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

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MAY 2016

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Real Estate Board President Expects A Busy Year

FORT ST. JOHN Youthful Entrepreneurs’ Venture on the Road to Success

Northern BC Real Estate Board Represents Agents From Throughout The North BY DAVID HOLMES

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INDEX News Update

Prince George

Terrace

Movers and Shakers 11 Kitimat

Opinion

R I N C E G E ORG E – For Wi l l ia m L acy, t he new President of the Board of Directors of the BC Northern Real Estate Board (BCNREB) the local market so far this year could only be described as active. A trend he expects to increase as the year progresses. “Our Board certainly serves a multitude of different geographic areas. You can basically divide our coverage area into two sections, the NorthNorth and the South-North,” he explained. “In the South-North, where the major population centres are we’ve seen a fantastic boost in activity so far this year due in large part to the early spring. The

SEE WILLIAM LACY | PAGE 4

The Board of Directors of the BCNREB is made up of individuals from all across Northern BC

Organization’s Programs Geared Toward Trucker Safety SafetyDriven: Offering Training & Support For Region’s Commercial Truckers BY DAVID HOLMES

Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

AWSON CR EEK – T he Canadian economy rolls in large part on wheels, typically 18 of them. The commercial trucking industry is involved in moving more than 65 million shipments per year in Canada, which works out to more than 700 billion kilograms of goods being transported more than 41 billion kilometers per annum. That’s roughly the same as a trip from Earth to Pluto, nearly five and a half times over! In addition, according to information released by SafetyDriven

– the Trucking Safety Council of BC (TSCBC), a non-profit organization created to help improve occupational health and safety in the trucking and related industries, the BC commercial trucking industry recorded an industry injury rate of 4.7 incidents per 100 workers in 2014, double the provincial average of 2.3 across all industries. Trucking is vital to the provincial and national economies, but it can be a dangerous profession. “Back i n 1996 com mercia l trucking in BC had an injury rate of 10.4 incidents per hundred workers. Since then there’s been a

real strong push toward improving safety in the industry and that number has dropped to 4.7 by 2014, a significant decrease,” explained Mark Donnelly, SafetyDriven’s Executive Director. “The challenge though, despite the rate dropping by more than half in the past 20 years, that number is still double the provincial average across all industries. The trucking industry has made huge improvements but there is still a ways to go, and that’s where we come in.” SafetyDriven’s role is to help companies across the province in the general trucking and moving

and storage industries become even safer. It does this by assisting companies develop their individual safety and health and wellness programs as well as providing training, advisory services and other helpful information, and all of these services are provided at no cost to companies in these industries. The trucking industry in BC is vast. Information from the Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC) shows that there are approximately 161,000 trucks on the road in the province which represents SEE SAFETYDRIVEN | PAGE 6

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NEWS UPDATE

KITIMAT

up to the Joint Venture Participants to make.

LNG Canada Begins Engineering and Planning Work for Workforce Accommodation Centre

PRINCE RUPERT

LNG Canada is beginning engineering and planning work o n C e d a r Va l ley L o d ge , i t s Work force Accom mod at ion Centre to house a 4,500 person workforce required during construction of its proposed liquefaction and export facility in Kitimat, British Columbia. L NG Ca n a d a s e l e c te d t h e Bird-Civeo Joint Venture a s the contractor for the design and construction of the Centre. The Bird-Civeo Joint Venture includes wholly-owned subsidiaries of each of Bird Construction Inc., (Bird), and Civeo Corporation (Civeo). Construction on Cedar Valley Lodge will not commence u n le s s L NG Ca n a d a’s joi nt ventu re pa r t icipa nts have made a positive Final Investment Decision. In the interim, Bird-Civeo will advance engineering and planning work for the Centre. Cedar Valley Lodge will provide a place for workers to live and work during the time they are employed on the LNG Canada project. LNG Canada wants to ensure the Centre provides the amenities workers will need – from accom modation a nd dining, to leisure to healthcare – to reduce any stress on Kitimat’s local housing, infrastructure and other services. Cedar Valley Lodge will be located adjacent to the LNG Canada site, facilitating easy and safe transportation of workers by shuttle bus service between Cedar Valley Lodge and the site, and reducing vehicle traffic on Kitimat roads. T he size and scale of the Lodge will be significant with a total f loor space of over 1.2 million square feet. T his includes a number of core buildings at over 260,000 square feet with a kitchen and dining area of almost 80,000 square feet, entertainment areas of a l mos t 35,000 sq u a re fe et, and a sports and recreational facility of over 56,000 square feet. Final actual numbers may vary as the conceptual design progresses through detailed engineering. Construction of Cedar Valley Lodge will commence immediately following a positive Final Investment Decision. W h ile th is is a n importa nt step forward for LNG Canada, the project must continue to demonstrate that it is competitive, it has key regulatory permits, and has mitigated the risk of labour shortage prior to making a final investment decision. LNG Canada’s Joint Venture Participants plan to make a final investment decision in late 2016. The exact timing of that decision will be

Cow Bay Marina a Collaborative Endeavour Com mu n ity pa rtners from a diverse array of public and private sources came together over the past few years to i nvest i n the construction o f t h e Cow B ay M a r i n a a n d publ ic brea kwater – a Cityow ned asset t hat is a l ready m a k i n g q u ite t he s pl a sh i n Prince Rupert. The new public breakwater dock is centrally located i n Cow Bay a nd was bu i lt to i mprove waterfront access for Rupertites. T h e City of P r i nce Rupert obtained the funds with significant support from Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest and the Prince Rupert and Port Edward Economic Development Office, who were also instrumental in making the project a reality. The project, which has been in the wings at the City since 201 2 , wa s u nd er t a ken b y Broadwater Construction and completed th is past w i nter. T he Cow Bay Marina project has two major components – a public breakwater dock, and a marina located right next door, set up to serve itinerant vessels travelling through the area. T he ventu re went a head w ith investment from Western Economic Diversification Ca nad a , t he C it y of P r i nc e Rupert,Gitxaala First Nation, t he Port of Prince Rupert, Northern Development Initiative Trust, Fisheries Legacy T r ust, Coast Susta i nabi lity Trust, the Prince Rupert Port Edwa rd Econom ic Development Corporation, and Communica Public Affairs – all of whom were integral in bringing the project to life.

PRINCE RUPERT Rupert Port Makes Significant Community Investment The Port of Prince Rupert has a n nou nc e d a $2 4 4,000 i nvestment from its Community Investment Fund that will help preserve traditional food production, i ncrease nutritional education and develop new skills within the Gitxaala Nation. A celebration in the coastal v i l lage of K itkatla, BC took place in mid-April to bless and commission two new community spaces: a garden and greenhouse where local produce will be grown, and a kitchen and eater y for food prepa rat ion and training. T he event was attended by over one hundred

Kitkatla residents that included school children and elders, as wel l as a delegation of sta ff from the Port of Prince Rupert who prepared the first community meal served out of the new kitchen. T he k itchen is located i n a building locally referred to as the ‘loa f of bread’ due to its unique design, and over many years had fallen into a state of disrepair. Under the direction of Housing Coordinator Ernie Westgarth, a g roup of loca l workers renovated the building, installed the new kitchen a nd added a two-story deck that allows its patrons to sit outdoors and enjoy the oceanfront view. T he kitchen w ill prov ide a n opp or t u n it y for Gitxaala to explore a partnership with North West Community College to offer a culinary training program to residents interested in pursuing regional employment opportunities. Kitkatla’s garden programm i n g wa s i n it i ate d severa l years ago, but the lack of naturally occurring topsoil and the cost to ship it to the community by ba rge rema ined a hindrance. The recent addition of a 20-by-40-foot greenhouse with a heating and water system will allow the community to become increasingly selfsufficient, promote physical activity through gardening and maintenance, and ultimately lead to a reduction in diet-related illnesses amongst community members. The majority of funding for the Gitxaala Community Garden and Kitchen project came from the $244,000 contribution from the Port of Pri nce Rupert’s Community Investment Fund. Other funding partners included BC Ministry of Agriculture, Coast Industrial Construction, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon.

BC BC’s Indigenous Peoples Receive Federal Funds Western Economic Diversification Canada has announced $2,544,057 in funding for five projects through Indigenous a n d N o r t h e r n A f f a i rs Ca nada’s Strategic Partnerships I n it i at ive (S P I ) to s u p p o r t educational and economic opportunities for First Nation communities in British Columbia. T he Strategic Partnerships I n itiative is a n i n novative program designed to increase Abor ig i n a l pa r t icipat ion i n complex econom ic development opportunities, particularly in the natural resource s e c to rs w h e re p ro j e c t s a re emerging at an unprecedented rate across the cou ntry. Before the SPI, funding decisions were typically made individually by federal departments

MAY 2016

and agencies and in isolation of a broader strategy. Quick Facts - The First Nations Technology Council is an enterprising non-profit, mandated by BC’s 203 First Nations communities to advance full utilization of con nected a nd d ig ita l technolog ies. Members i nclude, the Prince George Aboriginal Business Development Association, P rince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association, Gitxsan Development Corporation, as wel l as the si x com mu n ities identified below. - T he si x Ind igenous comm u n it i e s t h at m a k e u p t h e Treaty 8 Tribal Association include: Doig River First Nation, Halfway R iver First Nation, P rophet R iver Fi rst Nation, Saulteau First Nations, West Moberly First Nation andFort Nelson First Nation.

PRINCE RUPERT Province Invests in North Pacific Cannery Restoration Up to 16 job seekers will gain valuable work experience and contribute to the ongoing restoration of the North Pacific C a n n e r y N at i o n a l H i s to r i c Site in the Port Edward/Prince R up er t a re a , t h rou g h a Job Creation Partnership with the Province of British Columbia. T he Prov i nce has com m itted $233,986 to the Port Edward Historical Society’s North Pacific Cannery (NPC) project to provide up to 16 E.I.-eligible participants living in the Port Edwa rd / P ri nce Ruper t a rea with up to 38 weeks of work experience and skills training in carpentry, marine construction and heavy construction. A nother 48 participants gained similar work experience over the last three years thanks to previous Job Creation Partnership projects with the NPC which received $335,668.28 in funding. T he NPC is a local heritage site with regional, national and global significance situated in scenic Port Edward, where the Skeena R iver meets the tidal waters of the Pacific Ocean. Visitors to the heritage site can experience historic boardwalks and buildings and the coastal wilderness while learning about British Columbia’s salmon canning industry through guided tours, exhibits, displays and local cuisine. T he restoration work completed by the up to 16 participants will improve access to h istorica l bu i ld i ngs i ncluding a working dock that dates back to the late 19th century. It will also provide a boost to the local economy as NPC is expected to increase the region’s profile and increase tourism.

The project will also provide the community with a heritage site where local events can be hosted, including the 50th anniversary of the District of Port Edward, which will be held at the NPS site this June.

CANADA CPP Producing Meagre Returns for Canadians Contra r y to w idely held publ ic opi n ion, t he Ca nada Pension Plan (CPP) prov ides only a meagre rate of return for most Canadian workers— especially younger workers, f i nd s a new s t u dy rele a se d today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “It’s easy to see how average Canadians could confuse the rates of return earned by the CPP fund with what they actually receive via their CPP retirement benefits. The reality is that Canadians born after 1971 are receiving modest returns from the CPP,” said Jason Clemens, executive vice-president at the Fraser Institute and co-author of Rates of Return for the Canada Pension Plan. CPP retirement benefits for Canadian workers are determined by the number of years a person works, their annual contributions (up to a ma ximum of $5,088.60 this year, based on earnings), and the age they retire. The study finds that anyone born after 1955 (retiring in 2021 or later) will receive a modest return on their contributions of 3.0 per cent or less. Any CPPeligible Canadian born after 1971 (retiring in 2037 or later) who worked full-time will receive an annual return of just 2.1 per cent in retirement. By contrast, eligible Canadian workers born between 1905 and 1914 (retired between 1970 and 1979) enjoyed a rate of return of 27.5 per cent. The steep decline in the rates of return is a function of two main factors: early plan contributors paid into the program for a shorter period of time, and they made smaller contributions—the CPP contribution rate increased from 3.6 per cent at inception (1966) to the current rate of 9.9 per cent. Finally, many Canadians confuse their individual rate of return (again, just 2.1 per cent for Canadians born after 1971) with the 11.4 rate of return earned by the investment arm of the CPP, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. “The CPP Investment Board has achieved impressive results since its creation but it has no direct effect on the benefits received by Canadian workers in retirement,” Clemens said.

SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 3

NEWS UPDATE

MAY 2016

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

PRINCE GEORGE Canada-Bc Job Grant Provides $7 Million To Help Businesses Upskill Employees The governments of Canada and BC announced recently that a total of $7 million will be available under the Canada-BC Job Grant to help businesses provide their current or new employees with skills training. P rem ier Christy Clark a nd Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, made the announcement while visiting Yellowhead Helicopters Ltd. in Prince George, a previous recipient of the grant for over $244,000 that enabled them to train 40 employees in areas such as engine maintenance, aircraft field maintenance, mountain flying, advanced operational flight training, advanced driving techniques, supervisor training and quality assurance. Employers will be able to apply for funding as of April 22 for skills training with start dates from April 22 to Sept. 30, 2016. Existing streams have been expanded to benefit more employers and

British Columbians. To date, more tha n 15,000 employees have received training through the Canada-BC Job Grant, and almost 3,000 employers have received funding to train new or current employees. Government has invested a total of $26M in skills training through the Canada-BC Job Grant, with employers contributing another $13M. By 2024, BC will have nearly one million job openings due to retirements and economic growth. Thousands of new job openings are expected in every region of British Columbia by 2024: Vancouver Island/Coast: 158,900 job openings. Almost 80 per cent of these job openings will require postsecondary education or trades training. The BC government invests over $7.5 billion each year in education and training. Over the next 10 years, the BC government will redirect $3 billion in training investments towards these in-demand jobs.

BC Rural BC Receives Internet Investment For most Canadians, access to affordable and reliable broadband networks is an important part of everyday life. However,

communities outside urban centres often face challenges in accessing Internet service at levels comparable to those in cities due to factors such as remote location and challenging terrain. “A strong digital economy is the backbone of Canada’s future prosperity, and that begins with ensuring all citizens have access to fast, reliable Internet connections,” says Tony G ehera n , T E LUS E x e c u t i v e Vice-President and President of Broadband Networks. “This new partnership with the Government of Canada will make it possible for us to extend our existing investment to connect e v e n m o re r u ra l C a n a d i a n families to the emerging digital economy and the educational, medical, social and cultural opportunities this connectivity creates, thereby strengthening our communities and the fabric of our nation. Ten British Columbia Internet service providers are receiving a total of approximately $16 million from the Government of Canada to increase broadband Internet access for approximately 23,000 households throughout rural British Columbia. The Government of British Columbia is also providing approximately $3.4 million for six of the projects through its Connecting British Columbia program. Canadians in all parts of the country need access to highspeed Internet to take advantage

of new economic and business opportunities and to connect with friends and family in Canada and beyond. This funding through the Connecting Canadians program will provide the communities with access to broadband at speeds of five megabits per second or more.

CANADA 10-month High for Small Business Confidence Canada’s small business confidence rebounded nearly seven points in April, climbing to 59.2, its highest mark since last June. “While we often see spikes in a single month of data, the size of this increase suggests the long-awaited confidence normalization has begun,” said Ted Mallett, Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) chief economist. On a scale between 0 and 100, an index above 50 means owners expecting their business’ performance to be stronger in the next year outnumber those expecting weaker performance. One norma l ly sees a n i ndex level of between 65 and 70 when the economy is growing at its potential. British Columbia climbed three points in April, reaching 65.4, good for second highest in the country. Alberta finally stopped its four-month slide, increasing

3 two points to 28.6, though still has the lowest confidence in the country by far. Saskatchewan saw a small improvement to 48.8. Manitoba held steady at 54.0. Ontario jumped five points to 62.6, while Quebec slipped three to 62.2, still above the national average. Newfoundland and Labrador fell to a new provincial record low at 46.4. Nova Scotia fell a point to 64.6. New Brunswick’s confidence increased four points to 57.5. Prince Edward Island rose to 70.8, good for best in the country. The natural resources sector remains the weakest in the country, followed by agriculture and transportation. Hospitality is the most optimistic sector, followed by information, arts and recreation, and professional services. “W hile confidence is up, it should be taken with a grain of salt,” added Mallett. “There is stability in the sectors, but a look at order books and accounts receivables still shows that business conditions remain fragile, which is part of the reason why hiring plans still aren’t as robust as we normally see this time of year.” April, 2016 findings are based on 672 responses, collected from a stratified random sample of CFIB members, to a controlledaccess web survey. Data reflect responses received through April 18. Findings are considered accurate to +\- 3.8 per cent 19 times in 20.

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PRINCE GEORGE CELEBRATES BC MINING WEEK For this reason and many more, we are excited to recognize the importance of the m in ing industry by focusing our attention on BC Mining Week 2016 this month between May 8-14 th . We are celebrating, in part, by hosting a Speaker Series luncheon event on May 11 at Estherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inn in Prince George called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mount Milligan â&#x20AC;&#x201C; One Mine with Many Benefitsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This event is sponsored by the Prince George Exploration Group with a special networking reception immediately before the event at 11:30am sponsored by Mining Suppliers Association of BC. The presentation will provide attendees with valuable information on doing business with T hompson Creek Metals Company and Mount Milligan. Mou nt M i l l iga n M i ne may be located 150 k m from Prince George, but the business opportunities stemming from this modern copper and gold mine are truly on our doorstep. It is one of the largest and newest mines in our region which is now in full

PRINCE GEORGE CHRISTIE RAY

hile Prince George is a city b u i lt on wo o d foundations, with an ongoing connection to forest related products and activities, the present day reality is that we end up supplying many different natural resource industries. Our geographic location at the center of the province and our accessibility in all directions by air, rail, road and water puts us in a favourable position at the crossroads of economic activity in British Columbia.

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WILLIAM LACY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

operational capacity. Ian Berzins, Vice President & General Manager of Mount Milligan Mine will join us as our Key Note Speaker in order to provide an update on: the current status of mine operations, procurement and employment opportunities, and community engagement and investment. If you would like to make key connections with one of Prince Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closest econom ic eng i nes, you should not miss this Speaker Series presentation. We look forward to being joined by the business community in Prince George on Wednesday, May 11 as we work alongside the Mining Association of British Columbia to host this informative event. Tickets are available online at www.pgchamber. bc.ca or by contacti ng our Chamber directly by phone: 250-562-2454. 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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buyers are out and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re listing their houses earlier than usual. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely going to be an active year.â&#x20AC;? Encompassing the top two-thirds of the province, Northern British Columbia is a vast area, and one of the principle economic engines for the rest of the province. In the northern part of BCNREBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s territory the real estate market is much more directly influenced by changes in the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key industries than it is by any climatic fluctuation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the north however the region is quite responsive to industry and economic changes. The Oil Patch is suffering so that directly affects the region. If we were, for example, to get even one of the proposed LNG projects going it would have a huge positive impact on the entire area. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to imagine a world that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rely on oil so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m confident weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see some activity in the future.â&#x20AC;? For Lacy, who works for RE/MAX Quesnel Realty, moving to the region was very much an opportunity for coming home. A REALTORÂŽ for the past five years, (and an active member of the BCNREB for four of them) he had previously run a financial securities company. A native to the region he moved back to Quesnel to make a new life and to be closer to his family. The 2016 Board of Directors, made up of REALTORSÂŽ from across the area includes Vice President John Evans, Past President David Black, Directors Leah Mayer, Bob Quinlan, Shawna Kinsley, DJ Mio, Court Smith, Roland Cataford and the Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sole NonREALTORÂŽ Director Mike Austin. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Board has striven to transition to a strategic board rather than an operations board. In other words our focus isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to be on the day to day function of the board but on visions and directions for the future of our membership, rather than getting mired in the day to day operations. We have a fantastic Executive Officer (Alexandra Goseltine) and we just want to stay out of her way and let her do her thing while we strategically create advantages for the Board and our membership,â&#x20AC;? Lacy explained. One of the key parts of the new Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts is its active participation in a plan that if adopted would revolutionize how real estate boards operate in the province. Currently there are 11 individual real estate boards in BC, many of which operate their own Multiple Listing ServiceÂŽ (MLSÂŽ) systems, as well as administer their own training and education, a duplication that would be eliminated if a single provincial board with a solitary MLSÂŽ system were in place. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are just starting to launch our member engagement communications plan and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done a lot of analysis and hard work to attempt a reorganization of organized real estate in BC which will hopefully reap benefits for both the consumer and the provinceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s REALTORSÂŽ,â&#x20AC;? he said. If adopted by the existing real estate boards the overall vision would see one real estate board established for the province, an entity that would operate a single MLSÂŽ system, with smaller scale regional branch offices existing in place of the current full blown board offices. A vote to participate in such a sweeping plan is expected to take place by the end of June. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not 11 boards scrambling to keep the lights on and do everything itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about having that one board that excels at delivering specific pillars of information doing that one service for the entire province.

William Lacy is the President of the Board of Directors of the BC Northern real Estate Board

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our product isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just houses - our product is the whole experience of home ownership.â&#x20AC;? WILLIAM LACY PRESIDENT BCNREB

As a result all of the services will be enhanced, without the costs associated with duplication.â&#x20AC;? For Lacy the future of the profession of real estate sales rests with the individual REALTORSÂŽ who serve their local communities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Board and all of the REALTORSÂŽ are truly committed to the quality of life for our communities and for our citizens. This is a huge platform that we really work hard on to convey to the consumer. There are a few factors involved,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to protect the consumer, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to preserve the environment, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here to collaborate on economic activity and we want to ensure that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing opportunities for everyone in the market, from rentals to mansions. There are some amazing communities up in the north. Our product isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just houses - our product is the whole experience of home ownership. To be part of that house buying experience is something that is truly special.â&#x20AC;? To learn more please visit the RCNREB website at: www.bcnreb.bc.ca

WE’RE STANDING UP FOR CREATING JOBS FOR BC FAMILIES.

JOIN US AND HELP US GET MAJOR PROJECTS TO YES.

VISIT ICBA.CA Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of BC #203 – 2666 Queensway, Prince George E: info@icba.ca T: 250-596-8118

OFF THE COVER

MAY 2016

In Northern British Columbia heavy vehicles share roads with passenger cars at a much higher rate

The Northern BC Truckers Association was founded in 1940 and represents more than 750 carrier members

SAFETYDRIVEN

If you’re going to work in the oil field at all you have to have all sorts of tickets in place before you’ll even have a chance to work for these people.” What is a concern is the sheer numbers of trucks sharing the limited number of roads with personal vehicles, and a need for additional road improvements to make the life of the truckers (and non-truckers) easier. In fact, information provided by SafetyDriven shows that passenger vehicle drivers are the likely cause of more than half of large truck/passenger vehicle incidents. “H ig hway i mprovements would be a big plus for truckers in our area. Our roads are very

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

about five per cent of all vehicles. In northern BC trucks are the lifeblood of the regional economies, hauling good out and supplies, material and the necessities of life in. But unlike anywhere else in the province in the north the mixing of heavy trucks with passenger vehicles happens at a far greater rate, setting up the potential for problems to occur. Gary McLeod is the Business Manager of the Northern BC Truckers Association (NBCTA), a non-profit organization created to support the trucking industry in the region. Based in Dawson Creek the NBCTA was founded in

1940 and represents roughly 750 carrier members, who collectively operate about 3,500 tractors and about 5,000 pieces of support equipment such as trailers located throughout the north. “The maintenance of most of the commercial vehicles now is a very small percentage of any problems that occur out there, which may not have been the case in decades past,” he said. “Safety is at the heart of the work done in the industry, especially in the northeast where working for the oil companies is a huge part of the industry. The oil companies have safety programs on top of safety programs. The days of them working 20 hours shifts or whatever are long gone.

heavily congested. I believe the stat is something like 38 per cent of all vehicles on our highways being commercial vehicles. That number is nearly twice what you would find anywhere else in the province,” he said. “As far as the roads are concerned, we have a real lack of passing lanes which can cause congestion, frustration and in some cases accidents.” In addition to adding more passing lanes, the NBCTA is also advocating for the creation of more serviced rest stops and an upgrading and enhancing of weight scales in the region. Currently truckers are limited to overused and dated weight scales, such as the facilities

in Fort St. John and in Pouce Coupe. For Donnelly making trucking industry practitioners aware of the services his organization provides, at no cost to industry companies, is one of his main focuses. “It makes good economic sense for the trucking industry to embrace improved safety. Stats show that for a typical trucking company you have to generate $25 in new sales to cover $1 spent on a safety related incident. From a personal, company and financial bottom line perspective safety is important, it saves lives and it saves money.” To learn more please visit SafetyDriven’s website at: www. safetydriven.ca

“I would rather be a local entrepreneur, working with a local business, so we all grow together.” - Michelle and Wayde Hollingshead, Norweld Stress Ltd. Fort St. John

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It’s your life. Build it here.

MAY 2016

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION Unique Perspective A Plus For Construction Industry Labour shortages over the next ten years spur government and industry to encourage women to seek career in construction BETH HENDRY-YIM

t the recent BC Building Trades 2016 convention, Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, announced the investment of $750,000 in two partnerships that will enhance mentorship for women and apprentices in the skilled trades. Aimed at helping women succeed in the trades, the government w i l l i nvest $ 400,000 th roug h a pa r tnersh ip w ith SkillPlan, the Canadian Buildi ng T rades Un ion, Bu i ld i ng Together-Women in the Building Trades, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The remaining $350,000, in an agreement with the Electrical Joint Training Committee, will help improve mentorship and skills development for all apprentices in BC’s construction sector. Ongoing concerns over skilled labour shortages and a need to address the challenges women face in the construction industry are behind these latest programs “SkillPlan is pleased the BC government is funding such an important initiative as there is an under-representation of women in skilled trades in this country. It is our hope through this partnership that we will be able to identify barriers and provide mentorship solutions that will support retention and advancement of women in trade occupations for the construction industry.” Marlene Anderson, Tri-Amm Developments Corporation and director for the Canadian Home Builders Association in Kamloops, said that she is a big believer in mentorships. “Circumstantial mentorships offer a format for exchange of ideas, sharing of advice and even as a sounding board.” Anderson, who calls herself a late entry into the industry with 11 years under her belt, said that what’s important is a person’s ability on the job. No matter what the position, your welcome on the job site is based on work ethic and competence, not on gender. “I was green as grass when I first started in 2004, but hard work

PHOTO CREDIT: OKANAGAN COLLEGE

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

MAY 2016

“Women look at problem solving differently. My mentor as well as the owner of the company recognizes that and sees it as a benefit.” BONNIE HUNTER SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER IWCD

Bonnie Hunter, Senior Project Manager for IWCD CREDIT:BONNIE HUNTER

and a supportive workplace and community allowed me to succeed. Its important in any job for people to demonstrate their ability to do a job. That’s how they become successful.” Although Anderson pointed out that she feels there will always be a demand for skilled trades workers, careers in the industry are not limited to them. She said that her engineering degree opened doors towards a successful career as project manager and business owner in construction. Hunter added that in her position as project manager, she works with women in a variety of construction positions from electrical consultants to architects. Sherri Paiement, executive officer for

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the Canadian Home Builders Association, said that she works with women involved in the construction of a building from the design phase and up, with a strong ‘can do’ attitude without limitations as to what they should or shouldn’t be doing. “There is a misconception that physical strength is a barrier, but if you are passionate about your job, do it well and go for it, then you can become successful in this industry.” She added that changing the public’s mindset about construction and skilled trades jobs, though daunting, is possible, especially if that change starts at the grassroots level with education about potential skilled positions and wages and

Sherri Paiement is an executive officer with the Canadian Home Builders Association of the Central Okanagan the future of the industry. “Whatever the gender, the job of building a home and creating communities for families should be revered. With the increased technical aspects of building energy efficient homes, lean building practices and new innovative projects; skilled trades and the home building industry is becoming complicated. It’s important that we recognize this and put our efforts into promoting this industry through education. The careers can provide good living with many benefits and opportunities to shape communities.” For Bonnie Hunter, senior project manager, Island West Developments (IWCD) and executive member of Women In

Construction, Vancouver Island, mentorships have been valuable throughout her 10 year career with the company. “Women bring a unique perspective to the construction site,” she said. “We look at problem solving differently. My mentor as well as the owner of the company recognize, that and see it as a benefit.” Hunter also noted that for more women to seek a career in construction, she feels that societal and cultural opinions need to shift. “Jobs in construction can be very satisfying,” she noted. “A career in the industry needs to be considered by students entering the workforce as a viable option and choice.

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The Canadian Home Builders Association is focused on changing the public’s mindset about women in construction through educational initiatives

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

MAY 2016

Shortfall in skilled labour will reach 39,500 by 2025 from retiring workers

Changing the public mindset about women in construction starts with education said Sherri Paiement

CREDIT:OK COLLEGE FACEBOOK/SHERRI PAIEMENT

CREDIT:SHERRI PAIEMENT

BuildForce Canada’s, latest labour market forecast, shows a strong demand for specialized trades in BC, in oil and gas, from 2016 to 2019. This demonstrates an ongoing need for workers, especially when combined with statistics on the number of construction workers retiring over

the next ten years which, according to BuildForce, will be more than 39,500. “More than 22 per cent of the province’s construction workforce is retiring this decade,” said Rosemary Sparks, executive director, BuildForce Canada. “As many as 17,000 new workers will

be needed by 2018 to meet rising labour demands.” K aty Fa i rley, past cha i r of Women in Construction Victoria, said that women make up 50 per cent of the population, providing a large pool of potential candidates for filling those job gaps. Wit h BC’s resident i a l a nd

non-residential housing starts showing modest but positive ga i ns i n the fi rst qua rter of 2016, especially in Kelowna and on Vancouver Island, Paiement said that there are plenty of opportunities for jobs within the industry. She added that creativity and

9 innovative thinking is key, siting Little House Designs, created and managed by Tara Tschritter. The company designs and constructs unique and luxurious micro-homes for living, renting or using as a vacation home. “Tara wanted to create affordable houses and thought outside of the box to create this company,” she said, adding that the pocket community idea is timely and came from Tschritter’s own experience working at a shelter and seeing first hand the need for homes that fit a family’s financial needs. “Builders make a long term contribution to their community,” Anderson said. “They produce a tangible product, one they can point out to their children with pride and say, ‘I built that!’” Every aspect of the construction business is relevant, said Paiement, adding that everyone lives in a home or works in some kind of building. “The industry is growing,” she said. “It has also become more diverse in its regulations and complexity so workers and ideas also need to reflect that diversity with perspectives from all genders.” “Women in construction is a good fit,” said Hunter. “We have a biological skill set that fits a dynamic industry whether its organizational or non-confrontational problem solving. Every day presents a new challenge and opportunity to excel.”

SAND FILTRATION SYSTEM CAPTURES 100 PER CENT In house design and manufacturing suits all levels of production

A L GA RY – Captu r i ng 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 to fit the conditions.”

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

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 desanders that only take out a portion of

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

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 A merican market pl ace, whet her ou r 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 stream.

TERRACE

MAY 2016

ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION, A PRIORITY FOR TERRACE BC There is a sense of optimism in the community—it is well positioned and well serviced making it a highly desirable place to live, work, play and invest

TERRACE DANIELLE MYLES

errace is known as the service and supply center of Northwest BC and is strategically located at the center of what investors sometimes refer to as “the golden triangle.” In 2015, Terrace had an unprecedented year for development with building permits soaring to $52 million in construction value. A City led census in 2015 also estimated strong population growth, surpassing Provincial estimates. There is a sense of optimism in the community—it is well positioned and well serviced making it a highly desirable place to live, work, play and invest. The Northwest has been the center of much recent interest from both investors and the media due to the developing LNG industry. However, the somewhat untold story of Terrace is of its economic diversity and efforts of the community and businesses

Downtown Terrace has much to offer the region PHOTO CREDIT: CITY OF TERRACE

to leverage opportunities that support sustainable growth in industries that have served as the backbone of our community for generations, as well as developing new industries to create jobs and enhance services. For instance, the tourism sector is a major employer and many entrepreneurs find great success in showcasing the unique outdoor adventures at our doorstep. The annual, local revenue from this industry is $38 million, a significant contributor to our economy.

From world class fishing to heliskiing and mountain excursions, as well as First Nations cultural tours at the breathtaking Kitselas Canyon, or the Nisga’a Lava Bed Memorial Park (both with quick access from Terrace), there are endless, pristine wilderness experiences and ample opportunities for business. Fewer BC residents are going to the United States because of the exchange rate, presenting an opportunity to encourage BC residents to explore BC and visit

SAY YES TO OPPORTUNITY We’re committed to hiring as many local workers as possible for construction and operations jobs at our facility. Up to 4,500 jobs during peak construction Up to 330 long-term careers operating the facility Approximately 300 spinoff jobs in the community

PaciﬁcNorthWestLNG.com

the Northwest. From research conducted by Destination BC in February, 80 per cent of BC residents plan on taking a trip in BC in the next year but only 10 per cent plan on going somewhere new. Terrace has an ideal location at the hub of the region, with quick access to any community or regional attraction, an asset our local Destination Marketing Organization is promoting. The manufacturing sector is another top priority for Terrace. T he Skeena Industrial

Development Park (SI DP) i s one of the community’s greatest opportunities for economic development. The City has sold three portions of this 2400 acre greenfield site. 1200 acres were purchased by Taisheng, a company based in Burnaby BC who are currently in the process of developing the site to house a number of factories from parent compa n ies based i n t he Qinhuangdao Economic and Technological Development Zone (QETDZ), in China. Infrastructure development will be moving forwards at this site in 2016 and 2017 with construction planned to begin in 2018. Although Taisheng is focusing their marketing efforts on attracting investment from the QETDZ, they welcome interest from around the world and locally. With the build out of the SIDP, the vision is for Terrace to enhance its standing as a regional service and supply center and to become a manufacturing hub with an array of businesses that will further diversify the community’s economy. For more information contact the City’s Manager of Economic Development, Danielle Myles at 250-615-4030 or dmyles@terrace. ca.

MOVERS &SHAKERS

MAY 2016

a water main between two city wells and a pump house has been awarded to IDL Projects Inc. The City of Prince George contract is valued at $2.8 million.

Terrace Terrace Toastmasters recently celebrated their 30th anniversary in business.

Formerly known as The Simon Fraser, a downtown Prince George hotel has reopened as a Days Inn location. The Inn, owned by Compbell Columbia, has been completely renovated and has a new management team.

The BC Government has pledged funding for renovation plans for the Northwest Community College trades building on their Terrace campus. Vida Carson, a financial advisor at Northern Savings Financial Services, has been recognized as one of the top 25 of over 600 Qtrade advisors for 2015.

Lu McKone has been named as the new full-time postmaster for the community of Manson Creek. McKone takes over the Canada Post position from former postmaster, Dianne Dyck. The service will be located in the Omineca General Store at the McKones’ residence, moved from the previous location at Wolf Ridge General Store.

The former Christ Lutheran Church building at 3227 and 3229 Sparks Ave. has been purchased by 645999 BC Ltd. for future retail use. Kermodei Denture Clinic officially opened on May 2nd, at 105 - 4644 Lazelle Ave. The practice is now owned and run by John McAlarey.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Prince George held their first ever fundraising event, The Big Gala, where over 150 guests were in attendance at the formal event. The gala was a success, raising $7,000, which will be distributed to all of their mentoring programs in the city.

Wings Tap and Grill, located in the Skeena Mall, has received approval from city council to extend its hours of alcohol service to 2 a.m. Dale Hansen has joined the team at MacCarthy GM, transitioning from a long tenure as owner and operator of Shiny Hansen’s.

The University of Northern BC (UNBC) has hired two new senior administrative staff. Tim Tribe, the former chief development officer for Conestoga College, will serve in the role of Vice President Advancement and Communications, while Robert Knight, former financial administrator at New York University and Saint Mary’s University, has begun as Vice President Finance and Operations.

Copper Barber Shop, located at 3992B Old Lakelse Lake Drive, opened its doors for business on May 1st. The Terrace and District Chamber Of Commerce concluded its 2016 Business Expo. Best booth display recognition was awarded to Port of Prince Rupert for commercial, Willow Creek Childcare for educational, Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resources Operation for cultural, and the Rotary Club of Terrace for service. The Judges’ Choice award was given to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resources Operation.

Prince Rupert The City of Prince Rupert recently celebrated the opening of the Cow Bay Marina. John Georgescu, a financial advisor at Northern Savings Financial Services, has been recognized as one of the top 25 of over 600 Qtrade advisors for 2015. DP World’s $200-million expansion to Fairview terminal is now 40 per cent complete. It is estimated that the project will be complete by June 2017. Lawrence Lewis has been appointed as the Chief Electoral Officer for the Metlakatla First Nation. His deputy electoal officers will be Nicole Hajash and Drew Shaw. Trevor Budskin has joined the team at Black Press as an account representative for the Northern View and the Northern Connector.

Hawkair will not be providing summer service at the Prince Rupert Airport for 2016. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on April 6 between School District 52 and Northwest Community College (NWCC), setting up a framework for a trades program for Charles Hays Secondary. Brenda Stace-Smith (Swanson) has joined the team at Royal LePage Prince Rupert. Port Edward is celebrating its 50th anniversary this June at the North Pacific Cannery. The City of Prince Rupert will no longer need to rely on the services of a large yellow schoolbus, also known as ‘the prison bus’, that formerly transported passengers between the airport on Digby Island to a space in front of the Highliner Inn. Instead, First Canada, the contracted company providing transportation, has selected a new bus that should be operational early this month.

Williams Lake The Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Environment

have issued approval for the extraction of an additional one million tones of ore by way of amending the restriction of operation permits for Mount Polley Mining Corporation. The amended Mines Act and Environmental Management Act will raise the mine’s permissible production to 5 million tones. The City of Williams Lake presented a Certificate of Merit to local forester, Ken Day, the founding member of the Alex Fraser Research Forest. Williams Lake has a new Information and Technology and Management Services provider for the next three years. The City of Williams Lake awarded this service contract to O’Netrix Solutions, beginning this year through December 31, 2018, at the yearly cost of $19,200 with a 5 per cent increase in both of the following years. After an Expression of Interest (EOI) issued by the City for a nonprofit housing project to partner in redeveloping the lodge for affordable housing, the Cariboo Lodge still lies empty. The Lodge property was acquired from Interior Health in 2008, and has long been vacant due to extensive

damage. The most updated portion of the facility was leased to the Canadian Mental Health Association Cariboo Chilcotin Branch. Thompson Rivers University’s (TRU) Williams Lake campus has made 15 more spaces available for the health care assistant program. The new spaces will increase TRU’s yearly delivery to 99 spots in 2016-17. The expansion was made possible by the Ministry of Advanced Education’s contribution of $150,000, and will begin this September.

Prince George The College of New Caledonia has received a funding allocation of $151,600 from the provincial government for two courses: electrical and power engineering. The Ministry of Advanced Education acknowledged that the college has received $755,000 for trades training program seats and $1.9 million for trades training equipment since 2014. The Prince George Spruce Kings hockey team welcomes local, former Spruce Kings player, Ryan Howse, on staff as their new assistant coach. A contract for construction of

The City of Prince George has presented a number of awards to local individuals and organizations that have made outstanding community contributions. The Prince George Civic Appreciation Awards honoured the Tabor Mountain Society with an Access Award of Merit; Marcelle Carr, Don Homan and Trelle Morrow each with a Community Service Award; The Prince George Citizen received a Heritage Citation Historic Places Award; Noreen Rustad and Wendy Ulch were each presented with an Outstanding Volunteer Award of Merit; Allan Thorp, Neil Taylor and Nowell Senior each received a Recreation and Culture Award of Merit; Daniel O’Reilly was named Youth of the Year; and Sakshi Satish and Mackenzie Kerr both received Youth of the Year – Honourable Mention.

Dawson Creek Northern Lights College has announced that they now offer a two-year Archaeology Diploma program. The course is now taking applications and has only 16 seats available. April 12 th marked the reopening of the Dawson Creek Golf Course for SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 12

MOVERS &SHAKERS

12 MOVERS & SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

the 2016 golf season. A number of renovations were completed before opening, including revamping their patio and paving the parking lot. Jason Lajeunesse, the only garbage collector for Dawson Creek, was honoured with Waste Management’s title of Driver of the Year for Western Canada for his excellence in service. A $930-million expansion project, Saturn Phase 2, has been approved for Veresen Midstream’s Saturn natural gas plant, located near Groundbirch. The plans add 400 million cubic feet per day of gas processing and 200 million cubic feet per day of compression, and will be approximately 160 acres in size. Petronas, head of the $11.4 billion Pacific NorthWest (PNW) LNG terminal, has made public a change in leadership as Abnan Sainal Abidin will be president of the project in place of Michael Culbert. While this change takes place, Anuar Taib will be taking over as chairman of the project. Tom Brogan has joined the team at Rip’s Shoe Re-nu, located in the Dawson Co-op Mall, as their new cobbler.

The Encana Events Centre now features a Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt location. Encana sponsored a new set of emergency equipment for the Dawson Creek and District Hospital, as part of a $75,000 donation in 2015. The funds provided equipment such as: a bladder scanner and X-Ray trauma stretcher.

Fort St. John A Community Measures Agreement was signed between the City of Fort St. John and BC Hydro. The agreement provides benefits to the community during the construction of the Site C dam, featuring $1 million per year for the city, more than $1 million for local non-profit organizations, a little less than $1.5 million in training for more local labor availability, and 50 new rental housing units. BC Hydro has awarded a $470 million contract for the manufacturing and installation of six generators and turbines for the Site C project to Voith, a German firm. The project’s turbinegenerator component will employ an estimated 150 workers at its peak installation period in 2022. The City of Fort St. John has taken measures to cut select projects from their budget in order to lower property tax rates for the fourth

year in a row. This decision comes in light of the current economic downturn affecting Fort St. John and will help local businesses and residents adapt with economic change. Fort St. John has announced the intention to put in a bid to host the 2020 BC Winter Games. The city last hosted the event in 1984, and plans to submit their extensive application by the September 9 th deadline in order to give them a good chance against the five other contending communities.

Quesnel West Fraser has announced that they plan to continue manufacturing at the MDF plant at WestPine this fall. The spring and summer months will involve designing and installing new equipment to enable the mill to resume productivity. The College of New Caledonia posted a budget surplus this year of $1.8 million, making it their first surplus in a decade. The forecast has improved from last year’s $2.8 million deficit, and the budget will be formally adopted in May. The BC Government’s broadened community paramedicine program will be providing assistance to the communities of Wells, Anahim Lake and Alexis Creek. The communities will each receive the equivalent

MAY 2016

of a half-time paramedic who will provide basic health care services in partnership with local healthcare providers. A proposal has been tabled before Quesnel City Council to expand the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Room at GR Baker Memorial Hospital. The project would create space for much needed features such as ceiling lifts, a crisis intervention room, treatment rooms with adjacent washrooms, and isolation capacity to handle infectious diseases. The Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing program, a partnership between Northwest Community College, UNBC, and the College of New Caledonia, has received its official accreditation from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN). Local Cariboo recording artists, Pharis and Jason Romero of Horsefly, took home a Juno Award for Traditional Roots Album of the Year for their album A Wanderer I’ll Stay.

Smithers May 6th marks the date of the Smithers Trade Expo hosted by the Smithers Chamber of Commerce, which hopes to bring in more than 2500 people to the event featuring 70 exhibitors.

Houston’s Farmer’s Market will no longer be moving to the town library after a decision from city council. Tony McKilligan, Library Director of the Houston Public Library, was awaiting council’s decision, which would have required a change in leasing agreement and business licensing for the market to operate in that space. The market will remain at Steelhead Park as a result of the decision. May 2nd marked the release of BCSARA, an online app for search and rescue personnel that provides valuable information for search and rescue efforts. The app can be operated offline and updates regularly when it reaches internet access, and features maps and documents to make processes more efficient. Veronica Portsch, a grade 11 student at Smithers Secondary, came in fourth place out of 12 chefs at a Skills Canada Culinary Arts (Secondary) competition held in Abbotsford. BV Electric has created an award entitled, “Powering your Future” through the Northwest Community College trades program to invest in future growth in local training for trades. The award for 2016/17 will be $1500, with all other following years awarding $1000. Students must write a short essay on the subject of career goals and their local involvement.

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KITIMAT

MAY 2016

KITIMAT’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE SEES TRANSITION Her approach of collaboration, communication and relationship building during her tenure as EDO has been a key part of building a sustainable economic future for Kitimat

KITIMAT TRISH PARSONS

or any community, Economic Development is a top priority. W hen the local pulp mill closed and over five hu nd red jobs were lost, there was the expectation that the Economic Development Officer (EDO) would work magic and save the local economy. As the community struggled to cope with unprecedented job losses, and further delays with the proposed $3.8 billion aluminum smelter modernization project, there were increased pressures on local government and the economic development department “to do something”. K itimat has experienced t h e b o o m-b u s t c y c l e o v e r the years. However, after the closu re of t he Eurocan Pulp and Paper Mill there was determination from Rose Klukas,

the District’s EDO, to approach the challenges with new vigor and ideas to enable her community to rebuild and prepare for a long term, sustainable, economic future. Her approach of collaboration, communication and relationship building during her tenure as EDO has been a key part of building a sustainable economic future for Kitimat. While hosting delegations and potential new investors from near and far, Rose never lost sight of the existing industry, services and small businesses in the region. T he sma l l busi ness i n itiat ive, Small Town Love website L ove Kitimat was launched in October 2015 with a business fair featuring the unique small local shops and businesses, an integral part of our community. Invest Northwest website wa s a col l aborat ion of econom ic development depa rtments from several northern communities in partnership w ith Northern Development Initiative Trust featuring detailed project descriptions for proposed developments in the region keeping businesses apprised of future potential opportunities for growth. As co-chair of the Northwest Regional Workforce Table task

force Rose has invested in the long term planning, goals and needs of K itimat and the fut u re work forc e re q u i re d to move forward with sustainable growth and economic development for her community. I have had the pleasu re, as Executive Director of the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce to work in partnership with the Econom ic Development Off ice headed by Rose K lu k a s since 2011. We have worked on many projects over the years, f rom tou r i sm i n it i at ives to business façade improvement programs to our most recent collaboration, the development of a community calendar w ww. kitimatcalendar.ca.

It i s w i t h h i g h re g a rd fo r Rose’s dedication and commitment, not just to her position as EDO for the District of Kitimat, but as a long-time resident with a vested interest in the future of her home town that the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce says farewell and best wishes to Rose and her family as they prepare for their move in May to Campbell River where she has accepted the position of EDO. Trish Parsons is Executive Director of the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 250-632-6294 or tparsons@ kitimatchamber.ca

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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

BUYING LOCAL IS REINVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY

MARK MACDONALD

o r t h o s e i n te re s te d i n bu i ld i ng a nd streng thening their own community, there’s nothing better than using this simple philosophy: Buy local. There are many great reasons why buying good and services from locally owned companies provides manifold benefits. Not only does it provide local jobs, and with those jobs money from which employees can purchase goods and services as they choose, but it also helps other businesses grow deeper roots in the community. Depending on the survey, buying goods and services locally results in a multiplier of two to three times. Translation: Every $100 spent locally generates between $200 and $300 of local economic activity. According to the A merican

Independent Business Alliance, there a re th ree ways loca l ly spent money multiplies: Directly, what a business invests in terms of inventory, premises and staff wages; Indirectly, as that company spends for goods a nd ser v ic e s at ot her lo c a l companies; and Induced, when owners and employees spend their own income locally. Hats off to movements like “T h i n k L oca l Fi rst”, a Victoria-based grassroots organization aimed at educating the masses about the many benefits of buying from locally owned companies. Close to 200 businesses have linked under the umbrella with the purpose to practice what they preach: Buy locally whenever possible as they communicate the message to the community about doing the same. We should also note that buying local doesn’t automatically mea n “mom a nd pop” businesses. It can definitely include some chains and franchises. Just because a store has a national brand name on its door doesn’t mean the profits are automatically siphoned off to head offices abroad. T he people ow n i ng successful franchises are often some of the more generous in terms of community contributors through sponsorship and

gift certificates. It doesn’t take long, once you enter a store, to determine if a business is locally owned and operated - or not. Typically, h a nd s-on ow ners a nd t hei r staff are friendlier and quicker to respond to customers milling around the store, reaching out, and asking helpful questions to assist purchasers. Product knowledge is often a decided advantage at local businesses, particularly where there are long-term employees. In order to have that longevity with staff, the business has to be profitable over the longterm, and be capable of paying family-sustainable wages that allow workers to stay where they are and not need to search for greener pastures. Staff members who have tenure are most likely to know that of which they speak, which is attractive to buyers. The saying “In the absence of value, price becomes an issue”, means that the more a prospective purchaser is convinced of a product or service’s value, the more likely they a re to feel com fortable about making a purchase, even if it costs more. The personal touch and expert insight is always appreciated, but ma ke no m ista ke: L oca l businesses must remain cost

competitive. It’s not enough to simply tell people they should buy from t hei r nei g h b ou rs dow n t he street. Those customers also have household budgets they must stay within. And that becomes a problem when smaller, local businesses offer the same retail products as multinational, big-box and/ or chain stores. Multinationals have a distinct buying advantage just because of sheer volume. They are successful because they sell a lot of product at lower margins, which make it difficult for smaller operations to match. Often, the “price” to pay for that is low wages, training and expertise. They can’t really have it both ways, really, as the marketplace ultimately decides. A business can go high volume at low margins of profitability, but with that, it’s hard if not impossible to have a highly paid and trained staff. Therein lies the challenge for small businesses: Be in the ballpark with pricing, and still beat the big boxers with stellar service and insight. Yes, an advantage the knowledge that it is local businesses who a re usu a l ly the f i rst to be asked for donations for sports team sponsorship and

contributions for i n nu merable causes, and come through. What that should generate is goodwill in the community, as those benefiting from the generosity of the business owners respond by frequenting that business and buying something. Buy local should extend to local government. I’ve advocated for “buy local” policies for cities and towns, whose revenue is derived almost solely from local taxpayers. The entire community benefits when a city buys from their taxpaying companies, which keeps the money in town. Having a “buy local” policy shouldn’t prohibit out-of-town businesses from bidding on provision of goods and services, and it cannot mean that the city is forced to pay a premium and taxpayers foot the bill, when better deals can be found elsewhere. Never t heless, t here should be some acknowledgement of what local companies contribute overall through their payrolls and purchases, as well as the multiplier effect that comes into play when money is spent locally. It’s in everyone’s best interest to buy local, whenever possible, for a number of good reasons. And, of course, this: What goes around comes around.

IT’S TIME TO REFORM MUNICIPAL SICK DAY POLICIES

LAURA JONES

unicipal governments have a problem, albeit one they don’t wa nt to ta l k about. Over the past decade they have routinely increased operating spending beyond population and inflation growth. To fuel the overspending councils have overtaxed. Property taxes, in particular, have put a heav y bu rden on small business owners who already pay far more in taxes than the services they consume. With this context in mind, responsible municipal councils should be looking at reasonable measures to control spending.

As many municipal agreements in the province are being renegotiated right now, here’s one that should be looked at: reform municipal sick day policies. In a new report, The Cost of Banking Sick Days in the Public Sector, Queenie Wong, an Economist with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, looks at government sick day policies at the federal, provincial and municipal levels and finds some costly practices that are wildly out of step with common sense. For example, if one assumes that a “sick day” should be used for actual sickness, then why should sick days be bankable? Many private sector companies don’t allow banking of vacation days let alone sick days. Only three per cent of private sector plans allow employees to bank sick days compared to 28 per cent of government plans. Even more puzzling than banking is the policy of allowing for cash payouts of u nused sick days when someone leaves the public service. In some cases, governments

The City of Victoria allows for the banking of up to 130 sick days

may be using sick day policies to work as insurance for employees against a short term disability. A far better approach would be to implement a shortterm disability plan. Employees should be able to take time off when they are sick, but current government policies are creating the incentive to confuse sick days with a vacation entitlement. Of the 16 municipalities across Canada the report looked at,

six do not allow for banking of sick days including, Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto, which changed its policy in 2008. Both Vancouver and Victoria, the two BC cities reviewed, still allow banking. The BC government, along with the governments of Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia do not allow banking sick days while other provincial governments and the federal government do. The City of Victoria allows for the banking of up to 130 sick days. Only employees in grandfathered plans can take a cash payout for u nused sick days when they leave government. Many other municipalities have reformed these policies and no longer allow for cash payouts except for grandfathered plans. From a taxpayer perspective, Vancouver is one of the worst municipalities reviewed in the report. It allows for 261 days of banked sick days (employees of the City are entitled to 20 sick days a year). In addition, the City gives employees something it calls “gratuity days.” Each yea r employees are credited

with three gratuity days, which can be banked to a maximum of 120. These days can be taken as time or as a cash payout. A Treasury Board report and a Macdonald Laurier Institute report show that public sector employees take more sick days than private sector employees. Is it any wonder this happens when incentives such as banking them and cash payouts encourage employees to see sick time as extra vacation? Vancouver, Victoria and other BC municipalities with these policies should follow Toronto’s lead and eliminate banked sick day policies and replace them with short-term disability plans for all new employees. It’s a direction that other governments have been moving towards, albeit not nearly fast enough for those that foot the bill. Laura Jones is Executive Vice President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. She can be reached at laura.jones@cfib.ca. Follow her on Twitter @CFIBideas.

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MAY 2016

YOUTHFUL ENTREPRENEURS’ VENTURE ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT

Holeshot Services: Providing Transportation, Repairs, Fabrication & Much More

“We’re survivors; the whole north is. So we’re here to stay.” CHANTELLE BOURGEAU CO-OWNER, HOLESHOT SERVICES

ORT ST. JOH N – Holeshot Services Inc. came into being from a joint and passionate desire to be selfemployed, all while helping to make the local community a better place. “Our main reason for owning a company is to help others. We looked around us and realized that our economy was headed for a downfall and that was when we decided we had to take action ourselves to inject some more opportunity into the local market,” explained company co-owner Chantelle Bourgeau. “When was the last time you purchased something that was actually made in Canada? So that is our main focus on the workforce part of owning a company, being local, hiring local and helping to make a difference in our community.” Holeshot Services actually focuses on three main business avenues: a transportation company, a maintenance division, and fabrication shop. Housed within its facility at 11125 Tahltan Road in Fort St. John, Holeshot began in 2013 as a one truck pilot company and quickly expanded i nto prov id i n g he av y rate d

Bourgeau and Harnack with two of their sub contractors, White Knuckle Industries Inc. & NuHy Ventures Ltd. hotshot, crew hauling, and most recently, picker truck services. In 2015 the company introduced mechanical maintenance services, drawing on the skills and experience of company co-owner Matt Harnack, who obtained his Commercial Transport Red Seal at age 21 and has dedicated his career to complete diversification within his trade. “Matt was working as a mecha n ic b ut re a l i z e d t h at he’d nearly reached the top of the ladder where he was so we decided to bust out on our own and launched Holeshot,” she said. While Hotshot’s service area encompasses all of northeastern British Columbia and into Alberta, the company’s primary market area is the Peace River region. “We’ve done long trips to Vancouver and elsewhere if the

Holeshot co-owners Chantelle Bourgeau and Matt Harnack opened their multi-tiered business in 2013

Chantelle Bourgeau, when not on the road driving, looks after the main office and functions as its dispatcher work required it, but our main focus is serving companies in the Fort St. John area,” Bourgeau explained. While the company’s actual staff is limited to Bourgeau, Harnack and a few shop hands, it routinely calls upon a list of independent drivers as the transportation assignments become available. “We also have trucks that are owner-operated, we have two subcontractors holding four trucks so if need be we can assemble a good sized crew,” she explained. As the company’s dispatcher, Bourgeau adds that their goal is to have a crew assembled and on the road within ten to twenty minutes of a client phone call. “We take great pains to be environmentally responsible, my theory is, if there are going to be emission producing trucks on

A Commercial Transport Red Seal mechanic Matt Harnack spends much of his time in the company shop the highway, it might as well be mine where we have taken every measure to ensure we leave as small a carbon footprint as possible. Matt tunes every vehicle as soon as we get it to maximize engine efficiency and increase fuel economy.” she explained. “Matt and I sat down a year ago and wrote a rigorous environmental policy, and we, our employees and our subcontractors stick to it!” A diverse and varied company, providing transportation, mechanical and custom metal fabrications services to an expanding circle of clients, Holeshot Services eagerly anticipates what the future will bring it. The company intends on building on the

success already experienced by its new maintenance division. “We do a lot of owner-op fleet work. In our model the person with two trucks will receive the same service and competitive rates that a person with 20 trucks might be getting elsewhere,” Harnack explained. Custom industrial fabrication is a service the company has been offering for about a year, but has the potential to become a large part of the business. “In April we launched our product line of truck accessories, so working to expand that part of our business is our main focus for that division,” Bourgeau said. Custom bumpers, step sides a nd ot her accessor ies h ave been made for loca l cl ients, with the company planning on expanding the product line to include potential customers province-wide. Two young people with a dream of owning a business, Harnack and Bourgeau have made their fledgling business a success, despite economic uncertainties in the region. “We’ve managed to keep a loyal client-base and are always seeking new opportunities,” she said. “We’ll never discount the idea of launching a new division if the opportunity presents itself. We’re survivors; the whole north is. So we’re here to stay.” To learn more please visit the company website at: www.holeshotservices.ca

Congratulations to Holeshot Services Inc.! Growth has its challenges, and we commend Holeshot for recognizing the value of a strong safety culture and obtaining their COR certification all while growing their company. Outstanding!

210 – 20111 93A Avenue | Langley, BC | Toll Free: 1-877-414-8001 | info@safetydriven.ca | www.safetydriven.ca

Connecting Skilled Workers to Employment Opportunities Steven Bernard has been working with BC Construction Association’s Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP) for the past three years. When the opportunity arose to become a dedicated resource for LNG Canada Connect, a STEP partnership between LNG Canada and the BC Construction Association, it didn’t take him much time to say yes. Bernard comes to his position at LNG Canada Connect with a wealth of experience, both in the trades as a framer on construction sites at the outset of his 25-year long career, to more recent positions as the development social worker with the Kitselas Band Council and counsellor on the Gitaus Reserve. “I treat all of my clients as individuals, and figure out what support they need on a case-by-case basis,” says Bernard, the LNG Canada Connect Representative for Kitimat and Terrace. “Some need help with resumes, some have personal protective equipment (PPE) that’s outof-date, and some need their CSTC – or Construction Safety Training System certificate,” he adds. LNG Canada funds Bernard’s position

because the company believes it has a responsibility to contribute to workforce development – both for the LNG Canada project specifically, and for the region overall. “We recognize that we will be drawing on skilled tradespeople and apprentices already on the ground, and appreciate the resources, time and energy that have already been invested in these individuals by the provincial and federal governments, and by employers throughout B.C. and across Canada,” says Tracy MacKinnon, LNG Canada’s Workforce Development Manager. Bernard has a clear goal: connect qualified tradespeople to job opportunities in Terrace and Kitimat, and reduce barriers to their employment. Unlike conventional employment services that start with the client and look for employment opportunities, Bernard receives requests directly from employers, and looks for the best-suited candidate to fill the position. Most recently, Bernard found opportunities for clients in

the plumbing, carpentry and heavy equipment operation trades. Bernard’s advice to a job seeker is direct: “Don’t give up. Use your resources. Be organized in your job search and follow-up with employers.” He also advises people to make use of the many services available to them, from Employment Insurance for training or retraining if they’ve be unemployed and in receipt of EI, to the LNG Canada Connect program, among others. According to Bernard, “LNG Canada has been very committed to making sure we’re not missing anyone from the local area that is seeking employment. My job is to ensure their resumes make it to the top of employers’ stacks.”