J a n u a r y | F e b r u a r y 2022
Re-opening Challenges & Opportunities in the New Year
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14 Meet the 2021-22 Board of Directors
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17 Our Communities are United in Optimism and Unconventional Transformations Dr. Vivek Goel
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25 Together We Can Make an Impact on Affordable Housing in Our Community Elizabeth Heald
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29 Time to Go Back: An Employment Law Perspective Matthew Dewar
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departments Message from the Chair
New Members
4 Reopening and Preparing for a Return to Work Adam Smith
10 October 1, 2021 –
Message from the President
13 Event Highlights
5 Continued Government Action to Support Recovery Ian McLean
Events
Advocacy
Member Notables
7 Joe Biden and Returning to
Work in Ottawa Art Sinclair
Perspective on Health Care
KW4 Ontario Health Team Joseph Lee
8 We Are in It Together:
November 30, 2021 Networking
20 Mark Your Calendar 36 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.
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advocate January | February 2022
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message from the chair
Reopening and Preparing for a Return to Work A frequent topic of discussion around workplaces, either virtual or in-person, for the last two years has been that when you started working from home in March 2020, when did you expect a return to the office? Many of us remember former United States President Donald Trump indicating America would be returning to normal by Easter. That prediction now provides an assessment of how deep and serious the COVID-19 virus cut into the lives and activities of residents and businesses across the globe. Preparations were made and actions taken in both Canada and the United States however in retrospect no one accurately knew the potential damage the virus would inflict. Since March of 2020, the world economy has been focused on limiting the spread of the virus that placed life on hold and overwhelmed health care and related service providers. However, in the winter of 2022, the major positive development which has offset previous anxieties and challenges is the introduction of vaccines. Vaccinations are the silver bullet to end COVID-19. In fact, they are the only thing to protect our businesses, families, and communities. Around the world, including Canada, virtually all new COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations are occurring among unvaccinated people. Where vaccines are available, there is no reason that anyone should get seriously sick or contract the virus. The challenge for Canadian governments is to ensure as many Canadians as possible obtain a vaccine so we can safely open and sustain our economy. This imperative leads to the debate of whether vaccinations should be mandatory. As of late November, the Ontario government had not mandated vaccines for hospital workers, indicating they are not jeopardizing the delivery of care to millions of Ontarians. Premier Ford has called the issue complex and could result in the potential departure of tens and thousands of health care workers. The province has committed to a flexible approach by leaving human resource decisions up to individual hospitals. By late November, announcements on employee terminations at Waterloo Region healthcare institutions dominated local media reports. A concern was evident across the public over the ability to properly staff our hospitals however adequate protection for employees and patients was paramount. Across Ontario it has been strongly recommended that all employers implement a workplace vaccine policy to protect
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their employees and the public. Promoting vaccine use is highly important to help reduce workplace outbreaks and build confidence for a safe return to work. The vaccine is safe and highly effective at reducing virus spread and protecting against serious illness. All public and private sector workplaces and their employees should however always remember the extraordinary efforts of essential workers in healthcare, food, social services and related functions. While many of us have been able to work in locations that limit our exposure to the virus, essential workers continue to provide services in high-risk environments, particularly in the early days of the pandemic when personal protection equipment and knowledge of COVID-19 were limited. By taking cautious and analytical approaches, drafting appropriate workplace policies to protect employees and clients, and adhering to masking and distancing requirements, we can all exit the pandemic and re-start the local economy. By working together with all levels of government, not-for-profit service providers and our business colleagues the possibilities for a better Waterloo Region are endless. Let’s get moving!
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
Continued Government Action to Support Recovery With debate swirling around vaccinations as the tool necessary to end COVID, all governments across Canada must realize that continued support for businesses in the hardest hit sectors certainly are necessary so these businesses can survive and be ready to bring our local and national economies back to life, post pandemic. Importantly, it is crucial to note that re-opening does not mean full recovery for many business sectors. My good friend and colleague Jan De Silva, CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade recently wrote in The Toronto Star there are several critical priorities for the newly elected federal government’s immediate attention. These priorities will assist businesses to reopen and be the engine to drive the economy forward. First, small businesses across Canada need a fighting chance to get past survival and onto thriving. So the federal government must ensure cash flow support programs are in place to make sure hard hit sectors can survive until revenues rise to pre-pandemic levels that will allow these businesses to hire, pay their debt and drive economic growth. In late October, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce noted that the federal government’s recent and on-going delays for extending the desperately needed wage and rent subsidy programs only added additional stress for millions of small businesses and their employees – something that was both unnecessary and avoidable. An unwarranted fall election was the prime culprit for this unwelcome pause in decision making. In every community across the country, are households that depend on jobs from their local small businesses. In hard-hit sectors like travel, tourism, and food services that dependence is especially pronounced. These hardest hit businesses were the first to close and among the last to re-open. As we get closer to the finish line, it is imperative that we continue to support these entrepreneurs and their employees. While the House of Commons remained in recess after the September 2021 federal election, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the government would be taking “targeted action” to create jobs and economic growth. This new approach would move from broad-based business support required at the height of lockdowns to more targeted measures where required. Yet still no details. The rent relief and wage subsidy programs will not be continuing, while the modestly used Canada Recovery Hiring Program will be extended until May 7, 2022, for eligible employers meeting revenue loss thresholds. In addition, the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program are in place as substitutes and
have minimum revenue loss levels to qualify. Early indications are that far too many small businesses will fall through the cracks. Business owners in the devastated tourism and service sectors have rightly said that the wage and rent subsidies were the only options keeping them in operation. The owner of a Toronto dance studio told Global News his business was operating on about 30 percent of pre-pandemic revenue and relevant government programs increased cash flow to allow payments on essentials like rent, electricity and wages. Minister Freeland indicated the country is now in a new phase where more modest and limited programs are replacing more universal access options that were cancelled. While the business community hopes the federal assessment is correct and the economic crisis is heading to an end, it is important to remember that re-opening does not mean full recovery for so many businesses. An editorial in the Waterloo Region Record noted that the support programs that ended in October 2021 were replaced by less generous, more restricted and harder to access alternatives, that leave many Canadians justifiably worried and wondering whether Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are removing these most effective safety nets when much of the country is still precariously perched on the pandemic economic tightrope. This same Record editorial also noted the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program likely will be establishing eligibility thresholds that are simply too high to assist businesses that need it most. The same fear exists for the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program where businesses could go under because however much they suffered large revenue drops, it didn’t seem to be enough for the federal government. The Record editorial concludes this is an issue that demands precise and ongoing attention from the recently elected House of Commons. Even more reasons Canadians should not have had to wait two months for Parliament to reconvene. Now that they are back in Ottawa- get to work- fast!!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ian McLean Ian is President and CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
advocate January | February 2022
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Access Student
Talent
Connecting small businesses with post-secondary students
Work with students in a variety of ways: co-op work terms field placements capstone projects and more!
Learn how students can help your business! The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce’s Access Student Talent program helps to connect small businesses and not for profit organizations with post-secondary students. We make it easier for small businesses to engage with students by providing resources and connections to our education partners.
In partnership and funded in part by:
www.bher.ca
Our Educational Partners:
Contact Allison Mitchell
Stay Connected Stay Connected
(519) 576-5000 ext. 6056
Access Student Talent Program
amitchell@greaterkwchamber.com greaterkwchamber.com/ast
@AST_GKWCC & @GKWCC greaterkwchamber.com/ast
advocacy
Joe Biden and Returning to Work in Ottawa Returning to the office or “normal” life has been a priority for both employers and employees. The exception is Canadian Parliament. Some of us recall that a federal election was conducted on September 20, 2021. The House of Commons with an extremely low number of newly-elected MPs returned to Ottawa for their first formal session on November 22 – an event which occurred a full two months after the vote. Arguments on timing aside, there is a heavy volume of items for the legislative agenda, particularly from corporate Canada. Businesses and the Canadians they employ, according to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, are anxious for Parliament to resume and deliver measures that will initiate and sustain economic growth. The focus of the new government should be a competitive tax and regulatory system, securing talent for employers across Canada, trade enabling infrastructure, and foreign policy reform. Robert Asselin of the Business Council of Canada noted the economy does not appear to be the focus or a priority for the new cabinet. The current shortage of skilled workers, for example, needs an elevated level of collaboration between government and business to transfer and integrate qualified people into high demand occupations. Perhaps the most ominous and challenging question for the Trudeau administration is their future relationship with American President Joe Biden and the subsequent impact on Canadian business. The Waterloo Region Record published an intriguing editorial on November 15, 2021, stating that it is now the current Democrat, not the real estate developer who left the Oval Office in January, who is providing Ottawa with challenges. A compatible relationship similar to the relatively short partnership between Justin Trudeau and Barack Obama, which included endorsements following endorsements, seemed guaranteed with President Biden but has not materialized. In his first day of office and by convention his first opportunity to function as President, Biden cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline which was annoying to the federal cabinet and devastating to the Alberta cabinet lead by Premier Jason Kenney. The Record editorial also referenced the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline and Washington’s absence from the on-going dispute between Michigan and everyone north (and some south) of the border.
The decision on Keystone was probably sufficient energy controversy for President Biden and he has determined that Michigan can solve their own problems – or at least attempt to solve Enbridge. Voters and businesses in the Midwest states are nervous because energy supplies in Ohio, Michigan and beyond are sourced from Alberta and arrive through Line 5. The Build Back Better plan passed recently by Congress offering huge incentives for American consumers to purchase American made electric vehicles rather than Canadian manufactured models is quite popular within the White House. Passage would lead manufacturers to invest in American plants like they invested in Canada a half century ago from the Auto Pact and Medicare. Flavio Volpe of the Canadian-based Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association called the proposed incentives a bigger threat than anything pointed at us by Donald Trump. Also, as noted by Don Pitts in a November 22, 2021, CBC article, the incentives are directed to electric vehicles and batteries made by unionized labour in the United States. The Ontario electric vehicle strategy announced by Premier Ford will be stalled like a 1959 Ford Edsel against the American action. Three decades ago, when Bob Rae assumed the Premier’s Office at Queen’s Park, his Finance Minister Floyd Laughren delivered a then-unthinkable 1991 spring budget carrying a deficit of $10 billon plus. Protestors from Bay Street – people wearing expensive suits and waving placards – descended on the front lawn of the Legislature demanding more fiscal discretion. The message to the government of a speaker from one of these budget protests was that you as elected officials work for us – not the other way around. Same rules apply today and tomorrow. Hopefully Ottawa is listening to Canadian voters like Biden can hear Americans.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Art Sinclair Art is Vice President Policy and Advocacy for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.
advocate January | February 2022
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perspective on health care
We Are in It Together: KW4 Ontario Health Team In 2019, the Ministry of Health announced the creation of Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) to replace the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). The aim of OHTs is to provide a new way of organizing and delivering care that is more connected to patients in their local communities. Under OHTs, health care providers such as hospitals, physicians, other clinicians, long term care homes and home and community care providers, will work as one coordinated team in all settings. In Kitchener, Waterloo, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich (KW4), 31 organizations that provide health, wellness and community-based social services, came together in May, 2019 to apply for this new vision of health and care delivery locally. The process included community consultations with health, municipal and social service agencies and a decision was made to prioritize populations that are socially vulnerable, have inequitable access to services and face complex barriers to care. Three initial target groups were chosen including those who are homeless or precariously housed, the elderly experiencing frailty and refugee newcomers to our community. Mental health and addictions and the urban/rural service planning contexts were acknowledged as overarching lenses which require consideration for each priority group.
The KW4 OHT currently comprises 39 member organizations which are the OHT. An OHT isn’t an entity in and of itself. It’s the work of the members that are moving health care forward for the betterment of our community with greater value for money, greater patient, family and provider satisfaction and improved health outcomes. This is an exciting time for health care in our region. Despite exhaustion and burnout suffered with the pandemic response, member organizations are genuinely committed to collaborate together with patients, families and care partners to design and implement our Ontario Health Team and bring connected care to the communities we serve. As the KW4 OHT moves forward, work is being accomplished through working groups, various councils and committees. This collaboration involves about 400 people tackling equitable access to health care, digital & virtual care, mental health and addictions, data and continuous improvement, and many other important areas. With many good people involved in this community, the future looks promising. Together we share a commitment to a healthcare system that works better for everyone in our community where everyone thrives, and no one is left behind.
The KW4 group received approval as an Ontario Health Team in November 2020. Its goal is a health and wellness system for all 400,000 residents that offers seamless, interconnected care and continuity across providers, including hospitals, primary care, long term care and social and community agencies. The OHT philosophy of organizational and inter-sectoral care collaborations for optimal health outcomes has been successfully tested during the COVID-19 pandemic response where the good, bad and ugly parts of our health care system were exposed. Key lessons were rapidly learned. The pandemic demonstrated that virtual care was able to be quickly implemented and it was possible to successfully scale collaborative models for mobile primary care, virtual monitoring and screening to respond to urgent needs. These changes occurred as a response to the global health crisis and will help pave the way for the evolution of the system redesign that will take place over the next several years.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joseph Lee MD, CCFP, FCFP, MClSc(FM) Joe is a family physician who chairs the KW4 OHT steering committee, the Centre for Family Medicine and the e-Health Centre of Excellence. He’s the primary care lead for KW4 and married to Dr. Linda Lee.
Thank you to our dedicated sponsors for helping the Chamber continue its goal of eliminating the doctor shortage in Waterloo Region.
PLATINUM
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COMMUNITY
Individual Contributors
AL HAYES
IAN MCLEAN
new members
October 1 – November 30, 2021 9326405 Canada Inc. o/a Design Your Reality Financial Planning Consultants Tracy Teskey, President tracy@designyourreality.ca designyourreality.ca Phone: (519) 500-6646
Adify, Inc.
Advertising Agencies & Consultants Talha Mian, Owner tmian@adify.ca adify.ca Phone: (855) 234-3955
Allianz Global Assistance
Insurance Chris Van Kooten, CEO 700 Jamieson Parkway Cambridge, ON N3C 4N6 infocanada@allianz-assistance.ca allianz-assistance.ca Phone: (519) 742-2800
Anishnabeg Outreach Employment and Training Inc. Charitable, Not For Profit & Community Orgs Stephen Jackson, CEO 236 Woodhaven Road Kitchener, ON N2C 1V5 stephen@aocan.org aocan.org Phone: (226) 972-1900
ApplyBoard
Educational Technology Dan Weber, Senior Director Innovation & Strategy 101 Frederick Street, Suite 600 Kitchener, ON N2H 6R3 help@applyboard.com appyboard.com Phone: (519) 900-6001
Arabella Aesthetic Clinic Inc
Health & Beauty Tina Le, Owner 9 Cameron Street North Kitchener, ON N2P 2Z9 ArabellaAestheticClinic@outlook.com ArabellaAestheticClinic.com Phone: (519) 731-0742
Aspen Films Inc.
Video Production Tianna Neudorf, Sales Administration 2 Bloor Street East, Suite 3500 Toronto, ON M4W 1A8 tianna@aspenfilms.ca aspenfilms.ca Phone: (647) 389-2418
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Brent West - Dominion Lending Centres - Forest City Funding Mortgage Brokers Brent West, Mortgage Agent 672 Woolwich Street Guelph, ON N1H 3Z1 brentwest@dominionlending.ca brentwest.ca Phone: (519) 379-1698
Ce Food Experience, The Bakery Bakeries Ce Smith, Owner/Baker 136 Moore Avenue South Waterloo, ON N2J 1X5 Cecelia@cefoodexperience.ca cefoodexperience.ca Phone: (519) 635-5080
CHANGE Lifestyle & Apparel
Bullseye Corporate
Communication & Public Relations Consultants Crystal Quast, Founder quast@bullseyecorporate.com bullseyecorporate.com Phone: (647) 529-6364
Retail Dan Vandermolen, Owner 1440 King Street North, Unit 2 St Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0 sales@changeapparel.ca changeapparel.ca Phone: (226) 750-9371
Canada Movers
Coalition of Muslim Women of KW
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)
Digital Sabbath Film Company
Moving & Storage Chris Campbell, General Manager 515 Conestoga Road Waterloo, ON N2L 4C9 chris.campbell@canadamoving.com canadamoving.com Phone: (519) 884-1230
Associations & Organizations Josefa Michaelson, Advisor Eastern Region Citizen Engagement 350-7th Avenue SW, Suite 2100 Calgary, AB T2P 3N9 josefa.michaelson@capp.ca capp.ca Phone: (905) 621-0818
Charitable, Not For Profit & Community Orgs Fauzia Marhar, Executive Director 65 Hanson Avenue Kitchener, ON N2C 2H6 info@cmw-kw.org cmw-kw.org Phone: (519) 576-0540 Film Studio & Producers Taylor Jones Executive Producer/Partner taylor@digitalsabbath.ca digitalsabbath.ca Phone: (226) 349-4474
eHealth Centre of Excellence
Entertainment Shelly Jo Courtney, Owner/Operator 3734 King Street East Kitchener, ON N2P 2G5 customerservice@canoethegrand.com canoeingthegrand.com Phone: (519) 896-0290
Charitable, Not For Profit & Community Orgs Danika Voisin, VP of People & Corporate Services 235 The Boardwalk, Suite 301 Kitchener, ON N2N 0B1 communications@eHealthce.ca eHealthce.ca Phone: (519) 885-0606
CAVA Granite
Elmira Door + Trim Ltd
Canoeing the Grand
Home Improvements & Renovations Adrian Cristea, Owner 1358 Victoria Street North Kitchener, ON N2B 3E2 contact@cavagranite.com cavagranite.com Phone: (519) 208-5540
Millwork Mike Woroch, Owner 35 Union Street, Unit 2 Elmira, ON N3B 2Y3 mike@elmiradoorandtrim.com elmiradoorandtrim.com Phone: (519) 590-4236
new members
October 1 – November 30, 2021 Esta Chocolates
Chocolate Abe Hacioglu, President 550 Parkside Drive, Unit D5 Waterloo, ON N2L 5V4 ebru@estachocolates.com estachocolates.com Phone: (519) 886-7000
Euro Reflections Hair Studio Hair Salons Tania Duca, Owner 251 Highland Road West Kitchener, ON N2M 3C3 euroreflections@gmail.com euroreflections.ca Phone: (519) 570-2117
Family & Children's Services of the Waterloo Region Foundation Charitable, Not For Profit & Community Orgs Jill Stoddart, Foundation Director 65 Hanson Avenue Kitchener, ON N2C 2H6 jill.stoddard@facswaterloo.org FACSwaterloo.org Phone: (519) 576-0540
Family Movers Tri-City
Moving & Storage Al Hammoud, Owner 290 Marsland Drive Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z1 Signaturesales@hotmail.com familymovers.ca Phone: (226) 240-1070
Flair Airlines
Airline Companies Jamina Kotak, Chief of Staff 1000 Airport Road, Unit 4032 Edmonton, AB T9E 0V3 jamina.kotak@flyflair.com flyflair.com Phone: (855) 936-5656
Geosource Energy Inc.
Geothermal Energy Darryl Chow, Director Marketing & Sales 1508 Hwy 54 Caledonia, ON N3W 2G9 dchow@geosourceenergy.com geosourceenergy.com Phone: (905) 765-6950
Ginger Goat Inc.
Food & Beverage Kris Ronan, Founder 634 Strasburg Road, Unit 6 Kitchener, ON N2E 2G8 hay@gingergoat.ca gingergoat.ca
Good Company Productions Media Production Amit Mehta, Co-Founder 44 Gaukel Street Kitchener, ON N2G 4P3 hello@goodcoprod.ca goodcompanyproductions.ca Phone: (905) 691-6757
Guelph Nighthawks Professional Basketball Club
Sports Associations & Organizations Nicole Greco, Director Partnership & Membership 55 Wyndam Street North, Unit T7 Guelph, ON N1H 7T8 info@thenighthawks.ca thenighthawks.ca Phone: (548) 988-4295
H&R Holding
Business Consultants Belinda Beaulne, President 18 Driver Street St Clements, ON N0B 2M0 Phone: (519) 577-6491
Heitech Software Solutions
IT Consultants Tom Heiber, CEO 22 Frederick Street, Suite 700 Kitchener, ON N2H 6M6 info@heitechsoft.com heitechsoft.com Phone: (877) 434-2371
Home Care Assistance Ontario Corp., dba Comfort Keepers of Kitchener & Waterloo
Home Health Care Service Dahlia Joseph, Director 180 Northfield Drive West 1st floor, Unit 4 Waterloo, ON N2L 0C7 kitchenerwaterloo@comfortkeepers.ca comfortkeepers.ca/kitchener-waterloo Phone: (905) 689-2273
HongYan Precision Manufacturing Limited Manufacturers Arvind Chugh, CEO 105 Northland Road, Unit B Waterloo, ON N2V 1Y8 arvind@hpml.ca hpml.ca Phone: (226) 244-1751
Inspired Health and Nutrition Health & Wellness Kyla Shaw, Registered Holistic Nutritionist RHNkylashaw@gmail.com inspiredhealthandnutrition.com Phone: (519) 222-9429
Investment Funds Advisors, Michael Ellis and Lumi Mironescu Financial Services Michael Ellis, Investment Advisor 124 Kesselring Court Kitchener, ON N2H 5N1 mellis@mcwaterloo.on.ca investia.ca Phone: (519) 886-7300 Fax: (519) 886-7086
Kitchener Hypnosis
Health & Wellness Brenda Ford, Owner 41 Erb Street East Waterloo, ON N2J 1L7 brendaford713@gmail.com Phone: (226) 641-0645
LAUNCH Waterloo
Charitable, Not For Profit & Community Orgs Josie Bird, Director of Engagement & Marketing 137 Glasgow Street, Unit 210 Kitchener, ON N2G 4X8 info@launchwaterloo.ca launchwaterloo.ca Phone: (519) 807-1778
Lighthouse Inspection
Home Inspection Service Amir Khan, Inspector/Owner amir@lighthouseinspections.com lighthouseinspections.com Phone: (647) 854-0095
advocate January | February 2022
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new members
October 1 – November 30, 2021 Lindsay Coulter Photography
Photographers Lindsay Coulter, Owner/Photographer 2 King Street South, Unit 2 Waterloo, ON N2J 1N8 hello@lindsaycoulterphoto.com lindsaycoulterphoto.com Phone: (519) 616-1422
LVP Printing
Printers Laurie Voss, Owner Waterloo, ON laurievphoto@gmail.com LVPprinting.ca Phone: (519) 502-0809
MacKenzie Wealth Advisory Group Financial Services Taylor White Associate Investment Advisor 180 King Street South Suite 701, Allan Square Waterloo, ON N2J 1P8 taylor.white@nbc.ca nbfwm.ca/advisor/mackenzie-wealthadvisory-group.html Phone: (519) 742-4392
Modern PurAir
Air Quality Services Dean Wake, Owner 137 Goldschmidt Baden, ON N3A 4R6 dean.wake@modernpurair.com modernpurair.com Phone: (905) 302-0017
Obsidian Industrial Solutions Ltd. Automation Systems & Equipment Joshua Hamilton, Owner 9 Forler Street Baden, ON N3A 2L3 jhamilton@obsidian-ind.ca obsidian-ind.ca Phone: (519) 807-9994
OCAS Ontario College Application Service
Charitable, Not For Profit & Community Orgs Tiffany Gard, Exective Assistant to the President & CEO 60 Corporate Court Guelph, ON N1G 5J3 gard@ocas.ca ocas.ca Phone: (519) 763-2363
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Physio at Hand
Physiotherapists Heather Tsarfati, Registered Physiotherapist & Owner heather@physioathand.ca PhysioAtHand.ca Phone: (519) 212-3510
PMG Intelligence
Market Research Samantha Bruce Administrative Co-ordinator 5 Spring Street St. Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0 contact@pmgintelligence.com pmgintelligence.com Phone: (519) 206-3997
Pro-Tech Fire Control Inc.
Fire Protection Services Talha Mian, Owner protechfirecontrol@gmail.com protechfirecontrol.com Phone: (519) 222-7296
RCKSTR INC.
Beauty Salon - Equipment & Supplies Lance Nielsen, Owner 1 The Boardwalk, Unit 350 Waterloo, ON N2T 0A6 sales@rckstr.ca rckstr.ca Phone: (519) 746-1212
Rob Parent
Educational Consultants Rob Parent, Owner 75 Thornbush Crescent Waterloo, ON N2T 1A9 robpar75@gmail.com Phone: (519) 725-2309
Rogers Communications Canada Inc Telecommunications Adam Lovell, Territory Sales Manager 85 Grand Crest Place Kitchener, ON N2C 2L6 adam.lovell@rci.rogers.com rogers.com
Silver Cross Kitchener
Medical Equipment & Supplies Dimitrios Tsirgielis, Owner/Operator 569-C Lancaster Street West Kitchener, ON N2K 2M9 dimitrios@silvercross.com silvercrossstores.com Phone: (519) 513-2429
Smart Choice Electronic Recycling Inc.
Waste Management & Recycling Services Clayton Teet, Owner 978 Bishop Street North Cambridge, ON N3H 4V6 smartchoiceelectronicrecycling@gmail.com smartchoiceelectronicrecycling.com Phone: (519) 242-3630
Smart Choice Fitness Sales
Exercise Equipment Clayton Teet, Owner 978 Bishop Street North Cambrige, ON N3H 4V6 smartchoiceelectronicrecycling@gmail.com smartchoicefitness.ca Phone: (519) 242-3630
Summerhill Clean Inc.
Cleaning Service-Residential/ Commercial/Industrial Nathan Whalen, Owner/Operator info@summerhillclean.com summerhillclean.com Phone: (647) 272-4290
Top Toques Institute of Culinary Excellence Culinary Schools Elaina Kourie, Founder/Director 50 Ottawa Street South, Unit 109 Kitchener, ON N2G 3S7 director@toptoques.ca toptoques.ca Phone: (519) 743-8335
Trish Manrique - ReMax Twin City Real Estate Trish Manrique, Realtor trish@iangrayrealestate.com Phone: (226) 400-7569
Valerie Bradford, MP Kitchener South - Hespeler
Government Valerie Bradford, MP 153 Country Hill Drive, Suite 2A, Kitchener, ON N2E 2G7 valerie.bradford@parl.gc.ca ourcommons.ca/members/en/valeriebradford(110487) Phone: (519) 571-5509 Fax: (519) 571-5515
networking
Event Highlights After an exceptionally busy Fall season, we took the opportunity over the holidays to recharge… but not before we reflected on some highlights over the past couple months! The Inspiring Women Event is always a personal favourite of ours, but this year’s event was special. Although virtual again this year, the 15th annual event hosted meaningful discussions around resilience, caring for ourselves (and others) through times of grief, getting better sleep, and using our voice as our ultimate superpower. The tools and recommendations provided by the speakers, will help us Forge a Path Forward. We heard from the Hon. Lisa Raitt (@LisaRaittMP), Christa Couture (@ChristaCouture), Bridget Jensen (@BetterBedtimeSleep), Jam Gamble (@IAmJamGamble), Tracy Valko (@TracyValko), and Komal Minhas (@KomalMinhas). Plus, we had interactive sessions that were led by Monika McKinley, Lee-Anne Reuber (@Sekond_Skin_Society), and Marilia Pereira (@ FleurishWithMarilia) We also hosted a YNCU Chamber Young Professionals event in November, where we had 6 Community Leaders each share 10 of their top leadership lessons, for a total of 60 leadership tips in 60 minutes! Speakers included: Cavell Johnson (KW Titans), Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang (Waterloo Region
Public Health), Jody Palubiski (The Charcoal Group), Beisan Zubi (The New Rules / KW Get on Board), John Hazell (Future Focus), and Melissa Durrell (Durrell Communications). We’ve already started implementing some of these tips into our professional (and personal) lives, and they work great! On December 14th we officially announced the nominees for the 2022 Business Excellence Awards Gala. This is a record year for nominations, which is a testament to the hustle and heart that these organizations have put in over the past 12 months. They’ve been working hard for their clients, and their community across areas such as Health & Wellness, Environment & Sustainability, Innovation, and more. The lengthy judging process has started, and winners will be announced at the Gala on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Finally, as the year ended, we recognized and thanked our many volunteers who help organize the 90+ events we do each year. Thank you to Esta Chocolates for helping us provide our volunteers with a sweet treat over the holiday season. We are so excited to celebrate with everyone as we recognize our local business community on April 28th, and we’re looking forward to our return to live events in spring 2022!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carolyn Marsh
Mhari Reid
Carolyn is Events Manager for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Mhari is Events Coordinator for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
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Meet the 2021-22 Board of Directors
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Brad Dunbar
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Ian McLean
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Our Communities are United in Optimism and Unconventional Transformations I am inspired by the history of the University of Waterloo and its unconventional founding. This is an institution built to serve the needs of the community and to challenge conventions in university education. It has been equally inspiring to meet so many leaders across Waterloo Region and Stratford. In my learning journey as president, I hear many of the same themes I read about in history books about the University and this community: this community recognizes the importance of new ideas driven by academic excellence, entrepreneurial spirit and the belief that problem-solving must be infused with imagination. Frustrated by the pace of change in Canada in the 1950s, the University’s founders Gerald Hagey and Ira Needles took their experience in industry and went against centuries of university tradition by establishing an innovative institution that integrated work experience with academic excellence. That decision took courage. It also required a deep connection with local business, government and community leaders. Hagey and Needles knew an unconventional university could only thrive with the support of the local community. Today, Waterloo’s co-operative education program has more co-op students than the next four top institutions in the world combined. Our students, faculty and alumni contribute to the economy and vitality of Waterloo Region and the community has reciprocated in immeasurable ways.
An opportunity to reimagine the future As we emerge from the pandemic, we find ourselves at a crossroad, just as the University of Waterloo’s founders did in the postwar era. Our communities and our planet are divided with new geopolitical tensions in many places, the rise of nationalism, populism and authoritarian governments. Decades of globalization have resulted in fragile supply chains. And as recent weather events across the country demonstate, we face an existential threat to the very existence of the human race as we know it. So, it is tempting to think we are getting “back to normal.” But a complete return to “normal” would constitute a missed opportunity. What many are imagining as a “great reset,” is a
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chance for universities to rethink how we support our local community and how we impact our society and economy. As a society, we have become rather short-term in our thinking. When we don’t experience disease outbreaks for a period of time, public health funding gets cut. The same applies to areas such as the environment and cybersecurity. As an institution of higher learning, it is our job to help the next generation to think about the longer term. To be good citizens in a democratic society. When we think about COVID-19 vaccines, our progress to date is remarkable. At the start of the pandemic, many experts were predicting four to seven years before a vaccine would be available. In less than two years, almost 90 per cent of eligible Canadians received at least one dose. The speed of our response is built on decades of research—of fundamental science. We must continue to value and invest in such research. Research with no immediate applications, driven simply by the curiosity of individuals who want to better understand the universe and everything in it. Reflecting on the lessons learned, we know the pandemic accelerated the digital transition that was already underway. It made clear that there are many ways in which we can be innovative and flexible in our teaching and learning. The pandemic has also transformed industries and changed the future of work. No industry or career pathway will be immune to change. Working with partners like the Chambers and Communitech, our co-op students helped small businesses make their own pandemic-driven digital transformations. The pandemic also laid bare deep structural issues in society that give way to many inequities. The impact of COVID-19 has not been evenly shared by our community; we only have to consider the challenges of people experiencing homelessness in mid-sized communities like ours. Like the opportunity that our founders saw in the middle of the last century, now is the time to reimagine our partnerships, postsecondary education and research to cement a foundation upon which each segment of our society and economy can build for generations to come.
To be the university of the future, we need to draw on our past and once again, with the support of this community, we can act in unconventional ways to achieve something great in the decades ahead.
Economic recovery and a more just society As an institution of higher learning, it is our job to help the next generation think about the long term. We want our students and alumni to be active and engaged citizens in our communities. The pandemic has exposed and heightened our attention to the systemic ways our society oppresses racialized people and other marginalized groups. The University of Waterloo will continue to play an important role in both economic recovery and a more just society. While we invent new technologies, we must also consider their purpose and how they are deployed. We must remain committed to deep questions of equity as we embrace a revolution in artificial intelligence and robotics.
our region’s rich history in manufacturing, combined with expertise in robotics and AI, we can produce here the critical supplies that we need, and not rely on fragile supply chains. We can work together with health providers to develop a model health system, that focuses on the determinants of health, keeping people healthy in the community, while providing high quality and sustainable health services to those in need.
Waterloo: the University of the future These urgent and collective responses to the pandemic demonstrate our capacity to take meaningful action on major challenges. We have a real opportunity to build upon our shared history to address local and global challenges in ways we haven’t before. As we mark the University’s 65th anniversary this year, we look forward to building on our legacy as the unconventional university of the future. With a local community like ours, we are well on our way.
The University is committed to working with our community partners in confronting the history of colonialism that has and continues to challenge so many people today. We must advance our efforts to combat racism and implement recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation commission. We must also harness the vitality of this community and strength of our partnerships to address the climate crisis. The University will continue to search for innovative solutions to achieve our targets for carbon neutrality and capitalize on climate research across multiple disciplines to ensure sustainable futures for all humanity. We will work with our community and partners across the country to ensure that we are all better prepared and more resilient to withstand future health threats. Leveraging
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Vivek Goel Dr. Vivek Goel is the University of Waterloo's seventh President and ViceChancellor. He is a distinguished scholar with extensive achievements in research, teaching and leadership across both public and private sectors.
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Save the Date 6:00PM – 9:00PM Join us in recognizing local businesses who have made exceptional contributions to the community in the past year, through their dedication and leadership. Details at greaterkwchamber.com
events
Mark Your Calendar Every Wednesday
Thursday, January 20th
Business Success Series sponsored by Manulife
MNP Speed Networking
1:00pm-2:00pm Location: Virtual Event (Zoom) Members: Complimentary The Business Success Series is a free weekly event that explores timely topics and resources for businesses, giving your organization 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.
8:30am – 10:00am Location: Virtual Event (Hopin) Members: $20 ∙ Future Members: $40 This Speed Networking event is always highly anticipated! Meet other business professionals in a quick (yet efficient) method of virtual networking. You’ll be randomly matched with an individual for a timed one-on-one video conversation. PLUS, we’ll kick-off the event with a speed round of group networking!
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Tuesday, January 18th Heffner Women’s Leadership: 60 in 60 - Women in Business Edition 8:30am – 10:30am Location: Virtual Event (Hopin) Members: $20 ∙ Non-Members: $40 Hear from 6 incredible women in business, who will each share their top 10 pieces of career advice. At the end of the hour, you’ll have insight into 60 career lessons that you can apply to your own professional life, around entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, mentorship, continuing education, activism, and so much more. Title Sponsor: Gold Sponsors: Event Sponsor: Design Sponsor:
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Thursday, January 27th In Conversation with Dr. Vivek Goel 8:30am – 10:30am Location: Virtual Event (Hopin) Members: Complimentary Innovator, scholar, and bold leader. Dr. Vivek Goel is the University of Waterloo's seventh President and Vice-Chancellor. He is a distinguished scholar with extensive achievements in research, teaching and leadership across both public and private sectors. Join us for a conversation with the new President and hear how he plans on leading Waterloo into bold new futures. Title Sponsor:
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events
Mark Your Calendar Thursday, January 27th
Friday, March 4th
YNCU Chamber Young Professionals: Mentor Mix & Mingle
International Women’s Day Breakfast
4:30pm – 6:00pm Location: Virtual Event (Hopin) Members: $10 ∙ Future Members: $25 If you’re looking for best practices on making the most of your network, or advice on how to advance in your career, this event is a must-attend! Hear from a panel of local leaders in the Region on the importance of having & being a mentor (regardless of what stage you’re at in your career). Plus, you’ll have a chance to meet industry experts in speed mentor rounds, before going into some one-on-one networking opportunities.
8:00am-10:00am Location: Virtual Event (Hopin) Members: $30 • Future Members: $60 The 2022 theme is #BreakTheBias - collectively, we can forge women's equality, and live in a world where our differences are valued and celebrated. The Annual International Women's Day Breakfast is an event held in partnership between the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce and respected community leader, Karen Redman. Title Sponsor:
Title Sponsor: Silver Sponsor:
Thursday, February 17th
Event Sponsors:
Leadercast Rebroadcast 8:00am-4:00pm Location: Virtual Event Tickets: $35 Change is hard. It’s risky. But the future will be created by leaders with the courage to SHIFT. Hear from incredible leaders at this rebroadcasted Leadercast program.
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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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Together We Can Make an Impact on Affordable Housing in Our Community • Population growth is up 273% while housing construction starts are up 31% • Kitchener and Waterloo home prices are now 8.6 times higher than median household income, up from 3.0 times higher than income in 2005 • Between 2006 and 2019, temporary jobs grew at 2.6 times faster than full-time permanent jobs; self-employment grew 2.4 times faster; and part-time jobs grew at 1.9 times faster The data tells a compelling story. If you haven’t had a chance – visit www.kwcf.ca/vital-signs and read the 2021 Waterloo Region Vital Signs Report. Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF) collaborated with people from across our community to create a snapshot of the affordable housing situation in our region – with the goal of kick starting conversations as a springboard for action. The report includes ideas about what members of our community can do: 1) Add your voice to show affordable housing is a priority. Advocate for things like inclusionary zoning, lower speed limits, more green spaces, additional safe infrastructure around higher density areas, and access to transportation and social services in lower income neighbourhoods. 2) Make rental units you own more energy efficient. This may not only help lower costs, but also help maintain higher environmental standards, therefore increasing the living conditions for your tenants. 3) Think about finding someone to homeshare with. Homesharing can provide many benefits to both parties, including companionship, someone to assist with tasks around your house, and reducing the financial responsibilities for both you and your new housemate. Employers have a role to play as well: 1) Consider having team members volunteer together or provide donations to local organizations tackling affordable housing. Our report lists about 15 – but there’s even more to consider! 2) Stagnating incomes in our region are causing great concerns. Median total income in Waterloo Region is staying relatively flat, while housing prices are
skyrocketing. Single mothers, racialized individuals and younger people entering the workforce are particularly impacted. Is your organization in a position to increase pay with the increased cost of living in the region? 3) Is your workplace easily accessible by public transportation routes that are available to all, including individuals living in affordable or supportive housing? 4) Jobs that have been growing the quickest in Waterloo Region also tend to have lower rates of benefits provided. Left behind: The State of Oral Health in Waterloo Region is a report we released in September 2021, in partnership with Green Shield Canada. This report illustrates some of the consequences of the increasingly challenging labour market on oral health. Attraction and retention of employees continues to be a major factor for local employers. Perhaps adding benefits to your hiring strategies will assist your organization – and based on the findings, it will definitely assist team members without benefits. The data and actions mentioned above are only a small sample of what is available in the report. If you are moved or motivated by what you read, use the report as a starting point for positive action. We encourage you to share the report with your colleagues, business partners, friends, and neighbours. Let’s keep learning together! Let’s experiment to try new things and see what works and what doesn’t! Let’s continue to take action on affordable housing in Waterloo Region! Our community is in crisis, and we have to act – now. It will take us all coming together to Do More Good. Forever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elizabeth Heald Elizabeth Heald is the President & CEO of Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF), an organization focused on “Making it Easy for People to Do More Good.” You can contact Elizabeth at 519-725-1806 x 201 or at elizabeth@ kwcf.ca. www.kwcf.ca
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Helping Us Make Our Vision Possible A special Thank You to each of these Chamber Sponsors.
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Time to Go Back: An Employment Law Perspective As incredible as it seems, Ontario is finally emerging from its Covid-19 slumber. Slowly but surely, businesses are coming to terms with the idea that all of that real estate on which they have been paying rent can once again be occupied. This brings with it questions and concerns for employers: 1. Can I force my employees to return to the office? 2. What are my obligations to my employees? 3. What if some refused to be vaccinated? Herewith, some practical advice:
Return to the Office: Employers are quite right to want a workplace that not only utilizes the company’s real estate capital but more importantly, does not waste the inherent human capital that can accrue from day-to-day attendance at the office. It is difficult to understate the value of employees interacting - angels and ministers of grace defend us! – in person. The sense of shared value and vision, the collegial atmosphere, and idle “water cooler” talk all help to bind employees together in a common purpose and community. As comfortable as employees may have been working from home, there is no inherent right to do so. The employer writes the paycheques, and so it gets to set the rules. Whether a full return to the workplace is in the cards; a rotating schedule; or even a hybrid home/work model, the employer is well within its rights to reinstate or impose what works best. For purposes of employee harmony, it would be wise for the employer to keep open lines of communication and give notice to the impending “return to normal” to allow employees to sort out their affairs.
Safety in the Workplace: The Occupational Health and Safety Act imposes certain obligations upon employers to take all steps reasonable in the circumstances to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission in the workplace. This includes vaccination policies (and exemptions) as well as Covid-19 Safety Plans (including social distancing, PPE, signage, and enhanced cleaning protocols). The Region of Waterloo Health and Wellness website provides clear and user-friendly advice at https:// www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/coronavirusresources-for-workplaces.aspx and should be referred to on a regular basis to ensure workplace compliance.
If an employee does test positive for Covid-19, the employer must notify the authorities and be alive to the leave entitlements of the employee under the Infectious Diseases Emergency Leave provisions. Currently, the provisions are due to end on December 31, 2021, but, as with all things Covid, this can change very quickly. Human rights considerations should be considered if an employee is absent from work because of a Covid-19 infection. Any adverse action taken against the employee during their convalescence could trigger an application with the Human Rights Tribunal, so proceed with caution.
Vaccine Hesitancy: Certain employees, claiming to have done “their own research”, are refusing to comply with company vaccine policies. So, how do you solve a problem like Maria (or Mark)? The solution is not much easier than catching clouds. Remember: An employer can terminate an employee for any reason, subject to certain legislative exceptions, by giving notice, or money in lieu of notice. Before doing so, here are some questions the employer should ask itself: 1. Do we wish to assert “just cause” and pay the employee nothing or offer a severance? 2. Do we wish to retain the employee and instead, subject them to weekly testing and safety precautions while in the workplace? 3. How important is this employee to the workplace and would the business suffer losses by their departure? The answers vary by the employer, but the upshot is this: there are extremely limited exceptions under the Human Rights Code to claim accommodation for not getting vaccinated, so termination of employment is an option. On the other hand, there may be an employee with institutional knowledge who is otherwise an asset to the company so the loss could be great. A business evaluation should be undertaken and, of course, legal advice sought. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matthew Dewar Matthew Dewar is a founding partner of Duntrune LLP and has been practicing employment law exclusively for 17 years. He can be reached at mdewar@duntrune. law or 519-772-7533.
advocate January | February 2022
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Show your employees and your customers that you’re making COVID safety a top priority. Book a visit with a COVID-19 Safe Ambassador today.
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Revitalizing the Manufacturing Sector for 2022 Workforce Development: People are a Key Driver The impacts of COVID have touched everyone, everywhere. There has been one sector however, that even with the setbacks has helped our economy rebound and even show signs of growth – manufacturing. Despite all that has occurred in the last 20 months, manufacturers are leading the way to recovery, however more is needed to ensure this continues and to revitalize the sector in 2022. COVID notwithstanding, during the past 3 years the top issue affecting manufacturers has been the skills and labour shortage. Not just the absence of skills, but also an alarming absence of available workers with any skill set. Manufacturing employment is highly valuable, with predominantly full-time positions dispersed all over Canada, offering substantial potential for wages, benefits and career progression. This provides stability to hundreds of thousands of families and surrounding communities across the country, however looking at the shortage of industry workers with appropriate skills, the lack of awareness and poor attitudes towards working in manufacturing presents a significant disadvantage for the sector. Manufacturers are also faced with unprecedented challenges associated with the accelerating pace of technological change, especially with respect to advanced manufacturing, digitization, automation, robotics, AI and other technologies. Unfortunately, this pace of change is rapidly increasing, while the pace of human capability is not keeping up. A call for talent strategies based on industry need and better labour market intelligence is needed for the Canadian manufacturers to succeed. Ensuring a steady workforce supply for future manufacturing is extremely important. EMC estimates 1/5 (20%) of the current manufacturing workforce will be eligible to retire in the next 10 years, which combined with current vacancies and upward productivity demands, will require a 20% to 30% increase in skilled worker supply to meet current and future performance and technology demands before 2030. To offset this, attracting and equipping younger workers earlier, as well as providing clearer paths to employment, opportunity, growth and development for diverse and barriered groups who might not otherwise consider manufacturing for a career, is an important part of this strategy. One such initiative includes EMC’s work-integrated learning, wage subsidized job placements, and preapprenticeship experiences. On the manufacturing operations side, the #2 most critical issue for manufacturers has been the increasing costs of production. Rising material costs, cost of legislation, energy, overall OpEx, scarcity of supply and supply chain disruptions – combined with the inability to fill vacancies and grow the workforce, has led to major capacity underutilization and in some cases increased unfilled orders and lost sales.
The combined economic impacts are not sustainable. Fortunately, while supply chain disruptions and material shortages represent a significant physical barrier to manufacturing success, these constraints have also presented a number of opportunities for Canada’s manufacturers to demonstrate their abilities on a global scale, to recapture some local markets and re-shore production previously moved overseas. Adding new products, diversifying production and reengaging more geographically local markets resulted in a quick rebound on manufacturing production and sales, albeit needing a steady hand to navigate a twitchy marketplace, in light of industry operating at less than 80% capacity in Canada, and outstanding orders sometimes exceeding two months of national sales. For 2022, EMC is continuing its efforts to support our manufacturers, to tackle these issues and help revitalize the sector’s people, plant and process improvements. Manufacturers represent more than 12% of our total workforce and 10% of GDP in Canada. We have seen the sector rise to the challenges of the past 20 months and are fortunate to have such a vibrant sector to continue in the coming years. Manufacturers who would like to leverage the networking opportunities, expertise, training, education, and other resources, funding and support programs available through EMC can visit emccanada.org.
About Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC): Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) is a unique not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping manufacturers grow and become more competitive, at home and around the world. Founded 25 years ago, EMC has grown to become ‘Canada’s Largest Manufacturing Consortium’ and is one of the most active manufacturing organizations in North America.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scott McNeil-Smith Scott is Vice President, Manufacturing Sector Performance, Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC)
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members. Those in family businesses ought to be preparing for and considering the impact of this eventual transition on the business needs and family dynamics as a result. No matter what the desired outcome is, the key for any transition plan is that it is an ongoing, continuous exercise – one that is led by the family, for the family. It is an honour to work alongside family businesses through the planning process and to ensure they have the documents in place to cover an untimely death, or incapacity, such as Wills, Powers of Attorney and Shareholders Agreements. If you are part of a family business or think that your family may benefit from estate planning or related discussions, it is never too early to start the discussions and to make sure you have the right advisors to support you. Hilary Leitch Hilary Leitch is an associate at Lerners LLP in our corporate group and a certified Family Enterprise Advisor. Her wills and estates practice focuses on estate planning and administration, including business succession planning, and family trusts, assisting clients with their overall estate planning needs. 519.640.6301 hleitch@lerners.ca
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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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member notables
Member Notables Waterloo Brewing Appoints New Chief Financial Officer Waterloo Brewing Ltd. recently announced the appointment of Enida Zaimi as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective November 15, 2021. Ms. Zaimi is a seasoned financial executive with over 20 years of professional experience and a Master in Philosophy in Management Science from the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. As CFO, Ms. Zaimi will lead Waterloo Brewing’s finance organization with responsibility for accounting, financial planning and analysis, financial reporting, investor relations and information technology. Waterloo Brewing Chief Executive Officer George Croft stated in a company news release that “I know Enida will be a tremendous asset to the team and to our business with her excellent finance and operational experience. She is perfectly suited for this role, and we are excited to have her join Waterloo Brewing.”
WLU Faculty of Music Receives Major Donation Former Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) staff member Lois Macdonald and her spouse Charles recently donated $500,000 to the Faculty of Music to establish a student bursary and support the faculty’s highest profile needs. The Lois and Charles Macdonald Bursary will support full-time Faculty of Music undergraduate students in years two, three or four and full-time graduate students who meet all academic program requirements and demonstrate financial need. Lois Macdonald worked for many years as secretary to the dean of the former Faculty of Romance and Languages. She is also an accomplished pianist and piano teacher. As a young person, she was not able to afford a musical education and now wants to eliminate that barrier for future students along with recognizing her many years of service to WLU.
Construction Proceeding at Waterloo Region International Airport On October 14, 2021, Waterloo Region Council and community stakeholders celebrated the Region of Waterloo International Airport’s expansion project that will see the facility double in size over the next six months. Passenger traffic is anticipated to increase from over 70K in 2019 to 1 million in 2022. “It is an exciting time for the Region and an important milestone as the airport continues to grow and drive a thriving economy,” noted Regional Chair Karen Redman. “Airline partners have recently announced an increase in destinations and frequency of flights, which will move the airport to the next level in world class service. This will also provide more opportunities for the Region in terms of jobs and economic expansion.” Since Flair Airlines commenced operations in May of 2021, their service has added more than 100 jobs to the local economy. The expansion project is an important anchor for Waterloo Region and will facilitate growth in the coming decades. International transportation links are an essential factor for business decisions and current growth is just the beginning of a globally competitive community and great place to live
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member notables
Member Notables Conestoga Graduates Recognized for Outstanding Achievement Massi Basiri and Meti Basiri, Conestoga College graduates and co-founders of Kitchenerbased ApplyBoard, joined the ranks of Ontario’s most distinguished college graduates on Thursday, November 18, 2021 when they were named 2021 recipients of the Premier’s Award during a virtual gala celebration. The awards, established in 1992, acknowledge the social and economic contribution that Ontario college graduates make to the province and throughout the world. Award recipients, chosen from nominations submitted by the province’s 24 colleges, have demonstrated outstanding career success related to their college experience and have made significant contributions to their community. Massi and Meti, both graduates from 2014, were honoured in the Business category, which was sponsored by labour and employment law firm Hicks Morley.
Productive and Successful Year for Waterloo EDC A record-setting year for the Waterloo Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is projected to create up to 700 jobs across the region through local business expansion and foreign investment. In 2021, the organization assisted in the closing of 16 investment deals, nine of which were local companies and seven foreign based. This activity represents the largest number of annual deals since inception of WEDC in 2106. “We’re gaining jobs…we're also gaining, more importantly, new members in the ecosystem who can become customers and partners for existing startups and scaleups,” said WEDC President & CEO Tony LaMantia in a recent CBC News article. He has also observed two economies across Waterloo Region where businesses heavily impacted by the pandemic such as tourism, hospitality and retail are operating against manufacturers and large tech companies looking to expand and or scale from existing operations. This year’s major deals involve companies in advanced manufacturing, information and communications technology, and financial services.
University of Waterloo (UW) Appoints new VP of Advancement The University of Waterloo has named Nenone Donaldson as Vice-President, Advancement, effective January 1, 2022. She is currently Senior Director, Engineering Advancement in the Faculty of Engineering. “Nenone brings with her a wealth of experience as a successful fundraiser for Waterloo Engineering and a deep understanding of our institution as a long-time employee,” said Vivek Goel, UW President and Vice-Chancellor and chair of the nomination committee in a memo circulated across the campus. “The nomination committee was inspired by her vision to take Waterloo’s advancement activities to the next level, supporting the achievement of the University’s bold and ambitious Strategic Plan.” A professional fundraiser since 1998, Ms. Donaldson joined the University of Waterloo in the Faculty of Engineering during 2004 as one the institution’s first Faculty-based fundraisers. advocate January | February 2022
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At The GrandWay, we have a philosophy that every event we hold is an experience – your experience – and we work hard to bring your vision to life.
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LEXUS IS 2021
THE ALL NEW 2021 LEXUS IS CUTTING EDGE. NEVER CORNERS. The new 2021 Lexus IS writes the next chapter of luxury sports sedans. Developed on the highly demanding Shimoyama Test Track, the IS features a more rigid chassis, sport-tuned suspension, wider stance and precision handling. Available in two naturally aspirated V6 AWD models, and a turbo RWD model, the IS inspires confidence by forging a closer bond between driver and machine. And with a new multimedia system with an available 10.3-inch touchscreen and next generation Lexus Safety System + 2.5, the IS is as innovative as it is thrilling. • Bold, refreshed exterior styling emphasizes the athletic nature of the Lexus IS with its newly designed spindle grille and wider lower stance
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• Increased body rigidity not only helps reduce unwanted noise and vibration, but it also helps improve ride comfort and driving performance
Apple CarPlay is a trademark of Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. Use of this trademark is subject to Google Permissions.
• New Dynamic Handling Package on Lexus IS 350 with Adaptive Variable Suspension, carbon-fibre spoiler and 19" forged BBS wheels 3131 King Street East, Kitchener, ON heffnerlexus.ca
