machine Shop. He went on to found Drader Manufacturing. “This story shows the entrepreneurial nature of the company,” says Gordon McTavish, President. “Clarence didn’t say, ‘It can’t be done.’ He had the same attitude to plastic welding. He was a metal welder who looked at plastics and said, ‘Why can’t I weld this like I weld steel?’ and found a solution for the problem. Today the Drader Injectiweld system is unparalleled for its ability to weld or repair plastics.” The Injectiweld is not the only way Drader Manufacturing has changed an entire industry. In 1957, Honey Boy Bakery approached Clarence to improve the bread boxes they were using for Burger Baron.

“The boxes were called Bingos,” says Jeff McTavish, Vice President of Operations. “As the bread was made and came off the line, it would be put in a box and shoved down a conveyer belt to be stacked or moved. The boxes were solid wood, cumbersome and very heavy. The loader would yell ‘Bingo!’ to the catcher so they would be aware that a box was coming down the line. If they missed it, the catcher could suffer possible injury. Honey Boy needed a better solution.” Drader was able to offer a stackable all-steel tray, which reduced safety concerns while improving the handling of the bread. Eventually the steel bread tray evolved into a nestable lower-cost plastic base. The changeover to this space-saving plastic base improved safety and handling logistics even more. The plastic bakery tray gained Drader worldwide recognition. “Drader is focused on sustainability through our reusable plastic products, recycling, product

Drader Manufacturing • Celebrating 75 years • 2

CONGRATULATIONS DRADER MANUFACTURING ON YOUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY!

CONGRATS DRADER

Manufacturing! 75 years? You're still young! Plenty of work to do! Manufactures of Extruded Plastic Sheet Products

Cheers and kudos on your anniversary!

35 Calder Place, St. Albert, Alberta T8N 5A6 Phone: (780) 431-2112 orionplastics.com

CONGRATULATIONS ON 75 YEARS!

We are proud to have partnered with you for 22 years and wish you many more years of continued success! The Hi-Velocity System is an energy efficient air delivery system that can be designed to provide heating, cooling, filtration, ventilation, humidification and dehumidification.

Manufactured by Energy Saving Products Ltd. since 1983

12615 - 124 Street Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5L 0N8 Ph: 780-453-2093 www.hi-velocity.com

Drader Manufacturing • Celebrating 75 years • 3

design and engineering,” says Kevin McTavish, Vice President of Manufacturing. Drader was one of the first companies to introduce recycling programs by receiving customers old trays to reproduce into new trays using their recycled resin. Kevin provides a snapshot of the brand’s past and current milestones, saying, “It was 1969 when MAC Plastics Ltd. introduced Drader to plastics, allowing us to replace steel and metal components with plastic products. In 1979, Dave Drader, Clarence’s son, purchased the company and expanded the bakery side of the business. The brand changed hands again in 1989 when Gordon McTavish and a group of local businessmen purchased the business from Dave.” Kevin continues, “At that time, Clarence was no longer involved in the day-to-day operations, but he was still tinkering and creating. In 1991, he developed the Injectiweld, our revolutionary product for plastic welding. By 1996 Drader Manufacturing needed a larger facility, so we built a state-of-the-art new facility on 50th Street in Edmonton. Just six years later an expansion was necessary to keep up with the company’s growth.” With the latest expansion, Drader turned its focus inwards and explored ways to produce a leaner and more efficient organization. “We invested in automation without laying off staff,” says Gordon, proudly. “The goal was to innovate, but never to lay off people. We sent them into other positions or provided retraining. Automation helps our people do their jobs in a safer and more organized way. We continue to leverage automation to increase productivity and save our team from incurring repetitive strain injuries. Automation also empowers our team to spend more time on quality control, as opposed to just on assembly.” Drader Manufacturing continued to evolve and expand, serving customers in Ontario, Quebec and throughout North American markets. Coupled with the desire to better serve their existing customers, this expansion highlighted the need to have a manufacturing facility in the Greater Toronto Area. Their new facility opened in 2012 in Brampton, Ontario, helping Drader service its customers from coast to coast in both Canada and the United States.

Drader Enters the Ontario Market

ith a growing need from its customers to have an Eastern location and Drader’s desire to have a national presence, plans went underway for a new facility in the Greater Toronto Area. In 2008, new equipment was purchased and just before signing a lease with pen in hand, the stock market crashed. The Drader team, not wanting to risk it, made the decision to put everything into storage for the next two years. By mid 2010 the timing was perfect to move forward with the growth into Brampton, the ideal location to service their customers. The expansion elevated Drader on all fronts by expanding recycling capabilities, increasing proximity to the Eastern customer base and streamlining logistics and delivery. It allowed further growth into the automotive and North American bread and milk crate markets with Drader’s proprietary products. More automation and new technology were introduced, keeping Drader on the leading edge of its industry across Canada. Drader is proud to be a strong contributor and job creator in the Ontario market.

“We enjoy helping our customers with the many solutions we offer,” says Jeff. “Often, they approach us only with the idea to achieve cost efficiency with custom plastic parts. We take the time to find solutions for our customers, while taking their ideas and adapting them through our advanced technology. Our team has decades of experience in plastic parts design and mechanical engineering.”

Drader Manufacturing • Celebrating 75 years • 4

A Proud Edmonton Business Serving North America for 25 Years

Mainline Adapt-A-Valve

Mainline Top-Check

Mainline FR4

The Extendable Valve Interior/Exterior Applications Easy Ground Level Access

The Builder’s Valve Suspended Gate Requires Minimal Maintenance

The Retrofit Valve Easy Installation into Existing Buildings

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Congratulations Drader Manufacturing on 75 years of excellence!

Flex-Sill An alternative solution to sealants, tapes & caulking. Easily installs in under two minutes – caps the entire sill. Guarantees a quality and consistent install in all climates.

Pro-Flash & Greenskin Provides a weathertight seal for all HVAC, plumbing & electrical penetrations PATENT PENDING

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INNOVATION AND QUALITY

INJECTION MOLDING Custom solutions to bring your product to market.

EXTRUSION We extrude profile lengths for various plastic needs.

THERMOFORMING An easy, cost-effective plastic manufacturing alternative.

DRADER INJECTIWELD Our hand-held plastic welder is known worldwide for its ease of use and strong welds.

5750 – 50 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6B 2Z8

BAKERY L Save space and time leading nesting

PART DESIGN & MOLD BUILDING We provide complete Part Design and Mold support when nothing off-the-shelf fits your application.

AGRICULTURE Durable comfortable environment for your livestock.

LOGISTICS e with our Industryg bread carriers!

WAREHOUSE AND DISTRIBUTION Bins are designed for ease of access in pallet racking.

RECYCLING We use over 2 million pounds of recycled resin each year.

SPECIALTY Customers who rely on our specialty products count on consistency, quick lead times, and a quality product.

PIPE THREAD PROTECTORS We offer a wide range of pin and box thread protectors.

MILK CRATES Strong and durable for a variety of industries.

Toll Free: 1-800-661-4122 | Email: mfg@drader.com | www.drader.com

“In addition to the plastic welder, we offer injection molding, mold building, extrusion, thermoforming, vacuum forming, part design and 3D printing. Our product list includes milk crates, bakery equipment, the Injectiweld plastic welder, warehouse and distribution bins, thermoformed products, PPE, pipe thread protectors and numerous custom and specialty items. “We are unique in our abilities and remain a top and respected one-stop-shop despite global competition from countries known for mass producing ‘cheap’ plastic parts.”

CONGRATULATIONS DRADER MANUFACTURING ON YOUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY!

Reinhold Industries Ltd. is committed to providing quality products and services which consistently meet or exceed our customer’s expectations. We will consider our job complete only when the customer has been satisfied. Drader Manufacturing • Celebrating 75 years • 8

6803 - 72 Avenue N.W. Edmonton, Alberta Tel: 1.780.434.8552 • Fax: 1.780.435.1550 sales@rilflo.com • www.rilflo.com

South East Asia were evacuated due to political tensions and had no place to go, the Canadian government stepped in to welcome them here. Drader was able to support these newcomers by employing numerous individuals, teaching them new skills and helping them to thrive here in Edmonton. Our head electrician swam across a river at night – under the threat of gunfire – to save his life. Later, his brother followed and joined our team. Drader has also hired many people from across Canada who have left their province in search of better work opportunities. We hire from our local First Nations and East Indian communities. We are proud of our engineering team that spans the globe from Canada to Ethiopia to Estonia.” As the company grew from three to more than 100 core team members, what remained unchanged was their unwavering focus on – and continued appreciation for – their staff. Gordon points out, “We employ a very diverse workforce from a large variety of local communities within Edmonton. For example, when people in

Kevin adds, “Our townhall meetings acknowledge everyone’s input. This has allowed us to adapt processes and products while empowering the team to do their best work. We firmly believe in and practice collaboration.” Firmly invested in community, Drader Manufacturing is happy to give back in a variety

Congratulations on 75 years of suCCess HELPING PEOPLE SUCCEED

Accounting • Audit • Tax • Valuation • Wealth info@kbh.ca • www.kbh.ca Drader Manufacturing • Celebrating 75 years • 9

Pipes & Fittings • Valves & Automation • Pumps & Filtration

Congratulations on 75 years Drader Manufacturing. Proud to be part of your success story! Buy Direct 24790 - 117 Avenue, Acheson, AB • Telephone: (780) 451-0238, (800) 661-7926 Email: edmonton@fabcoplastics.com

www.fabcoplastics.com

Congratulations

Drader Manufacturing on 75 years!

www.duboischemicals.com

of ways. For more than 20 years, Drader has hosted a charity golf tournament in support of local charities, such as the Edmonton Food Bank, the Mazankowski Heart Institute and the Canadian Diabetes Association. This year Drader is proud to support the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories.

Congratulations Drader Manufacturing on 75 years of Business Excellence!

www.wittmann-group.com

Drader Manufacturing has been recognized many times over the years for its innovation, products, service and safety. The McTavishes are particularly proud of receiving both an Association of Science and Engineering Technology (ASET) award for manufacturing, as well as a safety award for seven consecutive years with no lost time incidents. They are also honoured to have received a customer recognition supplier-of-the-year award from a national corporation. Throughout the years, the ownership group gives credit to the team: “They are behind all of our ongoing success stories, we couldn’t do this without them.” They also appreciate the communities that have supported Drader locally and abroad, as well as the vendors that continue to be integral to operations despite global challenges such as product shortages and supply chain disruptions. Drader Manufacturing is pleased to have built

Drader Manufacturing • Celebrating 75 years • 10

Proud supplier of steel wire to Drader. Happy 75th anniversary!

Happy 75th anniversary! PARTNERING FOR YOUR SUCCESS www.sivaco.com

CONGRATULATIONS DRADER ON YOUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY!

LaceUP-A Very Proud Partner with Drader Manufacturing and maintained long-lasting relationships with suppliers that keep products and materials moving efficiently, no matter the global climate. What comes next? Gordon is happy to report, “Growth and expansion of products and services! We will continue to provide jobs throughout Canada and put significant investment back into our nation.” Learn more about Drader Manufacturing on Facebook and LinkedIn, and at www.drader. com. Also be sure to check out Drader’s YouTube channel, where their videos have received well over 1 million views.

WWW.JORILOGISTICS.COM AS A PROUD ALBERTA BASED BUSINESS, WE’D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE DRADER MANUFACTURING ON THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY.

WELL DONE!

www.edmonton-electric.com

Congratulations on your 75th Anniversary!

Rail Loading/Off Loading Tank Rentals Bulk Storage Warehousing Drumming/Toting Certified Scale Fluid Hauling

Drader Manufacturing • Celebrating 75 years • 11

Congratulations Drader Manufacturing on your th 75 Anniversary! 1-877-585-7787 (Calmar) 1-877-236-3363 (Calgary)

www.liquidstransloading.com

Photo by Rebecca Lippiatt

THANK YOU, FROM DRADER! DRADER We are proud to have completed 75 years of service, with the best yet to come! A special thank you to our staff and families for their efforts and support throughout the years. Our team and their well-being remain our focus as we continue to innovate and provide industry-leading solutions inspired by the same entrepreneurial spirit instilled in the brand from day-one of operations. We express our sincere gratitude to our long-term customers, our shareholders, our reliable vendors and to our community that empowers us to give back. As we move into the next evolution of our brand, we look forward to continuing to set the standard by being a leader in plastic manufacturing, while providing our customers with excellent service and products and providing our people with a wonderful, safe place to work.

From all of us to all of you, thank you. 5750 – 50 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6B 2Z8 Call: (780) 440-2231 • Toll Free: 1 (800) 661-4122 www.drader.com

Drader Manufacturing • Celebrating 75 years • 12

BOMA EDMONTON LEADS PROJECT TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN SAFETY AND VIBRANCY

n 2022, the City of Edmonton launched its Downtown Vibrancy Strategy. BOMA Edmonton, and more than 30 building owners and managers who are based downtown, had already started to informally gather aggregated information on downtown safety and vibrancy, such as occupancy rates, crime stats, vandalism rates, and more. Thanks to funding from the City of Edmonton and sponsorship from Paladin Security, BOMA Edmonton launched a formal pilot project this year that will address gaps in primary research. The project includes a monthly commercial property economic

and safety survey to better understand properties’ perspective in four key areas:

1. Occupancy rates; 2. Safety and security; 3. Vibrancy; and 4. Market and tenant trends impacting the local economy. BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JUNE 2022

“It was determined that the downtown properties required additional evidence to support the experiences of crime and disorder we are facing in parts of the downtown core,” says Sean Kirk, chair of the Safety and Vibrancy committee and BOMA Edmonton board member. “Thanks to the leadership of BOMA Edmonton and our partnership with Paladin Security, we were able to secure the funding and expertise to launch this project.” The goal is to have insights from the survey inform policy decisions, support collaboration, and address key issues impacting Edmonton’s growth and vibrancy. The 18-month pilot project will start with the downtown core and could be expanded to other parts of the city. “Our members are not exclusive to downtown, but they agree that a city’s centre has a vital role to play in investment and talent attraction and retention throughout the region,” says Lisa Baroldi, president and CEO of BOMA Edmonton. “We have more than 350 corporate members north of Red Deer and into the territories. The downtown is a hub for that geography, and a safe and vibrant downtown is important for our collective economic growth and diversity.”

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

One of the main goals of BOMA Edmonton is to be a strong voice for economic recovery and general economic development in the Edmonton region. “We are dedicated to regional and downtown economic recovery,” explains Baroldi. “On behalf of BOMA, I serve on Minister Schweitzer’s Edmonton Metropolitan Region Economic Recovery Working Group, and I’m active in various downtown initiatives with great partners. We’re making progress in many ways, but there’s more work to do.” Kirk, who is also general manager of City Centre Mall, is keen to see the results from the survey. “The monthly aggregated data will be used to inform the City, EPS, and other levels of government of the economic, social, and brand impacts we are experiencing and the need for additional support. Over time, the monthly data can be used to identify trends and success rates of support programs.” He reiterates that it’s vital for the City to boost economic recovery by creating a safe and vibrant downtown, and BOMA Edmonton and its partners are dedicated to play a role in that recovery. The BOMA Edmonton Safety and Vibrancy Survey pilot project runs until summer 2023.

CUSTOM CLEANING SERVICES

BACK TO WORK PEACE OF MIND FOR BUSINESS RE-OPENING P REPA RING YOU R SPACE FOR A C LE A N & S A FE R E TU RN

CUSTOMIZED SERVICES BASED ON YOUR NEEDS Full building cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection prior to opening day

Touch-free facility enhancements and disinfection & hand sanitizing stations

Enhanced Contract Cleaning Services incorporating specific Clean for Health protocols

Periodic sanitizing and decontamination of high-touch surfaces

Safer building entry and elevator access protocols

Safe waste stream management for masks and gloves

Visual markers to communicate recently cleaned surfaces/areas

Information Portal outlining important personal hygiene, social distancing and cleaning your workstation protocols for employers and employees

info@gdi.com

780.428.9508

GDI.com

VULNERABLE VETERANS’ HOME PROJECT RECEIVES BOMA AWARD

The Homes for Heroes Foundation team

he Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Edmonton was proud to announce the Homes for Heroes Foundation as the recipient of this year’s Percy Woods City Building Award during its annual awards luncheon on April 12, 2022. “It is an honour and privilege for our team to receive the Percy Woods City Building award,” says David Howard, president and CEO of Homes For Heroes. “Our charity is working tirelessly to build and manage tiny home villages, with full wrap around social support services for our veterans experiencing homelessness. However, we would not be able to

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

get this important work done if it wasn’t for the support of the communities we build. The Edmonton community has embraced this project, which showcases that a thoughtful and caring group can change the world. We are grateful for this support and for the acknowledgement from BOMA Edmonton and their members.” The Homes for Heroes Foundation is a national organization focused on integrating homeless military veterans into the community. As part of this mission, the foundation built the Edmonton ATCO Veterans’ Village, comprised 20 tiny homes in Edmonton’s northeast.

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The Percy Woods City Building Award, named in honour of BOMA Edmonton’s previous president and CEO, honours a non-member individual or group influencing positive change to the cultural, social, environmental, physical and/or economic aspects of a community through city or community building.

“The BOMA Edmonton board of directors unanimously agreed that the ATCO Veterans’ Village Project in Edmonton by Homes for Heroes is a transformative and exemplary initiative, embodying the spirit of the Percy Woods City Building Award,” Jacqueline Howard, Director of Planning and Development of Homes for says Lisa Baroldi, president Heroes Foundation, accepts the Percy Woods City Building Award. and CEO of BOMA Edmonton. “Because of their work, vulnerable veterans in Edmonton now have a place to call home and receive the social supports they need.” The Percy Woods City Building isn’t just a catch phrase, it’s been our reason for existing since 200 . Award, named in honour of BOMA Edmonton’s previous president and CEO, honours a non-member individual or group influencing positive change to the cultural, social, environmental, physical and/or economic aspects of a community through city or community building. Courtesy of Lenovo™ Every year, BOMA Edmonton recognizes commercial real time and resources on IT so you can focus on what you estate industry excellence in 16 love… growing your business. categories highlighting exemplary customer service, innovative and With leading partners like growth in the industry and Ranchlands provides professional technology choices and the best conscious efforts for sustainability. The Percy Woods City Building buying decisions to gain maximum value from your IT investments . award recipient is annually chosen by the board of directors. Other We look for ward to discussi ng yo u r needs ! awards include Pinnacle Award for Innovation, The Office Building 780.809.2999 of the Year, and more. For a full service@ranchlandsgroup.com list of awards, please visit www. www.ranchlandsgroup.com bomaedm.ca/news.

“Enterprise-based solutions for your growing business”

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

BALANCING ACT // WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY

BALANCING ACT INCREASE IN HYBRID WORK MODELS DEMANDS NEW LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND STRATEGIES BY NATALIE NOBLE

pring’s continued lifting of pandemic restrictions is a breath of fresh air, especially for those eager to return to the office. However, that comeback is likely to look different from pre-COVID times going forward. While work from home policies can incite feelings of isolation, burnout and stress, they’ve also changed traditional views around how, when and where people can work. It’s opened the door to endless new ways to structure the workweek, but also challenged leaders in how to support staff in new environments. “Every company and each individual are different. There is no cookie cutter solution to all of this,” says Terri Davis, president and CEO at ProFound Talent. “We’re seeing every version of work models between traditional, remote, hybrid and flexible. It’s going to change with time as people continue to see what’s working for them using trial and error.” ABOVE: TERRI DAVIS, PRESIDENT AND CEO AT PROFOUND TALENT.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JUNE 2022

BALANCING ACT // WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY

the office once or twice each week but in some industries, it’s still remote first and then some in-person interaction.” Meanwhile at the office, some organizations continue to enforce their own policies around masking or proof of vaccines, but they’re easing off. Still, returning to the office environment remains an adjustment for many. “It’s reasonable to see hesitation for some people,” says Demetriou.

MEANWHILE AT THE OFFICE, SOME ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUE TO ENFORCE THEIR OWN POLICIES AROUND MASKING OR PROOF OF VACCINES, BUT THEY’RE EASING OFF. STILL, RETURNING TO THE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT REMAINS AN ADJUSTMENT FOR MANY. “IT’S REASONABLE TO SEE HESITATION FOR SOME PEOPLE,” SAYS DEMETRIOU. Corporate leaders are dealing with staff members with differing attitudes as businesses move forward. “There have been feelings of isolation for people who absolutely do not want to work from home and would rather be in the office full-time,” says Davis. “Others don’t want to lose that ability to work from home. Some individuals coming back to work will have vulnerabilities in their own medical needs. We have both ends of the spectrum.” Stavros Demetriou, partner, People and Change Advisory Services, KPMG LP, says approaches vary largely based on industry and location. For instance, professional services or technology companies requiring less in-person interaction may continue to work in largely remote or hybrid models. “That flexibility has continued where people are going into

Jason Dent, founder and principal consultant at JADA Solutions, says calls to his health, safety and environmental services agency have moved away from the more physical aspects of office safety to HR and policy solutions that ease people’s minds. For instance, returning employees are more sensitive to things like air quality in the office after two years of working in their homes where relative humidity differs. “These requests are often based around having people recognize there’s not an air quality problem, it’s just a different environment,” says Dent. “When people come back into the office and are more sensitive to experiencing a dry throat or little cough, it’s typically not the case of getting sick, it’s just getting used to being back in that environment.” Leaders are working to adapt to constant change while juggling differing perspectives. “There are those who still want to wear a mask for protection and others who are hoping to move past wearing them,” says Dent. “Many employers are working on how to best protect their employees while avoiding a political and polarizing environment within the office or having either side feel vilified.” In all of this, Canadians have mixed views on how they want to see work structures evolve. While the last two years have shown people can be effective working remotely, KPMG research found feelings of satisfaction and productivity in the work-from-home model are tapering off from where they were in the early days of pandemic lockdown. A recent KPMG Canada survey of over 2,000 respondents showed more than three in five Canadians want to return to the office, describing “virtual fatigue, mental health and social withdrawal” as key challenges. However, many remain satisfied with current virtual remote work environments. Differing stances have resulted in more hybrid work models, an environment 71 per cent of respondents prefer.

ABOVE: STAVROS DEMETRIOU, PARTNER, PEOPLE AND CHANGE ADVISORY SERVICES, KPMG LP.

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

BALANCING ACT // WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY

Interestingly, over 80 per cent of people surveyed had concerns that their leaders may not be ready to manage new models with a mix of staff working in and out of office. “Organizations need to create the right infrastructures that enable these hybrid environments, but they also need to train up their managers and leaders on how to lead in this hybrid environment that really no one has done before,” says Demetriou. As leaders navigate uncharted waters, they’re adapting on the go. “It’s about recognizing and rewarding people’s contributions in a timely and fair way wherever they’re working from,” says Demetriou. Doing so requires a shift in how leaders measure productivity. “At some points, leaders are challenged between leading with accountability then shifting back to their old paradigm of managing with time,” says Davis. “This tends to happen when they are trying to connect with an employee and that employee is not readily available to connect. It’s an interesting dynamic and change for leaders, to which they are navigating.” Companies are also trying to find a balance between flexible and hybrid work models with some mandating time in the office at the corporate level while others are leaving it to their departments to plan around what works for their team. “When it becomes a team-driven consensus around which days the team is coming in, at what frequency and how they can best work productively together, that can really work well,” says Davis. Hybrid structures also mean leaders are challenged to keep everyone connected. “We’re seeing companies create new roles that are specific to ensuring engagement with a remote work force, for example a ‘director of remote engagement,’” says Davis. “It’s all about keeping everyone engaged and connected if they are continuing to work remotely.” Another new development sees businesses gathering input from their staff on an ongoing basis, such as through weekly check-in reviews. “This gives employers a sense of

how staff are dealing with everything, and also how they’re reconnecting,” says Demetriou. “It’s staying on top of the pulse of what your people need.” Leaders are also learning new ways to leverage technology to support their teams who have moved from a predominantly office environment, to primarily virtual and now a mix of both. “We’re now looking to technologies that help teams where some people are working in the office and others are working remotely, but they must promote connectivity and engagement,” says Demetriou. Dent adds that the accelerated adoption of technology is helping companies adjust as things continue to change. “For us, it is keeping our culture moving forward in the right direction, and we hear that a lot with the organizations we work with,” he says. “These tools will help keep the communication alive while allowing people to work remotely and to protect themselves and stay healthy where needed.” When it comes to dealing with those issues exacerbated during the pandemic, including stress, anxiety, depression and substance use, most businesses Dent works with continue to have third-party support systems in place that provide counseling services and other resources to staff as needed. “Prior to the pandemic, maybe one or two staff members were using them,” he says. “Right now, we’re seeing about 50 per cent of our staff using them. It’s a big jump in use and they’re getting more traction in the office. People are talking about them more and using them when they feel they need to.” It can bring understanding on all sides to remember there is no history to draw upon as businesses have, and will continue to, adapt and evolve. “Organizations need to communicate with employees, share what they are learning through these new times and ask for the grace of their employees as both learn to work in this changing world,” says Davis.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JUNE 2022

FEDERAL CLIMATE POLICIES FRUSTRATE ALBERTA FARMERS // AGRICULTURE

FEDERAL CLIMATE POLICIES FRUSTRATE ALBERTA FARMERS AS CARBON TAXES INCREASE, GROWERS BRACE FOR POSSIBLE FERTILIZER REDUCTIONS BY JAMES SNELL

lberta farmers and agriculture stakeholders are burdened and frustrated over federal government climate change policies like escalating carbon taxes and a goal to dramatically reduce nitrogen fertilizer use by 2030, which could hit farmers’ bottom line and threaten Canada’s status as a food exporter. The problems are exacerbated by war in Ukraine, which has significantly reduced global fertilizer supply due to sanctions against Russia and driven up the price of natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilizer production. Fertilizer prices have roughly doubled in the last year. On April 1, the federal government, despite record high fuel prices, increased its carbon tax by 25 per cent,

raising the cost of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to fossil fuel consumption to $50 per tonne. For consumers, that translates into an additional 2.21 cents per litre for gasoline and 2.68 cents for diesel. For Alberta farmers, who don’t pay carbon tax on dyed farm fuel, it means paying even more for fuels like propane and natural gas that are used in large quantities for grain drying and heat. Farmers say most agriculture service industries are subject to carbon tax and pass on the added expense to farmers. “We dry grain almost ever year in our climate,” says Brent Konstapel a director of Alberta Barley, who farms 500 kilometres north of Edmonton near Spirit River. “It saves the

ABOVE: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ALBERTA WHEAT COMMISSION. PHOTOGRAPHER: TWO STONE CREATIVE CO.

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

FEDERAL CLIMATE POLICIES FRUSTRATE ALBERTA FARMERS // AGRICULTURE

THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA SAYS ON ITS WEBSITE THAT FERTILIZERS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN FARMERS’ SUCCESS AND HAVE ENABLED RECORD HARVESTS OVER THE LAST DECADE. FERTILIZERS DRIVE INCREASED YIELDS, SALES AND EXPORTS, THEY EXPLAIN. quality of our grain, keeping it stored for any amount of time. Having it in good condition for our export markets is huge.” Konstapel has heard from some members of the Alberta farming community who say carbon tax costs are close to the cost of fuel. Carbon tax is also incorporated into goods used by farmers, like feed and chemicals, he explains. Konstapel, who says farmers are at the mercy of commodity markets, is concerned carbon tax may eventually be levied on dyed farm fuel. He’s also concerned about Ottawa’s aspiration to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use by 30 per cent by 2030. Nitrogen fertilizer, according to the Government of Canada, releases nitrous oxide, a GHG more potent than carbon dioxide. In a 2021 report commissioned by Fertilizer Canada, a fertilizer industry advocacy and research group, Meyers Norris Penny (MNP) said Canada’s aspiration to massively reduce nitrogen fertilizer use, if realized, would be devastating and cost producers approximately $48 billion over the next seven years. “We want to have a high yielding crop and get the best price for it,” says Konstapel. “Reducing fertilizer is going to reduce our yields. Fertilizer is the highest cost on the farm. We are not putting more in the ground than needed. We are not throwing it on the ground and wasting it.” The Government of Canada says on its website that fertilizers play a major role in farmers’ success and have enabled record harvests over the last decade. Fertilizers drive increased yields, sales and exports, they explain. “However, nitrous oxide emissions, particularly those associated with synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use have also

grown significantly,” they add. “That is why the Government of Canada has set the national fertilizer emissions reduction target, which is part of the commitment to reduce total GHG emissions in Canada by 40-45 per cent by 2030.” All is not lost, says one industry expert who notes that agriculture contributes 24 per cent of global GHG emissions. According to Jeff Ivan, president & CEO of Soilgenic Technologies, a company developing enhanced efficiency fertilizer technologies that will reduce agricultural GHG emissions, there is hope for the future despite Ottawa’s goal to drastically reduce nitrogen fertilizer use. He said lowering fertilizer use by 30 per cent is not the answer and is “the easy way out.” The problem, he explains, is more complex in the context of feeding the world’s growing population. The solution is all about fertilizer use efficiency. “Essentially what we’ve done is we’ve created environmentally friendly biodegradable molecules that are added to the fertilizer to stabilize the nitrogen,” he says. “So, our company has developed what we call next generation nitrification inhibitors that perform better, so they last longer and are less expensive while helping to reduce GHG emissions from nitrogen fertilizers. The suite of patents for upstream fertilizer manufacturing and retail fertilizer additions includes new innovations that will significantly improve nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer use efficiency,

ABOVE: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ALBERTA WHEAT COMMISSION. PHOTOGRAPHER: TWO STONE CREATIVE CO.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JUNE 2022

FEDERAL CLIMATE POLICIES FRUSTRATE ALBERTA FARMERS // AGRICULTURE

resulting in greater efficiency and significantly reducing loss to the environment, all while helping the farmer to grow more food for a growing world.” Member of Parliament for Sturgeon River – Parkland Dane Lloyd, whose constituents grow everything from potatoes to canola, says no one likes additional taxes during times of inflation. Poultry farmers and others in his region are stuck with large barn and shop heating bills. Liberal policies, he explains, are compounding existing challenges with input costs. “They’ve set a target for emissions and now they’re trying to figure out policies that are going to achieve it,” he says. “They are using economics but are very activist in trying to move forward on this agenda.” When asked about the impact of climate change policy on farmers, David Yager, a Canadian energy analyst, says people who write climate policy in Canada are oblivious to economic principles. He says the real issue isn’t what climate activists are doing, but why they are doing it. “Of all the things that the entire climate change file has completely ignored, or chosen to ignore, or doesn’t know

enough to ignore, is the role of fossil fuels in the food chain,” he says. “Something like half the population of the world is fed by nitrogen-based fertilizer. I’ve watched the entire climate debate unfold with absolutely nobody talking about food or the impact of food or the cost of food. The whole climate debate has been that the cost of doing nothing is so huge that the short-term costs are irrelevant.” The Prime Minister’s office, asserts Yager, has told the world Canada plans to exceed its 2030 GHG targets. He wonders how that’s going to happen, adding it’s been “open season” on the oil and gas sector. The federal government, he explains, has followed through when it comes to pushing back against the energy sector. “The sleeping giant is food,” he says. “Now, one of the reasons they are doing this, and this is another twist, is the demographics of Canadian politics is just astounding. Sixtyfive per cent of voters live in urban centres. Urban voters that support the NDP and Liberals have absolutely no idea where anything comes from. They don’t know where their food and gasoline come from. When it comes to Western Canada and farmers and oil producers, they go ‘What’s that noise? What’s your problem?”

ABOVE: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ALBERTA WHEAT COMMISSION. PHOTOGRAPHER: TWO STONE CREATIVE CO.

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

2022 Board of Directors

My first year in review and a look ahead

Board Executive

Chair: Dennis R. Schmidt Principal, ALTURA Legal Advisory Vice-Chair: Haydar Al Dahhan President and CEO, Design Works Engineering Secretary-Treasurer: Jason Pincock CEO, DynaLIFE Medical Labs Past Chair: Elan MacDonald Vice President (External Relations), University of Alberta Jeffrey Sundquist President & CEO, Edmonton Chamber and World Trade Centre Edmonton

Board Directors Nicole Bird Owner, Rsvp Design Inc.

Aziz Bootwala Managing Principal, Edmonton, Vice President, Business Development, Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. Nathan Carter Vice President, Projects and Construction, ATCO Energy Solutions Jonathan Gallo Managing Partner, Gallo LLP Chartered Professional Accountants Sandy Jacobson Vice President, Richardson Executive Search Sam Kemble Chief Operating Officer, Workforce Delivery Inc. Annemarie Petrov President and CEO, Francis Winspear Centre for Music Amir Shami President and CEO, Rotaflow Celia Wanderley Chief Customer Officer and Head of AltaML Invent, AltaML

Edmonton Chamber Executive Cadence Bergman Director, Policy

Alexandra Hryciw Director, Strategy and External Affairs Kefa Ogada Director, Finance and Operations Amin Samji Director, Member Services

Contact

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce #600 World Trade Centre 9990 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, AB T5J 1P7 T: 780.426.4620 | F: 780.424.7946 edmontonchamber.com

Share your thoughts on business issues with the Edmonton Chamber at policy@edmontonchamber.com

Jeffrey Sundquist, President & CEO

ne year ago, Janet Riopel, who had led the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce for six years as President and CEO, handed me the reins. As the former Board Vice Chair, I was happy to become the public face of the Chamber and its 1,700 member companies, and it is an honour to lead an organization that has been a pillar of our community for over 130 years and with a strong national relevance. This month, I offer a look at what the past year was like and a peek ahead. Starting a new role during a global pandemic magnified the crucial role our Chamber plays in representing emergent business issues to government decision makers. COVID-19 was unfamiliar and there was a shared sense of responsibility to respond to wide-ranging societal needs. Our advocacy called for swift implementation of regulations and policies that would help keep struggling businesses operating. It was important we kept delivering on our core tenets to Advocate, Educate, and Connect for our members and broader business community. Amid uncertainty, we were a stable presence, and a powerful voice of business at virtual meetings with policymakers and business leaders. Members appreciate our ability to advocate effectively for business in good times and, especially, tough times. We reinforce the importance that all governments maintain predictable regulations and expectations for investors to have reasonable clarity. That was evidenced in our support of the downtown Station Lands development and greenfield opportunity. During the overlapping federal and municipal election campaigns of fall 2021, our policy team developed policy platforms advancing our business community’s experiences and priorities. We sent the new government our recommendations for action, and we continue to engage on progress. We hosted a successful Mayoral Forum and surveyed the candidates to get their views on local business issues as Edmonton elected its first mayor in eight years. Thanks to federal funding we launched the “Better When It’s YEG” shop local initiative and ran a series of activities highlighting our local makers and creators when they needed it most. There was a local vendors market, financial support for digital marketing strategies, and our “Sample the City” promotion that attracted over 50 local cafés, restaurants, and breweries and helped this hard-hit sector. At mid-year 2022, economic recovery will be the focus, and we have made improvements to serve our business community in stride. Our member-led policy committees have been refreshed for better market focus, and we updated our website for easier access to information about advocacy, events, and Chamber news. Our membership team keeps creating more new outreach events like Chamber Connect, so stay tuned! We are striving to build a Chamber membership that more closely reflects Edmonton’s growing and increasingly more diverse business community. New perspectives and ideas that contribute to innovation are advantageous, especially for complex industries that compete globally such as our emerging world-class hydrogen, and carbon capture utilization and storage sectors. We continue to grow relationships and membership with diverse business communities such as Indigenous, Chinese, Indo, Arab, LGBTQ2S+ and more. Welcome to everyone.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JUNE 2022

Bringing your voice to the table. For over 130 years, we’ve been advocating on behalf of our members to positively influence decisions made by all levels of government.

If it matters to you, it matters to us—visit

edmontonchamber.com

YEG Digital Member Profile Paul Letourneau, CEO, Director of Strategy www.yegdigital.com What’s your story? I started YEG Digital in mid-2017 to offer the Edmonton market a completely digital agency solution. From our work to being completely remote (yet still local), everything we do for clients is digital. As we’ve worked with more and more Edmonton and international clients over the years, we’ve started specializing in Web Design and Search Engine Optimization for WordPress websites. What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce? Being part of the community. We love Edmonton and the people that make this city great. Being part of the Chamber just seemed like a great place to continue that passion. What is one thing people are surprised to learn about your business? We practice what we preach and have our own web projects that we consistently tweak, fine-tune and learn with. When it comes to staying ahead with web design and SEO best practices, the only way to do that is to try it. So, we try everything on our own sites first before implementing the same strategies for clients. Who is your ideal client? Our ideal client would be someone that loves their business, spends time working on their business, but needs a hand up when it comes to their online business. We like working with experts of their own craft and find that we get passionate about our projects when the client loves what they do. What has been your biggest challenge in business, and how did you overcome it? Like many other businesses, our biggest challenge has been to keep the same quality of service while still growing the business. What is your favourite thing to do in Edmonton? Everything except the -40 degree days. But honestly, I love this city. I grew up here, met my wife here, and now I’m raising a family here. We

Paul Letourneau

explore the city as much as possible and are constantly discovering new things to do. If you could make one substantial improvement to Edmonton’s business environment, what would it be? I would love to help showcase Edmonton and its entrepreneurial spirit to the world. I know of so many amazing entrepreneurs in this city that deserve a global platform. If I could do anything, it would be to help them get there.

SOCIAL MEMBERSHIPS & EVENT HOSTING

Glendale Golf & Country Club

A Treasured Place that fosters community and enriches lives. Join us poolside this season! Contact our Communications and Memberships Manager Alix Evans at aevans@theglendale.com for more details!

www.theglendale.com BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JUNE 2022

Patricia Salazar

Sabroso Foods Member Profile Patricia Salazar, Founder & CEO www.sabrosofoods.ca What’s your story? My background is Business Administration, and ever since my university days, I had always dreamt of having my own business. Originally from Colombia, I lived a few years in Florida, U.S.A., and moved to Canada in 2003 where I’ve called Edmonton my home ever since. A great opportunity presented itself a couple of months after my arrival to Canada, so I took it and had my first business venture, which is still going strong today. In 2011 I was faced with a difficult situation, and I needed to switch gears. I jumped into my second business venture, a Latin grocery store in the south side of Edmonton, which opened its doors to the public in June 2012. It was a wonderful experience learning about the retail industry, as well as meeting amazing people at both a personal and business level. I had the store for 5 years, sold it, and decided to get into the importing and distribution business of specialty food products, and that is how Sabroso Foods came to life! What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce? I love how the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce offers various levels of support

JUNE 2022 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

to businesses of all sizes. Another great perk I enjoy is the chance to participate in their amazing events for both networking and educational opportunities. What is one thing people are surprised to learn about your business? How tasty our products are! Who is your ideal client? Our target clientele are food distributors and grocery stores. What has been your biggest challenge in business, and how did you overcome it? Managing and dealing with suppliers has always been a constant challenge, with several variables involved at every stage. To manage this, I’ve focused on building excellent relationships with our suppliers and have always been present and on top of things at every step of the process. What is your favourite thing to do in Edmonton? I’d have to say it depends on the season but being outdoors is my favourite way to spend time in the city. If you could make one substantial improvement to Edmonton’s business environment, what would it be? Creating easier access to financial resources, without having to pay high prices would be something that all businesses could benefit from.

Changing Skylines, Building Futures Pagnotta celebrates 30 years

By Nerissa McNaughton

agnotta offers concrete construction, equipment services and construction management across Western Canada. Mario Pagnotta opened the company in 1992. Thirty years later the family business continues to thrive with Mario’s son, Alex Pagnotta as CEO. With a dedicated and loyal team and three decades of experience, Alex is ready to move the company through its next evolution, while remembering the lessons that drove their past success. Mario left Italy and arrived in Canada in 1967. While he started his Canadian career as a site labourer, his hard work and dedication saw him move quickly into management and then into entrepreneurship. After starting Pagnotta in 1992, merely three years later he was asked to help build Edmonton’s Greenwood Inn, a major turning point for the company and the team. This project required a tower crane. Mario purchased one, launching what would later become the brand’s equipment service division. From there, things moved fast. Mario moved the company to a larger corporate office in 1998, expanding the team and scope of projects. Eventually things settled into three divisions: construction, concrete, and equipment; and three offices: Edmonton, Saskatoon and Vancouver.

Alex Pagnotta, CEO

Pagnotta || 30 years

Freight Transportation Logistic Solutions Strategic Consultants

Congratulations Pagnotta on your 30 year Anniversary! Today we celebrate our valued long term relationship, and our service commitment. Here’s to many more years of continued success.

~ Your friends at Axcel Logistics Ltd.

Tel.: 780-349-6970 Fax.: 888-431-5641 Email: axcel@telus.net axcellogistics.com Pagnotta || 30 years || 2

Crane dismantle at VC2 in Vancouver, B.C..

Alex is proud to carry on the business. “I love the people. I love the challenges,” he says. “Construction has lots of engineering, moving parts and intensity. Projects have tight timelines and require teamwork among project managers, site supervisors, crane operators, HR, finance, carpenters, labourers, finishers – there are many different professions working together within our business. It’s a large puzzle that I love putting together. I greatly enjoy the collaboration.” Although Pagnotta provides general construction on high-rise and mixed-use commercial and residential projects, as well as competitive equipment sales and rentals, the brand remains most well known as a leading concrete designer, former, placer and finisher in Western Canada. “We are experts in all components of structural concrete for large and medium-sized projects,” says Alex. One example of Pagnotta’s concrete expertise is on display at the Royal Alberta Museum. The floating concrete staircase is a focal point of the entrance lobby. The stunning showpiece that winds from the bottom to the second level took 25 weeks and around-the-clock work from conception to the unveiling. Another is Edmonton’s mixed-use Augustana development, where a trendy and slim 30-storey high-rise apartment towers over the city. Residents enjoy more than 196,000 square feet of space that is separated into a variety of leasing apartments. All of Pagnotta’s divisions were involved to build Augustana from the ground up. A big turning point for Pagnotta was the EPCOR Tower. “That was the largest concrete job we have done, and still our biggest to date,” says Alex. “The EPCOR Tower project really brought a new level of professionalism, safety training and quality control to our brand. It was a big learning curve and we enjoyed working closely with the other contractors on the site.”

He continues, “There are so many projects going on in Edmonton right now. We are proud to be a part of the city’s growth and to also help build up Western Canada. We enjoy being the local company on site with the local, longstanding identity.” A big driver of Pagnotta’s success is due to Alex’s unwavering belief in accountability. “We don’t pretend problems don’t exist and we don’t pretend to be perfect. It’s easy to be ‘good’ when things are going well but it’s important to step up when things are not. We have always excelled at pulling through and not passing our problems off to clients and other people.” For example, when COVID hit and many changes were needed to keep their teams and clients safe on site, Pagnotta chose to dig in and do whatever it took to keep the projects online. Despite product and labour shortages, they strived to hit their deadlines. “You can’t tell the client you need six more months to build,” says Alex. “You adapt and overcome. Along with our accountability comes attention to detail, a laser focus on safety and a high quality of work. Our quality is second to none and we enjoy an excellent industry reputation.”

Progress picture from Holyrood Tower1 in Edmonton, A.B..

Pagnotta’s reputation for giving back to the community is equally sound. Alex and his team enjoy supporting CASA (Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health) and other mental health initiatives.

780-434-3736 rmcgroup.com

CONGRATULATIONS ON 30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE TO THE TEAM AT PAGNOTTA WE ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF YOUR SUCCESS

Your local one stop shop for concrete & related services

Pagnotta || 30 years || 3

CONGRATULATIONS Pagnotta on 30 years!

We w i s h y o u m a n y m o r e y e a r s o f s u c c e s s .

4710 82 AVE • Phone: 780-465-6425 • Email: info@ah-steel.com • ah-steel.com

A&H Steel would like to congratulate Pagnotta on 30 years! Crane erection in progress at The Falcon in Edmonton, A.B..

Congratulations

Pagnotta on your 30th Anniversary!

#204, 6908 Roper Road, Edmonton, AB, T6B 3H9 Phone: 780-437-5070 Cell: 780-975-5630 Fax: 780-437-1575 www.benefitstrategiesinc.ca

CONGRATULATIONS PAGNOTTA ON 30 YEARS OF BUSINESS EXCELLENCE! #2, 10008 – 29A AVE EDMONTON, AB T6N 1A8 OFFICE: 780.481.7767 PROSPARK.CA

Pagnotta || 30 years || 4

“It’s important for kids to get a good head start, especially with mental health,” Alex explains. “When help is provided when they are young, they are on a path for a better future.” Pagnotta is also proud to help support some of Boyle Street Community Services’ construction initiatives, along with other non-profit organizations across the city. While Pagnotta has achieved recognition for several projects, including the staircase at the Royal Alberta Museum, Alex says the biggest reward is being surrounded by good people in a good industry. “What matters to me is when you walk on a job site and you can smell the concrete and you can see our people happy to be out there. As much as concrete and construction is labour intensive, our teams are outside, feeling good and excited about the projects! I love seeing the positivity; it’s fun to be around!” His message to current and future clients is, “We will take care of you. Because we are integrated in our services, we understand the business and the projects very well, from design, finance and down to the very last nail. Construction has a lot of overlap and scope gap; work with us because we understand a lot of the unwritten things in a project. Also, we are committed. We don’t walk away from jobs and we are accountable for our actions.”

Congratulations to Pagnotta, a long-time BURNCO partner on the occasion of their 30th Anniversary!

It’s been 30 years since Mario opened Pagnotta. Between then and now, the company is proud of changing the skyline of the city they love. “The best thing about construction is interacting with so many people and making a difference,” concludes Alex. “A big thank you for 30 great years goes out to our business community, team, and contractors. Also, to the people of Edmonton, thank you for your support and thank you for your patience when we are building in your neighbourhood.” Over the next 30 years, Pagnotta plans to expand geographically and solidify each division, continue learning and growing as a brand and keep its focus on providing a great, safe workplace. “Our vision is clear – changing skylines, building futures. We help build the cities we are in and help build up the people that work with us.”

Aggregate 780.733.1459

Asphalt 780.733.1458

Ready Mix 780.463.8380

www.BURNCO.com

Learn more about Pagnotta at pagnotta.ca online, pagnottainc on Instagram, and Pagnotta Inc. on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Congratulations to Pagnotta on 30 incredible years.

201, 5920 Gateway Blvd Edmonton, AB, T6H 2H6 Phone: (780) 432-1001 • Fax: (780) 432-3339

Suite 3200-10180 101 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 3W8 p: (780) 425-9510 / tf: 1-800-661-RMRF (7673)

rmrf.com

www.pagnotta.ca Pagnotta || 30 years || 5

The Craft and the Creativity Taurus Woodwork celebrates 20 years of creating beautiful spaces By Nerissa McNaughton

Photos by Ashley Hansen Photography.

leek lines, perfect edges, stunning custom architectural millwork, private wine rooms, dream closets, feature walls – there is one name to call for the company that does it all: Taurus Woodwork. Taurus launched in 2002 when subcontractors Corry Wood and Hugh Simms found themselves winding up on the same projects together. With similar values and the ability to push and inspire each other’s ideas, they decided to team up and open their own company. Two years later Kevin Metcalf joined as a partner after completing an apprenticeship in cabinet making. “We started out as on-site finishing carpenters only,” remembers Wood, “then we bought a shop in 2006 and expanded it in 2010.” With the shop expansion came the expansion of services. Now, Taurus provides a variety of woodworking services designed to customize spaces, increase form and function and add value to homes and businesses. Metcalf says, “We are finishing carpenters with a very diverse set of services from basic door and trim installations to elaborate custom millwork and even custom furniture. We love the challenges custom woodwork can present and always strive for exceptional quality.” Whether it’s impeccably straight beams in a minimal style or a walk-in closet perfectly tailored for a fashionable homeowner, Taurus’ signature style – perfection – is evident in every square inch. Metcalf adds, “Our success has come from the ability to adapt to what the market is demanding, whether its finishing of multi-family projects or high rises, our specialty in high-end custom estate homes and everything in between.”

Corry Wood

Kevin Metcalfe

Clients rave about Taurus, from how the team is friendly, clean and courteous on site to Taurus’ ability to turn out incredible custom work on every project. While the ownership and each team member have fond memories of projects they excelled on, it is the corporate culture that also plays a big role in their overall success. “We have many memorable moments; however, Taurus is built on having a family-minded view of our crew and we try to do things as a group often. Whether it’s a trip to the lake camping or an employee getting married, we all get together. All those events are important to us and strengthen us as team,” says Wood. Collaboration among the team is important; Taurus extends that collaboration to their clients. Wood and Metcalf advise, “When building a new house try and have a clear vision of what you want the house to look like and how you want the home to feel. Architectural millwork can absolutely define those

Internet connected, large and airy homes are growing in popularity but so is the need for barrier-free homes for the differently abled or those that choose to age in place. Taurus is at the forefront of this as well. “We, along with many other trades and contractors, helped create a barrier free home for a family in need who could not afford the luxuries of elevators and custom designs required to meet the needs of raising children with disabilities,” says Wood.

Photo by Karey Wood.

Other charitable initiatives involve the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, KidSport, the Humboldt Broncos Memorial, the Canadian Diabetes Association and many more. On behalf of the team, Metcalf and Wood say, “Thank you for the continued support and loyalty of our amazing builders. You have been instrumental in our success.” Taurus Woodworks is proud to be an independent, local choice designing and making spaces beautiful one project at a time. The future of the company involves growth and never failing to push the limits of what can be accomplished with custom woodwork. Learn more online at www.tauruswoodwork.ca and follow Taurus on Facebook and Instagram.

Photo by Ashley Hansen Photography.

feelings. Maybe you want a towering walnut library or some rustic fir beams. Whatever you choose can change the way a home feels.” They continue, “We are granted a lot of opportunities to create beautiful and incredibly unique features in people’s homes. There is a great sense of pride from completing a difficult and challenging project never gets old. We approach all our jobs with the thought of it being someone’s dream home and we want to put a lot of attention to detail into our work to make that dream come true for the homeowner. In short, it’s a bit cliché… but every project means a lot to us.”

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It’s not all smooth sailing. The current economic climate, product shortages and shipping delays have the prices of commodities like wood fluctuating almost weekly. Taurus rides out these changes using foundational business practices and clear client communication to overcome the obstacles; and they do it all as the local choice in the capital city. Metcalf confirms, “Despite the ongoing fluctuation in our oil and gas sector, it seems Edmonton has always had a market for custom estate homes and developments that allow for steady and consistent work.” In fact, a current project has the team working on a 20,000 square foot home. Metcalf adds, “This job has a lot of technical details that allow us to expand and grow our wealth of knowledge and progress within the industry as modern houses become more common. The minimal and simple details often require the most precision and planning to execute.”

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Congratulations to the Taurus team on your 20th Anniversary!! A testament to your continued hard work, passion and dedication to industry.

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Taurus Woodwork Celebrates 20 Years

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Back row left to right: Jean-Chrysostome Bitakinsanga, Kyle Lynch, Angelo Storti, Brian Ferchoff and Rosmond Rosales. Front row left to right: Rosario Palanca Bartlett, Cristine Regulacion, Sheila Montenegro, Colleen Stelter, Biolly Javier and Rose Schulmeister.

Sunfresh Farms Celebrates 25 Years

A Fresh, Sunny Take on Produce Supply and Distribution By Nerissa McNaughton with photos by Angelo Storti

58,000 square foot facility was built to incorporate additional space and services such as food service processing, increased repackaging lines and transportation and handling services.

The company was founded in 1997 by five local growers who came together to market their produce. It did not take long to realize a much larger space was essential for growth. In 2007, a

The company continues to experience growth, but the concept of providing local, sustainable products has never changed.

unfresh Farms supplies, processes and repackages fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers.

Sunfresh Farms | Celebrating 25 Years

Congratulations to Sunfresh Farms on Celebrating 25 years!

• Service/Repairs • Preventative Maintenance • Installations/Renovations • Sales/Parts

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Nicolai Drost, Brad Murray, Joe Doef, Paul Doef, Jan Drost, Eric Doef, Phil Tiemstra, Phil Visscher, Harvey Depee and Henry Fousert.

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SUNFRESH FARMS! Trailcon is proud to have Sunfresh Farms as a customer. Here’s to you for 25 successful years in business.

“Over the past 25 years, we have helped many local growers get their products to market,” says Brian Ferchoff, General Manager. “We are owned by four local growers who are also contributing farmers. Sunfresh Farms is proud to work with over 75 different farmers and vendors throughout Canada and the U.S.. We continue to offer a wide variety of fresh and competitively priced produce to customers across Western Canada.” Working directly with local area farmers has helped ensure that our customers are receiving fresh, high-quality produce. Turnaround time from farm to distribution is often within 24 hours. “The quicker the customer can receive the product, the fresher the product will be,” says Marketing Manager Kyle Lynch. “Often, there is a misconception that Sunfresh Farms is an actual farm. We are a modern, wholesale distribution center located in Edmonton’s west end. Not only do we distribute whole case produce but we also process and repackage products further,” says Ferchoff. “Further processing has allowed us to work with the food service sector. Providing to our food

Sunfresh Farms | Celebrating 25 Years | 2

Congratulations Sunfresh Farms on 25 years! We look forward to continue working together, and thank you for your trust in us. Calmont.ca

service customers has enabled us to see our produce directly on the plates of many local restaurants, whether it is diced onions, sliced carrots, peeled potatoes or shredded lettuce.” Over the years, Sunfresh Farms has refined its efficiencies by anticipating and adjusting for paradigm and market shifts. The COVID-19 pandemic was no exception. “The produce industry is extremely challenging. As a company, we have had to pivot in different directions at times, but our priority has always been the health and wellbeing of our staff. We have spent the past two years accustomed to face masks, shields, barriers, etc. Not only has this allowed us to remain open despite any closures but also ensures our local farmers are being supported,” says Kathleen Anderson, Controller. “One of the most rewarding aspects of Sunfresh Farms is knowing that when a customer purchases our products through various retailers across Western Canada, they are receiving fresh, high-quality produce that is grown ethically with the goals of sustainability in mind by local Alberta farmers,” says Lynch. “The emphasis on shopping local has never been higher these past few years.

Happy 25th Anniversary

Sunfresh Farms From our family of farms to yours, congratulations on achieving this fantastic milestone. Here’s to many more years of proudly growing local vegetables for canadian families

Sunfresh Farms | Celebrating 25 Years | 3

facebook.com/BCfresh @BCfreshVeggies @BCfreshVeggies

“

“Local businesses thrive on local support. When we support one another, it helps build a stronger Alberta.”

The support we have seen for our growers has been incredible. Our growers have seen support at the grocery store, the farmers markets and the local restaurants. We love to see businesses helping other businesses, families helping families and people helping people.” Sunfresh Farms is committed to being a good community partner. Ferchoff says, “We have charitable interests in the Healthy Hampers program during the Christmas season as well as the Prairie Gleaners Society and Edmonton’s Food Bank.” The company is proud to maintain a continuous A or AA rating by their food safety auditing firm. Their food safety, packaging materials, storage and distribution, ethical sourcing and trading set the benchmark for good manufacturing practices and help provide assurance to consumers that their produce is safe and of high quality.

CONGRATULATIONS Sunfresh Farms on 25 years of Business Excellence!

Ferchoff, Anderson and Lynch look forward to another 25 years of serving both local growers and Canadians alike with exceptional, highquality, sustainable, and affordable produce. “We will continue to look for and add to our local grower base and local offerings.” As we reflect on the last 25 years and the years to come, we would like to say thank you to our team. “Our success and growth are a direct result of the team around us. They share in our goals and visions for the future. Without them, the past 25 years would not have been possible. We truly appreciate the hard work and dedication of all our wonderful employees.” They conclude, “Local businesses thrive on local support. When we support one another, it helps build a stronger Alberta.”

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Congratulations Sunfresh Farms on 25 Years of Business!

10471 – 176 Street Edmonton, AB T5S 2E4

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Phone: (780) 413-4802 Fax: (780) 413-4804 Email: info@sunfreshfarms.ca www.sunfreshfarms.ca

Sunfresh Farms | Celebrating 25 Years | 4

Small town dealership located 30 minutes south of Edmonton in Wetaskiwin where cars and trucks really do cost less! Experience outstanding customer service when buying, selling or servicing your vehicle. Call Brentridge Ford at (780) 352-6048 or visit

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ProZone Ltd. 2022 SERVICES Asphalt Construction

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Concrete Construction

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Base Construction

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Excavation & Removal

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Rubber Paving

Environmentally friendly option 100% recycled material Asphalt & concrete refresher

StreetBond & Thermoplastic Unique & visually appealing Safe & effective

Landscaping & Supplies

Landscaping construction & maintenance Landscaping Supplies Center

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Sweeping & detail cleaning Line & symbol painting Parking curb installation Eco-friendly graffiti removal via sandblasting

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EST. 2009