2023 Brandon Business Review

BRANDON

2023

THINKING GLOBALLY & ACTING LOCALLY TEAM BUILDING AND INNOVATION SPURS INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FOR BRANDON BUSINESS

@bdnchamber @BdnChamber @bdnchamber The Brandon Chamber of Commerce

EVER-EVOLVING BUSINESS TECH

What you need and what's coming next P12

IMMIGRANTS AT THE HEART OF BRANDON'S BURGEONING WORKFORCE Immigration is a key driver supporting economic growth and labour-market shortages P18

Your Local Knowledge Experts ■ Starting, relocating, or expanding

a business.

■ A business looking to relocate.

■ Talent attraction.

■ Promotional photography.

■ In depth market data.

■ Navigation of the development process.

Phone 204.729.2132 | Toll-Free 866.729.2132

economicdevelopmentbrandon.com 2

Brandon Business Review 2023

OUR ROOTS RUN DEEP At Koch Fertilizer Canada, our roots run deep in Brandon.

We are committed to operating safely and investing in the growth of our employees and the community. Because, this isn’t just a workplace — it’s our home.

KochFertilizer.com

KochCareers.com

Koch and the Koch logo are trademarks of Koch Industries, Inc. © 2023 Koch Fertilizer Canada, ULC. All rights reserved.

Our world-class Manitoba pork is a provincial export superstar, shipping to over 20 countries.

Manitoba pork producers, large and small, help meet the growing demand for world-class pork.

Chuck Davidson President & CEO MB Chambers of Commerce Winnipeg, MB

manitobapork.com/economy

ADVERTISERS INDEX Atom-Jet Industries Ltd. .......................15 Brandon Economic Development ......IFC Brandon University ............................ IBC Brockie Donovan Funeral and Cremation Services .........29

4

Keystone Agricultural & Recreational Centre Inc. ...................53 Koch Fertilizer Canada Unlimited ......... 3 Larry Maguire, MP Brandon-Souris ....20

Skin & Vein Centre ...............................27 Sunrise Credit Union ........................ OBC Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd. ........51

Leech Group .................................... Insert

Taylor Jackson Financial Services Inc., Sun Life Financial .................................... 7

Burns Maendel Consulting Engineers Ltd. ....................17

Manitoba Pork ......................................... 4

The Green Spot Home & Garden .......... 7

Cando Rail & Terminals Ltd. ................54

Minute Muffler & Brake........................49

Efficiency Manitoba ..............................15

MNP LLP .................................................17

Visa2Canada Immigration and Settlement Services ......................35

Fusion Credit Union ..............................27

Portage la Prairie Mutual Insurance

Western Nations Gas Bar .....................25

Greenstone Building Products ............27

Company .................................................. 9

Westman Communications Group ....... 7

Guild Insurance Group .........................23

Red Kayak Flooring Co..........................23

Westman Security & Automation Ltd. 21

Heritage Co-op/Western Nations........20

Rotary Villas at Crocus Gardens ..........23

Hunt Miller & Co. LLP ...........................31

Sand Hills Casino...................................54

Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba ...........................................12

Siere .......................................................... 7

Workplace Education Manitoba ..........21

Brandon Business Review 2023

Meighen Haddad LLP ..........................49

Venture Accounting Group Ltd. ..........51

IN THIS ISSUE 06 Message from the Chamber President 08 Message from the Chamber General Manager 12 Ever-evolving business tech 14 Message from the Mayor of Brandon 16 Economic Development Update 18 Immigrants at the heart of Brandon’s burgeoning workforce 20 Brandon Chamber of Commerce Events

BRANDON

24 Brandon Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award Winners 24

Business Person of the Year Award – Barry LaRocque

28

Lifetime Business Builder of the Year Award – Wes Norosky

30

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Rhoni Mohanraj

32

Community Impact Award - Individual – Brent Miller

34

Community Impact Award - Business – YMCA

36

Outstanding New Business Award – Tweedia

38

Business Excellence Award - Small – Friends Fur Life Daycare & Grooming

40

Business Excellence Award - Large – Daydreams Esthetic Spa

42 Labour Market

The Brandon Business Review is published by The Brandon Sun brandonsun.com President & CEO Mike Power Managing Editor Matt Goerzen mgoerzen@brandonsun.com

44 Awards Gala 2023 46 Westman's Top Four Under 40 46

Leah Campbell – Alliance Accounting Group

48

Alex Cartlidge – Cartlidge & Cormier Landscaping

50

Trevor Kehler– Alair Homes

52

Stacy Senkbeil – Meighen Haddad LLP - Brandon

(On the Cover - Photo by Matt Goerzen) Barry LaRocque, owner of Atom-Jet Industries and Glendale Industries, seen here at the Atom-Jet Industries shop in Brandon. LaRocque was honoured with the title of Business Person of the Year for 2023 by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

PHOTO BY TIM SMITH/THE BRANDON SUN

Director, Advertising, Lifestyles Publications Charlene Adam Creative Director Ken Waterman Printed by Leech Printing Brandon, Manitoba

Publications mail agreement #40754521 Return undeliverable Canada address to: Leech Group 601 Braecrest Drive Brandon, Manitoba, Canada R7C 1B1 Email: info@leechgroup.com

Brandon Business Review 2022

5

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BRANDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

JAIME PUGH

I

am thrilled to welcome you to the 2023 Brandon Business Review. This magazine has information about our local businesses and gives us the opportunity to celebrate a handful of them.

We are so fortunate in this community to have so many leaders and entrepreneurs. As we all know, small business is what makes the backbone of our economy. Here is our opportunity to gain experience about a few.

As you read through, please enjoy all the stories of how our own entrepreneurs have started, continued or have grown their individual businesses.

Entrepreneurial skills are motivation, passion, vision, confidence, decision making, risk taking, adaptability and so many more. We see this all over our community not only with our current award recipients but with all our business owners who take the risk every day to provide us with opportunities to shop, build, eat and so many more things within our own community. Our economy has been faced with inflation and interest rate challenges after just surviving a pandemic. It is our leaders and business owners that have shown perseverance through it all.

Congratulations to our current award recipients.

At the Chamber, our mission could not be more true. We encourage growth in the Brandon community by fostering a progressive business environment, favourable to enhancing existing and attracting new business. We have developed a three to five-year plan that we are currently on year two of this plan.

Our goals are to provide lobbying and advocacy work with our local and provincial governments and school divisions on business related issues as we all know that the coming together to provide one voice takes us further then fighting alone. This is shown through the increase to the basic personal tax amount in 2023 and increase to the personal

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Brandon Business Review 2023

income tax bracket thresholds for 2024. Also, the reduction in the Health and Post-Secondary Education tax levy in 2024 as well as the increase to the threshold for which a business is required to pay.

These measures are making Manitoba more in line with other provinces which will help us attract and retain residents going forward. We will continue to advocate for our business community.

We have heard loud and clear the concern over labour shortages and have worked with our governments and post-secondary educational institutions to ensure that this is being looked at and programs are in place to alleviate this concern. A perfect example is the Prairie Innovation Centre that will help with the much-needed replacement of jobs in the coming future in our agriculture sector.

We are constantly pushing to ensure that Brandon is viewed as the second city in Manitoba. We often hear in provincial addresses about Winnipeg but with our continued efforts Brandon is becoming top of mind for funding and helping with our ability to grow. With the development of GROW Brandon, we are working with local and provincial leaders to develop a strategic plan on how to make this a reality.

I encourage you to reach out as our next generation to our existing abundance of knowledge to continue to grow Brandon through leadership and our amazing entrepreneurial spirit! We are all in this together!

Jaime Pugh, President Brandon Chamber of Commerce

45 YEARS OF SERVICE AND SATISFACTION

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• Trees and Shrubs • Annuals and Perennials • Garden and Giftware • Tropical Plants

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• Manitoba Foods Market • Women and Men’s Fashion • Pots, Fountains, Fire Tables • Patio Furniture

Bloom Box Floral Studio Secret Garden Café by Chez Angela

1451 Rosser Avenue East, Brandon MB

Call: 204-727-5884 Greenspotbrandon.com

Plan for your future business needs.

Let’s talk about steps you can take to protect your business and yourself. It all starts with a conversation.

Taylor Jackson Financial Services Inc.

204-571-4560

shawn.taylor@sunlife.com sunlife.ca/taylor.jackson.financial 1331 Princess Avenue Brandon, MB R7A 0R4

*Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023.

Brandon Business Review 2023

7

MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE BRANDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CONNOR KETCHEN

W

elcome to another addition of our Brandon Business Review. As we reflect upon the past year, it's clear that our collective efforts have yielded substantial progress. Our focus was twofold: providing ample opportunities for networking, communication, and engagement, alongside our resolute commitment to advocacy.

With a solid foundation beneath us, we stand poised to enter a new year marked by anticipation and innovation.

In the face of unprecedented challenges over the past year, our local business community demonstrated remarkable resilience, emerging as leaders on a broader scale. Navigating through adversity, our businesses showcased unparalleled creativity and adaptability, setting the stage for innovation and collaboration. It's truly inspiring to witness how, even amidst difficulties, our community stepped up as beacons of leadership, displaying the power of unity and determination in driving positive change within and beyond our local environment.

The preceding year was characterized by unwavering dedication to facilitating connections among members, fostering collaboration, and information sharing. Through a wide range of events, spanning from insightful workshops to dynamic networking sessions, we aimed to cultivate relationships and foster mutual growth. We express our sincere gratitude to all members, who breathed life into these occasions and reinforced the strong spirit of our Chamber community.

A significant highlight was our 140th Annual Awards Gala — an event that not only celebrated exceptional individuals and businesses but also highlighted remarkable accomplishments within our community. Throughout this magazine you will find articles written on our award recipients. To our distinguished award recipients and nominees, your contributions stand as a testament to the remarkable talent and potential our community embodies.

As we pivot to the coming year, we eagerly anticipate an enlightening series of luncheons. These gatherings will

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provide a platform to equip our members with strategic insights, industry trends, and actionable perspectives. Beyond their informative value, these luncheons will facilitate an exchange of ideas, foster skill development, and strengthen connections — essential components for advancing our business landscape.

We are thrilled to introduce our inaugural Leadership Program — a pioneering initiative within our region. This program is designed to cultivate visionary leaders who will shape the future of our community. Through thoughtfully curated content, mentorship opportunities, and immersive experiences, participants will acquire the skills needed to lead with distinction and navigate the challenges of the future.

Integral to our pursuits are the Chamber's committees — the Workforce Alignment Committee, Government Relations Committee, and Business Development Committee. These platforms not only amplify the value of our programs but also exemplify our dedication to advocacy. By uniting the diverse expertise of our members, we champion our community's interests and elevate our collective voice when engaging with government stakeholders. The strength of the Chamber lies in its capacity to connect, empower, advocate, and catalyze growth. As we celebrate the achievements of the past year, we look ahead to a future that promises even more potential.

In closing, we hope you thoroughly enjoy this publication as we highlight the year in review in the Brandon business community, while celebrating the success of many local businesses. As always, we hope to connect and grow with all of you. Together, we will shape the trajectory of our businesses and community, driving positive change and sustainable growth.

Please contact us to learn more about the tools the Brandon Chamber of Commerce can give your business to prosper and grow. Visit us at brandonchamber.ca or call at 204-571-5340.

Connor Ketchen, General Manager Brandon Chamber of Commerce

We have coverage for you.

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Ask your insurance broker.

Brandon Business Review 2023

9

2023-2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS To learn more about the directors, visit brandonchamber.ca

Jaime Pugh

Tanya LaBuick

MNP LLP

LaBuick & Co., Guardian Fencing & CW2 Construction & Design

PRESIDENT

PAST PRESIDENT

Lois Ruston

VICE PRESIDENT

YWCA

10

Jennifer Ludwig

SECRETARY-TREASURER

Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd.

Courtney Baxter Bushel Plus

Matt Berg Livingstone Landscaping Ltd. & Livingstone Outdoor

Emelio Brown IntriTech Digital Marketing

Brent Miller Victoria Inn

Andrea Epp Epp Law Office

Samantha Falloon MyPhone | TELUS & KOODO Authorized Dealer

Chris Finley Mazergroup

Tilda Fortier Greenstone Building Products

Meredyth Leech Leech Group

Rob Starkell West-Can HR

Brandon Business Review 2023

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Download our Best Practices Guide at wcb.mb.ca/return-to-work

Brandon Business Review 2023

11

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY

EVER-EVOLVING BUSINESS TECH

– WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT’S COMING NEXT

BY KRISTIN MARAND

F

rom workstations, networks and servers, to software programs for your specific industry and business needs, business technology is an ever-present part of our working lives. When we have the right tech in place it makes our lives easier, saves time and is seamlessly integrated into our daily tasks.

It’s typically only when we come up against road blocks or realize that something is missing that we take a hard look at the tech we have in place and how it is helping or hindering our performance. Two Manitoba experts weigh in on current business tech must haves and what to consider as you look to the future.

“There are so many amazing business tech tools available and the essential ones for each business would depend what the business does, who their target audience is and what the goals of the business are,” explains Ashleigh Hamm, Marketing Director and Owner of Brandon’s Create Marketing. According to Hamm, some critical pieces of business tech that most businesses can benefit from include: cloud based storage, organization and file sharing, automation, project management software and social media scheduling tools.

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Brandon Business Review 2023

According to a 2022 trend report from Capterra, a resource website for companies seeking information technology (IT) software, the top three business goals for Canadian companies in 2023 were; increased productivity, revenue growth, and customer base and market share expansion. Canadian businesses looked to improve in these areas by increasing their investment in tech to support their highest priorities including; supply chain management, cybersecurity, sales-related or customer relationship management (CRM) software, IT management, and human resources and learning management.

Kent Smith, Managing Partner, Executive Digital Advisor and Chief Information officer at ourCIO, a consultancy who helps businesses improve and future-proof their IT, echoes these findings in his own experience. He says that one in five Canadian businesses have been impacted by a cyber incident in the last 12 months, forcing companies to take action on managing their cyber and overall IT risk.

“Another recent trend we’ve observed and are helping companies with, are those who are really focused on improving the experience of both their customers and their employees.

The appropriate adoption of digital technology unlocks an opportunity to differentiate one company from the next and becomes a vital tool for attracting and retaining quality customers and employees,” he says.

Smith also notes that there is a growing interest in the value of data to equip companies with better insights and decision making.

Establishing your technological

"We really want companies to look beyond the computer and network when they think about technology, and explore the strategic value of adopting and using appropriate digital technology in their workplace."

- Kent Smith

ourCIO - Managing Partner

priorities can have a strategic impact on your businesses’ connectivity, reliability and engagement with employees and clients alike. Taking advantage of the right tech for your business can help you leverage opportunities and mitigate risks, ultimately giving you an edge to outperform competition.

Both Hamm and Smith advise that technological considerations should be addressed in big-picture planning for your business and marketing and each of their companies offer guidance in which tools may be most advantageous for your business.

“We really want companies to look beyond the computer and network when they think about technology, and explore the strategic value of adopting and using appropriate digital technology in their workplace,” says Smith. “We’ve been part of helping businesses digitally transform and see them thrive in a modern digital world where technology is helping them achieve their business goals and grow to new heights.”

“Our vision at Create Marketing is to embolden the human experience through mindful strategy, creativity and technology that has brands be connected to their purpose and delivering on their promises. Marketing isn’t one tactic it’s a strategy and a plan designed to help a business or organization achieve their goals,” says Hamm.

Looking to the future, Hamm and Smith both say they are closely watching the development and roll out of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and expect these tools to evolve rapidly and quickly become indispensable.

“Generative and conversational AI tools such as ChatGPT

are something we are watching and exploring very closely,” says Smith. “We see the onset of these tools having a major impact to businesses, and while some of this is positive, there are ethical and social concerns surrounding its use too,” he explains. “We are helping businesses understand and prepare for the advancements in AI and adopt policy and guidelines around its use. We are helping business explore use cases that could have a positive impact for them.”

“The biggest tech trend right now in marketing is the use of AI. There are so many uses for AI that can help with core marketing activities such as enhancing existing products or services, enhancing relationships with customers, idea generation, data analysis and so much more. It’s really an exciting time in our industry and the growth we’ll see in marketing as a whole over the next few years related to AI,” says Hamm.

If your business or industry is experiencing a critical change or challenge - growth, increased or new competition, disruption, or new regulations, or you are looking to better understand the strategic value of digital technology to your operations and bottom line, or expand your adoption and use of technology, it may be time to assess your needs. Investing in tech is an investment in future-proofing your business. If your business is ready to evaluate or add to your technological arsenal, you don’t necessarily have to go into the red to do so.

“There are two really great funding programs that every small and midsize business should be considering helping them start on this journey,” says Smith. “The Digital Manitoba Initiative is a home-grown digital services grant that can pair businesses with experts in three streams: business technology assessments, cybersecurity audits, and digital legal services.

The Canada Digital Adoption program offers a similar service, preparing businesses with a custom digital adoption plan and access to an interest free loan of up to $100,000 to fund those initiatives.” ●

Brandon Business Review 2023

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MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR OF BRANDON

JEFF FAWCETT OPEN FOR BUSINESS

A

s Mayor of the City of Brandon, I am excited about the future of our city. Our community is one of the best kept secrets in Canada, and like my predecessors, being Mayor of this great city is one of my greatest privileges.

Brandon is a wonderful place to live and raise your family, grow your business, and leave a legacy.

Our city is open for business, and we want the world to know it. From the home-based business to our established corporations, Brandon is in a unique position where not only do we service our 51,000+ residents, but as the province’s second-largest city, we provide economic, medical, educational, and social services for our region.

This year has been a momentous year to reset and remind each other that together we are stronger than ever. Despite ongoing challenges including inflation, excessive fuel costs, and ongoing labour impacts, it is together where we build strong partnerships and relationships to ensure that our key needs are being met across our community.

I along with my Council colleagues believe that partnerships are the key to a strong community. Knowing that current and future residents want to live in a vibrant and growing city, we look to foster an environment that supports population and economic growth.

We are excited to partner with the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders to see the formation of GROW Brandon Partnership. This amalgamation of perspectives will strengthen our goal to develop a comprehensive team. We are constantly engaged with those that grow Brandon as well as other investment organizations, including Invest in Canada, Prairies Economic Development Canada, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, Business Council of Manitoba, and our Indigenous Economic Development partners.

Our city is rich with many cultures, and we continue to be excited to attract and retain newcomers to our city.

In the past decade, Brandon has successfully welcomed over 7,000 newcomers. We are pleased to work with the federal government through the Brandon Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). We are also pleased to partner with Westman Immigrant Services (WIS) as they have created the

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Brandon Business Review 2023

Rural Manitoba Immigration Employment Council.

These initiatives support employers to address their labour shortage.

Work is also underway to see the creation of a Brandon Community Social Health Partnership, which will create an umbrella structure for facilitating collaboration and coordinating housing and community wellness for the greater Brandon area. The structure combines the nonprofit sector, private sector, all levels of government, academic institutions and all other key players in social services, housing, and health industry.

At the City of Brandon, we recognize that recreation and cultural opportunities are the cornerstones for building a community where everyone is welcome to celebrate shared interests and backgrounds. Earlier this year, we partnered with the province to contribute $16 million toward the Keystone Centre to ensure that the facility can sustain operations for decades to come. Another key recreation facility in our city is our Community Sportsplex. We are having discussions in our community and on the future of the aging ice arena. Make sure to stay tuned to more opportunities for public engagement coming soon.

I am excited to see the Outdoor Field Sports Complex (OFSC), located at First Street & Veterans Way come to life in Brandon. As a regional hub, this state-of-the-art facility will be a great investment for our city and will benefit everyone in our community and beyond. Included in the project will be a FIFA-sized soccer field with lighting, soccer fields, a cricket pitch, maintenance facility and a clubhouse with washrooms and changerooms. We are thrilled to partner with all three levels of government for this project, which is on track to be completed in early 2025.

Brandon has an exciting future. With so much to celebrate as a community, the opportunities for education, recreation, annual and special events, industries, and organizations are endless. Let’s grow Brandon together and show the world that we are open for business.

Jeff Fawcett, Mayor City of Brandon

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15

GERALD CATHCART

DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOOKING FORWARD WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

T

he past three months have been a whirlwind as I stepped into the role of Economic Development Director at the City of Brandon.

In meetings with local industries, provincial officials, the Chamber of Commerce, the real estate board, city councillors, and many others with an interest in Brandon's growth, I've found some key takeaways: · People love Brandon. · They want to live in a city where personal and business goals are achievable. · There are exciting opportunities for collaboration, investment, and growth.

Together, we have the chance to partner and provide new services, products, and attract businesses to make Brandon their home. Now, the question we are asking ourselves is: How can we best accelerate these possibilities?

Looking forward, our initial energies will be spent engaging with Brandon's growing manufacturing and processing businesses, following the wellestablished economic strategy of business retention and expansion.

Efforts to retain and expand existing businesses yield significant benefits and contribute to long-term economic growth. In fact, a substantial 80 per cent of employment growth is created by existing businesses.

The focus on manufacturing jobs is supported by the numbers, accounting for 11 per cent of employment in Brandon while the Canadian average is eight per cent. Direct employment in manufacturing is the third-highest category behind health care and retail in Brandon. It's worth noting that existing businesses often make quiet but significant capital investments that generally fly under the radar of

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the public. Economic Development will highlight local success stories, share the magnitude of industrial investments taking place, and build awareness of the true scope of industrial activity for citizens and investors alike. Much local investment is held as private information, and we can only share in the cumulative. In my limited number of discussions to date, over $100 million is planned to be invested by existing businesses in 2023 and 2024.

The question of whether Brandon's infrastructure can support this growth arises. The good news is that since expansion generally utilizes existing utilities, organic growth can occur without significant strain on capacity.

However, there is infrastructure strain when looking at Brandon's inventory of industrial and commercial lands today.

Few acres could be considered "shovel ready" for new or expanding industries, necessitating an investment in industry ready utilities infrastructure.

Regarding electrical capacity for expansion, it's a mixed situation.

Electrical power, while identified as a key driver of the Manitoba economy, is not currently available in abundance in Brandon's industrial area. However, Manitoba Hydro is making steady progress to increase capacity for all Westman, with large investments planned between now and 2027.

Workforce development continues to be a barrier for businesses across the country. Locally, workforce solutions might be found through the Rural and Northern Immigration Program, Westman Immigrant Services, relationships with Brandon University and Assiniboine College, or any number of organizations that provide job search functions. Brandon's smaller processors and manufacturers may not have time nor dedicated human

resource personnel to search out resources, but Economic Development is here to assist where such specific barriers are identified.

The Rural and Northern Immigration Program remains highly active, with employers effectively utilizing the pilot project. As a result, all eleven pilot communities have expressed their desire for the program to become permanent.

Business attraction will remain an important role of the office, focusing primarily on the recruitment of green energy, food processing investors, and value-added uses for locally created by-products. In collaboration with the provincial economic development team and Invest Canada, Brandon's clusters in chemical processing, metals manufacturing, food processing, and the agriculture support sector are well represented internationally.

Brandon’s commitment to Indigenous economic reconciliation is moving forward in several areas including the services agreement for Gambler First Nation’s urban development on 18th street north. Teachings from the recently held Southern Chiefs’ Organization’s Economic Reconciliation Forum will provide guidance on our path forward.

The future looks bright for Brandon.

If you are looking to expand, start a new business or know someone who is Economic Development Brandon is here to serve and build the community alongside you. Please reach out directly to econdev@brandon.ca.

Look for an updated website and renewal of the 2014-2019 Economic Growth Strategy in the new year.

Gerald Cathcart, Director of Economic Development City of Brandon

Your business.

Your community.

Our passion.

At the heart of every prosperous community are the entrepreneurs who foster growth, innovation, and opportunity. Passionate about working with the Brandon business community for more than 60 years, MNP is committed to ensuring your business continues to thrive.

Patti Bell, CPA, CA, Regional Managing Partner 204.571.7670 | patti.bell@mnp.ca MNP.ca MNP, Brandon MB | Founded 1958

Brandon Business Review 2023

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IMMIGRANT WORKFORCE

IMMIGRANTS AT THE HEART OF BRANDON’S BURGEONING WORKFORCE

BY JIM BENDER

S

amantha Falloon did not set out to hire immigrants at first, but the owner of Myphone in the Westman area is certainly glad that she did.

“We had hired an international student quite some time ago,” Falloon says. “He was with us for eight years. We have always run an in-house referral program … He managed that program and he had recommended friends or family that he thought would be good for our organization. It worked out really well and sort of organically happened over and over again where we ended up a very large Jamaican community as part of our team.

“I think, because of that, it allowed us to sort of ease into hiring immigrants. We kind of got familiar with the international students and today, we’re not nervous or uncomfortable and we were able to hire employees based on merit, regardless of whether they’re new immigrants or international students, or where they’re from.”

Hiring immigrants has addressed a work-shortage need for Falloon’s three locations – two in Brandon and one in Virden.

“Obviously, the last couple of years have been tough on employers finding employees,” she says.

“Having access to new immigrants has allowed us to stay whole over the last couple of years and being comfortable in hiring international students has worked out really well for us.”

Falloon hired about five immigrants last year and about 19 over the last five years. Currently 10 of her staff of 18 are new immigrants, she says.

“It gives us access to a huge labour pool that I think, for quite some time, was under-utilized,” Falloon says. “I would say that all of our employees are pretty awesome.

They’re hard workers, they’re dedicated, lots of loyalty.

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Brandon Business Review 2023

"When we think about economic growth or labour-market shortages, immigration has been recognized as a key driver to support that and population growth."

- Enver Naidoo

CEO of Westman Immigrant Services (WIS)

We’ve had many of our employees for three to five years and it has allowed us to stay relatively whole through some really challenging times.

“I also enjoy learning about new cultures and I think it’s really fun to have a team that’s more representative of our community. So, on a personal note, I think it’s interesting to learn about different places.”

Falloon’s is just one business that has benefited from immigrants and newcomers arriving in Brandon and the area — with more to come. About 21,000 immigrants landed in Manitoba over the past year. While the majority of those stayed in Winnipeg, the second-most came to Brandon.

“Last year was the highest number of immigrants arriving in Brandon in the history of Brandon,” says Enver Naidoo, CEO of Westman Immigrant Services (WIS).

Because they arrived at different stages, it is difficult to say exactly how many were welcomed by the Wheat City.

“Last year, we supported 3,000 clients – 3,000 immigrants and newcomers,” Naidoo says. “We provide assistance to immigrants and newcomers.”

The organization, which has offices in Brandon, Russell, Virden and Cartwright, helps most of them to find employment in the area. It also aids employers in hiring immigrants for both skilled and unskilled labour.

But not all new arrivals were supported by WIS as some may have arrived just to register for post-secondary education.

There is already a need for even more immigrants.

“Canada has an aging problem and lower birth rates, so it needs immigrants to stabilize the tax base and employers need more immigrants in the workforce,” Naidoo says.

The provincial government has addressed this issue by establishing the Manitoba Immigration Advisory Council, which made 70 recommendations to improve the province’s immigration policies and address those labour shortages, which are the results of retirements and deaths.

The Council’s three mandates are to attract more immigrants to Manitoba, streamline its nominee program, increase funding for settlement issues, and increase support to six regional communities to augment what they can offer locally.

“When we think about economic growth or labour-market shortages, immigration has been recognized as a key driver to support that and population growth,” says Naidoo, who helped develop the Rural Manitoba Immigrant Employment Council to assist rural employers in attracting, hiring and retaining immigrant talent.

“There is currently a labour-market shortage in multiple

sectors, from construction to entry-level positions, as well as skilled positions,” he says. “It exists in Brandon, it exists in Manitoba. Post-pandemic, there has been across Canada, challenges. One of the things with aging population and lower birth rates, the Conference Board of Canada is actually expecting to see labour market shortages over the next couple of decades.

“We have to make sure there are no shortages in the future, which is going to impact economic growth, which is why immigration is such a key component. This allows businesses an opportunity to hire and retain different talent and support the operations.”

The WIS offers language classes for those immigrants who need a better grasp of the English language. It also offers training in such aspects as creating emails, if needed.

Brandon offers affordable housing for new immigrants, but housing can be a challenge for such towns as Russell, Naidoo admits.

Currently, about 20 per cent of Brandon’s 50,000-plus population consists of immigrants, with some of them owning their own business, Naidoo says. He adds that such wellrespected institutions as Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College attract many international students, who often find work and remain in the area once they’re finished school.

Meanwhile, Falloon encourages others to hire immigrants.

“It’s been a really positive experience for us and I would recommend it to other employers, for sure,” she says. ●

Brandon Business Review 2023

19

BRANDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Events The Brandon Chamber of Commerce takes great pride in offering our members and the Brandon business community high-quality events. From casual mixers to elegant galas, there is always something going on at the Chamber! We are working hard to still deliver quality events and programs that our members will find value in. Check out some of our featured events below!

LUNCHEON SERIES These popular events are held monthly from September to June and feature presentations from business, industry, government, and institutional CEOs on topical information of importance to the business community. So, grab your coffee and your lunch and tune in for some great information!

FIRST FRIDAY COFFEES Fill up your coffee mug and join in on the conversation!

These hour-long networking events are held the first Friday morning of every month. No speeches, no agenda, and open to all employees of member businesses. Chamber Coffees promote the exchange of ideas and discussion while giving

Fuelling Our Communities.

Supporting growth and local causes in Brandon, Minnedosa, Wawanesa, Erickson, Sandy Lake, Strathclair & Rivers

you the opportunity to meet someone new and practice your networking skills in a casual setting. Our coffee hours have been popular way for members to connect with the Chamber board, staff, and other members in a relaxed, casual setting.

AWARDS GALA The Brandon Chamber’s Annual Awards Gala is the premier business event of the year. This gala event boasts a spectacular night of great food, entertainment, and celebration as we recognize the success of our thriving business community with the presentation of our Business Excellence Awards. We love a reason to celebrate our amazing members!

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larry.maguire@parl.gc.ca larrymaguire.ca • 204-726-7600 20

Brandon Business Review 2023

BUSINESS AFTER 5 Business After 5 events provide an opportunity for members to host a Chamber networking event at their facility or an off-site location. These events are complimentary for all employees of our members to attend. These are casual, come-and-go events that allow our members a chance to hear what the hosting company has been up to! It’s a great chance to visit and enjoy refreshments and snacks after work.

CHAMBER 101 So, you became a Chamber member, now what? Chamber 101 helps you get the most out of your membership by giving you a complete look at what’s available to promote your business, save money, provide benefits to your staff, and make the connections that you need to grow your business and your career!

GOLF TOURNAMENT Fore! Who is ready for a great day filled with golfing, networking, fun games, and great prizes to be won? The Annual Chamber Golf Tournament has successfully run for 34 years now and is always guaranteed to be a great time. Start practicing that swing of yours, and we will see you on the green!

WORKSHOPS & LEARNING LUNCHES Join us for a hands-on learning experience that gives you new skills to bring back to your workplace. In the past these workshops have included:

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SUPERWOMAN CONFERENCE Hang up your cape for a half-day conference filled with opportunities for connection, education, inspiration, and empowerment! This event aims to inspire discussion about the roadmap for success in Manitoba and beyond. We want to bring together ambitious women and men and foster an environment of connection. With keynote speakers and panelists, you will hear from those in different industries, backgrounds, and experiences. Stay tuned for a spring 2024 event.

SPECIAL EVENTS The Brandon Chamber is constantly looking for more event opportunities to educate, inform, advocate, or offer networking opportunities for our members. From round tables with visiting electoral officials, specialty conferences, to election debates – we are always looking for ways to provide value for our members!

Visit us at brandonchamber.ca or contact us to learn more about our upcoming events.

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MAXIMIZE YOUR will this be supplied or MEMBERSHIP

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I'VE JOINED THE CHAMBER...NOW WHAT?

❑ Stay Updated, Read Your Mail: Chamber Insider E-newsletter (weekly), Chamber at a Glance newsletter (monthly), & member emails ❑ Display Space: Display your flyer or brochure in our front entrance ❑ Get Noticed, Advertise in Chamber Publications: Call our Membership Coordinator to advertise in our Chamber at a Glance or Chamber Insider ads ❑ What’s New? Member News Section: Share important news in the Chamber Insider

❑ Member Profile: Answer a few questions, provide a photo, and become famous in our publications ❑ Special Delivery: Purchase mailing labels for over 800 delegates for your own special announcement/ event ❑ Booth Sponsorship: Showcase your products and services at one of our luncheons

❑ Website: Log in & update your directory information, including hours of operation and contact information

❑ Special Event Sponsorship: Take advantage of one of the many levels of sponsorship and show your support for the business community at our Annual Awards Show Dinner or Golf Tournament

❑ Website Upgrade: Add your logo, expand your description, add photos, YouTube videos, increase key words

❑ First Friday Coffees: Come join us for your morning coffee the first Friday of every month!

❑ The Chamber Roster Book: Advertise along with your business listing in the directory

❑ Come Have Some Lunch: Network with other businesses over lunch once a month, where we even have speakers there to help educate and inform

❑ Spread the Word: The Chamber receive countless calls from consumers and visitors who we refer to our members; let us know what you’re doing and we will spread the word ❑ Social Networking: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & LinkedIn – we recognize member achievements, awards, and events on our social networking feeds

22

❑ Community Calendar: Add your events to our website that is visible to members and the community

Brandon Business Review 2023

❑ Too Busy During the Day?: Join us at our complimentary networking event hosted by your fellow members at their place of business for Business After 5 ❑ Put Out the Welcome Mat: Host your own Business After 5 and invite customer to your place of business in a casual networking atmosphere

❑ Add Your Voice: Join a committee and learn about the Chamber business, develop your leadership skills, and meet new people on a more personal level ❑ Member-to-Member Deals: Post your exclusive discounts for free on our website and keep your eye on any deals other members might have for you! ❑ Bring Your Card: Arrive early and share your business cards with members at our monthly luncheons or coffees and increase your profile.

Be yourself; wear what you would wear to work ❑ Out of Space?: Rent our boardroom during or after-hours in the historic and beautiful Chamber building. ❑ Save Money: With the many Chamber Affinity programs, there is bound to be a discount applicable to your business ❑ Advertise for Free: Refer a business that signs up for Chamber membership and earn a Chamber marketing credit

The Brandon Chamber of Commerce building at 1043 Rosser Ave.

Are you a new business in Brandon?

We'd love to hear from you!

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Contact us at: 204-571-5344 or at members@brandonchamber.ca Become a member of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce today.

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Our hours are Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm.

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23

BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD

BARRY LAROCQUE Brandon's Business Person of the Year

THINKING GLOBALLY & ACTING LOCALLY LaRocque credits team for Atom-Jet’s success

Barry LaRocque, owner of Atom-Jet Industries and Glendale Industries, at the Glendale Industries shop in Brandon.

PHOTO BY TIM SMITH / THE BRANDON SUN

24

Brandon Business Review 2023

BY JILLIAN AUSTIN

W

hile greatly honoured to receive the Business Person of the Year award, Barry LaRocque of Atom-Jet Industries was quick to share the accolades with his team.

“There’s no way any one person could accomplish what Atom-Jet has accomplished. It's a team effort, and I don't think enough people get credit for what they do,” he said. “I don't like to take the recognition to say it's my award. It’s my team's award, it's our team’s award, it’s the company’s award.”

LaRocque, along with a business partner, bought Atom-Jet in 2002. They acquired Glendale Industries in 2011, and then the following year, LaRocque went on his own. The international company has grown to be one of Westman’s largest industrial and agricultural product manufacturers.

“When we started in 2002, there was approximately 21 employees here at Atom-Jet, and now combined we’re probably around 85,” he said.

They provide products and services in

Canada, the United States and Australia as well as some European countries.

“The United States is obviously one of our main customers, but Australia has become a lot more dominant in the last few years,” he said.

International business connections have led to friendships with people on the other side of the world. LaRocque invited an Australian dealer and his wife to spend time in Manitoba at their lake house, while next year LaRocque and his wife plan to visit them in Australia.

“We’ll do a little bit of business, maybe five to 10 per cent business and 90 per cent socializing and enjoying each other’s company,” he said. “It's just based on the relationship that I've grown with him over the years, him being a dealer for us.”

Atom-Jet continues to grow into more agricultural markets around the globe.

Last year they had a sale into Mexico, and they are expanding further across Canada as well. They offer a comprehensive line up of seeding openers, fertilizer knives and power hiller tines. They have also

developed hydraulic kits to improve the performance of older tractors..

On the industrial side, they sell potable water trucks and vacuum trucks, and that reach has gone from Ontario into B.C. “Years ago it was just basically Manitoba, but we’re selling product into southwestern Ontario right into B.C.” In 2022, Atom-Jet marked its 60th anniversary. Over the years, the company has made a commitment to support the community, including through the AtomJet Group Community Hero partnership with the Brandon Wheat Kings. People are encouraged to nominate folks that are making a difference in the Westman community. They are recognized and celebrated in front of the crowd at the Brandon Wheat Kings game.

“It started out as just identifying somebody that would maybe be a school teacher, professional, or firefighter, policeman, but we found that it evolved into coaches, or somebody that just does community service and helps out,” he said.

“So it’s evolved to recognizing people that

A staffer works at the Glendale Industries shop in Brandon in August of this year.

PHOTO BY TIM SMITH / THE BRANDON SUN Brandon Business Review 2023

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

deserve recognition, that do lots for our community.”

LaRocque is committed to giving back as well, and over the years has been involved with a number of community organizations. He has sat as a Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) – Brandon Economic Development Board Member, Foundation Member for ACC, Cabinet Member for the Prairie Innovation Center Campaign at ACC, and other various nonprofits such as the MS Society, Heart and Stroke, Brandon-Westman Cheer, and Samaritan House Food Bank.

“I find that if you're not giving back you don't really have any say in how things should be.

So it's …a respect to the community,” he said. “The community has provided so much for the companies and myself, and it's my way of giving back to say I

appreciate what this community has done and how can I help.”

Looking to the future of Atom-Jet, LaRocque said they plan to continue growing. That includes possibly adding some full-time salespeople in the U.S. They have a research and development team looking at gaining new products, and some “irons in the fire” that can help them grow not only in sales but into new territories.

“Just continuing to grow and invest in the businesses. We’ve gone to a lot of technology in the last few years, so buying some robotic welders, robotic brazing machines, and technologies…and different things. Pushing down the technology road to help us stay, lets say, in front of industry.” ●

Atom-Jet and Glendale Industries owner Barry LaRocque accepts the award for Business Person of the Year during the Brandon Chamber of Commerce awards gala in 2023.

PHOTO BY STACEY GABRIEL

Barry LaRocque, owner of Atom-Jet Industries and Glendale Industries, at his office in the Atom-Jet Industries shop in Brandon last August.

PHOTO BY TIM SMITH / THE BRANDON SUN

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Brandon Business Review 2023

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LIFETIME BUILDER OF THE YEAR AWARD

WES NOROSKY SOUTH END LUMBER

EVOLVING WITH THE NEXT GENERATION Lumber business growing with the times

BY JILLIAN AUSTIN

S

outh End Lumber has achieved the remarkable feat of becoming a successful third-generation business, a testament to its legacy of adaptability and resilience.

President Wes Norosky is proud that the business has been able to grow and evolve since his father Joseph founded it in 1955. Wes took over the business in 1978, and now works with his sons Scott and Tyler.

“It doesn't happen very often. Most third generation businesses don't make it,” he said.

For many years, Norosky worked on his own without any partners. Bringing on his sons has proven to be a great decision.

“Instead of one person doing it all, it was six hands on, which made it easier to expand and share the burden too,” he said. “It was definitely helpful, bringing the boys on.

We’ve had our hiccups with it for sure, I mean family businesses are not easy, but overall, yeah it was a very good move.”

Wes Norosky, president of South End Lumber-Timbermart, at his office in Brandon.

PHOTO BY TIM SMITH / THE BRANDON SUN

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Brandon Business Review 2023

South End Lumber is a building materials supplier for Brandon and the surrounding area of southwestern Manitoba.

According to their website, South End Lumber’s focus is “projectoriented”, and are pleased to help customers when they are building or renovating a home, cottage, office, garage, deck, fence, etc.

Looking back at the history of the business, Norosky said technology and warehousing are two major changes that have impacted operations.

“The business has certainly changed, that’s for sure, from where I started out. Everything was just hand-written and … done by hand, now it’s computerized,” Norosky said.

In the late ‘70s, there were seven employees, and now they are up to 45.

“We’ve had some bumps, but we’ve had steady growth. We’re happy with how the business is run.”

New warehousing technology, along with different types of forklifts and trucks, have made things easier, he added.

“Everything is on racks- you roll it in, roll it out, not as labour intense as it was before,” Norosky said.

“There's still a labour intensive job for yard help for sure, but… it's come a long, long way.”

Norosky was instrumental in helping establish the Timber Mart buying group, which now supports hundreds of small lumber yards across Canada, allowing them to compete with larger companies.

Being recognized by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce with the Lifetime Business Builder award was a special moment for Norosky.

“Well it obviously shows that I've worked hard in my lifetime, and people recognize what we’ve done. I'm proud of the award, for sure.”

It takes hard work and determination to have enduring success in business, and it is not always smooth sailing.

“Business is a grind, and if you want to be successful you’ve got to keep on grinding,” he said. “It's a tough business, it’s very competitive. You have to be very price-conscious to be able to sell…You definitely have to give good service, which we do, and you have to build a good staff, which I think we’ve done a good job of doing.”

Giving back to the community is a priority for Norosky. He has been involved in a number of community organizations, such as the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Board, Brandon Regional Hospital Foundation Board, Ducks Unlimited, Timber Mart, and multiple local company advisory boards.

“I think it’s part of the whole package. You’ve got to give back to the community for sure. You learn a lot through all of it too. You meet some very interesting people that educate you even more, so I think it's very important to be involved with community effort.” ●

During the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala in April, Wes Norosky received the Lifetime Builder of the Year award.

PHOTO BY STACEY GABRIEL

Brandon Business Review 2023

29

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

RHONI MOHANRAJ TRIDENT EVENT GROUP

THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MEMORIES Young Entrepreneur “loving life and living events”

Rhoni Mohanraj, founder of Trident Event Group, Three Point Studios & Trident Media, gestures to someone on the floor while working the Western Canadian Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships on Aug. 11 at Brandon University's Healthy Living Centre.

PHOTO BY MATT GOERZEN / THE BRANDON SUN

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Brandon Business Review 2023

BY JILLIAN AUSTIN

W

hat began as a small DJing business as a teenager has evolved into the successful Trident Event Group, which now spans six divisions in two cities and employs 21 staff members.

And all of this was achieved before founder and owner Rhoni Mohanraj turned 30 years old. To recognize this major accomplishment, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce awarded Mohanraj the title of Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

“For an immigrant kid to come into Brandon and be able to start a business, be able to be a part of the community, and now being recognized as a young entrepreneur is a massive, massive deal, and it hasn't been lost on me how grateful I am for that and what I've got,” Mohanraj said. “Hopefully this inspires, at some level, more people to take that plunge into entrepreneurship.”

Originally from India, Mohanraj immigrated to Canada when he was a teenager in 2009. He and his mother Uma joined his father Mohanraj in Brandon, who made the move a few years prior.

Mohanraj attended Vincent Massey High School for grades 11 and 12. Making music on his computer turned into DJing, with his father helping him with the project.

“He’s an engineer by trade so he was like, ‘yeah, let’s try it’, and my mom was like, ‘wait, you're going to go partying every weekend and you're going to get paid?’

Yeah that's pretty much loosely how it is,” Mohanraj said, with a laugh.

“So he helped me start that off, he knew the technical aspect of it…and I was the music kid, so we would go out initially. The first gig that we got was through a friend of a friend of his who was having a social in Neepawa, Manitoba, and I had no idea what a social was. At that point I was in Canada for maybe eight, nine months.”

Fast forward to a year later, and they were doing 25-30 events – working every Saturday over the summer, and special events for New Year’s Eve and Halloween.

After many late nights, his father decided to leave the business in 2011. Mohanraj took over on his own and it continued to snowball from there, even while Mohanraj was studying for his bachelor’s degree in Business at Brandon University. He graduated from BU in 2016.

“After 2016…we went all in on it, and then we started hiring people, now we have 21 staff members,” he said. The six divisions include music, photobooth, films, photos, commercial films, and event management, with staff in both Brandon and Winnipeg. This past summer they entered their 15th year.

Trident Event Group captures memories in creative ways, with weddings and love stories being a significant portion of their business.

“I grew up watching my mom and dad’s wedding video, even though it was filmed with a camera that weighs half my house,” he laughed. “We were primarily wedding entertainment. My wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, said ‘why aren't people doing video?’”

Mohanraj said he started looking into wedding videography and realized that was the kind of stories he wanted to tell.

“There began my journey of diving deep into Youtube and learning everything about a camera,” he said.

When the pandemic hit, weddings were cancelled so Trident pivoted to commercial films, now offered through their Three Point Studios division. Trident also does marketing, with a focus on social media and e-commerce.

Mohanraj also gives back to the community through a partnership with the United Way Brandon and District to help host their fundraisers and galas. He is the Vice-President of the Brandon University Alumni Association, helping the group organize and host alumni events and provide guidance for the Alumni Scholarship Fund.

Looking ahead, Mohanraj said they would like to expand more into Winnipeg as well as Regina, while continuing to be a part of the Brandon community.

“Bring more events …and to produce our own events, and where we can bring the community together. We’re planning a few things. So hopefully we’re able to secure that in the next couple years. Just loving events and living life is the goal.” ●

Rhoni Mohanraj was given the Young Entrepreneur Award by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce during its Business Awards Gala in April of this year.

PHOTOS BY STACEY GABRIEL

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31

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD - INDIVIDUAL

Brent Miller Victoria Inn

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IN UNCERTAIN TIMES Longtime Brandonite a dedicated volunteer

BY JILLIAN AUSTIN

F

Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre General Manager Brent Miller poses in the hotel pool area in August.

PHOTO BY MATT GOERZEN/THE BRANDON SUN

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Brandon Business Review 2023

or the past 13 years, Brent Miller has been a dedicated volunteer with the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, an organization he says he was drawn to for its commitment to the community.

“The work that they do to make Brandon a better city, a city that you want to visit or move to. They are very community- minded in giving back to the whole community,” Miller said.

Miller has had numerous roles over the years, including President, as well as being a member of both the Summer Fair Committee and the Dome Building Restoration Committee.

“Luckily enough I was the President when the building opened. It was neat- in lots of different speeches I had to do or ceremonies I had to be at, where I got to see all the different Presidents that had their hand on the project,” he said.

“It was definitely not just one president or one term.

It was really neat to see it finally get to the finish line.”

The Dome Building (Display Building No. II) is the only known surviving building built for the Dominion Exhibition (1879-1914). It was designated a Canadian national historic site in 1999. A massive restoration and redevelopment effort was initiated that, over the course of a decade, would see the building restored to a 21st century version of its former glory.

“It has a massive history in Brandon, a massive history in Canada, and we're so lucky to have it in our community,” Miller said.

Miller was transitioning from President to

Miller is a long-time Brandonite, and has been the General Manager of the Victoria Inn for the past 22 years. He was recently elected to the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Earlier this year, Miller was the recipient of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Community Impact Award during the organization’s annual gala.

Looking ahead, he plans to continue his volunteer efforts with the Provincial Ex. “When you walk the hallways or walk the fairgrounds and see the families, the socializing, the smiles on the faces,” it is so rewarding, but Miller said it is also about “bringing urban and rural together. We need to continue to teach the non- rural people where our food comes from, that our food is safe, our animals are treated humanely etc., so it's a very, very important piece of our society.” ●

Brent Miller receives the Community Impact Award - Individual during the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala in April.

PHOTO BY STACEY GABRIEL

▼

Past-President when the Covid-19 pandemic began. He played a lead role in navigating the Provincial Ex through the uncertain and challenging time.

“When we realized that this was just not going to be a couple week thing and blow over, we were two weeks before our fair,” he said. “I remember getting the group together to say, ‘what are we going to do? We have to make a decision by the time we leave this room’, and it was one of the hardest decisions…We had a lot of financial commitment already committed, we had all the eggs in the basket ready to go, and we had to make the decision…

People’s health is top priority, and in the end it was the right decision to make.”

Due to the pandemic, events were cancelled in 2020 and 2021. Staff had to be laid off, and difficult decisions were made.

“There was lots of hard decisions on ‘how we can survive?’ The Provincial Exhibition only really has a few, large revenue sources, not like a business that at least a few dollars come in the till every day,” he said. “There were weeks and months that there was not a penny coming in.”

Miller explained how they slowly opened the doors again when they could, and were able to get everything organized for the 2022 Winter Fair.

“It was Brandon's first very large event, and so everything we did through the two years prior to that, positioned ourselves that we were going to be able to open the doors when it was safe.”

Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre General Manager Brent Miller in his office on Victoria Avenue. Miller says he was drawn to volunteer with the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba for their commitment to the community..

PHOTO BY MATT GOERZEN/THE BRANDON SUN Brandon Business Review 2023

33

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD - BUSINESS

LON CULLEN YMCA BRANDON

PUTTING THE “Y” IN COMMUNITY SUPPORT YMCA leads way in childcare and senior fitness

YMCA Brandon president & CEO Lon Cullen poses in the middle of a slew of unopened shelving units that have been sourced locally in Brandon.

The new units will be placed in new day care spaces in the expanded YMCA building that was still under construction in August.

PHOTO BY MATT GOERZEN / THE BRANDON SUN

BY JILLIAN AUSTIN

F

YMCA Brandon president & CEO Lon Cullen looks out the second floor windows of the facility's new Y Downtown Early Learning Centre, which was still under construction at the time this image was taken.

PHOTO BY MATT GOERZEN / THE BRANDON SUN

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Brandon Business Review 2023

rom infant child care to senior fitness programs, YMCA Brandon truly has something to offer for people in all stages of life.

To be presented with the Community Impact Award, was “tremendous for the team to know that they are valued by the community,” said Lon Cullen, CEO of YMCA Brandon for the past 16 years.

“We’ve been here since 1886 so it's 100-plus years and to my knowledge this is one of the first recognitions that we’ve ever had … so it meant a lot.”

One of the major ways YMCA Brandon continues to positively impact the community is through its child care programs which were established under Cullen’s watch.

With the recent expansion, the Y now has more than 500 licensed preschool and infant spaces across six centres, Cullen said.

▼

Lon Cullen accepts the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Community Impact Award - Business in April on behalf of the YMCA Brandon.

PHOTO BY STACEY GABRIEL

After noticing a major need in schools, the Y also established the Before-and-After School programs, to help working parents. Cullen said this program sees more than 800 children in the programs daily.

During the summer, the Y’s Summer Day Camps for children between the ages of five and 12 are very popular. Depending on the week, Cullen said there would be between 160-200 children taking part.

“It just gives parents peace of mind that we have that offering here,” Cullen said. “And we try and maintain it as affordable as we can, but inflation is… killing everybody, the costs are more, the staff costs are more, but the value to parents knowing that (their children) are going to be looked after by professionals and they have opportunities to be in the gym or parks or go for a swim every day ... it's a value-added camp for sure.”

There has also been growth in the Y’s senior programming, and Cullen notes it is as much about the social aspect as it is about fitness.

“An example would be the aquafit class, through Covid years, the group still got together,” Cullen said. “They had lunch in parks… they established a telephone tree because the relationships they formed at the Y were so important to them. So it’s not just about fitness, its about the human connection.”

YMCA Brandon has about 4,500 to 5,000 members depending on the season.

The organization has the Strong Kids Campaign to raise money to support free or subsidized memberships.

“The Y believes that everybody should have access at an affordable rate, and no child is going to be turned away if we can help it,” Cullen said, adding the goal is to raise approximately $150,000 per year.

“And its not just kids, it’s adults too. There’s people that need our help, we’re there to help. It’s called the Strong Kids Campaign, but it is for kids and adults.”

Looking ahead to the future of the Y, Cullen said they want to “continue to be the centre of the community.”

It was 10 years ago they opened the doors of the new facility, the Dood Cristall Family YMCA at 231 8th Street, in downtown Brandon.

“The Y has always been part of this community, it's always been a part of downtown,” he said. “We’ve chosen to be here when we could have relocated, we want to be part of the solution for our community. We want to be the centre of the community and we want to continue to be accessible for all.” ●

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35

OUTSTANDING NEW BUSINESS AWARD

Erin DeBooy, Zach Wyss, and Janet Reichert at Tweedia’s head office in Brandon.

SUPPLIED

CHARLES TWEED TWEEDIA

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES Social media marketer all about building connections

BY KRISTIN MARAND

W Charles Tweed accepting award at Chamber Gala.

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Brandon Business Review 2023

orking in print media, gave Charles Tweed a front row seat to the sweeping changes occurring in marketing and advertising. As he watched businesses move away from traditional media and invest in the digital sphere, he knew that he was uniquely positioned to help Brandon and Westman businesses leverage digital and social to connect with their audiences.

“We love working in Brandon and Westman, and the area really required an agency that understands just how interconnected this part of the province is,” says Tweed. “Each market is different and how we build connections in Westman is different than how we do it in Saskatchewan or Central Alberta.”

Tweedia was founded five years ago and has steadily built its client list, primarily through referrals from satisfied customers. Tweed credits the strength of their reputation to the emphasis his company places on understanding and caring for their existing clientele.

“Along the way we’ve had some real success stories. Clients, who we still work with today, who were great inventors or fabricators but who weren’t the best at marketing themselves. We’ve been able to find them markets both locally and abroad, and to see their success and know that it is directly correlated to our success is very rewarding,” he says.

The Tweedia experience begins with a free comprehensive digital audit to help identify gaps and opportunities for your business. Tweedia boasts a staff of former journalists, website designers, videographers and more, bringing an incredibly broad skill set to the table. They offer frontend content creation packages that include videography, copywriting, graphic design, website design and photography.

They also offer expertise in the backend advertising platforms of various social media outlets.

“We focus on companies who are at the size where they are thinking of hiring a marketing person,” explains Tweed. “When you start working with a contractor you want to know that they can handle everything to keep the process not only simple but consistent.

“Choosing an agency like ours offers a level of security and expertise that is unmatched through other means. We work hard to take things off their plate and as an agency we offer our advice on best practices and ways to be successful within each platform.”

Understanding your business, the larger context of your industry and the regions in which you operate help the Tweedia team create an exclusive execution plan to help your business

get in front of the right audience.

Certain industries, such as agriculture, are most active on Twitter, while the region your business is in can also affect which platform will serve you best. Tweed notes that LinkedIn is very successful in Alberta, while Facebook and Instagram are king in Manitoba.

“Each company is different and each company has a culture that must shine through on social media,” Tweed says.

“If you think about the companies that you follow and like on social media, it tends not to be the ones who are constantly “selling” or talking at the their audience, but the companies who talk with their clients.

“A good content writer must be part sales representative, part marketer, part creative, part writer, part customer service representative and more, so it really requires a diverse skill set to work within social media.”

Trends in social media change seemingly daily, from shifts in how people use platforms to new tools on the advertising side. Having a team of professionals who are constantly learning and putting new strategies into action can help your business stay ahead of the curve and adapt when platforms make changes. Tweedia takes staying current very seriously says Tweed, explaining that his team regularly takes courses offered by social platforms to learn how to maximize the tools and strengths of each.

In May, Tweedia was recognized as the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Outstanding New Business for 2023, an accomplishment Tweed does not take lightly.

He believes in the importance of being flexible, working hard and staying humble. He explains that while he is honoured by the award, he is most proud that his staff have been able to live, work, buy homes and start families in Brandon and Westman because of the level of security Tweedia has provided. ●

Charles Tweed is with Zach Wyss who was Tweedia’s first employee and is still with the company today.

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Zach working at computer.

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Shay McLenehan and Zach Wyss.

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Shay McLenehan editing video on his Mac at the Tweedia office. McLenehan is Tweedia’s video guru.

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BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD – SMALL BUSINESS

TAMI ROURKE FRIENDS FUR LIFE DAYCARE & GROOMIING

A NOSE FOR THE GROOMING BUSINESS When success means literally going to the dogs

BY WENDY KING

B

ack in the day, the legendary W.C. Fields coined the showbiz adage: Never work with children or animals. Tami-Rae Rourke, who was ready for a second act in her “regular-biz” career, boldly chose to go with the latter... dogs would be her furry co-stars.

The result? Rourke’s second act has turned into a showstopper.

“I was in the corporate world for many, many years as a partner in a business here in Brandon called NetSet Communications, which we sold in 2017. I was too young to retire, but I didn’t want to do the same thing,” Rourke says “I’ve loved animals all my life. When I noticed an opportunity to buy Friends Fur Life with the surrounding property, I thought: Why not take this and see where I can go with it?”

Rourke bought Friends Fur Life Daycare & Grooming ( friendsfurlifedaycare.com ) and after an initial digital upgrade, she’s since done a second re-boot which merited a Business Excellence Award from the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

“I tore down the old facility and built a brand new one, so now we have a retail front, more dog groomers and more room for the daycare. The new facility is 2000 square feet on the main and then 1,500 square feet of outdoor space,” says Rourke.

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Tami-Rae Rourke, owner of Friends Fur Life Day Care Inc. and winner of the Business Excellence Small Business award from the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, is seen here in the front foyer of her business on 26th Street.

PHOTO BY MATT GOERZEN / THE BRANDON SUN

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One thing that sets the business apart is the second floor.

“Friends Fur Life now offers Duke’s Place on the second floor, which is part of the reason for the reboot. It’s named after my Great Dane who passed on. I couldn’t travel with him because most pet-friendly places are limited to smaller dogs,” she says.

The 2,000-square-foot Duke’s Place has two fully-loaded two-bedroom suites, with room for any size of dog who gets to have daycare included with an overnight stay.

“We’re all dog lovers here and we offer a safe, fun freerange (no kennelling) environment. The dogs can run and have fun all day. Our grooming facility pampers the dogs.

Our motto is “It’s all about the dogs.”

In addition to her affection for animals, Rourke also finds running a business to be deeply fulfilling, an important contributor to her success.

“I love, love, love business. I absolutely love everything that goes into a business. I love watching it grow. I love everything from the minute you wake up and open the doors to the end of the month when you do the bank reconciliations,” she says.

That love of business helped her to “get back to basics.”

“What challenged me the most as an entrepreneur was having to go back to the very roots. I was spoiled in the corporate world, where I had an accountant and an accounts-payable clerk and accounts-receivable clerk, and HR and the CEO and CFO - all that. We had almost 150 staff and now I had to start right from scratch,” she says.

“Now I appreciate a lot more of what it takes to get a business started. It’s tough! I just have such admiration for people that just go out and give it their all.”

She says the Brandon business community is what kept her in the city after she sold her first business.

“Being part of the Chamber is probably the best thing I’ve ever done from a business sense because of the network and support that I have from all the other businesses. I just wouldn’t have done as well with Friends Fur Life if it wasn’t for all the other businesses that supported me,” she says.

Tami-Rae Rourke says it’s an honour to be recognized by the Chamber.

“It’s amazing because I know the people that are on the committees and I know the other people that were up for the award, and I have just the utmost respect for all of them because they’re all great business people,” she says.

“We’re all there for each other and it’s just such a great community of business leaders.” ●

Tami-Rae Rourke, owner of Friends Fur Life Day Care Inc. has melded her love of animals with her love of business. That decision has resulted in a deeply fulfilling career.

PHOTO BY MATT GOERZEN / THE BRANDON SUN

Tami-Rae Rourke, owner of Friends Fur Life Day Care Inc., works behind the counter at her business on 26th Street in Brandon.

PHOTO BY MATT GOERZEN / THE BRANDON SUN

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BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD – LARGE BUSINESS HEATHER DAY DAYDREAMS ESTHETICS SPA

DAYDREAMS ESTHETICS SPA ADDS BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD TO ITS ACHIEVEMENTS

BY TRINA REHBERG BOYKO

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Daydreams Esthetics Spa owner Heather Day sits with her business partner and director of operations, Jill Lenton.

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eather Day recalls passing by the red brick building on the corner of 10th Street and College Avenue when she was a child and telling herself she would own it someday.

In 2016, she closed on the sale of that building and made it the home of her hugely successful Daydreams Esthetics Spa and Academy the following year.

“If you dream it, you can do it,” Day said. “I really, really do believe that.”

She was introduced to the entrepreneurial life at a young age, having a father who owned hotels. Day would eventually become a hair stylist and open her own salons, as well as a training academy for those wanting to get into the trade. Her three children have followed their family’s lead and become business owners, too.

“It’s great to be able to stay here in this community and build our businesses here, because it seems everybody moves away nowadays,” Day said. “We’re pretty lucky.”

Lucky is one way of looking at it, though hardworking is certainly another. Day, with her hair salon experience and her H & Co Academy training the next generation of hair stylists, decided to add esthetics to the mix.

She’d noticed a familiar theme in rural salons, noting that they were often staffed with several hair stylists but might only have one esthetician. Day opened a second H & Co Academy to focus on esthetics in the same building where Daydreams Esthetics Spa operates. Classes are always full, she says, with a long wait list for those hoping to get in.

Come next year, H & Co Academy’s hair training centre will move into the same building.

“It’s kind of the last piece of the puzzle.”

An intricate and well-thought-out puzzle, nonetheless, which Day worked closely with Jill Lenton, director of operations, to build.

“I couldn’t do any of this without her,” she said. “She’s my right arm, my left arm, my everything. We work on this completely together.”

Lenton will take over the business in the next five years, as Day eases into retirement (though, don’t be so quick to think her entrepreneurial spirit stops there, as she may or may not have retirement plans in the works).

The business itself is thriving, thanks to these two powerful women at the helm. Daydreams Esthetics Spa was the recipient of this year’s Business Excellence Award, Large Business, from Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

“As the saying goes, sometimes owners get no recognition,” Day said. “We spend all our time recognizing our team, so yeah, it was pretty cool to receive this award.”

Day is also a two-time winner of the business leadership category in the YWCA’s annual Women of Distinction Awards, in both 2016 and 2023, while the spa has been recognized by the Brandon Sun’s Westman Readers’ Choice awards for best spa, best place to escape stress, and best mani and pedi.

Daydreams Esthetics Spa and Academy also boasts more than 300 five-star Google reviews at the time of publishing.

The spa has stringent practices, only hiring top graduates of the esthetics academy, with a focus on customer service that easily earns those five-star reviews.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re going to buy groceries or going to the spa, we all want that excellent customer service,” Day said, “and that has always been our priority here.”

All estheticians hold an Advanced Esthetics diploma and Level 1 Medical Esthetics training, for one.

Then, there’s the access to services for all who walk through the doors at Daydreams Esthetics Spa and Academy.

“Our spa menu and our academy menu is exactly the same. We use Eminence and Dermalogica products, so you can have them at once price level or with a student at another price level. It makes it inclusive and affordable for everybody to have services here, no matter what price range you’re looking at.”

Day’s unique approach to the way she owns and operates her business has garnered well-deserved recognition in the Brandon community and beyond.

“We have really great customers and a really great team,” Day said. “I’m very proud of all we’ve accomplished.” ●

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Daydreams Esthetics Spa owner Heather Day sits with her business partner and Director of Operations, Jill Lenton.

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LABOUR MARKET Brandon University president David Docherty.

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VERSATILITY NEEDED IN POST-PANDEMIC JOB MARKET Education-business partnerships will help address labour shortages

BY SYDNEY HILDEBRANDT

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ocal post-secondary institutions aren’t letting their guards down amid an ever-changing labour market, one that has been bruised in recent years by a pandemic, supply chain issues, and in some cases, a shortage of workers. Instead, schools are thoughtfully considering how to prepare their students to be more adaptable and skilled, no matter the obstacles they face after graduation.

One of the biggest hurdles hindering recent graduates’ success within the Canadian labour market is a mismatch in skills required for available jobs, according to a Statistics Canada report published in May 2023.

While on the surface it may appear as though there are not enough workers to fill job vacancies, a labour shortage is not necessarily the culprit behind jobs

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requiring a higher level of education sitting empty.

For the number of vacant positions in the fourth quarter last year that required a university degree, there was more than double the number of unemployed Canadians and permanent residents that met the education criteria, the report showed.

It suggested other factors were to blame for employers’ challenge to fill vacancies, such as mismatching skills, deteriorating work conditions, and immigrants’ struggle to obtain necessary licences to work in their sectors or to learn the required language.

The conundrum of mismatched skills is why Brandon University president David Docherty says post-secondary institutions must focus more on training in soft skills, such as communication and

critical thinking, to help the incoming workforce be more versatile in a dynamic labour market.

Those skills will likely last longer than the field-specific information students learn, which sometimes tends to have a shorter shelf life as new research and technology emerge.

“The job market itself is changing.

There are students who will be coming to BU this fall for the first time, whose first job after they graduate might not exist right now,” Docherty said.

“And so it’s just as important as institutions that we teach those kinds of skills, so-called soft skills, that will last and make people in the job market adaptable to new jobs as they come up.”

Docherty also emphasized the importance of co-op partnerships between post-secondaries and

"The job market itself is changing. There are students who will be coming to BU this fall for the first time, whose first job after they graduate might not exist right now."

- David Docherty President - Brandon University

businesses, which provide students with real-life experience while exposing them to potential careers and allowing them to build skills and networks within their chosen field. It also offers employers a chance to connect with a new generation of workers, and in turn, an opportunity to fill job vacancies with a set of fresh hands.

While Brandon University’s co-op program is “thriving,” Docherty says he would welcome more partnerships with employers to increase opportunities for students.

“The demand [for co-op positions] sometimes is higher than the supply,” he said. “We can always use more.”

Setting students up with local work opportunities early on may also improve retention, an issue many small-tomedium-sized communities, like Brandon, are all too familiar with. Just recently, between July 2021 and 2022, Brandon faced a net loss of 981 residents to other provinces —the largest efflux of people due to interprovincial migration the city has observed in at least two decades, according to Statistics Canada.

Reasons for the migration were not cited.

Rural communities are often hit hardest by labour shortages as workers flock toward urban areas where the wage may be better and there are usually more amenities available.

The toll this takes on those communities can be devastating. For instance, a shortage of doctors and nurses over the years has resulted in some Westman health centres reducing their hours or shutting down altogether, putting access to professional care in jeopardy.

“Rural communities sometimes have a harder time attracting people than urban communities. And so if we find shortages in rural areas, we have to think about what can we do to make sure that our communities are attractive,” Docherty said, highlighting the importance of more recreational, social, and cultural events.

When it comes to the role of postsecondaries, he said, it’s essential that schools provide a diversity of programs so prospective students do not have to move away for the education they desire.

Assiniboine Community College president Mark Frison agrees, noting it’s vital to increase education opportunities in small communities to allow people to learn and eventually work close to home as a way to address labour shortages and unemployment in rural centres.

Frison pointed to the college’s practical nursing program which, in addition to being offered in Brandon, Dauphin, Winnipeg, and Portage la Prairie on a fulltime basis, rotates through several rural communities across Manitoba.

“Oftentimes when people talk about access to higher education, the focus goes to tuition fees, but tuition is not the biggest barrier to post-secondary education, geography is. So that's a key thing, is being able to deliver the programs close to home for folks so they have access to those opportunities.”

Increasing such education

opportunities in small communities could also potentially address Manitoba’s weak post-secondary participation rate, which is among the lowest in Canada, Frison added.

When it comes to preparing for the future, automation is another factor post-secondaries are being forced to consider. Frison says that even if there comes a time when some jobs are no longer available to humans because they can be conducted by technology alone, the need for workers only shifts.

“I saw something today on social media that showed an automated machine picking apples, and it suggested we wouldn't need agricultural workers in the future. And you know, my comment on that is, who do you think is programming, operating, repairing, and designing those machines? Those are college graduates in the agricultural sector,” he said.

“So what people might do in those sectors and occupations might be different in the future, but we're still going to need people to help power those sectors.” ●

Mark Frison, Assiniboine Community College president, during this spring’s graduation ceremony in Brandon.

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Chamber Gala 2023

The 140th Annual Brandon Chamber of Commerce Awards Gala April 13, 2023

Kajaul Samuels, Gerald Samuels

Riley Day, Heather Day, Spencer Day, Kolby Day

Barry LaRocque, Sharon LaRocque

Tanya LaBuick

Cliff Cullen, Marie Eve Gagnon, Marion Rourke, Tami Rourke

Eric Rutherford, Jared McKenzie, Connie Lawrence, Chris Cels

Alex Cartilidge, Leah Campbell, Stacy Senkbeil, Trevor Kehler

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Randi Nicholauson, Diane Finley

Sherri Lund, Janet Reichert

Carey Knight, Sigrid DeKezel, Marie Greer, Leah Campbell, Darcy Hammon, Valerie Strath, Scott Anderson, Jim Strath

Yvonne Nnamani, Owuna Egesa, Emeka Egeson

Cora Dupuis, Emily Martin, Jessica Acero, Enoch Ouskun

Shae Worthington, Jessica Raupers, Riley Morningstar, Lana Knoll

Jordan Michelsen, Dustin Isleifson, Janelle Fenwick, Ty Worthington, Shonah Rathwell, Trish Chalanchuk, Steve Mountain

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BR AN D ON CHAM BE R C E L E BR A TE S

WESTMAN'S

TOP FOUR UNDER 40

HERE ARE THE WINNERS FOR 2023

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The award recognizes the outstanding achievement by an individual under the age of 40 who works in a leadership role in any size organization from the public, private, or nonprofit sector. The ideal canidates are active and engaged in work and the community, as well as being a creative problem solver, disciplined in performance, and generous in spirit.

LEAH CAMPBELL:

BRINGING A HUMAN APPROACH TO FORMING COMPANY CULTURE

BY TODD LEWYS

I

n her capacity as Human Resources/Marketing Manager at Alliance Accounting Group in Brandon, Leah Campbell intentionally puts an emphasis on the “human” component of her job title.

Little wonder.

Having recently earned a degree in sociology and psychology, she’s made it her raison d'etre to combine the knowledge she accrued in her studies with the lessons she learned in her personal life to make the workplace environment at Alliance the best it can be.

“I worked for the Brandon Police Service for 10 years as a clerk, so I saw the worst of the worst,” she says. “I was introduced to sociology and started to look at life differently. I came to realize that the environment people are in can really affect them. I’m now applying the lessons I’ve learned to the workplace here.”

Campbell says her life mission – to help people be the best they can be – comes naturally.

“It was ingrained in me by my mother. She was a teacher and taught young children. She always looked at a person’s behaviour and believed it was due to something that was affecting them.”

Seeing as people spend most of their day at work, she wanted to do what she could to ensure the experience was as positive and nurturing as it could be - something she is now doing on a daily basis at Alliance Accounting.

“Work should be a happy place where people enjoy themselves,” she says. “A positive workplace environment not only combats absenteeism and overall burnout, but it also promotes productivity, engagement and retention.”

With that in mind, Campbell encouraged the management team to institute an open-door policy where staff feel free to come in and share their feelings. ‘’The reality is that people deal with a lot of stressors, both in their personal lives and at work,’’ she explains. ‘’Knowing that,

we’re supportive of each other here, much like a family.

Most often, people seek me out to talk and I’m happy to sit down and listen.’’

While that might seem like a small thing, it has a big impact. ‘’Coming to a psychologically safe work environment where you know that people support you is huge. Mental wellness fosters a team environment and engagement.’’

It’s been proven that engaged employees make better employees, notes Campbell. ‘’When you’re engaged, you’re going to be a more productive, effective team member. It’s that simple.”

Not only that, but staff members are also bound to be more effective in dealing with clients.

“If employees are happy and engaged with their work, then chances are good that they’re going to engage better with clients and provide better customer service,” she says. ‘’So, if we can make work a more human experience, everyone benefits.’’

The impact of her work in the community has not gone unnoticed — or unheralded. Campbell was named earlier this year as one of Westman’s Top 4 Under 40 by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, as part of its Annual Awards Gala.

As Campbell works toward earning her CPHR designation, she remains dedicated to learning and achieving greater personal growth. ‘’I’m always wanting to learn and am always thinking of the next degree. You always need to learn and grow.

That’s what enables you to become the best version of yourself.”

That’s essentially what she is doing at Alliance – helping its employees realize their full potential by striving to provide a safe, supportive work environment.

“My life mission is to help people achieve their goals, and I’m fortunate that I’m able to apply it in a work context,” Campbell says. ‘’But it’s not about gaining credit.”

Rather, it’s about the satisfaction that comes with seeing a staff member succeed. ‘’That’s all I need – to know that I helped them at one stage of their career, even just in the tiniest little way.

The satisfaction that comes with seeing that is what drives me.”

More than anything, she’s grateful that the management team at Alliance gave her the chance to bring her unique approach to their company.

“Alliance is a great company to work for, and I’m very thankful that they allowed me to bring what I have to the workplace here. I really enjoy what I do and enjoy working with people. I think as we’ve found, when a team is happy, the organization is better for it.”

Leah Campbell

PHOTO BY STACEY GABRIEL

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Alex Cartlidge

BUILDING A NEW LIFE AND A NEW BUSINESS IN BRANDON WESTMAN'S TOP FOUR UNDER 40

Alex Cartlidge celebrates his Top 4 Under 40 win

PHOTO BY STACEY GABRIEL

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BY TRINA REHBERG BOYKO

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lex Cartlidge is relatively new to the city of Brandon, though you could say he’s quickly made himself at home.

He makes up one-half of Cartlidge & Cormier Landscaping, which started with Cartlidge and his business partner, Zack Cormier, shovelling a few driveways for clients in December 2021.

He’d moved from B.C. to Brandon with his parents in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“It was just way too expensive for a single guy to pay bills,” he says, of living in B.C. He met Cormier through friends, and the rest, as they say, is history.

“He was looking for a roommate, so I just figured sure, I’ll move in with you,” he says.

They were both working full-time and part-time jobs, but still struggling to make ends meet. They decided they wanted to go into business for themselves, which is where the idea for their landscaping company was born.

“I’ve always been a hands-on guy,” Cartlidge says. “I would work on my parents’ lawn and make it look really good, and then I thought, if I can talk to people too, I should go into landscaping.”

Following those few shovelling jobs, clients kept calling, Cartlidge says. They registered their business in early 2022 and began expanding their service offerings. Today, Cartlidge & Cormier Landscaping provides clients with fall and spring clean-up packages, as well as year-round outdoor services. The company’s website lists snow clearing, ice management, lawn mowing and trimming, reseeding, and more, as options.

Even Cartlidge is amazed at how much the company has grown in the short time it’s been in business, stating that it can take three to five years for companies to establish themselves in similar industries.

“We have people willing to put their names behind us and that’s a good feeling,” Cartlidge says. “I like the community here in Brandon.

People have been very welcoming and very supportive.”

He was happily surprised to have that community recognize him so early on for his hard work, finding out he was the recipient of a Top 4 Under 40 award from the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

“It was a very surreal experience,” Cartlidge says. “When I was told that I was nominated, we’d only been in business for about nine months and so it was one of those things where it was like, we’re already being recognized for this? It made us think oh, we’re actually making an impact on the community and people are noticing the work we’re doing. It set a bit more of a fire under us to keep working hard.”

The closest he’s come to receiving such an honour was in Grade 7, when he was awarded a citizenship award, he laughs.

As for what’s next, Cartlidge says they plan to keep diversifying their business. They’d like to purchase bigger equipment so they can move into hardscaping, which involves things like patios, retaining walls and rock work.

The two business partners, who are also the main employees and operators, work with two additional contractors who will be joining them as full-time employees before the end of the year.

“We’re excited to be able to bring them on and keep growing our business,” Cartlidge says.

Through it all, Cartlidge emphasizes the importance of providing quality work and ensuring clients are satisfied.

“I will not leave your property unless you tell me that you’re happy with the job,” he says with certainty. “I don’t really care if I’m at your house for three or four hours. If you say, you missed this or you didn’t do that, I will do it. I don’t put a dollar value on how hard I work. Whether I’m making $13 an hour or $50 an hour, you’re going to get the same quality work out of me.”

It’s this drive and determination that makes it easy to see why Cartlidge has achieved such early success, and why there’s no sign of that changing anytime soon.

Harry Keen We’re more than just mufflers and brakes!

1625 1st Street Brandon, MB R7A 7X7 Ph: (204) 727-0020 Fax: (204) 728-9378 Brandon Business Review 2023

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Trevor Kehler

ALAIR HOMES SETS STAFF UP FOR SUCCESS WESTMAN'S TOP FOUR UNDER 40

Trevor Kehler wins Top 4 Under 40 award

BY TRINA REHBERG BOYKO

W

hen Trevor Kehler talks about his work with Alair Homes, his passion and enthusiasm is apparent.

“I’m fortunate to be able to do what I do,” he says. “Alair is a great company to work for and a great group of people.”

As the Operations Manager for Alair Homes’ Brandon, Man. location, Kehler was named one of Westman’s Top 4 Under 40 by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. Each year, the Chamber presents Business Achievement Awards – including the Top 4 Under 40 honour – to “recognize, celebrate, and profile the accomplishments of member businesses and individuals,” according to its website.

PHOTO BY STACEY GABRIEL

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“It was unexpected, for sure,” Kehler says, of learning he was the recipient of such an award.

He’s quick to share credit with his team, which consists of eight individuals within Brandon and many more through Alair Homes’ 101 locations across the United States and Canada. A residential custom-building and renovations company, Alair Homes has a widespread support network but prides itself on its client-focused, personalized service.

“We all work hard here in the office, so it’s nice to receive some recognition for that hard work,” Kehler says. “Alair Homes sets us up for success and puts us in a good place to be able to do our jobs and be able to do them well, so it feels good to be in a position to even be nominated, let alone win such an award.”

The Brandon office, currently in its seventh year of business, also recently won an award from the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association for one of its renovation projects. That same project was also nominated for an award at a national level by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.

Recognitions such as these – as well as Alair Homes’ annual awards, handed out to its U.S. and Canada crew – are humbling, Kehler says, though he points out that he’s “just doing my job.”

His job is something he’s eager to talk about, particularly the unique process Alair Homes takes clients through for each and every project.

“We’re very transparent,” Kehler says, explaining that projects are all assessed for feasibility, so clients know what’s doable, how long it will take, and how much it will cost. Though every

project has its variables, Kehler says Alair Homes’ promise is to define them. By addressing these factors upfront, the company minimizes surprises and ensures a smoother construction journey for their clients.

“We essentially build the project on paper,” he says. “We figure out all the details, right down to who’s doing the concrete and what the kitchen cabinets and the handles on those cabinets will look like.”

From the planning stage, to the construction stage, to the follow-up care, Alair Homes is all about providing topnotch service. Whether it's a custom-home construction or a renovation project, Alair Homes' commitment to quality shines through in every project it undertakes.

With safety and warranty certifications backing up its work, the company has built a strong customer base in the Brandon area and is aiming to expand even further.

“We’re looking to expand our team and take on more projects,” says Kehler, explaining his location handles 10 to 15 projects a year but aims to reach 15 to 20. “We want to grow our footprint in the Westman area and be able to provide our services to more places within the Westman and Keystone areas.”

Through its growth, Kehler emphasizes the importance of putting clients first and providing the personalized service that Alair Homes has come to be known for.

“We’re very people-focused,” he says. “Along with our transparency, it’s what sets us apart and why we’re able to do the work that we do.”

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Stacy Senkbeil

GIVING BACK A WAY OF LIFE FOR STACY SENKBEIL

BY TODD LEWYS

F

WESTMAN'S TOP FOUR UNDER 40

or Stacy Senkbeil, who received recognition this year as one of Westman’s Top 4 Under 40 by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, giving back is a way of life.

And as busy as she is as a lawyer and mother of a two-year-old, she always finds time to donate her time and skills to her community.

“I’ve done it ever since I was young,” says Senkbeil, who practices law at Meighen Haddad LLP in Brandon. “Basically, I’ve always done multiple things and volunteered. It’s always been part of my routine.”

She adds that it’s a routine that comes from her family, particularly her mom.

“I got it from her. She always volunteered, and I modeled myself after her. My grandparents always had the attitude that you worked hard and gave back to the community, too, so I also got the mindset from them.”

Following their example, Senkbeil started giving back at an early age.

PHOTO BY STACEY GABRIEL

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“Looking back, I started when I was 10 years old. I figure skated, and after I gained a decent amount of skill, I taught other kids how to skate.”

That spirit of volunteerism only got stronger as she got older.

“I always incorporated volunteering and giving back into my routine,” notes Senkbeil, 37. “I was very active during high school and university. Before I went to law school at the University of Manitoba, I was on six boards.”

Not surprisingly, that high level of activity changed once she got her law degree.

“Things changed when I came back from law school. Before, my time to volunteer was almost unlimited. It became more limited when I returned to Brandon.”

Nowadays, she has scaled back – well, sort of.

“Being a lawyer, I’m quite busy, so I didn’t want to get overloaded or extended. Now, I allow myself to be on up to two boards at a time, with one of them being the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation.”

Turns out, that’s not the extent of her volunteerism – far from it, in fact. Somehow – when she’s not at a board meeting – Stacy finds time to teach Zumba at her local YMCA. Senkbeil also puts her lawyering skills to work doing free public presentations on a variety of topics.

“I really enjoy giving back using my education. I do presentations for first time home buyers, on estate planning, wills, and power of attorney. They go in waves. I may do three in one month, and then none for a while.”

She says there’s a definite purpose behind the presentations.

“As a lawyer, I feel we need to make the field of law more accessible to everyone. My goal is to cut away the fear and mystery feel and explain things in a way that makes the most sense and applies to their situation.”

Once a presentation is finished, she makes a point of sticking around to answer any questions attendees might have.

“I always make myself available after to field any questions people might have,” she says. “One of the biggest things people are concerned about is hourly rates. They think lawyers are always going to charge them for their time and are extremely happy when I stay to answer their questions at no charge.”

As for her day-do-day duties – they take her all over Westman - Senkbeil is a kind of Swiss Army knife, possessing the ability to navigate different fields of the law with ease and efficiency.

“Real estate takes up a good portion of my time. One of the things I enjoy most about it is that buying a house is usually a happy experience. I also enjoy estate planning, too. If there’s an outstanding issue looming, I do my best to help people feel settled so they can deal with it in the best way possible. I never rush. I make sure we talk things through and come up with a plan.”

While some might think giving her time so freely in so many ways is a sacrifice, she sees it differently.

“I appreciate that people think it’s generous, but I get satisfaction out of seeing things change, projects taking place and progress being made,” Senkbeil says. “It’s important to share the gifts and skills that we have. Not everyone has the education I have, and I’m privileged to be able to share the knowledge.”

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WE ARE HIRING! Our business is about helping move goods across North America every day.

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Brandon Business Review 2023

Celebrating 5 strong years of BU Co-op helping Westman business

Thanks to support from RBC FutureLaunch and hundreds of employers here in Westman and across Canada who have embraced the benefits of BU Co-op, we’re celebrating our fifth anniversary.

That’s 100+ students connected to careers, a total of 66 unique jobs created, mostly here in Westman, and over $1.1 million in direct economic impact.

BU Co-op students bring energy, enthusiasm, and all the latest knowledge straight to your shop, store, or office. We pair the right student to your organization — making a match that can launch a career.

Andrew started as a BU Co-op student and now he is a leader in our IT department. Andrew is instrumental in our business automation and growth.

— Tilda Fortier

Business Manager, Greenstone Building Products

Since 2020, we’ve averaged a 93% employment rate (actually, we hit 100% this year)

Wow! 93% of employers tell us they’ll hire a BU Co-op student again

Now it’s your turn! Get a jump on your future hiring with high-potential, pre-selected talent from BU’s Co-operative Education Program.

BrandonU.ca/Co-op

Brandon Business Review 2023

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