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Exit interview Departing Shaw Centre CEO Pat Kelly says convention facility is on solid ground but must look beyond Canada’s borders > PAGES 4-5

March 30, 2015 Vol. 18, NO. 10

Ottawa Commercial Leasing creating the right space for your business merkburn.com 613.224.5464

For daily business news visit obj.ca

CEO star search

Region’s top executives say Ottawa must do more to promote itself to the next generation of business leaders. > PAGE 26

Winning clients

Local software firm excels at recent Canada Winter Games with cuttingedge mobile web technology. > PAGES 28-29 Canada Post Publications Mail: Agreement No. 41639025

A mom of two and former CEO of a successful trauma management firm, Fiona Gilligan has added author to her list of accomplishments. PHOTO BY MARK HOLLERON

An entrepreneur’s true Confessions Ottawa’s Fiona Gilligan opens up about business triumphs, failures in book OBJ’s 14-page Women in Business supplement spotlights National Capital Region’s top female achievers > PAGES 11-24

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Initiative. Integrity. Inventiveness.

Ontario’s leading name in restoration gains ground in Ottawa

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ou are only as good as the team around you.

It’s a lesson Geoff Grist learned on the rugby pitch as a semi-professional player. He’s taken it to heart over the past 15 years to build Brook Restoration into one of the largest and most trusted restoration companies serving Ontario.

The award-winning Brook team includes more than 300 skilled craftsmen, dedicated labourers and strategic managers available to provide service anywhere in Ontario from its offices in Toronto and Ottawa.

“They are a mix of what we call ‘restoration mechanics,’” Grist said. “I’ve worked with many of them since I started in the restoration industry 25 years ago. There’s also a lot of young people on our team, which makes it exciting for the future.”

It’s a team that has the know-how and the equipment to confidently handle any number of high and low-rise building restoration projects, on commercial, institutional and residential/condominium properties. Brook will take on everything from small-scale projects, to complex multiyear engagements that are worth millions of dollars.

When it comes to building restoration, the scope of a project can change quickly as old buildings give up secrets hidden to the casual eye. Precise planning and coordination must be exercised to complete any project on schedule. With every project, Brook employs its own proven methodology to ensure proper organization, management and use of resources, to ensure a quality result and a satisfied client.

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Setting the standard for safety

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Safety is paramount. Unlike new developments, where the construction site is blocked from public access, restoration jobs typically involve properties that are occupied.

“Health and safety is a top priority for us, to protect our workers, the public and our clients from risk of liability,” said Alex McMullen, Vice-President. “We take pride in the levels we maintain. Working a job site while the building maintains

Alex McMullen, Vice-President and Geoff Grist, President and Chief Executive Officer, Brook Restoration

occupancy and operation is one of our strong points and where we excel.”

All workers employed by Brook are required to attend and pass a minimum of six courses offered by its own industrycertified training school prior to stepping foot on a worksite. Brook uses tablets on the jobsite to provide up-to-the-minute updates on site conditions, and all foremen are required to submit multiple daily documents over and above the standards required by law. Brook also employs an independent safety consultant to ensure conformity, not only with industry safety requirements, but also with its own stringent guidelines.

Putting fresh faces on Ottawa

With the Radisson Hotel on Queen Street, Brook was called in to replace large areas of exterior brickwork and stucco (20,000 bricks in all). It also carried out extensive retrofit and replacement work for window exterior insulation finishing systems, and window and curtain walls. The hotel was able to maintain almost 100 per cent occupancy throughout the project.

At 1240 and 1244 Donald Street, public safety was already at risk due to loose concrete on apartment balconies.

Brook carried out extensive concrete rehabilitation and replacement for the property’s parking garage and balconies.

It also replaced and painted the balcony railings, which greatly improved the properties’ curb appeal.

For the Holiday Inn on Cooper Street, Brook took on a major parking garage rehabilitation. This included roof slab replacement, new entrance and exit ramps, asphalt and overburden replacement, electrical repairs, mechanical restoration and a new fire extinction system.

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Find out more.

To discuss your project needs, visit www.brookrestoration.ca and call 613-248-8887.

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AN EXCEPTIONAL GOLF EXPERIENCE IS JUST THE BEGINNING A public golf course or a private golf club—which would you choose? The debate is about as old as the game itself. And while the answer often comes down to a mix of budget and preference, both seasoned and beginner golfers alike will agree: the private club experience is truly second to none.

From the immaculate condition of the course and attractive social atmosphere, to the club’s other inspired features, such as championship-style courses, networking events and multiple fine dining venues—the benefits of private membership are clear, and are yours to discover. But no matter what your reason is for playing the game, you’ll find that with a private club membership, an exceptional golf experience is just the beginning.

All skill levels are welcome

Whether you are a beginner golfer looking to test your potential, or you are a bit more seasoned and looking to expertly fine-tune your skills alongside other devoted golfers, private clubs are suited to both casual and competitive play and provide you with a host of opportunities to improve your game. In fact, practice facilities, including driving range, short game and putting green, are one of the most overlooked, yet highly valued amenities found at a private golf club. For those looking for even more fine-tuning, you can take advantage of the instruction from a golf professional found in many private club Pro Shops.

Private clubs like The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Ottawa actually take inspiration from the natural lay of the land to create a challenging course that doesn’t rely on artificial man-made hazards. The Royal’s hills and dales are nature’s own obstacles, which act as both a source of joy and frustration for even the most experienced of golfers.

The answer is on the course

In some ways, joining a private golf club is like going to your favourite bar or restaurant: everyone knows your name, your favourite cocktails, and your preferred tee time. Even the food is superb and pleasing to even the most discerning palette. Perhaps more importantly, however, private golf clubs are the perfect place to meet like-minded

To truly appreciate the difference between a public golf course and a private golf club, look no further than the course. A club that respects the true spirit of the game will enlist a dedicated team of greenskeepers to maintain the lush, awe-inspiring and natural landscape.

But it’s about more than just the game.

professionals for networking and making strong, loyal connections and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Finally, while there’s some truth when it’s said that “Golf is great no matter where you play,” there’s something special about knowing there’s that one place that you can always depend on for perfectly groomed greens, familiar faces, unsurpassed attention to detail, and of course, a great game of golf.

Look no further than a private golf club—you’ll be happy you did.

The Royal Ottawa Golf Club has been Ottawa’s premier golf club since 1891. To learn more about membership packages, visit www.rogc.com/membership.

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Private golf clubs also make for the perfect family tradition, because even though golf is generally regarded as an individual sport, it’s an experience that the entire family can enjoy—no matter the skill level or age. Courses such as The Royal Ottawa Golf Club’s 2500 yard “Royal 9” course offer a perfect venue for new golfers of any age.

While many 9-hole courses, like The Royal 9, still present a challenge for even the most seasoned golfer, they can also serve as the backdrop for many memorable moments as a family, or as the most picturesque of classrooms, where children are introduced to this time-honoured game. Eventually, the children may go on to become full members themselves, carrying on a valued family tradition.

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TOURISM

“We knew we had a unique building, a unique product. But we didn’t want to be known for that in the marketplace. If all we were known for was a great building, but things didn’t work inside, you lose your customers pretty quickly.” — FORMER SHAW CENTRE CEO PAT KELLY, WHO STEPPED DOWN LAST WEEK AFTER EIGHT YEARS ON THE JOB

Pat Kelly spent eight years at the helm of Ottawa’s downtown convention centre before leaving the job at the end of March. PHOTO BY COLE BURSTON

Conventional wisdom Outgoing Shaw Centre CEO Pat Kelly talks about the challenges of putting the capital back on the map for meeting planners

BY DAVID SALI david@obj.ca

W MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

hen Pat Kelly was named CEO of the Ottawa Congress Centre in 2007, one of the first things he did was find out how many conventions would have to be relocated while the

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archaic facility was torn down and replaced with a shiny new building.

Figuring the massive project to raze the 70,000-square-foot Congress Centre and build a space nearly three times that size would take two and a half years, he also checked with his counterparts in Quebec City and Edmonton to see how many

conventions they had on their dockets in that time span.

Both of those cities had at least 40 major events on the books, about what he expected for the Congress Centre.

Ottawa’s actual number shocked him.

“We were sitting with 15 – the nation’s capital,” the affable 61-year-old said in

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a recent interview with OBJ, shaking his head. “And it was just because the building had become irrelevant. We couldn’t compete.”

For most of the ensuing decade, Mr. Kelly’s mission was to make the country’s fourth-largest city, long forgotten as a convention destination, a key player in the game. On March 27, eight years to the day after he took over as head of Ottawa’s main downtown meeting facility, Mr. Kelly officially said goodbye.

The former hotel manager felt it was simply time to move on to new challenges.

After a short vacation to pursue one of his other passions – golf – the grandfather of four plans to launch his own firm.

“One of the career aspirations I’ve always had … was to actually strike out on my own and put together a small hospitality consulting business and help other organizations succeed in the hospitality industry,” he said. “I thought if I was going to do this, this was the time.”

Mr. Kelly initially planned to leave shortly after the Shaw Centre, then called the Ottawa Convention Centre, opened in 2011.

“But I enjoyed it so much that before I knew it, I found myself approaching the eight-year mark,” he said. “I’ve grown to love this place. I look upon it as my baby.”

When asked what achievement he’s proudest of as CEO, he replied without hesitation.

“I’d have to say the team that’s here at the Shaw Centre,” he said. “Everyone raves about the building and rightfully so – it’s a phenomenal convention centre. We knew we had a unique building, a unique product. But we didn’t want to be known for that in the marketplace. If all we were known for was a great building, but things didn’t work inside, you lose your customers pretty quickly. This is the best team I’ve ever worked with.”

Mr. Kelly said he believes the 192,000-square-foot facility, which has drawn raves for local architect Ritchard Brisbin’s unique “tulip” design, has put Ottawa back on the map with meeting

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planners around the world.

“Opening up the Shaw Centre opened up Ottawa to the types of events that a capital city should be hosting,” he said.

“The other thing it did for Ottawa was it then made Ottawa a player in the markets that we weren’t able to play in previously, and that’s the U.S. and European convention markets.”

Cracking those markets remains a work in progress, he conceded. In its first four years, the facility has hosted an average of 45 conventions annually, but only a handful are for organizations outside Canada.

The building has set a target of 60 conventions a year by 2020, and Mr. Kelly believes most of that growth will come from international clients. The Shaw Centre is working with agencies such as Ottawa Tourism to promote the city as a meeting place in London, Washington, D.C. and other major world capitals, and he says those efforts are starting to pay dividends.

Three British organizations have already booked the building for next year, he said. The Shaw Centre is hosting the international One Young World summit in 2016, an event that is expected to

draw thousands of delegates from 190 countries.

“That’s the type of event that not only could not have met in Ottawa prior to our opening, but it’s also the kind of event that really is great for the Ottawa brand,” Mr. Kelly said. “It starts to open up the eyes of meeting planners in places like London and Brussels and Washington, D.C.” An extra 15 foreign conventions a year would bring an additional 12,000-15,000 high-spending delegates to the National Capital Region, he said, each staying an average of three or four nights.

“The economic impact of that effort is huge,” Mr. Kelly said.

Still, questions linger about whether the Shaw Centre is really worth its $170-million price tag.

The Ontario government, which owns the building, contributed $50 million to its construction, with the federal government matching that total. The City of Ottawa chipped in $40 million, while private lenders provided the rest.

A feasibility study in 2007 projected the new convention centre would attract about 113,000 out-of-town visitors annually, up from the 80,000 that attended events at the Congress Centre.

But an Ipsos Reid impact study two years ago found the facility drew 54,400 guests from other cities in 2012.

Mr. Kelly said the 2012 figures include only convention visitors, numbers that are easy to measure because all delegates must register.

But the vast majority of the convention centre’s 500 annual events are smaller consumer and trade shows, fundraising galas, charity events and weddings. Outof-town visitor tallies for those bookings are much more difficult to track and even harder to predict, he said.

“No question, we simply overprojected that particular segment,” Mr. Kelly said.

“It wasn’t intentional. It was based on the data that we had at the time.”

While initial studies projected the building would turn seven-figure profits, the Shaw Centre’s annual gross surplus has averaged about $300,000 in its first four years. Mr. Kelly said that still puts it on much better footing than most other facilities of its nature.

“You would be hard-pressed to find any convention centre, let alone one our size, that is turning a profit like that, if turning a profit at all,” he said. “It’s a challenging business model. So far we’ve

been able to keep our heads above water.”

The Shaw Centre pumps more than $75 million back into the local economy every year, he said, and pays millions of dollars in taxes to the province and city.

“It’s been a great investment,” Mr. Kelly said, calling the Shaw Centre “one of the best uses of taxpayer money that I’m aware of, without question.”

There’s still work to do, he added. He believes the city needs another major downtown hotel with 400 to 500 rooms, something he thinks will happen by the end of the decade. The planned redevelopment of LeBreton Flats and the widening of the Airport Parkway will also make the capital more conventionfriendly, he said.

All in all, Mr. Kelly said, Ottawa is a much more attractive destination now for major national and international events than it was 10 years ago.

“We have some real competitive advantages that we’re able to lay in front of a convention planner in London or D.C. or Brussels,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to expose Ottawa to a whole swath of the world that we haven’t been able to in the past. I think the future looks very bright.”

make your voice heard at

www.ottawa business survey.ca

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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Audit

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COMMENTARY A GirlPreneur’s guide to survival In this excerpt from her new book, Fiona Gilligan advises women – and men – on what they need to do to get their business through that nerve-wracking first 12 months

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

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our first year in business is about survival. The success of your business will depend on that most basic business equation: You need to bring in more revenue than you have in costs. Any surplus is your profit for a job well done. The goal is to make more revenue while also keeping your costs low. The greater your profit, the more money you should put aside to cover cash flow. This profit will allow you to keep your business operational if you have a few lean months and it will also be useful if you decide to grow your company, as growth requires cash.

Financial facts that matter: Know your costs in detail.

Know how much revenue you need to bring in to cover costs.

What is your break-even point for profitability?

Control your costs to the bare minimum.

Hustle like crazy to promote sales.

For a business to go from survive to thrive in the first year, it often comes down to how you manage your cash flow. Most businesses are built in a fairly similar fashion, yet can operate on many levels. The core principle is that a business must have a product or a service that others place value on and want to buy. You don’t need to own a company that generates $10 million annually to be a GirlPreneur. You might make family meals and sell them after school. You might work from home making beaded jewelry and sell it online.

You might have developed a software prototype for a Fortune 500 company.

You may have two, 10 or 100 employees – or no employees. You may be local, national or international. You may have shareholders or you may be a onewoman show. You don’t have to be big to be a viable business.

For the most part, the setting up, your business are the most important structuring and operating of a business questions of all. requires similar procedures and The GirlPreneur Pre-Launch Checklist: practices. There are volumes of business • Is this business right for me? books and blogs specific to each stage • Can I see getting out of bed every of the business cycle that may be an morning for the next five years to additional resource for you. So I suggest do this? that you: Read. Read. Read. Put your • Do I have the expertise to make the pride aside when starting out. Find the business work? right people and ask a lot of questions.

• Have I investigated my And the questions you ask yourself about competition?

Put your pride aside when starting out. Find the right people and ask a lot of questions.

And the questions you ask yourself about your business are the most important questions of all

•

• • • •

Do I have the necessary capital to start? Have I considered loans/ grants?

Am I familiar with price-setting strategies?

Will I work from home, or rent or share space?

Am I starting the business alone or do I have a partner?

Should I incorporate?

And any other questions that come to mind that are specific to your startup business.

GirlPreneurs sometimes think that building a business is a complex undertaking. But I assure you, it is not.

If you make the wrong decision and you land on your butt? So what! Most successful GirlPreneurs have bounced off our butts dozens of times to get to where we are. Failures and missteps are the potholes on the road travelled by the GirlPreneur. We don’t let them derail, defeat or define us. We pick up our heels, dust off our pantsuits and carry on.

I was a social worker with zero business acumen, yet I built an industryleading company. I followed by passion for helping others while making a living for myself. I realized that I did not have all the answers and that I would have to learn as I went along. I made lots of mistakes because I took lots of chances.

I was my own bank, for the most part.

I was the payroll clerk, the marketer, the collection agency and accounts receivable, all in one. I learned very clearly how my business worked. I also learned where I could borrow money to cover off cash flow.

Even for a profitable startup company, it is not unusual to have cash flow issues.

On your books you may be owed $100K in receivables, but your bank account is in the negative to the tune of $100K. When it comes time to pay the staff and the bills, you must have the cash in the bank or a very good line of credit and overdraft.

If you are a bootstrap entrepreneur, scale the company up when and if you have the cash. Except for administrative staff, I hired only people that I could bill out. Ninety per cent of my staff were billable staff so that I could build their costs into my contracts. And don’t count your chickens before they hatch. You may think you are going to get a contract, and then something changes. Your client goes belly up or you don’t get the work. Avoid hiring or outlaying money before you actually have a signed contract. I had to learn this the hard way.

Ottawa businesswoman Fiona Gilligan was the founder and former CEO of the Trauma Management Group. This excerpt is from her new book Confessions of a GirlPRENEUR: Life, Love, Business & Babies, which is available online at fionagilligan.com.

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READER COMMENTS CONSTRUCTION

presents

The Women’s Business Network is proud to announce the Finalists for the Businesswoman of the Year Awards.

Professional

Tarion chair says confidence in firm steadily building Cracking down on illegal builders next on agency’s list of priorities, Ottawa lawyer says

BY DAVID SALI david@obj.ca

Rosa Iuliano

Partner Collins Barrow

Paula Clancy

Owner/Partner Clancy P.C. + Brion Raffoul

Lorraine Mastersmith Partner Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall

Entrepreneur

Laura Dubois

Owner/Manager Laura’s Your Independent Grocer

Jennifer Stewart

Owner/President JS Communications

Caralyn Tierney President/Owner Caralyn’s Hair & Wig Design Inc.

Company

Dina Bell-Laroche

Partner Sport Law & Strategy

Frances Mannarino Senior Commercial Account Manager BMO Bank of Montreal

Marie Boivin

Managing Director Accu-Rate Corporation

Who will be this year’s recipients in the Professional, Entrepreneur and Company categories? Join us on April 23 and find out!

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MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2015

Nine Finalists. Three Recipients. All deserving.

www.womensbusinessnetwork.ca

T

he Ottawa lawyer who chairs the private corporation that protects buyers of new homes in Ontario says the organization has boosted consumer protection dramatically in his 10 years on the board, but more work still needs to be done.

Chris Spiteri, who became the first local person to head the board of Tarion Warranty Corporation in more than 25 years when he was elected last year, said homebuyers used to complain the non-profit agency was biased in favour of builders.

“I don’t hear (those complaints) anymore,” Mr. Spiteri, a partner at Spiteri & Ursulak, said in a recent interview with OBJ. “In some ways, I think maybe we’re a little too humble in getting that message out.”

Over the past decade, Tarion has boosted protection against problems such as major structural defects from $150,000 to $300,000 and has extended warranties from just two years to as much as seven, he said. The agency has also launched an external review of its dispute resolution mechanism to ensure it’s as fair as possible, he noted, adding it successfully resolves such cases “almost 100 per cent of the time.”

Mr. Spiteri, whose one-year term as chair ends in April, said the corporation is now focused on cracking down on illegal building, which he calls a “real problem in the province.”

All dwellings built for sale in Ontario must be constructed by builders who are registered with Tarion and have proven they have proper expertise and the financial resources to protect buyers’ deposits. The only exceptions are rental properties, homes built by the owners themselves and seasonal housing such as cottages.

Mr. Spiteri said buyers of illegally built homes can be on the hook for repair costs due to shoddy workmanship and can be liable if the builder’s employees are injured on the job.

“For new homebuyers, it’s a real problem because they’re unaware of what

warranty rights are extended to them,” he said.

He said Tarion will be vetting applications for new building permits much more rigorously in the future to ensure builders have the proper paperwork. In the past, he said, violations were often brought to the company’s attention only after the fact.

“If we can take this step forward to ensure that new homes are predominantly done legally by legally registered builders, I think we have served new homebuyers tenfold over,” Mr. Spiteri said. “This is the biggest initiative to protect consumers that I’ve seen Tarion take.”

But an NDP MPP who has tabled a private member’s bill that would give the province’s auditor general and ombudsman the power to investigate Tarion says he doesn’t think illegal building is a major worry for most consumers.

“It may be an issue … and I support that initiative, but that’s not the concern that I’m hearing at the doors,” said Jagmeet Singh, adding he hears far more complaints about legitimate builders who dodge their responsibility to homebuyers. “People tell me, ‘Hey, we bought from this builder and the builder’s not fixing and Tarion’s not paying up.’”

Mr. Singh’s bill, entitled the Tarion Accountability and Oversight Act, would also force the corporation to ensure that employees who earn more than $100,000 a year are included on the provincial “sunshine list” and make its bylaws subject to government approval.

Tarion, which was created by the province in the 1970s to oversee the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, is funded mainly through enrolment fees of up to $1,600 per home that are usually passed on to buyers.

Mr. Spiteri said he’s proud of Tarion’s record when it comes to protecting consumers. Each year, he noted, only a handful of disputes between buyers and builders end up at the provincial Licence Appeal Tribunal, the arbitrator of last resort.

“That’s a remarkable number,” he said.

“By the time it gets to that point, Tarion has already gone to great lengths to bring about a resolution.”

Time for Tarion to crack down on builders Re: “Tarion chair says confidence in firm steadily building” (March 16)

Outgoing Tarion chair Chris Spiteri was quoted as saying he doesn’t hear complaints anymore that Tarion is biased in favour of builders.

Coincidentally, less than a month earlier

on Feb. 21, the Toronto Sun’s Alan Shanoff wrote a column headlined “Time to shine a light on Tarion,” in which he argued the agency that is intended to protect new Ontario homebuyers appears to be protecting builders instead.

Contrary to what Mr. Spiteri told OBJ, Canadians for Properly Built Homes continues to regularly hear from consumers that Tarion appears to be protecting their builder rather than them.

In July 2013 the Toronto Star published an investigative report that found Tarion was keeping “secret records of poor or incomplete work by builders.” CPBH continues to hear regularly from consumers that builders’ records on Tarion’s website are inaccurate.

Tarion is both industry regulator and monopoly warranty provider. It is good that Tarion is cracking down on illegal building, but the agency also needs to immediately address the long-standing, very serious problem of the poor and marginal builders it has licensed. Last summer, a Maclean’s article about a failed Toronto condo project reported that many experts say “the industry largely remains a ‘Wild West’ in Ontario when it comes to regulation.”

Continues on page 9

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Now, it’s also a space for once-in-a-lifetime meeting experiences.

The Museum holds several spaces suited to events of many sizes and wellequipped with meeting essentials including WiFi and audio visual equipment.

There’s also ample parking.

Cafeteria This is the largest room in the Museum and fits up to 150 people. Be sure to have a look at “the window.” It offers views of a landscape mural that was intended to stave off claustrophobia in longer-term guests.

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RA Centre gets active, cuts energy costs The RA Centre has an arena, curling rink, fitness facility, badminton and squash courts, a restaurant, meeting rooms, sport fields and parking lots, presenting a clear challenge for conservation.

“We’re tracking better than we did last year. Right now I’m able to see how much we’re spending today. That’s amazing to see.”

The system displays current, daily, monthly and annual use, as well as peak and average energy consumption, and offers comparison features to view information in relation to corporate benchmarks.

Energy Ottawa is the exclusive Canadian distributor for EnergyFlowTM products and offers assistance to companies looking to implement the technology.

Rankin notes that RA Centre management is also pleased with the support Hydro Ottawa has offered, both early in the setup process and on an ongoing basis.

“The support we’ve had through Hydro Ottawa on this has been great,” concludes Rankin. ”What we’re seeing is positive numbers. Usage in some of those problem areas is more than we thought they would be. EnergyFlowTM allows us to make those calculations, ensuring we make timely and informed decisions.”

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And it’s already being successfully used by one of Ottawa’s largest recreation facilities for this very reason.

“We have a year’s worth of data now, which helps us out. We are a not-for-profit association,” he explains. “We don’t get funding from government agencies, so we’re self-sufficient. Because of that, we’re obviously concerned about the bottom line. Utilities creep up in price year after year.”

Rankin adds that RA management identified problem areas in the building as part of their annual review process and says the very timely data provided helpful insight.

“When you talk about energy conservation, one of the most important things is measurement, analysis and reporting of energy usage trends. The market was really looking for this kind of tool,” says Roger Marsh, Hydro Ottawa’s Chief Energy Management Officer. “After evaluating a variety of products, the EnergyFlowTM solution was chosen as the top performer and we’re very proud to offer this industry leading solution to Canadian businesses.”

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

W

ith businesspeople constantly on the lookout for ways to improve efficiency and reduce waste, a Hydro Ottawa subsidiary company is marketing a tool that can help business owners do just that by better understanding their energy consumption patterns.

Ross Rankin, Director, Facility and Property Services at the RA Centre, says EnergyFlowTM is making a significant difference since it was installed in February 2014.

Noveda Technology’s innovative webbased monitor tracks a building’s energy and water use in real time, providing valuable data to identify inefficiencies or adjust settings based on occupancy patterns. Electricity generation, such as solar PV, can also be analyzed.

— SPONSORED CONTENT —

Champions with big hearts

Waterbridge Creative helps make a difference for veterans, local kids

I

n a few short years, the dynamic team at Waterbridge Creative Media has made a big splash in the Ottawa market by helping area businesses tap into the marketing power of new media and video promotion.

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

But what really ingnites the team’s passion is donating its time and expertise to support local charities that resonate with Waterbridge’s own heartfelt values.

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“The work we do in the community goes beyond organizational friendship,” said Nik Topolovec, Managing Partner. “The great people behind these fantastic charities become personal friends. Their causes become ours, too.”

Helping veterans make a fresh start in civilian life

Thousands of Canadian service men and women return to civilian life each year.

These are individuals, and their families, who have made sacrifices day after day in service to their country. Adjusting to civilian life and integrating into the civilian workforce can be challenging. They need help to adapt their professional

experience in the military to a new career path.

professionalism Waterbridge brings has taken us to a whole new level.”

Canada Company is a non-partisan charity that works to ensure our veterans receive the support, care and recognition they deserve. One way is through its Military Employment Transition (MET) Program.

MET’s mandate is to build connections between veterans and leaders in the public and private sectors who will offer employment opportunities.

Making grey skies blue for CHEO

In support of MET, Waterbridge produced testimonial videos, created print marketing collateral, and developed an online video curriculum workshop designed for military personnel to help them with job search, resume building and interview strategies.

After raising a record $726,000 in 2013, the event organizers wanted to make 2014 bigger and better. Waterbridge Media donated its time and expertise to run a month-long social media program to raise awareness and encourage more people to participate.

“Waterbridge was absolutely essential as we launched MET in breaking down the various elements of what a transitioning veteran must do to present those great skills they have in a very effective way,” said Blake Goldring, Founder and Chairman of Canada Company.

“Their enthusiasm, their creativity, their energy level, but must importantly, the

Every year, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) handles about 75 new diagnoses of childhood cancer and helps children, youth and their families through this difficult journey. The CN Cycle for CHEO is the hospital’s largest pediatric cancer fundraiser.

“What we saw from Waterbridge was a lot of energy and creativity,” said Kevin Keohane, President and CEO of the CHEO Foundation. “We really liked the way they interacted with us and our donors. They created some really great products to promote CN Cycle.”

The biggest impact as a result of Waterbridge’s efforts was seen on CHEO’s Facebook page. Total reach went from an average of three people in March 2014 to a high of 533 in April 2014. Average daily viral impressions jumped from an average of two in March to 561 in April and 977 in May 2014.

The result? The event smashed past its fundraising target of $750,000 to reach almost $814,000, despite uncooperative weather that made for a grey, rainy day.

“Waterbridge helped us to reach out to our supporters in new and different ways,” said Keohane. “They definitely played a role in attracting new participants and insulated us from what could have been a disappointing result given the weather.

What really impressed me was their energy and professionalism.”

To learn more about Waterbridge Creative Media and its services, please visit www.waterbridgemedia.ca

READER COMMENTS Continued from page 7 Far too many Ontarians suffer needlessly due to their homes’ Ontario Building Code violations, an unresponsive builder and an unresponsive warranty provider, Tarion.

For example, CPBH hears regular consumer complaints about Ontarians freezing in their newly built homes.

The list of serious concerns with the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act (almost 40 years old) and Tarion’s administration of that act are far too lengthy to include here. It’s clear to many that new legislation is urgently required.

Fortunately, MPP Jagmeet Singh recently tabled Bill 60, the Tarion Accountability and Oversight Act. CPBH fully supports Bill 60, and encourages all Ontarians to sign the petition on our website and send it to the address at the bottom of the petition. Then, we encourage all Ontarians to write or call their MPP and ask him or her to support Bill 60, too!

The new Albert at Bay Suites Hotel Logo - November

STAY BIG OR STAY HOME! OTTAWA’SBIGGEST

HOTELSUITES

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3 blocks from Parliament Hill

— Karen Somerville, President, Canadians for Properly Built Homes

09 OBJ.CA

— Barbara Captijn, Toronto

albertatbay.com | 1-800-267-6644

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

What this story doesn’t mention is that Tarion is a huge arm’s-length monopoly of the Ontario government. It levies a mandatory fee on all homes and condos sold in the province.

How does a monopoly have a “confidence-building” problem?

Consumers and MPPs of all parties have said this is an accountability and transparency problem.

Tarion will not disclose executive salaries. Its annual revenues are about $33 million. It pays itself $26 million in salaries, yet pays only $3.5 million in claims, according to its 2013 annual report. The building industry controls eight of the 16 seats on Tarion’s board and is well-known for its political lobbying and generous donations to the governing Liberals.

Tarion’s chair is quoted as saying consumers used to complain the agency was biased in favour of builders, but he adds, “I don’t hear (those complaints) anymore.” Really? According to Tarion’s website, question No. 8 at its annual public meeting in April 2014 was: “How can Tarion serve consumers … while controlled by the developers it is supposed to regulate?” Maybe a Tarion lawyer will say it depends on what the definition of “used to” is.

Tarion chair Chris Spiteri says the company is “a little too humble” in getting out the message that consumers seem to be happy with it. Please spare us another Tarion executive boasting about his tenure. A government monopoly with a public trust function, little oversight and serious transparency and accountability issues has a lot to be humble about.

www.pwc.com/ca

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Leading the way

One of Canada’s most powerful women PwC congratulates Carol Devenny, PwC National Capital Region Office Managing Partner, on being recognized in 2014 by the Women’s Executive Network as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

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10 © 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership. All rights reserved. 3704-07-3.16.2015

WO MEN IN BUSI NESS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE

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FIONA GILLIGAN’S BUSINESS ‘CONFESSIONS’ CARLETON U SURVEYS FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS MEET OTTAWA’S BUSINESSWOMEN OF THE YEAR

— SPONSORED CONTENT —

friends or family members of someone who does. Businesses that hire a person with a disability therefore present themselves as attractive to a very large target market. This strategy has also been proven to save money, since the retention rate and loyalty for employees with disabilities is high and their absenteeism will typically be 50% lower than other workers. “Our candidates outperform others because of their determination and how much they appreciate having a job,” adds Linda. “Work for them is very fulfilling; it provides a way out of poverty and offers social interaction and support.”

Linda’s own story is one of perseverance and resilience. “I have faced a number of business challenges, but I am so passionate about this work that I’ve always been determined to keep going,” she says. “In the twenty years I’ve been running Performance Plus, we have continuously evolved our business model and developed best practices to keep the company successful, including hiring people with disabilities ourselves. We are very proud of our placement success rate.

We are changing lives.”

Linda Simpson I

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

t should come as no surprise that employees who value their jobs often make the best workers. Throughout her career in vocational rehabilitation, Linda Simpson has seen ample proof of this. Her company, Performance Plus Rehabilitative Care Inc., has offered hope and dignity to thousands of individuals with disabilities in the greater Ottawa area by helping them secure meaningful employment.

Employers, meanwhile, reap both tangible and intangible benefits from these motivated, dedicated workers. “It’s truly a win-win for everyone,” says Linda.

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Trained in recreational therapy, Linda’s career path has taken a few turns, thanks in part to frequent moves due to her husband’s job with the Ontario Provincial Police. “When I moved to the vocational rehabilitation field, the norm was still to have some people with disabilities employed in sheltered workshop settings,” she recalls. “Then there was a push to include them in mainstream work environments; practitioners felt it important to make workplace integration happen in tandem with community

living integration. This model has proven extremely effective.”

There is a broad range of individuals for whom Linda and her team of consultants at Performance Plus has secured employment. “Some of our clients have issues with mental health; for others it’s a physical disability, learning disability or a disorder such as Autism,” she says.

“We have a large talent pool – while some have not attained a high school diploma, there are others with varying levels of postsecondary education including Masters degrees or PhDs.” Performance Plus does far more than simply connect individuals with employers.

“We provide the worker with the supports they need; this includes work readiness such as resume preparation, job search strategies and interview techniques,” notes Linda. “There are also supports for employers, including ongoing monitoring as well as wage subsidies and job coaches to help integrate an employee with complex challenges.” Her team will also help employers develop strategies to

accommodate a worker’s needs. “Most accommodations cost less than twenty five dollars; it might be something as simple as developing a modified work schedule or putting a checklist together for an individual with a learning disability so they can get their work done.”

“We look for environments that are supportive and inclusive; it’s also important that the work is meaningful so people can feel satisfaction with the job they are doing,” says Linda. “There is a shortage of skilled workers out there and we have people with backgrounds in IT, education and social services, to name just a few. Generally we place people in administrative positions, working with technology, in social services, retail and hospitality – that’s where the demand is.”

She cites one of her many success stories: a client who became blind and was out of work for ten years has found a great career in customer service with a major bank.

According to Rich Donavan of the Return on Disability Group, 11.5 million Canadians either have disabilities or are

Linda is very actively involved both as a founder and committee chairperson with The Employment Accessibility Resource Network (EARN) of Ottawa. It is a United Way-led community initiative that brings together employers and service providers with a goal of increasing opportunities for meaningful employment for people with disabilities. EARN exists because only 43% of people with disabilities in Ottawa participate in the labour market, compared with 70% of the general population. EARN’s annual conference, taking place at City Hall on April 17, is an ideal opportunity for employers to learn why they should be hiring people with disabilities. “The business case for hiring persons with disabilities is compelling, however there are added benefits of providing people an opportunity.

Employers reap the benefits of talented, dedicated workers while having a chance to make a difference. As our many repeat employers will attest, try it once, and we’ll support you along the way,” says Linda.

For more information about Performance Plus Rehabilitative Care, please visit www.pprc.ca or call 613-748-3220.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 “I always say I didn’t win it, marry it or inherit it – I built it. No one’s going to make you happy and successful except for you. Yeah, there are obstacles. But there are obstacles for everybody. We all have our own bag of rocks that we have to deal with in life.”

— OTTAWA AUTHOR AND

BUSINESSWOMAN FIONA GILLIGAN

Fiona Gilligan has written a new book about her life and career as the builder of a successful trauma management firm. PHOTO BY MARK HOLLERON

Life, love, business and babies Ottawa ‘GirlPreneur’ Fiona Gilligan tells it like it is in a new book she hopes will inspire budding businesswomen to ‘get out there and make it happen’

BY DAVID SALI david@obj.ca

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metrics that you need to get going … and I’m going to write it as a really fun, engaging, entertaining story.’”

A social worker who specializes in trauma therapy, Ms. Gilligan says she has no interest in being a business coach. The book is her way of showing other women that “entrepreneurship is for everybody” if they want it.

“I always say I didn’t win it, marry it or inherit it – I built it,” she declares. “No one’s going to make you happy and successful except for you. Get out there and make it happen. Yeah, there are obstacles. But there are obstacles for everybody. We all have our own bag of rocks that we have to deal with in life.”

When she’s told that fewer than 20 per cent of all small and medium-sized businesses in Canada are majority femaleowned, she says she’s disappointed but not surprised.

“Isn’t that a disgrace as a society?

Women are the largest untapped economic resource on the planet. If we want to have thriving economies and innovation … we need to engage the other 50 per cent of the population. We think differently, we come at business differently. We’re not better or worse, we’re just different.”

So why don’t more women follow her

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

ocal entrepreneur-turned-author Fiona Gilligan’s path to becoming a business trailblazer started long before she launched her first startup.

As a six-year-old, she traded a pack of gum her mother bought her to a friend – for a dead crow. “I felt I’d gotten the better deal,” she writes in her new book, Confessions of a GirlPRENEUR: Life, Love, Business & Babies.

Ms. Gilligan makes it clear she was a born risk-taker who never let her gender hold her back from doing whatever she set her mind to, whether it was playing bicycle chicken with boys as a kid or building a hugely successful trauma management business decades later.

For that, she credits her mother, a teacher by profession who maintained her career even after marriage, and her father, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot who urged his children never to settle for second-best.

When there was work to be done, he’d tell his kids: “Get your boots on.”

“My parents didn’t encourage me to play it safe,” Ms. Gilligan, a mother of two herself, says during a conversation at a Glebe coffeehouse. “I was encouraged just to be who I am. I was like a tomboy

in many, many ways. It was because of that, I think, I was able to keep that spark for challenge and adventure that made me … unemployable but a really good entrepreneur.”

The 50-year-old businesswoman decided a few years ago to tell her story in an effort to inspire others. The result is Confessions, a punchy narrative filled with funny and revealing anecdotes about Ms. Gilligan’s upbringing, as well as all the advice she wishes she’d received before diving into the business world – where to find female mentors and sponsors, what to think about before having kids, how to maintain work-life balance and more.

“All those sorts of questions that are so important for women entrepreneurs that oftentimes my male entrepreneur friends don’t really think about,” she says, summing it up.

Before beginning the book, she scoured the market for what had already been written on women and entrepreneurship.

What she found was underwhelming.

Existing books on the topic “were educational, but they were dry,” she explains. “What girls really like, I think, and want are stories. Women learn from stories. So I thought, ‘I’m going to write a business book that has all the business

example and become CEOs of their own firms?

“I think it’s really multifaceted,” Ms. Gilligan says. “I think a lot of it is because as young girls, we have not had strong role models for women in entrepreneurship.

It’s an extreme sport. That’s why as entrepreneurs, we need to have mentors and role models – people we can turn to and go, ‘Why am I doing this?’ The other thing is that we need to release financing for women in business. Most venture capitalists and angels are male, so they invest in what they know.”

For example, when Ms. Gilligan was trying to get Trauma Management Group off the ground in the 1990s, no one would give her financing. All the angels and investors were middle-aged guys, she says.

“They were thinking, why would anybody want to go to a trauma services company?”

Today, she gives all the would-be business owners she meets the same advice she’s passed on to her two daughters: follow your passion and don’t be afraid to fail.

“What I see is want-trepreneurs. They want to be entrepreneurs, but they don’t want the risk,” she says. “Well, anything in life where you’re challenging yourself and you’re reaching outside of your comfort zone requires a level of risk. With risk comes the potential for failure. So what?

I tanked my first company. I didn’t know what I was doing, and I literally drove it into the ground and called it quits within a year. From that learning experience, I went and built the company that would actually make me successful.”

Ms. Gilligan says the book has been getting a lot of positive feedback, adding a deal to sell the rights to a major Canadian bank is in the works.

When she’s not promoting Confessions, she’s busy putting the finishing touches on her rebuilt home in Old Ottawa South, a labour of love designed by local architect Andrew Reeves, and doing consulting in trauma management.

One thing she won’t do is stop working.

That’s just not in a GirlPreneur’s nature, she says.

“We’re always reaching and striving and doing things.”

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HCMWorks President and CEO named ‘Enterprising Women of the Year’ Julia Fournier’s name may not be well-known in her An Ottawa-built company home town, but hers is an Ottawa success story that saves millions for their clients That company is Ottawa-based is receiving international recognition.

HCMWorks. It was established in 2005

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Fournier has been named one of 2015’s Enterprising Women of the Year by Enterprising Women Magazine, which annually recognizes the world’s top female entrepreneurs. Even more remarkable is that she’s one of just six recipients in a category reserved for companies with $100 million or more in annual revenue.

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Julia Fournier, President and Chief Executive Officer

out of Fournier’s modest home office, which she then shared with just a few laptops and her twin toddlers. It helps companies manage indirect payroll and procurement costs and now, with Fournier as CEO, works with more Fortune 1000 companies than any other of its kind.

Fournier’s road to this stunning success began at Ottawa’s Elmwood School, where an International Baccalaureate Programme prepared her for the postsecondary challenges of studying finance and business at Sheridan College and selected courses at Harvard Business School.

The seed of HCMWorks was planted when Fournier saw the difficulties companies were having in managing their procurement and payroll costs.

She realized making these costs visible was necessary to bring them back under control. One of the company’s oldest clients is a major telecommunications firm that, with the help of HCMWorks, saved more than $100 million over eight years.

HCMWorks’ demonstrated its unmatched vendor management services in an agreement with a major Canadian financial services client. Under this partnership, HCM helped transform its spending on outside contractors. What had been a complex, manually-operated two-month process became, through use of Vendor Management Software (VMS), a fully automated process taking just 11 days. That change also resulted in a 10 per cent savings in labour spending, enabled a decrease in its use of non-approved vendors by 23 per cent, and reduced contractor tenure by 17 per cent, and decreased the hourly bill rate by an average of $10 per hour.

Ms. Fournier is also the President and CEO of Payment Services Corporation (PSC), which was launched in 2008.

PSC is a leading Global professional employment of record (EOR) and payroll processing company. PSC specializes in helping organizations save time and money on payroll, payment and labour law compliance processing.

PSC brings the expertise you can count on in the management of the entire process in contractor payments, payroll processing, tax filing and legal and regulatory compliance, bringing comprehensive knowledge of state, local, provincial and federal regulations.

PSC works with your legal, finance, IT and HR teams, and with your existing technology to increase efficiency and successfully manage the transition to ensure all payments are facilitated in a timely and accurate manner. PSC has a competitive advantage, bringing years of proven experience managing the payroll for thousands of employees and independent contractors for some of the largest, more complex organizations in world.

A generous mentor and supporter of health care in the community

Fournier is also highly active in charitable causes; both through her companies and on an individual basis.

HCMWorks and PSC work with Health Partners, a national workplace charitable program that gives her staff and more than 1,000 contractors the opportunity to donate to heath charities through payroll deductions.

Julia is a member of the International Women’s Forum.

She’s active in health care-oriented organizations where she volunteers in memory of her mother, who died of ovarian cancer at age 52. Fournier is co-chair of Angels in Action, an organization founded to raise much needed funds for ovarian cancer research.

Fournier is also a supporter of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

She has extended the same generosity overseas as a sponsor and honorary member of Fondation Solution Haiti (FSH). This Ottawa-based not-for-profit organization helps youth in a small Haitian town by providing tuition and school supplies profit organization that helps underprivileged youth of a small town in Haiti. This organization provides school tuition and supplies to more than 400 children between the ages of seven and 15.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 Meet Ottawa’s businesswomen of the year WRITTEN BY STEVEN FOUCHARD

presents

The Women’s Business Network is proud to announce the Finalists for the Businesswoman of the Year Awards.

Professional

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VALBERG IMAGING

The Women’s Business Network is gearing up for its 2015 Businesswoman of the Year gala on April 23 at the Shaw Centre.

The Businesswoman of the Year Awards, now in their 32nd year, honour the outstanding accomplishments of entrepreneurs and business professionals across the National Capital Region.

An award will be given in each of three categories: Company, Entrepreneur and Professional. OBJ recently spoke with all nine of the nominees, who graciously shared their stories of triumph, challenge and, of course, success.

Rosa Maria Iuliano Partner Collins Barrow

Paula Clancy

Managing Attorney Clancy P.C. + Brion Raffoul

Lorraine Mastersmith Partner Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP/s.r.l.

Entrepreneur

I’m very proud of my role in sparking the conversation.”

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION? “My kids. I’m mindful of what they teach me and how they help me define and hold steadfast to what matters most. Children can be fountains of wisdom because they demand that you get to simple. It’s hard to get to, but simple is where truth lies.”

Laura Dubois

Owner/Operator Laura’s Your Independent Grocer

Jennifer Stewart

Owner/President JS Communications

Caralyn Tierney President/Owner Caralyn’s Hair & Wig Design Inc.

Company

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? COMPANY CATEGORY

DINA BELL-LAROCHE “Success is not a lonely path.”

• • •

Partner, Sport Law & Strategy Group Co-founder, True Sport Volunteer with West Ottawa Soccer Club, Bridlewood Community Association, Ottawa Pacers Speed Skating Club, SchoolBOX

Partner Sport Law & Strategy Group

Frances Mannarino Senior Commercial Account Manager BMO Bank of Montreal

Marie Boivin

Managing Director Accu-Rate Corporation

Who will be this year’s recipients in the Professional, Entrepreneur and Company categories? Join us on April 23 and find out!

Nine Finalists. Three Recipients. All deserving.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? “It’s deeply humbling because success is not a lonely path. Hopefully it comes with the support of people who have made it possible for you to succeed. What I love most is that it’s an affirmation that these career choices I’ve made have been congruent with my personal choices. Hopefully it’s a bit of an inspiration for young women who are looking to start a family and also be successful in their career while looking for ways to give back.”

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

www.womensbusinessnetwork.ca

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“What I’m most proud of is being one of the founders of True Sport. It’s grown to over 3,300 chapters. At its heart is a really powerful message about wanting to make sure that sports in communities are a fair, ethical and positive environment for children and youth. I was executive director of the foundation when it started and now I’m a volunteer in the movement. Sport is such a great way for people to come together and strengthen community, so

Dina Bell-Laroche

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT?

“I left a position at the end of 2000. I was press chief (for the Canadian team) at the Olympic Games. That was a highlight of my career. At the time my sister was dying, so it was important for me to be at home with my family. It was something I’d worked my entire career to become. I succeeded only to leave three months later. What I realize now is letting that go created the space for me to connect to True Sport, which became one of the things I’m proudest of.”

Université d’Ottawa

|

University of Ottawa

“I walked in expecting to learn business and leadership fundamentals. I walked out with a better understanding of myself, my capabilities and my potential.”

The Telfer Executive MBA has helped me understand my capabilities, develop my strengths, and manage my weaknesses while leveraging others around me.

The clear benefit to my career are the 3Cs – Courage, Confidence and Capability - to tackle challenges and to embrace possibilities.

To learn more about Marisa; www.emba.uOttawa.ca/Marisa

Marisa Fosco, EMBA 2014

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Director, Consulting Services, Contract Community Inc.

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Contact: (613) 564-9500 www.emba.uOttawa.ca emba@telfer.uOttawa.ca

Location World Exchange Plaza 45 O’Connor Street, Suite 350

Global. Practical. Relevant.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT?

pursue my dreams.”

“I’m so proud of having built a company together with my colleagues where a culture oriented towards family, reaching goals and community support is top of mind.

Most people in key roles have been in their positions for over 10 years. This on its own is quite telling.”

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME?

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?

COMPANY CATEGORY

MARIE BOIVIN “My colleagues have essentially become like family.”

• •

Managing director, Accu-Rate Corporation Member of the executive committee of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce board of directors

“I find so much inspiration in my children.

I always strive to be a good role model to them, showing them that they can have big dreams and ambitions, do something they love. My colleagues are also a great source of inspiration. It’s wonderful to see them give 100 per cent and grow their careers; they have essentially become like family. Many of them have come to Canada from different countries, wanting to give their families a better future. It takes so much courage to undergo such a change. I admire them for that. I also have to mention my mom. She’s probably the hardest-working person I know. She never gives up, never rests until everything is done. She’s the one who’s always taught me to believe in myself and

“The foreign exchange industry is going through tremendous changes. Good ones, in my opinion, but challenging ones nonetheless. The growing demands of compliance are radically changing the industry and making it a challenge to remain competitive in an already highly competitive marketplace. We will be announcing exciting changes in the following months, which will give Accu-Rate’s clients even greater advantage in their foreign exchange deals.”

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? “I am so proud and honoured to be a finalist. Frances and Dina are amazing, accomplished businesswomen. It is truly an honour to be standing next to them in the corporate category. I also find that it’s a great testament to the people who inspire me and support me. Without them I wouldn’t be even close to where I am today, so I am extremely thankful to them.”

FAST FACT

47%

OF SMEs IN CANADA ARE ENTIRELY OR PARTLY OWNED BY WOMEN. SOURCE: TD ECONOMICS SPECIAL REPORT

— SPONSORED CONTENT —

In my opinion: Things they don’t tell you about being in business as a woman: • You can’t do everything. (As much as I have tried to fight it… it’s a hard loss every time I go up against this one.)

• We each come with our own factoryinstalled stereotypes that will jump up and surprise you.

• The greatest challenges will be the ones you will fight against yourself; and • Others are having similar struggles and want to share their experiences in order to help.

Then there is the issue that the most common response to “how are things” at a networking event is a very polite “things are busy” (insert smile). If we were amongst friends, we would be ranting about the $#%^ that happened or the crazy request we got from our boss. Oh no! We aren’t supposed to air our dirty laundry for everyone to see.

I know, I know, I’m the ONLY person in business in Ottawa whose life pulls them in different directions, whose calendar would be hard for Wonder Woman to keep up with, or whose kids often eat junk food because I’m running late, yet again. I call “B.S.” Most of us are feeling the same way. But this isn’t just us gals, as the lines blur between traditional roles at home this is now a general problem not a gender problem.

Try being real at the next event you attend – my experience has taught me that the right person will show up and that connection will last much longer than the coffee.

I believe that life in general as a man, a woman, and everyone in between is about perspective and I’ve been lucky enough to have come across the right people at the right time who were willing to share their experiences with me. Those people have become my support, my network but without being real with them, they weren’t about to reveal themselves to me. It takes guts.

Is that what sets us apart from most men? We might not always ask for help immediately, but we eventually stop and ask for directions?

Rarely do the successful ever go it alone.

They realize that it takes a village not just to raise the kids, but to develop themselves.

I think we’ve addressed that each of us are busy but if the above peaks your interest, I encourage you to peruse the pages of Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In . Not because I take it all at face value but I think you will appreciate the discussion that ensues from its pages. And if you want to continue the conversation join the Lean In Ottawa Facebook page, (no shopping at their events, I guarantee it).

Sam Brown, is the Chief Swag Strategist with Silver Star Swag, a recent 40 under 40 Recipient, a passionate speaker on Building Swag That Sells, recipient of the Momentum Award (PPPC), 2x National Image Award Winner (PPPC). You can find her at silverstarswag.com

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We pretend to be calm, cool and collected, like we have it all together, all the answers at the ready but we work into the wee hours so we can be or maybe more accurately look-like we are prepared for more of the same tomorrow. Like a swan…graceful above the water but

beneath the surface our little feet are paddling furiously trying to keep us moving up river, all while our greatest fear is getting swept away by the current.

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Earlier in my work life, I went looking for networks that would help me move ahead both personally and professionally – ok, who am I kidding, when I was younger, I didn’t know I needed to “personally develop”. I was out there looking to expand my network but what I found was two very stereotypical extremes – I want to ask, why is it that women’s networking groups seem to center around shopping and spa services? Isn’t that feeding the stereotype? Or the other extreme is a male-dominated room full of dark suits.

Both are more than a little intimidating for the newcomer without a welcoming hand.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? “The business achievement I am most proud of is the President’s Award of Excellence, which I was awarded in 1988 by BMO. This award was given to several individuals for their excellence in customer service, revenue and portfolio growth, professionalism and customer satisfaction. At that time, I was a very junior account manager and fortunately had an excellent support network within BMO. They took an interest in me, helped me learn and grow into a position where I could make a difference.”

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?

COMPANY CATEGORY

FRANCES MANNARINO “Perfection is not all it is cracked up to be.”

• • • •

Senior commercial account manager, BMO Financial Group Past chair, Canadian Automobile Association, North & East Ontario Director, Canadian Automobile Association national board Board member, Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation

“My parents were the first to inspire me.

My father left Italy shortly after I was born. He had limited education, nominal financial resources and did not speak a word of English. He got a job with Algoma Central Railway, became a foreman and managed a team of six. He taught me that if I worked hard, continued to upgrade my skills, listened more, talked less and treated people with respect, I could do anything I set my mind to.

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Perley-Robertson Hill & McDougall LLP/s.r.l. is pleased to congratulate Lorraine Mastersmith on being selected as a finalist in the Professional Category for the 2014 Businesswoman of the Year Awards.

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“I have the traits of a perfectionist. I’m a rational thinker with a methodical, analytical mind. When confronted with a problem, I pick apart the pieces and put them back together in the proper order. Many of these traits are strong attributes for a career banker.

However, in a world of constant change, work/life balance can easily be forgotten. I cannot honestly say that I have overcome this obstacle. However, I believe I have it under control. I have learned to relax more, find fulfilment in the things I do and stop being so hard on myself. Perfection is not all it is cracked up to be.”

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? “I feel very honoured to be a nominee. I was raised with strong family values that taught me respect, perseverance and loyalty. I am very fortunate to be part of the BMO team, which encourages continuous learning, relationship building, community involvement and provides me challenges and opportunities to continue to grow.”

FAST FACT QUEBEC HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF MAJORITYOWNED FEMALE SMEs AT

19% ONTARIO IS THIRD. SOURCE: INDUSTRY CANADA

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A Partner in the firm’s Business Law Group, Lorraine is known to colleagues and clients as an exceptional business law counsel, providing practical advice to emerging and established companies throughout the life cycle of their businesses and helping them to raise financing in the private and public markets.

www.perlaw.ca

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME?

613-727-1990 www.bfdinc.com

Congrats to all the amazing Women In Business, and a special shout-out to the WBN Businesswoman of the Year Finalists!

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 make a meaningful difference in lives inside the store and in the community. The store was recognized (last) summer by the City of Ottawa with a (Mayor’s City Builder Award). That made a huge difference in how I saw my life within the store.”

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?

ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY

LAURA DUBOIS “Women shouldn’t be held back and are equally capable.”

•

Owner/operator, Laura’s Your Independent Grocer in Kanata

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? “I would say becoming a franchise owner for National Grocers. It’s enabled me to

“My mother. She suffered from a progressive disease that took her life at a very young age. She instilled in me courage, perseverance and an empathetic view of the world. I would never have been able to do this job without those qualities. Her positive approach to life helped me find balance in what was a difficult time. I’ve been working in this business since age 14. I had someone from National Grocers, Lary Allen, take me under his wing all the way back in 1986. He recognized my potential and encouraged me to learn more. He was tough on me and I needed that because the challenges of being a woman in this world were pretty big for a while.”

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE

YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? “Though I was in retail and working for National Grocers, it was in a store with a corporate manager. Coming into the franchise world was probably the biggest professional obstacle. Just to be recognized as competent and able to take that next step. People would worry I couldn’t always give 150 per cent. National has been amazing at recognizing that women shouldn’t be held back and are equally capable.”

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? “It feels special. I feel thankful, I feel appreciative. Blessed to be in a position to make a difference in the community.

I have lots of people who have worked in the store longer than I’ve been alive.

They really get the whole idea that the customer is the purpose of our work, not an interruption of it. We live by that mantra. That was already in the building when I got it. To be able to offer a senior delivery program and have people embrace it really differentiates us in a very competitive world.”

FAST FACT THERE WERE

950,000 SELF-EMPLOYED WOMEN IN CANADA IN 2012, ACCOUNTING FOR 35.6% OF ALL SELF-EMPLOYED PERSONS. SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA

Proud to be part of a community of accomplished business leaders

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Sponsors of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award since 2006

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

GGFL Partners and Women Business Network members

Congratulations to all the finalists!

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 in Communications and Technology, Ottawa Chapter

I can set a similar example for my two children.”

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT?

ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY

JENNIFER STEWART “I have a great team and am so proud to call them colleagues.”

• • • •

Owner/president, JS Communications Board member, Kanata Food Cupboard Board member, Canadian Club of Ottawa Director, communications, Women

“Fostering, growing and continually innovating the JS Communications brand is what I am most proud of. I started the business five years ago with a strong vision for the company, and how it could stand apart in a very competitive landscape by offering a very hands-on approach to client relationship management. We have been able to achieve that, and regularly compete against large organizations and are able to stand apart because of our value propositions and ability to offer something different and deliver results.”

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? “The biggest professional obstacle has been finding the right team. We operate in a very fast-paced environment with strict deadlines and a very high standard for quality and professionalism. I have a great team and am so proud to call them colleagues.”

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE?

FAST FACT MAJORITY WOMEN-OWNED SMEs REPRESENT MORE THAN

$117B

PER YEAR OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN CANADA. SOURCE: TELFER SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA

“It is a huge honour to be a nominee and to simply be recognized by your peers and community for your accomplishments.”

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION? “My mom is my greatest inspiration. She raised four children, ran a successful legal firm, and was called to the bench as a judge when I was 14. She has shown me what it means to be a strong woman and the importance of striking a balance between your profession and your family. I hope

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 Sales & Marketing Planning and Coaching for small business.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME?

Give everyone on your team the tools for success.

“The hardest thing I ever had to do in my business was to fire someone. To actually say goodbye to a trusted person that had been with me for a while; I found that really hard. I hired a coach to help me through different obstacles. Our hiring is much smarter now and we have the right people who fit into our group. And having more people in the group, we have to be careful and have the right people working together.

We have a beautiful flow now with the staff; they work fantastically together. We have very high retention, which I find is rare today.”

ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY

CARALYN TIERNEY “If it has to be then I have to make it happen.”

• •

-Owner/president Caralyn’s Hair and Wig Design Inc. Co-founder, Capilia Group

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? “The question takes me back to when I started with just myself and two other, parttime employees. That was 21 years ago and now I have nine people here. It makes me feel very proud to be giving a livelihood to all these amazing stylists.”

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION? “When I was growing up my mother always said to me, ‘Be able to always provide yourself with a living. Be trained for something.’ When I opened my business I thought about those words. If it has to be then I have to make it happen. That’s my greatest inspiration: my mom.”

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? “Overwhelming. I’m absolutely thrilled that someone thought I was worth being nominated. And it’s been amazing for my team. They’re very proud of our studio and very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish. I think being nominated has taken it to another level. I’m over the moon and absolutely delighted.”

Call Kathy at 613-552-4311 or email kathy@wisdombsi.ca

and

PRESENT

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Take Your Business To The Next Level LEARN | CONNECT | BE INSPIRED

Thursday, May 7, 2015 / 8:30 am to 4:00 pm

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Craig Dowden

Mike Farrell

Isabelle Perrault

FAST FACT THE PROPORTION OF WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES THAT PLAN TO EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS IS GENERALLY HIGHER THAN MEN.

Find out more about these business visionaries Join Ottawa’s hottest business professionals to learn best practices, be inspired by new strategies, and get connected!

Karen de Lottinville

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The best work day you’ll spend away from the office all year!

SOURCE: TD ECONOMICS SPECIAL REPORT.

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

WORKING WITH ENTREPRENEURS TO PROVIDE PERSONALIZED BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Audit •Taxation Accounting • Bookkeeping Business Advisory • Personal Financial Planning

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 WHAT IS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? “I think the biggest obstacle has been being in a profession that has traditionally been based on the ‘billable-hour model.’ This model makes the playing field a bit harder for women. Women who take maternity leave or who stay home with little ones when they are sick face prejudice because they can never achieve the expected billings. The result is that women are often taken off the partnership track or must choose career over family. In my new firm, I have moved away from the billable-hour model and have adopted a fixed-fee model for legal services.”

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY

PAULA CLANCY “It is an incredible honour to be recognized, along with other amazing women from our community.”

• •

Managing attorney, Clancy P.C. + Brion Raffoul Director and secretary, SOS Children’s Villages Canada

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT?

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“I am very proud of having launched a law firm in 2008 and to have it recognized as one of Canada’s leading (intellectual property) firms by the World Trademark Review publication. I launched the firm because I needed more flexibility in my schedule given my busy family life. At the time I had five kids and was expecting my sixth. I am also very proud of the fact that I stayed true to my wish to have a large family. I love children.”

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?

We Invite You to Visit our Private Wealth Management Centre.

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“My husband is a great inspiration; he is a person that lives life to the fullest. He is also a fantastic lawyer, so I have learned a lot from him over the years. My mom is also a great inspiration. She was unable to go to university as she needed to work to help her family. She finally had the opportunity to go to university in her 40s and went on to obtain a master’s (degree) and PhD. She still works today as a professor at age 74 and loves what she does.”

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HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? “It feels wonderful, particularly because I was nominated by a colleague whom I admire very much. It is an incredible honour to be recognized as a finalist, along with other amazing women from our community.”

FAST FACT WOMEN TEND TO OWN A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF SMEs IN SECTORS SUCH AS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES THAN MEN. SOURCE: TD ECONOMICS SPECIAL REPORT

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? “The achievement I am most proud of is obtaining the ICAO Award of Distinction in 2011. The award is given out every two years to honour those (chartered accountants) who have made an early impact, bringing distinction to themselves and to their profession through leadership and achievement. It’s given out the same evening that the institute recognizes the chartered accountants who receive ‘Fellow’ status, and it is truly inspiring to be included in a celebration with the best of the profession.”

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY

ROSA MARIA IULIANO “To join the many women who have been part of the awards is a privilege that cannot be described.”

• •

Partner, Collins Barrow Ottawa LLP Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario Award of Distinction

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION? “My father. He came to Canada from Italy in 1955, leaving behind his family and home at age 23. He had a Grade 2 education and didn’t know the language, yet he made a life for himself in Canada. My dad always said he couldn’t really help us with our homework, but he was able to provide us with so much more. He provided us with an example of how to work hard, set goals and to accept what you have and yet strive for more.”

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? “The most difficult obstacle that I have ever had to overcome was my age when I first became a partner. Many of the clients were older and they questioned my abilities as a young, new partner. I even got asked if I was old enough to file a tax return myself, let alone advise on theirs. So it took time and effort to establish new relationships with these clients.”

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? “I am so very honoured to be a nominee.

I have been attending the awards gala for over 10 years, and each year you hear the incredible stories of the finalists, what they have accomplished, what they have overcome. The event makes you feel like we should all go out and do more in business, in the community and in our lives. To be part of this organization is an honour, and to join the many women who have been part of the awards is a privilege that cannot be described.”

FAST FACT AMONG NONSTARTUPS, THE PERCENTAGE OF FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS ROSE FROM 27% IN THE 1990s TO 33% IN 2012.

SOURCE: CIBC ECOMONICS IN FOCUS (2012)

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recent survey shows full- and part-time students have very different reasons for choosing the MBA. For full-time students, the goal is most often career change. Part-time students, meanwhile, are seeking to further develop their knowledge, skills and abilities.

That was certainly the case for Emilie Girard-Ruel, a recent graduate who chose to study part-time in order to accommodate an already-burgeoning career in the federal government. She says the Sprott faculty offered not only wide-ranging, real world experience, but also showed genuine interest in helping students increase and improve their skillsets.

“I had a really interesting career, so I didn’t want to stop,” she adds. “I’d been working for 10 years and was used to a certain lifestyle, so going back to school seemed daunting.

Sprott offered a wide variety of courses and there’s a lot of flexibility so I could balance school and work. If you have a demanding job it makes it easier to manage the course load.”

“I knew I’d have a community of peers. I had 10 years of experience in public relations. I wanted a program where I’d be with other seasoned professionals. You make friends for life. You have close bonds with your colleagues.”

Girard-Ruel, who came to the program with a communications background, says the wide variety of courses Sprott offers gave her an entirely new point of view on her work with the National Capital Commission.

“It increased my understanding of the big picture. It gave me perspective on finance, public sector accounting, and change management. When you’re around the table with other professionals and you know what their needs are, you’re much better equipped to contribute to the conversation and move the organization forward. I didn’t have that before the program. It upped my game.”

your organization and your community. That’s what Sprott brings on top of all the knowledge.”

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That’s what Sprott’s done for me.”

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She also praises Sprott’s “overall culture of teamwork and continuous knowledge sharing. If you’re looking for an atmosphere of individual competition, this is not it.

You’re encouraged to achieve through excellence and building a winning team. That’s something you see in other professionals who have gone through the program. You’re working as a team toward a goal and contributing to

Emilie Girard-Ruel, Sprott MBA Graduate

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

“The professors have been in the field and have progressed into teaching positions,” says Girard-Ruel.

“They have hands-on experience in the workforce. You’re speaking to people who have real experience of the challenges you’re faced with. That’s so important. And the classes are small so you get that one-on-one interaction.”

The program is aimed at working professionals, she adds.

Knowing that she’d encounter many other students in similar circumstances eased her initial reservations.

Nominations for the 2015 Awards have begun!

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME?

Is your company experiencing remarkable revenue growth?

“FrankIy, I think I’ve been my own biggest professional obstacle. It would be easy to say that, in the early days of my practice, things like generational gaps and gender issues sometimes worked against me. On more than one occasion, clients would say, ‘Oh, you’re the lawyer.’ It really boils down to how you deal with what comes your way. You can blame others or look inside and realize as long as you believe in yourself, no one else can hold you back.”

Together the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Chamber of Commerce are once again looking for the fastest-growing companies in the region. No matter what industry you’re in – if you’re a startup or a seasoned player – your company may qualify.

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PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY

LORRAINE MASTERSMITH “As long as you believe in yourself, no one else can hold you back.”

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OBJ.CA

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• •

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Past in-house legal counsel, Mitel, BreconRidge

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? “A real pivotal moment for me was being the one lawyer for BreconRidge, negotiating an acquisition with 17 lawyers from Nortel.

Another one was spending months in China negotiating the acquisition of a manufacturing facility there. I’m proud of the leadership role I’ve taken on as a partner here at Perley-Robertson, building my own practice and working to raise the profile of the firm in the tech sector. I’m proud of the relationships I’ve developed with the TSX Venture Exchange while helping clients complete initial public offerings and subsequent financings. Most recently I’m very proud of my appointment to the board of directors of Ross Video this past November. It’s truly rewarding to have the opportunity to guide such a fantastic Ottawa success story through its next phase.”

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION? “On a professional level, my greatest inspiration comes from working with entrepreneurs who are passionate about their businesses. Their drive, passion and integrity all inspire me to achieve success in my own business. On a personal level it’s my family. From my parents, who inspired me to excel, to my children, who keep me young and inspire me to try new things like surfing and anti-gravity yoga.”

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? “It’s a bit overwhelming. I really didn’t appreciate the prestige that’s associated with these awards or expect the positive reaction I’ve received from friends and colleagues.

It’s an honour to be considered in the same league as community leaders like Shirley Westeinde, Kimothy Walker and Michelle Valberg.”

FAST FACT THE PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG WOMEN (25-34) WITH A POST-SECONDARY DEGREE OR DIPLOMA HAS INCREASED FROM 43% IN 1990 TO 71% TODAY. SOURCE: TD ECONOMICS SPECIAL REPORT.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP Study puts spotlight on female-owned SMEs

FAST FACTS •

Carleton University project will shed new light on how women and men may think differently about business risks, researchers say

BY DAVID SALI david@obj.ca

J

anice McDonald understands full well the key role female entrepreneurs play in fuelling the Canadian economy – she’s one of them.

The co-founder of CD Warehouse and apparel retailer iStyle Originals has been building businesses in Ottawa for more than two decades. The more women following in her footsteps, she says, the better off society will be.

“If everybody who wants to get involved in entrepreneurship does so and has the tools and the capital that they need, it’s not just those small communities, but frankly our whole country does better,” says Ms. McDonald, a member of the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

“We want everybody that wants to do it be able to do it,” she adds. “Not only just do it, but succeed.”

Although she believes her gender has never been a barrier to achieving her business goals, Ms. McDonald says that’s not the case for all female entrepreneurs in Canada.

Despite holding a stake in nearly half of the country’s 1.6 million small and mediumsized businesses, women are the majority owners of just 16 per cent. And those who do run their own companies aren’t growing them at the same rate as their male counterparts in Canada or the United States.

Clare Beckton (left) and Janice McDonald are conducting the new study. PHOTO BY COLE BURSTON

“I would say I’ve had very good fortune,” Ms. McDonald concedes. “In fact, I’ve had the benefit of quite a few amazing male mentors. But I know enough of my friends and colleagues that have experienced (gender discrimination) to understand that it’s still happening.”

Now, Ms. McDonald and Carleton University researcher Clare Beckton are teaming up to conduct a landmark study that will examine how women who are entrepreneurs evaluate risk differently from men and the impact of those differences on the Canadian economy.

This summer, the pair will interview more than 100 business owners from across the country, both male and female, asking

them what criteria they used to evaluate the risks of launching their own companies and if their attitudes toward risk changed over time.

“We know that wherever we look, we keep hearing women are risk-averse,” says Ms. Beckton, adding that label “hurts women” because it carries a negative connotation in the minds of many business leaders who might be in a position to assist new enterprises with funding or mentorship.

“I would say women may be looking at risk differently and making different calls around risk than men, and that’s one of the reasons we want to look at this.”

Startup Canada co-founder and CEO Victoria Lennox says she’s “excited” about

According to Industry Canada, 47 per cent of small and medium-sized businesses in 2013 were entirely or partly owned by women • In 2010, Quebec had the highest proportion of majority-owned female SMBs at 19 per cent, followed by Atlantic Canada and Ontario • When women do decide to start businesses, they tend to stay in business longer than men • The proportion of women who plan to expand their businesses is generally higher than men • About 51 per cent of aboriginal-owned SMBs belong partly or wholly to women • The average net profit before tax of female-owned businesses has increased from 52 per cent of maleowned business profits in 2000 to 89 per cent in 2007 • Majority women-owned SMBs represent more than $117 billion in annual economic activity Sources: Statistics Canada, Industry Canada, TD Economics Special Report (2012), TD Economics Observation (2012), CIBC Economics in Focus (2013), Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa the new research project. Women are every bit as ambitious and business-savvy as men, she says, but there are times when other life events, such as having children, must take precedence over their entrepreneurial dreams.

“Women have higher priorities than starting their company,” she says. “Their risk propensity is just distributed differently than a male entrepreneur’s.”

BMO Financial Group is funding the study, which Ms. McDonald hopes will shed new light on how men and women approach business decisions and whether their gender affects how they manage their firms.

Continues on page 27

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Growing stronger for the future Norton Rose Fulbright Canada is pleased to announce that Pierre-Paul Henrie is the new Managing Partner of our Ottawa office. Pierre-Paul brings over 20 years of corporate and commercial law experience to the position and will continue his focus on client service in Ottawa, throughout Canada and across the globe.

Law around the world

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nortonrosefulbright.com

NRF_3282_PP Henrie New managing partner_OBJ.indd 1

2015-03-04 13:46:47

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Pierre-Paul Henrie | pierre-paul.henrie@nortonrosefulbright.com | +1 613.780.3777

Meeting Clients’ ce Financial Independen and Lifestyle Goals

MARKETING Fresh talent needed at the top, Ottawa’s biz leaders say Top execs seek ways to attract best and brightest minds to city

BY DAVID SALI david@obj.ca

Name:

Title:

ce President Alexander L. Martin Vi r Associates Company: Craig & Taylo ecialists – Financial Planning Sp

WHAT IS CRAIG & TAYLOR ASSOCIATES?

Craig & Taylor Associates, established in 1985, is an independent financial and retirement planning firm in the National Capital Region. Using sophisticated planning software, the expert team of planners and advisors work together to create personal financial plans and customized investment strategies to meet and maintain their clients’ financial independence and lifestyle goals.

WHAT IS AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT CRAIG & TAYLOR ASSOCIATES?

Celebrating its 30th year in business, Craig & Taylor Associates now handles multiple generations within families. Vice President, Alexander L. Martin elaborated, “Some families we serve are four generations deep, something we really pride ourselves on. We wrap our arms around entire families and truly enjoy serving the needs of each generation!”

Craig & Taylor Associates has also been chosen the Consumer Choice Award winner in the Financial Planning category in Ottawa for the past 18 consecutive years. Winners are chosen through an independent research company and voted on by consumers. Alex added, “We are so honoured to be recognized by the people of Ottawa with such an award.”

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

HOW IS CRAIG & TAYLOR ASSOCIATES INVOLVED WITH THE SENS?

OBJ.CA

26

Craig & Taylor Associates was one of original companies to partner with the Sens, owning a suite at the “Palladium” for many years. In recent years, with a renewed focus on one-on-one relationship building and growing the company, it was natural to once again partner with the Sens organization. Alex explained, “We started entertaining clients a few years ago again with a Flex Pack, and this year, we’ve invested in the new Club Bell Victory Suites. We’re truly excited about sharing this new experience with our clients.”

The Sens Organization has gone above and beyond to create memorable moments for Craig & Taylor Associates. Alex shared one memory that stands out.

“On an evening when we had hosted some of our clients at a game, huge Sens fans, we were invited to go down to watch the warm-up from the penalty box – Daniel Alfredsson’s last skate! This was an amazing moment in time for all of us – a memory you just can’t duplicate. It’s those special moments created that we love about our partnership with the Sens.”

O

ttawa must do a better job of selling itself as a great place to work or risk losing top executive talent to other cities, the head of the city’s main economic development agency says.

“I can talk all day to different people, but I’m one person,” Invest Ottawa CEO Bruce Lazenby told OBJ last week after a brainstorming session at Algonquin College which saw dozens of executives discussing ways of attracting and retaining the best and brightest workers.

“We need to get hundreds and thousands of business leaders in Ottawa telling the Ottawa story and then promoting themselves as Ottawa companies.”

Last year, an agency survey of 109 top CEOs and executives in the city found that 35 per cent of respondents had difficulty attracting and keeping top talent in senior leadership positions. Even more telling, nearly 60 per cent of those surveyed said they anticipated having problems finding strong candidates for such jobs in the future.

While most respondents gave Ottawa high marks for attributes such as access to outdoor and leisure activities, quality health care and family friendliness, they also said the city suffered from a relatively weak pool of executive talent and a lack of access to funding and capital.

Only 16 per cent of those surveyed said they were recruited from outside the city, which underscored a common theme at last week’s event: Ottawa has to work harder to shed its image as a home of civil servants with few entrepreneurial ambitions.

“We’re actually a pretty humble bunch of people,” said Luc Lalande, the executive director of the University of Ottawa’s Entrepreneurship Hub, adding the city needs to change its reputation as a sleepy government town by trumpeting the achievements of firms such as Shopify, Ross Video and QNX. Ottawa has an abundance of tools to help foster talent, participants said,

LUC LALANDE. FILE PHOTO

including various business incubators, accelerators and initiatives such as Algonquin College’s Office of Applied Research and Innovation, all of which enable students to work with local companies to solve real-world problems.

But those programs need to be better coordinated and publicized, Mr. Lazenby said.

“There are a lot of great things happening that people are not aware of,” he said. “There are great co-op programs that people didn’t know about, there are great internship programs that people didn’t know about … It’s going to be a big promotion effort to identify all these things that are available to entrepreneurs and then make them known.”

The public and private sectors need to work together to let the world know Ottawa is open for business, other participants added.

“We need to identify champions to promote that message, and it needs to start with the mayor,” said city manager Kent Kirkpatrick.

Most business executives in Ottawa are already well aware of the city’s strengths and weaknesses when it comes to attracting talent, Mr. Lazenby said, and are more than willing to help extol its virtues when asked.

“As soon as they sit back for one second and say, ‘What do I need next?’ they’re going to say what they need next is more and better talent,” he said. “They know this is in their own best interest. All we have to do is remind them and invite them to participate.”

“We know that wherever we look, we keep hearing women are risk-averse.

I would say women may be looking at risk differently and making different calls around risk than men, and that’s one of the reasons we want to look at this.”— CLARE BECKTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CARLETON UNIVERSITY’S CENTRE FOR

talk

CEO

WOMEN IN POLITICS AND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP

SERIES

Continued from page 25 “If there is a difference in terms of gender, if male and female entrepreneurs define risk differently, but also if they think about it differently, obviously that has implications to how they’re funded, how they grow, their access to capital, all of that kind of stuff,” she says.

“In my experience anyway and anecdotally … we just think that (women) use a different set of factors and look at (risk) in a different way, which isn’t a better or worse way, just a different way.”

Knowing whether those factors change once a business starts to grow is also vital, she adds.

“Early days when you’re starting something, you can lay it all on the line, it’s just you and your little startup,” Ms. McDonald says.

“But as you’ve got more people that believe in you and come on board and are making their livelihood out of the business, do you as an entrepreneur … look at that differently?”

The researchers will also ask the business owners how they financed their companies.

Studies have shown that women in Canada are less likely to seek venture capital than

men, preferring instead to bootstrap startups. When women’s requests for funding are approved, they tend to be for less money.

“This will help financial institutions, venture capitalists, because they may change their risk analysis around women entrepreneurs,” says Ms. Beckton, the executive director of Carleton University’s Centre for Women in Politics and Public Leadership. “While that’s not the focus of the study, those will be potential outcomes from the study.”

Ms. Lennox notes that women are more likely than men to open businesses in sectors such as the service industry that usually don’t require as much outside funding for startups.

While the researchers plan to cast as wide a net as possible to account for potential regional and ethnic as well as gender differences, Ms. Beckton says the study will probably raise more questions than it answers.

“We know you can’t take all women and all men and lump them (together),” she says.

“Whether we can do it all in one study is highly unlikely. You do one step at a time.”

They expect to release their findings in a report next March.

Richard McBee CEO of Mitel

Tuesday, April 28, 2015 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

The Westin Ottawa 11 Colonel By Drive, 4th floor Confederation III Ballroom

Individual Tickets: $60.00 + HST (Members) $75.00 + HST (Non-Members)

Ever wish you could peek inside the mind of a local CEO?

Corporate Tables of 10 with Signage $540 + HST (Members) $675 + HST (Non-Members) Presented by

Join us for an intimate discussion with Richard McBee, and gain valuable insight as he shares his personal stories of success.

Register online at www.ottawachamber.ca In partnership with

and

Shared moments.

Unlimited with membership.

Moments like this are why we play the game. There’s no better place to slow down and savour every one—and no time like the present to join us.

WORLD-CLASS 18- AND 9-HOLE COURSES 10 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN RANGE OF MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES To learn more, contact membership rogc.com or visit rogc.com/2015 MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

27

“Since 1891” set in Minion Pro

OBJ.CA

16936 ROGC AD_OBJ_PatioCouple_FINAL.indd 1

2/11/15 9:39 AM

TECHNOLOGY

H O T E L • E X T E N D E D S T AY sohomet.com

300 lisgar street

613 558 8747

Software firm keeping fans in the game Canada Winter Games uses local technology to create easy-to-use mobile experience for followers

BY ADAM FEIBEL adam@obj.ca

A

small Ottawa enterprise software firm had a major presence at one of the country’s biggest youth sporting events recently, with the company’s technology keeping thousands of fans up to date at the Canada Winter Games.

Drupal-based content management developers OPIN provided the mobile website and support for the 2015

From left, Chris Smith, Steve Lavigne, Adrian Rylski and Pat Gilbert are part of the OPIN team. PHOTO BY ADAM FEIBEL

and present:

and

PRESENT

ANNUAL CHAIR’S L U N C H E O N

INVEST OTTAWA STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2018

Bruce Lazenby

Thursday, April 16, 2015 | 11:15 am – 1:15 pm The Westin Ottawa | 4th floor - Confederation 1 Ballroom

Beyond 2017: Creating a Legacy of Prosperity Canada 2017: Base Artwork + City Type

Mark Sutcliffe

By Bruce Lazenby

This year’s Annual Chair’s Luncheon will focus on the exciting topic of Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations in Ottawa and the lasting economic benefits this historic milestone will have for our city. A dynamic presentation from the Ottawa 2017 Team will be followed by PMS 512

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a panel discussion with Mayor Jim Watson, industry leaders and prominent community figures.

CITY OF OTTAWA

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS:

$60 + HST (Members) $75 + HST (Non- Members)

CORPORATE TABLES OF 10:

Sheraton Ottawa Hotel –150 Albert St., 2nd floor- Rideau Room

At Invest Ottawa, our activities focus around a theme. In 2012 that theme was “Transformation”, in 2013 it was “Results” and in 2014 our theme was “Collaboration”. In just the last six months, we have been fortunate to participate in a number of collaborative proposals and projects that promise to enhance Ottawa’s innovation ecosystem in a significant way.

for Next-Generation Networks (CENGN). CENGN brings together representatives of every link of the supply chain as well as researchers to accelerate the commercialization of new network technologies. The federal government has awarded this consortium with $11.7 million in government funding ($46m total over seven years).

In August, the federal government announced a $14.9 million investment into the Medical Devices Commercialization Centre. The centre will help medical device innovations get to market faster, by creating a collaborative network that removes commercialization roadblocks, for devices designed and produced in Canada.

In November, Ottawa’s innovation ecosystem came together to present a comprehensive week of events for the annual celebration of entrepreneurs, Global Entrepreneurship Week. Once again Ottawa was among the top cities in Canada with 80 events on the calendar, just a few shy of first place Vancouver.

In October, Invest Ottawa played host to another important federal government announcement. $7.7 million in funding ($24 million total over five years) for a partnership involving Wesley-Clover that will deliver incubator-accelerator services to support entrepreneurs and start-ups in the enterprise software market through L-Spark. Companies that make it through the program will emerge ready to compete at an international level. L-Spark has the potential to be one of the best programs in North America.

In support of all of these tremendous collaborative partnerships, Ottawa’s four post-secondary academic institutions have come together to promote their co-op programs, encouraging local companies to hire locally and prompt business who don’t currently hire co-op, to add it to their hiring plan.

Individual Tickets: $30.00 + HST (Members) $45.00 + HST (Non-Members)

On the heels of L-Spark, came the launch for the Centre of Excellence

Corporate Tables of 8 with Signage $210+HST (Members) $315+HST (Non-Members)

Register online at www.ottawachamber.ca

One of my favorite quotes is “no one succeeds unless a lot of other people want them to.” I see an ever increasing mood of collaboration in Ottawa where each group in our complicated business ecosystem is working hard to see the other groups succeed. Just the way it should be.

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E-mail info@ottawabusinessevents.ca to receive weekly updates on all our events.

“We’re a Canadian company. Sport is something that all of us are so interested in, so we’re really proud to be part of the Canada Games.” — OPIN chief executive Chris Smith

kpmg.ca

A talented addition to a winning team Games, which ran from Feb. 13 to March 1 in Prince George, B.C. The goal was to create a mobile experience “that’s easy to use, that access to information is fast, and that people don’t get lost,” said Adrian Rylski, the firm’s web designer. “It’s supposed to ease your life when you’re seeing the sports or even just getting around the town.”

The Games drew about 15,000 visitors to Prince George, a city of 72,000 in northern British Columbia.

Statistics from previous Canada Games and general trends in mobile communications encouraged this year’s organizers to “broaden the opportunity for people to be in touch with the Games,” said the event’s spokesperson Alyson Gourley-Cramer.

The mobile site garnered roughly 10,000 hits a day, about a quarter of the number the desktop version received.

That was a better result than the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Que., the first and only edition to have a full-on mobile app, she said.

The smartphone-integrated user experience is part of what many IT professionals have deemed the “race to digitize” for sporting teams and venues.

According to TechRepublic, owners and event organizers are constantly looking to boost visitor connectivity and digital interactivity in order to appeal to tech-savvy millennials, compete with big-screen TVs at home and drive up revenues.

Mr. Rylski said that for his purposes, it was all about ease of experience.

He designed the mobile site at Canadagames2015.ca to look and behave like an app, including an option to quickly download a website shortcut onto a smartphone’s home screen.

He also created an app called Illuminate the North, a digitally animated depiction of the Northern Lights for visitors to hold up like a lighter during the opening ceremonies.

But the firm says it’s been getting the most attention for creating a software system that could blow up all the web content from just five inches to 52 inches on the many display screens scattered about town. The venue-specific digital signage was well-received by the older crowd, among whom adoption of the mobile website was much lower, said Ms. Gourley-Cramer.

OPIN’s infrastructure allowed a single person at the event’s head office

to control what was on each of the 80 flat screens throughout Prince George by pulling real-time data such as medal counts and event results right from the website.

It was a fresh alternative to what might now seem like an archaic process of manually loading each TV with files from a USB stick, a common practice that companies such as Tim Hortons use for products and promotions, explained OPIN chief executive Chris Smith.

“That’s where the Games wanted to start … and we pulled their hair out. It was the worst thing in the world. So we came up with this other solution,” he said.

“Now all of a sudden you can just build a template for your website that works on large displays.”

OPIN is currently exploring the possibility of expanding that system into a new product line of its own. The firm has also been in talks about becoming a national sponsor of the Games and hopes to continue to work with the event.

“We’re a Canadian company. Sport is something that all of us are so interested in, so we’re really proud to be part of the Canada Games,” said Mr. Smith.

KPMG is pleased to announce that Kas Rehman has joined the Risk Consulting’s Forensic service team as Partner in our Ottawa office. With over 20 years of experience in forensic audit investigations and dispute matters, he has conducted a number of high profile investigations on behalf of public and private sector clients and prepared numerous expert reports for legal counsel in a variety of dispute cases.

Kas will expand our growing team’s ability to serve clients in both official languages in the National Capital Region to help them protect value and manage reputational risk.

Contact Kas at (613) 212-3689 or kasrehman@kpmg.ca Photo: Jean-Marc Carisse

© 2015 KPMG LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership and- a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. 8717

www.pwc.com/ca/deals

Building our team

Contact: Steve, Peter or Bryan PwC 613 237 3702

(left to right) Bryan Allsopp, Peter Birkbeck, Steven Malette.

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Congratulations to Steven Malette on his promotion as Leader for our National Capital Region Deals practice at PwC. We are also celebrating our expanded team with Bryan Allsopp (Corporate Finance, Valuations and Transaction Support Services) and Peter Birkbeck (Infrastructure and Project Finance), Managing Directors in our Deals Practice.

29 PwC refers to the Canadian member fi rm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member fi rm is a separate legal entity.

Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details. 3794-06-2.27.2015

OBJ.CA

© 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership. All rights reserved.

THE LIST Company/Address/ Phone/Fax/Web

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

16 17 18 19

Largest aerospace companies (Ottawa operations only, ranked by number of local employees)

No. of Ottawa employees

Key local executive

Publicly traded?/ Year est. Exchange

Major markets

Major clients

Specialty areas

1996

N

Canada

Airlines using Canadian airspace

Owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation service.

Provides air traffic control; flight information services; weather briefings; airport advisory services; aeronautical information; electronic aids to navigation.

Ottawa facility designs, manufactures and services products intended for adaptive electronically scanned arrays, as well as RF/microwave antennas and sub-systems.

Intercommunications systems, TOCNET and FIRECOMM, are used across the globe.

The Boeing Co. Commercial and military product integration; assembly and manufacture utilizing precision-machined and fabricated components. Products include airframe structural assemblies, avionics racking and electronic panels/enclosures.

Northrop Grumman; Boeing; Develops rugged electronic modules and embedded Lockheed Martin; Raytheon; BAE systems for defence applications including C4ISR systems, Systems; General Dynamics; North unmanned subsystems, mission computing and recording American, U.K./European and Asia- and storage solutions.

Pacific markets

NAV Canada 77 Metcalfe St. Ottawa, ON K1P 5L6 613-563-5588/613-563-3426 navcanada.ca Sanmina 1100-500 Palladium Dr. Ottawa, ON K2V 1C2 613-886-6000/613-886-6001 sanmina.com Arnprior Aerospace Inc.* 107 Baskin Dr. E. Arnprior, ON K7S 3M1 613-623-4267/613-623-1736 arnprioraerospace.com Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions 333 Palladium Dr. Kanata, ON K2V 1A6 613-599-9199/613-599-7777 cwcdefense.com DRS Technologies Canada Ltd. (Finmeccanica)* 700 Palladium Dr. Kanata, ON K2V 1C6 613-591-5800/613-591-5801 drs.com Lockheed Martin Canada* 3001 Solandt Rd. Ottawa, ON K2K 2M8 613-599-3270/613-599-3282 lockheedmartin.ca Honeywell 400 Maple Grove Rd. Ottawa, ON K2V 1B8 613-591-9064/613-591-9120 honeywell.com Telesat 1601 Telesat Crt. Ottawa, ON K1B 5P4 613-748-0123/613-748-8712 telesat.com

1,220

John W. Crichton, president and CEO

400

Geoff Beale, 1980 vice-president of operations and plant manager

Y NASDAQ: SANM

Aerospace and defence; telecommunications; industrial; medical; renewable energy.

390

Tom Melvin, 2005 general manager and vicepresident of operations Cathy Pomeroy, 1981 vice-president of COTS solutions

N

Canada, United States

Y NYSE: CW

Aerospace and defence

350

Steven Zuber, vice-president and general manager

N

Defence electronics and DND; U.S. Navy; international systems integration. military forces

Designs, manufactures and supports naval communications, electro-optics, IRST and integrated soldier systems for military C4ISR applications, as well as electronic warfare threat simulators.

250

Rosemary 1995 Chapdelaine, president and general manager

Y NYSE: LMT

Global

Defence; systems integration

Naval combat systems; C4ISR; data fusion; ISS; radar systems; manufacturing

230

Joanne Walker, 1974 site leader

Y NASDAQ: ELMG

Global

Bombardier; Boeing; Canadian Space Satellite antennas; microwave/electronic components and Agency; Gulfstream Aerospace; subsystems; broadband communications products; military; business and commercial airborne connectivity aviation

220

1969

N

North and South Broadcast; telecom; corporate and America; Europe, government Middle East and Africa; Asia

Global satellite operator, providing secure satellitedelivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers.

Esterline CMC Electronics 415 Leggett Dr. Kanata, ON K2K 2B2 613-592-6500/613-592-7467 cmcelectronics.ca MDS Aero Support Corp.

200-1220 Old Innes Rd. Ottawa, ON K1B 3V3 613-744-7257/613-744-8016 mdsaero.com GasTOPS Ltd. 1011 Polytek St. Ottawa, ON K1J 9J3 613-744-3530/613-744-8846 gastops.com

200

Paul Bush, senior vicepresident of corporate and business development John Barker, regional sales director

1902

N

Global

Cockpit avionics; communications antennas; specialized electronic components; embedded GPS receivers; flight management systems; enhanced vision systems; heads-up displays; human factors engineering

195

Kevin Fitzgerald, 1985 president and CEO

N

Private-sector Siemens; MTU; Pratt & Whitney; enterprises; government Rolls Royce; General Electric; Air France; Proton PM; Solar Turbines; NPO Saturn

Supplies test facilities and systems for aviation, industrial and marine gas turbine engines, specializing in turnkey engine test facilities for development.

107

David Muir, president and CEO

1979

N

Defence; aviation; energy; marine

Condition-based maintenance sensors systems and services; oil wear debris sensors; filter debris analyzers

90

David Watson, CEO

1972

Y CNSX: NPT

Canadian Air Force; Canadian Navy; USAF; US Army; Vector; IMP; PAL; Cougar Helicopters; Pratt & Whitney; Avio; UTC Aerospace Systems; GE; Senvion; Siemens; Nordex, Moventas; EdF; RWE Aerospace; fire Honeywell; AlliedSignal-Bendix; apparatus firms and fire Goodrich Aerospace; Pratt & departments; structural Whitney Canada; Meggitt Aircraft steel Braking Systems

73

Paul Nephin, CEO

1990

N

Space; defence; mining; NASA; Canadian Space Agency; sub-sea European Space Agency; Orbital Sciences Corp.; Astrium; Trimble

Designs, builds and implements real-time 3D sensor systems and software.

50

Michel St-Denis, 1966 general manager

N

Canada; U.S.

Bombardier Aerospace; MessierMachining, sub-assemblies and complete assemblies for Dowty Inc.; Goodrich Landing Gear; both military and commercial aircraft.

HĂŠroux-Devtek

50

Michael Lang, CEO

1973

N

Global

50

Ranald G. McGillis, president and CEO

1992

N

25

Mark van Berkel, president and CEO

2006

N

Defence; security; C4ISR; situational awareness; command and control; air traffic control VIP business jet owners and operators.

Bulgarian Ministry of Defence; Roberts Flight Information Region (West Africa); Indonesian Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Corporation de Aviation de Cuba DND; Nav Canada; U.S. Department of Defense; Lockheed Martin; Raytheon; Northrop Grumman; FAA

9

John Ainsworth, 1988 president

N

Global

7

Denny Roberts, 1956 country manager

Y NYSE: RTN

Defence; air traffic control; highway management

Plaintree Systems Inc. 10 Didak Dr. Arnprior, ON K7S 0C3 613-623-3434/613-623-8603 plaintree.com Neptec Design Group 202-302 Legget Dr. Kanata, ON K2K 1Y5 613-599-7602/613-599-7604 neptec.com Cam-Tag Industries Inc. 2783 Fenton Rd. Ottawa, ON K1T 3T8 613-822-1921/613-822-2874 camtag.com Intelcan Technosystems Inc.* 69 Auriga Dr. Nepean, ON K2E 2Z7 613-228-1150/613-228-1149 intelcan.com Kongsberg Gallium 400-411 Legget Dr. Kanata, ON K2K 3C9 613-271-5500/613-591-0774 kongsberggallium.com TrueNorth Avionics, Inc. 1682 Woodward Dr. Ottawa, ON K2C 3R8 613-224-3301/613-224-0954 truenorthavionics.com Air Navigation Data* 302-292 Montreal Rd. Ottawa, ON K1L 6B7 613-747-8530/WND airnavigation.com Raytheon Canada Ltd. 1640-360 Albert St. Ottawa, ON K1R 7X7 613-233-4121/613-233-1099 raytheon.ca

350

1990

Aerospace and high tech; airlines; military agencies; government

Manufacturer of electromechanical components for the aerospace market such as: wheel speed transducers; proximity switches; electromagnetic wheel indicators; indicator flags; permanent magnet alternators.

Designs, manufactures and integrates communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management (CNS/ ATM) solutions. Supplier of turnkey aviation infrastructure projects including airport development.

Software solutions for situational awareness applications.

Cabin communications systems; cockpit communications systems; customizable handsets

WND

Produces air space management and instrument procedure design software as well as instrument procedure design and development, flight inspection, training and consulting.

Air traffic management; service and support of avionics and airborne radar

WND = Would not disclose. *Did not respond. Showing 2014 info.

OBJ.CA

30 Should your company be on this list? If so, please send details to research@obj.ca. This list is current as of March 30, 2015 by Ottawa Business Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced by any method in

whole or in part without written permission by Ottawa Business Journal. While every attempt is made to ensure the thoroughness and accuracy of the list, omissions and errors sometimes occur. Please send any corrections or additions by e-mail to research@obj.ca. OBJ lists are primarily compiled using information provided voluntarily by the organizations named. Some firms that may qualify for the list are not included because the company either failed to respond to requests for information by press time, because the company declined to take part in the survey or because of space constraints. Categories are drawn up in an attempt to gather information of relevance to the Ottawa market.

Research by Patti Moran. Please send questions and comments to research@obj.ca.

FOR THE RECORD Contracts

People on the move

The following contains information about recent contracts, standing offers and supply arrangements awarded to local firms.

ADGA Group Consultants Inc. 110 Argyle Ave. Description: Professional services Buyer: DND $9,721,842

Michael Crockatt has been appointed senior vice-president of air service and business development at InterVISTAS. In addition to leading consulting projects for the company’s client base, Mr. Crockatt will coordinate the company’s business development activities in the Canadian market.

Ian Cullwick is joining Mercer’s Ottawa office as a partner in its talent business. Mr. Cullwick most recently served as vice-president of leadership and human resources research at the Conference Board of Canada.

Brad Cutsey has been appointed president at InterRent Real Estate Investment Trust. Mr. Cutsey comes to the post with more than 18 years of capital markets experience, of which the vast majority has been real estate-related.

Karl Galbraith has joined PricewaterhouseCoopers as director of cyber resilience. Mr. Galbraith brings more than 20 years of cybersecurity experience.

Kas Rehman has recently joined KPMG’s advisory practice in Ottawa as a forensic services partner. Mr. Rehman has more than 20 years of experience in forensic audit investigations and dispute matters.

Hats off Halogen Software has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Small & Medium Employers for 2015 by the Canada’s Top 100 Employers website for fostering an exceptional workplace and applying forward-thinking human resource programs.

Christie Walther Communications has received an Empower Circle customer excellence award from Motorola Solutions. Recipients of the award are evaluated on a set of criteria that includes official policies and procedures around customer service and retention.

Corporate Renaissance Group was named India Partner of the Year by Tableau Software at the latter’s APAC Partner Summit in Singapore. The award recognizes excellent performance and notable achievements for Tableau’s partners in 2014.

If you would like to know how you too can help, please visit: www.wfp.org/Syria

PCL Constructors Canada Inc. 49 Auriga Dr. Description: NCC – Summer 2015 rehabilitation project Buyer: National Capital Commission $3,367,247 Daficin Solutions Inc. 33 Roydon Pl. Description: Fiber cable assembly tacbeam Buyer: DND $2,188,201

Oracle Canada ULC 45 O’Connor St. Description: ADP software Buyer: Canadian Food Inspection Agency $1,797,286 Adobe Systems Canada Inc. 343 Preston St. Description: ADP software Buyer: Employment and Social Development Canada $1,539,024 S.M.I. Support Measures Inc. 2650 Queensview Dr. Description: Radio navigation equipment, except airborne Buyer: DND $1,130,000 Neptec Technologies Corp.

302 Legget Dr. Description: Military (R&D) Buyer: DND $862,161 Oracle Canada ULC 45 O’Connor St. Description: ADP software Buyer: PWGSC $829,102

Canadian Bank Note Co. Ltd. 18 Auriga Dr. Description: Security printing, paper documents (including

Swift Messenger Delivery Systems Canada Ltd. 80 Colonnade Rd. N.

and

Description: Courier service Buyer: PWGSC $629,200 Riptyde Solutions Inc. 142 Copperwood St. Description: Faceted document migration software and services solution Buyer: PWGSC $574,875 Channel Management International Inc. 121 York St. Description: Communications security equipment and components Buyer: DND $526,950 Phirelight Security Solutions Inc. 293 MacLaren St. Description: ADP software Buyer: DND $509,151 Med-Eng Holdings ULC 2400 St. Laurent Blvd.

Description: Vehicular furniture and accessories Buyer: DND $452,000 CogniVue Corp.

25 Eddy St. Description: Road vehicle safety (research) Buyer: PWGSC $422,377

present:

Mayor’s Breakfast Series A unique opportunity to enjoy breakfast with His Worship Mayor Jim Watson and hear from business and community leaders about issues critical to Ottawa.

Guest Speaker: Calin Rovinescu, CEO of Air Canada Tuesday, April 21, 2015 Location: Ottawa City Hall Registration: 7:00 am Buffet breakfast: 7:30 am Presentation: 8:00 am

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS: $35.00 + HST (Members) $50.00 + HST (Non-Members) CORPORATE TABLES OF 8 WITH SIGNAGE: $245 + HST (Members) $350 + HST (Non-Members)

Register online at www.ottawachamber.ca Event Partners

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

Millions of Syrians are displaced inside Syria or in neighbouring countries. They face a 5th year away from home and their needs continue to grow. The World Food Programme is helping them by providing food or vouchers or e-cards to buy food.

Mindwire Systems Inc. 1545 Carling Ave. Description: Professional services tier 2 TBIPS Buyer: DND $4,015,907

bonds) Buyer: Citizenship and Immigration Canada $1,915,350

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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015

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