THUNDER BAY BUSINESS NOVEMBER 2012
We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
John McCrae
Lest We Forget Remembering the sacrafices of our men and women in uniform. Thank you to our Vets & Active Personel. 409 George Street Thunder Bay, ON P7E 5Y9 Tel: 807.623.6000 raffej@parl.gc.ca
John Rafferty, MP. Thunder Bay - Rainy River New Democrat Critic for Forestry
www.johnrafferty.ndp.ca
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Delta Hotels and Resorts Named Hotelier on Thunder Bay’s Waterfront Redevelopment Thunder Bay’s first 4-star upscale hotel set to open in early 2014 September 12, 2012 (Toronto, ON) – Delta Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce its expansion into Northwestern Ontario with a new hotel that will be constructed on Prince Arthur’s Landing as part of Thunder Bay’s world class waterfront redevelopment. The hotel is expected to create approximately 110 jobs, and is part of a private sector investment which also consists of two condominiums, and a commercial building for shops and restaurants which will see this portion of the waterfront transformed into a vibrant, mixed use space that is active year-round and attractive for all ages. Located in the heart of the city’s downtown core on a prime waterfront location and adjacent to the two Vue condominium towers, the Delta Thunder Bay will become the city’s first 4-star upscale, full service hotel after a more than $20 million investment. Slated to open in early 2014, the hotel will offer 150 guestrooms and suites including 18 penthouse rooms and 10 rooms with terraces. The hotel will feature Delta’s new ModeRoom ™ guestrooms which are modern, adaptable and laden with technology features. The majority of the rooms will provide spectacular, unobstructed views of Lake Superior and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. “We are thrilled to be a part of Thunder Bay’s vibrant waterfront redevelopment,” says Ken Greene, President & CEO, Delta Hotels and Resorts. “Thunder Bay is a thriving community with natural resources that attract tourists from across Canada and around the world. It is an honour for us to bring our 4-star hotel experience to one of the best locations in the city, and help play a critical role in driving tourism to the region.” The hotel will also boast 9,000 square feet of conference and meeting space including a 5,300 square foot ballroom offering garden and waterfront views, a full service restaurant and lounge with an outside terrace overlooking Lake Superior, a business centre, indoor pool and state of the art fitness centre. The Delta Thunder Bay will be managed and operated by Delta Hotels and Resorts, and is owned by The Re Solve Group, one of the leading residential and commercial developers in Manitoba and Ontario. Construction is being handled by local based Manshield Construction, and the project was designed by award-winning architecture and planning firm Brook McIlroy based in Toronto and Thunder
Bay. “Delta is well known for its high level of service excellence and exceptional reputation among travelers,” said Gisele MacDonald, President, Re Solve Group Inc. “We chose Delta because of its strong track record in contributing to the growth of the tourism industry in secondary and tertiary markets in Canada. We’re excited to bring this property to market with them.” With its prime location on Prince Arthur’s Landing in the heart of downtown and the vibrant waterfront redevelopment, the Delta Thunder Bay will offer guests easy access to year-round attractions and outdoor experiences in a spectacular mixeduse village including an arts centre, water garden pavilion, skating rink, splash pad, skate board park, public paths and trails, spirit garden, public art, and restaurants and cafes. The hotel is also situated within close proximity to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, the world’s largest fresh water conservation reserve, and Crown Land which is a resource for snowmobiling, hunting, hiking, camping, wild life viewing, and the likes.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS NOVEMBER 2012
Aboriginal Business Day Event Brings one of a kind Talent to Thunder Bay BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS It was an exciting atmosphere at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay at a day long conference held as part of Small Business week. There were some very interesting speakers on hand including Wab Kinew from Winnipeg. Wab Kinew is the owner of Indie Ends Production that does live event production, video production and develops mobile apps. He is also the Director of Indigenous Inclusion for the University of Winnipeg and is based in Winnipeg. Wab was born in Kenora and raised near Nestor Falls. He has a BA in economics from the University of Manitoba. “ I will be speaking about the ways the aboriginal community are connecting with the main stream economy in Canada. If you look around Canada from coast to coast to coast there are a lot of exciting things happening with new relationships. We want prosperity and are becoming active partners in developing natural
resource projects, band owned business or First Nations entrepreneurs working for themselves,” said Wab Kinew. “ The rate of business ownership in the Aboriginal community is growing three times faster than the rest of Canada. I want to talk about that new relationship and some people that are pulling it off in a good way. I like to approach things with an entrepreneurial spirit looking for opportunity and ways to take things to market.” Wab works all the time pretty much with some time for his family and his time at the gym. “ I like being able to do deals on my I Phone and laptop. It is super helpful, the technology of today. You still have to work hard and put in lots of hours every week but for myself I don’t look at it like work,” said Wab. “ Today is about celebrating some of the successes so people can see it is happening and people are doing it so we can do it too. I think often times we don’t take a second to reflect on the big picture and so I hope what I talk about will give people the chance to reflect and consider the bigger picture or strategy in their lives.”
THUNDER BAY WINS STRATEGIC PROJECT OF THE YEAR AND JOB CREATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARDS Wednesday, October 17 - The Ring of Fire and NWO Mineral Deposits wins the Strategic Project of the Year and the Job Creation Project of the Year Awards at the 4th Annual North American Strategic Infrastructure Leadership Forum in Denver, Colorado on October 16, 2012. The Forum is being held on October 15 to 17, 2012, with over 500 executives from the public and private sector in attendance. The Forum is a 2 ? day conference, focused on infrastructure development in
North America, designed to create business opportunities and promote projects across the region, as well as showcase the cities, states and provinces with the most innovative infrastructure plans. This annual event draws international investors, engineers and developers. The Strategic Project of the Year award is the most prestigious prize awarded. The award is for projects which will generate a giant stride in a country or region’s productivity and/or competitiveness. The Job/Opportunity Creation Project of the Year is for projects that will create the
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greatest number of jobs and/or businesses over the lifetime of the project. This award tabulates direct, indirect and induces job creation, over the 20 to 30 year life of the project.
Fort William First Nation (FWFN) and CEDC are undertaking the Mining Readiness Strategy to address and strategically plan for economic growth in Thunder Bay and the region.
Winners were announced yesterday afternoon at the Forum. Top projects are chosen by a jury of forum sponsors, with a wide representation across geographies and sectors.
The Mining Readiness Strategy will address issues related to: transportation and infrastructure needs; industrial energy; workforce training and development; business development; housing and community services; research and development; capital investment and financing; intergovernmental relations; and communications.
Steve Demmings, CEO -Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) and John Mason, Project Manager - Mining Services CEDC, attended the Forum to create outside awareness that Northwestern Ontario (NWO) is one of the mine production and exploration “hotspots” in Canada as 9 to 13 major exploration projects are anticipated to come into production by 2013-2017. Their attendance may also create potential investment opportunities for mine and mineral projects in NWO.
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Thunder Bay and NWO are emerging as a regional exploration and mining hub, which has initiated the Mining Readiness Strategy – An Integrated Regional Economic Development Plan.
Research demonstrates that the discovery and development of mineral resources in the “Ring of Fire” and beyond will create mining opportunities that will have a direct impact in shaping the region’s exciting economic outlook. Currently Thunder Bay hosts 29 exploration company offices, and over 130 service and supply companies in exploration/mining. Anticipated growth in mining will place unique pressures on Thunder Bay and communities in NWO. The Strategy is in its early stages of development, and is scheduled to be completed by January 2013. Implementation of the Strategy is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2015.
The City of Thunder Bay, together with CEDC is responsible for business development, retention and expansion, entrepreneurial support, opportunity promotion, and collection and assessment of key business data. Incorporated in December 2006, CEDC is an arms-length Community Development Corporation, led by an independent Board with core funding from the City of Thunder Bay. Located within CEDC's administrative office, the Thunder Bay and District Entrepreneur Centre provides seminars, workshops and free and confidential business counselling services to new and existing small businesses.
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS NOVEMBER 2012
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Privacy Matters in the Health Sector ©2012 Brian Babcock Personal health information is highly sensitive and private. All businesses that handle private health information need to consider the effect of a ruling on how cancer screening results should be communicated. Ontario’s Privacy Commissioner ordered that Cancer Care Ontario stop delivering paper copies of screening reports to doctors. Until the ruling Cancer Care Ontario used Canada Post’s Xpresspost service. The ruling followed a self-report by the organization that the delivery of a number of the screening reports could not be confirmed. Although the ruling only applies to these reports, the Commissioner would likely apply similar principles to any other private information. In announcing her deci-
sion, the Commissioner said that “other, more viable, more secure and privacy protection options were available.” She said that the Order highlights the fact that organizations:
privacy laws, so this reasoning may affect us all. It illustrates a point I made in an earlier column - privacy policies must be put into action through effective practices and procedures.
• Need to evaluate available options; • Review available technological solutions; and • Be prepared to justify its methods.
This decision also illustrates how best practices may change over time. At one time, concerns about web security were such that hard copy delivery was assumed to be more secure. As encryption and other technology have advanced, we see time and again how human error makes paper records insecure. Electronic transmittal or storage may not be the ultimate solution for every private record, but this Order means that every business needs to review and reconsider how it stores and handles private data.
Every business in Ontario is an “organization” under either Federal or Provincial
The Order also required additional training of CCO staff, including contractors, which
Legal Matters
is a reminder that: • Training is a process, not an act, and must be continuous or regularly updated; and • An organization’s privacy obligations extend not only to how employees handle information, but also to contractors. Does your courier leave your confidential information unattended? Cancer Care Ontario had access to the most sophisticated consultants in the business, and yet its interpretation of that advice was found to be flawed. This sets a high standard for the rest of us, but it is one that we must aspire to achieve. Weilers has advised health care professionals and organizations for over 65 years, and proudly continues that tradition with progressive advice on privacy law.
ISSUES FILLING CITY'S PLATE Just when you thought things were settling down there is always something to occupy Council and the citizens of our fair City. After the Municipal Golf Course reversal, the site selection of our Event Centre is creating quite the buzz. Then recent debate over the future use of a large parcel of land formerly known as Sir John A MacDonald school has alerted our elected representatives as well as our civic administration that we are fast running out of developable land for residential housing. How did this occur you may ask? From my earliest days on Council the lands known as Parkdale were planned to accommodate most of the City's population expansion with infill and strict guidelines on rural splits expected to direct and control growth. The multi multi-million dollar trunk sewer line was built to handle 75,000 people ! A Community Plan showed lots of amenities, schools, access/egress points on the west, south, north and east. The eastern link was
to be an extension of Churchill Drive which was quashed. Then the fan got hit when the MNR redrew the boundaries of the Williams Bog around 1990. This natural-flowing water system was then fully protected thus wiping out housing for 20,000 potential residents. Had this been known in the mid-seventies it is highly unlikely the City would have proceeded
with such a huge capacity system to service Parkdale. Today those homeowners must apply in many cases to the Conservation Authority for building permits that may affect the integrity of the bog. You may ask that in this era of global warming why doesn't the
Mauro announces Ontario Government Investments in Local Businesses Ontario is supporting two Thunder Bay businesses through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC): • Aviation InterTec Services Inc. • NWO Golf Development & Fitting Centre The replacement of a software program code will allow Aviation InterTec Services Inc. to port their software to a mobile platform. In response to new and changing client operating systems, this transition will enable the company to support crossbrowser use of their flagship product, Remote Access Aviation System (RAAS). NOHFC has approved funding in the amount of $98,000 towards the company’s project of rendering RAAS compliant with multiple browsers. NWO Golf Development & Fitting Centre, the first year-round training and high-tech golf fitting company in Northwestern Ontario, is being undertaken to service Thunder Bay and region in the instructional, development and equipment fitting areas of golf. It will be the only golfing facility with the 3D Doppler HD ball and club tracking system (Flightscope) for fittings with a simulator option to play in winter months. NOHFC funding in the
amount of $25,000 will allow the purchase of a Flightscope, training aids and equipment, office equipment, and to begin marketing this business. “I am always happy when our NOHFC program can support & enhance local entrepreneurs. Small business is the backbone of our economy. It is our hope that they remain successful and grow to create further local employment.” – Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan “I am extremely honored to except this Grant from the NOHFC as I look forward to the future in launching NWO Golf Development & Fitting Centre. This Grant will allow the company to expand and service Northwestern Ontario to create new jobs in the golf industry around the instruction, fitting, development and coaching areas of the business. The center piece of the business will revolve around the flightscope and for more information about the product you can visit www.flightscope.com. Also, for further information about NWO Golf and its development programs please call 807-630-GOLF. – Dustin Wilson, PGA of Canada – Head Teaching Professional NWO Golf Development & Fitting Centre
bog simply dry up? It apparently is quite resilient and has enormous absorption capacity. So where do we put the people we are hoping to attract here? Some private holdings have around 5 to 7 years of supply but in general the amount of City-owned or controlled land for personal development or public housing is limited and diminishing. And here's a question -when was the last large apartment building constructed in our hometown? If you have ever travelled west on any highway or arterial road in early morning you will see enormously long lines of traffic streaming into the City, and of course the same thing happens when the work day winds down with westbound traffic jamming the roadways. This should be taken somewhat as a good sign that people are working and can afford vehicles. It also confirms that the rural countryside is being populated and probably beyond its capacity for dependable servicing. By this I mean the stretching of water, waste disposal, policing, all-season road and bridge main-
tenance, telecommunications and emergency services. It means of course that it is not just the City of Thunder Bay that must deliver prompt public services to its residents- it is understood that our neighbouring municipalities and indeed Fort William First Nation are facing infrastructural issues. So when a municipality has a chance to save some money-I say we should seize the opportunity (Municipal Golf Course at $200,000 annually is a Million Dollars in 5 years). When a municipality has a chance to trigger federal or provincial assistance to replace past due date structures such as the Gardens-then I say do it and plan it right! Respectfully submitted, Ken Boshcoff Councillor at Large So the budget session is coming upon us and I invite you to call, write, or email your favourite elected representative
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS NOVEMBER 2012
Local Artist Makes Donation To Thunder Bay and Area Victim Services Organization BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS “ I wanted to make this donation because I believe victim care is extremely crucial and important. My experience through an abusive relationship made me know how important that was. I wanted to do everything I could to help victims,” said Tessa
Charlevois. “ I went through a lot of emotions, I was scared, fearful and had a lot inside of me. When I was working with
charcoal I was able to release all those emotions. It was my own therapy and I felt good when I did my artwork.” Tessa Charlevois started painting as a youngster. “ It has driven me and my creative senses helped me. Right now I work as an artist, bartender and waitress. I would love to move to Montreal and go to school there to become a full time artist after taking fine arts. When I am ready I
would like to volunteer at the Thunder Bay and Area Victim Services organization.”
Deborah Dika is the Program Manager for Thunder Bay and Area Victim Services. “ This money will go to victims of domestic violence. We are hoping to put together a kit to hand out to victims so that they can have the information on what to do and who to call,” said Deborah Dika. “ Our organization has been around since 2002. We provide services to victims of crime or tragic circumstance by partnering with the emergency personal in the City of Thunder Bay. “
have left and we pride ourselves on having an immediate response time. Just being there to hear their stories is incredible,” said Deborah Dika. “ We are proud of Tessa and see the growth in her. We went through the whole court process with her and saw her strength come out. Seeing her go from a victim to a survivor was absolutely incredible. Her artwork is beautiful. There aren’t a lot of victims that will come forward so for one victim to provide this type of media coverage and art exhibition to help victims of domestic violence is incredible.”
Thunder Bay and Area Victim Services will provide short-term emotional support to victims. “ Most of the time we are the first person in the door after the police
Tbaytel’s Purchases the Dryden DMTS Mobility Dryden City Council unanimously approved Tbaytel’s offer to purchase the DMTS Mobility customer assets at a special open Council meeting this evening. With the successful completion of all closing requirements Tbaytel will be in a position to begin serving DMTS Mobility customers by the end of October or early November 2012. Transition planning is underway that will ensure that all DMTS Mobility customers are moved to Tbaytel before DMTS Mobility turns down their current network on December 15, 2012. Tbaytel will be contacting all DMTS Mobility customers by direct mail within the next two weeks outlining the details of the transition. DMTS Mobility customers will benefit from greater access to a full suite of mobility services from Tbaytel that includes access to the latest in handset technology and smartphones; mobile content applications; world-wide international roaming; a nationwide network and enhanced capabilities for high speed mobile data. “Tbaytel is very pleased to be able to provide services to our new Dryden customers and we welcome them all to the region’s largest wireless network,” said Don Campbell President & CEO, Tbaytel. “Our goal will be to ensure a seamless customer transition to our services.” “With the consolidation of our services and
technology, Tbaytel is positioned in the marketplace to bring increased value to our customers and the communities we serve in Northern Ontario,” added Campbell. “We are continuing to invest in our neighbourhood and we are committed to providing best in class network and services to all of our customers in our region.” Closing of the purchase will be subject to customary terms and conditions, including regulatory approvals from Industry Canada and the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. Tbaytel is the leading communication solutions provider in Northern Ontario and is dedicated to delivering advanced, competitively priced telecom solutions to ensure people, businesses and communities have multiple points of access to the global Tbaytel Purchases Dryden Mobility communications highway. Tbaytel delivers the region’s largest 4G HSPA+ digital cellular coverage with extensive products and services that include data, voice, wireless,internet, security and digital tv. With over a century of contributing to the quality of life, infrastructure and economic health of the North, Tbaytel’s commitment to regional customers and our understanding of rural market dynamics is unparalleled.