profiles of
THe Prince George Citizen - 2019
profiles of
The problem with excellence is expectations. If you declare yourself or your business to be excellent, you’re not only risking crossing that thin line between confidence and arrogance, you’re also setting an expectation. If you or your business are truly excellent, you can’t just be excellent sometimes or most times – you’re expected to be excellent every time, all the time. If other people declare you or your business to be excellent, the same expectation is there. What separates the truly excellent from the pretenders is how the problem is handled. The pretenders see it as a real problem, as something to be overcome, as an unfair pressure to consistently deliver, as an unattainable goal. The truly excellent see it as a nice problem to have, as a reputation to live up to, as the pressure to not let yesterday’s success get in the way of tomorrow’s accomplishments, as an unattainable goal still worthy of pursuing every day. In the following pages of Profiles of Excellence, The Citizen is proud to share with you the local businesses and entrepreneurs who both confidently and fearlessly declare themselves to be excellent. We’ve included ourselves in the mix because we’re proud of our employees, proud of the stories we publish and proud of the value we give our advertisers and subscribers. We haven’t been in business for 103 years because we’re mediocre or because we’re good enough for Prince George. What you’re going to find within this publication are businesses that believe a great city made up of outstanding residents deserves excellence. For all of us at The Citizen, as well as the businesses featured in Profiles of Excellence, there’s no problem in meeting and exceeding that standard of excellence because it’s our pleasure to do so. Colleen Sparrow Publisher Prince George Citizen
LOGO FINAL TEMP GLACIER VENTURES
DECEMBER 2007
profiles of
Hart Home Hardware....................................... 6 Suntree Landscaping....................................... 8 RBC Wealth Management Dominion Securities.......................................10 Fraserway RV......................................................12 Prince George Citizen..................................14 Marcotte Law.......................................................16 Inland Kenworth................................................18
COVER PHOTO Fireworks light up the sky over downtown Prince George. Photo by GSP Photography
Publisher Editor Director of Advertising Design & Production
Colleen Sparrow Neil Godbout Shawn Cornell Grace Flack
Photography
Brent Braaten James Doyle
Writing
Frank Peebles Chris Dias
Profiles of Excellence is available online at Pgcitizen.ca
Published by the Prince George Citizen, a division of Glacier Media Group Prince George, B.C. | 250.562.2441 | pgcitizen.ca The 2019 edition of Prince George Profiles of Excellence is exclusive property of the Prince George Citizen and Glacier Media Group. LOGO FINAL TEMP
GLACIER VENTURES
DECEMBER 2007
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| Prince George Profiles of Excellence 2019
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” – Vince Lombardi
Photo: A brilliant sunrise over Prince George. Photo by GSP Photpgraphy.
Hart Home Hardware
PRINCE
GEORGE profiles of
EXCELLENCE
Written by Chris Dias
As the city grows, neighbourhoods like the Hart still prosper, fostering loyalty and unity both with neighbors and with the businesses servicing them. Many of those establishments trace their history back decades from humble beginnings to continue to persist today. Such is the history of Hart Home Hardware and its two owners, Jim Ewert and Chris Pallot.
father being a prominent surgeon and his mother a nurse and with Chris being the son and grandson of pharmacists.
2019 marks the 10-year anniversary of Hart Home Hardware at its new location, but this point is insignificant compared to the history of the entire business, starting as a pharmacy (Hart Drug Mart) in the 1970s by its original owner James (Corky) Simmie and evolving in time to include both a hardware store and post office. In time, Corky would bring in the talents of Jim and Chris, two pharmacists with a combined fifty years’ experience between them. When Corky passed away in 2004, Jim, already a partner by this point, jumped at the opportunity to run the operation, bringing in Chris to be that needed second voice. The next challenge involved the desire to expand.
“The company has been fiscally well-handled by a strong group of managers,” Chris added. “Our managers are a big part of the business; they handle all the ground-work on the floor, and we have a resilient leader, an individual humble enough to avoid the limelight but whose contribution is very much felt in every corner of the store.”
In 2009, Hart Home Hardware officially opened its current location on Dagg Road, nestled within a previously constructed plaza, all owned by Jim and Chris. Despite this surge in success and responsibility, the two men remained humble, still donning the red attire indicative of all employees and occupying the counter when necessary, their faces as iconic in the region as the very logos adorned on their shirts.
“My grandfather owned a pharmacy in Vancouver,” Chris says, “and my father and mother owned a pharmacy in Lillooet; so, I grew up in that business.” Jim’s parentage derived more from the medical side than the retail side, but the altruistic manner of both paths was undeniable. “That was part of Corky’s vision,” Jim said, “no matter what you were doing, regardless if it’s hardware or pharmacy, to excel in customer service.” Both men credited that success to their team, stressing their appreciation of good management.
For Jim and I, we try to set a good example, to be an ear for staff, finding out what we need to improve, because they’re the people talking to the customers day in and day out. – Chris Pallot
“For Jim and I, we try to set a good example,” Chris said, “to be an ear for staff, finding out what we need to improve, because they’re the people talking to the customers day in and day out.” As the years have passed, Hart Home Hardware has expanded along with the region around it. Despite this, there still remains a home-grown community, where customers are greeted by name and loyalty is counted as currency as much as the bills exchanged. The location is newer, but the institution remains rooted.
It helps that Jim and Chris are pharmacists, having essentially inherited the desire to help people from their ancestry. Both men boast families with medical backgrounds, with Jim’s
Photos | Left: Hart Home Hardware owners Jim Ewert and Chris Pallot. Right: The Hart Home Hardware exterior. Citizen photos by Brent Braaten.
Hart
Home hardware Hart Home Hardware 6707 Dagg Road P: 250.962.9666 Prince George Profiles of Excellence 2019 |
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Suntree Landscaping Ltd.
PRINCE
GEORGE profiles of
EXCELLENCE
Written by Citizen Staff
Why go to the park when you can have a park-like setting in your own yard? Russ Hill of Suntree Land Design delivers the park experience to homeowners and commercial clients with creative design and beautiful landscaping. Now in his 16th year, Hill brings plenty of experience to not only deliver the desired look and style but also the amount of maintenance each customer is prepared to do. “Some customers want to enjoy the space without having to do much upkeep but others like to be more hands-on, to be part of keeping it looking great,” Russ said. “That way they can take credit for it!” he added, laughing. That means getting to know their customers, their preferences and their vision for the job. Some clients call Suntree with their own specific plans while others are prepared to just put their faith in Suntree’s expertise. Depending on the complexity of the job, Russ will include pictures and even samples of brick or rock with his estimate so that his clients can not only see a sneak preview, they can even touch it for themselves. Either way, Russ said, the job’s not finished until the client is happy and proud of the final result. Suntree Land Design is a full-service landscaping company for both commercial and residential properties. Russ and his team can install full irrigation systems, lawns, trees, shrubs, any kind of driveway, patios and retaining walls, as well as the luxury aesthetics features, such as planters, ponds, waterfalls and elaborate rock work. They’re comfortable working in any environment, from existing spaces in need of refreshing but new sites in need of a spectacular finish to complement the property. There are numerous examples of Suntree’s fine work across Prince George. Some of their commercial work includes the brick
work at Canada Games Plaza, the brick work, as well as soil and plant installation, at the Via Rail building, and full-service landscaping at Wood Wheaton Honda, Northland Dodge and Northland Nissan. Raised in Prince George, Russ knows what kind of landscaping works for the area, so that it’s looking great during all four seasons and doesn’t break down or cause problems in the snow and cold of winter or the sun and heat of summer. As a result, he works closely with the local nurseries to get the right plants that will flourish and look great for years to come. “When people look at a landscaping project, they often forget to think about what’s underneath that first impression,” said Hill. “They see the beautiful feature, but what work was done behind the scenes to make it sure it’s top quality? Aesthetics catch the eye, but real workmanship is in the foundation, the drainage, the geogrid. We look after the details to sustain the project. I want to do it once, never have to come back to repair it, and always have that word-of-mouth on my side. I want to come back to see you year after year, but only because you appreciate the work.”
Aesthetics catch the eye, but real workmanship is in the foundation, the drainage, the geogrid. We look after the details to sustain the project. – RUss Hill
As for winter, the work doesn’t end for Russ and his team, who offer snow-clearing services during the cold months of the year. Whether it’s homeowners wanting to increase the value of their property and wow the neighbours with a beautiful yard or commercial property owners wanting to attract customers with welcoming landscaping, Russ Hill at Suntree Land Design has the knowledge and the experience to deliver an excellent outdoor look.
Landscaping Ltd.
Photos | Left: Russ Hill, Suntree Landscaping Ltd. Owner. Right: Suntree’s diverse work includes stone work and greenery, which combine to create stunning landscapes. Citizen photos by James Doyle.
Suntree Landscaping Ltd. P: 250.563.7062 suntreeland.ca
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RBC Wealth Management
Dominion Securities
PRINCE GEORGE profiles of
EXCELLENCE
Written by Chris Dias
Carol Laursen – your dedicated wealth management partner Carol is the head of Laursen Financial Management of RBC Dominion Securities , one of the family-run teams at RBC Dominion Securities. She works alongside a team of specialists in areas like tax, insurance and estate planning to help her clients reach their goals. With 30 years in the financial services industry and 19 years with RBC Dominion Securities, Carol has proven herself as both knowledgeable and trustworthy to her clients and colleagues. A Vice-President of our firm, Carol has earned the designations of Financial Management Advisor (FMA) and Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI). The FCSI is the highest honour in our industry, awarded to advisors who demonstrate outstanding educational achievements along with dedication and experience in the industry. As an Investment Advisor, it allows Carol advise clients on complex investment and wealth planning situations. Carol is also recognized as a certified life-licensed agent, which allows her to help guide her clients through complex estate planning situations. Through her conservative investment approach, Carol is able to develop investment strategies that not only allow growth and income but also focus on principal protection. Most importantly, Carol strives to run her business according to the highest levels of trust and integrity. She believes that a solid relationship between client and advisor is crucial, especially in uncertain times. Hardly a day goes by that Carol doesn’t field a phone call from a client concerned about political decisions, global economic shifts, or the latest investment trends. It’s Carol’s job to filter the dramatics shown on cable news with the reality of responsible investing.
When you put your family’s wealth in the hands of Carol and her staff, your wealth and needs always come first. If a crisis scrolls across the daily news, you can be assured your money is in the best hands. Carol is supported by Associate Caitlyn Faucher, who also happens to be her daughter. Caitlyn is equally committed to the career – so much so that she’s continuing her education to be able to offer the best experience and advice that clients have grown accustomed to. It’s not like the old days of being a broker or a trader. Carol’s job is wealth management. Wealth management is about the big picture, about you keeping as much money as you can when you earn it. When money is passed down to the next generation, Carol ensures no coins spill over to the ground. Her approach is as much about handling the money you have now as it is about helping you earn more.
My clients put their faith in me – they let me do what I’m good at. They know that we’re on the same side. It’s about protecting your wealth. – Carol Laursen
“The everyday investor is looking at a time horizon of 10, 15, 20 years,” says Carol. “We focus on quality investments.” The take-away is that if Carol and her team aim for steady, longterm growth. “My clients put their faith in me – they let me do what I’m good at. They know that we’re on the same side. It’s about protecting your wealth.” Along with her work, Carol is a supporter of some of the local charities around Prince George. Some of the more notable are the Spirit of the North Health Care Foundation and the local unit of the Salvation Army. This article is supplied by Carol Laursen, an Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Member–Canadian Investor Protection Fund.
Photos | Left: Investment advisor Carol Laursen and associate Caitlyn Faucher. Right: The RBC building, downtown Prince George. Left photo submitted, right photo by Brent Braaten.
RBC Wealth Management Dominion Securities Inc. #310-550 Victoria Street P: 250.960.4691 carollaursen.com Prince George Profiles of Excellence 2019 |
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Fraserway RV
PRINCE GEORGE profiles of
EXCELLENCE
Submitted story
2019 marks a significant milestone for Fraserway RV as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary. Our founder, Erdman Epp, started Fraserway RV on its journey with the purchase of an existing Abbotsford, BC based RV manufacturer in 1969. Starting with five employees, our small family-run business has developed into the largest dealer group in Canada and the most vertically integrated RV organization in North America. We are humble in our roots and don’t lose sight of where it all started and how we got here. As we embark on this milestone year, we realize that many things have changed since 1969 but at the same time many things actually remain the same. Since 1969, we’ve been helping people enjoy the outdoors with a recreational vehicle. That’s 50 years of smores, campfire stories, memories, road trips and countless ‘are we there yet’ questions. We see a combination of customers that are seasoned veterans looking for their next RV to those looking to get into the RV lifestyle. Our staff is here to help with all sorts of questions – why should I get an RV, what can I do with my RV, how do I take care of my RV, what do I need for my RV? People could be looking to get out of their tents and off the ground, looking to reconnect with family and friends, looking to recreate what they experienced as a child or perhaps empty nesters looking to cross off items from their bucket list. This type of travel is what we call the reusable vacation – you aren’t paying a one-time fee for flights, hotels and car rentals. RVing provides countless opportunities – use it as your basecamp for sporting tournaments, getaways are a breeze when you just have to load up
and go as an RV provides freedom of going where you want when you want. We want to match you with the perfect RV for your needs, budget and lifestyle. Once you have your RV, our teams in parts and service are dedicated to helping you protect your investment and ensure you outfit it with all the necessities and some fun accessories as well. We want to ensure every single trip is a memorable one. We are committed to providing an unparalleled customer experience and ensure that your vacation dreams are realized. Our founder’s motto, “Never satisfied until good is better and better is best,” together with our corporate values and mission is the driving force behind our operations and challenges us to continually strive to provide the highest level of customer service. Our dedicated employees are the greatest asset we have and as a group we focus on six key areas: Customer Experience, Innovation, Integrity, Respect, Social Actions, and Teamwork. These values don’t just simply hang on our walls but rather guide our actions each day – it’s our commitment to you and our commitment to each other.
Since 1969, we’ve been helping people enjoy the outdoors with a recreational vehicle. That’s 50 years of smores, campfire stories, memories, road trips and countless ‘are we there yet’ questions.
We believe the dedication to our values, mission and business goals has propelled Fraserway RV to be Canada’s only RV dealer group and have provided the opportunity for us to introduce and continue the love of exploring Canada by RV to travellers across the country. Thank you for supporting us through our journey and here’s to another amazing 50 years of everything RV! Are we there yet?
Photos | Left: The Fraserway RV Prince George team. Right: Rory Pickering, General Manager of Fraserway RV Prince George. Citizen photos by Brent Braaten.
Fraserway RV 7818 Highway 97 S. P: 250.963.3380 TF: 1.866.963.3380 fraserway.com
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Prince George Citizen
PRINCE
GEORGE profiles of
EXCELLENCE
Written by Citizen Staff
When your business is 103 years old, your connections to the community run wide and deep. The staff and management at The Citizen are aware of that on a daily basis. Each of the 200 employees and contractors at The Citizen have their own special connection to both the newspaper and the community. Publisher Colleen Sparrow is a proud graduate of Duchess Park Secondary (go Condors!) who has worked at The Citizen for most of her adult life, rising through the ranks to oversee the entire business as publisher and general manager for the past seven years, the first and only woman to ever do so. Her team includes numerous other longtime Prince George residents who have worked at The Citizen for 25 years or more, secondgeneration Citizen employees and some whose first ever paid job was delivering The Citizen to local homes. For many people, delivering the community newspaper in their hometown was their first childhood job and for numerous longtime Prince George residents, that meant delivering The Citizen.
The newspaper business has always been challenging and now is no different but our owners, Glacier Media, a publicly-traded company that operates community newspapers and other specialty publications across B.C. and Western Canada, is committed to Prince George and the long-term viability of The Citizen. As we always have, we’ll change and adapt to suit the needs and wants of the local community but the ongoing support of local readers and advertisers means The Citizen has a bright future ahead, whatever it may look like. We’re not only inspired by the present opportunities and the future prospects in Prince George, we also draw strength and wisdom from our past. A 103 year-old business has seen a lot of change and been through a lot of change so its managers and employees are not afraid of adapting the business to satisfy its loyal customers.
A 103 year-old business has seen a lot of change and been through a lot of change so its managers and employees are not afraid of adapting the business to satisfy its loyal customers.
What has never changed – and never will – is our commitment to Prince George and its people. That commitment is our past, our present and our future.
Times have changed, of course, but many of today’s parents introduce their children to the workforce by taking on a paper route, much as they were by their parents. In the same way, The Citizen remains a vital, go-to source for community news, both in our print edition five days a week but also on our website, which receives more than one million pageviews each month, our digital services to help companies with their online and social media marketing, our weekly free newspaper, 97/16, and our various specialty magazines, including the one you’re holding now.
Photos | Left: The Prince George Citizen’s press, running off copies of one of the Citizen’s many publications. Right: The Citizen management team (from left to right) Shawn Cornell, Director of Advertising, Lisa Giesinger, Financial Controller, Colleen Sparrow, Publisher and Neil Godbout, Editor. Citizen photos by Brent Braaten.
Prince George Citizen P: 250.562.2441 pgcitizen.ca
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Marcotte Law
PRINCE
GEORGE profiles of
Real Estate Lawyers
EXCELLENCE
Written by Frank Peebles
Handing over the keys of a beloved property to someone new is an emotional transaction as much as a practical one.
“Our office philosophy centres around excellence in client service,” Marcotte said. “The way we separate and differentiate our firm is by way of quality service. We strive to make our clients comfortable and confident from the first contact to the completion of their needs. We also try to provide excellence in service to our clients’ other service providers with whom we directly deal, for example real estate agents and lenders. So much is involved in a real estate transaction, and we are there from beginning to end to help you through.”
The clicks of opening up for business in the morning and locking up at night might are the musical notes of life.
The Marcotte Law influence is felt throughout the region, with legal service experience in 20 northern B.C. communities.
Conducting that music is Dan Marcotte and his team at Marcotte Law: Real Estate Lawyers & Notaries. Dan got the keys cut on his own Prince George firm in 1993. He’s lived here since 1980 when he came out of law school and chose this community to be his home. It’s where he earned the coveted Queen’s Counsel designation in 2016.
The pursuit of excellence has led to France, where Dan went in 2015 where he obtained Masters degrees from two French Law Schools.
Keys are so small, but they’re the biggest parts of our lives. They protect our most important investments, precious belongings, and safeguard our family. Few ever forget the joy of feeling the keys of a new home put in our hands.
“We handle all aspects of real estate law including residential and commercial purchase and sale transactions, mortgages, subdivisions, easements, and real estate development projects,” said Dan. “Having said that, our firm also does a substantial amount of commercial and corporate law work with a smaller emphasis on wills and estates.” Buying or selling property is always about moving forward. Marcotte Law took its own steps forward when Dan expanded his firm with a couple of associate lawyers. Tamara Fennel joined four years ago and Carolynne Burkholder-James within the last year. The firm also has the expertise “of three very experienced real estate and property law assistants, Micheline Prevost, Janet Eagles and Page Ward” plus receptionist Lyssa Blackman and Cindy Marcotte in marketing.
The way we separate and differentiate our firm is by way of quality service. We strive to make our clients comfortable and confident from the first contact to completion.
Then the student soon became the teacher. “Since 2017 I have been an instructor in the International Business Law Program in the Faculty of Law of the Catholic University of Lyon,” he said. This work included establishing an ongoing exchange for students of Thompson Rivers University, the nearest law school to Prince George. Dan is also the vice-chair of the board for the College of New Caledonia, while Cindy is a director for the Prince George Symphony Orchestra. “Our firm believes in fostering our community’s arts and culture, said Dan. Supporting the arts builds strong communities, and our field of law is about community foundations - putting people into the strongest positions with their homes and businesses.” Marcotte Law is the real key to real estate transactions in the Prince George region.
Dan also became a member of the European Law Institute in 2018.
Photos: Lawyers Tamara M. Fennell, Dan M. Marcotte Q.C. and Carolynne A. Burkholder-James. Citizen photos by Brent Braaten.
Marcotte Law 440 Brunswick Street P: 250.564.0052 marcottelaw.ca Prince George Profiles of Excellence 2019 |
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Inland Kenworth
PRINCE
GEORGE profiles of
EXCELLENCE
Written by Frank Peebles
One of the best sounds in the world is the rumble of a Kenworth. It doesn’t matter if it’s a city street or a resource road, when Kenworth truck engines are revving, it means the economic engines are revving. These days, there’s a diesel symphony playing up on the Highway 97 hill south of town. “The forestry side of our business is doing very well, and forestry is the biggest part of what we do here,” said Rick Bruneski, general manager of Inland Kenworth, the landmark truck and equipment dealership in the Prince George region. “We do touch the mining sector, the coal side in particular, and we also reach into the roadbuilding and construction sectors, too, and the wood pellet industry. All of these sides of the business are clicking right now, but the real momentum we’re seeing is in the forest industry.” It’s not an exaggeration to say Inland Kenworth is enjoying acres of success. The company left behind its outdated 1970s location a couple of years ago for a high-tech facility spanning almost five hectares. The building alone, with all its state of the art sales and service departments, covers an area about 100,000 square feet making it one of the largest commercial spaces in northern B.C. Underneath that roof you’ll find 36 rigsized service bays. They have a truck shop, an equipment shop, a super-sized parts warehouse, and a state of the art body shop all in-house.
The truck shop alone has 26 useable service bays, including a wash bay, an alignment bay, overhead cranes, and even an explosion-proof bay specifically for LNG work. “We’re one of the only people in town who can provide that kind of service,” said Bruneski. Over on the equipment shop side, the concrete floors have steel inlays so tracked machines can crawl into repair position. There is a 25-tonne overhead crane, a wash bay, a state of the art frame straightening bay. “What’s really amazing is we have already outgrown our equipment department, which is a testament to how much machinery we’ve sold,” Bruneski said. Inland is also busy outside. “We have 17 service trucks looking after our customers out in the field, going where they need us to go,” he said. “That’s a real fleet, and each one of those trucks is a $240,000 investment on our part, all of them operated by highly trained field technicians, so we can respond to any situation.”
We have 17 service trucks looking after our customers out in the field, going where they need us to go. That’s a real fleet, and each one of those trucks is a $240,000 investment on our part, all of them operated by highly trained field technicians. – Rick Bruneski
In addition to the wide array of trucks offered by the iconic Kenworth brand, Inland is also home to Case, Link-Belt and Tigercat, and we also are an outlet for PacLease as well. That’s all on-site - a full line of products and services right here at our facility,” Bruneski said. The public is invited to stop in and take a look at the facility. If you already work in the industrial sectors, you’ve probably already been there and looking forward to a return visit to Inland Kenworth.
Customers go out of their way to bring machinery in for maintenance just to be inside that eye-popping cathedral of industry.
Photos | Left: Rick Bruneski, general manager of Inland Kenworth among some of their equipment. Right: The Inland Kenworth exterior, and company truck at their Boundary Avenue location. Citizen photos by Brent Braaten.
Inland Kenworth 7337 Boundary Avenue P: 250.562.8171 TF: 1.888.552.5532 inland-group.com
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