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Tips, advice, news and views from the Comox Valley business community.
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WWW.BUSINESSGAZETTE.CA
THE COMOX VALLEY
APRIL 2011
GBOCT/NOV 2011
Looking for an innovativeway to get attention
and attract new clients inthe Comox Valley?
If you’re reading this, youcould be one of the first tobe featured in “GoodCompany,” a new full-colour comic strip toappear in the ComoxValley Business Gazettestarting next issue.
Each comic will feature adifferent ComoxValley businessor businesspersonality,shining thespotlight on thestar’s productsor services inan innovative,eye-catching and whollyentertaining format.
The Good Companycomic, createdby localdesignerNatashaDavis, will fea-ture bold, vividcolours andDavis’s trade-mark stylish
design. The first comic willrun in the December/
January issue of theBusiness Gazette, due tobe distributed to everybusiness address in theComox Valley onNovember 30.
“The purpose of thecomic strip is to entertain,but more importantly toshowcase the personali-
Starting life as the‘airport’ shuttle,Ambassador Shuttle
is on a roll. On the heelsof its approved extensionby the PassengerTransportation board toexpand service, the com-pany also received anadditional license to add athird vehicle to its fleet.
“The public need anddemand was apparent,”says Kevin East, owner ofAmbassador Shuttle.“Even with our busyschedule there was a lackof available transportationfrom the Comox ValleyAirport to places likeParksville, Nanaimo,Campbell River, Mt.
Washington, Port Alberniand Tofino and Ucluelet.”Ambassador also just
added a 14-passengervan that will be used atthe airport and for specialcharters and tours aroundVancouver Island.East encourages busi-
ness people to call now tobook their company orpersonal Christmas partytransportation. “We’llensure everyone is picked up and takenhome safe and sound,”assures East. No extracharge for multiple pick-up and drop-off locationsto private residences. To book your transport call 250.339.5252.
We all know menand women han-dle stress differ-
ently. Much of this is hormonal, apparently.Men produce testosteroneby resting/relaxing, orattempting to solve theproblem. Women produceoxytocin, which isincreased via nurturingand “talking it through.”
Lest we all becomeslaves to our hormones,do you agree that if youcould handle stress better, not only would your everyday life andrelationships be morecalm and enriched, butyou’d have more successin your business and professional life too?
That’s the thinkingbehind the newMarsVenus Coaching seminar coming to theWesterly Hotel inCourtenay November 4th.“It’s a fun, entertainingand informative look atstress,” says Robin DeFoe,who’s promoting theevent.
The seminar, “How toPractice Safe Stress atWork - A seminar on howmen & women cope withstress differently in theworkplace, covers:• How to avoid stress taking a toll on your pro-fessional relationships• How to interpret the different reactions of co-workers and clientsunder stress.• Why men and womenrespond to stress differently. • Practical ideas that canhelp men and women
reduce stress for eachother and themselves.
The seminar leader isAlan Ogden, personallyhand-picked and trainedby John Gray. Cost is$149 and attendees get asecond workshop of equalvalue at no charge.
The second seminar is“Isn’t it time you had aPlan ‘B’?” and promises toshare the five fundamen-tals that will change yourbusiness forever.
If these topics interestyou, please call RobinDeFoe for more informa-tion at 250.898-8695
October was a bigmonth forCourtenay-based
Better MousetrapMarketing, as the compa-ny incorporated, broughton a new partner, andhired a high-profile localsales professional.
On October 1, EmmaPayton joined companyfounders Lisa Hendersonand Jason Clayton as a
partner in the company.Payton brings 16 years ofexperience inbusiness managementto the BetterMousetrapteam, includ-ing sevenyears as theprincipal ofPayton Hughes Consulting.
Payton, who specializes
in marketing and businessplanning, helps the firm’s
clients map outbroad market-ing strategiesand also consults withthem on allaspects of theirbusiness.
“We look at things from awholistic perspective,” shesays. “There are people
out there who do web-sites, logos or marketingplans, but don’t necessari-ly pull all of the piecestogether. Marketing is thecore of our business, butwe always have the biggerpicture in mind.”
Also joining the team onOctober 1 was JennyDeters, who will spear-
See ‘Comic’ Pg. 7
See ‘Better’ Pg. 2
“We hire smart,experienced people,
then get out of their way and let
them do their jobs.”
Jenny Deters, Emma Payton and Lisa Henderson, three of the marketing dynamos behind Courtenay's Better Mousetrap Marketing.
Kyle Lesage, by Ambassador Shuttle’s new 14-passenger van,on his way to service Denman and Hornby Island on a special BC Ferries contract.
Who wants to be a comic strip superstar?
Ambassador Shuttlespreads its wings
Better Mousetrap beating better path
Mars & Venus get back to business
“People like comics— I think it's
something we justcarry with us from
childhood.”
John Gray, Ph.D., is thebest-selling relationshipauthor of all time. Theauthor of 16 books, includ-ing the relationship classic,Men Are from Mars, WomenAre from Venus — whichUSA Today quoted as ‘thenumber one best-sellingbook of the last decade’ aswell as ‘one of the top-tenmost influential books ofthe last 25 years’ — JohnGray is the world's foremostrelationship and genderexpert. In the past fifteenyears, over 40 million MarsVenus books have beensold in over 45 languages.
Get Your
FREESubscription Here
Like the BusinessGazette and want to
see every issue? Stay on top of
business in theComox Valley by going to www.
businessgazette.ca/subscribe and
get a free email subscription.
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]
ties of the featured busi-nesses,” says Davis. “Thisis your chance to let yourhair down and promoteyourself in a whole newlight that’s sure to getnoticed.”
While certainly not main-stream, the growth of“comic marketing” hasbeen tangible in recentyears as businessessearch for innovative waysto capture their cus-tomers’ attention. Evenbefore its first appear-ance, Davis’ GoodCompany comic strip hasalready attracted the inter-est of Comox Valley mar-keting professionals.
“Natasha’s business
comic strip is a uniqueand highly memorableconcept,” says EmmaPayton, of BetterMousetrap Marketing.“We see it as a stand-outtool for businesses want-ing to get noticed.”
Davis is offering introductory pricing to be featured in the GoodCompany comic at just$399, which includes con-sultation, design and thecost of a 1/3 page spot inthe Business Gazette.Once published, the comicis yours to display, repro-duce and distribute toyour heart’s content.
“This is really greatvalue,” says Davis.“People like comics - Ithink it’s something we
just carry with us fromchildhood. Think about it— who can resist readinga comic when it’s placedin front of them? Certainlyno one I know.
“Offering this comic stripas a marketing tool justseemed like a perfect fitfor me,” she adds. “Mydesigns are fresh, they’reedgy and they commandattention — and that’sexactly what this comic is going to do.”
Only one business canbe featured in GoodCompany each issue. Toreserve your spot, callNatasha Davis at250.792.2436.
For more information, visitwww.NatashaDesignHouse.com.
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Oct/Nov 2011
head Better Mousetrap’ssales initiatives after twoyears with the Old HouseVillage Hotel and Spa.
“This is an amazingteam,” says Deters. “I’vewatched them grow andI’ve heard the great feed-back from the community.I haven’t heard one nega-tive thing about this com-pany, and in the Valleythat’s a big deal.”
Better Mousetrap wasfounded in May 2010 as afull-service marketingagency serving clientsacross the Island and theLower Mainland. With itsrecent growth, it can nowoffer a full range of busi-ness development servic-
es as well as promoteitself further afield.
“We build our teamthrough hiring smart,experienced people, thenget out of their way andlet them do their jobs,”says Henderson.“Whenever a client comesin, there’s a piece of thecompany that can benefitthem. They can get every-thing they need withinthese walls.”
“The word ‘team’ is key,”says Deters. “If there’s ajob that’s not my skill, itgets passed on to some-body whose skill it is. It’slike a hockey team - youpass the puck whensomeone else is in a bet-ter position. We’refocused on the end result,
not individual accolades.”That commitment to pos-
itive outcomes, perhapsabove all, is what thegrowth of BetterMousetrap Marketing is allabout.
“If you’re our client andwe don’t make you moremoney and increase yourclient base, then we aren’tdoing our jobs,” saysHenderson flatly. “That’sexactly what our whole jobis. We do it in a lot of dif-ferent ways, but that’s theend result.”
To find out how BetterMousetrap can help yourbusiness grow, visitwww.bettermousetrap.caor call 250.792.1296 to schedule a free consultation.
Better - con’t from pg. 1
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Phone: 778-427-7775
Phil ForsterServing Parksville and Comox Valley
Email: [email protected]: www.4pillars.ca/philf
Cut Your Debt By Up To 70%
Comic - from pg. 1
Robert Mulrooney Senior Investment Advisor DWM Securities Inc. 442B Duncan Ave. Courtenay, BC Phone: (250) 338-5222
New legislation makes it easier to plan ahead
In September, twopieces of legislationwere passed in BC thathave made it much
easier for business people— and anyone for thatmatter - to take care oftheir affairs even whenthey’re out of town or otherwise incapacitated.
The legislation involvestwo related but slightly different types of documents: powers ofattorney and representa-tion agreements. In bothcases, new amendmentshave made it simpler toappoint someone to legally act on your behalf,replacing onerous mandatory forms withuser-friendly templates.
Say, for example, twopartners have a bankaccount that requires twosignatures, but one part-ner is planning an extend-ed holiday in Bora Bora.(Not to be confused withTora Bora, which is equallyexotic but not nearly aspleasant.) The partnerssimply set up an author-ized signatory agreementor a quick power of attorney and BINGO — theremaining partner has fullaccess to funds while hisor her jet-setting colleagueis sipping mai-tais on thebeach. Or in a bunker, asthe case may be.
Or let’s say the matriarchof a family business is living the high life atGlacier View and Dad isleft running the business.
Who will look after thebusiness if Dad passesaway? Who will take careof Mom? An ‘enduring’power of attorney forfinancial matters, and arepresentation agreementfor health care matters,can lay out the rulesahead of time.
Especially useful in thissituation is what we call a“springing” power of attor-ney, which comes intoeffect only when someonebecomes incapacitated,as verified by one or twomedical professionals.Alternatively, you might setup a power of attorney fora limited time or for a spe-cific purpose, such as tocover the partner’s vaca-tion in the first example.
Similar to enduring powers of attorney, butless common and primari-ly for health care matters,are representation agreements. These allowan adult to name a repre-sentative to make deci-sions on his or her behalfwith respect to healthcare, personal care andthe like. In some cases,they’re used by those withphysical or mental challenges to allow for the
routine management offinancial affairs andobtaining legal services.
A power of attorney, onthe other hand, can alsobe used for transactionssuch as stock invest-ments, business dealsand real estate transac-tions, although the latterrequires that you haveyour power of attorney witnessed by a lawyer ornotary public, the old-fashioned way.
Ideally, every businessowner or partner shouldhave at least one of thesedocuments among theirbusiness files, along withtheir partnership or shareholders’ agreementand even their will.
We can never be certainwhat life will throw ourway. While death andtaxes are two certaintiesin life, incapacitation canlead to uncertainty if youdon’t plan ahead.
For more information onany of these documents,visit ww.ag.gov.bc.ca/incapacity-planning, orgive me a call.Paul Ives is a lawyer withIves Burger Barristers &Solicitors in Courtenay. Hecan be reached at250.334.2416 or www.ivesburgerlaw.com
“Every businessowner should have
at least one ofthese documentsamong their docu-
mentation.”
Paul R. Ives, B.A.,LL.B, Partner,IvesBurger
head how often I’d be successful. You alsoshouldn’t use the namesof your kids, pets, or anything else that some-one might guess easily.
Now, let’s say you decideto ignore my advice. Youcan make “password” farmore complicated simplyby changing it to“P@ssw0rd,” which is stillmemorable but unlikely tobe stumbled upon by ahuman being. So get cryptic.
33.. MMaakkee iitt aatt lleeaasstt eeiigghhtt cchhaarraacctteerrss
Alas, it’s not only humanbeings trying to accessour accounts. There areprograms out there thattry to get in by brute force,trying every possible com-
bination of characters,thousands every second,until they nail your pass-word. To these programs,“PxF6%$F4” is just aseasy to crack as “pass-word.” Each character youadd, however, makes yourpassword exponentiallymore difficult to crack.
To make a long passwordmemorable, try combininga series of words into aphrase that means some-thing to you. If you’re alocal footy fan, for exam-ple, you might choose“C0m0xV@lleyS0ccer.”44.. SSaavvee yyoouurr ppaasssswwoorrddss
I recommend saving yourpasswords in an Excelspreadsheet and storing ahard copy in a safe placein case your computerkicks the bucket. Whensaving your spreadsheet,
click on “options” andthen password-protect the file.
Locked out of youraccount because you forgot a password?
Bring us your computer,and in just minutes wecan show you the password for every emailaccount on the computer,plus every username andpassword that’s beenentered in InternetExplorer. Scary, right?
We use these powers forgood. But there are thoseout there who use evenmore powerful tools forevil. So protect yourself.
Bob Wells is the “ExtremeGeek” and owner of MyTech Guys. He can bereached at 250.890.1065or www.mytechguys.ca
Password - from pg. 3
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Oct/Nov 2011 Page 3
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Most of us havedebts, and ourfirst priority should
always be making theminimum required payments, on time, for allour loans. Once those arecovered, you should paydown debts with the high-est interest costs first.
For example, credit cardstypically have an annualpercentage rate (APR) of
10-20%, while a ‘typical’mortgage APR is 3-6%, soa dollar towards your credit card balance isgoing to be 2x to 4x morebeneficial than a dollartowards your mortgage.
However, if you are having trouble paying anything more than thoseminimum payments, youmay benefit from a mortgage refinance/con-solidation. This strategy ispossible if you have builtup equity in your property(i.e. your property value issignificantly greater than
your mortgage) andinvolves borrowing extramoney through a low interest mortgage to payoff higher interest debts.
The result is equal orlower monthly paymentsand faster progress payingyour debt off. For a freedebt review, call today!
Find today’s rates onlineat comoxmortgages.com.For a free personalizedquote call Mackenzie at250.331.0800.
Passwords are good.They keep the badguys out and our
confidential informationin. The problem is that we allhave so many accountsthat require passwordsthese days, and thehuman mind was simplynot designed to remember that kind ofinformation. Heck, mostof us have a hard enoughtime remembering ouranniversary!Here are a few tips forcreating - and remember-ing - effective passwords:11.. DDoonn’’tt ggoo oovveerrbbooaarrdd
Stick to just two to fourpasswords. That way, ifyou forget which one youused for a particularaccount, you can usuallyfigure it out with only afew guesses.22.. DDoonn’’tt uussee ““ppaasssswwoorrdd””
If I were trying to gainaccess to an account, thefirst password I’d try is“password” - and it wouldmake you shake your
Mackenzie Gartside Verico Select Mortgage
Prioritize your debtfor best effect
Providing consistent, quality services to meet the needs of a
fast growing, dynamic community. 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
Four tips for smart, secure passwords
Password - con’t pg. 2
Bob Wells (The ExtremeGeek), My Tech Guys
COMOX VALLEY BBUSINESS GGAZETTEPromote your events in the Business Gazette. Call 250.702.1103
or 250.897.5064 or email [email protected].
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Oct/Nov 2011Page 4
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CCaallll ffoorr FFRREEEE QQuuoottee && AAddvviiccee
Business is goodand your revenuesare high - so whydo you never
seem to have any moneyleft at the end of themonth? Quite simply, yourbusiness is leaking cash.
In my experience, nineout of 10 busi-nesses sufferfrom inefficien-cies that aresucking cashright out fromunder theirowners’ noses.Simply identifying andstemming thesecash “leaks” could enableyou to move inventoryfaster, manage payablesmore efficiently or makeother changes that willultimately put more profitin your wallet where itbelongs.
Assuming you’re notamong that elusive 10 per cent with perfectlyefficient operations, or aFortune 500 companywith a full-time CFO,you’ve got a couple ofoptions:
The first is to plod alongas you always have, desperately trying to keepon top of your financeswhile also juggling all theresponsibilities of runninga successful business. Ifyou go this route, you’lllikely miss all opportuni-ties to make improve-ments; cash will continueto leak, and you probablywon’t even know it.
A much better option,and one that’s beingembraced by most pro-gressive entrepreneurs, isto outsource your financial planning andmanagement to a profes-sional, which I like to callyour “external CFO.”
Your external CFO willhelp you organize yourfinances, plug any cashleaks, improve profits andultimately increase thevalue of your business. He or she can counselyou on important business decisions likesecuring a new loan,extending credit, incorporating or expanding your business,and can even run hypothetical scenariosand market forecasts thatwill help you squeezeevery ounce of profit fromthe marketplace, even
Shawn Rose lookedaround and sawwhat wasn’t avail-
able. In his words, “a sim-ple, easy, usable onlinebusiness directory.”
“Everyone likes thingsnice and simple,” explainsRose. “So I set up a business listings directorywhere it’s simple to go,look and pick the catego-ry, as opposed to search-ing by name or number orcategory or whatever.”
Rose’s site is indeedsimple, with nice big buttons to take visitors to
an alphabetical list ofeveryone in the area withthat type of business.
“It’s a huge benefit tothe advertisers too asthey don’t just get aname, number and a littlemap,” says Rose. “There’sroom to tell their story andadd links to their web site,
Facebook, Twitter,LinkedIn,etc.”
Rose feels he has anunbeatable offer: “youdon’t rent the space... you own it!” $100.00 —one time, and businessescan do their own updat-ing. For more informationcall 250.897.2673.
during uncertain times. All of this is fancy busi-
ness-speak for getting youthat little bit closer tohappy-hour margaritas ona tropical beach.
The best CFOs haveyears of real-world busi-
ness experi-ence and professionalfinancial train-ing. Whereyou may seeonly numbers,your externalCFO will seeproblems andopportunities.
Though KPIs, BVAs andWCCs may make yourhead spin, they’ll make
your CFO as giddy as aschoolgirl following JustinBieber’s Twitter feed.More importantly, yourCFO will actually use thesenumbers to show you howto get more from yourbusiness and inch evercloser to that elusivebeachside retirement.
With an external CFO,you’ll very likely getaccess to software andother resources thatwouldn’t otherwise beavailable to you. At ourfirm, for example, we useall sorts of cutting-edgeCloud-based technologiesthat allow us to analyzeand interpret our clients’financial situation in orderto improve their cash flow,
the lifeline of any busi-ness.
For more information onfinding and hiring anexternal CFO, please con-tact me or any of my asso-ciates at 250.338.1394.Ann Scott is a charteredaccountant and a partnerwith Presley & PartnersChartered Accountants.
Online business directory redux
Your business is leaking cash
“An external CFOcan help you get a
little bit closer to happy-hour
margaritas on atropical beach.”
Ann Scott, Presley &Partners CharteredAccountants
RBC DOMINION SECURITIES
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Lara D. Austin, F.M.A, C.I.M Investment Advisor
Professional Wealth Management Since 1901
Shawn Rose, owner of www.comoxvalleyspotlight.com. He’s working to build a better local business directory. “One that gets used,” says Rose, “with 10% of each purchase to local charity.”
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Oct/Nov 2011 Page 5
Mona’s ABOUT [email protected]
Mona WarrenMentor Me Consultingwww.mentormenow.ca
250.898.3002
Larrie &M a r g a r e tSzafron areboth comefrom close-knitfamilies. Whichexplains the‘preserve yourcherished life-time memo-ries’ motto of
their Prestige Video Transfer business. This year they returned ‘home’twice — to Saskatchewan for a 50th wedding anniversary, and toAlberta for the annual meeting of Larrie’s sister & brothers. This yearwas significant as the youngest brother celebrated the “Big 50”.
Look who’s a teenager!
“Becoming a teenager means that97.3 The Eagle is older and wiser...but also still lean, hungry, andgrowing strong,” says Richard
Skinner,Sales & Operations Manager. In fact, 2011 is proving to be a banneryear with unprecedented local growthfor the radio station.
“A huge part of our success can beattributed to having the best team in thebusiness,” says Rob Bye, GM/GSM forIsland Radio. We just couldn’t do it without the right people. The Eagle’spopularity begins with The Big Showwith Bob & Bill in the morning but allEagle announcers focus on building realrelationships with their listeners. As aresult, Eagle listeners tune in regularly[as much as 2.5 hours per day on
average]; they have a bond with the on-air personalities; and Eagle listenerstrust the information they hear.
“What this means to local advertisersis that 97.3 The Eagle has the ability towin the attention of their listeners inorder to inspire recall and to deliverresults,” says Skinner.
The Eagle is also doing a great job ofkeeping up with people’s lives. Peopletune in while they drive, work, browsethe web, chat online, dine or do dishes.The Eagle introduces new and familiarmusic, delivers news and local informa-tion, invites listener participation, offerscompanionship and a sound track forlife. From the occasional blizzard to ourannual power outages, 97.3 The Eagleis a dependable source of informationwhen people need it most.
Today, The Eagle also extends its connection through Its station websiteand social media, where there are evenmore opportunities for interaction andcalls to action. Contests, sponsorship,e-newsletters, music requests, audiostreams, downloading and listener feedback all contribute to the sense ofcommunity and belonging. We evenemail birthday greetings and offers toour eagle insiders club.
Theatre of the mind is still key to thepower of radio. It means a more person-al experience, and sets radio apart fromall other media.
That personal experience is why radio,and why 97.3 The Eagle’s award win-ning creative and production team, isideal for brand building. It gives localmarketers a chance to connect with anaudience, build a relationship, reach lis-teners in the right environment and givethem a reason to care.
97.3 The Eagle is one of six radiostations with Island Radio, a divisionof The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.
The Jim Pattison BroadcastGroup: We have built our reputationas a committed broadcaster serving the needs of our listeners,advertisers and communitiesthroughout the provinces of BritishColumbia and Alberta.
From the launch of one of Canada’sfirst radio stations, CFXC-AM inVancouver in the early 1920s, nowoperating as CKPK-FM, 100.5 ThePeak, The Broadcast Group hasgrown to become the sixth largestradio group in Canada. With ourhead office in Kamloops, BC, wehave established The BroadcastGroup as one of the country’s leading broadcasting companies inboth radio and television. With 29 FM stations and three independenttelevision stations we are Canada’slargest private western-based radioand television company!
‘The Island’s BestMusic Mix’ — 97.3 The Eagle — turned 13 years old in October 2011
Turn our listeners into your customers. Call 250-703-2200 in the Comox Valley, or 250-830-1080 in Campbell River.
‘Great radio goes in oneear… and stays there’copywriter Tom Van Steenhoven from LukeSullivan’s ‘Hey Whipple, Squeeze this’.
Photo: Ed Goodfellow
l-to-r: Bob Wells, Tim Trottier, Joe Bally, Larrie Szafron, Randy Komar, Dean Garrett and KenDerksen at the Comox Valley Men’s Networking Group. They meet at noon the 3rd Thursday ofevery month at the Old House Restaurant. No Dues, No Speakers, No Agenda. The women’sgroup meets every 3rd Wednesday. Get your invitation reminders at www.mentormenow.ca.
Erik and Beverley Eriksson. I saw them Oct. 1 at the“Downtown Social Club” cutting the rug. They weregood too! It was their 39th wedding anniversary.
Lori Baker Gift Maker is one ofthe best kept secrets of our val-ley. If you get a chance have alook at her new websitewww.loribakergiftmaker.com.
Debaura Hall played tourist in her own town this summer on two fabuloustours, Discovery Marine Tours and Island Gourmet Trails. Debaura thoroughlyenjoyed being the only “local” on the tour among Europeans and Americans.
This summer Sarah Brune of Inner Harmonywent to England. One of the highlights of the tripwas a visit to Buckingham Palace to see the wed-ding dress that Kate Middleton wore.
Joy Bruce, winnerof two tickets toanywhere WestJetflies in Canada,the big prize ofover $5000.00worth of giftsdonated for theAirport VolunteerHosts tenth yeara n n i v e r s a r y .Organized by LisaIverson, ExecutiveAd m i n i s t r a t i veAssistant withComox ValleyAirport. Call250.890.0829 toget involved.
The end of an era! After more than 20years in the Comox Valley, Dian Smit, anavid volunteer, is moving to Calgary,Alberta. She has been active on manyboards and committees around town,most famously the Vancouver IslandMusic Fest. She will be sadly missed bymyself and others. We wish you all thebest and hope you will return to us soon!Dian will still be doing Nerd things inCalgary and can still be reached forremote work endeavors.
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Oct/Nov 2011Page 6
The Comox Valleyreal estate marketcontinues to hum
along, with unit sales inSeptember up 20 percent from September2010. Though the aver-age sale price of$342,591 represents aslight drop from August’saverage, it’s still five per cent higher than the average sale price a year ago.
Throughout VancouverIsland north of theMalahat, September
sales were up 19 per cent, putting theComox Valley just above the average.
The red hot CampbellRiver market led the waywith a 44 per centincrease in units soldover September 2010(although the averagesale price was considerably lower thanin the Comox Valley).Port Alberni west wasthe only zone that saw a decrease in sales overthe past year.
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
TD Canada Trust
1966 Gutrie Rd.
Comox, BC
T: 250 890 2190
By Dave Procter, co-owner RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty.
What’s happening inthe Comox Valley?Piercy Creek Estates, animpressive 45-unit townhome development inWest Courtenay, is starting to attract a lot of attention.
Though sales didn’tkick off until October 17,as of this writing thereare already five unitssold and five more salespending approval!
Priced from $209,900to $249,900, thesethree-bedroom, 2½bathroom town homes ofbetween 1,350 and1,382 square feet are
one of the ComoxValley’s best buys.
The professionallydesigned, ultra-moderninteriors feature nine-foot ceilings on the mainfloor, plus maple cabinetry,engi-neeredmaplefloors,deluxekitchenswith inlaidglassback-splashes,an upscale lighting package and spaciousmaster bedrooms withfull en-suite and walk-incloset.
Each home also has anoversized single garage,low-E Milgard windows,timber and rock accentson the exterior and afully landscaped andfenced back yard. Theunits are even wired forhot tubs!
Piercy Creek Estatesborders some really niceparkland, and PiercyCreek runs right throughthe development.There’s a walking trailaround the complex,impressive landscapingof common areas and aprivate on-site playground. Phase Oneoffers 21 units, while
Phase Two will includean additional 24 units.
If laid-back, oceanfrontliving is more your style,Claddagh Estates inComox offers some ofthe most stunning prop-
erties intheValley.Sittingatop a90-footbluff, this25-acredevelop-ment
boasts spectacular viewsof the Strait of Georgiaand the CoastalMountains, set against apicturesque backdrop ofVancouver Island’sBeaufort mountainrange, including MountWashington and theiconic Comox Glacier.
Imagine kicking backon your deck watchingbald eagles drift uponthe warm air currents,scanning the shorelinefor prey or alighting in an ancient douglas firalong the bluff. Or mar-velling at the gracefulgreat blue herons asthey glide past toward anearby rookery.
With sandy beaches,spectacular sunsets,and waterfront lots start-ing at under $300,000, Idon’t expect these properties to last long!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.
Called the Comox Valley’s finest reasonably priced homes, Piercy Creek Estates, bordering park-land in west Courtenay, is already proving quite popular. .
RE/MAX dave procter
realty
282 Anderton RoadComox, BC V9M 1Y2
Phone: (250)339-2021Fax: (250)339-5529
Email:dprocter@
comoxvalleyrealty.com
A quick market update
“The red hot CampbellRiver market led the way
with a 44 per centincrease in units sold
over September 2010.”
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Oct/Nov 2011
Upcoming CV Business Events
President’s ForumEvery 2nd Thursday; 7:00 am - 8:30 am. Hosted by Ron Berry Business Advisors. FMI, and to register, call 1.250.751.1025.
BNI Olympic Gold Every Thursday; 7:00 am - 8:30 am; Westerly Hotel.Keynote speaker, networking and referrals. FMI, call Robert Mulrooney at 250.338.5222.
Comox Valley Business NetworkEvery Wednesday; 7:30 am - 8:30 am; White Spot.Supporting business growth through networking and referral partnerships. FMI, visit www.cvbn.ca.
CPP and OAS - The New Rules 2012Nov. 3; 1:00 pm; RBC Dominion Securities (777AFitzgerald). Presented by Service Canada. FMI and toRSVP, call 250.334.5606.
Comox Valley Chamber Mixer - hosted by First InsuranceNov. 8; 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm; 426 Eighth Street. A provenway to make business connections. Attendance is free,appetizers and beverages will be served. Door prizes wel-come. FMI and to register, visit www.comoxvalleycham-ber.com/events.
Comox Valley Chamber lunch meeting with John PollardNov. 24; 11:45 am - 12:45 pm; Westerly Hotel. JohnPollard, CEO of CHEK Media will discuss his company, thefuture of media and how businesses can most effectivelyget the word out. RSVP atwww.comoxvalleychamber.com/events.
27-Oct-2011Ronni Lister
Ronni Lister Re/Max
03-Nov-2011Bill Jarrett
TrueView Treecare
10-Nov-2011Dale Roberts
T. Dale Roberts Notary Public
17-Nov-2011Luciano Rollin
Aero Art Screen Printing
24-Nov-2011TBA
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Promote your events in the Business Gazette. Call 250.702.1103or email [email protected].
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Anew networkinggroup specifically foryoung professionals
is starting up in theComox Valley, with thefirst meeting scheduledfor early November.
The Young Professionalsof Comox Valley (YPCV)aims to promote socialinteraction and assist inthe professional development of theComox Valley’s futurebusiness leaders.
The group is open tobusiness professionals,employees, and entrepreneurs under theage of 40 who live orwork in the Comox Valley.
“The Valley is continuallygrowing and attractingmore young people,” saysJoe Renooy, a charteredaccountant at MNP LLP inCourtenay who’s spear-heading the new group.“Establishing a network ofyoung professionals willensure that there’s alwaysa place for the next generation of businessand community leaders toconnect and share ideas.
“After university, when Icame back to the ComoxValley to start my career, Ihad a hard time network-ing with other young pro-fessionals,” he continues.“Young professionals tend
thing like this would bewell received. I’m excitedto hear everyone’s ideasat the first meeting!”
Meetings will be held atthe Old House Restaurantfrom 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.For more information,contact Joe Renooy [email protected] or call778.225.7234
to share a lot of the samequestions, experiencesand concerns. Our aim isto simply provide a placeand time where they canmeet, network andlearn fromeach other.”
The YPCV’sfirst meetingwill featurea presenta-tion by LeifBogwald,CA, President of the YoungProfessionals of Nanaimo(YPN), which has emergedas a prominent voice inthe Nanaimo businesscommunity in just twoyears. Bogwald will discuss the history of the
YPN and explain how ithas successfully raisedawareness of the area’syoung business talent.
“The goal forour firstmeeting is tosimply connectyoung professionalsand get theirinput as tohow they’dlike this group
to run,” says Renooy, noting the group is expected to be quite informal to start. “Themore we discuss the ideawith other young profes-sionals in the Valley, themore we’re hearing some-
Young professionals networking group
Joe Renooy, a charteredaccountant at MNP LLP inCourtenay
“Our aim is to provide a place
and time to meet, network and learn from
each other.”
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Oct/Nov 2011Page 8
AGS Business Systems Inc.
www.agscanada.com • [email protected]
Courtenay,#103-1995 Cliffe Ave., V9N 2L2
P 250.871.0116or 866.248.4251
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Nanaimo,#1-1970 Island
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Parksville,#1-501 Stanford Ave.,
East, V9P 1V7P 250.248.4251or 866.248.4251• F 250.248.2800
A name that has created greatpartnerships like Ricoh Canadaas their exclusive Dealer. A name we are so proud of, we are able to say we are 100% Island grown and Island owned. A name attracting some ofthe best, right from Ricohdirect, Peter Moss, nowpartner of AGS and VP ofSales for Vancouver Island.
What’s in a name? Lots,and so much more. You’ll be happy to haveAGS as your OfficeEquipment supplier, and even more important, your officeequipment partner.
1-866-248-4251Always Great Service!
A name our competitors hate! A name our customerslove! We are so proud to have all our customers as partof the AGS family. A name of one of the oldest andmost trusted office equipment businesses on the Island!
What’s in a name?After 35 Years. . . Lots!
35 Y
ears
How to write media releases that get published
Media releases canbe one of themost cost-effec-
tive ways to promote yourbusiness. They give you achance at exposure in avariety of media for a fraction of the cost ofpaid advertising.
The downside? Mostmedia outlets, includinglocal newspapers, receivehundreds of media releases every week.Most are awful. Here are a few tips to makeyours jump to the top ofthe pile:Have something to say —That your company carries500 varieties of widgetsisn’t news. That you’vejust developed 100 newvarieties might be. Thatyou developed them usinga rare mineral unearthedby last month’s devastat-ing volcanic eruption definitely is. Write in 3rd person — Apart of me dies every time I read a release thatbegins, “We at AcmeWidgets are proud toannounce . . .”Use quotes — Quotes adda human element andtake some of the onus offthe editor to fact-checkyour claims. “Your dailypaper won’t want to
declare that AcmeWidgets is the preferredwidget supplier,” sayslocal copywriter RyanParton. “But if it’s in aquote from a companyspokesperson, you canusually get away with it.” Put Egyptian thinking onits head — Use what jour-nalists call the Inverted
Pyramid. The most impor-tant information should beat the top of your story,with importance graduallydecreasing as the readerprogresses through yourrelease. Cover the five W’s — And,when appropriate, the H.86 Jargon — Use languagethe average reader will
understand. Spell outand/or explain abbreviations on firstusage, and don’t write inindustry jargon. Keep it short — Unlessyou’ve a proven trackrecord of delivering clean,compelling, well-writtenreleases, keep yours under350 words. 400 max. Write like you went toschool — You can’tbecome a great writerovernight, but you canlearn proper grammar. Agood place to start isLynne Truss’s Eats,Shoots and Leaves. Youshould also pick up
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copies of the CanadianPress (CP) Style Book andCP Caps and Spelling.Follow these guidelinesand you’ll be well on yourway to garnering heaps offree media exposure. Or,ignore them and languish
right where you are.Ryan Parton is a profes-sional copywriter and ownerof Ryan Parton WritingSolutions. He’s also execu-tive editor of the ComoxValley Business Gazette.Visit www.ryanparton.ca orcall 250.702.1103.
