May 2014
Construction: Thunder Bay’s New Consolidated Courthouse is Open!
Inside! SHOP LOCAL . . . REALLY! Sault Ste Marie Mayor Happy With Their New Event Centre McEachern’s Tool House Celebrates 70 years In Business!
Thunder Bay Hydro gives customers the power to manage their hydro accounts online
Thunder Bay Hydro gives customers the power to manage their hydro accounts online
North Superior Publishing @tbay25
TD Bank Group announced important funding to Confederation College for unique biomass heating research study
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
HONDA DEALERSHIP IS IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD By Sherry Aalto Wanda Wuorisalo, Office Manager of Gore Motors, Thunder Bay would like to share a little information with you. Honda has been a trusted name in the auto-
motive industry for just over 50 years now. The Honda Motor Company was formed in 1948 by Soichiro Honda to produce motorcycles. In June 1963 Honda produced their first four-wheeled vehicle, the T360, a small 356 cc pick-up truck. Prior to the first vehicle rolling off the assembly line, Ralph Wuorisalo of Thunder Bay owned a gas station and a Honda Motorcycle Shop on Gore Street, hence the name…Gore Motors. In 1963 Honda Company approached Ralph Wuorisalo to entertain his interest in becoming Thunder Bay’s first and only Honda Dealership, to sell their new line of motor vehicle options. Ralph was very excited to take up with the opportunity and has not looked back. The trusted name, Honda, combined with the great sales and service under Ralph’s command for Gore Motors, has paved the road to success for Ralph and now for 3rd gen-
eration family ownership. Announcing 50 years in the business this May, 2014, is quite a milestone for the ‘Gore Motors’ Family. The dealership moved from Gore Street to
376 Memorial Avenue to open the new dealership and as business grew, a larger home was required for the dealership. The property across the street, at 361 Memorial Avenue was purchased and customers did not have to go far to find the new location. As with anything, improvements were always on the books, not only for the Honda vehicles but at Gore Motors, renovations to the current showroom site were definitely in the plans as well. Starting in February, 2014 and to be completed by the end of May, 2014, a new facelift for the dealership has started to show positive response, not only for the staff of Gore Motors but more importantly, for the customers that visit the showroom at the dealership. With modern style in architecture and colour presentation, anyone can see that Gore Motors is keeping up with the
times. Incorporated into the design is open concept as opposed to walled off cubicles. The new design also allows for easy access to other onsite services, such as designated areas for specific purposes of administration. As with any renovation, it is important for customer services to be uninterrupted and Gore Motors has achieved that. It might be interesting to know that Gore
Motors is one of the oldest Honda dealerships in Canada. When you are providing service to a community for 50 years, people get to know you and trust you. The family and staff at Gore Motors strongly believe in community and for years they have contributed and donated to many charities, benefits, relief funds and The Toy Odyssey Toy Drive for the children of The Faye Peterson House. It would be easy to say ‘click on Gore Motors’ and see what they have in stock for you…but that would just bring you to the cyber site. What you really need to do is get into your vehicle, if you have one, and go to Gore Motors and let the nice people at Gore Motors help you get into a new vehicle or even just another vehicle. Either way, visit Gore Motors located at 361 Memorial Avenue, Thunder Bay. Or call (807)3450902. Or you CAN click if you want to www.goremotorshonda.com
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
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NEW THUNDER BAY COURTHOUSE OFFICIALLY COMPLETE! Construction of the Thunder Bay Courthouse is complete, improving justice services for local residents. Hon. Madeleine Meilleur, Attorney General of Ontario, was joined by Hon. Bill Mauro, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP for Thunder BayAtikokan; Hon. Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North; Cathy Rodger, Councillor, Fort William
First Nation on behalf of Chief Georjann Morriseau; Stan Beardy, Ontario Regional Chief; Keith Hobbs, Mayor of Thunder Bay; and other local dignitaries, at a rib-
ment's economic plan that is creating jobs for today and tomorrow. Infrastructure Ontario partnered with the Ministry of the Attorney General in the development of the new Thunder Bay Courthouse. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario that delivers large, complex infrastructure renewal projects on time and on budget. Over the last six years, the province has applied Infrastructure Ontario’s Alternative Financing and Procurement model to 83
major projects valued at approximately $38 billion, saving taxpayers an estimated $3 billion. for a very long time. Consolidating courts services will help create a more efficient justice system and provide some much needed stimulus for our south core rejuvenation." Hon. Bill Mauro, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan
bon-cutting celebration to mark the completion of the project. The new facility, located between Brodie & Archibald streets, south of Miles Street in Thunder Bay’s downtown south core, consolidates the Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice, previously operating in separate locations. The multistorey building has space for 15 courtrooms, including a multi-accused, high security courtroom and four judicial conference rooms, including one Aboriginal Conference Settlement Suite. Construction of the new facility began in November 2010. At the peak of construction, there were an estimated 320 construction workers on site daily. The new courthouse was fully operational on April 14, 2014. The design and materials used throughout the new courthouse reflect Thunder Bay’s natural environment. Stone and wood are used at the building’s base for durability and to represent the natural elements of the Thunder Bay region. The textured glass tower on the building’s north face is designed to evoke the region’s many waterfalls. Infrastructure investments like the Thunder Bay Courthouse are part of the govern-
QUOTES "I'm pleased we were able to deliver a project that Thunder Bay has been seeking
“Our new courthouse is a prime example of our government’s commitment to investing in infrastructure across the province and right here in Thunder Bay. The completion of this project is great news — not only for the justice community, but for local businesses, community agencies, and residents.” Hon. Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and MPP for Thunder Bay – Superior North
“This modern and accessible facility brings together all court services in the region under one roof. The Thunder Bay Courthouse is another example of our commitment to building courthouses that meet the highest standards for accessibility, sustainability, security and technology, including an Aboriginal Conference Settlement Suite, the first of its kind in Ontario.” Hon. Madeleine Meilleur, Attorney General For more information: Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca
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Publisher’s Note Scott Sumner Debbie Amaroso has been the Mayor of Sault Ste Marie since 2010 and was in Thunder Bay recently for the Northern Mayors Conference in Thunder Bay. I asked Mayor Amaroso about how their Essar Centre, a 5000 seat events facility which is 7 or 8 years old now, has affected the city. “ It was a very controversial decision to
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
Sault Ste Marie Mayor Happy With Their New Event Centre because you don’t know what you are going to find when you get in there we made the decision to go new. Now people are thrilled that we bit the bullet and went down that road.” “ It has increased our ability to host major events such as the Scotties Curling and we are pursuing the Brier plus all the other entertainment we bring in. We have the Sault Greyhounds Junior A hockey as well. It has added a gem into the whole tourist product that we can offer.” “ The Essar Centre has 5000 seats and some standing room as well as box seating. We have the floor space for conventions. In a 5 to 7 minute walk of our downtown core there are several hotels available. It is a very active area when events are on. The facility was built at a good time to keep our costs around $40 million and we had participation from the federal and provincial governments.” “ All I can say is if you have done your due diligence and feel it is the way to go then take the leap and do it. Our old building in Sault Ste Marie was over 50 years old and do you invest millions of dollars in it because once you are done it is still a 50 year old building. Our new centre had helped us market our tourism and events. These facilities are not money makers but we are doing better than we thought we would in our initial forecast.” “ In Sault Ste Marie we are holding our own. This year we have seen unprecedent-
Above: Debbie Amaroso, Mayor of Sault Ste Marie with Minister Gravelle and Mayor Keith Hobbs, Thunder Bay. Side Top: New medical building under construction on Oliver Road Side Bottom: Condos going up on the waterfront ed assessment growth.” The other mayors in attendance from Timmins, Sudbury, Kenora were pleased with the meetings. “We, the North, are the driver of the economy of Ontario with the mining and forestry sector. It is not the manufacturing sector of Southern Ontario any more. It is the natural resources of the North. Once
build a new facility in Sault Ste Marie as people had attachments to the old facility. When we started looking at a retrofit and knowing it would be an uncertain budget
President Miranda Bolt Graphic Designer
Sonia Rutter @ 807- 631-4244
nspinc@tbaytel.net
the Ring of Fire gets going we will drive all of Canada.” Mayor Hobbs Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay has several great construction projects underway right now and the new event centre woulld certainly add to our progress!
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
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Lakehead University MBA student helps the Underground Gym A scholarship from Mirabelli Corp. inspired Lakehead University student Jordan Cash to raise more than $1,000 for the Underground Gym in Thunder Bay.
potential,” Cash said.
Cash, a Master of Business Administration student, had planned to volunteer at the gym as a boxing instructor but didn’t have
“This is huge for us. The timing couldn’t have been better,” Panetta said, adding that the donation will also provide food for the
Peter Panetta, Underground Gym founder, said Cash’s donation will help keep the youth centre open.
Photo cutline: Jordan Cash, left, presented Peter Panetta with a cheque for $1,035
time due to his busy school schedule. Instead, he raised money for the Underground Gym in a fundraiser called MBAs Care. “At the end of last semester I received a $200 scholarship from Mirabelli Corp. that I decided to donate to the Underground Gym, and I wanted to see if I could raise more,” Cash said. After giving a short presentation to his MBA classmates, Cash was impressed when 15 students donated a total of approximately $400. He is also collecting donations from faculty members in Business Administration and contributing some of his own funds. Cash, who is from Pickering, Ont., added money he won from a Proline Ticket, some stock dividends and money left over from his student loan “I want people to know that Lakehead MBA students care about this community. We are proud to assist the Underground Gym to help young people reach their full
youth. “We usually have five or so fundraisers per year and they’re very important. These donations are much appreciated and much needed,” Panetta said.
“ We discovered the Underground Gym and talked to Peter on the phone several times. I thought I could help the kids learn how to box and then learned it really is a community centre. I didn’t have the time I thought so the least I could do is raise some funds for them. I wanted to show the entire community that we are corporately and business driven as MBA’s but not to the extreme. We care about our community.”
include judo, gymnastics, arts and craft, piano and guitar. We offer what ever is offered to us to help the kids. Most of the kids live near here but I will pick them up and bring them here if they have moved away.” “ What we do is keep them safe number one and number two occupied in a family styled atmosphere. Sometimes the kids come here to be with their friends, sometimes they want to eat and sometimes they are mad and want to hit the bags.”
Alannah Drost, MBA student Dr. Lifeng Geng, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Business Administration, said Cash has shown great leadership with this project. “Jordan is a very talented MBA student. He's doing great academically and it's nice to see him make time for the local community,” Dr. Geng said. “I'm happy that he has devoted his time and energy to the well-being of kids. He clearly has a lot of potential to be a great leader.” Cash raised the money through a scholarship from Mirabelli Corp., and donations from other MBA students and Lakehead faculty. Jordan Cash is a final year MBA student who will complete his studies this August.
“ I would say Jordan was the brains behind the operation. Jordan did a presentation to our class as to what he wanted to do here and is a good motivator.” Peter Panetta, owner operator of the Underground Gym. “ We don’t have any core funding so this $1000 donation is huge for us. We have low overhead at the Underground Gym, but still have bills so that is where the funds will go. We will also use some of the funds for food for the kids. “ We have started our 16th year in February here at the Underground Gym. We have a gym, a kitchen and a youth centre for the kids. We need more space but I am not complaining. Our many programs
“ We have worked with well over 1000 kids. This year we have had over 300 kids registered and many just drop in as well. It only costs the kids a smile,” smiles Peter.“ I have seen kids lives changed, not every one but many.” “ This is my passion. I retired early just to do this. I love people and more so kids and I like to help mold them into someone positive who will affect other kids when they get older. I really believe what I do for these kids; they will do for someone else down the road. It will effect society. It is a small thing but you will be surprised how much difference even one person can make.”
Sonia Rutter @ 807- 631-4244
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
From one Local Business to another… and another… and another… Welcome to our inaugural Shop Local – Shop Thunder Bay section which will now be a regular monthly feature in Thunder Bay Business. North Superior Publishing is a local business celebrating its 30th anniversary this December. Because of our long-term success, we decided to create a section in Thunder Bay Business where local businesses can be showcased. WHY? · Because we want to support local business. After all, local business has supported us for almost three decades. · Because we wanted to create a place specifically for local businesses where they can promote and advertise their goods, products, services, events, etc. Our local businesses carry many of the same items that are found in non-locally owned businesses, and we want everyone to know who they are and where they are. · For the purposes of this publication, a
local business is defined as: o You are a locally owned BUSINESS operating in Thunder Bay o You are a locally owned and operated FRANCHISE that makes advertising decisions independently from its Corporate Offices o You are a BIA who wants to promote your Shopping District HERE’S WHAT ELSE WE ARE DOING We will be doing a feature article on one of the advertising businesses each month. You may be asking, “How are you going to make THAT decision?” On the 16th of each month, we will put the names of all the businesses advertising in the next issue of Shop Local – Shop Thunder Bay in the proverbial hat and draw a name. This means that each business has an equal chance of being our Featured Business of the month. We can’t make it any simpler than that! Thunder Bay Business is also available
online for no less than 12 months. These are the complete issues of each publication which means that EVERYTHING that was in the print issue is online for an entire year! So, not only can people read the articles in the back issues, but they can also see who advertised in those issues. This is just one more way that we are helping businesses to promote themselves at no additional charge. Starting in the May issue, all the ads will link directly to the businesses’ website – not only for the current issue but for all online back issues. (Issues prior to May 2014 will not hyperlink to websites). In future issues, we will be including more editorial about the local economy, statistical information, articles on events, and more. We would like to invite YOU to submit articles about shopping local such as how local businesses are working together, tips on marketing locally, what BIA’s are and
why they work, etc. The bottom line – North Superior Publishing wants our local businesses to THRIVE! For more information on Shop Local – Shop Thunder Bay, contact: · SYLVIA GOMEZ – (807) 629-7599 – sylvia@northsuperpublishing.com · SONIA RUTTER – (807) 631-4244 – sonia@northsuperiorpublishing.com · SHERRY ALTO – (807) 627-9345 – snwriter@hotmail.com We are looking forward to promoting your local business in Thunder Bay Business – Thunder Bay’s Business Publication. Thank you for supporting us in making this section of Thunder Bay Business a huge success. BY THE WAY… Did you Shop Local today? Could you have?
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!”
Our Next Shop Local Section Ad Copy Deadline May 27th Contact: Sylvia at 629-7599 0r Sonia at 631-4244
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
OUR CHOICE THERMAL IMAGING OWNER: KIM BROOKER Contact information: 96 North High Street, Room 410 Thunder Bay, ON P7A 5R3 Phone: (807) 632-2575 Email: yourchoicethermalimaging@yahoo.com Website: www.YourChoiceThermalImaging.com Kim Brooker is a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Thermal Imaging Technician, and she has brought Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging to Thunder Bay. Kim has been providing this service for the past 2 years to women in the city on a mobile basis. After moving to Thunder Bay from Florida last year, she permanently opened her clinic here in
August 2013. This potentially life-saving assessment modality is now available to the women of northern Ontario year round at Your Choice Thermal Imaging. Thermography is readily available in many locations in southern Ontario, but Kim and her imaging business – Your Choice Thermal Imaging – is the ONLY clinic currently providing this service north of Sudbury. Kim became interested in thermography after finding out that two friends and a family member had developed breast cancer after going faithfully for their yearly mammograms. Her research found that mammograms were a tool used for discovering a lump or mass that is already present – and in most cases has been present for many years – before becoming large enough to be seen in the x-ray. Thermography, or Thermal Imaging as it is also known, uses digital infrared thermal imaging to detect and record the infrared heat radiating from the surface of the body. The procedure is based on the principle that chemical and blood vessel activity in both pre-cancerous tissue and the area surrounding a developing breast cancer is almost always higher than in the normal breast. Abnormal thermological patterns of the breast clearly demonstrate abnormal areas of heat. Kim believes that Breast Thermography is
one of the best early warning systems available today. Early lifestyle and dietary changes can result in better imaging results and overall health. Breast Thermography uses no painful breast compression, no radiation, and is non-invasive. It is an ideal tool for screening, not only for women over 40, but younger women as well. Because there is no radiation or compression, it is ideal for women with implants, pregnant and nurs-
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The "wait and see" or "come back in a year" approach is no longer acceptable.
It is estimated that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer; therefore, it is imperative that every means possible is used to detect breast health issues as early as possible. Thermography does not replace standard detection methods, but when used as a multi-modal approach (clinical examination, thermography, mammography), peer reviewed studies have shown that 95% of early stage breast cancers can be detected.
ing women, and women who have had previous breast surgery. This technology is particularly exciting for young women and women with dense breasts since mammography isn't usually useful in these cases.
For more information, please visit: www.YourChoiceThermalImaging.com or contact Kim Brooker at (807) 632-2575 for an appointment.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
Thunder Bay Hydro gives customers the power to manage their hydro accounts online BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS Thunder Bay Hydro recently launched My TBHYDRO, a new web based system that makes managing electricity use easier than ever before. Every Thunder Bay Hydro customer can now sign up for My TBHYDRO to view monthly bills and track electricity usage online. Thunder Bay Hydro Vice-President, Customer & Information Services Division, Tim Wilson, says; “My TBHYDRO is essentially a customer service tool. It has been developed with the needs of customers in mind with benefits like 24/7
access, paperless billing, account management functions, and more.” Thunder Bay Hydro issues almost 28,000 statements each month. My TBHYDRO provides a paperless billing option that benefits the environment and results in cost savings in the printing and mailing of bills. Continues Wilson; “My TBHYDRO helps customers to improve their conservation efforts. With the ability to track electricity consumption, customers will become more aware of their energy use." My TBHYDRO is free for all Thunder Bay Hydro’s new and existing customers, and has secure and safe 24/7 access. All Thunder Bay Hydro customers are being encouraged to sign up for the new service.
To do so, simply visit www.tbhydro.on.ca, and follow the sign-up instructions. Thunder Bay Hydro representatives were
April 4th-6th, where customers had the opportunity to sign up with Identification.
Tim Wilson Vice President Customer & Information Services Thunder Bay Hydro at the Spring Home & Garden Show at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition Grounds
Tim Wilson Vice President Customer & Information Services Thunder Bay Hydro “ We have done customer surveys over the last 7 or 8 years and one of the topics that continued to come up was customers wanting more on line access to their account. We spent time determining exactly what the customer wanted from the on line system- paying on line, account access and access to electricity usage. All the conversation programs the province has us delivering right now meant we thought it was a good opportunity to marry access to electricity usage and access to pay.” “ It is a simple and easy sign up process. You have to have a valid email address, your current bill in front of you and then you do as you would with many other on line options you have- get a password set up and we will bring you through a little security questioning on your account and then you are in. It is really easy to navigate once you are on. It is very interesting to see what you are doing when the electricity spikes occur. The system is up to date as to yesterdays date. ” “ We want our customers to move to this system through natural attrition and don’t have any intention of charging for paper bills.” “ Our hope is to get about 3000 customer sign ups and we will pay for the capital costs of the system with 1000 sign ups.”
Our Next Issue of
Thunder Bay Business Economic Report On Thunder Bay Ad Copy Deadline: May 27th Contact Sylvia Gomez @ 629-7599 Sonia Rutter @ 631-4244 www.northsuperiorpublishing.com www.thunderbaybusiness.ca
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
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McEachern’s Tool House Celebrates 70 years In Business! By Sherry Aalto When you’ve been a successful part of your business community for coming on 70 years…you have to be doing something right! And no wonder there are many messages of congratulations for Rick McEachern, 3rd generation proprietor of McEachern’s Tool House, located at 721 North Vickers Street here in Thunder Bay. Over the last 70 years, McEachern’s Tool House has stood the test of time, and time again. Originally founded in May, 1944 by George Peter McEachern of Thunder Bay, ( known as G.P.), McEachern’s Tools House, started out as a building materials
and tool supplier store, that served customers and construction firms in the city and region. G.P. McEachern operated his business on two principles, and that was trust, and quality service. G.P. built his business one satisfied customer/contractor at a time. He has believed in the barter system as well and would sweeten the deal whenever possible because he also believed in the old adage… ‘Charity begins at home’! G.P. passed the family business to his first son Joe and Joe, in-turn, passed the business to HIS son Rick, who has now owned the business for just over 17 years himself. The first years in business, the G.P.
McEachern family found life to be quite busy as G.P. and his wife were also starting a new family, sons Joe and Ross at the time. The business remained steadfast and
and ‘call ahead’ for fast pick- ups. Rick McEachern, born and raised in Thunder Bay, enjoys family life with his lovely wife and their growing family of
the McEachern name was quickly becoming well known throughout the region. Like any business, it saw prosperity and made adjustments to survive during economic down turns. As competitors moved into the city, McEachern’s Tool House stayed strong by examining and diversifying their options in order to remain competitive. Even with all the newest big box hardware stores in the city, McEachern’s Tool House can still match or even beat the competition for pricing at least 90% of the time. One thing you might notice when you stop into the showroom and store of McEachern’s Tool House is that, they haven’t any prices on most of their stock. That is because they still do business face to face with their valued customers and they like to discuss the product and the prices available. Other services that are still offered today are ‘to the site delivery’
three. Rick himself loves to contribute to his community, his family and his customers. He believes that shopping local is vital to the survival of local businesses and
encourages others to remember that “Charity begins at home!” When you offer personal service, delivery to job site, trusted commerce, top brand names in products and very competitive prices…it all sounds so good…but as Rick says…”The most important aspect of any business is…The Customer!” Drop in and visit Rick McEachern and his knowledgeable, friendly service team and get what you deserve…The Best! McEachern’s Tool House, located at 721 N. Vickers Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario. (807)623-4951 or visit their website McEachern’s Tool House/Thunder Bay.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
TD Bank Group announced important funding to Confederation College for unique biomass heating research study Representatives from TD Bank Group were on hand recently to present the BioEnergy Learning and Research Centre of Confederation College with $100,000 to support a unique biomass heating research study. The funding will provide a much needed boost for the first phase of the project. “TD is committed to being an environmental leader. We work to reduce our own environmental footprint, to provide customers with green options and to make a positive impact in communities,” said Jane Duchscher, Senior Vice President, Retail Banking for Ontario North & East.
“We are especially thrilled to be here with Confederation College to support its continuous efforts in environmental research together we can all make a difference” The first phase of the pre-feasibility study, “Biomass Heat as a Catalyst for Community Development in the Boreal Forest,” will begin this May. The College led project will include partnerships with Lakehead University and the Biomass Innovation Centre (Nipissing University). “This project aims to establish the economic and environmental value of biomass heating for northwestern Ontario,”
source. Aside from the predicted (direct) benefits to the communities, the introduction of biomass heating to the region would create several new jobs which could be filled by College graduates.”
said Jim Madder, President, Confederation College. “We are grateful for the support from TD Bank Group that will allow us to explore the viability of this innovative and sustainable heating
Biomass heating systems use agricultural, forest, urban and industrial clean wood residues to produce heat and electricity with a lesser effect on the environment than fossil fuels. This pre-feasibility study will examine how the wide-spread introduction of biomass heating may decrease northwestern Ontario’s reliance on the importation of fossil fuels and supplement heating options in remote communities. The results of the study will address any potential challenges with biomass heating in northwestern Ontario and be used to outline best practices and regulatory needs for future implementation. This technology has the potential to be a catalyst for a variety of future opportunities. 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 kilometers. 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. Jane Duchscher, Senior Vice President Retail Banking TD Bank. “ We have been long standing supporters of the environment in many ways giving back to the communities like today and also with a community grass roots based effort- Friends of the Environment. Here we appeal to our customers to give us monthly donations as small a $2. We utilize all of the money we collect to the community. In this region we have done $500,000 this last year in Northeast and Northwest regions. Our funds of $100,000 will go to a great biomass project here at the college and specifically looking at fly in locations up north. We hope it can be a life changing proposal” Peter Johnson with TD Environment “ We have a green branch in Toronto in October 2013- a test SEED branch fully solar panels generates reusable energy. It is our design branch for the future and very energy efficient. It was designed with the needs of the customer, the environment and the community all taken into consideration by our real estate and architect people. “ We have a reduction of 40% of energy use with solar panels on the roof and walls, rain water capture, natural gardens in the front and electronic charging stations for electric vehicles. The branch is modular so can be constructed quickly. It has a tremendous amount of wood that all comes from a certified sustainable managed forest. It is beautiful and isn’t like your traditional bank branch.”
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
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2014 Housing Starts in Thunder Bay Housing starts in Thunder Bay, Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) were trending at 117 units in March down from 256 units in February according to Canada
"Seasonally adjusted housing starts in Thunder Bay saw another decline in March. Although demand for housing continues to be healthy, it was not a sur-
month at 2.7 units," stated Warren Philp, CMHC's Market Analyst for Thunder Bay. CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and obtain a more complete picture of the state of the housing market. In some situations, analysing only SAAR data can be misleading in some markets, as they are largely driven by the multiples segment of the markets which can be quite variable from one month to the next. The standalone monthly SAAR was 9 units in March, unchanged from February.
Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend is a six month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) (1) of housing starts.
prise to see weak first quarter starts activity given the exceptionally cold winter. Since 1980, Thunder Bay has seen five months of March without new construction, keeping the 10-year average for the
SHIFTing Leadership for 2014 April 21st, 2014 – SHIFT Thunder Bay’s Young Professionals Network is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Marchl as SHIFT's new President.
Nathan Lawrence, has recently been elected President of NOACC – Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce and has stepped down from his role as President with SHIFT to pursue this new opportunity.
Nathan held the position of President with SHIFT for a term of two and a half years. The dedication and leadership Nathan demonstrated throughout his duration as President has been inspirational and has left a standard for others to follow in the future. His leadership with SHIFT will have a lasting impression on our growing organization, and our community has a whole.
Nathan speaks about his experience with SHIFT: “It has been an incredible experience and amazing privilege to represent such an amazing organization. It has also been amazing working with all of the current and past SHIFT Board Directors during my 2.5 year term as President. We would not be where we are today without all of the hard work of our Board Directors, SHIFT Interns and volunteers.” We offer a tremendous thank you to Nathan for all of his hard work and dedication to SHIFT during his time both as President, and as a Board Director. Nathan will remain active with the organization as the immediate Past President.
Effective immediately, Peter Marchl, will assume the role of President of SHIFT. Peter is stepping up from the
Vice-President role in SHIFT and has been part of the organization since 2011. He is very excited to be representing SHIFT as the President and is looking forward to leading the organization into its’ next chapter.
SHIFT - Thunder Bay’s Young Professionals Network is Thunder Bay’s home for young-minded professionals who wish to cultivate social and professional networks and engage themselves in the community. For more information, visit www.shiftnetwork.ca
Preliminary Housing Starts data is also available in English and French at the following link: Preliminary Housing Starts Tables As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 65 years of experience to help Canadians access a
variety of quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable housing solutions. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making informed decisions. Follow CMHC on Twitter @CMHC_ca (1) All starts figures in this release, other than actual starts and the trend estimate, are seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) - that is, monthly figures adjusted to remove normal seasonal variation and multiplied by 12 to reflect annual levels. By removing seasonal ups and downs, seasonal adjustment allows for a comparison from one season to the next and from one month to the next. Reporting monthly figures at annual rates indicates the annual level of starts that would be obtained if the monthly pace was maintained for 12 months. This facilitates comparison of the current pace of activity to annual forecasts as well as to historical annual levels.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
ALREADY A BIG EVENT ! It would be difficult to engage in any conversation these days without a mention of the proposed "Events Centre", formerly known as the "MultiPlex". It would be even more difficult to discuss construction projections without including a project expected to total just under $100 Million. Thus the presentation of some salient points for your consideration the first of which is the most current being the "Abbotsford Experience". In this very true and lifelike scenario a municipality strikes a deal guaranteeing a certain amount of revenue. Like most legal transactions, to end a contract there is a financial penalty. Rather than us being shocked by this, is it not better to take the lesson in hand and ensure it simply doesn't happen here? We are already wiser from the misfortune befalling our municipal neighbours and hope they can recover in due time. We are currently in the process known as Phase 3 which has an upset limit (maximum) of $1,440,300. This will provide us (as a community) with a "Project Ready" facility development plan that will include a design, and a business plan identifying capital and operating costs. Until this is completed in June, almost any
number you hear tossed about is speculation. We do have some ballpark facts and fig-
ures that should remain central to any discussion of this issue: We have chosen a location after a critical selection process. We have a target seating of 5700 with 24 private boxes. There is approximately 50,000 square feet of convention space. Traffic and parking are major considerations in the site planning process. Ensuring ease of use by transit riders is a major directive. Accessibility for persons with disabilities is now standing operating procedure. Environmental and energy efficiencies are mandated by law.
The project will have significant economic multiplier effects through construction employment and then for the numerous economic investments that come with such projects. Having met the team tasked with delivering this awesome assignment I will now personally state that their competence in design, planning, construction, and management is matched by an extremely credible record in event attraction and entertainment productions. I will go further by emphatically confirming that their track record has an extraordinary amount of integrity that gives me the confidence to endorse getting the real facts instead of hearsay and opinion. Just as the Abbotsford situation gives us pause for serious reflection on proceeding, every valid question that is being raised during this process must be answered with clarity and definition. I recall vividly the decision to repair the Fort William Gardens where many of us have spent a huge portion of our lives. It cost us taxpayers $1.5Million for the $11 Million repair. The Feds and the Province came through big time. It was supposed to last 10 years. That was in 1993. Therefore we have received 21 years of value already. It also means we have to come to
grips with the reality that the Gardens cannot last forever nor can its mechanical systems be replaced easily or cheaply. Thus the need for a new facility should be self-evident. It is what started us down this trail. The "multi" aspect was to include things that we know are missing in business development, conference attraction, and large-scale occasional entertainment. Much of this was debated intensely in the 2010 municipal election and the vast majority of candidates were in favour of the concept. When we examine the objections and concerns of the proposal as it stands today it mostly centers on whether we can afford it or not. Thus it should be safe to say that no elected official or candidate will support the project if we cannot afford it. If we can afford it and the money is locked in place then we should able to say that because it will be good for the future of our community then we, as reasonable people, will support it. Hopefully that clarifies this until we receive the final sets of analysis. Respectfully submitted, Ken Boshcoff Councillor At Large
IMPROVING HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE NEAR NOLALU Mauro & Gravelle announce Ontario Government Strengthening Northern Economy, Creating Jobs
Ontario is creating 16 new jobs while improving infrastructure on Highway 588 east of Nolalu. The Whitefish River Bridge, four kilome-
tres west of the Highway 590 junction, is being renovated to improve travel and safety for families and businesses while strengthening tourism and the economy in the Northwest. Investing in road and highway infrastructure is part of our government's economic plan that is creating jobs for today and tomorrow. The comprehensive plan and its six priorities focus on Ontario's greatest strengths — its people and strategic partnerships. QUOTES “Improvements to the Whitefish River Bridge and other highway infrastructure initiatives are creating jobs and laying the foundations for future economic growth throughout the region. We look forward to the completion of this project and others in the area.” — Bill Mauro, MPP for Thunder Bay–Atikokan “Our government understands that highways are economic and social lifelines in
Northern Ontario and we will continue to make important investments that improve safety, create jobs and support regional economies.” — Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines “Our government is committed to improving infrastructure across the province to strengthen our economy and create jobs. Projects such as this will help ensure our roads are in good condition and among the safest in North America for years to come.” — Glen Murray, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Infrastructure QUICK FACTS § Wilco Contractors Superior Inc. has been awarded the $1.6-million contract. Work will begin in spring 2014 with completion scheduled for fall 2014. § Since 2003, Ontario has rehabilitated 3,624 kilometres of highway and 212 bridges and built 524 kilometres of new highway and 121 new bridges throughout Northern Ontario.
Your Northern Voice at Queen's Park
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
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Supporting Economic Development in Thunder Bay six jobs. Ontario Creating Jobs, Strengthening Northern Economy
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines Ontario is helping to build a stronger, more diverse northern economy while creating 19 jobs in the Thunder Bay area. With $1.1-million in support from the province's Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), four private-sector projects in Thunder Bay are boosting the regional economy. Projects include: • KBM Forestry Consultants Inc. is receiving $529,750 to upgrade its aerial photography service and build a hangar, creating two new jobs. • Sencia Canada Ltd. is receiving $500,000 to develop software for clients to access critical training reports on their mobile devices, creating
ing or sustaining more than 4,500 jobs.
• XLV Diagnostics Inc. is receiving $100,000 to develop a prototype for a low-cost digital mammography unit, creating eight jobs. • Olivier Strategic Marketing is receiving $25,000 to launch a marketing, public relations and event planning business, creating three jobs. Supporting business expansion and development is part of the government's economic plan that is creating jobs for today and tomorrow. The comprehensive plan and its six priorities focus on Ontario's greatest strengths -- its people and strategic partnerships.
Quick Facts • Since 2003, the NOHFC has invested $897 million in more than 5,900 projects in Northern Ontario, creating or sustaining nearly 23,000 jobs. • In the Thunder Bay area since 2003, the NOHFC has invested $145 million in 1,206 projects, creat-
Quotes
“Northern Ontario has an abundance of talented entrepreneurs and these investments demonstrate our government’s commitment to helping them grow their businesses. The NOHFC continues to support economic diversification and job creation across the North.” Michael Gravelle Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Chair of the NOHFC “The NOHFC has helped support significant change in focus for our company that has fostered a period of exceptional growth.”
“Sencia Canada Ltd. is pleased to have received this funding through NOHFC to provide highly skilled technology workers with exciting job opportunities using advanced technologies. Sencia’s client list provides testament to the fact that companies in Northwestern Ontario are able to do business efficiently with companies worldwide.” Irene Kozlowski President, Sencia Canada Ltd. “This important financial support has been instrumental in helping us hire the talented engineers and technicians we need to design our next-generation mammography system, which when complete, will represent a valuable international high-technology export from the Thunder Bay area.” Joel Liederman
Peter Higgelke CEO, XLV Diagnostics Inc. President, KBM Forestry Consultants Inc.
The Smell of Sawdust © 2014 Brian Babcock The smell of sawdust in the air is a sure sign of spring. Unfortunately, a good number of building projects will end up as fodder for lawsuits. From modest home renos in small claims court, to massive Superior Court slugfests over megaprojects, sawdust makes a sweet smell for lawyers.
Legal Matters Although avoiding disputes entirely is not always possible, here are a few tips on how to reduce your risk, and increase
the chances of a happy ending:
1 Owners - use reputable, qualified contractors. Check references. For larger jobs, check bonding or other credit confirmation. The lowest price is not always a bargain. 2 For both owners and contractors - get it in writing. Under Ontario law, any home renovation contract worth more than $50 must be in writing. That is not the only reason getting it in writing is important. A contract should be clear and complete as to price, specifications, completion date, warranty, and any special terms - the more precise the documents, the less room for misunderstandings. When it comes to specifications, judges put the burden on the experts - the contractors - but if home owners want something specific or special, they must make sure it is written down. 3
6 Understand the need for building permits, and address them early to avoid delay. What is required? Who is applying? Are engineer stamps needed? 7 Almost every job has changes. Agree to changes in writing in order to avoid misunderstandings. 8 Understand construction lien requirements and comply. Home renovations are NOT exempt from construction liens. 9 Understand health and safety requirements and responsibilities did you know that more than one contractor on site may make the owner the “constructor”? That creates a whole different set of rules. 10 Address disputes or issues early and openly - better to resolve between the parties than fight over it in court.
Keep deposits reason-
able. 4 Do not make progress payments beyond the state of construction. 5 Reputable contractors give receipts.
11 Holdback for deficiencies and establish a deficiency list on final inspection- preferably an agreed list. 12 Do not make a final payment until the work is fully inspected, completed and satisfactory. We at Weilers have been helping clients at every stage of the construction process for over 67 years. Whether drafting contracts or addressing disputes, we have lawyers with the know-how.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
Sunday Lake Project Close To Thunder Bay BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS Transition Metals Corp President & CEO Scott McLean is excited about a new project for their company- Sunday Lake. Sunday Lake is located about 40 kilometers north of Thunder Bay just off the Armstrong highway. Transition Metals is based in Sudbury with an office in Thunder Bay. “ We have 24 projects across Canada and
one in Minnesota with a total of about 2000 square kilometers of property. We bundle those into 5 different districts, one of those areas is in Thunder Bay centered around our new discovery called Sunday Lake,” said Scott Mclean. “ The main focus there is nickel, copper and most importantly in this development, platinum and palladium elements. Our company is built around 8 geoscientists that generate and operate projects. In Thunder Bay we have two resident geoscientists.” Transition Metals picked up the Sunday
project last spring, did some prospecting in the summer and started up the drilling in the fall. On hole 2 they intercepted 20 meters of over 3 grams of platinum. The property is on logging roads and bush roads. “ We only have four holes so far but are
Transition Metals Corp President & CEO Scott McLean encouraged. It is a bit of a treasure hunt but we use a lot of sophisticated methods and techniques that helps us to increase those odds significantly. We are looking for specific minerals.” said McLean. “ We are really at the discovery stage and it
can progress or go flat quickly. If it continues to be interesting we will carry on drilling. The exploration stage can take a few years if we continue to get valuable results. At the end of the exploration stage we have a good understanding of the minerals. A long way out is the feasibility stage after we understand the size, grade and continuity of the mineral. You then can begin to understand the economics of the project- how we are going to mine it, how we would mill it and then transport it, all those important questions.” Transition Metals have been around since 2008 and focused on exploration. A good part of their team have worked together previously at Falconbridge and in those roles worked at advanced stage projects into production. “ Our companies business model is a project business generator model. We look at coming up with exploration projects and then finding partners to work with on them. We like to sell interest in projects to help finance the work and keep ownership of our company. We recently did a financing as well to help our work.” TSX XTM.V
“ Working with business for a sustainable and prosperous future”
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014
OPENING OF NAVIGATION "TOP HAT" CEREMONY Thunder Bay Port Authority along with the City of Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce held its annual Opening of Navigation "Top Hat" Ceremony aboard the MIV Algoma Enterprise at Richardson's Current River Terminal on Wednesday, April 23,
23,000 tons. We can load 7 ships at one time at the port but that is the best case situation.” Captain Edwin CJ Seward was born at Cape Breton Island and has been captaining ships for 41 years. “ We left Port Colborne April 1st and a nor-
2014. The community annually recognizes the vessel which opens the local navigation season. The season is opening later than past years due to challenging ice conditions throughout the Seaway system following the harsh winter of 2013-14.
mal three day steaming time to get here took 20 days as the ice was so bad all the way. It may be a little easier going back. Lake Superior is the worst I have ever seen. In some places the ice was 8 to 10 feet thick. We got stuck a few times and wouldn’t have
MV Algoma Enterprise, owned and operated by Algoma Central Corporation, arrived in port Monday, April 21 at 16:23. She was closely followed by MV Radcliffe R. Latimer, another Algoma vessel, which arrived at 20:00 the same day. Captains Edwin C. J. Seward and Richard Hesketh, along with Chief Engineer Anthony Arcand were recognized at this event. Mayor Keith Hobbs, Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Uli Walther, and Port Authority Board Member David O'Brien were on hand to welcome Algoma Enterprise to Thunder Bay.
Tim Heney, CEO, Port of Thunder Bay “ The port is a 300 million a year economic impact for Thunder Bay. This year we have a lot of interest from Western Canada as they have a big grain backlog. We have about 20 ships waiting to come in the next 10 days.” “ This winter has been the worst I have ever seen here but this year should be a big year for us. We will play a role. The backlog is so large it will take til the next harvest to move it, it is that big. It will create a more consistent year.” “ A laker like this can carry 26,000 tons and ocean vessels are usually able to carry
made it with out the icebreakers. “ I have enjoyed the career and will retire in about 1 year. Today we are 6 weeks in
and 6 weeks off on the job. We have a crew of 25 people.”
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014