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T H E P E R S O N A L I T Y O F B U S I N E S S I N T H E C A P I T A L R E G I O N

2 EDMONTONIANS JANUARY 2010

Proof__2_________PROOFED BY:_______________________________________________CHANGES MADE:__________________________DATE:_________________

ell, first things first:Happy New Year!May 2010 be thebest year yet for youand yours. Cheers!

Here’s a little Tiger joke…What is the difference between TigerWoods and Santa Claus? At leastSanta stops at three Hos. (Cuedrummer)

I have been away most of the pastmonth… headed off to Toronto to dosome work with the CBC. I managedto be away from the coldest place onplanet Earth (minus Siberia). Sorry tohave missed that. Yet I must say Iwill take some stupid cold days inEdmonton compared to that freezingwind, barreling up from Lake Ontarioany day. It goes right to the bone.

One thing I cannot take is being 10days away from here after a majorsnowstorm and, on my return, myavenue is not plowed. Not only was itnot plowed, now it’s a twin rutted icesheet. Our city does so many greatthings—plowing the streets is not oneof them. What does it take? A switchin priorities, I guess. St. John’s wouldbe plowed; Halifax would be cleanedup, as would Ottawa. Sure, we arebigger in area than most Canadiancities… but come on. This is not ashot at the hardworking people thatdrive the plows, trucks and graders. Iwish I had a City councilor livingnext to me. Maybe my street wouldbe clean and, more importantly, safe.Would it not also create some jobs?

More moan and groan…Just like the stunned drivers that rolldown the QE 2, not staying rightexcept to pass, why do people notstay right on escalators? It’s about theflow and not the show.

WWwith Mark & Marty

’m no stranger to fear.After all, I’ve beenstirrup-dragged by agreen horse, experienced

a mid-life divorce, and endureda Revenue Canada audit. Yet Irecently found myself in a gut-wrenching grip of fear that leftme trembling like an autumnaspen.

What was causing thisexercise in incipientpants-wetting? Itwas happeningbecause I foundmyself agreeingwith AlbertaHealth MinisterRon Liepert.

That is a trulyterrifyingexperience, akin tostepping though aportal into analternative universe.It is safe to say thatMr. Liepert has notbeen one of thebrightest lights in theStelmachgovernment. Criticssuggest that hismanagement of thepublic health portfoliohas induced an intenseoutbreak of fear andanger across Alberta—thedreaded “Ron 1 Flu.”

Finally, the Minister made apublic statement worthy ofserious consideration. What wasthat blazing illumination? Mr.Liepert stated that Albertansshould take ownership of thecrisis in Alberta health care.

He is absolutely correct. Irecently visited my doctor at theSmyth Clinic in Leduc. On thewall of the waiting area is abulletin board inscribed withthis message: “In September2009, 140 people failed to showor failed to cancelappointments”. According tothe notice, that equals 35 hours

of doctor time wasted in onemonth in one clinic.

That is a scandalous waste ofdoctors’ time and taxpayers’money. Yet I doubt that thestory is much different in otherAlberta medical clinics.Extrapolating the provincialcost of lost doctor-hours coulddevelop some really scarynumbers.

Next, consider thenumber of people usinghospital emergencyclinics for complaintsthat are not emergenciesand should be treated atone of the many walk-in clinics.It is a waste of time andresources of emergency roomsand their highly trained andexpensive staff.

Some of those failing tocancel appointments andabusing emergency roomservices will fail to understandmy argument. After all, isn’tthis Canada, and isn’t our healthcare free to all?

Perhaps these folks alsobelieve in Santa Claus and the

Tooth Fairy. If so, I apologizefor puncturing their illusions,but health care isn’t free. It’sconsuming a huge chunk of ourprovincial budget, and theimminent stampede of grayingBoomers into the Old AgeCorral will dwarf the currentcost. It’s public money—yours,mine and our grandchildren’s—that’s paying the bills.

Those huge health care costsand the massive oncomingdemand give hope to folkschipping away at the principleof universal public health care.The abuse of our currenthealth care system only helpsthe promoters of privatehealth care.

Why does this abuseoccur? Is the perception of“free health care” causing theproblem? After all, weperceive something that’sfree to be of little value. A

coffee at Tim

Horton’s costs a tooniemore in out-of-pocket cash thanno-showing for your doctor’sappointment or visiting the“emerge” for a sore throat. Wehave no way of knowing thecost of our individual use of thehealth care system. Whyshouldn’t Albertans know thereal costs? Shouldn’t we receivebilling statements clearlyshowing the cost of our medicalcare? Issuing informativeperiodic statements was

discontinued in the 1970s.When it comes to the costs ofour personal health care,ignorance is definitely not bliss.

What messages do we sendwhen there are absolutely nomechanisms in place to deterthose who choose to actirresponsibly? Why shouldresponsible health careconsumers subsidize thoseabusing the system? Does auniversal, single-tier publichealth system grant us a right toabuse that system withoutconsequences?

Those of us supporting theCanadian public health systemmust acknowledge that it needstweaking. Our ongoing refusalto look at systemic abuses, likefailure to keep appointmentsand emergency room misuse,does not help to strengthenuniversal health care.

Mr. Liepert was correct ininferring that the root causes of

our medical systemmeltdown are lurking inour mirrors, and that’swhy I found his remarksso scary. Who couldhave expected that kindof insightful, wise adviceto consumers of publichealth care coming fromRon Liepert? What’snext? Will Ron getshuffled? Will Premier Edrun offwithMadonna?

Stay alert, myfriends—stayvery alert. √

Les Brost is the head ofSouthern Star Communications,a member of the University ofAlberta Senate, andEdmontonians Transformer, anda keen observer of the worldaround [email protected]

II

ot a n i n n o c e n tBYSTANDERN

By Les Brost

Ron Liepert

Packed Emergency Room

Root problemof our health care crisis:

EDMONTONIANS JANUARY 2010 3


Congratulations to CBC’s RadioActive host Peter Brown. His RadioOne program, The Irrelevant Showwas picked up across the nation. Hisshow features well written and wellperformed sketch comedy. Ithighlights the best comedic talentEdmonton has to offer. Having ashow run nationally on the CBC is agreat feather in our city’s cap. Youcan go to a taping of The IrrelevantShow. Call CBC Edmonton for details.

Catching up with Quikcard’sLyle Best these days is like catchingup with the feisty Dachshund—investigative and on the move. Hetouched down at Edmonton inNovember in between clocking130,000 air miles last year to sit at around table for entrepreneurs hostedby Diane Albonczy and Laurie Hahn,MP, Edmonton Centre. Diane is theMinister of State (small business andtourism) and she wanted to ask sixentrepreneurs about life as… well…an entrepreneur in Canada. “I’m gladthat she’s listening and making aneffort,” noted Lyle in retrospect. “Inever saw that happening under theLiberal government.”

As expected, the politicians wereurged to improve the tax creditsystem for small business which

Canada largely depends on forgovernment income. The groupof six felt that most tax breaksgo to major corporations. “Smallbusiness is small,” said Lyle.“Let’s make the paper burdensmaller.” He was referring to themillions in grants hunted down bylarge management firms likePricewaterhousecoopers; Quikcardhires a couple accountants just tofigure out the system. What about thesmaller business that really needs thegrant but can’t afford the luxury ofprofessional counsel, smallbusinessman of the year MichaelDonovan wanted to know. Mostagreed it’s not worth the time to takeadvantage of the government’slargesse. What about the paperworkburden reduction plan launched bythe Canada Business Network thisyear that reduced paperwork by 20percent? A good… but small start.

Kudos to CWB and itscustomers whose combined effortsraised $300,000 for children’scharities. Canadian Western Bank’sThe Greater Interest GIC®

campaign was huge success. Forevery dollar clients invested, CWBmade a donation of 1/8 percentback to the community in whichthe deposits were raised. TheEdmonton, St Albert and Leducbranches donated $105,295.58 tothe Youth Emergency ShelterSociety; the balance went to localBig Brothers Big Sisters chaptersacross Western Canada.

What a shaker the Spirit ofEdmonton put on in Calgary at theGrey Cup. The room was rocking asalways. I had the pleasure of hostingthe Spirit breakfast this year. Just afew things I witnessed—at least, Ithink I witnessed: 1) Premier EdStelmach wearing a perfectly split50/50 Esks and Stamps jersey. Godknows, the red side of his torsomust have burned…. 2) OurMinister of Culture and CommunitySpirit chugging a shot of ‘Hot toHuddle’ 2010 Edmonton Grey Cuphot sauce while wearing a big blackcowboy hat. Yee Ha… 3) A liveSkype conversation with some of

our finest fromCanada’s militarybase in Kandaharon the big screen.There were tears...4) A large lightfixture meremillimetres frommy nose as theEsks cheer teamlifted me up aftertheir routine... 5)Countless

beautifulcheerleaders.Wow… 6) Myfather, Fred,dressed ingold, jawing ayarn withBryan Hallwho wasmade anhonorarymember ofthe Spirit ofEdmonton.Welldeserved,Brian...)

Samantha King andBrett Kissell having the housedancing their asses off at11:00am…. 8) A man from the EastCoast who claimed he could pulllive lobsters from his behind.Perhaps, better that than the goldengoose…. 9) People from acrossCanada being one for a moment oftime. Make sure you are in the roomin E-town. √

Mark Scholz, owner of MESCommunications Inc. offers a varietyof services including production,creative and entertainment. For moreinformation or to suggest a storyidea, [email protected]

ne of the things I likebest about Edmontonians is thatit’s about, well, Edmontonians.Nothing makes me happier than

a “home town boy does well” headline.Bob Stauffer was born in Edmonton…

educated in Edmonton… and loves Edmonton.He and wife Kathleen have two childrenTorrie, 6, and Hudson, 3. He’s a householdname due to his amazing sports acumen.

Bob knew at a very young age that he eitherwanted to play major sports or cover majorsports. He started his broadcast career as avolunteer at CJSR. He did play-by-play ofGolden Bears’ hockey and football—broadcasting the games, sellingcommercials and producing the program.

After leaving the U of A, Bob worked invarious capacities for Global TV (thenITV), Molstar, ESPN, Fox, HockeyNight in Canada, and Sportsnet.

His big break into radio was when he and Imet—thanks to John Sexsmith and BrynGriffiths—and debuted a new program in2003 on Team 1260 called Total Hockeywhich became Total Sports. It was one ofthe most dominant shows in Canadiansports radio, and ranked high in the Edmontonratings.

Bob had a knack for getting very highprofile guests. Nobody can forget theamazing 20-minute Kevin Lowe interviewwhich stocked a week long tirade againstAnaheim general manager, now TorontoMaple Leafs GM, Brian Burke.

Another amazing talent that Bob has is anear photographic memory for statistics. Anexpert on hockey, football and CIS; Bobthrows out facts and figures that truly blowyou away—and have probably earned him afew side bets along the way.

Bob sits beside legendary Hockey Hall ofFame play-by-play broadcaster, Rod Phillipsas the colour man on Edmonton Oilersbroadcasts on CHED, and fills in for Rodwhen he’s golfing in Phoenix. He also hosts“Oilers Lunch” on Team 1260 weekdays, andcan be seen on Oilers Pay PerView broadcasts.You can read his blogs on the Oilers’ website –www.edmontonoilers.com.

I asked Bob a few questions last month:What’s the best part of your job? “The

passion. I love to learn. I love to grow. I’m myown hardest critic and constantly want toimprove. I have a huge respect for RodPhillips who not only taught me the hockeypart of broadcasting but how to handle myselfwith the team… on the road and in theleague.”

Other influences? “Bryan Hall and WesMontgomery. I grew up listening to both guyson the radio. Each is different and each taughtme something in their own unique way. OnAmerican radio and TV, it’s Brent Musber-ger, Sam Rosen, Mike Emerick, and anotherCanadian Jim Hughson.”

Worst part of the job? “The road.Although it’s glamorous and neat seeingdifferent cities, you spend a lot of time awayfrom your family. I have a great wife and twovery young children, and I hate missing thoseimportant days and times of their lives.

Road stories with Rod? “I guess thefunniest night was when Derek Van Diest(Edmonton Sun) and I were in a cab alongwith Rod and the Journal’s Jim Matheson inDetroit. Rod and Jim were badgering this poorcabbie who was confused about where wewere supposed to be going. They just kepthasseling this poor guy and giving himdirections. Ultimately, Rod and Jim weregiving him the wrong directions. It made for afun night.”

Best city to visit? “Each city has variouscharms. People in Minnesota love theirhockey. The Bell Centre in Montreal is where

hockey is religion. I like to take side tripslike a recent trip to Atlanta where Dr.Marty Marazik (Oilers doctor) and I wentto Athens Georgia to see a college football

game with 93,000 screaming fans.With the NHL today, what’s the

biggest rule that needs to bechanged? “Players have to havemore respect for each other. Stop theheadshots and hits from behind.Players need to legislate themselvesbetter and quit screwing around withthe NHLPA – that’ll get handled –but respect the guys on the ice.”

“I would love to see Winnipeg andQuebec City get a second shot… orsouthern Ontario. Put hockey inhockey markets: If it doesn’t work inthe Sunbelt, let it die.”

Your thoughts on the newarena? “I’m a hard-line kind of guy.Find a way to get it done. No morecandy ass typical municipal BS. Thiscity/province needs it and this arenaaffects the long term sustainability ofthe team.

Final words? “Thanks to you.You helped jump start my radio career.

You taught me the three most importantthings about broadcasting: Product.Product. Product. I think about it every dayand try to put everything I’ve got into myshows.”

I’m proud to have been a part of Bob’sillustrious career. I expect it will be long andrewarding. He’s been lucky enough to haveRod as a mentor… to learn from the master.

And, everybody knows Rod is close tocalling it a day… which will leave the micopen for a “new voice of the Oilers”. We stillhave half a season before that becomes anissue. However, it would be difficult foranybody to match the groundwork that Bobhas covered in our sporting community duringthe past five years. Bob is highly qualified tohandle the play-by-play… he calls a greatgame… he has that quick fire, factual mindthat is needed when the players hit the ice.

If I was a betting man…. √

Marty Forbes is the recently retired VP andgeneral manager of The Bear, EZRock andThe TEAM 1260 Sports Radio. [email protected]

OO

The apparent heirBob StaufferThe apparent heirBob Stauffer

Hassan Ayman, 4Web;Laurie Hahn; Diane Ablonczy;Grant Lovig, Company’s Coming;Sharon MacLean, Edmontonians;Lyle Best, Quikcard

Bryan Hall



FOUNDERDICK MacLEAN

JANUARY 2010Vol. XXI

Published by 399620 Alberta Ltd. on the first day of eachmonth at C-100 Park Side Tower, 8920-100th StreetEdmonton AB CA T6E 4Y8. ©All rights reserved. Nopart of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced inany form without written permission from the publisher.

Manuscripts: must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Edmontonians is not responsible forunsolicited manuscripts.

All stories Copyright ©Edmontonians

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40023292Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:Circulation DepartmentC-100 Park Side Tower, 8920-100th StreetEdmonton AB CA T6E 4Y8Email: [email protected]

SHARON MacLEANPublisher and Advertising Director

Telephone: 780.482.7000Fax: 780.488.9317

e-mail: [email protected]

INSIDENOT AN INNOCENT BYSTANDERHealthcare/Brost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

VOX POPMark Scholz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Marty Forbes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3POLL STATION2010 Olympics/Banister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

SIZZLING IN EDMONTONCrisis of meaning/Rayner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

MEDIA MINUTENewcomers contribute/Hogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

LIVELY LIFESTYLESMenuMagic/Berry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Absolute Bodo/Bodo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

FEATUREThe unretired/Lauber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Mature workers/Hirsch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

CIVIC BUZZTransformation/Norwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

VISIONARIESHuang/Gazin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11ABMI Research/Croucher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Briefs/Croucher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Social Media 101/Schwabe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

CORPORATE ETHICSDecisions?/Somji . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

BARB DETERSEditor

[email protected]

COLUMNISTSLinda Banister

John BerryLinda BodoLes Brost

Marty ForbesBruce Hogle

David NorwoodErin RaynerMark Scholz

Walter SchwabeNizar J. Somji

FEATURE WRITERSCheryl Croucher

Barb DetersGreg GazinRick Lauber

Marg. Pullishy

PHOTOGRAPHERSTerry Bourque

Cheryl CroucherRocco Macri

SPECIAL PROJECTSEdmontonians Transformers

Tom BradshawLes Brost

Steffany HanlenDr. Larry Ohlhauser

GRAPHIC PRODUCTIONRage Studios Inc.

THIS MONTH’S COVER

Rod Phillips & Bob Stauffer in the Rexall Place broadcast booth

Photo by Andy Devlin, Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club

No. 1

2121YEARS

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE 2010 OLYMPICS,AND DO YOU PLAN TO FOLLOW EVENTS?

To begin the survey, respondents were asked whether they wereaware that the Olympics are taking place in Vancouver inFebruary 2010. The vast majority (97 percent) of respondentswere aware that Vancouver is hosting the 2010 Olympic Games,while three percent were not. More than three-quarters (76percent) reported they or someone in their household plans tofollow Olympic events, while 21 percent indicated they wouldnot; three percent were unsure.

Of those with plans to follow Olympic events, more than half(57 percent) plan to watch ice hockey, one-third (34 percent) willfollow figure skating, and 20 percent each plan to watch speedskating or ski-jumping. Other frequent mentions included curling(16 percent), alpine skiing (16 percent), freestyle skiing (15percent), and the opening ceremony (12 percent).

Respondents not planning to follow any events most frequentlymentioned they were not interested or not a sports fan (42percent), while another eight percent each indicated they do notwatch any or very little TV, or that they had personal reasons fornot following.

Next, respondents were reminded that the Olympic torch willbe making a stop in Edmonton on January 13, 2010 and werethen asked whether they plan to attend any events the City ofEdmonton is hosting in celebration of the occasion. Twenty-onepercent said they planned to attend, while more than half (56percent) did not, and 23 percent were unsure.

ARE YOU PLANNING TO ATTENDTHE 2010 OLYMPICS?While the majority of respondents (91 percent) did not plan ontraveling to Vancouver to personally attend the Olympicfestivities or events, three percent reported that they or someone

in their household was planning to attend, and six percent wereunsure. Of those planning to personally attend the Olympics inVancouver, two-thirds (67 percent) plan on attending figureskating, while 33 percent are going just to enjoy the atmosphere.

HOW WILL CANADA PERFORM?

Finally, respondents were asked a series of questions regardingCanada’s performance at the upcoming Games. When asked howmany medals Canada would win, almost half (49 percent)thought 21 to 30 medals, followed by 31 to 40 medals (20percent), and 11 to 20 medals (eight percent). Five percentthought Canada would win more than 40 medals, while 18percent were unsure.

In regard to Canada’s medal count in comparison to othercountries, over one-third (36 percent) thought Canada would rankin the top 10, while almost one-third (32 percent) thought Canadawould place in the top five, 16 percent reported the top 20, andone percent the top 50 countries. Fifteen percent of respondentswhere unsure were Canada would rank. √

Monthly Poll Station Online QuestionVisit www.edmontonians.com to register your opinion

Want a question included in the Edmontonians Poll?Contact Linda at 780.451.4444 or e-mail

[email protected].

Linda Banister is a certified management consultant and the owner ofBanister Research and Consulting Inc., a full service provider ofmarket research and program evaluation services.Visit www.banister.ab.ca.

STATIONfter years of anticipation and planning, the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Gamesare fast approaching. As the athletes and spectators from around the world flock tothe Lower Mainland, we decided to ask Edmontonians about their plans to enjoy theOlympic festivities, and how they think Canada will fare against the rest of the world

during the competitions this February.

With Linda Banister

PollPoll

8%

49%

20% 18%5%

Perc

ent

Perc

ent

AA

C E L E B R A T I N G

Thought Canadawould win 11 - 20

medals at theOlympics

76%

21%

3%Responded thatsomeone in their

household plans tofollow the Olympics

Responded thatnobody in their


Responded they wereunsure if anyone in their






Thought Canadawould win more

than 40 medals atthe Olympics

Were unsure howmany medals

Canada would winat the Olympics

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was pondering what approachto take with my first column of2010 when I received the perfectprompt. An old friend who has

lived in 10 cities and five differentprovinces, e-mailed me. Ron, whocurrently lives in Victoria, asked me for10 succinct reasons why he should returnto Alberta.

Even though the question came in themiddle of a cold snap, the responses werehot and heavy: no sales tax; no health carepremiums; flat $25 fee for seniors’prescriptions; no charge for visits todoctors or hospital; full and part timework for those who want it; great cities,towns and villages to live in; wonderfulfacilities for those unable to take care ofthemselves; superb educational andrecreational facilities; religions where noanimosity prevails. Lastly, Albertans arephenomenal caring and charitable people.

But you know what, Bunkee, I havevisited all 10 provinces, plus the NWT,and I am the first to admit that any placein Canada would be wonderful to callhome. That opinion is backed by themillions of people who have movedhere—and the backlog of hundreds of

thousands of applicants who want tocome and call our country their home.

The 2006 census recorded 1.1 millionimmigrants moving to Canada between2001 and 2006, bringing 150 languagesfrom more than 200 countries. Of thatnumber, 102,000 came to Alberta, with32,000 of those choosing Edmonton.

At the end of that time frame, some 6.2million foreign-born people lived inCanada—almost one in five, the highestproportion since 1931. Foreign-bornAlbertans in 2006 numbered 527,000,placing the province third by proportionbehind Ontario and B.C. for immigrantpopulation.

The top countries of origin were thePhilippines, India, China and Pakistan,explaining why Chinese languagesreplaced German as the top mothertongues in Alberta, outside our twoofficial languages. Punjabi replacedUkrainian in third place. Canada is nowsecond only to Australia in multicul-turalism among western nations that aredestinations for immigrants.

With Canada’s next census scheduledfor May 2011—just 16 months away—you already know that those immigration

figures will drastically increase. That isevident with last summer’s HeritageFestival, which had a record number ofnations providing entertainment and foodfrom their native countries.

Why do so many people want to move toCanada? A BBC poll last year of 13,000people from 26 countries showed Canadaand Germany had the most positiveinfluence on the world. Some 57 percent ofrespondents held Canada in a positive view,and only 14 percent in a negative light, thelowest negative rating of any nation.

I don’t think anyone will disagree that thecontributions by immigrants over the yearsto this incredible nation have simply beenmagnificent.

In the case of Alberta, one has to look nofarther than Norman Kwong who has justcompleted his five-year term as ourLieutenant Governor. His dedication, charmand humour, stemming from his stellarcareer on the football field and then in thebusiness world, would not have beenpossible if His Honour’s parents had notemigrated from China to Calgary, wherethey met and married.

There are, of course, countless othershining examples of newcomers who have

made an incredible impact here: fromKrishan Joshee, an East Indian man whoepitomizes volunteerism in Alberta, torestaurateur Joe Rustom, an outstandingcitizen from our Lebanese community.They chose to come to Alberta, and we arebetter off because of it. They—and tens ofthousands of other immigrants—havehelped to make our community a betterplace to live and work.

My friend Ron admits he was a bitsurprised by my quick e-mail back to himlisting a handful of Alberta’s attributes. Itold him I maintain any of us can liveanywhere in Canada and be happy… but itis up to the individual more to than thecommunity. Moving into a new area comeswith a responsibility, specifically, to offercontributions and commitments to thecommunity willing to give us a home. Weask that of our new Canadians. It’s the veryleast we can ask of those born here. √

Bruce Hogle is the formernews director at CFRN TVand retired head of theAlberta Press Council. [email protected]

II

’ve never left a business event intears. That’s not to say I am withoutemotions. In fact, I can tell you Icried at the Support Network

breakfast while listening to family membersof people who had committed suicide. I’vecried at the Norquest fundraising breakfastas I listened to new Canadians talk abouttheir trials before coming to Canada andtheir heart warming experiences at theschool. But very rarely do business-focusedevents get me all choked up. This one did.

On November 19th, Entrepreneurs’Organization (EO) Global hosted 65events in 21 countries, covering 17 timezones around the world. EO24 hit everychapter throughout the world, includingEdmonton, and touched its 7000 membersglobally.

My invitiation got me thinking aboutmembership. Frankly, reaching the stringentcriteria of being an EO member is apersonal life goal of mine—a goal I’m along way from reaching. At least that’s howI feel when I open my eyes and hit theground running for another day on the steeplearning curve of business ownership/management/leadership. In order to qualifyto be a member of EO, its website says aprospective member must:

• Be the founder, co-founder, owner orcontrolling shareholder of a company(√)

• Hold one of the above titles for acompany that grosses more than US$1million annually (Hm… not quite)

• Join before age 50 (I’d love to. √) Plus a host of extra stipulations for

venture-backed companies. To quote aBryan Adams’ song, “2 out of 3 ain’t bad”,let’s just say, I’m still a ways off. The

speech by 1-800 Got Junk co-founderCameron Herold, The EmotionalIntricacies of Entrepreneurs, hit a nerve. Infact, it was like he hit my finger with ahammer: immediately impactful, painfullyshocking, and it left a lasting impression.

In the room, there were 90 men and onlyseven women. Of those seven women, Ilearned later, three were from sponsorcompanies.

Herold did a

great job of establishing why he was fullyqualified to lead this discussion: With 20years business experience, he is a leadingforce behind 1-800 Got Junk, taking thecompany from $2 million to $105 million insix years, with no debt or outsideshareholders.

After a quick non-bio (he hates bios),slides of his likes and dislikes, he jumpedinto his presentation. Apparently being anentrepreneur is emotionally similar to beingbipolar—which might explain a lot.

I sat enthralled as he spoke about the fourstages of what he calls the transition curve,

a sine wave type line that manyentrepreneurs’ emotions follow: up anddown, and back up and down again—anentrepreneurial emotional roller coaster. Icould relate closely to each stage. I lookedaround at the other people in the room. WasI the only one who knew exactly what thisguy was talking about?

The stage that resonates most in my mindis the Crisis of Meaning stage where, as anentrepreneur, you question everything youknow and hold dear: the vision, the passion,the potential for profits. It is at this stagewhere, without the ability to ask for andreceive support, we business owners run aserious risk of burn-out. This is the stagewhere getting out of bed is nearlyimpossible and even the most menial tasksseem monumental. The analogy Cameronused was standing on the ledge of abuilding contemplating entrepreneurialsuicide.

I know this stage. I’ve been hanging outhere for a while, months actually, as I try toregain my footing in my own business.Revenues are good. Sales are coming backand we are great at what we do. I lovebusiness ownership, emotional instabilitiesand all. But what a relief to know that I’mnot alone. I was thoroughly impressed bythe EO members and prospects in the roomwhen Cameron asked how each one dealswith that crisis stage. Every entrepreneur heasked had something to contribute—whether it was coping by working out,talking to an advisor or friend, or listeningto angry music and powering through theday. Each one knew what he meant whenhe said “crisis of meaning” and not oneperson declined to share personal copingmechanisms.

Cameron and I spent a couple minutestogether at the reception where he asked mesome easy questions. His eyes pierced mysoul. I couldn’t lie, so I told half-truthsinstead. I told him that it’s been a toughyear but it will all work out. I said: “Isn’tthe third year of business traditionally atransitional time?” I think he saw rightthrough me.

A few days after the event, I ran into afriend, also a female business owner. Wespent a few minutes at Second Cup,catching up before we each headed off toour next meeting. It turns out, she is in themidst of selling her three-year old businessfor just enough to get her out of it. I couldfeel her recent exodus from Crisis ofMeaning. I asked her how she felt aboutgetting out of something she had spentcountless hours, blood, sweat and tearsbuilding. She had perfected her speech andshe delivered it well. She said she wasn’tbitter anymore and she wouldn’t be whoshe is had she not gone through her firstbusiness. She said that she never wouldhave learned the lessons she did had shespent the same three years working forsomeone else. Strong words, from a strongwoman at a vulnerabletime. She might beright though, she couldbe on her way toanother, more efficient,exciting and profitableentrepreneurialrollercoaster. √

Erin Rayner is president of ED Marketingand Communications Inc. [email protected]

II

2005 Sizzler Jared Smith of InciteSolutions, guest speaker Cameron Herold,Marshall Sadd of Lloyd Sadd insurance,

and Erin Rayner

ediaMinutewith Bruce HogleM

Sizzling in the City

DON’TJUMP!I t ’s j u s t b u s i n e s s

With Erin Rayner

Forget snow: Top 10 reasons for living in Alberta?



o me, there’s nothing more sociable and funthan a tailgate party. The concept came fromAngela Pisani in 1960 at Yankee Stadium in theBronx, New York. She was the wife of Dr.

Anthony Pisani, the team doctor for the New York Giantsfootball team. She used her station wagon tailgate to spreadout sandwiches, vegetables, chips and drinks for herchildren, family, friends and sports writers. A reporterasked about her “car picnic” and Angelareplied that it was more of a “tailgateparty”.

It has become the fastest growingsocial event in North America at football,baseball, basketball and soccer games…at rock concerts, NASCAR, and prettywell any other event where there’s aparking lot and like-minded people.Edmonton photographer and cameraman(CFRN-TV/CTV) Al Girard attended hisfirst tailgate party in 1999 at a NASCARevent in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“It’s a real subculture, and very neat,” hesays. “You set-up your vehicle or motor-home early—sometimes a day or two in advance—andleave when everyone else has gone. It’s the ultimate party.”This is the “new American community”… often referred toby the collective title of “Tailgation.” Subculture indeed.

What evolved from a simple picnic in the 1960s hasmorphed into an actual gourmet delight. You can go assimple or as crazy as you like. Hardcore tailgaters transportequipment to the site to prepare hot dogs, burgers, sausageon a bun, or smoked brisket, rib steaks or barbecuedchicken to round out the fare. Flambéed prawns, canapésand crab have also been known to show-up on a tailgate.The sky’s the limit.

Recipe sharing is also part of the culture. Al broughthome a delightful shrimp boil recipe. You get a big souppot, add water, wine or beer, and once boiling add potatoes,corn, carrots, celery, broccoli, and finally shrimp. I alsoadded clams, mussels and scallops. Season with someCajun boil spice (available at Billingsgate Seafood Market,Calgary Trail and 73rd Avenue) and let it work its magic.

It’s traditionally served on newspapers spread out on thetailgate or on a picnic table. Armed with a cold beer, crustybun and garlic butter, you’re set to go.

Now this whole concept may seem like a free-for-all, butthere is tailgate etiquette. You don’t show up at a tailgateempty handed. You’re expected to bring a bottle of wine orcase of beer to share, plus a dish for everyone to try.

Beware of the moocherwho goes from onetailgate to another andtakes advantage of thecommunity’s goodnature and hospitality.If you don’t haveanything tocontribute, noworries: Slap a $20bill in the tip jar tohelp defray costs.You’ll be welcomedback as part of thatcommunity.

Tailgating isn’t as big a deal here in Albertaor Canada yet, primarily due to restrictive alcohol laws. Atsome State-side events, you’re not only allowed to enjoy abeverage in the parking lot, but you can take your drinksinto the stands.

Edmonton’s pro sports teams—the Oilers, Eskimos,Rush and Capitals—have all held tailgate parties. Ourevents are generally more staged than spontaneous. Lastsummer’s Indy hosted its tailgate party downtown in anunderground parking lot. Our other problem is weatherconditions… but that’s where our innovative spirit comesin: When we host the 2010 Grey Cup (in late November),the tailgate party will be inside the new field house adjacentto Common-wealth Stadium.

Try a couple of these recipes in your backyard or at yournext tailgate party and have fun. Cheers!

TAILGATE SALMON BITES4 oz. smoked salmon, finely diced1 small container of garlic cream cheese, softened

1/2 tsp. fresh dill, diced1 cucumber, sliced into 1/4” rounds1 large carrot, sliced into 1/4” rounds8 small button mushrooms, stems removedDill weed sprig for garnishMix salmon, cream cheese and dill in a mixing bowl. Putmixture into a piping bag utilizing a large star tip and pipeonto each veggie piece. Garnish with a dill sprig.Serves 6-8

JEFF GORDON’S NASCAR LASAGNA1 pound bulk Italian sausage (remove casings)1 clove garlic, minced 1 can (14.5 oz.) tomatoes2 teaspoons dried basil 1 teaspoon dried oregano1 1/2 teaspoons salt 10 to 12 lasagna noodles3 cups ricotta cheese 2 eggs1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese2 cans tomato paste (6 oz. each)2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes16 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded or thinly sliced1/4 lb prosciutto, thinly sliced (optional)

Slowly brown Italian sausage; drain off excess fat. Addgarlic, tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt and tomato paste.Simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes. (Add a little water iftoo thick.)Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions.In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese,parsley, eggs, salt and pepper.Place a layer of noodles in bottom of a 13x9x2-inch bakingdish or lasagna pan. Cover noodles with a layer ofmozzarella cheese. Spoon 1/2 of ricotta mixture overmozzarella.Spoon 1/2 meat sauce over the cheese. Repeat layers.Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in a 375°F oven.Allow lasagna to set a few minutes before serving.

Contact Chef John Berry at [email protected] Go to Edmontonians.com and visit the Lively LifestylesBlog.

TTwith Chef John Berry

Magic

MEN

U

Shrimp Boil

TAILGATETime toTime to

Visit Chef Johnʼs blogfor this monthʼs recipes:

Tailgate Salmon BitesJeff Gordonʼs Nascar Lasagna

johnberry.wordpress.com

Got questions or commentson Lindaʼs project? Go to her blog:

lindabodo.wordpress.com

lifestyles



oldly, I stuck to my guns. Amidst all the flakfrom family and friends, I refused to falter. Whatdo they know, I reasoned. I have a vision. Evenmy husband, “H” offered no support.

“They’re so old… it’ll cost you a pile of money to fix itup.”

“Why can’t you buy something new—something made inthis millennium?”

But, I had this vision…I fell in love with the little egg-shaped trailers during our

RV travels and vowed to acquire my very own Bolersomeday. My dream was to Bodo-fy the unit into a sexyleopard skin ensemble that w ould accompany me topresentations and book signings. The more I thought aboutit, the more I wanted it. I was a woman possessed.

When H headed south for a few days to golf with theguys, I knew I had a small window of opportunity. The planwas to purchase my dream trailer before his return. I knewthe only way I would become the proud new owner of aBoler would be if the darn thing was already parked in thedriveway when he got home and maybe, just maybe, I lostthe receipt.

I sourced a 1974 beige-on-beige number and wasted notime contacting the owner in a sleepy little town an houraway. It was still available and I raced out thereimmediately. As I drove up the mile-long driveway throughacres of canola, I wondered what kind of shape the Bolerwould be in. It didn’t matter, as soon as I rounded thecorner and saw her nestled in the yard-high grass, it was,well, love at first sight. Despite the stench of pee and 35years of dust and grunge, I plunked my cash on the dashbefore the vendor could say “BodoBoler”. A few days later,my acquisition was delivered. I giggled uncontrollablywhile rummaging in forgotten drawers and creaky cabinets,and began plotting the makeover. I could already see usbounding down the highway and taking the west by storm.

As I peeled back layers of material and memories, Ienvisioned the family vacations once spent in my little egg:warm summer days of sandcastles and triple-decker icecream cones between dips in the lake… evenings of toastedmarshmallows and shooting stars before falling asleep tothe hoo-hoo-hoot of the great horned owl.

Sadly, the little trailer that was, was no longer. Years ofneglect, hostile feral takeovers and the dawn of the super-sized RV seemed to have stripped away any dignity theBoler once enjoyed—never mind the fact she was fatheredfrom a septic tank blueprint. Armed with rubber gloves anda respirator, I stripped away the upholstery, carpeting andcurtains, and scrubbed every crevice and orifice with high-octane cleansers. Slowly but surely, the odour graduallydissipated; any lingering smells were chased away withlavender essential oils.

Before performing any cosmetic surgery, I took my babyinto the RV hospital for a full check up and spa treatment.She spent three weeks at the infirmary before she wasconsidered road worthy. Tires, repacked axel bearings,kitchen taps, regulators, a POW-R-SURGE battery, a fridgeand myriad seals and gaskets brought her up to snuff—along with an invoice that surpassed the original bill of sale.

Then came the process of decorating and skinning. A fewminor technicalities intervened: Cracked hoses, a rusted

hitch, broken lenses and a warped door were beginning totake its toll on my patience and my pocketbook. Oh, andthen there was the time I was working in the Boler in thegarage and she moved, just ever so slightly. But, it wasenough to prevent the door from opening and I was trapped.It would be hours before H was home and I had left my cell

on the work bench. Gently, I began rocking the trailerback and forth, finally gathering enough momentumto roll out the garage door. I watched in horror as wepicked up speed and sailed into the wrought ironfence. Fortunately, damage was minimal.

Well, she’s been prodded, poked and pelted for sixmonths now, but the BodoBoler is finally almostfinished. I still have a little tweaking to do but shewill be ready to hit the road in the New Year with the debutof my second book: The Art of Upcycle. Look for usambling by to a location near you, or at the Edmonton andCalgary Home and Garden Shows.

Oh, by the way, H finally got his head around the wholeissue so now I’m thinking maybe I can acquire a secondunit and decorate it in a zebra motif…

DID YOU KNOW?The Boler ultra-light fibreglass trailer was invented inWinnipeg in 1968 by Ray Olecko, a car salesman andinventor. An interest in fibreglass led him to patent aseptic tank design with tapered ends. The invention was a

hit, tanks to its ease of transport when compared to itsconcrete and steel cousins. While camping with hisfamily one summer, Ray came up with the idea oftweaking the tank concept into a light-weight camperthat was easy to tow and move around. The prototypereminded him of a hat… more specifically a bowler,and thus the Boler was born.√

Linda Bodo is author of Enjoy Life Outside and The Art ofUpcycle. Visit www.absolutebodo.com for upcomingappearances and project demonstrations; view other DIYprojects; or order her book. Contact:[email protected]

Go to edmontonians.com and visit the Lively Lifestyles blog.

with Linda Bodo

BBBOLERThe Bold & the

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

AFTER



re the so-called “golden years” the best years in aperson’s life? It depends who you ask. Whilesome seniors resign themselves to growingolder, many are taking a proactive, rather thanreactive, approach to life. They are exploring

new highways in a motorhome… accepting communityservice placements… returning to classrooms…volunteering their time…mentoring protégés. A growingnumber are pursuing further career opportunities, takingsimilar, or completely different, paths.

Edmontonians spoke with fourmature workers who have notaccepted getting older as adownward spiral. Instead, theyhave opted for lifestyles thatsuit their own circumstanceswhile remaining mentallystimulated, fulfilled, healthyand happy.

John Tanasichuk, PhD.,RPsych, is a full-time instructorin the management studiesprogram at Grant MacEwanUniversity’s School of Business.While his course load shifts, hisdays are often quite long. “Myday generally starts at seven inthe morning. But this particularterm, it doesn’t end until nine inthe evening, because I teach acouple of evening classes.” Inaddition, there are the many hours

devoted to preparation and marking. Although it may soundtedious, Tanasichuk wouldn’t have it any other way: Hisjob provides a way to “work with people and youngadults.”

He didn’t seem destined for an instructional position. “Iwas a management generalist… I worked in the energyservices field with primarily Edmonton-based companies,”he explains. “I started out financing and selling heavyequipment and doing strategic planning. I ended up in a

pipeline construction company and, byvirtue of the previous experience, Ibecame manager of equipment.” Whenthe pipeline industry bottomed out,Tanasichuk moved on to land amanagement job with Alberta Power(now ATCO Electric).

Alberta Power’s Edmonton officemoved to Calgary; however, “Theorganization didn’t…want to move melaterally.” So, in 1998, Tanasichukchose to return to school. “I wanted tobecome an organizationalpsychologist,” who “works withindividuals and systems … to assistindividuals to become more efficientand effective in the workplace.” Hecompleted the program five yearslater and was hired back, this timewith ATCO Frontec. He retired“around 2005.”

The offer to teach came as asurprise. “It was by happenstance. InJuly 2008, I was having coffee with

the chair of the commerce program and he said, ‘Wouldyou consider teaching a course in September?’” Tanasichukjumped at the chance. When the college found itself shortone instructor, he stepped up to take on a five-course load.

Tanasichuk, at 62, doesn’t muchcare for the term “senior”… nordoes he like the notion ofmandatory retirement. “I think it’s aconcept that has outlived its ‘best-before’ date.” For him, “It’s aboutquality of life… if you’re going todo something, then you might aswell do something you enjoy.”

Judy Krupp also is a firmbeliever in doing something youenjoy. This “60-plus” dynamospent much of her professionalcareer working for the provincialgovernment. At the PublicAffairs Bureau, she handledpurchasing “…all the specialtyitems for the government: coatsfor the Commonwealth Games,millions of lapel pins, retirementand special presentationplaques, those big wood signswhere you see ‘Welcome toAlberta’. The rule wasanything that had an Albertasignature on it, I did the buying for it.”

In 1993, Krupp accepted a buy-out package. That goldenhandshake changed her life. “I had met this man whose

Fewer folks rockin’on the porch

AABy Rick Lauber

John Tanasichuk

Judy Krupp

The Unretired



life-long ambition was to sail. Probably within two years,we were on our way to the Caribbean to purchase asailboat.”

Eventurally hiring on as a deckhand on different vessels,Krupp’s voyages lasted nine years. “I’ve been to 60countries. I’ve done 22,000 sea miles,” she smiles.

Krupp has plenty of photos and stories she can share.Among her most memorable came when she was sailingfrom the “ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao). Wegot too close to Cartagena and were heading towards thePanama Canal.” With tremendous water build-up at thenorth of South America, Krupp and the captain encountereda “horrendous storm.” She was on watch duty that nightwhen water engulfed the boat and it dived under the waves.By some miracle, “the whole boat bounced back up and Iwas wrapped around the back stay.”

In 2000, Krupp landed in Turkey. “I decided I’d doneenough sailing,” but she needed work. She walked onto aluxury yacht and was hired immediately as a stewardess.She plied the Turkish coast for two years.

Since returning to Edmonton, the globetrotter hasn’tslowed down. She bought a motorcycle in 2004, survived aserious crash, and hopped right back on the bike. Call herfearless or a little stubborn, but Krupp still loves to ride.“I’ve tackled too many things in my life to let something go

when I didn’t want to let it go. There are threepeople in life – the doers, the ‘doners’ and thedreamers.”

Now in her so-called retirement years, Krupp doesnot sit idly at home. She works part-time at theEdmonton Petroleum Club, serves as a personalconcierge, and volunteers. Not surprisingly, she says,

“I would go bonkers if I had to stay home.”Kenna McKinnon, however, does stay home. Not thatyou would refer to her as the “retiring type”. Now a

“proud” 65, she has run her transcription service, KennaMacKinnon & Associates, from her home for the past 11

years. “I provide business support services… mainlytranscription of digital files.”

This wasn’t planned as a career path. “I have a BA withdistinction from the U of A… graduated in 1975… majoredin anthropology and my minors were psychology andsociology.” Eventually, “I was a transcriptionist for a dentaloral pathologist. I worked for him for eight years.”

When he retired, McKinnon “didn’t want to start all overagain.” She took what she knew best and opened a home-based business. Her son Steve Wild, who owns High TechAssist, keeps her computer running “tickety-boo”. Sheemploys a collective of “other transcriptionists who workfrom home.” No coincidence that this group is also“mature”—trusted friends and colleagues who are veryexperienced, a desired trait.

McKinnon welcomes the arrival of both OAS and CPP tosupplement her income, although she lives an unassuminglifestyle. Her apartment, which she jokingly call her “hobbithole”, is small, and she does not own a car. Perhaps herbiggest expense is ongoing classes, which she enjoys takingfor both personal and professional development. Includedwere several marketing courses through NAIT. “I hadthought, at one time, I might go into marketing…butdecided that would not be my forté,” she explains. Beingfascinated by languages, McKinnon is tackling Japanesethis winter, and would like to “take courses inGreek and Latin… and photography.”

McKinnon’s passion, however, iswriting. She has four novels completedand is just itching to find a publisher. Shelives by the motto that personal successand happiness are all about doing what youlove. “Do what you want to do; have fun.”

Frank Flaman, now a spry 75 years old, isthe owner of Frank Flaman Sales Ltd. Theking of fitness equipment, he deals inagricultural equipment and trailer rentals,without direct competition. “We are doingsomething nobody else is doing. Say a farmerneeds a piece of equipment one day a year.We have that available. We have 60 (FlamanRentals) agents in Alberta and 20 or so inSaskatchewan. We have about 10 differentitems and so a farmer doesn’t have to go outand buy it. He can rent it for one day.”

A former Saskatchewan farmer himself, Flaman found hisniche as an entrepreneur and now has devoted 50 years tobusiness. His business is not even hard work. “Every day isa holiday.”

Flaman hangs around his shop for close to 40 hours perweek. Not only does he oversee operations, he often can befound literally hanging upside down on the demonstrationinversion table.

Surviving in business for half a century isn’t always easy,but Flaman is an intelligent and forward-thinkingbusinessman. He’s also recognized for being a generousphilanthropist. “Most of my income, I give away now.” Hehas created the Frank Flaman Foundation which activelysupports a large number of causes.

“Well really, I was always a giver. Now, because you havea foundation it doesn’t change that much. I still give most ofmy profits away to places like abused women’s shelters; wefeed 100 hungry kids in Edmonton every year. But mostlyin the Third World we provide water wells in Nicaragua,schools in Peru, schools for girls and the list goes on and on.Through Operation Eyesight there, now over 5,000 peoplehave their eyesight because of my contributions over theyears.”

By his own admission, Flaman is a bit of an eccentricwho constantly dreams up new ideas. He is currentlylooking at bringing in a line of exercise bikes which, whenpedaled, generate electricity. “Say a kid wants to watch TV:‘Hey, Joe. If you want to watch TV, get on your bike…You’ve got to make electricity to make the TV work.’”

Overall, Flaman remains modest. “My woman and I livein a two-bedroom condo instead of a multi million dollar

house. And most of the time Idrive a Smart car.”

Continuing to work ratherthan retiring is a popularoption. The 2006 nationalcensus reports that aging ofCanada’s labour forceintensified, with 15.3 percentof workers aged 55 and overin 2006, compared to 11.7percent in 2001. It’s safe toassume that the next censusin 2011 will show evengreater numbers of matureworkers. No doubt manyof the census takers willbe among the “goldenagers”—knocking onyour door for somethingmeaningful andproductive to do. √

Kenna McKinnon

Frank FlamanFrank Flaman

To me, old age is always15 years older than I am.‘‘

‘‘

Bernard M. Baruch (1870 - 1965)



s 2010 begins, Edmontonseems to have come throughthe economic downturn inrelatively good shape. The real

estate market is in recovery mode, andalthough the supply of condominiumsremains abundant, indications are that up toa dozen new highrise developments couldget underway this year, including at leastone at 82nd Street and Jasper Avenue, andpossibly The Pearl, a 35-storey condo onJasper at 119th Street. More about newcondos in an upcoming column.

The year ahead has the potential to heralda significant transformation of Edmonton,especially its downtown core. First, there’sno doubt that since Daryl Katz and hisgroup have engaged Los Angeles-based AEG Development andAEG Facilities to advise on allaspects of the downtownarena/casino/hotel/everythingelse complex, he is serious aboutmoving ahead with the giantproject. As so many others in themedia have already pointed out,there are many aspects to beworked out, especially if publicmoney is involved in any way. Atthe same time, however, some arehinting that the project could beprivately financed, meaning itcould go ahead more quickly. Itotally support the complex—withor without public funding—believing that such a comprehensivedevelopment would not only redefine thecore but also instill a sense of pride andconfidence to Edmontonians.

One major element of downtowntransformation is immenent. Thestunning Art Gallery of Alberta is set toopen to the public at the end of themonth. Combining spectaculararchitecture with functional practicality, itpromises to be much more than ashowcase for art. With its public spaces,flexible display galleries, dining/eatingestablishments and more amenities, the

AGA perfectly augments what is already acomprehensive arts district that includes themain branch of the Edmonton PublicLibrary (a building in desperate need of amakeover), the Citadel Theatre complex,and the Winspear Centre for Music. Thesebuildings front onto an increasingly busy SirWinston Churchill Square. And kudos toCity Council for voting to close 102AAvenue between Churchill Square and CityHall Plaza, forming a continuous publicspace.

Another potential transformation, at leastin terms of restoration and renewal, is thesale of the Kelly-Ramsey Building to adeveloper interested in doing just that. Anumber of prospective

owners have submitted bids for the historicproperty, apparently including a well-knowndeveloper who has shown both sense andsensitivity in redeveloping other propertiesboth downtown and in Old Strathcona. Asso many have said, the Kelly-RamseyBuilding is at the historical heart ofEdmonton, and cannot belost. The potential usesfor such a building(actually, two adjoiningbuildings) are vast,especially considering itslocation on RiceHoward Way. With itsproximity to the arts

district (as well as tothe potential arenadistrict), the Kelly-RamseyBuilding is well-positioned to serve amultitude of purposes.

Architect Gene Dub’s re-creation (asopposed to restoration) of the historicAlberta Hotel on Jasper Avenue acrossfrom the Shaw Conference Centre isalso a welcome addition to thedowntown. The façade, and as manyoriginal features of the originalbuilding as possible, will beincorporated in an otherwise state-of-the-art boutique hotel. Excavation forthe underground parkade began inNovember. The original hotel was

constructed in 1903 and was said to be themost luxurious in Edmonton at the time;Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier stayedthere when Alberta was incorporated as aprovince in 1905. The Alberta Hotel wasdismantled in 1984 to make way for CanadaPlace.

As many readers know, Dub, a formercity alderman, has been responsible for anumber of downtown projects: Edmonton’sdistinctive City Hall; the redevelopment ofthe historic McLeod Building on 100thStreet into condominiums; and the award-winning Seventh Street Lofts, a projectwhich combined a new building with twowarehouses, one a 1929 John Deere

warehouse and the other a 1950’s yellow-brick warehouse to create a harmonious,distinctive 100+ unit apartment building.

Another project slated for 2010 is theredevelopment of the block between 108thand 109th Streets on Jasper Avenue: the siteof the Mayfair Hotel, as well as the

southeast corner of Jasperand 109th where therecently demolishedformer Howard andMcBride FuneralChapel which sawseveral subsequentincarnations asnightclubs stood. Theproject consists oftwo 15-storeyapartment buildings,

rental units rather than condominiums.Developer ProCura Real Estate saw theneed for reasonably-priced rental units for avariety of potential tenants, includingstudents, in an area with LRT connectionsto the University of Alberta and in closeproximity to both Norquest College andMacEwan University. If all goes asplanned, the completed development willinclude one building with 237 units, theother with 471, and ground-floorcommercial space.

Downtown Edmonton actually has been awork in progress for some time, as has beenpointed out more than once in this column.Some of the developments I’ve discussedhere, particularly the arena district, have thepotential to transform the city’s core intosomething significantly different thananything that has gone before. The mostpromising aspect is that people who careabout Edmonton, and havethe vision of what it mightbecome, are actually actingon that vision. 2010 could bethe year that transformationbegins to take shape. √

David Norwood is a freelance writer/editor. Contact [email protected]

ivic Buzzwith David NorwoodC

AA2 0 1 0 h e r a l d s T r a n s f o r m a t i o n

ith unemployment having more thandoubled in Alberta, the problems of labourshortages have temporarily lost a bit ofurgency. But it’s a mistake to think that it’s

gone for good. With economic activity expected to pick upin 2010 and gain momentum over the next few years,employers will once again be competing to attract andretain talent.

And when Alberta companies start hiring once again,they’d be wise to consider adding more mature workers tothe mix. Rather than heading for retirement on the couch—something that actually appeals to hardly anyone—manyworkers over 60 are still willing and able to contribute tothe workplace. Even workers in their 70s and beyond haveenergy, skills and experience to share.

We’ve all known about the demographic tsunami that has

been approaching the economic shoreline for many years.Now, with the Baby Boomers approaching retirement, thetidal wave is hitting the beach. On the surface, this presentsa host of problems for employers, particularly in sectors likeconstruction and trucking. The prospect of losing a bigchunk of their workers over the next few years could leavemany sectors in a lurch. Many employers will actually haveno choice but to hire mature workers. The best-positionedones will create flexible work arrangements to tap into thepool of mature workers.

But while mature workers will be needed in the comingdecade, they should also be warned: It may not be in the

same positions of authority to which they’ve becomeaccustomed. It probably won’t be the big corner office, thestaff of assistants, and the high end of the salary scale thatthey’ve enjoyed in the past. Remaining connected to theworkforce may not be work as usual.

Nor should it. Younger workers coming up through theranks in the economy—the Gen-Xers—could startresenting the mature Baby-Boomers if they don’t eventuallystep aside and allow the Gen-Xers to assume positions ofmore responsibility and leadership.

The reality for mature workers is that the economy willneed them, but in more adaptable positions. This is wherementorship is important. Mentorship isn’t about simplysticking around doing the same job you’ve done for 20years. True mentorship in the workplace is providingsupport and advice to those who are now taking the wheel.

That should actually come as good news for matureworkers. As mentors, they need not be saddled with thesame responsibility and long hours of senior managementor executive positions. That will be handed off to the Gen-Xers, who can also take on the stress, the conflict, and the60-hour work-week that often accompany positions of

greater leadership. But, for the same reason, mentorshipmay not come with the same salary—a reality that matureworkers may need to accept and take into account whenplanning their “post-career careers.”

Other than remaining in the same sector or the samecompany, mature workers could also explore opportunitiesin other sectors where there will be particularly strongdemand. For example, the not-for-profit sector will berequiring experience in corporate governance, fund raisingand financial management. As well, many companies couldtap into the mature workforce to increase their communityinvolvement and corporate volunteerism.

But, in order to make that a possible and attractivealternative for mature workers, changes are needed inpensions. For example, some of the rules around CanadaPension Plan still discourage mature workers fromremaining partially attached to the work force. Currently,pensions in Canada are at a crossroads, particularly as someof the provinces are considering introducing brand newplans. Given the opportunity to work part time—or to workat jobs that are less demanding and lower paying—manyseniors would jump at the chance. But the rules of the CPPor other pension plans should not act as deterrents.

In the coming years, the private sector will be forced toengage mature workers. Yet, the impending demographiccrunch requires creativity in the tasks and positions offeredto them. Mentoring programs, flexible work arrangements,and more community-oriented positions are greatopportunities for mature workers to remain active within thecompany, but without the burden of full-time work.

Even though the labour market is currently a bit slack,that won’t last forever. The really smart companies willbe getting ahead of the curve by tapping into the pool ofmature workers now. √

Pro Cura rendering

Of like minds: Edmonton’s new CapitalPower Corporation and the Art Gallery ofAlberta held a joint media conference in theLedcor Theatre of the fabulous gallery inDecember. On that day, Edmontonians poston its social media networks--Twitter,Facebook and LinkedIn—was that CapitalPower President Brian Vaasjo announcedfunding for 10 major exhibitions over thenext three years. Franciso Goya’s Disastersof War & Los Caprichos opens the exhibitseries January 31 to May 30. Lucky for artlovers—a home-grown head office steppedup with a charitable budget.

WW

Smart companies cut a deal to keep the talent

Todd Hirsch

MATUREWORKERS



am C. Huang’s business took him fromEdmonton across the globe. While in Chinaand Taiwan to market his own software, herealized that although he used a smart

mobile device, he didn’t have access to someinformation back home.

“We’re in the world of communication and Idon’t have it.” It took the frustration of not havingall his information at his fingertips to have asudden realization. “So, why don’t we just buildsomething?”

What Huang needed was for all of his data to besynchronized, regardless of where he was and whatdevice he was using. “When we step away from ourdesktops, we only have a snapshot of our world.” Apicture is still—static in nature, not dynamic—andHuang treasures the sense of being connected.

“We think we have total access… we have ourcontacts and our calendar. We don’t get the wholething. We don’t have everything in our palm (of ourhand).”

As a businessman, Huang saw having informationin multiple places at different points in time as a falsesense of connectivity. “It’s unproductive. It doesn’thave to be that way.”

So, for a couple of years, Huang carried a Windowsmobile device using ActiveSync, an applicationdeveloped by Microsoft. His attitude at that time:Who needs a Blackberry? “But then I switched overand sold myself to the dark side,” he says jokingly.

Even then, what he thought he really needed wasonly affordable to larger organizations. “Enterprisepeople have access to all kinds of technology and it’sexpensive.” He adds that Research in Motion’s BES

(Blackberry Enterprise Service) is used by banks,FBI and government requiring staff, server hardwareand software, and needs to be maintained. “BES alsocharges you through the roof. It doesn’t make sensefor small companies; it costs hundreds of thousandsof dollars—very expensive.”

And, while Huang says RIM offers a consumerversion called Blackberry Internet Service, he feelsit’s not adequate for today’s small business needs.

Huang knew something needed to be done, so hecreated Syncamatic, selecting the Blackberry as hismobile platform of choice. “No sense doing anotherMobileMe,” he says referring to Apple’s answer tosynchronizing data. “Why would you even try?

“Syncamatic will use a totally wireless solutionthat maintains synchronization of the data throughthe Amazon cloud computing server.”

By Greg Gazin

SS

Continued on page 14

for small businessSyncondemand–First to market

COMPANYPure Inbox

OWNERSam C. Huang

LOCATIONEdmonton Research Park

PRODUCTSyncamatic with USPautomatically synchronizes,protects and transfers data.

Free or premium versionsavailable on-line:www.syncamatic.com

The PureInbox team:Pandora Lam, Ryan Akerboom,Sam Huang,Brian Henker, Hoyin Li and John Mah

n her famous song, Joni Mitchell sang, “Youdon’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.”

When it comes to Alberta’s biodiversity, let’shope we never get to that point.

That’s why the scientists behind the AlbertaBiodiversity Monitoring Institute have developed areporting system that tells us just where we sit on thatspectrum between paradise and a parking lot.

They run a program that monitors the health ofAlberta’s wildlife and ecosystems across theprovince.

As director of information for the ABMI, it is JimHerbers’ job to communicate to the public,government, industry and the scientific communityjust where we are at in terms of protecting ordestroying our natural world.

“In a nutshell, you manage what you measure,” hesays, pointing to the scale of many of the new

development policies in Alberta. There’s the Land UseFramework, the Energy Strategy, and there’s heightened

interest in the cumulative effects of human activity on thelandscape.

Herbers explains, “We traditionally have very little interms of knowledge that operates at that scale. So beingable to report on Alberta’s regions, parklands, prairies,municipalities even, certainly the new Land UseFramework regions, our program fills a gap in thatinformation.”

Getting that information is truly a magnificent feat.The ABMI scientists have mapped the province into a

systematic grid of data collection points. In total there are1656 points, each placed 20 kilometres apart. When theprogram is running at full capacity, each point will bevisited on a five-year rotation.

About 30 percent of the sites are on private land, so theABMI consults with ranchers and landowners to obtainpermission to monitor biodiversity on their properties. Thegrid also covers the national parks, military lands, crownland, and municipalities like Edmonton and Calgary.

“When we go to a site,” says Herbers, “we collectinformation on the understorey vegetation, the overstoreyvegetation, trees, the bird community, moss community,lichen community, fungi and invertebrates in the soil.We’ve also got an aquatic component that is coupled withthat information about the state of Alberta’s aquaticresources.”

The sites are surveyed the same way on each five-yearvisit. “We can look at how they’ve change through time andrelate that to how Alberta is managing the resources outthere on the land base.”

Conducting the surveys is a demanding job for the youngand the fit—those rare souls who can handle the ruggedoutdoors and all it offers in terms of weather and bugs.

A crew of two people will survey a site in the spring,collecting data on birds, trees, habitat and deadwood. Amonth later the crew returns to survey the plants. They alsotake note of bugs in the soil, moss, lichens and otherfeatures.

In the summer, a different crew visits a wetland near thegrid point. “They will put a boat in the water and float out

By Cheryl Croucher

Monitoring Alberta’s biodiversity…

II

ut with the old… in with thenew. That’s what the NewYear has rung in forAlberta’s research andinnovation community.

Effective January 1, 2010, the newAlberta Research and Innovation Actreplaces 10 provincial research andtechnology agencies with five. And they allhang their hats on the “Alberta Innovates”moniker.

The Alberta Heritage Foundation forMedical Research becomes AlbertaInnovates-Health Solutions.

Alberta Ingenuity, iCORE and the 89-year old Alberta Research Council arenow combined under one roof as AlbertaInnovates-Technology Futures.

The Alberta Energy Research Institutebecomes Alberta Innovates-EnergySolutions.

And ASRA, the old Alberta Scienceand Research Authority will be called theAlberta Research and InnovationAuthority or ARIA.

The provincial government calls theexercise a re-alignment, and writes in itsnews release, “A stronger and more alignedprovincial research and innovation systemwill enable the system to focus on Alberta’sstrategic priorities, and be proactive indelivering on those priorities.”

For Advanced Education andTechnology Minister Doug Horner, it isthe culmination of a process he began acouple of years ago to streamline theinnovation framework in the province byintroducing four priorities for research—health, biosciences, energy andenvironment—with a strong emphasis oncommercialization.

Last spring, when Horner introduced Bill

27 into the Legislature, he said the changewas about alignment and focus. Referringto the now defunct Life Sciences ResearchInstitute, he offered this explanation forthe restructuring. “When you look at thenumber of organizations that we havewithin the province, they’ve been created insome cases out of a desire to react to aspecific sector, or a specific proposal. But,to give you an example, life sciences… theLife Sciences Institute crosses a number ofdifferent territories: nanotechnology,biosciences. It crosses into the health field.So why wouldn’t you group that underone?”

There have been some changes at thetop. John McDougall, president and CEOof the Alberta Research Council for manyyears, has retired. Dr. Peter Hackett,president and CEO of Alberta Ingenuity,stepped down in October. Officially he’s onsecondment to the University of Albertawhere he is now an executive professorwith the School of Business, a specialadvisor to the vice-president of research,and a Fellow with the National Institute forNanotechnology. Never a dull moment forPeter.

The Minister has also announced somenew appointments as chairs of the boardsof directors for the new agencies.

Art Froehlich will chair the board of AI-Bio Solutions. Eric Newell takes on AI-Energy and Environment Solutions.Robert A. Seidel, QC, will guide AI-Health Solutions. And Ron Triffo steps upto the plate for AI-Technology Futures.

As for ARIA, Dr. Marvin Fritzler fromthe University of Calgary is about theonly one to maintain his grip on the helm.

There are still many questions and details

to be ironed out as the day-to-day changesbecome a reality for the people who’veserved these organizations and Alberta’sscience and technology community for somany years.

More in-depth information is availableon the government website at:www.aet.alberta.ca/research/system/mandates/framework.aspx √

~ Cheryl Croucher

BRIEFS

OOEC Edmonton now has anew CEO. It has luredMicralyne boss ChrisLumb into its operation.

Lumb has a proven recordin growing a startup company into athriving corporation.

TEC Edmonton is a joint venturebetween Edmonton EconomicDevelopment Corporation and theUniversity of Alberta to commercializehigh tech discoveries. √

~ Cheryl Croucher

TT

from moss to mooseJim Herbers



Hired!Hired!

Chris Lumb

Doug Horner

InnovativeINNOVATIONFramework

there with their hip waders. They take samples of the waterto look at the habitat quality and bugs that are living in thewater as well as the plants that are living on the shores ofthose wetland systems. And then finally some poor,unfortunate soul has to go out in January, February orMarch, and do a survey for winter tracks. So they arelooking for moose, deer, coyotes, lynx, fox… those kind ofmammals that are active in the winter are also surveyed.”

Samples of plants and organisms are sent to the RoyalAlberta Museum for identification.

This has led to some exciting discoveries. Take the lowlymite, for example. Smaller than the head of a pin, thesespider-like organisms play an important role in maintainingsoil vitality. “We’re very proud to report that there’s wellover a hundred new species to Canada that we’ve identifiedand well over thirty new species to the world.”

Once all is said and done, the field biologists arecollecting data on two to three thousand species. While thismay seem an extraordinary number, it is just a smidgeon ofwhat’s out there.

“There are more than 80,000 species that we know of,and that number is probably twice as high living inAlberta,” Herbers points out.

Rather than simply focusing on rare and endangeredspecies, the ABMI scientists chose to report on a variety ofspecies that would give an indication of the overall health ofAlberta’s biodiversity.

But what happens with this massive collection of data?“It comes here to the University of Alberta. All of the

data goes through quality control with our partners at theAlberta Research Council as well as at the Royal AlbertaMuseum. They send that information here to the U of Awhere we store and manage that data.”

The public, industry and government can access the rawdata from the ABMI website for use in their ownmonitoring or modeling programs.

As well, through detailed analysis, the ABMI scientistsdistill all the information down to one number that indicatesthe state of biodiversity in a region.

According to Herbers, “We use a scale of zero to 100where 100 represents a pristine habitat, a wilderness areawhere there’s very little human footprint, and zero

represents a parking lot, [or] an area where there is a gravelpit, for example, with no biodiversity living there.”

Last February, the ABMI issued a report for the lowerAthabasca Planning region. This covers a vast area from theNorthwest Territories down to Cold Lake and Lac LaBiche. “The current human footprint in that area is sevenpercent. That’s roads, energy activity, forestry activity,urban activity, and in the south, agriculture. And our dataare showing that the intactness for that entire region is 94percent intact today.”

Herbers goes on to predict that as more oil sands minesand energy projects come on line, biodiversity in the regionwill decline.

This first report from the ABMI focused on birds andvascular plants in northeastern Alberta. Despite therelatively high level of intactness, the survey indicates thatsome non-native species are moving into the boreal region.

These include, says Herbers, “the American crow, thecommon dandelion, some of the European or non-nativeclovers seem to be expanding and aggressively starting tocolonize the northeastern part of the province. On the flipside of that, when we are talking about species declining orbecoming much rarer, in the species that we looked at,there’s no strong evidence that many of the species aredeclining today.”

But that can change over time, a state which futuresurveys will reveal.

“This whole program really comes down to sustainabilityand informed understanding about what the outcome of ouractivities are on Alberta’s landscape. Our industry partners,the companies that are operating on Alberta’s landscape, areinterested in making sure they are operating in a way that issustainable.”

It’s a decade now since a handful of concerned biologistsand forest ecologists sat down over a few beers to discussthe need to systematically document change in Alberta’sbiodiversity. It took five years to develop the scientificprotocols to conduct the surveys. Today, the ABMI initiativehas evolved into a world class monitoring program. Andindustry benefits from the consistent, harmonized approachto the collection of data which they can then use in theirown research initiatives.

The ABMI offers a program that is designed to monitorthe state of biodiversity across Alberta in perpetuity. Butkeeping the money in place to carry out the program is anongoing endeavour. To run the program at full capacitywould cost $12 million a year but that goal is still somedistance away.

Funding partners include forest and energy companies,the federal and provincial governments, as well as theUniversity of Alberta, Alberta Research Council, RoyalAlberta Museum, and the Alberta ConservationAssociation.

With the economic downtown, the provincial governmentput the squeeze on the ABMI early in 2009. “We wereasked to scale back our operations to the tune of $2.1million. And we made some pretty tough decisions aboutbeing able to provide relevant information at appropriatescales,” says Herbers. As a result, the ABMI hasconcentrated all of its efforts in two of the seven provincialregions, the Lower Athabasca Planning and the SouthSaskatchewan Planning Region. “It takes a big commitmentto get out there to measure each one of these sites.”

The ABMI is still working its way through its firstrotation in order to establish a baseline of those 1656 pointson the grid. Herbers reports, “We’ve visited about 350 sitesand the majority of them are north of Edmonton to FortMcMurray and then across to Grande Prairie. We’ve startedto do quite a bit of work around Calgary right down to theU.S. border, and then east-west to the Saskatchewan andBC borders.”

You can see for yourself what has been documented onthe Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute website atwww.abmi.ca √

To hear Cheryl’s interview with JimHerbers, visitwww.innovationanthology.com

Cheryl Croucher hosts InnovationAnthology which is broadcast onCKUA Radio at 7:58 am and 4:58 pmTuesdays and Thursdays. Or download the podcasts atwww.innovationanthologyy.com

hronic Wasting Disease is aprion folding disease thatattacks deer. It is similar tobovine spongiform

encephalopathy that riddles the brains ofcattle and kills them.

Dr. Vic Adamowicz is a ruraleconomist at the University of Alberta.With funding from the Alberta PrionResearch Institute, he is studying thesocial and economic impacts of CWD onhunting, agriculture and aboriginalpeople.

Resident hunting, for example, is worth$50 million a year to the Albertaeconomy.

According to Dr. Adamowicz,“…avoiding the spread of chronicwasting disease to the extent that it mayoccur if we can’t slow it down, we’relooking about a half a million dollars a

year in losses to hunters in this worsecase scenario. That doesn’t sound like alot, but that half million dollars a yearwould occur every year if we can’t stopCWD. If we could invest in a programthat in two years reduces CWD at a costless than a $2 to $4 million, it’s worth itjust from the hunting perspective.”

Dr. Adamowicz is quick to point outthat there is no documented case ofhumans catching Chronic WastingDisease from infected deer. His researchshows that hunters are split on theirperception of health risks, and that aboutone third of hunters feel comfortableeating deer meat before it is tested forCWD. √

~ Cheryl CroucherThis interview was sponsored by theCanadian Institutes of Health Researchthrough its Health Journalism Award.

CC



January 6Alberta Geomatics Group SeminarThe Knowledge InterfaceRoyal Glenora Club11:15 to 1 pmRegistration www.infoport.ca

January 14The WinSETT Centre Launch andThe First Annual WESEST LecturePresenter Hon. Anne McLellan Telus Centre, UofA Campus5 to 8 pmRSVP to www.wisest.ualberta.ca

January 17AHFMR hosts Science in the CinemaMovie “Philadelphia” Post film discussion Dr. Chris Power on HIV and AIDS researchGarneau Theatre, 8712 – 109 Street4 to 6:30 pm

January 24BioPartnering North AmericaJanuary 24 to 26Westin Bayshore in Vancouverwww.bioalberta.com

FEBRUARYFebruary 4 to 7Digital AlbertaDigital Tableau: The Art and Craftof Digital MediaThe Banff CentreRegistration www.digitalalberta.com

February 25TEC VenturePrize Business PlanCompetitionDeadline for Fast Growth CompetitionCompete for over $150,000 in prizeswww.tecedmonton.com

On theHORIZONJANUARY

HUNTING

Dr. Vic Adamowicz

CWD Impacts

REVENUE



ocial web environments such asFacebook, Twitter and LinkedInhave enabled business leaders toleverage the “social” part of

social media and broaden their reach andinfluence. Certainly, there are stilllaggard executives out there continuingto fight the integration of these tools,blowing them off as time-wastingwebsites that attract teenagers anddistract employees. With this attitude,it’s difficult for decision-makers toquantify the amount of opportunitypassing them by in their digitalabsence… but it is happening and theamount could be substantial. I wanted todig into the social networking scene andidentify a successful local examplewhere traditional meets digitalnetworking in our business community.

Which brings me to a gentleman I’veknown for over a year now. I metEdmonton realtor Stephen Lau ofCentury21 (EdmontonHomePros.ca)through a digital referral by GregDouglas of Douglas EnvironmentalSolutions. He suggested that I join alocal networking group called TheEdmonton “LinkedIn” Business &Social Network, started by Lau in April2008. To join the group, you must have aprofile on the world’s premier businesssocial network, LinkedIn.com.

The nearly 300 members are trustedbusiness professionals who valuebuilding relationships both at the offlineevents and digitally within the onlinegroup on Meetup.com, the site Lau uses

to manage events and membercommunications, much of whichoverflows onto LinkedIn. “The intention,”explains Lau, “is helping people first andgrowing trust from that. It’s about beinggenuine, altruistic and going out of yourway to help people. Pure takers won’t getvery far in the group.” This is somethingI’ve personally experienced as a memberof this unique networking group: I canhonestly say people focus on community,referrals and support of each other’sbusinesses.

Having said that, Lau states that hisgroup would not have grown to theextent it has without the socialnetworking aspect. Further, hesuggests—and I agree—that there needs

to be a healthy balance betweentraditional and online social networkingin order to achieve success. “People liketo do business on a hand-shake,” he says.“You need to meet face-to-face.” Laucalls this balance of effort “integratingsocial media into real-world networkingto expand your centre of influence.” Hestresses that social networking allowsyou to stay connected, build rapport anddeepen relationships in-between events.In one such case, because of keeping intouch online via LinkedIn, Lau wasreferred to a new real estate client wholisted a $1.88M home with him, a decentbusiness transaction once the home sells.

Stories of business results andincreased opportunities are not limited to

Lau. Doors have opened for others in thegroup, including me. If not for Lau, myteam and I might not have met MichaelKryton of Axe Productions whoreferred fusedlogic to AggressionMMA. This connection resulted in acontract to provide live-streaming videoservices for its pay-per-view mixedmartial arts event “First Blood” at theNorthlands Expo Centre. Deepeningrelationships through the use of socialnetworking has proven that it can alsodeepen the pocketbook.

Those who should join The Edmonton“Linked-In” Business & Social Networkare business professionals interested infinding clients, helping with referrals,and meeting like-minded networkers. Asmentioned, a LinkedIn profile is a pre-requisite.

Lau and the other membersdemonstrate that what separates thisgroup from others is how they fortifytrust via regular use of social media toolslike LinkedIn and Meetup.com,converting their social networking effortsinto increased revenue. This isn’t agroup of teenagers or irresponsibleemployees but savvy business peoplewith open-minds, turning a little digitalknow-how into measurable results. It’sworth joining. √

Walter Schwabe is the Chief EvolutionOfficer of fusedlogic inc., a social mediastrategy firm and Alberta company since2000. You can learn more atwww.fusedlogic.com

SS

It will not only allow users to freethemselves from their USB shackles, itwill also be platform independent. It willallow most Blackberry models runningOS 4.6 to talk to a Mac and a PC over theair… to synchronize, not through a USBcable, but over the air.

“It has never been available before toconsumers.”

Even RIM couldn’t do that, Huangstates. In fact, just two months ago, RIMreleased its software to connect aMacintosh to a Blackberry—via cable.

Huang’s Unique Selling Proposition(USP) for Syncamatic is the automaticway to synchronize, protect and transferdata for the mobile user. His program willalso be affordable as both a free and apremium version. The free version willallow you to sync on demand but youwould need to log in to the applicationand select the option to perform thesynchronization.

“It’s a manual process. The secret—orwhat you give up—is that below thebutton, there will be some advertising tooffset some development costs.”

The premium, or commercial payversion as Huang calls it, differs in thesense that the program sits in thebackground. If you make changes on onedevice, it checks on a regular basis andwill automatically update in thebackground. It constantly checks bothways: For example, if you simultaneously

punch in a contact on the desktop and adda calendar event on your phone,Syncamatic will bring them all together.

“It’s simple: Every device will look upto the cloud. The program will ask‘What’s the latest change? What am Imissing?’ Then it will update eachdevice.”

The product is currently in Private Betaand the consumer downloadable versionwas scheduled to be available atSyncamatic.com just prior to Christmas.“This version will be free. They candownload it for free and use it for free—forever.”

Huang, 31, downplays his humblebeginnings as well as his success. Hisfamily came to Edmonton before he was18. He attended Jasper Place CompositeHigh School and studied general scienceat the University of Alberta. In 1997, hetook home a Business Chamber Trophyand was recognized as the Best Student inComputer Programming.

His current venture, Pure Inbox, wasincorporated in 2008. Prior to thedevelopment of Syncamatic, the companyoffered an application that allowed you touse your existing phone just like Gmail.Although Pure Inbox is no longeraccepting new sign-ups for that app, itcontinues to support existing users.

Huang’s original claim to fame was hisfirst start-up five years prior, as presidentand CTO of Gennux Microsystems. In a

short time, it became one of Alberta’sfastest growing technology companies,providing unique cost-effective ITsolutions and systems to businesses, aswell as a unique anti-spam product.

In 2005, the company took home theAlberta VenturePrize and was identified asone of the “global up-and-comingcompanies” to watch. Huang washeralded as one of rising stars in theAlberta IT industry.

Pure Inbox is happy to call theEdmonton Research Park home. “Theyhave the services we need, so we canfocus on what we need to do.”

The landlord is equally happy about thesuccess of its tenant. “I am thrilled thatSyncamatic, a product developed at theEdmonton Research Park, is being soldand distributed around the globe,” saysCandace Brinsmead, vice-president oftechnology.

The majority of staff is also fromEdmonton. Having traveled to China,Huang knows how cheap it is to hiredevelopers from there, but prefers to staylocal. He is impressed with the quality ofwork being performed by graduates of theUniversity of Alberta, his Alma Mater.

One recent hire is Ryan Akerboom, 23,who graduated with distinction from thecomputer engineering, software co-opprogram. “I’m happy to be working here.It’s a relaxed atmosphere and it’s the exacttype of thing we studied for.”

Huang is also excited about the futureand is confident that with Syncamatic,Pure Inbox is heading in the rightdirection. “We’re the first there—first tomarket.”

“Anyone, even the Chinese, can makephones. Right now, it’s about the apps.They are beginning to flood the market.We have 10 flashlights… we’re in the appworld 1.0 era.” In the next few years itwill be contextual, location based—notabout dumb apps but rather about appsand services.

“You need services to drive theapplication. Everyone is watching Appleand Blackberry.” And Syncamatic will beright there with them.

Huang is heading off to Barcelona inFebruary as part of the Alberta contingentto world mobile conference where PureInBox will be setting up a booth on aninternational stage. “I’m excited to seehow the European market will react.” √

Greg Gazin, “TheGadget Guy,” is a serialentrepreneur, freelancetechnology columnist,small business speaker,an avid Podcaster andproducer ofToastcaster.com. Gregcan be reached at780.424.1881, gadgetgreg.com [email protected]

Continued from page 11

101with Walter SchwabemediamediaSocial


Proof__1 _________PROOFED BY:_______________________________________________CHANGES MADE:__________________________DATE:_________________

n a world where the amount ofinformation available doubles everyfew months, grabbing the attention ofpotential buyers (or clients) becomes

more difficult. What is even more difficultis keeping their attention once you have it:getting these individuals to make decisionswithout extensively (and continuously)analyzing the maze of information nowavailable at their finger tips. Our traditionalmodel of presenting information continuesto focus on the “calculating” part of thebrain, which is “slow, clunky and prone toerrors,” according to Montague.

The study of the brain—and especiallyhow we make decisions—is fascinating.When faced with a decision, we assign acertain value to each of a possible choice.Based on this value, we make our decision.What is intriguing is that, given a similar setof circumstances, the value assigned by thesame individual can change at differenttimes. Thus, a decision delayed to “thinkabout it” often means a lost opportunity or alost sale because you have not reached theindividual with a message that resonateswith them in their particular situation in away that builds the emotional need.

For traditionalists, the challenge isswitching from a “functional” message toan “emotive” one to engage the highlydeveloped part of the brain to get engagedand make the decision. Do you invest inproviding detailed product information... orfocus on what will impact the buying

decision—a focus that will be different foreach buyer?

The latter is much more difficult,requiring effort and attention to listen to theneeds and desires of the customer in orderto demonstrate how your product meetsthose needs. However, it is also much moresuccessful at reaching the emotional regionof the brain.

For example, the majority of consumersshopping for a vehicle are not interested inthe details of the vehicle’s internal opera-tions (engine, transmission, suspensionetc.). For most, “emotional factors” such ascomfort, safety, reliability and efficiency arekey to the buying decision. Something assimple as the location and size of thecupholder can make the difference in thebuying decision for some. The assumptionis that the details ‘under the hood’ are takencare of.

When looking at televisions, the featuresare not important until you understand thecustomers. What type of shows do theywatch? What is the size of the room inwhich they watch? What type of lighting isin the room? Once you can fit the featuresor the value proposition to the customers’individual circumstances, it becomes mucheasier to make an emotional connection.They can visualize watching their favouriteshows in their room.

Marketing professionals, especially forthe larger, consumer oriented corporations,have employed emotive messages to get the

attention of their prospective customers. Iparticularly enjoy the commercials of AllyBank (available on www.youtube.com,search for “Ally Bank”). While mostcommercials cost a significant amount ofmoney, Ally Bank’s commercials are short,simple and targeted, yet very effective atdemonstrating its message of being aflexible, easy-to–deal-with client centricbank. The analogies used to drive the pointare engaging and leave the viewer reflectivefor a long period after. Emotive messageshave ‘legs’—the message travels fast andeffectively.

One interesting example of this pheno-menon is the urban legend, a viral messagewith story, plot and characters that make themessage seem plausible and often serve asa cautionary tale (although often withoutany truth). One of the most famous urbanlegends is that of a highly organized crimering luring travelers to their hotel rooms tothen be drugged and have their kidneysremoved. These travelers were left in abathtub of ice with a phone nearby and anote to call 911 when they awake. Thisstory—while not real or possible—traveledextensively around the globe—at no cost—and was discussed at social gatherings.Creating your own urban legend, with theright story and the legs to travel, can have ahuge impact on your business.

An emotive message does not automa-tically translate to a sale, but it does get thepotential buyer through the door. The key

then is to close the deal. The door could bereal or virtual: a visit to the showroom or aphone call or visit to the website. That iswhere the right value proposition for theindividual buyer becomes the determiningfactor. There is no point exalting the safetyfeatures of a vehicle to an environmentallyconscious buyer focused on vehicleefficiency and its impact on theenvironment. On the other hand, a familywith young children will likely have safetyand reliability as their primary concerns.The key is to quickly and effectivelyascertain this information to focus on theright value proposition. Clearly, this is morecomplex in a virtual environment.

At the end of the day, understanding howpeople make decisions and determiningtheir value model, motivations andinspirations can lead to more decisionsgoing your way.

Consider applying this concept to yourNew Year’s resolutions.

To you and yours, I wish you the verybest in 2010. √

Nizar J. Somji is presidentand CEO of Jaffer Inc., amanagement/investmentconsulting firm; andchairman of the board ofMatrikon Inc., a companyhe founded in 1988.

ETHICScorporate

IIBy Nizar J. Somji

How do we make decisions?“The calculating part of the brain is like a computer operating systemthat was rushed to market. It’s slow, clunky and prone to errors... at leastwhen compared with the brain region associated with emotions. Thishighly developed area has been exquisitely refined by evolution, so it canmake fast decisions on very little information.”

~ Read Montague, author Why Choose This Book? How We Make Decisions



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