TBB January 2022

Young Thunder Bay Pharmacist’s Serve Rural Thunder Bay Well!

INSIDE DO YOU VALUE VALUES? From Doormat to Diplomat Hydro One investing North Superior Publishing

@tbay25

The NWMO reaches key milestone by completing borehole drilling in Ignace

Lakehead University researchers receiving more than $3 million in

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2022

Lakehead University researchers receiving more than $3 million in funding Lakehead University professors are able to perform important research thanks to the more than $2.1 million in NSERC grants and approximately $1.15 million in funding from partner organizations.

Dr. Pete Hollings, NOHFC Industrial Research Chair in Mineral Exploration and Geology professor, is receiving five Alliance grants worth $1.03 million and an additional $655,000 from his partner organizations, including Clean Air Metals Inc., Impala Canada, Enersoft and Generation Mining, and Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. For one of those projects, Dr. Hollings is receiving $180,000 from NSERC and $90,000 from Wesdome Gold Mines to focus on the Eagle River Complex in the Mishibishu greenstone belt – located 50 km west of Wawa.

tem associated with the Eagle River Complex gold deposits and the Mishibishu greenstone belt that hosts them,” Dr. Hollings said.

“We are aiming to improve the growth and quality of black spruce in Northwestern Ontario,” Dr. Thomson said.

Traditional tree improvement programs for black spruce in Ontario have produced modest gains in growth, but take a long time to achieve, she said.

He and his team will determine information about the rock formation including its age and geochemical makeup, which they will use to characterize the footprint of the alteration and develop models that Wesdome can apply on the property and in their ongoing regional exploration.

“With this research, we will test the application of a relatively new approach to

Dr. Amanda Diochon, Associate Professor in Geology, is receiving an Alliance grant of $172,506 and $107,816 from her partner, Grain Farmers of Ontario to evaluate the effect of land conversion practices on soil health and the yields of barley and oats.

Dr. Hollings will work with two graduate students over the next three years.

Climate change is creating opportunities for agricultural expansion in Northern Ontario, which will demand the conversion of forest and scrub-brush to productive fields, Dr. Diochon said.

“This research will combine traditional and state-of-the-art analytical techniques to characterize the mineralization and alteration sys-

“We will examine the longer-term effects of land conversion on soil health and soil organic matter to identify the best indicators for

monitoring change in soil health here in Northern Ontario,” she said.

Dr. Diochon and her team will also establish a field trial to examine the effects of woody residue incorporation, rate of fertilizer application, and rotation strategy on yields of oats and barley.

Dr. Ashley Thomson, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Natural Resources Management, is receiving an Alliance grant of nearly $80,000 and $40,000 from partners Resolute Forest Products and the Superiorwoods Tree Improvement Association.

She and her team will develop and validate genomic-assisted breeding models for increased productivity and wood quality for black spruce, one of the most abundant and widely planted tree species in Canada’s boreal forest.

Top: Dr. Ashley Thomson Above: Dr. Pete Hollings Cover page: Dr. Amanda Diochon improved breeding called genomic selection, to increase the growth per unit time that can be achieved for Ontario’s black spruce breeding programs.”

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2022

Publisher’s Note Scott Sumner Copyright (c) 2022, Scott A. Sumner The start of a new year is always a good time to look over your financial position closely. I hope this information helps you do that.

Do you know where you are financially. What’s 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 been enjoyable. Many people, if asked the question "What is your net worth?" will not know the answer. They might have some kind of

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Where Are You Now With Money? 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 base. 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 graphed in the same magnitude, but it is definitely similar. My book will take you 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.

This section can also show you how 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

DO YOU VALUE VALUES? ©2022 Brian Babcock New year, new beginnings, but not

Legal Matters entirely new thoughts. For some time, I have been reflecting on values, which might seem old-fashioned, but for me, are never out of season. What about for you?

When you shop for gifts, necessities or services, do you look just for value, or do you care about values? There is a difference. I suggest that without values, there is no true value.

Some values are unique to individuals.

I have friends who avoid big box stores because their values lead them to favour local merchants. I love shopping local, but my firm acts for national and even international clients. One of my values is not being hypocritical.

So I shop around.

about how clients find the lawyers they need, and hopefully, the ones they deserve. In several articles for our website, I reflected on the fact that Weilers Law may not always be the right law firm for every client. But we are the right law firm for clients that share our values.

It is always easier though, I find, to determine the values of others when I shop local. We have a sense of what Lowerys stands for even without putting it into words. I had some sense about Goods & Co even before my first visit because I know Maelyn and her values. She did it right. What a terrific repurposing of an iconic space.

Do you know what your values are? If you value values, you should.

What put me on this path was thinking

At Weilers Law, we have always been cost conscious. We have always believed that a timely solution is often better for our clients than waiting in search of an elusive more perfect truth.

We have always reserved tough tactics for their proper time and place. We fight hard for our clients, but are never

abusive. In our litigation practice, an area often considered costly and nasty, even brutal, we believe that justice on the merits, quickly and cost effectively, is best for our clients. These are part of the “Proud Traditions” we have built up over 75 years as a firm. If you share these values, and want lawyers who take justice and cost effectiveness seriously on your side, we just might be the lawyers for you.

In 2022, we wish that your values bring increased value to you and your business, and with that, great joy.

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2022

The NWMO reaches key milestone by completing borehole drilling in Ignace area After four years, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO) borehole drilling work prior to site selection in the Ignace area is complete. The equipment will be removed in the coming months once downhole testing is finished.

This is a significant milestone in our geoscience work to determine whether the site can safely host a deep geological repository for Canada’s used nuclear fuel.

Bruce. Borehole drilling and testing is part of the NWMO’s broader site investigation work to enhance our knowledge about whether the site can meet robust regulatory requirements. Safety and security underscore everything we do at the NWMO, and our work is guided by the responsibility to protect people and the environment for generations to come.

are committed to working with communities, including municipal, First Nation and Métis communities, and others in the area to safely site this project in an area with informed and willing hosts.”

Community monitors from WLON were on-site during the borehole drilling, and they were an important part of the team.

They provided input on-site, and they also

including students, residents and people from the region, have travelled with NWMO staff to the Revell Batholith to learn more about the borehole work being conducted, as well as visited the seismic stations and the meteorological station.

Borehole drilling, coring and downhole testing is also taking place in South Bruce, Ont., and the drilling is anticipated to be completed in summer 2022.

“This is an exciting moment for the NWMO,” said Lise Morton, VicePresident of Site Selection at the NWMO. “A lot of work has been done, and we literally have six kilometers of borehole samples to study. The information we gather from this work will be brought together with other data as we learn about all aspects of the proposed site.”

About the NWMO

Drilling of the NWMO’s first borehole started on Nov. 6, 2017. Since then, a total of six one-kilometer-long boreholes have been drilled in a rock formation known as the Revell Batholith, located south of Highway 17, about 35 kilometers west of Ignace, between Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON).

Canada’s plan will only proceed in an area with informed and willing hosts, where the municipality, First Nation and Métis communities, and others in the area are working together to implement it. The NWMO plans to select a site in 2023, and two areas remain in our site selection process: the Ignace area and South Bruce, both in Ontario.

Borehole drilling, coring and testing is a major part of the geoscience work carried out in the Ignace area, as well as the other potential site being evaluated in South

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a not-for-profit organization implementing Canada’s plan to safely contain and isolate used nuclear fuel inside a deep geological repository in a manner that protects people and the environment for generations to come.

“As part of the NWMO’s site selection process, we need to be sure that used nuclear fuel can be safely contained in the rock to ensure water, people and the environment are safe. Borehole drilling has been a big part of that,” said Bill Gascon, Site Director – Ignace at the NWMO. “We

went back and shared information and insights with WLON so they have a better understanding of the work happening at the borehole sites.

Tours to the borehole sites remain popular, and to date, approximately 200 people,

From Doormat to Diplomat How to enhance your status in your customer's eyes It was a lesson in humility I’ll never forget. Decades ago my first real job after graduating university was selling accounting systems door to door to businesses. After several days of making little progress, I finally had a manager agree to walk me to his office to hear my pitch.

Following him, I said, “Thanks, I really appreciate your time.” He turns, scowls at me and asks, “Why, is it not worth my time?” He’s dead serious. It occurred to me that I was being too grateful and too deferential to a potential customer.

How about you and your team members?

Is it possible that they may be putting the customer on too high of a pedestal? Or do they take the opposite approach and treat customers condescendingly? Employees who interact with customers walk a fine line of diplomacy when it comes to status. As I teach to sales and service teams in my Becoming a Trusted Advisor seminars, our goal is to position ourselves – not as higher or lower status – but equal in status to the customer. We don’t want customers to view us as service providers. We want customers to value us – literally – as trusted advisors. Here are 3 easy ways to help make that happen.

your first and last names? These days most people keep it casual and stick to first names only. In terms of status that’s a mistake. Instead, when you offer your first and last name it tells customers, “I am comfortable being held accountable. If you have a question, you should ask for me, which is why I’m volunteering my full name. I’m someone important enough for you to know.” All that enhanced status comes simply by adding your last name.

Don’t you know who I am?

Are you talking to me?

When you or your team members introduce yourselves to customers, do you use your first name only, or do you share

A fast way to lose status is to start talking to someone who isn’t ready and willing to listen. So before asking customers or coworkers a lot of questions, it’s important to ensure you have their full attention. Unfortunately, common attempts to get attention actually hurt our status.

Asking someone if they have a minute won’t go over well if it’s obvious that the conversation will take more than 60 seconds. That’s why so much of what I share in my seminars and coaching tools is about being more thoughtful with word choices. Next time you’re about to have a serious conversation with a customer or coworker, begin with a simple, “How’s your time, are we OK?” Since we’re on the topic of attention, I’ve been asked by frontline staff what to say to customers who talk sideways to you while chatting on their cell phone. My tip – say to the customer, “I’ll take care of

you as soon as you finish your call.”

Then move on to another activity or another customer who’s waiting for your attention. They’ll finish their call in a hurry. And they’ll start treating you less like a servant and more like a professional who deserves respect.

Who’s the Know-it-all?

Hopefully, as you build a solid reputation for being dependable and reliable, you’ll increasingly be dealing with your company’s higher value customers who are making larger buying decisions. Then the question often becomes how do you establish status with a know-it-all? We don’t want to get into a competition of who’s smarter. Instead, consider using an approach called, you bring/ I bring. You might say to a business owner for example, “You’re the expert on running a construction company. My focus is managing risk.” In essence, the faster you show respect for your customer’s expertise, the more receptive they become to yours.

Bottom Line – That manager decades ago who stopped me cold when I thought I was being polite taught me a valuable business lesson that stuck with me.

Certainly, we want to be polite but that doesn’t mean being subservient. The good news is changing a few words with customers has two outcomes: 1) customers actually pay attention. 2) They see you more as someone who has something valuable to offer.

Jeff Mowatt is a customer service strategist, Hall of Fame speaker, and bestselling author. For more tips, training tools or to inquire about engaging Jeff for your team visit www.JeffMowatt.com

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2022

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Young Thunder Bay Pharmacist’s Serve Rural Thunder Bay Well: New Building Under Construction

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Thunder Bay BUSINESS Two young pharmacists have formed a partnership to provide exceptional services, especially to the rural populations of Thunder Bay. Five years ago the Kakabeka pharmacy was opened in 2017. The Rosslyn location opened it’s doors 4 years ago this month. In the

to Lakehead University, did a full degree in chemistry, biology and physics. “ I was actually going into teaching but in my fourth year pivoted and applied to the pharmacy school at the University of Toronto. I had started working in a pharmacy when I was 19 so got to know the field and did rotations at a Victoria Ave location. Most of my time before becoming an owner

Devon Myers and Henry Tempelman

spring of 2022 their pharmacy, branded Evergreen Pharmacy, will move into their own 6000 square foot new building in Kakabeka!

Henry Tempelman, age 31, was born and raised in Thunder Bay. In the last year of high school he started looking at where to go and sciences were his thing. “ There was nursing or becoming a doctor, that kind of thing, but I didn’t have the stomach to deal with blood and injuries. So having a two foot counter between me and the injuries as a pharmacist was a pretty good option for me.”

Pharmacy gave him a good blend of different options within healthcare, helping people and helping patients under care. There were also other avenues where you could do business, have your own pharmacy, go into industry where there is big pharma, manufacturing or be at the hospital.

There are so many different pathways for a pharmacist so that was his feeling.

Devon Myers, age 32, was born and raised in Thunder Bay. When he graduated from high school Devon went on

was with independent owned pharmacies not for large corporate stores.”

Henry and Devon knew each other

their last year in high school and both grew up playing minor league hockey so they kinda get to know the other players. “ At the start of my pharmacy career I was the managing partner at the Kakabeka location. Then Dr. Bruce, dentist presented the opportunity in Rosslyn and I said yes. I asked Devon, after going to U of Toronto Pharmacy school with him, if he wanted to jump on board and he did. Eventually as we became more successful we bought out the Kakabeka ownership group so we would be 100% locally owned. This is something we are very proud of, the fact we are able to say that. We can

make our own decisions and do things the way we see fit for the communities we are working in.” said Henry Tempelman.

“We started with a few patients at our pharmacies as it takes a bit of time for people to trust what you are doing, the products you are putting out and what we do as pharmacy businesses. It takes a little time for people to understand what we were capable of doing. In this community basically word of mouth have got us to where we are. We stand by the products we put out and the service.”said Devon Myers.

Continued

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2022

Young Thunder Bay Pharmacist’s Serve Rural Thunder Bay Well: New Building Under Construction Continued Evergreen Pharmacies have the goal of providing excellent personalized service to their patients. “ It’s having that small town appeal where we are very focused on the person. If somebody walks through the door we know their name, we know what their situation is and what their home life might be like. It’s a personal touch. If we focus on personal service that takes care of the business.” said Henry. “ We have patients from Red Rock, the

East End, Current River and far away.

We just ask people to give us a chance and see what we have to offer, the whole package, the whole experience.

Many people enjoy the rural setting of our locations. A lot of people are only coming three or four times per year and they like the drive and make an outing of it. They enjoy it.” says Devon The Evergreen Pharmacies offered more flexibility to create our own brand and do more marketing as 100 % locally owned.

Walmart or Shoppers are like cruise ships, they take a long time to pivot or make policy changes. For us once we find out what people want say a certain over the counter item, we can adapt and bring it in. As the business grows you get a better feel for what the community actually needs stated Devon Myers.

“Where we are progressing to is all based on what the community needs.

Devon Myers works mostly at the Rosslyn location. “ It has gone well here at Rosslyn.

There is always room for growth in business but it is not always the bench mark we are looking for. At the end of the day we were able to create something out of nothing, we are autonomous on how we perform and I feel strongly we put out a product for our patients that they are satisfied with.

Large entities in the pharmacy field like

There was no professional building in Kakabeka until we started construction of ours.We had the one exam room room in Kakabeka with our current building but the new building will have 3 or 4 so we have the opportunity for other practitioners to join us for a day or two per week. Before there was never the infrastructure to do this available.” said Henry.

That is why when people change to come here they rarely ever leave.We can pivot quickly if something is wrong. If people want something we can do the best we can.”said Devon.

At the Kakabeka location their current space is about 1500 square feet and the new building will be just over 6000 square feet. The pharmacy dispensary and the front shop are expanding, the gift shop is expanding and they will hopefully bring a few other services to the pharmacy. There will be 28 parking spots outside the building so very accessible. There is a third suite that’s available for lease and they have a tenant that is close to being locked in which will be exciting and good for the community as well. “ We learned a lot in the last 1 and 1/2 years working on this building about rules in the township of today which have changed from 30 or 40 years ago.

There are rules or bylaws you have to follow with Oliver Paipoonge. Our building stands out as it has to be done differently than the other buildings here built years ago. We are setting an example of what can be done out there.” said Devon. “ We are hoping this building and it’s services will attract more business after seeing the success of our pharmacy. We hope it will help attract others here in the areas of what’s missing.”

Continued

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2022

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Young Thunder Bay Pharmacist’s Serve Rural Thunder Bay Well: New Building Under Construction Continued The building is being constructed by Per Hol Construction Limited of Thunder Bay with over 20 subtrades and consultants on the project.

Raymond Landry is the other pharmacist that works for Evergreen Pharmacy at both locations as needed. “ He has worked before in high volume stores and with really good management before so he brings that

services.” said Henry. “The Kakabeka community is buzzing about the new store. It’s all I talk about at the counter.

We are young and going to be doing this for decades so to put up this money or investment up we are hoping to expand our business. After already being in Kakabeka for 5 years we have learned what people need there and will make this better with a professional look. Our landlord currently has a done a good job for us but the new building will have more curbside appeal to install confidence in people.”

“A pharmacy is a business but you don’t learn all this in pharmacy school.You learn becoming a pharmacist but now as an owner you learn laws, steps in construction, payroll stuff, bylaws and so on,” said Devon Myers. “ It is nice to have a partner to bounce things off. We get along well

Evergreen Pharmacies services a huge market area including Kakabeka, Murillo, Kaministiqua, Nolalu, Gillies, Neebing, O'Connor, Conmee and Rosslyn. People do recreational sports from this area and utilize fishing resorts and hunting not just from Thunder Bay but around Northern Ontario and Minnesota so there is a lot of traffic. “ We currently have a total of 11 staff between the two stores. When it comes to pharmacy it is a customer service business. You need to make sure you have the right staff that will treat your patients right.” said Henry.

invaluable perspective to what we do and he is not shy to tell us things we can do to improve.”said Devon.

In the future there are other opportunities for Evergreen Pharmacy to work in new areas like compounding, addictions medicine or for a new store say in Thunder Bay. “Our whole MO is tailoring our services to the community.We can’t thank the community enough. We took the leap to offer these services in our locations but they also took the leap from their daily lives to support us. When you support local this is what happens, you get new infrastructure and more

as long as you’re not in the corner on the ice Tuesday night when we compete in hockey!” “ We each have young families as I have two and Devon has one with one on the way so we are at the same place. We realize none of this would be possible without support from our families.” said Henry Tempelman.

The team at Evergreen Pharmacy hope to be operational in the new building at the Kakabeka location late March or early April 2022. The Rosslyn location will remain with hope for further expansion there in the future as well!

It is always nice to see young entrepreneurs succeed and grow. They offer a very valuable service to rural Thunder Bay!

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2022

Young Thunder Bay Pharmacist’s Serve Rural Thunder Bay Well: New Building Under Construction Background Information We Are Excited To Continue To Grow With Our New Look As Evergreen Pharmacies - Offering The Same Great Service With The Same Friendly Staff.

Northwestern Ontario has long been under served when it comes to accessing healthcare, and in the rural areas where we operate this gap in healthcare is amplified. We opened our first location in Kakabeka Falls in 2017, where we witnessed firsthand how the accessibility of pharmacy services improved the quality of life for residents in the communities we serve. In 2018, we opened our second location in Rosslyn where we continued to offer high-quality services to satisfy patient health needs.

With our two locations, we are more than just a medication dispensary. Pharmacists

testing, our clinical services are available to improve your health and independence.

Our knowledgeable and friendly staff are here for you to answer your health-related questions. Nobody is just a number at our pharmacies. As a locally owned pharmacy, we thank everyone in the community for your business and support ever since we opened our doors in Kakabeka Falls and Rosslyn. We demonstrate our gratitude for this support by giving back to our communities through local charities and working to create a healthier place for all.

Some of the services offered REFILLS

We hope that the name Evergreen Pharmacy becomes synonymous with a level of care that you and your family can trust.

We offer a variety of services to meet your

Online Refills Visit our website to view your profile or use our quick prescription refill tool.

Please note that these refill requests will be ready for pickup by the next day.

Refill Reminders Oops - Did you forget to order your prescriptions? Sign up for our refill reminder program and WE call YOU when your prescriptions are coming due.

are the most accessible health professionals and we have been providing and expanding our services to meet the needs of our community. From medication and device teaching to immunizations to INR

needs.

Our goal is to tailor our services to needs of the community!

Refills Via Pharmaconnect App On the go Sign up for our free Pharmaconnect app to access your medication profile on your phone so you can carry on with your busy lifestyle. You can also send us a picture of your prescription as you leave your doctor's office so that we can get started on your prescription while you're on your way.

Rx Synchronization Making multiple trips to the pharmacy each month to pick different medications

that come due at different times? We appreciate the frequent visits from your smiling face! But talk to our pharmacy staff about synchronizing medications so you can simplify your lifestyle and pick up all your medications at once.

PRESCRIPTIONS Compliance / Blister Packs Having difficulty organizing and managing your prescriptions? We offer free weekly, biweekly and monthly compliance packaging to keep your medications organized and filled on a regular cycle. No extra fees! In fact, you may save on fees.

Contact us for details.

Free Weekly Prescription Delivery Evergreen is proud to offer free rural prescription delivery for our patients within 20km of each location. We also offer free prescription delivery to anywhere within the city of Thunder Bay. If you live outside of these parameters and are interested in delivery services, please reach out and speak with the pharmacy manager.

Easy Prescription Transfers Transferring is EASY! As a relatively new pharmacy, we've got the process seamless!

Give us your name, birthday, phone number and which pharmacy you currently deal at and we will take care of the rest!

We can also notify your doctor and do a medication review with you to ensure we start off on the right foot!

Pharmacist Prescription Renewals Running out of medication and no refills remaining? Unable to contact your doctor via appointment or fax? Don't worry! Our pharmacist can renew your chronic prescriptions, as appropriate, to continue your medication therapy uninterrupted until you can connect with your doctor for a reauthorized prescription.

Faxed Prescription Renewals Out of refills? Our staff will fax your doctor for refills once we notice your refills are depleted, where appropriate.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Flu Shots, COVID Vaccines, Shingles Vaccines, Travel Vaccines And More!

All our pharmacists are certified in administering immunizations to keep you healthy. Some are available without a prescription, but some require a prescriptionwe can help with that!

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2022

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Hydro One investing in a more reliable and resilient electricity system in Northwest Ontario The five-year Investment Plan will reduce the impacts of power outages for its distribution customers by approximately 25 per cent and make smart local investments in the northwest For Release: Hydro One announced its five-year Investment Plan that will reduce the impacts of power outages to its customers in northwest Ontario, enable economic growth in the region and prepare its system for the impacts of climate change. The plan will reduce the impacts of power outages for its distribution customers by approximately 25 per cent and was informed by the feedback of almost 50,000 customers, the majority in support of proactive investments in a resilient and reliable electricity system.

"Our five-year Investment Plan will make smart investments in northwest Ontario to significantly reduce the impacts of power outages for our customers. With much of our system built in the 1950s and 1960s, we will continue to invest in renewing or replacing critical infrastructure in almost every community across the province, including here in Shuniah and the Thunder Bay region,” said Mark Poweska, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hydro One. "As industry leaders, it’s our responsibility to continue to take real actions and invest in a smarter, sustainable and reliable electricity system for businesses and communities now and in the future."

“The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association welcomes Hydro One’s announcement of their five-year Investment Plan,” said Wendy Landry, Mayor of Shuniah and President of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association. “This plan responds to the needs of our vast and unique region. It ensures people will have access to reliable and safe power, now and in the future, to operate their homes and businesses with the reassurance that the impacts of power outages will be reduced. I would like to thank Hydro One for all your efforts in creating a plan that responds to what our residents want and need to thrive in their communities.”

“Synergy North is pleased with Hydro One’s plans to invest to ensure a more reliable, resilient electricity system in northwest Ontario,” said Tim Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Synergy North. “We are particularly excited for the upgrade to the Port Arthur Transmission Station which will help enable vehicle electrification and future generation here in the City of Thunder Bay. We believe the future of the grid needs to incorporate these realities and Hydro One’s upgrades will allow us to get there.” By investing in the electricity system and renewing critical infrastructure, Hydro One's plan will improve service for customers, prepare the system for more severe weather and better protect small businesses and large industrial customers from

power outages responsible for millions of dollars in lost productivity. This summer, Hydro One filed its Joint Rate Application with the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), which includes its 20232027 Investment Plan for the company's transmission and distribution system.

If approved by the OEB, Hydro One's five-year Investment Plan will energize life in northwest Ontario by: Renewing or replacing critical infrastructure • Renew equipment on the high voltage transmission system, including installing or renewing over 250 kilometers of high voltage power lines.

• Upgrade infrastructure at transmission and distribution stations, including at Lakehead Transmission Station and Port Arthur Transmission Station in the Thunder Bay region.

• Renew equipment on the distribution system, including investing to refurbish or replace over 1,500 wood poles.

Improving resiliency and reliability and preparing for the impacts of climate change • Use automation and innovative solutions to reduce the impact of power outages for distribution customers by approximately 25 per cent.

• Prevent outages by removing dead and diseased trees that could strike power lines across more than 7,000 km of right-of-way.

• Install smart devices in the northwest region to improve resiliency and reliability for customers who experience the most power outages. Building a grid for the future to support economic growth and customer choice • Invest in new or upgraded infrastructure to accommodate community and industrial growth. • Improve power reliability to First Nations communities through innovative battery solutions.

More details can be found at www.hydroone.com/5YearInvestmentPl an Hydro One Limited (TSX: H) Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.4 million valued customers, approximately $30.3 billion in assets as at December 31, 2020, and annual revenues in 2020 of approximately $7.3 billion. Our team of approximately 8,700 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2020, Hydro One invested approximately $1.9 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.7 billion of goods and services. We are committed to the communities where we live and work through

community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association. Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com; www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information: This press release and the application and investment plan to which it refers may contain "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such information includes, but is not limited to: statements regarding Hydro One's anticipated capital investments including in respect of the company's five year investment plan. Words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "attempt," "may," "plan," "will", "can", "believe," "seek," "estimate," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward looking information. Some of the factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed, implied or forecasted by such forward-looking information,

including some of the assumptions used in making such statements, are discussed more fully in Hydro One's filings with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Hydro One does not intend, and it disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, except as required by law. In this press release, Hydro One presents information about potential future capital investments.

The purpose of providing information about potential future capital investments is in order to give context to the nature of some of Hydro One's future plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Information about potential future capital investments, including the various assumptions underlying it, should be read in conjunction with "Forward-Looking Statements and Information" above and as may be found in Hydro One's filings with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available under its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Hydro One does not intend to update the information about future capital investments except as required by applicable securities laws. Our website is www.HydroOne.com. Follow us on facebook.com/hydrooneofficial, twitter.com/hydroone and instagram.com/hydrooneofficial

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2022

Thunder Bay Police Service launches “Together, Building Better” public education campaign.

The Thunder Bay Police Service, the Thunder Bay Police Services Board and the Thunder Bay Police Association have come together to raise public awareness about the need for a new police campus in Thunder Bay.

The public education campaign, called Together, Building Better, includes fact sheets, a website and

Facebook page about the case for a new police campus. The campaign features compelling video testimonials from sworn and civilian members of the Thunder Bay Police Service which describe the daily challenges of working in the current facility.

“Together, Building Better is a collaborative initiative to inform the community about the need to build for modernized policing,” says Chief

Sylvie Hauth, Thunder Bay Police Service. “We agree that prioritizing investments in public safety and wellness is an absolute priority for Thunder Bay, and we want to ensure that as many residents as possible understand why a new police campus is essential. The status quo just isn’t an option for Thunder Bay now and in the future.”

rare behind-the-scenes look at the state of the current police facility on Balmoral Street. Many of the facility’s deficiencies are highlighted including limited capacity for policing technology, outdated prisoner holding cells, poor ventilation in areas where hazardous substances are processed, and overcrowded storage areas for safe evidence handling, among others.

Together, Building Better offers a

“The Thunder Bay Police Association is very aware of the needs for a new police facility,” says Colin Woods, President of Thunder Bay Police Association. “Local policing is increasingly demanding and stressful, and our members are working without adequate facilities and resources to keep the public and themselves safe. The current conditions cannot continue.”

The Thunder Bay Police Service has developed a progressive, communitybased plan to modernize local policing. It is a forward-thinking approach that promotes improved public safety and wellness, better services to victims, supports employee health and retention, and rebuilds trust through community collaborations.

“To transform local policing, a new police campus is crucial,” continues Chief Hauth. “The current building at 1200 Balmoral Street cannot be upgraded, renovated, or expanded to provide the must-have police and community resources that are fundamental to success.”

The Thunder Bay Police Service has received board approval to seek $56 million in their capital budget for the design and construction of a new police campus in Thunder Bay. The proposal is responsible, cost-effective, and accountable to the citizens of Thunder Bay. Most importantly, it will not impact the local tax levy.

For more information about the Together, Building Better campaign visit: https://www.thunderbaypolice.ca/buil dingtogether Follow the latest video releases and project news on Facebook @TogetherBuildingBetter

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2022

PAGE 11

My Snowmobiling Career

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Great Outdoors It was the winter of 1968 in Manitouwadge, Ontario. This is where I grew up. My father was a mining engineer at Noranda Mines, which was a booming

enterprise then.

Quite often my Dad and I would go ice fishing in nearby lakes. One cold weekend we were walking in to the lake when this bright yellow machine drove up to us. It was Carson Hoy, a mine employee and trapper my Dad knew. He was riding his brand new 1968 Ski Doo Olympic 16 HP on route to his trap line.

My eyes lit up when Carson asked me if I wanted a ride. I immediately yelled yes.

That ride was all I needed to get me hooked on the sport of snowmobiling. I was 11 then and through the summer I remember asking my Dad many times if we could get a Ski Doo. He decided it would be fun and in the fall of 1969 we drove to Bagdon’s Esso in White River to pick up a brand new 1969 Ski Doo Olympic 12.3. It cost $695.00 and was the coolest thing I had ever seen. There were many rides in the Manitouwadge area after that, sometimes on the ice fishing trips with my Dad and a neighbour, who had built a sleigh to pull for us. It was fun!

In those days the snow came by early November and lasted until into April and there was lots of it! Sometimes the snow would drift to the top of our garage door!

The 1969 Ski Doo was a great machine but it needed lots of repair work. My Dad would have the guys at the mine welding the muffler, fixing bogey wheels, trying new spark plugs regularly, but it was fun.

Since that time my career of snowmobiling has taken me far and wide riding and meeting prominent figures in the sport.

My collection of snowmobiles has numbered around 20. I have always enjoyed the newest technology on sleds. In 2009 I remember attending the 50th anniversary of Ski Doo in Valcourt, Quebec where I got to ride the 1969 Ski Doo Olympic 12.3 again and then the 2009 Ski Doo MXZ.

My feet would barely fit on the running boards of that 1969 anymore!

As a snowmobile journalist there have been many riding trips to places like Revelstoke, BC, Lake Chelan, Washington, Winterpark, Colorado, West Yellowstone, Montana, Lake Tahoe, California and perhaps my favourite destination- Quebec. I’m sure there have been over 10 snowmobile trips to all regions of Quebec. It is here that the people love the sport the most.

It has also been fun to visit the manufacturing plants several times including Arctic Cat, Polaris and Ski Doo. Also snowmobile shows in Toronto and Minneapolis Haydays are all about snowmobiling. Our company put on our own snowmobile trade show in Thunder Bay for 5 years.

Snowmobiling was especially fun in what I call the hay days of the sport here in NW Ontario. At that time you could ride from Memorial Ave through the city to Mt Baldy and out to Kakabeka and beyond. It was then you could put on over 3000 miles a year quite easily. The local club had over 3000 members. There were multi day rides in the region. The snow conditions were usually great!

Today it is not as good with fewer than 200 trailer permit holders. The trails start at Kakabeka only. The snow comes late and can go early for a short riding season.

In addition the sleds of today can easily cost upwards of $20,000!

The sport is changing but still fun.

Today’s sleds are amazing. The technology has advanced so much. They are light with elaborate suspensions and high tech engines. I love it.

You should get out and try the sport

again. I think when you do you may become just like I did over 50 years ago.

Hooked!

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS DECEMBER 021