Comox Valley Business Gazette Jan/Feb 2012

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THE COMOX VALLEY

APRIL 2011

GBJAN/FEB 2012

Three thingsto considerfor effectivesignage

New rules a boon forstrata owners, sayslocal appraiser

Your business signageis one of your mostimportant assets. It's

not only how customersfind you, it's also givesthem a vital first impression. Here arethree things to considerwhen creating a new signor replacing on old one: Visibility: With any sign,you want to maximize visibility. If surroundingbuildings partially blockyour frontage, consider afreestanding sign or onethat extends out from thebuilding. Illuminated signsare a great way toincrease visibility, as ischoosing colours withhigh contrast to their surroundings. Bylaws: Familiarize yourself with any localbylaws that could affectyour signage. Local rulescommonly dictate the sizeand type of signage andwhether illumination is

Strata corporations must com-mission a depreciation reportbefore December 2013

The provincial govern-ment’s decision torequire strata

corporations to maintain a fund for maintenanceand repairs is great newsfor consumers, says aComox Valley real estateappraiser.

In December, the B.C.government enactedchanges to the StrataProperty Act that make itmandatory for strata cor-

porations to evaluate theanticipated costs to renewor replace common property and to maintaina reserve fund to coveranticipated expenses.Common property caninclude things like balconyrailings, fences and otherequipment and fixturesshared by individual strataowners.

“The regulation changedoes a lot to protect strataowners and prospectivebuyers,” says Dan Wilson,

The Comox Valley Chamber ofCommerce annual awards gala isJanuary 28. Meet some of the nom-

inees from eight categories in our spe-cial Chamber Awards Supplement,beginning on page 5. The business peo-

ple profiled in these pages have beenrecognized by their peers and are soonto be applauded for their hard work,ingenuity and success. But only one willwin in each category... can you pick thewinners?

Gazette columnist wins big award The Comox Valley’s own Bob Wells was named one of Business in Vancouver’s “FortyUnder 40” this month. The award goes to young business people who are leaders intheir fields and also volunteer in their community. Wells owns My Tech Guys and vol-unteers for organizations such as Rotary, CYMC, Comox Valley Child Development,YANA and ElderCollege. “It was pretty amazing when I found out,” said Wells. “I thinkI’m the only person on Vancouver Island to win, and only a handful of winners live out-side Vancouver, so it’s a tremendous honour. It was a great end to an awesome year!”Read Bob’s column on page 3.

Meet the Valley's best and brightest

First of all, in order tohave a credit scoreyou have to be using

some sort of “creditinstruments” that reportyour borrowing and payment history.

These could includecredit cards, vehicle loansor personal loans. Mostlenders require at leasttwo different instrumentsreporting with two or moreyears of history in order toqualify for a mortgage.

So how do you improveyour score? The best thingyou can do is make allyour minimum paymentson time. A single late pay-ment, even by a few days,will stay on your creditreport for years and nega-tively impact your score.

You can also improve

your credit score by keep-ing the balances of yourcredit cards and lines ofcredit as low as possible.The closer your balancesare to their limits, themore it looks like you’restruggling with your debt.

Find today’s rates online atcomoxmortgages.com. Fora free personalized quotecall Mackenzie at250.331.0800.

Mackenzie Gartside Verico Select Mortgage

How can I improve my credit score to better qualify for a mortgage?

Dan Wilson, the local representative of Vision Property AdvisorsInc., says new rules requiring strata corporations to maintain anadequate reserve fund, are a win for consumers.

See ‘Strata’ Pg. 2 See ‘Signs’ Pg. 2

See ‘Lease’ Pg. 2

Points to consider when negotiating your lease

Paul R. Ives, B.A., LL.B,Partner, IvesBurger

The Business Gazette wel-comes a new local profes-sional to our AdvisoryBoard. Proper signagecan be a highly effectivemethod of advertising.Here to run you throughthe in’s-and-out’s of get-ting the best return onyour signage, here is MikeTottenham of Klitsa Signs.

As we ease into thenew year, now’s aperfect time to

review your lease. Thissmall document does abig job - making sure yourbusiness has a secureand appropriate place tooperate - and if it’s notdone right you can end upwith big problems downthe road.

A lease is almost alwayslandlord-oriented; in otherwords, it’s prepared bythe landlord (or the land-lord’s lawyer) and thusfavours that party, soclose scrutiny is essential.So whether you’re review-ing your current lease orconsidering a new one,here’s an overview ofsome key issues:length of term: In a com-mercial tenancy, you oftencan’t give notice. If yousign a five-year lease,you’re usually obligated tostay for five years. So con-sider carefully the prosand cons of a short- ver-sus long-term rental. signature: If your lease isin your company’s name,avoid signing it personally.Make sure the properbusiness or corporatename is used.

financial obligations:Rent is always expressedon a monthly basis andcan be “gross” or “triplenet.” The former is onesimple amount; the latterincludes taxes, insuranceand maintenance costs,which can vary.

If your lease is triple net,you’ll want to look closelyat how “maintenance” isdefined so that it doesn’tinclude carrying costs.You should also examinewhat is meant by “taxes”so you always know whatto expect.

definitions of use: Most

leases have a clause stat-ing what uses are permit-ted. It you’re looking forexclusive use of the wholespace, make sure youhave that in writing.

“If overlooked,any one of

these issues cancome to back to

haunt you.”

Page 2

www.businessgazette.caThe Comox Valley Business Gazette is delivered eight timesper year to every business address in the Comox Valley.

Associate Publisher: Jim McQuillanExecutive Editor: Ryan Parton

Advertising Inquiries: 250.897.5064 / 250.702.1103 or [email protected]

Editorial inquiries: [email protected]

Comox Valley Business Gazette — Jan/Feb 2012

Given the roller coast-er ride the economyhas taken, many

New Year’s resolutionsthis year involve moneymanagement. If gettingyour financial house inorder is on your to-do listfor 2012, here are five resolutions you shouldtake to heart:

1. I will take Full Advantage of my TFSA

I strongly believe thatTFSAs (tax-free savingsaccounts) are going tosave a great manyCanadians come retire-ment. Unlike RRSPs,which are taxable whencashed in, money invested in a TFSA growsand can be withdrawn tax-free. TFSAs are espe-cially beneficial to self-employed professionals or workers in lower taxbrackets; many people willfind their financial “sweetspot” in a combination of TFSAdeposits and RRSPs.

As of January 2012,every Canadian is allowedto have up to $20,000 ina TFSA — set up yours bytalking with your advisor.

2. I will maximize my RRSP contributions

Maximizing RRSP contributions makessense for a lot of people,especially those in highertax brackets. Not only doRRSPs offerimmediatetax savings(they’re oftenthe only taxdeduction formanyemployedworkers), butevery contri-bution youmake adds toyour own personal pension.

This is increasinglyimportant since fewer andfewer people have formalpension plans. You canfind out your limit on your2010 Notice ofAssessment, or call theCanada Revenue Agencyat 1.800.267.6999. Thedeadline for contributing

to your RRSP for 2011 isWednesday, February 29,2012. Your contributionlimit is 18 per cent of yourprevious year’s earnedincome, to a maximum of$22,450.

The contribution limit for2012 is 18per cent, to amaximum of$22,970.

3. I will get afinancial plan done

A financialplan is a big-picture snap-shot of your financial situ-

ation, including your investments, insurance,pensions and everythingthat contributes to yourwealth. It will show youwhat you’re doing well,where your shortcomingsare and how you can max-imize your savings andgrowth.

Just as goals are more

apt to be achieved whenthey’re written down,you’re more likely to havea stronger financial footing if you have a planin place.4. I’m not going to stressover the stock market

If the markets have beenstressing you out, you’re paying too much attention to them; themoment you let your emo-tions colour your invest-ment choices, you’realready behind the eightball.

Though the markets maydip, dive, shimmy andshake, the long-term trendis growth. If the stock mar-ket is keeping you up atnight then it might be timeto make some changes —otherwise, forget about it.

5. I’m going to get professional advice

Investors who consult aprofessional investmentadvisor are statisticallymore likely to out-perform those who go

it alone. So give yourself the best

chance of long-term finan-cial success by setting up an appointmentwith a professional invest-ment advisor today.

Robert Mulrooney is a senior investment advisorwith DWM Securities Inc. inCourtenay. If you don’talready have an investment advisor, or youwant a second opinion onyour financial situation,contact the investmentcoach at 250.338.5222 orwww.investmentcoach.comPlease consult a professional investmentadvisor before acting onany information presentedin this column.

“If the markets have been

stressing you out,you're paying toomuch attention

to them.”

Your financial New Year’s resolutions

Robert Mulrooney, CPE(DundeeWealth CertifiedPortfolio Engineer), Senior Investment Advisor,DWM Securities Inc.

This article was prepared byRobert Mulrooney, SeniorInvestment Advisor with DWMSecurities Inc. a DundeeWealthInc. Company. This is not an offi-cial publication of DWMSecurities Inc. The views (includ-ing any recommendations)expressed in this article arethose of the author alone, andthey have not been approved by,and are not necessarily those of,DWM Securities Inc.

a real estate appraiserwith Jackson & Associatesand the Comox Valley’srepresentative for VisionProperty Advisors Inc.“The leaky condo fiasco ofnot long ago demonstrat-ed how individual propertyowners can be on thehook if the strata doesn’thave enough reservefunds to cover repairs.”Under the new rules, stra-

ta corporations have untilDecember 2013 to com-mission a depreciationreport, which includes aninventory of allcommon prop-erty and estimates thecost ofrenewals andmaintenance.

Anotheramendmentthat allowsprospective strata property buyers to requesta copy of the depreciationreport. This amendment,says Wilson, gives consumers a significantadvantage when shoppingfor real estate.

“Without a depreciationreport, the buyer has noguarantee that the stratafee won’t double overnightto cover some unforeseen

expense,” he explains.“There’s a huge variationin strata fees on the market. But a $75 feewithout a depreciationreport carries a muchhigher risk of escalatingversus, say, a $100 feewith a report and a sufficient reserve fund.“Though strata corpora-

tions can vote to exemptthemselves from the newregulation,” he adds, “Ithink we’ll see that themarket will force them tocomply. Units in stratasthat can’t show they’re

fully fundedwill sell at adiscount.”The easiest

way for stratacorporationsto obtain adepreciationreport isthrough acompany such

as Vision PropertyAdvisors, a partnership offive certified reserve fundplanners that formed ayear ago to address thethen-forthcoming regulation change. Torequest a consultationand estimate, call250.338.7323 or [email protected] learn more, visitwww.visionpa.com.

Strata - con’t from pg. 1

repairs: Usually the clientis expected to take care ofdamages they inflict, butyour lease should specifythat you’re not responsi-ble for structural repairs. release: If there’s arestraint on sub-letting orassigning the lease tosomeone else, it shouldbe reasonable and allowyou options if you need tobe released.insurance: Check withyour insurance broker tomake sure your insuranceobligations mesh withthose of your landlord. rreennoovvaattiioonnss:: Leases usually have a prohibition

on improvements withoutthe landlord’s consent,and often set out whichtypes of renovations arethe landlord’s responsibility, and whichare the tenant’s.

ddeeffaauulltt:: Make sure yourlease gives you sufficienttime to rectify any default,such as 15 days asopposed to five.

rreenneewwaall:: Your leaseshould include provisionsfor possible renewal (forinstance, a five-year leasewill often include theoption of a five-yearrenewal), and leave youroom to negotiate the rentupon renewal. It’s also a

good idea to have an arbitration clause in thecase of a dispute.

If overlooked, any one ofthese issues can come toback to haunt you. Yourlawyer will be able to provide a straightforwardlease review for anywherefrom $500 to $1000 -often money well spent tosecure your premises.

Paul Ives is a lawyer withIves Burger Barristers &Solicitors in Courtenay. Hecan be reached at250.334.2416 or www.ivesburgerlaw.com

allowed.Budget: Materials, durability and size all contribute to the cost of asign. Illuminated signs areusually on the higher endof the scale, while sometypes of plastics are oftenmore affordable. The keyis to find your sweet spotbetween functionality and cost.Mike Tottenham ownsKlitsa Signs in Tin Town. Hecan be reached at250.338.4935 or www.klitsasigns.com.

“Without a depreciation report,

the buyer has noguarantee that the

strata fee won't double overnight.”

Lease - con’t from pg. 1 Signs - con’t from pg. 1

Get Networking. Get Business.

The Comox Valley Women’s Business Network meetings feature top-notch speakers, business coaches and innovative networking sessions. As a member of the Comox Valley Women’s Business Network you will have opportunities to:

Develop business skills, learn from speakers and through workshops. Network with other women in business. Promote your business through our Facebook page, website and at meetings.

Stay motivated to move your business forward!

www.cvwbn.org [email protected]

www. businessgazette.ca

Comox Valley Business Gazette — Dec 2011/Jan 2012 Page 3

IRONS IN THE FIRE

#2nd Floor, 350 - 17th StreetCourtenay, BC V9N 1Y4p. 250.871.TRAP (8727) e. [email protected]. www.bettermousetrap.caBRANDING WEB ADVERTISING

Better Mousetrap Marketing gives you the opportunity to spread the word about new business, mergers, acquisitions, new hires and awards. Simply email your 30 word, non-time-sensitive newsworthy announcement and contact information to [email protected] and, if space permits, we will include it in our column.

Please note: Inclusion is not guaranteed.

Brett Hall of Comox Valley Fitness is pleased to welcome Bill Fraser to teach Brazilian Jui Jitsu and Women’s Self Defense, and Leonard Murphy to teach Tang Soo Do Karate. www.comoxvalleyfitness.com

Comox Valley Fitness Never lose track of leads or listings with the “Real Estate Accountability Log” published by Bryce Hansen, Realtor at RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0BjX98HuJY

Real Estate Accountability Log

Congratulations to Ronni Lister for making the Top 25 Individual RE/MAX Realtors in Canada this year. She credits her wonderful clients for her success. www.ronnilister.com

Ronni Lister, REALTOR®

The 2012 Comox Valley Visitor’s Guide will be launched in April. Many new features including an iPhone app and re-design of DiscoverComoxValley.com. For advertising options, call Jenny at 250-792-1296

Comox Valley’s Visitor’s Guide

Rattan Plus invites you to visit their 5th Street location to see the new changes they have made to the store: new paint, new displays and an upstairs dedicated to outdoor patio furniture.

Rattan PlusKingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa is thrilled to announce the Love Story Wedding Show on March 17, 2012. Your Love Story Begins in the Comox Valley. www.kingfisherspa.com

Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa

To accomodate their growth, Better Mousetrap Marketing has moved to new, larger premises. Find them on the 2nd floor at 350 - 17th Street, above Coldwell Banker. www.bettermousetrap.ca

Better Mousetrap Marketing

The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Comox is still offering free flu shots to anyone over the age of 65 or anyone with chronic health conditions. Phone (250) 339-5050

The Medicine Shoppe Paharmacy

Courtenay Clinical Sleep Solutions has a new name, look and feel! Their new name is Pacific Sleep Care. To contact your sleep apnea and snoring professionals, call 250-334-0789

Courtenay Clinical Sleep Solutions

Tracy Fogtmann has launched her own business as a realtor with RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty, specializing in listing and selling homes in the Comox Valley. Contact Tracy at [email protected].

Tracy Fogtmann, REALTOR®

Better Mousetrap Marketing is a full-service marketing agency located in the Comox Valley. With our clients’ unique goals in mind, our team excels at creating dynamic marketing concepts and implementing them on time and on budget. We specialize in deceptively simple marketing plans, brand establishment, and web development for any size of business - big or small.

1. I will back up my dataRegardless of how new orold your computer is, thereality is that it could kickthe bucket tomorrow, taking all your files, pho-tos and documents withit. So let 2012 be the yearyou back up your data.

If you already have abackup, make sure it’sworking properly. Thoughmost backups we checkare working exactly asthey were set up, almostall need to be updated toensure everything thatmatters is being protect-ed. You should have yourbackup checked at leastonce a year or wheneveryou install new software.2. I will update my softwareRunning out-of-date soft-ware is one of the bestways to pick up a computer virus. As newviruses are found, software updates areissued to patch the holes;they’re free, and theycould save your backside.

Here are two simpleways to check if your software is up to date: PCusers: run the free scanat www.secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online. Mac users: download MacUpdate atwww.macupdate.com/desktop.

Bob Wells (The ExtremeGeek), My Tech Guys

Your new year’s geeky resolutions

3. I will update myantivirus softwareAt the risk of sounding likeyour junior high sex edteacher, If you use a PC,you need to protect your-self. Currently, we recom-mend either Vipre orMicrosoftSecurityEssentials -both are effec-tive, and thelatter is evenfree. If you’re aMac user, youcan substitutethis resolutionwith one to stop gloatingto your PC-using friends.4. I will organize my passwordsIf your online presenceinvolves a couple dozenrandom passwords thatare as hard to rememberas your in-laws’ anniver-sary, 2012 is your year getorganized.

I recommend sticking tojust two to four pass-words. Keep two, forexample, for high-levelsites like your email andonline banking, andanother two reserved formore loosey-goosey

accounts.Stop by one ofour stores fora free com-puter book forkeeping yourpasswords inone conven-ient place.5. I will

vanquish all killer dust bunniesOver time, dust accumu-lates in the nooks andcrannies inside your com-puter, acting as insulationand potentially leading toits untimely demise.

Having your computerserviced at least once ayear will vanquish these

killer dust bunnies, as wellas give you a heads up ofany other problems thatmay be lurking within.

You can still take advan-

tage of our special NewYear pricing on in home(and in-office) service. Calltoday to get a jump onyour geeky resolutions!

Bob Wells is the “ExtremeGeek” and owner of MyTech Guys. He can bereached at 250.890.1065or www.mytechguys.ca

“Running out-of-date software isone of the best

ways to pick up acomputer virus.”

� Guaranteed � Coverage� Plan Flexibility� Rate Stability� Unbeatable Service

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Your localbenefit planexpert, DarrenKardynal

Glacierview FinancialServices Ltd.Phone: [email protected]

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YQQ SurpassesIndustry Trendfor Growth in 2011

The Comox ValleyAirport (YQQ)

announced today that itserved 308,937 passen-gers in 2011, an increaseof 4.2 per cent or 12,370passengers over the previ-ous year.

This new data puts YQQwell above the minimalpassenger growth experi-enced by most airportsacross North America, asreported by AirportsCouncil International.

The airport’s busiestmonth was August, whichsaw a total of 34,580passengers - an increaseof 992 passengers overthe same month in 2010.

The busy holiday travelmonth of December sawa total of 26,711 passen-gers or an increase of1,978 passengers for thesame time period in theprevious year.

For more informationabout YQQ’s strategicdirection visit:www.comoxairport.comunder about us/reports.

Comox Valley Business Gazette — Jan/Feb 2012 Page 4

Vol. 1 Issue 2

I’m so glad you’re looking after this for me!

www.NatashaDesignHouse.com

For more information on how Natasha can help yourbusiness Get Noticed visit

www.NatashaDesignHouse.com

Contact Natasha Today to be featured in Good Company!

250.792.2436 or email [email protected]

That’s what I need!

At the Comox Valley Corporate Connections networking mixer in the Ohhh So Yummy Cafe in Courtenay, BC.

Natasha Design House helpsyour business GET NOTICED!

I can promote them as a comic strip in the Comox Valley Business Gazette

Back at Natasha’s office, she comes up with a nifty way to help local buinesses GET NOTICED — in addition to creating unique logos and promotional materials for them.

You don’t need to travel the globeto get a Daisychain belt! You can find

one in Courtenay. See daisychainmaternity.com

Contact Natasha to be featured in Good [email protected]

Vol. 1 Issue 2


Hi Ladies, what’s new with you

this year?

We’re bringingbelly binding

back!

Hi Natasha!

Let’s visit Anna and Oceanof Daisychain Maternity!

2011 © NATASHA Design House

www.natashadesignhouse.com

They look great!

yogi denim metro

...while sacrificing nothing to style.

Yes, they enjoy all the benefits of a maternity

support belt...

Daisychain Maternity support belts enjoy international success.

Daisychain honours the global tradition of belly-wrapping during

and after pregnancy.

y

Let’s visit Anna and’’of Daisychain Ma

© NANATAAA SHA Design HouseAA

They look great!

yogi d

Daisychain MaYou don’t need to travel the globe

to get a Daisychain belt! You can find one in Courtenay. See daisychainmaternity.com


Vol. 1 Issue 2


Hi Ladies, what’s new with you this year?

We’re bringingbelly binding back!

Hi Natasha!




They look great!

yogidenim

metro


Yes, they enjoy all the benefits of a maternity support belt...


Daisychain honours the global tradition of belly-wrapping during and after pregnancy.

y

denim [email protected]

and OceanMaternity!

yogidenim

metro

ity support belts en

You don’t need to travel the globeto get a Daisychain belt! You can find one in Courtenay. See daisychainmaternity.com


Vol. 1 Issue 2


Hi Ladies, what’s new with you this year?

We’re bringingbelly binding back!

Hi Natasha!




They look great!

yogidenim

metro


Yes, they enjoy all the benefits of a maternity support belt...


Daisychain honours the global tradition of belly-wrapping during and after pregnancy. Wait a minute,I think I already am!

Hi, Want to be a comic strip superstar?

Of course I do, when can I get started?

Later: Natasha meets with one of the Valley’s most innovative business leaders.

201

2 © N

atasha Design House

Graphic Art Whiz:

Dee Ziner!

Writing Geniuses: Pen & Teller O’Tales!

Marketing Extraordinaire: Polly Profit!

Thanks to my networking team, I know who to call to make

Good Company comic strip a success!

Chris KetchOwner — BodyNetixwww.bodynetix.com

Every December, eachof us starts thinkingabout how we want

to change or improve inthe year to come. Often,fitness and health are atthe top of the list. The eating and drinking

frenzy that usually accompanies the holidayseason gives us guilt-inspired motivationto accomplish our hastilymade resolutions.In January, hordes of

determined people runout and buy gym memberships. As pre-dictable as the tides,these well-intentioned

individuals are driven byinstinct rather than conscious thought orrational thinking. As January comes to a

close, the once-crowdedgym becomes much quieter. The fight or flightresponse has passed, andmost people slip back into their daily routines ofsloth and over-indulgence. Thus ends the life cycle

of the typicalNew Year’sresolution.Unlike a reso-

lution, a goalis proactiverather thanreactive.Whereas resolutionsare usuallybased on doing somethingyou didn’t do in the year past,a goal is a plan for success for the days andweeks to come; you startwith the end in mind andwork your way backwards.

You may have heard ofSMART goals: those thatare Specific, Measurable,Achievable, Relevant andTime-based. I like to keepmine even simpler:

Specific, Measureable andwith a Deadline.

With a New Year’s resolution, you might say“I’m going to get fit thisyear.” With an “SMD”goal, you’ll say “I will lose10 pounds and completea 10-km. run by the endof March.”

And because you’ve identified what you’regoing to accomplish andwhen, you’ll probably do it.

Now that you’ve established your goal,what steps will you needto take to accomplish it by

your deadline?

For example,to lose 10pounds, you’llneed to createa calorie deficitthrough exercise, mealplanning andlifestyle

changes.

To run a 10-k, you mightstart by hiring a trainer orjoining a running club.

Once you’ve identifiedeverything you need to doto achieve your goal, nowformulate a working plan.Book all of your tasks intoyour schedule, and treatyour workouts like anyother important appointment.

“start with the end in

mind and workyour way

backwards.”

Get fit with goals, not resolutions

Con’t bottom of Pg. 5

Who the heck are Scott Torryand Brian Farnham... and

what the hell are they up to?

Q: What kind of jobs do you get calls for these days?

ST: Everything from $50 residentialcalls to $20 million projects. BF: We have two divisions: resi-dential and commercial. We spe-cialize in everything from 4” ductsfor home owners to giant 88” ducts.

Q: What’s good advice to those hiring a contractor?

ST: Buy from people who’ve beenaround — and will be around. That,and the cheapest option is rarelyanywhere near the best value.

Q: What trends do you see?ST: No where to go but up. Frommy point of view I think we’ve seenthe bottom of the economy.Encouraging news is the number oflarge scale projects coming online.The John Hart Dam, North Islandhospitals, the Esquimalt ship build-ing; serious money is going to flowthrough the economy.

Q: The secret to your success?BF & ST: (Looking at each otherand laughing.) “A good partner.” BF: Actually, our customers. Theyseem to keep coming back becauseof the great people who go intotheir homes and on to their jobsites. ST: And because we guarantee —and are reliable! That’s important.

Q: Who is your biggest influence?ST: My dad. (Bill Torry, who startedthe company 30 years ago.) Heinstilled a strong work ethic andsolid direction. Thanks dad!

BF: My grandfather. And my firstemployer. They were all good busi-ness people who really understoodwhat service is all about. Theybelieved in giving people the oppor-tunities to succeed.

Q: How has your industry changed in the last number of years?

BF: No question, it’s technology. Allestimates are computerized now.And projects are modeled with BIM(Building Information Modeling.) Itallows us to overlay all drawingsand build the project in 3D on thecomputer in advance. It eliminatesmany problems before they occurin actual construction. This is a realtime, money and hassle saver.Which is probably why our clientslike it so much.

Q: If you could change one thing in your industry, it would be?

BF: The tender process. 90% of thetime there is absolutely no lookinginto backgrounds and qualificationsof trades, which would help makesure clients get what they pay for.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?

ST & BF: Being involved in projectsright from the beginning, trou-bleshooting and taking themthrough to completion. That’salways a real thrill.

Q: Is there anything you would do differently?

BF & ST: No! We have learnedfrom everything we have done.

Torry and Sons Plumbing & Heating is one of the largest mechanical contractors onVancouver Island. They employ more than 100 people in the Comox Valley alone. Ontop of being one of the Valley's largest employers, Torry and Sons has proven to be agenerous corporate citizen. Still, inquiring minds want to know about the owners...

Though affectionately titled “The African Geek”,Xander Holmes defies the stereotype of the typical computer geek.

Xander studied both engineering and computer science in his native South Africa and has a vast and intricate knowledge of various IT platforms andsystems. He combines his technical expertise with a friendly, helpful demeanour not often associated with “techies.”“His professional manner, experience and dedication

are absolutely outstanding,” says My Tech Guys regional manager Bryan Tisdale. “On a daily andweekly basis, we receive phone calls, emails andhappy customers who come into the store just to rave about Xander. He’s a dedicated employee whoexemplifies our model of placing customer service and a warm fuzzy atmosphere above profits.”A small sample of email testimonials submitted by

Xander’s clients speaks to his dedication to great service. He’s alternately described as “brilliant,”“extremely beneficial,” “a great guy” and even “achampion techie.”One email in particular says it all: “I’m happy as a

large clam,” writes one satisfied customer. “Xander was wonderful - he didn’t make me feel like a computer dummy. He was and is very patient.”

5-2401 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay1812 Comox Ave, Comox

250.338.4411 • www.mytechguys.ca

Customer Service Award Xander Holmes (the African geek)

“Xander defies the stereotype of the typical computer geek”

When it comes to custom catering, it’s hard to beat the sophisti-cation, creativity and attention to client needs that Dawn

McRae brings to the table. A certified Red Seal chef, Dawn goes above and beyond at every

occasion, making her clients look fabulous by association. Thoughguests rave about her food and service, Dawns starts working longbefore the cooking starts, creating custom menu ideas and pre-touring the venue. At the event itself, she’s a flurry of activity. Fromliaising with clients, to personally serving guests, to handling specialrequests with poise, Dawn does it all. And she does it with a smile.

250.338.4350 • www.customgourmetchef.com

Customer Service Award Dawn McRae, Custom GourmetCatering & Personal Chef Services

Chamber of Commerce Hands Out Top Honours ‘Hats off to Leadership’ is the theme for Annual Awards Gala

Saturday, January 28th, at theFlorence Filberg Centre, therewill be a sense of excitement in

the air as 300 people from our com-munity gather to celebrate at theComox Valley Chamber of Commerce’s38th Annual Awards.“Our annual Awards Gala has becomeone of the premier events in theComox Valley,” says Chamber presi-dent and CEO, Dianne Hawkins, “andis our way of acknowledging business-es and individuals who have made sig-nificant contributions to quality of lifein the Comox Valley.

Here is a summary of this year’sevent:

Fantastic food and entertainment

The formal event kicks off with achampagne reception with appetizers,followed by a four-course mealcatered by the new Westerly CateringCompany. CBC and CHEK TV newsanchor Tony Parsons will provide whatis sure to be an entertaining and funmonologue in his role as the Master of

Ceremonies. Throughout the evening, attendees

can participate in live and silent auc-tions, with 50 percent of the proceedsbeing donated to Parson’s charity ofchoice: the Comox Valley Food Bank.A highlight of the evening will be a

video compilation of interviews withprevious award recipients reminiscingon how it felt to be recognized by theircommunity, produced by DanKooman, Unveil Studios.

Award presentations

The Chamber received a total of 41nominations in 11 award categories(see sidebar). Members of the ComoxValley Chamber and the public wereboth encouraged to nominate localbusiness leaders and individuals. “In the past, members of our Board

of Directors chose the finalists and theaward recipients,” adds Hawkins. “This year, an Awards Panel com-

prised of a delegation of communityleaders reviewed the nominations andmade the selections.”

Want to know more?Tickets are $75 per person andinclude the champagne reception,appetizers, and gourmet meal.(Discounts are available for tables of 8or 10.) FMI call the Chamber ofCommerce at 250.334.3234 or visit www.comoxvalleychamber.com.

And the 2011 award nominees (and sponsors) are...

AAggrriiccuullttuurraall BBuussiinneessss ooff tthhee YYeeaarr ——ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyy MMNNPP LLLLPPIronwood FarmLazo & Tyee Farm

BBuussiinneessss ooff tthhee YYeeaarr —— ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyyTThhrriiffttyy FFooooddssBest Western Plus, The WesterlyHotel & Convention CentreBilly D's Pub & BistroDesolation Sound Yacht ChartersLevel 10 EurospaMount Washington Alpine ResortMy Tech Guys

CCiittiizzeenn ooff tthhee YYeeaarr —— ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyyCCaannaaddiiaann TTiirreePaul Berry Dave MellinNormand Potvin David & Kathrine StevensEric Toneff Bob Wells

CCuussttoommeerr SSeerrvviiccee —— ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyyCCooaassttaall CCoommmmuunniittyy CCrreeddiitt UUnniioonnXander Holmes (My Tech Guys)Dawn McRae (Custom GourmetCatering)Jon Rankin (Mountain City Cycle)

EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall IInniittiiaattiivvee —— ssppoonnssoorreeddbbyy BBCC HHyyddrroo PPoowweerrssmmaarrttCourtenay & District Fish and GameProtective AssociationGunter Bros. Meat Co.Old House Village Suites Hotel & Spa

HHeerriittaaggee RReeccooggnniittiioonn —— ssppoonnssoorreedd

bbyy VVaannccoouuvveerr IIssllaannddIInnssuurraanncceeCCeennttrreessComox Valley RecordComox Valley Rotary ClubsCourtenay & District Fish & GameProtective Assn

LLooccaall HHeerroo AAwwaarrdd —— ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyySStt.. JJoohhnn AAmmbbuullaanncceeTO BE ANNOUNCED

NNeeww BBuussiinneessss ooff tthhee YYeeaarr —— ssppoonn-ssoorreedd bbyy PPrreesslleeyy && PPaarrttnneerrssBetter Mousetrap MarketingBlue Toque Sports SwapPrimetek IT Solutions

PPrrooffeessssiioonnaall MMeerriitt —— ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyyFFiirrsstt IInnssuurraannccee AAggeenncciieessMaj BirchPhilip RoundBob Wells

RReeccyycclliinngg RReeccooggnniittiioonn —— ssppoonnssoorreeddbbyy CCoommooxx SSttrraatthhccoonnaa WWaasstteeMMaannaaggeemmeennttCRUSH Consignment RecycledClothingThe Green Room

SSmmaallll BBuussiinneessss ooff tthhee YYeeaarr —— ssppoonn-ssoorreedd bbyy GGllaacciieerrvviieeww FFiinnaanncciiaallSSeerrvviicceessAppletree MarketHitec Printing - Brazen SportswearIndigo LoungeMonterra DevelopmentsPlanet KidsSki & Surf ShopSound SecurityTwo Eagles Lodge

EVENT SPONSORS:

Sincere thanks to the many businesses who willcontribute to the Awards Gala:

97.3 The Eagle Radio — platinum sponsorAmbassador Shuttle Service — safe rides homeGordon Ross Photography — event photographyKingfisher Resort and Spa — champagne receptionThe Flying Canoe Westcoast Pub — appetizersWest Coast Home Theatre — video equipment

PLUS … many silent auction and doorprize donations too numerous to list!

Indigo Lounge is a small hair salon doing big things forthe community. Since 2007, owners Elton and Heather

Joseph and their staff of six stylists, have pitched in tohelp a great number of local groups, including YANA,Cops for Cancer and St. Joseph’s Hospital. They’veshaved countless heads for cancer, volunteered 10 of 12 years for the Highland Grad Fashion Show and have even trained other young stylists through their apprenticeship program.Heather and Elton never seek the limelight, however. Says Elton, “It truly is a privilege to be a small part of the big picture.”

103B-1705 Comox Ave, Comox250.339.0500www.indigolounge.webs.com

Small Business of the Year Indigo Lounge

While every business has its genesis story, feware as remarkable as that of Ski & Surf Shop.Owner Kevin Lawrence launched the

business, then known as Windsurfing Unlimited, in1989 out of the back of his Plymouth Caravan. He’dcruise the North Island visiting popular windsurfingbeaches offering equipment, lessons, rentals andrepairs to the windsurfing community.In 1991, Kevin moved his tiny business into a

storefront at the corner of Cliffe and 17th, expandedhis inventory and changed the name to Ski & SurfShop. Five years later, the shop moved again to itspresent site in the heart of downtown Courtenay.Now open approximately 360 days a year and

employing up to nine employees at a time, Ski & SurfShop is a well-established and well-respected fixtureof the Comox Valley retail scene. Respected equallyby his customers and his suppliers, Kevin is a trusted,community-minded entrepreneur whose traits are eloquently summed up in the glowing words of one of his longtime suppliers:“Kevin has a way of bringing out excellence in all

that work with him. The customers that he serves arewell valued as a result of his commitment to thefinest customer service.”

333 Fifth St, Courtenay250.338.8844

www.skiandsurf.ca

Small Business of the YearSki & Surf Shop

“Kevin has a way of bringing out excellence in all that have the opportunity to work with him.”

Since its inception in 2004, MonterraDevelopments has established itself as one theComox Valley’s premiere builders, most notably

for its homes within the Crown Isle ResortCommunity.With Garry Renkema as president, Monterra

Developments has built approximately 75 homes andsmall commercial projects over the past eight years,earning a fair share of accolades along the way. TheBC chapter of the Canadian Home Builders’Association, for example, awarded Monterra its prestigious Gold Customer Choice Georgie Award forexcellence in both 2007 and 2008. Renkema himselfhas also won several awards, from Builder of theYear to Customer Choice awards.It is Monterra’s contributions to the community,

however, that truly distinguish it. The company hasnot only staked a reputation as a proud supporter oflocal initiatives, such as the Rotary Air Park play-ground and even home repairs for local families intimes of need, it also extends its humanitarian reachto other communities in need of assistance. Workingthrough Northgate Foursquare Church, Monterra haslent a hand in remote communities such asCambridge Bay (Nunavut) and Esperanza, a sheltered hamlet on BC’s west coast.

250.338.2414www.homesbymonterra.com

Small Business of the YearMonterra Developments Ltd.

“Renkema himself has also won several awards, from Builder of theYear to Customer Choice awards.”


The Old House Village Hotel & Spa, an integral part of the Comox Valley’s hospitality industry, needs no introduction locally. But though its service andluxury are well known, the 79-room boutique hotel’s environmental initiatives

are more apt to fly under the radar.In the past 18 months, the Old House Village Hotel & Spa has undertaken a

number of energy retrofit projects to reduce its environmental footprint. Mostnotably was the replacement of inefficient lighting replaced throughout the hotelwith energy efficient technology. This one change is expected to reduce the hotel’selectricity consumption by more than 32,000 kWh per year - that’s more electricitythan three single-family homes consume in an entire year!Other environmental initiatives the Old House has undertaken include low flush

toilets, flow regulators on showerheads, thermal films on exterior windows, environ-mentally friendly pool chemicals, and new policies that minimize the unnecessaryuse of heating and lighting.The Old House Village Hotel & Spa is also a leader when it comes to recycling. The

hotel has extensive recycling programs in place for cardboard, bottles, cans andeven guest towels, and blue bins have been installed in every guest suite. The hoteleven distributes half-full shampoo bottles to a group that supports local street youth.The Old House is a shining example of a business that embraces the triple bottom

line - economic, social and environmental. Indeed, when BC Hydro’s Power Smartteam recommends its “green” initiatives as a model for other local businesses andthe community at large, you know they’re doing something right.Located just blocks from downtown Courtenay, the Old House Village Hotel & Spa

has a spectacular riverfront location and features spacious suites with kitchen, fireplace, soaker tub and free wireless Internet. Its luxurious amenities include abarbecue terrace, lush grounds, a year-round outdoor pool, fitness room, infraredsauna and both indoor and outdoor hot tubs. Pampering guests come naturally at the Old House Village Hotel & Spa. Doing it

without the spectre of environmental guilt issomething the hotel’s staff and manage-ment work hard to accomplish every day.

1730 Riverside Lane, Courtenay250.703.0202 www.oldhousevillage.com

Environmental Initiative Award

Old House Village Hotel & Spa

‘The Old House is a shining example of a business that embraces the triple bottom line.’

Though Desolation Sound Yacht Charters often flies under the radar of ComoxValley locals, the Comox-based company brings up to 2,000 people to theValley every year and is directly or indirectly responsible for injecting an esti-

mated $2 million into the local economy annually.Owners Bob and Lois Stevenson have operated Desolation Sound Yacht Charters

(DSYC) since 1988. Since then, DSYC has developed a stellar reputation, and Boband Lois are widely considered the “Mom and Dad” of their industry. A bareboatyacht charter company, DSYC operates 25 to 30 privately owned sail and poweryachts. As such, Bob and Lois not only offer an exceptional service to its vacation-ing clients, but also a vital resource for local boat owners. The yacht charter busi-ness is one in which honesty and integrity are essential — indeed, Bob and Loishave been entrusted with a fleet of yachts worth well over $6 million! To havethrived for so many years in such a challenging business environment is a testa-ment to their ethics and ingenuity.As well as being successful business people, Boband Lois are committed to the environmental and social health of their community. They’ve actively worked to designate more areas of Vancouver Island’s inland

coast as marine parks, and they take great care to protect the fragile marine envi-ronment through recycling, zero discharge initiatives and awareness programs.Additionally, the company employs up to 20 people and has been the first “realjob” for many Comox Valley high school and university students.In addition to being a dedicated father and business man, Bob has also distin-

guished himself as a member or director of a number of community organizations,including Rotary, Harbour Days and the Town of Comox Revitalization Committee.

He’s currently president of the BC Bareboat CharterAssociation.Thanks to Desolation Sound Yacht Charters, the Comox

Valley has a prominent place in the hearts and memo-ries of thousands of tourists who have discovered itsbeauty and hospitality through a yacht charter.

250.339.7222 • www.desolationsoundyachtcharters.com

Business of the Year

Desolation Sound Yacht Charters

“Bob and Lois are widely considered the ‘Mom and Dad’ of their industry.”

Entering its 25th year of continual operation in the ComoxValley, Hitec Screen Printing has earned a sound reputa-

tion for both the quality of its work and its contributions tothe community. Since 1987, Hitec has been providing businesses, teams,

schools and individuals with branded promotional products,including garments, caps, signs and team sportswear. Thoughthe small company boasts a client base of more than 1,000active files, it has never compromised its commitment to out-standing work. As Jim and Margaret, along with their team of dedicated

local employees, like to say, “your image is our business!”

Small Business of the Year Hitec Screen Printing

479 Fourth St, Courtenay 250.334.3656 •www.hitecprint.com

When Paul and Salinas LaPerriere opened Blue Toque SportsSwap three years ago, some had doubts that a sports consign-

ment store could flourish in the Valley. Today, however, the num-bers speak for themselves. Sales are up more than 300 per cent,and Blue Toque boasts more than 2,000 consignors, with moreadded every day. Building on their success, Paul and Salinas arestarting to eye new markets on the horizon, such as online retailingor even a second location. Whatever lies ahead, one thing is certain— Blue Toque will continue to be a proud supporter of local ath-letes, teams and sporting events.

120B Fifth St, Courtenay • 250.871.0302 www.bluetoquesports.com

New Business of the Year Blue Toque Sports Swap

While Mountain City Cycles is a longtime local favourite for itsextensive selection of bikes and accessories, owner Jon Rankin

is perhaps best known for his customer service. Jon knows his customers by name and treats them like old friends.

This friendliness, along with his ability to help customers selectbicycles and equipment that precisely met their needs, has earnedMountain City Cycles a loyal clientele that expects, and receives,exceptional service upon every visit. Jon exemplifies the practicesand principles of excellence in customer service – traits that haveproven infectious with his entire staff.

120 Fifth Street, Courtenay • 250.338 0084 • www.mountaincitycycles.com

Customer Service Award Jon Rankin, Mountain City Cycles

Primetek IT Solutions provides technology support and forward-thinking solutions to small to medium sized businesses in the

Comox Valley. Since opening their doors in November 2010, ownersKevin Dryden and Matt Behrens have experienced consistentgrowth, from a simple two-man operation to an employer of twofull-time employees in a spiffy downtown location. Kevin and Mattproject growth will continue by another 25 per cent in 2012. While earning references and accolades from happy customers,

Primetek IT Solutions has also earned the respect of the communitythrough its involvement with the CV Boys and Girls Club, the CVTransition Society and other non-profits.

4-420 Fitzgerald Ave, Courtenay • 250.871.8547 • www.primetek.ca

New Business of the Year Primetek IT Solutions


My Tech Guys has proven beyond a doubt that hard work, a positive attitudeand caring for the community are powerful catalysts for business success.After launching its first store in 2006 with a promise to provide in-home com-

puter service from “the friendliest geeks in town,” My Tech Guys grew from fouremployees to 15 in just four years. Though not without its growing pains, the com-pany continued to grow exponentially, spurred by its relentless commitment to cus-tomer satisfaction. In 2009 they opened their second store and became an author-ized Apple retailer.Over the years, the staff and management of My Tech Guys have worked tirelessly

to ensure they’re building a business that’s not just profitable, but also a great placeto work and a positive influence in the community. On the employment side, they’vealways worked hard to create meaningful, full-time jobs that pay more than mini-mum wage. In what’s primarily a service industry, after all, happy employees areintegral to success.Despite being a dedicated father and an in-demand business man, My Tech Guys

owner Bob Wells is extremely involved with a number of community groups, includ-ing Rotary, CYMC, Child Development and YANA. His company contributes countlesshours to Comox Valley non-profit groups and public services, often working behindthe scenes to ensure technical challenges are overcome for the groups they support.For example, Bob and his team streamed the federal and municipal election debatesfor thousands of online viewers, as they do each year for the Comox Valley ChildDevelopment Association Telethon.Perhaps not surprisingly, My Tech Guys is no stranger to business awards and

recognition for its outstanding achievements. Its accolades have included 2008 BestIT Service from MISTIC, 2009 Small Business of the Year from the Comox ValleyChamber of Commerce, 2010 Small Business BC’s Business Growth Award and evenBest Themed Float in that year’s Canada Day Parade.As My Tech Guys continues its growth trajectory in terms of sales, employees and

customer goodwill, the company remains an inspiration for all small businesses tonever give up in the face of challenge, and to operate at all times with ethics,accountability and community mindedness.

5-2401 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay1812 Comox Ave, Comox

250.338.4411www.mytechguys.ca


My Tech Guys

"My Tech Guys is an inspiration for all small businesses to never give up in the face ofchallenge."

Since Norm and Jean Sieffert began working the land that’s now commonlyknown as “Sieffert’s Farm” back in 1961, their farm has been a model ofgrowth, initiative and environmental stewardship.

The second- and third-generation Siefferts who now work the land on Lazo & TyeeFarm are responsible for 30,000 square feet of greenhouse production, 100 acres ofpotatoes and 50 acres of mixed vegetables. Their farm market, established in 1975long before the popular “locavore” movement, is kept stocked with fresh vegetables,and the farm also supplies wholesalers and retailers across the Island with potatoes,corn and other produce.Lazo & Tyee Farm has consistently been a champion of environmental stewardship

and sustainable agriculture. The Siefferts use low impact irrigation techniques, leavehedgerows between crops to serve as habitat for the farm’s abundant wildlife andfollow innovative crop rotation schedules to minimize soil and mineral erosion. They also augment traditional winter cover crops with leftover vegetable crops, pro-

viding a significant food source for the ducks, geese and trumpeter swans that win-ter on the property. This practice, which also helps preserve and enhance the farm’srich soils, has earned the recognition of Ducks Unlimited Canada, with which thefarm has proudly partnered for more than 30 years.The Siefferts strive to empower local youth to make informed decisions about their

food. “Over the years we’ve taken many school classes on tours of the farm,” saysCharlene Sieffert, Norm and Jean’s daughter-in-law. “We love to encourage kids tolearn where their food comes from and how it’s grown. The earlier they learn abouttheir food the more health-conscious they’ll become.”The Siefferts attribute a great deal of their success to the hard work of their dedi-

cated employees, whose numbers swell in the summer and late fall. Whatever thereason, however, one thing is certain. In an industry astough as agriculture, Lazo & Tyee Farm has not onlyweathered the storm, but has shown a strong ability togenerate income, employ local families and demonstratean inspiring aptitude for sustained growth.

720 Knight Rd, Comox • 250.339.2988

Agricultural Business of the YearLazo & Tyee Farm (“Sieffert's Farm”)

“The Siefferts strive to empower local youth to make informed decisions about their food.”l-r, ruddy from early morning work: Charlene Sieffert, Chris Edwards, Alysha Sieffert & Bob Sieffert

Rotary International is the world’s oldestmodern-day service organization. In theValley, more than 200 business and com-

munity leaders are members of four distinctRotary clubs that have together contributed146 years of service to the community..The Courtenay Rotary Club, chartered in 1936,

celebrated its 75th anniversaryin 2011 and is the oldest of theValley’s four clubs. Since itsinception, Courtenay Rotarymembers have donated more

than $1 million toward local initiatives. Theother three clubs, with their charter years, areComox (1974), Strathcona Sunrise (1987) andCumberland Centennial (2005).Rotarians operate on the principle of “service

above self.” The fruits of their generousfundraising and “sweat equity” can be found

throughout the Valley in projects such as theoutdoor swimming pool at Lewis Park (1937-1947), Simms Millennium Park (2004-2005)and the Rotary Sky Park (2010), the Valley’sfirst universally accessible park.Other Rotary initiatives include popular events

like the Ducky 500, as well as yearly bursariesto deserving local students. The contributionsof our local Rotary clubs are also felt interna-tionally through money raised for relief effortsaround the globe and through its long-runninginternational student exchange program.

Heritage Recognition Award

Comox Valley Rotary Clubs


The Comox Valley Record, one of the Black Press flagship community newspapers on Vancouver Island, has faithfully and accurately reported on what matters to Valley readers for more than a quarter century. The first issue of the Comox Valley Record was distributed on March 26, 1986. The

publication was then known as the Courtenay Comox Valley Record, and it was a broadsheet rather thanthe tabloid we know and love today, but the commitment to journalism and honest reportage that definestoday’s Record has been there from the start.From a single, 20-24 page paper, the Comox Valley Record has grown to an average of more than 140

pages per week often spread over three sections, plus more than 30 specialty supplements every year —and that’s not even mentioning its significant online presence! Though originally published only once aweek, by 1989 the Record was arriving on doorsteps twice weekly. Today, the Record employs 22 in-house personnel, 200 plus carriers, 16 contract drivers and numerous

freelance writers and columnists. Several of its employees have been around since the beginning; somehave logged close to two decades of service with the newspaper.Far from just reporting on Comox Valley happenings, the Record is also an active part of the community.

The paper sponsors or otherwise supports more than 50 local non-profits every year, from charities andfundraisers to sports teams, music festivals and iconic events like the Filberg Festival and Royal LePageSnow to Surf.With 26 years under their belts, the folks at the Comox Valley Record know a thing or two about running

a successful newspaper, and they have the awards to prove it. The paper’s many accolades include BestSpecial Section, Best Use of Colour, Best Ad Campaign, Best Sustained Feature, Best New Idea and evenBest Community Newspaper in Canada for its circulation category.The Record’s mission, in part, is to “deliver a quality product,” “give a voice to our community through

local news, information and services” and “act with integrity at all times.” Mission accomplished for more than 25 years!

765 McPhee Ave, Courtenay • 250.338.5811 • www.comoxvalleyrecord.com

Heritage Recognition Award

Comox Valley Record

"The Record's commitment to journalism and honest reportage has beenthere from the start."

The Green Room is a downtown Courtenay eco-home andgift boutique offering re-purposed, fair trade, organic, local,

natural, non-toxic and undeniably stylish products. Owners Rebecca Wood and Cortney Upham incorporate the 4

R's (reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink) into nearly everythingthey do at the Green Room. From encouraging their customersto rethink how they consume, where their products come fromand how they're made, to reducing waste by offering productslike reusable bags, compost pails and plastic bag dryers,Cortney and Rebecca are helping their community live a green-er lifestyle and leading by example every step of the way.

214 Fifth St, Courtenay • 250.898.0400 www.greenroominteriors.com

Recycling Recognition AwardThe Green Room

The Comox Valley’s only locally owned alarm company, SoundSecurity continually shows leadership by embracing proven

new technologies and giving back to the Comox Valley. Recently, Sound Security became the authorized dealer for

LifeSentry, a new medical alarm system that improves uponweaknesses in established two-way voice systems. It now offersthis potentially life-saving system alongside more traditionalservices like alarm, CCTV and even home theatre systems. Inthe community, Sound Security supports groups like YANA, theJuvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Rotary and ScoutsCanada. In everything that it does, Sound Security demon-strates a caring attitude and irreproachable ethical standards.

250.339.7200 • www.soundsecurity.ca

Small Business of the YearSound Security Inc.

Over 50 per cent of Level 10's clientshave been with them for all of their21 years of operation. That’s an

amazing testament to their commitment tothe Comox Valley and its economic growth.Level 10 Eurospa is a full service salon,

spa and store offering professional hairdesign, aesthetics, skin rejuvenation, massage and spa treatments in a friendly,relaxing and comfortable environment. Owner Leanne Boyd employs more than

20 professionals (all local residents), andprovides a place clients “feel very specialand love to come and visit,” says Presley &Partners Colleen Ellison. Level 10 personifies the responsible

corporate citizen. Leanne continues to hiregraduates from local cosmetology schoolsproviding training and mentoring, partici-pates in apprenticeship programs andencourages and supports career advance-ment for all. Level 10 has always demon-strated care for the planet even before itwas fashionable. Along with recycling,energy efficient appliances and environ-mentally friendly cleaning products, theyare dedicated to whatever changes theycan make to protect our environment.

Leanne supports many local charitiesincluding YANA, CV Hospice, 19 WingComox, Child Development Telethon,school and youth club fundraisers,projects and events of all CV Rotariesas well as Ducks Unlimited. She is alsoa strong advocate of shopping locallyand supporting fellow businesses.

204-1025 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay250.334.0209

www.level10eurospa.com

Business of the Year Level 10 Eurospa

“We promise your every visit will bea Beautiful Experience.”

Courtenay’s only full-service hotel, BEST WESTERN PLUS The Westerly Hotel &Convention Centre has been an integral and active member of the ComoxValley community since 1979.

Each year, The Westerly Hotel supports a wide variety of non-profits and community events. In 2011 alone, the hotel donated gift certificates and servicesvalued at more than $75,000! A small selection of causes it has supported includes the Variety Children’s

Radiothon, Operation Red Nose, YANA and Dine Out for Life in support of AIDSVancouver Island. The hotel is also a generous supporter of community events suchas Vancouver Island MusicFest, Comox Nautical Days, the BC Shellfish Festival andthe Canadian Waterman Festival. In addition to its 143 guest suites, the hotel also features the Top Shelf Specialty

Liquor Store, the Flying Canoe West Coast Pub, Westerly Catering Company andmore than 10,000 square feet of unique meeting and event space. The InternationalRotary flag is proudly flown at the entrance to the hotel, which is home to both theCourtenay and Strathcona Sunrise Rotary Clubs. BEST WESTERN PLUS The Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre is also one of the

Valley’s largest employers, with 86 employees, most of whom have permanent, full-time positions. Last summer, the hotel honoured the dedicated service of 19employees who together accumulated 272 years of employment with the hotel. In addition to its extensive local staff, The Westerly Hotel promotes economic

welfare throughout the Valley through a “buy local” and “hire local” philosophy.Never has this community benefit been more evident than during its recent renovations, when the hotel became a significant contractor of local trades people and construction professionals. The entire project injected more than$600,000 into the local economy.

Both for the services it offers and the support itgives the community, BEST WESTERN PLUS TheWesterly Hotel & Convention Centre has earned therespect of the local business community.

1590 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay250.338.7741

www.thewesterlyhotel.ca


BEST WESTERN PLUS TheWesterly Hotel & Convention Centre

The Westerly Hotel promotes the Valley economy with a “buy local” and “hire local” philosophy.


How (not) to Write Great Web Content — Part TwoClimb Google's rankings without alienating your clients

Last issue, I explainedthat writing great webcontent is not all

about SEO (search engineoptimization). Now herecomes the shocker - greatweb copywriting is at leasta little bit about SEO. To dumb down Google’s

complicated algorithm toits most basic level, thetwo most important deter-

minants of your webpage’s ranking are rele-vance and importance.To determine your page’s

importance, Google looksat how many other pageslink to it, and how relevantand credible those pagesare. Essentially, if Googlesees lots of other relevantpages linking to yours, itfigures your page must beimportant. This has littleto do with writing webcontent, though, so let’smove on.On the relevance side,

Google simply comparesthe content on your pageto the search termentered. Your page willrank higher if it containsthose terms (keywords) intitle tags and/or early andoften in the body (but nottoo often, as you’ll see).

When writing your con-tent, you’ll want to findout which terms peopleare actually searching forwhen looking for productsor services like yours. Forexample, are they search-ing for “jewellery” or “jew-elry”? “Autobody shop” or“auto body shop”? A good place to start is

Google’s free keyword tool— just Google it.Once you’ve decided

which keywords to target,you can then incorporatethem into your copy,focusing on no more than one or two terms per page. Warning: Before you gostuffing your pages withkeywords, remember thatthe focus of your writingshould always be to provide compelling

content for your cus-tomers. Keyword overloadwill drive them away, andit could also draw thewrath of Google. The good folks at Google

know when you’re tryingto pull a fast one onthem, and they don’t likeit. If you’re cramming yourpages full of keywordsjust to rank higher, theycould blacklist you fromthe rankings altogether.And then you’ll feel prettysilly. And lonely.It’s important to

understand how the content on your websiteaffects its Google rank-ings, but it’s more impor-tant to know when to useSEO techniques and whenit’s best to lay off. See you at the top of the

search results!

Ryan Parton is a owner ofRyan Parton WritingSolutions and professionalcopywriter . He’s also exec-

utive editor of the ComoxValley Business Gazette.Visit www.ryanparton.ca or call 250.702.1103.

Ryan Parton, Ryan PartonWriting Solutions

4915 North Island Hwy, Courtenay, BC, V9N 5Y9

Phone: 250-338-6322Fax: 250-338-1507

Toll Free: 1-800-566-1322

www.engrave-it.ca

We have the ability to

meet all your promotional

product needs!

My Tech Guys’ Silent AuctionOngoing. Visit theCourtenay store daily to bid on all sorts of computeraccessories — iPods andmice to software and memory sticks. 10% of proceeds go to YANA. 5-2401 Cliffe Ave.

BNI Olympic Gold Every Thursday; 7:00 am -8:30 am; Westerly Hotel.Keynote speaker, network-ing and referrals. FMI, call Robert Mulrooney at250.338.5222.

Comox Valley BusinessNetworkEvery Wednesday; 7:30 am- 8:30 am; White Spot.Supporting business growththrough networking and referral partnerships. FMI,visit www.cvbn.ca.

Comox Valley ChamberCommunity Awards Dinner& PresentationJan. 28; 6pm - 9pm;Florence Filberg Centre.Join your Chamber as theyrecognize our community’sbest! This year’s theme:Hats off to leadership! $75.FMI, visit www.comoxvalleychamber.com.

The Comox Valley Chamberof Commerce hostsMinister Pat BellJan. 31; 7:30 am - 9:30 am;Best Western WesterlyHotel. Enjoy a buffet break-fast with Minister Bell andget an update on the BC

Jobs Plan. $20. FMI, visit www.comoxvalleychamber.com

Showcase 2012 - ComoxValley Chamber ofCommerce TradeshowFeb. 23; 1pm - 6pm; CrownIsle Resort. More than 25vendors showcasing theirwares. Book your table byJan. 21 for early bird sav-ings! FMI, visit www.comoxvalleychamber.com.

How to CommunicateEffectively When Language is a BarrierFeb. 28; 8:30 am - 12pm;Courtenay. Learn to com-

municate more effectivelywith people who speak alanguage other than yourown at this interactive workshop. $50. FMI, contact Kathie Landry at250.871.7700 ext. 4 [email protected].

Comox Valley ChamberBusiness Mixer - hosted byLaser Light & SoundFeb. 13; 5pm - 6:30 pm;274A Fifth St. A proven wayto make business connec-tions. Attendance is free,door prizes welcome. FMIand to register, visitwww.comoxvalleychamber.com/events.

Comox Valley BUSINESS EVENTS

COMOX VALLEYBBUSINESSGGAZETTE

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Chris Ketch is a profession-al trainer and the owner ofBodyNetix ProfessionalFitness Training. He can bereached at 250.871.2400or [email protected].

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In real estate circles,2011 will be remem-bered as a year of

below average sales,with strong early activity slowing down at the tail end.

The average sale pricein the Comox Valley was$350,509, up two percent from 2010, but wesaw a three per centdecline in the number ofhomes sold, with 25fewer sales.

The condo market fareda bit better. Condo apartment sales were up seven per cent, patiohomes were up five percent and townhomes sawthe biggest increase, up34 per cent over 2010.

Within the ComoxValley, the most activearea was Comox, whichwas home to 27.3 percent of sales, or 214homes. NextwasCourtenayEast, with19.3 per cent(152 homes);Cumberlandhad 63 sales,good foreight percent.

Month in review —December 2011December wasn’t one ofour finer months, withresidential sales down56 per cent over

RReeaall EEssttaattee MMaatttteerrss

Dennis A. Schaffrick, B.A. Hons., LL.B

• Real Estate/Mortgages• Wills, Estates &

Representation Agreements• Corporate/Business Law

1984 Comox Avenue, Comox, BC, V9M 3M7

(corner of Comox Avenue & Anderton Road)

D.A. SCHAFFRICK LAW CORPORATIONBarrister, Solicitor & Notary Public

Tel: 250-339-3363Fax: 250- 339-3315E-mail: [email protected]

Gary Dry, RHILicensed Home

InspectorLicense #: 47355

Level I Thermographer

250-897-4330gary@clarityhomeinspections.cawww.clarityhomeinspections.ca

ccllaarriittyy:: free from obscurity and easy to understand

“You probably don’t want your legalwork to be exciting. You probably don’t

want the experience of completing aWill, Power of Attorney, a Real Estate

transaction or a Refinance to be a bloodpressure raising experience.

If not, call me to take all the excite-ment out of your legal documents.”

T. Dale Roberts,Notary Public

#7 - 625 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, Ph: 250.871.7737

[email protected]

By Dave Procter, co-owner RE/MAX OceanPacific Realty.

December 2010. There were only 27

home sales in the Valleylast month, and only 44new listings came on themarket, down seven froma year earlier.

Of the offers that didcome in, wesaw muchmore negotiating.This is asure sign ofa buyer’smarket,which Iexpect tocarry

through most of 2012.Interest rates, which just dropped again inmid January, are going to make real estateinvestment very attractive.

Current & future opportunitiesFor investment properties, the PiercyCreek EstatesTownhomes, at just$209,900, are some-thing you might want toconsider. These are thefastest-selling townhomes in the ComoxValley, and Phase II is setto hit the market in thenext month. We also have some

great commercial oppor-tunities on the market.There’s a 1,872-squarefoot commercial buildingon Cliffe Avenue in down-town Courtenay, forexample, that’s com-pletely leased out andbringing a good return,priced at only $299,900.

Also on the business

front, Surgenor Breweryis a turnkey operation(and building) that repre-sents an exciting oppor-tunity to dive into themicrobrewery businessfor just $1,599,900.

The sky’s the limit onthis one, and we have allthe details on how youcan get up and running.

The other opportunitythat I think will see a significant lift in valuesis Claddagh Estates atKye Bay. These are theValley’s finest waterfrontlots and will be highlysought after in thefuture; pricing starts at $299,900.

Later in 2012 we’ll beunveiling our newMonthly Insider Group, aservice that will keep ourclients informed of newopportunities as they hitthe market. For details,just contact my office.Dave Procter has morethan 33 years experiencein commercial and

residential real estate and is the owner ofRE/MAX Dave ProcterRealty. You can reach him at 250.339.2021.

There’s a 1,872-square foot commercial building on Cliffe Avenue in downtownCourtenay, for example, that’s completely leased out and bringing a good return, priced at only $299,900.

RE/MAX dave procter

realty

282 Anderton RoadComox, BC V9M 1Y2

Phone: (250)339-2021Fax: (250)339-5529

Email:dprocter@

comoxvalleyrealty.com

Market year-iin-rreview

“Of the offers thatdid come in, wesaw much morenegotiating..”

Called the Valley’s finest reasonably priced homes, PiercyCreek Estates in west Courtenay is proving quite popular.

Surgenor Brewery is a turnkey operation (and building) thatrepresents an exciting opportunity.

Claddagh Estates at Kye Bay. are the Valley's finest waterfrontlots and will be highly sought after in the future


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How’sresolution

that

working

forout

you?

Mona’s ABOUT [email protected]

Mona WarrenMona Warren of MentorMe Consulting Inc. has

34 years of experience inentrepreneurship,

accounting, bookkeeping,and payroll. A true entre-preneur with a passion

for mentoring and coach-ing you to succeed.

www.mentormenow.ca250.898.3002

Bryan Wiley’s (ABC Printing& Signs) spare time is prettywell fully taken up putteringon his small acreage,spending time with hisgrandkids— and mountainbiking when he can. Bryan’salso been on a recent learn-ing venture to New Orleans.How did the shop ever dowithout him there?!

Alicia Kent (www.akashabloom.com) has beensoaking up the rays in Puerto Vallarta. She prom-ised to bring back sunshine for all of us. Oh, and forme, she promised to have a Strawberry Margaritaor two! Thank you from all of us!

Lyle Brodie of The WineCottage traveled to SouthAfrica where he witnessed ahealing ceremony by a med-icine woman. He also wentto Robben Island to visitNelson Mandela’s prisoncell. In March he’s off toChina and South Korea. Hisgoal is to travel to a differ-ent country every year.

Tansy Pauls is the Front Desk Manager ofthe Travelodge Courtenay. Along withworking at the Motel, Tansy spends hertime volunteering for the local SPCA andtaking care of her own zoo. Tansy’sPassion is helping people and Animals.

Beth Campbell Duke(CampbellDuke PersonalBranding) and her husband,Tony Duke (Tony DukeAppraisals) are loving beingon a small patch of land inBuckley Bay. Since movinghere 3 years ago, they havedone some work in the yard,and have recently added'The Little Duke Coop' —with a few young hens —and a surprise rooster!

When Cindy Armstrong isn’t out selling realestate in The Comox Valley, she’s enjoying someof her fav local spots. Biking to Nymph Falls fora swim at the fish ladder, jumping off the rocksat Barber’s Hole, skiing on the awesome runs ofMount Washington, or Snow shoeing with a pic-nic lunch (including coffee andBaileys, of course!) at ParadiseMeadows.

LadysmithPressWeb press printers of:• Newspapers • Flyers• Catalogues • Newsletters• Vacation & Recreation Guides• Newsprint Magazines

940 Oyster Bay Drive, Ladysmith, BC

250-245-0350A division of

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JUST NOT THE SAME WAY YOU DID AT THE COMPANY CHRISTMAS PARTY.

Comox Valley Business Gazette — Jan/Feb 2012 Page 1 2

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Proud to provide prompt and cost-effective legal advice.

505 5th Street, Courtenay, BC, Canada V9N 1K2Tel: 250-334-2416 • URL: www.ivesburgerlaw.com

Hans H. Urdahl, Paul R. Ives, Mark Burger

Blue chip financial advice at corner store prices

Comox Valley Business Network (CVBN) donates $500

Imagine a tool thatwould let your smallbusiness have the type

of professional financialmanagement that only abig company could normally afford. If you’re thinking of a

magic wand, that’s understandable — but offbase. In fact, newadvances in computinghave made this incrediblenotion not just possible,but easy.In the Oct/Nov

issue of theGazette, Iwrote aboutthe benefits ofthe “out-sourced CFO.”When youentrust yourfinancial man-agement to an externalcompany, you can get aqualified CA with exten-sive training, years of real-world experience andgreat business acumenwithout the cost of a blue-chip salary and benefits package. Until recently, the

mechanics of such anarrangement were awkward and inefficient,with data passed backand forth by email orthrough a memory stick. With the advent of cloud

computing, the processcan now be streamlined,making it simple, safeand reliable. Though cloud computing

does sound a bit likemagic, it’s really just thenewest evolution of wire-less computing — connectivity taken to the next level. For those of you who are

still a little, um, cloudyabout how it works, here’sthe Reader’s Digest ver-sion: the work you and/oryour staff do is automati-cally stored on a remotecomputer (the “Cloud”),which automaticallyupdates all other deviceson the network, anywherein the world. Multiple users can

access the same files andcollaborate on projectswith the assurance thatall data is stored securelyon a password-protectednetwork.

With cloud computing,your outsourced CFO hasinstant access to yourmost up-to-date book-keeping, without you having to email anything,leave the office or eventhink about it. Your CFOcan monitor your books

regularly from their ownoffice; if they noticetrends that need addressing, they can thenmeet with you over thephone with both of youlogged on to the networkand looking at the samescreen on your respectivecomputers.

You can also benefitfrom sophisticated prod-ucts your CFO brings tothe partnership. Forinstance, at our firm wehave some great software

that lets uspresent keyfinancial information ina logical manner. Youcan see at aglance, on adaily basis,

how your sales are doing,where profits are at andall the other numbers youneed to make smart business decisions.

Smart business deci-sions are really what thisis all about. Your externalCFO can advise you onhow to improve cash flow,negotiate with your bank,

eliminate inefficienciesand debilitating cashleaks, decide if and whento grow and more.

It may seem like magic,but these solutions are literally at your fingertips.The firm you contract withwill bring the expertiseneeded to set up the system, and the learningcurve is remarkably mild.It gives a whole newmeaning to the phrase,“the sky’s the limit.”

Ann Scott is a charteredaccountant and a partnerwith Presley & PartnersChartered Accountants.She can be reached at250.338.1394 [email protected].

The Comox Valley BusinessNetwork (CVBN) recentlydonated $500 to theComox Valley Boys andGirls Club. Since its

inception in 2008, CVBNhas supported severallocal charities, includingYana, Kidsport and others.

In addition to building

business through network-ing, one of the foundingprinciples of the CVBN isto support local charities

through action and donations.

“It may seem like magic, but these solutions are literally at

your fingertips.”

Ann Scott, Presley &Partners CharteredAccountants

• Avoid bankruptcy• Know your options• 0% interest• Low monthly payments• Relieve stress• Rebuild your creditToll Free: 1-877-848-4571

Phone: 778-427-7775

Phil ForsterServing Parksville and Comox Valley

Email: [email protected]: www.4pillars.ca/philf

Cut Your Debt By Up To 70%

COMOX VALLEY BBUSINESS GGAZETTEwww.businessgazette.ca

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Comox Valley Business Gazette Jan/Feb 2012