Markham Voice - Summer/Fall 2023

Publisher/Editor Chris Collucci President & CEO

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David McGrew

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dmcgrew@markhamboard.com

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MaryAnn Quagliara

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LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE Launches LifeSaving Business

Itwas supposed to be another fun movie night with family and friends. But when 19-year-old Brittany Charlton felt her throat begin to close, unable to draw breath, she knew something was terribly wrong.

Rushed to the hospital, she describes seconds becoming minutes and then minutes turning into terrible, long hours struggling for breath.

Fast forward to today… What began as a peanut and tree-nut allergy, quickly grew into Brittany’s mission to create Inclusive Snacking for the world to enjoy.

Pioneering Innovation

Making the world a little sweeter and much safer is a guiding light for Ohh! Foods.

After her allergy incident, Brittany worried that she might never eat delicious snacks again. She worried she would never find new treats as good as peanut M&M’s, her favourites! So, she embarked on a mission to find allergen-friendly snacks in stores around her.

But hunting for solutions, even when she found an “allergen friendly” option in stores, a quick read through the ingredients too often dispelled the illusion of a safe snack to avoid another doctor’s visit. This was the turning point where Brittany chose to meet the challenge with her own innovation.

It took her months of trial and error to develop a delicious, allergen-friendly recipe but with persistence and innovation, she did it! The result was incredible. Her mom gave her one last push. Brittany knew in her heart this was something for every person facing food allergies!

In 2018, she created Ohh! Foods, with the mission to provide high-quality, allergen-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free products to consumers.

Accelerating Success

As a startup in the Markham YSpace Innovation Hub, Ohh! Foods went on to sell over $250,000 worth of nutritious, allergy-free snacks in 2018.

Within eight months of launch, Ohh! Foods Apple Pie and Coconut Brownie Ohh! Bites were already being sold in major retail stores across Canada, including Sobeys, Healthy Planet, Metro, and Bed Bath and Beyond!

The brand’s commitment to exceptional quality, accessibility, and innovation quickly established it as a reputable player in the market, gaining the trust of a rapidly growing customer base.

Turning Challenge Into Opportunity

In 2020, the world was hit hard by the pandemic, but Brittany and her team refused to let the pandemic defeat them and asked themselves: “What Do People Need?”

Together, they realized customers needed something new, comforting, and allergen-free to snack on, so they launched the first flavours for a whole new Ohh! Cookie Dough line.

The new Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough sold out in just three days, proving they hit the mark! Birthday Cake Cookie Dough quickly became another fan favourite. Sunflower Butter Cup Cookie Dough (even better than peanut butter cookie dough) was another flavour, all mouth-watering and delicious.

Ohh! Foods quickly gained momentum by offering innovative allergen-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free products for delicious, inclusive snacking.

Keys To Unlocking Expansion

To succeed in this competitive industry, Ohh! Foods placed strong emphasis on creating a sustainable pricing strategy to balance low-unit economics with the need to provide customer value and engage in promotional activities at the retail level, all while supporting the longterm growth of the company.

To achieve this goal, Brittany enlisted the help of a fractional CFO who has played a crucial role in negotiating rates with comanufacturers, developing a long-term financial vision, and planning for future capital requirements.

Expanding with new opportunities in Canada and internationally, Brittany is excited about the launch of Ohh! Foods into the US market. It presents fantastic prospects to connect with brokers, distributors, and established retailers.

Brittany’s vision for Ohh! Foods is to become a global leader in allergen-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free products.

Entrepreneurial Journey

Ohh! Foods was founded with a heartfelt mission to make a difference in the lives of those who struggle with food allergies. They are committed to providing delicious, allergy-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free products. More than a business, the commitment is a symbol of hard work, resilience, and hope.

To others in business, Brittany Charlton’s advice is to take the leap of faith and pursue your dreams, no matter how far away they seem. She believes everyone has the potential to bring value to the world, and with action, hard work, and learning from mistakes, anyone can make a difference.

Brittany always encourages others to “Just do it” and don’t let fear or doubt hold you back. According to this Ohh! Foods founder, the key to success is to focus on improvement, day by day to make a difference in the world.

You can learn more about Brittany Charlton and the Ohh! Foods story at ohhfoods.com

UNLOCKING Digital Marketing Strategies For Business Growth

Intoday’s digital age, businesses are presented with a world of opportunities to expand their reach, connect with their target audience, and achieve remarkable growth. However, success in digital marketing requires a combination of creativity, strategic thinking, and continuous analysis. This comprehensive guide by The Social Nerds explores the art of unlocking digital marketing strategies that can fuel business growth and propel your brand to new heights. At The Social Nerds, we specialize in providing cutting-edge digital marketing solutions that take your social media presence to new heights.

From Facebook, LinkedIn, and

Instagram marketing to broader digital marketing techniques, we will provide you with an information-rich journey that will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to unlock your business’s full potential in the digital landscape.

1. The Power Of Digital Marketing: Your Path To Success

Embracing The Digital Era: Transforming The Way Businesses Connect World organizations are undergoing a transformative shift in the way they connect with their target audience. It

involves leveraging digital channels like social media, websites, and email to build authentic relationships, capture attention, and drive meaningful conversions.

By embracing the opportunities offered by the digital landscape, businesses can position themselves for success and unlock unprecedented potential for growth in a digitally connected world.

The Benefits Of Digital Marketing: Fueling Business Growth

Digital marketing is a game-changer for businesses seeking steady growth. By harnessing digital marketing strategies,

businesses can amplify their brand presence, captivate their audience, attract quality leads, and boost conversions. The result? Accelerated business expansion and triumphant success.

2. Understanding Your Target Audience: The Key To Success

Audience Segmentation: Unlocking Targeted Marketing

Audience segmentation allows businesses to divide their target market into distinct groups based on various factors such as age, gender, location, interests, and behavior.

By identifying these segments, businesses can tailor their marketing messages, strategies, and offerings to cater to the specific needs of each segment, thereby maximizing the impact of their digital marketing efforts.

Persona Development: Creating Customer Profiles

Persona development involves creating fictional profiles that represent your ideal customers. Businesses gain

invaluable insights into their target audience’s psyche by diving deep into their characteristics, goals, challenges, and motivations. This enables them to develop highly targeted and personalized marketing strategies that resonate with their customers on a deeper level, building trust and driving conversions.

Market Research: Unveiling Customer Insights

Thorough market research helps businesses comprehensively understand their industry, competitors, and target market. Businesses can unearth valuable

customer insights that inform their digital marketing strategies by conducting surveys, interviews, and analyzing existing data.

3. Website Optimization: Enhancing User Experience And Conversion Rates Responsive Design: Creating A Seamless User Experience

In today’s mobile-driven world, responsive design is imperative for website success. By providing a user-

friendly and visually appealing website, businesses can engage visitors, reduce bounce rates, and encourage conversions.

User-Interface Design: Guiding Users On The Journey

An intuitive and well-designed user interface (UI) is key to engaging and converting website visitors. A wellstructured navigation system, clear callto-action buttons, and visually appealing design elements guide users through the website and help them find the information or products they seek.

Compelling Content: Informing, Educating, And Engaging

High-quality content, such as informative blog posts, engaging videos, and visually appealing images, is the backbone of a successful website. Whether you opt for Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram marketing or implement traditional marketing tactics to achieve online success, you will need some powerful strategies regarding content creation to engage your audience.

3.1. Page Load Speed: Optimizing For A Seamless Experience

Page load speed plays a crucial role in user experience and search engine rankings. Slowloading websites frustrate visitors and negatively impact conversion rates. By optimizing website performance through techniques such as image optimization, caching, and minimizing code, businesses can create a seamless browsing experience, ensuring visitors

stay engaged and are more likely to convert.

4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Boosting Visibility In Search Results

Keyword Research: Uncovering Search Intent

Keyword research is the foundation of effective SEO. It helps you know the latest top trends and how you can utilize them in making your Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram marketing strategies to climb the Google SERPs results.

On-Page Optimization: Optimizing Website Elements

On-page optimization involves optimizing various elements on your website to improve its search engine visibility. This includes optimizing meta tags, headers, URLs, and content structure to align with targeted keywords. By following on-page

optimization best practices, businesses can improve their website’s relevance, crawlability, and overall visibility in search results.

Technical Seo: Enhancing Website Performance

Technical SEO focuses on optimizing the technical aspects of your website to improve its visibility and performance. This includes optimizing website speed, ensuring mobilefriendliness, implementing structured data markup, and improving website security. Businesses can enhance their website’s search engine rankings and user experience by addressing technical SEO elements.

Link Building: Establishing Authority And Trust

Link building is a critical component of off-page SEO. By earning high-quality backlinks from reputable websites, businesses can improve their website’s authority, credibility, and visibility in search results.

5. Social Media Marketing: Amplifying Your Brand’s Reach Platform Selection: Choosing The Right Channels

Social media platforms offer immense opportunities for businesses to reach and engage their target audience. However, not all platforms are suitable for every business. For example, Facebook and Instagram audience is used mostly by general audiences globally, so you can opt for Facebook and Instagram marketing to promote your business or product. On the other hand, LinkedIn is used for professional connections and digital promotions, whereas YouTube offers its services for various promotional campaigns.

Content Strategy: Creating Engaging And Shareable Content

Creating compelling content is crucial for social media success. Whether it’s informative blog posts, eye-catching visuals on Instagram for marketing, or interactive videos on YouTube, businesses

must develop a content strategy that aligns with their brand voice and resonates with their target audience.

Influencer Marketing: Leveraging The Power of Influence

Influencer marketing has emerged as a prominent strategy for brands to expand their reach and connect with their target audience. By collaborating with influencers, businesses can enhance their brand’s visibility, credibility, and engagement on social media platforms.

6. Discover The Digital Advantage With The Social Nerds

Congratulations! You’ve now unlocked a treasure trove of digital marketing strategies that can skyrocket your business’s growth and success in the online world. Keep yourself updated with the latest trends and continuously fine-tune your strategies to stay ahead of the game.

With The Social Nerds by your side, you have a team of experts ready to support your journey to digital marketing greatness by utilizing Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram marketing strategies. So, gear up, get creative, and let’s conquer the digital landscape together!

Unlock Your Business Potential: Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your business through digital marketing? Don’t miss out on the opportunity to reach a wider audience, connect with your customers, and drive exponential growth. Visit our website www.thesocialnerds.com to learn more about our services, success stories, and how we can help your business thrive in the digital realm.

The Social Nerds can propel your brand to new heights. Get in touch with us today and let’s embark on an exciting journey of business growth together.

The Social Nerds can propel your brand to new heights. Get in touch with us today and let’s embark on an exciting journey of business growth together.

York U’s Markham Campus helps students hone skills in the real world

Practical, hands-on experience is the ideal tool for helping university students stand out from the competition and land that first job. Not only does it help you think outside the box and develop key workplace skills and competencies, but it also gives you a network of contacts in your field before you even graduate.

That’s why, when York University’s new Markham Campus opens its doors in Spring 2024, it will embody everything the University has learned about creating a dynamic, practical and collaborative learning experience.

Embedded in the heart of one of the most diverse urban communities in the province, Markham Campus has built its academic programs and research around the core

themes of technology and entrepreneurship, in keeping with the area’s needs. “The campus will offer students the competitive advantage of an experiential education designed to produce job-ready candidates,” says Gordon Binsted, deputy provost of Markham Campus. Read on for three top reasons to consider studying at York University’s newest campus:

1. You’ll get real-world experience.

Most Markham Campus programs will offer an experiential education component, where students learn by doing.

Why does it matter? Because, whether you take part in a co-op, research collaboration or internship, you get “concrete, applied practical experience that helps prepare you for life after

university,” says William Gage, York University’s associate vice-president, teaching and learning.

York University facilitates the process by developing relationships with local businesses and other employers, and providing job search and support for students seeking out internships or co-op work terms. It’s a formula that works well for students, according to management practice grad Sanjay Jhaveri. He credits York University with giving him opportunities to connect with leading professionals from some of Canada’s best companies. “It helped me gain valuable insight about business analytics and performance management solutions to be incorporated into future research possibilities,” he says.

2. You’ll have access to innovative research opportunities.

Markham Campus has developed three strategic research clusters aimed at meeting the needs of employers in the tech-forward Markham community and ensuring good jobs and research opportunities for grads. They include:

“The campus will offer students the competitive advantage of an experiential education designed to produce job-ready candidates”

GORDON BINSTED, DEPUTY PROVOST OF MARKHAM CAMPUS.

• Artificial intelligence: Learn how to foster innovation in AI technology and engineering with an eye to serving human needs in a socially responsible way.

• Financial technology: Develop, evaluate and implement next-gen financial technologies to address real-world problems ethically.

• Digital culture: Explore how arts, humanities, science and digital

technologies can collaborate to construct a responsible and sustainable digital future.

Public policy considerations will underpin each of the three research clusters, addressing the broader issues of ethics, governance and public policy in an era of technological disruption and rapid innovation.

3. You can participate in a fully work-integrated program.

“When corporate leaders in Canada were asked to name threats to business growth in a recent KPMG outlook poll, digital skills were identified as the top concern,” says Jane Goodyer, dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University.

Across multiple sectors, she adds, businesses struggle to recruit and retain digital tech specialists in areas such as cybersecurity, data science and software development. That’s where York University’s new fully work-integrated learning (WIL) program comes into play. This uniquely flexible alternative to traditional university degree study allows students to simultaneously earn and learn. Eighty per

cent of the program is experiential, so students apply their theoretical learning immediately and continuously on the job. Twenty per cent of their work time is dedicated to academics, delivered during intensive five-day block periods at Markham Campus every six to seven weeks.

Building on the success of such programs in England and New Zealand, York University’s WIL programs open the doors for students who might not have the time or the money to pursue a traditional university degree. In fact, research from one of the leading providers – Manchester Metropolitan University – with which York University has partnered, showed learners performed so well in the program that 78 per cent got a pay raise and 64 per cent were promoted.

“Beginning Fall 2023, the Digital Technologies undergraduate program will be an extraordinary first for Canada to build its tech sector,” says Goodyer. “And at the heart of an integrated program is a tight-knit, symbiotic industry-academia relationship that reimagines the future of learning and employment.”

The Future of learning is coming to York Region. To learn more about Markham Campus opening Spring 2024, visit www.yorku.ca/markham.

MBT NETWORKS Signature Events

Breakfast

Networking Events

the 2nd Thursday of each month

Women’s LuncheonsNetworking

are held in March and October

Golf Tournament coming in August

Mayor’s State of the City coming in October

REGISTER

After Hours

Networking Events

the 4th Thursday of each month

33rd Annual Business Excellence Awards coming in November

MBT Trade Show coming in September

Small Business Forum coming in October

• Start-up regulations

• Business plans and market research

• Financing, grants, and taxes

• Digital sales and marketing

• Resources and more

Creating a People Centre Workplace Post-Pandemic

By Hilda Gan

We

have been in a global pandemic for three years, forcing companies and individuals to be more resourceful, creative and flexible. Employees who worked from home experienced lifestyle’s benefits. As a result, many want to find more meaningful work in a safe environment and Companies are having trouble finding and keeping staff.

So how do you keep and attract talent post-pandemic? Creating a more people-centric is the solution. Using AI, ChatGPT identified the Top HR Trends in 2023 as

1. Remote work and hybrid work models

2. A Focus on Employee Wellness

3. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation

4. Employee experience and engagement

5. Upskilling and reskilling

6. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)

Tips and strategies for remote and hybrid work models, people-centric workplaces and adopting AI and technology can help companies be successful in 2023.

Remote Work and Hybrid Work Models

Companies need to be flexible in creating Remote and Hybrid Work models. Since many employees have worked remotely during the pandemic, businesses should consider the time and place when it is practical, productive, and in the best interest of the Company and their staff.

Benefits of working in the office include improved engagement and connectivity and the learned experiences of being physically present with coworkers and managers. Implement times

LOOKING FOR WORK OR QUALIFIED TALENT? WE CAN HELP!

ACCES Employment is a leader in assisting jobseekers from diverse backgrounds find meaningful employment and further their careers in the Canadian job market.

We work hard to match the right candidates with the right roles by collaborating directly with employers to understand their business needs and find qualified talent.

Contact us today to get started!

905.840.2660 accesemployment.ca

when being in the office is beneficial to teams and individuals.

Staff can be more productive when working from home - due to greater flexibility, reduced stress and the ability to better manage work-life balance. 40% of employees work longer hours at home versus the office (Ergotron). McLean & Company noted employee engagement is more positive for remote work than work only on-site. Remote and hybrid work also had no negative impact on company culture.

Evidence supports a remote or hybrid model over a return to work full time and will result in improved engagement and better retention of employees.

Create People-Centric Workplaces

The trend in 2023 is to create a peoplecentric workplace. This includes focuses on wellness, engaging staff, creating a

diverse and inclusive work culture and training staff. Research from the Great Place to Work® shows that organizations that create equitable workplaces for their employees and rank on our Best Workplaces lists see 3X higher revenue growth than their peers, significantly less turnover, and an easier time attracting top talent.

There are many ways you can improve employee engagement. This starts with a well-developed onboarding orientation that makes people feel included from Day One and has Performance Reviews that focus on the future potential and growth of the employee.

When planning for the future, consider the Employee Experience. Map what that would look like in your organization and how an employee would experience feeling a sense of value and importance from the first day and orientation and throughout their growth.

It also includes considering an Employee Wellness Program. As a result of the challenges, more people are stressed than ever before. According to a recent survey by Robert Half, 36% of workers said they’re more burned out now than a year ago. Of the professionals surveyed, 29% said a lack of communication and support from management sparked burnout. Wellness Programs can improve staff physical, mental, emotional health, relationships and productivity within your organization.

Workplaces should also strive to create an environment where people feel psychologically safe, including programs and practices that include DEIB. For a better ROI, companies should operationalize their efforts. The key is making staff feel inclusive and valued in the organization.

It also should include training managers to detect stress and develop people leadership skills to help build trusting relationships with their staff. Workplace leaders are often promoted for their ability to manage the operations side of the project and the client but lack the skills to lead, motivate and uplift their teams. Managers are the pivotal point in your organization to retain talent. People leadership training will yield a great ROI.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation

The use of AI and automation has benefits regardless of the size of your business. AI can save research time and gives information to assist in decisions. However, AI should not replace the human interface that is needed at times, but it gives you a starting point and can save time.

Automation should be considered, and many HR software applications can help automate payroll, benefits, applicant tracking, metrics and developing onboarding and educational

programs. The ROI for the software results in improved quality and consistency of HR operations and frees up time for HR to spend time on people.

Summary

In 2023, if you want to retain staff, become more people-centric and invest time and money in making people feel valued and less stressed in the workplace. AI and automation can increase the quality and consistency of the employee experience. Money budgeted for these strategies will show a substantive ROI and increase employee engagement, retention and productivity. Connect with the author for more tips and strategies to build a better workplace.

About the Author | Hilda Gan is an awardwinning work culture expert, keynote speaker and international best-selling author. She is the President and Chief People Officer of People Bright Consulting, an HR Consulting and Leadership and Team Building training company that helps transforms businesses and leaders to REVUP their Potential.

CONSUMER DEBT CRISIS: How did we get here and what do we do?

By Robbie Shifman

The numbers show a clear picture, Canadians are struggling financially.

Statistics Canada reports that, in Q4 of 2022, for every dollar of disposable income the average Canadian has,’s they owe $1.80 in debt.

In Dec. 2022, credit bureau, Equifax reported that Canadians owed $2.36 trillion in consumer debt. That’s an average of $21,183 in non-mortgage debt per consumer.

The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy reported that consumer insolvencies increased by 24.8% when comparing Feb. 2022 to Feb. 2023.

It’s obvious that our finances are in rough shape. This brings up a couple of important questions.

What got us here?

Where do consumers and businesses go from here?

What happened?

Just how did we end up here in crisis mode? Three main factors spearheaded the need for relying on consumer debt.

FOOD PRICES

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, the project lead and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, put it well when he said, “To say that it’s been a challenging year for Canadians at the grocery store would be an understatement.”

Their research has shown that food prices haven’t inflated this much in over 40 years.

There are a number of factors involved in why prices have gone up so much. The most prominent are transportation costs, supply chain issues, political upheaval, and climate change. One of these issues would be enough to raise prices noticeably. Put them all together and Canadian wallets are getting pinched hard.

While Charlebois’ team doesn’t expect prices to go up as much this year as they did last year, they’re still predicting a 57% increase overall. That equates to a family of four spending an additional $1,065.60 more this year on groceries.

Housing costs

The cost of housing has been a hot topic in Canada for quite a few years now. That was even before the pandemic turned it into an outright blistering topic.

The housing market peaked in Feb. 2022 with the average home in Canada going for $816,578 according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. Prices have been dropping since. A year-overyear comparison saw prices dropping 19% in Feb. 2023, landing at $662,437.

Prices may be dropping, but that doesn’t mean the cost of keeping a roof over our heads is becoming affordable. In Feb. 2020, the average sale price for a home was $540,000. That means home prices are still 22.7% higher than they were before the spike from the pandemic.

Existing homeowners are getting pinched too. Interest rates went so high that the threshold for variable-rate mortgages was breached. Leaving those homeowners trying to figure out how to manage a massive spike in their mortgage payments. Overall, mortgage payments jumped 17.8% between Q3 of 2021 and Q3

of 2022. That’s just one aspect of the cost of maintaining a home. Other costs also went up, such as heat and maintenance.

Renters haven’t been getting a break either. Rentals.ca reports that the average listing price in Feb of 2021 was $1,689 across Canada. It’s finally slowly coming down from its peak, landing at $2,004 in Mar. 2023.

A housing shortage, increased labour and material costs, pressure from international real estate buyers, and constant interest rate hikes from the Bank of Canada squeezed money from bank accounts.

Labour Market

There’s a perfect storm of employment issues that are playing a major factor in what’s happening with the finances of Canadians.

Unexpectedly, quarantine had turned out to be, in a way, a forced savings plan. There was nowhere to spend money so it started to pile up in our accounts. Once businesses started opening up again, many of us emerged from quarantine with a full bank account and a pent-up desire to spend. Much to the relief of businesses, spend we did!

When the quarantine was over, businesses scrambled to get fully operational again, but it took time. Much of the delay in getting back to normal operations stemmed from the difficulty in filling jobs. People weren’t eager to get back to work and put themselves at risk of getting sick. To entice people back to work wages went up.

Pulling the whole scene together

Demand is so high that even when businesses got back to full capacity many couldn’t keep up. Operating costs have gone up to meet wage demands. Unsurprisingly, this new economic climate forced prices to skyrocket. That’s why, in Q2 of 2022, Statistics Canada reported that the CPI (Consumer Price Index) went up 7.5 percent. Here’s where things get tricky. In the same time period, it was reported that the average hourly wage was $24.05, an increase of 5.3 percent.

In other words, paycheques are going

up, but not as fast as prices. Especially, when it came to necessities like housing and food.

Eventually, people had to find a way to make up the difference between money coming in and going out.

Emergency funds dried up and credit limits were maxed out.

Businesses are facing the same situation. This new economy has made it particularly hard to find the balance point between charging a price people can afford and still covering expenses.

What do we do personally?

Now that we have a clear picture of why Canadians are finding it hard to make ends meet, the next really important question is, what do we do?

The best way to move forward is to put your efforts where you have the greatest impact, your personal and business finances. Focus on getting them on track. Two of the best tools to do that are education and stopping the debt cycle.

EDUCATION

Finances can be intimidating for a number of reasons. For some, they get anxious working with numbers. For others, it’s fear of knowing just how bad the situation is. Like other fears, a good way to overcome them is by taking action. One of the most powerful actions available is educating yourself.

A lot of fear can be lifted just by

learning some simple tools and then using them to implement a plan. In terms of personal finances, these tools are budgeting, debt management, and credit optimization. Learning these skills helps build financial confidence and sets people up for financial success.

The good news is, there are lots of helpful workshops and programs out there that teach these skills.

Stop the debt cycle

A lot of people fall into the trap of taking out more credit to keep up with bills and debt. At one point, the debt becomes unmanageable. There’s no way to keep a roof over their head, food on the table, and pay off the debt that’s piled up. When this happens, the only way to take back control of their finances is to stop the debt cycle.

Luckily, there are many options available to put the brakes on accumulating debt. Debt management programs, consolidation loans, consumer proposals, and bankruptcy are all ways to stop the cycle. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, but all are designed for setting up a manageable plan for getting out of debt. Deciding which one to use depends on the person

HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE

The AlectraCARES Community Support Program is about investing in what makes every community stronger: food security, diversity and inclusion, accessible health care, protecting the environment and more.

$6+ million in cash and in-kind donations

Hundreds of communities made stronger

and their particular financial situation. A trained credit counsellor, like those at Consolidated Credit Canada, will ask the right questions to understand someone’s financial picture. They’ll then use that information to form a plan of action for getting that person out of debt and on the road to financial success.

What can businesses do?

In short, the best thing businesses can do is keep informed and inform.

KEEP INFORMED

Stay up to date on what’s happening with the economy, particularly within your industry. For example, if the Bank of Canada lowers rates, is there something you can do to manage your financing better? Or, are there new trends in the industry that improve efficiencies?

INFORM

Help employees get their finances in order by sharing sound financial knowledge. There are a number of ways you can help. For example, the KOFE (Knowledge of Financial Education) platform offers a variety of resources and tools that aim to improve money management skills,

especially around budgeting, credit, and avoiding challenging debt situations.

According to the FCAC (Financial Consumer Agency of Canada), more than 80% want their workplace to offer financial education programs. KOFE is designed to be a highly effective and efficient way to fulfill that request.

How will these things help?

Businesses that do these things will quickly see that it’s not only beneficial to the employees, but to the business’s bottom line as well.

It’s no secret that businesses thrive when employees feel supported and that they matter to the company. Helping

employees with their finances, especially in a time of need, will go a long way to creating a work environment that inspires those things.

To go along with that, financial stress affects every part of our lives. Well over half of employees that are stressed out about money admits to spending at least 3 hours per week at work dealing with their finances. It should come as no surprise then that when employees feel confident that their finances are under control, they inevitably have better focus and more energy to do their best work.

While the numbers may look bleak right now, it’s not hopeless. By doing your part to manage your finances well and

help the others around you do the same the overall economy will, eventually, follow suit. When it does, the numbers will turn around to paint a much better picture.

Robbie Shifman holds a Master of Applied Health Sciences from the University of Waterloo. He is a published social researcher and creator of awardwinning community programs.

Robbie is the Community Outreach Manager at Consolidated Credit Canada. He works to improve the financial literacy of Canadians by partnering with organizations to offer their teams and clients workshops, access to the KOFE (Knowledge of Financial Education) platform, and sharing the benefits of credit counselling.

The Markham Board of Trade is the voice of business in the City of Markham. Established in 1981, MBT is a not-for-profit, membership based association. We advocate on your behalf with all levels of government through a broader regional, provincial and national network of boards of trade and chambers of commerce. Connect with the right people through our outstanding events. Call us today at 289-844-3017 or find us online at markhamboard.com and take the first steps in joining MARKHAM’S PREMIER BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

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AB Gift Baskets

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www.barkeryspa.com

BD Real Estate Team homeyourdream.ca

Benridge Canine Services benridgecanineservices.com

Better Events Management Group Inc. bizcon.ca

Bromwich and Smith Inc. www.bromwichandsmith.com

Canada Computers Inc. www.canadacomputers.com

D’care Foundation dcarefoundation.ca

DeBesTThing Inc www.debestthing.com

Delios Management Group Inc. www.lmicanada.ca/coach/Steve-Delios.html

Eagle Digital Media | Digital Marketing Agency eagledigitalmedia.com

Easyline Express www.easylineexpress.com

Edward Jones – Delia French www.edwardjones.ca/ca-en/financialadvisor/delia-french

Edward Jones – Makarand Deshpande edwardjones.ca/makarand-deshpande

Elegant Renderings www.Elegantrenderings.ca

Elevate Talent & Marketing www.elevatetm.com

Emily Liu Healing Inc. www.emilyliu.ca

Gustin Quon linkedin.com/in/karen-o’leary-0b2a06268

High Notes Avante Productions Inc highnotesavante.ca

Hugh Barnsley REALTOR, Royal LePage YCR hughbarnsley.com

Hygienic Echo Inc. hygienicecho.com

INFOCAR infocar.ca

Innovate You www.innovateyou.ca

Isophit www.isophit.com

Is LinkedIn the Platform for You?

pg 9

Smart City Accelerator Research Program Comes to Markham

Jakes on Main jakesonmainunionville.com

Jeff Shaw Realtor Corp www.jdshaw.ca

pg 16

JEI Learning Center Markham www.jeimarkham.com Canadalend.com canadalend.com

Energy Watch Inc www.energywatchinc.com

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS!

Ketopifactory www.ketopifactory.com

LanX Communications Ltd. lanx.ca

Lennard Commercial Realty www.lennard.com

LiveEx Shield Corp. liveexshield.com

Lyrical Security Ltd. www.lyricalsecurity.com

Machat Medical Aesthetics machatmedical.com

Master Airtube Service Ltd. masterairtube.com

Men In Kilts www.meninkilts.com/york-region

MICROSYS INC microsysinc.ca

Monet Inc. www.monetmarketing.com

Mulqueen Disability Law Professional Corporation www.mulqueendisabilitylaw.com

My Insurance Broker Corp. myinsurancebroker.com

MyDreamFinance Corp. www.mydreamfinance.com

Networx Audio Video Inc networxav.com

Nugen-rx Group nugen-rx.com

Park ‘N Fly Canada parknfly.ca

Payworks Inc. payworks.ca

People Bright Consulting www.peoplebrightconsulting.com

Plenus Development Group plenusdevelopment.com

Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge – Thornhill symposiumcafe.com/locations/ thornhill-restaurants

TacticSee Government Funding_SRED TacticSee.com

Precision Beauty www.facebook.com/ Precisionbeautymarkham/ Talencity www.talencity.com

PuroClean of Markham/Scarborough www.puroclean.ca/markhamscarborough

R Spa www.rspa.ca

ReMax All Stars Realty Inc – Rodica Iliescu www.remax.ca/commercial/ on/rodica-iliescu-50556-ag

Rick Allington Insurance Agency Ltd www.rickallington.com

RiskAware Inc. riskaware.io

Rozel Digital www.rozeldigital.com

Sandringham Holdings Ltd

Senovva www.senovva.com

Silver Touch Technologies Canada Ltd. www.silvertouch.ca

Sina Printing Inc. www.sinaprinting.com

Sunrise of Unionville SunriseUnionville.com

Sutton Group-Admiral Realty www.larryjkaplan@gmail.com

Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge – Markham symposiumcafe.com/locations/markhamrestaurants

Terre Rouge Hospitality Group terrerougetoronto.com

The Bank of Nova Scotia

The Curious Salesperson thecurioussalesperson.com

The Osborne Group www.osborne-group.com

The RPM Groups www.therpmgroups.com

Thryve Digital Marketing thryvemarketing.ca

Unionville College www.unionvillecollege.com

V2reno v2reno.com

Via Rail viarail.ca

Vin Bon Richmond Hill www.vinbon.com/locations/ vin-bon-richmond-hill

WellConnected

Willow Springs Winery www.willowspringswinery.com

Wired for the Future www.wiredforthefuture.com

World Financial Group Inc agents.wfgcanada.ca/shammi-chopra