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Business Progress March 2013

Thursday, March 28th, 2013

On February 28th we hosted STARS Air Ambulance luncheon for our members. It was a very informative luncheon that stressed teamwork as one of their main goals of the service they offer. Fred Matiko and Jeff Dickison offered an impressive presentation regarding their organization.

This month a representative from Rivier Academy joined us as a part of the You Lead program sponsored by Tyrone Pest Control.

PA Pulp Luncheon 11:30am ~ 1:00 pm Prince Albert Inn $25 for members $30 for non-members $200 for a corporate table ~ includes preferred seating and table signage

Register Today April 9th, 2013

Samuel McLeod Business Awards E.A. Rawlinson Centre for the Arts

A Message from the CEO~ Merle Lacert March is upon us and with it is a very busy month for the Prince Albert Chamber.

Our new website has been launched and through it we will continue to add further information and work out any kinks or bugs. For all our members, please ensure your log in and password work, so you can view and edit your business information. Please contact the chamber with any questions regarding the new website.

I would like to send a big thank you to all our members who took the time to provide input through the completion of our recent Bridge Survey. The information gained was invaluable, please review this edition of the newsletter for a summary of the completed survey with the results and a portion of some of the comments received.

Board of Directors Executive Officers Chairman

Mike Mitchell Tyrone Pest Control Past Chairman

Doug Patrick Grand Trunk Development First Vice Chairman

George Vass PA & District Community Futures

Please look to join us as we celebrate our 24th Annual Samuel McLeod Awards, we will kick off this year’s awards with our Legacy Brunch on March 27th/13 and then our Gala Awards show on April 9th/2013. www.samuelmcleodbusinessawards.com

2nd Vice Chair

Shelley L. Cannon Wilcox Zuk Chovin Law Office Secretary Treasurer

Maureen Frey MNP Board Appointed

Larry Fladager SIAST

Elected Board Members Trevor Dutchak Parkland Ambulance

Darwin Zurakowski Mark-it Signs Graphics and Web

Greg Breeze Affinity Insurance

Robert Bratvold Sask. Rivers School Division

Bruce Vance P.A. Raider Hockey Club

A Message from the Chairman~ Mike Mitchell The Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce has been busy hosting luncheons which included the inaugural State of the City address with our new Mayor Greg Dionne. The Mayors luncheon was one of our largest with over 225 members in attendance. The Mayor had a great message of working together with other groups the Rural Municipalities, (RMS) and other stake holders such as the Prince Albert Grand Council and the Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce with looking at a building plan into future growth.

We fully support the idea of planning our future and what is important to our community; a new hospital, new hockey rink, new leisure center, infrastructure and a second bridge. What do we want to look like as a city in 15 years to 20 years from now? How are we going to keep and attract young working families to our community? Prince Albert has an excellent opportunity for growth with mining companies talking about doubling their work force. We need to be part of that growth and have facilities to keep up with that growth.

The Chamber was recently asked to go to Moose Jaw and look at their new sports facility, wow what a great addition to their community. A 4500 seat area, 8 sheets of curling and meeting rooms and a well thought out design. They have the capacity to host large trade shows as well as other sporting events. A special thank you to the Mayor and the City of Prince Albert, the Raiders and their board for including the Chamber of Commerce as part of the group that went to Moose Jaw. The Prince Albert Raiders Chairman Dale McFee said this is not about a building a new rink, it is planning where we want to go and what the future will look like for the Prince Albert Raiders and the City of Prince Albert. We are currently working with the new Mayor and we had meeting with four of our Members of Legislative Assembly (MLS) We continue to advocate for growth, accountability, planning, and that the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce has input into decisions that affect our business. We are working hard on your behalf.

So how did Moose Jaw do it? Positive things were learned, fundraising was important, planning for the facility was really important and partnerships was a key to success.

Moose Jaw is now in the middle of completing a new hospital as well, they completed fundraising through a levy for 8 years and the results is a new hospital which will carry them forward for into the future.

Prince Albert’s future is bright and the time is right for us as a community to grow, prosper and look to the future with great anticipation.

The futures so bright we all gotta wear shades.

Mandatory 10-Digit Local Dialing May 11, 2013 Beginning May 11, 2013, anyone making a local call in Saskatchewan will need to dial 10 digits, the area code plus the 7 digit local number, to complete the call. The requirement for local 10-digit dialing is a result of a second Saskatchewan area code (639) coming to Saskatchewan.

SaskTel customers who have dialed a 7 digit local number recently may have received a network announcement indicating the number they have dialed must be preceded by its area code. The call is automatically completed and the message reminds customers to dial the area code for future calls.

It is important to note that 10-digit dialing also applies to text messaging. Beginning May 11, 2013, SaskTel wireless customers who do not include an area code in the number when sending a text message will receive a message indicating the text cannot be sent without an area code. Users will be asked to resend their message with an area code and told to reprogram their device with the area code for future messages.

To ensure you are ready for 10-digit dialing, it is important to remember to update the programmed numbers in your telecommunications equipment such as home phones, cell phones, fax machines, modems, equipment for the hearing impaired, security systems, etc. (if you have any questions about your security system's 10-digit dialing readiness, contact your security provider). Customers should also make any necessary changes to calling features such as speed dial, call forwarding and call blocking.

SaskTel business customers should ensure phone systems and equipment are compatible for 10digit dialing and stored numbers or calling features are updated with the area code. If customers are unsure about their phone systems readiness they can contact their SaskTel Representative.

Remember to give your 10 digit phone number in all instances where you need to provide a contact number such as: personal cheques, medical forms, stationary, insurance forms, etc.

Business customers should make changes to advertising materials, business cards, signage, websites and any other places where business phone numbers are listed.

The second area code, 639, will be implemented using the overlay method; meaning 306 and 639 will co-exist allowing for more phone numbers in Saskatchewan. Using this method means customers will not have to change their existing numbers.

Special 3 digit numbers such as 911, 611 and 411 will continue to be 3 digit numbers and will not be affected. As well, your calling area and the way you dial long distance will remain the same.

A residential and business checklist along with a list of frequently asked questions is available at www.sasktel.com/dial10 to help ensure you are ready for 10-digit dialing.

Bridge Survey Results 2013 To what degree has your business been affected by the recent Diefenbaker Bridge impacts/ restrictions?

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The bridge being out of service had a huge effect on our business. We had to divert many of our heavy haul equipment loads to the northern mines the long way around - was very expensive for us and very time consuming as well.

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Instead of having an enjoyable vacationland visit our tourists arrive and leave extremely irritated with the lengthy wait at the bridge. It definitely impacted my business in Lakeland as vacationers arrived late irritated going straight to their summer destination instead of stopping in at local business, and left early Sundays, missing half of their last day here in order to miss the lineups. Many people chose not to visit Lakeland as often because of the bridge congestion. The city of Saskatoon benefited greatly by keeping more of their residents’ home for the summer as people just didn't want the frustration of travelling over the congested bridge and adding up to a two hour wait to cross the bridge on Fridays.

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It certainly adds cost to our goods when semi loads are required for northern shipping and we have to run many smaller loads across. Fuel, time, wear and tear on vehicles etc. plus people just deciding to defer their purchases to another time or sometimes not at all due to the Inconvenience.

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Our business is not effected by the bridge issue but this city as a whole is effected. We get compared to Saskatoon so much which bothers me but if they want to compare us. Put this into play. What if in Saskatoon every single bridge was closed at the same time. That is what it will be like in pa. Maybe we should do a heavy fundraiser for a bridge plus put bands on any government vehicle both prov and fed so they would feel the pressure and maybe a toll for heavy traffic would be good. Get the big players in a pinch and they might start to see a need. Also re routing the dangerous goods away from pa and off our bridge and streets.

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I believe that the bottle neck of the one bridge is our biggest hold back to achieve significant growth in this city, that most of the province has enjoyed. It segregates our residential from our airport, north industrial area, waste disposal and many of the recreational destinations. The bridge should be considered as a catalyst to growth, not as a reaction to growth. " Build it, they will come"

Do you feel the need for a Second Bridge is Prince Albert's biggest Infrastructure need?

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It's not fair to the city's residents to have to live in a world of "What if's" If anything were to happen to the Diefenbaker Bridge we would be devastated... Not to mention look like the biggest failure of a city possible... We lost our water, massive power outs, and the bridge broken... The city needs to invest into another bridge because it isn't going to last forever. When you look at the outcome of what has happened it is dangerous to have that kind of a pile up to get to and from Prince Albert with 1 lane. Instead of investing into a field house that half of the community cannot afford to take part in the activities maybe we should think about investing into the future of the commute to Prince Albert... If by chance the bridge completely crumbled tomorrow would you not feel a little embarrassed it has taken Prince Albert how many years to invest into another one? 45 minute wait sometimes to get across the bridge....

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It’s not the biggest need because of the very old sewer and water plus the roads. All are in need of upgrade but it certainly is a close second. However the more the north expands its mining operations and if we can attract larger industry to the area the bridge becomes a major hurdle in the decision making for these companies.

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There has been significant discussion as to whether the uncertainty of the river crossing affects both residential and commercial property values. Companies who need to regularly cross need to know that there is some security in access. Our resources and resource-based industry cannot make the significant dollar commitments to developing and producing resources that cannot be transported to southern markets. It was very evident how crippling and costly it was for transport-based industry during the past year. The public perception definitely is that this bridge was not built for the volume and weight of the loads being transported, and that even now it may not be safe.

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If the bridge was damaged and was un-useable, by a dangerous goods crash (NH3), it would be hours and distance to get to the other side of the river. I cross the bridge 2 times a day, and when it is in good order, avoid Friday afternoons, which can make for up to 1 hour wait, when all the lanes are open, let alone with only 1/2 of it open.

As a business operator would you be willing to endure a tax increase, if it resulted in a Second Bridge being built within the city limits of Prince Albert?

Did your business suffer impacts or challenges as a result of the Bridge restrictions that you would like to advise the Chamber of? 

Yes. Extra cost of transporting materials within that time frame for my business alone was between $10 and $15 thousand. That's $10 or $15 thousand less than I could have spent in Prince Albert

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We deliver to north of the bridge and to the airport regularly and it takes a lot longer. We haul larger loads sometimes and the closure made us pay a lot more money to go around by another bridge. It cost a lot more to have our people wait in line for bridge slowdowns. The speed limit of 40 k on the bridge is stupid; it allows more vehicles/weight on the bridge at one time because they go slower and are closer together.

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The bridge being out of service had a huge effect on our business. We had to divert many of our heavy haul equipment loads to the northern mines the long way around - was very expensive for us and very time consuming as well.

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The city residents as well as our provincial government need to recognise that this is a major provincial highway route, not just a benefit to the residents of Prince Albert. Look on the map! The bridge is vital to all the northern residents for business, commuting to work and basic travel needs. As a commuter I lost significant time to and from work, increased stress levels and stolen family time both before and after work.

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Very difficult to promote business ventures north of the river when the travel route for trucks, equipment, hauling product, and even tourism is extended anywhere from half hour to hour and a half.

As a Business operator do you agree that Prince Albert needs a second Bridge?

If a Second Bridge is committed to, do you have a preference on the location of a Second Bridge?

 6th Ave East by passing the city is not an option  It should be west of the city and well planned for traffic to the north and west. The present bridge serves the northeast well. A second bridge should serve the north and west traffic and relieve the other bridge of so much traffic.

 I think the bridge should be situated to remove truck traffic away from 2nd Ave. This improves safety and traffic flow, and reduces noise and congestion. The bridge should be constructed on the edge of the city.

 To handle the growing north it needs to be in a location that can handle any size load for height and width. My concern with the bridge being in city limits is that large oversize loads might be chased off to going through Shellbrook and miss the city all together.

 As a rural resident commuting through the City of Prince Albert I appreciate the convenience of stopping for gas, groceries, etc. on Second Ave. that the current bridge provides. A second bridge bypassing the city would also be a great benefit for commercial traffic in saving them time and cost while freeing up congestion on 2nd Ave caused by huge transport trucking.

 The bridge has to be built east of the city. The need for a bridge is not only about traffic counts but more importantly it is about safety. If PA citizens were aware of all the dangerous goods that pass through their city on a daily basis they would be horrified.

 A second bridge at any location would be a definite asset; however I think the logical place would be on the east side of the city limits. The mining industry is in that direction, the pulp mill traffic is that way; we need to move the dangerous goods route outside the city; the forestry and uranium traffic further north would easily be rerouted in that direction

Do you feel that the Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce should continue advocating the need for a second Bridge as its biggest priority related to Infrastructure for Prince Albert?

Any further comments or suggestions?  There are much bigger issues in PA that are of greater concern than a bridge. Water and sewer, river front development, street repair, traffic flow, crime, drugs and alcohol. Tackle the issues that are driving people and business out of downtown and the flats should be of much more concern than the bridge. It is in the condition it is due to years of neglect on the cities part.

 Roads and sewer and water infrastructure are also very important. However plans for building a bridge take a long time, the time to start planning is now so that by the time it is even more critical that we need one, it will be ready.

I believe it will be a serious mistake to let the government put this on the back burner until it becomes a crisis.

 As a tax payer in Prince Albert the situation is unique. The use of the bridge is as important to people choosing to live outside the city limits that come into work and the large trucking companies most of which do not operate offices in our area that haul north and south. This needs to be recognized and dealt with fairly. To think that the tax payers and the city of Prince Albert should be on the hook entirely is out of the question.

 My main concern, after the bridge repairs were completed, was that everyone would forget how vital a second bridge is to this city. Many people are not impacted unless they go to the lake in the summer, but many of us live on the north side of the river and must cross on a daily basis (and with active children may cross two or three times a day). I just hope it doesn't take a tragic accident (involving some of the hazardous materials that come through the center of our city), for people to realize how important a second bridge is. I've often wondered why Saskatoon (with a population of 200 or 250 thousand) has something like nine bridges and one more in the works, yet P.A. (with a population of approximately 40 thousand) is only entitled to one, when we are the hub of the north(and north-east, and north-west).

 We need to focus on attracting small size manufacturers who may need to grow. We need to work with the city to open large tracts of land for commercial, industrial development.

 There was a significant impact to local and non-local business that relies on the bridge being open at full load capacity. I know many businesses that did not pass the additional costs on to customers because of the "temporary" nature of the closure and restrictions. These people lost considerable money and further such disruptions could be very harmful to their futures. With the age of the structure the likelihood of future disruptions increase, especially with ever growing weights being transported on our highways. If the north is truly important to our province the province must demonstrate that importance by supporting growth through the critical transportation infrastructure.

WHITROW STOBBS & ASSOCIATES Professional Accountants

RELIABLE ADVICE & SOLUTIONS 144 12th St. East Prince Albert Phone: 764.2773 ...ACCOUNTING...TAXATION...CORPORATE SERVICES...

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Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors As a proud member of the Prince Albert community, our team of chartered accountants and business advisors continue to grow to meet your unique needs.

National in scope and local in focus, we take the time to understand your challenges and deliver personalized solutions that help you achieve your goals. Our diverse services include:         

Assurance Consulting Corporate Finance Corporate Recovery & Insolvency Enterprise Risks Investigative & Forensic Services Succession Tax & Specialty Tax Valuation & Litigation Support

For more information contact a local MNP advisor at 306.764.6873

Coldwell Banker ResCom Realty PA

Adcom Solutions Advantage Credit Union Associated Radiologists Bank of Montreal Bison Cafe Canadian Cancer Society Children's Choice Child Care Coop CTV Deloitte Diamond North Credit Union Direct West DMD Entertainment Farm Credit Canada GL Mobile Communications Greenline Spray Foam Insulation Lone Wolf Catering Mann Northway Auto Source Merit Contractors Association Prince Albert & District A of Realtors Prince Albert Pet Planet Ring Appraisals Rona Home Centre Sasktel St. John Ambulance Staples Business Depot Wheatland Tire and Auto

Remember to “Like” the Prince Albert Raiders on

March 27th from 10am – noon Tickets are $15 Travelodge Come and celebrate the 2012 Legacy Award winner and the finalists for the Samuel McLeod Business Award will be announced.

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Luncheon tickets

25

16

10

Opportunity to Display Brochures at Every Business After Hours and Luncheons

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Opportunity to introduce speaker at luncheon of your choice

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Full page

Half page

Quarter page

12/year

9/year

6/year

Sponsor a luncheon of your choice: Prince Albert Raiders Luncheon, Premiers Luncheon, Mayors State of Address.

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Your Corporate logo will appear on all printed materials and advertising in conjunction with the luncheon.

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Specific recognition during the luncheon

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Opportunity to distribute promotional items on site.

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Registration

Designated tee

Designated green

Acknowledgment in Chamber Business Progress Newsletter

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Company identification on day’s event card

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The chamber will create a 24x24 sign which will be displayed at every event throughout our 125th anniversary year.

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Your company will be recognized in all post event information will be posted in our newsletter and website.

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All efforts to recognize your company will utilize clickable links which will direct visitors to your business.

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Value

$6,725

$4,275

$2,695

Discount

-$1,725

-$775

-$695

Investment

$5,000

$3,500

$2,000

Luncheon Opportunities

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E-News Weekly Reach all of our members with your advertisement right to their inbox!

Luncheon Sponsor

Chamber Golf Tournament Sponsor Golfer Registration(s) Signage located at:

Partnership Benefits

Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce 3700—2nd Avenue West Prince Albert, SK S6W 1A2 306.764.6222 ph 306.922.4727 fax

www.princealbertchamber.com