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“Excellence is an act won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” - Aristotle
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Profiles of Excellence, a very special publication of the Chilliwack Times. The women and men profiled in these pages come from a wide variety of backgrounds, education, experience and expertise. What they all share is what Aristotle describes in the quote above: a commitment to excellence—an attribute that is not born, but bred in training and repetition, in years of service to their profession and to their community. The awards these business leaders have earned are hallmarks of excellence, but the most important mark of excellence is the respect and loyalty of their customers. As you will discover in these pages, Chilliwack is a community steeped in excellence in a great many fields. We are very proud to present these Profiles of Excellence and look forward to many more editions in the years to come. Nick Bastaja Publisher, Chilliwack Times
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Inside
AlgraBros. Development Ltd.................................... 3 Auburn Seniors Residences ..................................... 5 Canadian Tire .......................................................... 7 Chartwell Residences.............................................. 9 Chilliwack Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery ............. 11 Little Mountain Veterinary Clinic .......................... 13 Fraser Carpets ....................................................... 15 Great Glasses ........................................................ 17 Patten Thornton Barristers & Solicitors ................. 19 Stories by Paul J. Henderson Photography by Cornelia Naylor Design by Ken Goudswaard
times Chilliwack
Director of Advertising: Nick Bastaja Director of Creative Services: Kyra Sweat
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AlgraBros. Developments Ltd.
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hether the Algra brothers are rebels in the development community or avant garde leaders on the cusp of new urbanism is a matter of perspective.
of the zoning and development process, product design, production, and sales and marketing, we are able to control the entire development process. We do not outsource any of these things.”
How about both?
As a result of this vertical integration, the AlgraBros. are able to pass incredible value on to their customers. As one of three current developers in Chilliwack’s prestigious Garrison Crossing area, the AlgraBros. have quickly shot to the forefront in the sought-after neighbourhood. One of their recent ventures, the Brownstones on the Boulevard, are high-end, freehold townhouses with innovative floor plans.
“Without question we are operating outside the industry norm, but we are doing so because we believe there is a better way forward for land development, for homeowners, and for communities,” says Dave Algra who, along with brothers Peter and Phil are founders of AlgraBros. Developments Ltd.
The AlgraBros. emerged on the development scene in 2009 at a time when the industry was facing a major crisis. With the economy in a free-fall and the housing market on the verge of collapse, some might have questioned the wisdom of starting a development company in such an uncertain financial environment. But where some saw risk, others saw opportunity and it was from there that the AlgraBros concept first took hold.
“We didn’t get into this business because we have a high tolerance for risk,” explained Peter, the creative force behind AlgraBros. award-winning designs. “Rather we believed that there was room in the development industry for new thinking and innovative design concepts.” This ‘new thinking’ stems from AlgraBros. set of shared core values that strive for quality of form and practicality of function. These ideals are brought to life through the complementary and synergistic skills that Peter, Phil and Dave Algra each bring to the table.
Dave is in charge of property acquisition, zoning, the in-house investment group, as well as marketing and sales. Peter is an Ivy League-educated journeyman carpenter and a draftsman who oversees the site layout, home designs, building material selection, and building methodology training and supervision. Phil manages all aspects of construction, accounting, and supervises the master schedules for the Algra Bros. group of companies. Bringing these diverse skills to bear on a project allows for the type of in-house vertical integration that most developers can only dream of. As Phil points out: “By providing in-house solutions for land acquisition, all aspects
“We believe the built environment you exist in is probably one of the top three variables of your happiness.”
“This is a completely different and unique product in the Chilliwack market,” Dave says. The project has already won the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) of B.C. award for best townhouse development, and the project is nominated for best single attached home for the CHBA National SAM Awards. Another aspect of the Garrison Crossing project that appealed to the AlgraBros. was the sense of community that Canada Lands planned for the area. “A great house is one thing,” says Phil, “but when you put that house into a master-planned neighborhood that is built around the concept of ‘walkability’ and community, well, then you’re really on to something.” In another example of innovative thought and design, the Algra Bros. recently finished a unique project of micro-suites for low-income seniors in Abbotsford. The project comprises two apartment buildings each with 32 units at just 295 square feet. The brothers designed and built the project for the non-profit Lynnhaven Society and it serves as an inspiring illustration of how practical, quality housing solutions can be achieved even in relatively modest spaces. At the core of the AlgraBros. work is a fourpronged philosophy: sustainable land use; functional design; quality materials and construction; and transparent marketing.
AlgraBros. Developments Ltd. www.algrabros.com Administration: 5848 Sappers Way Chilliwack Email admin@algrabros.com Sales team: 301-B 30721 Simpson Road Abbotsford 604-798-6169 Email team@algrabros.com
“The land-use examples that we’ve followed for the last 30 years are not sustainable, and we feel there is a way to develop land more responsibly while simultaneously improving the quality of people’s lives and the communities in which they live.”
PHOTO: Dave, Peter and Phil Algra on the steps of one of their iconic Brownstones in Garrison Crossing.
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Auburn Seniors Residences
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isitors to Auburn Seniors Residences would be forgiven for not realizing it’s a retirement home at all.
From the Hollywood ‘50s decor in the lobby to the exquisitely appointed boutique living suites, guests and residents feel a sense of home and quiet elegance all at once.
The Auburn’s upscale feel is important for residents who enjoy the best parts of independent living while having access to three meals a day, weekly housekeeping and an emergency pendant if health becomes an issue. But the biggest appeal for many people, according to marketing manager Carol Vorderman, is simply that many people out there are lonely. “They might be in perfectly good health,” she says. “They don’t particularly need any care services, but they sit there all day by themselves and it’s depressing.
“People are telling me more and more they just want to be around people.”
The Auburn is one of two Retirement Concepts properties in Chilliwack. Just down Young Road is Waverly Seniors Village, which has both assisted living and residential care.
The independent living seniors at Auburn appreciate that when, one day, they may need another level of retirement care, it’s available within a stone’s throw. Parent company Retirement Concepts has grown to include 3,000 staff members caring for 3,100 residents at 20 seniors communities across British Columbia and in Quebec.
But it all started right here in Chilliwack when founder and chairman Abdul Jamal built McIntosh Lodge with partners in 1988. Jamal’s road to retirement care was an interesting one. Born in Tanzania, he took over the family grocery business when his father passed away in 1964. Seven years later he moved to Canada where he and his wife again got into groceries and then the egg business.
1990s, Jamal wanted to overturn the perception people have that retirement residences were depressing, institutional settings. McIntosh Lodge got into some hard times, Jamal purchased the business and eventually purchased a second seniors community in Victoria in 1996. From there, joined by his son, Dr. Azim Jamal, the family-oriented business has grown, and the rest is history. “At Retirement Concepts it is our mission to improve the quality of life for seniors,” the company’s mission statement says. “We strive to fulfill our mission by providing seniors with elegant, comfortable surroundings and by giving them a choice of services and programs to suit their lifestyle.” At the Auburn visitors are met with activity and joie de vivre: people bringing their children to visit, grandchildren, or even the family dog, which is also encouraged. Many Auburn residents are still active in the community, pursuing outdoor activities, attending classes, volunteering and enjoying a full life.
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“We strive to fulfill our mission by providing seniors with elegant, comfortable surroundings and by giving them a choice of services and programs to suit their lifestyle.”
The two-bedroom or one-bedroom-witha-den suites have air conditioning, maple kitchens, five appliances, in-suite laundry and private balconies. For those moving from a single family home where gardening was a hobby, the Auburn features raised garden beds that are lush with flowers and vegetables all summer. Amenities in the facility include a library/ lounge, a multi-purpose room and a hair salon. From the ‘50s Hubcap Diner and the European-style patio to the well-appointed dining room, residents have the dining experience of their choice. The independence allows residents to cook any meals they like in their own kitchen, or head to the dining room, get together with new friends, stay active and be part of a community.
Auburn Seniors Residences www.retirementconcepts.com 8531 Young Road 604-792-3545 cvorderman@ retirementconcepts.com
At Auburn, residents really can have it all.
After the McIntosh opened and into the
PHOTO: Auburn marketing manager Carol Vorderman relaxes in one of the boutique suites.
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Canadian Tire
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hen Marcel Nadeau talks about the products, people and the shopping experience at his Canadian Tire store, what emerges is a bubbling enthusiasm that’s hard to ignore.
“I’m having fun,” Marcel says from his office overlooking the 50,000-square-foot store. “I enjoy coming to work every day.”
Canadian Tire is an established, big-box store known across the country as the go-to shop for automotive, household, hardware, recreational and outdoor living products of all kinds.
But make no mistake, this is a family business with individualized, locally focused products. “This started as a family business and it still is today,” he says. The company was started by the Billes brothers in 1922. It started as a family business, and the brothers believed in that model even when they expanded.
“The brothers believed that an independent owner would have a lot more vested interest,” he says. “We know it is one of the reasons of this company’s success.” Canadian Tire is in Marcel’s blood.
“My grandfather shopped at Canadian Tire. My dad did. And my son does.”
The 51-year-old Marcel was born and raised in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. His first job as a 15-year-old was installing cross-country ski bindings at a Canadian Tire store in his home town. While going to school, he worked weekends and summers at Canadian Tire. His father became an owner in 1981, and for 14 years Marcel worked as a general manager of his stores in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario. “My first and only job has been with Canadian Tire.”
Marcel became an owner in 1995 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and arrived in Chilliwack in 1998 to build the local Canadian Tire, which opened its doors at 27,000 square feet in May 1999. In 2006, the store doubled in
size and in 2010 it grew yet again.
Next up, is an expansion and redesign of the store’s hunting and fishing department, an area where Marcel is seeing a resurgence. Independently operated Canadian Tire stores mean owners can tailor their products to the local market’s needs. “You won’t see another store like Chilliwack in the country,” he says. “It is merchandised to what we think our customers’ needs are.” Something else that is individualized with Canadian Tire stores is sponsorship of local sports organizations and other programs.The Chilliwack store is proud to sponsor many organizations in Chilliwack. “The fire department, the police, schools, sports, the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, it goes on and on,” he says. “You have to give back to the community. Chilliwack will be my home forever, so we just think it’s the right thing to do.”
“You won’t see another store like Chilliwack in the country. It is merchandised to what we think our customers’ needs are.”
One important nationwide program is Jumpstart, which provides the ability for kids to enrol in sports and activities who otherwise couldn’t afford it. “From karate to hockey to softball to gymnastics, JumpStart is still our major focus. We are fortunate to have the YMCA and the Big Brother and Sisters as the administrators of the program.” Marcel’s commitment to operating a quality Canadian Tire store was rewarded internally with the 2012 Award of Excellence, the highest honour an owner can receive. At the end of the day, Canadian Tire doesn’t just sell products, it creates memories and experiences. Marcel frequently hears stories from people of all ages who got their first bike or their first skates at a Canadian Tire. “It’s a family operated business looking out for the needs of families in our community,” he says.
Canadian Tire www.canadiantire.ca Dealer Store 433 7560 Vedder Road Chilliwack 604-858-9055
“Our staff is the true reason for our continued success. All our team has pride in our store and in our service department. We Care.”
PHOTO: Chilliwack Canadian Tire owner Marcel Nadeau knows tires and everything else his local community needs.
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Chartwell Residences
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ong gone are the retirement home days when seniors would be cooped up, hoping for a visit from a family member.
At Chartwell’s three Chilliwack retirement residences — Hampton House, Lynwood and Birchwood — the residents find such a sense of community, they have to find time in their busy calendars for family and friends to visit. “It works the other way around, backwards here,” says Lynnwood’s Marie Lashley. “Before, it was trying to fit in time for mom and dad, but now the adult kids are saying ‘When do you have time for me to visit?’”
At Chartwell the focus is on “making people’s lives better,” and it’s more than a corporate catchphrase. Chartwell Residences in Chilliwack offer a wide spectrum of choices for seniors from independent retirement residences to assisted living. Their residences are communities, and the philosophy is that the right support services can help prolong independence while satisfying individual needs.
Many seniors and their families struggle with deciding when is the right time to move into retirement living. Misgivings and misunderstanding are all put aside once they see what Chartwell has to offer. “Many family members say ‘Why didn’t we do this years before when Mom and Dad can really take in what they have to offer?’” says Jillian Poole from the Birchwood. Often adult children want their parents to live with them, feeling a sense of guilt at “sending” them to a “home.” What many overlook is that places like Hampton House, Lynnwood and Birchwood offer so much social interaction, so much community involvement and so many activities, that some will find they are more alive than ever. “This is where you go to live,” says Marie. Retirement living isn’t what it used to be. Residents of the Lynnwood, Birchwood and Hampton House participate in activities that contribute to all areas of development:
physical, mental, cognitive, spiritual, emotional and relational. Participating in all that Chartwell residences have to offer is no small feat. Glancing at the monthly calendars of all three residences, for example, there are half a dozen activities every day. Some of the options include site-and-be-fit exercise, bus trips, movie matinees and happy hour in the lounge—these are busy places. On the other hand, residents can take part in as much or as little as they like. Some remain independent while others are frontand-centre signing up for everything that’s offered. “One of our residents goes golfing every day in the morning,” says Crystal Collins of Hampton House. “In the afternoon he visits friends and family and comes and goes as he pleases. Then there are other residents who are taking in as many activities as they can and they basically live in our main living room.”
“Many family members say, ‘Why didn’t we do this years before when mom and dad can really take in what they have to offer?’”
All three of Chilliwack’s Chartwell residences are located within easy access to medical offices, Chilliwack General Hospital, shopping, library, parks and restaurants. The three retirement residences offer a diverse mix of accommodation choices, from independent cottages to studios and onebedroom and two-bedroom suites. The broad spectrum of services, from independent to assisted living, allows residents to select the lifestyle that best suits their needs. If you or someone you know would like to know more about retirement living, call your local Chartwell retirement residences today to book your own personal visit. Lynnwood: 604-792-0689, Hampton House: 604-703-1982 and Birchwood: 604-792-8793 or visit www. chartwell.com.
Chartwell www.chartwell.com Birchwood 45650 Patten Avenue 604-792-8793 Hampton House 45555 Hodgins Avenue 604-703-1982 Lynwood 9168 Corbould Street 604-792-0689
PHOTO: Chartwell’s Crystal Collins, Jillian Poole and Marie Lashley in the Lynnwood Residence dining room.
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Chilliwack Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery
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efore Dr. Prabhjot Singh’s arrival in Chilliwack last year, anyone needing any kind of oral, facial or dental implant surgery had to travel to Abbotsford or beyond. From wisdom teeth extraction to corrective jaw surgery, Dr. Singh is literally and figuratively bringing smiles to a community that has never had someone with his experience and expertise before. Not only is Dr. Singh the sole oral surgeon in the community, his Young Road clinic is the only authorized facility to provide deep sedation and general anesthesia, so that patients can be completely asleep for their procedures.
The sedation spectrum ranges from oral sedation, where the patient is still conscious, to deep sedation and general anesthesia, where the patient is completely asleep. Many dental offices provide conscious oral sedation, which helps with the patient’s anxiety but the patient is not asleep for their treatment. Dr. Singh not only performs treatment under conscious sedation, but can also provide treatment while a patient is asleep in the office. Dr. Singh was born and raised in Kitimat, studied dentistry in Edmonton, and moved to New Jersey to complete a residency in oral surgery. His training includes medical and surgical rotations in ICU, trauma, emergency and anesthesia.
treatment of traumatic injuries, treatment of pathology and dental implants. Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth. Dr. Singh has a particular interest in orthognathic surgery—basically resetting the jaw into the proper position. “In some cases, you can only do so much with braces,” he says. “It’s really gratifying and it has a huge impact. Biting into food properly is something you and I take for granted. There are people going through their daily lives who are embarrassed to eat or smile. After the surgery, they are just so happy and they look more confident.” Dr. Prabhjot Singh’s arrival in town not only brings important oral surgery treatment to the community, he is literally creating smiles every day. “Our motto at Chilliwack Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery is ‘Community. Comfort. Care.’ Our goal is to provide quality oral surgery care in a safe and comfortable environment to the wonderful people of Chilliwack.”
Dr. Singh practised in the U.S. for several years, but always dreamed of returning to British Columbia. After extensive research and a few visits, he came to realize what a vibrant community Chilliwack was and knew that it was the perfect fit for him.
“I lived in New York and New Jersey, both of which were too busy. I lived in Kitimat and found it to be too small. This community is the perfect medium. And since we’ve opened, everyone has been so welcoming and very grateful that they don’t have to travel for treatment anymore.”
“This community is the perfect medium. And since I’ve opened everybody is so wonderful and everyone is so grateful they don’t have to travel for treatment anymore”
Chilliwack Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery www.chilliwackoralsurgery. com 303-8705 Young Road Chilliwack 604-392-8020 Email info@ chilliwackoralsurgery.com
Dr. Singh provides full scope oral and maxillofacial surgery, including dental extractions (including wisdom teeth),
PHOTO: Dr. Prabhjot Singh at his desk (left) and with his staff at his Young Road clinic (right).
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Little Mountain Veterinary Clinic
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eterinarian Dr. Josephine Banyard is committed to a long-overlooked area of pet health: teeth.
Many pet owners take their cats or dogs in to the vet for check-ups and regular maintenance, just as humans see their family doctors once in a while. But another thing that people do is brush their teeth regularly and make regular visits to the dentist.
How many dog or cat dentists do you know?
As of May 2013, there were just two licensed and practising veterinarians in all of British Columbia with a specialty in dentistry. That’s when Dr. Banyard made it three.
“It’s a very new field,” she says. “Dentistry is distinct from medicine. It’s very complicated. There’s a reason you’ve got medical doctors and dentists; there is too much to know in each field.” Dr. Banyard’s focus on the overlooked mouths of cats and dogs is helping pet owners realize that what is sometimes misinterpreted as old age in an animal is actually undiagnosed pain.
“There is a lot of pain going on in our animals that people don’t realize,” she says. “There are many overlooked signs of pain. When you touch a dog’s head and it flinches, that could be pain. When you have a bad smell about a dog it could be the teeth.” The number one disease of dogs and cats is periodontal disease, and that’s why Dr. Banyard wanted to take it on.
“There is so much more that we can do for our animals. But it starts with the owner bringing the animal in.”
Dr. Banyard has been doing dentistry for 15 years, in serious study for the last eight. She has worked as a veterinarian since 1981, starting with large and small animals and moving to Chilliwack with her veterinarian husband in 1985. Dr. Banyard is going to great lengths to educate the public about something that should be obvious: dental health is just as
important for animals as it is for humans. “If you go the cheap route you are not going to have teeth.” That “cheap route” is the increasingly pervasive practice known as anesthetic-free dentistry. Dr. Banyard points out that not only is there a real dollar cost to anestheticfree dentistry, but it amounts to money for nothing. “I’ve had some people come to me after they’ve had their pets teeth cleaned with anesthetic-free dentistry and I’m taking out teeth because the time they have lost in proper maintenance care. With this false hope the disease has been going deeper and deeper and deeper,” she says. “The best anesthetic-free cleaning is brushing your pet’s teeth every day.”
“There’s so much more that we can do for our animals. But it starts with the owner bringing the animal in.”
She’s so passionate about educating pet owners — as well as her fellow veterinarians — about the subject of pet dentistry that she self-published a book “What’s in my mouth?” This was eventually picked up by a publisher, and the title changed to “Healthy Pet, Healthy Mouth: Why Dental Care Matters.” “I’m trying to do what human dentists do except for animals,” she says. “We go to a dentist twice a year. We brush our teeth twice a day. For cats and dogs, I want to have owners brush their teeth once a day and see their veterinarian for dental assessment and treatment annually. I’d be thrilled with that.” Before she got so deep into the field, Dr. Banyard said she never thought people would brush the teeth of their cats and dogs. “But they do.”
Slowly but surely Dr. Banyard is bringing the common if complicated human practice of dentistry into the realm of pet health here in the Fraser Valley.
Little Mountain Veterinary Clinic www.littlemountainvet.com 46793 Yale Road East Chilliwack 604-792-2844
Pets are increasingly forming an integral part of people’s lives. The teeth simply can’t be overlooked and Dr. Banyard is changing minds and changing the way people think of going to the vet.
PHOTO: Dr. Josephine Banyard sits in her clinic’s dental operatory (left) and checks a client’s teeth (right).
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E Fraser Carpets I f you live in Chilliwack, chances are you’ve walked on a Fraser Carpets floor.
In fact, chances are you’ve done it more than once since the local company hasn’t only helped put down carpet, vinyl, hardwood, laminate or tile in thousands of rooms in homes in the community, Fraser Carpets is also a go-to for big corporate and government jobs.
“When I think of flooring a high school, just think of the hundreds and hundreds of kids that have walked on that floor,” says manager Rick Cartwright. “That’s kind of neat. We’ve done quite a number of schools in the community.” Like an expertly laid hardwood floor, Fraser Carpets has been installed for more than 30 years in the same location on Airport Road. “We’ve been in the community quite a long time,” Cartwright says. “And we like to be actively involved in the community.”
Fraser Carpets provides flooring to upwards of 800 businesses and homes every year. The company’s longevity and commitment to the community means customers get a personalized experience when they walk in the door of the showroom.
The employees are experts in flooring sales and design who daily help homeowners and business owners alike find the perfect floor for how people live, work and play.
When it comes to different flooring types, all the major brands are represented. Not only do Fraser Carpets customers get a more personalized experience than they might find at big box stores, but the company’s membership in Flooring Canada, a 500-store nationwide buying group gives them purchasing power that they can turn around into prices other retailers can’t offer.
trusted for its work flooring homes across Chilliwack but also commercial, government, restaurants, First Nations housing and other buildings. Part of the reason is that they specialize in a personalized service and offer free estimates and measurements. Deciding what type of flooring is needed for a home can be daunting. With over 17,000 choices, the panoply of colours, themes, designs of carpet, tile, hardwood or laminate is near endless. One Fraser Carpet customer service bonus is its website, linked as it is with Flooring Canada, to various tips, photos and videos to help users negotiate the options out there for the modern homeowner.
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“We’ve been in the community quite a long time. And we like to be actively involved in the community.”
Floors and how they look and feel is an important part of any home or office. Part of the Fraser Carpets sign of excellence is that they only work with senior installers and qualified journeymen. That, and they guarantee what they install. “Let’s face it, installers are the last contact our company has with the customer and it’s essential they show the company in a good light and they represent us,” Cartwright says. “Pretty well in all cases they do a good job. If somebody gets an installation from us, they know it is going to be done well and if there is an issue, it will get resolved.” Whatever it takes to get it done properly. What more could you ask for in such an essential aspect of your home or business? Fraser Carpets is a locally owned and operated business where “friends send friends.”
Fraser Carpets www.frasercarpets.ca 45855 Airport Road Chilliwack 1-877-764-3971
“We are ensured that we get the best price whenever we make purchases from the mills and other suppliers,” Cartwright says. “We can certainly guarantee the best prices in the market for the products that we sell.” Fraser Carpets is a company that is
PHOTO: Fraser Carpet manager Rick Cartwright stands amidst some of his store’s plentiful stock.
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Great Glasses
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reat Glasses founder Bruce Bergez has spent the last few years as a reluctant David fighting against a powerful Goliath.
“I didn’t seek the rebellious nature associated with David and Goliath, somebody versus the incumbent, but that characterization was kind of thrust upon me,” Bergez says. “When I was incarcerated, many of the guards had been customers and they called me Robin Hood. I don’t take these titles from an ego standpoint. I embraced it because the consumer embraced it.” That’s right, incarcerated!
What caused so much turmoil in the eyeglass industry and pushed Bergez to highs and lows and everything in between, is two seemingly simple businesses practices: Using disruptive technology to give consumers the information they need, and giving three for the price of one. In his home province of Ontario, Bergez was fined millions of dollars for contempt of court, served one year in jail and battled the incumbents for ten years by offering free eye tests and using the information to retail glasses. What’s so wrong with that you ask? In B.C., nothing at all. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t get some predictable heat from the competition when he arrived in the Fraser Valley two years ago. After numerous threats and criticism from other retailers in town, he certainly hasn’t met the same challenges in B.C., and the “cartel” seems to have backed off.
From a consumer standpoint, “We’ve been received very well in Chilliwack,” says Bergez.
a carrier who has a vehicle who says he is going to drive you from here to there for a fee but doesn’t call it a taxicab.” Ever wonder why a piece of plastic, two screws and two pieces of glass costs so much money? It’s because one company controls one end of the business and the old guard of optical gatekeepers control the other. The question of quality always arises when a retailer is offering value. The answer is simple, says Bergez: “I achieved 24 stores in Ontario by selling great quality, never upsetting the customers, but I did outrage the competitors”. On the subject of quality, “We let the consumer make that determination,” Bergez says. “I’ve been under that microscope for 25 years.” Quality is not an issue at Great Glasses, as they purchase all lenses and frames in bulk on a yearly basis to drive down unit costs. Bergez buys from all the major manufacturers. That’s how the store can offer three for the price of one, and all along consumers have embraced the idea.
“You are a complex individual, you can’t get by with just one pair of glasses. Three for one is right for you.”
His motto: “You are a complex individual, you can’t get by with just one pair of glasses. Three for one is right for you.” Great Glasses only exists in Chilliwack and Maple Ridge for now. Bergez has his sights on every major market in the Lower Mainland, later the Interior and the west-coast of the USA. For now, this “David” is growing organically and slowly, fighting the small battles while providing a service that irritates Goliath but has him reaching hero status among Great Glasses’ constumers.
Bergez’s story begins in Ontario where his chain of stores began to use automated eyetesting equipment that allowed customers — for free — to receive the information they needed to then get a great deal on glasses. “But here in B.C., the consumer was given the choice to go where they wanted,” he says. “It follows the taxicab warfare in New York City. The taxicabs don’t like it when you call
PHOTO: Great Glasses owner Bruce Bergez stands by his business’s three-for-one model.
Great Glasses www.greatglassesbc.com 1-45695 Hocking Avenue Chilliwack 604-392-2237
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Patten Thornton Barristers & Solicitors
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hen something in your life has gone wrong or needs fixing, often times you need to hire a lawyer.
That’s why it’s critically important you hire a lawyer with experience, expertise and a commitment to the client.
Add to that a legal team with deep roots in the community, a firm that knows its way, literally and figuratively, around the city, and you could hardly do any better than Patten Thornton, Barristers & Solicitors. “We have a really great history in town,” partner Kristen Mundstock says. “We’ve been around for a long time and we know a lot of people and we know our way around.” The team at Patten Thornton is made up of senior partner, Donald Patten, partners, Michael Thornton, Kristen Mundstock and Andrew Briscoe and associates, David MacLachlan and Peter Thornton.
judge. Andrew Briscoe joined the firm as a partner in 2002. With its feet set firmly in the community, Patten Thornton also practices a brand of law that sees that the lawyers have their eyes and hands right in your file. “We are basically all hands-on as lawyers,” Thornton says. “We’ll take a case from start to finish—do the interviewing, look at the documentation, decide if it’s relevant—those decisions are being made by lawyers rather than paralegals.” A lot of law firms these days are using paralegals to do much of the important legwork in a court case. Paralegals are not lawyers and they do not have the same skills and knowledge that lawyers possess. “That was the way we were taught,” Mundstock says. “We don’t get our staff to do things that require a legal mind.”
The firm has expertise in many areas of the law. From civil litigation to employment law and from family law to personal injury, the team’s trial experience and legal expertise is broad.
The practice of being so hands-on means the firm handles fewer cases than they might otherwise, but for the clients they do represent, that representation is as solid as it could be.
Don Patten was born in Chilliwack, he was called to the bar in 1964 and he has been practising at an office on Main Street in downtown Chilliwack ever since. His father was a doctor in Chilliwack and his grandfather was one of the first doctors in the community. Don is a past president of Rotary, past chair of the Chilliwack Foundation, past director of the Downtown BIA, the Chilliwack Family YMCA and Chilliwack Restorative Justice. He also served in elected office as a member of the school board for 14 years and chair for eight of those years.
“I think the quality of service is better at the end of the day,” Thornton says.
Partners Michael Thornton, Kristen Mundstock and Andrew Briscoe have similar commitment to the community. Michael Thornton became a partner in 1991. Kristen Mundstock became a partner in 1999, when former partner, Thomas Crabtree, was appointed a Provincial Court
Hiring a lawyer in personal injury matters can be an intimidating experience for some people. To that, Thornton says two things: firstly, they won’t charge you a nickel to come have a chat about personal injury claims, and secondly, the difference between representing yourself and having a lawyer is night and day. When it comes to personal injury, for example, dealing with ICBC without a lawyer often means settling claims for under $10,000. “Very often that is not even in the ballpark for compensation,” Thornton says.
“We’ll take a case from start to finish—do the interviewing, looking at the documenation, deciding if it’s relevant—those decisions are being made by lawyers rather than paralegals.”
Patten Thornton www.pattenthornton.com 9245 Main Street Chilliwack 604-795-9188 info@pattenthornton.com
Putting your case in the hands of experienced, home-grown lawyers such as the team at Patten Thornton means giving your case the best possible shot.
PHOTO: The Patten Thornton team has deep roots in Chilliwack.
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CHILLIWACK PROFILES OF
Paul J. Henderson
Cornelia Naylor
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aul J. Henderson is an awardwinning journalist who works for the Chilliwack Times.
He has been in the business of writing for more than 15 years, and his work has appeared in magazines and newspapers from Toronto to Vancouver as well as in the U.S. Paul has an honours degree in philosophy from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont., and he graduated from the journalism program at Langara College in Vancouver. He lives with his wife and two children in the Garrison Crossing neighbourhood of Chilliwack.
ornelia Naylor has worked as a reporter and photographer for the Chilliwack Times since 2009.
Her love of storytelling—in words, photos and video—lured her away from a teaching career and into journalism seven years ago. Cornelia has English and education degrees from the University of Alberta in Edmonton and was trained in multi-media journalism at Vancouver’s Langara College. A mom with three grown children, she currently lives in Cultus Lake with two cats.
Excellence
CHILLIWACK PROFILES OF
times Chilliwack