March 2015
New Fire Stations For Thunder Bay Look Good!
INSIDE 13th Annual First Nations Northern Housing Conference in Thunder Bay from February 10 - 12, 2015 PARO Centre for Women’s Photo Project Captures Enterprise Receives Experience of Disorder National Recognition Often Suffered in Silence Rentech Secures Additional Loan Commitment of up to $63 Million
The Cyclotron Arrives in Thunder Bay
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2015
The Cyclotron Arrives in Thunder Bay Under snowy conditions, the $3.5 million, 28-tonne cyclotron arrived in Thunder Bay and was installed into its new home at the Health Services Centre located at 1040 Oliver Road. "This is an exciting day for everyone who has worked so hard to bring the cyclotron to Thunder Bay”, says Mike Campbell, Director of Cyclotron Operations, Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute (TBRRI). “It is an honour to be involved with this project knowing how much work people have done to ensure its success".
The arrival of the cyclotron is the latest in a series of milestones designed to ensure the availability of medical isotopes for patient care in Northwestern Ontario. The cyclotron will also usher in a new era of research at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute (TBRRI). Products produced by the cyclotron will be used by scientists to create new and more informative diagnostic agents that will allow physicians to provide better patient care and more personalized therapies.
"The cyclotron brings a unique opportunity to TBRHSC and TBRRI”, says Andrée Robichaud, President & CEO, TBRHSC, and Acting CEO, TBRRI. ”It gives us the ability to ensure we have a supply of medical isotopes for our patients and support research that puts the patient first." Financial support for the cyclotron has been provided by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), FedNor, The City of Thunder Bay and the donors who contributed to the Health Sciences Foundation’s Exceptional Cancer Care Campaign. "We are excited that the cyclotron is here and can soon be used to provide enhanced care to patients in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario,” says Glenn Craig, President & CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation (TBRHSF). “Our generous donors helped make this day possible. They contributed $2.2-million to the cyclotron through the Exceptional Cancer Care Campaign and are very proud of being part of this important milestone." During the spring, the public will get an opportunity to view the cyclotron and the
cranerentals@towerlight.ca
facility up close. A series of open houses will be taking place in late March or early April to allow the public to tour the facility in the Health Services Centre and learn more about how this unique machine benefits patient care and the local economy. The exact dates and times are still in the works and will be promoted later this month. Mike Campbell, Director of Cyclotron Operation for the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute “ This is a huge milestone, one we have been waiting for many years. It is an honour to be the person that talks to you today because there has been many people involved to get to this point.” “ The construction on the building started before the cyclotron bunker did because we were waiting for our licenses to start construction of the bunker itself. The cyclotron came from Vancouver on a flat bed trailer. We uncrated it in the parking lot and used an engineered lift plan with the details of the bunker.” “ The Cyclotron itself cost about $3.5 million and will be used to create isotopes right here in Thunder Bay. It will let us meet our own needs and support the research that is going to happen here. Thunder Bay has a unique opportunity to have access to machine like this. It is very rare in a city the size of Thunder Bay. It will give our scientists the tools they need to try and discover the next imaging agent that will let doctors have better answers in treating cancers.” “ We picked a cyclotron that is a little larger than normal. Our location is remote and we can make isotopes with a little longer shelf life.” “ This is not the finish line. We have to get everything assembled, it doesn’t come all in one piece, some assembly required. We have to go through the commissioning of the facility and the cyclotron itself. After that we have to make sure we have all the processes and procedures in place to be able to produce the pharmaceutical we are going to make safely for the patients. If everything goes smoothly we should produce isotopes for research use before summer. Our hope by the end of the year is to produce isotopes for patients in Thunder Bay.”
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2015
Publisher’s Note Scott Sumner Rentech, Inc announced recently that GSO Capital Partners LP (GSO), the credit investment arm of Blackstone, has increased its credit facility for Rentech by up to $63 million. The majority of the proceeds from this new facility are expected to fund completion of Rentech’s Canadian wood pellet projects through positive cash flow. Rentech now estimates the cost to complete the construction of its Canadian wood pellet projects to be $125 to $130 million. “We appreciate the support GSO Capital Partners continues to provide us, this time in the form of additional term loans,” said Keith Forman, President and CEO of Rentech. “The task at hand remains clear-to complete the construction and commissioning of, and to place into service, our new pellet facilities in Canada. This will be done in as timely and safe a manner as possible to preserve profitability for our investors. At the same time, we will continue our focus on operating our fertilizer
Rentech Secures Additional Loan Commitment of up to $63 Million assets profitability, safely and efficiently. We will work to simplify our capital structure and add to our liquidity in the future. Our focus on cost containment is an ongoing process and will continue to evolve, as indeed our company will evolve, over the next year.” Canadian Wood Pellet Projects Update Rentech expects that the new term loan, together with its other cash resources, will be sufficient to fund its Atikokan and Wawa pellet projects until they have been commissioned and begin to generate positive cash flow. Rentech currently estimates that the cost to acquire and construct the two plants will be $125 to $130 million, up from $105 million. The majority of the increase is due to delays in construction and higher labor costs for installation of electrical and mechanical components. Rentech expects that working capital and the cost to commission the plants will add approximately $6 to $10 million to the estimated total project cost. Rentech does
Photo Project Captures Experience of Disorder Often Suffered in Silence BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS Postpartum Mood Disorder (PPMD) affects thousands of families in Northern Ontario. This project aims to increase
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awareness of PPMD, reduce shame, stigma and isolation for those living with PPMD and recommend a sustainable continuum of care. The PhotoVOICE initiative is a visual way to give voice to women who have lived with PPMD, the impact it has on their lives and the healing process.
Abi Sprakes, Manager of Clinical Service Thunder Bay Counselling Centre “ We want to raise the awareness around Postpartum Mood Disorder (PPMD) because there is no current conversation about the need for services for women and families who are experiencing Postpartum Mood Disorder (PPMD). We know it is a really important time to intervene in a women’s life for herself, her baby and family. We want to raise awareness, reduce stigma and the shame which often comes with Postpartum Mood Disorder (PPMD). “ We hear about the baby blues, all the way to severe depression and feeling low and not being able to do things you thought you would. It happens to at least one in four women. We are looking at a strategy as to what are the services we need, what do women want and what do families want. Currently in Thunder Bay we have programs that work with women in this area at the Thunder Bay Counselling Centre and other organizations. We know we need more services.” “ The Photo Voice project has had wonderful receptions from participants. It is a different way to talk about Postpartum Mood Disorder (PPMD). To take photos and express your opinions through them gives another avenue for women to share and raise awareness.”
not expect the plants to generate positive EBITDA or cash flow for the year 2015. Annual stabilized EBITDA projected for both plants remains in line with previous guidance of C$17 to C$20 million. The Atikokan facility is currently in the commissioning phase and is producing and selling pellets to Ontario Power Generation. Rentech expects the Atikokan facility to be operating at full capacity in six to 12 months. The Wawa facility is nearing completion of construction. Rentech expects the facility to begin startup and commissioning in the second quarter of 2015 and to operate at full capacity within one year from the start. Expense Reduction Plan Under the supervision of the Finance Committee, the company engaged an independent consulting firm to assess its cost structure. The company has taken actions to reduce its projected consolidated cash operating costs and expenses in 2015 by approximately $15 million compared to
2014. Cash selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in 2015 for Rentech (excluding Rentech Nitrogen) are expected to be approximately $10 million lower than in 2014, which includes cost savings due to discontinuing energy technologies. Rentech Nitrogen expects 2015 cash operating costs and expenses to be approximately $5 million lower than in 2014, due to, among other things, cost savings from the restructuring of the Pasadena facility. The projection for 2015 reflects $3 million of nonrecurring SG&A expense due to the delayed startup of the Atikokan and Wawa plants. Rentech expects to further discuss its outlook for 2015 on March 17 when it reports results for 2014. About Rentech, Inc. Rentech, Inc. (NASDAQ: RTK) owns and operates wood fibre processing, wood pellet production and nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing businesses.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2014
THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE! Cory Randel Stechyshyn, Chair of NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS By Sherry Aalto First!... A bit of history about the society and the importance of its role and existence for Northwestern Ontario. Typically, the appointed term for this position is 2 years, which is decided locally but, can be extended by election or request. The next renewal term comes up again in March, 2015, at which time, names will be presented at the meeting for nomination for election or extension by request of the society voting members. Present Chair of the Society, Mr. Cory Stechyshyn, believes that the greatest privilege in his current role is, representing, advocating and speaking on behalf of all of the Architects in Northwestern Ontario and the Ontario Association of the Architects as a whole. Design Local – Build Local At one time, the Society was only knows as the Thunder Bay Society of Architects but, in March, 2011, when Mr. Stechyshyn became Chair of the Society, he proposed to create awareness of architecture in Northwestern Ontario and also raise awareness for the existence of the society of architects. The Thunder Bay Society covered a large part of the map in Northwestern Ontario, primarily Thunder Bay, Kenora, Rainy River, but also there is Sioux Lookout, Fort Frances and Geraldton. So, in 2012, the society, inconsideration of the greater geographical areas, aforementioned, rebranded its name and is now known as NWSOA (Northwestern Ontario Society of Architects), to be more inclusive. As part of the rebranding for NWOSA, a new campaign was also introduced and that was and is…Design Local – Build Local. It started out with a billboard campaign, that was displayed for one year and invited local busi-
nesses, contractors, suppliers, architects and designers to help sponsor a billboard and to display a project that was done in Northwestern Ontario to raise awareness to everybody and to attract, promote and encourage the importance of Design Local – Build Local. And then it grew into developing a website to emphasize and highlight Design Local – Build Local. The campaign also involves having a film produced, depicting architecture in Northwestern Ontario and will be available sometime this summer. This production will also be available in DVD and could be advantageous for students who would be considering a career in architecture. NWOSA members also go to the high schools to talk to students about architecture and what a fascinating career it can be and to raise awareness and to promote architecture here in the North. It is interesting to know that when Confederation College offered the Architectural Course, 100% of the graduating students were hired right away in either architecture or engineering offices. It is actually difficult to find employees because all the graduating students were hired. As an architect in Ontario, you have to be licensed through The Ontario Association of Architects. Members of the NWOSA are also part of the Ontario Association of Architects. WHO WE ARE… The Northwestern Ontario Society of Architects (NWOSA) is a not-for-profit organization and the local chapter of the Ontario Association of Architects. The members are comprised of registered architects, students of architecture and affiliates and together, act as a collective voice for great local architecture. NWSOA plays and important communication and advocacy role ensuring that architecture is given appropriate consideration in community planning across the region. Their work involves education and outreach to government, industrial, commercial and residential stakeholders.
THE MISSION: To represent, regulate, support and promote the profession of architecture in the interest of all Ontarians, and to lead the design and delivery of built form in the Province of Ontario. Architecture is a planning, design and building process for physical structures and
spaces. It requires an expert combination of art, science and passion. Regardless of building type or scale…Design Local – Build Local makes perfect sense! Value for your money…before you build or renovate…anything…have a consulting team of architects and engineers work with you and your contractor. Construction projects are very expensive and the portion of the construction cost that is accrued to the consulting team is only...as low as 4% to maybe as high as 12% of the cost of construction…so it is a very small percentage of the cost but, a huge value in investment for having your project constructed to spec. for codes and safety and that contributes positively to the environment. So that works out to ….cheaper than the HST! Educating yourself about the value of having an architectural/engineering firm consult for your build project, whether it be sun deck or a new home or a camp, is a simple process. You call one! So?...As the old saying goes….’If you are going to do
something...do it right the first time!’ We live in the north! We have specific needs when it comes to builds and rebuilds in structural places…This is our life! This is our style! Who better to understand that in all its aspects and beauty…NWOSA… Design Local – Build Local! See one of our architectural designers and engineers and get your value for your money! NWOSA firmly believes in giving back to the community and the local society is involved in what is called the Urban Design Awards. This is where businesses or building owners are awarded with a plaque and an award certificate and then also, a tree and a bench is donated to a park, in recognition to them for their contribution for a renovation or development to their property, in a way that contributes positively to their build environment. This past year, they were going to develop a little parkette, at the corner of Algoma Street and Red River Road, where the first bench and tree dedication would be placed in recognition of the recipient. As soon as they did that, a host of local businesses and individuals heard about it and were very excited to see this participation, and it has now grown into a full scale development for an urban park. And now, a whole host of others chose to come on board, including the planning department of the city, and an appealing concept was developed for this proposed park. The Society will prepare a draft plan for this park and have a fund raiser to have it built. And that is just the way the Local chapter of the NWOSA can demonstrate the benefit of good planning, architecture and local support and their passion for giving back to the community and benefitting the urban environment. Special thanks goes to the NWSOA for inspiring the Design Local – Build Local section of this publication. Also…if you have an interest in architecture/engineering…you can become a member of NWOSA… Get involved and be part of something great!
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2015
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i4Architecture- President, Cory Randel Stechyshyn meaningful spaces - thoughtful places By Sherry Aalto INSPIRATION + CREATION + PASSION + PROMOTION = i4architecture
Did you know that architectural/engineering consulting (accrued) fees are as low as 4% and only go as high as 12% of the total construction cost? And worth every penny! At i4architecture, located at 160 Logan Avenue, Thunder Bay, Ontario, the team of professionals can help you to be inspired and make design decisions to turn ordinary spaces into meaningful spaces and thoughtful places! With 27 years of experience in design and build projects, i4archecture lives up to, if not exceeds, the word ‘professional’ and i4architecture professionals will take you through every phase of your vision by providing you with services, detailing, ‘Pre-design’ (project planning and feasibility study), ‘Design”- to work out the structure to create the ultimate space where you can experience life and be connected to your surroundings, ‘Construction Documents’-the architect prepares the working drawings and specifications from the approved designs, and of course ‘Construction Administration’-making decisions with the timely flow of information for the completion of the construction project. Also, with i4architecture, designs with the emphasis on materials that are environmentally sustainable and energy efficient, for reduced fossil fuel consumption, to help achieve towards carbon neutrality by 2030. Functional, practical and extremely aesthetically appealing structures and living spaces, is what i4architecture is there for all your consulting needs and can help you to realize your dream for any build project. Go to their website and look at their fascinating portfolio, www.i4a.ca Read about their services and view their projects and then contact them about your vision for your build project. If you need reconstruction or renova-
tions and are an existing home owner or if you are planning to build new, commercial or industrial structure builds or rebuilds…interior to exterior…you will need expert advice. i4archecture can
guide you and show you how to achieve the design for you. Or, if you like, you can have them just join your already existing team to make your vision become a reality. i4architecture has the professional experience involving many intricate projects and will work with you to help you to make all the right decisions for cost, construction, materials, environment, efficiency and sustainability. The biggest investment you will ever make for the future when it comes to build projects is ….making the right decisions now! i4architecture is the answer! Call or
click today!
Address: I4architecture 160 Logan Avenue Thunder Bay, Ontario P7A 6R1
807-683-4745 www.i4a.ca e: cory@i4a.ca
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2015
Rebooting Ontario's Municipal Sector: Delegation Brings Priority Issues to Ministers at ROMA/OGRA – A Thunder Bay delegation including Mayor Keith Hobbs, Intergovernmental Affairs Committee leaders Councillors Joe Virdiramo and Brian McKinnon and City Manager Tim Commisso brought the City’s key issues to the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference/Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) in Toronto on Feb. 22 – 25. “This year’s conference was an important and positive mission for Thunder Bay,” said Joe Virdiramo, Chair – Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. “We were very well prepared and directly presented Thunder Bay’s priorities to many Ministers which we expect will contribute to moving the City’s priorities forward.” The Delegation secured 10 Ministry meetings along with presentations to New Democratic Leader MPP Andrea Horwath and Progressive Conservative MPP Ernie Hardeman. Key priorities Thunder Bay lobbied for included:
• Thunder Bay Event & Convention Centre • Mining • Energy • MPAC • Shelter House • Balmoral Centre - Crisis Management Beds • Home Transition – D-Listed Homes • EMS Non Urgent Transportation • Homelessness • Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care • Poverty Reduction Strategy “The update on Phase 4 of the Event Centre was well-received and the Ministers recognized the due diligence done to apply for funding with a shovel-ready plan,” said Virdiramo. “We of course requested the Province confirm funding by the March 31 deadline.” Councillor Iain Angus joined the delegation for a meeting with the Minister of Energy and also attended the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association session with Provincial Ministers.
“The issue of energy and industrial property assessment and many issues with MPAC were dealt with in a frank and direct manner, and Thunder Bay was joined by the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association in speaking our mind on a number of serious concerns,” said Councillor Iain Angus. The conference themed ‘Rebooting Ontario's Municipal Sector’ included sessions on Enough Talk: The Case for Permitting New Municipal Revenue Tools, Risky Business: The Need for Municipal Liability Reform and, and Challenges in Asset Management to name just a few. The Thunder Bay delegation took part in workshops related to all. The OGRA/ROMA Conference has become one of the largest municipal conferences in Canada, attracting over 1,500 delegates and more than 2,300 participants in total. The Premier of Ontario and key Ministers were in attendance. The conference provides the opportunity for
Municipalities to meet directly with Ontario Ministries on community specific issues. Conference sessions included keynote addresses from Premier Kathleen Wynne, Interim Progressive Conservative Leader MPP Jim Wilson, Hon. Ted McMeekin, Minister – Municipal Affairs and Housing, Hon. Lisa Raitt, Minister - Transport Canada, Boris Martin, CEO, Engineers Without Borders and Gary McNamara, President – Association of Municipalities of Ontario. “We took every opportunity to make Thunder Bay’s issues and priorities front and centre with key Ministries while at OGRA,” said Councillor Brian McKinnon, Vice Chair – Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. “We certainly had very positive and informative discussions that we feel will be important to building the partnerships needed to advance the City.”
PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise Receives National Recognition BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise (PARO) representatives and clients gathered during the non-profit’s Grow and Glow financial workshop to announce PARO’s latest achievement: a coveted Donner Canadian Foundation Award. In recognition of PARO’s innovative approach to entrepreneurial education, the non-profit was awarded the 2014 Donner Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Educational Services.
The Donner Awards is Canada’s largest recognition program for non-profit services agencies. With forty-eight national applicants in the 2014 Education Category, PARO’s unique business education initiatives, such as its weekly Grow and Glow workshop, separated PARO from the crowd.
“PARO is not a formal educational institution like a college or university,” says Levina Collins, PARO President. “So we are honoured to be nationally recognized for adapting the business education model to accommodate women who may not have the time, money, or desire to pursue a more traditional route.’’
As the needs of entrepreneurial women and their communities evolve in the North, so does PARO’s approach to business education. Rosalind Lockyer, PARO Founder and Executive Director says, “PARO provides weekly skills workshops, as well as one-on-one counselling, networking events, and financial services among other opportunities tailored to client needs. We also bring in guest speakers from various industries, and offer hands-on retail and customer service training at our PARO Presents store. Through this dynamic
approach, our clients receive on-going business education that reflects the latest in both industry standards and regional capacity.”
The non-profit further accommodates its clients by offering learning opportunities onsite, online, and on the road. “Being accessible to entrepreneurial women is very important to PARO because we understand the unique realities of operating a business in Northern Ontario, including geographic and cultural challenges,” Lockyer continues. “We aim to break down those barriers by offering business education in-person at the PARO office in Thunder Bay, as well as online through Contact North, and regionally via our mobile initiative “PARO on Wheels”, which brings our services to rural communities from Kenora to Bracebridge.”
As part of the non-profit’s 2014 Donner Award, PARO has received a $5,000 cash prize to be invested in the PARO on Wheels program. The money will subsi-
dize various costs associated with the program, from outreach and marketing, to fuel and maintenance.
During the announcement, PARO staff and workshop attendees presented a vision board they created as part of their weekly Glow and Grow workshop. “This vision board contains positive words and images that represent the future for PARO in the eyes of our staff and clients,” says Lockyer. “PARO is a forward-thinking organization, and receiving a Donner Award is a vital step toward strengthening and expanding all of our business education services throughout the region. We envision a very bright future for enterprising women.”
Last year, PARO touched the lives of 33,260 people through the organization’s many programs, services, and events, and facilitated 271 regional workshops for enterprising women. Since 2009, PARO has helped women access $4,115,471 in grants to start their businesses.
Rosalind Lockyer PARO Founder and Executive Director “ We are so excited about receiving this award because it is a national award, the 2014 Donner Canadian Foundation Award for excellence in education programing for not for profit organizations. We were compared to 48 other organizations across Canada.” “ We have been working here at Paro for 20 years to provide cutting edge training and are flexible in asking the women what they needed and where they needed it. Today we completed a vision board as to where they see Paro going in the future so we will take that and plan with those messages.” “ The $ 5000.00 cash portion of the award will go to our Paro on wheels program. If the women want us to come to their community we will find a way to get there.:
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13th Annual First Nations Northern Housing Conference in Thunder Bay from February 10 - 12, 2015 Jonathan Salo, Projects & Housing Windigo First Nations of 7 communities “ We are trying to get the knowledge to the communities they need to improve the housing, by providing information they need for any future housing with a focus on northern remote communities. They have unique challenges, say related to transportation access. The communities of the north don’t always have access to the building professionals and the support. This conference provides an excellent avenue to get all the housing managers and front line staff out there with suppliers and those knowledgeable in the field.”
The First Nations Northern Housing Working Group (FNNHWG) was proud to present the 13th Annual First Nations Northern Housing Conference (NHC) at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay, ON. Delegates attended from over 80 northern Communities will have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of relevant workshops and seminars. Jonathan Salo, from Windigo First Nations Projects/Housing Technical Unit commented, “The impact of this conference is huge. It provides a unique opportunity for northern housing professionals and community leaders to learn from one another, network, and make important decisions about the housing in their Communities. There is simply no other event like it in Canada.” This year the conference theme is Building Houses. Building Futures. Delegates will attend sessions on embracing First Nations sustainable development standards, fire prevention, wastewater, public health, and construction safety, alongside many other informative workshops. For builders, community leaders, and administrative staff alike, the First Nations Northern Housing Conference is the premier event in First Nation Housing in Canada. On Day 1, the conference kicked off with Opening Ceremonies at 9 AM followed by a presentation from Larry Laviolette of Windigo First Nations Council on manufactured homes followed by a workshop on wood burning appliances and associate vent components. Day 2 will feature a tradeshow with a host of exhibitors including vendors, suppliers, manufacturers and other housing professionals set up to share their offerings with the First Nation housing professionals in attendance. In conjunction with the tradeshow returns the always-popular Builder’s Challenge Competition, hosted by radio and television personality Jon Eakes. This year the Builder’s Challenge centers on building and installing decks and stairs. As always, contestants will attempt to complete a series of tasks quickly and most importantly correctly, to win the coveted title of Builder’s Challenge Champion. A unique feature of the First Nations Northern Housing Conference is the Community Innovation Showcase Awards. Designed to highlight and recognize innovation and achievements in housing in First Nations Communities, this year the recipient is Naicatchewenin First Nation. Naicatchewenin First Nation is being recognized for their outstanding work in ensuring safe and affordable housing for community members through the implementation of their comprehensive housing policy. Developed in the early 1990s, their effective housing policy has seen countless homes repaired, rented, and owned by members of the community. Naicatchewenin First Nation is inspiring other communities to work together to develop similar housing policies to achieve outstanding results. Growing steadily over the last 13 years, the First Nations Northern Housing Conference has become the leading source for information in First Nations Housing. Mr. Salo added “It’s been incredible to see the information being shared here put to practice in First Nations Communities over the past decade. These Communities are so remote and often cut off from one another. This conference makes it possible for
Luisa Atkinson, Director First Nation Housing for CMHC everyone to share their collective knowledge. Housing practices are changing for the better, from small details to major construction.”
“ We are focusing on housing policies and codes, fire prevention, construction techniques and modular housing. We are basically trying to get information to the communities and building the knowledge.” “ We have a decent winter road this year and should see the majority of our materials make it up to the communities. Our ice roads are not as good as last year but pret-
ty good. In Windigo communities in general we are seeing improvement in the quality and what they are building in the communities. In an average community size of 500 you will probably see 3 houses built and there is an incredible back log. Also it is important to improve the quality of the build to make the house last longer.” Luisa Atkinson, Director First Nation Housing for CMHC “ I am interested in meeting people, learning ideas and information on new technology. It is important to build our partnerships with First Nations communities. It is very important to learn and share from others in this setting.” “ We work closely with Northern and Aboriginal Canada and help facilitate quality of housing on reserves through training and funding. We have to do what we can to help communities. Things are improving year by year including maintaining their current portfolios.”
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2015
New Fire Stations For Thunder Bay Look Good! BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS Thunder Bay is now home to two brand new fire stations located at 2065 20th Sideroad and 1710 West Frederica Street, as well as a renovated and expanded station at 501 Churchill Ave. These projects were completed over a period of about 1 1/2 years by a Thunder Bay based contracting firm, PerHol Construction Ltd, at a cost of about $7 million. The construction project included two brand new fire stations, No 6 and 7, as well as the James Street station renovation, EMS addition and truck bay enlargement. PerHol Construction Ltd. was formed in July 1995, almost 20 years ago, by Ken Perrier and Jim Hollinsworth. Ken began working in construction at the age of 16 with summer jobs. After that he studied at Confederation College in the Construction Engineering & Technician program and moved on to be a journey-
man carpenter and then supervisor before starting this business. “ These size of projects are a good fit for our company as we have the manpower, they fit in with our game plan of where we are headed with our business
Sebastian Fuzzen, Estimator/Project Manager and Ken Perrier, owner of PerHol Construction Ltd.
and are what we can accomplish in the year. We can do these size projects and smaller.” said Ken Perrier, owner of PerHol Construction Ltd. The project was tendered by the City of Thunder Bay and the contract awarded in July of 2013. The construction work started in the August of 2013. “ The first project completed was the EMS addition to fire station 4 at James Street at Churchill, then fire station 7 at 20th Side Road and finally fire station 6 on Neebing. We added on to the existing firehall building at James Street with just under 1500 square feet at a cost of about a $1 million. The existing fire truck bays were extended to get the larger truck inside and the EMS Satallite Station was added to the West side of the building. This renovation also included new overhead doors and operators , revamped electrical, heating and finishing inside.” said Sebastian Fuzzen, Estimator/Project Manager at Perhol Construction Ltd. Sebastian has been with PerHol for 5 years this summer and studied construction engineering technology at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton, Alberta in a 2 year program.
Each of the new fire station buildings are just over 5100 square feet in size. The firemen work there for 4 - 12 hour day or night shifts and then they have 4 days off. “ The new fire structures, Stations 6 and 7, were designed by Habib Architecture. There was a lot of detail with the curved roofs. The curved metal roofing panels were rolled onsite by Lakehead Roofing using in house equipment,” said Fuzzen. “ The heating system is in slab with a variety of ventilation systems. The building is all computer controlled, operators can monitor and control set points in the building, say seeing the temperature in every room or if the overhead doors are open or a boiler or fan isn’t working”. The buildings are very energy efficient with a 45% energy savings from standard practice. The new fire stations feature a lot of natural light with windows in and above the overhead doors.”
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New Fire Stations For Thunder Bay Look Good!
Continued From Previous Page “ The project had some challenges with the time of year we were doing certain things because of the weather. Last spring there was lots of snow and frost
so we lost 1 month of construction time, but were able to pick that month up at the end of the project to turn the second building over January 2015,” said Perrier. “ The first building took 12 months and the second one 9 months
because of seeing efficiencies. The repeat project helped. Also the weather affected the first project.” “ The team the city put together was good to work with on these projects. Brian Aho of Profor Engineering was great as the project manager for the City of Thunder Bay. We met every two weeks throughout the project as a team to discuss the issues that came up and to adjust schedules and design. We isolated
many of the changes required during the first building construction and could react in advance for the second.” PerHol has a full time staff of 18 people between the office and field. In the summer that number grows to 25. They have their own carpenters, site foremen and steel erection crews that are versatile. “ PerHol can start with the excavation and fill on a smaller project, go on to foundation work doing our own forming, framing steel erection, drywall, wood stud finishing, trusses and windows. We bring in electrical and mechanical sub trades. It makes you a little more competitive if you do more in house,” said Ken Perrier. “ If the project is larger it can hurt the timeframe so we sub out more of the work which helps the schedule by having more people on site. On a project this size ( Fire Stations) we did some of the work that fit us well and subbed out other. Our major sub trades of electrical, mechanical, controls and masonry were fantastic.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2015
ing with in the spring. We supply and install Butler buildings that are pre engineered and can become offices and other use buildings. It has been fairly busy here in Thunder Bay the last 3 or 4 years. There has been a lot of infra-
Continued From Previous Page We work with them on a regular basis which helps as well. I understand the city is very happy with the new fire
station product and feel they have quality buildings that will last for years.” According to Perrier the Thunder Bay construction outlook looks quiet for the start of 2015 with not a lot out for bid but hopefully will pick up.
“ PerHol does design build work and have a few projects we are deal-
structure funds put forward by the city. I think we may have a slower year to start but it will pick up.”
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TBRHSC – Leadership Announcement – Andrée Robichaud Toronto Area. Andrée Robichaud, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Acting CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute, has submitted her resignation from both positions to the respective boards of each institution, announced Susan Fraser, chair of the TBRHSC board.
“It was with a mixture of disappointment and appreciation that I accepted her resignation,” said Fraser. “Andrée has made a great contribution to the advancement of our academic health sciences centre and she will be missed. But we all wish her well in her exciting new venture.”
Robichaud has served as CEO and president of TBRHSC since 2010 and was appointed acting CEO of TBRRI in November, 2014. She will be assuming the role of President and CEO of the Rouge Valley Health System in the Greater
Dr. Gary Polonsky, chair of the board of TBRRI, also thanked Robichaud for her contribution.“While Andrée hasn’t held the formal role of CEO for very long, she has been an invaluable support to TBRRI over the past nearly five years,” said Polonsky.
“The recent merging of the two CEO positions has created an even greater synergy between the two institutions that positions us well for the future and Andrée was a big part of that.” For her part, Robichaud thanked the two boards, the staff at TBRHSC and TBRRI, as well as the community of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario.
als in my time here and I know as I leave that our hospital and our research institute remain in good hands. I look forward to our paths crossing in my new role.” Robichaud will remain in her current positions until mid June. The board will announce a process in the coming days to secure a new CEO.
“My family and I were welcomed to this community with open arms and I will always appreciate that,” said Robichaud. “I have had the great fortune to work with many accomplished and inspiring individu-
Confederation College Donors Delivered Over $183,000 to Deserving Students – 336 Confederation College students received 429 scholarships, bursaries and awards totalling $183,560 at the annual Awards Recognition Reception. Confederation College students were recognized for their academic achievement and community involvement. In addition, the event provided an opportunity for stu-
enrolled in the College Access program at Confederation College. “It was a challenge getting started and I wanted to quit a couple of times, but everyone at the College helped me and gave me the support I needed to keep going. These awards allow me to move forward with my education and I am very grateful to the donors.” Darryl hopes to
Confederation College President Jim Madder (left) with Darryl Bear, Recipient of the Sturgeon Timber Ltd and Anonymous 1 Awards dents and the College community to thank donors for their continued support. “It can be difficult to balance work and family life on top of the responsibilities of going to school,” said Chris Cartwright, President of the Student Union. “Thanks to the support of our remarkable donors, these awards help to relieve some of the financial burden for our students, freeing up more time for them to focus on their studies.” One such student, Darryl Bear, received the Sturgeon Timber Limited and Anonymous 1 awards. “I went back to school because I wanted to do something for myself to become a better person and for my kids and grandkids so they will appreciate education and hopefully follow in my footsteps,” he said. Darryl is a first generation student from Red Pheasant First Nation in Saskatchewan and is currently
continue his educational journey at Confederation College with a post-secondary program in the fall. Jim Madder, President of Confederation, echoed the words of thanks. “Because of our very generous donors, we were able to present an incredible number of scholarships, bursaries and awards to students tonight. These awards help our students to achieve their academic goals and, through the actions of our donors, teach them an important lesson in leadership and community.” Strong financial support and community relationships are paramount to the success of the scholarship, bursary and awards program at Confederation College. The generous contributions from donors help to ensure that students who require financial assistance can put their dreams to work and get the support they need.
Adding this year’s amounts to those of the past five years, with the help of these donors, Confederation College has been able to deliver awards to almost 1700 students, totaling over $950,000. · Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Along with its main campus in Thunder Bay, Confederation College has eight regional sites located in Dryden, Fort Frances, Geraldton, Kenora,
Marathon, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Wawa. Confederation College delivers exceptional education and training to an average of 8,800 combined full and part-time students per year and currently has a total of 805 full and part-time employees. Confederation’s regional economic impact and contribution is valued at $411.2 million annually.
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SHOP LOCAL . . .REALLY! Yes…Really! Isn’t time to discover or even rediscover what great places there are to shop right here in Thunder Bay! With all the hype on cross-border shopping and on-line shopping, it is easy to get accustomed and excited about seeking out deals, deals, deals, when the world is at your finger tips. But wait! Before you even click the mouse…check out what you can actually buy here in Thunder Bay! Shop on line! Local vendors want you to access their web sites but, at the end of your search words in your tool bar type in… ‘/in Thunder Bay’! For everything we purchase for our families, ourselves, our homes, our friends, should we not at least see what our local vendors have to offer? In a lot of cases, most anything we purchase across borders has a price close to what we would pay here at home…so why not keep the dollars at
home? Everyone knows the importance of strengthening their own economy and it is no secret that a stronger economy secures more jobs and spin off and so on and so on. Those are two benefits of shopping local! Another benefit is the good feeling you get when you know you have exercised loyalty and supported your local vendor in your community! Vendors want to do well for their consumers. They want to develop a relationship with families for generations! And there is something to be said about that kind of recognition for both consumer and vendor/local shop owners! Now, no one can shop local all the time, but wouldn’t it be nice if whenever we shop we make ‘did I try to shop local today’ our first option. The barter system is still in style, maybe not everywhere you shop, but if a consumer asks for a bit of a discount, most
times the local vendor will check out the possibility to satisfy the request and when both parties are satisfied…a new relationship has just begun. Why do we want our locals to shop local? Because when shopping begins at home, everyone benefits! We want to encourage local support for our local businesses and build commerce in our city. Sometimes, as we meandour our way through our shopping sectors and we see another business has closed its doors, or we hear about a local vendor going out of business, we acknowledge some sense of disappointment, because it marks change and we know that business will more than likely never return. So… so?? What can w do to ensure our local
businesses stay in business? We can try to shop at home first. We can ask our local vendor to send out for items we can’t find in their stores. We can see if we can get a better price from the local vendor. The bottom line is… “If I shopped today…could I have shopped local?” One local purchase at a time is all it takes to build a stronger local economy. That’s all it takes! As the old saying goes,… “We’ll be here, as long as you are here!”
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Shop Local Story Continued By Sherry Aalto “Well! Here we are Arnold sweetie! The last box of decorations is packed and ready to go back up into the attic! Another Christmas…. come and gone!” Elizabeth’s mother Joyce said as she pointed at the box. “Now all that is left to do is sweep up the needles off the living room floor, put the boxes away…and we are done!” said dad. The tattered cardboard boxes with the all the wonderful decorations were carefully packed and waiting to be placed back into their familiar place, the cold attic! There…they will wait for another Christmas to display their magic of the season and the retelling of their journey from the local shops to the Christmas Tree located on Sifton Avenue…by the airport I might add… in this fine city! After the floor was swept, all of us children stood and watched as mom and dad carried the boxes ever so carefully and set them by the ladder in the hall way leading to the attic. Here, the boxes would be carefully passed up to dad, one at a time, and we would watch dad gasp a breath with every exchange from his hands to the attic…. ‘Safe for another year!! Phew!!’ he would always say! Our imaginations still filled with the excitement of the Christmas just now passed and yes…the sadness of knowing it was over for another year…kind of a sweet sorrow, if you know what I mean?
“O.K. Father! Here is the last box. Careful now!” Mom instructed as dad reached for the slightly moisture stained container. As mom passed the box high up to dad, the most unexpected thing happened!!! The bottom of the box started to open!!! “Oh! No!” Mom yelled out! “Father wait!!! Wait!!” We all inhaled with a loud gasp…and watched as dad tried to capture the contents….but…it was too late! Yes …you guessed it….the entire bottom of the box had opened right up and released all of the wonderful memories right there on the floor! The sound alone was distinct and cannot be duplicated by any other circumstance. A moment of silence in disbelief, followed by the Serenity Prayer, was shared by all. Father looked at mom with the widest of eyes, waiting for her retribution! But…instead, she started to tear up in her eyes, not able to look at the damage of shattered memories! Dad came down from the ladder, careful to not step on any of the ornaments, and put his arms around mom, telling her how sorry he was. Mom sniffled back her emotions and hugged dad back. She then bravely faced the reality and took stock of the situation. “Well Father!” she said. “At least it doesn’t look as bad as I thought it was going to be!”… “And besides, Edward’s is having their After Christmas Sale on all their Christmas ornaments this weekend, to clear out their inventory!” At this point, dad,
rolling his eyes up to the ceiling, just reached in his back pocket and handed mom his entire wallet! Mom…stopped sobbing! As mom and dad leaned down to pick up all the ornaments, myself, Benjamine, mom and dad, could hear the soft whimper of a child. It was Sarah! She spotted her little tiny angel…the one with the golden wings and the halo, lying there on the floor, with a now, broken wing! Bejamin, who never shows any sign of weakness, put his arm around Sarah and sheltered her eyes from the tragedy! When you are three years old and your favourite angel takes a nose dive, you’re going to feel it! “Oh Mommy!!” sobbed Sarah. “That!”..she stuttered and sniffled! “That was my FAVOURITE!” Mom immediately went over to Sarah and began to console her. “Well Honey! I know! Maybe daddy can fix it…right daddy??” “Yes Mother!” Dad replied, with a bit of uncertainty and a tremouring in his voice. “Of course daddy can fix little angel!” His only thought was… ‘Should I use glue or duct tape???’ ‘Better go with the glue!’ Sarah immediately stopped crying and turned all tears into faith in her father’s skill! In here little voice, she presented just one other small request from her dad. “Daddy? Could you fix Sarah Two Two …too? She has a broken arm!” Sarah Two Two was Sarah’s big doll that was almost the size of Sarah and she was named that so no one would mix up the two Sarah’s!
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And again…dad thought to himself…glue or duct tape???’ After mother took account of what was damaged, what could be fixed and what had to go out in the trash…she began to fill up with enthusiasm, thinking about the wonderful treasures awaiting her at Edwards’s Hardware Store and Victorians Cupboard…and…and…and…well …I guess mom made herself quite the little list! So, bright and early the next morning we all got up early and mom cooked fresh eggs with Canadian Bacon and toast with home-made bread from our local bakery and then we all went out and bought more memories from our local gift shops and what a great time we had!! This is one for the books! I guess you could say we are the Shop Local Family! Me, Elizabeth, my brother Benjamin, our little sister Sarah, our mom Joyce and our dad Arnold…talk to you again soon and don’t forget to Shop Local!
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It’s All in Your Genes… Really?? Often in my practice, patients like to relay back to me what their other health professionals have told them about their health
conditions. “Blame your parents’ genes, they gave it to you.” “ Once you have arthritis there is nothing that can be done but manage the pain.” “You can eat whatever you want because it won’t affect your condition/disease” I cringe when I hear these comments. Not only are all these statements inaccurate, they also allow the patient to play the vic-
tim of bad luck or to continue to live an unhealthy lifestyle instead of taking ownership of their health. In all fairness, I am not certain whether it is what that doctor actually told the patient or the patient’s interpretation of what was said. Never the less, we have been conditioned over the last 50 to 60 years to believe that, although a healthy life style is a good idea, our genetic code has the overwhelming influence over us. This could not be further from the truth. It is nice to see that, especially in the last five or so years, the message is starting to change. Epigenetics (the study of trait development and influence on an organism that is not attributed to DNA) is all the new rage in the science community now. However, not that long ago scientists studying or suggesting this new theory were mocked and disregarded by their peers. Another example of this close minded approach to scientific discovery is in the field of brain changes and neuroplasticity. We will leave that topic for another day. The fact is that genetics only has a 5-20% influence on our health, depending on the
disease or condition in question. That means that at the very least, 80% of our health is influenced by our lifestyle and our environment. So where did this idea that the genes meant everything start? To answer this more thoroughly I would strongly recommend that everyone read the book The Biology of Belief, by Bruce Lipton PhD in cell biology. Lipton very eloquently describes how once DNA was discovered, scientists were swayed to believe that the genes were the key to everything living. In fact, here is another example of how pure science, which is the creation of a hypothesis and testing that hypothesis without bias or influence, was thwarted. The epigenetic theory reports our genes are merely an outline written in pencil, that can be modified and changed with any number of physical and chemical influences. The real brains behind every living thing are the cell membranes. Cell membranes have a series of doors and locks which are heavily influenced by their environment. Once the environment around the cell changes, certain doors will either open or close and it is this physiological process which then can pencil in or erase out changes to our outline (DNA).
This is not to take away from those suffering from all kinds of terrible diseases, but what if we changed our emphasis and culture of healthcare? Based on these facts, we should put 80 to 95% of our healthcare resources into researching, encouraging and promoting a healthy lifestyle and a healthy environment. Let us not even go that outrageous, as it may be too much for many to fathom, and say we spent 50% of health care dollars on sick care (our present model of health care) and 50% on real health care. That would make for a whole lot more people not going to emergency departments, a whole lot less drugs being consumed, a whole lot less incidence of cardiovascular disease, strokes, cancer and type 2 diabetes. That’s an awful lot of resources which would then be freed up to research and treat those that actually have diseases heavily influenced by genetics.
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.
NOBODY LIVES FOREVER © 2015 Brian Babcock End of life decisions are challenging for the medical profession; caregivers; family, as well as the each individual faced
with a terminal illness. Technology allows life to be extended often beyond the point where there is true quality of life. Difficult decisions then must be made about the allocation of medical
Your Northern Voice!
resources, about the wishes of the dying, and their family. The recent Supreme Court of Canada
Legal Matters decision that the Criminal Code provisions prohibiting assisting suicide are unconstitutional has created a wide range of reactions - too wide to address in this space or at this time. We all need to see how Parliament responds before we can truly understand the ramifications, which is why the one year deferral in the decision was wise. In Ontario, a recent Court of Appeal decision has emphasized that where the ill person is not mentally competent to make an end of life decision, a Consent and Capacity Board has the ultimate power, reviewable by the courts only if that decision is unreasonable. Consent and Capacity Board panels have special expertise in the field. However, they consist of strangers. A far better way to deal with end of life decisions is available through a Power of
Attorney for Personal Care. In addition to appointing a decision maker, you may include a health care directive, which can specify what level of heroic measures or resuscitation you desire in particular circumstances. Your desires are only guidelines for your decision maker, and in the event of disagreement between your decision maker and the doctors, the Consent and Capacity Board still has the (almost) last word. The old saying is that nothing in life is certain but death and taxes. We are not tax advisors, but we do advise our friends, clients, and even our own families to prepare a thoughtful Power of Attorney for Personal care, to let your family know where it is; and discuss with them the difficult topic of your own personal views about end of life decisions. Do it for yourself. Do it for them. We at Weilers have over 65 years of experience in advising clients about the hardest issues in life, including preparing for the end of life. We are also open most Saturday mornings to make it more convenient.
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2015
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Ontario’s Landscape is Dominated by Forests, Lakes and Wetlands • Ontario is 107,636,418 hectares (ha) in total area (266 million acres) • 87% of Ontario is publicly owned (93.2 million ha) including: . 9.7 million ha within parks and protected areas . 83.5 million ha of Crown land • 13% of Ontario is Federal/First Nations or privately owned (14.4 million ha) • 18% of Ontario is water (19.4 million ha) of which 8.7 million ha is the Great Lakes • 9% of Ontario is wetland, marsh and open bog (9.5 million ha) • 5% of Ontario is field or agricultural land Provincial forest • 66% of Ontario is forested (71 million ha) - this is approximately 17% of Canada’s forests and 2% of the world’s forests • Ontario’s forests cover a land area equivalent in size to Germany, Italy and the Netherlands combined. • Ontario has approximately 85 bil-
lion trees • there are over 7 billion cubic metres of growing stock (tree volume) in Ontario • there are four broad forest regions in Ontario (Hudson Bay Lowlands, Boreal, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence, deciduous) • Ontario's most common tree is the black spruce (37% of all growing stock) • the sugar maple is Ontario's 6th most common tree (4% of all growing stock) • 61% of Ontario's forests have reached full development • 9% of Ontario’s forests are within Parks and Protected areas (6.4 million ha) • 81% of Ontario’s forests are on Crown land (public forest lands 57.5 million ha)
Undertaking (AOU) and on the Whitefeather Forest in northwestern Ontario • the AOU is approximately 438,000 square kilometres (or 43.8 million hectares) of which 27.1 million hectares is Crown forest Forest harvest • forest harvest area: 114,110 hectares • forest harvest volume: 12.6 million cubic metres (m3) Forest renewal • forest renewal: 109,040 hectares . 43,648 hectares regenerated by
artificial means (tree planting and seeding) . 65,392 hectares regenerated naturally • renewal assessment and evaluation: 166,416 hectares • renewal contributions through forestry trust funds: $62.8 million • renewal spending: $57.1 million • 35,803 hectares site prepared, and 73,710 hectares tended • 86% of the total area assessed met an acceptable regeneration standard Source Province of Ontario
Managed forests From April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012: • 44% of Ontario’s Crown forest was managed for forestry (27.8 million ha) • forest management on Crown land takes place in the Area of the
“Proudly supporting Northern Ontario’s forestry sector.”
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