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Experience, a successful grooming business… our Sylvie had been one of his clients, and our new dog Cue would have been. But, Dr. Ollie and I were stunned to learn that Hal had passed away suddenly. He was only 49.

In my July column, I referred to Hal as our “secret weapon” because he had put in a good word for us when we were negotiating with the breeder to acquire Cue. Over the years, we had become friends. Hal will be much missed.

Edmontonians February cover featured a close-

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(Peter) Triska calling from Vancouver—very excited.

Turns out Canada’s original teen idol, Canadian Music Hall of Famer and multi-gold records singer, Bobby Curtola, had wandered onto Wally’s used car lot looking for wheels.

At the height of his fame, Bobby was a popular fixture during Klondike Days and, one year, Wally was his driver in the parade. Not only did he buy a car, but Bobby came back with some friends and they bought a few more cars.

Thanks to Wally, I got in touch with Bobby.

He’s still singing—mostly Las Vegas, and sometimes New York. He’s living outside Halifax

haven’t seen her in years, but she’s one

the few local comedians/speakers who makes a living out of it. I’m referring to Zandra Bell aka Shirley Best. She does mostly corporate shows during the winter season then hits the festival circuit. It’s obvious she’s doing well—judging by the size of her dress. I doubt she’ll be insulted at the comment because it’s a “big” part of her act. When she was just starting out, my friend Laurie Peck was doing her bookings; Zandra would run her routines and speeches past us, Bell knows there’s nothing like insulting the boss and upper management to get the employees on your side and laughing.

Zandra just got back from Gay Paree—she has a BA in French language and literature.

She was getting pointers on designing clothing for opulent-sized ladies. The night we met at the latest Art of Conversation on the patio at Number One Thorton Court, she was wearing one of her designs—a step above the fashion statement made by Shirley Best as the “High Priestess of Polyester”.

If you want to hire someone funny or buy a gown, call 780.414.0411… or visit www.zandrabell.com.

Zandra/ Shirley

in a small town called Liverpool.

For those of you who don’t know—or don’t remember— Bobby had 25 gold singles (including Fortune Teller and Aladdin), 12 gold albums, and was the first Things go better with Coke guy. When he was still living here, he was inducted as member of the Order of Canada for his achievements and humanitarian efforts. His eight-volume CD set covers four decades of fame and you can bee-bop through rock ’n’ roll history with a visit to www.curtola.com.

Hot off the news ticker tape. Weber Motors Speaking of funny, I sure hope I can get a few laughs at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre on October 1st. The Canadian Progress Club, downtown group, has booked me to roast and toast Premier Steady Eddie Stelmach, and our pothole-plagued mayor, Stephen Mandel. At my advancing age, it’s hard to believe I’m a virgin at anything… but I blush to admit this will be my first time doing a roast. Much like my sex life, my performance will be either boring as hell or laughable. Two of the other roasters are Edmonton Oilers President Pat LaForge and newsman Bob Layton of CHED. Three more will be announced later. Call 780.481.3390 for tickets to the fundraiser.

was sold a few weeks ago. The purchasers are the Erickson Group and Glenn Woolsey. The deal is not quite done yet because the manufacturer has to approve it. Gerry Yuen and partner John Ramsey will now slip gently into oblivion. Well, not quite. Gerry’s staying on to soften the transition for customers and will probably get a demo to drive. After his two-year contact is over, he’ll be wellqualified for a greeter position at Wal-Mart—pushing carts instead of Mercedes.

It’ll be interesting to see if Grant Erickson actually shows up at the new dealership—he’s a renowned delegater.

up head shot and asked “What’s next for Eva?” Well, now we know. Recently, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, the federal minister of industry who is also responsible for the National Research Council of Canada, announced the appointment of Eva Mah Borsato as a member of the NRC. This is well-deserved recognition of her entrepreneurial and scientific achievements as founder of Envirocorp Ltd., cofounder of CardioMetabolics Inc., and her current endeavours as president and CEO of ICCI— Intellectual Capital Corporation Inc. As this issue goes to press—literally—Eva is being fêted by friends and fans at the home of Elexis Schloss.

Champagne corks are popping in Glenora.

The Sourdough Raft Race has been postponed because the launch site won’t be ready until August 12th.

Not good—it confuses the public. Not bad—it gives you more time to get into the race. The organizers are short of rafts so get busy. I’m sure this has absolutely nothing to do with the new Admiral, journalist Nick Lees.

Nick’s induction was a hoot—the premier showed up, the mayor dropped by, a few councilors and fans were on hand. He told the story about his meeting with the astronaut Buzz Aldrich at a celebrity ski deal at Sunshine Village about 10 years ago. “Meeting” is a bit of a stretch—they were standing beside each other at the urinals in a very crowded men’s room at the Banff Springs. Nick was trying not to sneak a peek. Then Buzz let go a very loud fart… the room went quiet and Nick asked, “Did you do that on the moon?” The astronaut made a quick exit amid the laughter.

Now go build a raft for Admiral Lees’ fleet.

If I don't mention the Heritage Festival at Hawrelak Park from August 4th through 6th—a record 63 pavilions, five brand new ones, 400 tasty dishes— Executive Director Jack Little will never speak to me again. As tempting as that may be, I'd miss his jokes. Grab a bunch of friends, catch a bus and I'll see you there. √

People go through life without making a large It’s a small, small world. A couple of weeks ago, the phone rang and it was my brother-in-law, Wally

ripple… but some make a lot of small ones. Hal Johnstone was one of those people. He owned Canine

Call Muggsy Forbes at 780.482.4545 or e-mail mforbes@edmontonians.com

EDMONTONIANS AUGUST 2007

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t’s August in Edmonton and it’s the time of

the year when we enjoy some of the best festivals and biggest events produced in the region.

Jack Little’s Heritage Festival… Cam Hayden and Carole Dean’s Blues Festival… Larry Werner and Glen Vinnette’s amazing Big Valley Jamboree country music festival in Camrose… and, of course, our tremendous Fringe Festival.

August is not usually the time of the year to talk about Christmas—but bear with me, please.

Radio is highly competitive in Edmonton, what with 23 signals broadcasting 24 hours a day. One of the oldest stations in town is Corus 630 CHED where my late father Jerry spent 28 years of his life.

In December 1954, the then 1080 CHED (it moved down the dial a few years later) started an annual Christmas program called Santa’s Anonymous. From it’s humble start of delivering a few hundred toys to under

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had the pleasure of hosting the 21st Annual Mayor’s Seniors’ Picnic this year—my

guess: 1000 seniors in attendance. Congratulations to Len Worrell and the committee for a fantastic event. Many ladies donned their best hats, reminiscent of the bygone Klondike Days. Mayor Stephen Mandel was in top form as he and his councilors handed out ice cream to the crowd.

I have to mention a couple of young performers. Reyna White Thunder performed a traditional hoop dance. She under Reyna White Th

Harris W ang

attends St. Elizabeth Seaton School and was recently awarded a Wahkotowin Society Award. Quite an accomplishment.

Jaws dropped after Harris Wang started to play. The 11 year old pianist played some classical pieces and was brought back twice for encores. Harris has performed for the Queen and appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. My favourite line of the morning was when Harris finished his second piece, a gentleman yelled out “Hey, Sonny, play an oldie but a goodie for us.”

I was invited to help raise some money for local charities at the Nunavut Day Canadian North Gala in early July. Held in Iqaluit, the Nunavut Commissioner’s Arts Awards were handed out to Thomas Iksiraq of Baker Lake and John Towtongie of Rankin Inlet. Each received $5000.

Commissioner Ann Meekitjuk Hanson reminded me of our late Lieutenant Governor Lois Hole—both loved by all for their warmth and spirit.

My father Fred joined me in Iqaluit via Portugal Cove, Newfoundland. We made our way to Pangurtung on Baffin Island for a few days of exploring. Then, we took a boat into Auyuittuq National Park for some hiking.

Dad loves the North and the West. He came to Canada from Europe in the late 50s and found himself in the Yukon, NWT, BC and Alberta, running the roads as a Fuller Brush man. He’s been coming to Edmonton of late for Grey Cups, Oilers playoff games and to visit me, but he remembers being in Edmonton in 1956. He didn’t have the

privileged children in Edmonton, Santa’s now provides over 23,000 gifts and toys to kids.

In June, I was deeply honoured to be invited by CHED’s VP/GM Doug Rutherford to be part of Santa’s Anonymous by participating as a sponsor. Doug and I have worked competitively for almost 25 years, both in Vancouver and in Edmonton. The Forbes and Rutherford lives have been somehow intertwined in radio over the past 50 years as Doug’s late father Walt ran CJCA while my dad was running CHED. Brother Gerry worked with Doug’s brother Dave at CHQR in Calgary a few years back.

At my first meeting of Santa’s, I learned Chelsea Draegar had joined the project as well. She is a former Corus employee (and brand new mom) who is also linked to Santa’s because her late father—my good friend—Gary, was the Head Elf for many years. I went to high school with Chelsea’s mom Dawn, and her grandfather was one of the original CHED employees… so six degrees of separation has been part of all our lives since birth.

Gary passed away about two years ago, and Debbie Walker now heads up this great organization. The Board and volunteer list includes some well known and venerable citizens. Leslie Primeau and Syd Smith air on CHED. Daryl Hooke has been a creative genius at the station since the early 1970s. Dave Fowler will celebrate 50 years involvement next year. Wendy Batty, from the Christmas Bureau, is another tireless worker for the cause.

There are countless other people who contribute to make Santa’s Anonymous a success, and many civic minded money to buy a beer but he Fred & Mark Sc cobbled his quarters into a holz train ticket. Dad left from the old train station for Terrace, BC, then went on to the boom town of Kitimat, hunting for work at the aluminium smelter. “If I didn’t take that train to BC, I would probably be a long time resident of Edmonton.”

Experiencing Pangurtung together was a once in a lifetime chance—well worth the effort and cost. “Any chance you can get to the Arctic, you should grab it. It is good for the soul,” Dad says.

A tip of a hat to Nick Lees of the Edmonton Journal on being named the 2007 Admiral of the Sourdough Fleet. He joins the likes of Stan Hampton, Harry Hole, Ivor Dent, the late Bud Damur, Bill Comrie and Lyle Best. Nick has raised literally millions of dollars for various charities. He has run/swum/cycled uncountable kilometres, organized piles of events, hoisted a few glasses of wine and twisted every arm in the city to get those dollars raised.

I have been very fortunate to be a partner in crime for some of his efforts. Nick, Stephen Antle, CISN’s Bruce Bowie and I formed The Doughboys who put over $250,000 in the Salvation Army coffers in three years.

His Admiral title is but one of many awards given to Nick, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the City’s Award of Excellence for Sport Volunteering. He’s been recognized by Grant MacEwan College with an Outstanding Citizen award and honorary diploma, and by the Professional Society of Fundraisers with one of its annual philanthropy awards.

Nick’s latest idea is “…cycling a Haida Totem pole from the Queen Charlotte Islands to Mile 0 of the Yellowhead to Edmonton—1650km—aiding the Kids with Cancer Society.”

I am honoured to call Nick Lees a friend and look forward to being a part of his future brainstorms.

Quite a night. Racing great Mario Andretti, Champ Car drivers Justine Wilson, Alex Tagliani, and Atlantic driver Mike Forest from Edmonton were all in Hall D at the Shaw Conference Centre. Michelle Wright provided music while Jennifer Martin of theenergynews.com and CISN’s Bruce Bowie hosted the event. I got called up to help with the auction as a celebrity spotter. Funds raised at the Rexall Grand Prix Gala go to the School Lunch Program.

The champion bidder of the night was Dr. Brent Saik. You know Brent from his Alberta Sports Vision Institute… his pro soccer club, the Edmonton Drillers… as the organizer of the world’s longest hockey game… or the optometrist for the Oilers and Eskimos. He successfully bid on a pace car ride with Andretti before the final Champ Car race, plus a private skate with Oilers Raffi Torres and Jarrett Stoll.

“I can’t wait to tell Mario that I have a race car license,” gushed a delighted Brent.

After his pace car ride and he told me that Mario had advised him to keep his arm in the car and hold on. “It was a rush and definitely worth it for the cause. Mario is an

clients donate their time and effort. For example, a few years ago when a facility was needed to house the toys, Pat Priestner and the people at Crosstown Motors stepped up and donated a building just off the Yellowhead.

But why are we talking about Christmas in August?

Simply because Santa’s Anonymous works all year long to make sure that the program runs efficiently in December.

I can vividly remember my father saying “Wouldn’t it be nice if every child had a gift at Christmas… not a handme-down or a patched up toy, but a brand new toy.”

Every year, when I watch the thousands of kids and their parents standing in frigid weather waiting to pick up their green garbage bag full of toys to deliver to the recipients, I well up with pride realizing that something that Dad started in the mid-1950s continues.

Driving through the Falconer Heights area of Riverbend, you will see several streets named after my father in honour of the work he did. As well, you can hear his voice each Christmas on CHED in a piece called A Creature was Stirring. It’s been aired since the late 1960s, which certainly must be some sort of a Canadian radio record.

There are special events throughout the year: Call Debbie Walker at 630 CHED at 780 440 6300, www.630ched.com. And check out the tribute site I built for Dad at www.santasanonymous.com. √ Marty Forbes is VP and general manager of The Bear, EZRock and The TEAM 1260 Sports Radio. Contact marty@edmontonians.com unreal driver—every corner, just when I thought we were going out of control, Mario worked the car like it was on a rail.”

I got an e-mail out of the blue from former AChannel favourite Dawn Chubai. It was nice to catchup with a former colleague. Dawn is the weather host for the morning show on Citytv— soon to be Rogers—in Vancouver these days. The Edmonton native says she loves it there, and keeps busy singing and acting. She’s coming home next month to perform at the Four Rooms.

Dawn will be accompanied by Wes Yasiek on guitar, Sandro bai u h C n w Dominelli on drums and Bruce Da Mohacsy on keys. You can catch her gig on September 15th.

Jody Colford of Birdie Golf 4 Women wants me to put out the word on a women’s golf clinic, hosted by Sandra Post, a 38-year member of the LPGA. She competed on the tour from 1968 to 1984 and won eight times—including a major and the Dinah Shore tournaments back to back in ’78. Besides teaching, Sandra is a golf commentator for TSN. Birdie Golf 4 Women is a manufacturer of very spiffy golf clothing. Get your free passes to the August 16th clinic by contacting JodyColford@BirdieGolf4women.com

I had a chat with Edmonton Film Commissioner Patti Tucker to get an update on the Brad Pitt film shot, in part, at Fort Edmonton Park in 2005. The $30-million flick was originally scheduled for release last fall, and touted as Oscar-worthy.

Patti tells me the she hopes the Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford will be in Edmonton theatres in September but no date has been set.

Googling indicates the date in the U.S. will be Friday, September 21st.

According to the IMDb web site, the film will be released in Spain, on October 5th. Hmmm.

Delays usually indicate problems… so does a year later mean bigger problems?

Pitt party? It is not likely that Edmonton will host a premiere.

“It depends on the producers and actors schedules. It is tough to coordinate,” says Tucker. What?... not even a party in the Park?

A review of the film I found on Filmjerk.com, written by Edward Havens, states, “…likely be atop my personal list of The Best Films of the Year when it is released.” √ Mark Scholz, owner of MES Communications Inc. offers a variety of services including production, creative and entertainment. For more information or to suggest a story idea, email mscholz@edmontonians.com

EDMONTONIANS AUGUST 2007

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CELEBRATING

Poll

18 STATION YEARS

With Linda Banister

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ajor junior hockey is returning to Edmonton. After leaving the city for more than 30 years, the Oil Kings will call this their home for the 2007-2008 season. The Oil Kings were founded in Edmonton in 1950, but then moved to Portland and became the Winterhawks in 1976. Now, the Edmonton Investors Group—owners and operators of the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL, and the owners of the legally registered name “Oil Kings Major Junior Hockey Club” in Canada—purchased an expansion franchise from the Western Hockey League in time for a re-launch this fall. The Oil Kings will now skate at Rexall Place and feature future star players of the NHL. In this month’s Poll Station, we asked people about their likelihood of attending Oil Kings games and their expectations for a game experience. pair of tickets, followed by 19 percent who would buy four and 11 percent who would get three tickets. Five percent would purchase a single game ticket, and another five percent would buy five or more tickets to an Oil Kings game.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE OIL KINGS AND WILL YOU ATTEND THEIR GAMES?

Vol. XVIII

AUGUST 2007

No. 8

SHARON MacLEAN Publisher and Advertising Director Telephone: 780.482.7000 Fax: 780.488.9317 e-mail: info@edmontonians.com edmontonians.com

INSIDE VOX POP Muggsy Forbes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Marty Forbes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Mark Scholz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 POLL STATION Oil Kings/Banister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 LEADERSHIP Intuition/Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 EDMONTONIAN IN EXILE Humanity found/Edmondson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

53%

MY E-SPACE Block to Shop/Rayner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

68% 23% 15% Said they were familiar with the Oil Kings hockey team.

Said they were very likely to attend an Oil Kings Game this season.

Percentage

Percentage

WHAT OTHER EVENTS DO YOU ATTEND?

FOUNDER DICK MacLEAN

FEATURE Duff’s re-Design/Lauber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-9 THE TRANSFORMERS Swish/Hanlen, Brost, Bradshaw, Ohlhauser . . . .10-11

To begin, we asked how familiar respondents were with the Edmonton Oil Kings. More than half (53 percent) indicated they were familiar with the junior hockey team—12 percent were very familiar and 41 percent somewhat familiar.

Respondents were asked how likely they would be to attend one or more Edmonton Oil Kings games, which would provide the opportunity to watch the next generation of NHL stars. Close to 40 percent said they would be likely to attend a game—15 percent were very likely and 23 percent somewhat likely to attend.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS? Respondents aware of the Oil Kings were asked what they would expect from a game experience. Good hockey or a good performance was the most frequent response, named by nearly half (47 percent) of respondents. One-quarter imagined they would enjoy the experience, that it would be fun and exciting. Some also believed that they would get a good value for their money (nine percent), that games would have a family-oriented atmosphere (nine percent), and that they would watch fast-paced hockey (eight percent).

HOW MANY TICKETS WILL YOU BUY? Respondents were asked how many tickets they would buy if they were to attend an Oil Kings game in the 2007-2008 season. Fifty-eight percent indicated they would purchase a

MAKING MONEY Trade deficits/Hiebert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

25%

Said they were somewhat likely to attend an Oil Kings Game this season.

12%

Said they attend various sporting events like football, hockey, baseball & lacrosse.

Said they attend concerts or musical productions.

Said they attend various festivals around the city.

11% Said they attend the opera.

7% Said they attend plays or theatre events

Finally, respondents were asked what other sporting or entertainment events they attend. Most indicated they attended concerts or musical productions (25 percent), followed by a variety of sporting events: football (22 percent), hockey (21 percent), baseball (17 percent), and soccer (12 percent).

Festivals, including the Fringe, Street Performers, and the Folk Festival were also attended by 11 percent of respondents, as were the opera (eight percent), lacrosse games (seven percent), and plays or theatre events (five percent).

The Poll Station surveyed 100 City of Edmonton residents on the topic and, while the results of the research are not statistically reliable, they do provide a qualitative indication of what Edmontonians are thinking.

Linda Banister is a certified management consultant and the owner of Banister Research and Consulting Inc., a full service provider of market research and program evaluation services.

Want a question included in the Edmontonians Poll? Contact Linda at 780.451.4444 or e-mail at lbanister@edmontonians.com.

Visit www.banister.ab.ca.

BIZINTEL Civic Buzz/Norwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Media Minute/Hogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 BizIT/Michetti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 LIVELY LIFESTYLES MenuMagic/Berry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Absolute Bodo/Bodo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 BARB DETERS Editor

editor@edmontonians.com COLUMNISTS Linda Banister John Berry Linda Bodo Tom Bradshaw Les Brost Janet Edmondson Marty Forbes Muggsy Forbes Steffany Hanlen Ron Hiebert Bruce Hogle Greg Michetti David Norwood Larry Ohlhauser Erin Rayner Mark Scholz Nizar J. Somji FEATURE WRITERS Barb Deters Don Hill Rick Lauber PHOTOGRAPHERS Terry Bourque Janis Dow Barb Deters GRAPHIC PRODUCTION Rage Studios Inc. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Michetti Information Solutions Inc.

THIS MONTH’S COVER

The Block to Shop Gals: Clockwise from the top: Jennifer Grimm, Shoena Strudwick, Janine Dahn, Trina Pozzolo, Glenda Polak, Kristina Simpson and Kristi Sainchuk.

Photo by Terry Bourque Photography Published by 399620 Alberta Ltd. on the first day of each month at 333, 10240 - 124 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5N 3W6. ©All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

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EDMONTONIANS AUGUST 2007

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Old dogs... new tricks?

It is possible.

By Don Hill

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f you have ever pondered what goes on in the mind of a leader, it will be a comfort to learn modern neuroscience also finds this brainteaser of considerable interest.

Neuroscience is the study of how humans think. A generation ago, serious enquiry about the ‘c’ word—consciousness—was thought to be career suicide, and consequently remained off-limits to scientists as taboo research.

“You couldn’t say the word,” recalled Stuart Kaufman, director of the University of Calgary’s Institute for Biocomplexity and Informatics. “We didn’t understand consciousness at all,” because there was no scientific way to accurately measure and account for the human central nervous system, let alone the ‘mind’.

Famous for his ideas about Chaos Theory, Dr. Kaufman invested the early going of his scientific career into the philosophy of mind.

“My major contribution to the field amounts to a couple of tee-shirt slogans,” he laughed.

“Consciousness: think of it,” that’s one, and the other, “Consciousness: it blows my mind.”

The study of consciousness certainly has befuddled scientists. At the beginning of this decade, I spent an afternoon, one-on-one, with Marvin Minsky, a founder of Artificial Intelligence who complained, “I’m not even sure if consciousness is a noun.” However, neuroscience’s thinking about human cognition has advanced considerably since The Decade of the Brain was launched in the 1990s by President Bush—George the First.

CAT scans and fMRI’s (functional magnetic resonance imaging machines) and other devices take snapshots of the human brain and the central nervous system. They measure what is going on in the muck and guck of our thinking. And with each and every scientific discovery, a fresh picture of how humans perceive the world is emerging.

“Neuroscience essentially says we have unlimited potential and possibilities,” said Bastiaan Heemsbergen, author of The Leader’s Brain, and a psychologist on core faculty with Leadership Development at the Banff Centre. “The biggest discovery in the last 10 years has been neuroplasticity,” which confounds the notion that the human brain is hard-wired or fixed at adulthood. “You can teach old dogs new tricks,” declared Dr. Heemsbergen with a grin that betrayed his middle-age.

ELECTRONIC THINKING CAPS Extraordinary tools for stimulating the creative

Edmontonian IN EXILE

By Janet Edmondson in Calgary

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wen and I have lived in Calgary over a year now. Some of you might remember my first column in September 2006 when I recounted meeting a fellow in the coffee shop line-up. On hearing we had just moved to town that day, he cautioned us not to “lose our humanity”.

Not only do we feel that we are still pretty decent folk, but we have found many examples of “humanity” right here in the Stampede city.

Here’s one of the best. A young mom employed at the car wash I frequent was having trouble getting to work on time. She had to take two busses to get her baby daycare, then another to Bubbles. But, bosses Andrew and Tracey Bitcon didn’t fire her. They

mind are just beginning to make their way out of the lab. It is now possible to put on an electronic ‘thinking cap’—a piece of high-tech gear called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation—which sharpens cognition and shapes our ability to think better. Abbreviated as rTMS, the technology pulses electromagnetic fields around the outside of the human skull. Truth to tell: I’ve been part of a team of researchers at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, who have experimented with rTMS devices over the past 10 years.

I also can tell you that DARPA (the advanced research projects agency of the United States military) is also experimenting with electronic stimulation and other sophisticated contraptions to enhance human cognition and so-called ‘situational awareness’.

All of this cutting-edge research has implications for 21st Century leaders of every sort who are required to make crucial decisions in a very short timeframe, compounded by a fog of inconclusive and overabundant data.

“When you have massive amounts of information, it is just beyond the informationprocessing capacity of the brain,” said Michael Persinger, an internationally-recognized pioneer of rTMS and the director of Laurentian University’s Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory. “You have to look for patterns.”

Artists, for instance, tend to be good at pattern recognition, the ability to pick out weak signals in the environment and bundle them in such a way as to make sense of seemingly unrelated or confusing pieces of information.

Experiments with rTMS in Dr. Persinger’s laboratory, which imitate the ‘subtle energies’ found in nature, have had a demonstrable affect on human perception and, overall, there is an increased level of awareness; it stimulates pattern recognition. This research was affirmed a few years ago when I was a guest at the Australian National University’s Centre for the Mind, under the direction of Allan Snyder, a recent winner of the prestigious Marconi Prize.

After being roused with rTMS, some of Dr. Snyder’s human subjects exhibited uncanny savant-like abilities. Although extraordinary mental prowess tends to linger for only a brief time, the application of rTMS might make all the difference in a crisis or even perhaps a Stanley Cup winning goal.

FUTURE SAVVY Have you ever made an intuitive leap? Went forward with a business decision in spite of the specifics because it felt right, only to find out suggested she come straight to work with the baby, and one of them would drive the child to daycare. That’s the kind of flexibility and support they offer their employees.

The Bitcons left lucrative careers just over a year ago—Andrew was a consultant and Tracey a figure skating coach—to start a business that would allow them the opportunity of employing and mentoring people having difficulties finding and keeping jobs: young, single mothers, immigrants, and people living with mental or physical challenges. Andrew and Tracy bought an old carwash on McLeod Trail, hired most of the previous business’s employees as labourers to renovate it in six weeks, and opened the first Bubbles Car Wash in Calgary.

The couple schedules employees hours around their school and daycare hours. They help them learn job and life skills, meeting them where they are and offering gentle guidance to the next step. They work with volunteer operations and agencies to provide continuity of support to the people they help.

And they genuinely like and appreciate the people who work for them.

I’ve spoken to a couple of young women

much later that it was indeed the right choice?

So how did you know what to do?

Cold hard facts are what dominate left-brain thinking. And it is the right hemisphere that is said to be the creative side of the human brain—this is where innovation lives.

“Intuition is a right brain activity,” Heemsbergen said, citing the research of Daniel Pink, who argues that “what we desperately require in this economy is a right brain focus. Intuition is a key critical skill.”

Reflecting on the function and creative possibilities for the right side of the brain, Persinger is reminded of “one of my old colleagues, William Roll, who once said the reason that psi phenomena—that is telepathy, clairvoyance, the kinds of things that people don’t like to talk about—the reason it is not studied by major industries and business is because that is how the really good business people work.”

That’s their edge, he continued. “They’re able to extract more information from the immediate environment” and perhaps beyond by a means which currently cannot be accounted for scientifically. “They may call it ‘intuition’ or good business sense or a hunch.

But the point is some people have special capabilities that allow them access to what is going to happen in time. And those insights are utilized to make money.”

The immediate future for Persinger and other neuroscientists investigating the affects of rTMS on the human central nervous system points toward a technology that extends the reach of ordinary perception. While it reads like the stuff of science-fiction, the scientific facts suggest “the average person in the next 30 or 40 years will have the insights of today’s exceptional business man.” And that implies tomorrow’s business person “to stay ahead, must be even more advanced, which means he will be dependent upon a whole new technology that will give him that cutting edge.” √ Don Hill is a ‘thought leader’ at the Leadership Lab and Leadership Development at the Banff Centre. He is also an awardwinning writer and broadcaster with a large footprint on the Internet. Listen to his radio series Inspiring Leadership, a 20-part documentary on contemporary leadership and the challenge of leading in the 21st Century every Saturday morning at 8 AM on the CKUA Radio Network.

For more details visit: www.ckua.com and www.appropriate-entertainment.com employed at Bubbles. When “Pam” was taking baking and pastry arts at SAIT, Andrew and Tracey gave her a job, and sold her cookies and banana bread at the carwash. They helped Pam calculate reasonable prices for her baked goods, to cover the cost of ingredients and her time, and then sold them to appreciative customers, taking no profit for themselves.

Pam is saving the income from that venture to help her buy her first home. Sandi works there now, and assures me “…it’s the best place to work!” She says the Bitcons make her feel like she is a part of the company. She is impressed with how hard the couple works and how respectfully they treat all their employees.

That’s what it’s all about: Giving people a chance—sometimes several chances—to get some work experience in a supportive, accepting environment. I’ve always thought Edmonton excelled in this area. It’s gratifying to see that Calgary business has a similar focus. √ jedmondson@edmontonians.com

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Photos by Terry Bourque

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my space Street Smart

For Young Entreprenuers

group to help propel each other and our businesses to the next level.”

One of their initiatives was the Block to Shop’s first post card campaign. Participating stores handed out the cards to their customers and area restaurants included them in their bill folds.

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ollaborative marketing. It almost sounds like an oxymoron. Isn’t marketing about competing for market share? Doesn’t it defeat the purpose… what do you mean you want to share my hardfought-for market, hard-earned share and exposure?

Won’t it erode my own message? Edmonton’s 124th Street has a group of business owners that have put these questions to rest in favour of a collaborative spin on marketing their area between Jasper and 102 Avenues as the “Block to Shop.”

Jennifer Grimm is owner LUX Beauty Boutique which she describes as an “apothecary filled with the hot, hard-to-find beauty brands loved by celebrities and product junkies.” Her specialty shop has been on 124th Street for eight years and she has always made it a priority to work with her neighbours to encourage shoppers to visit the area. She has an interesting take on marketing: “I firmly believe, the better my neighbours do, the better I do.”

With Jennifer’s encouragement, some of the area retail businesses got together 18 months ago. Each contributed to a collective budget and meet regularly to plan events. In addition to LUX, the Block to Shop is comprised of Ginger Apparel, KAJ clothing, Caprice in Glenora, Pandora, Yo Momma Maternity Wear and TK clothing.

Occasional members include Pad Thai restaurant and McEleran’s Fine Furniture. The various owners of the core Block group are predominantly “inspiring, go-getter” women in their 20s to 40s, each with similar yet slightly different clientele. “This particular group of business owners is very supportive and interested in building a cohesive

Clockwise from top right: Jennifer Grimm of Lux; Trina Pozzolo, Pandora; Shoena Strudwick, Yo Mamma; Glenda Polak, Caprice; Kristi Sainchuk, Ginger; Janine Dahn and Kristina Simpson, KAJ. Missing: Tamara Baltzen, TK Clothing.

How did Jennifer get the restaurants to join in with the co-operative effort? “I just asked.”

The 2006 winter shopping season inspired the 124th Street Block to Shop Passport, a card that served as the customer’s passport to discounts at the participating stores—a great way to increase traffic to a very specific, outdoor shopping destination in the cold winter months and to capitalize on the Christmas retail market.

Since the stores are almost all fashion focused, the Block

By Erin Rayner

to Shop has also combined to increase their visibility at various fashion shows in the city. They even host their own event with help from McElheran’s at which each business showcases its strengths—be it trendy exclusive make-up, funky fashions for men and women, or chic clothes for expectant mothers and their babies.

Charity auctions throughout Edmonton have also benefited from this collaboration. Instead of Grimm submitting a relatively small beauty basket—although, we all know size is not an indicator of value—or a gift certificate, the stores provide a fashion package. Together, they are able to draw more attention to their donations and their block shopping party by combining their efforts—to their benefit and the benefit of the charity event.

As with any new initiative though, there is still a learning curve. When I asked Grimm what she thought the group’s biggest lesson was, she mentioned that giving the concept structure took some time. Actually setting up the budget, clarifying roles and working together was tough. With any group project, there is a need to keep the roles and contributions clear and the results measurable. However, as they move forward, they will also have to be flexible. Essentially, although they each have their own businesses to be concerned about, they have also started to develop another brand. This new Block to Shop may come to require the same focus and nurturing as their individual business brands do. They may want to consider building a website for the Block to Shop and using it as the focus point linked to each individual site. The possibilities are endless, and I hope this group of collaborative entrepreneurs continues building the structure… while maintaining flexibility and individuality.

Erin Rayner is president of ED Marketing and Communications Inc. You can submit marketing materials for review; suggest young entrepreneurs to be profiled; nominate a Top Three; or ask a business developement question. Contact erayner@edmontonians.com Visit www.edmontonians.com for Erin’s Top Three Tips on Curb Appeal, provided by Jennifer Grimm.

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DUFF’S reDesign The Design Group group: Howard Ho, director of IT; Mike Duff, president & CEO; David Shea, VP & general manager; and Damen Ng, CFO Photos by Terry Bourque

By Rick Lauber

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lthough he had to initially find Edmonton in an atlas, Mike Duff couldn’t be happier to call our city home.

Duff, president and CEO of Design Group Staffing Inc., never expected to land in Edmonton nor lead a thriving company in Alberta’s capital city. Born in Sydney, Australia, Duff attended post-secondary studies. “I graduated from technical school. I was a plumber and electronic engineer and set out from Australia on a one-year working holiday,” he explains.

Landing on Canadian soil, Duff “worked through a [Toronto] staffing agency; I had the opportunity for a job in Edmonton at Stelco or one at Detroit Edison in Detroit.” The latter held no appeal so Duff relocated here. A three-month assignment stretched to two years.

Next, Duff moved on to Canadian Bechtel, a large worldwide engineering, construction and consulting firm. It was here that Duff was regularly approached by his manager for his opinions on other staff members. “My boss often would ask me what I thought somebody could do with their capabilities, or who we could get to do a certain task or project. I knew most of the people in the organization and more and more people were asking me for advice on who could do what and how, so I thought that’s kind of cool… Maybe I should do that.”

Sensing a lack of further opportunity with Canadian Bechtel, Duff left to pursue his entrepreneurial—yet very green—spirit. “When I started in business, I knew really nothing and very little about resources,” he laughs. “My first mentor was my insurance salesman who basically told me how he was trained: Make 20 phone calls a day and get five appointments.” That mentor also observed that Duff looked young and might not be taken seriously by potential clients. Duff “grew a moustache to look older.”

His dream of opening an employment placement service was realized in 1976. “The company was founded in Edmonton and we have [since] had 30 consecutive years of double-digit growth.” Design Group Staffing matches employees and employers with temporary and permanent job placements “in the areas of engineering, construction, information technology, accounting and office support.” Such placements—lasting from one day to several months—benefit worker and employer. At no cost to them, new candidates are assisted with résumé preparation, coached, screened and then referred to potential employers. Business-owners, in turn, save time, effort and money by acquiring the placement company’s expertise for a fee.

Serving two markets was a simple decision.

“You can’t have a coin without two sides of the coin,” states Duff. Companies like contract workers to “provide flexibility for their workforce… to provide skills that they may not need permanently… to augment their workforce through changing workload times… to provide security to their permanent, core staff.” Shelley Trenouth, Design Group’s chief talent officer, adds that using a placement service is highly practical, “It’s a very efficient use of their time. They can then concentrate on what their core business is… and we’re very good at what we do and let them do what they’re very good at.”

It’s been a recipe for success. Within three decades, Design Group Staffing Inc. has grown nationally—24 branches in 16 Canadian cities.

“We employ over 350 staff and a workforce of over 3400 people,” Duff proudly declares.

Edmonton boasts close to 80 head office staff.

Its list of major clients includes Petro-Canada, Colt Engineering, Syncrude and TransAlta—“...the kinda Who’s Who of the oil and gas refining industry and also the large engineering firms,” according to Duff—plus CIBC and American Express. Annual revenues last year surpassed a whopping quarter of a billion dollars.

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Continued from page 7 With Design Groups outgrowing its space in Commerce Place and facing escalating commercial rents, Duff considered his options. Who would know that he wouldn’t have to look far? In viewing the old Hop’s Handbag building at 10012 – Jasper Avenue, Duff liked what he saw.

The property, much like Design Group Staffing Inc, is also steeped in history. The structure, built in 1912 as Tower Mortgage, served as corporate office for Canadian Pacific Railways for many decades. It was purchased by a Hong Kong investor in 1994. Complete demolition plans hit a brick wall with City Council: The building’s face has historical designation. So, the investor kept the front and rebuilt the back. The ensuing tenant, Hop’s Handbags, failed to profit after three years and closed. The building—eventually sold to Marlow Properties Inc., owned by Edmonton realtor Larry Woodley of AE LePage—sat empty until January, 2005 when Scope Communications took one-third of the space.

That mostly vacant hole on Jasper Avenue has recently been filled. Duff purchased a 50 percent share in the property from Woodley. Another tenant—a spa— will be opening within the next couple of months. All three occupants have visible Jasper Avenue frontage, much to the delight of city councilors, neighbouring business-owners and the Downtown Business Association.

Duff turned to Gregory McClung Architects to transform the former retail space into office space.

While there were some sleepless nights for McClung and his crew, the 11-month project was made easier than one would expect. The architect explains, “That’s a brand-new steel and concrete building behind that beautiful front façade you see… We gutted the building out on the main and second floors and provided a whole new interior space for the tenant.” Using glass and metal sheets, McClung created a bright and open work area. “It’s extremely contemporary… a contradiction and opposition to what’s on the outside.”

The newly-designed space includes an air-conditioned computer server room, a staff library, a café, a

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centralized walk-through photocopying centre and a completely glassed-in meeting room.

In remembering the building’s past, the central staircase was retained. This is stunning architecture— reminiscent of glorious films of yesteryear when Ginger Rogers would gracefully descend similar ballroom steps to dance with Fred Astaire. Carpeting was stripped away to reveal the shining original hardwood below. And directly above this staircase stretches a newly-installed, state-of-the-art, 28-foot by 28-foot skylight. Pemco Construction Ltd. turned McClung’s blueprints into reality.

Project manager, Manuel Ibasco, explains the systematic approach, “The first phase involved the interior demolition… number two, we had to construct the interior renovations to the existing building, the new offices. The exterior was phase three, which involved the upgrade and enclosing of rear garage space… we installed seven exterior windows and moved the existing sliding door [on the front façade] and installed storefront windows. Of course, the biggest one was the installation of the pyramid skylight.”

Incredibly, the skylight was lowered into place during the winter months, requiring constant interior temperature adjustments. A secondary issue was the placement of the crane—finally located in the rear alley. The end result gets an appreciative nod from Duff. “I think our architect is credited for the building.

He had a lot of vision and artistic ability. He did an outstanding job for us as did Pemco and interior designer, Candy McKay of Go Design Group”.

DUFF’S RULES OF RETENTION And what lies ahead for Duff? A combination of both work and play. Once the dust settles, Duff plans a grand opening.

“We’ll invite the mayor. We’ll have a pretty good shindig… a little music combo… some sushi and some hors d’oeuvres.” He will continue to focus on his own corporate growth through business acquisitions, well underway with the recent purchase of Aimco Labor Lease Inc., a staffing company based out of Oakville, Ontario. “We’ll probably expand the office services area of our business and also the engineering area in Eastern Canada.“

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Plus, Duff plans to learn and teach others about employee retention; keeping good staff is a widespread problem. “I think it’s on everyone’s mind. …Stats Canada just released that we’ve had, in Canada, five consecutive months of the lowest unemployment in 33 years… 6.1 percent. So the demand is there. The pie isn’t getting any bigger so people need to be more aggressive—the market is tough and people are aggressively recruiting people out there so therefore retention is tougher”.

But why do employees leave their positions? The answer might surprise you. “We believe that people leave their jobs

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mporary twist

storic façade

primarily because of management… salaries are approximately number five on the list.” Duff’s advice? Be proactive rather than reactive and follow his example of “attracting top managers, training and developing a management group.”

Other keys are to communicate with staff, provide a positive work environment and recognize those who succeed within the corporation. A large whiteboard noting sales targets desired and reached by Duff’s sales team is conspicuous on one wall. “We’re implementing an employee committee to give the employees a say in how

things affect them. We survey our employees every year as we do our clients and implement their suggestions. We strive to provide a work experience that enhances a person’s sense of pride in what it is that they do… we recognize people with commissions and bonuses but we also recognize them at an awards banquet every year where we have our best of the best awards” Direction and feedback (whether verbal or written) are also critical; “… employees must know where the company is going, where they’re fitting in and how they’re fitting in with a business. It boils down to respect… respect for everyone, from the janitor to the vice-president.”

These leadership philosophies are paying off. Since 1999, Design Group Staffing Inc. has been consistently named as one of Canada’s Top 50 BestManaged Companies. “I think the award is something that we’re very proud of… it really is a reflection of the staff in the organization,” smiles Duff.

Employee satisfaction and retention along with revenue growth, by return on sales or profitability, and customer satisfaction all equate to business success.

The busy CEO also plans to continue “dabbling” in diverse business interests. Duff also owns two local car dealerships, Subaru City Mike and daug hter and Rally Subaru, as well Jaclyn at ho me as the Ducor Development Group, which constructs and converts luxury apartment buildings for resale. He sold the the Devonian Hyundai dealership earlier this year.

Duff will also certainly continue to enjoy the fruits of his labours, most notably his 40-acre ranch located in south Edmonton where the family has lived for the past 20 years. They share the spread with two horses, a pony

and a donkey that’s in love with one of three llamas—it’s true. At home, Duff often works from his kitchen table and rarely strays far without his cell phone. On the morning of our interview, the doting father reminds daughter Jaclyn of the dangers of wearing open-toed sandals when handling the horses.

The property will remain home for years to come as Duff and his wife Sharon anticipate moving into their new, sprawling 10,000 square foot house. The threeyear project includes enviable amenities, a home office (finally), a theatre room and a walk-out basement. The wine cellar—a room, really—could be a busy place if the family is settled in time for Christmas.

Now 61, one might think that Duff would be hanging up his hat soon. No so. “Years ago, I

started to do something I loved and since that time I’ve been retired. I’m not looking to go anywhere soon—unfortunately for some of the other people in the organization who’ve got their eye on my corner office!” He grins. √

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Sheryl Asp and Irfan Qureshi Photo by Terry Bourque

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hen Sheryl Asp met Irfan Qureshi almost four years ago, she found the courage to follow a dream. With his encouragement and support, she started Swish Flowers in an 866-square foot store in Terwilligar Square.

Sheryl brought a strong background in flower arranging to her new enterprise, financed on a bootstrap. Her days are devoted to filling orders for her loyal clientele. Fiancé Irfan works as an IT consultant for two large steel companies, and teaches technology part-time at Scona High.

Irfan joins Sheryl at the store after 5 pm most days, and together they work long into the night.

On the Seventh Day they do laundry.

They are doing quite well financially. Swish Flowers has enjoyed 30 to 40 percent growth year over year since they started. The store enjoys a discerning customer base that receives good value. Sheryl has a special touch with customers who keep coming back for more. Staffing in this hot economy is an issue.

Their challenge is about the next step for growth: Should they be content with exploding revenues out of a single location, think about more stores… or devise a plan to create multiple franchises? The store could use another 1000 square feet, but where? More importantly: How do they replicate Sheryl?

Swish Flowers started with a solid five-year plan.

But it outgrew the flower pot.

Sheryl and Irf need help with visioning and setting priorities, personally and professionally.

BuddingEnterprise

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here would we be without setting goals to achieve outcomes? How would businesses know if targets had been met? What would inspire us to get out of bed in the morning if we didn’t have a vision or know what we wanted to accomplish that day?

Life would be a series of unrealized dreams, wasted energy and random firefighting—masquerading as daily routine. I call it ‘creating a busy picture’.

Swish Flowers is a classic example of a small business that started with a dream… but without a vision. Owner Sheryl Asp and life partner Irfan Qureshi have jumped head first into a blooming business that has room to grow—if they can back up a step or two.

Sheryl’s first assignment was to read The E Myth by Michael E. Gerber. One of my favourite and paragraphs from this insightful book is: “Picture the typical entrepreneur and Herculean pictures come to mind: A man or woman standing alone, wind blown against the elements, bravely defying insurmountable

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with Steffany Hanlen

odds, climbing shear faces of treacherous rock—all to realize the dream of creating a business of one’s own.”

Amazonian… Herculean—no matter. When I met Sheryl and Irfan, I sensed it was them against the world!

Beginning a venture without any idea of where you want to go does get you somewhere… maybe not where you think you want to go. Without a vision, in due time, just getting to the store can be a challenge. Owning a business should be more than just buying a job. If Swish were my case study, I would call it The E Trap by Steffany Hanlen.

Sheryl is a smart, beautiful woman who, for no reason, has a tendency to defer to her partner. She appears to be on a downward spiral of emotional energy and health.

When my clients do what they love to do—and put systems in place to support it—energy, happiness and money follow. However, when what you love doing begins to drain the life out of you, sadly, the personal price can be very high.

Sheryl could be on a path that leads to personal shutdown. Swish is like the Cheers of Riverbend. Not only

is she the artistic force behind this business, she loves her customers and many come in for a visit, coffee in hand. The downside is that she tends to stop everything she is doing to chat even when she’s facing a deadline or a mountain of paper work. As a solution to this distraction, I suggested she create a do-not-disturb signal—a lit candle or a doublesided plaque that can easily be flipped over—to let staff know whether or not she is available for a casual chat. This way she can set safe and respectful boundaries for herself and not offend her customers.

Another issue is that most orders, pricing and client information are filed in her head. A scary thought if she’s out of the shop and someone has to take over for a few hours. There are no systems in place at Swish to help her organize her processes or to help her staff step in where they can. Real growth of any business can only ever be built on a strong foundation of systems, procedures and policies.

Sheryl expressed her fear that not only will she regularly turn over staff, but they will never be able to do more than

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just take sales at the register or tidy shelves. She is the floral designer—the heart and soul of this business—and it is wearing her out. When I asked to see her office, she physically cringed. To me this was a sign that ‘overwhelm’ was becoming a barrier to her success.

Sheryl and Irf have to ask themselves direct and compelling questions. First, the hard question: If she wanted to double the revenue of her business, would, she be prepared or able to work twice as hard? From here, one question leads to the next and can uncover how they get a handle on this growing business.

I see Sheryl Asp as a powerful, passionate, humble and intuitive woman who loves what she does in a way that may not serve her without a long term vision for what she wants her life to look like. At 33, she acts and appears tired.

She has recently committed to a fitness routine yet, like most women, needs to make time for herself.

I hope she reads the book. Michael E. Gerber has identified an issue for many entrepreneurs. In a story-like and results-oriented way, it points out the situations many people get into when they dream of being self employed.

The problem I see with Swish is that the owners didn’t ask

themselves enough of the right questions when they jumped into the E game. It will be interesting to see them transform this business into something that re-inspires them as much as it inspires their satisfied customers. √ Steffany Hanlen is a personal performance coach who conducts “The Champion Seminars.”

Contact shanlen@edmontonians.com

PowerListening with Les Brost

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he first word that came to mind when I met Sheryl Asp and Irfan Qureshi was “potential”.

This is a couple with enormous potential. They can get on the fast track to this realization during their time with Edmontonians’ Transformers.

Sheryl and Irfan are charismatic partners in life and in business. They have powerful and complementary skill sets and a strong desire to succeed. I’m looking forward to working with these two—to challenging them to do the personal introspection and conflict management skill development required to achieve that success.

Partners in love and in business face extra pressures in conflict management. Business conflict insidiously seeps into the personal relationship, and personal conflict may undermine the business relationship. Both can have toxic effects. The failure of a business is traumatic, but not nearly as painful as the end of a deep romantic relationship.

What are the core challenges that I saw? Sheryl and Irfan can mitigate future conflict by getting clarity today on the importance of the business in their lives and by learning new skills.

How important is Swish Flowers to each of them? If they had to choose between maintaining the business and maintaining the relationship, which would they choose? I will ask them to think this through individually and then share their perspectives and come to agreement on how they will manage their dual relationships.

Their second challenge will be to agree on their definition of success in their business. I have a hunch that they have not spent much time talking—really talking—about what

success would look like for each of them. If they are not clear on what it looks like, they sure as heck won’t know it when they get there. Definitions that are substantively different can sabotage both the business and personal dynamic.

The extraordinary and complementary skills that serve them so well also present challenges. Sheryl is a creative who takes conflict very personally. She has an intuitive gift for visualizing a floral arrangement to perfectly fit the needs of a customer. I’m not sure this is something that she can even articulate—she simply knows how to turn flowers into art.

Irfan has a brilliant, analytical mind. He is able to assess situations quickly with responses rooted in his formidable education and work experience. It is easy for him to lay out a logical argument that is difficult to rebut.

That puts pressure on Sheryl. It is hard for creatives who do not have similar education and experience to stand their own ground in discussions with folks like Irfan.

Therein lies the challenge: Sheryl is uncomfortable with conflict and can’t easily articulate what she knows, but she intuitively knows what needs to happen. Irfan is quick to respond and is very articulate.

It has become simpler for Sheryl to silence her own voice and to defer to Irfan’s judgment. I suspect that he has not consciously imposed this deference… but he certainly doesn’t hesitate to express his opinions, Sheryl’s lack of confidence and lack of appreciation for her own gifts has caused her to choose to defer to Irfan.

That is the path to trouble. Her pattern of deference could

spark resentment that will smolder and eventually burst into flame if it continues. Professional and personal experiences have taught me that this type of situation has the potential to destroy relationships. That is why these two gifted people must expand and enhance their business and personal communication skills.

Effective conflict management requires well-honed personal communication tools. Transformer Tom and I will work with the couple to enhance their speaking and listening skills. Based on what I have seen, Sheryl’s challenge may be in the speaking side of the equation, while Irfan might be focusing on building listening skills.

Both need to pay attention to the messages that their bodies are sending to the other… to detect the inner warning signs of evolving conflict… and to work with their bodies and minds to manage conflict situations.

That self-knowledge sets the stage for the “power listening” that really opens the door to authentic and honest communication. Authenticity and respect will be the link between Sheryl’s creative gifts and Irfan’s powerful intellect.

I believe that with those linkages in place, the future for these two can be as bright and beautiful as their floral arrangements. I’m looking forward to helping them meet the challenge. √ Les Brost is head of Southern Star Communications.

Contact: lbrost@edmontonians.com

FindingYourVoice with Tom Bradshaw

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nteresting how we form impressions of people before we meet them… Amazing how those impressions often changes after.

Before meeting Sheryl and Irf I heard how Sheryl had started Swish Flowers, how she had met Irf in a coffee shop, and how he had helped move the business forward—that was about it. In my mind, I had envisioned Sheryl as the sales aggressive one with Irf diligently working the books and logistics of a busy shop.

The reality was something else.

Ask Sheryl a question and one of two things will happen. Most commonly her focus will go to the floor as she thinks about her answer. She has broken eye contact with me and I wonder if I can really trust her answer.

Looking at the floor has little to do with her being trustworthy but, remember, people don’t perceive us as we are… they perceive us as they are, with a lifetime of experience and filters. Watch trained politicians on the news. Their answers sometimes have little to do with the questions but, if they sound authoritative and keep eye contact, we believe them.

More damaging to authority is when you ask Sheryl a question and she lets Irf answer for her. This happened so often, I sensed the hair on the back of Les’s neck bristle when it occurred. Irf is trying to be support Sheryl in her communication needs. However, this has to stop. It diminishes her power in any business and most personal situations. As a result, I’m left with the impression it would be easier to deal with Irf in regards to Sheryl’s business. That’s a problem—a bad habit that will be hard for them to change.

Over the process of the transformation, one of my goals will be to help Sheryl find her own voice. It’s there but, over time, she has developed a “disconnect”—the words just won’t come. Many people experience this: You know you know the answer to a question but your brain has turned to mush.

Irf was also not what I expected. Part teacher, part IT whiz, he has a successful career, but is becoming a bigger part of this growing business. Ask him about the future of Swish and you will begin to see the road map. Irf is a very good communicator. There are a number of minor

negative traits, many of which his mother has been pointing out over his lifetime. She’s right—and I promise you, Mrs. Qureshi, I will do my best. The real challenge will come when I see Irf in action doing a presentation. I expect he will be a very good presenter with some welldeveloped skills. For him, the transformation will be to polish those skills to become an effective corporate spokesperson.

Like many successful clients, the challenge will be in the doing. Most recognize that they can do better. Irf’s revelation was that a lot of what he heard from the Transformers was not new. He was also very aware that this was an area that needs more attention from both of them. “We know we should be doing…” has to be turned into “we are doing…” With this couple, we’ll see if the timing is now. √ Tom Bradshaw is the head of the Academy of Voice & Speech. Contact: tbradshaw@edmontonians.com

ChangingFocus with Dr. Larry Ohlhauser

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ntering Swish Flowers I expected to be greeted by that wonderful fragrance of fresh flowers.

My senses were overwhelmed: first by wonderful warm colour of the walls, the aroma of scented candles, flowers and the warm greeting by a tall, attractive woman. Her firm handshake and engaging smile convinced me this was Sheryl, the new Transformee.

“Hi and welcome, you must be the Transformer, I’ll be right with you once I finish with Mary.” On my first assignment as a Transformer, I am already confident we have selected the right person. Unfazed at being interviewed for Edmontonians, Sheryl does what she does best: serves her customer first.

Observing her work, I note she has a large frame, is carrying about 10-15 pounds of extra weight, and needs to improve her posture.

I comment on the great colour of the walls. Sheryl says, “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to own my own business, I like wacky ideas.”

Irfan, Sheryl’s fiancé and business partner, is standing behind the counter sipping on a raspberry mocha frappucino. Following an introduction by Sheryl, “Irf”—as he prefers to be called—never stops talking. We head to Starbucks for our interview where Irf keeps sipping…

Sheryl and I order non fat lattés.

Having just returned from a week of giving seminars to CEOs and entrepreneurs in Florida, I note a common concern from these partners. How do we keep a worklife balance while building the business? Sheryl understands this better than Irf. She knows she is carrying too much weight, struggles with finding time to work out, and is concerned about proper nutrition for both of them.

Irf likes to talk, but I need to get him to focus on the questions I would like answered—this is my first column and I would like to control the interview. I get his attention by remarking on his waist size and how a waist size greater than 40 inches/109 cm is a valid indicator of his increased risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers. When I inform him that six percent of the causes of premature death in Canadian men is from a heart attack, stroke or cancer of the colon, I have his attention. Irf admits he needs to quit smoking as well.

There may be hope.

Reviewing the literature for my book, The Healthy CEO, I noted that the most of us realize and agree we need to improve our health. Why aren’t we seeing results? Most people focus on results and are not prepared to change.

Those who focus on change will get the results they deserve.

Irf and Sheryl will need to use a change-management process if they really want to get and remain healthy. The process I have developed—and now used successfully by many people—includes getting the knowledge they need to understand their health and wellness. Both need to assess their attitudes… to take responsibility… and to clearly understand their motivation to improve their health and wellness. Sheryl appears very motivated as she had already engaged a personal trainer to focus on exercising and nutrition. Irf is not mentally there. He hears his mother reminding him to lose weight and stop smoking, but has not taken personal responsibility yet.

I’ve asked them to carry out a self assessment using the tools I have developed. They will then set goals for improvement, create an action plan and an evaluation process. I will be monitoring their progress and holding them accountable to their plan. I can safely predict, you will see a healthier couple next time we meet them. √ Dr. Larry Ohlhauser, MD, is the author of The Healthy CEO and president of Ohlhauser & Associates.

Contact lohlhauuser@edmontonians.com

EDMONTONIANS AUGUST 2007

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Proof__ _________PROOFED BY:_______________________________________________CHANGES MADE:__________________________DATE:_________________

11

BizINTEL

C

ivic Buzz with David Norwood

Edmonton continues to fight its image problem. The most recent example has revolved around the Edmonton Oilers, who have had significant problems signing marquee—or even semi-marquee—players.

A number have said that their wives simply don’t want to live in Edmonton… Never mind the fact that they’ve never been here to look for themselves.

Yes, Edmonton is the most northern major city in North America, but the key word here is that it is a major city. And, by world standards, it’s hardly alone in being “this far north.” Moscow, St. Petersburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Riga, Edinburgh and Glasgow—All are farther north than Edmonton. Manchester, England lies at a latitude of 53º 28’ 50; Edmonton is at 53º32’46… south Edmonton is farther south than Manchester.

But perception is everything, and the fact that Edmonton lies a mere 300 km north of Calgary—which somehow has avoided the outpost reputation—seems to escape those who view this region as desolate and beyond civilization.

This city has air connections to many major cities in North America and daily service to the world’s busiest international airport, London Heathrow. It actually has shopping that many larger cities would envy. I’m a big fan of West Edmonton Mall, by the way—it has shops that are unique to North America, Canada, Western Canada, or Alberta. Our climate is no worse

than that in Calgary or Toronto or Montréal or Denver, for that matter.

Maybe the best way to promote Edmonton is to let others do it for us. The best recent example comes by way of Stephen Hunt of the Calgary Herald, whose comments included surprises: “The first thing you notice about Edmonton,” he writes, “is the trees. There are lots of them, in fact more than almost any other city in North America—beautiful, healthy elm trees that make Edmonton streets that much more walkable.”

Hunt goes on to say that, “The second thing you notice is the action.... When we— me, my wife Melanee, and four-year-old son, Gus—arrive in Edmonton in the middle of a Wednesday afternoon in late June, Whyte Avenue is buzzing. There are lots of people out walking, hanging out in cafes and bars, or shopping at one of the vintage clothes shops or boutiques that are everywhere around Whyte Avenue these days.... ‘Is there something going on today?’ asks Melanee, who grew up in Baltimore and has lived in Washington, D.C., and New York and loves crowded streets full of people.”

In fact, says Hunt, something is going on most days in Edmonton between June and September (and as we Edmontonians know, lots goes on between September and June too). “The next morning,” he writes, “I stumble out onto Whyte Avenue, and set off for a jog. Ten minutes later, I’m running through the campus of the University of Alberta. Even cooler, the neighbourhood I’m running through is Garneau, now a literary landmark thanks to Journal Culture columnist Todd Babiuk’s Giller Prize-

B iz IT 101 best way to kick off an ice-breaking, cocktail party conversation was to opine over your latest experience with Air Canada or Canada Customs agents.

Complete strangers—keenly sensing a major bonding opportunity—would be certain to chime in with tales about luggage ending up in Fort St. John instead of Rome… the crabby and rude flight attendants… or the time they singled out your grandmother for a search and squeezed her toothpaste tube looking for weapons of mass destruction.

That was then. Now, the targets of choice are Shaw, Bell, Rogers and—above all— TELUS, whose motto, oddly enough, is “The Future is Friendly.” Most Albertans have at least a couple of knee-slappers about these communications giants… the common element is they are all bad.

In business and consumer space, few companies can match the negativity surrounding TELUS.

Four high-profile Edmonton organizations have partnered to clean the streets around their properties. It might inspire other businesses to take more responsibility for the appearance of their street-fronts.

David Norwood is a freelance writer/editor.

Contact dnorwood@edmontonians.com

the future is expensive

with Greg Michetti

About three years ago, the absolute

nominated The Garneau Block, a novel that was partly about the search for the mythic identity Edmonton allegedly lacks.

“How about this?

Edmonton’s festivals are its identity.

“The next thing I know, I’ve discovered a long set of wooden stairs that lead down into a forest. When I come to the bottom, it turns out to be part of the river valley, which is the biggest single green space of any city park anywhere—the river valley is like having 22 interconnected Central Parks right in the middle of your city. There are a few runners and cyclists down here, but the overall feeling is that here is a city where you can, if you want, get completely away from everyone. Then, in 10 minutes, find yourself right back in the middle of the action, without so much as having to park a car.

“The river valley is the city equivalent of having a secret identity. Of course, the secret is there, for everyone to see. You just have to be able to see the city for the trees.”

Thanks, Stephen Hunt. We need more people like you, telling the truth about our city.

Edmonton Economic Development Corp., The Westin, the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald and the local Chamber of Commerce have hired a full-time outdoor cleaner to keep a two-block area around their properties (along Jasper Avenue and 100th Street) in pristine condition until the end of the summer. Christie Basalle—an outgoing environmental studies student— has been hired to become the “Block Ambassador of Beautification” for the summer.

“We had to do something to set the example,” says Ron Gilbertson, EEDC’s president and CEO. “Local business leaders are telling us they have serious concerns on rts Gilbe about litter and and Basalle garbage. Although the City of Edmonton’s Capital City Clean Up program is great, we wanted to dial it up a notch and take action to ensure the streets surrounding our properties are the cleanest in Edmonton.”

Christie will not only clean litter from the sidewalks and bushes around the World Trade Centre Edmonton, the Westin and the Fairmont, but will also act as a goodwill ambassador to promote Edmonton’s downtown attractions and places of interest. She’s highly visible in a neon yellow uniform displaying the badges of the four sponsoring partners.

Now let’s see Edmonton City Centre, Commerce Place, Manulife Place, the University of Alberta and other businesses, big and small, follow suit.

But for everyone concerned, how about doing it year-round? √

So, imagine our sinking feeling when it was revealed that TELUS was out to make a play for Bell Canada. That gloom turned to elation when it discontinued its bid… but the fat lady may not have sung just yet.

Even now that the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund appears to own Bell— subject to approvals that could take until November—speculation is strong that TELUS is simply biding its time to make another take-over attempt.

Few things could be worse for those who depend on the ’Net for business success. If you thought TELUS service and support were bad before, imagine even less competition. Moreover, we Canadians typically pay 30 percent more than U.S. consumers for cellular service. A TELUSBell—BELUS—deal could only increase this.

However, help may be on the way… especially if a great new offering from U.S.based T-Mobile comes to Canada. TMobile HotSpot @Home is a service that

costs an additional $10 per month on top of your regular cell phone plan.

The phone works the same way as a regular unit except that, when it is near a Wi-Fi hot spot, it connects to the Internet.

So? So you can now use that connection to make your phone calls—kind of like a mobile VOIP arrangement. In other words, your voice is carried via the Internet rather than the regular cellular infrastructure.

No wireless router in the home? T-Mobile will provide a wireless unit, manufactured

by D-Link and Linksys, that attaches to your regular high-speed Internet modem.

You can block out your nosy neighbors from piggybacking on your service by simply pressing a button. And, all your phone calls are “free”—the time you talk using the “Internet” method doesn’t count against the allowed minutes in your cell phone plan.

You can use this method at most, but not all, Wi-Fi networks and the phone will memorize the location for the next time

you’re there. It also works well at hot spots like Starbucks. If you have a good connection and Wi-Fi in your house, you may even want to cancel your land line phone and use your cell at home all the time—especially if the service quality is as good as the initial users claim it to be. The overall savings benefits are obvious and “free” with no restriction on minutes are a terrific marketing angle.

Ideally, a family of four, for example—all with their own cell phones—can use the TMobile account in their home for free phone service—even if it is connected to a Shaw cable modem.

The best news? We won’t need a TELUS home account! √ Gregory B. Michetti of the Alberta-based systems integration firm Michetti Information Solutions, Inc. can be reached via www.michetti.com

Register your 2008 Gala Charity Event Now

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EDMONTONIANS AUGUST 2007

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Proof__ _________PROOFED BY:_______________________________________________CHANGES MADE:__________________________DATE:_________________

M edia Minute with Bruce Hogle

After following my family west from Ontario to kick-start my journalistic career, I twice worked at the Medicine Hat News—first as sports editor and then as assistant editor. My wife Gail is from the ’Hat and we still have many fine friends there.

Thus I have more than a passing interest in what the courts will decide later this month on this country’s most notorious 13-year-old, known only as J.R. She is still undergoing psychological and psychiatric assessments at Alberta Hospital that will assist in determining what type of sentence she will receive for her role in the murders last year of her parents and her eightyear old brother.

By Ron Hiebert

I

nvestors seem to need something to fret over. They should be eternally grateful to Uncle Sam because, over the last few years, he has given them lots of reasons to worry. America’s triple deficits in personal savings, global trade and the federal budget are all splattered in red ink. This, along with the much-hyped housing bubble, has investors worrying that these four Financial Horsemen of the Apocalypse will eventually cause the U.S. economy to collapse.

But things have been getting better. By 2010, America’s federal budget will be balanced if current trends continue. Trillions of dollars in capital gains from homes and the stock market have more than offset the country’s lack of savings; the housing bubble deflated with a slow leak, not with a pop; in most areas in the U.S., real estate prices have stabilized. Its housing sector only comprises about one percent of the global economy, so its macro impact is highly exaggerated.

The only financial metric that continues to get worse is the trade deficit—all $770 billion of it in 2006. This gargantuan imbalance has investors avoiding the U.S. equity markets as if they were a ward of SARS patients.

If the U.S. trade deficit is really that big a threat to stock, bond, real estate and currency markets, then retreating from anything that trades below the 49th parallel is a brilliant strategy. But what if the trade deficit isn’t as big a deal as everyone is making it out to be? If that were the case, the maligned U.S. market could represent the best bargain it has been in 20 years.

You have heard all the arguments ad nauseum, making the case that the trade deficit is a growing cancer to the economy, but I doubt you have seen the flip side of the argument. Doing so might just change your view.

STILL NUMERO UNO Nobody bothered to tell the U.S. economy about the trade deficit. Unemployment is 4.5 percent and growth is expected to come in at around 3.5 percent per annum.

According to David Malpass, chief economist at Bear Stearns, America adds 30 percent more on average to global GNP each year than does all of Asia combined, and it does this with one-tenth the population. If gains from real estate and the stock market are included, U.S. households add more to financial savings in most years than the rest of the world combined.

America is still the world’s biggest producer, exporter, saver and innovator. In spite of all the doom and gloom, her economic growth is actually accelerating.

Names of the parents and brother have been published in papers across Canada and around the world. Everyone who covered this trial, as well as the vast majority of Medicine Hatters, knows the identity of J.R. So do I. But the Youth Justice Criminal Act says she cannot be identified because she is under 18. A review of such restrictions is long overdue.

Most children, at one time or another, think their parents are dumb, and question their decisions. It might be something as minor as a curfew or borrowing the car or, more major, such as the selection of friends or partying without supervision.

But when a 12-year old—or anyone under 18—is convicted of collaboration in the first degree murders of her family—or anyone else—there is no way in the world that the Youth Justice Criminal Act should continue to protect her identify. Particularly

when you have J.R. and boyfriend Jeremy Steinke—a disgusting piece of humanity—celebrating the massacre by having sex, laughing and partying. No wonder jurors wasted no time in bringing in a guilty verdict.

Rather than protecting her identity, disclosure should be part of the ultimate sentence for her heinous actions. Give Justice Scott Brooker that option by changing the existing legislation so that, starting with J.R., names are automatically revealed when anyone is found guilty of first degree murder.

Violence is increasing daily in Alberta and Canada: everything from gang activities to drive-by shootings… from home invasions to auto thefts… from bullying in our schools to stabbings in the streets.

Medicine Hat now knows that cold blooded murders are also an unfortunate way of life today. I still

A Zero Sum Game Between 1880 and 1920, the average annual growth in Gross Domestic Product per person was 1.4 percent. This rose to 1.6 percent between 1920 and 1960 and continued to climb to 2.3 percent during the next four decades.

SURPLUSES ARE THE EXCEPTION 2007 marks the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown. Over that span of time, America has run trade deficits 87 percent of the time. Only 50-odd years out of those four centuries was it able to achieve a surplus. If deficits lead to economic stagnation, why has the U.S. grown to be the world’s most powerful economy and been able to maintain that position for over a century?

BRITAIN AND DEFICITS

Since many American companies are global in scale and don’t like to repatriate profits for tax reasons, trade figures get distorted. Foreign holdings also cause other aberrations. If an international subsidiary in China sells goods to its HQ in Ohio and head office doesn’t reciprocate, this shows up as a trade imbalance, even though the American company profits from both sides of the transaction.

Wealth creation is also not accounted for in global trade stats. Apple might have its iPods manufactured in China and run a trade deficit with them but, because of the innovation the company has been able to achieve, the market value of Apple has risen from $8 billion three years ago to $76 billion today.

Economies are now global. If we don’t care that Saskatchewan runs a trade deficit

love the ’Hat and its residents, and I know they will recover from this infamy perpetuated by an individual who, incredibly, faces a maximum of six years in custody and four years of community supervision.

On reading the letters that J.R. and Steinke exchanged prior to her trial, I especially remember the one where she said the two of them would become legends because of their murderous deeds. I think J.R. and Steinke should know that they already are—Legends of Evil. √ Bruce Hogle is the former news director at CFRN TV and recently retired head of the Alberta Press Council.

Contact bhogle@edmontonians.com

money MAKING

with Alberta, or Quebec with Ontario, why should we make a distinction between the U.S and its trade partners? Global trade is a zero sum game. Global imports must equal global exports—that’s all that really matters.

America has lots of really big problems that should cause people to worry. I just don’t think that the trade deficit should be one of them. √ Ron Hiebert, a Director, Investment Executive with ScotiaMcLeod, teaches investment classes at Grant MacEwan College.

The author of Wealth Building can be heard on CFCW radio (790 AM) Sundays from 8 to 9 a.m. on his show, Making Money. Contact him at rhiebert@edmontonians.com

Britain has the strongest economy in Europe, yet it has run trade deficits since 1984. At 5.5 percent of BDP, its trade imbalance is only a snick lower than Uncle Sam’s 5.8 percent. Has this been a disaster?

I don’t think so. Both the U.S. and U.K. have seen their stock markets grow at an identical 13 percent per year since 1984.

NOT SYNONYMOUS WITH GROWTH Germany is an exporting machine. The goods it shipped last year totaled over a trillion dollars. Its trade surplus at seven percent of GDP is among the best in the world, yet it is plagued by high unemployment, a sluggish economy and underperforming stock markets.

Japan is another example of a country that runs monster trade surpluses, yet it just came out of a 10-year recession and has a stock market trading at half of its 1989 peak.

WHY MONEY POURS INTO THE U.S. Money pours into the U.S. for two reasons.

The first is safety. It is only one of a handful of countries that over the last 100 years hasn’t been destroyed by war, occupation, nationalization or corruption.

The second reason is opportunity.

America is an incubator for science, entertainment, lifestyle and finance. More investment opportunities are available than anywhere else.

TRADE FIGURES ARE INCOMPLETE What people find hard to grasp is that nations don’t trade with each other.

Individuals and entities do. Nike might buy a running shoe from China for $5… then turn around and sell it somewhere else for $100. Nike runs a trade deficit with a manufacturing entity in China, but that doesn’t mean the transaction wasn’t very profitable for the company.

EDMONTONIANS AUGUST 2007

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lifestyles LIVELY MENU

Magic with Chef John Berry

Sippin’ with the Chef

A

del Chmait is one of the hottest young chefs to grace our culinary landscape in a long time.

The executive chef at Northlands is one of the youngest to hold such a prestigious position, and he’s certainly going to be one to watch in the future.

I met Adel at the Green Spot in Athabasca, operated by a friend of ours. I was working the breakfast run, and he was handling lunch and dinner. Now, years of training— punctuated with blood, sweat and tears—have

mait Chefs Adel Ch and John Berry

Dave, Ann & Da n paid off and he’s heading up one of the busiest and biggest banquet kitchens in western Canada.

I tracked down Chef Adel at Sip! at Northlands’ Capitol Ex. Last year, it was the Food and Wine Expo.

This year, City Pallet’s Mary Bailey and Chef Brad Smoliak came on board to expand on the concept. I thought it was nothing short of incredible.

The idea is to give the 20-30 Somethings an opportunity to learn about wines and pairings… single malt scotch and hand-crafted beers… cocktail making… and food prep in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s as much an educational experience as it is a chance to try new things

I

The Green Kitchen

t wasn’t that long ago that we saw the beginning of an environmental revolution in our homes. Concerns about the environment, and what all the soaps and cleaners were doing to harm it, forced major manufacturing companies to develop bio-degradable cleaners. The movement spread and now we have fencing material made out of recycled milk jugs and other plastics… pavement made out of recycled tires… and, of course, boxes and paper made from recycled boxes and paper. The list grows by leaps and bounds every week.

About the same time all of this started happening, there was a new buzz word in the culinary world— “organics”. Produce and animals raised for consumption using natural fertilizers and compost, rather than chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The health benefits are obvious, and the flavour, some say, improved. But—and there’s always a “but”—the cost of organics, for many, was prohibitive. Some produce was as much as two times the regular price of nonorganically grown items.

But now, according to Jim Hole of Hole’s Greenhouse, the big guys are sitting up and taking notice. “The trend to organics is hitting such a level, that the large producers are finally seeing that they can make money and save the environment at the same time. Large grocery chains are now devoting whole sections of their produce aisles to organically grown items.”

Dawn Kelly of Planet Organic says the demand for that perhaps you haven’t tried before.

There’s even a So You Think You Can Cook competition. The evening events all take place adjacent to one of the large entertainment stages in Agricom.

During Capital Ex, Chef Adel and a handful of others prepare gourmet entrées.

Each features a specialty product. Patrons can talk to the chefs while they’re working, ask questions, get a close up view, and sample the goodies.

“I love it. People are eagerly trying new foods, new products—it’s a great education.” What Chef Adel likes is the close personal contact you get with the crowd… something that’s not there in a food demonstration on a cooking stage.

Every evening, there’s a Twist-Off—the ultimate tasting classes. You also can go from station to station and meet

naturally produced items is growing daily. “It’s become a health issue with not only the older folk but theyounger generation as well.

Now that “buy regionally” is the norm for many Edmonton restaurants and some hotels, the word organic is being added to the formula. Many upscale restaurants are featuring quite a few organic items, including chicken and other meats.

As for cost, we’re getting to such a high level of demand that many are a fraction more than nonorganic items. It’s all about economies of scale.

Kelly says that some items are actually on par or even a bit lower in price. The trick, she says, is to know what to buy. Always buy local and what’s in season. “If you want to buy a Kiwi in December, it’s obviously going to be more expensive.”

Not only are the larger growers starting to see that this trend isn’t going to go away, they are investing in the organic future. After years of dumping chemical fertilizers into the ground, Hole says there is concern about whether we are “maintaining the integrity of the soil.”

By and large, he believes that commercial growers are good stewards of the land and both camps are working toward the same end.

The next step? Hole has noticed that many people are seeking out heirloom varieties. No more genetically modified seeds to give us bigger crops.

Who knows... before long, we could be eating the same vegetables our forefathers did. √ the wine/spirits/beer merchants and food suppliers to experience and learn about the latest trends.

The biggest draw? The scotch tasting. For those looking to taste for the first time, or those with a discerning pallet, there was something for everyone. Among the most popular was the 18-year old Bowmore Scotch—retailing at about $150 a bottle. Serving up the sips was Dave Gordon of Saverio Schiralli Agencies. Jo-Anne and Dan Lindquist of Edson sipped a few “Scotties” and were impressed not only with the quality, but the extensive tasting notes and business card-sized handouts about each brand.

Not bragging, but my recipes for honey-mustard glazed chicken and chocolate mousse, spiked with Glenmorangie scotch and featured in the February issue of Edmontonians, made their way to Scotland. I’m told they are being tested in a few kitchens. √ Contact Chef John Berry at jberry@edmontonians.com

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EDMONTONIANS AUGUST 2007

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Keen on the Green Scene with Linda Bodo

Living green may be equal parts science and ethics – but quite honestly, it’s just plain common sense.

M

other Nature is tickled as more and more green homes sprout up across her vast domain.

Thanks to public awareness, new technologies and friendlier environmental options, we can make a difference. Being Keen on Green doesn’t mean changing our lives 180 degrees… it just means showing a little respect for our dear friend by minimizing any negative impact to her turf and enforcing a healthy living environment.

Green Regime The Bathroom

Green Cuisine The Kitchen Energy saving appliances. Reduce power and water consumption and greenhouse emissions with ENERGY STAR rated appliances. Oh, and don’t make the same mistake I did. I upgraded to a new energy efficient fridge and kept the old one downstairs for beer and bratwurst. Ach du lieber!

Compost the most. Don’t throw out kitchen scraps. Save landfill space and make your own rich organic potting soil by composting. Your garden will love you.

Green cleaning. Use non-toxic organic dish soap, detergent and cleansers and lather your way to a cleaner lifestyle. And, check out the wonders of vinegar and baking soda.

Recycle and re-use. Rinse that resealable plastic bag and use it again. Bring fabric sacks to the grocery store for bagging.

Repurpose empty jars for pantry sundries, and don’t forget about blue bagging.

Thrill of the fill. Fewer loads in your dishwasher save money and power. FYI: A dishwasher uses less water and heat than hand washing methods. Load the dishes in the washer and take Rover for a walk instead.

Low-flush rush. On average, toilets are the single largest use of water in a household.

Older models can consume five times the amount of water compared to new versions.

Treat yourself to a new low-flush biffy and save, save, save! Or add a couple of bricks to the tank to displace water.

Shower power. Showers are next on the agenda. Older shower heads are residential water hogs. Today’s low flush heads are available in a variety of stylish models and will pay for themselves in no time with lowered consumption.

Tank-you. Tankless water heaters save energy, water and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Save money and space!

Remodelling? Consider purchasing cabinets, flooring, tiles and countertops made from recycled or renewable sources.

Green Routine The Bedroom Insulation application. Make your sanctuary comfortable throughout the year with insulated ceilings and walls and watch your energy bills drop.

Inviting lighting. Fluorescent lighting uses one third the electricity of traditional bulbs and lasts up to 10 times linger. Low voltage lights and timers are great runners-up.

Fan plan. Ceiling fans circulate both heat and cool air—saving energy and cold hard cash.

Window Dressing. Weather-strip or caulk older windows or replace them with double-pane low E-gas filled windows and let the sun shine in.

Paint restraint. Use low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints to reduce toxic emissions from applied surfaces.

FYI: Indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air… paints and finishes are among the leading causes.

Green Extreem The Living Room Seal the deal. Insulate heating and cooling ducts.

Attainable sustainables. Save our rainforests and purchase furniture created from reclaimed or recycled materials. Consider cork or bamboo for the floors, and pad around in comfort.

The shut down. Energy vampires like surround-sound receivers and plasma TVs continue to suck energy 24/7 if left to their own devices. Oh, and don’t forget to turn off the light when your leaving the room, even for a short period of time.

Sweet Heat. Upgrade to an energy efficient furnace and watch the bills melt away.

Charge! Use rechargeable batteries.

Harness harvest. Solar power is a renewable and clean alternative to conventional sources. Or, if you live in a rural, windy area, consider wind energy.

Like solar, wind energy is a great environmental alternative to traditional non-renewable power.

Green Scheme The Lawn & Garden Adjust is a must. Avoid over-watering your lawn with an irrigation control that senses moisture content in the air and adjusts patterns according to current conditions. Use a drip irrigation system for plants and pots.

Rain, rain, go away. Straight into a rain barrel and use for plantings and trees.

Invest in gravity barrels with hose attachments… and most are made of recycled plastic.

Pest arrest. Fight pests with non-toxic liquids and concentrates. FYI: If recruiting an army of lady bugs is not an option, fill a spray bottle with one cup of vegetable oil, one tablespoon

dishwashing liquid and one cup of water to get rid of aphids.

Infuse with reuse. Irrigate your gardens with a gray water system that harnesses H2O from sinks, showers and washers.

All decked out. Light your yard or patio with solar powered lights or add a splash with a solar fountain.

Green machine The Laundry Room Wash day. Buy ENERGY STAR washers and dryers. These appliances are two of the biggest resource users in your house. Combined, they can produce 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly.

That’s the same amount emitted from a car driving across the country.

Handworks. When possible, hand wash delicates instead of dry cleaning them.

Hot thought. Run laundry cycles on warm/cold rather than hot/warm. It gets clothes just as squeaky clean. Dryer balls work better than anti-cling sheets and last about two years.

Improve the groove. Increase hot water heating efficiency by reducing the water heater thermostat to 120 degrees. This smart little move will also prevent scalding. And, buy that hot water tank an insulating blanket to keep water hotter longer and save even more.

Visit www.greenlivingonline.com and http://gliving.tv/ for more informative tips on how we can all preserve and protect Mother Nature’s greatest creation. Fall into bed tonight with a clear conscience knowing that you may not have changed the world – but at least you’ve made an effort.

And go to www.edmontonians.com for six absolute green tips. √ Contact Linda Bodo at lbodo@edmontonians.com or visit www.absolutebodo.com

EDMONTONIANS AUGUST 2007

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Proof__ _________PROOFED BY:_______________________________________________CHANGES MADE:__________________________DATE:_________________

15

ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTITURES & CORPORATE FINANCE

with Stephen W. Kent, CA (780) 441-6793

16

Letting go is never easy to do We have had a lot of experience with family businesses that have multi-generational management. In most cases the founder is thinking about leaving and the next generation is anxiously waiting to assume the reins, or begin working with the new owner if the business is being sold. In all cases, emotions are running high and the potential for conflict is high.

Founders all ask the questions: What is the true value of the business and at what price should I sell to my children?

Am I willing to carry a portion of the deal to enable my children to close?

Are my children really ready to take over the business?

Knowing what I know about the sacrifices, risks and stress involved, do I really want to pass this load on to my children?

In the case of a third party sale, how will the new owner treat my children and can they carry on successfully with someone else?

In light of so many issues, why am I even thinking about leaving?

The reality is that the issues never go away; they only get deferred if you shut the process down. The next generation tends to believe they are ready to takeover and, in most cases, they probably have more experience and a better education than the founder did when he/she established the business— plus now it has a solid base of ongoing customers and contracts.

It is the emotion that makes the process a difficult one. This is not an arms length transaction, so to approach it as though it were is a huge mistake. A lot of the issues tend to be a symptom of the real issue which is the owner letting go. I find that mothers who share ownership with their spouse have considerably less trouble

selling to their children and are more confident that they are ready to take over.

In one situation we handled, the incoming ownership group was motivated to buy but wanted the son to run the business for them. The vendor, who was past retirement age, decided he wanted to carry on and run it under the new ownership. The son announced if that happened he would leave. The purchaser wanted younger management who could stay for another 10 to 15 years. Part of our role was to ensure a smooth transition during that sale process.

Letting go is never easy to do but, if you are thinking about selling your family-owned business, let us help guide you through the process. Please e-mail stephen.w.kent@ca.pwc.com or call me at 780.441.6793.

EDMONTONIANS AUGUST 2007

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