Minding Our Business May 09

MINDING OUR

BUSINESS CENTRE WELLINGTON

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 5

Awards of Excellence May 2009 PUBLISHED IN COOPERATION WITH THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER

MILE STONES

New Business Charles and Julie Bain have opened TOGO, Good Food Delivery CafĂŠ, at 152 St Andrew St W Fergus. (entrance - Kayte Armstrong and Shawn Mackenzie are the new owners of off parking lot). Visit www.goodfoodtogofergus.com or Definition Fitness, 820 St David St, North, Fergus. The phone number is call 519.787.7899.

519.787.7733.

New Owners

New Business - Official Opening and Ribbon Cutting for The Mortgage Centre Fergus was held April 16. Toni Luganais is the branch manager of the Fergus office, located at 742 Tower Street South. Toni may reached at 519.843.7771.

Best Wishes!

New Location Macey Siewright and Kelly Smith of Sweet and Simple Bakery and Cake Shop are located at 187 St Andrew St W Fergus. Macey and Kelly may be reached at 519.787.3222.

New Business Fitness Kickboxing Canada Inc - James Watson is teaching classes at the Elora Centre for Arts. For information or to sign up for classes please call James 519.837.5904 or visit www.fitnesskickboxingcanada.ca.

New Location - KC Video is now located at 855 St David St N Fergus.

New Location - Wilmot Financial Services has relocated to 369 St. Andrew St. W., Unit 1, Fergus.

Del Wilmot many be reached at 519.787.4627 or email to Del@WilmotFinancial.ca.

New Business – Garth Green, (Chamber of Commerce President) has opened a Branch office of Lackner McLennan Insurance Ltd at 57 McNabb St, Elora. Garth may be reached at 519-579.3333 x 324 or email ggreen@lmicanada.com.

PAGE 2 | May 09

about

THIS ISSUE

MINDING OUR

BUSINESS

Minding Our Business is a business magazine focusing on items of interest to commercial, retail, industrial and service businesses in Centre Wellington.

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MILESTONES Openings | Awards | Moves

COVER 2009 Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence, front cover Mike and Julie Woelfle, of Belwood Country Market, winners of the Customer Service Excellence Award.

general policy Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for the signatures, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisements will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. Persons wishing information regarding circulation, rates and additional service are invited to contact our office for further details. The publisher accepts responsibility for claims and honors agreements made by himself or by regular staff on his behalf.

No responsibility is accepted for actions by person(s) not in the employ of the paper, or otherwise over whom the Publisher has no control. All Advertising accepted is done so in good faith. The Publisher maintains the right to approve or reject advertising and articles submitted for publication.

contact MINDING OUR

BUSINESS

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FERGUS BIA BIAs, the Council and CWChamber

5

ELORA BIA Parking

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EDC CMJ Manufacturing

7

Celebrating Success

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE THE CHAMBER PAGES 11 On the Web: Web Award of Excellence Chamber Calendar

11 Services Around Town Help Businesses Survive & Thrive

13 Meet the Members: IMPACT PHYSIOTHERAPY

14 DEVELOPMENT CHARGES 15 CONTACT LISTING & BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Box 252, Fergus, Ontario N1M 2W8 519-843-5410 telephone 519-843-7607 facsimile mob@wellingtonadvertiser.com

May 09 | PAGE 3

MINDING OUR BUSINESS

Julia Tyndale-Biscoe

FERGUS BIA

MAY 2009

BIA’s, the Council and CW Chamber working together for local businesses.

In Fergus, the Centre Wellington Council, the BIA’s and Chamber of Commerce have met to work towards helping businesses in downtown Fergus and Elora and Centre Wellington. At our last joint meeting on April 14th the Elora and Fergus BIA’s presented their results to a retail survey they had been charged to compile. The two questions asked of the BIA memberships were what three opportunities do you see for Fergus (and Elora respectively) and what three challenges do you see? The Fergus BIA received 25 responses and noticed a number of commonalities.

The top responses for opportunities were joint advertising power, building on assets such as the river and heritage buildings, and oppor tunities for joint beautification projects. Areas which the Fergus BIA felt were issues or threats include lack of cohesive downtown branding, more municipal support, the need to jointly create a programme to get the community to “think local first”, empty retail spaces, and communication.

Parking was also perceived as a problem.

Several ideas were brought forward to be discussed in more detail at the May meeting.

Peter Schofield as ‘Elvis’ at the Fashion Extravaganza which raised $700 for Views Camp Freedom. Attendance was down in ’09 due to conflicting events.

Next years event will be BIGGER AND BETTER!

Fergus Pipe Band entertaining young and old on Tartan Day, Sunday April 5th in downtown Fergus. Tartan Day partners included The BIA, Wee Scottish Shop, The Breadalbane Inn, The Goose & Gridiron, D’s Sports Bar, The Brew House, The Goofie Newfie, Scottish Festival Office, Blackthorn Productions and EFT. Well done everyone!

Please mark your calendars BIA Annual General Meeting May 20th at Melville United Church at 6 PM. Come and find out who is the BIA

Business Person of the Year!

BIA’s 3rd Annual Fashion Extravaganza on April 8th, featured spring fashions from Broderick’s Fashion for Women, Special Effects and Broderick’s Apparel for Men.

As submitted by the Fergus BIA

PAGE 4 | May 09

The Fergus BIA thanks Ian Walsh and Blackthorn Productions for their contribution to Tartan Day and making the occasion such a family friendly day out.

PARKING Parking. OK … I know I just lost more than half of you.

Fair enough – parking space isn’t a very sexy topic. But for those of you who are still reading, I should let you know that “solving” the parking problem in Centre Wellington, particularly in our downtown cores, currently occupies a significant chunk of your tax dollars and a sizeable investment of time and energy from those public and private members who sit on a little known but highly active public parking committee.

Now I don’t know enough about the parking situation in Fergus to weigh-in on their issues, but I do have some experience with the parking problem in Elora.The problem is pretty simple: when store owners, property owners and tenants park their own cars in front of retail stores and restaurants along Mill Streets East and West, or along either side of Metcalfe, visitors and local people who might otherwise be inclined to pull over quickly to do a bit of shopping or grab a coffee don’t do it, because there aren’t any spots left to put their car.

(And if this is a problem now, just wait until the Dalby House reopens and both health care employees and their patients start filling up every available space in town.)

As I understand it, there have been many unsuccessful attempts over the years to solve this problem. I don’t know why they’ve been unsuccessful, and it’s no use theorizing as to the original causes of the current situation. But I will say this: the latest attempt at a solution will see the identification and notification of regular offenders (let’s just call them “parkers”) and possibly some selective enforcement of an existing bylaw which restricts parking in front of commercial properties in downtown Elora to two hours.

As you can imagine, this could get pretty nasty. So I have a suggestion. If you are a

business owner who feels that visitorship to your store, office or restaurant is reduced due to the constant occupation of parking spaces in front of your place by the tenants above you, other business people on your street, or any other regular “parker”, why don’t you just have a talk with them?

Why? Because it takes courage to have a chat like that.

Most of us (me included) are much more comfortable grumbling to sympathetic neighbours about issues like this one, as opposed to addressing them head-on.We dislike and avoid confrontation. But if you’re capable of collecting yourself ahead of time – of preparing for your conversation (not confrontation) by reviewing your own goals and the most successful strategy for achieving them – then addressing this issue “head-on” doesn’t have to devolve into anything unpleasant. Leave your aggressive tendencies – your “angry voice”, your sarcasms and subtle threats – in the broom closet and commit yourself to a good old fashioned conversation.

Why not start off by asking your parker why they park where they do? What you have construed as a wilful discourtesy might really have more to do with a health issue or a mild phobia. Do you regularly see your parker lugging heavy boxes or groceries out of the car and up to the rooms above? Maybe parking out in front of your place shortens the trip. Is there a chance that their van has been broken into five times in the last two years, and the distrust and feelings of violation that they’re struggling with on a daily basis are of comparable importance to the issue you’re facing?

Tim Horton

in Elora probably don’t have any of these issues, and it’s not likely they need your help with anything. But they might not know just how important that space in front of your store is to you. Getting angry at them won’t make them more understanding, but having the courage to speak to them directly and courteously about it might be all it takes to change their minds each morning as they arrive in town.

And if your conversation does bear fruit, and you start to notice your parker’s car around the corner and up the street a bit, then it might be a good idea to find a way to thank them for it.

Wouldn’t it be nice if simple, forthright, honest conversations between neighbours were able to take care of this issue before somebody decides to start asking the OPP to handle it for us?

Next question: Is there something you could do for your parker that might make it easier for them to leave their vehicle on a side street nearby?

I know what you’re thinking, and you’re probably right – the majority of parkers

May 09 | PAGE 5

economic DEVELOPMENT

Dave Rushton

CMJ MANUFACTURING In the last edition of Minding Our Business, I wrote about the future of creative economies and the way that communities, like our own, need to source out the creative thinkers, the “outside the box” idealists whose ingenuity and talent will take us through this recession into a new vision for business and development. You might think I’m talking about a global idea based on some large corporate entity in a skyscraper far, far away, but I would encourage you to look around Centre Wellington. Our creative community is happening right now, right here.

Dry equipment might be a matter of comfort for professional athletes, but for our fire fighters, it could be a matter of life or death, so Lake has identified that market for his equipment, and the response has been incredible. This has led CMJ to carry related products to expand their level of service to municipal fire departments in both Canada and the United States. Recognizing this market, where safety and government regulations make budgetary stipulations for such important equipment, has helped CMJ to manage the recession.

John Lake of CMJ Manufacturing is someone who had an idea, developed a plan and went for it against all odds. Risk, vision and talent grew his small one-room shop to a larger warehouse plant, complete with a boardroom and state-ofthe-art machinery, and a future where growth is inevitable. From the Fergus’ Industrial Park, Lake is expanding his business and his ideas, taking his products around the world and into new niche markets every day.

On December 1st, 2008, John and Susan moved CMJ Manufacturing into a new location on Gartshore St. in Fergus, expanding their production facility to allow for total in-house manufacturing for these specialty Mega Blast Drying Systems and the Alpha Edge Triple Head Sharpeners. The new environmentally-sound building allows them the infrastructure to do everything but paint the cobalt blue sharpening units. Their new CNC Plasma Cutter & CNC Break gives them the competitive edge with the highest level of computerized control with improved quality for their welding and fabrication.

What started out as a Skate Sharpening and Contouring business, with the unique design of the Alpha Edge Triple Head Sharpener, gave Lake international notoriety for his expertise, making him a recognized name in the International Hockey League and National Hockey League. It was through these major sports teams that he identified yet another need to be met: the health concerns related to wet sports equipment. By understanding his clients and their specific challenges he developed the design and technology to trademark Mega Blast Drying Systems, allowing professional sports teams to dry-out their wet, soaked equipment quickly and easily, wherever they travelled.

PAGE 6 | May 09

With a commitment to staying local, Lake also believes in supporting local business, an understands that creative economies have to support their own communities, whether it is through employment, equipment, idea sharing or business opportunities. John Lake and CMJ Manufacturing are an example of how creative ideas grow business and opportunities on a grand scale.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS TOWNSHIP CELEBRATED SUCCESS WITH GALA FERGUS – Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce and the township celebrated citizens and businesses on April 23 with a gala banquet at the community centre.

There were many awards presented over the course of the evening. The list includes the winner, award name, sponsor, and presenters: Mary Lloyd, Citizen of the Year sponsored by the Township, presented by Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj Nishin Nathwani, Youth Citizen of the Year Alvin Short Award, by the Township Parks and Recreation, presented by councillor Shawn Watters Sensational Elora, the Cultural Arts Award of Merit from the Centre Wellington cultural affairs committee presented by councillor Kirk McElwain; Mach One Communications and Design Agency, Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Tracy Group Benefits & Financial, presented by Barney Tracy L&M Foodmarket, Large Business of the Year, sponsored by RBC Royal Bank, and presented by Katie Cheesmond and Mark Burton;

Kody Kirton, of the Fergus Devils, Sports Achievement Award, sponsored by Bell Aliant and presented by Jim Newman Eric Goudie and Grinder Productions, Youth Entrepreneur, sponsored by Waterloo-Wellington Community Futures Development Corporation, presented by Rick Whittaker Belwood Country Market and Mike and Julie Woelfle, Customer Service Excellence Award, sponsored by Protector Security Systems and Locksmith Corp., presented by Dave MacMillan Larry Peters, of TV Cogeco, Corporate-Citizen-of-the-Year, sponsored by A.O. Smith / GSW, and presented by Steve Ilott Allan Wallace - Wallace Farms, Agriculture and Agri-business Award sponsored by Grand River Agricutlural Society, presented by Paul Walker The Upper Grand Family Health Team, the Business Beautification and Heritage Award (for the former Dalby House in Elora) sponsored by Grand and Acheson LLP, presented by Sarah Jacobs Sarah Hennekens, Environmental Excellence Award, sponsored by TD Canada Trust, and presented by Peter Baldasso

Elora Festival (accepted by Jurgen Patrenko & Noel Edison) Tourism Impact Award, sponsored by Highland Pines Campground and presented by Janet Vallery Groves Hospital Volunteer Association, the Community Award of Merit, sponsored by Meridian Credit Union, presented by Tiffany Storey Ted Ecclestone, the President’s Award sponsored by Reid’s Heritage Homes, presented by Terry Kloepfer The Chamber of Commerce also presented a number of businesses with long service awards. Those are sponsored

by Ecclestone Financial Group Inc., and were presented by Ted Ecclestone.

25 year members: Bush Enterprise; Hutten Collions Centre Inc. CSN; Rowe Electric; and Ken Weeks Pontiac Buick.

40 year members are: Don Burns Excavating Ltd.; Fergus Decorating Centre Ltd.; and The Wellington Adver tiser. for photos of Award Winners see pages 8, 9, 10

Make Dreams Real If you are interested in making a difference locally & internationally

Centre Wellington Centennial Rotary Club

JOIN ROTARY! BREAKFAST MEETINGS - THURSDAYS 7 A.M. At the Gorge Country Kitchen, Elora Centre Wellington Centennial Rotary Club For info. call 519-846-0971 May 09 | PAGE 7

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

Mary Lloyd, CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Nishin Nathwani, YOUTH CITIZEN OF THE YEAR,

Larry Peters, of TV Cogeco, CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Eric Goudie and Grinder Productions, YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR

Kody Kirton, of the Fergus Devils, SPORTS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Belwood Country Market, CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE

Allan Wallace, and Wallace Farms, AGRICULTURE & AGRI-BUSINESS

Sarah Hennekens, ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

Elora Festival TOURISM IMPACT

Our thanks to Bill Longshaw for pictorial coverage of the 2009 Awards of Excellence

Groves Hospital Volunteer Association, COMMUNITY AWARD OF MERIT submitted photo

PAGE 10 | May 09

ON THE WEB ,

on all kinds of blogs and websites) or $0.10 on Google search results pages.

3. Use text on your site that speaks your customer’s language, not your own. Think about your website visitor’s questions or concerns, and address these on your website. This will make your site feel obvious and effortless, as it seamlessly fits the frame of mind of the visitor.

NARDO KUITERT nardo@ ucwebs.com.

WEB AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Last month the Centre Wellington Awards of Excellence were handed out. Even though there is not a category for “Best website,” you should do your best to try and capture that award, albeit virtually.

Your reward will be anything but virtual if you optimize your website (or even get one in the first place), as the world continues to rely more and more on the Internet (read: Google) for almost anything.

4. Provide safety nets.What if people can’t find on your website what they are looking for right away? Do you want them to leave?

Or will you try to engage them for a little longer? By having a Site Map, breadcrumb trails and Site Search options you give people multiple ways to explore your website in search of their particular answers.

5. Context. You will be surprised how much money is wasted in advertising because of lack of context. Ads that don’t mention where a store is located. Failure to mention dates (yes, including a year).

Especially on the web, information can be timeless. It may be linked too. So be as clear as you can be. Have an About Us page, so people know who “we” is. Have a Contact Us, preferably with Directions, so people know where you are located. Even if you do not want to be visited: omitting your address will erode trust.

Some tips: 1. If you don’t have a website: get one! And if money is really, really tight: at least get a free blog (on WordPress.com or Blogger.com, or one of the other free blog networks out there) or get a Facebook page. These free blogs and pages are far from perfect, but they are better than nothing. With your company name prominently placed on it, at least you’ll be found. You can link to it from your profile page on the Chamber website.

2. Make sure your website is found easily.

Aim for the long-term results with search engine optimization, so you will show up in the normal search results and appear to be an expert in your field. How? By making your website relevant for the phrases that you want to be found for. Alternatively: you can place ads on Google AdWords, starting at $0.01 per click (in the content network,

Congratulations to all winners at the Awards of Excellence gala last month. You have done a lot of things right in the eyes of the public in order to deserve these accolades. Follow the tips above and your future customers will shower you with compliments – and purchases!

For more information: contact Nardo Kuitert at nardo@ferguswebsites.com or 519-787-7612.

the chamber OF COMMERCE Chamber Calendar NETWORKING BREAKFASTS Our 1st ever MP Breakfast will be on Wednesday, May 20th from 7:30 to 9:00 AM at Heritage River.

Michael Chong, MP will give us an update from a federal perspective.

Mark this on your calendars now!

Cost is $20 for Members and $25 for Future Members.

Wednesday, May 27th 7:30-9:00 AM at Elora Mill Inn. This is our Annual General Meeting.

We invite you to come and attend to meet our Directors and find out what the Chamber has been up to in the last year.

You will also have a lovely breakfast buffet and have a chance to network with your business peers.

Cost is $15 for Members and $20 for Future Members.

RSVP for above events by calling 519-843-5140 or email chamber@cwchamber.ca.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Wednesday, May 20th, The Garden’s Edge & Fergus Horticulture Society will be our host between 5:30 and 7:00 pm. RSVP to Marg Gollinger at info@the-gardens-edge.com or call 519846-5574.

GOLF… Fore!! It’s time to get back into the swing of things!

Wednesday, June 10th 2009 at Ariss Valley Golf and Country Club.

Our prices for sponsorship and to play have remained the same this year.

For more info contact Roberta at 519-843-5140.

May 09 | PAGE 11

the chamber OF COMMERCE

SERVICES AROUND TOWN HELP BUSINESSES SURVIVE AND THRIVE It has been sad to see doors close for the last time on businesses on St. Andrew Street in Fergus; some might have been able to keep going with the right advice and support from the right services.

Margaret C. Pennyfather Hons. BA, C.I.M. of Marketing Network Associates

MINDING OUR

BUSINESS Sherry Clarke DISPLAY AD SALES

This is only the tip of the iceberg, as some business owners have mentioned they are not quite sure what to do next to survive and thrive in the current economy and many are at a crucial expansion point and are reluctant to put that dream on hold.

Yet there are professional services available locally that can make a real difference to existing businesses. Independent business consultants are sympathetic to the issues faced by small and medium sized business owners and would be only too pleased to provide the right advice and the connections.There are a number of support services available such as marketing, accounting, management, off-site clerical support such as bookkeeping and payroll, and of course employment services, providing a steady stream of qualified candidates to ease the staffing issues.

Insurance, with support in the form of training and subsidies depending on the applicable program, and a job developer to work with the employer to help with the fit.

Local bankers provide advice as part of their service and are creative in finding solutions to free up cash flow to allow a business to do the things they have to do to ease the cash shortage and grow.

The advice to local business is to not accept the current situation but check around town for very qualified help, and contact the local Chamber of Commerce to enquire about the availability of professional services for your business.

Margaret C. Pennyfather Hons. BA, C.I.M. of Marketing Network Associates can be reached at 519-787-9959 or visit www.marketingstrategiesnetwork.com.

There are government programs providing financial assistance to help businesses hire employees currently on Employment

While you’re looking after business, who’s looking after you?

call to reserve your ad space!

519.843.5410 mob@wellingtonadvertiser.com 905 Gartshore St., Fergus PAGE 12 | May 09

Barney Tracy, CFP, FLMI Ph: (519) 820 1283 e-mail: btracy@groupbenefits.on.ca

MEET THE MEMBERS IMPACT PHYSIOTHERAPY AND PERFORMANCE INC. Impact Physiotherapy and Performance opened its doors September 1, 2008. But the foundation was laid back in February of 2005 when Ronda Schnurr-Smith was hired to run the Impact Physiotherapy clinic located in Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Fergus – a private clinic in a public setting – as a means of generating revenue to support existing publicallyfunded services within the hospital. When funding to the Fergus hospital was reduced it had to downsize some of its outpatient services, and as a result pulled the plug on the physiotherapy clinic. “Rather silly, really,” Ronda said “The clinic made money for the hospital.”

So how to proceed? She discussed with her husband Shaun the possibilities to go out on her own.The few months they had from the moment they heard the news (April) until the clinic actually closed its doors (August) were used to find a location, renovate it and get ready to launch a new business. As if starting their own business wasn’t enough, they simultaneously arranged a wedding, which was already planned before the news of the closing of the clinic hit them. The hard work paid off and two weeks before the opening of their new business, Ronda and Shaun got married. They had to take a rain check for the honeymoon, however. And they probably won’t have time for any travel soon, since they’re expecting the birth of their first baby in May. Ronda really likes the small (albeit growing) community of Fergus, and is very involved in the local sports community. She supports the community that she works in, even though she lives just north of Arthur. Ronda has been the Fergus Devils’ Jr. C. trainer for the past four years and has volunteered with lacrosse. “Centre Wellington is very sports-minded,” she says.

the chamber OF COMMERCE

chiropractor. “As physiotherapists, we assist our patients in restoring their function through manual therapy, exercise prescription, heat, cold, ultrasound and education – to name but a few options,” Ronda says. “There is more and more research being done producing findings about the benefits of exercise and physiotherapy to treat medical conditions that both reduce people’s dependencies on medication and improve quality of life.”

Both the Centre Wellington Chamber and the Guelph Business Enterprise Centre helped Ronda a lot when she started her business. Learning more about things like marketing, finance and human resources management have been a great help to her in running her business. The Chamber provides her with extended health benefits, a debit/credit card machine at discounted rates and lots of networking opportunities.

Getting to know other business people and supporting each other not only makes good business sense; it is also very nice to know people when you run into them in the street.

Although Impact Physiotherapy and Performance does advertise, for marketing it capitalizes a lot on word-of-mouth advertising. Referrals from doctors, satisfied patients, people she knows through her volunteering with local sports organizations and other business owners that she meets on local Chamber networking events are all seen as equally effective as an ad in the local papers. “It’s all about the people,” Ronda says. “Seeing you in action (at the sports fields), and the manner in which you interact with the athletes, staff and general public shows how you really care about this community.”

Impact Physiotherapy and Performance currently has one physiotherapy assistant, Jennifer Figg, but Ronda would love to bring in another physiotherapist – one that has the same priorities for client-centred care and local support of the community. Ronda sees lots of opportunity for her profession and her own business, as people are living longer and want to stay active, and Centre Wellington keeps on growing.

Impact Physiotherapy and Performance Inc. is located at 855 St. David Street North, Unit 4, in Fergus. You can contact them at 519-843-3961 or email ronda@impactphysio.ca.

Some people who have never had physiotherapy before do not know how it differs from the more commonly known practices of a massage therapist or a

May 09 | PAGE 13

DEVELOPMENT CHARGES COUNCIL DEFERS DEVELOPMENT CHARGES FOR LONG TIME BUSINESS Centre Wellington Township councillors slashed through some red tape on March 30 to aid a business that is planning a new store.

The owners of Dixon Home Hardware (2554234 Ontario Limited) are redeveloping their current site at the north west corner of St. David Street and Black Street at the north end of Fergus.

Township Treasurer Wes Snarr said in a report to council that the owners plan a new retail store at the site with about 2,425 square metres of floor space. There are three structures currently on the property and they will be demolished: - an industrial building at 225 Black Street, formerly CP Industries; - a commercial building at 725 St. David Street North, formerly Bennett Motors; and - the existing Dixon Home Hardware store at 745 St. David Street North.

Join

the Food Bank in delivering our service. we require donations year round!

Visits to the Food Bank have increased Please donate food to help fill the needs within the Community.

Tax receipts will be provided for financial donations 170 St. Andrew St. E. Fergus | N1M 2W8 519-787-1401 email: cwfoodbank@wightman.ca

www.cwfoodbank.org

PAGE 14 | May 09

Snarr said the total floor space of those three buildings is about 2,035 square metres.

He said the owners were asking that council give it credit for the three buildings being demolished, and defer collection of the development charges. He noted that normally, the charges are payable when the the building permit is issued.

Snarr explained that the company would be liable for charges on only 390 square metres because it is replacing old buildings with new, and only the 390 square metres qualifies for development charges.

He noted the Dixons plan to continue operating their store while the new store is under construction. So, the structures at 225 Black Street and 745 St. David Street will remain in place until after the new store is occupied.

That occupancy is expected to be in July or August. Demolition of the building at 725 St. David Street North was completed in April. The other two structures are scheduled for demolition in September, Snarr said in his report.

Snarr said the township and county bylaws require the demolition take place within five years because that prevents people from receiving development charges credits and then keeping the buildings.

“Usually, demolition precedes construction because the new structure will occupy the footprint of the old structure,” he said.

Councillors indicated they were pleased with Snarr’s report.

“I think it’s fantastic to see a business expand in these times,” said councillor Walt Visser. “We should do everything possible to assist by deferring development charges.”

He moved the deferral, and councillor Bob Foster seconded that motion. The motion carried. Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj said, “I think it’s great.”

Councillors Ron Hallman and Fred Morris were absent.

CONTACT LISTING Ministry of Labour www.employeradviser.ca WCB - 1.800.387.0774 Employment Standards 1.800.531.5551

Waterloo-Wellington M.P.P. 519.787.5247 Ted Arnott ted.arnottco@pc.ola.org

Ontario Government www.gov.on.ca

Wellington - Halton Hills M.P. 519.843.7344 1-866-878-5556 Michael Chong chong.m@parl.gc.ca

Revenue Canada www.cra-arc.gc.ca Service Canada www.servicecanada.gc.ca

The Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce Phone: 519.843.5140 E-mail: chamber@cwchamber.ca

Township of Centre Wellington 519.846.9691 www.centrewellington.ca

BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) 519.571.6680 Don Cubbidge don.cubbidge@bdc.ca

WCB 1.800.387.0774 www.employeradviser.ca

Elora BIA 519.846.2563 elorabia@wightman.ca Fergus BIA 519-787-1384 fergusbia@wightman.ca Centre Wellington Economic Development 519.846.0971 Dave Rushton drushton@centrewellington.ca Minding Our Business The Wellington Advertiser Box 252, Fergus, Ontario N1M 2W8 519-843-5410 mob@wellingtonadvertiser.com

BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY Debbie Kurt

Total Computing Solutions

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

519-843-1365 (bus) 519-766-6384 (cell) 519-843-2202 (fax) 888-268-2268 (toll free) dkurt@rlproyalcity.com www.rlproyalcity.com

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Call 787-4700 (519)

820 Gartshore Street, Unit 5, Fergus

840 Tower Street South Fergus, Ontario N1M 2R3

Outdoor Advertising Promotional Items Printed Material

Paul Kelly

Marketing Coordinator

Mobile: 519-766-5922 paul@bluprintmarketing.ca www.bluprintmarketing.ca

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