Move Up ~ Issue 1 by VAULTmedia

MOVEUP Life and business in northern albertaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peace region

Women in Business In the Peace

Move up. Think Local Move here. What the Peace Region Market has to offer Empowers Entrepreneurs

Power Engineering

The wizards behind the curtain

Power 28 Engineering The Future of the trade in the Peace

Table of Contents Spring/Summer 2013 | Volume 1 Your ss Busine up Check- uestions Three

Read up on your real estate—before you buy.

al Q

Essenti

Real Estate Your Business Check-up Dreaming of owning a home? There’s more to buying a house than saving for a down payment. Buying a home requires good planning and advice from a trusted team of experts.

Pond Hockey Championships Popular pond hockey tournament benefits the Peace Region in more ways than one.

Power Engineering A peak behind the curtain. What goes on in the world of power engineering? From recruiting to big developments in the Peace Region.

Women in Business in the Peace From dog training to baking, massage to product development—there’s nothing average about Peace Reigon women in business.

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Think Local Market E-commerce site energizes entrepreneurs and plugs local enterprise into the global market

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Relocation Stories

MOVE UP CASE STUDIES

What keeps you in the Peace Region? Around the world

tephen Kos, originally from Ontario, has lived in such far-flung places as Hong Kong and Ghana. In the end, he moved to the Peace Region with his wife and children in order to build a stable life.

to stay at least long enough to raise their children.

“We just wanted to move back to Canada, so we came to where the work was,” Kos said.

Kos has now returned to work himself at Kennedy Elementary School in Grimshaw and sees a bright future in the Peace Region and his new hometown of Peace River.

His wife Sherrie got a job in Peace River, precipitating the family’s move. “We’d never heard of Peace River,” Kos said. However, the couple has now decided

“We stayed because there’s a lot to do and we love the outdoors,” Kos said. “It’s just great for our kids.”

“It’s got a thriving community. It’s growing too. You see things shooting up every day. It’s a boom town really, like the days of old.

So I can only see it growing,” said Kos. The main attraction of Peace River and area, according to Kos, is the outdoors. “We’re in the woods and on water, so you’d better be in to outdoorsy stuff or you’re wasting your time,” he said. “But it is the right place for the right people. You have to have a pioneering spirit in any respect whether in lifestyle choice or creativity. That would be a definite boon here.”

From East to West

lexandra Stanbrook was drawn to the Peace Country after her boyfriend moved to the region for a government job in October 2010. “I was still in school for my Bachelor of Education in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. I visited him a few times when I could and then moved when I was finished school in August 2011,” Stanbrook said. “We got engaged June 2011 and we bought a house in Grimshaw in August 2011 from friends of ours who were leaving the area. I am teaching Grade 3 in Peace River now. We

both work in Peace River and a lot of our friends live there, but we like Grimshaw because everything we need is within walking distance: parks, drugstore, corner store, grocery store, multiplex, doctor’s office and pool.” Stanbrook and her fiancé looked at houses in Peace River but felt they could get more “bang for their buck” in Grimshaw. “When we tell people we live in Grimshaw they always ask how the drive is and we say we don’t mind,” Stanbrook said. “I have to go to Good Shepherd School every day and

door-to-door it’s usually a 20-25 minute drive. People around here think that’s long, but in any city that’s how long you would sit in traffic—that’s how long it takes to get anywhere. We both grew up in different areas of Halifax Regional Municipality so we were used to that.” “The winters are better than Nova Scotia too!” Stanbrook said. “We love the snow and the scenery and exploring this side of the country.”

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COUNTY OF

Northern Lights Rich in Natural Resources, Opportunity and Potential Access to Air, Road & Rail Transportation Routes An Array of Dynamic Recreational Choices Strong Dedicated Work Force Proximity to All Resources

A place of possibility, opportunity, a place to grow. This is the place for you!

“Through innovative decision making, proactive planning and regional cooperation the County promotes citizens’ lifestyles, freedoms and opportunities.” 6

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The County of Choice To Live, Work & Invest!

www.countyofnorthernlights.com Spring/S ummer 2013

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Letter from the Publishers Move Up, Move Here

ou can tell something big is happening in the Peace Region. There is a buzz in the air—a certain electricity that tells you something huge is about to go down. It’s been this way for a while, but, hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

of the peace as well as foreshadow some big changes on the horizon for us northern Albertans.

If success is measured by the faith and respect of those around you, then Plato’s Cave Publishing is a resounding triumph. This publication would not exist without the various counties, Municipal Districts and towns that believed enough in our abilities to pull together our first glossy magazine. We would also like to extend appreciation to the warm embrace offered to us from the local business community. As we are entirely funded by advertising dollars, it is no exaggeration to say we could not do this without you.

We are certainly a unique culture. We have different drivers and different things to offer the world than, say, our neighbours to the south— You’ll be driving down the and we aren’t afraid to share highway and you’ll see a new them. road that was never there In this issue you will find our before. New developments are feature on women in busiannounced weekly. Business ness in the Peace Region. The opportunities are abundant ladies we profiled come from and growth is a guarantee, a vast array of professional but what makes living here backgrounds from working truly special are the various with vehicles to working with lifestyles only north-western well-being; these ladies take Alberta can boast. care of the Peace Region—lit- With that said, we are proud This was our focus during the erally. Speaking of working, to present to you Move Up: conceptualizing of Move Up. our sub-feature tackles the Issue One. We’ll catch up with you again in the fall. Local and independent, Move wizardry that is power engiUp is the latest offering from neering in the Peace. Plato’s Cave Publishing, the Life is exciting around here. same people who bring you In the land of opportunity, theVAULTmagazine. Our in- there’s no telling what your Jenelle Lizotte and augural issue will attempt to future will hold. Tormaigh Van Slyke delve into the existing culture Publishers

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Spring/Summer 2013 | Volume 1 PUBLISHERS

Tormaigh Van Slyke //tormaigh@pcpublishing.ca Jenelle Lizotte //jenelle@thevaultmag.net

1/2 Page Ad

EDITOR

Chris Zwick//editor@thevaultmag.net LAYOUT DESIGN

Christine Taylor //christine@eurekamoment.ca Tormaigh Van Slyke //vanslyketormaigh1@gmail.com Jenelle Lizotte //jenelle@thevaultmag.net AD DESIGN

Aimie Williams AD SALES

Tormaigh Van Slyke //sales@pcpublishing.ca Jeremy Arnold //jeremy@pcpublishing.ca Kari Quinney //kari@pcpublishing.ca Kristi King //kristi@pcpublishing.ca PHOTOGRAPHY

Robin Elter Chris Zwick WRITERS

Chris Zwick, Lydia Zilahy, Susan Thompson, Sheryle Carlson, Leslie Bunn, Jeremy Arnold, Mat Bergeron, Tim Short Move Up magazine is published semi-annually by Platoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cave Publishing. No content herein can be reproduced without written consent of the publisher.

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Pond

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d Hockey

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Column

LESLIE BUNN

Come home

to the Peace Country Moving to a new location can be daunting, but you can help ease the anxiety if you do your homework. Here are some basic things to consider: Study the area you are moving to The Peace Region has both urban and rural housing options. The Town of Peace River is bounded by the M.D. of Peace to the west and southwest, Northern Sunrise County to the east and the County of Northern Lights to the north. It is important to know how services like snow removal, garbage removal, power, gas, water and sewer are provided for individual properties throughout the region, as these can differ dramatically from location to location. Know the new cost of living Your move may be job-related, or it may take you closer to children and grandchildren, or it may just be to make a change. These are all good reasons to relocate; however, they should not overshadow the financial pros and cons. Remember, the cost of living may be very different from one place to the next, so check in advance to see if you will be able to replicate or improve your current lifestyle. Check services and amenities Find out about medical and healthcare providers, schools, recreation facilities, churches, libraries, shopping, service organizations and cultural opportunities the new community has to offer. Be sure you are satisfied with the amenities before you move. You can do this by visiting the region and/or doing a few Google searches.

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Graph 1 source: Grande Prairie Real Estate Board, CMHC calculation Note: Price is average of all residential MLS sales, Including singles, semi, row and condo. Graph 2 source: CMHC Rental Market Survey

Average MLS Price

Vacancy Rates and Average Rents

Average price, residential

Rent

$300,000

1,200

$250,000

1,000

$200,000

800

$150,000

600

$100,000

400

$50,000

200

per cent Average Two-Bedroom Rent

Apartment Vacancy Rate (%)

18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012 YTD

Remember moving is expensive You may need to sell your current house, buy another one or find a place to rent. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volatile housing market, you could lose money on the house you have to sell or find rent much higher than you currently pay. Investigate the value of your current home and the cost of homes in the new market. There may be a cost differential or a housing availability issue that will make relocation difficult or have a negative impact on your pocket book. A good real estate agent is an invaluable information source and will be able to answer all your questions about selling, purchasing or renting. Personal preferences We all have personal lifestyle preferences that impact our daily lives. The things we like to do and how we go about doing them are impacted by things like climate, neighborhood safety and crime

2 0 Spring Fall 2008 2008

Spring Fall 2009 2009

Spring 2010

Fall 2010

Spring 2011

Fall 2011

Spring 2012

Fall 2012

rates, proximity to family and friends, commute times and transportation options and even the size of the community we live in. These realities will impact how you and your family experience life moment by moment and should be considered. Set up your own team of experts Your banker, realtor, financial advisor, accountant and lawyer can all provide invaluable advice on the housing, tax and monetary advantages or disadvantages of moving. Be sure to ask the questions pertinent to your lifestyle. Once you have all the information, moving is a leap of faith. Having moved to the Peace Country 35 years ago, I enthusiastically invite you to consider this area. It is a great place to live, work and play...just do your homework first.

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Column

TIMOTHY SHORT BRANCH MANAGER - TD CANADA TRUST

Dreaming of owning a home? There’s more to buying a house than saving for a down payment. Buying a home requires good planning and advice from a trusted team of experts.

The Homebuyer Checklist: More than just a mortgage

Home buyers should seek professional advice to ensure they’re prepared for the complexity of the process as well as the responsibility of home ownership. Mortgage specialists can help home buyers figure out their financing needs, what they may be able to afford and which mortgage options may be best for them—whether that’s a fixed rate mortgage, a variable rate product or something entirely different. Gather a team you trust Consider assembling a professional team to get you through the technicalities of buying a home. This team can include a mortgage specialist, real estate agent, home inspector and a lawyer or notary. Ask around for referrals and meet with them in advance so you are comfortable relying on their advice when you need it most. Save up for a down-payment It may seem daunting to save up for a large down payment, but if you put a little away every week using a tool like automatic debit, your savings will grow. Remember the more you save up front, the less time it will take you to pay off the mortgage and the less interest you will pay out over the life of the mortgage. And you might not need to pay for mortgage default insurance. Prepare yourself for pre-approval Knowing what the bank will require ahead of time will allow you to act quickly once you have found the perfect home. Pre-approval will tell you how much you can afford, so you can spend more time looking at places within your price range (subject to conditions). TD Canada Trust, for instance, has a mortgage application checklist on its website to let you know what kind of documentation you require to start the approval process. Choose the right option for you After you know what you may be able to afford, narrow down your search by figuring out what type of home best suits you. Determine whether you want a house or a condo; a new home or older home; in the city or a smaller community. Is more square footage worth a longer commute? And are you willing to renovate or do you want to move right in? Get a home inspection You may know a handy guy, but the best way make sure your dream home won’t turn into a nightmare is by having a qualified home inspector identify any potential problems to determine whether or not any upgrades need to be made. Don’t buy more than you need Even if you can afford a more expensive home, choosing one at a lower price point allows you to keep some breathing room in your budget. Remember, a fourth bedroom that you never use is just another room to clean and heat! For more information go to www.tdcanadatrust.com.

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Column JEREMY ARNOLD

r u o Y ness i s u B p u k c e Ch ons

sti e u Q l a enti

Ess e e r h T

Good leaders ask good questions both of their employees and of themselves. Good questions make problems obvious and successes repeatable. Good questions clarify.

#1: Do I know my “number”? Your “number” is the dollar-value of your most precious asset: your time. Every business leader is busy. But the trick is to be busy with the right things. How can you tell which tasks are the right use of your time? Easy. Calculate the value of both. First, draw up a list of all the tasks you do during an average week. Remove those that only you personally can handle because of legal or privacy considerations. Then review the remaining tasks individually. How much would you have to pay an employee to do each one? How much would it cost you to outsource? Take that cost and add 20 per cent to account for quality-control necessities and overages (30 per cent if outsourced). That is its value. Now take your total desired pre-tax income for the year and divide it by 2,000. That is what your business is going to pay you for every hour of your time. The next step is to compare the lists and calculate the difference between the two sets of values. Start with the task with the largest gap. Find a way to get it off your plate. Train someone. Hire someone. Contract someone. But get it done. Then repeat. Soon you’ll find you have more time to devote to core functions. Many things will demand your time, but only a few deserve it. Emails, calls and other minor responsibilities will come at you in an endless stream. Learn to meet them on your terms, not theirs. Other things are foundational to your business. These deserve your full and regular attention. Your daily habits should have a clear and direct impact on reaching your business’ main goals. Activities that don’t should be delegated, or dropped—permanently.

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#2: Is my business prepared?

#3: Does feedback in your business travel in lines or loops?

Storms happen, both in the elements and in the economy. They can’t always be predicted and can rarely be avoided. The only certainty is they will come eventually. Some businesses react to them, while others prepare for them. Guess who wins?

Critical feedback is a vital part of any business. And, like water, it flows best in a cycle. The Dead Sea is famous for having an inlet with no outlet. That is one of the reasons it has its name.

In a boom market, it’s easy to let the reins go slack a bit. Waste and shrinkage gradually climb upwards while real productivity gently spirals downwards. But, as long as the bottom line still shows in the black, we rest happily in the knowledge that all is well. Until it isn’t. Smokers are often shocked to see the amount of money they would have saved if they had invested all they smoked away over the years. Our brains are funny like that. No one could lose a brand new truck without noticing. But it’s easy to overlook or minimalize gradual losses. Thankfully, it is also easy to avoid them. Simple and effective measures can be put into place to ensure maximum productivity and effective cost-control. For instance, if you create benchmarks for how long certain tasks should take; use mobile tools to keep track of active inventory usage; and install a profit-sharing scheme to support a culture of cost-consciousness, the savings will always exceed the investment. The bittersweet truth is recessions are times of great opportunity for prepared businesses. They go in having cash reserves and access to capital others do not. Consider what would happen if you could double your advertising budget during a down-turn while your competitors halve theirs. What about expanding while others retreat? Hiring while others downsize? Buying while others panic to sell? Success is the prize for preparation.

Most employers mean well and so do most employees but we’re all creatures of habit, and these habits are rarely helpful. We all agree that honest and ongoing feedback is essential to sustainable success, but then we all go on our merry way and do something else. As a consequence, most employees either receive unidirectional feedback or none at all. This has obvious consequences. How can they improve without regular two-way discussion? How can your business improve? Your leadership? How can an employee’s character be adequately assessed? And how can their insights be harvested? Thankfully, the cure is simple. Institute a fixed schedule to ensure that every employee has a feedback-session with someone on a regular basis (weekly is ideal). Employees should know their job expectations and never be surprised by their evaluations. Both parties should be encouraged to listen carefully and speak openly. Areas of opportunity should be handled gently and immediately while areas of excellence should be handled generously and frequently. An engaged employee is an employee with a reason to be excellent. An informed employer is an employer with the tools to be successful. As has been well-said: “Good, the more communicated, more abundant grows.” It is the world’s only perpetual-motion machine. Learn to harness it.

Jeremy Arnold is the founder of Simple Questions, a consultancy in Northern Alberta which specializes in affordable business expertise. www.simplequestions.ca S pring/S ummer 2 013

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Relocation Stories

MOVE UP CASE STUDIES

Why did you move to the Peace Region? Juri Agapow

uri Agapow originally came to the Peace Region as an exchange student from Germany in 1989. He stayed for a year, attended Eaglesham High School and fell in love with Canadian farm life. “Really for 10 years I had, every so often, little homesick spells about going back to Canada,” Agapow said. “Finally in 1999 I decided with my family, due to economic problems in Europe, to move to Canada.” Agapow is a forestry engineer by trade and, at the time, very few jobs in the field were available in Germany. “Within Alberta it is only the Peace Country which is affordable and where I knew the people, so it was very easy to decide where to go. So I came back to the Peace Country. I drank the water, eh!” Agapow laughed. Once in Canada, he worked in the oilfield and

in agriculture, and then at the DMI pulp mill north of Peace River. For five years, he worked for the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada, and within the last year has been able to start his own consulting business, Black Forest Adventures. “I mean the nice thing is, not just the Peace Country, but in Canada in general, everybody has a multicultural background. It’s a lot easier for newcomers to come in and be adopted into the community. In old traditional European communities, if you’re from out of town you’re going to be a stranger for 25 years,” Agapow said. “There’s a lot of opportunity here, and combined with still affordable land prices, beautiful countryside, the warm-hearted people and the job opportunities for my children, it all makes this area very attractive. It’s absolutely awesome,” said Agapow.

Nicole Poirier

icole Poirier moved to Nampa from Mayerthorpe with her husband and three children when her husband was offered a job at a local welding shop. “The community in Nampa is very welcoming. I really like the people up here. When you’re up here you’re away from that city life. Everyone is so peaceful and happy,” Poirier said. “When we first moved here, we got offered a nice goodie basket and a welcome to town. Our neighbours are very welcoming.” Another reason Poirier likes the village is for the chance to focus on family. “I really enjoy [the village of ] Nampa and the school they have to offer—how personal

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it is,” she said. “I enjoy my family life and having an opportunity where my husband can be around all the time and enjoy the family too. We like all the entertainment options up here. There is always a lot going on for family events.” Poirier enjoys being active, especially running and hiking, and finds the region offers many options. “There are a lot of sports offered in the summer. It’s a great region to do hiking and climbing and walking trails,” said Poirier. Poirier also enjoys training for running events, and finds many local opportunities to participate in marathons and more. Close proximity to the ski hill in Peace

River is another plus for Poirier. Her husband Bernie also has 10 years of experience on the Mayerthorpe Fire Department and has been able to join the fire department for Northern Sunrise County, bringing an additional sense of involvement in the community as well as belonging for the couple. The couple’s involvement with the fire department has also given them more insight into the types of problems and crimes in the area, which Poirier said are not what they are used to coming from Mayerthorpe. “I feel like it’s a safer community,” Poirier said.

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BY SUSAN THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS ZWICK

POND HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS Bringing a Key Source of Winter Tourism Back to the Region S pring/S ummer 2 013

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fter a year off, the Alberta Pond Hockey Championships returned to Lac Cardinal this winter, drawing teams from around the region and province. The reigning 2011 champions from Loon River weren’t the only ones that could be considered winners as the event brought both outdoor hockey and winter tourism dollars back to the Peace Country. Thirty teams participated in the 2013 tournament over the Family Day weekend in February, but organizers hope to see that number grow to between 40 and 48 teams for next year. Tracy Halerewich, Director of Community Services and acting CAO for the Town of Grimshaw, was involved in the organization of the event in its first five years. She said the number of teams grew from 36 to 81 in the time she was with the Alberta Pond Hockey Association. The money raised through the annual tournament was given back to the community. “The Special Olympics was our main contribution, but when the arena burned down in Grimshaw, we gave $5,000 towards rebuilding [it],” she said. “We did some amazing things in the five years I was involved. I think we put our area on the map.” Asked how the pond hockey championships were able to make as much money as they did, Halerewich said teams kept coming out for the tournament partly because of the aggressive marketing undertaken. “Because of the marketing we chose to go with, we really got them to come up here,” said Halerewich. Organizers advertised the tournament across the province, and

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were eventually able to attract teams from across western Canada and many of those teams returned to the tournament year after year. The tournament also received national media attention from TSN, Hockey Night in Canada, and other sports outlets. In 2010, the association even received the Alto Award from Travel Alberta for marketing excellence over $5,000. Despite these successes, the championships still faced challenges. It was mostly volunteer burnout that led to a hiatus in 2012 and the formation of a whole new Alberta Pond Hockey Association executive for the 2013 event. The NHL lockout also meant the association wasn’t able to turn to some of its traditional sources of support as soon as they would have liked. Dave Allan, the new association president, said after being off the scene for a year, the new executive has been in the mindset of starting over again. “Even with the original event that started back in 2007, they started small and worked their way up,” he said. “For the first event, they had one tent on site. They didn’t have the 8,000 square feet we have now. They also had fewer rinks. It’s come a long way. They certainly weren’t afraid to go really big on the national scene. They would bring in NHL celebrities, and that’s something we’ll probably strive to get back to, but for this year we wanted to make sure we worked within our means,” said Allan. Allan volunteered for the pond hockey championships in the past, but said the new executive has had to learn as they go and didn’t want to take on too much in their first year back. However, the championships are still seeking new ways to reach out to teams and fans.

Economically, people come to the community, and not just Grimshaw but to Peace River, and stay. PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS ZWICK

“We’ve opened it up to minor hockey,” Allan said. “I think that’s important because it will bring the kids out, and that in turn will bring the parents and grandparents out. It’s just a different element, a different track they didn’t go to in the past.”

of increased sales during the event itself. Getting local names in front of teams and fans from as far away as Edmonton, Whitecourt, and Fort Smith presents a chance to expand brand consciousness and gain new clients both in and outside of the Peace Region.

This year’s championships also gave local kids a chance to play on the lake in a mini-tournament of their own. Hockey Alberta’s “Every Kid, Every Community” project, gave kids under the age of 18 an opportunity to try playing hockey for free.

“Based on the numbers, even if we hit around 40 teams, that’s a couple hundred people just in players, and of course you’ve got everybody that comes to watch, so we’re potentially looking at maybe close to 1,000 people that might be in and around the event itself,” Allan said.

“If we can get the kids involved, we can build on that for next year,” Allan said. Much of the association’s $225,000 budget is raised from corporate sponsors, with sponsorship levels starting at $10,000 and going down from there. Allan has worked hard to get a mix of businesses from retail to oilfield engaged in the championships. Businesses have also been asked to participate by sponsoring the printed program, which also gets them an ad for their business. Donating silent auction items or even just asking their employees to volunteer also allows businesses to get involved in this unique marketing opportunity. The Valentine’s Gala and Dance on Feb. 16 featured Doug and the Slugs and was another opportunity for local companies to get involved, with a total of 350 tickets sold for that event. “Businesses are certainly willing to help out. Most feel pond hockey is a good event,” Allan said.

“Economically, people come to the community, and not just Grimshaw but to Peace River, and stay,” said Halerewich. In the past, this has boosted business for all kinds of companies in the area. “As for exact dollars I can’t really say, but from hospitality, hotels, liquor stores, grocery stores, even hardware stores with regards to sports supplies, and of course convenience stores, everyone who has played a part has felt the effects of it,” Halerewich said. “It’s very important not only to our community but to our whole region.” The new executive has vowed to bring the Alberta Pond Hockey Championships back in 2014, on the Family Day weekend, meaning the event will continue to have a positive economic impact on the area in years to come.

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Power Engineering BY LYDIA ZILAHY

The wizards behind the curtain

ver wonder how a margarine container came to be? Probably not; yet every milk jug, plastic bag or any petroleum product began its lifespan somewhere out there beyond your kitchen windows at the hands of a power engineer.

When Dorothy drew back the curtain, all the levers, machines and gadgets of the Wizard of Oz were exposed. Similarly, a power engineer works behind the scenes, operating, supervising and maintaining industrial machinery. They are the hands-on life of

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oilfield operations, tapping into the raw earth to draw power from it. This is the brand of magic these wizards possess. The study Contribution of the NADC Region to Alberta and Canadian Economies (Northern Alberta Development Council, 2012) is an in-depth portrait of the growth and needs of the northern economy. According to the study, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the pattern of investment seen in the NADC region over recent years is strong evidence to suggest that the region will continue to be highly focused on oil and gas extraction for many years to come.â&#x20AC;? With the continued

to educate the next generation of power engineers, making this career choice more accessible than ever. In partnership with industry, there has been a significant expansion in the scope of learning and in the creation of new opportunities for students to gain the critical skills they need for employment and career fulfilment. Grande Prairie Regional College’s Fairview campus, for one, delivers a flexible two-year power engineering program. In addition to offering both Fourth and Third Class qualifications, students may also enrol in a process operations course. In September 2012, Shell Canada contributed an in-kind donation of $500,000 in equipment to the Fairview campus. The donation has made a learning lab a reality that will benefit the school’s power engineering, steamfitter/pipefitter, instrumentation and welding programs. Enthusiastic about the project, Adrienne Lamb, Communications Specialist for Shell, discussed the company’s support for the learning lab. “The learning lab had excellent timing. A pilot-project ended and the equipment still had a long lifespan left. Shell was very pleased to donate it in addition to covering the expenses associated with relocating it to the Fairview campus,” said Lamb. According to Lamb, Shell is interested in investing in programs that train skilled workers in addition to giving back to the communities in the region. Shell made the commitment to help get the learning lab off the ground because “this was a social investment. It is very important for us to be able to give back to the communities. Through Shell’s Social Investment Program, we routinely invest in the things that are important to the communities and align with our focus. Part of this is giving to educational programs like power engineering.”

“So many young people travel elsewhere to get their tickets; many times they don’t return to the communities. Sons and daughters will be able to stay in the area, the steam lab will be great for families. ” – BOB BLACHFORD - OPERATIONS MANAGER

demand on the oil and gas sector, the region will need many more power engineers to fill and maintain positions. Power engineers have a unique lexicon to describe their learning achievements using a class system. Novice students enroll in Fifth or Fourth Class. The top level certification is First Class. An average starting salary of $60,000 and a trade that provides future job security are some of the most attractive benefits of the profession. To address the need, the Peace Region has strong programs in place

For Brent Boutilier, a power engineering instructor at the Fairview campus, the learning lab augments the program and students’ prospects. Earning certification opens many doors, not all of which have to begin and end exclusively in the oil field. Boutilier’s had a 25-year career as a power engineer before he became an instructor.

“Power engineering is a field where you have the possibility of exploring many areas. For instance, once a person is done operating, they can move into management, consider becoming an instructor or even a provincial boiler/vessel inspector,” said Boutilier. For those who find their heart’s content in the oil and gas industry, the prospect of career mobility in the field is quite attractive. Boutilier explained “an operator can move up the ladder to become a shift engineer who typically oversees up to 10 employees. The next step up would be an Assistant Chief Power Engineer in charge S pring/S ummer 2 013

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of supervising a portion of an operation. At the top is the Chief Engineer who is in charge of a whole plant.” As a recognized trade, students can enter power engineering straight out of high school. Boutilier teaches a combination of students, of which 10-15 per cent are coming directly from secondary institutions. Others, both men and women, come with work experience—some from the field and some from other sectors. Of the 48 students currently enrolled in Fairview, four are female.

but it addresses a critical need. Rick Neidig, President and CEO of Northern Lakes College, puts the costs into perspective. “Think of what this means for students in the region. They can get a solid start right here. For high school participation, the steam lab is one of the greatest advantages. All students get to experience what a lab looks and feels like,” he said. Earning steam time is often where students face the greatest hurdle;

For those with a thirst for learning and aspirations of becoming a power engineer, there are programs out there to fit the demands of the contemporary student without compromising quality of life. This ratio has been more or less consistent over the last few years, according to Boutilier. “Enrollment is about the same,” he said, adding “the information just isn’t out there, but we are trying to change that.” Whether pupils are male or female, Boutilier finds what makes a great power engineer is the right attitude. After years of teaching, he has found “most students want to get a trade and get ahead. They have heard there is money to be made in power engineering, but the majority end up staying because of their passion for the field.” For those with a thirst for learning and aspirations of becoming a power engineer, there are programs out there to fit the demands of the contemporary student without compromising quality of life. In addition to the program offered at GPRC-Fairview, Northern Lakes College in Peace River also offers a power engineering program. Northern Lakes College offers Fourth and Third Class certification where, through a partnership with Careers the Next Generation, students can earn certification credits while still in high school. In 2012, the organization placed 45 student interns in the workplace. Careers the Next Generation is a public and private partnership between schools, communities and employers and Northern Lakes College is currently partnered in the Fourth Class Power Engineering Program with Careers the Next Generation. According to Careers the Next Generation President and CEO Andy Neigel, the benefits are manifold. “First of all, this builds school relevance for many young adults. Rather than watch students become disengaged, Careers the Next Generation builds career awareness in high school. They get to try something that gives them options. We give them a place to acquire the steam time they need in the industry. We are trying to change the attitude toward the trades—it’s about passion,” he said. Students considering power engineering as a career should also be aware of an upcoming game-changing resource in the field: The Shell Canada Power Engineering and Technology Centre. In February, Northern Lakes College received $500,000 from Shell Canada toward a $2 million steam lab. The price tag is considerable,

without it, finding employment can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. While some employers have the resources to employ a student and provide them with the steam time they require, the reality is most do not have the mentorship capacity to take on students. In the absence of a local steam lab, students have been travelling to Calgary or Edmonton and leaving their families for weeks at a time. This arrangement offers little gain, neither for students nor regional employers who often lose qualified personnel to the urban centres. Bob Blachford, Operations Manager for Shell Canada’s Peace Region Operations, outlined the substantial weight the project will have. “The steam lab will have a huge impact to the ready supply of men and women looking for oil and gas careers. For us, it is nice to be able to hire locally and give back to the region. I feel great about this donation. So many young people travel elsewhere to get their tickets; many times they don’t return to their communities. Sons and daughters will be able to stay in the area; the steam lab will be great for families,” said Blachford. Geoff Milligan, a councillor for The Town of Peace River, echoed this sentiment. Members of his direct family have become power engineers, and due to the localization of power engineering programs, Milligan has been able to watch his grandchildren grow up next door rather than in a far off community. His life experience has made him an advocate for the new steam lab, believing it “will mean a tremendous difference to the quality of life in the region.” Quality of life is paramount for Patrick Evans and Terry Friesen, both Fourth Class students at Northern Lakes. Evans already had a background in forestry when he became a power engineering student. He and his partner have a young family with a two-year-old son. Evan’s interest was piqued by the oil and gas industry when Northern Lakes College became his institution of choice. “It was important for me to stay in the area,” he said. “I am originally from the East Coast and have been here for 20 years. I’ve put down my roots. My partner is a nurse with a great job; we can both S pring/S ummer 2 013

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An attainable goal with notable career prospects. have careers here.” Evans is similar to many modern professionals entering into their second, third or even fourth career transition. His ambitions are to continue his education and earn his Third Class certification. The affordability of the program is a consideration for many people with families to provide for. Evans said he found that the Northern Lakes College program was “relatively affordable. Other schools charge upwards of $7,000 to $8,000 in tuition. Here, my fees even included my books. On top of that, it is an online learning space, and you still have access by email if ever you have a problem and guidance is available.” Terry Friesen had the advantage of coming from an oil and gas background and knew what he wanted when he enrolled in power engineering. He has found the program flexible and rewarding. Friesen is much like Evans as he too has a young family. The online lectures are a good fit for his lifestyle. “I like that I can rewind the lectures. With a wife and a two-month-old baby, it is nice to be able to do as much as you can when you can,” he said. The anticipated opening of the Shell Canada Power Engineering and Technology Centre has put both Evans and Friesen in high spirits. “It will definitely make my wife very happy,” Friesen said with a laugh. It will make many families very happy since it will mean the five to six-week steam labs only offered in Edmonton or Calgary will be a hindrance of the past. The availability of local steam time will also even the playing field for another, non-traditional student group: women with the drive to become power engineers. With the elimination of mandatory time away from their families, enrollment may be more feasible for women. Cherie Friesen, Resource and Training Coordinator for Northern Lakes College, noted that while there are currently 191 male students enrolled, there are also 25 female students. While the ratio accounts for only 12 per cent, the outlook is optimistic. Friesen observed “the trades are traditionally male-dominated, but things are starting to shake up a bit. Enrollment varies on the year and varies based on industry. As a whole, we are seeing more total female enrollment, and I think we will see the numbers go up.” Shell’s Bob Blachford tried to put his finger on some of the issues that can act as deterrents for women in the industry. He noted, “For some of the women pursuing or evaluating power engineering, there are challenges. For instance, power engineers work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For a woman with children or a single parent, this can be difficult.” Difficult, perhaps. But insurmountable? No. With an increase in regional training resources and flexible programs, becoming a power engineer is an attainable goal with notable career prospects. For aspiring students who desire nothing more than to get their hands on the machinery behind the curtain and weave some magic of their own, the Peace Region is rapidly becoming the best place to earn your power engineering certification. After all, there is no place like home.

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Women

in Business in the Peace BY CHRIS ZWICK & LYDIA ZILAHY PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN ELTER PHOTOSHOOT DIRECTION BY SASHA SADOWSKI MAKEUP BY SASHA SADOWSKI HAIR BY AMANDA LARSON HAIR AND MAKEUP COURTESY OF ZEN SPA,2 013 PEACE RIVER S pring/S ummer M OV E UP

Despite the heavy workload that comes along with the family business, both Boisvert women manage to stay quite busy outside of work as well.

All in the Family

Boisvert Service Garage • Lorraine & Tina

or Girouxville’s Ray and Lorraine Boisvert, 1981 was a pivotal year. It was the year they welcomed their first child, Tina, into the world. It was also the year they decided to open their own business, Boisvert Service Garage, which laid the foundation for their future in the Peace Country.

In their childhood, Tina and her brother worked at the garage during summers doing odd jobs and picking up parts in other towns when they were old enough to drive. After earning a degree and travelling the world, Tina returned to her hometown and to the garage she’s always known. She’s now a journeyman mechanic.

At the time, Ray had already been working as a mechanic for a number of years but decided it was time for a change. “He wanted to be his own boss,” said Lorraine.

“At that time it was kind of chaotic here. I knew I couldn’t just leave them because I love my family, so I helped them out. Going off and doing something else wouldn’t have felt right,” said Tina. “And I wouldn’t still be doing it if I didn’t like it, and when I need to use my science degree I’ll just pull it off the shelf.”

The Boisverts moved into an old building on Main Street in Girouxville that had previously been a garage, a dealership, a fuel station and a bee shed dating back to 1945. They haven’t looked back. Ray handled the mechanical aspect of the business while Lorraine took care of the accounting and picked up parts and other necessities outside of town—something she still does today. “Instead of working for a different business, I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me to work at home when my kids were little. When they were in school I could run for parts and be home after school before the bus got there,” said Lorraine. Over the years, Boisvert Service Garage has faced the same trials and tribulations that affect many businesses over a long period of time, but the combination of quality service and great location has earned the small-town garage a reputation in the region. As the local school and elevator closed along with various other businesses, being along a major highway in a large agricultural area that serves the oilfield, the work just kept coming despite various economic downturns. “We kept busy. There’s always something breaking down and during a recession you’re not going to have the money to go buy a new vehicle. You’ll repair it because it’s cheaper,” said Lorraine. 40

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Despite the heavy workload that comes along with the family business, both Boisvert women manage to stay quite busy outside of work as well. Lorraine is secretary for the Girouxville Chamber of Commerce and Tina is a town councillor who sits on both tourism and Hart River Housing committees. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated profession, Tina does run into negative comments from time to time, but she is proving herself on a daily basis and has already gained a loyal client base. “It’s okay now because I’ve trained everybody. When I started, there were people who would come every day saying ‘Why are you doing this? You shouldn’t be doing this! It’s not for a girl!’ That was probably the most depressing and tiresome thing,” said Tina. As far as the future of Boisvert Service Garage goes, a new shop down the street is currently being constructed and the elder Boisverts don’t have immediate plans to leave the business. “We’re not thinking of retiring anytime soon,” said Lorraine. “We’re still young enough that we’re still going to keep going. There are too many things to do.”

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What sets King apart from many dog trainers is her willingness to rehabilitate dogs with the most severe problems.

Beyond Obedience Kristmatic Training Academy • Kristi King

t’s relatively easy to teach most dogs to fetch, sit, or roll over, but taking the bite out of a vicious or anxious dog is a job requiring a little more finesse and expertise. That is where Fairview’s Kristi King comes in.

King is the owner of Kristmatic Training Academy, based north of Fairview, and has been training dogs of all breeds to live happier, more fulfilling lives with their families since 2007. What sets King apart from many dog trainers though is her willingness to work with and rehabilitate dogs with the most severe problems. “Most of my clients, especially in the Fairview area, come to me because they have dogs that have aggression issues or severe anxiety,” she said. King says she always had an interest and affection for animals but she never considered training them until the security company she was working for in Ontario was preparing to euthanize one of the dogs it was working with. King took it upon herself to adopt the dog and train it herself. She volunteered at a kennel in exchange for her own training and before moving to the Peace Country worked as a trainer throughout the country for more than 10 years. King always starts with a free consultation to see the dog and the owner in their own environment to take note of any significant interactions or particular problems. According to her, most aggression issues fall into one of three categories: food aggression, people aggression and generally fearful dogs. “Fearful dogs are more dangerous than aggressive dogs because an aggressive dog will usually give you a warning before they bite—a growl or a bark; whereas, a fearful dog could be totally normal and

you’ll think they’re fine and then something happens and they just turn and bite without any warning.” King has gained a great reputation in the Peace Country and would like to start putting on clinics with the help of a knowledgeable apprentice. In the meantime though, she’s exploring other training opportunities in search and rescue. “When I first moved up here from Toronto I thought it would be really easy to get lost so I started looking into the search and rescue stuff...and now I’m training with the Search and Rescue Dog Association of Alberta (SARDAA) and they’re amazing,” said King, adding she expects to be fully certified by this summer. SARDAA is a non-profit organization that handles emergency calls from first responders throughout the province. Using highly trained canines, they search for people who may be lost or trapped due to an emergency or disaster. Of King’s many dogs, two have already passed their associate level training in search and rescue. Duke, a border collie cross, and Foster, a lab cross, are as lovable as any other dogs you might find, but when it’s time to go to work, their training immediately kicks in. “I think it’s kind of a big deal they’re both rescue dogs too and they’re not purebred,” she said, pointing out she found both at the SPCA, and they are now training to save people’s lives. “I could have picked a dog that was built for search and rescue, but when I saw Duke, I clicked with him and I knew he was just going to be a little star. He’s my search and rescue rock star. He would move mountains for me if I asked him to.”

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Java Domain is all about the real thing, and the spirit of the community resonates within its walls.

Love is the Sweetest Thing Java Domain • Jessie Krushel

ava Domain is beautifully lit in spring, summer, fall and winter. The floor-to-ceiling windows in front create a mirror effect and the café becomes a reflection of the display case where Jessie Krushel’s baking artistry is featured.

As an artist, Krushel’s gallery differs from most—creations meant to be enjoyed right up until the very last crumb. Heart-shaped cookies dotted with red jam centres line up beautifully in a row and the glittery sprinkles dusted atop the red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting catch the light from the windows. The presentation and distinctive combinations are personally inspired. Krushel’s muses are intimate; they come from her travels and her passion. Taking a bite into one of her creations is sheer delight. The bold smell of rich, freshly-ground coffee infused with the aroma of Krushel’s cooking and baking make even waiting in line at Java Domain in downtown Peace River a sensory experience.

“I see the importance of supporting local businesses—ours is local and independent too, and we appreciate local support. We know more about these products than the ones that come from most suppliers. It sets the benchmark for quality. I like to use real things in my work like sugar and butter,” said Krushel. Java Domain is all about the real thing, and the spirit of the community resonates within its walls. The café serves as a community space that everyone can enjoy. With walls adorned with regional art, Java hosts the diverse needs of the community—from business meetings to musical gatherings. Good food and good coffee have brought all of these elements into harmony with one another. Krushel recognizes her space has been transformed into something very special and gratifying. “I like the thought that you can see everyone here—the very pillars of our community,” she said. Since opening, Krushel has invested long hours into the business. Yet hers is a labour of love that brings her great joy.

“I really love food! When I was in France, I noticed how many beautiful bakeries they have and it was so inspiring. We don’t have that here to the same extent. With baking, I can be artistic. I love to delight people with food,” she said.

“I work all day, but I do it because I like the feeling of accomplishment I get from working with great food and a wonderful staff—it’s the complete package. I love the feeling of getting things done,” said Krushel.

Krushel has cultivated a loyal local following since purchasing the business with her partner Daniel Ducharme in 2012. Java is known for quality products, as Krushel and Ducharme support local producers. For Krushel, who is familiar with the region and the people, investing in others has a ripple effect. By committing to quality, she helps to raise the quality of life for regional producers who in turn contribute to her success.

The rows of organic chocolate hearts in multicolour wrappers, from local company Love Sprouts, act like a trail of breadcrumbs leading customers towards the beating heart of the establishment: Krushel. For her, love really is the sweetest thing.

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Naemi says the family’s commitment to the town is something that will likely never tarnish.

Sandy’s Jewellery & Gifts

Sandy’s Jewellery & Gifts • Naemi MacLeod

t only took a half-hour for Sandy and Naemi MacLeod to make the decision to get into the jewellery business in 1972, but it wasn’t the business itself that made it so easy, it was the thought of leaving their home in Fairview.

railway in 1928, but that did not dissuade the MacLeods. A whole new building, more than doubling the size of the original, was constructed on the site in 1980 and Sandy’s Jewellery has been prospering there ever since.

“This was my hometown and it became Sandy’s hometown,” Naemi said of her now deceased husband. “Sandy was originally from Nova Scotia and he loved the atmosphere of having family around, my family. He just loved this little town.”

Always an active member of the community like her husband, Naemi, now partnered with son Gord, says the family’s commitment to the town is something that will likely never tarnish. Sandy was a firefighter for 25 years, a member of the Kinsmen Club, Boy Scout leader and hockey coach, to name a few of his volunteer endeavours, so when he was approached about sponsoring a local golf tournament, he went all in.

At the time, Sandy was a banker. After moving around Nova Scotia and Alberta throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s, he finally found a place to stay in Fairview. Naemi worked as an X-ray technician, travelling the highway to the Berwyn Hospital every morning. With two children in their young family, the MacLeods did not take the prospect of moving lightly, but when the bank came calling Sandy complied. “He had turned down transfer after transfer and finally they told him he had to move or get out of the business, so they moved us to Didsbury [a town nearly 800 km south of Fairview],” said Naemi. “The kids were unhappy.” Sandy decided it was finally time to get out of banking. After a short stint in the restaurant business, he purchased the small jewellery store on Fairview’s Main Street.

“Sandy said, ‘Well if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it right. I’m putting up a diamond ring,’ ” Naemi recalled. Sandy’s Ladies Open Golf Tournament was born and has been a highly popular event, attracting female golfers from across the province for a decade-and-a-half. The tournament celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2012 with the largest diamond ring ever given away. It was something Sandy had decided on shortly before he passed away in August 2011, Naemi said. The usual prize is a half-carat diamond ring in a 14-carat setting but last year’s event offered a full-carat diamond as top prize. “It was just spectacular,” Naemi said. “That’s Sandy’s legacy, and as long as we’re here, we’ll keep on doing it.”

The building was actually older than the town itself, as it had made the historic move from Waterhole, six kilometres down the road, when the whole town uprooted itself to a location closer to the

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Delighted clients spread the word far and wide about their authentic, timehonoured workmanship.

The Thread that Winds Them All The St. Isidore Weavers • Marie Lavoie

n classical mythology, Arachne was the greatest weaver among mortals. As legend has it, her skills challenged even those of the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena. In jealously, Athena turned Arachne into a spider. It follows that the root of the word weaver, or tisserandes in French, is web, pertaining to the spider. While they have no proven ancestral roots to trace them back to Arachne, Les Tisserandes de St-Isidore in Northern Sunrise County have skill levels that would stir Athena to envy. Les Tisserandes began as a group of women united by their passion for weaving. Since 1973, they have been practicing and sharing their artisanal skills within their community and across the Peace Region. They have been creating their own living legend. Each movement of the shuttle connects them to a part of their cultural heritage. For Marie Lavoie, originally from Beaumont, AB, weaving is an integral part of her French heritage. It is a touchstone, as she described, “for the women, weaving has always been a part of their lives. They have chosen to continue this cultural expression.” Of the core group of weavers—five to six women—two to three of them observe a daily ritual of meeting to work at their craft. Les Tisserandes have woven a web around the community; seated at their looms they draw the curious to them. Their sanctuary, the St. Isidore Cultural Centre, is a space transformed, as Lavoie described it, into “a meeting place. There is a social aspect to our work. We take a break and members of the community are welcome to stop

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in and have a coffee with us.” Their craftsmanship is renowned regionally. Delighted clients spread the word far and wide about their authentic, time-honoured workmanship. Their success is reflective of the push against massproduced objects by those nostalgic for the past and for personal, handcrafted goods. “There is demand by clientele for hand-made objects made out of linen and cotton. We make practical products such as tablecloths and baby blankets. People from the region, as well as tourists, like to offer them as gifts. Many people hear of us by being the recipient of such a gift and spread the news by word-of-mouth,” said Lavoie. There is a great thirst for French culture in Alberta. As Lavoie noted, the French libraries have a lending system in demand, as books are requested by those learning French as well as native speakers. Weaving is an extension of this growing curiosity and desire to tap into this fountain of knowledge and culture. Through Les Tisserandes, the culture continues to flourish. “It is not only alive and well in St. Isidore, but accessible,” said Lavoie. Les Tisserandes weave the threads that wind them all together— community, tourism and those aching to reach out and connect to a rich past which rivals that of legends.

Jeanne Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;arc Mailloux (top left), Marie Lavoie (top right), Paulette Monfette (bottom left), Gertrude Bergeron (bottom right) Not pictured: Therese Allard, Angeline Fortin, Lucie Tailleure S pring/S ummer 2 013

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The clothes are beautiful and multi-generational. I have dressed mothers, daughters and granddaughters—including my own.

The Enchanted Wardrobe Almyra’s • Betty Paul

transformations—Paul’s office bulletin board is full of testimonials. There are pictures of women dancing with their newly-wed children, proud grandmothers at their grandchildren’s graduations, sisters, daughter, aunts and friends. Their experiences all have a lasting meaning to Paul.

The women who walk through the doors of Almyra’s go through a metamorphosis, emerging with renewed confidence and style. The secret to Paul’s enchanted wardrobe is personalized service. Customers shed misconceptions with their first steps; they learn to forget everything they think they know about beauty.

Unlike many contemporary businesses, Paul does not share these stories on social media. For her, it is a step away from being personal.

oco Chanel once said, “in order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” Betty Paul is in the business of being irreplaceable and women in the pursuit of being different know they can find what they’re looking for at her Grimshaw boutique, Almyra’s Fashions for Ladies.

Helping Paul along the way is long-time co-worker Kelly Fredine, whose talents help women look and feel good in their new clothing. “She is a maverick at working with a woman’s natural gifts in combination with different colour schemes to pull off some truly remarkable outfits,” said Paul. And if clients don’t love their clothes, Almyra’s wants to hear about it.

“I am so happy when someone comes in and thanks me for dressing them,” she said.

“What’s so wrong about being personal? I believe in community and the service you get when you deal with a real person. I love people and my business is here to help them,” said Paul. Paul has faced challenges as a business owner including the extinction of great brands. Never a quitter, she kept up with the pace, stocking unique brands such as Orb, Neon Buddha and Joseph Ribkoff, the Montreal-based wardrober for Miss America. Paul stands by her choices and is proud of her selection.

“I want to know how my clients feel. I listen, and I ask why they don’t like a garment. My main objective is to make my clients happy and feel great about the skin they are in,” said Paul.

“The clothes are beautiful and multi-generational. I have dressed mothers, daughters and granddaughters—including my own,” said Paul.

Paul isn’t shy about putting her name on the line either—right beside her long-standing reputation in the region: the boutique was named after her grandmother.

Once you leave Almyra’s, there’s no telling what you’ll do next. Whether it’s dance at your son’s wedding, ace the interview for your dream job, run for office or travel the world, you emerge transformed from Paul’s enchanted wardrobe. You are different, irreplaceable and ready to take on the world.

Almyra’s staff takes an intimate approach to fashion; they act like matchmakers, helping women find the perfect match for their bodies and their style. It’s a transformative effect. Those who doubt a dress can possess such powers clearly haven’t been to Almyra’s. Women have been so touched by the service and amazed at their

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I was actually in a health store trying to find some essential oils, and the lady asked why I was buying all this stuff. I told her I make my own products and she was the one who told me I should sell them, so I said ‘Yeah, okay’ and I made a business out of it.”

Honey, It Pays to be Healthy Bee Healthy • Lucie Sauvageau

fter more than two decades raising four children as a devoted stay-at-home-mom, Lucie Sauvageau decided it was time to pursue other avenues of fulfillment. When she founded Bee Healthy in Falher, she had never worked outside the home, but it doesn’t show. Today, Sauvageau is devoted not only to her family, which now includes five grandchildren, but to the concept of health, helping people understand it and providing products and services to encourage it. “It was something I’ve always been interested in and I had taken courses; it was always part of my life. I was at a stage in my life where my kids were grown up, and I thought it was time for me now,” she said. “About seven years ago I was actually in a health store trying to find some essential oils, and the lady asked why I was buying all this stuff. I told her I make my own products and she was the one who told me I should sell them, so I said ‘Yeah, okay’ and I made a business out of it.” Sauvageau is actually the owner of two Falher-based businesses: the store, Bee Healthy, as well as Maja’s Natural Body Care, where she produces various chemical-free soaps, lotions and other natural body care products. Maja’s is sold not only in Bee Healthy but in other health stores and gift shops. Bee Healthy also carries a lot of other health products including herbal supplements and vitamins, essential oils, homeopathic remedies, childcare products and other items.

services. Sauvageau is a nutritional therapist and offers space to holistic therapists for reconnective healing, Bowen therapy, biofeedback and colon hydrotherapy. So far, Falher has been a great place to do business, according to Sauvageau. “I’ve had a lot of really great support and feedback from people in the community and beyond. It’s so encouraging because when you start you don’t know how you’re going to do it. When you own a small business you have to work three times harder. My competition is Grande Prairie; it’s not other little health stores in the region. I support the little stores,” she said, adding she’ll often refer customers to other stores like hers if she is unable to help them. The city shopping rush is something she is very familiar with, as it’s no secret many people in the region tend to do their shopping in the city due to the perceived convenience of finding everything in one place. Sauvageau tries to counteract this practice by providing great products and unforgettable service, and so far it’s working for her. “I’m actually grateful for that competition. Sometimes I think I should send them a thank-you card because it makes me work harder to give really good service and make customers happier. I’m always thinking ‘How can I make this better for them?’ It keeps me on my toes,” said Sauvageau.

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The world is full of stress and negativity, through the spa we bring positivity. People leave feeling better emotionally and spiritually so they can take a little piece of Zen with them.

Where Earth Meets Sky Zen Spa • Wendy Wagner

en Spa is best described not simply as a space but an experience.

The Asian-inspired decor was hand-picked by owner Wendy Wagner—pieces from a Buddhist temple, others from the two years she spent in Korea, and her own eclectic art work adorn the space and elevate the Zen Spa experience. The interior mirrors her belief that “creating a beautiful space is a way to share with others what I find beautiful and meaningful, on top of offering services. It feels good to create a vision,” said Wagner.

For even the most skeptical, BodyTalk has a solid base in a variety of disciplines including quantum physics and Chinese medicine. BodyTalk is a synthesis of these various practices. Wagner’s studies have advanced her to the highest level. However, she is respectful of peoples’ choices. “If someone is open to energy medicine, they usually inquire. If people are not open to it, I am not there to convince them otherwise; that is not my job,” said Wagner.

Wagner opened Zen Spa in Peace River five years ago. Clients are treated like honoured guests, welcomed into the poetic Earth and Sky rooms for a variety of treatments. Wagner works in the spa and manages it as well. Her experience is extensive and her connection to her work is what motivates her.

Wagner’s approach to even the practical responsibilities such as staffing of her spa has been almost organic. Employees that are the right fit have found her. She recognizes the right people have been instrumental in making clients of all ages feel welcome and comfortable.

“I love what I do,” said Wagner. “I have been doing massage therapy for 10 years and BodyTalk and spa treatments. I absolutely love working with my clients, that one-on-one work is meaningful to me.”

As the business grows and evolves, it does so under Wagner’s main principles. Ultimately, Wagner aspires to “be able to have a genuine connection and have clients feel better when they leave. The world is full of stress and negativity, through the spa we bring positivity. People leave feeling better emotionally and spiritually so they can take a little piece of Zen with them.”

Clients are treated to full-service pampering that includes traditional beauty essentials such as hairdressing, makeup application, massage, hydro therapy as well a unique service in BodyTalk. BodyTalk, as Wagner describes it, “aims to find imbalances through muscle biofeedback.” With BodyTalk, there is no invasive, clinical equipment. The treatment is complementary and can be used in tandem with others. 58

“I am not trying to sell anything else. I am trying to get the body to heal. It is very holistic,” Wagner explained.

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Clients come to where the earth and sky meet, and leave a little lighter with a personalized piece of Zen to carry forth into their lives.

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You need to love what you do, or it isn’t worth it. If you don’t believe in the ethics of what you do, you won’t live a happy life.

The not so Secret Garden The Hedgerow • Rachel Watson he square shape and the weight in your hand are all too familiar but the experience is otherworldly. Lifting a bar of soap from The Hedgerow in your hands is like turning the key on an ivy covered door that swings open into a lush, sunlit garden.

the packaging to the wording on the labels, there is something very personal about Hedgerow products. Watson’s ethics and love for what she does translates well into these elements. For instance, you will find lines such as “hugged by recyclable card and tape.”

While a client may feel as if they’ve wandered into a secret garden serendipitously, The Hedgerow collection is made conscientiously by owner Rachel Watson. The sense of discovering something a little too-special-to-be-ordinary and the spirit of wonder is deeply ingrained in her product line.

It is equally important for Watson that everything is recyclable. She is so committed to keeping The Hedgerow true to its founding vision, she has stopped making her coveted lotion until she can find a fully recyclable dispenser—she stopped making it after discovering the metal ball and spring in the pump were not renewable.

Located in Hotchkiss, north of Manning, in the County of Northern Lights, Watson says her process is just as unique as her products. She did not, however, start her business with soap.

Watson is a wonder in her own right; the rosebush at the centre of the garden. Unlike many business owners who dream of seeing their products in every store in every nook and cranny of the country, Watson explained what her business means to her.

“I started with therapy pillows for which I sourced the organic flax seed locally. Many of my creations just come about; I don’t sit down and plan them. An ingredient will stand out to me and I go from there,” said Watson. For instance, cocktail glasses frosted with flavoured sugars around the rims caught Watson’s eye one evening. According to her, “there are so many companies flavouring sugar and even teas with artificial ingredients—I thought ‘Hey, I could do that better!’ ” And she did; she created flavoured coconut sugars. Watson will next venture to make iced tea and apple cider mixes.

“I believe we are all one in a sense: everything we use is connected. I research my sources to ensure that a fair wage is paid,” said Watson.

“You need to love what you do, or it isn’t worth it. If you don’t believe in the ethics of what you do, you won’t live a happy life. Sharing my knowledge of herbs and plants and making a difference in peoples’ lives is what motivates me. I don’t want to be a millionaire; if I can help people, love what I do and pay my bills at the end of the day I am happy,” said Watson.

The products are all a blend of inspiration and Watson’s ability to turn an idea into a tangible creation. From the designs that decorate S pring/S ummer 2 013

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Localization is no fad—it’s an important and noteworthy trend. In the age of globalization, maintaining a balance between healthy local economies and diverse global economies has become a strategy of survival. Governing bodies and community initiatives alike are recommending regional development strategies for both big cities and small towns. Growth doesn’t always trickle down, so it’s no surprise our most vibrant local economies are being built from the bottom up. Think Local Market (TLM) is an initiative that suitably adheres to this principle. Originating through the County of Northern Lights, Think Local Market is an economic development platform including an e-commerce website that connects local merchants to local, regional, and worldwide customers. The non-profit project began in 2010 as a regional collaboration between regional municipalities. Eleanor Miclette, Manager of Economic Development and Community Services with the County of Northern Lights, said they spoke with local business owners in the area and a common tread emerged: “How to reach larger markets while operating from rural roads with no rural address.” “From there the idea of TLM was birthed so businesses could be found and they could sell to a broader market,” said Miclette. Here’s how it works. A municipality signs onto the project and pays a membership rate based on the municipality type, whether it’s a village, town or county, and population size. There are currently 14 partner municipalities: the Town of Peace River, County of Northern Lights, Mackenzie County, Northern Sunrise County, Village of Nampa, Town of High Level, M.D. of Smoky River, Village of Donnelly, Village of Girouxville, Town of Falher, 66

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Town of McLennan, M.D. of Peace, Town of Grimshaw, Town of Manning and the Village of Berwyn.

some merchants are selling products across the country and to the United States in addition to their regional sales.

To become involved, merchants in a member municipality create a profile on the TLM website and can begin featuring their products or services—automatically setting up an online storefront—for free. Whether it’s metal working services, organic food distribution, musical performance bookings, canoe trip outfitting, heavy-duty incinerators or custom quilting, TLM features a diverse range of Peace Country products and services.

Les Short of Northern Lights Metal Art in the Grimshaw area is touted as one of the most successful merchants of TLM. What started as a hobby has turned into a successful home-based business creating custom metal art. “We were the first to sell anything internationally off the site itself shortly after we got going,” said Short.

Customers have come back with rave reviews but there’s always room to increase sales and awareness of what buying local does for local communities. TLM Project Manager Melanie Bekevich-Joos, says the project presents a local-business cluster to the entire world. “Some of these businesses operate out of their basement and are hard to find, so we bring them all in one place and make them accessible 24-hours a day, generating community relations by supporting these kinds of businesses,” said Bekevich-Joos, adding the municipalities involved have found the costs very reasonable. They have maintained the project as a free service to their residents to facilitate support for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The project also has other supporting partners in Community Futures Peace Country, Peace Region Economic Development Alliance (PREDA), Regional Economic Development Initiative for Northwestern Alberta (REDI), Rural Community Adaptation Program, Rural Economic Development Initiative and three local Chambers of Commerce in Peace River, Falher and McLennan. Launched in the spring of 2011, TLM already hosts over 100 merchants who have approximately 450 products and services listed. In the first year the website generated $50,000 in online sales (and that’s not counting sales where clients find merchants on the website and then conduct sales in person). TLM won two awards in 2012: the Alex Metcalf Award from the Economic Developers Association of Alberta and the Western Economic Diversification Ministers Award for Excellence and Innovation. Miclette said the project has been “highly successful.” One merchant, Lisa Lundgard runs an organic vegetable farm in the M.D. of Peace called the Veggie Patch and started up her business before TLM was launched. Lundgard is using the website for advertising to sell her garden shares (for which customers prepay at the beginning of each season). “I get quite a lot of email from people who see me on thinklocalmarket.com and ask to be part of the share that year. Right now I’m selling my shares out really fast,” Lundgard said, adding whether online or directing people to the website she meets in person, people can pay with a credit card—“it’s very convenient in that regard.” While Lundgard’s business is suited to serving the Peace Region,

For Short and many others who are susceptible to boom and bust cycles, the website has been an invaluable marketing tool, especially for those who can’t necessarily access a mainstay customer base. The fact is many small businesses aren’t able to afford an ecommerce capable website, or advertising at all. “I don’t have the money for it; most of us don’t,” said Short. As the TLM project promotes, the e-commerce platform gives support at the local level. It allows small businesses to reach a local base of customers as well as wider markets, effectively bridging the dichotomy of local and global.

Why go local? Although larger franchise stores tend to bring jobs and tax money, and thus seem to boost a local economy, Bekevich-Joos says, “the intention is by design—money will flow out of the community.” Alternatively, said Bekevich-Joos “if you buy and shop locally that money gets reinvested, re-circulates, and stays in your community.” Bekevich-Joos refers to the local multiplier effect, which is essentially as it sounds: as money is spent locally, more economic return will be generated. Most large businesses rely on energy-intensive chains of global production, which may not always be stable. Furthermore, materials and labour sourced along those chains are not typically regulated under Canadian standards. Some merchants do import their goods and materials from other countries, which can be cheaper for sourcing. While recognizing this reality, Bekevich-Joos encourages the idea of developing import replacements. “Something you might buy from China or another country, we could develop locally and replace those goods,” said Bekevich-Joos. Asked if there were any obstructions to having larger stores and companies signing up to TLM, Bekevich-Joos replied: “At this point, it’s totally municipally driven, and so far there’s been no need to have those lines drawn. At some point, we’ll need to.” S pring/S ummer 2 013

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The three pillars Currently, the only restrictions for merchants on TLM are the sales of firearms or anything with adult material or content. Upon first glance, the TLM project seems like a kind of sophisticated online farmer’s market, but it has other perks too. The e-commerce platform is its first pillar. The second is capacity building for the merchant community through business skills training. Through in-person sessions, 16 so far, 182 registrants have attended skill development workshops in online marketing through social media and search engine optimization. TLM offers a series of web-based training via live streaming, so merchants, no matter where they are, can access workshops from the comfort of their own computers. Sessions are also archived for future viewing. Lundgard raves about the business training: “They are really, really good workshops— they have provided amazing opportunities for me, like writing for your business and learning about writing blogs and writing for your own website, as well as financing for your business and how to get funding.” While first setting up his TLM membership, Short took advantage of the one-on-one training that is also offered. After taking some TLM courses, Short is now on Facebook, which has helped expand

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his client base and reach a lot more people. The youngest merchant on TLM is six years old and is learning the ropes of TLM. Deziree Stieb of Dezi-Bandz in Falher is selling artful headbands to help raise money to purchase her own horse. “I really want a horse,” said Stieb. She picks the fabrics and sews, while her mother Michelle (who is also a TLM merchant) helps with the more complicated maneuvers. Michelle explains that they’re learning together. “Deziree has been posting some photos herself and is getting to know the behindthe-scenes of the interface for the website. And pretty soon she’ll be doing it herself.” Their next step is to set up a Facebook page and to prepare to speak at the Women of the North conference being held in Peace River in April. The third pillar is community. The TLM project does promote business competitiveness and growth, but as Bekevich-Joos states, community-building and cooperation are also important elements. In November 2012, a lot of TLM merchants came to support the Carbon Farmer screening in Peace River of their bid on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, featuring food from the PeaceFull Pantry, Hunny Bunny products, and sign-up sheets for other local

initiatives. “You won’t see that in the big businesses, like, ‘Let’s be nice to each other, and feature each other’s products,’ ” said Bekevich-Joos. She also points out that TLM merchants who are also town-based retailers will often not feature the same products on the site that a home-based business TLM merchant does. “That makes me really fond of the project,” Bekevich-Joos affirms. “It makes it really human and I have lots of stories like that.” Relations between merchants are not only being strengthened through TLM’s approach, relationships between merchants and municipalities are also firming. “The government is on our side here because they understand the problems that rural people have trying to get their products and services out to the markets; it’s the little guy that needs help,” said Short. Customers have come back with rave reviews, but there’s always room to increase sales and awareness of what buying local does for local communities. Already touting great success in the Peace Region, TLM is looking to expand from the area to the province and beyond. As the project complements both the trends in localization and an expanding global society, Think Local Market seems to be right on track.

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Love sprouts is a family passionate about sprouts and love, and lots of raw organic chocolate! Delicious and scrumptious locally made raw chocolate, using only organic raw ingredients in a variety of flavours like original, ginger, orange, peppermint, dark and maca. Did you know that the nutrient density of raw cacao benefits every function of the body. One of the many cool facts about chocolate is that it is the highest source of antioxidants, magnesium and chromium of any food! It truly is the food of the gods.

You can find us on: www.thinklocalmarket.com S pring/S ummer 2 013

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Relocation Stories

MOVE UP CASE STUDIES

Why did you move to the Peace Region? Tom Howell

om Howell and his wife Melody were transferred to Manning from the Yukon thanks to Howell’s job as a detachment commander for the RCMP. Before coming to Manning the couple spent three years in the Yukon, and prior to that lived for 23 years in B.C. “From my perspective as detachment commander, it’s quite easy to fit in if you’re willing to meet people. You have to engage the community and can’t just wait for people to come meet you,” Howell said. With four constables and Howell at the Manning detachment, all of the local police are on a firstname basis with the people in the area. “I’ve had 11 postings in my career. When I look at all postings I’ve been to, this one has been the most gracious, the most accepting and the most supportive of police,” Howell said. Melody Howell has also found a place serving the community. She is making a difference as a member of Manning town council after starting out in a job for the local school district. “She felt she would like to engage in the community by submitting her name to council for vote,” Howell explained, noting his wife had some relevant experience from her time in Kimberley, B.C., and also had experience dealing with housing issues

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as a realtor. She has now been on council for just over a year. The couple has found the community offers a great work-and-life balance for them and a sense of both belonging and safety. “I think it’s a very stable community—not huge but very stable. Stability is what makes a community safe,” Howell said. “All you have to do is go to the Manning arena during hockey season. Everyone brings their families and kids, and kids are running around, but there is no concern, because everybody is watching the kids.” Contributing to this stability are families who have lived in the area for multiple generations as well as family members who have moved elsewhere and eventually returned to the area. However, Howell pointed out not everyone might appreciate what Manning has to offer. “We have young officers coming here right out of Regina,” Howell said. “They come here and they learn their job well....I think this is a great starting point for many, and when they leave they realize how good they had it. We’ve been enough places, we already realize that.”

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Talking About the Future:

Succession planning for long-term business success BY SUSAN THOMPSON

ost entrepreneurs have created a business plan at some point. But a surprising number of businesses, especially family farms, have not even thought about creating a succession plan to pass on the family business to a new generation. This can cause major schisms if an unexpected change occurs, such as a key family member suddenly passing away. Gordon Colledge, a certified Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (CAFA) member and a family succession plan mediator and coach, has seen cases where families fight over the family farm or business between the church and the ride back to the funeral home. “It is so shocking,” said Colledge. “I have known families, the younger heirs and successors, to be so angry that no plan was talked about, no plan was put in place, that they don’t even have time to grieve the sudden death of a parent.” According to Colledge, not only do key people often neglect to have their wills updated, they haven’t even talked about a plan for the future. Part of the problem may be assumptions made by the older generation.

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“One fella said, ‘My wife knows I love her. If I die she gets it all and she can figure it out.’ He did it in a loving way not realizing what an awful burden he’s placed on her and, if there is any sibling competition, how difficult it will be for her,” said Colledge. In farming especially, Colledge said, old world assumptions may get in the way of the next generation’s expectations. “We often practice primogeniture, which means the business goes to the first born son. It is a very, very old word, representative of the conditions on the farms in Europe and Great Britain. The farm went to the oldest son, because dad didn’t live very long. A lot of men died in their 40s or 50s, so the oldest son then had the responsibility to operate the farm and take care of his mom and other members of the family who weren’t married yet. Sometimes it feels like there is still that unwritten law that it passes to the eldest son if he’s interested, and there’s no debate,” said Colledge. However, in this day and age, the eldest son may not want to continue farming or may not have the skills to do it, or other siblings may feel cheated at the loss of their share of assets. The resulting resentments and hurt feelings can erupt to damage the farm and the family itself, all due to a lack of planning. “Some coaches and some facilitators are hard on the older generation for not having their affairs in order and for not talking about it, but I don’t carry that same attitude. These issues are life ending

issues and are really difficult to just chat about like we would over the weather or if we want green paint or red paint on our equipment,” said Colledge. While the “hard” side of succession planning—the legal and taxation issues— might be where people tend to focus first. According to Colledge, it’s the “soft” side of succession planning—the emotional side—that most often causes problems and challenges for a business. “Emotions range all the way from fears and tears to hurt and anger. Quite frankly, maybe the individuals in the family know what the trigger points are that set them off, but the family as a unit doesn’t know what individuals are harbouring. That needs to come out; otherwise there will be a constant undercurrent which will just seem to slow down and block the progression and the continuation of the business. It just really gets both those planning to retire off track as well as the heirs and successors who are taking over the business,” said Colledge. In Colledge’s experience, unspoken fears are most often to blame for poor communication relating to succession planning and also for derailing these types of discussions when they do arise. “Take that old acronym for FEAR—false evidence appearing real—it’s as old as the hills but it’s true and we’ve got to shine a light on it. We’ve got to say, ‘why am I so scared to write a will? I’m scared I will die,’ ” said Colledge. Once fear is expressed openly, it has less power, and business owners can get the paperwork done and get on living. “A lot of people have heard so much uninformed coffee shop talk,” said Colledge. “What we’re doing is myth busting. Part of it is newthink; you try to take new info and feed it through the old filter system. A person can become discombobulated in that process.” That’s why Colledge recommends starting with a simple business or family conversation about what everyone wants in the future rather than jumping into actual planning right away. “What causes families to get upset is they are working on their vision and idea of how this could work, and they move too quickly into the planning/doing stage. You need to have the vision. This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. A good succession plan will take 10 to 15 years,” said Colledge. One solution Colledge said often works best for family farms is actually incorporating them as a business run by a family board.

rewarded in both salary and profit sharing depending on how the young people set it up, and because they are shareholders, if they want to inject cash in to help with the purchase of machinery it goes in as a shareholder’s loan and they get it back over the years as the business becomes profitable,” said Colledge. The siblings who no longer live on the farm just want to know their shares in the company are earning money and by working together they can learn to make the farm more profitable. Sibling boards may also offer a wealth of different skills and education to draw from. “If the family says we want to explore this idea, bam, that’s the time to invite the accountant or a lawyer out to the farm and we run through it. We take a look at the pros and cons and see what is best going to serve our dream, our vision, our idea,” said Colledge. This not only prevents the financial problems for inheritors but for seniors too, such as when they retire off the farm. “What we find out is a lot of people pay themselves so little when they go out into the big wide world and they want to buy a condo and have only been taking $2,000 a month, they are told they don’t earn enough to qualify,” said Colledge. He recommends business owners or senior members of a business look at it as handing their largest asset off to a new generation. Colledge points out they have the right to ask for something in return. The owners of a family farm, for example, might require potential successors to get a degree in agriculture with a financial management focus first or that they work at another farm for a few years first. The second thing the older generation might want to ask for is some guarantee of a financial return for giving up their assets. Since the amount the older generation may need to live comfortably may well be more than the farm has been making, it can lead to some serious business planning for the upcoming generation. “The heirs and successors taking over have all kinds of resources at their fingertips. If they have 5,000 acres and they’re growing Durham wheat, they can speak to an expert who will go clicketyclick, and say ‘If you did this much in canola and this much in peas, you can actually generate this much income,’ ” said Colledge. The seniors running the farm may not consider such new ideas or solutions simply because they are more concerned about security than the younger generation, who are more willing to take risks. Succession planning not only allows for this kind of innovation, it also allows the family to create mechanisms for conflict resolution or unexpected events, such as divorce. As the family puts their discussions to paper, it makes it more likely the family will find ways to solve problems together and ensure the future of the farm or business. “This is called professionalizing the business,” said Colledge. “In a farm business there are four pillars: communication, respect, trust, and a shared vision. When these are in place, we’re able to discuss everything.”

“There is no threat to the brother or sister who runs the farm because they’re not going to have the rug pulled out from beneath them. In this way we can keep the asset together and pay top wages to our sibling who manages the whole enterprise. That sibling is S pring/S ummer 2 013

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Academic U Column Technician Kinesiology Work Bus Beekeeping Care Edu General Me If you can’t sell it, move it High Scho he price of Canadian crude is all over the news with provincial budgets taking a big hit, and among the causes is the lack of capacity to move the bitumen. Pipelines in the Peace CountryInstrument are at or near capacity and we have approximately 20,000 barrels of oil per day leaving the Mechanic Peace Oil Sands by truck. At 200 barrels per truck, that’s 100 trucks meeting you on highways that are slowly (sometimes quickly) deteriorating. Technology Perioperati The short term solution seems to be rail. When compared to a pipeline, one’s immediate reaction would be why rail? At first glance, moving all of those bulky oil tankers using “ancient” rail technology Steamfit just seems wrong compared to the new pipeline infrastructure going in today. Being in the heavy oil Arts Weld business, here is what makes rail appealing: Efficiency: one barrel moved by rail is one barrel of oil moved, whereas pipeline requires adding 30Automotive per cent diluent; Arts Musi Existing right-of-way: some may still be yelling about those tracks through their property but it’s there, no need to consult; Computing Safety: should a derailment occur, the incident is limited to that car—if both hulls are perforated (500 barrels), the bitumen will have substantially cooled to the point that we are not dealing with aAdministra water-like liquid but rather a thick molasses to be picked up; and Continuing Timeline: a direct trans-loading facility (truck to rail car) can go up in a matter of months compared Electrician/ to year-long consultation and construction processes for a pipeline. Oil on rail is a fairly new concept in Alberta and certainly in the Peace Country. It’s a learning curveEquipment for both operators and municipalities dealing with these terminals; but slowly, best practices are being adopted for the betterment of all. Most direct trans-loading facilities are a closed-loop system whereSocial Work oil and air are swapped between the rail car and truck. Proposed sites that require tanks include in Mechanic Mu their plans co-generation, incinerators or a combination of the two. The point being, emissions are being taken seriously. Technology Perioperative What could slow oil on rail developments? Railcars: To operate a 10,000-barrel-per-day site (20 rail cars per day), an operator requires over 900 Steamfitter rail cars to cover the 45-day turnaround trip to the Gulf Coast. I wish I could say we are getting first Arts Welder kick at the can at this but, no, dramatic increases in American production (especially in the Bakken) has been filling up an increasing number of rail cars. Automotive S Oil: Even if the barrel is hovering in the $90 per barrel range, reality is we are getting just shy of $40 Arts Music on our end. Unless rail operators can secure long-term contracts with refineries and offer a significant incentive to shift traditional practices, exploration and new projects will slow right down and stall. Computing S Whether by rail or pipeline, crude will need to find a way to reach new markets. Our neighbours to the south seek energy independence. Alberta and Canada’s one customer approach to the Administratio multibillion dollar industry is no longer cutting in—the focus now shifts to the east and west. Continuing E Electrician/Po Equipment In Social Work MAT BERGERON NORTHERN SUNRISE COUNTY

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g p r c Technology . a b . c a c Upgrading Animal Health Automotive Service an Fine Arts Music Physical Education Science ogy Nursing Computing Science Engineering Socia usiness Administration Commerce Carpenter Commercia ing Continuing Education Drama Early Learning and Child ducational Assistant Fitness Leadership Mechanic Harley-Davidson® Technician UNIVERSITY TRANSFER AND chool Equivalency Heavy Equipment Hospitality and Tourism COLLABORATIVE DEGREE PROGRAMS Bachelor of Arts nt Technician Education Millwright/Machinist Motorcycle Bachelor of Commerce, Business Management, of Education, Elementary & Secondary c Music Office Bachelor Administration Computer Systems Bachelor of Fine Arts of Music ogy Outdoor PowerBachelor Equipment Technician Parts Technician Bachelor of Physical Education Bachelor of Recreation, Sports & Tourism, ative Nursing Plumber Power Engineering Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Science, Computing Science mfitter-Pipefitter Transitional Vocational Unit Clerk Visua Bachelor of Science, Engineering Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology Animal Academic Upgrading Health Technology lder Congratulations Bachelor of Science, Pre-Professional Bachelor of Social Work ive Service Technician University Transfer Move Education Up Magazine Fine Master of Social Work usic Physical Education Science Kinesiology Nursing PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRADES PROGRAMS on your first issue! General Mechanic ng Science Engineering Social Work Business Heavy Equipment Certificate Millwright/Machinist Power Equipment Technician ration CommerceOutdoor Carpenter Commercial Beekeeping Parts & Materials Technician Welding ng Education Drama Early Learning and Child Care TRAINING IN 12 TRADES an/Power Systems APPRENTICESHIP Technician Fitness Leadershi Heavy UNIQUE PROGRAMS AT GPRC, FAIRVIEW CAMPUS Animal Health Technology nt Instrument Technician International Education Master o Commercial Beekeeping Certificate Harley-Davidson® Technician ork - Graduate Program Millwright/Machinist Heavy Equipment Service Technology Power Engineering Certificate Computer Computer Systems Systems Music Office Administration Transition Vocational Certificate & DIPLOMA y Outdoor Power CERTIFICATE Equipment Technician Parts Technician Active Aging Fitness Practitioner* Business Administration ve Nursing Plumber Power Engineering Computer Systems Technology Drama ter-Pipefitter Transitional Vocational Unit Clerk Visual Early Learning and Child Care* Educational Assistant er Academic Upgrading Animal Health Technology Fitness Leadership – Personal Trainer Specialization and Tourism e Service Technician Hospitality University Transfer Education Fine Music Office Administration Unit Clerk c Physical Education Science Kinesiology Nursing Visual Arts Science Engineering Social Work Business * Available online & classroom tion Commerce Carpenter Commercial Beekeeping Education Drama Early Learning and Child Care 1.888.999.7882 /Power Systems Technician Fitness Leadershi Heavy studentinfo@gprc.ab.ca Instrument Technician International Education Master of gprc.ab.ca Yo u r c h o i c e i n l e a r n i n g k - Graduate Program Millwright/Machinist Music Nursing Computer Systems

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