July 2016

Your Business. Your Community.

VESTA PARENTING

Proving the skeptics wrong Cover story: Page 3

Inside: • If Jesus played golf Page 4

• Spirits in Sparta Page 7

• Financing A Small Business Pages 20 to 24

• Cottage style Page 26

Volume 6, No. 11, July 2016

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July, 2016

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

Retail therapy for moms who “keep it real”

by Terry Carroll

Baby clothes. Breastfeeding courses. Educational toys. Seminars on parenting. Yoga and discussion groups for young moms. Natural parenting and green living.

The list sounds more like something created in the 1970s under the influence of Our Bodies Ourselves than a successful business venture in 2016. In St. Thomas.

That impression is somewhat accurate, but it’s a long, long way from the full Vesta Parenting story.

In 2007, it began with a certain 1970s ambiance in a renovated church on Wellington Road just north of St. Thomas. It was named after Vesta, a goddess of hearth and home. Co-owner Shawn DeVree now calls that version of Vesta – basically a resource centre for young moms focused on seminars and classes – a “very expensive test for Vesta, one that did not work.”

At the time, one of Vesta’s few clients was Melanie Taylor. When the business was folding, and the former church was sold, Melanie came to help clean up, and she said, “We can’t close it. Let’s do something with it.”

And that’s how two young women, who really didn’t know each other, embarked on a business and lifestyle journey that led ultimately to a 2016 St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce Merit Award.

The owners had caught what they call the Entrepreneurial Disease. Melanie talked about that disease the night she accepted the Chamber award: “(It) takes over your brain and causes you to make choices like starting a niche market retail business in downtown St. Thomas amidst a recession when you both have children under the age of one at home (as well as) the general level of chaos that exists in pretty much everyone’s life. I am happy to say that we would do it again in a heartbeat.”

That’s life in the rear-view mirror. Getting there was often difficult.

Vesta Parenting Centre Inc., co-owned by Melanie Taylor and Shawn DeVree, opened Vesta Shop and Parenting Centre on Talbot Street in St. Thomas in 2010. At the time, Melanie was married to Bryan White, one of the Steelway Building Systems owners, and in her acceptance speech to the Chamber, Mela-

nie gave “a thousand thank yous” to Bryan and Steelway for their support. Shawn is married to Neil DeVree, whom Melanie thanked in that same speech “for his numerous contributions, noting that I will say he helped my sanity and Shawn will likely say the opposite about hers.”

Cue the drum roll.

Melanie has always been somewhat in the background of the operation. In the beginning, she was more the business head, and Shawn was the heart, although that has since evolved and will continue to change. Between them, they launched a retail store in St. Thomas, when people told them they were crazy or should be in London. They added an on-line presence but decided last November to get out of it because everyone on-line is looking for fast, cheap variety. On-line, it’s impossible to get what the owners call The Vesta Experience, one with an anti-establishment feel and a commitment to the full range of what newer mothers (and to a degree, fathers) actually go through.

In a world which seems to celebrate yummy mommies and impossible celebrity ideals, Vesta “keeps it real,” as Shawn and Melanie put it. For first- and second-time mothers, that may include not producing enough milk or post-partum depression or food hitting the wall or being too tired, tired, tired to even think. And understanding that no woman is perfect.

Sorry.

In many ways, this is retail therapy at its core. “You could be shopping somewhere and going to a psychologist,” Melanie says. “Or coming here, and getting both.”

In years two and three, Shawn and Melanie realized that even if they closed the store and liquidated everything, they probably couldn’t cover what they owed.

Instead of letting that stop them, they did two things.

First, they expanded from the one-day workshops Vesta had always offered to a major conference. That conference lost $25,000 but they could see the potential. “And we had the time of our lives,” Shawn says. The second one made money, and their Birth And Beyond conferences now draw people internationally. In 2013, they initiated Birth And Beyond

Co-owners Melanie Taylor (left) and Shawn DeVree in the colourful Vesta Shop and Parenting Centre on Talbot Street in St. Thomas.

On The Road with training sessions in Vancouver, Edmonton, Halifax and Toronto.

The other big change was to spend a lot of money on WhizBang!, an American service offering “ideas and inspiration for retail owners”. With the guidance of WhizBang!, Vesta’s owners discovered that profit is not a dirty word. They learned to expand into more of what customers want (not what the owners think they should want), things like gifts and toys and a loyalty rewards program. And Shawn became highly skilled in social media, primarily Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and soon, Snapchat. These tools allowed her to continue to be the public face of Vesta, while letting staff run the store.

By year five, Vesta was in the black. By 2017, the loans should all be cleared off. Shawn is looking forward to paying herself at least as much as Vesta pays its staff, ideally a living wage, by 2017.

Vesta has developed customers with fierce loyalty.

Once that happens, you don’t have to be in Vancouver or Seattle. You can operate anywhere. Even St. Thomas.

And possibly the most important lesson, no matter where a business is located? As Shawn puts it, “In a small business, so much success comes from knowing who owns the place.”

Cover and page three photos by Mark Spowart.

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

Advertising Consultant Greg Minnema Layout Janine Taylor Production Metroland Media Group

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

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

Published monthly by Metroland Media Group Ltd., 15 St. Catharine Street, St. Thomas, ON N5P 2V7 519-633-1640 www.theweeklynews.ca/etm July, 2016

ELGIN THIS MONTH

3

INNES As I See It

If Jesus played golf ...

by Jim Innes A reader asked that I respond to this issue. And as I sat to write, it quickly became clear that there is no “if ” here … because Jesus does, indeed, play golf … and he loves it!

I remember this one time when Bubba Watson played a downhill lie from 305 yards out. He used his driver (on the fairway) to carve out a dogleg left. The ball rolled on to the green for the easy bird. Many believed Bubba incarnated the divine Son of God, as the name of our “Holy Jesus” was muttered excitedly numerous times.

I also remember Bill Haas’s water shot in the 2011 FedEx Cup playoffs? Cutting his club through the pond (like a bunker shot), he astonishingly lands the sopping wet ball on the green.

It spins unbelievably to a stop beside the hole. It becomes an easy putt and lands Bill a whopping $11 million for the win. If Jesus was not incarnated in Bill’s body, he was sure standing nearby helping him along.

But even more evident (for me) of divine attendance was Vijay Singh’s golf shot at Augusta National during the 2009 Masters week. He skipped the ball on top of a large water hazard for an amazing backspin hole-in-one. Only Jesus has those water skills. And I swear, the moment the ball dropped in the hole, I heard a calm voice remind me “all you need is a little faith”.

I believe that not only does Jesus love to play (and watch) golf, but also his game, like his ministry, is worth emulating. His biggest asset being his prayer life, one that not only quiets his mind, but keeps his head down.

Perhaps the greatfor 9 holes est of Jesus’s skills to with power cart emulate is his ability to calmly accept the game as it plays itself out.

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is a skill (best described as a mindset) that comes from playing his own game. And believing, on his life, that even a tree hazard will be overcome.

I’m not sure how much this has to do with the topic at hand, but apparently the heavenly home of Jesus is a golf haven. I got this from a professional golfer who, for a short time, had passed through heaven (a story for another day). While within those pearly gates he counted 8,187 golf courses. He offers no reason for this specific number. However, we can at least conjecture that heaven, without such extensive golf facilities, would just be hell.

This golf pro further shared how God really enjoys the game of golf (and likes to use the oldfashioned persimmon woods). Apparently, like the rest of us, God finds that playing a consistently good game is a great challenge. Which, in my mind, makes the case that an imperfect game is arguably a form of perfection.

As I see it, Jesus loves to play golf because it is analogous of life. The game not only pushes us to improve, but to accept our limitations.

Golf, like life, is messy. No escaping it. And golf, at its best is about staying the course … even days when we feel it is crucifying us.

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

Business & Community OUR COMMUNITY

“Rust belt” and “Bible belt”? I don’t think so

by Serge Lavoie

Several years ago, during the trial of Terri-Lynne McClintic for the brutal murder of eight year old Tori Stafford, a Toronto Star columnist covering the event made the following observation about the McClintic and the area where she grew up.

“She liked rap slanging and fancied herself something of a versifier, gangsta grrrl wannabe and pseudo-Crip — as if, from the boondocks of south-central Ontario, white-trash Oxy country, or at least that part of it that McClintic & Mom inhabited.”

While that may be a justified assessment of McClintic at that point in her life, the references to Woodstock and Oxford County as “boondocks” and “white-trash Oxy country” seemed over the top and gratuitous. And they pointed to a growing national negative perception of our region that had developed over the years as our manufacturing base declined, our jobless rate increased and our prosperity evaporated.

This part of Ontario has had an image problem in the national (largely urban) media. We’re the “rust belt”, the “Bible belt” and the last bastion of large and small “c” conservative thinking (apparently a crime of some sort).

I’ve written about this before but it all came to mind again in June through three unrelated events that received widespread national media attention.

As I write this, national media is reporting an incident of a young Muslim woman and her baby who were attacked in a London grocery store by a white woman who swore at her, punched her, spit on her and then pulled off her hijab.

On the same day, a Gay Pride flag flying in an Ingersoll park, commemorating the Orlando massacre, was taken down, vandalized and thrown in the garbage. Full national media coverage ensued, not only for this unfortunate act but also on the news that Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said he had received a “sickening” email from someone applauding the mass murder in Orlando.

Events like these happen all the time, all over the country, and it’s natural that they would receive national attention, especially when events such as the Orlando massacre are fresh in the mind. What troubles me is how some of the coverage seems gratuitous and seems to underscore broadly held negative perceptions about our people and places.

During June the national media also gave maMany of the jor coverage to the sexual indiscretions of London stereotypical mayor Matt Brown and deputy mayor Maureen impressions of our Cassidy. Fair enough; it was a news worthy event. region are wrong.

What didn’t seem fair however was the widespread reporting of previous controversies involving London mayors, not just Joe Fontana and his 2014 criminal conviction for fraud, but notably Dianne Haskett and her 1995 decision not to issue a Gay Pride proclamation and the subsequent ruling and $5,000 fine imposed by the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

This type of news coverage puts the entire region in a negative light. Even though our area is filled Detroit to succeed, even in the face of daily negawith positive events and innovative thinking, it tive events and corruption. seems that our “national perception balance sheet” People I talk to mention they are experiencing is being read more for its liabilities than for its as- the same kind of positive vibe about Elgin County sets. and St. Thomas. People like what they see and they It has become a cliché to say it, but perception is want it to continue. important -- in politics, in economic development, It would be tragic to have that feeling drowned in tourism and in immigration attraction. If nega- out by the outdated preconceptions and stereotive perceptions are being perpetuated by national types of our region still being served up by national media (both mainstream and social) what impact interests. is that having on our social and economic development?

Serge Lavoie has a 35 year career The key question is, what is anyone doing about managing associations. He is curit? rently president of On Track St. Just down the road in Detroit, the situation is reThomas. He lives in St. Thomas. vealing. Known for decades as a high crime, impoverished, corrupt municipality, the news out of Detroit these days is almost exclusively about re-birth, growth, innovation, community spirit and triumph over adversity.

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5

Healthy Living SELF DISCOVERY

“Gig” not just for bands anymore

by Anouschka Van den Bosch

Funny how one day you know nothing about a particular term and a few weeks later it just seems to be the word of the day.

A few weeks ago I attended a HR Summit full with great speakers and topics that just filled my knowledge library with all kinds of good stuff. One speaker talked about the “Gig Economy” and when she checked in with the room of participants I was glad I was not the only one who had not yet heard of this term. Looking for a definition, I found most people describing it as “short term jobs”. Some even referred to it as a hip term for any temporary job or stint, with the suggestion that employees are not particularly invested in the job and thus only there for a short time.

Some people, when asked what they do, will say, “I am a part-time human resource manager-cum event planner who writes on the side”. Isn’t that interesting!

The speaker at the HR Summit shared that these “giggers” (my word) have a variety of skills that they

can take with them from gig to gig and this creates a very rich and varied resume. Not only that, they are also able to work a very flexible schedule that could fit several gigs. Sounds like it would be a perfect world doesn’t it? It can be, if you are not depending on a set income, benefits and a pension plan. Or is all of that becoming a thing of the past as well? I think it will be several years if not decades before we would get to that point.

Having said that, as HR professionals, hiring managers and company owners, we need to be aware and notice this Gig Economy. It does provide us with an opportunity to hire short term individuals with a varied skill or niche skill set. The “giggers” are not looking for a full time job, thereby providing us with an opportunity to hire on a short term basis-for short term-projects.

When reading through some HR articles and the Gig Economy I noted that there are definitely some considerations for HR. One being performance. Those working for a short period of time would often not be

included in company training programs, company recognition awards or performance evaluations. If contingent employees are truly going to become part of our work force than we need to make sure they are included in critical company meetings and discussions, encourage them to share concerns and provide regular check-ins, look for informal performance conversations as needed and provide goals and ways to measure their goals. Second, is employee engagement. Something that most HR departments are still trying to figure out and improve upon. How do you do that with a short-term workforce? You focus on making sure your short term employee is given the same onboarding orientation as your full time permanent employees.

Include them in all company communications and show them they are just as valued as the regular full time team.

From what I read and heard over the last few weeks, the Gig Economy is not going away. It would be best if we pro-actively look at our hiring practices, performance evaluations and employee engagement. Just when you thought you had it all figured out.

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

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ELGIN THIS MONTH

6

Business & Community Tourism

Sparta Spirit Walks –

Discover the History, Mysteries & Hauntings

Revealing the secrets of Sparta’s past

by Katherine Thompson

Stephen Hotchkiss, owner of The New New Age, sThe Village of Sparta was established in 1813 by Quaker settlers and is steeped in over 200 years of rich and exciting history. During the 1800s, this thriving community was home to several churches, shops of all types, hotels, and dance halls catering to locals as well as Londoners stopping on route to Port Burwell and Port Bruce. A local militia stationed in Sparta and resident participation in the 1837 Rebellion contributed to the village’s exhilarating and sometimes dark history.

Today many of the village’s original buildings remain intact and are used as shops and homes. These buildings stand as silent observers waiting to reveal the secrets, hauntings, and images from a world long past.

The Sparta Spirit Walk has been a labour of love for Shelley McVittie and Kate Vanner of The Village Collective Gallery. The pair, with the assistance of many renowned psychics, mediums, historians, and villagers did extensive research into the history and spirit activity of the community to create an experience that is both authentic and accurate.

To tell this story, The Village Collective Gallery enlisted the help of local actor, expert storyteller, and history enthusiast Lesley Chapman, President of the Elgin Theatre Guild. Lesley acts as a guide, playing the role of the Lily-Rose Bryce, a fictional Sparta resident who was killed after stepping into the path of a horse and carriage.

Rumour has it that her heavy drinking was to blame for this unfortunate incident, but LilyRose denies this and has returned from the afterlife to set the story straight and to tell the secrets

of Sparta’s past.

This 90 minute tour will transport participants back to the time when tea rooms, boutiques, and art galleries were funeral parlours, dance halls, and butcher’s shops. The tour goes into shops and homes in the village’s downtown core making Sparta’s past come alive with tales of former residents that are so detailed participants will feel the subjects of these stories are old friends. The tour ends back at The Village Collective Gallery where participants are treated to a cold drink, additional stories of village life, and a small gift to take home. This gift includes a coupon booklet with discounts, special offers, and free draw entries.

The Village Collective Gallery has also partnered with the Sparta House Tea Room & Katherine Thompson is Marketing & Restaurant to offer Communications Coordinator with lunch and Spirit Walk The County of Elgin packages with special rates for groups of five or more. Those travelling from afar and wishing to stay overnight have the option to include a one-night stay at the Comfort Inn in St. Thomas as part of their package.

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

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP While groupthink has its limitations and can even be dangerous in some situations, in others, it’s essential. One example is this precision flying squad performing at the Great Lakes International Air Show at St. Thomas Municipal Airport in June.

(Photo courtesy of Photos by MG).

Escape from Groupthink ates environments where limited points of view are debated and presented as the only possibilities. We There has never been more information and so get weary with the noise and start to go with the few perspectives. mob.

Too often in our personal and professional lives In their book, Gabby: A Story of Courage and we focus on obvious polarities. You are either in Hope, Gabrielle Giffords and husband Mark Kelly or out, this or that. This win-lose approach cre- state, “None of us is as dumb as all of us. It means that when you get a group of people together to make a critical decision, groupthink can set in. There’s all this technical information, a critical decision needs to be made, and everyone starts marching in the same direction.

Supplies upplies ffor Students is an annual initiative run by There might be some volunteers eers of the Thames Valley Education Foundation. people who think it’s The he goal is tto ensure every child in need starts the the wrong decision, but school yyear with a new backpack filled with school they don’t say anything. supplies supplies. New Backpack and School Supply Drop They just remain a part off LLocation in St. Thomas is Family Video. of the group. We’ve learned that groups can If yyou know a child who could benefit from make stupid decisions receiving a filled backpack from Supplies for that no single individStudents, please contact the child’s school ual in the group would Principal. make.”

Thank you to everyone who supported Supplies This groupthink for or Students in our rrecord breaking 2015 year. doesn’t just happen in a crowd. It happens Becaus aus ause of your generosity we were able to collect inside each of us. If 4,002 backpacks tto help children have a better start to we do not create a safe the school chool yyear. inner space where all the voices, all the perspectives, are accepted and respected we will succumb to an inner groupthink that allows a small ‘s’ social self, based on limited inforThis ad mation, to dominate. sponsored by: The premise of our book, 12 Steps of Self45 Elgin Street, St. Thomas (519) 631-0850 Leadership, is that you

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July, 2016

ELGIN THIS MONTH

are in choice and when you choose to Self- lead you develop the inner awareness and skill to manage all aspects of your inner life, so that you can show up with new levels of consciousness and effectiveness in your outer life.

Ultimately you will have to decide. Will you continue on with your present set of insights and prejudices or will you open yourself to unlimited possibility?

Self-leadership is an invitation to explore and awaken from the family and cultural biases while recognizing and evaluating the importance, relevance, and reality of who you are and where you come from. Leading from your coordinating Self involves owning the best of all your background while acknowledging the wider world and a variety of cultures and perspectives.

When we get stuck in a particular point of view we’re like a racehorse with blinkers. We focus only on the track ahead. That may be useful at times when the terrain is flat, but when it comes to integrating your learning and exploring possibilities on uneven paths and unexplored territory, such a restricted view limits slows your progress and limits your potential.

During this summer, make a point of spending time in solitude. Look at your life and work with curiosity. Step back from the obvious and explore your life, work, and relationships from numerous perspectives.

By learning to look at life through multiple lenses you will gain new perspectives, and as you see life from new points of view, instead of plodding along, you will be able to make quantum leaps in awareness and effectiveness.

Cheryl Lester and Doug Lester—individually and together—making a difference through leadership coaching and development, writing, and speaking. Co-authors of 12 Steps of Self-Leadership. eagletreeleadership.ca.

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Exciting event Anticipation at the June Business After 5 sponsored by Elgin Chrysler as the prize draws get set to begin. A door prize draw of a trip to Vegas will do that to you! Draw winner page 15.

June’s Business After 5 Date:

Wednesday July 20, 2016

Time:

5:00 p.m.

Sponsor & location:

Elgin County Railway Museum, 225 Wellington Street, St. Thomas Site open at 5:00 p.m., Prizes & sponsor remarks at 6:15

Sponsor:

St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation

This event marks the 60th Anniversary of the St. Thomas EDC and the 135th Anniversary of the City of St. Thomas.

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

Business Beat Table of Contents Page 10...................No vanilla Page 11............ On-line world Page 12........... Multiple wills?

Page 13.......... New Oct. show Page 14.............Ont. auto ins.

Page 15................ Big winners Page 16............New Members July, 2016

The voice of St. Thomas & District is needed

The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Ontario Chamber Network is proud to be a part of a province-wide initiative, Small Business: Too Big To Ignore.

This project highlights the important contributions of small businesses to our economy and communities, and seeks to actively engage small businesses across the province in investigating the top barriers to small business growth – and identify solutions to overcome those challenges.

We need your help!

First, see this OCC report, Top 3 Obstacles to Small Business Success. You can view it and/or download it from the Chamber’s website. Visit www.stthomaschamber.on.ca, then click on the Business & Community News tab and a post titled “Small Business Too Big To Ignore”. Links to the report are there.

Are the 3 obstacles named in the report the right ones?

Did we miss any? If so, what?

Next, what solutions do you see for the issues?

Lastly, how would you propose that the business community could work together to ensure government responds to the challenges named.

We want to hear from you and welcome your comments via email to the Chamber at mail@stthomaschamber.ca.

Or, can we buy you lunch? Here’s an invitation.

On Thursday July 21 we will host a 90-minute focus group to discuss the local issues in-person. The first 15 people in businesses that employ less than 100 people who respond to this invitation can join us. We will respond to the first 15 with time and location details. If interest is strong we may schedule additional sessions so, please, connect with us if you’d like to be part of this project.

A strong and vibrant small business sector is important for all business. Small businesses are the wealth creators, job creators and risk takers. Small businesses have important relationships with big businesses as part of the economic ecosystem. Big businesses are often highly dependent on small businesses as suppliers, distributors, customers, innovators, and for developing a skilled and experienced workforce to draw from. Small businesses also make up the vast majority of our local membership, our volunteers, and are often the people actively involved in community service.

Help spread the message about the importance of small business and why it cannot be ignored.

The crowds loved it!

Excitement ruled as people lined up for pilot autographs during the 2016 Great Lakes International Air Show June 18 and 19 at St. Thomas Municipal Airport.

The Chamber salutes all the hard work that went into the show, not least of which was the tremendous volunteer effort and sponsorships by many, many of our Members. (Photo courtesy of Photos by MG.)

Running a Successful Small Business (ext. 222)

19th

E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 9

Viewpoint Give prospects something to crave:

Vanilla isn’t it

by Christina R. Green

You can satisfy most people by serving up plain vanilla – doesn’t matter if we’re talking dessert or using the term to describe something that’s ho-hum. Very few people will protest against vanilla. It doesn’t rile feathers, cause riots in the streets, or inflame protests. It simply is. But it also doesn’t excite or delight people. It doesn’t arouse an emotion. It doesn’t satiate a need. It fills a space, nothing more.

You will never build a beloved brand around being vanilla, by providing something everyone abides by, but no one fully enjoys from the depth of their being.

And yet, this is what countless businesses do.

They provide a vanilla experience or product in the hopes that reaching everyone is better than potentially cutting off people, and alienating them by presenting a powerful “flavour” or presence. What they don’t understand is that it’s those flavors that people crave. That’s what affects return customers and strengthens allegiances.

Not vanilla.

Here are a few suggestions on how you can reach more prospects and keep a greater number of clients/customers by sharing a little more about what

We’d love to take credit for the beautiful Summer

Weather...

but we think creating a strong local economic climate is much more important.

makes you and your business unique.

The most popular video on Facebook ever Remember Chewbacca mom? That corny video turned out to be the most popular video on Facebook Live EVER. In case you are the one person who didn’t watch it: a mom showcases her recent purchase – a Chewbacca mask that emits Chewbacca-like sounds every time she opens her mouth. That’s it. That’s the whole video. But what you can’t duplicate about that video is the sheer joy she expresses over her new purchase.

The video itself is just another example of an individual’s need to be in front of a camera and share something as ordinary as a store purchase, but millions of people responded to it. They were responding to her uncontainable emotion. Don’t be afraid to use genuine emotion in your posts.

The mascots have it It was World Turtle Day recently. A client of mine keeps a pet turtle in the office. He’s a good turtle, as turtles go, but he’s not really the kind of pet who does a lot of tricks or entertains, but boy, can he get people excited on social media.

For World Turtle Day, we photoshopped him onto a surfboard. This business usually gets under 10 likes on each post on Facebook and their reach is just under 100 for most posts. Earle the turtle earned 500+ clicks (and growing) in just two days. We’re now seriously considering featuring Earle in all sorts of interesting backgrounds.

There’s something about pets and mascots that people respond to.

Place them in a funny (but not dangerous) situation and you have posting gold.

Business Beat

• Networking opportunities to help you make new business contacts • Government advocacy to protect you from red tape and undue taxation • A pro-business agenda to help strengthen the local economy • Discounts and benefits to save you money • Learning and professional enrichment programs to help you grow your business

115-300 South Edgeware Rd., St.Thomas, ON

519-631-1981 mail@stthomaschamber.ca | www.stthomaschamber.on.ca July, 2016

How do these emotion-based posts equate to more customers?

If you’re like me you may be grumbling at the attention these sorts of fun, joyful posts receive while the attention your really good-quality, thought-provoking posts get is minimal. Let go of that. Your fun posts and thought-provoking ones have a symbiotic relationship. Look at it this way: Fun gets you views and engagement Views and engagement improve your ranking in your followers’ Facebook streams, meaning they’re more likely to see your content Without fun, no one will see the deeper pieces But I would also caution you not to take yourself too seriously. If you find after months of producing fun and cerebral pieces, you are still seeing traction only on your fun pieces, your audience is telling you something. Listen. Give them more of what they want.

Offering “vanilla” services is a way to reach everyone but connect with no one. People won’t crave what you’re offering. They won’t tell their friends about it and they won’t get excited about what they’re experiencing. If, on the other hand, you forgo vanilla and offer up pieces of yourself, your personality, your likes, and your interests, you will make a lasting impression on your audience and delight your customers and prospects.

Christina R. Green is a regular contributor to the Chamber and our publications. She teaches small businesses, chambers and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at Frankjkenny.com and the Event Manager Blog. She’s a bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.

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 Marketing Intern Lucas Tyson Office Assistant Kylie Lechner

St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce 2016 Board of Directors Chair: Dan Kelly, CPA, CGA Dowler-Karn Ltd. Vice-Chair: Robert Furneaux Gorman-Rupp of Canada Ltd. Treasurer: Mark Lassam, CPA, CA Lassam & Co. Past Chair: Ross Fair Fanshawe College Director: Ray Bosveld HollisWealth Director: Kathy Cook World Financial Group Director: Sean Dyke St. Thomas Economic Development Corp.

Director: Brian Helmer Reith & Associates Insurance & Financial Director: Kevin Jackson Elgin Business Resource Centre Director: Phil Mauer Phil Mauer & Associates Inc. Director: Ginette Minor Alexelle Slipcovers & Décor 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

It’s a new world at our on-line Chamber

by Lucas Tyson, marketing intern

Back in April, the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce launched a new website that opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

With the help of our new website, we are able to offer many online features that are extremely beneficial for our Members and the community.

The biggest community feature that we’ve released so far is the ability to register for events and, whenever required, purchase tickets online.

This feature was in effect for our MP & MPP Luncheon event on June 28, and is available for all future Chamber events.

Online registration removes the hassle of working within our business hours, since online registration can be done anywhere, at any minute of the day. It’s also quick to register, with no credit card info required for Members at the point of registration. All that’s required is a registered email for your membership, a few contact details to confirm identity, and then the business will be invoiced.

If the registrant has credit card info at the time, they may also have the ability to pay with a credit card at the time of registration. This will save time and paperwork throughout the process and give immediate results for the registrant. To top things off, the process takes no more than 2 minutes to complete and has worked flawlessly since enabled.

At the same time we were working on the previous feature, we started to test Member website logins. Special thanks go to the Chamber’s Board of Directors for volunteering support of their businesses and organizations as our test subjects.

Member website logins are private & secure accounts that allow owners, managers or designated personnel from any Member to edit and modify what information is displayed on their profile, while also being able to use a greater in-depth directory to find more specific contact information between Members. With the website login, users are also able to pay any outstanding invoices by credit card, which is a much quicker payment process than before and it is available 24/7.

The simplicity and the security of this feature has blown me away. Another key for any Member who might me apprehensive about giving out their credit card information should know that we keep zero credit card information on file, and the whole process is self-completed, meaning no other person gets or sees payment processing details.

Another related feature is that Chamber Members with website login accounts gain the option to view their webpage statistics to see how many people have used the Chamber’s on-line Business Directory to find them or get contact information.

The Chamber’s website is heavily used by people seeking products or services, seeking employment opportunities or looking to offer products and services. We recorded over 250,000 views on our site last year and our new technology is growing that number daily.

If you’ve been on the website recently, you may have noticed that it has come to life by featuring a handful of local businesses as sponsors and advertisers. As part of offering their time and comJuly, 2016

mitment for being a Chamber of Commerce Board Director, we offered them first dibs on ad-space to help with the launch phase our new website sponsorship program. Since then, we’ve received great feedback, and we have opened the opportunity up to any Chamber Member interested in advertising on our website.

In the coming months, this unique and valuable information resource will add value for our Members while supporting our new technology and communicating with a big audience.

The new website has allowed us to optimize and improve the layout and This article has been prepared by structure of many previously offered features on Lucas Tyson. Lucas is employed by our old website. One of the optimizations was the St. Thomas & District Chamber a conversion to be fully mobile-friendly so we of Commerce this summer as all look good on both computers and/or smart we work to build and grow our phones. Then there’s the ‘searchability’ of our onwebsite. He is a Fanshawe College line business directory. Searching for a business in student pursuing a degree in St. Thomas & District has never been easier thanks Lucas Tyson Digital Marketing. to the many search terms it offers. For example, you can now search by business name, address, business category, and any keywords associated with the business.

The new website greatly improved the speed, the style, and the simplicity when searching for businesses, and we are extremely happy with the responses we’ve received so far.

And, if you like seeing us here in Elgin This Month, you should WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 know we have added online PDF versions of $90.00 Includes Includes coach bus transportation, transportation, Live Live our Business Beat secMusic Show featuring “The Blazing Fiddles” tion. Readers can use our website to access 3 hour cruise with a 3 course lunch served to the past 6 months of your window table. our Business Beat pages.

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One more feature to note: we launched a new FAQ page which answers the most common questions we receive around the Chamber office.

Our new and improved website is working well. We’re thrilled to see it prove to be a valuable and useful resource for the St. Thomas & District 45 Metcalfe St, St. Thomas, ON I www.verveseniorliving.com community.

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11

Legal Business

Multiple wills in estate planning

by Monty Fordham

While it was not that long ago that I attended law school, (yes I really did) I do recall that a will, in order to be valid, must be the “last will and testament” of the testator. The most obvious reason for this requirement is that, almost always, when a person draws a will, he /she revokes any previous will, so that the new will stands alone and is not confused with any previously expressed intentions.

However, for many years, the use of multiple wills has been common when people own property in more than one jurisdiction. Examples include the condo in Florida, the villa in Nice or the yacht in the Caymans (sigh!). Or maybe just the trailer in

Tennessee, or the drive-in in Pennsylvania. It is important that such secondary wills cover only the property in the other jurisdiction, and adhere to the laws of the jurisdiction in which the property exists.

The Ontario government encouraged the use of multiple wills for purposes other than multi-jurisdictional issues back in 1992. How, you might ask?

By tripling the fees paid when wills were submitted to the courts for probate. Formerly these were called “probate fees” and were assessed at .5% of an estate’s total value. Now they became “estate administration tax”, anachronistically (and very appropriately) labeled “EAT”, at a rate of 1.5% on an estate value over $50,000. Clearly, in larger estates, the amount so devoured, could be significant.

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So, just so you realize that lawyers are not just a bunch of pretty faces, some of my colleagues noticed a strange inconsistency in the Estates Act. While section 32(1) required the disclosure of the “total value “ of an estate, for the purposes of probate fees, section 32(3) recognized the possibility of a grant of probate “limited to part only of the property of the deceased”. Aha! they said. What if a will was drawn which dealt with only the property which required probate (now called appointment of estate trustee with a will- don’t ask me why) in order to be transferred to the beneficiaries, and another will dealt with all the other property?

A gentleman by the name of Philip Granovsky settled the matter when he drew two wills, one, the “primary will” which dealt with estate assets amounting to approximately 3 million dollars, and a “secondary will” which dealt with assets totaling over 25 million dollars. Upon Mr. Granovsky’s death only the primary will was submitted for probate. For obvious reasons, the Ontario government objected, but allowed the will to be probated provided that the executors of the estate submit the issue to the court for determination.

In a seminal decision, in 1998, Madame Justice Greer of the Ontario Court, General Division, ruled that only the primary will need be submitted, and that testators are entitled to organize their affairs so as to minimize taxes, including EAT, otherwise payable on their death. The use of multiple wills saved the Granovsky estate approximately $375,000. The Ontario government initially indicated it would appeal the decision, but later abandoned the appeal. So, until the government changes the legislation, the decision stands.

The Granovsky decision has been approved of in later court challenges of the use of multiple wills; but a word of caution: such wills need to be very carefully prepared, as well as the subsequent application for probate. Particular care must be taken to ensure that one will does not revoke the other. As well, the assets dealt with in each will must be clearly identified. Certain assets, such as shares in privately held corporations, need not be the subject of probate, while many others do.

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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 519-6331371 or e-mail: montyfordham@4elgin.ca

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

Chamber News

Chamber launching Business & Community Showcase The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce will produce and deliver a new event this October during National Small Business Week.

Wednesday October 19 it’s our Business & Community Showcase. This is a multi-purpose event that offers Members display and exhibit opportunities in a four-hour show from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. As well, we will offer free 20-minute info sessions with topics and speakers attractive to all types of businesses and community organizations. Complimentary food and great door prizes add to it all.

Our site will be St. Anne’s Centre, with capacity for up to 65 exhibitors.

Our event is designed to showcase every commercial and service component in our market. If you are a retailer, a service provider, a trade, a manufacturer, a community service, or a not-for-profit/charity agency, this event is for you to showcase what you do or what you offer. Build awareness. Build business. Build connections.

Admission to the show will be free and on-site door prize draws will add to the attraction. 10% of all exhibitor fees will go to a door prize pool. We’re forecasting over $2,000 in prizes. As well, individual exhibitors will be welcome to host their own draws or giveaways.

Our primary audience target for the Business & Community Showcase is the Business-to-Business market but we’re sure the showcase will have value for people considering an investment here, new enterprises that are launching, or for any consumers and/or people who are just “StThomasProud”.

We’re also adding complimentary hors d’oeuvres and snacks for everyone attending. Fully licensed, too, with your choice of your favourite beverages.

Over the coming weeks we will welcome exhibitor and display bookings at the Chamber of Commerce office.

Key points: - Single 10 x 10 main floor display space $175 Double or triple spaces? Call the Chamber.

- Single upper level/perimeter 10 x 10 display space $150.

Double or triple spaces? Call the Chamber.

- Some spaces have height restrictions - Need electricity? It’s included, but connections are limited.

- Show hours are 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Set-up available from 11:00 a.m. show day. Tear-down 7:00 p.m.

- Giveaways or samples at your booth? Sure… whatever works for you but not mandatory.

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Our first focus in launching this new Small Business Week event is to book sponsors, exhibits and displays. We’re also interested in hearing from Members with suggestions and connections for our front-room info sessions.

HR, Ministry of Labour, Customer Service, Marketing, Business Growth, Motivation and Performance are all topics under consideration but we’re still in a position to welcome ideas for any of six ‘on-the-half-hour’ info sessions that will be hosted at 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30 & 6:00 p.m.

Further information and details on the Business & Community Showcase are available by contacting the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce. Info requests are welcome 24/7 via our website, via email to mail@ stthomaschamber.on.ca or to Member Services Representative Christy Hunking at 519-631-1981 Extension 526.

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

Pro Text

Auto reform: What’s that?

2. Understand what your current policy provides for and In Ontario, all motor vehicles owners must understand what purchase standard automobile insurance. The coverage you may Ontario government instituted changes effective have available unJune 1, 2016 to the basic policy. While these der any group benchanges are intended to make auto insurance more efits plan and/or affordable, the benefits and coverage you receive personally owned have changed; some were reduced, and options health care, disfor increased benefits were eliminated or changed. ability and/or long What is important to understand is that while term care coverage. your premium may be going down the benefit you This includes income replacement should receive, specifically, with respect to accident benyou be injured in an auto accident and unefits cover, has been reduced and where you can able to return to work. purchase certain enhanced coverages these new 3. Meet with your insurance advisor, give them enhancements are less than what was available to the details and specifics on what private or you prior to June 1. group coverage you may have so they can Given the complexity of auto insurance reform co-ordinate your benefits. Not all insurance this article will focus only on the broad general brokers/agents have the capacity to compare changes and the critical facts you need to know. auto insurance accident benefits with group Here is what you need to know: and/or personally owned benefit plans so 1. Read the “Important Change to your Polyou may have to shop around for an insuricy” information that will be sent by your ance broker/agent who has the technical insurer. By now you should have already expertise. received it.

What is Accident Benefit Coverage?

Accident Benefits provide for expenses injured parties incur as a result of their direct injuries. The cost of rehabilitation, and other related expenses and replacement of lost wages. Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care coverage saw the biggest reductions with the June 1 changes.

With respect to First Data’s trademark is medical, rehabilitaproviding fast, safe and tion and attendant care coverage what did cost-efficient transactions. my policy cover PRILet us analyze your latest OR to June 1, 2016? statement and we will meet • Non-catastrophic injury (sprains, or beat your current rates. whiplash, and broken bones) coverage was $50,000.

• Catastrophic inEarn a $1000 MasterCard gift card if First Data jury (loss of limb, para/quadriplecannot beat your current payment processing fees.* gia) coverage was Our offer is valid until December 31, 2016. $1,000,000.

• A second benefit called Attendant Care covers the cost of a For more information, contact your First Data Business Consultant at 1-888-265-4117. professional to look after you either at home or within a healthcare facility. Coverage

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was $36,000 for non-catastrophic injuries and $1,000,000 for catastrophic injuries.

After June 1, what does medical, rehabilitation and attendant care cover?

These benefits are now combined into one.

The (new) Medical, Rehabilitation and Attendant Care benefit is a single coverage for everything that falls within this category. Under the new system, all funds are available, allowing greater flexibility – whether you have a family member, friend or paid professional taking care of you, funds can be accessed. But total coverage will be reduced: noncatastrophic injury coverage will be $65,000, and catastrophic injury coverage will be $1,000,000.

Total. All medical, rehabilitation and professional care expenses included. You do, however, have the option to enhance this coverage and pay for enhanced benefits.

So how do you figure out if you’ll need more coverage?

For one thing, Accident Benefit coverage encompasses much more than you might think. Beyond rehabilitation expenses, it includes mobility devices like wheelchairs and crutches and transportation media like accessible vehicles. It also includes renovations in the instance your home requires modification to accommodate an injury.

Becoming informed on what’s included might get you thinking about how you’d finance these items if your insurance policy does not.

It is relatively inexpensive to increase the accident benefits coverage. There are other significant changes to the basic Ontario auto insurance policy that you need to know. To fully understand the impact on you and your family and to make an informed buying decision, speak to your insurance provider about possible coverage gaps and how they might be avoided. The changes are significant and do warrant your attention and concern.

This column appears regularly in Business Beat and has been submitted by Dan Reith BA(Hons) CAIB, Principal Broker at Reith & Associates Insurance and Financial Services Limited, 462 Talbot Street, St. Thomas.

Dan Reith Questions and comments on this column are welcomed by the writer at 519-6313862 or via e-mail: info@reithandassociates.com

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

Chamber News

Update: Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) The ORPP bird won’t fly.

On the evening of Monday June 20, Canada’s finance ministers’ announced their decision to enhance the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), which will result in the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan no longer proceeding.

Over the past two years, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and Ontario’s Chamber Network led the business community in addressing concerns over the financial implications of the

ORPP. This week’s announcement to move away from the ORPP in favour of national pension reform is a welcomed culmination of our efforts.

The initial announcement of the ORPP raised great concerns over increased regulatory fragmentation, administrative burden and economic consequences for businesses. The OCC stepped to the forefront of the discussion and led a coalition to mitigate the overall financial impact of the plan.

Indeed, together we encouraged the Government of Ontario to take a number of steps to reduce the regulatory burden and, accordingly, the economic impact of the proposed plan.

Our advocacy efforts generated important results: The government added a clause to the legislation to conduct and publicly release a cost benefit analysis by the end of 2015, focusing the spotlight on the economic consequences of the ORPP;

BA5 Silver People attending June’s Business After 5 at Elgin Chrysler had a surprise at 5:45 when a treasure hunt was announced. In conjunction with Elgin Chrysler’s 10th Anniversary, the search was on through vehicles on the lot for an envelope placed inside a Jeep. The lucky hunter was Central Elgin Mayor David Marr who redeemed the envelope for a 10-ounce bar of silver!

Pictured here, Chamber CEO Bob Hammersley happily looks on as Mayor Marr tells the crowd of his find plus plans to donate it to a fundraiser that will support the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital.

The comparability definition was broadened to include defined contribution plans that met certain criteria, allowing more businesses to be exempt; In February 2016, the government delayed the first phase of ORPP contributions from January 1, 2017 until 2018, allowing businesses more time to adjust to the economic impact.

All the while, the OCC was working toward our stated, preferred option to support retirement security which was a national CPP enhancement instead of a stand-alone ORPP. The latest announcement avoids increased regulatory fragmentation and thus administrative burden – mitigating significant consequences for Ontario’s business community. It is clear that our collective efforts have made a difference.

We believe that our collective, strong advocacy on this file was a key motivating factor to encourage the province to seek a compromise.

National pension reform will undoubtedly include elements that impact the business community and we will continue to work with you to ensure that negative impacts are mitigated to the full extent possible.

Through our collective work on this file, we have demonstrated how Ontario’s business community can together be a powerful voice to move key public policy files forward.

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

New Members

New Members

A big Chamber salute: St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce extends congratulations as big as the wide-open skies to the organizing committee and the volunteers on the production and delivery of the 2016 Great Lakes International Air Show at the St. Thomas Municipal Airport June 18 and 19. You make us all truly #stthomasproud. (Photo courtesy of Photos by MG. Thanks Mark G!)

Harris Flower Farm 42488 Ron McNeil Line St. Thomas, ON N5P 4T1 Phone: 519-668-9537 Email: janisandmarkharris@hotmail.com Web: www.harrisflowerfarm.ca Contact: Janis and Mark Harris Buyers Guide Categories: Agriculture – Growers & Producers, Flowers – Growers, Flowers – Retail, Wedding Planning & Services Products & Services: The Harris family have operated Harris Flower Farm just north of St. Thomas since 2011. Although the business was originally Mark and Janis, they’ve turned it into a true family business! Joining them are Janis’ parents Cathy and Gary, her sister and sister-in-law Lisa and Melissa, and don’t forget the three smallest flower-growers, their children, Cameron, Nathan and Megan.

Offering a variety of bulbs, annuals, perennials

and flower branches, their seasonal flowers and custom creations may be found in a variety of farmer’s markets, weddings and events throughout the London and St. Thomas areas. A weekly flower subscription is also available from May to Thanksgiving.

Nick Enns Consulting, Property Tax Consultant 300 South Edgeware Road, Unit #200 St. Thomas, ON N5P 4L1 Phone: 519-670-0773 Email: nickennsconsulting@gmail.com Contact: Nick Enns Buyers Guide Categories: Business Advisory Services, Business Information Services, Paralegal Services, Real Estate Appraisals, Tax Services Products & Services: Nick Enns Consulting works with property owners on a variety of property, valuation and property tax matters including assessment appeals. Nick is a specialist in all types of property from residential to commercial, industrial and agricultural. He is a licensed Paralegal with several years of experience in work with courts and related agencies.

The Crafty Engraver 280 Edward Street, Unit #11 St. Thomas, ON N5P 4C2 Phone: 519-520-6553 Email: deb@thecraftyengraver.com Web: www.thecraftyengraver.com Contact: Deb Starchuk Buyers Guide Categories: Engravers, Promotional Products Products & Services: The Crafty Engraver is a new St. Thomas business that began operation last fall. The possibilities for custom engraving, both business and personal, are endless when working with The Crafty Engraver. Their CO2 laser engraving and cutting technology is available on a multitude of materials including stainless steel, granite, tile, wood, leather, glass, acrylic and many more. Provide them with your own designs or have them design it for you, quotes are always free and The Crafty Engraver will bring your ideas to life! See their website for photos and samples of their work.

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The St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce proudly welcomes the following businesses, organizations and individuals as our newest Members. Those listed below were accepted as registered Members to June 15, 2016. 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.

Rob Blaxall: President

• • • • • •

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

AGRICULTURE ON THE FARM

Life lessons from a 4-H pig

by Janine Lunn

Our middle boy decided he would kick off his 4-H career with an animal club. He could have chosen chicken, beef cow or sheep – farm animals that we actually raise here – but instead he settled on the swine club. We are told they learned a lot about nutrition for pigs, had some practice judging various items, and also had really good snacks.

While showing dairy animals seems to be a lot about presentation and ‘practice makes perfect’, it seems that on the swine side, the approach is equal parts 4-H motto “Learn to do by doing”) and our own personal favourite (“Fake it till you make it”). After sourcing Mr. Porkchop and his back-up, ‘Mr. Bacon’ from his pig-farming uncle, our boy was charged with raising the pigs here and sorting out how to train them for the ring with little to go on.

We’ve gleaned a few pointers from this experience: Spend time together. Having little experience in this type of showing, our initial advice was to just, “Go sit with your pigs”. It was a chance for the showman to get to know his animals, have them sniff him out, get to know him, and occasionally chew on his rubber boots. A bit of familiarity can go a long way.

The fastest way to a pig’s heart is the stomach.

A perfect way to have a pig follow your every wish is to feed it! Training sessions with pigs don’t tend to last very long, but a snack at the end kept the motivation up. Loading the chosen pig into the truck, and into a new pen was made much smoother with the lure of fresh feed!

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Unlike cattle which are haltered in the show ring, pigs are simply

guided. There’s no true way to control a pig in the ring since they are nudged in the right direction with the round end of a cane, but they pick their own route. Rather than focusing on the mistakes, the best bet is to roll with it.

Always have a ‘Plan B’. An interesting feature of the pig showing world is that the show person selects and trains two animals. This allows for a last-minute switch, so if Mr. Porkchop were under the weather come show day, Mr. Bacon could fill in. We found this a very reassuring concept, having experienced the stress and heartache of training dairy calves that could not be shown.

Watch the judge. A common thread between showing all species, ‘watch the judge’, doesn’t change one bit in the swine world. It’s a little bit like keeping one’s eye on the prize. If the show person is too busy fussing over the animal, valuable cues and directions are missed, and points are lost.

Always keep your pig between yourself and the judge. The judge wants to see more of the animal than the person showing it. This sounds fairly straightforward, but once you realize how

Karen Vecchio,

much a pig show resembles a busy intersection teeming with single-minded tourists, you’ll realize it’s a lot harder than it sounds! I have it on good authority that letting the pig get behind the show person and scramble between their knees does not turn out well for the show person, nor the final ranking!

Walk with confidence. Truly, this advice applies for nearly any situation. What was refreshing about watching pigs being shown is the animal can spontaneously decide to scamper across the ring, or calmly walk along the edge, and all the show person needs to do is calmly and confidently keep pace with the animal, and all will be fine.

Just keep smiling. Preparation is only a one part of the outcome in this ring; so it’s best not to overthink any plans for perfection, embrace the chaos and confusion, and smile.

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

M.P.

ELGIN-MIDDLESEX-LONDON

• Revenue Canada • Seniors’ Issues • • Citizenship & Immigration • • Employment Insurance • Passport Inquiries • 203-750 Talbot Street, St. Thomas, ON N5P 1E2

519-637-2255 www.karenvecchiomp.ca July, 2016

ELGIN THIS MONTH

17

Aylmer & Area Chamber of Commerce Chat & Chew

Thirty members of the Aylmer & Area Chamber of Commerce attended the June Chat & Chew luncheon at the Family Central. There were many new faces that joined for the first time as we celebrated the arrival of summer! Our next Chat & Chew will be in September and hope to have you join us!

Explore Elgin!

•Home •Auto •Commercial •Financial Services

AYlMer 75 Talbot St. E.

StrAFFordville 9254 Plank Road St. tHoMAS 581 Talbot St.

Port StANleY 289 Bridge St.

tillSoNBUrG 128 Broadway

Summer is here and it’s time to get out those flip flops, sunscreen and hats, because you do not want to miss out on the endless opportunities Elgin County has to entertain your family for the summer. You can start your adventures at the Clovermead Adventure Farm and cool off at one of Elgin County’s gorgeous beaches or local splash pad. Visiting one of the historic sites in the county and learning about the story of Jumbo or touring some of the historic homes and museums would be an excellent learning opportunity for your family. Try visiting one of the local libraries for their summer reading program. For the more active families, hiking and biking trails as well as campgrounds are dispersed throughout the area. For more information or activities visit the Aylmer Area Tourism Office at 24 John Street North, Aylmer.

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ELGIN THIS MONTH

Elgin Tire and Auto Center Ltd. 10 Sparling Road, St. Thomas 637-2382 at e: r

Mon-Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm, Now n Ti gi Sat. 8:00am - Noon El

18

Aylmer & Area Chamber of Commerce

Beautiful Aylmer

The 170th

Our summer student, Mikaela, the Tourism Office Assistant has been busy in the Town of Aylmer this month meeting people and offering suggestions on local activities. Here are some highlights of her travels!

AYlmer

FAir

4th August 11the to 1 at th

nds

ou Aylmer Fairgr

HA Kebbel Funeral Home Limited Serving Aylmer since 1961

• Sponsorship Opportunities With Signage

119 Talbot Street East Aylmer kebbel@eastlink.ca

• Advertising opportunities available on our website

(519) 773-8400

www.kebbelfuneralhome.com July, 2016

A Great Opportunity to Showcase Your Business

• Company Booths also available For more information call (519) 773-3445 Or email:aylmerfairboard@amtelecom.net www.aylmerfair.ca

ELGIN THIS MONTH

19

Financing A Small Business

Can you start a successful business today with little or no money?

by Amy Hiscox and Carol Groves

If you’ve been to Pinafore Park the last two suWould it surprise you to know that there are many entrepreneurs and business owners that are saying YES you can. Let’s find out how.

First we will look at Bootstrapping. An individual is said to be bootstrapping when he or she attempts to found and build a company from personal finances or from the operating revenues of the new company.

A 2014 study by The Kauffman Foundation revealed that almost every company in the Inc. 500 used bootstrapping to get where they are now.

Bootstrapping a business is a lesson in hard work and flexibility, an investment in yourself that will pay off for your company in the long run. The most successful bootstrapped companies have a business model that generates cash as quickly as possible.

As Derek Weber writes for the Young Entrepreneurs Council: “Bootstrapped companies are more effective at making constant course corrections, carefully honing the business model to be sharper and sharper, and ultimately constructing a strong foundation for consistent, sustainable growth”.

The second opportunity, the Lean Start-up, was proposed in 2008 by Eric Rise for the tech industry: A core component of the methodology is the build-measure-learn feedback loop. A practice for developing products and businesses based on ‘validated learning’, getting customer feedback quickly and often, and being ready to change course when necessary.

The first step is figuring out the problem that needs to be solved and then developing a minimum viable product (MVP) to begin the process of learning as quickly as possible. The fundamental activity of a start-up is to turn ideas into products, measure how customers respond, and then learn whether to pivot or persevere.

The Lean Start-up methodology asks the questions “Should this product be built?” and “Can we build a sustainable business around this set of products and services?” If yes, the answer is the first product and starts the campaign. By the time that product is ready to be widely distributed, it will already have established customers. It will have solved real problems and offer detailed specifications for what needs to be built. According to Eric Ries, “Lean Start-up isn’t about being cheap [but is about] being less wasteful and still doing things that are big.”

The Lean Start-up Model isn’t right for every type of business. Although more focused on the tech industry, Lean planning works by combining useful parts of the model with elements of traditional business plans. Lean plans are fluid and designed to be constantly adapted to the demands of the marketplace. The process revolves around financial indicators and typically follows a threestep approach: 1. Forecasting: 2. Monthly Reviews: 3. Quarterly Adjustments.

“Start-up success can be engineered by followJuly, 2016

ing the process, which means it can be learned, which means it can be taught,” Eric Ries says.

The combination of ‘bootstrapping’ and the ‘Lean Startup’ methodology have provided many companies viable options in starting a business. Several of these have become very successful; examples such as Dropbox, Mailchimp, Lynda. com, FreshBooks, Inuit, Envato Marketplaces, and Braintree, have learned how to small business centres can provide invaluable guidance to the start-up entrepreneur for free. bootstrap their way to success.

So now what? Can you do it? If you are ready Start your road to success today by calling the Elto take this path, here are 5 tips that can increase gin/St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) at 519.631.1680 x4503. your chances of success: 1. The Lean Start-up movement encourages lots of networking and sharing of knowledge.

2. The Lean message is “Get out of the building”. Don’t let your vision become delusionWhen you’re an accounting and business service firm who ary, talk to customers prefers to see clients “getting ahead” rather than just “getting and understand it from by”, really getting to know the people you serve is the most their point of view.

3.

Do-it-yourself. important thing you do. And while we know the numbers Bootstrappers don’t count, at Graham Scott Enns, we also know the life those outsource jobs they can numbers belong to is what matters most. do themselves and they believe nothing is impossible to learn.

Get to know us better by 4. Both state: Always visiting our new website at watch your cash. Cregrahamscottenns.com ate a real forecast and budget, build a projected cash flow, and lay Then consider letting out the milestones you us get to know your need to achieve in orbusiness — by der to implement your getting to know strategy.

5. Have patience and you. perseverance when it comes to ultimately reaching your vision.

Successful business owners plan their success by being flexible and adaptable, focusing 450 Sunset Dr., 25 John Street S., on client needs, tracking and monitoring the ST.THOMAS AYLMER money.

519-633-0700 519-773-9265 Need help? Ontario

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E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 20

Financing A Small Business

Small business succession planning – while the owner is still alive

by Ellen Luft

In many cases, the owner of a small business wants to pass the business on to succeeding generations, typically children. This can be done through a will when the person dies but the person may want to do this while they are still alive. There can be compelling tax reasons to do this. An ‘estate freeze’ is a mechanism where ownership passes to the next generation while the owner is still alive. Here are the different types of estate freezes: Paying tax now Under tax law, if an asset such as a company is transferred to another party, either to family member(s) or another arm’s length party, it is considered to be a sale at the fair market value.

This can result in substantial capital gains tax in the year of the transfer if the company has increased in value. However, if you transfer now, any subsequent growth is attributed to the new owners.

Use of trusts One way to do an estate freeze is to have the shares of a company transferred into a trust with family members as the beneficiaries. You may be able to establish yourself as the trustee and retain control but if the beneficiary of the trust is not your spouse, you will have to pay capital gains tax since the transfer will be as if you sold the shares. Again, tax on any subsequent growth in the shares is the responsibility of the trust and/or the beneficiary.

Section 85 rollover In the previous two examples, there may be immediate tax implications by transferring a company to your family now. A further issue that can arise is that the owner will lose control of the company. The Income Tax Act provides a mechanism that allows an effective change of ownership while still enabling the original owner to maintain control of the corporation. This is the Section 85 rollover.

The Section 85 rollover can be a very practical and tax efficient strategy. However, it can also

be rather complex in the details and is another area where professional advice is highly recommended.

Situation: Lori Strong wants to pass her wholly owned company, Lori Inc. to her two children, Sarah 34, and Chris 32. Her shares of the company have a cost of $1 million. A qualified business valua- when considering when and how to pass on a tor has determined the current fair market value business to new owners. Your financial planner to be $5 million so the shares have increased in and accountant are important resources in helping to formulate the best plan for your circumvalue by $4 million. stances.

Setting up a holding company A holding company, Holdco Inc, is set up. Sarah and Chris are equal shareholders and they each This article was prepared solely by Ellen buy 100 common shares for $1 per share.

Luft who is a registered representative Using Section 85, the shares of Lori Inc, are of HollisWealth® (a division of Scotia transferred into Holdco. In return Lori receives Capital Inc., a member of the Canadian preferred shares of Holdco worth $5 million, the Investor Protection Fund and the Investfair market value of the Lori Inc. shares. These ment Industry Regulatory Organization preferred shares have voting control over Holdco of Canada). The views and opinions, including any and are retractable at Lori’s discretion, which recommendations, expressed in this article are those means she can redeem them for $5 million. Lori of Ellen Luft alone and not those of HollisWealth. ® can choose a transfer value for the shares of $1 Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used million – her cost. Lori will not have to pay any under licence. HollisWealth is a trade name of Holtax on the preferred shares until she eventually lisWealth Insurance Agency Ltd. Insurance products sells them. provided through HollisWealth Insurance Agency Ltd. Since the preferred shares have a set value of $5 million any subsequent increase in the value of the Lori Inc. shares will accrue to the two common shareholders of Holdco Inc., Sarah and Chris.

By doing this, Lori has managed to keep control of the company, deferred any immediate gain, and has passed on any subBusiness Plans • Management Consulting sequent growth to her Small Business Services • Bookkeeping Services children.

Financial Reports • Payroll • Budgets An estate freeze is a very effective option Business Succession Planning

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Mark Lassam, CP CPA, CA 115 Curtis Street, St. Thomas

519-631-1631 mark@lassam.ca

E L G I N T H I S M O N T H 21

Financing A Small Business

Service industry people have bills too

by Lisa Jibson

There is one challenge that all service industry businesses, large or small share: the act of collecting payments from customers. Small business debt collection can often cripple an entrepreneur and their business.

Payments made easy In today’s age of on-line payments, businesses make it so convenient for people to pay there really shouldn’t be a delay in receiving monies owed. There are interac payments, which take the money straight from your account with an email, PayPal, pre-authorized credit card payments, the Square (portable point of sale attached to your cell phone), as well as good old cash or cheques.

So it makes you wonder why people who retain service industry professionals simply don’t pay their bills. Would you go into Walmart and buy groceries and smile and wave and say “just bill me” and walk out the door? Or would you go and get a haircut and not pay for three months?

We have bills too Why do customers think it’s okay to not pay their bill when they have received a service from a small service-based business? Small business owners in the service industry have bills too. We have bookkeepers to pay, insurance payments

to make and advertisements to pay for in order talk to the owner of the business and set up arto get new business. We rely on our monthly rangements and stick to them. Most of us have receivables in order to make ends meet. Most been in your shoes at one time or another and small businesses operate on a very tight bud- are willing to be flexible. But being flexible get and don’t have large lines of credit to carry and being taken advantage of are two different them over for several things. months without cash More than just the flow from their receivsmall businesses operate on a money ables.

Unfortunately, human psychology Debt collection comes into play, and The number of hours reminding people of a small business owner spends on the phone trying to collect outstand- their debts distresses them. The flipside of that ing debts takes away from time spent working is the clients who see you at the grocery store, or for new clients. Let alone the hostility you ex- networking events and pretend that they don’t perience when you try owe you any money or address it by saying “I’ve and collect the monies been so busy – I’ll send you some money next week” – but you know they won’t. owed.

Fool me once, shame on you – Fool me twice As a customer, when you reached out to … won’t happen! I guarantee that the next time that individual to de- you need a service, my small service industry sign your new resume, business owners and I will be asking for payplace an ad in a news- ment in advance. paper, or do your taxes, you knew the fee or rate they would charge After spending 11 years on Then you should meet our team for your personal when you agreed to Parliament Hill, and four years as the the service. You should and business needs.

Director of Administration at Western be ready to pay the bill University’s Law School, Lisa Jibson when you receive it. now owns Ross Street Agency, a Get expert help on: If you need more virtual executive assistance business time, or need to make in St. Thomas.

• saving time and money arrangements, then

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• operating your business more effectively • managing your personal and business banking seamlessly Contact: Jeff Haldenby (Aylmer) Commercial Account Manager 519-765-1824 jeff.haldenby@bmo.com

very tight budget”

MARK A WALES CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

– Your Trusted Business and Tax Advisor – • Small Business, Corporate and Personal Tax Services • Bookkeeping, Sales Tax, WSIB and Payroll • Estate and Tax Planning www.markawales.ca 190 Centre St, St. Thomas

519-637-0700 July, 2016

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

Financing A Small Business

Get proper financing, but don’t over-finance

by Mark McIntosh

One of the biggest (if not the biggest) hurdle in starting a business is money! How to make it happen financially? This is one area that needs careful planning and consideration.

Once you have decided you want to start your business, you go through all kinds of planning to make it happen. However, what many new entrepreneurs fail to plan is how to make it all happen financially. In my article last month, I talked about having the right people in place to support you. Two of them were a small business banking professional and an accountant. These are the two most strategic to your plan … financially speaking, to make sure you do not fail due to improper financial planning to support the venture. You need to know the following: 1) All start-up costs (lawyers, professional services, rent, materials, etc.) just to name a few 2) Costs of investment or initial production.

This is the amount you will need to keep your business afloat while you produce your goods or market your services and generate your preliminary cash flow from sales. This is a slow process, and too many new entrepreneurs miscalculate this period and find themselves struggling for cash.

3) ROI – What is your return on investment and over what time period?

These are just a few items, but this is where you need to rely on your accountant and banker to

help. Without a doubt I am not a financial professional. However, what I have learned from experience is planning is everything. This can help you realize the roadblocks before you hit them and have to reroute your map (so-to-speak).

One avenue many new entrepreneurs tend to seek is private start-up financing or an investor. This can come in many forms. However, be aware that the Canadian Government does have small business venture funding that comes in many forms. I urge those looking to start a business to look into these sources before committing to a mainstream lender or giving away part of your business to an investor. There are government grants for certain types of business, low interest loans, employee funding programs, and the list continues.

Try to avoid the pitfall of over-financing as well.

This tends to happen when someone wants to build fast. You could end up “giving away” a good business to a lender or investor. I have heard this many times from seasoned business people … build slow; growing too fast is a business killer.

Don’t become a victim of your own success. One

thing I have worked very hard at in my own small business since start-up is to build slow based on the income generated. Basically … re-invest the money I earn. This is slower, however, I own 100% of my business and do not owe any lender or investor. As my business grows so does my ability to reinvest and start keeping some as income.

It’s well worth the time.

Mark McIntosh owns markIT Technology Solutions Group in St. Thomas.

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

Financing A Small Business

The 5 C’s of Credit What every lender is interested in when lending money

by Glenn Thorel

One good business practice is to put yourself in the shoes of the person you are dealing with, whether that is a customer, a supplier of an employee. This same approach is also true when approaching a lender for a business loan. The lender is about to hand over a sum of money to a virtual stranger, and this action will not come without the lender conducting some scrutiny and asking some hard questions.

Every lender is interested in minimizing risk and fraud and they are most interested in ensuring they get their money back. The initial review by the lender will focus on some fundamentals that are quite standard across the industry and often referred to as the 5 C’s of credit.

The first factor that the lender is interested in is your Credit worthiness. The lender will review your credit score to determine your history of borrowing and credit management. The amount of debt, payment history, timeliness of payments, balances and number of credit facilities will all weigh on the lenders decision. The lender’s decision is heavily influenced by prior credit history so it is a very good idea to know and understand your credit history and to ensure that the credit report is an accurate reflection of your information.

The second criteria is your Capacity, what in- cannot assume that any lender will accept the come is available to repay the loan as it becomes downside risk if you have not invested adequately due. Is the business generating income in excess of in the business. expenses, are there othThe final criteria is Capabilities. The lender er sources of inwill want to come. Is the net know that you income stable are qualified Every lender is and predictable to operate the interested in – often a probbusiness both lem for many on a technical small businesses. skill level but Lenders will also an underconsider savings standing of Small Business and investments the skills and Specialists as a fallback to and most interested in responsibilities cover short term as a business Kee, Perry & DeVrieze offers a income fluctuaowner. One of full range of public accounting tions. the key docuEven if there ments that asservices for your Small Business. is adequate casist the lender pacity lenders in this criteria • Audits & Reviews • Tax Planning & Preparation understand that is the busi• Consulting & Business Evaluations market condiness plan. The • Buying / Selling a Business tions are continbusiness plan • Bookkeeping (monthly/quarterly/annually) ually changing will outline We can help you set up the Accounting system for and so the next criteria the qualifications of the business owner, list their seeks to address the risk professional advisors and more importantly deyour Small Business if you can’t make the scribe the marketing, operational and financial At Kee, Perry & DeVrieze, we are committed to providing the professional loan payments – Col- activities planned. customer service our clients need to succeed. Please make a call to our lateral. This is the seUnderstanding the 5 C’s of credit will help you office, the first step on your road to success. curity the lender will prepare to meet with potential lenders and unliquidate to recover the derstand the process from the other side of the loan if the business fails table. to make payments.

What resources have Glenn Thorel is a business you committed to the counsellor with Elgin Business 15 Barrie Boulevard business is the next Resource Centre.

St. Thomas, ON fundamental lenders review – what is your 519-631-6360 • www.kpdcpa.ca invested Capital. You

It’s not what you earn...

It’s what you keep.

“

minimizing risk and fraud ensuring they get their money back”

July, 2016

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

Business & Community Financial Planning

Five tips to help aging parents manage $$

by Ellen Luft

As time goes by many of us will find ourselves managing wealth for our parents. Signs such as unopened mail, confusion regarding when and even how bills are to be paid and a general deterioration of interest in financial affairs should be watched for.

This situation is one that must be approached with care. Following are 5 steps you can take to help your parents manage their finances as they age.

Consolidate accounts If there are multiple bank and investment accounts, try to reduce the number of accounts and the number of institutions. Consolidation can reduce confusion, possibly save fees and make estate planning much easier and cost efficient.

Review statements If your parents are comfortable with sharing their financial details with you, you can confirm that bills are being paid, no large transactions are occurring to suggest financial abuse or fraud schemes, and that accounts and fees meet with their general financial needs.

Help set up a financial data organizer Summarize accounts and advisors. Include details regarding life insurance policies, safety deposit boxes or where important legal documents are being kept. Include account passwords and identification.

This document can become very important to a senior showing early signs of dementia.

Hire a financial planner Strategically a financial planner may be able to

identify investment, tax or estate strategies to help manage your parent’s wealth. Particularly if many accounts are being consolidated, there can be inconsistency and overlap that should be addressed. It could be comforting for your parents to know that they will likely outlive their money, or conversely, for you to know that your parents many need your financial support.

Review their estate plan It is imperative to ensure that wills, powers of attorney, personal directives and other documents are up to date before it is too late. Consider walking through what will happen with assets on death, either directly with parents or during a review session with your financial planner. Seniors need to understand and have confidence in the decisions that have been made regarding their estate.

It is important to note that just because someone has lost some interest in their affairs, or is losing some of their mental capacity, it does not mean they cannot make or contribute to financial decisions. Be sure to balance the risk of no oversight or support with

the risk of overstepping boundaries that are hard to establish when children need to become involved in their parent’s finances. Often a referral to a trusted financial advisor can ease the transition and establish other necessary referrals to accountants, lawyers, trust companies and other areas of expertise.

Such discussions and actions must be done with care and compassion, giving up responsibility is a difficult thing to do as an aging senior.

This article was prepared solely by Ellen Luft who is a registered representative of HollisWealth® For a complete disclaimer about this article and HollisWealth® see page 21 of this edition of Elgin This Month.

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

Homestyle Decorating

Cottage-style trending In my opinion, it is that collected-over-time look that comes with shopping around to find the Why is it so easy for some to acquire that warm perfect piece that ‘works’ but may not exactly be and inviting look of cottage style with sweet or so- perfect in its style or balance. But one word only phisticated rooms while others just tend to look describes all types of cottage-style decorating – like a normal room or ‘back home’? Whether you COMFORT! actually have a cottage or want to turn your home One of the hallmarks of cottage-style living is into a ‘cottage’ feel, here are some tips to help you easy-living sleep covers. They allow you to cover obtain that look and feel for your space. different styles of furniture in covers that bring your look together.

Plus, they can be removed and washed, or replaced as needed.

Vintage pieces, either repurposed or used as is, are right at home in a cottage style environment. For example, a set of old cabinets when placed beside or between new vanities add ‘style’ and function to a bathroom.

Garden touches, whether a floral pillow or garden-inspired wallpaper, along with fresh cut flowers bring The Elgin County Railway Museum Visit the Tourist Information Centre to the outside in. Nature’s Come for a tour and see some learn all there is to do in St. Thomas beauty is a common amazing trains. & area this summer. theme in cottage homes.

Certain textures also add cottage character.

Bead board, paneling, woven fabrics, and worn finishes all add to a cottage décor.

Cottage style is easy to achieve. Simply layer your rooms with found Jumbo the Elephant Visit our Parks and Trails furniture and incorpo519-631-1680 ext 4132 rate touches and motifs from nature. This casual 605 Talbot Str., St Thomas Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 6pm approach to decorating allows you to pull toVisit our website at www.railwaycitytourism.com to explore our unique gether rooms with that railway heritage, extensive events schedule, and local food and arts culture.

by Renée Carpenter

There is so much to see and do in

St. Thomas!!

July, 2016

cottage character, comfort and charm.

Cottage style bedrooms are usually strong in wrought iron beds, old caned headboards painted in a white and cream, or old repurposed headboards painted in various colours. Crisp white sheets, topped with a mix of toile or damask pillows along with plenty of quilts.

Natural linen is that ‘natural’ cottage fabric, especially when going for a relaxed rustic look. Natural wood accents also tie in well with this fabric style. This can include headboards, benches, flooring. Wood warms up a cottage, while allowing the option for either vibrant punchy colours or more soothing sand and sea colour options.

I love ticking stripes in a laid back cottage feel.

This can be used in many ways, whether as a slipcover on a sofa, dining chairs, bedroom drapes, or even a slip-covered padded headboard. When mixed with a floral quilt, the touch provides the perfect subtle pattern match.

There is nowhere better in the world to layer patterns than in a cottage. Layer away because in this environment, anything can go! Bring in your punchy floral prints and easily blend them with modern geometric patterns in a variety of bold colours. Striped floors, painted with latex porch and floor paint give a fun, tough-as-nails finish.

Mix your woods and mix your styles. Have mismatched sets of tables in the same room. Be asymmetrical and accept as ‘perfect design’! Use plate displays on the bedroom walls. Place lacy bedding on an old iron bed and mix-match the rest of the linens. Mix wood, glass, iron and metal tables.

Have lamps with various shades and sizes. Mix traditional with contemporary whether in pink, purple or orange – and then sit back and enjoy it.

Be whimsical and provide the exclamation point.

Utilize space to the best function and fill the spaces. This is YOUR cottage. Have fun!

Renée Carpenter owns Jennings Furniture & Design & Stage It With Jennings in St. Thomas.

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

Healthy Living Everyday Health

Active Elgin – get up and get moving

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

Did you know that children spend 63% of their time after school and on weekends being inactive?

I was a little shocked myself when I learned that. It made me wonder what we could do to help them spend 63% of their time being active. There’s a wonderful, local website devoted to that kind of thing. It’s where I learned the above statistic and a lot more. The website is called “activeelgin.ca� and is filled valuable information to help our community to become more active and healthy.

I was extremely pleased to see such a wonderful resource available to our community as a lack of activity and a sedentary lifestyle have a tremendous impact on health. This is the case because so many of our health challenges are more related to how we under use rather than overuse our bodies. The above information about children is a horrifying statistic considering that this is the type of lifestyle that is directly related to increasing levels of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke as well as many musculoskeletal issues including osteoarthritis.

At the top of the activeelgin.ca you will find a menu that includes the following titles: Home, Registration Subsidies, Active Transportation and Contact. These menu links lead to information about current events, initiatives and resources designed to promote activity and a healthy lifestyle in our community. Here are some highlights of the information that is available through the website menu: Home Under this heading a calendar of events and activities is available. There is also a loop that leads to articles about specific health topics as well as programs and activities.

Registration Subsidies Here one can find information and contacts about various organizations that provide funding for children’s activities for families that may need financial assistance including the Canadian Tire Jump-Start program. Of particular note is information about the Community Living Elgin program that provides funding for special needs children.

Active Transportation This section provides information about the advocacy and promotion of active transportation including biking, walking, and hiking. Here one can find tips about using biking and walking as part of one’s regular routine for getting around town.

Contact Contact for the Active Elgin campaign is through the Elgin-St. Thomas Public Health Unit, for example, activeelgin@elginhealth.on.ca.

There is also a section to leave a message or comment right on the website under this heading.

The website also has interactive components featured. One of the more current interactive features involved information about an ongoing survey developed by the health unit, the City of St. Thomas, Doug Tarry Homes, Hayhoe Homes and the MMM consultant group to gather information about individual experiences with active transportation in our community. This survey provided an opportunity for you to voice your concerns and ideas about improving the features of our community to improve our ability to walk and bike around town. The survey concluded at the end of June but look for other similar components in the future. These features provide you with a chance to share your experiences and provide your suggestions to help improve our community.

Trying to find activities during the summer to get the kids outside being active is always a challenge. It is my hope that by highlighting this website that more people will become aware of this resource and access the valuable information that it has to offer. Make this an active summer for you and your family and use the activeelgin.ca website to help.

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

Supporting Our Community

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

Dining & Entertainment Food & Wine

W h at ’s w i t h u n f i lt e r e d w i n e ?

Part two

naturally occurring carbon dioxide left in the wine, the Last month, we reviewed the history of wine more buoyant the particles. filtration and the evolution of wine from being It’s not unusual for the wine a hazy beverage to an age of pristine clarity. This to need only a few months month we will discuss some of the characteristics to drop from 3% to 2%, of wines that are left unfiltered, and then cover while it takes over a year to several cues for the everyday wine lover to make go from 2% to 1%. sound unfiltered wine purchasing choices.

As a general rule, if I’m From an industry perspective, there is a spectrum buying an unfiltered wine, of clarity. On one end of the spectrum is cloudy I will rarely purchase a unfermented juice. This juice typically has about wine that is less than three years old. Three years 3% to 4% solids floating around (I would surmise would have allowed the winemaker sufficient time the average fresh-pressed apple juice, in your lo- to properly settle the wine without excessive hancal farmers’ market, would be in this range). Clear dling. juice that you would be able to see through would I’m looking for the absence of excessive sediment. be closer to 1% to 2% solids.

A little dusting along the base of the bottle would When grape juice is be a natural result of genfermented into wine, handling, where larger don’t put too much stock in the tle the solids level usually deposits would indicate hovers around 4% and poor, or sloppy handling begins its slow drop in the cellar. Another key towards what is concue for buying unfiltered sidered clean, generally under 1%. The problem wine is to examine the behaviour of the sediments. of achieving clear wine is complex. The smaller Light, fluffy sediments that can easily be stirred up, the particle, the harder it is to settle. The more but settle soon after, are acceptable to unfiltered wine lovers. An overall haze that doesn’t settle would indicate spoilage organisms and should be avoided. If the sediments in an unfiltered wine are grainy this would indicate that the wine was only minimally handled in the cellar.

While it would require a good decanting, it’s not a problem wine. If the sediment resembles glass, this would indicate that the wine was only lightly handled in the cellar and, like the

by Jamie Quai

“

brilliance of a wine”

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grainy sediment, is merely a cosmetic reality of the process of making unfiltered wines.

Wines that are fine filtered have a glistening sheen to them. Unfiltered wines will often have a duller appearance. Don’t put too much stock in the brilliance of a wine, especially an unfiltered wine.

One of the biggest advantages to an unfiltered wine is the presence of yeast residues, such as dead yeast cells, that haven’t been settled out. For various complex biochemical reasons, when yeast cells breakdown they consume quite a bit of the oxygen that is present in the wine. In effect, the yeast cells act as an anti-oxidant that keeps the wine fresher.

If the wine is filtered to achieve a commercial clarity, those yeast cells are no longer present to help keep the wine fresh, and winemakers have to rely on the addition of other preservatives. Unfiltered wines, properly handled, have the potential to age better.

I highly encourage consumers to try an unfiltered wine if given the chance. They offer a different perspective of some of your favourite wine styles. These are definitely wines for those who have a healthy respect for an ‘old school’ approach to wine. Cheers and enjoy the summer!

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

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

Business & Community Your Team

BBQs can reinforce

positive company culture

by Laura Pavilonis and Nancy Annett

There’s a smile that comes over a face when someone says “come over for a BBQ” or “BBQ at work tomorrow”. Even just the smell of a BBQ or the idea that you’re probably going to be enjoying the outdoors makes you feel good … it’s a sign of summer after all. Staff BBQs have become an employee recognition trend that is viewed as a perk at work. Social activities bring people together and can also bring out the best in people, helping to develop interpersonal relationships and break down barriers between peers, departments and teams. Most importantly, events such as company BBQs strengthen and build new interpersonal relationships that reinforces company culture, impacting employee happiness and strengthening their ties to the organization.

The #1 New York Times bestseller, How Full Is Your Bucket? reveals how even the briefest interactions affect your relationships, productivity, health, and longevity. So even if the BBQ is a drop-in for some employees, where they come and simply get in line to get their food, the simplest of interactions that can occur as they wait for their food in line can improve company performance. This is a place where a cross-section of employees come out to ‘celebrate’ together, even it’s just to recognize the nice weather and a company-sponsored meal. This small gesture can lead to interactions between people that might never happen or certainly not so easily during the work day. These events can also present an opportunity for peers to acknowledge each other for work that they’ve done.

When used appropriately, social events can go a long way towards helping new employees feel more comfortable, integrating employees on-theroad, breaking down barriers between departments, helping millennials and boomers mingle freely and giving all employees a chance feel more comfortable with the senior management team.

To optimize your event, here are some BBQ tips to reinforce company culture: 1.

Centre the event around company values, using it as a time to celebrate company-wide accomplishments which reinforces the value you put on hard work and dedication. It doesn’t have to be a big win, but clearly communicate the purpose of the event as recognizing them for all their hard work.

2. Have lots of food. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but make sure it’s good and plentiful.

3. Make sure everyone is invited. When you leave people out, it can cause hard feelings and July, 2016

make it uncomfortable for everyone. Social events and bring teams closer. BBQs are a powerful way that include all employees enables everyone to to harness your interpersonal relationships and meet, socialize and get to know each other, which create lasting engagement within the company. in turn may help with improving employee engagement.

Nancy Annett, MBA, CHRP 4. Pick a time that works for people. It’s not and Laura Pavilonis, MBA about you, but about them. Don’t have the event CHRP own Flashpoint when a lot of people are away or at a really busy Training and Development. time. Consider having it during work time and offering it at a couple of different times so that employees don’t have to come in on their day off.

5. If you do an employee recognition BBQ, plan to keep doing it (or something similar) on a regular basis. If you take it away, it becomes a de-motivator, completely reversing the original benefits it provided. Keep it simple and make it easy to coordinate.

Call for your Free Consultation with 6. Don’t tell your emBrandi Pisek, DD or Mike V. Pisek, DD! ployees how to socialWalk in patients and new patients ize; include them in the are always welcome. planning. If you have a committee of staff inAll insurance plans are accepted volved in the planning (financing available). process, they can give Come visit us today and let’s get started you the inside scoop on on the road to a fantastic smile. what your employees really want to see. Just keep it fun.

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

Lifestyle TIME ON MY HANDS

LOOKING BACK:

A year sleeping on the ground And a few tales by the fire

reading it under a tree.

“Rise free from care before the dawn, and seek adMy 65th birthday is looming at the end of this ventures. Let the noon find thee by other lakes, and month. Casting about for mentionable accom- the night overtake thee everywhere at home. There plishments, I have come up with this: I have spent are no larger fields than these, no worthier games a full year of my life sleeping on the ground. than may here be played.”

That’s because I have been on at least one padThose words made me tingle. And the rest, as we dling trip – canoe or kayak – every year since I say at 65, is history. was 18.

So please join me by the fire, and allow me to Not a bad comeback for a 12 year-old who reminisce. flunked the canoe test at YMCA camp, and was Whales swim in a straight line, resurfacing for demoted to the rowboat trip instead. each breath. One day, by paddling my kayak like Anyhow, at age 18, and with that rowboating crazy, I intersected their line. Two whales surfaced scar, I drove to Algonquin Park with two friends, together, with me right between. Sublime. This rented a canoe, and paddled in. We didn’t have a was in the St. Lawrence River just downstream clue. We did have fireworks and a transistor radio. from the Saguenay Fjord and Tadoussac. Two But also, I brought a copy of Walden, by Thore- friends and I were returning from exploring the au, the patron saint of canoeists, and I remember Mingan Islands in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence – a limestone chain full of towering stone flowerpots, arches, and many fantastical formations.

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tough, up-hill portage to Nellie Lake in Killarney Park. That trip was two couples and three kids.

Our daughter Brooke, about five, cried on the way up. But we settled in for a few days, the water was exceptionally clear, and all around, the white quartz of the La Cloche Mountains sparkled. We swam, hiked, lazed about, and lived by the fire like a tribe.

Another trip turned into a raccoon war. When Brooke was about eleven, Mark and I took our three kids on a challenging route across the north shore of Georgian Bay. At one campsite, an aggressive raccoon tried to grab Brooke’s day bag before we were even unpacked, and two of them kept raiding us all night. We slept under the stars on a long rock ledge, with all our gear piled close beside, and I kept a pile of throwing rocks at hand. During one attack, I chased the raccoons in the moonlight until I ran out of ammunition.

When I stopped, I heard a little voice right behind me, “Daddy, I brought more rocks”.

How about this one? Three of us were kayaking on the great Lake Nipigon, north of Lake Superior, when we came across an old couple living in a small houseboat tied to a tree. He was white, and she looked aboriginal. “My wife is Irish,” he told us. We must have looked doubtful. “You’ve heard of the O’Connors and the O’Malleys,” he smiled. “She’s an O’Jibway.”

Sleeping on the ground is a small price to pay.

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

30

Lifestyle That’s Life

Family jargon: hanga burg, grage and do-do

by Elizabeth VanHooren

[Editor’s note: This is an encore presentation of an Elizabeth VanHooren column. Enjoy!]

“I’m gonna have a do-do,” my husband declared as he headed for the coach. To which I declared that the term do-do was much more endearing when used by our sons. In our house if you are going to have a “do-do” you are having an afternoon nap.

I protested this adult do-do, both for the inconvenience it presented to my “to do list”, which included tasks assigned to my husband, and because it made me realise just how our household vocabulary is changing as the boys grow up.

Words like do-do crept into our lives when they boys were babies, became common place, and then just as quickly are now disappearing.

For instance, gone are the days when my eldest son got excited about going to Wendy’s for his favorite “hanga burg”.

My youngest son called money “tickets” until he was corrected sometime during his first year of school. Nonetheless, I don’t think he has quite figured out that money or the once mysterious tickets hold value. If they are disappointed that I

haven’t bought them their latest “want,” both boys emphatically suggest that when they get their debit card they’ll buy everything. As if a debit card is something you just grow as you get older.

In the winter we have “bites” for breakfast.

That’s right. I have absolutely no recollection as to how, when or why oatmeal in our house became “bites.”

When given medicine my boys ask for their “chaser.” I guess they are using the word in the proper sense, but in a whole new context. After their medicine, my boys get a shot of water – their chaser.

I told my husband that secretly I hoped the boys would use this jargon for as long as possible – our own family language.

That’s when my husband reminded me that when we got married he couldn’t believe I referred to the garage as a ‘‘grage” and the turn signals in the car as blinkers. “Doesn’t everyone?” I said.

“NO!” he said. “And for that matter every mechanical object does not have thrusters.”

The thrusters comment really hurt, because it is common knowledge in my family that anything that is broken probably has faulty thrusters. I don’t know why, that’s just what my dad always

told us so it must be true.

My husband started to string off a number of other peculiarities unique to my family until I had enough and told him to, “Just go have a dodo.”

Elizabeth VanHooren is General Manager of Kettle Creek Conservation Authority

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

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