• Best product knowledge, fare construction and customer service
• Competitive credit terms You’ll never be left stranded with an expert on
As your dedicated Travel Manager, Aaron Ursacki can provide:
As your dedicated Travel Manager, [insert TM name] and his/her team provide you with:
A vast knowledge and understanding of a business traveller’s needs focusing on the most convenient and comfortable airline routings, top business hotels, airline seating configurations, frequent flyer programs and change policies. Every Corporate Traveller client receives 24 hour World Wide emergency assistance and personal service from a dedicated Travel Manager, like Aaron, who knows his client’s travel needs inside and out. Aaron also provides personalized leisure product solutions all with the same perks as booking as a business client. Benefit from our all-inclusive flat booking fee which means you’re never charged for extras – a great way to manage your costs per booking. Personalized, one-on-one service levels are what we are known for – that’s why they call us the experts!
As
a Business Development Manager, Vicky Todd can provide:
A strategic evaluation of your current travel booking methods partnered with expert advice and the backing of our global negotiating strength.
As a Business Development Manager, [insert BDMs name] provide you with:
Vicky partners with her clients to develop a travel program to realize true results tailored to fit the needs of the company. Whether it be cost savings, travel policy formation, or streamlining the booking process, solutions are always geared around impassioned and educated people who proactively manage every facet of your corporate travel.
You don’t need to be a multi-national company to get the lowest possible travel rates – you just need to bring an expert on board!
Looking for business travel advice and destination information? Join the community.
DEPARTMENTS
Publisher/Editor Garth Eichel
Art Director Jacalin Jefferson
Account Manager Katherine Kjaer
Contributors Garth Eichel
Sue Kernaghan
Robert Loblaw
Bob Wright
For information on display advertising opportunities, contact Garth Eichel at: garth@archipelagomedia.com
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In-Flight Review (IFR) is a quarterly magazine published by Archipelago Media Ltd. for Helijet International Inc. All published material is the copyright of Archipelago Media Ltd. No part of this publication, in whole or in part, may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The written and photographic material published in In-Flight Review does not necessarily reflect the views of the air carrier or the publisher. Information and images produced in the magazine are believed to be accurate and truthful, but the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors.
Advertising in In-Flight Review magazine does not indicate an endorsement by Helijet International Inc. or Archipelago Media Ltd. ISSN 1916-5080
Consider colourful koi carp for your garden pond this spring
ON AN MBA
Does an MBA provide sufficient return on investment to justify the cost?
a bove: Koi carp add colour to a garden pond. Photo by photopro
BY ROBERT (BOB) W RIGHT, FOUNDER , PRESIDENT AND CEO, OAK
Fifty Years of Fishing
I T Is ONE OF LIFE ’s IRONIE s that I made my living from the ocean, but was born as far away from it in Canada as you can get: Regina, Saskatchewan. In my early years I got a little closer to the sea when my father took a job as a relief worker in Edmonton. But the westward drift stopped there and I spent the Great Depression years in Alberta where I recall being one of the poorest kids in my neighbourhood. I remember sleeping with the dog to stay warm at night.
My schooling was not something I would write home about. Tasked with guiding me in the right direction, my teachers tried their best. In grade three my music teacher loaned me a violin. After three weeks she took it back, suggesting I should perhaps concentrate on art classes. After about a month, my art teacher told me I might be a natural in sports; I spent the remainder of the year warming the bench. I quit school in grade eleven and took to fishing in neighbourhood creeks.
It was on a field trip with the Sea Cadets that I caught my first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean, a sight I found both inspiring and baffling. I couldn’t understand why the water would go up and down. I’d never heard of tides.
Although I pursued a 12-year marketing career in newspapers in Victoria, I kept my eyes cast on the ocean, thinking there must be opportunities in a place where I loved to be.
In 1962, with only $600 in my pocket, I began to build the Oak Bay Marina, which would eventually morph into the Oak Bay Marine Group — a company with 1,200 employees and 21 divisions in Canada, the U.S., and the Bahamas.
At heart, I am still just a “gumboot fisherman” counting his lucky stars. Without a dedicated, passionate team this company would not exist as it does today. The contributions of our crew, who are spread far and wide, are simply astounding. They are, without doubt, the key to our success over these 50 years. Ours is a complex business with many moving parts, and without such talented people surrounding me I would still be selling fishhooks for a nickel a piece.
And like every successful business, we’d be nowhere without our incredibly loyal customers, some who have visited our resorts over 100 times and are truly part of the family. Similarly, we give credit to our many suppliers and industry partners, like Helijet, who have provided us with exceptional service over these many years.
In 1962 it might have been my dream alone to build a successful company, but it’s truly our employees and customers who have made this dream come true. With gratitude, I would like to thank each and every one of them. In this, our golden 50th year, the Oak Bay Marine Group will continue welcoming guests from around the world, with a commitment to 50 more wonderful years. And who knows? Perhaps this gumboot fisherman can pursue those violin lessons after all.
editor’s note: In 2008 Bob Wright donated 11 million dollars to the university of Victoria for research in Oceans, earth, and a tmospheric Sciences, with the goal of keeping oceans healthy for future generations. In 2011 he was inducted into the canadian Tourism Hall of Fame.
Oak Bay Marine Group celebrates 50 years in business
Bob Wright, founder, president and ce O, Oak Bay Marine Group.
RUgBY COME s TO L ANgFORD
Longtime Helijet customer Godfrey Archbold arrived at the Vancouver Harbour Heliport on February 2, 2012, for what he thought would be just another uneventful flight between Vancouver and Victoria. To his surprise, however, Archbold learned he was Helijet’s 2,000,000th passenger.
“I was pleased to be part of the celebration, but the milestone was also impressive in that I had no idea Helijet would have flown that many passenger flights,” said Archbold, who fills his days as president and CEO of the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia.
To mark the event, Helijet president and CEO Danny Sitnam presented Archbold with a travel certificate for a roundtrip flight for two on Helijet, as well as a voucher for accommodation at either the Fairmont Waterfront hotel in Vancouver, or the Fairmont Empress in Victoria.
In a spirit generosity, Archbold re-gifted the travel certificate and accommodation voucher to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, which provides palliative and respite care services for sick children in B.C. Nevertheless, he said, “I kept the hat and poster Danny gave me. They’re great!”
Sitnam said this milestone event demonstrates how far Helijet has come in 25 years: “Two million passengers is no small measure for a scheduled helicopter service. It shows how we kept our core values of safety, reliability and customer service, and it’s a testament to our staff.”
Helijet began scheduled service between Vancouver and Victoria in 1986 with a single helicopter and a staff of 14. Since then thecompany has grown to a fleet of 15 aircraft, 150-plus employees and now carries over 100,000 passengers each year.
Rugby fans, rejoice. In January, the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence, complete with a flood-lit stadium, international standard turf field and new headquarters building, opened in Langford, near Victoria. The centre, which also includes a strength and conditioning facility, a medical clinic and a scrimmaging zone, will be the home base and year-round training centre for the Canadian Men’s and Women’s 7s and 15s National Rugby Teams, as well as the National Under 20 teams as they train for upcoming international and Olympic competitions. The centre also promises plenty of mentorship and inspiration for local teams and a chance to watch some of the world’s best athletes do their stuff. rugbycanada.ca
A gREENER BEER
The new Stanley Park Brewery, arguably the first sustainably-built and -run brewery in the country, promises a greener pint of ale. Based on Annacis Island, and named after an operation that opened on Lost Lagoon in 1897, the brewery uses an on-site wind turbine to slash its power needs and high-tech gear to minimize water use; it’s even got hydrogenpowered forklifts, biodiesel trucks and lightweight kegs to keep things squeaky green. The beer? Two Belgian-style brews, Stanley Park 1897 Amber and Stanley Park Noble Pilsner, are available at liquor stores throughout B.C. stanleyparkbrewery.ca
OF THE
Cobble Hillbased chef
Andrew Shepherd is filling a critical gap in Vancouver Island’s 100 Mile Diet. He even wades into the sea to do it. The man behind Vancouver Island Salt Co. harvests and packages unrefined sea salt – some of it straight from the sea near his home. The line, including maple, cherry and alder wood smoked rock salts, and roasted garlic, balsamic vinegar, mustard and banana pepper infused sea salts, are available at Edible BC on Granville Island and at retailers around Vancouver Island. visaltco.com
AYLA EL-MOUssA PHOTO
On February 2, 2012, Godfrey a rchbold, president and ceO of the Land Title and Survey a uthority of British columbia, was the 2,000,000th passenger to fly on Helijet. Ga RTH eIcH eL PHOTO
HEMP MEET s H APPY HOUR
Hemp is popping up everywhere, so it was only a matter of time before it hit the cocktail circuit. Left Coast Hemp Vodka, from Saanich-based artisanal distiller Victoria Gin, uses locally-grown organic hemp seeds to create a flavourful tipple. The hemp hearts add a silky texture along with notes of hazelnut and spice; the company’s wood-fired copper still creates some of the purest spirits around. The vodka, along with other Victoria Gin products, is available at liquor stores as far east as Ontario. victoriaspirits.com
T HE P OWER OF PLAY
More than one in five kids in the world has no access to electricity at home, but pretty much all of them play soccer. Enter sOccket. A soccer ball with a built in generator, the sOccket harnesses the kinetic energy generated by kicking the ball around, and stores it for later power needs. Thirty
Real
minutes of play generates enough juice to run a LED light for three hours, charge a phone, or operate a mini-fridge. The balls can’t be bought in Canada yet, but anyone can click on soccket.com to send one where it’s needed.
Granola Girl granola, created in North Vancouver by a pair of enterprising bakers, April Tioseco Bellia and Tanya Muller, claims to be “the most delicious granola you will ever eat”. Made with organic oats, goji berries, hemp hearts, maple syrup, and lots of love energy, this crunchy blend comes pretty close. It’s available at Whole Foods and other wholesome grocers in Vancouver, and at the Fernwood Café on Salt Spring Island. granolagirl.com
Estate on the Queen charlotte Islands / Haida Gwaii
s pectacular oceanfront home in the centre of Queen Charlotte City. Coho & pink salmon right from the lawn! 5 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage & boatshed. Currently leased to government. MlS® N210769 $372,000
Riverfront property on one end, beautiful ocean view on the other. Close to Masset. Great building sites, perk test done. MlS® N206787 $139,000
Well kept & ready to move in. 3 bed, 2 bath home close to downtown Masset. MlS® N205655 $79,000
Fully furnished mobile home in Port Clements. Close to the yakoun river. MlS®: N212958 $54,900
Remember writing bon mots in exotic cafés, or finding cheery beach scenes among your winter bills? This fun app from Nelson, B.C.’s Cartolina Postale brings back the joy of old-fashioned postcards. Just upload your holiday snaps, write a message for the back and pick a design; Cartolina will create hard copy postcards and mail them for you. The app is free and each 4 x 6 postcard costs $2.99 to make and mail to addresses in Canada ($1.99 stateside).
ZUFALL A Dv ENTURE s
This whimsical app, inspired by a Kelowna couple’s first date, is just the thing for indecisive travellers. Not sure where to go? Just ask your phone. Set a direction, distance, activity or travel time, roll the virtual dice and the app will send you on your way. The developers, Valerie McTavish and Tim Wohlberg, created Zufall (the German word for chance) after rolling a die to kick-start their first camping trip; they’ve been inspiring random acts of travel ever since.
BC LIq UOR sTORE s
Heading empty-handed to a dinner party? Last minute beer run? No worries. This pocket sommelier will direct you to the nearest BC Liquor Store — and show you when it’s open. It’ll also tell you where your favourite tipple is stocked, scan a barcode for prices, keep a list of favourites, pair wines with a meal, and spin up recipes. All that’s missing is the corkscrew.
C AR BUTLER
Drive much? Car Butler puts all your roadster apps in one place. Whether you need to calculate commute times, check traffic and road reports, record vehicle details, or find gas stations, mechanics and car washes, it’s all here. A parking feature marks your spot and reminds you when your meter’s up. There’s even an accident report form and 911 on speed dial. This handy app is free for both iPhone and iPad.
PEOPLE FOR gOOD
Here’s one way to keep those random of acts of kindness coming. Just set your location — home, work, or just out and about — shake or tap your phone, and this mobile offshoot of the People for Good Campaign (peopleforgood.com) will spin out a do-good idea. Buy a sandwich for a homeless person, top up a parking meter, or leave a thank you note for a co-worker. Some actions – such as holding open a door – shouldn’t require a technological reminder, but anything that advances civility is surely worth a free download.
T HE TOFINO A PP
If you’re heading west this Spring, be sure to download the free Tofino App. Written by locals, it covers everything you need to know about the Pacific Rim resort town, from surf shops and coffee bars to beaches, trails and whale watching companies. Directions, photos, videos, events listings and even surf reports are all here.
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Aloyd Fitness has the largest selection of fitness equipment in Western Canada, offering everything from entry-level equipment to high-performance training machines for the home and the workplace.
Visit our website at www.aloyd.com or visit any one of our three locations to learn what we can provide you and your employees.
fancy fish
KoI CarP aren’T halF as Fussy as TheIr oWners
By BoB loBlaW Photo By eleN a eliSSee Va
WheN diNNertiMe comes at West Coast Koi Farms in Saanich, B.C., owners, Carol and Wayne Etherington, scatter high-protein kibble across the surface of a large pond, to the delight of hundreds of soft tiny mouths. In a rush to be first, countless koi — ostensibly goldfish on steroids — kick into high gear and commence an aquatic orgy of snorting, belching and burbling as they all grope for the lion’s share of the serving. Despite the lack of etiquette, the feeding frenzy is remarkable for its visual effect: a boiling kaleidoscope of coloured fish broach the surface in a psychedelic light show of jelly red, luminescent yellow, saffron orange, black velvet and snow white.
Carol Etherington decides the poor dears could stand with a little extra num nums this evening and hauls out a loaf of brown bread for dessert. She first washes her hands off as a precaution against infecting her brood, then lowers a few crusts below the surface to the collective glee of the koi. The entire horde climbs over one another to reach the morsels in her fingers. And the losers are not deterred. They latch on to her fingers with their suction cup mouths to try and milk her knuckles for more. After ensuring that each of the precious milksops has gotten a turn, she folds up the bag of bread and affectionately scolds them for being greedy.
These marine dandies have a pretty good racket: they get to loll about in deep oversized tanks filled with ornaments, waterfalls and lily pads while the Etheringtons wait on them scale and fin. The only demand placed on this pack of lovelies is to just be themselves and waft about to the delight of their owners. Although many other species of fish have managed to corner similar deals, none have the personality, charm and genes of koi.
While easily mistaken for monster goldfish, koi are in fact distant cousins of their bowl-bound brethren. Originally believed to be from Iran, koi are descendants of your run-of-the mill common carp, raised for food. Through painstaking selective breeding, various coloured mutations of Koi were introduced to Japan as darlings of the aristocracy around the 1820s. Since then, they have grown to become national hallmarks. For instance, in Japan koi are associated with strength, courage, and patient prosperity. As such, on May 5th (Children’s Day) each year in Japan, families with boys fly carp streamers (Koinobori) from their homes as symbols of success in life.
“They are a truly unique fish: There are so many variations it just makes the fish magnificent.”
– Dr. Schumel Robard
Enthusiasm for koi has spread well beyond the Asian community though. Fish aficionados the world over stock private garden ponds and aquariums with Koi. And nations such as England, the U.S., Singapore and Israel have all developed reputations for quality breeding.
At West Coast Koi Farms, the Etherington’s breed many of their own fish on what is arguably the largest Koi farm in Canada. They get a few fish from Israel and the U.S., but their champion breeds are all from Japan, which leads the pack as the unrivalled home of quality Koi.
Dr. Shmuel Rothbard, an Israeli scientist specializing in fish reproduction and genetics, says that one of the most unique aspects of koi is their unpredictable breeding characteristics: “It is almost impossible to manage or control the appearance of the fish [through selective breeding].”
Unlike most creatures, the colours or patterns of parent fish are not necessarily passed to their offspring, making it almost impossible for breeders to breed fish for specific traits. What is more, koi can’t be cloned like other animals, such as pigs or sheep. Despite Dr. Rothbard’s and the Etherington’s best efforts, koi seem determined to keep the secrets of their genetics a mystery.
“You can’t make copies of the parents because of their complicated genetics,” says Wayne Etherington. “Out of 100,000 fry maybe 1,000 are worth selling; 50 might be really good; and five might be exceptional.”
Just as there is no one single type of Koi, there is no fixed price tag. Garden variety koi are quite affordable: small fish that don’t make the grade for breeding quality can be purchased for as little as $20 dollars each. Premium Japanese koi, however, come with a hefty price tag. They are quite likely the most expensive bottom-feeders in the world — capable of fetching well over $100,000 dollars for a champion.
“In North America, wealthy people go into race horses; in Japan people go into koi as a symbol of prestige,” says Dr. Rothbard. “They are a luxury product. Not everyone can afford to buy champion koi because they are very expensive.”
Like any purebred animal, there are numerous competitions where primadonna koi
are judged much the way horses or dogs are. But not everyone who buys these fish is interested in breeding or trotting them out for shows. The Etheringtons say they used to enter their fish in competition but found the experience disappointing. Transporting fish to shows was stressful for the creatures and after a while they abandoned competitions. Like most animal lovers, they are content to just have the little suckers around for company.
“Competitions became a money show and that’s not what koi are about.” says Wayne. “It’s really about having beautiful friendly fish and the enjoyment of them.”
Fortunately, koi are no longer the private domain of the rich and shameless. As Boomers reach retirement, more people have the time, energy and money to spend on developing gardens that incorporate koi ponds. In fact, their popularity is soaring, particularly among those who wish to combine aquatic curiosity with a love of gardening.
“These fish are part of a wonderful garden where people can just sit and meditate by the pond, watching the fish,” says Dr. Rothbard.
It helps that koi are quite endearing, prone to swimming towards humans with expectant mouths agape. Some will even submit to a bit of petting and stroking. One caress of their silky flanks reveals an unusually soft texture akin to fine velvet. “They all have their own personalities,” says Carol. “They’re so friendly; they let you pet them and feed them and their mouths just give a soft sucking on your hand.”
Sucky behaviour aside, koi are quite possibly the most peaceful looking creatures on earth. Like ephemeral aquatic spirits, they glide back and forth stroking your soul with graceful motions that suggest purpose and ease. Indeed, there is something deeply meditative about watching them. Carol adds, “They’re great stress relievers”.
The ability of koi to induce tranquillity is probably the best explanation for their tremendous popularity, but there is also the added dimension of their natural beauty.
“You see them moving with such colour and dignity in a pond and it makes a completely different impression than a tropical fish in an aquarium,” says Dr. Rothbard. “They are a truly unique fish: There are so many variations it just makes the fish magnificent.”
But the koi’s remarkable qualities and beauty are lost on some. In the reedy shallows of a pond in front of West Coast Koi Farms, a stealthy blue heron pokes and prods for young fry. For him, all the dignity, colour and charm of koi is irrelevant; to a bird they are just another tasty morsel in the food chain.
BY SUE KERNAGHAN
The Executive Travel Tool Kit
ROAD WARRIOR s, we’ve got your back. Every day, it seems, a new travel gadget comes to market, promising to make journeys that much more enjoyable. Some do; some don’t. For the travelling executive, however, finding the right items can make all the difference between hair-pulling hassle and placid productivity. To that end, the following items are designed to make travelling for work, or for fun, a better experience overall.
T RAv ELON sHEET s Travel liquids rules have spawned a whole range of products designed to help travellers get their toiletries onto a plane. Among these are Travelon sheets: little wipes infused with liquids; just add water. So far, the line includes shampoo, body wash, shave gel and laundry soap; perhaps, one day, a complete in-flight meal? jet-setter.ca
JET sETTER MOBILE PHONE HOLDER Tired of leaving your phone hanging in mid-air as it dangles from an outlet, lies underfoot, or just gets in the way? This little device creates a safe cradle for your phone, PDA or MP3 player so you can plug it in safely wherever you can find a spot. Bright colours remind you to grab it before you go. jet-setter.ca
gOTOOBs Still packing liquids? Try GoToob’s regulationsize bottles. These squeezable, drip-proof, leak-proof silicon tubes are one brand that frequent flyers swear by. At $24 for a pack of three, they’re not cheap, but do pay for themselves in saved mess. They’re even food safe and BPA free. flight001.com
DIsCOv ERY T REkk INg TOWEL s Douglas Adams was right. When exploring the universe, always take a towel.
The Campbell River-based Discovery Trekking makes ultra-light, absorbent, fast-drying towels using polygiene technology, an antimicrobial treatment derived from recycled silver. The towels may not be fluffy, but they pack small, weigh virtually nothing, and dry quickly, whether you’re backpacking, working out, or taking an impromptu beach break. discoverytrekking.com
CLEAN W ELL T RAv EL PRODUCT s Here’s a kinder, gentler way to ward off airborne germs. CleanWell travel-sized hand sanitizers, antibacterial wipes and disinfectant sprays use a formulation of thyme, rather than alcohol or chemicals, to clean surfaces. Easy on skin and the environment, this herbal formula won’t sting cuts or dry hands, but still plays hardball with bacteria. cleanwelltoday.com
MOLE sk INE NOTEBOOks Why not forget data roaming charges and go old school? Pick up a Moleskine notebook, fill it with key phone numbers, sightseeing plans and restaurant recommendations, and slip in some downloaded maps. The size is just right for inserting boarding passes and tickets, too. Added bonus: it never needs charging. moleskine.com
T HE UsB HUBMAN This product’s Gumby-like appearance may look gimmicky, but it’s just the thing for mobile multitasking. Windows and Mac compatible, with four USB 2.0 high-speed ports, it lets you plug in just about any laptop accessories you might need — all at the same time — and that spells productivity. jet-setter.ca
BELk IN MINI sURg E PROTECTOR If there’s one guarantee in travel, it’s that there will never be enough electrical outlets for all your gadgets. As such, bring your own, and protect your gear at the same time, with this mini-power bar.
Compact and lightweight, it has three AC outlets, two USB outlets (for charging, not data) and a surge protector to keep everything safe from unreliable power sources. belkin.com
CLE v ER T RAv EL COMPANION
Keeping your valuables in your unmentionables may not be a new idea, but the design of Clever Travel Companion certainly is. These boxers, in a breathable rayon-spandex blend, come with two zipped pockets big enough for a passport, credit cards and cash. The line includes men’s and women’s styles, plus tank-tops, t-shirts and long johns. clevertravelcompanion.com
T HE C ANON ELPH 510 Hs P OINT AND sHOOT C AMERA
Meet the world’s thinnest camera. Just 2.2 cm thick, Canon’s Elph 510 HS packs a lot of shooting power into a small package. Inside the box?
A 12.1 megapixel camera with a 12X Optical Zoom, a 28mm wide-angle lens, and a touch panel LCD. It even shoots high-definition videos. Beat that, phone camera. canon.ca
ROI on an MBA
Making a business case for a Master of Business Administration (MBA)
By Garth eiChel
IN THE WORLD of academia and business a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a stand out degree. That’s because those three letters require graduates to make a significant investment in terms of time, energy and money. It is not for the faint of heart. As such, anyone considering a program is well advised to make a buisness case for an MBA before embarking on one.
“A lot of people look at an MBA for a financial return on their investment. Probably 50 per cent of people who pursue MBAs want to get well paying jobs, but it is not as simple as it looks,” says Dr. Pedro Márquez, Dean, Faculty of Management, Royal Roads University. “Return on investment comes from many angles: first is a set of knowledge skills that put you in a better position to succeeed. The second important return is the personal relationships you make that develop into friendships and business opportunities.”
T HE Ask
In terms of financial investment, a prospective MBA student has to take into account financial cost, as well as potential income lost while out of work attending a full-time MBA program. Costs vary considerably from one business
school to the next, but a typical full-time MBA program at the Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria is useful for illustrating the kind of financial investment required at a local university. There, a student in a full-time MBA program can expect to dole out approximately $34,000, which covers everything from tuition, program fees, and textbooks to various ancillary fees and the cost of an international consulting field trip. At the same time, a student earning around $50,000 a year before starting has to consider the loss of roughly $37,500 per year in after tax dollars, though they are likely to earn about $14,000 while on a MBA co-op placement, as well as some $5,000 in student tax credits. Gustavson’s full-time MBA program is one-and-a-half years in duration, so the end result is an overall financial net cost of between roughly $62,000 and $68,000 dollars for a full-time MBA.
Fortunately, various grants, bursaries, entrance awards and scholarships, as well as student loans, help take the edge off that figure. Moreover, many employers help underwrite cost in return for a work commitment upon graduation. Still, not everyone can take up to two years off work to go to school full-time. As such, many opt for evening, or on-line and short-term on-campus MBA programs geared towards working professionals who choose to earn while they learn. While this eliminates lost opportunity cost, it naturally requires a greater investment of time and energy.
“An MBA is pretty tough,” says Chris Graham, MBA Programs Director, Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria. “Whether you’re in the full-time program, or the evening program, your nose is to the grindstone. You have to approach [the full-time program] as a day job . . . and put another two to three hours in at night.”
That’s daunting for anyone, but especially so for professionals who continue working while going to school, or for those with families to care for.
“The rule of thumb is that an MBA will take you about 500 hours of classroom time, and another 1,000 hours of prep time,” says Márquez. “It’s very intensive. You need to have discipline and proper time management, and your family and employer have to be in line with what you want to do. It’s important for the student to be committed and ready to invest the time — every day.”
Royal Roads University’s blended online and shortterm residency model allowed Bev McPhee, vice-president, customer experience at ISM Canada, an IBM company, to continue raising her five teenage children and work fulltime while she completed her degree. While this approach required less money, she notes there was a much greater investment in time and energy, which would not have been possible without a lot of help from those close to her.
“You have to be able to bring family and friends into your support circle,” says McPhee. “[An MBA program] is not just about you, it’s about your ecosystem of family and friends. You have to make a concentrated effort to merge those supports to succeed. A couple students in my MBA cohort had spouses who weren’t behind them and it made it really difficult for those people.” Nevertheless, she adds, “It brought our family together, strengthening family ties and friendships. My kids were making me dinner at night!”
Whatever the case, a prospective MBA student needs to look beyond just financial cost and assess their personal life to determine whether or not they have the physical, emotional and supportive capital to invest in an MBA.
R ETURN ON IN v E s TMENT
No matter how you slice it, an MBA is a big investment of time, energy and money. That begs the question, ‘is it worth it?’
In terms of money, the answer varies depending on what type of MBA a student gets. Twenty or 30 years ago there was only one type of MBA, focusing on core subjects relating to general management and business administration. Nowadays, there are a wide range of MBA programs specializing in everything from engineering and biomedical, to those focusing on entrepreneurship, human resources, and international experience, to name just a few.
As such, it is hard to pin down an exact figure or percentage of salary increase for MBA grads, but anecdotal evidence suggests most enjoy a significant increase after graduation.
“In the first six months after I graduated I made more than the tuition I put down,” says McPhee. “Since then my salary has quadrupled; I went from running a one-person communications shop to vice president of a 1,000-person blue-chip company.”
Graham qualifies that, noting, “Salary differential is dramatically different depending on the type of MBA . . .
but if you go to any of the accredited MBA schools in Canada you’re going to get a return on your investment — you’ll make that money back.” To illustrate his point, he notes that, statistically, a Gustavson School of Business MBA graduate who earned $50,000 per year prior to commencing studies is likely to earn, on average, a starting salary of $76,000 a year after graduation, increasing thereafter. With such a jump in salary students will likely spend three to four years recouping costs.
“The financial aspect is almost a given,” says Graham. “The real value comes is the phenomenal flexibility an MBA gives you, particularly if you want to make a career change. In terms of payback, there are so many more options for your career.” He adds, “These days, it is almost impossible to go from one industry to an entirely new one without starting at the bottom; with an MBA you don’t start at the bottom.”
McPhee concurs with that assessment: “The way the world is going, employers are scraping key degrees out of applicants in the technical screening process. It’s easier to get an interview when you have those three letters.”
Those letters help, but it goes without saying that not all business schools, MBA programs or graduates are created equal. There are several other factors that affect return on investment.
First is reputation of the institution a student obtains their MBA from, and the degree to which a business school’s accreditation is recognized. More important, however, is the personal reputation a student develops. Indeed, grades are important, but so too are the crucial relationships formed in cohort groups.
“Most MBA programs are similar; what matters is who you sit next to,” says McPhee. “When scouting a business school, choose the people you will be sitting next to. I was 40 years old when I did my MBA and so I wanted to be with other mid-career professionals.” To that end, McPhee sat in on a class at Royal Roads University and liked what she saw: “Looking around the class and seeing the value those 50 people brought to the discussion really resonated with me.”
Indeed, the relationships formed in MBA programs serve graduates well long after they’ve completed their studies. The vast majority of executive level jobs in Canada are filled before they are ever advertised. Most are recruited through personal relationships, many of which are formed in business school.
“You’re meeting people who are going through an intensive project together and that leads to bonding,” says Márquez. “It forces you to get to know people. MBAs rely on teamwork and individuals will not succeed if they cannot work together.” He adds, “When you get an MBA it’s like becoming a member of a club. It opens doors to new communities and groups of people. Like an engineer’s ring . . . those three letters on a business card can go a long way.”
McPhee agrees: “The higher salaries have more to do with the connections you form. My experience at Royal Roads gave me the ability to reach into all sorts of organizations because I had contacts. It expanded my consulting portfolio considerably.”
There is a social element, too, says Graham: “The comraderie and relationships you develop in an MBA program are phenomenal. A lot of the people you meet become lifelong friends… and some people even get married.”
Of course, there is a canyon of difference between meeting people and cultivating relationships. Interpersonal skills and teamwork ability count for much, and students soon recognize who maximizes their potential and who
does not, and most remember long after the degrees are handed out.
“You can get the degree, but you can’t fake your way to authenticity,” says McPhee. “If you just slide through and do the minimum to get the letters, you’ll get a similar return . . . but if you’re a person who invests heavily in the program you’ll see a greater return.”
A big part of that return comes in the way of enhanced skills and abilities, ranging from management, marketing, and accounting, to writing, interviewing, and critical thinking, among other things. Additionally, many MBA grads see a return on their investment in the way of newfound pride and confidence.
“The MBA pushes you to do things and take on workloads you may not have thought you were capable of,” says Graham. “You come out of it realizing you could do it, and it gives you a designation recognized worldwide that opens doors. No one can take that away.”
Indeed, ROI on an MBA goes well beyond earning potential says Márquez: “You can figure out what kind of personal and professional development you want to see in your life and then build a strategy to become the person you want to become.”
Gain international experience
Benefit from paid co-operative education work terms, world class professors and executive mentors
Build a global network
Specialize in entrepreneurship, service management, or international business
Thinking Outside the BOTOX
It
does more than reduce wrinkles
By Sue KerNaGhaN
HOw YOUNG DO YOU fEEl? If you’re a Canadian woman between 30 and 60, the number is about eight years younger than you really are.
According to recent research by Leger Marketing (which only queried the one gender), nine in 10 Canadian women are happy with their age, but there’s roughly an eight-year gap between how old they think they look and how old they feel.
That fascinating tidbit lends some insight into the huge popularity of cosmetic treatments in this country. Canadians — of both sexes — are looking for a slightly younger appearance, not because our society glorifies youth (honestly, who wants to be 20 again?) but because we’d like our faces to line up a little better with our psyches.
Enter BOTOX Cosmetic, a wrinkle treatment that has rapidly become the number one cosmetic procedure in North America — to the tune of 5.4 million shots in 2010 alone.
The treatment, a quick injection that temporarily immobilizes wrinkle-causing facial muscles, has smoothed the brows of millions since it was first approved for cosmetic use early this century. But Botox has had so much publicity — good and bad — that its cosmetic use has come to overshadow the drug’s many, and potentially far more significant, applications.
Non Surgical Procedures
Botox Cosmetic™
Dermal fillers
Skin rejuvenation programs eMatrix™ IPL
Skincare products
Surgical Procedures
Facial surgery
Rhinoplasty
Breast surgery
Tummy tuck
Liposuction/body contouring
Dr. Kenneth A. Smith
CertiFied PlaStiC SurGeoN
Botulinum toxin type A — that’s Botox without the brand name — is a neuromuscular paralytic agent; basically, it blocks the signals telling muscles to contract. (One of the most powerful neurotoxins known, it’s a purified form of the same bug that leads to botulism poisoning). Since the 1950s researchers have known that injecting miniscule amounts of botulinum toxin could reduce muscle activity. Clearly, anything that might ease muscle spasms had enormous implications.
Since its approval for therapeutic use in North America — long before it hit the cosmetic circuit — the toxin has been used to treat ailments as diverse as neck and jaw pain, eye twitching, uncontrolled blinking, head and neck
Going for the shot?
IN B.C. COSMETIC BOTOx can be administered by any licensed physician or dentist, or by a nurse supervised by a doctor. There are fewer practitioners offering therapeutic Botox, so, in that case, your G.P.’s office is a good place to start. Note too that some third party insurance plans will cover the drug portion of therapeutic Botox treatments.
If you’re considering treatment, here are a few considerations:
Ask about the physician’s experience; the number of years, and the number of patients he or she has treated. Any medical professional can provide injections, but training and experience matter.
For cosmetic treatments, ask to see some before-
tremors, incontinence and facial spasms. Other pending and off-label uses around the world range from stretch mark reduction to ulcers, teeth grinding, and chronic back pain.
In fact the drug’s cosmetic application was discovered almost inadvertently, when a Vancouver opthalmologist was using Botox to treat a patient for uncontrolled blinking. The woman asked for a touch more in her forehead as she’d noticed that the shots also made her wrinkles disappear. The rest, as they say, is history.
In Canada, Botox products have, so far, been approved for a variety of specific issues related to muscle spasms and, since November 2011, for chronic migraines.
Don’t sweat It!
Botox injections have a range of therapeutic applications, from migraine and chronic neck pain to hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
and-after photos. You might also assess the office staff. Do they look unnatural, or does their appearance jibe with what you’re looking for?
It’s not offside to ask about possible side effects and how often they occur. One potential side effect, which Health Canada added to Botox labelling information in 2009, is the possibility that the toxin may spread to other parts of the body.
Remember the effects of Botox are temporary so any unwanted results will also be temporary. Consult with your doctor to make an informed decision. Botox might not be for you. For cosmetic applications, fillers or peels may be better suited; for therapeutic applications, other treatments may be worth considering.
Botox® - Now a household name and in use for over 20 years, Botox® is ideal for softening frown lines, crow’s feet and lifting the corners of the mouth. When administered by a properly trained and experienced physician, treatments are quick, safe and require no downtime.
Dermal
Fillers – like Restylane® and Juvederm®
- These naturally derived hyaluronan-based dermal fillers (hyaluronan is a normal component of our skin) gently lift and fill cheeks, temples, lips and lines to restore a more youthful appearance.
First impressions in business can make or break a new relationship. A confident handshake and kind smile can communicate conviction and authenticity, but some of the effect is lost when hands, scalp or underarms are obviously dampened by excessive sweat — the condition of hyperhidrosis is more common than you expect. If you are plagued by uncontrolled sweating, solutions exist to offer you moderate to complete relief. As regional spokesperson for hyperhidrosis, here are some top non-surgical treatment options that I review with my patients:
Thermage CPT®
Mira Dry, recently FDA-approved, works non-invasively to remove unwanted sweat glands with persistent results.
Fraxel DUAL®Healthy skin is happy skin. While Fraxel DUAL® laser treatments help improve the quality of the skin by treating brown spots, sun damage and scars, this laser has also been shown to reduce precancerous lesions, leading to healthier and more radiant skin.
• Botox® injections are approved for therapeutic treatment of excessive underarm sweating. You can be sweat free in just a few days with results typically lasting 6 to 9 months.
• Medical-grade antiperspirants, like Hydrosal gel - available at your local pharmacycan be applied to the underarms in the evenings.
- A single treatment with this newest version of Thermage® gently and naturally stimulates new collagen with no downtime and minimal discomfort. Tightening lax skin of the face and neck, as well as firming up the tummy are common areas that can benefit.
• Microwave devices, like the Mira Dry, are soon to be available for excessive underarm sweating.
To review your options, speak with your physician, or contact Cosmedica for further information. Be sweat free and have renewed confidence.
These four fundamental treatments are synergistic. Botox® and dermal fillers work hand-in-hand to restore lost volume while lifting and supporting the skin. Thermage® and Fraxel DUAL® treatments help to rebuild collagen and improve the skin’s quality and tone. Healthier, happier, more radiant skin.
Dr. Mark Lupin,
MD
FRCPC DABD Dermatology
SUITE 207-1990 FORT STREET, VICTORIA, BC, V8R 6V4 WWW.COSMEDICA.CA
Bringing them back, stream by stream
This latest application promises relief for a condition that the World Health Organization ranks among the top 20 most disabling ailments.
Since 2010, Botulinum toxin type A has also been used in the U.S. as a preventative treatment for severe and frequent migraines. The injections work to relax the muscles thought to trigger migraine headaches, providing about three months of relief before another treatment is needed. It has just been made available in Canada, but, as in the U.S., it’s only approved for those who suffer from migraines at least 15 days a month. It’s not known yet how effective the treatment is for less frequent migraine sufferers.
Botox injections reduce sweating by temporarily blocking the nerve signals that stimulate sweat glands.
Another popular, if surprising, application of Botox is in treating hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. Cosmedica Laser Centre, a Victoria dermatology clinic, offers the service along with cosmetic Botox treatments. According to Tara Carere, marketing director, the clinic sees about a hundred hyperhidrosis patients a year, many of whom have been referred by their family doctors when topical treatments, such as medical grade antiperspirants, haven’t solved the problem. The condition, which primarily affects people in their twenties and, as it happens, more women than men, can affect the underarms but also the hands, feet and scalp. Says Carere: “Most of our patients are young men, though we did have one elderly gentleman who had scalp hyperhidrosis so badly it kept shorting out his hearing aids.”
The Botox injections reduce sweating by temporarily blocking the nerve signals that stimulate sweat glands. After the treatments, which take about 10 minutes for underarms and about thirty minutes for hands, the patient can still sweat normally, but is usually relieved from excessive sweating. There’s no down time and the effects last about three months. What is more, many extended health packages will cover the drug portion of the treatment, with the patient only responsible for the injection fee.
So what can we expect from Botox in the future?
Probably a great many more medical applications as current research reaches the approval stage. And, as the drug’s pain-relieving applications become more widely understood, perhaps we’ll all begin to realize that Botox is more than skin deep.
Rocky Mountaineer President & CEO Randy Powell (far right) and his team doing their part.
Photo: Jeremy Lim
Rich Harvey, CGA Hockey Finance Manager Bauer Canada
Certified General Accountants see more than numbers. When it comes to leadership, we see the impact and opportunity behind those numbers. That’s because, in this fast changing economic climate, innovative leadership is seeing how numbers impact our business – before they do.
CGA-more.org
THE BIG PICTURE
Today’s leaders need scope and vision to survive and thrive in an ever-changing, increasingly global, management sphere. Our applied MBA draws on real-world experience of our faculty, advisors and colleagues. You’ll learn how to address complex challenges through strategy and leadership, solving domestic and global issues throughout your 18-month program.
Our MBA is designed to advance experienced professionals in the workplace. Through online classes, virtual labs, and face-to-face residencies, it’s a program like no other. And it’s designed so you can continue to work – continue your career momentum – and further your education at the same time.
Learn more about Royal Roads University’s MBA program, and our flexible admissions. Visit us, at www.royalroads.ca or contact our Enrolment Advisors – 1-877-778-6227, or learn.more@royalroads.ca.
