Business in Edmonton - March 2020 by Business in Edmonton Magazine

MARCH 2020 | $3.50 BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

MEET ALYSON HODSON: PM42455512

A CEO FOCUSED ON PURPOSE AND INTENTION

B OMA EDMONTON NEWS

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Liftboss is proud to introduce another first in the construction industry, JCB’s compact, tracked backhoe loader. The 1CXT provides superior maneuverability, an optional handheld tool auxiliary, as well as a universal quick hitch that is compatible with most skid steer attachments. The machine is equipped with a 49 hp engine that requires no aftertreatment. iftboss Inc. was established in May 2006 by adding JCB construction equipment in 2017 has been Lessfour than six feet wide 7-feet-6 other backhoe loader willmore fit. partners John and and Andre Gagnon,tall; Daleput it to awork great where addition,no and has made Liftboss Inc. even

Beatty and Marc Tougas to be a one stop shop visible in the heavy equipment industry in Alberta. dealership for all material handling needs. Having They will always stay true to their material handling worked in the industry before, the four partners, roots, but having an established and well respected Give us a call for more info or to arrange a demo. pooled all there resources, previous experience construction line has solidified the fact that Liftboss together and designed a new business model to fill Inc. is here for the long haul and ready to compete. the much needed niche that the industry needed. Liftboss Inc. is an Alberta owned and operated Whether you are looking for a new machine, a rental, dealership, offering new and used equipment sales, service or parts on an existing unit, or simply want a total parts department, forklift rentals, forklift a second option on something, give them a call and training, trained and certified mechanics to perform they will be happy to point you in the right direction. repairs in shop and service vehicles to handle on site As a group, Liftboss Inc. do what they do based repairs. Liftboss Inc. prides it’s self on quick response on four core values: do what you say you will in a time to customer’s breakdowns. timely manner; be open and honest; do whatever it takes; and service the customer above all else. As Customer service was the reason the company each department grows, each team member is held was born, and has captured an impressive share accountable to those principles, their focus of business for Liftboss. In the past 3 years, the is to be a quality company that people downturn in the Alberta economy has definitely are proud to work for. affected the sales activity, but comparatively the service and parts business has noticed substantial growth. The sales team builds portfolios for each client’s needs and service preferences; this way, they can have a conversation with a client instead Introducing the future of construction equipment. of simply walking them around the The new JCB Hydradig is the world’s first wheeled excavator and showroom. Their clients appreciate tool carrier designed for purpose and built without compromise. the attention and reward them with Travel to—and around—work sites faster than ever, maneuver into repeat business and referrals.

tight spaces with greater safety, and apply the right attachments

Material handling and forklifts werewhere and continue to be they’re needed. a huge part of what Liftboss Inc. has grown from, but

Contact Liftboss JCB for more information.

EDMONTON BRANCH 7912 Yellowhead Trail Edmonton, AB (780) 474-9900

CALGARY BRANCH 8010 40 Street SE Calgary, AB (403) 301-0041

LiftbossJCB.com

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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 8 | Number 3

REGULAR COLUMNS

Could Private Sector Participation Help Law Enforcement? By Terry O’Flynn

10 41

CONTENTS COVER FEATURE

eet Alyson Hodson: a M CEO Focused on Purpose and Intention By Nerissa McNaughton

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MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

“Big Five” Business Associations Call for Job Action in Federal Budget By David MacLean

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 8 | Number 3

THIS MONTH’S FEATURES

Good Things Happen When Women Support Women By Nerissa McNaughton

CONTENTS COMPANY PROFILES

53 59

P EMCO Construction Ltd. Celebrates 30 Years

Industry Support: Why it Matters for Real Estate By Will Porter

33 49

B OMA Edmonton News Spring 2020

The Greens, the Venues, the Experiences: Today’s Golf Courses Have Something for Everyone By Nerissa McNaughton

I MARK Architectural Celebrates 25 Years

62 6

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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COULD PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT? // TERRY O’FLYNN

Could Private Sector Participation Help Law Enforcement? BY TERRY O’FLYNN, CHAIRMAN, ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP

s crime on the rise in Alberta? It certainly seems so. We cannot ignore or downplay the increased liquor store thefts and rise in rural crime.

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) fights crime, helps steer potential criminals to a better path and supports the city’s most vulnerable. For many reasons, including our stressed economy, crime sprees are growing faster than crime solutions. In my opinion, the EPS does their best to service the needs of the city, but they also need to continue seeking opportunities to be creative and innovative. However, under the constraints of an annual budget, it can feel impossible to affect any sustainable innovations to policing. Is this where the private sector with its problem-solving entrepreneurial spirit comes in? Maybe… just maybe! The Edmonton Police Foundation is made up of several Edmontonians that care deeply for our city. This group has created a method, in conjunction with our progressive and forward-thinking police chief Dale McFee, to assist the EPS. The method is called Community Solutions Acceleration (CSA) and involves a collaborative and innovative strategy that changes the way to look at challenges and solutions. The founders of the CSA method recently held an information session in which they provided this pitch about this truly innovative solution: The CSA will help solve our community’s biggest problems like homelessness, addictions, mental health challenges and other issues that affect not just Edmonton, but communities all around the world. We will do this very differently and for

the first time, using data coming from health, social services, law enforcement and other sources. Machine learning and AI will be applied to this amalgamated data and we will [collaborate with] entrepreneurs, researchers, practitioners, ethicists and others to devise solutions that can be deployed with success, and commercialized. We need to design smarter, more effective and forwardthinking solutions to community problems [so we can make] significant progress and deliver meaningful outcomes. This means doing things differently, engaging the right partners, and infusing innovation and technology into the fabric of what we do. Through this, we will deliver ground-breaking solutions that can make a significant impact on improving public safety and health, creating a better experience for Edmontonians and Albertans. What does this modern solution entail? Not relying so heavily on public funds. It calls for a new way of thinking to solve old and ongoing issues. It demands a focus on innovation and collaboration. It calls for private sector involvement. We all want to see the crime rate go down, homelessness solved, and the city’s most vulnerable protected. We want correctional institutions and facilitators to rehabilitate, not just house, those that break the law. I heartily applaud Chief McFee and the EPS for their strides and accomplishments in these regards. To continue making progress and to combat emerging issues, like the liquor store thefts, we need new ideas. Could Community Solutions Acceleration and involving the private sector be the answer? Maybe. I, for one, look forward to finding out.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

“BIG FIVE” BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS CALL FOR JOB ACTION IN FEDERAL BUDGET // DAVID MACLEAN

“Big Five” Business Associations Call for Job Action in Federal Budget BY DAVID MACLEAN

t took a little longer than our neighbor to the south, but the negative effects of the oil and gas downturn are being felt in Edmonton, and it’s not pretty.

StatsCan data released in early February told the story – Edmonton’s unemployment rate rose again to 8.2 per cent – the highest of any major Canadian city save for Windsor, Ontario. There were 15,300 more unemployed Edmontonians in 2020 than in January 2019. Provincewide, the provincial workforce shrank by 13,500 and 31,000 Albertans lost work hours, possibly due to the extreme cold snap in January. Edmonton is a bit of an outlier in the most recent job numbers, as Canada’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.5 per cent on the strength of an additional 34,500 jobs. Edmontonians, perhaps more than most, need a plan to get the economy moving. Energy prices are beyond our control, but there’s much that can be done on the policy front to get the economy moving. That’s why Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) took the unusual step of joining forces with Canada’s four other leading business associations to call for action in the upcoming federal budget. The Business Council of Canada, Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Federation of Independent Business and CME issued a statement calling for a “comprehensive plan for economic growth” in this year’s budget. The “big five” associations called for an ambitious plan to address the costly, burdensome regulatory environment. Canada should aim to become the world’s most efficiently regulated jurisdiction in order to attract jobs, boost business confidence and encourage badly needed investment.

EDMONTONIANS, PERHAPS MORE THAN MOST, NEED A PLAN TO GET THE ECONOMY MOVING. ENERGY PRICES ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL, BUT THERE’S MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE ON THE POLICY FRONT TO GET THE ECONOMY MOVING. The government must focus more of its infrastructure spending on projects that will increase Canada’s competitiveness. A greater focus on trade-enabling infrastructure would benefit communities of all sizes, including Indigenous, rural and remote communities. We’re talking roads, bridges and air and seaports. An aging population threatens the economy in two ways: it makes it harder for employers to find the people they need to expand and grow, and it puts a greater burden on workingage taxpayers to fund health care and elderly benefits. We must equip Canadians with the skills that can align and adapt to the evolving economy in order to fill the hundreds of thousands of current and future job vacancies across the country. Immigration is part of the solution. After years of carbon taxes, Clean Fuel Standards, plastic bans and dithering on resource infrastructure, Canadians deserve a new look from Ottawa. The next federal budget should focus on making Canada more competitive and ready to compete globally in the long term.

CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS & EXPORTERS (CME) IS THE VOICE OF CANADIAN MANUFACTURING. CME REPRESENTS MORE THAN 2,500 COMPANIES WHO ACCOUNT FOR AN ESTIMATED 82 PER CENT OF MANUFACTURING OUTPUT AND 90 PER CENT OF CANADA’S EXPORTS.

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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Stantec Takes Home Sustainability Accolades Earlier this year Stantec was delighted to be named one of Corporate Knights’ 2020 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World. The rankings were announced during the World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland. Ranking 57th overall for 2019, Stantec has also been named one of Canada’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens by Corporate Knights – on seven occasions. This accolade specifically acknowledges companies that utilize responsible business practices based on specific indicators knows as ESGs (environmental, social and governance) indicators. Only the top 1 per cent of companies in the world are represented in the Global 100. It is quite the acknowledgement. “We’re honored to be named to the Global 100 this year, and I hope that everyone who is part of this organization is

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

as proud as I am,” says Emree Siaroff, Stantec’s senior vice president & chief human resources officer and a member of the organization’s executive ESG committee. “At Stantec, we’re driven to make communities better, and this ranking illustrates our commitment to sustainability. We’re an organization where the best and brightest combine their skills and expertise to make a lasting impact on our world. This is another reason why we are simply a great place to work.” Corporate Knights ranks companies based on key performance indicators covering everything from resource conservation and employee management to financial management, clean revenue and supplier performance. Ranking is based on publicly disclosed data. To determine the ranking, 7,395 companies were analyzed against global industry peers. This massive pool of competitors had

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Danny Hooper some stiff competition for Stantec, but the Edmontonheadquartered Stantec still beat out almost all of those companies, solidifying themselves as leaders in sustainable practices.

Stantec’s sustainability performance is publicly available for review in their Corporate Sustainability Report, which was published on May 8, 2019. You can find the report on their website where you can also read all about their strategic objectives and how sustainability is key in every aspect of their corporation. Stantec’s business objective is to remain a top tier global design and delivery firm. Local strength, knowledge, and relationships, paired with world-class expertise are all part of the formula that lets Stantec meet clients’ needs in creative, personalized ways. Striving to maintain longterm commitments to the people and places they serve, Stantec connects to projects personally and advances the quality of life in communities across the globe. With a focus on continued growth, they are increasing shareholder value and giving employees opportunities to work with the best clients, on the best projects, all while delivering exceptional service. For more information, or to review Stantec’s corporate sustainability report, visit www.stantec.com.

photo by Robert Bray

“Sustainability is core to Stantec, from the impact of our operations, to our philanthropy, to the services we provide to clients,” says Carrie Sabin, principal, director, environment & sustainability program at Stantec. “We are proud of our long history of being listed on Canada’s Best 50 and are thrilled to now be recognized on the Global 100. This recognizes Stantec’s strategy to address climate change impacts, our progress on gender equality, our investment in innovation, and our commitment to health and safety.”

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Building Trades of Alberta Appeals to the Environment Minister for Major Project Approval In January, Building Trades of Alberta sent a letter to Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson in a bid to get Teck’s Frontier oils sands project approved. The project’s proposed location is north of Fort McKay and would be a boon for the economy, which was pointed out in the letter. Also mentioned are the industry-exceeding environmental provisions in place, and the vast amount of consulting and planning that has gone into the project. “The construction of this mega project is expected to provide up to 7,000 jobs. When it’s complete, the dayto-day operations of Frontier will employ around 2,500 people within its 41-year life span,” explained Building Trades of Alberta executive director Terry Parker. “This has the potential to be an economic game changer for Alberta and the country, not only in employment, but in revenue generated for the provincial and federal governments.” Current data states that about $70 billion in government revenues are expected from Frontier, with approximately $55 billion in provincial royalties and taxes, and an additional $12 billion in federal income and capital taxes. Parker continued, “Moreover, consultations that have taken place for the past decade have ensured strict environmental standards and protections will be in place, and communities are engaged.” Based on the recent agreements that now exist between Teck and 14 Indigenous communities around the project area, it is clear that Teck not only took their task of consulting seriously, but they were also clearly successful in their efforts. “A report of the Joint Review Panel released last summer determined the project is in the public interest and now it’s up to Minister Wilkinson to approve the job-creating

project,” said Parker at the time of the press release. He then added, “We’re hopeful he will do the right thing and move Frontier forward.” In a boom and bust economy like Alberta, which has been in a drawn out, slow bust cycle, a major project of this nature has what the province needs to re-fire the oil and gas sector. The final decision on the project was slated for the first quarter of 2020.

ABOVE: BUILDING TRADES OF ALBERTA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TERRY PARKER.

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

BUILDING TRADES OF ALBERTA REPRESENTS 18 UNION LOCALS AND MORE THAN 60,000 SKILLED TRADES PEOPLE IN THE RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND FABRICATION INDUSTRIES.

Building Trades of Alberta represents 18 union locals and more than 60,000 skilled trades people in the residential, commercial and industrial construction, maintenance, and fabrication industries. The organization strives to promote a safe industry; influence legislation, regulation, and government sentiment toward organized labour; create and participate in alliances and partnerships with owners and contractors; participate in boards, associations, committees and other industry groups; develop programs that support under-represented groups in the trades and develop programs that highlight the value of unionized labour in order to help create more work opportunities for its members. Those interested in learning more about Building Trades of Alberta can visit bta.ca online, @BuildingTradesAlberta on Facebook, and @BuildingTradeAB on Twitter. The organization is also active on YouTube.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WOMEN SUPPORT WOMEN // WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN

Women Support Women BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

ccording to the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, “Only 16 per cent of Canadian businesses are owned or led by women and yet studies show that by advancing women’s economic participation in the economy, Canada could add up to $150 billion in GDP.” What’s holding women back? Although great strides have been made for and by women in the work force, issues like gender inequality, wage gaps and discrimination persist. “Promoting women’s business ownership and improving the performance of women-owned enterprises would foster gender equality in leadership and the economic empowerment of women,” cites the Statistics Canada’s Women-Owned Enterprise in Canada report. There are strong female business leaders, and heads of women-empowering organizations, that are actively doing that in Alberta. Let’s meet three of them.

Michelle D. Millard: Partner, Felesky Flynn LLP and President of Business & Professional Women of Edmonton (BPW) Leading up to my role as Partner at Felesky Flynn LLP, I thoroughly enjoyed my learning experience in law school. Once I stared articling and practicing law, finding solutions to the challenges my clients faced created stimulating experiences for me. These experiences taught me so much more than I expected and led me down a path that eventually brought me to the role I am in now. Finding innovative solutions for each client continues to be very satisfying and

motivating after more than 25 years of practicing law. It also helped me find BPW. A few years ago, an event was held as an introduction to BPW, and subsequently I was offered the opportunity to assist in the launch of the Edmonton chapter. BPW Edmonton is a member of the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women, which is a member of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women. The International BPW has consultative status at the United Nations. Collectively, these organizations advocate for women’s rights by promoting education, networking, skills building and economic empowerment. Through BPW I am thrilled to work with local businesswomen to help them find and seize opportunities for success both in their careers and personal lives. Despite the progress we are seeing in our society, women still face challenges that only other women can understand. I believe it is critically important for women to help and inspire other women in order to continue to expand the influence of women in all positions. Women bring a diverse perspective to any position, and studies have shown that such diversity breeds success for organizations. We are stronger when we are connected and can achieve great things together. There are not enough mentors and champions out there for women, but these roles are the keys to success. Women, unfortunately, must work harder to find someone to help fill these roles; those of us who have been in the arena for a while need to be the ones to step up.

RIGHT: MICHELLE D. MILLARD, PARTNER, FELESKY FLYNN LLP AND PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL WOMEN OF EDMONTON (BPW)

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GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WOMEN SUPPORT WOMEN // WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

Developing a strong network through BPW can be an important tool to ensure success in a woman’s career. BPW Edmonton offers women the opportunity to connect with other women from a variety of other industries at varying levels of seniority in their career. With monthly events, mentorship opportunities and advocacy initiatives, BPW Edmonton offers speakers presenting on relevant issues and often draws from its own membership for speaker talent. Regardless of the stage of your career, or even the type of industry you work in, if you are seeking a supportive network, an opportunity to enhance your own communication skills, participate in development programs, and shape and influence the world around us at all levels of government (and the United Nations), then BPW is an organization to look into. Learn more about BPW at bpwedmonton.ca.

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BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WOMEN SUPPORT WOMEN // WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

Jewel Buksa: President, BUKSA Strategic Conference Services & Vice Chair of Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) I founded BUKSA Strategic Conference Services 25 years ago when I hosted a large conference and trade show for Alberta’s healthcare sector. The economy in Alberta was in a bad way – this was the time of 5 per cent public sector wage rollbacks, and the healthcare sector was completely restructured, which included the disestablishment of the healthcare association in which I was working. I saw that even in bad economic times – in fact, especially in bad economic times – the need for face-to-face meetings and networking was paramount. It turned out that the industry agreed. I had broad support from professional associations, the new health regions, the private sector and the Health Ministry. Soon after, other organizations took notice of our strategic, purposeful way of planning content, flow, marketing and logistics for conferences. We began to contract out our services and organically grew the company to where it is now, with a staff of 15 providing services across Canada to organizations of all sizes in healthcare, energy, environment, construction, safety, technology, social services and other industries. Founding and running my own business has been as challenging as raising two daughters with my husband Jim. At the beginning, one has big dreams, plenty of optimism, razor-edge focus, and little money; then the fun comes in not knowing what to expect along the way. Some strategies work out, some don’t, money is tight, and you read a lot of books. What carries us through as parents and entrepreneurs alike is having a network of business advisers, trusted friends, and places we can go to blow off steam and have some fun. My advice to women looking to launch their own business whether they are parents, aunties, or single is this: prepare to nurture your business as you would your family and your trusted friendships. It takes time and intention. There are no shortcuts. About eight years ago I learned about Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) through a friend who worked there. I started to follow the organization and participate in educational sessions; I never tire of hearing the stories of other entrepreneurs, nor learning how to improve myself and my business.

The annual AWE conference and the AWE Awards receptions have become events I look forward to – these are fantastic and highly accessible opportunities to meet entrepreneurs at all stages of business and learn from their experiences. I still attend AWE workshops to this day. Two years ago I was invited to join the AWE board, which was a delight as I really believe in the organization (I was elected vice-chair last September). I’m convinced AWE has a role to play as a primary leader for developing and supporting women entrepreneurs in Alberta. It’s an effectively managed organization, strategically focused, smart with its money and is supported by federal and provincial governments as well as the private sector. The services provided by AWE to women entrepreneurs are accessible and affordable and make a huge difference in helping them build successful businesses. There are so many ways for women entrepreneurs to access AWE – whether for financing, learning and networking, mentorship programs or all the above. A strength of AWE’s financing model is that the women are mentored and supported along the way, mitigating risk to everyone involved. Did you know some of the AWE mentorship programs made here in Alberta have been trademarked and are being rolled ABOVE: JEWEL BUKSA, PRESIDENT, BUKSA STRATEGIC CONFERENCE SERVICES & VICE CHAIR OF ALBERTA WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS (AWE).

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WOMEN SUPPORT WOMEN // WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

out in other provinces? That is the kind of leadership we have at AWE. I’m looking forward to my next few years on the board, supporting AWE in developing the entrepreneurs who help drive our economy. Learn more about AWE at www.awebusiness.com.

Yvonne Basten: Founder, Event Management.guru & Executive Managing Director of eWomenNetwork Calgary Chapter Note, the Edmonton Chapter is currently considering managing director positions. Those interested in eWomenNetwork can contact any chapter in Alberta or interact with the organization at events or online. I am an event manager and the owner of Event Management.guru. I support business owners who host one or multiple-day events/retreats and help them take their event to the next level.

just a local networking opportunity. When you belong to the network, you can attend any of the chapters in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. The eWomenNetwork Foundation is the charity arm of eWomenNetwork. Every year the foundation donates money to the Humanitarian of the Year, which is chosen by Sandra Yancey and the board of directors. At a local level we get to participate as well by donating money to a local charity that supports either women and/or children. Being a solopreneur can be a very lonely journey. Often, we think that we are the only ones ‘not getting it’ or ‘I must be doing this all wrong.’ Being part of a networking organization helps with the journey. Know that you’re not alone; that we are all in this together. To lear more eWomenNetwork at ewomennetwork.com.

I have been a member of the eWomenNetwork Calgary Chapter for 13 years. Networking is an important tool to use in your business. By continuously building relationships, it supports you with gaining new clients, and depending on which group you belong to, it will also provide you with personal and business growth tools. We currently have one eWomenNetwork chapter in Calgary. We provide a monthly dinner where we network, and I also host a monthly strategic business introduction event. There are also monthly webinars hosted by the owner and founder of eWomenNetwork, Sandra Yancey; annual conference in Dallas, Texas; podcasts and so much more. It’s not

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

MEET ALYSON HODSON: A CEO FOCUSED ON PURPOSE AND INTENTION // COVER

MEET ALYSON HODSON: A CEO FOCUSED ON PURPOSE AND INTENTION BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

dmonton is home to zag™, a full-service marketing agency. Partners Alyson Hodson, Ronda Nedelec and Trina Danis inspire a team that is hell-bent on getting to know clients’ brands inside and out. Then, with their A-team of creatives, wordsmiths, out-of-the-box thinkers and marketing masters, zag asks the right questions to unearth exactly where each client needs to be – and takes them there. zag evolves clients’ businesses by providing creative direction such as visual and brand identity, product packaging, scripting and storyboarding; strategic planning; public and media relations; copywriting, campaign writing and social media expertise; digital development for websites, social media and SEO; strategies for negotiation, buying, contracts, tracking/reporting; and much more.

ABOVE: ALYSON HODSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ZAG™ PHOTO SOURCE: EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY INC.

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

MEET ALYSON HODSON: A CEO FOCUSED ON PURPOSE AND INTENTION // COVER

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

MEET ALYSON HODSON: A CEO FOCUSED ON PURPOSE AND INTENTION // COVER

Business in Edmonton caught up with Hodson, president and CEO, to discuss her role at zag and in Edmonton’s business community. Hodson wasn’t about to wait around for the perfect job to land in her lap. Instead, she aligned with partners who shared her vision of a forward-thinking, diverse, marketing agency with an enviable workplace culture. Together they created a people-focused business that helps companies progress to the next level. Their proven process starts with a strategy, builds a roadmap, and executes big ideas, ensuring every campaign, social post, and line of copy is crafted with intention and aligned to a purpose. Hodson explains, “I envisioned using my experience in marketing and communications to create a company that achieves my personal and professional goals, that is staffed with people whose values resonate with mine, and that continually moves our clients forward to meet and exceed their objectives.” Her vision became a reality with the launch of zag in 2009, but surprisingly, marketing wasn’t her first career choice, and neither was owing a business. “I never considered myself to be an entrepreneur,” Hodson admits. “I had an affinity for marketing and advertising but also almost took a U-turn into being a lawyer early on. Now that I am where I am, I wouldn’t change a thing. The challenges of owning a business mixed with the excitement of the marketing and communications world keeps it exciting and fresh every hour of every day. There is never a dull moment.” For Hodson, part of the excitement of zag is its continual growth and diversity of clientele. After starting with just three on the team and growing to 27, zag is honoured to work with clients such as Zinc and the Jerry Forbes Centre for Community Spirit while expanding its market from Edmonton to the US in 2013, and then into the UAE in 2015. Even though zag is expanding globally, Hodson is happy to remain headquartered in the city. “Edmonton is a special place. It’s a community that takes care of its own. Supporting the culture of startups and entrepreneurs here is so important. Its person-to-person, its business-to-business. We like working with the people as much as we like working

with the businesses here in Edmonton. It’s something we need to not lose sight of, and something we need to nurture as much as we can.” Hodson credits the people she works with, and for, as what drives zag’s success.

ABOVE: LULU AND BANDIT, HODSON’S DOGS, ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

The Business Owner Presentation Series Insights to Help You Address Your Business Challenges

Alberta’s economy has changed dramatically in the past five years. Add emerging industries and technologies to the mix and there are plenty of topics and challenges top of mind with business owners. MNP’s monthly Business Owner Presentation Series is designed to offer insights on the most relevant topics on the minds of business owners — and help you address the pressing challenges keeping you up at night. MARCH FEATURE PRESENTATION Employee Share Ownership Plans and Transitioning Your Business on Your Terms Date:

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Time:

7:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Location: Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre 4235 Gateway Blvd NW, Edmonton Visit MNP.ca/BOS-March to register and find out more about this timely event. If you have trouble registering or have questions please call 780.969.1468 or email edmonton.rsvp@mnp.ca

MEET ALYSON HODSON: A CEO FOCUSED ON PURPOSE AND INTENTION // COVER

“Our business is a people business, and they can make or break it. People are what get me out of bed in the morning; our team, and our clients and partners. We all work together, support each other and push each other to be exceptional. It’s about gut and grit! It’s about knowing every single day that we can change the shape of someone’s business and the impact it has on their lives.” She is also passionate about helping bring the right people on board and mentoring them to be their best. “I find, nurture, and foster talent. It’s about bringing people along to ensure that they have the opportunity to inspire and enact change while caring about what’s next for the business and how they have a stake in its success,” she says. Although Hodson shares a large part of the responsibility for making zag the dynamo that it is, she remains humble and grateful for the opportunities that complement the hard work it took to get here.

“I was given an opportunity by a previous employer that opened up a door for me by making a key referral,” she reflects. “He let me know of a friend that was looking for someone with my skillset. I truly believe that where I am today would not be possible had he not thought of me in this situation. I am forever grateful, as it changed my career path.” Like most entrepreneurs, Hodson strives to achieve the balance among showing up and being present for the people and projects she loves while hitting deadlines and finding time to recharge, and she’s happy to share what she’s learned in her professional and personal journey. “Business is not easy,” she admits. “It may go through times of being easy and fun, but it will go through periods of extreme difficulty. In those times you will stretch and grow. You will push your boundaries, and that’s ok. Some days you will want to celebrate. Some days you will want to shout from the rooftops and other days you will cry in a corner. It’s about the experience – you can’t buy it, you can’t rent it, you

ABOVE: ALYSON HODSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ZAG™ PHOTO SOURCE: EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY INC.

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

MEET ALYSON HODSON: A CEO FOCUSED ON PURPOSE AND INTENTION // COVER

ALTHOUGH HODSON SHARES A LARGE PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING ZAG THE DYNAMO THAT IT IS, SHE REMAINS HUMBLE AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COMPLEMENT THE HARD WORK IT TOOK TO GET HERE. can’t steal it, you can’t borrow it. Experience is something you have to live through, so, enjoy it.”

every day. As a result, zag’s work has received numerous awards and recognitions.

She continues, “Find your passion. Define what you want to do. Understand what you need to put in to make that happen and be clear on that. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and don’t try to do it all yourself. Surround yourself with great people and remove yourself from relationships that aren’t authentic.

In 2019, zag won the Award of Merit for Communication Management in Marketing, Advertising and Brand Communication at the International Association of Business Communicators Edmonton Capital Awards. In 2018 it was the Economic Developers Association of Canada’s Annual Conference (EDAC) Marketing Canada Award (along with three other awards, including the event’s top honour) for creating a tourism and lifestyle campaign, investment guide and sell sheets for a client. Also in 2018, zag won the Marketing Excellence Campaign $25,000-$75,000 category’s trophy at Travel Alberta’s Alto Awards.

“Don’t be afraid to be bold. Everything is a cycle. Ups and downs come and go, and we all have to support each other through the challenges in these cycles. There is a comfort in knowing someone has gone through what you are going through, so don’t be afraid to share. Always remember, no one is perfect.” Hodson enjoys mentoring others in Edmonton’s business community, and knows that mentorship is something entrepreneurs, be they newcomers to business or seasoned veterans, should cherish at every stage of their journey. “I was very lucky to have mentors throughout my journey and all of them helped me in different and meaningful ways,” she explains. “I appreciate them taking the time to give me guidance. As lifelong learning and growth are something that I value, I will always have, learn from, and respect my mentors.” As a company and as individuals, zag is very active in the community. Hodson is the president of the Make-A-Wish® Northern Alberta board and sits on its National Governance Committee. She is the past chair of the Downtown Business Association and a past director of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. Ronda Nedelec, partner and vice president of new business, is the past president of Kids Up Front Edmonton and has chaired the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities® Alberta. Nedelec remains involved with the Ronald McDonald House Family’s Connect and Communications Committee. Growing rapidly, innovating solutions and serving the community means it is never “business as usual” at the company that focuses on providing extraordinary experiences and profound results for their team and clients

In 2017 the branding and logo work created for the Town of Stony Plain earned zag EDAC’s Marketing Canada Award, and the brand identity created for The Rising Sun was selected from among 40,000 submissions to be in LogoLounge’s 10th book. This is also the year zag was named as one of Business in Edmonton’s Leaders. The Award of Distinction won at the ACE Awards in 2016 and 2015 saw them take the International Downtown Association (IDA) Award in the marketing and communications division. For Hodson, however, one of the most touching acknowledgements came from the staff. “In January, we had a team Christmas party,” she says. “Even after all these years a business owner, it took my breath away and gave me a moment of profound humility when our team presented gifts to me and my business partners. Each team member had chosen something personal to put into a basket and presented it as a thank you. It meant the world to me.” It’s been a great decade for Hodson and zag, and she’s excited to see where the future leads. She concludes, “Now that we are rounding off that first 10 years, we are setting up for some really exciting new changes in 2020 and beyond. Stay tuned!” Learn more by visiting www.atozag.ca online, @atozag on Twitter and Instagram, @zagisbetter on Facebook, and zag on LinkedIn.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: WHY IT MATTERS FOR REAL ESTATE // REAL ESTATE

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: WHY IT MATTERS FOR REAL ESTATE 26

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: WHY IT MATTERS FOR REAL ESTATE // REAL ESTATE

BY WILL PORTER

eal estate can often be a volatile market with everchanging regulations and trends, making it difficult for businesses and individuals to keep up with every aspect on their own. That’s where associations step in. Most realty associations are not-for-profit organizations that are made up of a volunteer board with a goal of offering leadership, advocacy and support to members of the industry. Becoming a member of a real estate association can open many doors for opportunities to which professionals may not otherwise have access including, but not limited, to licensing, networking, technical products or tools and continuing education. In the Edmonton region, there are several associations that support different aspects of the industry. If you are looking for support as a residential construction professional, then your first stop should be the Canadian Home Builders’ Association-Edmonton Region (CHBA-ER). Describing the CHBA-ER, Marie Soprovich, president, explains. “We are a not-for-profit, volunteer driven organization that has fostered a community for the residential construction industry by supporting members through advocacy, education, and recognition.” Soprovich continues. “The Association is the voice and go-to resource for the industry, representing approximately 75 per cent of all building permits issued in the region. CHBA-ER is a three-tiered association working to represent the residential construction industry locally, provincially, and nationally. “CHBA-ER works to foster reciprocal relationships with local governments and key stakeholders to influence economic and regulatory reform initiatives to preserve affordability, quality, and choice in housing. This is done by working with the industry on solutions that support housing affordability, ensuring politics and process improvements support building better homes without adding costs, and supporting a variety of housing types.”

IN THE EDMONTON REGION, THERE ARE SEVERAL ASSOCIATIONS THAT SUPPORT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE INDUSTRY. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT AS A RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONAL, THEN YOUR FIRST STOP SHOULD BE THE CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION-EDMONTON REGION (CHBA-ER). Soprovich further points out, “The residential construction industry in the Edmonton region is a network of local businesses that represents more than 47,000 jobs, $3.2 billion in annual wages and $7.1 billion in annual investment. From greenfield to infill, CHBA-ER represents more than 475 member companies that service every area of the residential construction industry, building and renovating everything from low-rise single family homes to high-rise apartments.” Advocacy is an important part of real estate support associations, and as Soprovich shows, the CHBA-ER takes this very seriously. “Recently, CHBA-ER worked with the City of Edmonton on its Safety Codes Inspection Efficiency

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

own the home MHC home = + ownership lease the land 30% less than MHC home = comparable purchase freehold

EMERGENCY SHELTER

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING

COMMUNITY HOUSING

RENTAL HOUSING

MHC HOME OWNERSHIP

FREEHOLD

You don’t have to own it all! $2100 Best kept secret in home ownership Single Family

PricesDwelling have cooled over the last few years, but $2100/month the price of owning your own home remains high. Purchasing a home can be a challenge and can still be out of reach for many people.

$500

Townhouse

Retired couple • A couple is looking to retire, downsize and sell the family home.

$1100

• They are looking for a smaller home that is a stable investment.

Renting is an alternative, but it creates no OR Condo investment benefit.

$1536/month

• They want to free up equity for leisure and recreational activities.

There is another option: homeownership in a manufactured home community (MHC). MHCs are the “missing middle” in the housing $670 $525 Parkbridge market because it sits between rental and Land Lease freehold home ownership. Pride of ownership, $1189/month a connection to neighbours, and community amenities are all part of an MHC.



MHCs are an ideal option!

Young family • A young family is renting an apartment.

MHC homeowners own a home while leasing the land. The result: the homes cost 30% less.

• They want to buy a home so that their family can grow and feel part of a community.

$1678

The lower purchase price makes it a great option Rental for a first-time homebuyer or to simply free up $1678/month money for life’s other priorities. Including the lease fees, the monthly carrying costs for MHC homes are typically less than freehold homes or even rental accommodations.

• They don’t have enough money saved for a down payment on a freehold home. 

MHCs are an ideal option!

Monthly Cost Comparison TOTAL PER MONTH

Rental Housing MHC Home Ownership

$670

Freehold

Townhouse or Condo

= $1200

$530 $2100

Single Family

Freehold

= $1700

$1700

= $2100

Calculations based on: Average Edmonton prices (as per Realtors Association of Edmonton and RentBoard.ca) o Single family home = $410,000 o Townhouse/Condo = $225,000 o MHC = $105,000

$500

Rent/Lease Fee

$1100

Condo Fee

= $1600

*Assuming 5% down and 4% interest rate on mortgage.

Mortgage

Learn more about MHCs at Parkbridge.com

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: WHY IT MATTERS FOR REAL ESTATE // REAL ESTATE

Project, which uses artificial intelligence to allow for riskbased home inspections. This project resulted in a reduced number of required inspections, saving time and money for those in the industry.” The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton (RAE) provides comprehensive services for REALTORS®. Jennifer Lucas, chair, explains their goal in supporting real estate agents in the Edmonton region. “The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton is a membership-based organization that represents 29 municipalities. Our main goal is to provide technical products, services and training to enhance the member experience. Those products include, but are not limited to, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), lockboxes and software that enable our members to be as productive as possible while providing exceptional professional services to the consumer. RAE also provides in-house professional development tools such as new agent training, webforms, REALTORS® safety, and video production, for example.” Similar to the CHBA-ER advocating for home builders, the RAE advocates for local, provincial, and national support. Lucas says, “The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton advocates municipally and continues to provide relevant data, when requested, to ensure that leaders have the context they need to make the appropriate decisions regarding housing stock for their region. We also work in partnership with our provincial and national associations to ensure that the collective voice within the real estate community is heard.” Lucas continues, “Most recent efforts include advocating for regional changes to the stress test (Bill 20), a federal policy intended to put downward pressure on pricing in Vancouver and Toronto but has had unintended consequences in other jurisdictions, causing a slowdown in the market for first time home buyers and also resulting in stolen equity for current homeowners. We have called on the federal government to regionalize the stress test. Through the industry’s advocacy

LUCAS SAYS, “THE REALTORS® ASSOCIATION OF EDMONTON ADVOCATES MUNICIPALLY AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE RELEVANT DATA, WHEN REQUESTED, TO ENSURE THAT LEADERS HAVE THE CONTEXT THEY NEED TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS REGARDING HOUSING STOCK FOR THEIR REGION.” efforts, several of Alberta municipalities and the provincial government have been pressing on the federal government to implement regionally focused changes that will alleviate pressures on Alberta homeowners.” These advocacy efforts show that there is an ongoing need for real estate support associations to speak up on behalf of

ABOVE: JENNIFER LUCAS, CHAIR, REALTORS® ASSOCIATION OF EDMONTON.

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: WHY IT MATTERS FOR REAL ESTATE // REAL ESTATE

MOL CONTINUES, “THE POSSIBILITIES ARE REALLY ENDLESS, BUT PERSONALLY I HAVE AN INTEREST IN CONSTANTLY IMPROVING ON AREAS OF MARKETING, HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND NEGOTIATION, AS WELL AS INFILL DEVELOPMENT, URBAN PLANNING, AND HOME DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.”

professionals in the industry. When changes to regulations and laws occur, advocacy from these associations are paramount in ensuring real estate professionals have a voice in helping the industry come out stronger. Continuing education is a service that many real estate support associations offer and is important in keeping real estate agents up-to-date on the regulations, latest trends and skills they need for a competitive edge. Nathan Mol, REALTOR® with Liv Real Estate says, “I think continuing education in real estate can be broken down into three categories: traditional formal sales training and seminars, regulatory and technical training, and what I would call selfdirected on-going learning. At this point in my career, after 12 years I really focus more on the second two. Some formal sales training can be useful when first starting out in real estate, but I think it is often overhyped and not a silver bullet for success. Regulatory and technical training is an important part of raising the bar on industry knowledge and standards and can take the form of being mandatory by our governing bodies or additional optional training on subjects such as condominiums, land titles, or foreclosures, for example.”

Mol continues, “I really think being focused on ongoing learning and skills improvement is where agents can set themselves apart. The possibilities are really endless, but personally I have an interest in constantly improving on areas of marketing, human behavior and negotiation, as well as infill development, urban planning, and home design and construction.” Speaking about a recent real estate trend, Mol explains. “There has been an inclination in the past few years across North America (including Edmonton) for buyers to be looking for right-size homes in more central, walkable locations rather than larger suburban homes with longer commutes on the outer areas of cities. Lifestyle and access to unique amenities is a growing trend not just for Millennials but for, Gen-Xers and Baby Boomers as well. To continually improve my knowledge in areas related to this trend, I have attended numerous training and information sessions provided by the City of Edmonton Planning and Development Dept, volunteer on my local community league board, and I also recently completed an infill certification provided by Infill Development in Edmonton Association for builders.” Whether you are a long time professional in the real estate industry or just starting out, real estate associations provide valuable support and access to additional tools and resources you can utilize for a competitive edge, and they advocating on your behalf for the benefit of the industry.

ABOVE: NATHAN MOL, REALTOR®, LIV REAL ESTATE.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

SMART BUILDINGS ARE THE SMART CHOICE

mart homes. Smart cars. Smart offices. All are leading to even smarter consumers. The concept of smart technology is not new, but in Alberta, we could be using it for so much more! Johnson Controls, a multi-national building efficiency company, defines a smart building as “a building that’s intelligent, that’s connected, that all the inbuilding systems coherently integrate in ways that bring more value to the owner, occupiers and users of the building.” Johnson Controls is involved in building management systems in approximately 90 per cent of the buildings in North America, ranging from manufacturing to installation of HVAC, fire and security services. When it comes to digital technology, as per usual, Canada is following the progress of our neighbours in the U.S. Johnson offers options to equip any new building or retrofit an existing one with smart technology that will save building owners and operators time, money and human resources. Imagine pulling into your underground parking lot and the camera at the entry scans your licence plate, opens the door to allow you in, connects with your office to set the lights to the setting you need, sets the temperature for maximum comfort and even starts your coffee. While this may seem like a luxury, it increases security, allows easier access for your

guests, and will integrate with your security and maintenance systems. “The integration of smart technology starts with creating use cases with the owner around what they are using that building for and how you can use technology to better design that building, making it easier for people to use,” says Joe Davis, business development manager Western Canada with Johnson Controls. “A major driving factor advancing building management technology is trying to make workspaces better and more efficient for owners and those working in and using the buildings every day.” Recently named “Overall IoT Company of the Year,” Johnson has dedicated themselves to growing their digital solutions business by acquiring more than 5,000 new users and connecting over 80,000 pieces of equipment and building systems in commercial buildings and retail facilities. The company is building one of the strongest IoT product portfolios in the industry, offering customers a full range of systems and digital solutions that make buildings safer, smarter and more efficient. Johnson Controls’ Digital Twin technology compiles hundreds of thousands of pieces of components, systems, and electronics within a building, all represented in the Digital Twin. Through this technology, BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

owners and operators can view the integration and function of all systems and better understand the layers and functions within a building. Digital Twin technology helps manage the lifecycle of a building post-construction through AI and machine learning. “The system works to monitor the building’s equipment and figure out when it is going to fail, allowing owners to budget and forecast the future of the building’s mechanical system,” says Davis. “Instead of the best guess, the Digital Twin has real-world data to predict the failure of fans, boilers or elevator equipment so that owners can budget for the breakdown and not be caught by surprise.” Systems like the Digital Twin will help aid and support maintenance workers who know every in and out of the building and help those that come after them to seamlessly monitor and manage all systems regardless of the age of the building, reducing downtime and making all processes more efficient and manageable. While integrating a new system does incur increased costs for installation, Davis says the cost savings of running the building more efficiently often help the systems pay for themselves. There is much interest in these new smart systems, especially in the healthcare sector. While Edmonton has yet to really implement the smart systems and benefit from the advantages they can offer, in provinces like BC and Ontario, the healthcare sector is already taking advantage of some of the digital systems that Johnson Controls has to offer. Many of the buildings being constructed today were designed and approved using old technology, or the technology is implemented without using its full potential. “We are seeing more of a shift in some

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

of the projects going in for approval right now and should see an increase in fully integrated digital systems and smart buildings,” says Davis. A great example of automation goals that increase efficiency and decrease environmental impact is the garbage disposal system in Singapore. To combat the effect of waste disposal, Singapore implemented a pneumatic waste conveyance system to bring sustainable living to the public and provide a cleaner and greener environment for residents. The benefits of the technology include a reduction in noise and air pollution from the trucks traditionally used to for garbage disposal, and fewer traffic disruptions from the vehicles used to pick up the garbage, as the system uses a series of pneumatic tubes beneath the streets to transport the trash to a centralized bin centre for processing. Not yet at the point of removing our garbage through pneumatic tubes underground, Edmonton buildings are advancing. Some of the new technology we see utilized downtown includes converged networks. Rather than running bundles of cables throughout a building, a couple strands of fibre are used, reducing the amount of space required to run multiple systems such as security, internet and telecommunications. The direct impact for building owners is the reduced square footage needed to manage the building’s infrastructure, including smaller shafts or spaces to run the wires and smaller electrical rooms, equaling more usable square footage. In the coming years, we should see great strides being made in the use of digital systems for building automation and smart technology to aid building owners and operators to more efficiently managing their buildings.

THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR GROWTH IN EDMONTON’S DOWNTOWN

n 2010, the City of Edmonton adopted the Capital City Downtown Plan, the main focus of which was to get more people living, working, playing and learning in Edmonton’s downtown. The downtown requires many pieces working together to thrive. Edmonton doesn’t have the biggest office capital, therefore steps must be taken to encourage growth in residential development the creation of recreation facilities, educational and cultural institutions, as well as retail and entertainment venues. All of these things must work together for successful growth in Edmonton’s downtown. The Downtown Plan identified a series of catalyst projects to be developed in consultation with industry stakeholders that would work to draw in more visitors and residents to Edmonton’s downtown. These projects are investments the City could make for downtown Edmonton that would make it a more attractive place to invest, develop, and ultimately live in. In 2013, a Community Revitalization Levy Plan was approved for downtown improvements. This is a provincially approved funding mechanism that is used to help investments in areas that are not developing to their full potential. Right now there are only five such projects in the province, and the way they work is to first identify areas that are not developing to their potential, followed by recommendations of investments that can be made to help the areas reach that potential. Then the plan works to provide a dedicated funding source for these investments. Currently, one such project that the city is going forward with is what is being referred to as the Warehouse Campus Neighbourhood Central Park. The land has been acquired for a 1.25 acre greenspace, or an area just larger than two football fields, to be developed into a four season recreation space. Many factors contributed to the perfect conditions for this unique project to become a reality. In addition to being identified by the Downtown Plan, the area specifically dedicated for Warehouse Park is mostly made up of vacant parking lots and crumbling foundations, meaning very little demo will be required to prepare the site. “To find a space this size in a city with close to a million people is a rare find. It allows the City of Edmonton to build one of the largest downtown park developments going on these days,” says David Holdsworth, senior planner urban renewal, economic and

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

environmental sustainability, urban form and corporate strategic development with the City of Edmonton. “I don’t think you will find many large cities, at this stage, with this sort of development anywhere.” The City of Edmonton plans to open an international design competition in the fall of 2019 to find the winning design for the area. The contest will be anonymous, but it is expected that the winner would be available to help implement their design. The City recently completed the Alex Decoteau Park nearby, which has been a welcome addition to the downtown. Encouraged by the positive feedback, the Warehouse Park is slated to be more than four times the size, with plans to offer more amenities and active green space for the surrounding community. The aim of the park is to attract multi-modal traffic that will connect and integrate the existing downtown bike network and surrounding pedestrian priority streets. The vision is a space with active frontages that will encourage ground floor entries with patio and activity space designed for people of all ages and abilities to gather, socialize, connect and be active within. The space is also expected to adhere to Edmonton’s Winter City Design Guidelines, an initiative put forth in 2018 to take advantage and highlight the qualities of the northernmost major city in North America. Finding ways to truly enjoy the park in all four seasons has been worked into the plan, with design elements to block wind and maximize sunlight exposure. Also included in the plans are creative use of colour and comfortable infrastructure.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transform the city.

At Qualico Commercial, we believe that by developing spaces where people can gather and connect, investing in the long-term value of our properties, and being relentlessly open minded to new ideas and new ways of doing things,

we can build a city that

INSPIRES. Find a long-term home for your business at qualicocommercial.com BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

Beyond providing a year-round, multi-use green space for visitors to the area, just the speculation for Warehouse Park worked to trigger new investments in the surrounding area. “Now that the industry knows that the City has purchased the land or acquired it, the results have been a lot of development proposals for the surrounding area,” explains Holdsworth. When the Urban Renewal Unit went to counsel in the final throes to acquire the land, members of the development industry attended saying they invested in the land because they anticipated the park.

that the City has purchased the land or acquired it, the results have been a lot of development proposals for the surrounding area,” explains Holdsworth. When the Urban Renewal Unit went to counsel in the final throes to acquire the land, members of the development industry attended saying they invested in the land because they anticipated the park. Residential development is intended to bring families back to the downtown. It is reported that an estimated 25,000 residents are expected to be living downtown by 2030. With proposals for a combination of residential, commercial and mixed use, the hope is that the park allows a broader demographic to look at moving to Downtown Edmonton. Behind the scenes, or more, beneath the pavement, there has already been significant investment improving the underground infrastructure downtown. “It’s completely invisible, but an essential part of Edmonton. This is one of the oldest parts of Edmonton with some of the oldest infrastructure,” says Holdsworth. One of the things the Downtown Plan emphasized Beyond providing a year-round, multi-use green was how large parts of Edmonton were originally built space for visitors to the area, just the speculation for for industry, with railway lines going down back alleyWarehouse Park worked to trigger new investments ways to warehouses. These areas were not intended in the surrounding area. “Now that the industry knows to be places with dense populations, and up until this point they weren’t residential neighbourhoods where people “Enterprise-based solutions for your growing business” wanted to live. isn’t just a catch phrase, it’s been our reason for existing since 2001. “We need to go back to some parts of downtown, and add those a stable and parts that are missing,” explains Ranchlands offers reliable Tom Beck, part of the Urban computing your business Renewal Unit with the City of Edenvironment monton. “A lot of the planned investments through the Commua managed, nity Revitalization Levy are related out-sourced IT PARTNER to improving those public realm spaces, such as retrofitting roads provides value to your company with so there are broader sidewalks adaptive and responsive IT support with trees, benches, plantings, nicer lighting, and other features to make them more inviting. Nicer to provide an affordable, more places to walk and sit, to have a reliable, and proactive approach coffee or a beer on a patio, places you’d want to be.” optimizes security of your network Beck concludes, “Having a vibrant downtown is important, as it helps us as a City to attract inensuring your systems are available vestment. As a region it helps us to you when you need them to be competitive. In cities around North America, there’s life coming managing access and backups of your back into downtowns, and Eddata monton needs to keep up. I think Phone: 780.809.2999 service@ranchlandsgroup.com we’re more than keeping up, we’re leaping ahead.” structured cabling equipment sales & installs Managed Services

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

FORMER ENBRIDGE PLACE REDEVELOPMENT REDEFINES 103 STREET IN EDMONTON E

pic Investment Services recently announced that 10130 103 Street in downtown Edmonton is under redevelopment to create a brand new connection and collaboration space for businesses in the heart of the city. The 22-floor, Class A office tower, formerly known as Enbridge Place, has become a top office location for a new generation of business founders and entrepreneurs who aim to build their business in Edmonton while reaching a global market. The redevelopment, set to be completed in Spring 2020, includes an entire overhaul of the interior and exterior of the ground and second floors. With direct access to the pedway and cycling networks, along

with quick connections to current and planned LRT stations, 10130 103 Street is already an exceptionally connected building in Edmonton; the redevelopment builds on that, providing tenants with even greater access in the downtown core. The exterior improvements include an outdoor patio, façade enhancements, as well as landscaping updates that enhance the building’s interaction with the sidewalk and cycling path. Interior plans create a two-floor lobby experience, which includes a flexible presentation space for over 100 people on the main floor. The majority of the building’s retail spaces are being repurposed to provide tenant meeting spaces and a fitness centre on the pedway level as well as a

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BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

tive, fast-growing, and forward-looking businesses. “We’re very excited to be making 10130 103 Street Jobber’s new headquarters in Edmonton,” said Sam Pillar, CEO and co-founder of Jobber. “As we continue to add hundreds of new people to the Jobber team, it was important that we find a well-connected, centrally located space that can scale with us, and a partner that is eager to be a part of what we’re building here for the long-term. We’re happy to have found just that.” With highly adaptable leasing options, Epic Investment Services intends 10130 103 Street to be a grow-in-one-place opportunity for businesses and startups in Edmonton. As the tech industry continues to grow in the city, 10130 103 Street is an ideal location for ventures looking to start or expand their operations. As leasing continues, Epic is committed to the continued development of a diverse ecosystem of businesses and industries, fostering a platform in the city where information, opportunities, and ideas can cross pollinate. private tenant lounge and food and hospitality services on the ground floor. To date, approximately 50 per cent of the building has been leased and the remainder of the building is available as developed or turnkey space ranging from 1,000 to 125,000 square feet. Key tenants in the project include Aurora Cannabis, Alta ML, and Jobber; the latter being ranked the second fastest-growing software company in Canada by Canadian Business’ Growth 500 list for 2019. These businesses represent the essential promise of the building—that this is a home for innova-

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

About Epic Investment Services Epic Investment Services, which includes its wholly owned subsidiary MDC Realty Advisors in the United States, is a fully integrated North American real estate platform. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada and operating from offices in Canada and the United States, Epic has over $17.5 billion in assets under management. Epic’s portfolio comprises over 35 million square feet of office, retail, industrial, and multi-family residential properties. For more info visit: epicinvestmentservices.com.

2020 Board of Directors

Advancing gender equality is good for business

Board Executive

Chair: Bryan DeNeve Senior Vice President, Finance and CFO, Capital Power Vice Chair: Elan MacDonald Senior Vice President, National Client Development, Global Public Affairs Secretary-Treasurer: Craig Thorkelsson Head of Tax, PCL Constructors Inc. Past Chair: Dawn Harsch President and CEO, ExquisiCare Senior Living and Care at Home Janet M. Riopel President & CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

Board Directors

Haydar Al Dahhan Principal, Electrical/Mechanical Engineer, Design Works Engineering Nathan Carter Vice President, Engineering, ATCO Natural Gas Sandy Jacobson Vice President, Richardson Executive Search Scott McEachern Vice President, Pipeline Control, Enbridge Pipelines Inc. Annemarie Petrov President and CEO, Francis Winspear Centre for Music Dennis R. Schmidt Principal, ALTURA Legal Advisory Jeffrey Sundquist Chief Executive Officer, EDC Environmental Group of Companies Inc. Dr. Jenelle Trenchuk-Saik President and CEO, Parker Ford and MacKay Specialty Opticians

Edmonton Chamber Executive

Scott Channon Director, Marketing and Communications Brent Francis Director, Advocacy and Outreach Christen Rumbles Director, Finance Amin Samji Director, Member Services Kevin Thomas Director, Operations

By Janet M. Riopel, President & CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

ntrepreneurial … bold … audacious. These words capture the spirit and drive of Alberta business owners perfectly. Over the past five years of economic hardship, our businesses have proven themselves to be adaptable, resilient and continually evolving. As our province continues to struggle during this prolonged economic downturn, using innovative strategies and identifying new ways to move forward are more important than ever before. International Women’s Day occurs on March 8th, so now would seem like an ideal time for us to consider how advancing gender equality can help businesses succeed and grow our economy. While the number of women entering business, politics and the skilled trades is greater than ever, women still face far too many barriers as they seek to enter and succeed in a number of fields. These barriers aren’t just holding women back – they’re holding back our economy and preventing us from harnessing Alberta’s full economic potential. The case for more women in business When it comes to the economic benefits of advancing gender equality, the research is compelling. Studies show that high-performing businesses tend to have more women in leadership roles, while companies with high levels of gender and racial diversity produce financial returns above their industry’s national average. In short, companies with higher numbers of women leaders consistently outperform their peers. Sectors that struggle to attract and retain women should take this into consideration, particularly as they grapple with skills shortages and an aging workforce. A 2017 McKinsey report quantifies this potential. It estimates that efforts to advance gender equality and increase women’s economic participation could add $150 billion to Canada’s annual GDP, while completely closing the gender gap could add as much as $420 billion. While the economic benefit is undeniable, driving economic growth is just one of the advantages of a more gender equal society. From our ability to better address labour and talent shortages to the new ideas that come from diverse perspectives, we have much to gain from empowering more women to succeed. Achieving progress will take a collective effort How do we move forward, close the gender gap and seize the opportunities before us? Beyond eliminating gender bias and reducing inequalities in childcare and caregiving, one of the most important ways we can advance gender equality is to advocate for more women in senior leadership roles.

Contact

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce #600 – 9990 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 1P7 T: 780.426.4620 | F: 780.424.7946 edmontonchamber.com

Whether it’s politics, academia or the corporate world, women are largely left out of the most senior positions. This is readily apparent in business, where women Continued on next page... BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

currently make up less than 5% of CEOs at publicly traded Canadian companies. Women in Canada hold only 18.1% of board positions – a figure that drops to 14% in Alberta. And while the ranks of women entrepreneurs continue to grow, only 16% of Canadian businesses – and less than 14% of Alberta businesses – are owned or led by women. Progress has also stalled when it comes to increasing the number of women in highproductivity sectors like science, technology, engineering and the skilled trades. These are specialized, well-paying fields that help grow our economy, and increasing women’s representation would go a long way to reducing the gender wage gap, which persists despite higher levels of education and greater workforce participation by women. Currently, women in Canada earn just 87 cents for every dollar earned by men – a figure that once again drops in Alberta, where it sits at 82 cents.

There is no doubt that advancing gender equality, supporting women in leadership and working to close the gender gap would significantly boost economic outcomes for our province. Alberta is a strong and progressive leader in countless areas – this International Women’s Day, let’s add gender equality to the list.

There is clearly much more work to do, and there are signs that governments are taking steps to make gender equality a priority. The Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy seeks to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025, and the provincial government recently committed to investing in Women Building Futures, which offers pre-apprenticeship training programs for women looking to enter the construction, maintenance and transportation industries. This is encouraging – it sends a strong signal that we recognize that achieving meaningful progress will take a collective effort. The business community has a vitally important role to play, and that’s why the Edmonton Chamber is exploring avenues to support and champion women in business through our advocacy initiatives. As we work towards these goals, we want to hear from you. How can we promote greater diversity in businesses and workplaces across the region? Please contact us at policy@edmontonchamber.com with your ideas on how we can better support women in business.

Members in this Issue Felesky Flynn LLP and Alberta Women Entrepreneurs Association in Good Things Happen When Women Support Women on page 16 Canadian Home Builders’ Association-Edmonton Region and REALTORS Association of Edmonton in Industry Support: Why it Matters for Real Estate on page 26 The Ranch Golf and Country Club and Lewis Estates Golf Course in The Greens, the Venues, the Experiences: Today’s Golf Courses Have Something for Everyone on page 49

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

THANK YOU TO ALL THE GUESTS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO AT TENDED CHAMBER BALL 2020, PRESENTED BY ALCANNA. WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR EVENING AS MUCH AS WE ENJOYED HOSTING YOU.

For 2021 sponsorship opportunities, contact Nicole Ralph at nralph@edmontonchamber.com

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSOR

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BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

Jaffer Group Member Profile Alim Somji, Executive Vice President, Jaffer Group www.jaffergroup.com What’s your story? Jaffer was established in 2005 in Edmonton by my father, Nizar Somji, as a turnkey solutions firm created to reimagine organizations, spaces, and communities. As business innovators, we take a hands-on approach to business and share a zest for entrepreneurial spirit. Most people are familiar with the Jaffer Building on Jasper Avenue, but not the breadth of what we do. The group has grown tremendously with admirable talent in areas including commercial and residential realty, land development, construction, hospitality, property management, strategic consulting, and knowledge management. What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce? Being a member of the Chamber’s Trade and Market Access committee, I have the opportunity to work with talented people and develop skills and knowledge from a macroeconomic level between how relationships between cities, chambers, and provinces work. What is one thing people are surprised to learn about your business? We do more than realty, and we are more than brick and mortar—our vertically integrated business structure provides our clients, investors, and stakeholders with flexible endto-end solutions, strategies, and honest insight into the inner workings of business that crosses borders and is very fluid in nature. Who is your ideal client? Because we are involved in a multitude of sectors, our clients come in all shapes and sizes. We want to see them succeed, whether that is within our business or within our network. We know individuals and businesses – and we strive to connect whomever we meet with the next stage of their business. I love meeting for coffee, and it is usually how I meet

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

many people, clients, and stakeholders in our community. My ideal client is someone who will explain how their business works and allows us to discover ways we can work together. What has been your biggest challenge in business, and how did you overcome it? Everyone is struggling in the current economic climate; our diversification has helped us cope and keeps our business competitive. We find ways to repurpose our assets, rather than create new ones, and holistically approach business creatively in all aspects of our ways of work. What is your favourite thing to do in Edmonton? Running in the River Valley! If you could make one substantial improvement to Edmonton’s business environment, what would it be? Like many cities, we have prioritized our spending and marketing dollars on seeking tech businesses that will create a new industry in Edmonton overnight. While this search is undoubtedly necessary, there must be a better focus in investing and funding ‘iterative’ industries and businesses that can maximize our existing infrastructure in new ways. We have world-class skills and talent in drilling, machining, and industrial environmental management – especially in cold environments – that we’ve gained over the past century. Few other cities, even successful ones, can boast a skill set as unique, and widely applicable, as we have in Edmonton. As the world expands, we must invest in helping our businesses take steps in new, underserved markets. These ‘startups’ have the capacity to drive the city’s growth in permanent and sustainable ways, and we can’t lose sight of that opportunity.

Token Naturals Member Profile Keenan Pascal, Founder & CEO Token Naturals www.preferredclientservices.ca What’s your story? I’m the CEO and one of the co-founders of Token Naturals, an Edmonton-based independent cannabis company focusing on extraction and derivative products. I lead a team that is currently building out a facility in central Edmonton that will create a range of cannabis products for businesses and consumers. Prior to cannabis, I spent eight years in the financial industry. Simultaneously throughout that time, I launched several entrepreneurial endeavors in the real estate and construction space. After completing my MBA, I transitioned out of the financial industry and into the newly created Canadian cannabis industry. What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce? The networking and community building opportunities are great benefits; however, I really enjoy being a part of something that so effectively and purposefully advocates for Edmonton’s business community. The Chamber brings the knowledge and experience of others into Edmonton so that we can apply it locally. I know that Edmonton has been one of the best places to live and also to start a venture – I’m building a company here with the hopes that the rest of Canada sees that too. I cannot say enough positive things about the ways that the Chamber has gone above and beyond to support us in our endeavour to do so. What is one thing people are surprised to learn about your business? That we represent such a wide range of demographics, and that it has benefited our business time and again. In reality, there is no stereotypical cannabis employee in the new market. We have an extremely diverse team and are proud of that. At Token, we have an inclusion policy we look to when hiring. Diversity and inclusion have always been important to me and I’m proud to see that mindset flourish within our start-up environment at Token. Who is your ideal client? Anyone looking to participate in or enjoy the legal cannabis space. We will service both

Keenan Pascal, Founder & CEO, Token Naturals

business and recreational cannabis consumers. On the business side, we work with licensed producers and any business interested in making a legal cannabis-infused product. For consumers, we will soon be offering a line of beverage-based cannabis products. What has been your biggest challenge in business, and how did you overcome it? When we began the company, accessing traditional institutional infrastructure was the biggest challenge as the market had not yet legalized recreational use. We couldn’t open a bank account with the large banking institutions, and we couldn’t access government funding designed to grow small business. However, we knew we needed funding to move us into the next phase. So, we started a complementary, subsidiary business making aromatic cocktail bitters. Token Bitters are now sold across the country and exported to Japan. It provided us with revenue, market experience, and a bank account. It has also been an effective way to build our network! What is your favourite thing to do in Edmonton? Creating events and experiences that bring Edmontonians together and provide them with a chance to connect and learn. I feel it’s very important to provide mentorship (and receive it) and to volunteer to give back. Time and effort spent contributing to the community are never wasted. Because I was so well supported to reach my goals, I’m always focused on building a strong community around me and having a positive effect on the people I interact with. If you could make one substantial improvement to Edmonton’s business environment, what would it be? Over the past few years, Edmonton has been on the right track, but one substantial improvement we need to see in the current environment is a continued focus on innovation, tech and the diversification of industry. I want to see Edmonton be the top city in Canada to attract educated and innovative people from across the world – the city and province need to be mindful of taking steps that bring us closer to that rather than farther away. BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

Memberships that grow your business. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what we do.

As a member of one of the largest chambers in Canada, you have access to a wide range of contacts, resources, policy representation, events, networking opportunities, discounts, and brand exposure that will help grow your business. Call us today at 780.426.4620 and start leveraging your membership.

edmontonchamber.com MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

THE GREENS, THE VENUES, THE EXPERIENCES // GOLF

THE GREENS, THE VENUES, THE EXPERIENCES: TODAY’S GOLF COURSES HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

ike many sports we still enjoy today, golf has a long and storied history. Yes, it’s easy to decry the time when golf was completely inaccessible to women, how it catered to the elite, and how difficult it could be to gain membership – but to focus on that nowadays would be a huge mistake. One of the reasons golf has endured for all these centuries is because it is a sport that is open to change. What was once a sport for the few is now a familyfriendly activity on grounds that not only support the game, but function as community hubs as well. Some courses are taking things a step further, as we will discuss later, and incorporating events like on-site festivals. Today’s courses are focused on families, community, fun, and wellbeing. Jerry Linquist, CPGA, general manager, Lewis Estates Golf Course, points out, “Golf is a great game that people can play for life. It’s a very social game. You can play a round with your guy or gal pals as well as with your significant other. It’s a game that many couples enjoy playing long into their retirement. So many skills and life lessons can be learned on the golf course, including sportsmanship, honesty and integrity. It can also be a very competitive, but fair, game that levels the playing field. With the handicapping system, you have just as much chance to win a game against Tiger as Phil does.” Lewis Estates Golf Course is one of the most famous in the city, and for good reason. It’s a gathering hub in addition to having noteworthy greens. “This course offers our customers a great facility in a beautiful setting,” Linquist explains. “Our patio, with its

views of the golf course, is one of the best in west Edmonton and holds up to 100 people. We have a private meeting room that can seat up to 40 and our clubhouse will host up to 120 people for golf tournaments, charity events, weddings and fundraisers. We’ve held charity casinos, baby showers, weddings and meetings of all kinds in addition to the tournaments we host throughout the year. “We also offer nearby residents a friendly neighbourhood pub-style environment and we feature patio parties in the summer with live music. You don’t need to be a golfer to enjoy a beverage or a meal at the Lewis Estates clubhouse.” When you are ready to hit the course, however, you will enjoy yourself whether you are a novice, a pro, playing solo, or with others. “Our CPGA professional staff offer a variety of lessons for all ages in both group and private lesson formats,” Linquist points out. “We have one of Edmonton’s best men’s and ladies’ nights and our Sr. Men’s day is very popular as well. In the summer months, we host date nights for couples that include golf, dinner and live entertainment. Date nights have been very popular with neighbouring residents.” Think the fun is over when the snow falls? It’s not! “In the winter months we host a popular series of wine and food pairing evenings and our ‘Taste of Poison’ night where we showcase our new menu items in collaboration with our beverage reps who showcase what we have on tap and behind the bar.”

ABOVE: LEWIS ESTATES GOLF COURSE.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

Five Reasons to Join a Private Golf Club

By Scott Hippe, General Manager of The Edmonton Petroleum Golf & Country Club

any golfers often ponder whether they should or can join a private golf club and often believe that it is out of reach and something that is solely for the “wealthy”. I’m here to tell you that is not the case, private golf clubs are often overlooked and should be considered when thinking about where you would like to golf. Here, at the Edmonton Petroleum Golf & Country Club, we believe the benefits below outline why you should consider private club golf. 1) It may make financial sense to join – Although there is often an upfront cost to purchase your membership and pay yearly dues, we find that when we compare to the “pay to play” model of active golfers, that many times by the end of the year one would spend the same amount on public golf as they would on private golf. There are many avenues to explore private golf through an associate or trial membership that showcase the value you would receive as a long-term member. 2) Tee access and playability – A private golf club will consider its golf course the #1 asset of the club and will regularly devote money back into the course to keep playing conditions at the best possible level for their members. Private clubs also focus on member golf and want tee time booking to be as easy as possible. The goal is always to have our members on the golf course enjoying their time and playing as often as they can. Here at the P-Club, we have no lotteries or ballots for tee times, meaning our members can virtually book a tee time whenever they want. 3) Improve social life, networking and sense of belonging – With golf as a common interest for all members there is always that common thread that links members, which encourages the comradery of the club. There are always multiple events and weekly leagues that keep members engaged and provide the opportunity to meet new people. The networking avenues

are endless as you will meet new people that are involved in all aspects of life and business, you are never too far removed to find a lawyer, wealth manager, relator, doctor, etc. 4) Take advantage of what the club has to offer – There are several additional perks that members will take advantage of that provide value to membership. The clubhouse and culinary team are here for your every need with daily restaurant offerings, special events, wine dinners, wine clubs, banquet space, meeting space, etc. It’s the perfect place to host all your corporate events or family functions. Outside of the golf course, the practice facilities are top-notch with golf professionals always on hand to help you improve your game. There is always a lesson to be found for all levels of golf. 5) Reciprocals – Private golf clubs make connections with many other private golf courses across the country to enhance the value of belonging. When members are travelling across the country a private golf club will often be able to find you a golf game at another private golf club. A huge value-added perk for those that want to take advantage of playing some other premium golf courses in the country while they travel for business or pleasure. At The P-Club, we put tremendous focus, time, and energy on meeting our value proposition for our members. It is important that our members feel as though they are a part of a family and that we meet not only their golf needs but develop an all-encompassing experience. I would highly recommend that anyone who is a golfer and loves the game to consider the private golf world and The P-Club. There are several ways to join or test-drive our club before deciding to stay long term. You will be pleasantly surprised at the value we have to offer and just how in reach it is. Visit our website for more information on our club, epgcc.ab.ca.

51320 Range Road 260, T7Y 1B1 Spruce Grove, AB | Clubhouse: (780) 470-0700 | www.epgcc.ab.ca

Individual & Corporate

Memberships

2020 Membership Opportunities - Restricted and Non-Restricted Associate options

Best Value in Alberta! www.RedTailLanding.com

- Sponsored Intermediate Categories for ages (19-35) - Share Purchase Promotion

Visit epgcc.ab.ca for more information

Glendale Golf & Country Club Edmontonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premier Family Club

Join our free loyalty membership and generate points while you play! Earning points is easy!

We offer different ways to earn points through our program. Below are just a few of the ways.

Shareholder and Associate Memberships available Contact Greg McGarry (General Manager) at gmcgarry@theglendale.com for more information

www.theglendale.com

Rounds of golf Food and Beverage purchases Merchandise Tournaments and more! Every user gets a unique QR code that our staff can quickly scan with our custom software, making it easy to earn points while you play.

Book your tournament or tee time today! Call (780) 470-4700 or visit www.theranchgolf.com BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2020

THE GREENS, THE VENUES, THE EXPERIENCES // GOLF

& 5 course that weaves around water features, and horseback riding for all skill levels. Owners Chris and Liz Poburan are passionate about helping families enjoy the great outdoors in Alberta’s beautiful Parkland County, while having no shortage of options to be active together while having fun. “We are very family orientated with RV overnight options as well as horse activities, beautiful patios, and our Class A licensed Putters Lounge and Grill. At our location children are always welcome and parent-child participation encouraged. Our golf course is beginner friendly, but also a great place for seasoned golfers to hone their skills.” Night golf events are also available on the three-hole course. Murray McCourt, general manager and executive golf professional at The Ranch Golf and Country Club agrees that, “Golf is a great game for people of all ages as it is a fun and social way to keep active.” He further notes, “Hanging out and socializing with friends and family enjoying four hours together walking around a beautiful golf course and playing a fun and relaxing sport is a wonderful thing to do. Golf is also a sport that you can play from a very young age and continue for your entire lifetime. Such a wonderful way to help keep your body and mind active!” “The Ranch,” he points out, “is highly regarded as one of the best public golf courses in the province. We offer unmatched value and are known to be a fun, laid back and accommodating golf course.” It’s also one of Edmonton’s most in-demand locations for companies hosting golf tournaments and other events. McCourt explains, “We have two different banquet rooms. Our largest room easily accommodates 160 guests, and we are one of the busiest corporate tournament courses in the province, hosting over 150 events each year.” Sitting just outside of the city in the countryside of Spruce Grove is a completely different type of golf experience. At Putting Horse Ranch, you can enjoy overnight RV camping so you can stay close to the fun. There is an 18-hole undulating putting-only course (Par 70) a three-hole Par 3, 4

Liz Poburan points out that the putting and three-hole courses are both great option for fundraising and team building, especially when the team has golfers that are new to the game. “The food is awesome too,” she smiles, then adds, “Golf allows people to see and hear each other having a great time under the beautiful sky in a natural setting, playing a fun yet challenging game.” An elegant, rustic venue on site is where brides get their dream barn wedding, and it’s also where corporations book events, families host reunions, and other events take place. Limited, but delicious, catering is provided upon request. Putting Horse Ranch also features an on-site children’s festival called KidzStock. This year’s KidzStock takes place on June 20 and includes free admission, cash food concessions, rubber duck races, a pie eating contest, live entertainment, discounts on horseback rides, mini-golf to introduce children to the fun of the game, and much more. During KidzStock the putting course will be open for BOGO golf, with BOGO continuing on Sunday for Fathers’ Day. Today anyone can play golf and enjoy the many other features, food and amenities modern courses have to offer. With Alberta’s short summer season, hitting the golf course is one of the best ways to maximize active, outdoor, social fun. To learn more about the courses mentioned above, please visit lewisestatesgolf.com, www.theranchgolf.com and puttinghorseranch.com.

ABOVE: HORSE RIDES AT PUTTING HORSE RANCH. CHILDREN ENJOYING KIDZSTOCK.

MARCH 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

Photo by Rebecca Lippiatt.

Celebrates 30 Years Growth while maintaining trust, relationships and original roots and values By Nerissa McNaughton PEMCO CONSTRUCTION LTD. â&#x20AC;¢ CELEBRATING 30 YEARS 53

emco Construction Ltd. is a family owned general contractor/project manager servicing the Edmonton region. Pemco specializes in commercial construction, high-end tenant improvements, small to mid-size building projects, and exterior and interior renovations. The company has earned an outstanding reputation for producing high quality work on time, on budget and for creating long-lasting relationships with clients. Pemco was founded by Josef Lapes and Milan Fischgrund on February 1, 1990, with a small cash investment and a $200,000 line of credit from ATB Financial. With Milan’s experience in marketing and estimating and Josef’s experience in supervision and project management, they developed a great working relationship which bloomed into mutual respect and friendship. Josef’s ability to manage people along with his hard work and extreme attention to detail were key in starting to build a line of dedicated clients. As the business partners had both immigrated from (former) Czechoslovakia, they were able to help new workers coming from Europe, which helped them develop the company while simultaneously helping immigrants get a fresh start in Canada. In 2010 Josef purchased Milan’s shares. Milan carried on as a consultant to the company and a mentor for Kevin and Jeffrey, Josef’s sons, who were completing their post secondary education and learning the family business.

Milan and Josef, founders of Pemco.

Josef unexpectedly passed on January 2, 2015. As Pemco celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, it is clear that the foundation of the company built by the partners and continued by Josef is a solid one. As per the succession plan Kevin, general manager, and Jeffrey, estimating and project manager, became joint owners, and the company continued to thrive. “Construction is constant problem solving, but everyone knows Pemco can get the job done and that we stand behind the name and our quality,” says Kevin.

CONGRATULATIONS PEMCO CONSTRUCTION on 30 years in business

PEMCO CONSTRUCTION LTD. • CELEBRATING 30 YEARS • 2

The Growlery Beer Company.

“We never take any job for granted,” adds Jeffrey. The brothers are extremely grateful to the Pemco team, Milan’s mentorship, and continued customer loyalty following their position change to ownership in 2015. “The company has grown from the five that Josef and Milan started with to 25 people today, including site and administration,” Kevin says, “and we value the relationships we have with our many subcontractors in the industry.” Jeffrey points out, “We also value each job equally, from the projects that are small service work jobs, to the large and long-term projects with milliondollar budgets.” Safety is an important value for Pemco. In addition to achieving COR certification, Pemco enjoys WCB discount rates due to outstanding performance and is on the green (approved) list with EPCOR. Safety meetings are consistent every two months and include all of the staff so ideas from each division can be heard.

SirKit.

As Kevin and Jeffrey have now completed their first five years as owners, they reflect on the journey so far.

PEMCO CONSTRUCTION LTD. • CELEBRATING 30 YEARS • 3

“We needed knowledge, tenacity and courage to earn respect and take over after dad passed,” say the brothers. “We were not scared to ask questions and to use the expertise of the people around us to gain knowledge. We still value deep learning,

10916 119 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5H 3P4 Phone: (780) 469-6969

Congratulations to the PEMCO team on your 30th anniversary! We wish you many more years of continued success!

CONGRATULATIONS PEMCO Construction on 30 years!

BOB BAILLIE President Telephone: (780) 267-1357 E-mail. Bob.RandB@shaw.ca

CPA Western School of Business.

networking, growing, and above all, working very, very hard. The proof is in how clients from 1990 are still with us and the continued growth of the business. We are pleased that despite a slump in the economy, our construction division grew by 40 per cent.” Just one of the many success stories from Pemco includes that of a former client that called because 24 years ago, Josef and Milan had built her office. After learning of the change in ownership, she didn’t hesitate to employ Kevin and Jeffrey to complete her office’s relocation. She didn’t even look for another construction firm. During the project she gifted the brothers a building manual their father had given her more than two decades ago.

Our sincerest congratulations on your 30th anniversary! Office: Suite 1300-10020 101A Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 3G2 780 439 7171 | prowsechowne.com

Another example is seen in the relationship with CPA Western School of Business. Originally Pemco was awarded a project for CPA’s space on the south side. Ten years later the school called and asked them to bid (Pemco won) on another project. The school’s management had remembered, and had been impressed by, the company for a decade.

PEMCO CONSTRUCTION LTD. • CELEBRATING 30 YEARS • 4

Centre High students who have shown interest in carpentry and the trades. While being thanked by an ever-growing client list and being rehired by the clients that first worked with Josef and Milan is all the recognition Kevin and Jeffrey desire, they were thrilled, on behalf of the Pemco team, to be a runner up in their

Brosseau & Associates Law.

CONGRATULATIONS

PEMCO CONSTRUCTION LTD. The roots and reputation of Pemco run deep. “Every project has a story,” smiles Kevin. “Let us write yours.” The stories Pemco is telling through building and design are diverse and creative. From innovating ways to connect units in a microbrewery amidst challenges with international schematics to enhancing the customer experience at well-known places like ATB Financial and Wine and Beyond, from working with detailed plans to executing on a vision that is scrawled on a napkin, Pemco has done it all. It’s not just the buildings in and around Edmonton that receive Pemco’s signature touch. The company builds relationships in the community too. Recently Kevin and Jeffrey started a scholarship in their father’s name at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (NAIT) carpentry program. Pemco also supports various charitable organizations across the city with donations of time, money, mentorship, and expertise. Kevin and Jeffrey have also enjoyed sharing their knowledge and experience over the last five years with young

On 30 Years of Service in Alberta Pursuing “Excellence Always In All Ways”

We greatly appreciated the professionalism and competency of your staff and your trades when you did our office renovations in First Edmonton Place.

We wish you continued success.

Brosseau & Associates Law Office

PEMCO CONSTRUCTION LTD. • CELEBRATING 30 YEARS • 5

Congratulations on 30 years of success!

Algar Petryk, Chartered Professional Accountants

Suite 202, 16814 114 Avenue, Edmonton, AB Phone: 780-489-8388 • www.algarpetryk.com

The Local Cannabist. Photo by Ryan McCourt of Common Sense Gallery

Congratulations PEMCO Construction on your 30th Anniversary! Proud to be your partner in health & safety.

1 (844) OHS-SERV www.verussafety.ca 202, 17308-108 Ave, Edmonton, AB

CONGRATULATIONS

PEMCO Construction on your 30th Anniversary!

arda@acius.ca | Phone: (780) 451-4951 www.acius-engineering.com

category for Venture’s Contractor of the Year Award (2015). “We couldn’t do it without our team or each other,” the brothers are happy to admit. “For Pemco’s past, present and future we thank our dedicated staff and we value our many subcontractors, architects, designers, finance partners, consultants, and clients. We are especially grateful for the support of our families and for Milan’s mentorship.” They plan for steady, controlled, healthy growth. They are also excited about new contracts with clients such as Qualico and Tim Hortons. For Kevin, Jeffrey, and the Pemco team, who have all dealt with many changes personally and professionally over 30 years, the future is just as exciting as the past. Learn more about Pemco by visiting pemcoconstruction.com online.

A tip of the hard hat to

50 Airport Road NW Edmonton, AB T5G 0W7 P: 780-414-5410 • F: 780-414-5418 pemcoconstruction.com PEMCO CONSTRUCTION LTD. • CELEBRATING 30 YEARS • 6

Photo by Rebecca Lippiatt

IMARK Architectural Metals Celebrates 25 Years More Than a Cladding Company By Nerissa McNaughton

MARK is a leader in Western Canada for commercial cladding and metal fabrication projects. IMARK offers a diverse range of services that includes budgeting, estimating, drafting and design, installation, supply, and project management. You’ve seen IMARK’s signature work in commercial spaces such as Edmonton’s Home2 Suites by Hilton and Simons in Londonderry Mall. IMARK is also known for creating decorative art like the 12.5 foot, 850 pound Stanley Cup replica in front of United Cycle. Founders Ted Sims and Barry Clark launched IMARK on January 5, 1995.

“We saw an opportunity to provide an enhanced service level and to become a much-needed new player in the marketplace,” Sims and Clark explain. “We knew the industry could be serviced better than it currently was. At that time there were just two or three major players, and several subcontractors.” The first location opened with three employees, including Sims and Clark.

“That first employee is still with IMARK 25 years later!” the duo smile. Their first location was a 2,000 square foot shop and a 500 square foot office where Sims and Clark invested in a 10’ Reduce your freight costs, shorten your transit times, and avoid customs delays with our team of professionals. Call us today and start saving money.

Congratulations on a Quarter Century of Business!!

Tel. (604) 941-9400 | Fax. (877) 387-7735 | cs@transporterslogistics.ca

IMARK Architectural Metals Celebrates 25 Years | 1 59

hand brake and a slitter. The first major project was a red metal roofed school in Maskwacis. IMARK completed this project with a general contractor. This initial start quickly led to more local metal roof and cladding jobs. That changed in 2000. “We started a supply-only flashing business where we made brakeshapes for outside customers. It was also the year that our continued growth meant moving to a larger location.” Alberta Teachers Association Centenial Sculpture

The second location included a 5,000 square foot shop and a 1,000 square foot office for the now 15 employees, the office team and the field crews. They continue, “We purchased a 150 ton press brake and a folding beam brake, which provided a giant leap in productivity and capabilities. During the 2000s we also entered the decking and welding businesses, along with diversifying to include a side business of selling aluminum ATV trailers.” IMARK continued to make a name for itself and to grow rapidly. Just five years later, in 2005, another expansion was necessary. This time Sims and Clark didn’t need to lease space. They were ideally positioned to buy their first building. It was a 12,000 square foot facility that accommodated 25 employees and the purchase of a CNC punch. The new shop also accommodated another IMARK spin off business, which was building ACM panels.

UofA Student Innovation Centre

Despite fluctuations in Alberta’s economy, IMARK’s expertise, outstanding workmanship on projects, and customer service saw the brand continue to grow and expand. In 2010 a move was made to a 30,000 square foot facility and an automated CNC laser was purchased. “We also completed the exterior podium cladding renovation of the First & Jasper building, which is now home to

St. Albert Centre Redevelopment

CONGRATULATIONS IMARK!

We’ve enjoyed doing business with you and wish you all the success in the future with our systems and your professional staff.

NON-COMBUSTIBLE

www.carterpanels.com IMARK Architectural Metals Celebrates 25 Years | 2

Simons Londonderry Mall

State & Main restaurant and Williams Engineering,” Clark and Sims add.

one of our greatest assets, is our ability through experience and technology to turn an idea into reality.”

In 2015 the miscellaneous metals division was created, 2016 saw a rebrand to IMARK Architectural Metals, and 2017 was when the Ocular and Motif product lines were launched and the welding facilities expanded by 6,000 square feet. The Alberta Teachers Centennial Sculpture at the Legislature Grounds was fabricated for a client in 2018.

Twenty-five years after its launch, IMARK is proud to create and supply innovative products and services such as Ocular perforated imaging, Motif decorative screens and Alura Panel prefinished woodgrain metal siding.

Through the rapid growth, diversification, and creation of landmark projects, Clark and Sims never lost sight of their original values and goals. “IMARK remains a local company,” they say with pride. “We formed from humble beginnings and our success can be attributed to hard work and from the contributions of IMARK’s dedicated and skilled employees, our outstanding customer service, problem solving skills, fast turnaround times, and industry knowledge. Our greatest challenge, which is also

Sims and Clark note, “Now, more than ever, there are so many different options for cladding materials and systems – from aluminum composite panel to woodgrain metal, phenolic, terracotta, insulated metal panels and more. It really is an exciting time to be in the cladding business. It is important to seek out experts with years of experience that understand the products for various applications and Alberta’s climate. IMARK is a proven partner to contractors and architects thanks to our deep industry expertise, strong supplier networks, customer service and utilization of the latest in technology (such as 3D modeling, which allows us to execute at a high level of quality and service).”

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT AND BUSINESS INSURANCE

Congrats on 25 years Imark!

It has been our pleasure to work with your organization over the years and we look forward to many more!

5202 47 St Leduc, AB | P: 780-986-7412 | F: 7809869694 | financialservicesgroup.net

IMARK Architectural Metals Celebrates 25 Years | 3

Cambridge Tunnel LRT Rehabilitation (nominated for 2019 City of Edmonton Urban Design Award)

Ted Sims and Barry Clark. Photo by Rebecca Lippiatt.

IMARK is hosting an open house for suppliers and customers in March. Email events@imarkmetal.com to learn more. IMARK is also active on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook and is found online at imarkmetal.com.

The founders wish to thank their hardworking staff, clients, vendors, and families for their support over 25 years. “At times, design-forward thinking can come with challenges; however, we know the city and its inhabitants will continue to demand unique and interesting designs from the architecture and construction community,” they conclude. “We look forward to working on these projects in Edmonton, and beyond.”

14440-123 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta Phone: 780-448-8997 | imarkmetal.com

CONGRATULATIONS IMARK ON 25 YEARS! We are proud to be a partner in your success.

www.exteriortechnologiesgroup.com IMARK Architectural Metals Celebrates 25 Years | 4

Cars for life.

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TOGETHER WE BUILD SUCCESS.

Our Renewable Energy construction professionals provide you with quality energy solutions designed to power the future. PCL is committed to acting in a socially responsible and environmentally respectful manner by using sustainable business practices.

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