March 2017

Your Business. Your Community.

KELLEN DE VOS

Out There Creative Therapy Cover story: Page 3

Inside: • Aylmer & Area Chamber Pages 18 and 19

• Junior Achievement Pages 20 and 21

• Income Tax Pages 24 - 29

Volume 7 No. 7, March 2017

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 2

In the right setting, can mental illness be funny?

by Terry Carroll

Jokes about mental illness at best fall flat and at worst are cruel. But at the end of March, Kellen De Vos intends to prove that mental health can be pretty funny.

Kellen’s the 30-year-old president and creative director of Out There Creative Therapy in Springfield. On March 31, Stand Up For Mental Health is coming to St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital in the afternoon and Port Stanley Festival Theatre in the evening. This afternoon / night of stand-up comedy is the brainchild of B.C. professional comedian David Granirer and his Stand Up For Mental Health program. Before the event, Granirer is working via Skype, two hours a week for six weeks, with up to six local people living with mental illness, or their caregivers, honing their comic writing, timing and delivery for the stage.

It seems like an ideal event for Kellen De Vos, the main brain behind Out There Creative Therapy. He’s a local graduate of Original Kids and the Grand Theatre’s High School project who went on to Humber College’s Comedy Writing and Performance program. In Toronto, he performed standup and got into the hip-hop production and performance scene, with the alcohol and drugs that seem to inevitably go with that life. But when he was 22, things were falling apart, and he arrived home with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. A three-year revolving door with the medical system ensued.

Out of that experience, Kellen discovered the principles that continue to guide his life and the work of the organization he founded: “Compliance with medications, no substance abuse, creative enterprise and a life surrounded by people who love you; if you follow that, you can lead a great life,” Kellen says. Personally, he adds “faith in a Higher Power”, although he doesn’t insist on it for anyone else.

Out There Creative Therapy doesn’t do therapy in the sense of counselling or group therapy and so on. Instead, the organization works toward better mental health by running its own programs and encouraging (particularly young) people with mental illness to follow the list. Especially the creative part.

“Everyone in some way wants to do something creative,” Kellen says. “Everyone is a creative being.”

He’s a recipient of the Helen LeFrank Award set up by Elgin Business Resource Centre (EBRC) through Elgin-St. Thomas Community Foundation, and he took classes at EBRC to help build his

business plan. “I worked with Kevin Jackson. He was fantastic,” Kellen says.

In 2016, he won the “Inspirational Entrepreneur Award” from Elgin St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre.

And he’s a graduate of CMHA Elgin’s “Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses”. PEPP is described on the local Canadian Mental Health Association’s website this way: “We provide early intervention services for individuals aged 14-35 living in St. Thomas or Elgin County who display signs of psychosis, such as hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized thought, and who have either had no treatment or have been treated Kellen De Vos at work in his home office in Springfield. for less than one month.”

Out There Creative Therapy Out There Creative Therapy is a registered notruns a second major event annually – Springfield’s three-day Screamfield. The annual volunteer-run for-profit corporation (Kellen’s mom’s the secreHalloween haunt starts inside Malahide Commu- tary), and it’s a social enterprise that acts like a businity Place in Springfield and ventures outdoors ness in many ways. One key difference is that any along the ground’s path and woods. It’s theatre (rec- revenue left over after operating expenses goes to ommended for 10-years-old and up) as much as a the work of the organization or to related causes. fright fest, and there are two fundraising dances. A portion of the proceeds from Screamfield is forKellen says “I’m not one that uses social media all warded to local organizations including CMHA that much, but at Screamfield, we encourage people and the Psychosis Survivors Network in St Thomas.

If it weren’t for what Kellen calls the occasional to #getbrave about mental illness while celebrating “cognitive hiccup”, I’d never have guessed that he mental health.”

Doing stand-up can be scarier than Screamfield, might be living with mental illness.

Two things that he said about schizophrenia have and putting yourself out there as an artist and a writer can’t be far behind the other two. But that’s really stuck with me.

One is that it’s difficult to convince people to take what he’s been up to with a comic / graphic novel series that takes his love of hip-hop and his concerns their medication because they have trouble believabout the darker side of that culture and works with ing they have the illness. If you perceive reality a them in two publications. One’s an adult colouring certain way, that becomes your reality.

The other is that the vast majority of people with book that follows a character named Word Salad (also a term to describe seemingly random words in schizophrenia may harm themselves, but they are advanced schizophrenia) who moves from a certain not a risk to anyone else.

And that “cognitive hiccup”, where Kellen might amount of darkness to light within the hip-scene.

It’s available for free. The companion graphic nov- not be able to recall something that’s on the tip of el uses far more detailed artwork to follow Word his tongue? It can work in stand-up. Call it comic Salad on his journey. It was launched during Art timing.

Crawl in St. Thomas, and has a charge on the cover.

Both publications are available at Elgin St. Thomas Cover and page 3 photos by Mike Maloney Public Art Centre.

Elgin This Month Section Editor Business Beat – Bob Hammersley Freelance Editor Terry Carroll Sales Supervisor Geoff Rae

Advertising Consultant Greg Minnema Layout Janine Taylor Production Metroland Media Group

Elgin This Month is a monthly magazine focusing on business and lifestyle issues and includes Business Beat, the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce newsletter.

The publication is available for pickup at no charge at news stands and other locations around Elgin County, as well as distribution to businesses and selected households.

Published monthly by Metroland Media Group Ltd., 15 St. Catharine Street, St. Thomas, ON N5P 2V7 519-633-1640 www.theweeklynews.ca/etm March, 2017

ELGIN THIS MONTH

3

INNES As I See It

Big Mac with bacon? Something’s up with that of the ketchup and salt, we would slip over to Tim HorOn my way into my office, I noticed a new bill- tons (the only one within 50 board that reads, “Is a Big Mac with bacon still a miles) for much-anticipated Big Mac?” For me, the answer is implicit in the dessert. question. It’s not a Big Mac. It is a Big Mac with Now it’s all been retired bacon. and replaced. Not just the Surprisingly, I am on the losing side of the argu- car and the department ment. A poll on this very question places the no stores, but also such memovotes at only 35% (as of writing this article). rable characters as Mayor How can that be? Everyone knows that a Big McCheese, the Hamburglar, Mac is two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, Grimace, Birdie the Early cheese, pickles, onions – on a sesame seed bun! Bird, and The Fry Kids. And A comrade in arms suggested the new burger be I’m stuck trying to rememcalled a Pig Mac. ber the last time I enjoyed a What has happened to leaving well enough rich-tasting Boston Cream alone? Apparently, the addition of bacon to the donut … or for that matter, iconic Big Mac is the first change to the sandwich a satisfying Peanut Crunch. in Canada in 50 years.

I don’t think I’m overly My mind is being dragged back to the jaw-drop- stuck in the past, but nosping introduction of dark roast coffee at Tim’s. My talgia seems to be creeping coffee stop has never felt the same, and, I admit, in like the extra weight around my belly. I fear I’m more than a little disoriented. getting old before my time. So I looked around The familiar fabric of my younger years is being Google to find out more about this dreaded onstretched. Vague are the memories of being loaded slaught … here are a few sure indicators (see Ceren in the Fairlane, taken for our monthly Big Mac in Senkul): my hometown’s first-built McDonald’s located in * You used to live for the weekend (and you still the far corner of the Woolco parking lot … or was do, but now it’s more for the eating and sleeping it Zellers? … not sure now. And I remember with than it is for the drinking and dancing) fading pleasure how, after I cleaned my cheeks * You are increasing the number of two-part dramas you’ve watched on TV (and you are We are proud to congratulate our always home to watch them) President, Christine Van Daele. She was * You live vicariously recently honoured by being appointed through reality TV Chair of the Ontario Mutual Insurance * On the off chance Association (OMIA) for the upcoming year. that you do go out, the music is too loud This association represents 40 * You’re the designatindependent, policyholder-owned ed driver (by choice) insurance companies across the province. * You have strict rules They began more than 160 years ago, about going outside in serving pioneering farmers. Today, they the winter months (if offer insurance on all home, auto and it’s too cold everything commercial products. Together, they are one of the most stable can wait), financial networks in the world, but they still operate on the original * You appreciate difprinciple of neighbour-helping-neighbour. ferent types of tea (and

by Jim Innes

chamomile is really working for you), * You’re drinking less (primarily because your body has stopped being able to deal with hangovers).

I won’t say how many of these signs I am familiar with, but my losing the Big Mac (or Pig Mac) controversy is but one more nail in the coffin. And I won’t deny that my use of the phrase “back in the day” has become a form of camaraderie. Like … do you remember, “back in the day”, when McDonald’s special sauce was a secret recipe, and a regular coffee meant 1 sugar and cream? Or… do you remember, “back in the day”, when beef was far more expensive then chicken, and wings were something you threw away?

“Is a Big Mac with bacon a Big Mac?” Give me a break! As I see it, best to leave such delicious musings to the thinner (and apparently wiser). Better I stick to lean foods, to live long enough to hear my kids say “I sound just like my father.”

Jim Innes is a clinically trained therapist and, until a recent transfer, was a priest at St. John’s Anglican in St. Thomas. Learn more at jiminnes.ca.

With an Hon. B.Comm degree, Christine is well prepared for the challenge. She’s also earned her Certified Professional Accountant’s designation. Most importantly, Christine is a passionate supporter of the mutual system. She joined Westminster Mutual in 1993 and is proud to lead the company in celebrating its 160th anniversary this year.

Christine’s roots run deep in the agricultural community; she was raised in Elgin County on a turkey and tobacco farm. Today, she lives in Belmont with her husband and three daughters.

Congratulations, Christine!

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 4

Business & Community OUR COMMUNITY

Greater GTA dominates Ont. What about us?

by Serge Lavoie

Size matters.

When we’re talking about population growth, it matters for all sorts of reasons. The 2016 census is telling us a lot about how growth is distributed across the province.

Our largest cities are growing faster than towns and smaller cities. London, Kitchener, Hamilton and Ottawa all grew faster than the provincial average of 4.6 percent or the national average of 5.0 percent. St. Thomas, Stratford and Windsor all grew below the provincial average. And Sarnia, Chatham-Kent, Owen Sound along with various smaller municipalities in between, all lost population.

One trend is obvious: communities in and around Toronto have the most robust growth.

While the City of Toronto grew at just under the provincial average, the economic region around it experienced growth at almost 50 percent higher than the province overall. This is not just the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) but Guelph, Kitchener and Barrie as well.

This clustering effect is a direct outcome of provincial planning over the last decades. It started with Metropolitan Toronto, expanded to GTA, then Greater Toronto and Hamilton and now Greater Golden Horseshoe. That last one starts all the way east at Peterborough County, sweeps around to Georgian Bay, through Wellington, Guelph, Waterloo, Hamilton and all the way to Niagara Falls. This massive planning agglomeration takes in well over half the population of the province.

The plan makes sense, of course. It coordinates land use, infrastructure and transportation. It’s good planning for the municipalities involved. Yet it has another, less positive effect. It creates a situation where there is an “inside” and an “outside” for investment and growth.

We here in our part of southwestern Ontario are on the outside. Population growth is one indicator of how that plays out.

People may say they are looking to live in smaller, quieter, more livable communities like ours, but they are more likely to do so if they know they can hop on a GO train and be at the office within 45 minutes to an hour.

People want “livable” fortable with the nobut they also want option of a Greater Lonportunity. There may don Area, a cluster that be a perception that our includes municipalities corner of the province within a 100-125-kilodoesn’t have that magic meter radius. In reality, combination. That may it’s how we already live explain the below avertoday. That’s why the age, or negative, growth largest investments in in our local communihealth, government serties. vices, culture and retail I once had a converare located in London. sation with a mayor in Sadly, the investa nearby municipality who stated his community ments in public transportation, getting people wasn’t looking for population growth as much as from where they want to live to where they want income growth, along with increases in education to work or conduct business, have not kept pace. and type of employment. The idea being that the People in a city like St. Thomas have only a minor quality of the population was more important to sense of being part of a larger region. That’s bethe financial health of the community than the cause many of the infrastructure and governance size of the population. Larger populations could connections have not been made. consume more resources whereas professional That’s the political challenge. Robust population level, higher income populations brought greater growth and economic activity may be held back wealth, made more purchases, supported more until that challenge is addressed. restaurants and services.

That quality versus quantity argument is hard to Serge Lavoie has a 35 year career resist, but does it hold true? If it does, it can’t hapmanaging associations. He is curpen overnight, and not all municipalities have the rently president of On Track St. right mix of conditions to make it happen at all.

Thomas. He lives in St. Thomas.

A more pragmatic approach is coordinated regional planning, bringing our patchwork of municipalities together in an effort to plan and build a competing regional cluster.

That approach was tried with the Southwest Economic Alliance (SWEA). Over the five years I was involved with that group, it was demonstrated that there was a need and a basic desire to make that approach work. In hindsight, Professional Installation though, the alliance was far too broad to and warrantied for as long as you own your car. achieve the necessary political consensus.

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ELGIN THIS MONTH

5

Business & Community Tourism

Grandma’s Oven Bakery & Cakes – Designing confectionary masterpieces Martha has recently taken over In 2008 Anna Hiebert and her daughter Martha as sole proprietor Zacharias embarked on a journey to fulfill a life- as Anna slowly long dream of opening a bakery. Although they works towards rehad no formal training, Anna was a tremendously tirement. In the skilled baker with experience creating delicious meantime, she is homemade treats for her family. The decision to still expertly whipopen Grandma’s Oven Bakery in Aylmer was a ping up traditional daunting one but the initial leap of faith paid off recipes from her as eight years later the business is a huge success. Mennonite backThe bakery started by employing only family but ground that inover the course of time has grown to accommodate clude pies, fresh increased demand for its delicious sugary treats. breads, squares, For the past eight years, Anna and Martha have and cookies of all worked alongside each other as business partners types. Customer – Anna baking and supervising staff and Martha favourites include chocolate filled cream cookies, running the business and taking care of custom chocolate dipped marshmallow cookies, cornflake cake orders. cookies, cake truffles, cheesecakes, and deliciously decadent cupcakes in a variety of enticing flavours.

These flavours are continuously changing and include everything from strawberry swirl with cream cheese, chocolate peanut butter, and red velvet to lemon and chocolate with cookies and cream.

Martha has always enjoyed baking but Landscape Landscape her artistic side longed Construction for a creative outlet.

Landscape Design Maintenance Building outdoor projects Weekly, Bi-weekly, Vacation She began by creating We meet with you, in the St. Thomas area for mowing and upkeep basic cakes for special listen to your needs, • Manicured lawn service over 22 years. occasions and weddiscuss your options • Patios and decks • Full garden and dings and has worked then transfer them to a • Stonework pruning service up to designing edible scaled landscape design • Retaining walls • Spring cleaning

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Word has spread about Martha’s artistry and not only are her cakes a hit in Aylmer, but across southwestern Ontario as well. She now makes cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, and cake truffles for approximately 200 weddings a year with a large portion of her business coming from the London area. Martha’s reputation has even reached the Muskoka area where she recently delivered a wedding cake to an extremely satisfied couple.

For more information on Grandma’s Oven Bakery and Cakes, to place a custom order, or to view a full gallery of special occasion cakes visit www. grandmasoven.ca or like Grandma’s Oven on Facebook.

Katherine Thompson is Marketing & Communications Coordinator with The County of Elgin

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 6

Business & Community Your Team

Trust me – I need some privacy at work

by Laura Pavilonis and Nancy Annett

needs to be clear on what those boundaries are and commit to the actions to ensure everyone is on board. The commitments also need to clearly define how failure to conform to the commitments will be addressed. In order for a culture of trust to truly begin to foster, teams need to develop their own commitments themselves.

As well, creating private spaces that employees can use when they need focused time is important to maintaining sanity and productivity. This might mean having several designated spaces in the organization that can be used by anyone who needs some privacy or quiet in order to get a job complete or get it done effectively. You can also create a noise-free shared work

space that can be used by several employees but requires a quieter environment.

Find out what’s needed from your employees in order to adjust the distractions resulting from open spaces, and see happier employees with higher productivity.

More and more we see the trend towards open office space and hot desks being associated with increased innovation, productivity and team work. But what are the costs to these types of work spaces and how do we take what we might already have, and turn it into something that works better?

Nancy Annett, MBA, CHRP and A recent study form the Auckland University Laura Pavilonis, MBA CHRP of Technology reported that employees who own Flashpoint have to share their office with more than two Training and Development. people have high levels of colleague distrust and form fewer co-worker friendships than those working in single-occupancy offices.

Trust is a key ingredient to team cohesiveness and team productivity.

One way that trust can be earned is through compassion or caring. A lack of compassion can rear its ugly st head when people work in the same space and frustrations result, much like they do with families. People become frustrated with noise levels, different tastes in music and décor, and a lack of respect for personal belongings and private space.

Trust can also be built through consistency and competency. If a lot of people share the same space, it becomes difficult to establish consistent relationships with a core group of co-workers. Buildup of frustrations can bring out the more negative aspects of one’s character.

A typically friendly and open coworker might appear to switch on a dime and become the evil twin when placed in frustrating situations over and over again. Frustrations with all the small stuff can also bring co-workers competency weaknesses into the limelight. Weaknesses that can normally be balanced with a coIndividual & Team Entries Welcome worker’s strengths, and been seen $40/participant objectively, can be magnified when (Everyone Welcome • Pledge Sheets Available) someone is in a state of frustration.

Yet another study of some 38,000 ALL SKILL LEVELS workers, referenced in the New Yorker by Maria Konnikova, found In 2016, 343 area youths received that interruptions by colleagues assistance totalling $48,530 for: were detrimental to productivity, Gymnastics and that the more senior the role Hockey the worse this became. All the interSoccer ruptions that can come from a large Camps & More! open space can drive even the most focused of people insane. Whether FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: it’s simply someone walking by or East Elgin Community Complex overhearing conversations from those around you, the distractions 531 Talbot Street West, Aylmer are many. There’s not much you can P: 519.773.5631 • E: admin@eecc.ca • W: eecc.ca do to change the circumstances, but beg for some privacy.

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 7

Agriculture On The Farm

Taking a ‘March Break’ from the farm

by Janine Lunn

In the farm community, much is made of the never-ending to-do list, the fact that someone has to be on duty all the time, and of course … our work ethic. The blessing (and the curse) of being one’s own boss is that we can be pretty demanding of ourselves.

My husband and I were both raised on dairy farms, so we have a lot of experience fitting in sports, outings and errands around the needs of livestock and chore time. There’s no milking time at our farm any longer, but keeping livestock still brings with it many daily and weekly responsibilities. Our farm kids are learning plenty about the trials and tribulations of kid-sized jobs around the farm, but we’re pretty intentional about passing on another farm family tradition: a break.

Fortunately our parents saw the benefit of work-farm balance. It’s not so different from what everyone else calls work-life balance, except that for farmers, home is also intertwined with work and the obligations of a business. Cobbling together favours, bartering and paid help to keep the proverbial home fires burning around the farm is no easy feat. It’s one thing for a farmer to work endless hours, know how to fix or patch assorted equipment, baby along the newborns, keep water lines thawed, and pray for no power outages, but it can be even more daunting to

pass that responsibility to others, even for a day. But vacation, we did.

Since they were not a regular event, trips were saved up, planned for, savoured. A long weekend jaunt to a mid-sized town hotel that featured cherry Danishes for breakfast and an indoor pool with both a shallow and a deep end was completely exotic for country kids in the 1980s.

Both of our families managed the coveted (once-in-a-lifetime) Florida vacation.

A trip off the farm was memorable not just because of what we saw and did, but because it was a complete getaway from the daily grind of farming, and a chance for us to be present with each other, free from distractions and pressure. To be fair, there were likely a few moments of ‘vacation stress’ for the parents involved – interpreting maps, handling restaurant bills for hungry offspring, managing sunstroke and motion sickness, navigating bigcity living, and dealing with the lack of routine.

I appreciate the saying ‘never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life’ more each year. There will always be obligations, and sensible, efficient things to do in order to keep the farm running. But if we don’t ever leave, and rest our minds and bodies, try new experiences and enjoy time with those we love, what do we have to show for it? There may never be an ideal

time to get away, but we know all too well that it’s the people who matter most, and they won’t all be here forever.

It’s our turn now, trying to balance the bills and the time and the fun-budget. We definitely don’t have as many getaways as some, but we make them happen. Stay tuned for a future column to see what this farm crew got up to on our breakaway from the farm.

Janine Lunn lives on the family farm near Belmont, Ontario.

GREAT invESTMEnT OppORTUniTY in THE HEART Of dOWnTOWn ST. THOMAS

44th Annual

Honours and Awards Banquet Thursday April 20, 2017, 6 pm at Memorial Arena.

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED

Pay tribute to the hardworking volunteers, athletes, artists, and heroes who bring pride and distinction to St.Thomas. Nomination forms and eligibility criteria are available on the City’s website: www.stthomas.ca or at the Parks and Recreation Department, 75 Caso Crossing (formerly 2 Third Ave.,Timken Centre), the City Clerk’s Office and Mayor’s Office at City Hall.

Completed forms must be received at the Parks and Recreation Department Office inside the Timken Arena, 75 Caso Crossing (formerly 2 Third Ave.) no later than 4 pm, Friday March 24, 2017.

For information please contact:

Parks and Recreation Department 519-633-7112 March, 2017

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Tina goes to the theatre

Tina Hyatt from TD Bank claims Grand Theatre Tickets at the February Business After 5 cosponsored by Boston Pizza and the Times-Journal. Photo courtesy of Spitzky Media.

Our 43rd annual Members Golf Day May 25 Who’s thinking of warm summer days and a round of golf? We are!

The Chamber’s 43rd annual Members Golf Day is set for Thursday May 25 with an 11:00 a.m. shotgun start at one of Ontario’s best courses – St. Thomas Golf & Country Club.

Join us for the day and you will experience 18 holes on one of southwestern Ontario’s premier golf courses.

Special features include BBQ grilled lunch, post-game social mixer, a 12-ounce Striploin Steak dinner, amazing prizes, and much more. This event is both a tradition and an excellent experience, and we welcome Members to invite out-of-town guests, clients, colleagues and suppliers that may not have easy access to play our toprated course.

Our annual Members Golf Day has always enjoyed tremendous support by players and sponsors. Libro Credit Union returns as our main sponsor this year, while Legends Tavern returns to host and deliver our

March Business After 5

The St. Thomas Times-Journal co-sponsored the February Business After 5. Group Manager Ian Dowding spoke to everyone attending.

Photo courtesy of Spitzky Media

Date:

Wednesday March 15

Time:

Doors Open at 5:00 p.m.

Prize draws & sponsor remarks at 6:15

Site:

St. Thomas Golf & Country Club 42325 Sparta Line

Boston Pizza Coowner Jeff Wood brought greetings to a full house.

Boston Pizza cosponsored and hosted February’s Business After 5.

Photo courtesy of Spitzky Media

Sponsors:

St. Thomas Soccer Club & St. Thomas Golf & Country Club

It’s our annual preSt. Patrick’s Day event!

Free Admission to all personnel from any organization that is a Member of the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce.

March, 2017

Nominations closing March 31

Do you know a deserving winner?

The Free Enterprise Awards are the Chamber’s annual recognition of excellence in commerce and community service.

Since the 1970s, we have welcomed nominations of businesses, organizations and individuals who deserved to be recognized for their excellence in business and community service.

There are three award categories, and nominations are open now through March 31. For details on the nomination procedure (it’s very easy), just go to the Chamber’s website at the address below.

The 2017 Free Enterprise Awards will be presented during the Free Enterprise Awards Reception at St. Anne’s Centre in St. Thomas. It happens each year on the 2nd Wednesday in May. Our date this year is Wednesday May 10, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Ticket information and other details are on the Chamber website in our Events section at www.stthomaschamber.on.ca

Spring is Coming!

Business Beat Table of Contents Page 10 ...................Ec. report Page 11 ...........Build next 150 Page 12 ........... Insurance tech Page 13 .................. New stats Page 14 ......... Fries with that?

Page 15 .............. Free labour?

Page 16 ...........New Members

Charity Putt for CA$H. Special activities and sponsors appear on all 18-holes including contests like Ladies Longest Drive, Men’s Longest Drive, Closest to the Water Hazard and more.

Register before May 1 (and pay by May 15) and save. Single entry Earlybird price is $155 or a foursome for $595.

Registration is open now.

Details are posted in the Events column on the Chamber website or connect with Member Services Rep Christy Hunking at the Chamber office. Call her direct at 519-631-1981 Extension 526.

Take part in our Golf feature coming up in the April edition of Elgin This Month

To take advantage of excellent advertising opportunities like this, give me a call at 519-633-1640 (ext. 222) Greg Minnema, Advertising Sales

or email me at gregthismonth@theweeklynews.ca April Edition Advertising Deadline is March 21st

ELGIN THIS MONTH

9

Viewpoint

Ontario Economic Report: Confidence + and We asked for input, and you gave it to us.

The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce has joined with our provincial counterparts at the Ontario Chamber offices in Toronto, and with dozens of other community Chambers to release our Ontario Economic Report. It is based on extensive survey findings from across the entire Chamber network.

In releasing the new OER, we saw considerable media coverage in print, radio, TV and across social media.

An article in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper got our attention as it reported, “Ontario’s businesses are way more optimistic about their own futures than they are about the province’s economy as a whole, the provincial chamber of commerce says, a weird attitudinal split that’s making them sit on their abundant resources rather than investing in their own growth.”

Our new OER, which is intended to be an annual product for the Chamber network, was also described in a unique way in the Ottawa article with writer David Reevely saying, “The thing is both illuminating and mystifying. For instance, 62 per cent of the businesses the chamber of commerce surveyed are either somewhat or very confident in their own futures; only 12 per cent are worried. Four in five expect to maintain or increase their revenues in the next year and a quarter expect to hire. But only 24 per cent are confident

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in Ontario’s economy, a gap the chamber struggles to explain.”

Writer Reevely went on to quote a portion of the OER which states, “Ontario business is in a delicate position. Our Members are unsure of the stability of the wider provincial economy and critical of the impact government policy will have on their organization.”

Reevely also wrote, “Basically, business leaders aren’t overjoyed with the Liberal government. At the same time, they mostly think they’re going to be fine. They just aren’t sure about everybody else.”

Then he took his point to Queen’s Park. “I don’t know why there’s that contradiction,” Premier Kathleen Wynne said in Toronto. “We will obviously follow up with the Chamber because we are working very closely with them.”

We’re glad to see the Premier agree on collaboration since a central part of our research proves that business and government must tackle issues together.

Our “Business Prosperity Index,” which relates what it costs to run a business to how much money and credit it has access to, is close to a 15-year peak. Ontario businesses have big financial cushions, which

ordinarily they’d use to take some risks. But we find businesses are investing in the financial markets rather than in increasing production and hiring people.

They’re making money off their money but not in the way we’d like.

“Investment is being held back because of a high perception of risk. We need immediate action in order for our province to continue to grow and prosper,” Ontario Chamber President Allan O’Dette said.

Other observations from the Ottawa Citizen feature noted that Chamber Members aren’t happy about the price of electricity, a major input especially for industrial businesses. Like everybody else who pays a power bill, they wish they could pay less: 73 per cent of them put electricity prices among their top three provincial policy concerns.

A release from the OCC offices in Toronto confirmed businesses want electricity prices that are “predictable, stable and transparent so that ratepayers and industry can adequately understand and plan their energy expenditure.”

Top priorities for Ontario Chamber of Commerce Members (percentage of survey respondents listing an item among their top three) • 53% — Acquiring suitable staff • 51% — Reducing energy costs • 43% — Regulatory changes • 28% — Improved access to capital • 26% — Access to training and mentoring • 21% — Infrastructure improvements • 20% — Finding more cost-effective production inputs The OER was produced in collaboration with the entire provincial Chamber network and using the research & economic analysis resources of CANCEA (Canadian Centre of Economic Analysis) and Central 1 Credit Union.

To view and/or download our new OER, see the News section on the main page of the Chamber’s website at www.stthomaschamber.on.ca.

Business Beat Published by Metroland Media Group Ltd., and delivered to businesses in St. Thomas and Elgin Country For complete information on the St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce, reach us at: 115-300 South Edgeware Rd., St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 4L1 Telephone: 519-631-1981 Fax: 519-631-0466 E-Mail: mail@stthomaschamber.ca Website: www.stthomaschamber.on.ca President & CEO Bob Hammersley Accounting Coordinator Susan Munday Member Services Christy Hunking Member Services Barry Fitzgerald

March, 2017

St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce 2017 Board of Directors Chair: Robert Furneaux Gorman-Rupp Canada 1st Vice-Chair: Ray Bosveld HollisWealth 2nd Vice-Chair: Brian Helmer Reith & Associates Insurance and Financial Treasurer: Mark Lassam, CPA, CA Lassam & Co. Past Chair: Dan Kelly, CPA, CGA Dowler-Karn Ltd. Director: Kathy Cook World Financial Group Director: Sean Dyke St. Thomas Economic Development Corp.

Director: Ross Fair Fanshawe College Director: Kevin Jackson Elgin Business Resource Centre Director: Ginette Minor Alexelle Slipcovers & Décor Director: Chris Patriquin Simply Pure Water Director: Joe Preston Wendy’s Restaurant Director: Bob Ward The Auto Guys

E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 10

Chamber News

The opportunities Canada needs to build the next 150 years of business success In this year of political and economic uncertainty, the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, has identified Ten Ways to Build a Canada That Wins, a list of key opportunities Canada can seize right now to regain its competitiveness, improve its productivity and grow its economy.

“Our list outlines specific recommendations on what Canada can do better, and the opportunities to improve our economic success.

Canada can’t sit still while our competitors run laps around us. We need every advantage, and the Canadian Chamber will work with government to put these new measures in place,” said the Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “If we take advantage of these opportunities, we’ll give our businesses new tools to ensure their growth and success.”

In this fiercely competitive world, business needs more than its own skills to win – it also needs a supportive environment and public policies to encourage competitiveness. This new version of an annual Canadian Chamber report moves away from identifying self-inflicted wounds that have prevented Canada’s economy from achieving its full potential and, instead, describes the opportunities for us to do better.

“From fighting protectionism to upgrading Canada’s regulatory system or building a stronger Canadian brand abroad, each of these measures can have real and lasting effects on our economy,” says Chamber President & CEO Bob Hammersley. “We’ve emphasized opportunities that touch Canada’s internal economy, from reducing the cost of doing business to dismantling internal barriers to trade. What we need now is a commitment to get the job done.”

Perrin Beatty went on to say “As we celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, we can look back at the essential role business played in shaping our country. But as we look forward, it’s clear we’ll need every advantage to continue building a more prosperous country. These ten opportunities can provide a foundation for the next 150 years of Canadian business success.”

Our complete “Ten Ways to Build a Canada That Wins” document can be viewed and/ or downloaded on the St. Thomas & District Chamber’s website. Look in the News section on the lower left side of our main page at www. stthomaschamber.on.ca We have also prepared a short four-minute video on the Ten Ways to Build a Canada That Wins. You can view it at the website link above.

Subscribers to the Chamber’s weekly Green Mail newsletter will find links to both the video

and the report embedded in the newsletter.

About the Chambers…

The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in St. Thomas, Central Elgin and Southwold and has been serving our Members and our communities continuously since 1869. We share news and information monthly here in Elgin This Month;

chambers of commerce and boards of trade, representing 200,000 businesses of all sizes in all sectors of the economy and in all regions. News and information are available at Chamber.ca, or follow us on Twitter @CdnChamberofCom.

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 11

Pro Text

Insurance technology revolution

by Crystal Underhill

The evolution of technology has transformed so much of what we do in our daily lives, yet it has been slow to bring any transformative change to the insurance industry, thus far. The insurance industry in many respects continues to operate much as it has for over a century relying on historical data, predictive modelling and the human intellect for subjective decision-making (underwriting). These two worlds are beginning to collide, and a transformation is beginning to take shape.

The questions are how will the industry react and what will it look like in the future? Fintech, artificial intelligence and the digital experience are on the rise.

The most prolific introduction of technology thus far is the use of telematics, combining wireless technology and computers to stream information that is used to analyze a driver’s performance.

This information includes how hard one applies the brake, how quickly one accelerates, what time of day one is driving most frequently and at what speeds one drives. Currently in Ontario, the information is being used to better determine accurate insurance premiums tailored to the driving habits exhibited in a particular automobile.

In the future, telematics and the data collected may be able to alter the way auto claims are handled. Data from sensors may be able to no-

tify the insurance company directly when you are involved in an accident, including details such as location of accident, parts of your vehicle that are damage and maybe even instant estimates. These advancements will allow for faster and more accurate claims handling and, ultimately, happier customers!

Across the pond, the simply technology of dashcams is the norm rather than the exception as dash-cams are here in Canada. Dash-cams can be critical in providing details of accidents in situations where witnesses are not available and/or conflicting reports exist.

Recently, I had a client involved in an auto accident who was faced with being charged, on the insurance, for being 50% at fault for the accident due solely to conflicting information given from both parties involved. This, combined with no independent witnesses coming forward, caused the insurers to charge each driver with an at-fault loss.

During the investigation phase, we discovered that our client had an active dash-cam and footage existed that proved the accident was not his fault.

Upon review we were able to have the at-fault charge against our client reversed with the third party being charged 100% at fault, thereby saving our client the cost of their deductible for repairs and a subsequent increase in premium. A $40 piece of technology saved our client thousands.

The biggest potential disrupter to insurance is

artificial intelligence (AI). An American insurer, Lemonade, is using basic AI; no people, no subjective human decision-making. AI is the technology that is the basis for self-driving cars. These vehicles are expected to be for sale in the next 5 years.

As rapid advancements in AI are occurring, so are the questions that are being asked such as: with no drivers, will accidents happen as often?

Who will be responsible if they do? What if the vehicle’s system is hacked and then causes an accident? Who is responsible? With new technologies there are so many unknowns, good and bad.

One thing for certain, it is an exciting time to be an insurance broker! Changes are happening regularly and bringing safer vehicles, ease of use and increased customer satisfaction. What will the next 20 years will bring?

This column appears regularly in Business Beat and has been submitted by Crystal Underhill, RIB (Ont), CIP, of Reith & Associates Insurance and Financial Services Limited, 462 Talbot Street, St. Thomas. Questions Crystal Underhill and comments on this column are welcomed by the writer at 519-631-3862 or via e-mail: info@reithandassociates.com.

Free Services For Employers and Job Seekers.

400 Talbot Street, St. Thomas Phone: 519-631-5470 Text: 226-376-0320 160 Main Street, West Lorne Phone: 519-768-0020 Text: 226-376-0393

www.employmentserviceselgin.ca March, 2017

E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 12

Chamber News

Let’s talk tourism numbers On page 11 of this issue you will see a summary report on a major research piece assembled through the Canadian Chamber offices in Ottawa. One of the focal points it highlights is the need to do more on national, provincial and local levels with tourism.

The national Chamber’s latest data confirms our local opinion that tourism could and should be a more important component in our local economy. With 130 km.

(80 miles) or Lake Erie shore as the southern boundary of Elgin County, opportunities for fishing and watersport recreation are abundant. Our proximity to the US borders at Windsor, Sarnia and Buffalo means we offer easy access to and from the United States. And with the exchange rates at current levels, inbound tourism traffic is a key yet our beautiful and friendly nation – including our beautiful and friendly communities in and around St. Thomas & Elgin – show only modest growth.

With the help of the Tourism Research Unit of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, we have assembled some stats that deserve local attention.

The following numbers are based on data collected through 2016, compared to 2015, for 11 months January to the end of November. Full-year data will follow shortly.

First, a look at outbound traffic.

- The higher value on the US dollar seems to be making Canadian traffic more likely to stay at home, or to consider other destinations such as Cuba, Mexico & Europe.

Nationally, total outbound traffic dropped 3.4% while traffic to the US declined at almost twice that rate, dropping by 6.5%.

- Outbound flow from Ontario declined by more than the national average on trips to the US, dropping by 7.6% but outbound traffic to non-US destinations grew by an almost equal amount, up 7.7% - Average outbound border crossings for tourism number 2 million per month across Canada And here’s how the inbound traffic com-

pares: - Total inbound visitor flow to Canada from the US is up by 7.5% on same-day trips, and by 9.4% when overnight stays are included - Total inbound visitor flow to Canada from non-US points grew by 14.1% - Total inbound visitor flow to Ontario from non-US points is up by 14.7% Another curious stat is on phone traffic to the 1-800-Ontario info service. Traffic declined last year by 5.6% compared to 2015.

Employment in Ontario in tourism-related businesses grew modestly on a seasonally-adjusted basis last year. Overall, it grew by 0.8% to 1,738,600 people. That’s more than mining, forestry and agriculture combined.

Some might argue the changes shown in the latest stats aren’t bad. And we agree. We just think they could be better, much better.

Our position in the market is a lot less “top of mind” than it was a decade ago. Despite the dollar advantage, US traffic isn’t coming our way as much as it could. And when it comes to investments in marketing we find it concerning that four US states individually spend more on marketing than is spent on the entire Canadian national marketing budget.

Population changes New data from Statistics Canada Statistics Canada has released the first of over 20 planned reports on national census data collected last summer. Included in the latest release are population counts for communities across the London - St. Thomas Region. The Chamber has updated all related areas of our “Community Profile” - as posted on the Chamber website at www.stthomaschamber.on.ca Here are some key local numbers: London Region (statistically known as the London Census Metro Area or CMA) - up 4.1% since 2011 with total population now 494,069 London City - up 4.8% to 383,822 St. Thomas City - up 2.6% to 38,909 Elgin County - up 1.7% to 88,978 Township of Southwold - down 1.6% to 4,421 Municipality of Central Elgin - down 1.1% to 12,607 Town of Aylmer - up 4.8% to 7,492 The Chamber will be actively following all of the data releases from StatsCan, and updating every related local component of information that we publish or share in our daily work.

A b-i-i-i-g win

Chamber staffer Barry Fitzgerald and Member Services Committee volunteer Cindy Hertwig show the big 55” LG TV won by Roy Esbaugh from The Columbus Club at the February 15 Business After 5, co-sponsored by the St. Thomas Times Journal and Boston Pizza.

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 13

Legal Business

Fries with that? Let’s go to the Supreme Court A recent decision of the British Columbia Supreme Court underscores the importance of clear communication between employers and their employees, particularly in the area of discipline for conduct in the workplace. As well, the case reviews the question of when dismissal of an employee for cause is justified, and when it is not. And maybe, by subtle inference, how to stay out of court.

The case of Ram v. The Michael Lacombe Group, involved the alleged wrongful dismissal of an employee from her job as a cook at a Burger King Restaurant. The facts of the case were relatively simple, and summarized very succinctly by Madame Justice Warren.

Usha Ram, a 55 year old woman, worked as a cook at several Burger King Restaurants in the Vancouver area, over a period of 24 years. It was conceded that she was “a good and valued employee, with no record of any formal discipline”. Ms. Ram was fired, because one of the owners concluded that she stole a medium-sized order of fries and a drink at the end of her shift on December 27, 2013. Ms. Ram admitted taking the items but asserted that her general manager gave her permission to do so.

Ms. Ram sued the franchisee of the Burger King Restaurant for damages for wrongful dismissal, claiming damages for loss of income and mental distress. It seems her total claim was in excess of $230,000. At the time of her dismissal, she was

earning approximately $21,000 per year.

Now, you might think this case would boil down to a simple choice of credibility between the general manager and Ms. Ram. Well, think again.

Cases don’t usually find their way to a Supreme Court by being simple.

The general manager remembered giving Ms. Ram permission to take a “fish sandwich”. Ms. Ram, it seems, took a “fish sandwich combo”, which includes fries and a drink. She apparently prepared the order in front of the general manager.

Now, Ms. Ram, and, it seems, the general manager, spoke as their first language a dialect or dialects of Hindi. According to First Data’s trademark is the Hindi interpreter providing fast, safe and at the trial, there is no Hindi word for “sandcost-efficient transactions. wich”, (let alone “comLet us analyze your latest bo”, I would guess.)

At best, Ms. Lam’s restatement and we will quest would come out meet or beat your something like, “May current rates.

I take a fish?”

Soon after, Ms. Ram was called on the carpet by the co-owner and fired for stealing.

Naturally, she was For more information, contact your First Data Business Consultant at 1-888-265-4117. devastated and embarrassed; at the time © 2016 First Data Canada Ltd. is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Canadian Branch, of trial, she had not Toronto, ON, Canada. All trademarks, service marks and trade names used in this material are the found other work. property of their respective owners.

21958 2016 Now, here is where I

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just can’t figure out the actions of the co-owner in firing Ms. Ram. She was a good employee; she made no effort to conceal what she did; the general manager gave, at least partial, permission.

What should a good boss do? Maybe a warning?

A review of policy? Maybe nothing, given the language issue?

At the end of the trial, in a very thorough and reasoned decision, Justice Warren found that, yes indeed, Ms. Ram had been wrongly dismissed from her employment. She awarded her the sum of $21,000 in general damages, being payment in lieu of one year’s notice of termination. As well, she awarded Ms. Ram the sum of $25,000 in “aggravated damages”, for the “unfair or bad faith conduct of the defendant.” Total: $46,000!

Of course, dishonesty on the part of an employee is almost always, (but as Justice Warren pointed out, not always) grounds for immediate dismissal.

It generally matters not what the value of the item stolen is; theft is theft, and cannot be tolerated.

However, in this case, when one applies the regular Friday discount, along with the employee discount, to the price of the fries and drink Ms. Ram took, the value of the “theft” amounted to about fifty cents. Yes, you heard right. Total: $0.50!

So, besides the value of coherent communication and mutual respect between employers and employees, what did we all learn from this case? Well, we now know how to upgrade from a small fry to a whopper. Or not.

Questions, comments and suggestions for future columns are welcomed by lawyer Monty Fordham at his office: Fordham & Brightling Associates – Lawyers, 4 Elgin Street, St. Thomas.

Telephone 519- 633-4000, Monty Fordham FAX 519-633-1371 or e-mail: montyfordham@4elgin.ca

E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 14

Viewpoint

4 myths you need to bust before hiring an intern or student for your business

by Christina R. Green

As summer approaches business owners start to think about ways in which they can use the extra help of available secondary school or post-secondary college/university students. Back when I was a college student at a small liberal arts school in the Midwest, the undergrads waited each spring for the internship listings to be published. Once they were, we poured over the ones that were in exciting cities with large stipends. The review took about three minutes because they just didn’t exist.

“Exciting city” always equaled free labour.

Today, employers have less leeway in what they offer students. While there are some college programs that “pay” students in credit hours, and thus prohibit employers paying them a salary, most do not and that means businesses are faced with the “to pay” or “not to pay” question. Other programs might require paid wages but offer tax credits to employers.

Myth 1: There is no “to pay” or “not to pay” question If you’ve been lining up a bunch of busy projects for the summer in the hopes to land some free help, get over it. While I’m not an attorney, I can tell you this paid versus unpaid intern question has come up in court several times and the employers ended up paying the interns after all. In the U.S., Mega publisher Conde Nast was sued by former interns in a class action suit for not paying and settled for $5.8 million. NBCUniversal settled as well.

The only “free” work out there isn’t really work.

If you created a program that was more of a handson apprenticeship where you spent time teaching and everything was done under your tutelage, you may qualify for a free intern by working in collaboration with a school.

Hopefully, you have already had a look into government-sponsored programs that could offer support through wage subsidies. You might (or should) consider co-op or intern placements through educational institutions including Fanshawe College, Western University and most any post-secondary education provider. (Editor’s note: Employment Services Elgin can respond to enquiries on provincial or federal grant or subsidy options. ESE can be reached by telephone at 519-631-5470. Staff at Fanshawe College’s St. Thomas Elgin Regional Campus can respond to questions on internships, apprenticeships. Connect with Fanshawe by calling 519-633-2030. Both Fanshawe and ESE offer free services to post student job opportunities.)

The guiding principle in deciding whether interns deserve a salary is if what they do could be done by a paid employee, as in would you hire someone to do what they are doing if they weren’t available?

Myth 2: Interns are good for the bottom line At first glance, it would appear students or interns are great for the bottom line. Even if you do give them an hourly wage, it’s usually much March, 2017

lower than what you’d pay a permanent full-time they may be testing the waters in yours. Others employee. But the amount of time you’re going to intend to go into business for themselves and they invest in an intern isn’t going to make this a cheap may be interning for you just so they can see how a business works. Understanding their motivations labour solution.

If you create an intern program, it should be out will make it a much richer experience for all inof a desire to bring new energy to the workplace, volved.

Bringing on students or interns can be very reinstill a love of your industry in the new generation, and/or as a way of giving back. With the sal- warding and these myths should not stop you from ary and the mentoring you will be doing, it will exploring that option. You just need to be honest probably cost you more than if you simply hired a about your business goals and why you want to have student help on your team. If it stems from a temp or a virtual assistant.

Still, there’s something rewarding about bring- desire to see things differently, give back, or bring ing an intern or student on-board. Amy Baxter, in a new energy you’ll most likely be satisfied with founder of MMJ Labs told OPEN Forum, “… the results. If you thought it was a good way to cut although we enjoy having extra people and en- costs, look into virtual assistants. ergy, the value we have gotten from interns hasn’t helped the bottom line. It’s something we enjoy, Christina R. Green is a regular contributor to St. and it’s a great way to expose entrepreneurs to the Thomas & District Chamber publications. She teachstartup world. We’re really doing the program to es small businesses, chambers, and associations give back.” how to connect through content. Her articles have Another dimension to consider is the value of appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Exbringing the latest/freshest/newest thinking to ecutives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and your workplace. Students can provide brilliant inSocialfish. She is a regular blogger at Frankjkenny. sight into the latest technology and best workplace com and the Event Manager Blog. practices.

Myth 3: Today’s interns & students are just looking for experience Yes, they want experience but not experience filing or shredding documents. They want real business experience, and many of them will want input into the projects they work on. Today’s interns are looking to make a mark on what they’re working on, not just add a line or two to a resume.

They may be interning to try and decide if they want to work in your Mortgage protection • First-time home buyer plan • RESPs* industry or not. Most of them want to get broad exposure to what workI can help with your goals. Let’s talk about Money for Life. ing in the field would be like. Filing doesn’t do that.

Michael L. Moore Myth 4: Students 519-637-7747 want a job michael.moore@sunlife.com Some interns are hopwww.sunlife.ca/michael.moore ing for a job at the end 9 Princess Avenue, Unit #3 of the internship or at St. Thomas, ON N5R 3V3 least a contact they can add to their network and someone to circle Life’s brighter under the sun back with upon gradua*Mutual funds offered by Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. tion. But some students Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies. and interns are consid© Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2015. ering several fields, and

I want to start a family.

E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 15

Member News

New Members

The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce proudly welcomes the following businesses and individuals as our newest Members.

Those listed below were accepted as registered Members January 16 - February 15, 2017. Once an organization registers with the Chamber, all personnel (owners/managers/staff) within the organization have full access to all Chamber programs, projects, events and services.

Annette Sbarra – Independent LegalShield Associate 33 Hickory Lane St. Thomas, ON N5R 6K9 Phone: 519-318-2902 Email: netsbarra@outlook.com Website: www.asbarra41.legalshieldassociate.com Contacts: Annette Sbarra, Independent Associate Buyers Guide Categories: Lawyers, Paralegal, Business Advisory, Financial Services, Agencies & Associations Products & Services: At LegalShield, they’ve been offering legal plans for 40 years, creating a world where everyone can access legal protection – and everyone can afford it. From real estate to document review to will preparation, and more, their lawyers are here to advise you with any legal matter – no matter how traumatic or how trivial it may seem. With their legal plan you will be protected and empowered to worry less and live more.

BEST Safety Training & Consulting Ltd. 42505 Southdale Line St. Thomas, ON N5R 1B7 Phone: 519-870-5030 Email: john@bestsafetytraining.ca Website: www.bestsafetytraining.ca Contacts: John Vanderwyst, CSSE - Owner Buyers Guide Categories: Training Services, Safety Prod-

ucts Products & Services: BEST Safety Training is dedicated to providing comprehensive Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) and Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) training packages to ensure the ongoing health and safety of your employees, and to assist with department and company-wide compliance. Their effective and easy to use training packages will ensure that your employees receive the training they need to work safely, and meet health and safety compliance requirements.

Whether you are a Fortune 500 company or a small business, BEST Safety Training has the tools that will keep your organization working safely and in compliance!

Celtic Ridge Farms 27401 Celtic Line Dutton, ON N0L 1J0 Phone: 519-318-2773 Email: info@celticridgefarms.com Website: www.celticridgefarms.com Contacts: Maryjo & Rob Tait - Owners Buyers Guide Categories: Agriculture – Growers & Producers; Food Specialties; Food Wholesalers; Products & Services: Celtic Ridge Farms offers their own naturally raised beef and lamb, straight from their farm gate to your plate! Their beef and lamb is butchered in a pro-

Elgin - St. Thomas Community Foundation 745 Talbot Street Box 20150 St. Thomas, ON N5P 4H4 Phone: 519-637-8230 Email: tcarroll@escf.ca Website: www.escf.ca Contacts: Terry Carroll, Executive Director Buyers Guide Categories: Community Services, Agencies & Associations Products & Services: The Elgin - St. Thomas Community Foundation helps people give back to the charities and communities they care about, in a way that is simple, convenient and lasting.

They build and manage endowed funds into perpetuity and grant from the interest on those funds to support local charities. Their focus is on improving our communities — the places where we all live, work, play and raise our kids.

The place we call home.

With a Community Foundation anyone can leave a legacy. Gifts of ANY amount can contribute to a lasting legacy that supports your personal passions and interests.

StaffJo 300 South Edgeware Road St. Thomas, ON N5P 4L1 Phone: 1-866-311-4441 Email: mike@staffjo.ca Website: www.staffjo.ca Contacts: Michael Coffill, General Manager Buyers Guide Categories: Community Services, Agencies & Associations Products & Services: With nearly 30 years of staffing experience all over Canada, StaffJo is helping extraordinary, everyday people with their search for a new job. Or if your business is expanding and looking to hire, StaffJo’s 3 step approach to staffing may be just what you need. Their goal is clear: employees first, clients second and shareholders third. Building a great company in this order prospers the entire community.

Crystal Underhill EXT 234 or Janet Palmer at EXT. 226

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 16

St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce Business After 5

Above: Don Perry from Royal LePage Triland Realty claimed tickets for “Disney on Ice”.

Chamber Members network, win at Business After 5

Left: Dave Portlock from Pro Oil was the lucky winner of Knights tickets and a Boston Pizza gift certificate at the February Business After 5.

“Thanks for your support! We had a full house at February’s Business After 5 at Boston Pizza, co-sponsored by the St. Thomas Times-Journal,” said Chamber President & CEO Bob Hammersley following the event. (Thanks to Spitzky Media for all the pictures on this page!)

Right: Debbie Palmer of Royal LePage Triland Realty is all smiles after winning a Boston Pizza gift card.

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www.sttenergy.com E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 17

Aylmer & Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Mayors’ Breakfast

All three Aylmer and East Elgin Mayors spoke at the Aylmer & Area Chamber of Commerce Mayors’ Breakfast at the Saxonia Hall February 1. Their speeches (edited for length) appear on these pages.

Township of Malahide

An edited version of Dave Mennill’s speech at the annual Mayors’ Breakfast Good morning, I would like to start this morning by sharing some sad news; our Deputy Mayor Mike Wolfe passed away on Monday, January 30th after a fight with cancer. Mike was a councillor for two years and a Deputy Mayor for two years. Mike represented his ratepayers well. He went out of his way to advocate for the Amish population in Malahide.

Because of Mike, there was a committee established to ensure the safety of Amish children and adults.

Mike also saw great value in building a new Terrace Lodge, and he was in the midst of forming a fundraising committee to enhance the new Terrace Lodge for our Malahide seniors.

On to the business of the township. I would like to begin by acknowledging and celebrating the 150th birthday of our beautiful county, Canada.

Recently, I was reading about a think tank in London, England that annually ranks countries as to the most desirable country in which to live. The criteria is annual income, health, education, clean air and clean water, crime rate and tolerance of religion and minority population. Canada has always been in the top ten but in 2017, Canada has been ranked number one. My conclusion is that this is has much to do with the attitude of Canadians. So everyone in this room has in a small way made Canada the number one country in which to live. So yeah, Canada! Do I dare mention that our neighbours to the south ranked Number twenty two?

Malahide just recently purchased three acres of land on the west side of Imperial Road south of John Wise Line to construct a new fire hall in 2017.

Upon completion, Mount Salem Fire Department and Summers Corners Fire Department will be amalgamated. All current firefighters will be members of the new hall and through attrition, the members will be reduced to the 25-member complement over time. The coverage areas for Springfield and Lyons will be modified to even out the call response.

We are looking for a substantial savings having nine

fire vehicles instead of 12, and equipment for 75 fire fighters instead of 100. We are fortunate to have the dedicated volunteers serving our community.

In spring of 2017, we expect to break ground for the new Terrace Lodge. The $29 million dollar project will be a four-pod facility with 25 residents in each pod. The new building will be located east of the current building with wider hallways, more private rooms and two people per bathroom. There will be one palliative care room per wing. The new building will meet the needs of today’s residents.

Upon completion in 2018, the current residents will be moved, and the old Terrace Lodge will be put up for sale or lease.

Other economic activities are as follows: 1. Overall, building permit activity remains strong, and we are on pace to match last year’s total of 181 permits with a construction value of approximately $20 million..

2. There are a number of new commercial activities, with the New Gas Bar/Take Out Food establishment on Talbot Street West being the largest.

3. With the assistance of a Canada 150 Grant from the Federal Government, work has begun on the Port Bruce Pier and Wonnacott Park Improvement Plan. This includes a facelift to pavilion, picnic tables, benches, water station, playground equipment, etc. This project promotes visitor/tourism opportunities.

4. Improvements to Malahide Community Place through a second Canada 150 grant will also be undertaken this year. It includes a hard surfaced walking trail and landscaping, a storage building for equipment, and an outdoor ceremony area. Again, this project promotes visitor/tourism opportunities.

5. Completed a streetscape beautification design project with Fanshawe College students to produce some long-term plans for the Village of Springfield.

We are looking at ways that we and the residents and businesses can invest together in the village.

6. We will be undertaking a similar project with Fanshawe College students for the Village of Port Bruce.

7. We are working with the local community to ensure that the Springfield Public School remains open. Schools are the hubs of their communities and have an importance that goes beyond education; they play a major role in the economic development of their communities and they make communities more attractive to newcomers. Businesses are more likely to move to communities with schools, and families will not move to communities without schools.

Town of Aylmer An edited version of Mayor Greg Currie’s speech

Good News: The Ethanol Plant has announced a significant expansion and I trust that I will get more details as I have been invited to attend their Annual General Meeting.

The Weed M.D. is in the hiring mode. It is also looking to expand its staff and facilities over the next two or three years. Who would have thought that the old tobacco building would include production businesses of products like shrimp and medicinal marijuana?

Over the last couple of years, Council has seen a plan coming together to renew the structure and formatting of our Town’s department and staff complement. We need to look at our current operational staff as they enter retirement and have a succession plan in place. They provide valuable assets which need to be replaced with minimal interruption to services offered.

Continued on page 23

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Aylmer & Area Chamber of Commerce Municipality of Bayham

An edited version of the speech given by Mayor Paul Ens at the Mayors’ Breakfast In 2016, Bayham experienced the rejuvenation process for the Straffordville Community Centre, a new Corinth Pavilion, a Storm Sewer EA, consolidation of facility footprint between Water/Wastewater and Public Works and significant ditching, brushing and road improvement programs to elongate the life of linear assets. As well, the changeover to LED street lights showed significant cost savings. Festivals in 2016 were strong and they look to be even bigger and better in 2017.

In 2016, we also saw two County bridges replaced and various sections of county roads enhanced.

Project Ojibwa As the Municipality is still proceeding legally, under the advisement of Legal Counsel, the Municipality cannot comment on the situation. All available background information is posted on the Municipal website under Studies – Project Ojibwa.

Economic Development Last summer, we saw a significant increase in building permits and planning applications. A number of businesses took advantage of the Elgincentives Program this past year.

The Municipality has refined development application approval processes turning around applications promptly. This removal of red-tape saves costs for new and existing businesses.

The Municipality has committed to South Central Ontario Region (SCOR) for another year. SCOR focuses on the agriculture and producer sector for the region and has been approved for Trillium funding for the Food Hub project in an attempt to bring the amazing agricultural products produced in the region to local distributors.

Our new website more adequately reflects the image of Bayham with a wide array of community and tourism options as well as displaying other County organizations. The site hosts historical documents back to the 1850s (minutes,

by-laws).

Periscope Playhouse, Port Burwell. Our Canada We most recently engaged in a process to devel- 150 themes include Paint The Town Red ... And op a Community Energy Plan to focus on Bay- White; 1967 – Where Were You In Centennial ham’s roots of alternative energy and energy effi- Year?; and “Honouring Veterans and Peacekeepciency including a largely electronic based service ers in Canada’s History”. Join us in Port Burwell delivery model, moving away from paper-based on July 1 for Bayham’s biggest Canada Day celservice delivery. ebrations ever!

Goals and new projects for 2017 and the near Ways your family, business or organization can future get involved The Municipality is in the detailed design stage 1. Light up your house, store or boat. Bring out of Storm Sewer Construction in Port Burwell your red and white Christmas lights for the sumwhich will include street-scaping and general im- mer! Let’s light up our whole municipality on provements as the project is phased in. Sidewalk our festivals – June 2-4 for Edisonfest; June 30 – replacement, roadwork and a beach parking lot July 2 for Canada Day; August 4-7 for Beachfest; enhancement are some of the capital projects on and August 25-27 for Watermelonfest. the go this year.

2. Decorate your house exterior. Plant red and Challenges ahead white flowers.

It is a real balancing act to keep or enhance ser3. Pick one of our three themes and bring a vice levels and maintain the infrastructure, while float to our biggest July 1 parade ever. keeping the tax burden as low as possible.

4. Dress in costume for Canada Day. Budget talks 5. Kids: Decorate your bikes and ride in the The Municipality passed the 2017 Capital Bud- parade. get in October 2016 and the Operating Budget 6. Bring a historical display about your family, in January of 2017, with a 2% increase to the business or organization to our all-day Canada municipal levy. These actions of Council permit Day Erieus Streetfest. pre-planning and tendering at the earliest points Infrastructure Funding possible to ensure competitive pricing.

We hope that our application for OCIF fundIn 2016, Bayham had another surplus which ing will be approved and Bayham’s water systems could be allocated to reserves. In 2017, the Mu- will be rehabilitated. nicipality is projected to complete the most Capital work in recent memory.

Bayham celebrates Canada 150 in grand style •Home •Auto •Commercial •Financial Services Canada 150 meetings have been taking place since October. Everyone is welcome to the next AYlMer meeting: Thursday, 75 Talbot St. E. March 9, 5:30 p.m., StrAFFordville 9254 Plank Road St. tHoMAS 581 Talbot St.

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Sweet success for local JA’s Oh Sugar!

by Terry Carroll

On February 15, I arrived at a weekly Junior Achievement (JA) Wednesday evening meeting to find the directors, or achievers as they sometimes call themselves, in the middle of a discussion about a video. Among other things that night, the kids were going to start shooting, but they hadn’t settled on a concept.

As anyone in business knows well, you may know how to make widgets, but marketing widgets brings in a whole other, new, difficult dimension. And creating a video? Most widget makers wouldn’t know where to start.

It turns out that high school students have considerable skill in this area. This year’s local JA President Greg McEwen, who attends Central Collegiate Institute, presented and fielded ideas, including one involving an explosion.

At one point, the directors were at risk of fielding too many concepts without settling on one. Adult mentor Tara McCaulley skillfully suggested that they needed to narrow down their options. It was a pivotal moment, the kind of thing that she and fellow adult mentors Brittany Miller, Taylor Spinney, Dan Kelly, Barry Fitzgerald and Amy Hiscox are particularly adept at.

Greg took a straw poll, and the group decided on a Charlie Chaplin-style, silent film approach.

(Greg had earlier explained who Charlie Chaplin was, and the basics of silent film, for the benefit of a few directors who were in the dark about that era). One director thought the video should move

from black and white to colour at the end, and everybody was pretty excited over that idea.

The other electric moment on February 15 came a few minutes later when VP of Finance Rachael Shaw announced that this year’s company had surpassed the break-even point.

High school kids involved in JA, and the adult mentors, invest $10 to buy a share in a JA company. The students take on roles as directors and a management team, and are paid a nominal salary during the program. The goal is to turn a profit by the time each company wraps up in late March or early April, when each company hopes a distribution of profits will be made back to shareholders.

Moving beyond break-even, with some seven weeks to go, is huge in JA circles. VP of Sales Isaiah Kuhn from St. Joseph’s Catholic High School attributes this early success to a good sales training program, and a general evenness in the sales effort. Some years, one or two or three students are responsible for almost all the sales. This year, directors across the board responded well to training on how to approach people one-on-one as well as how to conduct telephone sales.

A good product at the right time also helps.

President Greg describes Oh Sugar! as an exfoliating sugar scrub that is vegan friendly and completely natural, suitable for anyone from infants to seniors. It gives the user a smoother skin and is being marketed via Facebook, with the new video and at display tables at both December’s Chamber Business After Five and a White Oaks trade fair.

Greg and other directors learned the darker side

of business last year when a JA company produced a product that was weather-dependent – a winter windshield spray applied 15 minutes before the user was to leave with a vehicle. “It worked,” Greg says. “But we had a mild winter.” That company made no money.

Of course, JA is about more than making a profit. Grace Shaw, from St. Joe’s and VP of Production, had the opportunity to attend the Next Generation Leadership Forum last summer at York University. Students are given a problem at the beginning of the week, and they work in teams of 20 to 30 people to solve it. Grace said that the majority of the 120 students were from Canada but “three kids were from Hong Kong.”

JA also hosts an awards night in London for individual and company achievement.

President Greg describes JA as “a brilliant learning experience”. He says the management team really strives to bring people out of their comfort zone. “Many people are shy at the beginning – I know I was at first – but near the end, they become more extroverts.”

This is Greg’s third year with JA, he’s in Grade 11, and he plans to take post-secondary education, although he’s not sure what or where. But he’s sure of one thing. “I definitely want to run my own business.” And like many people of his generation, he intends to be socially responsible with his profits. He knows that “you can’t help others until you learn to help yourself ” but “I want to use the money I make to others.”

Left: This year’s JA management team (left) Allysa Rybarsky, Greg McEwen, Grace Shaw, Nicholas Wrona, Isaiah Kuhn and Rachael Shaw. Missing: Quinn Baker.

Right: JA company President Greg McEwen (left), adult mentor Tara McCaulley and VP of Sales Isaiah Kuhn engage in a little problem solving.

Congratulations on Your Achievements!

We salute Junior Achievement for helping to create tomorrow’s leaders.

Mayor Heather Jackson and City Council

2 Second Ave., St. Thomas N5R 5S7 545 Talbot St., St. Thomas March, 2017

519-631-1680

(519)633-3301

www.bowsherandbowsher.com E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 20

Junior Achievement Canada: youth in action

Courtesy of Junior Achievement Canada

For over 60 years, as the largest youth business education organization in Canada, Junior Achievement has been inspiring and preparing more than 4 million youth to succeed in an everchanging global economy.

Each year, some 250,000 students, in over 400 communities, benefited from Junior Achievement programs. These educational programs are delivered by over 13,000 dedicated volunteers who presented in excess of 200,000 hours of instructional time.

Volunteers play an essential role in JA’s success.

By contributing their time and talents, they help students gain the skills they need to succeed in their future careers. They also have the opportunity to network with Canada’s foremost business leaders. JA has two main volunteer-driven events: The Canadian Business Hall of Fame Gala Dinner & Induction Ceremony Each year, guests gather in Toronto to celebrate Canada’s successful and growing business indus-

try and honour new members of the Order of the Business Hall of Fame. Volunteers assist with customer service, logistics and support.

Next Generation Leadership Forum JA annually welcomes student leaders from around the world to the Next Generation Leadership Forum. Students build their leadership, creativity and teamwork skills as they work to solve real business challenges. A number of volunteer roles are available, including mentoring, logistics, support and leading the team that works on the business case competition.

Results of a study, conducted by the Boston Consulting Group, entitled “Making an Impact, Assessing Junior Achievement of Canada’s Value Creation,” would suggest Junior Achievement is over-delivering on all three of its main pillars: Financial literacy Junior Achievement programs produce more financially literate graduates who save more and borrow less than the average Canadian. And Junior Achievers themselves believe Junior Achievement to be the driving force behind their heightened financial literacy skills of budgeting, long term planning and investing. The result … more solvent citizens who put a lower burden on the social safety net, provide for their own retirement

and are a more active investor base.

Work readiness Junior Achievement graduates believe that participation in Junior Achievement programs had a significant impact on their desire to stay in school and pursue a post-secondary education, and their ability to get a job and perform at work. As a result, Junior Achievers are better prepared for the workforce. The result … accelerated career tracks, altered trajectories and more skilled employees for employers.

Entrepreneurship Junior Achievement produces graduates who are more likely to become entrepreneurs, create jobs and power our economy. These future business leaders attribute Junior Achievement as being the catalyst that gave them the ambition to open their own business, and the transformational force that empowered them with the skills and abilities to do so successfully. These new enterprises and net new jobs will drive the economic engine that will create increased prosperity and help close the productivity gap moving forward.

Junior Achievement is the successful link between education and the business world, giving youth the confidence and knowledge they need to define personal success, enhance their workforce readiness and pursue their dreams. Furthermore, Junior Achievement inspires youth to make informed, educated and knowledgeable financial decisions, start companies, develop career plans and express their innovative spirit.

Congratulations to

Junior Achievement for

Encouraging the Leaders of Tomorrow!

Production is in full swing at EBRC for this year’s JA product Oh Sugar!, a natural exfoliating scrub.

Congratulations on another successful year!

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Healthy Living Everyday Health

The right mouse can make all the difference

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

Computers are hard on our bodies.

Many people experience pain and weakness in the forearms and hands, numbness and tingling in the fingers or sore and achy shoulders and arms. These can all be symptoms from extended and regular use of computers from typing and mousing. Repetitive strain injuries (cumulative trauma disorders) from computer work can include conditions like tennis elbow syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, rotator cuff strain and shoulder impingement.

The good news is that there are ergonomic de-

vices such as keyboards and mice that are more biomechanically friendly for your body and may help alleviate some of the stress and strain that computer work creates.

These types of injuries occur from prolonged repetitive, forceful or awkward hand and arm movements. These movements need not be forceful and many people are surprised at the devastating affects of seemingly benign activities such as computer mousing can have. Fine hand movements repeated hour after hour, day after day, thousands of times eventually strain and damage muscles and tendons in the hands wrists and forearms.

With proper treatment, rest and care many of these conditions can get better but tragically

many due not and may result in permanent impairment. This is why it is so very important to try to prevent these injuries in the first place.

One of the easiest changes that can be made is the introduction of an ergonomic mouse. These mice are designed to reduce the stress and strain on the wrists, forearms, and shoulders. In simple terms there are two main categories of ergonomic mice. The first is the track ball mouse and the second is what is referred to as the vertical mouse.

A traditional mouse often requires the user to adopt a posture that is stressful for the shoulder.

The action requires many of the muscles of the shoulder to be active and used in a repetitive fashion. This position and movement can place repetitive strain on the rotator cuff musculature and eventually lead to rotator cuff strain and impingement syndrome of the shoulder. Less commonly, but also possible, is that these factors may also contribute to the development of thoracic outlet syndrome.

A track ball mouse is designed to help alleviate the stress on the shoulder that the traditional mouse may create. It has a large ball that is used to move the cursor on the screen enabling the mouse to virtually remain still. The user is only required to use the small muscles of the hand to gently manipulate the ball. A track ball mouse can be operated with the arm in a relaxed position at the user’s side without having to recruit the larger shoulder and rotator cuff muscles.

A vertical mouse may be more appropriate for those experiencing difficulty more specifically in their July 17 - July 21 forearm, wrist and hand. These mice are turned on their side so OR that the hand position for the user July 31 - August 4 is similar to that used when shaking hands. This reduces stress particularly in the wrist and hand. Similar Become a STEAM Detective to a traditional mouse the vertical and solve alien mysteries! mouse usually needs to be moved around on the desk top or mouse pad but the hand and forearm are in a more neutral, relaxed position.

The proper mouse may be dictated by the type of problem that you are experiencing. It might be desirable to purchase both types of mice, and alternate them daily to further help reduce repetitive strain. Keep in mind that this is only one tool of many when considering ergonomics in the work place.

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 22

Business & Community Aylmer & East Elgin

Town of Aylmer Mayor’s speech proposals presented, and Aylmer is moving up in the queue. Over the next four to six weeks we expect the OPP will arrange to present to Aylmer.

The Budget is being dedicated to keeping costs in check without decreasing the Town’s services.

Steen Building: Structural engineering has been done and it has been boarded up and made safe. A report is coming to Council regarding recommendations very soon such as whether we do a temporary fix or a partial demolition.

Canada 150 Years Celebration: Events planning started with the December 31, 2016 cutting of the birthday cake at the East Elgin Community Complex. Watch the Town website for upcoming events. These will be many and varied as planned by the Town’s Canada 150 Committee.

Continued from page 18 An example of this is the transition of the former Director of Planning and Municipal Services job. Kale Brown now has the role of Director of Planning and Economic Development. Building inspection is temporarily being contracted out as well as bylaw enforcement, which has been re-assigned to another department. This re-alignment will position our need for economic development, but also have a dedicated service for building inspection.

The new Works building is nearly complete.

The expectation is that this department can take possession of the new site in the spring, after the challenges of this winter.

Other infrastructure projects include: • Cedar Street project, 2017 • Mill and Pave project for Harvey and Dufferin Streets • Cooper Alley, from King to Queen • And the large project for Talbot Street West. 2017 grant money is being used to plan the project of the reconstruction. Construction of the $6 million project will begin 2018.

The library: The Council hopes to provide details of the direction of the Aylmer Library plan in the very near future. Things have been moving at a frustratingly slow pace. Suffice it to say, Council has been putting money into reserves in the past and intends to consider it for this year’s budget deliberations.

East Elgin Community Centre: The latest budget has been presented with a decrease in overall costs and an increase in revenue.

OPP costing: The Town Council is waiting for the OPP to present their proposal to police the town of Aylmer. After the presentation, Council will deliberate on it and make a decision on whether to retain our Town Police Service or contract out the services to the OPP. Council has up to six months after the OPP presentation to decide whether to use the OPP service or not. Recently other communities have had their

New Chamber Member Welcome to the newest member of the Aylmer Chamber! Raw for Pets is a local Canadian manufacturing facility that makes all natural dehydrated pet treats and frozen raw diets. Their products can be found in Pet Specialty retail stores across Canada such as Global Pets, Petsmart, and smaller local boutique shops such as Elgin Feeds right here in Aylmer! They also offer factory seconds and fresh bulk raw at their Aylmer Location 616 John St. N. (Beech St Gate 41 dock D doors) https://www.facebook.com/rawforpets March, 2017

Aylmer and East Elgin Mayors

Right: Bayham Mayor Paul Ens (left), Malahide Mayor Dave Mennill and Aylmer Mayor Greg Currie at the February 1 Annual Mayors’ Breakfast

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 23

income tax How to get more out of your tax refund Income tax season is a happy time for many people. Those who anticipate a considerable refund on their taxes look forward to having extra money; some individuals even plan to finance big-ticket purchases entirely with their tax refunds.Smart money management can turn a refund check into a nice nest egg or stretch dollars to make the most of this windfall of cash.

The following money-management tips can help anyone develop strong saving and spending habits that can pay dividends for years to come.

Get organized When looking to make the most of your tax refund, start by organizing your financial documents and getting a grasp on your spending and saving behaviors. Examine your income-to-expenditures ratio to see where the majority of your money is going. It can be difficult to make significant changes with regard to your finances if you don’t have ready access to your financial records and a strong appreciation of how your money is being spent.

Pay off high-interest loans When addressing your finances, take inventory of any high-interest loans, including credit card bills. It will save you more money in the long run to pay off this type of debt as soon as possible. The earlier such debts are eradicated, the less you will ultimately pay in interest. What’s more, paying off debt helps establish a better credit record and score, which can make you eligible for lower interest rates in the future. Using a refund to eliminate debt is more beneficial than simply letting the refund sit in the bank, where it’s likely to accrue less interest each month than the interest that accrues on your credit accounts with outstanding balances.

Investigate savings programs It is estimated that customers who don’t have an account at a bank or

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credit union spend, on average, more than $800 at check-cashing businesses each year. Opening up an account with a credit union or bank will immediately save you money on check-cashing fees. Speaking with a financial representative may also provide information about various programs that will enable you to save your tax refund and earn income on it through interest accumulation or investment income. In the U.S. in a recent National Retail Federation’s annual Tax Returns Study, 40.2 percent of respondents said they planned to stash some of their refund in savings. While traditional savings or chequing accounts may offer nominal interest rates, longer-term certificate of deposits or investment accounts may yield more interest.

Talk to an investment specialist Your income tax refund may be just what you need to start investing. A recent study by TD Ameritrade indicated 63 percent of respondents said they plan to save or invest at least part of the money they get back on their taxes. A financial planner or stock broker can guide you through potential investments that carry the right portfolio and level of risk for your needs. If you prefer to do the work yourself, many investment companies have userfriendly websites where account holders can manage their own investments and monitor the daily performance of those investments. With the right investment, you can turn your refund into a substantial amount of money over the course of several years.Stretching tax refund dollars means making smart choices regarding money management. Rather than splurging tax returns on big-ticket items, use your refund to grow your savings, begin an investment portfolio or pay down debt.

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 24

income tax

How to live as a one-income family Many couples wonder about the secret to surviving on one income when it seems like they’re just making ends meet with two incomes. Dual-income households, which in North America are now more common than single-income households, have become the norm. With the rising cost of living, it may seem necessary for families to generate two incomes. However, many families still find a way to thrive on just one income. Doing so often requires a careful examination of family finances and a commitment to making changes to ensure one income is enough for a family to thrive.

Examine your spending habits Having a clear picture of what is being spent each month will give you a better picture of which things are necessities and which are luxuries. Households that dine out a lot can likely save a considerable amount of money by eating more meals at home. Knowing how your money is being spent will help you re-establish your priorities and map out a plan to live on one income.

Stay disciplined and organized Some people grow accustomed to taking out the credit card anytime they want to make a purchase, oblivious to what they’re actually spending until the bill arrives. If you are such a person but you want to successfully transition to a single income household, you will likely need to rein in such spending habits. Determine exactly what is needed to cover bills each month. Once you understand what’s needed for the home, figure out how much you have left over. Divide that as necessary for savings and extra spending money. Knowing what you have to spend makes it much easier to avoid overspending.

Keep an emergency stash Many financial experts recommend having enough in a savings account to cover six months’ worth of living expenses. This affords the household breadwinner enough time to find a new source of income in case of layoff and enough security to pay bills in case of injury.

Prepare ahead of time, if possible If you are currently living with two incomes, try living with one income for several months to a year and bank the other salary entirely.

This will give you an accurate idea of whether you can afford a one-income lifestyle. This also helps to establish a sizeable nest egg as a safety net once you begin living on just a single income.

Speak with a tax professional

In many cases, moving to one income will put you in a lower tax bracket. This alone can make it worthwhile to explore a one-income lifestyle. An accountant can give you a clearer view of potential savings.

Trim the extras If you look at expenses, you may find a number of trivial things that can be cut from your budget. Find out if you can save on cable costs by cutting down on the number of channels you carry on your plan. And you may be able to save by bundling certain products, such as insurance policies.After making a few adjustments, many families find that they can successfully live on just one income.

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• Business Tax Planning & Returns (including Proprietorships and Partnerships) • Personal Tax Planning & Returns • Estate and Trust Returns • Business Succession Planning

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 25

income tax

Donate a vehicle or other large goods to charity

Good organization makes all the difference

Tax season is on the horizon. Organization and good record-keeping are keys to filing an accurate return in a timely manner. Failure to submit income and expenditure information can subject a person to financial repercussions and may even trigger an audit. To stay organized, set aside a folder to contain any items applicable to your tax filings. Make a list of expected documents, including income summaries from work, bank interest statements, student loan information, mortgage documents, charitable donation receipts, and similar items. Check these documents off your list as you place them in the folder. If documents are missing, promptly seek them out from the appropriate sources. Once all of your the necessary documents have been compiled, make an appointment with an accountant or get to work on filing your own taxes.

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At Kee, Perry & DeVrieze, we take a proactive vs. reactive approach to tax services. By keeping current on new tax laws and legislation, we are in a position to identify key tax planning opportunities that minimize both your current and future tax liabilities.

Appropriate tax planning can contribute to your overall financial fitness and put more after-tax dollars in your pocket. We can help in many different areas: • Tax return preparation for Individuals and Corporations • Tax effective retirement and estate planning • Tax considerations in matrimonial settlements • Tax effects of buying/selling a business • Provincial and federal commodity tax planning and compliance

Charitable organizations accept all types of donations, from cash to appliances to clothes. Donating such items can put them into the hands of people who need them, and many charities sell noncash donations in an effort to fund their programs and other services.

In order to facilitate the process of donating larger items, many charities will pick up any items donors cannot bring in on their own. Many organizations even advertise when a van or truck will be in given neighborhoods to collect items, making the donation process that much easier for donors.

Charities such as the Salvation Army, Mission Thrift Store (formerly Bibles For Missions), Restore (Habitat For Humanities) and Goodwill may accept household furniture or appliances. Check with them first to determine what they will accept and if your donation meets their quality standards. Some of these organizations will arrange for pickup.

Several charitable groups accept donations of vehicles and large household items. Making such donations can be more complicated, but these items may be sold to fund other projects, making the process well worth any extra effort donors might have to put forth.

In short, when donating a car, truck, motorcycle, or boat, title will likely need to be transferred over to the charity, and ideally the vehicle should be formally registered in the charity’s name.

Organizations like Teen Challenge Canada have developed a sophisticated online donation process for vehicle donations. You can fill out a simple online form or call toll free at 1.877.684.4777. You must have an accurate 6 digit odometer reading and your Vehicle Identification # (VIN) before starting the donation process. Teen Challenge will send you a vehicle donation kit.

Please complete and return before dropping off a donated vehicle at one of the convenient drop-off locations. If required, donors can arrange for Teen Challenge to pick up the donated vehicle. Just call the number above.

Many other Canadian charities such as Alzheimer Society of London & Middlesex, Animal Aide Foundation, Canadian Blood Services, Canadian Cancer and a host of others may also accept a donated vehicle. A complete list is available at donatecar.ca.

Keep all income tax receipts so you can claim tax deductions when filing returns in April. It’s also a good idea to keep a detailed inventory of any items you donated. Include photos of the items and their respective values so you can back up your income tax return claims in the event of an audit. It is best to consult with your tax preparer and/or the charity you’re working with to determine the value of donated items and the income tax advantage, if any.

For items that are picked up, comply with the rules the charity sets forth regarding pickup. Label boxes or bags accordingly, and let the organization know if you’re donating any especially heavy items so they can arrange for enough staff members to pick the items up. These organizations often rely on volunteers to do pickups, so you want to make the process as easy as possible.

Be sure to leave items outside your door by the specified pickup time.

And never assume. Always check with a charity or non-profit organization before arranging drop-off or pickup.

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 26

income tax How the principal residence exemption will affect you for 2016

by Derek Michell

Canadian residents generally enjoy tax-free growth in the value of their principal residence due to the principal residence exemption (PRE).

Considering that the majority of Canadians’ most significant asset is their home, this exemption has kept the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) from taking a piece of this wealth and allowed individuals to purchase their next home without worrying about a tax liability.

The PRE has been available since 1972, when the CRA started taxing capital gains, but CRA’s policy was that as long as the PRE fully covered the capital gain, the form where you designate your home as your principal residence (T2091 form) was not required to be filed with your tax return. This means most Canadians have never reported the disposition of their principal residence but have continued to benefit from the PRE. On October 3, 2016, changes were announced to the PRE to improve the fairness and integrity of the tax system, which included changes to the reporting requirement and an extension to the period in which a CRA audit may occur, among other changes.

As a result of the changes, all dispositions on or after January 1, 2016 for which the PRE is being claimed will have to be reported on Schedule 3 of your T1 Income Tax and Benefit Return with

certain basic information. Furthermore, if the property was not your principal residence for all the years you owned it, T2091 form must also be completed.

Furthermore, taxpayers who fail to report the disposition will not be eligible to claim the PRE. While a taxpayer can request CRA to accept a late-filed PRE designation, CRA does not have to accept it and they may enforce late-filing penalties. The penalty would be the lesser of $8,000 and $100 for each month the designation is late.

In addition, the failure to report the disposition will result in an extension of the period of time in which the CRA can reassess your tax return.

Fortunately, the reassessment would be limited to the unreported disposition.

While the changes to the PRE should not result in individuals paying additional taxes, they will affect every Canadian that disposes of their principal residence. The new reporting requirements will also help to highlight those individuals who frequently buy and sell their principal residence and look to claim the PRE on the gain, which we assume will lead to further audits.

Derek Michell is a tax partner with Graham Scott Enns LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, with offices in St. Thomas and Aylmer [www.grahamscottenns.com]

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 27

income tax

Maximum pensionable earnings for 2017

From Canada Revenue Agency

The Canada Revenue Agency announced last November that the maximum pensionable earnings under the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for 2017 will be $55,300, up from $54,900 in 2016. The new ceiling was calculated using a CPP legislated formula that takes into account the growth in average weekly wages and salaries in Canada.

Contributors who earn more than $55,300 in 2017 are not required or permitted to make additional contributions to the CPP. The basic exemption amount for 2017 remains $3,500.

The employee and employer contribution rates for 2017 will remain unchanged at 4.95%. The self-employed contribution rate will remain unchanged at 9.9%.

The maximum employer and employee contribution to the CPP for 2017 will be $2,564.10 each. The maximum self-employed contribution will be $5,128.20. The maximums in 2016 were $2,544.30 and $5,088.60, respectively.

Quick facts The CPP applies in every province and territory in Canada with the exception of Quebec, where the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) provides similar pensions and benefits.

Every employed Canadian over the age of 18 must contribute to the CPP (QPP for those employed in Quebec) to qualify for a retirement pension.

Contributions to the CPP end when a contributor turns 70.

The CPP provides retirement, disability and survivor benefits and pensions to contributors and their families.

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Canada Revenue Agency modernizing services

The Government of Canada says it is committed to making the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) deliver the highest level of service to Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

In November, 2016, The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, announced the launch of the CRA’s Service Renewal Initiative, which will improve the way Canadians engage with the Agency by streamlining processing activities and creating three new National Verification and Collections Centres (NVCCs).

Canadians are increasingly turning to the Internet to file their taxes. In 2016, approximately 16% of Canadians filed their tax returns on paper – about a 66% drop in just over ten years. The CRA needed to adapt to this reality in order to continue offering world-class services that are readily accessible to all Canadians.

The federal government said the announced changes would result in the CRA hiring more staff to provide service to Canadians, which will result in faster, more efficient processing and better handling of calls to call centres.

The Government of Canada also recognizes the need to work closely with unions and local partners to assist those individuals – and their families – impacted by this transition.

The CRA’s nine processing centres across the country (located in Surrey, Winnipeg, Sudbury, Jonquière, Shawinigan, Summerside, and St. John’s, and the two specialized Ottawa sites—Ottawa Technology Centre and the International and Ottawa Tax Services Office) were to be transitioned into seven specialized sites: Four (Winnipeg, Sudbury, Jonquière, Summerside) will now specialize in processing and grow in size.

Three (Surrey, Shawinigan, St. John’s) will be converted to NVCCs and will grow using Budget 2016 funding and funding reallocated from other sites.

Some work from the two specialized processing sites in Ottawa will also gradually be consolidated to other sites across the country.

“Service Renewal will improve service delivery to Canadians, offer continued opportunity to employees and ensure a strong presence in all regions of the country,” Lebouthillier said. “This will improve the CRA’s effectiveness, and strengthen its ability to deliver on the Government of Canada’s mandate and better serve Canadians.”

Minister of National Revenue waives reporting requirements for labour organizations and labour trusts Earlier this year, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, announced she has waived reporting requirements for labour organizations and labour trusts, arising from Bill C-377, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (requirements for labour organizations), for fiscal periods starting in 2017.

Bill C-377, which came into force on December 30, 2015, required labour organizations and labour trusts to file reports with the Minister of National Revenue disclosing, among other things, detailed financial information as well as information on political, lobbying and other non-labour relations activities. Repealing Bill C-377 was identified as a priority in the mandate letter for the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour. On January 28, 2016, the government tabled Bill C-4 to repeal the reporting requirements introduced by Bill C-377.

While the process to remove these reporting requirements is underway, this waiver ensures that unions and other stakeholders affected by the Bill will not be required to develop and submit detailed tracking of their activities to the Canada Revenue Agency for these fiscal periods.

“To avoid imposing an unnecessary burden on labour organizations, the Government of Canada will establish a more fair and balanced approach,” said The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue.

“Our government acknowledges and appreciates the value that the labour movement brings by advocating for working Canadians.”

E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 28

income tax

Paying tax by installments Amounts that are not taxed

– consider the factors Nothing may be surer than death and taxes, but you do not have to From Canada Revenue Agency

From Canada Revenue Agency

Why should you pay tax by instalments?

If you earn income that has no tax withheld or does not have enough tax withheld for more than one year, you may have to pay tax by instalments.

This can happen if you earn rental, investment, or self-employment income, certain pension payments, or income from more than one job.

What are the factors to consider?

There are two factors to consider when determining if you have to pay tax by instalments: your net tax owing, and your province or territory of residence Net tax owing Generally, your net tax owing is the amount you owe on your tax return.

The items used to calculate net tax owing (line 15) are listed in the Calculation chart for instalment payments for 2017.

You have to pay your income tax by instalments for 2017 if both of the following apply: your net tax owing for 2017 will be above the threshold for your province or territory ($1,800 or $3,000); and your net tax owing in either 2016 or 2015 was above the threshold for your province or territory.

You do not have to pay your income tax by instalments for 2017 if your net tax owing for 2017 will be $3,000 or less ($1,800 or less for residents of Quebec), even if you received an instalment reminder in 2017.

If you received an instalment reminder that shows an amount to pay, you may have to pay your income tax by instalments.

If your main source of income in 2017 is self-employment income from farming or fishing, you must make an instalment payment if both of the following apply: your net tax owing for 2017 will be above the threshold for your province or territory ($1,800 or $3,000), and your net tax owing for 2016 and 2015 was above the threshold for your province or territory ($1,800 or $3,000).

Province or territory of residence Your province or territory of residence will determine the threshold of net tax owing you will use when determining if you have to pay tax by instalments.

If you live in Quebec on December 31 of a year, use a limit of $1,800 of net tax owing.

If you live in any other province or territory on December 31 of a year, use a limit of $3,000 of net tax owing.

What is an instalment reminder?

An instalment reminder is sent to help you determine if you have to pay income tax by instalments. The reminder will suggest an amount to pay and list the calculation options.

CRA will send instalment reminders to people who may have to pay tax by instalments: The February reminder is for the March and June payments.

The August reminder is for the September and December payments.

If you only received an August reminder, see the CRA website for “Instalment reminder received in August 2017”.

If you received an instalment reminder and you are required to pay instalments but do not comply, you may have interest and penalty charges.

March, 2017

report certain amounts in your income, including the following: -Any GST/HST credit, Canada child benefit, or Canada child tax benefit payments, including those from related provincial and territorial programs -Child assistance payments and the supplement for handicapped children paid by the province of Quebec -Compensation received from a province or territory if you were a victim of a criminal act or a motor vehicle accident -Most lottery winnings -Most gifts and inheritances -Amounts paid by Canada or an ally (if the amount is not taxable in that country) for disability or death due to war service -Most amounts received from a life insurance policy following someone’s death -Most payments of the type commonly referred to as strike pay you received from your union, even if you perform picketing duties as a requirement of membership -Elementary and secondary school scholarships and bursaries -Post-secondary school scholarships, fellowships, and bursaries are not taxable if you received them in 2016 for your enrollment in a program that entitles you to claim the full-time education amount in 2015 or 2016, or if you will be considered a full-time qualifying student for 2017 Note: Income earned on any of the above amounts (such as interest you earn when you invest lottery winnings) is taxable.

Most amounts received from a tax-free savings account (TFSA) are not taxed. For more information, see Guide RC4466, Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), Guide for Individuals.

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 29

Healthy Living Self Discovery

United Way – fundraising and much more our neighbourhood. We also painted and decorated clay flower pots that we sold at During my years in retail as a customer service the market in our village to raise funds for manager, I found myself inundated with requests a charity.

Given that background, it is perhaps no for donations. It was part of my job to note the requests, work within the allocated donations surprise that I found myself on the board budget and assign the various gift certificates and of directors of Elgin-St. Thomas United Way. I have been there for a year now products to the organizations.

I can’t remember if we had some specific criteria and what a year it has been! As I am writto follow before we assigned the donation but I ing this article, I feel proud that we have do remember the large number of donations that reached our Campaign goal for this year, would leave our store due to the generosity of the a huge accomplishment for all of those store owner. Often the donation would go to fun- who support their local United Way. As a board member, I was asked to be draising efforts such as silent auctions or raffles and many organizations would come back year the Chair on the allocations committee, and thus I embarked on another level of after year.

As I moved to various other companies after fundraising and connecting with our community. my retail years, each organization I worked for We have completed the process, and it brought a did some sort of fundraising to support local or shift in my thinking and my approach to charities national organizations. During any transitions and some of the stigmas that come with not-forperiods between jobs, I would connect with an profit organizations.

It became clear to me that not-for-profit orgaorganization to volunteer to fill my time and feel productive. I learned much during those volun- nizations come in a variety of sizes, both locally teer hours, and it allowed me to connect with my and nationally, and involve people from all walks of life. One common denominator for all orgacommunity from a different perspective.

Thinking back to my childhood in Holland, I nizations is a passion, a passion for what they do realized that I was involved with volunteering and and who they support. Some need a large sum of community fundraising in one capacity or an- money to continue to operate others are just askother even back then. I remember my neighbour- ing to cover the cost of a program. They all have hood friends and I going to city hall asking if they accountability in place and most of them work would donate garbage bags so we could clean up with the bare minimum.

For some, salaries are only possible because of funding given to them through government grants or by organizations like United Way. Salaries, from counsellors to executive directors, should not be undervalued because most TOWING SERVICE AVAILABLE employees of not-forprofit organizations have extensive eduFull Service cation behind them.

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mean these people deserve to be paid any less than private sector or government workers.

What I learned over the last year is that community support is so important for the survival of these not-for-profits. There is a need for each not-for-profit organization, and if the need is no longer there, they would be happy to close their doors. Unfortunately, homelessness, poverty, hunger, abuse and addiction (to name a few) will probably be around for a few more years, if not longer.

Many companies employing people in our communities very well could have employees benefitting from the services of some of these not-for-profit organizations. I believe that local companies have an obligation to support not-forprofit organizations in whatever way they can. It may be as simple as a dress down Friday donation, a chili cook off or payroll deduction.

If monetary gifts are not possible, people may be able to volunteer their services whether after work or even during working hours.

We live and work in our local community, and it strengthens all of us when we connect with a notfor-profit organization in whatever capacity works for our organizations or for us.

Anouschka Van den Bosch is a Human Resources Professional and Certified Life and Career Coach.

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 30

Dining & Entertainment Food & Wine

Burgundy production The complicated world of

by Jamie Quai

One of the biggest obstacles to getting consumers to drink more wine, one that the industry struggles with, is finding balance between conveying important information on the wines pedigree and making the labels too intimidating.

Nowhere is this a bigger challenge than in Burgundy, France. With a complex of single growers, unique sites and historical classifications, even the most seasoned wine professional is often forced to the reference books for guidance. This month’s article, while not comprehensive, will help in decoding Burgundy for the everyday consumer.

The first term that makes an appearance on some labels is Clos. Burgundy is renowned for very diverse soils and mesoclimates from one parcel to another. In ages past, to prevent theft and identify unique vineyard conditions, owners would build stone walls. The walls, called clos, enclosed the sites. Clos on a label implies that the grapes came from one parcel, separated from its neighbours.

The word Cote on a French wine label is used to refer to a hill or slope that the vines are grown on.

The aspect and position of the vines on the slope will have a pronounced effect on the final wine.

The difference between the top and bottom of a hill could double the cost of a bottle with top-tier producers.

Napoleonic laws with respect to inheritance dictated that land assets had to be split equally among surviving heirs. The result was that vineyard parcels, over successive generations, were divided and divided to the point that one special vineyard Clos may have dozens or hundreds of owners. An heir may only inherit one half of a row! The only way to grow your holdings is to buy from others.

This fracturing of vineyards led to the next two wine terms – negociants and monopoles. Rather than each grower making their own exceedingly small vintage wines, negociants will buy grapes

from different growers in the same parcel and make commercially viable production volumes. If a special parcel of vines is wholly owned by one producer, the wines are considered a monopole.

There may be over two dozen negociants that make a wine from Montrachet vineyards, but only one producer of Romanee-Conti. Romanee-Conti production is a monopole.

The last three terms in this month’s article are all about tiers of quality. They are in order of prestige: Grand Cru, Premier Cru, and Village. The most prized and rare wines come from the parcels identified as the best. The vineyards are given the title Grand Cru. Officially, the wine also must express the characteristics of that site, to be able to use the term.

The (slightly) less prestigious sites are given the classification Premier Cru. There are many more Premier Cru vineyards over Burgundy. You are much more likely to see this on the label at your local store. As an aside, Premier Cru in Bordeaux means something different.

If you have several small lots from Premier Cru vineyards and you want to blend them, it is possible to declassify down to what is referred to as a Village wine. Village wine, rather than naming the vineyard, will carry the name of the closest town. The wines in this category do still need to meet tipicity and quality standards.

While this almost never happens, should a producer chose to blend two different tiers of classified wine

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(e.g., Grand Cru, and Premier Cru), the resulting blend will only be granted the lesser of the two classifications.

And one final thought on the range of classifications – because the vineyards are classified; one producer can source grapes from all over Burgundy and make Grand Cru, Premier cru, and Village wines in the same winery.

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 31

Business & Community Financial Planning

Three ways a financial professional can add value

by Ellen Luft

The financial world is complex – with myriad choices, complex terminology, and high stakes.

Of course, guidance comes with a cost. Is it worth it? That is a personal decision that each individual needs to evaluate, but having a strong relationship with a financial professional can be a huge benefit for individuals and the people they care about. A financial professional can help prevent you from being blindsided by risks, avoid making big mistakes, understand your options, confront realities about your financial situation, and make strong plans.

1. Investment guidance Investors as a whole tend to buy investments that have been rising and sell when they have been falling, as the emotions like fear and greed drive decisions. Unfortunately, these are often poorly timed decisions, and they end up resulting in underperformance.

A financial professional potentially can help you create and follow a disciplined investment process to avoid these emotional roller coasters. This includes an appropriate asset allocation to help you reach a particular goal. Research has shown that asset allocation is a key driver of portfolio returns. An appropriate asset allocation should be based on your goal, time frame, situation and risk tolerance.

The key is to pick a portfolio mix you can stick with through market ups and downs.

An experienced professional can offer a steading

hand during stressful times to help you stick to a plan that’s right for your situation and feelings about risk, and to navigate the markets to reach your goals.

2. Navigating the tax rules Taxes, and all the rules around taxes are complicated, but a financial professional may be able to help.

Which investments are better suited for a TFSA and which for a RRSP? Because different types of investments are subject to different tax rules, and different types of accounts offer different tax benefits, coming up with a strategy for what to put where can potentially reduce the taxes you have to pay on your investments overall.

A financial professional may also be able to help you manage the ongoing taxes from your investment portfolio, through investment selection and strategies like tax-loss harvesting-matching investment gains and losses.

3. Financial planning for life Having a relationship with a financial professional also creates the opportunity for you to manage the risks and needs of your family as they change over time.

A financial professional can help you manage the complexities of retirement savings and spending – choosing how much to save and in which accounts, and then how much to save and in which accounts, and then how much to withdraw and which investment alternatives and accounts should be used to help generate income.

A financial professional can also help keep your plan on track by helping to manage changes in your life, and helping to navigate around major risks.

A trusted financial professional can also

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help your family. It may not be pleasant to consider, but who would help your spouse or children navigate your financial situation if you couldn’t?

A professional can also bring an important perspective to challenging family conversations, including who will make decisions and what will happen to your money after you are gone.

Staying on track Creating a financial plan is an important step. But as your life and the markets change, your plan will need to adapt. A financial professional can help keep you on track.

This article was prepared solely by Ellen Luft who is a registered representative of HollisWealth® (a division of Scotia Capital Inc., a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada). The views and opinions, including any recommendations, expressed in this article are those of Ellen Luft alone and not those of HollisWealth. ® Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence.

HollisWealth is a trade name of HollisWealth Insurance Agency Ltd. Insurance products provided through HollisWealth Insurance Agency Ltd. HollisWealth and the Scotiabank companies do not provide income tax preparation services nor do they supervise or review other persons who may provide such services. Please note that comments included in this publication are not intended to be a definitive analysis of tax law. The comments contained herein are general in nature and professional advice regarding an individual’s particular tax position should be obtained in respect of any person’s specific circumstances. Important information about flowthrough limited partnerships is contained in their relevant Prospectus/ Offering Memorandum. Please obtain a copy and read it carefully including the associated risks and tax consequences before investing.

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 32

Live large in small spaces

by Renée Carpenter

Small spaces can look like a million bucks when design-smart strategies are applied, making the transition from cramped and crowded to stylish living. Although small rooms come with unique challenges and assets, you will be surprised by how much style and function you can pack in with these dos and don’ts.

Cramped sleeping quarters are no reason to sacrifice on comfort. It’s about choosing multifunctional furniture with storage and using the right mix of colour and pattern.

Light colours do not necessarily make a small room feel larger. Give darker colours a chance and watch the room ignite! Properly utilize the space that you’ve got without cramming unnecessary items into it. Nightstands should have drawers and/or doors for storage. Reflective surfaces help fill a room with additional light, such as mirrored closet doors or even mirrored night tables. Or, make the room look larger by adding full-length mirrors if closet doors are not an option.

Accentuate the positive. Find ways to give the illusion of height. Drapery panels from floor to ceiling help elongate a room. Other ways are to use a solid colour on a wall and not break it up with borders, trim, small print or chair rail.

The right furniture arrangement can make or break a space – and this is true whether small or large. Even though lining the walls with furniture may provide more open space in the centre of the room, moving the furniture to the centre of the room not only increases the cozy factor, it also makes carrying on a conversation easier. Pulling furniture away from the walls – even just a few inches – helps create an illusion of greater depth and more space.

Most of us want to play it safe with small-scale furniture and a neutral colour scheme, fearing that bright colours and big patterns might overwhelm our small spaces. However, injecting bold personality into a tiny room can actually have the opposite effect. Large print on the walls of a small room can make an amazing statement. Sometimes having too much in a room to see doesn’t allow the eye to settle – a small trick to a small room.

Take the idea of an accent wall to the next level with a wallpapered ceiling. A bold wallpaper takes center stage and literally begs to be noticed as the neutral furnishings and small pops of additional colour play supporting roles.

You can even mix design styles when done right to make the space feel cozy, not cluttered. An accent wall in this case would become the dramatic foMarch, 2017

Homestyle Decorating

cal point. Remember, patterns that would overwhelm a large room work well in small spaces like bathrooms.

Glass tables with shelves not only look pretty but are also basically ‘non-existent’ in a small space, while also providing additional display space. Armless accent chairs in a living room are the perfect addition in small spaces. Coffee tables with lift tops or storage ottomans provide multi-functional use.

Light up the space without bulk. Use slim lined lamps and floor lamps to show it all off and reflect light around the room. A well-lit room always looks more open and spacious.

It’s time to embrace your small spaces because yes, you can be small yet mighty! Be brave and decorate away!

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www.activeelgin.ca E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 33

Lifestyle Time On My Hands

Where sky meets the sea Underachieving on the Gulf of Mexico

by Duncan Watterworth

Barb and I have just moved into our rented beach house on the Florida Panhandle. They call this the “Forgotten Coast”. The beach is wide, white, and deserted. Waves are tumbling onto the sand.

Clouds are lazily drifting by.

But I’m not paying attention to any of that. I’m running down the beach, sweat flying from my elbows, looking at the heart rate monitor on my wrist. I want numbers! My mind is churning. I have a lot to do.

I didn’t make New Year’s resolutions this year, but I did make Florida resolutions – lots of them.

Besides doubling down on my running, I’ve resolved to work on stretching and balance exercises.

And reconnect with our snowbird friends. And kayak. And of course explore northern Florida with Barb. And I’ve brought a stack of books.

I have a long list, but six weeks is a long time. Or so it seems today. I plan to accomplish a lot. ************ Now we’re two weeks in, and the resolutions are clearly too ambitious. Some goals will not be met.

Priorities and perspectives seem to be shifting.

There is something about living on the coastline – in the immense presence of the sea and the sky, and with the constant buffeting of the wind and waves. It seems to be reorienting our minds.

Nothing seems as important as witnessing the sun’s rise from the Gulf each morning, and its blazing plunge each night.

Beachcombing has become a respectable pastime. Each day the waves and tides bring new shells, oddities, and mysteries. We sit on the deck and enjoy the rippling streams of pelicans, and all the other seabirds. We keep watch for dolphins.

My nose doesn’t want to be in a book.

We explore, we hike, we spend time with friends. We eat. Something is happening.

Should life be this simple?

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maritime history. The band of a kayaking friend is playing happy hour in a local watering hole. No cover, two-for-one beer.

The bar is just a metal roof stretched between two real buildings, concrete floor, and sliding barn doors wide open to the sidewalk.

It’s clear the Gulf has cast its spell here too. Locals and northerners are relaxed and friendly, in sandals and ball caps. Lots of characters, comfortable in their own skins. A dog wanders through. Nobody cares. The band works a sun-and-fun theme, saltwater cowboy songs, Jimmy Buffet.

One woman never stops dancing – by herself. She is old and skinny, and wearing a contented smile and a pink hardhat with a lit lamp on the front. A couple of patrons dance with her briefly. She grabs a broom – available to sweep peanut shells off the floor – and waltzes it around. Nobody cares. They say she is there every week.

We have surrendered ourselves to the place, and the day.

Someone recommends the Hole In The Wall seafood restaurant for dinner, so we walk over.

When we tell the waitress, who could have been the hardhat lady’s sister, that we were at the bar, she berates us with a mock scowl, “So you got drunked-up there, and come here to sober up!” Everyone laughs. Another character.

We are living in the moment, and everything is all right – at least right now, right here. There is nothing I could need. Except, perhaps, a pink hardhat.

Another week has passed. We have driven to the port of Apalachicola, small and seedy, but awash in

Karen Vecchio,

Duncan Watterworth is a life-long resident of Elgin County and a retired lawyer. He can be reached at duncanetm@gmail.com.

M.P.

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519-637-2255 www.karenvecchiomp.ca March, 2017

E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 34

Binding the Generations Sponsored by

The March mentorship interview: Peter Yurek Can you tell us how you got into the business?

I grew up in the family business stocking the shelves on Sunday afternoons while my dad caught up on work. I would receive my choice of candy bar for my work. By the time I graduated from the University of Toronto I had experience working at all the jobs in the store. All my brothers and sisters have similar experiences. After graduation I started working at Yurek’s as a pharmacist.

Who were some of the people who influenced you the most in the early days?

My father was obviously a huge influence on me. My experiences on the YMCA board gave me the opportunity to work with many talented people. Shortly after my father retired, my brother Jeff and I worked with a consultant, Terry McCully. Terry was and still is an important mentor to me.

What are some of the important lessons you’ve learned from people who have mentored you along the way?

My father taught me how to be passionate about what I do, to think for myself and to work hard. My experiences on the YMCA taught me how to make difficult decisions and how to engage people in coming to those decisions.

Terry McCully taught me a lot about business and how to get things done.

You manage two retail outlets, a processing facility, and a warehouse under the Yurek banner. It’s a second-generation business.

What role has family played in your business and its expansion?

Family has always been important at Yurek’s; twenty years after Dad retired his values are still evident at Yurek’s. It is not uncommon for a customer to share a story about how Dad went out of his way to look after someone. Over the past few years we have recruited several key people, a key selling point is the importance of family at Yurek’s. This past year we had an employee celebrate their 31st year working with us, and we have a couple of staff coming up on their 25th anniversaries. I’m very proud of that and believe that it is a testimony to how important family and our staff are to us.

What are some of the things you, and your management team, do to mentor and encourage others?

At Yurek’s we have just completed about 30 hours of leadership training for our managers, supervisors and key staff. We had over 20 staff participate in these sessions where we talked about the importance of engaging staff and how to be an effective leader. We have followed up these sessions in our manager meetings with discussions about how we can apply what we have learned in our day-to-day work at Yurek’s. Senior management also conducts one on one interviews with staff, the agenda for these interviews belongs to the staff person. The conversation is usually pretty frank and senior management usually receives great feedback from staff. We also get the opportunity to discuss with staff why we make the decisions we do.

Can you share your thoughts about being a mentor, or finding a mentor?

My business skills are self-taught through reading and learning from my experiences in growing the business. I believe that Yurek’s would not have been as successful as we have been were it not for the people who have influenced myself and the other leaders at Yurek’s. The knowledge and experience they have shared have been invaluable to myself and Yurek’s.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I have received is to respect people and do not judge.

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