Business May 2015

Vector Construction Ltd.: 50 Years of Success!

INSIDE Bay Credit Union and Apple Community Credit Union Members Overwhelmingly Approve Merger NEW CWB VESSEL LOADEffective May 1, 2015! ING FIRST GRAIN SHIPMENT IN Former Thunder Bay THUNDER BAY Resident Coleman Hell Signs International Recording Deal Auto-One Car Care & Service Centre

Bringing Cutting Edge Healthcare to Northwestern Ontario: TBRRI Officially Unveils Cyclotron

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2015

Cancer Society Appreciation Luncheon

Bombardier Steps Up to Support Employees and Community With $80,000 for United Way

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2015

Publisher’s Note Scott Sumner Coleman Hell grew up in Thunder Bay’s Northwood area and has always had a great interest in music. The 25 Year old now lives in Toronto with his bandmates Rob Benvegnu (a.k.a La+ch) and Michah Dowbak. Coleman has been actively pursuing a full time music career for 7 years now which seems poised to take off with the recent Columbia Records signing to an international recording deal. His current single Two Heads has received over 8 million plays on Spotify.

I talked to Coleman recently by phone from his West Toronto home.

Former Thunder Bay Resident Coleman Hell Signs International Recording Deal released have good views and I think we have a following. Our song Two Heads has over 8 million plays on Spotify which is pretty crazy. That has been our biggest success to date and has caught the ears of some important people.”

You signed a recording deal with Columbia. What does that mean for

and want to maintain artistic control. It feels the most natural to us. We are using computers and keyboards.”

I like the acoustic version of a song called Sharpshooter.

“Sharpshooter was having fun and playing it live in our house. We can all play instruments ourselves in addition to elec-

Up until now you have been an independent artist?

I have been independent pretty much the whole time I have been here in Toronto until recently. We write and record our own songs, shoot the videos and put them out ourselves including doing the artwork. Some of the songs we have

living here together, making music and are signed as a group.”

Will you be back to Thunder Bay anytime soon? “ I would like to do a show in Thunder Bay in the summer. In Toronto we are playing a music festival this summer as well as a festival in New York. We also have a string of Canadian Tour dates, say a mini tour. We have agents in Canada and people in New York which is pretty fresh and we are still meeting.

Are you getting lots of attention for your music? “ We are getting lots of feedback, sometimes too much but is is good hearing all the comments. When I first came to Toronto I was working at a bar and in a music job but am fortunate to be doing this for a few year full time and hope to keep it that way. I wake up and immediately want to do music so as a long as I can do that and only that it is pretty awesome.

You have always had a major interest in music Coleman? “ When I was younger I listened to my parents music but was kinda of making up my own songs in my room and playing shows, always doing it in some capacity. At the start I wasn’t always super vocal about being in music but it is something I always felt inside. Since I was 17 I have been seriously pursuing music, playing shows at local bars in Thunder Bay. You started out as a rap group? “ I was in a band called Burns n Hell and we had a rap song out about Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay heard me doing rap but I was always singing. My favourite thing to do is writing songs. We have put out many songs on You Tube since then and also have many not out yet. I have been in Toronto for about 5 years.

Thunder Bay has a good music scene but Toronto has a lot more opportunity to play shows, collaberate and meet people.

It is a huge diverse scene.

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you Coleman?

We signed with Columbia a few weeks ago. It means we are going to have a much larger support system and bigger opportunities. For example the song Two Heads we released on line. The label will now work it to radio internationally.

We wouldn’t have that opportunity on our own. They have a huge team of people to help so this is good. Canada ia a little bit easier to break in as a independent but the rest of the world is tougher.

We have been sitting on an album and tweaking it getting ready to put out. We will be doing an official video for Two Heads and work it as a single for the first part of the year. Hopefully when we have gained more attention and the time feels right we can put the album out. It is done but when it is not out yet we keep adding and changing it.We have a studio is our house and record everything here. We prefer to do things on our own

tronic beats. It is kinda fun to play a stripped done version every once in a while, it is cool.

The video of the song All the Monsters is fun and humourous. “ We shot it on a road trip from Toronto to New York to Montreal with masks we made ourselves. We rented a convertible and made a rogue video. It is a lot easier to make music now and release it on your own but the market is also more saturated. There is so much out there so is harder to make your voice louder and get heard over everyone else.”

Things will change now for you as a Columbia recording artist? “ It is something we have all been working to do as a group so it feels good. I am ready to work even harder at getting bigger. My two band mates are from Thunder Bay as well and we have been

How would you describe your music Coleman? “ I like to let other people put their label on our music but maybe pop. I have been focused on singing versus rap.

Toronto is probably the best place to be making music as an electronic or unconventional act whereas Vancouver is mostly rock. We live in the west end of Toronto in the more artsy area. I liked lots of music growing up like- Prince, Steely Dan, Springsteen and Bob Dylan but like to bounce around to different music today.

How has it been trying to make it in the music business? “ Music success has a certain degree of talent and hard work to it but it is also luck, perseverance and not giving up. I have known a lot of talented musicians in my time that are great but don’t have the drive or want it as much. It is sticking to your guns.”

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2014

Bay Credit Union and Apple Community Credit Union Members Overwhelmingly Approve Merger Effective May 1, 2015!

Community and Members will have a new, truly local Credit Union!

The only two locally managed financial institutions with head offices in Thunder Bay are coming together to better serve our members and strengthen the community! Members of the two local credit unions should know that the members and staff are the greatest assets, and that both organizations share common values.

Together, they will have the opportunity to expand products and services while continuing to provide the high level of quality service that members have come to expect.

The new legal name for the credit unions will be Bay Credit Union Limited. Lynne LeGros, General Manager of Apple Community Credit Union Ltd. added that, “Although all official business transactions will be done under the Bay Credit Union name, we recognize the history of both credit unions and will honour and preserve the legacy of Apple Community Credit Union.” Lynne LeGros also wants everyone to know, “This merger will enhance career opportunities for all employees as well as increase the ability of both organizations to improve member service with increased operating hours and additional products.”

This merger has been in the works for nearly a year, and the first official announcement for the upcoming merger was presented on October 1, 2014. The actual merger becomes effective May 1, 2015.

Bay Credit Union was founded in 1946 as People’s Co-operative Credit Union Limited. It began its operation to serve the large Finnish-speaking population of Port Arthur. Once it started serving all of Thunder Bay in 1975, it became Bay Credit Union Limited. It has grown to serve 3,400 members, employs 17 staff and has $45 million in members’ assets.

Apple Community Credit Union was incorporated in 1951 as Provincial Paper Mill Employees’ Credit Union Limited. In

1998, the Credit Union attained open bond status and the name was changed to APPLE Community Credit Union Ltd. Over the years, two other Abitibi credit unions, two Elevator credit unions, and the CNR credit union joined Apple Community Credit Union and currently it serves 1,580 members, employs 6 staff and has members’ assets of?$13 million.

This merger is definitely a statement that credit unions are here to stay and becoming stronger and better! The two locally owned credit unions, Bay Credit Union and Apple Community Credit Union, have decisions to make every day, just like the big six, but it is important to know that credit unions are governed by its members, and this merger is absolute proof of that! Truly exercising autonomy and independence! One thing that makes credit unions of Northwestern Ontario very cool is that while bank earnings from regular banking institutions are paid to a small group of share holders, credit union members are the owners/shareholders.

Therefore, after a portion is set aside for reserve, profits are given back to its members in ways of dividends, rebates and free services.

Members will not have to worry about a change in the geographical locations…both credit unions will remain operating in their current locations, they will just be operating under a brand new name! Apple Credit Union is located at 406 Cumberland Street North, and Bay Credit Union located at 142 Algoma Street South, Thunder Bay. Credit Unions are quite prominent in rural areas of Ontario and also in Northwestern Ontario, as opposed to larger cities in southern Ontario and in Alberta, with exception to downtown Vancouver, which seems to have an abundance of credit unions.

It is very important to know that credit union members own their credit union(s)!

And the managers and board members have to really, really be careful how the money for operations is being used and that there is a due diligence to the mem-

bers for accountability and transparency because, as Lynne LeGros reiterates, “It is the members’ money…not ours!”

Also, it is important to mention that there is a Credit Union Managers Association here in Thunder Bay. The association is comprised of all of the credit unions in Thunder Bay, and they are very community minded and sponsor and participate in many community events. For example, Movie Nights at the Marina Park are sponsored by the Credit Union Managers Association. Also they are involved in sponsoring the Multicultural Society when they hold their Folklore Festival for the children’s area there, just to name a couple.

Choosing a credit union over traditional bank facilities is something everyone should consider before making a final decision on who will be your financial service provider. Credit unions do not only understand finances, they understand people and your needs for the region you live in…like here in Northern Ontario.

Really! Who else would understand when your snow blower has fallen through your roof?? They do…and they are there to help with that! As opposed to getting a free ipod from other financial institutions, that will be obsolete in a couple of weeks…credit unions can show you programs and products that will save and earn you actual money that you can invest and reinvest. Now that’s worth checking out!

You can also easily switch from traditional banking to the credit union …all you have to do is go into the credit union or

call the credit union and see what the difference is yourself. It is your money!

Don’t you think you should have a say in who is managing it? Think about it!

Then make the call and see why banking with a credit union might be the best thing you could ever do when it comes to YOUR money!

The decision for the merger between Bay Credit Union and Apple Community Credit Union was made by its members, for its member. They are growing stronger and better in the community and for the community! Check them out and have a say in what happens to your hard earned money!

Bay Credit Union Ltd. / Apple Branch 406 N Cumberland Street Thunder Bay, ON P7A 4P8 Tel: (807) 345-8153 Fax: (807) 343-9271 Toll Free within Canada: 1-855-211-5136 Bay Credit Union Ltd. 142 South Algoma Street Thunder Bay, ON P7B 3B8 (Directions)Phone: (807) 345-7612 Toll Free: 1-877-249-7076 Fax: (807) 345-8939 Email: info@baycreditunion.com Telephone Banking: (807) 346-5478

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2015

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Auto-One Car Care & Service Centre Used Car Sales

By Sherry Aalto So? You’re looking to purchase used vehicle that is in excellent condition and where you can receive full servicing for it too?….Well….look no further than Auto-One and Auto-One Used Car

will receive and deserve! Auto-One also provides quality, full car and truck cleaning and detailing services. Need new tires? Well, again….need we say it? Look no further!

Auto-One is a full dealership and was established in 1994 and is owned and

Sales, located at 80 South Court Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario!

Here, at Auto-One Repair Shop and Auto Sales you will not only be pleasantly surprised at their amazing selection of used vehicles but, you will also be amazed at their prices. Auto-One is a full service repair shop and sales centre for all makes and models and is also a consignment sales service centre.

Purchasing, selling or servicing any vehicle can be a process but, at AutoOne Repair Shop and Auto Sales, you can trust in the first class service you

operated by, President, Don Axent.

Building their reputation on one very satisfied customer at a time, explains why they have survived over the years.

With the utmost in integrity, Auto-One is known for low shop rates, class ‘A’ technicians and over 30 years experience…with all that in mind, they might just have everything you’re looking for in your next vehicle purchase …or even your first one!

With convenient hours, location and personable service, you might want to check them out for their quality vehi-

cles, services, products and repairs.

The Checkered Flag treatment can be yours at…Auto-One Repair Shop and Auto Sales Centre!

Open from Monday to Friday 8:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. and then Saturday’s 9:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M., www.auto-onecars.com or call 807-344-

2644 /1-888-568-9716 and don’t forget to pay a visit on Little Harley! The best paw shake you’ll ever receive!

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2015

NEW CWB VESSEL LOADING FIRST GRAIN SHIPMENT IN THUNDER BAY The Port of Thunder Bay welcomes today a new Canadian Laker built specifically for transporting grain from Thunder Bay to the St. Lawrence River. MV CWB Marquis arrived in port last evening and will be taking on its first ever load of grain today at Mission Terminal.

CWB Marquis is the first vessel to be owned by CWB, formerly known as the Canadian Wheat Board.

The vessel is named after the historic "Marquis" wheat variety, the first wheat variety bred specifically for the short Canadian growing season. "Marquis wheat has a long and distinguished history on the Prairies and we are proud to name CWB's first laker vessel in honour of its legacy," said CWB president and CEO Ian White.

"Almost every variety of wheat grown on the Prairies since the beginning of the 20th century can be traced back to Marquis wheat."

The vessel is the third Equinox-class vessel to enter service on the Seaway, joining Algoma Central Corporation's Algoma Equinox and Algoma Harvester. Algoma Central Corporation will operate and manage CWB Marquis, along with a second CWB fleet-mate to be delivered later in 2015.

Equinox class vessels are touted as the next generation of Great Lakes bulk carriers with the ability to carry more cargo, sail faster and consume less fuel than their predecessors. The ships are also more environmentally friendly with exhaust scrubbing systems designed to remove 97 per cent of sulphur oxide emissions generated by the vessel engines.

Winnipeg-based CWB is an experienced

Seann O’Donoughue, Captain, with Tim Heney, CEO Port of Thunder Bay

wheat and barley marketer, having sold grain to over 70 countries. Since the elimination of its monopoly on wheat and barley grown in Western Canada in 2012, the organization has been transitioning toward a private operating model that includes a network of strategic grain-handling assets and farmer ownership. CWB has initiated a series of elevator construction projects and acquisitions across the prairies and in port, including the acquisition of Mission Terminal in the Port of Thunder Bay last year.

Today's load of 30,000 metric tonnes of wheat and durum, destined for Trois Rivieres and then to Cuba, will be the first of many. CWB Marquis will be used extensively to carry grain eastward out of Thunder Bay, and iron ore on the return

trip from seaports back into other Great Lakes ports.

Seann O’Donoughue, Captain, Master of the motor vessel. “ The keel on this ship was laid on the 24th of December, 2012 and we got possession of the ship October 31st, 2014. We sailed from China to Canada which took 67 days just to get to Canada. This ship will do 14. 6 knots per hour. It was over 15,600 nautical miles from China to Canada and then 1800 nautical miles to Thunder Bay for a total almost 17,000 miles” “ We have a crew of 19 on board and usually take 2 cadets or apprentices with 17 regular crew members. The ship is 225 metres or 740 feet long, 78 feet wide and

the seaway locks are 80 feet giving us 2 feet to spare! The 9450 HP engine is a 5 cylinder. We are going to carry 30,300 metric tonnes of cargo. Previously the ships held about 26000 tonnes.” “ The older ships were built in 1959 by slide rule and these new ships, including the engine, are build by computer so they are fuel efficient. The new ship is over 50% more fuel efficient. The hull design is better as well for a working life of 40 years. The ship cost is about $40 million.” “ It is a great ship, comfortable, quiet, easy to handle, a really good ship.We have better computerized equipment to better monitor our navigation and progress as we go along. It is an all electronic ship and we don’t use any paper. There are many redundant systems in place as well. This ship had three control stations with the ability to see right down the side of the ship from one. We can back out a 1 1/2 kms into Thunder Bay harbour if we want which can be helpful at times.”

Seann O’Donoughue has been sailing for 31 years. It is usually 2 months working on the ship and two months off with three months off in the winter time.

Tim Heney, CEO Port of Thunder Bay “ It is a beautiful ship and great to see someone investing this much money in the seaway. This is the seventh of 15 ships they are building for the seaway. It is a major investment and the biggest since the seaway opened. It is like having an old car from the 60’s and buying a brand new one, it is a lot different.”

Bringing Cutting Edge Healthcare to Northwestern Ontario: TBRRI Officially Unveils Cyclotron

by Marcello Bernardo April 7, 2015

Northwestern Ontario before most other hospitals in Canada or even the world.”

Today, to celebrate the official opening of the new cyclotron, the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute (TBRRI) and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) were joined by funding partners from the Governments of Canada, Ontario and Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.

“This is a game changer,” said Dr. Gary Polonsky, chairman of the TBRRI board.

“This gives TBRRI researchers the opportunity to develop and bring cutting-edge healthcare to Thunder Bay, potentially offering new tests to residents of

The cyclotron will produce medical isotopes that will improve cancer care for patients in Northwestern Ontario and will allow for cutting-edge research that works to find new, more efficient, ways of diagnosing and treating cancers.

in Ontario. If there was any delay for any reason, the isotopes decayed to a point where they were no longer useful.

Patients’ imaging tests for those days would have to be cancelled and resched-

Polonsky and Fraser thanked the cyclotron’s funding partners — The Government of Canada’s FedNor program, the Government of Ontario’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the

The cyclotron will also ensure more dependable care to local cancer patients using existing therapies, something particularly important to a hospital serving as vast a geographic region as Northwestern Ontario. Previously, isotopes used for patient care were delivered from other sites

Dr Mike Campbell, Director of Cyclotron Operations uled.

Your Northern Voice!

“Given the short effective life isotopes have, producing them on site eliminates the problem of cancer patients in Northwestern Ontario being at the mercy of unpredictable weather or airline arrivals, which have in the past delayed or cancelled access to potentially life saving treatment,” said TBRHSC Board Chair Susan Fraser.

Removing that uncertainty from patients already dealing with the stress of cancer will improve their experience of care, added Fraser.

City of Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation’s Exceptional Cancer Care Campaign, for their support of this important initiative.

“Without them, we wouldn’t be standing here today,” said Polonksy. “This is a huge day for the future of cancer care in Northwestern Ontario and possibly Canada and the world,” concluded Polonsky.

“Making it to this day has been a true community effort. I thank you and I am confident future generations will thank you.”

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2015

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Vector Construction Ltd.: 50 Years of Success

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Thunder Bay BUSINESS A large building off Fort William Road on Burbidge Street in central Thunder Bay is home to the local division of Vector Construction Ltd.. This Canadian owned international company is happy to cele-

mills with the pulp and paper boom. We still do a lot of work there but can do all sizes of work including a small base repair for a client. It can be little to small repair work. We enjoy it when our customers will call up, tell us the problem they are having with their concrete structure and we share ideas with them.” said Jason

Above: Vector location Burgidge Street near Leons Furniture We also offer refractory services - lining in furnaces etc. Ultimately the areas we work in are related with concrete.”

Concrete restoration usually involves a brate 50 years in business this year.

Vector was started in Winnipeg as a earth moving type business doing road

Thompson. “ Vector noticed that if we are to continue to grow in Thunder Bay there wasn’t a

building by Don Whitmore. He stills come in to the Winnipeg head office quite often. Today Vector has offices in Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, BC s well asthe US. The company employs around 500 staff in total that can vary based on work level. The Thunder Bay location can go from 20 to 60 to 100 staff depending on projects. The Thunder Bay office was opened in 1986.

large enough market just for concrete restoration so we needed to expand our service offerings. At that point several years ago we started the masonry division.

Jason Thompson is the Division Manager of Thunder Bay, Vector Construction Ltd. “I am originally from Nipigon and the Lake Helen Reserve. In the early part of my career I was in the forestry industry and then moved over to the construction side about 6 years ago when I joined Vector in a safety human resources role.

Ken West, our previous manager, was looking to retire and started grooming me and I took over Division Manager Thunder Bay role about two years ago.”

Vector has concrete restoration or civil as the back bone of the business. Vector as a company has grown and spent money on research and development to also move into more areas of work including corrosion mitigation to extend the life of concrete. They also offer carbon fibre reinforcement products and services, chemical lining, protective coatings and can do bridge restoration. “ At the start we did a lot of work in the

lot of chipping, patching demos and replacing according to Thompson.

Continued

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Continued from Previous page “ You try to provide the ultimate product or service for the restoration. We stand

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2015

behind our work andsuggest what should be done because we want the client happy and the work to last a long time.”

Thunder Bay is the only division within

the Vector group that offer masonry and refractory service. They are believed to be the largest masonry contractor in NW Ontario and deal with many general contractors. “ We have a good group of quality trades people that give all they have and that sets us apart. The guys here work hard and it is a good team mentality,” says Thompson. “ The company has a family type atmosphere. As a division manager you are

Thunder Bay is excellent as well in the middle of Canada and we have tons of opportunity.” “ Our company Vector is a very diversified company. I think I am one of the few First Nation construction managers in Thunder Bay, that I know of, on a larger scale. I have been fortunate through education, training and experience to grasp and understand business. We have a good team here to work with as well from a technical

given a lot of atonmity to run it as if it was your own business. We get support from head office but are not micro managed.

The ownership treat you like an individual not a number, showing interest in your personal life. The human asset is the greatest asset you have in the business. The equipment needs to be operated.”

Jason Thompson is happy about the progress of Thunder Bay! “ I see lots of opportunity in Thunder Bay. I am quite active on some boards here.

Ultimately I think the future of Thunder Bay is great. We are looking at different focus in the future moving away from just forestry and mining to health and the education area. We are exploring different markets and outside the box, which is awesome. I see potential.The location of

and business side,” said Thompson. “ Vector has given me the opportunity to grow in my career- to grow personally with lot of training and the automnity of running this office. Being on boards and committees we also want to enhance the First Nations opportunities to get into trades and see the pathway. The trades background is a viable career with good compensation. I remember a time when I first joined the Vector team and going to a maintenance shut down at one of the plants. You were not seeing a whole lot of First Nations folks going through the gates.

In recent years you see a lot more First Nations tradespeople even from my own community, the Lake Helen Reserve, working in trades which makes me happy.

We know there is definatey a skill shortage in Ontario and Canada. For us as a business it makes sense to have local skilled work force that love the area here.”

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2015

tain strategic alliances with industry organizations.

To assure prudent management of all corporate resources.

CORPORATE VALUES CLIENTS Our priority is to provide outstanding client service.

INTEGRITY We do what is right.

TEAMWORK We value, trust, respect and support each other.

SAFETY Richard Peltola, Operation Manager Vector Construction for last 10 years. “ I work in estimation for bigger projects.

We are problem solvers. It is a challenge with the harsh climate, the hot and cold which affects concrete differently. Vector has been a great company to work for.

They treat you with respect. We have some big quoates right now which are important.

Estimation is done by past experience. We have lot of experience that helps us to produce the quotes. Our staff can then run the job. We want to be efficient and cost effective. By having a lot of eyes look over your quoates it helps us be successful.” “ The other branches can help us out a lot with their expertise. At Vector we have been pricing lots of work and spent a lot of time marketing who we are.We are looking at the transportation, grain industry , power generation. We may have been a hidden gem for 30 years. Many say they weren’t sure of what we do. “

Vector Construction – A Force Dedicated To:

Solving tomorrow’s unique challenges and today’s concrete and corrosion problems CORPORATE GOALS To research, develop and implement cost-effective quality products and services.

To promote and encourage a safe workplace.

To foster effective and open communication.

To establish and uphold corporate policies and procedures in a professional and ethical manner.

To develop and main-

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The personal health and safety of each employee is of primary importance.

PERSONAL SATISFACTION We enjoy what we do.

ENVIRONMENT We conduct our business in an environmentally responsible manner.

ACHIEVEMENT AND RECOGNITION We encourage effort and recognize achievement.

EXCELLENCE We are committed to quality and excellence in everything we do. …innovative solutions to concrete problems.

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Vector Construction Ltd. Northwestern Ontario Vector Construction Ltd’s Ontario Division is a full service concrete restoration, concrete repair and concrete protection contractor.In addition to our concrete services, our Thunder Bay, Ontario division also offers Masonry, Drywall and Refractory Contractor Services.

Market Sectors

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2015

• • • Restoration • • • • • Facility •

Bridge Rehabilitation Parking Structure Repair Commercial Building

• • •

Silo Restoration Power Generation Hydro Electric Structures

•

Other Structures /

• • • • • • • • • • •

Post Tension Cable Concrete Repair Concrete Protection Corrosion Solutions Structural Strengthening Grouting & Injection FRP Products Other Specialty Services Masonry Drywall Refractory

& Dams Pulp & paper industry Chemical plants Mining & Refing Industry Marine Structures Industrial Manufacturing Food Processing Facilities

Industry Services

Vector Construction Corporate Profile Vector Construction started its corporate life in 1965 in the earthworks business, building roads, under the name G.M.W. Ltd. After several years of highway grading, dam building, site development, and other heavy construction projects, the opportunity came to take on a significant concrete repair project on a hydro-electric facility for Manitoba Hydro. This start in concrete rehabilitation soon lead to new opportunities to provide the latest concrete restoration and protection technologies to a broad range of clients.

The concrete repairs started with a branch in Manitoba, then soon expanded to include operation in Thunder Bay. After several years of successful growth in these branches two more branches were added in

Saskatchewan and Southern Ontario.

Vector’s concrete repair business continued to grow with the addition on new branches in Alberta and Fargo, North Dakota. Further expansion continued with three more branches in the United States in Nebraska, Iowa, and Florida. These services are now delivered through the Winnipeg Head Office and these ten branch offices, six in Canada and four in the United States.

Vector Construction expanded into the related area of investigating and mitigating corrosion of reinforcing steel in reinforced concrete structures. This expansion began with the installation of Cathodic Protection systems and then shortly followed with the introduction of the Norcure® System for removing the chlorides from concrete using electrochemical technology. We have since extended our offering to include corrosion testing on reinforced concrete structures, design and installation of cathodic protection systems, and sales and distribution of galvanic and impressed current anodes for reinforcing steel protection.

Vector Construction is a recognized leader in the areas of concrete restoration, concrete protection, concrete repair and corrosion technologies for reinforced concrete and masonry structures. Our proactive dedication to these areas is best represented by our Corporate Mission Statement: Vector : A force dedicated to solving tomorrow’s unique challenges and today’s concrete and corrosion problems.

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2015

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“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” ….. not really regularly.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t’ fix it!” This old adage is often misunderstood and overused. Even a perfectly good running machine still needs to be tuned up, polished, cleaned etc if you expect on making it last and run efficiently for a long time.

Of course, if you plan on just running

everything you own to the ground and then throwing it away to buy a new one, the point is moot. Human beings are not machines. Sure they can change a few parts here and there but nothing is as good as the original and the new parts generally wear out faster than the real thing. So, it becomes even more important to tune up, cleanse and maintain your body and mind

I often will ask my patients: “What do you consider good health to be?” Some will tell me it means not having any pain.

Others will say it means not having to take any drugs or medications. Although I’m sure most do not want to have pain or take drugs, these are limited definitions of health. The World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO) defines health as: … not just the absence of disease or infirmity, but the optimal state of physical, mental and social well being. Mental and social states would also include emotional and spiritual strength and well being. All these health states are interrelated. It is difficult to reach optimal physical health if you are emotionally and mentally unwell.

Likewise, one of the best things to improve mental fatigue and emotional instability is to become physically fit. To continue this point further let me touch on the idea of stress.

Stress is part of our daily lives. We actually need a certain amount of stress to stay alive! Stress can be physical, mental, emotional, chemical, social or spiritual.

But these stresses do not dwell in isolation.

We all have certain weaknesses. For some it’s a bad back that flares up, for others its

hormonal imbalances that may cause headaches, for others it is a poor digestive system, etc. Excessive stress will aggravate your weakest link. As an example, your low back flare up may have been caused by too much snow shoveling. But it could just as easily have been from that argument you had with your spouse or the extra work load piled on your desk at the office.

Inversely, when you are physically exhausted how easy it can be to lose your temper at home are mentally focus on driving.

In my office I have a black box in each of the treatment rooms. Each month we like to put a different item in them as a talking point and analogy to health. Here are two examples on which to pause and reflect: 1) An overflowing glass of water: Your body is the glass. The water is the stresses of everyday life. You have two options to stop the overflow. a.

Reduce the amount of stress in your life. This is only viable if your life has significant amounts of excess stress. b.

Get a bigger glass. This is done by strengthening your body’s ability to cope with the stresses of everyday life.

Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, Mental health, and a nervous system without excess stim-

ulation and interference.

2) An airplane taking off: Did you know that an airplane uses a huge amount of fuel just to take off and reach altitude?

Once there it needs relatively much less fuel to go several hundred kilometers.

Reaching optimal health is the same.

Initially you may need to expend a significant amount of time, energy and possibly money to improve your health. Once there, to keep that level of health only requires smaller but consistent effort.

Alternatively you can choose to drop back down and then use another huge amount of energy and effort to improve all over again.

So, it’s up to you. It always is.

Eventually its going to need fixing. What matters is how far you are willing to gamble on the long game without putting in the effort.

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.

SPEAKING OF VACATIONS… © 2015 Brian Babcock Summer vacation season is on the horizon, but did you know that in Ontario, vacation time and vacation pay are distinct concepts under the Employment Standards Act? Although some employers still simply continue worker’s pay during their vacation, this is not actually what the law requires.

Legal Matters Here are a few facts about vacations and the law in Ontario that might surprise many readers: • Vacation time is earned only after the first twelve month vacation entitlement year is completed- thus a new employee has no entitlement under

the Act to vacation during that first yearthough the employer and employee may agree to more generous terms.

• Vacation pay is calculated not just on base salary, but includes non-discretionary bonuses, gifts and commissions, plus overtime, holiday pay, termination pay and other amounts. Failing to calculate vacation pay correctly may leave employers open to liability.

• The employer has the final say over when vacation may be taken, though they must act reasonably and comply with the law.

• Unused vacation time is never lost, and if it accumulates, scheduling it can into a difficult and disruptive issue for employers.

• Employees on leaves of absence may continue to accrue credits toward their entitlement to vacation time, though it depends upon the reason for the leave.

• Terminated employees are entitled to be paid out any accrued and unpaid vacation pay.

• Employers have several options when to pay vacation pay.

• In businesses where employment is often short term, adding vacation pay to each cheque is common, but then any vacation time taken produces an interruption in the employee’s income.

The amounts in issue when employers miscalculate a single employee’s vacation pay might be modest, but if that employee takes his or her complaint to the Ministry of Labour, this could result in the Ministry auditing the employer’s entire payroll compliance. Any errors discovered may result in payments to undercompensated employees, plus interest and penalties. If the error affects many employees, the overall cost adds up. Even if there are no significant errors, the time spent responding to and cooperating with a Ministry audit is disruptive to the business.

At Weilers Law, we often see these issues arise in wrongful dismissal actions, but we prefer to offer guidance to employers on how to prevent prob-

lems before they occur.

Next Issue:

Thunder Bay Business Topic: Economic Report On Thunder Bay Contact Sylvia at 628-7095 or Sonia at 631-4244 www.northsuperiorpublishing.com

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NorthStar Training Centre Provides Valuable Skills Education The New Working at Heights Training Standard: In 2009, 5 workers plummeted 13 storeys to their deaths when the 40-foot Swing stage they were working on in Etobicoke

Luigi( Gino) Russo, Business Manager LIUNA, Local 607 broke apart in the middle and collapsed.

None of them were connected to safety lifelines. A fifth worker, suffered broken legs and a broken spine. A sixth worker survived unharmed, as he was properly connected to his safety harness.

As a result of these types of accidents, an Expert Advisory Panel was formed that issued several recommendations. One of the recommendations is the new Working at Heights (WAH) training standard.

As of April 1, 2015, employers must ensure that all workers must complete a Working at Heights training program that has been approved by the Chief Prevention Officer of Ontario and delivered by an approved training provider before they can work at heights. Workers who prior to April 1, 2015 met the Fall Protection Training will have until April 1, 2017 to complete an approved Working at Heights training program.

This training is offered and delivered in Thunder Bay by LiUNA, Local 607’s Northstar Training Centre. Because the guidelines state that we can only train 12 individuals at a time, this poses a significant challenge. We must ensure that all of our 1100 members receive the new standard of training for Working at Heights by April 1, 2017.

Northstar Training Centre has been very busy training its own membership while also training workers from the general public including many First Nations groups. Most of the training we deliver includes the Construction Craft Worker, the Red Seal Trade of the Labourers (Trade Code 450A). This consists of two levels of training (CCW Level I and CCW Level II).

We currently employ 3 trainers and we are planning to hire a fourth.

Other training courses we deliver include: Forklift/Skid Steer Loader, Chainsaw Safety for Construction, Elevated Work Platforms, WHMIS, Confined Spaces Awareness, Pipeline Construction Safety Training, Oxy –Propane Cutting, Basic Scaffold Erection, Hoisting and Rigging, Trenching, Traffic Control & Hand Signals, Proper Respirator Handling, Propane in Construction, Hilti Powdered Actuated Tools and Construction Craft Worker level 1 and 2.

LiUNA Local 607 has had a long history and many successes working with our First Nations partners on projects such as the Lower Mattagami Project with the Moose Cree, Cochrane Solar Farm with the TTN, Red Rock First Nation at the Nipigon River Bridge Project and the Sioux

Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board (SLAAMB) at the Sioux Lookout Hospital and Hostel projects.

North Star Training Centre Luigi( Gino) Russo, Business Manager LIUNA, Local 607 “ I have been here in this office for 26 years now. We are the Labourers International Union North America- Local 607 LIUNA. For example our members build bridges, are carpenters and are in some trades. We had 1200 members last year with some large projects underway.” “ North Star Training is a training centre LIUNA created. We provide our members and others as a minimum, the basic safety skills as well as many other skills including working at heights. As of April 1st all the new people and those that have expired training must take the new version of training.” “ We are the only Training Delivery Agency- TDA in NW Ontario. We provide CCW Level 1 and 2 training as well. This is a 16 week course and we do it every year. In our office we have 3 full time trainers.” “ The height training is a 2 day program with all new training. We have to train all our 1100 workers in a year and half and only 12 people at a time. We also have scheduled training which CCW.” “ This new training is good and will save lives. We are training our own members and all the First Nations who want to get ready for the Ring of Fire and Jackfish project that is coming up around Armstrong. We make sure the people are qualified to start work when called.”

The wages of Liuna members go from $30 to $38 per hour plus pension, health and welfare training, vacation pay of 10% for a total of $40 to $48. Our workers can work a long career.”

Some of the First Nations partners, councils and stakeholders we are proud to work with include: · MATAWA (KKETS) (A First Nation Council) - to prepare their workers for the long awaited Ring of Fire and Little Jackfish Hydro Electric project and many other projects in Northern/Northwestern

Ontario · Wasaskiinaysay Zibi Inc. (WZI) (A First Nation Council) - getting their workforce ready for the Little Jackfish Hydro Electric project and many other projects · Taykwa Tagamou Nation (TTN) implementing training to prepare their workers for the New Post Hydro Electric Project, located North East of Kapuskasing

· 7 Generations Education Institute, starting in 2014 we launched training programs to prepare the students for the exams of the Construction Craft Worker Red Seal Test. We also anticipate 4 more courses starting soon in preparation for the upcoming development of the New Gold mine in Rainy River.

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Ontario Helps Six Northern Colleges Work Together Ontario is helping six northern colleges work together to expand access to indemand programs and improve student access to education in the North.

Collège Boréal, Cambrian College, Canadore College, Confederation College, Northern College and Sault College are designing and delivering shared programming to improve and expand access to training opportunities in eight subject areas — business, hospitality, media arts, health, community services, technology, trades and aviation.

Ontario’s investment in the Northern Colleges Collaborative Programming Project will help the colleges work together to: - Streamline resources to ensure long-term financial stability - Use their proven experience in technologyenabled learning to provide more students with access to postsecondary education - Improve the quality and efficiency of administrative and service delivery such as IT, program scheduling, curriculum generation and registration functions Helping improve postsecondary education in northern Ontario is part of the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.

QUOTES “We understand and appreciate that our northern postsecondary institutions face unique challenges in the postsecondary sector, so it’s important that the province continues to provide support in a smart way.

Through this investment, these six colleges will collaborate more effectively and help

improve access to a high-quality education for students — regardless of where they live.”

— Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities “All Ontarians should be able to benefit from a postsecondary education. By helping Ontario’s northern colleges work together to deliver shared programming, more students will receive the training they need to compete for quality employment opportunities.”

— Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern

NEWS Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities quality overall experience, and this investment will help us continue to achieve that goal in northern Ontario.”

— Bill Mauro, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry “Confederation College is excited to work with our fellow northern colleges to improve and

Michael Gravelle, MPP, Jim Madder, President Confederation College and Bill Mauro, MPP Development and Mines and Chair of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation “It’s encouraging to see these six northern colleges come together to share best practices, streamline their resources and look hard at ways that they can drive quality in the system. We want to make sure that every student in Ontario has access to a worldclass education and

expand access to programming. Providing a high-quality postsecondary education to students studying in the North has always been our top priority. This collaboration builds on multiple initiatives with our northern partners that will offer our students even more flexibility and support in their studies.”

— Jim Madder, President of Confederation College Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development & Mines “ The province is providing $3.7 million over 3 years to a Northern College collaborative working together to make decisions on courses they will offer across the North.

We previously funded a program called Study North. All six of the colleges are working together to increase opportunities for students.” “ We feel health and education are our top priorities. We are focusing on decisions we can make to help the growth of the northern college system. Students that come to Confederation College for an example, have a remarkably high rate of getting jobs when they graduate. We have unique challenges in the North often defined by geography and our smaller numbers. This is a smart collaboration of the colleges to work together with shared programs” Jim Madder President, Confederation College “ We want to attract people from the GTA here as we have empty seats. The typical student in Toronto doesn’t normally think north of the 401. We are building great student accommodation here for people from around the world and have over 400 international students here now and it just continues to grow. It is a recognition of our great programs and staff here at Confederation College. In downtown Toronto they have many programs that are oversubscribed.

The six northern colleges including Confederation College have space.”

Working The Legacy: Danny Dawson Ink. Foundation

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Thunder Bay BUSINESS On April 25, 2015 the 9th Annual Virtual Sprint Car Invitational was held at the Westfort Prosvita Society Hall, with about 60 people out.

Historically, the event was started by Danny Dawson and for seven years proceeds went to Brain Injury Services of Northern Ontario (BISNO). This year was the 3rd Annual Danny Dawson Memorial Race, as BISNO relinquished its stake in the event for the foundation to run in 2013.

Proceeds since then have gone to the foundation, BISNO, the Underground Gym and the Brain Injury Association of Thunder Bay and Area.

Once again, the foundation selected the Underground Gym as the 2015 featured organization to benefit from some of the proceeds of this event.

Danny was about giving everyone a fair chance, and in this spirit, Gayle and the foundation raise money for people of all ages to apply to do what they’ve been told is impossible, unlikely or no, as they work to improve their life through educational Avove: Volunteer Zack Roy with Gayle Dawson, President and/or vocational pursuits. In addition to receiving applications for assistance from individuals; they also proudly support other non profit organizations and during the past two years have also assisted individuals with expenses related to significant medical needs.

Rob Ranttalo, volunteer and Zack Roy, Secretary of the Foundation volunteered at the event. “ We both had Danny as our teacher and each year we built a street stock race car in the class. We are here today to help raise money for the Danny Dawson Foundation to help out anybody in need for say schooling, and kids getting in to automotive or heavy equipment programs. We are having a contest with virtual sprint car simulators with 5 guys racing with different teams at once with several rounds and finals.

Greg Wakewich built the race cars. “ We remodelled an actual sprint car chassis to actuate with a steering wheel and gas pedals virtually. They are computerized. The races today are 10 laps and are timed. I love racing and sprint cars in particular which race a lot in Minnesota and Iowa.

This is a great cause and I knew Danny very well. ” Gayle Dawson, President “ It is a fun event and we have a core group of people who come back each time. I think we have raised close to $50,000 over the years with dedicated race fans. It is a way to be close to Danny in spirit as he was the driving force for the event. We adopted the event for the foundation we started in Danny’s name. If you need help because you can’t do it we will help you. It is friendly competition. Everyone wants to be a race car driver!”

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MAY 2015

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New Forestry Equipment Partnership in NW Ontario ing a used trailer. After hearing about the new features of the trailer they would be manufacturing we decided to order one and it is showed up on time for us to begin using January 1st. It has been going really well and I am very happy with the trailer.

The two companies came together and their ideas made a great trailer.

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Thunder Bay BUSINESS Thunder Bay based George Contracting and Trailex based in Rimouski, Quebec have forged a unique new partnership to provide a specialized logging trailer for the NW Ontario marketplace. Their first custom trailer was on display at the recent Forestry EXPO held by Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay. “ We have manufactured logging trailers for more than 40 years in Quebec and wanted to sell our products in Ontario. The best way seemed to make a partnership with a local company, George Contracting, which has a good group of people, know the market well and know trailers.” said Steve Gaudreau, General Manager of Trailex in Rimouski, Quebec. “ Last year we met Larry and Dan of George Contracting and developed a new trailer for this market. We matched our knowledge of trailers and came up with a very good trailer for this region of Ontario.”

“ It is a more flexible trailer with the higher clearances we need in our area. It is an open frame, we call a skeleton trailer, which will carry less snow in the winter. It is a spec trailer for Ontario we need with a certain wheelbase and length and other features to meet the new Ontario regulations.” said Dan Guay of George Contracting.

Above from left: Larry George, Wayne barker, Dan Guay, Dominic Drapeau Trailex co-owner, Steve Gaudreau, General Manager Trailex “ We have been an end user of this product in the logging industry for several years and are now into the sales of trailers since relocating to Thunder Bay from Fort Frances.

Our company operates a repair business for trailers as well so it only made sense to get into the sales of trailers, especially with the new regulations coming into effect in Ontario for these types of trailers. The ter-

rain in our area can differ from Quebec so we produced a trailer with this partnership specific for our NW Ontario region.” said Larry George, CEO of George Contracting.

The first local customer of the new George Trailex product is Wayne Barker from Fort Frances “ I was shopping for a trailer and approached George Contracting about buy-

This is the beginning for the new George Trailex partnership and they hope for good word of mouth in the industry. Trailex has built about 200 trailers per year for 40 years now with over 7000 units manufactured.

They have existing customers who have been using their products for over 30 years. “ We like the local team of Larry and Dan. They have a good shop and are centrally located in Canada and close to the US market.” said Steve Gaudreau.

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