Business Examiner Thompson/Okanagan - March 2016 by Business Examiner Media Group

MARCH 2016

» BOATING & MARINE

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KELOWNA Molenbeek Ventures was the winner of three Gold Tommie Awards this year

Thompson/Okanagan WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA

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BC Businessman David Black’s plan would utilize cutting edge technology while creating an estimated 2,500 jobs

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INDEX News Update 2 Summerland 3 Kamloops 4 Vernon 6 Kelowna 13 Movers and Shakers 16 Penticton 17 Salmon Arm 17 Opinion 18 Sales 19 Green Sheet 19 Contact us: 1-866-758-2684

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Home Builders Association an Industry Advocate CHBA: Group has been serving the construction industry since 1943 BY DAVID HOLMES

E L OW N A – Fo r m o re than 70 years the Canad i a n Home Bu i lders’ Association (CHBA) has served as a champion and advocate for the Canadian home construction industry. With representat ion f rom ever y prov i nce and territory in Canada, exclud i n g Q u eb e c, t he CH B A represents more t ha n 8,500 member firms, ranging from small scale ventures to industry giants. “The CHBA has been representing the building industry since 1943. We are the voice for the construction industry with our membership including everyone from home builders and developers to product SEE HOME BUILDERS| PAGE 15

CHBA’s Provincial Executive Officers (l to r - top): Sharrie Paulsen, Dayna Aysals, Terri McConnachie, Sherri Paiement, Rhonda Williams, Christy McCleod. (l to r – bottom): Bob DeWit, Kevin Lee (National CEO-Ottawa), Neil Moody (CHBA Provincial CEO)

IT Company Provides Peace of Mind Hotels and resorts get remote, fast support service BETH HENDRY-YIM

EACHLAND - Ken Shuler found it a natural transition to put his Information Technology (IT) degree to use serving the tech needs of resorts and hotels. After all, he grew up in the hospitality industry with his parents managing hotels and resorts throughout Alberta. Today, a f ter 27 yea rs providing specialized IT services while working for other companies, Shuler and his partners have struck out on their own, creating Aurous Technologies, based in the Okanagan Valley

and specializing in hospitality IT needs. “Especially during the busy season, a hotel or resort can’t afford to have its computer or network go down,” he said. “We provide managed service that monitors and remotely accesses their system.” Shuler said it’s a cost effective solution that saves businesses time and money. “ No t a l l b u s i n e s s ow n e rs understand computer issues. What takes us a few minutes to repair could take the client hours. Their time is better spent focused on what they do best, running

For information or a free quote contact admin@tdbenefits.ca or visit www.tdbenefits.ca

Tel: 250-861-8834

their business.” Based in Peachland, Aurous offers a broad suite of services within their managed support packages, including assistance with antivirus programs, software updates, networking set up, and troubleshooting. “Having this kind of service takes the fear of computer crashes out of the picture,” Shuler said, adding that, because computer problems aren’t always about hardware, Aurous’s technicians have training in various software and can generally fix the problem remotely. “We don’t hesitate when it

comes to software issues,” he said. “For specialized needs, our technicians will create new software or augment existing programming.” T he subscription packages Aurous provides range from allinclusive to cost averaging and per user device. With many of its resort clients located in small, rural communities, he said having an IT support team able to remotely access servers and computers gives peace of mind. “With a subscription service, the business owner doesn’t get SEE AUROUS TECHNOLOGIES | PAGE 6

NEWS UPDATE

2 NAKUSP Waterbridge Steel Wins Government Contract

The Government of BC has awarded a $27.9-million contract to Waterbridge Steel of Nakusp to design and build four new cable ferries for the Province’s inland ferry fleet. “Our inland ferries provide important connections between communities throughout BC’s interior,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone. “These four new cable ferries will ensure this service can continue uninterrupted for residents, visitors, and commercial and industrial users.” The new cable ferries will continue to serve the communities of Glade and Harrop on the Kootenay River, Arrow Park on Arrow Lake, the Adams Lake Indian Band and other residents on Adams Lake. The existing vessels have now reached the end of their working life. Some have been serving these communities since the 1940s. “Everyone at Waterbridge Steel and its sister companies, Waterbridge Ferries and Waterbridge Equipment, are very excited by this new project,” said Waterbridge Group president and CEO John Harding. “These new cable ferries are important for everyone who relies on our inland ferry service. It’s also particularly good news for employees in our operations division, who will soon have new ferries to operate on Adams and Arrow Lake.” The new ferries that will serve Glade, Harrop and Arrow Park, will be larger and able to carry more vehicles than the existing ferries, with capacity increased to handle commercial vehicles at full highway loads. The new cable ferry for Adams Lake will accommodate the same capacity as the existing vessel. In addition, while the ferries are docked during off-peak hours, power will be supplied by on-board batteries. This will reduce noise at the terminal, and lower the vessels’ greenhouse gas emissions. It is expected that the first of the new vessels will be delivered in early 2017, with all new vessels scheduled to be in service by the end of 2019. The project will generate employment for approximately 30 people over four years, with the majority of work taking place in Nakusp. “The contract awarded to Waterbridge Steel by the Province of BC is exciting news for our community,” said Village of Nakusp Mayor Karen Hamling. “Four new cable ferries will be built right here in Nakusp, and our local shops and services will benefit from the good-paying jobs created by this

MARCH 2016

project.” The renewal of the inland ferry fleet is a priority in BC on the Move, the Province’s 10-year transportation plan. There are 14 inland ferry routes in BC, operated for the Province of BC under contract. Five of the routes are served by cable ferries, five are reaction ferries (propelled by river current), three use free-running ferries and one is served by a tug and barge. Last year, BC’s inland ferries carried approximately 1.6 million vehicles and 2.3 million passengers. The four cable ferries to be replaced carried approximately 482,000 vehicles and 685,000 passengers last year.

of their biggest barriers to success is the sourcing of a talented workforce. The Commission’s introduction of Magnet to the BC Market aims to be the Region’s tool for matching employers and qualified job seekers by eliminating a major barrier faced locally – job seekers across Canada are unaware of local employer’s current job posting methods (i.e. local publications, industry job boards), thus reducing the talent pool for available opportunities significantly” states Corie Griffiths, Director of the COEDC.

professionals, including our colleagues, consultants, contractors and partners.” The new partnership announcement comes amidst a hiring blitz at Troika, having recently increased their workforce by approximately 10 per cent, due to recent growth and strategic restructuring.

KELOWNA

OKANAGAN

Rich Threlfall becomes partner at Troika Management Corp.

Okanaganjobmatch.Com, An Online Job-Matching Platform Launched

Kelowna-based land and real estate development company, Troika Developments, announced that engineer Rich Threlfall would be added to the list of partners, adding a new skillset to their already esteemed leadership team. Threlfall’s breadth of knowledge and experience in sustainable civil engineering and land development has aided Troika in significant growth during his four-year tenure as Development Project Manager for the company. “Rich started with Troika as a consultant a decade ago, but became a part of our Troika tribe four years ago” says Renee Wasylyk, Founder and CEO of Troika. “It soon became apparent that we didn’t see the future of Troika without his leadership and presence. Brad Klassen and I decided to bring on another partner for the first time in 10 years. Rich Threlfall is the next generation of Troika”. Threlfall came to the Kelowna developer via CTQ Consultants Ltd., where he planned and designed communities, parks and public spaces for many local developers, institutions and municipalities, including Troika. Here he played an integral role in the conception and manifestation of Troika’s West Harbour, an extraordinary Tuscan-style waterfront community in West Kelowna. Having worked with the Troika Tribe in various capacities for nearly ten years, Threlfall admires their forward-thinking nature and commitment to community and their team. “We are a team dedicated to having fun while building carefully planned and sustainable communities that enhance the daily life of our residents, and that is what sets Troika apart as a developer” Threlfall explained, “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to partner with Brad and Renee to develop and lead a team of passionate

Bannister Honda has been awarded a 2016 DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award, an annual recognition given to the top-rated auto dealerships on DealerRater.com, according to consumer reviews. The DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award is given to just a handful of dealers across Canada. Bannister Honda has received consistently high marks on DealerRater.ca, making it one of the top Canadian dealerships on the site. Online shoppers visiting Bannister Honda’s dealer page will find a “2016 Dealer of the Year Award winner” badge on their profile to instantly recognize it as one of the best dealerships of the year. The DealerRater Dealer of the Year Awards program was created to recognize automotive dealerships whose sales and service operations exemplify excellence. The extremely exclusive awards are given to Canadian-based dealerships for being the top-rated dealership within their OEM brand nationwide and the highest scoring dealers in each province. “Congratulations to Bannister Honda on being named a 2016 Dealer of the Year,” said DealerRater CEO Gary Tucker. “Vehicle shoppers are increasingly reliant on the internet to research makes and models, features, specs, and more. DealerRater allows consumers to connect with the right dealership and the right person from which to purchase their next vehicle. “DealerRater reviews speak volumes about customer satisfaction at a dealership. Bannister Honda is highly regarded and we are honoured to recognize them with this distinction.” Dealer of the Year Award winners were chosen based upon their PowerScore™ ratings, which are determined using a Bayesian algorithm that factors the dealership’s average DealerRater consumer ratings and the total number of reviews written about the dealership during the 2015 calendar month. DealerRater features more than 2 million consumer reviews of dealerships, which are read by more than 14 million car shoppers every year.

The Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) launched a new component of its Workforce Development Programming. Magnet is a skillsbased, employment matching platform that will serve as a key tool for employers and job seekers throughout the Central Okanagan. A regional adoption of Magnet will help to address some of the labour market issues identified in the 2014 report Growing in the Okanagan - 2020 Labour Market Outlook commissioned by the COEDC. Magnet is a network powered by datarich job-matching technology that was developed by Ryerson University, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Ontario. Introducing Magnet to the Central Okanagan will build a regional focus to a single “job platform”, streamlining the employment search process and assisting in uncovering the hidden labour market. What’s different about Magnet vs. traditional job boards is that through intuitive technology it provides both job seekers and employers with a one-stop, supply and demand job hub to connect the right candidate to the right job opportunity – quickly, accurately, and efficiently. It is important to note that Magnet is a free service for job seekers, while employers can post opportunities and review candidates’ profiles for free. If an employer is interested in connecting with a candidate, a small connection fee is then incurred. As an introductory offer, the COEDC is covering all connection fees for Central Okanagan employers for the first 6 months after launch. “Companies throughout the Region across a multitude of sectors tell us one

VERNON Bannister Honda 2016 Dealer of the Year award winner by DealerRater

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SUMMERLAND

MARCH 2016

Begin With The End In Mind Developing a strategic structure builds a path to growth

usiness growth isn’t always about revenue; it’s an important piece, but not the only consideration. Are you looking to build your market share, develop a larger territory, improve profit margin or even add more people to your team? If so, begin with the end in mind and develop a strategy on how to get there. Whether you are a business owner, a manager, CEO or president, taking your company to the next level can be daunting. But having a sound and complete strategic structure in place increases success in attaining growth goals whether that’s through communicating incentives, hiring the right staff or developing the right skills. For more than 45 years Sandler Training has been helping companies achieve success. A business that isn’t growing is dead in the water. It may have a great focus on being product or service driven but lacks the

“Fear of failure or fear of success shouldn’t hold a business back.” JOHN GLENNON OWNER, SANDLER TRAINING LICENSEE INSIGHT SALES CONSULTING

LABOUR ISSUES ADDRESSED

SUMMERLAND CHRISTINE PETKAU

s labour an issue for your business? Finding the right employees? Training them a n d f i n a l l y, h a n g i n g o n to the right people? If so, you’re not alone. On March 18th the South Okanagan is rolling out solutions. We’ve known anecdotally that labour has been a challenge but in the last 5 months, partners in the South Okanagan have gone to great lengths to prove it. These partners have included South Okanagan chambers along with regional economic development staff, the City of Penticton, Okanagan College Facu lty of Busi ness a nd the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skill Training. With funding provided by the Ministry and the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition, a researcher was engaged to discover key issues for employers. Frequently mentioned issues i ncluded t he cost of l iv i ng, housing costs and availability, seasonality of available work, business skill building, community reticence to grow th, workers with spouses who can’t

find employment, and succession planning. But across all the sectors, shortages in skilled labour was number one. At the same time, the City of Penticton had received funds from the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada to engage in a specific labour study researching many elements of the labour question and the Local Immigration Partnership Council has also recently released its report on the employment experiences of recent immigrants. Combine all of this formal research with the business walks conducted in Summerland and other South Okanagan communities in October and that’s a lot of data. O n t h e mor n i n g of M a rc h 18th we’re bringing together a pa nel of the reg ion’s most creative employers, large and small, and across sectors, to share their best solutions for ma nag i ng th is key busi ness issue. All employers attending w i l l b e a s k e d to p r i o r i t i z e ‘what we must do fi rst’ a nd help inform the next steps in our region. The forum will be held at t he Penticton T rade a nd Convention Centre a nd will provide tangible solutions for our business members and culminate in a stronger more competitive regional business environment. Christine Petkau is Executive Director at the Summerland Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at cpetkau@ summerlandchamber.com.

tactics to grow what really matters, its economic engine. Knowing the three lines, top, middle and bottom, is vital not only for measuring revenue stream and profitability of services, but also for assessing costs. In an upcoming workshop on the Growth Driven Organization, John Glennon, owner of Sandler Training, will facilitate a discussion and participation on building the path to a growth driven business.

Participants will walk away with an executive workbook, armed with tools they can take back to their businesses and implement right away. They’ll also get a clearer picture of what success looks like and the best practices to getting there. Fear of failure or fear of success shouldn’t hold a business back, Glennon says; moving forward simply requires the tools, skills and strategies for gauging the competition, assessing revenue,

and analyzing gross and net profit. With the right structure in place a business can take the ‘wanting growth’ to achieving it. Glennon, a multiple award winning Sandler Trainer, will deliver the intensive two-hour workshop to the Thompson Okanagan business community for the fourth year in a row on April 22 at the Sandler Training Center in Kelowna from 10 am to 12 pm. Details and registration is at www. glennon.sandler.com.

We Get Results. (Are You Next?)

Introductory Workshop The Growth Driven Organization Date: Time:

April 22, 2016

Investment:

$49.00 (lunch and book included)

10:00-12:00 (Presentation)

Location: Details:

12:00-1:00 (Lunch and Networking) Sandler Training Centre, Kelowna, BC www.glennon.sandler.com

The Workshop includes the “Sandler Rules: T

Forty-Nine Timeless Selling Principles…and F How to Apply Them” book, lunch as well as a session workbook to all the participants.

www.glennon.sandler.com *Unfortunately seating is limited, you must pre-register and pre qualify to attend.

KAMLOOPS

MARCH 2016

CHAMBER LAUNCHES FOUR PILLARS OF SERVICE Our Development Opportunities offer the chance to attend networking events and skill-building sessions to further your business

KAMLOOPS

network and your skillset

DEB MCLELLAND

stabl ish i ng you r bra nd – who you are and what you do – is instrumental in the success of any business, not-for-profit or otherw ise. Communicating clearly about who you are and what you do causes people to want to know more – to know how you fulfill your mandate. One of the ways that the K a m loops Ch a mber h a s recently established this clear c om m u n ic at ion i s t h ro u g h the launch of our four pillars of service. As “your business con nection” (ou r K a m loops Ch a mb er ta g l i ne), we work o n yo u r b e h a l f to p ro v i d e: Value-Added Programs, Development Opportu n ities, Marketing Tools and Government Relations.

Our Value-Added Programs include such things as: custom i zable hea lt h i n su ra nce pla ns th rough Cha mbers of Com merce Group I n s u rance; discounts on hotel, office supplies and gas/ diesel; pay rol l ser v ic e s; merch a nt processing; email marketing p ro g ra m s a n d m o re . A l l o f these programs give you the opportu n ity to save on you r bottom l i ne, wh ich is key to building your business. O u r D e velopm ent O p p ortu n it ies of fer t he cha nce to attend networking events and skill-building sessions to furt her you r bu si ness network and your skillset. Attend one of our monthly socials, quarterly lu ncheons, ou r a n nua l CO N N E C T T ra d e s h ow a n d a ny one of ou r va rious seminars and workshops to help grow your business. T h rough ou r Ma rketi ng To ol s, you h ave a memb erexclu sive ch a nce to get t he word out about your business to other members as wel l as t he genera l com mu n ity. We offer website and e-bulletin advertising options, a yearly mail-out insertion, sponsorsh ip options, socia l med ia sharing of your business news and events and more. L a s t l y, o u r G o v e r n m e n t R el at ion s a re a n e x t remely

DEVELOPMENT SITES FOR SALE - KAMLOOPS, BC

important and valuable way to help your business. We work with you, to bring businessf r iend ly ch a n ge to gover nment policy. For example, did you know that the Kamloops Chamber was instrumental in the creation of the ten-yea r p a s s p o r t? O r t h a t t h e i d e a of the Ta x-Free Savings Account came from us? If there are barriers to your business, we want to know about them so we can work on your behalf to br i n g p osit ive ch a n ge to government policy. Through these four pillars, we work hard to provide you with opportunities to help you connect to more business and become successful in your industry. To lea rn more about a ny of these serv ice pi l la rs, visit our website at kamloopschamber.ca or give our office a call - we would love to hear from you! 250.372.7722. ••• Exciting news from our comm u n i t y p a r t n e r a n d l o n gs t a n d i n g m e m b e r, Vent u re Kamloops! Ventu re K a m loops has developed an online tool called Start Here to provide greater access to essential resources for business. “Since its launch, Start Here h a s saved t i me a nd cre ated va lue for b u si nesses,” says

KAMLOOPS, BC

720 KINGSTON AVE Excellent redevelopment site - 3 separate buildings on 4.25 acres. Ideal for light industrial or commercial retail use. MONA M. MURRAY Dip. ULE, RI(BC), CPM 250.372.2277 www.mcmrealestate.ca

Deb McClelland is the executive director of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached email at deb@kamloopschamber.ca

TOTA ANNOUNCES ROUTE 97 TOURING PROGRAM

1740 KELLY DOUGLAS ROAD Prime location for future industrial development just off East Trans Canada Highway. Approval for 5-1 acre lots .

Col i n O’L e a r y, M a n a ge r of Business Retention & Expans i o n . “ E a c h y e a r, w e m e e t with 200+ businesses. Helping to speed up the process by faci l itat i ng i mpor ta nt connections and providing information to clients in our initial meeting has helped to propel businesses forward faster.” The online tool was created i n re s p on s e to a n e e d Ve nt u re K a m l o o p s re c o g n i z e d for providing support and resources to the local business community. Start Here allows the client to provide information in advance of the initial me et i n g, a l low i n g Vent u re K a m lo ops to b e b etter prep a re d to d i s c u s s i d e a s a n d options. The concept, although simple, is successf u l. “To date, we’ve met with dozens of new and existing businesses,” says O’Leary. “We’ve also provided templates to start ups to help them gather more information before we meet with them to assist with the next steps. It’s been a real win/win.” Learn more at www.venturekamloops.com/starthere.

THOMPSON OKANAGAN TOURISM GLENN MANDZIUK

he Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and North Central Washington Economic Development District (NCWEDD) are pleased to announce the Route 97 Touring Program to launch May 2016. The Discover Route 97 partnership has the full and active support of elected officials from three counties and their cities in Washington State (Okanogan, Chelan, and Douglas), the elected officials from the three Regional Districts and their communities in British Columbia (RDOS, CORD, NORD), the Colville confederated Tribes and the Okanagan Nations A lliance. Part of our mission is to promote this unique region, with particular emphasis on the Interior Cascades section of the Highway 97 corridor and all its tributaries, for the benefit of all its varied communities

The program will support both marketing and destination development activities and will provide a digital footprint that will guide our visitors through our respective regions while showcasing our unique story -- throughout all four seasons. With support through an integrated digital campaign and map guide, visitors will have ample information to find key experiences and resources available through their smart phones, tablets and desktops. The promotional component focuses on creating awareness of the Route97. net website as the key resource for trip planning and information while touring through the region, other elements such as Environics Analytics Research, the introduction of a Map/Guide and a targeted Digital Strategy support the Route 97 initiative. In addition, we are working on other elements that will include the Route 97 shield on Highway signage, and the 2000 electric car charging stations in the Sun Country Highway network as well as experience development, an online directory on Route 97.net populated by verified Google listings and a program to support the Google verification of every business and destination along Route 97. Glenn Mandziuk is President and Chief Executive Officer of Thompson Okanagan Tourism Region. He can be reached at ceo@ totabc.com

BRITISH COLUMBIA

MARCH 2016

Kitimat Clean Could Be World’s Greenest Refinery Businessman David Black’s plan would utilize cutting edge technology while creating an estimated 2,500 jobs BY MARK MACDONALD BUSINESS EXAMINER

ITIMAT – David Black wants to build the world’s greenest oil refinery in the world on the northern B.C. coast. Kitimat Clean, which would be built on a 1,000-plus hectare industrial site between Kitimat and Terrace, could result in 2,500 direct, well-paying jobs and likely another 2,500 in petrochemical-related industries. It would utilize revolutionary technology to significantly reduce carbon output, wouldn’t require a pipeline to obtain the necessary raw material – dilbit (diluted bitumen), and would work within the parameters of Prime Minister’s announced West Coast oil tanker moratorium as it would ship less environmentally intrusive end products to overseas markets. Over the past three years, Black has been busy speaking to anyone and everyone, espousing the virtues of such a refinery, including 30 different First Nations bands and politicians from all levels of government. “I must have given this talk to at least 50 different groups by now,” he says, adding that he has not received any push back thus far. Polls have showed that two-thirds of British Columbians were opposed to a dilbit pipeline going across B.C. to a tanker terminal, but if a refinery was put into the mix, two thirds were in favour. Black estimates it will take two years to obtain the necessary permits and approvals, and five years to build it, at an estimated cost of $22 Billion. Black foresees the refinery yielding close to $1 billion in annual taxes to various levels of government. “It could create 10,000 direct and indirect petrochemical industry jobs in an area of B.C. that really needs it,” he says. “It would make the sea safe, cut the planet’s CO2 emissions enormously and help the oil industry by giving them better returns.” But can he actually do it? Those who know Black believe that if anyone can pull this off, David Black can. Soft spoken and understated, Black is a determined individual and has proven naysayers wrong on many occasions. If he says he can do it - and he’s been saying so publicly now for years - then people shouldn’t be surprised if he pulls it off. At 69 years of age, one might view his

drive to create Kitimat Clean as a legacy project, which it may be. But Black is also a civil engineer, and a very successful businessman, owning over 200 community newspapers in Canada and the United States, including 85 in BC. And Black sees a profitable venture that is proving attractive to investors. Black has been traveling the globe, garnering interest from financiers. He’s been to Asia several times, Alberta - of course and the United States. He recently returned from meetings in the Middle East, which yielded valuable information and piqued the industry’s interest. “They believe in refineries. They are profit-making businesses,” he notes. “(In the Middle East) they believe in Canada, and that it’s a great place to invest.” “This refinery will be profitable, and it doesn’t matter what the price of oil is,” he adds. “We plan to borrow 80 per cent of the money the project needs, and repay it all, with interest, within eight years.” Raising financing is nothing new for Black. “I’ve done this before with newspapers, so I’m familiar with the process,” he laughs. “We’re just adding an extra zero or two. It’s looking pretty positive right now.” GREEN TECHNOLOGY Black plans to utilize what is known as the Fischer-Tropsch process, which eliminates all the coke left over once the refining process is completed. First developed in the 1920’s in Germany and utilized during the Second World War, Fischer-Tropsch is used extensivelyaround the world today today, but it has never been used in a bitumen refinery.. By injecting hydrogen into dilbit, it not only increases yield, but would result in nary a microgram of sulphur in the Fischer Tropsch diesel at the end of the process. “The difference between our approach and all the other bitumen refineries in the world, which all use the coking approach, is 23 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide emissions. In layman’s terms, that’s the equivalent of six million cars running continuously,” Black notes. That’s what it would mean in regards to saving the planet.” Black says the end products produced by the refinery and shipped via sea would eliminate the potential dangers of bitumen

David Black looks at samples of bitumen spills decimating the B.C. coast. Refined fuels are much less dangerous to the environment than bitumen would be, since diesel, jet fuel and gasoline dissipate when exposed to air, and evaporate within a matter of days. Black supports the idea of a West Coast oil tanker moratorium, recalling, as do most British Columbians, the catastrophic 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The spill of 250,000 barrels of medium light oil was one-eighth the size of today’s oil tankers. Exxon worked for four years to clean up the spill. At the peak they employed 11,000 people and 1,400 boats. They only got back 7% of the oil. Even today, it is said that if one were to dig two inches down on northern coastal beaches, they’d hit Exxon Valdez oil. “That was medium light oil that floated on the water and could be washed off beaches with water. This is diluted bitumen,” says Black. “If this stuff spills, according to the federal government’s own studies, in the first hour, half of it would sink because our coast has glacial sediment and plankton. That basically would pave the bottom of the ocean. The other half would wash up on intertidal rocks, beaches and mud

flats. The only way to remove it would be with steam, but steam kills all plant and animal matter leaving a sterile coast open to repopulation by alien species.” Any spill would be unacceptable, Black states, “but if a gasoline spill were to happen, it would be world’s apart from an oil spill. It would evaporate within two days.” Black’s refinery is readying to file a project description with the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. There is one other group expressing interest in building a refinery on the northern west coast, Pacific Future Energy, which has submitted their paperwork to the BCEAO and the CEAA. “I don’t know if it’s a race,” says Black. “There is probably room for more than one refinery.” DOESN’T NEED A PIPELINE “I don’t need the pipeline built to do this,” Black says. “Another idea has come up that is better.” Black has been consulting with Canadian National Railway officials about transporting bitumen from the oil fields to Kitimat via freight cars. “Shipping bitumen by rail is really safe, as it has the consistency of stiff peanut butter. It doesn’t explode, and it doesn’t burn. “If you heat it up over 60 degrees Celsius, it goes into the train cars, and you let it set up. You melt it out of the containers at the end destination. Really, it’s safer, and the people I talk to agree.” Bitu men ca n on ly move 3-4 m i les per hour through a pipeline, so moving it via rail will be faster and cheaper. “There isn’t any competition from North America for a Canadian export refinery. US export refineries are in the Gulf of Mexico. They can’t get their products to China easily. VLCC tankers are much too large for the Panama Canal, so they’d have to go around the bottom of South America,” Black says. Going through Kitimat would save weeks of land tavel time and sea travel time, allowing products to get to market quicker. “I’m excited about the refinery,” says Black. “This is going to be the greenest refinery in the world. “I tend to look at it as a puzzle. It’s fun to unravel it,” he says. “I’m enjoying the process, and I can feel the momentum building.”

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VERNON/OFF THE COVER

MARCH 2016

ATTAINABLE HOUSING FOR YOUNG FAMILIES

VERNON DAN ROGERS

hat is a realistic price to pay for a home? It is a simple question that can prompt a very complicated answer depending on where you live in the province. Compared to the price of a single family detached home in Metro Vancouver, a similar home in the Okanagan may seem like a heck of a deal but the reality in the Okanagan, and across the country for that matter, is that an increasing number of young families are hard pressed to afford the price of an average home. This situation was at the heart of a presentation the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce made recently to Mayor and Council in

Vernon. The group which is made up of developers and others in the residential construction sector, called on the City of Vernon to accelerate efforts to make housing more attainable for young families. In presenting to Vernon City Council, the Chamber’s Business Improvement Group for Real Estate and Development noted that the current cost of housing is still above what the average family can afford. “Local Government has direct control over a number of things that are contributing to the rising cost of housing,” says Pam Owen, a local mortgage broker and director with the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce. “We are hearing from many in the residential construction sector that land use regulations along with development fees and other charges are contributing to the high cost of land and putting home ownership out of reach for average families.” In order to address this issue, it was suggested that the city host an attainable housing and economic development forum that would bring industry, city administration, and economic development officials together to see what red tape can be reduced and where government processes could be improved.

Concern over the rising cost of residential construction isn’t unique to the North Okanagan. It is the same situation in most growing communities across the country where housing costs are impacted by land use decisions (control of inventory), increasing local government regulations, and what at times can be overly bureaucratic government processes. That increased cost for development is of course passed on to the customer and unfortunately it’s putting the dream of owning a single family home out of reach for average Canadians and limiting the economic potential of the residential construction sector. It is important to note that there are few sectors in the country that generate as much economic activity as residential construction. As an example in 2015, new home construction generated almost $50 million in wages and close to 800 on and off-site jobs in the Vernon area alone. “If we can move the needle on affordability even a little, we will create a community that is more family friendly while also strengthening the local economy,” stated Owen. Vernon Council will consider the matter in the coming weeks and in the meantime developers

are keeping busy as there has been a jump in housing starts though the bulk of that activity has been for higher valued homes that are perfect for those looking to retire in the Okanagan or for those with a relatively high household income. ••• In other news, the finalists are now set for the 2016 Business Excellence Awards presented this year by. Bannister Honda, Nicholas Alexander Landscaping & Design, Okanagan Spirits, Olive Us Oil & Vinegar Tasting Room and Deb White of White House Mortgages lead the way as all were named finalists in multiple categories. The finalists were announced during the Chamber`s Nominees Luncheon in early February. A full list of all the finalists in each of the categories can be found on the Chamber’s website (vernonchamber.ca). The winners will be announced at the Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards Gala on Friday March 11th at the Vernon Atrium and Conference Centre. The event this year is presented by ValleyFirst Credit Union. T here are a number of new awards this year including the People’s Choice, Business Person of the Year, Newsmaker of

the Year, Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year and Tourism Excellence. The People’s Choice Award is the only award chosen by public voting as all other award categories are evaluated by a panel of judges. Tickets for the Gala are on sale through the Chamber office. ••• Finally we want to welcome the newest members of the Greater Vernon Chamber: Excel Sport & Health, Kal Sports Bar, Monashee’s Beer Wine Spirits, Valley First Insurance, Basket Case Picnics & Catering, Leap Art Supplies & Gallery, Anrias Capital Corp., Station BBQ Smokehouse, Integral Accounting Inc., Critter Catchers and Silverlining Stone & Tile Ltd. Dan Rogers is the General Manager at the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce and can be reached at manager@vernonchamber.ca

AUROUS TECHNOLOGIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

any billing surprises. We make it affordable with lots of options.” In the IT industry, Shuler said that building strong relationships is vital to understanding business owner and business needs, but also to translate the unique languages of technology. “Technology has very rapidly become an essential service. If there is a catastrophic failure to the system, a business can be dead in the water. Aurous’s staff calmly analyze the situation, clarify what needs to be done and gets it fixed.” Shuler said Aurous’s clientele are very loyal, adding that IT service can be very personal and those relationships, important for trust and confidence. Recently, Aurous expanded its lineup of services, developing applications (Apps) for specific mobile needs. “In the hospitality industry a mobile app means a customer can access bookings and reservations from their smart phone. Aurous is working at creating an app for express check in, room service, and geo location.” Shuler said that to complement existing network and computer support Aurous is also the reseller for TalkTel and Liveport services. Talktel is a professional multiline phone system subscription

Aurous provides managed service that monitors and remotely accesses our subscribed

“For specialized needs, our technicians will create new software or augment existing programming.” KEN SHULER OWNER, AUROUS TECHNOLOGIES

Ken Shuler has 27 years experience serving the hospitality industry’s IT needs CREDIT:KEN SHULER

that provides hardware and a collection of extra features including switchboard with full menu,

follow me, and a cell phone as an extension, and allows the business owner to work remotely and be on the same phone system. Liveport is a monitored and managed WiFi network solution for the hospitality, retail and food and beverage industry. “User or guest issues and inquiries are handled 24/7. With maintenance and supply provided by the company, clients get premium support services.” Although Aurous is a new venture for Shuler and his partners, the response from its clientele has prompted considerations for expanding into other regions of BC. Aurous Technologies is located in Peachland www.auroustech.com

MARCH 2016

MOLENBEEK VENTURES: INNOVATIVE LOCAL DEVELOPER SPOTLIGHT

Firm the winner of three Gold Tommie Awards this year

ELOWNA – The exceptional residential projects envisioned and created by Molenbeek Ventures Development Corporation (MVDC) are not only innovative and constructed with true European craftsmanship – they’re also award winning. “We were especially delighted to have won three Gold Tommie Awards this year, including a real big one, the Best Multi-Family Builder of the Year,” explained Wim Zuydervelt, the company’s founder and president. “Receiving an award like this, coming as it does from the industry itself, is especially exciting and satisfying. It shows we’re doing it right.” Organized annually by the Okanagan branch of the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA), the Tommie Awards celebrate the best and brightest in the region’s construction industry. Winning three prestigious Gold Awards in the same year is an almost unprecedented achievement. In addition to earning the Best Multi-Family Builder award, MVDC also earned Gold for Best Urban Infill (Residential) and the FortisBC Award for Building Energy Efficiency. “Every house we build is made with the very highest quality materials we can get. We also strive to leave as small an environmental footprint as possible, that’s why it’s gratifying to see that our efforts regarding energy efficiency have been rewarded by winning the Gold Tommie from Fortis,” Zuydervelt said. “To give you an idea just how serious we are about being energy efficient, there’s a reading you can get from Fortis for energy efficiency levels, with the average rating for a home in BC being about 80 or 81. When they measured our Skyview-homes we came out at 86. That energy score is among the top one percent of all townhomeconstruction in British Columbia. We honestly build each home as if

Prized Hardware: Molenbeek Ventures Development Corporation took home three Tommie Awards this year

Wim Zuydervelt was a happy man this year, with his company winning three Gold Tommie Awards I was going to be the one living in it. We take no half measures in any of the projects we do.” Moving to Canada from his native Holland in 1980 Zuydervelt quickly made his mark in several construction related businesses, but his obvious aptitude for construction wasn’t part of his previous business life. “When I lived in Holland I owned a thriving butcher shop there. By the time I left Holland in 1980 I was paying a 72 percent income tax. I had a lot of people working for me at the time and if they were sick or simply not feel like coming to work it didn’t matter I had to pay them anyway. So I felt there had to be a better way, I wanted a place where you would be rewarded for the efforts you actually put in,” he said. “I came here because I wanted to do something different, to move to a completely different country, to a country where if you work hard you do well and if you’re lazy, well, you don’t get paid. I love it here and I’ve never regretted my decision to move to Canada.” The Molenbeek Ventures Development Corporation is coowned by Zuydervelt and his silent business partner Gerrit Tijhuis, who is a principle in RoosdomTijhuis one of the largest and most successful building firms in the Netherlands. “In 2006 Gerritt became a silent partner in the business. Basically I do everything here while he’s my financial silent partner,” Zuydervelt said. “Also in 2006 I was lucky enough to meet Paul Teeuwen who came to work for me. Later on Paul became a Director of all the MVDC companies. We basically work 50/50 between the office and out in the field. Now in 2016 I’m trying to do a little bit less of the work, I’m 72 now so I think I’ve been at it long enough. During the next few years Paul will likely take over the company.” One of M V DC’s first major

projects was the Creekside Park subdivision which was launched in 2006. This 50 detached home development was completed in 2014. In 2007 we built a property on Mount Benson near Nanaimo where we constructed a SEE MOLENBEEK VENTURES | PAGE 8

Another smiling winner was company Director Paul Teeuwen who had a chance to check out the awards

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The innovative Skyview Terraces project is expected to serve as the inspiration for future projects

MOLENBEEK VENTURES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

spectacular $1.3 million home. Unfortunately we started working on it in 2007 and then 2008 came

and the local market fell apart, literally nothing would sell at the time. We actually weren’t able to

sell that home until 2015.” In 2008 the company began the Elkridge Development in West Kelowna, Paul became a shareholder in this project. This development was envisioned from the outset as a community of 85 affordably priced family homes. “We built

some very nice affordable homes in this project, no GST and no PTT so it was designed to be very attractive for the buyer. At present that project is about 80 percent sold out,” he said. SEE MOLENBEEK VENTURES | PAGE 9

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MARCH 2016

It’s not all glitz and glamour for Molenbeek, Zuydervelt and Teeuwen who still enjoy getting out on the worksite

The 2016 Tommie Awards were a big night for Molenbeek Ventures, with the company picking up three top awards

MOLENBEEK VENTURES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

A common feature of a Molenbeek home is the open, bright and European inspired nature of its design

The next big, and now award winning stage of MVDC’s history was the commencement of the Skyview Terraces project which was launched in 2013. Once completed this 40 unit townhouse development will consist of 11 buildings in the desirable Glenmore area of Kelowna. “What’s really unique about them is that they are ‘roof terrace’ townhomes. Meaning there’s literally a private terrace on the roof of each home, which is a very unique feature. The Skyview homes are very modern with big

windows and lots of natural light. They are literally different than anything else you’ll see in Kelowna,” Zuydervelt explained. Designed with European styling in mind, the Skyview Terraces project is currently about 50 percent complete and sold. A signature of any Molenbeek project is the level of thought and detail that goes into its design, Skyview is no exception. “We enjoy building something that is unique and to more of a European standard. With every project we do we try to offer something that is all inclusive without compromise Wim said. “For example each Skyview unit has a geothermal heating and

cooling system, which is about a $30,000 value. On top of that we charge no additional fees for the geothermal system. We just want to leave as small an environmental footprint as possible, and to provide the client with the most comfortable and energy efficient home that we can build,” he said. The award winning success of the Skyview Terraces project is expected to influence the next ventu re M V DC u nder ta kes. “Right now our future involves looking for our next project. The work we did at Skyview is really the direction we’d like to take it in the future,” Zuydervelt said. “I can see us building other developments like it in the years to come. We’re looking at the moment at two different sites around Kelowna that would be suitable for this kind of development. We’ve decided to focus exclusively on the Kelowna area. In the past we had projects scattered around too far, now we are going to concentrate only on the Kelowna area. We’re presently looking for properties ranging in size from two to 10 acres.” While slowly starting to think about retirement, it’s not likely I could ever see myself not being involved with Paul and the company in some capacity. I can’t imagine myself doing nothing,” he said. To learn more about Skyview Terraces and Elkridge please check out its websites: www. skyviewterraces.ca and www. elkridge.ca

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MARCH 2016

BOATING & MARINE Boating Industry Expecting Record Season Marine tourism has become a billion dollar industry in British Columbia BY DAVID HOLMES

or the British Columbia recreational boating industry it’s like a Perfect Storm, but in reverse. A cluster of unique and separate factors have come together to produce a result, only this time it’s a very positive one. Not wanting to carry the marine pun too far, but boating, especially in terms of waterborne tourism, is riding a wave of success. “We did a 100 percent survey of marinas on the coast in 2014 and determined that boater spending, the money spent by marine tourists during that season reached $275 million, and that’s just the people out and about on their boats, the people that were physically touring around,” explained Michael McLaughlin, the Project Manager for AHOY BC. AHOY BC operates an interactive website created by the BC Ocean Boating Tourism Association (BCOBTA) a non-profit society created to help promote and support sea going tourism on British Columbia’s coast. “While the direct tourism revenue is about $275 million that doesn’t count the indirect revenue, the money that goes into the communities as a result of these tourists,” McLaughlin said. “The marinas have to buy the fuel they sell to the boaters and the Cheezies a nd the pop or whatever else they in turn sell to the visitors. All of this financial movement of course helps the entire local economy. There is a 2012 marine manufacturer’s report that puts the value of recreational boating in BC at $1.6 billion per year.” A catalyst for this surge in boating tourism is a combination of factors, most notably the weakness of the Canadian dollar when compared to its American counterpart. “The relative low value of the Canadian dollar along with the current drop in fuel prices and other factors have really helped to boost the ocean going tourist market,” explained Ian McPherson, the owner of Nanaimo Yacht Charters and Sailing School. “It’s no exaggeration to say that we’ve had more inquiries from south of the border then we’ve ever had. For an American visitor it’s certainly a discounted holiday what with the value of the Canadian dollar versus the American

AHOY BC has launched an interactive website to cater to the needs of marine based tourists right now. From our company’s perspective we’ve never had better bookings so we’re expecting the 2016 boating season to be a very brisk one.” A Nanaimo-based yacht charter company and sailing school, McPherson’s team administers a fleet of about 100 vessels ranging in length from 27’ to more than 50’. “There are a lot of boats out there for charter as our fleet could include as many as 100 boats at any one time. Some of the boats we own and some are owned by individuals who use them only randomly,” McPherson explained. “In a way we’re sort of a property manager for the boat owner. They may not live in Nanaimo they might live in Calgary but keep a boat moored here. It’s somewhat analogous to owning a rental property. If you look at the stats for boat usage I think the average is less than four weeks of usage per year, which is scandalous when you consider how much a boat costs. We keep the client’s boat maintained and earning revenue for them through charters when they’re not here to use it themselves.” The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) recently released its a n nua l recreational marine industry statistics report for 2015. The year-end summary indicated

that nationwide recreational boat sales topped the $3 billion mark last year, with more than 38,000 new boats being sold across the country. Interestingly this number is actually a drop of 5.4 percent from 2014. The sale of used boats in Canada (more than 64,000) however was up more than seven percent from the year before. “The decrease the industry saw in sales of new boat units in 2015 is estimated to largely be a result of the exchange rate, which currently favors Canadians buying recreational boats in the US.”, explained Sara Anghel, Executive Director of NMMA Canada in the report. The NMMA report also said the sale of personal watercraft, fixtures on Lake Okanagan and countless fresh water bodies in the BC Interior were up more than 10 percent last year, as was the sale of outboard motors, especially in British Columbia. Motor sales in other parts of the country, especially in Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories were down significantly from 2014. But boating in BC isn’t restricted to Seadoos and yachts - the industry is as varied as the individuals who participate. “The entire industry could include everything from kayaks and standup paddle boards and

small fishing boats all the way up to large yachts and vessels of any type. These are predominantly recreational vessels. We’re not involved with tugboats and that sort of thing,” explained Don Prittie, the President of the Board of Directors of the Boating BC Association. “Boating BC is an industry association. It’s been operating now for nearly 50 years. We changed the name a few years back to Boating BC prior to that it was known as the BC Marine Trades Association. We changed the name to more completely represent the entire industry,” he said. The Association’s membership includes businesses involved in all aspects of the marine industry including both the sales and service of boats, marina operators and other people involved in the industry such as insurance providers, financial institutions that finance boat purchases, chandlers, engine manufacturers and others. “Our membership could basically include anyone whose business touches the recreational marine industry. Presently we have about 300 members, coming from all over the province,” Prittie said. “But the bulk of our membersh ip does come from the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. We definitely have

MARCH 2016

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Water borne tourists cover a vast spectrum of users, from luxury yachts charters to sea kayakers members living up the coast, on the Sunshine Coast and in the Interior such as the Okanagan. The boating industry in the Interior is huge so the recreational boating industry isn’t something that’s restricted only to the coast.” David Mailloux who is a Director with AHOY BC said his organization has focused on ocean-based marine tourists primarily because of the year-round nature of coastal tourism. “One of the real advantages offered by ocean boating tourism is the shoulder season. Where in other areas people are just taking their boats out of the water on the coast things can still be very active,” he said. “The BC coast is one of the only locations in the world where we have the type of product that’s available for visitors. It’s an adventure product yes but at the same time it’s civilized. You can find a nice cove to go into with some privacy if that’s what you want. But if you want to run out to get supplies or go to a pub in many cases it will be just around the corner. That’s why in our marketing we say: Explore the wild, but civilized, coast of British Columbia.” Charter operator McPherson, who had previously operated similar companies in the Caribbean and in the Mediterranean, said the BC west coast, is truly world class. “The cruising ground that we have is probably the most spectacular in the world. It’s diverse and it’s huge. It attracts people from all over the world,” he said. “The BC coast is an exceptional cruising ground and is well sheltered such as through the Inside Passage. Of course there’s definitely a degree of skill required to navigate the waters, but typically the people who charter boats are already experienced sailors. But if a client needs a fully crewed boat, we can arrange that as well.” “2015 was already a good season for marine tourists, with the low Canadian dollar and the dip in the price of gas we expect the 2016 tourist season to be even better,” AHOY BC’s McLaughlin said. “Another thing that we don’t talk about too often is the increasing sale of Canadian boats to non Canadians. We just

did a couple of trade shows and Canadian made boats are relatively inexpensive thanks in part to the low Canadian dollar. This makes them attractive to outside buyers.” The economic power of an industry tradeshow is equally important for Boating BC. “Whether it’s fresh water or the saltwater arena boating can appeal to a wide audience. The Boating BC Association owns the Vancouver Boat Show. It’s one of the premier events of its type in Western Canada. In many cases the people who want to be part of that show are members of our Association,” Prittie said. “Our marketing tagline is: BC is Better on a Boat, and it really is true. There’s almost nothing you can do recreationally that is as relaxing as being on a boat. There’s nothing like getting out on the water and exploring some of the province’s outstanding areas whether on the coast or in the Interior. We really do have a special place and it’s recognized around the world. In many cases the people who actually live here don’t take advantage of that and we think they really should give it a try.” For Mailloux a large part of the success of the coastal marine tourism industry rests with the American market. “Marine tourists from the United States are a big part of the industry. Here in Nanaimo at times during the summer as many as 75 percent of the vessels in the boat basin are American. We’re anticipating that the 2016 tourist season will be excellent. The price of gas and the exchange rates alone should make this area more attractive to tourists.” For many industry leaders the future of the industry will continue to get brighter. “We also have a very large market that we’ve yet to tap,” McLaughlin said. “It’s estimated that there are approximately 900,000 private recreational vessels on the US West Coast. Right now we get about 12,000 of them a year entering Canadian waters. So just look at the potential for future growth of marine tourism in BC. The years ahead are going to be exciting.” To learn more visit: www.ahoybc.com/ and www.boatingbc.ca/

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MARCH 2016

HOME DESIGN AND BUILD WINS TWO GOLD TOMMIES SPOTLIGHT

Outdoor living space boasts the best view in Kelowna

ELOWNA - After Hamlet Homes won Tommie Gold two years ago for a renovation under $350,000, it was suggested they try for another. Last month, the 10-year-old Kelowna contracting company, owned by Paul Day, won another Tommie gold, this time for an outdoor living space and cabana on the same property. That now makes two gold and 11 silver the company has won for their work. The gold renovation updated a 6,500 sq. ft. home, extending the rear of the house, removing every wall for a more open feel and installing impressive 30 ft. wide and 10-foot-high windows. “When the owner bought the house in the 2013 it was very dated and had wallpaper on every wall, lots of rooms and smaller windows,” Day said. Located in Magic Estates, Day said the house has the best view in the city, straight down Okanagan Lake and over the surrounding hills. With the additional windows and open space, the residents enjoy unfettered access to the stunning panoramic vistas. The new design and the addition of a bathroom and cabana maintain that open feel, matching simplicity with elegance. “We blitzed the house, extending the great room and adding another wing for the bathroom incorporating it into the outdoor living space.” Jutting over the pool deck, the bathroom is understated and functional with an airy feel. A covered bathtub stands on its own with a backdrop of natural beauty through large picture windows. Muted shades of brown backsplash the glassed-in steam shower and heated river rock graces the floor of an open hand-held shower. Warm natural wood and stone create an organic flow from bedroom to bathroom, and the angles and height of the room give it the feel of being in the clouds. Outdoor living is why many residents call Kelowna home. With

Paul Day earned his carpentry ticket 37 years ago in England CREDIT:PAUL DAY

some of the best weather in Canada, leisure time can be enjoyed outside for much of the year. The design of the cabana seamlessly ties in a kitchen/barbecue and bar with an entertainment center, table seating for ten or more guests, lounge chairs for sunbathing, a large swimming pool, firepit and a three-hole golf green. Creating one-of-a-kind homes is not new to Day. You could even say he’s an expert at helping make a house a homeowner’s castle, as he spent many years of his career life restoring heritage building including castles and manor houses in England, Scotland and Ireland. Day started his carpentry career in England in 1979, after which he began his four-year apprenticeship training. In 1985 he was offered a job building for the coal mining industry and a $2 billion coal mine. He spent 11 years sinking shafts up to one and a quarter mile deep for the mining industry before he decided to travel the world. “I was gone for about four or five years,” he said. “Traveling extensively worldwide. When I was finished seeing the world I continued in restorations as a carpenter in England.” During his travels he found one of his favourite and friendliest places to visit was Canada. When he mentioned to a friend a desire to emigrate to this new country, it was suggested he try White Rock in BC.

The outdoor space incorporates a three hole putting green CREDIT:BYRON KANE

The cabana overlooks the pool, Okanagan Lake and surrounding hills CREDIT:BYRON KANE

He eventually settled on Kelowna and hasn’t looked back since. The Okanagan has provided Day with more than long sunny days and mild weather. It has also brought him a continuous stream of projects and the small town feel he loves. “For the last eleven years I’ve been very busy,” he said. “I don’t advertise. I rely on referrals, a steady clientele base and word-of-mouth.”

Day explained that when he first arrived in Kelowna he was sponsored by the BC government to work for a respected local builder. Despite creating his own business he is proud to say that he has maintained that early business relationship. “Maintaining the roots from where you started is important to success,” he said. “Hamlet Homes still takes on the smaller projects,

including building decks and working with a window company doing glazing and restoring and repairing broken window frames.” His company builds one house each year with 90 per cent of its work coming from renovations. Day said initially he did everything from design and drafting to managing and hammering nails. “My clients appreciate the personal touch I give with each project. I dedicate time with the clients to listen to what they want, get their best wish list, determine the best scheduling fit and then match it to their budget.” Recently, Day took a step back to reanalyze his business and his work life balance. With a mom, two daughters and grandkids still in England he felt his 14 hour days and seven-day a week career might need a bit of help, so he hired an assistant and draftsperson. Now his day is a reasonable 10 hours and he can fly home three times a year for a visit. The secret to Hamlet Homes’ success comes not so much from individual things as the sum of all it does for its clients. “Scheduling is important when

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Best view in Kelowna CREDIT:BYRON KANE

The outdoor cabana includes built-in barbecue, large prep area and beer on tap CREDIT:BYRON KANE

you do a renovation. People are busy. When we do a large project there can be a lot of trades people needing to build or install at just the right time. Hamlet gives plenty of lead time, not just to the home owner, but also to the trades, eliminating the need to ring them up every day asking when they’ll be getting the work done.” Many of the renovations his company does require high-end custommade products. That means, for example, that the special hood fan that will take two months to make and get shipped from Europe needs to be accurately scheduled for installation along with the kitchen cabinets that take 16 weeks to arrive. Day also said that paying his guys on time ties in with proper

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scheduling, and keeping on top of billing and treating all stakeholders with respect for the good jobs they’ve done is good business. Keeping the size of the company manageable is important to Day, not just for balance, but also to ensure his clients get the service they’ve become accustomed to. He dedicates time to his clients, introducing them to suppliers and walking them through the whole project. “It can be daunting to a homeowner, but they need to be involved. I am there with them at every step; I even go shopping with them to make sure they get the product they want that works with the design and budget.” That care continues throughout the project. Day said that once the

house is framed up, his crew lays out the interior walls for clients to get a feel for the space and flow. “Sometimes the homeowner can be surprised at how small a 10x10 ft. room feels when they are standing in it. That isn’t always translated well on paper.” Day is grateful for the life he leads now in Canada and appreciates the sponsorship he received from the government to create a new life and business in Kelowna. Because of that, he makes sure to give back to his community, whether it’s sponsoring a golf tournament, the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the SPCA. He’s also applied to become a member of the Kelowna Heritage Society, offering his expertise not only in the building and restoration work but also in the restorative designing of the city’s older homes. Through his philanthropy he has a special connection with the next generation of builders. “Hamlet Homes helped sponsor the $40 million extension to the Okanagan Colleges Trades building, and had a room named after the company. We also sponsored the carpenter of the year award with a trophy and tool gift allowance.” His reasoning for giving is clear in his mind- Kelowna has been good to him. “Someone took a chance on me 37 years ago, and it’s worked out pretty well. It’s a good industry for a young person to enter and I want to pay my good fortune forward.” Hamlet Homes is at 3960 June Springs Rd in Kelowna

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INVESTING IN KELOWNA – WHAT MAKES IT WORK

KELOWNA CAROLINE GROVER

ere at the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, we hosted four Chamber luncheons in four weeks between January 28 and February 18. What a range of ideas and speakers we heard! From the President of UBC, Martha Piper on the university’s tenth anniversary in the Okanagan, to the CEO of Eagle Spirit Energy talking about their social license for BC/Alberta pipelines; to the Mayor’s Annual State of the City message, to wrapping up with Premier Christy Clark speaking to the 2016 provincial budget. Our members and guests are richer for these interactions with informative, interesting, and decisive speakers. A s a Cha mber, we’ve been working in parallel on a number of fronts, not all immediately apparent to the general public. Advocating for support in the fight against invasive mussel species in our lakes. We are proud to be helping lead this fight. A change in the punitive tax proposed for credit unions. We hosted a highlevel panel discussion at the end of February to explore the needs, the changes, and the advocacy for amended legislation. Homelessness: we’re hosting a Think Tank on this issue to search for timely methods of seeking affordable housing in early March, in partnership with the Urban Development Institute. And, of course, discussing the political hot potato that is water quality in Kelowna, home of five water districts, and a myriad of opinions of how to address the needs. Since our Chamber is the face of Kelowna, I thought it might be timely to look back at the Mayor’s mid-February address, and highlight current thinking from our City on some of these issues. This was Mayor Colin Basran’s second “State of the City” address to our Chamber, and he has kindly agreed to our excerpting his comments for this month’s column. I admire his stress on attracting investment, always the holy grail of a civic government. His key point was speaking to the investments being made in our community. “What,” he asked, “is the City doing with our investments to make Kelowna a place where other people want to invest?” “Investing in a healthy community makes economic sense. We’re more attractive to tourists,

we’re more attractive to talented workers, we save on healthcare costs, it delays or defrays expenses on transportation upgrades, and it encourages new business development.” A key priority for Basran is water quality. Basra n r ig ht ly poi nts out, “There’s a strong connection between health and economics, and Council’s efforts to move toward an integrated water supply network. Our water system really represents what I am talking about today – public safety, effective financial management, being strategic to ensure efficiency and investing in the infrastructure that improves our quality of life.” As a side note, as CEO of the Chamber, I should say that water is a priority discussion point within our Chamber, as well. The Kelowna City Council has made a commitment to a process that ultimately can change the pattern of water delivery to our residents. This process isn’t immediate, but importantly, Council has plotted out the first steps toward integration of services, and quality improvement. We support being a part of this process which is being conducted with thought, planning, and no rush to judgement or immediate change. The media that same week reported that the Mayor also noted Kelowna was the next-to-worst to find a job, fastest-growing, and (surprise!) almost the sexiest city in Canada. Skipping over the city’s “sexy” rating from retailer Pink Cherry (#5 behind a collection including Sudbury), the BMO labour market report was sobering, putting Kelowna at 32 out of 33 for getting a job. Basran pointed out it was a 30day snapshot, and at odds with the Stats Can report showing Kelowna to be fastest growing between July 2013 and 2014. Of course, the major number of cranes hoisted up over the city recently don’t hurt our business profile: Okanagan Centre for Innovation, Interior Health, some new waterfront construction at the north end, and fingers crossed, by next year, a new convention hotel on the water at the foot of Bernard. And don’t forget the new police headquarters. Strong words from a strong Mayor and a supportive, yet individualistic-minded Council who have the best interests of their constituents front and center. I am fortunate to head a Chamber of Commerce based in such a strong bastion for forward-thinking, planning, and investment, and not fearful of change and improvement. Happy spring! Caroline Grover is the CEO of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached by email at caroline@kelownachamber.org

MARCH 2016

LOCAL CONSTRUCTION FIRM LOOKS BACK AND FORWARD SPOTLIGHT

In celebrating 25 years in Kelowna, Chriscan Construction also has planned for the future

ELOWNA - Nearly twenty five years ago Len Suchocki and his wife, Mary, incorporated their custom home building business, Chriscan Construction. Since then the Kelowna based company has earned a reputation for the kind of excellence that drives growth. In response to that growth, the company now offers specialized areas of construction and renovation. “We started as custom home builders and then expanded the company. We continue to do new construction but [have added] renovations as well as commercial and tenant improvements,” Len told Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan. As calls for renovations and tenant improvements increased, so did the expertise and specialized services. Over the years Chriscan Construction became known for its work in new commercial builds and renovations as well as professional space such as dental office upgrades. Though based in Kelowna, projects over the past year have included work on dental offices located throughout the Okanagan Valley and beyond to Kamloops, Chase and Merrit. Projects have even taken Chriscan Construction to Vancouver Island for the construction of a vacation cottage. An important key to that success, Len says, was finding, attracting and retaining an outstanding core group of employees. The company also draws from a pool of proven subcontractors. “We look for people who will do the work the way our company wants it done with the level of care and attention to detail delivered to the highest standard.” They’ve found them, Len says, and Chriscan Construction employs fourteen tradespersons with

Company President, Len Suchocki

“I think for anyone who is

Company team

in business, we all want to do projects and make a profit but at the end of the day we keep doing business because we enjoy satisfying clients. Seeing their dreams fulfilled is rewarding.” LEN SUCHOCKI CHRISCAN CONSTRUCTION, FOUNDER AND CO-OWNER

Jim Kitchin, General Manager & Co-Owner

Mission Dental Clinic, Kelowna

skills ranging from journeyman to apprentice, from general labourer to projects and site supervisors. Managers and site supervisors, he added, have the responsibility of directing his own projects as well as overseeing project work being done by sub-trades. “With i n ou r core g roup of people there are finishing carpenters, cabinet makers and [those with skills] in high end finishing. In order to retain these outstanding individuals and maintain the team for the long term, it was a natural fit to expand to include commercial office space for professionals who are looking for that quality of finishing work.” While looking back at their

accomplishments, looking forward in terms of succession planning has not been neglected. In doing so and in keeping with the company’s core values of promoting from within and developing people, the decision was taken to offer succession opportunities to current outstanding employees. As a result, the decision was made to have long term employee, Jim Kitchin, become co-owner of the company. Jim’s work experience with the company has spanned twelve years and during the course of those years his development as a tradesman and also as a business entrepreneur did not go unnoticed by management. He

now sits on the company Board of Directors and, Len says, is viewed as the perfect person to take over the leadership of the company. Although an exact date for the transfer of leadership hasn’t been determined, Jim is there, filling the role competently and capably alongside Len. Charitable donations also factor into the company’s financial planning and although no one organization is singled out for support, donor dollars are moved around the community on a regular basis. Training for the next generation of trades is a priority and in keeping with the company’s philosophy. 105-430 Banks Road Kelowna

Always a pleasure to work with Len and his team at Chriscan Construction! Joel Rose

250-878-4697 Joel.79@hotmail.com

250-762-4877

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sure Always a plea to work with Chriscan Construction!

OFF THE COVER

MARCH 2016

Ambleside Residence - kitchen, Summerland “Every year we sponsor apprentices and thus we’re giving back to the industry. We pay tuition and that has worked out well,” Len explained. Having well trained and well prepared professionals within the construction industry helps to ensure projects will run smoothly. But like life itself there are sometimes unexpected happenings involved in moving forward. When asked, Jim noted that the greatest challenge in his estimation are the unknown but crucial factors that can make or break staying on track for project completion. “We expect challenges but we are not sure what they will be; every day something comes up. A tradesperson may be ill today or finishing materials that were ordered four to six weeks earlier and were due today, didn’t arrive. Delays in production or shipping issues or simply being under a tight construction schedule, you have to figure out how to work around those. Keeping on schedule is a moving target.” he added. Both Len and Jim quickly spoke, though, of the satisfaction they receive as individuals and as a company through the work that they do. Len summed it up this way: “I think for anyone who is in business, we all want to do projects and make a profit but at the end of the day we keep doing business because we enjoy satisfying clients. Seeing their dreams fulfilled is rewarding.” Jim more than agrees with his model and mentor: “It’s the satisfaction of building something

that is the client’s dream and taking something from paper to something they can see, feel, touch and feel proud of. It’s seeing client faces light up as they see how it’s all come together.” While the mutual appreciation between Len and Jim is evident, there’s also the grateful confidence in other employees and sub-trades found in knowing that there is a future for the company. “He [Len] has worked extremely hard to build Chriscan to where it is now and it’s an honour to work with him and to be able to carry it on. We have a lot of long term employees and we want to see it moving forward as it has been.” Chriscan Construction is about a lot of things: Commitment to excellence. Purposeful attraction and retention of the outstanding employees. Wise and strategic succession planning. Constant striving for client satisfaction. It’s all of these and probably more that garnered the company two Silver Tommie awards to date. For Len, they are an reaffirmation, a pat on the back, from the industry recognizing that the company’s work is of the highest quality. “It’s a recognition of a job well done and it’s a wonderful thing to have come about.” For Jim, it is the acknowledgement not on ly for Ch r isca n Construction but also for the sub-trades working with them. “We all strive for excellence and we’ve worked so hard. It’s nice to have that acknowledged. For more information, see www. chriscan.com

Best Wishes, from all of us! 1711 Springfield Rd, Kelowna, BC

250-979-3089 www.Rona. ca

Congratulations on your Tommie Awards

250-454-9923 www.glasscanada.com

The 2016 Tommie Awards were recently held to recognize some exceptional building projects, like this home

HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

suppliers and even insurance providers,” explained Sherri Paiement, Executive Director the CHBA’s Okanagan office. “One of the things we do and something that’s both a major celebration and a lot of fun, are the Tommie (Thompson Okanaga n Housi ng) Awa rds, a n annual celebration designed to showcase the best of the best i n the region’s construction i ndu st r y. T h i s yea r’s Tomm ie Awa rd s of fere d a l it t le s o m e t h i n g f o r e v e r y b o d y, there were a ffordable housi ng categories as wel l as for the high end properties, so it covered the whole spectrum of the regional building trade. There were over 600 people at this year’s awards ceremony making it one of the top black tie events of the year.” Organized by the CHBA the 2015 ed it ion of t he Tom m ie Awards included the presentation of nearly 50 individual awards, divided into six primary categories: Residential Planning, Design & Construction (New), Residential Planning, Design & Construction (Renovation), Interior Design & La ndscape Desig n, Sa les, Marketing & Merchandising, Special Achievement Awards and Grand Tommies. “For the past 24 years, Tomm ie h a s been recog n i zed a s the symbol of excellence in the Okanagan valley. Since its inception, the Tommie Awards h a s g row n i nto a f i rst cl a ss event, attracting interest and recognition from well outside ou r reg ion,” ex pl a i ned Rob Voros, Tommie Awards Chairm a n a s pa r t of t he awa rd’s website. “The success of the Tommie Awards could not be achieved without a strong and vibrant

Sherri Paiement is the Executive Director the CHBA’s Okanagan office in Kelowna

“For the past 24 years, Tommie has been recognized as the symbol of excellence in the Okanagan Valley.” SHERRI PAIEMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHBA

industry to support it. Its success is a testament to the hard work and efforts of the Canad i a n Home Bu i lders A ssociation, an organization that works t i relessly to promote and showcase world class projects and communities. These have made the Tommie Awards what they are today.” I n t h e O k a n a g a n C H B A’s Kelowna-based office counts more than 320 local firms as part of its growing membership, with its members ranging from builders and designers to engineering firms and financial institutions. “We’re definitely a very close k n it network, we a l l work together. The recent provincial Throne Speech said that housing affordability is going to be a major provincial focus. But that’s not just building cheap houses for people to rent it’s also about looking at the industry as a whole. T he issue of affordable housing is important to just about everyone. At the end of the day what it means is that our kids will be able to a fford a home somewhere down the road,” Paiement said. “Some of t he ot her ma i n tasks we’re addressing right now include: looking at property transfer tax issues, problems with Development Cost Ch a rges a nd how t he city’s taxes developers and builders, which is part of our advocacy mission. This is one of our key goals, working on behalf of developers as well as builders.” Built on a vision of providing a strong and positive role for the nationa l housi ng i ndustr y, the Ca nad ia n Home Builders’ Association has been representing and supporting its membership for more than 73 years. To learn more visit the local association’s website at: www. chbaokanagan.ca/

MOVERS & SHAKERS

instead of six weeks, and classes will be held in evenings to encourage students to balance work and school at the same time.

KELOWNA Gravity Float & Wellness, a business providing floatation therapy and whole body cryotherapy, celebrated their grand opening on February 20 th.

A new art gallery, Padlock Studios and artist collective, has opened on 175 Second Avenue. The gallery, owned by Miranda Dean and Robin Hodgson, featured its first showing on February 20th.

Local golf course, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf and Country Club will be hosting the Mackenzie – PGA TOUR Canada from years 2016-2019. Former president of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, Karen Hawes, has been named as the new Executive Vice Chair of the BC Chamber of Commerce. Kelowna’s Culligan Water Okanagan has been honored with the 2015 Top Performance Award for their exceptional service, and is the sixth of over 600 dealerships for largest growth from the previous year. Okanagan College’s Trades Training Complex has received a $30,000 donation from Bellamy Homes. A new smartphone app, BC Wildlife Adventure, has been created as the result of a partnership between Best Western Kelowna Hotel & Suites and QuestUpon. The game is designed to target younger audiences and connect visitors with the wildlife and nature found in Kelowna. Wim Zuydervelt and Paul Teeuwen’s construction company, Molenbeek, took home four prestigious Tommie Awards for their Skyview Terraces development. It won for Best Urban Infill, Residential,

MARCH 2016

the FortisBC award for building energy efficiency, in addition to the Grand Tommie for Multi-family Builder of the Year. Ski Canada’s Best Skiing in Canada Awards has recognized Kelowna’s Big White Ski Resort for Best Family Resort, Best Grooming, Best Snow, Best Opportunity For Pint-Sized Pile Ups. Big White also took home a 2015 Award of Excellence from Booking.com for their exceptional accommodations. The West Coast Grill + Oyster Bar will be moving into an empty restaurant space at Prestige Inn Kelowna this spring. The restaurant will be in the former Pilgrim & Pearl Oyster Bar location, which closed down in January. A local farm, owned by the Lintell family, has been granted permission by the City of Kelowna to build an agri-tourism section on the land, which includes plans for a ten-site RV park. The Lintell family also hopes to create a vegetable garden and berry production through partnership with another local farmer. While the application is currently at second and

third reading, final approval is expected shortly. Kelowna has been chosen as the destination for the first ever IndieFest short film and documentary festival, hosted by the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking (OSIF). The festival will feature 100 minutes of show time, and will offer awards for various categories of entry. IndieFest will be held on March 24th at the Paramount Theatre. Save-on-Foods in Kelowna’s Orchard Plaza is one of five locations in the Overwaitea Food Group that now sells BC wines at their grocery stores. The Orchard Plaza location will offer nearly 1000 varies of BC wine labels, and offers some local labels that are only otherwise available for purchase at their respective wineries. The BC Wine Museum has recently reopened in its Laurel Packinghouse location at 1304 Ellis Street. The museum has undergone changes that include new layouts and historical displays. Plans are developing for future growth in stages, and will involve feedback from the public. A Hotel Zed location is set to open this spring in the former Abbott Villa, across from City Park. The Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) has announced the launch of Magnet at okanaganjobmatch.com, as part of their Workforce Development Programming. The online program provides a skillsbased, employment matching service for employers and job seekers in the Central Okanagan area. In other news, the COEDC team has welcomed Krista Mallory on as their new Business Development Officer.

• Rooftop Units • Furnaces • Heat Pumps • Built Up Systems • Air Conditioning • Make Up Air Units • Gas Fitting • Sheet Metal • New Equipment Installs • Maintenance Contracts • Hot Water Tanks • Boilers • Fireplaces

A new perinatal unit is set to open at Kelowna General Hospital, where families will welcome their newborn babies. The unit is scheduled to begin receiving patients on March 6th.

LAKE COUNTRY Odettes Skin Laser Wellness Clinic has changed locations and is now open for business at #31 – 10042 Main Street.

KAMLOOPS Earls Restaurant in Kamloops has partnered with Thompson Rivers University’s Culinary Arts Program to create a new Cook Workplace Apprenticeship that allows students to work towards achieving their Apprenticeship Level 1 certification, while working in Kamloops. The program is spaced out over fifteen weeks

Sun Peaks Resort received top honours from Ski Canada’s Best of Skiing in Canada awards, as they were recognized in categories: Best Family Resort, Best Village/Walkabout, Best New Beginner Area, Best Grooming, Best Sun, Best Snow Ghosts, Best Connection (Whistler shuttle), and Best Cinnamon Buns (Sunburst restaurant). The Fireside Steakhouse restaurant has reopened after a period of updates and renovations. The steakhouse features updated menus, courtesy of Executive Chef, Mike Swann, and new artwork from local artist, Tricia Sellmer. Karla Pearce has co-founded the Kamloops Artisan Market together with the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association (KCBIA), and has been named as Manager of the operation. The Market will showcase the work of local artists and is scheduled to run every Thursday from May 19 through September 29th, and will be located in front of the Kamloops Library and Art Gallery. The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has partnered with Interior Health and LifeLabs to expand their pilot program, GetCheckedOnline, to the Kamloops area. The online service offers convenient, confidential testing for HIV, STIs and hepatitis C. Vapesense, a modern e-cigarettes and accessories chain, has opened a new location for business in the Old Fire Hall on 4th Avenue.

PENTICTON Valley First, a section of First West Credit Union, has signed on as the official volunteer sponsor of the Challenge Penticton triathlon for 2016. The Okanagan Valley Throwdown, a fitness event centered in Penticton, fuelled by Muscle MLK Canada, and run by Hoodoo Adventures in partnership with Evolution Adventures in Summerland, has plans to expand to Abbotsford. Lyndie Hill, CEO of Hoodoo Adventures, announced plans to begin a Throwdown Series in Abbotsford, with other possible destinations in sight including Prince George and Toronto. Apex Mountain Resort has partnered with the Naramata Bench Wineries Association to host the fourth annual Vertical and Vintages Wine Festival Weekend, on March 5th to 7th. The festival features eighteen wineries and will be held at the Gunbarrel Restaurant and Bar. A Taiwan Bento Express take out location is opening at 101-449 Main Street on March 1st. Regency Southwood Retirement Resort

MOVERS & SHAKERS

MARCH 2016

recently celebrated their first anniversary serving the retirement community. Sally Kilburg is welcomed to the real estate sales team of Re/Max Penticton, after having served as President of the South Okanagan Real Estate Board.

SUMMERLAND Ingrid Tourigny has joined the Summerland Health & Wellness Centre as an acupuncturist, shiatsu therapist, therapeutic laser therapist, meditation teacher and counselor with over 22 years experience. Bayside Backhoe Service, owned by Dave Klammer, is a new business that provides help with land development, excavation, drainage, and utilities. While Titan Tile Ltd., provides their services throughout the South Okanagan. Summerland has a new mobile electrical contractor, as Rob Mitchell has recently established his business, T Electric, in the area. Main Street restaurant, Drew’s Kitchen, has closed its doors for business. Former owner, Drew (Andrew Roper) has taken up the position of Executive Chef at the Summerland Golf & Country Club. Cody Wright has launched a new website for his company, Synergy Home Inspections, which makes things easier for potential customers to see the services offered, as well as learn useful information about their homes. One of Summerland’s most historic attractions, the Kettle Valley Steam Railway, has launched their new updated website this month. The new site offers visitors and locals alike a quick and easy way to learn more about the railway and book and pay on-line. Local business, What the Fungus, has been named as a Top 5 finalist for Best Company in the Small Business BC Awards. The company was also named as a finalist for the Summerland Business & Community Awards. Edward Jones’ Financial Advisor, Chantelle Meriam, and Branch Office Administrator, Retha Marsden, both from the Edward Jones office 5-13604 Victoria Road North, have qualified as one of the top 150 Branch Teams in North America, one of only four Canadian branch teams to qualify. Summerland’s new cidery, Dominion Cider Co. was featured in Vancouver’s

regional lifestyle publication, MONTECRISTO Magazine. The article shined a spotlight on Mike Harris, Luke Cyca, and Robin Cairns, the Dominion Cider team who made their first batch last year, running all areas of the business, including operating their own 10-acre orchard and own pressing and fermenting.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

VERNON

PENTICTON

Mike Petreny of Baron Insurance has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce, effective immediately. Vernon resident, Mark DeVolder, a speaker with International Change Management, was honoured with the Top 25 Speaker recognition for 2016 from Speaking.com, a US-based speakers bureau. Bannister Honda has received the 2015 DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award for their exceptional service. The award is based on top-rated dealerships as a result of positive customer reviews on Dealership.com. The Rise Golf Club has named Chad Scott, formerly with the Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, as their new Director of Golf. Christopher Hart has joined the team at Nixon Wenger LLP Lawyers as their new associate. Hart previously practiced civil litigation at a firm in Ottawa, Ontario. New management has taken over at Silver Springs Retirement Residence, which now features newly renovated facilities at their 39th Avenue location. The University of British Columbia has announced their intention to bestow three UBC Centennial honorary degrees to students at their Okanagan graduation ceremony in June. The degrees will be handed to water scientist David Schindler, global economist Dambisa Moyo, and astronaut Roberta Bondar. North Okanagan Accounting Services has changed their location and will now be offering their services at 300 – 3605 31st Street. The BC Golf Superintendents Association has named David Marr, superintendent of Hillview Golf Club, as Superintendent of the Year for 2015. Mark Wensley of 3 Percent Realty congratulates Tom van Gelder on exceptional sales for the month of January.

BRANDY MASLOWSKI

enticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2016/2017 Board of Directors. Have you considered being a part of your local Chamber team? Volunteer board positions are an incredible learning opportunity and a clear path to making a difference for business in your community. If that’s your passion and you are a Penticton Chamber member, then submit your application today. Nominees will be accepted until

March 16th and the annual AGM luncheon will take place on March 30th at noon. There is a new outlook at the Penticton Chamber with a distinct focus on member value. Following the pillars of Advocacy, Benefits, Connections, Distinction and Education we’ll be planning events and programs around the concept of giving members the tools they need to bring their business to the next level. As 2016 unfolds we already have a few successful networking events under our belt including our first ever Apex Mountain Member Mixer. With 130+ members registered this proved to be so popular we have now dubbed it an annual event. The Penticton Chamber will bounce into spring with a big relocation/ grand opening event as well as a pampering luncheon for Administrative Professionals. This luncheon will feature plenty of goodies from local spas to spoil the men and women who are the front line smiles of business in Penticton. Keynote speaker Linda Edgecombe

is sure to spark some laughter, engage, and inspire. Leading into fall you’ll want to mark your calendars for the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre’s Fall Get Back to Biz Small Business Trade Show showcasing Chamber Members only on Sat/Sun September 24th and 25th. And what are you going to wear for our black tie affair? The 29th Annual Penticton Business Excellence Awards take place October 15th, brought to you by Gateway Casinos and Entertainment. Excitement is in the air with the new Penticton Chamber team. With over 15 award categories for 2016, this will be an event you don’t want to miss. For all the details and more go to www.penticton.org. Brandy Maslowski is the new Executive Director of the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at director@penticton.org or 250-492-4103.

CHAMBER AGM MARKED FOR MARCH 15TH

SALMON ARM CORRYN GRAYSTON

almon Arm is very excited to see the opening of a new art studio, Meikle Studios, in our downtown core. Adam and Jenna Meikle recently relocated to Salmon Arm with plans to fulfill their dream of having their own art studio. That dream has come to fruition and both Adam and Jenna are thrilled to be finalizing plans for their official Grand Opening on March 11th. In addition to showcasing his own artwork, Adam also intends, at a future date, to offer art classes to beginning and experienced artists alike from all age categories. Both Adam and Jenna invite you to drop by their location at 310 Ross Street on March 11th or any time after that date. You can also check out their website, currently under construction, at www.meikle.studio for ongoing updates and information. ••• Congratulations to Shuswap Trail Alliance for hosting another successful fundraising party on February 5th. The Shuswap Trail Alliance is a collaboration of partners working together to create purpose built, sanctioned and sustainable trails throughout the Shuswap region. The Shuswap Trail Alliance is a collection of over 300 members, many of whom volunteer their time to keep our amazing trails usable for all types of

non-motorized and motorized recreation. Donations to this worthy organization are tax-deductible so go to www.shuswaptrailalliance.com to learn more, become a member and/or make a donation. ••• The Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce will host their 2016 Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at the Comfort Inn & Suites. This event will be a luncheon format commencing at 11:45 am. Members are invited to rsvp their attendance to admin@ sachamber.bc.ca Swiss Lodge B&B is very pleased to announce the re-opening of their

beautiful bed & breakfast for 2016. After having taken a year off to work on various projects, Lotti and Maurice Derungs are excited for the upcoming tourist season. Swiss Lodge B&B is also a small hobby farm with horses, goats, sheep, chickens as well as pristine gardens and relaxing views. To see more on this amazing B&B go to www.swisslodge.ca or call Lotti direct at (250) 833-0106. Corryn Grayston is the General Manager at the Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at (250) 832-6247 or admin@sachamber.bc.ca

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OPINION

MARCH 2016 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Thompson Okanagan Office #210-347 Leon Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 8C7 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Fax: 1.778.441.3373 Email: info@businessexaminer.ca Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

PUBLISHER/EDITOR | Lise MacDonald, lise@businessexaminer.ca SALES | Joanne Iormetti – joanne@businessexaminer.ca, Thom Klos – thom@businessexaminer.ca, Josh Higgins – josh@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Julia MacDonald, John MacDonald, Beth Hendry-Yim, David Holmes, Linda Wenger WEBSITE | John MacDonald

PASSING THE TORCH IN FAMILY BUSINESSES REQUIRES SKILLFUL GUIDANCE AND PLANNING

MARK MACDONALD

amily business. There’s something warm a n d c u d d ly a b o ut t h at definition, isn’t there? It conjures up images of a down-home friendly, Mom-and-Pop institution where friendly faces welcome customers. It could also represent a company that is fraught with problems. What if family relationships are strained? Or, if relatives don’t work as hard as some think they ought to, perhaps displaying a sense of entitlement, that could put other hardworking employees on edge or make them resentful. And of course there’s the threat of nepotism. That’s understandable, considering it’s mothers and fathers who are often in charge of decision making and hiring. If they can put another

member of their family on the payroll, why not? It’s also one of the ways family businesses work overall. Eventually, a critical question will need to be asked: Who will lead the company when Mom and Dad retire, or sell? It’s a tough topic, not only for the family itself, but the employees – the extended family if you will – which are dependent on the company’s success over the long-term. This decision is particularly sobering, as larger companies are no longer a “one family” operation. The loved ones of each and every employee are connected, and their well-being is directly tied to the success of the firm. And, obviously, they would be negatively affected by failure. So that nex t step, succession planning, is critical for all concerned. Transitioning has been clearly identified as a serious concern in the province, with Baby Boomers who own and operate businesses slipping into retirement. Who will take the firm to the next level – or not? In a family business, it may appear that the obvious choice is a son or daughter. Is that the right move to make? Perhaps. But one thing is for sure: There are plenty

of potential pitfalls. An organization like the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (CAFE), for example, focuses on exactly that: Making sure family businesses not only survive, but thrive – and prepare for the next generation of leadership and ownership within the company. One of the programs they offer members is a Peer Advisory Group (PAG), where a family member from one business is paired with a different family business that has already successfully navigated the transition. In other words, they’ve already gone through it, and they’re willing to share their successes, and failures – in hopes of identifying opportunities and avoiding complications. It’s another set of eyes outside the organization, which has proven to be extremely valuable. There are other resources and groups out there as well, and firms would be wise to seek out as much counsel as necessary before proceeding - and during - the transition. Should the successor leader automatically be a member of the family? How does it work if there isn’t a family member prepared or equipped to take over leadership of the family? A case i n poi nt: A sizeable

company with multiple locations and hundreds of employees had earned an outstanding reputation in their sector, when the owner, seeing retirement just around the corner for him, placed his son in as his successor. Disaster would be too harsh to describe what happened once the son took the reins, but suffice it to say, the father found it necessary to step in and relieve his son from his leadership duties, replacing him with a proven CEO from outside the company. That move saved the company from financial peril, and ultimately, prepared the firm for a takeover that benefitted the family overall from a financial point of view. But it was a difficult move. I’m not su re I wou ld h ave wanted to listen in on some of the conversations that may have taken place at subsequent family dinners. Which gets to this point: Are leaders born, or are they made? I believe both. Some are just natural leaders. It’s in their DNA, and they can’t help it. Others are made, through experience, training, mentorship, education – a number of critical ingredients which haven’t necessary been natural giftings, but learned and applied successfully.

Maybe it simply makes the most sense to choose “the next one” from outside the company. Or it could be a family member with outside experience. One gentleman started a very successful food-related business out of the back of his truck, growing it to become a serious player in a very competitive sector. He bluntly told his two sons: “I’m not going to hire you. Go out and get a job and prove to me that I should hire you.” They did. They both managed to work for a very solid, well known company with an excellent management training program. After several years out “on their own”, their family gladly took them into the family business, and both became managers that have driven the company to unprecedented success. Obviously family businesses don’t always work out. It’s a tight rope balancing act between running a successful enterprise and a healthy family, and there are plenty of potential potholes to avoid along the way. Having extra input and discreet guidance can significantly increase the chances of longterm success for the company, and avoid potentially difficult transitions.

PREMIER CLARK’S RECORD ON FISCAL POLICY IS POSITIVE In recent years, several provinces have consistently run budget deficits while BC has posted surpluses CHARLES LAMMAM AND BEN EISEN

ach year the Fraser Institute measures and ranks the performance of Canada’s premiers in terms of how well they managed provincial finances while in office. Premiers who managed spending more prudently, balanced the books and paid down debt, and reduced and maintained competitive tax rates, rank higher. T h i s ye a r, P rem ier Ch risty Clark ranked first overall, essentially tied with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard for the best record, followed closely by Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.

Let’s start with what Clark has done well over the period she is evaluated (2011/12 to 2014/15). Cla rk ma naged the g row th in government spending more pr ud ent ly c ompa re d to her counterparts. During her tenu re, she i ncrea sed prog ra m spending by an average annual rate of 2.1 per cent, just enough to keep pace with the combined rate of inflation and population

growth. Importantly, the rate of gove r n m e n t s p e n d i n g g ro w t h under Clark’s tenure was less t ha n t he rate of econom ic growth (3.7 per cent). As a result, the size of BC’s government - measured as spending relative to the provincial economy - decreased, meaning the prov i ncia l govern ment now plays a less prominent role in BC’s economy. Another bright spot for Clark is that her government has consistently balanced the books. In recent years, several provinces have consistently run budget deficits while BC has posted surpluses. In fact, Clark is one of on ly two prem iers (a long with Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall) to m a i nta i n a sm a l l bud get surplus, on average, while in office. Despite finishing on top, Premier Clark’s record has weaknesses. For example, despite avoiding annual budget deficits, Clark has allowed government debt to grow under her watch - by almost $7 billion. This is mainly the result of substantial capital spending by the

BC government being financed by debt. As a per centage of the economy, the provincial debt burden has grown from 15.7 per cent to 16.4 per cent. But Clark’s biggest weakness with respect to fiscal policy is in the area of ta xation. Two problems stand out. First, she increased BC’s general corporate income tax rate from 10 to 11 per cent, making t he prov i nce less comp et itive for investment compared to ot her ju r i sd ict ion s. A nd this increase came on top of reinstating the economically damaging Provincial Sales Tax, which taxes the business inputs used by entrepreneurs and raises the cost of investment. Second, Clark presided over, and has so far failed to reform, a relatively complicated personal income tax system with five separate tax brackets - the second most among her provincial counterparts. She also enacted a temporary increase in the top income tax bracket for two years that was ultimately eliminated in the 2016 tax year. In order to build on the strong elements of BC’s fiscal policy

framework, and to make the prov i nce’s ta x system more competitive, the Clark government should reverse the recent corporate income tax rate hike and implement a plan to offset the marked increase in the cost of business investment associated with the re-introduction of the PST, especially since almost all of BC’s competitors have moved to a value-added tax like the now-abolished HST. On persona l i ncome ta xes, s i m p l i f y i n g t h e s y s te m b y reduci ng t he nu mber of ta x brackets and the existing top rate would give BC a key competitive advantage over other jurisdictions. All told, Premier Clark’s record on fiscal policy is positive. There is still, however, room for improvement. Charles Lammam is director of fiscal studies and Ben Eisen is associate director of provincial prosperity studies at the Fraser Institute. The study, Measuring the Fiscal Performance of Canada’s Premiers, is available at www.fraserinstitute.org.

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

SALES/GREENSHEET

MARCH 2016

DON’T TOLERATE WEAK LINKS Many companies fall into the bad habit of justifying poor results from bad sales reps, rather than

SALES

doing something about it

DEVELOPER Compass Real Estate Development Ltd - 1574 Harvey Ave, Kelowna

PEACHLAND

1743 Trans Canada Hwy E Signature Auto Wash

KELOWNA

PROJECT TYPE New

PROJECT TYPE Commercial new

LOCATION

PROJECT New hotel on the former site of the Willow Inn Hotel - 24 storeys set on a 5 storey podium - 215 rooms - conference space 1,685 sm - 4 retail units 378 sm - restaurant 473 sm - 207 sm coffee shop - 3 elevators - spa, fitness room, pool - 242 parking stalls in the 5 storey podium - white composite panelling on exterior - engineered wood - balconies with coloured glass privacy screens

PROJECT STATUS Construction start anticipated spring/16 - tender for General Contractor anticipated shortly ARCHITECT BlueGreen Architecture Inc - 2 436 Lorne St, Kamloops

SALMON ARM

John Glennon is the owner of Insight Sales Consulting Inc, an authorized Sandler Training Licensee. He can be reached at jglennon@sandler.com, toll free at 1-866-645-2047 or visit www.glennon.sandler.com

ARCHITECT BlueGreen Architecture Inc - 202110 Highway 33, W Kelowna

LOCATION

PROJECT New commercial car wash facility 1 building - 2 storeys - 4 manual car wash bays - 2 automatic car wash bays - 128 sm of office space on the 2nd floor - 4 parking stalls - landscaping

holding onto weak reps. Think of it this way: if you took away the book of business from one of your reps and dropped him or her in a new territory with little to no marketing would they succeed? If your answer is yes, you most likely don’t have challenges with any of these 10 factors. If not, though, the challenges above will ring true. And if so, it may be time to weed your garden and plant a stronger seed with better genetics. If you do this, your harvest will be plentiful on a consistent basis. Copyright 2015 Sandler Training and Insight Sales Consulting Inc. All rights reserved.

spring/16

OWNER City of Salmon Arm - Box 40 500 2nd Ave NE, Salmon Arm

KAMLOOPS LOCATION

JOHN GLENNON hen business is slow, weak sales reps can be more easily exposed. But if your company is doing well presently, you may have salespeople who appear to be stronger than they really are. No matter how well your team performs as a whole, it’s important to be able to find the team’s weak links to strengthen them. A few factors to consider when looking to decipher whether or not your salesforce is full of weeds: They rely heavily on call-in business, or leads from marketing. They always have full pipelines and fail to actually close any of those deals. They spend more time calling current accounts than they do calling on new prospects. They need to offer discounts to close deals. They need to bring someone else from the sales team in on “big opportunities” to help close the sale. They view coaching as criticism. They continue to require coaching on the same sales issues again and again. They do a lot of networking and have very little to show for it. They rarely call on accounts your competitors have locked up. They always have an external reason why business didn’t close, rather than taking responsibility and looking to grow from failure. Many companies fall into the bad habit of justifying poor results from bad sales reps, rather than doing something about it. Whether it’s the sunk cost already invested in them, or not wanting to go through the hiring process again, or believing they are the only ones who could “handle” the accounts they have, a lot of businesses make the mistake of

SIMONE SUNDERLAND

GREEN SHEET BUILDING BRIEFS

LOCATION

751 Hwy 97B NE - Addition to RJ Haney Heritage Village & Museum The Motebello Building PROJECT TYPE Commercial new PROJECT New building at the RJ Haney Heritage Village & Museum - The Motebello Building will consist of several heritage style buildings including: bank, photo studio, general store, butcher, pool hall, print shop, telephone exchange - 2 storeys - wood frame construction PROJECT STATUS Building permit submitted construction start anticipated spring/16 ARCHITECT Bernd Hermanski Arch - Box 1438 40 Alexander St NE, Salmon Arm

820 Finns Rd - Auto Dealership PROJECT TYPE Commercial new PROJECT New auto dealership - 2 buildings - south bldg, 9,920 sf - north bldg, 21,080 sf - approx 14 service bays - approx 160 parking stalls - relocation of the current Kelowna Volvo, Land Rover and Jaguar dealerships located at 1210 Leathead Rd PROJECT STATUS Rezoning application and OCP amendment application submitted - at 1st reading - approval anticipated late March/16 CONSULTANT Monaghan Engineering and Consulting Ltd - 3710B 28 St, Vernon OWNER Vaughn Wyant Automotive Group 419 Brand Pl, Saskatoon

CITY OF WEST KELOWNA LOCATION

1192 Industrial Rd - Gas Bar Convenience Store - Restaurant Prairie West Centres PROJECT TYPE Commercial new PROJECT New Gas Bar, Convenience Centre and Restaurant - 1 building - 1 storey - 5,000 sf - approx 24 above ground parking stalls - landscaping

GENERAL CONTRACTOR Excel Construction - 2930 13 Ave SW, Salmon Arm

PROJECT STATUS Development permit application approval anticipated late March/16 - construction start anticipated

them or that they should buy your product or service. Building your self-confidence will build your business and your success levels. How do we build our self-confidence if we recognize a gap? If we believe we aren’t as good as others, or we don’t deserve to work with them? The Sandler principle of ‘Act as If’ is a great way to start. To change our belief system we start with a new belief and ‘act as if’ it were true, until it is true! For instance, perhaps over your desk you could post a positive affirmation that says: I am a doctor of

customer service and anyone who calls in is fortunate to get me on the phone. Or, I’m a great problem solver and have the skills to rescue any customer from their product issues. Whatever you say, it must be in the first person, positive, strong and describe the person you want to be. A positive affirmation alone will not get you to 100 per cent. You must reinforce that belief with strong behaviors, by learning new techniques, by working on getting better and being better with customers, and by sometimes

5976 Princess Ave & 6026 Hwy 97 S – Townhouses

PROJECT STATUS Building permit application submission for 2 buildings anticipated March/16 - construction start anticipated spring/16 - working drawings underway ARCHITECT New Town Planning Services Inc 1464 St Paul St, Kelowna GENERAL CONSTRACTOR Scuka Enterprises Ltd - 881 Hwy 33 East, Kelowna

OLIVER LOCATION

551 Skagit Ave – Townhouses PROJECT TYPE Multi-family new PROJECT New townhouses - 3 buildings - 2 storeys - 3 units in each building - 9 units total - 1,520 sf to 1,530 sf wood frame construction PROJECT STATUS Construction start of 1st building anticipated April/16 - construction start of additional buildings will be market driven DEVELOPER Sherdil Construction Ltd - 33035 71 St, Oliver

CONFIDENCE BUILDERS

HIRING LUCY GLENNON

o work with customers, either selling or in customer service, you must

believe in your products and services, in your company and most importantly, in yourself. Your skills and your success depend almost entirely on your own self-confidence. Other people sense whether or not you believe in yourself, and by extension, whether or not you believe in what you’re doing. It’s called the Doberman Principle – the dog will read those that fear them and become very alert to those people. The belief in yourself is a large part of the customers’ feeling persuaded that you can help

giving yourself a little slack. We are learning throughout our lives and we often do that through our mistakes. It’s not a failure unless we don’t learn something from it and do better next time. Customer service and sales needs a strong self-esteem. They are also great places to begin to build one. We stay the same at our own peril. Lucy Glennon can be reached at 866-645-2047 or lucyg@hireguru. com and her website is www. hireguru.ca

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