Business september 2013

September 2013

Port Of Thunder Bay World Class!

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WESTFORT STREET FAIR 2013 Congratulations LU Law! Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission Names New CEO Easter Seal Drop Zone Event Returns Bigger Than Ever

Easter Seal Drop Zone Event Returns Bigger Than Ever

Idea Factories Harper Government invests to support business development and growth in Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities

CEDC Names New CEO

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2013

Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission Names New CEO The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Doug Murray as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CEDC, effective Monday, Aug. 12.

"I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Board of Directors and staff

to welcome Doug,” said Paul Inksetter, Chair of the CEDC Board of Directors.

“We look forward to working together for the benefit of Thunder Bay's economic development. Doug's strategic leadership and strong management skills will be an asset to the CEDC. We are very fortunate to have him join our team."

help build Thunder Bay,” said Murray. “I was born and raised here in Thunder Bay in a small business family. I’ve played a leadership role in the re-vitalization of the forest industry and liaised extensively with community, labour and government contacts. I'm really looking forward to work-

opment. It responds quickly to new opportunities and initiatives to attract direct financial involvement from government and private sectors.

ing with CEDC's partners and furthering the Commission’s objectives.”

Entrepreneur Centre provides seminars, workshops and free, confidential business counselling services to new and existing small businesses.

Located within CEDC's administrative office, the Thunder Bay & District

"This is an excellent opportunity for me to

Murray is a seasoned Thunder Bay business leader with a track record of identifying opportunities. Prior to being the General Manager at Bowater, now Resolute Forest Products, he worked in the Pulp and Paper industry in Northern Ontario and British Columbia in progressively-senior management roles for more than 30 years, including over 11 years as a General Manager.

Murray has been involved in many service clubs and the Chamber of Commerce, including four years on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Currently Murray sits on the founding Board of the Northern Policy Institute.

About CEDC: The CEDC is responsible for business development, retention and expansion, entrepreneurial support, opportunity promotion, and the collection and assessment of key business data. The CEDC receives formal proposals for projects that will contribute to economic devel-

For more information, visit www.ThunderBayCEDC.ca Some thoughts from Doug Murray after his introduction to the media and Thunder Bay. “ We had to really rethink what we did to make money in the forestry business in the last 10 to 15 years and to step outside the box looking for different ways to stay in business. I think my past forestry experience is a good fit along with the people that work here at the CEDC.” “ I like Thunder Bay and was born and raised here going to Fort William Collegiate and then to University of Waterloo.”

What can we do to make sure Thunder Bay grow?

There are opportunities the staff are working on now. We want to help out small business as they are the back bone of Thunder Bay. Also how can we work with the Mining Readiness Study which has 20 to 25 items in the report for us to work on.

We have to be prepared for when things do happen.” “ I would like to consult with the University, College and businesses to make ideas come to fruition. There isan’t just one person that has the right way to proceed. We have to work together to find the right path. I have lived in many small towns and in private business you are involved in the public sector.” “ Diversifying is very important. We were very dependent on the grain elevators, sawmills and pulp and paper. At one time we had over 12 paper machines here, now we have one. How many grain elevators do we have compared to the past. Things are changing and evolving and we need to not have all our eggs in one basket. The forestry and grain business is still important but we need to grow other parts of the economy like healthcare which employs so many people.” “ The ore reserves development around us will affect our population growth. There is the potential for population growth here especially if all the mines develop.”

Doug Murray, CEO, CEDC

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2013

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Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre Celebrate Success of the 2013 Summer Company Program

Publisher’s Note Scott Sumner Summer Company is a grant program funded by the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Research and Innovation through the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre. The program is designed to help enterprising young people between the ages of 15 and 29 start and run their own summer business while continuing their education. “ The students get a grant at the start of the summer of $1500 and another $1500 at the end of the summer. We had 11 businesses start in areas from graphic design to lawn care to jewellery and helping people with their computers. They all have come through this with bright eyes and a lot of excitement for being their own boss,” said Stacia Kean, Development Officer, Thunder Bay CEDC Entrepreneur Centre. “ They had to apply to the program and that process included writing a business plan so that was a commitment to go through the process. At the end of the summer the students presented their successes and challenges.”

Lakehead University student, Mehdi Syed would like to be in entrepreneurship

as a career so started Dark Heron Graphic Design Studio. “ I can’t see myself working for a company my whole life as I am more of an independent type of guy and would like to see where I can take myself.

My older brother started out at age 19 in graphic design and I saw he followed his dreams. My grandfather was an architect and my father is a computer analyst.

Everyone has his or her own path and I will be a creative artist. I can help with the branding of companies. The experience with the CEDC was excellent and directed me in the right direction and guided me to Dark Heron.”

My jewellery sells from 50 cents to $60.00. I will continue to do events like the Valhalla etc this fall. After high school I haven’t really decided between taking business or engineering at university.”

“ My cousin in Alberta does the same work and he showed me last winter when I was on a trip there with some friends. It interested me right away and I starting doing research on the business. I was at the artisans tent at the Atikokan Bass Classic and did shirts and created interest for decals for boats and truck.” “ I use Adobe Illustrator on Windows, convert to a vector image and import to Cut Studio and then send it the vinyl cutter with an 24 inch roll. It can be different colours and can be overlade. We sell tshirts for $19.00, which is a very reasonable cost for custom. A decal can be $10 to $60.

Nathaniel Stonehouse, age 16, created Nate’s Custom Graphic Designs of Atikokan. He will be in Grade 12 this year.

I want to finish high school and then continue to run the business and expand by getting people to know and support you.”

Lynne Buzzi is a grade 12 student at Westgate. “ My mom recommended the program and I wanted to buy more material and go to more fairs where I sell my jewellery. I have been designing jewellery since I was 11 and am now 17. I thought doing a business plan was really awesome and working on projected sales was good. I went a little bit over my sales forecast in July and a little under in August. We had a booth at fairs and the Dragon Boat festival.

Outlook For Golf In Canada Looks Good

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Thunder Bay BUSINESS I sat down with Scott Simmons, CEO of Golf Canada at the Glen Abbey Golf course during the RBC Canadian Open

Miranda Bolt Graphic Designer

and asked him some questions about the state of golf in Canada.

The RBC Canadian Open has come back to Glen Abbey in 2013?

the guys to get here and compete. The attendance has been good. The gates are very busy. You can’t control weather and leader board but both have been great this

This is the 26th time at Glen Abbey and the 104th Canadian Open. I grew up 45 minutes from here and have a personal fondness for this golf course. I watched Jack Nicklaus as a kid and think he did a great job designing this golf course. It is a very fair course for the average golfer but can be turned in to a monster for the PGA Tour players. I am not a fan of even par winning an event but like seeing low scores.

The mandate of Golf Canada has expanded recently?

We have had so many great moments here such as Trevino winning the first open in 1977, Greg Norman in 84, Curtis Strange, Nick Price and Tiger in 2000. In 1983 the play between Johnny Miller and John Cook was amazing. I believe it is the best spectator course in the world. The course opened in 1975 and the first Canadian Open was held in 1977.

year. The crowds here at 7am were huge.

As Canadians we need to embrace this event. It is the third oldest event in the world and is the biggest week in Canadian golf.

It has been easier to get a good field at the RBC Canadian Open as you help with the transportation?

We are blessed in Canada with hockey and golf and have the highest participation rates in the world, 1 in 5 people or 20 %.

We have the highest per capita of golfers in the world with 5. 7 million and some 2000 18 hole golf courses. The popularity is huge. We do need to do a job to get our kids still playing the game. They have so many choices for their time. The sport of golf is great for the kids character and physical fitness. I have four kids and if they are out being active I don’t care. I

We chartered a jet from Muirfield, the Open site this year. It is easy for the players with 100 first class sets turn key leaving from a private airfield with no customs or security. They left at 9 pm and got here at 10:20pm Toronto time with a 5-hour time change. They then got driven to their hotels and tucked in. It is pretty easy for

prefer them to play golf though of course.

We have many good public courses that are inexpensive. 90% of the courses in Canada are public. The green fees can be as low as $20.

Golf participation had been good in Canada even though falling in some other countries?

At Golf Canada we are proud of our National Sport designation. Our traditional mandate of handicaps and course regulations are still there but now we are starting our national team program and programs like Future Links in the schools. We are also going to start investing in our young professionals to create heroes. You have to take a long-term outlook, say 20 years from now. We are into over 2000 schools now but need to get that to over 10,000.

We need to support our young pros and to help them get there faster.

We are negotiating with sites for 15, 16 and 17 of the RBC Canadian Open. We like to make some funds at this event to help fund amateur activities but it also a great stage to promote golf in Canada, the Golf Canada platform and important to our culture and the pride it creates for Canada.

RBC has been a great partner and helps us in ways we couldn’t do on our own.

Scott Simmons is a member of the Brantford Golf and Country Club. He has played this course once this year and 4 times last year. Scott usually plays 15 times a year, mostly in the fall.

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2013

WESTFORT STREET FAIR 2013

By Sherry Aalto One thing that is apparent to most everyone in Thunder Bay is that their dedication to community is very much alive and well! The artisans, musicians, shopkeepers and anyone who attended the 2013 Westfort Street Fair are a pure

example of that! August 24, 2013 marked the 31st street fair for Westfort Village and even with so many other events taking place on the same day, West Fort Street Fair remains forever popular!

The Westfort Street Fair never fails to bring the community together for a

day of fun, food, music and reminiscence. The well known Blues Band, Southern Comfort, entertained the vast audience, despite the extreme heat and humidity conditions. Dave Jonasson, band leader, never fails to deliver the best to his audience and is certainly a

big feature at this event. Mr. Jonasson has entertained internationally over the years and has a long personal presence in Thunder Bay’s music history that traces him back to the mid 1970’s.

Tasty cuisine, prepared by local vendors, is always a big draw when it comes to satisfying the taste buds!

From the iconic hotdog to BBQ pork kabobs, to good ole pizza and fries, all topped off with a cold soft drink that always just hits the spot! Homemade baked goods were also available for sale for pallet pleasing delights. There were also great bargains… bargains… and more bargains that the local shops and artisans were happy to offer.

The Westfort Street Fair is the place where friends gather once a year for a good time and for 31 years, one could say this is becoming a part of history and will be remembered by our young when they reminisce with theirs.

Face Painting is always popular for the children and pets like to get out and

socialize a bit too! You never know who you are going to meet?

Informative and entertaining is all part of this event and participants such as PARO, Centre for Women’s Enterprise, The Pink Tour Bus/Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Shoppers Drug Mart www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/women, for women, mind body and spirit, were all part of this event. Also in participation were the well known Lakehead Shrine Club with their booth and the Weea Train. The Lakehead Shrine Club brings help and hope for kids who suffer from health issues and injury.

Continued next Page

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2013

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WESTFORT STREET FAIR 2013 Continued from previous Page Local crafted wares, along with other popular clothing and accessories were also available to satisfy the impulse shopper.

The following Westfort Village Merchants would like to sincerely thank their patrons for their business over the last year and hope that everyone had a great time at the fair!

Biidaajiwun Robins Mechanix Signs Now Robs Auto Body Sheparskis Auto Body Salsbury House Oh My Dog Mike’s Auto Body and U- Haul Midway Alignment Sears Carpet and Upholstery Care Westfort Foods Ahnisnabae Art Gallery

Don’t miss out next year!! Come and have yourself a great time with community, fun, family and food in mind!

Community celebrating Community!

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2013

Port Of Thunder Bay World Class

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Thunder Bay BUSINESS Recently I had an in depth tour on HM2 of our magnificent Port in Thunder Bay with Tim Heney, CEO Port of Thunder Ba .

We first saw the Manitoba, a small laker loading at Richardson’s Elevator. It was once a Paterson Ship originally launched as the Manidoc in 1966. It was built in Collingwood and capable of holding 19,000 tons at 26.5 feet and loading at 1200 tons per hour.

We also saw a larger ship from FedNav; a company owned by the Pathe family of

Montreal. This ship can hold 35,000 tones. “ The larger ocean going ships can’t be loaded to full capacity in the seaway but will take on 23,000 tons here and then top up in Quebec. This ship will go right to Europe. We work with 75 of these types of ocean ships and a total of 400 ships per year.,” said Tim Heney.

America. The storage is 1.2 million tons,” said Heney. “ We had a very strong fall but this spring we have seen weakness in grain shipments. The farmers look from August

“ We are seeing some pretty good optimism in grain especially with the Richardson family from Winnipeg. The project cargo business had gone very well

1st, 2012 to July 31, 2013 as their year, but we measure on a calendar basis. If you look at the fall to now basis we are above the 5-year average but on a calendar year basis we are down quite a bit. We may see more volatility. I think we will see peaks and valleys.”

for us over the last 8 years. We are in a little bit of a pause right now but it will go back to setting records. We serve Western Canada so we will be involved with any projects that happen out there.”

Our excursion in the Port was a 15-mile trip through the North harbour and to the south at the mouth of the Kam River, the old Fort William Harbour. “We have 7 operating elevators in the Port and the largest grain storage capacity in North

A big change at the Port is with the Wheat Board, that was a system where they would call the wheat in to sell. Now the farmers sell the wheat themselves during times of higher prices. “ We expect to see more activity in the fall and a large crop,” said Heney.

The Port also haven’t had a lot of crane usage this year. There was one wind mill shipment so far this year versus 12 last year but they expect more oil sands shipments.

The Port has 550,00 square feet of storage building space and 8 miles of track so has lots of capacity and capability. They have a direct staff of 6 and are a small organization but in the terminal as a whole about 90 people work full time.

“ The Port doesn’t receive any govern-

ment funding so we have to be self sufficient. Some of the Ports we compete with on the US side are government funded but we can still provide a competitive product.

We consider our Port and terminal world class and anyone in the industry who visits here finds it quite remarkable. After all the automation we can still load a huge capac-

ity, some 150,000 tons in a day in Thunder Bay and it is a big advantage for us,” said Heney. “ The Port has changed a lot over the years since my start working here in 1991. There are fewer elevators now than in 1991 however we do project cargo nowthat started happening only in 2004. We can also store other commodities. Every year seems to be a reset here with different products so it keeps it interesting.”

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2013

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Harper Government invests to support business development and growth in Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities THUNDER BAY, Ontario, August 14, 2013 – The Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of State for Science and Technology, and FedNor, and Minister Responsible for the Ring of Fire, today announced a Harper Government investment to help the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund create jobs, enhance entrepreneurial and business planning skills, and promote business development and growth in Northwestern Ontario.

“Our Government is committed to ensuring entrepreneurs and businesses across Canada have the right tools and expertise they need to take advantage of economic development opportunities that lead to job creation, economic growth and the longterm prosperity of our communities,” said Minister Rickford. “Today’s announcement does just that by enabling the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund to provide targeted support to First Nation businesses throughout the region, giving them the tools to seize and capitalize on opportunities related to the development of the Ring of Fire, right here in Northern Ontario.”

With a FedNor investment of $4,427,212 over three years, Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF) will offer a variety of business development services, including marketing and communications,

"Our Government remains focused on providing the right environment for economic growth, through effective cooperation across all sectors, to keep Canadians working and to ensure the long-term prosperity of all our communities," concluded Minister Rickford.

Minister Greg Rickford, MP for Kenora Greg Rickford was born in Southern Ontario and then completed a diploma in nursing there. “ My focus was working in remote communities in Northern Canada. I got a few years of experience in nursing in Canada and the US and then went back to get my BSc Nursing degree from University of Victoria. After that I began in ernest a career in nursing in remote Canada.”

Rickford worked in places like Big Trout Lake in his life journey. He then went on to take business and law degrees in large centres but always spent his summers in the North. “ Going from Nurse to Lawyer to Politician, they all have advocacy as a central tenant. They take on different forms for sure but I think the balance brings a good perspective on my current position representing Kenora. I had opened my own law practice in Kenora and knowing the challenges that are out there gives me a good perspective.” “ I had lived in all corners of my riding, have a great team in my MP office and now are very proud of the team put together in my Ministers office. The Kenora riding had never been conservative for 92 years. We know how hard it is to gain the respect of the people and are now taking our place in Canada.”

What will NW Ontario look like in 10 years?

strategic planning, and project management. Resources will be available to First Nation communities serviced by NADF, with a strong focus on the nine Matawa communities, to help them successfully develop business opportunities and derive long-term economic benefit from miningrelated developments.

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF) is a federally funded Aboriginal Financial Institution that provides financing, business support, and economic development services to Aboriginal businesses in Northern Ontario. In addition to the variety of programs it offers, NADF is a Community Futures Development Corporation that provides small and medium-sized enterprises with access to capital and business counselling services.

“We are excited about this strategic funding as it will help enhance entrepreneurial and business skills, increase business opportunities for our youth, and ensure the long-term sustainability of new businesses in our communities by providing the support services they need,” said Arlene Jung, Chair of Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund.

The funding announced today is provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, which supports projects that strengthen community economic development, enhance business growth, and facilitate innovation throughout the region.

“ I know what I want NW Ontario to look like and what I think it will look like.

We want to get the Ring of Fire right with processes in place. Environment assessment is beyond our control but we will

work together so all communities will have a role. The Thunder Bay economy is already dynamic. This city is a hub and have seen waterfront development for tourism. Thunder Bay has a prominent role and we need to consider NW Ontario as

part of expanding our foot print.” “ The NADF is focussed on results and creating opportunity. The goal is how many new jobs can we create so we continue to build a strong economy in the North.”

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2013

Thunder Bay has Positive Face-time with Ministries at AMO August 22, 2013 – Members of the City of Thunder Bay Delegation are very encouraged by the prospects as a result of their meetings with Provincial Ministers at the 2013 Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) Conference held in Ottawa August 18-20.

The Delegation included Councillors Joe Virdiramo, Acting Mayor & Chair – Intergovernmental Liaison Committee, Brian McKinnon, Vice-Chair Intergovernmental Liaison Committee, and Ken Boshcoff, along with Tim Commisso, City Manager, who brought Thunder Bay’s priority topics to bring to the attention of Provincial Ministers, including: • Phase Three of the proposed Thunder Bay Event Centre • Implementation of the Advantage Northwest Mining Readiness Strategy • Development of the Golf Links-Junot Corridor, and • The future of the Thunder Bay Generating Station.

Thunder Bay had positive face-time and productive dialogue with the 10 Ministries

including: • Aboriginal Affairs • Economic Development Trade & Employment • Energy • Infrastructure & Transportation • Labour • Municipal Affairs & Housing • Northern Development & Mines • Tourism • Health & Long-Term Care, and • Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak

Council as to the funding opportunities.

Thunder Bay received consistent messages from the Ministries in regards to its priority initiatives including:

"The mining activity surrounding Thunder Bay is the most exciting time for Ontario in over a century,” said Hon. Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister Economic Development, Trade and Employment. “As a result of the Thunder Bay presentation, my Ministry’s level of involvement will focus on finding ways to work stronger with the Ministry of Northern Development & Mines to assist in the challenges and potentials. The Mining Readiness Strategy developed by

Proposed Thunder Bay Event Centre – The Province is ready to get into the game supporting participation and funding support for preliminary feasibility and facility development. Ministry of Northern Development & Mines Minister Michael Gravelle and his staff will work with City

Thunder Bay Generating Station – The plan for the Generating Station is still under review with options as to the fit with the future energy needs of Thunder Bay. The Minister asked Thunder Bay to respond to the most recent report titled "North of Dryden" with a three-week deadline to comment. An answer is expected within three weeks following.

Mining Readiness – The Province gets it!

Thunder Bay is the natural urban catchment area for mining which is Ontario’s second largest gross domestic product contribution.

the City of Thunder Bay and Fort William First Nation sets the stage for that to happen.”

Health Care – Minister of Health encourages partnerships with the City of Thunder Bay on the Housing First Strategy and the Poverty Reduction Strategy and other health related correlations.

Thunder Bay also participated in Ministerial meetings with MARCO/LUMCO Mayors as well as NOLUM and NOMA. “Overall the team did very well and Thunder Bay was seen by all Ministers as definitely having its act together,” said Councillor Joe Virdiramo.

“The message we got from the Province was “We now all know the future of Ontario is with the North.”

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario’s 444 municipal governments. AMO supports strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada’s political system.

July 2013 Housing Starts in Thunder Bay Thunder Bay. Housing starts in Thunder Bay, Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) were trending at 317 units in July up from 315 units in June according to Canada 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.

"Following healthy single-detached construction activity in July, Thunder Bay home-building trend posted positive growth. Similarly, row and apartment starts are performing well this year boosting year-to-date activity in 2013.

CMHC's forecast similar starts levels this year compared to 2012," stated Warren Philp, CMHC's Market Analyst for

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.

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.

The standalone monthly SAAR was 251 units in July, down from 308 units in June.

Follow CMHC on Twitter @CMHC_ca

Preliminary Housing Starts data is also

(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 an 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.

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2013

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Congratulations LU Law! © 2013 Brian Babcock This September sees the opening of the Lakehead University Faulty of Law, the first new law school in Ontario in 40

Legal Matters years. The law school will operate out of the renovated PACI building on Red River Road.

Founding Dean Lee Stuesser is justifiably proud of this achievement. He explains that the Faculty of Law is “part of the rejuvenation of Port Arthur. New life will

be brought to the downtown. When we are fully operating we will have over 150 students, many of whom will come from outside of Thunder Bay. They will need places to stay, to eat, to enjoy. In addition we will have between 15 and 20 full time staff positions. All good for the economy.”

Lakehead University stepped up to help address a very serious problem. Bay Street will always have lots of lawyers.

Our law school is about lawyers for the rest of us.

As a former member of the City’s Waterfront Development Committee, I am pleased to see our vision of renewal taking place. As a lawyer, I am hopeful that the law school will be as great a success as the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

About half the students admitted to the law school’s first class have northern roots, a hopeful sign that they may stay to serve their communities. There is a need especially for lawyers who want to practice law for real people with real problems in small towns. The school’s academic focus on aboriginal issues and natural resources law fits much needed niches.

Like the medical school, the law school is the product of years of hard work and advocacy from the grass roots –

Access to justice is a fundamental civil right, but it is especially difficult to achieve in Northern Ontario. I only need

to look in the mirror to be reminded that the local bar is greying. A law degree may no longer guarantee a high income, but local firms have been hiring graduates from law schools as far away as Wales to fill the current demand.

Community involvement and community support is at the core of what Lee Stuesser and his staff plan at the Lakehead University Faculty of Law. Exciting times are ahead, and the new Faculty of Law is here to be part of what we all hope is the glorious future for Thunder Bay. Please join my colleagues and I at congratulating LU Law on its grand opening.

Idea Factories the imaginative processes.

When you think about all the amazing ideas, thoughts, hypotheses, concepts that could have made you a fortune but somehow didn't make it past the brain wave--it should be at least somewhat frustrating !

The minerals won't go bad so sure

We haven't been beating the bushes for grain movements through our Port and there is huge opportunity to engage the western agricultural industries.

So what if after all these conferences, seminars, thinktanks, symposiums and gatherings of intelligence we are pretty much in the same place? Then it means there is a critical gap between thinkin and doin !

Even with the drop in commodity prices that is having its own impact on mining, there are several minerals that the world has need of. Note that I didn't say what the world has "want of", which is a different kind of supply/demand that what we require or must have to keep this planet turning and its industries working.

We have always know that we have many distinct advantages of which other parts of the world can only become more jealous. The most obvious of these is water, which covers a large part of our advantage list from transportation, sports, recreation, tourism to just good old drinkability.

When we think environment hopefully it is in its widest context which allows to take a larger perspective on growing ideas. There are historic mining sites on Lake Superior dating to hundreds of years B.C. This tells us that in the evolution of humans they recognized the practical value of even the rock they walked upon.

If we apply our creativity to making opportunity then we can set aside whether there is a recovery, a boom, or a downturn on the horizon and just fire up

growing tells us with the diversity of our natural settings that site selectors and production operations can easily be centred right here in the centre of North America.

Tourism works. You go away as a tourist so why can't we coordinate in a "Region of Festivals" during all seasons to make visitors stay longer?

enough we better be ready for the next cycle which seems to have blended into whichever one we think we're in.

Therefore whilst everyone else may be thinking there's slowdown is when we ramp up and nurture our supply chain incubators for the mining industries.

Forestry's resurgence remains strong so there's another shift in focus. Changing policies to adapt to new sustainable harvesting can be done now.

The Chamber of Commerce's Aboriginal Opportunities is chuck-full of positive people committed to ensuring that Thunder Bay becomes known as one of North America's most welcoming communities.

The pace at which the film industry is

The needs for health care professionals and for all trades have been cried about for years. Now is the time to get those

young people skilled and educated into something dignified and that is a true career.

Our local food is just fantastic but we still don't have a recognizable district brand the way "Rainy River Raised" has become so well known. I will of course except Thunder Oak Cheese and persians !

Overall we need to collaborate our efforts to maximize the energy being demonstrated by groups such as Shift, who brag about our community and extoll its virtues as mantra. We simply must foster a culture of Thunder Bay as a "Place To Be" for work, play, learning, and life.

Respectfully submitted,

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2013

Are you fully covered for events you can’t control?

ClientLine—A look at timely financial issues

There are certain events in life you can’t control but you can plan for them. Having a will and power of attorney in place ensures your most important wishes will be carried out. Life insurance addresses the possibility of dying prematurely by providing your family the financial resources to carry on.

Having sufficient health coverage means that in the event of a critical illness, you’ll have enough money to support your family and the resources to concentrate on your

recovery.

Take a closer look at an unexpected event and the health insurance solution that can protect your family and finances.

Critical illnesses Cancer, heart attack, stroke: Canadians are more likely to experience one of these serious illnesses or a host of others than they are to die before the age of 75.# In the past, if you had a serious illness,your chances of survival weren’t nearly as good as they are today. Fortunately, advances in medical technology have increased survival rates, while new financial products

have provided the means to face recovery with more certainty and freedom.

During your recovery, you will want to focus on regaining your health and taking advantage of the technology and resources available today. In Canada, the government provides some support but will it be enough for you?

Critical illness insurance is one way to ensure you’ll have financial resources.

When diagnosed# with an illness covered by the policy, you’ll be able to use the lump sum payment to: ·

take an extended leave from work

· have a family member take time off to be with you

· cover everyday expenses like mortgage payments, while protecting your RRSP savings and other investments · choose medicine and treatments not covered by group, personal, or government plans · travel to treatment centres · hire someone to take care of your business if you own it Support from the critical illness insurance benefit helps you set your own recovery terms.

Crucial Questions to Superior Sales

by Jeff Mowatt When your customers aren't sure which of your products or services they should buy, consider this handy tool that not only helps create clarity, but also positions you as a trusted advisor. I'm referring to a time-test sales tool known as SWOT. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. When I do customer service and sales seminars and speeches for groups, I often hear this is one of the most useful tools people learn. Here's how to ask SWOT questions.

Explain to your customer that every customer is different and you want to come up with a solution to suit their unique needs. Then explain that you'd like to ask them a few questions to help them narrow the field. Now ask these SWOT questions: S-Strengths "When you think about other products/services in this category that you've used in the past,

what have you liked about them?" If, for example, you're a travel agent discussing vacation options with a client, ask them where they've vacationed before and what they liked about it. If you're a hairstylist, ask the customer about the last time they loved their hairstyle and what they liked about it. Starting with strengths about current and past purchase helps the customer clarify what's important to them. And it shows that you are not threatened by discussing the positive aspects of your competitors' products and services. In your customers' view, this alone makes you different than other sales people who want to rundown the competition. It's a generous way to start building trust at the outset.

W-Weaknesses "What have you not liked about those previous products/services?" Again, the customer is not only clarifying in their own mind what they don't want, they are also telling you the flaws

“Working with business for a sustainable and prosperous future.”

of the competition. Much better that this comes from the customer than from you. Any time you point out your competitor's faults you expose yourself to three negatives: 1) the customer disagrees with your negative assessment; in which case they no longer trust your judgment. 2) Even if you're right about your competitor's weakness the customer may not appreciate you running-down the competition behind their backs. It looks like a cheap-shot. 3) The customer feels like they made a bad decision in the past and that you think they aren't smart. Not a good thing. That's why it's so much more effective when your customer points out the weaknesses. The fact that you already encouraged them to point out the strengths makes them feel less guilty about talking about the weaknesses. That's one reason why the order that the SWOT questions are asked creates such positive feelings.

O-Opportunities "What would be a perfect product/service solution in your mind?" With this question, you are asking the customer to dream big. People like this. It's almost like asking, "If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?"

When you ask this question, you are creating

an emotional connection to the product that is exactly right for them, because they are creating the product in their mind. Does it get any better than that?

T-Threats "What's prevented you from buying this perfect product/service in the past?" After the customer imagines the perfect solution, now is the time for reality. At this point in the buying conversation, the customer tells you their limits and buying objections. They share their budget, or time constraints, or that they weren't aware that this type of solution existed. In other words, the customer tells you what you need to know to help them make buying decision that's tailor made for them.

What fascinates me about using SWOT is during this entire part of conversation, you haven't begun to talk about your products/services.

Instead, you're focused on the customer's unique needs. When you do this with the customer they realize that you actually get them.

When you cross that threshold, you're no longer a pushy salesperson - you're a trusted advise This article is based on the bestselling book Influence with Ease by customer service strategist and professional speaker Jeff Mowatt. To obtain your own copy of his book or to inquire about engaging Jeff for your team, visit www.jeffmowatt.com or call 1.800.JMowatt (566.9288).

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2013

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Easter Seal Drop Zone Event Returns Bigger Than Ever

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Thunder Bay BUSINESS Driving down Balmoral or Beverly Streets in Thunder Bay August 16th you may have done a double take. If you looked up to Maplecrest Tower condominium you saw people stepping over the ledge of the 14 storey building and repelling down some 150 feet to the ground. Many of the 40 participants were dressed in super hero costumes and in for the experience of a lifetime!

“ I wanted to get involved this year to be able to support the community through Easter Seals. Easter Seals does not get sup-

ported by any government funding, it is strictly through the public generosity,” said Claudio Foresta, Chair of the 2013 Easter Seal Drop Zone event and owner of Kelsey’s and Montana’s restaurants in Thunder Bay. “ Helping kids with disability is near and dear to my heart. Kelsey's got involved last year as a sponsor of an after party event and this year we will be doing it again.” “ This year we have actually doubled the number of participants to 40 people. Last year we raised $ 40,000 and this year we want to raise over $ 45,000. It is a big impact and it goes to help families in Ontario help kids with physical disabilities.

I think it is a very unique event for the city.” “ Every 10 minutes people are coming down 14 stories at Maplecrest Tower, some 150 feet down, so it is a very exciting day.

These brave souls are raising funds for Easter Seals. Each participant raised over $1500 for the chance to repel down the building. It is a unique opportunity and we hope to raise over $ 45,000. Many people dress up as super heroes.” said Rhonda Harrison of Easter Seals Thunder Bay. “ We raise the money to help with equipment for the kids. Easter Seals also has fully assessable camps for the kids. We fly

them to Southern Ontario for 10 days” Kathy Otway is the mother of Alannah who went to the camp just outside of Ottawa for the first time this year. “ I went swimming, fishing and made new friends,” said Alanah. “ Easer Seals flew someone up to Thunder Bay to fly down with Alannah.

We meet them at the airport and told them all about her. Alannah didn’t have time to be homesick because they have so many activities, they were so busy.” said Kathy Otway.

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2013