THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015 - Page 9A
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Did You Know??? –
“Going local does not mean walling off the outside world. It means nurturing locally owned businesses which use local resources, employ local workers at decent wages and serve primarily local consumers. It means becoming more self-sufficient and less dependant on imports. Control moves from the boardrooms of distant corporations and back into the community where it belongs.” – Michael Shuman, author of ‘Going Local.’
THE OFFICIAL SOD TURNING for the Parkland College’s Trades and Technology Center took place in May of 2014. Pictured above are Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit, Finance Minister and Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz, Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris, Yorkton Mayor Bob Maloney, Parkland College President Dr. Fay Myers, Parkland College Board Chairperson Lydia Cyr, and Parkland College Capital Campaign Committee Co-chairs Evan Ortynsky and Linda Turta.
• From job creation, to community development, the local businesses in these pages are giving back and thinking big in 2015.
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Page 10A - THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015
Business is good in the City of Yorkton By DEVIN WILGER N-R Writer The City of Yorkton is anticipating that 2015 will be another positive year of steady growth for the local business community, says Mayor Bob Maloney. The trend for the city has been steady growth for the past several years, with increasing number of businesses opening in the city, as evidenced by business licenses increasing year over year. The entrepreneurs are the base of the area’s economy, Maloney says, and while the city appreciates all business and loves to see a big facility open up, those are rare, it’s the new small businesses that are growing the economy on a consistent basis. “People who open businesses generate a lot of income, and that income is invested back into the community. Small businesses have a pretty good record when you look at their per-capita income of investing, creating jobs and creating wealth.” Yorkton is a unique situation because it’s positioned as a service center drawing from a wide range of smaller communities. Maloney says that this makes it an attractive place to take a risk and set up
a business, and that is what keeps the economy going strong. “Those mom and pop stores really do keep your local economy going. They’re renting space in somebody’s building, so if that building is rented out another one gets built. There’s a lot of things that turn your economy, and that’s why that entrepreneurial spirit is so important to any community. People who start businesses really fuel that economic engine.” The city also still
has gaps which only small business can fill. Maloney uses trucking as an example, as there are a large number of trucks moving through the city. More truckfocused industry is something which the city could use, whether it’s for service, repair or fuel. The Parkland College’s Trades and Technology Centre is going to be something that is a big economic driver for the city, Maloney believes, because it’s going to meet the need of local
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business as well as inspire its graduates to start businesses of their own. “To me that’s the beauty of a Trades and Technology Centre, because people in the trades are more likely to start a business.” For the city, the goal is to make it possible for people to build their business in the city. That means developing subdivisions such as the new R o u n d h o u s e Subdivision, Maloney explains. “It takes a big
investment, but if you don’t make that investment they’re not coming. You have to lay the groundwork, and I think the city has a pretty good record of doing that. We’re ready for growth and we’re ready for new people, new businesses. It’s an important thing for cities to do, but it’s a difficult one since there are large investments for cities to lay that groundwork.” While the province overall has been hit with major decreases in oil and gas prices,
Maloney says that Yorkton’s diversity serves it well, with agriculture, potash, manufacturing and retail service all being major parts of the city’s economic layout. Some areas of the economy, such as manufacturing and agriculture, also tend to benefit from lower gas prices. “While the provincial economy might struggle with oil and gas, I think our local economy is a bit more insulated.”
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THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015 - Page 11A
Working together to provide experiences
By DEVIN WILGER N-R Writer
The hospitality industry is a big part of Yorkton, bringing approximately $38 million into the community. Randy Goulden, Executive Director of Tourism Yorkton, says that the city is seeing growth in the tourism industry, as more people are viewing the city as a destination. There has been significant growth in hospitality in the last several years, with new hotels being the most visible sign of the city’s increased presence as a destination. Goulden says that this has been reflected in how Yorkton is now able to bid on events that simply wouldn’t have been possible in previous years. “With the facilities Yorkton now has for accommodation and event hosting, we’re seeing more events coming into the city, and the growth in annual events.” The city hosting the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards is one of those events that the city can now handle thanks to more accommodations and facilities, she notes. Existing events also benefit, as the Parkland Outdoor Show and Expo is able to take advantage of the growth in the city and expand, Goulden adds. “When people come in for events, they see what we have here, and there’s
the potential of them returning and staying longer.” One event that shows just how tourism is a partnership between different groups of people is the upcoming Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association Provincial Festival. Goulden notes that it’s the volunteers that make the event happen, but it’s also having hotels available for riders, having a place for them to fuel up on the weekend, and having local snowmobile dealers that not only provide service to people going through town, but also encourage staff to volunteer with the festival itself. “We need the small businesses to assist the volunteers in putting on these events, because if we didn’t have those the volunteers wouldn’t be able to do it on their own... We have the volunteers that groom the trails with the SnoRiders, but they need good services, whether it’s fuel, accommodation, food and beverage or servicing for the snowmobiles... They have to come together to provide the good experiences... It’s bringing all sectors of the community together, and business plays a very large part of that.” Snowmobiles in general have been embraced by the local business community, with awards being won for the services the city provides to riders when they visit town. Goulden says that’s
one thing that’s part of a larger goal, which is to provide a positive experience. “More and more, people are looking for experiences... That’s what we have in the Yorkton area, whether it’s sports or recreation or arts and culture.” In Yorkton tourism is beyond just what happens within city limits, Goulden emphasizes, noting that many people will stay at provincial parks or take advantage of hunting opportunities, but use the city as a base for supplies and services.
R. Miller’s Plumbing, Heating & Electrical Ltd. Serving Yorkton and Area for 25 Years Proud to be part of this community and proud to support these local organizations: • Brayden Ottenbreit Close Cuts for Cancer • Deer Park Ladies Open Golf Tournament • Sunrise Health Region • Yorkton Fire Fighters Burn Unit Fund • Soup Haven • Prairie Harvest Christian Life Center • 4-H • Local Wildlife Federation Associations • Harvest Showdown • Yorkton R. Miller’s Cardinals Baseball Team • Kinsmen Recycling Program • Royal Canadian Legion • Yorkton Minor Football 225 - 4th Avenue N., Yorkton, SK
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PICTURED (L-R) Jason Farrell, David Polachek (Vice President), Gene Krepakvich (President), Roby Sharpe and Dustin Nehring.
Yorkton Co-op is proud to be involved in the communities they serve. Major donations include $50,000 to the Parkland College Trades and Technology Centre, $25,000 to the Kamsack Medical Clinic and most recently, $50,000 to the Yorkton Community Clubhouse. This is over and above the $70,000 in donations yearly to more than 200 groups and organizations. Yorkton Co-op continues to build and upgrade their assets by investing more than $15 million dollars in the past 5 years in capital improvements in the communities they serve including a new food store in Kamsack, a major upgrade to the Yorkton Food Store, a major upgrade to the Yorkton Agro Centre and a new Gas Bar on Palliser Way in Yorkton in 2010. Many of the staff, management and Board members also serve on local committees, service groups and boards. We play where you play, work where you work and live where you live.
Yorkton Co-op – Investing in Communities for 75 Years.
Page 12A - THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015
A BUSY PLACE – The past year has seen a great deal of expansion over the past year and into the future, with the development of the Roundhouse Subdivision, the opening of the Holiday Inn as well as the new Sport Chek and Atmosphere locations. Photos courtesy of the City of Yorkton.
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THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015 - Page 13A FROMM MANOR – An official ground breaking ceremony for Fromm Manor was held in December, 2014. In response to a needs assessment survey two years ago, this new rental housing project contains 11 bachelor-style units for singles with low to moderate income who are unable to find or maintain housing without support services. Located on Tupper Avenue, the apartments are being built near the downtown area for easy access to city amenities. On hand for the sod turning were (from left to right) Mayor Bob Maloney, Chair of Yorkton Housing Cor poration, City Councillour, Les Arnelien, MLA Greg Ottenbreit, MP
Garry Breitkreuz and the two daughters of Brian Fromm. The total cost of the project is approximately $1.6 million. The Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Province of Saskatchewan, through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC), contributed a combined total of $1.14 million through the Investment in Affordable Housing (2011-2014) Agreement. The City of Yorkton donated the land ($116,000) and provided $365,000 in mortgage financing. The Yorkton Housing Corporation contributed the funding balance of about $7,800.
EIGHT YEARS IN THE MAKING, Sunrise Health Region’s Health and Wellness Centre officially opened for business in November of 2014. Touted as an “innovation centre,” the concept is of collaborative delivery of primary health care by professionals of various disciplines. Dr. Philip Fourie, Sunrise senior medical officer (SMO), told gathered dignitaries, staff and guests that the facility was an important milestone, but not the goal of the project. “This is only the beginning of a journey,” he explained. “What I meant was that this is a huge milestone that we achieved by getting multiple providers into one space, but this is not where it ends. What we need to do now is we need to continuously improve the delivery model that we have for our patients. Left to right: Dr. Phillip Fourie, Sunrise senior medical officer, TeriLynn Vanparys, Health and Wellness Centre project manager, Dustin Duncan, minister of health, Greg Ottenbreit, minister responsible for rural and remote health and Suann Laurent, Sunrise CEO, examine a model of the centre during the grand opening
The Yorkton Business Improvement District contributes to areas of the district which in our boards view enhance the appearance as well as ease of our members clients. To this date we continue to provide flower pots throughout the district as well as trash cans and park bench seating. Very soon the YBID will have paid the city over a million dollars towards the street lighting which was installed ten years ago. Now as we forge ahead the Broadway Renovation Project which the city has to do, we will see some additional changes to the way Broadway looks in our cities future. The YBID Board accepts this challenge to plan ahead. We have held the first of what will be several public planning meetings allowing our members the opportunity to come forward with new and exciting ideas . Annually we place over $150,000.00 into our local economy in a variety of projects and costs relating to our operation. YBID is proud to be a part of our small business sector and continue to work with our partners making Yorkton even better as we grow!
As you can see…
We are committed to Yorkton Yorkton Business Improvement District P.O. Box 20030, Yorkton Phone: 306-783-9243 Cellular 306-621-3227 Email: yorktonbid@sasktel.net website: www.yorktonbid.com
Yorkton Lions Club Lions give strong leadership and support to worthy community projects in Yorkton and area.
We invite all service motivated persons to join Lions so that you too can
Make A Difference. You will be rewarded with the fellowship of like minded men and women and a sense of achievement as you give back and Pay it Forward, both at the same time. Lions are community minded men and women who donate their time and talent to make the world a Better Place to Live
We Serve CONTACT INFORMATION: yorktonlions @sasktel.net or 306-783-4543
Page 14A - THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015
Parkland Parkland College is a catalyst; changing lives, communities and industry – one learner at a time. That mission statement represents the College’s commitment to Yorkton and the entire Parkland region. For over four decades, Parkland College has evolved as its serves the needs of adult learners and industry partners in East Central Saskatchewan. The College is committed to creating and delivering an innovative continuum of learning to stimulate individual, community and economic growth, and to providing and celebrating quality learning and service to students. Later this year, Parkland College will reach a major milestone that’s been on the horizon for several years. The Trades and Technology Centre, currently under construction in Yorkton, will open for classes this September. The new facility greatly expands the College’s ability to deliver more high-demand programs. It’s hard to miss the Trades and Technology Centre as you drive through Yorkton on Highway 9. Since the first steel beams sprung up last August, the facility has quickly taken shape in anticipation of opening for classes in the next school year. At 29,000 square feet – roughly half the size of an American football field – the building stands out from the surrounding 20-acre plot donated by the City of Yorkton. A huge 10,000square-foot multi-purpose trades shop anchors the northern end of the building. With rafters towering 40 feet above the concrete floor, the shop is the most recognizable feature of the new building. A state-of-the-art power engineering lab is the main feature at the southern end. Until now, the College’s power engineering students have had to travel out of the region for
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three weeks of handson lab training. The inclusion of this hightech lab will allow these students to take the program from start to finish in Yorkton. In between the trades shop and the power engineering lab, the Trades and Technology Centre houses a welding and fabrication shop, a science and technology lab, six flexible classrooms, study/meeting rooms, and an administration area. The addition of this dedicated training space will allow more students to enroll in high-demand programs, while reducing wait lists, keeping students close to home, and providing the best hands-on learning experience possible. Plus, the College’s connections and partnerships with business and industry make the transition from school to employment easier. Parkland College is committed to delivering the programs and training local businesses require and students demand. The College is committed to bringing innovative and diverse training to prepare the Parkland region for continued growth and the jobs of the future. Students will have more access than ever before to quality postsecondary education in the Parkland region as the doors of the Trades and Technology Centre open this fall. It marks an incredible milestone for the College, the community, and the province as a whole, and a great opportunity for youth to succeed without leaving home. The centre will provide a range of full-time SaskPolytech programs including Agriculture Machinery Technician, Heavy Equipment, Truck and Transport Techni cian, MultiMechanical Trades, Power Engineer ing, and Welding. Once at full capacity, this expansion will help produce an additional 350 full-time graduates per year while upgrading the skills of 2,000 workers annually. The courses offered at the Trades and
A heartfelt thank you to all who have supported me over the past 22 years as Member of Parliament for Yorkton-Melville. I am forever grateful for the trust you have placed in me to represent you in Ottawa. It has truly been an honour to serve you.
THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015 - Page 15A
College committed to the community
Technology Centre are in addition to established programs at Parkland College’s East Central Saskatchewan campuses in Yorkton, Melville, Esterhazy, Fort Qu’Appelle, and Canora. Students can choose from a broad range of programs including complete four-year bachelor’s degrees in Nursing (Uni versity of Saskatchewan), Social Work (University of Regina), and Education (First
Nations University of Canada). There is also the popular two-year Practical Nursing diploma and numerous oneyear certificates from SaskPolytech. Regular adult basic education classes can help students upgrade and take that next step toward the career of their dreams. With all these programs close to home, you don’t have to worry about transfer credits – and the cost of living and relocation savings can be a smart financial investment too.
On top of that, Parkland College offers a very generous scholarship program. Over $180,000 will be awarded to students in the 2014-15 academic year. Students entering their first year of full-time post-secondary studies at Parkland College in the fall of 2015 are invited to apply for Entrance Scholarships from this March to midMay. Once enrolled, students can access even more financial support in the Internal Scholarships over the
winter months. More information is available on campus or at scholarships.parklandcollege.sk.ca. Parkland College’s mission is to change lives, communities and industry – one learner at a time. That goes hand-in-hand with its vision: to create prosperous individuals, enterprises and economies through excellence. For over 40 years, the College has been committed to Yorkton and the region. As the doors open on the
Trades and Technology Centre later this year that commitment will only continue.
Find out how Parkland College can serve you, whether you’re a student wanting to make a smart investment in your future or a business looking for the next crop of great employees. Visit www.parklandcollege.sk.ca, call toll-free 1-866-7836766, or follow Parkland College on Facebook and Twitter.
Wagner’s Flooring’s sense of service extends far into the community in which we live and work. We believe each of us as employees and collectively as a company should reinvest a portion of the benefits we personally receive from living our lives here. The list of community causes in which we invest our money and time is a long one, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Children’s Wish Foundation, Boys & Girls Club, Canadian Mental Health, Terry Fox Run, Braden Ottenbreit’s Close Cuts for Cancer, Soup Haven, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, volunteering at the hospital, and numerous youth and sports sponsorships.
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Page 16A - THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015
Optimism defines the Chamber of Commerce
NEWLY ELECTED – Members of the 2015 Yorkton Chamber of Commerce attend a swearing in ceremony with Mayor Bob Maloney.
By DEVIN WILGER N-R Writer
It’s an optimistic business community in Yorkton, says Juanita Polegi of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce. Businesses numbers remain steady, and the advantages of doing business in Yorkton make it an attractive place to set up shop. The trading area is the big advantage that Yorkton has, Polegi says. Drawing from an area
with 200,000 people, the city also has plenty of reasons for people to visit it overall, whether it’s for recreation, medical facilities or to take advantage of other services. “It’s just a city with a lot going for it.” Having a city with many advantages is shown in growth in the city itself, and Polegi says the confidence in the Yorkton area can be seen in the level of expansion that the city has witnessed.
“When new businesses establish or existing businesses expand, it shows there is success and optimism. People like to go where good things are happening, and certainly for the last eight or ten years there has been lots of construction and new business growth in Yorkton.” The next year looks like a good one for business in the city, Polegi says, with new businesses looking to expand or set up shop in the city, they
expect it to be a positive year for the city’s business community. Polegi says that for their part, this is what the Chamber of Commerce wants to see in the city, and they work to be as active as they possibly can in order to advocate for local business and their concerns. As business owners go through the effort to set up in the
city, the chamber is able to do what they don’t have the time or resources to examine. “A Chamber can do what an individual business may not be able to do. We have the time and resources to examine the issues, to do the research, look into what other communities are doing and make comparisons. We have the time and resourc-
es to be able to advocate for businesses when they encounter a difficulty.” The combined experience and varied fields of expertise of the Board of Directors is another asset that the chamber has, Polegi says, making it possible to respond to the needs of the local business community as well as be an active part in improving the city overall.
Employee nominations
The Yorkton Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for two Employee of the Year Awards. One award will be presented in each of two categories - the Front Line Employee Award and the Support Employee Award. Carol Yaholnitsky, Co-Chair of the Events committee, indicated this is the second time that the ERE will have two Award categories. “We implemented the two categories in 2013 and found it was a popular decision with employees and employers alike,” she said. “The Front Line employees are often the first point of contact between the public and the business; while the behind-the-scenes employees keep the business running”.
Employers and members of the public are welcome to submit nominations for the Front Line Employee Award. Nominators are expected to explain why the nominees deserve such recognition. Employers/Supervisors only will be able to submit nominations for the Support Employee Award. Nominators will also be asked to describe why the nominees should be considered for the award. The Awards are not just for employees of Chamber members. “Employees in all businesses in Yorkton and the immediate area are eligible for nomination”, said Stephanie Buckle, Co-Chair of the Events committee. “The only criterion is that the employee must have been
Committed to Yorkton
From all of us: Thank you! We’re proud to be part of the Yorkton community and look forward to continuing to serve your financial needs.
employed by the business for 2 or more years”. The Employee of the Year Awards will be presented at the 2015 Employee Recognition Event Wednesday March 25 at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Cultural Centre. Nomination forms may be obtained from the Chamber office or from the Chamber website (www.yorktonchamber. com/events). Nominations close at 5:00 pm Monday March 9. Photos and biographies of the nominees will be posted on the Chamber website for one week following the close of nominations. Each Chamber member will then have the opportunity to cast one vote for the nominee considered most deserving for each of the Awards.
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RED TAPE The endless rules that governments impose on Canadians and small businesses alike cost billions of hidden tax dollars annually. Now in its sixth year, Canada’s Red Tape Awareness Week™ aims to demonstrate how real the red tape burden is for businesses. Canadians are encouraged to show their support by signing the on-line petition (www.cfib.ca/rtaw).
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THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015 - Page 17A
YBID dedicated to a vibrant downtown By DEVIN WILGER N-R Writer The downtown is the center of a community. Phil DeVos, Executive Director of the Yorkton Business Improvement District, says that the downtown is where a community begins and where it lives, and that’s why it’s important to have a strong downtown core. “A vibrant downtown is the heartbeat of what people see as a community. That is why we like to look at our downtown, encourage development and new things.” YBID has been dedicated to creating an environment where people want to establish their business, where people want to go shopping and possibly even make their homes. To that end they have worked with different partners, including the City of Yorkton, the Yorkton Film Festival and Yorkton Exhibition, in order to accomplish projects and attract events downtown. DeVos notes that they have been a big part of
beautifying the downtown, whether that means installing flower pots to brighten up the summer, installing benches to give people a place to rest and trash cans to keep garbage off the streets, as well as beginning a pilot project beginning this summer to make it possible to bike downtown. Their goal is to make a place where people want to gather. “It’s a necessity to have gathering points. Not just one, when I look at the downtown area, we have at least three different areas where people will gather, and that’s not even counting the far west end of our district with the Gallagher Centre. There’s places that you want people to gather, where they can hold specific events, where they can create a kind of synergy where their event is starting other activities to take place... It’s about making things happen.” YBID encompasses all sizes of business, from large employers to small businesses which employ one or two peo-
ple, and DeVos says that they’re all important for the downtown.
There are about 400 businesses in the district, and DeVos says that they’re there to support them. He also says that those small businesses are what keep a community growing. Most people who start their first business will begin with a small location, and as they grow they move to bigger locations
or expand their current one, keeping the development of the downtown active and improving the state of the locations where they operate. “We want our businesses to grow, we want to see a business that has two people working at it increase to three or four or more, because that just generates more
dollars that go into our own economy, which makes Yorkton a really great place to do business.” DeVos says that YBID always welcomes comments about what they’re doing in the community and the events they’re part of. People who want to get in touch can email yorktonbid@sasktel.net.
THE YORKTON FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE officially opened, appropriately, on Family Day, February 17, 2014. The centre is intended to promote “healthy families rooted in strong community support and collaboration.” The provinciallyfunded pilot project brings together numerous organizations to help families find the support services they need under one roof in a welcoming environment. Open to all families, recognizing that all families deserve support. There guiding principles include: Work in partnership with families and the community to meet their expressed needs. Work to increase opportunities and strengthen individuals, families, and the community. Promote relationships based on equality and respect for diversity. Affirm parenting to be a life-long learning process. Compliment existing services and build networks and linkages, and advocate for policies, services and systems that support families abilities to raise healthy children. It is located in the SIGN building at 345 Broadway Street West.
EMW Industrial can design, fabricate, install and maintain equipment safely for industrial and agribusiness clients. Our company employs 240 people. EMW plays an important role in supporting the communities where we live and work. Our employees are vital to the economic survival of small communities. We contribute time, materials and expertise by helping with projects in our city and communities.
Page 18A - THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015
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THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015 - Page 19A
Why small business really does matter Are you considering starting up or working for a small business? If so, you will be making a strong positive contribution to the Canadian economy. In recent years, small businesses across the country have played a crucial role in stabilizing the often volatile economy in Canada, and there are a variety of reasons why. Small businesses are job creators. They have helped to create thousands of new jobs in Canada. According to statistics published by Statistics Canada in July 2008, small businesses alone have accounted for 37 percent of new jobs in the private sector between 1997 and 2007. Since 2008, these figures have shown a steady increase. As of July 2011, 98 percent of all businesses in Canada are now considered as a small business, with 48 percent of the work force being employed by them. According to the July report, there are currently more than 2.4 million small businesses across Canada, a number which will surely increase over the next few years. Employees of small businesses currently account for more than two thirds of the employment in five major industries: • Non-institutional health care (89 percent); • construction (76
percent); • other varied services (73 percent); • food and accommodations (67 percent), • and forestry (67 percent). These statistics are more than likely to increase, especially if the state of the Canadian economy improves. In addition to contributing to the increase of the country’s employment rates, small businesses are also an integral part of the GDP. Some statistics to consider in 2006, small businesses made up roughly 23 percent of Canada’s GDP. This figure varied from one province to another, and it peaked at 27 percent in both British Columbia and Prince Edward Island. Two years later, Saskatchewan’s small businesses accounted for 35 percent of the GDP, while BC placed second with 32 percent. Not far behind in third place was Quebec, with a 30 percent contribution. One of the main reasons why Quebec’s small businesses have made such a significant contribution to the GDP can be attributed to the fact that more than 56 percent of Canada’s small businesses are located in Quebec. Although small businesses in Canada are important, there is quite a bit of work left to do to make it easy for businesses to
succeed. The Canadian Federation of I n d e p e n d e n t Businesses (CFIB) has released its new report which highlighted four key areas: • better labor laws, • reduced taxes to help businesses grow, • a reduction of red tape, • and better spending on services for small businesses Their conclusion is that the government needs to be more involved in order to make it a balanced economic environment for entrepreneurs. With the chaos in financial markets, the strong hand of the government is required to provide a stable platform so that many businesses can succeed. A private/public partnership is required in order to address each of these issues, one that benefits both owners and employees. Small businesses are currently on the rise, and it is expected that many more will be established across the country in the coming years. Consequently, the more small businesses that exist, the great their contributions to the GDP as a whole will be. So, if you considering starting a small business of your own, there is no better time to do so than now. www.Corporation Centre.ca
Job grants good for the community The Government of Saskatchewan has partnered with the Government of Canada to introduce the C a n a d a Saskatchewan Job Grant to help employers train workers to meet their specific workforce needs. The CanadaSaskatchewan Job Grant will put skills training decisions in the hands of S a s k a t c h e w a n employers and help workers get the training they need for available jobs. Through this program, employers and government will partner to fund training for unemployed or underemployed individuals leading to a new or better full-time job. The core principles of the new program are that the: 1. Employer selects the candidates for training and decides what training is required; 2. Employer has a job available for the candidate at the end
of the training period; 3. Employer financially contributes to the training; and 4. Training must be provided by an eligible third-party training institution. To access a Job Grant, an employer is required to contribute at least one third of the training costs, with the remaining two thirds, up to $10,000, coming from the Job Grant. Eligible training costs include tuition fees charged by the training provider, other mandatory student fees, textbook and other learning materials fees, and examination fees. Small employers (employers with up to 50 employees) may be able to apply trainee wages towards a portion of their contribution. Govern ment will contribute two-thirds of the cost to maximum of $10,000 per trainee. Employers interested in applying for the C a n a d a Saskatchewan Job
Grant can complete the online checklist to determine eligibility. If you meet the requirements list, send the checklist to your local Labour Market Services office. Their staff are available to assist you and will contact you to start the application process. For more information on the program please visit the Government of Saskatchewan website, or view the FAQ’s. Still confused? Our Business Counsellors are available to help all CFIB members at 1-888-234-2232 or by email mssask@cfib.ca.
Proud to be a part of the Community
Gross Construction Ltd. 182-7th Ave. N. Yorkton, SK S3N 3Z2
306-786-7192 - Shop Concrete Pumping
306-783-8162 www.grossconstruction.ca
Christie’s Funeral Home & Crematorium A Tradition of Trust Since 1893 ________________________ ~~ _______________________ As Yorkton’s oldest continuous business, our promise to our community is to provide caring, experienced service at reasonable prices. We’ll work with you and your budget to ensure your loved one’s memory lives on. We are always available to answer your questions and explain options that suit your needs. We continue to expand with the needs of families and truly care for the well being of each family we serve and with a strong commitment to community, with annual donations exceeding $12,000.00. We currently employ four full-time staff and a host of part time staff who hold the same caring, compassionate ideals. Christie’s Funeral Home has been deemed the oldest continuing business in Yorkton and we celebrate and continue that long standing commitment to our community. Vern, Kathy and their staff are honoured to serve Yorkton and area and are extremely proud of our heritage as Christie’s Funeral Home & Crematorium.
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Yorkton - put your heart into it!
www.christiesfuneralhome.com Volunteer now! 1-888-473-4636
121 Palliser Way Yorkton, SK • Phone: (306) 782-2312
Page 20A - THE NEWS REVIEW - Thursday, February 26, 2015
306-782-4588
Owner, Justin Yawney and many of his employees grew up in the city of Yorkton or surrounding communities. Many were able to enjoy the lifestyle afforded by the smaller community, and therefore, took advantage of the opportunity to play numerous community sports as children. Yorkton Plumbing and Heating recognizes the importance of giving back to our communities to ensure others can benefit from and take pleasure in similar opportunities. Yorkton Plumbing and Heating is proud to have donated, sponsored or raised over $100,000 since 2007 towards your community and your children. Some of the beneficiaries are: Yorkton Minor Football, Hockey, Baseball. Yorkton Blitz Volleyball, Yorkton Terriers, Parkland College, Yorkton Regional Health Centre, Yorkton Outdoor Show and Expo, Chase Kraynick—Canora Splash Park, Health Foundation, Telemiracle, Tee Off on Cancer, Habitat for Humanity as well as numerous other clubs and teams.
359 6th Ave. N., Yorkton, SK Phone 306-782-4588 www.yorktonplumbingandheating.com