Steeped in wisdom DavidsTea founder David Segal serves up lessons learned from success and failure to young entrepreneurs > PAGES 6-7
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April 11, 2016 Vol. 19, NO. 12
Inn his element
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After years in the hospitality industry, Almonte innkeeper Rob Prior is living his business dream. > PAGE 5
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Karen Meades is president of the Ottawa Health Services Network, which provides specialized medical services for residents of Nunavut. PHOTO BY MARK HOLLERON
Health-care exec inisitCalian for the long 5 distinct service lines – this Group Ltd.run
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Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall We get it done in Ottawa’s high-tech sector Get to Market. Grow your Market. Reach new Markets. Intellectual Property • Mergers & Acquisitions • Securities • Tax • Immigration
A local legal team with global expertise, delivering the results you need, when you need them. • 6,000+ patent applications filed • 3,400+ active trade-mark applications, registrations • IP portfolios in 40+ countries • Billions of dollars in M&A deals closed • Billions more in financings with VC, PE investors • IPOs on the TSX, NASDAQ, TSXV Read our insights on business law for technology companies at any stage of growth on OBJ’s Expert Blogs. Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP is proud to partner with the Ottawa Business Journal and Techopia.
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Steeped in wisdom @techopiaOTT
DavidsTea founder David Segal serves up lessons learned from success and failure to young entrepreneurs > PAGES 6-7
April 11, 2016 Vol. 19, NO. 12
THE TENANT’S ADVANTAGE
613.688.7200
For daily business news visit obj.ca
Inn his element
After years in the hospitality industry, Almonte innkeeper Rob Prior is living his business dream. > PAGE 5
Budget bonanza
MNP analyst says latest federal spending blueprint has huge upside for the nation’s capital.
Karen Meades is president of the Ottawa Health Services Network, which provides specialized medical services for residents of Nunavut. PHOTO BY MARK HOLLERON
Health-care exec in it for the long run
> PAGE 10
In a boardroom or at a marathon, Karen Meades knows exactly where she’s headed
Canada Post Publications Mail: Agreement No. 41639025
OBJ’s 17-page special report on Women in Business looks at city’s top female entrepreneurs and the issues they face > PAGES 13-29
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Events at Calabogie Peaks help colleagues form strong bonds Getting out of the office to enjoy downtime translates to greater success
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he team that plays together, stays together, says Kim McKenney, president of Dominion Lending Centres (DLC) The Mortgage Source. In her company’s case, the playing happens in June at Calabogie Peaks, where the DLC team of agents and industry partners gather to enjoy the great outdoors and each other’s companionship. “Our annual event at Calabogie allows new employees at the firm to get to know their colleagues better, which helps them forge stronger working relationships.” “We also enjoy having people bring their spouses to Calabogie. Ours is a demanding industry and the hours can be long so we want our families to have a chance to enjoy some down time in a great atmosphere.” Kim is convinced that giving colleagues and spouses the opportunity to relax together and have some fun definitely creates a more positive work environment. “We all support each other much more effectively as a result of getting to know each other better. We’ve had some really great friendships develop as a result of these events at Calabogie. People stay onsite, they hang out together and they really become connected. I think getting out of the office is crucial to making this happen.” While DLC The Mortgage Source has held events at other, larger resorts, Calabogie Peaks has proven to be a favourite destination for the team, explains Kim. “Particularly appealing to us are the accommodations. It is hard to find a spot that can work for 60 or more people but Calabogie has enough space and the calibre of the facilities is amazing. The resort’s compact size means
it feels more intimate and it’s easier to have the whole group hang out together in the evenings. Best of all, we appreciate having the opportunity for some of the group to enjoy condo-style accommodations so those who want to stay up late can do so in a way that is fun but doesn’t disrupt those wishing to sleep. Those who are in hotel rooms consistently rave about how spacious they are and what a fantastic view they get to enjoy. During the day, Kim and her team take advantage of Calabogie’s many amenities. “We love that there is something for everyone. The golfers really enjoy a chance to play the onsite course but there are also lots of options for the non-golfers, including the lake, hiking, the pool and more.” Kim says that one of the reasons they particularly look forward to gathering at Calabogie Peaks is that it helps her colleagues cement their corporate values. “We have worked hard to develop a very good culture at DLC The Mortgage Source. Our success can certainly be directly attributed to the fact that we emphasize the sharing of ideas and knowledge. The closer our people are, the better they work together, and our time at Calabogie really helps achieve this. I fully believe it’s a worthwhile investment for us because it supports the growth and long term success of our firm.” While Kim is full of praise for the activities and accommodations at Calabogie, she’s also happy to highlight the meals her group has enjoyed there. “The food is truly amazing. The chef comes up with a new summer-themed menu each year, including lots of barbequed items, and everybody always loves it.
THE CALABOGIE PEAKS HOTEL
The portions are generous and the service is great. It’s always professional but not at all stuffy. The meals are a big part of the appealing atmosphere at Calabogie Peaks, which is very downhome, relaxed and super accommodating. I’ve never heard a single complaint from anyone we’ve brought to the resort.” Calabogie’s location in the heart of the Ottawa Valley is also perceived as a plus by the DLC The Mortgage Source group. “It is a beautiful one hour drive for those of travelling from Ottawa and other attendees who come from as far west as the greater Toronto area and as far east as Cornwall find it similarly easy to get to.” Kim is happy to offer advice to other companies considering Calabogie Peaks as the location for their conference. “I would absolutely recommend it. The level of service the team at Calabogie provides is exemplary and the location plus activities available are absolutely fantastic. I’d offer
“Our annual event at Calabogie Peaks allows new employees to get to know their colleagues better, which helps them forge stronger working relationships.” a word of caution – if you are thinking about holding an event you should book early! They are getting busier there every year because it’s no secret that Calabogie Peaks is an ideal spot for corporate groups. We can’t wait to go
back – our whole team is excited for our next event there.” To book your next corporate event at Calabogie Peaks Resort, please visit www.calabogie.com or call 1.800.669.4861.
TOURISM Almonte inn owner finds room for growth Rob Prior realizes dream of operating his own lodging in ‘magical’ setting BY PETER JOHANSEN Special to OBJ
E
ven as a teenager Rob Prior knew he wanted to own an inn. It was just that he imagined it would be in Latin America, not Almonte, where he operates the Almonte Riverside Inn. Mr. Prior was 17 and about to graduate from high school when he joined a friend and his friend’s mother on a visit to her native Costa Rica. “We stayed in small places, all run by expats from North America,” he recalls. “I was so blown away by the idea of sitting in the evenings and chatting with people from all around the world that I applied to all the tourism and hospitality programs I could when I got home.” After graduating from the University of Guelph, Mr. Prior worked as a bellboy at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, making his way up to guest services manager. Later positions included rooms
Rob Prior bought this majestic property beside the Mississippi River in 2011 and converted it into an inn. PHOTO COURTESY ALMONTE RIVERSIDE INN
Continued on page 11
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP ‘The most difficult thing in business is to be in purgatory’ Failure can be a great learning experience, DavidsTea founder – and now Ottawa resident – David Segal tells hundreds of aspiring young entrepreneurs at latest Legacy Conference BY JOSEPH MATHIEU Special to OBJ
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ne of the country’s leading entrepreneurs recently delivered a message to hundreds of aspiring young businesspeople he felt they needed to hear: it’s OK to fail. “What’s it like building a successful company? It’s really a great feeling,” DavidsTea founder David Segal told a packed house at the Shaw Centre on April 2 during the closing keynote speech at the sixth annual Legacy Conference. “But I actually think that when you fail it’s not so bad. You learn something. You get closure. You come back better,
smarter. The most difficult thing in business is to be in purgatory, to be between success and failure.” More than 600 students from 18 universities and colleges across Canada attended the two-day student-led event, and many of them were crammed into the conference room to hear Mr. Segal touch on the challenges he’s faced in his business career. In 2012, when DavidsTea was the No. 1 tea brand in Canada and just beginning to expand into the United States, Mr. Segal was asked to step down as CEO. His investors wanted the company to have a leader with more experience, someone who could scale the enterprise from 50 stores to 500.
So Mr. Segal, who launched DavidsTea in 2008 with his cousin Herschel, kept his ego in check and took a demotion. He likened the experience to getting a Harvard MBA education while getting paid. “That’s what being an entrepreneur is all about,” he said. “It’s a never-ending journey of perfecting the craft of making an idea a reality – creating something from nothing.” Just three weeks ago, Mr. Segal stepped down as brand ambassador to the NASDAQ-traded company, which now operates more than 200 stores and generates $200 million in annual sales. Though he is still a major shareholder in DavidsTea, he has moved on to
other entrepreneurial interests. After his speech, he told OBJ he now lives in Ottawa and plans to launch his next startup from the capital. “Stay tuned,” he said. “I love Ottawa. I’d like to build something here.” Organizers of the Legacy Conference are confident they are also building something big in the capital. Executive director Andre Bouzout, a fourth-year marketing student at the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management, said the event doubled in attendance last year. He has high hopes it will continue to grow and that the conference will expand to other Canadian cities. “People want to learn more about
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DavidsTea founder David Segal speaks at the Legacy Conference. PHOTO BY JOSEPH MATHIEU
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audience. “But these are just excuses, so you should probably stop.” His goal was to help students rid themselves of the excuse that they need a product to go talk to customers. “The conference has been great,” said Mr. Waselnuk. “It’s been really busy. And so far I’ve seen it’s about 65 per cent women, which is awesome.” Mr. Waselnuk is currently the director of product strategy for Assent Compliance, a software company that specializes in ethical sourcing. He has raised more than $500,000 for charities in Ottawa, including causes for mental health. “You’ll meet a lot of challenges no matter what you do in life, and people will kind of glamorize that in entrepreneurship it’s far worse,” he said. “A little bit of it is, because if you mess this up, your six employees don’t have a job. But it’s still just psychological.” The conference’s theme focused on hustle, the work ethic that’s integral to the success stories of today’s startup world. The key message? No matter how difficult it gets, try harder. “Guys, don’t let yourselves stay stuck in purgatory,” Mr. Segal said as he finished his speech. “Have the humility, the confidence, the courage to take a hard look in the mirror, assess the situation and adjust accordingly so that you can become a success and get where you want to go.”
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
how to be entrepreneurs,” he said. “But am I just going to Google ‘How to start a business’? No, I need to learn from others who have been there.” Mohammad Al Azzouni, now the business developer manager at fastgrowing Ottawa software company You.i TV, started the Legacy Conference in 2010, signing up 130 students that first year. You.i is one of a few local startups that take part in the sister event to the conference, Hackathon. The event on the University of Ottawa campus allows companies to recruit new talent while showing third-year students what it’s like to work in the real world of business. Mingling veteran entrepreneurs with budding businesspeople is integral to the conference, but so is making the uninitiated realize just how much work goes in to building a successful company. “Mediocre entrepreneurs always come up with excuses, but great entrepreneurs – they just get it done no matter what,” said Mr. Bouzout. Algonquin College alumnus Brandon Waselnuk, best known as the founder of the online startup Tattoo Hero, also spoke at the conference. The 2015 OBJ Forty Under 40 recipient gave a presentation titled “99 Problems but a Product Ain’t One.” “The biggest inhibitor to starting up is the mental trap of coming up with completely rational reasons that you’re not ready right now,” he told the
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WHERE A WALL POSTER CAN OPEN THE DOOR TO A GREAT CAREER uOttawa engineering students showcase their ground-breaking research BY LEO VALIQUETTE
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hen he sees judges handing students their business cards, Ioan Nistor, Vice-Dean Graduate Studies and Professor, knows the University of Ottawa’s Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Poster Competition is doing its job to connect talent and hard work with opportunity. “This competition is a great way for students to make contacts in industry and R&D ventures - for potential employers this is a great opportunity to see the cutting edge research underway at the graduate level,” said the Vice Dean of Graduate Studies. First-time judge Dr. Iosif Viorel Onut agrees. He has a unique perspective on the intersection of research and commercialization. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at uOttawa, and as Principal R&D Strategist with oversight of all research projects at IBM Canada’s Centre for Advanced Studies. “The Poster Competition is a great initiative that’s reached the point where it has a reputation in industry,” he said. “It’s a great networking event for students.” Now at its ninth edition, the Poster Competition allows students to showcase their research to the experts and public alike, often for the first time. Most of the judges are experts from industry and Ottawa’s world-class R&D organizations or sometimes investors with a trained eye for breakthrough ideas. Along with demonstrated expertise in their chosen fields, students must also know how to sell their ideas and market their research.
GETTING TO MARKET Wowing a judge can lead to internships, job placements, capital investments, government research grants and entrepreneurial support. With this year’s crop of 67 posters, many students have moved beyond fundamental research to projects with ready-market applications. “Many of these projects could quickly find their way into further development for commercialization, or move to market almost immediately,” Prof. Nistor said. Given uOttawa’s focus on increasing the representation of women in the engineering sciences and other technology fields, he is also pleased by the growing level of participation by female students. In fact, fully a third of the projects this year are by women. Three posters that demonstrate the variety of innovative research undertake by graduate students are typical examples of the development of leading technologies:
PRINTING TITANIUM Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, involves much more than just plastics. Metals are being printed, too. Titanium is an excellent candidate. Despite its widespread uses, it is an extremely difficult metal to work with using conventional processes. 3D printing titanium could be the answer. But existing 3D printing methods for titanium have two problems – they are very slow, and the printed object is too porous – it must be compressed with heat and pressure, adding to the cost and complexity of the manufacturing process. Mechanical Engineering PhD student Daniel MacDonald is developing a new 3D process using the cold-spray techniques traditionally used to apply coatings. His novel process overcomes those two key challenges with existing 3D printing methods for titanium, with substantial savings in time and cost.
PROTECTING FISH HABITATS Civil Engineering PhD student Parna ParsapourMoghaddam wanted to build on her undergrad degree
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in river engineering, to improve environmental stewardship of our waterways. Her research focuses on creating 3-D numerical models that predict how interactions between erosion, sedimentation and changes in the landscape can impact the riverine habitat for flora and fauna. Her goal is to enable more accurate and comprehensive modeling, to help river keepers more effectively predict, plan for and address issues that can impact habitats for aquatic life, and develop effective restoration plans to improve the stability of river and creek channels.
HELPING PEOPLE WALK AGAIN Spinal cord injuries can have a dramatic impact on a person’s life, leaving them with partial or even complete paralysis. The challenge is how to help damaged neurons repair or regenerate themselves. Chemical and Biological Engineering PhD student Taisa Regina Stumpf is working on how hydrogels could be used as a tissue scaffold to help a spinal cord repair itself. Hydrogels are either natural or man-made networks of polymer chains that are highly absorbent (they can contain 90 per cent water). This absorbency gives them characteristics similar to natural tissue. For her research, Stumpf is using bacterial cellulose, a natural hydrogel produced by some forms of bacteria.
AND THE WINNERS ARE …. Students competed for first, second and third prizes of $300, $200, and $100, as well as other sponsored awards by professional and scientific organizations. In the end, expert judges had to make some hard choices. In many cases, it came down to how well a student could articulate real-world applications for their research.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 1st: Thiago Eustaquio, Alves de Oliveira – MultiModal Bio-Inspired Tactile Module 1st: Danial Nakhaeinia – Object Detection, Tracking and Interaction under Integrated RGB-D Visual Guidance and Proximity Sensing 2nd: Azadeh Dastmalchi – VitalTracer: Smart Health Watch to Monitor all Vital Signs Continuously
COMPUTER SCIENCE
E-BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS SCIENCE
IEEE AWARDS
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Structural Design: Ahmad Shahroodi – Changes in Electrical Properties of Concrete as an Indicator for Cement Hydration
1st: Lu Gao – Feasibility of Using Polyphosphate from Wastewater Sludge for Phosphorite Production 2nd: Owen Alfred Meville – Engineering Novel Poly-based Polymers by Nitroxide Mediated Polymerization for Orthogonally Processable Hole Transport Layers 3rd: Taisa Regina Stumpf – Development of a New Platform for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING 1st: Alex Steeves – Characterization and in Vitro Bioactivity of Poly (Dopamine) 2nd: Daniel MacDonald – Additive Manufacturing of Titanium Using Cold Spray 3rd: Ruben Fernandez – Deposition and Simulation of Thick Copper Cold Spray Coatings on Steel for Used Nuclear Fuel Repository Using Nitrogen and Pulsed Waterjet Surface Preparation Honourable Mention – Maxime-Alexandre Ferko – Effects of Cobalt Ions from Hip Implants on Inflammasome Activation in Macrophages in Vitro
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Electrical Engineering: Thiago Eustaquio, Alves de Oliveira – Multi-Modal Bio-Inspired Tactile Module Computer Science: Jose Gonzalez Barrameda – A Novel Statistical Cost Model and an Algorithm for Efficient Application Offloading to Clouds Mechanical Engineering: Jean-Michel Guay – Metals Colorization and its Application: Using Picosecond Pulses
CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING (CSCE) AWARDS
Mechanics / Materials: Shuai Yang – Design, Modeling and Testing of a Two-Term Mass Device with a Variable Flywheel Environment and Sustainable Development: Patrick M. D’Aoust – Hydrogen Sulfide Production in Ice Covered Stormwater Ponds Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Best Female Presenter Azadeh Dastmalchi – VitalTracer: Smart Health Watch to Monitor all Vital Signs Continuously Catriona S. Czyrnyj (Honourable Mention) – A Semi-Automated Approach to the Measurement of Urogenital Kinematics in the Sagittal Plane
GET INVOLVED To learn more about graduate studies in engineering and computer science at uOttawa and how you can join its 1,600+ master and doctoral students, please contact the Graduate Studies Office at engineering. grad@uOttawa.ca
1st: Amir Gharavi – Numerical and Experimental Study of Surface Bouyant Jets Discharging into the CR 2nd: Parna Parsapour-Moghaddam – 3D HydroMorphodynamic and Fish Habitat Modeling 3rd: Patrick M. D’Aoust – Hydrogen Sulfide Production in Ice Covered Stormwater Ponds
MASTERS OF ENGINEERING 1st: Rami Sweidane – Marketing Strategy: Makerspace Ottawa 2nd: Aditi Khandelwal – Navigation Guidance to the Visually Impaired Using a Programmable Robot 3rd: Omotayo Oluwanifemi Akinbode – Voice Authentication System Honourable Mention: Moradeyo Onamusi – Energy Management System – Optimizing Photovoltaic Systems with Integration of Modern Storage Technologies.
1st: Ahmad Teymouri – Application of Dynamic Pricing in Postal Services, Online Retail Store Parcel Volume Delivery
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
1st: Thais Bardini Idalino – Locating Modifications in Signed Data for Partial Data Integrity 2nd: Yue Dong – The Gram Matrix of Feature Maps in Convolutional Neural Network Evaluated on Texture-less Images 3rd: Meng Zhou – Vibration Extraction Using Rolling Shutter Cameras
2nd: Pilar Mata – A Development Methodology for a Stroke Rehabilitation Monitoring Application 3rd: Arya Rahgozar – Poetry Classification by Machine Learning Honourable Mention: Nihan Catal – An Interface between a BPM Suite and a Model of an Interdisciplinary Healthcare Team Honourable Mention: Prasadith Gamaarachchighe – Uplift Modeling for Online Gaming
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www.engineering.uOttawa.ca
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The National Arts Centre is among the Ottawa landmarks that will be revamped with assistance from federal funding. FILE ILLUSTRATION
Budget set to deliver infrastructure boost Hundreds of millions of dollars in new federal spending will give Ottawa’s economy a muchneeded shot in the arm, local accountant says
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he new federal budget promises to improve living standards in communities across the country, in part by infusing billions of dollars into new infrastructure spending over the next five years. These investments range from green initiatives that will revitalize buildings and reduce energy use to putting more money into public transit and increasing access to affordable housing. These initiatives are expected to translate into a boost to the economy by providing job opportunities to Canadians, directly and indirectly. Increasing spending on capital projects is a time-honoured tradition to support a faltering economy as well as reduce socio-economic inequities between haves and have-nots. Construction companies and architectural and engineering firms will profit and so will their suppliers and employees. At the grassroots level, communities from First Nation reserves to urban neighbourhoods are expected to gain from the infrastructure programs. With the National Capital Region home to a third of all federal buildings in Canada, Ottawa stands to directly benefit from the $2.1 billion promised to upgrade federal assets and buildings across Canada over the next five years. The $700 million earmarked for upgrades will represent a welcome uptick for the construction industry and the
Ottawa economy overall as increased commercial activity is generated. Ottawa assets will benefit from funding directed toward revamping museums, remediating sites and upgrading labs and other assets supporting innovation. For example, the budget sets $271 million aside for environmental remediation of contaminated federal sites and commits $139 million to labs and other federal assets that support science, research and innovation. Also on the real estate side, the budget allocates $2.3 billion over two years to give Canadians greater access to affordable housing, including adding new affordable housing for seniors and retrofitting or renovating existing social housing. This funding could serve the capital city well in combination with the Ontario government’s plan to mandate that builders include a certain percentage of affordable homes in new developments. Ottawa is also expected to hitch a ride on the $3.4 billion that will be added to the public transit infrastructure fund over three years. Since Ontario is the nation’s most populous province and boasts almost half of Canada’s transit users, some estimates predict the federal government could cover as much as 50 per cent of the cost of the next phase of Ottawa’s light rail plans. The National Arts Centre will receive
$14 million from the $281-million pot for local museums and arts facilities, with the Canada Science and Technology Museum getting $156 million. The 2016 federal budget also allocated greater access to funding for municipalities that hasn’t been available at the provincial or municipal level through infrastructure projects promoting greener buildings – new energy-efficient windows and doors, for example – and for water and waste treatment technologies. An $8.4-billion promise to improve the socio-economic conditions of indigenous peoples and their communities through infrastructure improvements will be felt in Ottawa, where many Aboriginal organizations are headquartered, as well as across Canada. A major portion of the funding, approximately $2.21 billion, will be directed towards ensuring reserves have potable water and efficient waste management systems, with more allocated to building roads and addressing housing needs. Communities of all types across Canada will be impacted in many positive ways by the federal budget spending initiatives. With such substantial additional funding for waste-water treatment, national research programs, improved museums and arts facilities, light rail and building renovations, it appears Ottawa will benefit for many years to come. Since infrastructure best practices are local in scope but national in focus, working with companies and firms that have national as well as regional knowledge and experience will be key to making the most out of the new budget.
Michael Dimitriou, CPA, CA, is a partner with accounting, tax and business consulting firm MNP LLP’s Ottawa office. You can reach him at 613-691-4242.
Wendy Baily, 238-1818 ext. 244 wbaily@obj.ca Carlo Lombard, 238-1818 ext. 230 carlo@obj.ca Alison Stewart, 238-1818 ext. 226 alison@obj.ca SPECIAL PROJECTS Nikki DesLauriers, 238-1818 ext. 240 nikki@obj.ca MARKETING & SALES CO-ORDINATOR Cristha Sinden, 238-1818 ext. 222 cristha@greatriver.ca CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tanya Connolly-Holmes, 238-1818 ext. 253 creative@obj.ca ART DEPARTMENT Regan VanDusen, 238-1818 ext. 254 regan@greatriver.ca Celine Paquette, 238-1818 ext. 252 celine@greatriver.ca FINANCE Jackie Whalen, 238-1818 ext. 250 jackie@greatriver.ca SUBSCRIPTIONS/DISTRIBUTION Patti Moran, 238-1818 ext. 248 subscribe@obj.ca PRINTED BY Transcontinental Qualimax 130 Adrien-Robert, Parc Industriel Richelieu Gatineau, QC J8Y 3S2 NEWS RELEASES News releases for the Ottawa Business Journal’s print or Internet news teams can be e-mailed to editor@obj.ca. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We welcome opinions about any material published in the Ottawa Business Journal or issues of interest to local businesspeople. Only letters with the writer’s full name, address and telephone number will be considered for publication. Addresses and phone numbers will not be published, but they might be used to verify authenticity. Letters can be e-mailed to editor@obj.ca.
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Continued from page 5 division manager at the luxe Elora Mill Inn and Spa and financial controller at the Radisson Hotel. He explains he steered clear of frontline jobs on the food and beverage side of the business “because I love food and didn’t want to lose that love.” It was after moving to another chain hotel and realizing he was unhappy after just a few weeks that Mr. Prior decided he didn’t want to work for a big company anymore. It was time to pursue the dream that got him into the business. With shared custody of his son Andrew, now 7, however, he needed something close to home. After one offer that fell through, he found his current property, an Italianate home beside the Mississippi River, built in 1882 and owned for many years by a local judge. It had also served as an armoury and was tagged as a potential fallout shelter for the prime minister before the Diefenbunker was built. After the November 2011 purchase, it took several months to get local council’s okay to convert the home to a business and to meet building regulations. Among the changes: installing bathrooms in each of the six units and replacing
“In the evenings, I can sit fishing with my son waiting for guests to check in. There’s always a breeze off the river. It’s as good as Costa Rica.” – ROB PRIOR, OWNER OF THE ALMONTE RIVERSIDE INN
interior doors with those that meet fire codes. Mr. Prior respected the building’s history by repurposing the old doors as headboards for the beds, recycling kitchen cupboards as bedroom dressers and using attic floorboard as a breakfast room wall. The first guests checked in on June 30, 2012, while some of that construction was ongoing. Mr. Prior also opted to run a restaurant on site, counting the current chefs of Fresco Bistro Italiano and Ace Mercado in Ottawa among his hires. But last year he decided to close the restaurant because he was spreading himself too thin. “It’s not that you don’t have a life. It’s that you literally won’t live if you work 18 hours a day.”
Today, he finds himself in the kitchen preparing breakfasts, a task he manages by having each guest order from a menu the previous evening. The menu includes such items as French toast and omelettes, and it embraces produce he grows each summer on the property. Mr. Prior says he can now spend three or four hours cooking and chatting with guests and then leave the premises if he wants to. He says key lessons from his experience include: • Overnight travellers are important for a small-town economy like Almonte’s. They spend much more than daytrippers on restaurants and biggerticket items to take home. • Organic, word-of-mouth growth is the best strategy for business development.
Attracting guests through Grouponstyle promotions is unlikely to bring repeat business, since they’re looking for the next deal. • Despite a solid business plan, he was unprepared for the strong corporate clientele that supplements his original focus on couples’ getaways and family events such as weddings. • When extended families take over the place for an event such as a wedding, there’s great pleasure in helping them bond and going the extra mile by, for example, delivering things they may have forgotten. “Almonte is magical,” Mr. Prior says. “In the evenings, I can sit fishing with my son waiting for guests to check in. There’s always a breeze off the river. It’s as good as Costa Rica.”
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Service. Comfort. Location. SMR Champagne is your home away from home
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“No other extended stay venue has a 24/7 concierge that’s been trained by a 4.5star hotel,” added Lorne Greenberg, VicePresident of developer Starwood Group and its head of special projects. These extended stay suites feature fully equipped designer kitchens with quartz countertops, spa-inspired bathrooms, luxury cotton bedding, WiFi, LED 3D Smart TVs, in-suite washers and dryers, and electronic safes. Guests can also enjoy a full theatre experience with a private screening room, a gym designed by “fitness trainer to the stars” Dalton Brown, SoHo Champagne Club dining room with kitchen, outdoor patio and heated underground secure parking. This oasis is only a short walk from Dow’s Lake, the O-Train and the shops and restaurants of Preston Street – everything you need for a luxurious home away from home. SMR Champagne (at 111 Champagne Ave. S.) is offering a special introductory rate until the end of May. To learn more, contact Anna at 613-558-8747 or apantalone@metropolitan.com
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
ttawa’s new SohoMetResidences Champagne overlooking Dow’s Lake is already attracting quite the crowd. On any given day, it might be the temporary home for an American CEO, a Supreme Court Justice, a foreign dignitary, a pharmaceutical executive working at the nearby Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital, or even a family in transition. SMR Champagne specializes in extended stay accommodation, delivered to the standards of a luxury hotel. Many of its guests are here for 30 or more days. The concept is nothing new in downtown Ottawa, but no other venue can claim such clean and fresh sophistication. Acclaimed Canadian designer Brian Gluckstein has struck the perfect balance between elegance, simplicity and a comfortable, homey feel. Floor to ceiling windows ensure every suite is flooded with natural light and treated to fantastic views. “When people see all the thoughtful work that has gone into the design, and the service levels we provide, they’re are wowed,” said Anna Pantalone, Senior Sales Manager.
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Bolster your team with a Carleton co-op student Summer work term for co-op students begins May 1
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
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s university students place a greater importance on gaining relevant, degreerelated work experience before they graduate, potential employers can have a key role to play. Employers can provide the opportunities that allow students to work while studying, and play a part in shaping and developing the skills of the incoming workforce. One of the primary avenues of opportunity is through Carleton University’s Co-op Program. Ryan Billard is one student taking advantage of the benefits the co-op program provides. “I chose the co-op program because I believe getting work experience relevant to your degree should be done as early as possible,” said Billard. “The software engineering program was a great fit for me because it provides a balanced mix of hands-on and classroom learning. My program prepared me for my work terms by giving me the foundations of good software development and teaching me the skills required to work effectively within a team.” Carleton reviews course offerings on a regular basis to ensure that students can not only compete in the workforce, but also drive it forward. Since joining the co-op program, Billard, now in his third-year, has completed three consecutive work terms (one year) as a Software Developer Intern at Shopify. Get your pick of proven talent Multiple work terms give students the chance to explore their career interests and determine what kind of job they’d like to pursue upon graduation. Employers get to recruit their pick of
new graduates who are very focused on a specific career path, with relevant work experience and highlydeveloped skills. Co-op work terms are also a chance for students to become familiar with the job application and interview process, offset a large portion of their tuition costs and put theory into practice while gaining real world work experience. Additionally, many students develop a strong network of industry contacts while working, and maintain a relationship with their co-op employer after their work term has ended. “Through Ryan’s contributions, our team has been able to get a lot more work done that we may not have been able to otherwise,” said Joshua Gosse, Billard’s previous
work term supervisor. Billard continues to work at Shopify part-time while completing his final year of studies at Carleton. This kind of continued engagement provides employers with a prime opportunity to evaluate co-op students as prospective permanent employees. “If a company is able to show that they can provide good mentorship, are interested in your personal development and are willing to teach you how the industry works, this often results in the student wanting to come back to work at the company full-time once they graduate,” said Billard. “It’s a two-way relationship; as a student, you learn a lot from the company, but the company also gains a lot from you because you can contribute to the work they’re doing.”
Hands-on, industry-relevant work experience Enrollment in Carleton University’s Co-op Program has been steadily increasing since 2010. Throughout the 2014-2015 academic year alone, 954 Carleton co-op students were hired for work terms—and that number continues to grow. “We have about 110 more students seeking work terms compared to this time last year,” said Julie Bebbington, Manager of Carleton’s Co-op Program. “More and more, students are recognizing the value and long-term benefits of the experiential learning opportunities co-op provides.” Students who successfully complete the specified number of co-op work terms, in addition to their degree program’s academic
requirements, will receive a Co-operative Education designation on their degree. This special designation indicates to future employers that Carleton’s co-op students have graduated with, at minimum, 12 months of valuable, hands-on and industry-relevant work experience. Get Involved Carleton is inviting all employers to post co-op jobs now for the summer work term, which begins May 1, 2016. For more information about Carleton’s co-op program or to hire a coop student, please visit cuhire.carleton.ca or contact Kathleen Hickey at kathleen.hickey@carleton.ca
WO MEN IN BUSI NESS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
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KAREN MEADES MAKES RUN AT EXECUTIVE HALL OF FAME TOP ENTREPRENEURS TALK QUOTAS, MENTORS AND MORE MEET OTTAWA’S BUSINESSWOMEN OF THE YEAR
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016 Hall of fame health-care exec on quite a run Karen Meades doesn’t stop until she’s reached the finish line – whether it’s building a company or competing in the toughest footrace on earth BY DAVID SALI david@obj.ca
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big believer in setting goals, Karen Meades has an admirable one in mind for the day she can finally relax and look back at everything she’s achieved. “When I’m 90 years old in a rocking chair at some point, I want to tell the story of my life and I want it to be pretty kick-ass,” the Ottawa accountant says with a laugh. Though she’s got a lot of miles to cover before then, Ms. Meades is well on her way to checking off that box. Whether it’s in a boardroom or a marathon, the Montreal native is an expert at charting a course and sticking with it to the end. In the world of business, that persistence has translated into a notable career in finance and health administration. Ms. Meades, 52, currently juggles three roles as chief financial officer at the Medical Council of Canada, head of her own consulting firm and president of the Ottawa Health Services Network, a not-for-profit agency that provides specialized medical services for people in Nunavut. Later this month, the Toronto-based Women’s Executive Network will bestow its ultimate honour on the veteran business leader when it inducts her into its hall of fame at a ceremony in her hometown.
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613-727-1990 www.bfdinc.com
“I think the coolest thing about that is that somebody takes the time to stop and say, ‘Hey, you’re doing a good job,’” she says with typical humility. “It’s such an incredible feeling. I’m humbled, I’m honoured, I’m flattered. It’s pretty cool. It’s quite a shocker.” After earning her bachelor of commerce degree at Montreal’s Concordia University, Ms. Meades moved to the capital in the late ’80s to become an auditor at the firm then called Price Waterhouse. One of her clients was the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. The idea of working in the health-care field appealed to her, and in 1993 she began a 13-year stint as the facility’s chief financial officer. “Very early on in my career, I had a sense that I enjoyed being part of an organization that had a mandate that offered a health and wellness perspective to society,” she explains. Ms. Meades says she “thoroughly enjoyed” her time at the institute. It was there that she first heard about the urgent need for better remote health care for residents of far-flung northern communities. In 1997, she helped launch the Ottawa Health Services Network, which now has a staff of 26 employees whose roles include arranging flights from Nunavut to the National Capital Region for patients in need of medical treatment, linking health-care specialists with Karen Meades is joining the Women’s Executive Network hall of fame. PHOTO BY MARK HOLLERON
We proudly support all the amazing Women In Business. A special congratulations and best wishes to the WBN Businesswoman of the Year nominees and finalists.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016 “I find coming through those situations, there’s nothing in the business world and very little in life that’s really going to bother me now. My comfort zone is so much larger than if I had never challenged myself in this way. It permeates my whole life and I think makes me a better person.”
Presented by
Proudly produced by
April 21, 2016 // SHAW CENTRE
We are proud to announce the Finalists for the Businesswoman of the Year Awards.
Professional
– KAREN MEADES, ON RUNNING FOOTRACES OVER GRUELLING TERRAIN SUCH AS THE SAHARA DESERT AND THE AMAZON JUNGLE
Deborah Bourchier Managing Partner GGFL
Entrepreneur
Margo Crawford
President, CEO and founder Business Sherpa Group
Company
Jackie King
Senior Vice President Hill and Knowlton
Katherine Cooligan
Regional Managing Partner Borden, Ladner, Gervais
Natalie Raffoul
Managing Partner Clancy + Brion Raffoul
Caroline Etter
Dale Morris
Executive Director Power Law
President/Owner Ascribe Inc.
Shana Levin
Natasha Morano
Vice President Broadway Across Canada
Vice President Economic Club of Canada
Who will be this year’s recipients in the Professional, Entrepreneur and Company categories? Join us on April 21st and find out.
Prize Draw
Airfare for two anywhere Porter flies
Tickets on sale now at thebyas.ca!
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“What I started to realize was, this was permeating regular life, this idea of setting goals,” Ms. Meades explains. “I had always been sort of thoughtful and mindful about goals, but this really started to create a pattern for me along the way. I really took planning much more seriously and I really took goals much more seriously.” Sweating her guts out in the Sahara and the jungles of Brazil taught her not to sweat the small stuff elsewhere. “You can find yourself at these moments where you say, ‘OK, I’m an accountant from Ottawa. I’m not really a runner and I’m starting to doubt exactly why I’m here.’ You have these conversations in your head and it can get pretty uncomfortable. You go through this cycle of feelings and emotions … you have to decide whether or not you’re going to freak out. I find coming through those situations, there’s nothing in the business world and very little in life that’s really going to bother me now. My comfort zone is so much larger than if I had never challenged myself in this way. It permeates my whole life and I think makes me a better person.” Having conquered two of the courses in the 250-kilometre 4 Deserts Race Series – Chile’s Atacama as well as the Sahara – she plans to cross the others off her to-do list later this year. In June, she’ll tackle China’s Gobi Desert. In November, she’ll confront the gale-force winds and bone-chilling temperatures of Antarctica’s Last Desert, a race that will be especially memorable for another reason. Ms. Meades has received permission to bring along her fiance, Nick Hasbani, and the two will be married by the ship’s captain on the voyage home. What better way to cap a momentous 2016? More than 25 years after her arrival in Ottawa, Ms. Meades has built a life free of regrets and bursting with achievements. “I love Montreal, but I haven’t looked back,” she says. “It’s been a fantastic place to raise my daughter and it’s been terrific from a career perspective.”
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
remote communities and providing Inuktitut interpretation services. About 50 doctors are affiliated with the agency, which handles 7,000 appointments each year. “To look back and think what I’ve been the most proud of, it’s been those situations where I’ve contributed in a positive way to people,” Ms. Meades says. Around the same time she helped get that organization off the ground, another decision changed her personal and professional life in a more profound way than she ever could have imagined. Ms. Meades signed up for a 5K clinic at the Running Room, thinking it would be a good way to meet people and get a little exercise to boot. “It was convenient and it was relatively cheap,” she says. “Work was busy; I had a young daughter at home, so home life was busy. I had a sense that I wanted to be doing something a little bit active.” That first 5K run sparked what she freely concedes has become almost an addiction. Before long, she was running 10K races, then half-marathons and finally the full distance. At first, she had her doubts. “I thought there was absolutely no way I can do this,” she says of her initial marathon. “I’m not athletic. I was one of the slower runners. Off I went. It was so rewarding and the friendships were so rich that I kept going.” It’s a path that has taken her from the jungles of South America to the deserts of Africa. Among her most memorable feats was the gruelling six-day, 243-kilometre Marathon des Sables in the 52-degree heat of the Sahara, a fierce test of will known as the “toughest footrace on earth.” She also embarked on a week-long run through the Brazilian Amazon, where she heard jaguars growling in the night and slept in a hammock so as not to get eaten alive by carnivorous ants. Confronting such challenges on the course has made her a better businesswoman, she says.
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STABILITY THROUGH DIVERSITY Publicly traded, 50+ profitable quarters, 5 distinct service lines – this is Calian Group Ltd. Leading a successful business onto the international stage requires strategic vision and a relentless focus on customer needs. Just ask CEO Kevin Ford, who rang the opening bell at the TSX last week to launch a new chapter in the history of the Ottawa company formerly known as Calian Technologies Ltd. To better reflect its current operations, the company is now known as Calian Group Ltd., with a new TSX ticker CGY (previously CTY). “Our name change to Calian Group Ltd. reflects management’s belief that embracing our diverse services provides long-term stability as well as a solid foundation for continued growth of the company,” Ford said. “Although we still have deep technology roots, I believe the timing is right to align our corporate entity to our diversification strategy.” Despite its success, Calian tends to fly under the radar in its home town. Founder Larry O’Brien spent 20 years building a solid company but a decade ago passed the baton to a new generation of leaders who have expanded the business into the professional services and engineering organization that it is today.
•
•
•
•
BUSTING THE MYTH
Calian has never stood still – this is evident in last year’s record revenues and its more than 50 consecutive profitable quarters. Today, Calian is diversified between five distinct service lines:
Health Services, where Calian delivers and manages large-scale networks of medical clinics and facilities across Canada as well as health care professionals at customer sites. With a network of 1,500 healthcare professionals, this makes Calian one of the largest national healthcare providers in Canada. IT and Professional Services, where Calian has over 400 consultants currently engaged on ITPS projects with the experience and expertise to support complex IT initiatives and manage discrete IT functions in support of customers’ business and technology needs. Training Services, where Calian delivers training solutions, teaching individuals or large groups. Engagements range from DND personnel about to deploy overseas for high-intensity combat operations, to emergency preparedness exercises for critical infrastructure, public safety and security organizations. Systems Engineering, where Calian offers turnkey system engineering, products and services worldwide for Satellite Communications, Aerospace and Defence, Test and Measurement, Cable and Wireless, and Broadcast and Media markets. In fact, Calian’s SED division built the deep space antenna network that was used to track the European Space
•
BUILDING BENCH STRENGTH
Agency’s comet-chasing Rosetta probe. Contract Manufacturing where Calian manufactures high reliability systems and equipment for critical military and commercial applications.
WHAT TIES ALL THESE OPERATIONS TOGETHER?
“When we assess our core competencies and what we are successful at, it always leads us into markets and opportunities where we’ve never been before,” said Ford. “When you package strong engineering, project and contract management capabilities with a focus on customer service and an equally strong workforce management capability, it’s a winning combination. It’s fueled our success with a diverse set of industries and customers, to create a strong return for our shareholders.”
“Our ability to respond to our customers’ needs,” said Ford. “Calian has always been really good at program and service delivery. Although we are a diverse company, there are common core competencies that are levered across all that we do.” Take Health Services. For 20 years, Calian has provided constructive simulation training for the Canadian Forces. That led to other contract opportunities with the Department of National Defence. In 2004, the company realized it could parlay its expertise into another arena – managing health services for DND installations across the country. Having built this health program management expertise and a vast network of 1,500 healthcare professionals in 65 categories, Calian looked at what other industry verticals in which it could deliver Health Services. Today, this division’s customers include DND, Shell Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, RCMP, Loblaw and Correctional Services Canada. Calian also operates in own medical clinics and has recently established a clinic in Ft. McKay, AB to service the oil and gas sector.
But Calian’s growth hasn’t been entirely organic. The company doesn’t hesitate to hit the acquisition trail to build out its core competencies. Calian has made 14 acquisitions since 1988. Four strategic acquisitions have come in the past five years alone. In support of Calian’s national healthcare strategy, it acquired Primacy Management Inc., which operates medical clinics in Loblaw grocery stores across Canada, and Med Team medical clinic in Kanata, to build out its national civilian healthcare footprint. Calian also acquired DWP Solutions, for its additional security and cyber consulting expertise, and Amtek Engineering Services, for its training and engineering service offerings. “Our acquisition strategy aligns with our strategic growth framework, in support of our customer diversification and service line evolution objectives,” Ford said. “We are always looking for companies that can help us enter new markets or increase our service line capabilities.” Since its founding, Calian has grown into a highly successful, diverse company. The goal now is to educate investors and customers on the strength of Calian’s depth and breadth, and on how the company is organized so that each line of business operates under the leadership of its own senior executive. “I view my role as setting the pace for the organization and supporting my executive team on the achievement of our growth objectives,” Ford said. “I believe that by serving a number of customers in wide ranging and geographically varied markets, we capitalize on unique opportunities and upturns in a number of markets while at the same time weathering the downturns experienced in others.”
CALIAN’S GROWTH STRATEGY
“Calian is a diverse company. Our growth strategy is to embrace this diversity through management focus and the execution of the key components of our strategy – customer retention, customer diversification, evolution of our service lines and continuous process improvement. Combined with an incredibly talented and dedicated team, I am very excited about Calian’s potential.” - KEVIN FORD, CEO
1988
1990
1993
1995
1998
1999
2000
2004
2006
2012
EVENT CALIAN TECHNOLOGY LTD. ESTABLISHED Small Professional Services Firm
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS ACQUISITION OF MILLER COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS LTD High technology — satellite communications
IT CONSULTING ACQUISITION OF PRICON STAFFING SERVICES Telco IT Consulting
EVENT INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
TRAINING FIRST STRATEGIC DND TRAINING CONTRACT WIN DLSE now Canadian Army Simulation Centre — run training in Kingston, Val Cartier, Gagetown, Edmonton and Petawawa.
IT CONSULTING ACQUISITION OF HST Fed Gov’t IT Consulting
IT CONSULTING ACQUISITION OF PERMATEMP/PTI Personnel ServicesGov’t and private sector
TEMPORARY HELP SERVICES ACQUISTION OF MACDONALD BRISSON Employment agency Gov’t and private sector
IT CONSULTING ACQUISITION OF TITAN CONSULTING GROUP LTD. SAP Consulting
EVENT RAY BASLER, CALIAN COO BECOMES CEO (20 years with SED/ Calian)
HEALTH ACQUISITION OF PRIMACY MANAGEMENT INC. Medical clinical network
HEALTH HEALTH CONTRACT FOR DND WON (HSSC) Strategic health contract win
EVENT LARRY O’BRIEN RETIRES AS CALIAN CEO
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS AQUISITION OF SKYWAVE Satellite communications
TRAINING ACQUISITION OF WHY INTERACTIVE (JETFORM) e-Learning
TRAINING ACQUISITION OF PPI Computer training services
2014 IT CONSULTING ACQUISITION OF DWP Cyber security TRAINING ACQUISITION OF AMTEK ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD Engineering services to DND HEALTH ACQUISITION OF MED-TEAM Calian enters clinic operations
2015
2016
EVENT KEVIN FORD BECOMES PRESIDENT AND CEO (Former Calian BTS Division President)
EVENT CALIAN COMPLETES NAME CHANGE TO CALIAN GROUP LTD. - Stock Ticker now CGY
HEALTH OPENING OF FORT MCKAY OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CLINIC Occupational health services - oilsands
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MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
CALIAN CORPORATE TIMELINE
— SPONSORED CONTENT —
— SPONSORED CONTENT —
STABILITY THROUGH DIVERSITY Publicly traded, 50+ profitable quarters, 5 distinct service lines – this is Calian Group Ltd. Leading a successful business onto the international stage requires strategic vision and a relentless focus on customer needs. Just ask CEO Kevin Ford, who rang the opening bell at the TSX last week to launch a new chapter in the history of the Ottawa company formerly known as Calian Technologies Ltd. To better reflect its current operations, the company is now known as Calian Group Ltd., with a new TSX ticker CGY (previously CTY). “Our name change to Calian Group Ltd. reflects management’s belief that embracing our diverse services provides long-term stability as well as a solid foundation for continued growth of the company,” Ford said. “Although we still have deep technology roots, I believe the timing is right to align our corporate entity to our diversification strategy.” Despite its success, Calian tends to fly under the radar in its home town. Founder Larry O’Brien spent 20 years building a solid company but a decade ago passed the baton to a new generation of leaders who have expanded the business into the professional services and engineering organization that it is today.
•
•
•
•
BUSTING THE MYTH
Calian has never stood still – this is evident in last year’s record revenues and its more than 50 consecutive profitable quarters. Today, Calian is diversified between five distinct service lines:
Health Services, where Calian delivers and manages large-scale networks of medical clinics and facilities across Canada as well as health care professionals at customer sites. With a network of 1,500 healthcare professionals, this makes Calian one of the largest national healthcare providers in Canada. IT and Professional Services, where Calian has over 400 consultants currently engaged on ITPS projects with the experience and expertise to support complex IT initiatives and manage discrete IT functions in support of customers’ business and technology needs. Training Services, where Calian delivers training solutions, teaching individuals or large groups. Engagements range from DND personnel about to deploy overseas for high-intensity combat operations, to emergency preparedness exercises for critical infrastructure, public safety and security organizations. Systems Engineering, where Calian offers turnkey system engineering, products and services worldwide for Satellite Communications, Aerospace and Defence, Test and Measurement, Cable and Wireless, and Broadcast and Media markets. In fact, Calian’s SED division built the deep space antenna network that was used to track the European Space
•
BUILDING BENCH STRENGTH
Agency’s comet-chasing Rosetta probe. Contract Manufacturing where Calian manufactures high reliability systems and equipment for critical military and commercial applications.
WHAT TIES ALL THESE OPERATIONS TOGETHER?
“When we assess our core competencies and what we are successful at, it always leads us into markets and opportunities where we’ve never been before,” said Ford. “When you package strong engineering, project and contract management capabilities with a focus on customer service and an equally strong workforce management capability, it’s a winning combination. It’s fueled our success with a diverse set of industries and customers, to create a strong return for our shareholders.”
“Our ability to respond to our customers’ needs,” said Ford. “Calian has always been really good at program and service delivery. Although we are a diverse company, there are common core competencies that are levered across all that we do.” Take Health Services. For 20 years, Calian has provided constructive simulation training for the Canadian Forces. That led to other contract opportunities with the Department of National Defence. In 2004, the company realized it could parlay its expertise into another arena – managing health services for DND installations across the country. Having built this health program management expertise and a vast network of 1,500 healthcare professionals in 65 categories, Calian looked at what other industry verticals in which it could deliver Health Services. Today, this division’s customers include DND, Shell Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, RCMP, Loblaw and Correctional Services Canada. Calian also operates in own medical clinics and has recently established a clinic in Ft. McKay, AB to service the oil and gas sector.
But Calian’s growth hasn’t been entirely organic. The company doesn’t hesitate to hit the acquisition trail to build out its core competencies. Calian has made 14 acquisitions since 1988. Four strategic acquisitions have come in the past five years alone. In support of Calian’s national healthcare strategy, it acquired Primacy Management Inc., which operates medical clinics in Loblaw grocery stores across Canada, and Med Team medical clinic in Kanata, to build out its national civilian healthcare footprint. Calian also acquired DWP Solutions, for its additional security and cyber consulting expertise, and Amtek Engineering Services, for its training and engineering service offerings. “Our acquisition strategy aligns with our strategic growth framework, in support of our customer diversification and service line evolution objectives,” Ford said. “We are always looking for companies that can help us enter new markets or increase our service line capabilities.” Since its founding, Calian has grown into a highly successful, diverse company. The goal now is to educate investors and customers on the strength of Calian’s depth and breadth, and on how the company is organized so that each line of business operates under the leadership of its own senior executive. “I view my role as setting the pace for the organization and supporting my executive team on the achievement of our growth objectives,” Ford said. “I believe that by serving a number of customers in wide ranging and geographically varied markets, we capitalize on unique opportunities and upturns in a number of markets while at the same time weathering the downturns experienced in others.”
CALIAN’S GROWTH STRATEGY
“Calian is a diverse company. Our growth strategy is to embrace this diversity through management focus and the execution of the key components of our strategy – customer retention, customer diversification, evolution of our service lines and continuous process improvement. Combined with an incredibly talented and dedicated team, I am very excited about Calian’s potential.” - KEVIN FORD, CEO
1988
1990
1993
1995
1998
1999
2000
2004
2006
2012
EVENT CALIAN TECHNOLOGY LTD. ESTABLISHED Small Professional Services Firm
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS ACQUISITION OF MILLER COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS LTD High technology — satellite communications
IT CONSULTING ACQUISITION OF PRICON STAFFING SERVICES Telco IT Consulting
EVENT INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
TRAINING FIRST STRATEGIC DND TRAINING CONTRACT WIN DLSE now Canadian Army Simulation Centre — run training in Kingston, Val Cartier, Gagetown, Edmonton and Petawawa.
IT CONSULTING ACQUISITION OF HST Fed Gov’t IT Consulting
IT CONSULTING ACQUISITION OF PERMATEMP/PTI Personnel ServicesGov’t and private sector
TEMPORARY HELP SERVICES ACQUISTION OF MACDONALD BRISSON Employment agency Gov’t and private sector
IT CONSULTING ACQUISITION OF TITAN CONSULTING GROUP LTD. SAP Consulting
EVENT RAY BASLER, CALIAN COO BECOMES CEO (20 years with SED/ Calian)
HEALTH ACQUISITION OF PRIMACY MANAGEMENT INC. Medical clinical network
HEALTH HEALTH CONTRACT FOR DND WON (HSSC) Strategic health contract win
EVENT LARRY O’BRIEN RETIRES AS CALIAN CEO
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS AQUISITION OF SKYWAVE Satellite communications
TRAINING ACQUISITION OF WHY INTERACTIVE (JETFORM) e-Learning
TRAINING ACQUISITION OF PPI Computer training services
2014 IT CONSULTING ACQUISITION OF DWP Cyber security TRAINING ACQUISITION OF AMTEK ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD Engineering services to DND HEALTH ACQUISITION OF MED-TEAM Calian enters clinic operations
2015
2016
EVENT KEVIN FORD BECOMES PRESIDENT AND CEO (Former Calian BTS Division President)
EVENT CALIAN COMPLETES NAME CHANGE TO CALIAN GROUP LTD. - Stock Ticker now CGY
HEALTH OPENING OF FORT MCKAY OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CLINIC Occupational health services - oilsands
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MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
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CALIAN CORPORATE TIMELINE
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016 Female entrepreneurs ‘have to keep asking the hard questions’ A panel of Ottawa’s leading businesswomen sits down with OBJ to discuss the biggest issues facing female founders, builders and C-suite executives
W
ith some of Ottawa’s top businesswomen set to be honoured at a gala later this month, OBJ is once again shining a spotlight on female entrepreneurs in its annual Women in Business special report. Print editor David Sali recently moderated a discussion about major issues facing female CEOs, executives and founders with a panel of some of the city’s most distinguished businesswomen. Participants included Sue Abu-Hakima, founder of wireless communications firm Amika Mobile, who contributed via e-mail; Victoria Lennox, CEO of Startup Canada; business consultant Janice McDonald, founder of the Beacon Agency; and Debbie and Melissa Pinard, co-founders of real-time communications technology provider InitLive. Here is an abridged transcript of their discussion.
OBJ: How important is it for aspiring businesswomen to have mentors – and in particular, female mentors – to help guide them?
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
Debbie Pinard: There have not been many if any women mentors for me, but mentors have been really, really important for me, especially in a startup coming from a tech background and now trying to do a CEO role, I’ve needed help and I’ve gotten it. That’s what’s very nice about being part of Wesley Clover. All the way up in my career, there’s always been somebody who’s helped me.
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Victoria Lennox: I think it takes different forms. There’s no one way to mentor. My best mentors have been in informal settings, mostly men but also women increasingly as I get older. That’s very exciting for me. One topic that comes up time and time again is sponsorship of women and championing of women. That’s a more aggressive kind of support wherein people are opening doors for you and really committed to your success. As I get older, I’m really valuing women mentors more and more. I find them to be really relatable. Janice McDonald: I’ve had the good fortune of being partnered up (as a mentor), both from direct asks but also formal programs as well. I think it’s an amazing opportunity and I’m always delighted to do so. I’m on the board
of Futurpreneur Canada and one of the things that they do that I think is tremendous in terms of mentorship is particularly for startups and they focus on 18- to 39-year-olds, is in order to access funds, you also get a mentor. The two go together. This notion of having a safe place to ask questions where you’re not going to be judged … where hopefully you’re getting challenged, too. In my view, the role of the mentor is not teaching directly, it’s really more encouraging and listening. And I find most of the time, people I work with have their own answers anyway. It’s almost like just hearing a reassurance and talking it through in this safe environment, which is great. It’s also reciprocal. There’s this notion – incorrect, in my view – that the mentor delivers important information and the mentee just soaks it up. But for me in my experience it’s always been very reciprocal. It’s a very enriching experience. Melissa Pinard: I’ve had the luxury of having mentors my whole career so far. It’s been great. Debbie has been hooking me up with women in the industry and we’ll go to lunch every now and then and talk.
OBJ: How big of an issue is the lack of female mentors for aspiring entrepreneurs? DP: I think women kind of get the female angst better. I think women have different ways of thinking about things than men and sometimes can be a little hard on themselves. I think having another female that understands that and knows where you’re coming from is good. As far as just the day-today stuff that you’ve got to do, I don’t think it matters as much. But it would be nice if there were more females. I think companies would be better for it. Our company is over 50 per cent female, but on the (development) side it’s all men. That’s another area that really needs to be addressed. I think you have to get the girls (into maths and sciences) probably in Grade 9 or earlier – somehow make it cool to go into math.
OBJ: There’s a lot of debate over how you do that. In the United States, Google recently worked together with Disney and ABC in an effort to create more female characters in movies
Melissa Pinard (left) with Debbie Pinard and Janice McDonald (right). PHOTOS BY MARK HOLLERON
and television who pursue computer science, for example. JM: Which is a simple, powerful way to change the narrative. When you grab hold of what girls are consuming, when you give them more robust options to consider, obviously more are going to look at wider options and consider (careers as) scientists and writers and creators and innovators.
OBJ: Do you think the public sector should play a role in driving that? DP: I think there’s a role for parents. My parents, right from Day 1, I was going to university and I was going to be in some kind of math or science. It was a given. Parents, they have the most influence (laughs and looks at Melissa, her daughter). Well, maybe not the most influence. But I think they can influence women to go on to get higher degrees. I wouldn’t want to be accused of being there because I was preferred or because I was being singled out. It’s like a quota. It would be nice if we could do it in another way than sort of saying, you have to have so many females. It’s hard enough to earn it as it is. VL: I was so proud to be Canadian when we heard Prime Minister (Justin) Trudeau saying, ‘Because it’s 2015’ for why he appointed his cabinet (half of which is female). I think it comes from the top. When a prime minister signals that he’s a feminist, when he builds a team that’s representative of Canada’s diversity, I think that’s a very strong signal. I think that we have
challenges as a nation because of the provincial and federal jurisdictions and accessing the education system. I think if the government of Canada wants to do something interesting that helps to change the culture … I’m not a huge proponent of funding programs, but I think they can embrace social entrepreneurs who are fulfilling some of these social purposes like ladies learning code. I think they need to get behind Junior Achievement and I think they need to augment the mandate of Junior Achievement to really support the training beyond entrepreneurship to digital literacy skills and work with Schad Valley to get more women and girls participating. JM: There are so many amazing organizations tackling this, but perhaps enough people aren’t aware. Shining that spotlight right across the country I think is how we can really change the narrative around it – that this is important not just for women, but it’s important for the economy as a whole and our future. We want to tap into the whole brain trust of Canada. Jennifer Flanagan from Actua (a charitable organization that encourages young women to pursue careers in science and technology) made a really great comment about the notion that if girls aren’t coding, then they aren’t shaping the future. The implications of that are huge. JM: We know where girls are falling off. They’re excited in elementary school and as they transition to middle school is where we start to lose them. If we started to question what are some of
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016
Auditors Liable for Failing to Catch Livent Fraudulent Activity the assumptions, what is happening at school, what are the messages that they’re getting and how can we change that dialogue to make sure that all those doors remain open for them – that all of these jobs are ‘girl jobs.’ There are actually design elements that can be introduced that can have ripple effects. But we have to know what they are and then we have to implement them. Are we conveying stereotypes that really are not conducive to keeping girls in the conversation? Right now, they’re self-selecting out. We would like them to self-select in.
OBJ: Great Britain has a program that gives funding to universities based on the gender and ethnic diversity of their scholarship recipients. Is that something we should try here? DP: By then it’s almost too late. I would rather throw the money at early education. You have your quota of female scholarship recipients and it’s like, ‘She only got it because they had to give it to a girl.’ I would rather it be that females are there who deserve it.
OBJ: Some researchers are suggesting it’s time for major companies to allocate a certain number of seats on their boards to women or to require female candidates to be interviewed for C-suite openings.
FOR 2015 BY THE WOMEN’S EXECUTIVE NETWORK
to women who have been agitating for this for a long time. Many of them used to say, ‘I’m not in favour of quotas.’ The shift in thinking that has been interesting is those same women have said, ‘And now I’ve waited 25 years and I haven’t seen the kind of (changes they hoped for). I was hopeful and I’m less hopeful now.’ … I love that idea of companies and nomination committees that say, ‘We’ll keep sending that list back.’ Don’t tell me there aren’t qualified women in 2016. If you don’t know who they are, then maybe you’re asking the wrong people. DP: With entrepreneurs, I think it has to start from the grassroots. It’s got to be part of the culture that girls are just as good. VL: I totally agree. It has to be grassroots and women empowering one another. (But) I do believe in bold decisions. I support quotas and not just for women. I think if you want to make change happen faster, you need to institutionalize it and be bold. We need to do this with urgency. I think it is grassroots, but I think that grassroots also gets signals from the top. We need bold, decisive leadership. And I think quotas are a way of deploying that as well as supplier diversity ratios. JM: I think that even asking those tough questions, looking at boards and saying, ‘Why do you have the board you have?’ Depending on the company that we’re talking about, we as women have an opportunity to shape outcomes with
our wallets. If we’re not seeing the kind of change that we want to see and we’ve asked the questions and we don’t think we’re going to see that change, we can make decisions with who we support and how we spend our money.
OBJ: Studies show women get only a small percentage of venture capital funding. Should there be an agency that provides funding exclusively for female-led companies? SA: We need an investment fund that is equity-based that is targeted at women. The Business Development Bank of Canada does not understand how to invest in women unless they have a strong fund already backing them (Wesley Clover would be one example). BDC offered us debt, not equity, last year with horrible terms. We turned it down. Women businesses do not like debt, yet are typically 75 per cent successful while male businesses are 50 per cent successful. Surely, this means there should be better equity and risk capital targeted and run by women for women. JM: I know Bank of Montreal earmarked a substantial amount of money for women entrepreneurs. Another great example would be Vicki Saunders and her SheEO (accelerator program for women entrepreneurs). I’m an activator and my daughter is an activator. We said this makes sense because if you don’t like how things are, this is a perfect way to change it. Put your money where your mouth is.
Entertainment corporation Livent Inc. has successfully sued its auditors for failing to detect the fraudulent activities of its senior management. The Ontario Court of Appeal awarded damages of $85 million on the basis that a more careful investigation would have revealed the fraudulent activity much earlier. One of the principle arguments of the auditors was that they should not be held liable to the company itself for failing to reveal its own fraud, but this was rejected. The court found Livent management had a history of aggressive and questionable accounting practices and they had also misled the auditors prior to 1997. The decision greatly expands the potential liability of auditors, and has significant implications for both the accounting industry and the business community in general. Read more at nelligan.ca
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JM: What I think is interesting is talking
– JANICE MCDONALD, WHO WAS NAMED ONE OF CANADA’S 100 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN
By Peter Cronyn
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
Sue Abu-Hakima: While I was on the (Ontario Centres of Excellence) board for seven years (including vice-chair for the last two), they had only two or three women on a board of 15 (currently, three of 13 members are female). They have a $30-million budget funded by taxpayer dollars but do not reflect the tax base or their stakeholders. Examples of this are everywhere, and with the Women’s Executive Network at 20,000 members, there are NO excuses that there are no women to put on boards. This needs to change fast like Trudeau’s cabinet.
“Don’t tell me there aren’t qualified women (to sit on corporate boards of directors) in 2016. If you don’t know who they are, then maybe you’re asking the wrong people.”
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016 Meet Ottawa’s businesswomen of the year WRITTEN BY LUCY SCRENCI
PHOTOS BY MICHELLE VALBERG
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communications, Hill+Knowlton Strategies Ottawa Executive member, Ottawa chapter of the International Women’s Forum Canada Board member and chair of membership committee, Ottawa Chamber of Commerce
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? I’m very proud of growing from an intern to running the office in a fast-paced firm that rewards performance – especially given the fact that I’ve done that as a single mom. I’m also proud of coaching others and seeing them develop and grow, especially some women in the organization who are now leaders in the firm.
COMPANY CATEGORY
JACKIE KING •
The Women’s Business Network is once again preparing for its annual Businesswoman of the Year gala set for April 21 at the Shaw Centre. The awards, now in their 33rd year, celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of female entrepreneurs and business professionals across the National Capital Region. An award will be presented in each of three categories: Company, Entrepreneur and Professional. OBJ recently spoke with all nine nominees, who took time out of their busy schedules to talk about some of their personal and professional triumphs and challenges.
WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION? I have a couple of inspirations – the first is obviously my mom. My mother is a fierce Irish woman who has a really strong business mind. She’s really instilled in me that I can do anything by leading by example. I’m inspired by anyone who really works to make a difference, whether it’s making a colleague’s day better, being a major contributor to a file or helping in the community. My children constantly amaze me with how resilient they have been and they are, and how supportive and caring and wise they are. They keep me grounded. In general, there are amazing leaders all over the world who inspire me every day.
Senior vice-president and general manager of corporate
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? I don’t know if it’s an obstacle, but it is a challenge. I’ve been a single mom for most of my children’s lives, since they were five and seven, and I was in school at that time. Building a career and finding that balance between being a good mom and being a strong role model was a challenge. I think finding balance is hard for any parent.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? It’s been humbling, especially as I get to know not only the other nominees and finalists but all the amazing women I’ve met over the course of this process. It’s just opened my eyes to how many amazingly successful, authentic and kind inspirational women there are in the city.
and present:
2016
Energy East: New Jobs, Investment, Growth for Ontario
Stefan Baranski Ontario Director, TransCanada
Thursday, April 21, 2016 7:00 am - 9:00 am
Sheraton Ottawa Hotel –150 Albert St., 2nd floor- Rideau Room
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
Individual Tickets: $30.00 + HST (Members) $45.00 + HST (Non-Members)
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Corporate Tables of 8 with Signage$210 + HST (Members) $315 + HST (Non-Members)
Register online at www.ottawachamber.ca
Nominations for the 2016 Awards have begun! Is your company experiencing remarkable revenue growth? 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.
Application deadline: Friday, April 15, 2016 For more information visit www.ottawachamber.ca produced and presented by
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016 undertaking and remains an opportunity for growth and continuous learning for me. As a part of our series, we have presented some of the most beloved productions of all time, including Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, The Book of Mormon, Chicago, Mamma Mia!, Cats and Rent.
WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?
COMPANY CATEGORY
SHANA LEVIN • •
Vice-president, Broadway Across Canada Workshop facilitator, Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? One of my greatest achievements has been the growth of our annual Subscription Series in major markets across the nation, helping to make theatre a critical part of our cultural fabric. The work we do in the development and nurturing of our series is a huge
I am inspired by so many people. Holistically, my inspiration comes from a sense of pride in the work that I get to do every day. I have the enviable privilege to work in an industry that I love, with superiors, associates and staff that I respect and admire and a client population that shows their appreciation through their ongoing support of the product we provide. Some of my greatest joy comes from the excitement I see in the eyes of our patrons, particularly children, including my own, attending our productions. In 2011, we presented 32 performances of Disney’s The Lion King at the National Arts Centre. Standing at the back of Southam Hall and watching the smiles, gasps and tears that were evoked as the animals paraded down the aisles of that theatre is an experience that I will always cherish.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? I don’t know that I can itemize one specific obstacle but rather say that life both professionally and personally is rarely simple and navigating through life’s obstacles successfully is a practised skill. Live theatre is a more analogue art form in what is now a highly digitized world. Nourishing new audiences remains as paramount as ever, while the ability to engage those new audiences is more challenging than ever before.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? I am so genuinely flattered to have been nominated. It is a humbling experience to be ranked alongside such remarkable women who have accomplished so much in their respective fields. My heartfelt thanks go out to the Women’s Business Network for having created this award to acknowledge, inspire and encourage women in all areas of the workforce.
FAST FACT WOMEN LEAD MORE THAN A THIRD OF THE COUNTRY’S SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES. SOURCE: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK OF CANADA
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016 “It’s certainly an honour and a privilege to be recognized for something that I genuinely love to do. This occupation has certainly become a lifestyle for me. To be recommended by my peers whom I respect so very much as remarkable businesswomen is extremely flattering.” – NATASHA MORANO
COMPANY CATEGORY
NATASHA MORANO • • •
Vice-president, Economic Club of Canada Founder and co-chair, Voice of Hope Gala Member, Ottawa 2017 task force
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? My proudest accomplishment would be opening the Economic Club of Canada satellite office in Ottawa in 2012 and having it grow in prestige and reputation over the last few years. I’m seeing top-level
government, business and industry leaders coming to my events and posing questions to our keynote speakers. Growing the club’s reputation over the last four years has been incredible for me.
really build my own personal empire here in Ottawa.
WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?
In the volatile international playground, the topics and themes and issues that are being discussed are constantly changing. It’s a challenge to determine what the most pressing matters are in the international playground and then seek out those speakers to use our podium.
Certainly my mom – she’s my mentor and my best friend. She has given me the tools to be the best possible version of myself and have the inner confidence to trust my gut and embrace my talents. She believed in the passion I had for the club and what I was able to accomplish, and that fuelled me to
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE OVERCOME?
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? It’s certainly an honour and a privilege to be recognized for something that I genuinely love to do. This occupation has certainly become a lifestyle for me, and my team and I have created an Economic Club culture, where we’re always looking for new ways to educate business leaders and innovative ways to get the issues across. To be recommended by my peers whom I respect so very much as remarkable businesswomen is extremely flattering.
make your voice heard at
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
www. ottawa business survey.ca
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Audit
Tax
Accounting
Consulting
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016 “My parents are my greatest inspirations. They weren’t professionals — my father left school at Grade 10 and my mother went back to work in her late forties after raising her five kids. Seeing her setting a goal and work at it despite the barriers that life’s journey can present is rather inspirational. My father was all about having a strong work ethic and always helping others.” – MARGO CRAWFORD
ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY
MARGO CRAWFORD • • •
President and CEO, Business Sherpa Group Board of directors, Nakkertok Ski Club Board member, NECTAR Foundation
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? My proudest business accomplishment is the last company that I formed independently, the Business Sherpa Group. I worked in a corporate environment and prior to that I was a co-founder of a technology company with other individuals. This was truly something that I created on
YOU
my own, so I’m very proud of actually seeing it come to life and now it building with a great team of people.
WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION? My parents are my greatest inspirations. They weren’t professionals – my father left school at Grade 10 and my mother went back to work in her late forties after raising her five kids. Seeing her setting a goal and work at it despite the barriers that life’s journey can present is rather inspirational. My father was all about having a strong work ethic and always helping others. He believed that the effort you put into work, and always
jumping in to help others, truly defines a person. That was very much instilled in me. These core values have continued to inspire me and shed insights into my business.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? I had a personal health issue at a time when my career was just marching along. I was diagnosed with breast cancer right when demands were high due to running a technology startup and raising a young family. It was an acute reminder of how life has its own plans. It was a tough time, no question about it, but I learned a lot from it.
It was very affirming in many ways because I was very happy about the choices I had made up until that point and I didn’t have any regrets, particularly around how family has remained the centerpiece, even with a demanding career.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? My team really supported me on this, so I’m very humbled. I looked around at the other finalists and there are incredible women doing incredible things, so I just feel very honoured to be amongst that group.
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016 trials in British Columbia. We set up two offices while more than half of our team members were attending and preparing for court and hearings. It certainly was not an easy period of time but working as a team with enthusiastic and dedicated team members who believed in our plan was the key to make it all happen.
WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?
ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY
CAROLINE ETTER • •
Executive director and professional partner, Power Law President, Sarsfield Community Association
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT?
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My proudest moment would certainly be the setting up of the law firm Juristes Power/ Power Law with my two partners, Mark Power and David Taylor. We were faced with very little time to make it all happen while also being involved in one of the biggest
I would say that I have many inspirations in my life. My family, my mentor and certainly the team I am fortunate to be able to work with and lead continue to be inspirations. I grew up on a farm in rural eastern Ottawa. My parents moved from Switzerland when I was a young child. They started with very little and built a strong business that is now being partly transferred to my youngest brother. My mentor Joy Noonan (of APTUS Conflict Solutions) has also been a very positive presence in my life showing me how being human, kind and working hard to develop and support each team members is important to reach goals. Finally, being able to work with a team of dedicated, enthusiastic and young professionals with a common vision of wanting to make a difference in the practice of law has been a privilege for me.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? One of the biggest professional obstacles I’ve overcome, and my proudest moment, has been to have the courage, energy and the ability to set up a law firm with a staff of a dozen wonderful individuals simultaneously in two provinces. All the while, more than half of the team was involved and continued to prepare for hearings in one of the longest trials in British Columbia. It was definitely a team effort between the building of new relationships between new law partners and a team of individuals who continue to grow.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? Being a nominee was a surprise for me and continues to be a nice recognition from my peers. I feel very blessed to have been nominated by very special people in my life and to have been chosen as a finalist. It is encouraging as I hope other women will see that with hard work and dedication we can achieve any goals we set for ourselves without necessarily having to compromise a family or personal life. It is possible to have a work-life balance and be able to be both a parent and a businesswoman in the world.
FAST FACT
51%
OF FEMALE BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF MANAGEMENT OR OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE. SOURCE: BANK OF MONTREAL
talk
CEO
SERIES
Jakob Ripshtein President of Diageo Canada CFO of Diageo International
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with brands including Crown Royal, Smirnoff, Baileys and Guinness.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
l Delta Ottawa City Centre Hote 101 Lyon Street North
Individual Tickets:
xes a t p e e k o t w o H m eating into o r f Partners in Growth, Allies in Innovation ding n u f d w o r c r u yo
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
Left to Right: MNP – Doug McLarty, Regional ExitSmartTM Leader, Startup Canada – Victoria Lennox, Co-founder and CEO, MNP – Gordon Wright, Senior Manager
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As a cutting-edge business, you need growth strategies that are as innovative as you are. MNP has the expertise, knowledge and people to help you plan ahead while taking advantage of grants, tax credits and market know-how, right now. When it comes to opportunities to drive technology further, we help you create the future. As the fastest-growing national accounting and business consulting firm in Canada, MNP is proud to partner with Startup Canada, an organization of entrepreneurs working together to build an environment and culture for entrepreneurial growth and success.
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Corporate Tables of 10 with Signage $540 + HST (Members) $675 + HST (Non-Members)
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Ever wish you could peek inside the mind of a top business executive? Join us for an intimate discussion with Jakob Ripshtein and gain valuable insight into his experience serving many roles with a major international brand.
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Contact Doug McLarty, FCPA, FCA, CFP, TEP, ICD.D at 613.691.4222 or doug.mclarty@mnp.ca and
Left to Right: MNP – Doug McLarty, Regional ExitSmartTM Leader, Startup Canada – Victoria Lennox, Co-founder and CEO, MNP – Gordon Wright, Senior Manager
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016 “One of the challenges or realities about business is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Being an entrepreneur and a business owner takes real endurance. There’s always something around the corner, whether it’s an unexpected opportunity or an unexpected challenge. Staying flexible and maintaining a positive attitude has been really essential.” – DALE MORRIS
ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY
DALE MORRIS • •
WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?
President and owner, Ascribe Marketing Communications Board member, Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre of Ottawa
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? I’d say my proudest accomplishment is being able to successfully build a business with a team that has succeeded and thrived in this industry. It’s allowed me to stay fully invested in my main job – which is being a mom.
I’ve had a number of role models throughout my career, and I think each one has contributed something different. From some I’ve learned to take informed risks. From others, specifically women in business, I’ve learned smart practices around production management, talent development and how to build and lead a team.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? I guess one of the challenges or realities about business is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Being an entrepreneur and a business owner takes real endurance. There’s always something around the corner, whether it’s an unexpected opportunity or an unexpected challenge. Staying flexible and maintaining a positive attitude has been really essential.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? One of the most enjoyable aspects is meeting the other finalists and seeing how many talented women there are in the Ottawa community and connecting with some of them. I certainly have the most amazing team around me and a success like this is not the work of one person. It’s a time to feel proud and appreciate the women I’ve been nominated with.
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Collins Barrow Ottawa and partner Rosa Maria Iuliano, a 2015 Businesswoman of the Year winner, are proud to once again support the Women’s Business Network and its awards gala this year. Whether you’re a multi-million dollar enterprise, entrepreneur or emerging company, you can rely on Collins Barrow for objective, actionable advice. Learn more about our audit, tax and advisory expertise. Rosa Maria Iuliano Collins Barrow Ottawa 613.768.7558 riuliano@collinsbarrow.com
Tangible value from our experts to yours. Rosa Maria Iuliano, Partner, 2015 WBN Businesswoman of the Year
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CPA offers seminars for all levels from beginner to advanced. On a variety of topics covering Learning Payroll, Taxable Benefits, Employment Standards, Pensions and more.
Upcoming Seminars in Ottawa:
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2016-03-29 5:19 PM
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Design Day is a celebration to showcase our students and all their hard work,” said Professor Dr. Hanan Anis, NSERC Chair in Entrepreneurial Engineering Design (CEED).
Engineers build things that make a difference uOttawa students display their ingenuity at first ever Design Day
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
T
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rying to get hundreds of kilometres from a single litre of fuel. Saving restaurants thousands with a simple machine. Using autonomous rovers to detect life-threatening hazards These are only a few the engineering challenges being tackled by University of Ottawa Faculty of Engineering students. On March 29, uOttawa hosted its first ever Design Day, to showcase the work of students and their collaborators from the Ottawa community. Design Day featured 43 exhibits. About a third of the projects and functional prototypes on display were related to courses of study.
The rest represented the pure passion, ingenuity and hard work of students pursuing their own interests. Some are looking to start their own company. Others just want to address a societal problem, like aiding people with disabilities, or an aging population with the mobility issues. “Design Day is a celebration to showcase our students and all their hard work,” said Professor Dr. Hanan Anis, NSERC Chair in Entrepreneurial Engineering Design (CEED). Many exhibits were the result of collaborations at uOttawa’s Richard L’abbé Makerspace, featuring 3D-printed components and the kind of sensor
technologies that are central to the Internet of Things. The Makerspace is an invent-build-play space run by students, where anyone from the university and the broader community can come and unleash their creativity. ACCESSIBLE MEDICAL TECH FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES A highlight of the day was the Makerspace Challenge Finale. Students were given the task to create affordable and reliable medical technology that could be used in developing nations. They had to create an oximeter – a device that measures oxygen levels in
the blood – at a cost of less than $25. This important diagnostic tool typically costs around $1,600. Dr. Anis introduced the Challenge after learning about the need from an emergency room doctor in London who was building affordable stethoscopes to be used in Gaza – Dr. Tarek Loubani. Dr. Loubani is already on board to receive the first models of the winning oximeter design and test them on patients before putting them to use in Gaza. “We’ve been working hard to get students to prototype” Dr. Anis said. “It’s not enough to have an idea on paper. Engineers are creative individuals who make things
that are useful to someone – we want to showcase, celebrate and encourage this.” AND THE WINNERS ARE …. Third-year students Justin McLeod and Kristina Ojukic won the Challenge with their 3D-printed design. They received a prize of $1,000, but of course, the greatest reward is the satisfaction that their work could potentially save lives. GET INVOLVED To learn how you can get involved with uOttawa’s Richard L’abbé Makerspace, visit http://engineering. uottawa.ca/makerspace or contact Dr. Hanan Anis at hanis@uottawa.ca
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016 “I’d have to say the biggest obstacle was moving from a small town of 2,500 people where I grew up (Mattawa) to becoming a professional in the city of Ottawa. I had no network. One of the ways I addressed this was to form a breakfast group of people like me in the early stages of their careers. We really helped each other grow our businesses, and I’m still connected with those people today.” – DEBORAH BOURCHIER
PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
DEBORAH BOURCHIER • •
Managing partner, Ginsberg Gluzman Fage & Levitz LLP Past board member, Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? My proudest accomplishment was being elected managing partner of GGFL in 2008. My predecessor and my mentor, Gerald Levitz, held the role for 25 years. He had a very significant influence on my career. To ultimately take over his position as managing partner was a proud time for me.
WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION? I can’t just have one! My greatest inspirations are the founders of GGFL, Leon Gluzman and Joseph Ginsberg. They were young men with young families who took a risk and started a firm in 1946. They built it on relationships, integrity and professionalism, and this year we’re celebrating our 70th anniversary. I’m also inspired by the young professionals we hire. Most of the staff join GGFL as new graduates or co-op students, and they want to grow and learn with the firm. They show us their entrepreneurial
spirit from a young age, and that’s inspiring to me. We make sure that we’re leading them and helping them grow in their professional lives.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? I’d have to say the biggest obstacle was moving from a small town of 2,500 people where I grew up (Mattawa) to becoming a professional in the city of Ottawa. I had no network. One of the ways I addressed this was to form a breakfast group of people like me in the early stages of their careers.
We really helped each other grow our businesses, and I’m still connected with those people today.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? I’m very proud to be a nominee and a finalist. I have been attending this event for years and have marvelled at what a wonderful place it is to share the success of women in business. I think the quality of the finalists is superb, so I’m very proud and humbled to be in their company.
THE INAUGURAL
ARNIE VERED DINNER
Honouring Families in Business
Congratulations
Congratulations to Gabriel Pizza and the Hanna Family for winning the Family Enterprise of the Year Award!
LEAD SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSOR
MEDIA SPONSOR
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
This year’s event was a huge success and we hope to see you at the dinner next April. Many thanks to our sponsors.
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— SPONSORED CONTENT —
Ottawa’s ArtHaus Condominiums are Unique, Urban and Unmatched in Canada
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he innovation and transformation in Canadian urban planning and residential living has been remarkable over the past decade. No development better reflects this than DevMcGill’s ArtHaus, now under construction for 2017 completion, in the heart of Ottawa’s trendy and exciting ByWard Market. ArtHaus will be the residential component of a “centre of creativity” known as Arts Court, one of the country’s most innovative and future-forward multi-partnered urban developments. Arts Court will also contain a chic world-class boutique hotel, theatre space and arts gallery. Arts Court in Ottawa is a joint venture of the City of Ottawa, the Ottawa Art Gallery (which will be doubling its current exhibition space), The University of Ottawa (responsible for the programming of the new 1,600-square-foot theatre), and Group Germain, which is launching the first of its world-
renowned hotels in the nation’s capital. Adding ArtHaus’s unique, boutique-style condominium residences to this cultural collection results in the most innovative and creative urban community Ottawa has ever experienced. DevMcGill’s vision for the ArtHaus portion of this project attracted leading architectural firm Group Regis Cote, which has become a 50/50 partner with LeMayMichaud Architecture and Design in the design of Le Germain Hotel. ArtHaus’ unique vertical design lines bring a distinctive look that’s certain to make it an Ottawa landmark, while bringing sophisticated condominium residences to perhaps the most exciting inner city neighbourhood in the country. Ottawa’s ByWard Market is home to outstanding chefs, trendy restaurants, hip mixologists, cool clubs, unique art galleries and the most fashionable shops in the
National Capital Region. There is a palpable vibe to the ByWard Market which ArtHaus has perfectly captured, and reflective of the lifestyle of ByWard Market residents. Enhancing the neighbourhood in which it builds has been a trademark of developer DevMcGill’s many successful projects in Montreal. The ArtHaus condominiums, with only 89 residences available, is a natural opportunity for developer DevMcGill to organically grow a natural expression of its brand by introducing its unique style and vision of residential living to the centre of Ottawa. ArtHaus features a walk score of 98 and a transit score of 93, certain to improve as the new LRT station opens in 2018. The development is next door to the Rideau Centre and within walking distance of the University of Ottawa. With Le Germain Hotel anchoring the condominium tower, ArtHaus residential suites and amenities
are located on floors 15-23. Views from the onsite fitness centre, lounge areas and all suites will be spectacular and unobstructed. Designed by award-winning U31 of Toronto, ArtHaus will feature a sophisticated private lobby with a state-of-the-art virtual concierge and intercom system, to provide residents with convenience, security, added comfort, innovative prestige and peace-of-mind. Suites range in size from 444 to 1,768 square feet and start in the mid $200s. As the building floorplate is not an exact rectangle, each suite features unique angles to enhance the project’s creative feel. Residents will enjoy fluid and flexible floorplans with zero wasted space, and the finest features and high-end finishes. Register now to find out more about ArtHaus and the remarkable future of condominium living that is possible in Canada, by visiting www.arthauscondos.com.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2016 “My proudest business accomplishment would be assuming the position of regional managing partner of Canada’s largest national law firm, because it’s a role that’s not traditionally held by a professional from my demographic — a woman and a lawyer practising family law.” – KATHERINE COOLIGAN
PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
KATHERINE COOLIGAN • • •
Regional managing partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Past member, CHEO Foundation Former executive member, Ontario Bar Association
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT? My proudest business accomplishment would be assuming the position of regional managing partner of Canada’s largest national law firm, because it’s a role that’s not traditionally held by a professional from my demographic – a woman and a lawyer practising family law.
WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION? My father is my greatest inspiration, because from the time I was a child, I saw the work ethic that he had. I would combine that with the things that he taught me, which was to always work hard, always do my best, always believe that I could do what I set out to do. He’s the type of man who would be the first person to help somebody and the last person to ask for help. He also taught me to treat everyone equally, regardless of background, education and professional status. I drew on those inspirations to become the person and the professional that I am.
being able to receive accolades and be part of a firm that gets worldwide recognition as one of Canada’s leading IP boutiques.
WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?
PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
NATALIE RAFFOUL •
•
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENT?
I think being a younger female lawyer in a predominantly male field has been an obstacle. In the science and technology realm, women are a minority, so you really need to be that much better and work that much harder and be that much more professional in order to succeed. Being a
Earlier in my career, I had a different track than men due to things like maternity leaves. I think the biggest obstacle to overcome was believing that despite being a woman and a mother, I could still achieve what men could achieve with different circumstances.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? It’s an incredible honour to feel that I am being recognized for the experiences that I have had, and it’s an incredible honour to be part of a group of amazing women who
woman in a male-dominated field can also be good because you stand out in the crowd, showing that obstacles can sometimes be harnessed into something that’s positive.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A NOMINEE? It’s thrilling and it’s a huge honour to be amongst the women that have been chosen. Everyone is so accomplished and they’re wonderful role models. It’s an honour to be recognized alongside Deborah and Katherine, who are very impressive women and who are great role models for our community.
FAST FACT ONE IN THREE POTENTIAL FEMALE BUSINESS OWNERS IN A 2012 BMO SURVEY SAID THEY WOULD START A BUSINESS IN THE FOOD AND HOSPITALITY OR ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT SECTORS. SOURCE: BANK OF MONTREAL
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I’m quite proud of having grown a firm since 2008 that’s very successful and that’s been recognized as one of the top 20 patent or IP firms in Canada. I’m proud of the fact that since then, I’ve had three children while still
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME?
are right here in our city. I love that it’s about celebrating women and it’s sending an incredible message to young women.
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
•
Managing partner, Clancy P.C. + Brion Raffoul Chair of the Campaign Cabinet of the Caring and Sharing Exchange Past board member, Vanier Community Association
I take inspiration from so many people, including my own mother (Beatrice), who was a leader in her community. She was the president of the Glebe Community Association and one of the top 100 lobbyists in the country. I take inspiration from her because she’s been very involved in so many community endeavours and has been recognized by the City of Ottawa and has received a Jubilee Award. I also take inspiration from female leaders and women who are succeeding in business like (Facebook chief operating officer) Sheryl Sandberg. I take inspiration from my partner Paula Clancy, and mentors I’ve had in previous roles.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL OBSTACLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME?
THE LIST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
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Most popular tourist attractions (Ranked by attendance in 2014)
Attraction/Address/ Phone/Fax/Web
Attendance 2014/ % difference from 2013
Admission fees
Description
Casino du Lac-Leamy* 1 Casino Blvd. Gatineau, QC J8Y 6W3 819-772-2100/819-772-3704 casinosduquebec.com/lacleamy Gatineau Park 33 Scott Rd. (Visitor Centre) Chelsea, QC J9B 1R5 819-827-2020/N/A ncc-ccn.gc.ca OLG Slots at Rideau Carleton Raceway 4837 Albion Rd. Gloucester, ON K1X 1A3 613-822-8668/613-822-4364 olg.ca Canadian Museum of History 100 Laurier St. Gatineau, QC K1A 0M8 819-776-7000/819-776-8300 historymuseum.ca National Arts Centre 53 Elgin St. Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1 613-947-7000/613-996-9578 nac-cna.ca Rideau Canal Lockstations 34 Beckwith St. S. Smiths Falls, ON K7A 2A8 613-283-5170/N/A pc.gc.ca/rideaucanal Canadian War Museum 1 Vimy Pl. Ottawa, ON K1A 0M8 819-776-8600/819-776-8623 warmuseum.ca Canadian Museum of Nature 240 McLeod St. Ottawa, ON K2P 2R1 613-566-4700/613-566-4768 nature.ca Calypso Theme Waterpark 2015 Calypso St. Limoges, ON K0A 2M0 613-443-9995/613-443-4445 calypsopark.com Parliament of Canada - Tours 110 Wellington St. Ottawa, ON K1A 0A9 613-996-0896/613-995-1309 parl.gc.ca/vis National Gallery of Canada 380 Sussex Dr. Ottawa, ON K1N 9N4 613-990-1985/613-993-4385 gallery.ca Canada Aviation and Space Museum 11 Aviation Pkwy. Ottawa, ON K1K 4R3 613-991-3044/N/A casmuseum.techno-science.ca Camp Fortune Ski, Aerial Park and Ziplines* 300 Dunlop Rd. Chelsea, QC J9B 2N3 819-827-1717 /819-827-9388 campfortune.com Canada Agriculture and Food Museum NCC Scenic Driveway and Prince of Wales Dr. Ottawa, ON 613-991-3044/613-993-7923 cafmuseum.techno-science.ca Canada Science and Technology Museum 1867 St. Laurent Blvd. Ottawa, ON K1G 5A3 613-991-3044/N/A cstmuseum.techno-science.ca Bytown Museum 1 Canal Lane, P.O. Box 523, Station B Ottawa, ON K1P 5P6 613-234-4570/613-234-4846 bytownmuseum.ca Supreme Court of Canada 301 Wellington St. Ottawa, ON K1A 0J1 613-995-4330/613-996-3063 scc-csc.gc.ca Rideau Canal Skateway c/o NCC 40 Elgin St. Ottawa, ON K1P 1C7 613-239-5000/N/A ncc-ccn.gc.ca
2,900,000 0%
Free
Slots and table gaming with high-limits area; poker room; entertainment at Theatre du Casino; variety of dining venues including a CAA/AAA-five diamond-rated restaurant, Le Baccara and Banco-Bistro restaurant with a la carte menu.
2,700,000 0%
Free (some access fees for services)
Conservation park managed by the National Capital Commission with 361 square kilometres of natural wilderness. Features activities such as hiking, canoeing, biking, swimming, picnics, sightseeing, beaches, camping and the Mackenzie King Estate.
1,606,865 Down 2.2%
Free
More than 1,250 slot machines within 40,000 square feet; travel-themed gaming area; interactive and reel slot machines in denominations ranging from one cent to $5; new electronic table games, free weekend entertainment and host to 100+ item buffet.
1,100,000 Up 3.1%
Adults $15; seniors $13; students $10; children 3-12 $8; children under 3 free; families $36
Canada's national museum of human history, presenting the events and experiences that have shaped the country. Also features special exhibitions on Canadian and international themes, a 3D IMAX theatre and Canadian Children's Museum.
1,100,000 0%
Varies with event
The only multidisciplinary, bilingual performing arts centre in North America. Home to the NAC Orchestra and showcases classical music, dance, Englishand French-language theatre, regional programming, special events and variety shows.
511,842 Down 1.7%
Free admission by land. Lockage and other Parks Canada operates the Rideau Canal’s five lockstations in Ottawa (Ottawa, usage fees may apply. Hartwells, Hog's Back, Black Rapids and Long Island) and works with others to foster recreation, tourism and economic development that contributes to local economies.
446,600 Up 8.3%
Adults $15; seniors $13; students $10; children $8; families $36
Canada's national museum of military history. Permanent and special exhibitions tell the story of a country and a people shaped by war.
408,317 Up 7.3%
General admission: adults $13; seniors/ students $11; children three to 12 $9; children under three free. Extra fees apply for special exhibition and 3D movies.
Exhibits pertaining to Canada's natural history from the time of the dinosaurs to the present day. Highlights include mammals and birds of Canada, RBC Water Gallery, Vale Earth Gallery, Talisman Energy Fossil Gallery, 3D Theatre, cafe and boutique.
350,000 Down 8.2%
Tall: $35.40; small/senior: $28.32; children Canada's biggest theme waterpark with more than 35 heated water slides, over two and under free 100 water games, Canada's largest wave pool and the highest free-standing water slide tower in North America.
318,367 N/A
Free
Guided tours take visitors inside the iconic Centre Block to explore the history, functions, and art of Canada's national legislature. Visitors can also watch live debates or get a bird’s-eye view of the capital from the top of the Peace Tower.
292,397 Down 23%
Adults $12; seniors/students $10; youth 12-19 $6; children age 11 and under free; families (2 adults + 3 youths) $24; NGC Members free
Home to the world's largest collection of Canadian art.
207,128 Down 54.1%
Adults $13; seniors/students $10; children Explores the history of aviation and space travel through a collection of military three to 12 $8; children two and under free; and civilian aircraft, including the Canadarm. families $30. Veterans free.
186,115 0%
Ski $5-$27,40; Aerial park $15-35
Offers full-service downhill skiing during the winter. Aerial park and ziplines open from May to November.
178,627 Up 11.1%
Adults $10; children three to 12 $7; children two and under free; seniors/ students $8; families $26
A fresh-air experience awakens the senses as you discover the fascinating world of agriculture. Visit the animal barns and explore the captivating exhibitions.
165,638 Down 54.7%
Museum has been closed since the fall of 2014 for renovations and is scheduled to reopen in 2017.
Although the museum is closed to the public, work continues on exhibition and public programming development, as well as on the collection and archives.
63,000 9%
Adult $6.50; seniors/youth $4.50; children Visitors explore the stories that shaped Bytown and early Ottawa, from the $3; family (any size, kids under 18) $15; arrival of Lt.-Col. John By and the construction of the Rideau Canal to the four years and under free naming of Ottawa as the nation's capital, and to present day Ottawa as a diverse community.
44,095 N/A
Free
Home of the country's highest court. Guided tours available. Photo gallery and exhibits.
1,200 Up 35.8%
Free
The world's largest skating rink. As soon as cold weather allows, the historic Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is transformed into a 7.8-kilometre skating rink, and one of the official sites for Winterlude.
WND = Would not disclose. *Did not respond to 2015 survey. Using data from previous years. Should your company be on this list? If so, please send details to research@obj.ca. This list is current as of August 24, 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 People on the move
Contracts
Steve Cowie has joined Allied Telesis and will be managing the company’s sales and support activities across Canada. Previously, Mr. Cowie held senior sales roles with Mosaid, Cadence and Nortel, and most recently was the founder and managing partner at Technical Sales Consultants. Invest Ottawa announced the appointment of Karen Letain as director of marketing and communications. Ms. Letain has overseen the marketing operations at an executive level for both large and small organizations, recently serving as vice-president of marketing and business development at FigBytes, a business strategy firm. BluMetric Environmental announced the election of Geoff Simonett to its board of directors. Mr. Simonette has more than two decades of experience starting, operating and financing multiple companies in the clean-tech, IT and financial services industries. He is currently an entrepreneur-in-residence with Ontario’s Research, Innovation and Commercialization Centre in Mississauga, as well as a board member at Method Integration. Tanya Wayne and Jason Boone have joined Cushman & Wakefield Ottawa. Ms. Wayne, a senior real estate professional with experience and client AFO pub-April-May-June 2016-v1.pdf
The following contains information about recent contracts, standing offers and supply arrangements awarded to local firms.
networks in the Ottawa market, joins the firm as vice-president and sales representative. Mr. Boone takes on the role of sales representative. Since 2011 he has worked with a team that has represented clients in a variety of asset classes and has experience working on projects involving institutional, development and adaptive use sites.
Hats off More than 200 women across Ontario received the Leading Women, Leading Girls, Building Communities Awards in recognition of International Women’s Day. The award recognizes women and girls for their involvement and leadership in their communities. The 14 recipients from the Ottawa area were: Jennifer Babe, Michelle Desrochers, Colleen Dupuis-Strong, Yasmine Fathers, Alicia Krolak, Rachelle Lecours, Kelsey Lett, Karina Potvin, Victoria Powell, Anne-Marie RobinsonSisk, Sandra Stefanik, Kassandra Tannouri, Teresa Whitmore and Lisa Whittleton.
ONLINE LANGUAGE COURSES 1
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Cistel Technology Inc. 30 Concourse Gate Description: Informatics professional services Buyer: Correctional Service of Canada $10,156,440 Cistel Technology Inc. 30 Concourse Gate Description: Informatics professional services Buyer: Correctional Service of Canada $9,325,890 Modis Canada Inc. 155 Queen St. Description: Informatics professional services Buyer: Correctional Service of Canada $5,785,848 Valcom Consulting Group Inc. 85 Albert St.
Description: Mobile support equipment Buyer: DND $4,673,097 Promaxis Systems Inc. 2385 St. Laurent Blvd. Description: Publication maintenance services Buyer: DND $4,407,000 MHPM Project Managers Inc. and Tiree Facility Solutions Inc., in joint venture 2720 Iris St. Description: Human resource services, business consulting/ change management; project management services Buyer: Correctional Service of Canada $3,878,600 EMS Technologies Canada Ltd. 400 Maple Grove Rd. Description: Radio and television communications equipment, except airborne Buyer: DND $3,600,000
Motorola Solutions Canada Inc. 360 Albert St. Description: Radio and television communications equipment, except airborne Buyer: DND $1,380,688 Alcatel-Lucent Canada Inc. 600 March Rd. Description: Radio and television communications equipment, except airborne Buyer: DND $1,138,655 Welch LLP 123 Slater St. Description: DFATD receipt audits Buyer: Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development $840,000 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 99 Bank St. Description: DFATD receipt audits Buyer: Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development $690,000
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— SPONSORED CONTENT —
NUREVA’S SPAN IDEATION SYSTEM IS A CLOUD-BASED DIGITAL CANVAS THAT IS PROJECTED ON A WALL TO REPLACE PAPER.
Cool tech that makes a difference
Kanata North companies tackle big challenges in many markets
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hat makes a tech company cool? Maybe it’s the lifechanging impact of its technology to address a big societal problem. Or maybe it’s an innovative idea that upsets the status quo and makes you think – “yeah, it’s about time somebody came up with a better way to do that.” Today, we look at three companies with deep roots in Kanata North that demonstrate the broad scope of the cool technology coming to market. These rising stars are battling heart disease, revolutionizing the innovation process so organizations can achieve more and helping blind people see again.
DETECTING HEART DISEASE BEFORE THE DAMAGE IS DONE
Heart disease accounts for almost one third of global deaths each year according to the World Health Organization. That’s more than 17
million people. Getting diagnosed can be a lengthy, complex and costly process that doesn’t always yield accurate results. Drawing on innovative research by AusculSciences, CV Diagnostix is developing a tool meant to detect the distinct sounds caused by blockages in coronary arteries, so-called “Dock’s Murmur.” This non-stressful and non-invasive technology could allow doctors to carry out a test in their offices in 10 minutes. Clinical trials are about to start. “It will be radiation free, stress free, inexpensive and easy to use,” said Robert Griffin, Senior VP of Engineering and Development. “The goal is to diagnose patients who display no obvious symptoms and catch the disease prior to any heart damage.”
TAKING THE CREATIVE PROCESS DIGITAL
Nureva is the brainchild of the same innovative entrepreneurs
who brought us Canadian success story SMART Technologies, inventor of the interactive whiteboard. Two years ago, David Martin and Nancy Knowlton took a somewhat unorthodox approach to founding a new company – they assembled a team and then started developing ideas for a new product. It was a typical exercise in “ideation” with mounds of sticky notes and flip charts. Then they realized – there had to be a better way to do this. The result was the Span ideation system, a cloud-based digital canvas that is projected on a wall to replace all that paper. It makes it easy for teams to collaborate without having to be in the same room. Nureva has already established a reseller network in North America and is now expanding to Europe. “We work on the fuzzy front end of the creative process,” said Knowlton, who serves as CEO. “Our focus is on developing the tools
that will enable creativity in the future.”
RESTORING EYE SIGHT
TO MILLIONS About 3.5 million people in Canada and U.S. have a visual impairment that can’t be addressed with prescription eyewear or surgery. eSight can help about three out of every four of them to see better. eSight is a wearable headmounted display with a computer that can capture, enhance and display a real-time video feed that is optimized for the user in a way that significantly improves vision, in any setting and at any distance. It was conceived by founder Conrad Lewis to help his sisters, both of whom have lost much of their sight due to Stargardt’s disease. eSight eyewear has been on the market for two years. “It’s really remarkable how much this has improved our users’ quality of life,” said Brian Mech, President and CEO. “We have helped people do things they haven’t been able to do in decades, if at all – attend school, go to work, enjoy their favourite hobbies again and just see their kids or grandkids. We’ve even had someone fly an airplane.” Learn more about the cool tech happening in Kanata North at www.serioustechliveshere.com