• • • •
Mutual Funds Retirement Counselling Tax Investment Planning Life & Disability Insurance* *Insurance products provided through Dundee Insurance Agency Ltd.
ventureguelph.ca
December 2011
FREE CONSULTING
Glen L. Barckert CFP ® Certified Financial Planner
www.rlproyalcity.com
Dundee Private Investors Inc.
13 Paisley St., Guelph N1H 2N5 www.dundeewealth.com 519-823-2790
business to business | homes and lifestyles
1 lyon avenue, guelph jmoran@lyonfinancial.ca
ROCKWOOD
New location for Milburn Auto Sales and Service
8 page insert ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH CENTRE FOUNDATION, GUELPH
519.766.0001
Speedvale Ave., GUELPH Waterloo Ave., GUELPH Stone Road Mall - GUELPH
Many downtown board members, councillors, and DGBA staff gathered at the 38th AGM. Pictured left to right are: Back: Councillor Jim Furfaro; Vice Chair Chris Ahlers – Wyndham Art Supplies; Treasurer Doug Minett – The Bookshelf; Tom Lammer Old Quebec Street; Councillor Todd Dennis; DGBA Executive Director Marty Williams. Middle: DGBA Events Assistant, Sam Jewel; DGBA Marketing and Promotions, Lynn Broughton; Marc Brombal – Chamber of Commerce; Chair Charles Davidson – Barrister, Solicitor, Notary Public; Chuck Cunningham – U of G. Front: Lorenz Calcagno – Resident; DGBA Administrative Assistant, Vanessa Iacocca; DGBA Events Assistant, Lynn Veronneau.
Large construction projects complete in downtown
Operating since 1969,the independent car store will soon relocate to a brand new 10,000 square foot facility at 219 Brock Road North. Five times the size of their current location,the space has an indoor and outdoor showroom with room for up to 200 used late model cars.Ten service bays with drive through service will provide customers with express lube,two- and four-wheel alignment,detailing,maintenance and repair. Aqua Pavers will cover most of the outdoor parking display area.The permeable interlocking surface supports storm water management by allowing for natural drainage and a natural filtration process,removing pollutants from the runoff. Continuing with the green approach,a 30-foot outdoor display unit will reduce heat penetration through the side of the building,therefore reducing the interior heating and cooling uses. “We are committed to being here for the next 25 years or more,and with this new facility we are looking forward to doubling our personnel while offering our customers a unique shopping experience.”says Robert Milburn,Owner of Milburn Auto Sales. Watch for the new location to open by February of 2012. For more information,and up to the minute lowest gas prices in town, visit www.milburnautosales.com.
by Heather Grummett
www.premiumhrsolutions.com
519-824-2428 Recruitment/Staffing All Positions Results-oriented HR Advice
Guelph Weather . Go
cthaere!
Bring this clipping to our Bell Clairfields Common location and receive an in-store credit of $25 towards your next purchase. Limit one per customer, no cash value, valid only at our 5 Clair Rd Guelph location (Gordon & Clair Rd) *some conditions may apply
(519) 826-0980 Venture Guelph Publications Ltd. 2 Quebec St., Unit 232 Park Mall, Guelph 519-824-1595 Mike Baker, Publisher
ventureguelph.ca
Downtown merchants and property owners recently gathered with downtown board members, council members and city officials, at the Downtown Guelph Business Association 38th annual general meeting. Attending the event, Mayor Karen Farbridge spoke of the many capital projects taking place in the core.“This has been a year of the most ambitious and complex series of projects this City has ever undertaken,” said Farbridge.“It’s been a dramatic and transformational year for downtown. While it has not been easy for many merchants, the projects are coming to an end and I can now see it all coming together.” Included in the projects, major road construction to Carden St. was completed in the late summer and Market Square in front of City Hall, with its outdoor rink and heated pavilion is to be opening in early January. Also on Carden St., from Wyndham St. to Macdonell St., work continues on the new inter-modal transit terminal, designed to improve connections between Guelph’s local bus service and regional
public transit systems including Greyhound, GO Transit and VIA Rail. Due to open in the spring, commuters will be able to use the GO train service from Guelph to Toronto for the expected cost of $11.70 for a one-way ticket. Come January, visitors can experience the new Guelph Civic Museum with an official Grand Opening Weekend celebration on Feb 24 to 26. The $12.7 million adaptive reuse project has transformed Loretto Convent, built between 1850 and 1890, into a space that will host a variety of events and exhibits throughout the year and house a collection of approximately 30,000 items. “We are working to create vibrant urban spaces that will attract people and employers; where all people can flourish,” adds Farbridge.“Our path forward will create a downtown that is even more vibrant in 20 years than it is today, while preserving Guelph’s character as we grow.” Guelph’s Downtown Secondary Plan has growth targets of an additional 6,000 residents and 1,500 jobs in the downtown core over the next 20 years. With a proposed
500,000 square feet of office and institutional space, and 300,000 square feet of retail space. Many of these developments are projected for within the historical core, with approximately 80% of the growth just south of the railway tracks. Last year, Tricar Group purchased the high-end condominium tower located in the former Co-operators building on Macdonell St. The 18 level high-rise with 15 floors of residential space, expects to bring approximately 150 residential units to the core; plus lower level parking, commercial and retail space. The top three floors of the Douglas St. Gummer building will bring up to 20 openconcept apartments to the downtown. With an approximate completion date of Sept. 2012, the building will also have available office space and street-level retail space. The Community Improvement Plan has assisted many property owners in renovating their buildings to create more usable spaces, as well as update facades. With all the new projects being completed, new renovations to existing properties, new jobs
and new property owners, now more than ever it is a great time to visit downtown Guelph. “There have been challenges and there are many more issues to work through, but there are many positive signs that we are moving in the right direction,” says Marty Williams,Executive Director for the Downtown Guelph Business Association. “New stores have opened, new investments have been made; businesses and people are choosing downtown Guelph. In our shortterm plan we are working to find new ways to promote what we already have through different marketing initiatives. One step is creating more direct connections between merchant members and the various events that take place downtown.” “We are working to promote development that brings more businesses and more residents to downtown Guelph,” adds Williams.“We need to work creatively with all stakeholders to make sure that we have development that we can be proud of, and which encourages more people to live, work, and invest in the heart of our city."
Come see the professionals in our Guelph office for all your insurance and financial needs.
Guarantee your retirement income even in a down market. REVIEW YOUR INVESTMENTS WITH US
• Estate & Retirement Planning • Life Insurance • Critical Illness
MacLean & MacLean Financial Services 116-355 Elmira Rd., N., Guelph email: maclean@macleanfinancial.com
www.macleanfinancial.com
519-837-3880