M a r c h | A p r i l 2021
Recovery and Growth in Waterloo Region
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advocate March | April 2021 www.greaterkwchamber.com
features
Feature
Feature
Shirley Hilton
Feature
Kick-start the Economy Chris Ball
Feature
editor-in-chief:
16 2021 Membership Milestones!
Art Sinclair editor:
Heather Hutchings
19 Waterloo Region Vaccine Implementation Plan
Bonnie Frank - bfrank@greaterkwchamber.com Dana Walton - dwalton@greaterkwchamber.com Lisa McDonald - lmcdonald@greaterkwchamber.com contributing writers:
Chris Ball, Shirley Hilton, Kyra Jones, Ian McLean, Jody Palubiski, Jenna Petker, Art Sinclair, Adam Smith contributors:
Carolyn Marsh & Hannah Kelly
23 Empathy and Agility
advertising and copy deadlines:
in Times of Disruption Kyra Jones
March 15, 2021 for May-June 2021 July 16, 2021 for September-October 2021 September 17, 2021 for November-December 2021
Feature
25 The Resurgence of the Hospitality Sector
M&T Printing Group advertising and sales:
21 Rapid Transit is the Catalyst to
design and production
Jody Palubiski
subscription and back issue inquiries:
Darlene Jones djones@greaterkwchamber.com submission policy:
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Heather Hutchings - hhutchings@greaterkwchamber.com
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departments
Message from the Chair
New Members
4 Adversity is the Mother of Invention Adam Smith
10 December 1, 2020 to
12 Mark Your Calendar
Message from the President
5 Business and Government Cooperation will Grow Waterloo Region Ian McLean Advocacy
7 Domestic Vaccine
Manufacturing and Inoculating Canadians Art Sinclair
Perspective on Health Care
& Opportunity for Physician Recruitment Jenna Petker
8 Covid-19 Presents Challenges
PUBLICATION OF:
January 31, 2021 Events
Networking
14 Event Highlights
Member Notables
32 Chamber Members Achieving Success
postmaster address changes c/o
Advocate - Publications Office 80 Queen Street North, PO Box 2367 Kitchener, Ontario N2H 6L4 519.576.5000 The Advocate is a bi-monthly membership benefit publication of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce. Advertising content and the views expressed herein are those of the contributors and do not constitute endorsement by the Chamber. The Advocate follows the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards (1990), copies are available through the Publisher. The Chamber cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur and has the right to edit material submitted. The Chamber will not accept advertising with competitor comparison claims and has the right to refuse advertising that is deemed to be false, misleading, or inappropriate.
Printed on recycled paper
advocate March | April 2021
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message from the chair
Adversity is the Mother of Invention As we come to a full year of living through a global pandemic, all our lives are looking wildly different from what they were and what we imagined they might be. Public health measures that keep us and our loved ones safe have led to drastic transformations of so many facets of our lives. Work is different. School is different. Social life is different. Even grocery shopping is different! Thankfully, we have good reason to hope for happier times ahead. As recently reported by Maclean’s and The New York Times, “All five vaccines with public results have eliminated Covid-19 deaths.” There’s a long way to go before we’re all protected, of course, so while we continue to march forward, let’s take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the many positive changes that we’ve seen, those wonderful innovations born out of adversity, and the changes still unfolding that we may yet be grateful for. We’re trying out new ways of doing things we didn’t know we’d appreciate, and that has a ripple effect through businesses. Online grocery pick-up has turned cashiers into personal shoppers (Instacart alone has seen a 500% jump in orders, and Canadian grocers’ own online grocery platforms have seen similarly sizable jumps). Companies that hadn’t yet embraced digital technologies are finding ease of access beneficial to collaboration. Remote work has let local organizations find talent outside of traditional commuting distances. Online shopping has allowed local boutiques to expand their reach around the world. Some companies who re-tooled early in the pandemic to help have now pivoted to entirely new business models. The Canadian Shield, a local PPE manufacturer, was launched by parent company InkSmith, who produced educational materials, and Supply+Protect, a Waterloo-based online marketplace featuring Canadian manufacturers and distributors of PPE and COVID-business solutions launched in July. Locally, we are an especially resilient bunch. Historically, Waterloo Region has not only survived, but thrived in the years following difficult times. After the global financial crisis of 2008, locally, our GDP per capita outpaced both provincial and Canadian averages, and the restructuring of RIM spurred former employees to launch their own companies and initiatives.
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Business in Waterloo Region may look different in the future, but business here has always been an evolution, from agricultural, to a manufacturing center, to today as an insurance, tech, and advanced manufacturing hub. While this might at first glance seem to be a step away from our agricultural roots, I think the success and adoption of buying local initiatives, and events like our Chamber’s annual “100 Mile Feast” now named “Vine & Dine” show that we’re still very much invested in local agriculture. We’re already finding new ways to adapt and improve, and the entrepreneurial spirit of our region continues to propel us forward, adversity or not, towards even grander achievements.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam Smith CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Adam founded My IT Guy in 2004 and has grown the business substantially over the past 16 years. Today, Adam and his team deploy their collective expertise in helping small and medium sized businesses wisely invest in technology solutions that make them more efficient, more productive, and more profitable. Adam is also heavily involved with the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce since 2009, currently serving as Chair of the Board of Directors, as well as volunteering with and co-hosting the quarterly meetings of 100 Men Who Give a Damn.
message from the president
Business and Government Cooperation will Grow Waterloo Region It is our collective responsibility to do our part in the battle against COVID-19, and ensure we get through to a new normal. The Chamber has been active and available and we will continue our efforts as the pandemic significantly impacts member businesses, schools, and health care services across our community.
work placements in terms of technology applications and operations improvements. Our Chamber continues to give voice to all levels of government that further investments into new and existing programs that assist employers to innovate by supporting experiential work placement opportunities for students are required.
Governments, health units, citizens and businesses must cooperate to ensure we can continue to lead the province and country in job creation and economic activity. Recent data from Statistics Canada indicates the population of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo increased by 50,000 residents from 2016 to 2020. Our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) consistently achieves annual growth greater than two percent and frequently places us within the top five metropolitan areas across Canada. Waterloo Region must be a leader in the recovery that is sure to come.
The pandemic has shown that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been particularly impacted by COVID-19 and need to accelerate their offerings online and through ecommerce. This will require continued support by governments at all levels including expanded rural broadband capacity in rural communities.
First and foremost, the most important issue for Chamber members is to ensure a robust vaccination program. The faster the Ontario population is inoculated, the faster we can safely reopen and work together on a provincial and national economic recovery. The Chamber and our local business community is prepared to assist with current and future efforts in the fight against COVID-19 through logistical support, communication with our members, best practices, storage and distribution. Continuation of our economic growth is dependent on federal and provincial investments into vital infrastructure, primarily urban and regional transit. Fast and frequent twoway, all day GO train passenger service along the WaterlooToronto Innovation Corridor could deliver $17.5 billion in direct annual GDP and 170,000 high-quality jobs by 2025. Prepandemic demand across this region was evident with a 23 percent increase in ridership since 2015. We continue to lead the Connect the Corridor coalition to ensure this gets done.
The Ontario Economic Report recently released by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) indicates Waterloo Region’s capacity to grow and thrive remains high. Twothirds of local business respondents to an OCC survey agreed that our community provides opportunities for them to expand and grow their operations. Our projected growth in employment for 2021 at 5.5 percent is among the highest across the province. In addition, Waterloo Region registers the highest projected provincial population growth rate at 1.6 percent, ahead of Ottawa, Toronto and London. These are indicators of our ability to lead the economic recovery Canada will need. While there are still difficult days ahead, overall,our prospects for the new year are relatively strong and we can look forward to leading Canada and Ontario into better conditions. As the Business and Economic Support Team of Waterloo Region (BESTWR) noted early in the pandemic, Waterloo Region will not only emerge, but we will emerge stronger because of our unique culture of collaboration, innovation, and community support of one another. We can do this- together!
While we must remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19, our economic recovery must also focus on moving people and goods. Post-pandemic, full time work from home will remain, but inevitably people will return to workplaces and moving people while ensuring we can move goods to market is essential. Public investments into local GO rail passenger services between Waterloo Region and Toronto will be a vote of confidence in the advanced manufacturing, financial services, agri-food, automotive, research and technology sectors who collectively are the leaders of the Ontario economy and will generate a national recovery and initiate major job creation efforts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ian McLean Ian is President and CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Workforce development issues remain for employers of all sizes in all sectors across Canada and Ontario. Small businesses can benefit from the contributions of student advocate March | April 2021
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THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021
6PM - 9PM VIRTUAL EVENT (HOSTED ON HOPIN) Join us in recognizing local businesses who have made exceptional contributions to the community in the past year, through their involvement and leadership. TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!
Members: $45 Future Members: $60 Add-on Options Available! *Prices subject to HST
(519) 749-6052 | greaterkwchamber.com
advocacy
Domestic Vaccine Manufacturing and Inoculating Canadians In late January and early February, debates over COVID-19 vaccine procurement and distribution were dominating Canadian mainstream media discussions like no other single issue during the pandemic. As the controversy continues, domestic manufacturing capabilities remain a significant point of contention around our COVID response, the future of Medicare, and potential economic prospects. Ontario Premier Doug Ford offered to drive a refrigerated truck to Kalamazoo for securing more vaccines at the Michigan Pfizer facility. The Premier also declared that as Prime Minister, he would be on the phone to Pfizer’s top executive demanding delivery on previously agreed schedules. Politics and pandemics are a nasty combination and inflame the narrative. On January 8, 2021, the Wall Street Journal reported that while Canada was quick to order vaccines, the nation was falling behind many developed-country peers in terms of distribution. On January 6, Canada had vaccinated 0.5 percent of the population compared to the United States at 1.6 percent. A January 28, 2021 CBC report cited analysis by Oxford University which ranked Canada as 20th globally when measuring vaccines per capita, behind not only the U.S. and U.K. but also Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Germany, Romania and Spain. However, on a positive note Canada is ahead of France and Japan. Unlike Canada, Japan is planning to produce 90 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine domestically. Even when accounting for population size, the U.S. had inoculated three times more people per capita than Canada and fully vaccinated 3.8 million residents with a two-dose regime of either the Pfizer or Moderna product, compared to 150,000 residents of Canada. Dr. Alan Bernstein, a prominent member of the federal government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, told numerous Canadian media outlets in late January that the pandemic should be a wake-up call to create our own domestic manufacturing capacity. Emerging variants of the novel coronavirus provide prospects for second and thirdgeneration vaccines which could be required for several years. Campbell Clark, a regular columnist with the Globe and Mail, wrote in early February that we now know why Canada needs a domestic vaccine manufacturing industry. He cited explicitly the experiences of Providence Therapeutics, a Calgary-based firm that last spring was at the same stage of development as Moderna. They did not get the financial backing to run the
same race with the firms that are now in production. Clark also agreed with Bernstein that a new pandemic or new strains of COVID-19 will require new vaccines. At one time Canada and other leaders in the global economy could depend on the normal flow of goods across international borders and subsequently secure vaccines. However as noted above our vaccination rate is falling behind our peers and both the federal and provincial levels of government are asked to be accountable on procurement practices and policies. Scarce vaccines do not move freely across borders. Multiple strains of COVID-19 and the potential for other viruses present the scenario that vaccine manufacturing may not only be an economic and health care option but rather an imperative. On January 21, 2021, Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), the advanced manufacturing supercluster, announced that Providence Therapeutics will receive significant funding for vaccine research and support of manufacturing capabilities. Sir John Bell, Oxford University professor of medicine supervising the development of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, noted to CTV News that the United Kingdom went from zero to their current manufacturing strategy of repurposing facilities in less than ten months. They started from nothing and are in a strong position as some countries decided to depend on others, a strategy that was perhaps proven wrong. Bell, a Canadian, indicated Canada should consider vaccines as a health security issue and suggested we are overly dependent on the United States. On February 2, 2021 Prime Minister Trudeau announced an agreement with Maryland-based Novavax to produce vaccines at a facility in Montreal potentially starting at the end of 2021. Asked if Canada missed an opportunity, Dr. Bell stated the reality is if you do not have enough vaccine, you know it and you need to get on with it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Art Sinclair Art is Vice President Policy and Advocacy for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.
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perspective on health care
Covid-19 Presents Challenges & Opportunity for Physician Recruitment The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect all sectors of business, including healthcare. The need for primary care has never been more important than now. Traditional recruitment efforts have been a challenge during this time, but it has also proved to be a time of opportunity. Though the pandemic has in many ways changed how we currently connect with physicians, it has also forced us to adapt to this new, changing environment. Our Annual Family Medicine Resident Event – a weekend long event previously held in person - became our first virtual online event, hosted on Hopin. This platform permitted us to engage the prospective residents in a manner that was both informative and interactive. It also allowed us to expand our reach to include a wider pool of candidates with attendees participating from across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. The virtual program was a success. We attracted several of these physicians, some of whom are already in the process of relocating to Kitchener-Waterloo.
the Waterloo Regional Campus of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and the Kitchener-Waterloo Family Medicine Residency Program allowing us to grow our own primary health care professionals. While we take great pleasure in celebrating our progress, we realize that our physician recruitment efforts are far from over. Kitchener-Waterloo will continue to be challenged with rapid population growth, a growing number of practitioners at retirement age and younger physicians who roster smaller practices as they look for work-life balance. The Chamber Physician Recruitment Program efforts and initiatives are only made possible by the generous support and investment of our sponsors who are recognized on page 9. Thank you for your leadership and contribution to this critical program. The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce thanks our front-line workers as they continue to provide healthcare and work tirelessly to protect us in these trying and unprecedented times.
An unexpected but welcome effect of the pandemic is that physicians with ties to our community are relocating to Waterloo Region to be closer to family and friends.
The Future is Bright ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Many factors contribute to our success in attracting new physicians. We are an exceptional community offering numerous urban and rural lifestyle amenities that appeal to both physicians and their families. They are attracted by such diverse features as the Farmer’s Markets, recreational facilities, multiculturalism, universities, colleges, varied dining options and research facilities. We are also home to
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Jenna Petker Jenna is Physician Recruitment Lead for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.
Thank you to our dedicated sponsors for helping the Chamber continue its goal of eliminating the doctor shortage in Waterloo Region.
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
COMMUNITY
SMALL BUSINESS
Individual Contributors
VIDEO SPONSOR
AL HAYES
IAN MCLEAN
new members
December 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021 Aida Valois Barrister and Solicitor Lawyers Aida Valois, Barrister and Solicitor 500 Dutton Dr Waterloo, ON N2L 4C6 aida@avaloislaw.com pope.avaloislaw.com Phone: (519) 888-0059 Buildsafe - Construction Safety Services Inc. Safety Consultants & Training Susan Carey, General Manager 181 Groh Ave, Unit 103 Cambridge, ON N3C 1Y8 susan@buildsafe.ca buildsafe.ca Phone: (519) 220-1918 Deyjah's House of Patties Inc. Restaurants Dahron Blair, Owner/President 42 Bridgeport Rd E, Unit 3 Waterloo, ON N2J 0B3 houseofpatties@gmail.com houseofpatties.com Phone: (226) 647-1727 Dominion Lending Centres Expert Financial Mortgage Brokers MacDaniel Phillips, Mortgage Agent 5760 Timberlea Blvd, Unit 106 Mississauga, ON L4W 4W8 mac@dlcfinancial.ca dlcfinancial.ca Phone: (647) 500-0700 Graham Mathew Professional Corp. Accountants, CPA-CA Nathan Graham, Partner 150 Pinebush Rd Cambridge, ON N1R 5X9 ngraham@gmpca.com gmpca.com Phone: (519) 623-1870
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Hameed Abdi - Mortgage Alliance Mortgage Brokers Hameed Abdi, Mortgage Professional 153 Highview St Kitchener, ON N2E 3P5 hameed@hameedmortgages.com mortgagealliance.com/en/hameedabdi Phone: (519) 242-8444
MovinAd Inc. Marketing Consultants Evan Wright, CEO/Director 2302 Dumphries Rd, Unit 2 Cambridge, ON N1R 5S3 info@855movinad.ca movinad.ca Phone: (855) 668-4623
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Waterloo-St. Jacobs Hotels & Motels Vittoria Trinchi, Director of Sales 55 Benjamin Rd, Waterloo, ON N2V 1Z3 vittoria.trinchi3@hilton.com Phone: (519) 514-0090
My Girl Friday Dog Training Mariana Jones, Owner/Sole Proprietor marianaj@my-girl-friday.ca my-girl-friday.ca Phone: (226) 338-5225
Jony Studios Audio Visual Production Services Jonathan Mansilla, Owner 141 Whitney Place Kitchener, ON N2G 2X8 jonathan@jonystudios.com jonystudios.com Phone: (226) 640-8077 Mariam Gobran - Employee Benefits Consultant of The Lawrie Group Insurance Agents & Brokers Mariam Gobran, Benefits Consultant 105 Main St E, Hamilton, ON L8N 1G6 mgobran@lawriegroup.com lawriegroup.com Phone: (416) 786-4823 Modern Healing Chiropractic Health & Wellness Katie Pepper, Owner/Chiropractor 18 Barrel Yards Blvd, Suite 3, Waterloo, ON N2L 0G1 modernhealingchiro@gmail.com modernhealing.ca Phone: (226) 476-3227
Nethris Business Services Sebastiaan van Ineveld, Manager 150 Commerce Valley Dr W, Markham, ON L3T 7Z3 payroll@nethris.com nethris.com Phone: (888) 650-6291 Orkin Canada Pest Control Services Mike Lawrence, Account Manager 250 Thompson Dr, Unit 10 Cambridge, ON N1T 2E3 mlawrence@orkincanada.com orkincanada.com Phone: (416) 805-4795 Pixels & Coffee Media Inc. Digital Marketing Agency Julie Stall, Partner/Executive Producer 135 George St N, Suite 202 Cambridge, ON N1S 5C3 julies@pixelsncoffee.com pixelsncoffee.com Phone: (226) 474-0127
new members
Signal 88 Security Security Guard & Patrol Services Eric Denel, Regional Sales Manager for Tri Cities Area 1390 Prince of Wales Dr, Unit 501 Ottawa, ON K2C 3N6 kitchener@signal88.com signal88.com/locations/securityservices-kitchener-on Phone: (613) 801-3466 Fax: (613) 801-1055 Smooth Property Management Property Management Mathew Toussaint, Owner 411 Waterloo St S Cambridge, ON N3H 1P1 admin@smoothpm.ca smoothpm.ca Phone: (289) 983-0990 STEM Biomedical Charitable, Not For Profit & Community Orgs Alexander Ille, Head Director 135 Highland Rd W Kitchener, ON N2M 3B9 alexander.ille@stembiomedical.org stembiomedical.org
Vigilant Security Services Inc. Security Guard & Patrol Services Christian Strike, CEO 50 Ottawa St S, Suite 312 Kitchener, ON N2G 3S7 info@vigilantsecurityservices.org vigilantsecurityservices.org Phone: (519) 503-5421
Windtek Windows & Doors Ltd Windows & Doors Ryan Etches, Sales Manager 67 Rainbow Creek Dr Woodbridge, ON L4H 0A6 ryan@windtek.ca windtek.ca Phone: (519) 590-7735
Waterloo Region Rural Post Newspapers Todd Cowan, Publisher 1 Union St, Unit 2B Elmira, ON N3B 3J9 tacowan@wrruralpost.com wrruralpost.com Phone: (226) 476-6589
Yokalize Advertising Agencies & Consultants Tim Seaton, General Manager 5137 Wellington St S London, ON N6E 3Y1 info@yokalize.com yokalize.com Phone: (888) 984-2383
Whiteway Plumbing Plumbing Contractors Gavin Whiteway, CEO 90 Rankin St, Unit 1 Waterloo, ON N2V 2B3 info@whitewayplumbing.ca whitewayplumbing.ca Phone: (519) 826-1730
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events
COVID-19: Event Impact *The health and safety of our members, event attendees, community, and staff are of the utmost importance. As a result, the Chamber will not be hosting any live events until further notice. We will continue to support our members by offering a variety of events and networking opportunities in a virtual capacity, using an interactive and engaging virtual event platform. Please refer to greaterkwchamber.com for up-to-date event information.
Mark Your Calendar Every Wednesday
Friday, March 5
Manulife Business Success Series
International Women’s Day Breakfast
1:00pm-2:00pm Location: Virtual Event (hosted through GoToWebinar) Members: Complimentary The Manulife Business Success Series is a free weekly event that explores timely topics and resources for businesses, giving your organization the tools, it needs to thrive. Sessions are hosted live every Wednesday at 1:00pm, and a recording of each session is made available online, to watch on-demand.
8:00-10:00am Location: Virtual Event (hosted through Hopin) Members $30 • Future Member $40 Join us for the 2021 International Women’s Day Breakfast hosted in partnership with Regional Chair, Karen Redman. This year’s theme, #ChoosetoChallenge celebrates women’s achievements. From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge. Title Sponsor
Title Sponsor: Platinum Sponsor:
Event Sponsors:
March Presenting Sponsor: Silver Sponsor:
Wednesday, March 3
Design Sponsor:
Sign & Print Sponsor: &
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4:30-6:00pm Location: Virtual Event (hosted through Hopin) Members $10 • Future Member $15 Ready to invest in yourself, but not sure where to start? At this event, develop new skills and explore your creative side. You will leave feeling motivated, confident, and with a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Plus, you’ll build new connections with other like-minded young professionals!
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Libro Chamber Young Professionals: Investing in Yourself
Title Sponsor:
a new name for us. more services for you. © 2021 Grant Thornton LLP. A Canadian Member of Grant Thornton International Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Kuppers & Company has joined the Grant Thornton family. It’s an exciting change for our clients and our community. As part of a national team of business advisors, we offer a new level of service for a changing world. Give us a call! Our new name is just the beginning.
grantthornton.ca
Waterloo 60 Bathurst Dr, Unit 6 Waterloo, ON N2V 2A9 T +1 519 579 0700
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events
Mark Your Calendar Tuesday, March 9
Thursday, April 8
Pillars of Economic Prosperity: Education Edition
MNP Networking Breakfast Series: Fireside Chat with Bruce Lauckner
11:00am-1:00pm Location: Virtual Event (hosted through Hopin) Members $20 • Future Member $30 What does the future of education look like post-pandemic? How will this shape the future of education? How do we drive a culture of learnability? Join us as we hear from the local College & University Presidents, as they discuss the importance of innovation, and remaining relevant for their students, faculty, and community. Title Sponsor:
8:30-10:00am Location: Virtual Event (hosted through Hopin) Members $20 • Future Member $30 The new CAO of Waterloo Region, Bruce Lauckner, will be joining the MNP Networking Breakfast event! Bruce will discuss his background and experience, what he hopes to achieve in his new role and early observations. Title Sponsor:
Gold Sponsor:
*Rescheduled Date* Thursday, April 22
Silver Sponsor:
Business Excellence Awards Gala 6:00-9:00pm Location: Virtual Event (hosted on Hopin) Members $45 ∙ Future Member $60 Due to circumstances beyond our control, the 2021 Business Excellence Awards Gala, that was scheduled for Thursday, February 18, 2021 has been rescheduled. Although it has been a difficult year, there are still so many accomplishments from local businesses in our community that we are looking forward to celebrating. We hope you will join us (virtually) on the rescheduled date of Thursday, April 22nd, 2021.
Bronze Sponsors:
Wednesday, April 7 Jay Fencing Business Around 5 4:00-6:00pm Location: Virtual Event (hosted through Hopin) Complimentary for Members • Future Members $10 • Exhibitor Booth $75 Are you looking to stay connected to your community? The popular networking event is being hosted virtually! As always, this event is complimentary for members to attend. Let’s get networking!
Presenting Sponsor:
Title Sponsor: Gold Sponsor:
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networking
Event Highlights After a well-deserved break over the holidays, we were ready to start 2021 with a bang. Throughout almost a year of running events fully virtual we have been presented with many challenges, but the support of members and the community has made it all worthwhile. As we continue to navigate this pandemic together, we hope to connect with you in one way or another soon.
RESCHEDULED:
January included some remarkable events which provided an opportunity to network, educate and connect our community. Some of our highlights included:
Although it has been a difficult year, there are still so many accomplishments from local businesses in our community that we are looking forward to celebrating. We hope you will join us (virtually) on the rescheduled date of Thursday, April 22nd, 2021.
The Pillars of Economic Prosperity: Healthcare Edition For this event, we hosted the three local hospital presidents. The fireside chat gave attendees an inside look at the local healthcare system and the effects of COVID-19.
The 2021 Libro Chamber Young Professionals Annual Mentor Mix & Mingle
2021 Business Excellence Awards Gala Due to circumstances beyond our control, the 2021 Business Excellence Awards Gala that was scheduled for Thursday, February 18, 2021 has been rescheduled.
We look forward to seeing you virtually soon, so one day we can get back to safely seeing you all in person.
Carolyn Marsh Events Manager
Hannah Kelly| Events Coordinator
We virtually connected local young professionals with over 20 industry leaders and seasoned business professionals, and offered a live session discussing the importance of mentorship.
LMI Canada I N S U R A N C E
formerly Lackner McLennan & Erb and Erb Insurance Visit us online at www.LMICanada.com
· Integrity · Expertise · Commitment · 14
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advertorial
Asked and Answered with Lerners LLP Civil Litigation during the pandemic – how are the Courts coping?
“
As it did in so many ...the pandemic other areas of our lives, jump-started when the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in Ontario’s 2020, it interrupted the court system delivery of legal services. to introduce Although considered “essential”, many law long overdue firms effectively closed technology their offices: lawyers worked from home and process and found new ways to improvements. meet with clients and other lawyers. Courthouses closed to the public and many cases, except those considered urgent, were adjourned. The Ontario government suspended most provincial limitations and procedural time periods until September 14, 2020.
”
Following an initial focus on urgent cases, the pandemic jump-started Ontario’s court system to introduce long overdue technology and process improvements, and Courts embraced Zoom and other videoconferencing to conduct hearings. At a recent virtual Town Hall meeting the Chief Justices of Ontario’s three levels of Courts were on hand to discuss these changes. They noted that lawyers had “risen to the occasion” to ensure clients were heard, and that between March and November of 2020 the Superior Court of Justice held +74,000 virtual
hearings and conducted 140 remote trials. The Court of Appeal decided +800 appeals in 2020 (about 75% of its normal caseload), and currently does not expect any backlog when we finally emerge from the pandemic. Ontario Courts began the return to in-person hearings in the fall. When the second wave hit, the courts returned to remote hearings in all but the most urgent of cases, but with the technology in place allowing for a smoother transition while we wait for vaccines to be delivered and the curve to flatten. Lawyers and the court system in which we advance our clients’ cases continue to adapt and “carry on” during this challenging time. Lerners has, for generations now, served its clients through difficult times and will continue to do so during and after the pandemic.
Find out more about Lerners LLP at lerners.ca Graham M. Bennett, C.S. Graham Bennett is a partner at Lerners LLP, working from Lerners’ new Waterloo Region office located at 9 Ahrens St. W., in Kitchener. Graham is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in civil litigation and his practice is focussed on serious personal injury and insurance matters.
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2021 Membership Milestones! We’d like to thank all of our members for your support over the years and want to congratulate the following companies who are celebrating these Milestone Anniversaries in 2021.
10 YEARS
JOINED IN 2011 988055 Ontario Limited ABA Architects Inc. Agilec Auburn Developments Bin There Dump That Brick Brewing Company Limited Canadian Blood Services Circumference Technology Services CMA Realty Ltd. Brokerage Creative Edge Signs & Graphics Inc. Dan’s Discount Windows and Doors Fluent Group Consulting Engineers Inc. Flyin’ Fisch Galt Country Club Limited Grand River Hospital GWS Water Store & Supply Co. Ltd. Lehmann Bookbinding Limited MacDonald Awning & Shade Products Metroline Research Group Inc Movati Athletic (Waterloo) Inc. Nicram International Inc. Ogilvie Daugherty Business Profit Solutions Pet Valu - Highland Center Phillips Lytle LLP RBC Royal Bank - Fischer Hallman & Ottawa RBC Royal Bank - Highland & Ira Needles Reitzel Insulation Co. Ltd. RocketBarn Inc. Signs Galore Inc. Teletek Structures Inc. The Achievement Centre The Event Firm Inc. The Salvation Army Ultimate Vision Web & IT Solutions Unit Precast (Breslau) Ltd. University of Guelph - Co-operative Education & Career Services VP Construction KW Inc. Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network - Home and Community Care Wilmot Technologies Inc. WNCC 37 (Sanderson Management Inc.)
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15 YEARS
JOINED IN 2006 Appleton Group Canada, Ltd. Canadian ECO Products CertaPro Painters of Waterloo CIBC - Conestoga Banking Centre CIBC - King & Queen, 3rd floor, KWGC District Office Community Support Connections - Meals on Wheels and More Crystal Clear Water Centres Dean Group Donovan Insurance Brokers Downtown Auto Centre FiberTech Optica FORE U Enterprises Gerry Kuchma Mechanical Inc GForce Custom Fabrication & Installation Inc IDS (KW) Inc ISU Corp Projectit Performance Solutions Inc. RBC Royal Bank - Fairway Rd Branch RBC Royal Bank - Ottawa & River Rd RBC Royal Bank - Uptown Waterloo RBC Royal Bank - Westmount & Erb Reid’s Heritage Homes Ltd Rockway Mennonite Collegiate Scribes’ Nook Inc St. George Banquet Hall Winmar Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin Wyvern Scientific Inc. Xylotek Solutions Inc.
20 YEARS
JOINED IN 2001 B & L Metal Products Ltd C.J. Brubacher Ltd David T. Hodgins Real Estate Dewar Home Improvements Elmira Sip & Bite Restaurant Frey Building Contractors Go Energy Hemmerich Hearing Center Ltd Henry Walser Funeral Home Home Hardware Stores Limited
Impact Events Group, Inc. LANXESS Canada Co./Cie Lowes, Salmon & Gadbois Luther Village on the Park Martin Mills Inc Menno S. Martin Contractor Ltd. Motive Technical Services Inc Perimeter Institute For Theoretical Physics Picard’s Snyder Metal Fabricating Ltd Spilek-Weiss Electric Inc Spin Doctor Productions (DJ Service) Tech Capital Partners Inc Unicorn Truck -Tank Wash Woolwich Observer
25 YEARS
JOINED IN 1996 Al Dunn Heating, Air Conditioning & Fireplaces BlackBerry Limited Brodrecht’s Flooring Canada Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management Cook Homes Dearden & Associates Inc Green Gables Executive Guest House Levesque & Deane Melloul-Blamey Construction Inc MRC Systems Inc Septimatech Group Inc Total Home Energy Systems Inc. Via Rail Canada WalterFedy XCG Consulting Limited
30+ YEARS JOINED IN 1991 or earlier
762432 Ontario Inc ABCO Custom Manufacturing Inc AECOM Canada Ltd. Airways Transit Service Limited All Ontario Financial-The Mortgage People Amber Steel Atlas Scale Ayr Coach Lines Limited Baer Petroleum Marketing Ltd Bank of Nova Scotia - Kitchener Barber-Collins Security Services Ltd. Bast Tirecraft Waterloo
BDO Canada LLP Bell Canada Bell Media Inc. Best Western Plus - Waterloo Better Business Bureau of Central Ontario, Inc Business Development Bank of Canada Cameron’s Flower Shop Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery Centre In The Square Challenger Motor Freight Inc. Chicopee Craftsmen (1999) Inc Chicopee Ski & Summer Resort Rogers Media Inc. CIBC - Wood Gundy Waterloo CKWR - Wired World Inc - FM 98.5 CKWR Cober Colt Canada Corporation Comtran Inc Cowan Insurance Group Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. Crown Courier Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo CRV Computer D Dilkes Enterprises Limited Deloitte Management Services LP DoubleTree By Hilton Kitchener Downtown Kitchener BIA Dr. Kevin P. McSweeny Duncan, Linton LLP Economical Insurance EIWO Canadian Management Ltd Elite Air Inc Enbridge Gas Inc. Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada Erb & Good Family Funeral Home Ernst & Young LLP FaithLife Financial Financial Horizons Inc Fred Astaire Dance Studios Galick Packaging Equipment Ltd GHD Giffen LLP Golf ’s Steak House & Seafood Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP Grand River Hospital Foundation Grant Thornton LLP Greystone Racquet Club H. Wolynetz Investments Ltd Hahn Rentals
Hallman/PromotionWorks Hauser Industries Inc Heffner Lexus & Heffner Toyota Heine Instruments (Canada) Ltd. Hendrix Genetics Ltd. Humphries Auto Service 2017 Inc Information Network Systems Inc International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers #804 Italo Foods Ivanhoe Cambridge II Inc./Conestoga Mall J.M.B. Sales John Howard Society of WaterlooWellington Junior Achievement of the Waterloo Region Inc Kelly & Co Kitchener Public Library Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro Inc. Kodiak Building Ltd KPMG MSLP Kuehne + Nagel Ltd. K-W Oktoberfest Inc Linda Hilts Interiors Ltd LMI Canada Insurance (Formerly Lackner McLennan & Erb and Erb) MacNaughton Hermsen Britton Clarkson Planning Limited Madorin, Snyder LLP Mark L. Dorfman, Planner Inc Marsland Centre Limited Masonry by Rasmussen Inc McBride Loudspeaker Source Ltd Metropolitan Pump Co Limited Miller Thomson LLP MNP LLP MTE Consultants Inc. Northport Landing Inc Nour Trading House Inc Oak Bridge Properties Onward Manufacturing Company Limited Parkway Ford Sales (1996) Ltd PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ProMark Window Film & Blinds Inc. QLO Management Inc Quarry Integrated Communications Inc. Radisson Hotel Kitchener Waterloo Rubberline Products Ltd
S.M.W. Engineering Inc Safety-Kleen Canada Inc (Oil Recovery) Schiedel Construction Inc Spaenaur Inc St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation Steed and Evans Limited Strassburger Windows & Doors Swan Dust Control Ltd TdS Dixon Inc The C3 Group The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited The Food Bank of Waterloo Region The Pinnacle Group The Plant Lady Inc. Topeco Coffee, Tea & Spices Inc Traces Screen Printing Ltd. Twin City Dwyer Printing Co Ltd Twinlode Canada Ulmer Realty Group Inc. United Rentals Of Canada Inc United Way Waterloo Region Communities University of Waterloo Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area VIP Travel Group Ltd Walper Hotel Enterprise Inc. Waterloo Catholic District School Board Waterloo Manufacturing Company Ltd Waterloo North Hydro Inc Waterloo Printing Company Ltd Waterloo Region District School Board Waterloo Region Record Waterloo Regional Police Association Weber Supply Company Inc. Wesco Distribution Canada LP Westmount Golf & Country Club Ltd WHITNEY & Company Realty Limited Wilfrid Laurier University Wilke Movers Ltd William Knell and Company Ltd Woeller Group Inc. Your Neighbourhood Credit Union Youth in Conflict with the Law Zehr Group
advocate March | April 2021
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Access Student
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Connecting small businesses with post-secondary students
In partnership and funded in part by:
Learn how students can help your business today! Contact Gabriella Tangney at gtangney@greaterkwchamber.com
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Our Educational Partners
Canada's Innovation Corridor Business Council Four years ago Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade between Waterloo Region and Toronto formed the Canada's Innovation Corridor Business Council with representation from Brampton, Cambridge, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Halton Hills, Hamilton, Milton and Mississauga. The original mandate was to optimize economic opportunities within the growing Innovation Corridor and lobby for appropriate infrastructure support most notably improved passenger rail service. The group was also active in the establishment of Next Generation Manufacturing Canada, the recipient of funding under the Super Cluster Innovation Fund to support the integration of Canadian advanced manufacturing and IT resources. The work of the Business Council is strongly supported by many business and institutional partners and we thank them for making the Waterloo Region-Toronto Corridor a premier location for investment, research, and job creation.
Thanks to the Greater KW Chamber partners that sponsor our efforts on this important initiative.
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Waterloo Region Vaccine Implementation Plan The past year has been one like no other. We have been asked to change the way we live, work and interact with others. As a community, we’ve responded collectively. We have rallied together to follow public health guidelines and to make sacrifices for the greater good of Waterloo Region. While we were doing our part to stop the spread of Covid-19, experts around the world worked tirelessly to develop a safe and efficacious COVID-19 vaccine. Thankfully, their efforts paid off and communities across the world began receiving vaccine shipments of PfizerBioNtech and Moderna vaccine – including Waterloo Region. But, before the vaccine shipment arrived, a Waterloo Region Vaccine Distribution Task Force, comprised of key stakeholders, was assembled to develop and implement a comprehensive framework for the Vaccination Implementation Plan, for all eligible Waterloo Region residents, in a safe and equitable manner. The Vaccine Implementation Plan is a large, logistical operation requiring detailed, yet “flexible,” planning, established by limited and inconsistent vaccine supply, which is aligned with the provincial three phase implementation framework. As outlined by the Province, the first phase prioritizes health care workers, essential caregivers, long-term care home and high risk retirement home residents. Planning and outreach to leaders in First Nation communities and urban Indigenous populations, including Métis and Inuit adults is also underway as part of the first phase of rollout. The second phase will focus on essential workers, adults 60-75+, at risk populations, and those individuals with highrisk chronic conditions. Phase three, which is anticipated to begin later in 2021, will see vaccines widely available across Waterloo Region for anyone who wishes to be immunized. The strategy to administer the vaccine in Waterloo Region is a layered community approach, which encompasses the strength of a Community Engagement and Outreach working group that assists in guiding meaningful engagement to support the overall vaccine roll-out. This ensures the distribution plan reflects and best meets the needs of all citizens of Waterloo Region in an equitable manner. The clinical approaches utilized to deploy the vaccine are hospital clinics, fixed public health vaccine clinics, mobile and on-site clinics, primary care settings, and pharmacies. At present, Pfizer-BioNtech is the only vaccine allocated and administered in Waterloo Region. However, planning does include the administering of the Moderna vaccine and will be adapted when other vaccines are approved through Health Canada. As expected, there were logistical challenges presented surrounding the unique and complex technical specifications of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, including time-sensitive transportation, temperature controlled and monitored storage, management, handling, and distribution. When the Region of Waterloo received its first batch of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine on December 21, 2020, its arrival
was carefully planned with increased security. It was properly stored in adherence to security and temperature protocols. Management of the first stationary clinic at Grand River Hospital was well underway prior to the shipment arriving, allowing health care staff to begin vaccination administration the very next day. To ensure the vaccine’s first dose was administered to as many people as soon as possible, mobile clinical teams were developed that saw health care staff visit long-term care and high risk retirement homes in the community once the PfizerBioNtech vaccine was approved to be transported. This began on January 12, 2021 and by January 22, 2021, all eligible long-term care and high risk retirement home residents had received their first-round vaccination. This was no small feat. It was the result of taskforce members and experts from across the Region meeting, volunteering, improvising, adapting and dedicating themselves to making this community healthier and stronger. Unfortunately, hit with news of reductions in vaccine supply, clinics had to be paused for first-round vaccination in late January, but a focus remained on the administration of second doses. It’s important to note that information changes daily and that we will continue to pivot as quickly as possible, to ensure the continued success of this vaccine program. As well, careful planning must go into monitoring and reporting on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines and ongoing communication regarding public health awareness and education. This includes a strong message for residents to continue following public health guidelines – stay socially distanced, enhance cleaning and sanitization, wear a mask. These measures have been instrumental in helping stop the infection rate and must continue. Our goal is to see vaccination rates rise and positive COVID-19 cases fall - and we need your help to do that. As we move forward, we must acknowledge and thank YOU – the residents of Waterloo Region who have remained patient, hopeful and kind to one another. The support of this community throughout the pandemic has been empowering. The dedication of those involved behind the scenes and on the frontlines since the beginning of this pandemic has been inspiring. Let’s continue to work together to ensure the successful, safe rollout of this vaccine, as we all look forward to returning to life as we once knew it. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deputy Chief Shirley Hilton Shirley Hilton is in her 31st year with the Waterloo Regional Police Service and, in December 2020, was appointed to head the Task Force for vaccine distribution in the Waterloo Region.
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Rapid Transit is the Catalyst to Kick-start the Economy For over two years now the Connect the Corridor coalition has been hard at work in trying to make fast, frequent twoway all day GO service along the Kitchener line a reality. The steady progress made to date has been possible only through the tight collaboration between the region’s large employers, local leaders, chambers of commerce, boards of trade, universities and average citizens who stand united in bringing the corridor closer together and sharing the economic benefits that follow. Then of course the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. From how we work, to how our kids learn, to how we interact (or don’t) with one another. And though so many of us have had to adjust to this new reality the work for a better, postpandemic, future has continued on because we know that after so much time apart, investments in bringing the people and businesses across the Innovation Corridor closer together through rapid transit links is the catalyst we need both for the economy we want, and to kick start the economy we already have. The Innovation Corridor is home to major employers like Manulife, Sun Life, Toronto Pearson Airport and Google who, even now, still need to attract talent beyond their borders and get them to and from their jobs safely. The six major universities that line the Innovation Corridor (Toronto, York, Ryerson, Guelph, WLU, UW) all thrive on in class learning. Robotics, medicine, advanced research and engineering are just some of the academic disciplines that require fast-frequent transit to facilitate the kinds of hands-on learning they demand. COVID-19 also hasn’t stopped the explosive population growth happening in Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Brampton, and the GTHA. Ontario’s own projections show that close to 10.2 million people will call the GTA home by 2046 and let’s face it, we could also be facing a post-COVID population boom – a happy consequence of the lockdowns experienced by many families across the Province. Our current infrastructure just isn’t built to handle that type of demand in the long term. And in the immediate, the pent up demand for getting back to normal coupled with the 401 corridor being already bumper-to-bumper pre-pandemic means an astronomical environmental and economic cost if we all jump back in to our cars to resume even a fraction of in person meetings, or to visit a cherished friend.
Pre-pandemic demand along the Kitchener corridor was already high. Average weekday daily rail boardings were up by approximately 23% since 2015; and Sun Life alone reported 50,000 employee trips between their offices in Toronto and Waterloo over a 7 month period; so, if you build it… they will come. We continue our advocacy, even during this unprecedented time, because we know that fast, frequent two-way all day GO service along the Innovation Corridor, could be the most important investment this province and country can make; delivering $17.5 billion in direct annual GDP, $1 Billion in construction and procurement over 5 years and more than 170,000 high-quality jobs by 2025. Recent announcements by Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney and the Government of Ontario point to good progress in addressing some of today’s challenges by committing to building for tomorrow. But we can’t be shy of taking the next tangible step and we will remain steadfast in bringing this message to leaders across the province as the Ontario government prepares for a spring budget. This is a time to accelerate our progress as our economic recovery will depend on a thriving, connected, Innovation Corridor — after months of being apart and with hope on the horizon, investing in bringing us closer together is key to our collective recovery.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Ball Chris Ball is the strategic communications lead for Connect the Corridor; a coalition of job creators, universities and major employers along the Innovation Corridor, advocating for fast, frequent, two-way all day rail service and all its economic benefits for this vital economic zone.
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Empathy and Agility in Times of Disruption How has your life changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you shop differently? Have your mobility patterns changed? For many of us, our behaviour over the past 12 months has been defined by change. Deloitte has been fortunate to witness many organizations and small businesses embracing these behavioural shifts with the courage to think and do differently. The innovative mindset of the Kitchener-Waterloo (KW) business community could provide a new perspective for other organizations across Canada hoping to adapt to this new consumer landscape. Disruption, although exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is a constant feature in our world. Organizations that remain resistant to change are placing a risky bet on their futures. In contrast, learning from the accelerated shifts in consumer attitudes and behaviour will generate great resilience for businesses moving forward.
Attitudes and agility: Open to change and primed for disruption The businesses based in KW have a culture of innovation and this mindset has helped them to identify new opportunities in a time of disruption. Small businesses and scaling organizations are generally nimble and more accustomed to uncertainty. These agile organizations were able to pivot quickly during the restrictions implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19, adopting new ways of doing business. Mark Hall, head of marketing at eleven-x—a company that specializes in wireless data communication—explained that when the initial lockdown began in March 2020, business leaders in eleven-x needed to create a plan to meet their organization’s service level commitments as a fully distributed workforce. “Our teams did a fantastic job running our coastto-coast network from home and our service level never dipped below 100 percent uptime. This is an amazing feat and we were able to accomplish it because the team pulled together. Now we have the confidence to say we can work differently.” The ability to unite as a team and reimagine what’s possible is key to capitalizing on your organization’s appetite for thinking differently during times of flux.
Beliefs: Understanding needs and creating value Agility is important, but it is crucial that decisions are rooted in customer needs and backed up by data. The disruption the pandemic brought to bricks-and-mortar retail provided Piinpoint—a company that offers data-powered
retail insights—an opportunity to better understand their customers’ needs. The chief product officer, Sarah Steiner, explains that “we focus on being of service to our customers, this means being willing to live in that moment of uncertainty with them so that we can understand their needs and keep our solutions relevant.” Listening to customers then using evidence and data to help them make decisions ensures businesses continue to create value for all stakeholders.
Structures: Evolving toward a more human workplace During the pandemic, we have seen drastic changes to where and how we work. Many employees are balancing work while caring for family members, setting up an office at their dining room table, or working in environments that require them to wear personal protective equipment. Many of us have been learning new ways to communicate as we connect with colleagues through virtual channels. This can be challenging, but it is also an opportunity for employers and businesses to listen and make changes to their talent proposition. We’ve shifted away from face-to-face interactions as distributed workforces become more common. But the human need for social connection at work is essential. Organizations tuned into the needs and feelings of their employees have a significant advantage in their ability to attract and retain top talent. The future is full of uncertainty—you must ensure your organization makes informed decisions quickly with scenariobased planning and approaches relationships with empathy. Foster a culture and create structures that embed agility and creativity in everything you do. We believe the organizations that can do this will be best placed to identify new ways of doing business and, ultimately, be positioned to thrive.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kyra Jones Kyra Jones brings deep knowledge of living systems to her work designing and delivering breakthroughs in the Deloitte Greenhouse. She designs ground-breaking approaches to tackle wicked problems, making her impact on leaders highly valued and sought after.
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RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
RBC Dominion Securities Waterloo is hiring new Investment Advisors RBC Dominion Securities in Waterloo is seeking motivated individuals for a fulfilling career in the wealth management industry. If you’re looking for the support you need to build a successful career, RBC Dominion Securities offers several advantages:
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For more details, please contact Vice-President and Branch Manager Mark Hodson at 519-747-7790 or mark.hodson@rbc.com. We value diversity in the workplace, are committed to Employment Equity and will provide reasonable workplace accommodation to applicants with disabilities. RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. is a member company of RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. ®Registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. ©2017 RBC Dominion Securities Inc. All rights reserved. 17_90561_001
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The Resurgence of the Hospitality Sector As we approach the eleven-month mark since we first closed our doors due to COVID-19, I feel a renewed sense of optimism once again as daily case counts, positivity rates and hospitalizations trend downward. I am hopeful that we are nearing the end of the ‘second wave’. Like so many small businesses, our teams are currently making plans to re-launch based on a myriad of potential scenarios – will we be allowed to open for outdoor dining only? Will we have any opportunity to serve indoors? If so, will we be capped at ten Guests regardless of the size of our buildings? Will it be fifty Guests? Will we be allowed to maximize our capacity based on spacing criteria? All of this remains up in the air and puts our industry in a position to ‘game out’ each of these paths for readiness. Each scenario requires different thinking with respect to product ordering, scheduling of staff and how best to deploy our finite capital resources to maximize our opportunity upon re-opening. Should we be investing in more outdoor heaters and furniture for expanded patios or should we be focused on innovations around air filters or plexiglass as dividers? There has been constant pivoting in our industry over the past year – full-serve restaurants have quickly developed online ordering platforms and curbside pick-up protocols. With changing legislation where liquor service is concerned many licensees became pop-up retail liquor or beer stores. Meal kits, cocktail kits, grocery packs – our industry reacted swiftly and creatively in so many ways. Without being able to serve inside our four walls, we truly had to think ‘outside of the box’. Restaurants have adjusted many internal systems and protocols around COVID as well. More than fifty standards of operation were changed in our company alone. Everything from masks and eye protection to single use menus, table cleaning protocols to contact tracing systems were implemented to ensure the safety and comfort of both our Guests and Team Members.
we must all do everything possible to eliminate COVID from our community, we must also be aware of the long-term impact of joblessness and isolation and the secondary and tertiary effects that will follow the pandemic. An important aspect of this for the hospitality industry is facilitating any and all expanded patio opportunities as well as safely and sensibly maximizing internal capacity. Every eight tables we are permitted to seat, translates to seven full-time jobs and seven members of our community getting back to work. Throughout the first wave, one topic that was discussed often in media and ‘safely distanced’ social circles, was how the pandemic might affect our behaviours and habits long after it is over. Will people dine out again? While I am sure that there have been lasting shifts in how we live our lives and how we spend our time, I believe that we have all grown to value human contact and social experiences to a greater degree than ever before. Upon re-opening last June, it was extremely gratifying to receive the incredible support from our communities when they did indeed join us in great numbers to re-connect with family, friends and our amazing teams. I am even more optimistic today that the same will be true upon this next re-opening. I firmly believe that just like after the last pandemic we are on the precipice of the ‘Roaring 20’s’.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jody Palubiski Jody Palubiski is a partner and the CEO of the Charcoal Group of Restaurants
Entering the next phase of the pandemic, it is imperative that our local, provincial and federal governments are working in concert with urgency and a shared purpose to get our communities safely back to work – one job at a time. While
advocate March | April 2021
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Helping Us Make Our Vision Possible A special Thank You to each of these Chamber Sponsors.
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The Giddy family have been providing personalized and caring services in Fergus & Elora since 1981 and are devoted to providing their compassionate services to the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Whether your wishes are traditional or modern, a memorial service or celebration of life, we offer a diverse range of services that are personally tailored to suit your needs. If you have any questions regarding burial or cremation services, please call or feel free to stop in – we are always available.
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member notables
Member Notables Major Announcement on Additional Service at YKF On February 10, 2021, Flair Airlines announced a formal arrangement with the Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) to provide non-stop domestic air service to Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Halifax multiple times weekly. The current anticipated start of service is May 1, 2021 pending the lifting of COVID-19 travel restrictions. Launched in 2017, Flair Airlines is Canada’s only independent ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC) and provides customer service at a much lower price. As of December 2020, Flair has flown almost 18,000 flights with approximately 2.3 million passengers. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, they will expand service from 10 to 19 Canadian destinations. A February 10 news release from the Region of Waterloo International Airport notes that Flair’s new non-stop service will help drive our regional economy through tourism, job creation, and the purchase of local goods and services.
Execulink Makes First Donation of 2021 to Emergency Shelter Fundraising Campaign Woodstock-based Execulink Telecom has made their first 2021 community donation to the Coldest Night of the Year initiative. The Coldest Night of the Year Walk, founded 11 years ago in Kitchener-Waterloo, is now held in more than 150 cities across Canada with each municipality raising funds for a local shelter. The Woodstock Coldest Night of the Year event is donating all proceeds to The Inn of Oxford, the county’s only emergency shelter. Support of local community initiatives is a regular practice at Execulink Telecom. President and CEO Ian Stevens noted in a company media release that “our service communities are also our homes. This is as simple for us as supporting our family in a time of need and we are delighted to be able to do so.”
Senior Management Changes at Accelerator Centre Paul Salvini, who served as Chief Executive Officer of the Waterloo Accelerator Centre (AC) from 2014 to 2020, recently departed to assume the position of Global Chief Technology Officer for VFX and animation company DNEG. Julie Barker-Merz, Accelerator Centre board chair, noted in an organization news release that Paul’s leadership has positioned them to confidently continue on a trajectory of excellence while forging an even stronger future that continues to respond to the changing innovation ecosystem. Looking to the future, the AC is well-positioned for leading in the sector. John Stevens, Vice President Strategy and External Relations, is leading the organization during the search for Dr. Salvini’s replacement. John is a long-serving Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce volunteer on the Federal and Provincial Affairs Committee.
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Member Notables WLU Launches Master of Supply Chain Management Supply chains have become increasingly complex at the national and global level during the COVID-19 pandemic, with consumers demanding goods at a rapidly accelerating pace. The Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) recently established the Master of Supply Chain Management, a graduate program designed for professionals looking to advance their careers across the industry. Applications are now being accepted for the first cohort in September of 2021. A Laurier news release from January 25, 2021 notes that the curriculum will supply a strong analytics component to ensure the program is future-focused and graduates are future-ready. Classes will be conducted on Fridays and Saturdays to accommodate working professionals. The Master of Supply Chain Management program will also incorporate the latest best practices in computer modelling and process design to keep graduates ahead of the curve as they navigate this dynamic business environment.
Record Alumni Donation for Conestoga College Montreal native Bernard Forster, a 1974 graduate of Conestoga College’s Broadcasting – Radio & Television program, has provided a contribution of $250,019.70 to support the expansion and growth of the institution’s School of Creative Industries. The donation is the largest from a graduate in school history. Forster commenced his studies at Conestoga in 1970 when the college had a total enrolment of approximately 1,200 students and translated the skills and knowledge he gained into a successful and rewarding 25-year career with CBC Television. Now retired, Forster views education as “the great equalizer” and looks back on his Conestoga education as the catalyst that gave him the opportunity to learn, grow and prosper. “We are very grateful for this gift which will have a significant impact on our School of Creative Industries,” said Conestoga President John Tibbits in an institutional release. “While Conestoga graduates are widely recognized for their many contributions to the success, well-being and prosperity of the businesses and communities they serve, Mr. Forster’s decision to invest in the success of future generations of graduates is a remarkable testament to his personal generosity as well as his commitment to our college.”
United Way Waterloo Region Communities Distributes over $4.6 Million United Way Waterloo Region Communities (UWWRC) recently announced the distribution of $4,600,753.55 to 129 local agencies and programs across Waterloo Region during 2020. Funds distributed include donations via the COVID-19 Community Fund, which was created in March of 2020 to respond to immediate community needs related to the pandemic, as well as the General Community Fund, which was modernized to be more responsive to all community needs and local solutions. “It is very heartening to see, during a year when many experienced unforeseen difficulties, our community come together and support so many people in Waterloo Region,” said UWWRC CEO Joan Fisk in a February 9, 2021 news release. “It is only through the generosity of donors that many of our local support services and programs are still able to be there for those in need.”
advocate March | April 2021
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