Business Examiner Peace Cariboo Skeena - April 2016 by Business Examiner Media Group

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APRIL 2016

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NORTHERN BC Forestry & Mining Sectors Central To

Nation nal in Scope, Locall in Focus

Region’s Economy

Peace Cariboo Skeena WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA

Now in Terracee

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Merger brings first national accounting and business consulting firm to Terrace

MONTNEY New Mobile Crane Company Experiencing Growth

McAlpine & Co. Chartered Accountants joins MNP LLP

T PAGE 23

INDEX News Update

Fort St. John

Northern Building Awards

Prince George

Movers and Shakers 16 Opinion

Sales

Prince Rupert

ERRACE – On February 1, McAlpine & Co Chartered Accountants merged with MNP LLP, one of Canada’s largest accounting and business consulting firms, gaining access to strong brand value and a substantial specialty resource base. James Byrne, regional marketing manager for MNP’s Vancouver Island and Northern BC regions, said the firm’s expansion into Terrace follows recent mergers into Prince George and Vanderhoof in 2015. MNP has also had an office in Fort St. John since 2006. “MNP is a home-grown company that originated in Manitoba in 1958. Since then we have evolved into a national firm with offices in every province. In 2002 we began focusing on developing a presence in BC and now have 19 offices throughout the province.” “To m a i nta i n ou r cor porate culture, we have been very strategic about who we invite

to our team and are attracting some of the brightest professionals in our industry,” said Darren Turchansky, MNP’s executive vice president of the BC region. “Terrace is the regional service hub with many of the business, retail, medical and government services for the northwestern portion of BC. As the economy of Terrace grows, so do the needs of the business community.” For Michael Johnson, business advisor, MNP Terrace, the merger made sense for his firm’s clients and its continued development. “We’ve been here a long time and are familiar with the regions’ people and industry. As the marketplace evolves and our client needs become more complex, we believe that becoming part of a national firm with a local client service philosophy and greater breadth and depth of services and resources, will serve them better and position us for continued success and growth.”

Michael Johnson said the merger will serve his clients better CREDIT:MNP

James Byrne, regional marketing manager for MNP’s Vancouver Island and Northern BC regions CREDIT:MNP

“We now benefit from having access to a large group of specialists,” he said. “It augments our information base and adds our local knowledge to the company resources.” Byrne said that MNP’s model of developing niche specialties has helped to fuel MNP’s rapid growth. “MNP has done a very good job at developing teams who focus on specific client groups such as

First Nations, forestry or construction. Each specialist understands the client’s unique issues and speaks the language of the industry.” With the highest year-overyear growth rates of any of Canada’s top accounting firms, eight years in a row, MNP credits strategic mergers like the one with McAlpine, acquisitions, organic SEE MNP LLP | PAGE 4

It Starts With A Spark Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

Professional women’s conference in third year, seeing results ERIC REYNOLDS

ort St. John – The third a n nu a l Spa rk Women’s Leadership Conference is set to take place in Fort St. John on May 18 and 19. “We’re thrilled to be in our third year,” said Jennifer Moore, Spark Conference Chair and Regional Economic Development

Officer with North Peace Economic Development Commission (NPEDC). The conference exists to increase the capacity of the local workforce, and in spite of only having two years under its belt, they’ve seen traction. For example, there’s last year’s conference attendee Jody Mitchel l who was able to ta ke her

business—Filaprint, based in Tumbler Ridge—to the next level as a result of the conference. She won a Small Business BC Award last year. And then there’s this year’s co-emcee who represents local talent and was a past conference attendee. Not to mention the three local women are providing “blink”—or short—presentations

during the conference. And perhaps most impressively is the angel program, where women who h ave f i n a nci a l constraints can apply to receive sponsorship. Last year one of the sponsorships was provided by a woman who received funding in the previous year. SEE PARK CONFERENCE | PAGE 6

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2 PRINCE RUPERT Rupert Port Enhances Safe Shipping The Port of Prince Rupert has announced completion of critical milestones in the implementation of marine safety enhancement projects achieved together with partner agencies. In collaboration with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), as well as input from the Pacific Pilotage Authority ( PPA) a nd BC Coast Pilots (BCCP), the Port has successfully established another aid to navigation with advanced tech nolog y capabilities at the mouth of Prince Rupert’s Fairview Channel. Prince Rupert’s shore-based radar project also progressed toward completion with the arrival of several tonnes of technical equipment last week. Over the past five years the Port of Prince Rupert has invested millions of dollars in capital to assess risk, streamline practices and procedures, and create a marine safety regime rivalling the world’s largest ports. The Kaien Island Sector Light is the second such enhancement to navigational safety funded by the Port through a Memorandum of Understanding signed with CCG in 2014, and provides mariners with a visual aid to identify the centre of the safe deep water navigation channel for ships arriving and departing the inner harbour. Li ke the rada r system, the $500,000 navigation aid will be maintained by CCG and contribute to improved navigation safety of the Port of Prince Rupert’s nearly 500 annual commercial vessel calls. Equipment for the shore-based radar system was customized for Prince Rupert before being shipped from France under the supervision of Port Authority staff. The twenty crates and pallets arrived intact at the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) base in Seal Cove last week. The delivery included all radar components that will be used to establish three elevated radar sites (P r i nce Rup er t Gra i n, Mount Hays and Dundas Island) that will provide shore based radar coverage extending to the northeast of Haida Gwaii as far north as the Alaskan border. The $5 million project was funded jointly by the Port of Prince Ruper t, RCMP a n d We s t e r n Economic Diversiﬁcation Canada, w ith ongoi ng operation a nd maintenance provided by CCG, and is expected to be operational in July. T h rough a process of continuous engagement with all its stakeholders, from local recreational harbour users to the marine pilots that navigate the 1,000-foot commercial vessels, the Port has been strengthening the systems in place that make

NEWS UPDATE a naturally safe harbour even safer.

SMITHERS TELUS Invests $1M in Wireless from Smithers – Houston As part of a strategic partn e rs h i p w i t h t h e P ro vi nce, TELUS h a s i nve st e d $1 million to build a new wireless site along Highway 16, bringing wireless service to approximately 13 kilometers of highway and the town of Telkwa. “TELUS’ investment in this site will ensure travelers and residents can make calls along this stretch of highway, and, critically, reach 911 in the event of an emergency,” said Lance MacDonald, TELUS General Manager for Northern British Columbia. “With th is new site, T ELUS now provides wireless services to more than 508 kilometers of Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Prince George.” The project is part of the 10year Connecting British Columbia Agreement TELUS signed with the Province of BC in 2011. Under the terms of the agreement TELUS will invest to connect more than 1,700 kilometers of unconnected highways with wireless service. “Travelers along this section of Highway 16 will appreciate this latest expansion to cellular service, improving both safety and convenience for residents and visitors,” said Amrik Virk, Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services. “Working with TELUS, more than 1,500 kilometers of new cellular coverage has been completed along unconnected primary and secondary highway segments in BC helping to keep British Columbians connected.” Last year, TELUS announced a commitment to invest $4 billion in British Columbia through 2018 to bring advanced telecommunications infrastructure to every corner of the province, enabling sustained innovation, providing access to world-class education programmes, extending critical healthcare technology to more communities, and fueling economic growth.

NORTHERN BC Urban-Aboriginals Receive $2M for Skills Training Reducing barriers and enhancing access to training and jobs is behind a new partnership with the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) that will serve more than 1,000 Aboriginal people over the next three years. The BC government is investing $2 million over three years in a skills training project to support Aboriginal people in urban communities in northern BC The project will be administered by

the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres as part of the association’s Five by Five Aboriginal Jobs Strategy. The target population for the project includes urban, off-reserve Aboriginal individuals in Prince Rupert, Prince George, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Terrace and Smithers, including members of surrounding First Nations who live or access resources off-reserve. A key component of the project is to establish Five by Five employment centres in seven Aboriginal Friendship Centres across the North. The centres will act as hubs that connect people to employment-related services. Located in urban areas along the liquefied natural gas (LNG) corridor, the centres will provide a range of pre-employment services that support job readiness. Job placement co-ordinators will provide support to the centres and develop employment advancement and job plans to assist urban Aboriginal people in finding stable employment and economic independence. The co-ordinators will build relationships with local employers, industry and surrounding First Nations to connect urban Aboriginal people to relevant training and in-demand jobs. The project is funded through B.C.’s Aboriginal Skills Training Development Fund. Introduced in 2015, it will provide up to $10 million annually over three years for Aboriginal skills training, primarily in northern B.C. Offering community-driven skills training is one part of the Province’s efforts to include First Nations communities and Aboriginal people in new LNG sector opportunities. BC is also work i ng w it h Fi rst Nat ions communities on environmental stewardship priorities and benefits agreements.

CANADA New National Energy Code Focused on Energyefficient Solutions New buildings in Canada will become more energy efficient with the introduction of some 90 changes to the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2015. These changes also harmonize the Code with Canada’s energy efficiency regulations and industry standards. Updates can be found in standards for lighting, service water, and HVAC systems, such as gas-fired units on rooftops, and for ventilation systems in enclosed spaces like parking garages or warehouses. The Code builds on Canada’s commitment to work closely with the provinces and territories on the Canadian Energy Strategy, which protects Canada’s energy security and encourages energy conservation. Provinces and

APRIL 2016

territories are free to adopt the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings or adapt it to create a code that meets their specific needs. The National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2015 is published by the National Research Council and developed by the Canadian Commission of Building and Fire Codes in collaboration with Natural Resources Canada. New buildings constructed to the updated code will be 27 per cent more energy efficient than those constructed in 1997. The National Model Construction Codes, now called Codes Canada, are published approximately every five years to ensure that the latest innovations are applied safely by the construction industry. Energy efficiency in Canada’s commercial and institutional sector increased by 33 per cent between 1990 and 2012. T he energy savings accumulated could power 45.5 million computers for 1 year.

BC Province Reinforces Oil and Gas Safety Minister of Natural Gas Development Rich Coleman, has introduced amendments that will streamline safety oversight over oil and gas facilities, including liquefied natural gas facilities. Bill 13, the Safety Standards Amendment Act, 2016, will clarify regulatory oversight at oil and gas facilities to ensure equipment is covered by the highest safety standards. The amendments will eliminate overlaps and potential gaps as large-scale projects move forward. There are two agencies responsible – the act outlines the duties of each. The BC Oil and Gas Commission (OGC) is responsible for safety of oil and gas operations under the Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA). The BC Safety Authority (BCSA) provides oversight of technical equipment in industries throughout the province under the Safety Standards Act (SSA). In the context of oil and gas, the SSA and OGAA clarify responsibilities for the two agencies. For example, the BCSA maintains responsibility for refrigeration units such as ice arenas and cold storage facilities under the SSA. The OGC takes responsibility for refrigeration required for liquefaction in LNG plants under the OGAA, with technical support from the BCSA as required. In addition to providing certainty for industry, the amendments will: Ensure complex refrigeration associated with LNG is governed by the best-suited regulations; El i m i nate overlap where bot h reg u l ators apply t he sa me tech n ica l sta nd a rds for pressu re pipi ng; a nd,

Ensure safety oversight of elevators and ropeways, which may be present in large facilities. The OGC and BCSA have worked together with the provincial government and support these changes. The amendments have no impact to technical equipment outside of the oil and gas sector.

PRINCE GEORGE Small Businesses Receive Support from ‘Forest Innovation Fund’ Forest sector research and development is getting a boost with the help of Northern Development Initiative Trust’s new Forest Innovation Fund. The fund will provide up to $1 million in grants over a two-year period for small and mediumsized companies and community forests engaged in resource extraction, resource processing and supply chain activities related to the forest sector. The Forest Innovation Fund provides up to 50% to a maxi m u m o f $ 5 0,0 0 0 i n g r a n t funding per project to support research and development, innovative technologies, and new or improved products to optimize the fibre supply in central and northern B.C. The fund is part of the Trust’s ongoing response to the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic, which is anticipated to result in fibre supply reductions in the coming years that will impact jobs and communities in pine beetle affected areas. The Forest Innovation Fund will focus on support for small and medium-sized enterprises, filling a funding gap in the current innovation landscape that will create positive results for the region’s entrepreneurs and the communities they call home. Examples of eligible projects include innovation in biomass and harvesting and gathering techniques, site remediation advancements, seedling survival enhancement, value-added forest products, new technologies and technology transfer. Eligible companies must be privately owned, have less than 500 employees, annual revenue of less than $100 million and be based within the Trust’s service area. Applications for funding are being received on an ongoing basis. Application guides and forms can be downloaded at www.northerndevelopment. bc.ca. Quick Facts: The Forest Innovation Fund will provide $1 million in funding over a two-year period for small and medium-sized companies and community forests engaged in resource extraction, SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 3

NEWS UPDATE

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NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

resource processing and supply chain activities related to the forest sector Since 2005, Northern Development’s Pine Beetle Recovery Account has been utilized to support 246 projects throughout the region, totalling nearly $25 million in funding Local governments, First Nations and non-profit organizations in pine beetle impacted areas can access funding support for community projects through the Pine Beetle Recovery Account The Trust expects up to $2.5 million in grant funding will be approved through the Pine Beetle Recovery Account in 2016 to support communities and businesses The Forest Innovation Fund will complement the Province of British Columbia’s Forest Enhancement Society announced last week, which will be supp or te d w it h $ 85 m i l l ion i n funding

FORT ST. JOHN City Development Department Moving A cu l m i nation of the fi na l stages of the Organizational Review that began as part of the

2012 Council Strategic Plan, the Development Services Department is moving to a leased space in a new location. Effective March 8th, 9th and 10th, Development Services staff will be located on the main floor of the Beaton Building: 10003 110th Avenue. A few staff will be moved each day so it is best to call before a visit is planned. Payments for permits will still be received at City Hall. The services moving to the new office space include: Development, land use (zoning) permits, Building Inspection, Engineering, GIS & Mapping, and Planning. The organizational review was conducted with the objectives of the review identified as: ■ Develop an organizational structure that would improve management of the City over the next 5-10 years and align with the City’s strategic goals: ■ Identify and address organizational challenges that currently exist: ■ Ensure that key work processes, systems and services are well managed. To meet these objectives staffing was reorganized into better functioning departments with a General Manger responsible for the Division and Directors responsible for the Department work groups. Staff in City Hall will be moved around as well to allow work groups to be situated near each other for better workflow.

Nominations Open for Northern BC Commercial Building Awards

RINCE GEORGE – Which company has built the best com mercia l, i ndustria l and revenue producing buildings in Northern B.C.? Nominations are now being accepted for the 2016 Northern BC Commercial Building Awards, set for Thursday, June 2 at the Ramada Inn in Prince George. The bi-annual celebration of the best in commercial and industrial construction is for buildings completed between Ja n. 1, 2014 a nd Dec. 31, 2015 from Fort St. John and Dawson Creek to Prince Rupert, and from 100 Mile House to Prince George.

The Northern BC Commercial Building Awards were held in 2014, and the Judges’ Choice Award for Best Overall Entry went to 6534 Airport Road in Fort St. John. “T his event is all about celebrating what these individuals and companies have built, which make our Northern BC communities so vibrant,” says Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner Peace Cariboo Skeena, which stages the event. Gold Sponsors for the event are RE/MAX Commercial, the Northern Regional Construction Association and the Independent Contractors and Businesses

Association. T here a re 11 categories for these awards: Mixed Use (Commercial/Residential), Seniors Housing, Community – Institutional, Community – Recreational, Retail, Industrial, Mu lt i-Fa m i ly, Ho s pit a l it y, Commercial Renovation/Restoration, Office and Green. Nom i n at ion for m s c a n b e downloaded from www.busin e s s e x a m i n e r.c a a n d c l i c k t h rou g h Events, or contact M a rk M acDon a ld at m a rk@ businessexaminer.ca for a copy of the submission form. The deadline for submissions is April 15, 2016.

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SPRING BRINGS REFRESHED OUTLOOK FOR PG CHAMBER

PRINCE GEORGE CHRISTIE RAY

hile fall is the busiest season for most Chamb ers of Com merce, spring is one of our favourite times of year. This is the season where the important work of electing new directors to our Board happens at our AGM (occurred on March 31). We are rarely disappointed with the turnout for our Annual General Meeting each year because our Chamber board is one of the few boards in town that requires a true election of officers with ballots and voter registration. Fortunately, we often have more candidates running for positions on our Board than we have available seats open. Our election format involves

giving each board nominee a few minutes to address the assembly of members, on stage during the AGM. Their profile photo and brief bio is included in the AGM package circulated in advance of the election so that our members can do their research and make informed decisions about who they want to represent them on the Chamber board. The down side of having an abundance of board candidates is that inevitably a few really great people will go home disappointed. Having to show a bit of vulnerability in competing for an elected position is an unfamiliar experience for many people. Our Chamber takes great care in providing a catch net for the unsuccessful candidates, letting them know that we appreciate their passion and dedication to our Chamber, reminding them that there are many positions on Chamber committees that need to be filled by enthusiastic individuals such as them. Now that our Board election has taken place, we shift our attention to April 16, which is the date for our highly anticipated President’s Gala event. We’re bringing back last year’s popular “Jeopardy” game theme for this year’s gala. Guests will get their game on, competing against one another

by answering local business trivia while dining on fabulous food and engaging with the business community. Chamber members have the exclusive opportunity to invest in their own dedicated game-space on the Jeopardy game board during the President’s Gala. In front of approximately 200 guests, member businesses will be highlighted through corporate trivia, specific to their business or organization. Their self-designed question and answer is guaranteed to be played during the evening as we profile the individual businesses with logo recognition as well. Members that have reached milestones of 25 years or more of membership with our organization will be celebrated at the event as well. If anyone is interested in joining us for the President’s Gala event or learning more about sponsorship opportunities, they may contact our Chamber directly by phone: 250-562-2454. We look forward to being joined by the business community in Prince George on April 16th! Christie Ray is the CEO of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at christie.ray@ pgchamber.bc.ca.

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MNP LLP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

growth, value added services and corporate culture for its success. For a ny busi ness, work i ng w ith a professiona l who has in-depth understanding of the industry or the specific challenges it is facing is critical to its ongoing development. “You ca n’t be a n ex per t i n all fields, so MNP provides its cl ients w ith ready access to whatever expertise they need. If we don’t have it right here, it’s usually only a phone call away,” Byrne said. Johnson pointed out that his company has created strong, ongoing relationships with the private sector, First Nations and the forest industry. This year marked its 50th anniversary and its four partners: Curtis Billey, CPA, CA; Rory Reinbolt, CPA, CA; Michael Johnson, CPA , CA and Sheryl Rice, CPA, CGA have over 25 years of experience in public accounting with an additional 16 professional and support staff. He noted that the appeal of merg i ng w ith M N P a lso i ncluded its 55-year history and that it has been recognized as one of the Best Employers in Canada by the AON Hewitt for eight consecutive years. “It has an organizational culture and values founded on an u nwaveri ng com m itment to people and on creating a great

place to work and do business, where a healthy balance between home and work life is at the core of how business is run. Our team is truly excited to be a part of the MNP family.” Byrne added that MNP differentiates itself by providing value to its clients that goes far beyond traditional accounting and compliance tax services. “ M N P p ro fe s s i o n a l s h e l p cl ients ach ieve t hei r goa l s, whether that is transitioning a business to a family member, reorganizing their corporate st r uctu re, or accessi ng a ny number of specialty services such as business valuation, estate planning, forensic accounting, or cross-border taxation.” Johnson sees MNP’s commitment to ongoing professional development as another advantage for his team. With extensive in-house training through MNP University, not only do te a m mem b ers c ont i nu a l ly upgrade their technical skills, but they a lso receive tra i ni ng i n M N P’s cl ient ser v ice philosophy. Most i mporta ntly to Joh nson, MNP’s rural roots and ongoing connection with smaller communities gives it a better understanding of the needs of his town and its people. As Byrne said, MNP has a local presence with a national scope. MNP Terrace is at 4360 Lazelle Ave in Terrace www.mnp.com

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FORT ST. JOHN KARIN CARLSON

e’ve been very fortunate for many years to enjoy a robust economy in the Peace Region. With the recent slowdown in the oil and gas sector, finding new clients and diversifying your client-base has never been more important. One way is to participate in professional networking events. Networking is hard when you first start out and like any skill it takes some time to develop. But there’s no arguing that effective networking has been directly related to success for numerous entrepreneurs. Here are a few tips to get you started. 1. Face-to-face time is a necessity. With all the options of the Internet, people seem to avoid face-to-face interaction, but technology can’t replace the good ol’ fashion handshake and in-person conversation. 2. Listen, listen, listen – Use the 80/20 rule. Listen 80 per cent

of the time to what others are saying and talk 20 per cent of the time. Ask questions to draw out information about people and listen intently. You will be amazed at what you learn. 3. Don’t focus on selling too much. Networking is about relationship building. As you develop an understanding of someone’s needs you can begin to solve problems for them. It will lead to sales. 4. Introduce people to each other. Earn the reputation as someone who can help make connections amongst people. Be the “go to” person for introductions. People will seek you out at networking events. 5. Don’t network exclusively with your co-workers on these occasions. Avoid the trap of spending your time with people you already know. Make an effort to speak to new people. Set a personal target of meeting 2 or more UPCOMING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENTS • April 14, 2016, ContractorSupplier Bootcamp Dawson Creek, BC • April 19, 2016, Chamber Luncheon Guest Speaker: Industry Training Authority • April 29, 2016, Business After Five Love FSJ Launch Party

new people per event. 6. Bring your business cards. People expect to exchange business cards at networking events. Be sure all your contact information is up-to-date. 7. Pay attention to your appearance. People will be looking at you from across the room. First impressions count. 8. P repa re a br ief “elevator speech,” introducing yourself and your business. This will be especially helpful if you’re nervous about meeting new people. It should be no more than 15-30 seconds. 9. Don’t monopolize people’s time. Remember that everybody is there for the same reason as you: to network. 10. When you leave a conversation, ask for their permission to contact them and suggest a goal for the meeting. The Fort St John and District Chamber of Commerce is a great place to get started. The Chamber hosts monthly luncheons and networking events. To learn more about the Chamber, visit their website at www.fsjchamber.com. Karin Carolson is a Director at the Fort St. John & District Chamber of Commerce. For more information, or to get in touch with her, please send an email to info@fsjchamber.com.

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SPARK CONFERENCE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Local success stories associated with the conference go on. And Spark is reaching beyond the local area as well. “In ou r first year we had someone from central Alberta, and last year we had two attendees from northern Quebec. They drove 17 hours to the Ottawa airport in order to fly here,” said Jennifer. “We started as a small gathering of local professionals; we talked about how difficult it was to get away, given where we live and travel being what it is. A two-d ay con ference can quickly turn into four, and that’s a long time to be away.” “We asked ourselves, ‘How could we meet the needs of a broad range of women in our community?’” In its third year, Spark will hone in on its professional development focu s even more closely with this year’s keynote speaker: Chris Flett who owns Ghost CEO, specializing in women’s business coaching. He will be conducting a workshop on women’s leadership including how to develop a personal brand, the power of your network, and launching leadership potential. Chris owns over 50 different companies and wrote the book W hat Men Don’t Tell Women About Business.

Chris Flett is this year’s keynote speaker at Spark Spark Conference 2015 “ M o s t o f t h e s e b o o k s a re w r i t t e n b y w o m e n ,” c o mmented Jennifer. “T his book h a s b een refer red to a s one of the top business books for women of the decade.” Event attendees will receive C h r i s ’ l a t e s t b o o k M a rk e t Shark. Jennifer credits the success of the event to the NPEDC host organization and steering committee, comprised of co-ops, local government, post secondary institutions, and the business community.

All these organizations share a com mon goa l a s wel l a s a common struggle. “Attracti ng a nd reta i n i ng qua l i fied, competent staff is one of our number one obstacles,” said Jennifer. “We also know it’s much easier to retain someone who already lives here. We wa nt to help everyone move up and give them the skill sets they need to be more successful in their personal lives, businesses, and in the region.” The conference seeks to add ress a complex a nd va r ied

range of topics. “We’re trying to cover a diverse economy: from energy and forestry, to the financial sector and home-based entrepreneurs. We feel like we’ve m a n aged to pick spea kers across all sectors this year.” Last yea r Spa rk saw 2 20 women in a dynamic program featuring the creators of the Dove Real Beauty campaign, w h i c h h a s g a r n e re d i n te rnational fame. Attendees w i l l ra nge f rom senior V Ps of oil and gas

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companies to start-up entrepreneu rs. “ Wou ld t h ere b e an opportunity for these two women to connect anywhere else? To talk about their ideas? Those are the kinds of conversations we’re hearing at Spark.” “This is an opportunity for companies to invest in professional development for their staff,” said Jennifer. “It’s economic times like these where w e n e e d to e q u i p t h e l o c a l workforce to step up into new roles.” www.sharingthespark.com

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NATURAL GAS Planned LNG Projects Have Tremendous Potential Currently There Are 22 LNG Projects In The Planning Stage In BC BY DAVID HOLMES

he development of an LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) industry in British Columbia has the potential to remake the economic landscape of the entire province. In recent years LNG has become a media hot button, the hope for expansive development particularly in the north, and a focal point for environmental protest. But what exactly is LNG, what will its development mean for the province and how vast an undertaking is it? British Columbia has long been one of Canada’s great natural resource storehouses, from its towering stands of timber, to its ore rich mines to the silvery abundance of its fisheries.

But the potential bonanza of Liquefied Natural Gas is one item in the natural treasury that holds the promise of having a positive economic impact that will continue for generations. The key to the development of an LNG industry is having a ready supply of the raw materials needed to fuel this development, something BC has in abundance. Accord i ng to prov i ncial government research Northeastern British Columbia contains nearly three trillion cubic feet of natural gas, vast pockets primarily located within four primary regions; the Montney area (north of Fort St. John), the Horn River Basin, the Cordova Embayment and the Liard Basin – deposits all located near the boundaries

of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. By some estimates there is enough natural gas contained within these four deposits to keep companies working and

people employed for the next 150 years! “LNG is a generational opportunity for the province in that if we can get at least one of these big projects

permitted and built it will provide a new gateway for natural gas that we have not had before,” explained SEE LNG | PAGE 8

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The Port of Prince Rupert is hoping to be the home base for two different LNG projects

LNG CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

Susannah Pierce, the External Affairs Director for LNG Canada a company hoping to construct a major LNG export terminal in Kitimat. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I look around our project weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re blessed to be able to work on something like this because it has tremendous opportunities for job creation, not just with the terminal but with the upstream component to it (the pipeline) and all of the towns and communities that are built around these various different developments. We get energized by just being a part of it.â&#x20AC;?

LNG is created when natural gas is chilled to about minus 160Â° C; the cooling process converts the material from a gas into a clear, non-corrosive, odorless and non-toxic liquid. Natural Resources Canada states the liquefaction process removes all of the water, carbon dioxide, oxygen and sulfur from the raw gas, leaving a product that is primarily methane with very small amounts of other hydrocarbons. The processed gas is then reduced to 1/600th of its original volume before being loaded into specially designed tankers and shipped to customers around the world. SEE LNG | PAGE 9

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“Natural gas is an abundant, affordable and accessible source of energy that can help provide

cleaner baseload power as we increase intermittent and emissionsfree sources such as wind or solar. This is very important if we want to meet growing demand for energy in a way that is not only reliable but also cleaner (from an emissions

perspective),” Pierce said. The actual production of LNG and its transportation to global markets is the final stage in the process. What has to happen years before the first carrier ever sails is ensuring all the pieces of the value

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chain align. This includes producing natural gas, transporting it through pipelines which have to be built, and then processing it at the marine facility. The provincial government reports that there are 20 LNG projects in the proposal state

9 at present and it has an announced goal of seeing at least three of them in operation by the year 2020. The economic spin off from this sort of massive, world-class development would be felt across BC and would have a particularly positive impact on Northern British Columbia. From direct employment, to fabrication, trucking, air freight, land clearing and countless other areas LNG development would energize the region for generations. The elephant in the room of course is the whole question of whether or not even the first project can get off the ground. Mike Bevan-Pritchard is part of a consortium involved in the current multi-million dollar expansion of the Prince Rupert container port, an endeavour being carried out by Fraser River Pile and Dredge (FRPD) and Bel Pacific Excavating and Shoring. As LNG requires port facilities his company has expressed interest in working on proposed operations in both Prince Rupert and Kitimat. For him the question isn’t about the need for LNG but when will the projects actually begin? “Both of our companies have been exploring LNG opportunities and potential opportunities for over three years now. It started with the Kitimat LNG project, where we were involved in a joint venture project that involved marine work on that project,” he said. “My personal opinion is that SEE LNG | PAGE 10

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Specially constructed LNG carriers will ultimately be the last link in the chain, carrying the product to market

LNG CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

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there could be a long waiting period yet. Clearly even one LNG project would change everything. These are huge projects, the kind of things this province has never seen before. People literally have no idea what a project of this scale would mean on all levels.” A host of factors, ranging from having a pool of workers capable of working on an undertaking of this kind, to the mindnumbing scale of the economics involved, to slumping gas prices, global competitors such as Australia and the United States and an apparent glut of LNG currently on world markets have all combined to make LNG development a difficult concept to apply a timetable to. For many, while the starting gun hasn’t gone off yet, it is inevitable that it will in one form or another. “I can tell you that LNG Canada, every single person who is working on this project, is fully committed to making this the project that our joint venture participants (Shell, KOGAS, Mitsubishi and PetroChina) say go,” Pierce explained.

“From the outset, we made a commitment to listen, to learn and to work together to share information, as well as find ways to share in the benefits a project of this magnitude could bring to the community of Kitimat.” For Bevan-Pritchard, while the Prince Rupert container port expansion is a major contract for the consortium he’s a part of, the scale of any of the planned LNG marine facilities would be beyond anything he has previously been involved with. “It’s been a nice large contract for us and our partners, it’s close to $200 million, but it’s not the billions that would be involved in an LNG project. It would certainly be the biggest project we’ve ever been involved with.” The development of a provincial Liquefied Natural Gas industry would have a profound impact on all aspects of the British Columbia economy, particularly in the north. The potentials are there, the raw materials are there, the markets are there. The provincial government wants more than one project up and running within the next four years, only time and history will show if they and the people of BC have succeeded.

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ZENCO HYDROVAC: SERVING NORTHERN BC SINCE 2012 SPOTLIGHT

Hydrovac Technology An Environmentally Sensitive Form Of Excavation

R I NCE GEORGE – Each yea r i n Ca n ad a u nderground services such as pipelines, electrical cables, gas lines are broken or ruptured during the excavation process, sometimes with catastrophic ecological or human cost. In 2014 in British Columbia there were 1,315 line strikes of underground utilities causing damage. The owners and crews of Prince George-based Zenco Hydrovac Excavation Ltd. know all too well that such events need not happen. A hydrovac system employs a vehicle-mounted pressure washing and collection system that can remove soil from around a buried infrastructure, exposing it for repair or replacement without the normal risks associated with using any other form of mechanical excavation. “We began the company in 2012 with one single-axle hydrovac truck, while today we have three, two tri-axle units and one new single-axle hydrovac truck,” explained Dominique Gunton, the company’s Safety Manager. Also referred to as Daylighting in the industry, Zenco’s trucks use pressurized water to blast away soil and uncover the buried infrastructure. The powerful vacuum system is used to draw off the water and the displaced soil allowing for easy cleanup. Clients using this type of technology in the past have included oil and gas sector companies,

The company’s flexible systems allows the use of hydrovac technology, even in tight or hard to reach locations Zenco Drilling has recently added an Acker MP-5 mounted on a Kenworth T300 to their fleet

“We provide 24 hour service. We are reliable and we have enough experience to understand the needs of our clients.” DOMINIQUE GUNTON SAFETY MANAGER, ZENCO HYDROVAC

utility firms, mills, mines, railroads, municipalities, environmental firms and others. Zenco can create holes for locating and verifying the utility location, any size for utility pole and anchor installment to an excavation large enough to complete maintenance or repairs. “Utility companies are some of our most frequent customers,”

explained company President Stu Chizik. “One of our goals is to run a well-diversified company while continuing to provide excellent service to our clients.” One part of that diversification effort involves Zenco’s purchase in December 2015 of a geotechnical and environmental drill, a system acquired as part of a new division the company is setting up. This specialized piece of equipment is modular and can be truck-mounted or track mounted. It will be used by clients for soil and water investigations. The drilling division allows Zenco to go to work for a wide range of industry sectors utilizing a wide range of drilling methodologies. “Having the drilling and hydrovac divisions working together can save time and money for our clients.” Other services provided by

Zenco include slot trenching, which uses hydrovac technolog y to qu ick ly cut t renches with the use of water and the vacuum system to remove the dirt or to allow technicians easy access to the subsoil to permit the investigation of problem areas. Potholing, quickly cutting installation holes of various diameters for such applications as power poles or traffic lights is another application of the hydrovac technology regularly employed. The installation of aluminum shoring boxes is yet another increasingly common task the company regularly performs. Shoring boxes add an extra level of safety for workers accessing buried infrastructure. Using such a system also allows for a reduction in the size of the actual excavation, reducing the impact on nearby facilities. Hydrovacing is recognized as one of the least environmentally disruptive forms of excavation available. Using water (which can be heated on the vehicles for use under winter conditions) is technically hand digging, so is considered much safer and less intrusive than mechanical excavation. “In an emergency we can come in and dig directly on a pipeline without concern of causing any

damage. Site remediation, removing contaminated soil that has been affected by a spill for example is another key part of the services we provide,” Gunton explained. “We work for a lot of environmental companies. We often go in and hydrovac the holes prior to drilling to ensure a safe installation of monitoring wells. Those wells will help them determine what’s going on underground. Environmentally related work is certainly another big one for us.” While headquartered in Prince George, Zenco Hydrovac has worked on projects throughout northern British Columbia, as far west as Prince Rupert as well as into Alberta. “Our goal is to see the company continue growing in the coming years. I’d like to see us become the preferred hydrovac and drilling company in Northern BC”, Gunton said. “We provide 24 hour service. We are reliable and we have enough experience to understand the needs of our clients. Our team has 34 plus years experience providing top quality service. We also have an excellent response time in the event of an emergency – in many cases we’ll be on site before the client gets there.” To learn more please check out the company website at: www. zencohydrovac.com/

• DAYLIGHTING • SLOT TRENCHING • POT HOLING • INDUSTRIAL CLEANING • SHORING

Two of Zenco’s tri-axle hydrovac units can be used together, such as at this project on a mill site

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APRIL 2016

ENGINEERING FIRM PATENTS SAND REMOVAL DEVICE SPOTLIGHT

Improving safety, productivity and efficiency motivates development of Sandtinel

R ANDE PR AIRIE – For R heau me Eng i neeri ng Inc., allowing its engineers to dream opens the door for innovative solutions and creative design. Brent R heaume, president and CEO of Radix Innovation Corp and its parent company, Rheaume Engineering Inc., said that its engineers are encouraged to imagine unique concepts that solve challenges in the oil and gas industry. Dreaming comes with the job description. “We foster an innovative culture and look to harness the ideas and energy of our professionals,” he said. Four years ago, Radix Innovation Corp successfully developed a sand separation device. Different from sand filtration, the Sandtinel, effectively removes sa nd w ithout the need for a mechanical filter. “ Wit h to d ay’s l iqu id-r ich product, our clients demanded something better. We put a lot of engineering into the product. We used Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to model the physics of exactly what is happening inside the vessel and help us optimize the design and increase its performance.” The result led to Rheaume applying and receiving a patent for the Sandtinel. “It’s been on the market for about two and a half years and this past year it has seen explosive growth. Our clients say its effective and very simple to use with minimal interruption to their operation.” Good physics and solid science is why the Sandtinel is seeing such dramatic sales growth and positive testimonials. “Sandtinel is in the shape of a sphere,” Rheaume said. “Material

“We foster an innovative culture and look to harness the ideas and energy of our professionals.” BRENT RHEAUME PRESIDENT, CEO, RHEAUME ENGINEERING INC, RADIX INNOVATION CORP

Early model iteration with engineers: David Munjak, Ron Zylla, Brent Rheaume at the bottom of the sphere stays as a fluidized sand because it is constantly being flooded with liquid. This allows it to be removed as a slurry. It’s just a matter of opening a valve at the bottom.” He added that to remove the slurry takes between 30 seconds and a minute, bypassing the need to isolate the container, break a seal and open up a piece of equipment for manual cleaning. “Our goal with the Sandtinel and with any of our products and designs is to be viewed as producing the best. We want to be seen as willing and able to consistently improve on existing systems.” R heaume’s drive for better innovative solutions was the motivation behind creating a research and development group and for partnering with the Industrial Research Assistance Program, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Alberta Innovates and the University of Alberta (UofA). “We wanted to continue with research, engineering, product development and ongoing design improvements. Through the UofA and NRC we’ve hired a masters graduate student whose thesis is on

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Computational Fluid Dynamics.” It’s a win win for the company and its clients. “Our innovative ideas and designs help producers safely and economically develop their commodity so that they can be competitive on the world stage.” With 25 years of experience as a mechanical engineer and project manager, Rheaume said the engineering firm helps design and construct upstream and midstream surface facilities for the oil and gas industry including, gas plants, compressor stations and oil batteries. “We service oil and gas companies of all sizes, from junior oil firms doing oil well tie ins to major and midstream plants where we do a significant amount of process engineering, debottlenecking, expansion of existing systems and getting a facility operationally ready.” Rheaume said that his company is positioned well for the coming surge in LNG. “We’ve developed a niche and expertise with the major and midstream plants, especially in overpressure protection. We conduct scenario analysis, basically ‘what ifs’, on whether the systems and processes are adequately protected and to make sure they are ready to achieve full capacity.” As Rheaume pointed out, looking at various potential scenarios also means looking for solutions. “Most engineering firms step into a greenfield with a clean footprint; you walk in and build a brand new plant from the ground up. We specialize in brownfield where we walk into an existing plant; the drawings may not be up-to-date, there may be challenges with accurate information or the systems do not meet current safety standards.” Part of the audit process is identifying the gaps and then carrying out the necessary engineering to fill them. Radix was developed

Sandtinel’s first installation CREDIT:RHEAUME ENGINEERING

Full Santinel ski package complete with blowdown tank and instrumentation CREDIT:RHEAUME ENGINEERING

as a direct result of seeing areas in processing and systems that could be streamlined and made more efficient. “We pay attention to the details and make sure nothing is overlooked. We make sure these places are safer and more reliable, increasing performance and

productivity. It follows then that we need to always encourage innovative thinking and new ways of looking at challenges.” Rheaume Engineering Inc and Radix Innovation Corp is at 9001 115th St. in Grande Prairie www.sandtinel.com & www. rheaumeengineering.com

APRIL 2016

SAND FILTRATION SYSTEM CAPTURES 100 PER CENT SPOTLIGHT

In house design and manufacturing suits all levels of production

ALGARY – Capturing 100 per cent of the sand from oil and gas wells, Dynacorp’s patented sand filtration equipment has evolved to match today’s fracking techniques and high liquid volume production. Bruce McKenna, vice president of business development, said that Dynacorp offers a filtration system that filters particles down to 50 microns in diameter, can reach a maximum temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum pressure of 10,000 psi’s and is H2S-capable. “Our technolgoy reduces the risk of washout and damage to the equipment from short and long-term erosion,” he said. “It can also handle slugs of high liquids and sand.” Developed ten years ago by Dynacorp owner Justin Morin and a team of engineers, this unique system is an industrywide innovation that can be customized to fit specific needs. “We do our fabrication inhouse, we don’t outsource, so we are able to specialize the systems

Dynacorp serves a North American market whether through purchases or rentals CREDIT: DYNACORP

“Our technolgoy reduces the risk of washout and damage to the equipment from long-term erosion.” BRUCE MCKENNA VICE PRESIDENT, DYNACORP

to fit the conditions.” He added that manufacturing the equipment itself enables

Dynacorp to adapt the system as wells and conditions change. Production integrity is key. With the trends for deeper and longer horizontal wells, more and heavier hydraulic fractures, and higher-pressure, higher-temperature producing wells, the importance of understanding the industry and constantly striving to raise performance standards protect physical and operational integrity. “We develop personal relationships with clients. Our people are in the field during commissioning and to educate the field operators. Working with field

personnel in a hands on approach gives us a strong advantage.” He stressed that Dynacorp’s sand filtration system is different from traditional de sanders that only take out a portion of the sand especially with today’s focus on high liquid wells, liquids and slugging cause carry over. He said that carry over of even 5 per cent of sand can cause substantial damage downstream. “BC has mandatory policy for companies to have a sand management plan in place,” he said. “So businesses are motivated to use technologies that are efficient and flexible.”

“We are leaders in the field. We have differentiated ourselves from other companies by listening to our clients and making ongoing improvements to ensure the technology is user friendly, is easy to maintain and is the most economical.” “We cater to an international and North American market place, whether our product is purchased or rented,” said McKenna, adding that the technology they design, fabricate, construct, service and rent can be engineered to suit all levels of a clients’ production streams. www.dynacorp.ca

We’re ready to build LNG projects in BC The members of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 are highly skilled, professionally trained and have the experience needed to immediately get to work on BC’s LNG projects.

Build it right. Build it BC. Build it with IUOE Local 115.

Brian Cochrane, Business Manager www.IUOE115.ca

1-888-IUOE115 (486-3115)

LNG Canada in the community LNG Canada wants to ensure that local communities have meaningful opportunities to learn about the proposed project. We believe that by working together and understanding what is important to you, we can design, build and operate a project that considers community interests, and provides benefits to north coast communities and all British Columbians. LNG Canada is beginning specific site preparation work to ensure the site is ready for construction should the joint venture participants make a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) in late 2016. Some of this work is a continuation of field and geotechnical activities that have been taking place for the past three years. Other activity is seasonally sensitive related to specific site preparation work, such as clearing trees.

Drop us a line: Email your questions or feedback to feedback@lngcanada.ca and we’ll respond to you as quickly as we can. We promise to get back to you within a day, at most two, if it’s a really busy time. If your question is about contracting opportunities, we’ve set up a special email address to make it easier for you to share your business information or ask your question. Write us at contracting@lngcanada.ca.

Doing work in advance of an FID is not a guarantee that the LNG Canada project will move forward, but is an indication of the commitment the partners have made to the project. LNG projects are significant and there are many variables that go into making a Final Investment Decision. We will carefully consider all of them. In the months ahead, LNG Canada must continue to demonstrate the project is competitive, we have key regulatory permits and we have mitigated the risk of labour shortage.

Feeling social: Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/LNGCanada and like our page. You’ll receive LNG Canada updates directly in your Facebook stream. You can also read comments from other people in your community and the region about our project. We’ll post responsibly so you don’t have to worry about hearing from us too often.

Want to learn more about our work on the ground?

Read about us: As we start to prepare our site, we will place

LNG Canada wants to ensure you have all the information you need to understand the project and how our activities may impact the community. We’ve established a number of ways for you to ask questions, get information about the project, learn about contracting and procurement or jobs during construction, or just to let us know if you have any concerns about any of the work you may see us doing over the coming months.

Call us: We have a local and a toll free number that we answer during business hours, and you can always leave a message outside of business hours. 250.639.3229 is the number for local calls, or 1.855.248.3631 if you’re calling from outside the area.

articles and advertisements in local newspapers describing in detail what you can expect to see and what, if any, impact you can expect to experience. Wherever we can, we’ll let you know before it happens so you’re fully prepared. Additionally, sometimes the best way to get updated information or immediate answers to your questions is to visit our website at www.lngcanada.ca.

We’d love to hear from you. We’d love to hear from you – so pick up the phone, send us a note, make an appointment to visit the Community Information Centre in Kitimat by calling 250.639.3229, like us on Facebook, or read about LNG Canada in our newsletter or your newspaper. We are committed to addressing any questions or concerns you may have.

About the LNG Canada project LNG Canada is a joint venture company comprised of four global energy companies with substantial experience in LNG – Shell, PetroChina, KOGAS and Mitsubishi Corporation. Together we are proposing to design, build and operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Kitimat, British Columbia.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

The Post Office in 100 Mile House celebrated 100 years of serving the surrounding area. The office was first established in February 1916, and has been located at its 425 Birch Street address since 1983.

Terrace Terrace Economic Development has changed its company name and contact information to: Terrace Business Resource Centre. They remain at the same address on Kalum Street, and their web address is now: www. terracebrc.ca. Carl Kafka, R.D., has opened a Prince Rupert Denture Clinic location in Terrace, which is now seeing patients. Terrace-based firm, McAlpine & Co., has merged with Meyers Norris Penny, becoming MNPs fourth office in Northern BC. The consolidated team will remain at their location of 4630 Lazelle Avenue in Terrace. Kickstart Motorsports recently celebrated the grand opening of their business, located at 3011 Kofoed Drive. The Great Canadian Oil Change announced their grand opening, and will now be serving customers at their 4607 Keith Avenue location. The City of Terrace has partnered with two non-profit organizations to propose a lowincome housing plan, which could entail a $13.5 million social housing complex constructed in the Southside. The project is dependent on a minimum of $10 million in funding from the provincial government.

Prince George A list of winners for the 2015 Business Excellence Awards has been announced by the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce, featuring: Empire Tree Services â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Award; Fresh Onion CafĂŠ & Catering â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tourism and Hospitality Excellence; Lighten Up Electric â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Industry and Manufacturing Excellence; Ring System Music Studio â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Home Based Business of the Year; Happy Little Clouds Art Studio â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rookie Business of the Year; The Argosy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sustainability Award; TD â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Chamber Member of the Year; Eddieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s News Stand & Novelties â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Customer Service Excellence Award, Retail Excellence Award; Northern Savings Credit Union â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Community Involvement Award; Prince Rupert Rampage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Community Service Award; DP World PR â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Newsmaker of the Year; Good Times Games & Electronics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Family Friendly Business of the Year; Kevin Pottle Lighten Up Electric â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Wheelhouse Brewing Company â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Business of the Year. The Flight Network has named Prince Rupert among the top 50 small towns to visit in Canada, also ranking it in the Top Five small towns in BC with Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson and Houston.

Prince Rupert Carl Kafka, R.D. of the Prince Rupert Denture Clinic, celebrates 20 years in business in Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert City Council has approved

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A project is underway to plant 2,100 ponderosa pine trees in Williams Lake Boitanio Park. West Fraser, managed by Dave Walgren, will be heading up the project, which was endorsed by the Williams Lake City Council.

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Plans have been announced for a First Nations Court to be located in Williams Lake. Subject to commitment and approval from the BC Ministry of Justice and the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court, proponents are hoping for the court to begin taking cases in September of this year.

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The Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP) congratulates Williams Lake resident, Austin Tate Teti, Registered Professional Forester (RPF), on earning the highest score for the Registered Professional Forester exam. The ABCFP has also recognized the South Chilcotin Stewardship plan with an Award of Merit in Sustainable Forestry. The South Chilcotin Stewardship is comprised of Tsilhqotin nation, West Fraser Mills, BsC Timber Sales, Fraser Basin Council, Tolko and the BC Provincial Government.

The Keg Steakhouse and Bar celebrates their 40 th year in business serving the Prince George area. A regional trades competition for the Central Interior was recently held in Prince George at the College of New Caledonia this month. The competition, put on by Skills Canada British Columbia, gives middle and high school students an opportunity to put their talents on display for skilled trades and technologies, and promotes word in the trades. A former detective in the Netherlands, Fabian Muhlenbruch, has joined the office of the Conservation Officer Serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major investigation unit in Prince George. Pacific Western Brewing has crafted a beer made of ingredients entirely from BC. The beer, labeled Cariboo Springs Lager, debuted at a St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day launch party. The Wilson Square Community Market Association, an offshoot of the Prince George Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market Association (PGFMA), will be located in the Pine Centre parking lot this season instead of merging with the PGFMA. Crossroads Brewery, a craft brewery that in January announced their intention to open in the former Tony Romaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steakhouse location on Fifth Avenue and George Street, has received official approval for their business and location from city council. A liquor license application has been approved for the Prince George Playhouse that will enable alcohol to be served at the theatre area as well as in the serving space, for events catering to those aged 19 and over.

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Lax Kwâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;alaams Band has voiced their support for the Pacific NorthWest LNG project on Lelu Island, conditional on the basis that they must report environmental monitoring work and follow up initiatives to an Environmental Performance Committee, and that they respond to enforcement notices recommended by the Environmental Performance Committee.

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design plans for a new building for the Prince Rupert Rowing and Yacht Club (PRRYC). The plans include increased parking capacity, and demolish and reconstruction of their existing facility.

Susan Fournier is welcomed as the new Economic Development Officer for the Central Cariboo Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC). Fournier is originally from Smith Falls, Ontario, where she served as the Executive Director for the Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporation.

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APRIL 2016

- PX E CS OJN d Ro me er in BC na inn ern ds J l w th r

Mauro Calabrese, Planning Superintendent for West Fraser, has been named as the new Vice President for the Association of BC Forest Professionals. Calabrese will be balancing both his role with West Fraser and his new role as Vice President going forward.

100 Mile House A 100 Mile House resident, Lori Fry, was honoured with a Caring Canadian Award presented by Governor General David Johnston. Fry received the award for her advocacy through the Canadian Council of the Blind, for people suffering from visual impairment.

Tourism Prince George has requested that city council support a bid to increase a two per cent hotel tax, which would generate an extra $400,000 annually from those visiting the city. The proposal would benefit Tourism Prince Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funding, as it comprises 75 per cent of their bottom line. Should they gain approval to increase from two to three per cent, council would need to enact a bylaw to authorize collection of this tax and would then need to seek approval from the province. April 1 st marked the re-opening of George the Barber, owned by George Blanis, who has now been operating in the same location at the Days Inn for 50 years. Janine North has announced plans to retire this fall from her position as CEO of the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT). North was the founding CEO of NDIT, and plans to stay on until a replacement is hired. SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 17

MOVERS & SHAKERS

APRIL 2016

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Dawson Creek

Child Protection Intake Worker, Jenna Roy, has been recognized by the BC Government for her outstanding dedication as a social worker.

Northern Lights College has allocated twenty five per cent of their base budget to gearing education towards BC’s Skills for Jobs blueprint. The blueprint identified the top 100 jobs in the province, and the school plans to shift funding to specific programs to meet the provincial goal.

Peace Gallery North held a reception to display the work of local artist, Eliza Massey Stanford, in its new Flotsam exhibit. The art exhibit featured a collection of paintings and rope structures, and was available for viewing from March 11-26th.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

Dawson Creek will be hosting the annual general meeting of the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) this May. During the convention, mayors and councilors from around Northern BC will be given the opportunity to tour the oilsands. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers plans to charter a plane to taxi convention delegates from Dawson Creek to Fort McMurray, where they can interact with companies with interests in Northern BC.

Fort St. John Fort St. John may have 21 new Yellow Cabs taxis on the roads soon. The Grand Prairie business began the application process for approval to operate in the city close to a year ago, and awaits approval of the proposal from the Passenger Transportation Board.

The Northern Environmental Action Team has put forward a project entitled: Northern Food Rescue. The initiative plans to partner with grocery stores to obtain produce before it goes bad, with the intention of preserving it. The preservation process will involve people who use food bank services to help with the preservation process. Fort St. John’s Development Services Department has relocated from City Hall to the Francis Work Beaton Building and will now be offering their services in that location. April 8 th marks the 44th annual Fort St. John CKNL Trade Show, which features more than 300 booths including real estate, power sports and boat dealers, to food products and hand made boutique items.

Quesnel The Likely Chamber of Commerce mourns the passing of their President, Robin Hood, who lost a battle with cancer on March 17 th. The North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee (NCJPC) has negotiated a contract to build the West Fraser Centre, naming Vic Van Isle Construction (VVI), a company based out of Kelowna, as their General Contractor for the $20.6 million project.

Smithers Rudolph’s Pure Sausage, a business owned by Holger Rudolph from Baunatal, Germany, has moved to a location on Main Street in Smithers. Hudson Bay Mountain recently hosted the Canadian Ski Cross Championships and two Nor-Am events featuring some of the best skiers and snowboarders on the continent. This month marked the reopening of Northern Engineered Wood Products (2007) Inc. (NEWPRO) in Smithers. The plant has spent the past few years gearing the plant towards wood pellet manufacturing, and will begin production while it awaits an official permit.

Josh Higgins, B.Comm Senior Marketing Advisor

PUT YOUR COMPANY IN THE SPOTLIGHT In the life of every business, certain events always stand out: t A grand opening t A brand new building t Completing a major project t Landing a major contract t Celebrating a milestone anniversary Spotlights are your opportunity to the business community of Northern British Columbia. Contact me today to have your business featured in our publication.

Business Examiner contact Josh Higgins at 1-866-758-2684 ext 124 or josh@businessexaminer.ca

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OPINION

APRIL 2016 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Prince George Office 2871 Wildwood Cres Prince George, BC V2K3J4 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Fax: 778.441.3373 Email: info@businessexaminer.ca Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

PUBLISHER/EDITOR | Lise MacDonald, lise@businessexaminer.ca SALES | Shawn Bishop, shawn@businessvi.ca; Josh Higgins josh@businessvi.ca; Joanne Iormetti, Joanne@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Goody Niosi, Beth Hendry-Yim, John MacDonald, David Holmes WEBSITE | John MacDonald, john@businessexaminer.ca

MUCH THOUGHT NEEDED BEFORE INVESTING IN EDUCATION

MARK MACDONALD

t is commonly explained that in the very near future, 8 out of 10 jobs will require postsecondary accreditation. There are plenty of options for obtaining education: Universities, colleges, technical schools, amongst others. It’s a wide and varied marketplace, and competition for students, or “educational customers” as it were, is very real. Competition is healthy. There’s nothing that can cause an individual, business or organization to improve offerings qu icker t h a n h av i ng two or more alternatives to what you’re providing. However, when it comes to “selling” young, impressionable students on a certain institution or educational track, it behooves

councilors to lay out possibilities very gently. And objectively. Ex tra measu res need to be taken to ensure that the student’s best interests are first and foremost, and that their skill sets and interests match the field of study they’re being guided towards. And last, but not least: At the end of the day when the degree has been obtained: Are there going to be any jobs in that sector? How dare we question the motives and intentions of educational counselors, right? Well, there are more than a few stories out there of new students moving through the system, accumulating mountains of student debt, and ending up with jobs that will almost guarantee they’ll never be able to pay back the student loans they’ve signed for along the way. Like a young woman who spent four-plus years earning a degree that the marketplace pays in the neighborhood of $15 per hour, for which she has over $60,000 in student loans. With that rate of pay and even a very prudent lifestyle, it could take them 2530 years to pay for their schooling, if at all. Or the man who worked hard for a degree in a very specialized

a s p e c t o f e n g i n e e r i n g, b ut wasn’t able to get a job in that field for over 30 years. The answer, then, is “free” education, correct? Absolutely not. Think of the not so unusual child who is given a bicycle, or something else of reasonable value, which they enjoy, while thrashing it and rendering it recyclable in short order. Yet, when that same kid buys a bike themselves – or later, a car – they take care of it as if it were the Crown Jewels. They’ve paid for it, recognize the value thereof, and maintain it carefully. Not to mention the fact that, even if the education is “free” from a monetary standpoint, chasing a dead-end degree also means a waste of time, in some cases four years or more of their lives. The truth is, nothing is free. Students who are promised “free education” now fail to realize that they will pay for that, later, in taxes. Largely, the upcoming generation of students seems to be oblivious to concepts like debt. Everything has been provided for them to this stage in their life, and they don’t pay taxes. And interest rates are so low,

compared to the 20-plus per cent of the 1970’s and 1980’s. They will get it, eventually, once they start paying taxes, and realize how much of their paycheques evaporate into various forms of government taxation. They haven’t yet experienced that exhilaration, but they surely will. No, the answer isn’t free education. It’s student-centered cou nsel i ng a nd appropriate aptitude tests that ensure our youth are pointed in the right direction to maximize their talents and opportunities. There are plenty of tests available to help determine one’s strengths and talents, like Myers Briggs, for example. If a young p erson cou ld ident i f y wh at they’d actually be suited for and successful in, wouldn’t that be extremely helpful from the start, when they’re determining which vocation to pursue? It’s alarming to observe that Canadian youths are now behind some of the world’s most progressive nations in terms of education. Germany, for example, graduates many tradespeople at age 17, ready for the workforce, primarily because they’ve identified skill sets in the early teens and guided those individuals

along paths in high school that match their abilities and desires. How ma ny Ca nad ia n ch i ld ren exit secondary schools having no idea what they can, should, or want to do? Why is that? Shouldn’t there be earlier attempts by parents and the educational system to identify which students would be best in intellectual pursuits, white collar opportunities, or in the trades? Absolutely there should. It’s not just something that should be discussed around the kitchen table. The responsibility to raise a productive, society contributing young person also lies at the feet of not just the educational facility, but those who provide critical guidance at the start of the process. Yes, investment in education is important. But it ought not be a guessing game, where a successful graduate obtaining a well paying job in their vocation of choice shares the same odds as winning the lottery. Everything possible should be done to make sure students are guided in the right direction for their sake – as opposed to the possibility of just being viewed as a another fee-paying registrant. They deserve that.

PREMIER CLARK’S RECORD ON FISCAL POLICY IS POSITIVE

CHARLES LAMMAM, HUGH MACINTYRE AND ROBERT MURPHY THE FRASER INSTITUTE

roposals to increase the minimum wage have re-emerged in provinces across the country. For instance, the Alberta government recently pledged to hike the provincial minimum wage from $10.20 to $15 per hour by 2018, already taking the first step with a $1 hike effective October 1, 2015. There has been a similar movement to raise the minimum wage to $15 in various jurisdictions in the United States. Popular support for the minimum wage largely derives from the belief

that it is a useful tool for boosting the wages of poor workers. However, the evidence paints a much different picture. For starters, the minimum wage does not effectively target workers in low-income households. In fact, 87.5 per cent of Canadians earning minimum wage in 2012 lived in households above the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a widely used measure of relative poverty. Moreover, the vast majority of workers (83.4%) from households falling below the LICO threshold earned more than the minimum wage. These counterintuitive results follow from the demographic composition of minimum wage earners. In 2014, 58.4 per cent of those earning minimum wage were youths aged 15 to 24. Furthermore, 56.8 per cent of all minimum wage earners were living with family, while 19.9 per cent were married to a spouse who was also employed. Taken together, the data undercut the popular image of minimum wage earners being single breadwinners supporting a family. In fact, only 2.2 per cent of those earning minimum wage were unmarried heads of household with at least

one minor child. The tenuous link between minimum wage earners and poor households makes the minimum wage a very crude method for targeting assistance to those who need it. At the same time, hiking the minimum wage can do considerable harm, most notably by decreasing employment opportunities among low-skilled workers—the very group the policy is designed to help. By making labour artificially more expensive, increasing the minimum wage may significantly reduce employment among teenagers and other groups of low-skilled workers. Besides reducing employment outright, hiking the minimum wage could lead to a reduction in hours and other benefits (such as on-the-job training) for those workers who keep their jobs. There is an enormous body of empirical research examining the effects of the minimum wage. Canadian studies are considered of higher quality than US studies be-cause (among other reasons) there is a wider variability in the provincial Canadian mini-mumwage variable. The Canadian

literature generally finds that a 10 per cent increase in the minimum wage reduces employment among teens and young adults (ages 15 to 24) by 3 per cent to 6 per cent. By making it harder for low-skilled workers to obtain an entry-level position, the minimum wage may perversely hinder the development of human capital and harm the long-term career prospects of the very people it ostensibly helps. Indeed, Canadian researchers have found that hiking the minimum wage has no statistically significant impact on poverty and in some cases can increase it. Up through the 1980s, research in the United States reached similar conclusions, though the impact of the minimum wage on youth employment was not as severe as re-ported in the Canadian studies. It is true that a wave of “new minimum wage research” emerged in the United States in the 1990s, challenging the original consensus. However, there have been dozens of US studies since then that endorse the original findings, some of which employ techniques similar to those of the revisionist studies. Furthermore, some leading researchers in the

field actively dispute the validity of the “new” approaches. Fortunately, rather than the dubious policy of increasing the minimum wage, there is a better option for helping workers from poor households, namely increasing the Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB). This Canadian program is a refundable tax credit that allows qualifying low-wage workers to keep more of their earnings, effectively subsidizing them to work more. Unlike traditional welfare programs, the WITB is specifically designed to minimize the disincentives that can occur when government assistance is removed at higher income levels. Because it targets the desired individuals more accurately and avoids price controls, the WITB is a much more sensible (although not flawless) approach to channeling resources to the aid of workers from low-income households. Authors from the Fraser Institute; Charles Lammam, Director of Fiscal Studies, Hugh MacIntyre, Policy Analyst and Robert Murphy a Senior Fellow.

SUBCRIPTIONS | $45 PER YEAR (12 ISSUES), $80 FOR 2 YEARS (24 ISSUES), SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA. DISTRIBUTION: FOURTH WEEK OF EACH MONTH VIA CANADA POST AD MAIL. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Produced and published in British Columbia. All contents copyright Business Examiner Peace Cariboo Skeena, 2016. Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

APRIL 2016

FORESTRY & MINING Forestry & Mining Sectors Central To Region’s Economy Core Provincial Resource Industries Continue As BC’s Economic Backbone BY DAVID HOLMES

ast stretches of towering con i ferous forests a re some of the most iconic images anyone in the world would have if asked to think about British Columbia. An industrial province rich with a staggering range of natural resources the provincial forest industry and its mining sector were two of the key catalysts for its exploration and development. In the 21st Century, despite changing technologies and evolving global market the provinces forestry and mining industries continue to be two of the primary engines driving the BC economy. But just how big are these industries, and how large is the impact they provide? In a word: huge. An economic impact study released last year by the Council

of Forest Industries (COFI) indicates that the provincial forest industry contributes more than $12 billion annually to the provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The report goes on to say that 145,000 jobs in the province currently depend on a vibrant and healthy forest industry and that 1 in16 jobs in BC is tied to the forest industry in one form or another. But revenues are only part of the equation. A recent provincial government report suggests that total economic output directly attributed to forestry was $31.4 billion – that is not only the wages paid the individual forest workers, but the fuel purchased, the trucks repaired, the clothing and equipment acquired. In other words when forestry is active its influence and impact goes far beyond the job site. Northern British Columbia has

long been the province’s resource storehouse, from forests and mining, and from hydro electric generation to the oil and gas sector. The immense region contains nearly 70 per cent of the provincial land mass but contains less than eight per cent of its population, making it a very unique

contributor to the BC economic mix. The forest industry is divided into a number of different sectors, from all aspects of lumber production which includes the harvesting and transport of the SEE FORESTRY & MINING | PAGE 20

LOG HAULING & LOWBEDDING

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605 Marwick Dr., Williams Lake, BC Ofﬁce: 250.392.4966 Dispatch: 250.392.7702 Email: eldoent@telus.net

W.G. DAVIS & SONS TRUCKING MOVES ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME SPOTLIGHT

Positioning is key to a successful long haul

RINCE GEORGE - W.G. Davis & Sons Trucking can move anything, anywhere at anytime. They’ve been doing exactly that for more than 30 years, and as owner Bill Davis points out, it doesn’t matter what a client brings to his company, they’ll move it. “We love working with heavy equipment and the challenge of transporting it safely and in a timely manner,” said Bill Davis, owner WG Davis & Sons. With 14 trucks, including lowbeds, jeeps, boosters, highboy, winch trucks and stepdecks, it has put together up to 13 axles for extra capacity loads and has seen its drivers haul projects on winter roads into the Northwest Territories and Inuvik and even across the ice. “Our drivers have experience and training behind them,” he added that the company employs about 24 employees, including a handful Davis started his trucking career with 30 years ago. It’s isn’t just the drivers at W.G. Davis & Sons with a passion for trucking. Branch Manager Wade DeMerchant points out a picture he has of his grandfather in 1929,

WG Davis & Sons Trucking can move anything, anywhere at anytime CREDIT:BILL DAVIS

hauling logs with nothing but a Model A truck with a seat and a steering wheel. “DeMerchant and I run the company and branch offices in Prince George and Fort St. John by always being aware of the details, including providing yard storage for our clients’ equipment when it has nowhere to go or needs a midway point between jobs.” Its well-rounded crew of mechanics, pilot drivers and office staff understand the trucking industry from getting the right permits and setting time lines to putting the right equipment together for the job that ensures safety at every step. Davis said that positioning is key when hauling large loads, noting that experience as well as training plays a large part in

We love working with heavy equipment and the challenge of transporting it safely and in a timely manner.”

WG Davis & Sons has built a reputation on doing it right CREDIT:COURTNEY DAME

Bill Davis OWNER, W.G. DAVIS & SONS TRUCKING

safely placing a 126,000-pound payload. “We have air gauges on our trailers that when used properly, give an accurate weight,” he said. “It costs time and money if the load has to be repositioned part way through its transport, so we do it right the first time.” Doing it right is what W.G. Davis & Sons have built a reputation around and it shows in the

14 foot wide, 60 foot long bridge section CREDIT:BILL DAVIS

company’s success and ongoing growth. “Our customers count on us to do what we say we’ll do and we

don’t let them down.” W.G. Davis & Sons is at 1289 Santa Fe Road in Prince George www.wgdavistrucking.ca

FORESTRY & MINING

APRIL 2016

FORESTRY & MINING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

trees, to pulp and paper production. A recent Forest Ministry report said BC pulp mills sold 4.1 million tonnes of market pulp (valued at $2.6 billion) in 2014. This represents about 59 per cent of all paper manufacturing sales in the province. BC sawmill sales (mainly lumber) resulted in more than $5 billion in revenue that same year. Other interesting stats in the Ministry survey showed that log sales (66.4 million cubic meters of logs were harvested in 2014, with 6.8 million cubic meters of those being exported) for total sales values at $784 million.

Nortech Forestry Ltd Forest Management Consulting, Professional and Technical Services since 1987

535 North Fraser Dr., Quesnel, BC

250.992.8697

nortech@nortechforestry.com

The Endako copper and molybdenum mine located northwest of Prince George was shuttered in 2014 An emerging and innovative forestry value-added product is the production and sale of wood pellets. Produced and transported primary in Prince Rupert, 1.3 million tonnes of the material were shipped in 2014, with sales reaching more than $200 million. Interestingly more than 70 per cent of those sales were to buyers in the United Kingdom. A strong and vibrant industry, the provincial and in particular Northern BC forest industry has its share of challenges, not least of which is uncertainty in the global marketplace. Teresa Wat, the BC Minister of International Trade, as part of a 2015 stakeholders report prepared for Forestry Innovation Investment (FII), a provincial Crown agency

The Mount Milligan copper and gold mine anticipates a working life time of more than 20 years

Due in large part to shrinking demand from China Prince Rupert’s Ridley Coal Terminal was less busy last year created to diversify domestic and international markets for BC forest products, said the road ahead remains positive. “This past year has been a turbulent one for the g loba l economy. Volatility in commodity

markets and a growing level of financial and political risk around the globe have contributed to uncertainty and a slowing of economic growth in many of BC’s key markets, including China. Despite this, British Columbia remains well-positioned for solid economic performance in the period ahead and continues to be a strong performer in international markets, particularly for forest products,” she said.

“The forest sector plays a central role in the economy of BC Today, more than 90 per cent of forest products produced in BC is shipped outside the province, with the vast majority destined for international markets. This fact alone demonstrates how important forest products are to British Columbians – the hundreds of communities, thousands SEE FORESTRY & MINING | PAGE 21

LOMAK BULK CARRIERS CORP. 6555 Paciﬁc Street, Prince George, B.C. 250.561.1000

9341 Rock Island Rd., Prince George, BC

250-562-7422

3364 Hwy., 16 W Smithers, BC

250-847-3981

www.babinetruck.com

Lomak Bulk Carriers Corp specializes in hauling bulk forest products including chips, sawdust, shavings and hog fuel for the forest industry and mining products including ore concentrates, coal, petroleum products, and grinding media for the mining industry as well as other general freight. We take great pride in our excellent safety record, the premium service we consistently provide to our customers and our family of dedicated employees.

Head office is based out of Prince George Operations in Tumbler Ridge, Mackenzie, Campbell River B.C. and Grande Prairie Alberta.

FORESTRY & MINING

APRIL 2016

The forest industry is complex and multi-tiered, with the actual harvesting representing only one aspect Lumber production in BC generated more than $5 billion in sales during 2014, twice the revenue of wood pulp

Wood pellets destined for markets across the globe await loading at Prince Rupert’s Westview Wood Pellet Terminal

FORESTRY & MINING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

of businesses, and tens of thousands of workers who rely on forestry for their livelihoods.” The provincial mining industry, while not an industry on the same scale of forestry is still a

key component of the regional economic mix. The BC Ministry of Energy and Mines reports that more than 30,000 people in the province are directly employed in the sector. This includes those working in mineral exploration, direct mining and in all other related service areas. The Ministry also reported that by 2014

the average annual mining salary (plus all benefits) had reached $120,000. Certainly not a sunset industry, there are presently numerous factors negatively impacting the mining sector. Decreasing demand for coal from the Chinese market in particular had resulted in a reduction in shipments through the Prince Rupert coal port last year. A recent study of the mining industry produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) indicated that while the industry is resilient, output and revenues have shown some decline in recent years. “Low commodity prices have been a drag on profits and investments in recent years for companies in BC, and around

the globe,” explained Mark Platt, PwC’s BC Mining Leader. “The province’s mining industry faces increasing competition for investment dollars from other mining regions. That‘s why BC’s competitive position, as compared to other jurisdictions, is considered crucial.” The PwC report showed that capital expenditures in the industry have been in decline. In 2013 for example the BC mining industry spent just over $1.7 billion on capital expenditures, by 2014 that number had declined by nearly $300 million. Industry revenues were also on the decline, from $9 billion in 2012 to just over $8 billion two years later. Some of the main mines in Northern BC have gone through

21 difficult times in recent years. The Huckleberry Mine is owned by Huckleberry Mines Ltd. and is an open pit copper mine located near Houston. Declining prices for copper on the world market will lead to its temporary closure this August. The Endako copper and molybdenum mine located northwest of Prince George was likewise put into a state of temporary suspension at the end of 2014. In contrast, one of the regional industry bright spots is the Mount Milligan copper and gold mine which is situated about 155 kilometers northwest of Prince George. Owned by the Thompson Creek Metals Company this open pit project is expected to produce 60,000 tonnes of ore per day during the anticipated 22 year life of the mine. The company fact sheets states the compact operation (only four kilometers by three kilometers ) has an expected ore reserve of more than 482 million tonnes, which are anticipated to keep the operation in business for the next two decades. The first concentrates were only shipped from the mine in September 2013. Two of British Columbia’s primary resource industries, forestry and mining helped to open up the province, and in the decades ahead will continue to fuel its economic growth. Adaptive and resilient, both sectors continue to be key players in the province’s future.

TDB CONSULTANTS: EXPERTS IN FORESTRY DATA COLLECTION Prince George Company Has Worked On Projects All Across The Province

RINCE GEORGE – The 21st Century forest industry has become a multi-tiered, bottom line focused, technologydriven business sector. As with any modern business data is the key to success, assembling and providing that crucial information is the core of everything TDB Consultants does for its industrial and government clients. “We essentially provide data and services to help make more informed decisions and to create better forest management practices for our clients,” explained Dick Mynen, TDB’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Working for a wide range of clients, including many of the major forest companies, government agencies including the provincial Forest Ministry, local timber sales offices, mining companies and others the company has been providing its specialized services since 1987. With a staff of more than 50, including Registered Professional Foresters, Registered Forest Technicians, Professional Engineers, Mapping Specialists and a full administrative team,

The latest technologies, such as this sample of 3D Photo Point Cloud data is regularly used by TDB TDB’s team of engineers and other professionals often access remote and inaccessible areas to do their research TDB has amassed a top-class level of skills and expertise. “We have the capacity to take on very large projects as of the results of having a very experienced team,” Mynen said. “While our office is in Prince George we’re certainly a provincially-based company in terms of our forest services, but in our mapping services we’re more Canada-wide based.” A typical project for TDB could include compiling a forest assets inventory and then developing that inventory into a plan for effective management and eventual

harvest. “For the harvesting we’re talking about services such as planning access, block development, block location, replanting regimes and others,” he said. Data collected for clients include information on the timber volume, health and productivity of the forest including previous beetle infestations or if there are any indications of root rot disease. The information provided allows the customers to make critical management decisions, saving costs on field efforts long before any roads are built or trees

“Our job is to help our clients with their decision making, aided by the data we can assemble” DICK MYNEN CEO TDB CONSULTANTS

are removed. The company describes itself as being able to provide everything from planning to completion, a claim Mynen says his company can make as it utilizes new technologies throughout

its operations including new advancements in LiDAR and 3D Photo Point Cloud data to assist with engineering, planning and field work. “Our job is to help our clients with their decision making, aided by the data we can assemble, both in the office and in the field as well,” he said. “The information we’re collecting is being used in part to determine forest health, which is a key interest to us. It’s great to be part of developing positive solutions to issues that are affecting our landscape.” To learn more please visit the company website at: www.tdb. ca/

APRIL 2016

PRINCE RUPERT CHAMBER CONGRATULATES NEW RISING STARS ALUMNI

PRINCE RUPERT SIMONE CLARK

he business community of Prince Rupert, like that of many small cities has long faced the issue of losing its young people to larger centres once they graduate from college--leaving the city with a shortage of skilled young people. Partly to address this issue, in 2005 the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce piloted a program in partnership with Northwest Community College called Rising Stars. Rising Stars matches students from the Northwest Community College and Charles Hays Secondary School with mentors in the business community. The program introduces students to the local business community, to help them grow professionally, while showcasing the opportunities available for establishing careers or starting businesses without leaving the North Coast. As Rising Stars is primarily a

“The Rising Stars are matched, wherever possible, with mentors experienced in the student’s area of interest. The result is that many students have the opportunity to gain insight into their intended careers that might not otherwise be available to them. ” networking program, the students attend a number of Chamber networking events over a six-month period. Initially, they complete an application form and attend an interview. The program then kicks off with a dinner where the Rising Stars and their mentors get to know each other. Thereafter, the students attend month ly g uest speaker lunch meetings with their mentors, as well as other signature Chamber events. In addition to the networking events, one of the highlights for students is that the local Toastmasters club offers a weekend SpeechCraft workshop where students develop skills and confidence in their public speaking ability. At the end of the program students are given the opportunity to showcase their skills in a

Prince Rupert’s Rising Star students and mentors at the official graduation ceremony March 16. PHOTO CREDIT: PRINCE RUPERT CHAMBER AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

presentation in front of the other students, mentors and community leaders. “Everyone is always amazed at the stellar improvement in the Rising Stars, particularly their increased confidence and public speaking skills. Our two bursary winners this year, Eric Martello and Jadda Wright personify everything that the Rising Stars program was meant to achieve. They were both very shy and very hesitant at the beginning of the program. By the end, they were holding audiences in the palm of their hand as they displayed skill beyond their years during their final presentations. “Everyone at Chamber, NWCC and CHSS is proud to be associated with this wonderful program. If you want to find something tangible that Chamber does that makes a direct difference in our community I would unhesitatingly

“ SUCCESS” (GASP)

SALES JOHN GLENNON

young ambitious sales professional wished to be top dog, not just in his company, but in his industry, so he sought counsel from a wise man. “Tell me, oh wise man, what do I need, in order to be the best sales professional in my business?” To which, the wise man commanded the young man to bring him a pail of water. Thirty minutes later the ambitious salesman returns with a bucket, overflowing with water. “Now, submerge your head in the water” the wise man commanded. So without questioning, the young contender, placed his head, up to the nape of his neck in water. The wise man then gently placed the palm of his strongest hand and the back of the young man’s head. For the first minute, nothing happened. Then, the young salesman, running out of breath, attempted

to take his head out. At this point the wise man put considerably more pressure on the submerged head, such that it remained fully submersed. With no more air in his lungs, the young man, began to flail about in a desperate attempt to escape certain death. The wise man continued to hold his head under water, until the salesman’s sustained attempts to escape reached fever pitch...at which point the old man released his vice like grip. The young man head shot out of the water desperately gasping for air. “Why did you do that?” he demanded, to which the sage responded, “To show you what you need, to be the best.” “I don’t get it”, the salesman retorted. “ I t’s s i m p l e” t h e w i s e m a n counseled...”when you want success as much as you just wanted oxygen, then you’ll be successful” Copyright 2015 Sandler Training and Insight Sales Consulting Inc. All rights reserved. John Glennon is the owner of Insight Sales Consulting Inc, an authorized Sandler Training Licensee. He can be reached at jglennon@sandler.com, toll free at 1-866-645-2047 or visit www. glennon.sandler.com

put the Rising Stars program forward as the standard bearer for what making a difference looks like,” said Keith Lambourne, Vice President of the Chamber and Chair of the Rising Stars Committee. The Rising Stars are matched, wherever possible, with mentors experienced in the student’s area of interest. The result is that many students have the opportunity to gain insight into their intended careers that might not otherwise be available to them. While the Chamber facilitates the program, Rising Stars is made possible entirely through the generous support and commitment, both financially and in kind, of the Chamber community. “TD is a proud Title Sponsor of the Rising Stars Program since its inception. Seeing the students’ development over the course of the program is a testament to their

mentors and the experience,” said Phat Tran, Branch Manager for TD Prince Rupert. This year the program alumni are joined by Angie Henry, Ariel McKenzie, Barb Lippke, Chelsea Jesser, Eric Martello, Jadda Wright, Jenny Huynh, McGhee Tomlinson, Titan McMaster and Yong Jing Fan. That the program is successful is evidenced in the achievements of the students, several of whom have secured employment or started businesses through the contacts they made during the program. “The Rising Stars program is Prince Rupert’s premiere mentorship program. We see many of these students succeeding in a big way, Aja Lihou teaches the business program at the high school, several students have become successful entrepreneurs and recently Alexandra Van Vianen was recognized with an outstanding international woman award in Qingdao, China.” Chamber President Rosa Miller shared. “These students, be it high school or college students, gain valuable experience and the businesses and mentors themselves gain valuable insights. This is truly an opportunity for two-way learning.” Simone Clark is Manager of Communications of the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 250-624-2296 or simone@ princerupertchamber.ca.

IS IT EASY TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU?

HIRING LUCY GLENNON

ave you ever been frustrated because doing business withacertaincompanywas harder than you thought it should be? Have you thought about your own organization the same way? It may be difficult to do business with you,andyoumaynotevenrealizeit. Recently I was trying to buy some gift cards to one of my favorite restaurants. The idea crossed my mind while they were closed so I went online to see if I could do it on their website. First I was excited to see that they had a promotion for every $100 spent, you would get a $10 bonus gift card. I thought I could just select a quantity with $100 each on them. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Quickly I became frustrated because the only way I could figure out to do it was to put in each

individual recipient and then they would receive an email with a gift certificate. I had no desire to spend the time to put in the details for all the people I wanted to send the gift card to. So I waited until the next morning and called the restaurant. Imagine my shock when I found out they did not want to help me! The person who answered the phone told me that they preferred to have me go online to buy the gift cards. And if I came in they would not give me the extra $10 bonus. So I decided not to buy gift cards from this restaurant. The experience really made me wonder if others had the same frustration, so I asked around. I found dozens of people with a similar experience - not all from the same restaurant - however the same frustration overall. I wonder if these restaurants have any idea of how much money they have lost by making it hard for people to do business with them. It would be nice if it was only these isolated incidents with restaurants, however it is not. While I was asking around I found people who shared hundreds of experiences where they choose not to do business with a certain company because it was harder than it needed to be. The stories that were shared

with me were amazing - the lost opportunities for the businesses were countless. I heard things that ranged from websites that were too complicated, to overly long hold times on the phone, to being asked tocallbackandtalktosomeoneelse, tonotbeingabletofindcontactinfo, to having employees that did not know anything, to not taking certain credit cards, just to name a few. Likely you can relate to this as a consumer - because you can think of a time you chose not to do business with a company or person because they made it harder than you thought it needed to be. However, when was the last time you spent time and energy to understand what prospective clients think of doing business with your organization and you? If you have not done this recently it could be the key to figuring out some of the simplest and easiest ways to grow your own business through superior customer service. If we make it hard for others to do business with us, they will find another company who makes it easier for them. Lucy Glennon can be reached at 866-645-2047 or lucyg@ hireguru.com and her website is www.hireguru.ca

APRIL 2016

NEW MOBILE CRANE COMPANY EXPERIENCING GROWTH SPOTLIGHT

Sure Lift Was Created Primarily To Work In The Oil & Gas Industry

ONTNEY – Business is picking up for Sure Lift Ltd., quite literally. Coowned by Travis Huk and Bonnie Dennison, Sure Lift is a recently launched picker service created primarily to service the oil and gas sector across the North Peace region. “Despite having only incorporated last July we’ve experienced some really positive growth,” Dennison explained. L au nched i n Ju ly 2015 t he company operates mobile crane systems such as Knuckleboom cranes with sizes ranging from seven to 42 ton, as well as Stiff Boom cranes up to 40 tons. “The great thing about a picker is it can pull a trailer so the system can be used to haul things, not just pick them up which is something you simply can’t do with a bigger crane. It provides us with a lot more flexibility in terms of the jobs we can do,” she said. Operating out of Montney (located about 25 kilometers north of Fort St. John) the company, with its staff of five including Dennison and Huk, currently operates a fleet of three picker units, one gravel truck and most recently a tractor and lowbed were added to service its expanding client base. With a focus on the oil and gas sector one of the most common jobs the firm undertakes is the moving and setting up of pumpjack equipment. “By expanding the fleet the tractor can now follow the picker around and is capable of carrying more cargo than the picker can haul. It gives us some options and expands the services we provide our customers.” For Dennison the company provides her with an opportunity to satisfy her passion for driving. A holder of a Class 1 license and fully certified in crane operations she counts herself among the company’s team of field workers. Despite the relative newness of the firm Sure Lift is no slouch when it comes to experience. Huk has been involved with crane operations for more than 15 years, and has worked in the oil and gas industry for more than 20. Other team members have been part of the industry for a much as 40 years. “We just wanted to get the word out that we have the equipment, capability and the crew to get the job done safely and efficiently,” she said. Thanks to the variety of the company’s fleet they can and do regularly handle such tasks as tandem lifts, moving structu res, tra nsporti ng oi l field

One advantage of the picker system is its ability to haul large objects including pipes and containers

Montney’s Sure Lift currently operates a small fleet of knuckleboom and stiff boom mobile cranes

to verify Sure Lift’s safety record before ever making contact. “Safety is a huge priority for Sure Lift. In the north the people we work w ith a re l i kely ou r friends and neighbors. The last thing I’m going to want to do is have to tell their family there’s been an accident. If something should ever happen to one of our guys, that person is not just some nameless employee; they are a part of my family,” Dennison said. For the future Sure Lift is planning on careful and reasoned corporate growth. A small company can respond to change faster than a large one, but it can also be affected by change just as quickly. The company has adopted a pay as it goes approach to equipment acquisition, purchasing what it

needs only as it needs it. Sure Lift has made great strides since its launch, dramatically expanding its client base, enhancing its staff count and adding to its fleet of rolling stock. The future is looking very positive, “Our knuckleboom cranes are somewhat of a new thing up here, and they are so versatile there’s almost nothing we can’t do. They can reach inside buildings, and the smaller wheel base allows them to fit into tight spaces easily. With the new tractor and the pickers everything has been really fine tuned to allow us to do our job,” she said. “I guess our company slogan really says it all: Make your next lift, a Sure Lift!” To lea r n more plea se v i sit the company website at: www. sureliftltd.com

“That person is not just some nameless employee; they are a part of my family.” BONNIE DENNISON CO-OWNER SURE LIFT

equipment, pumpjack installation, gravel hauling, camp installation and maintenance and many others. Every Sure Lift truck is equipped with a spreader bar to aid in lifting large loads, while the company also maintains a number of manbaskets (for both the knucklebooms and stiff boom cranes) which are used to lift workers to perform tasks at heights at an industrial site. Working in the oil and gas industry, and using heavy equipment can bring with it risks. For Sure Lift safety is its number one mission. A fully accredited SECOR™ (Small Employer Certificate of Recognition) company, Sure Lift is also part of the ISNetworld (ISN) and ComplyWorks networks, two online resources that allow potential customers

One of the more common tasks for Sure Lift is working on the moving and installation of pumpjack units