May 2017

Your Business. Your Community.

MATT MCLELLAN Reimagining downtown Cover story: Page 3

Inside: • Aylmer & Area Chamber Pages 18 and 19

• Backyard and Garden Inspirations Pages 20 to 23

Volume 7 No. 9, May 2017

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

Reimagining downtown,

building by building

by Terry Carroll

It’s a good thing Matt McLennan smiles frequently.

If he didn’t, it could be a little intimidating to be around a man who’s over six feet tall and has the arms of a comic book superhero.

“If you’re going to be mentally on your game, you have to be physically fit,” he says. He makes sure he eats right, and when he comes home from work, he showers and goes to the gym for 45 minutes to an hour of largely weight training.

“You have to do it right away, or you won’t do it,” he says.

Staying on his best game, mentally and physically, is particularly important for the business he’s in.

Matt’s one of three partners in Ark Property Group, the organization that has been walking the talk lately when it comes to downtown St. Thomas redevelopment.

The group started at 825 Talbot Street with the Asuka restaurant (formerly Crabby Joe’s) on the main floor and 11 residential units above.

While it’s almost impossible to turn this into an exact science, Ark’s preferred ratio is 80 percent residential and 20 percent commercial in a downtown location. The pattern for Ark goes something like this: - Find a building available for purchase - Do a walk-through with an agent - Run the numbers to see what Ark could expect for rents - Assess renovation costs - Go to the bank - Do inspections - Purchase the property - Obtain necessary permits - Complete full design work - Renovate the spaces - Rent Matt says turnover kills many landlords, but “We have no vacancies. We take care of people.

We treat them with respect. We treat them the

way we want to be treated.”

With 825 Talbot under their tool belt, the partners quickly moved on to repeat the pattern with 395 – 397 Talbot (Titewads and TPS Plumbing Solutions at the street level); the Engineers Building at 561 – 567 Talbot (Rail City Combat Academy, Bell Mobility, Aline’s Fine Lingerie, Sherry’s); and the “Tim Hortons location” opposite City Hall that includes Bliss Hair Trends, Tanya Rock Marriage and Family Counselling, My House, and Junior’s Ebikes.

One thing can lead to another in Matt’s business. Ark Properties is renovating the upper part of the Engineers Building into seven luxury apartments. (Watch for an open house in August – two units are already spoken for). They wanted parking for these units and the “Tim Hortons location” came with parking south of that building, off White Street. It also came with the parkette at the corner of White and Talbot, which, contrary to popular perception, is not owned by the City and is being redone as an urban garden.

The most ambitious project to date is one they just closed, a beautiful, neglected building at 344-360 Talbot Street, just east of Grand Central apartments (or west of the Illumine Gallery).

The former Municipal World building, it’s been vacant for 15 years. Like several Ark properties, it will take a lot of money, a ton of work, and has equally as much potential.

Matt was raised on a farm, and he combines the work ethic of a farmer with an eye for design, a background in property management and sales and marketing experience.

“People seem to notice the passion and energy I bring to a project. I love what I do. I’ve always

Matt McLennan has an eye on the future of downtown St. Thomas.

loved design,” he says. “It doesn’t take any more money to have design sense.” He jokes about Malcolm Gladwell’s dictum that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to reach peak potential. “I loved Trading Spaces as a kid. I guess you could say I watched 10,000 hours of TV.” He doesn’t make a big deal of this, but he mentions that all three Ark partners are Christian.

“We like to do the right thing,” he says, whether that’s working with people doing the renovation work, tenants, City officials, or suppliers.

With people in the trades, they try to use upand-comers with values like their own so they can build long-term business relationships. And on the community side, Matt’s getting involved with Bridges Out of Poverty as well as being an active Chamber of Commerce member.

He’s also a 21st century entrepreneur. His mobile phone is his main office. And like many relatively young entrepreneurs, he’s involved in more than one thing. His main “other thing” fits his interest in fitness and health but is a far cry from downtown renovation – a supplement called Silver Lining Pre and Pro Biotics and Digestive Enzymes available in St. Thomas health food stores. Matt says that’s a great topic for another day.

For now, he’s a St. Thomas superhero, off to save downtown, one building at a time.

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

Cover and page 3 photos by Mike Maloney

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 May, 2017

ELGIN THIS MONTH

3

INNES As I See It

Why do we do what we do?

Sinek said that Apple sells so well because they don’t just sell people on the benefits of their comWhy is Apple so successful? Why did Martin Lu- puters (or any other of their many well-sold prodther King rally so many followers? In a Ted Talk, ucts), but they sell people on the fact that their Simon Sinek (known as the author of “Start With computers exist as a byproduct of their mission to Why”) says it is because the “why” of their direc- challenge the status quo. tion and purpose is evident.

Sinek argues that the goal in successful sales is I take this to mean that people will be more in- more than doing business with people who need spired to buy a product, or entertain a cause, if the your product. “It is to do business with people purpose or belief behind that product or cause is who believe what you believe.” in line with something they desire or want.

For Apple, this belief has to do with innovation and, as Steve Jobs stated, “dreaming bigger”.

For Martin Luther King, who sold his cause to the world, it investment • insurance • retirement and tax planning was about “a dream” of freedom and equality.

A ‘why’ answer is a vulnerable disclosure that speaks to the heart of what we want for ourselves and according to Sinek, encourages others to join us in our purpose-driven commitments.

The marketing applications of Sinek’s

by Jim Innes

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hypothesis are self-evident. And, as a priest, it got me wondering about the implications for a possible reversal of the slow loss of members in many of our (post) postmodern mainline churches. I wonder if we can do a better job of marketing our presence within the community by more clearly defining, the ‘why’ of our ‘product’?

It also ought to be asked, “Has the church suffered because of those almost-arrogant sales pitches that, packed with easily misinterpreted rhetoric, describe us as dispensers of God’s salvation?”

Could we inspire more devoted followers by clearly promoting our deep desires to (as a few examples) be welcomed as we are, loved with great forgiveness, and held safe for eternity? And would many not be captivated by a church sign that reads, “We have a dream that all the world will be healed of that which prevents us from loving and being loved!”

In my experience, the ‘why’ of what we do is often only an unconscious drive. We falter when asked. We can, more easily, explain with great fervor, what we do and how we do it. But according to Sinek, sharing the ‘what’ and ‘how’ are not enough, because the ‘why’ of the matter “talks directly to the part of the brain that controls all our behaviour”, and can most effectively build the needed loyalty.

Steve Jobs and Martin Luther King were successful at this. Consequently, Apple products (all Apple products, it seems) continue to sell like hotcakes, and the American civil rights movement (of the 50s and 60s) enacted legislation that continues to impact the country.

As I see it, vulnerably voicing the ‘why’ of our intentions has application not just in the marketplace, or in our churches and other such institutions, causes, and clubs, but in personal matters such as our success (or lack of success) in creating social circles that are truly supportive.

Sinek’s hypothesis is well worth a look or two and reminds me of another marketing hypothesis I like: “It is important to have people feel your message and not just understand it” (Terry O’Reilly).

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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.

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

Business & Community EMPLOYERS

Elgin employers looking to hire, expand in 2017

by Tricia Flatley

On April 6, 2017, over 100 community leaders, employers and educators attended the release of the 2017 EmployerOne Survey results. This is the fifth year of the annual survey that is used to identify hiring patterns, challenges, concerns and successes in the current workforce. The survey takes place during the month of January and is led by the Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board in partnership with over 40 organizations in the local area including our local economic development offices, Employment Ontario services and Chamber of Commerce.

According to this year’s results, 64% of respondents said they plan to hire in this year. Of those hires, over 1,000 were full-time positions and around 450 were part-time.

While employers plan to hire this year, many of those companies are having trouble finding local candidates with the right mix of education qualifications and “soft skills” to professionally interact with colleagues and the public. For job seekers, this means they need to find a way to make their personality come through in their resume in order to land an interview where they have an opportunity to impress their potential employer with the talent they can bring to the company.

Director of Education of the Thames Valley

District School Board, Laura Elliot said, “The survey results will help drive programming in our schools. Trends resulting from the survey will guide our staff to provide relevant programming to meet current and future needs of our students

and the workforce they will enter.”

The following is a list of other key findings from the survey: • 64% of respondents plan to hire staff this year, 1,045 full-time, 465 part-time, 222 contract and 1,193 seasonal jobs.

• Occupations in education in three areas are in great demand: law and social, community and government services; sales and service; and manufacturing and utilities.

• Top five in-demand job skills in Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford in 2017 are: customer service, teamwork/interpersonal, work ethic, dependability, and self-motivation/the ability to work with little or no direction. (A majority of those being “soft skills”).

• Top three reasons respondents are looking to

hire this year, include: expansion; fill vacancy/replacement; and seasonal.

• 46% of respondents had difficult time filling positions in 2016. Large and medium sized businesses had the most difficulty in finding talent.

The top three reasons being: not enough applicants, lack of qualifications (education level/credentials) and lack of work experience.

• A majority of respondents indicated college diploma as the minimum preferred level of education for many positions. A high school diploma is acceptable for service and production workers and apprenticeships.

This year, 368 businesses responded to the survey, which has seen consistent growth in the number of businesses participating over the five years of the survey. The EmployerOne Survey is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. The full results are available online at www.worktrends.ca.

Tricia Flatley works in Communications with Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board.

Tricia Flatley

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kjackson@elgincfdc.ca 5

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY OUR COMMUNITY

Are McMansions by the lake a good thing?

by Serge Lavoie

Seventeen years ago, my wife and I packed up our lives in Toronto and moved to St. Thomas.

In return for selling our very modest downtown house at a handsome profit, we got an iconic heritage house here that was more than four times the square footage, on a lot that was over 25 times the size.

We were pleased.

While we obviously weren’t the first to benefit from such a move, we were part of a very small club of families who took that step. Seventeen years later, the club seems to be getting a lot bigger, and growing a lot faster.

Local home builders and real estate agents report that record numbers of residents of the Greater Toronto Area are making the trek to our part of Southwestern Ontario. And they’re buying in record numbers. Consequently, builders’ order books are filling up for the next several years; resale houses are selling faster and at higher prices.

There’s lots of talk of houses selling over asking, sometimes after heated bidding wars.

Exactly who is coming here isn’t clear. Many will be retirees, cashing in their high value Toronto assets and preparing to live out a comfortable retirement on the proceeds. Others are young families who have found that the dream of ownership in the GTA is beyond their reach and probably always

will be. (Our modest 900 square foot house on a 20 by 100 foot lot in Toronto is now pushing seven figures. We could never afford to buy it back.)

Many have jobs that are portable (that was the case with my wife and I) while others will be looking for new employment.

Some will bring investment dollars and start new small businesses to take advantage of opportunities that come with new residents.

One thing seems certain at this point. The trend isn’t likely to reverse any time soon, even with talk of real estate bubbles. As I write this, the province has announced new measures to cool real estate speculation and price-gouging on rentals. The measures, however, apply only to the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the zone that extends from Niagara to Peterborough.

No one can know what the outcome of those new measures will be, but it’s almost certain that the best result will be to see a slowing of the price increase trend. Drastic lowering of prices would lead to some very difficult situations for over-extended home owners and the mortgagors who back them.

Even with prices holding firm, the move to finding more sustainable lifestyles outside of the GTA or GGHA will continue apace. There will be benefits to our communities, certainly. Those looking to sell will now get better prices. New people means a need for new services and retail. Investment in commercial and industrial is bound to come as well.

We may finally get the boost in growth we’ve been seeking since the downtown in the

manufacturing economy of our region.

There will be a downside as well. The upward pressure on real estate prices will affect our existing population. Increases in prices will create increases in assessment and of course increases in property taxes.

We need look no further than Port Stanley to see how that effect works. The homely, cosy, ticky-tacky Lake Erie cottage has been replaced by McMansions by the Lake. Property values have soared, as have assessments. The outcome is impressive, in a Home & Garden sense. But it has left Port Stanley unrecognizable to its long-term residents and has inevitably lead to tensions within the community.

This is not to argue against growth and development. Our area desperately needs it and the unsustainable situation in the GTA may finally be providing it, albeit for many of the wrong reasons.

Time will tell whether we are now facing a glass half full or a glass half empty. Let’s face it, government leaders and economists a lot smarter than me, and earning a lot more money, don’t seem to know the answers either. They’re just making it up as events unfold.

Serge Lavoie has a 35 year career managing associations. He is currently president of On Track St. Thomas. He lives in St. Thomas.

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Gateway Project

St. Thomas Roundabout at Sunset Drive & Wellington Road

Simple Rules for Driving a Multi-Lane Roundabout

1. Choose your lane well in advance of the roundabout.

2. Slow down and yield to pedestrians.

3. Yield to both lanes of traffic already in the roundabout.

4. Keep to the right of the centre island and drive in a counter-clockwise direction until you reach your exit.

5. Do not change lanes or stop inside the roundabout.

6. Trucks will take up both lanes on the approach and within the roundabout, so give them plenty of room.

7. Signal to exit.

Most Common Driver Errors in a Roundabout

1. Failing to yield to both lanes. Vehicles may exit from either lane within the roundabout so drivers need to wait for a clear gap in both lanes before entering.

2. Changing lanes inside the roundabout. At multi-lane roundabouts drivers must choose the lane they want in advance and then stay in that lane throughout the roundabout

For more information go to

www.stthomas.ca/roundabouts May, 2017

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

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY Financial Planning

Five steps to financial success

by Ellen Luft

Following are five essential action items to help you achieve financial success in 2017 and beyond.

1. Automate contributions to your financial accounts Rather than scrambling to contribute to your RSP by the deadline consider setting up regular automatic contributions. This can help maximize your savings by elimination the risk of not having a lump-sum available or not contributing at all.

You give your money more time to grow by adding funds throughout the year and you minimize the impact of market fluctuations to your portfolio.

Consider making automatic contributions to your Tax-Free Savings account and RESP accounts as well.

2. Review your investment portfolio No matter what your goals, your priorities and circumstances change over time. It’s vital to review your investment portfolio at least once a year to ensure you are staying on course but also be to be sure your investments are performing as expected.

3. Start tax planning early Investors often miss out on several tax-reduction opportunities because they wait too close to the April 30 income-tax-filing deadline to begin planning. There are many important tax deadlines throughout the year such as tax-loss selling and tax credits to consider.

4. Start or review your estate plan It’s important to conduct a basic assessment of your estate plan every year. This will provide peace of mind and considers any annual changes to tax

8th Annual

or other government rules. A review is especially important if circumstances change regarding your executor, trustee or guardian or if a critical event in your life has changed.

5. Start to build an emergency fund Unexpected expenses or critical life events can have a detrimental impact on your finances. Setting money aside in an emergency fund can help weather a storm and minimize reliance on credit cards or loans. Set aside a specific amount each month to help reach a goal of accumulating three to five months of living expenses. It may seem overwhelming but a small amount builds up over time.

Working with a financial advisor, helps to guide the process of fulfilling any of these top five financial tasks.

You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to start working on these priorities to create peace of mind and financial success.

TIRES FOR KIDS TIRE TAKE BACK WEEK May 23th to June 3rd

Join us for the Charity BBQ on Friday, June 2nd.

All proceeds go to the Sunshine Foundation.

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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.

E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 8

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Louise Vonk, President of Messenger Freight Systems Inc., shares interesting facts about the business and the products they warehouse and deliver, during the April Business After 5 at Messenger’s Highbury Ave. facility.

May Business After 5 Date:

Wednesday May 17

Time:

Doors Open at 5:00 p.m.

Presentations & Prizes at 6:15 p.m.

Site & Sponsor

Geerlinks Home Hardware Building Centre & Furniture 295 Wellington Street St. Thomas Free Admission to all personnel from any organization that is a Member of the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce.

An invitation to an outstanding event The Board of Directors, volunteers, management and staff of the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce request the pleasure of your company for the 43rd presentation of the Free Enterprise Awards on Wednesday May 10.

The 2017 Free Enterprise Awards Reception will be held at St. Anne’s Centre. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a social mixer start at 5:00 p.m. The award presentations begin at 6:15 p.m.

The Chamber’s Awards and Recognition Committee had considerable challenges in evaluating several excellent nominations this year. Several that won’t be named this year have been deferred for consideration again in 2018.

Six awards will be presented on May 10 with details in words and pictures to be shared at the Awards Reception.

For event tickets, please contact the Chamber office at 519-631-1981 or via our website.

2017 Chair’s Award Chamber Board of Directors Chair Robert Furneaux has chosen to recognize a long-term supporter and Chamber volunteer, Janet Baker, for her work and service to better the Chamber and our community. Working as a Health Promoter, primarily in the area of occupational and workplace health with Elgin – St. Thomas Public Health, Janet became a Chamber volunteer on a committee in 2000. She brought the concept of the national Safe Communities Coalition to our attention and, in 2002, partnered with us to establish a local committee and certify it nationally. Janet retired last December. This Award says thank you for her dedication and over 16 years as both a Chamber and Safe Communities volunteer.

2017 Free Enterprise Awards of Merit A maximum of 3 of these annual awards may be presented in any year. The Merit awards recognize recent or short-term success and achievements. 2017 sees presentation of two awards.

Jamie Quai – This award celebrates Jamie Quai of Quai du Vin Estate Winery being named as the 2016 Ontario Grape King and for his work with the Chamber in and for our community. Jamie is only the second recipient in 60 years to be named Grape King – or Grape Grower of the Year – from outside of the traditional Niagara grow-

ing area. As the 3rd generation in the family business he is a Winemaker who takes pride in excellence. He participates in activities that support his business and local communities and, now as Grape King, is an ambassador for us nationally and abroad. Jamie is a Chamber volunteer within our Member Services Committee and is a founding organizer of our highly-successful “St. Thomas Uncorked” event held in January.

Chris Streib – Chris started a business called Talbot Trail Physiotherapy in 2002 with one clinic in Aylmer, and has grown the enterprise to 6 of them with 35 employees serving every part of Elgin County and reaching beyond into Chatham-Kent and Middlesex. Chris’ strong interest in sports led to diverse treatment options that add local services and eliminate the need to travel to London.

Operating with a motto that says “Trusted for Successful Therapy in the Communities Where We Live”, Talbot Trail employs local staff who live in the communities they serve.

2017 Free Enterprise Master Awards Recognizing long-term business and community success, the Free Enterprise Master Award is generally a once-in-a-lifetime honour. Up to 3 Master Awards may be given each year.

Buckland – Although a mature company now in its 72nd year, Buckland is a proud local example of growth and progress, both locally and beyond international borders. Based in St. Thomas since 1959, Buckland operates with other offices in Detroit, Windsor, Port Huron, Mississauga and Laredo. A second Texas facility in El Paso is due to open later this year. As a customer-focused company, Buckland provides clients with a single source of unmatched Customs Brokerage across Canadian, US & Mexican borders, Freight Forwarding, Trade Technologies and Warehousing/Distribution Services. As an employee-focused company, Buckland is a leader in service excellence with strong dedication to professional development. And Buckland understands that, in addition to providing quality jobs for members of our community, the community is better as a result of the company’s existence.

Continued on page 14

Business Beat Table of Contents Page 10 ....................Travelling Page 11 ...........Best Ball’s back Page 12 ............ Legal Business Page 13 .................Sleep better Page 14 ...........Summer season Page 15 ............ New Members Page 16 ............ New Members May, 2017

(ext. 222)

Greg Minnema Advertising Consultant

17th

ELGIN THIS MONTH

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Chamber News

Need a travelling companion?

The lower value of the Canadian dollar against the US buck has produced a noticeable decline in the number of people leaving the country for personal reasons like vacations or shopping, but there’s also a noticeable upswing in outbound trips from Canada for business reasons.

If you’re travelling as a person, you know the need and value in having a passport. But what about a passport for your equipment? If you’re looking at cross-border travel for sales purposes, and planning to take or ship samples of products to demonstrate, you could be in for some cumbersome paperwork and dealings at the border. Unless, of course, you know about Carnets (pronounced Car – nays) and how the Chamber of Commerce can be a huge help.

Business travellers can make their lives easier by carrying an A.T.A. Carnet, the virtual Merchandise Passport. From the Netherlands to New Zealand to the U.S. and the U.K., Carnets can save time, effort and expense for any business traveller crossing international borders. Around the globe, in any of more than 100 countries and territories, Carnets may be used for commercial purposes which require temporary export of Canadian goods as commercial samples, professional equipment and/or for demonstration purposes at fairs, trade shows and exhibitions.

Here in Canada, these customs documents

are issued exclusively by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce through our offices in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

A Carnet lists the goods you wish to have covered for the country or countries you intend to visit. Each Carnet is prepared specifically to meet individual requirements.

Diverse Canadian businesses plus organizations in the arts, sciences, sports, media, fashion industry and other fields use the Carnet for a variety of reasons.

Carnets eliminate complicated and time-consuming Customs procedures. They eliminate the need for travellers to prepare national entry forms or purchase a bond for security purposes at each Customs station. With a one-year period of validity, Carnets can be used for multiple entries in and out of participating countries.

The Canadian Chamber’s participation in the worldwide Carnet System is administered through the International Bureau of Chambers of Commerce in Paris, France. The Carnet System is recognized in over 100 countries & territories worldwide. Our national Chamber issues approximately 3,000 Carnets per year and serves a client list dealing in everything from commercial samples, to the horses in the RCMP Musical Ride and touring Canadian rock stars’ musical equipment.

For more information, we invite Members to check details on the Canadian Chamber of Commerce website at www.chamber.ca (click on CARNET at the home page) or to pick-up a brochure

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at the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce office, 300 South Edgeware Road in the Elgin Business Resource Centre. We’re open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Canadian Chamber’s web-site has extensive information on unique or special circumstances regarding all countries that accept Carnets, and we strongly recommend viewing the extensive and detailed information they have posted for public viewing. You can also view details on CARNET info webinars there. Chamber Members are welcome to take advantage of free online webinars, from the comfort of your own office, to better understand the rules to follow when importing goods under cover of ATA carnets.

All webinars are from 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).

June 14 (English) September 6 (English) October 4 (English) October 18 (French) November 22 (English) To register, email Ariola Jakupi at carnet@ chamber.ca. In due course, instructions on how to log-in will be provided.

The required application documents are now available electronically in Excel and MS-Word format. A complete listing of all countries and territories participating in the Carnet System, and details regarding specific expectations and procedures for each country, may be viewed on the national Chamber website.

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

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.

Fanshawe College Director: Ross Fair Director: Kevin Jackson Elgin Business Resource Centre Director: Tara McCaulley Small Business Enterprise 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 Best Ball Open returns The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce proudly announces the return of The Best Ball Open this August. The sold-out status of our 43rd annual Members Golf Day on May 25 prompted our Member Services Committee to bring back an event we ran annually until 2010, The Best Ball Open.

Full details will appear soon here in Business Beat and via the Chamber’s weekly Green Mail and social media.

Keep the date open: Wednesday August 23 at The Bluffs Golf Club in Port Stanley. We guarantee a fun-filled day and the best golf bargain in our region.

Summer with the Chamber Effective May 15, Lucas Tyson will return to the Chamber staff for the summer. Lucas completed a four-month co-op/internship with us last year, and we’re delighted he expressed interest in returning.

Through the end of August, Lucas will assist in the design, marketing and delivery of events and take-on special duties relating to the promotion and marketing of our website and all social media. He will also assist in the production phase of our next edition of the City/District street map, due to be released in late August.

Lucas is working toward a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Digital Marketing at Fanshawe College. Raised in St. Thomas, he has four years of work experience in a family-owned retail electronics business, Century Sound. He has also worked for Staples in retail sales.

Employer One survey results On April 6, over 100 community leaders, employers and educators attended the release of the 2017 EmployerOne Survey results. This is the fifth year of the annual survey that is used to identify hiring patterns, challenges, concerns and successes in the current workforce. The survey takes place during the month of January and is led by the Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board and distributed through over 40 community partners in the local area including our local economic development offices, Employment Ontario services and Chambers of Commerce.

The organizers forward to your support next year! The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce has supported and promoted the value of the EmployerOne Survey since inception and will continue to assist on 2018’s sixth edition of the study.

To view the entire presentation visit www.worktrends.ca.

Commitment to Excellence Business Plans • Management Consulting Small Business Services • Bookkeeping Services Estate and Trust Returns Business Succession Planning Our Knowledgeable and Friendly Staff have the experience and training to help you with all your accounting and taxation needs

Mark Lassam, CPA, CA 115 Curtis Street, St. Thomas 519-631-1631 mark@lassam.ca May, 2017

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

Legal Business

Slowing down the GGH train

by Monty Fordham

It has been said, “Those who do not learn history are bound to repeat it”. As of April 24 of this year, the Ontario government has introduced a “non-resident speculation tax”, in a region of the province which, over the last while, has experienced an over-heated real estate market, with prices increasing at an alarming rate. It is thought that speculation, particularly by non-residents, has contributed significantly to this increase. But this is not the first time Ontario has introduced a “speculation tax”.

A little history. Back in 1974, the Ontario government introduced the Land Speculation Tax Act. The goal was two-fold: to cool a perceived over-heated real

estate market, and to quell overall inflation, which, at the time, was running at a double-digit rate. The tax applied across Ontario to residents and non-residents alike, but not on principal residences or family farms.

Although the tax was designed to assist in “wrestling inflation to the ground”, an unintended consequence was the near demolition of the entire real estate market.

The tax was repealed in 1978, just ahead of the 1980 recession, which saw interest rates and the unemployment rate rise to the double digits. Thousands of people lost their homes; real estate values plummeted. The last thing people needed at the time was a “cooling” of the real estate market.

So, why is the Ontario government re-introducing a

speculation tax. There are a number of reasons. First, economic times are very different than in 1974. Inflation is hovering around 2%, unemployment around 7%, and interest rates are at historic lows. Speculation by non-residents is not seen by the government as a serious problem outside a certain geographic area.

Moreover, speculation by residents is, apparently, not seen as a problem at all.

The geographic area which is subject to the new tax is what is known as the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH), which encompasses the following regions: the counties of Brant, Dufferin, Durham, Haldeman, Halton, Hamilton, Kawartha Lakes, Niagara, Northumberland, Peel, Peterborough, Simcoe, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington and York. For greater certainty the Ontario government Ministry of Finance website contains a map of the regions affected.

So, you might ask, if we in Elgin county, and adjacent counties, are not subject to the tax, why are we talking about it at all?

Well, there is a component of the legislation which applies across the province.

Effective April 24, all purchasers of real estate in the province must fill out some Job Search Support additional paperwork, in order to establish they are not subject to the tax. The Employment Counselling new declaration requires the following information: Direct Links to Employers - Whether the home is being bought as a principal residence - Type of dwelling Youth Employment Programs - Whether it will be leased out - Residency, citizenship and permanent Workshops resident status of the purchaser - If the purchaser is a corporation, information concerning ownership and control of the company - If the property is being bought in trust, information about the beneficial owner.

As well, we are told this information will be shared with the Canada Revenue Agency.

So, in summary, purchasers in Elgin County don’t have to worry about the non-resident speculation tax, whether they are non-residents, non-citizens or home grown. Unlike the disastrous 1974 tax, this one seems designed to address the specific problem of rising home prices in the area surrounding Toronto. For the vast majority of folks, more paperwork, but no more dollars.

At least, for now.

Free Services

400 Talbot Street, St. Thomas (519) 631-5470 Text: (226) 376-0320

160 Main Street, West Lorne (519) 768-0020 Text: (226) 376-0393

www.employmentserviceselgin.ca May, 2017

Questions, comments and suggestions for future columns are welcomed by lawyer Monty Fordham at his office: Fordham & Monty Fordham Brightling Associates – Lawyers, 4 Elgin Street, St. Thomas. Telephone 519- 633-4000, FAX 519-633-1371 or e-mail: montyfordham@4elgin.ca

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

Chamber News

Five ways to a better bedtime routine

by Christina R. Green

What does your bedtime routine have to do with the success of your business? Plenty. Every time you use everything you have on a given day and you’re exhausted beyond belief, and then you short yourself essential sleep, you’re borrowing from tomorrow’s success. It’s impossible to give tomorrow your all when you’re exhausted, so establishing a healthy bedtime routine is essential to the health of your business. Here’s how you can do it: Know yourself I’m going to go against today’s push led by Arianna Huffington and the early to bed, “sleep eight hours” army. You must listen to your body in order to establish a better bedtime routine. Some people need 9 or 10 hours of sleep. Winston Churchill preferred a biphasic sleep where he slept for a few hours each night (usually from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m.) and again in the afternoon for two hours.

Thomas Edison saw sleep as a waste of time and practised a polyphasic sleep schedule sleeping for 30 minutes to an hour every four to five hours.

Leonardo Da Vinci did the same. Figure out what makes you feel most rested and commit to that type of sleep schedule.

Kill the electronics Most sleep gurus will tell you that you need at least one hour before bed that is electronic free.

Again, this is something that is largely personal.

Does checking your emails before bed cause you anxiety or does it allow you to feel more in control of what you’re facing tomorrow morning? Are you a light sleeper who is disturbed if someone sighs next to you or can you sleep with a freight train in your home? If you’re having issues falling asleep or staying asleep, try instituting the electronics ban an hour before bed and charge those electronics somewhere outside of your bedroom.

Do something you enjoy Instead of using electronics right before bed, do a quiet activity you enjoy. You can read, meditate, work on word puzzles, take a hot bath, snuggle with your kids, or do any of a hundred other activities that can help signify to your brain that the day is ending. Some business owners prefer to review their day, congratulating themselves on their wins and putting together a new game plan to conquer their challenges. But don’t let this daily review cause you anxiety. If it does, turn it back to celebrating the good things that happened and enjoy the feeling of being grateful for what you and your team accomplished. By doing the same activity every night, your mind will begin to understand what the activity signals – impending sleep. Psychologists tell you to establish a sleep routine for your child. The consistency and predictability are relaxing. It works that way for adults, too.

Think happy thoughts Nothing kills sleep faster than anxiety and reviewing all the things that went wrong in the day or everything you have to do tomorrow. Stop it.

Instead, practice mental control. If an anxious thought comes into your head, envision yourself holding it in your hand and then blowing it away May, 2017

like a dandelion seed.

Then think about something that brings you great joy and only think about the joy aspect. For instance, your children may bring you joy and you may start thinking about them but then your thoughts quickly erode into how angry they made you today or how you let them down as a parent.

If you need to, “transport” you and your children to a happier place, like a family vacation that hasn’t occurred yet. Your happy place doesn’t and stay asleep.

Finding a sleep solution is critical to your suchave to be real. Your focus is on the happiness so whatever brings you that can set your mind at ease cess in business. Stop borrowing energy from tomorrow. Create what you need today. enough to gently drift away to sleep.

Try music This is another personal suggestion as some people find music very distracting when trying to Christina R. Green teaches small businesses, sleep. But there are websites like Brain.fm (and chambers, and associations how to connect through music sites like Amazon) that play sounds, not content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest traditional music. These “songs” are created by Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, artificial intelligence with the insights of auditory AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogneurologists. They’re designed to induce deep reger at Frankjkenny.com and the Event Manager Blog. laxation in about fifteen minutes.

Final words on getting some rest The quest for sleep is one that eludes many people, but it’s extremely critical to your abilities to running a successful venture. A lack of sleep can severely impair your problem solving and decision-making Large capacity.

The key to establish4 topping ing a better bedtime pizza routine is to do what works for you. If eight hours of sleep leaves you feeling groggy, try other sleep schedules until you find en at 11am pen op one where you feel reeveryday freshed. Use sounds or a fixed bedtime rouWe Deliver tine/activity to signify to your mind that it’s all Day and Night time for rest. Finally, if none of this is workwww.dominos.ca ing get a professional opinion. You could have a life-threatening condition called sleep apnea or extreme anxiety, which could be maS contributing to your reeT ST.Tho T S T o b l a T 5 96 inability to find sleep

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519-633-3123

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

Pro Text Homeowners are responsible for taking reasonable measures to protect children from the potential danger posed by an attractive nuisance. For homeowners with pools, reasonable measures may include installing any or all of the following: Automatic or solid mesh safety cover Safety covers look like giant trampolines but are crucial when it comes to safety particularly during the winter months. They will hold the weight of a child should they find themselves near or upon them. Safety covers are available for both inground and above ground pools Fence the perimeter of the pool area Most towns across the country now require a fence to be installed when buying a new inground or above ground pool. It is recommended that you install a pool fence that is at least 48 inches high and has a self-closing, self-latching, childresistant gate.

Pool alarm There are 4 different types of pool alarms you can purchase: • Perimeter Alarms are akin to invisible fences for pets. Simply by setting your desired perimeter, a laser field is created that sounds an alarm should someone cross the field.

• Pressure sensitive Alarms sit on the edge of the pool with a sensor tube that goes into the water. When someone or some-

Preparing for swim season

by Janet Palmer

Backyard pools are a lot of fun and may make your home a social hub for friends and family.

They do not, however, come without liability issues that, as a homeowner, you should be aware of. Safety devices and proper insurance coverage can help lessen the worry and financial risk associated with having a pool in your backyard.

Swimming pools are an attractive nuisance In the insurance industry, swimming pools are the most often cited example of an “attractive nuisance.” An attractive nuisance is anything that might attract a child and pose a danger to the unsupervised child. Examples of attractive nuisances include trampolines, farm equipment, man-made ponds, and, of course, swimming pools.

Self-employed?

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The last thing you want to deal with is unexpected health care costs.

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No health questions. No medical exams. No waiting period.

The Chambers Plan is designed for small businesses just like yours, featuring:

• Stable rates • Simple online administration • Quick and easy claim submissions with our mobile app • Human Resource, Legal and Accounting • Basic Dental benefits including exams, cleanings and fillings services included in every plan • $25,000 Life Insurance

• Health coverage including prescription drugs, paramedical services, ambulance, medical equipment, vision, even emergency travel coverage

Don’t delay! Get a free quote at www.chamberplan.ca or contact your local Chambers Plan advisor.

450 Sunset Drive, Suite 237 St. Thomas 519-637-0181

May, 2017

This column appears regularly in Business Beat and has been submitted by Janet Palmer, CIP, Advisor – New Business Development, of Reith & Associates Insurance and Financial Services Limited, 462 Talbot Street, St. Thomas.

Janet Palmer Questions and comments on this column are welcomed by the writer at 519-631-3862 or via e-mail: info@reithandassociates.com

An invitation to an outstanding event

We’ve got you covered. Guaranteed.

Coverage is guaranteed and effective the first day of the month following application.

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thing falls into the pool, a pressure wave causes the alarm to sound. Most alarms of this style can detect 18 pounds (8 kg.) or more entering the water and gives off a car alarm-like sound.

• Gate Alarms are devices that attach to your gate and use a magnetic field. When the field is broken the alarm will sound.

• Wearable Alarms only work with adult supervision. An alarm is worn by your child around his or her wrist. The alarm sounds when child’s wrist gets immersed in water.

Increase your homeowner’s coverage and limits Even if you take reasonable precautionary measures, you still need to ensure that your Broker is aware that you have a pool and that it has been taken into consideration on your current policy and that your liability is sufficient considering the increase in the risk pool ownership poses If your assets are significant, you may want to purchase additional liability coverage through an umbrella insurance policy. An umbrella insurance policy provides significantly more liability coverage, well beyond the typical limits of a homeowner’s policy, at an affordable price. Research shows that most umbrella insurance policies cost $200 to $300 annually for an additional $3 million in coverage. An umbrella policy should be a serious consideration anyone to anyone installing a pool.

Consider it part of the operating cost when budgeting for your pool.

Continued from page 9 Gary Coutts – Last year, Gary retired from RBC Royal Bank. In over 25 years of service to our community (the first 10 as a Branch Manager) he built a reputation for putting the customer first and collaborating with lawyers, accountants, City Hall and many community partners. Gary had a positive effect on countless businesses. In the letter of nomination sent to the Chamber, a local accounting firm operator is quoted saying “Collaboration is in Gary’s DNA… More often than not, Gary could find a way to meet everyone’s needs.” His community involvement beyond the bank has been significant with service as a Chamber representative on the Economic Development Corporation Board and to organizations like Kiwanis and Easter Seals.

Elgin Business Resource Centre – With 30 years of service and assistance to new and existing businesses, the EBRC has an impressive history of service. For the year completed March 31 they assisted 95 new local business start-ups and provided help to expand or maintain 211 other businesses. Since inception, that means more than 8,000. Offering loans and a portfolio of services to guide and assist all types of existing and start-up enterprises, federal stats show that for every dollar invested in their operation there is a $4.50 increase in GDP. Their total loans to business are now over $22 million and we have heard from several who say they wouldn’t be here today without EBRC’s help.

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

Viewpoint

New Members A1 Electric Motor/Pump Services & Sales Inc. 130 Woodworth Avenue St. Thomas, ON N5P 3K1 Phone: 519-637-1945 x329 Email: aoneems@yahoo.ca Contacts: Dan Stinson, President Buyers Guide Categories: Electric Motors – Sales & Service, Pumps – Sales & Service Products & Services: A1 Electric Motor/Pump Services & Sales Inc. is your first choice for electric motor/ pump solutions, serving residential, industrial, commercial and agricultural businesses. They offer 24-hour after-hours service, with free delivery and pick up.

Christine Lewis Registered Clinical Herbalist 300 South Edgeware Road, Suite 204 St. Thomas, ON N5P 4L1 Phone: 519-633-7597 x404 Email: christineherbalist@gmail.com Website: www.sweetvioletherbs.weebly.com Contacts: Christine Lewis, Owner Buyers Guide Categories: Holistic Health Services Products & Services: Born and raised in St. Thomas, Christine always had an interest in natural medicine but decided to pursue it at a professional level after becoming a mother. She devoted two and a half years of extensive study to Herbal Medicine with Diane Kent (RH, MNIMH) in Etobicoke. Christine offers help with anxiety, menopause, stress, digestive Issues, sleep Issues, cold & flu, immune support, ear infections, menstruation issues, pregnancy support (before and after delivery) and respiratory issues.

D & H Farms Limited 6650 Boxall Road Port Stanley, ON N5L 1J2 Phone: 519-769-2777 Email: jim.lor.house@gmail.com Contacts: Jim House, President Buyers Guide Categories: Agriculture – Growers & Producers Products & Services: Located west of Port Stanley, D & H Farms Limited has specialized in cash crop farming since 1980.

EnPointe Development Incorporated 460 Wellington Street, Unit 1 B3 London, ON N6A 3P8 Phone: 226-448-7575 Email: leith.coghlin@gmail.com Contacts: Leith Coghlin, Managing Director Buyers Guide Categories: Business Advisory Services,

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 to March 16 - April 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.

Government Services, Community Services, Community Planning Services, Investigation Services, Research and Development, Professional Speakers Products & Services: EnPointe Development focuses on optimal growth in family-owned and operated businesses. Identifying key methodologies and best practices to recognize where limits are inhibiting growth and stalling momentum. Their practical, listening-oriented approach has found a captive audience since their foundation in the spring of 2015. Leith Coghlin, the Managing Director of EnPointe, has drawn upon several years of extensive experience in corporate sectors, family business, leadership, management, and communications to coach and mentor businesses to reach their objectives. Leith’s background in politics has proven to be of high-value to businesses operating in a regulatory and tax-heavy environment in southern Ontario.

Hospice Outreach Programs of Elgin (HOPE) 102 - 10 Mondamin Street St. Thomas, ON N5P 2V1 Phone: 226-721-5901 Email: hopeinelgin@gmail.com Website: www.hopeinelgin.com Contacts: Cindy Webber, Executive Director Buyers Guide Categories: Agencies & Associations, Counselling Services, Healthcare Services Products & Services: Hospice Outreach Programs of Elgin (HOPE) provides support for families dealing with a life threatening or progressive illness, not matter where they are… their home, long-term care or the hospital. They will help and support everyone when they are most vulnerable with services including holistic support, outreach programs and educational resources.

Marty Lewis Photography 48 Talbot Street East Aylmer, ON N5H 1H4 Phone: 519-639-6093 Email: marty@martylewis.ca Website: www.martylewis.ca Contacts: Marty Lewis, Owner Buyers Guide Categories: Photographers, Video Production

Lightning can strike twice

Barry Fitzgerald presented two-time winner Michael Broadhead of GormanRupp Pumps with a Bose Sound Touch 20 Wireless Music System and a gift certificate for a Gangster-style Limo Ride from Old School Rides at the St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce April Business After 5.

May, 2017

Products & Services: Marty Lewis, a freelance videographer and photographer serving the St Thomas, Aylmer, London, and surrounding area. He’s been shooting & editing video for 12 years and would love to shoot your wedding or special event. Capturing your special moments so that you can relive them again and again, he’s the camera-nerd so you don’t have to be.

Whatever your event or project, he makes you feel at ease and confident from planning through to execution.

Sakellis Foods (Sakellis Investments Ltd.) 2 Barrie Boulevard St. Thomas, ON N5P 4B9 Phone: 519-633-5089 Email: sakellisfoods@outlook.com Contacts: Zacharias “Jack” Sakellis & Kona Sakellis, Co-Owners Buyers Guide Categories: Food-Wholesalers, Food Processing, Food Specialities, Manufacturers, Distributors Products & Services: Sakellis Foods manufacturers and supplies goods to restaurants, food chains, hotels and large distribution companies, both locally & international. The Sakellis Brand has expanded its line of spices, soup bases & specialty flavours to include its ‘’sister’’ brand ‘’Olde Milwaukee Gold’’ Pancake, Waffle, & Crepe products.

Sakellis Foods’ goal is to provide quality ingredients and professional service, from basic supplying to specialty needs, including custom blending and private labeling.

Continued on page 16

I want to start a family.

Mortgage protection • First-time home buyer plan • RESPs*

I can help with your goals. Let’s talk about Money for Life.

Michael L. Moore 519-637-7747 michael.moore@sunlife.com www.sunlife.ca/michael.moore 9 Princess Avenue, Unit #3 St. Thomas, ON N5R 3V3

Life’s brighter under the sun *Mutual funds offered by Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2015.

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

Member News

New Members Continued from page 15

Lucky man!

Roy Esbaugh from the Columbus Club was the big winner during the April Business After 5 at Messenger Delivery, taking home an Apple iPad Air2 worth over $600. Here he’s congratulated by the Chamber’s Christy Hunking.

The Bathroom Makeover Co. 85 Chester Street, Unit 7 St. Thomas, ON N5R 1V7 Phone: 226-236-6622 Email: hayesa@rogers.com Contacts: Andrea Hayes, Co-Owner Buyers Guide Categories: Renovations/ Additions, Kitchens & Bathrooms, Interior Design/Decorating Products & Services: The Bathroom Makeover Co. is here to help renovate your bathroom.

Many older homes have tired looking and outdated bathrooms, but The Bathroom Makeover Co.’s goal is to bring your bathroom back to life.

By listening to your wants, needs and wishes, they’ll provide you design ideas to keep some of the existing character pieces or help you move into a fresh, new direction.

With almost 30 years in the plumbing and construction industry, The Bathroom Makeover Co. has the experience to design and deliver with confidence, providing you with a first class product.

Crystal Underhill EXT 234 or Janet Palmer at EXT. 226

Rob Blaxall: President

• • • • • •

Voice / Voice Mail Data Communications CCTV Video Surveillance Security Sound/PA Systems Business Phone Systems

“Our customers are not just satisfied...they’re impressed!”

Now offering voip business systems rmbcommunications.com

P.0. Box 20155, St. Thomas (519) 633.0080 • rblaxall@sympatico.ca

Residential • Commercial • Industrial May, 2017

St. Thomas Elgin Cremation Service 10 Mondamin Street, Unit 115 St. Thomas, ON N5P 2V1 Phone: 519-857-5246 Email: bill@denning.ca Contacts: Bill Denning, Owner Buyers Guide Categories: Cremation Service Products & Services: St. Thomas Elgin Cremation is a “Transfer Service”. This is a little different from a funeral home. What makes them unique is not what they can offer, but what they can’t. They are licensed to offer basic burial and cremation services and in turn, operate with less cost so that they can pass those savings on to families that are interested in looking after the basics. Some choose pre-planning, but St. Thomas Elgin Cremation is also available 24 hours a day to serve families who need them.

St. Thomas Elgin Cremation is operated by Denning’s Ltd. They are fourth generation funeral directors who run the family funeral home business that their great grandfather started in 1925. They have funeral homes in Rodney and West Lorne and are proud to offer this basic service to St. Thomas and Elgin.

Full range of Public Accounting Services including: Auditing, Accounting and Taxation Services

Mark Lassam, CPA, CA 115 Curtis St., St.Thomas, ON N5P 1J4 p: 519-631-1631 | f: 519-631-2929 mark@lassam.ca

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

Healthy Living Self Discovery

We are nothing if we lose our integrity

by Anouschka Van den Bosch

Walking my talk has been my mantra for many years. For me it comes down to integrity.

A few days ago, I received my weekly quote from Brene Brown: “Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast or easy; and choosing to practise our values rather than simply professing them.” I remember this to be the theme of Brene’s book “Rising Strong”. The quote says so much in only one sentence and it rings so true to me.

Integrity and values have both been a constant exploration throughout my career and my personal life. During my training as a life coach we explored integrity and values, where we had to dig deep. It was during this training I took my first real look at what my values really were.

My yoga teacher training also dove into both concepts, and it is really a daily inquiry or checkin for me and not just something I learned out of a text book and will leave it at that. It comes alive every day, and it is how I choose to show up into this world. Values are an important indicator of who you are and they potentially could change as you grow and move through career changes and life events.

My current top three values – compassion, joy and simplicity – are certainly not the same top three I would have had during my life coach training over 15 years ago.

They evolved and changed as I went through different stages in my career and personal life.

When my values are put to the test, Brene’s quote reminds me of who I am and what I stand for.

Integrity also means clearly stating your boundaries. It is important that I am clear what behaviours are acceptable to me and which ones are not. Compassion is also significant to me and as you read last month, my compassion for myself is still a work in progress. As an HR professional, there are times I must make difficult decisions and it is important to me that compassion drives those tough decisions. I choose to see the good in people and at

the same time, be able to hold them accountable (those are my boundaries). So when those difficult decisions must be made, I can stand on my principles. I have those difficult conversations and truly practise what I believe in, coming from a place of compassion. It is what ultimately will help me sleep at night.

As Brene shows in her definition of integrity, it is not easy or fun use integrity as a guide. However what would be the cost of not making those tough decisions?

And what if I allow my boundaries to be busted?

I tell you where I would be: stewing with resentment and judgement. “I can’t believe they can’t see this is all wrong”. “This should never have gone this far”. And so on. Wonderful judgement and resentment statements that will ultimately leave

“wonderful judgment and resentment statements that will ultimately leave me stuck and unable to move forward”

me stuck and unable to move forward.

Brene says in her book “Rising Strong”: “Living BIG is saying: Yes, I am going to be generous in my assumptions and intentions while standing solidly in my integrity and being very clear about what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable”.

Let’s be honest though, this is not something you just start doing. This has taken me many years of learning and understanding. I have made mistakes along the way and learned from my mistakes. Allowing my boundaries to be busted or not having any boundaries has been the biggest learning for me. Today I find myself being compassionate towards my own actions – a work in progress, always learning, with integrity as my foundation.

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

7thAnnual AnnualCrime CrimeStoppers Stoppers 9th

GolfTournament Tournament Golf

Thank you to all of our Participants, Prize Donators, Hole Sponsors and everyone who helped make the 9th Annual Crime Stoppers Golf Tournament a Great Success!!

1-800-222-TIPS (8477) www.stthomascrimestoppers.ca

We Couldn’t do it without the support of the Community May, 2017

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

Join us in our on-going campaign as we continue to stop impaired driving. for more information please call: 1-800-665-6233 or info@madd.ca email: info@madd.ca or email:

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada) is a charitable, grassroots organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime.

545 Talbot St., St. Thomas

519-631-1680

www.stthomas.ca

E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 17

Aylmer & Area Chamber of Commerce Get the most from your RRSP Submitted by Katie Timpany

Continued from last month Maximize your tax savings by maximizing your contribution Ideally you should use your full allowable contribution limit each year, but if you haven’t been able to, you have likely been accumulating unused registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) contribution room.

If you don’t have enough cash to contribute the maximum, there are two ways you can make use of your full allowable limit: Contribution in kind If you have non-registered investments such as mutual funds, you could contribute them to your RRSP. You can also make a withdrawal from a tax-free savings account (TFSA) to fund your RRSP contribution. You will receive a tax receipt equal to the investment’s market value at the time of the transfer. Please note that a contribution of an investment in kind from a non-registered account is a deemed disposition for capital gains purposes, so you should consider your capital gains position on that investment at the time of the transfer. Power-up by borrowing Alternatively, you could consider an RRSP loan. Rates are very competitive and although you’ll pay interest on the amounts borrowed, the long-

term benefits can far outweigh interest costs.

In addition, your contribution could trigger a tax refund that you can use to pay down the loan and keep costs to a minimum.

Resist the temptation to dip into your RRSP Usually, there is nothing to prevent you from accessing your RRSP before retirement. However, consider the consequences before you do. First of all, withdrawals are taxed at your marginal rate, and are subject to withholding tax of 10% to 30% at the time of withdrawal. Second, you cannot restore the contribution room. The amount that you can contribute to an RRSP in your lifetime is limited. A withdrawal erodes some of this potential. Special circumstances can help you access your RRSP without these consequences. The Home Buyers’ Plan and the Lifelong Learning Plan allow tax-free withdrawals with the ability to recontribute. However, even in these plans there is no ability to replace the tax-deferred growth on your investments that was lost. It is more tax-effective to make a withdrawal from a TFSA, as no tax applies and you can re-contribute the withdrawal amount in a future year.

Continued on page 19

A bright and welcoming statement

MainStreet Aylmer has been working hard to beautify and add pops of colour to the downtown. Large planter boxes are throughout the core with hues of purple, yellow and white. These are definitely making a bright and welcoming statement to the downtown. Thanks to the Aylmer Garden Centre for creating the planter displays.

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Aylmer & Area Chamber of Commerce Get the most from your RRSP Continued from page 18 Tax-efficient investing – the bigger picture Capital gains and Canadian dividends are subject to a lower tax rate than other sources of income. Any income withdrawn from an RRSP is fully taxable at your top marginal tax rate. In keeping with your asset allocation plan, it makes tax sense to hold interest-bearing investments inside your RRSP – since they are 100% taxable – and hold investments that produce Canadian dividends and capital gains outside your RRSP. Special RRSP deductions There are two special RRSP deduction opportunities that may be available to you – special because they allow you the opportunity to invest more than your allowable contribution room.

Retiring allowance If you leave a long-time employment position and receive a severance or retiring allowance, you are entitled to transfer taxfree into your RRSP an amount equal to $2,000 for each year of service before 1996, and an addi-

tional $1,500 for each year before 1989 in which you did not earn a vested pension benefit. Pension Adjustment Reversal Individuals who leave a company pension plan or deferred profit sharing plan will receive a “Pension Adjustment Reversal” (PAR) if the total value of their past Pension Adjustments exceeds the benefit they receive out of the plan. The PAR restores lost RRSP contribution room. If you have changed employers in the past year, professional advice definitely can pay off in this situation.

RRSPs and your estate In most provinces, you can designate a beneficiary on your RRSP so that the assets immediately become their property upon your death.

Generally speaking, the assets do not form part of your estate and as a result do not attract probate fees (not applicable in Québec). In addition, if the beneficiary is your spouse or a disabled dependent child or grandchild, the tax-deferred status of your registered assets can remain. However,

there may be instances when you would want to name your estate as the beneficiary of your RRSP. By naming your estate and granting executors the authority to make tax-deferred rollovers, you may be able to reduce taxes payable on other assets.

Incorporating your RRSP into your estate plan can be a complicated process.

Get expert help Your RRSP is a vital part of your retirement plan. As we’ve seen here, there are several small tune-ups you can employ that each can contribute to the growth of your plan. Along with other professional advisors, we can provide the necessary assistance to help you make the right choice.

Katie Timpany is a Consultant with Investors Group Financial Services Inc. She can be reached at (519) 673-4544 or Katie.Timpany@investorsgroup.com.

Loop the block a few more times.

Members of the Aylmer & Area Chamber of Commerce gathered for their monthly Chat & Chew at Clement’s Catering Co. downtown Aylmer in April. Partner Marge welcomed the group while Chef Clement created in the kitchen. Members enjoyed homemade soup, salad, a delectable variety of paninis, desserts and homemade cinnamon buns. Thanks to Marge and Clement for their hospitality.

Clement’s Catering Co. recently opened in Aylmer at 49 Talbot Street East specializing in catering for private dinner parties, weddings, corporate luncheons (on or off-site) and has a fantastic ‘Dinner @ Home’ family take out menu program!!.

A well thought out Financial Plan is an integral part of building the future you want.

Katie Timpany

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Backyard & Garden Inspirations

Design a garden for all senses Gardens add visual appeal to a yard, but gardens also can appeal to individuals’ senses of smell, taste, touch, and sound. Gardeners who want to create gardens that appeal to various senses can do so in the following ways.

SIGHT Aesthetic appeal is one of the most sought-after benefits of gardening. However, many homeowners put in so much effort planting for one particular season that they may not give thought to ensuring the garden looks vibrant no matter the time of year.

Gardeners can research planting zones to find plants that will blossom at different times of the year so they can enjoy impressive, aesthetically appealing gardens year-round. Spring bulbs can bloom early on, while annual and perennial summer favorites will thrive under the summer sun.

Beautyberry and caryopteris will fill out in the autumn, while holly or mahonia can look lovely in the winter.

SMELL Gardeners can dot their landscapes with aromatic trees, shrubs and flowers that will make stepping out into the garden that much more special. Some

of the more fragrant plants include gardenia, dianthus, calendula, lavender, and jasmine. Shrubs such as fragrant pineapple broom, Anne Russell viburnum and Christmas box can add fragrance as well.

SOUND The lively sounds of the garden are created by the wildlife that come to pollinate and enjoy the environment gardeners have created. By choosing indigenous plants, gardeners can be sure that insects and small critters will seek refuge within the foliage. Songbirds also will add character to a yard.

The Audubon Society suggests including a water source and a songbird border of shrubs along your property’s edge. Provide food sources and make sure they are located a fair distance from the main action of the yard so as not to scare off birds. Wait for musical chickadees, goldfinches, orioles, and cardinals to arrive and enjoy the accommodations.

TASTE Gardeners can expand their gardens to include fruit-bearing trees and rows of vegetables. Produce can be harvested from early spring through late fall depending on the crops planted.

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TOUCH Apart from including trees and shrubs of various textures in the garden, look for other ways to stimulate a tactile response. Water features add relaxing sound and beauty. Stones, moss, mulch, and other accents have varied textures that can stimulate the sense of touch in various ways. Don’t forget to include a sitting area so that you can immerse yourself fully in the garden.

Go beyond visual appeal when designing a garden. When gardeners tap into all five senses, they can enjoy their landscapes even more than they already do.

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20

Backyard & Garden Inspirations

How to keep animals out of your garden

Many gardeners understand the frustration that stems from seeing a garden destroyed by wildlife.

While protecting wildlife is a cause that’ss near and dear to many gardening enthusiasts, even the most ardent wildlife supporter does not want to see his or her garden trampled, eaten or adversely affected by animals.

Safeguarding gardens from local wildlife can require some trial and error. Animals may find ways to circumvent gardeners’ initial efforts to protect their gardens, but the following methods might just do the trick the first time around.

Erect physical barriers around gardens. Barriers may not be gardeners’ first choices, as some people feel barriers such as wire cages or mesh coverings make it more difficult to tend to gardens and rob gardens of some of their aesthetic appeal. But coverings and wire cages can effectively prevent wildlife from trampling or eating plants while still allowing the gardens to get adequate sunlight. Make sure barriers extend to the ground so animals cannot access gardens by entering beneath the barricades.

Fight intruders with odour. Stray cats may mistake gardens for litter boxes and enter them to relieve themselves. Preventing such intrusions can be as simple as placing items around the garden to reduce

the likelihood that gardens will be mistaken for lit- den beds. When small critters, such as moles, are ter boxes. Peels from oranges and lemons or coffee the main problem, then raised garden beds with grounds can be placed in the garden and can emit wood or plastic bottoms and sides can be enough to odours strong enough to deter cats. safeguard gardens. Raised garden beds might not be Install motion detecting lights around gardens. accessible to small critters, though such beds likely Motion detection technology might be enough to won’t deter larger animals from getting into gardens deter nocturnal wildlife from trampling or eating that are not barricaded. gardens. Animals might be spooked and run away when lights suddenly turn on. A similar approach can be taken using noise instead of lights. Gardeners who hope to avoid erecting barriers around their gardens can put up posts Celebrating Over 85 years of instead, attaching aluQuality Knowledge & Service minum cans or wind chimes to the posts that will make noise when animals come near.

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Backyard & Garden Inspirations

Shade-tolerant plants help to complete landscapes Plants need sunlight to thrive and grow, but some need less sunlight than others. People who find their landscapes are less supportive to sunloving plants can choose from a variety of shadetolerant plants, shrubs and trees.

Shade tolerance refers to a plant’s ability to withstand low levels of light. Certain plants have adapted this feature to survive in the wild. Plants that grow at the base of forest floors, for example, will get less sunlight than others outside of the tree canopy. Such adaptations enable a wide variety of foliage to grow even though they are not exposed to much sunlight.

While sun-loving plants often have broad leaves and expend significant energy to capture sunlight for photosynthesis, shade-tolerant plants expend less energy and tend to be more efficient consumers of soil nutrients and sunlight. The amount of shade a plant is growing under will directly affect the density of the foliage and the plant’s flowering and fruiting characteristics. Blending shade-tolerant plants into the landscape can be an effective use of space. Before choosing plants for an existing landscape, it’s important to assess the level of shade or sun the plants will receive.

Heavy shade: Heavy shade is when no direct sunlight reaches a plant. This occurs at the base of northern-facing walls or beneath thick tree canopies.

Full sun: Areas that receive full sun enjoy direct sunlight between six and eight hours per day.

Moderate shade: These sites have reflected sunlight that may come off of water features.

Light shade: Plants in these areas will get partially filtered or dappled sunlight.

Once homeowners understand which type of shade they are dealing with, they can then visit plant nurseries and select their plants. Most greenery comes with care instructions that include recommendations regarding the amount of shade/

sunlight the plant will need to do well. If further assistance is needed, a knowledgeable employee can make suggestions based on landscape needs.

Those who are looking for some preliminary guidance when it comes to selecting shade-tolerant shrubs, plants or trees can consult the following list.

Bleeding heart: Bleeding heart, or Dicentra spectabilis, is typically found in woodlands. It’s a perennial in the poppy family that produces mounded foliage and arching vine-like stems of heart-shaped flowers in the spring.

Amethyst flower: Browallia hybrids offer starshaped blooms of blue and violet. These plants will billow out of hanging baskets or containers, and they prefer warm shade or filtered sunlight.

Coleus: The coleus, Solenostemon scutellarioides, is another perennial that can have a variety of different leaf colors and striations.

Witch hazels: These are a genus in the family Hamamelidacea, which has four different species in North America. This shrub or small tree features arching branches with dense, multi-stemmed clumps. Witch hazel produces flowers in the late autumn when most other plants are sparse.

Bayberry: Myrica pensylvanica can grow in partial shade as a hedge or natural property divider. The leaves of this shrub are aromatic when crushed. The shrub will produce tiny, gray/white fruits in late summer.

English Ivy: Also known as Hedera helix, this trailing plant is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. It will spread easily and can become invasive.

Those searching for shade-tolerant trees can choose among Sugar maple, Black alder, Flowering dogwood, and White spruce, among others.

Shade-tolerant plants can make welcome additions to the landscape, offering greenery and color in the darker areas of a property.

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Did you know?

Hiring a landscape architect may be a smart move for homeowners who are planning major overhauls of their properties. “The Operational Outlook Handbook” defines a landscape architect as ”a person who designs parks, outdoor spaces of campuses, recreational facilities, private homes, and other open areas.” Landscape architects typically must be licensed and many hold degrees in landscape architecture from accredited schools.

Architects who work on residential spaces often work with homeowners to design gardens, plantings, stormwater management, and pools.

Landscape architects design spaces to do more than merely look good. Designs also are about functionality and meeting the needs of the homeowner. Outdoor spaces are designed after considering what the homeowner wants to experience and how homeowners want to use a given space.

Landscape architects often do not plant and maintain these spaces. Rather, architects collaborate with other landscaping professionals to produce the final results.

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43784 Talbot Line - RR#3 St. Thomas www.randspoolandspa.com 22

Backyard & Garden Inspirations

Create a safe and enjoyable backyard play area

Homeowners often aspire to have attractive Site: Look around the landscape for an ideal Safety: Follow the directions for installation. backyards that look like they belong in a maga- place to locate the playset. There should be no Make sure all posts are anchored into the ground zine. While these can be picturesque and func- obstacles that children can hit while sliding or securely. Railings should be spaced so that chiltional for adults, they may not be entirely practi- swinging. Avoid overhanging branches and do dren cannot get stuck between them. Check that cal for homeowners who have young children, not place equipment too close to trees or fenc- metal components have not rusted and that there especially when the majority of the yard is cov- ing. Try to keep the set out of direct sunlight, is no additional excessive wear. Be sure that no ered with paving stones or concrete. which can make components heat up and scald tools or other dangerous items are left around When young children are part of a household, young bodies. the yard. homeowners may benefit by designing yards that Supervision: Do not leave children alone while Backyard playgrounds should be built with are both functional and fun. Incorporating safe they are playing. Prevent children from using the safety in mind. Learn the rules of play equipplay areas for kids is one way to unlock the po- playset in an incorrect manner. ment and yard safety. tential of both big and small backyards.

As children run off to enjoy a playground, safety is the last thing on their minds. Kids are most interested in scaling ladders to treehouses or coasting down slides. That’s why adults must take it upon themselves to keep injury prevention in mind.

SafestPlayground.com indicates that playground-related injuries routinely result in severe fractures, internal injuries, concussions, and dislocations. In the majority of playground injuries to children younger than age 5, the head and face are affected. Children between the ages of 5 and 9 experience more leg and Recycler® arm injuries than younger kids. The starting at: Consumer Product Safety Commission states 70 percent of children’s injuries occur on home playgrounds. More than 28,000 children are injured each year on playgrounds across Canada, according to Parachute, a national injury prevention FULL SERVICE DEALER TO LOOK AFTER YOUR PURCHASE organization. When considering playground equipment for the yard, parents need to make safety a priority. The Canada Safety Society adZ-FORCE® SX 54 PREMIUM HEAVY-DUTY ZEROvises parents to follow the “5 Ss of XT1™ LT42" C RZT® L 46 KH FAB TURN RIDER WITH STEERING WHEEL LAWN TRACTOR ZERO-TURN RIDER Playground Safety”: Surface, strucTimeCutter® SS Series • 42" heavy-duty mowing • 46" heavy-duty fabricated • 54" heavy-duty, sloped-nose tures, site, supervision, and safety. starting at: deck delivers the Cub Cadet mowing deck delivers the fabricated deck delivers the Surface: Parents should assume Signature Cut™ Cub Cadet Signature Cut™ Cub Cadet Signature Cut™ that children will fall. To lessen the • Spring-assisted deck lift • Steering wheel control with lever with 12 available quick adjust tilt column blow of falls, choose playground positions • Revolutionary four-wheel equipment with a perimeter of six • Fully robotically welded steering gives total control frame with E-Coat corrosion on varied terrain feet of a softer surface, such as sand, defense system (5-year limited warranty)† pea gravel, rubber pieces or wood chips. This material should be be$2,099 * $3,649 * $6,599 * tween six and 12 inches deep.

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Specifications and programs are subject to change without notice. Images may not reflect dealer kids’ playgrounds, as the chemicals inventory and/or unit specifications. © 2017 Cub Cadet 3PV_QV used in the lumber can leach and young children may actually bite or pick at the wood. Use cedar or another wood that resists decay. Once the structure is built, inspect it fre14024 BELMONT RD BELMONT, ONTARIO N0L1B0 | 519-644-0670 | www.daleequipmentcentre.com quently for damage.

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23

Agriculture ON THE FARM

Farmers afield: Our March Break from the farm

by Janine Lunn

In my last submission I mentioned our wish to continue the family tradition of rewarding hard work with actually leaving the farm once in a while, to enjoy a break and a change of scenery. Not knowing exactly what we wanted to do, but aiming for sun, we made arrangements for Florida. It wasn’t easy to commit the money for travel and housing, but we realized there would never be a perfect time or an ideal year to get away. Several events in our lives this past year have brought into sharp focus the realization that sometimes tomorrow does not come, and so we decided to make it work.

One of us wanted to keep it a secret from the kids until we arrived at the airport. But the other knew that the final days preceding a getaway from the farm are generally chaotic (at best) so we would need willing helpers to complete farm chores and packing. With the hope that this incentive would get our helpers moving, we delivered the news three days before our departure.

It’s always interesting seeing a vacation from different points of view. Dad worries about what might go wrong on the farm when we’re gone, and the travel route for each day. Mom worries about every little thing that we should pack and what we’re going to eat. The kids? Mostly just excitement (mixed with bickering) and finding

Photo by - Xavier Lunn, age 12.

something new and different at every turn.

We had secured a vacation home through a friend, with plenty of room to hold our family, as well as my sister’s crew and my parents. What did we love about our vacation home? No livestock, no chores, no alarm clock, no housecleaning … and no flies! What did our kids love? Four TVs, an air hockey table, our very own pool … and geckos!

The week was a mixture of balancing the right amount of sightseeing, tourist advenLet our Certified Landscape Team tures and relaxation handle your Lawn & Garden this year! in the warm weather.

We mulled over dozens of touristy fliers, Spring Cleaning weighed the pros and Manicured Lawn Service cons, schedules and Garden Service budgets (as related to energy levels and Mulch dollars!). All told, we

managed to take in a hike, a beach, golf games for the guys, Gatorland, one mildly overwhelming day in the Disney empire, an orange grove, many scenic drives and several errands so the kids could experience the latest in American snack foods and flavour combinations.

A lot of the fun and memorable moments did not have a lot to do with the places with the shiny brochures and the big ticket entertainment, and definitely not the line-ups. We all seemed to be more interested in seeing what made our vacation setting unique: flora and fauna, odd highway billboards, what crops and livestock are grown, novelty foods, the local accent.

As we were wrapping up the week, we checked in with the kids on how we’d done, and what their highlights were. Our top day rating, according to the kids, was not so different from home.

Continued on page 25

“seeing what made our vacation

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Agriculture On The Farm

Playing with cousins in the pool, priceless Continued from page 24 We found a conservation area where we observed dozens of alligators, snakes, birds and insects in their natural habitat, nearly close enough to touch. Cost? Free. A close second appears to be the downtime in a warmer climate: spontaneous dance parties and playing with cousins in the pool. Cost: Priceless.

It shouldn’t be all that surprising that we pack up to leave our wide open spaces and end up feeling the most comfortable with what we usually enjoy. Next break from the farm, we will whittle down the shiny brochure list a lot more

quickly, and focus on what feels like vacation to us: crop-tour style country drives, nature walks, local flavours, and definitely more time by the water. If we can get away often enough, and aim away from the beaten path, we might just get it right.

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

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

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY Tourism

Village Square Coffee House – Coffee for a good cause

by Katherine Thompson

According to Michelle Fournier, living in Port Stanley is a little bit like living on an island. The community is alive with great places to eat, shop, and enjoy live entertainment, but is far enough removed from the rush of the big city (and close enough to the beach) to make you feel like you are on a permanent vacation.

“We have a very tight knit community here,” says Michelle. “Everyone in Port Stanley is so friendly and willing to help out; people genuinely care about your well-being.”

Five years ago when the local bakery/coffee shop on the corner of Bridge St. and Main St. was set to close, Michelle sprang into action to make sure that people in this tight-knit community had a comfortable place to hang out. The need for a local hub was established when, on a cold day in February 2012, Michelle opened the doors of the Village Square Coffee House for the first time to a whopping 50 customers.

The Village Square Coffee House is a welcoming stop for tourists and cyclists, but caters primarily to full-

time and seasonal residents of the small lakeside village. Staff develop close relationships with customers who come back again and again, year after year, bringing their friends and family with them.

Homemade baked goods, light lunches made with local ingredients, and of course superb coffee are the specialties of the Village Square Coffee House. Michelle serves up espressos, cappuccinos, ice coffees, and regular coffee in dark roast, medium roast, and decaf – all made exclusively from freshly ground Las Chicas Del Café coffee beans.

Las Chicas Del Café Coffee is imported, roasted and packaged in downtown St. Thomas by Maria Fiallos and Valeria Fiallos-Soliman who source the beans directly from suppliers in their native country of Nicaragua. Through coffee sales and fundraising, Las Chicas Del Café raises money for the remote mountain community in Nicaragua where the Las Chicas Plantation is located.

Proceeds from the coffee sales go to purchase medical supplies, maternity support items, and other things that are needed in the community.

“When a customer buys a cup of my coffee, they can know that a percentage is going to a worthy cause,” says Michelle.

Through her relationship with Las Chicas, Michelle has been able to Bedding Plants & Flowers • Trees travel to Nicaragua to the Las Chicas • Shrubs • Gardening Gear Plantation and meet with the coffee Bulk Grass Seed & Fertilizers • New Aquascape Water Gardens growers, pickers, farm hands, and Garden Seeds including onions, potatoes, their neighbours and families. She sweet corn, beans and much more! feels very fortunate to not only travel but also develop meaningful relationships with her suppliers, and learn Wonderful about the coffee that she sells.

Smoked Pork, Sausage, Hamburger “I am very lucky to have a business Selection of Home in a community that I love,” says MiDécor, Garden chelle. “I am a part of the Port StanJohnson Meats Accessories and ley community but at the same time, ROOS Meats I now feel like part of this commuMiedema Meat Country Store nity in Nicaragua.”

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

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

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY Your Team

Opportunities for you … Join the tech industry

by Laura Pavilonis and Nancy Annett

a skilled trade … hands-on people, who preferred ‘doing’ rather than reading or writing.

Today we are seeing a marriage of science, math, technology, art and computer sciences. The field of mechatronics is in growth. Many of the people who work in the tech field may have a background in art, computer programing, engineering, computer hardware, math or business. They come from every walk of life, with varied skills and interests. Out of this beautiful marriage has come some of the best innovation and greatest places to work.

Tremendous growth and job opportunities These firms have seen so much growth that they struggle to hire staff to fill all their vacancies and can’t meet all their customer requests for service.

There are hundreds of vacant tech positions in this area alone, and organizations are now working

with both elementary and high school students to increase interest and skill. And they hire more in relation to organizational fit and in alignment with their mission, vision and values than they do for skill, so the door is open for anyone to join in. After thirty plus years working in corporate culture we are thrilled to see this change in thinking and hope to see more organizations embrace it.

We are always amazed by the passion and engagement we see with the companies we assist, and the technology industry companies we serve have reinforced the importance of taking care of people as a key ingredient. Time and time again, they have shown us that they invest in the training and development of their employees and their teams, and they continue to thrive and grow in exponential ways providing many jobs, careers and opportunities for Nancy Annett, MBA, CHRP and people with diverse skills and backgrounds. They Laura Pavilonis, MBA CHRP are powerhouses in their contribution to local comown Flashpoint Training and munity and national economic growth and developDevelopment. ment … and they’re right here in our own backyard.

‘Passion for their work’ ‘Passion for their work’ screams loudly as the culture these organizations wish to develop and sustain in order to drive innovation, engagement and customer service excellence. Many take a fun, ‘work hard / play hard’ and familylike approach to help attract and retain employees. Dress codes tend to be more casual and environments are home-like with quiet rooms, large kitchens, complimentary food and beverages and sometimes an open invitation to bring in pets and other home comforts. Compensation is as much about quality of work-life as it A large selection is about salary, and an important foof beautiful, cus is on flexible work schedules and accommodating personal preferences comfortable for strong-performing employees in patio furniture to order to keep them.

Traditional tech industry enjoy your Contrary to traditional thinking, not only can these organizations afoutdoor living ford to provide their people with exand entertaining cellent benefits without compromising profits or customer service, but space. they thrive as a result of it. We believe this is because customers have difMAY ferent expectations than they did 30 years ago, or even 10 years ago. CusSPECIAL tomers are expecting a customized solution to their problems, one that requires a business to develop deeper understanding and relationship on Patio Furniture beyond the basic needs. It requires *expires May 31/17 continuous adaptability and innovation. There is no room for people who want safe, stable work within very structured parameters. People in the tech industry need to be fully engaged and passionate about what they do, so they must invest in their people in order to provide the best service to their clients.

It’s a far cry from what was considered ‘Tech’ back in the 80’s, centered for the most part around the shopwing of the school and separated from the main disciplines of science, math, art and English.

At that time, the people who chose to study tech as their career path were Monday - Friday 9am - 5:30pm • Saturday 9am - 5pm • by appointment, if needed on a journey to what was considered

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

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY War Memorial

Healthy senior lifestyles focus of study

by Melissa Schneider For Elgin This Month

Helping seniors live a healthy and active lifestyle while keeping them independent is the focus of a new plan supported by the Elgin-St. Thomas Public Health (ESTPH).

The Age Friendly Community Plan will target eight aspects of community life that seniors have identified as important, including: Outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, respect and social inclusion, social participation, civic participation and employment, communication and information and community support and health services.

According to Jessica Lang, Health Promoter with ESTPH, their agency brought together the City of St. Thomas and the County of Elgin as well as other community partners to form a steering committee to talk about what the plan will look like, moving forward with hiring consulting group Shercon Associates Inc., a group based in Oakville that is well versed in facilitating organizational change. The consultants have worked with cities and regions across Ontario to build the same style of plan for age friendly communities. A one-time grant was provided by the Ministry of Health to conduct a needs assessment in the community.

“It’s an important movement that I think is picking up interest across the country and other

communities as well,” Lang said.

The goal is to make it easier for older residents to access services, maintain their level of activity and independence and remain engaged in community life.

The plan includes having the consultants collect key information from the community by interviewing leaders and providers of senior services, launching a community survey as well as a series of focus group meetings with older adults.

On May 15 there will be a public focus group open to any resident in Elgin County held at the St. Thomas Senior Centre from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

On June 5 there will be a Community Forum held at Elgin St. Thomas Public

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Health to share the results of the needs assessment with the broader community. Following the forum, a discussion paper will be released and a report created and brought back to St. Thomas and County councils for endorsement. Lang said hopes are the report will be done by the end of October and presented to council in late November/early December.

This proactive plan comes just in time, as it’s estimated that within the next 30 years the population over age 65 will more than double, growing from 4.2 million to 9.8 million. This will have a serious impact on Canada’s health care system.

Of those seniors, it’s estimated that almost 23 percent live in rural areas and small towns.

The General Social Survey, 2007, created by Grant Schellenberg and Yuri Ostrovsky of Statistics Canada focused on the plans and expectations of Canadians approaching retirement.

Through their study evidence pointed to people in their late 40s and early 50s planning to push back their planned age of retirement. They noted that labour force participation levels among older adults have returned to rates not seen since the mid-1970s.

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

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT Food & Wine

A vineyard in spring

by Jamie Quai

working (just in case). These techniques include wind fans to circulate warm air, smudge pots (large fire pots), overhead irrigation systems, strategically placed bales of hay (to be set on fire), and chemical sprayers, which can be used to organically minimize the bacteria that can nucleate water turning it to ice.

This is also busy time of year around a wine cellar. Most wines need several weeks of time in bottle to really show their best. If the vast majority of guests visit wineries between June and September, you better believe that most wines for near-term sales are bottled and waiting. My social media feeds right now are inundated with friends posting about the thousands of cases they’ve bottled

in anticipation of another bust year. As a matter of routine, around our place we bottle close to a third of our total production between February and April.

There are certainly no shortage of things to keep a vigneron busy around the springtime. Pop by your favourite producer soon and see all that’s happening.

This month’s article is all about the big and little details that happen around a vineyard and winery during the springtime. Quite a few people believe that because the vines are only starting to come out of dormancy, there isn’t too much to do. In fact, much is happening.

One of the biggest logistics challenges with spring in a vineyard is getting the vines prepared Jamie Quai is head winemaker at for bud break. The vines are pruned every winter Quai du Vin Estate Winery in Elgin to remove excess growth from the previous season.

County, and 2016 Ontario Grape The key to pruning is to balance the number of King. nodes left from last year’s growth, such that there aren’t too many or too few. Too many nodes (and their buds) can lead to excessively vigorous vegetative growth. Too few can lead to excessive fruit and not enough canopy to properly ripen the fruit set.

Every grape variety has its ideal node/ Get out of the heat and into STEAM at Elgin Mall! bud ratio, but in general the best way to balance is leave 15-20 nodes for Wednesdays 6-8pm the first kilogram of prunings cut out Coding the world with and an additional 10 nodes for every subsequent kilogram. Sounds comRaspberry Pi & Python plicated, but a seasoned vigneron will Jul 12 $55 learn to make the appropriate cuts by experience. Pruning should ideally be Intro to 3D Printing done before buds swell.

Jul 19 $55 With pruning done, the vines must then be re-secured to the wire trellising. Vines, by nature are not self-supBeginner’s guide to code porting. They require infrastructure Jul 26 $55 to help them find sunlight. The wood that is saved is affixed to the wires Create a personalized with either twine, metal clips, plastic wooden sign with CNC ropes, or twist ties. This task can be Aug 2 $70 challenging on several fronts. If the tying is done rather loosely, the vine will come undone later in the season.

Saturdays 10am-5pm Bending canes too severely leaves to Make your own website vines snapping. The way the canes crash course are arranged will actually affect which Jul 15 $85 buds become dominant in the growing season, and all the vines must be tied after sap starts to flow, but before Make a digital picture frame buds burst. This can be a matter of with Raspberry Pi weeks.

Jul 22 $230 This is also the time of year that making any major changes to the soil Make your own digital music! will have the biggest impact on vine Jul 26 $85 growth. Most annual cover crops are seeded in the springtime between the rows. Root and shoot growth 3D print your own mini-figure pull nutrients from the soil, so any Aug 5 $100 amendments must be made before additonal nutrients are needed. And getting undesirable native vegetation (weeds) under control becomes critical before they get out of hand.

There are a lot of efforts made around the vineyard to prepare for the possibility of spring frost. As vines emerge from winter and new tissue begins to emerge, the vigneron Join us at our pop-up location in Elgin Mall this July! is making sure that any frost protection methods are in place and/or 50 Wellington St. St. Thomas, ON 226-212-0048 steameducation.ca

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

HOMESTYLE Decorating

Tiny closet tweaks hooks, bars, containers, and Sometimes it is the smallest things that can a mirror to the make the biggest difference. I remember once back of a door walking into a home and moving a chair over lit- creates a handy erally three inches more diagonally into the room hang-up spot and the entire feeling of the room was changed. for next day When it comes to closets and organizing, I’m a outfits and acfirm believer in every trick and tweak I can find. cessories.

Here are just a few that I’ve stumbled upon over This one the years that may be of help. sounds like my I love colour-coding. Try colour-coding your friend Mary. hangers to group garments by type or season. And she swears Not only with the colour system prevent clothes by it. Label from getting lost in the shuffle, but will also help it! She swears keep tabs on what you have so you don’t overbuy. by the importance of labels, and for good reaI’ve tried this and it works when you can re- son. There’s no sense in riffling through every member to do it! I call it the Flip Game. Start bin when you can label with all your hangers facing in the same direc- it, grab exactly what you tion. Each time you wear an article of clothing, need, and get out the flip the hanger the other way. After a couple of door. months, take note of the hangers you haven’t Adding handles can save flipped. If those items don’t fit or no longer fit your life! Trust me. Ever your style, consider donating them. tried pulling down a box If you are really limited on storage space, then on the top shelf and eveven the backs of doors become valuable real es- erything topples down on tate – especially if you live in an old house with your head!? With the use very small closets. Or maybe you share a room. of quality gift boxes, your Even some extra prep space works. Use hardware top-shelf storage needs are better coordinated. store add-ons to maximize storage. Attaching Great for accessories. But don’t stop there! Use a piece of leather and a stapler to give each one a handle that YOUR TIRE We makes it a cinch to service grab what you want.

Alignment We will not be Organize the floor.

All makes ± undersold on tires checks while For tall boots and ev& models you wait We will match eryday shoes that do not have a shoe box any competitor’s to make sure and sets on the floor, you are safe advertised price. use a colourful tray Free Shuttle on the roads or even a jelly-roll service or with our Quick, pan that can slide out loaner cars efficient service. with ease. This also serves to keep your closet floor form dirt, FOR ONLY grass, and gravel bits.

Hooks are a god• A detailed inspection of up to 83 points

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send in small closet spaces – or even big ones, for that matter. Hooks and pegs offer adaptable storage right where you need it when you need it without consuming precious closet space. Hang belts, ties, necklaces, scarves and even a robe if needed daily – all on the side of the closet for easy access.

I’m from the era of wood shelves. Wire shelves are now the accepted norm to promote air flow and prevent possible mildew, but they are notorious for imprinting your clothes.

Would you rather ditch your iron than your storage system? Cover your wire shelves with plastic liners to prevent creases and slip-throughs.

There is nothing better than knowing that behind a closed door is a very well-organized closet system. If you open the door, nothing falls on your head and you can actually find what you are looking for! The secret is putting it back where you got it when you are finished! Sorry. I can’t do that part for you. You are now officially on your own!

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

HEALTHY LIVING EVERYDAY HEALTH

Acupuncture – now an accepted treatment

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

The thought of someone puncturing your skin with a needle is a little strange to some people, and probably terrifying for others. But the treatment modality we know as acupuncture would really only be viewed that way in the West. Traditional acupuncture is actually part of a system called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that together with herbal remedies, massage and diet has been practised for thousands of years. One of the first known medical texts describing such practices dates back to 200 BC and is called The Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic.

Interestingly enough, acupuncture may actually date back to prehistoric times even pre-dating the TCM days. In 1991, the “Tyrolean Ice Man” was discovered dating back to 3300 BC. On his body were well organized tattoo markings that when later studied seemed to correlate with many traditional Chinese acupuncture points for specific medical conditions. This could be evidence of an organized system of treatment remarkably similar to that seen in TCM. Moving forward to present time, acupuncture has gained and continues to gain acceptance in both complementary and alternative healthcare as well as the modern medical community. That being said, there appears to be two schools of thought with regard to the treatment. One school still maintains the ancient traditional Chinese beliefs while the other is referred to as “Western Medical Acupuncture” which takes a more modern scientific approach to acupuncture while still respecting and utilizing some of the traditional ideas and methods.

In the traditional Chinese sense, many of the concepts regarding health revolve around the idea of a life force which is called “Qi” (chee). Qi is the life force that flows through us and is essentially

Today, it is well accepted that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for many neuromusculoskeletal conditions. These include things like back and neck pain, knee pain and even headaches. Currently the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board in Ontario endorses the use of acupuncture in the treatment of knee pain. Acupuncture has also proven to be helpful for some people in smoking cessation programs. There is also growing but less compelling evidence that acupuncture may be helpful with gynecological and urological conditions, dental pain, nausea, and perhaps even infertility as well as many other conditions.

In Ontario, a variety of different practitioners may practice acupuncture. These include medical doctors, chiropractors, physiotherapists, registered massage therapists, naturopaths and nurse practitioners.

People outside of these professions may also call themselves acupuncture practitioners so it is important to do your research and be sure that you are seeing a qualified practitioner who is working within their specific scope of practice.

Much of the information from this article comes from a text entitled, “An Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture” by White, Cummings and Filshie.

the difference between life and death. Energy flows through the body in an organized pattern along specific lines that correlate to organs and organ system in the body which are called “meridians”. In summary, there are 14 basic meridians that are usually named after organs such as the spleen meridian, or the bladder meridian for example. In this model, diseases may invade a meridian leading to damage in the associated organ. Acupuncture is thought to repulse the disease and restore proper function and health. This is a short, overly summarized explanation, and does not do the system proper justice but does serve to give the reader the idea.

Western Medical Acupuncture takes a more meDr. Greg Johnston is a Chiropractor chanical and structural perspective. At the basis of and partner in Family Health both schools is the understanding that acupuncOptions Treatment & Resources ture does indeed work. Many scientific studies have Centre in St.Thomas helped us to begin to understand how acupuncture works. These studies have confirmed that many of the concepts from the traditional practice of acupuncture do work but more for specific physiological and anatomical reasons rather than for the reasons theorized thousands of years ago. Modern COME SEE OUR science has discovered TOOLS that acupuncture has NEW, LARGER tremendous effects on STORE AND muscle tissue, peripheral nerves, spinal nerves, OUR MASSIVE Electrical & Plumbing Supplies neurotransmitters and INVENTORY! even in the higher cenFasteners • Signage tres of the brain. These Lifting & Rigging Equipment OPEN MONDA MONDAY TO SATURDAY effects help to control 39 Burwell Road, St. Thomas, ON and modulate how we (519) 633-5884 • sales@r-safety.ca • www.r-safety.ca feel and process pain.

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Lifestyle Time On My Hands

Fear and loathing at the American border Donald, can we make a deal?

by Duncan Watterworth

My hair was too long in 1972, so the border guards barred me from Singapore. A wall poster showed the acceptable hairstyles, and mine wasn’t there. Impudent, if not defiant, I whipped my camera from my backpack and photographed the poster. The guard gave me a shove. And back across the bridge to Malaysia I walked. The Malaysian guards wouldn’t let me back in, at first, but eventually they relented.

Oh, the burn of border rejection.

Many years later, Barb and I were car touring in northern Vermont, very close to the Canadian border. The map showed numerous small roads crossing the border, and we got curious.

We drove up one, and sure enough there was an American customs office. When we reached it, we made a U-turn and headed back south.

Moments later, an American Border Patrol vehicle raced up behind us, lights flashing. The officer threatened to impound our car, and bar us from the USA. “The border is not a joke,” he barked. He terrorized us.

Then he let us go.

Years after that, when I retired I treated myself with a round-trip ticket to Guatemala, flying from Detroit. Because my small neck pouch was so crammed with my passport, money, and printouts of my plane tickets, I had trimmed the blank margins off the tickets.

When the American Border Officer saw that, he freaked. I thought my trip was done. He finally calmed down, and let me go. But I had felt the burn again.

I relive that memory, that apprehension, every time I approach the American border.

It doesn’t help that I have a bit of a problem with authority anyway. “Don’t follow leaders, watch the parking meters,” sang Dylan back in

the 60s. Good advice, I’ve always thought.

Individual freedom is what America is all about. At least, that’s the national myth. The country was forged in rebellion against the arbitrary authority of colonial Britain.

“Don’t Tread On Me,” license plates warn. Nevertheless, the American border is a secular shrine to authority and intimidation.

And now Donald Trump, the King of Chaos, has jacked up fear and uncertainty at the border. Murky and shifting rules have prompted numerous groups, including the Toronto District School Board and the Girl Guides of Canada, to cancel all cross-border trips.

I mention all this to explain my trepidation as I recently faced an “interview” with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Port Huron.

Barb and I had applied for NEXUS Trusted Traveler passes. We were hoping to minimize face-time at border crossings, as well as avoid line-ups.

What if they ask me what I think of President Trump, as they have asked other travelers, I fretted. So I prepared an honest non-answer, praising a list of America’s democratic institutions, each of which Trump has attempted to undermine.

Steeled to confront the beast, we entered a prison-like building, with locked metal doors and windowless halls. The officers wore bulletproof vests.

“we entered a prison-like building”

But they had done their background checks, and I look good on paper. The questions were quite perfunctory. What countries had I visited in the last five years? India, Morocco, and Mexico. Why Morocco? He picked the Muslim one.

Just tourism, I said.

And what colour is my hair? I froze. Is “skin” a colour? And what is it with these border guys and hair? He leaned sideways, looked at me, and said, “Salt and pepper”. Fine.

So Donald – let’s make a deal. I won’t be a terrorist. I’ll spend some tourist dollars to Make America Great Again. Just don’t terrorize me at the border. And let’s not mention each other’s hair.

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

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

Binding the Generations Sponsored by

Talking with Brent David from Ambrose Plumbing and Heating Can you tell us a bit about the origins of Ambrose Plumbing and Heating, and the journey to where it is today?

John Ambrose was the original owner who started Ambrose Plumbing from his home back in 1957. He moved the business to Ross Street, which is where John retired after 30 Plus Years. Jacques Roy bought Ambrose from John and continued to run the company out of the Ross St. location for another 15 years. This is when I started my high school co-op placement in 1992. In 2001, Jacques moved Ambrose to a larger location, where we could showcase some of our many plumbing fixtures, and customers can see firsthand what Ambrose Plumbing & Heating can offer them. That large showroom is still located at 1227 Talbot St. What were some key learnings for you about the transition from employee to owner?

Transitioning from employee to owner hasn’t changed a whole lot. l do have a bigger office now. Kidding aside, this transition is another stepping stone in my Ambrose journey which as I mentioned earlier has been a gradual process with the guidance of Jacques. I still have more to do and learn and some ideas for the direction I want Ambrose to go next, but this is a team and I couldn’t manage without their support and the support of my family. One thing I do know is that I look forward to helping others the way I was helped so it’s fair to say we at Ambrose Plumbing & Heating continue to support the mentoring program.

Picking up on mentoring, what were some of the things that Jacques Roy passed along to you over the years?

When I was signed by Jacques for the apprenticeship program, it really encouraged me and gave me confidence that he saw something in me, and I worked hard. I continued to achieve not only my plumbing certificate but I also received my gas fitter license. I continue to go to seminars and keep learning, which Jacques encourages.

It’s never too late to learn, and we need to keep up with technology.

Jacques has also taken time to show me the business side of Ambrose by gradually giving me more responsibility from service manager, to general manager, treating me like a partner and this past year handing me the keys, selling the business to me but – and I’m grateful for this – staying on to keep the transition smooth and keep on sharing his experience.

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

When I first started my co-op with Ambrose, I was a nervous kid. I remember a couple of senior plumbers taking me under their wings, along with some friendly teasing, and I was eager to learn. I’m thankful for the patience of those around me. They taught me how to use tools correctly and safely, and showed me some of the trade “tricks”. I made mistakes and learned from them, and was shown what to do differently next time. Nobody perfects something the first time, and I am still learning and asking questions. That’s what makes Ambrose so great. I didn’t have just one mentor, but a team of plumbers showing me something new at different times with each individual job.

Can you share your thoughts about the value being a mentor, or the importance of finding a mentor?

I am proud to say that Ambrose is very supportive of the co-coop program and apprenticeships. Learning a trade is still a secure and much-needed career choice. Ambrose has groomed and mentored some great guys over the years. Many have moved on and a couple of these senior plumbers who joked with me back in my co-coop days are still here, helping me continue to provide the Ambrose service you can trust and the same friendly service you’ve come to expect over the last 60years.

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

Take your time, do it right! Speed will come with experience. Listen to your customers!

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 36