Okanagn Business Examiner

february, 2010

OkanaganBusiness examiner

locking it up

Tight CREDIT CARD companies invade THE INTERAC SYSTEM I NSIDE

an g a n d a k O e

e l h t in a s s e ve n i Bus e

Osoyoos’ Shoulder | Do-gooders versus Do-gooding The Fraud Survey | signature connections | Own your life

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02/10 www.businessexamin COVER STORY

Invasion of the Credit Card Companies Credit card companies are coming to the debit world.

And it’s got small business worried. Here’s why. 10

OkanaganBusiness examiner President Craig N. Brown Vice President Noll C. Derriksan Grand Chief WFN, U.B.C.I.C.

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fromtheeditor

Let’s profile the bad men (and women)

by Devon Brooks

After the Detroit-bound near miss the security gurus are at it again, saving us from terrorists. Sadly the fear button usually cancels out the fairness, rule of law and fairness buttons. The answer is to target those who appear to be similar to guilty.

The arguments for doing this are compelling enough: terrorism is now largely attributed to Muslim extremists. Therefore profiling of young Muslim men is justified.

There is a very difficult line to walk between harsh reality and fairness.

Easier by far to do it when we judge others. Without a doubt the vast, vast, vast majority of Muslims are not terrorists or extremists.

Yet others decry that while a Muslim may not be a terrorist, terrorists will tend to be young, male Muslims.

Conveniently that allows us to ignore Timothy McVeigh (Oklahoma bomber), the Army of God (who claim God gives them the right to kill abortion providers), the Christian Identity Movement (only Anglo-Saxons are “true” children of God), the Aryan Nation (advocates the violent overthrow of the U.S. government) and even the Ku Klux Klan. These are largely American

groups, but the world is rife with other non-Muslim groups: the IRA, the Tamil Tigers, the fighters in Chechnya and dozens of others. It is easy to take the list on and on.

On 9/11 the Muslims brought the terror to North America in a spectacular fashion. It scared us, especially the Americans, in a way that many other attacks and killings did not.

So profiling is now “in”, regarded as common sense largely because most of us will not be profiled, ever.

I wonder, if this common sense solution works so well, if we should also consider applying the procedure to other crimes that hurt millions of people.

For instance, it is a well known fact that young male drivers are the worst drivers. They are young, inexperienced and fueled by hormones. We already recognize this through higher insurance premiums. So far, so good.

Let’s consider drinking and driving, something that kills and mains many more people every year then 9/11 did. Sure, most of us are responsible, but we all know people who’ve had a drink or three too many after a business event.

Shouldn’t we invite the police to

set up a breathalyzer outside of our local lunch spot?

• Stanford International Bank Allen Stanford - $8 billion

Or what about scandals that financially destroy millions of investors, many of them vulnerable retirees living on pensions who have little chance to recover? Let’s consider some people who have committed or been indicted in the worst financial scams of –oh we could say forever– but let’s limit it to the last decade for the sake of brevity.

• WorldCom - Bernard Ebbers, Scott Sullian, David Myers - $11 billion

• Adelphia Communications - John Rigas - $1 billion • Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities - Bernie Madoff - $65 billion • Computer Associates - Sanjay Kumar - $800 million • Earl Jones Consultant & Administration Corp. - Earl Jones $30 to $50 million • Enron - Jeffrey Skilling, Kenneth Lay, Andrew Fastow, Michael Kopper - $100 billion • HealthSouth Corporation Richard Scrushy - $2.9 billion • Hollinger International - Conrad Black - $400 million • Liberty National Securities Martin Frankel - $200 million

These 10 only scratch the surface of major frauds. I tried to go with people who had absconded with at least $100 million or more, but I threw in Earl Jones for his Canadian connection. Jones only managed to bilk investors of a measly $30 to $50 million.

Quibbling about the amount of money aside, what these business men have in common is that they are all very successful, over 50 and work in the private sector.

All those who believe we should be profiling young Muslims must assuredly be in favour of intensive annual audits of all companies owned or managed by men fitting these characteristics because, let’s face it, not to investigate successful business men goes against common sense.

Devon Brooks is the managing editor of the Okanagan Business Examiner. Comments on this editorial or anything else in this magazine should be directed to editor@ businessexaminer.ca.

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Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing?

T h e cred i t card c o mpa n i es are sta k i n g a c l a i m i n t h e de b i t i n d u str y a n d reta i l ers n eed t o b e ware

by Devon Brooks

“Debit is pretty big in Canada,” says Caroline Hubberstey, Interac’s director of Public & Government Affairs, in a tremendous understatement. She adds, “We have a leading edge debit system in the world.”

Canadians are certainly among the planet’s heaviest users of debit, racking up 4 billion transactions annually through 58,000 ABMs and retail counters.

Every one of those transactions splits about 8 to 10¢ between the accounts of the nonprofit Interac organization and the private service providers (known as acquirers) that have the equipment consumers see at the retail counter. Consumers may pay another charge to the financial institution where they bank.

According to Catherine Swift, CEO for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), American companies pay an average of 80¢ U.S. for a debit transaction. The U.S. system is dominated by Visa (70% market share) and MasterCard’s company Maestro (30%).

If they can get into the Canadian market and raise the fees, the payoff is potentially very large.

So they started to do just that, under the table for the most part, without consultation or notification to most retailers.

Garry Norkum owns Cyclepath, a bicycle shop in Kelowna. He says he first realized about the new system when he received a note from CFIB, of which he is a member.

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| www.businessexaminer.ca February 2010

After checking his payments he found that he was indeed a new revenue source for Maestro, whether he liked it or not.

Norkum was upset to find out that he’d been contributing to MasterCard’s system without being notified, and that only a search by his bookkeeper through his records revealed it.

Another store owner in Kelowna, Linda Smith who owns the Water Garden gift shop, says she has no idea whether any of her debit payments might be going through any system other than Interac.

“I haven’t heard anything from my service provider,” she says. Smith changed service providers last year when the old one started imposing new rules that would cost her extra.

“It is the cost of doing business, but it’s a pretty big cost. It’s good that people are watching things like this. If we don’t keep on our toes they are always finding a way to add one more charge, to rip people off.”

CFIB’s Swift says, “We have absolutely zero percent oversight in Canada at all.” Meaning that what Maestro did breaks no rules. She says the CFIB only became aware of the priority routing practice when members starting voicing concerns in early 2008.

The CFIB responded with a code of conduct that it wanted the federal government to institute, which it did last month with the creation of a voluntary code.

Despite the voluntary label Hubberstey is not worried the companies won’t follow it. She says, “If it is not adhered to it will become mandatory.”

Visa has responded to the government’s voluntary code by stating it’s concerned about the lack of choice available to Canadian consumers.

Visa’s concern is praise worthy, given its domination in the United States where, Hubberstey claims, “Visa is now a bigger debit company than a credit company.”

Visa leaves out the detail that the other smaller debit card systems that used to exist south of the border were driven out of business by deals the two credit card giants cooked up with that country’s largest banks.

The system was simple: while most companies compete for customers by lowering their price, but the banks were Visa and MasterCard’s major customers. To corner the market they competed with each other by increasing the money they would pay to the banks for each debit that went through on their networks.

As the smaller debit systems went slowly under there was little noise from Visa about enhancing consumer choice.

According to Swift, “We’re worried about rising costs and the demise of Interac.”

The fees Visa and MasterCard paid to the banks were not swallowed by the credit card companies, instead, they were passed on credit CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

together to achieve desired results. In an effort to help each other expand their capacities to enhance the local business community the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, Okanagan Science & Technology Council (OSTEC) and the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) are collaborating to host a series of six seminars and workshops.

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credit CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

to merchants. Merchants then swallowed the costs or passed them on to the consumer.

Once the flat rate charges were high enough and the U.S. market was theirs both credit card companies started to charge merchants one to three percent of the cost of the final sale. Total value of those percentage charges went from $20 billion in 2002 to $45 billion in 2009, says The New York Times.

Credit card charges in Canada to the merchant are high already, but are justified by the credit card companies that take a risk by guaranteeing payment to the merchant. There is some truth to that. Any company that has to chase debt knows how much time and effort is saved by receiving guaranteed payments.

Debit however involves a direct and immediate transfer from the bank to the merchant or, if Visa and MasterCard get in there, to the credit card companies. There is no risk since insufficient funds mean a debit is turned down on the spot.

Neither Visa nor MasterCard are talking about putting in place any such charges in Canada. At least, not yet, but it strains credibility to think the pattern they have established in the United States will not be applied to Canada.

This is known as co-badging and this is what Maestro makes use of to send the charge, without consulting either the customer or the merchant.

Since Maestro and Visa see each other as the main rival, they will not allow cards to be co-badged with the other’s system.

Another detail that neither credit card company is likely to advertise any time soon is that they jointly paid $3 billion, after a decade of fighting, to retailers after losing a noncompetitive, antitrust case in the U.S. because any retailer that refused to use their debit system, was not allowed to use their credit cards either.

Apparently neither consumer nor merchant choice was deemed vital.

At the crux, the new federal government code is calling on the choice to be made by the retailer because they are the ones who end up paying for this system.

Smith, from the Water Garden, is enthusiastic about the merchant getting to make the decision.

“Absolutely. Why would I want someone else to make the choices for my business? It’s about having some control.”

Visa’s system offers more choice, but not completely openly. A person who uses their Visa card will see a screen saying, ‘VISA debit: ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Only if a customer chose ‘no’ will they then have the choice of selecting Interac.

In a letter to Jim Flaherty and the federal government Visa complained that allowing merchants to decide would deprive consumers of the following benefits: “Visa Debit cards offer Canadian retailers and consumers features not available with today’s debit product, including: enhanced security, chargeback protections, innovations like Visa payWave, expanded acceptance at international points of sale and at online merchants. These are benefits that are available to other consumers and merchants in over 130 other countries around the globe.”

Since some parts of Canada’s debit card network may not accept the credit companies’ cards both Visa and MasterCard can access Interac and their own system.

Hubberstey has another suggestion, and it is one that Interac is trying to persuade the Canadian government to allow. She says, “We need to be for profit.”

In fact it has already begun.

Maestro has already put in place what is called priority routing. A debit card on a Maestro machine will automatically route the charge to Maestro and charge the merchant accordingly.

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| www.businessexaminer.ca February 2010

Right now Interac is an association run by its 61 members, which includes almost every major financial institution in the country.

Right now Canadian banks pay Interac, a far cry from the much more lucrative system in the U.S. where the banks are paid.

In short there is an inherent conflict of interest in having financial institutions that are being enticed with a possible payout to make decisions about the future of the organization that competes with the two companies offering the payout. Hubberstey says, “The big thing is to have an independent governing structure separate from our members.”

Visa’s letter also takes issue with the code’s suggestion that merchants should decide on which system they will use, which seems disingenuous given that Visa’s system only provides choice after pushing users toward its own system without informing them of the alternative, which is Interac.

In the U.S. MasterCard and Visa offer debit users incentive programs similar to their credit card offerings. Says Swift, “The consumers get more bells and whistles and they don’t get charged any more, but the retailers were hit hard.”

Given a clear choice it seems likely most retailers will reject the credit card companies to stick with the lower cost Interac system. That’s what Swift wants. “We want the merchant to decide how to route the purchase.”

In theory, the addition of two giant companies should create competition and help Canadian business.

Hubberstey agrees, with one proviso: “We’ve never had a problem with competition. What we’re concerned about is that it is not a level playing field.”

She explains that the two giants are using the infrastructure set up

by Interac without contributing to it. In addition, Visa’s charge about

innovation may become an issue if Interac is held only to cost recovery and can’t save enough money to invest in technological or service advancements.

Innovation demands research and it is difficult to predict how much will be necessary and the constraints of being nonprofit may cause Interac to fall behind the well financed credit card giants.

Another question can’t be answered at present: If Interac is allowed to become a for-profit company, will it set a different course from the credit card companies or emulate their tactics at the expense of Canadian retailers?

Ottawa’s Voluntary Code for the Credit and Debit Industry

1. Increased transparency and disclosure by debit and credit card networks to merchants 2. 90 day minimum notice of fee changes to merchants 3. After fee changes merchants can cancel contracts without penalty 4. Merchants do not need to accept payments from a debit provider even if they use their credit cards and vice versa 5. Merchants can give discounts to people paying cash or other payment methods 6. Merchants can decide on which debit card system to use on cobadged cards 7. Co-badged cards must be clearly branded as such 8. Debit and credit cards cannot coexist on the same card 9. Premium credit cards may only be given to consumers who applied or consented to getting them

Okanagan Olympic Profiles The Okanagan, generally speaking

The Okanagan is unique in Canada.

Anyone who’s been here can give you a list of the region’s desirables including a fruit belt, replete with a fabulous 113 km long Okanagan Lake on which more than a hundred wineries bask in the hottest, driest climate in the country. Osoyoos is home to southern Canada’s only officially designated desert. Aside from beaches and peaches, stony arcs topped by conifers and stately Ponderosa pines, the Okanagan is home to a quarter million inhabitants.

Unknown to many in and out of British Columbia, the Okanagan is the province’s summery heartland, a winter-skiing mecca and wealthy with the depth and breadth of its industry and entrepreneurs.

It has boat builders, casinos and convention centres, Canada’s newest university and hospital teaching centre, computer back up systems, a high-tech incubator, a brand new film studio and British Columbia’s most entrepreneurial Indian Bands, plus a life style and business hub that most regions in Canada only wish they had.

If you’re not familiar with the Okanagan these listings will only scratch the surface, providing you with a glimpse into what’s here already and why you could benefit from looking into it.

Wine Industry

More than 72 wineries operate throughout the premier grape growing region in the country. With the hottest weather, the best reds flourish in the southern half of the Okanagan where very little suitable land is left to develop while cool delicious white varietals grow better in the north.

After a couple of decades of steady improvement in quality, training and standards the industry counts wineries of every size from the most magnificent wineries with stunning facilities(Mission Hill, Burrowing Owl, Quails Gate, Nk’Mip, Tin Horn, Cedar Creek, Summerhill, Sumac Ridge, Red Rooster and Gray Monk) to more intimate boutique wineries. For every winery support industries and services are springing up.

Ice wines, the Canadian gift to wine drinkers around the world, got their push to greatness in the Okanagan. The difficulty and cost of picking the frozen grapes within a narrow time and temperature window restrict the product to only a couple of dozen makers in the region.

For a comprehensive listing of wineries in the Okanagan (and B.C.) go to www.britishcolumbia.com/ attractions/?id=135.

Latest additions to the fruit beverage industry include several top notch fruit based wineries (Elephant Island, Spiller Estates, Rustic Roots) and two new brandy and liqueur makers (Maple Leaf Spirits in Penticton, Okanagan Spirits in Vernon).

Each year four wine festivals allow oenophiles to sample at their leisure. The winter IceWine Festival takes place at Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops while the Summer Festival blooms among the mountains at Silver Star Resort.

The Spring and Fall Festivals are wide spread events with dozens of events occurring at wineries, restaurants and conference facilities up and down the whole valley.

B.C. Wine Institute www.winebc.com Hidden Wineries of B.C. www.winegrowers.bc.ca B.C. Wine Grape Council www.bcwgc.org

Okanagan Wine Festivals www.thewinefestivals.com

many tour companies offering trips around the Okanagan.

Tourism & Recreation

Performance Centres

The split between natural and man-made attractions goes just about down the middle. The huge influx of tourists come first for the lakes, beaches and sun, which have been leveraged by the fruit industry, wine making, boating recreation and the countless hotels and restaurants.

Penticton Trade & Convention Centre - www. pentictonconventioncentre.com

Beyond the warm waters 60 provincial parks culminate in the gigantic Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, which covers 11,038 ha (27,274 acres). These areas and many, many regional and municipal parks provide opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing (Skaha Bluffs), skiing and virtually every other outdoor sport.

Many festivals come up each year to celebrate the Okanagan’s many draws including: Vernon Winter Carnival, Creative Chaos Crafts, Vernon Sunshine Festival, Roots and Blues music festival, the Interior Provincial Exhibition Fair & Stampede, Okanagan Fest of Ale, Annual Meadowlark Festival and the Penticton Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival.

Other tourist attractions not mentioned elsewhere in this article include the house boating industry, agri-tourism, and heritage sites like the SS Sicamous, a paddlewheeler that used to ply Okanagan Lake, the O’Keefe Ranch, the Father Pandosy Mission site and the beautifully maintained Kettle Valley Steam Railway.

All these attractions are available for the self-guided visitor but most can be taken in through the

Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Association - www.totabc.com Vernon Community Arts Centre www.vernonarts.ca Prospera Place - www. prosperaplace.com Rotary Centre for the Arts www.rotarycentreforthearts.com Kelowna Community Theatre www.kctlive.ca South Okanagan Event Centre www.soec.ca Heritage Sites

Kettle Valley Steam Railway www.kettlevalleyrail.org O’Keefe Ranch www.okeeferanch.ca SS Sicamous www.sssicamous.com Father Pandosy Mission www.kelownabc.com/kelowna/ kelowna2.php Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre www.nkmipdesert.com Sporting Business & Tournaments

Downhill skiers and snowboarders are catered to at five sites in the region: Mt. Baldy is near Oliver; Apex lies west of Penticton; Crystal is just west of West Kelowna; Big White is southeast of Kelowna and Silver Star is northwest of Vernon.

Okanagan CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Okanagan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Mountain biking is thriving at Silver Star during the summer and along hundreds of kilometers of unofficial and unmarked tracks crisscrossing the surrounding mountains.

Twenty-seven golf courses dot the region from north to south, which is only slightly more numerous than the various levels of hockey teams that exist in almost every city and town.

Hockey definitely get the lion’s share of interest in team sports.

In this region fans can watch (not all in the same league) many teams among the minors plus the Penticton Vees, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, the Vernon Vipers, the Westside Warriors in the B.C. Hockey League, and the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League.

For football fans the Okanagan Sun football team in Kelowna is part of the British Columbia Football Conference and the Canadian Junior Football League while the Kelowna Falcons are the

sole Canadian representative in baseball’s West Coast League.

Penticton Ironman www.ironman.ca

Dozens of other teams in every sport line the valley north to south, along with the attendant opportunities and support services.

This is most evident in the many tournaments that come to the region, drawn by the weather and many sporting facilities built to welcome them. Past events have included the B.C. Summer Games, World Arm Wrestling Championship, the B.C. Senior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championship, World Trapseat 16 Sailing Championship, and the Volleyfest Beach Volleyball Tournament. Notable annual tournaments include: Funtastic (a four day soccer, baseball and lawn bowling festival) and the Penticton Ironman.

Ski to Sea Race - www.ski2sea.ca

Tournaments

Funtastic - www.funtastic.org Kelowna Apple Triathalon www.appletriathalon.com

What’s More Important

the Brakes or the Steering Wheel?

www.sasilverbacks.com

Golf

Golf Okanagan www.golfokanagan.com

Okanagan Mainline Amateur Hockey Association www.omaha.ca North Okanagan Minor Hockey Association - www.nomha.com

Okanagan Golf www.okanagangolf.ca

Football

Hockey

B.C. Football Conference www.bcjuniorfootball.ca

Western Hockey League www.whl.ca Kelowna Rockets www.kelownarockets.com

Canadian Junior Football League www.cjfl.net

Okanagan Sun Football Team www.okanagansun.ca Baseball

B.C. Hockey League www.bchl.bc.ca Okanagan Hockey School www.hockeyschools.com Vernon Vipers - www.vipers.bc.ca Penticton Vees www.pentictonvees.ca Westside Warriors www.westsidewarriors.ca Salmon Arm Silverbacks -

West Coast League www.wccbl.com Kelowna Falcons www.hometeamsonline.com Hi Technology

While the Okanagan sometimes loves the appellation of Napa Valley North for its wine it also aspires to be known as Silicone

What’s More Important

Voice Communications or Data Communications?

The answer is of course that one is no more or no less important than the other.

Both are integral parts of your business’s overall communication strategy. They both connect your customers to you and you to your customers.

Okanagan Telephone Company &

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Okanagan Telephone & Connect IT make connections that make sense for your business. www.oktelephone.com www.connect-it.ca 12

| www.businessexaminer.ca February 2010

Environmental Industry

Valley North. More than aspiring, enough high technology companies have set up shop in the area that it is considered one of the pillars of the economy.

One pillar is UPS Always On, manufacturer of power back up units. Another is Tekmar, maker of electronic control systems, while Disney invested a half billion dollars to buy up Club Penguin, an on-line children friendly adventure site, from three Kelowna fathers and entrepreneurs.

This year Rack Force opened the doors on its GigaVault data back up utility. A host of sustainable environmental companies (see next section) have set up shop here offering everything from renewable energy to industrial size wood pellet burners.

Business software developers sit side by side with hardware manufacturers, computer trouble shooters, printers, the Astrophysical Observatory, and composite manufacturers at the Okanagan Science & Technology Council (OSTEC). This group has 249 members who have come together to promote further the business of science.

One OSTEC member is the Okanagan Research & Innovation Centre (ORIC), an incubator designed to foster science-based business startups.

Air craft maintenance also has a strong footprint in the local economy led by Flightcraft, which built the largest aircraft hanger between Vancouver and Calgary to service commercial jet aircraft.

OSTEC - www.ostec.ca ORIC - www.oric.ca

The movement toward more sustainable industry is green and healthy in the region. While 17 companies have formed the Okanagan Environmental Industry Alliance there are at least as many working on sustainable business models starting with the growing number of organic agricultural operations sprinkled throughout the area.

Several of them focus on building green (Geotility, Complete Home Energy, Terra Geothermal, Fink Machines, GeoSave Solutions, Okanagan Living Roofs & Walls, S2 Innovative Products Group, Swiss Solar Tech), while others are looking at energy supplies (Nova Independent Resources, Horizon Technologies, Dunlop Renewable Energy) or consulting to help improve a business’ footprint (Tigress Ventures).

Even industry is getting a green footing with the development of the Senkulmen Industrial Park by the Osoyoos Indian Band, designed to make use of every green innovation economically viable and desirable.

Okanagan Environmental Industry Alliance - www.oeia.ca Okanagan Institute for Sustainable Development - www.oisd.ca Okanagan Chapter of the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association - www.bcsea.org/get-involved/ chapters/okanagan Higher Education

Okanagan College is the most wide spread and longest established post-secondary facility in the region. It offers courses at four campuses in Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. Courses include trades, university transfer programs, wine making,

engineering technology, business, computer systems, health & social development technicians and continuing studies.

The University of British Columbia Okanagan is affiliated with UBC in Vancouver and is a fully accredited university offering undergrad and graduate degree programs in the liberal arts, the basic sciences, computer science, creative studies, critical studies, business, education, engineering, social work, nursing and will soon be augmented by a medical teaching facility at Kelowna General Hospital.

For those interested in less academic work Okanagan Mountain Helicopters offers training for those wishing to learn to fly the sometimes tricky skies.

In Kelowna the Centre for Arts and Technology offers training in graphics, the recording technologies, animation and event management. Many other private schools offer training in computer programs, ESL, business management, e-commerce, legal secretary work, dental assistant programs, hospitality and hotel management.

Finally the area is rich in private schools for children of every age.

UBCO - http://web.ubc.ca/ okanagan Okanagan College - www. okanagan.bc.ca Helicopter Training - www. okhelicopters.com Glenfir School - www.glenfir.com

Transportation

Road transportation is getting the lion share of public dollars with four-lane upgrades planned for the north and south; which follow up on major, recent investments in the region’s highway and bridge infrastructure. The north end is serviced by the Trans-Canada Highway, the midsection by the Coquihalla freeway to Vancouver and the south lies astride the U.S. border.

These are key trucking routes and it is by truck that most goods are shipped into and out of the Okanagan.

While most people visiting come by road, air travel is also incredibly important. Smaller airports are found in many communities along with two regional airports in Vernon and Penticton and Kelowna’s international airport.

Kelowna International has daily service to Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto with many additional charter flights offered seasonally. These not only allow for efficient business connections, but with the extension of the runway, will allow for direct transcontinental flights to Europe or Asia as passenger demand warrants. Right now the airport is renovating and expanding for an estimated 1.6 million passengers annually.

First Nations

The Okanagan Nation Alliance includes some of the most economically advanced Indian Bands in Canada, who are creating business opportunities for band members and neighbouring communities and outside business interests alike. The bands are, Okanagan CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Okanagan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

however, far from homogenous in their approach or their development plans.

Penticton has only recently formed and started to build its economic base through the Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation, following in the footsteps of the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation. Osoyoos is already well established with ownership or interest in 17 different companies including Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort, Nk’Mip Winery, Canyon Desert Golf Course, a convenience store, a construction company, an RV park, a daycare, Mt. Baldy Ski Corp., Senkulmen Business park and Oliver Readi-mix.

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What each band started with is enormously valuable land. The City of Penticton is squeezed between mountains and lakes leaving the only easily developed flat land on the Penticton Indian Reserve to the west.

Osoyoos’ huge territory has been developed in places where highway access or proximity to the Town of Osoyoos makes the most economic sense.

The Westbank First Nations has taken a much more individualistic approach. The band’s land just north of West Kelowna has been the sight of intensive residential, business and commercial developments.

While the Band itself is prospering from an enormously increased tax base from no less than five large commercial developments and 8,000 non-band residents, the entrepreneurial spirit is embodied in a few key individuals who have gathered the land packages. In addition to leasing land, individuals like Noll Derriksan have built up several enormously successful businesses on his own.

N.C. Derriksan & Son Enterprises runs a development company, owns JSDS General Contractors, a heavy equipment leasing company, CA Promotions, Skyline Billboards, an executive travel service and a First Nation jewelry company. Derriksan is prominent, but not alone in his successes.

Indian Bands & Companies

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Okanagan Nation Alliance - www.syilx.org Westbank First Nations - www.wfn.ca N.C. Derriksan & Son Enterprises - www.ncderriksan.com Penticton Indian Band - www.pib.ca Osoyoos Indian Band - www.oib.ca Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation - www.oibdc.com Okanagan Indian Band Noll Derriksan's Estate Square Development

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| www.businessexaminer.ca February 2010

Government

Government in the Okanagan is covered off by three regional bodies, the Regional District of North Okanagan (www.rdno.ca), the Regional District of the Central Okanagan (www. regionaldistrict.com) and the Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen (www.rdos.bc.ca).

These three regional bodies coordinate many activities and processes that affect several or all municipalities and carry statistical information on its constituent members.

First Nations people have considerable jurisdiction over their own territory and these laws and requirements provide very flexible benefits for businesses, different from those found within other municipal boundaries.

In addition there are 16 incorporated towns and cities, plus several unincorporated population centres that are looked after by regional district or provincial laws, in the Okanagan. Extensive information on each municipality for visitors and business, including statistics, permits, bylaws and services are available on each website. The largest communities are Kelowna (pop. 111,000), Penticton (pop. 43,300), Vernon (pop. 38,400) and West Kelowna (pop. 28,800).

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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

Interested business people should also be aware that there is a region wide business license available so a business can operate in more than one location.

• Salmon Arm (www.salmonarm.ca) • Enderby (www.enderby.com) • Armstrong (www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca) • Spallumcheen (www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca) • Vernon (www.vernon.ca) • Lumby (www.lumby.ca) • Coldstream (www.districtofcoldstream.ca) • Lake Country (www.lakecountry.bc.ca) • Kelowna (www.kelowna.ca) • West Kelowna (www.districtofwestkelowna.ca) • Peachland (www.peachland.ca) • Summerland (www.summerland.ca)

We are open for business..

Experience the people, the culture and the endless opportunities in the Heart of the Okanagan.

• Penticton (www.penticton.ca) • Oliver (www.oliver.ca) • Osoyoos (www.osoyoos.ca) • Keremeos (www.keremeos.com)

Call today for more information 301-515 Hwy 97 South Kelowna BC V1Z-3J2 t 250.769.2402 f 250.769.2443 www.wfn.ca February 2010 Okanagan Business Examiner

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15

C a l e n da r FoodSafe - Feb. 15 - Wine

CRA Small Bus. Seminar

Okanagan College’s Green

Business After Hours Mar.

Country Visitor Centre,

Feb. 23 - Wine Country

Building - Mar. 8 Okanagan

18 - Sun Country Furniture,

Penticton

Visitor Centre, Penticton

College, Penticton Campus

Kelowna

An all day course starting at 8:40 am, the FoodSafe Level 1 course is run by Valentine Young. Includes snacks, but not lunch. $50 Call 250-490-9300.

An all day seminar on payroll information, Workers’ Compensation and Employment Standards. Free. To register call 250-493-2566.

The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce’ monthly networking event from 5 to 7 pm. $7 for members, $12 for non-members.

Business After 5 - Feb. 16

Business After Business

Okanagan College, Vernon

Feb. 25 - MV Dental Centre,

Campus

Penticton

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.

The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce’ monthly networking event from 5 to 7 pm. $20 for non-members.

An evening lecture beginning at 7 pm on the design of the College’s new Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation. The building “generates all its own energy from renewable resources, recycles all of its water, uses local materials with minimum detriment to the environment, and to be used to teach the next generation of trades men and women in the latest sustainable thinking.” Free. Call 250-492-4305 for information.

VWIB Evening Network Feb. 17 - Best Western Lodge, Vernon

The monthly dinner meeting of Vernon Women in Business runs from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. $14 for members, $16 for non-members.

More information by e-mail from meetings@vwib.com or go online to http://vwib.com.

Thrive not Survive - Mar. 2 Coast Capri Hotel, Kelowna

The Okanagan Science and Technology Council is one sponsor for this seminar, running from 2 to 4:30 pm on how businesses can plan to succeed going forward.

Speakers include Myrna Park of Max – U and Rhonda Victoor of Incite Coaching. $25 To register call 250-712-3340 or go to www.ostec. ca/events2.asp?event_id=201.

VWIB Business Luncheon

Building your Brand

Mar. 3 - Schubert Centre,

Feb. 18 - Community

Vernon

Futures, Penticton

An interactive workshop led by Kim Lawton of DogLeg Marketing to help define your customers and maximize the effect of your advertising dollar. From 6 to 9 pm.

To register call 250-493-2566.

The monthly daytime meeting of Vernon Women in Business runs from 11:30 am to 1 pm. $14 for members, $16 for non-members.

More information by e-mail from meetings@vwib.com or go online to http://vwib.com.

Business After Hours

Key Business Awards

Feb. 18 - Christopher’s

Mar. 6 - Our Lady of

Restaurant, Kelowna

Lourdes Parish Hall,

The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce’ monthly networking event from 5 to 7 pm. $7 for members, $12 for non-members.

West Kelowna

16

| www.businessexaminer.ca February 2010

The gala evening of dinner and dance for the Westbank Chamber of Commerce annual business awards beginning at 6 pm. $80 or a table of eight for $580. Call the Chamber at 250-768-3378 for tickets.

KWIB Dinner Meeting Mar. 10 - Kelowna

Details for this dinner meeting were not available at press time. $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers, but payments must be made in advance and are not accepted at the door. Register online at http://kwib.org.

Sales for Non-Sales People Mar. 10 - Community Futures, Penticton

A workshop led by Alexandra Krieger of MAKBIZ Ventures to help business owners move from dreaded hard, pushy sales to working with customers to help them find solutions for their problems. From 6 to 9 pm. To register call 250-493-2566 or go online to www.cfokanagan.com.

Business 2 Consumer Expo Trade Show Apr. 4-5 - Peachland Recreation Centre

This is the Peachland Chamber’s second annual trade show of this nature with both indoor and outdoor venues. There will be 10 workshops of product demos to reach buyers. For more information contact Scott Wilshaw at 250-7672455 or swilshaw@shaw.ca.

Business After Hours Apr. 8 - Accent Homes at Sierra, West Kelowna

The Westbank Chamber of Commerce’ monthly networking event from 5:30 to 7 pm. Free for members, $5 for non-members, but non-members need to RSVP at 250-768-3378.

Workplace Training for Innovation - until Jan. 2011 - All locations

B.C.’s Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development has created the new Workplace Training for Innovation Program. Eligible employers can apply for funding to improve productivity, introduce new technology or equipment, improve

Labour Market Mentorship Program - Ongoing - South Okanagan

This program is offered by South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services. It matches professional mentors with clients who need a guide in the Canadian job market.

Mentors can play a variety of key roles in an immigrant’s life. They can help newcomers to chart a career path, or give a newcomer an opportunity to volunteer within the mentor's business. Contact Endrené Shepherd at 250-492-6299.

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We offer an incredible variety of diploma, certificate and degree programs supported by a reputation for teaching excellence.

Centre for Learning, Kelowna, LEED Gold certified

Business Admin students at the 45th Inter-Collegiate Business Strategy Competition in San Diego

Find out more today about how Okanagan College transforms lives and communities.

Visit www.okanagan.bc.ca or stop by one of our campuses to learn more.

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international competitiveness or bring in new strategies to increases company productivity or competitiveness. Employers must have fewer than 50 employes, have been in business for at least one year and be in good standing with the BC Corporate Registry. More information and applications are available online at www.aved. gov.bc.ca/workplace_training_ program/welcome.htm.

Movers& Jon summerland

Okanagan Falls

takes a bow in the spotlight

Okanagan Film Commissioner Jon Summerland assisted Cannery Studios in its move from West Kelowna to an advantageous facility in Okanagan Falls.

Summerland told Castanet that the new property has better working space for film productions including 32,000 sq. ft. for staging film shoots, a separate 3,000 sq. ft. carpentry section, first aid and security rooms, a fenced lot and three acres for

parking. In addition it is attracting attention from a number of companies that support film work across the country. Several of them, including Harold’s Custom Equipment, HollyNorth and Offset Rentals are expected to open their doors in Okanagan Falls.

In an unrelated story the province is moving to boost video and digital effects work in the province by extending the tax credits given to films to digital media sectors. None of that work occurs in the Okanagan currently, but with the rise of the Canadian dollar to near parity film makers have

been urging the government to give the industry all the breaks it can to keep the work happening here.

Pandosy BIA

moves ahead

The South Pandosy Business Improvement Area in the Mission district of Kelowna is going before Kelowna city council to make their case. The new BIA has put together a proposed budget of $124,000 annually, based on a rate of $1 per thousand of assessed commercial value. Points of interest to members include parking, signage, more community events, better lake access and creating an identity for the business area.

Less gets Altitude

Vernon Chamber

Adam Less, founder and former half owner of Think Marketing, has sold his share of the business and struck out on his own. His new company is Propeller Creative Brand Strategists, and uses the logo of “Altitude is Everything”.

Less believes his strengths combine creative skills with experience in marketing.

He says, “I'm a graphic artist and a writer, but I'm also a strategist with a career’s worth of experience developing brands and strategic platforms behind me.”

talks to Vernon Chamber

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce announced its newest program to better connect with its own members.

The 12@12 membership feedback program involves nine Chamber members sitting down with two staff members and one board member “to discuss the issues that most affect their business today.” The meetings will occur monthly and will continue until June of this year, when their effectiveness will be reviewed. Each meeting will be based on one business

Okanagan Biztex Inc. is a fresh new alternative to providing your Information Technology requirements & to relieve you of the stresses of managing the problems associated with computers.

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We have set the standards of our technicians very high; to give you the support that you demand to keep your business running to the standards you expect.

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Your Temporary and Permanent Recruitment Specialists Visit our website@ www.okanaganstaffing.com Phone: 250.717.0506 Fax: 250.862.5181 18

| www.businessexaminer.ca February 2010

T 250.300.7551 | F 250.491.0266 | E jdawson@biztex.ca

&Shakers Dan Ashton

sector at a time. The first meeting will bring in members in the retail sector.

Interior Health names new CEO

Dr. Robert Halpenny is the new chief executive officer for Interior Health, replacing Murray Ramsden who retired at the end of 2009.

Dr. Halpenny had been the acting CEO, but was confirmed as Ramsden’s permanent replacement in mid-January.

Terasen cites

Vernon Performing

inflation for price

Arts gets new Grant

hike

The Vernon Performing Arts Centre has a new artistic and managing director.

Gordon Grant has come to the north Okanagan city after more than a decade of experience running a similar facility in Fort St. John where he managed the North Peace Cultural Centre.

Natural gas bills went up by just over 10% last month despite the fall of natural gas prices in 2009.

Terasen won approval for the rate hike from the B.C. Utilities Commission, which are based on fee increases for the delivery rate charge and midstream charges (storage charges).

Terasen says the increases will help the company with general profitability and to fund energy conservation assistance programs.

Keeping Good Employees on Board hits #1

Dirty, bad keyboard!

An Edmonton, Alberta-based company just launched a new product known as Cleankeys. The company cites studies claiming the common keyboard is one of the dirtiest surfaces used by people, especially medical personnel. They harbor more germs than the average public toilet seat. The company also says that efforts to clean keyboards are spectacularly unsuccessful – wiping a keyboard with a disinfecting cloth will remove only about 5% of all germs. The new product is a computer keyboard designed to facilitate quick and efficient cleaning. One wipe, says company literature, with the same cloth will remove 99% of all bacteria. More details at www.cleankeysinc.com.

The 208-page book profiled in the Business Examiner in our November 2009 issue, Keeping Good Employees on Board, has become the best selling business book in three categories at Amazon.ca. Amazon reports the book is the best selling book in the ‘Small Business & Entrepreneurship’, ‘Industries & Professions - Human Resources & Personnel Management’, and the ‘Business Management - Human Resources & Personnel Management’ categories.

More details on the book can be seen at: www. amazon.ca/KeepingGood-Employees-BoardStrategies/dp/1600376541/r ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=book s&qid=1264528831&sr=1-1

Prosper Prospers

The Prosper Media Group, publisher of the Okanagan Business Examiner and Savour Magazine has completed a deal for the distribution of Savour Magazine throughout B.C. and Alberta, shortly to be followed by national distrubtion. Coast to Coast Newsstand Services (CTC) will distribute Savour through major retailers like London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Marts, Chapters, Loblaws, Safeway, Costco and Walmart in the west, but by April the magazine will be going across the entire country.

Sanders is new Partner at MacKay

Brian Sanders is now one of the partners at the MacKay Kelowna Tax Group. A Chartered Accountant since 1991 Sanders’ specialities

include personal and corporate taxes, GST, HST and SRED claims.

E.I. expansion to self-employed

The federal government announced rule changes allowing self-employed people to contribute to E.I. if they want to. This will provide access to all kinds of employment insurance including sickness, compassionate care, parental and maternity benefits. To qualify for benefits a self-employed person must have earned a minimum of $6,000 in the preceding calendar year and will have to pay benefits of $1.73 per $100 of insurable earnings up to a maximum of $747 per year, the same as if they were a salaried person. More details are available online at www. servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ sc/ei/self_employed_ workers.shtml.

Ashton vows

council voted unanimously to create an Okanagan waterfront enhancement committee. The 11-member committee will look at the best ways to make use of existing waterfront land, improve public access and clean up the waterfront in a couple of key areas.

- with notes from Penticton Western News

Royal Volkswagen crowns new King

Vernon’s Royal Volkswagen changed hands recently and was bought out by Dennis and Terry Lowe of Kamloops. The dealership was purchased from Tim Brandle who took it over in 2006. The Volkswagen company suffered very little from the recession of 2008 and ’09 and Royal’s general manager, Jean Michel Ledet, told the Vernon Morning Star the company is going to pour resources into beefing up its presence in North America. If they do, he believes Royal stands to benefit.

Penticton to lose weight

Rohit takes

Penticton’s Mayor Dan Ashton announced at the end of December last year he was going to put Penticton’s bylaws on a reduction plan. At a vault housing copies of the City’s collection of bylaws, reports and archives Ashton announced that he intends to review the laws and see what can be reduced, eliminated or simplified.

Ashton gave no indication of when the review would be complete or how many rules he hopes to eliminate or simplify. In addition city

Copper Point

The Kelowna-based company, Rohit Group, has taken over the partially built Resort at Copper Point in the Columbia Valley.

The resort is nearly three quarters complete and Rohit believes it will take another year to finish. In a press release Rohit reported that Canadians are worried about economic uncertainty, especially in the real estate market, south of the border and this led them to decide on a Canadian investment.

February 2010 Okanagan Business Examiner

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19

Employment Law Considerations in a Business Restructure Labour Relations, Employment and Human Rights Law

A business restructure will impact employees, and you can’t avoid it, but you can create an atmosphere where employees don’t need to resort to outsiders (lawyers, courts, unions) for protection.

While it is important that employers be aware of the legal claims employees may have in a business restructure, it is at least equally important to recognize that keeping employees in the dark is an invitation to such claims.

Vernon, BC Telephone: 250.558.3393 www.ulclaw.ca

A legal claim, even if unsuccessful, is a cost a business doesn’t need to add to its bottom line. Also, employees aren’t stupid. They will know if a business is facing challenges and if they don’t know what is going on, they look to the rumour mill and to outside sources, like

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The amount of notice an employee is entitled to have depends on a number of factors, but the most important are the employee’s age, length of service, responsibility or specialization of position and the availability of alternate equivalent employment. The notice entitlement can be different for every employee, but it can be as much as 24 months.

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The Common Law requires that an employee who is dismissed and who does not have an employment contract is entitled to reasonable notice of dismissal or pay in lieu. Employees who are short changed are awarded damages to make up the shortfall. o r ud sp sP s Theo Common Law also says that employees who keep their employment, but face a fundamental change, without sufficient notice, in their position, duties, compensation or other key areas may have a claim for constructive dismissal. f the V an or o ns

Your Partner in Office Solutions

The three most important legal areas to be mindful of in a business restructure are: the Common Law; Employment Standards legislation and Human Rights legislation, but right now I will address only the Common Law, the law set by the Courts.

er Olympi c int

Providing strategic legal representation to unionized and non-unionized employers throughout the Thompson Okanagan

I am not saying that employees should be made fully aware of all aspects of a potential business restructure. Too much information at the wrong time could backfire; it’s all about balance, knowing what to say when and why.

uver 2010 W co

Veronica M. Ukrainetz

unions, to get answers.

So it is important that employers know what the potential liability is before going ahead with the restructure, not after.

Fortunately for employers, the Common Law does

require that the dismissed employee (whether outright or constructively) “mitigate” her damages by taking reasonable steps to reduce the losses.

The employee is not entitled to take a holiday, take the employer to court and collect damages for insufficient notice.

The dismissed employee is required by the Courts to look for work and the constructively dismissed employee will have to explain to the judge why he chose unemployment over employment.

Employees who quit and sue for constructive dismissal may win the battle, but lose the war. The Court may well find that the change to the employee’s job was fundamental, so was a constructive dismissal, but the Court will also consider whether the employee’s duty to mitigate included staying in the changed job.

The direction coming from the Supreme Court of Canada is that if the employment environment is not humiliating or toxic the employee should stay in the job and look for other work while employed.

So it is critical that employees are treated with respect and dignity. The easy way to do that is to involve the employee in the impending change and provide the employee with support to help the employee adapt. If this happens, most employees won’t want to sue and the rare employee who does, isn’t likely to win.

So it doesn’t just make sense from a human point of view to treat employees with respect and dignity during a business reorganization, it makes legal sense!

Veronica Ukrainetz is the principal of the Ukrainetz Law Corporation in Vernon, B.C. Her website is www.ulclaw.ca.

OkanaganBusiness examiner p

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Where in Canada can you enjoy enviable weather, Canada’s warmest lake, an outstanding resort and spa, gourmet dining, an award-wining winery and vineyards, a unique cultural centre, a fabulous desert golf course and a waterfront campground and RV experience?

Located in Osoyoos, in the South Okanagan Valley of beautiful British Columbia, is the magnificent 80 hectare NK’MIP Resort (ink-a-meep).

Created within the greater vision of the Osoyoos Indian Band, this $100 million resort is owned and operated under the esteemed and progressive leadership of Chief Clarence Louie. His vision to create economic expansion has transpired through strategic partnerships and strong leadership.

Capturing the essence of the ultimate tourism destination are:

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Sonora Dunes Golf Course

A 4.5-star destination resort with luxurious condostyle Villas and Suites, gourmet dining at Passatempo Restaurant, an outdoor heated pool and hot tub, fitness centre, meetings spaces and the indigenous-inspired treatments at Sonora Desert Spa.

This year-round 9-hole, par 35 is a one-of-a-kind desertlinks style golf course. Clubhouse features covered patios with open deck areas, a snack bar and pro shop.

NK’MIP Desert Cultural Centre A state-of-the-art interpretive centre celebrating “the Lands, the Legends and the People” of the Osoyoos Indian Band. Experience hands-on cultural and nature displays, walking trails, daily cultural and rattlesnake programs, and a unique First Nations gift shop.

NK’MIP Cellars North America’s first Aboriginal owned and operated winery. The 18,000 sq ft space incorporates native art and the unique nature of the desert sagebrush. NK’MIP Cellars boasts wines claiming over 40 national and international awards.

NK’MIP RV Park Set on the banks of Osoyoos Lake, this year-round experience offers over 320 sites, an indoor pool and hot tub, a BBQ patio for large groups, and a clubhouse for group activities. Convenience store and wireless internet access.

NK’MIP Conference Centre We offer flexible, full-service professional conference facilities and meeting rooms fully equipped with everything your group of up to 350 group needs.

Whether you are re-living a childhood summer memory of fun and sun in Osoyoos, seeking a romantic getaway, or if you are here for a corporate retreat, a reunion, or a wine tasting experience, there is no doubt this visit will lure you back, again and again.

Call 1.888.96NKMIP (65647) or visit www.nkmip.com to plan your experience.

A comforting shoulder for

Osoyoos story and photos by Devon Brooks

‘Canada’s Warmest Welcome’ is the clever marketing slogan created

by Destination Osoyoos to put out the double message that job number one in Osoyoos is tourism and the town happens to have the warmest climate in the country. At least if you don’t want focus on the soggy, mild winters that wash over soggy Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

recreational property.

Like other sun and sand communities, Osoyoos roars to life in July and August. It used to be only in July and August, but that is slowly changing.

“The problem,” Brogan says, “is the illegal renting of residential rooms to tourists. Half the new condos are being used as hotel rooms.

Unofficially of course. Official room inventory went up by 25% with Watermark and Spirit Ridge (the other two luxury resorts), but that’s only a drop in the bucket with the unofficial rooms.”

Don Brogan is the manager of Walnut Beach Resort, the first of three beautiful, luxury resorts to open in the community within the last couple of years. “Ten years ago September was the shoulder, and October it was done.”

Many, including Brogan, think much can be done to expand that season.

For Osoyoos tourism is significant not only for the bodies lying on the warm sand (last year spruced up by a new beach cleaner machine) and who fill the restaurants and string of hotels, but for the development of new facilities and the economically crucial construction trade.

Ken Davreux, a realtor with Royal LePage in Osoyoos, calls Osoyoos a “secondary market”. Meaning that Osoyoos property, for many owners, is a second residence or

Some are planning for a retirement in the community of 5,000, others are looking to buy and flip, and some are using their home away from home to generate income.

The preponderance of homes generating revenue for their owners does not sit all that well with the hotel and resort sector.

Davreux says there was a slow down in sales and therefore, development. “It’s just like retail sales. If you have concerns about your job you put off buying anything but necessities.”

The higher end properties were hit the hardest. “What’s really changed is that pricier homes have come down about 10%. Anything under $400,000 is moving briskly.”

While the town has created a task force to deal with affordable housing, Davreux says these homes are in the affordable range for families, but acknowledges it would be nice to have more family oriented properties like town homes.

Today

Yesterday

Unofficial or not, these rooms are filled with people spending money and are important to the local economy.

The big question is how the downturn of 2008-09 affected the market and the construction sector, which is the largest employment sector in Osoyoos.

Mayor Stu Wells is upbeat. “We came through it surprisingly well.”

He adds, “The development that was started went to completion and we have no half-finished or ghost buildings.”

If anyone is really hurting because of the slow down in real estate Davreux believes it to be those who were hoping to flip property as happened throughout the Okanagan in the 2000s. He predicts those days are behind us. “I expect mild price increases in the next few years.”

If that discourages at least some people from looking on Osoyoos as a place to make a fast buck it will suit Brogan just fine.

Walnut Beach opened in 2008 before the slow down. Brogan’s strata-based resort sold out and all owners have their property in

Walnut Beach’s rental pool. He believes owners will see continued upticks in occupancy rates, partly because of the resort’s latest coup: “We just got our beach licensed, the first in Canada. This is the only place in Canada where you can put your feet in the sand and sip a Pina Colada.”

Prior to Walnut Beach, Brogan spent seven years managing the Holiday Inn, arguably the swankiest hotel in town to that point. He averaged about 50% occupancy at Holiday Inn. This year, although he says Walnut Beach is still “ramping up”, he expects to get 30%, but Brogan is convinced the rate will keep going up.

Almost everyone has hopes the new resorts will allow for different kinds of tourism. Mayor Wells says, “If we can run some shoulder seasons on these conference centres that would be huge. I think we should be targeting small conventions.”

Another good opportunity, says the Mayor: “I think we should be the marriage centre for B.C. I kid you not – this is a huge business.”

Brogan has already experienced that. “We’ve done very well with weddings. We had 24 weddings last fall. Twelve are already on the books for this year.”

Not only is the perception wide spread that the market can soak up rooms from three resorts, but the osoyoos CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 February 2010 Okanagan Business Examiner

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23

Walnut Beach Resort manager Don Brogan wants more events to bring up the shoulder seasons and tourist draw in the sunny southern municipality.

osoyoos CONTINUED from PAGE 23

three are going to work together on marketing through the new Destination Osoyoos.

In addition the Osoyoos’ Indian Band’s Spirit Ridge development is much more than just another beautiful resort. There is the attached winery, the large conference centre and the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre. With the final expansion of the resort going ahead, the development not only helps keep the construction industry going in a tough year, but overall the Band has created many more jobs than it has Band members. Meaning jobs are spilling over into the community and supporting the local tax base in several ways.

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Devereux, who used to be on town council, couldn’t be more supportive, “We have a great Indian band and great joint initiatives. You couldn’t ask for a better neighbour.”

now the hoteliers are going to be more involved.”

decided it was the right thing to do.”

The tourism budget is largely funded by a 2% tax on hotel rooms and a new board, which includes Brogan, will now work on promoting the town.

Tomorrow

On the construction front the town is working on several initiatives, which is all the more remarkable given that Osoyoos is almost completely built up, excluding ALR land.

Mayor Wells points out that the expansion will be paid for by the residents in the neighbourhood. so residents won’t pay, but is against expansion. “We should not expand our boundaries.”

Destination Osoyoos was responsible in the past for both tourism marketing and economic development, but the town decided last year to split the two functions and bring economic development in-house.

Says Brogan, “Glenn Mandziuk and Destination Osoyoos did a great job of getting Osoyoos on the map, but

Outside town limits new neighbourhoods are going up and Osoyoos is extending sewer services to them. The Mayor says it is to keep the lake cleaner. “We’ve been at this for a long time and

Others, including Davreux wonder how these decisions will affect taxpayers in future years when those sewer lines need upgrading or the town’s water system does.

Devereux also wonders about future growth, saying there is a disconnect with what people say they want and what they expect.

“The talk about smart development means density, but people think

that means cute little bungalows.”

For Brogan there is an alternative to expanding Osoyoos’ borders. “I’d like to see a regional municipality evolve for the south Okanagan (Oliver, Osoyoos and Districts A&C).”

Looking ahead everyone agrees that to really build Osoyoos’ economy the tourist season needs to stretch well beyond the summer peak.

Different ideas are being floated.

For Brogan the wine industry is one. “We need to capitalize on a wine festival, other than the fall one.”

He says last year’s one day celebrity wine festival was a great success and there are plans afoot to expand it from one day to three.

A plan to bring in giant concerts was shot down because it was bigger than most people wanted on the park land where it was proposed to be located.

Instead the town, after some debate, has given the go ahead to the South Interior Recreational

Equestrian Centre (SIREC). SIREC is taking over the facilities to build a working, profitable equestrian centre. Says SIREC’s manager, Allan Carswell, “It was previously run by non-profits that can’t withstand bad times.”

Still, Carswell confides, “We’re not a nonprofit, but we don’t really expect to make any real profit.”

Having said that, Carswell, who is not a horse person, says they have the money in the bank to make it work and he personally has something important to offer the project. “I know nothing about horses, but what I do bring is the business skills and the knowledge of planning.”

Carswell’s plan is multifaceted.

Osoyoos’ warmer weather and drier winters is ideal for training horses to get them ready for the spring races.

This month he expects more than a hundred horses to be boarded here for that purpose.

In time he wants to introduce racing of all kinds and says, “My

plan is for this to become the Canadian Olympic training facility.”

“There are very few places for them to go,” he says meaning racing groups, trainers and the Olympians.

On top of that, once the grandstand is properly renovated, he wants to bring in smaller events, which is in concert with what Mayor Wells says, “It was a tough choice, but the town went with the horse racing proposal because there are better entertainment values on a year round basis.”

Carswell says, “We want to do everything – be an equestrian centre for many different events like barrel racing, dressage, horse races.”

event for the Okanagan. I think the market is there to promote that kind of event.” Eventually, he says, “We’d like an event each weekend.”

Brogan, possibly because of earlier problems at the equestrian park, is not completely sold. “SIREC won’t have a substantial effect, but it’s a step in the right direction. Anything that brings events here would be fantastic.”

Brogan also hopes that, as Premier Campbell predicted when B.C. got the games, the Olympics will create a spinoff for tourism, even if Brogan thinks it will likely be next year when it happens. “I have to be optimistic about the Olympics raising awareness for B.C.; although that might not happen until 2011.”

While he doesn’t project racing to begin before 2011 and concerts If the Olympics are as positive as until 2012 or 13, he believes SIREC the government’s spin, Davreux is part of the answer to expanding believes the business people of the tourist season. “In July and the region have what it takes.

August we don’t need the spike “The south Okanagan Valley wants higher, we need the shoulder government to get Watermark 2010 OEDout Adof the way. I seasons.” He concludes, “We think thathcan-do attitude.”

Size: 2.31 love w x 4.71 • Rough 1 • Jan 22/10 [SIREC racing] could be a signature

SIREC manager Allan Carswell: “We want to do everything – be an equestrian centre for many different events like barrel racing, dressage, horse races.”

These stables have just opened to more than a hundred horses, expected to include races, trainers and more people in the fall and spring seasons rather than the busy summer peak.

Watermark in Osoyoos

South Okanagan's Warmest Welcome 1000 feet of sandy beach in the heart of South Okanagan Wine Country.

Wine bar and patio, pool, waterslide, hot tubs, kids camp, yoga studio, spa and conference center.

Fully furnished suites with gourmet kitchens and private balconies.

1-888-755-3480 www.watermarkbeachresort.com February 2010 Okanagan Business Examiner

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25

Osoyoos Projects on the Go ‘Projects on the Go’ refer to projects involving four units or more or units larger than 1,500 sq. ft. in size.

1200 Rancher Creek Rd (mixed-used dev) –Spirit Ridge Residence Club Phase 3 Developer Bellstar Hotels & Resorts – 403-313-6375 General Contractor Greyback Construction 250-493-7972 Project Phase 3 of Spirit Ridge Residence Club development – 27 townhouse units Stage Construction Start – anticipated October/10 4205 Oleander Dr (multi-family new) – San Verbena Beach Architect Denis Turco Arch – 604-320-0881 Construction Mgmt Revolution Developments – 604-255-5860 Project

Stage Construction Start – minor renovations underway – planning underway for vacant space by Interior Health 8015 Sparta Drive (institutional new) –Aquatic Centre Owner Town of Osoyoos – 250-495-6515 Architect Bruce Carscadden Architect – 604-633-1830 Project New Aquatic Centre – 8,900 sf – 90 sm leisure pool with four 25 m lanes – 15 person hot tub Stage Planning – very preliminary planning underway 4601 Pebble Bench Dr(commercial add/ alter) – Redevelopment of Desert Park

Hwy 3 & Wapiti Way (mixed-use dev) – Regal Ridge Developer/Builder Adrian Erickson – 250-535-0227 Project Master planned rural subdivision on 8,000 acres – 224 SFD lots to be developed in clusters – Regal Village Coffee Shop – commercial space – 3,000 acre conservation reserve – 18 hole golf course

0720851 BC Inc – Amritpal Singh Toor– 604-543-2407

Hwy 97, North end of Reserve (industrial new) – Industrial Park & Retail Owner Osoyoos Indian Band – 250-498-3444 CEI Architecture Planning Interiors – 604-687-1898

Stage

South Interior Recreation & Equipment Centre – 250-495-5112

Developer Interior Health Facilities Management – 250-862-4367 Project Renovations to Sagebrush Lodge for an integrated medical clinic – space for 7 physicians – extra space to be leased to related businesses

Redevelopment of the Desert Park Equestrian Centre – 27,000 sf multi use facility - outdoor arena – riding ring – track – baseball & soccer fields – trail networks Stage Proposed – preliminary planning underway

Project New industrial park – 230 acres – project will commence with 2 to 3 structures Stage Construction Start – site servicing anticipated to start January/10 4927 Main St (mixeduse development) – Recreation Vehicle Resort – Multi Family – Commercial Developer Pembrough Developments – 604-794-7876 Project New multi use

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Architect Norr Architect Planners – 604-685-3237 Project

Architect

4816 89th St (institutional add/alter) – Sagebrush Lodge

8 Braebum Pl (multi-family new)Townhouses Owner

Town of Osoyoos – 250-495-6515

Project

Proposed – exclusion application to the Agricultural Land Commission submitted – public consultation underway

Construction Start – coffee shop underway – construction start of gas bar anticipated summer/10 – 40% of lots serviced and at various stages of construction

Owner

Construction Start – anticipated summer/10 pending presales

Stage

Stage

New townhouses – 3 storeys – 29 units – wood frame & stucco – rooftop decks – above ground parking

Partner

development on 8.8 ha – retail outlet – restaurant – recreational vehicle resort – 60 plus multi family units

New townhouses –27 structures – 2 storeys – 109 units – putting green – children’s play area Stage Development Permit Application – submitted 8010 Valiant Lane (commercial add/ alter) – Plaza Royale Courtyard Inn Addition Owner Terry Deol – 250-495-2633 Architect Keystone Arch & Planning – 604-850-0577 Project Addition to the Plaza Royale Courtyard Inn – 20,000 sf – 4 storeys – 28 units – upgraded amenities Stage Development Permit Application – submitted – construction start anticipated March/10

Osoyoos Building Permits 4110 36 Ave $325,000 Residential new – SFD, 2330 sf Contractor: Sieben Building Construction 250-495-7985 60 Cactus Cr $20,000 Residential add/alter – basement Applicant: Victor Dossantos & Maria Grizela 250-495-4474 15 Park Place $72,000 Commercial add/alter – Osoyoos Gelato, 470 sf Applicant: Osoyoos Shoreline Developments 604-659-4763 Contractor: Darwin Construction 604-929-7944

All data supplied

by Green Sheet Construction Data

Osoyoos Snapshot

Incorporated: 1946

retail trade 175 (9.5%).

Unemployment Rate

Area: 8.76 sq. km

Total labour force: 1,845 (2006)

(2006) 6.0% (B.C. 6.0%)

Located in the OkanaganSimilkameen Regional District

Labour force as % of total population: 36.6% (2006)

Unemployment Rate for southern interior of B.C. (2009) 9.7%

Statistics

Income

Business

Population 5,044 (2008)

Median household income (2006): $50,830 (B.C. $65,787)

Business incorporations: 42 (2008) 42 (2006)

Population growth rate for 2007-2008: 2.3% (B.C. 1.7%) Population aged 65+ in 2006: 36.9% (B.C. 14.6%) Employment & Labour Force

The three biggest employer sectors in 2006: construction 335 (18.2%); accommodation and food services 235 (12.7%);

Average income from those filing tax returns (2006): $31,307 (B.C. $38,523) Main source of income for residents in 2006: Employment (40.1%), Pension (29.4%), Investment (13.9%), Other not counting selfemployed (6.8%), Self-employed (7.0%)

had 50 to 199 employees, 0 organizations had 200+ employees Chamber of Commerce members: 345 (South Okanagan Chamber Members for region) Building Permits

New residential units built: 216 (2008) 202 (2006)

Business bankruptcies: 4 (2008)

Typical house value: $382,592 (2008) $152,554 (2004)

Total # of firms with no employees: 346 (June 2008)

Value of new residential construction: $53.2 million (2008) $28.4 million (2006)

Total # of firms with employees: 328 (June 2008) In 2008 297 organizations had 1 to 19 employees, 23 organizations had 20 to 49 employees, 8 organizations

Value of other construction: $10.5 million (2008) $5.5 million (2006)

February 2010 Okanagan Business Examiner

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www.osoyoos.ca

Resort Municipality of

Osoyoos

1-888-495-6515

DoinggoodDo-gooding versus

by Lorraine McGrath

Ten years ago, I did a project paper on the topic of socially responsible investing (SRI). Back then, Canada was lagging far behind the United Kingdom and United States in SRI investment strategies and funds.

I felt strongly there was an opportunity for the financial services industry to take a leadership role in this area. Unfortunately, “doing good” funds didn’t get the returns in Canada that other countries experienced. Social responsibility, sustainability and global warming were not “sexy” at the time and consumers were not interested enough to encourage change.

That was then. Now corporations are falling all over themselves to build cultures of social responsibility, but this requires careful thought if companies want to achieve their intended goals.

Watch out for the pitfalls. Most companies fall into three traps: The Spaghetti Theory

This is when the CEO takes the words of the mission statement or corporate strategic plan and tosses them against the wall, hoping they will stick. The trouble is, if the CEO doesn’t really mean it and it’s just for show, it won’t happen.

The Return on Investment (ROI) Theory

Sometimes, the number crunchers convince leadership that without a clear return on investment, there is no value in social responsibility. It’s a nice thing if they get around to it. The only time it’s worthwhile is if there’s a public relations opportunity, in which case, bring it on, front and centre.

Shotgun Theory

Bam, let’s try this. Boom, how about this? The shot gun approach is when companies quickly grab numerous random opportunities as they come around without much of a plan. It’s great they want to take action and become involved, but they often spend resources carelessly without maximizing the real “good” they can do.

In short, social responsibility needs to be part of your business; you have to really want to make a difference. Otherwise it’s not going to have value for your company or the community. It should be as natural as reading the newspaper each morning. It should be a habit that defines you.

How you get there starts with you and what you want to give back. Here are some points to consider: 1. Start at the top.

Leadership must be committed to social

responsibility and show by example by attending personally, giving personally and unconditionally. Southwest Airlines and Ritz Carlton are companies that have succeeded in social responsibility because they don’t just say it, they do it from the top down.

A company should not only put it in the mission statement, lunchroom and strategic plan, but also recognize and reward good deeds in the company at all levels.

2. Make it part of the company culture.

Locally, Russell & Associates has a 25-year history of being involved and attending fundraisers. This shows how intrinsic the values are.

3. Hire those who are dedicated to the betterment of the world in some aspect. Involve yourself in areas that the people truly care about and that make sense for the company. For instance, Holmes on Holmes is involved in Homes for the Habitat.

Pushor & Co, another local company, was named corporate citizen of the year for their charitable giving from Apple Triathlon to post-secondary scholarships and bursaries as well as the KGH foundation and many others.

4. Don’t let social responsibility slide in tough

This is when companies often cancel spending on doing good. When it comes to companies defining themselves and letting actions speak louder than words, these are truly moments of truth.

economic times.

Keep it coming. Be creative.

As an example, one year when I didn’t have the budget to contribute to the United Way as I had in the past, I instead offered administrative assistance one day a week; we had the capacity in our staff and it saved us from a layoff. Another way we gave without dollars was to provide our tellers in non-busy times to schools for reading programs.

Companies can use co-op programs through schools like Okanagan college (www.okanagan.bc.ca/Page894.aspx), something accounting firms such as McKay & Partners have used for years.

The important thing is to find something that has value to you and your company and helps others. Start now and stay with it.

Lorraine McGrath, MBA, is a strategist, corporate director and advisor to businesses that are driven to succeed. You can reach her at lorraine@ mcgrathexec.ca or visit www.mcgrathexec.ca.

A L IMITED S ELECTION OF THE O KANAGAN'S PRE MIER B USINESSES

KELOWNA

BUSINESS CONNEXION

is a private membership comprised of a limited selection of the Okanagan's premier businesses and community leaders. The membership is specifically designed for the Okanagan and its strong dependence on target marketing and word of mouth referrals.

The Signature Business Connexion focuses on increasing member referrals and solidifying business relationships through strategically planned private networking events and a targeted distribution of our member portfolio.

Members are selected through referral from current members and trusted associates with requests being screened on an ongoing basis.

Our target is quality not quantity.

I ntegrity is the s trength of our m embership

www.signatureconnexion.com | 250.808.0332 | darlene@signatureconnexion.com

Kelowna Signature Business Connexion founder Darlene Brûlé believes trust is the rarest element of networking and key to her group’s success

Connections of Trust

By Devon Brooks

Darlene Brûlé believes strongly in Junior Achievement. One of that group’s aims is to show common sense and passion to young people in high school so that they are excited about the possibilities of business.

When she started promoting the idea here she would call up business people, one person at a time, to see if they would be willing to help. It was a frustratingly slow process.

Eventually she wanted to meet a bunch of these people all at once and was told there really was no such place. She rejected existing business networks because she believes they were too much about flogging something.

With characteristic energy Brûlé decided to create her own solution, so four years ago she started up the Kelowna Signature Business Connexion and her position of director. Here, she determined, business would meet other business people of equal significance.

Says Brûlé, “Anybody who wants to do a business here, in the business sector of Kelowna, needs to know these people.”

At the same time Brûlé didn’t want a meat market. “It insults the membership if someone is trying to push something.”

So she set up some ground rules. First, no sales pitches. The Business Connexion had to be about opportunities for senior members to simply talk. “We don’t get together to do business, but I’ve seen a lot of business happen.”

Members must be owners, managers or other senior staff of their organizations.

Member companies buy exclusive membership for $4,800 per year or semi-exclusive for $3,600. An exclusive member like Valley First is the only banking institution in the group. A semi-exclusive member means up to three people or groups might represent a certain type of business, all of which is carefully reviewed at the time of application. An exclusive membership precludes others in a similar business from joining later as a semi-exclusive member.

Once in the group, which meets officially five times every year, members are expected to show up, promote other members and bring guests who will be of interest to other members.

Right now the group boasts 18; although Brûlé is carefully growing it, aiming for an eventual cap of 30 to 40 members.

Even today though, she says, “I guarantee that you’ll not know everyone else. You need to be in a position where you can solidify those relationships.”

That’s where she fits in. “What I do at the functions is, if I think you need to meet someone, I will make sure it will happen.”

The Signature Business Connexion only works when there is trust. Brûlé says, “Truthfully you don’t trust someone unless you know them.”

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Sotheby’s International Realty

By Bobbi-Sue Menard

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada has been working with premier properties in the Okanagan for almost two years, and the company is planning on opening an office here in the spring of 2010. With dozens of high end property listings at any given time, the team at Sotheby’s credits their membership in the Signature Business Connexion as one of the top reasons for their near instant success in the Okanagan real estate market.

Sotheby’s is an ‘Exclusive’ member of the Signature Business Connexion.

The company arranges for one of their listed homes to be the host venue for each Signature Business Connexion event always within an easy drive of Kelowna, usually within city limits. The strategy has paid dividends.

Says Sotheby’s team member Chad MacTavish, “It has been one of the best things we could have done as a new entrant into the Kelowna market.

It has allowed us to build credibility by building relationships.”

The Signature Business Connexion approach was something Sotheby’s knew it wanted to be a part of from the second time team members attended an event. MacTavish says after attending several different referral and networking groups and working on Sotheby’s marketing strategy, the Signature Business Connexion was clearly the right choice, “It made so much sense, we could host events, and as a company new to the Okanagan, and not knowing a lot of people it was a way to build credible relationships with people who we wanted to meet.”

The Signature Business Connexion events allow Sotheby’s to not only showcase listed homes, it also allows the real estate company to invite

buyers and clients to the events. MacTavish is always certain the tone and quality of the event will be spot on, “We are able to bring in new people, not only for the benefit of other Signature Business Connexion members, but our clients appreciate the opportunity to meet others and build relationships themselves.”

Lakeview Cove Road at 2603 Lucinde Road was one that played host to a Signature Business Connexion event. The 6,500 sq. ft. home with five bedrooms and seven bathrooms boasts a spectacular view of the water, from over 80% of the home’s living space. Granite, tumbled marble, walnut and maple each highlight the modern interpretation of classic European villa living. From the terraced landscaping to exceptional owner’s quarters the home exemplifies Sotheby’s Okanagan portfolio.

Moving forward, MacTavish has high expectations this year. “We look to our best and featured listing each time to host an event.”

It is not just the ability to provide a show stopping venue that MacTavish appreciates. The Signature Business Connexion actively works on behalf of Exclusive members to extend invitations to events and make warm introductions, “We know we need to build long term relationships with our customers,” says MacTavish.

CLASSIC ELEGANCE... LIKE NEVER BEFORE

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Crescendo

By Devon Brooks

Can six degrees of separation work for buildings as well as people? If so, then Crescendo on Big White is a poster structure for making its presence known well beyond its geographic location at Big White.

It is hard to describe Crescendo. It is a very large house but that simple word -house- fails to describe the beauty and versatility of this giant, luxurious facility.

It can hold up to 22 people, but the builder designed it so that it could switch from an enormous recreational property to a corporate retreat. With three floors of bedrooms, a theatre, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, a games (or meeting room), the great room, a magnificent kitchen and bathrooms all done to the top end the experience is opulent.

The unit only rents by the week, and goes from a low of $1,000 per night in the off season to $2,500 per night over Christmas. Most of the high demand weeks during the winter go for $2,000 a night.

Dr. Mitch Perlman, the owner and builder, was surprised that last year, the first year of operation, it was the number one rented unit at Big White.

Here, he says, are typical responses: “WOW!! What a place and what a time we all had at the Crescendo. We don’t have one negative thing to say about the five nights we stayed.”

“It was very nice that Luc was there to meet us with a gift basket and freshly made banana bread and muffins. It was just the very start of a great weekend.”

“Cooking for 16 people in this kitchen is a breeze and oh yeah, it looks great too.”

Perlman resides in San Diego, California when he’s not skiing his heart out at Big White. He says what started out as a recreational property turned into a business venture in its own right. He took six years to build it just right.

Originally, he says, “I wanted it to be a smart house.” Smart being considerate of the environment while giving maximum comfort. Of course Crescendo is situated for ski in/ski out and comes with all other amenities you’d expect of this kind of accommodation, like heated ski boot warmers, magnificent views, heated floors and soaker tubs you can wrinkle in forever.

Interestingly enough, Perlman says very few rentals are made to locals.

Most come from Calgary, Edmonton or the Lower Mainland. For that reason he says the Signature Business Connexion is more about word of mouth than direct rentals. It is those degrees of separation that assist Crescendo’s business.

As the Business Connexion’s only long-distance member, Perlman showers praise on Brûlé for making the group relevant and effective.

BENSON SALLOUM WATTS LLP L

A

W Y E R S

Rea l Estat e Law | Busi ness Law | Li t igation | I nj u ry Law | Abo r i g i nal Law

E X P E R I E N C E

I S

T H E

D I F F E R E N C E

270 Highway 33 West Kelowna, BC V1X 1X7 Ph: 250.491.0206 Fax: 250.491.0266 Estates Square - 102A 1979 Old Okanagan Hwy. Westbank, BC V4T 3A4 Ph: 250.769.4949 Fax: 250.769.7070

www.bensonsalloumwatts.com

Benson Salloum Watts LLP

By Bobbi-Sue Menard

Referrals and reputation are time honored methods for building a legal firm. Benson Salloum Watts LLP, which has an excellent reputation for work done across broad areas of legal practice, has grown through the referrals made by satisfied clients. Joining the Signature Business Connexion as an exclusive member was a clear way forward to market the firm in a structured referral environment.

Benson Salloum Watts has 11 lawyers, including four partners. Neville McDougall, one of those partners, makes it a point to attend Signature Business Connexion Events amidst his busy litigation schedule. “Most of us, as partners, make the effort to go to the events, they have proven to be quite worthwhile.”

Within the context of the tougher economy, McDougall says the value of the Signature Business Connexion has held up well. Its ability to create events where building relationships within a relaxed, yet purposeful, environment is the priority sets the group apart, explains McDougall. “It is a different dynamic that works well. It brings together people across a broad array of interests, and it feels much more like a social event.”

As a litigator with 22 years of hands on experience McDougall is well aware that not everyone needs a lawyer at any given time, and many people have established relationships. “When you meet people, and build a relationship, referrals and spin-offs occur. When I tell people what I do, invariably the person I am talking to has a connection to the law in some way.”

McDougall specializes in divorce and typical cocktail chatter can devolve into war stories as soon as he mentions his focus. It is routine for McDougall to hear, ‘My friend, family member, coworker got absolutely taken.’ McDougall usual response: “I am a between-the-goal-posts lawyer; go in with realistic expectations, so long as the result is within the expected range move forward and get on with your life.” Being able to have that conversation and continue on is a big benefit of the Business Connexion’s relaxed environment.

New guests at every event are part of the Signature Business Connexion strengths. Being able to bring clients and guests to events has proven to be a valuable part of exclusive membership for Benson Salloum Watts says McDougall.

He also appreciates the effort organizers put into finding people and companies who will make a good match with the spirit and prevailing characteristics of the group. “They have done a good job. There is a lot of work that goes into the Signature Business Connexion and it creates value.”

McDougall sees the Signature Business Connexion as having the depth to create opportunities for all of its members, and is hoping the group will see sustained growth in the next few years.

Valley First Credit Union

By Bobbi-Sue Menard

Joining the Signature Business Connexion as an exclusive member was a straightforward decision for Valley First Credit Union says Valley First’s regional manager for the central Okanagan, Jocelyn Wells.

“Quite honestly it is the networking that makes sense for us. It is easily justified to spend the money within our advertising portfolio.”

As a senior manager for a financial services firm with 16 branches, 450 employees and 47,000 members, Wells has been to her share of networking events and groups. While many of Valley First’s branch level staff attend broad based networking events hosted by community wide organizations, Wells has long sought a venue for authentic relationship building without the forced hustle found at many meet and greets.

In January of this year, Valley First merged with Envision Financial in Langley becoming part of the third largest credit union in British Columbia.

While Valley First is now a division of First West Credit Union, maintaining its identity is essential and connections are an ongoing part of that.

As Regional VP, overseeing the tasks of carrying out the merger in the Okanagan while growing the current business, Wells prioritizes her time with ruthless efficiency. The Signature Business Connexion is where Wells does 90% of her networking.

Valuable relationship building within the Signature Business Connexion is one of the primary reasons Wells and her team at Valley First make it a priority to attend each event throughout the Signature Business Connexion schedule each year. “The Signature Business Connexion puts like-minded

people in a group who go to meet people and build relationships,” explains Wells.

An important part of the Signature Business Connexion’s unique ability to bring people together is the willingness of Signature Business Connexion owner, Darlene Brûlé to invite new faces at the suggestion of current members who might be an authentic match to the Signature Group’s ethos.

It is an approach that keeps the Signature Business Connexion current yet comfortable for members, says Wells.

Wells has seen clear benefits from the Exclusive designation for the credit union and herself. “We are the only financial company in the Signature Business Connexion. Darlene is excellent about only promoting Valley First to other members and anyone who makes inquiries about the Signature Business Connexion. We get a lot of referrals from other members of the Signature Business Connexion.”

Valley First has seen tangible results from their membership, she says.

Wells is aware of Valley First customers who have joined the credit union as a direct result of meeting either Wells or her staff at events. “Members of the Signature Business Connexion may or may not do business with us directly. The referrals have been tremendous.”

That makes sense – marketing can bring in anyone, but a referral is the trusted advice any person respects the most.

萵 葡 葩蒋 蕕 蕘 蕉 蔡 蓴 蕷 蓄蓁 薄 蕗 蕎 蔬 蕃蓽蔌 藪藉藤藪藉 薇藉藤 藉藤 藤藪 John Dawson

(250) 300-7551

jdawson@biztex.ca

www.biztex.ca

Biztex

By Bobbi-Sue Menard

Allocating scarce marketing dollars and precious networking time can be a challenging set of decisions for a startup service company. Biztex Information Technology officially entered the competitive IT services market in Kelowna in April of 2009. Owner John Dawson brings an international background of managing IT for pharmaceutical corporations, the Royal Saudi Air Force and multinational electronics firms. As Dawson puts it, he has been in IT, “since IT didn’t exist.” As a result, Dawson has a clear idea of how he is looking to grow Biztex in Kelowna.

Dawson moved to Kelowna in January 2004. His most recent project in the Okanagan was a major network upgrade for law firm Benson Salloum Watts. Biztex works with professional offices, manufacturing and construction companies with networks of two to 70 plus users. Dawson installs and work with a diverse range of hardware and software on either a one-time project or an ongoing basis.

Biztex is able to work with a wide variety of companies, because Dawson’s experience on large scale projects doesn’t preclude the ability and interest to work on smaller ones. In Kelowna, he says many projects start with an evaluation of whether a server is even necessary. Biztex works on fixed quote pricing for clients, with leasing options to help companies develop a dedicated IT budget.

The flexibility to meet a wide range of IT needs has added to the value Biztex brings to the Signature Business Connexion. Says Dawson, “When you meet people at a Signature Business Connexion event, you know in the

future they will have you in the back of their mind.”

Biztex is an associate member with the Signature Business Connexion. It is the right strategic fit at this point in Biztex’ evolution because, explains Dawson, “There are a lot of IT companies in the Okanagan. At [the] Signature Business Connexion you meet people who know their business, and know what they want at the end of the day.”

With global experience Dawson is confident the level of excellence delivered through Biztex will grow the company by word of mouth. Dawson explains his firm’s basic strategy, “For the company, excellence, word of mouth, being on time, on budget and keeping our fixed price… that is how to grow.

He views the Signature Business Connexion as a key to accelerating word of mouth and building referrals, which he says Biztex has already received from other Business Connexion members.

“The relationships built through Signature Business Connexion have been an important part of Biztex during the first year.” The annual membership renewal comes up again soon for Biztex. It is a definite part of Dawson’s plan to remain as a member of the Signature Business Connexion as the company moves into its second year.

The Evolution of the Employee Book reviewed by Deanna Brooks

Employers in Canada today are dealing with a whole new breed of employee. Today, according to Statistics Canada (StatsCan), there are more women in the labour force than ever before, more single parents, and more people aged 50+. Employers must deal with employees struggling to balance the needs of work, home, and health.

“For most of us, work is a source of stress, at least at some level. Due to the fact that you spend at least one-third of your time at work, it is important to like what you do.”

-Suzanne B. Quinn

People have many demands on their time. Computers allow us to do more stuff, faster but with so many options, and so many demands it is not surprising that few people from any demographic (single, married, student...) run their lives efficiently. People are looking for a career they at least like, but are also faced with a myriad of expenses that previous generations did not have. The need to find R&R time while paying for a child’s braces is ongoing and wearing.

The result is a competitive, highly stressed work force that is taking more and more time off. A report released from StatsCan in 2008 states that the average employee in 2007 took 2.6 more days off a year than their 1997 counterpart.

Business owners and managers often have to deal with high employee turnover and poor working attitudes as exhausted, and sometimes bitter, employees hop from job to job. One way for employers to hold on to employees longer is to understand this new breed better.

Lawyer Suzanne B. Quinn was inspired to write a second book, Own Your Life, by women who came through her law office struggling to hold a house together after a divorce or death.

Although many older women have nothing to do with finances until their husbands died in dealing

with these cases Quinn realized “that being self-sufficient and independent is about a lot more than just finances.”

Her book deals with how busy people, women in particular, need to balance passions and dreams with work and family.

The book clearly outlines how a person can turn a passion into a career and gives helpful hints on how to juggle a current work situation with the pursuit of a new one. Quinn, a mother of three, an author, public speaker and lawyer, stresses the importance of organization and information.

While written for women Quinn says the advice in her book is applicable to everyone. “In a best case scenario, young single adults should start putting these processes in place, to ensure a stable future, both personally and financially.”

The onus is on the individual to manage their finances and find the free time to pursue their goals, but Quinn also stresses the importance of building working relationships through “open lines of communication between employees and management.”

It may seem like a scheduling nightmare for managers who have to work around dentist appointments, vacations, custody hearings, and people who just don’t show up, but Quinn says if lines of communication are more open, and company policy considers the outside goals of an employee these disruptions would be less disruptive. Understanding the employee’s career goals can be an excellent place to begin a cooperative relationship.

Quinn’s book helps people create goal oriented life plans that allow them to pursue their

passions. Her advise to employers is to have “discussions with those on your team, to find out what they aspire to achieve in their careers, then assist them to do that. Employers often fund educational programs for employee improvement. Foster employee loyalty by letting them see that you want them to advance and will help them do it if they put in the effort. Find out what their complaints are, then seek to address them, if possible.

It could be as simple as allowing them to vent their dissatisfaction, or moving their desks to face a different direction, allowing them more flexible hours, much of which can be achieved with some cooperation. A happy workforce is a productive one.”

In the introduction Quinn writes that following the steps in her book will lead to empowerment.

What she offers is practical advice for time management, prioritizing, and on how to budget for needs and dreams. Employers will be able to appreciate this advice they might be able to use it themselves because everyone benefits when employee’s are better educated, organized, and prepared financially to deal with life’s ups and downs.

Quinn “would love to think that her book would cause a revolution” but adds, “more people need to reevaluate their lives.”

Employers can help this revolution along by recognizing and rewarding employees that do manage their time and have goals effectively and realizing how it benefits their own bottom line. One way to do that is by encouraging others to seek out helpful books like Quinn’s Own your Life.

Own Your Life - a 28 page e-book Author: Suzanne B. Quinn Chapters: 1. Seven essential steps to independence; 2. Find your passion; 3. Goal setting; 4. Career objectives; 5. Financial planning; 6. Estate planning; 7. Wellness; 8. Life balance, and; 9. Crisis management. Available for free along with a workbook at: http://suzannebquinn.com/?cat=10

fraud

Survey results 4. Were the perpetrators caught?

81 respondents

worth

44.4%

No, it was too hard to 4. Were the perpetrators caught? prove 44.4%

10. Is Canada home to more accounting frauds than other countries?

This survey has some Yes, Canada is lax with its good news, which is 12.5 % standards 5.0% that very few of our Yes 8. Could the thefts have Yes, but only because our respondents have been been No prevented? prosecution record is so the victim of fraud. The Yes,Notifyetaccounting but the case is still under investigation bad(0%)it encourages this sort only bad news (for us, standards in Canada were of thing 18.3% not the respondents) is 87.5 % 4. Were the perpetrators caught? better 10.0% that so few people have No, we are about the same had fraud perpetrated Yes, if there were better 10.0% on them that all numbers safeguards in place within 12.5 % after the first question my company 10.0% No, we have a much better Yes Yes track record than most are suspect because No, there is no foolproof

13.3% No of a very few number No way to protect against of responses. If only all I have no idea 53.3% Notyet, yet but the case investigation (0%) Not caseisisstill under people in positions of trust questions about crime still under investigation that abuse them 50.0% 87.5 % had that problem.

Not sure 30.0% 1. Has your company ever experienced a crime resulting from internal fraud?

5. How did you find out about the theft?

Yes

9.9%

No

72.8%

Other employees told me 0.0%

Don’t think so

17.3%

2. If the answer to question #1 was yes, did it occur within: The last year

11.1%

The last five years 22.2% The last decade

33.3%

In the 1990s or earlier 33.3% 3. How much money was lost? $1,000 or less

11.1%

Accountant/bookkeeper found the loss 33.3%

I found it myself Police

33.3%

0.0%

The perpetrator confessed 0.0% Other

33.3%

Almost inevitable given enough time

9. How likely is it your firm will experience another 6. Did you prosecute? theft of this kind in the future?

Yes 11.1%

No

Practically none Practically none

44.4%

Still thinking about it 44.4%

It's possible It’s possible Pretty likely Pretty likely (0.0%)

II don't reallyknow know don’t really

Yes

$10,001 to $50,000 22.2%

No, it would cost more to get it back then it was

44.4%

Very Very little little

Almost inevitable Almost inevitable given enough timegiven enough time

7. Did you get the money back?

$1,001 to $10,000 22.2% $50,000 or more

If you would like to be 9. How likely is it your included in future surveys firm will experience conducted monthly by another theft of this kind the will Business Examiner another 9.

How likely is it your firm experience in the future? please send your e-mail theft of this kind in the future? address to: editor@ Practically none businessexaminer.ca and indicate inVery thelittle body of the text that you want your It’s possible name added to the survey Pretty likely (0.0%) list.

11.1%

I don’t really know

WouldWould you you Would you rather make ather make rather make excuses or or excusesexcuses or sales? sales? sales?

Would you

A s k t he Pr o f e s s i o n a l s Michael Dias

Q. I have photos and other items to back up.

What is the safest way of backing up.

Sandler Sandler Training utilizes reinforcement through Training utilizes continualcontinual reinforcement through ongoing training and individual coaching SM

Johnnot Glennon sessions only to help you learn but also to ensure your success. With over 200 training centers

ongoing training and97support, individual coaching sessions not only to 109B-worldwide 3677 Highway Northyou won’t fail‌because to provide we won’t let you.

rather make excuses or sales?

Kelowna, BC, V1X 5C3

Glennon 250-765-2047 / F: John 866-314-3410 helpP:you learn but also to ensure your success. With over 200 109B- 3677 Highway 97 North

utilizes continual reinforcementwww.glennon.sandler.com ongoing training Kelowna, BC, V1X 5C3 and individual coaching trainingthrough centers worldwide to provide support, you won’t fail...

250-765-2047 F:Sandler 866-314-3410 S Sandler Training Finding Power InP: Reinforcement (with design)/and Training are service marks of Sandler Systems, Inc. Š 2008 Sandler Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. o help you learn but also to ensure yourwww.glennon.sandler.com success. With over 200 training centers because we won’t let you.

S Sandlerwe Training Finding Power In Reinforcement (with design) and Sandler Training are service marks of Sandler Systems, Inc. Š 2008 Sandler Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. de support, you won’t fail‌because won’t let you.

hn Glennon 7 Highway 97 North na, BC, V1X 5C3 2047 / F: 866-314-3410 ennon.sandler.com

John Glennon 109B-3677 Highway 97 North Kelowna, BC V1X 5C3 John Glennon 109B- 3677 97 North P: Highway 250-765-2047 F: 866-314-3410 Kelowna, BC, V1X 5C3 P: 250-765-2047 / F: 866-314-3410 www.glennon.sandler.com www.glennon.sandler.com

Owner

A. There are many ways to back up your photos and other items.

The three main ways of backing up is Either on a Flash Drive (or also called Thumb Drive, USB Drive/Stick) A Flash Drive is what replaced the old floppy. Although more durable and can hold more that a DVD you can accidentally erase the contents inside so be careful. Another backup medium is the external Hard Drives. With prices of hard drive come crashing down you can possibly get an external that is bigger than probably your hard drive in your computer for under 150 dollars or less.

Still like the Flash Drive, you can accidentally erase the contents for good.

Last back up is the more permanent. Although you can’t hold as much in it you will not erase everything and that would be backing up onto DVD. DVD’s should be your final backup choice as once it’s on the DVD you will pretty much be guaranteed not to be lost. Last word of advice. Make 2 copies of the same backup and put them in different locations.

Sandler TrainingSM utilizes continual reinforcement through ongoing training and individual coaching

n Reinforcement (with design) and Sandler Training aresessions service marks of Sandler Systems, Inc. also Š 2008 Sandler All rights reserved. not only to help you learn but to ensure yourSystems, success.Inc. With over 200 training centers worldwide to provide support, you won’t fail‌because we won’t let you.

107 - 3640 Gosset Road, Westbank, BC

250.707.1153 www.discoverycomputers.com

S Sandler Training Finding Power In Reinforcement (with design) and Sandler Training are service marks of Sandler Systems, Inc. Š 2008 Sandler Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

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44

| www.businessexaminer.ca February 2010

Cash Matters You’ve heard the saying, “you’ve got to spend money to make money�. While that may be true, when you’re a small business owner it is easier said than done. If money is going out of your chequeing account faster than it is coming in there are things you can do to deal with the challenge of the cash crunch.

Perhaps you can identify with Karen Murphy, owner of Express Gift Baskets in Kelowna. Over the past 10 years her company experienced tremendous growth. “I started Express Gift Baskets in 1997 with a $10,000 personal line of credit. I soon realized that because my business was inventory-based, I could quickly become under-financed as orders became larger. If I wanted to go after bigger accounts where I would require stock before payment of orders, I was going to have to make a decision to take on some long term debt.�

Trickling sales don’t tend to produce a lot of income. There is an inevitable lag between what it costs to generate business capacity and being in a position to reap its rewards.

Difficulties arise in managing the costs that must be incurred in order to meet the demand of business growth, especially rapid growth.

Resultant cash flow crunches mean taking on debt. That was the case for Murphy who recalls her first expansion, “After a year, we took on about five times the original start-up money required. That was enough to carry substantially more inventory, allow for better equipment and also to hire an assistant.�

Acquiring business debt can be unimaginably frightening. It’s one thing to take out a loan for a car or a new piece of furniture where you can touch it, feel it, or put it in your living room. A business, on the other hand, is more intangible – and more risky. Then there’s always the chance that the business might fail. Do you really want to put your hard-earned assets on the line?

Women are often reluctant to take on business debt because we are uneasy taking a gamble on ourselves, particularly when there are others, like children or an elderly parent, who rely on us financially. Regardless of why you fear debt, to grow a business, you’re going to need cash.

Under-financing often shows in inconsistent service, an inability to fill large and potentially lucrative orders and even poor morale.

Resist the temptation to pay those bills as soon as they come through the door. Hold on to them for the penalty-free period, and you’ve acquired for yourself an interest-free loan for usually up to 30 days.

On the other hand, when you are the supplier, the quicker you collect on your outstanding accounts the better. Small businesses typically can’t afford to finance their customers for very

long and if you’ve ever been in the position of having to chase down a delinquent client, you know it’s not fun.

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Following through on collections can be an intimidating task. We worry about offending our customers and have them not like us. The next time this sounds like you, ask yourself whether you feel flush enough to extend an unlimited, interest-free loan to the customer who falls behind on payment. Here are a few simple strategies to help make sure you are paid on a timely basis: 1. Require that new customers submit a credit application and actually check their credit references or, alternatively, require new customers pay in cash; 2. Do not continue to sell to customers who repeatedly fail to pay on time. Remember, a sale is not complete until the money is in your hands; 3. Apply strict penalties on late payments, including surcharges and/or loss of credit privileges;

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4. Contact – preferably call - customers immediately for payment of overdue accounts.

Growth in business and delinquent customers are not the only reasons cash flow comes under pressure. A new company often has money tied up in inventory and other assets like equipment and vehicles. It’s important to know the difference between what’s necessary and what’s ‘nice to have’. To ensure you have enough cash is to prepare a cash flow statement. This statement forecasts and tracks money flowing into and out of the business as it changes hands. A cash flow statement reflects sales when they are confirmed, not when payment is received and costs when they are incurred, rather when payment is made. The mistake many business owners make in forecasting is bundling inventory and production costs with related revenues in neat little monthly packages. Essentially, they assume the net of those two figures will fall into their hands every month in the way of cash. Not so. Realistic cash flow projections can save you the heartache of fatal cash deficits. Plan ahead to cover shortfalls, and resist the temptation to spend every cent as it comes through the door.

That makes for a healthy business and takes a lot of the stress out of financial management.

With stress levels down, it also makes for a healthier you.

Women’s Enterprise Centre is the go-to place for BC women business owners for business loans, skills training, business advisory services, resources, publications and referrals. Call us at 1.800.643.7014 or email info@womensenterprise.ca from anywhere in B.C. February 2010 Okanagan Business Examiner

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45

ThisDemocracy

Eat a burger – help save the planet by mischa popoff

Just because 10 pounds of grain are required to yield 1 pound of meat, vegans and vegetarians think they’re saving the planet while the rest of us are destroying it by eating burgers. This is a perfect example of what happens when a handful of city dwellers decide they know more about food production than farmers.

It was an important first step when our ancestors figured out that growing crops was better than nomadic hunting and gathering.

When soils were depleted after just a few years without fertilizer our ancestors were forced to find new farmland, making them nomadic once again.

Domesticated grazing animals perform two vital biological functions for humankind. Besides providing a reliable supply of meat, the major function animals like cows, sheep and goats perform is to graze grasslands that cannot sustain crops for human consumption.

The domestication of farm animals provided the fertilizer that allowed our ancestors to establish themselves in one place. Thus early civilizations began as an offshoot of the two symbiotic relationships described above, which are literally as old as human civilization.

Vast expanses of the Canadian landscape would literally blow away if they were plowed up and seeded. Instead of leaving such marginal land to the gophers and deer, we use it for grazing just as our ancestors did. Happily, indigenous animals still thrive on these lands; there are more gophers and deer living now than before the West was homesteaded! More to the point however, if we didn’t eat animals, all of this grazing land would be wasted.

Without domesticated farm animals most North American native people were never able to establish permanent homes or roads, much less public buildings or villages. The relationships between farm animals and farming, between farming and humankind, and between farm animals, farming and civilization, are all symbiotic, yielding 12,000 years of compounding net gain.

The second function of grazing animals is to provide manure for fertilizer. Manure produced in a pasture doesn’t really qualify as fertilizer: it’s a zero-net gain. But, when an animal is brought into the farmyard to be fattened up for market with grain, its manure accumulates and, once fully composted, the farmer uses it to fertilize his crops.

It’s one thing if vegans and vegetarians want to avoid eating meat for personal reasons. When they preach to the rest of us about saving the planet, especially under the flimsy premise of cutting down on greenhouses gasses that are emitted by farm animals and by farming, they’re oblivious to what allowed humans to survive our first 12,000 years of civilizational development.

And you cannot afford to let them get away with this.

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Planting legumes provided another important symbiotic relationship which, combined with farm animals, eventually allowed many of our ancestors to quit farming altogether and take up specialized trades in cities. Early humans learned to capitalize on the very complex symbiotic relationship between the roots of legumes and certain bacteria which allows legumes to draw nitrogen fertilizer directly from the atmosphere.

Chickens and pigs were eventually domesticated to take advantage of household waste that accumulated once our ancestors were established in permanent settlements. This provided yet more fertilizer, but legumes and the domestication of non-grazing animals occurred long after the domestication of grazing animals had already made permanent settlements possible in the first place.

The irony is that vegans and vegetarians are direct beneficiaries of modern civilization.

They wouldn’t have time to fly to protests in Copenhagen, much less ponder what they erroneously assume are the problems with modern farming, if they were busy eking out a living from the soil and searching for fertile land every few years. In fact it’s highly unlikely they would even be able to remain vegetarian were it not for farm animals.

Don’t let anyone try to tell you that the best way to stop global warming is to quit eating meat.

It’s pure hogwash. Doing so will only lead to the downfall of civilization itself. The stupendously misinformed must be called out on this.

Mischa Popoff is a freelance political writer with a bachelor’s degree in history.

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