Business in Edmonton - March 2021 by Business in Edmonton Magazine

MARCH 2021 | $3.50 BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

LOCAL WASTE CHANGES AND CHALLENGES THE INDUSTRY

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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 9 | Number 3

REGULAR COLUMNS

Supporting our Entrepreneurs – Why it Matters More than Ever By John Liston

Fed’s Industrial Strategy Council Shows How it’s Done By David MacLean

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

CONTENTS COVER FEATURE

Shift Happens: Local Waste changes and challenges the industry By Nerissa McNaughton

ON OUR COVER: ABOVE: CHRIS LABOSSIERE, FOUNDER AND CEO, LOCAL WASTE. PHOTO SOURCE: EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY INC.

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MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

THANK YOU WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY IN-PERSON THIS YEAR BUT WE WOULD STILL LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE PLAYERS, SPONSORS AND VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR ON-GOING SUPPORT OF THE ALZHEIMER’S FACE OFF PRO-AM HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 9 | Number 3

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CONTENTS THIS MONTH’S FEATURES

COMPANY PROFILES

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R edwood Plastics Corporation Celebrates 50 Years

Aquarian Renovations Celebrates 30 Years

Strong, Successful and Powerful Women Leading Across all Industries By Nerissa McNaughton

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Safe and Sound Keeping Events Secure in a Digital World By Nerissa McNaughton

B OMA Edmonton News Spring 2021

A Safe Outdoor Pandemic Activity for You and Your Family By Will Porter

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MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

FLY: WHERE YOU WANT, WHEN YOU WANT, WITH EASE. Now is the time to become an aircraft partner in a six-seat/four passenger turboprop based in Edmonton.

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Business in Edmonton Inc.

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Nerissa McNaughton

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REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS David MacLean John Liston

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Nerissa McNaughton Will Porter

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SUPPORTING OUR ENTREPRENEURS – WHY IT MATTERS MORE THAN EVER // JOHN LISTON

Supporting our Entrepreneurs – Why it Matters More than Ever BY JOHN LISTON, PRESIDENT, ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP

lberta’s entrepreneurs have been sponsoring local events, charities and associations for generations. As we work through 2021, we must remember to help them out where we can.

As a result, business owners across Alberta are struggling to scrape together any cash they can to keep as many of their employees as possible while lockdown measures benefit bigbox stores and online juggernauts like Amazon.

As we approach the first anniversary of the arrival of COVID-19 into Alberta on March 5, the changes it has wrought on us are still visible. Edmonton’s Whyte Ave, typically busy regardless of the season, lies bare. The restaurants that have re-opened are still at a limited capacity. Doan’s Vietnamese is gone, as is the Army & Navy. Lillo’s Music and the Avenue Clothing both shut down after 32 and 56 years respectively on the iconic avenue. Countless franchises owned by local entrepreneurs are closed or gone. They are not alone. Something similar could be written about most cities and towns in our province.

All of this paints a very bleak picture; but, from the challenges before us, opportunity to strengthen our community abounds. Support local, whether that be in your groceries, clothes, or anything else.

At the start of 2021 Main Street in Edmonton is hurting. Obviously, businesses understand why some restrictions had to be done. As Edmontonians we came together, and to really get out of this we must do so again. The vast majority of businesses who have survived this far have seen massive reductions in revenue and may have had to make the difficult decision to let go of staff, cancel planned expansion, or expose themselves to further risk by changing and restructuring their business. These are not changes most entrepreneurs want to make. Every business owner in the province is doing all they can to prevent it. Hiring an employee is a point of pride and having to let them go knowing the uncertainty that it creates for that individual is heartbreaking. Amazingly, the business owners we talk to may be hurting, but they first talk about their people and the concern for their financial and mental wellbeing.

Local business owners have had a rough year, and there is still a lot of tunnel before we reach the light at the end. Help them in their quest to retain workers and support their communities by supporting their business over the Waltons and Bezos’ of the world. In 2016, Whitbie’s Fish and Chips in Lethbridge had its back against the wall with the owner about to sell the shop when a hungover customer came in for some fries and halibut. As a result of that customer’s review, the line up out of the door to get some of owner Ernie McMillan’s halibut took well over an hour for multiple weeks. He quickly ramped up staffing, and nearly five years later Whitbie’s is still a popular spot in Lethbridge. Local franchises are very similar. Because of our entrepreneurs, restaurants like Boston Pizzas or Jugo Juice have become staples in our province for years. These local business leaders are hurting too. As Albertans and Edmontonians, we can change that. Buying local, supporting local, and promoting local is something every one of us has the capacity to do, and when life returns to normal, Alberta’s business owners will be happy to resume supporting their communities.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

FED’S INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY COUNCIL SHOWS HOW IT’S DONE // DAVID MACLEAN

Fed’s Industrial Strategy Council Shows How it’s Done BY DAVID MACLEAN

ust three days after the Alberta government announced new lockdown measures on December 8 in attempt to hold back a fresh wave of COVID-19 cases, the Trudeau government’s Industrial Strategy Council released its report. You are forgiven if you missed it. The Industrial Strategy Council, chaired by respected Quebec business leader Monique Leroux and comprised of folks like Suncor CEO Mark Little and CME’s Past Chair Rhonda Barnet, was tasked with shaping our country’s economic competitiveness amidst new pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic. Government-appointed committee reports aren’t sexy in the best of times and, dropped in the middle of December during some of the worst days of the pandemic, this report didn’t get the proper attention and discussion it deserved. The report recommends a reimagining of Canadian industrial sectors, beginning with reviewing and streamlining of business support and investment attraction programs – scrapping the ineffective ones and beefing up the ones that work. It calls for the creation of a made-in-Canada industrial strategy to emerge from the pandemic disruption with strength. The Council warns that “[a]round the world, many countries, including France, Germany, and South Korea, as well as the European Union are preparing largescale strategies for how they will thrive in a new world. Canada cannot lag and tackle this unprecedented crisis with conventional approaches.”

1: Become a digital and data-driven economy 2: Be the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) world leader in resources, clean energy, and clean technology 3: Build innovative and high-value manufacturing where we can lead globally 4: Leverage our agri-food advantage to feed the planet The Council figures that, if Canada adopts their vision, we could add $235-$310 billion to our GDP in 2030. Now, it’s tempting to dismiss these numbers as just more rosy projections from another government committee, but if you take the time to read the report, there’s some serious meat on the bones. Perhaps most importantly, it acknowledges that advanced manufacturing and investment in technology are critical to our economic wellbeing. This brings me back to a point I’ve made in these pages several times over – our provincial government needs to create its own industrial strategy. A made-in-Alberta industrial strategy would look at our economy, not just as oil and gas or value-added agriculture, but as a complex system with countless moving parts – a system that will be driven by investment in technology and people. Our neighbours in Saskatchewan have a growth plan that considers these things. Alberta should, too. The alternative is letting the federal government do the planning for us. Yeah, didn’t think you’d like that.

The report calls for the strategy to be built on four exceptionally sensible pillars: 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 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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A CHALLENGE IS AN OPPORTUNITY IN DISGUISE: BLUESOURCE METHANE HELPS TAKE ALBERTA IN A NEW DIRECTION

luesource Methane is changing how Alberta’s energy companies handle emissions, while creating incredible opportunities and showcasing the province’s resources on the international stage. Since 2001, Bluesource has been a pioneer in the field of defraying climate risk by curating sustainability strategies for industries, corporations, non-profits, and governments. Bluesource Methane, a division of Bluesource, is headquartered in Calgary. “We are one of the largest developers of greenhouse gas emission projects in Canada,” explains Yvan Champagne, president of Bluesource Methane. “We develop opportunities for large scale reductions in various sectors and help those projects move forward. Our expertise is quantifying those emission reductions and marketing and selling them.” Champagne admits that the concept of Bluesource Methane can be difficult to understand. He explains further about how the company came about, and the solutions it creates. “Before 2015, there were few barriers to getting capital and approval for energy projects in Alberta. Then, with the downturn in pricing, we saw that even good projects were not getting funded because of balance sheet and oil and gas pressures. Around the same time, Canada, the United States, and Mexico took on an aggressive methane reduction targets in the oil and gas sector. With this target came new emissions regulations in Alberta from the federal government. In some cases, those emission reductions can be turned into carbon credits. Clients were having trouble getting funded and had regulatory obligations requiring them to significantly reduce emissions. Bluesource saw an opportunity. We knew we could apply carbon finance to tackle the problem.” Bluesource Methane was created in 2017. The company identifies emission reduction opportunities, procures new equipment, and manages all the logistics required in replacing and installing the upgrades. Bluesource Methane then quantifies the reduction in emissions and once it receives payback for the capital invested, shares the proceeds among

its partners. This carbon finance approach, takes on the capital investment risk, helps oil and gas companies meet or exceed regulations, and provides a potential new revenue stream. Champagne continues, “It’s time and labour intensive to replace and install equipment, so we leveraged existing companies to do this. Over the last three and a half years we have worked with nine electrical and instrumentation (E&I) companies across the province and provided employment for 120 people during these economically challenging times.” In the short time that Bluesource Methane has been active, it has removed, replaced and retrofitted 11,000 devices for more than 35 companies across Alberta; this will reduce emissions in the province by close to three million tonnes by 2022 – the equivalent of removing emissions from 80 per cent of all the cars in the City of Edmonton for a year. “We took an innovative approach, taking on all the risk by using carbon financing to solve the problems in emissions in a fast and profitable way,” says Champagne. “We are very excited by the results so far. The provincial government is impressed by what we have achieved. It’s a win for us, for industry, and the environment.” ABOVE: YVAN CHAMPAGNE, PRESIDENT, BLUESOURCE.

But it’s a complicated strategy, which meant many lenders shied away from funding the model – but not ATB. “Without carbon credits it is a losing money proposition; and carbon markets are esoteric,” admits Champagne. “Lenders thought our idea was too risky, too unknown, and didn’t fit with established business models. However, ATB ultimately understood the strategic importance of what we were trying to achieve. If we were successful, it would have significant benefits for their clients and also for Alberta. That goes to ATB’s mandate of thinking of not just financing entrepreneurs and businesses in Alberta, but what is important to Alberta.” Champagne continues, “ATB is a critical, and fantastic partner. We wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without them. They were willing to take a chance on carbon financing and it has worked out exceptionally well for all involved.” Bluesource Methane is determined to continue providing solutions to industry and furthering the benefits of carbon finance. “Alberta has a great story to tell, but we have to find room to elevate the conversation,” Champagne concludes. “It’s been tough with the cancelation of Keystone; the province has some challenges ahead. We have some of the most innovative oil and gas companies in the world that are always thinking of lowering emissions. This is an industrywide strategic objective. If we can show how Alberta is a reliable, low carbon source of fossil fuel, we’ll be better able to compete for the long-term.” With its innovative programs and financing partners like ATB, Bluesource Methane is on the way to showcasing Alberta’s strengths on the world stage.

ATB is pleased to present a 2021 profile series on the businesses and people who are facing challenges head-on to build a strong Alberta. ABOVE: BLUESOURCE STAFF ON A VERIFICATION SITE VISIT. BELOW: BLUESOURCE PARTNER FROM CMC CONTROLS INSTALLING EQUIPMENT AT CLIENT SITE.

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BDC Participating in the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, recently announced the launch of the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program, or HASCAP. As first outlined in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, HASCAP will provide financial support to businesses that have been hardest hit by the pandemic. Businesses across Canada continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 crisis. Whether they are operating at limited capacity, switching to online-only services or suspending their operations entirely, many businesses have been strongly affected. Just as these businesses have stepped

up for the health and safety of their communities, the government is once again stepping up for them. Through HASCAP, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) will work with participating Canadian financial institutions to offer government-guaranteed, lowinterest loans of up to $1 million. Hard-hit businesses, like a chain of hotels or restaurants with multiple locations under one related entity, could be eligible for up to $6.25 million. HASCAP will help businesses with their day-to-day operating costs during the COVID-19 crisis and enable them to invest in their longer-term prosperity.

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HASCAP is available to businesses across the country, in all sectors, that have been hit hard by the pandemic. This includes restaurants, businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors, and those that rely on in-person service. To be eligible for HASCAP, businesses need to show a year-over-year revenue decline of at least 50 per cent in three months, within the eight months prior to their application. They must also be able to show their financial institutions that they have previously applied for either the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy or the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy. “Since day one of the COVID-19 crisis, our government has been there to support Canada’s businesses and the millions of Canadians they employ. We know that even the most resilient businesses continue to face incredible challenges. We are launching the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program to help those businesses hit hardest by the pandemic with low-interest, governmentbacked loans. By investing in Canada’s businesses, as well as workers and their families, we are investing in our shared recovery and a better future for all,” said The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. “The pandemic has affected employers across sectors and had a tremendous impact on the jobs and lives of Canadians and Canadians families. Our COVID-19 support programs have worked to protect millions of jobs, but we know that the second wave of this virus continues to weigh on many workers and businesses. HASCAP gives those in highly affected sectors—like tourism, hospitality, arts and culture—new support so they can weather this storm and be ready for a robust recovery that will create jobs and strengthen the middle class,” said The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

PHOTO SOURCE: BDC

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

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PCL Named as a Top Employer in Alberta, and a Top Employer for Young People

PCL Construction is pleased to announce it has made the cut, once again, in being named one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 2021. This special designation recognizes Alberta employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. PCL has won this award 14 times since the competition began in 2006, this year for the 10th consecutive time. “With Alberta home to our North American Headquarters and major districts in Edmonton and Calgary, we pride ourselves on being a provincial employer that truly cares for its people,” says Mike Olsson, vice president of human resources and professional development. “PCL offers a multitude of opportunities to those wanting to build a career here in Alberta. Joining our team of employee owners offers an exciting place to showcase your talents and grow in your career, even in challenging times.” Selection is based on eight criteria: physical workspace; work atmosphere and social, health, financial, and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training skills and development; and community involvement. Alberta’s Top Employers is organized by the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project, a national competition to determine the employers with the best workplaces, which PCL is also included in. To find out more about why PCL was selected this year, visit https://www.canadastop100.com/alberta. PCL Construction is also pleased to announce that, for the second year in a row, it has been named one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People. The company notes, “Exciting construction projects and significant professional development and mentoring opportunities make PCL a great choice for younger employees.”

THE COMPANY NOTES, “EXCITING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND SIGNIFICANT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES MAKE PCL A GREAT CHOICE FOR YOUNGER EMPLOYEES.” This special designation recognizes the employers that offer the nation’s best workplaces and programs for young people starting their careers.

ABOVE: MIKE OLSSON, VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PCL. PHOTO SOURCE: PCL

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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“Beginning your career after finishing school, or starting with a new company, is an exciting time for our younger generation of workers,” says Mike Olsson, vice president of human resources and professional development. “At PCL, we make it a priority to have an exceptional student program, one that provides close to 600 placements per year throughout our company. This pipeline connects us with the next generation of talent, and each year more than 90 students become full-time PCL employees. Our younger employees have amazing opportunities to learn and grow and become integral team members very quickly. From there, the sky’s the limit.” Canada’s Top Employers for Young People is a competition organized by the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project, a national competition to determine which employers lead their industries in offering the best workplaces for their employees. PCL was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers in late 2020 for the 11th year in a row. To find out more about PCL’s selection, please visit www.canadastop100.com/ young_people.

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www.chsbenefitsconsulting.com BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

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SHIFT HAPPEN LOCAL WASTE CHANGES AND CHALLENGES THE INDUSTRY BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

ocal Waste provides waste and recycling services for businesses, dry waste collection for construction/demolition companies, municipal waste collection for residences, and landfill solutions for the oilfield and industrial sectors – but this is not just another waste management company. Founder and CEO Chris LaBossiere has leveraged 17 years of experience with national public companies and has completely transformed the model to provide a new, innovative, service. Or, as Local Waste likes to sum it up, #shifthappens. The shift started in 2016 when LaBossiere acquired Black Cat Disposal. “Black Cat, owned by Chris and Kim Gadbois, was a small startup looking for a financial and operational partner that understood the industry,” explains LaBossiere. “It all really started with them and they remain minor shareholders. With the controlling share, I rebranded the business to fit my larger vision of how waste services can operate on a local level.” LaBossiere knows the business inside out. He started in his youth, collecting blue boxes in 1989, and moved through every facet of the industry until he was running multi-million dollar regional projects while overseeing hundreds of employees. Still, he felt something was missing. There was no community connection.

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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ABOVE: CHRIS LABOSSIERE, FOUNDER AND CEO, LOCAL WASTE PHOTO SOURCE: EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY INC.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

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“Waste and recycling are very local services; you need to connect with people,” he says. “Think of it this way – when is the last time you personally met the representative of any multinational organization? What happens if you have an issue as a customer? You are sent to a call centre and sometimes it’s not even based in Canada. Local Waste is dramatically different in that we focus on local as a business and as a community partner. One of our core values is real relationships. We get to know our customers. When we have a collection at a business or restaurant and can also say, ‘we eat or shop here,’ it makes a very big difference. It’s personal.” However, that doesn’t mean the larger scale processes don’t translate to local service. “Do not confuse the word local with a lack of sophistication,” he says very firmly. “Multinationals are extraordinary at processes, safety, maintenance, procurement – things that lend towards improving margins through scale. Local Waste has the same safety processes, maintenance practices, technology, procurement procedures and equipment as the bigger guys. We can be just as sophisticated as them, but on

a local scale and with operational principles and values that benefit the community on a highly personalized level. We are named Local Waste for a strategic reason, so people can differentiate between our model of service.” As predicted by LaBossiere, the Local Waste model had a massive impact. Shortly after opening in Edmonton, they laid the groundwork for expansion into Saskatchewan and have since opened a facility in Regina. The six employees have grown to nearly 30 and the company has secured large, long-term contracts as it continues to grow. “An early milestone for our business was when we were trusted to be the LEED construction recycling provider for the City of Edmonton’s library renovation,” says LaBossiere. “Although we were just getting started at the time, Clark Builders and City of Edmonton selected Local Waste. It felt good to be a tiny company getting a contract way up and above our weight class at the time. We were so successful in helping them achieve waste reduction targets, we were selected for the disposal and recycling contract at the U of A dentistry and pharmacy building project as the exclusive waste contractor, a $295M construction project.” ABOVE: LOCAL WASTE IS PLEASED TO PARTNER WITH WEST EDMONTON MALL FOR A SERVICE CONTRACT AND AN IMPORTANT GIVING-BACK INITIATIVE.

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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SHIFT HAPPENS // COVER

One recent contract that both demonstrates Local Waste’s philosophy and community commitment is with West Edmonton Mall (WEM). LaBossiere explains, “The biggest validation of our model to date is our long-term contract with WEM. It is one of the largest independent commercial waste contracts in the city and is extremely sought after by every waste management operator in the region. In competition for this we were up against one of the largest companies in Canada, and they were very aggressive in trying to win the business. Since Local Waste was using the same technology and practices as the competitor, it all came down to our unique proposal in giving back to the community.” Local Waste proposed a partnership with WEM where a child-based charity would be featured each month. A child fighting a health challenge or doing something extraordinary in the community would be made Mayor of the Mall for a weekend and enjoy a luxury, celebrity experience. “We presented this program to not just help kids and their families, but find kids in Edmonton doing extraordinary things,” says LaBossiere. “WEM loved it. They knew they could trust us to perform, and they saw our heart and soul in the program. I can’t wait for the kid to be the first to put the sash on and be the Mayor of the Mall for the weekend!” This program will launch at a later date due to COVID. The pandemic has impacted more than the WEM partnership program. Many of Local Waste’s clients had to temporarily shut their doors. Once again Local Waste’s focus on personalized service came into play. “We proactively allowed customers affected by pandemic measures to reduce or suspend their services without penalty. Surprisingly not every one of our competitors did this for their customers, citing contracts. We didn’t want to be the ones making it difficult for our customers to survive.” While welcomed by their clients, this action took a toll. “It actually pushed us back by two years in our growth and corporate plan,” LaBossiere admits, but he has no regrets. “We lost some revenue, but also created an immense amount of customer loyalty. Ultimately, we just wanted to be part of the solution in helping local businesses survive this thing.”

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

As part of its client-facing and community mandate, Local Waste isn’t shy about tackling tougher public issues. Around 15 years ago the City of Edmonton decided to enter the commercial waste hauling business. The original reason was to offer various recycling programs to companies using City-owned facilities that private haulers were not allowed to access for their customers. Beyond the unfairness of this, it was revealed in recent years that the majority of what was supposed to be recycled was going directly to landfills because of facility problems. Not to mention, the City was losing millions per year providing commercial services, which industry could provide just as easily, including the recycling programs customers required. LaBossiere helped form a waste and recycling association for Alberta to advocate for the role of the private sector. Eventually the City of Edmonton made the decision to exit commercial services, saving the tax-payer and helping the industry. “Industry advocacy and education is important because waste management is a very capital intensive business,” LaBossiere explains. “We might need $10 million in capital just to bid on certain opportunities. The industry also faces things like extended producer responsibility and constantly changing regulations. The customer and municipalities are asking for waste programs the community may not have solutions for yet; as an example, commercial organic recycling. We will have to be nimble, flexible and strategic in our partnerships.” One partnership LaBossiere treasures is with Maggnum Ventures. “Capital is very important,” LaBossiere reaffirms. “Thankfully we have realized amazing success in partnering with Maggnum Ventures. LaBossiere first worked with Maggnum Ventures in 2009 when the investment company took an interest in his thenbusiness, Yardstick Software Inc. Matthew Grieve, president Maggnum Ventures Inc., says, “Maggnum was one of the original investors in Yardstick and we developed a very successful relationship with Chris over the past 10 years while he was CEO of the company. When we heard about Local Waste we fell in love with their story. We are always looking for very unique opportunities that we

SHIFT HAPPENS // COVER

“WE TAKE EVERYTHING PERSONALLY. WE ARE HONEST TO A FAULT. WE ARE AUTHENTIC, GENUINE, AND WORK HARD AT CREATING REAL, LASTING, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CLIENTS AND COMMUNITIES, SAYS LABOSSIERE.” feel we can add value to and help grow the business with our relationships in Edmonton, and more specifically, in the real estate community. Local Waste’s growth plan is very sound and its revenue stream is vertically integrated with a focus in real estate assets, in which we have a lot of experience. At the end of the day, Maggnum invests in people and we are very confident in Chris, his team and their leadership.” “From the first time we partnered with Maggnum, we realized we could be successful together,” adds LaBossiere. “They are smart and patient with their capital. We deeply appreciate them. They are very high-character partners and long-game thinkers. They see the big picture. Being associated with partners with local experience and networks is worth so much more than finding cheap money.” Maggnum Ventures shares LaBossiere’s local vision. “Local is something we have always focused on,” notes Grieve. “Being able to support something locally where you can see, feel and know the people is very important to me. I feel, now more than ever, we need to invest locally to help with the future of our city, province, and country. We are all in this together and feel entrepreneurs have a knowledge and ability to change the pace of the economy we are currently in. We are a part of that community and we need to invest in our backyard.” Local Waste is expanding across the prairie provinces rapidly but will never lose sight of its guiding value: an unrelenting community focus. When LaBossiere is driving around the city, he still gets excited to see Local Waste collection bins at homes and businesses, and he takes pride in knowing each of those containers, no matter how large or small the contract, helps to build a better city and provide steady employment. “Every one of those bins supports people in our company to buy a house, car, or send a kid to lacrosse. Every bin helps us give back to charitable organizations,” says LaBossiere. I don’t have to report our earnings to public company shareholders, so we can choose what we do with our profits – and giving back just feels good.”

As he reflects on the company’s first five years, LaBossiere smiles. “We are a small company with some of the city’s biggest contracts but everyone that works for us started by picking up garbage. That was our first job. None of us graduated with an MBA. We started in the back alleys of Edmonton picking up garbage and recycling, and we grew a company. Our success stems from this fact: we take everything personally. We are honest to a fault. We are authentic, genuine, and work hard at creating real, lasting, personal relationships with our clients and communities, all while showing the industry that you don’t have to be a big player to make a massive industry impact.” Local Waste is excited to realize the pinnacle of industry success: owning vertically integrated disposal, transfer, and recycling facilities. Their Regina facility opens this spring and will start by diverting construction and demolition recyclables from landfills. An Edmonton transfer station will follow in later 2021. It’s nothing but up from there. “We are currently bidding on an organic food recycling plant to build in Saskatchewan at our landfill facility. We look forward to continued development in Alberta and Saskatchewan. We will also identify other waste companies to acquire or partner with that want to grow with us across Western Canada. These are the types of opportunities we’re excited about. I’m a proud Albertan and I want to see us expand across the prairies first.” LaBossiere thanks Maggnum Ventures for recognizing Local Waste’s potential and providing seed capital for the acquisition of Black Cat Disposal. He further thanks the Edmonton Executive Association for its supportive membership and the Grieve family for their years of friendship and support. On behalf of Local Waste, LaBossiere thanks the communities in which they operate for allowing them to come to their homes and businesses to make their city cleaner and greener. And to everyone Local Waste says, “just watch how far we go from here.” Learn more at localwaste.ca.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

STRONG, SUCCESSFUL AND POWERFUL WOMEN // WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

STRONG, SUCCESSFUL AND POWERFUL WOMEN:

Leading Across all Industries

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

omen are powerful, capable, thoughtful leaders with plenty to contribute to every industry. Here are four women in Edmonton that are making a difference in engineering, farming, and medicine.

NASIM MORAWEJ CO-FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL PROJECT ENGINEER, SENTIENT TOOLS

Sentient Tools is an engineering-focused product development firm functioning as an outsourced multidisciplinary R&D team that uses technology to solve problems, find efficiencies and improve operations. “I was working with my business partners at a Fortune 500 company for 10 years, but in the 2017 downturn, the company decided to move the R&D team to the U.S., and we decided not to move to Houston. We took this as an opportunity and started Sentient Tools. We strive to provide high quality Canadian products and without the excessive bureaucracy of a large organization; we are able to deliver projects very quickly and efficiently. I thought I wanted to be an architect in high school. The creativity aspect of the field was very appealing, but I was not certain and decided to enter university through the general science program. During the first year, I made friends in the engineering program and they convinced me to sneak into some engineering classes with them. Everything they were learning and the way the science was being applied to create useful devices captured my interest.

I applied to the department of electronics engineering and took both first- and second-year engineering courses concurrently so as not to lose a year and be able to continue with the engineering courses and graduate on schedule. I was up for the challenge. Being a woman in business did not introduce any new barriers that I wasn’t already familiar with. I have experienced the challenges of being a woman in the male

ABOVE: NASIM MORAWEJ, SENTIENT TOOLS.

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

STRONG, SUCCESSFUL AND POWERFUL WOMEN // WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

“Selling grain is quite complex with lots of moving parts and volatility, especially because many commodities are traded like the CDN dollar and oil. Being a farmer myself, Farmbucks was derived out of my own necessity and increasing frustration with the current methods to market crops. The sheer volume and volatility of the grain marketplace made it difficult for farmers to follow, spot opportunities and make timely and confident decisions. On the other side, grain buyers are struggling to communicate effectively, maintain a marketplace presence, and stand out amongst all the noise and competition. Farmbucks connects the two sides; we facilitate the communication and negotiation that lead to purchases and sales. I was born and raised on a family farm. Gender was not a limiting factor as to what jobs we would be tasked with. I was very involved in every aspect of the farm at an early age, from running large equipment, caring for cattle, improving soils and managing capital.

dominated fields of engineering, oil and gas, leadership groups, and as a mother of a young family in a competitive field of younger peers. Having your opinions heard, being taken seriously, and given trust is essentially status quo for men, but is something that women have to work hard for. I have faced many challenges but have also been lucky with having many strong women and supportive men along the way who have inspired and believed in me. The only real barrier is your own doubt and fear. Overcome those, and anything is possible.”

LYNN DARGIS CEO AND FOUNDER, FARMBUCKS

Farmbucks is a website/app that centralizes grain prices so farmers can instantly spot their best pricing opportunities and connect with buyers to make sales.

I knew in high school that agriculture had captured my heart. It was always so challenging and ever-changing and that’s what made it so appealing. I knew I would pursue a future in agriculture although I wasn’t yet certain how it would all unfold. I went to Olds College and completed my diploma in Ag Production and Management, and afterward received my CCA (Certified Crop Advisor) designation before returning home to farm alongside my parents. Not long after, the unimaginable happened. Both my parents passed away suddenly in 2007 when I was just 20 years old. The next while was a blur as we were just entering our busiest season of the year (harvest). I poured everything I had into farm work and keeping it together. Even during these uncertain times, I was certain of one thing, I would take over the farm and I am proud to say, that as that 20-year-old girl, I did. I’ll be blunt here. I face barriers all the time just for being a woman. It’s frustrating as hell. I would say it’s an even bigger problem in agriculture – our oldest male-dominated industry. I have not always been heard or trusted as easily as the male counterparts, but I also don’t want to discount all the many great professionals I’ve encountered who have supported me regardless of my age and gender.

ABOVE: LYNN DARGIS, FARMBUCKS.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

DARE TO DREAM

Prime Capital’s 20 year Entrepreneurial Celebration 20 is the old 90

hen you turn 20 in human years, you’ve got a long life ahead. When you turn 20 in business years –according to research by McKinsey & Co – you’re an old dog. The average lifespan of a business is no longer 90 years, it’s just 18. Ouch! Just for argument’s sake, let’s compromise the timeline and say that 20 is business’ midlife crisis. For businesses there is no equivalent Little Red Corvette midlife “pickme-up.” Businesses need to be more pragmatic about re-energizing, and businesses (and economies) who aren’t looking more at the horizon ahead than at the one receding in the rear-view mirror are apt to crash. Other than a good set of brakes, willing driver and a road, in order to go places a corvette also needs fuel. So, what’s the equivalent of fuel in a business?

It is innovation. According to Merriam Webster, innovation is “the process of introducing something new” and it has fueled this winning economy over the last 80 years. Alberta’s an historical innovation hotbed. Our roads are literally paved with gold – that is, black gold. The output of one of our innovations – bitumen from our oilsands, is a key component in asphalt supply across the west. This arose from research innovation back in 1927. Innovation brought the oilsands to life and spurred a tremendous amount of innovation across manufacturing, technology, fabrication and many other industries. Canada’s innovations lead the globe in innovative new energy technologies, including carbon capture, hydrogen innovations, and nuclear energy expertise.

We’ve Got Your Back

Prime Capital debuted during the baby boom of entrepreneurism in Alberta, when innovation fueled many entrepreneurial dreams Between 2000 and 2010, Alberta created the highest number of new businesses in the country. This is a prolific statistic in a country where about 70 per cent of all Canadian private sector jobs are in entrepreneurial organizations; in Alberta that rate was nearly 96 per cent in that formative decade.

The calculus of Innovation. An economist once quipped, “Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation, is doing new things.” Prime is celebrating our 20th anniversary by sharing profiles of female entrepreneurs who are doing great things to continue Alberta’s legacy of innovation. These include a business focused on food security, letting you grow your leafy greens, beets and strawberries in your home year round. Our profiles will also include a business focused on health security in the burgeoning North American cannabis space, and a company innovating in the Internet of Things (loT) to frame asset security for its industrial clients across the country. But innovation isn’t solely the jurisdiction of new tech – why not bring a bright new energy into a really old school industry by emboldening it with a brave new culture? Or innovate wear-resistant product lines for global industrial companies? These are real, Alberta-grown companies with brilliant entrepreneurs at their helm and innovation in their DNA. Prime is privileged to meet and work with entrepreneurs every day, supporting clients implementing innovations is our daily fuel. In our own business, we have a micro-innovation mandate – better tomorrow than yesterday – transforming daily processes through small iterations. Angela Armstrong, President, Prime Capital. Photo by Epic Photography Inc.

Prime’s innovation is every day and future looking. We have invested in digitization, machine learning and blockchain. We can’t effectively channel our core value of “we’ve got your back” without working to be a step ahead of our clients’ needs. Angela Armstrong, our founder, is an innovator herself, having implemented technology into her finance industry career starting over 30 years ago. Her inspiration comes from the great ecosystem of innovators we interact with every single day. We know that innovation is still Alberta’s legacy. Full speed ahead, folks; the road is clear, the horizon is beckoning, and our fuel gauge is on full. Twenty years of helping companies achieve their greatness through innovation is pretty awesome. If this is our mid-life crisis, we’re not going to need that red corvette – we are already having fun every day.

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STRONG, SUCCESSFUL AND POWERFUL WOMEN // WOMEN OF INFLUENCE

My experience has been that you are only as smart as the team you build and only as strong as you think you are. Women that aspire to be leaders should participate in entrepreneur groups like FWE (Forum of Women Entrepreneurs). They have a great community of support, connections and resources.”

JILLIAN PALMER AND MALLORY BECKER CO-FOUNDERS OF PINE INTEGRATED HEALTH CENTRE & PINE CONE HEALTH

Pine Integrated Health Centre is a multidisciplinary clinic that specializes in pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood. Pine Cone Health specializes in care for infants, children and teens. Jillian Palmer, Physiotherapist “I started out as a general physiotherapist but after having kids of my own, I realized that there is a huge gap in the area of prenatal and postpartum rehab. I’m so glad to have found my professional home treating the pelvis, core and pelvic floor issues. I found that there were no barriers to entry when it came to building up our business. We had some difficulty with financing, but I’m not sure that had anything to do with being women. I found so much support, a sense of community and a willingness to help from the whole Edmonton business community. I’m so grateful to everyone who was willing to help us get off the ground, and who has supported us through our first year and a half of business. My advice for women is to spend some time soul searching and considering what you’re truly good at. Growing a business is hard work but when you’re working on something you truly enjoy, and that you’re naturally good at, it feels more like an adventure. That is more than half the battle!” Mallory Becker, Registered Psychologist “I always saw myself in healthcare, but I couldn’t decide which branch. I landed on psychology after realizing the

great combination of science and the individualized art of connecting with people. I started in private practice 10 years ago, which grew into a small psychology practice (LifeWise Counselling). I always had dreams of having a large clinic with many different disciplines to collaborate and learn from to optimize client health. Jill and I met for coffee one day as we were both at a similar place of expansion, and never looked back since then. We were not successful in obtaining financing from a bank after being led to believe that we were. We were both able to use our savings to start up Pine; however, it made us dig deep to examine our values and confidence in our business. Fortunately, even through a pandemic, Pine has been more successful than we had ever imagined. My advice for women is to spend time becoming an expert in what you want to do. Many people come to us and say they want to open a similar concept somewhere else and want advice however, they don’t realize that we have been on the path for many years to do so. This path included a lot of additional education, mentoring, planning, scaling up and developing our business skills. If it feels right and cognitively appears right, we say go for it at any stage in your life if it fits for you. We both have young families and being business partners allows us to be able to support each other to take over things for the other person when family life gets hectic.” ABOVE: JILLIAN PALMER & MALLORY BECKER, PINE INTEGRATED HEALTH CENTRE & PINE CONE HEALTH.

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

SAFE AND SOUND // CYBER SECURITY

SAFE AND SOUND:

KEEPING EVENTS SECURE IN A DIGITAL WORLD BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

he new normal has been with us for a year; digital interactions remain a part of how we do business now. So, how can a company protect its data when the safest way to meet is online? One innovative company that was already active in the digital event space was quick to provide a solution. Modest Tree is a Canadian company that uses 3D modelling and software development to provide digital virtual training experiences through gamification, augmented reality, and simulation. Interacting with government, corporate, educational, military and finance organizations across North America and Europe meant every email, video conference, and training program had to be completely secure. Modest Tree developed Leaf to ensure the security of their interactions, then extrapolated the service for use by clients. “Leaf is a virtual communications platform that has been purpose-built to enable enterprises, particularly those required to meet strict security protocols, with access to convenient and advanced virtual communications and file sharing that won’t compromise any of their security requirements,” explains Laura Bohnert, Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Modest Tree. “Our purpose is to leverage our secure virtual solutions to help our clients become more adaptable, so they are able to react quickly and with greater flexibility to challenges like the sudden shift to remote working conditions.” Leaf uses end-to-end encryption. Bohnert explains why. “End-to-end encryption is important because it helps you maintain control over who has access to the information you send. That information can only be

decrypted by the user and device that have been verified and have the decryption key. This prevents anyone external from intercepting sensitive data that may be shared or discussed in a chat or on a call while still enabling that information to be easily communicated. “Olm and megolm are cryptographic protocols (or ratchets) that ensure a conversation is secured on both ends. In combination, end-to-end encryption, the use of doubleratcheted algorithms, and unique device verification requirements ensure that, while data is at rest, it can only ever be accessed by verified participants from a verified device. There’s no way for a third party or even an administrator to decrypt the conversation without being invited. Not even the servers will be able to decrypt and understand the information, so it’s one of the best ways to

ABOVE: LAURA BOHNERT, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING, MODEST TREE.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

SAFE AND SOUND // CYBER SECURITY

guarantee that information can’t be hacked, and that it is always only traveling to the intended recipient.” Bohnert’s advice for companies looking for secure data sharing is this, “End-to-end encryption is important, but it isn’t the only security feature companies should be looking at. Even the best encryption can’t help if you don’t know where your data is being stored. Leaf is the only communication platform on the market that can be hosted on your own secure server. When all of the internal communications that need to take place to allow your teams to collaborate effectively can happen behind your company’s own firewall, that information never has to leave your organization and you never have to compromise between maintaining your security protocols and enabling convenient communications and efficient workplace collaboration.” Scott Channon, Director, Marketing & Communications, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, is no stranger to the sudden shift of conducting business online. Since the Chamber works with many businesses across a variety of sectors, it needed to find a secure platform – fast. The Chamber settled on Zoom, but with some caveats. “We were fully aware of zoombombing,” Channon explains, “so we looked to find out where those threats were coming from. After researching and understanding what Zoom was doing to enhance protocols on their end, we felt it was something we could work with.”

Digital platforms like Zoom have helped the Chamber safely connect with members; and when it comes to planning secure online events, organizations have options on how to also make things fun. Chris Baker is the General Manager of Encore Canada’s Edmonton Production Centre. Formerly known as FMAV, PSAV and its family of companies began to operate under the Encore name this past January as part of a planned move to align its portfolio of companies. It also signaled a forward focus, putting their customers at the centre as they offered new platforms and tools to enable their clients to continue to meet and connect in person and in virtual audiences. “We’ve been creating memorable event experiences that connect and inspire, engage and transform organizations for decades,” explains Baker. “Looking at a screen is the primary way to deliver virtual experience, but we offer engagement capabilities including gamification, video networking lounges, virtual exhibit halls with private meeting rooms, polling, voting, and heat maps. Engagement tools provide audiences a way to affect the program and experiences of others and should be considered a valuable feature in planning virtual events. It also provides an avenue for sponsors to connect with their target audiences.” Already using technology to deliver online or hybrid events, Encore was uniquely positioned to help clients succeed once COVID-19 arrived.

The Chamber also discussed with its IT team what they needed to do internally through passwords and other measures to ensure security. By following best practices, the Chamber has not had an incident thus far. Despite the sensational headlines, platforms like Zoom are safe to use as long as due diligence and protocols are followed.

“COVID-19 has brought virtual solutions to the forefront of how our customers communicate with their audiences,” shares Baker. “While many customers have chosen to engage in a completely virtual activation, many also choose to draw upon our live production expertise to deliver broadcast quality virtual and hybrid experiences.

“We definitely make sure that when we use either a web or meeting application, everyone is aware of how the event will be run,” says Channon. “For example, mics are on mute and we will call on you if you have a question. There is a Q&A box. We have constant monitoring during events on the back end. If an incident were to happen, we can address it swiftly in real time. People are comfortable with the level and consistency of how we’re operating online.”

“At each of our Production Centre locations and in many of our partner venues, Presentation Stages ™ have been developed to host both virtual and hybrid events. With a Presentation Stage, our team provides a clean, safe location for you to record or broadcast your message, conduct rehearsals and ultimately deliver on our customer’s needs. We offer different levels to accommodate production requirements and comply with local or regional gathering restrictions. The demand is high for our virtual technology

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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SAFE AND SOUND // CYBER SECURITY

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BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

Budget 2021 Difficult Times, Difficult Choices

2021 Board of Directors Board Executive

Chair: Elan MacDonald Vice President (External Relations), University of Alberta Vice Chair: Jeffrey Sundquist Chief Executive Officer, EDC Environmental Group of Companies Inc. Secretary-Treasurer: Craig Thorkelsson Head of Tax, PCL Constructors Inc. Past Chair: Bryan DeNeve Senior Vice President, Business Development and Commercial Services, Capital Power Janet M. Riopel President & CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

Board Directors

Haydar Al Dahhan President and CEO, Design Works Engineering Aziz Bootwala Managing Principal, Edmonton, Vice President, Business Development, Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. Nathan Carter Vice President, Operations Audit, ATCO Sandy Jacobson Vice President, Richardson Executive Search Annemarie Petrov President and CEO, Francis Winspear Centre for Music Jason Pincock CEO, DynaLIFE Medical Labs Dennis R. Schmidt Principal, ALTURA Legal Advisory

Edmonton Chamber Executive

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

Contact

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

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

udget 2021 presents a difficult balancing act for our federal government. The COVID-19 pandemic remains top priority, which means the budget will need to support businesses and families, promote economic recovery, help Canadians get back to work, and address Canada’s ballooning debt and deficits. Needless to say, this is a very steep hill to climb. Now more than ever, there is a need to conduct a timely assessment of how much government is spending, as conditions in the economy evolve with the spread of the virus. Increased scrutiny and transparency on spending will ensure that those businesses that continue to need support, receive it. When the pandemic hit, we praised governments for acting quickly to introduce sweeping economic measures to help families and businesses get through the crisis. With no clear end to the pandemic in sight, these vitally important support programs will have to continue throughout at least the first half of 2021. As the economy stabilizes and businesses begin to reopen their doors, we must ensure that our job creators are well prepared to deal with the end of support programs. We believe that the federal government should develop a framework that looks at gradually reducing levels of support as revenues increase, allowing businesses to slowly reduce their dependence and get off on their front foot. We’re optimistic that Budget 2021 offers an opportunity to make real, fundamental changes to the way we operate. The Edmonton Chamber has long advocated for a comprehensive review of the Canadian tax system—which has not occurred since 1967. The last time Canada undertook a comprehensive review of its tax system, humankind had yet to set foot on the moon. In the five decades since, governments have cut and pasted together a tax system that is uncompetitive, heavy on details, and inefficient. A thorough review should be done in consultation with industry stakeholders and all three levels of government. Put simply, as the world becomes increasingly competitive, Canada needs a modern tax system to ensure we create jobs, attract investment, and remain viable globally. The federal government also has a unique opportunity to look past COVID-19 and envision a plan to eliminate our deficit. Ultimately, government debt will burden future generations of Canadians who will be faced with repayment of debt, and the interest that accrues, through higher taxes or decreased government spending. Budget 2021 has the potential to offer much hope as we move through this pandemic. Vaccinations are underway across the country and there is renewed anticipation that more Canadians will soon be able to leave their homes, share a coffee with a friend or colleague, share a meal, support all sorts of events, and hop on a plane—all of which will provide a much-needed boost to our ailing economy and to our mental health and well-being. The Edmonton Chamber will continue to focus on job creation, innovation, and supports for business. In doing so, we will do our part to ensure that we are all moving forward towards a “better” normal.

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

Stay connected.

@EdmontonChamber edmontonchamber.com

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BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

Premier Built Garages Member Profile Aaron Woods, Sales and Marketing Premier Built Garages www.premierbuiltgarages.ca What’s your story? We are a builder of detached garages and garage suites servicing the Edmonton region. Originally, we started out as a framing company supporting home builders and we dabbled in new home construction. About nine years ago we stepped into the garage world and have not looked back. We have worked hard to carve out our niche as an educated and experienced business with extensive knowledge in new home construction and carpentry. We are a large volume custom garage builder focusing on quality, integrity, and reliability. Most other companies are one-man “jack of all trades” that run job by job trying to finance their business and their family. Instead, we focus on hiring educated and experienced staff, employing experienced and trained tradespeople, and partnering with reputable and reliable suppliers. People constantly tell us they want a company they can trust, and we strive to ensure that we are not only qualified, but we exceed expectations and needs. We believe this is what brings us success every day. Today, we only focus on constructing detached garages and garage suites. This focus has allowed us to build over 5000 garages (and counting) in the Capital region and enables us to provide the service and dedication we would expect of anybody we would hire. Our goal is not to be the best at everything, but to lead and grow the garage industry by providing a stress-free and transparent garage build to homeowners. What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce? We enjoy the access to great opportunities, benefits, and support structure. Joining the Chamber of Commerce has given us access to new businesses and allowed us community input that we never knew we could get. Also, our team really enjoys taking advantage of the benefits and promotions provided to members.

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

Premier’s Construction, Estimating, Sales and Service team(s) enjoying an inspection of a completed garage.

What is one thing people are surprised to learn about your business? People are surprised that we are not a “one-man show”, and that we only focus on building new detached garages. Most customers are expecting to talk to the guy that is building the garage and maybe their fence or basement. When they talk to us, they are constantly impressed by our vast knowledge and experience. We are the only ones doing it the way we do it and our customers get the reliability and integrity they expect with an unmatched experience and results. We like to think Who is your ideal client? Anybody that needs a detached garage or garage suite built or replaced. Not just individual homeowners, but property investors, multifamily project builders, and commercial builders. If you are looking for a garage type accessory building to be constructed, we can build it. What is your favourite thing to do in Edmonton? Enjoy the festivities. Edmonton is a lively place with so many unique events, beautiful parks, and facilities it’s hard not to find something new or fun to do. Whether it is the fringe festival, Taste of Edmonton, Ice on Whyte, or any of the hundreds of other events that go on every year, people know how to create and entertain in this City. We deeply missed it in 2020. If you could make one substantial improvement to Edmonton’s business environment, what would it be? Get the media to expose the positive impacts of profitable organizations and what optimism can do for an economy. We all do what we can to help not-for-profits and save the environment, but none of that happens without a working engine. We need to focus on what a good local economy does for the greater good and amplify that message rather than focus on the negative. Talk about the positive impacts a company makes when it hires more staff, adapts to stay in business, and is leading by example. A positive message enhances a struggling economy and allows us to achieve goals even during a pandemic or recession.

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As a member of one of the largest chambers in Canada, you have access to a wide range of contacts, resources, discounts, events, and brand exposure. You’re also part of our strong collective voice to government that will help give your business the support it needs. Call us today at 780.426.4620 and start leveraging your membership.

edmontonchamber.com BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

BREATHING EASY

WHEN IT COMES TO INDOOR AIR QUALITY, WE’RE ALREADY OFF TO A GOOD START

his year has been unusual and challenging, to say the least. For most of us, we’ve spent the majority of our time fearing places where we normally find connection and comfort, like restaurants, our offices, and friends’ homes. The conversation around the dinner table has been largely dominated by talk of viruses and public health. We’ve started to obsessively focus on something we can’t even see: the air that surrounds us, which we breathe, and which we share with others. While it’s true there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to indoor air quality, it doesn’t mean we need to fear it. Instead we need to understand the basics of what contributes to good indoor air quality, and to learn how we can go from good to great. SARS-CoV-2, which is the official name for the virus that cause the disease COVID-19, isn’t the only harmful substance in our air. Given that we spend about 90 per cent of our time inside, we should be keenly aware of how to keep our indoor air quality at its best. The good news is that we’re already starting with relatively good quality outdoor air in Western Canada. We draw this air into our buildings, condition it, and filter repeatedly as the air gets recirculated over and over again. In Class A office buildings, like the ones found in most of our urban centres, there is a team of people who actively monitor and manage ventilation and filtration systems so that they’re performing well enough to keep our buildings clean, safe, and healthy for their occupants and for the built environment.

CONTRIBUTORS TO INDOOR AIR Your indoor air contains a mix of tiny solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air, which comes from a few key sources: • Outdoor air, which comes in through the air intake system and via doorways and the building envelope, etc. (sometimes this can also be the neighbouring building) • Elements of the building and key fixtures, like indoor plants, living walls, building materials, and paint • The building’s operations and activities, such as food preparation, washroom facilities, and office equipment • People, who are often the biggest contributor of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) These avenues of transmission all generate and compound the undesirable contaminants in the in-

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

door air. The most common air pollutants are bacteria and viruses; volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from paint, building cleaners, photocopiers, and solvents; allergens like mold, dust, dirt, and pollen; particulate, especially those in the size range of 2.5 micrometres and smaller (PM2.5); and industrial gases, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and ammonia. When this contaminated air enters the building or is recirculated without being filtered and cleaned, the pollutants can get into our bodies and make us sick over time.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR INDOOR AIR CLEAN There are four key elements that contribute to the quality of your building’s indoor air. The systems associated with each of these elements must be regularly maintained and tested to make sure they’re functioning properly. The systems work hand in hand, and any deficiency in one lowers the overall efficacy of your indoor air. The four key elements are: 1. Source capture Source capture includes areas and activities within a building where contaminants are collected and/ or directly exhausted out of the building. Common examples of source capture include bathroom fans, hood fans above cooking ranges, and activities such as a hair salon or fitness room. 2. Filtration Filtration is the number one defence for the removal of harmful and unwanted contaminants. The filter efficiency is important—MERV 13 or better—and even more

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so is the filter integrity. If the filter doesn’t fit properly, is improperly sealed, or the filter bank is damaged, the overall filter efficiency decreases dramatically. 3. Mechanical Ventilation This is the distribution of filtered outdoor and recirculated air throughout a building or space. Filtered ventilation keeps air moving and is helpful in reducing harmful substances. 4. Humidification Increased relative humidity (RH) reduces the viability of some viruses and bacteria. In cold, dry climates like Alberta, it is difficult to naturally maintain a healthy RH. For this reason, we need to mechanically humidify to obtain a 40-60 per cent RH. At this RH, viruses like SARS-CoV-2 are not as viable.

GETTING FROM GOOD TO GREAT In Western Canada, we’re fortunate to have a solid foundation for our indoor air systems. If your company or facility already has high quality indoor air and your entire system is functioning as efficiently as possible, your next priority should be moving from a prevention and maintenance cycle to a real-time monitoring and optimizing cycle. Indoor air quality technology is very dynamic and there are many technological advancements that are being introduced to optimize the health of indoor spaces. New ways of identifying and specifying particulate matter are emerging as more research is done. But for people who spend their time looking after typical indoor spaces, focus on these three keys to optimization:

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

1. Building performance monitoring Technology is available to monitor your indoor air quality in real time, enabling you to identify and eliminate risk before it affects occupants. Articulating results to building occupants and stakeholders will offer peace of mind as to the quality of the air they are breathing. 2. Room air purification In spaces with increased occupancy and inadequate ventilation, room air purifiers can help dilute and clean the air in a more targeted manner. 3. Training and education Indoor air quality is a discipline all its own. The more you know, the more you can do to prevent harmful situations from building up. The function of filter inspection, service, replacement, and disposal has evolved to an area of specialization. Those that are performing these tasks should be trained so they fully understand what they are dealing with. The National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) has information on training and certification programs. The silver lining in all this is that people are asking more questions, holding each other more accountable, and ultimately keeping us all safer by knowing more about indoor air quality. If you’re still uncertain about your building’s indoor air, talk to your building operations manager, or a NAFA-certified expert, like the ones at BGE Indoor Air Quality. Together, we’ll continue to elevate the conversation of indoor air quality.

REINTRODUCING THE BRIGHTON BLOCK TO JASPER AVE

f you have spent any time in downtown Edmonton, chances are you’re familiar with the distinct brick and stone facade of the Brighton Block building at 9666 Jasper Avenue. Declared a historic landmark in 2001, the Edwardian-era building was initially built between 1911 and 1913 by Ernest Brown, a photographer, to contain his studio and workshop. While the building became known as the Brighton Block in 1924 when Credit Foncier acquired it, Brown’s name is still prominently displayed on the exterior. “The building was continuously occupied for the first nine decades of its existence, and we hope that it will be the case for the next nine, but the intervening decade and a half was not kind to Brighton Block,” says the building’s current owner, Ken Cantor, President of Primavera Development Group.

After years of driving past and admiring the Brighton Block, Cantor says he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to restore a piece of Edmonton’s history when he was approached with the possibility of

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purchasing and developing the site. He describes the project as “one of those things that is as much a labour of love as it is a business or financial venture.” While a report from the City of Edmonton administration to the Urban Planning Committee stated, “In the period since its designation (as a historic building in 2001) Brighton Block had fallen into an advanced state of disrepair,” Cantor was undeterred. Initially, Primavera approached the project with hopes of working with the existing structure, but the team quickly realized the extent of damage caused by years of deferred maintenance. They changed their plan to include the complete demolition and reconstruction of the building’s interior, while maintaining the historic exterior facade. Cantor says he started Primavera to take on “interesting, exciting and challenging projects,” and this century-old landmark ticked all the boxes. Over the past three years, Primavera has worked with a talented project team to “restore and improve the building beyond its original state of prominence as a vibrant mixed-use retail and office development.” The team has created a quality boutique space that will appeal to any tenant with an appreciation for detail, beauty, and history. Plus, the Brighton Block

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Primavera reception area. building features one of the few ground-floor retail spaces in the city with a view of the river valley. Floors two and three occupy the building’s original footprint and feature the strongest historic look and feel. The 7,000 square foot floors feature fully exposed brick exterior walls and include the original front double pane windows. The top three floors, covering 5,900 square feet, have a considerably different feel with full-height curtain walls and a clear view of the river valley, including the Walterdale Bridge and the Louise McKinney Park. Each floor is currently a finished shell, including rough-ins and heating and cooling systems. Before occupancy, each floor can be customized with partitions and finishes to suit the occupant’s style and preference. Tenants have a rare opportunity to make design and function decisions without costly renovations. Admittedly, it is a struggle to bring a new project to market in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, amid various restrictions and health and safety concerns. However, Brighton Block has been designed for full-floor occupancy with no shared washrooms or corridors between floors, reducing the tenant’s time spent in shared spaces. Additionally, there is 100 per cent fresh air and 100 per cent exhaust air, with no recirculated air shared among floors. The shared areas are limited to the two stairwells, the building lobby and elevator, and are all oversized enough to allow for added space between people. With a soft spot for local businesses, Cantor has visions of a boutique coffee shop and bookstore occupying the main floor and providing a warm welcome for tenants and visitors. The space could also easily hold an exclusive restaurant with a view or another retail development. Brighton Block’s proximity to the new LRT station on 102 Street and the courthouse are appealing.

ICOM Mechanical Solutions and Protocol Mechanical have merged effective Sept 1. This exciting step is to enhance our turn-key mechanical solutions and preventative maintenance programs providing exceptional value to the building owners and managers in Alberta.

ICOM – The complete Choice Primavera 4th floor. As well, the growth of The Quarters means the area is much more part of downtown than it has been in the past, and connections continue to get better. “The building is sitting at an interesting crossroads of what’s happened in the city historically and what’s happening in the city in the future,” says Cantor. Cantor has already received two BOMA Building of the Year awards for his work on Qualico’s Regional Head Office and EPCOR Tower. He is hoping that Brighton Block will make for a trifecta. Early on in his career, Cantor learned to respect everyone involved in the building project, from the design team and supplier to each tradesperson on site. He is quick to give credit where credit is due on this building, to the project team consisting of Hodgson Schilf Evans Architects Inc., Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd., MCW Hemisphere Ltd., ECCOM Consulting Inc., and PCL Construction Management. Cantor recognizes how often the developer talks to the media and is identified as the face of the project, but says that it takes the skills and talent of these partners to make the project truly great.

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Leading by Example:

By Nerissa McNaughton

Redwood Plastics and Rubber Celebrates 50 years

edwood Plastics and Rubber engineers, manufactures, fabricates and distributes cost-effective industrial plastic and rubber components that replace steel, aluminum, and wood. “My father was a true pioneer in the plastics business,” Graeme Fraser, president & CEO, says. “His company was one of the first to introduce industrial plastics into Canada in the 1950s. My brother Duncan and I grew up working in the family business from a young age. When he sold in 1967, Duncan transitioned into a salesman for the new owners.” With this experience and knowledge Fraser, who was 18, and his brother, who was 23, felt confident about opening their own business. In 1971, with a $2,000 bank loan, they opened Redwood Plastics and started producing PVC fabricated parts. “In the first month we had sales of $4,000. The next, $2,800. Then $1,800! We were going broke fast,” he laughs as he reminisces. It was scary to see the red.” Despite a rocky start, their hard work, and a lucky break, paid off. A local company went out of business and the brothers acquired the equipment that got them into pouring polyurethanes and machining plastics. From there, things took off. Fraser explains, “During the 1970s we started developing innovative products like the plastic wear strip for under chains, and nylon and polyurethane for bushing applications. We were the first to introduce plastic sprockets into the forest industry.” By 1978 Redwood was just under a million in sales. It was then they made what was, at the time, a radical decision. They computerized.

there, Redwood diversified not just geographically, but also through a series of acquired businesses and product developments. In mid 2017, after a careful look at their entire group of companies across North America, they amalgamated under Redwood Plastics and Rubber. “We are unique as a company because we can offer a series of different materials and we have such a broad product line. Our focus is always on the customers’ needs and providing solutions,” says Fraser. “And without a doubt, one of the most contributing factors to our success is our people. I have not done this alone. One of the things we did early on was to promote from within. We always created a culture of opportunity for our team. We have over 200 people and more than 25 with 20+ years or longer of service.” COVID-19 has provided another opportunity for Redwood Plastics and Rubber to better meet consumer demands. “We are seeing the decentralization of manufacturing to be more responsive to the customer and the industry,” says Fraser. “We are very optimistic about this future. Despite what is going on in the world, the trends are bringing manufacturing back to North America. We are excited about continuing to participate in our markets.” It’s more than market participation. Redwood intends to be a leading force in the industry. Fraser was the first non-American and the youngest member to become president of NAPD, now IAPD (International Association of Plastics Distribution), and was instrumental in linking the European and North American associations. Redwood is also recognized annually for their marketing awards; Fraser thanks Angela Rodenburgh, VP

“We spent $75,000 on a computer. It allowed us to be more effective. The computer sat in a 100 square foot room, the only room in the building that was air conditioned. It had two disk drives that looked liked LPs, and each drive held 5MG of information.” The leverage and early adoption of tech is a theme that continued for the next 50 years, enabling rapid growth and success. “As we continue to look at what we need to do to remain competitive, we continue to invest in new equipment and technology. We’ll be introducing robotics soon.” In the 1980s, Duncan left the business and Fraser became the majority owner, and the company branched out into Edmonton, following a successful move into the American market. From

Redco™ Rubber Rollers and Liners.

Redwood Plastics & Rubber’s vice presidents discuss what makes the company an industry leader.

Graeme Fraser and Jim Blaney at the 1983 Forestry Show.

Marketing, for her creative campaigns that share their industry knowledge with other businesses. Redwood Plastics and Rubber is not just customer facing. They also have a strong presence in the community. In addition to supporting numerous charitable causes, the company sprang into action to help restaurants when COVID-19 took a toll. Fraser says, “Once a month, across all our locations, we pick a local restaurant. The company co-pays for lunch for everyone in the building. It supports the restaurants and treats the team.” Redwoods Plastics and Rubber has much to celebrate as it turns 50 this year. An industry leader and community supporter from the start, this company is changing the way products are produced and distributed, one innovative product at a time. Fraser concludes, “No matter what industry, they all have moving parts and they all have wear and tear. The right plastic in the right application can address this.

7035 56th Ave. Edmonton, AB T6B 3L2 T 780 435 7700 |1 888 554 7700 edmonton@redwoodplastics.com redwoodplastics.com

Greg Fraser, VP Manufacturing We invest heavily in understanding the technical elements of our products and our customer’s processes. This enables us to be the expert our customers need in advising and recommending solutions for their most challenging applications. When we make a recommendation, it’s based on technical training about the product as well as decades of evidence in comparable applications. The company was also founded on innovation, and our culture is grounded in our team’s creativity, analysis and problem solving skills. Dale Delmage, VP Sales We believe in a solutions-based business, so its important that our team understand, and be able to demonstrate both qualitatively and quantitatively, the value our products and services bring to our customers. This involves asking the right questions about challenges our customers are facing, identifying root causes, and then delivering a solution. Often, we are replacing conventional materials, so we must make the quantitative case for the long-term maintenance saving associated with the solution. Angela Rodenburgh, VP Marketing Redwood has a team of dedicated and experienced employees that do whatever it takes to help our customers. We work with our customers and develop quality plastic and rubber parts to improve the products they produce, as well as increase the production and safety of their facilities. Kris Fraser, VP Finance What stands out is our employees’ relentless drive to do what’s right for the customer. If it is a process or material we don’t stock, they will go searching. If its an issue or a change in our manufacturing process that is required, they are all in, trying to find a solution. If something goes wrong, our employees treat the customer’s problem as if it was their own. There is a constant commitment to customer satisfaction. Don McMillan, VP Operations Our people make the difference! We have well trained, knowledgeable employees and focus on providing our customers with solutions on projects or on maintenance concerns. Being a custom manufacturer allows us to mold, machine, and fabricate products to meet the specific specifications. We are a trusted source for information with a substantial product range. We have dedicated, long-term employees and a great culture – and we do like to have fun.

Congratulations to Redwood Plastics Corporation on their 50th Anniversary!

ENGAR

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Nijjer BC V3W 3B2 12940 80 AveMalkit #106, Surrey, Operations Manager (604) 501-4872 • vengar@telus.net #106-12940 80th Ave Tel: 604-501-4872 Surrey BC V3W 3B2 Fax: 604-501-4873 CONGRATULATIONS E-mail: Plastics vengar@telus.net to Redwood Corporation on 50 years of business excellence!

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Open to the public, RedTail Landing Golf Club is a links style course that was built to meet the expectations of competitive and recreational golfers alike. Established in 2003, this Puddicombe Golf design creates an interesting variety of challenges where players will remember each and every hole, use every club in their bag and willingly return to play the next day. The full range of amenities including the Putting Course, Golf Academy and Practice Facility are available to help take your game to the next level. The Practice Facility at RedTail Landing is like no other in the province, which boasts 19 acres that includes a natural grass teeing area, three full sized putting greens, two full sized chipping greens and two dedicated sand bunkers. Not only does RedTail Landing Golf Club cater to golfers, it is also the perfect venue for weddings, seminars, outside catering and corporate events. With a stand-alone Banquet Facility that comfortably seats up to 225 guests, RedTail Landing is the perfect facility for your next event. Proudly located at the entrance of the Edmonton International Airport, you are encouraged to swing by and enjoy the experience.

For more information, please visit www.RedTailLanding.com or call 780-890-7888

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Book your tournament or tee time today! Call (780) 470-4700 or visit www.theranchgolf.com BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

A SAFE OUTDOOR PANDEMIC ACTIVITY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY // GOLF

GOLF: A SAFE OUTDOOR PANDEMIC ACTIVITY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

BY WILL PORTER

olf has been a long-enduring game, the modern version having first been played in Scotland sometime in the 15th century and evolving ever since. A great outdoor sport, golf for many people is a relaxing way to spend time in the fresh air and get exercise. When the COVID-19 outbreak hit Canada, many golf courses had to shut down with much of the rest of the economy for a short while, but due to it being an outdoor activity with lots of space, golf courses were quickly given permission to reopen with certain restrictions in place. In Alberta, the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Health through the Alberta Health Services department deployed COVID-19 guidance documents for various types of businesses

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

WHEN THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK HIT CANADA, MANY GOLF COURSES HAD TO SHUT DOWN WITH MUCH OF THE REST OF THE ECONOMY FOR A SHORT WHILE, BUT DUE TO IT BEING AN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY WITH LOTS OF SPACE, GOLF COURSES WERE QUICKLY GIVEN PERMISSION TO REOPEN WITH CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE.

A SAFE OUTDOOR PANDEMIC ACTIVITY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY // GOLF

to follow in order to legally and safely reopen during the pandemic. The “Guidance for Golf Courses and Driving Range Operators” included a variety of guidelines to follow, covering regulations from social distancing to sanitation and personal hygiene. With the release of the guidance document, and further updates to it in June 2020, golf courses were able to recover from the closures that happened in March. Speaking on the safety in general of golf courses and driving ranges in the Edmonton region, Kent Coulter, president of the Edmonton Golf Association (EGA) gives us reassurances on the safety of golf as an outdoor activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Golf and golf courses in general were given the go ahead to open in spring 2020. They were expected to open and operate under certain safety protocols. As things progressed, some initial restrictions were lifted. This allowed further play and some tournaments to be organized. These had to be local as inter-provincial travel was being discouraged. Alberta golf courses did a great job operating under such restricting safety protocols for the summer of 2020.” In order to get a good look at how safe things are at golf courses themselves, we spoke with Liz Poburan, from Putting Horse Ranch Inc., located near Spruce Grove Alberta north west of Edmonton, who tells us about how golf courses are a safe outdoor activity to enjoy with family outside of the home. “Participants on a golf course are able to play safely without being too close to each other and it is inviting for families to have fun together at our family friendly golf courses. With the onset of COVID-19, we endeavored to make sure all areas remained easily accessible and safe for public use, such as limiting numbers out to play together and avoiding the touching of the flags.” She continues. “People feel good here and also, if not from the same household and it is deemed possible for this under AHS restrictions, it is easy for them to remaining two metres apart from other players and still enjoy the game. Handshakes have been replaced with smiles and waves after games.”

The reopening of the golf course and driving ranges in Alberta needed the cooperation of golf courses and driving ranger operators in order to make it safe for not only patrons, but also the employees at the courses. Poburan reveals the measures that were put in place at Putting Horse Ranch in order to ensure safety. “We have contactless flags with higher golf hole inserts. Hand sanitizer is on site and safe cleaning is provided in all public areas such as washrooms and patio seating outdoors. Putting Horse Ranch observes and implements restrictions without making patrons uneasy; we use signage and thank everyone for helping us to keep everyone safe by following all AHS guidelines at all our services. We have a golf cart that we rent out for the three holes, but that course is also easy to walk. We use sanitizer between people using it.” In regard to visitors coming to enjoy the horse side of the ranch, Poburan states, “We wear masks at the horse areas, and it is a requirement if you ride a horse here.” About the measures, Poburan concludes with, “As with many golf courses, when on the golf course last season, people could easily stay apart. We will continue to adhere to any and all AHS guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety practices and always have to keep everyone safe.”

ABOVE: FAIRWAY AT PUTTING HORSE RANCH INC.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MARCH 2021

A SAFE OUTDOOR PANDEMIC ACTIVITY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY // GOLF

WHEN GOLF COURSES WERE REOPENED WITH NEW SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE, PEOPLE JUMPED ON THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME FRESH AIR AND OUTDOOR EXERCISE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. THIS TREND HAS CONTINUED AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THE NEW SEASON WITH GOLF COURSES EXPECTED TO BE VERY BUSY ALL YEAR ROUND. Golf courses and driving ranges were able to adjust to the measures required due to the COVID-19 pandemic quite successfully. Coulter informs us that golf courses in general coped very well during the 2020 season. “Golf courses as a whole were very busy in 2020. Once they were able to open, they were one of the few activities that Albertans were able to safely participate in. This kept their tee sheet very full and busy. They had to take on extra costs due to additional safety measures, but were able to safely serve Albertans.” Although intra-province travel has been restricted, or at least has been discouraged, which has put a hold on Canada-wide golf tournaments for the time being, there are many golf course events scheduled for the upcoming year for most courses. At the EGA, it is expected to be a busy time for the foreseeable future. Coulter confirms, “We expect to have a full slate of events for 2021. This will include tournament and interclub play for women, men and juniors. In fact, being the centennial for our organization we will look to celebrate golf for Edmontonians as best as we safely can. We work closely with the Alberta Golf Association to have tournament protocols that can be followed and are safe for participants and volunteers. This includes distancing, eliminating common touch points, and what we will need to follow for provincial protocols, etc.”

MARCH 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

The Putting Horse Ranch offers a selection of all putting courses to give you a place to practice and hone your putting skills, as well as offering horseback riding and camping sites. Poburan invites anybody interested to get a pass and come out for the season once the spring weather comes along. “We currently have a very interactive website and are promoting the 2021 golf seasons passes for unlimited golf on both of our family friendly courses. Payment is easily done online, and we mail out the member cards following payment online.” The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a lot of plans falling through for many planned activities throughout 2020. Finding alternatives were important to people because being stuck at home for months at a time can cause mental health issues, or just general boredom. So, when golf courses were reopened with new safety measures in place, people jumped on the opportunity for some fresh air and outdoor exercise in a safe environment. This trend has continued and will continue into the new season with golf courses expected to be very busy all year round. So, if you are interested in golf consider contacting your local golf course and booking a tee time for yourself or your family and friends and maybe even signing up for some of the upcoming events. Your mind and body will thank you.

Focused on the Future:

Aquarian Renovations Celebrates 30 Years By Nerissa McNaughton

n 2016, Business in Edmonton magazine introduced readers to Aquarian Renovations, a renovation company helmed at the time by Marie Soprovich. Aquarian is widely known for its creative style and its focus on helping residents age in place. We caught up with the progressive company to see what’s changed as Aquarian celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Aquarian Renovations || 30 Years 49

Today the company is owned by Roger Cable; Marie has moved on to focus on community work and is a founding member of the Edmonton’s Women Presidents’ Organization chapter. Meanwhile, Cable is leading the company in a bold new direction and focusing on integrating technology. “We have moved into and renovated a cool new office/warehouse space that positions us well for growth,” Cable explains. “We have continued to invest in our industry-leading design and presentation capabilities with the introduction of virtual reality walkthroughs. We continue to provide the award-winning renovation experience that our customers love to share, while investing in the skill sets and technology required to ensure that experience is like no other in our city.”

Congratulations Aquarian on 30 years! We wish you many more years of continued success. At Veyron Projects, we love what we do! The foundation of every project is anchored on great communication, fully understanding expectations and delivering on promises. Office | Retail | Industrial | Restaurant | Institutional

Edmonton Based General Contractors 11755 156 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5M 3N4 T. 780-642-0560 • www.veyronprojects.ca Aquarian Renovations || 30 Years || 2

CONGRATULATIONS AQUARIAN RENOVATIONS ON 30 YEARS!

4260 93 St, Edmonton, AB, T6E 5P5 | 780-432-3947 | contactus@butlerplumbing.ca | www.butlerplumbing.ca Aquarian Renovations || 30 Years || 3

DRYWALL INSTALLATION | CEILING TEXTURE | DRYWALL FINISHING (TAPING) | PAINTING

CONGRATULATIONS AQUARIAN RENOVATIONS ON 30 YEARS!

Proudly serving the city of Edmonton & surrounding areas

780.293.5684 www.vertexdrywall.com

Aquarian Renovations! Years

360 MONTHS | 1565 WEEKS | 10,950 DAYS 262,800 HOURS | 15,779,746 MINUTES

But Who’s Counting? Proudly Selling

www.woodenergystore.com (780) 452-4988

No one builds a better fire

He continues, “Aquarian Renovations is ‘an experience worth sharing.’ For me that speaks not just to our customer relationships, but it is at the core of what makes Aquarian different. We hire talented people who love the industry, we embrace collaborative creativity, we invest in what it takes to lead our industry and then we package all that into a renovation experience you want to share with your friends.” Aquarian ensures homeowners enjoy the renovation process. The designers listen attentively to the needs and wants of their clients and assist them in finding the best materials, products, and accessories, all while staying within budget. Architecturally, Aquarian is known for its ability to completely refresh a dwelling, from adding second storeys and additions to modernizing bathrooms, kitchens, basements, exteriors, closets, decks, and more. Their signature aging-inplace renovations create elegant touches that make mobility around the home easier and safer while never compromising on style and design. Aquarian’s extensive network of tradespeople and designers ensures plenty of options for all styles and price points. The addition of virtual reality means clients get a “real-time” look at the evolving designs. Technology also helps to pinpoint areas of concern faster, addressing them before the build and keeping change order costs to a minimum. “Our investment in virtual reality has been a game changer in the industry. It was fun to take the idea from a brainstorm session through to the amazing experience our customers have when they enter our unique VR room.” Cable values creativity, which is why he bought the company. “To be surrounded by creative people in an industry where creativity is celebrated, really lights me up.” While creativity abounds on every project, two great examples are seen in a Westridge executive home makeover and a craftsman dream home project in Glenora. “Westridge was a full-scale three-storey renovation with features like a custom wine room, gym, kitchen with two islands, large master suite with his/hers closets and beautiful ensuite,” says Cable. “We kept the home’s original Tudor architecture but removed several interior walls by engineering steel beams.

Aquarian Renovations || 30 Years || 4

Let’s make the kitchen of your dreams!

With its technology-forward, creative, entrepreneurial approach, it’s no wonder why Aquarian Renovations walks away with several Canadian Home Builders’ Association awards (including multiple renovator of the year awards) each year. “Glenora was a unique project as we were designing it for the couple to age in place. It was a full home makeover of a 2,000 square foot bungalow. The clients love to entertain and moved all the bedrooms into the basement. An art room and a music room (including a climate-controlled instrument storage space) were created. We installed a hidden residential elevator so the couple would not need to worry about mobility in the future.” Creativity to bring projects like this to light comes easily for the team, which includes entrepreneurs with unstoppable visions. Cable confirms, “Visit us and talk to Tyler about his partnership in Town Square Brewing, Jason about his successful clothing line called Filthy Casual, Jenna about her nail business, Laceann about the homes she’s built, or Kevin about his roofing business. From an owner’s perspective, I love that our staff have business interests outside of the 9-5. It just adds another layer of interest to the story we can tell about our company.”

Proudly Manufactured in Western Canada since 1980 11045 190th Street NW | Edmonton, AB | 780-409-3400 | www.superiorcabinets.ca

Knight Doors and Windows Ltd. would like to thank Aquarian Renovations and their team of professionals for the partnership we’ve enjoyed for the past 5 years.

Congratulations to the entire Aquarian team on the past 30 years of Success in the Edmonton area.

Each team member, and the company as a whole, give back robustly to a variety of non-profit causes. Additionally, Cable serves as the board president of GRIT, an initiative that supports early childhood learning and development. With its technology-forward, creative, entrepreneurial approach, it’s no wonder why Aquarian Renovations walks away with several Canadian Home Builders’ Association awards (including multiple renovator of the year awards) each year.

Windows - Entry Doors - Garage Doors Sales - Service - Installation New Construction - Renovation

Aquarian Renovations || 30 Years || 5

“Aquarian is in an exciting growth phase. We are investing in virtual and video capabilities and are implementing them throughout our entire renovation process.” Cable, who is in his second year of ownership, notes, “I would like to acknowledge the staff for how well they’ve handled the change of ownership, the move to a drastically different style of office space and the additional responsibilities many have taken on. New ownership always brings a slightly different vision; this team has been amazingly accommodating and eagerly collaborative in helping set the foundation for Aquarian’s continued success.” He concludes, “Aquarian is in an exciting growth phase. We are investing in virtual and video capabilities and are implementing them throughout our entire renovation process. We are seeing a lot of activity in the renovation world and we are growing our team accordingly.”

Learn more at aquarianrenovations.com, and @aquarianrenovations on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Location: 11749 156 Street Edmonton AB T5M 3N4 Phone: 780.753.3421 Hours: 9am-5pm | Mon-Fri

Congratulations to the Aquarian team on your 30th Anniversary!!

14505 116 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5M 3E8 Tel: (780) 453-5691 | Fax: (780) 454-4022

www.glenoralumber.ca

A testament to your continued hard work, passion and dedication to industry. Proud to be your supplier of choice.

Aquarian Renovations || 30 Years || 6