January 2023 InTouch Magazine

Message from the President

What Does Leadership Look Like?

We have all had the opportunity to observe some form of leadership in our lives, and it’s a pretty safe bet that most of the readers of the article will have an opportunity to display leadership at some point in their professional lives as well. Sometimes, the leaders we have make lasting impressions on us for their courage and insight. Other times we are left with a bitter taste of fecklessness of those who have been placed in an office of leadership without aspirational qualities. So what, ultimately, makes a good leader?

We hear the term “Crisis” far too often these days. We hear it in terms of a Housing Crisis, The Climate Change

Crisis, an Opioid Crisis, or perhaps for those of you who recently purchased a Corvette or a Harley Davidson, a midlife Crisis. The word today carries the meaning of “an unstable or crucial time in which a decisive change is coming, particularly one in which a highly undesirable outcome is predicted.”

Regardless of the crisis we face, there is usually a strong potential for positive or negative change. In that sense, crisis can be considered an opportunity.

How we perceive these opportunities, however, is key to our response to leadership during times of crisis.

When considering the challenges and crises facing us we need to be especially cognisant of the affect fear can have on our decision-making ability. Do we enact policy based on resisting change that we are fearful of? Do we make decisions that protect our own interests in a self-preservation mindset? Do we really consider the needs and desires of others and our organization as a whole?

No matter what business we are in, we each have a sphere of influence and responsibility for others. We each have opportunities in our lives to impact the direction of our organization and the work we do in the community. Let’s not squander the opportunity in front of us to drive meaningful change in and make a real impact on the future of our businesses and community. I

Paul Bisanti

Established in 1920

Baetz, CPA, CA

R.W. Storoschuk, CPA, CA

S.W. McGaghran, CPA, CA

J.E. Chowhan, CPA, CA

P.E. Merrylees, CPA, CA • J.A. Laporte, CPA, CA

R.A. Parker, CPA, CGA, CFI

G.M. Malecki, CPA, CA

Q.E. Bateson-Hotte, CPA, CA, LPA

W.A. Deane, CPA, CA Associates: B.Y. Brenneman, CPA, CA • C.J. Storoschuk, CPA, CA • K.B. Weames, CPA, CA • D.E. Paxton, CPA, CA

M.M. Malecki, CPA CA • N.T. Nguyen, CPA CA • S.C. Dykstra, CPA CA • Wes. E.B. Caldwell, CPA CA • T.W. Schein, CPA, CA

Helping Brant, Brantford, and Ontario Grow

business owners are around supply chain issues and inflation, both of which have been exasperated by the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the number one concern, he said, is the “massive labour and skills gap across the economy.”

To address this, the OCC has been working with universities, colleges and unions to get the federal immigration ministry deal with the current backlog of skilled immigrant workers, a population Rossi said Ontario and Canada “desperately needs.”

“the ability to find and keep good staff.”

“There are many different challenges around that,” he said. “Access to safe, affordable and accessible housing, as well as transportation to get staff to work.”

On the positive side, Prang sees “great opportunity and excitement,” with Laurier Brantford students back in town full-time.

“It was really felt, not having students in the downtown area during the pandemic,” said Prang.

By Serena Austin

Rocco Rossi became President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) because he saw it as an opportunity to help build a growing and robust economy by supporting the services and charities in our communities.

As in the rest of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Rossi and the OCC to shift their priorities. He had to consider how the OCC could best serve its members and public policy makers in such an incredibly difficult time.

Throughout the pandemic, the OCC worked in collaboration with the provincial government, hospitals and pharmacies on the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines and rapid tests.

Rossi is proud of how businesses rallies and adapted in the face of COVID-19. Some businesses began manufacturing masks, hand sanitizer and ventilators when the province needed them most.

Over 250 businesses joined the Ontario Vaccination Support Council, led by OCC members Bruce Power and Facebook Canada, said Rossi. “They played a significant role in setting up vaccine clinics throughout the province.”

The main concerns Rossi hears from

David Prang, Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant CEO, agreed that a lack of a steady labour supply is the most pressing issue for businesses right now. He described the problem as

Renovations in the One Market building throughout the pandemic, and those planned for the future, are a step in the right direction to getting the post-secondary engaged in the community, he said. I

Welcome New Members

n Alchemy Fitness

EXERCISE, HEALTH, & FITNESS GYMS

Anita Bliss (519) 756-1445 brantford@alchemycrossfit.com

n Arlington Hotel & River’s Edge HOTELS

Sara Graham (905) 381-9822 gm@arlingtonhotel.ca

n Brantford Air Centre Ltd.

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE, SERVICE & STORAGE

Dominique Lemieux (519) 753-7022 info@brantaero.com

n Child & Family Services of Grand Erie

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Nancy Dolson (519) 753- 8681 Nancy.Dolson@cfsge.ca

n Sadeki Simpson, Edward Jones

FINANCIAL PLANNING CONSULTANTS

Sadeki Simpson (519) 861-3993 Sadeki.simpson@edwardjones.com

n Isaac Rosebrugh, Mortgage Broker MORTGAGE BROKERS

Isaac Rosebrugh (289) 667-3081 isaac@inspiredmortgage.ca

n Lifestyle Your Way FINANCIAL PLANNING CONSULTANTS

Roger Kozak (519) 865-9395 lifestyleyourway@yahoo.com

n Massage Addict Brantford

REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPISTS

Joanne Patak (519) 304-5222 brantford@massageaddict.ca

n Manns Distillery Ltd.

BEVERAGE INDUSTRIES

Craig Mann (519) 304-1900 Craigmann788@gmail.com

n Misty’s Kitchens Inc. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Misty Brown Glowala (519) 774-5701 info@mistyskitchens.com

n Smashing Pixels

WEB DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

Trevor Cherewka (519) 774-6135 tcherewka@gmail.com

n Symposium Café Restaurant RESTAURANTS

Bill Argo (519) 756-2023 Symposium.Brantford@ symposiumcafe.com

n Tasty Road Trips Inc.

TOURISM

Janice Vilaca (226) 802-0486 jan@tastyroadtrips.com

n Twisted Indian Wraps Brantford

RESTAURANTS

Baltej Pandher (519) 771-3161 brantford@twistedindianwraps.com

Nivee Cyber Security

Nivee Cyber Security Inc. (Nivee) is an Indigenous-owned cyber security firm that is focused on reducing our client’s business risk through ethical hacking, offensive cyber security strategies and security audits.

We operate from our head office located in the Mississauga’s of the Credit First Nation in Hagersville Ontario, however our services are offered throughout North America. Our ownership consists of individuals from the Vuntut Gwitchin Nation in Old Crow, Yukon and our name, “Nivee” means “Warrior” in the Vuntut language.

We are members of CCAB (Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business) and CAMSC (Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council) which help connect Procurement Champions with organizations like Nivee to help them fulfill their procurement needs and goals.

Areas of Specialization

We provide solutions for digital vulnerabilities, weaknesses and threats. With a team of experienced information security professionals, we provide penetration testing, vulnerability assessments and in-depth reporting. We maintain a low overhead, which allows us to provide affordable

solutions while still maintaining the top recognized industry certifications.

We provide the following services:

n Ethical Hacking

n Penetration Testing

n Vulnerability Assessments

n Email Phishing Simulations

n Security Audits

Please visit our website to learn more: www.nivee.ca

Still Don’t Have a Will? Now’s the Time.

November was the month dedicated to raising awareness for the importance of making a will. While November has come and gone, any month of the year is an opportune time to make a will. Surveys indicate that more than 50% of Canadian adults do not have a will. The top reasons being that they do not know how to get started or believe they cannot afford one. Making a will is less complicated and less costly than many Canadian would believe. The benefits of having a will far outweigh the complications, delay and expense that often arise when there is no will.

If an individual dies without a will, they are considered to have died “intestate”. There are provincial laws in place that deal with how the individual’s estate is distributed, depending on the circumstances. For example, if the deceased has a spouse but no children, the entire estate goes to the spouse.

If the deceased has a spouse and children, the spouse will get the first $350,000 and the remainder is divided equally between the children and spouse. If the deceased does not have a spouse but has children, the estate is divided equally between the children.

Having a will allows for certain advantages and avoids several issues that can arise upon an intestacy. It allows for the individual to appoint a trusted estate trustee to administer the

estate and to choose the beneficiaries of their estate. It also allows for trusts to be established for minors or disabled beneficiaries. Having a will often saves your loved ones from paying unnecessary taxes and expenses and from encountering delays in the administration of your estate. If you are a business owner, you can create a secondary will to govern the transfer of your corporate shares which may reduce estate administration tax as well as assists in your business succession plan.

In order for a will to be valid in Ontario, it must be made in writing, signed at the end by the testator and by two witnesses. The testator and the witnesses must sign in each other’s presence. Once a will is created, it is still possible to change the will at any time. Life events such as a marriage, separation, divorce, or birth or adoption

of a child are appropriate times to consider updating your will.

Wills can be simple or complex, depending on the type of assets owned and how the individual wishes to pass the assets to their beneficiaries. Waterous Holden Amey Hitchon offers a wide range of services from the preparation of simple wills to more complex estate and trust planning. We also assist with the administration of estates and with estate litigation matters. If you do not have a will or your will is outdated, please contact us to discuss your estate planning needs.

Waterous Holden Amey Hitchon LLP Brantford 20 Wellington St., Brantford.

Derek Sinko

Advocacy

Municipal Priorities 2022 - 2026

The Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant offers our congratulations to the elected municipal councils for the City of Brantford and County of Brant. Over the past four years, the Chamber has enjoyed productive working relationships with both Councils, and looks forward to working with each individually, and collaboratively, to advance opportunities to improve the environment for doing business in Brantford-Brant.

Joint Opportunities

Regional Transportation Master Plan

Connecting our communities within the municipalities to develop seamless infrastructure networks and systems for employees to get to and from work between municipalities.

Developing North/South transit options and connecting mechanisms to neighbouring municipal transit infrastructure. Establishing thresholds and the business case for GO Transit and VIA Rail expansion. Focused effort on an economic development strategy for the Brantford Municipal Airport Master Plan to better utilize this regional asset for the benefit of all businesses and residents.

Surety Bonds

Welcoming the use of Surety Bonds in both municipalities to improve development systems. The Chamber notes Brantford is developing a draft policy for Council consideration soon.

Small Business Property Tax Subclass

Continue to monitor this new regulatory opportunity introduced by the province, and advocate for the development of a successful model locally.

Public Procurement to Support Small Business

Continue to monitor this new regulatory opportunity introduced by the province, and advocate for the development of a successful model locally.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BRANTFORD • BRANT

Continue to celebrate and support initiatives such as the Current Development Search Tool implemented by the City of Brantford, allowing for staff, developers, and councilors to understand where in the development approvals process projects are progressing.

Taxation

Continue to monitor and advocate for Industrial and Commercial Tax Ratio Fairness with both municipalities to improve our business-friendly environment. Acknowledge that multiple factors are present that may create challenges to advance this signature Chamber policy.

Physicians Recruitment Committee

The Chamber is excited for the renewal of this important committee and its work in attracting robust and diverse medical professionals to Brantford-Brant. With the Chamber representative in the Chair, new staff, and renewed mandate, the committee is prepared for a new, inclusive approach to physician recruitment.

Monitor the discussion regarding a municipal accommodation tax to ensure value for business and the community.

Develop additional capacity and resources to support our Agri-Food and Agri-Tourism industry partners. The significant economic impact of these important natural resources and businesses play a key role in our local economy.

Don't Forget!

Our annual MP/MPP Breakfast on Friday, March 6th, 2023. Our annual Mayors’ Luncheon on Friday, September 29th, 2023. Pop-up opportunities with members and ministers of provincial and federal government as they come to the riding for announcements and roundtables. The Chamber welcomes the opportunity to discuss issues with panels and roundtables in a strictly non-partisan environment. Contact the Chamber for more details, requests for officials to invite, or to be placed on our VIP invite list for future first hand meetings.

Trusted

As you know, many young people in our community are lost in a cycle of hopelessness and purposelessness.

Organized Kaos (OK) uses the trades as a medium for mentorship. We provide the tools, relationships, environment, and opportunities for young people to thrive. We do this through hands-on, side-by-side training, developing confidence in what they do and a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

When you step into the shop, the first thing you’ll notice is the atmosphere;

our mentor-student relationships create this environment. The trades mentors who volunteer at OK care for each student with expert guidance in skilled trades and important life skills.

OK Core Programs: Over 20 mentors work with students one night a week in a 1:2 ratio, operating out of three shops with programs such as Auto Mechanic, General Construction, Electrical, Masonry and more.

OK Mobile Trades Unit: Through partnerships with local school boards and the City of Brantford, Organized Kaos works in Grade 8 classrooms to inspire students to explore the trades. We also offered summer camps in local high schools.

OK Construction: Launched in Summer 2022, four students and two mentors work side-by-side for two summer months. In this program, we instilled skills all day, every day to prepare students for the workplace and life, while building garages, fences, and more.

Organized Kaos exists to apprentice young people in life and trade, inspiring hope and purpose, and creating a safe environment for young people (ages 1317) to work and learn alongside skilled trades people from local churches.

Organizedkaos.org

I

Keep CRA Happy with Good Record Keeping

As we ring in the new year, it is a good time of year to declutter, and implement changes to our record keeping to ensure we optimize our expenses while keeping CRA happy.

OUT WITH THE OLD

In Canada, we are required to retain our records for at least six years after the end of the current taxation year, be it your fiscal year for corporations, or calendar year for individuals. That means you can dispose of documents from 2016 or earlier. There are, however, some documents that we recommend you retain indefinitely.

A breakdown of documents are as follows:

RETAIN FOR AT LEAST 6 YEARS

n Sales invoices and/or cash register tapes

n Expense invoices/receipts

n Bank statements, deposit slips/ support and cancelled cheques

n Credit card statements

n Travel Logs

n Payroll records, including timesheets/ cards

n Personal tax returns including all supporting documents (T3, T4, T5, gain/loss reports, medical/donation receipts etc.)

RETAIN INDEFINITELY

n Annual Corporate tax returns

n Capital purchase/investment documents and related legal costs (Once the property is disposed, these documents should continue to be retained under the six year retention policy).

n Share certificates

n Annual minutes

IN WITH THE NEW

Start the new year off on the right foot. Now is the best time for all individuals to start organizing and retain your tax records for the current year. This can help you track your spending and make it easier to file your taxes in the upcoming year.

Documents you should retain annually are:

n Medical expenses, including prescriptions, dental, eye glasses, hearing aid batteries, incontinence products, grab bars, etc.

n Donation receipts

n Daycare/summer camp receipts

n Utility bills, home repairs, home insurance, etc. (if claiming home office expenses)

n Vehicle gas, insurance, maintenance (if you use your vehicle for employment purposes)

n Vehicle log for business mileage (either manually or through an app)

n Home renovation expenditures incurred for improvement to accessibility/safety in the home

For further information please do not hesitate to contact us at Millards Chartered Professional Accountants at (519)759-3511 or visit us at: www.millards.com

I

Pam Merrylees, CPA, CA, LPA Partner

n Advantage Vinyl & Design (1994) Inc. n AIM Recycling Brantford n Airlink Transportation Services Inc. n Ardency Corporation n ARK Electrical Ltd. n Arlington Hotel and River’s Edge n Aspire Bakeries B.C. ULC n Atomic Spark n Body Balance Centre n Brandam Holdings Limited n Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation n Brant Skills Centre n Brant Taxi Inc. 2094284 Ont. Inc. n Brant Waterways Foundation n Brantford Industrial Warehousing Ltd. n Brantford Regional Real Estate Association n The Brantford-Brant Business Resource Centre n Breathe Rite Mechanical Contracting Inc. n Britain West Automotive Specialties Ltd. n BScene n Bucket Sign & Lighting Service Inc. n Carrier Truck Centers Inc. (Head Office) n The Children’s Safety Village of Brant n Christians For Israel Canada n Clarity Marketing & Design n Clik-Clik Systems Inc. n Contact North | Contact Nord n Cornerstone Capital Financial Group n CPR Cell Phone Repair (2509405 Ontario Ltd.) n Creative Circuits Inc. n Crime Stoppers Brant-Brantford n D J Recreational Products n DJR Automotive Services n Doug Campbell Construction n Ed Doucet (Re/Max Twin City Realty Inc.) n Financial Navigators n Grand River Council on Aging n Grand River Counselling n GrandBridge Group Inc. (formerly Brantford Hydro Inc.) n Grandview Flour and Feed Company n R. A . Grinton & Associates n Guru Training Centres Canada n Hale Packaging Solutions n International Trade Consulting Inc. n Iron Gate Group n Jacob Ellens & Associates Inc. n Joro Flowers

n The Keg Steakhouse & Bar n Ken’s Cabinets o/b 603085 Ontario Ltd. n Kneaded Care - Massage | Physiotherapy | Acupuncture n The Lions McInnes House n Magnetsigns Brantford n MEA Health Corporation

n Michel St. Pierre - Mortgage Agent n Minotaur Stormwater Services Limited n Montessori House of Children n NetOptiks (a div. of the Grandbridge Group) n Northgate Rent-All Inc. n Nu-u Float

n OLG

n The Olive Oil Co.

n The Ontario Paranormal Society n Optic House Inc.

n Prima Klean

n The Q-META Group/ Bellwether Investment Management n Queen Street Collision Centre

n Queensview Retirement Community n Renway Energy Inc.

n Route 24 Auto

n Royal Lepage Action Realty n Rubberline Products Ltd. n Sacha Pinto - Branding & Social Media For Business n Silver Fox Production Inc. n St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation n StreetSeen Media n STS Schira Trades Services Ltd.

n Tranquility Place Retirement Home n Translations Paris Traductions

n Vapours Canada Vape Shop n Vaultra Self Storage Brantford n Vive Brant Mechanical Services Inc. n Waste Connections of Canada n Wilfrid Laurier University-Brantford Campus n Willowbridge Community Services Inc. n Winmar n Xplore Inc.

n Visit us at brantfordbrantchamber.com

Say it... Curbside with Magnetsigns Brantford

Hey! It’s me, Kris! The portable sign guy who creates the AWESOME SIGNS that you see outside businesses around Brantford and Area. I know that you have seen them before because people tell me that they do all the time.

I believe that your sign should be a representation of your business. I pride myself on making personal and unique signs to best represent your business.

Why do clients reach out or like my signs? Let me guess…

Do they like the confidence that I give them when I tell them I can make

Magnetsigns Brantford

them a great sign, so they can focus on their business? Probably.

Maybe they trust me that I have their best interest in mind when I tell them that I am firm believer in the approach of ‘less is more, bigger is better’? The less words on the sign, the larger I can get the letters, and the easier it is for their message to be understood. Perhaps.

Could it be the offerings that I provide to my clients from fluorescent letters, graphics to digital prints (think of a giant picture on a sign)? Possibly.

Or do they like how I post their signs to social media, further driving their

message? Could be.

Is it because of how DIFFERENT my signs are and that they STAND OUT to capture attention? This sounds about right.

Maybe you can tell me when we chat? Mention this Member Profile for an EXCLUSIVE OFFER!

See how I just got your attention? Wait until you see what one of my UNIQUE SIGNS can do for you!

Reach out to me (Kris) today: 519-209-6693 (Call/Text) brantfordon@magnetsigns.com Social: @magnetsignsbrantford I

Local Businesses Help Break The Cycle for Vulnerable Young Families

Why Not City Missions is probably best known for its youth centre in Brantford. Working with at-risk youth, staff came to realize the undeniable need for housing supports. And as teen pregnancies soared during the pandemic, the need for housing with wrap-around supports for young parents became urgent.

This urgent need was the springboard for Why Not City Missions to launch Supportive Housing for Young Parents (SHYP), a program that opened in September 2022.

Why Not City Missions is running an aggressive fundraising campaign to fully fund the the program by June 2023. The campaign has two goals: Raising $1 million to pay off the mortgage, and increasing monthly giving by $10,000.

We would like to thank the businesses who have already contributed generously to getting this initiative off the ground! If you or your business is interested in supporting SHYP, please contact Why Not City Missions for more information.

Ptarmigan Foundation