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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2015
New Fire Station Opens in Westfort Improving Response The second of Thunder Bay Fire Rescue’s two new modern Fire Stations was recently commissioned. The new Station 6, located on the corner of Frederica Street and Neebing Avenue, is part of the City’s six-project plan to improve facilities, infrastructure and response times for Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the community.
The former Brown Street Station will be renovated to accommodate a Superior North EMS Satellite Station.
The buildings are projected to use 45% less energy than a similar base building. This project also meets the Gold Standard of the City’s Clean Green & Beautiful policy.
years. We need the services. The next thing is the renovations to the police station to provide service the community needs.” “ We have a good group of councillors, a great team in administration and we work
“I am thrilled to see this facility open in its new strategic location for the citizens of Westfort and more of Neebing, as well as the firefighters who diligently serve the area,” said Westfort Ward Councillor Joe Virdiramo. Thunder Bay Fire Rescue has eight fire stations and a training centre complex serving a population of 110,000.
together as a team. There are no bosses and we work for the citizens of Thunder bay. Thunder Bay is moving forward.” Fireman Scott Valila “ Change is something to adapt to as we were in the old neighbourhood so long but is nice to have such a nice hall. It is a game changer as we have new routes and streets to use for our calls.”
Westfort Ward Councillor Joe Virdiramo “ The importance to the community of this new station is we will decrease the response time to I think about 6 minutes which is a safety issue. The refocusing of the Brown Street Station to an ambulance centre will provide citizens with proper services. When I first ran for council my goal was to put Westfort on the map and that has been successful.” “ My next goal is to get a 55 plus centre and youth centre here and that is going to happen hopefully in these next four
A unique feature of the new building is the front door will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. They have a button inside which can be pushed and it will lock the door behind the person entering for safety reasons if someone was chasing them. It is a public safety area and secure. Then they can push another button to contact a fireman on duty 24 hours a day. There are four people on site at the station all the time except when they are on calls.
“This project was truly an integrated
“Council has been dedicated to investing in and improving City infrastructure, as well its commitment to public safety,” said Mayor Hobbs. “We can all be proud of this second station, through support of the Strategic Master Fire Plan and the Fire EMS Rationalization plan with EMS, the entire community gets better response times.” “Thunder Bay Fire Rescue is very pleased to be completing another significant milestone in the Strategic Master Fire Plan,” said Chief John Hay. “The rebuilding and re-location of Station 6 is an integral piece of our risk-based response model, which means more efficient and effective response for the whole City.” Station 6 replaces the 64-year-old Brown Street station which hasn’t been able to accommodate modern fire apparatus’ size and meet crew safety requirements for some time. The new site, at 1710 West Frederica St, represents a significant improvement to include all of Westfort and much more of Neebing in meeting the six-minute response goal. “With Station 6 opening, this completes the first major infrastructure renewal for Thunder Bay Fire Rescue in over 25 years,” said City Manager Tim Commisso. “The Fire/EMS Rationalization Plan is a great example of how the City can improve service delivery for citizens and streamline infrastructure projects and our operations. As a City, we should be proud of these investments.”
design process which started with the sustainable features requested by the City, programming requirements provided by Fire Rescue, and alignment with the City’s Urban Design Guidelines, Energy Management Plan and Storm Water Management Strategy,” said Gerry Broere, Manager – Construction Services Division. “The end results are an architecturally appealing facility that fits into the neighbourhood well, and meets both operational requirements and the City’s sustainability needs.” Some sustainable features include: • Expanses of natural lighting in the vehicle storage area • Building materials with a recycled component • Increased levels of insulation • Recycling of construction waste • Low VOC paints, sealants and adhesives, and • Energy efficient electrical and mechanical systems all tied to a web-based building automation system.
cranerentals@towerlight.ca
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2015
Publisher’s Note Scott Sumner
Copyright (c) 1999-2015, Scott A. Sumner Recent times have proven to be pretty steady economically for many people in Canada and the world, although finances continue to be a test. This requires an aggressive approach to the management of your own resources. Unfortunately, most people do not spend enough time at all thinking about their financial future. However, I feel that it's a very important factor to ensure that you will have the financial security you need to live a positive lifestyle. The first step you should understand is no one will do it for you. You are the only person that can improve your financial situation. This requires effort along with the right direction. Money has always been a very important commodity, and there is no doubt that it can improve the quality of your life. I'm not saying money will buy happiness, because it definitely won't. However, money can improve life by providing security, and by helping us succeed in areas of endeavor that we choose, whether it be playing a sport, enrolling in a course, or achieving goals. Money can also help in times of medical problems, in providing our children with the best education, or in furnishing our home with some of the comforts of life. How much time do you spend on really reviewing money with the view to accumulating wealth over your lifetime? We have all thought about money and wished we could have something like a new car, a larger house, or a trip, but how much time do we really spend on thinking about our current financial position? How we can improve it or make it grow over the upcoming years? Very few people take time to really think about it, and unfortunately, it does affect the quality of one's life, especially in retirement years.
President Miranda Bolt Graphic Designer
Sonia Rutter @ 807- 631-4244
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Do You Know Where You Stand Financially? Not giving attention to personal finances could lead to having a bank account with little or no available cash, rather than developing the strength that you need to provide independence. In addition to retiring, there are goals and financial requirements that we need right now. Most young people dream of getting married, raising a family, owning a home and providing their children with a good education. All of these goals have financial implications and require proper planning in order to accumulate the capital to accomplish them. It's my belief that we all have the ability to improve our financial affairs. The question is, how do we apply ourselves? With this approach to financial planning, I am certain we can.
Where Am I Now With My Money? Copyright (c) 1999-2015, Scott A. Sumner Do you know where you are financially? Whats your net worth? How much money do you have left over at the end of the month? The first step in a financial planning process is to analyze exactly where you are at this moment in time. This should be very detailed and cannot be done quickly, but is not difficult work, and can in fact be enjoyable. Many people, if asked the question "What is your net worth?" will not know the answer. They might have some kind of an idea about what their house is worth, maybe how much they paid for their car, or they might remember an RRSP they bought last February. I don't think they really understand or know exactly what their financial net worth is. From my background in business, I have learned it helps to consider yourself as
an actual business entity. Businesses rely significantly on their financial statements. The financial statement begins with a balance sheet which is a complete financial picture of the firm's assets and liabilities on a short term, and long term basis. It is only completely accurate at one point in time, usually the year-end of the firm, but it can be very valuable in analysis. In addition to the balance sheet portion of a financial statement, there is the income statement. It simply records the revenues received by a corporation and the expenses associated with earning those revenues, thereby arriving at a net income in order to determine whether or not the firm has met its financial goals. The conclusion is that the corporation determines how well they performed against budget or business plans. A family's or individual's financial statement is exactly the same as a company's. It might not be in the same magnitude, but it is definitely similar. You need to go through the steps of determining your own balance sheet, in order to help you pin point exactly what the net worth of your family is. It will review step by
step and in detail your current income from all sources and associated expenses which will allow you to grasp whether you are in a position of excess cash each month and year, whether you have any funds available to invest or save, and whether you are living beyond your current financial means. As individuals, we have to take a responsible view of our financial resources. We must look ahead to long- term capital accumulation,with the expectation of having enough revenue to enjoy a happy retirement. You need to make certain that you are maximizing your financial resources so that you can enjoy life to the utmost, right now. For some simple forms that will help you in this process visit my web site
www. scottsumner.com
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2014
Former SHIFT Board Directors Talk Success with Young Professionals Today, two successful professionals that have climbed the corporate ladder, are sharing their success stories at the SHIFT Talks event in Thunder Bay. Defined by optimism and an entrepreneurial spirit that led them both to an early rise to the top, Mike Nitz and Shelby Ch’ng have experience
Professionals Network in 2015. The initiative creates strong connections for the under 40 crowd with relevant leaders, innovators and executives. SHIFT President Peter Marchl explains that the series came to be when the organization continued to hear time and time again that young professionals were feel-
and lessons to share. This is the first SHIFT Talks event being hosted by SHIFT Thunder Bay’s Young
ing disconnected. “It’s important to pass on information to the younger generation. As a group, we don’t ignore problems and
hope they go away; we look for creative solutions. SHIFT supports young professionals in Thunder Bay to realize their personal, professional and community goals, and SHIFT Talks provides inspiring messages through stories and insights.” Nitz, who is currently the Regional Manager for Business Banking with RBC, was the leading charge behind building SHIFT and is the founder of Young Professionals Network Ontario. He discussed lessons learned in his various roles and reiterated how the under 40 generation brings a unique perspective and value to the community. “A community can be a strong weapon when we come together. It can give you the support needed to get the ball rolling. We need to work alongside other generations as there is opportunity to showcase talents and abilities by effectively leading, motivating and communicating.” Ch’ng who has been involved with SHIFT since 2008 and has served as a board director, was recently successful in her bid
as city councillor for the Northwood ward. As a local entrepreneur, Ch’ng says; “I didn’t climb a corporate ladder; I built it from scratch.” Ch’ng who once found herself working in the public sector, had an ongoing desire to own her own business. “I put together my business plan, saved my money and I quit my job. A few thought I was crazy for walking away from stability and a desk job that paid what it did, but I wanted more out of my life.” Ch’ng now successfully runs her own bridal boutique in the downtown South Core. SHIFT offers a variety of events and activities throughout the year to encourage networking and knowledge sharing. Continues Marchl; “These two speakers prove how beneficial being a part of a community network can be. Connections and support that Shelby and Mike have gained through SHIFT has been crucial in helping them individually reach their full potential. They demonstrated that success is not a destination but more of a journey and SHIFTers were all very inspired by their travels thus far. ”
Coping With Stress Did You Know? · Stress is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke? · Almost 1/4 of Canadians report a high degree of life stress? · No matter where you live, the pressures of everyday life can have an impact on your wellbeing? When it’s not possible to avoid excessive stress, you need a strategy. But what is stress? Is it always harmful, or can it also lead you forward on your life journey? You could say there is “good” and “bad” stress. Good stress can be managed. It stimulates and helps you achieve balance in all the responsibilities of your life. You can handle good stress. Bad stress may cause you to feel out of control. It can make you break into a cold sweat, make your heart beat furiously, scare you or make you feel sick inside. Bad stress is dangerous and it can harm your health and happiness. To cope effectively, you need to recognize stress and how it affects you. Examine the causes of your stress, your thoughts, how you feel about it and how you respond. Stress provoking situations are called “stressors”. They come at you from all directions, almost all the time. Major events, such as moving, leaving school, changing jobs or experiencing losses can provoke stress. Routine events also contribute to your stress level – everyday hassles like traffic issues, work pressures or family responsibilities. Your attitude determines how you deal with these situations. There is no single right way to cope with every situation. You need to understand your stress cycle and how to con-
trol your stress response. The first step is to know yourself and understand your personal coping style. You may use one or a combination of all three, whatever works for you: · Cognitive/Mental Skills (TaskOriented): you feel comfortable analyzing a stressor and taking appropriate, positive action o Problem solving processes o Reappraisal of situation o Meditation · Personal/Social Skills (EmotionOriented): you prefer to deal with your feelings and find social supports o Spend quality leisure time with family and friends o Explore your spirituality o Develop hobbies/personal interests o Enjoy nature and outings o Volunteer – giving to others can be rewarding and satisfying o Take a vacation or break from normal routine · Physical/Behavioural Skills (Distraction-Oriented): you use external sources such as music or physical activity to take your mind off your predicament o Physical activity o Yoga/Stretching o Eating a healthy diet o Get a good rest o Relaxation exercises o Deep breathing Finding the right help for stress can itself be a stressful experience: Ø Counselling : friends, family, sup-
port groups can provide a sympathetic ear, but if that isn’t enough, you should seek professional counselling Ø Your family doctor: may prescribe a treatment or refer you to a mentalhealth specialist Ø Psychotherapy: psychologists, some psychiatrists and social workers practice psychotherapy. It’s vital you talk with your therapist regarding options of effective techniques Ø Employee/Family Assistance Program (EAP): review your benefits information at your employment – short term, confidential counselling and information can help with some specific stressors Ø Addiction counselling: talk to your doctor Ø Individual/Family Counselling: check with the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association for information on services available Ø Financial counselling: contact a credit counselling service Ø Self-help groups: sometimes, true understanding can only come from someone who has been in your situation Ø Websites, Books, Videos, Courses, the Heart and Stroke Foundation Help is out there? Don’t give up. Finding the right help to cope with your stress may require a few attempts to find a good fit for you.
FEBRUARY IS HEART MONTH Please support volunteers and activities taking place over the next 6 months: February 1-March 20th Door to Door Canvassing Campaign Business/Corporations – Dress Down / Red Paper Hearts February 7th 15 Hour Scrapbooking Fundraiser – advance tickets required February 22nd Ice Racing Exhibition Event – tickets $10 to win 1 of 6 passenger seats April 12th Aqua Zumba at Canada Games Complex May 12-23rd Big Bike – 30 seat bicycle rides in Thunder Bay February – June Jump Rope for Heart in all elementary schools
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2015
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Proposed 2015 City Budget Released Focus on Stabilization: Council Also Presented Options to Reduce Tax Levy Increase January 26, 2015 – The proposed 2015 Municipal Budget documents were released today as a starting point for City Council’s review. The proposed 2015 Budget incorporates a 5.68 per cent municipal tax levy increase for existing taxpayers due to several major factors impacting the Budget. Decision package options have also been provided to reduce the tax levy increase to 3.99 per cent. “This is a year of stabilization for the City Operating Budget,” said Commisso. “The City had anticipated $2.1 million of
growth related to new property tax revenue however; recent industrial assessment decisions have negatively affected 2015 Budget revenues along with a $1.5 million reduction in Provincial OMPF funds. Unfortunately we can’t control these revenue sources and we have to deal with the impact of winter weather, legal and insurance fees on our Budget. We are required to table a balanced Budget and our priority areas continue to focus on maintaining essential City services, infrastructure renewal and being a partner in addressing community development and growing social issues. Although the 2015 Budget definitely presents a greater fiscal challenge than in recent years, there is reason to be optimistic as our future assessment growth projections remain strong, particularly in 2016.” The Budget package to City Council will include two reports: • R11/2015 – Proposed 2015 Operating and Capital Budget • R9/2015 – Supplementary Report to 2015 Budget – Proposed Decision Package Options and Recommendations Recognizing the 2015 proposed municipal tax levy increase for exiting taxpayers is higher than the average annual increase of 2.14 per cent in the previous term of Council; the City Manager is again presenting Budget Decision Packages similar to 2014, for consideration by Council as options to reduce the proposed tax levy increase. A total of four Decision Packages, including two recommendations, are being presented should Council wish to reduce the proposed levy. The City Manager’s recommended packages represent a net budget reduction of $2.8 million, bringing the proposed 2015 municipal tax levy increase to around 3.99 per cent for existing taxpayers. The City Manager is also recommending that as part of the 2015 Tax Policy Report in May, options be presented for mitigating the shift in taxes on to the residential class. Unlike recent years where significant incremental funding for infrastructure renewal has been included in the Budget,
the 2015 Budget is primarily focused on stabilization of the Operating Budget with minimum increase in tax supported capital funding. The 2015 Budget also provides for new collective agreements with a number of employee groups including Police and Fire Rescue. Major Factors impacting the proposed 2015 Municipal Budget include: • Operating Budget Stabilization Measures including winter control, legal fees, building permits etc. $1.8 million • Ontario Municipal Partnership Funding Reduction - $1.5 million • TBDSSAB Increase -
$0.3 million • Debenture Payment (Capital Projects) Increase - $0.7 million • Insurance Premium Increase - $0.3 million • In addition to the above, Reduction in “real” assessment growth related to 2015 revenues due to uncontrollable industrial assessment decisions - $1.0 million (Note: While this factor does not impact the total levy increase, it does impact the apportionment between existing taxpayers and new property taxes from “real” growth. City Council’s 2015 detailed Budget review of both the tax- and rate-supported operations begins on Feb.4, and ratification is scheduled to take place on March 2. The proposed 2015 Capital and Operating
Budgets are now available online at www.thunderbay.ca/budget and at the Waverley and Brodie Library branches. Tim Commisso, City Manager “ This budget is a starting point for council at a 5.68% increase for existing taxpayers. We have given council decision options for their consideration to get it down to about 4%. We have good success in recent years putting more money into capital renewal in the range of $12 million but we don’t have the ability to do it this year based on our revenues. We have had assessment side new revenue being down, based on decisions beyond our control. There has been a reduction in our Ontario Municipal Fund payments. The biggest factor has been tough winters which drained our reserve fund. Insurance went up 26% due to claims and external legal fees are up. These factors together make it fall back on the tax base.” “ We believe we are operating very lean as a city and a lot of funds go to emergency services, roads, parks, and boards. The budget proposes maintain service levels. We can look further if council want us to.” “ There are 12 major properties that will come on the tax roll this year like the courthouse and waterfront condos. We are also seeing some benefits in fuel costs.” “ On the tax supported side we will spend over $ 50 million on capital. Years ago we were spending $30 million. We will see some large projects and people will see things happening like Valley Street.” “ I know that other communities in the north like North Bay has a 5.8% increase and Sudbury 5.0 % increase.
Keith Hobbs, Mayor “ We are not finished with the budget yet, this is a starting point with the budget from the City Manager and Finance. This year is a challenging budget and I want to challenge council to get it down to 3.5%. We do have some growth coming on. This is a stabilization year and we have to get our operating budgets in line. I am hoping police and fire will have reasonable increases. We need to sharpen our pencil and get the budget down.” “ The event centre project in my mind is a go. That is an economic driver for our city. If we build the event centre we are counting on more restaurants and business to come downtown, that grows the tax base. We are going to know by the end of March if we are building the event centre. I’m optimistic. I want to see this city grow and I think the election was about the events centre, I really do and I won that election on the events centre issue.” Frank Pullia, Councillor - Chair of Finance “ This type of increase is going to be a challenge for taxpayers, I am mindful of that. Administration has done a lot of work and we have options to move it down. I am suggesting after we go through this budget process in March we concentrate on a strategic plan going forward to plan for next year in advance. If we can go to 3.5% it would be good. You have to control your costs and grow your revenue.” “ A 0% increase is unreasonable because the city is here to provide services and the residents want certain services. We do have room for improvement and we will review the budget line by line. You need to allow for inflation. We need to plan for the future and do better.”
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2015
Auto-One Car Care & Service Centre Used Car Sales by Sherry Aalto So? You’re looking to purchase a used vehicle that is in excellent condition and where you can receive full servicing for it too?….Well….look no further than Auto-One and Auto-One Used Car Sales, located at 80 South Court Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario! Here, at Auto-One Repair Shop and Auto Sales you will not only be pleasantly surprised at their amazing selection of used vehicles but, you will also be amazed at their prices. Auto-One is a full service repair shop and sales centre for all makes and models and is also a consignment sales service centre.
Purchasing, selling or servicing any vehicle can be a process but, at AutoOne Repair Shop and Auto Sales, you can trust in the first class service you will receive and deserve! Auto-One also provides quality, full car and truck cleaning and detailing services. Need new tires? Well, again….need we say it? Look no further! Auto-One is a full dealership and was established in 1994 and is owned and operated by, President, Don Axent. Building their reputation on one very satisfied customer at a time, explains why they have survived over the years. With the utmost in integrity, Auto-One is known for low shop rates, class ‘A’ technicians and over 30 years experience…with all that in mind, they might just have everything you’re looking for in your next vehicle purchase …or even your first one! With convenient hours, location and personable service, you might want to check them out for their quality vehicles, services, products and repairs. The Checkered Flag treatment can be yours at…Auto-One Repair Shop and Auto Sales Centre! Open from Monday to Friday 8:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. and then Saturday’s 9:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M., www.auto-one cars.com or call 807-3442644 /1-888-568-9716 and don’t forget to pay a visit on Little Harley! The best paw shake you’ll ever receive!
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2015
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SHOP LOCAL VALENTINE’S DAY 2015 By Sherry Aalto Guess you could say…grownups have a lot to remember when they get married or are going steady. Take my mom and dad for example…here’s the deal It was just right after all the boxes from Christmas were placed back up in the attic and the whole family went the next day to Edward’s Hardware Store for the end of season Christmas sales. Mom was hand selecting every little ornament and showing them to Bejamin and Sarah, seeking their opinions. Benjamin and Sarah enjoyed being part of the selection committee. Dad roamed around to the back of the store in the hardware section where he met our neighbor Mr. Castleman, and they immediately started up a big ole conversation about tools and other boring things like that. Dad did not want any part of picking out ornaments and besides that, he did not want to see the damage being done to his credit card that he had given mom for shopping the day before. I, being older myself now, could wonder about the store, looking at all the pretty things. I made my way all through
the toy section and then found myself in the china and silverware department and low and behold, what did I see? BIG RED HEARTS, just tangling all over the place from the shelf tops. Hearts!!! Must be something about love…Yuck! But I knew dad might be interested…and mom would be interested to know that dad should be interested!! Need I say more? I ran to the back of the store to find dad…and yep…he was still there…hands waving…still talking about some kind of torque and tools? I don’t know…I’m only six but, either way, he should be informed about the up and coming dog house deal, if he didn’t show his annual affections for mom!! Again….need I say more? I tugged on his coat tails and as he looked down at me, I could see he was anxious to keep chatting to Mr. Castleman. “Just a minute Elizabeth honey’, he said to me. “Daddy! Daddy! You need to come with me now!” I could see he was not going to budge so I just blurted out… “It’s going to be Valentine’s Day in”…I counted in a low whisper on my fingers…
…one …two ….three…“It’s going to be Valentine’s Day in twelve days Daddy!” Dad froze right then and there! He looked down on me, eyes filled with fear…he does that a lot!...And he said... “What? Valentine’s Day? Already?” We just finished with Christmas?” “Yes Daddy” I said. Dad knew that if it was anything mom loved, it was being loved. Mom was such a romantic and if I was honest, I think that is one of the things dad liked most about mom. I guess I must have blurted out louder than I thought because suddenly several men could be seen shopping in the china and silverware section of Edward’s Hardware Store! I could hear the low chatter from the now gathered romantic shoppers, about what their wives might like! It was nice
to see that there was still the ideals of the heart very much alive and well. And the other thing that was nice, was to see, Mr. Edward and all his staff being very helpful because ,over the years, they got to know the wives and families of almost every man in the store and they were able to make good gift suggestions. This made it much easier for the men to shop…because we all know…most men do not care for that activity. Shop local is more than just about where you spend your money…It is about connection and continuity! Please shop local.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2015
New Arctic Cat Dealer for Northwestern Ontario: Intercity Power Sports! BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS A small group of avid snowmobile and ATV riders are the newest powersports dealer for NW Ontario - Intercity Powersports. The very experienced team are excited about bringing the full line of Arctic Cat products to our area including snowmobiles, ATV and side by sides including the hot rod Wildcat! Bruce Miault is the President and co owner of Intercity Powersports along with Chris Kuokola, Head Mechanic. They also own the established Intercity Auto Centre on Tenth Ave in Thunder Bay. “ We started working on this November and December of 2013. It was quite a process but as of August 1st, 2014 we were the new dealer. Arctic Cat has been super with us and great to deal with.” said Miault. “ We are also own the automotive service business, Intercity Fleet and will put an addition on the building for automotive and Arctic Cat which will be complete in late December. It will encompass three new bays. We will have 12 people on staff then.” The Arctic Cat sales and parts showroom is located across the street from Intercity Auto Centre at 551 Tenth Avenue. “ I am a snowmobile rider as well as is my son. When we started Intercity Powersports we wanted everyone working here to be Arctic Cat enthusiasts. It is about hiring people that understand what people need. It is nice to be able to talk to someone at a dealership that is out riding and may have experienced what you are
taking about. It helps.” said Miault. “ I love sleds and have been around them my whole life. You get to know a lot of people in the sled industry and people who like outdoor power sport. Previously I was a Catmaster certified mechanic for Walkers Marine and Smiths RV. I left to become an automotive mechanic and then this opportunity came to get back into the snowmobile field. Being an automotive mechanic gives me an advantage as I have seem a lot of mechanical repairs.” said Chris Kuokola, Head Mechanic and co-owner of Intercity Powersports. “ Every weekend I am out on the trails riding snowmobiles, have always worked on sleds and own all the tools you need
including for shocks. Each weekend we are out riding all different kinds of terrain with other riders on all different brands.” Intercity Powersports will offer the full line from Arctic Cat including Wildcat,
ning. Seasons are short enough so you don’t want to be sitting at home. We have had good response with the people we have dealt with so far who seem really happy so we hope to continue with that.” “ We have exceeded our sales expectations so far with out any advertising until now and hope it continues. The response in the city has been great. They seem to be excited about a new dealer and what our principle and plans are. This is our starting point. We will look at other product lines like marine and dirtbike.” said Miault. Jamie Fraser is the General Manager at Intercity Powersports. He started out in the industry just out of high school at age 17 and has been working in it for about 30 years. “ I was lucky to be in on the ground floor with the set up and hiring staff here at Intercity Powersports. We wanted people that were customer oriented with experience and enthusiasts who understand the sport. The company is starting on a smaller scale but we have done a lot of ordering and almost everyday are receiving parts. We want to help people that trail ride or if they are a trapper, a
ATV and snowmobiles. Their area is NW Ontario from Dryden to Emo and to Sault Ste Marie. “ We can service any Arctic Cat products. I just went to the factory and did
ditch banger or drag racer we will help them.” Also in the company is Clayton Mutschel who has 8 years experience with Arctic Cat and is an enthusiast in motocross and snowmobile. Susan Reinelt has worked
my Catmaster training again and will shortly write my gold standard Catmaster. We will have another mechanic gong to the Catmaster school at Thief River Falls as well,” said Kuokola who rode a 2014 ZR 800 RR last season and will ride a 2015 9000 High Country this year to learn about the Turbo machines. “ When the sled is down you do what you can to get the customer up and run-
with Arctic Cat products for 10 years and is working in many areas. “ Right now Clayton and I are doing sales as well and we wear many hats. Sales have been good so far in snowmobile and ATV’s and we are looking forward to the season.” said Fraser.
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Employee and Family Assistance Program TAG: Employee and Family Assistance Program, or EAP, is preventative medicine for your employees In today’s fast-paced environment, more people than ever before are trying to find a balance in their personal and professional lives, and the strain is showing. Workers at every level are experiencing increased tension and stress due to economic upheavals, health concerns, family issues and much more. Employers must arm their employees with the resources to preserve their personal well-being, and the tools to cope with difficult situations before they become unmanageable. An Employee and Family Assistance Program (EAP) can address stress, promote a healthy, work-life balance and help maximize the performance and potential of your strongest asset – your employees. As an employer, it’s no easy task running a successful business and ensuring your
employees thrive. For a very insignificant amount of money, you can add EAP to your Employee Benefit Program to help keep your employees and their families healthy, by providing the resources to help them cope with a broad range of issues, from psychological problems to addictions or family and marital concerns. Life issues, if left unresolved, could intensify and lead to distress, distraction and inevitably, time away from work. If you want your business to succeed and be its best, you need your employees to be at par as well. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, statistics indicate that one in five Canadians will suffer from some form of mental health issue in their lifetime. There is evidence that support is needed, and now you can take the first step today to prevent your employees from becoming a statistic. What is EAP? Personal and work-related issues can affect the way a person performs at their
job. EAP provides access to confidential counseling and work-life consultation services that assist employees and their immediate families with personal problems and concerns, and supports your organization as a whole. The utmost care is taken to protect the confidentiality of those who choose to use the program and help them feel safe to find the support, advice and resources they need. There are three counseling options to choose from: in person, on the telephone or online.
EAP Benefits You can expect to achieve several key benefits by offering Employee Assistance Program. Promoting a healthy work-life balance empowers plan members to take action on their personal and family issues which will help enhance workplace effectiveness by attracting and retaining motivated, engaged employees. In addition, it lowers organizational costs by reducing the pressure of stress and poor emotional health on healthcare benefit costs. Allows
for a safe, productive workplace and preventing or reducing absenteeism or *presenteeism. (*Presenteesism refers to employees who remain on the job, but who are not as productive as usual, due to stress, depression, injury or illness.) Work life coupled by family life, place heavy demands on an individual. Help them juggle work and personal obligations with EAP. The program can help improve employee performance, which in turn will improve company performance. Most importantly, you will create a winwin situation for your employees and yourself. Michael Morrow, CFP Michael is a Certified Financial Planner and President of Morrow Financial and The Benefit Experts. For more information, please contact Michael @ 807 684 1805 or visit: www.thebenefitexperts.com l www.morrowfinancial.ca
BUILDING BRIDGES TOUR MINISTER McMEEKIN & MPP MAURO MEET WITH LOCAL RURAL MAYORS Province Seeking To Strengthen Municipal Partners Hon. Ted McMeekin, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), and MPP Bill Mauro met recently with municipal leaders from six rural municipalities in the riding of Thunder Bay-Atikokan. Participating in the meetings were the Mayors/Reeves of Atikokan, Conmee, Gillies, Neebing, O’Connor and Oliver Paipoonge.
ways the province and municipalities can work together effectively as partners. The vision of our government and of Minister McMeekin, through engaging in these first-hand ‘listening sessions’ with municipal leaders, is to discuss best practices and innovations – including innovations in housing and homelessness services – towards building stronger relationships. QUOTES
The Ontario government representatives heard councils’ views and concerns about issues that affect their municipalities – what is working well, and what areas need improvement.
“Minister McMeekin and I are here today to learn more about the challenges and opportunities our northern rural municipalities face and how our governments can work together to generate lasting benefits for people, families and communities. We’re looking to strengthen our municipal partnerships.”
Minister McMeekin, as part of his Building Bridges Tour, is meeting with municipal leaders across Ontario to listen to local concerns regarding municipal and housing issues, and to find more
— Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder BayAtikokan “I was here to listen and learn from local
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mayors about issues that affect northern rural municipalities. The discussions were productive, and I’ve received a number of suggestions to take back with me to Queen’s Park. Continued consultation is key as we work together to build a stronger and better Ontario.” — Hon. Ted McMeekin, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Minister McMeekin and MPP Mauro for inviting each of the local rural mayors to participate in these discussions, which I anticipate will be positive and productive for each of us. Efforts to strengthen municipal-provincial partnerships through sessions such as these – which ultimately affect economic growth within our communities – are truly valuable to all of our residents, especially those who are the most vulnerable.” — Mayor Lucy Kloosterhuis, Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge
QUICK FACTS Northern communities will receive from the province $215 million through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, equivalent to $583 per household – over nine times the average level of support in the rest of the province. Northern municipalities receive an additional benefit of $128 million as a result of the provincial uploads. - Since 2004, the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board has received over $21,000,000 to support social and affordable housing. • Changes to the Building Code allowing up to six-storey woodframe buildings came into effect on Jan. 1, 2015.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2015
Do you want to eat less? Develop your Taste Palette I love to eat. Most of us do. So how do we continue to do what we enjoy without packing on the pounds? Over the last twenty years I have reviewed most of the most popular diets out there.
It’s interesting, if you were to study the history of our food intake (diet), how ideas and principles often seem to go in big circles. What you will find is that many dieting plans have some truths and some, let’s say, exaggerations or overreaching conclusions. What I look for is the general simple principles that they all have in common. No one diet is going to be most effective for everyone. But as a human species living a Western lifestyle, the following points are quite consistent.
1) Most of us eat too much. No really, we eat too much! An over abundance of cheap food, good and bad, mixed with excessive marketing strategies has the cards stacked against our ability to eat less calories. It doesn’t matter what diet you do, one of the biggest reasons that they work, for a short time period, is that amongst other things you are consuming less calories. And you do so because you are motivated, for a period of time, to stick to it.
much worse for you than plant fats. Nuts, avocado, vegetable oils and beans all have fat that is more heart/artery healthy for you than animal fat.
2) We eat too fast. Many studies have consistently shown that portioning your food and eating slower will reduce calories consumed at any one sitting. It takes twenty minutes for your body to perceive it is full.
5) I love to eat out at a restaurant just as much as the next person. But restaurant eating will pile on the calories and salt sky high, unless you
3) Over consumption of sugar is much worse for you than fat. Fat has been the goat for far too many decades, mostly due to skewed scientific research. Fat is an essential component of every cell in our bodies, but again, too much of it can cause health problems. However, substituting tasty fat with sugars is not good because your body changes sugar to triglycerides, which is much worse for your arteries and heart than fat. That doesn’t mean its okay to eat a pound of bacon; animal fats are
4) Salt. We need it to survive. Too much salt is the problem, and the killer isn’t the salt shaker, it’s the processed food: crackers, cereal, bread, cookies, cheese, canned soups, cured meats, chips etc.
sugar, fat and salt. The combo of which is not only lethal but also delicious. Think kettle corn. All savory sauces include sugar while all desserts include salt and they all have fat, to provoke your body’s desire to consume more. What is worse is that the western taste palette is addicted to only these three taste options. We need to develop our taste senses to appreciate a much wider variety of flavours that can become a desirable substitute. Sour, tart, spicy, herbaceous, ect. are different colours to be explored. Can you appreciate the rich and interesting flavours of lobster, shrimp, mushrooms, broccoli, collard greens or anything other than chicken breast without soaking them in butter and cheese sauce? Things to think about. These days grocery stores are filled with all kinds of new and wonderful produce from around the world. If we open our minds and develop our taste palettes we can continue to enjoy eating while improving our diet(food intake) without dieting.
plan on leaving half your meal on the plate. Restaurants want you to come back so they make their food as tasty as possible using three main ingredients:
James DiGiuseppe is a local chiropractor with a busy family and wellness practice. For more health information or to contact Dr DiGiuseppe visit www.portarthurchiropractic.com.
Chocolate and the Law ©2015 Brian Babcock and Weiler Maloney Nelson In this month of Valentine’s Day, a lawyer’s mind turns to chocolate, and especially the law of chocolate. In the national free legal database Canlii “chocolate” as a keyword recently appeared in 1,318 cases; “ice cream” in 1,292 cases; “peanut butter” in 175 cases; “soda pop” in 130 cases; and “popcorn” in 118 cases. In this completely credible and scientific study, chocolate is clearly the most popular of treats. Cases involve everything from trademarks to international trade disputes to criminal law. Did you know that employees have been fired just for stealing a
chocolate bar? Not surprisingly, chocolate has a rich history related to taxes too. In the 11th century, Lord Leofric imposed substantial taxation. After his wife objected, Lord Leofric stated he would reduce the taxation if his wife rode naked in the streets. Lord Leofric did not expect the challenge to be met as his wife was a modest woman. Lord Leofric’s wife was devoted to the poor and accepted the challenge. Who was this generous soul? Lady Godiva, the inspiration behind Godiva Chocolatier, one of the largest manufacturers of Belgian chocolate. Chocolate Development
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Swiss chocolate must be processed in Switzerland. Solid milk chocolate was invented by a Swiss chocolatier by mixing powdered milk developed by Henri Nestlé with chocolate liquor. Chocolate was improved by another Swiss, Rudolphe Lindt.
Legal Matters Making Chocolate Chocolate starts as a bean inside a fruit on a tree. The beans are fermented, dried, roasted, shelled and crushed and liquefied into chocolate liquor. When cooled, this plain unsweetened chocolate is effectively baker’s chocolate. Under extreme pressure the chocolate liquor separates into cocoa powder and cocoa butter. The cocoa butter has some
unique qualities. It melts just below body temperature – the reason chocolate melts in your mouth!! Types of Chocolate There are 3 basic types of chocolate. Dark chocolate is chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, sugar, an emulsifier and vanilla or other flavourings. Milk chocolate, as the name sounds, is dark chocolate with milk solids. White chocolate is cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids, lecithin (an emulsifier) and vanilla and other flavourings. Because white chocolate does not contain cocoa solids, some folks think it is not real chocolate- well, customs tariffs agree- it is in a different category. We at Weilers hope that these few facts about chocolate and the law sweeten your February. Have a happy Valentine’s Day.
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2015
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RESIDENTS URGED TO BECOME “STORM READY” Thunder Bay Hydro in the fall launched the STORM READY campaign with a group of community partners. They are telling residents to “Know the Risks, Have a Plan and Make a Kit”. The message is backed up by an online quiz that tackles incorrect attitudes that, if left intact, would leave residents and their families quite vulnerable in a severe weather event. Brochures are being inserted into all Thunder Bay Hydro bills starting this month. Residents are encouraged to take a quiz to identify areas where they may have misconceptions about how to handle a storm-related emergency. Displays will be set up in local libraries. A local report compiled by EarthCare Thunder Bay1 warns that extreme weather events are expected to increase in the region. Other emergency planning exercises recognize that the Thunder Bay area has a high degree of probability to be crippled by a winter storm. These storms can cause interruptions in basic services and households that do not prepare ahead can be at risk of injury and even loss of life. The 2013 GTA Ice Storm and disturbing research findings2 show that most Canadians are not aware of their responsibility to be prepared to be without basic services in the event of a severe weather emergency. The STORM READY campaign is designed to encourage residents to review their personal household situation and plan ahead to take care of themselves and their family for the crucial 72 hours following the advent of an emergency. The online quiz is available at www.tbhydro.com/quiz . Hardcopies can be picked up and submitted to Lakehead Social Planning Council in Victoriaville Mall. The messaging was developed in consultation with the Canadian Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, Lakehead Social Planning Council / 211, Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue, EMS, EarthCare Thunder Bay and the City of Thunder Bay. COMPAS survey for Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness (2008) Background Information COMPAS survey 2008 A survey conducted for the Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness finds disturbing public attitudes towards emergency preparedness. · Households claim to have a plan, but it is not well thought out or emergency kit contents are lacking · There is a high expectation that the public sector will solve their problems in an emergency · The public often thinks to turn to specific first responders for information when these organizations lack the capacity for the customer service volumes during an emergency because they are simply all redeployed to deal with the actual emergency Thunder Bay Climate Change Research Project: Final Report 2014 Extreme weather is becoming more frequent. Prolonged heat waves, torrential rain storms, windstorms and drought have increased in Ontario. Because the Earth’s climate is changing, major climatic changes may occur in Thunder
Bay. Here are some excerpts from the above noted report published by EarthCare Thunder Bay: Extreme Weather Events “Extreme weather events refer to weather that is unusual, severe or unseasonal in comparison to historical records. These events come in the form of extreme heat days, more instances of extreme precipitation and flooding, wind, hail and ice storms (ICLEI Canada, 2013). According to the International Panel on Climate Change North AmericanReport (2014), there is already an observed increase in the occurrence of severe hot weather events, decreases in frost days, and increases in heavy precipitation over much of North America. It is further projected that climate change could induce elevated mortality/morbidity from heat waves, floods, and droughts as well as the heavy rainfall related flooding risks (Cheng, et al, 2012).” John Hay, Fire Chief, Thunder Bay “ The community partners are rolling out this message with the onset of winter to let people now there are things they can do to help themselves with a severe weather event or a loss of electricity which is one of the worst things we can have happen in the winter.” “ We have learned a lot from every big event in the past. There have been some significant power outages that we have had to deal with that have left whole apartment blocks with out power in a cold period of time. We have been able to deal with these with our partners quickly. The flood was 41 days of a lot of work. We are partnering with others to get better.” “ I would suggest that people are more prepared than they realize and there is a lot in their homes that they can still use. Simple little things like a can opener that is not electric, a winter coat that you will wear inside. Most have 40 gallons of fresh water in their hot water tank and there is a tap to get the water out. Having batteries available for light
and radios to hear announcements. There may be limited availability to respond to every single call in a larger emergency right away.” “ The person should make a list of what they need to survive because it is different for a family as opposed to a single individual. You may not be able to get
medicine or have to leave with short notice. Do you have some cash? Have you thought about it? Do you have a supply of some bottled water and food for a couple days? Can you last for 72 hours which would help us out a lot.”
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2014
Lakehead University Launches 50th Anniversary BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS Dr Brian Stevenson President, Lakehead University “ Today is the beginning of a year of celebrations for Lakehead University for our 50th Anniversary. This is an institution that has been here for 50 years and has
“ I regularly hear stories from people who say if there hadn’t been a university in Thunder Bay they would have not of gone to university. The economic driver in Ontario more and more is through knowledge based economies, so having a university educated population is important for our economy going forward.” “ We started as a technical institute in the 1940’s with a series of programs
economy, the culture and social fibre of N W Ontario.” “ On July1st we will celebrate the actual day when the Lakehead University Act came in place. In October we will have our very first home coming event to attract part of those 55,000 to 60,000 alumni we have across the country and around the world. We hope to have that homecoming event, which will have sports and cultural activities and outreach programs, every year. There will be many events in between those as well.” Keith Hobbs Mayor of Thunder Bay. “ The economics Lakehead University brings to Thunder Bay are great and over
had a huge economic impact, cultural impact and impact on the social fibre of Thunder Bay and NW Ontario. We have had had a direct impact of at least $6 billion over 50 years so the university has had a very positive impact on the community. We want the community to celebrate these 50 years with us.”
geared towards the economy and we have followed on that tradition. Since 1965 we have become a fully comprehensive university so we have everything from medical, law, engineering, business, forestry, science and education- a whole wide variety of programs that directly links into the
50,000 students world wide have graduated from this university and left their mark on society. Four of my immediate family members graduated from Lakehead University and are doing fantastic out in the world, so the education is second to none here.” “ We are trying to build a vibrant strong community. If we can keep our children here and provide jobs, that is what it is all about. Lakehead University gives our children a step up. Our varsity teams also provide country wide recognition and helps put Thunder Bay on the map.” Visit their website 50.lakeheadu.ca