Business Examiner Peace Cariboo Skeena - August 2014 by Business Examiner Media Group

» NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS WRAP UP –PAGE 8

AUGUST 2014 TERRACE Terrace company wins Excellence for helicopter base & places as a Finalist for arena project

Peace Cariboo Skeena

commercial.remax-western.ca

PRINCE GEORGE

Commercial Building Awards honour the best

PAGE 6

SALES John Glennon discusses systems to achieve success

PAGE 7

INDEX News Update

Prince George

Prince Rupert

Movers and Shakers 18 Inventing 18 Opinion 19

MARK MACDONALD PUBLISHER

he building at 6534 Airport Road in Fort St. John was named the Judges’ Choice overall winner in the third edition of the Northern BC Commercial Building Awards June 27 at the Ramada Hotel. 6534 Airport Road, owned by Bruce Reid of BGR Properties of Fort St. John, also won the Excellence Award in the Office category at the event, which celebrated the best in commercial and industrial construction throughout northern BC. Re/MAX Commercial was title sponsor, and the BC Northern Real Estate Board Commercial Council was also a sponsor of the event, which recognized excellence in commercial building in northern British Columbia from 100 Mile House to Prince George, and from Prince Rupert to Fort St. John. To be eligible, buildings must have been completed between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2013. The Awards were last held in 2012. “The diversity of the finalists for this version of the awards reflects the development in northern

SEE COMMERCIAL BUILDING | PAGE 9

Home sales show improvement over last year

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Brian Kapuscinski, left, of KPL James, architect for Judges’ Choice Winner 6534 Airport Road in Fort St. John with award presenter Sue Lynch, Manager of Re/MAX Centre City Realty in Prince George

B.C.,” says Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner Peace Cariboo Skeena, which staged the event. “The winning entries show the quality and quantity of industrial and commercial buildings from the Alberta border to the coast.” Other Excellence Award winners were the Prince George Public Library Skylab Mezzanine in Institutional, Upper Montney Phase 2 of Dawson Creek in Multi-Residential, Canadian Helicopters Base of Terrace in Industrial, and the Chetwynd Riverhouse in Chetwynd in Commercial. Merit Awards went to: Charles Hays Secondary School of Prince Rupert in Institutional, Central Park of Fort St. John in Multi-Residential, and the Talisman Building of Fort St. John and the Shell Building in Fort St. John in Office. This is one of several Commercial Building Awards events held throughout the province, including the Thompson Okanagan and Kootenays, Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island. Judges for the event were from all over the province. Allan Corbett of Burnaby is Chair of the Canadian

he number of homes sold through the MLS System of the BC Northern Real Estate Board came in well above year-ago levels in June 2014. According to the Board’s statistics home sales totaled 522 units in June, rising 25 per cent from June 2013. “Home sales have been steadily improving since last year, but they really took off in June,” said Ken Laursen, President of the

“It was actually the first time sales have topped the 500 mark in a single month in almost seven years. The average price of those sales also set a new record.” KEN LAURSEN, PRESIDENT OF THE BC NORTHERN REAL ESTATE BOARD

BC Northern Real Estate Board. “It was actually the first time sales have topped the 500 mark in a single month in almost seven years. The average price of those sales also set a new record.” Over the first half of the year home sales totaled 2,249 units. This was 11 per cent ahead of the same period last year and marks the best first half of any year since 2007. SEE HOME SALES | PAGE 3

RUNNINGHEAD

PRINCE RUPERT The City of Prince Rupert has entered into an exclusivity agreement with Watson Island LNG Corporation (WILNG) to repurpose Watson Island into a small LNG export terminal. WILNG will now take the time to perform their due diligence surrounding the export facility. “After many months of investigation Council believes the City has found a company with the vision for Watson Island that will bring jobs and a substantial new economy to Prince Rupert,” said Mayor Jack Mussallem, on behalf of City of Prince Rupert Council. “We recognize the City has gone down this road before, however, we have never given up on our vision to repurpose Watson Island and get it back on the tax-roll. We are optimistic this project will be an economic generator that will bolster the City and create new jobs in the region.” Watson Island, which is home to the former Skeena Cellulose Pulp Mill, is strategically located industrial land at tidewater within minutes of Prince Rupert. The City entertained other offers to repurpose the land but chose to proceed with WILNG because it represented the best value for City of Prince Rupert taxpayers. Mr. Ed Neibauer, Director of WILNG stated, “We are looking forward to establishing good working relationships with the community, First Nations and regulators to bring the company’s development plans to fruition.” After entering into a settlement agreement with the former owner of Watson Island, Sun Wave Forest Products Ltd., the City is now proceeding with decommissioning the old pulp mill, which is ongoing. The City is also working to obtain Provincial assistance for the removal of industrial chemicals and is managing a number of other environmentally dangerous substances.

As well, the City is vigorously defending a legal claim from Watson Island Development Corporation (WatCo), a company wholly owned by Colonial Coal, in an effort to transition the island back into economic production. WatCo has filed certificates of pending litigation against title to the lands comprising the island, which have prevented the City from selling the lands. The City is working to have the litigation resolved as quickly as possible.

and port,” says Prince Rupert Mayor Jack Mussallem. Since the program started, the Government of Canada has invested more than $621 million for 767 projects at 174 airports across the country.

PRINCE RUPERT

Northern Development Initiative Trust’s board of directors has approved a $250,000 grant for a new Medical Health Clinic and Community Wellness Centre in the District of Chetwynd. The decision allows the District, which will own the clinic, to move forward to secure additional funding to improve healthcare services for Chetwynd residents. The project will also help attract new physicians to the community, which will incent further investment in Chetwynd that supports local economic development and job creation. The proposed facility, a $1.4 million project that, if built, would be the only clinic of its kind in Chetwynd, would help the community attract and retain doctors, improving access to medical services for residents and decreasing patient wait times. The clinic would be located on District-owned lands and house medical offices, exam rooms and a waiting and reception area. A community wellness centre would be co-located in a general space at the clinic, where health education, group learning and outpatient services could also be conducted. Some mental health services and public health services would also be relocated to the new clinic from their current locations at the Chetwynd Hospital.

Enhancing Safety in Northern British Columbia Jeff Watson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport announced an investment of $10,308,741 over two years for the overlay of Runway 13-31, Taxiways A & B and the apron, and the relocation of visual aids at the Prince Rupert Airport. This work will ensure continued safe operation of the airport for passengers, employees, medical evacuations, and fire fighting operations. Funding is provided through Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP). To date, through ACAP, the Prince Rupert Airport has received over $14.4 million in funding for nine safety projects, including the recent announcement. Previous projects included the restoration of airfield electrical systems; pavement repair on runway 13-31; and the replacement of a snowplow truck, snowblower and runway sweeper. “The City of Prince Rupert and the Prince Rupert Airport Authority are very pleased with the support of the federal government, through ACAP, to invest in the rehabilitation of the airport’s runway, taxiways and apron pavement. Prince Rupert is the closest West Coast North American port to Asia and this airport improvement will support the growth of our community and enhance its attractiveness for investment in the LNG industry

CHETWYND Medical and Wellness Clinic receives funding

STEWART KSM project granted environmental assessment approval Environment Minister Mary Polak and Energy and Mines Minister

AUGUST 2014

Bill Bennett have issued an Environmental Assessment Certificate to Seabridge Gold Inc. for the KSM project, located approximately 65 km northwest of Stewart. The $5.3 billion KSM project is located on the site of one of the largest copper gold deposits in the world and will have an anticipated production of 130,000 tonnes of ore per day for up to 52 years. KSM will create up to 1,800 jobs during construction and approximately 1,040 permanent jobs during mine operations. The KSM mine is one of many proposed projects in the northwest that will connect to the new $746 million Northwest Transmission Line. The decision was made after considering a review led by British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Office. The environmental assessment for the KSM project was conducted in a manner that is reflective of the treaty relationship between British Columbia and the Nisga’a Lisims Government. The ministers have issued the certificate with legally-enforceable conditions that have given them the confidence to conclude that the project will be constructed, operated and decommissioned in a way that ensures that no significant adverse effects are likely to occur. A record of the factors that the ministers considered in making their decision can be found in the Reasons for Ministers’ Decision at: http://tinyurl.com/ople36d There are 41 conditions that are part of the Environmental Assessment Certificate. Design restrictions are specified in the Certified Project Description. Each of the conditions and the Certified Project Description are legally-binding requirements that Seabridge Gold must meet to be in compliance with the certificate.

Infrastructure Projects

Harper Government Announces Investment to Support Aboriginal Participation in Energy

Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced over $1.4 million in funding to the North East Native Advancing Society (NENAS) in support of the purchase of a heavy equipment operator/mining simulator, a driving simulator, as well as the delivery of a training program. Rapid growth in the energy and mining sectors has created a high demand for heavy equipment operators in North East British Columbia. NENAS is the first institution to offer heavy equipment operator training in the region. The acquisition of this vital training equipment will allow NENAS to train up to 225 drivers and heavy equipment operators by April 2015. “NENAS greatly appreciates the funds provided through Western Economic Diversification for the acquisition of simulators and trailers, which opens doors for Aboriginal people residing in Northeast British Columbia to compete for job opportunities connected to major industry projects. We have learned that Aboriginal people learn best by hands on apprenticeship methods, and the simulators lend support to this style of teaching,” says Audrey Sam, Executive Director of North East Native Advancing Society. In addition to simulator training, NENAS will provide students with essential workplace skill building, foundational and safety training, pre-college preparation, and apprenticeship mentoring. Industry stakeholders have already committed to hiring students upon graduation. Between 2014 and 2020, occupations related to motor vehicle, transit drivers and heavy equipment operators are expected to have the highest number of job openings in Northeast British Columbia. Aboriginal workers represent an important labour force to meet the demands of this growing industry. The heavy equipment operator/ mining simulator and driving simulator are portable, allowing training to be delivered in surrounding communities in Northeast British Columbia.

when it comes to techniques to communicate the importance of a liberal arts education in the modern age. Created by the federal government in 1977, SSHRC supports world class Canadian

research through a variety of different financial aid programs. In 2012-13, SSHRC awarded more than 3,800 grants, fellowships, and scholarships worth $337 million.

FORT ST JOHN

PRINCE GEORGE

UNBC Professor Named to SSHRC Council

NBC Associate Professor of Political Science Tracy Summerville knows the significance of the social sciences and humanities in a liberal arts education and she’s looking forward to promoting those disciplines in her new role on the governing council of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Summerville recently began her three-year term with the federal research funding agency and has already been inspired by the dedication shown by her colleagues on

the 12-member council as well as the staff at SSHRC. “The members of the council are absolutely committed to social sciences and the humanities research and to communicating the need for such research,” she said. Summerville is the second UNBC faculty member to sit on the prestigious council and is looking forward to providing a voice from a small university located in a midsized community. UNBC Geography Professor Greg Halseth served a term on the council from 2003 to 2007. As a member of the

council, Summerville will not have any say over how individual funding requests are handled. Instead, the role of the council is to chart out the big-picture priorities of the organization. The council is comprised of a combination of academics and leaders from private sector organizations involved in the social sciences and the humanities. In addition to providing her own contributions to the council’s workings, Summerville said she can learn from her colleagues on the national governing council – especially

RUNNINGHEAD

AUGUST 2014

IT’S DIFFICULT TO BE A CHAMELEON WHEN A WHIRLWIND OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY PEOPLE THINK OF YOU AS A DINOSAUR On July 16, 2014 it was Since 2011, we’ve added events and valuable services for every business demographic.

PRINCE GEORGE CHRISTIE RAY

ut that is precisely the cha l lenge the P ri nce George Chamber of Commerce has faced since celebrating our centennial anniversary in 2011. As a one-hundred year plus old busi ness orga n i zation, the Board of Directors and staff at the Chamber felt that there were public misconceptions about who we were that didn’t align with reality. For example, many local residents and even some Chamber members viewed the Chamber as an old boy’s club working to f u r t her sele ct b u si ne ss i nterests t h rou g h stu f f y networki ng events. In fact, the local business community in Prince George was a dynamic and supportive environment where young entrepreneurs, both male and female, could recognize considerable success. The true profile of the Chamber and their members had changed decades ago but we needed to update our products, services and methods of communication

HOME SALES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The average price of homes sold in June 2014 was a record $273,692, up seven per cent from the same month last year. The Board cautions that the avera ge resident i a l pr ice i s a u sef u l f ig u re on ly for establ i sh i ng t rend s a nd comparisons over a period of ti me. It does not i nd icate a n a c t u a l p r i c e fo r a h o m e due to the w ide selection of housing available over a vast ge og raph ic a re a (t he B oa rd serves an area covering over 600,000 square kilometers or 72 per cent of the province). The dollar value of all home sales in June 2014 was a record $142.9 m i l l ion, ju mpi ng 3 4 per cent on a year-over-year basis. There were 900 new listings on the Board’s MLS System in

in order to make every entrepreneur feel welcome and, even more importantly, to recognize value in our Chamber. Since 2011, we’ve added events and valuable services for every business demographic. We now offer youthful lively events like Speed Networking and our annual Cosmic Glow-in-the-dark Golf Tournament. To ensure we recognize and support young startups and entrepreneurs, June 2014, up 12 per cent on a year-over-year basis. Act ive resident ia l l ist i ngs on t he Boa rd’s M L S System numbered 2,907 units at the end of Ju ne, dow n th ree per cent from a year earlier. Active listings have been trending downward since 2011. T here were 5 .6 mont h s of i nventory at the end of Ju ne 2014, dow n from 7.1 months a yea r ea rl ier a nd below the long-run average for this time of t he ye a r. T he nu m b er of mont h s of i nventor y i s t h e nu mb er of mont h s it wou ld take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity. Sa les of a l l proper ty ty pes numbered 607 units in June, an increase of 25 per cent from June 2013. T he total value of all properties sold was $179.2 million, jumping 42 per cent from June 2013.

we’ve published two issues of a ‘Top 40 Under Forty’ magazine which is distributed across the region. Our biggest event of the year is our Business Excellence Awards Gala in October where we’ve added an award category for ‘New Entrepreneur of the Year’ to help welcome the efforts of new startups investing in our business community. We have also planned a 9-day familiarization trip to China this fall with more than 30 participants, some of which have business interests in international expansion and export. Another way we’ve reflected changes in our public and member engagement is through our communications. The Prince George Chamber enthusiastically promotes our members, events, and good news through F a c e b o o k , T w i t t e r (@ P G Chamber1) and LinkedIn. We’ve also moved the majority of our weekly member communications to an electronic newsletter format rather than print. While we still offer our Business Directory called “The Source” to members and visitors in print, it is also easily searchable online through our website: pgchamber.bc.ca Does the face of the Prince G e o r g e C h a m b e r o f C o mmerce ref lect the com mu nity we serve? You bet it does. With more than 800 dedicated business members, we will continue to assess the needs of those we represent and offer forward-looking products and service to match these needs. Christie Ray is CEO of Prince George Chamber of Commerce

PRINCE RUPERT ROSA MILLER

t would appear that the City of Prince Rupert is preparing for a tsunami of economic activity. With LNG companies looking to take advantage of Prince Rupert’s proximity to the Asian markets, many in the community can already see the difference – and no decision(s) have yet been made. There is an increase in activity that is seeing this city come alive. Recently, Hawkair, the Northwest’s local airline, announced plans to begin same day service from Prince Rupert to Vancouver – with departure times of 7:50am from Prince Rupert and 5:45pm from Vancouver. This service begins August 5th and will provide the community with a business day in Vancouver and still have them home in the evenings with their families! The city’s airport is also doing some freshening up, creating increased local employment - from airstrip resurfacing to refurbishment of the terminal building – there is a hum of activity that can also be felt at YPR. On July 16, 2014 it was announced that the City of Prince Rupert has entered into an exclusivity agreement with Watson Island LNG Corporation

announced that the City of Prince Rupert has entered into an exclusivity agreement with Watson Island LNG Corporation (WILNG) to repurpose Watson Island into a small export terminal.

(WILNG) to repurpose Watson Island into a small export terminal. The exclusivity agreement sets the stage for WILNG to carry on with their due diligence surrounding the export facility. Watson Island was once the home of a bleached kraft pulp mill and a major employer in the City of Prince Rupert. The pulp mill has been closed since 2001. I n add ition, the Econom ic Development Office for Prince Rupert and Port Edward has experienced a significant increase in activity with various businesses expressing an interest in Prince Rupert. From fast food chains to equipment rental and sales companies– the enquiries are there. The Prince Rupert & District Chamber of Commerce is excited by the prospects ahead and looks forward to assisting where possible in continuing to make Prince Rupert the next great port city! Rosa Miller is Vice President of the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce.

TERRACE

Northwest BC Local Governments Form Alliance

r. Bruce Bidgood, Chair of the Regional District of Kitimat Stikine, announced the formation of the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance (RBA). Members of the RBA include the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (RDKS), the City of Terrace, the Districts of Kitimat, Stewart and New Hazelton, the Village of Hazelton, and all RDKS Electoral Area Directors. Chair Bidgood also called for an immediate start to revenue-sharing discussions and negotiations promised by Premier Christy Clark during the 2013 provincial election and re-affirmed in June 2014. “The newly formed Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance is ready, willing and able to engage in revenue-sharing discussions and negotiations promised by Premier Christy Clark,” said Chair Bidgood. “There is

not a moment to lose. We need to start revenue-sharing discussions immediately; Northwest BC is already booming. I understand that the province is finalizing its fiscal framework for the LNG industry, and major companies will be making final investment decisions this fall or in early 2015.” There are precedents for significant revenue sharing including the Columbia Basin Trust. “The RBA seeks early access to an equitable share of revenues from the massive economic expansion now underway in Northwest BC,” said Chair Bidgood, “We have all experienced the boom and bust economy. The Northwest is about more than fly-in fly-out camps. This time, Northwest BC communities must be provided access to significant revenue sharing so we can make the necessary investments to build long-term

sustainable communities for the future.” The province is projecting revenues of $100 billion from LNG alone, without allowing for other new major resource development in sectors such as mining. A revenue share of only 3% would generate $3 billion to invest in Northwest BC communities of the future. “Northwest BC communities do not have the resources to go it alone,” said Chair Bidgood. “The good news is that the scale of projected provincial revenues means that the needs and priorities of the province, as well as Northwest BC communities, can be met without adversely impacting the current and future property tax bases of the region, reducing the level of funding for other provincial programs, or risking the competitiveness of current and future companies operating in Northwest BC.”

NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS

AUGUST 2014

MUSIC FACILITY FOR PRINCE RUPERT’S CHARLES HAYES SECONDARY SCHOOL A FINALIST IN THE 2014 NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS PRINCE RUPERT

Project recognized for quality, uniqueness and benefit to the community

he Charles Hayes Secondary School in Prince Rupert now has its own Music Facility, built by General contractor Eby and Sons Construction Ltd. A unique design, contribution to the community and quality workmanship led to the music facility being recognized a finalist in the 2014 Northern Building Awards. The project

“There never really was a music room for the Charles Hayes Secondary School. All the kids from the highschool had to go down to the other high school for band. Our contributions helped to helped to solve that.” GEORGE MUSTERER, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, EBY AND SONS CONSTRUCTION

provided a first rate facility for the Charles Hayes Secondary Concert Band and community music events. Construction Manager George Musterer with Eby and Sons says “It was pretty good to see this project recognized as a finalist for the Northern Building Awards – we are always looking to provide

The Charles Hayes Secondary School Music Facility has received recognition for quality and community contribution high quality for building projects in the area. So yes – it’s a sign we are doing something right.” The new music facility has some “Unique angles,” says Musterer, that are “Very interesting.” Eby and Sons Construction focuses on general contracting for institutional and commercial sector customers, mostly dealing with large buildings. “As the general contractor for the Charles Hayes Music Facility, we had control over basically the entire thing. This building is important to the community and it is great

to have been a part of getting the construction going.” E b y a n d S o n s C o n s t r u ction Ltd. has a long operating history in the Prince Rupert Area. “We have been in Business since about 1946,” says Musterer. Bei ng i n busi ness for t h at m a ny yea rs h a s a llowed the company to develop a st rong t rack record ba sed on a commitment to quality, sound operating principles and sat isf ied cl ients. “O u r a rea of focus is firstly safety, and second quality, he says. “We

focus on making sure we deliver a quality product to the client without compromising efficiency. That has got to be our main guiding principle.” T h e m u s i c ro o m i s a f re e standing structure within close walking distance of the main school building. Supported in part by a $250,000 contribution from the Prince Rupert Port Authority a mong other donations, the music facility project “Stood out for a few different things,” says Musterer. “The quality was great;

Congratulations Eby and Sons Construction

5239 Keith Ave. Terrace, BC V8G 1L2 Ph:

(250) 635-4770

the contribution to the community was pretty significant as well.” He explains “There never really was a music room for the Charles Hayes Secondary. All the kids from the high school had to go down to the other high school for band. This project helped to solve that.” Providing a much needed space for music, the facility serves as a center for culture and musical events in Prince Rupert, helping to bring people together and provide a positive activity in the community. There will be community music events held at the stud io, i n add ition to school activities for students involved in the Charles Hayes Secondary Concert Band. Officially opened on May 7, 2014 with a performance by the school band, the music facility for the Charles Hayes Secondary School was named the Peter Witherly Com mu n ity Music Studio in honor of Witherly, a prominent figure in the Prince Rupert music scene. Contributing to local music events since the 1970s, he remains actively involved in community band and music activities in Prince Rupert. Eby and Sons Construction is Located at 1060 Saskatoon Ave in Prince Rupert Call (250)-627-1311

NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS

AUGUST 2014

GUENTHER HOME AND DEVELOPMENT LTD. WINS AWARD OF MERIT FOR FORT ST. JOHN CENTRAL PARK PROJECT FORT ST. JOHN

Residential development stood out at the 2014 Northern Building Awards

eveloper Kelly Guenther never thought that he might win an award for the vision and the hard work he put into his Central Park Project. He simply saw the need for revitalization in the community of Fort St. John coupled with a good development opportunity. The Central Park Project consists of Four Four-Plex buildings for a total of 16 residential units. Built in a less prestigious part of town, Guenther says “The project we did was a little bit out there. A lot of people thought we were crazy for putting in a higher end development in an older neighborhood.” T he development won a n Award of Merit at the 2014 Re/ MAX Northern BC Commercial Building Awards a fter being nominated by John Alexander, a local realtor with Re/MAX. Guenther says “Winning the awa rd m a kes me feel go o d , l i ke I a m on the right track. It’s nice to know other people thought it was a good idea. It is the first time I have ever won something.”

“The project we did was a little bit out there. A lot of people thought we were crazy for putting in a higher end development in an older neighborhood. We wanted to contribute to revitalizing the area.” - KELLY GUENTHER, OWNER, GUENTHER HOME AND DEVELOPMENT LTD.

The Central Park Project in Fort St. John won an award of merit at the 2014 Northern Building Awards pick up the neighborhood.” Guenther enjoys the rewards and readily address the challenges offered by the construction industry. “I have been in construction my whole life and I am 51,” he says. Primarily focusing

work to address,” he says. Q u a l it y i s a n overa rch i n g priority for the company, which promotes a start to finish focus on superior design and workmanship. “Most of our stuff is medium to high end. We keep

to the company website, value added features include above average window fittings, certified foundation surveying, squeak free flooring, daily framing supervision, special roofing installation precautions and the 2-5-10 home warranty. Commitment to quality and a well thought out design played a role in the success of the award winning development. “We used hardy siding and rock instead of vinyl – we tried to dress it up. The decks use composite known as Ultra Stone instead of vinyl so it looks pretty sharp.” The award winning residential units offered for purchase clearly define Guenther’s small scale approach. “Quality is not always easy to find up here in the north. We’re just little guys, we are not a large construction company,” he explains. “We only do a few million dollars’ worth of work every year.”

Guenther Home and Development Ltd. is located at 8335 – 86th Avenue in Fort St. John Visit http://ghdev.ca/

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“The opportunity to contribute to revitalizing the area was there,” explains Guenther. “I boug ht a proper ty t h at wa s not very pretty and had a lot of social problems affecting the neighborhood and turned it into something nice. People are starting to take notice and

on residential development projects, Guenther notes the importance of working with local government to create a quality development plan that adds value to the community. “There are a lot of challenging and important steps in the design and development approval process which we

it small, and only do a limited amount of work every year. By doing everything ourselves, our quality control is pretty high.” Asked about key contributors to the success of his business, Guenther explains “People receive a good value for their dollar from our company.” According

Renaissance Joinery &Millwork would like to extend our congratulations to Guenther Homes and Developments for their Merit Award at the Northern Building Awards and for their continuing commitment to providing quality products and services. CONSULTATION DESIGN CONSTRUCTION INSTALLATION

NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS

AUGUST 2014

PROGRESSIVE VENTURES CONSTRUCTION TERRACE PROJECT A FINALIST AT THE NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS TERRACE

Terrace company wins Excellence for helicopter base & places as a Finalist for arena project

rogressive Ventures Construction did well at the Northern Building Awards, placing as a finalist for the Chief Louis Arena and winning Excellence for the Canadian Helicopters Ltd. Base in Terrace. Winning the award and placing as a finalist serves as a sure sign that Progressive Ventures is moving in the right direction with company values and business practices.

“We are fortunate to have clients who are willing to work with us and invest in a top level project. Our clients for the Chief Louis Arena and Canadian helicopters base Terrace have clearly gone above and beyond.” HATHA CALLIS, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, PROGRESSIVE VENTURES CONSTRUCTION

Placing Progressive Ventures as a Finalist, the Chief Louis Arena build established a valuable community asset project by project approach.” Asked about the type of projects the company gets involved in, Callis said “Developments. We tend to get involved with developments including commercial, industrial buildings and

earthworks. It is a busy time in Northwestern BC, there is a lot of speculation and many proposals are coming forward. We serve a wide variety of clients ranging from local businesses to large multinational corporations.”

The Terrace based contracting company specializes in general construction and design-build work for a range of industrial, commercial and institutional clients in British Columbia. Founded by David McKeown

Progressive Ventures Construction President Darcy McKeown is pleased to see the commitment to quality pay off Business Development Manager Hatha Callis attributes the company’s success in the industry as well as the Northern Building Awards to “A long term, high quality satisfaction based approach.” He stresses “We would rather be successful over the long term and ensure that we deliver high quality satisfaction rather than focusing on a purely

The $2.2 Million Canadian Helicopters base is a quality focused project that won Excellence in the Northern Building Awards

1973, Progressive Ventures is a family owned business with strong connections to the local community. While maintaining its local ties, Progressive Ventures is continuing to pursue work with larger, multinational corporations. What does being recognized in the awards mean for Progressive Construction? Callis sees the “Recognition of quality as a nice conformation that what we are doing is consistent with our goals and projects, satisfies the needs of our clients and supports our communities. Being recognized for all parts of the project is important.” The $2.4 million Chief Louis Arena was a “Community boosting project as one of the most significant projects that happened recently in Northwestern BC, says Callis.” Built in partnership with the Iskut First Nations Band, “A space like this provides a meeting place for the community and something really positive. It provides opportunities for healthy youth and

AUGUST 2014

NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS

MANAGING POOR PERFORMANCE

SALES JOHN GLENNON

Inside glimpse of the 13,000 square foot Canadian Helicopters facility. community building activities.” The Canadian Helicopters Ltd. Base in Terrace was a “Complete design build” according to Callis. The all in one project included the construction of a hanger, business office and the landing facilities for the helicopters. The new base will allow the helicopter company to better service industrial projects, commercial development and tourism in the region as economic activity and investment rises in Northern BC. Callis is confident that the base “Improves the look of the airpark as a whole.” Describing the site, he feels that the proposal “Goes above and beyond” in quality and value. “I think what is exemplary about Canada Helicopters is their desire to create a showcase building. Of all the buildings at the Terrace airport, that is the one that a person can walk into and take note of. It has a high end design.” In receiving recognition as a finalist for the arena and Excellence winner for the helicopter base, Progressive Ventures credits their clients as being instrumental in gaining recognition and deserving of the spotlight. Callis stresses that winning or placing “Is kudos to the client. All the bits and pieces need to be there to get an award or become a finalist. Callis says “We are fortunate to have clients who are willing to work with us and invest in a top level project. Our clients for the Chief Louis Arena and Canadian Helicopters Ltd. base in Terrace have clearly gone above and beyond.” Asked about other aspects of the business aside from quality and community involvement, Callis flags working with a range of business types as a key contributor to the success

of Progressive Construction. “There is a major boom of economic activity in the north we working with some of the larger organizations, while to ensuring we stay in touch with our small and local clients. We are doing everything possible to

continue to work for small and local clients as that is foundational to our business.” Progressive Ventures Construction is located at #4, 5008 Pohle Avenue in Terrace Visit http://www.pvlgroup. com/our-company/

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t wo u ld b e g re at i f yo u r salespeople would just do what shou ld be done a nd bri ng i n t he revenue t hat is targeted for each month. Some sales managers have said that they don’t want high maintenance people, anyone who needs baby-sitting, or anyone who needs to be managed. The fact is that all of the above are often situations that sales managers have to deal with. Not every salesperson is at the same level or executes the sales process the same way. Some will be proficient and others need help. Regardless of where they are, it’s our job as sales managers to get them to the next level. Some will want to learn and others won’t feel the need. How equipped are most sales managers to make their team productive? Many salespeople became the sales manager because they were great salespeople. Sales management is a completely different skill set than required w ith a selling job. Ultimately sales managers need to determine what their role is. Most will say it is to make budget. It’s not a bad answer but the real answer is to guide,

support, and develops the skills, attitudes, and behaviours of the salespeople to achieve those budget numbers. One focuses on the result, the other focuses on the way to achieve it. Like any success there has to be a system to achieve it. First there has to be an agreed upon method for success. The manager’s job is next to impossible if each member of the sales team is doing his/her own thing. That never happens in other areas of the business. Standards, expectations, and accountability are a must. If you individually asked each member of the team to describe the selling process they use, the types of questioning they have, how they qualify or disqualify a prospect, how they prevent objections, what their behaviour is to plan to achieve the next month’s financial target, what their funnel looks like, or how they plan to sell on value rather than price, what would you expect to hear? Your ability to know where they are and where you need them to be allows you to fill the gap. That’s your job. Managing poor performance means the sales manager needs to employ the best practices to guide their team to a higher level of success. It begins with you. Cop y r i g ht 201 4 Sa nd ler T ra i n i n g a nd I n si g ht Sa le s Consu lti ng I nc. A l l rights reserved. John Glennon is the owner of Insight Sales Consulting Inc, the authorized Sandler Training Licensee for the Interior of British Columbia. He can be reached at jglennon@sandler. com or toll free at 1-866-645-2047

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AUGUST 2014

NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS

COMMERCIAL BUILDING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Commerical Council of Realtors, which represents the commercial members of the Canadian Real Estate Association; Allan Beatty, a Fellow Associate and Associate Appraiser at Kent-Macpherson Appraisals in the Central Okanagan, and Dave Kirk, a partner in Cunningham & Rivard Appraisals on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.

“The diversity of the finalists for this version of the awards reflects the development in northern B.C. The winning entries show the quality and quantity of industrial and commercial buildings from the Alberta border to the coast.” MARK MACDONALD, PUBLISHER BUSINESS EXAMINER PEACE CARIBOO SKEENA

Re/MAX Centre City Realty staff visit with BC Northern Real Estate Board Chair, David Black at Northern BC Commercial Building Awards

Prince George Councillor Albert Koehler, receives Excellence Award for the Prince George Public Library Skylab Addition. “These experts have all served as judges of our various events throughout the province,” notes MacDonald. The judges made their decisions based on whether or not the building complemented its surrounding properties, if it was esthetically pleasing, contained unique architectural features, its level of finish and choice in construction materials, whether it answered a specific development need within the community, and if it had any environmentally friendly or green elements. The 6534 Airport Road building in Fort St. John that won the Excellence Award in Office and the Judges’ Choice overall winner Office and Judges’ Choice awards was built

to LEED Gold certifications. The building is made up entirely of pre-cast concrete panels averaging R30 insulation in the walls, with an R50 roof and Tri-pane, low E windows. The solar wall, HRV unit and controls system keep the mechanical system operation at optimal levels throughout the year. The Building exterior resembles a prairie storm, painted in dusty orange with storm cloud accents. The landscaping includes a paved walking path, large grassed areas, bio swales and lots of trees and shrubs. There is also a large patio area for a quiet lunch in the shade, or entertaining. SEE COMMERCIAL BUILDING | PAGE 10

NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS

10 COMMERCIAL BUILDING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Large windows provide excellence natural light throughout the offices, complemented by indirect lighting fixtures. There are

AUGUST 2014

multiple wood features including exposed glue-lam beams, doors, walls and ceiling features. There is also natural stone finishes on the walls, countertops and stairs. Unique to this building is a “core sample” desk in which layers of the client’s materials were

Emcee Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner Peace Cariboo Skeena newspaper

David Black, BC NREB Commercial Chair presents an Award of Excellence in MultiResidential to Upper Montney Phase 2.

Telkwa, BC, Canada 778-210-0609 Congratulations to all of the Winners and finalists!

AUGUST 2014

NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS

Pine Riverhouse in Chetwynd was renovated with the help of Harry Hasselbach incorporating wood, rock and modern building materials. They utilized many local products.

Brian Kapuscinski of KPL James, architect for Judges’ Choice Winner 6534 Airport Road in Fort St. John built up to create this window box feature. The Excellence Award in Commercial went to goes to Chetwynd Riverhouse, which is a re-invention of a previous restaurant that was built in the late seventies. Brookwood Properties Inc. renovated the building with the assistance of Harry Hasselbach, incorporating wood rock and modern building materials. They created a contemporary look that meets the needs of the casual dining restaurant customer. The builders utilized many local area products such as driftwood, fossils, and river rocks and also worked along with the local chainsaw carving theme with our Nature Poles. They overhauled the outside and then brought some of those aforementioned design

elements to the inside as well. The Excellence Award in Industrial went to the Canadian Helicopters Base, a Progressive Ventures Construction design-build of a new 13,000 square foot helicopter hanger for Canadian Helicopters’ growing Terrace base. Prince George Public Library won the Excellence Award in Institutional. IDL Projects was the contractor for this project, and the construction and installation of the Sky Lab Mezzanine at the top floor of the Prince George Public Library involved craning in all the structural steel through the upper exterior windows of the library and then hoisting and welding all the steel place about 10 feet above the floor.

The construction and installation of the Sky Lab Mezzanine on the top floor of the Prince George Public Library involved craning in all the structural steel through the upper exterior windows.

NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS

Once all the steel was installed a concrete floor was poured and all the new finishes installed. One of the highlights was the open style staircase featuring solid wood treads and a combination of stainless steel and glass handrail. Once complete it provided approximately 1000 square feet additional space looking over the entire upper floor of the library. The project was completed during regular working hours, all while the library remained open. In Multi-Residential, the Excellence Award went to Upper Montney Phase 2 of Dawson Creek. Part of a three phase project currently underway in Dawson Creek, Phase 2 boasts 48 condo style apartment units. This building is adjacent to downtown and has been designed to give the Dawson Creek population a modern alternative to older style apartment living. Designed with modern features including in-suite laundry, these apartments were also built to be energy efficient, attractive and functional. The building was built with high efficiency boilers, triple glazed windows and R22 walls and R40 ceilings and contractor Traine Construction of Kelowna expects it to be the most energy efficient apartment building in Dawson Creek. Excel lence Awa rd w i n ners will be eligible for the first ever provincial Commercial Building Awards in February, 2015.

AUGUST 2014

Allan MacDonald with Chetwynd Riverhouse, winner of the Excellence in Commercial.

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AUGUST 2014

NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS

W.L. CONSTRUCTION IS A CONSISTENT WINNER FORT ST. JOHN

Design/build company win’s Judge’s Choice award BY GOODY NIOSI

.L. Construction Ltd. in Fort St. John has cont i nued its w i nning ways this year – and more so than ever before. Company president Bruce Reid noted that the company has won an award every time it has entered the Commercial Building Awards: this year it had three entries and won in each category, including the coveted Judge’s Choice award for the Oil And Gas Commission (OCG) Norhern Headquarters of British Columbia. The other winners were for the Shell Canada building and Talisman Energy (now Progress Energy). Reid recalled that he was in

W.L. Construction offers the following range of services: Complete Design/Build Turnkey Projects Building Construction Precast Building Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings Wood Frame Buildings Interior Design Services Renovations Building Maintenance Landscaping Snow removal Industrial Concrete Formings and Placing Portable Batch Plants Specializing in Winter Hoarding and Heating Architectural Design Project Budgeting Permit application Site Planning and Development Site Utility Installations for Buildings

Europe when the announcement was made and that he was woken up in the middle of the night with the news via a text from his architect, Brian Kapuscinski. “I was excited,” he said. “I won a couple of years ago for the Can-am Geometics building and a couple of years before that I won for the Flint Energy building on the highway. Every building that we’ve entered, we’ve won.” How does a company continue on such winning ways? “You have to build something that is appealing to the public, yet cost effective,” Reid said. “And you’re building something that’s going to be there for 100 years. People like going to nice buildings. We’re always complaining about the price of public buildings, but they set an example in their communities. You feel good when you go into a community with beautiful buildings; that’s one of the reasons people travel to different countries and

The interior of Talisman Energy is filled with light different cities. So I’m trying to build beautiful buildings. We want to be proud of our community up here.” W.L. Construction has a history of making locals proud of their community. It is a full service general construction firm that has been building sustainable quality commercial, industrial and institutional buildings for 35 years. It offers a range of services that includes design/build, site planning and development t h roug h to project completion. With a seasoned team of estimators, project managers, supervisors, foremen and trades people it ensures that each project is completed on schedule and within budget. The company has developed a 44-acre business park from raw land to a fully occupied TWS Engineering Ltd.

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commercial park with AAA clients, with an additional 107 acres likely to follow. “We have developed a building system that functions in our climate,” Reid said. “We have fine-tuned these precast buildings for the last 20 years, and now we have one that works. We build pre-engineered steel or wood framed buildings to the new energy building code. The concrete buildings are now more competitive with other styles of buildings.” Annually, the firm fine-tunes its buildings’ features to maximize their performance, which in turn maximizes the production of the occupants, while at the same time minimizing operating costs. Reid was nine years old when he was first influenced to enter the construction industry. At that

time, his father, who worked for McCain Foods, was transferred to England for two years. Although the young Reid hated being away from his friends, he quickly began to relish the weekend trips he took with his family to visit castles, cathedrals and the iconic landmarks in cities like London and Paris. “As a kid I was just going, ’Wow! Look at these things!’” Reid recalled. “So when I came back I just naturally had the interest of building.” In high school in Ontario, he studied drafting and continued on that path in college. In the summer of 1979, he and a friend decided to “go for a drive.” They ended up in Fort St. John on Aug. 16. The next day Reid started working as a surveyor. When winter approached, he answered an advertisement for an estimator for W.L. Construction. “It took me three weeks to talk the guy into hiring me,” Reid said. He worked for the owner, Wayne Loewen, until 1985 when Stew Bye purchased W.L. – and SEE W.L. CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 14

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The OGC building won the prestigious Judges Choice at the Commercial Building Awards

The OGC interior impresses

W.L. CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

in 1993, Reid bought it. Today he still works as a designer, helping the other three designers on staff. The firm has now grown

to 10 times the size it was when Reid started there and he now has three other designer/estimators working with him. The company has built more than two million square feet of buildings: 100,000 square feet of them are LEED Gold

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or Silver. It has poured tens of thousands of cubic metres of industrial foundations, gas plants, mining facilities and wind turbine bases. Reid has built more than 200 buildings including the Fort St. John Air Terminal and Fort Motors, the largest Ford dealership in the province. R e i d c re d i te d h i s p e o p l e with making the company so successful. “We have people who have been working here for over 25 years,” he said. “I reinvest in the company and I treat everybody the way I would want to be treated.” He cited the OCG building as an example of what the staff are proud to work on. Built to LEED Gold certifications, the building is made up entirely of pre-cast concrete panels averaging R34 insulation in the walls, with an R52 roof and Tri-pane, low e windows. The solar wall, HRV unit and controls system keep the mechanical system operating at optimal levels throughout the year. The building exterior resembles a prairie storm, painted in dusty orange with storm cloud accents. The landscaping includes a paved wa l k i ng path, la rge g rassed areas, bio swales and lots of trees and shrubs. There is also a large patio area for a quiet lunch in the shade, or for entertaining. Large windows with opening vents for fresh air provide excellent

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Reception at OGC is both impressive and warm natural light throughout the offices, complimented by indirect lighting fixtures. There are multiple wood features including exposed glue-lam beams, doors, wall and ceiling features. Walls, countertops and stairs feature natural stone finishes. Unique to the building is a reception desk in which layers of the client’s materials were built up to create a window box feature. Reid stressed the energy efficiency of the building, noting that it cost only $16,000 for natural gas heating for an entire year – and that’s pretty good for a 70,000 sq. ft. building. With additional fine-tuning, he expects that to come down to $14,000. The building’s Solar Wall heats cold air

coming in from the outside. In fact, this Solar Wall is one of a kind. “This is the first Solar Wall that has ever been put behind glass in North America. And we’re sending in data all the time on how well it performs,” Reid said. The OGC building is not the first LEED building the company has constructed. The awa rd w i n n i ng Shel l bu i ldi ng was bu i lt to LEED si lver sta nd a rds a nd was t he f i rst L E E D bu i ld i ng con st r ucted in the North Peace River area. However, he also noted that he has been building to the very highest standards for years, In fact, when the new building code came in last December,

NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS

AUGUST 2014

The Shell building was built to LEED Silver standards

Talisman Energy is an award winning building W.L. Construction didn’t have to change anything it was doing in the design of its buidings to meet the new energ y standards. “I’ve been telling people for years that this is the way to build,” Reid said. “Our buildings are going to last 80 – 100 years. All of our buildings are basically built the same. We change the exterior design but not the functionality because we don’t want any of our buildings to look the same, but we do want them to perfrom the same.” Reid is still inspired by travelling. He has logged over 40 countries, always keeping his eyes out for great design and technical innovation. Recently, in China, he purchased solar shades for this new OGC building. The building process at W.L. Construction begins with the land. First Reid makes sure the

building is sited on the land to make optimum use of weather and sun patterns as well as traffic flow. Then there are the questions of how many people will be in the building and how does it have to function. Once the floor plan is in place. Reid likes to introduce one or more outstanding features. “You have to add features to make the building look stylish,” he said. “You want to keep the costs down but you want it to look beautiful.” He said that he expects quite a bit more of the same for the immediate and even long-term future, particularly with the current push in the province for LNG. He said he is particularly proud of his business park, which he said is making a big difference on the drive to town from the airport. The business park is growing into a landscape of beautiful

buildings with full future rail access in Phase 2. The east entry to the city is home to Rogers Trucking and the future Macro Industries building, which Reid plans on entering into the next Commercial Building Awards, “Rogers is absolutely beautiful,” he said. “I’m hoping we’ll win with it. And right across the street from the Shell building, we’re building a new 30,000 sq. ft. office building for Macro Industries – and it’s also going to be a good looking building.” Reid sa id he sti l l loves h is work. Between himself and the other designers on staff, they will continue to create beautiful commercial, institutional and industrial buildings in Fort St. John and the Peace River area. W.L. Construction Ltd. is at 6494 Airport Rd. in Fort St. John. www.wlconstruction.com

Bruce Reid says that W.L. Construction has developed a building system that works in the northern BC climate

NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS

AUGUST 2014

DAWSON CREEK’S UPPER MONTNEY PHASE 2 WINS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AT THE 2014 NORTHERN BUILDING AWARDS DAWSON CREEK

Dawson Creek Development Built to be ‘Northern BC’s Premier Rental Building’

raine Construction Ltd. built Phase Two of Upper Montney Estates with the goal of creating ‘The Premier Rental Building in Northern British Columbia.’ Winning ‘Excellence’ at the 2014 Northern Building Awards for the project was a sure sign the right approach had been taken. Phase 2 of the Upper Montney Estates residential development was built to provide quality rental accommodation for the community of Dawson Creek as part of a development and property management partnership. President Matt Butler of Kelowna based Traine Construction says “The story behind the project was the need for quality, affordable homes.” Butler says, “Our understanding is that the awards are about recognizing excellence, based on how projects reflect what is going on in our northern communities.” What we understand is that the award for our category was based on how we met the need of our community and how we looked be innovative when it came to our

Phase 2 of the Upper Montney Estates Project provides quality rental accommodation in Dawson Creek

The Northern Building Awards recognized the quality and community value of the new development with an Award of Excellence

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efficient building design.” Sharon Conway, Human Resources Lead for Traine Construction says “Everyone here is so excited. Matt Butler, his partnership group and the dedicated tradespeople involved didn’t build it to win an award but they are so proud that what they have created has been recognized.” Butler says “Everywhere we go we build family communities. We want people to have a sense of ownership of their rental homes. That is a big part of what Traine and the partners were trying to achieve for the sustainability of a community in Dawson Creek.” Conway ex pla i ns “Bu i ld i ng quality homes is the goal. When it matters that much you get it done.” The 4 story Upper Montney Estates buildings offer quality condo style suites with a range of amenities including furnishing options and in-suite laundry facilities. The project offers long term rental housing opportunities and shorter term accommodation for workers, with company rates available. The open floor plan and sound reducing design are key selling factors, while a detailed exterior and carefully chosen location contribute to the ambience of the new development. “We cannot stress enough the importance of home,” says Butler. He explains “The condo style really fits what’s going on there. So folks can come and live and feel

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“The awards are about recognizing excellence in Northern Communities. Our understanding is that the award for our category was based on how we met the need of our community and how we looked to innovate when it came to our energy footprint.” - MATT BUTLER, PRESIDENT, TRAINE CONSTRUCTION LTD.

like they are at home in the community. We believe that people who feel like they are at home here will put the effort and investment back into the places they live.” Traine Construction specializes in building multi-family projects of affordable price and high quality. “It’s the best of both worlds,

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explains Conway.” The Kelowna company operates across Western Canada and the North, focusing on development in areas that have a high need for housing to support rapid economic growth such as Dawson Creek. Location within a given town is an important element of economic viability and good community planning. “In Dawson Creek we were fortunate to work with the proactive City staff members to create a development close to key amenities of the City” This benefits both the City planning vision and the long term development of the community. The final Phase 3 is now complete bringing total homes in this community to 160. Environmental sustainability is a core value for Traine and its partners. “Cities like Dawson Creek are looking for developments that respect the environment and the community, says Butler. “That makes Traine Construction and Highstreet a perfect match for cities like Dawson Creek because that focus is what we bring to all our projects.” Butler credits the success of this development to “The synergy of his partners.” Working closely with Traine Construction to complete the project, the ownership group consists of Scott Butler, Brother of Matt Butler as Developer and Director of Highstreet Communities and Doug Scott as Property Manager of Upper Montney Estates. “The 3 owner/partners are dedicated to providing a superior rental experience with quality, energy efficient buildings and a clear focus on customer satisfaction,” says Matt Butler. That means contributing to the quality of life and the development of the community. “The development team’s vision of service and quality for both the buildings and people is instrumental in the success of this development,” says Butler. “We are all very honored to be recognised for our achievements in creating a great development in the City of Dawson Creek”. Traine Construction is located at Suite 300 on 1632 Dickson Avenue in Kelowna Visit http:// www.traineconstruction.com/ index.php

PRINCE GEORGE

UNBC names new president

aniel Weeks, who h a s forged a successful career in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta as a professor and university administrator, has been named the University of Northern British Columbia’s new president. Dr. Weeks has been the Vice-President, Research at the University of Lethbridge for the past five years, where he led several initiatives to restructure and en h a nce t he resea rch por tfolio. Prior to that, he served i n nu merous academ ic roles over 16 years at Simon Fraser University, including Chair of the Department of Psychology, Founding Member of the Institute for Health Research and Education, and the Graduate Program Chair of the School of Kinesiology. Dr. Weeks has also held visiting academic positions at McMaster University, and Purdue and Auburn Universities in the United States. UNBC President Daniel Weeks says, “I grew up in Northern Ontario in a place very similar to Prince George, and my wife, Fay, and I are eager to begin this next chapter in our lives,” says Dr. Weeks. “I have spent a good portion of my ca reer in British Columbia, and both understand and respect UNBC’s mission and the pledge it has made to the people of the region it serves. Those who make up UNBC’s community - our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and more - all play a pivotal role in defining UNBC’s future successes. I am excited to meet all of them and begin work in an environment that fosters creativity, scholarship, teamwork, innovation, and leadership. The same excitement extends to the many people outside of the university - donors, government officials, other educational providers, and more - who all play critical roles in fostering and enabling UNBC’s success.”Dr. Weeks holds a PhD in Experimental Psychology from Auburn University, with his research

covering a broad range of topics in the areas of health and behavioral sciences, including human perception and performance, developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome, and cognitive neuroscience. He has more than 100 journal publications, book chapters, and books to his credit. Dr. Weeks is the recipient of the Distinguished Research Service Award from the Canadian Down Syndrome Research Foundation and US National Down Syndrome Society, and is a Fellow of Sigma X, as well as an International Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology. UNBC’s Board of Governors appointed a search committee last fall to replace George Iwama, who departed U NBC at the end of 2013. The search committee was made up of 20 representatives from the university community and chaired by John Turner, the Chair of the UNBC Board of Governors. “After welcoming input from t he ent i re u n ivers it y c ommunity and reviewing almost 40 p otent i a l c a nd id ates, it was Dr. Weeks who emerged as the candidate with the greatest combination of academic performance, skills, and experiences that the committee felt was best su ited to providing leadership for UNBC,” says Mr. Turner. “Dr. Weeks is an accomplished academic and an inspired leader, and he is passionate about the North. The Board and the UNBC community look forward to working with him as UNBC celebrates our 25th anniversary and pivots into our next quarter century. On behalf of the Board, I thank the members of the search committee for their commitment to the future of our University. “Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Dr. Weeks is also an accomplished musician and an avid sailor. He will transition to his presidency through the summer and join UNBC at the start of the academic year in early September.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

AUGUST 2014

A housing mega-complex is in the works for a parcel of land by Kenney and Park in the Horseshoe, being the largest such development in the area since the 1980’s.

Kitimat Kitimat council has approved a plan initiated by Councillor Phil Germuth to develop a bus service to bring citizens of Kitimat to the mountain.

Prince Rupert The Prince Rupert Port Authority has approved a $10 million investment for the relocation of a roll-on, rolloff (RORO) ramp. The RORO, initially stationed on the north point of Fairview Terminal, will be relocated to a location near the Prince Rupert Grain. The investment will open up Ridley Island to directly receive bulk cargo. North Pacific Cannery is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. The cannery is receiving support from the Prince Rupert Port Authority and Northwest Community College to continue in its future operations. Avanti Mining has begun work on roads for a construction camp at Kitsault. The work is leading up to a full-on development planned to start next year for a molybdenum mine scheduled to open in 2017. Hawkair has announced plans to have flights depart from the Prince Rupert Airport at 8 a.m., five days a week beginning in August. The flights in question would return from Vancouver International Airport at about 5:45 p.m. The flight changes are in an effort to better service the business community. The Prince Rupert Port Authority experienced a record year for 2013, with revenue climbing seven per cent from $36.76 million for last year to $39.3 million for this year. Pacific NorthWest LNG celebrated the grand opening of its Port Edward community office, located in the former Port Edward elementary school. The office will provide a source of information for residents, as well as acting as a working office for project

After securing a $7 million loan from the City of Prince Rupert, the Prince Rupert Airport is set to undergo renovations to its terminal building and airfield. Also included in the renovations is asphalt work to the access road, and the creation of a new water treatment system. The airport will remain open for the duration of the upgrades. Equipment has been shipped to a site 160 kilometres north of Prince Rupert, the Highbank Resources Ltd. Swamp Point North Construction Aggregate Project, that will begin opening up the site and preparing a work camp for projects. Prince Rupert’s Jim Ciccone Civic Centre will receive $1 million in upgrades to its facility during the summer. Northern Health has announced Dr. Sandra Allison as its new chief medical health officer. Dolly’s Fish Market received a visit from Food Network’s Lynn Crawford, and was filmed for an upcoming episode of Pitchin In. Angela’s Hearing Solutions will now be conducting satellite clinics in Prince Rupert and Kitimat. Kal Tire, located at 943 Chamberlin Avenue, has welcomed Duane MacCallum to its team, bringing 16 years of experience specializing in electrical diagnosis and engine repairs. The City of Prince Rupert has entered into an exclusivity agreement with Watson Island LNG Corporation to explore repurposing the former pulp mill site into a small LNG export terminal.

Improvement Patents

INVENTING ANNE FLANAGAN

ately, I have drafted a number of applications for a special kind of patent called an

The Kitimat Child Development Centre is celebrating its 40th year in business.

staff when they are on site at Lelu Island.

improvement patent. Some say that all patents are improvement patents, and after consideration, I realized there is some truth in that belief. There are very, very few inventions that are brand new. Many of the most famous inventors were competing with each other to produce a workable invention, so you can bet that they were working off of each others’ advances. Whoever got the patent first was the winner; however these patents were not improvement patents. Improvement patents are unique in that in their case, a later patent

MasterBUILT Hotels has received a zoning variance for its lot at Dadook Avenue, which will see construction of the new hotel running from September to October. The Allen D. Williams Foundation Board voted to have two winners to receive the 2014 scholarship award: Selena Wilson of McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. and Simon Davidson of Roche Ltd., Consulting Group.

Terrace Revolution Health & Wellness has opened its doors at 116-4720 Lazelle Avenue, housing Dr. Brian Rigler and registered massage therapist Judy Da Silva.

Smithers Tamara Holenstein has opened Valley Hair Design in the new Telkwa Village. An agreement between the Suskwa and Gitsegukla First Nations and Korean investors has been signed to launch a $26 million Gitxsan BioEnergy project. The facility will produce white and torrefied black pellets in Carnaby, making it the first large scale commercial deployment of black pellets in BC destined for export markets.

to some form of retail space. Britco and Gitxsan Development Corporation have partnered to create a building rental and workforce accommodation business, focusing on large infrastructure projects proposed in the area. UTM Exploration Services was a recipient of an honourable mention at the 2014 BC Mining Diversity Awards, being recognized for creating a workplace culture that encourages and fosters diversity. The Gitanmaax Band has elected Marjorie McRae as its new chief, beating out Julie Morrison for the position.

Prince George The Village of Telkwa has propsed a project that would bring a hazmat centre to Prince George. Spruce Credit Union congratulated Shane Sienaert on being named a Fellow of CSI; the highest and most coveted achievement in financial services. Daniel Weeks has been named the University of Northern British Columbia’s new president Sheila Nelson of KPMG LLP has joined the council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia.

Finning Canada has welcomed Roger Hladun to its team as a Customer Account Manager, located at 4621 Keith Avenue.

Toby Coupe, coordinator for the BC Schitzophrenia Society, is retiring from her post after eight years.

Rishi Patel is the pharmacist/owner of the new Shoppers Drug Mart in the Hart.

MacCarthy GM has recognized Leon Schulte for his 30 years of service to the Terrace dealership.

Frontier Chrysler has welcomed Brandon West to its sales team, located at 3046 Highway 16.

Dr. Loose and Envision Eye Health Clinic welcome Dr. Parker to the practice on Westwood Drive.

Margo Schiller, former head librarian at the Terrace Public Library, has returned to Kamloops for a position as the library’s head librarian.

The Smithers Northwest Community College will now be offering a wide range of third-year universitylevel courses in partnership with the University of Northern British Columbia.

Hart Family Veterinary is now open at 3708 Austin Road W.

Taisheng International Investment Services, a Burnaby based investment arm of the Qinhuangdao Economic and Technological Development Zone, has announced that it will be going ahead with the purchase of two large sections of land at Skeena Industrial Development Park. An alfalfa protein extraction plant will be the first industry to be set up on the site.

relies upon the subject matter of an earlier patent. This can be an improvement on a technology that is patented by someone else, or it can be an improvement on a company’s own technology. Regardless of the situation, the patent must meet the requirements of patentability, which include novelty, non-obviousness and utility. Let’s assume that the invention has a use and focus on novelty and non-obviousness. A competitor, for example, has a patent for a screen door, and your company has made an improvement to the screen door. The patent office determines that the improvement, as described in your patent application, has novelty and is non-obvious. Great news!

Fort St. James

The Town of Smithers has released figures that show $12.4 million worth of building permit projects issued so far this year.

The View hotel is currently undergoing renovations to its structure, which as of July include the addition of a floor with 28 new rooms. The hotel now has 62 available rooms for service.

The old pub and hotel in Hazelton has been purchased, with plans to renovate and repurpose the space in

The View Bistro & Lounge has opened its doors for business under the management of top chef Joel Smith.

You are granted a patent for your improvement. However, your improvement relies entirely on the original, patented screen door. In fact, you have taken the screen door and added your improvement to it; for example, it is now a rollup screen door. You are using the patented screen door design that has been claimed as having “an attachment side, a top member, a bottom member, a latching side and a screen there between”. If you copy the competitor’s screen door in your manufacturing, does the fact that you have a patent mean that you are not infringing? No, it definitely does not. In order to patent your improved screen door, one would have to obtain a license

from the competitor in order to have freedom of operation. T h is concept actu a l ly applies broadly to patents; not just improvement patents. However, the likelihood of this happening is much greater with improvement patents. The grant of a patent does not necessarily indicate that you are not infringing another patent; it simply means that in the eyes of the patent office, your invention meets the requirements of patentability. Anne Flanagan is the principal at Alliance Patents. She can be reached at anne.flanagan@alliancepatents. com

OPINION

AUGUST 2014 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Prince George Office 2871 Wildwood Cres Prince George, BC V2K3J4 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Fax: 1.250.758.2668 Email: info@businessvi.ca Website: www.businessvi.ca

PUBLISHER | Mark A. MacDonald, mark@businessvi.ca EDITOR | Lise MacDonald, lise@businessvi.ca SALES | Shawn Bishop, shawn@businessvi.ca; Josh Higgins josh@businessvi.ca WRITERS | Goody Niosi, Christopher Stephens

‘Green godfather’ Moore pushes for pipeline

PATRICK MOORE

hy am I supportive of the federal government’s recent decision to allow the Northern Gateway Pipeline project to move ahead, subject to tough conditions? As a lifelong environmentalist, I’m often asked myself that question. My answer begins with a single fact: there are a billion cars in the world that need oil products every day. We have no choice but to make those products available somehow. And a pipeline is the best way to get the fuel to the transportation fleet. Given current industry standards, and in particular given the enhancements proposed around Northern Gateway, both by the proponent and by the regulators,

my view is the pipeline is our best and safest option, and certainly better than rail transport. But when I say we have no choice but to deliver oil-based fuels to the transportation fleet, I know I’m on solid ground. If we stopped using oil overnight, half the global population would die as a result of a loss of food distribution, health care and emergency services among other crucial fuel-based needs like heating or cooling. Moreover, an immediate end to oil use would result in every accessible tree being cut down for fuel. I’m well aware many activists want to stop the world from using all petroleum products. I’ve followed the rhetoric where pejorative meanings are attached to various energy resources; oil is toxic, dangerous and destructive, activists proclaim. But many things of great social utility are toxic, dangerous and destructive if misused. Meanwhile, in protest against the operation of Russian drilling platforms, my old organization Greenpeace recently piloted a diesel-powered ship to the platform’s location, without a hint

of irony. That’s hypocrisy in my view. Similarly, Greenpeace Internationa l’s prog ra m d i rector ad m itted recently he’s been “commuting between Luxembourg and Amsterdam” via air since 2012. He told the Guardian this week that he makes the round trip about twice a month, despite the organization’s campaign to curb “the growth in aviation” which it says “is ruining our chances of stopping dangerous climate change.” To be consistent, Greenpeace should tie up its boats and park its planes. The more logical path — and the more humanitarian one as well — is a focus on incremental reductions in the use of fossil fuel over time, through improvements in our technology and in our practices, both of which we can implement at home. An example of an improvement in technology is opting to buy a car that’s more fuel-efficient. I don’t mean an $85,000 Tesla plug-in electric. I mean a reasonably-priced, modern economy car like a Toyota Corolla that’s designed for fuel efficiency and has a gasoline consumption

rating of around 7.8 litre per 100 kilometres — 30 miles per gallon — for combined city and highway driving. An example of an improvement in practices is leaving that same Corolla in the driveway from time to time and instead choosing to walk when it comes to picking up milk and eggs for the family. Many such examples exist. And between these two concepts, average people can make a real difference. You’ll enjoy the added benefit of being consistent in your choices and leading by example. The fact is as much as 99 per cent of our global transportation fleet is oil-based and vital. Electric vehicles are expensive and therefore unattainable to most, and trucks, busses and aircraft are just too large to power with a battery. I don’t subscribe to the notion that a modern, carefully planned, heavily regulated and properly maintained pipeline is so fraught with unmanageable peril that it must be stopped at all costs. Nearly 300,000 kilometres of U.S. petroleum transmission

pipelines move crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel and other petroleum products to consumer m a rkets d a i ly. At less t h a n 1,200 k i lometres, Nor thern Gateway seems manageable in comparison. Further, the argument that Canadian oil is more ethical in its production is persuasive to me. Coined by commentator Ezra Levant, the ethical oil argument says that in terms of human rights, labour legislation, well-paid jobs, taking care of worker health and environmental legislation, Canada’s oil is clearly the best choice. We treat people and the environment with respect. The federal government’s approval of Northern Gateway was a decisive step toward Canada no longer being held hostage to the U.S. market for our valuable oil. In this era of strong regulation and intense public scrutiny over energy development and transmission, I support that decision. Patrick Moore is a co-founder and former leader of Greenpeace. An environmentalist for more than four decades, he is based in Vancouver.

Granting Aboriginal title opens era of opportunity and uncertainty If businesses don’t prosper, government coffers aren’t filled, and the financing of the services it provides are MARK MACDONALD

jeopardized.

he Supreme Court of Canada’s recent decisions granting aboriginal title to the Tsilhqot’in and Gitxaala First Nations opens a new era of uncertainty for all British Columbians. It is a massive change, and it will take years to determine what impact it will have economically and socially in the province. Change is a constant, and is necessary. It can also be good. The initial indications of what might take place sound ominous. The first announcement after the Gitxaala First Nation, which has territory on islands off the north coast of B.C., was to serve notice to sports fishermen, logging firms and even CN Rail to leave their territory

along the Skeena River. Obviously the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, which, if it proceeds, would need to go through Gitxaala First Nation territory, is immediately impacted. They have already served notice it plans to go to the Federal Court of Appeal to challenge the federal government’s approval of the project. All of this could be just a standat-attention move to flex their muscles, but it’s a move that has to make business, which likes certainty, skittish. There’s a whole new

landscape to navigate now, particularly for major investments. If this is the first indication of how First Nations groups who gain favourable court rulings are going to negotiate/cooperate with Canadian governments, it’s could be a foreshadowing of a rough ride for both sides: Natives and non-natives. The bottom line with all these announcements is that the target is business. And it is business from which our government revenues are derived, through taxes on profits, and payroll taxes which result from the jobs companies create. And it is those revenues which help pay for government services, including the provisions granted by the Indian Act. For as much as First Nations decries the “injustices” of the Indian Act, the document still provides a means for the Canadian government to meet the needs of aboriginals across the country. Those revenues are derived from businesses and individuals. If businesses don’t prosper, government coffers aren’t filled, and the financing of the services it provides are jeopardized. The Indian Act is in dire need of an

overhaul. However, there will need to be a bridging period before a new, self sustaining First Nations economic model is revealed that looks after the needs of aboriginal people. There are examples of where that new economy is emerging and prospering, the best examples of which are the Osoyoos Indian Band and Westbank First Nation in the Okanagan. But all First Nations are not there yet, and won’t be for some time. In the meantime, the Indian Act, flawed as it may be, is a safety net that can’t be instantly eliminated, for obvious reasons. At the end of the day, First Nations will come to realize they can’t have it both ways. If they want to become economically self sufficient, the road to that destination is through business. That means competing with other organizations and jurisdictions for developments and projects. As it sits, First Nations will have some competitive advantages over non-aboriginal entities. For one, they don’t have the multiple levels of bureaucracy that non-natives “enjoy”. Developers will conceivably be able to fast track new projects

which would otherwise become bogged down as investors wrestle with glacially-paced municipalities and regional districts, and overlapping federal and provincial ministries. These landmark decisions handed down by the Supreme Court will have long-term ramifications for all concerned. What they will do is bring First Nations into new positions where they wean themselves from the Indian Act and implement their own, self-sustaining government. Think partnership. And as much as these rulings bring the dawn of a new era in politics and negotiations, they also bring First Nations into a position whereby they will have to make deals in a competitive environment in order to further the economic and social prospects of their people. Time will tell whether First Nations will try to use their new-found freedom to use a stick or a carrot when it comes to negotiations. Sticks work sometimes, but in the competitive environment that is business, we suggest that carrots which result in win-win scenarios - are more effective.

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