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6 • DECEMBER 2009 BUSINESS IN CALGARY

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Contents Volume 19 • Number 11

73

CoverGenerosity of Spirit 31Spotlight shines on community-leading philanthropic effortsBy Derek Sankey

Year in Review 25Behind the big business stories of 2009By Derek Sankey

Shifting Careers 44How to make a career change in turbulent timesBy Derek Sankey

BRIC by BRIC 73Emerging markets tempt investorsBy Devon Babin

Company profilesSunik Roofing 67Celebrating 20 years in business

Boma Calgary newsWinter 2009 53

regular ColumnsThe Bristol Milkmaid 8By Richard Bronstein

Odd Ideas that Pass as Policy By Frank Atkins 10

The Calgary Report 80 Current developments for Tourism Calgary, Calgary Economic Development, and Calgary Technologies Inc.

Leading Business 88

Marketing Matters 94By David Parker

On our cover…Individual Philanthropist, David Bissett &Lifetime Philanthropist, Irene Pfeiffer.

31

44

http://www.rgo.ca


By RICHARD BRONSTEIN

The origin of immunization goes back to the 1790s when British scientist Edward Jenner developed a vaccine against smallpox. He discovered it after observing that

British milkmaids who had signs of a related disease appeared to be resistant to strains of smallpox.

One hundred years ago the mortality rate among infants in North America was more than 20 per cent as children routinely died of whooping cough, polio, rubella and other infectious dis-eases. Those of a certain age will remember lining up for Salk vaccine shots against polio in the mid-1950s. In the mid-1970s the global scourge of smallpox was more or less eliminated because of the wise policies of the World Health Organization.

Each fall for the past number of years, public health authorities and the pharmaceutical industry come up with new flu vaccines that save countless lives and prevent much suffering. Medical science has taken great strides to make our lives better, but judging by the confusion and neuroses generated by the current H1N1 campaign, you’d think we are living in the Dark Ages and have no experience with the science of immunization.

A comedian I recently heard on CBC Radio kind of hit it on the head with his rap about air travel. What’s up with people, he intoned, who will loudly complain about a 20-minute delay at the airport, and yet be totally blasé about the fact that we’re sitting in a chair at 35,000 feet and flying across the country at 500 kilometres an hour.

Talk about not being able to see the big picture!I realize that having a broad appreciation of the miracle of

immunization is no substitute for a family’s immediate con-cerns over the health of their children or some other vulnerable person. But if you think about it for a moment longer than today’s jolting headline or the voice of gloom and doom on the supper-hour news, the H1N1 vaccination campaign appears to be working. Although we still have a few more months of this flu ahead of us, it seems our public health establishment has done a decent job of getting us through this thing.

But there are some lessons to be learned, because next year or the year after, another potentially vicious bug will come our way.

What I would like to see happen is for an all-party commit-

tee of the Alberta legislature to hold public hearings into the “dos and don’ts” of this particular campaign. We all need to understand what we did right and wrong in 2009 so that we can produce a manual, a public document widely available to all Albertans, that will openly explain the main protocols to be followed in the next big health crisis.

Among the obvious issues to be defined for the future are: (1) greater clarity over identifying and mobilizing most at-risk groups; (2) more and better locations for delivering shots; (3) and a serious discussion about ethics.

Welcoming all to a first-come-first-serve system and only starting with four clinics in Calgary, most of them with no indoor waiting facilities, was poor planning. Better clinics and better communication can be easily corrected.

But the bigger question at the heart of all this is the govern-ment’s apparent neglect in upholding the basic principles of public health and safety. That’s why we need a comprehensive public discussion about health ethics.

Who should receive their shots first? As one doctor stated: “A Grade 12 student with a little time could have put together a better plan than the province executed.” You don’t need to be a policy expert to put high-risk individuals – health-care pro-fessionals, ambulance personnel, basically those who will take care of us – at the front of the line with some sense of urgency or priority in getting the shots.

The scary part of this is that these discussions have been tak-ing place across Canada for at least the last 10 years. It appears that we have missed the most basic steps in caring for the peo-ple of our province. Has the continual shuffling of our health boards left a knowledge gap in handling a program like this or was it politics and not health that ruled the day?

We need a fair and impartial examination of glitches in the current H1N1 vaccination program. We need assur-ances that our public health system is properly managed by top-quality professionals. An independent committee of the legislature holding public hearings is perhaps the best way to establish principled guidelines for handling the next public health crisis, which is surely just around the corner. Our health is too important to be left in the hands of politicians. BiC

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By FRANk ATkINS

Odd Ideas that Pass as Policy • Frank Atkins

Robert Lucas Jr. of the University of Chicago won a Nobel Prize in economics several years ago. He

was rewarded for basically taking the profession to the right, arguing, much the same as Milton Friedman had ear-lier, that policy intervention could be detrimental to the proper functioning of an economy. One interesting aspect of Professor Lucas’ Nobel Prize is that for a long time he had advocated the theory of rational expectations, argu-ing that people can properly anticipate future events. Unfortunately his ex-wife, Rita Lucas, upon their divorce in 1988, had a clause placed in their divorce settlement that she would receive half of any Nobel Prize won by Lucas in the next seven years. When Lucas did win the Nobel Prize in 1995, she was awarded half of the prize money just months before the clause was to expire.

On a more serious note, Lucas once said something that has haunted me for most of my career. When asked about policy formation, Lucas quipped, “As policy makers we are in way over our heads.” What is interesting about this quote is that Lucas was talking about serious policy initiatives, and (presum-ably) not about the lunatic fringe that seems to come along occasionally. There have been two lunatic fringe policies in the news lately, one local and one national.

On the local level, we very nearly had Plan It Calgary inflicted upon us. Plan It Calgary is basically a social

planning document that was conjured up by the mushy left environmental lobby. If it had passed in its original form, we would all be told where we could live (in the downtown core) and why (because cars are bad) and that immediately a vibrant community would spring up downtown. It never occurred to anyone that if we wanted to live downtown, we would choose to do so. It was interesting to read Naheed Nenshi’s response to the demise of Plan It Calgary in the Herald. Mr. Nen-shi whined about the fact that we had not chosen to be forced to live in a manner that he thought was correct. Thankfully, Plan It Calgary passed city council in a form that will do very lit-tle harm to the local economy.

On the national level, the Pembina Institute and the Suzuki Founda-tion suggested that we tax Alberta (because the oilsands are bad) and distribute the money to Ontario. This was basically the Liberal Green Shift policy resurrected. It did not seem to occur to these individuals that the voters had resoundingly rejected this idea in a national election. What was

even more surprising was that this policy initiative was partly funded by TD Economics. It was odd to see Don Drummond of TD Economics simul-taneously not supporting while not rejecting the conclusions. He tried to pretend that this was an independent study, while pretending to not under-stand that the Pembina Institute and the Suzuki Foundation are one-issue institutes: oil is bad. I have to wonder if people drove their cars to the press conference.

What can we learn from all of this? We have to be very careful when try-ing to formulate any type of policy. Even policies that have the best inten-tions can bring about consequences that are unforeseen, and that may be detrimental. Also, strange polices that are not well thought, such as Plan It Calgary and the Green Shift, should be completely ignored.

Frank Atkins is an associate profes-sor of economics at the University of Calgary and a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Public Sector Accountability. BiC

Odd Ideas that Pass as Policy

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Off the Top • News

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MEyERS NORRIS PENNy EXPANDS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO

Collins Barrow Waterloo and Cambridge practices to join MNP.

Meyers Norris Penny LLP (MNP), one of Canada’s larg-est chartered accountancy and business advisory firms, announced that the independent firm of Collins Barrow Region of Waterloo LLP has joined MNP. Effective Janu-ary 1, 2010, the region, which includes two locations in Waterloo and Cambridge, will begin operating under the MNP name.

“MNP’s strategic plan for growth and entrepreneur-ial spirit have always been key factors in our success,” says Daryl Ritchie, MNP’s chief executive officer. “This merger is building on our strategic plans for growth in the southern Ontario market.”

MNP is ranked as the seventh largest firm in Canada and employs over 2,500 people from Vancouver Island to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). For more than 60 years MNP has served the mid-market public and pri-vate sectors in the areas of assurance, tax and advisory services. In 2009, MNP was recognized by the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine as one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada.

“We are very excited about joining MNP. By merging with MNP, our clients will benefit from the additional knowledge, resources and experience in numerous industry and specialty areas,” says David Webb, man-aging partner, Collins Barrow Region of Waterloo LLP. “Through this merger, we can ensure that we deliver unique solutions tailored to our clients’ individual needs.”

Ritchie adds that the merger is strategic in many ways as the firm continues to expand into Ontario. The firm’s merger with Toronto-based Horwath Orenstein in the summer of 2008 marked the beginning of the firm’s eastern expansion. Since then the firm has added a large corporate and personal insolvency practice with mul-tiple locations across the GTA; and almost 100 new team members.

Webb adds that in today’s business environment, it is more important than ever to look at new ways to help

their clients achieve their goals. “This merger is a perfect example of how two firms can come together to provide more resources and services to give our clients the edge they need to stay competitive and overcome current business and industry challenges,” says Webb.

Ritchie expects the transition will be seamless as both parties share the same values, culture and commitment to quality services. BiC


Daryl Ritchie

“MNP’s strategic plan for growth and entrepreneurial spirit have always

been key factors in our success. This merger is building on our strategic

plans for growth in the southern Ontario market.”

~ Daryl Ritchie, MNP’s chief executive officer

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H1N1 Preparedness Critical to Business Success

Wash your hands. Sneeze into your sleeve. Get your flu shot.

That’s all great advice for individuals, but businesses need to have much better plans if they want to make it through not only the H1N1 pandemic, but any potential disaster scenario, according to companies like Telus Corp. that have imple-mented in-depth business continuity plans to deal with such dilemmas.

Telus has implemented its Flexible Work Styles program to allow as many as 18,000 of its 35,000 employees to use technology to work remotely, part of its broader initiative to be prepared for any disaster, pandemic or unforeseen circum-stance.

“In a pandemic situation, we have provided them with the technologies to be able to work remotely,” says Mark Lang, architect of the Flexible Work Styles program. “I think it serves a broad business strategy.”

It has already run trials to ensure technology is fully secure so that during a pandemic situation, many call centre agents can – and already do, in some situations – work from home.

Given the severity of the H1N1 threat to businesses, man-agers need to develop comprehensive plans that include technology, cross-training employees and other measures to ensure business operations continue during a pandemic or

similar situation. “It allows us the flexibility to react to almost any situation,” says Shawn Hall, a spokesman for Telus.

Work has changed. People are more mobile and collab-orative than in the past. “The best way for an organization to embrace that change … is to support them working when and where they’re most effective,” says Lang. If com-panies build this strategy into their daily operational model, when and if a pandemic strikes, the business will be much more resilient and better able to cope. “It feeds a day-in, day-out business strategy … based on results,” he says. BiC


Given the severity of the H1N1 threat

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Mark Lang, architect of the Flexible Work Styles program

WEBBER ACADEMY Preparing Students to Thrive in University and Beyond

Exceptional Educator joins Webber Academy as a Grade 5 Teacher

Heather Gallagher

Heather Gallagher is an exceptional teacher and Academic All-Canadian Athlete who recently joined the teaching faculty at Webber Academy. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in History & Spanish from Acadia University, where she was a member of the Women’s Track and Rugby teams. Ms. Gallagher continued her education at the Uni-versity of Maine specializing in Elementary Education, where she earned the award for Outstanding Student Teacher.

Heather previously taught grades 6 and 7 at Elmwood School, a top private school in Ottawa, grade 5 at Plainfield Elementary in Meriden, New Hampshire and most recently with the Seattle Public School Board.

Her success in the classroom is most evident as is her passion for running, which has resulted in her qualification for the New York and Boston Marathons. Ms. Gallagher has already impressed her colleagues and classroom parents with her positive attitude and genuine love for children.

Webber Academy is honoured to have Heather Gallagher as a Grade 5 teacher.

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BUSINESS IN CALGARY DECEMBER 2009 • 17

Building a Better Workforce – and A Better World

After more than 82 years of teaching local people skilled trades in woodworking, Calgary’s custom furniture producer KP Manufacturers is going one step further to extend a hand up to those less fortunate in the Bahamas with the opening of a $2-million training facility that the company’s owner says will give people living in poverty in the country an opportu-nity of a lifetime.

Kristine Smed’s father took over the iconic local company in 1965, but passed away in 1983, leaving her to run the company after years of working alongside her dad. Social responsibility has always been a strong value in Smed’s life, who is a nurse by trade. After years of vacationing in the sunny destination and seeing the high level of poverty in the ghettos, she began a Santa Claus Christmas program to pro-vide 25,000 gifts a year to Bahamian children in need.

This year, she’s going even further with the new training facility, which is nearing completion and will train former prisoners to learn woodworking skills. When it’s ramped up, there will be 30 being trained in the custom-built facility in the Bahamas and another 40 in Calgary.

“I’m trying to break that barrier by training men … so they can get out of the criminal system and get integrated and productive with their families,” says Smed. “We’re a teaching school, but we’re also getting nice jobs. We’ll make money,

the guys will get a decent wage and they are supporting about six other people.”

Smed has already adopted two Bahamian children and has seen first hand how much difference a chance to get out of poverty makes for each individual that will get trained. “I know the success rate you can have with them if you give them a little care and attention and teach them,” she says. BiC


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PETROBAKKEN ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

PetroBakken Energy Ltd. (“PetroBakken”) (TSX:PBN) is pleased to announce our third quarter 2009 financial and operating results, highlighted by the successful comple-tion of the strategic transaction between Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. (“Petrobank”) and TriStar Oil & Gas Ltd. (“TriStar”) that resulted in the creation of PetroBakken. The transaction involved the spin out of Petrobank’s Canadian Business Unit (“CBU”) and the subsequent combination with TriStar to create a premier Southeast Saskatchewan light oil producer that began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on October 6, 2009.

As part of the strategic business combination and subse-quent rationalization of assets, PetroBakken has initiated a divestiture process to sell the majority of our Alberta pro-ducing assets to further focus on high netback light oil and high impact resource plays. Upon successful completion of the asset disposition, PetroBakken will have operations focused primarily in Southeast Saskatchewan and Northeast British Columbia.

HIGHLIGHTS(Third quarter results, unless otherwise specified, are for the pro forma PetroBakken entity, including the acquisition of TriStar.)

• PetroBakken’s production averaged 41,526 boepd in the third quarter of 2009.

• Non-Alberta production averaged 32,448 boepd in the third quarter, 94% weighted to light oil.• Current production is approximately 44,500 boepd, of

which 35,500 boepd is non-Alberta production.• Strong non-Alberta operating netbacks (excluding

hedging gains) of $46.55/boe with operating costs of $7.60/boe.

• Total Company operating netbacks (excluding hedging gains) of $40.52/boe with operating costs of $8.81/boe.

• PetroBakken drilled 89 (67.3 net) wells in the third quar ter; including 71 (51.4 net) in the Bakken.

• PetroBakken’s forecast 2009 exit production, exclud ing the anticipated Alberta asset sales, is expected to be above 37,000 boepd (more than 95% light oil).

BEYOND THE BAkkENAdditional long-term growth is expected to come from

PetroBakken’s large land position in Northeast British Columbia within the Montney and Horn River natural gas resource plays. We have 17 sections of land (100% working interest) with Montney potential in the Monias area of north-east British Columbia, with a further 97 (84 net) sections north of Fort Nelson in the Horn River Basin. PetroBakken is well positioned to develop these massive unconventional

resource plays given the experience of our technical team, having successfully drilled and operated over 450 horizontal wells with multi-stage fracture stimulations.

At Monias, our first Montney horizontal well was drilled in the fourth quarter of 2008, adjacent to our 5.0 mmcfpd gas plant. Based on the success we had with that well, a sec-ond well was drilled during the third quarter of 2009 and is currently being completed. The new well is a dual-leg hori-


Miracle Mile, Winter


zontal well with high density fracture stimulation designed to further increase production rates and expected ultimate gas recoveries.

Our first horizontal well in the Horn River Basin was drilled in the first quarter of 2009 in an area that offers multi-sea-son access due to our proximity to roads. Based on the successful results obtained from that well, we plan to tie the well in this winter. We also plan to drill a second well in the area later this year. The activity in this area will enable us to expand our knowledge in the area and to test additional geological concepts.

Our immediate operational goal for both of these prolific resource plays is to identify optimal technology applications that lower the gas price required to pro-vide a competitive rate of return that will ultimately allow us to initiate major full-scale developments. BiC

Visit www.haskayne.ucalgary.ca/awards/dbla for more information about how you can nominate a business leader for this award. Nomination deadline is January 15th, 2010.

What do all these people have in common?

Patrick D. Daniel (2009)George H. Brookman (2008)Michael J. Tims (2007)Harley Hotchkiss (2006)Linda Hohol (2005)Charlie Fischer (2004)Clive Beddoe (2003)John M. Forzani (2002)David P. O’Brien (2001)Brian F. MacNeill (2000)James K. Gray (1999)J.R. (Bud) McCaig (deceased) (1998)Richard F. Haskayne, OC, FCA (1997)Robert C. Brawn (1996)Alfred H. Balm (1995)David E. Mitchell, OC (1994)John Currie (1993)

2010 DistiNguisheDBusiNess LeaDer awarD

C a L L f o r N o m i N a t i o N s

Q

Proven leadership skills, exceptional achievement in business, significant contribution to the

community and a desire to work with students to foster the relationship between management education and management practice.

The search for qualified nominees for the 2010 Distinguished Business Leader Award is underway. Do you know someone who meets the above criteria? if so we’d like to hear from you.

a

Patrick D. DanielPresident & CEO, Enbridge Inc. DBLA Recipient, 2009

Photo Courtesy of Business in Calgary


John D. Wright, president and CEO

http://www.haskayne.ucalgary.ca


Bringing Passions Together Gives Charities a Boost

John Webster loves to grow organic vegetables on his farm in the Shuswap when he’s not tending to his business in Calgary, Webster Galleries Inc. So four years ago, he decided to bring his love for farming together with his passion to help the less fortunate in our community.

“This year, I combined my love for growing plants with a charitable donation to Inn from the Cold and community kitchens,” says Webster, who had the help of Sarie Hobbes to get the job done. He hauled in 1,800 kg of winter squash, 450 kg of pep-pers and several crops of tomatoes to give to Inn from the Cold and com-munity kitchens. Inn from the Cold provides food and a place to sleep for homeless families, feeding about 65 homeless children. “In Canada, that just shouldn’t be,” he says.

One artist, Ken Kirkby, donated four paintings to Webster Galleries, who sold them with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to Inn from the Cold, raising about $1,000 to buy two new chest freezers for the orga-nization’s kitchen. In the past, he’s donated to the Women’s Shelter and the YWCA, but also works with other organizations by providing his gal-lery space to fundraiser kickoffs and

charity events benefiting non-profit organizations such as the Meow Foundation, Inspire Africa, Results Canada and Medical Mercy, along with many others.

“The reason why I’m doing it is to give them vegetables they need, but also to show that other people can do the same thing,” says Webster. “A farmer can donate a bag of carrots or potatoes. Each person can do a little bit.” BiC

Off the Top • NewsCongratulations

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RGO Continues Tradition of Community SupportRoss Glen of RGO Office Products was recognized last month for his ongoing

support of the Haskayne School of Business with his latest donation of carpet, fur-niture and technology upgrades for the school.

“RGO is proud to be involved with (Haskayne’s) renovation project through upgrading this innovative and highly functional meeting and learning space,” says Glen of the donations from RGO Office Products and RGO Flooring. “Similar to Haskayne’s reputation for an entrepreneurial approach towards business education, RGO promotes innovative work environments that stimulate thought and enable creative discussion.”

RGO donated a Polyvision Walk and Talk Interactive Whiteboard, credenzas, 22 Fliptop tables, 44 Think armchairs and carpet for the meeting space. The company has 280 employees in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge operating in 200,000 square feet of space. RGO has served the community since 1966 and Ross Glen has long been a supporter of higher education, growth and the development of knowl-edge in Calgary’s business community. BiC


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Area 51 Machine DesignIf you think the name is out of this world, you will not be disappointed

to know that the technologies that this company design are often described as ‘not possible’. The Calgary based virtual company has spent the last two years designing machinery that will allow wind energy to become a signifi-cant player in the energy sector. The Closed Loop Hydrogen Project (CLHP) enables the storage of off-peak electricity until there is a demand. The energy is stored as hydrogen and then used as fuel for a modified one megawatt industrial engine driving an electrical generator that connects to the electrical grid. The carbon footprint will be zero since clean energy is the source and the bi-product (engine exhaust) is water. The energy can be fed onto the grid when required. The CLHP is just one break through technology that will assist Wind energy.

Currently they are looking to identify businesses that wish to overhaul the growing num-ber of transmissions used in wind turbines. In the future the industry will demand compa-nies to provide full spectrum testing of re-conditioned trans-missions, something that is not yet available. Their Enhanced Four Square Test bed design will provide the capability to test in a more energy efficient and eco-nomical manner.

An Alberta company required a drive system that would screw foundation piles in the ground. They were informed by one of the largest manufacturers that they would be unable to ‘help’

and the design would be ‘ambitious at best.’ Area 51 designed and delivered the system 20% over and above performance specifications resulting in an ability to do what no other competitor can match.

They are right brained mechanical engineers and describe what they do as passionate machine design. Their business model as an antithesis to most. Their people are impassioned and our mission is to create a greener environ-ment that embraces technology. They work virtually, utilize a paperless office and have only two guidelines. All ego’s should be left at the door and work when you feel like working. BiC


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The contrast, as the end of 2009 draws near, is stark when com-pared to the beginning of 2009

when the full impact of the economic crisis had become abundantly clear. Weeks and months of economic pain followed, but more than a year after global financial markets nosedived in the last quarter of 2008, there is decidedly more to celebrate (if very modestly) as we look back on a tumul-tuous year.

Two years ago Alberta was being described as the economic engine of Canada, but only Ontario and B.C. experienced the same level of negative economic impact from the recession in 2009. Public and private capital spend-ing dropped 17.2 per cent this year, while the province’s GDP decreased by 2.3 per cent, according to a report by TD Economics.

While retail sales showed an improvement between April and June, sales fell in July and August and remained generally flat this year. The pressure hit every sector and Calgary

BY DEREk SANkEY

Behind the Big Business Stories of 2009

YearinReview:

Behind the Big Business Stories of 2009 • Year in Review


felt the brunt of it along with cities in Ontario and B.C. “The ongoing pressures to Canadian manufacturing remain evident, as inventories continue to be drawn down and firms remain hesitant about boosting production,” writes TD’s Grant Bishop in a recent economic update.

But each sector was hit, and reacted, in its own unique way to deal with the economic reality of 2009. Layoffs and closures were inevitable given the mag-nitude of the global recession, a trend that became ingrained into the psyche of Canadians for much of the year. Alberta businesses, workers and consumers were not immune.

An RBC/Ipsos Reid poll found recently that one third (34 per cent) of Canadians indicate they are saving less money than they have in the past, with only one in five (19 per cent) saving more money. It’s a statistic that doesn’t surprise many financial planners – money is tight everywhere.

The bright spots are emerging, however. While job creation and earnings tend to lag toward the latter part of any recovery, business leaders are feeling the bottom in many cases and watching out for opportunities as markets rebound. Looking back at 2009, the optimism slowly began to bloom with caution as the year progressed.

Financial Markets: A return to optimism

The indirect hit that Canadian companies and financial markets took as a result of major losses in the U.S. rippled fast and with lasting impact. After tril-lions of dollars was pumped into the global economy by governments around the world, along with various other measures, a sense of hope and optimism helped turn markets around significantly by the end of 2009.

By the start of the year, stock markets in North America had lost an average of about 20 per cent or more in overall value, erasing capital that businesses of all sizes, in turn, would have been able to access. But fast forward to November this year and markets had surged upward to gain back about 15 per cent of those year-over-year losses.

The level of uncertainty and caution that still permeates investors remained the overriding theme during the year. Sentiments started changing with some good economic reports that trickled out as the year unfolded, but there was not – and most economists agree there will not be – a sudden end to the new approach many business leaders are taking as a result of the downturn. Opti-mistic? Yes. Caught up with the urgency of success during the most recent boom? No.

In Alberta, oil and gas companies naturally took the greatest initial hit and the ripple was felt everywhere. Many juniors were either swept up at a good price because of financial woes or disappeared entirely, unable to access the vast amounts of capital they require to succeed.

Credit markets have been thawing, though, and many investors have been getting their own financial houses in order. Interest rates have remained low – the Bank of Canada key rate is 0.25 per cent – and appear to be holding until at least the second quarter of next year.

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Energy: Resolve and Reinvestment

Word that a number of large oil projects that have been shelved in recent months are coming off the shelf is a good way to end the year. The only other major proj-ect announcement – Imperial’s Kearl oilsands project that was given the go-ahead in May – early in the year is a contrast to sentiment among major oil players now and illustrates the shift in mood from the start of 2009 to December. Millions of dollars in new (or previously planned) oilsands projects have been given the green light since September.

Premier Stelmach’s government has struggled under the weight of several contentious decisions impacting the energy sector, so he now appears intent on repairing those relationships by reaching out to energy companies to address any remaining issues on royalties and other factors. His party has taken a serious hit to its popularity, particularly in the oilpatch in downtown Calgary.

Wildrose Alliance leader Danielle Smith stormed onto the scene this year and captured rising levels of support from the public, even in the face of a 77 per cent leader-ship review approval rate. Smith, meanwhile, continues to make major policy announcements and speak to crowds of a few hundred major oil players in the city. She spent most of the early part of 2009 working behind the scenes, but has increasingly been front and centre among Cal-gary’s oilpatch leaders.

FirstEnergy’s Brett Wilson was an early supporter and Smith’s popularity appears on an upward trend as the energy sector looks for leadership on its pressing issues. On Nov. 9, Smith unveiled her party’s platform to reform the province’s fiscal and health-care policy, as well as to rework Alberta’s contentious oil and gas royalty frame-work.

The natural gas business has had varying degrees of negativity resulting from low prices and a lacklustre busi-ness environment. Drilling rates are down 51 per cent year over year for gas and prices remain soft with inven-tories near or at capacity. “While we expect natural gas prices to grind upwards in 2010-11, the local industry faces serious challenges,” notes TD’s Bishop.

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Real Estate Rebound

After seeing declines in both home values and housing starts in the past year, Alberta’s residential housing market seems to have reached a bottom and, if not heading upward, is at least stabilizing.

“Calgary’s housing market has clearly turned a corner,” says Bonnie Wegerich, president of the Calgary Real Estate Board. “We expect there to be a few bumps on this road to recovery, but we believe the worst is over.”

The average price of a single-family house in Calgary at the end of October was $462,465, an increase of one per cent from September and an increase of three per cent from October 2008. The average price of a condominium was $289,155, which slid slightly in value in the early part of the year but shows no significant change over last year when the average price was $289,148.

Median home prices are significantly less, indicating affordability has come back to the market and made it easier for “move-up buyers” to enter the market or upgrade into a single-family home.

In the commercial and office space market, the high number of new office towers recently completed or near-ing completion in the next two years is having a dramatic impact on lease rates in the downtown core. Vacancy rates reached 8.3 per cent by the end of the third quarter this year, according to a report by Avison Young, but those rates are widely expected to creep higher and higher over the next two years, with some predicting vacancy rates nearing 18 per cent by the time EnCana’s new Bow tower project and others reach completion.

Despite the current economic situation, Calgary has con-tinued to attract global investment in the commercial sector, of which 41 per cent was comprised of office buildings, according to a mid-year report by Avison Young.

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despite the overall picture. Landlords in general are more willing to negotiate better terms for the tenant in this kind of environment, causing some tenants who were consider-ing a move to the beltline or the suburbs to reconsider their plans due to rising vacancy rates and falling lease rates.

Labour

In October, Canada shed 43,000 jobs, but the losses were concentrated in part-time work and the three-month trend was still positive, shows a report from TD Economics’ Grant Bishop. The country’s unemployment rate rose to 8.6 per cent by the end of October.

September’s 30,000 new jobs were wiped out by Octo-ber’s gains, but throughout the year it’s been a roller-coaster ride across Canada and here in Alberta. “The monthly data will be volatile as Canada’s recovery builds and therefore must be kept in perspective,” says Bishop. “Nonetheless, we expect net positive but fairly tepid job gains in the fourth quarter, as the slack in the Canadian economy is only gradu-ally absorbed.”

Employment numbers and job creation tend to lag in an overall recovery, say economists, so it’s no surprise

that unemployment rates have not yet stabilized. Alberta’s unemployment rate rose to 7.5 per cent in October. From a year earlier, the province’s employment rate declined 3.3 per cent year over year (a loss of 68,000 jobs) – the steepest rate of decline among all provinces.

Layoffs in the oilpatch have led the wave of job losses here, but it is expected the employment picture will stabilize and jobs will begin to be created again as the energy sector levels off heading into 2010 and activity picks up signifi-cantly by 2011.

Since the recession took hold prior to the start of 2009, there has been a trend toward self-employment. A 28,000 gain in self-employment in Canada in October this year off-set part of the decline in employed work, with 16.4 per cent of all workers now their own boss, according to Statistics Canada data.

Recruiters in Calgary don’t expect any immediate job cre-ation in the province, but agree that businesses are feeling more optimistic when doing their staffing plans now versus the start of the year. Major job losses during the summer months in Calgary did little to ease workers’ anxiety about job security. Losses were most significant in the services sec-tor, where retail and wholesale trade shed 31,000 jobs across the country.

In Alberta, oilfield service companies have been hit particularly hard as drilling rigs sit idle, while the slower housing market during the first part of the year had a crip-pling effect on many of the skilled trades. One benefit of the rise in unemployment for businesses has been a declin-ing cost environment after several years of escalating labour costs.

Business Optimism Returns

As 2009 draws to a close, the change in mood among business leaders is palpable compared to the start of the year. Nobody is breaking out the champagne, but the over-used term “cautious optimism” seems to have taken hold.


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It might be the year we’d all like to forget, but the pro-verbial light at the end of the tunnel toward the latter half of the year is encouraging news. The fact that consumers in Calgary are purchasing homes, and that homebuilders are getting off the sidelines, is perhaps one of the best indicators that we’re ending on a better note than we started the year.

As financial markets in North America recovered a good

chunk of the losses from the stock market dive at the end of 2008 and into early 2009, other indicators gave Calgary entrepreneurs and business executives reason to feel more positive now. The big lesson Alberta businesses learned again was that what goes up must come down. Now it’s a matter of planning for a sustainable future and keeping the upward momentum moving as we head into 2010. BiC

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It’s fair to say that virtually every business person in Cal-gary over the past year realized how vulnerable we all are to the whims of the world. If you look past the stock

market dives and gains of the past year, however, you’ll find an army of people who define success not by the magnitude of their business accomplishments, but by the impact they have in making their community a better place to live than when they found it.

Last month, Philanthropy Week (Nov. 11-18) marked the traditional start of the giving season, though it’s hardly fair to draw a line on a calendar. Calgarians of all stripes work tirelessly, giving hugely of their time, money, skills and resources throughout the year. Nobody knows this better than the Calgary chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

It hosted the Generosity of Spirit program, which recog-nized honorees in seven categories, to coincide with other events meant to remind people what philanthropy is really all about. It’s about the people whose lives are directly impacted positively by the actions of others.

“There’s just a huge amount of pride we have in our asso-ciation and in our community,” says Karen Filbert, co-chair of AFP’s Philanthropy Week activities, which included a formal celebration of National Philanthropy Day (Nov. 16). “The non-profit sector is huge. It’s not just about ladies who lunch anymore. It’s a professional organization with professional people with awesome work being done,” she says.

Calgary’s AFP chapter is the second largest in Canada with about 400 mem-bers and has among the most active group. “Maybe that’s why Calgary gets the reputation it does,” says John Phin, the other co-chair of Philanthropy Week. “We just tend to do things on a bigger scale.”

Heading into December, a time when non-profits typically rely on corporate donations to help fund their ongoing efforts, Phin says the economic down-turn of the last year hasn’t stopped corporations from stepping up to the plate.

“People are still being philanthropic – giving their resources and providing

volunteer time – but what makes it more important is the charities are experiencing such a huge increase in demand for their services,” says Phin. “It’s a good reminder right now that any one of us at any point may have to take advantage of the programs and services in the community.”

Business in Calgary proudly honours this year’s recipi-ents of the Generosity of Spirit program and encourages all Calgarians to look behind the many individual and corpo-rate donations to the stories of the people that make it all happen, and the people who rely on the services these orga-nizations provide throughout the year.

CORPORATE PHILANTHROPIST Carma Developers LP (Alan Norris)

By building and shaping communities across North Amer-ica, including throughout Alberta, Carma Developers LP hasn’t just spent the past 51 years master planning commu-nities and constructing residential homes. The impact this company has had transcends bricks and mortar – it has left, and continues to make, a lasting impact on every aspect of the quality of life in our communities.

Generosity of Spirit • Cover

Generosity of SpiritSpotlight shines on community-leading philanthropic efforts

BY DEREk SANkEY

Left to right; Kevin McCubbin, Joanne Luft, Rick Gratton, David Harvie, Alan Norris and Duane Popplewell.


Alan Norris, president and CEO of Carma Developers, says the company’s culture was built on a history of volunteering and financial contributions to causes that create meaningful change for individuals and families in need in a variety of ways, like the time Doug Kelly, a retired vice president in Edmonton, assisted STARS (Alberta Shock Trauma Air Res-cue Society) in the success of the Vision Critical Campaign completed in 2006.

“Our culture is to ‘always do the right thing,’ not to just ‘do things right,’” says Norris. “Our employees have embraced this not just in their daily jobs, but also in their philan-thropic endeavours.”

Carma Developers has made it possible for numerous organizations to realize their visions, such as the building and financing of the Wellspring Calgary cancer support centre, the tremendous financial contribution toward the Accessible Housing Society’s Residential Assessment and Design program, leading an IT strategy for the Children’s Cottage Society and by sponsoring events for the Olympic Oval’s High Performance Female Hockey program for the past three years.

SMALL BUSINESS PHILANTHROPIST Tag Advertising (Todd Sloane)

In 2008, when the stormy economic climate hit, the United Way of Calgary and Area was halfway through its fundrais-ing campaign and needed to adjust its marketing strategy – fast. It turned to its pro bono advertising agency of record for the past two years, Tag Advertising.

Tag quickly put its expertise into action and by the end of 2008, the United Way had raised $49.5 million. The year before, Tag created the widely popular Get Caught Red Handed campaign, which generated $50.7 million for the agency.

Todd Sloane, principal and creative director for Tag, is understated in how he describes the impact his organization – through the pro bono contribution of its expertise, not to mention time through employee volunteer hours – has had on the United Way.

“Giving back to the community has been part of our cul-ture since we opened our doors 18 years ago,” says Sloane. “If we can help make a difference in our community in some small way by providing our creative expertise and market-ing knowledge, then we are happy, and privileged, to do that.”

Tag’s efforts have also directly benefited other non-profit organizations such as the Association of Fundraising Pro-fessionals, Bill Brooks Prostate Cancer Benefit, Scott Smed Foundation, Inn from the Cold and the Children’s Cottage.

PHILANTHROPIC GROUP ECL Group of Companies Ltd. (Tom Fredericks and Brad Wellicome)

Ten years after starting a small raffle for rides on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle to raise funds to help kids at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, the ECL Group of Compa-nies Ltd. has become a pillar for sick children across Alberta as a major contributor of time and resources to the cause of supporting them.

The ECL Choppers for Charity has helped raise $1.3 million and joined the charge to fund Children’s Hospice, Rotary/Flames House. The company, which serves the energy indus-try in transportation, product handling and oilfield specialty chemicals and fluids, takes part in the year-round char-


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ity event on an ongoing basis and supports many related causes, such as silent and live auctions.

Tom Fredericks, chairman of ECL’s board, and Brad Welli-come, the company’s CFO, have been leading the charge to help sick kids and have since become involved with the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation since 2001, donat-ing more than $430,000. In total, the company has raised

more than $2 million supporting the hospitals.“The ECL Group of Companies is committed to making a

positive and tangible difference in the lives of children who are in the communities where we live and serve,” says Fred-ericks. Whether it’s the company’s employees or leaders, it’s clear that Alberta and Calgary need more people like them.

INDIVIDUAL PHILANTHROPIST David Bissett

It’s difficult to measure the impact that David Bissett has had on the community and charitable groups during his suc-cessful career. Most Calgarians know his name well, whether from business, his support of post-secondary institutions or by seeing him donating his time at charity events and causes around the province.

Bissett’s philanthropic career goes back as far as his busi-ness career. After becoming a chartered financial analyst 32 years ago, he began a journey of business, entrepreneurial and philanthropic success that has touched countless lives. When he moved to Calgary in 1977 with his wife, Leslie, he had a modest beginning with $20,000 to start Bissett & Associates. By 2000, the firm managed more than $5 billion of investments.

He is perhaps most well known for his 2002 gift to Mount Royal College, which established the Bissett School of Busi-ness and laid the foundation for the creation of a Centre for Entrepreneurship in Calgary – the largest donation to a Canadian college in history.

Bissett is an avid upland game bird hunter and bird dog owner, a lover of the outdoors, so it’s no surprise that con-servation of the environment is among his top philanthropic endeavours. Bissett and his family are hugely popular sup-porters of Calgary’s post-secondary education, cultural organizations, wildlife conservation and parkland initiatives. They include the Western Sky Land Trust, Parks Foundation


Back Row from Left to Right; Walt Stevenson (VP Oilfield Services), Carol A. LeBrun (QHS&E Co-ordinator), Gail Sharko (Director, QHS&E), Kim Kennedy (Quality Leader, QHS&E), Cathy McNaught (Executive Assistant), Jim Davis (President & CEO), Left Motorcycle – Left to Right; Brad Wellicome (Chief Financial Officer), Karen Reid (Team Leader - People, Development & Culture), Right Motorcycle – Left to Right; Tom Fredericks (Chairman of the Board), Kim Hill (AR Representative, Transportation), Loralie Johnson (Financial Analyst, Treasury)

David Bissett


Calgary (Shaw Millennium Park), Foothills Country Hospice Society, Heritage Park Historical Village, Pheasants Forever, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Alberta Fish and Game Association, Ducks Unlimited Canada, to name but a few.

A great many people could learn a great deal from Bis-sett’s genuine dedication to philanthropy. He follows his passions with meaning by giving back tirelessly. “As a per-son to whom outdoor activities have been so important, my strongest interest in my retirement is to protect and improve rural areas of esthetic and recreational value,” says Bissett. “While the wilderness has a strong and vocal support base, rural Alberta lacks in this area, but it is what we see and experience for most of our lives.”

YOUTH PHILANTHROPIST Fariha Ahmed

At an early stage in her life, Fariha Ahmed has already donated more of her time and skills than most adults have in their entire lifetime. Most recently, she became chair of the Calgary Youth Foundation, an organization that promotes hands-on philanthropy and funds youth-driven, grassroots community projects.

She has been involved with the Mayor’s Youth Council, Child and Youth Friendly Calgary’s Youth Volunteer Corps,


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hile the members of the Calgary Elks Lodge and Golf Club enjoy playing the links during Calgary’s short golf season, those same 500+ members of Elks Lodge #4 are active all year contributing time and resources back into their community.

Members volunteer at fundraisers like casinos, and a portion of each member’s annual golf dues is designated for charity. Members sponsor young non-member golfers in the club’s Jr program, and the member-owned Pro Shop donates scores of greens fees to other groups for their own fundraising activities.

This year, the Elks provided special hearing aids to a single working mom, and assisted another family to take their 5 year old hearing impaired son to the John Tracy Clinic. Organizations that the Elks were pleased to support this year include the Canadian Center for Missing Children, Camp HeHoHa (HealthHopeHappiness), and The Canadian Red Cross Global Youth Symposium.

Last holiday season, Elks members and their families filled and delivered 100+ food hampers to senior Calgarians. This year, they are already gathering food items for at least that many hampers again; this time to moms and children assisted through the Women’s Center of Calgary.

Although the Elks Charity Classic wasn’t held this year, the Elks donated $35,000 to Habitat for Humanity Calgary this past October. The Elks Club is pleased to announce that the date for the 2nd Elks Charity Classic in support of Habitat for Humanity is Monday, September 13, 2010, and we urge players and sponsors to reserve their spots early – it was a popular event in ‘08 and guaranteed to fill up fast.

Fariha Ahmed


GlobalFest, Cedar Villas Extendicare Centre, the Youth in Action Club at her high school, the school newspaper, the Model United Nations, Amnesty International Club, Student Council, Alberta’s Promise Premier’s Youth Advisory Coun-cil, the Bangladesh Canada Association of Calgary, Alliance for Progress Worldwide, the Peter Lougheed Hospital Centre Junior Achievement and is a Peer Ambassador.

She has helped fundraise thousands of dollars for causes close to her heart, donating more than 230 hours to Child and Youth Friendly Calgary alone. “She doesn’t volunteer for the recognition or to meet a certain number of hours required by her school,” says Ros Doi, program co-ordinator with the organization. “Fariha volunteers to understand her community, to meet its needs and to make a difference in the community that has afforded her so many opportunities.”

If there is someone to inspire the next generation of phi-lanthropists, Fariha Ahmed is definitely it.

LIFETIME PHILANTHROPIST Irene Pfeiffer

It is difficult to find a non-profit or charitable organiza-tion in Calgary that Irene Pfeiffer has not been involved with over the years. A lifetime of philanthropy has rightly

earned her a great deal of admiration for the impact she has had on Calgary and Alberta.

After a hugely successful career in human resources with major oil and gas companies, then later the formation of PWR Search, Pfeiffer left the corporate world to dedicate the rest of her career and life to creating a “footprint of legacy,” meaning philanthropy that goes beyond traditional defini-tions of wealth and leaves a legacy of planned giving.

“No more fancy offices and private jets,” Pfeiffer recalls. “I turned them in for a pair of jeans and good walking shoes, and my first stop where I still devote time and energy today is the Mustard Seed Street Ministry serving the poor, home-less and disenfranchised of Calgary.”

Aside from numerous speaking engagements on philan-thropy and business issues, one area particularly close to her heart is health care, including her roles with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, the University of Cal-gary and the Sheep River Health Trust. Other causes include the Ranchmen’s Club, Theatre Calgary, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and the Banff Centre for Management.

Even in sadness, she always thought of giving back to the community. After the death of her husband, John, she decided to honour his memory by establishing a memorial scholarship in his name at SAIT Polytechnic, as well as being

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co-founder of the Pearls of Wisdom Scholarship Fund at Mount Royal College and was instrumental in the creation of the Women’s Loan Program for Alberta.

For her efforts, she has received too many awards and honours to mention, but deserves every one of them, includ-ing the Order of Canada in December 2007. A lifetime of success is mirrored by a lifetime of giving – one that any Calgarian would be proud to aspire to.

PHILANTHROPIC FAMILY Holly and Mark Gerrish and family

Mark Gerrish lived through and successfully beat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma through radiation treatment and surgery following many doctor visits and tests. Then, in April 2005, he was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. In June 2006, Mark and his wife, Holly, decided to host a party to celebrate his birthday and to raise funds to support ALS research and support services.

They packed the venue and raised more than $40,000. It became an annual fundraiser generating $176,000 in three years. In May 2008, one month before the annual event, Mark lost his battle with ALS. He was 46 years old.

The family decided the event would go on in his memory and through all of this, they found a way to maintain a sense of family for their children, Lindsay, Laura, Carly and Duncan. They have experienced more than any young family should ever endure, but they supported him uncon-ditionally throughout his ordeal.

The story of the Gerrish family is one that inspires because it shows that, even in the face of tremendous adversity, human nature reveals its true strength in the most unlikely ways. There are many families struggling with disease every day, but Mark’s wife remains commit-ted to the belief that out of sorrow and struggle, good can always shine through.

“Sometimes it’s the most difficult times in life that bring out the gifts in people,” says Holly. Truer words could not be spoken – words to remember. BiC


Holly and Mark Gerrish and family. From left to right; Lindsay, Holly, Laura, Duncan and Carly.


Recently the business press came up with the catch-phrase, “Flat is the new up.” Aviators know how to manage through turbulent conditions, even during

economic downturns.As Rajat Kumar Gupta from McKinsey and Company writes:

“Not since the 1930s have leaders in all walks of life – business, government, NGOs – faced the double-barreled uncertainty of impending war and global deflation. Moving an organization forward in such circumstances would be challenging enough, but in these difficult times we must also factor in the threat of mass terrorism on an unprecedented scale.”

Historically, business cycles went up and down, with man-agement adjusting accordingly. But now business cycles are the equivalent of continuous wind shear conditions. For example, the new thinking at places such as the Harvard Business School is that when the economy recovers, things will not be back to normal. Therefore, business leaders need to adapt to the new reality – managing in crisis mode permanently, identifying and managing risks internally and externally, counting on irratio-nal conditions, and dealing with more encroaching government regulations along with hard-nosed clients. Not to mention the threat posed to business aviation by ill-informed government officials in the U.S. trying to score short-term political points at the expense of business aviation and the economy.

Canada’s own business aviation sector is a powerful tool that integrates safety and security to ensure that business is conducted in an effective manner. While some very large cor-porations operate business aircraft, the vast majority of users are small and mid-size businesses and other entities, including non-profit organizations and governments. Some companies, for example, operate just one business aircraft, often with less than eight seats.

Travelling in a business aircraft allows employees to discuss proprietary information in a secure environment. While many company employees travel extensively on commercial airlines, some employees need reliable access to remote places often on short notice. Missions may also involve multiple stops in a single day; delivering people or parts in real time to a broken assembly plant is not possible when using courier or scheduled airline ser-vices. Business aviation, at the end of the day, is a productivity tool, not a luxury.

Canadian companies that rely on business aviation all have one thing in common: the need for fast, flexible, safe, secure and cost-effective access to destinations across Canada and around the world. In many cases, business aviation is the only appro-priate transportation solution, opening the door to international business opportunities. Studies show that publicly-traded com-panies that have access to a corporate aircraft generate a better return to their shareholders.

Canadian business aviation has a proud history in help-ing to develop Canada’s economy, while remaining committed to safety and security. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, Canadian business aviation operators have developed security measures to protect against terrorist threats. At CBAA (Cana-dian Business Aviation Association), members have developed a “security program standard” that will likely become not only a Canadian standard, but an international one through the Inter-national Business Aviation Council (IBAC). The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) also continues to advocate more standardization in business aviation security and facilita-tion processes.

While Canada and the U.S. have the largest trading partner-ship in the world, harmonization of security processes and border management programs for business aviation have a long way to go. Efficient and integrated transportation systems have been a vital underpinning of the North American success story.

Business aviation needs to address the role of ongoing bor-der security facilitation efforts in maximizing supply chain and transportation efficiencies. Harmonization of business aviation security measures is also a vision that is not far away, especially within a North American context. We need to co-ordinate our systems and regulatory frameworks to reflect our positive trade and bilateral relationship. For example, CBAA supports such bi-national programs as NEXUS, designed to expedite the bor-der clearance process for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the U.S.

Earlier this year, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) co-oper-ated in a joint venture to simplify border crossings for members, while enhancing security. The CBAA is committed to working with these government agencies to determine how to best expand NEXUS for the Canada-U.S. business aviation community.

One of the best transportation security and border facilitation models is the one being advanced by the Coordinated Clearance Coalition. The coalition’s pioneering work is its “Coordinated Clearance Strategy,” a comprehensive road map setting out how to redesign border processes and how to make the best use of information and biometric technologies to deliver a smarter, more efficient and secure border. The initiative builds on key successes by CBSA, CBP and other agencies, and incorporates new technologies and risk management capabilities.

We should always consider such approaches proposed by the coalition to take advantage of new technologies and operational systems. In other words, let’s get maximum benefits through integration of systems to meet security requirements. CBAA sup-ports the coalition’s work and will continue to advance business aviation security and border facilitation, harmonization, co-ordi-nation and standardization at every opportunity. BiC

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Alberta Aviation OperatorsABITIBI HELICOPTERS LTD.Betrand Perron, President/DirectorOperationsToll Free: 1-800-247-9591Aircraft Operated: (4) AS 350 B2, (10)AS 350 FX/2, (1) AS 350 BA+, (1)Bell 205 A1 (1) AS 50 BA, (1) AS350 B2/D2

ADVENTURE AVIATION INC.Michael Mohr, Ops. ManagerTel: (780) 539-6968Aircraft Operated: (2) C172

AGRIUM INC.Robert Garback, Aviation ManagerTel: (403) 225 -7000Aircraft Operated: (1) Citation Sovereign

AHLSTROM AIR LTDMichael Helsch, Chief Pilot & Base ManagerTel: 403-721-2203Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350B2/D2

AIR PARTNERS CORP.Tim Morgan, PresidentToll Free: 1-877-233-9350Aircraft Operated: (1) Cessna 401, (1) Gulfstream Twin Commamder(1) King Air 200 (1) Beechcraft Premier (2) Citation V, (1) Citation Ultra (1) Citation Encore (2) Ciation XL

AIRBORNE ENERGY SOL. LTDTony Hunley, President-CEOToll Free: 1-888-496-3222Aircraft Operated: (2) Robinson RH22,(7) Robinson RH44, (21) Robinson RH44 Raven II (RH44 II), (9) Bell 206 B (B206), (2) Bell 205 A1-17, (4) AS350 BA, (3) Piper Navajo A-31, (1) Cessna 208 Caravan, (3) Cessna 172, (2) Cessna 206, (1) Cessna 177, (1) King Air 350 (1) King Air 200

ALBERTA GOVERNMENT AIRTRANSPORTATION SERVICERob Madden, Director, Flt OpsTel: 780-427-7341Aircraft Operated: (2) KA B200, (1) KA350, (1) DH 8

ALTA FLIGHTS (CHARTERS) INCDavid Robertson, PresidentTel: 780-890-1330Aircraft Operated: (4) Metro 23, (3) King Air 100, (3) Grand Caravan, (2) Piper PA31, (5) Cessna 172, (2) CessnaCitation 501, (1) Cessna Citation 550

AVMAX GROUP INCDon Parkin, Executive VPToll Free: 1-888-524-9444Aircraft Operated: CRJ -8, BAE 146

BAR XH AIR INCRobert Phillips, General ManagerTel: 403-527-3328Aircraft Operated: (2) BAe Jetstream, (6) King Air 200, (1) Piper Navajo (1) Dash 8 -100 (1) Dash 8 -300

BLACK SWAN HELICOPTERS LTDLinda Johnson, PresidentToll Free: 1-877-475-4774Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350SD2, (1) B206B, (5) R44

CALGARY FLYING CLUBScott Wilcox, ManagerTel: 403-288-8831Aircraft Operated: (1) Cessna 172S, (6)172N, (1) PA28 Arrow, (1) PA44T Seminole, (1)Cessna 182, (1) 172S (3) DA-20 CALGARY POLICE AIR SERVICECameron Dutnall, CPTel: 403-567-4150Aircraft Operated: (2) MD-520N

CAN-WEST CORPORATE AIRCHARTERSSara MacLeod, Flight Coordinator Tel: 780-849-5353Aircraft Operated: (4) BE20, (1) PA31,(2) C206, (2) C185, (1) C210, (1) BeechBaron

CANADIAN HELICOPTERS LTDDon Wall, Senior Executive VPTel: 780-429-6900Aircraft Operated: (27) Bell 206B/B3, (13) Bell206L/L1, (12) Bell212 (IFR & VFR), (4) AS350B/D, (26) S350BA, (16) AS350B2, (2) AS355F1/F2, (1) AS355N, (6) R22B/ B2, (5) R44II, (13) S76A, (1) S61N, (3) EC120B

CATHTON INVESTMENTS LTD/CRA INVESTMENTS LTDErnie Poole, Aviation ManagerTel: 780-890-7443Aircraft Operated: (1) Falcon 900C

DELTA HELICOPTERS LTDPaul Stubbs, Ops ManagerToll Free: 1-800-665-3564Aircraft Operated: (9) Bell 206, (3) Bell206L3, (6) A-Star 350BA, (4) Bell 204, (3)AF350-B2 DYNAMIC FLIGHT SERVICES INC.Jeanette ToewsTel: 403-735-3290Aircraft Operated: Books sub charters

EDMONTON INTERNATIONALSHELL AEROCENTREBob Lamoureux, Aerocentre ManagerToll Free: 1-800-668-4766Aircraft Operated: (3) Metro Liners, (2) King Air 350, (3) King Air B100(4) Cessena 208 Caravan, (2) Piper Chieftain

E-Z AIR INCEzra Bavly, Pres/Ops Mgr/CFITel: 780-453-2085Aircraft Operated: (1) Bell 206, (1)Robinson R44

EDMONTON FLYING CLUBRalph Henderson, PresidentTel: 780-454-4531Aircraft Operated: (3) C-152, (2) C-172, (1) 172SP, (3) DA-20, (1)DA40, (1) DA42

EDMONTON POLICE SERVICES/Sgt Dave Berry, Unit ManagerTel: 780-408-4218Aircraft Operated: (2) EC120B

ENERJETTim Morgan, President/CEOTel: 403-648-2800Aircraft Operated: (2) Boeing 737-700NG

EXECUTIVE FLIGHT CENTRE FUELSERVICES LTDBrian Hunt, FBO ManagerTel: 780-890-8640Aircraft Operated: All aircraft up to Boeing 737-700 Series.

GEMINI HELICOPTERS INCRoch Dallaire, PresidentTel: 780-402-2444Aircraft Operated: (3) EC 120, (6) R44, (5) AS350, (2) Bell 205

GUARDIAN HELICOPTERS INCGraydon Kowal, PresidentTel: 403-730-6333Aircraft Operated: (2) Bell205, (3)AS350BA, (3) Bell 206B, (1) PA31P, (1) MD 530F

INFINITY FLIGHT SERVICESWilliam Vasquez, Operations ManagerToll Free: 1-877-VIP-7900Aircraft Operated: (1) King Air B100, (1) BAE 31

INTEGRA AIR INCBrent GatemanToll Free: 1-877-213-8359Aircraft Operated: (1) PA31T Cheyenne, (1)Cessna 172 Floatplane, (2) BAC-31

KENN BOREK AIR LTDSean Loutitt, VP OperationsTel: 403-291-3300Aircraft Operated: (3) Beech99, (8) Beech 100, (4) Beech 200, (41) Twin Otter, (2) DC3-T, (2) EMB-110

MILLAR WESTERN INDUSTRIESBrad Whalen, Chief PilotTel: 780-451-2588Aircraft Operated: (1) Hawker 800A

MOUNTAIN VIEW HELICOPTERSPaul Bergeron, President/CPTel: 403-286-7186Aircraft Operated: (3) R22, (3) R44, (1)Bell 206

NORTHERN AIR CHARTER(P.R.) INCRob King, PresidentTel: 780-624-1911Aircraft Operated: (1) Cessna 185, (1)Aztec, (1) Navajo, (1) King Air 100, (4)King Air 200

OPTIMAIR LTDDave McKinstry, PresidentTel: 780-469-7877Aircraft Operated: (2) Cessna 206, (1)Cessna 182, (1) Chieftan PA 31-350 (1)PA 31-310

PEREGRINE HELICOPTERSBrad Armstrong, PresidentTel: 780-865-3353Aircraft Operated: (1) B206B3(1) B206 L3

PHOENIX HELI-FLIGHT INCPaul Spring, PresidentToll Free: 1-888-715-9245Aircraft Operated: (2) Euro 120, (1)AS350B2, (1) EC 130B4, (1) AS355N, (1) 355NP, (1) 350B3

RED DEER COLLEGE AVNDIPLOMADennis Cooper, CEOToll Free: 1-800-315-8097Locations in Red Deer and OkotoksAircraft Operated: Cessna 172, Piper Seneca I, Piper Navajo, Alsim 200 C

REGIONAL 1 AIRLINES LTDWilliam (Bill) Houghton, Director ofOperationsToll Free: 1-888-802-1010Aircraft Operated: (4) Dash 8-100, (2) Dash 8-200, (1) Dash 8-300

RIDGE ROTORS INC.Hans Nogel, Ops MgrToll Free: 1-877-242-4211Aircraft Operated: (2) B206B2, (1) A Star 350 B2, (2) R44

RILPA ENTERPRISES LTDKen L. Mizera, PresidentTel: 403-275-3035Aircraft Leased: (10) Bell 206B, (1)HU500D, (1) HU500E,(1 ) 204B, (1) 205B, (2) AS350

ROTORWORKS INC.Jim HoflandTel: 780-778-6600Aircraft Operated: (2) R22 Robinson, (5) R44 RobinsonWESTJET AIRLINES LTDToll Free: 1-888-937-8538Aircraft Operated: (13) Boeing 737-600,(55) Boeing 737-700, (8) Boeing 737-800

Alberta Charter Operators Charter Fixed WingADVENTURE AVIATION INC.Michael Mohr, Ops. Manager(780) 539-6968Aircraft Operated: (2) C172

AIR PARTNERS CORP.Tim Morgan, PresidentToll Free: 1-877-233-9350Aircraft Operated: Citation V(2) Citation Ultra Citation EncoreBeechcraft Premier I Twin Commander(2) Citation XL, King air 200

AIRBORNE ENERGY SOL. LTDTony Hunley, President-CEOToll Free: 1-888-496-3222Aircraft Operated: (2) Robinson RH22,(7) Robinson RH44, (21) Robinson RH44 Raven II (RH44 II), (9) Bell 206 B (B206), (2) Bell 205 A1-17, (4) AS350 BA, (3) Piper Navajo A-31, (1) Cessna 208 Caravan, (2) Cessna 172, (2) Cessna 206, (1) Cessna 177, (1) King Air 350 (1) King Air 200

ALBERTA CITYLINKRobert Phillips, General ManagerToll Free: 1-877-399-1234Aircraft Operated: (1) BAe Jetstream 32, (5) BE 20 King Air, (1) PA 31 Navajo

ALTA FLIGHTS (CHARTERS) INCDavid Robertson, PresidentTel: 780-890-1330Aircraft Operated: (4) Metro 23, (3) King Air 100, (2) Grand Caravan,(2) Piper PA31, (5) Cessna 172, (2) Cessna Citation 501, (1) Cessna Citation 550

ARIES AVIATION SERVICECORPLloyd Kissack, General ManagerToll Free: 1-877-730-6499Aircraft Operated: (2) LR36 Lear Jet,(4) PA-31 Navajo, (1) King Air 200,(1) Cessna Caravan

AVMAX GROUP INCDon Parkin, Executive VPToll Free: 1-888-524-9444Aircraft Operated:CRJ -8, BAE 146 BAR XH AIR INCRobert Phillips, General ManagerTel: 403-527-3328Aircraft Operated:(2) BAe Jetstream, (6) King Air 200,(1) Piper Navajo (1) Dash 8 -100 (1)Dash 8 -300

Aviation Directory


CAN-WEST CORPORATE AIRCHARTERSSara MacLeod, Flight CoodinatorTel: 780-849-5353Aircraft Operated: (4) BE20, (1)PA31, (2) C206, (2) C185, (1) C210,(1) Beech Baron,

CENTRAL AVIATION INCColin MacLeod, Operations ManagerTel: 403-242-9130Aircraft Operated: (2) Piper NavajoChieftain, (1) Piper Seneca, (2) Waco

DYNAMIC FLIGHT SERVICES INC.Jeanette ToewsTel: 403-735-3290Aircraft Operated: Books sub charters


INFINITY FLIGHT SERVICESWilliam Vasquez, Operations ManagerToll Free: 1-877-VIP-7900Aircraft Operated: (1) King Air B100,(1) BAE 31

INTEGRA AIR INCBrent GatemanToll Free: 1-877-213-8359Aircraft Operated: (1) PA31T Cheyenne,(1) Cessna 172 Floatplane,(2) BAC-31

KENN BOREK AIR LTDSean Loutitt, VP OperationsTel: 403-291-3300Aircraft Operated: (3) Beech 99(8) Beech 100, (4) Beech 200, (41) Twin Otter, (2) DC3-T, (2) EMB-110

NORTHERN AIR CHARTER(P.R.) INCRob King, PresidentTel: 780-624-1911Aircraft Operated: (1) Cessna 185, (1)Aztec, (1) Navajo, (1) King Air 100,(5) King Air 200 OPTIMAIR LTDDave McKinstry, PresidentTel: 780-469-7877Aircraft Operated: (2) Cessna 206, (1)Cessna 182, (1) Chieftan PA 31-350(1)PA 31-310 RED DEER COLLEGE AVNDIPLOMADennis Cooper, CEOToll Free: 1-800-315-8097Locations in Red Deer and OkotoksAircraft Operated: Cessna 172, Piperr Senaca I, Piper Navajo, Alsim 200 C

REGIONAL 1 AIRLINES LTDWilliam (Bill) Houghton, Director ofOperationsToll Free: 1-888-802-1010Aircraft Operated: (4) Dash 8-100, (2) Dash 8-200, (1) Dash 8-300

SUNWEST AVIATION LTDRichard Hotchkiss, President & CEOToll Free: 1-888-291-4566Aircraft Operated: (1) Falcon 900 EX,(3) King Air B200, (1) Citation V (1) Citation Ultra, (1) Lear 35A, (2) Lear 55, (3) Hawker 800, (4) Metro 23, (2) Metro II, (3) Lear 45, (1) Hawker 800 XP, (1) King Air 350, (5) Beech 1900D, (1) Challenger 604, (1) Challenger 300, (4) Piper Chieftain, (3) C208, (1) Gulfstream G150, (1) Cessna Citation Sovereign SWANBERG AIR INCRich Wilde, General ManagerToll Free: 1-877-637-8977Aircraft Operated: (4) Jetstream 31,(1) PA31-350 (1) Navajo Chieftain WETASKIWIN AIR SERVICES LTD.Ron Vanden Dungen, Director ofFlight OpsTel: 780-352-5643Aircraft Operated: (1) Cessna 150,(2) Cessna 172, (1) PA 30

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ABITIBI HELICOPTERS LTD.Betrand Perron, President/DirectorOperationsToll Free: 1-800-247-9591Aircraft Operated: (4) AS 350 B2,(10) AS 350 FX/2, (1) AS 350 BA+,(1)Bell 205 A1 (1) AS 350 BA, (1) AS 350 B2/D2

AHLSTROM AIR LTD.Michael Helsch, Chief Pilot & BaseManager403-721-2203Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350B2/D2

AIRBORNE ENERGY SOL. LTDTony Hunley, President-CEOToll Free: 1-888-496-3222Aircraft Operated: (2) Robinson RH22,(7) Robinson RH44, (21) Robinson RH44 Raven II (RH44 II), (9) Bell 206 B (B206), (2) Bell 205 A1-17, (4) AS350 BA, (3) Piper Navajo A-31, (1) Cessna 208 Caravan, (2) Cessna 172, (2) Cessna 206, (1) Cessna 177, (1) King Air 350

BLACK SWAN HELICOPTERS LTDLinda Johnson, PresidentToll Free: 877-475-4774Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350BA, (1)AS350SD2, (1) B206B, (5) R44

CANADIAN HELICOPTERS LTDDon Wall, Senior Executive VPTel: 780-429-6900Aircraft Operated: (27) Bell 206B/B3, (13) Bell206L/L1, (12) Bell212 (IFR & VFR), (4) AS350B/D, (26) S350BA, (16) AS350B2, (2) AS355F1/F2, (1) AS355N, (6) R22B/ B2, (5) R44II, (13) S76A, (1) S61N, (3) EC120B

CANADIAN NORTHMark GillespieManager, Business DevelopmentTel: 403 705 3118Aircraft Operated: (1) Dash 8 737 Combi

DELTA HELICOPTERS LTDPaul Stubbs, Ops ManagerToll Free: 1-800-665-3564Aircraft Operated: (9) Bell 206, (3)Bell 206L3, (6 )A-Star 350BA, (4) Bell 204, (2) AF350-B2

E-Z AIR INCEzra Bavly, Pres/Ops Mgr/CFITel: 780-453-2085Aircraft Operated: (1) Bell 206, (1)Robinson R44

EDMONTON POLICE SERVICES/Sgt Dave Berry, Unit ManagerTel: 780-408-4218Aircraft Operated: (1) EC120B

GEMINI HELICOPTERS INCRoch Dallaire, PresidentTel: 780-402-2444Aircraft Operated: (3) EC 120, (6) R44, (5)AS350, (2) Bell 205

GREAT SLAVE HELICOPTERS INCJeff Denomme, PresidentTel: 1.867.873.2081Todd Johnson, Director of Sales andMarketingTel: 780.232.2589Springbank Base FacilityTel: 403.286.2040Aircraft Operated:Bell 206B Jet Ranger, Hughes 500Collibri EC120B, Bell 206 Long RangerBell 206L1, Bell 206L3, Bell 206L4Eurocopter AS350BA, Eurocopter AS350B2 Eurocopter AS350B4, Bell 205A1+, Bell 205A1++, Bell 212,Bell212HP, Bell212S

GUARDIAN HELICOPTERS INCGraydon Kowal, PresidentTel: 403-730-6333Aircraft Operated: (2) Bell205, (3)AS350BA, (3) Bell 206B, (1) PA31P,(1) MD 530F HIGH COUNTRY HELICOPTERSHjalmar TiesenhausenToll Free: 1-877-777-4354Aircraft Operated: (1) Bell 206, (1)Long Ranger, (1) A Star

HIGHLAND HELICOPTERS LTD.Terry Jones- Ops ManagerTel: 780-459-5661Aircraft Operated: (24) Bell 206B,(2) Bell 206 L-3, (2) AS 350 BA, (15) AS350 B2,

MOUNTAIN VIEW HELICOPTERSPaul Bergeron, President/CPTel: 403-286-7186Aircraft Operated: (3) R22, (3) R44,(1)Bell 206 MUSTANG HELICOPTERS INCJim Freake, Operations ManagerTel: 403-886-5995Aircraft Operated: (7) HU500D, (11)AS350B2, (1) 206B III, (4) 205-17

PEREGRINE HELICOPTERSBrad Armstrong, PresidentTel: 780-865-3353Aircraft Operated: (1) B206B3(1)B206 L3

PHOENIX HELI-FLIGHT INCPaul Spring, PresidentToll Free: 1-888-715-9245Aircraft Operated: (2) Euro 120, (1)AS350B2, (1) EC 130B4, (1) AS355N, (1)355NP, (1) 350B3

PRECISION HELICOPTERS INCJohn Carlton, GMToll Free: 1-877-545-5455Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350B, (1)AS350BA, (1) AS350D2

REMOTE HELICOPTERS LTD.Jeff Lukan, PresidentTel: 780-849-2222Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350B2, (2)AS350D2, (1) Bell 204 – c model,(2) Bell 206, (2) Bell 212(2) BA (1) B2 (2) Super D

RIDGE ROTORS INC.Hans Nogel, Ops MgrToll Free: 1-877-242-4211Aircraft Operated: (2) B206B2, (1) A Star 350 B2, (2) R44

SLAVE LAKE HELICOPTERS LTDGeorge Kelham, PresidentTel: 780-849-6666Aircraft Operated: (4) AS350 B2,(1)Bell 206B-3, (1) EC 120 SLOAN HELICOPTERS LTDTroy Sloan, PresidentTel: 780-849-4456Aircraft Operated: (2) RH44, (1)EC120B THEBACHA HELICOPTERS LTDKim Hornsby, President & DOMTel: 780-723-4180Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350BA (1)Bell 206B, (1) AS350B2

ULTRA HELICOPTERS LTDRene Brule, PresidentToll Free: 1-877-332-2995Aircraft Operated:(1) Bell 205 A-1, (3) Bell 206 B,(1) Bell 206L-3, (2) AStar350FX2

WOOD BUFFALO HELICOPTERSMichael Morin, Ops MgrTel: 780-743-5588Aircraft Operated: (3) B206B, (1)B206L1-C30P, (3) AS350 B2Jet Charters

AIR PARTNERS CORP.Tim Morgan, PresidentToll Free: 1-877-233-9350Aircraft Operated: Citation V(2) Citation Ultra Citation EncoreBeechcraft Premier I Twin Commander(3)Citation XL, King air 200 CANADIAN NORTHMark GillespieManager, Business DevelopmentTel: Bus 403 705 3118Aircraft Operated:737 Combi, (1) Dash 8


SKY SERVICEJill Timmins, VP Western RegionTel: 403-592-3710King Air 350 (2), Citation II (1)Citation Ultra (1), Citation XL (1)Citation Bravo (1), Citation CJ3 (1)Citation X (1), Challenger 300 (3)Challenger 601 (7), Challenger 604 (5)Learjet 45 (6), Learjet 60XR (1)Falcon 50 (1), Falcon 50EX (2)Piaggio (2), Hawker 700 (1)Gulfstream 150 (1), Gulfstream 450 (1)Global 5000 (2), Citation CJ (1)Challenger 605 (1)G5 (1), Conquest (1), Cheyenne (1)Falcon 2000 (2)

SWANBERG AIR INCRich Wilde, General ManagerToll Free: 1-877-637-8977Aircraft Operated: (4) Jetstream 31,(1) Challenger 601, (1) PA31-350Navajo Chieftain

NORTH CARIBOO AIRRichard Milton, Chief PilotToll Free: 1-866-359-6222Aircrafts Operated: Citation 2, Dash8, Beech 1900, King Air 200, King Air 100, King Air 90, NavajoQ JETS AVIATION LTD.Ken DeWyn, PresidentTel: 403-274-JETS (5387)Aircraft Operated: (2) Citation IStallion, (2) Citation Super 2, (1)Corporate Jetstream 32, (1) Citation 5 Ultra

FractionalOwnershipsAIR PARTNERS CORP.Tim Morgan, PresidentToll Free: 1-877-233-9350Aircraft Operated: Citation V(2) Citation Ultra Citation EncoreBeechcraft Premier I Twin Commander(3) Citation XL, King air 200 AIRSPRINT INC.Judson Macor, CEOToll Free: 1-877-588-2344Selling shares in Citation XL/S andPilatus PC-12s

For years, it seems, we’ve heard the prediction that “today’s grads” will have five or six distinct careers in their life-times. Gone are the days of sticking to one employer or

even one field of work, they say.Recruiters and educators agree employment trends in the

past decade have created a new landscape of work in Can-ada. The recession has undoubtedly left many people thinking about making a career transition, whether by choice or out of necessity.

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But some question how diverse we can expect our careers to be over the span of 30 or 40 years. “We’ve been talking about grads going to have four or five careers for at least 10 years and I’m not seeing it,” says Susan Quinn, an associate professor of human resources in Mount Royal University’s Bissett School of Business.

If you are going to make a transition into a new career, there are some good ways and bad ways to go about doing it.

“It’s not this complete 180-degree change,” says Elizabeth Scott, program director of business and professional pro-gram for the University of Calgary’s faculty of continuing education.

Amy Jensen, for example, spent several years in market-ing roles for energy companies. After taking some courses in entrepreneurship, she made a logical leap to communica-tions consulting as a strategist working mainly for small technology startups.

“I think you have to look for areas where your skills are transferable, or where you have contacts that can help you get a foot in the door in a new field or a subset within your broader career field,” says Jensen.

Workers have to consider how realistic and feasible their career change is in practice. Going from being a corporate securities lawyer to a hospital surgeon, for example, might be a stretch.

Reasons for drastic career change are often rooted in tech-nological changes within an industry. Technology creates jobs that weren’t around five or 10 years ago, while others have been heavily impacted by all sorts of technology that didn’t exist until recently.

Then there are younger generations who tend to make sig-nificant career change for more personal reasons or to seek a better balance between work and personal passions.

Quinn recalls one student who worked for several years in the oilpatch as a professional engineer before deciding to quit to become a snowboarding instructor at Whistler Blackcomb.

“They’re not happy with bureaucracy, with the way things move slowly or the rather extraordinary demands placed on some workers,” says Quinn.

Scott says that while different generations tend to have different priorities, the pursuit of ongoing learning surely has benefits in a world where the pace of work now moves so fast.


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“It’s about always, continually, honing your skills,” says Scott. “Those who show the initiative to continually improve themselves are the ones who make the career change or transition more easily. Anything that shows continuing edu-cation gets placed in the pile that’s worth taking a look at.”

Scott has been an educator, a consultant and a coach dur-ing her career so far, but they were all interrelated in some manner, building on the knowledge and experience gained from her previous roles.

When making a career change, one strategy that works best is to seek out the help of a fresh set of eyes and ears. Quinn says working with others when you embark on this type of transformative change is essential to testing out your ideas before they become reality.

“My job (as a career counsellor) was to try to knock the blinkers off them,” she says. “It was really cool just watching the wheels spin behind their eyes. Then you identify whether it would be realistic for them to do that.”

Self-assessment tools – available online, through private companies or via government agencies – can be a good starting point, but it’s just one tool.

Many workers have never even done self-assessments because “they had just fallen into the job” or industry and worked their way up, “until one day the axe fell,” she says.

You don’t have to commit to a specific direction for your new career until you’ve done some additional research, either. Some programs will allow you to audit certain courses to get a flavour of what program or course, but you can also approach individual instructors of courses you’re interested in to ask them directly.

Instructors at training companies and institutions also have valuable industry contacts – a good place to start the invaluable networking exercise. Networking could also include reaching out to industry associations, attending meetings or events and mixing with professionals already working in the field.


Some programs will allow you to audit certain courses to get a flavour of

what program or course, but you can also approach individual instructors of

courses you’re interested in to ask them directly.


An up-to-date resumé can be tailored to individual orga-nizations or jobs, so refine your resumé and cover letter to better reflect your new direction and seek out opportunities related to that field, even if it’s below the level that you would ideally like to pursue.

Many of the companies that appear on top employer rankings are also still investing in training programs and offering subsidies for employees seeking to advance their

careers, so look inside your existing employer before decid-ing to leave for a new job and take advantage of those in-house programs or benefits. There could be potential new opportunities down the road.

In some programs, the most valuable learning takes place from peer-to-peer or in-group learning scenarios.

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ing of the group rather than direct or presume to know more than the students, many of whom are seasoned executives themselves.

Don’t discount the value of volunteering, too. If you seek out a volunteer opportunity that has a focus on the areas or skills you would like to develop, it could be a win-win situation for everyone.

“The volunteer part of society is in dire straights,” says Quinn. “The sector is crying for people and they’re in a desperate position. There’s just so much opportunity in that whole sector you can get involved in and make a difference.”

The non-profit sector also opens up another good net-working avenue for people wishing to make a transition, since it’s one more door with people from varied back-grounds working to fulfil a personal passion.

The organizations will gain somebody to help deliver their services, while you can add a new dimension to your skill set and expand into new roles as you learn the ropes.

Volunteer experience also helps your resumé stand out because it demonstrates another layer of community involvement and personal development.

Jensen, meanwhile, is happy to be working in a role that gives her more flexibility and better aligns with her penchant for entrepreneurship. “Whatever the reason that someone wants to shift gears and switch careers, it really boils down to pursuing something that is going to be ful-filling,” she says.

There are always going to be trade-offs, so it’s a matter of finding something you’re most comfortable with and really knowing your priorities. A slightly smaller salary with a lot more flexibility happened to be right for her at the time. It’s part of a longer career trajectory of learning.

“I value all of the experiences I’ve had because they have all helped me prepare for the next step in my career and my life,” she says. “You shouldn’t fear the unknown, but pre-pare for it and embrace the future on your own terms.” BiC


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BOMA Calgary News 1

BOMA Calgary news wInTer 2009

Page 1 - Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty? | Page 3 - President’s Report | Page 4 - Opportunistic Outlook | Page 5 - Promotion Cleanup |

Page 6 - Who’s Who in the Zoo | Page 13 - David Parker

The half-full view is that the Cal-gary office market is currently tight with city-wide vacancy of

only 9.1 per cent and only 3.2 per cent in Class A Core. The half-emp-ty view is that the current flood of sublet, new and backfill space that is coming to market will likely result in availability rates breaking through some historic highs.

However, when compared to other office markets, Calgary’s swings have had greater amplitude and a shorter wavelength. Combined with continu-ing positive signs from the economy and a thawing of capital markets, this should set up the market for an earlier recovery than straight-line thinking may indicate.

Adding to the half-full view is the fact that the 13 million square feet that the current five-year new sup-ply binge of 2007 through 2011 will

Is The Glass Half Full or Half Empty?Looking for Good News in the Calgary Office Market

By Kevin Antaya

The graph above represents an overview of the history of leased area in Downtown Calgary and a forward view of existing under construction (green line). Assuming an annual increase in Leased Area of around 250,000 sf per year for the next five years, the Available Rate in Q4 2013 would be 15.5%.

http://www.artopex.com

BOMA Calgary News 2

BOMA Calgary NewsBOMA Calgary News is a co-publication of BOMA Calgary and Business in Calgary.

Business in Calgary 1025, 101 - 6 Ave. SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3P4Tel: 403.264.3270 • Fax: 403.264.3276Email: [email protected]: www.businessincalgary.com

BOMA Calgary120, 4954 Richard Road SW, Calgary, AB T3E 6L1Email: [email protected] • Web: www.boma.caTel: 403.237.0559 • Fax: 403.266.5876

Chair Paul Gauthier, Fujitec Canada Inc.

MeMbersBlair Carbert, Stones Carbert Waite LLPMichael Kehoe, Fairfield Commercial Real EstateMiles Durrie, Calgary HeraldCarol Lewis, Calgary HeraldJames Harvie, TELUS Convention CentreLia Robinson, BOMA Calgary

OfficersPresidentGuy Priddle, MBA, RPA, BLJC Facility Management

ViCe President/President-eleCtPeter MacHardy, GWL Realty Advisors Inc.

2nd ViCe PresidentDon Fairgrieve-Park, Bentall LP

seCretary treasurerTom Sullivan, GWL Realty Advisors Inc.

Past-President Wendy Cardell, The Cadillac Fairview Corp. Ltd.

exeCutiVe ViCe-PresidentWilliam G. R. Partridge, CAE

DirectorsChris Howard, Howco Realty AdvisorsDomenic Mazzocchi, 20 Vic Management Inc.Gerry Jobagy, Standard Life Assurance CompanyGlen Kitteringham, Brookfield Properties CorporationLee Thiessen, Altus Group Michael Kehoe, Fairfield Commercial Real EstateFred Edwards, Servpro Cleaning

The Building Owners and Managers Association of Calgary publishes BOMA Calgary News quarterly. For advertising rates and information contact Business in Calgary. Publication of advertising should not be deemed as endorsement by BOMA Calgary. The publisher reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to reject any advertising at any time submitted by any party. Material contained herein does not necessarily reflect the opinion of BOMA Calgary, its members or its staff.

© 2009 by BOMA Calgary.Printed in Canada.

add to Calgary’s existing inven-tory is only slightly more than half of the amount which was added in the previous high water cycle from 1979 through 1983.

Sublet can be retracted as quick-ly as it was added. While Suncor’s 418,000 square feet of sublet is real and there may be more from Suncor and others, some other firms may surprise and retract a portion of their sublet.

In addition, the recent an-nouncement from EnCana may mean that they will need more office space than expected only six months ago. Two public com-panies need more space than one and demand for private offices at the perimeter of The Bow may re-sult in more floors being needed than originally expected.

Over the past few years the dif-ferences in Calgary’s office rents have become smaller than nor-mal as rates moved higher as the market became very tight and de-

mand accelerated. That has now changed. Due to the large amount of available space that has and is about to come to market, rents will be highly differentiated for the next few years, with the gaps becoming larger than normal. This will be accelerated due to the fact that, at the same time, demand has fallen sharply.

In the end, the key variable for a recovery will be the demand for new space and how increases or decreases in demand will continue to put pressure on rental rates.

There will be a recovery. The un-certainty relates to when, not if.

Kevin Antaya is with Altus Insite, a provider of national office mar-ket data and perspective for the Canadian commercial real estate industry. Additional details and reporting options are available to subscribers to Altus InSite Office Market. For more information, please visit www.altusinsite.com.

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BOMA Calgary News 3

PrEsIdENT’s rEPOrT

By guy Priddle, MBa, President

The Supply and Demand Equation – the Search for Equilibrium

As the global recession con-tinues, concerns are being recognized with respect to

commercial real estate, specifically the financing of same. Commercial real estate has been at the forefront in recessions past, and will still be a major focus to come in this one. The difference, though, is that in past events overbuilding has been a significant contributing factor impacting occupancy levels, lease rates and building values. This time that is not the case in a North Amer-ican sense; this time, the event is a financial one, led by the crisis in credit markets. The impact on com-mercial property, and the impact commercial property is soon to make on the economy, is led by depressed stock prices, low consumer confi-dence and rising unemployment.

Loans written through the recent boom are now coming due. With higher vacancies and lower rental rates, the symptoms of a general recession, this is a less than ideal environment for refinancing. Short-term financing is unlikely to roll over when it comes due. In the U.S. in particular there will be bankruptcy filings if lenders refuse to refinance debt, as was the case with General Growth Properties, who filed for protection when its $US27 million debt came due. The risk is not only to the health of the real estate in-dustry – the already stressed U.S. financial institutions will see their stability put to the test yet again.

In Canada, the exposure is reduced in part due to the now popularly en-vied Canadian banking system – yes, the same banking system that prior to the recession was criticized for being too restrictive in its lending practices. With available capital focused in fewer, larger institu-

tions, there is less risk of a collapse of a bank due to an overexposure through one developer or landlord. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are also well positioned to survive or even thrive through the downturn due to equity in projects and access to public markets. Some are creat-ing ‘predator funds’ to eventually invest in distressed properties.

In Calgary, it really boils down fur-ther to a basic economic equation of supply versus demand.

As in any other market, the de-mand side is affected directly by the general economic state, and that state is still at risk. Oil and gas mar-kets have seen moderate and small gains respectively, but those gains have not been significant enough or of long enough duration to get confi-dence back on the positive side yet. There is still a belief in the minds of tenants that rates will go down as a result of those still low commodity prices, and the new supply of prod-uct that is poised to hit our market.

So, what of that new supply? Both Colliers and CBRE, in their Q3 2009 reports, indicated that the down-town office market saw over 400,000 square feet of negative absorption in the third quarter, bringing the year-to-date total to between 1.3 and 1.5 million square feet. Sub-lease space now accounts for over 50 per cent of available space. That will be added to the approximately 4.5 million square feet being deliv-ered between now and 2013.

Is this a perfect storm for tenants holding on, hoping to renew at the last moment in anticipation of the lowest lease rates in 10 years? An economic crisis, a looming commer-cial mortgage default crisis, reduced local demand for space, a large vol-ume of space coming back on the

market – hold on tenants, your time to strike is near! Conversely, why would anyone be optimistic about the Calgary commercial real estate environment?

It will all boil down to the basic supply versus demand equation. Clearly the market is not currently in equilibrium – there is more supply than demand at this point. It is easy to forget that the demand side is not controlled solely on the basis of today’s supply, however, and there-in lies my caution to tenants waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The market will move towards equilibrium on the strength of out-side forces that will affect both the supply or demand side, and my expectation is that it will occur relatively quickly with a recovery in commodity markets. True, the U.S. economy is and will remain sluggish. The other emerging engines of the global economy – most notably India and China – will positively impact commodity markets throughout the world as their own economies re-turn to a more normal state. Not the least of those commodity markets is located right here at home.

The trends of the recession will not continue for long, as markets are beginning to show. Negative absorption will slow and then re-verse, and the balance of space that tenants want will begin to find equilibrium with the amount of space landlords have. The process of balancing supply and demand is unfortunately quite volatile; we are either on top of the world or ‘six feet under’ – rarely do we stay long at equilibrium.

Markets will move up as fast as they moved down, and vice versa. It is the nature of that search for equilibrium.

BOMA Calgary News 4

Opportunistic Outlook

We have all attended conferences where one speaker’s words of wisdom have remained with us long after the conference has ended. McNeill

Stokes, a lawyer by training, spoke at a BOMA Interna-tional Convention in the 1980s when, oddly enough, we were in the midst of a rather deep recession. Industry members may recall those days which are not unlike today’s business climate. Stokes defined an optimist as someone who could not have possibly listened to the radio, watched TV or read newspapers for quite some time. With a steady influx of commercial media bom-barding us daily about the extent to which and how far and how fast the economic sky is falling – reporting each twist, turn and economic machination – it is a natural thing for one to become discouraged about everything in general. When you are in the dumps it may seem nearly impossible to get the mind working on positive and con-structive things. Kevin Antaya’s article on the market makes the analogy to the glass half-full/half-empty per-

spective: it’s all in how you view things and how you respond to what you see, hear or read.

On the subject of an “information bombardment,” I am with McNeill Stokes: turn it all off! The H1N1 matter is a case in point. There is so much information coming at us and most of it conflicting; people are confused and not re-ally sure what they should do. It is hard to be optimistic. It is in these times that we require leaders, a commodity of which we seem to be in rather short supply. The one thing we can always control is the way we respond to adversity. The recession was not our fault – it happened. There is nothing we can do about H1N1; it is here and spreading. It is a time to lead, at time to cast off doubt, and a time to act; a time to draw upon our strengths and create a focus.

As early as 2007, BOMA took action with respect to pandemic preparedness. Note this is preparedness, not prevention. There is little we mortals can do to actually stop the disease in the short term. BOMA recognized this and its leaders responded by preparing to keep going once it arrived. There are online tools on BOMA’s Pandemic website (http://www.bomacanada-pandemic.ca/) which many will find helpful.

One individual that everyone knows is George Brook-man, whose enthusiasm for anything Calgary is totally infectious. David Parker makes reference to Brookman as the new leader of Tourism Calgary in his column in this issue. Most people may not be aware, but Brook-man was president of BOMA Calgary in 1980/1981 when this scribe joined the BOMA organization. His enthusiasm helped BOMA get off to a good start and set a positive tone for others to follow. It was the only possible out-come which extended from an optimistic view of what Calgary could be.

Optimism holds as well in Robert Henderson’s column on recent land transactions. Despite judicial sales, land values are holding and sites are being bought. Developers must, by their very nature, be optimists. They believe if they seize an opportunity they can do something with it. Pessimists could never be developers as they, also by their nature, have denied themselves a view of any future.

We remain convinced that Calgary holds promise for the future. We believe in good things to come as a result of the many talented people in our midst – whether it is the chronic boosterism of the George Brookmans of our community or the “make a deal” positive outlook of the development community. It’s all about the future, and it’s all about transforming what we have into a clear vision.

Remember, there is a reason the windshield of your car is larger than your rear-view mirror. It is always best to focus ahead than to fret about the past.

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BOMA Calgary News 5

Promotion Cleanup*By robert Henderson, COre Database

*Values reported in this article are for the land value exclusive of structures on them. Names in [] are the legal names.

“..[I]t is obvious that the achievements of David Thompson contributed to the accumulation of knowl-edge about our lands and resources, and eventually led to a robust economy based on exploitation of North America’s vast natural resources.” – Robert Thirsk, ALS, June 2009, p 37.

Information is the key to promoting any venture and an inaccurate report can hamper that enterprise. The written accounts and maps of Western Canada in the late 1700s were used as promotional tools by adventur-ers who wanted to improve the appearance of their project to prospective investors. Map features included compressed distances, rivers to the Pacific, abundant natural resources and minimal obstacles, most of which the creators of these maps had never seen and only knew through word of mouth or fabricated to make their venture look feasible. Most were inaccurate while some showed features that were possible within 200 miles.

David Thomas was given up by his mother at an early age. At the Grey Coat School, near Westminster, he was given a first-rate education and had his name changed to blend in with the other children, with all subsequent records referring to him as David Thompson. At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to the Hudson’s Bay Com-pany and arrived at Fort Churchill on the western shore of Hudson Bay. He went on to change the face of North America, walking 55,000 miles over the area (some of it with his growing family), surveying the features and creating the map that would be the standard for the following 70 years. He is still considered by the sur-vey department at Alberta Land Titles to be accurate within two miles.

The completion of transfers negotiated prior to the October ’08 downturn were in decline during the third quarter of 2009 and the effects of the recession took hold with properties being returned through the courts to vendors who had transferred them secured by mortgages. Sandmore Antiques at the east end of 9th [Atlantic] Avenue reverted for a reported $211/sqft in July while Billingsgate on 7th [MacIntyre] Avenue was transferred to the city for $5,500,000. Enmax acquired the small parking lot to the east of its 10th [Pacific] Avenue sub-station from the city for $180/sqft while an adjacent business in the Edinburgh condo on 6th [An-gus] Avenue and 8th Street acquired unit 8 for $361/sqft.

The investment climate froze in August with no re-ported transfers of downtown or beltline properties. September did see the province consolidate the parcels for the new courthouse on 8th [Stephen] Avenue and

5th Street with the momentary creation, transfer and cancellation of the lane for a reported $140/sqft from the city – the true consideration involving a land swap. LaCaille also consolidated its parcel on 6th [Angus] Avenue west of 8th Street and that on 4th [Reinach] Avenue just west of Ceasar’s. The parking lot west of the 10th [Pacific] Avenue bottle depot was transferred by the court to the mortgage holder, Pasearium, for $3,600,000. One residential parcel in Victoria Park on 11th [Smith] Avenue was transmitted through an estate direction and the court transferred the parking lot east of Torode’s Vista project on 12th [van Horne] Avenue for a reported $930,000. There will be more court de-cisions in the future related to the promotional fallout from Calgary’s building boom and this will take some time to clear the courts. These judicial sales, some based on appraisals, will form the basis of Calgary’s downtown and beltline land values and it will take a further year for the marketplace to assert itself.

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BOMA Calgary News 6

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Top; Laura Newcombe, Glen Wardale and Noreen Music, accept the BOMA BESt Level 3 Certificate for Gulf Canada Square (BOMA National EARTH Award winner) from Guy Priddle, President. Bottom left; Eric Teichgraf, Oxford Properties, accepts the BOMA BESt Level 2 Certificate for Calgary Place. Bottom right; Stephen Fox and Gerry Finnerty of Ivanhoe Cambridge accept the BOMA BESt Level 3 Certificate for Southcentre Executive Tower.

Nathan Jensen accepts the BOMA BESt Level 1 Certificate for Bow Island Provincial Building.

Carrie Clancy, Mike Clancy and Dana Scott of Realex Property Management accept the BOMA BESt Level 2 Certificate for Nexen Tower.

Welcome to Contemporary Office Interiors represented by Maxine Morrison, new BOMA member.

Left; Nora Logan accepts the BOMA BESt Level 1 Certificate for Medicine Hat Law Courts. Right; Christan Alexander and Melissa Talbot, Dundee Realty Management accept the BOMA BESt Level 1 Certificates for Dominion Centre, Life Plaza, 435 4th Ave SW Building, Roslyn Building, Atrium I & II, IBM Building A, B and C, 520 5th Ave SW Building, McFarlane Tower and Franklin Atrium.

Peter Slawik accepts the BOMA BESt Level 1 Certificate for Canmore Provincial Building & Cochrane Provincial Building.

BOMA Calgary News 7

ENERGYENVIRONMENT

SOLUTIONS

Top; Keri Cormier and Michael Cole of Bentall LP accept the BOMA BESt Level 3 Certificates for Livingston Place and BP Centre. Bottom left; George Grant and Marlene Steeves of Alberta Infrastructure accept the BOMA BESt Level 1 Certificates for Airdrie Provincial Build-ing & the Agricultural Regional Centre. Bottom right; Gordon Moss accepts the BOMA BESt Level 1 Certificate for Three Hills Provincial Building.

Top; Guy Priddle, President presents Maria Lafitte, Kristyn Bruce, Laynie Hicks, Graham Sidders, Patsy Cheng, and Landis Jackson of Tonko Realty Advisors the BOMA BESt Level 1 Certificates for 14 buildings. Bottom left; Corrine Jackman, Bentall LP and Holly Egan, Alberta Health Services accept the BOMA BESt Level 3 Certificate for the Sheldon M. Chumir building. Bottom Right; Welcome to Beeline Finan-cial represented by Shoaib Nasir, new BOMA member.

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BOMA Calgary News 8

Who’s Who in the Zoo!Welcome to these new additions to the BOMA

membership:

Glen Wardale and Peter MacHardy, both of GWL Realty Advisors accepting the 2009 BOMA Canada EARTH Award for Gulf Canada Square.

Calgary’s Bentall LP team accepts the BOMA Canada Pinnacle Award for Customer Service at BOMEX 2009 in Montreal.

Bill Partridge, Executive Vice President of BOMA Calgary, pipes in the BOMA Canada Board of Directors at BOMEX 2009 in Montreal.

Janet Anaka The Forzani Group Ltd.

Shoaib Nassir Beeline Financial Corporation

James Gainer Precise Parklink

John Jaggard CANWEST Elevator and Lifts

Glynis Johnson Oxford Properties Group

Mike Clancy Realex Property Management

Michael Luhnau 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

Greg Fisher MechWave Engineering Ltd.

Ed Allen HD Supply Canada/Litemore

Sheena Nadon Spectrally Enhanced Lighting

Solutions Ltd.

Brad Wennerestrom Rycom Inc.

James Cameron Unity Telecom Corp.

BOMA Calgary News 9

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BOMA Calgary News 10

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BOMA BESt, Building Environmental StandardsCongratulations to the latest certified buildings!

Franklin Atrium, Dundee Realty Management, Level 1McFarlane Tower, Dundee Realty Management, Level 1Roslyn Building, Dundee Realty Management, Level 1Atrium 1 & 2, Dundee Realty Management, Level 1520 5 Ave SW, Dundee Realty Management, Level 1435 4 Ave SW, Dundee Realty Management, Level 1IBM Building A, B and C, Dundee Realty Management, Level 1Dominion Centre, Dundee Realty Management, Level 1Life Plaza, Dundee Realty Management, Level 2Sheldon M Chumir, Bentall LP, Level 3Southcentre Executive Tower, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Level 3Southcentre Mall, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Level 3

New BOMI GraduatesFMA Graduates: Barry Tiller Ward WoolgarRPA Graduates: Mustaque Hossain Dawn Mitzner Shelley Struthers James Werenka

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Tri Executive Group200, 708 - 11th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB 403-237-8285 | www.triexec.com

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The key thing in a satisfying business solution is of course, the customization. Our packages are designed to anticipate general needs. If you need something else, there’s an unlimited range of options to assist your business in operating smoothly and growing with ease.

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proven performance

structural glazing

weatherproofing sealants

consistent quality

silicone pioneer

adhesive strength

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problem solver

technical expertise

superior warranties

risk reduction

proactive collaboration

trusted ally

respected brand name

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commitment to quality Time Warner Center, New York, New York / Co-Developers, Columbus Centre Developer LLC, a subsidiary of The Related Companies, and Apollo Real Estate Advisors / Architect, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Time Warner_BIC.indd 1 1/7/08 9:54:40 AM

Year in ReviewBy David Parker

It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of another year and it’s time to start dreaming

about what 2010 has in store for us. I’m an optimist and have a good

feeling as to how this city is going to fare in the coming year, but to be a little more clear in predic-tions we must look back at 2009, make some comments on the good and the bad and see if we can learn anything to make the predictions as good as we can.

It has certainly been a vocal year.Notwithstanding the fact that

most countries in the world have suf-fered economically – and many still are – Calgary and Alberta have fared remarkably well. Some building proj-ects, particularly those promising high-end condominiums failed, while others seem to be managing through tough times and marketing units.

Construction of office towers in the downtown core kept up at a tre-mendous pace meaning we have over five million square feet under con-struction. There is already too much sub-lease space available, however much of the space in newer buildings has already been leased.

Timing is everything as they say and those developers that took the risk of getting into the ground early are feeling quite confident. Bankers Court, Jamieson Place, Penn West Plaza and Centennial Place have done very well.

Of course the big cloud is, “But what about when The Bow opens and EnCana pulls out of its current spac-es?” Well, we knew that was coming and I’m sure that eventually it will be absorbed.

But only if the city continues to grow – and providing downtown isn’t deserted by corporations looking for the advantages to be achieved by relocating to the suburban of-fice market that has shown so much growth.

Quarry Park, Westwinds Business

Park and Westmount Corporate Cam-pus have all been quite successful in attracting companies, but have done so by moving several out of downtown which is somewhat of a concern.

Little wonder though, that a need to keep good people in the recent la-bour market upheaval has prompted incentives. Besides a decent wage and use of company fitness centres, another big carrot is the ease of get-ting to work. There’s lots of parking in suburbia and good access by public transit is improving.

Downtown parking, or rather lack of it, plus the exorbitant cost, has been one of my pet peeves this past year. Despite the rants and raves of taxpayers, little has happened and council doesn’t seem to take the plight of drivers at all seriously.

The Calgary Parking Authority just goes on collecting fees from devel-opers, charging market – and if you wander around some of the private lots, above market – rates for the privilege of leaving a car to earn a living or shop or dine.

Council doesn’t think things through before making decisions and had to backtrack on parking fees at LRT stations, which – to my mind – there wasn’t the need to install in the first place.

I experienced the same aggrava-tion with the aldermen who blew it big time with the Calatrava Bridge to nowhere, and since then have aggra-vated me further with the decision to approve a re-branding of the city.

Ald. Joe Connelly at least made it known that he felt there was no need for the re-brand exercise at all, but what incensed me was handing the project to a Los Angeles firm.

Committee chair Lance Carlson, president and CEO of Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD), says that the chosen firm, Gensler, was a clear winner, but I don’t buy the inference that Calgary creative houses are not capable of doing the job.

And the fact that it was conducted through the office of Calgary Eco-nomic Development is particularly frustrating. Surely CED is charged with the Development of Calgary’s Economy and must support and pro-mote Calgary businesses, not blithely accept a recommendation from a committee of volunteers. Better to bang the table and holler and scream in praise of local agencies who have a pretty good idea of this city’s at-tractiveness, and how to promote it.

Surely we have an obligation to support local business, never mind telling the world we are not capable of handling our own by graduates from ACAD or EVDS for that matter.

Carlson is reported to have said that, “Heart of the New West . . . fails to represent the arts, culture and other parts of the city.” I’m far from being a cowboy, but do believe that the Stampede is the first thing that comes to mind with tourists; I doubt if many international travel-lers will buy a hotel room in Calgary to visit a bridge or any other piece of art for that matter.

Makes one wonder what will be next.

Flagworks, a Calgary company that has spent $1 million on new equip-ment, is short-listed for the 2010 Winter Olympics, fills contracts around the world and is a huge sup-porter of this community, yet has to accept the fact that city bridge ban-ners are made in Vancouver.

Will production of our new brand and logo material also be sourced out of the city?

But the good news was that George Brookman accepted the role as chair of Tourism Calgary, an organization that has waffled for far too long without leadership. I don’t know of a more energetic supporter and sales-man for this city; a man with tons of common sense and savvy.

Let’s hope our decision makers think before acting in 2010.


WEBBER ACADEMY Preparing Students to Thrive in University and BeyondWebber Academy Welcomes Mrs. Jemmie Silver

Mrs. Jemmie Silver

Webber Academy is very pleased to welcome Mrs. Jemmie Silver who has taken on the full time position of Teacher Librarian. Mrs. Silver is a literacy specialist who is passionate about student learning. She is committed to doing her part to provide an enriched environment to allow every Webber Academy student the best possible op-portunity to help them achieve to their highest potential. She has a warm and sincere approach with children as she endeavors to instil enjoyment for lifelong learning and reading. Mrs. Silver is currently familiarizing herself with the school’s enhanced cur-riculum in order to provide effective resources and instruction that will compliment the efforts of her hard-working colleagues.

For the past 7 years, Mrs. Silver was the Head of School for Akiva Academy, an accredited Alberta-certified private school. Members of the Board of Directors report the school was well managed under her leadership. Mrs. Silver earned her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto with her areas of focus in Reading for grades 1 to12 and English for grades 7 to 12. Mrs. Silver has taught for 20 years, is an avid reader and enjoys the outdoors. She is making an exceptional first impression at Webber Academy and we feel truly honoured to have her as a member of our staff.

Information Evenings • Thursday, January 14, 2010 - Thursday, February 18, 2010 - Thursday, May 13, 2010

For more information visit our website at www.webberacademy.ca

http://www.webberacademy.ca

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SUNIK ROOFING • 20TH ANNIVERSARY A

Sunik Roofing Leads Industry for 20 Years8223 31 St SE • (403) 280-2803 • sunik.com

TEAM SUNIK - from bottom to top- right to left; Susan Sims, Lowell McNichol, Nick Sims, Mike Jones, Kathy Neil, Nathan Sims, Laurel Metcalfe, Murray Keays, Sean O’Donovan, Leland Bruneau, Rod Dobson, Nicholas Sims, Rob LaPierre.

SUNIK ROOFING • 20TH ANNIVERSARY1

When it comes to being a leader – in any industry – it takes determination, honesty, innovation and passion. And that’s exactly what Nick and Sue

Sims, Lowell McNichol and Sunik Roofing have brought to the roofing industry. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Sunik Roofing and a glance back at the many ways Sunik has helped to shape the roofing industry in Alberta.

Nick graduated from high school in 1973 and before long found himself on a rooftop with a hammer in hand. “I learned the basics by reading the instructions off of a shingle package,” says Nick. By the mid-1970s, the power nailer, for roofing, was introduced to the market and Nick’s crew was among the first to use them. “We pioneered the power nailer which helped revolutionize the way we shingle today,” remarks Nick.

In 1986, Nick and his wife, Sue, moved to Calgary. He had no intention of getting back into the roofing business and looked for other work, but the economy was slow. He had kids to feed and within a few months he decided to return to what he knew. Likewise, he soon decided that if he was going to stay in roofing, then he was going to start his own business.

When Nick started working in Calgary, he was shocked to learn that most roofers shingled over bare wood. “I was taught you had to put felt (tar paper) down. Although the Alberta building code did not require it, I always offered it to the homeowners because it added a second layer of pro-tection and made an average roof into a top-notch roof,” remarks Nick.

Nick was also surprised to find that the power nailer was relatively unheard of in Alberta. It was new to the Calgary market and because Nick had experience with these tools he was able to put together one of Calgary’s first production crews, a common sight today.

In 1987, Nick established Sunik Enterprises and subcon-tracted work from other contractors as well as doing their own work. He created the company name by using both his and Sue’s names. In 1989, they changed the name to Sunik Construction Incorporated.

The business was growing and Nick was working all the time: roofing by day and estimating at night. By now, Sue had quit her job to help with the books and to field calls. Soon after, they installed additional phone lines, a com-puter, and it quickly became a full-time job for Sue. “Sue’s

Sunik Owners, Lowell McNichol and Nick Sims

SUNIK ROOFING • 20TH ANNIVERSARY 2

contributions to Sunik are many and her phone manner was exceptional,” says Nick, “I would go to an estimate and many times the customer would say how helpful the girl on the phone had been. It would always bring a smile to my face and I’d think to myself, that’s no girl, that’s my wife,” recalls Nick fondly.

Some of Sue’s contributions were incorporating the Macintosh computer into the business. “This was the early 1990s and the Internet was fairly new. I did not really under-stand computers or the incredible impact they would have on Sunik’s future,” Nick says. Today, Sue maintains about 15 Macs. She also created the company’s original website which was among an industry first and no small task at 60 pages. “Sue’s technical expertise aside, her most important contribution was supporting and believing in me and what I was doing. Sue and I met in high school so I married my high school sweetie. She is the light of my life and my best fishing buddy,” says Nick.

Nick hired Lowell McNichol to join his crew as a labourer in 1990 and they worked extremely well together. Although neither man knew it at the time, they would soon become partners. “I taught Lowell to shingle, leak-track and leak-repair. He was young and enthusiastic and he took many of the things I taught him and improved upon the end product. He was always a team player. By 1994, I would sell the jobs and Lowell would get the work done while Sue was on the phones,” comments Nick.

Soon the estimates were more than Nick could handle alone, so he moved Lowell off the tools and into estimat-ing. “Lowell looked at the bigger picture – it wasn’t just a paycheque to him. I saw qualities in him that I really liked, so after four years of working together, I knew I wanted him on my team,” adds Nick. “Lowell was strong where I was weak and vice versa. We developed an amazing partner-ship.” Lowell became Nick’s partner in 1996.

It was not long before Lowell was improving the way they approached estimating. Sue had trained the men on the Macs and Lowell took it to the next level – making a connection that would change the way they estimated. He developed an in-house estimating program that possessed the ability to easily create a computer-generated quote. They could print it at the customer’s house and price out many different types of material. This gave customers the widest choice of products available.

Lowell became a certified journeyman roofer and gradu-ated at the top of his class under the Sunik banner. In those days, it was unheard of for a sloped roofer to seek journey-man certification let alone take its top award.

The business continued to grow; they believed in what they were doing and they stood behind their product. That same year, Nick and Sue’s two sons, Nicholas Jr. and Nathan, joined the business full time. Previously, the boys worked in their early teens delivering flyers on weekends and summers. They graduated to cleaning gutters just like all the other trainees. Nick believed in starting them at the bottom and letting them work their way up if they were ever going to understand the business. Consequently, they learned to respect everyone in the business, including the

When it comes to being a leader – in any industry – it takes determination,

honesty, innovation and passion. And that’s exactly what Nick and Sue Sims,

Lowell McNichol and Sunik Roofing have brought to the roofing industry.

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SUNIK ROOFING • 20TH ANNIVERSARY3

guy that cleaned the gutters. After a few years of training on the roof with Nick and Lowell, the sons were enrolled in the provincial roofing program at NAIT and achieved their journeyman status. Nicholas Jr. is currently one of Sunik’s senior estimators and Nathan is involved in quality control and training. Both are top-notch leak trackers.

“I am fortunate to be able to work with Sue, our two boys and Lowell. I regard Lowell as a brother and together we have created a real family-team atmosphere. Today, I feel more like a coach than a boss and as we grow, the fam-ily environment is adopted by the newer team members,” observes Nick.

In 2003, Sunik moved into a new home with the purchase of a condo bay. Sunik stayed for five years until they found their current office building on a half-acre lot. It was four times the size of their old office with plenty of parking, huge bays and a showroom. “We bought the building about one year ago and a dream was finally fulfilled,” says Nick.

Sunik Roofing has a formula for success when it comes to the company structure. They like to hire young and train, and after a few years, enroll them in the roofing program at NAIT to graduate as journeyman roofers. “Once they’ve become a journeyman roofer, that’s the guy we want esti-mating, checking jobs and teaching,” says Nick. “Other trades require education, but the roofing trade does not. However Sunik believes in education and it gives us an edge. Every one of our estimators are certified journeyman roofers.”

Sunik Roofing specializes in sloped re-roofing and they service the residential and commercial sectors. In addition

to the thousands of homes they have re-roofed, they have worked on several apartment complexes and other commer-cial properties. Recent projects include the Mount Kidd Golf Course and the Nakiska Ski Hill in Kananaskis.

In the late 1990s, Sunik became a member of the Alberta Allied Roofing Association (AARA). Nick was elected president and served for three years. Concurrently, he spent six years serving on the Provincial Apprentice-ship Committee (PAC). During this time, he was influential in changing the roofing program at NAIT to expand the curriculum. Previously, the program had focused on flat roofing with little content on sloped roofing. Today, about 30 per cent of the program is geared to sloped roofing. When Nick retired from the committee, Lowell stepped in to fill Nick’s chair where he continues to serve. For the past three years, Lowell has also been involved with the AARA as a member of the executive committee.

In 2000, Sunik Roofing received the Ethics Award from the Better Business Bureau for small business and it was a very proud moment for the company. Shortly after, Nick was approached by the BBB to become a director. In 2001 he was invited to join the executive committee, a team that has helped turn the local BBB into one of the top bureaus in North America. Nick really enjoys the involve-ment.

The next time you’re in the market for a new roof, call, click or visit Sunik Roofing. Call 403-280-2803, visit online at www.sunik.com, or stop by the showroom located at 8223 31 Street SE in Calgary.

Sunik’s fleet and their new office in Foothills Industrial Park

SUNIK ROOFING • 20TH ANNIVERSARY 4

Safety FirstEvery roofer has the right to come home safe every day,

although every year the roofing industry suffers from an unacceptable rate of injuries from falls. The result is ruined bodies, head trauma and sometimes death. Safety officers, crew training and safety equipment undoubtedly increases the cost of a job. For companies who do not practice safety, it gives them an unfair, even unethical, price advantage. Homeowners and insurance companies who save money hiring these companies may be saving the money that should have been spent on safety, and unknowingly con-tribute to injury or death.

Safety is a topic that Sunik takes very seriously. Law mandates the procedures and the maximum penalties for non-compliance can be a million dollars and up to a year in jail. Most companies do not have a safety program in the re-roofing industry. “All of Sunik’s crews must take fall protection courses and follow strict rules. They must all be tied off in most situations and if they don’t adhere to the rules, they are disciplined and if they outright refuse, they do not work for us,” asserts Nick. Hence, Sunik now has a safety division. “Our safety officer started the safety pro-gram; he developed all the charts and manuals, and took the necessary training to become certified. Today we have one of the best re-roofing safety programs in the city,” adds Nick.

Read the Fine PrintWhen it’s time to re-roof your home, keep in mind that

quality and safety cost a little more, but it’s well worth it in the long run. “Homeowners will often look at the bot-tom line and they may quibble over a small amount, but many don’t read the fine print or look at the whole picture. Read the warranty,” asserts Nick. Most roofing companies will not provide a warranty up front, but Sunik does. The

reason is that most do not cover interior damage unless it happens while the roofing work is in progress. A five-year warranty that does not cover interior damage means little when you’re stuck with thousands of dollars in interior damage.

Sunik warranties their shingle work for two years and then an additional two-year warranty can be purchased for up to 10 years. This includes a visit to the roof and roof tune-up every two years. Sunik will warranty against poor workmanship, the roof and any interior damage. This type of warranty is not an industry standard – it sets Sunik apart from their competitors. “To my knowledge, we are the only roofing company that offers an extended war-ranty and our extended warranty covers interiors,” says Nick. Likewise, Sunik strives to have every job completed properly. “We want every job to go well and most of them do, but if something does not go well, we will go out of our way to service the customer. We will always acknowl-edge our shortcomings and errors, and we’ll make sure to honour our contract and warrantees,” replies Nick. When you have a company that’s been around for 20 years and is BBB accredited and has an A+ rating with zero complaints – you need look no further!

Ph. 403-243-5775 • Fax. 403-243-9877Bay 4 4545 54 Ave SE, Calgary, AB

Metal Roofing & Cladding • Residential, Commercial & Agricultural

Flashing • Prepainted Galvanized Steel • Copper, aluminum & specialty metals • 16 gauge to 30 gauge (1/16” - 1/64”)

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TRIMETBUILDING PRODUCTS

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Grand View Roofing & Siding Repairs39 Huntstrom Rd. N.E Calgary, AB T2K 5W1

Bus: 403-730-9770 Fax: 403-730-0045

Best wishes and many thanks for all your support!

Congratulations Sunik Roofing on your 20th Anniversary.

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5 SUNIK ROOFING • 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Durkee Construction (1981) Ltd. Handcrafted Renovations

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Where to invest hard-earned money is the ques-tion many have on their minds. Having money to invest is a nice option, but narrowing down

where that money should go is a challenge for anyone look-ing to strengthen their portfolio. There are a wide range of options, and recently the trend of looking away from our own borders and eyeing emerging economies has gained momentum.

While many economies can be considered emerging, the nations receiving the most attention are the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China.

“The BRIC economies are the big players in the emerging markets area,” says Rich te Linde, vice-president of One2One Financial Consulting for First Calgary Financial. “The main reason is growth; they are outpacing the developed econo-mies.”

While the average growth rate of developed nations hov-ers around two per cent, the growth rate of BRIC nations is as high as eight per cent. Emerging economies have been around for some time – with Japan once labeled in this cat-egory – but the sheer size and populations of these nations are the key difference to what we are seeing now. China and India both have growing populations of more than a billion people, while Brazil’s population is approaching 200 million and Russia has a population of approximately 140 million.

“The big economies of China and India have come into play,” says te Linde.

In a recent report on emerging economies by HSBC, group chief economist Stephen King wrote, “Asia kicked off the process in the 1950s posting extraordinarily high rates of per-capita income growth year after year. The really big changes, however, happened in the 1980s and beyond, when China and India jumped onto the growth bandwagon. Their improved fortunes reflected an intoxicating mixture of renewed political openness, huge improvements in telecom-munications technologies and a much more liberal approach to global capital flows. The result has been an extraordi-nary period of economic catch-up which has turned these economies into economic powerhouses. Their importance in world economic affairs has, of course, been rubber-stamped through the rapidly-growing importance of the G20.”

Beyond developing into nations that manufacture and export products the world over, a middle class is develop-ing within these countries that will ensure strong internal economies also. Currently Chinese citizens are being urban-ized at a rate of over a 11 million people a year.

“That’s 11 Calgarys every year,” says te Linde.

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BRIC by BRIC Emering markets tempt investors

BY DEVON BABIN

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Asia isn’t the only continent showing promise.

South America, particularly Brazil, has garnered a lot of attention

as being a go-to economy for investors.


In the HSBC report King says, “The implications are simple. Emerging currencies will be under upward pres-sure, their asset markets should appreciate and their sources of growth should switch from exports towards domestic demand, thereby helping to narrow their, in some cases, large current account surpluses. Indeed, the EMI shows that total order books are rising at a faster pace than exports, supporting the view that recoveries are domestically led.”

Asia isn’t the only continent showing promise. South America, particularly Brazil, has garnered a lot of atten-

tion as being a go-to economy for investors. Brazil uses a five-class system to define their population, with class C generally being what is considered middle class. Currently the amount of Brazilians deemed to be class C makes up nearly half of the country’s population.

“Brazil has been hot, and it is getting hotter. It declared an end to the recession after only six months, all of its sovereign debt ratings are now firmly investment grade after the latest upgrade from Moody’s, and it enjoys capi-tal flows into the economy,” states Zafar Bhatti in a recent report from CIBC World Markets.

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“Brazil has been hot, and it is getting hotter. It declared an end to the

recession after only six months, all of its sovereign debt ratings are now

firmly investment grade after the latest upgrade from Moody’s, and it

enjoys capital flows into the economy.”

~ Zafar Bhatti

http://www.cantax.com/gettheguide


“The good news for Brazil started in early September with the release of the Q2 GDP data which showed the economy growing at a 1.9 per cent rate quarter over quarter. This allowed Brazil to declare an end to their recession after only six months. In fact, the Brazilian economy may actually post year-over-year growth when the final numbers are tallied for 2009. The good news did not stop there. Moody’s finally upgraded Bra-zilian sovereign debt to Baa3, the lowest investment grade rating. This removed the split ratings on Brazilian debt and pushed them solidly into the investment grade category.”

Of course no investment is a sure thing and Rich te Linde cautions people from diving head first into emerging markets with all their capital. Call-ing it the “spice of your portfolio,” te Linde says it can be a good idea to have some capital invested in emerg-ing economies, but the amount should be balanced with the constant risk of emerging economies.

“The major risks are if something were to happen to the money supply again,” he says. For the time being, however, “The growth theme is not anticipated to [slow].”

For those not comfortable looking to foreign markets, the growth of BRIC economies could make for investment opportunities within our own borders as well. The growth of the middle class and constant development in these countries means a high demand for nickel, copper and other commod-ities can benefit Canada.

“Canada, being such a commodity market, can benefit from these [for-eign] markets,” says te Linde. BiC

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For those not comfortable looking to foreign markets, the growth of

BRIC economies could make for investment opportunities within our own

borders as well. The growth of the middle class and constant development

in these countries means a high demand for nickel, copper and other com-

modities can benefit Canada.

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CALGARY OBITUARIES

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Located in the heart of Alberta’s Canadian Rockies with 360 degrees of spectacular mountain views, Timbers Clubhouse at Silvertip Golf Resort provides a full range

of dining and meeting experiences. Silvertip Golf Resort is much more than world-class golf. It’s about being in touch with nature.

Just an hour west of Calgary and 10 minutes east of Banff National Park, Silvertip Golf Resort provides its guests with spectacular mountain and valley views, stunning décor and elegant table settings.

If ever there was a place for a perfectly prepared, thick and mouth-watering 100 per cent Canadian Prime steak, Rustica Steakhouse is it. One hundred per cent Canadian Prime represents the top 0.3 per cent of all beef graded in Canada and is renowned for its outstanding flavour and ten-derness – and is cooked to a tee!

Casual dining at Stoney’s Bar & Grill is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy lunch or dinner or a hot or cold drink.

When it comes to arranging grand occasions, formal gatherings, conferences, meetings, social events and wed-dings, a choice of elegantly appointed conference rooms await you, backed by a full complement of state-of-the-art conference aids and on-site meeting planners.

There is over 11,000 square feet of function space with seven rooms that can accommodate between three and 300 people including the 3,300-sq.-ft. Pavilion. From a “nose-to-the-grindstone” meeting to a conference including limitless outdoor team-building activities, Silvertip Golf Resort has something for everyone.

Get Out of Town!

Silvertip Golf Resort clubhouse at night.



Located in the heart of Alberta’s Canadian Rockies with 360 degrees of spectacular mountain views, Timbers Clubhouse at Silvertip Golf Resort provides a full range

of dining and meeting experiences. Silvertip Golf Resort is much more than world-class golf. It’s about being in touch with nature.

Just an hour west of Calgary and 10 minutes east of Banff National Park, Silvertip Golf Resort provides its guests with spectacular mountain and valley views, stunning décor and elegant table settings.

If ever there was a place for a perfectly prepared, thick and mouth-watering 100 per cent Canadian Prime steak, Rustica Steakhouse is it. One hundred per cent Canadian Prime represents the top 0.3 per cent of all beef graded in Canada and is renowned for its outstanding flavour and ten-derness – and is cooked to a tee!

Casual dining at Stoney’s Bar & Grill is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy lunch or dinner or a hot or cold drink.

When it comes to arranging grand occasions, formal gatherings, conferences, meetings, social events and wed-dings, a choice of elegantly appointed conference rooms await you, backed by a full complement of state-of-the-art conference aids and on-site meeting planners.

There is over 11,000 square feet of function space with seven rooms that can accommodate between three and 300 people including the 3,300-sq.-ft. Pavilion. From a “nose-to-the-grindstone” meeting to a conference including limitless outdoor team-building activities, Silvertip Golf Resort has something for everyone.

Get Out of Town!

Silvertip Golf Resort clubhouse at night.

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Fairmont Hot Springs Resort offers the perfect solution for all of your corporate event needs—accommodation, meeting facilities and catering. And with 45 holes of golf, the famous mineral hot pools, outdoor adventure team-building programs, skiing and spectacular scenery right on our doorstep, there are always plenty of ways to play.

We’re just three hours from Calgary, or one hour from Cranbrook Rockies International Airport.

Call our dedicated Group Events Coordinators today: 1.866.663.4979.

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Silvertip Golf Resort...Meet on the Roof of the World

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When it comes to arranging grand occasions, formal gatherings, conferences, meetings, social events, Christmas parties and weddings, Silvertip Golf Resort brings a personal touch to your event that is unparalleled. A choice of elegantly appointed conference rooms await you, backed by a full complement of state-of-the-art conference aids and on-site meeting planners.

Silvertip offers over 11,000 sq. ft. of function space with 7 rooms that can accommodate from 3 to 300 people including our 3,300 sq. ft. Pavilion.

Business in Calgary October ad FINAL.indd 1 19/08/2009 12:54:35 PM

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It was in 1988 that Calgary proudly hosted the XV Winter Olympic Games, the first Western Canadian city to hold such a privilege. With pivotal aspects of the Games still

etched in the memory of the public: from the warm Chi-nook winds that are synonymous with Calgary winters to the endearing charm of the Olympians who became more like characters than athletes – such as the Jamaican bobsled team or Eddie the Eagle – in 1988 all eyes of the world were glued to the small city of Calgary, Alberta and it’s undeniable hospitality, energy and potential.

It’s been just over 20 years since Calgary welcomed the world, and today the Olympic legacy from 1988 proudly lives on. The most visible tribute to the Games is undoubtedly Canada Olympic Park, where more than one million visitors from around the world continue to bask in the remnants of Olympic glory every year. Operated by WinSport Canada, one of the premiere sport institutions in the world, Canada Olym-pic Park is a destination not only for the general public, who come to experience a variety of activities, from skiing, snow-boarding and bobsledding to mountain biking, zorbing and North America’s fastest zipline; but also for Canada’s high-performance athletes and Olympic hopefuls. And everyone from the athletes to the average Joe can revel in Canada’s past Olympic successes with a trip through the Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum, also on-site.

Revered as the fastest ice in the world, the Olympic Speed

Skating Oval is another great venue that exudes Olympic glory. As the first covered speed skating oval in North Amer-ica; this facility, located at the University of Calgary, is home to over 150 world records in long and short track speed skat-ing. And not to be forgotten is Calgary’s Olympic Plaza; a welcome reminder in the downtown core of the monumental event that found its way to our city. As the site for Olym-pic medal presentations in 1988, Olympic Plaza continues to serve as a locale of hospitality and camaraderie. A fountain and gathering spot in warmer months and a social skating rink in the colder weather, the Plaza, located along the pop-ular Stephen Avenue Walk, is also a prominent venue for festivals, events and other large-scale city gatherings.

Since 1988 Calgary has quietly garnered acclaim as an ac-complished host city, premier sport destination and notable hub for a collection of Canada’s national sport organizations. Alpine Canada, Bobsleigh Skeleton Canada, Luge Canada, Hockey Canada, Own the Podium and the Canadian Sport Centre Calgary are all housed within the city. Sport is promi-

Since 1988 Calgary has quietly garnered acclaim as an accomplished host city,

premier sport destination and notable hub for a collection of Canada’s national sport

organizations.

Ph: 403-263-8510 Toll Free: 1-800-661-1678

The Road to VancouverWas paved in Calgary

by Sonya KoSon

Calgary passes the Olympic torch and spirit to Vancouver this February. Photo credit: WinSport Canada

Bask in the remnants of athletic excellence at the Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo credit: WinSport Canada

www.tourismcalgary.com

nent year-round with the assistance of the professional and high profile teams that operate out of Calgary, including the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders, the Na-tional Hockey League’s Calgary Flames, the Golden Baseball League’s Calgary Vipers and the National Lacrosse League’s Calgary Roughnecks. Perhaps most well-known is the Cal-gary Stampede. Celebrated as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the Stampede proudly boasts the richest outdoor rodeo in the world. And not to be forgotten is Spruce Mead-ows, a world-class equestrian show jumping facility, also located in Calgary.

From the significant hosting experience and legacy the Olympics left on Calgary, to the passion for sport so preva-lent in the city (also noted through Calgary’s Civic Sport Policy), it comes as no surprise that collectively, a keen in-terest was developed for continuing to host major sport and cultural events. In 2005 the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority

(CSTA) was created to proactively bid for and attract inter-national sport events that offer branding and promotional opportunities, community legacies and economic benefits to the local tourism industry. The CSTA’s successful bids to house Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, and to host the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, mark significant additions to the Calgary advantage.

These announcements are of course in addition to the banner year of major sport events Calgary experienced throughout 2009. Beginning with the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier this past March; to the 2009 VITERRA Ironman 70.3 Calgary, 2009 World Water Ski Championship and 2009 CN Canadian Women’s Open, all hosted throughout the summer; to a big finish with the 2009 Grey Cup Festival in November, these top tier events rest alongside an already impressive annual sport calendar that ranges from professional to festival style celebrations and amateur to elite level championships.

As Calgary continues to develop its sport event portfolio, 1988 is never far from thought as it was the largest sport event of all that spurred the recognition of Calgary’s ex-ceptional major event hosting capabilities. Aside from the enviable close proximity to the Canadian Rockies, Banff and Lake Louise, Calgary’s unparalleled hospitality; phil-anthropic business community; young, active and educated population and collective passion of all citizens for sport excellence propel the destination to continue to strive for lucrative major event hosting opportunities.

In February of 2010, all eyes of the world may be on Van-couver for the 2010 XXI Olympic and Paralympic Games, but thoughts will surely be reminiscent of Calgary, twenty-two years prior. The road to Vancouver was paved with the successes of Calgary, then and now, and the timing has nev-er been more perfect to proudly promote where Calgary has been and where we’re going – as a world-class destination brimming with excitement, opportunity and diversity during all four seasons of the year.

Feed your need for speed on the fastest ice in the world. Photo credit: Arden Shibley

Eddie the Eagle soared into stardom from this ski jump back in ’88.Photo credit: WinSport Canada

Versatile Olympic Plaza transforms into an outdoor skating rink during winter months. Photo credit: Tourism Calgary

In February of 2010, all eyes of the world may be on Vancouver for the 2010 XXI

Olympic and Paralympic Games, but thoughts will surely be reminiscent of

Calgary, twenty-two years prior.


www.tourismcalgary.com

nent year-round with the assistance of the professional and high profile teams that operate out of Calgary, including the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders, the Na-tional Hockey League’s Calgary Flames, the Golden Baseball League’s Calgary Vipers and the National Lacrosse League’s Calgary Roughnecks. Perhaps most well-known is the Cal-gary Stampede. Celebrated as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the Stampede proudly boasts the richest outdoor rodeo in the world. And not to be forgotten is Spruce Mead-ows, a world-class equestrian show jumping facility, also located in Calgary.

From the significant hosting experience and legacy the Olympics left on Calgary, to the passion for sport so preva-lent in the city (also noted through Calgary’s Civic Sport Policy), it comes as no surprise that collectively, a keen in-terest was developed for continuing to host major sport and cultural events. In 2005 the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority

(CSTA) was created to proactively bid for and attract inter-national sport events that offer branding and promotional opportunities, community legacies and economic benefits to the local tourism industry. The CSTA’s successful bids to house Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, and to host the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, mark significant additions to the Calgary advantage.

These announcements are of course in addition to the banner year of major sport events Calgary experienced throughout 2009. Beginning with the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier this past March; to the 2009 VITERRA Ironman 70.3 Calgary, 2009 World Water Ski Championship and 2009 CN Canadian Women’s Open, all hosted throughout the summer; to a big finish with the 2009 Grey Cup Festival in November, these top tier events rest alongside an already impressive annual sport calendar that ranges from professional to festival style celebrations and amateur to elite level championships.

As Calgary continues to develop its sport event portfolio, 1988 is never far from thought as it was the largest sport event of all that spurred the recognition of Calgary’s ex-ceptional major event hosting capabilities. Aside from the enviable close proximity to the Canadian Rockies, Banff and Lake Louise, Calgary’s unparalleled hospitality; phil-anthropic business community; young, active and educated population and collective passion of all citizens for sport excellence propel the destination to continue to strive for lucrative major event hosting opportunities.

In February of 2010, all eyes of the world may be on Van-couver for the 2010 XXI Olympic and Paralympic Games, but thoughts will surely be reminiscent of Calgary, twenty-two years prior. The road to Vancouver was paved with the successes of Calgary, then and now, and the timing has nev-er been more perfect to proudly promote where Calgary has been and where we’re going – as a world-class destination brimming with excitement, opportunity and diversity during all four seasons of the year.

Feed your need for speed on the fastest ice in the world. Photo credit: Arden Shibley

Eddie the Eagle soared into stardom from this ski jump back in ’88.Photo credit: WinSport Canada

Versatile Olympic Plaza transforms into an outdoor skating rink during winter months. Photo credit: Tourism Calgary

In February of 2010, all eyes of the world may be on Vancouver for the 2010 XXI

Olympic and Paralympic Games, but thoughts will surely be reminiscent of

Calgary, twenty-two years prior.



MP3 Toy More Than Child’s Play

More Calgary toddlers have something to sing along with this holiday season if Dan Lemay, founder of SweetPea Toy Company gets his way. SweetPea is a Calgary-based company

that manufactures the SweetPea3 – an MP3 player aimed at babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Four years ago, after reading a biography of Steve Jobs, the man behind Apple and the iconic iPod, Lemay discovered that there was an untapped market for MP3 players aimed specifically at young children. Wasting little time, Lemay – an engineer by training – got to work developing a prototype player.

The prototypes evolved from Lemay’s first concept into a stylish yet rugged player that would become the production model - a 1 GB MP3 player with a built-in speaker, rubberized surfaces and large handle, three buttons and built-in parental controls.

Short on cash after spending months developing the new prototype, he picked up a job providing engineering consulting services over the summer of 2007 and began to seek investors to help him reach the production stage.

To help focus his pursuit of investment dollars, Lemay took an Entrepreneur Boot Camp offered by Calgary Technologies Inc. (CTI). “Boot Camp was a big eye-opener. I learned a lot about raising money, what angels and venture capitalists are interested in, and I honed my skills to seek for what investors are looking for.”

Soon after his Entrepreneur Boot Camp training, Lemay delivered an investor pitch with Venture Alberta that led to an investment. Lemay was able to start production of the SweetPea3 in just time for Christmas 2007. However, with no marketing and little awareness of the player, significant sales failed to materialize. Undeterred, Lemay continued to fund the production of the players with his own money and that of his investors.

A big break came for Lemay last year after the Canadian Toy Testing Council named the SweetPea3 the 2009 Energizer Battery Operated Toy of the Year. CTTC’s summary of the SweetPea3 was exceptional stating, “This is truly a wonderful toy for children to love and grow with.”

“CTTC really liked the product,” says Lemay. “It allowed me to boost production and increase sales during the holiday season of 2008.”

Gaining momentum, SweetPea Toy Company signed a deal with an Italian-educational distributor to sell the player as an English-as-a-second-language tool worldwide.

With these recent successes under his belt, Lemay is looking to continue growing his business by expanding and refining his marketing activities. To help him reach his goals, Lemay enrolled in the Go-To-Market program with CTI. The four-month program will pair him with a mentor who has extensive marketing experience and equip Lemay with the skills to develop a comprehensive marketing plan.

“At the end of the day I’m an engineer. I can do a better job marketing and know that Go-To-Market will help me focus my energy with the benefit of an experienced mentor. A program such as this can open doors.”

Stay tuned. Maybe a child growing up listening to a SweetPea3 will wind up reading a biography of Dan Lemay and develop another great idea.

The SweetPea3 is available for $64.99 at Gracie & Gruff Fine Toys, Bug & Blossom as well as online at www.sweetpeatoyco.com. For more information about CTI programs and services, visit www.calgarytechnologies.com.

By C.J. Wilkins

Maybe a child growing up listening to

a SweetPea3 will wind up reading a

biography of Dan Lemay and develop

another great idea.


2009 – was it a slower year? Does a recession neces-sarily mean that everything ground to a halt? Did we all find that much extra time in our lives to meditate,

engage in the slow food movement or just take it easy?The economic results would suggest that we definitely did

slow down. Calgary’s economy is forecast to experience a recession of 2.5 per cent in 2009, or a roll back of economic activity to a level below 2008. That suggests a slower pace.

The real estate market slowed down all across the board, with building permit values as of September 2009 down 24 per cent from 2008, housing starts in Calgary down 65 per cent as of August, and office vacancies pushing near 15 per cent. While there was some resurgence in demand in the spring, real estate in Calgary slowed down in 2009.

Labour markets slowed down as well – coming up from a record low unemployment of below three per cent in 2007, up to 6.9 per cent as of September. Unemployment has ris-en in Calgary as companies found themselves in need of cutting costs due to limited work volumes. While only 18 months ago it was an employee market, with wages being driven into the stratosphere and companies struggling to get the right people into jobs. Now it is back to what many people know as a normal job market, where persistence and networks rule the day for a successful job search.

But not everything slowed down. Calgary was the centre of the spotlight for a variety of major events and activi-ties that suggest we are still a leading centre in Canada and North America. In September, Calgary hosted the World Skills Competition (WSC) 2009, an international event to celebrate excellence in trades and technologies. WSC2009 attracted thousands of people from 50 countries worldwide. In October, Calgary Economic Development partnered with The City of Calgary to host the 2009 Annual General Meet-ing of The World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP), a forum attended by 15 major energy cities to share experiences, con-tacts and provide support for each other in tackling common industry issues. In November 2009, Calgary welcomed the Gemini Awards, Canada’s annual gala which recognizes and celebrates excellence in Canadian English-language televi-sion. Last but definitely not least, the development of the Global Business Centre has been in the spotlight throughout the duration of this year. Launching in the first quarter of 2010, this highly interactive facility will bring international opportunities to Calgary and Southern Alberta.

In May, a Conference Board of Canada report ranked Cal-gary first in overall economic prosperity compared to 22

other cities such as London, New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Toronto and Shanghai. It proved that Calgary can stand against these cities in the competition for business and people and come out successful. Low tax rates, affordable housing and a high rate of income and employment growth are cited as the major influences in Calgary’s success.

One of the impacts of a slower economy and higher un-employment is a greater demand on social serving agencies. In early 2009, the United Way of Calgary and Area com-pleted a resiliency report that examined the impact of the downturn on Calgarians and Calgary agencies. The report found that there has been a dramatic increase and more complex demand for social agency services; however, there

are limited resources to cope with the rise in demand. In other words, more Calgarians are finding themselves strug-gling in this economic climate and they aren’t getting the help they need when they need it. Many agencies, including the United Way, have refocused resources to try and deal with this growing and changing demand.

Knowing that many companies don’t wish to resort to layoffs, Calgary Economic Development, with the assistance of Alberta Employment and Immigration created a series of workforce adjustment videos, now found on www.calgar-yeconomicdevelopment.com. These videos interview top HR professionals to discuss topics such as alternatives to layoffs and dealing with the layoff survivors.

So while for some 2009 may have felt slower, it is unlikely that we can all call it a “slow year.” We were expected to do more with less and we were required to reassess our business models. Many people worked harder and saw growth in the work that they do. Many organizations ramped themselves up so the impact of a slowdown was mitigated for those that may have been affected by job loss and cutbacks. Slowness is ultimately relative. Many Calgarians’ are still thinking back to 2006 and 2007, when the economic pace was truly unsustainable and firing on all cylinders. So while 2009 may be remembered as a year where things were slower, we defi-nitely weren’t standing still.

2009 – The Slow Down? By ADAm Legge

“In 2009 we were expected to do more with less and we were required to reassess our business models.”


Corporate & Fleet TrainingMentally Active Driver Training - Fatigue Management - Skid Control - Wildlife Collision Avoidance - Pre/Post

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Calgary based Fleet Safety International has been providing the verybest in research based Driver Safety Training for over 30 years now.Through a team of dedicated professionals, FSI delivers safety solutions which manage risk, save lives and decrease costs. Find outmore by visiting:

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Corporate & Fleet TrainingMentally Active Driver Training - Fatigue Management - Skid Control - Wildlife Collision Avoidance - Pre/Post

Trip Inspections - 4x4 & ATV Programs - Trailer Towing/Backing

Calgary based Fleet Safety International has been providing the verybest in research based Driver Safety Training for over 30 years now.Through a team of dedicated professionals, FSI delivers safety solutions which manage risk, save lives and decrease costs. Find outmore by visiting:

www.fleetsafetyinternational.com

Phone: (403) 283-0077 Toll Free: 1-866-432-5076

Fleet Safety International Inc.#119 - 4999 - 43 St. S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2B 3N4

2010

Online Defensive Driving- 3 Demerit Reduction - Insurance Reductions - Most Up-to-Date Knowledge on

Driving Techniques - Interactive Program - Learn on Your Own Schedule

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Driver TrainingCar - Truck - Motorcycle Training Classroom or

Online Defensive Driving Courses - Training CoursesAvailable for New and Advanced Drivers

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Winning 10 Consumers’ Choice Awards for Business Excellence means you have a focus on customer sat-isfaction and product quality that distinguishes your

firm from your competitors. Prestige Railings and Stairs excels in all of these areas. Prestige’s continuous improvement programs mean nothing is left to chance. To that end, Prestige continues to bring more top-quality products to the market that will further enhance their position in the industry.

In this time when the construction industry is being chal-lenged to bring more value to the table, Prestige has risen to the task by receiving their Safety Certificate of Recognition, being in the final stages of achieving their ISO 9000 certification and introducing two stunning new products to the market.

The first of these products is a stainless steel and glass railing system that is the envy of the industry. Mogg Stainless Steel Architectural Systems and Components offer a premium range of stainless steel railing systems, standoffs and other architectural components that are so versatile and robust, they can be used in any space. The inherent modular structure of the system creates endless design possibilities. Mogg incorporates purpose, esthetic appeal and sophistication. An integral part of the product line is the structural glazing system, offering unobstructed views, clean lines and symmetry that other systems simply cannot match.

The second new product from Prestige is a solid-state lighting (LED) system that simply must be seen to be believed. Eyeleds, a Lighting Science brand product, is a patented, easy to install, built-in, walk-over lighting innovation based on LED technol-ogy. Eyeleds solid construction is engineered to withstand heavy use – walking or even driving over the lights is not a problem. Eyeleds will illuminate the way for up to 100,000 hours and are completely safe in humid environments such as bathrooms, saunas and indoor pool areas. Eyeleds are powered by a 12-volt, Class II short circuit protected power supply and are one of the most energy efficient light sources available with round ver-sions consuming only 0.3 watts and square versions using only 0.6 watts. They are cool to the touch and operate in conditions ranging from -35C to +65C. With a profile of only 6.5mm, Eye-leds are perfect for commercial applications, such as restaurants, retail establishments, entertainment facilities, sports facilities, theatres, casinos or hotels. They can be easily installed in carpet, hardwood, laminate, stone, porcelain and ceramic tiles, quartz flooring, rubber, cork and bamboo to name a few.

With a variety of designs, Eyeleds are ideal for directional, accent or even task lighting. This product is not only one of the most energy efficient products available, it will also enhance the look and feel of every project.

Prestige will never settle for merely winning awards for excellence, even 10 of them. They will constantly strive to do better and better. Their commitment to their customers is that of a professional in their field – they will care more about your job than you do.

award winnerfor a 8th consecutive year

2010

Prestige Railings & Stairs Ltd.Redefining Value

Hand-crafted excellence.

For innovative, custom design solutions, visit our impressive 5,000 sq. ft. showroom today, and experience the hand-crafted excellence of Prestige Railings & Stairs - an ISO certified, 18 time Consumers’ Choice Award winner, and a favourite of leading Calgary designers, contractors, builders, and discerning homeowners for over 20 years!

2777 Hopewell Place NE Calgary (403) 250-1020 • Toll Free: 1-800-382-8502

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During the rise of the big-box retailer, Bon Ton Meat Market has stayed true to its roots. Serving the Calgary area for over 88 years, Bon Ton still offers the traditional

butcher shop fare with top-quality products and friendly, knowl-edgeable service.

“Quality and service is our philosophy,” says manager Greg Keller. “That has always been our philosophy and we will never change it.”

Bon Ton opened its doors in Calgary in 1921 and moved to its current location in the Stadium Shopping Centre in 1994. A year later, Fred and Ruby Keller acquired half ownership of the bustling shop. In 1997, the Kellers became sole owners and made it a true family affair when their son Greg joined the business as manager in 2002.

“Dad owned a grocery store in Cochrane,” says Keller, who fol-lowed in his father’s footsteps to become a butcher. “But it has always been my dad’s dream to own a meat market like this.” Keller explains that Bon Ton offers a different shopping experi-ence than the big-box stores that provide product based on price.

In comparison, Bon Ton only stocks top-quality meats. Clients from all over the city come to Bon Ton for a plentiful selection of AAA Alberta Beef, fresh free-range poultry, Alberta pork, Alberta lamb and milk-fed veal, as well as gluten-free sausage, exotic meat and fresh game.

A recent renovation to the site has also allowed Bon Ton to expand their frozen foods and deli selection, which includes mouth-watering cheeses, dips and pâtés. In addition, Bon Ton has changed with the times to offer a variety of ready-to-go meals for working families on the run, such as hot and ready-to-go meat pies, barbecued chicken and beef and pork ribs.

“There is no doubt this is the way the market is going,” says Keller. “People are busy and looking for healthy alternatives. We will continue to develop high-quality, ready-to-go meals to satisfy our clients’ needs. We have recently introduced beef and chicken stew to our lineup of prepared meals as well as homemade beef and chicken chili, pot roast in gravy, turkey in gravy, chicken in gravy, barbecue beef on a bun – all fully cooked ready to serve.”

And the Bon Ton staff certainly knows good meat. Combined with the Kellers, the team has 270 years of combined meat-cutting experience. “We are very committed to having a professional, first-class, yet fun environment at Bon Ton. We want our clients to enjoy their experience at Bon Ton and we only hire people with an outgoing personality who are committed to quality, and professional, friendly service. We won’t have any grumps working for us.” Keller adds, “It’s kind of like the TV show Cheers. We know many of our clients by name. We know what they want as soon as they walk through the door.”

Although Bon Ton continues to evolve with the growing city, Keller stresses that the service and quality will never change. “One thing my grandfather and father taught me, was that honesty, manners, quality, service and smiles never go out of style no mat-ter how times may change. The same philosophy applies to Bon Ton. We will always stay true to our word of providing top-quality products and high-end service.”

It’s the Bon Ton tradition.

Bon Ton Meat MarketAll in good taste!

4816 Macleod Trail SW 403.243.6262

www.tajmahalcalgary.net

2009

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LEADING BUSINESS D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9 | 21 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9 LEADING BUSINESS

THE MAGAZINE OF THE CALGARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

One of the greatest documents ever written was the Magna Carta, the Great Charter of Freedoms, in 1215. It bound King John of England to give rights to his

subjects, whether they were free or fettered, and allowed prisoners the right to appeal against unlawful imprison-ment.

Historians agree this document was the cornerstone for both constitutional and common law in the English-speak-ing world. Although many of its clauses were renewed in the Middle Ages, by the mid-1850s, most of the original articles had been repealed.

Under Premier Klein’s leadership, the legislators ac-knowledged Albertans cherished their publicly-funded and administered health-care system. Everyone – from the gov-ernment to the doctors, nurses, technicians and therapists – wanted to deliver efficient, timely and compassionate care to those in need.

With the noblest of intentions, the Alberta government passed the Health Care Protection Act (Bill 11) in April 2004. In essence, it prohibits the operation of private hospitals, bans the practice of queue jumping and regulates the deliv-ery of surgical services in hospitals and clinics.

The good news is surgical success rates rose for urgent procedures and several Alberta hospitals are now renowned for their heart, cancer and spinal operations, complemented with excellent patient care.

Meanwhile, the waiting lists for routine surgeries – such as hip and knee replacements or cataract removals – grew longer and longer. It is a tragedy that sick Albertans and their families – those who are most harmed by the lack of quick access to medical care – must endure the delays.

Employers are burdened by the loss of their skilled em-ployees, away on disability.

As the complaints grew nosier, the government realized this was an unintended consequence of the act. It rescinded the piece on private hospitals and allowed a number to be-come centres of excellence for certain, standard surgeries. All are paid by Alberta Health Care. Wait times were dra-matically reduced and patient satisfaction rates rose.

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce believes the Health Care Protection Act has served the province well, but its best before date has expired.

The legislation triples the regulatory bodies that oversee public and private surgical facilities – Alberta Health Ser-vices (AHS), the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSA) and Alberta Health and Wellness (AH&W). Not only does this create a mountain of duplicated paperwork, but it also gave conflicting oversight to the three groups.The Chamber, ever a proponent of streamlined regulatory environments, recommends the following important articles should be saved if the current act is scrapped or replaced:

• Ensure all facilities, whether public or private (and paid by the public system), operate at the highest, most stringent conditions and all prioritize patient safety and well-be-ing.

• Make Alberta Health Services and the College of Physi-cians and Surgeons accountable and responsible for the quality of patient care and safety, thus decreasing the need for ministerial authority over surgical facilities.

• Encourage competition between surgical units to promote technological and clinical innovation – this will help at-tract private capital to purchase new diagnostic and treatment equipment (such as the prostate laser equipment at the Rockyview Hospital).

• Order the majority of pharmaceuticals in bulk (by the thousand) and buy unusual and seldom prescribed drugs in units of 10 or less to save costs and prevent waste.

• Create a level playing field for all health providers distrib-uting resources fairly and equitably.

Since the Magna Carta, governments have passed pieces of legislation. By law, Alberta spends billions every year to deliver quality health care to its citizens. Smart legislators will eliminate unnecessary paperwork and focus precious re-sources to help the sick heal. Isn’t that what we all want?

DECEMBER 2009

Time to Scrap Unnecessary Law

Heather Douglas

By HeatHer Douglas, PresiDent & Ceo

LEADING BUSINESS D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9 | 2

2009 RBC Royal Bank Small Business of the Year

ICS Group Inc. (www.icsgroup.ca)

ICS Group Inc. delivers portable climate control so-lutions to construction, oil, gas, industrial, restoration and event markets. They specialize in complete site climate control management, offering safe, efficient and reliable heat, thaw, cure, dry and cooling applications. With a team draw-ing on a collective 60+ years of construction and related experience, ICS Group is able to deliver superior service and overcome the natural challenges their customers face. Founded in 1999 as Innovative Climate Solu-tions Inc., ICS (as it is now known) has been involved in many large projects in Calgary and area, including the Canadian Tire Dis-

tribution Centre, Calgary Airport expansion and the Calgary Alberta Children’s Hospital. Their ongoing research and development work has resulted in many new applications for their industry, and have paved their way to expand into additional markets. What began as two entrepreneurs with an idea on how to better deal with ground frost and concrete curling, ICS Group is now the sin-gle largest independent provider of Portable Climate Control in Canada.

THE MAGAZINE OF THE CALGARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCEExecutiveLois Mitchell, ChairBrian Hahn, Past ChairSimon Vincent, Chair ElectGlenn McNamara,Second Vice ChairDave Sprague, Vice Chair, FinanceHeather Douglas,President & CEO

DirectorsKelly BlackshawJim DoniheeDoug FirbyEva Friesen Rob HawleyGuy Huntingford Brenda KennyLeah Lawrence Joe LougheedPaul Waddell

ManagementHeather Douglas,President & CEO

Craig Finn, CFO

Geoffrey Pradella, VP Public and Government Affairs

Kim Koss,Vice President Business Development

Ben BrunnenManager, Policy andResearch

Elizabeth Leitch,Manager, Communications

Frank Roberts, Manager, Membership Services

Susan Elliott, Manager,Events

Leading Business magazine is a co-publication of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and Business in Calgary

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce100 6th Avenue S.W, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0P5Phone: (403) 750-0400 Fax: (403) 266-3413

Please address editorial enquiries to Elizabeth Leitch, CommunicationsPhone: (403) 750-0424E-mail: [email protected] www.calgarychamber.com

2009 Board of Directors

ICS Group, winner of the 2009 RBC Royal Bank Small Business of the Year

In our ten years of business there have been a lot of rewards along the way. None quite like this. This recognition is an incredible feeling.- Ken Kachur, VP Business Development and Marketing,

ICS Group Inc.

LEADING BUSINESS D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9 | 43 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9 LEADING BUSINESS

2009 GoForth Institute EmergingEntrepreneur of the YearKon-strux Developments Inc. (www.kon-strux.com)

One-hundred per cent women owned and managed, Kon-strux is a full-service residential Design/Build renovation company offering a wide array of services, including inte-rior design and construction project management services. Kon-strux was founded in 2007 by partners Shannon Lenstra and Fran Morisset, and they oversee every aspect of the operation today. The organizational systems and controls are unique in the residential sector because they apply management processes typically found in the com-mercial construction industry. In little more than two years, the company has grown into a thriving enterprise, employing two partners, four project managers, an office manager and an administrative assis-tant. Their success has been based on a full-service take

on top-quality residential renovations with a dedication to honesty and ethics.

1/2 hor ad

“This award distinguishes Kon-strux as being a leader among Calgary’s small emerging businesses. It represents what we

strive for and push to become..….a recognized TOP Performer!”- Shannon Lenstra, Principle, Kon-strux Developments Inc.

The Kon-Strux team, winner of the 2009 GoForth Institute Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year

http://www.printworksprint.com

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5 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9 LEADING BUSINESS

New and NotedACCOUNTANTS - CERTIFIED GENERALCarmen A. Vetian, CGA

AUTOMOBILE - SERVICE/PARTS/ACCESSORIESJD’s AutoTech Services Inc.

AVIATIONBerturelli & Associates

BANKSICICI Bank Canadawww.icicibank.ca

INDIVIDUALRandy Paquette

INSURANCE AGENTS/BROKERSSharp Broker Serviceswww.sharpinsurance.ca

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERWiband Communicationswww.wiband.com

INVESTMENTSRick Rohatinskywww.waltoninternational.com

IT CONSULTANTSMetafore IT Solutionswww.metafore.ca

LAWYERSFasken Martineau Dumoulin LLPwww.fasken.com

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONInternational Right of Way Associationwww.irwa48.org

OIL&GAS SERVICES / SUPPLIESMcAlpha Inc.www.mcalpha.com

PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATIONCanadian Progress Club Calgary Downtownwww.cpccalgarydowntown.org

STUDENTSSharon JonesAlsacia RomeroJared PoplawskiSohaib WasifReihaneh Irani-FamiliRiley DeardenAndrew DavisonKristie PapsdorfCong WangJason HoRobert CartwrightWill RandallYisha PangAlexandra NuthJuliette GonzalezShamsher Kothari

TOUR & CHARTER COACH HIRETraxx Coachlineswww.traxxcoachlines.com

TRANSPORTATIONConnect Airwww.connectair.ca

Celebrate your company’s Employee Volunteering Program

Every year, Volunteer Calgary recog-nizes outstanding volunteerism in Calgary during National Volunteer

Week. The Leaders in Employee Volunteer-ing Award category honours local Calgary businesses that demonstrate leadership and innovation in workplace volunteer-ism.

Three businesses are recognized each year in either the small, medium or large business categories (determined by the number of employees). All nominees re-ceive a nomination certificate, inclusion in the nominee press conference and are included in the event program. Winning recipients receive a one-of-a-kind blown-glass sculpture, complimentary tickets to the gala celebration April 19, 2010 to accept their award, and a professionally-produced promotional video highlight-ing their volunteer program.

For more information on the awards, to view the vid-eos of past recipients or to nominate your company please visit: http://www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca/programs/leader-ship_awards.html

http://www.webstergalleries.com


David Parker • MarketingMatters

MarketingMatters

Parker’s Pick: Words are very suggestive. Advertisements on the following pages used bold type to shout ‘Lust Conquers All’ by Chevrolet and ‘Joy’ the most per-sonal, cherished and human of all emotions to describe the building of BMW. I’ll take the BMW.

This city has some very talented and creative people working in many credible agencies, yet

there are companies and organiza-tions that still feel they need to go elsewhere to get the job done. There are also many companies that know that they need professional advice but are cautious of dealing with the bigger agencies for fear of being lost among the bigger accounts, perhaps an inability to ‘speak the language’ of advertising, and the perceived cost. But there are boutique creative and PR agencies that can also offer effec-tive advice manned by professionals who specialize in paying attention to the needs of small business.

Twyla Laakso has had more than 30 years experience with some of the best Calgary advertising agencies including 10 years with McKim as a writer and ‘suit’ on the CP Hotels account and with Fieldstone but went client-side to work with Triumphant (the organ festi-val) Zip Air and Enmax.

She also took the time off to get accredited by the International Associ-ation of Business Communicators while volunteering as an executive commit-tee member of Bocuse d’or Canada.

Now she is back helping small busi-nesses with her own company called TLC – Twyla Laakso Communications – helping to launch BookMinders, a division of Integra Solutions that pro-vides accounting services to small- and intermediate-size businesses.

Working with her network of free-lancers, Laakso recently helped Lakeview Physiotherapy, Reno Pros and Integra Solutions.

••••••••••••••

I like the design of the new Golder Associates building north of Memorial Drive on Barlow Trail NE and the fact that with the appointment of Mark Brightman as Calgary-based president of the firm’s global operations this city has gained more international recog-nition. And more local moves have been made including the appointment of Lea Chambers as global marketing leader.

Mark Mooney has moved into Chambers’ former regional position and Sarah White is the new marketing manager for the Calgary office.

••••••••••••••Repeat business always says a cus-

tomer is happy with results. Calgary International Children’s Festival must be pleased with the work done by Twist Marketing as the third-largest children’s festival in North America has hired the agency for another year to help it increase ticket sales and increase the awareness of what the festival is about.

•••••••••••••• Tag Advertising has expanded its

shopping centre portfolio with its win of the North Hill Centre account, beating out several other agencies to provide public relations and creative for the community mall that features more than 100 shops and services.

It also hit the right note with Revv52, a Calgary-based performance group formerly known as Calgary Choral, in providing creative services, marketing and media/public relations support for the high-energy group’s 2009/2010 season.

••••••••••••••After an 11-year stint with the same

agency, ARC Resources has made a change and awarded its 2010 annual report and collateral work to Western Sky Creative.

Under the direction of principal Rob Edge, WSC has grown to the point where it needs more room and is about to break through the wall of its space in the Lorraine Block to expand and hire additional talented staff.

••••••••••••••Woodruff Sweitzer did a great job

for Versatile, the Winnipeg-based manufacturer of tractors, with its summer-long campaign ‘The Versa-tile Heavy Metal Tour’ – an eight-stop promotion giving farmers a unique opportunity to experience the power and durability of its tractors.

The creative it produced helped in its competition against two other agen-cies to secure “agency of record’ status with Versatile, Canada’s only manu-facturer of agricultural tractors that is expanding rapidly to become one of the market leaders in farm equipment.

Sam Hudson has joined Woodruff Sweitzer as account manager on the new account, and Shannon Ander-son has also been added to the staff to handle its Arysta LifeScience U.S. division.

••••••••••••••Congratulations to Rosemary Enslin

of Enslin Group who has been hon-oured as Mentor of the Year by the Canadian Youth Business Foundation. One of our most senior and experi-enced public relations and marketing consultants, Enslin recently moved her Calgary office into new space in the Douglasdale Business Park as well as launched a new office on Vancouver Island in Sidney, B.C.

By DAVID PARkER

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIALFOAM INSULATION

Government certified polyurethanefoam insulation reduces your heating

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• Spray foam insulation reduces your heating cost up to 50 per cent •

water-blown foam.

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dec bic 09