A high-calibre crowd Celebrating this year’s winners of the RBC Business Excellence Awards
Page 12 WINTER: 2019
VOLUME 34: #4 | 1218-2019
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WINTER: 2019 | VOLUME 34: #4
Business News is a publication of the St. John’s Board of Trade. Reproduction of any material contained in Business News is permitted provided written approval from the St. John’s Board of Trade. We encourage you to support the business leaders whose names and products you see advertised in this issue as well as throughout our entire membership. The Board reserves the right to edit submissions. DIRECTORS ST. JOHN’S BOARD OF TRADE Executive: Janis Byrne: Chair Andrew Wadden: Senior Vice Chair Justin Lahda: First Vice Chair Norm Dimmell: Second Vice Chair Jennifer Clement: Treasurer Directors: Kevin Casey Debra Feltham Alex Gibson Glenn Janes Heather Stamp-Nunes Leigh-Anne O’Neil Joann Slaney Doug Wright STAFF Nancy Healey: Chief Executive Officer Rhonda Tulk-Lane: Director of Business Solutions Jackie Bryant-Cumby: Member Relations Administrator Brendan Hagerty: Manager of Labour Market Solutions Jennifer Chaytor: Manager, Finance & Compliance Brandon Ellis: Policy and Advocacy Researcher 34 Harvey Road P.O. Box 5127 St. John’s, NL A1C 5V5 Canada Tel: 709.726.2961 E-mail: mail@bot.nf.ca
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In this issue: 4 Members in the news ............................. 6 Business solutions .................................. 8 Around the board ................................ 10 A high-calibre crowd ........................... 12 CEO’s Message ..........................................
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Celebrating this year’s winners of the RBC Business Excellence Awards
Leading the way ................................... Business disruptors are helping other companies adapt to new realities
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WINTER 2019
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CEO’S MESSAGE
Photo David Howells
Exciting events all around T
NANCY HEALEY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE ST. JOHN’S BOARD OF TRADE
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o say that we have been on a high at the St. John’s Board of Trade is a bit of an understatement. We were honoured to host the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, on Nov. 12 in the largest event in the Board of Trade’s history. We were able to make this happen in a very short time period and I am so proud of the team at the Board of Trade for their courage and professionalism. President Obama is everything you can imagine: he is cool, charming and down to earth. We feature some pictures from behind the scenes and of the event itself in this edition of Business News to give you a glimpse of the excitement.
Last month, we also celebrated our Business Excellence Award winners. These are champions of our business community, who are shining examples of the entrepreneurship, ingenuity and community spirit. Congratulations to all the nominees and finalists! Read more in this month’s cover story. Finally, we set you up for 2020 with some insights as to how some local businesses are preparing for the ever-evolving business environment. Be sure to come to our Business Outlook Conference on Feb. 6, 2020. Here’s wishing you a prosperous 2020! ■
BUSINESS NEWS
Special guest The St. John’s Board of Trade hosted a night to remember on Nov. 12, when it welcomed Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America. Photos by David Howells
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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Members in the news
CAA celebrates growth
new and existing members alike. As a member-based organization, CAA will continue to offer the best in roadside assistance, travel planning, advocacy for the mobile public, terrific insurance with Newfoundland and Labrador partner Munn Insurance, along
CAA Atlantic reached an incredible milestone this fall in surpassing 250,000 members in Atlantic Canada. This only spells good news because the larger CAA grows, the more benefits it can provide for
with several discounts through various partners, including those exclusively in Newfoundland, such as RCA Theatre Company, Newfoundland Chocolate Company, City Tire and more. Visit www.atlantic.caa.ca for more information.
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BUSINESS NEWS
Big year for East Coast Mortgage Brokers
Business results have continued to increase in East Coast Mortgage Brokers’ ninth year in business. We will finish 2019 with business growth of 12 per cent year over year, in a down real estate market. Early in the year, we were awarded the Consumer Choice award in mortgages. This is a very proud achievement for our team. East Coast Mortgage Brokers were recently named as a “Top Brokerage in Canada” by the Canadian Mortgage Professionals publication for the second time in the past three years. To achieve this acknowledgement, on a national basis, is something the team is very proud of. We have also had four of our team members, achieve national sales status in the mortgage business, and have been featured in our National Mortgage publication.
Baystar opens cafe
Baystar Catering is now Baystar Catering and Cafe. Owner Millie Foley and her team celebrated this significant milestone at the official grand opening on Nov. 26. You can find them and all of their deliciousness at 430 Torbay Rd.
Automotive Supplies (85) Ltd. “Your Friendly Parts Store” Power & Associates welcomes new Director
Presidents Club Award
Kudos and congrats to Jason Coady, Mortgage Advisor with East Coast Mortgage Brokers, who was recently awarded with the East Coast Mortgage Brokers’ 2019 Presidents Club Award. This award is based on dollar volume of sales. In order to receive the award, advisers must book more than $5,000,000 in mortgages. In addition to winning this year’s award, Coady has more than doubled his business year over year and he still has until the end of December to grow.
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Power & Associates Chartered Professional Accountants is delighted to welcome Andrea G. White, CPA, CA to the team as Director of Assurance. She received an undergraduate degree from Memorial University in 1999 and obtained her chartered accountant designation in 2003. She recently joined Power & Associates, bringing more than 17 years of experience with her. She has a long history of experience in leading and managing audit engagements, including large and complex public companies, private companies, public sector and government not-for-profit organizations. She is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador. As a fully integrated professional services firm of Chartered Professional Accountants, Power & Associates is thrilled to have her join the team in serving valued clients.
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BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism
Business solutions
“Early findings indicate that Newfoundland and Labrador has the potential of harnessing 44,000 older workers.”
Experienced workers wanted
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ewfoundland and Labrador’s workforce is shrinking and aging fast — perhaps the fastest in the country. We must consider a multipronged approach to growing our labour force and ensuring that those who want to remain active in the labour force can and are supported. Approaches include immigration, repatriation, creating a province of choice for youth, increased birth levels and ensuring older workers can remain in the workforce longer if they choose. The St. John’s Board of Trade is embarking on an exciting research project, funded by the Newfoundland and Labrador Workforce Innovation Centre (NLWIC), to find the barriers and opportunities of workforce participation for older (experienced) workers. MQO Research, a leading Atlantic Canada Market Insights company, is currently conducting research. Early findings indicate that Newfoundland and Labrador has the potential of harnessing 44,000 older workers. To learn more contact:
Rhonda Tulk-Lane, Director of Business Solutions solutions@bot.nf.ca 709-351-0291
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BUSINESS NEWS
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
Around the board Kelly Mansell, co-owner of Rocket Bakery & Fresh Food, addresses the audience at the Older Workers Summit.
Members took part in a hike on the East Coast Trail’s Sugarloaf Path to Quidi Vidi in early November.
The Hon. Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources and Government House Leader, addresses a St. John’s Board of Trade luncheon in September.
In partnership with Bell Canada, the St. John’s Board of Trade and supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, on Nov. 5 a session was hosted on Why Employers Should Care: What is the National Standard for Psychological Health in the Workplace? Louise Bradley, the President and CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, provided an informative and engaging discussion on the national standard. This discussion was followed by a panel of local businesses, who shared their stories and best practices. The panel consisted of: • • • • •
Lisa Browne, CEO, Stella’s Circle Louise Bradley, President and CEO, Mental Health Commission of Canada Monika Mielnik, Senior Manager, Human Resources, Bell Canada Ryan Osborne, CEO, OZ Coaching Moderator Norm Dimmell, St. John’s Board of Trade Executive and Vice-President of Corporate Services, Emera Newfoundland and Labrador
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The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology and Innovation CEO Paul Preston addresses stakeholders at a Future Fit Workshop.
BUSINESS NEWS
Congratulations to Brendan Hagerty for being elected as the Newfoundland and Labrador Representative on the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada (CCEC).
The St. John’s Board of Trade and NOIA hosted an all candidates reception prior to the federal election.
Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association CEO Charlene Johnson presented on the highlights and economic impact of the province’s offshore industry at the St. John’s Board of Trade event Pints & Peers on Nov. 7.
St. John’s East federal NDP candidate Jack Harris, PC candidate Joedy Wall and Liberal candidate Nick Whalen debate election issues at a St. John’s Board of Trade event.
Brendan Hagerty and Rhonda Tulk-Lane have been recognized as Accredited Chamber Professionals by the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada. WINTER 2019
Melissa Sarjoo and Hamoon Ekhtiari at the Superpowers for the Future of Work event taken at the Emera Innovation Exchange.
Toronto Raptors superfan and Canadian businessman Nav Bhatia presents at a St. John’s Board of Trade event on his immigration journey to Canada and how he built his business empire and became one of the biggest Raptors fans.
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COVER STORY
A high-calibre crowd Celebrating this year’s winners of the RBC Business Excellence Awards Story by Sara Ericsson ■ Photos by Brian Carey Photography
I
t was a happy coincidence that signalled change at the 27th annual RBC Business Excellence Awards on Nov. 28, where seven of the nine top award winners were women. St. John’s Board of Trade CEO Nancy Healey says this remarkable outcome was not planned and happened organically as award judges — the past Board of Trade presidents — chose winners from among the well-qualified and well-deserving group of nominees.
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This year’s winner of the Business Excellence Award was Dallas Mercer Consulting Inc. The first-time awarding of Leader in Diversity went to the Genesis Centre and the second-ever Emerging Young Professional award went to Jillian Walsh of BDO Canada. Healey says these results show women now lead a significant share of the St. John’s business community and that diversity and giving back are now
of vital importance to Newfoundland and Labrador businesses. “I often think of the lyric from Ode to Newfoundland, ‘Where once they stood, we stand.’ These are our new business leaders and we’re delighted that they are innovative and think about diversity,” she says. “The network of businesses in St. John’s is one that learns from and supports each other, which shows that we’re all truly in it together.” BUSINESS NEWS
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COVER STORY
And the winners are … Business Excellence Award Dallas Mercer didn’t know her company was in the running for the night’s top honour and says the surprise win recognizes deliberate work that began two years ago to double the business in three years. Her time in the Harvard Business School and Wallace McCain entrepreneurial program has paid off, with the company having grown by 164 per cent, with 14 months to go before its deadline. “We’ve stayed focused and stepped outside of the box, doing things we don’t normally do. 2018 was DMC’s best year and 2019 was even better. I owe much of that to our rock-star employees,” she says. Dallas Mercer Consulting Inc. also won the Marketing and Promotional Achievement award. Leader in Diversity This first-ever Leader in Diversity award went to the Genesis Centre. CEO Michelle Simms says diverse thinking and a diverse startup ecosystem have been encouraged since the centre recognized that more people from different backgrounds were needed to grow the province’s technology sector. “Companies are stronger when their teams are diverse. We have put more of a focus on diversity at Genesis in recent years and are now seeing startups launching, job creation and people moving to or staying in the province,” says Simms. “We are thrilled to say that more than half of our companies have a female and/or immigrant founder.” Emerging Young Professional BDO Canada Senior Manager Jillian Walsh says receiving the award was surreal and surprising, but also a welcome acknowledgement of her continued dedication in her field, which she says began during her studies at university. She says being partnered with mentors throughout her career taught her that building client relationships would be the key to success. Now that she’s become a senior manager and found success of her own, she tries to give back whenever possible. “We do what we do not for recognition, but because we want to serve our clients and give back to community,” she says.
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Winners of this year’s RBC Business Excellence Awards were all smiles at the big event on Nov. 28.
Workplace Excellence David Howe, Noseworthy Chapman Chartered Professional Accountants Managing Partner, says this award win acknowledges how the company ensures its staff are guaranteed an exceptional work environment that allows them to then provide the best service to clients. “A positive, respectful work environment where we listen to all members of our team has proven to be successful. People are at the centre of everything we do,” says Howe. “This affirms we are on the right track with making the firm a place where people want to work and build their careers.” Customer Service and Reliability The Luxus Boutique Hotel General Manager Chris Woodley says this award win shows that since the hotel is already impressive, what truly wows guests is the service that greets them as they step inside its downtown St. John’s door, where their every need is catered to and every comfort guaranteed. “We take really good care of our guests. People that stay here have an exceptional time — our customer reviews show that,” he says. “So, this award is a really nice pat on the back. You don’t go looking for recognition, but when it comes, it makes you proud.” Leader in Growth and Sales Jenny Smith, Ray Agency President and Executive Creative Director, says the advertising agency’s award win comes after a year of hard work and dedication from every team member who has fostered new work with current clients and has also grown the agency’s client base across the country, with 50 per cent of its clients now from outside Newfoundland.
“This award positions us really nicely for 2020. We’re really excited for the new year and feel it’ll be our biggest one yet. It’s also a new decade, so that will inspire us to work even harder,” she says. Community Impact (with fewer than 20 employees) Multi-discipline creative production house and marketing company Dc Design House Inc. Creative Director and Owner Don-E Coady says showing up meaningfully is what his company does best, as it works with service-based clients and others, like disruptors, whose work aligns with the company’s focus. “We do our best work with service-based clients and others with noble motives and ideas, because we are all of these things as well,” he says. “We won this award in 2015, too. It means a lot to us as a team — to be recognized [like this] is something we hope to make the most of.” Community Impact (with more than 20 employees) Newfoundland & Labrador Credit Union CEO Allison Chaytor-Loveys says community involvement is a core value of the NLCU, which has raised $1.3 million through its charitable foundation since its start in 2002. It has given 61 post-secondary scholarships, funded a dozen budding writers and has created a new accounts program for women newly released from incarceration. “It defines who we are, to make the people who call Newfoundland and Labrador home have all the support they need. Of course we provide financial advice, but we’re so much more than that,” says ChaytorLoveys. “We help not by giving a hand-out, but a hand-up.” ■ BUSINESS NEWS
Dallas Mercer, second from right, accepts the night’s top honour, the Business Excellence Award.
Dyanna McCarthy, Genesis Centre’s Talent and Diversity Co-ordinator, accepts the Leader in Diversity award for the technology business incubator program.
Jillian Walsh was awarded top Emerging Young Professional at the award ceremony.
The Workplace Excellence award was accepted by Noseworthy Chapman Chartered Professional Accountants Partner Denise Coombs.
The Luxus Boutique Hotel cocktail lounge won for Customer Service and Reliability. The award was accepted by hotel General Manager Chris Woodley.
Ray Agency was awarded Leader in Growth and Sales. The award was accepted by President and Executive Creative Director Jenny Smith.
Don-E Coady accepted the Community Impact (with fewer than 20 employees) award on behalf of his company, Dc Design House Inc.
Newfoundland & Labrador Credit Union CEO Allison Chaytor-Loveys accepted the Community Impact (with more than 20 employees) award on behalf of the NLCU team.
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BUSINESS STRATEGY
Leading the way Business disruptors are helping other companies adapt to new realities By Joey Fitzpatrick
B
usiness at every level is being buffeted by change. Technological, social, demographic and cultural revolutions are shifting the ground underfoot and forcing companies to adapt. Business disruptors have been described as those companies and individuals that are out in front of these changes, blazing a trail with innovations, and in many cases helping other companies adapt to new realities. Sometimes, being a disruptor involves reinventing the business model of an entire sector. That’s exactly what Vigilant Management has done in Newfoundland and Labrador’s construction industry. “We call it owners’ project management,” explains Vigilant Management CEO Terry Hussey. This involves overseeing every aspect of a project, including early-stage planning, budgeting, feasibility analysis, applying for financing, developing tender
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packages, procuring architects and engineers and overseeing their work, as well as managing the construction. “We make sure the owners get the project they want — on budget and on schedule.” This upends the traditional model in the construction sector, in which owners often find themselves in an adversarial relationship with the design consultant and contractor. Whether it’s a company that needs more space for its expanding workforce or a government department building a piece of infrastructure, owners do not typically have great expertise in the highly technical world of construction management. “This industry can be very predatory on an owner who doesn’t know what he is walking into,” Hussey says. “It’s not that every player in the construction industry is looking to exploit their clients — that’s not the case. But there are a lot of situations where owners can get in over their heads.” Vigilant Management was launched
“People are realizing that there is power in different types of thought. So, you have to be able to bring these people onboard.” – Tamara Vatcher,
Partner, Training Works
eight years ago and employs 17 people. The company is nearing completion on the first design-build public infrastructure project in Newfoundland and Labrador: a $3.5 million water, sewer and street repaving project in Mount Pearl. Leadership is critical to any business success and these structural and technological changes are altering the way leaders lead, says Tamara Vatcher, a Partner at Training Works in St. John’s. Among its projects, BUSINESS NEWS
Contributed
unsplash
Contributed
Training Works is working with the national marine transportation sector to identify, map and create training pathways for professional development in the industry. “It used to be that a leader was a leader,” Vatcher says. “That is not necessarily true anymore. Leadership today is very different from what it was 20 or 30 years ago.” Leadership, at its core, is still about WINTER 2019
“We make sure the owners get the project they want — on budget and on schedule.” Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism – Terry Hussey, CEO, Vigilant Management communicating a vision and having people buy into that vision to work toward a common goal. But leading a diverse group of people, for example, requires a different approach from leading a homogeneous group, where everybody has a similar belief system. Today’s leaders must be able to communicate their visions to people who were not necessarily born and raised in Atlantic Canada. “The stories that leaders tell now have to resonate with a diverse group of people and that makes creating the story, and the vision, much more complicated.” And it’s not just geographical, linguistic or cultural diversity, Vatcher points out. There is also neurodiversity, that is, people who perceive the world and solve problems in unconventional ways. “People are realizing that there is power in different types of thought,” she says. “So, you have to be able to bring these people onboard.” Constant technological change means that lifelong learning is becoming more critical than ever. Long gone are the days
when education ended the day you received your degree or diploma and entered the workforce. “I think one of the things you will see in the future is a closer collaboration between formal education and the workplace,” Vatcher says. “You will see the workplace brought into education a lot earlier. It’s probably going to start at the K-12 level and continue through post-secondary.” While technological change is affecting every sector of the economy, Canadian companies vary widely on their adoption of technology. A study by BDC showed only 20 per cent of Canadian companies have a high level of “digital maturity.” Another 20 per cent have made some advances, but have either failed to develop a coherent digital strategy or have not made major investments, while the remaining 60 per cent of companies remain stagnant. BDC, Canada’s federal development bank, serves 68,000 client companies with both financing and advisory services. Clients come from every sector of the economy and
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BUSINESS STRATEGY
“Companies that are not investing in technology are losing ground.” – Pierre Cléroux,
Contributed
range in size from single-person startups to companies with annual revenues in excess of $1 billion. “Companies that are not investing in technology are losing ground,” says Pierre Cléroux, Vice-President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC.
Vice-President, Research, Chief Economist, BDC
Digital maturity, as defined by a framework developed at MIT, is measured both by a company’s culture as well as its investment in technology. “The cultural side is the strategy: How are you going to bring value to your customers by using technology?” Cléroux says. “The retail sector is just one example of how companies that are selling and providing services and information online are the ones that are succeeding.”
BDC has put together a free digital maturity assessment tool, where companies can gauge their level of technological maturity. It’s available online at www.bdc.ca/digitalassessment. “They can compare themselves with other companies in similar sectors,” Cléroux adds. BDC can help client companies finance their investments in technology and also assist in the development of their digital strategies. Creating a culture of innovation can help attract talented people to an organization, says Tim Fahey, Managing Partner for Newfoundland and Labrador with Deloitte. “People want to work with innovative companies,” Fahey says. “They want to work with leaders who are open to change and new ideas.” Attracting and retaining the best people involves not just tangible issues like salary, benefits and vacation, Fahey adds, but also a broader sense of purpose. “What is the reason for your company’s existence and what are you trying to accomplish?” Fahey says. “You need to be able to articulate that.”
Contributed
“People want to work with innovative companies. They want to work with leaders who are open to change and new ideas.” – Tim Fahey, Managing Partner, Newfoundland and Larbrador, Deloitte
Deloitte is now expanding beyond its core offerings of tax, audit and advisory services. “We’ve customized services that we feel are important to entrepreneurs,” Fahey says. The scope of services includes mergers and acquisitions, risk management, systems analysis, data protection and cyber security. “We have consultants who can help clients of every size with any type of business challenge.” ■
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BUSINESS NEWS
WORKING FOR YOU
Keep the politics out of minimum wage $15 an hour minimum wage hurts the most vulnerable By Brandon Ellis Policy and Advocacy Specialist St. John’s Board of Trade
T
hat’s right, I said it. The groups pushing for minimum wage to be raised to $15 an hour are playing politics with the most basic of economics and playing that game will leave the most vulnerable out in the cold. First off, who are the most vulnerable that I am referring to? I’m referring to young people, seniors on fixed incomes, not for profits and small businesses on tight budgets that are trying to keep their head above water. Social action groups who are pushing for minimum wage increases internationally are representing a cause that is fundamentally and socially irresponsible. It is also misleading. We know that the majority of minimum wage earners (54.6 per cent) are between the ages of 15 and 24. We also know from a 2007 study by Morley Gunderson that increases in minimum wage cause decreases in employment for teens and young adults. In a study from economist Sara Lemos, she noted that food prices increase as the minimum wage does by reviewing more than 20 other studies on the matter.
A panel established by the Ontario Ministry of Labour in 2013 and chaired by Anil Verma reported that in Canada, researchers have generally found an adverse employment effect of raising minimum wages, especially for young workers. Typically those studies find that teen employment would drop by three to six per cent if the minimum wage is raised by 10 per cent. The Ontario panel also found that the link between poverty and low wages is weak. The panel noted that some studies even find that a higher minimum wage leads to an increase in poverty. One study found a 10 per cent minimum wage increase was associated with a four to six per cent increase in the percentage of families living in relative poverty in Canada over a span of more than 20 years. The panel explained that the higher minimum wages trigger higher unemployment, which results in more poverty as household incomes drop among low-income families. This is just the surface of the issues, without getting into how this might affect small businesses that are doing their best to keep their doors open or not for profits that are trying to maximize every dollar they have to further their endeavours. In this #FightFor15 campaign, there has also been
little to no consideration for seniors on fixed incomes and how they will be disproportionately affected by these increases. The business community has a large stake in the economy of the province. For all of the points that I have mentioned at this time, it is of my opinion that social action groups are being socially irresponsible. Forget the #FightFor15 and forget injecting politics into the minimum wage. Let’s focus on real solutions. In 2018, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador did the right thing by tying the minimum wage to the consumer price index. This gave both employer and employee certainty on where the minimum wage was heading. This was the fairest solution for both parties. To take it a step further, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador should consider a tax cut similar to what was seen in Nova Scotia in 2018, which ensured that those who needed help the most received the largest benefit. I agree with minimum wage advocates in the sense that minimum wage earners should have more money in their pocket. There are just better ways to go about it and aside from raising the minimum wage. Hopefully our government gets it right. ■
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MEMBER PROFILE
“We’ve always been innovators. We think of ourselves that way — we want to always do great design and feel that in order to do that, we must innovate and not be stagnant. We cannot rely on the way things have been done for the last few decades.” – Bruce Walck,
Principal, Powers Brown Architecture
Building on innovation
Contributed
Powers Brown Architecture designs outside-the-box projects By Sara Ericsson
L
iving by design has been the bread and butter of Powers Brown Architecture. While that may sound like a logical conclusion for an architecture and design firm, their work goes beyond normal barrier bending and breaks through current industry standards. They’re looking to design and build better, more cost-effective and cleaner projects that play into — yet stand out from — their surroundings and brought this approach to Canada in 2015 via St. John’s, where Bruce Walck established their first Canadian office. That move was soon met with success that has only continued to grow. Walck says client feedback continues to prove time and again that these new ideas and creative approach are the main reason the firm continues to thrive. “Clients value the way we think and we get our best results by being innovators in what we do,” he says. Success in St. John’s Walck joined Powers Brown Architecture in 2003 at its office in Houston, Texas, where it was originally founded in 1999. He is now a Principal with the firm and brought it to St. John’s in 2015 when his wife, Jennifer,
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received a job opportunity to become President of Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. And even though the firm was planning for success here, Powers Brown Architecture was still surprised to see business take off so quickly. “The interesting thing was that we began to build a thriving architecture practice, even without knowing the province. We did a lot of marketing, to be sure, but it was also because we brought things to the table that the industry didn’t yet have here,” says Walck. With a working understanding of the country — Walck grew up on the American side of Niagara Falls and with a cottage north of Toronto — and some solid bedrock in place, the time was soon ready for capitalizing on the success of St. John’s and moving ahead with the firm’s expansion plan for the rest of Canada. “The plan for St. John’s was twofold: first, get established here and then expand to grow the company even further across Canada,” says Walck. One part plan, another part chance The St. John’s office has now become the firm’s Atlantic Canada headquarters and base camp from where its endeavours across Eastern Canada have since launched. The
firm has also established an office in Toronto, which acts as the base for their business across the rest of Canada. “To grow the business to the size we wanted, we realized we had to expand out of Newfoundland and Labrador. But that did not pose a problem, since we saw how we could service all of Eastern Canada from here, with short plane rides to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick allowing us to tap into those markets,” says Walck. This success was thanks, in part, to planning and chance, as they arrived in town at a time when St. John’s was independently thriving and producing consistent work opportunities. The work they have completed since 2015 has been focused in four sectors: office building and corporate office interiors, commercial retail with mall renovations and store fit outs, industrial work with warehousing and light manufacturing facilities, as well as multi-family apartment buildings. Walck foresees a steady demand in the future that he predicts will only increase. “We’re seeing that high demand and also continued growth here in St. John’s and Eastern Canada. This makes us very optimistic, as we write proposals every day and have meetings about new projects,” says Walck. BUSINESS NEWS
Contributed Contributed Powers Brown Architecture has been involved in the design and building of Newfoundland and Labrador projects, including Churchill Square, St. John’s (pictured here), and has focused primarily on projects within office building, commercial retail, industrial work and multi-family sectors.
Contributed
Contributed
Powers Brown Architecture has prioritized innovation above almost all else in their work to ensure they continue besting industry standards and pushing the architecture envelope. Pictured here is the Powers Brown-designed Water Street building in St. John’s.
Innovation key to growth Walck says that despite what those outside the industry may think, innovation and architecture do not always go hand in hand, with some industry members seeing it as a commodity, while others see it as an art form. He says while there is a big gap between such groups, he sees the work as a blend of both. “We’ve always been innovators. We think of ourselves that way — we want to always do great design and feel that in order to do that, we must innovate and not be stagnant. We cannot rely on the way things have been done for the last few decades,” says Walck. The firm has consistently gone above and beyond industry standards in areas, including concrete tilt wall technology, for which their in-house research discovered a way to build higher and more cost-effective projects using the technology. Walck says WINTER 2019
Powers Brown Architecture has designed and built the world’s only six-storey concrete tilt building currently standing. This outside-the-box thinking means the firm approaches projects differently than most, leaving preconceived ideas at the door in favour of treating each new design as unique. Walck says this means that not only is the firm a first choice for industry members looking for a groundbreaking design or build, but also one that creates lasting, artistic buildings that are well-built and solid investments for their clients. “Our research and unique approach has gone a long way as well in creating striking building types and finished projects that work with their surroundings, but still stand out. A lot of people we work with value that, which means we have high hopes for growth in Canada,” he says. ■
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THE ECONOMY
Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism
By the numbers
Current Month
Same month last year
Change
Population July 2019........................................................................... 521,500.................... 525,600................................. -0.80% Employed October 2019...................................................................... 227,700.................... 226,100...................................0.70% Unemployment rate October 2019...................................................... 11.1.......................... 12.5....................................... -1.40% Average weekly earnings August 2019................................................ 1,059........................ 1,012.......................................4.70% Consumer price index all items October 2019.................................... 140........................... 139...........................................0.50% Retail trade – Unadjusted for seasonal variation Jan-Aug. 2019....... 5,819,650................ 5,909,572.............................. -1.50% New motor vehicle sales Jan-Aug. 2019.............................................. 24,503...................... 24,522................................... -0.10%
Housing Starts all areas 3rd Q 2019................................................................... 315........................... 399....................................... -21.10% Median price bungalow St. John’s 3rd Q............................................. 289,027.................... 305,745................................. -5.50%
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Offices in St. John’s Grand Falls-Windsor Corner Brook Offices in City St. John’s Labrador 1-833-222-0991 Grand Falls-Windsor St. John’s Happy Valley-Goose Bay Grand Falls-Windsor 709-722-9680Corner Brook information@ancnl.ca Forteau/The Straits Corner Brook 1-833-222-0991Labrador City Happy Valley-Goose Bay Labrador City BUSINESS NEWS information@ancnl.ca Forteau/The Straits Happy Valley-Goose Bay
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FROM THE ROCKIES TO THE ROCK Over the past 12 years, Molson Coors Canada has heavily invested in its St. John’s Brewery on Circular Road. Since 2007, the global brewer has spent more than $30 million on new equipment and upgrades to its infrastructure, while operating with a continuous improvement mindset to make enhancements to its process and production capabilities. Molson Coors’ goal has been to deliver on its commitment to the consumers and customers of Newfoundland & Labrador. With a reputation in the Molson Coors network of being able to deliver solutions to complex problems, the brewery was asked yet again to deliver a new initiative – the brewing and packaging of one of the company’s historic brands – Coors Original! Molson Coors decided to bring Coors Banquet from Golden, Colorado, to Canada, and relaunch it as Coors Original. The St. John’s Brewery was chosen as the first Canadian brewery to create Coors Original in Canada, meaning Newfoundland & Labrador would have access before anyone else! Coors Original will now be brewed by Canadians to the same Golden standard and will be offered alongside the rest of the Coors family of Sean Kennedy, GM Atlantic brands. In Newfoundland & Labrador, Coors Light remains the Operations and New Coors Original top choice for a majority of consumers, and piggy-backing a successful, nationwide launch of new Coors Slice this past summer, the time was right for Newfoundland & Labrador and for Canada to receive new Coors Original. The brand is being offered in 12-pack bottles, 8-pack cans, single-serve 473 ml cans and 20 L kegs. Says Sean Kennedy, General Manager, Atlantic Operations, “The brewery is excited to be the first to launch this iconic brand. Our brewing and packaging teams have been able to match the recipe, flavor profile and visual identity of our brand from the US. By producing locally, we are now able to increase the freshness of this great brand while also cutting down on our carbon footprint by not having to import all the way from Colorado. It’s a big win for everyone!” In addition to launching new brands, the Molson Coors St. John’s brewery has had a major focus on reducing energy consumption and has a mandate to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Through enhanced procedures on its bottle line to recollect and re-use bottles and with a new partnership with local recycler, Evergreen Recycling, the brewery has reduced the amount of waste to landfill by 60% over the past several years. Kennedy says that the brewer has “also expanded its zero waste to landfill efforts by segregating waste, recycling aluminum and cardboard, and engaging its employees to think with a green mindset.” In the next several months, the brewery is looking at modifications to its packaging line to introduce recyclable packaging materials and move away from plastics. Kennedy said, “Our goal is to raise the bar on beer. As much as we want our consumers and customers to look to Molson Coors for its great products, we want to show that we are taking meaningful action to create a positive ‘beer print.’ As a company, we are amplifying our commitment to sustainability which will be a key driver for us to remain as the first choice for our consumers and customers. We are moving forward on many fronts from climate action to clean energy to responsible consumption and production.” Through the hard work of its employees and the desire of the company to invest in this local brewery, there is clear evidence that Molson Coors has a long-term commitment to those who enjoy its products and to a sustainable future. Cheers!