June 2011 Issue

Volume 1, No. 10 June 2011 FREE

Your business:

Starting a new business Your health:

Making the healthy choice Your home:

Bring summer inside

Paul Corriveau Railway City Brewing Co. Cover story: page 3

Incorporating St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce

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June, 2011

Cover Story

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Starting Out

Entrepreneurs who gamble or sell drugs

by Terry Carroll ..............................page 4

A blueprint for self-employment success

by Jesse Terpstra ............................page 18

BUSINESS / COMMUNITY Managing Money

Home Office

If you’re being let go…

by Stephanie Farrow ........................page 5

Economics Getting the word out

by Serge Lavoie ................................page 6

Your Business Personal health and a healthy business go hand in hand

by John Regan ................................page 7

Leadership Avoiding death by details

by Bryan Vine ..................................page 8

Work from home – safely and securely ......................................................page 19

Young Entrepreneurs Getting young adults to seriously think business

by Shayne Wyler ............................page 20

Planning Before you start a new business…

by Brian Dempsey ........................page 21

HOMESTYLE Renovating Bring summer inside

by Amanda Drenth ........................page 22

Decorating

BUSINESS BEAT The Front Page World’s most exciting aircraft on their way to St. Thomas ..................................page 9

Chamber News Members Golf Day ........................page 10 2012 will be golden ......................page 11

Legal Business The winding trail of the mushroom case

by Monty Fordham ........................page 12

Chamber News Membership 101 ............................page 13

ProText Understanding how liability can impact you

by Dan Reith ................................page 14

Positive Exposure TGIF!!

by Allan Weatherall ........................page 15

New members Welcome new members ..................page 16

SPECIAL FEATURE

STARTING A NEW BUSINESS New Ideas A new small business idea?

by Peter Atkinson ..........................page 17

Order in the house!

by Renée Carpenter ......................page 23

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT Wine and Food Vintage classics by Jamie Quai ......page 24

Savour Elgin The ambiance of Kettle Creek Inn

by Kate Burns ................................page 25

HEALTHY LIVING Everyday Health The stages of healing

by Dr. Greg Johnston ....................page 26

Personal Health Making the healthy choice the easier choice

by Erica Arnett ..............................page 27

LIFESTYLES Time On My Hands Stimulate your senses with regular dates

by Duncan Watterworth ................page 28

Self Development My close encounter with Oprah

by Sharon Lechner ........................page 29

That’s Life Sometimes bad things turn into good things

by Elizabeth VanHooren ................page 30

Hometown booster Paul Corriveau promotes St. Thomas through his business and volunteer work

by Dorothy Gebert

When you name your company after the tagline of your city, you’re giving people some idea that you love your hometown and want the rest of the world to know it too. St. Thomas is known as the Railway Capital of Canada and the Railway City Brewing Company reflects that association.

“The railway built this community,” says vice-president of sales and marketing, Paul Corriveau, who was born and bred in St. Thomas.

“We’re paying homage to that heritage through our company and its products.”

Since starting the Railway City Brewing Company with Al Goulding in 2007, the names of his craft beers have had quirky names that refer to the railways or St. Thomas history, including Dead Elephant Ale, Iron Spike, Roundhaus Pilsner and Colonel Talbot’s Coffee Stout.

As well as using local names, the brewery also sources local ingredients such as Elgin County hops, maple syrup, cherries, honey and apples.

“People are starting to recognize how good we are,” Paul says, referring to his company’s product distribution from Windsor to Kingston. Railway City Brewing Company also won gold at the 2011 Ontario Brewing Awards for its Iron Spike Amber Ale and a People’s Choice Award for its Iron Spike Copper Ale. But his company isn’t the only way he’s promoting St. Thomas. Because of his architectural education, Paul got involved with the renovation of the 1872 Canada Southern Railway Station and is now president of the North America Railway Hall of Fame board of directors.

He was a founder of the Iron Horse Festival, which now brings 30,000 people downtown each August.

And this year, he’s planning a new festival called Blues, Brews & BBQ, to take place in front of the CASO Station over Father’s Day weekend.

“It’s about beer,” Paul says. “So how can you not have fun.”

Cover photo by Philip Bell, Shutter Studios

Carroll Publishing President Terry Carroll Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Kelly Carroll

Elgin This Month Publisher Terry Carroll Editor Dorothy Gebert Section Editor Business Beat – Bob Hammersley

Graphic Design / Production Jim McHarg Aaryn Bechard Sales Representative Greg Minnema Office Services Laura Bart

Published monthly by Carroll Publishing, 15 St. Catharine Street, St. Thomas, ON N5P 2V7 www.theweeklynews.ca/etm June, 2011

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519-633-1640

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Publisher’s Letter

Entrepreneurs who gamble or sell drugs The lengths to which people will go to save a start-up business

by Terry Carroll

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A St. Thomas entrepreneur, who shall remain nameless for reasons that should be immediately apparent, once told me about an earlier business he was running in Toronto.

He had some cash on hand, but not enough to make payroll. So he purchased weed on the wholesale market, repackaged it for retail consumption, and generated enough money to keep his little ship afloat, with all hands on deck, for another week.

Marijuana resale, that’s one example of the extremes to which some business people will go, necessity being the mother of invention, and all that jazz.

Here’s another. My favourite radio show is ‘The Age Of Persuasion’ on CBC radio. It explores advertising and marketing over the last century.

Recently, the host told the story of the gentleman who started Federal Express, now FedEx. Frederick W. Smith had come out of the military imbued with the idea that the principles of military precision, scheduling and materials handling could be applied to the delivery of packages in civilian life. He was convinced that a combination of air and ground transport could result in overnight delivery.

He proved to be right. But on the way to establishing that Federal Express could deliver “when it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight,” his company was running out of cash. Like my acquaintance in St. Thomas, but on a larger scale, he didn’t have enough in the bank to make payroll. So he flew to Vegas, wired the $27,000 he won back to the company, and the rest is business history.

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Who ya gonna call?

Debt busters?

I’m relaying these two stories, because they illustrate one important, and sometimes terrifying, reality for anyone starting a business (a topic we’re featuring in this issue of Elgin This Month / Business Beat). Most start-ups are under-capitalized. The owners convince themselves that

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things will get much better, much faster than they actually do. And when the money is running out, who ya gonna call? Debt busters? Your drug dealer? Your cards dealer? Your banker? Your family and friends? Or are ya just gonna fold? Cash (or reliable credit sources) is king. In the excitement of the business launch, it’s easy to forget or ignore how much money this adventure is going to need.

Over the years, entrepreneurs have told me three other things that have managed to stick with me. Maybe they are so simple they are not worth

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repeating, but the following and a quarter might get you a cup of coffee on a cold day.

John, the first business owner to whom I reported as a supervisor and then a manager, told me, “You can’t change people, Terry.” If only I was able to listen to what he was trying to tell me, I would have saved myself a few sleepless nights over the years.

Yes, people change and, yes, the work environment does make a difference.

But you, the boss, cannot change anybody else, and it’s a stretch to think you can change yourself.

Next up is a banker who told me, “The business has to make money.”

Simple, straightforward, true advice.

With all the current emphasis on mission and vision and values (and I take nothing away from any of these efforts), remember that the business also has to generate a profit. Make too much and you run the risk of becoming a greedy so-and-so, no good to yourself, society or your family.

Don’t make enough and, well, we know what happens.

One of my mentors, Glenn, gets the final word for anyone thinking of starting his or her own business. “If you have an offer of $30,000 a year in salary and are weighing that against starting your own business, take the $30,000.”

Terry Carroll is the publisher of the St. Thomas /Elgin Weekly News and Elgin This Month.

June, 2011

BUSINESS / COMMUNITY MANAGING MONEY

If you’re being let go…

Making sense of your severance or early retirement package The recent recession has had great impact on our economy, and even as we look to a recovery, many families continue to feel the effects of the economic downturn. Such is the case for many local families whose income will be affected by the upcoming closure of the St. Thomas Ford Assembly Plant slated for this fall.

Part of this process is the need to make some important financial decisions surrounding a severance or early retirement package. Usually when a package is offered, the deadline for making these decisions can be quite tight.

Because losing a job is a stressful experience on its own, doing some homework ahead of time can be helpful so you don’t need to make an important financial decision under the added pressure of a short time line. Without the details of the package, you won’t be able to fully evaluate it ahead of time, but what you can do is take some steps to get organized so when you receive your package you are ready.

Some of the things you should consider ahead of time are to: • Figure out your expenses – determine what income you need to meet current expenses • Take stock of your financial resources – make a list of your available assets • Know your RSP contribution room – check your Notice of Assessment for available RSP room • Meet with your financial advisor – revisit your goals and consider a strategy until you find suitable employment.

While each package is unique, it may contain several aspects: • Retiring allowance – some packages contain an amount in recognition of long service, or in respect of a loss of employment. If you had been working for your current employer before 1996, you should be able to transfer a portion of your retiring allowance to your RSP without using your RSP contribution room.

For amounts accrued after 1996, you will rely on your RSP contribution room for tax deferral.

• Cash payment – sometimes there is a cash payment, which, if taken in a lump sum, will be subject to withholding taxes, and is considered taxable income for the year. If you have RSP contribution room available to you, this amount can be rolled into your RSP and tax deferred.

• Pension options – if you are a member of a registered pension plan at the time you receive your package, you will also receive a pension options elections form. You have the option to move your pension funds to a Locked-In self-directed RSP. Your financial advisor can help move your pension funds to a Locked-In RSP that meets your investor profile and coordinates with your current financial plan. In some cases, you are provided with the option of keeping your pension with your previous employer, or moving it to a new employers’ pension plan. Some calculations with your financial advisor will help determine which option is best for you.

• Group benefit options – if you were covered under a group benefit plan, you may be able to convert some benefits to personal plans (life

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losing a job is a stressful experience on its own”

or health insurance) within a certain timeframe (i.e. 30 days) without proof of health. This is a valuable option to consider if you have health issues and may no longer be insurable.

Long-term disability coverage is not portable.

Find a financial advisor who can help you make the most appropriate financial decisions to suit you and your family.

“

by Stephanie Farrow

Stephanie Farrow, B.A., CFP, is a Certified Financial Planner and co-owner of Farrow Financial Services Inc. in Belmont.

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BUSINESS / COMMUNITY ECONOMICS

Getting the word out Social media is the new face of economic development

by Serge Lavoie

knowing that expenditures on social media are prone to that old adage: “I know that half my advertising budget is wasted, I just don’t know which half.” (By the way, to illustrate the central concern of an Internet-driven world, I found attributions for that famous quote to no fewer than five individuals in my first Google search.)

Social media based economic development is criticized for being all flash and no real content. While it’s true that tweets and Facebook posts have a very short shelf life, that concern

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The mayor of Meaford, a small city of 11,000 at the south end of Georgian Bay, hands out business cards with phone numbers for his office, his residence and his cell. He also lists the city’s Facebook site, Twitter site and YouTube site. This is one connected mayor.

The same community has an economic development coordinator who hands out the requisite information about commercial and industrial sites, but also actively conceives and implements community festivals and events. Her job is to create ‘buzz’ about Meaford and position it as a great place to live, work, play and invest. She is a shameless promoter for whom no idea is too silly if it generates interest in her community and lets residents have fun at the same time.

In Hamilton, one person in the communications department has the sole responsibility of creating a profile for the city on every conceivable social media site, then ensuring that mainstream media picks up on this content, thus generating free publicity.

Welcome to the new face of economic development. As budgets shrink, municipalities everywhere are turning to social media and interactive web sites to make a big impression for minimum dollars. It’s a world where international trade promotion and flashy brochures are replaced (or augmented) with 24/7 engagement on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and various blogs.

It’s also a world where municipal politicians are concerned about how to monitor results and effectiveness,

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tent via social media sites.

It could be information about community events and community spirit, as in Meaford, or it could be an unrelenting stream of positive economic news and developments designed to change perceptions, as in Windsor.

Either way, it’s about generating a positive outlook that encourages everyone in the community to get involved. Since we are all part of personal networks that spread far beyond our local boundaries, our engagement

in the process spreads the message regionally, nationally and internationally – all done at a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising and economic development methods.

Understanding how social media works is something of a ‘black art.’

Because it relies on getting people involved in a positive way, there’s a mystery to it. However, when costs are so low and results so impressive, it’s worth living with a bit of uncertainty and a lurking fear that half your budget is ‘wasted.’

Serge Lavoie is president of the Southwest Economic Alliance.

The views expressed are his own.

make a big impression for minimum dollars

misses a key point. Social media engagement is largely designed to generate civic involvement. It’s based on the power of word of mouth, leveraging and using your own citizens as the community’s ambassadors.

Savvy councils and administrations don’t just tell citizens to spread the word about the great community they live in; they supply them with tools (like YouTube videos) and a constant stream of easy to communicate con-

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June, 2011

BUSINESS / COMMUNITY YOUR BUSINESS

Personal health and a healthy business go hand in hand

New location – same trusted body repair

Have you thought about what will happen to your business if you’re sick or out of commission?

by John Regan

Over the past months I have written about keeping your business healthy, but now it’s time to discuss keeping you, the business person, healthy. Face it, you’re not much use to your business or your clients if you’re sick. You have to agree that most business owners, managers and employees with entrepreneurial spirit seldom take a sick day. You have to wonder if they realize that their extreme dedication to their business could make them unhealthy and actually work to damage their business.

I’d like to share a personal story with you about being healthy in business. About two years ago I was involved in a car accident. Without going into all details, I will say that my van was mutilated and I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Before the accident, I was a healthy and active 45-year-old who worked out every day and was an avid cyclist. I had just recently started a new job at the Elgin Business Resource Centre and was busy taking on new projects, training staff and doing a million other tasks. Then the accident occurred. I didn’t have broken bones, but I did suffer severe whiplash and soft tissue damage.

Doctors said that if I hadn’t been in such good shape before the accident that the outcome would have been very different.

I felt great that it looked like my road to recovery would be just a few months due to all those hours on my bike and bow flex. But, almost two years after the accident I continue to work very full days at the office and my daily exercise isn’t bow flex workouts, but an hour of careful stretching. And my bike? It hasn’t seen the road since the accident. Had I not taken care of myself physically before the accident, my current situation would definitely be worse. Now consider if I was a sole owner of a small business – where would I be and would I still be in business?

Something else that amazed me about this accident was the fact that I thought my general practitioner would be my primary caregiver. But I was wrong. My health world opened up to physiotherapy and massage therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic treatments. These were June, 2011

the warriors of my health plan and recovery! I can’t help but think that if I had combined these treatments within my daily or weekly routines before my accident, my recovery progress may be even farther along.

Preventative measures to keep me healthy! That’s a novel idea, isn’t it?

So as you read this, consider your personal health and how it can affect your business. Although you may be fine now, consider how additional preventative measures can prevent chaos down the road – as it did with me.

Although many individuals in business offer traditional and non-traditional health care, I owe my team of “business people” a great deal of thanks for helping me on the long road to recovery. So thank you, Harleen Cheema, Physiotherapist at Talbot Trail; Alyssa Gregory, Massage Therapist; Mike Boone, Acupuncturist at Soteria Health Centres; and Doug Pooley, Chiropractor at Soteria. Thank you for keeping business people like me healthy so we can keep our economy humming along.

Fix Auto, one of Canada’s most trusted auto repair shops, has a new home in St. Thomas. Manager Greg Cadotte and his team have moved from the corner of Ross and Talbot Street to 1012 Talbot Street – the wellknown location of St. Thomas Ford at the corner of First and Talbot Street in the Railway City.

With over 175 locations across the country, Fix Auto offers 24-hour free towing, the convenience of being on most insurance companies’ preferred list and nation-wide lifetime warranty.

Greg Cadotte points out that local experience is also a big factor in the success of Fix Auto. He’s been in the auto business for 25 years, and his Fix Auto

team has many years experience in St. Thomas.

The company offers a “rock-solid guarantee.” Any repairs undertaken at a Fix Auto location are guaranteed across the network of body shops, “no ifs, ands or buts.”

Whatever needs to be done to get vehicles back on the road – frame reconstruction, car paint or collision and body repair – every one of the Fix Auto repair facilities offers the brand of reliable auto repair service that has made the name synonymous with excellence.

To learn more, call 519-631-5801 or visit fixautostthomas.com.

Fix Auto St Thomas 1012 Talbot Str In the back of St Thomas Ford

John Regan Ec.D. (F) is the general manager of the Elgin Business Resource Centre.

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519-631-5801 stthomas@fixauto.com fixautostthomas.com M O N T H

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BUSINESS / COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

Avoiding death by details How to gain greater freedom and fortune in your business

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by Bryan Vine

After interacting with business owners over the years, I have learned with absolute clarity that your goal as a business owner should be to design a company that is distinct from you and quite candidly, works in your absence. You should create a separate cash flow entity, not merely a job for yourself. It should pay you a healthy salary plus a return on your investment of money, time and effort. You should build equity! You should build wealth! Bottom line, your role should be to shape, manage and grow this independent and enduring asset – your business.

Your enterprise should function without you, not because of you. I know this sounds bizarre, but hear me out. While you can be the brains behind the enterprise, you should not be like Hercules trying to hold up the entire weight of the company!

You will be crushed!

Your business should work harder so you don’t have to. You should be able to make money everyday without having to work everyday. You should invest more brain equity and leadership equity and much less sweat equity into your company. You should strive to build a business that does not imprison you and does not rely on your being present every minute of every day doing all the thinking, deciding, worrying and working.

You must become a strategic business owner. Specifically, you must learn to adopt a CEO mindset; systematize and document your business; lead more and work less; create

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excel at leadership, not doer-ship

a simple business plan; utilize the leverage of marketing; effectively manage your greatest asset, your people; and learn to let go. In short, you must transform the way you see yourself and your business.

As a strategic business owner, your primary aim should be to develop a self-managing and systems-oriented business that still runs consistently, predictably, smoothly and profitably while you are not there. You should shape and own the business system (again, an integrated web of processes) and employ competent and caring employees to operate the system. You should document the work of your business so that you can effectively train others to execute the work. You must make yourself replaceable in the technical trenches of your business. To repeat, define and document the specific work to be done and then train and delegate.

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This is how you begin successfully to beat the blues, escape death by details, and gain greater freedom.

With a documented operating system, your employees should be able to carry on the work of the business while you focus on big picture priorities or God forbid decide to take a break. You should be able to escape the daily drudgery. In fact, your company should run on autopilot status even while you’re on an extended, work-free, guilt-free vacation. If it does, you will have designed and built a business that truly works and is worth a fortune.

More importantly, in the process, you will have gained back a personal life that is fulfilling.

As a business owner and/or manager, take these steps for a life-changing process: Step one: learn to work on yourself by transitioning to a new way of thinking and behaving. Re-program yourself and your habits. Stop acting like an employee and start thinking like a CEO. Step two: systematize your company by creating, documenting and continually improving all your key processes, procedures and policies.

Trust the business system and personnel you put in place and remove yourself from the company’s daily details. Replace yourself with other people. Define and document the work to be done. Train others and delegate the work. This operating system is your foundation for freedom.

Step three: increase your leadership capabilities. Excel at leadership, not

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doer-ship. Your business needs a clear vision and strong leader to hold others accountable, not another employee doing technical work. Help build and direct your team.

Step four: develop clarity of direction for your business and employees by creating a simple business plan and an effective implementation process.

Step five: learn to effectively manage your people, your greatest asset.

Step six: instead of incremental growth, engage the leverage of marketing to achieve substantial, profitable growth.

Step seven: learn to let go, delegate, and truly enjoy business ownership, your relationships, and your life.

By working less in your business, you gain more time to work on your business and make those essential changes necessary to optimize your company and your life. You may well be skeptical. That’s normal. However, let me ask you “Are your current paths and strategies working?” If so, you wouldn’t be searching for answers here. If not, I invite you to acknowledge the problems in your business, take responsibility for them and dare to try new approaches.

Bryan Vine is co-owner of The Growth Coach in St. Thomas.

June, 2011

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Business Beat Table of Contents Members Golf Day ................................page 10 2012 will be golden ...............................page 11 The winding trail of the mushroom case ....... page 12 Membership 101 .....page 13 Understanding how liability can impact you ........page 14 TGIF!! ......................page 15 Welcome new members ................................page 16

Business After 5 Wednesday June 15, 2011 Pinafore Park Main Pavilion St. Thomas Sponsored by Tim Hortons

World’s most exciting aircraft on their way to St. Thomas The skies of St. Thomas will overflow with the thunder and spectacle of the world’s most exciting aircraft. You can experience the 2011 Great Lakes International Air Show by visiting the St. Thomas Airport from June 24 to 26.

This premier air show and charitable event will showcase an impressive array of historic warbirds and modern military aircraft, including the world famous Canadian Forces Snowbirds, US military, SkyHawks, Combined Arms Display with pyrotechnics, CF-18 Demonstration team and the one-of-a-kind Helldiver. The US Navy will also celebrate their centennial anniversary of aviation by providing over 20 planes, including the Coast Guard Helicopter as well as fighters and trainers.

Funds raised will benefit the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, the Military Family Resource Centre (London), St. John Ambulance and the Air Cadets.

On Saturday and Sunday, gates are open from 8am to 5:30pm, and the air show runs between 1-4:30pm.

On Friday, considered ar-

The only flying SB2C Helldiver left on earth will display its impressive dive-bombing, rocket attacks and strafing runs as it visits the 2011 Great Lakes International Air Show.

rival day for many aircraft, gates are open from 48:30pm.

Discounted presale tickets can be purchased now at participating Libro Financial locations or visit us online for more information at www.greatlakesinternationalairshow.ca.

Onsite tickets will also be available at the air show.

There is no parking onsite, so please plan ahead to park in outside designated lots.

Hangin’ the shingle My Broadcasting Corporation Vice-President Jeff Degraw (left) joins Rob Mise, newly appointed General Manager of the new St. Thomas MyFM 94.1 as the pair prepare to open the new radio station studios in the commercial plaza at Grand Central Place.

July Edition Advertising Deadline is June 13 Doors open at 5pm. Sponsor remarks and prize draws start at 6:15pm. Free admission for anyone from a business organization that is a Member of the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce.

Take part in our feature on Small Business.

July - Financing a Small Business August - Running a Successful Small Business To take advantage of this excellent advertising opportunity, give me a call at Greg Minnema, Advertising Sales

519-633-1640 (ext. 22) or email me at gregthismonth@theweeklynews.ca

Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and your favourite beverages.

June, 2011

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BUSINESS BEAT

CHAMBER NEWS Events and News of Interest to our Members

Members Golf Day – an experience to enjoy!

1.59% 6.9¢ 1.64%

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The Chamber’s annual Members Golf Day at St. Thomas Golf & Country Club is one of the longest running events in this area. 2011 marks our 37th consecutive year, and we’re proud to say that our volunteers and staff have been enthusiastically working to make the day a high-value experience for everyone. It’s not just golf. It’s business-building and contact-making in a premium-quality environment with a priority placed on fun and enjoyment.

Here’s a preview of what our sold-out field of 120 golfers will enjoy this year.

As the sun shines down on Sparta Line and you enter the stone gates of the St Thomas Golf & Country Club, you’ll find you’re in for a superior day of golf, networking and socializing. Meander your way up the drive to the club valet service. Your clubs will be taken by attendants to your cart, thanks to the sponsorship of St Thomas’ newest radio station, MyFM 94.1.

Make your way back to the registration area at the clubhouse where Chamber staff and volunteers will greet you and provide information on what to expect for the day. Take the opportunity to improve your score and purchase some Mulligans (it’s okay, it’s like being permitted to cheat!). Enjoy a cold cup of Orangeade from Mackies on the Beach, part of our tribute to their celebration of 100 years in business! You could also enjoy some snacks and hot coffee from Tim Hortons before you go in for lunch. That’s right, the clubhouse lounge is open for lunch, and perhaps another cold beverage – but remember, remove your hat before you enter. Those that forget the ageold tradition will have to buy the entire lounge a beverage. Hey, it’s tradition, so be careful!

Once lunch and registration are completed you will head to your assigned carts and get set for the shotgun start at 1:30pm sharp.

On-course treats and experiences will be plentiful. If you are first off the tee at the clubhouse on hole number one, you’ll have your foursome photo taken by iDS (Integrated Digital Solutions) before you hammer it 323 yards, and the photos will be ready for you when you finish your round, printed on an iDS sponsored technologically advanced copier. You will enjoy a chance at TWO $10,000 hole-in-one shots, generously sponsored by St. Thomas Glass and Reith & Associates Insurance and Financial Services.

Could we have a winner this year? Last year Graham Weatherall from the YMCA came INCHES away from ten grand. This year, we’re offering twice as many chances! By the way, Graham still did take home a Cadillac for a long weekend courtesy of Disbrowe Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac. That prize returns on hole 9 this year in a closest-to-the-pin competition, so someone is guaranteed to have a sweet ride for a few days!

On-course beverage service, of course, will be available and we’re also offering both food and beverage sampling opportunities (yes, FREE!) throughout the afternoon. Check a special exhibit and display, a brand new golf practice system from Backhand Brands.

Somewhere on the track Jeff Oegema from Boost Your Brand will be serving turkey-themed treats from his cousin Mike’s family operation, Oegema Turkey Farms. Their farm also happens to be responsible for a major portion of our meal at dinnertime this year. After all, nothing says Elgin County like fresh turkey!

Longest drive, closest-to-the-pin and some other games and fun experiences are all part of our plan, too.

On your return to the Clubhouse, we’re making a bet that our Silent Auction table will draw some ooohs and ahhhs. Without reservation, we’re happy to say this one will be our best ever. Need a new BBQ? How about catering for a party? Or an original piece of art by the Public Art Centre’s Laura Woermke? Or a Darryl Sittler autographed hockey stick? There’s even a voucher for $500 worth of radio advertising on MyFM. We’re wishing we could still ask you to join this event but, sorry, we’re completely sold-out. Best advice is to book early next year. Members Golf Day #38 will be held, as always, on the second Thursday of June.

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June, 2011

BUSINESS BEAT

CHAMBER NEWS Events and News of Interest to our Members

2012 will be golden Next year is shaping up to be golden in the Chamber network – golden as in “Golden Horseshoe.”

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has announced that Hamilton is the successful bidder to host the 2012 Canadian Chamber Convention and Annual General Meeting. This national convention is regarded as high-value among event organizers and suppliers as it attracts a crowd of 700-800 delegates and guests from across the country, plus dozens of exhibitors and presenters, and coincides with the annual meeting of the national Chamber staff association. Over a period of 6 to 8 days, that’s a lot of meals, events and hotel room nights.

Just prior to the national Chamber’s announcement, the Ontario Chamber (OCC) confirmed that the provincial Chamber of Commerce AGM & Convention in May of 2012 will also be held in the same region as St. CatharinesThorold made the winning bid to host. The OCC also announced the May 2013 host community will be our neighbours in Chatham-Kent.

Sarah Fangeat of Waterworks, Cindy Thwaites Meredith of Gastech Solutions, Jeff Oegema of Boost your Brand, Rob Mise from MyFM 94.1 St. Thomas, Laura Woermke of the St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre, Karen Vecchio from MP Joe Preston’s office and Ronda Stewart of EBRC. Go Team Go – your support means a lot to our Members, our community and the Chamber!

MSC and Membership growth going strong The Chamber congratulates everyone involved with work to serve existing Members and welcome 89 new ones!

In a report from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce using data to March 31 we learned the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce has recorded the highest number of new Members of any Chamber in Ontario over the past year. The preceding 12 months showed net year-over-year growth of 89 new businesses and organizations registered with us. Membership sales and registration is primarily a staff function, so special thanks go to our two staff members working daily in and on Member Services functions: Mike Vecchio and John Regan is Chair of the 2011 Wes Bailey.

Member Services Committee.

On the volunteer side of Member Services we are also very pleased and proud to recognize the work of our MSC (Member Services Committee). These are our volunteers who design, deliver and assist in the production of special events serving our entire membership. They are active on a busy calendar of 22 functions this year which range from our June 9 Members Golf Day to support of our monthly Business After 5 networking functions.

John Regan, General Manager of the Elgin Business Resource Centre is the Chair of our 2011 MSC. Mike Vecchio is the Chamber’s staff liaison to the group. Committee Members at present (we’re always ready for more) include Jesse Brown from Libro Financial Group, Jeff Wood of Boston Pizza,

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Ten together Chamber staff reps Mike Vecchio (left) and Wes Bailey joined Welcome Wagon’s Frances Kana as the Chamber received a plaque commemorating 10 years of business together. Welcome Wagon’s information services assist the Chamber in identifying new business start-ups and welcoming new residents to our region.

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LEGAL BUSINESS Legal News and Issues for Business

The winding trail of the mushroom case

by Monty Fordham

The Supreme Court of Canada, on April 29, issued its decision in the Fraser case, which seeks to finally determine the rights of farm workers in Ontario to unionize, and to collectively bargain, as well as the constitutional status of The Agricultural Employees Protection Act, 2002. The main issue is “freedom of association” under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The road has been long and not without its twists and turns.

Perhaps a GPS road map would be in order.

1. 1994 – Bob Rae’s NDP government passes the Agricultural Labour Relations Act, allowing farm workers to unionize with most of the rights contained in the Labour Relations Act. (Swerve to the left.)

2. 1995 – the NDP is replaced with Mike Harris’ Conservatives, who immediately repeal the Act. (Lurch back to the right). They pass the Labour Relations and Employment Statute Law Amendment Act, which provides none of the rights to farm workers under the Labour Relations Act. (Big swerve to the right.)

3. Supreme Court of Canada, in the Dunmore case, brought by a group of mushroom farm workers, strikes down the new Act as unconstitutional. Gives the government 18 months to pass constitutional legis-

lation. (Turn gradually to the left and stall for 18 months.)

4. 2002 – Mike Harris’ PCs pass the Agricultural Employees Protection Act, 2002, which provides to farm workers most of the rights under the Labour Relations Act, except the right to collectively bargain and to strike.

(Slight turn to the right).

5. 2003 – PCs are replaced by Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals, who keep the Agricultural Employees Protection Act in place. (Drive up the centre of the road). However, shortly after, the Fraser case starts, in which essentially the same group of mushroom farm workers as in Dunmore, seek to strike down the legislation. (Left turn signal is activated).

6. 2007 – Supreme Court of Canada decides a B.C. case and endorses the right to collectively bargain as a right under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (Looks like a left turn ahead).

7. 2008 – Ontario Court of Appeal thinks it is following the Supreme Court and strikes down the Act as unconditional. Gives the government 12 months to come up with acceptable legislation. The Court endorses the right of the mushroom workers and all farm workers to collectively bargain. The Ontario government appeals the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada. (I think

Lawyer Monty Fordham prepares this monthly column for the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce and our Members. Monty is also a volunteer serving on the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Questions, comments and suggestions for future columns are welcomed by Monty at his Law Office, 4 Elgin Street, St. Thomas. Telephone 519-633-4000, FAX 519-633-1371 or e-mail: montyfordham@4elgin.ca

“

The road has been long and not without its twists and turns

we’ve missed a turn somewhere).

8. 2009 – the Supreme Court hears the Fraser appeal (We’re stopped on the road.)

9. 2011 – the Supreme Court delivers its decision in Fraser. In an 8 to 1 decision, the court grants the appeal and finds that the Agricultural Employees Protection Act is constitutional. However, the judges were somewhat divergent in their individual analyses. For now, farm workers would seem not to have the right to collectively bargain in the classical sense. They do have the right to make representations, and employers must undertake “good faith” discussion.

Some constitutional scholars have pointed out that the Fraser decision creates more questions than answers for farm employers and employees alike. (We’re stopped in the fog – at least for now).

“

BUSINESS BEAT

Unzipped marketing Wednesday June 29, 8:30am to 4:30pm The Chamber is pleased to support the Elgin Business Resource Centre and ICE (Innovation Centre for Entrepreneurs) in presenting three marketing events designed for small business operators, and people who want to be.

Acclaimed entrepeneur/speaker/author Terry Straker will lead this “marketing intensive” day offering training and know-how at the Best Western Plus Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre. Registration is $99 per person. For complete details, visit the Chamber website at www.stthomaschamber.on.ca or contact the EBRC at 519-633-7597 and speak with Melinda at ext. 324.

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June, 2011

BUSINESS BEAT

CHAMBER NEWS Events and News of Interest to our Members

Membership 101 The Chamber of Commerce office in St. Thomas, as in over 200 other Chambers across Ontario and more than 800 across Canada, welcomes New Members at any time.

Not a week goes by when the Chamber staff isn’t challenged with basic questions about membership.

Here’s a quick ‘how-to’ guide you can share if you know of any business or organization that could benefit from being part of the world’s biggest business network.

Who can join the Chamber?

The answer isn’t so much ‘who’ but ‘what.’ Chamber Members aren’t people; they are businesses and organizations. The people within them may be designated as representatives or points of contact. Once a business or organization is accepted as a Member, all personnel within it have access to all Chamber programs, products and services. Some programs even extend to retirees and/or employee’s family

members. Interest in the economic wellbeing of our area is the Chamber’s main expectation of all Members.

What’s the cost?

It varies, depending on the size of the business, as measured by the number of full-time (or equivalent) employees in local operations. In St. Thomas & District, 2011 fees range from $85 to $2,250. The term of membership is 12 months from date of acceptance.

Is membership required to attend Chamber events?

Yes. Guest privileges (once per year) are an option to, for example, explore a regular event such as our monthly Business After 5 functions.

Do I have to go to meetings?

Not a chance. What you get from membership is proportional to what you put into attending events and joining committees. Participating at any level is, in our opinion, the best path but it’s certainly not forced.

Some businesses join to gain the credibility. Research shows 63 percent of consumers are more likely to buy a product or service from an unfamiliar company or one they have never done business with when they know the company is a Chamber Member.

How do we sign-up?

Talk to any staff member at the Chamber office. Locally, Mike Vecchio is our primary contact for mem-

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Sponsors make it happen The Chamber always appreciates the support of our Members as event sponsors. Shown above right, Gary Scrivens, co-owner of The Wharf Restaurant & Banquet Facility takes a moment at the microphone at May’s Business After 5. It was co-sponsored by Simply Pure Water with operators [above] Henk and Darlene Van Pelt (left) and Chris Patriquin.

berships and events but all staff can respond to any request and start the process of registering. The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce is at 555 Talbot Street, next to City Hall. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Calls are welcome at 519-631-1981 and complete application form sets are on our website at www.stthomaschamber.on.ca

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BUSINESS BEAT

PRO TEXT Business Management News & Issues

Understanding how liability can impact you

by Dan Reith

In my profession it not uncommon to hear the phrase “…well it’s not going to happen to me…”; followed by “…delete that coverage…” or “… .lower that limit….” With insurance, cheaper is never better and quite often not even the same.

Insurance is about managing risk and transferring the responsibility of loss. If you or your business suffer a loss, how much do you want to be responsible for, and how much do want someone else to be responsible for? That someone else is your insurance company. You pay a premium for the privilege, convenience or peace of mind that someone else is assuming a share of your loss. When your policy is lacking for property coverage one can always use personal resources to fill the gap; but with liability you face not only a potentially large court award but the cost of defending that law suit which could take years.

The cost of defending a liability suit is paid by your insurer in addition to the court award and in most cases does not come out of the limit of the policy. If your policy carries a $1,000,000 limit of liability, for ex-

14

ample, and the court awards $1 million to the injured party, the cost for lawyers, investigators, professional witnesses etc. is paid on top of that $1 million. Where the suit or amount claimed exceeds the limit to your policy one must then obtain and pay, out of pocket, for legal representation for every dollar beyond the policy limit.

There are many cases where the action is settled out of court for a nominal sum yet the legal costs have exceeds hundreds of thousands of dollars. Can you pay that? Oh, and don’t forget, claiming bankruptcy is no longer the solution to dodging debts that are court awards.

Opposite all this is the false belief we often hear “…I can’t be sued…”

But you can! Provided an alleged injured party can convince a legal professional that the case has merit, the action can be presented. It is of equal importance to note that as an employer you are legally responsible for the actions of your employees while they are under your employ and acting in the scope of their employment. Are you really prepared financially to shoulder the potential exposure?

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Here are some examples of liability claims and the court award: Summer day camp agrees to pay $2-million settlement Insurers for an Ontario summer day camp agreed to pay almost $2 million plus costs for injuries to a camper in July 2003. The eight-yearold boy fell three metres from a climbing wall in a woodland area. The fall caused serious skull fractures resulting in brain injuries that are expected to have a lasting learning and behavioral impact. The insurer’s investigation suggested that the boy was using the climbing wall incorrectly, but the activity was insufficiently supervised.

Supreme Court throws out $342,000 award in water bottle case Ontario’s “fly in the water bottle” case reached the Supreme Court of Canada. Waddah Mustapha won a $342,000 trial court judgment for emotional trauma after he saw a dead fly in an unopened bottle of water.

The Ontario Court of Appeal overturned the trial court, and the Supreme Court of Canada heard the case in March 2008.

The plaintiff, Mustapha, said that as he was lifting a clear plastic water container onto his kitchen dispenser, he and his wife noticed a dead fly and part of another one floating in the water. Mrs. Mustapha, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was immediately sick. Mr. Mustapha subsequently suffered physical and psychological conditions.

In April 2005, a trial court ruled that the water supplier, Culligan, was liable for $342,000 in damages to the Mustaphas. Culligan appealed the trial court ruling and in December 2006, the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled the plaintiff’s injuries were not reasonably foreseeable and so did not give rise to cause of action.

The Supreme Court agreed that the injuries were not reasonably foreseeable, so Culligan owed no duty of care to Mustaphas. The court was also asked to determine whether the Mustaphas sustained a compensable

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injury. Emotional or psychological harms do not normally attract damages in the absence of physical injury but, in this case, the Supreme Court agreed with the trial court judge that the psychiatric illness was debilitating and had a significant impact on his life, thus qualifying as a personal injury at law.

This part of the court’s ruling may have a considerable impact on how the courts treat purely psychological injuries in the future.

Pilot awarded record $3 million for defamation After several years of fighting to clear his name, an ex-pilot was awarded the largest defamation award in Canadian history. SkyService Airlines fired Rick Fennimore in November 2001 claiming that Fennimore had been seen at a party with a drink in his hand less than seven hours before a flight – a violation of Canadian law as well as the company’s policy.

Fennimore said he wasn’t even at the party, but was denied an opportunity to refute the allegations. He had no success in obtaining similar employment elsewhere. The allegations, which were made in front of other pilots, were repeated when Fennimore applied for government employment insurance and were never proven.

The jury based the award on evidence that Fennimore had lost more than $800,000 in wages in the seven years since he was fired. The jury also heard that the amount of lost wages would have exceeded $3 million, assuming he had worked as a pilot until he was 65. The $3-million award was more than double the previous largest award.

The moral of these stories: respect your insurance policies as a necessary asset and not an expense next time you are reviewing your insurance program. Remember, a lawsuit can happen to you. Consider liability coverage as an important part of your loss management program.

We thank Elliott Special Risks LP for providing the cases summarized above.

This column appears regularly in Business Beat and has been submitted

by Dan Reith, BA(Hons) CAIB, Principal Broker, Reith & Associates Insurance and Financial Services Limited. Questions and comments on this column are welcomed by the writer at 519-631-3862 or via email: info@reithandassociates.com June, 2011

BUSINESS BEAT

POSITIVE EXPOSURE Doing Public Relations Right

TGIF !! – and it’s not ‘Thank goodness it’s Friday’!

by Allan Weatherall

All thing being equal, people want to do business with their friends. All things being not so equal, people still want to do business with their friends.

How do you help level this playing field? One of the areas is marketing yourself and your business.

According to Wikipedia, marketing is a “strategy and process allowing an organization to concentrate limited resources upon the greatest opportunities to increase sales and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.”

Each business has its own uniqueness with different strengths and weaknesses and different competitive threats. Similarly, each can leverage sales and marketing opportunities in different ways. Therefore, you will want to develop your own business strategy and from that strategy, your own business plan. Marketing is no different.

Overall, effective marketing is really quite simple. Identify your goals. Determine how best to get there and your tactics. Measure your progress and analyze your results. Make course

corrections as needed.

What is your strategy to do business?

What goals has your business set for the next year or two years? It should support the business strategy and help you meet your goals. A marketing strategy is not a stand-alone project, but rather one that should tie into new or existing marketing and sales programs.

After reviewing your business goals, define which ones to support through your marketing efforts. Set targets and then determine which are most likely to help achieve the anticipated results.

Ultimately, these strategies should encourage prospects to make contact with you and use your product or support your services.

Next, your strategy needs to become an achievable plan. How will you put the plan together? Who is responsible?

What is the budget? When will it start and end? Who is your target audience?

What realistic results do you expect?

However, without testing and analyzing your results you’re probably spinning your wheels.

However, through all of this please remember that social media is not the

answer to marketing woes. But a strong, strategic plan is.

TGIF – that’s Twitter, Google, the Internet and Facebook. Listening to some people you might get the impression that the answer to every marketing problem is one or all of the above. We just need to use these four tools, use them more often, invest more money and resources in them and we will become the market leader. There is no doubt these four revolutionary developments have forever changed how we market products and services. But are they the answer?

I think not! As powerful and effective as these media can be, they are not at the core of what makes brands strong. The most important thing is an effective marketing strategy.

The point is obvious. While TGIF are useful, effective tools and should be important elements in most marketing campaigns, they will not compensate for a bad marketing strategy.

Without a good strategy, no medium will be effective. With an effective strategy, just about every medium can be effective.

Do the hard work. Focus upon your brand strategy. Then be prepared to choose the appropriate tactics to win the marketing wars. Your marketing plan must be flexible all the time and be adaptable to change.

To paraphrase something Charles Darwin said: “It is not the strongest of the ‘marketers’ that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.”

This article has been prepared for the Chamber and our Members by Allan Weatherall, B.A., CFRE, APR Director of Development at the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation. He received accreditation (APR) from the Canadian Public Relations Society in 1993 and a CFRE (certified fundraising executive) in 2000. He welcomes your comments via email to: aweather@stegh.on.ca or telephone 519-631-2030 extension 2247

SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM Employers receive a wage subsidy when they hire registered students for summer employment.

Employers register now, Funding is limited.

Applications available at Aylmer, St Thomas, West Lorne offices, summer student office at the Talbot Teen Centre (St Thomas) and at www.jobselgin.ca Employers can also post student job openings on website.

• 400 Talbot St., St.Thomas Call: 519-631-5470 Fax: 519-633-5854 • 25 Centre St., Aylmer Call: 519-765-2082 Fax: 519-765-2280 • 160 Main St., West Lorne Call: 519- 768-0020 Fax: 519-768-0401

June, 2011

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BUSINESS BEAT

NEW MEMBERS Welcome To The Chamber Network

The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome the following businesses and individuals as our newest Members. The staff and management of the organizations shown below were accepted as registered Members from April 16, 2011 to May 15, 2011.

Backhand Brands Inc. 6114 Bostwick Road Union, ON N0L 2L0 Phone: 519-636-6246 Email: info@backhandbrands.com Website: www.backhandbrands.com Contact: Ron Lampman, Co-Owner Buyer’s Guide Categories: Promotional Products, Sports Equipment & Clothing, Advertising/Promotion Products & Services: ‘It’s not just a glove, it’s a billboard!’

Backhand Brands specializes in putting your custom brand identity on the back of high quality sports gloves including those used in tennis, golf, baseball, fishing, football, curling, hiking, skiing, motorcycling and more, plus inflatable golf target units.

Christian Horizons 46 Regent Street St. Thomas, ON N5R 2A2 Phone: 226-268-1002 Email: agroeneweg@christian-horizons.org Website: www.christian-horizons.org Contact: Amber Groeneweg, Program Manager Buyer’s Guide Category: Agencies & Associations, Community

Services Products & Services: Christian Horizons is a non-profit, faithbased charitable organization serving nearly 1,500 Ontario families. With more than 200 residences as well as respite care homes and retreat facilities, they offer programs and services that can be tailored to meet a wide variety of needs.

Crazy Joe's Gym 509 Talbot Street St. Thomas, ON N5P 1C3 Phone: 519-633-1762 Email: joe.crazyjoe.walker@gmail.com Contact: Joe Walker, Owner Buyer’s Guide Category: Sports, Recreation & Fitness Products & Services: Crazy Joe's Gym offers personal training, and Crazy Joe will work closely with you through a custom designed program to get you started in the right direction.

Call Joe anytime to find out more about Joe's many fitness programs and find out what he can do for you and your family.

J & K Overhead Doors 42814 Fruit Ridge Line St. Thomas, ON N5P 3S9 Phone: 519-631-7461 Fax: 519-631-7461 Email: jkoverheaddoors@start.ca Contacts: Monica Wiebe, Co-Owner; Peter Wiebe, Co-Owner Buyer’s Guide Category: Windows & Doors Products & Services: Sales, service & installation of garage overhead doors and garage door openers.

MyFM 94.1 St. Thomas Grand Central Place 2 - 300 Talbot Street, Lower Level St. Thomas, ON N5P 4E2 Email: rob.mise@myfmradio.ca Website: www.myfmradio.ca Phone: 519-633-6936 Fax: 519-637-8410 Contacts: Rob Mise, General Manager/Sales Manager; Jeff Degraw, Vice-President of Sales Buyer’s Guide Categories: Advertising/Promotion, Radio Stations Products & Services: MyFM is St. Thomas’ new community radio station at 94.1 on the FM dial. You'll hear today's variety long sets of the music you know and love. Local news is a priority to let you find out what is happening in St. Thomas and Elgin County with up-to-the-minute updates, plus the only weather exclusively for St. Thomas and their exclusive 3-day forecast from those that know. MyFM provides a daily commitment to local charities and non-profit groups.

Published by Carroll Publishing Inc. and delivered to businesses in St. Thomas and Elgin County For complete information on the St.Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce, reach us at: 555 Talbot Street, St.Thomas, ON N5P 1C5 Telephone: 519-631-1981 Fax: 519-631-0466 E-Mail: mail@stthomaschamber.on.ca Website: www.stthomaschamber.on.ca

President & CEO

Bob Hammersley

Member Services Coordinator

Mike Vecchio

Accounting Coordinator

Susan Munday

Project Marketing

Sue McKittrick

Member Services

Wes Bailey

Staples 3 - 1063 Talbot Street St. Thomas, N5P 1G4 Email: s441gm@busdep.com Website: www.staples.ca Phone: 519-631-1810 Fax: 519-631-0749 Contacts: Derek Brooks, General Manager; Meaghan Cousineau, Business Support Manager; Shawn Betts, Copy & Print Centre Consultant Buyer’s Guide Categories: Audio Visual Systems - Sales & Rentals, Business Equipment & Supplies, Information Technology Services, Mailing/Shipping Services, Office Furnishings & Supplies, Photocopying, Postal Services, Printers & Publishing, Promotional Products Products & Services: Staples is Canada’s largest everyday-lowprice supplier of office supplies, business machines, office furniture and business services specializing in the needs of small business and home office customers.

Acting Chair: Linda Sawyer Vice-Chair: Jason White Treasurer: Paul Smith Director: Pete Charlton Director: Monty Fordham Director: Frances Kennedy Director: Jeff Kohler Director: Mark Lassam

BMO Bank of Montreal Steelway Building Systems P.J. Smith & Associates Charlton’s Quality Meats Monty Fordham Law Office P3 Strategies Presstran Industries Kee, Perry & Lassam Chartered Accountants Director: Debra Mountenay Workforce Planning & Development Board Director: John Regan Elgin Business Resource Centre Director: Darren Reith Reith and Associates Insurance & Financial Director: Allan Weatherall St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation Director: Laura Woermke St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre

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J. Stuart Harper P.Eng. President 63 Gaylord Road, St.Thomas P.O. Box 511, St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 3R9 Ontario519-633-2670 N5P 3V6 Phone: Phone: 519-633-2670 Fax: 519-631-9154

Fax: 519-631-9154

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Save 3.0¢/litre Chamber members qualify for Esso’s Direct Billing Program; you pay 3.0¢ off the posted retail pump price whenever you fuel up.

You may also get a convenient, detailed monthly invoice and also qualify for Speedpass®. For an application, contact:

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June, 2011

Starting A New Business NEW IDEAS

A new small business idea?

CAD skills may be useful in creating designs for 3-D printing technology

by Peter Atkinson

This month I want to tell you about an amazing technology that’s beginning to enter the mainstream and that, with factory layoffs in our future, I think might be especially relevant. The technology is 3-D printing. In a nutshell, you print things instead of documents: toys, jewellery, mechanical parts, architectural models or pretty much whatever you can think of. A 3-D printer works in the same way as a document printer but, instead of spraying ink, it lays down very thin layers of materials like plastic, glass and metal that build up to create solid objects (which means it actually creates things, not just printing on them).

It sounds incredible doesn’t it, but it’s real and it’s happening today. It’s not just for fun either; it’s reducing costs and improving efficiencies around the world. A British company is using 3-D printing to create a complex bracket out of titanium for aircraft landing gear. In Germany, it’s turning out dental crowns and a company in Winnipeg is using 3-D printing to make the body for a hybrid car.

Sometimes called ‘additive’ manufacturing, (instead of ‘subtractive’ because the item is built up instead of being cut or drilled from a block of the original material), 3-D printing makes it easy and inexpensive to experiment and customize everything from complex mechanical gears to decorative items. Web sites like Shapeways, imaterialize and Sculpteo let you modify existing products or design your own to come up with your own unique creation.

The long-term vision for this tech-

nology is that people will create what they need when they need it. For example, when a household item breaks, instead of having to buy a new one, you would download the plans for the part to your computer, press ‘Print’ and go have lunch while the replacement part is being created for you.

If this reminds you of Star Trek’s cafeteria, you’re not far off; Manhattan’s Culinary Institute has created a 3-D printer to create food shapes.

While it`s not turning out plates of burgers and fries yet, their technology can use anything with a liquidlike consistency (think melted chocolate, mashed potatoes, icing) to create a shape.

The cost has plummeted in recent years and, while heavy-duty models can cost over $25,000, a small 3-D printer can cost as little as $1,500.

An online search for 3-D printing will point you to everything from how-to videos to online 3-D printing communities.

The printer needs three pieces of information to make an object: the shape you want to create, instructions on how that shape is made and the material you want to use to make it.

The first step can be the most challenging. You can use the websites mentioned above or download software like Google’s SketchUp, (available for free), to create designs in 3-D. Good programs like SketchUp aren’t hard to use, though naturally there’s a learning curve.

But here’s where it gets interesting for our community. In Elgin County we already have plenty of experts in 3-D design, people who’ve been using CAD (Computer Assisted De-

The Home Based Business Association There are many benefits to joining

• Provides networking opportunities for members.

• Encourages and assists members in their personal and professional growth.

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BUSINESS ADVICE SERVED STRAIGHT-UP

• Help educate the general public of the positive benefits home based businesses .

• Bi-monthly meetings at Elgin Mall’s Community Room; with Guest Speakers.

FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

Mark A. Wales

JENNIFER WHALLS

www.thehomebasedbusinessassociation.com tel: 519-207-1115 E L G I N

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Peter Atkinson is E-Services Consultant at the St. Thomas Public Library.

Mark A Wales

The HBBA is open to all home based businesses.

June, 2011

sign) to turn out everything from ball bearings to auto parts. With a 3-D printer and a good idea, who knows what these people could create? What new businesses might they launch? What new products could they create to change our lives?

I’m hoping that we’ll get to find out as Elgin County benefits from our unique mix of creativity, expertise and technology.

TAMMY SLOTA

www.markawales.ca

190 Centre St., St. Thomas 519-637-0700 M O N T H

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Starting A Small Business STARTING OUT

A blueprint for self-employment success Things you need to think about when considering starting a business

by Jesse Terpstra

Name your business The name of your company becomes your identity in the market.

Try for something short, memorable and descriptive of your business. It’s also critical to check to make sure your chosen name doesn’t conflict with an existing trademark. If web

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presence is important to your new endeavor, check to see if your desired domain name is available.

Blueprint for success The process of writing a business plan is challenging and time-consuming, but very worthwhile. A typical plan includes an executive summary, a description of the business and its products or services, a marketing strategy, an operations plan, financial data and projections, a management description and analyses of the market, the competition and the risk involved. You can find a template at libro.ca/commercial/tools.

Money, money, money Raising the money to start a new business is almost always the most difficult part. The Government of Canada offers the Small Business Financing Program available through credit unions and banks. Libro offers current accounts, commercial loans and lines of credit for businesses.

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The first step is to do your homework

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Over half of the Canadian labour force is either self-employed or working for a small business with less than 50 employees. Every year, thousands of new small businesses are created – and thousands of those go bankrupt within the first year of operation. If you want to join this intrepid army of business owners, how can you ensure your success?

Follow your dream To be passionate, knowledgeable and dedicated is crucial to business success. Critically assess your interests, skills and knowledge. Develop a business that fascinates you and demands all of your talent.

Research The first step is to do your homework. Research the industry and investigate the competition. Industry Canada (www.ic.gc.ca) is a great place to start your research. The more knowledgeable you are, the better your chance for success.

Work, work, work Business owners work longer and harder than most employees, especially in the beginning. You need to be 100% committed to your new business because you’ll be investing a lot of blood, sweat, tears and money into it. Address any doubts or hesitations before you sign any dotted lines.

Jesse Terpstra is Branch Manager of the Libro Financial Group in St. Thomas.

Over 100 years of serving businesses, organizations and individuals throughout Elgin County. Let us discuss your corporate needs or your next commercial or property transaction.

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“ Thorough Service, Effective Representation” Robert F. Cline A. John Sanders David V. Taylor 14 Southwick St.,St. Thomas • 519-633-0800 w w w. s a n d l a w y e r s . c a M O N T H

June, 2011

Starting A Small Business HOME OFFICE

Work from home – safely and securely Using technology to keep your business and information secure

data safely and automatically do all the recordkeeping you need for taxes, invoices, receipts and more.

Scan your paperwork – By investing in a small portable scanner with software that can recognize and interpret numbers on documents, you can easily store and access paper records. A big and much safer improvement on the ‘wallet-based’ filing system, scanners can greatly contribute to the development of a paperless environment.

Rent a room – Working safely from home also means knowing when not to. Anyone who has faceto-face dealings with clients – espe-

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save a copy of your work on a daily basis

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When information technology revolutionized the way we work, it also changed where we work. With instant access to information and an array of communication options, there’s been a huge increase in the number of people now working from their homes. And with that, a whole new set of issues.

But while working from home can often feel less formal, the responsibilities for safeguarding information – whether it belongs to clients, employees or even our own – is anything but casual. Fortunately, the technology that has created the problem in the first place can also help resolve it. Here are some tips for working from home safely.

Protect your computer – With an assortment of rigorous anti-virus and automatic back-up products available, there is no excuse for not properly protecting your computer and any client information stored there.

Programs are available that can effectively block a large number of invasion attempts, and some can even track where the attempts to shanghai your system come from. Other tools will automatically save a copy of your work on a daily basis either onsite or online, so even a hard-drive crash won’t leave you stranded.

Use the right, safe software for the job – Whether you work with numbers, credit card transactions, inventory or confidential records, there is almost certainly a software program that has already been configured to manage it, and do it well. These can alert you to hazards, help you harvest

cially the public – should seriously consider doing so away from home.

Meet customers and other contacts at a local restaurant, coffee spot or even at their offices. Larger urban centres often have office spaces or meeting facilities that can be rented for short periods for very reasonable prices.

Invest in a post office box – For a few dollars a month, a post office

box offers security for mail and packages relating to your work or business. It eliminates the need to publicize your home address, and even provides a safe, temporary holding service for cheques, documents and packages that you must sign for.

Separate work and home – Family issues, space, security and simple control over your time and accessibility are all things home-based workers must address. Having a discreet space where work is done and keeping it separate from home activities can be a challenge.

TD Canada Trust

Running a small business is hard enough. We can help.

We’d like to introduce Brian Dempsey as your Small Business Advisor.

Brian Dempsey Small Business Advisor 378 Talbot St. St. Thomas (519) 631-7070, ext. 231 Cell: (226) 268-1384 brian.dempsey@td.com

With over 10 years of banking experience and a local resident, Brian understands the pressures of owning and operating a business or farm in St. Thomas and is committed to helping you by providing services, products and advice tailored specifically to your needs.

Drop by the branch to talk to your Small Business Advisor and discover how we can make your business banking easier. We look forward to seeing you soon.

June, 2011

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Starting A Small Business YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

Getting young adults to seriously think business The Elgin Business Resource Centre is providing resources to under-serviced youth

by Shayne Wyler

The Elgin Business Resource Centre (EBRC) services a wide range of entrepreneurs that need help in getting their businesses to prosper. Entrepreneurs come in all ages, but one of the largest growing groups recognized in Elgin and St. Thomas is under-serviced youth.

Under-serviced youth are considered people between the ages of 1529, currently out of school, and have a heart and drive for business. This group may have an education, but many do not, or they may face problems with their current work situation such as being underemployed.

What does remain constant, however, is a very strong desire to change their situation, take the lead and be their own boss by running their own business.

Every week, the EBRC and the Elgin/St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) have a number of under-serviced youth drop by the Centres for information and help to get started in the right direction

for their new business venture. Over the course of a year, EBRC and SBEC counsellors work with youth to ensure they receive the business training and counselling support needed to get their business off the ground, prosper and, in turn, strengthen their community.

Some are serious about their mission, others are not. Starting a new business for a youth is a huge undertaking. Fortunately, EBRC and SBEC counsellors offer the right mix of help, advice and structure with business plans, mentoring, registrations and more. Our counsellors help youth and guide them through the processes needed to make their businesses successful.

So how does youth know if they have a great idea to start their own business? We ask them to define the need their business will fulfill. So, how do they do that? Entrepreneurs need to think about all the conversations they have in a day and how they would answer this statement: “If

I just had ______, my life would be better.” (Remarkably, the answer is not only money, but things like trust, security, health, stability or confidence.) By filling in that blank, entrepreneurs of all ages, including youth, can see how viable their idea would be and begin to see how their business is to be structured to fulfill that need in the lives of those they want to serve.

RESOURCES

Shayne Wyler is a Business Counsellor at the Elgin Business Resource Centre.

For more information on youth in business or how to get started, contact a counsellor at the EBRC and SBEC at 519-633-7597.

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June, 2011

Starting A Small Business PLANNING

Before you start a new business…

Here are a few things to consider before beginning a new entrepreneurial endeavor

by Brian Dempsey

Coming up with an idea for a new business isn’t ever the hardest part of the journey. In fact, six months down the road, that first wave of inspiration will seem like the easy part.

In my experience there are two essential things you need to get a new venture off the ground: the first is a plan; the second is a reliable team.

We’ve all heard the expression: “It’s impossible to get there if you don’t know where you’re going.” Not everyone needs the same amount of detail, but identifying short- and long-term objectives will help you focus on your goal.

If you are just getting started, a number of resources are available to help. Online planning guides are available that give you step-by-step help to guide you through the development of a business plan.

If you prefer a face-to-face approach, the Elgin Business Resource Centre and Small Business Enterprise Centre in St. Thomas have counsellors that help entrepreneurs develop their business plans. In addition to providing this free service, they can also tell you about government grants and other programs available to help businesses get started.

You also need a reliable team – not just employees, but also advisors.

Depending on your line of business, you probably do not have all the skills of an accountant, lawyer, banker and human resources manager. So it’s a good idea to build a network of advisors.

In addition to assisting you with the day-to-day financial needs of your business, business bankers can also provide advice on cash flow solutions while helping you understand how your monthly expenses are impacting your profitability. They can also recommend financial tools to make managing and tracking expenses easier – so you’ll be more intune with what you are actually paying your suppliers.

For online business planning tools RESOURCES visit https://www.tdbusinessplanner.com /Pages/Index.aspx June, 2011

Brian Dempsey is a Small Business Advisor at TD Canada Trust in St. Thomas.

Jesse Terpstra Jesse Terpstra Branch Br anch Manager Jesse Brown Jesse Brown Account Ac count Manager E L G I N

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Homestyle RENOVATING

Banish the flannel bedsheets and duvets

Bring summer inside Try a few simple changes to welcome the change of season and lift your spirits

by Amanda Drenth

Tired of the cool damp dreary spring? Would you rather stay home and curl up with a book under a blanket than consider heading out for a hike? We are all craving the sun and anticipating the eventual fun of the more typical Canadian early summer. While we wait – not so patiently – consider this: if you can’t change the forecast outside, then take control indoors. Open your windows and think about extending that backyard vibe inside. Here are some simple inexpensive tricks to lift your spirits and your mood and get you ready for the season to come.

• Put away all the heavy wool blankets and deeply textured toss cushions. Try a light linen throw and some cotton twill slipcovers for existing pieces to lighten up a formal living room.

• Remove any dark side panels from your windows to let more light in, replace them with a lightly wrapped valance, airy panels or just go without.

• Trade out any ‘autumn-coloured’ accessories (red, orange, gold) for a light green or soft blue. Even small items like candles, paper napkins or funky coffee mugs can say “summer is here.”

• Re-arrange your furniture from focusing on the fireplace to being focused on the view outside, or even switch the function of the layout – dining room for den – to make the

most of the outdoor connection from the place where you spend most of your time.

• Roll up the deep or dark area carpets, leave the hardwood to shine or replace with a sisal or cotton weave to compliment your new scheme.

• Bring in an herb garden in a pot or any other favorite from the garden. One bright splash that smells good too will change the whole feel of your home.

• Banish the flannel bed sheets and duvets. Try crisp cotton and layers of light breathable blankets or a bright cotton quilt with coordinating shams.

• Replace any and all ‘wintery’ evidence from towels to snapshots on the fridge with happy summer colours and images. Last year’s vacation pictures will do for now and you

will begin to look forward to this year’s time away.

If you have a covered patio space or porch that is easily accessible to your indoor living space make the most of that connection. Consider ways to visually tie them together more. Look into a patio heater to extend the use of your outdoor rooms. Many furniture pieces could be used in either space.

Wicker styles work well indoors and out as do some cast aluminum and most accessory items. Match area carpets on both sides of the divide.

Many tropical houseplants can move outdoors to a shaded corner. Perhaps adding a small dining area would increase the usefulness of your outdoor space. Alternatively it may be possible to store away a wooden kitchen set in favor of appropriate patio furniture used indoors. Maybe just replace seat cushions with a match to your outdoor pattern and dress the table up in brightly coloured plastic

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(Photos by Kari Korvemaker)

tableware to bring the outdoors in.

Summer decorating is casual, approachable, a bit quirky and defiantly relaxed, exactly reflecting our expectations for the season. So have some fun trying new combinations and placements in and around your home. Think of this as its summer wardrobe change. You wear shorts and sandals, let your environment relax too. Summer will come, eventually – and you will be ready.

Amanda Drenth is a certified redesigner and colour trainer with the CRDA and owner of Design Interventions.

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519-631-2700 22

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June, 2011

Homestyle DECORATING

Order in the house!

Organizing and de-cluttering solutions for a less stressful life

by Renée Carpenter

Away. Be honest with yourself while processing through rooms, drawers, closets and cabinets. You can become so accustomed to seeing items in your own home that you fail to see them as ‘weights.’

A good rule of thumb is…if you haven’t used it in a year, do you still need it? If not, but it is in good shape, then give it away. If it is outdated, broken, worn, or has no value, throw it away! Keep your eyes open for both the big, cumbersome pieces and the small items that become busy clutter in a room (or dresser drawer). Worn towels, sheets with holes, missing socks, worn clothes

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Did you know that 1.4 million Americans suffer from chronic hoarding and clutter? This gives you an idea of the world challenge existing around clutter! People burn 55 minutes a day on average looking for things. Eighty percent of what we own we never use. Around 23 percent of people pay late fees on bills they cannot find.

Organization truly helps relieve stress and releases the weights that can hold you down. You will feel lighter once the unnecessary is eliminated from your world. But not only will you feel better, your home and/or office will look better – AND will reduce housework by 40 percent!

There are many ways to begin the process. My favorite is to start by making three different lists (or piles!): 1) Keep 2) Give Away 3) Throw

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The kitchen junk drawer - oh, did I hit a nerve?

and shoes, toys that have been replaced, dusty collections, CDs now on the iPod, panty hose with runs… all can be classified as clutter.

Ladies, remember the cosmetic and jewelry drawers. Many cosmetics should be thrown out after three to six months. And, why are you holding on to dried-out remnants of your favorite no-longer-available lipstick tubes? Discard the costume jewelry that is never worn but is always tangled up in other favorite pieces that you try to daily retrieve from the jewellery box with much frustration.

The kitchen junk drawer – oh, did I hit a nerve? And, no, not everyone has a junk drawer! Clear it out and create a single spot for one phone book, a pencil and/or pen, and a single note pad by the phone, and that is it! The rest can and should have a definite and rightful place elsewhere.

Go paperless as much as possible and eliminate the need for unnecessary files and piles. Stop unwanted credit card solicitations. Opt out of

mailing and telemarketing lists. Lose the road maps and get a GPS. Donate magazines and books to your local library.

Just because you de-cluttered the garage last year doesn’t mean you can skip it this year. Humans attract things and require continual de-cluttering. This process will certainly make you think twice before making the next unnecessary purchase. Our lives are stressful enough without unnecessarily adding to it daily. Will decluttering provide a stress-free life?

Well, I’m not sure that actually exists, but certainly a less stressful one!

Renée Carpenter is the owner of Jennings Furniture and Design in St. Thomas.

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20 Harvey St., Aylmer, ON

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June, 2011

519-765-2666

C.E.T., P.Q.S. President

M O N T H

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Dining & Entertainment WINE AND FOOD

Vintage classics

Or ten things you may not have realized about that year on your favourite bottles

by Jamie Quai

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wines, including Champagne. Since the production of most traditional sparklers carries over several vintages, it is rare to see a year on the final product.

3. Because each grape variety has its own growing season nuances the concept of a universally perfect growing season for all of the different

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grapes grown in any one region is almost a metaphorical utopia. For example, an ideal season for Pinot Noir may not be the best for Merlot.

4. Since seasons are reversed between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, despite the same vintage date, wines from the Southern Hemisphere are generally six months older that their Northern Hemisphere counterparts.

5. In Bordeaux, France, the best wine producers hold exclusive vintage tastings for the world’s foremost wine experts every spring for the previous years wines. This celebration, called En Premier, is done to create a buzz about future releases and the outcome of that feedback leads to the bottle prices being set. Eventually, consumers have the option to buy ‘futures’ at those prices about two years before the wine is even available. The most prized vintages sell out years in advance!

6. Most mass-produced wines are crafted to be consistent from one year to the next. The subtleties of any one growing season are blended away as the consumer demands a predictable and familiar wine. That is why value-priced wines rarely have a vintage year printed on them.

7. The best producers are able to highlight the strengths of any vintage year while creating a wine that remains true to their own style. Be wary of any wine marketer that places far too much importance on a vintage date, it might mean they are not as in control of their product as they should be.

8. The vintage date on the bottle of wine indicates the year in which the grapes were grown, not when the grapes were harvested, or the wine was released.

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The most prized vintages sell out years in advance!”

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I am often asked about the importance of a vintage year by consumers.

More often than not, by mid-summer I am asked to make forecasts about the current season on future releases. What seems like a straightforward topic can be rather in depth.

In a spirit of trivial playfulness I have assembled a list of ten things you may not have known about that little detail on your favourite wines.

1. Vintage years are not global. A great vintage in one part of the world may be terrible in another. It is worth investigating a specific region before making any serious purchases.

2. Vintage dates are the exception rather than the rule in most sparkling

9. Vintage years become more important as the level exclusivity of the wine increases. Unlike mass market wines, the craft or rarer producers’ consumer tends to place higher value on the changes from one season to the next.

10. Only time will tell on any given vintage year. It may be easier to write off a less than ideal year as wine destined for early consumption. But in the hands of a patient winemaker and wine collector, even the less celebrated vintages can show remarkable complexity. I always described 2006 as an ‘unremarkable’ year for grape growing, and the wines didn’t have the breadth of some of the more celebrated vintages. Lately however, when tasting some of the 2006 reds from our winery’s reserve catalogue, I have been surprised at how elegantly and beautifully these wines have matured.

Cheers!

Jamie Quai is head winemaker at Quai du Vin Estate Winery in Elgin County.

June, 2011

Dining & Entertainment SAVOUR ELGIN

The ambiance of Kettle Creek Inn growing circle of friends and contacts.”

The Inn’s gazebo, set against stunning gardens designed by Elgin landscapers, offers summer dining with cool lake breezes. In the winter the English-style pub is the place to be on Friday nights, with a relaxed atmosphere. Jean’s secret to success? “It is about being flexible and accommodating, striving for the best in customer service.”

Visitors from all over the world come to stay and eat at the Kettle Creek Inn. Indulge your senses, relax and dine with the Vedova family.

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Experience one of Ontario’s Finest Inns in the village of Port Stanley

constructed in 1849 as a summer home for the local Justice of the Peace

Kate Burns is the marketing and communications coordinator at the County of Elgin.

by Kate Burns

The scene is set as soon as you step onto the grounds. The original Port Stanley Inn and two custom-built guesthouses encircle a stunning courtyard, English gardens and a gazebo which create a peaceful oasis.

The parlour, with its fireplace, the intimate English pub and two cozy dining rooms all provide old world charm. The extensive art collection showcases the talents of local artists.

The Vedova family opened the doors to Kettle Creek Inn in 1983, after purchasing and completely renovating the heritage building that was constructed in 1849 as a summer home for the local Port Stanley Justice of the Peace. Today Kettle Creek Inn is recognized as one of Ontario’s Finest Inns and welcomes all visitors into the village of Port Stanley.

Jean and Gary, along with sons Troy and Dean, operate the 10room, five-suite facility complete with restaurant, pub and conference room.

The Vedovas, along with Chef Mike Robbins, strive to improve – never resting on their laurels. One June, 2011

way they accomplish this is by sourcing locally. Chef Robbins is able to phone the fish market down the street and pick up or have delivered fish that was caught only a few hours prior. Buying local means deliveries seven days a week to the back door and that means fresh food for the guests.

Chef Robbins and Kettle Creek Inn are famous for their Chicken Pot Pie, but as Chef Robbins laments, “the ingredients are what make the dish.

Once you have the freshest ingredients possible, creativity comes easy in finding ways to cook and serve them.

I believe that by purchasing locally, not only are you helping the local farmers and the economy, but it expands your community into an ever-

Photos: [Top left]: Kettle Creek Inn is located at 216 Joseph Street in Port Stanley.

[Bottom left]: Take a break in the gazebo in the garden.

[Above]: Jean and Gary Vedova, and sons Troy and Dean, welcome you to Kettle Creek Inn.

IT! YOU CAN’T BEAT

Kettle Creek Inn is a member of Savour Elgin. Savour Elgin is a program with a goal to promote and enhance culinary tourism in Elgin County and St. Thomas. The Savour Elgin trail is a route through Elgin County that visits some of the best restaurants, farms, wineries, and other culinary attractions that focus on food and drink that’s local and unique to Elgin County and St. Thomas. For full trail information visit www.savourelgin.ca.

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H E A LT H Y L I V I N G EVERYDAY HEALTH

The stages of healing How chiropractic can help with sports injuries

by Dr. Greg Johnston, B.H.K., B.Ed., D.C.

damage done by the original injury and extending the healing time.

Treatment during this time should include adhering to the R.I.C.E. principle, which stands for rest, ice, compression, elevation. Professional care during this time should include the use of electrical modalities such as ultrasound and interferential current as well as instruction on early range of motion exercises to prevent tissue adhesion. Chiropractic care during this time will also help increase range of motion and decrease muscle spasm and pain.

2. Repair and regeneration (subacute) stage This stage is signaled when the signs of inflammation begin to resolve, usually within 2 to 4 days after the initial injury and lasts up to 6 weeks. Clearing of dead cellular debris begins, blood clots begin to resolve as damaged tissue begins to be replaced by new tissue. This new tissue is immature and will progress

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Resistance exercise becomes progressively important

through a series of changes before the area can be considered strong and totally healed. Treatment during the repair and regeneration phase will consist of a continuation of the methods used in the acute phase.

Application of moist heat may be initiated at this stage to aid in the removal of inflammatory and dead tissue debris. Once full range of motion without resistance is attained mild resistance exercises can begin.

Resistance exercise becomes progressively important through this stage so that the fibers of the immature tissues will properly align making them as strong as possible. Exercise will also help to limit the amount of adhesion and scar tissue formation.

3. Remodeling During this final phase the immature tissue is transformed into strong mature tissue, closely resembling the tissues before injury. Depending on severity, this process may take up to a year to complete. The main goal during this phase is to strengthen the new fibers making them as strong and flexible as they were before the injury or perhaps even more so.

Conclusion As outlined, healing is a complex, progressive process involving a number of steps and stages. In reality the

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People often become motivated by the nice weather and begin exercise programs a little too vigorously. As well, people who do keep fit often don’t appreciate that they too should begin new activities cautiously until their bodies have a chance to adapt to the new demands being placed on them. Our excitement about spring, nice weather, being outdoors and starting new activities often creates an environment primed for injury.

Let’s look at the stages of injury and healing.

1. Reactive (acute/inflammatory) stage During the reactive (acute) stage the injury is new and the inflammatory response is very active. This stage generally lasts 4 to 10 days depending on the severity of the injury.

It is important to control inflammation because if left unchecked the products of inflammation will leak from the injured tissues to the healthy tissues compounding the

processes and stages of healing overlap each other greatly and time lines in each stage depend primarily on the severity of the injury. These steps follow a general order and proper management definitely aids in timely and complete tissue healing.

The goal of any health care practitioner is to speed the healing process so that you get better faster, and to optimize the healing that is taking place, lessening the chance of re-injury. Chiropractors are uniquely qualified to assess and treat difficulties within the neuromusculoskeletal system. Many athletes whether they are weekend warriors or elite professionals trust chiropractors to keep them performing at their optimum level.

Dr. Greg Johnston is a chiropractor and partner in Family Health Options Treatment and Resources Centre in St. Thomas.

June, 2011

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G PERSONAL HEALTH

Ama zing Spray Ta n

Making the healthy choice the easier choice Healthy Communities Partnership formed to improve community well-being

STEP IN FOR A SPRAY TAN

by Erica Arnett

Did you know that compared to other communities in Ontario, Elgin St. Thomas has higher rates of smoking, obesity and poor nutrition?

These rates contribute to higher rates of illness and death in our community from chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and lung disease.

Alarming statistics like these are the reason the new Healthy Communities Partnership was formed, led by Elgin St. Thomas Public Health and funded by the Government of Ontario. This Partnership has gathered local statistics and reports over the last several months, holding community events, online surveys and meeting with community leaders in an effort to generate ideas and potential strategies to improve the health of our community.

The Partnership has compiled the information it collected and has recently released a Community Picture Report. The Report shares interesting information about our community including information about health status, income distribution and education levels. It outlines some of the challenges our community faces and offers several strategies we might take to improve the health of Elgin St. Thomas residents. The report is available at www.elginhealth.on.ca Four main recommendations resulted from this public information process: 1. Increase pedestrian safety and June, 2011

provide barrier-free access by encouraging municipalities to examine their sidewalk maintenance and availability policies.

2. Develop smoke-free multi-unit dwellings and minimum set-backs for smoking outside municipal buildings.

3. Improve access and availability of healthy foods in schools, workplaces, and public facilities (including community gardens) and limit food and beverages high in calories, fat, sugar and salt.

4. Increase opportunities for people of all ages to walk, cycle, use a wheelchair, in-line skate or skateboard to school, work or shop.

The Partnership is now working to make these policy goals a reality. It is seeking community members who are interested in any of the four identified recommendations to develop work groups in order to take the next steps and make the healthy choice the easier choice in our community.

If you would like to become involved, contact Erica Arnett, Health Promoter at 519-631-3159 ext. 247 or earnett@elginhealth.on.ca

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LIFESTYLES TIME ON MY HANDS

Stimulate your senses with regular dates But Julia Cameron in ‘The Artist’s Way’ recommends going by yourself

I like to go out on dates. They give my senses a workout. I don’t go with my wife, but she doesn’t mind. In fact, I don’t go with anybody. I go solo.

I got the idea from a book called ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron.

She recommends regular, solo Artist Dates, which she describes as, “a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist...an excursion, a play date that you preplan and defend against all interlopers.”

Stay with me, you non-artists. I’m one of you. I couldn’t even paint my toenails. My sculptures have all been snowmen. Sure, Cameron wants me

to return from these outings and create art, but that’s not going to happen. Still, I like the Artist Date idea.

It gets me out the door, and ensures a regular dose of something new and stimulating for my brain and senses.

Cameron says Artist Dates are for self-nourishing and restocking the artistic reservoir with images and sensual experiences. That’s fancy talk, but we ordinary folk can all benefit from a regular chance to “Think delight. Think fun. Do what intrigues you, explore what interests you.”

Artist or not, it’s about going out specifically to soak up some new sights, sounds, tastes and images.

Cameron suggests visiting an ethnic neighbourhood, an art gallery or a junk store. Or how about a long country walk. I suggest a farmers’

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by Duncan Watterworth

Pay attention to the warts on the pumpkin

market, a factory tour, prowling a construction site or hiking through a swamp. The main thing is to get caught up in the moment, to pay attention to the warts on the pumpkin, the clank of the machine, the squish of the mud.

And it has to be solo. If you want to connect with a spouse or buddy, fine, but that’s a different date. On an Artist Date, you give full attention to the swamp.

A recent Date brought me to the studio/home of painter Margarethe Vanderpas during the London Artists’ Studio Tour. The brochure said she drew her inspiration from the shorelines of the Great Lakes and the powerful forces that have shaped the landscape.

I admired her painting of a blue and gold cliff, with a sloped ledge at

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Agawa Rock, Lake Superior Oil on canvas, 2010 www.margarethe-vanderpas.com

the waterline, and told her it looked like the spot on Lake Superior with the Indian pictographs. “That’s right,” she said. And a wide, grey cliff with cedar-coloured bands above and below looked like the south side of the bay at Lions Head on the Bruce.

Right again. My third guess – the glacier-polished granite islands in Georgian Bay near the mouth of the French River – was off by about ten miles.

I felt like I had bumped into a group of old friends. I had kayaked, explored and been touched by these wonderful shorelines. But my memories of these special places were now challenged by the artist’s vision, her choices of focus, line and colour.

Were the shadows on the cliff really blue? Could sun on pink granite make gold?

My mind swirled as I left the studio and bounced down the sidewalk.

Great date.

Duncan Watterworth is recently a retiree and emptynester in St.Thomas.

June, 2011

LIFESTYLES SELF DEVELOPMENT

My close encounter with Oprah Things are not always as they appear

by Sharon Lechner

“

June, 2011

Sharon Lechner (centre) on the set of the ‘Healthy Gourmet’ show on the Oprah Winfrey Network with chef and host, Ezra Title and second unit director, Aline Robichaud. (Photo supplied)

Gayle King.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a huge Oprah fan. I don’t watch her show as often as I would like but I am enjoying her Master Class series on her new OWN network, which airs on Friday nights. Her ability to overcome obstacles and her view of life is truly inspiring. Oprah often says her gift is to teach and believe me I am learning really important life lessons from her.

The particular segment I attended, was an episode of the show ‘Healthy Gourmet,’ which includes Ezra Title doing a healthy Carribean cooking session along with music by the

I kept expecting Oprah to pop out of one of the steel drums

Golden Harps. After all, every themed cooking show requires the appropriate music.

Watch for it to air some time this month and if you watch closely, you might see me jamming in the audience.

Sharon Lechner is a certified life coach and owner of Reach for the Stars Empowerment in St. Thomas.

“

In late January, I made a quick trip to Florida to visit my mother and brother. At the time, my brother mentioned that a steel drum band he was involved with had been approached to be on the Oprah Show.

I immediately asked him if he could get me a ticket to the show. Ok, it was more like, “when will you have my ticket for the show?” A couple of months went by and I didn’t hear anything more about it. Then, at the beginning of April, I received an email from my brother inviting me to London, Ontario where the steel drum band was being taped for the Oprah Show.

I arrived at Wonderland Gardens on Saturday, April 10. The band, known as Golden Harps, was already warming up on the stage and the film crew was busy setting up. Without hesitation, I approached the woman who appeared to be in charge and asked if she really worked for Oprah, to which she responded in the affirmative. Yes!!!

The woman in question was Aline Robichaud, who is a Second Unit Director. She was standing next to Ezra Title, Chef and Host of the show, ‘Healthy Gourmet’, which is one of the new shows being taped for the new OWN, Oprah Winfrey Network. Ezra was filming a Carribean cooking segment which included the footage of the steel drum band performing in London. My brother, Steve McCann wrote the song ‘Carribean Christmas,’ one of the songs the band was performing and his girlfriend, Jacqueline Honyust was a member of the band.

Both Aline and Ezra were extremely friendly and approachable and although I kept expecting Oprah to pop out of one of the steel drums or somewhere, I still had a great time. My niece even suggested that I ‘photoshop’ her into my photo, but really, how unethical would that be?

However, if you ask me, the bass player was a dead ringer for Oprah’s BFF and host of her own show,

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LIFESTYLES THAT’S LIFE

Sometimes bad things turn into good things

by Elizabeth VanHooren

Working for a conservation authority, my job is to bring “people in harmony with nature.” But, this spring all I’ve personally experienced is discord.

My front yard was skunked in April. My husband noticed a small area of upturned grass one Saturday morning. He begrudgingly got down on his hands and knees and carefully righted the overturned sod and patted it back down. We mused that at least the skunk got a good meal of grubs.

We weren’t laughing the next morning. Our skunk must have told his friends about the VanHooren buffet because now a good chunk of

the front lawn was torn up.

And then it rained, and rained and rained. So by May we had patches of mud and long grass in our yard and we still hadn’t decided how to rectify the situation. Was it easier to spend the time on our hands and knees to right the sod or was it simpler just to re-seed?

As we contemplated that chore for a couple more days, a windstorm blew our backyard play set down right into the sandbox. The roof was torn off and the swings were a tangled mess.

My eldest son looked outside at the rain pelting the mess of broken wood and declared, “Oh dear, we’ll never be able to play outside again.”

But this past weekend we did ven-

ture out. My son headed to the backyard to get a closer look at his play set. My husband fired up the rototiller and tackled the skunk’s misery in the front yard. And I headed to the front porch to clean up the mud that a nesting swallow was dropping all over my front door and windows.

About an hour later my husband walked me all the way to the front of our yard to get a full view of our house and asked me what I saw. “A house with dirty windows, and a mud hole in our front yard,” I moaned.

“No,” he said excitedly. “The skunk dug us a new a flowerbed.”

I looked again. The swallow was swooping down low over the grass –

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Elizabeth VanHooren is general manager of the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority.

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I found myself back in harmony with nature.

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