April 2016
Economic Impact Report Highlights
TEDxKanata: Breaking Barriers
Introducing “The Haven,” a new multifaith housing initiative
Strategic Range Solutions’ innovative Aerospace R&D Projects
CAE’s Mike Greenley named Defence Executive of the Year ...and more!
CONTENTS What’s New / What’s Next ................................................... 1 Just how much money’s in Kanata North? Economic Impact Report Highlights ................................................................. 2
April marks a very busy and exciting time in our Business Community with the new Federal Budget announced and a renewed sense of optimism for our innovation economy. We recently hosted TEDxKanata and Discover TechNATA, two events that helped shed a light on the incredible people and companies that call this area home. At Discover TechNATA there were over 50 companies participating in the day and over 1300 attendees. There is excitement for what is happening in Kanata North. This month I will be heading to India on the Mayor’s Trade Mission. I’m thrilled to see a number of Kanata North companies joining this mission and look forward to the opportunity to support them and to promote Ottawa’s technology sector in India. The opportunities in this massive market are many. As always, thank you for your interest and I hope you enjoy this month’s issue. Please never hesitate to reach out if we can be of assistance.
Jenna Sudds EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KANATA NORTH BIA
Calian Technologies Ltd. Rebrands to Calian Group Ltd. ............................................................................................. 4 TEDxKanata: Breaking Barriers ........................................... 6 TEDx Kanata Event Sponsors .............................................. 8 Inviting the Kanata Business Community to Support Inventors of the Future ........................................................ 10 Multifaith Housing Initiative introduces The Haven, an affordable housing project .................................................. 11 Specific Range Solutions partners with Carleton University and other organizations on Aerospace R&D Projects ...... 13 Chartwell: The benefits of considering a retirement lifestyle before experiencing a health scare................... 15 The Best Defence: CAE’s Mike Greenley named Defence Executive of the Year ......................................................... 16
C Design and layout by Communicarium
www.kanatanorthbia.ca
WHAT’S NEW WHAT’S NEXT DISCOVER TECHNATA A world of thanks to everyone who supported, participated and attended our latest Tech Expo and Talent Hunt Job Fair at the Brookstreet Hotel last week! We had over 1333 who registered for the event and are tallying the final number of walk-ins. It was a huge success and a fantastic opportunity for our business community to meet with the talent in our city.
A high-growth industry that’s writing a whole new chapter in the annals of Ottawa’s tech sector is Software-as-aService (SaaS). If you haven’t seen the OBJ article, check it out here: A cool place in a hot market - Kanata North stakes its claim in Software-as-a-Service. For more information on Kanata North’s economic advantage visit: www.impact.kanatanorthbia.ca. Join us in supporting our marketing efforts to promote Kanata North as a destination for leading technology and business. See our microsite www. serioustechliveshere.com and tweet #SeriousTechLivesHere.
MANAGEMENT 3.0 COURSE April 20-21 This is a leadership/management course offered at Pyxis and it is aimed towards managers, directors and team leads in the IT or software development space. Kanata North Business Association members will receive a 15% discount. Click here for more details.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS On April 22 join in the Earth Day Celebration at KRP! Watch for more details in the coming weeks! Cycle-in Kanata Day organized by EnviroCentre, will take place on May 4 from 7:00 to 8:00am. Cyclists will cycle along selected routes and rendezvous at 555 Leggett Dr in Kanata Research Park (KRP) for coffee & snacks! Check our event calendar for more info. Big Bike Rides will take place on May 26 at the Richcraft Rec Centre and June 8 at The Community Hub. Watch for more details in the coming weeks! Coming soon at The Community Hub! Our Wednesday Lunch Parties with a variety of food trucks and musical guests will begin in June. Our friends at Inner Revolution have also agreed to once again host Free Yoga classes during lunchtime from 12-12:45 pm every Tuesday throughout the summer. Check our event calendar for details. Bring on Summer Fun!
ACCELERATEOTT
to be there along with an impressive lineup of other speakers! For more details and to register visit www.accelerateott.ca
OTTAWA INSIGHTS BUSINESS SUMMIT May 6 from 1 to 7pm The Summit is a half day event of valuable insights by some of the Ottawa’s best business minds. Kanata North members receive $20 off with the Code “BIA.” For more details and registration see: Ottawa Insights Business Summit.
HR LEARNING SUMMIT May 10 from 12:30 to 4pm Presented in partnership with Baird Benefits Plus, the HR Leaning Summit will take place at the Marshes Golf Course on May 10 from 12:30 to 4pm. The event will include a question period and panel discussion covering important HR issues. A light lunch will be served and Speaker announcements will be made in the coming weeks. Check our event calendar for updates.
May 5
ASTRO 2016
Do you work in tech or plan to start a business? Check out AccelerateOTT and meet founders, mentors and venture capitalists (some from as far as Silicon Valley) providing strategic and sage advice. A conference that truly fuels the entrepreneurial fire. The day is packed with world-class speakers, power networking breaks and an epic after party! TEDxKanata speaker Andrew Pelling is scheduled
May 17-19 Hosted by the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute the 17th Astronautics Conference will take place at the Delta Ottawa City Centre in downtown Ottawa. The Plenary Program features Keynote Speakers and Panel Discussions with Canadian and International space leaders. For more details on the conference visit www.casi.ca/astro.
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JUST HOW MUCH MONEY’S IN KANATA NORTH? ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT HIGHLIGHTS This month The Kanata Networker continues its series of highlights from our recent report, Kanata North Technology Ecosystem: Generating Economic Opportunities for all of Canada. The report, commissioned by the KNBA and prepared by Doyletech (see below), paints a rosy picture of our collective success and contribution to the nation’s economy. Kanata North is a magnet for innovators and entrepreneurs with a zeal for identifying opportunities and responding to needs as they arise. Kanata North also attracts quality workers with high standards of excellence. This is a powerful combination which serves to unleash the powerful potential in growing markets in the area.
Our research indicates Kanata North has a number of small but emerging subsectors that are beginning to make a strong impact on the economy. Cleantech, in particular, is an area with robust growth potential. Other sectors with a high degree of prospective impact include data and cloud services, software and life sciences. Other areas for investment include the manufacturing sector, tapping into Ottawa’s labour force, as well as transducers, injection molding and 3D printing. A strong opportunity exists for rapid prototyping capability that would serve the 500 plus businesses in the area. Growth of current incubation facilities is also highly desirable and in demand.
As the Kanata North Business Association looks forward, it welcomes the opportunity to build stronger alliances and partnerships with the world-class educational institutions in the area, capitalizing on co-op programs and other training opportunities. Talent is the key to the success of the Kanata North business community and ensuring our universities and colleges are plugged into the needs is paramount. Kanata North also looks forward to working with municipal, provincial and federal governments to capitalize on Kanata North’s strengths and do its part to help build a stronger Canada and continue to generate economic opportunities across the country.
DOYLETECH TOOK A HARD LOOK AT THE DATA GATHERED IN THREE WAYS: • Primary research: conducted over 40 interviews with senior staff at businesses across sectors and subsectors and of various sizes • Secondary research: visited buildings; reviewed existing databases; conducted email and telephone inquiries and interviews; web and literature review; Created a database that KNBIA can use for future reference • Econometric model: used a proprietary computer model to project impact with direct, indirect and induced effects
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ECONOMIC IMPACTS THE TECH SECTOR
40%
into account indirect and induced effects
30%
$120.3 million tax revenue for Ottawa
20%
$1000m
$500m
10%
provincial government
0%
an
$1.14 billion tax revenue for Canada
Cle
federal government
Clo ta & Da
NON-HIGH TECH SECTORS 4,354 Kanata North non-high tech workers,
Ma n So ftw Ind ufac are us turi tria ng , l& En Sy gin ste e m erin De g, sig Ot Tel n he ec r Te om ch ,W no ire log les y sa nd Ph VA oto RS nic an s dP art sS up pli ers Se mi co nd uc tor
tec h
$0m
ce s fen c an e, d A Se ero curi sp ty ac e Life Sc ien ce s
$1.21 billion tax revenue for Ontario
$1500m
De
municipal government
$2000m
Se rvi
$6.6 billion in net new spending taking
Revenues
Employment 50%
ud
26,325 tech sector employees, taking into account all direct, indirect and induced effects
Revenues
Employment
$400m
$1.23 billion in net new spending
30%
$300m
$120.3 million tax revenue
20%
$200m
10%
$100m
0%
$0m
ng
ty
dw ell an
lt h He a
Fin an ce
an
da
cc
ou nti
pit ali nd ho s
Din i il a Re ta
s ce rvi se
Ot
he
rp
rof e
federal government
on al
$1.14 billion tax revenue for Canada
ssi
provincial government
le
$1.21 billion tax revenue for Ontario
Re a
for Ottawa municipal government
ne ss
40%
ng
$500m
Co Le ga an nstru l d o cti the on, r h ren om ov e s ati Ed erv on uc ice ati s on an dd ay ca re
50%
sta te
taking into account all direct, indirect and induced effects
THE WHOLE PICTURE: ALL SECTORS COMBINED 30,679 Kanata North workers in all sectors, taking into account all direct, indirect and induced effects
$7.8 billion in net new spending $146.5 million tax revenue for Ottawa municipal government $1.44 billion tax revenue for Ontario provincial government
The vital message from these numbers is the superb productivity of Kanata North. It is literally three times higher than the Canadian economy as a whole. Instead of a net GDP creation of $85,000 per worker, it is $255,000 per worker.
$1.35 billion tax revenue for Canada federal government THE KANATA NETWORKER
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CALIAN TECHNOLOGIES LTD. REBRANDS TO CALIAN GROUP LTD. Written by Syntax Strategic
2. Training Services
To reflect its expanded service offerings, Calian Technologies Ltd. has officially changed its name to Calian Group Ltd. (TSX: CGY). Effective April 1st, this rebrand signals a new chapter in the history of the company, which is headquartered in Kanata North.
Whether it’s a small municipality that requires a one-day seminar on emergency response preparedness, or a large, complex military unit that requires a multi-day, multi-jurisdictional training exercise to prepare troops for overseas deployment, the Calian training team has the knowledge and expertise to deliver customized training programs to a diverse range of sectors. This expertise has been leveraged to prepare security forces to support high profile events such as the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and the G8 and G20 summits. Currently, Calian is working with Emergency Management British Columbia to help develop and conduct an exercise to support the province’s new earthquake response plan.
“The name Calian Group Ltd. better reflects the diverse range of services that have strongly contributed to the strength, long-term stability and continued growth of the company,” said President and CEO Kevin Ford. “Although we still have deep technology roots, this corporate name better aligns our corporate entity to our diversification strategy.” Founded in 1982, Calian began as a one-person professional services firm focused on providing quality assurance consulting services to technology companies. Today, almost 35 years later, Calian is a $240M company that has more than 2,500 employees with offices and projects that span across Canada, the U.S. and internationally. This growth can largely be attributed to Calian’s customer-driven management philosophy, and its proven track record of success and expertise in five distinct service lines:
1. Health In addition to managing health care professionals at customer sites, Calian also delivers and operates medical clinics and facilities across the country. The company’s vast network of 1,500 health care professionals makes Calian one of the largest such national providers in Canada.
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3. IT and Professional Services Calian’s over 400 experienced consultants currently engaged in ITPS projects have the knowledge and expertise to support complex IT initiatives, and manage discrete IT functions in support of customers’ business and technology needs.
4. Contract Manufacturing Calian helps commercial defence and aerospace organizations deliver on their engineering and contract manufacturing requirements by manufacturing high-reliability systems and equipment for critical military and commercial applications. The contract manufacturing team specializes in complex small-to-medium volume jobs, which include circuit card assembly, systems integration, environmental testing and more.
“The name Calian Group Ltd. better reflects the diverse range of services that have strongly contributed to the strength, long-term stability and continued growth of the company,” - President and CEO Kevin Ford. 5. Systems Engineering The Systems Engineering team delivers turnkey engineering, products and service solutions for satellite communications; aerospace and defence; test and measurement; cable and wireless; and broadcast and media sectors. The team also recently played a major role in support of the European Space Agency’s Rosetta Mission, which landed a probe on a comet for the first time in human history. Calian provided three deep space antenna systems to the European Space Agency located in Australia, Spain and Argentina. “Despite its new name, the company’s mission remains the same,” said Ford. Calian continues to strive to be the best Canadian company to work for, buy from and invest in.
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TEDxKANATA: BREAKING BARRIERS sessions scheduled periodically throughout the evening. “Today you are part of a global conversation about our future.” Over the next several issues, The Kanata Networker will be presenting capsule reviews of each TEDx speaker’s talk, as well as an inside look at how the event came together. Videos of the talks will be available online in the coming weeks, providing public access to thoughts with the potential to transcend barriers we might never have guessed surrounded us.
Craig Gauthier – “The riskiest thing of all is playing it safe.”
This year’s speakers with TEDxKanata Curator Jenna Sudds. From left to right: Doug Smith, Justina McCaffrey Antonia, Andrew Pelling, Craig Gauthier, Kathy Kortes-Miller, Jenna Sudds, Alex Munter, Sheema Khan, Bruce Linton. Photo by Alexandra Lee
The stage at the Brookstreet Hotel was littered with rubble. Atop platforms around the room, cameras focused on the shattered brick wall and the glimpse of shadowy trees and bright stars beyond it. An audience of nearly 300 waited in silence as a woman in a red dress walked onstage to stand in front of the gaping breach. “Welcome to TEDxKanata,” she said, to thunderous applause. The woman was Kanata North Business Association Executive Director and TEDx Curator Jenna Sudds, clearly reveling in the culmination of a year’s work organizing the community’s second annual TEDx event. She had reason to be excited: tickets, priced at $100 a head, had sold out rapidly, and her team had managed to assemble a second dream team lineup of speakers, including a biohacker, an ex-NHLer, a death educator, a world-renowned fashion designer and a cannabis entrepreneur. As for the devastated brickwork behind her,
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it was merely an innovative piece of set-dressing created by Sheila Curry of Auto Trim Design & Signs to depict the year’s theme, Breaking Barriers. As Jenna noted onstage, the TED franchise has become a phenomenon, connecting some of the world’s most innovative thinkers with a truly global audience via their wildly popular YouTube channel. Videos from last year’s TEDxKanata event (the x indicates the event has been independently organized) have reached over 50,000 viewers, a figure which underscores the impact these gatherings have had on broadcasting Kanata North’s regional and international thought leadership. Each speaker brought their own perspective to the Breaking Barriers concept, sharing ideas with the potential to change lives. “Leave isolating social norms behind,” Jenna implored the audience, asking them to keep their phones holstered and throw themselves into the bustling networking
Craig Gauthier. Photo by Alexandra Lee
Opening speaker Craig Gauthier’s talk was, in a word, crisp. An entrepreneur, author and public speaker who has logged over a million miles in the past ten years, Gauthier’s experience shone through in his poise and the faultless pacing of his presentation. And pacing is everything when you’re covering as
much ground as Craig did, from intelligent technology and the Internet of Things to a looming global water crisis and the growing disconnection from our own instincts. Gauthier argues that as we have evolved, so too has our technology; yet tech has reached a pace which rapidly is outstripping our own progress as mental and emotional beings. We live in a time of unparalleled development, which has opened astonishing possibilities, yet we face a surfeit of choices. The result: “analysis paralysis, and a whole bunch of unrealistic expectations.” If certain trends continue, demand for water will outstrip supply by 40% within our lifetimes. The next 20 years, says Gauthier, will see more rapid change than at any point in the history of our species’ time on Earth. These challenges seem insurmountable when even choosing the best way to begin to address them is daunting. But, Craig says, we can start by looking closer to home, at the devices you may be using right now to read this article. We check our phones dozens of times per day, yet it sometimes seems as though our actual interactions with those around us have never been shallower. In order to access the drive to effect change, we must return to an emotional centre that our technology has distanced us from. Craig left the audience with five starter questions: 1. What tech boundaries do we need to set? 2. Who can we connect with? 3. How can we contribute? 4. Why do we need to do something about it? 5. When do we start? “Change is not optional,” said Gauthier. “We can either lead the change, or we can be forced to change. Where do you want to be when the change comes?”
“The next 20 years,” says Gauthier, “will see more rapid change than at any point in the history of our species’ time on Earth.“ Doug Smith
Doug Smith. Photo by Alexandra Lee
From being selected #2 in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft (behind Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk and just ahead of Ron Francis, the league’s fifth highest alltime scorer) to driving a black Porsche in Los Angeles with a loaded .38 under the seat at 18 years old, Doug Smith’s introduction to adulthood was a high wire act. Gifted with great natural ability, his physical skills allowed him to survive in the most elite hockey league in the world, yet his mental game prevented him from truly exceling until the day a freak accident sent him crashing headfirst into the end-boards with grisly results: his neck broken, Smith was left quadriplegic.
helped Smith through the process of regaining control of his own body, and he is today completely recovered from his injury. Smith’s example demonstrates that some of the strongest barriers are those within our own skulls. As TEDx live blogger Emilia Meres summarized Smith, “we don’t know the power of the mind, nor do we know much about what goes on ‘behind the scenes’—even in our own bodies. Inner narratives and personal thoughts are exactly that -- they remain persistently hidden, and we commonly don’t give them as much objective thought as we probably should. Do we make up our minds, or do our minds subconsciously guide, control and shape us? Who is really ‘driving the wheel’ in the vehicle of our behaviours, our choices, and our perceived abilities?”
Doug’s trauma turned out to be a moment of clarity for him, and he redoubled his efforts to systematize his thinking. This renewed focus helped Smith through the process of regaining control of his own body, and he is today completely recovered from his injury. Trauma isn’t simply a single disastrous accident or mental wounding: in its many forms both obvious and subtle, it affects almost all of us. When, at the end of his talk, Doug asked all those who had experienced trauma to stand up, they left behind them nearly 300 empty seats. Next month in part two of its coverage, The Kanata Networker will look at talks by cannabis entrepreneur Bruce Linton, public health advocate and CHEO CEO Alex Munter and high fashion designer Justina McCaffrey Antonia.
Doug’s trauma turned out to be a moment of clarity for him, and he redoubled his efforts to systematize his thinking. This renewed focus
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TEDx KANATA EVENT SPONSORS
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The Networker would like to take a moment to recognize the supporters of this year’s TEDx event
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INVITING THE KANATA BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT INVENTORS OF THE FUTURE The Learning Partnership’s Annual Invention Convention Showcases One-of-a-Kind Student Innovations such as last year’s Binder Board and The TecSac
On Wednesday, April 20th, Richcraft Recreation Complex will be abuzz with more than swimmers and fitness fanatics. Nearly 400 Grade 7 and 8 students will gather to show off their one-of-a-kind creations as part of The Learning Partnership’s 10th annual I3 Invention Convention. From 11:30am to 1pm, the public is invited to walk around, explore the interactive exhibits and speak with students about their inventions. You will be amazed at how convincing the students are when pitching their new
creations and the variety of marketing strategies that they will be employing. The Invention Convention is the culmination of The Learning Partnership’s I3 – Investigate! Invent! Innovate! Program, an integrated science, math and technology curriculum-based program for Grade 7 and 8 students. Students identify problems in their daily lives and invent products or processes to solve those problems based on the concepts they learn in class.
“The abilit y to innovate, think creatively, communicate and problem solve effectively will be essential skills in tomorrow’s competitive global economy,” says Akela Peoples, President and CEO of The Learning Partnership. I3 is a fun, hands-on approach to fostering these 21st centur y skills while instilling a passion for science, mathematics and technology.”
WHO:
WHEN:
Nearly 400 students, representing schools in Kanata, Barrhaven and Stittsville
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 from 11:30am to 1pm. INVITING:
WHERE:
Everyone welcome – free of charge
Richcraft Recreation Centre, 4101 Innovation Dr., Kanata North, K2K 0J3
CONTACT: mskinner@thelearningpartnership.ca
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MULTIFAITH HOUSING INITIATIVE INTRODUCES THE HAVEN, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT Written by Alex Anderson and Kimberly Walker
adds Le. “It isn’t just a Vanier or downtown problem. The problem reaches into Orleans and Barrhaven and Kanata too. And it affects people from all walks of life. A study by the Wellesley Institute tells us that 45 percent of children living in poverty have two working parents.”
The organization acquired its first property in 2005: a small apartment building on Kent Street. This was followed with the purchase of a block of 10 condominiums, and then a 26 unit apartment building in Vanier. Currently, MHI houses nearly 100 people, 30 of whom are children.
Once a week, Sheldon Leong stops at the building site on Via Verona, the future home of The Haven, to snap a picture.
MHI is a registered non-profit charity that was formed in 2002 by faith groups from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions. They recognized the severity of the housing crisis in Ottawa and came together to do something about it. Today the organization is a coalition of more than 60 faith communities from a wide variety of traditions.
In 2013, MHI developed a strategic plan to double the number of housing units it owns and operates. With this move, the organization planned not only to provide much needed housing, but also achieve a balance between expenses and revenue.
Construction on what will soon be a 98-unit neighborhood has been progressing well— land cleared, foundations poured and the skeletal structures that will soon be townhouses and apartments taking shape. The Haven, which is being built by the Multifaith Housing Initiative, is on track for occupancy in January 2017. “The Haven is very important for Ottawa,” says Leong, fundraising manager for MHI. ”The last sizable affordable housing project was built more than six years ago, but in that time the demand for housing has increased.”
A study by the Wellesley Institute tells us that 45 percent of children living in poverty have two working parents.
“That’s an important consideration, as we always need to be able to maintain our properties and provide rental subsidies for our lowest income tenants,” says Le. MHI spent more than a year looking for a property to purchase. “We had raised almost a half million dollars from our faith group members and
“Ot tawa has had an af fordable housing crisis for a long time,” adds MHI’s Executive Director, Suzanne Le. “Right now there are more than 10,000 households on the waitlist for affordable housing.” More than half of Ottawa renters routinely spend more than 50 percent of their income on rent. “These people are in a precarious position,” says Le, adding that the slightest setback can push them right onto the street. “The problem is widespread and reaches into every part of the city,”
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supporters for this purchase,” says Barbara Levine, chair of the MHI Development Committee. “But the available properties were either too expensive or had substantial problems.” In 2014, the City of Ottawa issued a call for proposals for the city’s Action Ottawa housing fund, which MHI answered with the support of many committed partners. MHI’s winning proposal, The Haven, will provide a mix of affordable and market-rate low-rise apartments and townhouses. The units
range in size from one bedroom to four bedrooms. Ten of the units are barrier-free and all of the units and amenities are accessible. Exterior amenities include a ‘grand allee’ with children’s play area, a plaza and community garden. “MHI has received such a warm welcome in Barrhaven, particularly from the faith communities who have joined with us to support the Haven,” concluded Le. “This will be a wonderful place to live.”
KANATA TECHNOLOGY OFFICE LEASING TEAM
PERFORMANCE DELIVERED
in 2015
For more information on the sale or lease of commercial real estate in Kanata, please contact:
OLIVER KERSHAW* Associate Vice President
OVER
20 Transactions Completed
475,000
47
Sq.Ft
Million
Of Space
in Total Deal Value
CBRE Limited | Ottawa +1 613 288 1584 oliver.kershaw@cbre.com www.cbre.ca/oliver.kershaw
LINDSAY HOCKEY* Associate Vice President CBRE Limited | Ottawa +1 613 782 2943 lindsay.hockey@cbre.com www.cbre.ca/lindsay.hockey
CBRE Limited | 333 Preston Street, Suite 700 | Ottawa, ON | K1S 5N4 | www.cbre.ca
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SPECIFIC RANGE SOLUTIONS PARTNERS WITH CARLETON UNIVERSITY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ON AEROSPACE R&D PROJECTS
Specific Range Solutions Ltd. was founded in December 2008 by Omer Majeed when he returned home to Ottawa after working almost four years in Toulouse for Liebherr-Aerospace on Airbus’ A380 program. The change in career from technical and managerial responsibilities in a high-profile multi-national aerospace project to a solitary boot-strapping entrepreneur with no customers and just an idea can best be described as seismic. Despite cold winters and snow, Ottawa did offer a warm and welcoming climate for this technology start-up. His idea to enable more efficient trajectories for turboprop aircraft and to reduce their emissions had its genesis in the southwest of France, which is the very heart of Europe’s aviation industry. Toulouse has a seminal place in aeronautical history including the founding in 1918 of Aéropostale, its most famous pilot Antoine de St-Exupéry, and the maiden flights in 1969 of the supersonic Concorde and in 2005 of the A380, the world’s largest passenger airliner. While living in Toulouse, Omer at tended Royal Aeronautic al Society (RAeS) events hosted by Airbus, including a presentation on improving operational efficiency for large commercial airliners. A feature on Continuous Descent Approaches
(CDA) in the April 28th, 2008 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine and subsequent discussions with locally-based AvTech, a key innovator in CDA concepts and technology provided additional stimulus regarding opportunities to enable more efficient operations. Finally, a growing awareness at that time of aviation’s impact on the environment due to CO2 and other emissions encouraged yet more thinking regarding potential solutions. It is in this context that the idea of developing fuel burn and emission reduction solutions for the small commercial turboprop aircraft was born, as this market features many legacy aircraft long underserved for operational support. Since 2009, Specific Range Solutions Ltd. has been providing consulting engineering services in the domains of aircraft performance and aircraft air systems. SRS is transitioning to a product orientation and is currently developing under the auspices of the Green Aviation Research & Development Network (GARDN) Program an iPad-based Flight Advisory System (FAS) for the Beech 1900D turboprop, an 18 seat regional airliner widely used in Canada. The system enables the crew to determine the most efficient cruise altitude and power setting, both during flight planning and in-flight, thereby giving a trajectory optimization capability similar to a more expensive Flight Management System (FMS). Revenues of $200,000 are expected over the next 12 months in this market. The FAS project team comprises of Omer Majeed and Tamara Tardif of
SRS, Professor Craig Merrett and his master’s student James Adams of Carleton University’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Nick Czernkovich of AeroSafety Consulting. Nick brings to the team a unique blend of operational experience as a commercial pilot with many hours flying turboprops, as well as his knowledge as a trained meteorologist. Specific Range Solutions Ltd. is simultaneously involved in the development of an aircraft cabin air quality sensor. A recent study by Kansas State University estimated 2.1 bleed air contamination events per 10,000 flights. If continuous monitoring of aircraft cabin air quality is eventually mandated, the sensor market is estimated at $30 to $60 million annually. The team for this hardware R&D project comprises Chris Seligy of Ottawabased Xogenus, Omer Majeed of SRS and Professor Winnie Ye of Carleton University’s Department of Electronics. Chris has many years of electronics hardware and firmware design experience, making his engineering role critical on this project. A number of Carleton students were involved at various stages of this project including Andrew Burry, Sacha Gunaratne, Rene Nyangezi and Cynthia Richard. All made valuable contributions. Sensor testing was performed as well as partially funded by the National Research Council. The NRC’s worldclass air quality testing team comprises Dr. Paul Lebbin, Dr. Doyun Won and Gang Nong. The sensor’s latest round of testing was successfully completed on March 30th, 2016.
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SRS was admitted to Carleton University’s tech incubator program in October 2015 and Dr. Tony Baletti and his team have provided mentoring in the areas of marketing and sales. The company has received support from the NRC’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), including Management Advisory Services from Andrew Penny and Graham Birkenhead of Kingsford Consulting located on March Road in Kanata North. A debt of gratitude is owed to Dan Trudeau, who is the NRC’s Industrial Technology Advisor (ITA) to the company. Specific Range Solutions is using a multi-disciplinar y team-based approach while leveraging public programs and facilities to innovate in the area of aerospace technology. For more information about the company, visit their website (www.srs.aero).
On April 27, I’m inviting everyone over. JENNIFER HOWE, AT CHARTWELL SINCE 2007. CHARTWELL.COM
Kanata Speaker Series April 27 • 7:00pm Power of Attorney What you need to know Michael Laughton, Financial Planner, RBC
Call to register for our complimentary
SPEAKER SERIES
Make us part of your story. 20 Shirley’s Brook Dr., Kanata 613-663-2967
Conditions may apply.
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THE BENEFITS OF CONSIDERING A RETIREMENT LIFESTYLE BEFORE EXPERIENCING A HEALTH SCARE Do your research
A move to a retirement residence can bring with it many benefits—among them, the peace of mind that comes with living in a secure environment where you are surrounded by peers and trusted staff who are there to provide you with the services you desire, like delicious meals, housekeeping, transportation services, engaging activity calendars and even care support. According to the Ontario Retirement Communities Association, too many seniors wait until they start having trouble completing everyday tasks before they consider moving into a retirement community. Whether you’re experiencing feelings of loneliness, feel unsafe living on your own, have grown tired of cooking or cleaning, or simply wish to rely less on your family and friends, don’t wait for changes in your independence or a health scare before considering your options. Besides the potential health and wellness benefits that may come with receiving services that help to maintain and prolong your independence, who likes to make a big move when they’re feeling ill? While the average age of seniors living in a retirement residence is approximately 85 years old, it’s not a bad idea to explore your options earlier. Follow these steps in your search for the perfect retirement residence:
By getting a head start on the search for a retirement residence, you can take your time and ultimately make a better decision on where to spend the later part of your retirement. If you need a hand getting started with the search, consider looking online or asking friends and neighbours for referrals. Calling upon people you know and trust to give you some suggestions might provide guidance to finding the perfect place for you. Pare down your choices to a shortlist of three or four communities, and be sure to subscribe to their newsletters or follow their websites or social media accounts for updates. You’ll want to consider the latest news surrounding your future home, as doing so can help you make a more educated choice— not to mention that your new home will feel much more familiar once it’s actually time to make the move.
If you’re ready to start looking into your retirement living options, consider taking a tour of a Chartwell retirement residence. There, you’ll see for yourself how staff and residents interact, giving you a better understanding of what retirement living looks and feels like. Margaret Dennis, Sales Consultant Telephone: 613-663-2967 CHARTWELL KANATA retirement residence 20 Shirley’s Brook Drive, Kanata, ON K2K 2W8 www.chartwell.com
Take many tours If you want a first-hand look at your options for retirement living, you should go on a tour of the homes you are interested in. Not only can it put your thoughts into perspective, but it’s a surefire way to find out if you’ll feel comfortable in the space. Starting your search early can also benefit you in the sense that you can take your time to leisurely explore the homes of your choice instead of rushing to make a decision.
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THE BEST DEFENCE: CAE’S MIKE GREENLEY NAMED DEFENCE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR By: Nancy Ceresia
When Canadian Defence Review named Mike Greenley it s 2016 Defence Executive of the Year, it was only the most recent achievement of a truly stellar career. CDR says Greenley “combines an Elon Musklike technological bent with a fierce entrepreneurial drive,” a unique set of qualities he’s honed through more than 20 years in the industry. Greenley’s introduction to what would end up being a life-long career was rather serendipitous. His studies at the University of Waterloo led him to an engagement at what was then the Defence & Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine (DCIEM) (which became Defence Research & Development Canada (DRDC)). Here began innocently enough the study of simulation training that became the launching pad for his lifelong journey of learning and discovery. In hindsight, when one traces the path of Mr. Greenley’s career, it isn’t surprising to see the continual success he has enjoyed as Vice President and General Manager of CAE Canada. All along the way, his career and the industry itself seemed to evolve symbiotically. It almost seems as though it couldn’t have turned out any other way for Greenley. From his early days as an entrepreneur, his success was driven by innovation and the ability to recognize opportunity, seize it and execute upon it like
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no one else in the industry. In 1996 he founded Greenley & Associates, a firm that provided design support for defence systems where exceeding delivery expectations to clients was paramount, and led him to be recognized three years in a row starting in 2002 for his leadership in one of Canada’s fastest growing companies. This success did not go unnoticed. He sold Greenley & Associates in 2004 to CAE, where he came on as vice-president, and continued focusing on providing leading-edge training solutions for clients. Here he was instrumental in realizing the vision of “…providing the largest off-the-shelf software company for simulation software products (…) the Microsoft of modelling and simulation…” through the acquisition and integration of three other firms. Once again, his success would propel him to yet another career opportunity—one that he could not refuse. In 2008 he left CAE to become Vice President, then later, the VP International at General Dynamics. During this tenure, his expanded role led to the development of communications and mission systems solutions for clients across the globe. When CAE expanded its regional structure in 2013 in Ottawa, Greenley was the natural choice to step into his current leadership role as VP and General Manager of CAE Canada. Unlike CAE’s other region enterprises around the world, CAE Canada has a long and rich history of experience in defence, thanks to acquisitions and mergers. CAE Canada alone can state that it has “supported mission systems equipment for Canada’s F/A-18 aircraft for over 25 years, have been respon-
Mike Greenley
sible for electronic warfare suites for the army for over 30 years and are integrating the information environment for in-service support of the new Cyclone maritime helicopter,” as Greenley explained in his Canadian Defence Review profile. Using this exceptional heritage, he is leading CAE Canada to the next level of client service by providing comprehensive training solutions beyond simulation. “An exciting new project for us in the Ottawa region is our recent win of the simulation-based training system for the Canadian Coast Guard, where we will develop one of the most advanced helicopter simulators in the world and install it at the Transport Canada site here in Ottawa for Coast Guard training on both the Bell 412 and Bell 429 helicopters,” he explains. Throughout all of his accomplishments and changes in title under various corporate banners, Mike Greenley’s roots have been firmly planted in Ottawa. Of CAE’s office location in Kanata North, he says, “CAE has enjoyed a positive benefit from having one of our 12 sites across the country in Kanata, Ontario. We have solid engineering staff at this location, and are able to work collaboratively with business partners and subcontractors in the Kanata area.” It is certainly exciting to see what will come next in the continual evolution of Greenley’s career in defence and aerospace. With every new RFP and bid submission is another opportunity to surpass previous accomplishments, set new goals and soar to new heights.
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