MAY 2019 | $3.50 BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
Junior Achievement
OF NORTHERN ALBERTA & NWT ALBERTA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME’S
2019 LAUREATES PM42455512
KURT FEIGEL SR., ASHIF MAWJI AND PAUL COLLINS
E DMONTON AS A TOURIST DESTINATION? ABSOLUTELY! PAGE
56 |
EDMONTON CHAMBER SECTION
PAGE
49
FOR EVERYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG UNDER YOUR ROOF, THERE’S THE NUMBER THAT LIVES UNDER OURS. Fifty percent of businesses may never re-open after a disaster. That’s why knowing the easiest way to contact SERVPRO® is so important. Because the sooner you get in touch with us, the quicker we can start to minimize the damage, as well as the cost. Just contact SERVPRO of Calgary South or SERVPRO of Edmonton Southside to activate the cleanup team that’s faster to any-sized disaster. We’re a leader in giving control back to homeowners, property managers and even entire communities after the ravaging effects of water and fire. So whether you’re responsible for 1,000 square feet or 100,000 – it’s your decision to call on the very best. Your trusted, local SERVPRO professional. Services in Canada provided by independently owned & operated franchises of SERVPRO International, LLC.
·
STORY TITLE // SECTION
Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 7 | Number 5
REGULAR COLUMNS
9
Toeing the Tax Line: Property Taxes and the Appeal of the Outskirts By Terry O’Flynn, Chairman, Alberta Enterprise Group
10 49
Diversifying the Manufacturing Work Force is Key to the Sector’s Future By David MacLean, CME Alberta Vice President
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
CONTENTS COVER FEATURE
18
J unior Achievement of Northern Alberta & NWT Alberta Business Hall of Fame’s 2019 Laureates By Nerissa McNaughton
ON OUR COVER: ABOVE: ABOVE: KURT FEIGEL SR., ASHIF MAWJI AND PAUL COLLINS. PHOTO SOURCE: EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY INC.
FIND US ONLINE! B US I N E SS I N E DMONTON.COM BUSINESS IN EDMONTON
@BUSINEDMONTON
BUSINESSINEDMONTON
4
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
52
POWER PROFIT AND
The JCB 48Z-1 delivers the dump height, lift capacity and tearout forces of a larger tracked excavator but in a compact machine that is so much easier to transport and maneuver around the site. With no costly DPF, 500-hour greasing intervals and fuel-saving hydraulics systems, the 48Z-1 will help you dig the most profit out of every job. Learn more about the 48Z-1 and the entire JCB excavator range at www.jcb.com
CALGARY BRANCH 8010 40 Street SE Calgary, AB (403) 301-0041
LIFTBOSS LiftbossJCB.com 5186
EDMONTON BRANCH 7912 Yellowhead Trail Edmonton, AB (780) 474-9900
STORY TITLE // SECTION
Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 7 | Number 5
65
THIS MONTH’S FEATURES
26
CONTENTS COMPANY PROFILES
61 65 69
The End and New Beginnings: Inside the Coliseum and the Future of Northlands and the EXPO Centre As the Coliseum lies in wait, Northlands and the Edmonton EXPO Centre have undergone significant changes. For the City, it’s an opportunity. For community members, the wait is frustrating By Zachary Edwards
35
What Can we Learn About and From IFTA? By Fay Fletcher
A rcom Technical Services Ltd. Celebrates 20 Years
M BS Insurance
40 46
Celebrates 50 Years
Edmonton Public Library
Celebrating the Revitalization of the Stanley A. Milner Library!
Risky Business Identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing hidden hazards is a must for any well-run business—and especially vital in economically uncertain times By Ben Freeland
What Happens When You Leave Your Company Behind? Succession planning is a need, not a want By Nerissa McNaughton
56
Edmonton as a Tourist Destination? Absolutely! The Capital City has been quietly growing as a hot tourist destination with something to offer every type of tourist By Jamelie Bachaalani
76
69 6
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
Making an Impact for Edmonton
Congratulations to the Leaders of 2019 Join us in celebrating Edmonton’s leaders at our 7th Annual Awards Gala. We will be honouring 20 individuals for their business acumen and contribution to community and their industry. These are the people who are making Edmonton a great place to live and work.
Save the Date Wednesday, June 19th | 6pm | The Sutton Place Hotel For more information about tickets and our ambassador table program please contact Business In Edmonton (780) 638-1777 or leaders@businessinedmonton.com
Platinum Partner
Gold Partners
Official Airline Partner
OUR VIEW, TOO.
PUBLISHER
Business in Edmonton Inc.
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Brent Trimming brent@businessinedmonton.com
EDITOR
Just like you, we know the opportunities and challenges of doing business in Alberta. Put an Alberta Blue Cross employer benefit plan to work for you. Call us today.
780-498-8500 | ab.bluecross.ca
Nerissa McNaughton
COPY EDITOR Nikki Gouthro
ART DIRECTOR
Jessi Evetts jessi@businessinedmonton.com
ADMINISTRATION
Nancy Bielecki info@businessinedmonton.com
REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Terry O’Flynn David MacLean
THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Nerissa McNaughton Zachary Edwards Fay Fletcher Ben Freeland Jamelie Bachaalani
PHOTOGRAPHY
Cover photo by Epic Photography Inc.
ADVERTISING SALES
Sarah Sikora ssikora@businessinedmonton.com Alessandro Cimino alessandro@businessinedmonton.com Gary Caouette gary@businessinedmonton.com
DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING Mark McDonald mark@businessinedmonton.com
EDITORIAL, ADVERTISING & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
#1780, 10020 - 101 A Ave. NW Edmonton, AB T5J 3G2 Phone: 780.638.1777 Fax: 587.520.5701 Toll Free: 1.800.465.0322 Email: info@businessinedmonton.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Online at www.businessinedmonton.com Annual rates: $31.50 | $45 USA | $85 International Single Copy $3.50 Business in Edmonton is delivered to 27,000 business addresses every month including all registered business owners in Edmonton and surrounding areas including St Albert, Sherwood Park, Leduc/Nisku, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Fort Saskatchewan. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement, and all representations of warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not of the publisher. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in all or in part, without the written permission of the publisher. Canadian publications mail sales product agreement No. 42455512
Health and dental • Life and disability • Wellness • Spending accounts ®* The Blue Cross symbol and name are registered marks of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, an association of independent Blue Cross plans. Licensed to ABC Benefits Corporation for use in operating the Alberta Blue Cross Plan. ® † Blue Shield is a registered trade-mark of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ABC 83751 2018/02
Photo by Anthony Tam, Alberta Blue Cross employee
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to circulation dept. #1780, 10020 - 101 A Ave. NW Edmonton, AB T5J 3G2 info@businessinedmonton.com
Business in Edmonton magazine’s circulation is audited twice a year by BPA International.
WWW.BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
8
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
TOEING THE TAX LINE: PROPERTY TAXES AND THE APPEAL OF THE OUTSKIRTS // TERRY O’FLYNN
Toeing the Tax Line: Property Taxes and the Appeal of the Outskirts BY TERRY O’FLYNN, CHAIRMAN, ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP
W
hile ICE District looms large in our minds and skyline, some of the area’s biggest commercial developments are actually happening on the outskirts, just outside of the tax jurisdiction. Both the new Amazon fulfillment centre and the Premium Outlet Mall by the city’s international airport represent continued success just beyond the city’s borders. What a lost opportunity for our city. In both cases, the locations were chosen strategically: be close to Edmonton, but not too close. It’s no secret that Edmonton’s property tax rates are becoming burdensome for businesses. Rising at four times the rate of inflation, these taxes have been called “the Edmonton Disadvantage” by councillor Mike Nickel. Coupled with slow permitting and other issues, many companies are finding it easier to deal with smaller municipalities who can offer competitive taxation, less red tape and more flexibility. If Edmonton was losing business to the outskirts only recently, this would be a different story. It would be one of surprise, considering new efforts to be competitive. This is not the case. The city has classically done more business on its fringes instead of its downtown. This isn’t a unique situation amongst prairie cities with similar industries, where space needed for warehousing and machinery make downtown operations impossible. Despite this being an ongoing issue, one the city has long been aware of, we are still losing to other places. Even as ICE District builds up the downtown, and consequently the City’s coffers, many major businesses are literally toeing the line. They come close enough for the benefits and far enough away to save time and money. Edmonton needs to consider what it can offer these businesses and any others that want to take advantage of
IF EDMONTON WAS LOSING BUSINESS TO THE OUTSKIRTS ONLY RECENTLY, THIS WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY. IT WOULD BE ONE OF SURPRISE, CONSIDERING NEW EFFORTS TO BE COMPETITIVE. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. this city’s highly-skilled, educated workforce and its many other benefits. The city also must recognize that driving old and new businesses to the outskirts means less money for its budget, projects and citizens. Taxes, at the end of the day, are a calculation based on supply and demand. Do you raise taxes and lower demand or do you lower taxes in the hopes of increased supply? In short, do you hope to make less money off of more businesses or more money off of fewer? If Amazon and the Premium Outlet Mall are any indication, it’s that Edmonton is hoping to charge fewer businesses more – but if that’s the plan, it’s not working (just look at what’s happening in Calgary right now). Edmonton’s tax rate and permits, influence, in part, how a business develops, but it also controls that business’ geography. While the call for lower taxes is simpler, Edmonton and its residents should be asking if its current tax rate is helping businesses develop or negatively impacting their growth. Taxes, after all, are an important part of a city. Edmonton’s taxation and regulations should protect its citizens while fostering this city’s famous entrepreneurial spirit.
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
9
DIVERSIFYING THE MANUFACTURING WORK FORCE IS KEY TO THE SECTOR’S FUTURE // DAVID MACLEAN
Diversifying the Manufacturing Work Force is Key to the Sector’s Future BY DAVID MACLEAN
E
very two years Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) surveys it’s members across Canada to take the pulse of the manufacturing sector. The survey results provide valuable insight into the mindset and concerns of manufacturers – both in terms of their day-to-day struggles as well as their longer-term strategic goals. In each and every survey year in recent history, one common concern has come through loud and clear: the long-term availability of skilled labour is a major challenge for Canadian manufacturers. In our most recent survey, 69 per cent of respondents said they face immediate labour shortages and 75 per cent expect shortages in the next five years. The manufacturing workforce is old and getting older, and there aren’t enough students graduating with the right skills to replace retirees. Making matters worse, on-the-job training can be prohibitively expensive for many businesses and differences in provincial standards can make out-of-province recruitment for skilled trades more difficult. This has a knock-on effect on necessary technology adoption – if you don’t have workers with the right skills, it’s difficult to incorporate new technology that can help make your business more globally competitive. Attraction and retention of skilled labour is not a new challenge and there are no quick fixes. CME has been working with various levels of government (and making some progress) on supporting work-integrated learning programs and improving the Canada Job Grant.
Women account for only 28 per cent of the manufacturing workforce across Canada. Female under-representation is especially a problem in production-related occupations, with women holding less than 5 per cent of all skilled trades jobs across Canada. Studies show that gender diversity in any industry adds value to a modern workplace. Technology is driving rapid change in the modern-day business world in ways that play to women’s strengths of collaboration, creativity, communication, and relationship building. Today manufacturing jobs often involve highly innovative, clean and collaborative environments. This is an attractive environment for anyone to work. Industry needs to do a better job to promote the modern image of manufacturing and the career options to young people. These highly skilled jobs provide innovative, higher-wage career paths that are also stepping-stones to management opportunities. To do this, CME has been rolling out a Women in Manufacturing initiative across the country. Our next stop is right here in Alberta. In the coming months we will be working to elevate and shine a light on female role models in manufacturing and STEM. We will be touring young women through manufacturing operations across the province to perhaps change perceptions about what manufacturing work really looks like. Keep an eye out for tours and events around Edmonton. Success in diversifying the workforce helps manufacturers innovate and compete in the future.
Perhaps the biggest difference we can make is simply making the manufacturing and oil and gas workforce more diverse. 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.
10
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
24 HOUR ONSITE SECURITY QUOTE HIGH DEFINITION SEE EVERYTHING
EASY TO USE SOFTWARE
Cameras
Access
Alarm
Intercom
EXPERIENCED & SAFETY CERTIFIED
(403) 288-6468
sales@survshop.com
www.survshop.com
OFF
THE
BDC Capital is Pleased to Announce More Than $180 million in Business Transactions
BDC Capital, the investment arm of BDC, which is Canada’s only bank for the exclusive use of entrepreneurs, is pleased to announce investments in excess of $180 million in change-ofownership business transactions since December 2017. BDC Capital has pledged to invest $900 million over five years and based on the current numbers, is right on track. When the pledge was announced in 2017 Jerôme Nycz, executive vice president at BDC Capital, said, “This is just the beginning. As many Canadian entrepreneurs expect to acquire another company in the near future, BDC is sending a clear message: we are here to partner with Canada’s business owners looking for growth capital to become champions in their industry.” Patrick Latour, senior vice president, growth & transition capital at BDC Capital, also remarked at the time, “Our team has been active in addressing ownership transitions; since April 2017, BDC Capital has successfully financed 53 transitions totalling $142 million, which confirms that our offering fills a real need in the market.” After reaching the $180 million milestone, Latour said in a March 2019 media statement, “Investing in business transitions is one of our core offerings. Our growth & transition capital team specializes in helping the many Canadian entrepreneurs who are planning business transitions or seek to pursue an acquisition. We have a customized and flexible offering with a goal to help build strong Canadian companies with a competitive edge on the regional, national and global stage.”
12
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
A few of the recent transactions include: • David Aplin Group: BDC Capital provided financing and a cash flow loan for the continuation of an intergenerational ownership transfer. This allowed the company to remain a family-owned enterprise. • Sancton: The fourth-generation family business received BDC Capital financing for an intergenerational transaction and a working capital top up.
OFF
THE
• Deslaurier Custom Cabinets: BDC Capital provided financing for the company to be acquired by an outside group. • Kendrick Equipment: The distributor received BDC Capital financing to acquire a company with exclusive distributor rights. • BID Group: As one of the largest providers of capital equipment in the industry, BID Group received BDC Capital financing to support an ownership transition, and to support additional growth. • Polykar Inc.: BDC Capital financing is enabling Industries Polykar’s continued growth, along with a family transition that allows the company to remain in its current headquartered location.
BDC is also excelling internally, having recently accepted an award from Mediacorp Canada Inc. The award is for Canada’s Best Diversity Employers (2019), and recognises employers with exemplary diversity initiatives for women, members of visible minorities, people with disabilities, Indigenous people and the LGBTQ+ community. “Our talented and diverse team is critical to everything we do as Canada’s only bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs,” says Mary Karamanos, chief human resources officer at BDC. “We are happy that our efforts have been recognized in fostering an inclusive environment that attracts top talent and supports entrepreneurship among diversity groups.”
π SHIPPING SUPPLY SPECIALISTS
QUALITY PRODUCTS YOU CAN TRUST
ORDER BY 6 PM FOR SAME DAY SHIPPING
COMPLETE CATALOG
1-800-295-5510 uline.ca
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
13
OFF
THE
PCL Partners with AltaML to Co-develop AI/ML Program
PCL is a group of independent construction companies that works in Canada, Australia, the United States and the Caribbean. AltaML is a developer that helps companies leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to create more efficient workspaces. While a construction company and a tech company may seem to have little in common, both have come together to create innovation and disruption in the construction industry. “Combining PCL’s expertise in construction and execution with AltaML’s expertise in AI and ML, and harnessing data from PCL’s Job Site Insights™ smart construction platform, [together we are] dramatically enhancing the industry’s leading digital construction platform,” announced a recent press release from PCL. “By applying advanced analytics and machine learning to the incredible data volumes generated by our digital construction platform, PCL is realizing predictive, actionable, and measurable insights into its construction operations,” said PCL’s CIO, Mark Bryant. “This drives better productivity, improved safety, and greater efficiency, and affirms PCL’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.” Cory Janssen, CEO of AltaML added, “We are extremely excited to be partnering on this initiative with PCL. It is refreshing to deal with an organization whose management team has such a forward-thinking vision for the future of their industry. The data and decades of experience from PCL combined with our experience in ML commercialization is an amazing combination.”
The technology stemming the partnership will do more than enhance Job Site Insights™. It will also create solutions in every aspect of PCL’s operations, from business development to project planning, preconstruction, quality control, safety initiatives, procurement and even jobsite operations. Working with AltaML is part of PCL’s overall mandate to leverage innovative technologies and partnerships in the pursuit of operational excellence. In this regard, AltaML is an ideal partner. AltaML exists to help progressive companies learn how to use machine learning to solve business problems, citing the technology “augments human decision making and uncovers powerful insights to build new competitive advantages.” The technology is not one-size fits all. AltaML identifies applicable challenges within a company that could benefit from ML, then helps deploy custom solutions. AltaML sees this technology as being beneficial for every industry, including ones where Alberta is heavily invested, such as: fintech, energy, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing.
ABOVE: PCL’S CIO, MARK BRYANT PHOTO SOURCE: PCL
14
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
OFF
THE
WORKING WITH ALTAML IS PART OF PCL’S OVERALL MANDATE TO LEVERAGE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PARTNERSHIPS IN THE PURSUIT OF OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. IN THIS REGARD, ALTAML IS AN IDEAL PARTNER.
In a recent news interview, AltaML co-founder Cory Janssen said, “All software in the next decade will have an element of AI and ML as a part of it. We want to be a part of building out those platforms and those applications. We’ll be kind of the smaller, grittier, blue-collar one (A.I. company) that picks our fight.” He’s no stranger to the tech world. Janssen was one of the founders of Investopedia, which later sold to Forbes.com.
As the future goes increasingly digital, progressive companies like PCL are finding ways to leverage new technologies and companies like AltaML are helping to deliver and create the programs that will take Alberta businesses far into the future. Learn more about PCL at www.pcl.com, and AltaML at www.altaml.com.
RUTH KNEW HOW TO
SEAL A BUSINESS DEAL. AND IT ALWAYS INVOLVED STEAK.
PRIVATE ROOMS AVAILBLE FOR LUNCH & DINNER When you book a private party at Ruth’s Chris, know that every detail, every nuance, every request that you and our team plan together will be executed flawlessly. And the experience itself will be unforgettable. Just how Ruth would have wanted it.
Edmonton • 780.990.0123 • 9990 Jasper Ave. salesedmonton@ruthschris.com
Our unique private rooms are available to host groups from five to ninety guests.
ruthschrisalberta.ca
“Book your next event with us and you’ll always wonder if they came for you or the food.” - Ruth
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
15
The Benefits of Donating Securities
Which securities should I donate for maximum tax savings? You should donate securities that are held in a nonregistered investment account. Investments held in a registered account, such as an RRSP or RRIF, do not qualify for these tax savings.
any donations made to charities are in the form of cash. However, savvy donors see the benefits of donating publicly traded securities (stocks, bonds or mutual funds) as a more tax effective way to donate versus giving a cash gift.
Consult with your tax advisor or professional advisor on which stocks, bonds or mutual funds present the best gifting opportunity. Donate the securities that have the largest capital gain to maximize the tax savings for zero capital gains inclusion for the donated securities.
If you own publicly traded securities, outside of a registered account (RRSP, RRIF, TFSA), that have increased in value since you purchased them, and you donate them in-kind to charity, you’ll realize even more tax savings than you would with a cash gift.
Capital gains on investments held in a tax-free savings account (TFSA) are already tax exempt. Donating these investments will not generate the same tax savings as donating securities held in a taxable investment account.
M
When you sell the securities and donate cash, 50% of the capital gain becomes taxable income. However, if you donate the securities in-kind, the taxable capital gain is avoided, and you will receive a charitable receipt for the market value of the securities. Abundance Canada, a public foundation, has extensive knowledge and experience in assisting individuals with these types of charitable donations. Unlike other Foundations, who will usually provide a charitable receipt on the day the funds arrive in their accounts, Abundance Canada will date the charitable receipt on the day you sign the paper work and initiate the transfer. In addition, you do not need to complete separate security transfers with each charity you want to benefit. This means less paperwork and hassle for you. At tax time, you only have one donation receipt to process and that one donation has benefited multiple charities. For example, a donor has 1,000 shares of Royal Bank to donate to four charities. The fair market value of the shares is about $100,000. Each charity is to receive $25,000. If the donor chooses to use Abundance Canada to process the gift of securities, they complete one transfer form for the 1,000 shares and they will receive one donation receipt from Abundance Canada. If the donor does not use Abundance Canada to process the gift-in-kind, they will need to send each charity 250 shares of Royal Bank, which means four transfer processes and four donation receipts.
What if my charity of choice cannot accept donations of publicly traded securities? Many charities don’t have brokerage accounts or the expertise to process donations of securities. Abundance Canada will process the donation of securities, sell them and distribute the proceeds to the charities you wish to support. You can disburse the proceeds immediately or over a period of years. This works well if you want to receive the tax benefit in one year but fulfill a longer-term pledge. Even if one of the charities you want to support is willing and able to process these types of donations, using Abundance Canada means that with one transaction you can distribute the proceeds to multiple charities.
Talk to our team Abundance Canada makes the process of donating publicly traded securities easy! Charitable giving via gifts of publicly traded securities is a wonderful way to support your favourite charities plus realize additional tax savings over donating cash. To learn more, visit abundance.ca or call 1.800.772.3257 to meet with a gift planning consultant for a confidential meeting, at no cost to you and with no obligation.
Smart generosity begins with your philanthropic goal to support the causes you care about most.
Whether your donation is simple or more complex, such as a gift in a will or a gift of publicly traded securities, our strategic approach creates a tailored plan that enables you to amplify your charitable giving now and in the future, allowing you to make an even greater impact.
Learn more at abundance.ca or call 1.800.772.3257 to speak with a Gift Planning Consultant. Generosity changes everything
Abundance Canada is a public foundation registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Since 1974, we have helped individuals to be smart with their generosity to charity, during their lifetime and through their estate. Charity Registration No: 12925-3308-RR0001.
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN ALBERTA & NWT ALBERTA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME // COVER
ABOVE: KURT FEIGEL SR., ASHIF MAWJI AND PAUL COLLINS. PHOTO SOURCE: EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY INC.
18
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN ALBERTA & NWT ALBERTA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME // COVER
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN ALBERTA & NWT ALBERTA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME’S
2019 LAUREATES
BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON
N
ow in its 39th year, Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta & NWT Alberta Business Hall of Fame continues to honour the leaders that enhance our
business landscape, are active in the community and mentor others. This year’s inductees are: Paul Collins, Kurt Feigel Sr. and Ashif Mawji.
PAUL COLLINS Paul Collins is the founder of and board advisor with Collins Steel, and the CEO of the Collins Group of Real Estate and Investment. “The most enjoyable thing about my career was developing a culture inside of Collins Steel that enabled the team members to reach their full potential. It was a pure joy to see the young and older workers grow and achieve some of their life dreams while they were supporting me in mine,” he says. Collins knows the role leadership plays in a successful organization. “I have learned that to be a good leader, you must be willing to be a servant of all. No task is too ordinary to do and working with the trust and support of your team you can accomplish great things, while giving gratitude from the heart to all involved. A good leader is a grateful person who humbly faces the challenges before them and perseveres until the tasks are complete.”
Over the past 35 years Collins has seen a lot of changes in his industry. “The two biggest I have seen is the advancement of technology and the progress in education where trades
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
19
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN ALBERTA & NWT ALBERTA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME // COVER
and technology are working hand in hand with universities in a very progressive way. For example, the only modes of communication that were effective in 1984 were landline telephones and snail mail or courier service. One other major change is gender equality in all types of industry. Traditional stereotypes of which gender filled which roles have been dropped. Today more women are involved in building trades than in any time in our nation.”
suppliers and customers. The golden rule, ‘treat others the way you would like to be treated’ will always be my mission statement,” says Collins. “To the Junior Achievers of today: determine the type of profession you truly love and pursue it with all your might. Develop disciplines in your life such as punctuality, integrity and compassion. If you don’t have a heart for helping others, you don’t have a heart to be successful in business. Be humble and work hard.”
For Collins, news of his JA Alberta Business Hall of Fame induction was a surprise. “When I heard I was inducted in the Hall of Fame, I was humbly surprised and very honoured because it wasn’t even on the radar of my thought patterns. It is truly an honour to be considered in the same category as some of the great achievers that are there.”
Looking back over his life and career, Collins thanks God for the blessings in his life; his wife Karen for her ongoing support and for working beside him for the first 10 years of the business; his sons Ryan and Jason, who have joined the company; his parents who taught him sound business principles as he worked in their general store; and his older brothers who are pioneers in Edmonton’s steel industry. He is also very grateful to his team members, customers and suppliers.
His life’s work has also been recognized with a Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), a Founder Award from The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction in (2013) and the Eric Newell Award of Excellence from Careers: the Next Generation (2017). “My advice for emerging entrepreneurs is this: be competent in the service or business you are performing and do everything with integrity as you deal with your employees,
KURT FEIGEL SR. Kurt Feigel Sr. founded Universe Machine Corporation in 1965 and Feigel Investments in 1973. “What I have enjoyed the most about my career are the friendships I developed over the years;” says Feigel, “the many friends I made and associates and business partners. I’m also still active with the Shepherd’s Care Foundation, a non-profit organization that looks after seniors and the differently-abled. Shepherd’s Care started with six young men in 1969 and I was the youngest at 27. Now the organization has seven locations, employs about 800 people, and looks after 2,000 seniors.”
20
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
“The next step for me is to continue to work with my daughter Kim and her husband Tony as we develop our investment company, but my real passion is to work with men and with young married couples to help them to come to know God and to grow in relationships with Him. That is the primary focus in my life today,” he says of his future plans.
Wherever Business Takes You
Business is a journey filled with twists and turns, risks and opportunities. When you’re wondering if you should stay the course or take a detour, we can help you plan the best route now and for wherever business takes you.
MNP.ca/TakesYou
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN ALBERTA & NWT ALBERTA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME // COVER
With two companies and being active in the community, Feigel has insights on what makes a good leader. “If you want to be a good leader you have to be, first of all, a good listener. That is very important.” He notes the many changes in Edmonton’s business landscape from when he started his career to now. “People are a lot more educated than they were in 1965, and more open minded. You can discuss things easier and bring your point across to people now. In the past, people were a lot more stubborn!” Feigel’s work has been honoured with many recognitions, including a Pinnacle Award (best business in their category in Northern Alberta, 1993). He was an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® finalist in 2016. In 2004, Feigel received an award for his work with seniors. “Work hard and surround yourself with good people. You can’t do it all yourself,” he tells other entrepreneurs. “You have to have good people around you. Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.” For Junior Achievers, he counsels, “Study hard, learn lots
ASHIF MAWJI Ashif Mawji is a venture partner at Rising Tide and board chair with the Edmonton Police Foundation. “What I’ve enjoyed the most about my career is working with incredibly talented individuals, learning from them, helping lead teams and mentoring. When I helped lead Upside Software, we had customers in every industry and in about 180 countries. I was able to learn about all those industries, understand commercializing at a global level and build connections around the globe. This allowed me to gain a diverse understanding.”
22
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
and listen even more. Listen before you speak. That is very important. Start from when you are young to learn as much as you can. You think when you are learning something you’ll never use it again, but it’s about learning how to use your brain and to process.” How did he react when he learned he was a JA Alberta Business Hall of Fame Laureate? “I’m already so old I’ve run out of things in my life that I could be nominated for!” he laughs. “But I was definitely humbled, and I really appreciate it. There are a lot of people that probably deserve it more, but I’m glad they picked me.” Feigel says there are “too many people to count” in looking back on who inspired him and his career. “I was very fortunate to have a lot of good people and good businesses that helped along the way.” Looking forward, Feigel notes, “I passed as much knowledge as I could to my kids. Now I’m teaching my grandchildren and a couple of them are working in the company. My goal is trying to tell them what life is about and teaching them what I learned over the years. I enjoy mentoring young people.”
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN ALBERTA & NWT ALBERTA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME // COVER
Leadership has always played a big role in Mawji’s life. “Leadership evolves and the more you allow yourself to be a student the better you become as a human being. A good leader learns as much as they teach. The more you share, the better we all become. Surround yourselves with mentors who share common values, learn from them and share what you’ve learned with those around you.” Mawji has received many recognitions over the years. “Being selected as a recipient of an honorary degree from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) was very meaningful, especially coming from the school I went to and got my jump start. Being accepted into the Henry Crown Fellowship taught me about servant leadership, and to really think about ‘just because you can, should you?’ which forces you to consider ethics, values and the overall good in everything you do or undertake.” “Receiving the honour of being inducted into the JA Alberta Business Hall of Fame was something I dreamt of and wanted to earn,” Mawji continues. “When I learned of the induction, I was very honoured and in awe. It gave me the energy to do more for our community. To me, this is a huge honour and one that I know I need to continue what I do, to truly earn it. I’m not sure I ever will do enough to earn it, but I know I will keep trying. It is a proud moment for everyone in my family and for my friends.” He smiles, “But the biggest achievement is being fortunate to marry my wife Zainul, who has been my constant champion and soul mate. Having that support has allowed me to be my very best and that, coupled with raising two incredible boys, is definitely what I am proud of the most.” He is excited to see Edmonton’s growing tech sector and calls the city’s leadership in AI a positive change. “The number of incredible tech companies that have matured, our community spirit in giving back and the overall can-do attitude have all grown in a positive manner. We are now
more confident and take on big projects that truly put our city on the global landscape.” “Be bold, ask for help, believe in yourself, know that you are living and working in one of the best cities in the world and remember to give back so the cycle repeats and we all get stronger and better,” he counsels emerging entrepreneurs, and to the Junior Achievers he says, “Entrepreneurship is the blood of any economy. With entrepreneurs, we will see the cure to many diseases, our quality of life will improve dramatically, we will eradicate poverty and create a better living condition for everyone. So, be bold, think big, and believe in yourselves. You’ve got this! Learn from others, help everyone you can help, if it ain’t broken, break it! Think creatively, be disruptive with the intent to be innovative and ask for help from those that you respect.” “There are so many people that have helped me along my journey,” he continues. “NAIT gave me the essential tools and confidence to start a business and make it flourish. My team of incredibly talented professionals taught me to trust and delegate and that they will always have my back. My friends have provided me with laughter, enjoyment and continued support. My family, including my parents, brother, uncles, aunts, and in-laws have provided me with unwavering support and have always believed in me. My kids have taught me patience, work-life balance and being a good person. My wife has provided continual support, encouragement, guidance and lifted me up when I was feeling defeated.” Mawji looks forward to continuing to be active at work and in the community. “This honour has reminded me I need to do more for our community, our young entrepreneurs, and help share what I’ve learned with them. My company and I are excited about investing in Alberta and our talent here. We have something very special that deserves global attention and recognition.”
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
23
Spotlight On: Christenson Communities Part 1: Site Based Home Care in Active Adult Communities
C
hristenson Developments’ active adult and retirement communities are focused on 360 degrees of wellness: social, physical, mental, financial, and spiritual.
“We promote a social lifestyle of wellness in a supportive environment for those who seek independent living in a retirement community. As a resident, you can expect a calendar of social events, and optional services and programs that are superior to institutional senior care and conventional home care, to support and enrich an optimal life. This includes: a choice in housing options, social and recreational amenities, improved walkability, integrated wellness, parks and convenient access to nearby restaurants and other mixed-use spaces,” says Greg Christenson, president. He continues, explaining the benefits of site-based home care, “With our model, residents and their families can rely on 24/7 access to on-call care staff, 365 days a year. This is superior to current models, which rely on care workers to travel across town to scheduled appointments. Our holistic, responsive approach to site based supportive services means better working conditions, less staff turnover, (residents can develop a bond and familiarity with their caregiver(s), reduced reliance on stressful 911 emergency calls and hospital stays, and less time spent for families who no longer have to take as much time off to care for aging relatives.” A successful example of this model is currently in place at Devonshire Village, an active adult community located in Terwillegar Gardens on Rabbit Hill Road. Roughly 60 residents receive Alberta Health Services funded site based home care, and 57 more residents receive funded SL4 supportive living, delivered by the staff of Christenson Developments’ Advantage Assist Group. “Devonshire Village is the flagship of Christenson Communities,” smiles Christenson. “Residents love the Old English styling, oak paneled lobby, sweeping spiral staircases, and the quaint pub. It’s easy for residents and their families to meet and be social thanks to two family party rooms, two dining rooms, a chapel, craft lounges, and a theatre. “There is even a carpentry shop for the creative types, and a gym and dance floor for those committed to staying in shape. Devonshire Village is always bustling with life, while residents and their
Kimshelly Santander and Angelica Magpantay, nurses at Beford Village.
families are secure in the knowledge that discreetly delivered care and emergency services can be delivered right on site.” Meals and housekeeping are optional in Christenson Communities, encouraging residents to get out and to socialize in Terwillegar’s nearby restaurants and shops. In addition to offering independent living in The Mews and assisted living lifestyles in The Manor, Devonshire Village is connected by indoor pedway to the 125 bed Devonshire Care Centre, a long-term care facility, which is owned by Park Place. Showcasing the proven success of the site based home care model is also Creekside Condominiums. This community, celebrating its 20th anniversary, currently supports 23 residents, ranging in age from 35-75 years old, each with various disabilities, living independently and supported by Creekside Support Services (CSS), which provides Alberta Health Services funded care on site. “CSS allows its clients to live independently with almost 200 other condo owners in an inclusive community, with care provided discreetly to residents in their own homes,” explains Christenson. “With this arrangement, residents have achieved personal success, in work, school, family, and in the community.” A video about Creekside Support Services can be viewed on YouTube or at www.cdlhomes.com.
TIME • CHOICE • FREEDOM
CHRISTENSON THE NAME IN ACTIVE ADULT LIVING The Christenson Group accommodate a number of lifestyles by creating award winning multi-family urban villages for adults and seniors. Devonshire Village Recognized as one of Edmonton’s top retirement communities, Devonshire is the flag ship of Christenson. Features
Conveniently located in the luxury community of Terwillegar
• Condo Quality Homes
Gardens, Devonshire Village is always bustling with life from its
• AHS Site Based Home Care
numerous parties, events, and workshops.
• Life Lease Options
Visit us to view our Show Suite and tour our community at 1728 Rabbit Hill Road or phone 780-435-5485.
ChristensonGroup.ca
THE END AND NEW BEGINNINGS // CONSTRUCTION
THE END AND NEW BEGINNINGS: INSIDE THE COLISEUM AND THE FUTURE OF NORTHLANDS AND THE EXPO CENTRE
As the Coliseum lies in wait, Northlands and the Edmonton EXPO Centre have undergone significant changes. For the City, it’s an opportunity. For community members, the wait is frustrating.
BY ZACHARY EDWARDS
A
s Rogers Place and the surrounding ICE District begin to see the fruits of over a decade of planning and building, another arena in town has become quiet. The Northlands Coliseum, formerly Rexall Place, is now almost literally a ghost town unto itself. The building is currently in “dark operations,” half-lit and occupied only by a rotating group of security guards. Where once tens of thousands cheered the Oilers to their five Stanley Cups, now only occasional footsteps can be heard, and no one else is allowed in.
Rogers Place was built with a non-competition agreement, meaning that the Coliseum could not host events like concerts. With fewer and fewer opportunities to make revenue, Northlands began acquiring debt until the City itself had to step in. So, on Jan. 1, 2018, the City of Edmonton forgave $47 million of that debt and assumed responsibility for the Edmonton EXPO Centre and the Coliseum. They subsequently closed the Coliseum and assigned management of the Edmonton EXPO Centre to
ABOVE: EXPO CENTRE.
26
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
SUPPORTING RELATIONSHIPS. CELEBRATING SUCCESS. Standard Scaffold has a history of creating great relationships, innovating, and building trust. These are the values that have led us to this exciting milestone: 10 years in business! Standard Scaffold had humble beginnings as a 3-man crew. Now we are 300 members strong with an 8-acre shop and 240 loads of scaffolding equipment. We may have grown, but we haven’t forgotten what made us successful. As the scaffolding industry changes, we’ll continue to change as well. There are always ways for us to innovate, improve, and take on new challenges. Our team and services continue to expand to better support our clients in their commercial and industrial projects. We’d like to say thank you and congratulations to everyone who helped us reach our 10-year anniversary. Here’s to another decade filled with growth, learning, and success!
“Innovation, transparency and accountability are the driving force that will continue to place Standard at the forefront of industrial services.” - Brian Fahner, Chief Revenue Officer
SCAFFOLDING | INSULATION | FIREPROOFING Edmonton, AB | 780.628.6484 www.standardscaffold.ca
THE END AND NEW BEGINNINGS // CONSTRUCTION
THE COLISEUM MAY BE THE SPACE THAT IS MOST VISIBLY DIFFERENT, BUT THE AREA IS CHANGING AND GROWING. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THE EDMONTON EXPO CENTRE, WHICH HAS WELCOMED NEW EVENTS AND NEW PROSPECTS SINCE BEING TAKEN OVER BY THE EEDC AT THE BEGINNING OF 2018.
Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC). A little over a year later, the Northlands Park racetrack closed as well, with its successor opening in April near the international airport. But even as the Coliseum and old racetrack are quiet, the area has undergone change. Its future has potential and obstacles in equal measure. On the surface, this may seem like the end of the road but, according to the City, it actually presents an opportunity. The Coliseum may be the space that is most visibly different, but the area is changing and growing. This is especially true for the Edmonton EXPO Centre, which has welcomed new events and new prospects since being taken over by the EEDC at the beginning of 2018. When the City took over, the focus was on retaining the talent and key assets of the EXPO Centre, all of which have helped the space be a key part of Edmonton since it was called the Agricom. “One of our main priorities with the transition was to provide uninterrupted service to our venue clients,” says Arlindo Gomes, general manager of the Edmonton EXPO Centre. “EEDC was able to integrate nearly 800 employees and incorporate the Edmonton EXPO Centre into their
business operations, allowing us to jump straight into a busy event schedule to start the new year.” Since those first days, the EXPO Centre has grown and expanded, especially in the events happening within its walls. “We hosted over 400 events in 2018 and saw more than 1.5 million guests come through our doors,” says Gomes. “This was a year of new experiences in many ways, including in the events we hosted.” Gomes points to the PBR Monster Energy Tour, 11 performances for Disney On Ice and more as standout events happening in the EXPO Centre. The space will also be the host of Edmonton’s latest professional sports team, the Stingers, who had their first tip-off in May as part of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Much of the success seen at the EXPO Centre, according to Gomes, is a result of the efficiencies that came with bringing the Centre under city control. “An integrated sales model between the Edmonton EXPO Centre, Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton Tourism has been developed,” says Gomes. “This ensures that both the Edmonton EXPO Centre and Edmonton Convention Centre are presented as a viable meeting and conference
ABOVE: ARLINDO GOMES, GENERAL MANAGER, EDMONTON EXPO CENTRE.
30
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
Profile is paramount. Situate your business on a high traffic location with maximum exposure.
*Combined data from Calgary Trail & Whitemud Dr (2015)
le
Corner of St. Albert Trail & Neil Ross Road, St. Albert
Sa
*Data from St. Albert Trail (2016)
EPC Erin Ridge Plaza
EPC Aspen Plaza
95,800 VPD
*Combined data from Queen Elizabeth II Hwy & Airport Road (2017)
Contact Our Sales Team
le
Queen Elizabeth II Hwy & Airport Road, Nisku
Sa
EPC Airport Crossing Business Park
Sa
*Combined data from Sherwood Dr & Lakeland Dr (2018)
le /L ea
Corner of Sherwood Dr & Lakeland Dr, Sherwood Park
se
36,110 VPD
Pr e-
EPC Aspen Plaza
EPC SouthTrail Plaza
23,737 VPD se
EPC Erin Ridge Plaza
Le a
Corner of Calgary Trail & Whitemud Dr, Edmonton
se
141,800 VPD
/L ea
EPC SouthTrail Plaza
* VPD = Vehicles Per Day
Knowledge. Performance. Excellence. At EPC Capital we build with a purpose
EPC Airport Crossing
780.695.1200
epccapital.ca
11749 156 Street Ed���t��, Alberta
Ph��e: 780-481-7671 aquaria�re��va��������
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
31
Builders and Habitat unite
Builders and Habitat UNITE! It’s another amazing year to celebrate the ongoing partnership between our local home builders and Habitat for Humanity Edmonton! Habitat Day in the Capital Region brings builders and Habitat together through an innovative partnership that is now heading into its ninth year. In today’s tough economy, builders continue to step up to ensure that Habitat is top of mind in our community. Habitat Day brings focus to the growing need to help low-income families in the capital region. Habitat’s model is affordable home ownership, and it has been proven to transform families’ lives. Each family must volunteer 500 hours on build sites in lieu of a down payment. Once in their home, a families pay a mortgage that is never more than 25 percent of their income.
Habitat Day Donors since 2010
The affordable mortgage is a game changer for families as they transition from paying rent to building equity. Their mortgage payments are often half the cost of their rent! Habitat has a proven record of success: families gain stability, their children become healthier and more active, and they perform better in their studies. One of the most exciting aspects of the Habitat program is that a home will often serve more than one family. If a family chooses to sell their Habitat home, they sell it back to Habitat and receive the equity they have accumulated. The family then uses their equity as a down payment to purchase a home on the open market. Habitat then refreshes the Habitat home and prepares another family for home ownership. Builders and Habitat are united in the goal to serve more families through the Habitat program. Together, we provide strength, stability, and independence to many families in our capital region communities.
Brookfield Homes | Cameron Homes | Christenson Group of Companies | Coventry Homes Daytona Homes | Dolce Vita Homes in partnership with Beaverbrook Developments Landmark Group | Pacesetter Homes in partnership with Qualico Rohit Communities | Sterling Homes in partnership with Qualico
Key Presentations from Habitat Day 2018
PRESENTED BY:
Shane Erickson Regional Vice President
Since 2010, Builders have provided over $9 Million of affordable housing to support Habitat Day.
“Qualico is proud to be a partner of Habitat for Humanity for over 25 years. From sponsorships and fundraising to donating and volunteering, Qualico believes in the mandate of Habitat for Humanity and is committed to continuing support for this great cause. Investing in innovative, affordable housing options and ensuring employees have opportunities to learn and help out, Qualico is grateful to help Habitat for Humanity work to break the cycle of poverty. “As homebuilders, we know the pride of ownership and the significance of handing over keys to a new homeowner. Habitat for Humanity brings our greater community together to help build a legacy that we can all be proud of. It’s with that spirit that Qualico is proud to support Habitat for Humanity in the Edmonton region.”
2019 HABITAT DAY PARTICIPANTS
9 years + 33 homes = 38 families served
Sponsors
How you can help: You can support local families by: - Making a monetary gift - Donating building materials - Donating skilled labour Contact: bnetter@hfh.org | 780-479-3566 x 248
HFH.org
THE END AND NEW BEGINNINGS // CONSTRUCTION
THE BELLEVUE COMMUNITY LEAGUE, A GROUP ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE CITY ON WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN WITH THE AREA, HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES ONLY ABLE TO REACT AND WOULD LIKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN CONSULTATION.
option within the City of Edmonton while eliminating the competitive pricing with two city venues.” That said, for members of the local community, the shuttering of the Coliseum and the future of the area is a pressing issue. Many feel they have not been consulted enough during the process. The Bellevue Community League, a group actively working with the City on what should happen with the area, have found themselves only able to react and would like a more active role in consultation. “Our issue with the City has been primarily related to the belief that all these items and actions should have been part of the process at the time they decided to move ahead with the new arena,” says Brian Finley, the League’s past president. “Instead we found ourselves in a reaction mode over the last 18 months versus already having a plan in place. When the deal for the new arena was approved was when these discussions should have started.” Originally, the plan was to transform the former home of the Oilers into a multi-rink sport facility. The plan was scrapped, however, when it was discovered that costs of renovations would run higher than building something new. Since then, four proposals were brought forth and revealed at a town hall held at the Bellevue Community League. It was a good first step, according to Finley, but still frustrating.
“What we do want is to make sure the members of our community have a voice and recognize we are at a critical point in either moving this area into a time of positive growth or seeing it stagnant due to missed opportunities and indecision,” he says. “We have started to see things begin to move forward, however we are still months away from having a firm plan in place for the area and the arena.” The Edmonton EXPO Centre, however, remains economically important for the area. “As an economic generator, we believe we can provide even greater value to our community by attracting and hosting large trade and consumer shows, conventions and events,” says Gomes. “We have been entrusted with a valuable city asset that drives many aspects of economic activity in our city and our team appreciates how they contribute to making Edmonton a better place to live.” Rogers Place has done something unprecedented in downtown arenas: it has revitalized the areas around it, reinvigorating its neighbourhood with energy and new opportunities. For the areas around the Coliseum, however, this very promise lies in wait as the City struggles to come up with a plan that is both cost-effective and good for the area. Yet even as the Coliseum lies in wait and the racetrack moves to Edmonton’s outskirts, Northlands and the EXPO Centre remain community fixtures, growing and succeeding in new ways. The future is uncertain, but the journey will be interesting to watch.
ABOVE: BRIAN FINLEY, PAST PRESIDENT, BELLEVUE COMMUNITY LEAGUE.
34
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT AND FROM IFTA? // TRANSPORTATION & DISTRIBUTION
WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT AND FROM IFTA? BY FAY FLETCHER
N
ot many people know about IFTA, but with a closer look one sees not only the benefits of this program, but how actively seeking out programs and technologies benefits your business. Let’s start with IFTA. What is it? Doing business in today’s connected world means crossing borders. While that opens up opportunities, it also creates a lot of paperwork among different tax jurisdictions. For companies whose fleets regularly cross the border, a program called the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) helps to simplify the process. Business in Edmonton magazine reached out to the Government of Alberta to learn more. “The International Fuel Tax Agreement was introduced on July 1, 1993 in an effort to simplify the regulatory burden for carriers travelling in different Canadian and American jurisdictions,” says a representative on behalf of the Government of Canada. “IFTA is an agreement among American and Canadian jurisdictions that enables uniform collection and distribution of fuel taxes paid by motor carriers traveling in multiple jurisdictions. IFTA membership is voluntary and allows the carrier to significantly reduce the paperwork and compliance burden for fuel tax reporting.”
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
35
RED ARROW PROVIDES A MOVING EXPERIENCE
F
or 40 years Red Arrow has provided an outstanding, comfortable, safe mode of travel for discerning passengers in Alberta. Founded by R.B. Colborne with a view to elevate the perception of bus travel as a luxury service, his vision of inspired, barrier-free, stylish motor coach transportation is still alive and well today. Today, Red Arrow services 26 communities across Alberta. Red Arrow coaches provide all the amenities of a first class flight, including reclining leather seats, free WiFi, USB and power outlets, fold down tray tables, movies, complimentary refreshments, satellite radio and seat belts. Red Arrow is part of the Pacific Western Group of Companies, Canada’s largest privately owned people transportation company. Red Arrow continues to maintain the vision and mission of its founder and remains a family owned business lead by Mike Colborne the chairman and CEO.
work, loyalty, accountability, respect and dedication. Red Arrow remains a top choice for those seeking a sustainable, environmentally responsible mode of transportation, along with being a top choice for the busy professional that needs a productive and comfortable work space while on the road. “Our mission is to exceed customer expectations by employing talented people who share in the dedication of a company committed to safety and service,” says Leigh Abra, communications and marketing manager. “We have a great team of loyal and dedicated employees driven to exceed customer expectations. We provide exceptional customer service, and this results in extremely loyal customers.”
“Our people and their commitment to provision of safe, quality service is what sets Red Arrow apart,” says Dean Wright, vice president, Motorcoach.
Red Arrow is the only business-class coach transportation of its kind in Canada. When you choose Red Arrow, you’re shopping local, contributing to the economy of many communities around Alberta. The company also gives back to Alberta, donating generously to charities and organizations, while hiring Albertans that are fully and differently abled.
Times have changed, but some things remain constant. Safety is still a core value that underscores everything Red Arrow does and is a value alongside a firm commitment to customer service, resourcefulness, integrity, positive attitudes, team-
With 40 years on the road, Red Arrow looks forward to expanding its network of transportation and travel solutions and continuing to innovate and embrace new technologies to elevate the passenger experience.
www.redarrow.ca
Photo by Peter Cox 1986.
RED ARROW’S JOURNEY • 1979: Red Arrow launches with CalgaryEdmonton-Fort McMurray corridor with business class coaches • 1979: Professor Alexandra Munn was our very first passenger and was awarded lifetime travel on Red Arrow on our 25th anniversary, which she used monthly to visit her mother in Calgary • 1989: Celebrating 10 years, we carried over 90,000 passengers with our 14-vehicle fleet • 1990: Red Arrow purchased two state-of-the-art accessible coaches (Prevost H3 41) that featured credit card cellular phones, movies, and pull-out tables in plush extra-wide seats
• 2011: Launched Calgary/Lethbridge route • 2011: Launched Ebus, the more economical sister brand to Red Arrow. Ebus coaches have less amenities than Red Arrow and a lower price point, but passengers receive the same exceptional customer service • 2013: New corporate identity: Safely Home • 2015: Launched Edmonton/Cold Lake, Bonnyville route • 2018: Launched Camrose connector and Grande Prairie route
• 1996: Added express service between Edmonton and Calgary
• 2018: Expanded into BC serving Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops with our Ebus brand
• 1998: Updated fleet with new Prevost H3-45s and introduced paperless ticketing system
• 2019: Celebrating 40 years of serving Alberta
• 2006: WiFi installed in all ticket offices and on coaches • 2010: Introduced direct service to Calgary International Airport www.redarrow.ca
WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT AND FROM IFTA? // TRANSPORTATION & DISTRIBUTION
It was further pointed out that, “Carriers that generally only travel in Alberta are not required to register for IFTA as all of their fuel is purchased and consumed in Alberta. Inter-jurisdictional carriers may obtain single trip permits in jurisdictions outside of Alberta instead of registering for IFTA.” The Government of Alberta cites IFTA’s advantages and encourages interested parties to learn more at www.alberta. ca/international-fuel-tax-agreement.aspx: • A carrier licensed under IFTA is required to submit only one quarterly fuel tax return to its base jurisdiction, where it is registered. • The single return covers the distance traveled in all IFTA jurisdictions, rather than the carrier being required to complete separate fuel tax returns for each jurisdiction. • Each base jurisdiction then refunds or collects the net fuel tax for all member jurisdictions How does IFTA work on a more practical level and who is it best suited for? For those answers, we turned to Coreina Hubert, BBA. Hubert has 15 years of tax accountant experience and eight of those years were in the public sector with Grant Thornton LLP and MNP LLP. Now she is the owner/operator of Book-it Bookkeeping Inc. and has been implementing new technology into small businesses since 2009 to help companies focus on time-saving techniques and connect with others that can help with business growth. “The IFTA tax program is designed for the larger companies who are operating trucks with over 50,000 kilometres a day,” says Hubert. “When speaking to one of my clients who is an independent long-haul driver about the IFTA program this is what he said, ‘Being an independent long-haul driver I only drive an average of 1,000 kilometres a day, [so for me] this program isn’t worth it. We have to log the total kilometres driven on gravel roads or pavement, and idle time
38
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT AND FROM IFTA? // TRANSPORTATION & DISTRIBUTION
IFTA IS NOT THE ONLY PROGRAM OUT THERE THAT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. HUBERT SAYS THAT SHE PERSONALLY LEVERAGES THE FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL PROGRAMS APPLICABLE TO HER SMALL BUSINESS AND ENCOURAGES ENTREPRENEURS TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE. for each day, and be precise. If the paper work isn’t right the government will just throw out your submission and that is it. It is really meant for the larger companies who operate all their trucks with over 50,000 kilometres a day. Sometimes as an independent contractor, we do submit our details to the company we contract with. In return they give us 35 per cent of that return back, but those big companies have the cash to pay for the lawyers to get those documents to the government properly. We don’t.’” However, Hubert notes, “Even though this program may not be suited for all company sizes, you can seek the services of a qualified accountant who would have knowledge of programs suitable for your business and how to help you apply for them.” IFTA is not the only program out there that small business owners should know about. Hubert says that she personally leverages the federal and provincial programs applicable to her small business and encourages entrepreneurs to look at the different options available. “For a business to succeed in today’s world they have to be smarter and quicker than their competitors. Every minute wasted is a minute that can be used to grow your business.” Whether that program is IFTA or something else that can help ease the paperwork or ongoing tasks of the business, Hubert says to check it out. To help entrepreneurs do this, her company has created a program called CorePro8, which helps business owners save time and money while creating more efficient interactions between the company and its accountant.
“We created CorePro8 in 2018 to help new owners with the critical parts of starting up a business, gain exposure to the new timesaving technology, and gain resources for business growth and income. Most new business owners are on the fly to get their business started up now, which is great – but not so great when they are missing critical components that cost them later down the road. As an accountant I have seen the direct results of technology being used by business owners. New business owners can now incorporate at anytime of the day and get guidance on how to properly set up with the use of CorePro8. Six years ago, if you wanted to incorporate you needed to see a lawyer or accountant during business hours. Who has time to do this when you have crazy work shifts? “CorePro8 is available in French and English and can be used by any Canadian. What CorePro8 offers is the ability to become incorporated/self employed at anytime while also providing the proper tools to address important questions, like ‘should I be registered for sales tax, how do I pay myself, and what can I deduct as a business expense?’ Additional features include being able to find funding through Government of Alberta and federal programs.” She’s also a fan of Hubdoc, an app being used in the business industry since 2011 and recently acquired by the accounting software giant, Xero. “All the receipts you have bundled up between your doors in the car or at home, what a pain those are to get to the accountant! With Hubdoc the business owner can take a picture of the receipt and it is stored online where the accountant can see it and book it in. There are so many new things out there to help business owners be much more competitive in their industry!” So, let’s return to IFTA. It’s a program that many don’t know about, but for the right company, it can be very beneficial. Beyond IFTA we are reminded that there are many private and public programs, software, apps and services that business owners can leverage to help their companies grow. Whether IFTA is a program that works for you, or your company is better suited to another program, service, or technology, don’t rest on your laurels when it comes to gaining efficiency and saving time and money. Look around, see what’s out there, and leverage the tools at your disposal.
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
39
RISKY BUSINESS // RISK MANAGEMENT
Risky Business
IDENTIFYING, EVALUATING, AND PRIORITIZING HIDDEN HAZARDS IS A MUST FOR ANY WELL-RUN BUSINESS—AND ESPECIALLY VITAL IN ECONOMICALLY UNCERTAIN TIMES.
BY BEN FREELAND
R
isk: it’s what business people are supposed to thrive on and what every business book and selfhelp manual ever written tells us to embrace. However, risk for business leaders is rather like combat for military personnel—it’s the very thing you train for, and paradoxically the thing you do your utmost to avoid. Risk management is defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as “the effect of uncertainty on objectives” as it pertains to the effect of incomplete knowledge of events or circumstances on an organization’s decision making. The ISO 31000 principles
40
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
and guidelines pertaining to risk management identify four steps in the risk management process, namely: 1. Identifying the social scope of risk management, the identity and objectives of stakeholders, and the basis upon which risks will be evaluated; 2. Defining a framework for the activity and an agenda for identification; 3. Developing an analysis of risks involved in the process; 4. Mitigating or solving risks using available technological, human, and organizational resources.
Managing Risk Staying ahead of uncertainty You face risk in your business, in your profession…in your life. Let the Vanta team of professionals help assess and identify the areas impacting you. Whether its financial, investment or tax risk – health, medical or retirement risk – Vanta Group has the solutions to plan, mitigate and reduce the exposure you face. With decades of experience, our team can meet your needs, whether it’s straight forward risk management or complex planning arrangements. • • •
Life Insurance, Disability & Critical Illness Corporate, Shareholder & Key Person Family & Business Succession
• • •
Estate Planning Employee Benefits Retirement & Pension Planning
We’re here to help. Find out more at www.vanta.ca or contact us at info@vanta.ca
Adept. Aware. Responsive. Edmonton: 780.423.2702 Calgary: 1.888.423.2702
info@vanta.ca vanta.ca
1900. 10104 - 103 Ave NW Edmonton, Alberta T5J OH8
405. 708 - 11 Ave SW Calgary, Alberta T2R 0E4
RISKY BUSINESS // RISK MANAGEMENT
The ISO standard on risk management was first released in 2009 and was subsequently revised in 2018 to reflect a number of new and emerging challenges faced by businesses and organizations, most notably the recent proliferation of digital currency and the growing threat of cybercrime. The revised standard also recommends that risk management be more formally incorporated into organizations’ structures, processes, objectives, strategies, and activities, while also placing greater emphasis on value creation, customization of risk management strategies for specific organizations, and greater consideration of human and cultural factors. In short, ISO 31000 urges companies and organizations to do three things: be aware of one’s key objectives; assess one’s governance structure so as to allocate the right roles, responsibilities and reporting procedures; and ascertain what resources they are able to allocate to implementing or maintaining a risk management system.
Risky Times The importance of risk management to large organizations in Alberta and elsewhere was graphically demonstrated in 2017 when MacEwan University fell victim to a $11.8 million phishing scam after fraudsters successfully impersonated Edmonton-based construction firm Clark Builders. This massive fraud was but the latest—and largest—in a series of scams perpetrated against Alberta post-secondary institutions. In 2016 the University of Lethbridge was defrauded of $368,000 in a similar incident, while the University of Calgary was forced to pay $20,000 in response to a ransomware attack. All these, nonetheless, pale in comparison to Canada’s most notorious corporate cybersecurity breach in recent history, namely that incurred by Home Depot in 2015 that affected some 56 million credit and debit cards across North America and cost the company up to $3 billion. Such catastrophes, while fortunately atypical, do nonetheless represent extreme examples of the same types of risks that companies and organizations both large and small face on a daily basis.
42
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
“Crime is a real issue for our clients,” explains Sean Morrow, executive director at Excel Insurance Group Inc. and an old hand at advising technology startups and venture capital firms on risk management strategies. “These days everybody is vulnerable to phishing scams, ransomware attacks, and other types of cybercrime. While you hear about it more when it happens to the likes of MacEwan or Home Depot, we’re finding it’s increasingly the mom and pop shops that are being targeted because they’re much more vulnerable.” Digital vulnerability of this sort has added a layer of risk for companies and organizations who still have to contend with much older forms of risk management, such as safeguarding against employee theft and embezzlement – risks that can prove catastrophic to smaller companies without proper risk management strategies. “Sadly, the most common situation we hear about is of theft and embezzlement being perpetrated by a company’s most trusted employee,” says Morrow. “In most such cases, companies have simply refused to consider such risks, and have paid dearly for it.” Crime is, of course, only one risk with which companies and other organizations have to content. In Alberta, a jurisdiction long defined by sharp economic ups and downs, the need for proper risk mitigation is clear from the standpoint of economic unpredictability, with busts and boomtimes alike presenting their own types of risks. “Risk is a reflection of uncertainty, and there’s more than enough of that these days when it comes to our economy,” says Andrew Leitch, director, ERM Programs with Risk Management Services at the University of Alberta. “What will happen to oil prices? Will the pipelines be built? What policy might the provincial government pursue in response, and what are the challenges and opportunities for a public university? When the economy is booming, we lose good staff, and of course enrollment is affected by the job market as well. Even philanthropic gifts, which are a huge help for people and projects, can diminish when the economy suffers. While I believe world-class institutions like the University of Alberta are as well prepared for such unknowns as anybody, there is still a tremendous number of unknowns ahead of us all and technology has evolved to a point where things happen much faster than ever before.”
RISKY BUSINESS // RISK MANAGEMENT
FOR MOST COMPANIES OR ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING TO DEVELOP RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, THE FIRST STOP ON THE ROAD TO BETTER SECURITY IS AN INSURANCE COMPANY LIKE THE EXCEL INSURANCE GROUP. HOWEVER, MORROW INSISTS THAT SUCH INSURANCE BROKERS SHOULD ALWAYS BE VIEWED AS A BACKSTOP, AND A COMPANY’S LAST LINE OF DEFENCE WHEN EVERY OTHER SAFEGUARD HAS FAILED.
Look Before You Leap For most companies or organizations looking to develop risk management strategies, the first stop on the road to better security is an insurance company like the Excel Insurance Group. However, Morrow insists that such insurance brokers should always be viewed as a backstop, and a company’s last line of defence when every other safeguard has failed. “The first order of business when developing a risk management strategy is to ascertain what your risks actually are, and then to determine how much risk you can handle, what risks can be avoided completely, and what risks, if any, can be deferred or transferred to other parties, such as an insurance company,” Morrow explains. “When we work with clients, we start by recommending clear employment practices policies and the like to mitigate risks related to employee misconduct and damaging lawsuits by terminated employees. We recommend clear policies related to safety inspections. If you have company cars, are drivers required to back them into stalls so as to reduce the likelihood of parking lot collisions? If you’re a property manager, are you making sure tenants have proper insurance of their own? Do all your facilities have proper, wellmaintained locks? These types of seemingly insignificant policies can go a long way in managing risk.” The need for organizations and companies large and small to do their own risk management is further underlined by a cultural climate of increased risk aversion. “Our society seems
to be growing increasingly intolerant of risk,” Leitch asserts. “People don’t want to accept the possibility that something bad could happen to their kids, their money, their health, or their possessions. Everyone gets caught up in the demand to prevent bad things from happening, including parents, corporations, governments, and regulators, and the result of this is that costs go up, processes take more time, and, in the case of a university, increased demands are placed on staff and faculty.” From the standpoint of smaller companies and organizations, this can translate into punishing insurance costs. “This is the first time since 9/11 that we’ve seen a hard market in this industry,” Morrow explains. “In this risk-averse climate we’re seeing fewer insurance companies interested in covering many of the risks out there, and, when they’re willing to do so, only at higher rates than ever. Even global warming-related worries are having an impact, with increased rates of natural disasters driving up insurance rates.” Such pressures themselves, he continues, must be factored into companies’ and organizations’ risk management strategies. On this front, however, he adds that relationship management, involving all invested parties, is paramount and can help clients overcome many if not most obstacles. “Rather than expending a lot of energy shopping around for just the right insurance policy, clients are far better advised to look at their own environment and practices for risk mitigation strategies and to build strong relationships. Good policies and long-range relationship building can carry you through hard times.”
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
43
The Game Changer “I saw there was this unfulfilled need and it drove me nuts. I couldn’t convince the people at head office to let me sell it.”—Lyle Best By Terese Brasen The company he worked for had a new owner, and Lyle Best was weighing his options. His new bosses would probably transfer him back to Central Canada or the U.S., which wasn’t his first choice. “I had fallen in love with Alberta,” he says. Although it might mean leaving his Alberta home, Lyle decided to make a pitch. He had an idea, and it meant a lot to him. If his new bosses would listen, he would stay on with the company. The idea was to create a new line of products to serve small businesses. Lyle was a well-trained and experienced insurance executive, who saw a weakness in the group benefit plans that served big companies and large organizations. Small businesses were locked out. “I had worked for a multinational insurance company for a dozen years,” says Lyle. “We didn’t offer small businesses the products we offered large companies. Small businesses couldn’t afford the insurance, or the insurance company wouldn’t sell them a plan.” Lyle knew how to fix the system. “I pitched them my idea, and they basically laughed me out of the room.” Decision made. Lyle’s idea was to create self-funded plans. With big companies and organizations, costs average out and are predictable. For a small business, group plans get risky. But what if business owners could use their own funds?
Give every employee coverage and set manageable limits. “The big insurance companies told their insurance agents and brokers to pay no attention to me,” he says about his failed pitch to his new bosses. “I would be gone soon.” Lyle had a hobby: computer programming. On his 1980’s home computer, he began building customer service software that could track benefits. He found a developer who knew a programming language called PL1. “He was blind,” says Lyle. “We had to get him a monitor that was very advanced for the times. It was big and could display one binary code number at a time. He was amazing.” Together, they built the Quikcard dental claims management system. That was 30 years ago. Many dentists had trouble collecting from non-insured patients, and Quikcard’s software allowed dentists to check a patient’s coverage. Although it’s standard practice today, Quikcard was the first administrator in Canada to offer this service. “My pitch to the dentist was simple—if you accept my card in your office, you’ll know exactly what you’re going to get paid, and you can collect the co-pay that day.” But there was a glitch. Lyle had spent all his time, effort and money developing software only to discover that (30 years ago) most dentists did not have computers.
It could customize changes in a few days, while other insurers with large IT departments and huge mainframe systems needed six to nine months. Quikcard is still innovating. It has just released a new website that gives you control over your own benefits. Sign in, submit your own claims, check your balance and eligibility. In 1989, Lyle Best released the Quikcard dental claims management system. By 2000, Quikcard was full service.
So, Lyle switched up his process. They had no computers, but they all had telephones and could call Quikcard for authorization. Quikcard had the powerful software and could process the claims over the phone. In 1999 as Y2K was looming, the Government of Nova Scotia reached out to Quikcard. It wanted to license the small Edmonton company’s excellent dental coverage software. “It gave me an instant footprint in Atlantic Canada,” says Lyle. “For 16 years, we managed the Government of Nova Scotia’s children’s dental plan.” By 2000, Quikcard was full service, with every health care discipline, from optometry to massage therapy. Quikcard’s homemade benefits software made the provider nimble.
Celebrating
When Quikcard was born, small businesses and their employees had little access to group benefits. Quikcard changed that game. Lyle also changed the game for charities, non-profits and teams. In 2008, he received the Order of Canada. In 2010, he became a member. The honour recognized Lyle’s commitment to a long list of community organizations, including Junior Achievement, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (which he helped found), the Edmonton Oilers Alumni (which he directs) and Quikcard Minor Hockey Week, which according to Guinness World Records is the largest hockey tournament in the world. Lyle describes Edmonton as having a Big Community Spirit, and that supports his philosophy, which he sums up this way: “If you live in a community you need to invest in that community. Because if you invest, it makes the community healthier, and that will give you a healthier business. It all comes back.”
Years QUIKCARD.COM
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR COMPANY BEHIND? // SUCCESSION PLANNING
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR COMPANY BEHIND? Succession planning is a need, not a want BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON
F
or Gordon Wusyk, everything changed in an instant. His father, who was running successful moving and ranching businesses, had a heart attack and passed unexpectedly at 59. In the midst of the shock and grieving, a chilling fact emerged. His father did not have a succession plan in place. What followed was chaos. “It was very traumatic,” says Wusyk. “Not having a succession plan in place led to animosity among some of the siblings, and to tax and legal complications that could have otherwise easily been solved. It resulted in the sale of both businesses at a discount; and both companies were sold outside of the family. My father’s legacy ended just like that.” It wasn’t as though Wusyk Sr. was a bad business man. Far from it. He had advisors for tax planning, legal advice and accounting. He was very successful, and the businesses were thriving. There was just one thing he didn’t do and one thing his team of advisors did not mention to him, and that was to sit down and make a clear succession plan.
the business. Just assumptions but no discussion. After the passing, there was no idea about who should do what.
Wusyk explains, “He was getting silo advice from people that had a specialized field of knowledge, but singular expertise is sometimes limited by the discipline. They primarily saw the enterprise from a business perspective and didn’t focus on the other issues. These advisors, in dealing with my father’s family business, unintentionally and inadvertently created as many problems as they solved. There was no holistic game plan. Not even a serious talk about the continuity of
“With no succession plan in place, who gets involved that creates havoc is Revenue Canada, the bank and lenders. This creates further havoc for the executor. The family attempts to get involved but CRA wants their tax money, banks want their debts paid and executors want to settle the estate. They are not focused on the family business and the legacy. They are not the best people to have involved if you want the perpetuation of the business.”
ABOVE: GORDON WUSYK
46
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR COMPANY BEHIND? // SUCCESSION PLANNING
With the family and the businesses impacted, Wusyk called the lack of planning “a case of procrastination” and vowed to prevent as many families as possible from suffering the same fate. “It is one of the primary reasons I started Predictable Futures 35 years ago,” he says. “[Succession planning] is not something people have top of mind. Our clients come to us from clients we work with in family-owned businesses, but quite a lot are referrals from banks, legal firms or wealth managers who realize their clients have an issue they don’t know how to deal with, and the advisor is not prepared or trained in that area at all. People are just unaware because succession involves multifaceted issues, and it requires a multidisciplined approach.
goals in a coordinated way, one that focuses on how people communicate and which people must be included; someone who understand the entire process and can coordinate it.” “After 35 years, I think I’ve earned the right to comment,” he continues. “Predictable Futures has worked with over 125 business families and has experience with businesses worth half a million to hundreds of millions, including second and third generations. There is not much we haven’t seen. Our passion and concerns are for the plight of business families. We believe that family harmony and a successful business perpetuation are not mutually exclusive goals. It’s worth the effort because more than 85 per cent of privately owned companies are family owned or controlled. Our economic driver is family owned businesses. That’s why what we do is so valuable, and why we love doing it.”
“Good succession planning is a process and not an event. A lot of people think it’s an event, like you take a weekend off and do some succession planning! That is just not possible because there are so many factors involved: legal, technical, and financial, but Team Courier now has the “EasyShipNTrack” also relational, communication. delivery web application. Business issues are very definable and measurable, but family issues are emotional. Where they intersect is where inevitable conflict occurs. If a succession • Schedule – select date/time when plan is delayed, deferred or deliveries are required procrastinated, it affects the • Track – know the status of your deliveries employees and executives too. People often start polishing up (with electronic proof of deliveries if required) their resumes, wondering if there • Manage – electronic waybills / paperless invoices is a future for the company.”
NEW ADDED SERVICE OF TEAM COURIER!! This allows you to:
Wusyk points out, “Only 10 per cent of family businesses make it to the third generation. What makes all the difference is a process consultant/ facilitator to help the family see the big picture and provide an integrated solution that moves the family and business to defined
• 10% off on first 30 day trial
Contact Pat today and we will email you the Team Courier Manual to get you started. Totally transparent, encrypted website for safe usage, fast and very user-friendly. Locally created, custom program.
Ph: 780.446.0886 • Email: teamcourierservices@shaw.ca BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
47
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR COMPANY BEHIND? // SUCCESSION PLANNING
Lynne Fisher, national leader, ExitSMART with MNP, also sees a disproportionately small number of clients leading the conversation about succession planning. Drawing from her experience with MNP, she estimates that only about 30 per cent bring up the subject. “It’s more likely that the advisor will bring it up,” says Fisher. “The reasons vary. Owners think it will not take long once they’re ready to retire. Many business owners don’t like to think about their next stage, as they love and are energized by their businesses. Retirement seems boring, less purposeful, and owners think that they won’t have an identity anymore, feeling, ‘if I’m not a business owner, what am I?’” She lists other common reasons owners avoid the topic. “They’re afraid of losing control over a business that they’ve worked so hard to build. If they’re considering family transition, they don’t want to cause problems within the family by opening a ‘can of worms.’ Sometimes they’re not sure where to start or what they’ll do after they’ve left their businesses.” Like Wusyk, Fisher knows the consequences for a lack of succession planning are severe. “There are both short-term and long-term impacts to the business and to the family of the owner. Some that we’ve seen include: • Owners receiving diminished value from their businesses because the goodwill hasn’t been transitioned to employees and managers – i.e. all plans, decision protocols, and systems are known only to the owner. • Potentially significant tax burden on sale, due to the legal structure and organization of the business. Strategies to mitigate this burden take a minimum of two years to implement, and many take more. • In the event of sudden loss of the founder, devasting financial and emotional loss to the family, due to the potential devaluation of the business, and the loss of regular income and dividend streams. • The loss of key employees who fear an uncertain future, and leave due to the absence of a succession plan.
48
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
• In a family business, conflict and strife due to uncertainty, including “who will inherit the business?” and “is there a place for me?” Fisher raises a very good point about how succession planning is more than deciding who will take over the company. Timing is also crucial. “An important consideration for succession planning in Alberta is the economic cycle. Owners want to be timing their exit for an upcycle when values are up, buyers are abundant and interested, and business is good. This is one of the reasons that starting early with planning, and being ready when the economy is strong, is so important. Whether owners are considering selling to a third party, transitioning to family or selling to employees or managers, it will be easier, and they’ll generally get a better return during an upcycle. “Getting to this point, however, takes time and preparation – an absolute minimum of two years. Once the upcycle hits, it’s often too late and too busy to begin the appropriate planning.” Fisher assures business owners that while the conversations they must have about succession planning can be difficult, MNP smooths the way. “The discomfort is eased by assuring the owner that he/ she will always be in control of decisions and timelines, that we’ll be there from the beginning, and all of the way through implementation. We will work with their other advisors as needed, and we will work with the owner on both the transition of ownership and of leadership. We address matters of the ownership (who will acquire the shares, and for how much?), the business (ensuring that a healthy, well led business is transitioned at a value that fits with the owner’s objectives), and the family (if and how the family will be involved, and how they will work together, estate planning, etc.).” Owing a business is never easy and it comes at the cost of many sleepless nights, long hours, debt, blood, sweat and tears. The reward is a legacy that can span generations. Don’t let that legacy slip through your fingers by avoiding what may be the most important conversation of your career. Your succession plan is how you continue to make an impact, long after your time as the leader of your empire has passed.
What if tax time was simple?
2019 Board of Directors Board Executive
Chair: Dawn Harsch President & CEO, ExquisiCare Senior Living and Care at Home Vice Chair: Bryan DeNeve Senior Vice President Finance & CFO, Capital Power Treasurer: Craig Thorkelsson Head of Tax, PCL Constructors Inc.
Board Directors
Dr. Glenn Feltham President & CEO, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Sandy Jacobson Vice President, Richardson Executive Search Elan MacDonald Senior Vice President, National Client Development, Global Public Affairs Scott McEachern Vice President, Pipeline Control, Enbridge Pipelines Inc. Dennis Schmidt Legal Counsel and Associate Development Manager, Alldritt Land Corporation LP Jeffrey Sundquist Chief Executive Officer, EDC Environmental Group of Companies Inc. Dr. Jenelle Trenchuk-Saik President & CEO, Parker Ford and MacKay Specialty Opticians
Edmonton Chamber Executive Janet M. Riopel President & CEO
Dave Warren Chief Operating Officer Scott Channon Director, Marketing and Communication Tim Ferris Director, Member Services Brent Francis Director, Advocacy and Outreach
Contact
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce #600 – 9990 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 1P7 T: 780.426.4620 • F: 780.424.7946
B
By Brent Francis, Director, Advocacy & Outreach Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
usinesses grow best when government gets out of the way. It’s a basic principle that should be front and center in Canada, and it is very clear at tax time the principle has been forgotten.
To borrow a phrase from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce: “The last time Canada undertook a comprehensive review of its tax system, humankind had yet to set foot on the moon.” The report, 50 Years of Cutting and Pasting: Modernizing Canada’s Tax System, draws a stark picture of Canada’s position next to our competitors. Trading partners like the U.S. and Japan are making changes to increase their economic competitiveness, and Canada is being left behind as regulatory burdens continue to grow and investment dollars leave. The problem is big and it’s getting worse The U.S Tax Cuts and Jobs Act brought in several changes to support the competitive position of American businesses. These significant changes, which included a large reduction in the corporate tax rate and an Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance, mean Canada’s competitive position has changed dramatically. Add to that the new rules imposed on businesses in 2017, which added complexity and further reduced competitiveness in Canada. While the federal government’s recent addition of the Accelerated Investment Incentive is a positive step in the right direction, Canada still has a long way to go. And if the rules weren’t complicated enough, the Auditor General’s 2018 report on the Canada Revenue Agency found that the Agency wasn’t applying the rules consistently and has poor tracking mechanisms for its own performance. So not only are the rules complicated, navigating the system can also be a real challenge because the rules aren’t consistent. Business transactions are conducted in a sophisticated and uncertain economy. This makes it all the more important to focus on the steps we can take to reduce complexity, ensuring business owners spend less time dealing with tax compliance and more time growing their business and creating jobs. Establish a Royal Commission The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce has called for the federal government to simplify the tax system for years. We think Canada needs a Royal Commission to undertake a comprehensive review because it’s critical that we reduce compliance costs – time and money – for businesses, and ensure that the whole system is as neutral, simple, efficient and fair as possible. This cannot be accomplished with incremental changes. A Royal Commission would hear publicly from a wide range of key stakeholders including taxpayers, businesses, academics, tax specialists, government Continued on next page... BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
49
departments – such as Finance Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency – and professional bodies like the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. Once the Royal Commission is underway, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce recommends a standing committee be established to monitor changes and report on progress every year. Simplification of the tax system will not succeed unless the government makes it a top priority and keeps it on the front burner. The current state of the system is the product of decades of small changes, and it will take ongoing, focused efforts to streamline it and to keep it simple. Now is the time to get started A full review of the issue has not occurred since the 1960s, despite wide agreement in recent years about the problem and need for a significant overhaul. Even the Canadian Senate
agrees – they recommended the creation of a Royal Commission on Taxation on October 16th, 2018. A Royal Commission gives the whole country a chance to discuss the major issues inherent in our tax system. Do we have the right mix of taxes to support business investment? What issues exist now that didn’t exist when the laws were written? Where are the biggest trouble spots and what resources are there for people in the system? The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce will continue to push the federal government on this issue, ensuring that our tax system is fair, competitive and makes Canada a magnet for investment and economic growth. We would like to hear from you! Do you have concerns or thoughts on tax simplification in Canada? You can contact us by email: policy@ edmontonchamber.com
Establishing a Royal Commission to review our tax system was one of the Edmonton Chamber’s many recommendations to the federal government in advance of the 2019 budget. Here is the full list of recommendations: Investment Attraction 1. Budget announcements and new programs must support increased market access for Canadian products as well as a streamlined and predictable regulatory environment for business. 2. Establish a Royal Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of taxing statutes with the aim to simplify tax legislation, reduce compliance costs and ensure Canada’s tax system is as neutral, simple, competitive, efficient and fair as possible. 3. Monitor tax changes and other investment attraction tools being undertaken in the United States, ensuring that Canada remains a strong competitor in global trade. Infrastructure 4. Through Canada’s Trade and Transportation Corridors Initiative, work strategically with other orders of government to secure transportation/ utility corridor rights of way throughout Canada
with the potential for rapid transit, freight networks, telecommunications, transmissions lines and pipelines, which will improve access to national and international markets for all Canadian products. 5. Promote and provide information on alternative infrastructure funding models for Canadian provinces and municipalities, such as public-private-partnerships and the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Fiscal Responsibility 6. Establish a long-term plan to achieve a balanced budget by limiting operational expenditure growth. 7. Negotiate government labour agreements due for renewal with a target of no operational cost increase. 8. Achieve and maintain a debt-to-GDP ratio below 30% with financial contributions to debt reduction as necessary to sustain that position.
Members in this Issue City of Edmonton in The End and New Beginnings: Inside the Coliseum and the Future of Northlands and the EXPO Centre on page 26 University of Alberta in Risky Business on page 40 Travel Alberta in Edmonton as a Tourist Destination? Absolutely! on page 56
50
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
River City Events Member Profile Joe Ammar, President & CEO rivercityevents.ca What’s your story? I established River City Events in 2007 as an event rental company in Sherwood Park. I felt that there were a limited number of options at the time for event rentals, so I founded the company driven by a desire to create unique and memorable event experiences that build brands and relationships and celebrate special milestones. The company grew, the service portfolio expanded and our strategic focus changed, which called for a brand transformation and relocation in 2012 to downtown Edmonton to be closer to our clients. In 2016, we acquired one of our biggest competitors – a major rental supplier of party and festival tents. As a result of the new acquisition, we quickly outgrew our downtown location and moved to a brand new 60,000 sq. ft. building in Southwest Edmonton, which features a separate shipping and receiving area, 6 loading bays, and a multiple level showroom. As a result of the business combination and relocation, customers and partners now have access to an extended portfolio of rental products and services. What are three things people are surprised to learn about your business/or don’t know about your business? 1. We offer more than just event rentals. As a rental company, we can provide all event rentals required to fully support any special event. But we can also project manage an event from start to finish. We offer a wide range of services, including event design, strategic event consultancy, and creative event production. We can take care of all the details, while clients focus on their strategic priorities. 2. Our inventory is diverse and impressive Our facility stores a great range of quality products and equipment – from basic event rentals like tables, chairs, dinnerware and cutlery to linen, lounge furniture, games,
Joe Ammar, President & CEO, River City Events
elegant drapes and themed props. In addition, we have an impressive collection of canopy, frame and pole tents for a variety of indoor and outdoor events. 3. Giving back matters to us. Philanthropy is the foundation of who we are as a company. We’re involved in various community programs and we contribute a significant amount annually in sponsorship and donation to various charities and non-for profit organizations. What has surprised you in the last 12 months? Less surprised and more reminded Edmonton is awesome. The event scene in Edmonton is thriving. We hosted some amazing events of international caliber this year that raised the profile of our city and made it richer, more fun, exciting, beautiful and fascinating. What has been your biggest challenge in the last 12 months? Our biggest challenge was the relocation. Moving offices and approximately 20,000 rental items while being fully operational was not a small task, but thanks to my incredible
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
51
team we did the move in just 2 days! Although it was a really tough move, we can already say that the new building brings more inspiration and renewed energy to our team and clients. What do you think is the biggest issue impacting Edmonton’s small businesses at this time? There is no doubt that Edmonton’s economy is in “tough times” and a lot of businesses are feeling it. Inflation, increased property taxes, a decline in consumer economic activity, and underlying labour challenges could derail business growth and impact the bottom line.
productive, healthy, and happy life and career, you need to be self-aware and understand the value of pace. You need to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. What do you enjoy most about being a chamber member? As a long standing chamber member, the opportunities to connect and learn from other businesses have been instrumental to the success of my business. We always strive to focus on the news, trends and markets shaping our industry and the local event scene by attending industry and business related events and researching innovative business solutions. The Chamber has a fantastic ongoing training and education programs already in place which we value very much. Our Chamber mandate is to create the best environment for business in Edmonton. If you could make one substantial improvement to Edmonton’s business environment, what would it be? Embrace local and continue to support small businesses – I am a strong believer that small businesses are important to local economies and are good for our communities.
What’s your secret to keeping your employees engaged? I have always believed that good teamwork starts with a shared understanding of how important it is. Working together is essential in the event planning business, and I am proud to say that teamwork is built into our company’s culture. It is a part of ‘the way we do things around here.’ I am blessed to work with an incredible group of people who are passionate about what they do. I never underestimate another opinion. You have to give people an opportunity to be engaged, contribute and be heard. As a leader, it is important to me to recognize potential, ignite enthusiasm and award their contributions. Do you have a personal mantra? Work hard, play harder. Balancing life and work is a battle at times, but in order to have a
52
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
Expand your engagement outreach beyond just the CEOs of companies and organizations. Some small companies do not have a large training budget, so having the ability to share the training opportunities with their teams can be very beneficial. What is your favorite thing to do in Edmonton? I am a foodie and I enjoy the incredible food scene here in Edmonton. Apple or android? Android at the moment. Your most favorite place in the world? Kelowna, British Columbia – I enjoy the scenery, the weather, the food and the wine of course. Coffee or tea? Coffee for sure. How do I take it? Very seriously! The event planning business can be quite stressful and fast paced, so caffeine is your best friend.
Connecting Business 2019 Taste of the Chamber, Presented by Alberta Blue Cross On March 6th, we invited our members and guests to take their taste buds on a trip across our capital city to sample some of the best food Edmonton Chamber members and restaurateurs had to offer. Over 600 business leaders, foodies and professionals came to sip, savour and socialize. This year’s event offered guests the opportunity to sample over 20 different restaurants, sip a variety of different beverages at the ALCANNA Beer & Wine Garden and connect in the Alberta Blue Cross lounge.
Bridges Catering was once again crowned the”2019 People’s Choice Award”.
Guests connecting in ALCANNA’s Beer & Wine Garden.
The Sutton Place Hotel wowed guests with their Shrimp Flambé Station.
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
53
2019 Federal Budget Luncheon featuring Hon. Bill Morneau Following the 2019 federal budget’s release, Hon. Bill Morneau engaged with members and the Edmonton business community to discuss the budget’s impact on businesses, industries and communities.
Hon. Amarjeet Sohi, Ken Kobly, Alyson Hodson, Hon. Bill Morneau, Janet Riopel, Jeffrey Sundquist and Randy Boissonnault, MP.
Hon. Bill Morneau addresses the business community.
54
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
Hon. Bill Morneau and Alyson Hodson take questions from the audience following the keynote.
50
Presented by
Advocate | Educate | Connect
th Annual
Chamber Golf Tournament June 13, 2019 The Quarry Edmonton
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
55
EDMONTON AS A TOURIST DESTINATION? ABSOLUTELY! // TOURISM & TRAVEL
EDMONTON AS A TOURIST DESTINATION?
ABSOLUTELY!
THE CAPITAL CITY HAS BEEN QUIETLY GROWING AS A HOT TOURIST DESTINATION WITH SOMETHING TO OFFER EVERY TYPE OF TOURIST.
BY JAMELIE BACHAALANI
A
lberta might not have British Columbia’s moderate climate and ocean views or Ontario’s bustling population and internationally renowned Falls, but it has a beauty all of its own. There is endless jaw-dropping scenery and picture-perfect landscapes to be found across all 640,081 square kilometres of the province, which drew in, according to the latest available numbers from Statistics Canada, over 30 million tourists in 2016. “Despite ongoing economic challenges in Alberta, tourism has been experiencing year-over-year growth,” says Royce Chwin, CEO of Travel Alberta. Established as a crown corporation in 2009, Travel Alberta promotes the province as a top tourism destination and provides marketing expertise and development support to Alberta-based businesses. They also provide support
to the Government of Alberta with the development of tourism products, policy, advocacy, research, and visitor services. As Alberta’s economy continues to recover, tourism remains an essential part in growing and diversifying our province. According to Chwin, more than one in 11 Albertans rely on the tourism industry for their livelihood, and that number is set to grow as visitors from across the globe continue to explore more of Western Canada. In 2016, tourism contributed more than $8.5 billion to our local economy, which supported 19,000 businesses and employed almost 130,000 Albertans. Although international travellers only make up 6 per cent of Alberta’s yearly tourists, they account for 25 per cent, a whopping $2 billion dollars, of our province’s annual revenue. ABOVE: RIVER VALLEY RIGHT: LEGISLATURE GROUNDS PHOTO SOURCE: MISTY BUNNIES FROM PIXABAY
56
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
EDMONTON AS A TOURIST DESTINATION? ABSOLUTELY! // TOURISM & TRAVEL
But ICE District isn’t the only attraction that Edmonton has been developing. The doors to the relaunched Royal Alberta Museum opened last October. The $375.5-million downtown facility showcases an impressive collection of artifacts, both large and small, across five main galleries and halls. In addition to overhead biplanes, an iron lung, and an Albertaosaurus skeleton, visitors can observe a live Madagascar hissing cockroach, an ice age mammoth replica, and the Manitou Stone — a meteorite which holds spiritual significance for Indigenous people. There is even an area dubbed the “museum zone” which gives the public access to what is happening behind the scenes.
Alberta is perhaps best known for the Rocky Mountains, but the province’s landscape includes rolling prairies, boreal forests, rushing rivers, and otherworldly sandstone pillars, also referred to as hoodoos. While there may be over a hundred provincial parks and five national parks spread across the province, Alberta is much more than a natural oasis — it is home to one of Canada’s fastest growing cities. Edmonton, the youngest capital city in the country, has a metro population of over 1 million people, a rapidly expanding public transportation system, and a booming arts and culture industry. The Conference Board of Canada forecasted that overnight visits to Edmonton would increase by 2.9 per cent in 2018 and attributed the boost to the array of new attractions and events. ICE District, a $2.5 billion sports and entertainment district, began with the completion of Rogers Place arena, the new home of the Edmonton Oilers. It is the first of many steps in a master plan to bring Edmonton’s downtown core on par with global hubs like Toronto, Hong Kong, and New York City. Once completed, it will span over 25 acres and feature a new grocery store, a public plaza inspired by Times Square, and the largest event space in the city.
There is no denying that downtown Edmonton has an incredible hub for sports and entertainment, but there are gems scattered throughout the city and a multitude of local businesses and events to experience. The city’s booming culinary scene is made up of modern eateries, craft beer taprooms, innovative bistros, and internationally recognized bakeries. “There are so many experiences that visitors can have in Edmonton, and tourism really shines a spotlight on all the wonderful things there are to do in a city,” says Courtney Higgins, social media engagement specialist for Explore Edmonton. Explore Edmonton is an online platform created by the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) to help Edmontonians and tourists alike explore all the city has to offer. “Edmonton is a year-round travel experience for both the international and national market. Between the river valley and northern lights, our winter and summer festival seasons, all the great restaurants and local shops, there are more than enough reasons for people to stay longer and explore Edmonton.” In addition to working with local businesses, like Poppy Barley and JACEK Chocolate Couture to develop experiences that are unique to Edmonton, EEDC has developed innovative initiatives to better the tourist experience.
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
57
EDMONTON AS A TOURIST DESTINATION? ABSOLUTELY! // TOURISM & TRAVEL
“Keep a lookout for the Explore Edmonton street team,” exclaims Higgins, “they are on sight at festivals and events throughout the year to provide information and share the Edmonton story.” Explore Edmonton has also partnered with Utrip to help travellers explore, personalize, and create the ultimate to-do list. The online tool allows users to view hundreds of options based on their interests and budget to find the must-see sights, activities, events, restaurants, and shops in just minutes. “If you really want to get the most out of your trip to Edmonton, connect with us. The Explore Edmonton team is always available via phone, email, and social media. We live for giving recommendations,” explains Higgins. “Don’t hesitate to connect with the locals either. We are so lucky to live in such an incredibly diverse and supportive city. If you are looking for the best beer spots or a great place to have coffee or enjoy a meal, ask the person sitting next to you or the group of locals walking by.” “Edmonton isn’t an obvious place but I kind of like it that way. The city still has a small town feel, where there are one or two degrees of separation” says Sarah Hoyles, creative director for Walkable Edmonton (WE). Sarah has been working with WE since its inception in 2016. The online platform highlights what Edmonton has to offer in core neighbourhoods, from everyday amenities to unusual spots, events and shops. “Tourism has obvious financial benefits, but the cultural aspect might not be so clear. If people do their homework and engage with the local food, arts, music and makers, they can take what they discovered back home with them and share it with others. This is how Edmonton makers develop a wider audience and appreciation,” Hoyles explains. Her Edmonton itinerary includes devouring a Farrow sandwich and grabbing a cup of coffee from a local roaster like Transcend Coffee, Rogue Wave and Iconoclast. She recommends taking a walk through ÎNÎW River Lot 11, Edmonton’s Indigenous Art Park, and tasting our city’s signature dish of green onion cakes. Savour the food and
58
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
EXPLORE EDMONTON HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH UTRIP TO HELP TRAVELLERS EXPLORE, PERSONALIZE, AND CREATE THE ULTIMATE TO-DO LIST. THE ONLINE TOOL ALLOWS USERS TO VIEW HUNDREDS OF OPTIONS BASED ON THEIR INTERESTS AND BUDGET TO FIND THE MUST-SEE SIGHTS, ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, RESTAURANTS, AND SHOPS IN JUST MINUTES.
atmosphere at The Lingnan, check out the latest exhibit at The Mitchell Gallery at MacEwan University, stargaze at the University of Alberta’s observatory, explore with the tunnels under the legislature grounds, and visit the first mosque in Canada — the Al Rashid Mosque is preserved at Fort Edmonton Park. Be sure to try on a pair of jeans from Arturo Denim and discover local makers showcased at Hideout Distro on 124th street. “This is probably an obvious answer coming from someone with Walkable Edmonton but walking is the best way to explore the city! A person on foot can spend the day making their way through Chinatown, along Jasper Ave, up 124 Street or down Whyte Avenue.” If visitors would like to get off of their feet for a few hours, they can take advantage of the city’s expanding LRT line, take a historic streetcar ride over the High Level bridge, or grab a free seat on the 100 Street Funicular. The bottom line? There is no shortage of things to do, taste, experience and see in Edmonton, which makes it an ideal city for tourists and those ready to explore their own backyard.
HOW GOLF IS ON THE UPSWING // GOLF
Upswing
HOW GOLF IS ON THE
GOLF HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MAJOR PART OF EDMONTON’S COMMUNITY BUILDING. HOW IS IT CHANGING TO KEEP UP WITH A CHANGING CITY?
BY ZACHARY EDWARDS
I
n 2014, golf brought an estimated $2.88 billion dollars into Alberta. It was just as the price of oil was falling and, since then, the sport has not been exempt to Alberta’s economic struggles. The sport, however, and its many clubs in the Edmonton region, have fared better than many other similar businesses. For the people in the industry this didn’t come as much of a surprise because of the special place golf holds in the hearts of Edmontonians. “Golf is a significant outdoor activity in the area,” says Renée Williams, director of international market development for Edmonton Tourism. “We have stunning courses right in the heart of the river valley and expansive ones on the outskirts. They are all unique in their makeup and design. Local golf enthusiasts and tourists have plenty of options and experiences throughout the area.”
years and you see things ebb and flow a little bit, but we are fortunate that we have seen minimal effect to this point.”
Edmonton Petroleum Golf & Country Club
Pure Golf
One reason locals love the sport may be because they know time on the links is a rare commodity with a season that is much, much shorter than most in the nation. The variety of golf experiences certainly helps, especially as Edmonton boasts an unusually high number of courses for its population. But the main reason for the love of golf may be, curiously, the winter. “I think when you live in a city that has snow on the ground for six or seven months of the year, you look forward to doing something outside,” says Jason Hnatiw, head golf professional at Windermere Golf & Country Club. “In some cases, golf can be affected by the economy. I’ve been in the industry for 18
Contact us for information on trial memberships!
epgcc.ab.ca
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // MAY 2019
59
HOW GOLF IS ON THE UPSWING // GOLF
Jim Hope, general manager and COO of The Derrick Golf & Winter Club, agrees, saying that weather especially gets people looking forward to the next season. “We’re cooped up a lot in the wintertime,” he says. “So, when we get an opportunity to spend three-and-a-half or four hours walking some pristine land with some friends, laughing and giggling and having a beer, I think we enjoy it.” That social sense, the meeting up with friends and enjoying the outdoors, is key to golf’s success in any region. Since its very early days, the sport has been associated with community, and Edmonton’s golf scene has plenty of close-knit clubs. “Golf builds communities,” Hnatiw says. “The membership here at the Windermere is a big family. There are so many members here that became friends. Over time, they move into the same areas and even travel together. That sense of community is a major part of why people join a private club and a big reason why our members stay with us.” As the economy changes in Edmonton, however, clubs both public and private have had to adapt to keep their communities thriving. Whereas clubs could be a place to talk business on the weekdays and retreat to on the weekends, today’s clubs are thinking about how to keep up with the times. “The days of dad playing a round on a Sunday and staying at the clubhouse until the evening playing cards are over,” says Hope. “Today, we offer a full family experience. Our median new member today is 38 with two kids. They have to be able to make a day of coming to the club and bringing the whole family. That’s what we’ve created here for our members.” In response to the changing demands of its members, The Derrick has also changed, offering year-round experiences for the entire family. Activities include an indoor pool, a gym, an indoor golf practice area and more. By offering year-round activities, The Derrick helps curate that sense of community that is integral to golf in general. “By being a year-round club and offering activities for the whole family, we’ve strengthened that sense of community here,” says Hope. Creating that sense of community for its members is key to Windermere’s success as well. The course itself is hailed as one of the best in the area and the venue is highly sought after for
60
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
weddings and celebrations. Investing in the community is part of the course’s success and long-term strategy. “The community is an important part of the future of this golf course,” Hnatiw says. “We are in a strong position, membership-wise, and I truly believe that is because of the community that has built up around us.” Like The Derrick, Windermere is seeing a change in their membership, with an increase in young professionals and families. The club has grown its practice facilities and junior programs as a way to foster that community and invest in its future. “We have a great juniors program and the best practice facility in Edmonton,” says Hnatiw. “We’re catering to existing members and the future members as well, including the next generation of golfers.” As courses like Windermere and The Derrick adapt to meet new expectations and demographics, the City of Edmonton is changing how people find golf activities with the introduction of U-Trip, an artificial intelligence-based online system that helps people plan their visit to the city. “U-Trip uses AI to build customized itineraries based on when you arrive, your interests and the kind of traveler that you are,” Williams explains. “So, if you are a golf lover, you can get a list of all the golf options in the city and plan a trip.” U-trip was designed by Edmonton Tourism with people coming to the city in mind, but locals are using it to discover new activities as well. It can also be a useful tool for people getting clients into the city. Golf, after all, remains the sport of wooing clients. “A round of golf gives you a guaranteed three or four hours alone with your client enjoying some weather and some friendly competition,” Hope says. “There really isn’t anything else like it. With a round of golf, especially at a private club, you have the chance to give a client a unique experience and keep their attention for a few hours.” Although the sport has had to change to meet new demands, both in price point and in service, golf not only survives in Edmonton, but thrives. Even if its budgets are a little tighter, Edmonton’s love for the game is stronger than ever.
Arcom Technical Services Ltd.
IS HAPPY TO BE OF SERVICE By Nerissa McNaughton
A
rcom Technical Services Ltd. provides telecommunication networks (copper, fibre optic, P2P wireless and LAN wireless) solutions for healthcare, new construction, renovations, and tenant improvement projects. The telecommunications department is also complimented with Arcom’s growing full-service electrical department. Recently the company has also ventured into creating innovative technology and software solutions that increase performance, productivity and profitability. Arcom’s motto is “happy to be of service,” and for Arthur (Archie) Smith, president, those are not just nice words to have on a business card. They are the very foundation of the company. “In 1999 when I first started Arcom, it was by the seat of my pants trying to figure out how to run and operate a business. Believe me, with no formal schooling on business, accounting, etc., it was a steep learning curve that encompassed success and many failures,” reminisces Smith. It was also the year Bicentennial Man, starring Robin Williams, was released. Smith found inspiration in William’s character, Andrew.
“Andrew learned, adapted and struggled, but never compromised his loyalties and devotion to those he served,” says Smith. In fact, Andrew, who was designed to be a menial robot, completely transcended his programing to become so much more – all the while saying, “it’s a pleasure to be of service to others.” “This was my basic thought and realization for Arcom,” Smith continues.
“Why can’t a company and its people base its operations in growth, learning, service and loyalty, even though the results could be catastrophic?” At the time Smith didn’t realize that his philosophy would be severely tested. Arcom | 1 61
ARCOM TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD. // 20TH ANNIVERARY
At first, things couldn’t be better. Arcom grew from one employee to 20+ in a short period of time. A commitment to quality work at fair prices and timely installations grew Arcom’s reputation in the industry. Recent notable projects included the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Warehouse, where Arcom installed a massive copper and fibre optic network in the 470,000 square foot building. The company also completed AHS’ Alberta Hospital’s CIS WiFi installation, working around the issues of aging infrastructure and installing in a patient-occupied building. The AHS project was completed on time and on budget despite the challenges, and Arcom was recognized for this significant achievement. The rapid success meant Arcom needed more space; the company moved in 2009, then relocated again to a bigger office/shop in 2014. And then disaster struck. In 2014 a project Arcom was involved in went sideways. Several contractors from different companies were involved in the project. One of those contractors made crucial errors that affected every contractor involved. Smith was at a crossroads. He had the option to pull out of the project to protect Arcom from further fallout and financial damage. It was the expected move as the issues were not the fault of Arcom, but doing so would create further setbacks for the client. Smith thought back to his guiding principle – happy to be of service – and his path forward was clear. Despite great financial losses, Arcom finished the project. In a perfect world, the sacrifice would have been met with industry accolades and everyone would rush to fill the coffers of the company with high-profile work; but in the real world, although the client was deeply appreciative of Arcom’s choice, the losses to the company were catastrophic. Smith remembers looking at 15 years of growing his business, only to see it slipping through his fingers like sand, and he was unsure of what to do.
Arcom | 2
In Bicentennial Man, Andrew had many opportunities to simply remain within his programming or to give up and let better technology serve his family; but he never did. Andrew always continued to grow and learn, even when it cost him personally. Remembering the influence Andrew’s actions had on him when he started the company, Smith decided to do the same. It was time to stop worrying and time to take action. His actions, once again, were surprising. Where many companies would immediately chase work to level the balance sheet, Smith went to work on the company culture instead. He reasoned that if he could fix what was going on internally, it would create a stronger, better foundation for regrowth. “We invented our own performance system called Orbitis,” says Smith. “Previously, I scoured the market for a performance system for Arcom, but there are so many convoluted software systems that would not provide the information and data I required in a simple and straight forward way.”
One of Arcom’s biggest projects was installing a telecommunication network of copper cabling and Sumitomo air blown fibre optics on the City of Edmonton occupied floors in Edmonton Tower.
Using Orbitis, Smith measured key indicators of his own performance (and was shocked to see the areas in which he was lacking). He then expanded the measures to the entire team. “This system has enabled us to increase our operational performance tremendously. Our individual performance average (IPA) has increased 39 per cent since our 2014 measurement!” After soft trials, Orbitis is nearing the beta testing stage and will be available in 2020 to the market place for every industry of any size. The Orbitis system has enormous potential to increase companies operational performance and culture. “I have contracted Devfacto to code the system into software
with my input and design approvals. I would like to give Devfacto credit for this. They have been truly amazing to work with.” “I didn’t want anyone to feel the way I did in 2014,” Smith says of why Arcom evolved in this direction. “I figured if I was able to get things back on track, I should be helping other companies do the same.” Arcom kept reaching out into the technological space and has also successfully marketed Visitorlink, a virtual reception/greeting system that has saved them nearly $200,000 since 2014. It’s been five years since the “hiccup” and Arcom is thriving once again. Now, the issue isn’t so much
Arcom | 3
ARCOM TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD. // 20TH ANNIVERARY projects, it’s finding enough staff to fill the growing work demands! Again, Smith turns to internal corporate culture for the solution. “There are times that our future expansion plans are capped by the availability of a skilled workforce. It is our plan that through utilizing Orbitis and our profit sharing program for all staff that we will attract and retain more staff.” Entrepreneurship is never easy, and for Smith, his wife Shelley, and his dedicated team, it’s been an incredible ride. “I think the most rewarding thing for me has been the evolution of Arcom. Looking at where we started in 1999 by myself to where we are now simply astonishes me. By no means can I take all the credit for our success and growth. We have a great team that has evolved over the last 20 years. We learned from the bad and embraced the good. I believe that we are all truly proud of Arcom and what we have become,” smiles Smith. “The unwavering
Congratulations to on their 20 year anniversary! KRP has had the pleasure of working with Arcom Technical Services Ltd for the last several years. With a shared dedication to providing quality work and customer service, we look forward to working with them for many more years to come.
Su i te 1 5 0 0 , 9 8 8 8 J a s pe r Ave nu e Ed m o nto n , A B | T 5 J5 C 6 P. 7 8 0 4 2 4 3 0 0 0 | F. 7 8 0 4 2 9 4 8 1 7 w w w. k r p gro u p. co m | E. i n fo @ k r p gro u p. co m
TEXT TEXT TEXT TEXTTEXT TEXT TEXT TEXTTEXT TEXT TEXT TEXTTEXT TEXT TEXT TEXTTEXT TEXT TEXT TEXTTEXT TEXT TEXT TEXTTEXT TEXT TEXT TEXTTEXT TEXT TEXT TEXTTEXT TEXT TEXT TEXT
Arcom | 4
ethics that we protect as the mainstay of Arcom keeps us on a straight course. The plan was, and always will be, to provide a service to clients based on complete integrity. “If I could only tell my clients one thing it would be a sincere thank you. Thank you for the continued faith in Arcom and entrusting us to be a part of your plans, dreams and realities.” Smith also extends thanks to his loyal and hardworking staff, along with his family and friends that stood by and supported his decisions through thick and thin, and Arcom’s banking partners (Bank of Montreal and BDC) that “identified our vision and our potentials in the present and into the future.” Arcom’s model of service extends beyond the corporation and into the community. Just some of the charities and foundations Arcom supports includes Covenant Health, STARS Air Ambulance, the Royal Alexandrea Hospital Foundation, the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, Wounded Warriors Canada, and the Canadian Cancer Society. It’s been 20 years since Smith decided to tread the uncertain waters of entrepreneurship, but despite the waves that sometimes threatened to drown the operation, he never gave up. Smith and his team turned every challenge into an action, and every roadblock into a stepping stone. “Arcom’s goal is to keep providing the same high standards of quality and performance. Our immediate goal is to achieve an Orbitis IPA of 90 per cent or above in 2019. This will assist us in being more competitive, profitable and successful,” Smith concludes. While the notion of a sentient robot named Andrew is the stuff of Hollywood, a very real company exists that espouses that unwavering dedication, loyalty and service. Arcom was founded on these principles and two decades later, remains committed to its dedication to always be “happy to be of service.”
Arcom Technical Services Ltd.
Learn more about Arcom at www.arcomtechnical.com
Mike Biggs, Dale Nilson, president, and Jeff Hughson, senior vice president. Photo by Rebecca Lippiatt.
MBS INSURANCE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR NEEDS
I
nsurance. It’s that one thing everyone needs but does not want. So, when a local insurance brokerage has a five star rating on Facebook from over 40 people, and 4.7/5 on Google from more than 130 customers, you have to wonder, “what’s their secret?”
For MBS Insurance Brokers Ltd., who has been protecting Edmonton’s families and businesses for 50 years, there is no secret. It’s simply adhering to their core value of service: the customer’s needs come first. Always.
MBS Insurance • 50 Years
65
MBS Insurance Brokers Ltd. was founded in 1969 by Doug Biggs and Peter Marusin.
giving the clients what they want. It’s providing what they need.
“They opened up in a shopping centre and were the first brokerage south of Whyte Ave,” explains Doug’s son Mike Biggs, who works at MBS as a commercial insurance broker. “The location was a strategic move because there was a Safeway nearby. Men would pop into the brokerage while their wives shopped. They appreciated not having to go downtown to buy insurance.”
“We don’t undersell to get the policy. It’s not about price. It’s about value,” explains Kaczur.
“MBS Insurance started with one file in 1969,” adds Dale Nilson, president. “Today we have 10,200 clients and 24 staff members. More than half of the staff have been here for 15 years or more.” Biggs smiles, “And we still serve the first policyholder’s family today.” To the management team, which also includes Jeff Hughson, senior VP and Tanya Kaczur, accounts manager, outstanding customer service isn’t about
Congratulating MBS Insurance Brokers on 50 Years of Success Building a successful business requires vision, innovation, courage and leadership. It’s that conviction that sets you apart to accomplish something truly extraordinary. MNP congratulates MBS Insurance Brokers Ltd. on 50 years of success. Visit MNP.ca to find a Business Advisor near you. MNP.ca
The MBS team strives to educate their customers on the different policies available and show them why their choices should not be determined by price alone. The worst possible scenario is seeing a customer pay for a policy that is not designed to fully protect them – something each broker at MBS does not allow to happen. By providing the most comprehensive coverage, the customer’s policy should respond as intended in the event of a claim or a disaster. “People choose to deal with MBS because we are an alternative to the “call centre” type of organization where the customer is shuffled around to many representatives, often left feeling like a number. At MBS Insurance, each of our customers has a dedicated broker who is responsible for taking care of their insurance needs. This personalized approach helps foster strong, long-lasting relationships between us and our customers. A great example of this and one we are very proud of is our relationship with Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). Since 1983 we have provided home and auto insurance to their instructors and employees. Our customers are also a strong source of referrals to their friends, family and businesses. Over 80 per cent of our new customers come from existing customer referrals,” states Nilson. MBS has always been ahead of the curve, implementing new technology and processes as they become available, innovative strategies to remain competitive while completely customer focused, and keeping a watchful eye on industry trends. In fact, MBS is currently educating its clients about why insurance costs in Alberta have been increasing. “Claims frequency and severity continue to grow in Alberta,” informs Hughson. This is due to several factors. The cost of automobile repairs has increased significantly due to the advancement of technology in vehicles such as computerized equipment, cameras and sensors. Accidents rates have also increased due to distracted driving. Alberta also continues to lead the country in natural catastrophes including flooding, fire, hail,
MBS Insurance • 50 Years • 2
CONGRATULATIONS ON
50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
From your proud partners at Economical Insurance
Economical Insurance includes the following companies: Economical Mutual Insurance Company, Family Insurance Solutions Inc., Sonnet Insurance Company, Petline Insurance Company. Group insurance from EconomicalŽ may be underwritten by Waterloo Insurance Company or Economical Mutual Insurance Company in your respective province. Due to government insurance plans, Economical does not offer auto insurance in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba. Economical does not offer insurance in Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, or Yukon. Š2019 Economical Insurance. All Economical intellectual property belongs to Economical Mutual Insurance Company. All other intellectual property is the property of their respective owners.
thunderstorms and tornadoes. From 2008 to 2017 Alberta made up more than half of the catastrophe losses in Canada. More and more Albertans are relying on their insurance to respond to these increasingly severe weather disasters. “We understand that insurance is a financial obligation. It’s dollars and cents out of your pocket,”
Congratulations MBS Insurance Brokers on 50 years! ROBERT S. RIDDLE
*Professional Corporation
2445 Manulife Place 10180 - 101 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3S4
Barrister & Solicitor Tel: (780) 423-6817 Fax: (780) 429-5054 bob@rsriddle.com
Congratulations MBS Insurance Brokers on your 50th Anniversary! Wishing you many more years of success.
says Nilson. We all pay for insurance and we understand how insurance impacts everyone. Our role is to ensure our customers understand why the industry is changing, provide helpful advice and preventative actions that will help mitigate future losses and premium increases, and lastly and most importantly, ensure the customer’s policy responds when a claim occurs.” Another vital component of MBS’ success is its longterm relationships with its carrier partners, including Aviva Insurance, Economical Insurance, Intact Insurance, Peace Hills Insurance, Travelers Canada and Wawanesa Insurance. Many of these relationships have been ongoing for 25-40 years. Thanks to excellence in service and client care, MBS Insurance has been recognized numerous times by their insurer partners over the years. MBS is also active in the community, supporting many organizations such as Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, local hockey teams, Share the Warmth, the MS Society of Canada, and more. “When selecting insurance, you are also selecting an insurance broker that can help you through it all. It’s not solely about price. It’s truly about your needs.” MBS Insurance thanks its past and present staff, clients, insurance carriers, supporters and founders for their role in helping the company thrive for 50 years. The team looks forward to continuing the tradition of service excellence, meeting the needs of their clients, and always putting customer service at the forefront of everything they do.
#100 8657 51 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 6A8 (780) 469-5700 | www.wawanesa.com/canada
Congratulations MBS Insurance Brokers on 50 Years! #300, 10709 Jasper Avenue Phone: 780-424-3986 | Toll-Free: 1-800-272-5614 | Fax: 780-424-0396 www.peacehillsinsurance.com
#301, 9452-51 Ave Edmonton, AB T6E 5A6 Ph: (780) 436-7880 | F: (780) 438-0097 main@mbsinsurance.com www.MBSInsurance.com
MBS Insurance • 50 Years • 4
THE EDMONTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Turns a Page
| BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON
THE ICONIC STANLEY A. MILNER LIBRARY’S REVITALIZATION IS NEARING COMPLETION. GET READY TO BE WOWED BY THE RESULTS. 1 69
T
he Edmonton Public Library’s (EPL) Stanley A. Milner Library has been a fixture in the city for more than 100 years, but like most fixtures, it can be relegated to the sidelines sometimes, and is often seen as a building full of books from a bygone era. However, nothing could be further from the truth! EPL has a rich and interesting history, and with its revitalization it is poised to reaffirm its status as an educational, social, safe and progressive space in the city. To understand the future impact EPL is about to have, we have to go back to “once upon a time” to learn how this story began. EPL opened in 1913 and was replaced with the Centennial Library in 1967. It was renamed the Stanley A. Milner Library in 1996 to honour Dr. Milner’s contributions to the library, and his tremendous impact in Edmonton. From the start, EPL was a place where anyone of any age could go for free, to indulge themselves in novels, learn something from non-fiction, and support homework and research with reference materials. The image of the “dusty old library” was simply due to the times. Books, it was believed, would fade in direct sunlight. Therefore, the early libraries eschewed natural light. However, with modern windows and new layouts, this is no longer an issue. In fact, light is one of the drivers in EPL’s revitalization. “Before the reno, there were windows on the main floor and some on the second. The rest were tiny slits. There will be 650 windows in the new space. That natural light is so important to people when they are studying, meeting friends, or just reading
2
a newspaper,” says Pilar Martinez, EPL’s warm and friendly CEO, who is filled with excitement as she describes the new spaces. “Another thing that will be different is the vertical openness of the space enabling you to see what is happening floor to floor. The children’s area will be almost three times larger, going from 4,000 to 11,000 square feet, and will have its own makerspace. There will be a 3D printer, green screen for digital media manipulation, and lots of activities, robotics and circuitry, that support STEAM-based learning.” Adults have plenty to look forward to as well, as the makerspace is geared to customers of all ages. Growing from its current 3,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet, the enhanced makerspace will include a desktop CNC mill for metal and mill working, a serger and sewing machine, a book printer, photo studio and three sound booths. The revitalized library will also feature a culinary centre, among other services. For Martinez, however, one of the most exciting aspects of the revitalization is how it will enhance EPL’s role as a community hub. “We know there is a limited amount of space for community groups in the city, after the revitalization the space available at EPL will be over 28,000 square feet.”
䌀漀渀最爀愀琀甀氀愀琀椀漀渀猀 琀漀 琀栀攀 䔀搀洀漀渀琀漀渀 倀甀戀氀椀挀 䰀椀戀爀愀爀礀 漀渀 琀栀攀 爀攀瘀椀琀愀氀椀稀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 匀琀愀渀氀攀礀 䄀⸀ 䴀椀氀渀攀爀 䰀椀戀爀愀爀礀℀
眀眀眀⸀瀀爀椀渀琀礀漀甀爀洀椀渀搀㌀搀⸀挀愀 圀攀 栀愀瘀攀 攀瘀攀爀礀琀栀椀渀最 礀漀甀 渀攀攀搀 琀漀 最攀琀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 ㌀䐀 瀀爀椀渀琀椀渀最 昀漀爀 礀漀甀爀 猀挀栀漀漀氀Ⰰ 戀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀 漀爀 栀漀洀攀⸀
倀刀伀䘀䔀匀匀䤀伀一䄀䰀 䐀䔀匀䬀吀伀倀 ㌀䐀 倀刀䤀一吀䤀一䜀 匀伀䰀唀吀䤀伀一匀 ㌀䐀 倀刀䤀一吀䔀刀匀 簀 䴀䄀吀䔀刀䤀䄀䰀匀 簀 䔀堀倀䔀刀吀 匀唀倀倀伀刀吀
3
Always one to move with the times, EPL is going to get a huge technical upgrade as well – and it’s going to be enchanting. As part of Martinez’s job, she is often invited to speak in various parts of the world about EPL’s innovative services. This also provides opportunities to explore what makes other social spaces unique and provides a chance for incorporating applicable ideas back home. When visiting the Queensland University of Technology in Australia while speaking at a conference, she saw her first digital simulation wall. “It was simply awe-inspiring!” smiles Martinez. “It’s a multi-storey interactive touchscreen and it was displaying information about the Great Barrier Reef. A fish would ‘swim’ by and you could touch it; information would be displayed to tell you its species, what it ate and what its enemies were. There was also a game where you used rockets to learn about velocity. I’m very excited to bring this technology to EPL and how it will be used to highlight Edmonton attractions like the river valley and work from local artists. We are the only public library in North America that will have this technology on this scale.” EPL looks back to time-honoured, meaningful traditions with the same commitment it has to technology and innovation. Martinez explains. “We are very excited about the Indigenous gathering space. It’s a round room that is ventilated for ceremonies. We consulted with local Elders to learn, for example, what direction the doors need to face, which is very symbolic. This room is something we are really proud of.” 4
EPL is also committed to growing its digital offerings, which provide educational resources for patrons of all ages. Martinez continues, “EPL has online certificate courses through Lynda.com and Gale Courses, such as leadership or interior design that you can take for free. There is also language learning software – again, all free with your library card.” For students there is free homework help through volunteer peer tutors (for reading) as well as online resources (BrainFuse and Solaro) for a variety of school subjects. There will be plenty to see and do at the revitalized downtown library, but one thing has not changed since EPL opened 106 years ago – lending books and other materials.
Supporting the arts. We’re wired like that.
Connecting people to nature
Congratulations to Edmonton Public Library. Thank you to EPL for sharing our passion of nature as an inspiration for learning.
DESIGN BUILD • MAINTENANCE ELECTICAL SERVICES • SOLAR
At 19 Islands we love connecting people to nature through the creation, care, and sharing of aquariums, living walls, planters and other natural installations.
19 Islands @19_Islands
19islands.com
5
“We have a physical collection of about 200,000 items,” says Martinez; and that doesn’t even count the digital library where customers can borrow, for free, digital copies of books, movies, comics and TV shows through Hoopla, and digital magazines through Zinio. The revitalization started with discussions in 2008. The grand opening will be on February 14, 2020. Out of the $84.5 million price tag, EPL committed to raising $10 million with community partners. With just under a year to go, EPL has raised $8.6 million of that goal. “A lot of people don’t know that they can provide a donation, as EPL is a registered charitable organization,” Martinez says. “Customers can also support us by naming a seat in the theatre, donating at their local library, or online through our website. “We welcome everyone. Everyone can come into the library. You don’t have to pay. We are very accessible and welcoming to all demographics. It doesn’t matter what your income or heritage is. There is something for everyone, from early literacy where we collaborate with Alberta Health Services, to ESL conversation circles, to workforce development and job seeker support. There are so many opportunities to meet people’s needs all in one safe and welcoming space.”
Equipment Sales
Printer Repairs
Printer Supplies
Print Production
www.printerworld.com
Complete Printing Solutions 6
THERE IS ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT PERSON THAT IS QUIETLY WATCHING HISTORY UNFOLD AT EPL: DR. STANLEY A. MILNER. AT OVER 90 YEARS OF AGE, HE WILL SEE THE LEGACY THAT BEARS HIS NAME TRANSFORM INTO AN INSTITUTION THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT THE REGION FOR COUNTLESS FUTURE GENERATIONS. The countdown to the grand opening has begun, and there is still a lot of finishing touches to take care of – moving collections from storage back into circulation, transferring staff that were relocated to other branches during the renovation and decommissioning sites used for administration during the process, for example. But Martinez and her staff are not worried about the work ahead. They are excited about the process and grateful to everyone that has helped to make it happen. “City Council has been tremendous champions and supporters, as have Mayor Don Iveson and former Mayor Stephen Mandel. Mayor Iveson was on our board for six years when he was a councillor and he never missed a meeting. Mayor Mandel was the one who initiated the project and continues to champion it. Our staff have such a passion for providing service and connecting customers with knowledge and information. They are our foundation.” There is another very important person that is quietly watching history unfold at EPL: Dr. Stanley A. Milner. At over 90 years of age, he will see the legacy that bears his name transform into an institution that will continue to benefit the region for countless future generations. “People contribute through tax dollars but are unaware of the power and access to knowledge that a library card can give you,” concludes Martinez. Indeed, if it’s been awhile since you’ve been to the library, go now and be pleasantly surprised. “EPL is very proud of the space and service plans developed for the revitalized Milner Library, particularly given our conservative budget compared with other large urban central libraries that have recently opened in Canada and across the world. What people will experience are the innovative and improved services amongst a much more efficient, beautiful and welcoming layout.” EPL is active on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Learn more about EPL at epl.ca, where you can also access the award-winning podcast, Overdue Fines. Congratulations to Edmonton Public Library!
SPECIALIZING IN
• Tenant Improvements • Building Envelope Upgrades • Institutional Alterations • Commercial Additions General Contractors/Construction Managers P: 780.497.2222 • F: 780.487.2063 E: estimating@emceeconstruction.com
www.emceeconstruction.com
MNP Tower 7th Floor, 10235 101 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 3G1 780-496-7000 epl.ca 7
MAKING AN IMPACT FOR EDMONTON // EEDC
MAKING AN IMPACT FOR EDMONTON
W
ith over 1,500 employees and six divisions, Edmonton Economic Development Corporation contributes to building a prosperous and resilient Edmonton economy by driving key elements of economic success. From attracting new tourists, new investments, major events and meetings and conventions, to growing new and existing business, and attracting supporting talent/ students, their business drives $200 million in economic impact for the economy.
Creating connections that strengthen our economy and community Entrenched in the foundation of Edmonton’s river valley stands the Edmonton Convention Centre, a beacon of hospitality and sustainability among Edmonton’s growing downtown skyline. As a community asset, it has grown alongside our city and plays an important role in enhancing Edmonton’s tourism economy and community. In 2018, the EEDC-managed venue hosted Grey Cup Festival events, the UN Women’s Safe Cities Global Forum, the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championships, meetings, conventions, concerts and more – all contributing to the $32,076,222 in economic impact generated for the City of Edmonton.
Making Edmonton a must-visit city EEDC’s Edmonton Tourism division – comprised of meetings and conventions, edmonton events, international market development and marketing – has evolved and expanded to increase efforts in driving sustainable yearround tourism. They see the big picture and, as a destination marketing organization, continue to contribute to Edmonton’s success and the success of their stakeholders. They are the trusted experts and resource for sales and the marketing of our city, and they want visitors to have more than enough reasons to visit, explore and stay longer.
$63M 67M
11,000
In economic The number impact of people Edmonton’s travel media coverage reached in 2018
Room nights booked in 2018, a 20% increase in overnights stays year over year
76
$32M $19.2M
94%
In economic impact
Client satisfaction
Revenue in 2018 – a growth of 19.8% year over year
+31 Community engagement net promoter score
130 New Edmonton itineraries established in 2018 by the travel trade team
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
Attracting exceptional events for unforgettable experiences The Edmonton EXPO Centre is a powerful economic catalyst, providing authentic experiences and limitless opportunities
IMAGINE A SPACE WITH
From corporate meetings to weddings, concerts to culinary, trade shows to sporting events, the experiences available at the Edmonton EXPO Centre are endless.
It’s all possible with our unparalleled 522,000 square feet of event space that can host large scale events, smaller corporate gatherings and everything in between. Our seasoned team is committed to service excellence. If you can dream it, we can make it happen. At the Edmonton EXPO Centre, we bring people together to Experience More. Contact us today to start planning your next corporate event.
780.471.7380 sales@edmontonexpocentre.com edmontonexpocentre.com
MAKING AN IMPACT FOR EDMONTON // EEDC
in the most imaginative event space in Canada. In its first year as a division of EEDC, several new events were hosted at the venue, including the Volleyball Canada Nationals, which was brought to Edmonton through close collaboration with EEDC’s Edmonton Tourism division. Over 10,000 athletes and 12,000 spectators converged on the venue, generating over $30 million in direct economic impact. The Edmonton EXPO Centre’s 4,000 seat arena was also significantly in use. The PBR Monster Energy Tour Edmonton Classic took to Hall D along with 60 tons of dirt, and by December, dirt gave way to ice as the venue team hosted over 20,000 excited fans over 11 performances of Disney on Ice. This was the first time in 14 years an ice event had been held in Hall D.
$34M $20.5M In economic Revenue in 2018 impact
Edmonton, the Advanced Technology Centre, Edmonton Made, and a joint venture with the University of Alberta called TEC Edmonton.
$22.2M $32.2M 1900+ Investment raised by companies at Startup Edmonton in 2018
Investment raised by companies at Advanced Technology Centre in 2018
Clients served through Innovate Edmonton programs
$109M Revenue generated by TEC Edmonton client companies in 2018
1,536,278 +45 Number of visitors
Community engagement net promoter score
Building an international network for Edmonton businesses Inspiring homegrown talent to dream big to solve some of the world’s most important problems Innovate Edmonton collaborates to create the best possible environment for technology innovation and tech-enabled startup and scaleup company growth in Edmonton. This involves delivering programs that support the creation of new tech-enabled businesses, the acceleration and scale of high potentials and the engagement of our community. EEDC’s Innovate Edmonton division includes Startup
78
MAY 2019 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
The Enterprise Edmonton team works to create significant economic impact by supporting wealth creation and growth, building Edmonton’s business profile, assisting local businesses in exporting to new markets and positioning Edmonton as a great place to invest. This includes providing companies with high-impact services and programs to help them succeed, whether they are seeking to move to or invest in our city, or looking to grow their markets beyond the region into the global market place.
$57M
$20.8M
186
In economic impact
In foreign direct investment in 2018
Number of jobs created in 2018
$53.7M Value of growth, expansion and trade
SHARING YOUR VISION. BUILDING SUCCESS.
Edmonton Police Service Northwest Campus Edmonton, AB We look beyond your immediate needs to see the bigger picture, provide solutions, and ensure that we exceed your expectations. We work with our clients to understand their goals, overcome challenges, and earn their trust. PCL is proud to build Edmonton’s top projects.
Watch us build at PCL.com