THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2012
Publisher’s Note Scott Sumner You park your car, walk into the beautiful Magnus Theatre, the lights go down and you are suddenly completely immersed in the lives of 4 characters who begin to tell their stories. There is something special about live theatre and we are very lucky to have the opportunity to easily experience it at a high level right here in Thunder Bay. Wynn and Max Trueman, played by JoAnn Waytowich and Scott Maudsley are hosting their long time friends, Abby And Roger Nash, played by Liz Gilroy and Danny Johnson in their newly designed cottage or as we call it in Thunder Bay camp! These couples carry lots of baggage with them and their interactions present many true-life depictions of how life can really be like for human beings who have known each other for much of their lives. The play opens with Wynn, a psychologist and Max a trial lawyer getting ready for the arrival of their guests. Max is a neat
PAGE 3
The Long Weekend by Norm Foster at Magnus Theatre leaving her job at the office and likes to analyze everyone especially her husband. Their true feelings for their upcoming weekend guests are made know before they arrive and it sets up an interesting set of interactions for the weekend. When Abby, a retail design store owner and Roger a math tech turned screenplay writer arrive the real nature of their friendships start to flesh out and the audience is ready for some laughs and insights into married relationships. Local residents Jo-Ann Waytowich and Danny Johnson were both excellent in the play and made for a natural experience. For me the theatre provides you the ability to become part of the activities of the cast and unlike television or movies offers a more intimate experience that allows you to become involved in their lives. Sitting in Magnus provides a close setting from which to view and for this play it was fun to be in the middle front row where you really get the theatre experience.
Top: Wynn and Max Trueman played by Jo-Ann Waytowich and Scott Maudsley are hosting their long time friends Abby And Roger Nash, played by Liz Gilroy and Danny Johnson PHOTOGRAPHER: BARRY WOJCIECHOWSKI beautiful current setting. Be sure to check out a Magnus production as soon as you can and be prepared for a very unique live theatre experience, which will have you
coming back again and again. See www.magnus.on.ca
Engineering Northwest Ltd. CONSULTING ENGINEERS FULL RANGE OF ENGINEERING SERVICES - Project Management, Feasibility studies, Preliminary and Detailed Design, Engineering and Construction Surveys, Contract Administration and Site Inspection FIELDS OF SERVICE - Water and Sewer Systems, Land Development/Subdivisions, Highways and Roads, Traffic Studies, Bridges, Water and Sewage Treatment, Landfill Sites, Airports, Marinas, Environmental Assessments. Phase 1 Site Assessments
Ph: 807-623-3449 Fax: 623-5925 #301-200 s. Syndicate Ave Thunder Bay, Ont P7E 1C9 www.enl-tbay.com
freak who likes order right down to the way the coasters are placed on their 100 year old coffee table. Wynn has trouble
Prosperous Future
The Long Weekend is the last regular production of Magnus Theatre now in its 40th season or Ruby Anniversary In Thunder Bay. Magnus has certainly come a long way for their days in the east end church theatre where they began to the
“Working with business for a sustainable and prosperous future.” 409 George Street Thunder Bay, ON P7E 5Y9 Tel: 807.623.6000 raffej@parl.gc.ca
John Rafferty, MP. Thunder Bay - Rainy River New Democrat Critic for Forestry
www.johnrafferty.ndp.ca
PAGE 4
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL 2012
Condo’s & Hotel Move One Step Closer at Prince Arthur’s Landing BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS April 12th, 2012 was an important day for the private sector developers of Prince Arthur’s Landing as they became the legal owners of the land they require to build a 4 star hotel and 2 condominium buildings. “ We are very excited to be here today. it has been a process of 4 years and we are very excited to have the land transfer today. The land transfer means we can start to deal with it on a residential, commercial and hotel basis. We have enough land to do 2 condominium projects and a hotel. We have the flexibility to do either first but our choice would be to build both the hotel and condominium project at the same time. The market will determine the project timing,” said Gisele MacDonald. President of Resolve Group Inc. “ On the condominium side there is a pent up demand for about 80 and we are building 51. We can’t market the condos until we finalize the final condo plans with the government agency. There is room for 2 or 3 developers to build condominium projects in Thunder Bay . Our location on the waterfront will make our project stand out. If you want the lifestyle of having some synergy and living around people on the waterfront you will prefer there.” said MacDonald. “ I can assure you the hotel project is coming just like I can assure you the condos are coming. I hate to give time lines but our goal is to have an announcement on both the condo and hotel by the end of June 2012. The reason for our hold up is we had some contamination on the site and it took longer for the city to have that work completed and then there was the certify cation of getting that work done. That is normal development process and the problem when giving out a time line. If everything goes well you can meet that time line but if something comes up it it difficult to reach the timeline.” said MacDonald. “ From the day we start construction we a re looking at 16 to 18 months to completion depending on the dates we go in the ground. I just signed about 92 documents and there are many restrictions but none that are too onerous that we can abide by. This is our business and we have done it for years.” said MacDonald who indicated her company has a two year period from today in which to start construction on the project. she noted the project is financed through their company and the bank. “ I am really excited that his day has finally come. I think we have a real com-
Above: The signing of documents occurred with John Hannam, City Clerk Thunder Bay, Mark Smith General Manager Development Services Thunder Bay, Mayor Keith Hobbs Thunder Bay, Gisele MacDonald. President of Resolve Group Inc. and Peter Belluz. President of Manshield(NWO) Construction Inc. mitted group working on the project and we have millions of dollars into the project. Our team is staying all over the city because we couldn’t get rooms in the same hotel as they are booked. We have engaged CBRE out of Toronto to do a hotel feasibility study here in Thunder Bay and the study came back very positive. That’s why we have been able to work with the hotel chains. We hope sometime in June to be able to announce the hotel. We are working with more than one hotel group but are further along with one group.: said MacDonald.” Our first step is to go back to Winnipeg and put our package together for the Ontario Condominium body and they must approve it. That is the final stage before we can begin to market the project.” “ Everyone has made us very welcome here. Today we were at the waterfront site and I am proud to say Thunder Bay will be my second home. My partners believe in the project and I would like to thank them for their support. We believe we have the best development at the best price point in Thunder Bay. In the next 4 to 5 weeks we hope to open the presentation centre and go to market with the condominiums. Today I am giving my commitment we will contact the existing clients who have expressed interest first. The Sleeping Giant Awakens today!” smiles Gisele MacDonald. “ It is an exciting day today welcoming our partners from the Resolve Group. I
There are over
100 million websites.
&DQ \RXU FXVWRPHUV ¿QG \RXUV"
Website design, development & hosting. Search engine optimization. Custom applications.
corporate web solutions www.sencia.ca
_ 1.888.817.3707 _ info@sencia.ca
would like to thank everyone for their efforts especially Tim Commisso who made many trips to Winnipeg. This project is helping to build our community and will contribute to the downtown revitalization of our north core.” said Mayor Keith Hobbs. “ The details involved were emmense and everyone who touched this project need to be thanked. We wanted commercial, residential and recreation on the development. Last December we reopened the park to
the public and today is an equally important milestone with the transfer of the lands. They can commence the private component of the project and invest upwards of $60 million in our community which is a good thing for our community.” said Councilor Mark Bentz of Waterfront Committee. “ We found our private sector partners in 2008 and in 2011 we had our substantial completion. We needed our private sector partner from the beginning or we wouldn’t have got the infrastructure funding.”
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2012
PAGE 9
Wayne Toyota Dealership Expands To Serve Customers Better BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS If you are a long time resident of Thunder Bay you will remember what the Intercity area looked like in the late 70’s - mostly open land with few buildings. One of the first buildings in the area, at what is now the corner of Balmoral and 10th Ave, was Wayne Toyota. The car dealership started in 1978, expanded in 1987 and now is completed their third expansion always on this site. “ When we started there wasn’t much here just the Wheelies Roller Rink next door, which is now Smith’s RV Centre. The area was mostly open swampland and now it is unbelievable. We added land to our site starting with two small lots, and then buying a piece to give us access to 10th Ave. We also bought some land in front of us. Today we have about 3 acres. Our building started as 7000 square feet and is now 20,000 square feet in size.,” said Wayne Marostica, founder and now General Manager of Wayne Toyota. Michael Marostica, the son of Wayne, is now the Dealer Principal at Wayne Toyota. The 32 year old was born in 1980 after the start of the business by his father! Michael started out at Wayne Toyota washing cars and cutting grass at the age of 12 years old and in his early 20’s began selling cars. Michael went to Lakehead University graduating from the commerce program with a major in marketing and then went away to school at Washington, DC taking basically a Masters Degree in Automotive Management to give him a wider understanding of the industry. Michael slowly moved up in responsibility and became the dealer principal in 2008 some 4 years ago, taking over from his dad. Another important member of the team at Wayne Toyota is Jodie Krupa who is related to the Marostica’s and has been at the company for 10 years. Previously Jodie who is a chartered accountant, was in public accounting, a controller at the Valhalla Inn and even worked for Revenue Canada so brought some different skills to Wayne Toyota. “ We all have different strengths and can jump in when needed. Wayne had a long history in the car business so it is a good dynamic to help to know what to expect.” said Jodie Krupa. Today Wayne Toyota has about 30 employees. “ You are running a multitude of businesses in one- new vehicle, used
vehicle, parts, service, finance and leasing areas all of which are independent and profit centers,” said Wayne Marostica. “ It is quite complex. The automotive business is a big part of the economy. In Thunder Bay we have the highest concentration of auto dealers in the country. By that I mean we have all the brands, which isn't so in all cities. That is a reflection of the strength of Thunder Bay and it also makes it very competitive because there are so many out
there. The consumer can go any where to other dealers in the province or even in the US especially when the currency was
low.” Continued Next Page
PAGE 10
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2012
Wayne Toyota Dealership Expands To Serve Customers Better Continued From Previous Page “ We did the expansion to service our customer better as customer satisfaction is really important to us. A bigger facility means we can get you in and out quicker and people when they walk in will have a whole feel of customer friendly. This expansion has redefined the way we do things. In the past we were more of a smaller dealer and you go through growing pains to get to become a bigger dealer. All this is for our customers to help service them better.,” said Michael Marostica. Wayne Toyota now has a complete new show room and waiting area, a new parts department and a service drive through. “ The combination of Toyota and us determined the best way to set up. Toyota has been number one worldwide. It has been a challenge when you are number one as everyone comes after you but Toyota has been a great company to work
with. They see the customers first, the dealer second and Toyota third. They have been very helpful in all issues, say with the recalls in the past and the earthquake and problems in Japan and Thailand that set them back. They have come a long way recently after the destruction when some of their plants were destroyed. Toyota is huge. They like the US and Canada markets. Canada is the 3rd or 4th market in the world for them.,” said Wayne Marostica. The renovation has been ongoing at Wayne Toyota for several years. The company even had to move hydro lines, which took a year, to expand their service area. “ I appreciate what our customers have gone through with our expansion. Right now my sales department is working outside in a trailer and I know that is not easy to buy cars. The community has supported us as we have moved areas around in the dealership and continued to use us, ” said Michael Marostica. “ The customers are
excited about the improvements. We have customers now still with us from 1978, it has been wonderful. This expansion would never have happened without our cus-
small car and in terms of mileage you get up to 80 miles per gallon with city driving. Toyota has leading technology in hybrid technology and Wayne Toyota have sold
tomers.”
the first two Prius C cars on their lot right away.
There are some exciting new cars coming out for Toyota in 2012. The Prius C is a hybrid just newly released. It is a nice little
Continued Next Page