BusinessExaminer
AUGUST 17, 2009
Okanagan
INSIDE Kelowna on the Rack(Force) Print ANYTHING! Olympic fringe benefits
Noll Derriksan's Secret Empire
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| www.businessexaminer.ca August 2009
VISION 2020 VISION 2020 VISION VISION 2020 VISION VISION 2020 2020202
2009 Business Opportunities Conference
The Okanagan Nation Alliance is the Tribal Council of Westbank First Nation, Okanagan Indian Band, Osoyoos Indian Band, Upper Nicola Indian Band, Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Penticton Indian Band and Upper Similkameen Indian Band. We invite local, regional and national business people to come and meet with us to discuss emerging opportunities to do business with our Bands and Band members.
Keynote Speaker Chief Clarence Louie
Chief Jonathan Kruger
If you are a representative of a development company, business person, investor, financial institution, educational institution, politician, municipal government leader or simply an entrepreneur with a great idea then you should attend this conference. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip
The Okanagan Nation Alliance member Bands are a progressive and business minded group that wish to engage with non-Aboriginal businesses and organizations to create successful business ventures.
VISION 2020
SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2009 Presentations include: SEPTEMBER 22-23, 200 SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2009 “Understanding Today’ s Social Media Opportunities” | “The Launch of the22-23, Okanagan Nation SEPTEMBER 2009 SEPTEMBER 22-23 Development Corporation” | SEPTEMBER “Twisting Online Media to your Advantage” | Keynote Speaker 22-23, 2009 The Okanagan Nation Chief Clarence Louie | Branding - Reinforcing Your Brand” | “Human Resource Strategies” | Maggie Fox
Geoff Greenwell
Alliance is proud to announce our 2009 Business Opportunities Conference at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre on September 23rd.
Last year’s Conference generated over $200 million in new economic development activity between the private sector and the Okanagan Nation. Don’t miss the opportunity to become part of this ongoing success story.
“Information Technology”
Networking Sessions: Each of our Bands and our Business Development Unit will have specific rooms available to allow for private meetings between participants and key decision makers from our Bands. Refreshments will be served during the morning and afternoon sessions, and a buffet lunch will be provided at noon.
Peter Matejcek
SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2009
Adam Less
Booth Space: Companies and organizations wishing to display information on their products and services may rent floor space for their own 8’ x 10’ booth for $750.00. This fee will also include 2 free delegate passes to the conference and a table and 2 chairs for the booth.
Tony Peyton
Prominent placement of corporate images and verbal recognition will be given to our sponsors throughout the event.
Shelley Gilmore
There is a $149.00 fee to attend this ground breaking conference and space is limited to the first 400 attendees.
Sponsorship and Support
Room Reservations: Both The Sandman Hotel and The Ramada Inn are offering special rates for the Conference. Major sponsors: Sandman Hotel - sales_penticton@sandman.ca Ramada Inn - christy@pentictonramada.com
How may we help you today? Insurances
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Okanagan Nation Alliance 3255C Shannon Lake Road Westbank, BC V4T 1V4 Tel 250-707-0095 Fax 250-707-0166
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August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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BusinessExaminer www.businessexaminer.ca
Publisher
Managing Editor
Sales & Marketing Manager
Design / Production
Craig Brown 250.862.6722 publisher@businessexaminer.ca
Devon Brooks 250.878.1782 editor@businessexaminer.ca
Chytra Brown 250.863.4636 sales@businessexaminer.ca
MaryAnn McCooey production@businessexaminer.ca
Contributing Photographer Shawn Talbot | 1.888.317.1403 | shawn@shawntalbot.com | www.shawntalbot.com Contributors Dominik Dlouhy | Deanna Brooks | David Crawford | Tom Fletcher | Grant McMillan | Robert Smithson | John Swanson Mailing Address P.O.Box 32034 RPO, 2151 Louie Dr. West Kelowna, B.C. V4T 3G2 | Fax 250.768.8241 Subscription Rates 12 issues annually | One year: $27.00 | 250.863.4636 Distribution The Okanagan Business Examiner is published monthly at Kelowna, BC by Prosper Media Group Inc. Copies are distributed to businesses from Osoyoos to Greater Vernon. The views expressed in the Okanagan Business Examiner are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily those of the publisher or staff.
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 41835528 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: P.O. BOX 32034 RPO 2151 LOUIE DR. WESTBANK, BC, CANADA V4T 3G2
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BusinessExaminer Okanagan
Welcome to our Future in Print
INSIDE KELOWNA ON THE RACK(FORCE) PRINT ANYTHING! OLYMPIC FRINGE BENEFITS
Publisher | Craig Brown
Noll Derriksan's Secret Empire
If you are a regular reader of the Okanagan Business Examiner you might have noticed a couple of tiny changes. For example we’ve gone from newsprint to glossy, from tabloid to a magazine format. Since taking ownership of OBE three months ago my staff and I have been banging our heads together re-imagining what the magazine can offer. We started with this new look that you now hold in your hands. Behind the scenes there are many other things happening.
AUGUST 17, 2009
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS The new gig at RackForce
06
Olympic spillover to Interior ski hills
10
Noll Derriksan: unseen maybe, but hard to miss
13
Printing on everything including the kitchen sink
36
We have also heard plenty about our old distribution system. That is on the scrap heap.
Movers & Shakers
08
The death of capitalism Dominik Dlouhy
29
Beware automated phone service - David Crawford
31
Calendar of Events
34
| www.businessexaminer.ca August 2009
In our latest survey one person in five either hadn’t seen a copy or saw it only rarely. I won’t even mention that if you are absolutely desperate to get a copy we’d love for you to take out a subscription (see the top of this page). We are doing monthly surveys by e-mail. It is never our intention to burden you with loads of e-mail so if you are receiving this and don’t want to, please send a note to the editor (editor@businessexaminer.ca) and we’ll remove your address.
D E PA R T M E N T S
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For advertisers it is clear that new is often synonymous with increased charges. Advertising rates in the Business Examiner aren’t going up because of the format change, so if that scares you, relax.
The first time out we asked how the recession was affecting businesses. Last month we asked people about what they liked and didn’t like about the Business Examiner. One message hammered home was to keep the focus local – we shouldn’t be trying to compete with BC Business or national business publications. Other suggestions were less unanimous – more success stories, more hi-tech, more agritourism, more David Crawford (he’s in this issue). We know that you know that until now we’ve been working with an Internet model that is absolutely state-of-the-art. At least if this were 1999 it would be state-of-the-art. That is next on our agenda and, as you read this, we are improving our online presence to match our print traditions. We estimate there are 16,000 odd businesses within the area the Business Examiner distributes, covering everything from making soup (literally) to the highest hitech. That means we have enough stories to write about for the next thousand years or so without repeats. Well, we want to try harder to get stories you want to hear about. Let us know by e-mail, letter, fax or pony express what you think as we go along.
I’ll ask you not to. We want to use that survey to learn about things that are important and fascinating. (By the way, if you’re not getting the monthly survey and want to please send a note to the editor asking to be included. We’d love to hear from you and the surveys are short – ten questions or less.)
Regards, Craig Brown
From the Editor |
Devon Brooks
Why media will kill the world
would handle the end of the world
•
The Province: WE’RE DEAD
•
National Post: TSX Plummets as World Ends.
•
Microsoft PR: If you don’t experience the rapture, DOWNLOAD software patch RAPT777.EXE.
•
•
•
National Enquirer: Together at Last, Elvis and Michael Jackson Fight over who was Really the King!
•
Playboy: Girls of the Apocalypse
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Chatelaine: Lose 10 Pounds by Judgement Day with Our New “Armageddon” Diet!
•
Maclean’s: Are Canadians as dead as the Americans?
•
GM PR: We’ve come back from death before.
•
Canadian government: We’ll have a plan in place to deal with voter concerns by 2050 (unless the U.S. puts one in place first).
“I believe the media is making it much, much worse.” “There is no doubt that the media is responsible for a great deal of the ‘Recession’.” “The media is the #1 factor.” Another temporized by saying the media didn’t cause the recession, they just made it much worse. Only one had an alternative: that the many job cuts caused by industry moving manufacturing overseas, leading to stagnant wages and job cuts in America, was the cause.
These little jokes have the hint of truth. Each agency writing one of these hypothetical, if satirical, headlines is reflecting its own economic interest. The interest is supposed to be that of the reader. Government is supposed to care about the well being of its constituents. Governments now script so tightly what is said publicly that few of us believe we are getting the whole truth. Media, working with ever smaller numbers of staff, copies more government and corporate PR than ever before and investigates much less. Newspapers are folding everywhere in the electronic age, profits are slim, and investors demand smaller costs and lesser risks. It all affects what we write and how. Big stories are seen as sure bets. Like the big wildfires media wildfires feed themselves. They are easy to report on, cheap to cover and at a certain point, almost impossible to avoid.
The Business Examiner didn’t cause the recession and I sincerely doubt that I can stop it, but I can tell you that today the Bank of Canada governor, Mark Carney announced the recession is officially over. For now, I am relying on Mark to save my reputation, but then again, I'm sure he'll get all the credit for saving the economy from my nefarious grasp. PS - A Visions Update Last month I used this editorial space to publicly castigate Visions for shoddy service and I mentioned that the manager there had brushed me off. As an update I can tell you that the day after publication Visions found my complaint (sent by e-mail), phoned me and informed me that the person who led me to believe he was the manager was not. The real manager, Chris, bent over backwards to help me and get my television repaired despite Sharp Canada setting a near-record slow pace in sending parts for repair.
Several times in this past year I’ve received polite, but real criticism that the media caused the recession. It’s not just me.
…Helping Okanagan Businesses
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Kimberley Palmer, writing for U.S. News & World Report, asked on her blog if readers believed that the media was responsible.
DESIGN
How the media and marketing
“Isn’t that Obvious?”
WEB
This brings to mind a joke that I’ve seen go around a few times, with slightly varying punch lines:
Sports Illustrated: Game Over. Interviews with Key Players.
WEB DESIGN
Journalists, once considered to be the tellers of uncomfortable truths are now seen as compromised salespeople serving too many masters.
•
WEB
No one knows what politicians want exactly, but we’re all sure it’s nefarious and connected to big power and big money.
“YES, the media is definitely the problem.”
DESIGN
Sales people are perceived to want to unload merchandise or services for more money than its worth. Lawyers are seen as muck rakers who want juicy fights to make money off of.
Rolling Stone: The Grateful Dead Reunion Tour.
DESIGN
In 2006 The Guardian reported that politicians were at the bottom of public respect, but journalists were working their way down to the bottom of the cesspool. A survey by the Australian Reader’s Digest Trust this year confirms the journalist’s continuing fall from grace. We share the pit with the afore mentioned politician and car salesperson, but the Aussies also have no regard for astrologers, real estate agents, sex workers, CEOs, professional soccer players (apparently associated with scandal around prominent footballer Ben Cousins) and taxi drivers. Lawyers should be pleased that they’ve risen above this mob. I wonder that bankers don’t get their own special mention, but perhaps they are simply lumped in with the CEOs.
•
WEB
I used to laugh at lawyer jokes. Between beatings of lawyers I used to take shots at politicians, used car salespeople and spies. It turns out I have to laugh out the other side of my mouth now because I, and my professional brethren, are destroying the world economy. And people don’t like it.
succeed
ONLINE since 1993
…Helping get started today! navigatormulti …Helping
Okanagan Okanagan 2
BusinesseK 250-862-9868 succeed Businesses
succee
DSFBUJWF t EBUBCBTFT t TFBSDI FOHJOF get started today! navigatormultimedia.com 201-260 Harvey Ave. ONLINE
Here are a sampling of direct quotes from her readers:
get started today! navigatormultimedia.com
250-862-9868 201-260 Harvey Ave.
Canadian Business: 10 Ways You Can Profit from the Apocalypse.
“The media has a big mouth.”
B.C. government: We’ll be the last to go.
“You are what is killing this DSFBUJWF t EBUBCBTFT t TFBSDI FOHJOFT t IPTUJOH nation so shut up.”
250-862-9868
KELOWNA
ONLINE since since 1993
DSFBUJWF t EBUBCBTFT t TFBSDI FOHJOFT t IPTUJOH
KELOWNA
WEB
1993
DESIGN August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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RackForce introduces GigaCenter to Okanagan LEFT: CEO Tim Dufour | Photos contributed
Devon Brooks
Rackforce Networks’ CEO Tim Dufour’s opening remarks for the new GigaCenter in Kelowna: “This is a momentous occasion for the Okanagan.”
The IBM representative at the opening said, “It is the combination of Rackforce’ vision and IBM’s technical skills that makes this partnership today.”
All hyperbole aside the Mayor of Kelowna and a host of other politicians must be cheering Dufour and Rackforce on for a server-load of reasons because this GigaCenter is clean, green, comes with lots of well paying jobs and has already put Kelowna on the data centre map.
For those who don’t know what a GigaCenter is, it is an information warehouse on a scale that is hard to imagine.
Among the dignitaries at the opening was Robert Fine, executive director of the RDCO economic development office. He relayed a story about trying to lure a company to look at Kelowna for development a couple of years ago but was turned down because no Fortune 500 company was based here. Although the Disney Corp. technically gets the credit for that when it scooped up Club Penguin, the GigaCenter brings in another Fortune 500 member, namely IBM, as the technical partner.
Every day in North America approximately 15 pedabytes (PB) of data are stored. The small computer I work on right now has a storage capacity of 100 GB, which means that it can store, approximately 120,000 500 page books. Ten times that amount makes up a terabyte (TB) and a thousand of those make up one PB. Physically the GigaCenter occupies a 30,000 sq. ft. section of the old Western Star complex. It is nondescript and, after its grand opening, closed to the public. If a warehouse seems unexciting it is only because the value of that warehouse is enormous and yet, unknown.
Inside Rackforce customers rent cabinets, or racks, that look somewhat like an oversized school locker, each of which will hold two servers. Customers take space for a minimum of 12 cabinets or up to 170 cabinets. In total the facility can hold 572 racks with 24,000 servers. Each server stores the data for approximately 1,000 websites. It’s a lot of information and collectively it represents enormous amounts of time and money. If you’ve ever had your computer shut down in the middle of a letter or a project and lost all your work you know how frustrating that can be. Now imagine it happened to your entire company. In a second, or in a disaster like a hurricane or an earthquake the value of losing all that data and hard work can easily run into tens of millions of dollars. So companies large and small back up their data, but because the data stored and saved is growing so quickly new data centres have to be built all the time.
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Above Left: Information on servers is so valuable that the July 15 opening was the first and last time that the data centre will be open for viewing. Security in and out of the building is rigourous. Above: The glass enclosed room here is modular and expandable so that clients can have vaults designed to meet their needs while remaining separate from other customers if need be. Left: Each of these cabinets in the vault will hold two servers and this data centre will take 572 cabinets in one of the most stable locations in North America.
This data centre is a coup for the Okanagan because it is the newest and biggest one in Canada. Dufour says, “We built the GigaCenter here in Kelowna because it’s one of the most stable and eco-friendly areas in North America.” By stable he means that there is a very low risk of natural disaster here, forest fires notwithstanding. It has a temperate climate and plenty of hotel space to host visiting customers. It is also accessible by an international airport. Dufour and Brian Fry, who is RackForce’ VP of sales and marketing, built their first much smaller data centre in Kelowna in 2001 in one of the Landmark Buildings using loans from Community Futures to get started. The July 15 opening of the GigaCenter and its 28 employees is only another phase in the company’s growth. The next expansion, planned for a 2011 opening, will have a footprint four times as large and employ around 100 people. As job opportunities go, it is also just about everything any politician would crave. It is a head office so executives will live here and invest in their community. It is hi-tech and partners with some of the world’s biggest companies and it would appear to have a long term future. CONTINUED ON PAGE 33
August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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MOVERS &SHAKERS If you have business news contact us @ tips@businessexaminer.ca
Kelowna Airport receives two awards
The Kelowna International Airport took home two awards from the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA). First place went to the airport for its magazine, YLW Connection. It also received a second place award for its joint marketing program done with Horizon Air. YLW Connection, which prints 20,000 copies per issue and has an online component, is done in partnership with Accelerate Communications. The second prize, in the ‘Partnering with Carriers’ category, was given for two contests. One, to lure Seattle residents north, was called the ‘Wine Country Getaway’ with a matching effort to bring Okanagan residents south called ‘Mom and Me in Seattle for Tea’. Awards are made in 20 categories and were contested by 250 entries from 62 airports in North America. Best Western’s teensy tiny footprint
Kelowna’s Best Western Inn is now offering customers a chance to offset their carbon footprint when visiting. Every form of travel creates a carbon footprint and the hotel is offering clientele a link on its website that connects them to the ZeroFootPrint calculator (http:// 8
| www.businessexaminer.ca August 2009
calc.zerofootprint.net/one_ minute/best_western). There a guest can get an idea of just how big their travelling carbon footprint is. A visitor coming from England to Kelowna by air, staying three weeks, and renting a small car for 600 km of driving will generate 5.67 tonnes of CO2. Then comes the tough part. The calculator suggests three options to offset the carbon added to our atmosphere. In the English-visitor example it included a forest restoration project, a landfill gas recovery project and a tire recycling program. Suggested donation to fund those equivalent offsets: $96.39. Greg Salloum, the hotel’s CEO is a passionate promoter of all things green – seven years ago he installed the biggest solar panel array in the Okanagan to help cut fuel requirements for his hotel.
International (BNI) chapter in Lake Country. BNI describes itself as “a professional marketing organization specializing in word-of-mouth referrals.” BNI members enjoy a networking strategy that generates business referrals through other members and their recommendations. Any given chapter allows only one person per company or in a given classification to join. Members work to promote fellow members in their chapter. Currently there are approximately 250 BNI chapters operating across Canada.
Given stricken
Some people say if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. When you
can’t beat the odds at winning the lottery Rob Woodhead might have the next best alternative – create and sell a game that simulates winning the lottery. Rob Woodhead, president of Woodhead Entertainment has done just that with the release of ‘Winfall, the Lottery Dreamers’ Board Game’. If you want a feel for the game before making the $35 purchase you can also try the online version by going to the website at www.planetwinfall. com
with cancer again
Brian Given, one of Kelowna’s hardworking city councillors has been stricken with cancer and is temporarily stepping down from his job while he deals with the disease. Given has already fought two bouts of cancer. This one appears to be a recurrence of his bowel cancer. - with notes from Castanet
Bloodied but not bowed
The Westbank Chamber of Commerce is trying to get an idea of just how badly businesses were burnt by the recent wildfires. If your business is in the area and it was affected they ask you to get one of their impact statements and get it back to them by August 12. There is no cost. To get a form call the Chamber at 250-768-3378 and they will e-mail, fax or mail a statement to you.
BNI heads to Lake Country
The Jammery is playing host to the first meeting of the new Business Networking
Downloaded over 9 million times
Kelowna resident Karen Luniw who owns both ‘The Law of Attraction Center’ and the ‘Business Attraction Center’ reports 9.5 million downloads of her latest podcast, the Law of Attraction Tips. Luniw, who is a business and personal coach, is amazed at how quickly her online popularity is growing. She says, “It’s overwhelming to imagine how many people have listened to my voice.” Following the runaway success of her podcasts Luniw decided to translate some of her ideas into book form. She’s recently published Attraction in Action: Your How to Guide to Relationships, Money, Work and Health. The book is available at major book sellers and online at www.theattractioninaction. com. Luniw has been asked to contribute as a blogger to the American Internet newspaper, The Huffington Post, which routinely records 9,000,000 hits every month.
Re/Max gets a fresh face
A new office for Re/Max Kelowna opened at 2205 Louie Drive in West Kelowna on the west side of Highway 97. The outlet is owned by broker Cliff Shillington who says, on his website, that Re/Max Kelowna is the top office in British Columbia and number three in the realty giant’s operations world wide.
Clark sits down in president’s chair
Bill Clark from Kindersley Transport is the new president at the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce. Clark took over late last month from developer Peter Withers. The rest of the executive consists of Marvin Farkas as VP. Farkas is an advertising consultant at Kelowna’s Capital News. Esther Harvey is the Chamber treasurer. At other times she works at Lakestone Developments while Elaine Clubine, owner of the Lake Country Taxi, is the Chamber's secretary.
Playing at winning Cameron takes
over at BCWI
Lisa Cameron, formerly the communications manager at the British Columbia Wine Institute has been recently promoted to general manager. Cameron has been the acting manager since the departure of former general manager Peggy Athans.
fans after getting to see the Swedish women practice is who they’ll be cheering for come the real event. Harmony of controversy
Another score for the team
Tourism Kelowna’s Nancy Cameron announced that Sweden’s National Women’s Hockey Team has chosen Kelowna as its pre-Olympics training city. The Swedish team’s head coach, Peter Elander credits the great reception he got in the city along with the needed facilities for bringing them in. The Swedish women’s team took silver in the 2006 Winter Olympics. The Swedish team will be in place training from August 16 to 29 and again from January 21 to February 4. The biggest confusion for local
The B.C. government’s decision to harmonize the GST and PST is not going down as smoothly as business group endorsements might lead you to expect. The announcement by Colin Hansen, Minister of Finance is being endorsed by many business organizations including the BC Business Council, the BC Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Council of Canada. All these groups and others have called for harmonization to reduce the time (and therefore the cost) of collecting two different taxes, but many other groups are incensed that the harmonized taxes will be extended to areas that are now
exempt. The tax of 12% will be put in place on July 1, 2010. The government estimates that it will save business nearly $2 billion in taxes and administration. The savings break down, says government, will be $880 million for the construction sector, $140 million for manufacturing, $210 million for transportation, $140 million for forestry and $80 million for mining, oil and gas. Certain sectors are out in force to complain about the process, which will add 7% to the prices paid by consumers. Included in this group are restaurants, real estate groups, hair care services, utility bills, dry cleaning, funeral homes, movie tickets, accounting, and domestic airline fares. Howard Rensler of the Canadian Home Builders Association is also less than pleased because the $400,000 cutoff for refunding the extra tax on new home purchases, he complains, will impact fewer and fewer homes in the future. The government has made no claim that this will be revenue neutral, which likely means it is
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www.connect-it.ca August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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Local ski hills only slightly revved for Olympics The 2010 Olympic bonanza is a chance to attract more regional ski ers rather than the international jet set
Deanna Brooks
Ski hills in the Okanagan are taking a conservative approach to the upcoming winter season and the 2010 Olympics. Most of the ski hills are expecting a bit of overflow from people who would usually vacation in Whistler but who will come to the Okanagan as an alternative, but hill managers say it is very hard to estimate potential numbers. Michael Ballingall, vice-president of sales and marketing, says that Big White is normally at 75-85% of their full occupancy in January and February and he is hoping for a 10% overall increase in occupancy this 2010. Christopher Nicolson is president of tourism at Sun Peaks. He says they are also hoping for a 10-15% increase coming specifically from B.C. residents looking to escape the hype of Whistler, but who still want to be close to the action. The greatest hope for local hills like Sun Peaks, Silver Star and Big White, this coming winter, is not that they will have one bonus year because people avoid the Olympics but that the people who were diverted to the Okanagan, instead of Whistler, will become repeat guests. Sun Peaks is “hoping to grow” says Nicolson, but warns that the ski hill will wait until the winter season has begun to determine if they need to hire on extra staff. While the ski hills in the interior will mostly consider this just another year, Sun Peaks is pushing the promotional envelope a little more with an interresort shuttle bus that runs regularly between Whistler and Sun Peaks. Nicolson says Sun Peaks hopes to be the gateway to the Okanagan for skiers who, once they get to Whistler, realize that the hills are too crowded, and the crowds
too hyped for their liking. This privately run shuttle bus also connects to Silver Star and Big White. This is a great opportunity for the region to be discovered by people who haven’t had a reason to alter their usual Whistler vacation plans before. International tourists, says Nicolson, who are heading through Vancouver could get trapped in transit and bogged down by delays as the media frenzy around the Olympics intensifies. He worries that tourists with reservations at an Okanagan resort might not make it to or through Vancouver on time. Hence the shuttle bus to make that transition easier. Looking for a silver lining in a messy transit cloud, Ballingall suggests traffic congestion may work to the Okanagan’s advantage if tourists, even those heading to Whistler, are diverted through Calgary and then must drive through the Okanagan on their way. Although, it will be pretty much business as usual on the slopes, marketing is still going to town with the Olympic theme. The promotional focus of all the resorts will be on the tourists who have been pushed out of Whistler, but still want to have a ski vacation while enjoying the Olympics from a comfortable lounge chair. All three resorts are adding extra televisions and Silver Star and Big White are promoting their own mini-Olympic events for every day of the real Olympiad. The Okanagan is also where many Olympic athletes are coming to train. Enthusiasts who would like to test their skills against the worlds best cross country skiers and biathletes should check out the Nordic Centre at Silver Star in January and February. Or, check out Sun Peaks where the Austrian National Ski Team has been training for the past four years. They will be returning to Sun Peaks right before the Olympics to “rebuild their focus and get away from the media,” says Nicolson. CONTINUED ON PAGE 33 SUN PEAKS PHOTO ADAM STEIN
How WorkSafeBC reduces the risks of home construction You’re ready to build your dream home or to create your dream kitchen. You need to find a reliable contractor. There is one simple way to help to ensure that your dream project does not become a nightmare. Construction companies that build or renovate homes come in all shapes and sizes – but the best, most reliable companies are all registered with WorkSafeBC. What this means to you, the owner, is another layer of protection toward your peace of mind. A contractor who is registered with WorkSafeBC protects both you and your property and even the contractor.
directly to you, the owner. If a worker is injured while working on your property, you cannot be sued by the worker for that injury. Nor can a worker in B.C. sue a WorkSafeBC registered employer. These protections against lawsuit only applies if the contractor is registered with WorkSafeBC.
less likely to be shut down for health and safety violations.
If you are acting as the general contractor and hiring sub contractors to do the work, you should also register with WorkSafeBC and protect yourself and your assets. Injured workers working for general contractors who are not registered, can potentially sue and make the contractor liable for the full cost of the worker’s claim – which can be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
When you hire a contractor
Registration means that the contractor pays assessments to WorkSafeBC -essentially like buying an insurance policy. That policy covers the contractor’s workers if one of them has a workplace injury. The coverage provides the worker with wage loss and medical payments and even pensions for long-term disability.
Registration is an easy way to achieve that extra protection and can be done at: www.worksafebc.com. Aside from the legal protection, most people still prefer the convenience and security of hiring a professional contractor. The professional will follow WorkSafeBC Safety Regulations, and residential construction sites are inspected on a regular basis by WorkSafeBC officers. Part of their job is to enforce safety standards.
But there is a significant additional benefit that goes
The work site of a professional contractor is much
These shutdowns can result in expensive delays and financial penalties against the contractor – or you, if you are acting as your own general contractor.
1. Ask the contractor if he/she is registered with WorkSafeBC 2. If the answer is yes – ask for the contractor’s WorkSafeBC Employer Number. You can also check this out online at the WorkSafeBC website. If the contractor is not registered – ask yourself: ‘Do I really want to take on the liability of an unregistered contractor and face the risk of lawsuit?’
This article is provided by Grant McMillan who is the President of the Council of Construction Associations. SICA works closely with the Council to address construction safety issues. To contact Grant phone the Council in Richmond, B.C. at 604-241-7667 or send an e-mail to grantmcmillan@shaw.ca
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August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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Noll Derriksan Noll Derriksan controls a successful business empire, all centred on his Westbank land holdings that he started to accumulate more than 50 years ago.
August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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Master and Controller Devon Brooks | Photo Portraits: Shawn Talbott
Noll Derriksan is not used to being asked questions. By instinct or long habit, he prefers to ask, rather than answer, so it is a clearly uncomfortable suit to slip on when he is asked about his past or future. Questions are often met by his own questions, some of which are more challenge than either question or answer. Some areas he declares off limits and not up for discussion. Perhaps that is why Derriksan, successful as he is, is not well known publicly. He knows what he wants, he does it, he does it well, but he rarely, if ever, feels the need to seek public attention or approval. Certainly he has no shortage of opinions (Obama is the worst thing to happen to the U.S. in years) and he is most definitely not afraid to voice them when he wants to. Derriksan is simply accustomed to deciding on what he will speak about, and when. He has earned that right, having become one of the area’s wealthier men (he won’t say how much he is worth) by careful planning and execution. Other things are clear: he is enormously proud of himself and his accomplishments. When he does decide to speak he has no use for political correctness or the sensitivity of others. A truth that is self-evident needs to be spoken out loud and clearly. At the same time Derriksan has a strong code of what he sees as right, as wrong and as plain stupid, but he defines his own boundaries and goals. Here then is what the master of one of the Okanagan’s biggest and most successful, if not well known, business empires has to say about building fortune and power, in his own words.
August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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My whole life I’ve never done anything at all unless I do it the very best I possibly can.
You are most known as a businessman and developer now but you’ve been an artist, a politician, an organizer for artists and occasionally, a shit disturber. How do you see yourself?
OBE:
I don’t know. As a businessman I guess.
OBE:
Well, it was good money. Tremendous money and I used it all to buy land here on the reserve, but I didn’t want to log for the rest of my life.
ND:
OBE:
You own several companies. How do you run them? I have managers for Skyline, CA Promotions, and Pedra. I have a property manager, and a parks manager, and I make all the major decisions. Ken [Eng] is head of my construction company [JSDS General Contractors Ltd.]. He takes care of all the construction and building.
ND:
ND:
I was 16 when I started so that would be ’47.
I would think the idea of buying land here as a valuable investment back then would not be common.
OBE:
There was no perception of that at all. In ’46 this was a very, very economically depressed area. There was no work. Men couldn’t get work.
ND:
How did you get started in business?
I guess my start was I left home at 16 and went to work in the logging industry and saved my money to buy land here.
ND:
That was the thought. Then as I made more money I’d see a place that I thought would be better to build on, so it just kind of grew. So how did you go from buying a bit of a land so you’d have a place to hang your hat one day when you were 70 to being in business?
OBE:
Well, you gotta be doing something and you don’t make any money working for somebody else. You never get rich working for somebody else.
ND:
On the financial side when do think you went from being a young man trying to make his way to a success?
OBE:
ND: The Americans do it right, Canadians don’t. Generally speaking Canadians are an inferior business breed to
Everything runs from my office, with the exception of JSDS General Contractors, who have their own office space. OBE:
So, when was that when you were first buying
land?
Noll Derriksan (ND):
OBE:
Why didn’t you remain a logger?
the Americans.
So you had a job that you describe as making good money. This area was depressed. Why did you buy land? Did you have a plan?
OBE:
It started off with the first piece thinking that when I logged I ran into so many people that were –to me then– older, and they were older, lots of them, probably in their late 50s approaching 60 and really didn’t have anything.
ND:
So the first piece of land I bought was so that I could build a little place to end my old days in, you know?
Well, that would have to be 1983 when I retired.
OBE:
You don’t look very retired.
I retired and I played golf for a year. That’s all I did. I broke a hundred, broke 90 and broke 80 the first year. Seventy-seven was my best game. But after that, that wasn’t working.
ND:
I enjoyed it and everything, but something was missing there so then I went back to work for a year. That wasn’t working either. Then I figured that after trying the golf and trying working full time again…so probably a compromise might work better. Half a day work and half a day golf, whatever. That worked very well for me for quite some time. But I would spent about 14, 15 years, my wife and I would spend six months here, six months in Palm desert, we had a nice home there. Golf and we’d travel and enjoying life. When you went back to work following your retirement, what kind of work did you go back to and when?
OBE:
Six years ago, to construction/development. I built the first stage of a modular home park, Estates at Vintage Hills, which I then sold, and it’s now known as Sage Creek. It was a 287-lot home development.
ND:
Are you still keeping to that part-time work routine today?
OBE:
No, I’m back to working full time, but there’s sort of a reason for that. My son is now five-and-a-half, he’ll be six in September. So when he was about to be born it was time to sell the home in Palm desert and have a home base for my child. Then I got to do something. What am I going to do?
OBE:
Well, my wife and I were golfing, doing lunch, travelling. Now she’s going to be occupied with a child and we’re going to have a home base for that child and give him everything a child should have or can have, you know? So what am I going to do?
ND:
ND:
OBE:
I’m not interested in the political life or anything else. It’s a waste of time. People deserve what they get for politicians. They do because they’re not discerning about it, they’re not fussy about it, they don’t seem to really care.
What led you back to business then?
When my son was going to arrive. Remember we covered that.
OBE:
I know you covered that, but I don’t see an obvious connection.
ND:
ND:
OBE:
Well, let me state it for you. He’s coming, he’s going to have a home, he’s going to have a stay-athome mother, which was what she wanted, so what am I going to do?
ND:
Well, what were you doing the week before?
What constitutes work for Noll Derriksan in 2009? Projects. We do all our own projects on all my own land. Development.
So how many projects do you have on the go right now?
OBE:
ND:
Four.
So give me a thumbnail sketch of those projects.
OBE:
So we got this one [referring to the office/retail development where the interview is taking place] and the next one we’ll be doing is a 1.7 km sewer that I have to pay for myself in order to finish this development because we have to put it on sewer. We can’t go any further than we are until we do.
ND:
OBE:
So tell me about this development that we’re in.
There’s nine buildings here and there’s three built. It’s all commercial.
ND:
The development that’s occurred over here in the past 10 years has mostly been on West Bank First Nation’s land-
OBE:
ND:
Pretty much all of it.
Are you worried about it reaching a saturation point?
OBE:
ND:
No, because I’ve got another 80, 90 acres to do
yet. There’s a recession out there. How is it going to affect what you’re doing? CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
OBE:
LEFT TO RIGHT | Noll Derriksan's maternal GrandFATHER, Adam. His mother margaret, holding noll, 1942. childhood and Noll's dog, "sport." Noll derriksan with his wife suki and son Jayes. Baby noll, sitting on a lumber pile, 1940.
FAMILY
A
B
Work is fun for all of us. We get together at lunch. We have more fun than anybody anywhere we’re at.
PROJECTS KEN ENG - CONSTRUCTION MANAGER JSDS General contractors ltd.
A: ESTATES SQUARE, Commercial Retail Centre. remaining 6 buildings completion, 2011. TOP PICTURES: ESTATES SQUARE - DURING construction AND ALMOST COMPLETED. B: BOUNDARY ROAD STORAGE FACILITY. auto centre completion, May 2010. storage facility - first of two buildings, early 2011. remaining three buildings, 2012.
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Have you ever considered doing any developments off WFN land?
DERRIKSAN INTERVIEW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
you worried about labour shortages returning?
OBE:
It’s not affecting what we’re doing. In fact, to build now is cheaper. Prices are down. In fact, it’s the media that causes the slowdown with all the doom and gloom. People are all waiting and they don’t even know what they’re waiting for.
ND:
During the big labour shortage where all you had to do was be a warm body, people couldn’t get people. We’ve never had a problem getting people.
ND:
ND:
OBE:
What about getting tenants?
You build it, they’ll come if you do it right. And we’re not doing cheap buildings – far from it. That building out there is the first all-concrete, and tallest [four storeys] on the west side.
ND:
OBE:
So are you leasing already?
Well, we will if we get someone who fits the mix we want, but we do have an agent now and he’s starting to probe that and get that going.
ND:
When you say the mix, who are you looking for? What’s your vision?
OBE:
We’ve got a lawyer now, we’d like an accounting firm, we’d like a doctor, a dentist, an optometrist, and any retailer will have to be not the run-of-the-mill crappy stores. We want a place where you can come and do everything here pretty much.
You know contractors and subcontractors shouldn’t have to play a part in financing a developer. And that’s what happens with these guys. They get desperate for work and they wait 30, 60, 90, 120 days to get paid and that’s a bunch of crap. That should never happen. All the developments you have done and are doing, are all on Westbank First Nations’ land?
OBE:
ND:
I don’t see why I would. I already own my own land. It’s all free and unencumbered so why wouldn’t I develop my own? You look at the situation here. Westbank has turned into its own municipality, it’s called West Kelowna. These are already Westbank First Nation lands and they’ll always stay that way regardless of all the new comers getting stupid and changing the name to West Kelowna. I mean that’s dumber than hell. It’ll never be Kelowna. Westbank will be the crappy little mud hole that it is now, forever. They got nowhere to go and no way to develop it further. CONTINUED ON PAGE 23
Umm hmm.
How may we help you today? How may we help
ND:
In fact, it’s the media that causes the slowdown with all the doom and gloom. People are all waiting
Insurances Financial Planning
and they don’t even know what they’re waiting for.
What will be the total investment into this development when it is completed?
OBE:
ND:
In excess of 37 million.
OBE: You mentioned that you have several properties. Will the sewer line be servicing those other properties as well? Eventually, yes. The sewer line is going to service everything around and behind the CNB school, there’s a new 300 unit development done by the same developers by Copper Sky going in there. The boundary line is already at capacity so everything that goes in around here has to go on this line.
ND:
You said you have four projects on the go. You’ve described the development we’re in now and the sewer line. What are the other two?
OBE:
ND:
Well, some of them I can’t talk about.
Is that because you aren’t allowed to talk because of confidentiality agreements or are they just not far enough along to discuss?
OBE:
No, they’re far enough along but until we actually are at the point where we more than start building it, we can’t release that information.
ND:
OBE:
What do you see happening in the future? Are
Group Benefits
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Bus: 250.861.8440 Cell: 250.862.4685 E: linsal@telus.net
DERRIKSAN INTERVIEW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21
But 50 years ago you bought land here and you stuck with here. I’m curious as to why you never thought to try any projects in any other place?
OBE:
This valley is pretty much insured against a recession of any kind or a downturn of any kind. Downturn of the country or even of North America doesn’t really affect us here in this valley the same way that it does anywhere else. Â
ND:
comparison between the Canadian business man and the Americans. None. It is a whole different world down there. The Americans do it right, Canadians don’t. Generally speaking Canadians are an inferior business breed to the Americans. Well, you gotta be doing something and you don’t make any money working for somebody else.
You retired in 1983. Didn’t that recession hit bloody hard in this valley?
No one ever gets rich working for
OBE:
Yeah, but I was already retired. What did I care? (laughs)
somebody else.
All kidding aside most business people look in many places to find the opportunities that will give them the most bang for the buck. You seem content to stay right here. I’ve watched a lot of guys, and I won’t mention any names, but I’ve watched three or four people from the town of Kelowna itself. They were very successful business people who made a lot of money and who then decided to do just what you’re asking me.Â
ND:
Most of these guys went into the American market and lost their skin in the process. There is no
C
OBE:
What is your relationship like with the WFN?Â
That is an interesting question; a couple of their senior employees are a joy to work with, the rest are under qualified for their positions. WFN does not have properly qualified people for the positions they are in for the most part.
ND:
But you could do whatever you want. You have the money and the ability, but every day you come back to doing this particular task. Is that because you have control and can do exactly what you want?
OBE:
ND:
OBE:
interested in the political life or anything else. It’s a waste of time. People deserve what they get for politicians. They do because they’re not discerning about it, they’re not fussy about it, they don’t seem to really care.Â
OBE:
Would you include yourself in that?Â
No, because if I do something I do it properly, first class or I don’t do it. And I’ll expend the money to do that. Canadians tend to go cheap.Â
ND:
I mean if you go down this corridor (referring to other developments in WFN and West Kelowna) it doesn’t meet our standards. Not at all. I wouldn’t want to be associated with some of those buildings. But you’ve done many other things. You could certainly keep yourself busy 24-hours-a-day without ever coming to this office again, if you wanted to.
OBE:
ND:
No, that’s a very small part of it, if it’s a part at all because my whole life I’ve never done anything at all unless I do it the very best I possibly can.Â
ND:
OBE:
What’s the bigger part then?
The bigger part is doing what I love to do. If you’ve got a job that you love, you no longer work. It’s not work, it’s a‌what is it? It’s a thing of joy, isn’t it?
ND:
Yes, but I love building, creating stuff. I’m not
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August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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Derriksan Support Team Pedra a good fit for Sher Draper
Promotions and Signs
Brian Houston looks after CA Promotions, which primarily offers clothing items customized with embroidered logos for a number of groups. The second business Houston manages in the Derriksan group is Skyline Billboards. CA Promotions has been around for a decade, the billboard operation a quarter century since Derriksan founded them. With his many other concerns the founder has turned over day-to-day operation to Houston; although Houston says he is not on the payroll. Instead he works on commission as an independent contractor.
It is impossible to find the mould that will encompass Sher Draper, manager of Pedra, a clothing shop carrying a dozen well known brands for men and women. Pedra was spun off from CA Promotions by Derriksan. Originally, as all of his companies were, Noll was watching the shop and making the purchasing decisions. Since last December he’s turned over that part of it to Draper. Prior to running Pedra the versatile Draper was a project coordinator for SNC Lavalin working on the Kelowna bridge. Long before her construction stint Draper worked as a model and later, in the restaurant business. She has been a friend of Derriksan’s for 25 years, but he only tapped her to look after Pedra late last year.
Houston, who expresses nothing but respect for Derriksan, has only one minor complaint about his job. There is, he says, absolutely no more room to grow the extremely profitable billboard business. The province forbids billboards alongside highways. Billboards that are in place are all on lands under federal jurisdiction rather than provincial. Such land includes all native reserves. But those reserve lands, at least in the Okanagan, are generally at capacity for billboards, so there is no place to put up more.
Draper says Derriksan’s plans to build a pub and restaurant includes her. Meanwhile she, and two part-time staff are running Pedra from a shop front in his new commercial buildings. Since Pedra is not located in a mall, walk by traffic is next to nil.
At the same time, Houston acknowledges that this has made the billboards a sought after commodity. “We’re in a very good position because of the native land position,” admits Houston.
Draper is relying on word of mouth, networking, fashion show and little comforts like wine and cheese evenings and welcoming cappuccinos in the morning.
Until the slowdown this year, Houston says the billboards have been an easy business to work. He says Skyline’s 85 billboards, which stretch from Enderby to Westbank First Nation lands, have been sold out every year. This year, for the first time, they are only almost sold out. Houston says spending is down among all advertising streams including billboards.
It’s paying off. Draper says, “Sales for 2009 have increased over 2008, which we feel has been attributed to my taking over combined with the west side area becoming busier with more retailers.”
Except for a desire to enhance the website of CA Promotions and reach people that are searching online, Houston says he sees little change ahead for either company. He relies on straight forward hard work to promote both companies, pounding the pavement to make sales and believes that in the years ahead that will still win him, and Derriksan the most commissions.
She has worked to clean out some of the excess inventory at the same time as she works on making it a destination shop where customers want to return and browse.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 27
Sher Draper Photo contributed
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PROUD TO BE PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM 710 Evans Court, Kelowna, BC V1X 6G4 250.765.6610
Our company supplies water treatment products and services. We have had the good fortune to work with N.C. Derricksan & Son, JSDS Contracting, and the people associated with them. We would like to offer our congratulations on their effort in building a better community in Canada’s newest city. Also, we would like to recognise Mr. Noll Derricksan, for his many achievements, a dedicated family man, artist, community leader, employer and mentor to many. Way to go, good luck now and in the future.
Living in the Okanagan Valley, one appreciates what it takes to achieve great heights.
ECOWATER s y s t e m s
BDO Dunwoody LLP wishes N.C. Derriksan and Son continued success. Since 1925 ASSURANCE | ACCOUNTING | TAXATION | ADVISORY SERVICES Suite 300 – 1632 Dickson Ave. | Kelowna V1Y 7T2 | 250.763.6700
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DERRIKSAN SUPPORT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25
Keeping a tight grip
Other companies may suffer from hackers, viruses, power outages and technology gone amuck but that isn’t going to happen at NC Derriksan and Son Enterprises. In charge of making sure all the wires connect and the bells ring when they should is Jonah Gilani.
server. Explains Gilani, “Mr. Derriksan hosts all his technology in house from back up servers to website servers, surveillance technology and communication hardware. All this technology is secured on and off site with a state of the art, huge, uninterrupted power supply bank.”
[Derriksan’s] office is fully automated and that includes biometric entry systems, approach cards, motion detectors and other technologies.”
A working companion of Derriksan for seven years Gilani offers a tantalizing glimpse of the hardware that keeps Derriksan not only secure and independent, but in the absolute forefront of technology.
Gilani’s resume is no less impressive than the equipment in the office. He studied architecture, business and IT before landing a job as a subcontractor for the Ministry of Defence in Saudi Arabia. His work there was installing air defence systems and making army officer housing secure.
As every military man knows every secret is tomorrow’s common knowledge, but Gilani says Derriksan is so up to date that by tomorrow they’ll have updated to keep ahead of the curve. Much of their equipment is ordered from out of country before it is even available to Canadian distributors.
He smoothly generalizes the work he does now, saying, “I make sure [Derriksan’s] digital and electronic equipment is humming along.”
Sony sent technicians to train at their offices.
Two large electronic boards for graphics work hang on the wall in Derriksan’s office, and his u-shaped desk is dominated on one side by a water-cooled computer that powers the best graphics system he can get and three large screens. Whatever work Derriksan does on his personal computers is only a shadow of the computing power available to him through the company
Aside from maintaining the massive, secure computer base, Gilani looks after security. He says the company interests “are very well protected by a battery of surveillance and tracking digital cams.
What are the other technologies? Sorry, that’s classified information.
If you ask why Derriksan and his company needs this level of protection, or from whom, you can speculate all you want. Only Derriksan, and maybe Gilani know for sure, but they aren’t talking.
August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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Is capitalism dead? Last autumn the U.S. government allowed Lehman Brothers, a large U.S. investment bank, to fail, which sparked a financial market crash which sparked a recession. Governments around the world have been doing everything they can to avoid a repeat of the 1930s and so far seem to be succeeding. The debate around preventing this from happening again seems polarized around two extreme views. One side (The Regulators) holds that capitalism was to blame. We need better rules and regulations to prevent the greed and stupidity of free markets from causing another catastrophe. The other side (The Free Marketeers) holds that capitalism works perfectly, this sort of thing happens from time to time and the real error was bailing out the banks. The financial system needs this kind of Darwinian “survival of the fittest” catharsis from time to time to stay healthy. According to Wikipedia “capitalism typically refers to an economic and social system in which trade, industry and the means of production (also known as capital) are privately controlled and operated for a profit. In a capitalist system, investments, distribution, income, production, pricing and supply of goods, commodities and services are determined by private decisions, usually within the context of markets. In a capitalist state, private property rights are protected by the rule of law of a government through a limited regulatory framework.” The basic premise is that individual choice is the most effective and efficient way to allocate a society’s resources. While not perfect, the relative performance over the past few decades of capitalist economies like Canada, the U.S. and Europe versus those of centrally controlled economies like Russia, China, East Germany, etc. support this in terms of standard of living and environmental issues.
The Regulators want firm rules in place to prevent crashes in the economy, housing prices and their financial investments. The hope is that more and better regulation is the answer. But it’s not that easy. First, you have to know where to stop regulating, or you create a business or economy so tied down by rules that it is inflexible and unworkable, as many centrally controlled economies seem to be. Second, things just don’t always go the way you think they should. In the fall of 2006, Canada’s Department of Finance was concerned about “tax leakage” from income trusts, so our Finance Minister announced that most income trusts would be taxed as corporations starting in 2011. The result was a mini-market crash that erased tens of billions of dollars from the economy and individuals’ portfolios and pensions, overnight. The Free Marketeers believe that crashes and recessions are normal and should be allowed to run their course. Strong, well run companies will succeed, and poorly managed companies will disappear instead of being propped up at taxpayers’ expense. Rules and regulations only get in the way of efficiency. They are right to a point. But at its extreme, capitalism unchecked, without ethics or rules, leads to disasters like the Belgian Congo or the criminal gangs that operate in our society today. Clearly some rules are necessary. First, banks need to have limits as to what multiple of their capital they can lend out or put at risk. This prevents a mistake or economic shock from bankrupting them. Canadian banks are allowed to risk about 10 times their capital, and most lend less. It has stood our financial system in good stead over the past year. By contrast, Lehman Brothers apparently had put 60 or 70 times their capital at risk, though
they were working hard to reduce it when they failed. They need to copy the Canadian model. Rule number two is that lenders should be responsible for most of their loans. The U.S. (and others) allowed mortgage brokers to repackage their loans and sell most of them off. The inevitable result was that the quality of many loans was terrible, and the packaged loans were very hard to fix at the individual borrowers’ level. Again, just copy Canada. Third, no part of the financial system should be allowed to take on so much risk that failure puts the world’s financial system at risk. The obvious gaps right now are hedge funds with their massive leverage (borrowing to invest) and the use of derivatives by hedge funds and others. This is more complex to fix, as a global reporting and oversight system would take some time, effort and money. We seem to have learned nothing since the failure of Long Term Capital Management almost wrecked world markets in 1998. It seems to me that the views of the Regulators and Marketeers are both extreme. There should be a balance between the two, with just enough regulation to make the world financial system more sound, but not enough to hobble it. Seems like common sense, though legislators often have a hard time with that. Dominik Dlouhy P. Eng, MBA, CFA is a Chartered Financial Analyst and planner with Partners in Planning Financial Services Ltd. and The Fraser Financial Group LLP. You can reach Dominik at 545-5258 or dominikd@fraserfinancial. com with any questions, comments or issues you would like to see covered in this column. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of Partners in Planning or The Fraser Financial Group.
August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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U.S. vehicle plan boosts B.C. gas Tom Fletcher
As the U.S. Senate considers a plan to subsidize production of natural gas vehicles, B.C.’s industry is ramping up to bring huge new reserves to market.
Photo contributed by EnCana Corp. Premier Gordon Campbell, former energy minister Richard Neufeld and current minister Blair Lekstrom were on hand when EnCana Corp. opened its Steeprock gas plant near Dawson Creek in 2006. The proposed Cabin plant near Fort Nelson would handle twice as much gas as Steeprock in its initial phase, with five more expansion phases planned.
Calgary-based EnCana Corp. has submitted its environmental assessment application for the Cabin gas plant 60 km north of Fort Nelson. If approved, the plant would process gas from the Horn River shale formation in northeastern B.C., where eight companies have bet heavily on new drilling techniques and rising demand. The application to B.C.’s Environment Assessment Office includes a network of pipelines to collect and process gas to remove traces of hydrogen sulphide. EnCana and its partners are also considering equipment to capture carbon dioxide, piping it to an oil field in Alberta and into local underground storage if it is financially feasible. The U.S. vehicle conversion proposal focuses on transport trucks as well as passenger cars, aimed at energy security as much as reducing pollution. It was announced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with support from Republicans and Texas energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens, a long-time booster of natural gas for vehicles.
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It would increase the maximum tax credit for a light-duty vehicle from $5,000 to $12,500, with breaks up to $80,000 for heavy trucks. A property tax credit for new filling stations would double to $100,000, and a 100% tax deduction would be offered for building natural gas vehicle manufacturing plants. Announcing the legislation last week, Reid noted that the U.S. currently consumes a quarter of the world’s daily supply of oil, and holds only 3% of all reserves. “Natural gas is an abundant resource, with 98% of natural gas used in the U.S. originating right here in North America,” he said in a statement from Washington DC. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says natural gas vehicles reduce toxic emissions by more than 90%. The Horn River and Montney shales in B.C. have shifted the focus of gas development in Western Canada, as older conventional fields in Alberta have become more costly.
Beware automated phone service As a business person, I enjoy learning knew ways of dealing with customers. “Welcome to the voice recognition customer service line. Please state your request clearly to begin.” “Bill payment.” “Did you say, “Bill Payment?” “Yes.” “I’m sorry – there is no one here by that name. Please try again.” “Did you say, “Take your voice recognition software and stuff it up our hind quarters?”
Nice…
Uh oh.
“Press 3 if you would like to water board a senior executive of this company.”
“Please stand by. Your call is important to us. You cannot hang up until we are through with you.”
I’m liking it…
“We would very much like to hear the sound of clanky coins bouncing into the collection plate our service personnel are holding under your head as we bounce you up and down by your ankles.”
“Press 4 if you would like us to send a male or female escort to your current billing address for whatever. This offer can also be exchanged for a service technician of your choice – cable, telephone, electrician or plumber. It is no problem. They will be there within the hour.” Decisions, decisions.
“Yes.”
“Press 5 if we somehow made a mistake on your last bill. A 6-month credit will be applied to your account immediately.”
“I’m sorry – that request cannot be completed. Please try again.”
This is better.
“Did you say, “I’ve got a hunka-hunka burnin’ love” just so I would have to repeat it and sound foolish?”
“Press 6 if you would like the very next appointment you have been waiting for. Say tomorrow about 1 o’clock?”
“Yes.” “I’m sorry – that request cannot be completed. Please speak slowly and try again.” Then I wanted to have some fun… “Did you say, “I’m wearing a black bra and lacy panties in a breathy voice?” “Yes,” “You pervert! Please stop calling the voice recognition line to satisfy your sick fantasies. Thank you for calling. Using your free hand, please hang up.” I tried another number. “Your call is important to us. Please remain on the line and your call will be answered sooner than if you redial.” “To make your time on hold more enjoyable, press 1 to hear a customer service representative get jolted with electricity.” Oooh! ‘Now this was promising,’ I thought. “Press 2 to hear the call centre manager have bamboo shoots shoved under her fingernails.”
Good! “Press 7 if you would like to star in a major motion starring along with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.” Gee…I guess. “Press 8 if you don’t have enough money to pay your bills. We understand. Our rates are dropping as quickly as possible, but in the meantime you need help now. Using the keypad, enter the amount of money you would like to receive for the next year so that this never happens again.” Wow – these guys are gooood. “Press 9 if you would like to wake up from the dream you are having. Our customer service personnel are currently entering your home to wake you from this dream and collect the money you currently owe us.”
“This call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes, and evidence. Please stop screaming.” “While you are listening to our emotionally sensitive music, our customer service technicians will gently remove all your fillings until you tell us where you keep your rainy-day cash pile.” “Alternately, you can supply them with the PIN number for your retirement savings account.” “Thank you. An ambulance is en route to your location. Please note there will be a fee for this service. Apply direct pressure to staunch severe bleeding. Someone will be with you shortly. Don’t forget to call our corporate partners! If you need expert carpet cleaning, try Shorty’s…” David Crawford has won several accolades for his humour writing, most recently winning the ‘Humor and Life, in Particular’ contest in the U.S. During the day he is the head of Capri Intercity Leasing. On weekends, he donates his kidneys to worthy causes, most recently Nelson Mandela. He can be contacted at 250-718-2244. His humour columns are available on his blog at www.occasionalhumourist. blogspot.com.
Legal Talk
Dismissal by any other name will sting just as much The distinction, or lack thereof, between wrongful dismissals and constructive dismissals is one which has challenged courts, lawyers, and judges. So debatable are the differences that the Supreme Court of Canada has weighed in on the subject. The case involved a union business agent, Evans, who had been employed by the Teamsters union for over 23 years. During an election for a new union executive, Evans supported the incumbent, who was defeated. After the election of a new union executive, Evans was notified, in writing, that his employment would be ending. It appears that Evans ceased active duties at that point, but he was kept on the union’s payroll. Evans, through his lawyer, took the position that he was entitled to 24 months of notice and that it would be acceptable to him if it was provided in the form of 12 months of working notice and 12 months’ pay. There was a series of unsuccessful negotiations at the conclusion of which the Teamsters union demanded that Evans return to work to serve out a 24 month notice period.
In Evans’ view, he had never been given 24 months’ notice of termination, so he refused the directive to return to work. As a result, the Teamsters union adopted the position that Evans was (by declining to return to work) failing to properly mitigate his loss resulting from the termination of his employment. Evans sued for wrongful dismissal and the case worked its way up through the courts and eventually arrived on the doorstep of the Supreme Court of Canada. In the context of assessing a terminated employee’s duty to mitigate the loss resulting from a termination of employment, the Court stated that the same principles are to be applied to both wrongfully dismissed and constructively dismissed employees. The key element is that in both situations the employer has ended the employment contract without reasonable notice. The purpose behind recognizing constructive dismissals is to acknowledge that when an employer unilaterally imposes substantive changes to an employment contract, the employee has the right to treat the imposition of those changes as a termination. Such a “constructive� termination is every bit as real as if the employee were actually informed of the dismissal and is, accordingly, accompanied by the same
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| www.businessexaminer.ca August 2009
- Commercial Litigation - Family Law - Land Development - Estate Litigation 2nd Floor, 215 Lawrence Avenue, Kelowna, BC Phone 250-762-4222 . Fax 250-762-8616 www.fhplawyers.com wshields@fhplawyers.com . htaylor@fhplawyers.com
PRACTICE RESTRICTED TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW L A W C O R P O R AT I O N R E G I S T E R E D P AT E N T & T R A D E -M A R K A G E N T P H O N E : (250) 418-3250 F A X : (250) 418-3251 T O L L F R E E : 1-877-943-9990 E-M AIL : gordonthomson@shaw.ca
right to claim for damages in lieu of notice. The Court went on to find that, given that both wrongful and constructive dismissals are characterized by employerimposed terminations of the employment contract, there is no principled reason to distinguish between them when evaluating the need to mitigate. When the employer offers the employee a chance to mitigate damages by returning to work for the employer, the issue is whether a reasonable person would accept such an opportunity. The critical element in determining what is reasonable is that an employee is not obliged to mitigate by working in an atmosphere of hostility, embarrassment, or humiliation. Although Evans claimed numerous reasons why it would not be reasonable for him to return to work for the Teamsters union (including his allegation that he had been “treated like a dog”), the Court disagreed. It found no real evidence of acrimony and no evidence that Evans would have been unable to continue to perform his duties if he resumed his employment. The relationship was not sufficiently damaged that it could be said a reasonable person, in Evans’ position, would not have resumed his duties. This case should not be taken, necessarily, as blanket authority that an employer which is unable to negotiate a settlement with a terminated employee may simply recall the employee to work. In Evans’ case, that strategy worked for his employer but in my view it will be a rare instance when an employer will get away with that maneuver. Robert Smithson is a partner at Pushor Mitchell LLP in Kelowna practicing exclusively in the area of labour and employment law. For more information about his practice, log onto www.pushormitchell.com. If you have a labour or employment question for him to answer in a future “Legal Ease”, e-mail him at smithson@pushormitchell.com. This subject matter is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice.
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SKI HILLS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
This is one of the greatest advantages of the Okanagan; we’re close to the action and to the big centres like Whistler and Vancouver but we are also a step back from the frenzy. “Our greatest fear,” explains Silver Star’s services manager, Robin Baycroft, “is that B.C. residents, especially locals, will avoid the region because they think it will be overcrowded.”
The Olympics is the theme that all three ski hills are using to promote family oriented events, but which they are also using as a counterpoint. Craziness down there; a quiet refuge from the Olympics here. Photos contributed
Local skiers and regulars to the Okanagan, won’t find any price increases this year. Silver Star and Big White haven’t moved their prices up for the past couple of years and it will be the same this year. Sun Peaks, which boasts the best skiing value in Canada, will also be keeping their prices the same. There are a few promotional packages to attract tourists from overseas or down south like Big White’s “9 nights and 8 days 2010 Games Cruise and Big White Ski Spectacular”, which features a cruise package from L.A. to Vancouver for $865/person. The prices are standard for the promotional deals, but the theme of the package has changed to incorporate the Olympic appeal. While the Okanagan will see a few more international tourists wandering around this coming winter, the ski hills are setting their sights on B.C. residents and regulars, people who will be willing to come back year after year. A small increase of 10% that carries over year after year is more lucrative than one excessively busy year that drives all the regulars away.
VP Michael Ballingall of Big White and Silver Star is hoping for a 10% increase in the customer base because of Olympic spill overs.
Christopher Nicolson thinks the Olympics could be an opportunity for harassed skiers to discover, and become repeat customers of Sun Peaks in Kamloops.
RACKFORCE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
In addition the business is as clean as any industry can be. Shaun Langin - Partner, together with our “Lake Country” Associate Lawyers, David Yerema and Sarah Bowes, are pleased to now offer “local” personalized service to Lake Country and surrounding areas. Our New Office is Located in Lakewood Mall | Unit 3 - 1152 Hwy 97 N., Lake Country V4V 1E3 Sharing with David Docksteader of Dominion Lending
Ph: c/o of Rutland Office 250.491.0206 Fax: 250.491.0266 Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 12pm-5pm or anytime, by appointment 200-1455 Ellis Street Kelowna, BC V1Y 2A3 Ph: 250.861.5678 Fax: 250.861.5642 270 Highway 33 West Kelowna, BC V1X 1X7 Ph: 250.491.0206 Fax: 250.491.0266 102A 1979 Old Okanagan Hwy. Westbank, BC V4T 3A4 Ph: 250.769.4949 Fax: 250.769.7070
Fry notes that overall, “The data centre industry has a carbon footprint equivalent to the airline industry.” He is referring to the traditional data centre. This one has a carbon footprint approximately, the company says, 1/50 the size of older data centres. Heat generated by the servers will be used to heat the building and neighbouring
buildings. For some 300 days of the year the company will use the outside air to cool the building. What all of those technical achievements mean is that energy usage is vastly reduced. In older data facilities only about a third of the power was used to actually run the servers. The rest went for temperature control. In this building, says Dufour, 80% of energy will be used for data storage.
www.bensonsalloumwatts.com August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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Calendar of Events
Lunch with Tony Clement Aug 13 - Holiday Inn, West Kelowna
The Westbank Chamber of Commerce has set up a luncheon from noon to 1:30 pm with speaker Tony Clement, the Federal Minister of Industry. $25 for Chamber members, $30 for nonmembers. RSVP to the Chamber, call 250-768-3378 for more information.
Cash Flow & your Growing Business - Aug 13 - Video Conference
This three hour video conference (9 am to noon) will cover cash flow and how to avoid getting in trouble. Hosted at Small Business BC in Vancouver and delivered by video to various locations around the province. $59
per person plus tax. Go online to www.smallbizeducation.ca/videoconferencing/penticton.php for more information.
Keystone Award Nominations Aug 14 - Online
The cutoff for making nominations for the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Interior annual awards is 5 pm on August 14. Thirty categories for residential home builders based on type, size and value of the home. Full entry information available online at www.chbaci.ca or call 250-828-1844. Entry fees are $136.50 for CHBA members, $315 for non-members.
Business After 5 - Aug 18
Business After Hours - Aug 20
Triboda Printing, Vernon
O Spa & Salon, Kelowna
The Vernon Chamber of Commerce’ monthly networking event from 5 to 7 pm. $5 for members, $15 for nonmembers. For information e-mail the Chamber at info@vernonchamber.ca or call 250-545-0771.
The Kelowna Chamber’s monthly network meeting from 5 to 7 pm. $7 for members, $12 for non-members. More information available online at www.kelownachamber.org/index. php?fid=Events&sid=Business.
VWIB Evening Meet - Aug 19
Home Inspector Certificate
Best Western Vernon Lodge
The monthly evening meeting of Vernon Women in Business from 5 to 7 pm. $14 for members, $16 for nonmembers. More information by e-mail from meetings@vwib.com or go online to http://vwib.com.
Info Session - Sep 9 - O k College, Vernon Cam p u s
This six hour seminar (6 pm to midnight) provides information on what is required to start a comprehensive home inspection and prepare professional reports for starting a business. To reserve a seat call 250-545-7291, local 2850.
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250.860.2723 c: 250.801.6279
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A s k t he Pr o f e s s i o n a l s
Alan W. Phillips
RCC
Stress Management Specialist VWIB Luncheon Meeting
Vision 2020 Business
Partners in Action
Sep 9 - Schubert Centre,
Conference & Tradeshow
Conference - Oct 4-7
Vernon
Sep 23 - Penticton Trade &
Best Western Vernon
Convention Centre
Lodge
This is the inaugural run of an annual conference designed to help business thrive in the short term while planning for the long term. Talks and workshops will cover branding, IT, social media, management consulting, HR, business finance, business enhancement, information management, doing business with First Nations and selling. The show will be populated with local business experts and well-known figures like Chief Clarence Louie. Go to www.vision-2020.biz. $149 for full registration. $750. to exhibit and includes 2 delegate passes for the full conference.
A conference designed to help people find and build on relationships between business, foundations, economic development agencies and various levels of government with speakers Mike Harcourt and Ben Barry. Registration of $489 +GST. For more information call Diane Block at 250-545-2215, ext. 200 or go online to www. partnersinaction.ca/index.php.
The monthly buffet luncheon meeting of Vernon Women in Business from 11:30 am to 1 pm. $14 for members, $16 for nonmembers. More information by e-mail from meetings@vwib.com or go online to http://vwib.com.
Business After 5 Sep 15 - Ok College, Vernon Campus
The Vernon Chamber of Commerce’ monthly networking event from 5 to 7 pm. $5 for members, $15 for non-members. For information e-mail the Chamber at info@vernonchamber. ca or call 250-545-0771.
VWIB Evening Meet Business After Hours
Sep 23 - Best Western
Sep 17 - Pushor Mitchell
Vernon Lodge
LLP office, Kelowna
The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce monthly networking event from 5 to 7 pm. $7 for members, $12 for nonmembers. More information available online at www. kelownachamber.org/index. php?fid=Events&sid=Business.
The monthly evening meeting of Vernon Women in Business from 5 to 7 pm. $14 for members, $16 for non-members. More information by e-mail from meetings@vwib. com or go online to http://vwib. com.
New & Future Member Orientation - Sep 23 The Life Cycle of your Business - Sep 17 Video Conference
This three hour video conference (9 am to noon) will discuss when to grow or sell a business and issues of succession or dealing with emergencies. Hosted at Small Business BC in Vancouver and delivered by video to various locations around the province. $39 per person plus tax. Go online to www.smallbizeducation.ca/ video-conferencing/penticton.php for more information.
People Place, Vernon
A free event for new and future members of the Vernon Chamber of Commerce that runs from 7:30 to 9 am. For more information and to RSVP call 250-545-0771.
Q - Although I have not had to evacuate due to the fire threat, vivid pictures of our burnt house in 2003 keep constantly “popping” into my head. It’s frightening! What’s happening? A - You have been experiencing flashbacks, which have been triggered by the 2009 fires. Losing your home in 2003 was a traumatic event. These troublesome pictures should dissipate as the fire threat lessens. If they continue to be persistent, seek professional counselling for strategies to manage your flashbacks.
“Promoting good mental health & ensuring emotional wellness”
Effective Group Leadership Program Oct 5-8 - Naramata Centre
This two-part program develops the skills and effectiveness of small group leaders. Registration and more information available by calling 250-496-5751, ext. 200. Cost: $1,250.
250.491.4684 www.stresslessspecialist.com
A s k t he Pr o f e s s i o n a l s Michael Dias
Business Excellence Awards - Oct 21 - Delta Grand Resort, Kelowna
The 22nd Annual Business Excellence Awards by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce is looking for nominations and sponsors. For more information go online to www. kelownachamber.org/index. php?fid=Events&sid=Special_ Events or call Dicky Dack at 250-469-7355.
Owner Q - What is a “firewall” and do I really need one? A -The simple answer is YES you need one but why is another matter to explain....This is a really simple and a basic explanation but here goes. A computer is like a “house”. Every “house” has an address. You can walk down a street and knock on a door to see if anyone is home. If no one answers you can turn the door to see if it is open and let yourself in.Every computer on the Internet has an “address” a firewall tries to hide this address from the outside world. If someone does not see the “address” chances are they are not going to knock on the front door to see if anyone is home. A “firewall” also locks the front door so that they just can’t let themselves in.Software firewalls and Hardware firewalls will help from outside attacks.
107 - 3640 Gosset Road, Westbank, BC
250.707.1153 www.discoverycomputers.com August 2009 Okanagan Business Examiner
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Business Profile
A printers’ duet The Triboda print shop offers unique print abi lities and marketing savvy
Devon Brooks
London Drugs’ loss is Vernon’s gain. Both Stephen Trites and Menza Bouwman of the Triboda Printing Company in Vernon are graduates of London Drugs’ operations. Going from a large, corporate retail operation to setting up their own business was a tough and exhilarating experience. Says Bouwman who serves as VP of Sales & Marketing, “The process was easier, and harder, than we thought.”
hi-tech.” The plan has worked so well that some competitors come to them to get work done on Triboda’s printers that their equipment can’t do.
The print industry is a particularly tricky one. It may have been affected more profoundly by the computer revolution than any other part of manufacturing. The single most important shift is that the average consumer or business person can now design and print products that, even two decades ago, were exclusively within the domain of professional printers. Bouwman notes, “It is such a changing environment and it’s always about change.”
Staff went from the duo to seven; customers have gone from locals walking in the front door to customers across the continent. Triboda is just beginning says Bouwman. She predicts, “We can see ourselves having more than 100 employees in five years.”
So when Bouwman and Trites decided to leave London Drugs and set up their own printing operation they both knew that they would have to find a competitive edge to set themselves apart. Trites, the company president, says Vernon was appealing for a number of reasons, but believed a smaller market would help to define their advantages rather than limit their options. He says, “It’s more cutthroat [in Vancouver]. There’s no advantage in cutting costs.” Bouwman agrees, saying, “In Vancouver you’d be competing with 35 other printers.” If the rejection of lower costs seems to contradict common sense the B.C. wine industry provides a useful parallel. The lower volumes of local wine production make it virtually impossible to compete in price with larger wine makers who can use volume to discount operating costs. Similarly the pair decided to set Triboda apart with unique offerings that they discovered by embracing the rapidly evolving technology. Trites says it wasn’t an accident. They counted on finding technology that competitors couldn’t match. “We definitely have an edge because we are so
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Triboda’s success has already been recognized by the community. In May the Vernon Chamber of Commerce annual awards named Triboda the “New Business of the Year”.
Embracing technology doesn’t mean only acquiring the best printers; although that’s difficult enough. Bouwman explains, “Delays in getting equipment you’ve purchased was much longer than you’d expect. Three weeks turned into six months.” Bob Elliott is the president of the Canadian Printing Industries Association. In this past year he says no print sector has been spared the pain of the economic recession, but a particularly difficult issue has been access to capital. “Since October last year access to capital has been an issue. This is a very capital intensive industry.”
centres. Great equipment is only a tool. Good people are needed to make it work seamlessly, and that can be a problem in itself. The problem with good service is if you make it too easy people believe that anyone with the right piece of equipment could do the same thing. As Bouwman observes, “It’s not just pressing a button and getting a print. It’s a process. The set up is crucial.” Unlike most of us who buy a printer and expect to plug it in and go to work, commercial printers need specialized programs usually produced by a separate vendor. Buying that software costs between $5 and $10 thousand, but even that’s just the beginning. The buyer must make sure that it will work with all their equipment. Then, if you want to offer unique services, as Triboda does, you need to tweak the software. Trites says, “The software is key. If you have a problem, then you likely have to figure it out on your own.” Bouwman agrees, saying, “We found a way to improve the programming.”
Triboda’s avoided the big capital crunch by virtue of timing and self-financing, but they still had to face the same difficulty every new business has: getting customers to take a chance on unknowns.
One practical example was to improve the precision of the digital press. Trites says, “Originally we couldn’t get the smallest, finest text so we made it extremely sharp. It was something we found out on our own.”
Rather than rely solely on the Vernon area market the two launched their service online in such a strong fashion that Triboda has already attracted customers from as far away as South Carolina. Says Trites, “That’s the reason we started online; so that the work could come from Inuvik.”
The tendency to push their equipment and themselves to the limit is intrinsic to both of them. Bouwman says, “Both of us are cursed and blessed because with everything we look at, [what] we want to know is how to make it better.”
While the Triboda founders may not appear to be putting much emphasis on low costs, it is low costs that are driving the industry forward. Trites and Bouwman have invested in three of the newest printers (see sidebar below) to offer services and prices almost unknown outside of larger metropolitan
The business is prospering because the big payoff goes to the customer. According to Trites, “Primarily we’re a printer but we find people need support. They need a designer, they need photos. We’ll do whatever is necessary to make this a one-stop shop to make things work easily.”
Photo by Shawn Talbot Stephen Trites and Menza Bouwman stand next to one of their new printers strewn with samples of the products they are able to print on in small or large quantities
Photos contributed | These photos show off the amazing range of materials and products that Triboda’s set of printers can produce and work off of including: photo books, ceiling tiles, labels, large sheets of metal, oversize, glass, doors, bottle labels.
Having installed the most advanced printing equipment in the region, purchased and pushed the software to give new capabilities and grown to be recognized by their business peers, the Triboda crew has no plans to sit back and take a breather. Bouwman gives a nod to their second, on-line company known by its Internet address name of avatree.com. This department of their business is about printing photo books. Customers go online and order a photo book made with the best materials available. Customers can order a glossy book complete with a glossy photo colour, using straightforward software to put it together for $37. If that still seems too daunting they can pay Triboda staff to put a book together for them. The records for the book can be saved and a customer can buy one copy, or 20, and the price won’t vary. At least not right away guesses Bouwman. She believes, “The market trend is that in the next few years the price will actually drop. As more people do it the material costs should drop.” If they do both entrepreneurs expect to be in there, getting even more business. She adds, “We want to be the number one photo book retailer in Canada.”
The Triboda Trilogy of Printers The Digital Printer
• • • • • •
allows short print runs at low cost no need to create plates or prints for printing improved clarity and registration with dot size of 1 micron can print on various papers including textured ones high gloss printing able to print on metal surfaces that are resistant to heat
The Flatbed Printer
• • • • •
can print on virtually any material up to 4’x8’ in size and 2” in thickness able to print doors or floor panels or ceiling panels prints can be put on metal, glass or corrugated plastic allows clear printing down to 2 point text able to print on light panels
The Large Scale Printer
• • • •
improved resolution on large size print products resolution up to 4x better than on best predecessor much less smelly materials used for printing (better for indoors) receiving orders from other print shops for large scale print work
GOLF TIPS BROUGHT TO YOU BY TOBACCO LAND
The Flop versus the Chip and Roll Too often, I will have members approach me after a round of golf and tell me how frustrated they are that they can’t lower their handicap after hours and hours of practice at the driving range. My first question will be:”How many hours have you dedicated to your short game?” After a confused look, they generally say either very little time was spent or else they thought that by practising their iron game on the range the short game shouldn’t be necessary. We are not robots. That being the case errors in our golf swings are inevitable; therefore comprehending and practising the different shots pertaining to the short game is very important.
KELOWNA
BUSINESS NETWORK
For further information,
I am not going to go into the detail mechanics of the flop shot or the chip and roll, as your local CPGA Professional will be able to assist you in that. What I will go over is understanding when each type of shot is necessary during the round. The flop shot should be executed with the highest lofted club in your bag (60 degree sand wedge is preferred) and, though more difficult to execute, it is ideal for those instances when your ball has a bunker, water hazard or deep rough between you and the green.
please contact: Darlene@signaturenetwork.ca or Chris@signaturenetwork.ca or visit our website
TM
at www.signaturenetwork.ca
INTEGRITY IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR MEMBERSHIP
(Cuba, Honduras)
We’ve been in Kelowna a few short months, but provide over 20 years experience in cigar and tobacco specialty products. 521 Bernard Avenue Kelowna, BC V1Y 6N9 Ph. 250.717.1854 Fax 250.717.1855
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| www.businessexaminer.ca August 2009
There may be very little green to work with and it is imperative to get the ball high and soft. This can put it onto the green with very little roll. The chip and roll is exactly as it is named – chipping the ball onto the green and having it roll to the target. Generally using an eight or nine iron is preferred as the goal is to avoid a short portion of area between you and the green. Basically that makes this shot an extended putt to the target. One simple tip is to think of these shots as increments of threes: 1) Flop Shot = 2/3 in the air and a 1/3 roll to the target; 2) Chip and Roll = 1/3 in the air and a 2/3 roll to the target. Remember to take the time to practice these two types of shots if you want to reduce your score. John Swanson is a Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association (CPGA) member and the Director of Golf at the Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course in Oliver.
VISION 2020
THE LARGEST BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENT EVER SEEN IN THE INTERIOR
VISION 2020
Network with over 600 Decision Makers Visit with over 160 Exhibitors
Career opportunities! Bring a resume and meet key recruiters!
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SPEAKERS
WORKSHOPS
SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2009 PENTICTON TRADE & CONVENTION CENTRE SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2009 5 Visionary Presentations from Leading Industry Experts
TONY PEYTON
ADAM LESS
PETER MATEJCEK
MAGGIE FOX
MAGGIE FOX: Social Media Group Toronto Demystifying Social Media
PETER MATEJCEK: Founder, Hustream Technologies Inc. Effectively Engage Your Customers Online
NETWORKING
SHELLEY GILMOUR
CAMERON GORDON & FRED DALGLEISH: Explain Information Technology
Delco Technologies Inc.
TONY PEYTON & ADAM LESS: Think. Marketing Exploring Modern Branding
EXHIBITORS
SHELLEY GILMOUR: Gilmour HR Strategies and Solutions
FRED DALGLEISH
Exploring Human Resource Strategies
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Krystine McInnes, AMP Krystine McInnes, AMP
Don’t Miss Out - Now Leasing Call Ed Lugossy Licenced Commercial Real Estate Agent 250.870.2801
NC Derriksan & Son Enterprises www.ncderriksanandsonenterprises.com