2019 Brandon Business Review Magazine

BRANDON

2019

Business Review

Update from Economic Development Brandon

Building up Brandon: Brandon Chamber Awards

Make your business resilient – Prepare for a crisis

@BdnChamber

@BdnChamber

@BdnChamber

Economic Development has two primary goals:

Grow the Economy and Grow the Population The ABCs of Economic Development Brandon

A ttracting New

A ssisting with

A cting as a

B uilding Awareness

B ringing New

B uilding a

C onnecting

C onveying

C ollecting and

Business & New Investment of the “Brandon Advantage�

Businesses with Resources & Opportunities

Business Growth & Retention People & New Skills to Brandon

Community & Lifestyle Information

Business Advocate & Liaison Competitive Business Climate

Sharing Local Statistics & Insights

410 9th Street Brandon, MB R7A 6A2 Phone 204.729.2132 Toll free: 1.866.729.2132 Email: econdev@brandon.ca

economicdevelopmentbrandon.com

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IN THIS issue Message from the President of the 006

Brandon Chamber of Commerce, Cathy Snelgrove

Message from the General Manager of the 008

Brandon Chamber of Commerce, Carolynn Cancade

010 2019/2020 Brandon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 012 Message from the Mayor of Brandon, Rick Chrest Brandon Continues on a Solid Economic Path 014 Despite Tougher Macroeconomic Conditions

2019 Business Person of the Year Award winner: Rhonda Pardy 020 2019 Business Excellence Award winner – 022 Small Award: G.T. Smith & Sons Electrical

Brandon

Business Review is published by DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3L 0G5 www.delcommunications.com President David Langstaff Managing Editor Shayna Wiwierski shayna@delcommunications.com Sales Manager Dayna Oulion Toll Free: 1.866.424.6398 Advertising Account Executives gary barrington Jennifer Hebert | Kari philippot Dan Roberts | gary seamans Contributing Writer Sandy Trudel

023

Production services provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services www.sgbennett.com

2019 Outstanding New Business Award winner: Ion Coating 024 2019 Community Impact Award winner: Ray Brownlee 026 2019 Lifetime Business Builder: Ron Helwer 028 Brandon Chamber of Commerce events 030 2019-2020 Brandon Chamber of Commerce calendar 032 034 Looking for opportunity: Province develops new Economic

Art Director Kathy Cable

019 Business Excellence Award winner – 2 Large Award: Guild Insurance Brokers

Development Action Plan to respond to the needs of business and industry

Helping the bottom line: How diversity and 038

inclusion is a benefit to Brandon businesses

Feeling green: How Brandon businesses are taking 042 a stand against climate change

Introducing Manitoba's Accessibility Standard for Employment 045 Index to advertisers 046

Layout & Design / Advertising Art DAVE BAMBURAK dana jensen © Copyright 2019 DEL Communications Inc. All rights reserved.The contents of this pub­lica­tion may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher­.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in and the reliability of the source, the publisher­in no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers. Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers­or employees.

Publications mail agreement #40934510 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com

PRINTED Leech Printing, Brandon, MB, CANADA | 09/2019

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

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Message from the President of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Cathy Snelgrove Leveraging Brandon’s strength

W

elcome to the Brandon Business Review. Over the past 12 years, this magazine has helped compile the stories of success, accomplishment, and opportunity that are part of the fabric of the Brandon and Westman business community.

As you flip through the magazine, please take the time to both look at the great pictures and to read the incredible stories. Together, we have an opportunity to promote the businesses that make up our community, but to do so, you must know about them. This magazine provides a chance to learn about a business you might have never thought much about. The better we know our business community, the easier it is to find the opportunities available to all of us.

This past year has been a fantastic year for business in the region. We had the opportunity to welcome a wide range of new businesses, such as Chopped Leaf, Aberhart Ag Solutions, and the Carberry Small Animal Clinic. Gambler First Nations launched the development of Brandon’s first urban reserve. We also celebrated the milestones of many businesses, such as Behlen’s 50th, GT Smith and Sons’ 100th, and 22 other businesses, all celebrating over 40 years. There is much to celebrate within our region.

In December 2018, the Manitoba Provincial Government launched Growing Manitoba’s Economy, a report outlining a plan around economic development in Manitoba. The plan shed light on the complexities associated with driving economic growth; the need to have an available skilled workforce to attract business, while at the same time ensuring low unemployment, the need to adapt to ever-changing trade agreements and rules, the underrepresentation of the Indigenous population in our workforce and the strategic advantage they represent, and the need to identify strategic growth sectors and leverage research and technology to become best in class.

The report recommended a Rural Economic Development approach that would see a coordinated economic approach across communities, skills training, Indigenous inclusion, and strategic infrastructure investment, recognizing immigration as a critical driver of population and economic growth.

As Manitoba’s second largest city, we have a unique perspective. While we often consider ourselves to be urban, our ruralbased values remain in the forefront of our social fabric. We are surrounded by incredibly diverse communities, all eager to share in the growth of the region. We are privileged to have a university and a community college, providing a range of professional, trade and agricultural programs not often available in a community our size. We are home to an amazing multi-use facility, the Keystone Centre, allowing us to host a wide range of events and shows. Speaking of such, you can not forget the amazing volunteers and citizens who are always willing to do what it takes to make the region shine, as is highlighted in our new tourism brand, “Brandon Brings You Back”.

We have much to offer and the Chamber remains committed to continuing to position Brandon to take a lead role in helping to shape rural economic development. This is a topic that has and will continue to remain in the forefront of the work the chamber does throughout this next year.

As you flip through these pages, you will appreciate the incredible strength, innovation, and excellence contained in our region. We are poised to take on the challenges associated with building the rural economy. While there is no one answer to many of the challenges, I am confident in our ability to lead the way. ¢

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

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2019 ••• Brandon Business Review •••

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Greetings from the General Manager of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Carolynn Cancade

W

elcome to another edition of our Brandon Business Review magazine! Brandon has a thriving business community and this publication allows us to showcase some of the numerous success stories and priority issues of our members.

Today, more than ever, businesses must be adaptive to an ever-changing environment.

With a new provincial economic growth strategy, Manitoba is poised to leverage new op-

portunities, but what does this mean for rural Manitoba and the Westman area? As companies look to fill their labour needs, how are recruitment and retention strategies incorporating diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace? How is the growing concern over climate change impacting business and how are companies adapting?

Whether it is navigating the challenges or leveraging the opportunities, they need to be nimble, flexible, and resilient. In this issue, we hope you find insight on what local business is thinking and what the future might bring.

Many of our members are leading the way. At our Annual Awards Gala this past spring, we celebrated the contributions of our business community with the presentation of our Business Achievement Awards. This year’s recipients epitomize some of the best in leadership, vision, perseverance, and hard work. From business builders who have spent a lifetime building a lasting legacy, to upstarts who are blazing a new path in innovative industries, to multi-generational businesses who are continuing a long history of success, our award winners represent a diverse group and we take tremendous pride in being able to showcase their achievements.

The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to strengthening our community as advocates, connectors, and information providers. From great networking opportunities and professional development sessions to cost-saving benefits and various marketing opportunities, we offer various supports to our members. Whether it is municipal budget matters, provincial and federal policy issues, or discussions and collaborations with other stakeholders and partners, we ensure a strong voice for Brandon business.

September marks the start of a new event and program season at the Chamber. As we look ahead, we welcome the opportunity to serve our members and community – and the chance to share the many business successes we hear. I hope you enjoy our publication and we invite you to share these stories to help spread the word on why our city is a great place to live, work, play, and do business!

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 www.brandonchamber.ca, or call 204-571-5340. ¢

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

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President

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Jeff Hood MNP

Spencer Day Progressive Sanitation

Barry Cooper Heritage Co-op

Mark Bailey R & M Homes Ltd.

Mike Brolund Sunrise Credit Union

Laurie Brugger Century 21 Westman

Ryan Jacobson Forbidden Flavours Roastery

Tanya LaBuick LaBuick & Co., CW2, Guardian Fencing

Meredyth Leech Leech Printing

Steve McMillan VBJ Developments

Scott Norosky South End Lumber (1978) Ltd.

Trent Sholdice Meighen Haddad LLP

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

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2019 ••• Brandon Business Review •••

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Message from the mayor of Brandon

rick chrest Bright outlook for Brandon!

S

ince its inception in 1882, Brandon has maintained a very important role serving as the major hub and service centre for the western part of the province of Manitoba. The health of all of Westman is as important to Brandon as the ongoing growth of Brandon is as important to the large area we serve. Brandon has enjoyed solid and steady growth for the past decade or so, and statistics to the end of June reveal very robust economic indicators

for 2019. Specifically, our building permit reports to June 30 are extremely encouraging. Reported construction costs on permits to date stand at $88.4 million, which is an increase of 179 per cent over the $31.7 million for the same period of 2018; and in fact, our half-way mark in 2019 already exceeds the 2018 total of $80 million. While residential dwelling units have increased from 57 to 84 units to date, the more promising increases are found in commercial and industrial. Commercial is up $10 million to $25 million, while industrial stands at $27.6 million, up from just $400,000. Educational/ institutional has risen to $21 million versus $3 million, due in large measure to Brandon’s newest school under construction.

Sorry to have thrown out so many numbers, albeit of typical interest to the audience of the Brandon Business Review, but it does help paint a graphic picture of the buoyancy of this community. It is especially noteworthy to underscore the heft of construction in the commercial and industrial sector.

Projects of this magnitude in these sectors would certainly indicate a significant level of confidence in Brandon’s economy and a bright outlook for our future. While we never complain about public sector building projects, there is an additional positive atmosphere shown through such compelling levels of new private investment.

Apart from these encouraging numbers, Brandon and area remains an active and dynamic region with a positive quality of life. Tourism and event hosting remains strong coming off a successful Tim Hortons Brier this spring. This community and all of our neighbours will look forward to joining in celebrations in 2020 as our province of Manitoba celebrates its 150th anniversary of joining Confederation – stay tuned for special events throughout our region. You may start thinking ahead of additional activities or promotions your business or organization might do to mark this occasion.

I would like to conclude by congratulating the Brandon Chamber of Commerce for its ongoing fine work in being the “voice of business in Brandon”. And also, to thank and commend each and every member and employee for doing your own part in adding to the vibrancy and prosperity of our great city. Collectively, we have a wonderful community that we can all be so proud of, and I am grateful to be the mayor among such a diverse, caring, and progressive population of amazing people. Best wishes one and all for many years of continued health, happiness, and prosperity. ¢

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

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13

Brandon continues on a solid economic path despite tougher macroeconomic conditions

By Sandy Trudel

Residential demand has cooled as evidenced with average housing starts over the past five years dropping to 275 with the prior five years averaging 355 starts per year. Photos courtesy of Economic Development Brandon.

T

he Conference Board of Canada indicates Brandon’s economy is on a moderate growth path. The area’s real GDP is forecast to grow by 1.5 per cent in 2019 and 2020. Indications are that 10 out of 11 industries will post output gains. Despite challenging

global dynamics, Brandon’s manufacturing output expanded by 2.0 per cent in 2018, its fastest growth in six years. Growth in the services-producing industries is forecasted to outpace that of the goods-producing industries in both 2019 and 2020.

Population growth, an important driver of economic potential is forecasted to be solid (1.2 per cent in both 2019 and 2020), especially when compared against other mid-sized cities in Canada. Growth is on par with the national average rate. Residential demand has cooled as evidenced with average housing starts over the past five years dropping to 275 with the prior five years averaging 355 starts per year. The downward trend continued in the first six months of 2019, resulting in 226 housing starts projected for 2019 and 267 units in 2020.

With national labour shortages and a mobile and aging labour force, Brandon like many small cities across North America, struggles to attract specialized talent. Brandon’s unemployment rate has slowly and consistently been returning to historical norms of between four per cent and five per cent, an indication that labour will continue to be a barrier to business growth and

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

attraction. The 2019 unemployment rate is projected to be 4.7 per cent in 2019 and 4.5 per cent in 2020. Brandon’s long-term employment trends have been positive, with the local economy generating an average of 450 jobs per year over the past 20 years. The economy added a total of 3,900 net new jobs in 2017–18, the strongest two-year gain in over a decade. Given the labour constraints, the Economic Development Brandon office (EDB) will continue to focus on workforce-related initiatives.

Brandon was fortunate to be one of 11 Canadian municipalities selected by Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada through a call for proposals process to participate in the Federal Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. The pilot has been designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to work and live in one of the participating communities. The three-year pilot program is a very exciting opportunity for Brandon as it allows the community to define its labour needs and use targeted attraction approaches to bring newcomers to the community to fill traditionally hard to hire for positions while simultaneously growing the local labour market and population. Through this pilot, foreign workers may make their way to Brandon through a variety of pathways, including international students already in the community, newcomers in Canada on a temporary work permit, or proactive recruitment in other countries.

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The 2019 unemployment rate is projected to be 4.7 per cent in 2019 and 4.5 per cent in 2020.

Employers experiencing challenges finding employees are encouraged to contact the EDB office at BrandonImmigrationPilot @Brandon.ca or 204-729-2132 to let us know the type of positions you are having trouble staffing. This will ensure we capture the appropriate employment sectors in the memorandum of understanding being negotiated for the project. Details for the Brandon Immigration Pilot including eligible employment sectors, evaluation criteria, and application process are under development. Brandon hopes to be in a position to begin accepting applications to the program in late 2019.

Economic Development Brandon (EDB) offers a variety of complimentary recruitment resources to assist businesses. They can be accessed by calling 204-729-2132, or econdev@brandon.ca.

A few of the resources are described below.

including but not limited to, PowerPoint presentations, an online photo library, as well as cost of living and marketing overviews.

As industrial growth fuels commercial and residential growth, Brandon’s industrial area is a major focus of work for the EDB. Building on an industrial land development forecast previously completed, EDB partnered with the City’s Planning and Engineering Departments to develop a secondary plan for the industrial area. The East Brandon Industrial Development Strategy was formally adopted by Brandon City Council in 2019 and will aid staff’s efforts in advocating for an industrial land servicing strategy to address servicing constraints in the area. The EDB office is working to better understand Manitoba Hydro servicing capacity in the industrial area to facilitate proactive lobbying for

A complimentary city tour for candidates being interviewed for skilled/specialized positions. EDB staff, or one of their volunteer community champions, will spend time understanding what matters to the candidate and their family and then customize the city tour to ensure information is provided that aligns with the candidate’s priorities. To date, close to 75 per cent of the candidates for whom EDB conducted a city tour have accepted the employment offer extended to them.

capacity upgrades in the area.

In addition to community tours, Economic Development Brandon (EDB) provides relocation packages, promotional materials,

the EDB website in 2019. Spacelist, the leading commercial real

Recognizing the importance of our industrial lands and the fact that much of today’s initial site selection vetting occurs online well in advance of any personal contact with economic development offices, the EDB office continues to search for ways to increase online exposure for land available for development in Brandon. Building on the industrial and commercial land profiles launched previously, the department added Spacelist to estate marketplace in Canada offers at no cost, additional exposure for-lease or for-sale opportunities that exist in Brandon.

Instructions on how to add a property to Spacelist can be found at economicdevelopmentbrandon.com/land-development/ property-listings.

In 2019 a new tourism brand was launched and is proving to resonate exceptionally well with the lucrative event market. We look forward to the economic activity that this new brand will undoubtedly generate.

A growing population, sustained investments from existing and new businesses, and a strategic yet flexible plan for economic prosperity combined with proximity to an abundance of rich agricultural resources, and an engaged business community form

Building on the industrial and commercial land profiles launched previously, the department added Spacelist to the EDB website in 2019.

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

a solid foundation for continued economic prosperity.

Sandy Trudel is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Brandon. ¢

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Maximize your Membership I've joined the Chamber... Now what?

Stay updated, read your email: Chamber at a Glance newsletter, Chamber Insider E-newsletter, & member emails Get Noticed, Advertise in Chamber Publications: Chamber Glance or Chamber Insider ads What's New? Member News Section: Share important news in the Chamber Insider Website: Log in and update your directory information including hours of operation Website Upgrade: Add your logo, expand your description, add photos, Youtube video, increased keyword search, banner advertisment THE Chamber Roster Book: Advertise along with your business listing in the directory

visitors who we refer to our members; let us know what you are doing and we will spread the word Social Networking: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter – we recognize member achievements, awards, events on our social networking feeds

sponsorship and show your support for the Chamber at our Annual Dinner or Golf Tournament Too Busy at Lunch? Join us at our complimentary networking event hosted by your fellow members at their place of business for Business After 5

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

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2019 ••• Brandon Business Review •••

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Business person of the year award winner

For the love of coffee

Rhonda Pardy wins the Brandon Chamber Business Person of the Year Award for 2019

R

honda Pardy always wanted to win the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year award ever since her father took home the prestige in 1995.

Pardy is the owner/operator and franchisee of eight Tim Hortons locations in Brandon and surrounding areas. She currently owns and maintains five of the popular Canadian franchises in Brandon, as well as a location in Neepawa, Virden, Moosomin, Sask., and soon to be her ninth location, another for Brandon.

Pardy and her late husband Craig moved from Newfoundland to Brandon in 1993 to be close to her family (her father owned the Canadian Tire in Brandon).

After recognizing that there were no Tim Hortons in Manitoba’s second-largest city, they put in an application to bring the popular coffee and food restaurant to the Westman region.

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

“We were working our regular jobs, always knowing that we wanted to be in business for ourselves. So we put in our application for Tim Hortons knowing that it would be a terrific brand for this market,” says Pardy, who manages over 300 staff in her soon-to-be nine locations.

Pardy and her husband ended up waiting five years before their application was approved. She says that at the time, they were told that there were 267 approved applicants for Brandon. After some persistence, they were one of three people to land an interview and ended up securing the rights to open the franchise locally. They opened their first Tim Hortons on November 30, 2001 on 18th Street near Canadian Tire, and then six months later opened their second

location on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Currently, Pardy runs all locations with her nephew Greg Crisanti as a partner who is mostly in charge of the rural operations.

Her two children and soon-to-be daughterin-law are also involved with the business as well, with plans for them to take over all the operations once she retires.

In addition to running eight Tim Hortons locations, Pardy was the first female to serve on the national Tim Hortons Advisory Board for a five-year term. She is also involved in many major sponsorships, such as the Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation camps, Helping Hands Soup Kitchen, the United Way, and many other local organizations. She also implemented and continues to sponsor the Timbits hockey and soccer programs in Brandon and several surrounding communities.

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Since her father was the Canadian Tire dealer in Brandon, Pardy says that from an early age she saw that being a member in the Brandon Chamber of Commerce was beneficial to business owners.

“When my husband and I started business here, we became Chamber members right away in 2001 when we opened our doors,” says Pardy, adding that not only has the Chamber helped in getting their brand out there, but she enjoys the opportunity to network with other business owners as well. “Brandon is a community where people help people and there have been a lot of successful business people in Brandon that have certainly been mentors and an inspiration for Craig and I.”

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Pardy received the Brandon Chamber’s 2019 Business Person of the Year award earlier this year and she says that she was overwhelmed by the win since it was something that she strived for for a very long time.

“I cried my eyes out when I found out. I was very proud. I watched my dad win the award in 1995 and it became an aspiration for me for sure,” says Pardy. “When my husband passed away in 2016, I wasn’t sure it was as important to me until I found out I won. It’s an achievement that means a lot.

I hope I can motivate and inspire the next generation in our family towards success in business as my parents did for me.” ¢

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2019 ••• Brandon Business Review •••

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Business Excellence award winner – Small award grandchild Blair Smith. Throughout the years, G.T. Smith and Sons Electrical has worked on a number of notable Brandon and area projects, including the military base in Shilo, Man., the Brandon City Hall, several hotels, the airport, the water treatment plant, and more.

“When we first really got busy was when rural electrification came into Manitoba and our company did a lot of the rural farms and got those systems up and running for them,” says Blair Smith, president of G.T. Smith & Sons Electrical. “After that, when Shilo started to boom and military started to expand, we were there for seven straight years working, and sometimes up to 40 electricians working. My grandfather and his uncle or his partner were fairly busy for those years.”

A long time coming

One of Brandon’s oldest companies, G.T. Smith & Sons wins the Business Excellence Award for Small Business

I

t may have taken 101 years for G.T. Smith and Sons Electrical to take home the Business Excellence Award for Small Business, but in 2019 they finally got the honour.

Started in 1918 by Guy Thomas Smith, who came to Brandon originally to get the Brandon Sun’s presses up and

running on electrical, the company is now run by Smith’s great-

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22

••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

Smith says that in addition to large projects, since the industry ebbs and flows so much, they worked on a number of smaller projects as well to keep their portfolio diversified. He mentions depending on how busy they are, they can have upwards of 45 electricians working, or even just six based on how much is on their workload.

Smith took over the company in 2004 and is the fourth generation to run it (Guy Thomas’ two sons Danny and Art took it over after him and then Smith’s father Bruce ran it before he took the reins). He says that they have been a member of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce on and off throughout the years. The biggest value they have gotten from the chamber has been getting to meet with members in the business community.

“Personal relationships, as far as I’m concerned, is one of the best things in business,” says Smith, adding that it’s important to become friends with other contractors so there is trust built up.

“Our company has been around for so long that a handshake and your word was all it took [back then]. Nowadays, things are a little bit different and you’re dealing with new people and second generations coming into companies and people from out of town coming in as the city expands. You need to have this personal connection with other contractors so you can get things going with them.”

G.T. Smith & Sons won the Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Award – Small Award this year. Smith says that it’s pretty nice to have your peers acknowledge the good work that they have done for the community for the past 101 years. He mentions that it isn’t just a family affair who deserves the recognition, that it’s for the whole company who help bring electrical services to the Brandon area.

“It’s for all the guys and girls who work here and work hard, that recognition is for them. If you don’t have good employees, it doesn’t matter how the top chair people work, it’s the people that are on the ground, boots on the ground. Those are the people that are keeping everything running smooth.” ¢

Business Excellence award winner – Large Award “It’s important for us to let people know we have been a successful example of perpetuation in a local business,” says Nate Andrews, sales manager for Guild Insurance Brokers, who adds that his father started the company along with a few other partners, including his uncle. “A lot of businesses our size are quite attractive to the larger markets and are being bought out. We proved to be an internal succession that allowed us to continue a legacy that was started by my dad and my uncle, along with the founders of HMS, so we are quite proud of that.”

Guild Insurance has been a member of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce ever since they started in business. Andrews was previously president of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce in 2012/2013. He mentions that he saw the chamber operate at a deeper level than most people get to see regarding how they

Insuring the community

Guild Insurance Brokers wins 2019 Business Excellence, Large Award from the Brandon Chamber

T

interact with government, the business community, as well as some of the policy development that starts in boardrooms and works its way up to the decision makers.

“The business community is pretty tight here, so we have always enjoyed that type of comradery,” says Andrews, who adds that his dad and uncle were both Brandon Chamber Business Persons of the Year in 2007. “We believe in supporting [the Chamber] because that’s really the one true voice in Brandon that Chamber members have; the ability to lobby on our behalf and push policy forward.”

Guild Insurance Brokers received the Business Excellence, Large Award from the Brandon Chamber of Commerce in 2019. Brett

here aren’t many long-time businesses in Manitoba currently operated by a young ownership team.

That’s one of only a few things that make Guild Insurance Brokers so unique.

McGregor, president of the company, says that to even be nomi-

Guild Insurance Brokers Inc. was formed in 1990 after the amalgamation of two brokers. In 1994, the company purchased another local firm to give the company four Autopac and general insurance outlets and a commercial lines office. Ten years later, in 2014, Guild merged with HMS Insurance Agencies in Carberry and Shilo to form the Guild/HMS Insurance Group.

Since then they have also acquired and opened locations in Wawanesa and Virden, and have also purchased a minority stake in Wallis Agencies that serves the Glenboro, Baldur, and Holland area.

was nice to be recognized,” says McGregor. “It gave us a chance

Currently the company has around 60 employees and sells all types of insurance, including commercial, home, auto, travel, life, and group benefits. Even though they have grown to become a large company with multiple locations throughout the province, they maintain a small business feel, something that has been with the company since the beginning.

nated is an honour and surprise, but to receive the award is an even bigger feat.

“We aren’t big on touting our own horn and stuff like that, but it to look back and see how far we’ve come and enjoy a nice evening with some of our team.” ¢

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2019 ••• Brandon Business Review •••

23

Outstanding New Business award winner

Ion Coating owners Leland Kirton (left) and Taylor Kirton (right).

From powder to prestige

Ion Coating wins Brandon Chamber’s Outstanding New Business for 2019

W

hen Leland Kirton received a powder coating kit for Christmas six years ago, little did he know that the gift would turn into a career.

Leland is co-owner of Ion Coating along with his brother, Taylor Kirton. Ion Coating, located at 725 4th Street in Brandon, is a custom coating shop specializing in powder coating and high-temperature ceramic coating. Powder coating is an electrically

24

applied dry powder that goes into a curing oven at approximately 230C (400F), and results in a flexible finish on metal products that is more durable and longer lasting than paint. Ion Coating initially made its reputation in the world of highend automotive and motor sports. That success has resulted in an expansion into commercial, industrial, home and garden, and restoration projects.

Leland got into the business by building his own car parts and wanting to powder

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

coat them. He was familiar with the process and asked his girlfriend (now wife) to buy him a hobby powder coating set for Christmas. He started doing his own parts and posted about them online, which quickly gained interest from the local community and far beyond.

Leland had previously been working in the oil industry after obtaining his bachelor of science degree in geology from Brandon University. When the oil and gas industry slumped in 2014, he did what entrepreneurs do best, regroup and find opportunity where others have overlooked it.

“I had been working out in the oilfields as a well site geologist. The timing of that was fairly poor as it was pretty much the downfall of the oil industry,” says Leland, who mentions that his brother, also a geology graduate, joined him in the business a year after it opened. “I was kind of twiddling my thumbs, going ‘what do I do now?’ So I decided to take a bit of a leap and open a small powder coating shop just because I had seen the

interest that was coming from me doing my own parts. I thought why not take the risk? And it paid off.”

Since then, Ion Coating has outgrown its space twice already and is again looking for a new location to expand its offerings.

Ion Coating (Taylor came up with the name) quickly started to gain traction thanks to their Instagram account. Although powder coating isn’t an uncommon product, the public is still not that familiar with it. It’s often used in assembly line factories on countless metalbased consumer goods. He says that there are few powder coating businesses in North America that do what they do, which is less of the high-volume, singlecolour industrial line work and more of the high-precision, multi-colour, intricate eye candy.

“We want your wheels to look absolutely show-quality,” says Leland, who adds that they have clients from all across North America shipping their products to their shop. “The other great thing about powder coating is because it is extremely durable, it takes abuse wonderfully. It’s chemically resistant, it’s more environmentally friendly than paint and nicer to work with.” Having a palette of over 8,000 spectacular colours to work with allows for incredible colour combinations and true customization. Leland and Taylor push each other to be continually more innovative when clients present projects that require unique solutions and a touch of pure artistry. They have developed a reputation for successfully completing projects that were deemed too difficult or complex by other powder coaters.

Ion Coating took home the Brandon Chamber of Commerce award for Outstanding New Business in 2019.

Leland says that they have been a member of the chamber for four years and one of the main reasons they joined was because their parents are both involved. Leland and Taylor’s dad, Marlow Kirton, was previously president of the Chamber, and their mom, Marlene, was presented the Business Person of the Year award in 2000 for outstanding performance with her nationally

recognized Marlin Travel office. Leland’s father-in-law, Barry Cullen is also a past president and it was actually because of him that this award is so memorable.

“Three years ago, I was at the Chamber Award Dinner for my father-in-law’s Community Service award and I saw the Day Brothers go up there and win the Outstanding New Business award for their efforts at Progressive Sanitation. I looked over at my wife and said ‘one day, I would like to be up there.’ That was right in Ion Coating’s infancy,” says Leland.

“When we got the call that Taylor and I won the award, I couldn’t stop smiling; it was something I wanted for a long time.

It means to me that we made it. I don’t care if we make billions of dollars, I more would like to see happy customers and win neat awards like that… plus it looks good on our counter.”

Happy customers, constant referrals, recognition around North America, a steep growth curve and winning awards – Ion Coating is on the road to success (and perhaps those elusive billions). ¢

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Community Impact Award

Worthy of recognition

Ray Brownlee receives the 2019 Brandon Chamber Community Impact Award

R

ay Brownlee has done more than his fair share of giving back to the community.

Brownlee, who retired from his job as managing partner for Century 21 Westman Realty Ltd. at the end of last year, took home the 2019 Brandon Chamber of Commerce Community Impact Award. The award recognizes an individual or business for outstanding community service to business and community endeavours, and has contributed to the well-being of the community as a whole.

Brownlee, 69, was raised and educated in Brandon and had been in real estate

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

for 45 years. Aside from his full-time job, he was involved in various organizations over the years, including as President of Services for the Handicapped, as a director for the Canadian Diabetes Association Manitoba region, and as fundraising Chairperson on the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Brandon in 2006.

“Our daughter is involved in the Special Olympics and she also has diabetes, so we were also involved in that,” says Brownlee. “When our first daughter was born, she developed spinal meningitis and developed cerebral palsy, so that put us in touch with the Services for the Handicapped group.”

Aside from his charitable endeavours, he was also one of the three founding part-

ners of a Century 21 franchise, and after selling real estate for 22 years, he became the managing partner of their franchise in 1996 until 2017. In 2008, they were awarded the Canadian Century 21 Franchisee of the Year award.

Brownlee has been a member of the Brandon Chamber since 1973 and has found membership to be very valuable.

He says that he has enjoyed being able to rub shoulders and communicate at the management level with other businesses.

“Many times we have the same concerns, and management can be a lonely place somedays,” says Brownlee. “It’s nice to be able to pick up the phone and go for coffee or lunch with another member, and often with another business, and have a bonding that way.”

As for taking home the Brandon Chamber’s 2019 Community Impact Award, Brownlee is very humbled by the recognition. Although he was born in a small town in Saskatchewan, he moved to the Westman city when he was two months old and has always been proud to call Brandon home ever since.

“I was very humbled; I was surprised and I didn’t for a minute expect that I deserved it. It’s an honour and a privilege to be recognized and I’ve always loved Brandon,” says Brownlee. “I call Brandon my home and felt I was an ambassador for our great city, working with families moving in from other locations and selling Brandon and what we have here. It was very much a surprise, but a privilege to receive it.” ¢

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Building a community

Shur-Gro Farm Services president Ron Helwer is named the 2019 Lifetime Business Builder recipient

W

hen Ron Helwer took a course in motivation years ago, he said his goal would be to become the largest independent fertilizer dealer in Western Canada. At one point he made that happen.

Helwer is the president of Shur-Gro Farm Services, an independent agriculture retailer with a complete line of crop inputs products, services, and related technologies. The company was originally founded in 1968 in Brandon as a fuel and fertilizer dealer and has grown from a single outlet to 13 branches across Manitoba and around 140 employees.

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

Helwer, the second oldest in a family of nine, was born and raised in Libau, Man. where his family operated a farm. In 1952, he and his father opened a Massey Harris and fertilizer dealership and operated that until his brother joined them and they bought out their dad’s share in the company. Helwer and his brother also had a bulk fuel business which they operated until 1960 when they purchased an Esso fuel agency in East St. Paul. As the fuel dealership grew, they supplied fuel for the floodway construction, as well as fuel oil for the City of Winnipeg.

At the same time that Helwer was operating his fuel dealership, they were also selling fertilizer as he recognized that it could be the start of a booming business.

“Fertilizer was starting to grow and what impressed on me is that it’s something farmers need to have to buy every year,”

says Helwer. “It’s not like a farm tractor, where you buy one and it might be good for five years.”

on,” says Helwer, who also received the

five-year plan to retire and is currently

Chamber’s Business Person of the Year

working on a succession plan. Until then,

award in 1986. “It’s really gratifying

he wants to keep growing and managing

Helwer married his wife Vera, a school teacher, in 1956 and they have three children. The family moved to Brandon in 1968 where Helwer became a Shell agent selling fuel, fertilizer, and farm supplies.

This venture ended up being the start of Shur-Gro Farm Services. In 1990, Helwer purchased Munro Farm Supplies, and in 2017 they acquired the majority stake in South East Seeds Inc. out of Niverville and Dugald. In 2018 the company celebrated 50 years in business.

and humbling to be chosen as Lifetime

the business and ensure that they are

Builder because realistically I have, in

giving back to the community that has

the last, whatever it is, 50 years, grown

helped the company grow.

They also have a sister company, Brandon Terminal Ltd., which has been in the fertilizer distribution business for over 30 years. The company did a $15 million expansion in the last four years, adding railway, buildings, and equipment to store 40,000 tonnes received by rail and ship by truck. They have a yearly total of 100,000 tonnes, with plans for another 20,000-tonne storage and handling in the next year.

and built our business and helped in the community.”

“We’re a local company; we hire local people, support local communities, and

Although he is well into his 80’s, he says

if we make any money we spend it in our

that he still enjoys what he’s doing and

communities and can hopefully keep

is fortunately healthy enough to keep

going,” says Helwer. “Our plan is to keep

running the business. Helwer has a

going and growing.” ¢

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Helwer has been an active member in the community from the start. He has previously served as a director of the Manitoba Provincial Exhibition, as a member of the organizing committee for the 1979 Canada Winter Games, Past President of the Brandon University Foundation, and as a recipient of the Apex Award. He continues to support initiatives in the Brandon area, including Assiniboine Community College, the YMCA, Brandon Hospital Foundation, Murray House Cancer Centre, and more. In 2018, Assiniboine Community College presented Helwer with an honorary diploma in agribusiness.

Earlier this year, Helwer was named the 2019 Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Business Builder of the Year recipient. He says he has been a member of the Chamber for the past few decades and that he originally got involved since he wanted to know more people in the community.

“It’s a really great community and we wanted to get involved in what was going

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2019 ••• Brandon Business Review •••

29

Brandon Chamber of Commerce Events Visit us at brandonchamber.ca, or contact us to learn more about our upcoming events.

Please note that event dates, topics, and times are subject to change.

Here is a sample of our events: Breakfast Series

Awards Gala

The Inspired Leadership Breakfast Series will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. throughout the year. Enjoy a hot buffet breakfast with your fellow local business community members. Each breakfast will feature a speaker or panel discussing local business topics.

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. This event is held annually in March.

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. These luncheons draw a large attendance with 250 to 450+ attendees and provide prime networking opportunities.

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 visit and enjoy refreshments and snacks after work.

First Friday Coffees Join in on the conversation! These hour-long drop-in events are held the first Friday of every month from September to June. They are an excellent networking opportunity for you and your business. No RSVPs, no speeches, and open to all employees of member businesses. Catch up with colleagues, meet someone new, and practice your networking skills in a casual setting with coffee and treats. Chamber Coffees promote the exchange of ideas and discussion, and often we host special guests with insights on current issues and topics relevant to our members. Watch our website for special guests and dates!

Patio & Lounge Mixers The newest additions to our events line-up are our Patio & Lounge Mixers. Running July through August, these casual events keep the networking vibe going throughout the summer months. Catch up with colleagues, coworkers, and peers over refreshments and snacks after work and into the evening hours.

No RSVP needed.

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

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31

Chamber Calendar Date

Luncheon Title

Location

Sponsor

26-Sep-19

Workforce of the Future: A Discussion

Victoria Inn | Grand Salon

Sunrise Credit Union

02-Oct-19

2019 Westman HR Conference

Keystone Centre

CPHR Manitoba

04-Oct-19

First Friday Coffee

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Tim Hortons

24-Oct-19

Small Business Week

Victoria Inn | Grand Salon

Compass Credit Union

01-Nov-19

First Friday Coffee

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Tim Hortons

21-Nov-19

5G & The Future of Connectivity

Clarion Hotel & Suites | Regency Ballroom

Assiniboine Community College

05-Dec-19

Holiday Luncheon Bash!

Keystone Centre | MNP Hall

Westoba Credit Union

06-Dec-19

First Friday Coffee

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Tim Hortons

20-Dec-19

Special Friday Coffee

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Tim Hortons

3-Jan-20

First Friday Coffee

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Tim Hortons

16-Jan-20

Celebrating MB Success: Manitoba 150

Victoria Inn | Grand Salon

myITsource

07-Feb-20

First Friday Coffee

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Tim Hortons

20-Feb-20

Trade and the Digital Environment

Clarion Hotel & Suites | Regency Ballroom

Brandon University

04-Mar-20

Breakfast Series: Inspire Leadership

Victoria Inn

Westoba Credit Union

06-Mar-20

First Friday Coffee

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Tim Hortons

12-Mar-20

Annual Awards Gala

Keystone Centre

TBA

19-Mar-20

Climate Change & Business Opportunities

Victoria Inn | Grand Salon

Progressive Sanitation

03-Apr-20

First Friday Coffee

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Tim Hortons

23-Apr-20

State of the Province

Keystone Centre | UTC Pavillion

Westman Communications Group

01-May-20

First Friday Coffee

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Tim Hortons

06-May-20

Breakfast Series: Inspire Leadership

Victoria Inn

Westoba Credit Union

21-May-20

State of the City

Keystone Centre | MNP Hall

Brandon First

04-Jun-20

Presidents Changeover Luncheon

TBA

CENTUM Mortgage

05-Jun-20

First Friday Coffee

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Tim Hortons

TBA

Golf Tournament

TBA

TBA

26-Jun-20

Special Friday Coffee

Brandon Chamber of Commerce

Tim Hortons

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Looking for opportunity

Province develops new Economic Development Action Plan to respond to the needs of business and industry

The new Economic Development Action Plan, when fully implemented, will benefit businesses since they will have one organization they can go to in their own community to respond to the needs of local businesses and industries. Photo by Sandy Black.

L 34

ate last year, Premier Brian Pal-

to establish a new economic development

we need to look for opportunities to drive

lister announced a new eco-

office, as well as work with various existing

economic growth,” says Cathy Snelgrove,

nomic development plan that

economic development offices to develop

president of the Brandon Chamber of

will help local businesses.

contribution agreements that define each

Commerce and partner at Siere. “I think

The Economic Growth Action

organization’s activities for the year. Each

sometimes there is a focus on Winnipeg,

Plan, announced during the 2018 State of

office is responsible for delivering on out-

and the fact that there is a rural compo-

the Province event this past December, is

comes relevant to their respective man-

nent makes us very happy since the op-

a modern framework to help address to-

dates and to report to government on a

portunities we have to offer can be quite

day’s challenges and unlock the untapped

regular basis.

different from Winnipeg.”

economic opportunities in Manitoba.

“I commend the province on recognizing

The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce

One of the key elements of the plan was

that in order to become a ‘have’ province

is one of the partners working with

••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

government and they are responsible for

many agencies that you could go to that

needs,” says Davidson. “Who can say ‘okay,

economic development in rural Manitoba.

would play a role in economic develop-

you need to talk to so and so in Brandon,

The

ment.”

or here is the challenge you’re having’, or

Davidson adds that they are looking to

having that information to say ‘you know,

Manitoba

Chambers

represents

71 Chambers of Commerce, as well as corporate members across Manitoba.

Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, says

create one agency for rural Manitoba which will make it easier for businesses and entrepreneurs when they come into

here is what our workforce situation looks like, here is what available land looks like, here is what the needs of your business have’. How can we best make sure you will

that the province is seeing the importance

these communities to know exactly where

that economic development (ED) has on

they need to go. He mentions that there

Manitoba. He thinks that this will benefit

was a need for this plan since there was a

Brandon since it will be a more focused

gap for this type of service. There are many

your business?”

effort in terms of what ED is and how they

different economic development offices

The new Economic Development Action

can help businesses that already exist and

throughout the province, in addition to

Plan, when fully implemented, will benefit

great opportunities moving forward.

other organizations that help local busi-

businesses since they will have one orga-

“What our hope is moving forward is once

nesses. The challenge is, from a business

nization they can go to in their own com-

this is fully implemented, for the City of

perspective, who would companies and

munity to respond to the needs of local

Brandon to have a good understanding

entrepreneurs go to if they were looking

businesses and industries.

of what their value proposition is and an

to tap into a specific region or industry?

understanding on what businesses would

“What we’re saying what was really

owner of Redfern Farm Services Ltd. Red-

make sense to come to our community,”

lacking in rural Manitoba was there was

fern’s company deals with crop inputs and

says Davidson, adding that this new of-

no one agency you would go to say 'okay

a host of services to crop producers in

fice would be almost like a one-stop shop.

here is what I’m interested in’, and who

southwest Manitoba. In another role, he

“In the past, if you were a business owner,

can be that connector who has a better

is chair of Westman Opportunities Lead-

the challenge would be there would be so

understanding as to what the business

ership Group (WOLG), a coalition of rural

have a successful opportunity in terms of really growing your business or expanding

Take for instance Ray Redfern, CEO and

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The Brandon area is an important economic driver region of Manitoba, and through it, the entire province will benefit from the potential one voice of coordinated economic development, speaking for all southern Manitoba outside the capital region. Photo by Sandy Black.

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

communities and leaders, and whose ef-

culture and rural communities are oppor-

the Chamber. She says there is a lot of

forts are supporting the Protein Highway

tunity to be a huge engine for economic

opportunity in the area, which creates jobs

theme adopted by our province through

development, and where government

and puts more money into the provincial

their extensive research and outreach ini-

support at all levels – coordinated with the

economy as a result of that activity.

tiatives. They hope to attract agriculture

support of this ED structure proposal – will

crop processing investment, which adds

enable all of us in this province to get the

value to agriculture commodities and will

best bang for the investment use of our

sustain development of rural Manitoba.

tax dollars.”

He comments that the Brandon area is

Snelgrove with the Brandon Chamber

development into Brandon, but we also

an important economic driver region of

says that they would like to have a seat at

have a lot of businesses, that with a

Manitoba, and through it, the entire prov-

the table since they have such a wealth

concerted effort, could look to exporting

ince will benefit from the potential one

of knowledge and expertise within

to put us on a bigger stage.” ¢

voice of coordinated economic development, speaking for all southern Manitoba outside the capital region. It will certainly

“I’m very proud to say that we have a very active Chamber of Commerce,” says Snelgrove.

“There’s not only

the opportunity to bring economic

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ED structure are supported by rural communities, as against a structure whereby each community or region compete with another for the support of the province.

“We know that southern Manitoba’s agbased economy is a key economic driver for the province. Our province is much more than hydroelectricity or mineral resource development,” says Redfern. “Agri-

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Helping the bottom line

How diversity and inclusion is a benefit to Brandon businesses

By Shayna Wiwierski

According to a 2015 report by McKinsey & Company, a worldwide management consulting firm, companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35 per cent more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians.

W

ithout employees, business wouldn’t be business as usual.

Canada is a country made up of diversity.

In fact, since the Confederation, over 17 million immigrants have come to our nation. With that brings different ethnicities, languages, religions, and more. Of course, diversity is more than just culture; diversity includes different races, genders, disabilities, and sexual orientations.

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According to a 2015 report by McKinsey & Company, a worldwide management consulting firm, companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35 per cent more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians. As well, companies in the top quartile of gender diversity are 15 per cent more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians.

Rhonda Pardy, owner/operator of eight (soon to be nine) Tim Hortons locations in Brandon and area, says that around 75 per cent of her staff is diverse. She says that it’s a competitive advantage for them since as their staff have become more diverse, the culture in their restaurants have changed.

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

“I think we attract a lot of new employees since they know we appreciate everybody who will come and benefit us, and it’s made our team stronger,” says Pardy, who adds that her staff has become more diverse over the last 10 years. “For attracting new staff and staff retention, it’s been a huge benefit for us. There’s so many dif-

Rhonda Pardy, owner/operator of eight (soon to be nine) Tim Hortons locations in Brandon and area, says that around 75 per cent of her staff is diverse. Photo courtesy of Tim Hortons. ferent personalities and everybody brings something different to the table, which makes our team stronger.”

Pardy says that she has a wide range of employees, including deaf individuals and those still learning English. She says that new Canadians choose to work for Tim Hortons since they are immersed in the language so quickly and as a result, learn it quickly as well.

“We can fortunately accommodate individuals just entering the workforce, develop their skill sets and grow their careers right up to the management level. I’m proud to have a company that welcomes and can benefit everybody,” says Pardy.

“The diversity of our employees is the same as our customer base, and I think that makes people feel very comfortable.”

According to Economic Development Brandon, in the past five years, the city has welcomed 3,226 immigrants, including 720 in 2018. The majority of immigrant growth since 2011 has been in three language groups, Gujarati, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

Heritage Co-op, a local retail cooperative with 23 locations across seven communities, employs a number of diverse employees. Lorne Zacharias, General Manager, says that almost half of his 400-person staff would be considered diverse and that it certainly reflects the community that they are in.

“We are closely connected to every community we are in and that’s the base of our employee group as well,” says Zacharias, who adds that the communities they serve include Brandon, Minnedosa, Wawanesa, Erickson, Sandy Lake, Strathclair, and Riv-

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ers. “All of our staff is drawn, for the most part, from the communities we are in, so that diversity comes naturally.”

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Bank of Montreal (BMO) also has a high percentage of diverse staff members. In fact, the company has been named to the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for four years in a row and was one of 230 companies globally to be recognized (and one of only nine Canadian companies to be included in 2019). The company also has a Leadership Committee for Inclusion and Diversity that is comprised of 25 senior executives from across the bank, which has developed a bold, multi-year strategy to drive performance by excelling at diversity and inclusion.

Naseer Malik, Branch Manager at the Brandon main office, says that having a diverse staff has massive value. He says that they have numerous amounts of clients that come in from a variety of different cultures, age groups, and religions.

“By having a diverse team, it gives you a chance to understand the different kinds of people that come into the bank that need help,” says Malik, adding that around 70 per cent of his 28-person staff is diverse. “For example, there are people out there that have language issues, they don’t speak or understand English as well.

You have different people from different nationalities that can help them and translate and understand their needs, and on top of that, it helps people feel more welcomed.”

Malik adds that it’s not just customers reaping the benefits from a diverse staff.

Employees at BMO also learn from each other, and he says they celebrate different holidays together at the office, picked up a few different languages, and generally the environment seems more like family as opposed to just coworkers.

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

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Naseer, Pardy, and Zacharias all add that diversity is an asset to the business’ bottom line. Since Brandon is a changing city with a lot of new cultures coming in, companies need to give everyone a chance, no matter their background.

“Don’t just hire based on a culture, religion, age, and so forth,” says Malik. “Hire on somebody who will be an asset to you in the short- and long term.” ¢

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GARETH BOYS www.persnicketyfurniture.ca 2019 ••• Brandon Business Review •••

41

Feeling green

How Brandon businesses are taking a stand against climate change

By Shayna Wiwierski

Brandon-based Greenstone Structural Solutions tackles how to reduce our environmental footprint and energy consumption, as well as how we can make buildings more resilient in a world with steadily increasing extreme climate events.

T

here’s no doubt about it, the world is changing.

According to the Earth Day Network, the majority of scientists are in agreement that human contributions to the greenhouse effect are the root cause of climate change and global warming. Global sea levels are rising at an alarmingly fast rate in the last century alone, surface temperatures are setting all sorts of new heat records, ice sheets are continuing to decline, and oceans have become very acidic.

Climate change is happening and it’s beginning to have a significant impact on many aspects of our lives. Green technologies are created as a solutions-based approach to this growing concern worldwide. Greenstone Structural Solutions, a Brandon-based manufacturing company, has approached this problem from more than one angle. Greenstone tackles how to reduce our environmental footprint and energy consumption, but also how we can make buildings more resilient in a world with steadily increasing extreme climate events.

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

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Greenstone’s Insulated Composite Envelope (ICE) panel is an engineered combination of steel-stud framing and EPS insulation.

These products are the industry gold standard in quality, life cycle, and energy efficiency. When you think about what you want inside your walls, a material that will not rot, mould, off-gas, and will maintain its structural integrity and R-values for generations should be top of mind. ICE panels have all these features; the challenge is convincing the public to change the way they think about building for the future.

ICE panels are best used as a building envelope, meaning exterior walls, floors, and roof. Ed Dornn, owner and president of the company, comes from a general contracting background and didn’t like the way the industry was reacting to changing building codes attempting to address some of the challenges of climate change.

“We’ve simply added more layers to the existing systems and created enormous problems doing that because now we have created an assembly that has a vapour barrier on either side and an organic material – wood – on the inside. That’s not a good thing,” says Dornn. “The lifecycle of these buildings is shortened tremendously. We cannot encase organic material inside a wall assembly with differential pressures. Moisture gets in and things start breaking down. An example of this is the housing crisis we are seeing in the north. It’s the one- and two-year-old homes that are being condemned for mould, not the older homes. The older homes, while very inefficient and expensive to heat, can at least breathe. When you have a vapour barrier on both sides, that moisture is trapped.”

Greenstone develops and manufactures ICE panels in its

PowerSmart designated facility in Brandon and efficiency and sustainability are the core of its mission. The manufacturing process uses a lot of water to create steam and this water is recycled through an underground loop system which helps heat the building through the winter. Any excess raw materials that are not consumed in production are recycled, including EPS cut out for window and door openings. Greenstone created a recycling process that regrinds, dedusts, and reuses EPS to create the R-Panel, a premium EPS sheet that can be used for renovations and below-grade insulation.

Greenstone ICE panels are recyclable, have no VOC’s, and reduce waste on jobsites. According to Dornn, the energy efficiency and air tightness numbers are its most impressive attributes. High effective R-values are achieved by ICE panels because they are thermally disconnected. This means no energy can be transferred through the wall at a stud location. This is reflected directly in the amount of energy it takes to heat and cool your home. Higher effective R-value means lower energy bills. ICE panel homes typically take 50 to 70 per cent less energy to heat and cool.

Air tightness is another important feature in a sustainable building.

Air leakage converts directly into lost energy. People are already seeing air quality issues become more and more of a problem during the lengthening forest fire season. An airtight building envelope is critical for the safety of occupants during times of poor air quality. It is important to be able to control the rate and

Greenstone’s Insulated Composite Envelope (ICE) panel is an engineered combination of steel-stud framing and EPS insulation, and are best used as a building envelope.

flow of air changes in a home. An extremely airtight assembly is the first step. A properly designed mechanical and ventilation system comes next. Extreme weather events are becoming more of an expected reaction to climate change. ICE panels can be engineered to withstand Category 5 hurricane winds and are currently being installed in the Caribbean islands.

“A positive attitude towards a solution-based mindset is the key to addressing the challenges we are facing with climate change,” says Dornn. “Innovative solutions are all around us. It is up to us to embrace them.”

Christie’s Office Plus unfortunately learned the hard way about poor air quality issues. The company was located in a wood structure building that was completely destroyed by a fire on May 19, 2018.

2019 ••• Brandon Business Review •••

43

Christie’s Office Plus’ former building burned down during a fire in May 2018. They are currently building a new steel building, which is significantly more fire-proof than wood. The building will also have efficient LED lighting with other modern efficiencies.

Unfortunately this wasn’t the first time that the company has been up in flames. Under the previous owner, Don Green, Christie’s Office Plus had another fire in 2011 when a fire started under a tree and went up and across a branch and onto the retaining wall.

It was only smoke damage that one time, but they put a disaster recovery plan in place after the initial incident happened.

Currently, the company is operating out of the Town Centre in what was previously Fitness Quest. They had to downsize from their original 40,000 square feet to 26,000 square feet.

“We are temporary here and we currently have plans to rebuild and redevelop Christie’s Office Plus,” says Travis Chastko, General Manager. “We have secured land and the building is actually being built as we speak for a fall 2019 move-in date.”

The new building will be a steel building, which is significantly more fire-proof than wood. Chastko adds that they are also doing efficient LED lighting with other modern efficiencies.

A number of other companies are also looking at more green options to help do their part in the fight against climate change.

Progressive Westman, founded in 2009, is a locally owned and operated sanitation supply and matting/uniform rental company.

The company is heavily involved with the business community in Brandon since they supply their products to so many industries.

Spencer Day, a founding partner, says that he sees a lot of climate change-related issues around the city, especially as it relates to cost. Since they are in the unique position of being the only locally owned and operated matting and uniform rental company, as well as the only one which washes, dries, and services all their inventory

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44

••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

Progressive Sanitation is the only locally owned and operated matting and uniform rental company, as well as the only one which washes, dries, and services all their inventory in Brandon.

in Brandon, that puts them at an advantage in terms of cost, as well as keeping down fuel emissions, which is attractive to consumers.

“Our national competitors do have depots here, but they transport everything to a larger centre for laundering. Every piece of linen, matting, rags, table clothes, uniforms are shipped to Winnipeg to get cleaned daily,” says Day, who adds that they offer a local option to launder and service everything in Brandon. “[Our competitors] have a fleet of semis on the highway which has indirectly given us a competitive edge. If there are two options on the table, we are always the greener choice.”

Day says that to be competitive in today’s market, businesses need to look at offering more green options, and he adds that that’s something he has seen grow over the past 10 years or so. He recalls when they first started Progressive and about one in every 100 people would ask about a green option on a chemical or service.

“You couldn’t get your hands on [green products]. Well you could, but they came with inflated costs and inferior quality, no one wanted to use them,” says Day, adding that over the last decade the conversation has changed, which has trickled down everywhere.

“People have that mindset and mandate put out at a higher level and everyone is forced to change. You can walk into our warehouse right now and find two or three green options in every line of our business that are priced within 10 per cent of previous options and work just as well. That same comment can be echoed across our industry as I’m sure you can say with a lot of industries. This last decade has been huge.” ¢

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Introducing Manitoba's Accessibility Standard for Employment

It’s good business to employ Manitobans with disabilities.

On May 1, 2019, the Manitoba government enacted a second standard under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act targeting employment (following the 2015 Accessibility Standard for Customer Service). The goal is to remove barriers that affect current and potential members of Manitoba's labour force by helping Manitoba employers hire, support, and keep employees.

The standard addresses all aspects of the employment relationship including recruitment, hiring, on-the-job, and return-to-work.

in their later teenage years, or early adulthood. Investment in

The principle of reasonable accommodation is a key concept under The Human Rights Code (Manitoba) and the new Accessibility Standard for Employment. A workplace accommodation is reasonable if it is required for an employee to carry out workplace responsibilities or to access benefits available to employees. Most accommodations offer an adjustment to how things are usually done at little or no expense. The employer and employee share the responsibility to find the right solution, without affecting safety of staff or other “undue hardship”. Reasonable accommodation levels the playing field for all employees.

four Manitobans with a disability. Yet, the 2017 Canadian Survey

The provincial government is required to meet the employment standard by May 2020, and public sector organizations must comply one year later. All business, not-for-profit and small municipality employers must comply with most areas of the standard in three years time by May 2022. However, safety comes first.

Effective May 1, 2020, all Manitoba businesses and organizations with at least one employee must ensure the safety of their employees in two ways: Workplace Emergency Response Information: Create individualized emergency response information to help employees with disabilities stay safe during emergencies, and Workplace Emergency Assistance: Ask employees who require assistance during an emergency for permission to share information with individuals who agree to help.

Remember to enquire, rather than assume, who needs help during an emergency. For instance, a staff person may be unable to rush down stairs due to a heart condition that on a normal workday is unnoticeable.

education and skills development then leads to their future careers and advancement that may last well into their sixties.

Manitoba’s economy could not function without the contribution of workers who also become consumers with the incomes they earn.

Employment is a vital activity in most people's lives, and therefore, it’s not surprising that employment is a priority among the one in on Disability found that only 65 per cent of Manitobans with disabilities, aged 25 to 65, were employed, compared to 83 per cent of those without disabilities.

Despite impressive post-secondary achievements, some people face barriers to employment that have nothing to do with their abilities. For instance, employers may overlook skilled job seekers with disabilities, because they think a disability will lead to lower productivity and higher costs.

By contrast, research shows hiring people with disabilities is a good investment for at least three great reasons: 1. Talent: By creating accessibility in hiring and on-the-job, you ensure all your employees perform at their best.

2. Reliability: Research shows low absenteeism and turnover and fewer workplace accidents among employees with disabilities.

3. Reputation: Studies show employees and customers are more loyal to businesses that show they value diversity.

Learn more about the Accessibility Standard for Employment and other standards under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. Visit AccessibilityMB.ca or call the Disabilities Issues Office at 204-945-7613, or toll-free 1-800-282-8069, ext. 7613. ¢

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Why introduce a law to remove barriers to employment? Because Manitoba employers want the best employee for the job, and because Manitobans with disabilities want to work.

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2019 ••• Brandon Business Review •••

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Index to Advertisers 26th Field Regiment RCA ............................................................................................... 37 Accel Towing & Transport Ltd. .................................................................................... 33 Accessibility Manitoba ........................................................................................................ 9 Alair Homes .............................................................................................................................. 17 Alliance Electric & Solar Ltd. ............................................................................................17 Anderson Orthopedics .................................................................................................... 11 Aqua Splash Pools & Spas ................................................................................................11 Behlen Industries ................................................................................................................. 13 Benmarks ................................................................................................................................... 22 Brandon Business Interiors ............................................................................................ 41 Burns Maendel Consulting Engineers Ltd. ......................................................... 28 Cando Rail Services ............................................................................................................ 26 Centec Electric & Controls Ltd. ................................................................................... 36 Coffee Culture Café & Eatery ........................................................................................ 41 Compass Credit Union ..................................................................................................... 24 Construction Association of Rural Manitoba .....................................................41 D&B Sprinklers ........................................................................................................................ 31 Days Inn Brandon ................................................................................................................ 44 Ducks Unlimited ...................................................................................................................... 7 East 40 Packers Ltd. ...............................................................................................................11 Economic Development Brandon ..........................................................................IFC Excel-7 Ltd. ................................................................................................................................ 40 Friends Fur Life Daycare & Grooming...................................................................... 20 Fusion Credit Union ........................................................................................................... 33 Giant Tiger ................................................................................................................................. 17 Glacier Wash Inc. ................................................................................................................... 22 Greenstone Structural Solutions ............................................................................... 43 Guild/HMS Insurance Group Inc. .............................................................................. 40 Horizon Builders Ltd. .................................................................................................... OBC Jani-King of Manitoba ............................................................................................ 33, IBC Keystone Centre ................................................................................................................... 31 Koch Fertilizer Canada ULC ........................................................................................... 15 Konica Minolta ....................................................................................................................... 19 Ladylight B ................................................................................................................................ 37 Larry Maguire M.P. ............................................................................................................... 32 Leech Printing...................................................................................................................Insert

Mac Safety Group Ltd. ....................................................................................................... 33 Manitoba Pork Council ....................................................................................................... 7 Maxx Security ......................................................................................................................... 31 McMunn & Yates .................................................................................................................. 41 McPhail Travel & Discovery Tours .............................................................................. 30 Minute Muffler & Brake .................................................................................................... 30 MNP LLP ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Oak & Ivy Salon ...................................................................................................................... 40 Persnickety Furniture Refinishers .............................................................................. 41 Pinchin Ltd. ............................................................................................................................... 41 Pita Pit .......................................................................................................................................... 25 Portage Mutual Insurance ............................................................................................. 27 Praxair Canada Inc. .............................................................................................................. 21 Quintex Services Ltd. ......................................................................................................... 21 Raynor Bookkeeping Services Inc. ........................................................................... 46 Redfern Farm Services Ltd. ............................................................................................ 44 Roland / Weir Appraisal Associates ......................................................................... 18 Rotary Villas .............................................................................................................................. 46 Royal Canadian Legion ..................................................................................................... 11 Sand Hills Casino ....................................................................................................................19 Shreem Systems & Solutions PVT. Ltd. ................................................................... 17 Siere ............................................................................................................................................... 35 Sunrise Credit Union ............................................................................................................. 3 Taylor Jackson Financial Services Inc. .................................................................... 45 Trend Collection & Bailiff Services Ltd. .................................................................. 42 Venture Accounting Group Ltd. ................................................................................ 38 Visa2canada Immigration & Settlement Services ......................................... 31 Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. .............................................................................. 23 Western Manitoba Regional Library ........................................................................ 11 Westman Communications Group ............................................................................ 5 Westoba Credit Union Ltd. ............................................................................................ 39 Wheat City Concrete Products Ltd. ......................................................................... 31 Windsor Plywood ................................................................................................................ 31 Workers Compensation Board .................................................................................... 29 Xplornet Communications ............................................................................................ 17

RaynoR BOOKKEEPING SERVICES InC. You didn’t go into business to do books - that’s our business! #3 - 935 26th Street Brandon, MB R7B 2B7 Ph: 204-725-3513 Fax: 204-726-8660 Dorothy.Raynor@raynorsolutions.ca Customized bookkeeping and payroll serviCes, at your offiCe or ours S e r vic e sin c e 1988

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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2019

1340 10th Street Brandon, Manitoba

Jody Kehler, Executive Director

jody@rotaryvillas.ca

“The retirement lifestyle you deserve”

204-725-1340

rotaryvillas.ca

Find your plan at janiking.ca/franchise

YEARS OF

SUCCESS

NEW HOMES & RENOVATIONS

DREAM · DESIGN · BUILD DRAFTSMAN IN HOUSE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR DESIGN OVER 20 YEARS IN HOME CONSTRUCTION

1040 - 20TH STREET BRANDON, MB | 204-727-1736 colinb@cedarridgemb.ca | 204-721-0278

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