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(Activity & Events Guide WINTER ISSUE insert)
Local business news, features & information
December issue
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On Cyber Monday I was reminded of a Canada Post television ad promoting online mail order shopping and how “soon it will be the way many of us shop for just about everything”. If you browse through business articles or flip through the news channels, many forms of media are talking about traditional retail being in a crisis as if we will soon see an ‘end’ to conventional brick and mortar shopping. It’s true, Statistics Canada reported that more than $136 billion worth of goods and services were sold over the Internet in 2013 by Canadian businesses, up from $122 billion the year before. Approximately 61% of the sales came from the wholesale trade, manufacturing and retail industries. And while the stats for 2014 were not yet available at the time of this article, 2013 was the largest Canadian Cyber Monday yet. However, many consumers consider shopping an enjoyable pastime. It is an experience that activates the senses and the desire to be social. Drive by any shopping mall over the next few weeks and I think you will agree that many customers still make the choice to travel to their local retail businesses. “Online shopping is happening–but it doesn’t mean the brick and mortar will disappear,” says Marty Williams, Executive Director for the Downtown Guelph Business Association. “Fundamentally people are social. It goes against our human nature to isolate ourselves. We want to go out to shop, we want something to do, somewhere to go–for a coffee, to drop into the stores, get a haircut, or pop into the library and pick up a book.” “The ability to purchase groceries online has been an option for close to 15 years, however the percent of groceries purchased online is actually small, people still continue to grocery shop. Often you may not know what you want until you go out–you want to choose by the smell, the feel and the
Team members from RLB LLP are wrapping gifts for the Children’s Foundation Adopt a Family program. RLB LLP, which recently was recognized as one of the top best 50 employers in Canada, uses charitable giving events like this to engage their employees and show their commitment to active community involvement. See page 8. (Photo supplied)
look of the products.” The most popular products purchased online by Canadians as posted on canadiansinternet.com are music (61%), software (57%) and PC’s (47%), with event tickets and video games both at 41% and books at 35%. “Those products that are strictly driven by price, when you know exactly what you want and what brand, if those products can be delivered to your home for less than going out and picking them up–those are the products that may be replaced by online shopping,” adds Williams. “However personally, if I am buying a new phone I want someone to tell me about the features of the phone and show me how it works. I don’t want to read about it.” A recent Holiday Retail Outlook Report by Deloitte actually shows that nearly 80% of shoppers across Canada are concerned about privacy breaches and almost 50% of shoppers have changed their online shopping habits as a result. “I feel the death of brick and mortar businesses is greatly exaggerated. We can all eat at home as well, but we don’t. There is a real human need to be out and to be social. And that
includes shopping,” says Williams. “Brick and mortar shops in our area have unique offerings and great service that make you want to visit them. It is comparable to how salons are flourishing because you build a relationship with your hair stylist and you want to return because they know you and know your tastes.” With the continued escalated use of technology in all forms also comes the consumer who reads their books on a Kindle or a smart phone, which raises the question as to the need of our public libraries. Like the act of shopping, libraries are a destination–a place to go and browse or to get help on various topics. A visit to the Annual Giant Book Sale organized by The Friends of the Guelph Public Library will squash any doubt as to whether people still read books. The three-day sale, which ran in October, opened Friday evening with 78,000 books and items. With more than 7,000 enthusiastic shoppers, volunteers sold nearly 80% of the inventory and grossed almost $100,000–an impressive amount when many books were priced at one and two dollars. “The demise of the library is
nowhere in the foreseeable future simply because it is too important to the community and has way too much to offer,” says Steven Kraft, CEO of the Guelph Public Library. “Libraries connect communities, they support lifelong learning, and they promote economic well-being. Libraries help people learn new skills, assist job-seekers, provide resources for growing small businesses, and they help people make the most of their income.” The public library is actually the most used recreational facility in the City of Guelph, loaning 2,144,004 items (books, DVDs, magazines, e-books, etc) in 2013. On average, 1,500 people go through the doors of the Main Library every day. Throughout the year a total of 39,269 people attended the 1,675 offered programs. “Guelph needs a new Main Library because the current building doesn’t meet the needs of the expanding and diverse population,” adds Kraft. “ We need a facility that will provide a wide range of services from grandparents to grandkids, plus a facility that can accommodate a proper archives section to preserve the City’s history. The current facility is 50 years old and is no longer cost-effective – cont’d on page 3
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Guelph Hydro Inc. has amalgamated with Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. Guelph Hydro Inc. was recently amalgamated with Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. Owned by the City of Guelph, Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. is an agile and creative corporation that manages selected City of Guelph assets. As a result of the amalgamation, the company's portfolio now consists of Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc. and Envida Community Energy Inc., which were formerly held by Guelph Hydro Inc. Barry Chuddy has been named as the Chief Executive Officer of Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. and will serve as President of Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc. Pankaj Sardana has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. and its
subsidiaries. Ron Collins will serve as Vice President, Business Development and Partnerships. Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. is actively seeking out partnerships, investments and acquisitions that will add value, improve service, and support effective and forward-thinking city building. While the focus to date has been on energy-related corporations supporting the Guelph Community Energy Initiative, Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. is currently investigating rail services, land development and other strategic interests. Please visit www.guelphholdings.com for further information about Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. Questions may be directed to info@guelphholdings.com
Happy Holidays to our Clients and Friends!
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Community Energy Partnership qualifies to submit proposals for Renewable Energy Biomass Projects Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. recently announced that GIME Energy, a team made up of Envida Community Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc., and a number of equity partners including EllisDon Corporation and Index Energy Canada Corporation has been qualified by the Ontario Power Authority to submit proposals for renewable energy biomass projects that would feed electricity into the provincial grid under any future Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) Requests for Proposals that may be issued by the Ontario Power Authority. Biomass energy projects use recently harvested organic matter such as wood chips, wood pellets or agricultural waste as a fuel for generating energy. In a biomass plant, organic matter is burned to create heat, which can be used in industrial processes, to power a district energy system and/or to generate electricity. The Ontario Power Authority Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) is a competitive process for procuring large renewable energy projects. Qualified applicants were evaluated based on their ability to meet a set of mandatory requirements focused on past development experience and financial capability. “The partners in the GIME Energy team bring to the table a wealth of experience in developing, constructing and operating combined heat and power and biomass projects that is second to none,” said Ron Collins, Vice President of Business Development, Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc.“This puts us in an ideal position to submit strong proposals for renewable energy projects that will further the goals of Guelph’s Community Energy Initiative and benefit the entire community.” The Ontario Power Authority is not currently
Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for a happy, healthy 2015!
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evaluating or qualifying specific large renewable projects. This occurs at the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage, wherein only qualified applicants may submit project-specific proposals containing full details about the projects including location, size, and connection point. An important part of a project proposal will be meaningful community engagement.
choice –continued from page 1 to maintain. It struggles to maintain current standards of accessibility; there is a lack of community space to meet and study, as well as a noticeable lack of parking for a very mobile and active public.” The proposed cost of a new Main Library is a multi-million dollar project. Once the City of Guelph has committed to moving the Baker District development forward as a capital project, the Guelph Public Library will be better situated to plan and raise enough funds to see it through to its completion. However, at this time the Library has committed to raising $10 million towards the final cost. “A new library would be an excellent catalyst for development and commercial activity. Cities across North America have discovered that libraries are a way to create vibrant and resilient public spaces; it’s an excellent way to define and enhance the City of Guelph.” Our daily routines keep us busy. Make the time to embrace the experience of visiting your favourite shops, be they in a mall, plaza or in the downtown. Include a trip to our public library or any other local destination as well. You’ll soon be reminded that the journey is rewarding and the interaction with friends and the people you meet along the way is enjoyable. Source: http://www2.deloitte.com
Business partners needed to help students better prepare for postsecondary destinations Submitted by Wellington Catholic District School Board Many of us left high school with no idea what we wanted to do when we grew up and consequently followed windy, and often rough, pathways to our current career destinations. Imagine a world where students from Kindergarten to grade 12 have access to various programs that provide considerable opportunities to reflect on who they are as people with gifts and preferences, explore the opportunities available, and put together a plan for achieving their career goals? As an employer, consider the impact that this kind of specific, focused vision will have on your organization when you are recruiting employees. Students in this generation are motivated to succeed or work in an area that they have clearly planned early in their young lives. As parents, consider the impact of this kind of self-awareness when launching your son or daughter into the world of post-secondary education and other training programs; confidence in your child’s career choice and pathway is increasing and alleviates much of the concern for discernment once more common among young people. Preparing our students for post-secondary pathway options is a priority for Wellington Catholic District School Board. In response to the Ministry of Education Creating Pathways to Success Policy (CPS), we are enhancing opportunities for students to develop more effective career and life planning. Students will leave high school better prepared to answer key questions that guide successful transitions for individuals to post-secondary destinations. All secondary students have the option of a cooperative education course where they can expand and refine knowledge learned in a course delivered in a classroom setting and at the same time “test drive” a career. Success is when a student learns the co-op experience confirms a career pathway, opens up new options through exposure to the workplace or when a student
learns the specific pathway is not at all a good match for their future. Some of these students will have skilled trade co-op placements that lead to an apprenticeship as part of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. Wellington Catholic offers Specialist High Skills Programs where students can focus their learning to prepare for career pathways in one of eight sectors: Business, Construction, Environment, Health & Wellness (a food and fitness focus), Information & Communication Technology (graphics or engineering focus) Manufacturing, Non Profit, or Transportation. Students in both elementary and secondary schools participate in Skills Canada competitions. Dual Credit programs offer students a chance to take a college course that counts both at the college and as an elective toward their high school diploma. During Catholic Education Week, we encourage students to explore a career during Try on a Career Day. But we cannot do this alone. Wellington Catholic welcomes business partners to help students: develop essential skills needed in the workplace; become aware of the myriad of career opportunities and choice available; and identify pathways where there will be greatest demand for workers as they leave high-school. You can help by finding meaningful opportunities for co-operative education placements or shortterm experiential learning within your organization, volunteering to sit on a Specialist High Skills Major or other program advisory team, offering tours of your organization, agree to be guest speaker in a classroom, participating in Try on a Career Day, sponsoring school or board based activity, or finding other creative ways your organization may want to be involved. Please consider partnering with us in our goal of effectively preparing students for successful pathway planning. Please contact Ruthanne Finnigan at rfinnigan@wellingtoncdsb.ca, 519-836-0132 x3.
Staff from Linamar promoted women in skilled trades at a presentation to female students at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School. Linamar provides opportunity for graduating female students to begin an apprenticeship. L - r are: Ted Imre, OLOL Guidance; Lisa Winer, Linamar; Coleen Driscoll, OLOL Guidance; Michelle Morris, Linamar; Mickey Franklin, OLOL student; Amy Jackson, Linamar. Back: Shaun Scott, Linamar; Ron Aimola, OYAP Co-ordinator.
Beat holiday stress! Whether we like it or not, certain times of year present more challenges and stress than others. Perhaps our goal should not be to live without stress but rather to balance our stress levels and responses. “Holiday Stress”…here we go again. Our best defense at this time of year is preparation. This includes understanding what influences stress levels during the holidays and identifying ways to cope. Do you know what your triggers are? Holiday celebrations mean pressure for most of us. No matter how hard we try to enjoy the season, with so much to do and not enough time, some of us can get caught up in the chaos of the holidays. There are ways to have a simpler holiday, with fewer hassles: avoid unrealistic expectations, minimize extra demands, prioritize responsibilities, and beware of taking on financial demands that will cause more stress later. Have a financial plan. Develop a budget, know your spending limit and stick to it! Compare prices and pare down your shopping list. “No Shopping Required” gift ideas include tickets, photographs, gift certificates, catalogue or online shopping, babysitting, food and beverages, or gift baskets or flowers. Signs that you are “stressed” include irritability,
by Anna Bartolomucci
poor sleep, weight gain or loss, feeling tense with increased muscle aches and pains, or feeling overwhelmed. Develop a realistic perspective with realistic expectations of the holidays. Remember that the holiday season is only a short time of the year. Decide what’s most meaningful and don’t push yourself to exhaustion. Do you have realistic expectations? There are coping mechanisms you can try. Delegate some of your responsibilities. Do not give in to all requests and learn to say “no” with confidence. Try NOT to do it all. Keeping stress in balance might include breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or Tai Chi, to name a few. Be Flexible. Email Christmas cards. Don’t travel out of guilt. Choose traditions that are meaningful and worth keeping. Remember to always eat well, exercise, drink plenty of water and get lots of rest, but most of all have a Happy Holiday Season! Anna Bartolomucci RN/OHN Workplace Wellness/Influenza Program Coordinator at WellServe Health Care Management, a division of Wellpoint Health Ltd. 519-837-3896 ext. 17
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Finance 2014 year-end tax strategies by John Moran As 2014 winds down the inevitable task of filing ones annual tax return looms in the not too distant future. Taxpayers and those in business know that income tax has to be paid, but, having said that one would prefer to pay as little as possible. In that regard I have prepared a list of considerations for helping out your bottom line this coming spring. 1. Pay your professional fees, union dues, alimony or maintenance payments, safety deposit box cost and investment counsel fees prior to the year-end 2. If you plan to enroll your child in activity programs in 2015 you can obtain a tax credit this year if paid prior to December 31. If you have reached your 2014 maximum, defer the payment to 2015, as the credit can’t be carried forward. 3. If you have a segregated fund RRSP that is of the guar-
Business and Personal
anteed minimum withdrawal type make your contri- 5. For those investors who, unfortubution before year-end. Not only will you get your nately, may have accrued capital losses one might want to sell the deduction you will receive contractual notional shares before year-end. The realincrease in the income base amount. ized losses can be used to offset 4. If you have a favourite charity you are thinking of helpcapital gains earned in 2014, can be carried forward ing, make your monetary contribution before indefinitely or carried back to the three previous tax December 31. If neither you nor your spouse has years. It is noteworthy to mention that the settlement claimed the donation tax credit in the five preceding date for the trade must occur in 2014, which means the tax years you will be eligible for the Federal First Time trade date cannot be later than December 24. Donors super credit on donations up to $1000. If you have stocks that have increased in value one can donate 6. A sole proprietor, business partnership or rental property owner should make purchases of equipment or them to a charity before year-end and there will be no supplies before year-end. This will result in either addicapital gains tax on the gain. As well you will receive a tional write offs for direct costs or additional Capital donation receipt for the full market value of the gifted Cost Allowance (at the half year rate) on capital expenshares. Unlike tax loss selling the settlement date for the ditures such as vehicles or equipment. transaction is not a factor.
Message from the publisher As the year comes to a close it is often a time to look back and reflect–instead let’s look forward to 2015 and all the exciting changes and events up coming in Guelph. We start the year off with a new Mayor and council. No matter whom you voted for, I think you can agree that fresh faces will give a new light to some of the old projects and issues, while perhaps also creating some exciting new plans for Guelph. The edge of the downtown core has various construction projects close to being completed. The new retail development at the corner of Wellington Road and Gordon Street will be opening any day now with tenants including Starbucks and Goodness Me, plus the downtown LCBO location and the Running Works are also moving there. After months of construction it will be exciting to see the finished product and the new retail will be a great addition to that corner. The new head office for the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington Dufferin on Waterloo Avenue is due to open early in 2015, offering various community programs and services. As the birthplace of Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, Guelph will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the writing of In Flanders Fields.
McCrae House is currently undergoing renovations and will reopen in May as celebrations begin for the local artillery officer, physician and poet. A major exhibit at the Wellington County Museum and Archives continues until the end of March, recognizing the 100th anniversary of the First World War, 1914-1918. This exhibit pays tribute to the men, women and families who suffered loss in battle and on the home front. The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital and the Rotary Clubs of Guelph South and Guelph Trillium are gearing up for their Second Annual Tour de Guelph bike event fundraiser, plus we can always look
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Other considerations are available depending on one’s circumstances but suffice to say take advantage of what is available to reduce that tax burden. Best wishes to all this holiday season and may the upcoming year be one of good health and prosperity for you and your family. John M. Moran BA., EPC., ICIA. - Lyon Financial Services Inc. Contact him at jmoran@lyonfinancial.ca or 519-766-0001.
forward to a variety of other annual fundraisers including Hike for Hospice and Taste of Guelph. Combine all that with the various annual events such as Hillside, the Multicultural Festival, the Italian Festival, Ribfest, and the Guelph Jazz Festival and we have a great year ahead. Thank you to our readers,contributors and advertisers for supporting the continued success ofVenture Guelph Publications Ltd.Our staff wish you all a very Merry Christmas and prosperous NewYear. Mike Baker Publisher, Venture Guelph Publications Ltd.
Saving a buck by Carinta Mannarelli
If you’re anything like me, you like to save a buck. My crave to save has gotten such that I rarely pay full price for anything. The tricky thing is that sometimes the lowest price isn’t the cheapest way to go at all! I was recently shopping online and was using a very popAttention Businesses: ular site. I searched Now Trading Gold and Silver for a speBest Rates Guaranteed cific product and We have: saw a • The best rates on all trades ( guaranteed to beat all bank rates) variety of • The ability to save today’s rate for a future date “new” (up to a year away) options • The most inexpensive wire service available and a ($15 per transfer) variety of Call today to protect your future costs “used” options. I gravitated towards the 519-763-7330 www.global-currency.com cheapest new item
and started clicking my way through the purchase. My item was $74.99 and the cheapest shipping option was $54! Final price for my cheap product was $128.99. If I wasn’t paying attention, I would’ve missed out on the $97.99 product option that included free shipping. This situation made me think about a truth that I run into on a daily basis in my own business–there is no such thing as free. My business is to sell currency in all forms. Wire transfers are a service that I sell and there is a fee attached to this service. Much like the shipping fee, no one wants to pay this fee – but again similar to the shipping fee, the truth is that there is a cost associated with transmitting the funds. So, the online shopping site has two choices: they can advertise a low price and show the cost of shipping as an additional fee OR they can incorporate this shipping fee and inflate their sale price. Another focus of my business is saving time for clients–and this premise too often leads me astray online. Convinced that I don’t have the time to shop, I have often pointed and clicked my way through clothing purchases,
footwear purchases and cosmetics. If I can get past the cost of shipping, the waste of time that I have spent with online shopping is completely contradictory to what you aim for with online shopping. Hours spent staring at a screen is then followed by days or weeks of waiting for the product, and then sadly a trip to the original store that I was avoiding with the annoying process of returning the products that don’t fit or don’t work. A recent survey conducted in the UK shows that 45% of online Christmas shoppers are one step ahead of me: these shoppers point and click but choose to pick up their products at the store. They save the shipping costs, avoid the long wait of delivery to their home and have the ability to touch/feel and try on the products when they collect their order. Returns can be done on the spot and wasted trips to return product after-the-fact are avoided. Source: econsultancy.com
Carinta Mannarelli, Global Currency Services, 519-763-7330.
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Pre-arranging one's own funeral is now widely practiced across Canada. Gilbert MacIntyre & Son have been helping individuals and families with funeral prearrangements for almost 80 years. If you would like to make an appointment to discuss prearrangements, please contact us. Or, if you like, you can prearrange your funeral online. You will be asked the same basic questions you would in a one-on-one prearrangement meeting; but within the "comfort" of your own lifestyle. Our experience in dealing with prearranging funerals has lead to the development of the GILBERT MACINTYRE & SON TRUST PLAN for those who wish to pre-pay their funeral expenses.
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www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com December 2014 page 6
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The GILBERT MACINTYRE & SON TRUST PLAN retains all the advantages of the pre-arranged funeral, but goes further with respect to the financial advantages. · The GILBERT MACINTYRE & SON TRUST PLAN is hedge against inflation. The cost of the funeral will never increase, no matter how long it is before the funeral services are required. · Pre-payment reduces the financial demands on the survivors. Costs will be paid out of income now, rather than from much needed funds of the estate. · Like a paid-up life insurance policy, this plan is of immediate and far-reaching benefit to survivors.
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Rotary Corner
Rotary Club of Guelph-Trillium News Local Rotary Group gives back to the community On Tuesday Dec.2, the Rotary Club of Guelph-Trillium took part in “GuelphGives”. This Club had $4,500 in proceeds from its involvement with the Tour de Guelph, the July Bicycle Event that it shared with the Guelph Hospital Foundation and the Rotary Club of Guelph South. The 51 Trillium Club members each designated to which charity they wished their individual allotment to go. Many charities supporting local and international projects received surprise cheques. PAUL HARRIS FELLOWSHIP AWARD On Wednesday November 26, this same club recognized two community leaders by presenting them with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award. The Paul Harris Fellowship is named for Paul Harris, who founded Rotary over 100 years ago. A Paul Harris Fellow is an individual who contributes $1,000 US or in whose name that amount is contributed. Every Paul Harris Fellow receives a pin and a certificate when he or she becomes a Fellow. This identifies the Paul Harris Fellow as an advocate of the Foundation's goals of world peace and international understanding. Pat (Patricia) McCraw: Pat was born in Toronto and came to Guelph many years ago when her husband was on the staff of the Vet. College. She has a long list of organizations that she has been involved with over the years, including, Family and Children’s Services, Guelph Community Foundation, Guelph Spring Festival, the Zonta Club, The Canadian Federation of University Women, and has always been interested in and worked on Women’s Issues and Governance Issues. Brent Drewry: Brent has lived and worked in the Guelph community most of his life, and is currently employed as Vice President at Minacs, a global advertising agency. Brent's community work includes: - 5 years of service on the board of directors at Hospice Wellington; - Fundraising for Room to Read, an organization that builds children’s literacy programs in 3rd world nations. - Fundraising for CNIB - Regular blood donor As an avid cyclist, Brent has also raised money for Hospice through the Healing Cycle ride, and additionally for environmental advocacy through the Climate Ride, a 300-mile journey in the US.
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Great Spaces At the Guelph Golf and Curling Club, our professional function spaces demonstrate our commitment to delivering extraordinary meetings and events. Our Waverly Room and Heritage Room offer flexible room configuration and set up, as well as integrated and fully supported audio visual systems complete with Wi-Fi and conference call ability all at no extra charge. Culinary Excellence From a simple continental breakfast to a formal dinner, our hospitality and banquet staff take immense pride in providing you and your attendees with a creative and exceptional dining experience. Our team will work with you to tailor a menu solution that will impress, while adhering to your budget. At the Guelph Golf and Conference Centre we truly believe that our people represent our competitive advantage. And we believe that you deserve a Great partner during the intricate process of crafting a meeting or event. From planning to closing remarks, you’ll feel confident knowing that you are supported by an entire team of meeting professionals fully vested in your success.
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RLB LLP Wins Top 50 Employer Award in Canada Throughout its 60-year history, RLB LLP has had one goal in mind–to be the best regional accounting firm in Ontario. With offices in Fergus, Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo, they have built a culture of continuous learning and improvement, where team members feel empowered to grow and develop, working together to serve the holistic needs of their clients. They have a “people count” philosophy and value everyone’s opinions. And now they can prove it. RLB LLP has just been recognized as one of the 50 Best Small and Medium Employers in Canada. The Best Employers in Canada Study is an annual overview of employers who excel at engaging their employees. “We are so proud of our team for making this happen,” said Bill Koornstra, Managing Partner,“We are always focusing on the per-
sonal and professional development of our staff, and so we are very pleased to be recognized this way. This really is something that everyone on our team can take pride in”. Applying for the Best Employer Award is a significant undertaking and demands input from staff across the organization. Employee perspectives are measured across all levels of the organization, giving a realistic and multi-dimensional picture of the current state of employee engagement. The report also clearly identifies areas of improvement. RLB LLP first applied for the award in 2013.“Having just missed the list last year, we reviewed the feedback and focused on the key areas that required improvement,” said Crystal Dunlop, Director of Human Resources.“Over the year we held internal focus groups and ensured that our team members’ voices were heard. Making
this list wasn’t something we were doing just for the sake of doing so. We wanted to make this list because we knew it would stretch our team to be better and we know that a happy and engaged team translates to happy and engaged clients.” Generally it takes companies multiple years to make the list and RLB LLP made the list the second time they applied–not a small feat! An accounting firm has never been recognized on the list this quickly. RLB LLP is proud of their accomplishment but will not rest there. “We have already identified items we should work on for our next submission,” commented Bill Koornstra.“This award is just another step on our journey of being the best employer we can be.”
Outstanding response to Fusion Homes’ Grand Opening of The Metalworks Fusion Homes held its Grand Opening for registrants of The Metalworks, Guelph’s new urban village, on Saturday, November 15, 2014. Doors opened early at 8:15 a.m. to accommodate those who had camped out overnight and lined up early to get first choice of suites. The line-up continued outside the office and remained constant throughout the morning. By early afternoon the phase one tower was 50% sold out. Pricing of the tower suites started from the 190s. Over 250 residents of Guelph and the surrounding area welcomed The Metalworks on opening day. The newly constructed sales office located at 5 Arthur St South was built with the use of salvaged materials from the site demonstrating its historic past. Interested purchasers gathered around the seven-foot scale model of The Metalworks development, which is situated between the Speed River with a 50-foot wide River Walk and Arthur Street. The development will be comprised of five phas-
es, with phase one consisting of 114 suites and five penthouse units in the 10 story tower, and 14 townhouses. Of those townhouses, six of them will be overlooking the Speed River and be known as the River Lofts. The townhouses and penthouses are anticipated to be released in February 2015. The move-in date for phase one is expected to be late 2016. The Metalworks development has garnered more interest than any other development Fusion Homes has had in the past. The nearly $300 million, 8-acre, 5-phase master-planned development is situated in historic downtown Guelph. The 600-plus units at this transit-friendly, environmentally sensitive urban village will be built over a five to 10 year horizon. Outstanding features of this new community include: the revitalization of the former industrial lands once owned by W.C. Wood Company Limited, a freezer manufacturer, to create a vibrant new live/work downtown destination; over 2.5 acres of the site
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dedicated to new green space; a 50-foot wide River Walk enhancing connectivity to the Speed River; and up to 30,000 square feet of proposed retail/commercial space. Phase one will be completed with over 2,500 square feet of inspired indoor residential amenities, complete with a state of the art fitness centre, a stylish Entertainment Room open to a courtyard with barbeque area, a welcoming Lobby and Pet Spa. The vision for the development is a self-sustained village with restaurants and shops. This historic site at 5 Arthur Street South is steps away from where the city was founded, and once housed a grist mill, a distillery, and foundries. Now, this once prolific site of industry will be transformed into a dynamic community filled with culture and creativity. The architecture of the original heritage building will meld with the sleek modern simplicity of stylish condos and townhomes. It’s a unique urban lifestyle–right in the heart of the city. Like The Metalworks at 5 Arthur Street South, Fusion Homes has a long and proud history. Years ago, Chief Executive Officer Lee Piccoli founded Fusion Homes to offer the highest levels of serv-
ice, reliability and integrity. In a booming industry of cost competitors, his vision of building superior homes without sacrificing quality or service stood out. It’s these values that have helped Fusion grow into the leader it is today. To date, Fusion Homes has built thousands of homes in five cities throughout Ontario, and has earned an unprecedented five Tarion Awards of Excellence for Customer Satisfaction. Fusion Homes goes above and beyond for each and every client, which means making sure each step of the home-building process is as stress-free, transparent and simple as possible. While the company hangs their hat on personalized service, they also know it is important to understand the bigger picture. This has never been more relevant than at 5 Arthur Street South. It’s a historic site Guelph holds close to its heart, so extra care has been taken to collaborate with the community and the City of Guelph to develop a vision that pays homage to its history while building an amazing future. For more information on The Metalworks, visit: themetalworks.ca.
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Employers take notice–changes to employment legislation by Evan Campbell The Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act (Bill 18) received royal assent on November 20, 2014, amending five different labour and employment statutes in Ontario. The Employment Standards Act, the Labour Relations Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, and the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act were all amended. There are various dates in which the changes will come into force. Ontario employers should review the changes to ensure their respective workplace policies and practices are not in violation of the new workplace laws. One change which received particular media attention was with respect to the minimum wage rate. On October 1, 2015, and every year thereafter, the minimum wage will be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index. Other notable changes to the Employment Standards Act include the removal of the current $10,000.00 cap on wage orders and the increase for claims of unpaid wages from the current six months to two years. The effect of these changes will be to
The
allow much larger wage claims to be dealt with through the mechanism outlined by the Employment Standards Act. Also of note is that employers will be required to provide each employee with a copy of the most recent poster regarding worker rights published by the Ministry of Labour within 30 days of the amendment coming into force or of a new employee’s commencement. The Act also made significant changes to the rules regarding temporary work agencies. Companies providing temporary workers and their clients will be jointly and severally liable for any unpaid wages owing to the employee. The Act also amends the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act to shift the full cost of a resulting compensation claim from the temporary help agency onto the client. Organizations may want to rethink the use of temporary workers given the potential liability and financial repercussions. The amendments also expanded the definition of "worker" under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The definition of "worker"
Business of Downtown
downtownguelph.com
The power of data by Marty Williams, Executive Director, Downtown Guelph Business Association For Christmas this year I am asking Santa for one special thing: data. Lots and lots of real, solid, defensible data would bring a song to my heart and make me a very happy guy. Here’s why. I often find myself in conversations with Guelphites from across the city who, when they find out my job title, ask me how Downtown Guelph is doing economically. But because I don’t know what people are spending I always answer the same way: I really can’t say for sure. I can’t claim with any certainty that we are trending up, down, or sideways. Oh sure, I can see signs of progress. We have lots of investments in businesses and buildings; we have new retail and restaurant offerings, low storefront vacancy rates, high demand for parking permits, and a solid increase in the assessment value. But there is no hard data at hand, no spending information to give the question a solid answer. This is not the case in a mall or power centre. With a single property owner, they know their sales, there is a set formula for retail category distribution, and locations are designed to produce maximum spending. They can shuffle stores, insert new ones and shut down under performers. They also know how many people are visiting, how long they stay, and how much they are spending by demographic type. As is the case with historic downtowns everywhere, in Downtown Guelph we have none of those tools. Instead, we have multiple ownership positions competing with each other to find a tenant and there is no set limit for the number of shoe stores or coffee shops. The mix is more “come what may” than anything resembling a master plan. And while sales data may be the best measure of economic health, all we have to go on is anecdotal evidence. Sometimes business people choose to tell me things are trending up or down. “We’re having a good year” or “We’re down from where we were” is about the extent of it. So that, and the
evidence I can glean from observations listed above, is about all I have to answer the question of how Downtown is doing. And there the story might end, except that there are some promising new tools that downtown districts have been employing to count people, bikes, and cars as a starting point to attempt to measure economic health. In Toronto, the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area has been employing street post mounted counters to better understand who is using the area and when. (Check out www.downtownyonge.com under the tab “Doing Business Here.”) It is information that they provide to prospective tenants and it is a powerful sales tool. When you know how many people are going to pass by your storefront on any given day (and time of day) you will have some confidence that as long as you have something those people want, your store will be successful. They can also see the impact of special events, weather (good and bad), street closures or road reconstruction. In some places they have taken what Downtown Yonge uses a step further. They have been able to convince enough retailers to share sales data (with a secure, un-attributable, third-party solution that aggregates the data into generalized reports) and can now analyze sales data as it relates to car, bike and pedestrian counts (as well as weather, events, construction, etc.). We are currently working with the City to investigate the possibility of counting cars, bikes, and pedestrians in Downtown Guelph. I think it’s a good place to start. It’s important that we measure these things so we know what and where to invest. So we can make a case for business attraction. So we can measure the effect of events and activities. So we aren’t simply reading the tealeaves and hoping for the best.
now includes: secondary school students in work experience programs; a person who provides unpaid work or services under a program by a college, university or other post-secondary institution; a person who receives training but is not yet an employee under the Employment Standards Act; and other persons who perform work or supply services without monetary compensation. The expanded definition came into force on November 20, 2014, resulting in immediate increased liability for employers. The above noted amendments are only a few of the many changes to the five noted labour and employment statutes. A full review of the changes is beyond the scope of this article. Employers should review the amendments and assess how the changes will impact their organization. Evan Campbell is an Associate in the Guelph office of Miller Thomson LLP working in the areas of employment law and litigation. 519-780-4634 or ecampbell@millerthomson.com
Long-time local success, RWDI announces expansion to new location in Hanlon Business Park Homegrown company, Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Incorporated (RWDI) will be relocating its international corporate headquarters from 650 Woodlawn Road West to 600 Southgate Drive. This building purchase in the Hanlon Business Park provides the company with the capacity to expand its operations, making a long-term commitment to continue business within the city. “RWDI is very excited about our new facility and the decision to keep our headquarters in Guelph. While there were many communities with very attractive offers and opportunities, our roots, for over 40 years, have been in Guelph. The City has been very helpful throughout the process and we are grateful to have found an excellent building and location to accommodate our continued business growth and exciting research and development in the field of environmental engineering,” says Michael Soligo, RWDI President and Chief Executive Officer.“The new location provides easy
New DGBA Board elected At the November DGBA Annual General Meeting the membership elected a list of people to recommend to the City of Guelph for appointment to the Board. Alexandra Verge, ND, Clinic Director at Kura Naturopathic Clinic & RMT, Co-Owner: 15 Yarmouth St; Charles Davidson, Downtown lawyer / property owner; Chris Ahlers Owner: Wyndham Art Supplies, Guelph School of Art, 125 Wyndham St. N.; Dave Kruse, General Manager, Guelph Mercury; Doug Minett, Co-founder: The Bookshelf, Co-owner: 41 Quebec St.; Marie Furfaro, Small Business Advisor, TD Canada Trust; Mark Rodford, Owner: The Cornerstone, Ouderkirk & Taylor, OX; Tony di Battista, Owner of multiple downtown properties and businesses; Tom Lammer, Old Quebec Street; Greg Elliott, The Co-operators.
J.P. ABBOTT
access for staff and clients allowing us to continue to attract world class employees and provide our unique services on some of the world’s most interesting projects.” RWDI is the largest wind and environmental engineering firm of its kind, with over 15 offices and 400 employees world-wide. Plans of significant expansion are expected over the next five years, the Guelph headquarters will be the primary location for this growth, adding an additional 200 employees, doubling their current staff complement. “On behalf of the City of Guelph I would like to thank RWDI for having the confidence to expand their operations in our city,” says Mayor Cam Guthrie.“A strong local economy depends on our ability to retain local business, and that’s why business retention and expansion is a focus for us. RWDI’s decision to stay and grow in Guelph shows that Guelph is a sought-after location for thriving, growing international companies.” One of Canada’s 50 best managed companies, RWDI is an internationally recognized specialty engineering consulting firm that focuses in the science of buildings, structures and the environment. With over 15 offices worldwide RWDI uses a variety of engineering, computing, and scientific capabilities to help designers create comfortable environments and high performance buildings and structures. RWDI has worked on massive construction projects including the Burj Kaliifa, the tallest building in the world.
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