Edmontonians Fall2011

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EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

12851 - 56 Street, Edmonton, AB T5A 0C9

Tel: 780.454.3444 Fax: 780.454.3222

www.edmontonians.com PUBLISHED BY: Cedar Publishing Corporation PRESIDENT Moe Najmeddine moe@edmontonians.com EDITOR Barb Deters bdeters@edmontonians.com SALES MANAGER Carla Sebastian info@edmontonians.com COLUMNISTS Jey Arul • John Berry • Linda Bodo • Heidi Coe Cheryl Croucher • Marty Forbes • Lynn Fraser Cheryll Gillespie • Kelley Keehn • Bob Layton Norman Leach • Shawn Moore • Gwyn Morgan David Norwood • Barbara Ashley Phillips • Erin Rayner Sam Shakura • Elissa Scott • Natasha Soles Charles Strachey • Ian Wachowicz • Mark Wardell FEATURE WRITERS Carrie Robinson • Yuri Wuensch PHOTOGRAPHERS John Berry • Bruce Clarke • Cheryl Croucher Quincey Deters • Brad Gibbons • Tracy Kolenchuk GRAPHIC PRODUCTION Rage Studios Inc. All rights reserved by Cedar Publishing Corporation. Reproduction or transmission of all or any part of this publication by any means whatsoever is strictly forbidden without prior written permission from the publisher. Although great care is taken to avoid errors in the preparation of advertising material and editorial content, any errors or omissions on the part of Cedar Publishing Corporation are limited and dealt with solely by printing a retraction statement and or correction in the following issue. Edmontonians Newsmagazine is a product of Cedar Publishing Corporation.

in this issue issue... ... Volume XXII Number 3 Fall 2011

About Town VoxPop Marty Forbes checks off another item on his bucket list...................................................... 4 Bob Layton remembers Jerry Forbes… and his Ugly caper ................................................ 6

Sizzling in the City Erin Rayner identifies dominant Sizzling qualities ......................................................15-16

Social Scene NorQuest One Thousand Women Luncheon..................................................................... 42

Business Prosperity Plus Kelley Keehn knows everyone is a potential customer...................................................... 12

WorkingWise Charles Strachey provides career planning advice............................................................ 13

Mergers & Acquisitions Jey Arul urges business buyers to do due diligence ......................................................... 20

Legally Speaking Ian Wachowicz reviews changes to the Insurance Act ...................................................... 21

Business Briefs Norman Leach highlights three new tech projects ............................................................ 44

Professional Development Mark Wardell values goodwill—business and personal ................................................... 52

Social Media 101 Heidi Coe suggests developing a social media strategy.................................................... 54

Google Guru Shawn Moore has tips on increasing e-commerce sales .................................................. 55

Economic Outlook Gwyn Morgan envisions a new world order ..................................................................... 58

Street Commerce Featuring Lyric the “invisible” hearing aid ........................................................................ 59

Features From The Editor’s Desktop The tradition continues! ................................................................................................... 17

10th Annual Sizzling Twenty Under 30 This year’s top professionals, entrepreneurs, performers and volunteers are profiled by Carrie Robinson ........................................................................................ 18

Then & Now 10 Years—200 Sizzlers! ................................................................................................... 32

Lively Lifestyles Absolute Bodo Linda Bodo has novel ideas for old books ........................................................................... 9

MenuMagic Chef John Berry reviews Haweli… and a backyard wedding ................................................ 10

Life Balance Lynn Fraser wants families to get back to the dinner table ............................................... 14

Creative Interiors Cheryl Gillespie & Sam Shakura want our rooms to have sizzle ....................................... 50

Home Envision Elissa Scott says décor reflects male/female presence ..................................................... 51

Walking the Talk Barbara Ashley Phillips expounds the virtues of compromise .......................................... 56

Canadian Publication Mail Agreement # 40041145

Opinions Civil Wars Nejolla Korris cringes at antics of other travellers ............................................................... 7

If undeliverable, please return to:

Cedar Publishing Corporation 12851 - 56 Street Edmonton, AB T5A 0C9

www.cedarpublishing.com EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

GenX & Politics Natasha Soles talks to peers about their visions of the city ................................................. 8

Civic Buzz David Norwood believes the city is at a development crossroads..................................... 48

Visionaries Oil sands reclamation… pancreatic cancer treatment… cheaper biodiesel Cheryl Croucher looks at the latest innovations..........................................................60-62

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...With Marty Forbes & Bob Layton

Marty Forbes

s you read d this, thi I’m I most likely

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in a time zone far, far away fulfilling one of my major bucket list wishes. I’m heading over to Europe for the dream motorcycle trip of a lifetime. About 20 of us are on an Edelweiss Motorcycle Trip through southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Northern France. We’re riding BMW 800 motorcycles on a nine-day trip through some of the most beautiful topography in the world including the Alps. There are seven coordinated riding days with two free days to ride anywhere in the region. My two travelling companions are Brian Norrie of Calgary and Gary Peruzzini of Scottsdale, Arizona. We’re heading over a few days early to shake off the ‘jet lag’ that accompanies the long trip and time difference. To settle in, we’ll be visiting several car

museums to see some of the very first BMW, Porsche and Mercedes automobiles ever made. If we have time in Austria we’re hoping to also see the Red Bull museum, filled with classic cars, boats, motorcycles and airplanes, too. After the museum visits, we train to Erding, Germany to hook up with the other guys on the tour. The train system in Europe is extremely comfortable and follows along some amazing mountain rail paths. Most have free wifi so it’s easy to work on a laptop, checking e-mail and sending pics to family and friends. The beauty of this trip is that virtually everything is taken care of for you so you can ride worry free. There’s a translator/guide riding out front of the crew, and a fully equipped truck behind us. The truck contains spare bikes, so if you run into any trouble whatsoever, you simply pull over and hop on another bike.

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Each morning we get together as a group and decide if we want to ride with the tour or go out on our own. We have GPS units and maps, and a set time to hook up with the crew at the next hotel. On our two free days, we’re in the Black Forest, which alone should be a major highlight. As we head out each morning we give our luggage to another truck and when we arrive at our destination we’re already checked in and the bags are in our rooms. We’ll be riding between two and five hours a day, covering approximately 1800 kms through those countries. After we’re done, we’re stopping in London, England—one of my all-time favourite cities in the entire world—and I’ll be visiting a pal, formerly from Edmonton, who will show us some behind-the-scenes features of this world class city. I truly love Europe and try to get over on an annual basis now. It is just so culturally interesting and the history alone simply blows you away. I highly recommend crossing the big pond if you can one day.

Just a few tips if you are planning a trip overseas:

1. Notify your bank your credit card provider so that they can free up access to money and credit. Bank machines are everywhere; however, if you haven’t notified your bank, you could be denied access to funds. 2. Make sure you have adequate health insurance. If you run into trouble over there you want to be fully covered. 3. Pick up an International Drivers Licence at AMA. You can get by with your provincial licence, but a number of countries are now asking for the International Licence. 4. Travel as light as possible. Leave the expensive jewellery at home‌ along with your Canadian Tire and Sears credit cards, grocery store membership/collector cards, and office/house/car keys. Leave nothing of value in a hotel room while you’re out. Beware of very crafty pickpockets, especially in public places and on trains, subways, etc. 5. The different money will drive you nuts so study up what each coin/bill is worth or you can easily get ripped off when you’re making purchases. 6. Buy a appropriate roaming package from your cell company or you’ll have a very

large surprise when you come home and get your first bill. There are special European packages to circumvent this problem. 7. Set up a Facebook site. I did one for our Prague visit last year. This trip, we’ll be using “Tres Amigo’s do Europe 2011â€? as a banner so that our family and friends can get daily updates, and see both pictures and video of the trip. It’s a good way, with the time difference, to message back and forth as well‌ and hey, it’s free! 8. Don’t forget to buy an electrical converter: Europe is on a 220 system. You’ll need to plug your 110 appliance (hair dryer, cell and camera chargers, laptops, etc) in to the converter to work while you’re over there. So another adventure is all set. I feel so truly blessed. More in the next issue of after I return to our weather- and skeeter-challenged city. √ Marty Forbes is president of Radiowise Inc. Contact: marty@edmontonians.com – and on Twitter: mjforbes

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EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

5

VOX POP Continued...

I

don’t remember the exact date, just that I was sitting at home on a Sunday afternoon in about 1971 when the phone rang and it was Jerry Forbes on the line. As a young announcer at 630 CHED, I felt a moment of panic. What would the manager of the radio station want with me? Jerry Forbes I was aware he had to smooth things over with some people who were upset with what I had aired in the day when news and comment were intertwined. He had already told me in person that he disagreed with what I had said, but that it was “great radio”. I asked if I should stop thee comments. He grinned and nd said, “I’ll tell you when to stop.” On this Sunday afternoon, he was just calling to express his appreciation for the work week. k I had done that week Like many great leaders, he knew there was magic in a word of praise. It was his caring for the individual that had already led to the start of 630 CHED Santas Anonymous back in 1955. When “the world’s oldest living teenager” ended his turn on earth, he could not have known how the number of needy children would swell to 25,000… or that some of the earliest recipients of his thoughtfulness would today be honouring Jerry’s legacy by donating or delivering gifts themselves. Now, there will be an even more lasting tribute: The Jerry Forbes Centre for Community Spirit. This 70,000 square-foot complex will

Bob Layton

rise from a 4.7 acre parcel of land at 4803 58th Avenue. The City of Edmonton, seeing the need for this valuable project that will be home to several charities, is graciously providing the land plus funding for a total value of over $5.25 million. The Government of Alberta Albe is pledging $3 million as an initial contribution and in discussions continue for an discus additional additio $2 million. To reach the ne needed goal of $21 million, the G Government of Canada is being approached for $5.25 million, milli and the private sector will be given the opportunity to donate don a like amount. Not N only the new home of 630 6 CHED Santas Anonymous, worthwhile An organizations like the org Christmas Bureau of Ch Edmonton, Kids Up Front, Ed Edmonton Folk Music Ed Festival, and the Autism F Society are also expressing S interest in locating in in the Centre. See what it will look like at jerryforbescentre.ca. jerryforbescentre ca It’s the kind of thing you might expect Jerry to call about on a Sunday afternoon… as Justin Moore sings If heaven wasn’t so far away on CISN Country 103.9.

Mel out of town for a few days, e da s wee wrote rote a commercial for Little Tiny Uglies and plugged it into every available spot. We didn’t say exactly what they were; just that everyone should have one. Mel got back to town, blew a fuse and ordered the spots off the air. We thought it was a joke… Mel called it fraud, soliciting money onair for a non-existent product. When the lecture ended, the money started coming in. We suggested sending the money back with an explanation that it was just an advertising experiment. Mel refused. He ordered us to create Little Tiny Uglies and send them out. My wife, Marg, a crafter, came up with the winning design: a spidery thing mounted on a melted 45 rpm record. We actually had a small profit and thought the laugh was on Mel. That was, until he billed us for all the advertising time. Next time, I’ll tell you about the culture shock that hit the 630 CHED newsroom when manager Doug Rutherford arrived and gave our audience a “reason to listen”. √ Bob’s award-winning editorials are heard daily on 630 CHED in the 8:00 a.m., noon, and 5:00 p.m. news and seen on Global TV at 6:40. You can reply to Bob’s comments at www.630CHED. com. You can book Bob for your wedding music or after-dinner speaking event at www. boblayton.ca

LITTLE TINY UGLIES

I was fortunate to have great bosses in my first jobs in radio. The first, Mel Stevenson, at CKNL in Fort St. John, BC, I introduced you to in my last column. In 1970, we young broadcasters were intrigued with K-Tel’s Pocket Fisherman. Listeners were invited to send money and wait six to eight weeks for delivery. With a salary of about $300 a month, that sounded great. With

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CIVILWARS

I

Behaving Badly!

recently returned from a trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. The inherent poverty surrounds you despite growing westernization and competitive tourism. The streets teem with people selling their wares in an attempt to eke out some type of decent living. One can’t escape the children hawking their “postcards for a dollar”; all of them adorable—no doubt a necessary part of the sales scheme. Or the blind man, asking for money in the street; later, I was told that his earnings fed his entire village. Everywhere, the people were polite and curious about a traveler who was white and different from them (blonde). They loved to talk and ask questions… engaging minds, anxious to learn about the world beyond theirs. A little boy in Siem Reap kept trying to get me to buy his postcards. I kept telling him that I already had some. After a while, he asked where I was from and when I said Canada, he rattled off myriad facts about Canada: Ottawa, 10 provinces, two official languages. When I told him I was impressed, he asked, “Impressed enough to buy my postcards?” I still didn’t budge. A few minutes later, he came back to me and asked if I liked peace of mind. When I said I did, he suggested all I needed to do to get it was to buy his postcards. I finally gave in. At an outdoor restaurant in Hoi An, Vietnam, I was enjoying dinner with the sound of waves and the few hushed conversations of other diners in the background. Ten minutes later a group of eight Americans—five of them in U.S. naval uniforms—arrived. The polite atmosphere was shattered in an instant. Their obnoxious

EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

behaviour permeated the entire restaurant: Every second word was a swear and every English speaker in the restaurant understood what sexual needs these boys and girls were set on finding that night. When they tried to order burgers, fries and onion rings, the waiter didn’t understand what they were asking (aksing to be exact). They started yelling, “Don’t you effing understand English?” Hello people…we were in Vietnam. I was embarrassed for them and more embarrassed for the U.S. Navy. I met a 23-year old girl in Cambodia; she was clearly well educated, spoke English well and was working in a tourist shop. I talked to her on a couple of occasions and asked about her life. Her parents both died a year or so ago and, being the eldest of four children, she had to quit school and take care of her siblings. The priority for getting an education fell to the eldest boy. I also found out that, if a girl reaches 20 and is not married, she will never marry. So, Sokneang’s life had been chosen for her. She earned $80 per month… paid $50 for rent, food cost her $10, and she sent $20 to the village to support her brothers and sisters. She was very proud that she could do this for them. When I asked if she would ever have a chance to finish her education, she said that was no longer a possibility. Her aspiration now was to get her fellow villagers making jewellery and souvenirs from the seeds they collected in the jungle so they could empower themselves more and she, having experienced living in the city now, would find a way to sell them. I gave her $5 and she started sobbing uncontrollably at my generosity. When do we stop to think that a measly $5 could

with Nejolla Korris

mean so much? Before I left, I gave her more. At the airport in Hanoi, an American had some sort of issue with his reservation. He was yelling and shaking his fist at the airline agents… claiming to be a business professor and insisting they should just do what he wanted. Again, I stood there embarrassed to also be a foreigner. He told the staff, if they wanted to do business with the West, they had to do business in a way we were accustomed to. Wow… did that mean the Vietnamese should start yelling and shaking their fists at ignorant travelers like him? He was so absorbed in his violent diatribe, he didn’t notice the police hovering nearby. No wonder we have a bad reputation as travelers. First things first: Recognize that you are a guest in someone else’s country! If you want things to be exactly as they are at home, get real. Enjoy the world around you, you might learn something. If you refuse, simply stay home… you do more harm than good. √ Nejolla Korris is an international expert in area of interviewing skills and linguistic lie detection. She is a keen observer and fan of the human condition. Dubbed the “Human Lie Detector” by some clients, she is a popular speaker on lie detection, fraud prevention and investigation, workplace fraud, and organizational justice. Nejolla recently launched a new speaker’s series on the differing communication styles between men and women. Contact: nkorris@working-it-out.com

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GENX&POLITICS

Loving where you live

A

s of late, it seems that there has been a lot of talk in Edmonton in regard to what we want our city to be. How do we define what it is to be a city, and what it is to love a city? What is the government’s role in creating a city that citizens are capable of falling in love with? Asking around, I received a few different thoughts, all of which revolved around the key concept of structure in which people can flourish and build worlds for themselves. Adam Nordquist, a student at the University of Calgary, puts it this way: “To love a city is not like buying a car where you can look for the features you need, but it is closer to reading a book where you will not know if you loved it until you look back at it once you are finished. It is going to be the little things in everyday life that will draw you in, things like walking or sitting in your neighbourhood. That being said, the government can try to form a place for people to love, but all it really can do is provide structure for people.� Rather than creating a city people want to conduct business in and exist in day to day, we need to build a landscape that can inspire culture and arts to flourish, creating space in which community can be built so people are truly living in the city, rather than just residing in it. We need pride in our cities akin to nationalism, a near patriotic concern for the well-being of our immediate area. A political science student at University of Alberta believes “if you see yourself as a Canadian before an Edmontonian, then you aren’t likely to worry as much about how Edmonton is to live in—or, at least, to worry about how it could be more delightful— because of the security that the state provides. Much as how, if you stay inside watching TV all day, you will have fewer cares for a bicycle

lane on 97th Street because e-talk daily will be telling you about how fabulous Toronto is.â€? The government is under obligation to its citizens to create an environment in which people cannot just dwell, but flourish. To do so, this doesn’t just mean pleasing the functional “pot hole and snow plowâ€? crowd by providing basic services. It means going above and beyond with infrastructure, community areas, and providing space for arts, culture, recreation, and regular everyday fun. As well, the government needs to get out of the way of its citizens and make it as easy as possible for them to create their own society‌ to create a community within the structure of said city. By creating opportunities, the government shows trust in its citizens, believing they can take the initiative to seize these opportunities and find ways to live in the type of city they desire. As well, I heard many people stress how important it is for the government to have a mandate in planning a city, continuing to follow that throughout the years of development and redevelopment. A poorly designed city is an inefficient city, and aesthetic appeal is nearly as important as efficiency. A city needs green space and to be pedestrian, bike and pet friendly. Saara French writes, “If these desires are met, I’m halfway to loving a city. If I can easily access a park, or take a bus to the movies, and there’s generally something going on at the community center or a public park and there’s not junk all over the place, I’m nearly there.â€? Another source told me “proper city planning is so important. What I mean by that is some control over urban sprawl—not allowing 40 new neighbourhoods to be in development at once—something that Edmonton lacks. Older, more central neighbourhoods should not be left to die in exchange for cheap neighbourhoods made out of cardboard. The government needs

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8

to play a role in curbing this.� with Natasha Soles The desire for green space and accessibility for all people within all varieties of transport needs were repeated, with specific desires for a living environment in which a vehicle was not a necessity. We may be a winter city, but that does not exclude the need for areas dedicated to non-vehicular traffic. Other cities, such as Winnipeg, are proud of their ability to survive in the cold, and have adapted the structure of their areas to meet the needs of the people. Transport, walkways and events need to be available year round, not just in our more temperate summer months. Another frequent request was for architectural control in the city, and the option of environmentally friendly buildings with green roofs. Keeping old architecture is vitally important to preserving the history of a city, something that can add to our civic pride and sense of community. If we acknowledge and preserve the history of our city, forcing new developments to fit in with the beauty of older buildings, we can create an aesthetically balanced environment in which to build the kind of city we all can love. Essentially, it boils down to the relationship between the government and the populace. The government needs to build the sort of environment that citizens desire, and we—as Edmontonians—have a civic duty to take the opportunities granted to us and build a truly livable city within the structure provided. √ Natasha Soles lives and writes in Edmonton. She is currently pursuing the first of many degrees in Political Science at the University of Alberta. Her passions include local politics, international relations and cupcakes.

Baker’s Feed & Seed & Exotic Parrots t Complete suppliers of bird feed, accessories & exotic bird sales t Specialists in bird nutrition t Boarding available "WFOVF &EN "# t EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

ABSOLUTEBODO ABSOLUTE BODO

with Linda Bodo

BookSmart

s summer rustles off with the last of the leaves, back to school rituals are in full swing. New wardrobes, backpacks, bus passes, and sleek space-saving electronic readers top the list of must-haves for the upcoming year. While Tee’s, totes and transportation remain a staple in school culture, the digital migration from ink to pixels is threatening to close the chapter on printed books. Although print media advances have saved countless trees from a literary demise, the extinction of books is a distressing notion.

A

What will happen to all these printed volumes? Will they be relegated to garage sales and flea markets, or—bite your tongue—our landfills? Enter the art of upcycle, a novel way to repurpose massed-produced items into oneof-a-kind eco art that resonates a compelling statement of our wired, wireless, Facebooked, Twittered, YouTubed, and text-messaged world. Deconstructing and rebuilding books into unique first editions is a creative approach to sustainable living. Perfect for book worms, collectors, and those who appreciate tradition with an eco-logical twist.

LITERARY SCENE

SPINE DESIGN S C Create unisex wrist ccuffs using spines of old and damaged books o sstitched up with leather backings and heavyb duty snaps. d ((craftzine.com)

READERBOARD

These book lamps are perfect eco-logical reading lights by the bedside or at your favourite chair to curl up with your latest romance novel. (etsy.com)

Old meets new. Cover electronic clutter by creating iPod docks in recycled books. (spotcoolstuff.com)

Fuse form and function with a clock movement in a hollowed book. Ideal timepiece for the office, library or den. (upcycling.co)

Construct a bench with books on a wooden frame with casters. A sculpture and a piece of furniture at the same time. (saatchionline.com)

BY THE BOOK BOOKIES

BOOK R REPORT EPORT EP

Sweet dreams are made of this. Remove pages from books and secure covers onto plywood for a storybook headboard. (instructables.com)

BIBLIOFILE PAPERBACK PARTITION

Take root in a bestseller with succulents or bonsai trees. Bore a niche into the book and insert a small planter. Protect cover and pages with sealant to repel water when watering. (inhabitat.com)

Fabricate the great divide in a room by stacking paperbacks on a shelving unit and beef up heat and acoustic insulation. (luladot.com)

SECOND ADDITION

ON THE REBOUND Take a good read and upcycle it into a bag with purse-sonality. (styleguru.com)

Get organized with a book rack crafted with u-bolts and a recycled hardcover. (olivebites.com) √

PAPER BACK PLANTER

Modify stacked books and a repurposed door to any footprint for a custom counter. (eco-artware-notes.com)

Wellington Bakery Ltd.

In an era of social consciousness, sustainable living has become the latest designer trend. The concept has caught on with eco-logical artisans, or upcyclers, who create iconic pieces from waste stream materials. These objects articulate a poignant message of today’s consumerism while inspiring creative methods to reduce our carbon footprint. Blur the line between art and craft with recycle-based designs through the art of upcycling with Linda Bodo. www.absolutebodo.com

WINGFIELDS PAINTING SERVICE

“Home of Quality Baking” Open Monday - Friday 8 am - 5:30 pm, Saturday 8 am - 5 pm, Closed Sunday 13227 - 132 Street, Edmonton

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P 780.406.9657 t C 780.966.0568 9

MENUMAGIC

with chef John Berry

Haweli

I

a Royal Dining Experience

eating area. This restaurant employs an open do is take a thousand years to culinary evolution f you are just looking for a restaurant to concept giving it a very spacious feel. There and skilfully interpreted it to suit today’s grab a quick bite, forget Haweli. If you isn’t a bad seat in the house. There’s a gorgeous palates.â€? are looking for a truly unique dining life-sized sculpture of an Indian goddess that Rameesh hand-picked his chefs from a experience, where your every whim is greets you in the foyer. A humongous vase and pool of India’s top chefs and brought them to catered to, then Haweli in St. Albert, is fireplace add to the main body of the restaurant. the greater Edmonton market. The result is a just what you need: halfway up the hill on St. Quiet, modern East Indian music plays softly in huge bonus for our taste buds. Another bonus Albert Trail as you head out of that City on the the background. for customers at the St. Alberta Haweli is the left hand side, kitty corner to the old Riverside The head chef has taken a page from Gordon addition of manager Ramesh Bhandary. He Marine, Ramsey. Select six to eight that you do very has also managed A place of tranquility and beauty, where well, and put them on your menu. Add a few Devangodi’s decadence and indulgence reign the Dev appetizers and sides and you’ve got a great Village supreme, Haweli is part of the New Asian A menu that will keep people coming back. west end. His ever expanding New Asian in the w Unlike New Asian Village outlets, there’s a commitment to detail Village empire. The St. Albert and comm buffet only two nights of the week and a Sunday flare makes downtown Haweli restaurants— and fl brunch. The rest of the time it’s a la carte and two more jewels in the crowns of your eevening truly going over very well. The lunch menu is a one enjoyable. Sonia and Rameesh Devangodi— enj page affair of appetizers, light fare embody the excellent East Indian pag cuisine that has made the New aand entrees. There is also a takeAsian Village a must for diners, but oout menu that features mini-platters it’s added incredible ambiance and so you can try various specialties. Here’s a heads-up. The coconut service, fit for a king! naan bread is made by the gods. In ancient times, even up to the na 19th century, the Haweli was situated d It is to die for. Head Chef Manvar and Chef Sanjay paired that with close to the Royal Palace, where the an Prawn Tika and Chicken Tandoori as royal families and selected ministerss Pr f Manvar our appies. We also tried the butter of the crown would gather to plan and nd ou Head Che njay Sa chicken, curried lamb and Chana discuss the current state of affairs in chi and Chef Masala. India. Up to 100 cooks were employed yed Ma My daughter Ashley, who is my for the banquets. Over the centuries, M Hawelis have been denoted as the best food critic pronounced the meal “heavenlyâ€?. I must say there wasn’t This first thing guardians of Indian traditions and cuisine. as “h Our waiter & M that struck me was Corporate Chef Rameesh Devangodi has one disappointing bite. Check it out! √ anag the dĂŠcor—very attempted to carry on this heritage, and has done Ramesh Bhanda er ry simple, elegant it very well. His culinary team—not bound by Haweli is located at 81 A Liberton Hawe and done in dark, any particular tradition—has selected a very Drive in St Albert, call 780.459.4808, rich chocolate tones,, diverse menu from the ancient and elaborate to and downtown Edmonton at 10220 d with a grand staircase leading to a second story the practical and modern. “What we’ve tried to 103rd Street, call 780.421. 8100.

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EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

ey Deters

different fillings, served and diff filli d with i h ffried i d onions i d sour cream. She prepared some incredible nachynka (cornmeal) squares with mushroom sauce. Quincey, sister of the groom and official photographer, made two large trays of holubchi (cabbage rolls) that melted in your mouth. They also made baked beans, roasted new potatoes and pasta salad. Katharine is truly a “Salad Queen”. She made beautiful salads—quinoa, couscous, spinach with almonds and strawberries, and Lebanese fatoush. Oh my, they were a delight. Not to forget, the fresh, grilled vegetable skewers and four pans of vegetarian lasagne. Add to this feast, the vegan cupcakes and “Rambo” wedding cake baked by friends of the couple… and you have a banquet that would give any caterer a run for their money. The combined efforts made my job as kitchen manager a snap. Just when I thought I’d be in the kitchen alone, along came Katharine and Barb… plus a few young men who helped B us u find what we needed in this bachelor ppad and kept the food moving. After my talented colleague Linda Bodo of Absolute ta Bodo made a darling head band of fresh B daisies for the bride, she joined Sheila at da the barbeque to roast the veggie skewers. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Including food, grocery and drink purchases Inc and rentals, Barb figures it cost just over $2,000. But, the bringing everyone together $2,0 make it happen was priceless. What a to m blast! blas Kurt and Jess, may your new life together K be aas blessed as your wedding day. Oh, if you’re wondering how I got Oh involved, Barb is helping with my September invol 17th fundraiser for the Edmonton Youth Emergency Shelter (tickets: 780.709.4392). She mentioned the upcoming wedding and I offered to run the kitchen so she could play her “mother of the groom” role. It’s what a friend does for a friend. √

Photos by Quinc

were iff iffy—was none other eddings ddi today d can bbe a h than h the h mother h of the groom, our illustrious Edmontonians major pain—an endless editor Barb Deters. Kurt’s father Bernard and money pit that stretches the his significant other Sheila Soenen supplied patience and pocketbooks the beer and wine. And, with a little help from of the principals and their friends and family, a scrumptious, multi-ethnic families. But bride Jessica Gomes and groom buffet was served. Kurt Deters pulled off a low key, highly costWhen you’re going vegetarian, freshness is effective and fun backyard wedding on the paramount. The majority of slicing and dicing August long weekend. Sunday afternoon and the day before evening were filled with love, laughter ghter and was done d lots of reconnecting. and dday of the event. How did they do it? With a Upon arrival, guests were treated to nibblies—the little help from their friends! treat usual vegetable trays The challenges were many: usua Kurt proposed at the end of and chips with dips June—not much notice for the and salsas… plus Katharine’s hummus planners. Jess and Kurt live in Kat with Vancouver, her mother Katharine wit pita and naan wedges. The samosas Phillips in Port Coquitlam—they we and crispy vegetable wouldn’t arrive until two days before the event. July weather had been a storm-watchers delight. And, to make things really y interesting, the bride is vegan. No prime rib or chicken here. So how w do you come up with a vegetarian n Kurt & Jess... rl gi wedding feast that will appeal to a and Merle the crowd dominated by carnivores? The biggest expenses of any wedding are a hotel ballroom or hhall ll and upwards of $50 a plate plus bar fees. Even hiring a caterer and renting tables, chairs and tents can soon add up. Big time. So what did the couple do? Katharine and Kurt grew up in Sherwood Park and Chef John still has strong ties there. His friend Travis “offered” his home as the venue, and borrowed rolls, supplied by Asante Catering—owners most of the tables and chairs from another Shyrose and her husband insisted they go in that friend. More chairs, turquoise vinyl to cover the day to prepare them just before serving—were tables and a couple of large canopy tents were a huge hit. forthcoming. No costs involved. Commissioner After the ceremony, the full buffet was of Marriage Bob Wyatt, a long-time family friend, conducted the civil ceremony. He waived set—five large chafing dishes were rented along with dinner and salad plates, cutlery was his usual fee as a gift to the couple. biodegradable. Now the genius behind orchestrating food Inspired by her Ukrainian heritage, Barb for 60 to 80 guests—invitations were issued purchased 18 dozen perogies with four by phone and word-of-mouth so numbers

Contact Chef John Berry at jberry@edmontonians.com

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Morris Baraniecki Mortgage Associate EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

11

PROSPERITYPLUS PLUS

with Kelley Keehn

Who is your

customer really?

I

n your corporate life, who is your customer? If you’re employed, you might suggest that your boss and the customers of that business make up your client base. If you’re selfemployed, you might see your clients as your customers. I’d like you to consider a new business— YOU Inc.—and you’re the president and CEO. Who would your customer be now? Who do you serve? Who could be your customer? Where are your obvious and less obvious markets? Might I suggest to you that it could be almost anyone? Yes, anyone. True, you have a current market and that may or may not change, expand or contract ever. But, thinking on a larger scale as you hopefully will now as the CEO of You Inc., you really don’t know the possibilities that lay before you: what new businesses you might own, work for or with… or who really will be your customer one day. When I worked for one of Canada’s international banks, individuals with large amounts of investable assets were my clients. To some degree, because I relied on them to identify and refer me these high net worth

individuals, the employees of the dozen or so branches I oversaw were my customers too. When I opened my own wealth management firm, my clients were individuals who were also very wealthy. One might extract that the only individuals I needed to treat well, serve as VIPs, and pay close attention to were the wealthy. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Were those really my only customers? Actually, when I published my first book, the UPS guy who delivered my mail purchased one of the very first copies. The point is, you have no idea who might be a potential customer, boss, partner or resource one day. As the CEO of your corporation, you understand this, have foresight and vision, and treat everyone as if they might be your customer one day. When I was at the bank and had my own firm, if I hadn’t treated everyone I met along the way with respect independent of wealth or status, I can assure you that I would not be doing what I am today. Counselling the ultrawealthy didn’t require me to make time for the postal delivery people, but I did. Today, one of the many offerings of my corporation

Specializing in bathroom & household renovations

PLUMBING & RENOVATIONS

Call 780-218-1188 12

U radiant in floor heating U mosaic tile backsplashes U tile and fiberglass shower surrounds U jacuzzi tubs U rainfall showers U digital waterproof sound systems U laminate, Hardwood U Tile flooring U Trim & Casing U Doors & Windows U Kitchens ( Cabinets, Countertops Etc) U lighting And Much More

is books that cost about $20. Who’s my customer now? Just about anyone. So, I ask you again to think of the many customers (one-time transactions) or clients (ongoing relationships) that you serve. Not only is your boss not your boss anymore, he, his wife, his friends and others are now your potential customers too. What about your mail delivery person? Do you even know their name? I hope that not just your coworkers, but their friends, family and those in their network—plus the receptionist at your doctor’s office—will be thought of with a fresh perspective and, of course, possible future potential. √ Reprinted from She Inc.–A Woman’s Guide to Maximizing Her Career Potential, Insomniac Press Kelley Keehn is a financial expert, speaker and author of seven books. Her most recent book, The Money Book for Everyone Else is in bookstores now. She was the financial host of Burn My Mortgage on the W Network, and a weekly contributor to the Globe and Mail and AOL’s WalletPop Canada. For more information, visit www.kelleykeehn.com

Benefit Strategies Inc. A benefit Plan built with you that works for you

Employee Benefits & Estate Planning

With more than 29 years in the Group Benefit industry, Benefit Strategies Inc. strives to exceed industry standards by offering innovative and customized programs. With our vast experience we can guarantee you a plan that will boost employee morale and the profile of your business.

780-437-5070 #204, 6908 Roper Road Edmonton, Alberta www.benefitstrategiesinc.ca EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

WORKINGWISE WORKING WISE

with Charles Strachey

D

ear Working Wise: I’m 20 years old and I haven’t figured out what I want to do with the rest of my life. I can’t think of any careers that excite me and I’m worried about not being any further ahead after spending four years in university. I’ve seen you recommend people visit an Alberta Works office for career counselling, but this is the 21st Century! Isn’t there some other way of getting the answers I need online? ~ Frustrated and Future-less Dear Frustrated: I empathise with you—most of us don’t know what our forever career will be when we are 20—and research shows that few of us have a career that we stick with until retirement. The work world is a bit mysterious to those looking in from the outside—most jobs are not represented at career days—and it is not always clear how you can break into a specific field. Many people train for one career and end up falling into a number of different jobs as time goes on. Even if you find work in a career that you trained for,

jobs tend to change—your interests and goals change too. What I can tell you for certain is that the majority of future jobs in Alberta will require some sort of post secondary training or education. I can also assure you that any education or experience you gain today will serve you well in the future. An architect can draw on his past experience as a waiter when he designs a new restaurant. And a project manager can draw on her English degree when she’s writing proposals. You might want to try the new free CAREERinsite website to help you discover exciting careers you never knew existed. CAREERinsite uses questionnaires and journaling tools to help you determine a career focus and life goals. It’s pretty comprehensive and, once you create an account, it saves your progress, career searches and goals. You can come back and access it up to 10 years later to help track your progress. Check it out at: http://careerinsite. alberta.ca. Once you have a

Bermel

short-list of potential careers, you can use the nearly 200 Occupational Videos on the Alberta Learning Information Service web site http://alis.alberta.ca to see which career excites you most. The videos are a great research tool, because they focus on someone who actually works in the occupation. The video shows them in their workplace, and lets them explain in their own words what they like and find challenging about their job. You can also use the Occupational Info (OccInfo) database to research more than 500 careers. OccInfo includes important details about careers including: duties, working conditions, salaries, advancement opportunities and educational qualifications. OccInfo also includes a new section on emerging careers. Check it out at: http://alis. alberta.ca/occinfo. Finally, you can narrow down your shortlist even further and ensure you make a smart investment in your education by checking the anticipated future demand for your career ideas. You don’t want to train for a career or learn a skill that is in decline. You can find a report that forecasts the supply vs. demand for 140 careers, 10 years into the future, at: http://employment.alberta.ca/lmi. Good luck! Do you have a work-related question? Send your questions to Working Wise, at charles. strachey@gov.ab.ca. Charles Strachey is a regional manager with Alberta Employment and Immigration. This column is provided for general information.

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103, 979 - Fir Street, Sherwood Park, AB

Phone 780.467.4215 13

LIFEBALANCE

The Surprising Power

OF FAMILY MEALS

“

H

ow was school today?” you inquire of your teen. “Fine,” he says. “Anything interesting happen in class today?”

you venture. “Nah, just the usual,” comes the response. You think about your next stab at a conversation while savoring another bite of your stir-fry. “How about those Esks?” you swiftly change to a safer topic. Whew! Is this how dinner table conversations go in your house? Or does your family even take the time to eat dinner together? DINNER DEFICIT = LOWER GRADES, MORE DRUG ABUSE, OBESITY AND STRESS Changes in North American society as a whole over the past few decades have influenced the eating patterns of Canadian families. According to Statistics Canada, time spent with family for the average working Canadian has dropped from 4.2 hours per day in 1986 to 3.4 hours in 2005. With Canadians spending more time working and commuting, sitting down together for a home cooked meal with the family is sadly becoming less common. Less than half of all U.S. children aged nine to 14 years report eating dinner with their families on a daily basis, and 17 percent report never eating dinner with the family. Canadian families appear to be following their U.S. counterparts. Three 2005 studies (from Harvard Medical School, Columbia University and the University of Michigan) cite the family-dinner deficit as a contributing factor in childhood obesity, teen substance abuse, poor academic performance, and increased household stress.

TURNING THE TREND AROUND Is there a strategy for quick, healthy meals without having to quit your job and come home to cook (and clean) for your family? Planning quick, healthy meals and having the food in the house are two of the best ways I know to reduce meal-time stress. My favourite Canadian meal-planning books are the Cooking for the Rushed series. The newest one, Eating Forward™ was released in the fall of 2010. Author and mother of seven, Sandi Richard, has meal plans and grocery lists for five, to-die-for dinners per week. You can go to her website at www.cookingfortherushed.com, download the grocery list for the week, check your fridge, freezer and cupboards for ingredients, and then head to the store with the revised list. Half the work is done right there. 10 SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE DINNER AN ENGAGING FAMILY TIME Eat dinner together as often as possible. Even 20 minutes is fine on busy nights. If you’re not eating together now, start with once a week. 1. Turn OFF the TV. Muting the commercials doesn’t work in our experience. Turn ON some nice background music. 2. Smile. Laugh. (Even after a stressful day, ‘fake it till you make it!’) Ask ‘How’ and ‘What’ questions. Share ideas. Comment on the weather, current events, the latest book or magazine article you’ve read, pets, TV shows, music and sports. Don’t talk about anything disgusting. You know, anything involving bathroom humour, vomiting, blood and gory stuff. 3. Have a backward meal. Life is short. Eat dessert first! You kids will flip over this the first time you try it. 4. Invite Grandpa (or Grandma or Uncle David or a friend) to join you for dinner.

with Lynn Fraser

5. Ask your offspring i open-ended d d questions ti that can’t be answered with a “Yes” or “No.” Then shut your mouth and listen! I have a quote on my bulletin board, “Listening to a child doesn’t really take much time.” 6. Think of something or someone you are grateful for that day. Have everyone share their weekly/daily gratitude. 7. Have everyone pitch in with setting the table, meal preparation, unloading the dishwasher, and washing dishes. Chat about your day while you’re doing this. Teens don’t feel as “put on the spot” if you’re not making direct eye contact. 8. Brainstorm ideas on how to solve a problem for a family member or friend. 9. Host an “appetizer dinner party” with friends. Less fuss + less prep time = more time with family and friends. Playing a game with a large group can be great fun! Don’t measure up? Not even close? Don’t despair! Choose one of these simple ways to make dinner an engaging family time and start using it this week. You may be surprised how connecting with your family really makes everyone feel better, eat healthier and reduces stress… not to mention the long term benefits for your children of higher grades, less obesity and substance abuse. Try it! You’ve got everything to gain! Ummh… except weight. √ Lynn Fraser, the practical life balance expert with Balance Your World Training & Coaching, is an enlightening speaker and a whole-hearted coach mentor. She works with individuals as well as corporate and association teams who desire to become healthy focused people attaining sustainable results. Visit her website at www.lynnfraser.ca.

Fred Horne MLA

Proud to serve Edmonton - Rutherford

Constituency Office 308 Saddleback Road Edmonton, AB Canada T6J 4R7 Phone: (780) 414-1311 Fax: (780) 414-1314 edmonton.rutherford@assembly.ab.ca bl b

Congratulations to the Sizzling 20 under 30 14

EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

A

FEAR Many might assume I mean a fear of failure – but this is only part of the fear that some Sizzlers feel. The fear of failure is easy to imagine. Fear of failure if handled cautiously can be like a controlled burn in a forest—it can prevent the out of control spread of other fires and clears the ‘mental landscape’ for new growth. One can imagine the outcome if an idea or enterprise fails—the possible shame, embarrassment, and the resulting job to make ends meet while the scrapes caused by the fall to ‘failure’ heal. While it’s easy enough to imagine going ‘back’ to the comfortable, pre-failure job/apartment/ bank of mom and dad, it’s a whole lot tougher to deal with the fear of success. As a society we understand the fear of failing, but being afraid of success is not something we often are prepared to handle. With failure the outcome can be imagined and may even offer some comfort to a Sizzler starting a new business or building a new program. But success is like an unknown light at the end of the tunnel. Sizzlers are drawn to it, and fear it simultaneously. They ask themselves ‘what if this works?’ as often as they ask ‘what if this doesn’t work?’ Sometimes, with planning,

they can answer the question to a certain degree, other times, they only stare into the light and keep walking. Regardless, they are Sizzlers because they face not only the fear of failure, but also their fears of success.

with Erin Rayner

company, started another, and just began practicing law. Sizzlers focus on building themselves‌ through formal education or the school of hard knocks, they focus on continuous growth.

FOCUS Now, I don’t necessarily mean laser focus. VISION Sizzlers, from my perspective, are as often laser This one is exactly how it sounds: Each Sizzler focused on their project as they are shot-gun has a vision—a vision for their business, their focused. Because of their passion, intellect or program, their lives. They are also able to experience, they are magnets for opportunities. articulate this vision so that others Some Sizzlers find around them believe in their vision. nd this difficult to navigate whilee For example, example 2010 Sizzler and others singlemompreneur mompreneu Carol McBee saw mindedly the need fo for post-natal programs ignore anything that cater tto parents. I used to not relating to think ‘visi ‘vision’ was something that their project/ everyone possessed. business that crosses their path. Neither is necessarily right. ck Ben Blo The focus that I see in Sizzlers in the best way that causes them to ‘sizzle’ is their fierce focus on their heir own, individual development. Sizzlers zzlers know that the key y to their success orr failure is their abilities; ilities; their strengths, their heir CAROL McBEE weaknesses, and however true they y can shoot the arrows they carry in their quivers. For example, 2007 Sizzler Ben Block ran a design and print firm while earning his Bachelor of Commerce degree and then going on to complete law school. He recently sold that Continued on page 16 is world it arketed your , over-m ke media-rich icult task to ma today’s dow? In nsuming and diff Sundial your sha terial for you cast iced. It is a time-co ma do al w “Ho promotion .’� to get not an. not easy ‘cast your shadow ning lines of the ck. nd and slog mark, or words are the opeyear old Ben Blo te his own bra a name that by 27- s melded to crea 1999, I wanted es in the old These founded selv idea k in self, Graphics, lls how two pany bac mote them asked my He reca I started the com businesses pro universe. So I the sundial.� ed ber “When ability to help new on-line em the n I rem our reflected print as well as is timeless?’ The of medium ts a shadow that ‘What cas

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o from log g list rything es—eve ise—to a growin and ign packag is the grated des motional merch ed by chance, offers inte land to pro The firm nt to web pages ers. One client, keover. e momtom why thes their t Ma me develop and national cus es, Restauran ays wondered after nus l seri alw me I ity of loca HGTV real pied w, but explains urday,â€? ey photoco of the sho popular avid fan using those hok an e-mail one Sat to sign a 10e “I’m an ted cafĂŠs wer t the producers ing me if I wan p -po and s, so I sen a call ask cessful makeover Monday, I got d is a suc thing: He went Ben. “By deal.â€? iness gra one U of A bus tent to just do “Even if I never have arol McBee episode . I con the 2004 has deftly combine combinnedd her joys Though ur, Ben is never d in law school am proud to say of motherhood with I olle her business Carol entreprene r later and enr al goal which academic scholarsh Ben of Texas received an academic ip to study at the Universi back a yeaa day, it’s a person in Arlington, where er keeps ty she shhe earned her Bachelor arding caretime to cast his with a major in marketin practice ieved.“ of Commerce sits g. It was and a rew kes Daniel‌ w there that she and, after her graduatio met where he nearly ach ing both school k‌ but he ma Area, n in 2004, they hometow the hey decided to return her husband, n, Edmonton. Ski his ley to Balanc six days a wee to r her Val dea y began nbow r and Sheand ere I as a corporate whworking pretty busdow over the Rai It’s a place nea toshe program ski,left for maternity e I go leave, Carol says she s manager for Cold FX but, once own sha rd of directors. where I learned That ry timmean hat knew kneew she wasn’t going did evedidn’t she was is as willing willi g to give up her to go back. rs and, “I yea on the boa inbow Valley he looked ny er life as a businesswoman. at various for ma owInknew franchises, but I knew I wanted heart. “Ra an instructor of nostalgia.â€? daughter w , and to be at home with of his I wanted to continue as my nge ication After giving working work for myself.â€? hed. √ worked get a twi motto is any ind into accomplis birth to now 22-month-old Madelyn Made , Carol was back, I still , missionher the Capital Health New Moms Network pany’s able to get friends weren’t that because bec If his comcan safely be said of a cancellation— lucky. it So in January 2009, success, she launched Mommy

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s I contemplated this year’s crop of Sizzlers, it dawned on me that I have been writing an Edmontonians’ column for more than four 4 years. A lot of Sizzlers have come and gone through these pages in the past 10 years. They come from all walks of life‌ are in different industries‌ are entrepreneurial or philanthro-capitalists‌ have all levels of education and any number of backgrounds. But when I boil it down there are a few qualities, in my experience, that stay true to Sizzlers regardless of all of these differences.

post natal program Connecti Co ons, a six-week that rhythm of motherho shows new moms how to settle into the od. registered for her ďŹ rst The need was clear when almost 70 moms program

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Through ads on Kijiji and chatting on Faceboo her living room to k, Carol quickly grew having Bossy Momma came program directors in seven seve locations throughoher business from next in early 2010, ut Alberta and Ontario. 2010 and was born entrepren entrepr eurial i l women, whether they were new moms out of the need for a network that catered “We have a very diverse or not. to age group, and have children that are grown up and don’t not everyone is a new mom. Some are grandmothers and need their full time But Carol makes one some attention.â€? thing clear: The meetings are not “At my networking time events, you’re not a mom, you’re a businessto talk about your children or life as grow our businesses a mother. and that’s the bottom woman. We’re here line.â€? The 28-year old recently to network‌ we’re here to launched a pre-natal times for commun program, and ity involvement. She participates in a numberis planning Daddy Connections. She Pink Week. Carol is makes a member of Junior of fundraisi ng runs, and chaired Children’s Hospital League and served Think on the acquisitions for three years. committee for the Despite her busy life, Stollery daughter. Maybe that’s however, Carol says there is nothing she loves more than why she is so successfu and joys. 3 spending l in helping other mothers time enjoy their time with with her their pride ~ Christina Emberle y

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Continued from page 15

Like ‘leadership’ it could be taught or explained to anyone who was willing to learn, but I was wrong. Sizzlers have the ability to see further than their current situation and vividly imagine their futures.. Granted, a vision, like any ‘mirage’ can change before the oasis is reached, but Sizzlers possess a vision and the ability to articulate it.

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FIRE Sizzlers literally have the fire burning within hin them. They have immense amounts of mental ntal and sometimes physical energy. While others ers who have similar high energy levels put them hem to use at the gym or on the dance floor, Sizzlers ers put their massive energy reserves to work to further urther their vision and focus. It could be put to use se running a business or in the lab as was the case for 2010 Sizzler Lisa Belanger, a doctorall student and cancer researcher. Sizzlers use their energy nergy to get where they’re going.

LONELY AT THE TOP Sizzlers know that the pressure and experiences they have set them a part and, as the saying goes, it’s lonely at the top. Sizzlers learn this; they face it, and then, consciously or

Lisa a Scotia, nish, Nov phoma—a iin Antigo n’s Lym isaa has UniversityJa e to Hodgki motivation. Lis done of Xavier t friend Jan unfailing ndations and bes t her lost her prompted cancer fou that for e do lars tragedy nds of dol someon 18, and subject. ed thousa n you’re since rais research on the e to you whe remembers. that clos Lisa at St. FX lf,� iser invaluable someone so clo itse in fundra in walks, “To lose pretty traumatic Cure, a cancer ticipated erous par X is , has up your age , Lisa started the years, she anized num and org n Action Plan for Inspired e today. Over her head, plac s ved ir of the Canadia Paris, sha is still in athon in L a is cha Lis run a mar workshops. events and

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round up a crew of friends, family, partners and not, they ro colleagues to support them. Take 2006 Sizzler Matt Aubin, who came from a creative and entrepreneurial family and Pure Vision, a graphic and marketing company startedd Pu with his w wife Stephanie. The support Sizzlers receive family comes in various from friends and fam forms: mentorship, a shoulder to llean on, cheap labour and/ oor financial investment. Some Sizzlers don’t even S know that these people in kn their lives are quietly (or in the some cases very vocally!) som supporting them. In fact, sup with all their energy, focus and ooccasional bouts of ‘fear’, may be too busy to notice they m support at all. But there is the su always a cheering squad behind every SSizzler. Even though it’s it’s lonely at the top, Sizzlers true, it’ get to the top alone. √ never ge

ining m in Tra ber of Tea 'R . and a mem of Canada . She received Survivors, Ca cer phoma Society lt Can research the University Lym Young Adu ia and to cancer ng cancer te kem a ed her studies Recreation from you Leu for dedicat Education and on exercise and ecting to gradua d Lisa has Phy sical te and exp cer trial on she focuse c in Ph her MS in 2009, where g on her doctoraducting a can king in con arily wor as â€œâ€Ś tly workin of Alberta Cur ents are e rs. Cu renother PhD stud young adults. Prim atmospher great survivo vity on a describes the just having a she and re sical acti in 2013, of , Lis cts o phy the university s blaring, and we’ effe the l that is cen ce tre at bald, music’ cancer tria rcise trial to ne’s a fitness eve n ryo colo a e ator on he first ever exe so cool— coordin —t a iety also e.â€? tim cer Soc old is /corporate or 25 year Canadian Can ’t al trainer The 25a person people who won Her red by the Wellness, sponsore g to clients. n red. launched Exceed in-home trainin weight loss and cancer be sponso ntly lness vides etes and Lisa rece pany. She pro with elite athl workplace wel lne s comgym, and works ses focus on wellnes ines h it.â€? to a bus wit t go for ’t me can earnsâ€? keep ing a blas I’m hav laining, “They e me relax. n -and-L “Lunch start up. mak exp . v tion so much fun to for balance, in life is to just preven n nds e of their job “It’s bee es on her frie I thin one piec att kAu e.â€? binsibl a offers She reli really do‌ it be ’s dad pos old, Lis ’tseems oran ng is entrepren you sane, they them it wouldn e,nat one‌ ura comther t onl, yhisget bines com l that he woe youeur ne out Withou ryo mom is eve uld aus mon, bec an Aubin, And for sense wit partner in a hou life t arti 27, we bus e.â€? h creativ can from te witbusiness st. So tim iness deg ingand nt e tiva you ice. to has mo som adv NA that ity. cerawe ree from e an tificates y abilIT ity to talentske everyth the Univeunc “Ta to form annin des for marketing a Emberley well hav comyou and pho has an rsity of Alb ign. His~wif eLis pany.may asPur Visaion Chr tography, and e,istin Inc., a des Ste erta risingly, “I’v ign, ma . In 2002, the phanie, has a always Notesurp really rketing y J ÂĽ loved ma \LQ fee and pho pooled their Q WU l rke HYH tography The compassionate abo ting, I’ve alw ut pany is ays lov Aubin ed design based this.â€? is ,â€? says manager. involved in eve in Sherwood Aubin. Par ry stage “I of projec k and has a staf ts and Ste f of phanie five people. is the bus iness

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Rayner is president Erin Ray Marketing and of ED Ma Communications Inc. Communic erayner@edmontonians.com Contact era Photo by

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16

EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

FROMTHEEDITOR’SDESKTOP

The tradition continues… “

This section of Edmontonians is about achievement. It features profiles of 20 young Edmontonians who have taken the poll position in their chosen fields. They’ve excelled beyond their years in business, in professions, in science and in entertainment. Their stories can inspire.

”

~ Don McMann, Chair Bachelor of Applied Communications in Professional Writing Grant MacEwan College the 20 candidates the fl flood his was the hi th opening i paragraph h did t ffrom th d off about b t 200 th fifth ddominant i t characteristic h t i ti off tthese young people. nominations that come in before the May to the first Sizzling Twenty under And it doesn’t end there. This year’s profiler deadline. 30, published in Edmontonians is freelancer Carrie Robinson who earned a In this issue, Sizzling in the City columnist magazine in May 2002. Over the diploma in Professional Writing from Grant Erin Rayner delves into four qualities she years, the feature has grown in MacEwan in 2009. This summer, she shaved believes are—and have always been—dominant stature and popularity… in depth and design. her head with good reason. “I did a fundraiser characteristics of these young people. She Since its inception, Grant MacEwan students for the Canadian Cancer Society; my goal was cites fear of failure and of success… focus on and graduates from the Professional Writing $1000 but I ended up raising $2700. I also their own development… vision of the future and Journalism programs have written the donated my hair to be made into a wig for of their businesses and lives… and fire within profiles. While the premise of recognizing the patients who have lost their hair. My aunt was themselves, fuelled by massive energy. Erin entrepreneurial achievements of 10 women and sick with cancer when I did the event, and has also counters their feelings that 10 men—all under 30 years of age—from the recently passed away. Cancer Capital Region remains, other factors have come it’s “lonely at the top” with the r is something that everyone realization—or not—of the to the fore. is affected by and I had an cheering squads behind each and When I became editor of Edmontonians, my d amazing experience hearing every Sizzler. first issue was the 2003 Sizzling Twenty under am everyone else’s stories along I don’t disagree. But, I also 30. For the first five years, selecting candidates ev know that our criteria have was far less structured than it is now. We relied the way.” Originally from Grimshaw, changed... our expectations on word-of-mouth and our own instincts. Carrie was recently promoted have grown. Each year, giving Advertisers, educators and friends would Car back to the local and larger suggest potential Sizzlers… or we would meet to tthe TELUS Business Store where she is with Business communities began emerging young people in our forays around the city and whe Communications Solutions as a in the profiles of some of the add them to our lists. Nomination forms were Com Sizzlers, gaining prominence available online, but it wasn’t until 2007 that we sales representative. “Writing the profiles, for me, in the lives of these wellbegan promoting submissions in earnest. “W rounded Under 30s. As a That was also the year Lexus of Edmonton’s was the t best training I could have Carrie Robin son received. It was fast paced, full of result, another dimension has GM Bruce Kirkland and owner Herb Anton receiv incredibly interesting people, and officially been added as a offered to sponsor the first Sizzling Reception to incred best networking I’ve ever done. pre-requisite to selection: volunteerism. create more hype and interest in the designation. teerism. the be I learned a lot from each Sizzler… and so much The scope of commitment to causes at home It was a huge hit! The celebration is attended about Edmonton that I never knew before.” and abroad is mind-boggling and clearly in annually by upwards of 400 people, including After 10 years and 200 Sizzlers, I trust we all evidence among the accomplishments of the business and community leaders, parents, have “learned a lot” about what it means to go 2011 Sizzlers. Making a difference in the lives nominators, other dignitaries, previous Under the extra mile in our careers and our lives. √ of those less fortunate… in the world around 30s, media and our corporate sponsors. Now, ~ Barb Deters us… in their personal responsibility to society is the real challenge has become selecting just

T

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he 2011 edition of Edmontonians Sizzling Twenty under 30 marks a milestone in this annual feature. With the introduction of another 20 dynamic, young entrepreneurs from the Capital Region, we are celebrating 10 years of showcasing the faces and stories of 200 accomplished and impressive men and women.

They are dynamic, creative, urban and modern trendsetters. They are the products of our colleges, universities and life’s experiences—driven by the need to succeed. The level of commitment to community and entrepreneurship, evidenced among the candidates, is truly a source of pride to their parents and other loved ones, their colleagues,

and the recipients of their benevolence. The finalists’ stories pay homage to all the nominees. And, as part of this Signature Event, Lexus of Edmonton—together with Edmontonians and numerous corporate sponsors—host a blazing reception to recognize our rising stars. Coverage of this special evening will appear in the Winter edition of Edmontonians. √

KELTIE BROWN General Manager Workshop West Theatre 11516-103 Street, Edmonton AB 780-293-0254 generalmanager@workshopwest.org www.workshopwest.org

KYLE FERBEY Director CDI College 9939 Jasper Ave., Edmonton, AB 780-990-1723 kferbey@gmail.com

PATRICK LUNDEEN Artistic Director, Avenue Theatre Co-founder, Common Ground Arts Society 9030A-118 Avenue, Edmonton AB T5B 0T8 780-700-3188 patrick_lundeen@hotmail.com

SHELDON CASAVANT Magician/Performer/Owner Sheldon Casavant Productions PO Box 4395, Edmonton AB T6E 4T5 780-416-0070 info@sheldoncasavant.com www.sheldoncasavant.com KRISTA (CHASE) CHILESHE Account Manager, HSBC Bank of Canada 10250 - 101 Street., Edmonton, AB T5J 3P4

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JACQUELINE GREENLY Anchor, Shaw Television 10450-178 St, Edmonton AB T5S1S2 780-490-3407 jacqueline.greenly@sjrb.ca DR. JAN KOWALCZEWSKI, PhD Chief Technology Officer, Angeltear Solutions Inc. VP Clinical Studies, Hometelemed.com 780-686-9214 jan@angeltear.com jak@uab.ca www.angeltear.com www.hometelemed.com

DANIELLE METCALFE-CHENAIL Author/Historian President, Canadian Aviation Historical Society 780-249-0750 dmchenail@gmail.com MARGEAUX MORIN Professional Dancer/Choreographer Promotions Manager, World Health #220, 10205 101 Street, Edmonton AB T5J 2Y9 780-271-7122 margeaux.morin@gmail.com

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ERICA VIEGAS Singer/Songwriter Edmonton AB 780-266-2100 erica@ericaviegas.com www.ericaviegas.com

KIMBERLY POONG Care Manager AB Health Services Addictions and Mental Health 9942 108 Street, Edmonton, AB T5K 2J5 780-242-8495 kimberly.poong@gmail.com

DR. ABDULLAH SALEH, MD General Surgery Resident, U of A Hospital Founder/Manager, ICChange 780-934-7969 zoobida@gmail.com www.icchange.ca

JOEL REBOH Investment Advisor TD Waterhouse Private Investment Advice #2305, 10088 102 Ave., Edmonton AB T5J2Y8 780-966-5635 Joel.Reboh@td.com

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“

his does not exist, to my knowledge, anywhere else,” says Lauren Ritchie about her RISE Productions initiative. The weeklong dance workshop, each year in August, includes intense dance lessons, but also empowering seminars. Lauren’s main duty is running these seminars on life skills such as planning ahead and creating goals. Together with friend and business partner Julianna Veldtman, they have just wrapped up their third successful year. The mix of physical and mental training shows a vast amount of growth in confidence, dance and personal strength in students, “They’re exhausted but so energized because it’s what they love to do; the teachers are fantastic… the sessions are inspiring.” For Lauren, seeing the change is amazing, “It is the most rewarding feeling that I have ever had when the week wraps up and all of the kids are feeling empowered and excited and inspired.” She becomes personally involved in each student’s goals with her non-judgemental and open attitude. “It’s so not a matter of what you should do. I hate the word ‘should’.” Lauren replaces it with ‘could’, and prefers finding out what a student wants to do rather than what everyone else wants them to do. Their career goals aren’t always solely based on dancing; however, dancing and RISE gives them the confidence to achieve any dream.

LAUREN RITCHIE LIfestyle coach, mentor She notes that even though the seminars are a large part of the week, the physical training has not been dulled.

“It was so important that [the level of dance] was not compromised,” Lauren says. “I’m very fortunate to have some great friends in the industry.” She leverages her resources and brings in top teachers from Los Angeles and all over the world to Edmonton in order to keep a high calibre of training. Plus, they are great mentors. Each has followed and achieved their own dreams in one way or another. Having these big names hit the city is a great way to show students that things can happen here. She recognized that there are struggles for dancers, especially coming out of high school, in finding jobs at home. At RISE, Lauren is able to point them in the right direction, especially if they need to leave province to achieve their dreams, but can more often show them hidden opportunities in the Edmonton region. Lauren herself worked as a dancer on cruise ships after high school, noting: “You have to travel. It’s what’s going to enrich your life. It’s what teaches you life lessons in a very condensed format.” However, this is where her passion lies, “There’s so much talent and opportunity in Edmonton, and that’s why we started RISE here.” Outside of those seven days, Lauren applies her BA in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University in Victoria working as an Account Executive at Incite, a local marketing firm. She has also spent her time volunteering, including Edmonton’s Singing Christmas Tree, and producing dance shows at local hospitals. “Anytime you can contribute—give back, be a part of something that’s just so much bigger than yourself—it’s never time wasted.” ~ Carrie Robinson

Empowering

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adies and Gentlemen, prepare to be amazed. Sheldon Casavant will delight and entertain you—like he has been doing for years. Sheldon says that “most kids kind of go through that phase of being interested in magic... it was when I was 11 years old that I really got serious about it. So, from that point on, I would read about magic as much as I could, I’d practice as much as I could.” He’s been training hard for the past 15 years. As for professional institutions, Sheldon jokes, “There’s no formal magic school, no Hogwarts or anything like that. You kind of have to piece it together to find what styles work for you.” He’s taken classes at the McBride Magic and Mystery School in Las Vegas and the Chavez Studio of Magic in LaVerne, California. Each offered different areas of expertise, from sleight of hand to stage presence to suspenseful illusions. Onthe-job training included long days during the Fringe Festival, and nine months in Japan where he did 414 shows in 180 days. Sheldon understands the importance of mentors. “When you first start, you look at the people you admire, and then you end up kind of emulating them a bit… then as you start performing more and more, less of them shows and more of you shows.”

One of Sheldon’s most treasured learning experiences is working with kids. It’s “a great way to get good fast ... because they’re an honest audience. If you don’t connect with them or if you don’t amaze them, they’ll let you know.” His school tours and Stollery visits inspired an exciting foray into literature. Sheldon wrote and self-published Morton the Magician and his Magnificent Magic Show with illustrations by Amanda Woodward. He has read and performed for about 3,000 students, and is doing a reading tour of 40 schools in 38 communities in Saskatchewan. His message to kids is always “to believe in yourself and have the courage to do what you love”—that’s what his book, available on sheldoncasavant.com, is about. It was shortlisted for the 2011 R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature with the Writer’s Guild of Alberta. Sheldon, twice nominated as Entertainer of the Year by the Canadian Events Industry, has transformed his magic show from homemade stages to prestigious private events. He realized an opportunity in corporate settings which has led to performances

all over Canada and the U.S. and to Panama, Mexico, China and Japan. He does close-up magic during cocktail hours or in hospitality suites; he describes himself as an icebreaker, creating a relaxed atmosphere. “Leading up to an event, that’s a good thing to have.” Magic is a solitary craft, as most of the practice is done alone, “so the actual process of doing a show is a really good release of that, you’re able to see the fruits of that labour.” Sheldon enjoys making people feel child-like again and giving them that sense of wonder. “To be able to create that for an audience is really rewarding. So when they’re leaving, it’s a completely altered state from when they came in.” Sheldon has always been entrepreneurial and has found a great niche that he loves. When he combines those two passions, it’s a magic all of its own. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

A solitary craft SHELDON CASAVANT Magician, children’s author

EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

Photo P hoto t by Bruce Clarke

21

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fter a year at the U of A, Joel Reboh saved up and travelled to Australia and Israel. Back in Edmonton, he began Grant MacEwan’s Bachelor of International Business and Supply Chain Management program, where they specialized in the workings of large companies. Joel excelled in the small class sizes and personable professors. Postgraduation, he began working on multimillion dollar contracts with TransCanada Pipelines. Bored with cubicle work, Joel began trading stocks after hours. With $10,000 saved, he got started rted in his apartment. In his first trade, he lost half of his savings. In his second trade, he quadrupled it. For two years, Joel taught himself the art of trading. ding. His family and friends were worried. “They didn’t understand derstand I was ass building up a skill for myself,� he remembers. “It was tough for a while... I basically locked myself in a room for two years and just traded stocks.� He also served at night. They were 16-hour days. ys. Obsessively build up a skill for yourself, but don’tt quit your jobb because you’ll need the cash flow to achieve your dream is Joel’ Joel’s ’s advice for developing your life’s passion. “The money I made at the beginning, a lot of it was luck,� says Joel on his first ventures. He realized that his trade decisions were not sustainable, so he developed more conservative ways ys of investing in order to preserve capital plus make more. “I was able ble to admit it. And that’s where people make the biggest fault in the stock ock market.� Joel was hired by a proprietary trading firm and d specialized in the New York stock exchange, but it was small scale. His family urged him to join a more recognizable nam name me to establish more credibility and better opportunities, ies,, which is when he applied to TD.

Beyond investing, Joel says he’s always involved in something around the community, including the serving on the board of Jewish Federation and on the Jewish Community Centre Rebuilding Committee. “I find myself doing at least a little bit of community work every day; it’s like putting my underwear on,â€? he jokes. “If I don’t do a little community work, I feel like I’m missing something.â€? He and his wife Christina work together on many avenues of giving, while raising their daughter, Gaira. spends entire days Through the Junior Achievement program, Joel spen with Junior High students. He teaches budget balancing and life students, because “it’s skills. It’s a lasting experience for the studen professional come in.â€? different when you have a real life profess TD Waterhouse After four yyears as an advisor with T manages around Private Investment Advice, Joel now m million. Thriving in 35 accounts, equalling over $30 milli market conditions of some of the most volatile stock mark maximize gains and our generation, Joel’s ability to max trustworthy choice minimize losses have made him a tr for investors. Some told him, “You There were, however, naysayers. Som have to grow some grey hairs before yyou get into this‌ Who’s going to trust you? You’re 26 years old.â€? what he needed to But Joel says that’s just wh hear. “When people ttell me I can’t something, I get more do something motivated to do it. That’s motivat just the way my brain works.â€? √ works ~ Carrie Robinson

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rica Viegas has had music in her life forever. She started piano lessons at the age of five. “I guess I’ve been playing for over 20 years.� Erica says, surprizing even herself at the realization. The 27-year old singer/songwriter has a degree in business with a major in marketing from the University of Alberta, and finished her bilingual degree in France. She credits her background in marketing to promote her career, “I definitely use it in music all the time.� She’s also an avid user of social media to reach listeners. Erica has worked in Fund Development in support of education and research for the Faculty of Medicine at the U of A for the past four years. She also freelances as a writer and editor for the School of Business. “And all of that has helped me definitely in terms of building relationships with people. I think that translates not only into the music that I write but also into the way that I approach my music.� Her approach is paying off: She’s been named Artist to Watch at the inaugural Edmonton Music Awards. She has been featured on CBC radio and CKUA, has opened for a number of folk artists and partnered with many local musicians, playing festivals, cafes and theatres. Erica is currently recording a new CD—admittedly different from her previous releases. She’s teamed up with a large group of musicians, and explains, “[It] makes the project bigger so it’s not just me, but a collaboration of lots of different people and their experiences.�

ERICA VIEGAS Singer, songwriter, volunteer “I really like watching and interacting with people and finding out what they’re passionate about,â€? says Erica, who is using the power of music to make a difference and really connect with people—her favourite thing about being a performer and songwriter. Five years ago, Erica travelled to Mumbai with One! International Poverty Relief where she taught music and English for three months at a school for street children. She was very touched by the experience, and wrote a song called Thank You, which appeared on her last album, “A dollar from every album I sold ended up going back to the school.â€? Two months ago, she was thrilled to go back for a few weeks, and to sing the song for the same kids. Erica sits on the board for One! International here in Edmonton. The song has been used by the Terra Association on its promotional videos. In addition to donating performances to a variety of causes, she volunteers with Artists on the Ward through the Friends of University of Alberta Hospital, which brings music and art to patients. “It’s almost like music is a vehicle to be able to talk about things,â€? says Erica, “so I end up having these really amazing conversations with people. And I think. in some way, I get to be like a little light in their day‌ but they get to be a really big light in my day that makes me see things in a different way.â€? You can check out Erica’s music at ericaviegas.com, and keep an eye—and ear—out for her new release. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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anielle Metcalfe-Chenail has lived and studied all over the world, but is now calling Edmonton her home. The “Gateway to the North” has its advantages, considering her next book might be subtitled 100 years of Aviation in Canada’s North. Originally from Ottawa, Danielle went to McGill for Canadian Studies. She had considered a creative writing program, but remembered her mom’s advice: “You can always work on your craft... through workshops or on the job, but you have to find something to write about.” The rest, as they say, is history. Really. “That’s one of my missions, to show that Canadian history doesn’t have to be boring,” Danielle, 29, explains. Through her studies, she has uncovered some amazing stories—from heroic deeds to horror stories—that prove just that. “This is why I write history more than I write fiction, because you can’t make some of this stuff up!” After McGill, she moved to Vancouver to write and research her way through her Masters in History. Danielle moved back to Ottawa, then did a stint in Wyoming, and lived in Dawson City, Yukon for three months at Pierre Burton House as its writer-in-residence. She is fluent in English and French and has studied Spanish and Italian. It’s a life filled with adventure. She says she curled on a team of pilots, learned how to shoot a shotgun, and went for a wild ride on a skidoo in the bush—and that was just one weekend. “I’m kind of halfway between Indiana Jones and Lois Lane, but in a bright blue parka,” jokes Danielle about her lifestyle.

DANIELLE METCALFE-CHENAIL Historian, author

Photo by Bruce Clarke

Since coming to Edmonton, Danielle has wasted no time in establishing herself. She’s joined the Writer’s Guild of Alberta and took part in the Get Publishing conference at Grant MacEwan University. “It’s a great city,” she says, adding that it’s easy to get involved quickly in things here. Especially when she talks about her aviation work, “Everyone has a connection, everyone has a story, and so it has been just a great way to meet people. It’s such a welcoming community.” While travelling across Canada, touring with her book For the Love of Flying (2009), the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) asked her to join. Not long after, the presidential position opened up and she was urged to run for the prestigious title. She is now the first female president of CAHS in its near 50-year history. She has also taken the lead in restoring their website (www.cahs.ca), and is editor of the monthly newsletter. She speaks about aviation history to schools and other interested groups, and chaired the CAHS national conference in Edmonton in June. Although not a pilot, Danielle is flying high toward her goal of three published books before she turns 30. She is working on a novel, a historical fiction about a female pilot in the 1930s, something that was very taboo, as well as one on First Nations people and their trying times. “I’ve always kind of had a social justice agenda,” Danielle admits, “believing... that everyone should have a voice, and there shouldn’t be some stories that are more important than others.” Keep her on your radar. She’s sure to enlighten and enliven your view on our little-known but entertaining Canadian history. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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ĂŠline Nolette affectionately calls her brain “my coconut.â€? So when she and business partner Julie needed a name for their company in 2009, it cleverly became Creative Coco’nuts. The graphic and web design company is the product of a lot of hard work and dedication. Both women had full-time jobs and did freelance assignments when they started collaborating. Eventually, they each went part-time and, soon after that, with their freelance workload overflowing, they quit their steady jobs altogether. Taking that risk was hard, admits CĂŠline, but necessary. She remembers having to wear a lot of hats: She was an accountant, a marketer, a designer or whatever else was needed day to day. “You realize that you have to do all of these things, and you don’t necessarily have the money to go and get the right people. You sort of start off with what you can at first, and you do with what you have.â€? The hard work was worth it, as she is now a full-time designer, creating websites and corporate identities for her clients. “We treat our business and our clients as a community.â€? Hailing from Peace River, CĂŠline acknowledges that the small town helped her develop a more personal approach when it comes to client relationships. “We really cater to what they want,â€? she says, adding that knowing the client helps establish communal goals and cooperation. “You can tell a lot by meeting someone.â€?

CÉLINE NOLETTE Graphic designer, creative thinker CĂŠline graduated with a Business Administration Diploma from NAIT in 2005. She took a year off and, after attending Grant MacEwan’s Design Studies’ open house, she felt it really suited her. First, she earned her certificate in Design Foundations, and then her Design Studies Diploma with a major in exhibit presentation. “I knew I needed something... that I had to be passionate about,â€? the 26-year old remembers, “I needed to grow in what I do.â€? Her second passion is volunteering. CĂŠline coordinated the arts section at the Francophone Canadian Youth Games, a national event for youth aged 13 to 18. She has also taken time to speak with The Young Entrepreneur Club of the U of A on the ups and downs of starting a business. Creative Coco’nuts sponsored a golf tournament, with funds focused on youth and seniors staying active. At April’s annual meeting of the Alberta Francophone Women’s Coalition, Creative Coco’nuts received the Women Entrepreneur Award. This should give them some well-deserved publicity, not that the company needs it: “It’s a lot of word of mouth right now,â€? says CĂŠline. Many of the people they are working with are either returning clients or referrals from past clients. She and Julie have the same mind set when it comes to design and clients: “The way we’ve been taught is just to design something very timeless,â€? CĂŠline says. They want “to really get the feel of their style and to create something for them that’s going to stand the test of time.â€? Next on the agenda is an on-line boutique, Coco’Belles, selling wedding cards and other stationary. Want to see their next project? Check their work out at the Edmonton Chante Festival, running September 23 to October 1 on Whyte Avenue, where Creative Coco’nuts has been hard at work. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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itan Alarm is my baby; I’m in love with it,� says Graham Wood, 29. And, he runs his company accordingly—with care and pride. With offices all across Canada, as well as one in Colorado, “We’re the largest producing alarm company

in Canada.â€? Graham started working for an alarm company that went under a year after he started, so he began doing contract work for other companies. Seven years ago, he started Titan Alarm. This is their first year no longer contracting to other companies. In 2004, Titan had 200 accounts‌ the year after they had 1800. Now, says Graham, there will be “16,000 families protectedâ€?. It is one of Canada’s fastest growing companies, serving mostly residential but businesses as well. Its advanced systems which use cellular units—not just landlines that can easily be cut—are one of the reasons for its growth. “As long as we just take care of our reps and make them very proud of who we work for, we’ll continue to grow at a very fast rate,â€? adds Graham. He mentions that his staff turnaround is very low, and that he treats his 350 employees as friends. When you walk into the office, the first thing you see is a games room. This a good indicator of the type of leadership Graham creates. There is a lot of team building, and they are very

competitive. The sales team is door-to-door, “They can actually talk to the people, find out what’s going on in the neighbourhood.� Customers sign a contract, pay a monthly monitoring fee, and receive lifetime maintenance of their systems. Another one of Graham’s passions is volunteering not just money but time in different countries. His first project was in Honduras where over 80 employees went with $180,000 that they had raised together, “I didn’t have a rep not shed a tear on that trip. It was just so touching. It’s so easy how you can help them and change lives.� They do a trip like this every year and will be going to Kenya this fall, to build a well and homes. He expects about 110 people are going with around $500,000. Graham says a goal of his is to start raising additional funds to do local charity work. He’ll ask his reps what they are passionate about, “and just start doing projects here in Edmonton.� His clients will be able to donate, as well. He is working on setting up his own charity organization so that he can ensure all of the funds go to the causes. Graham humbly notes, “I’m very grateful. I’ve just had so many dedicated staff that all are following the same dream that we’ve all set. “It’s been a really great ride, and I think this is just the beginning.� √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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acqueline Greenly, 27, loves her career and she loves animals. She is so passionate about both that her enthusiasm is infectious… it’s impossible not to be pulled in. After graduating from NAIT’s television broadcasting program five years ago and a short stint in Medicine Hat, she joined Shaw Community TV as entertainment reporter but was quickly promoted to cover health issues. In the same year, the anchor position became available, and she went for it. After a short trial on the weekend show, she took on the daily news as the anchor and producer. “They took a chance on me,” Jacqueline admits. “I was a young girl who had never anchored before.” But the gamble turned out to be win-win. She’s covered everything from on-set interviews with celebrities to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Meeting such a wide range of people is a real bonus. She also likes the format, which involves the show being shot in the afternoon, “Then—fingers crossed—all goes to air at four o’clock or else I’m in trouble,” she laughs. As for the animals, it’s been a lifelong love, from dogs to stranger sorts. Jacqueline’s favourite animal, the giraffe, led her to Tanzania about four years ago. “We were in the Serengeti,” where she overheard some locals “talking about their conservation there... and they weren’t actually against zoos at all... if the zoos were doing what they’re supposed to be doing.” During her trip, she visited the Amani

Children’s Home in Moshi. It opened her eyes to her own personal strength and the strength and perseverance of the African children. Working with these street kids led her connect with Grandmothers of Alberta for a New Generation in Edmonton. G.A.N.G. assists grandmothers in Africa who have lost their children to AIDS and are caring for their grandchildren. They invited her to speak to a youth group and motivate them to become involved. She also approached the Valley Zoo Development Society. “I pretty much begged them to let me on the board,” jokes Jacqueline. So, now she is the director of the volunteer committee. “I learn a lot from these people, because they come from all different walks of life.” One of the goals is to raise $9 million toward highly anticipated renovations, “The zoo’s best years are yet to come.” In addition, she walks the Okanagan Marathon with her mom, and she participates in the Underwear Affair with her boyfriend, Bob. She has recently rescued a Chihuahua from the Humane Society, and was impressed enough to suggest, “If I had more hours in the day, I wish I could volunteer for them, too.” Referring to her work with multiple charities, including Meals on Wheels’ Big Wheels Deliver Meals and Second Cup for Compassion House, Jacqueline says, “I’m really lucky with Shaw to have those opportunities.” She also fills in with CISN Country and Joe FM on the morning shows and at Capital baseball games. “I’m so lucky that I love job, I love my volunteer work, I love my extra work even though I don’t love not getting sleep,” Jacqueline teasingly sighs. Jacqueline has many motivators, but embraces one over the rest: “You can get anywhere and do anything with your family and friends. You have so much more belief in yourself... if you have a good circle around you.” √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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fter re receiving her RN Diploma from Grant MacEwan College

To further her goal of working at the policy-making llevel le eve vel in vel in hhealth eal ea alt lth ccare, lth a she is pursuing her Master’s degree in business administration. “It starts with getting an education that kind of relates to that and then getting that frontline management experience,â€? which she has gained in excess. Her entire idea of nursing was turned around during for her practicum. She became a Nurse Educator for Streetworks with Boyle Street Community Services, “My role as a nurse was doing lots of education to the community... and of course doing frontline nursing care to injection drug users.â€? She very much enjoyed her position there, “It was nice because I got to get out of the office‌ go through the river valley to connect with the homeless people down there and then also throughout the inner city.â€? Her passion for helping Edmonton’s homeless and sex trade workers is highly commendable. Kimberly moved on to work for the University of Alberta Liver Transplant Program as a clinical research coordinator. She enjoyed her post, dealing with liver transplant patients before and after their operations. However, she felt her street-level connection with the

KIMBERLY POONG Nurse, manager, Master’s student

community was lost. “It was so research focused, I really needed to be around more people.� She missed being in the field, hands-on with her nursing. “The inner city was kind of tugging at me.� In June, Kimberly accepted a position as a Care Manager for Alberta Health Services in Addictions and Mental Health with adult and senior services. She manages “mental health therapists, independent living support workers and psychiatrists� in multiple programs: the Assertive Community Treatment Team, the East Edmonton Health Centre: Addictions & Mental Health Clinic, and the Inner City Support Team at Boyle Street Community Services and Boyle McCauley Health Centre. “It’s my first leadership position in health care so I’m really excited about it,� explains Kimberly who relishes the challenge. Kimberly is on the board of the Edmonton Social Planning Council, a charitable organization that encourages equitable social policy, which also helps her connect with people. She served as vice-chair of research and evaluation of the Alberta Community Council on HIV, and volunteered with CARNA, the College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta. She still volunteers with Streetworks, driving a van at night that provides condoms, needle exchange and health advice. “There’s so much history when you meet a client. You can’t just judge them for who they are.� There’s a lot of trauma, and they were never given the tools to cope. In order to help these people, Kimberly wants to see what she calls “intersectoral collaboration� where the health sector works together with other community divisions toward a communal goal. As for life outside of work and school, Kimberly’s dog, Tofu, a blue Shar Pei, keeps her busy. “He’s the love of my life,� she laughs. “It’s important to... enjoy other things in life.� √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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ne day, when Keenan Pascal was dry walling, he said to himself, “You know what, there’s probably someone who could do this like 10 times better than me.” He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2008 from the U of A. Keenan and his father, Teddy, started Ladaut Renovations that same year, and initially did the work themselves, learning as they went along. However, once they started sub-contacting, the company really took off. Since then, Keenan was able to move from on-site work to a CFO position. “I like to see how they perform, see what they bring to the table,” he says about subcontractors. Ladaut coordinates the scheduling and ensures all the right people are coming in at the right time. He enjoys seeing his contactors doing an amazing job and growing in their craft. Running his own business had been Keenan’s dream. “I’ve always kind of had my own thing going, so as soon as I finished and got my degree I was like well, I’ll try.” Keenan, 25, jokes that a business person’s best friends should be their accountant, banker and lawyer and adds, “The biggest thing for an entrepreneur is the people you surround yourself with.” He often ends up seeing contractors outside of work, doing things such as playing soccer and volunteering together. Keenan also works with Think Easy Connection (TEC) with 2009 Sizzler Robert Tyndale, who does the marketing for Ladaut. “Personally, I kind of just do the business side of things,” says Keenan, adding that he looks at the big picture and lets his dad and Robert do on-site management. They also collaborate on other projects, including work for the Jamaican Association and Falling Whistles, an organization for Peace in the Congo.

KEENAN PASCAL Renovator, volunteer Keenan started doing volunteer work here and there for the Honorary Consulate of Jamaica and the Jamaican Association of Northern Alberta among others. He became very passionate about it, “We’re actually doing a big shoe run—sending 500 pairs of shoes from Edmonton to kids in Jamaica.” He has also done The Great Human Race and Relay for Life, which incorporates his passion for a healthy lifestyle. He’s a member of the National Black Coalition of Canada, and participates in events like the Cariwest Parade and the Heritage Days Festival. Keenan says he has begun planning in a much different way than before, as in five to 10 years down the road compared to five or 10 months. “That’s definitely changed the way I approach different obstacles,” explains Keenan, noting that it isn’t only financial but personal goal setting. He’s proud of his accomplishments. “You’re there, you’re working on something, you leave it clean, come back the next day start again,” says Keenan, who knows that being personable and respectful, in both his position and on-site, makes Ladaut a distinctive renovation company that truly cares about its quality of work and client relationships. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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“I was in Ecuador doing this and that’s where a lot of these ideas came from,� explains Abdullah. In Africa, accompanied by two other medical students, he started the Kenya Ceramic Project, as it has come to be known. They built a factory to produce the easy to use filter, run and owned by locals. “We’ve transitioned the factory fully into Kenyan hands, local Kenyans are making them, local people are selling them.� You can walk into a supermarket in Kenya and you can walk out with a filter, ready to use, for a small price that covers the materials and labour and a small margin to cover any future repairs. Abdullah never sees this money. “100 percent of the money we raise goes to the project,� he says. In fact, he pays for his own flights to and from Kenya, and all associated fees. They provide advice and information sessions to the populace as well, he explains, “[We are] also targeting education and research to improve access to these filters.� The goal is to expand the project to other countries, and to make the filters even more efficient and rid more contaminants.

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r. Abdullah Saleh is a gift to humankind. The easy going inventor runs ICChange—Innovative Canadians for Change—a not-for-profit organization making headlines for its socially conscious agenda. He started ICChange after he invented a ceramic water filter, a simple device but an impressive contribution. He realized, on a volunteer trip to Ecuador where he worked in a paediatric hospital, that most of the diseases and issues he was treating could be marginally avoided if the water in the region was clean and safe. “I thought really the best way of fighting‌ is to go back and address the basic determinates of health.â€? His answer was to develop the filter.

ICChange is currently working on six projects, all with socially aware intention and the idea of people’s health first. Visit the website, www.icchange.ca, to see all of its projects, including the Kibera Medical Record Initiative and the International Surgery Project. Abdullah is the head of each project, and knows that “having a good team is important.â€? He admits it was hard to pass on some tasks to other ICChange members, but now he enjoys pushing people to take leadership roles. He tries to pass on the spotlight to his team members as well, but the humble achiever has been attracting attention—enough to be invited to Calgary to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Will and Kate, on their Canadian tour where they learned about the filter and expressed much interest. On top of running his organization and travelling around the world, the 27-year old is completing his residency in general surgery at the University of Alberta Hospital. He is the man waiting on the helipad when STARS arrives. He says that his education helps the organization, “because we came from medicine, we also had the possibility to teach people about disease‌ and come up with hand-washing protocols,â€? a simple but effective preventative measure. Abdullah’s mission is one of selflessness and true caring. Through his dedication to improving conditions in developing countries, he has raised the bar on how to aid those less fortunate. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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heatre has never not been a part of my life,” says Keltie Brown, 27, at a table in the rehearsal hall at Workshop West Theatre. She made her professional debut at age six on its stage in Farewell. Nineteen years later, she was named the general manager and it is her “full-time, paying job in the arts”— the youngest GM of a major theatre company in the city. That alone is impressive, not to mention her other projects. “I get passionate about things and I say yes to things I probably shouldn’t say yes to.” Each January, she produces and co-curates the international Canoe Theatre Festival—moving it quickly from the shadowy wings to the bright main stage of Edmonton’s festival line-up. Keltie also directed two plays at this year’s Fringe Festival. One, an adaptation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis, gave her the ability to exercise her artistic and creative side, much different than her management role at Workshop West. There, her focus is largely on financial aspects and strategy planning. She works closely with Artistic Director Michael Clark, acknowledging that, while their roles differ, a lot of things become interchangeable. “We’re lucky enough that we make good partners.”

“

moments in children’s lives are defined by the arts…. from our first line in a school play to our first attempt at poetry, we find out if we’re afraid or excited… we build confidence and learn to express ourselves. “All of those things are really important toward our development as people and important to the development of an arts appreciated community.” Keltie adamantly believes that when arts and culture enter a community, its future thrives. It’s a message shared by colleagues in PACT—the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres—where she represents Edmonton and Alberta on various committees. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

KELTIE BROWN Theatre manager, arts advocate After finishing her BA in drama and English at the University of Alberta, she soon realized “there are people out there who do what I do, who’ve been doing it longer and do it better,” and she embraced these networks as mutual support. She says the best way to move forward in theatre in Edmonton is easy: Get involved, volunteer… “that is how you have conversations with people and how you engage… once they know you as a person, they start to take you more seriously.” The transition from emerging to professional artist is an exciting but difficult time. Those in that gap are what Keltie describes as “cutting edge... but with experience,” which brings them to the top of the casting call. And Workshop West, founded 33 years ago, can extend its established reputation to help amateurs become professionals. Keltie is on the board of PACE—the Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton—and she is very driven by its advocacy efforts and the opportunity to present a united voice.. She’d like to see arts and theatre play a more visible role, for example, in the architectural development of downtown. She thrives on creating a better awareness of local arts and theatre because, as Keltie puts it, “as Edmontonians, when we know things are happening, we come out and we celebrate them. “I think sometimes people don’t realise how much professional arts trickles down to the things your kids learn in school.” According to Keltie,

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D Pumped & POSITIVE

uring his interview at CDI College, Kyle Ferbey said, “Give me a shot and I guarantee I can do this job and I can do it well. And,” he is confident in saying two years later, “I can.” “I’m naturally a leader and I always was.” But he wasn’t always that sure of himself. After attending Concordia University College, he worked in sales, which is where he conquered his shy streak and truly discovered his potential as a leader. As the director of CDI, Kyle refers to his role as a “glorified decision maker.” In reality, Kyle manages everything from admissions to job placement post-graduation. The private college has four Edmonton campuses that offer diploma programs in business, technology and healthcare. “My decisions are the ones that make the school good or not so good.” And things are good. Since Kyle started, enrolment has almost doubled to more than 400 students. More significantly, 92 percent of last year’s graduates have found jobs in their related fields, far exceeding the government standard of 70 percent. Kyle, of course, wants to attain 100 percent. “It’s challenging to get to that number,” he admits. He works closely with students— and knows most of them by name—staff and business contacts to ensure that everyone who walks into CDI with a drive to succeed does. Watching a person come through the doors with not much and leave with an education and a job is like “scoring a goal or hitting a homerun”. The college is a forerunner of new learning technologies. This fall, CDI will be the second post-secondary institution in North America to replace textbooks with iPads. Students will be able to download e-textbooks as PDFs instead of packing around costly tomes.

KYLE FERBEY College administrator, Copper Jacket Meetings are used to “gear up the team” and get his staff of 40 “pumped and driven.” Kyle believes in mutual respect: “I want people to enjoy their jobs… and I want people to be vested... and their families to really support them in being here.” Outside of work, Kyle is proud to be the youngest member of the Edmonton Copper Jackets, the official corporate ambassadors of the Oilers. They raise funds for the Christmas Bureau and children’s literacy programs. He’s especially keen on Skating Days when kids are brought to Rexall Place to skate where their heroes skate—just as Kyle did with his father once, long ago. It’s something he’s never forgotten, and he knows that the kids he helps on Skating Days won’t either. “The looks in their eyes is just awesome.” He loves giving people something to believe in. Be it his staff’s goals, his student’s dreams, or a child’s wish to be an Oiler; Kyle can ignite a passion with his infectious positive attitude. Kyle claims he wouldn’t be in any of the positions he’s in without his “super supportive” wife, Megan, and his parents who he credits for the good head on his shoulders. Kyle is excited about the new arena downtown and what it means for the future. A true Edmontonian, the 27-year old adamantly declares, “I want to be in Edmonton forever… I want to be involved in its growth and success.” √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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A global citizen

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othing gets past Krista (Chase) Chileshe. The 27-year old business developer is always asking questions and finding answers. At BDC, the Business Development Bank of Canada, Krista helped small businesses grow. She is very hands on. “It’s like a field trip every day,” she says about visits to her clients so she can really see what they do and what their needs are. Even if BDC was unable to help, she tried to find someone who could, and provided sound advice that could add value to the client’s business. She managed a portfolio of about 40 clients, and is developing a reputation as a ‘thinking banker’ able to work through tough issues and attract new clients. She worked diligently to increase BDC’s presence and involvement in helping local companies become globally competitive. She is a strong believer in community co-operation, working together with other government groups, banks and businesses to help clients expand their markets. Krista has just accepted a position as an account manager at HSBC.

Krista holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in global business management, from St. Mary’s University in Halifax, and Masters in International Trade from the University of Saskatchewan. She has received a diploma from the Forum for International Trade Training and recently earned her designation as a Certified International Trade Professional. She is very passionate about international business, and believes in the idea of “trade not aid.” Krista is also the Alberta president of OWIT—the Organization of Women in International Trade—a growing worldwide network of professionals whose involvement enhances their knowledge of current global trade issues, provides a global network of contacts and professional development opportunities. In this role, she sets strategic direction, works with a volunteer board of five professional business women, and gets involved in event planning, marketing, and recruiting members and sponsors. Krista has been all over the world including China, Thailand and Australia. In Tanzania, she worked for a standard chartered bank and jokes. “I use the term work loosely,” because she had so much fun. “At the end of the day, entrepreneurs are diverse people,” says Krista, adding, “You need to be professional in business, but it’s humans who do business… and humans like to have fun and be personable with one another.”

KRISTA (CHASE) CHILESHE Account manager, trade proponent

Photo by Tracy Kolenchuk

One of her current goals is to raise enough money “for sending a herd of [10] goats to Zambia.” Krista decided to support this program after watching a documentary where a man actually followed his donation to Zambia and verified that the money was going to where it was intended. “There’s a lot of questions Canadians have about corruption in non-profit organizations who are doing work in developing countries. And that’s legitimate.” You can learn about her cause at gotgoats.ca. Through her experiences, Krista has developed a keen passion and interest in different cultures and how they live, socialize and do business. Her travel has given her cultural understanding, diverse social skills, and a passion for helping others achieve their personal potential. Krista lives her life as a global citizen. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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P

atrick Lundeen has always been one to stir the artistic pot. While attending the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal, he would do what he called “self-starts” three times a year. People would get together and perform their songs, plays or dances for one another for feedback. After coming home to Edmonton, Patrick explains that he didn’t want to settle for a serving job or the like, “I just started trying to make my own work and help other people make their own work. And that ended up landing me here.” Here meaning work targeted at a thriving arts community based on 118th Avenue. “When I finished school, I started the not-for-profit Common Ground Arts Society,” along with two other grads of the Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts. Patrick recalls that the group spent a week Christmas carolling on Whyte Ave with about 40 people and organized a large bottle drive that raised around $800. It was “enough for us to buy some sets and props and some food and to rent Avenue Theatre for two days.” At Avenue, they produced a variety show called The Edmonton Show to showcase emerging artists. Donations at the door amounted to another $800, so they did it all over again. After the second show, he was approached by the building manager to create a variety arts space for young people and become the full time artistic director. The 23-year old was attracted to the venue because of its flexibility, “Plus it had this rugged, industrial, in-need-of-love feeling to it.” Patrick decided to produce The Edmonton Show quarterly, as well as one in the Fringe this year. “All I try to do is just have this open door policy for Avenue where people who want to be involved and want to learn more about the arts can come and make friends… and sort of experience that ‘common ground.’” It works: CGAS is completely volunteer-based, and about 200 people have participated since his first show. He appreciates every last one of them, adding, “The people who choose to come work here and work with me are the ones who just want to do it and aren’t expecting to get paid.”

Showcasing

talent

Photo by Tracy Kolenchuk

PATRICK LUNDEEN Performer, producer

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Patrick was recently accepted into the Citadel/Banff Centre Professional Theatre Program, which is a three-month intensive experience that includes two weeks of performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Citadel. While he’s gone, there will be multiple volunteers stepping up to fill his position with Avenue and CGAS. Patrick’s ultimate goal is to run Common Ground out of Avenue, calling the future of the theatre a multi-disciplinary arts centre. He recognizes all the past work of Arts on the Ave creating the possibility for Avenue Theatre to thrive. “Ideally somewhere down the line I want this place to be consistently used for theatre, but it’s got a long way to go before it can be recognized as a perfect theatre venue.” Therein lies the challenge—one the ever energetic Patrick is facing head-on. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

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To market… Photo by Tracy Kolenchuk

he Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market is a staple in the community… a destination for thousands of shoppers every Saturday morning. It’s part of the city’s identity. And Stephanie Szakacs is there to open its doors. “We are Edmonton’s largest year round indoor market,” she is able to boast. The 28-year old has been the general manager for a year and a half, but was an assistant manager for three years while she was in going to university. She works with a 12-person board of directors, all vendors, to run not only the market but the building itself—an old bus barn. “I didn’t have any experience with electrical or plumbing or anything, but now I’m also kind of like a general contractor for fixing anything that goes wrong in this building,” she laughs. They offer free parking to patrons lot across the street… where the market started in 1982. A unique venue deserves a unique person to manage it. The place is the vibrant festival of fresh produce, meats and baking… preserves and plants, artisans and entertainment. Stephanie tries to stop by every booth each Saturday morning and greet the vendors and regulars. She admits to handwriting all of her Christmas cards from memory last winter, which she personally delivered to the over 130 vendors. “Everything I do here is helping to support the local economy, local producers and entrepreneurs.” Stephanie enjoys being involved and conscious of her community. She’s a member of the Alberta Farmers’ Market Association, and serves as the secretary and director of Central Region. “We advocate for issues to keep farmers’ markets local and to keep them sustainable.” She was also recently elected a director of The Friends of Royal Alberta Museum Society, and confesses, “I love travelling and I love museums.”

STEPHANIE SZAKACS Market manager, musician Stephanie is a musician in her spare time and you can listen to her music at myspace.com/odetoash. She played the sitar with the East Indian Music Ensemble at the U of A, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2009. “It worked out for me, even though it wasn’t a straight pathway,” she says about her education relative to her career. In her final year, Stephanie went to Ghana with the U of A on an ethnomusicology trip, and she loved it so much she returned six months later, “I travelled around the country and I also volunteered at a school in the Bolta region.” She goes back as often as possible. “It’s just cool to see a community that’s living completely local.” She’s inspired by their music and drumming and simple way of life, cherishing her experiences there. Back in Edmonton, Stephanie points out, “We’re on the verge of getting a really good scene going,” she says of the push for local fare, with her board as a driving force. “We’re always looking for new innovative things. Farmers’ markets are such a great place for people to get started.” The price of renting a booth is kept as low as possible to support small business. “Any problem that happens in this building is my problem,” but her dedicated spirit and easy going manner get the work done. “We get 10,000 customers through here on a busy Saturday,” says Stephanie. And, maintaining the country fair atmosphere… keeping both vendors and patrons happy is her mission. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

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Game Chaser

M

Photo by Tracy Kolenchuk

argeaux Morin seldom sleeps. When she does, she dreams off plans for a new routine. She started cheerleading with th the Edmonton Eskimos in 2004, Four our years later, she took on PR for the organization. Impressed ed with her style, she was asked to co-host The Green and Gold ld Gridiron Show, a weekly television update on Shaw. It’s now w into its third season, thanks—in large part—to her on-screen een charm. This launched Margeaux into the world of television ision hosting, which she admits is a secret passion. One of her projects, This Is Our League: An Introduction to the he Grey Cup and CFL with Aquila Productions, won her an n Alberta Film and Television Rosie Award for her work as assistant producer and her appearance in the movie. The show ow focused on creating long term fans by teaching kids the rules and culture. “I think it’s important as part of our culture to be proud ud of your city and where you’re from... to root for the home team.” In keeping with this mission, Margeaux and herr friend Mailie Harris mused about a cheer team for the Oilers. Soon oon after, Octane was born, a volunteer squad that Margeaux is proud ud to have been a part of creating and to coach and choreograph. ph. After a successful first year, they are looking forward to tryouts youts this September. The 24-year old has been called a “game chaser” r” by friends. “I’m just attracted to the excitement and the he background work that needs to happen to execute an event at that prestigious level.” Margeaux has been n very

successfully organizing and choreographing flash mobs, a bold new form of advertising. And she wa was thrilled to be a part of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. She was a crowd crow animator at Whistler’s Medal Plaza, where she danced an hour each day at a pre-medal ceremony. “It was pretty much the best job in the world.” This fall, Margeaux Margea is enrolled in her third year as a Bachelor of Commerce student with a marketing major at the University stu of Alberta. She says it coincides great with her full-time job at World H Health, where she has worked in marketing for more than six years. On behalf of the company, she volunteers with wit more than 10 agencies, including the Alberta Cancer Cance Foundation, the Kidney Foundation and the Edmonton Humane Society. She motivates World Health Hu staff to participate in fundraisers and build goodwill in the partici community.

MARGEAUX MORIN Choreographer, publicist, marketing major Margeaux admits, “As I’m sitting in this class cl talking about theory from a marketing perspective, I’m also thinking about some of the pe choices my company has made and seeing how ch some som of it applies.” She Sh does, however, put once-in-a-lifetime experiences experien over her schoolwork, “I’m not worried about when I get those letters after my name, I just think that my accomplishments have spoken for themselves.” accompli Margeaux has what she calls cal a “trifecta of dance, marketing and live entertainment.” This niche gi gives her a one-up in the industry, “There is so much potential when those tthree forces combine that very few people have as their specialty.” With imagination, innova innovation and energy, she has the ability to transform ggroups individuals and dancers into giant billboards—all in p of individ the interest of fuelling support suppo for her favourite teams and causes. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

ALWAYS PLAY TO WIN, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE My name is Kyle Boughner Director of Independent Sale for The Paranych Real Estate Team, Associate/Realtor with Re/Max Elite, & one of The Vice Presidents/Sales Manager for Paranych Project Marketing. Fresh out of high school I entered the construction field as I come from a construction background. I have experience in carpentry, concrete, roofing, and was a 2nd year apprentice electrician. I enjoyed all those occupations but was certain I was not applying myself to the fullest of my ability. After much thought and consideration I decided to try my business skills by starting a career in Real Estate which was something that has always been of interest to me. Since day one in the business I found this is were I was meant to be and what I was meant to do. I now see how true the saying is “if you love what you do you will never work another day in your life.” There is no better feeling for me then when I see the happiness in my clients face when I hand them the keys to their dream home. I feel blessed to be able to wake up every day and do what I love…SELL REAL ESTATE. I would have never imagined being where I am today. Since year one with the Paranych Team I have achieved a six figure income and my business continues to grow more every year. I would like to thank ALL of my loyal clients, my family, my beautiful supportive wife, and of course Terry Paranych and our team of outstanding real estate professionals. You have all made my dream a reality by giving me the support and guidance to be where I am now and where the future will take me. I look forward to all of the successful years ahead. Sincerely, Your Friend in Real Estate Kyle Boughner

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Kyle Boughner 780-686-5953 or kyleboughner@gmail.com 38

EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

Photo by Tracy Kolenchuk

BREWING

SUCCESS

M

ichael Wheeler started as a dishwasher in Edmonton’s first Canadian Brewhouse. “It was a place when we came out of high school my friends d and I felt comfortable to be at because it wasn’t a nightclub, but we could still go there and have a good time.â€? He moved up quickly, “Porter, bartender, manager and then I was able to o invest in the past two years. And here we are.â€? Michael is now operations manager and part owner of five franchise locations in Alberta. “Everybody sort of comes in my direction with questions,â€? the now 29-year old says. He does event planning, store operations and is always involved with the employees. “Great staff—that’s front house, back house,â€? who all work together to maintain the bars and show growth year-to-year. He acknowledges that having started in the kitchen helps with his current role, “[I’m] able to say that I’ve been there... they can respect your decision when a decision is made,â€? he says of the staff. Michael recognizes there are some things he’s sure a university education could have helped ed d with, but adds, “On the flipside of things, there’s probably some things I have learned through h situations where school wouldn’t be able to teach you.â€? His people skills are a true testament to that: “You take care of a customer‌ you see that reaction of them having a good time... you ou remember their drink or their name and you see how far that goes.â€? The aim for a Canadiana theme shows in the decor and the attitude. But, Canadian Brewhouse ou usse is not to be confused with being associated with Molson, Michael notes, “Kokanee is more Canadian than Canadian itself.â€? The bars are all open 364 days a year, from 11 in the morning through to 3am. They keep a solid clientele, and Michael remarks, “We find word-of-mouth is one of the best marketing techniques.â€? They’re always getting people talking, by something as simple a manager going oout ut ut of their way to help a customer to something as wild as hosting The Bear’s Really Tough contest. teest.t. The Canadian Brewhouse does hundreds of charitable fundraisers, including events for Crones onne nes and Colitis and breast cancer. “We try to get involved with them in a different way than just writing a cheque.â€? On his own time, Michael volunteers with Big Brother/Big Sisters. With having just opened a brand new location in Grande Prairie and one more set to open before the end of the year in Lloydminster, the growth of the Canadian Brewhouse continues.. Michael shows great ingenuity and commitment to his staff and his customers. √ ~ Carrie Robinson nsson

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NEURO-REHABILITATION?

A mouthful of possibilities Photo by Tracy Kolenchuk

JAN KOWALCZEWSKI Neuroscientist, inventor

I

t’s t’ ’s his his flagship hi flag fl agsh ship sh ip pproduct: rod ro odu duct duct ct:: Re ReJ ReJoyce Joyc Joyc Jo ycee is a joystick de designed to aid patients with pati ientts wit i h hand and d arm ddamage amage in regaining mobility. Dr. Jan Kowalczewski, 29, is excited about its success. computer so a patient can It is impressive in that it works with a comput actually interact with a game through the device. Users don’t even think of it as rehab, because it’s fun. But, in reality, the effort they put in is more helpful than having just a physical therapist. “And they can do that at home, which is something that in this field has been extremely lacking,� Jan explains. He convinced his brother, Antoni, to “drop his ventures� so they could develop the computer games themselves. “The idea is that we are able to do a whole bunch of hand function tests and exercises on this device.� The program actually collects data while a patient plays the game, and creates reports for the therapists to analyze what areas need more work. “We’re training for very specific disorders,� which means the games are well designed to aid in rehab. “There’s a whole body of literature on how best to trick the brain to adapt and sort of induce that plasticity as best as we can.� There are about 40 ReJoyce devices in clinical trials all around the world right now. “I’m really passionate about this device,� admits Jan. He applied for the patent in 2004; the ReJoyce was a part of his PhD which he received in 2009. After a long wait, he happily announces, “We’re just launching this device commercially.� It’s available through Hometelemed. com where Jan is VP of clinical studies, and to try out at Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. He is also chief technology officer at Angeltear

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Solutions Inc. which works in collaboration with Rehabtronics in research and development. As well, Jan has a patent pending on a Zip Nerve Cuff. “There’s a whole bunch of nerve cuffs out there,â€? but he points out they can often cause more injury than aid. “I sort of invented a zip tie... but for a nerve cuff.â€? It changed implant rates from half an hour to around five minutes. Because of testing and jurisdiction, it will be another few years before it’s available. Jan’s neuro-rehabilitation research and product development have taken him to places he never thought he would enter, including marketing. He splits his time at the University of Alberta, conducting research, and downtown at Angeltear developing the ReJoyce and other stimulating devices. “Any research that people come up with and that doesn’t get used, it really breaks my heart. Some really bad ideas make it and some really good ideas don’t... the only way they really make it in society now is if they’re really good business ideas.â€? Jan admits he is enjoying dabbling in the business side of things. The ReJoyce was initially used with stroke and spinal cord injury, but there’s a huge push for it to be used with children with cerebral palsy. Jan is committed to expanding the use of the device to other rehabilitation applications. “When you have solved one person’s problem‌ and then you can potentially solve the problem for everyone who has a similar issue,â€? is motivation enough for Jan. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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bbout out 10 years ago, after his first year of university, Trevor Ross got a loan to buy some lawnmowers and lawn equipment. Then he hired a frien friend to help him with his summer venture. They distributed flyers and put up signs… and attracted 250 clients. Trevor called his seasonal company Grasschopper Landscaping, and he continued this job each summer while earning his Tr Bachelor of Commerce degree. “We just sort of grew slowly over the next couple years. We got into residential landscaping and Bac Ba construction,” recalls Trevor. If a customer asked them to do a job that they didn’t know how to do, they’d say they could do it, and co hit the books to find out how it was done. Trevor’s intention after graduating was to go into law school. He had even taken his LSAT and was accepted at the U of A. But, two days before classes started, he realized that Grasschopper was where he wanted to be. “No one really expected that it would be our careers, but 10 years later here we are.” The company moved from residential to commercial landscaping, grounds maintenance, and snow removal. “We work with a lot of general contractors and lot of government bodies,” explains Trevor. The crew put together a corporate resume and made a lot of cold calls to get onto bidders’ lists. They joined various associations “to find out about jobs and what qualifications were required to be able to have your bid even looked at in the first place.” Keeping up to date and educated includes investing in some courses for the crew. “It keeps us on our feet so we don’t fall behind in the industry. We have been recognized by the Alberta Construction Safety Association for having an outstanding safety program which we developed through my own and other key staff safety training courses.” Grasschopper is contracted by a number of large corporations, as well as the City of Edmonton, a number of surrounding municipalities, the provincial and federal governments, and the university. The company is prequalified on the City’s list for public works projects and playground installations. With his recent relocation to a farm on the outskirts of Edmonton, Trevor plans on starting a tree nursery. The company plants between 1000 and 1500 trees a year, so he expects to cut costs significantly.

TREVOR ROSS Entrepreneur, Motivator

Photo by Tracy Kolenchuk

The crew is very close, and Trevor hosts fun company events to keep them motivated and connected to Grasschopper. “We’ve got a really great group of core people. Everyone cares... the people do an amazing job of keeping this thing going,” the 29-year old acknowledges. “We all do a really good job of promoting a positive culture and it’s a place where people like to work.” The transition from actually working on the crew to running the crew was tough, but Trevor says everyone seems to have settled into their respective roles. His own tasks are mainly estimating projects, project management, and coordinating schedules with his six foremen. Since that switch, Trevor says the business has grown in “leaps and bounds.” Indeed, Grasschopper has been recognized as one of Alberta’s top 50 fastest growing companies. Trevor, a supporter of the Stollery Children’s Hospital and MS Society, is in a good place… and, at the right time of his life. √ ~ Carrie Robinson

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SOCIALSCENE Photos by Brad Gibbons

One Thousand Women:

A Million Possibilities

M

ore than 300 women—and a few good men— attended the One Thousand Women: A Million Possibilities summer fundraising luncheon at the Sutton Place Hotel Edmonton on June 24. The luncheon raised more than $250,000, including a generous $100,000 matching donation from Dr. Dianne Kipnes, toward the Million Possibilities Endowment Fund. “One of the tenets of the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Foundation is to help people help themselves,” said Dr. Kipnes. “Supporting NorQuest students to achieve their dreams is a great example of this belief.” The Million Possibilities Endowment Fund is a reserve used to help students in financial need, whether it’s for something as inexpensive as bus tickets or as costly as emergency dental surgery. The endowment will always be available to support the unexpected and extenuating circumstances that can severely disrupt students’ progress toward

achieving success. Last year, more than 600 NorQuest students applied for assistance through the fund. “The response to the One Thousand Women movement has been phenomenal,” according to Chair Wendy Kinsella. “People—and women in particular—from all walks of life in and around Edmonton have really stepped up to show their support. It’s a tremendous way to help our students and ensure they can succeed. It’s also a confirmation of the important place NorQuest holds in our community.” The luncheon was supported by a number of sponsors: Brookfield Residential, CEO inc–Corporate Event Organizers, Ect–Event Styling and Décor, the Sutton Place Hotel, and Global Edmonton. Global’s Jennifer Crosby was the event emcee. Anyone interested in making a donation can contact the Foundation office directly at 780.644.5923. For more information, visit www.1000women.ca. ~ Yuri Wuensch

Louise Gibson, senior development manager from Brookfield Residential, RPP, luncheon sponsors

NorQuest student ambassador Fatmata Sankoh greeted guests as they arrived

NorQuest alumni coordinator Heather A. Scott and ambassador Gerard Amani with Karen Faulkner, Director of Funds Development

One Thousand Women advisory member Alyssa Haunholter of North West Upgrading and Enhance Energy chats with Heather Klimchuk, Minister of Service Alberta

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Patrons D r. and Dr. Am Lilly Miedzinski eeta Singh Photo by Brad Gibbons

Rose Duperon and Gerard R Amani were featured speakers at the luncheon. Their personal accounts of the difference NorQuest has made to their lives brought many in the audience to tears.

Janice Moore, NorQuest College senior funds development officer and One Thousand Women Project lead, Angelina Furaha, Yvonne Rehema, NorQuest College ambassador and alumnus Gerard Amani; Karen Faulkner, director of funds development, NorQuest College

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43

BUSINESSBRIEFS

With Norman Leach

M

National Institute for Nanotechnology at the U of A

aking a Difference focuses on three major announcements that will positively impact on Edmonton’s place as a world class centre for research and technology.

NANOTECHNOLOGY CENTRE ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP

Hitachi, the Japanese high tech leader, and the National Institute for Nanotechnology in Edmonton recently announced a unique partnership. The new Hitachi Electron Microscopy Products Centre will give Canadian companies access to a “uniquely configured transmission electron microscope —the first

of its kind outside of Japan.” “Alberta’s strength in nanotechnology is growing on every front from research to commercialization,” said Greg Weadick, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. “The Hitachi Electron Microscopy Products Centre is a place where talented people can push the boundaries of research, where companies can develop products and where graduate students can learn using the most advanced microscopes. This is the Alberta Innovates system in action.” Those attending the official opening of the new $15 million centre included Hitachi High Technologies’ chairman Dr. Hidehito Obayashi, who works out of the company’s headquarters in Tokyo.

“The Centre is a testimony to the close relationship between Hitachi and the National Institute for Nanotechnology,” said Ian Cotton, president of Hitachi High Technologies Canada. “Hitachi is pleased to witness the Centre’s opening and we are looking forward to bringing innovations made here to market in the near future.” Information obtained from the Centre said that, “This partnership expands NINT’s electron microscope capacity and capabilities, and will allow it to assist more Canadian companies in using nanotechnology for their products and processes. Partnering with Hitachi High Technologies will further support the development, evaluation and commercialization of NINT microscope innovations.”

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EDMONTONIANS FALL 2011

Dr. Graham Plastow, professor in the U of A Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, was recently named the interim CEO of The Livestock Gentec Alberta Innovates Centre at the University of Alberta. He was the Centre’s Chief Operating Officer and replaces Dr. Stephen Moore. The Centre is an international leader in the provision of genomics-based technologies to the livestock industry, and is focused on providing new solutions to help improve the competitiveness and sustainability of Alberta’s livestock sector through a greater understanding of animal genomes. “Livestock Gentec, under the leadership of Moore and Plastow, has achieved recognition as a global leader in livestock genomics and the Centre is well-placed to provide the genomics technology to enhance the competitive position of Canada’s livestock sector,” said John Kennelly, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. “The Centre represents an important component of the university’s commitment to agriculture.” “The Centre represents a unique opportunity to support and strengthen the livestock sector in Canada,” Dr. Plastow said. “The recent award to Livestock Gentec of two large Genome Alberta/Genome Canada projects focused on cattle and swine, representing collaborations with leading institutions across the globe, indicates the strength of our efforts.” As well, a new agreement between the Centre and Olds College will see closer

cooperation between the two educational institutions. Future plans include the placement of new Centre staff in several Canadian universities to increase collaboration and knowledge transfer.

“Alberta may be known for our oil and gas, but projects like this one prove we are leaders in green energy development too,” says Greg Weadick, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. “Countries worldwide want greener energy g gy and there’s no other place with our combination of EDMONTON TURNS w Greg Weadick research talent, one-of-are BIOWASTE INTO FUEL kind infrastructure, and “Edmonton is a pioneer in ki background in energy waste management and this ba development to bring research centre helps us enter de this kind of technology to the next phase of our strategy, th which is to recover value from m the world.” Dr. Esteban Chornet, waste that can’t be recycled world-recognized scientist or composted.” says Mayor wo Stephen Mandel. “This is in tthe development of fuels and chemicals from a major component of the fuel waste and Enerkem’s City’s plan to manage our was chief technology officer, waste in an efficient and chie environmentally responsible will be leading some of manner.” the ccompany’s advanced research at the facility. With that Edmonton, the resea “This state-of-the-art Province of Alberta and “T facility will attract high Enerkem are developing facili calibre researchers from one of the world’s most calibr around the world, and will sophisticated waste-to-biofuels ls research aroun lead to the production of more sustainable facilities. products,” said Vincent Chornet, president According to a joint media release, “The and chief executive officer of Enerkem. √ $12.5 million Advanced Energy Research Facility features a well-instrumented pilot plant and sophisticated laboratory equipment. Norman Leach, president of Norman Leach The facility will help position Alberta as a & Associates, is an Alberta-based business leader in developing technologies that convert consultant, university lecturer and writer non-hazardous waste from the oil and gas, agricultural, forestry, and municipal sectors into who works with companies and non-profit organizations to expand both their domestic and green transportation fuels and chemicals, while international markets. reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” photo by Tom Bu chanan

DR. GRAHAM PLASTOW NAMED CEO OF THE LIVESTOCK GENTEC ALBERTA INNOVATES CENTRE

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MERGERS& MERGERS &ACQUISITIONS

Buying the Right Kind

with Jey Arul

of BUSINESS

O

nce you have decided to buy a business, the difficult decision is over. Well, almost. Choosing the right kind of business to buy can also be very difficult. Regardless of how you arrived at the decision to buy a business, the decision of what kind of business you buy is a separate and independent decision. For many people, deciding to buy a business and deciding what kind of business to buy are related. However, my advice to anyone buying a business is to look at all options available, before deciding to purchase a certain kind of business. In the VR Business Sales offices, we receive hundreds of inquiries each month from prospective buyers who often have the desire to buy a business, but struggle with what type of business to buy. As a result, they tend to spend too much time “kicking tires,” trying to figure out what is best for them. Here are a couple of common examples of businesses that are frequently bought and sold, and that people consider.

maybe a pack of cigarettes, lottery tickets or milk, etc. There are often many gas stations for sale close to your location. Be aware there are two kinds of gas stations: the franchise station or the independent retailer. There are pros and cons to each. If you buy a franchise gas station, you get the name brand recognition and the traffic associated with it, but you will need to purchase expensive gasoline from a particular oil company. However, when you purchase from a big oil company, you will not have to worry about environmental issues. With an independent gas station, you can sign contracts with any gasoline supplier, but you run the risk of more exposure to environmental issues. Also, the marketing support provided by large oil companies is guaranteed to be very helpful if you are new to the gas station business. When looking to purchase a gas station, keep both options in mind, along with their pros and cons. Regardless of which option you choose, the decision to buy a gas station is a good one.

THE RESTAURANT THE GAS STATION The longest standing business all North Americans use and love—the corner gas station! It’s a great business. Everyone in my family and your family uses it to buy gas,

Buying a restaurant is a slightly more risky than buying a gas station. Gasoline for the most part is a commodity, without much product differentiation and buying gas is a necessity. When thinking about buying a restaurant,

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there are countless options. The first step is identifying a restaurant that you like: the type of food being served, the ambiance, the location, the prices. Certainly, you could change most of these variables except the location. However, I would recommend purchasing only if you absolutely love the restaurant as it stands. Whether you decide to buy a gas station or a restaurant, it is critical that you go through the recommended steps before buying any business. You need to evaluate the financials and determine the value and suitability to your operational experience among other various factors. In the VR Business Sales office, we have an 88 point checklist for a buyer to review as part of the due diligence process. This is an important step in your life—often a once-ina-lifetime experience—and it is crucial that you have the right professionals helping you throughout the process. √ Jey Arul is president of VR Business Sales in Edmonton, AB. He started the mergers and acquisitions company in 2007 after leaving his position as a senior commercial banker for a Canadian Bank. Jey holds a BA in Psychology and an Executive MBA. Visit www.vralta.com

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LEGALLYSPEAKING

Major changes to with Ian L. Wachowicz

he government has just announced that next summer, major changes to the Alberta Insurance Act will come into effect on July 1, 2012. The first big change is that the limitation period to sue your own property insurer, if you have a dispute with your carrier, has been increased from one year to two years. This will allow time to fully adjust your claim before having to sue your insurer if there are still amounts outstanding after one year from the loss. This will hopefully reduce the number of actions that have to be filed. The changes also increase the type of dispute resolution processes that are available to an insurer and the insured person to determine the value of particular losses. Another change will help innocent persons who insure property jointly with someone who commits a criminal or intentional act of destruction of that property. Currently, if

two people own property jointly, and one of those people intentionally destroys the property, both people could be prevented from recovering the insurance proceeds. After these changes, if one of the owners was completely innocent of the intentional act of destruction and could not have reasonably prevented it, they will be able to recover their proportionate share of the insurance proceeds. The government is also taking greater control over the types of things that can exclude coverage from fire losses. After the changes, the only exclusions that are valid are those that are listed and approved by the government. Any other exclusion, even if it is written in the policy, will not operate. The changes also provide that the Courts will have the authority to terminate a life insurance contract or reduce the amount of insurance provided under that contract, where the insured is someone other than that person, and that person reasonably believes that

person’s life or health might be endangered by the insurance on that person’s life continuing under that contract. Finally, in automobile accident cases, a lawyer who sues another driver for causing injury to his or her client, must, soon after filing the Statement of Claim, notify the other driver’s insurance company of the fact of his or her retainer. Then, the insurer must disclose to that lawyer whether or not the other driver had insurance, and what the limit of that insurance is. This will assist insurers finding out whether or not their insured driver is going to be sued for an accident in a much more timely manner, and it will assist plaintiffs in determining whether or not the person who injured them has sufficient insurance to cover the loss. √ Ian L. Wachowicz is with Parlee McLaws LLP. E-mail iwachowicz@parlee.com; phone 780.423.8655. www.parlee.com

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CIVICBUZZ

with David Norwood

At the crossroads of development‌

A

s I’ve mentioned in past columns, Edmonton is at a major crossroads in its development as a cosmopolitan urban centre. In recent years we have seen significant decisions taken which will affect the city’s liveability, national and international image, and its future direction. In my memory, I cannot think of successive years in which such important and far-reaching decisions were made, from closing the City Centre Airport to redeveloping several inner-city neighbourhoods to a new art gallery to a stunning expansion of the Edmonton International Airport. For me, some of the highlights include the following items.

The decision to (finally) close the City Centre Airport—and the subsequent selection of Vancouver firm Perkins + Will to lead the redevelopment design of the site—will have a long-term, profound impact on the city and its surrounding region as a whole. While retaining the historical layout of the old airport (the runways, for example, are boundaries for different components, with the north-south runway becoming a water

course). The magnitude of the redevelopment alone, in terms of both its physical size and its vision, has drawn worldwide attention. The resulting community, some 30,000 strong, will strengthen the appeal of the central Edmonton area and contribute significantly to its overall vibrancy. Obviously, this will evolve over many years—construction is expected to commence in 2014—but, even as it evolves, the City Centre Airport redevelopment will be exciting to watch. The replacement of the Walterdale Bridge is long overdue, and the design that was selected after widespread public consultation and input is a “signature� bridge. That is, it incorporates design elements that remove it from a “utilitarian� designation. The approved design is an arch bridge and is most definitely a “signature� bridge, which will be situated slightly east of the current bridge. The preliminary plan calls for three northbound lanes as well as pedestrian and bicycle pathways on both sides. At this point, no southbound lane is planned.

A number of people have expressed some concern that no southbound lane is included in the preliminary design; it would provide access from the north side of the river to the Kinsmen Sports Centre and the new Queen Elizabeth Pool, among other facilities. City transportation planners apparently surveyed potential users and determined that the southbound lane would not generate enough traffic to warrant the extra cost. I worry that this is not looking ahead far enough (something that unfortunately has happened too often in the past), and believe that eventually the southbound lane would justify its extra expense. It will be far easier to drive to the Kinsmen Centre, for example, directly from the north side across the new bridge rather than cross the High Level Bridge and return down Walterdale Hill as we do now. Detailed design will commence in January 2012, and construction of the bridge and realigned approaches will take place from 2013 to 2014. The final product will enhance the approach into downtown Edmonton and provide an interesting contrast to the High Level Bridge a few hundred metres upstream.

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balance, but I believe it’s one that must be achieved. Frankly, it’s time for those involved to find a way of “getting to yes,” and this includes the candidates for the leadership of the ruling provincial Progressive Conservatives. Departing Premier Ed Stelmach has offered a solution involving an increase in Concept Sketch Municipal Infrastructure Grants, for which the arena project of arena foyer qualifies. His proposal isn’t The Downtown Arena Project must agreeable to everyone—some think get done, and done the right way. Like the a lame-duck premier shouldn’t be offering redevelopment of the City Centre Airport, up government money, but he still is the the new “arena district” won’t be built all at premier—but it is a step forward and shows a once but, in fact, much of future downtown recognition of the importance of the project and development is somewhat—if not completely— a willingness to assist. There are perpetually contingent on the arena going ahead. The new endless uses for government infrastructure structure is far more than simply a home for funds, but this one is really a priority. the Edmonton Oilers. It will host trade fairs, conventions and concerts of every description. As I mentioned in my last column, the If designed properly, it will attract a healthy new Royal Alberta Museum, to be located on mixture of restaurants, hotels, condominiums, the site of the former downtown Post Office, specialty stores and offices. Those who have will also have a major impact on the central been party to consultations involving the City core, not just because its design will be of and the Katz Group have, while not revealing international stature but also because of the the extent to which the design has evolved, many visitors it will attract. The Museum will tie indicated that the plan has undergone significant in nicely with other centres in the Arts District, revisions to allay early concerns about the including the Winspear Centre for Music, the arena potentially creating a “dead zone” which Art Gallery of Alberta, the Citadel Theatre would be active only during events. It’s a tricky and the Edmonton Public Library.

Rumours have been swirling about yet another new office tower in downtown Edmonton, on the site of Manulife II between 102nd and 103rd Streets. There’s no official confirmation as yet, but there has been talk of a stunning tower about 160 metres high, which would make it the city’s tallest by about 15 metres (over Manulife Place). Apparently tenants have been found for a good portion of the tower. Let’s hope this rumour is true… we’ll find out soon enough. Finally, having had a good look at the detailed renderings of the redevelopment by GE Real Estate of the EPCOR Tower, the Odeon Theatre and the Bank of Montreal building on Jasper at 101st Street, I think that despite the loss of a building which, though proper maintenance could have had another useful life, the redeveloped property is attractive and designed after a great deal of thought and consultation. It has been empty for about 15 years and, while it would have been ideal to renovate and refurbish it, the benefits of doing so were outweighed by the costs and the likelihood of being able to lease it, given its relatively small floorplate. I do believe that GE Real Estate’s plans will boost the area’s appeal and, down the road, when and if demand warrants, a nice condo development could rise on that corner. √ David Norwood is a freelance writer and editor. dnorwood@edmontonians.com

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CREATIVEINTERIORS INTERIORS with ith Ch Cheryllll Gill G Gillespie i &S Sam S Shakura h k

Does your home sizzle

like you do?

B

y now we’ve established that a Sizzler is a trendsetter, a go-getter, a capital letter L-E-A-D-E-R... but does your home sizzle like you do? Our homes need to make a bold statement and reflect our unique personalities. No two homes should look the same. What’s today’s biggest trend in home design and dÊcor? Individuality! Whether you’re working with an interior designer or you’re tackling a room re-design unsupervised, think about how each colour choice, each piece of furniture, and each book on the coffee table reflects your ambitions and lifestyle choices. The most powerful people in business today know the importance of creating a home environment that they are proud to show off and comfortable taking refuge in. Your home should make you laugh‌ make you smile‌ make you want to be a better person by both grounding and boosting your spirit. Follow these designer superstar tips to make your home stand out in a crowd and sizzle with style. Every home should display at least one collection of something. A stainless bucket filled with old clocks looks fabulous on the floor of a home library. What about a shelf of vintage cameras in a guest bedroom‌ or an office wall covered in ornate masks you’ve collected from around the world? Collections almost always evolve over time and naturally evoke a sense of history and memory. This is a great way to showcase your personality at home and display your worldliness. Ensure your home has a minimum of one wow! wall. We love wall murals—anything from urban graffiti as a backsplash to an

oversized picture of the family pet in the dining room to an abstract floral pattern tattooed on the ceiling. Often it’s less expensive to hire a recent art school graduate to come in and custom paint something for you than it is to find the perfect piece of framed art for a wall. If you’re up for trying it yourself, rent a projector and print your desired image onto a transparent sheet so it’s easy to visualize on the wall. Start with

Create a wall mural that really says�YOU� something simple, like handwriting a recipe for lemon meringue pie on an exposed pantry wall. Paint pens from your local craft store make this technique way too easy so practice restraint. Lots of us make the mistake of putting all of our decorating efforts into the ‘public’ spaces (ie: living room and kitchen)—while ignoring the ‘private’ spaces like our bedrooms. This is your home and you spend a lot of time in your bedroom. It should arguably be the best room in the house. Indulge in a little luxury here and

make sure the master bedroom is designed for rest and romance only. No gym equipment, no paperwork, and as little technology as possible. Dress the room in sex appeal so that it screams, “Come make love hereâ€?. Remember, it is all about the tease‌ so add some sheer elements to the room. A Lucite ghost chair, a wall of glass bricks, and a patterned translucent screen to change behind are all seducing options. Upholster a curvy chaise in worn leather and contrast with lace detailing on the frame or on a c toss to pillow. Don’t forget bedside candlelight and fresh fr flowers. Good design is always functional, balanced and harmonious. But great design b is unpredictable and imaginative. Break the ‘design’ rules by displaying a broken vase on ‘d a pedestal or upholstering a lounge chair with a shearling rug. The people who have already forgotten the perfectly symmetrical room are f still s talking about the space infused with a little visual tension. Rule not to be broken: Great v design should always be engaging and thought d provoking. p Above all else, fill your home with things that th move you‌ remind you of where you’ve been‌ where you want to go. Let your home b grow with you and give it room to breathe. √ Cheryll Gillespie and Sam Shakura are the mother-daughter creative force behind the fashion-forward firm Rock House of Design Inc. Internationally renowned interior designers, TV personalities, national radio hosts, guest speakers and columnists for over 290 publications, Cheryll & Sam are fabulous living experts. Check out these style tastemakers online at www.rockhouseofdesign.com

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HOMEENVISION HOME ENVISION

or

Feminine ?

O

with Elissa Scott

These natural dualities need balance and ur homes are a reflection of not rhythm to contribute to a home’s décor. There’s only our personality but the dark and light, cool and warm. The feminine world around us; a microcosm is the passive, slow moving and surrendering. of what’s important to us. In this She is water, earth and moon. The masculine mini-world, we frame ourselves component brings speed, hardness and stability with the stuff that brings us meaning, feeling in an aggressive nature. In him we see fire, sky and significance. Taking inventory of your and sun. surroundings, what does it say about you? From Most of our lives we’re e’re occupied by Fro sunrise to sunset, the polarity relationships; family, polari of the sexes cast their distinct select friends and distin personalities onto the look of paint colours, fabrics business associates. and iinterior design. Sunlight Deepening and calls for more activity and opening, we direction, while the coolness seek out partners, dire of shade inspires a relaxed sometimes children. s feeling All relationships feel of calm and quiet. If you experience the dance y notice the various architectural details, between feminine and arc materials, colours and masculine. Whether m lines, male or female, this lin you will discover the energetic play of the male energetic polarity e and remains the same. a female in a home’s décor. Both contribute Bringing this idea d inine bring fem ace to to the personality of a home, play the “I Spy” re tu a n p Add ne s space, affecting those game to see where a more ore a masculi energy to who spend time within male or female presence ce its walls. exists. Men may have a Creative design requ requires blending these more macho man-cave dynamics, ebbing and flowing with highs and reflecting a harder edge of wars, sports and the lows, forming balance. These complementary stock market. Women tend to go for soft and opposites fit together, interacting as polarities, to alluring qualities, with nesting comforts geared become part of a greater whole. toward feelings and family.

The masculine’s need to dominate is expressed in extreme, linear direction. Low, clean lines, with hard surfaces, stainless steel, leather and modern designs are yang. The feminine is mysterious, soft and curvy, with floral prints and natural organic elements bringing an inviting softness. Yang paint colours are sizzling, while yang hues are romantic and grounding. For those with an overly feminine space, inject a hit of heat and excitement with yang décor. Paint a wall in an energetic hue, spark the fireplace and introduce hard and smooth accessories, like metal to the décor. Add angles rather than rounded lines. Choose a leather or flannel sofa with low, sleek lines, avoiding cushy, fluffy, flowing fabric seating. Should interiors appear too invigorating or uninviting, simply smooth out rough edges with calm, curvy lines. Lull your warrior spirit with pastels, nature, water elements and flowers. Include soft furnishings like toss cushions and drapery, while dimming the lights to neutralize the space. Masculinity lives in the head, while femininity lives in the heart. Displaying books signifies the masculine, while photos of loved ones embrace femininity. √ Elissa Scott offers home design consultations, custom decorative artwork and murals. Contact: elissa@gruuvyroomz.com, or call 780-970-8860 for a complimentary phone consultation.

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51

PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT

with Mark Wardell

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT

H

aving worked with business owners of all kinds for close to 20 years, I have learned that, pretty much universally, entrepreneurs have a difficult time understanding what it is that makes their businesses truly valuable. Value is an illusive measurement. Revenues, assets, profits and so forth are all fairly simple to read from financial statements. But value is a tough one. This is particularly the case when a business is sold. Why is it that two seemingly identical businesses sell for different amounts? The most effective way to understand the value of your business is to understand your “goodwill�. If you aren’t familiar with the term, goodwill describes the value of a company, over and above its liquidation value. In other words, goodwill is what forms the better part of the owner’s “profit�, when it’s time to sell. There are essentially two types of goodwill: business goodwill and personal goodwill. Business goodwill is the portion of a business’ value associated with the business itself. It includes things like brand recognition, location, procedural manuals and market share.

And, since business goodwill is transferable from one owner to another, it is sellable. On the other hand, personal goodwill is the portion of a business’ value associated directly with its owner. Things like the owner’s name, reputation, contacts, skills and abilities. For many small to mid- sized businesses, the majority of value is tied up in personal goodwill. Unfortunately, personal goodwill only has value to the current owner and is, therefore, unsellable. All things being equal, a company with a higher percentage of business goodwill will attract a higher price than one with a higher percentage of personal goodwill. From the buyer’s perspective, a company with a large amount of business goodwill is worth the higher price because the customers are more likely to stay and the business is more likely to remain profitable, once it has changed hands. What this means for your business: Your goal should be to transform as much of your personal goodwill into business goodwill as possible. At Wardell, we use a valuation tool to help business owners pinpoint specific areas of both strength and weakness in the areas of leadership, management, marketing, finance,

operations and sales. While I can’t perform a complete diagnostic of your business in this column, what follows is a series of questions designed to help you understand how to strengthen the saleable components of your business, to achieve: 1. A more solid, less owner-dependent operation; 2. A more secure investment opportunity for stakeholders; and 3. A significant increase in market value. When it comes down to it, it’s all about systemization. As you answer the following questions, you’ll develop a more accurate picture of what you’ll need to work on to systematically increase your value. So give it a shot and let me know how it goes (or give me a call for the complete diagnostic). MINI-DIAGNOSTIC: 1. Does your company have a three- to fiveyear strategic objective, outlining your overall goals? 2. Does your company have a step-by-step plan for achieving your strategic objective?

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3. Does your company utilize key performance indicators to track its ongoing success? 4. Does your company have systems for recruiting, retaining, developing and managing employees? 5. Does your company have systems for collecting and addressing employee feedback and improvement ideas? 6. Does your company have a unique market position (why your business is unique in the eyes of your customers), and a marketing strategy for future growth? 7. Are your employees dedicated to doing the best job possible, even when you are not present? 8. Do you receive regular, current and accurate financial reports? 9. Do you know which are the most profitable products/services you offer? 10. Does your company have a quality assurance system?

11. Does your company have systems for managing your customer service? 12. Does your company have prospecting (lead generating) and sales (lead conversion) systems? 13. Do you work less than 40 hours per week in your business? 14. Do you regularly dedicate time to planning the future growth of your business? 15. Are you responsible for less than 15 percent of your total sales? 16. Do you track and analyze your customer satisfaction ratings? 17. Are your financial reports and other performance indicators organized into a comprehensive, functional analysis manual (executive dashboard)? 18. Could you (the owner) take a six-month vacation without it significantly affecting your sales?

19. Do your customers provide you with a steady stream of referral business? 20. Have your profit margins increased steadily over the past three years? The more times you can answer “yes” to these questions, the greater the net value of your company’s goodwill. A score of 14 or more indicates a high goodwill value, while a score of seven or less indicates a low goodwill value. While the process requires a little work, I’ve yet to see one case where it wasn’t well worth the effort. √

Mark Wardell is president of Wardell Professional Development Inc. (www. wardell.biz) an advisory group specializing in increasing the market-value of ownermanaged companies.

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53

SOCIALMEDIA101

Creating a

Social Media

Strategy

with Heidi Coe

S

ocial media is still evolving. It takes dedication and understanding to stay on top of your social media marketing efforts. Chances are you’ve been using various platforms for a while now and are curious about what actual return they provide. The key to successfully integrating social media into your marketing strategy is to outline your purpose, and track your results. The best idea is to develop a strategy that works for you. It could be as simple as an outline of topics you would like to focus on each month, or as in-depth as a fully integrated marketing plan. If you aren’t purposeful with your efforts, you’re aiming at a moving target with your eyes closed. Developing a strong foundation for your social media by creating a strategy means that you can track the success of your social media campaign and effectively determine your next move. √ Heidi Coe is a marketing specialist at Avalon Global New Media Marketing. Email: heidi@avalonglobal.com Twitter: @heidicoe @avalonglobal Facebook: www.facebook.com/avalonglobal

KEY COMPONENTS TO A FULL-SCALE SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY: Target Audience A breakdown of target audience engaging your business through social media Objective Define the specific purpose of your strategy Resources What is the internal capability to manage social media? Measure this by staff availability, timelines, and online tools used Expectations What does your target market expect from you? Are they following you to receive promotions, industry expertise, current trends, etc.

ways to communicate on multiple platforms. Are there guidelines in place for any output content? What measures are in place to manage this? Remember to have fun—it’s a social environment and your followers, fans, and subscribers will sense if you view social media as a task. Timelines Develop a timeline for execution based on scheduled promotions, relevant community events, and other traditional marketing considerations.

Social Media Accounts Determine the appropriate channels for communicating (the most popular being Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Blogs, Website, Enewsletters, Flickr)

Data Collection It is important to compile all the results from trackable initiatives. Most social media platforms track your page’s analytics; team these reports with existing internal tracking (ie. sales, phone inquiries, client bookings) to determine results

Content Strategy Content is the most important component of the strategy. Focus on developing original content, think beyond self-promotion, and find

Data Analysis Assess outcome based on initial strategy objectives, then analyze results and revise strategy for the next time period

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GOOGLEGURU

with Shawn Moore

Is your e-commerce shopping cart LOSING BUSINESS ON-LINE? We contracted a company that installed a shopping cart on our site and our sales have not improved. We don’t get many complaints but we expected a lot more from this new installation. Do you have any suggestions on what can we do to improve our results?

This is one of the most common complaints that I hear each week. The fact is that installing a shopping cart to your web site is not as simple as plugging in to a cart and then sitting back with your feet on your desk and taking orders all day. Choosing the right shopping cart “experience� is probably the most crucial decision you will need to make when installing this feature on your web site. The challenge is that each cart is typically built for a particular type of business and the nuances of your business may be anything but typical. Your shopping cart will need to run the way that your regular business runs, and that is

going to be unique for every company. Make sure you choose a developer that is very strong on database development as well as design with the ability to customize your shopping cart into a database that serves up your product offerings in a manner that not only works well for your visitors’ “customer experience�, but also for your internal operations when it comes to order processing. To complicate things even further, your database needs to be configured properly so that search engines index your products and/ or services. Make sure the developer doing the database programming is also familiar with implementing an SEO (search engine optimization) friendly design to ensure that the likes of Google will also like it! If your developer doesn’t know what you are talking about, interview more suppliers until you are satisfied that you have found one who does. It’s also important to get a marketing angle on this experience by effectively crafting language (words) to help describe what the client is or should be experiencing when they actually order through your site (example: “Three simple steps to order your ‘blank’ today�). You can do a Google search for “seo ecommerce companies� and you may find some qualified options to consider.

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The bottom line with your cart and database is that it needs to be intuitive and easy for the visitor to use. It must allow your customers easy access to getting what they want fast, and checking out when they want to, not when the cart lets them. It should gather credit card information easily and securely, and have return policy and privacy policy statements. I recommend that policies be written professionally with your sales process in mind. In other words, focus first on converting your leads to sales before you introduce too many other choices for customers to consider. I suggest you have as many people as possible go through your ordering process on your web site to give you their feedback and experience when it comes to doing business with you online. There are also professional marketing firms, consultants and companies that perform “web site audits� on your shopping carts experience, and they will provide you with valuable recommendations you can then take back to your developer for implementation. This will immensely improve your results and sell-through. √ Shawn Moore is president and CEO of Think Profits.com Inc. Have a question for our Google Guru? E-mail: shawn@thinkprofits.com

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55

WALKINGTHE WALKING THETALK TALK

“Meet you half way…”

H

ow do you really meet somebody half-way? Where is half-way? What does it feel like to go your half of the way? Does it depend on how you perceive the other person to be traversing his or her half of the way? How does your perception of half-way square with reality? Sarah was a person with a keen sense of punctuality. It was right up there in her hierarchy of values with cleanliness and godliness. If she and her husband, Matt, agreed they would leave by 3 pm for the 4 pm wedding, she would be deeply stressed if he didn’t get them on the road at that precise time. From Matt’s point of view, a 3:30 departure was in plenty of time for them to drive to the event and for him to park the car after he dropped her off to get them seats. To him, it was no big deal and, as her silent rage hit him, he felt guilty, but for no legitimate reason. Now if this only happened once, it would be one thing. But the same scenario occurred again and again, as each approached the “appointed time” with anxiety, dread, guilt and frustration. They talked it over. What could he do—what could she do—to avoid these painful scenes? She felt she couldn’t trust him. He felt like he couldn’t win… even that he would be less of a man if he acceded to her preferences on this. What was at issue was family patterning. In Matt’s family, soon enough was soon enough. In Sarah’s, meticulous attention to clock time was a family imperative. Now, as they tried to find workable new rules they could agree

upon, the old conditioning kept getting in the way. Sarah and Matt truly loved each other, but the damage done by these episodes was significant. Finally, one day, he said, “I’ll meet you half way on this.” Sarah was dubious. If she gave up 5 minutes or 10, wouldn’t that just make matters worse as his carelessness with time commitments re-asserted itself? Yet, as they negotiated the details, a plan began to take shape. Matt would let her know as soon as possible if something had interfered with his ability to meet at the appointed time. Sarah would relax into a 5- or 10-minute window where what had seemed to her to be an untimely departure would now be legitimate. He would make a real effort to get past his cultural conditioning so that he was motivated less by auto-pilot and more by the recognition that there needed to be a new way of dealing with this issue. All seemed in order and, as they pursued this strategy, their attitudes began to change. Sarah became genuinely forgiving of small tardiness. It simply didn’t matter that much most of the time. Matt became genuinely dedicated to doing his best to meet time commitments, now that it wasn’t always an occasion for disapproval that in turn generated guilt. He began to enjoy Sarah’s growing trust and being “on time” became far less onerous. Now he could see that he wasn’t “giving up” anything of value and what he was receiving—her trust—was far more precious. And then it happened. On one such agreed meeting time, Matt failed to call and even failed to show up until more than an hour

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later. However, Sarah now had a frame of reference that was different from that of her family conditioning. She had seen him be responsible about time, so her primary concern was whether he was all right. He was, and they could speak fairly comfortably about what had detained him and made it impossible to call. So the relationship escaped unscathed. Meeting someone half-way requires honesty and freedom from ulterior motive, according to the I Ching. Coming to Meet (Kou) is represented by five solid lines above a broken line. When there is a mutual interdependency in the meeting, meeting halfway is a good thing. It will not work when one is coming from self-righteousness, judgment or any other indicator of a lack of sensibility of mutuality. Mutual interdependence is what Sarah and Matt are developing between them. This creates a strong container that can withstand the stresses and strains of everyday living together. It is a stage of maturity way past dependence, and also beyond independence. It is what makes the two more than either one of them could ever be. The clash of family conditioning created for Matt and Sarah the perfect opportunity to grow themselves and their relationship. √ Barbara Ashley Phillips is a trainer, facilitator and a transformational coach focusing on high level communication skills and a new approach to leadership. Contact: e-mail barbara@co-creating.ca, phone 780.465.1721 or 780.993.2125, or visit www.co-creating.ca.

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ECONOMICOUTLOOK ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

The 21st century marks the beginning of a he pre-recession boom years saw Asian countries emerge as the world’s manufacturing workshops, with consumers in America and Europe buying enormous quantities of their attractively priced offerings, driving astounding Asian economic growth. Conventional wisdom predicted, however, that when the financial meltdown ended that debt fuelled shopping spree, Asian growth would come to a halt. It hasn’t happened: Asian economies, led by China, have remained strong. The reasons? The first is that, while Westerners maxed out their credit cards and mortgages, Asians continued their saving tradition. So while Western governments stagger under mountains of debt, China holds more a trillion U.S. dollars in cash. In the words of Stephen King, chief economist of global banking giant HSBC, “The West...has this tremendous headwind associated with the need to deleverage, a headwind largely missing in China and other emerging nations.”

ASIA HUNGRY FOR RESOURCES

Another headwind plaguing Western economies is actually blowing in from the East. Asia, hungry for resources to fuel its growth, is driving up the cost of energy and base metals. Resource-rich Canada is one of a small number of developed countries where rising resource prices benefitting. For China, India and Brazil, it’s as if the economic crisis never occurred. The question becomes: How did these exporting countries so effectively decouple their economies from those of their customer nations? The answer lies in what King calls “an absolute revolution in world trade” comparable to the Ancient Silk Road trade route that connected China, India, Tibet, Persia and the Mediterranean countries for almost 3,000 years.

A new pattern of trade flows—a “Southern Silk Road” now connects Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Trade between China and south Asian countries has grown robustly, reaching US$80 billion in 2010. China’s trade with Africa has doubled every three years over the past 15, reaching US$150 billion in 2010, and is expected to double again by 2015. More than 50 percent of India’s trade is now intraAsian, compared with a combined 32 per cent with America and Europe. Since 2001, BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) has been synonymous with the global growth stars. Now trade across CHIME (China, India and the Middle East) and MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) are redefining global growth. “The Silk Road to Asia with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, growing trade flows with Latin America, Africa and Russia will see exponential growth in trade flows running individually with each corridor in excess of hundreds of billions of dollars by 2020”, says Anand Pande, head of product management global transaction services, AsiaPacific, at Royal Bank of Scotland. And many believe that another “I” will be added to the CHIME group in the not-too-distant future. With 240 million people, Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim nation. After more than a decade as an increasingly stable democracy, Indonesia is beginning to take its place as an important player along the new Southern Silk Road. The implications of this decoupling of developed and emerging economies are enormous. On the one side of the divide, massive deficits continue to drive the U.S. and some EU countries ever closer to national insolvency. If it takes hundreds of billions of dollars to bail out little Greece and Ireland, what will be the cost if a major economy defaults?

Gwyn Morgan CHINESE RENMINBI POISED TO BECOME WORLD’S RESERVE CURRENCY

Virtually every developed country has social programs that were already unsustainable before the great recession. Now these programs are driving national treasuries toward the edge of the abyss. As governments continue to print money, further erosion of currency values is inevitable, most notably in the case of the U.S. dollar, which has dropped almost 18 percent over the past year against a basket of international currencies. With annual deficits over $1.5 trillion, more than 40 cents for every dollar spent, how much longer can confidence continue in the greenback as the world’s reserve currency? Given these realities, how long will it be before trade settlements among Southern Silk Road trade countries move to the Chinese currency, the Renminbi? And how long will it be before the Renminbi rivals, and then surpasses, the greenback as the world’s reserve currency? And when the Chinese stop showing up at weekly auctions of U.S. Treasury Bills, the collapse of America’s precarious financial dominoes will shake the world. A new day is dawning where those who pay their own way will stop funding those who do not. As Westerners face the painful end of living beyond their means, billions of Asians are gaining new hope for the future. History will record that the 21st century marked the beginning of a new world order. √ Gwyn Morgan is the retired founding CEO of EnCana Corp. and a regular contributor to Troy Media.

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Dr. Lee Foote

Search for oil sands solutions

benefits from legacy of ALBERTA’S BOREAL SCIENTISTS

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here’s a lot of common ground shared between forest science and oil sands reclamation. Oil sands companies are benefiting from the knowledge gained by researchers like wetland ecologist Dr. Lee Foote who previously helped forest companies in their efforts to develop sustainable forest management practices. Dr. Kevin Devito is another scientist involved in this forestry-oil sands continuum. Dr. Devito is an eco-hydrologist and professor at the University of Alberta who joined several scientists and graduate students in presenting their research at the 2011 CONRAD symposium. CONRAD is the acronym for the Canadian Oil Sands Network of Research and

Development, an industry supported research consortium. For more than a decade, Dr. Devito has researched the unique hydrology of the boreal forest. His findings from experiments in the Utikima Lake region of northern Alberta have particular importance to the success of oil sands reclamation of boreal wetlands. For example, one of his landmark findings shows that in the boreal, water essentially “runs uphill”. Designing effective water flow is key to reclamation efforts. Dr. Devito describes the boreal region as dry, despite being covered with wetlands. It is quite different from other parts of Canada, he says, explaining there are various factors involved. “The hydrology is driven mostly by climate. It’s sub-humid. As well, the deep glacial deposits that we have here really increase storage. So storage of water is very important. Evapo-transpiration by the vegetation has a large control on the hydrology in this landscape. When you are looking at how water flows through this landscape, you need to understand where the storage is a lot less or a lot more. What we’re starting to realize now is that most forested areas will be a sink for water because of the high demand by vegetation in an area that’s sub-humid or in a deficit. Interestingly enough, what we’re finding out is that the wetlands or peatlands, because they can control the evapotranspiration from them, tend to be sources of water in this landscape.” When it comes to rebuilding the boreal landscape, Dr. Devito likens water to the

foundation of a house. Consideration of hydrology and how water flows comes first. One of the elements that will influence the outcome of reclamation is the use of material leftover from oil sands production. He says, “We look at natural analogs and try to tie it to what’s available there from the oil sands. They’re producing overburden material which is often marine shale, very fine grained materials which are similar in many ways in their storage properties in the hydrology to our moraine sites that are available in nature. Also, they have sand deposits and those are very similar to our coarse, glacial fluvial regions. So what we’ve done is look at moraine sites, fine grains, clay plains that are fine grained and also glacial fluvial sites that are sand or coarse grained, and looked at how water flows, how nutrients flow, and how wetlands and forest lands interact in those landscapes, and transfer this understanding at least to what the water flow would be on the oil sands.” Dr. Devito’s research is now focused on analyzing the vast amount of data collected over the last decade. He will use this to develop models that will guide industry in establishing good hydrology in the reclaimed areas. The collaboration between industry and researchers is paying dividends in many ways. Much of the CONRAD sponsored research is carried out by graduate students under the supervision of university researchers like Dr. Devito and Dr. Foote. Dr. Foote is a professor in the Department of Renewable Resources at the U of A and

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one of the principle investigators with CFRAW which is short for Carbon Dynamics, Food Web Structure and Reclamation Strategies in Athabasca Oil Sands Wetlands. He is quick to point out, not only are the graduate students expanding the knowledge base about northern ecology, they’re also changing the mindset at oil sands companies. “At least six of our graduates have gone on to work for industry now. With them they’ve brought cutting edge research abilities, the best educations. They’re really current. Oil sands companies have welcomed these folks and paid them handsome salaries because they are the new generation, the ‘young turks’ I call them, who are coming in with fresh ideas�. Dr. Foote goes on to say that oil sands companies have traditionally been run by engineering mindsets. “It’s moving big dirt with big equipment. And there’s a lot of engineering involved. But ecology is not quite as linear and direct quite often. Natural development of these wetlands requires that someone understands community dynamics of wetland plants, of animal communities. And these young folks who have moved in with these fresh graduate degrees are bringing that change in mindset to them.� As the CONRAD network exemplifies, the interaction with these graduates and researchers is also fostering a new culture of cooperation between oil sands companies. Now that’s something which benefits us all. √ CONRAD: http://www.conrad.ab.ca CFRAW; http://web2.uwindsor.ca/cfraw/

Dr. Jennifer Spratlin

Studies target better treatment

for pancreatic cancer

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ancer of the pancreas is one of the most difficult cancers to both diagnose and treat. Standard treatment uses a chemotherapy called gemcitabine. But the drug doesn’t always work. Dr. Jennifer Spratlin at the Cross Cancer Institute has received funding from Alberta Innovates Health Solutions and the Cancer Research Foundation to better target treatment for patients with pancreatic cancer. In the first study, she will look at patients who have undergone surgery on their cancer. As Dr. Spratlin explains, researchers have learned that the key to effective treatment is whether a patient has a genetic biomarker

called the hENT1 protein. “We’re testing for this protein called hENT1. If they have that protein, we expect that gemcitabine, the standard medicine, would work very well because it can get into cells. If they do not have the protein or there’s a low amount of protein, they would then get a different drug called 5FU. What we’re expecting to see is that by selecting patients out using this biomarker, we would be able to make people live longer because they are getting a chemotherapy that attacks the cancer specifically and personalizes the medicine for themselves.� In a second study, Dr. Spratlin will use the hENT1 biomarker to help determine treatments with fewer side effects to ease the final days of patients with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. √

PRODUCING BIODIESEL FROM CELLULOSE WASTE

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tudents at the University of Alberta believe they may have a better and cheaper way to produce biodiesel. For their entry into the 2011 International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition in Boston, they’ve turned their attention to a lowly fungus that grows on charred trees after a forest fire. According to fourth year biochemistry student Ray Odsen, the team will genetically enhance the natural ability of this fungus to digest cellulose. Continued on page 62 ‡ ([HFXWLYH $FFRPPRGDWLRQV ‡ /X[XULRXV *XHVW 5RRPV ZLWK /&' +' 79¡V ‡ :LUHOHVV ,QWHUQHW &RPSXWHU ‡ 0DVWHU (QVXLWH ZLWK 3ULYDWH -DFX]]L 6DXQD ‡ 3HUVRQ +RW 7XE RQ WKH 'HFN ‡ )XOO\ (TXLSSHG .LWFKHQ ‡ 'LQLQJ 5RRPV %UHDNIDVW 1RRN

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Continued from page 61 H explains, He expllaiins ““The Th organ The Th organism eats cellulose and it turns that into energy. But the base theory behind the project is that cellulose is carbon. So we want to turn the carbon from cellulose into fatty acids. Fatty acids like you might find in oil or butter, anything like that, anyt can be esterified through a chemical thro process to produce pro biodiesel. So we’re bio essentially trying to ess take tak the cellulose carbon, turn it into car fatty fat acids to turn that tha into biodiesel. And A it’s a relatively well w characterized n Ray Odse process.” pr Odsen says the genetically aaltered fungus could produce biodiesel from agricultural and pulp mill waste. And this will reduce the need to use food crops like corn. The U of A iGEM team will join students from the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge who are working on projects geared toward the bioremediation of oil sands tailings ponds for their entries to the iGEM competition in Boston this fall. The teams receive support from Alberta Innovates Technology Futures. √

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AITF Tackles

Nanocrystalline

Cellulose

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any of the products we use today are made from cellulose, including paper, film m and some coatings. Cellulose comes from trees and other her plants. Now scientists at Alberta Innovates Technology Futures aree setting up a pilot plant to produce the next step in cellulose technology, y, and that’s nanocrystalline cellulose.. AITF scientist Dr. Robert Jost says the project will look at how best to scale up production of the substance. He calls nanocrystalline cellulose an interesting material. “Nanocrystalline cellulose is unique in that it’s a particle Dr. Robert Jost of cellulose. It has properties that the larger cellulose fibre doesn’t have. It has properties that at a dissolved

cellulose derivative, or modified cellulose polymer doesn’t have as well. For example, nanocrystalline cellulose can form stable suspensions in water, and it can also form liquid crystalline suspensions or show liquid crystalline behavior, These are all properties that you don’t see with a cellulose fibre or a cellulose derivative that are commercially available today.” According to Dr. Jost, nanocrystalline cellulose can be produced from wood as well as agricultural leftovers like straw from flax and hemp. It can be shipped in a variety of forms including as a paste, a film or a pa powder. pow Funding for project also comes from the al National Institute Na for Nanotechnology and Western Diversification. √ Div

Cheryl Croucher hosts Chery Innovation Anthology Innov which is broadcast on CKUA Radio at 7:58 am 4:58 pm Tuesdays and and 4:5 Thursday. Or download Thursd podcasts at www. the podc innovationanthologyy.com innovati

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