RICHMOND’S profiles of
EXCELLENCE
2014 Edition
R I C H M OND’S profiles of
E X CE LL E N CE
INTRODUCTION
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elcome to the 2nd annual edition of Profiles of Excellence, a very special publication of The Richmond News. With this edition of Profiles of Excellence you can scan each photograph and bring it to life with augmented reality, each image in this magazine has been enabled with Layar. Just hover your iPhone, iPad or Android smartphone or tablet over each image to bring it to life with a video.
“Excellence is an art 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 2
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 success these business leaders have achieved reflect their standards of excellence, but the most important mark of excellence is the respect and loyalty of their customers. As you will discover in these pages, Richmond 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. Tom Siba
Publisher, The Richmond News
Download the free Layar App & scan the left hand photo pages in this magazine to discover interactive content.
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PROFILES
CITY OF RICHMOND......................................................................................5 ORGANO GOLD...............................................................................................7 LULU ISLAND WINERY...................................................................................9 KAIZEN DENTAL GROUP.............................................................................11 STEVESTON REAL ESTATE - SEAN LAWSON..............................................13 ZACHARY BRUSHES......................................................................................15 TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY................................................................17 BEST DRESSED BY C......................................................................................19 CLAASSEN PARTNERS INC...........................................................................21 ADVANCED CYCLOTRON SYSTEMS INC. .................................................23 GUO LAW CORPORATION...........................................................................25 GATEWAY THEATRE......................................................................................27 NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL.....................................................................29 DISPOSAL KING LTD. ...................................................................................31 LEGEAR PELLING INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD........................................33 BOEING CANADA-AEROINFO.....................................................................35 RICHMOND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL..............................................................37
Publisher: Tom Siba | Director of Advertising: Rob Akimow | Editor: Eve Edmonds Articles: Philip Raphael | Photography: Richelle Akimow & Rob Newell Design & Production: Tracey Churchill
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CITY OF RICHMOND
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hen Richmond’s early pioneers first settled the islands at the mouth of the Fraser River, they little knew their new home would grow to become an international crossroads for trade and commerce. Farming and fishing industries remain part of the community fabric, but today transportation and distribution are the primary drivers of the robust local economy — an economy for which Richmond was recently named Western Canada’s top city for investment by Western Investment Magazine. The powerful economic engines of the Vancouver International Airport and Port Metro Vancouver combine to produce tens of thousands of local jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity. “Our prime, West Coast location has many advantages and offers unrivalled opportunities for trade with the world’s growth economies,” says Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “In this context, Richmond is unique – our businesses enjoy world-class trade infrastructure and can fully capitalize on global market and commerce opportunities.” More than 23,600 people work at YVR on Richmond’s Sea Island, an important economic contributor that generates $11.7 billion in total economic output into the Canadian economy annually. Business is only growing as finely-honed logistics now allow fresh-caught seafood and fresh from the field BC produce to leave YVR in the morning and be on dinner tables in Asia that evening. YVR is attracting new players like Canada Post, which recently opened its $200 million Pacific Processing Centre, complete with 1,200 jobs on Sea Island. A major luxury designer outlet centre now under construction at YVR is expected to eventually employ an estimated 1,000 people, while tapping into the almost 18 million passengers passing through YVR yearly. For every business at YVR, dozens more across Richmond are drawn here by convenient access to the airport.
Meanwhile, hidden away in south Richmond, Port Metro Vancouver’s local facilities are also rapidly expanding. Today, the Port’s Fraser River properties generate as much economic activity as the much ballyhooed St. Lawrence Seaway. Mammoth new warehousing operations such as the 600,000 square foot Hopewell Distribution Centre are luring major transportation logistics tenants to Richmond.
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Also in southeast Richmond, the Ecowaste Industrial Park is anticipated to create 4,800 jobs and over 2,000,000 square feet of in-demand industrial space over the next decade. With the port and airport supported by the Canada Line and close proximity to the US border, Richmond’s competitive advantage has helped lure an impressive roster of corporate head offices to Richmond, such as retail and service industry leaders like London Drugs, Boston Pizza and Great Canadian Casinos. Meanwhile, new businesses are being nurtured. China Fiber Optic Network and F-Pacific Optical Communication, suppliers to the burgeoning international fiber optics market, recently teamed up to bring 200 new jobs to Richmond, with potential growth projections that are through the roof. They join a strong technology sector in Richmond that already includes international leaders such as MDA and Sierra Wireless. “Richmond’s long-term plans, built into our Official Community Plan, foresee a prosperous community, where residents, visitors and businesses can enjoy worldclass levels of municipal services at no cost to future generations,” concludes Mayor Brodie. “We are committed, more than ever, to continue working with our companies and partners to advance Richmond’s success.”
“We are committed, more than ever, to continue working with our companies and partners to advance Richmond’s success” – Mayor Malcom Brodie City of Richmond
CITY OF RICHMOND 6911 NO. 3 ROAD RICHMOND, BC V6Y 2C1 TEL: 604.276.4000 WEB: RICHMOND.CA
STORY & PHOTOS: Provided
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ORGANO GOLD
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rgano Gold may have only started its mission six short years ago, but its foundation stretches back millennia. That foundation is Ganoderma Lucidum — a mushroom revered by practitioners of traditional Asian medicine.
Organo Gold uses the network marketing business model of distribution, our customers are educated about Ganoderma from their OG Distributors. There is also information about Ganoderma on the OG retail site, which can be accessed through organogold.com.
The Richmond-based company incorporates the mushroom, known for its healing properties, into regularly consumed products, such as coffee, to provide a greater state of wellbeing for its customers.
While Ganoderma was originally harvested by traditional means from forested areas, today Organo Gold stands as the sole North American firm to partner with the largest, certified organic Ganoderma plantation in the world. Ground was broken at the $240 million Gano Herb Industrial Park in China in 2009.
Ganoderma Lucidum grows in densely forested areas. Its lofty status may not mean much to the uninitiated. But the strides Organo Gold has made since 2008 have brought this highest-ranked herb — whose Chinese name, Lingzhi, means “spiritual potency” — to the forefront with an effective marketing organization that delivers sales in more than 35 countries, on six continents. How? At its core, the product speaks for itself as Organo Gold has harnessed the properties of the Ganoderma Lucidum and infused it into a wide ranging line of beverages (coffees and teas), as well as nutritional supplements and personal care items such as soaps and toothpaste. Organo Gold efficacy reports show that the Company’s products support the immune function.
At GHIP, agricultural and food scientists dry, sterilize and process the mushroom from a tough, wood-like cap, into a fine, flavourless powder that is then incorporated into the product lines. The company’s decision to employ a network marketing method of sales — social selling — fits well with its primary product, coffee, a social staple the world over. “By introducing people to Ganoderma through coffee, we enhance that social experience at the product and business level,” Chua said. “We offer great products that enhance an already active lifestyle, plus we are able to offer an income opportunity for those who want to sell the products.”
“Ganoderma is relatively new in the Western world but is rapidly gaining popularity — similar to when Ginseng was introduced into the Western general marketplace 30 to 40 years ago,” stated Bernardo Chua, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Organo Gold.
Organo Gold employs approximately 125 at the Richmond location, another 400 around the globe, and has roughly a million-plus distributors — quite a remarkable workforce for a young company that values being based in Canada.
In 2013, Organo Gold was ranked the 55th largest network marketing company in the world, according to the Direct Selling News Top 100.
“Canada’s regulatory environment is among the toughest in the world, so having our business here and meeting the strict business and product guidelines of Canada gives our Company additional credibility, and that has allowed us to meet the regulatory guidelines of other countries much more quickly than might otherwise be possible,” Chua said.
A key factor in that growth has been the education about an old world remedy that is readily available for a modern world of consumers. “We primarily use coffee and other daily products as a vehicle to introduce Ganoderma to audiences that are not familiar with the herb,” Chua said. “Since STORY: Philip Raphael
For more information about Organo Gold, visit organogold.com.
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“We offer great products that enhance an already active lifestyle, plus we are able to offer an income opportunity for those who want to sell the products.” – Bernardo Chua Founder and CEO Organo Gold
ORGANOGOLD 12148 HORSESHOE WAY RICHMOND, BC V7A 4V5 TEL: 604.638.6840 WEB: ORGANOGOLD.COM
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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LULU ISLAND WINERY
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ohn Chang is living his long-held philosophy that “business has no boundaries.”
For three decades he ran a successful information technology manufacturing company in Taiwan. He thrived in the fast-moving environment as sweeping technological change dictated the company’s pace. In 1995, he decided to trade that in for a more pastoral focus and moved to Canada with the idea of showcasing the country’s natural bounty — namely, wine production. In 2001, Chang started his own operation, Blossom Winery, in an industrial area of central Richmond. It honed in on the burgeoning markets for ice and fruit-based wines. He chose Richmond for its abundance of blueberries, which was proving to be a very popular fruit because of its healthy, high antioxidant properties, especially valued by Asian markets. Chang set out to target customers overseas. Ice wines had also developed a similar cachet and tapped into the grape growing areas of the Okanagan. While Chang, 61, thought Blossom was an apt name to describe the natural characteristic of the products, the next step in broadening his business meant establishing a destination facility to raise the brand’s profile. He wanted a label that reflected location and indicated his expansion into the table wine market. Lulu Island Winery fit the bill. The story goes that Richard Moody, the first Lt. Gov. of British Columbia in the mid 1850s, named the Fraser River Delta community of Richmond after Lulu Sweet, a popular showgirl of the time. Thus, Lulu Island Winery — a $7 million, 22,000-square-foot facility that looks like it was plucked from the Tuscany region of Italy — was opened in 2009 amid the farm fields along the eastern stretch of Westminster Highway.
STORY: Philip Raphael
Today, four varieties of red wine and four white are produced on the premises using grapes grown in Richmond — on a 15-acre plot at the rear of the winery — and three vineyards covering about 100 acres in the Okanagan.
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In addition to that, a pair of ice wine products, and blueberry and raspberry wines are made from fruit grown in Richmond and Abbotsford, respectively. At the outset, exports were sent to China, Taiwan, and Japan. Markets in China had yet to be explored and set up, but today it represents the chief destination for the products and makes the Richmond winery the single largest exporter of Canadian wines to China with an 18 per cent market share. Steady growth has been the hallmark of Lulu Island Winery over the years. Under Blossom Winery, it was named among the top 24 exports from B.C. Today, 75 per cent of production is earmarked for overseas customers. Chang has also steadily increased the enterprise’s profile. In 2010, Lulu Island hosted China House during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and in 2012 he accompanied Prime Minister Stephen Harper to China on an official visit. Chang credits a number of factors for making this business expansion possible. Among those factors is Richmond’s close proximity to Vancouver International Airport, making overseas shipments a convenient drive to YVR. In return, the winery is a short trip from the airport for overseas visitors to stop off and view exactly where the wine is produced.
“I wanted people, customers, to see the winery and our local vineyard, together,” that has been my dream.” – John Chang Owner Lulu Island Winery
“I wanted people, customers, to see the winery and our local vineyard, together,” Chang explained. “That has been my dream.” LULU ISLAND WINERY 16880 WESTMINSTER HWY RICHMOND, BC V6V 1A8 TEL: 604.232.9839 WEB: LULUISLANDWINERY.COM
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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DR. GREG NELSON & DR. ARV SOOCH
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ood things happen when people subscribe to the same winning formula.
For Richmond dentists Dr. Greg Nelson and Dr. Arv Sooch, proof of that is in the smiles they get from their patients. The pair who run their practice on River Road both put plenty of stock in charting their own futures and continually upgrading their skills. Plus, they each shared the same mentor, who instilled in them the pride of providing a service of the utmost quality. While studying at UBC Nelson was initially taking a path towards marine biology — a field he pursued because he enjoys being in the outdoors. But he had a number of fellow UBC colleagues who were passionately taking up dentistry, which influenced his decision to follow a self-determining career path. He spent a couple of summers as a lineman for BC Tel, but “I also had a number of really crummy jobs through university, so I knew working for myself would be the way to go,” Nelson quipped. He also picked fruit, toiled on a construction site, and served as an inspector of oil pipes coming out of a steel mill in Calgary. For Sooch, a career in the health profession was in the cards since he had already earned a degree as a pharmacist. “I worked as a pharmacist for a year, but then wanted more control over my environment,” he said.
“We have worked together on a number of surgical cases over the years and we’re quite complimentary,” Nelson said.
“The rule was to do things as well as you can,” Nelson added. “Then to do it better the next time,” Sooch said with a smile. Helping achieve that is a dedication to upgrading their skills. Both Nelson and Sooch have been through the Pankey Institute of advanced dental education in Miami, Florida, one of the most acclaimed schools in the industry. They have also trained at the Kois Center in Seattle, Washington. “North America probably has the best continuing education for dentists anywhere on the planet,” Nelson said. “Continually learning is what inspires me. I just enjoy learning stuff, and the more continuing education I do, the more I find out there is more that I have to learn.”
That gave him the opportunity to think about how he wanted to pursue his career path.
“Dentistry today has become easier for dentists and better for patients because it’s less invasive,” Nelson said.
“Dentistry seemed to be the greatest calling for me,” he said. “And as time has gone on, my passion for dentistry has increased, mainly because of the people I surrounded myself with and who I picked as mentors.”
“When I came out of dental school 30 years ago, we had amalgam metal fillings and dentures — two hammers,” Nelson explained. “And every problem was a nail for those hammers. Now, we have a full toolbox of solutions which we didn’t have 30 years ago.”
That union has allowed them to streamline their operation and incorporate a shared vision.
STORY: Philip Raphael
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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“It’s all about excellence,” Nelson explained. “That’s really what we strive for. That was paramount for Sipko and he instilled that in many dentists in the Lower Mainland. A lot of that rubbed off on Arv and I, which has sparked us, kept us enthusiastic and in the game.
So, he took off with Air Canada and was a flight attendant for three years.
“Greg and I knew each other during that time, working in the same building, but in different practices,” Sooch said. “So, we decided a couple of years ago to come together completely.”
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“Our philosophies are very well aligned,” Sooch added. “And that goes back to our mentors and the clinical education we’ve pursued.”
Technical advancements in equipment and materials — such as 3D imaging for dental implants, digital x-rays, and new, more durable materials for repairing teeth — are another part of the story.
The men both shared the influence of longtime Richmond dentist Bud Sipko.
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“Dentistry today has become easier for dentists and better for patients because it’s less invasive” – Dr. Greg Nelson Kaizen Dental Group
But at the end of the day, positive results are ultimately achieved by developing a closeness with their patients. “Their smiles come from the relationships we’ve been able to develop with them over time,” Sooch said.”That’s probably the most rewarding part of what we do since our friends also happen to be patients.”
KAIZEN DENTAL GROUP DR. GREG NELSON AND DR. ARV SOOCH SUITE 280, 7580 RIVER RD RICHMOND, BC V6X 1X6 TEL: 604.232.3900 604.270.1341 WEB: KAIZENDENTAL.COM
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STEVESTON REAL ESTATE SEAN LAWSON
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eal estate agents derive a great sense of satisfaction when they make a match for their clients by finding them a new place to call their own — an apartment, townhouse, single family home or commercial unit. It’s what Sean Lawson has done for the past two decades — but he’s also done much more. With his Re/Max Steveston Real Estate firm, Lawson has helped create a community. As the name suggests, his focus has been helping transform neighbourhoods in and around the historic fishing village with his skills in land assembly, re-zoning applications and development. Raised in central Richmond (he was a member of coach Bill Disbrow’s famed Richmond Colts basketball squad in the 1980s) and a Steveston resident since the early 1990s, Lawson puts great care into what he does because Steveston is his backyard. “I love Steveston. Anything Steveston,” said Lawson, whose young family — wife Pat and two daughters aged nine and 13 — is immersed in the community through local schools and sports organizations. “I coach both basketball and soccer. So, I’m working during the day, then go home and put on either my basketball shoes or soccer cleats and I’m on the court or the fields about six days a week.” He is also an active member of the Steveston Merchant’s Association. With that level of involvement locally, it makes it easy and a pleasure to sell Steveston, Lawson said. “We live here, we work here. This is a very tight community,” he said. What’s kept him busy much of the last decade has been the London Landing development projects at the south end of No. 2 Road. “Finding that special place for someone and closing the deal is always the satisfying end of being a realtor,” Lawson said. “But more satisfying is creating a whole neighbourhood and being involved as part of the team to make that happen.” His firm includes eight realtors and three administration staff.
STORY: Philip Raphael
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Lawson initially hoped to become an architect, a career path he began through BCIT’s Building Technologies Program. Along the way, he and a business partner teamed up to form a custom house construction firm which twigged his curiosity about the real estate business. “So, I got my real estate licence to sell the houses I was building,” he said. “I quickly realized my skills were better suited to the real estate aspect and left the building to the builders.” Lawson also ended up earning a degree in Urban Land Economics at UBC. With the London Landing project near completion, Lawson is turning his attention to the eastern end of Lulu Island — the community of Hamilton — where he is steering the overall development to be known as Hamilton Village. Situated on land previously occupied by the Lois Lanes bowling alley, plus some other parcels of adjacent land, the project is scheduled to accommodate more than 1,000 units spread among condos, townhouse, plus room for retail spaces. “It’s a whole new community,” Lawson said, adding he will be employing the same care and attention to detail he has become renowned for in dealing with the properties in Steveston. “It will have a high density village core and commercial buildings with a Starbucks, a butcher, baker and some retirement housing, as well.
“Finding that special place for someone and closing the deal is always the satisfying end of being a realtor” – Sean Lawson Re/Max Steveston Real Estate
“It’s a great, cute little neighbourhood with the river running by it. Plus, if you took a map of the Lower Mainland and stuck a pin in the centre of it, that would be right on nearby Queensborough,” Lawson said. “So, the connectivity is amazing.” With Lawson’s background, track record in the business, and team of dedicated staff, last year Re/Max Steveston Real Estate was named the company’s top real estate team in Western Canada. “We’ve received many awards over the years, but that one was probably the most satisfying we’ve had,” he said. “It puts into perspective all the things we have managed to accomplish.”
STEVESTON REAL ESTATE SEAN LAWSON 12235 NUMBER 1 RD, RICHMOND, BC V7E 1T6 TEL: 604.274.7326 WEB: STEVESTONREALESTATE.COM
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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ZACHARY BRUSHES
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imon Hui has proven that one of the golden rules of running a successful business is to know your customers well.
Just how did he do that? Simple. He followed in their brushstrokes. For the better part of a year, Hui would show up at construction sites around the Lower Mainland and lend his hand to professional painting crews. While volunteering his time, Hui learned the skills required and what equipment — namely paint brushes — achieved the best results. Today, that information has allowed him to build a business — Richmond-based Zachary Brushes — into a leading supplier of high-quality paint brushes to the professional trades (Benjamin Moore paint stores), as well as a string of DIY chains (Rona and Home Hardware) across the country. “I learned quickly that the right brushes made a huge difference,” said Hui who came to Canada from Hong Kong in the late 1990s after running a garment manufacturing firm there which supplied markets in Japan. Hui used that experience in supplying products to discerning clients to seek a better paint brush for the professional painting market here in Canada. “It was pretty simple. Whatever made the painters’ job quicker, easier and ended up providing a professional finish at the right price was what customers were going to choose,” Hui said. Armed with that knowledge, Hui began importing high-quality brush filaments from Japan which he matched with paintbrush handles from Poland. The odd, international combination, which was assembled in China, became a hit as he made return visits to work sites, dropping off free samples of his products for delighted painters he hoped would become future customers.
STORY: Philip Raphael
It worked.
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“The painters loved the brushes,” said Hui, who made the rounds for the better part of a year before opening up for sales. Not only were Zacahry Brushes more competitively priced than the North American and even Chinese manufactured competition, his brushes had a distinct edge — literally. Employing his newly acquired painting expertise, Hui set up a production line in his office to trim — by hand using scissors — the tips of the brush filaments to give them a much finer edge which granted painters significantly more control when applying paint. The improvement was so significant that it allowed painting crews to dispense with the time and cost of putting down painter’s tape which is traditionally used to help cut in sections of surfaces. He also backed up his products with a double your money back guarantee, something unheard of in the business. Today, Hui has also steadily improved the products with more refined brush filaments from South Korea, and quality brush handles from China. He still insists that the finished brushes — which are assembled in China — undergo close inspection and trimming here in Richmond to ensure quality control. And again, that means taking matters into his own hands as Hui often trims about 400 brushes a day himself.
“I like getting the letters and emails from people, especially those in the painting business, telling me how much they like using my brushes” – Simon Hui Owner Zachary Brushes
While that’s a lot of hands-on work for him and his small workforce of a half dozen or so employees, the consistent, positive feedback he receives from happy customers makes the job more than worthwhile, even when external forces such as the downturn in the economy starting in 2008 put a dent in sales. “I like getting the letters and emails from people, especially those in the painting business, telling me how much they like using my brushes,” Hui said. “It makes me feel good to know what I do can make a difference.”
ZACHARY BRUSHES 11880 HAMMERSMITH WAY, RICHMOND, BC V7A 5C8 TEL: 1.866.207.1655 WEB: ZACHARYBRUSHES.COM
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY
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eveloping leaders for the 21st century, is the vision of Trinity Western University at its new Richmond Learning Centre, set to open in late spring 2015. The 20,000 square foot Learning Centre will serve an estimated 500-700 adult and international students. “Education is no longer limited to single campus locations. It’s about being accessible to people, meeting them where they are, and empowering them to move forward,” says the Executive Director TWU Extension, Linda Long. As demographics change, economic pressures loom, and technology moves at lightning speeds, the need for good leadership at all levels remain the only ‘constant’ amidst an ever-changing and complex marketplace. Located on the third and fourth floor of the City of Richmond’s City Centre Community Centre and the Quintet Condominium Development, the TWU Extension site will be uniquely paced to offer the perfect environment for learners to grow and flourish. By locating in a facility adjacent to the Community Centre, students can access community fitness and arts programs while focusing on the highquality academic programming that TWU provides. “Richmond is a prime location for us”, said Dr. Philip Laird, Associate Provost of TWU, “and was selected for a number of reasons.” Eager to establish an urban-focused setting to complement their rural main campus in Langley, the Richmond venue allows TWU to further diversify its student body. “Richmond is a prime venue because of its proximity to Vancouver International Airport as well as amenities for international students in and around Richmond”, says Laird. “Convenient, relevant, and relational is what characterizes TWU’s program offerings in Richmond,” says Long. The focus of studies at the new campus will be on leadership in three streams. The Adult Degree Completion BA in Leadership is
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specifically designed for busy adults who have partially finished degrees or certificates and need to complete their bachelor degree in evenings or weekends. This program is attracting a wide range of adults currently working in business, healthcare, banking, public safety, education and more. “Our accelerated format focuses on workplace relevant coursework, effectively integrating studies with praxis opportunities within an organization,” explains Long. Similarly, the International Degree Completion program is specially designed for international students who have a certificate or diploma from an international school and desire to upgrade to a bachelor’s degree through full time semester studies. Since the fall of 2012, TWU has been providing BA in Leadership programs in Richmond at the Richmond Cultural Centre and Richmond Olympic Oval. “In complement to these programs we are looking forward to launching our MA in Leadership with a focus on business leadership in January 2015,” reported Dr. Laird. “TWU’s goal is to become one of the top, globally recognized, Christian universities”, says Laird. He goes on to say, “TWU will equip individuals to impact their workplace or organization – both nationally and internationally. We are committed to helping individuals understand who they are while developing critical skills in areas such as consensus building, conflict management and ethical decision making processes.” In addition to serving local international and adult learners with degree programs, TWU will be providing professional development opportunities to the community. “We are thrilled to be interacting and contributing in unique ways to this growing and vibrant city,” says Linda Long.
PHOTO: (L-R) Paul Lermitte - TWU Richmond Advisory Council, Linda Long - Executive Director TWU Extension, Phil Laird - Assoc. Provost -TWU, Sheldon Loeppky - Assoc. Provost - TWU, Wayne Duzita - TWU Richmond Advisory Council, Clara Chow - TWU Richmond Advisory Council, Rob Thomson - Director Corp Partnerships PHOTO: (top right) Phil Laird - Assoc. Provost - TWU, The Honourable Alice Wong - P.C., M.P. Sheldon Loeppky - Assoc. Provost - TWU STORY: Philip Raphael
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“Convenient, relevant, and relational is what characterizes TWU’s program offerings in Richmond” – Linda Long Executive Director TWU Extension
TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY LEARNING CENTRE OPENING SPRING 2015 5900 MINORU BLVD RICHMOND, BC TEL: 604.513.2067 WEB: TWU.CA
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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BEST DRESSED BY C
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f one of major the goals in life is to have a career you love, Christen Haines has found the perfect fit.
The owner of Best Dressed by C in Steveston has taken her 20-plus years in the fashion retail industry and distilled it into her very own business she simply adores. From selecting the lines to helping customers find the look that is right for them, Haines says she enjoys every facet of what she does. And at the top of her list is the satisfaction she feels when finding that perfect match for a client. “I love walking around here and seeing smiles on peoples’ faces,” says Haines who opened Best Dressed by C this spring and has developed a steady and loyal clientele who appreciate the casual, party and one-of-a-kind wedding and evening wear dresses she specializes in. “I am all about having exclusive lines, and with the evening and wedding dresses, that’s what we’re known for,” she says. In fact, having access to exclusive fashion lines has been part of her business plan right from the very beginning when she showed her maverick style with innovative marketing. It was designed to draw attention to the niche small businesses, such as hers, can fill for customers who are tired of the mass retail shopping experiences found in cookie-cutter malls or downtown settings. She was determined to bring originality and customers back to the Canadian marketplace with a price structure that offered value for money. “I was the one who, along with co-workers, dressed up in evening wear, headed down to the Peace Arch border crossing and started handing out flyers to cross-border shoppers,” she says. “I was asking them why they were heading south when small businesses back here at home have so much more to offer them.”
STORY: Philip Raphael
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The unique tactic drew plenty of attention. But she didn’t stop there. She undertook a role as a live mannequin in her storefront window, which in her own style, Haines didn’t settle for being just a static model to help spark plenty of more interest. She started to interact with passersby, giving them the unique opportunity to see the creative and lively character she is. “What can I say, I just love what I do,” she says, adding a good dose of honesty in the fashion retail trade is what she adds to her store. “I am not afraid of telling my clients what I see,” she says. “That’s not something you’d ordinarily find in a large, retail setting where staff are on commission. Often, they’ll tell you what you’d like to hear. I’m not like that. I am who I am. “If you offer a customer honesty and guidance, they will come back.” That philosophy matches well with the products she stocks from designers and suppliers whom she has developed close relationships with on both sides of North America, as well as in Europe.
“If you offer a customer honesty and guidance, they will come back” – Christen Haines Owner Best Dressed by C
“I do all the buying myself. I don’t rely on someone sending me a line of dresses they would like me to sell,” she says. “I can’t sell what I don’t like. And I buy the best of what I find.” Haines also enjoys being part of the community in Steveston. “It’s rewarding to see the area grow, flourish and know you’ve been a part of that,” she says. “I love this community.”
BEST DRESSED BY C 12420 NO. 1 ROAD RICHMOND, BC TEL: 604.271.6415 WEB: BESTDRESSEDBYC.COM
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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CLAASSEN PARTNERS INC. CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANTS
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he business of accountancy is about more than numbers, according to the father-son team at Claassen Partners Inc. It’s about realizing there are real people behind those digits, explains Frank Claassen, CPA, CGA. “I am a big fan of getting to know our clients. I like going out to see them, going into their warehouse, talking to the employees, being aware of my client’s business and being able to step in and fill a role for them,” says Frank. In 1972, he started with the company, originally established in Vancouver by the eldest of his six brothers. “We like to believe that our clients are our friends, and that adds to the vitality of the relationship.” Frank moved his practice to Richmond in 1999, continuing the family name that has extended to include his son, Eric, who joined in 2007. “We’re a small, boutique accounting firm with longevity,” says Frank. “Clients like that. And with Eric coming on, they see a new generation, a continuation.” But working with family can have its pitfalls, as well. That’s why the Claassens have established some clear boundaries. “Our relationship, it works well,” says Frank. “Part of the success is keeping things at armslength. Business is business, and home life is home life. Not mixing the two provides an arrangement that can last.” Plus, Eric was adamant his role would be something he realized the old fashioned way — through hard work and talent. “It was important for me that whatever I got, I earned,” he said. “I’ve been blessed with opportunity, but I’ve been able to capitalize on that using my own skill set.” Eric, a graduate of Hugh Boyd Secondary and the University of Victoria, originally pursued a history major, with thoughts of becoming a teacher. In his last year of study, he took a fancy to finance, entrepreneurship and accounting and focused on business courses. Since then, he gained his CGA designation in 2010 and grew his own client base. “There seems to be a bit of a natural, generational appeal,” Eric says. “In my generation, there’s been a big push towards entrepreneurship as the economy has been recovering. Businesses are looking at firms of our size where they can see eye-to-eye with the person who is handling their affairs.”
STORY: Philip Raphael
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Father and son are able to accomplish that because they limit their scope of clients to privately held businesses that vary in size from sole proprietors to national retailers. “Because we model ourselves after a slice of a big firm, we have all of the expertise they can deliver, but with more personality,” Eric says. “And we have a diverse practice, which is both exciting, challenging and makes coming to work more fun.” But that involvement doesn’t conclude at the finish of the work day. Frank has been an active community volunteer since his university days. He started with United Way, and was then exposed to Volunteer Vancouver. “I enjoy volunteering, as it gives me an opportunity to give back. When I came to Richmond, I served as president of Seafair Minor Hockey for many years and I’m currently the chairman of the Richmond Arenas Community Association and the treasurer of the Richmond Community Foundation,” he says. Frank has also lent his professional talents to the development of the Richmond Olympic Oval. On the professional side, Frank is an elected governor of the Certified General Accountants Association of B.C.
“We’re fiercely proud of the practice that bears our name and has been in existence since the early 1970s” – Frank Claassen CPA, CGA Claasseen Partners Inc.
“Part of what I do is giving back time and expertise,” he says. That dedication to community has rubbed off on Eric as he is also involved in numerous organizations, including the Young Investor Program, which provides high school students with guidance on personal financial literacy. “It’s nice to be able to give back when you can, do your part,” Eric says. “We’re fiercely proud of the practice that bears our name and has been in existence since the early 1970s,” Frank says. “I am particularly proud of my involvement in city and volunteer affairs. And we’re proud of providing our professional skills to our clients. We have a high level of expertise and standards we like to maintain. That’s part of who we are — solid, ethical accountants.”
CLAASSEN PARTNERS INC. 3225 - 8888 ODLIN CRESCENT RICHMOND, BC V6X 3Z8 TEL: 604.207.8781 WEB: CLAASSEN.CA
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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ADVANCED CYCLOTRON SYSTEMS INC.
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sotope Valley — Richard Eppich hopes to go there one day, soon.
And when he does, Richmond’s Advanced Cyclotron Systems Inc. (ACSI) is expected to have played a major part in its establishment. “Everyone has heard of Silicon Valley as the centre of some the world’s largest technology firms,” says Eppich, ACSI’s chief executive officer and president. “We’d like to do the same for the research and development of medical isotopes, right here in the Lower Mainland.” Because of their short radioactive lives, isotopes are employed in medical scans for cancer and heart disease and are produced by cyclotrons, like the ones ACSI produces. They accelerate particles to near the speed of light to produce chemical elements. One called technetium, when injected into a patient, can identify areas where a specific disease is present and assist in determining the most effective course of treatment. The nuclear medicine process is in increasing demand globally, and this corner of B.C. is well suited to be the incubator of research and development. “We have a unique mix of skills here,” Eppich said. “We have some of the world’s best researchers in particle physics at TRIUMF located at UBC. We believe we are the best cyclotron manufacturer in the world. And, we have the BC Cancer Agency, which is known around the world for cancer diagnostics and treatment.” The goal is to co-ordinate efforts in all three areas and attract the world’s greatest minds to further develop the industry. The bold vision is derived from Ebco Industries’ — ACSI’s parent company founded by Eppich’s father Helmut and twin brother Hugo in 1958 — involvement in building components for one of the world’s biggest cyclotrons at TRIUMF back in the early 1970s.
STORY: Philip Raphael
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“The machining of parts on that cyclotron had to be so precise that TRIUMF went around the world looking for firms to do it, not thinking the expertise existed right here in Richmond,” Eppich said. “They were surprised when they found Ebco was up to snuff.” Ebco then built on its involvement with the TRIUMF project by designing and manufacturing its own, scaled-down cyclotrons at ACSI that would be employed in producing the much in demand medical isotopes, such as the most commonly used one — technetium. Previously, it could only be derived from weapons grade uranium, and its major producing facility at Chalk River in Ontario was an aging nuclear plant scheduled to be decommissioned in 2016. “When we first announced that we could produce technetium, we had experts saying this can’t be done,” Eppich says. “But we just knew it could be. And we did it on time and on budget.” The end result was the production and branding of the isotope generated in ACSI’s cyclotrons as CycloTec. “This is a great example of when there’s stress in the system — in this case a shortage of isotopes — innovation with some conviction, can bring you through.” The decision to embark on the endeavour was, in part, spurred by the naysayers. “It’s almost better when other people don’t believe you can do something because that gives you a head start,” Eppich says, adding the plan is to continue using the synergies of Ebco and ACSI to propel both businesses forward another five decades or more.
“It’s almost better when other people don’t believe you can do something because that gives you a head start” – Richard Eppich President and CEO Advanced Cyclotron Systems Inc.
“We’d love nothing more than to be able to celebrate that anniversary,” Eppich said. ADVANCED CYCLOTRON SYSTEMS INC. UNIT 150 - 7280 RIVER RD, RICHMOND, BC V6X 1X5 TEL: 604.276.1493 WEB: ADVANCEDCYCLOTRON.COM
PHOTOS: Rob Newell
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GUO LAW CORPORATION
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f there’s anything that one can take away from the story of Hong Guo, founder and director of the Guo Law Corporation on No. 3 Road, it’s that you should always listen to your professor. She now has 14 years experience under her belt and runs her own law firm that looks after everything from big name commercial transactions in resources and hightech sectors to matters of real estate. But Guo almost went in a very different direction while still a social science master’s student at Regina University in Saskatchewan. “It was kind of by accident,” she says, reminiscing about how she chose to enter her current profession. “I was accepted by the University of Pennsylvania for a PhD in sociology. I went to see my professor, he said that this was not a good idea, and that I should think about law school instead. So I tried.” Instead of studying to become a professor herself, she stayed in Canada and studied for the bar in Ontario at the Windsor Law School. Following graduation, in 2002 Guo went to work for the state council of the People’s Republic of China in her native Beijing where she was recognized for notable contributions in advancing SinoCanadian relations. Soon after, she was appointed as foreign legal specialist where she really cut her teeth in the business, working with large Chinese companies and various embassies and consulates. Guo even had the opportunity to collaborate with former Canadian ambassador Howard Balloch whom she refers to as her “very good friend.”
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still the only lawyer but is looking to add more as the firm’s work portfolio expands. “We set up companies for clients, draft documents and shareholder agreements, lease agreements, employment agreements, all kinds of things,” she says. “For example, I recently helped a Chinese company acquire a public mining company in Canada.” Guo also provides immigration services, in which she not only helps newcomers from China navigate Canada’s bureaucratic system, but also helps them understand the new culture and the legal system so they know how to conduct themselves and fit better into society. New immigrants and Chinese business owners make up 95 per cent of her customers and is partly the reason that the offices are located in Richmond. Things are going so well for Guo, in fact, she is hopeful an expansion is on the horizon. Staffing will be increased, but she has no plans to leave the city. “We’re very happy here, this is the best place,” says Guo, who added she loves her profession and can’t see herself doing anything else.
“We help bridge the gap between China and Canada” – Hong Guo Founder and Director Guo Law Corporation
“It feels like a game to me — I don’t feel like I’m working, I feel like I’m playing.”
Before starting the Guo Law Corporation, Guo had a stint at another Canadian firm. But five years ago, she decided it was time to strike out on her own. She recruited a small handful of close colleagues in the industry and now has a workforce of more than 20 employees, consisting of paralegals, language interpreters and assistants. She is
PHOTO: HONG GUO, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, GUO LAW CORPORATION STORY: Philip Raphael
GUO LAW CORPORATION 120-6068 NO. 3 ROAD RICHMOND, BC V6Y 4M7 TEL: 778.297.6560 WEB: GUOLAW.COM
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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GATEWAY THEATRE
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hen is a community’s performing arts theatre more than just a stage? When it’s called Gateway Theatre.
The local hub of the performing arts is a much beloved civic jewel. And this year, Gateway is looking back on three decades of its history while charting a course for the future. Artistic director Jovanni Sy said the theatre has undergone a unique evolution during its existence, starting with serving as a municipal roadhouse theatre that principally catered to the community — a focus that will not change — while presenting programming produced elsewhere. That started to subtly change in 2000 when previous artistic director Simon Johnston began, over his 12-year tenure, developing Gateway’s identity as a regional theatre. “Instead of presenting other people’s works we would produce our own,” Sy explained, adding the incremental shift established a culture of live, professional theatre locally. “We would have the same artists you’d see at the Arts Club, Bard on the Beach, but in our productions,” Sy said. Johnston also oversaw the transformation of Gateway’s Studio B to become a performance space featuring more experimental, adventurous productions. “It focused on new, Canadian writing, which is a really ambitious thing for a regional theatre — developing new voices which is so important to the lifeblood of theatre,” Sy said. That legacy will be proudly continued, Sy said. “We are producing some of the best theatre you can see anywhere in the Lower Mainland.” While that is an ongoing goal, Gateway Theatre has also embarked on a 15-year plan designed to focus on specific aspects. It begins with the addition of contemporary Chinese theatre that is a nod to the rich cultural representation in Richmond. The second phase caters to theatre for young audiences. “That’s a real reflection of Richmond being a place for young families and a celebration of youth,” Sy said. The final phase represents embracing an experimental theatre series.
STORY: Philip Raphael
“That will celebrate Richmond as a city of innovation.”
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But no matter what the footlights illuminate, Gateway Theatre will continue to be a venue of treasured memories. It’s something Sy is reminded of frequently. “Anywhere I go in the city, when I talk to people and say I am from the Gateway, they say, ‘Oh, I used to perform there when I was in high school,’ or ‘My daughter performed on your MainStage in a recital.’ “That’s one of the unique things about this facility, it’s a place loved ones and neighbours performed, but also where some of Canada’s most celebrated artists have, as well.” Another deep connection Gateway has with the community is its academy, which has been in existence for 22 years. “It provides continuity with the community and does not make theatre this lofty, elevated practice only for the elite,” Sy said. “Theatre is for everyone. It’s about finding inner creativity, and that’s just as valid for an eightyear-old as it is for someone who has been acting for 30 years.” Support for Gateway’s endeavours has come from a variety of sources, and Sy praised them all, but specially mentioned the City of Richmond for its assistance over the years. “Living in Richmond, we are so lucky to have forward-thinking leadership at city hall. They recognize that arts and culture are what make a city a better place to live,” Sy said. “It makes a community more vibrant. It’s great for fostering creativity in our children, making this a place of more understanding and tolerance.” Help has also come from a veritable army of volunteers who play a role wherever they are needed — from front of the house greeters to behind the scenes. “We have some of the best volunteers anywhere in Canadian theatre,” Sy said. “They are so dedicated and enthusiastic and give so much of their time. We’re so lucky to have such good ambassadors for the theatre. “We didn’t get to be 30 years old without the support of the community,” Sy said. “And if we want to sustain ourselves for the next three decades, I hope people will come and show their support, not just for the building, but arts and culture in general.”
“That’s one of the unique things about this facility, it’s a place loved ones and neighbours performed, but also where some of Canada’s most celebrated artists have, as well.” – Jovanni Sy Artistic Director Gateway Theatre
GATEWAY THEATRE 6500 GILBERT RD, RICHMOND, BC V7C 3V4 TEL: 604.270.6500 WEB: GATEWAYTHEATRE.COM
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL
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he business of investment banking is not just about making the numbers work for clients, it’s also about developing relationships, said Gary Wu. Wu, the Richmond branch manager at National Bank Financial, said that is paramount, especially since the majority of his clients are newcomers to Canada, an experience he shares with them. “I am a landed immigrant myself,” said Wu, who packed up his young family — a wife and two children — and brought them to Canada in 1986 after he had established a successful banking career in Taiwan. “My family was very surprised, to say the least, when I told them about the move,” said Wu, adding he yearned for a change in focus. “I was the regional treasurer for Standard Bank in Taipei,” he said, explaining it involved foreign exchange trading and Treasury management.
At NBF, Wu helps develop financial plans to provide a sustainable cash flow for clients. He also advises them on the best approach within the Canadian tax environment, which is much more onerous than in Asia. For example, most tax structures there do not have a capital gains tax. “We help find them a tax efficient investment solution in Canada,” Wu said.
So, he decided to find a new challenge within the field of finance on another continent.
“This business is all about trust,” he said. “And many of my clients become good friends. I get to know their families, their kids. So, when they come to make a decision on a major life event, many of them will come and ask for my opinion. And that’s a great compliment to our operation here.”
STORY: Philip Raphael
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“I tell my clients here that in a free, competitive market, manage their wealth in accordance to their investment objectives and leverage the resources from National Bank Financial. Working together, we strive to deliver above-average returns. ” he said.
But away from the balance sheets, Wu, who speaks English, Mandarin and Taiwanese, serves as a welcome and trusted face in a new country.
“I know all the challenges they are facing in a new country,” said Wu, who earned a Masters Degree in Business Economics at the University of California. “And the most important challenge is how they go about supporting themselves financially in their new surroundings. And many are not familiar with the North American financial markets.”
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Much of that unfamiliarity deals with the highly regulated nature of markets here compared to those in Asia where there are frequent promises of high returns and guaranteed principal retention. Often, those too good to be true investments are not fulfilled.
Wu found it was a very high-pressure and responsible position dealing with large sums of money, but it lacked a personal element.
And Wu found it here, in a country he had never even visited or had any business or family connections. Here, he provides worry free investment solutions, when managing portfolios, for investors who find Canada all new to them, both in terms of culture and business dealings.
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“This business is all about trust” – Gary Wu Richmond Branch Manager National Bank Financial
An example of that trust is the status NBF’s portfolio manager possess for discretionary managed accounts. “Not many advisors have that qualification,” Wu said, “to independently manage an account according to a certain criteria. “It reinforces the fact that this is very much a people business.”
PHOTOS: Rob Newell
NATIONAL BANK FINANCIAL 135 - 8010 SABA RD, RICHMOND, BC V6Y 4B2 TEL: 604.658.8056 WEB: NBFWM.CA
National Bank Financial is a member of CIPF and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of National Bank of Canada. The National Bank of Canada is a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (NA: TSX).
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DISPOSAL KING LTD.
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atisfying customers with good service is the name of the game when you’re in business, but when you can also help clients make good on their intentions — well, you’re ahead of the curve. Richmond’s rubbish removers, Disposal King Ltd., is on that path by helping clients go easy on the environment by maximizing the amount of material they cart away to recycling streams. While that’s not exactly a groundbreaking practice, Disposal King’s owner Miles Timmis said you’d be surprised at how many businesses create huge amounts of waste but don’t know effective ways to ensure that waste gets disposed of in a “green” manner. “Recycling, that’s just the way of the world now,” Timmis said. “Everything that you can recycle has to be recycled. And a lot of clients, they want to do it, but they just aren’t sure how to get it done. “We’ve really been able to help by setting up recycling programs and having multiple bins on a customer’s site so they separate the materials themselves, and we can haul it independently to the different places where it can be recycled. “Wood can be recycled, concrete, too. Then there’s cardboard, plastics — all of that is 100 per cent recyclable.” Over the last year, Disposal King, which offers service from West Vancouver to Langley, has been putting its recycling capabilities at the forefront. Customers not only appreciate it, but they experience a sense of pride and contentment knowing their environmental footprint has been lessened. “Absolutely, 100 per cent say they feel better,” Timmis said. “We’re really focused on helping people achieve that goal to be environmentally responsible. We’re also a resource; they can call and ask, ‘What do I do here? How do I separate this stuff? How do I recycle it?’
STORY: Philip Raphael
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“We’ve been able to help a lot of companies with that, especially at a lot of the bigger construction sites that we deal with.” The targeted recycling effort has had an effect on Disposal King’s flow of customers as personal referrals and business growth have increased notably, despite a lukewarm economy. “We really appreciate that kind of exposure through referrals,” Timmis said. “Almost every day we get a call from someone who was given our number. That part of our business has been really successful and indicates to us we are doing a good job for people and they are happy with us.” More often than not, it’s the attention to some fundamental details of business that has won Disposal King plenty of positives. “We really do try very hard to please our customers,” Timmis said. “It’s the important, little things that do it, like actually showing up with a bin when we said we would.” That on-time delivery record is close to 100 per cent, Timmis said, adding pick up and removal promises are met with the same punctuality. That means only good things for clients who work on rigid time lines that usually involve a number of other trades all working on intertwined work schedules. “For example, if you have concrete trucks coming in and need stuff done on time, but they can’t start because something needs to be hauled away, they sit there,” Timmis said. “That backs up everything all the way down the line, which ends up costing customers a lot of money, needlessly.
“Recycling, that’s just the way of the world now” – Miles Timmis Owner Disposal King
“Nobody wants that. And that’s why customer service for us is at the top of the list for everything we do.”
DISPOSAL KING LTD. 13280 MITCHELL RD, RICHMOND, BC V6V 1M7 TEL: 604.306.8599 WEB: DISPOSALKING.COM
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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LEGEAR PELLING INSURANCE
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he insurance industry is built on utmost good faith and honouring commitments. For the past 25 years, Andrew and Debbie Tablotney, who own LeGear Pelling Insurance, along with their 2 sons and partner Kerrie Machinski, have been true to that standard. Andrew, who is the firm’s president, started in the insurance business in 1979. “I had the sales gene in my blood,” Andrew said. “I started as a producer working 12 to 14 hour days, 6 days a week for almost 10 years.” But with a growing young family at home, the long days were not conducive to a quality family life. So in 1989 he took a cut in pay, bought half of the LPI brokerage, and the rest is history. This allowed him to be close to his family and be active in his community. “Like any small business you have your trials and tribulations,” Andrew said. “One of the biggest challenges in our industry is finding and keeping quality staff because selling insurance is not exactly a glamourous job.” That’s why the Tablotneys have worked hard to instill a family first atmosphere in the firm’s professional culture. “We go out of our way to make this feel like a family business and treat all of our staff the way we would want to be treated. It has paid off as many of our staff have been with us for over 15 years.” Andrew recognized early on that the demographics of Richmond were changing. Of his dozen-plus employees, he relies on many of them to deal with LPI clients in their mother tongue. Three key employees Vivian, Janet and Florence have become integral in providing that diverse service. On the customer side of the ledger, LeGear Pelling Insurance strives to extend that family feeling as well.
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“People feel that connection,” Debbie said, adding their satisfaction with service is always paramount. This is exemplified by the amount of new business the firm conducts solely based on word of mouth. “I am always running into people who tell me that we do their insurance and how pleased they are,” said Debbie, who is also a long-serving Richmond school trustee. Part of what gives LeGear Pelling an edge is the fact it remains an independently run firm. “If I’m not here, my sons (Curtis, 28, and Troy, 24) are here to represent me,” Andrew said. “Sadly, that’s not the industry model anymore as more and more insurance brokerages are being bought up by the large conglomerates.” LeGear Pelling strives to be customer centric. They have always offered their customers an opportunity to sit down in casual comfort to discuss their insurance. “We like to take the time to make sure that when you leave our office you have the coverage you need and want.” “Being “Customer Committed” it’s the little things that make a difference. Like the time we found a client’s auto policy was expiring that night so Curtis drove out to his home late at night and put the decal on the car while the customer was sleeping.” Since day one, Andrew has always included his home phone number on his business card. “I’ve always taken the perspective that if my clients really need to reach me at night or on the weekends, they should be able to.” He added, “when I hand you an insurance policy I am not just selling you a piece of paper but a promise to perform in your time of need.”
“When I hand you an insurance policy I am not just selling you a piece of paper but a promise to perform in your time of need” – Andrew Tablotney President Legear Pelling Insurance
“Because at LeGear Pelling, we are Community Minded - Customer Committed.”
LEGEAR PELLING INSURANCE 7340 WESTMINSTER HWY, RICHMOND, BC V6X 1A1 TEL: 604.276.2474 WEB: LEGEARPELLING.COM STORY: Philip Raphael
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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BOEING CANADA-AEROINFO
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assengers enjoying their flight on a much-needed vacation or important business trip likely never think about what goes into making their flight possible. From when they order a ticket, check in, get a boarding pass, land at their destination and collect their baggage, management of their safe and scheduled trip has passed through a lot of people and countless calculations to make the system work as efficiently as possible — even if you throw in variables like weather disruptions, mechanical issues and staffing changes. Part of making it all come together is the work of Richmond’s Boeing CanadaAeroInfo, which is part of Boeing’s Digital Aviation organization. The company is thriving thanks to a deep talent pool of employees drawn mainly from local sources. “Whenever I am talking to my counterparts within Boeing, it always comes up that we have access to great local talent in Vancouver,” said Bob Cantwell, Boeing Canada-Aeroinfo’s president, “And that’s why we’re here.” The company’s success has been so profound it has doubled in size over the last two years to around 400 staff. These employees have contributed to building the advanced technology required to run and manage large airlines that produce massive volumes of data that have to be scrutinized to ensure operations run smoothly and costefficiently. For example, Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner — the company’s most advanced aircraft — can create up to 3 terabytes of data per flight. That’s roughly the equivalent of the data space needed to store 60,000 songs recorded at CD quality. The information is generated from literally every component of the plane, from the engines, to the flaps, to the landing gear. Throw in the information needed to track all support operations around a flight and you get a situation in which you’re handling what is termed “big data.” “To process that, you need some pretty talented people,” Cantwell said. “We build a lot of large, sophisticated software systems that have complex analytics built into them. The success of these projects is largely dependent on hiring dynamic software developers, architects and data scientists.”
STORY: Philip Raphael
“We’ve leveraged our partnership with UBC and its Centre for Operations Excellence to hire many of their graduates and also to benefit from their industry research projects. This partnership has been a major contributor to building a leading advanced analytics group,” he said.
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The Boeing Company is also the industry partner and financial sponsor for the local visual analytics academic community. “Visual analytics is an effective way for us to explore large, unstructured data more meaningfully, and to create visualization interfaces that allow analytics insights to be revealed with great clarity and accessibility,” Cantwell said. Almost two years ago, Boeing pulled together a number of departments and subsidiaries around the globe to create the Digital Aviation unit. The mission is to optimize and integrate airline operations, and connect crew and the airplane. Innovating existing processes, tools and operations is what our architecture, technology and analytics teams do to drive this vision forward and create more value for our aviation customers. “It’s always been a technologically advanced industry. But what’s happened with the advancement of big data, thanks to things like sensors dotted all over an airplane, minute-by-minute operations from the plane, the crew and ground staff, you bring that all together with optimization technology and integration of data and you manage the airline in a much more sophisticated way than it used to be,” Cantwell said. “It’s a confluence of the technology in the airplane, big data, and our ability to analyze it and develop tools that really revolutionize the operations of an airline.” But even though that requires advanced technical equipment to crunch numbers, at its root are the people who run the systems. “We have this great analytics group inside it, and it’s growing,” Cantwell said. “These are the rock stars of business today. They are responsible for the data science techniques to take all of this disparate data, analyze it and make decisions. “The beneficiary is the passenger, because we don’t have to guess the best way to make the airline system run well if changes need to be made in-flight or on the ground. We now have tools which tell us how to accomplish that with greater efficiency.”
“We have this great analytics group inside it, and it’s growing. These are the rock stars of business today. They are responsible for the data science techniques to take all of this disparate data, analyze it and make decisions.” – Bob Cantwell President Boeing Canada-Aeroinfo
BOEING CANADA-AEROINFO 200 – 13575 COMMERCE PKY RICHMOND, BC V6V 2L1 TEL: 604.232.4200 WEB: BOEING.CA
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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RICHMOND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
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he group of Dutch immigrant families who founded Richmond Christian School back in 1957 would likely just smile with pride and shake their heads happily in disbelief. What the founders started 57 years ago in a small, two-room facility at Cambie Road and River Road has blossomed into a threecampus school with 1,000 students. “Those founding families were committed to starting a Christian school even before they purchased their homes,” said AnnMichele Ewert, the school’s Development Director. “They were extremely passionate about Christian education. And we have maintained that vision.” Over the years, Richmond Christian School has been located in numerous buildings across the community. In 1985, the school’s current Woodwards Road location was purchased and the elementary school (preschool to Grade 5) was built a year later. It joins the middle campus (Grades 6 to 8) and secondary campus (Grades 9 to 12), which are housed in separate buildings along No. 5 Road. Six years ago, the secondary campus was built, despite not having the immediate enrolment numbers to fill the classrooms.
culture and commitment to academics and the arts. “Plus, it was our passion for Christian education. And that seems to have continually snowballed.”
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The $2.1 million expansion is completed. Fundraising efforts are approaching the $1,100,000 mark, all raised by the school’s families. “There’s a camaraderie amongst the parents — a willingness to give back,” Ewert said, “whether it be participating in our events, field trips or classrooms. “We’re still fundraising, and it has been a joy to see how generous our community is, and how much they want to participate and help.” It’s a feeling staff share, far over and above their duties in the classrooms, Ewert added. “Our staff, are committed to being here. There are homework clubs going on before school starts, and plenty of support when it comes to extracurricular activities, where students and staff can come together in a setting that helps develop their relationship.” Attending Richmond Christian School gives students the opportunity to be passionate, awe-inspired leaders in their communities.
“At that time, we felt that God had blessed us with increasing enrolment and being able to build the new high school would allow for growth,” Ewert said. That foresight has paid off as Richmond Christian School recently completed an expansion for the secondary campus, building an addition that accommodates seven new classrooms, a communal gathering place for students, and administration space.
“We’re fundraising, and it has been a joy to see how generous our community is, and how much they want to participate and help.” – Ann-Michelle Ewert Development Director Richmond Christian School
“The day we opened the new secondary campus, we were at capacity” Ewert said, adding what drove the numbers up was the positive word of mouth the school received from parents who experienced the school’s RICHMOND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICE 10200 NO. 5 RD PHOTO: Roger Grose, Superintendent; Edith Walker, Principal Middle School; Darlene Neufeld, Principal Elementary School; Jason Paul, Principal Secondary Campus STORY: Philip Raphael
RICHMOND, BC V7A 4E5 TEL: 604.274.1122 WEB: RICHMONDCHRISTIAN.CA
PHOTOS: Richelle Akimow
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PHILIP RAPHAEL After 25 years in the news business Philip Raphael has come full circle. In 1989 he started his career in newspapers when he joined the Richmond News straight out of journalism school at Langara College. Since then he has worked for a number of publications in and around the Lower Mainland, including time as the managing editor of Skytalk, the Vancouver Airport Authority’s paper, and South Delta Leader where he spent 11 years as a reporter and then editor. Now, he’s back at the News and enjoying the opportunity to re-connect with friends and contacts in Richmond. richmond-news.com
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praphael@richmond-news.com
RICHELLE AKIMOW Richelle’s passion for photography has taken her all over the globe. Richelle has been shooting professionally since 2004 and since then has worked for a number of organizations some of which in include the Vancouver Canucks, Cadillac Fairview and St. George’s school in Vancouver BC, to name a few. She has also shot many events including the 2014 Courage to come back awards. Her goal is to capture what is spectacular about every moment and finding a way to achieve this is half the fun.
richelleakimow.com
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richelle@richelleakimow.com
ROB NEWELL Rob Newell has spent the past twenty years working throughout the Lower Mainland as a staff and freelance photographer. He’s seen it all, and photographed most of it. From fast-action sports coverage and elbows-up press scrums to carefully crafted portraits, food and product photography, his award winning images have been seen in many national, regional and community newspapers and magazines. He also serves an expanding list of corporate clients. Rob still loves the job, and it shows in his images. robnewellphotography.ca
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