M a r c h | A p r i l 2022
The Importance of Investing in Healthcare for the Future
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advocate March | April 2022 www.greaterkwchamber.com
features editor-in-chief:
Volunteer Appreciation
13 Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 24-30, 2022
Art Sinclair editor:
Heather Hutchings
Cover
18 Waterloo Region is a Thriving Community Missing a Critical Piece: A New Hospital Infrastructure in KW Lee Fairclough and Ron Gagnon Feature
25 The Depleted, Overworked, and Underappreciated
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March 15, 2022 for May-June 2022 July 18, 2022 for September-October 2022 September 19, 2022 for November-December 2022
26 2022 Membership Milestones
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PUBLICATION OF:
departments Message from the Chair
4 Addressing the Healthcare Procurement Challenge from Waterloo Region Adam Smith Message from the President
5 Delivering Healthcare to a Growing Community and Economy Ian McLean Advocacy
7 The New Future for Healthcare in Canada Art Sinclair
New Members
10 December 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022 Networking
15 Event Highlights Events
20 Mark Your Calendar 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.
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advocate March | April 2022
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message from the chair
Addressing the Healthcare Procurement Challenge from Waterloo Region A November 19, 2021 CBC News article noted that as Canadian hospitals were struggling to catch up on the backlog of healthcare services such as surgeries originating from the COVID-19 virus, supply shortages were adding further stress to the system. Kendra Frey, a vice president at HealthPRO which helps 1,300 Canadian healthcare facilities with procurement challenges, indicated that they were observing upwards of 600 individual product disruptions. This pattern has generally persisted since last spring. Some hospitals have pulled clinicians off the floor to work on procurement. HealthPRO also helped facilitate a loan of surgical gloves between two hospitals at opposite ends of Canada when one institution was hours away from cancelling surgeries. The hospital procurement process in Canada is currently generating a high level of media and public attention. Chris Albinson of Kitchener-based Communitech recently indicated within a widely printed Canadian Press article that it is increasingly frustrating to hear stories about Canadian hospitals concerned over decreasing inventories of COVID-19 tests while manufacturing companies within a one-hour drive have the capacity to make and sell more products. The situation is unfortunately not surprising for Mr. Albinson who claims to have spent decades watching Canadian health technology companies struggling in domestic markets. Canadian companies frequently take their innovations across the American border before buyers on the north side take any attention. The current national and provincial procurement process can vary widely across governments, hospitals, long-term care homes and other domestic medical facilities. Many buyers will not even accept bids from companies that are younger than ten years, essentially shutting out any startups with innovative and cutting-edge solutions. The winter of 2022 is unfortunately not the first nor probably the last time the purchase of medical supplies emerged as an issue in Canada. Approximately a year ago, local personal protection equipment (PPE) manufacturer Canadian Shield formally announced the layoffs of forty-seven employees, citing serious issues in selling face masks and shields to the domestic healthcare industry. At that time, Canadian Shield and Inksmith CEO Jeremy Hedges noted generally that businesses had been unable to sell their products to domestic hospitals due to existing
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industry contracts signed prior to the pandemic. Existing group purchasing agreements with importers had hospital PPE supplies secured for up to seven years. One year ago, Canadian Shield had five million masks and two million face shields sitting on shelves as Hedges asked the Canadian government to open contracts and allow competitive bids from domestic manufacturers. Ottawa researcher Dr. Kumanan Wilson noted that government procurement cycles can terminate a lot of small businesses due to their decision-making processes. The big businesses can afford to wait out these cycles because they have tons of cash, while the smaller owners are just waiting with all their hopes on a procurement process that often never develops. Communitech has collaborated with the Coordinated Accessible National Health Network to address the challenges of both business and hospitals. Healthcare organizations approach the partnership with issues, and a match is proposed with a Canadian company or a business in a similar technology portfolio. Initial responses are highly positive as new arrangements present significant opportunities for savings. According to Chris Albinson, Canada is the only place that does not buy its own stuff and that has been true for forty years. Another four decades to fix our problems will be far too long. 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
Delivering Healthcare to a Growing Community and Economy The Region of Waterloo, as we all know, is a growing community in people and jobs. As of 2020, approximately 624,000 citizens resided here with an average annual growth rate of 1.6 percent. The provincial government’s Growth Plan projects our population will reach 923,000 by 2051. Reports continually mention our community as one of the fastest growing major urban centres in Canada. The challenge for all levels of government is and will continue to be delivering public services including water, transportation, infrastructure and public education against a political environment of growing fiscal constraints. But perhaps the most significant challenge as we grow is ensuring we have primary care and healthcare specialists that our citizens and healthcare system need- not only for today but for the rapid increase in people that will settle in Waterloo Region. Local media reports this winter have highlighted the significant challenges facing our local healthcare providers and hospitals during the Omicron variant. But make no mistake, these challenges in our healthcare system existed long before COVID. In September of 2021, a survey conducted by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) indicated that reduced waiting times for medical procedures and investing in new facilities are the most important ways to improve healthcare in the Region of Waterloo. Respondents were asked to identify their top priority for improving local healthcare outside of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Over a quarter of people identified wait times as their top priority. In response to survey results, OMA officials noted that in the future the key area of focus will be working through the backlog of care that has been deferred or missed through the pandemic for all the various reasons. The backlog that now exists is not just surgeries but also visits to specialists that have been delayed or cancelled. These tests, consultations and procedures are also vital and urgent. More than half of local respondents said governments should give improving healthcare in the community the same priority as economic recovery from the pandemic, and more than a third said the portfolio should be given the highest recovery above all other issues. A constant issue that has generated local attention for decades is the amount of funding that Region of Waterloo hospitals receive from the provincial government. One year ago, in March of 2021, the Ontario Budget allocated $1.8 billion for provincial hospitals. Ron Gagnon the President and
CEO of Grand River Hospital indicated this additional funding would go a long way in helping institutions with their deficits. During provincial pre-budget hearings at the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on January 21, 2022, which I also attended on behalf of the Waterloo Region business community, Mr. Gagnon indicated Grand River is currently operating well over 660 beds and providing a number of regional services including cancer, stroke, renal and others. Even before COVID-19, Grand River was operating well above 100% funded capacity. As the community entered the Omicron wave, we need to realize we had already added after adding 195 beds between Grand River and St. Mary’s. Yet, our hospitals are running between 100% and 115% of design capacity. Every morning fifteen people are waiting for an inpatient bed. Covid is the main culprit for this huge demand, but on top of current numbers and patient levels, Waterloo Region continues to see significant population growth. We are one of the fastest growing areas in Ontario and projected to be among the top in Canada. Our area hospitals serve a catchment area that will grow to almost 2 million people from Kitchener to the Bruce Peninsula. So we need to beef up our capacity in healthcare to meet that growing demand. Collectively – the business community, post-secondary and public education sectors, and local municipal governments – must collaboratively coordinate our lobbying efforts to ensure that Waterloo Region receives our fair share of funding to guarantee we have healthcare available to meet our needs. Our community will continue to be a leading innovator and driver for Ontario’s economy for the future. But we need the investment in our communities and healthcare to make it happen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ian McLean Ian is President and CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
advocate March | April 2022
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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
advocacy
The New Future for Healthcare in Canada In a late 2021 interview with Rosemary Barton of CBC, Prime Minister Trudeau restated his view that a long-term discussion around increased healthcare funding should evolve when the pandemic is over. According to Aaron Wherry of CBC News, an onset of the Omicron variant makes it more difficult to determine when that conversation will or should start. However an unofficial national debate has clearly commenced between demands for more public funding on one side against private healthcare delivery on the other. A National Post editorial from early January argued that Canada has long been in denial that we spend more money and receive mediocre outcomes compared to many other advanced countries. With escalating COVID-19 hospitalizations and severe staffing shortages, the failings of Canadian universal healthcare became highly evident. Challenges such as surgery delays are not unique to Canada alone however we have been collectively disadvantaged with a healthcare system strained before the virus. Canadians pay about 25 percent more for services than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average but receive less in return by any comparative metric. For example, pre-pandemic Canada possessed thirteen intensive care beds per 100,000 residents, compared to twenty-six in the United States and thirty-four in Germany. Canadian acute care beds at two per 1,000 residents followed South Korea and Japan at over seven in each nation. A joint press conference last September conducted by the premiers of Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario asked the federal government to increase healthcare transfers to the provinces. The National Post argues that if history is a precedent, an eventual fix will require massive infusions of taxpayer dollars leading to debt accumulation rather than system results. A Toronto Star article from Gillian Steward in late January 2022 opposes her competing media outlets by arguing that current issues across Canadian healthcare have simply presented a major opportunity for supporters of private delivery to advance their positions. Discussions around comparatively low domestic hospital bed capacities can be considered the most prominent component of this global debate. Steward referenced Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s frequent remarks related to higher capacities in the United States as an example of this trend. A regularly excluded dimension is that many American hospitals are for-profit institutions where clients must pay through private insurance, bank accounts or
avoiding treatment. Canadian Medicare does not include any of these options. Citing the same statistics as the National Post on beds perresident, Steward argues that provincial governments across Canada have been cutting within hospitals for over two decades. Generally they have been regarded as too costly, too complex and too inefficient resulting in care moving into the community. Public insurance does not cover designated services like physiotherapy while cancer treatments are provided at other community institutions. Services such as home care and longterm care have been contracted out to private enterprises which, according to Steward, translated into less government oversight and lower standards of care. Aaron Wherry argues that the current strain on Canadian healthcare was foreseeable, noting that Carleton University economist Frances Woolley predicted in March of 2020 that COVID-19 would expose fragility across the system. He articulated that Canada has the second-lowest number of acute beds per capita among nations in the OECD and nearly all those beds have been consistently occupied. Furthermore, while the total number of acute care beds has declined in advanced economies due to technology and care, the relatively low number in Canada originates from a failure of funding levels to match population growth. Sean Speer, former adviser to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, recently wrote that 2022 should be the year Canada corrects deficiencies in the healthcare system and considers a greater role for private delivery. According to the National Post, fixing the healthcare system is going to take more than just money. It will require innovative ideas and structural reforms which will mean moving beyond the traditional debate between a Canadian-style single-payer system and American-style private care. Unfortunately, there is and will be no optimum time to start any discussions. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Art Sinclair Art is Vice President Policy and Advocacy for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.
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PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT SUMMARY A YEAR IN REVIEW 2021 was another busy year for recruitment! We had a record year, successfully recruiting 21 family physicians to our community. These physicians have made full time, part time and locum practice commitments in K-W. This would not have been possible without the support of our generous municipal and corporate sponsors of this critical program. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to eliminating the physician shortage in Kitchener-Waterloo.
23RD ANNUAL RESIDENT EVENT On November 6th, local family physicians, emergency physicians, business and community leaders joined our volunteers in hosting 34 family medicine residents virtually for our 23rd Annual Family Medicine Resident Event. For the second year in a row, we moved forward with our annual event in an online format. This event is our largest recruitment initiative, allowing us to connect and engage with family medicine residents in an effort to promote Kitchener-Waterloo as a great place to live and work. As a result of moving virtual, our reach has extended past Ontario, and have been fortunate to have residents participate from across Canada, the United States and the UK. . ....
This weekend is thoughtfully planned and organized by our amazing volunteers of the Chamber’s Family Physician Recruitment committee, During their virtual visit, family medicine residents and their partners were given a look at what life in Kitchener-Waterloo would be like. Our guests were given the opportunity to hear from community leaders, meet with local physicians, learn about the practice opportunities available to them, toured Kitchener Waterloo (virtually) and networked with our incredible sponsors. Many of the residents expressed interest in Kitchener Waterloo and plan to visit in the future when it is safe to do so.
12 Local Physicians
50%
12
30%
Increase in Attendees with the Virtual Format
Regional Champions Showcased our Community
Increase in Participation from Local Physicians
Thank you to our dedicated sponsors for helping the Chamber continue its goal of eliminating the doctor shortage in Waterloo Region.
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
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COMMUNITY
Individual Contributors
AL HAYES
IAN MCLEAN
new members
December 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022 Abell Pest Control
Pest Control Services Bryan Maier, Kitchener Branch Manager 36 Centennial Road, Unit B Kitchener, ON N2B 3G1 bmaier@abellgroup.com abellpestcontrol.com Phone: (519) 743-8551
AGG Dispatch
Supply Chain/Shipping Hanz Geronga, Owner info@aggladiatorsdispatch.ca aggladiatorsdispatch.ca/service.html Phone: (226) 344-3089
Allan Cayenne - Peak Realty Ltd. Real Estate Allan Cayenne Real Estate Representative 410 Conestogo Road, Unit 210 Waterloo, ON N2L 4E2 allan@kwhouselife.com peakrealty.com Phone: (519) 589-5873
Allstate Insurance Company of Canada - Waterloo
Beyond Rules Recovery
Cycling into the Future
Bhutani Real Estate Group
DBM Systems Ltd.
Charitable, Not For Profit & Community Orgs Shira Charpentier, Founder 356 Horse Trail Martin, GA 30557 info@beyondrulesrecovery.org beyondrulesrecovery.org Phone: (612) 207-8720 Real Estate Sid Bhutani, Owner/Realtor 901 Victoria Street North Kitchener, ON N2B 3C3 sid@butanigroup.ca bhutanigroup.ca Phone: (437) 339-0300
Canadian Infrastructure Products Ltd. Environmental Products & Services Tracy Smith, Partner msmith@c-i-p.ca c-i-p.ca Phone: (519) 239-3874
Cass Construction & Renovation Inc.
Insurance Kenneth Bongomin, Agency Manager 330 Farmer's Market Road, Unit 402 Waterloo, ON N2V 0A5 kbongomin@allstate.ca allstate.ca Phone: (519) 883-5490
Construction John Cassaubon, Owner 936670 Blenheim Road, Bright, ON N0J 1B0 jcassaubon@cassconstruction.ca cassconstruction.ca Phone: (519) 588-9202
Ametrine Corp
Cher at Home
Renovations & Construction Octavian Constantinescu Project Manager 1 First Street, Suite 200 Collingwood, ON L9Y 1A1 admin@ametrinecorp.ca ametrinecorp.ca Phone: (877) 813-6171
Interior Design or Decorating Services Cheryl Goetz, Interior Designer/ Decorator hellocherathome@gmail.com athomecompany.ca Phone: (519) 501-5180
Crystal Blezard - Coldwell Banker, The Real Estate Centre Real Estate Crystal Blezard, Realtor crystalblezard@gmail.com crystalblezard.com Phone: (226) 868-2855
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Charitable, Not For Profit & Community Orgs Sharon Weishar, Executive Director 200 Webster Road, Kitchener, ON N2C 2E6 citf@cyclingintothefuture.com cyclingintothefuture.com Phone: (519) 240-5526 Management Consultants Doug Dedman, Owner ddedman@dbmsys.com dbmsys.com Phone: (519) 748-8848
Dream in Digital
Website Design & Development Irene Panchuk Creative Director & Founder irene@dreamindigital.ca dreamindigital.ca Phone: (647) 608-5773
Elz & Greco Hair & Beauty
Hair Salons Eleni Badal, Owner/Master Stylist 52 King Street North, Unit B Waterloo, ON N2J 2W8 info@elzandgreco.com elzandgreco.com Phone: (548) 288-4114
Empire Cash & Carry
Restaurant Equipment & Supplies Kevin Budzey, President/GM 500 Jamieson Parkway, Unit 2 Cambridge, ON N3C 0G5 gm@empirecashandcarry.com empirecashandcarry.com Phone: (905) 674-5920
EMT: Emergency Medical Training Canada First Aid Service Jeff Frenette, Trainer info@EMTcanada.ca EMTcanada.ca Phone: (519) 656-0660
new members
December 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022 Gibsons Home Furnishings
Furniture Dealers Terry Numan, Owner 25 Northfield Drive West Waterloo, ON N2L 4E6 info@gibsonshomefurnishings.com gibsonshomefurnishings.com Phone: (519) 746-7070
Hayley Rutherford Consulting Consultants Hayley Rutherford, Founder hello@hayleyrutherford.com hayleyrutherford.com Phone: (905) 932-4983
IGNITE: An Acton Academy
Schools - Academic - Elementary & Secondary Lisa Bean, Head of School lisa@ignitelearning.ca ignitelearning.ca Phone: (416) 523-1629
Legacy Professional Accounting & Taxation Services Inc. Accounting & Bookkeeping Services Sumara Shaheen, Relationship Manager/Director 107 Victoria Street South Kitchener, ON N2G 2B4 sumara.uae@hotmail.com Phone: (416) 986-8988
Little Tree Wandering Café
Café Sarah Renner, Owner Operator sarah@littletreecafe.ca littletreecafe.ca Phone: (519) 212-8429
Office of Mike Morrice, Member of Parliament Kitchener Centre Government Asha Philar, Director of Staff 305 King Street West, Unit 303 Kitchener, ON N2G 1B9 mike.morrice.c1@parl.gc.ca mikemorriceMP.ca Phone: (519) 741-2001
Portage Ontario Residential Centre Charitable, Not For Profit & Community Orgs Ashley-Ann Maginnis Manager of Development 6681 Irvine Street, PO Box 3057 Elora, ON N0B 1S0 amaginnis@portage.ca portage.ca/ontario Phone: (519) 846-0945
Prohibition Warehouse - Kentucky Bourbon Restaurants Adam Cole, Operator 56 King Street North Waterloo, ON N2J 2X1 adam_cole@live.ca prohibitionwarehouse.com Phone: (226) 505-2048
Quality Health and Performance Inc. Health & Wellness Stacey Cairns, Chiropractor/Owner 70 Victoria Street North, Unit E Kitchener, ON N2H 5C2 qhealthperformance@gmail.com qualityhealthperformance.ca Phone: (226) 753-4930
Sarnowski Debt Law
Lawyers Debbie Dokas, Managing Partner 135 George Street North Cambridge, ON N1S 5C3 debbie@sarnowskidebtlaw.ca sarnowskidebtlaw.ca Phone: (647) 500-3328
Sekond Skin Society
Health & Wellness Lee-Anne Reuber, Founder/CEO 36 Ridout Street, Walkerton, ON N0G 2V0 lee-anne@sekondskinsociety.com sekondskinsociety.com Phone: (833) 777-9328
Sherwin Williams - Highland
Paint Stores Abbey Zaniewski, Store Manager 370 Highland Road West, Unit 16 Kitchener, ON N2M 5J9 sw8221@sherwin.com sherwin-williams.com Phone: (519) 571-8347 Fax: (519) 571-8348
Smart Concil
Financial Technology Services Victor Salinas Garcia, CEO vsalinas@smartconcil.com smartconcil.com Phone: (437) 239-9503
Taste of Seoul
Restaurants Jason Whalen, Owner 154 Victoria Street South Kitchener, ON N2G 2B5 atasteofseoul@gmail.com tasteofseoul.ca Phone: (519) 954-0500
Tokyo Smoke - Waterloo Commons Retail Ciara Barbosa, Store Manager 655 Erb Street West, Suite 500 Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4 655erb@tyosmoke.ca stores.tokyosmoke.com/on/waterlooopen/655-erb-st-w Phone: (226) 476-0739
Waterloo Wellington Down Syndrome Society
Charitable, Not For Profit & Community Orgs Janine Ostervelt, Volunteer/Co-Chair 658 Erb Street West Waterloo, ON N2T 0A2 info@wwdss.ca wwdss.ca Phone: (519) 896-4488
Wicked Smart Hot Sauce
Food & Beverage Ifoma Smart, Owner & Founder wickedsmart.hotsauce@gmail.com wickedsmarthotsauce.com Phone: (416) 435-3395 advocate March | April 2022
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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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volunteer appreciation
Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 24-30, 2022 Sincere thanks to our many Chamber Volunteers! BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS NOMINATION COMMITTEE Jeff Collins Scott Gilfillan Leslie Hepditch Laura Hewitson Mike Hewitson Nahla Kor Mary Cathryn Lorentz Stephen McInnes Curtis Montgomery Beth Palmer Michelle Tupman
BUSINESS AROUND 5 COMMITTEE Steve Ashton Allison Bourke Steven Elliott Ian Inglis Karla McLean Jacob Morris Mark Morrison Thomas Reilly Jeff Sheppard Jordan Snider
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE Carl Cadogan Mohsan Abdullah Nora Whittington Yasin Dewji Innocent Munyanyi Felix Vargas Dani Bazely Allison Bourke
SPEED NETWORKING COMMITTEE
FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Stephen Goodfellow Nick Heffner Alex Hendershot Mike Hewitson Darcy Krahn Charlene Le Duc Bill Pegg
Jessica Dupuis Paul Grivicic Ed Lemont Samina Sial John Stevens Tim Strome Matthew Stubbings Sean Sullivan Hamza Toofani
WOMENS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE Jessica Bondy Allison Bourke Rebecca Hempey Kat Katsambrokos Kathy MacDonald Janice McVey Rachel Sommers Sandra Stone Karen Temple Lesley Warren Kim Wilhelm
REGIONAL AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Brian Bennett Andrew Bingeman Cory Bluhm Emir Ceric Karl Ditorio Paul Grivicic Ian Macdonald Justin McFadden Eric Saulesleja David Sunday Hamza Toofani
CHAMBER YOUNG PROFFESSIONALS COMMITTEE Mohsan Abdullah Mackenzie Ainlay Charly Bax Dani Bazely Rueben Domingos Kevin Pak MacDaniel Phillips Adam Smith Jessica van der Heide
GOLF SCRAMBLE COMMITTEE Don Critelli Mike McCaffrey Curtis Montgomery
PHYSICIAN LIAISON TASK FORCE Claire Cochrane Lana Hillier Jeff MacIntyre Laura Hewitson Michael Hewitson
advocate March | April 2022
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networking
Event Highlights We hosted several virtual events to kick-start the New Year, including: • Heffner Women’s Leadership: 60 Career Lessons in 60 Minutes (from 6 women in business) • MNP Speed Networking • Fireside Chat with University of Waterloo President, Dr. Vivek Goel • YNCU Chamber Young Professionals: Mentor Mix & Mingle • Leadercast “Shift” Re-Broadcast
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS GALA Thursday, April 28, 2022 This has always been a must-attend event in the Region and although we can’t welcome all 900+ guests in the room this year, we will be able to have many of you join us in-person. LIVE tickets for this event will be distributed on a lottery system, so visit our website early to get your name on that list. For those who would prefer to attend virtually – you will have your own unique virtual event experience including virtualonly photobooth, live entertainment, and more!
If you missed any of them and want to catch-up on the content, you can visit our YouTube channel for recordings of all these events and more. www.youtube.com/GreaterKWChamber
HOT SEAT WITH CHRIS ALBINSON Thursday, June 9, 2022 Just like “First We Feast Hot Ones” – we sit down with a (local) celebrity, interview style, asking them hot questions while they eat even hotter wings. Chris Albinson, President & CEO of Communitech, will be in the Hot Seat for this one. Join us on the patio at Kentucky Bourbon & BBQ for food and drinks, as Chris answers all our burning questions.
As we look to the Spring, we are putting plans in place to start our return to LIVE events! Of course, your health & safety is our top priority, so plans are subject to change, but here are some of the events you can look forward to in the upcoming months: PROVINCIAL LEADER’S SPEAKER SERIES Various dates in March In this series of 4 events, we’ll be hearing from the Provincial Leaders of each of the 4 main parties. LIVE tickets will be extremely limited, and therefore, event sponsors will be given priority access. If you are interested in sponsoring this event series, you can contact Heather Hutchings at hhutchings@ greaterkwchamber.com for more details.
RETURN TO LIVE BUSINESS AFTER 5 Tuesday, June 16, 2022 ChefD is firing up the BBQ at 660 Belmont Ave West. Join us for some networking on the patio, some BBQ & brews, and live music down in Belmont Village! What better way to kickstart the summer patio season? We can’t wait to welcome you back in-person to these events (and more) in the coming months. Information on the health & safety protocols at these events can be found on our Events Calendar online, or, you can email events@ greaterkwchamber.com with any questions.
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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respirology
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Waterloo Region is a Thriving Community Missing a Critical Piece: A New Hospital Infrastructure in KW Waterloo Region can’t wait any longer to put plans in place for new hospital facilities to better serve the needs of our rapidly growing and thriving community. We need more hospital beds. We need more hospital services. The last few years we have seen an influx of people moving to our community and our population is projected to grow significantly over the next 20 years. We need hospital capacity to accommodate this growth. We need facilities engineered and built to modern design standards to replace our aging hospitals and provide patients the care they deserve. We need world-class infrastructure to enable our hospitals, in partnership with local businesses and post-secondary institutions, to fully reach our potential in health research, innovation, technology development and learning. The reality is we were dealing with chronic hospital capacity pressures and limits to our ability to be innovative as a result of our aging facilities well before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the past two years of navigating COVID-19 have provided a snapshot of the severity of our space challenges and what our future may hold if we don’t move quickly to build a new hospital and expand our capacity to serve this community. We never want to be in that position again. Like hospitals elsewhere in Ontario, capacity pressure throughout the pandemic impacted our ability to provide care and forced us to take the drastic step of suspending nonurgent surgeries and non-emergent services. We never want to be in that position again. We are determined not to be. To make this a reality, St. Mary’s General Hospital and Grand River Hospital are building on a long tradition of partnership to plan for the future of hospital services as part of an integrated healthcare system in our region. Together, we are looking to secure the support of the provincial government for new and renewed, state-of-the-art hospital infrastructure. This would include a new site in Kitchener Waterloo that would be jointly used by both organizations.
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Our executive leadership teams and boards are currently at the preliminary planning stages of this joint project. We have shared our proposal with the Government of Ontario, but the final master plan will be determined at a later stage of planning after community consultation and government approvals. Decisions over where the proposed hospital would be located, timing of construction and the future of our current sites have not yet been made. There is much to be determined as the planning process unfolds but one thing we know for certain is that collaboration will allow us to build something better together than we ever could by going it alone. Waterloo Region is one of the fastest-growing jurisdictions in the country The unfortunate reality in today’s fiscal environment is that the process to secure provincial approval and funding to build new hospital infrastructure in Ontario is complex and lengthy. There is intense competition from regions across Ontario to tap into limited provincial funding to help pay for new hospitals. It can take 10 to 15 years on average for a project to go from an idea to reality, though in the spirit of this community we will aim for it to be less. That’s why we are embarking on this joint project now. We need to be prepared for the population boom coming our way. Largely thanks to this thriving and active business community, Waterloo Region is one of the fastest-growing jurisdictions in the country. As a result, we will need nearly double the number of hospital beds we currently have in the next 25 years. According to the Ontario Minstry of Finance projections, population growth in Waterloo Region is projected to continue climbing quickly, rising from nearly 580,000 to approximately 840,000 over the next 20 years – an increase of 45%. Compounding the challenges of growth, our population is also getting older. Over the same timeframe, the number of residents older than 75 in Kitchener-Waterloo is expected to
grow by nearly 170%. Individuals in this age group are more likely to require hospital care and health care services as they age, increasing demand on our resources. Historically, our region has had far fewer hospital beds per capita than average in Ontario and across Canada. Based on projected population growth, we know we will need to add at least 515 additional patient beds in our region by 2046, almost doubling the combined capacity at our two hospitals to over 1,100 beds. Historically, our region has had far fewer hospital beds per capita than average in Ontario and across Canada. Prior to the pandemic, we had 1.1 beds per 1,000 people, compared to the Ontario average of 1.4 beds and the Canadian average of 2.0 beds for the same number of people. Our bed ratio is lower than any Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) member country. For example, Germany has an average of six beds per 1,000 people. We need infrastructure that will allow us to not only to provide high quality care for our community today, but to grow to meet the needs of tomorrow. While we do hear from patients positive feedback about the care we deliver, we also hear that facilities need to be better. Our facilities are beyond their lifespan. Parts of St. Mary’s and Grand River are almost a century old, and half of the current facilities in operation are over 50 years old. The health care
needs of our community already exceed the capabilities of our current infrastructure, making it a challenge to provide efficient care. Although we are known for our innovative approaches and efficiencies, this is an opportunity to modernize our approach to health care through new facilities. We need infrastructure that will allow us to not only to provide high quality care for our community today, but to grow to meet the needs of tomorrow. In addition to improving patient care, an infrastructure project of this size will generate significant economic impact for our region, including hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, and act as a catalyst for other significant development investments. As our business community continues to grow and pursue new business opportunities, a new and modern hospital is necessary to attract and retain business, investments and talent to the Region. Our growing and thriving community needs this hospital project to truly realize its full potential as a tech and innovation hub. Over the coming months, we will need the support of our community to help build a case for this project and engage the provincial government on why the time is right to invest in a new world-class hospital for Waterloo Region. We’ve pulled together before for the benefit of our community on similar projects, such as the recent Two-Way All-Day GO campaign. We’ll be sharing details soon on how you can get involved and lend support to ensure Waterloo Region gets the hospital infrastructure we need for our growing and thriving community.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lee Fairclough
Ron Gagnon
Lee Fairclough is President of St. Mary’s General Hospital
Ron Gagnon is President and CEO of Grand River Hospital.
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events
Mark Your Calendar Friday March 4th
Thursday, March 24th
International Women’s Day Breakfast
Cyber Security Summit “Canada: A Global Cyber Talent Destination – The Opportunity and the Imperative”
8:00-10:00am Location: Virtual Event (Hopin) Virtual: Member $25 • Future Member $50 • Live: Member $65 • Future Member $95 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:
11:00am-1:30pm Location: Virtual Event (Hopin) Registration is complimentary, on behalf of our sponsors Cybersecurity is an ever-increasing concern for Canadians and businesses. With the rapid growth of the digital economy, Canada needs to build a strong cyber security sector to be a global leader in innovation and talent development. Learn how you can be protected, and what this growth sector means for you and your business. Title Sponsor:
Silver Sponsors:
Prestige Sponsor: Gold Sponsors:
Event Sponsors:
Design Sponsor:
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Sign & Print Sponsor:
Event Sponsor:
Media Sponsor:
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events
Mark Your Calendar Thursday, April 21st
Every Wednesday
2022 Energy & Environment Forum “Creating a Culture of Sustainability”
Manulife Business Success Series
11:00-1:30pm Location: Virtual Event (Hopin) The Energy & Environment Forum is an annual educational event, raising awareness around environmental issues within the business community, and the Region at large.
Platinum Sponsor:
Prestige Sponsor:
1:00pm-2:00pm Location: Virtual Event (Zoom) Members: Complimentary The Manulife 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. Title Sponsor: Platinum Sponsor:
Thursday April 28th 2022 Business Excellence Awards Gala
Provincial Leaders Speaker Series
6:00pm – 9:30pm Location: Hybrid Event (Live & Virtual Options) Registration pricing & details available online
In this series of 4 events, join us for fireside chats with the Provincial Leaders of each of the 4 main parties. They’ll discuss their party’s platform and vision for the future, and most importantly, how it supports the areas that matter most to businesses in our Region. Final dates & details can be found on our website.
The 2022 Business Excellence Awards Gala is almost upon us! This premier event recognizes organizations in Waterloo Region who have made significant contributions to their community over the past year. Join the Chamber in celebrating these outstanding local businesses, as we hand out 14 awards throughout the evening!
Title Sponsor: Prestige Sponsor:
Title Sponsor: Platinum Sponsor:
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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.
Our family, serving yours. 617 King Street North, Waterloo, Ontario (519) 888-7700 www.grahamgiddyn.com
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SWANSON’S HOME HARDWARE BUILDING CENTRE 166 Park Street Kitchener, Ontario N2G 1M8 Phone: (519) 743-1404 Fax: (519) 743-0784
GLENBRIAR HOME HARDWARE 262 Weber Street North Waterloo, Ontario N2J3H6 Phone: (519) 886-2950 Fax: (519) 886-3968
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.
advocate March | April 2022
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Find your path forward with confidence. We understand the issues that affect your business. Our advisors can help you make the right decisions to manage today’s issues and take advantage of tomorrow’s opportunities. To learn more, visit grantthornton.ca
Audit | Tax | Advisory © 2021 Grant Thornton LLP. A Canadian Member of Grant Thornton International Ltd. All rights reserved.
Garages aren't just for cars They're where we live and play We offer the following garage customizations: Garage Flooring
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feature
The Depleted, Overworked, and Underappreciated Nearly two years into COVID-19, it can be easy to forget everything employees in our communities have been through. We've seen businesses in our communities temporarily close their doors due to the pandemic multiple times, and too many close their doors for good. We've seen the rise of “work from home” and the start of the “return to work”. Many of us have had to connect with people through computer screens, many more of us have had to connect with people from behind plastic dividers and masks. We've seen the start of the “Great Resignation”, with employees leaving their jobs in record numbers, and the rise of the “Burnout Epidemic”, with employees experiencing burnout more than ever before. It is safe to say that our collective well-being at work has been significantly challenged since the start of the pandemic. At YMCA WorkWell, we’re on a mission to improve the state of workplace well-being in the communities we serve – and beyond. This all starts with good data. We have been measuring employee well-being in our region since the start of the pandemic and we’ve released our 2nd Insights to Impact Report to share what we learned from our most recent survey of 1800+ working adults. Our results made one thing clear: The landscape of work has changed. Employees in our region are feeling more overworked and underappreciated than ever and it is impacting mental health. When discussing “mental health supports”, many leaders are quick to jump to traditional supports like Employee Assistance Programs – a critical component of any effective well-being strategy. It is important to note, however, that when asked, most respondents were looking first and foremost for upstream solutions to minimize their stress at work rather than downstream initiatives to help them manage that stress. In fact, 49% of respondents cited a reduced workload or better access to mental health days as the most effective way to support their mental health at work – every second respondent. We see this in other areas in the data too: The top three needs to be healthier at work identified by respondents were a need for better work-life balance, a more manageable workload, and more personal appreciation. So, what does this mean?
Things will not just go back to the way they were on the other side of COVID-19, and leaders cannot simply wait for the return of “what was”. But, we also believe that even the most daunting data is good data if it can inspire action. We know what employees need. Let this data be the spark that we need to take these challenges seriously and to stop trying to fix upstream problems with only downstream solutions. Our communities cannot be healthy if we aren’t healthy at work too, so let’s take the purposeful and targeted action that we need to really turn this around. It’s time to take it seriously. To read the full report, to learn where to start, and to learn more about how we help, visit https://www.ymcaworkwell.com/insights-to-impact-2021.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dave Whiteside Dave Whiteside is the Director of Insights at YMCA WorkWell and the YMCA of Three Rivers. A true Waterloo Region lover, he earned his Ph.D from Wilfrid Laurier and has been set on improving employee wellbeing in our region ever since.
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2022 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 Membership Milestone Anniversaries in 2022.
10 YEARS
JOINED IN 2012 Beatties Basics Office Products Blackcar Waterloo Region Ltd. Borealis Grille & Bar Brody Enterprises Inc. Brookfield Golf Club Campus Pizza Capacity Canada CIBC - Commercial Banking CIBC - Ira Needles CIBC - King & Queen, 1st floor CIBC - St Clements Conestoga Meat Packers Ltd. Cushman & Wakefield Waterloo Region Ltd. Dunbar & Associates, Professional Corporation Engaging Business Solutions Inc. Fermon Canoes Flag Raiders Paintball GFL Environmental INC. GnarlyBooks.ca Incorporated Goodlife Fitness - Williamsburg GoodLife Fitness - Fairway Gore Mutual Grant Thornton LLP Grey Silo Golf Club Habermehl Design Group Inc. Heer's Paint & Decor Hold Please Communications Jeff MacIntyre Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre Lesley Warren Design Group Inc. Little Mushroom Catering & Dining Lounge Max's Golf Centre Memory Funeral Home Memory Gardens Cemetery Mennonite Economic Development Associates Morty's Pub Nicole Hacock CGA Professional Corporation Notebook Galaxy Digital Solutions Orsan Air Services - Duct Cleaning Perfect Image Ready2Grow Associates Riley Painting Corp. RLB LLP Sanclara Corporation Sandvine Incorporated Social Venture Partners South-West Regional Soccer Association St. Jude's - Scholars' Hall Stevens E3 Vijay's Indian Cuisine Westmount Funeral Chapel
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15 YEARS
JOINED IN 2007 5 Star Water Solutions Bulldog Fire & Security Canada Brokerlink (Ontario) Inc., Kitchener Branch Channer's Men's Apparel Control Janitorial Inc Crawford Chondon & Partners LLP Direction Printing & Communications Employee Staff Leasing Inc. FoxNet Inc GEOWARE INC Griffith Island Club Immigration Partnership Inner Mountain Gold IntegrateIT Inc Libro Credit Union - Williamsburg Branch MAC LLP Musselman Compressor Services Inc. Nulook Blinds & Draperies OnSite Computer Services PartnerIT Corporation Paul Davis Systems Pioneer Craftsmen Ltd. Reeve and Company Inc. Region of Waterloo Employment Services Rutherford Pump Systems Inc. Sanmount Properties Limited Silva Dental Laboratory Inc. Sprint Couriers K-W Limited Swiss Chalet - Victoria Street North Tamarack - An Institute for Community Engagement The Working Centre Verbanac Lawyers/Advocates Professional Corporation Waterloo Honda
20 YEARS
JOINED IN 2002 Angstrom Engineering Inc Canadian Mental Health Association, Waterloo Wellington Elmira Pump Company Inc Execulink Telecom Heartwood Place Jerry Zister Sales & Service Limited John Doherty Just Fix It KW Insurance Brokers Leadership Waterloo Region Marillac Place Martin's Family Fruit Farm Ltd Nutrition for Learning Paris Child Care Pollard Gagliardi Navickas LLP Rebel Creek Golf Club
Riordan Leasing Inc Rogi Inc, Accounting Solutions Provider Saav Kitchens Schmidt Custom Carpentry Inc Stantec Consulting Ltd Tim Hortons
25 YEARS
JOINED IN 1997 Able-One Systems Inc. Bill Gladwish BMO Bank of Montreal - Waterloo Main CBRE Limited Centre For Family Business Clarke Starke & Diegel LLP Comfort Inn Waterloo Eugene Moser Exchange Magazine Frank Varga Gascho Automotive Limited Gibson Holdings (Breslau) Inc. O/A Inspections by Gibson Hartman Chiropody Professional Corporation Ian Inglis - Re/Max Solid Gold Realty (II) Ltd. Brokerage Jack Duffy Kathi Smith Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society KRGinsure McDonald's Restaurants - CAVCO Food Services LTD National Engineered Fasteners Inc Neil Richardson Newtex Ltd oneROOF - Youth Services Owen Lackenbauer PacketWorks Princess Cinemas RLS Technologies Inc Ron Carther S.G. Cunningham (Kitchener) Limited Shooters Choice Ltd. Terry Flynn Tom Burns Waterpark Place Westlab Canada
30+ YEARS JOINED IN 1992 or earlier
762432 Ontario Inc ABCO Custom Manufacturing Inc AECOM Canada Ltd. All Ontario Financial-The Mortgage People Amber Steel
Atlas Scale Aves & Shaw Ltd Ayr Coach Lines Limited Baer Petroleum Marketing Ltd Bank of Nova Scotia - Kitchener Barber-Collins Security Services Ltd Barth Dental Laboratory Bast Tirecraft Waterloo BDO Canada LLP Bell Canada Bell Media Inc. Best Western Plus - Waterloo Better Business Bureau of Central Ontario, Inc Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region Bingemans Catering BrokerLink, Formerly LMI Canada Insurance Business Development Bank of Canada Cameron's Flower Shop Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery Caudle's Catch Seafood Ltd Central Ontario Developmental Riding Program/Pride Stables Centre In The Square Challenger Motor Freight Inc. Charcoal Steak House / Dels / Martinis 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 Conestoga College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning Conestoga Golf and Conference Centre 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 Dundee Country Club Dundee Recycling Ltd 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
G & B Cable Contracting Inc GHD Giffen LLP Golf's Steak House & Seafood Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP Grand River Hospital Foundation Grant Thornton LLP H. Wolynetz Investments Ltd Hahn Rentals Hallman/PromotionWorks Hauser Industries Inc Heer's Paint & Decor Heffner Lexus & Heffner Toyota Heine Instruments (Canada) Ltd. Hendrix Genetics Ltd. Hogg Fuel & Supply Limited Humphries Auto Service 2017 Inc Indigo Instruments (Pinetree Instruments Inc.) Information Network Systems Inc Italo Foods Ivanhoe Cambridge II Inc./Conestoga Mall J.M.B. Sales James Beingessner Jim Harper 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 LLP Kuehne + Nagel Ltd. K-W Oktoberfest Inc Linda Hilts Interiors Ltd 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 Oak Bridge Properties Onward Manufacturing Company Limited Paca Industrial Distribution Parkway Ford Sales (1996) Ltd PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP PrimusPM ProMark Window Film & Blinds Inc. QLO Management Inc Quarry Integrated Communications Inc. Radisson Hotel Kitchener Waterloo
RaeLipskie Partnership (The), Private Wealth Management RBC Dominion Securities RBC Royal Bank - Retail Rev. Gary Alcock Robert G. Heer Rotor Services Limited 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 Sun Life Sunrise Shopping Centre Swan Dust Control Ltd Swanson's Home Hardware Building Centre Swiss Chalet - Weber Street North TdS Dixon Inc The C3 Group The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited The Food Bank of Waterloo Region The Pinnacle Group The Plant Lady Inc. The Shops at Waterloo Town Square Topeco Coffee, Tea & Spices Inc Traces Screen Printing Ltd. Twin City Dwyer Printing Co Ltd 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 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 William Knell and Company Ltd Wm. J. Gies Construction Ltd Woeller Group Inc. Your Neighbourhood Credit Union Youth in Conflict with the Law Zehr Group
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Helping Us Make Our Vision Possible A special Thank You to each of these Chamber Sponsors.
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If your organization would like to support the Chamber through a partnership program, please contact Heather at hhutchings@greaterkwchamber.com
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advocate March | April 2022
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member notables
Member Notables Peter Baxter, Laurier’s director of Athletics and Recreation, to retire in April Peter Baxter, Wilfrid Laurier University’s director: Athletics and Recreation, has announced his plans to retire in April 2022. Baxter has served as Laurier’s director of Athletics and Recreation for more than 23 years. Throughout his tenure he has been integral to the growth of many facets of Laurier’s athletics program. He has contributed to the further development of interuniversity sport offerings, particularly Golden Hawk women’s teams; the diversification of recreation, club, and intramural offerings; entrepreneurial revenue growth; and the expansion, renovation and construction of new athletic facilities, including Alumni Field, the Athletic Complex Fitness Centre and the Laurier Brantford YMCA. During his time as director, 45 (of 75 total) Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships and 10 (of 14 total) national U Sports championships have been won by Golden Hawk teams.
New Opportunities for Chef D in 2022 Chef Darryl Fletcher (Chef D) has big plans for 2022! He, and his wife and business partner Tric recently purchased Nithridge Weddings and Events in Ayr, Ontario. The 33 acre property borders the Nith River and features a stone amphitheater and large outdoor tent. “The new location provides some great opportunities given the uncertainty of COVID-19.” said Chef D. The location provides outdoor options that allow for social distancing. In addition to being a wedding and event venue, they are moving some of their catering options to the new location and plan to offer Saturday and Sunday brunch. The new venue is scheduled to open around the May long weekend and will operate through to mid-October, although catering will be offered at the location year round. Chef D also has some pop-up restaurants in the works. In addition to all of his new plans for 2022, Chef D continues to oversee the catering and food and beverage services at Deer Ridge Golf Club.
Waterloo North Hydro Named One of Waterloo Area's Top Employers Waterloo North Hydro (WNH) has been named one of Waterloo Area’s Top Employers for 2022. This is the sixth consecutive year WNH has received this award. WNH received this award for its commitment to employee health and wellness and its commitment to attracting and retaining high-quality people for all of its positions. The utility's external and internal training programs, as well as its comprehensive wellness program, help it to stand out amongst other area employers. “We are proud to have received this recognition for a sixth consecutive year,” said WNH President and CEO Rene Gatien. “During a challenging year, our employees continued to raise the bar and exceed expectation, meeting the needs of our customers through worldclass customer support, and providing support to one another throughout the pandemic.”
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member notables
Member Notables Paul and Louise Puopolo, the founders of Polocorp stepping aside It is with great pride that Paul and Louise, have stepped aside to let their two boys, Joseph & Michael take the business to new heights. Paul will remain as a Chairman and Senior Counsellor, to further guide Joseph & Michael as this transition period occurs. It is the end of an era, but Paul & Louise have the utmost confidence that the Polocorp brand and the Puopolo family legacy will be enhanced in the coming years with Joseph & Michael and the exceptional Polocorp team at the helm. As of January 1, 2022, Joseph and Michael are co-CEO’s within Polocorp.
Clarke Starke & Diegel LLP Celebrates Fifty Years Clarke Starke & Diegel LLP is proud to reflect on 50 years of partnership with corporate, not for profit and personal tax clients in the Waterloo Region. Since 1972, Clarke Starke & Diegel LLP have committed themselves to helping individuals and organizations build value and achieve their objectives. Through this dedication, Clarke Starke & Diegel LLP has grown to be one of the leading mid-sized public accounting and tax firms in Waterloo Region. Clarke Starke & Diegel LLP’s attention to detail and customer service has enabled them to nurture long lasting relationships with both clients and team members and they look forward to celebrating these relationships in the years to come.
The Waterloo Region Rural Post celebrates its 100th Print Edition The Rural Post would like to thank all of their readers, advertisers and contributors for their ongoing support and encouragement, as they celebrate their 100th issue. The Post was the brain-child of Todd Cowan, publisher, who recognized that the needs of Waterloo Region’s rural township residents and businesses were often overshadowed by those in the big cities. On February 3, 2022 The Waterloo Region Rural Post celebrated their 100th issue. Delivered weekly to almost 28,000 mailboxes by Canada Post to every home, business, and farm in the 4 rural townships. The Rural Post highlights local activities, events and good news while celebrating the non-profits, service groups, businesses and civic leaders who contribute to making our townships great. The Rural Post began as a monthly newspaper, and almost two years ago they began publishing weekly. With continued slow internet connections in the townships, the Rural Post continues to be the most read paper in Rural Waterloo Region. Both readers and advertisers have embraced the Rural Post as their hometown news. Congrats on 100! advocate March | April 2022
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WHAT'S NEXT FROM PANDEMIC
TO PERFORMANCE
Fueled by ideas, expertise, and passion, our commercial real estate professionals provide valuable insights and create dynamic solutions to prepare our clients for what's next in Waterloo Region and beyond.
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Commercial Leasing Investment Sales Sale-Lease Back for Owner Occupiers Capital Solutions Valuation & Appraisals
519-585-2200 | info@cushwakewr.com Cushman & Wakefield Waterloo Region Ltd. Brokerage
Plan your event, your way. THE GRANDWAY HALL 3,800 SF | 250 people
Room can be split by divider wall: 110 & 130 people
The GrandWay Hall is an open concept room with large windows, a beautiful partially covered patio, and a neutral colour palette that embraces a rustic yet elegant style. It is the ideal location to create your perfect wedding or special event.
THE RIVER ROOM
945 SF | 45 people
The River Room is smaller than the GrandWay Hall but has all the same finishings and access to all the same amenities, such as A/V set up, customized room configurations, and its own private entrance.
THE IRVINE BOARDROOM 580 SF | 16 people
If you’re looking for a modern and professional space to host your next meeting, look no further! Our new state-of-the-art boardroom is ready to accommodate all your needs.
thegrandway.com • bookings@thegrandway.com • 519-846-5455
DEFY COMPLACENCY THE REDESIGNED 2022 LEXUS ES There are those who follow a well-trodden path, and those who carve their own. From enhanced technology and driving dynamics that keep you in control to a refined aesthetic that turns heads at every corner, the redesigned Lexus ES helps you command your own journey. HEFFNER LEXUS 3131 King Street East, Kitchener, 5197489668 | www.heffnerlexus.ca
