September 2022 InTouch Magazine

Membership Corner

Even if you’re not a Yankees fan (and believe me, I’m not…) you can probably appreciate a good Yogi Berra quote once in a while, and the above quote is one of my favourites.

Something a lot of us have learned over the last couple of years is that there’s no price to be put on having a Plan B or a Plan C if external forces outside of your control come in to play. Shutdowns, staffing shortages, and civil unrest have upended part or all of the business plan for many of us over the past 24 months and it’s time we all realized that having a backup plan or two is prudent, because we don’t know

what will disrupt us next.

In one of the Chamber’s recent Instagram Live Lunch-and-Learns, I was speaking with DJ Moore from YNCU; one of DJ’s biggest tips for business owners moving in to the summer of 2022 was to have a contingency plan.

If you’re a brick-and-mortar business who relies on foot traffic, have you pivoted to put yourself in a position to operate online if you need to? If you

rely heavily on a small number of staff with individual responsibilities, do you have a plan in place to cross-train or to otherwise handle the workload if you lose staff due to illness?

I’ve spoken to so many members recently who want to know what other members are doing to fill staffing vacancies, what some best practices are to make connections and market themselves, and what opportunities are available to learn what other members have been up to.

Brantford-Brant is full of strong and brilliant business owner who want to see each other succeed; use your Chamber membership to your advantage and reach out to fellow members for advice if you want to know how other business are preparing for the next curveball. If you need an introduction, I’m always available to help facilitate connections. I

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there.”

Greg Evans

Redevelopment Program Brings Upgrades to Brantford’s Parks and Playgrounds

“The whole community benefits on so many levels.”

Community members were able to provide their input on the design of the redevelopments through polls organized by the City.

role in the grand opening celebrations as well. “They get the word out to their community members to come out and enjoy the park,” said Middleton. “It helps significantly, and they add their own flair.”

By Serena Austin

The City of Brantford celebrated the grand opening of several parks and playgrounds this summer as part of a multi-year program to redevelop existing parks in the city.

Some of the parks redeveloped were Tutela Park Splash Pad, Moose Park and Cockshutt Park.

The City of Brantford initially introduced a five year plan to redevelop many of its parks and playgrounds in 2016 due to their age. Since then, the plan has been renewed and is expected to continue as an ongoing effort.

“We’re not only replacing the playgrounds, but also trying to make them accessible and more inclusive to people of all abilities,” said Tracy Burgess, coordinator of parks design and development at the City of Brantford. One accessibility feature included in the redevelopments is paved pathways leading up to, and around the parks instead of sand or gravel.

Burgess believes that outdoor spaces are important for bringing communities together, and keeps the people within them both physically and mentally healthy.

“We need to make those spaces inviting and safe so all ages have something to do,” said Burgess.

“I got multiple comments about how thankful [community members] were that they were included in the design of the playground,” said Jennifer Middleton, the City’s coordinator of special events, of her experience at the Moose Park Grand Opening on July 9. “The community felt like they actually built this playground because they had a large part to do with it.”

The neighbourhood associations of the redeveloped properties played a

Through their combined efforts, the grand openings were able to draw crowds of between 50 and 300 people celebrating the new and improved parks in their communities.

This summer, The City of Brantford celebrated the redevelopment of seven parks, with plans for more in the fall.

Serena Austin is a fourth-year Digital Media and Journalism student at Laurier Brantford. I

Welcome New Members

n Joshua Wall

REAL ESTATE BROKERS

SALES

Joshua Wall (519)865-6393

Joshua@thecrewrealestate.com 193 Brant Ave. Brantford, ON

n Kobi’s Delivery COURIER SERVICES

Noel Kobi (519)755-2827

Kobisdelivery@yahoo.ca

PO Box 404, 20 Main St. S St. George, ON

n Nautalex Business Services

COMPUTER CONSULTANTS

Randy Folmes (519)622-8840

Rfolmes@nautalex.com 14 Sharp Rd. Brantford, ON

n Protection Security Investigations

SECURITY CONSULTANTS

Jacob Tiffin (519)861-8324

j.tiffin@protectionsecurity.ca

113 Morton Ave. Brantford, ON

n Comspec Technical Services

ANTENNAS

Christopher Connolly (519)802-0739

Chris.connolly@comspectsi.com

27 Copernicus Blvd, Unit 4 Brantford, ON

Member Profile

Autism Ontario

Autism Ontario is a charitable organization founded in 1973, with a history of over 49 years supporting, representing, and advocating for all autistic individuals across the province regardless of race, ethnicity, income, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Our mission is to create a supportive and inclusive Ontario for autism. Thanks to our supporters, donors, and community members, we are providing life-changing services and programs across the province to fulfill our vision of Best Life, Better World, Making Autism Matter.

Autism Ontario is guided by a Board of Directors with 12 diverse members –people on the autism spectrum, parents, caregivers, siblings of autistic people, and professionals.

Our seven regions support people on the autism spectrum and their families

across the province. We provide information on autism, support autism research, and implement programs and services for the autism community to address the issues that affect Ontarians with autism, their families, and their caregivers.

Autism Ontario’s South Region, serving Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Niagara, and Hamilton, is engaged in regular outreach to let families know of the

supports and programming we provide for autistic children, teens, youth, and adults. The South Region continues to create an inclusive community by partnering with local businesses and working collaboratively with service groups.

Autism Ontario is the province’s leading source of information and referral on autism, and one of the largest collective voices representing the autism community. We offer online programs and services in addition to local in-person programs throughout our seven regions across the province of Ontario.

Our work helps all autistic individuals and families in their communities have access to meaningful supports, information, and connections so they are equitably and seamlessly supported across their life course.

Learn more at autismontario.com

I

Our cover feature this month is a reminder of Monday, October 24th as the 2022 municipal election for all municipalities in Ontario. The Chamber has partnered with RogersTV to produce the televised City of Brantford mayoral and ward debates, to be aired on RogersTV Brantford and YouTube during October. The Advocacy Committee has developed businessoriented questions for the debates, and with our team of volunteers we look forward to advancing the interests of the business community with those seeking office. Brantford City Council will see a large turnover of councillors in the next term, which brings opportunities for new perspectives, initiatives, and relationships to develop to improve economic opportunity in BrantfordBrant. The County of Brant will have a few competitive ward races as well. A number of opportunities for both Councils to work together to improve

our region can be tied to our signature issue: transportation. Improving northsouth access, unlocking the economic opportunity of the airport and GO/ VIA, and continuing the good work on housing development are among many joint issues the Chamber looks forward to bridging. The Chamber will also continue our tradition of bringing the two councils together for an afternoon of fellowship once they are sworn in, anticipated to be mid-November.

The provincial election in June returned a Progressive Conservative government to Queen’s Park, and our Member of Provincial Parliament Will Bouma was re-elected as well in our riding of Brantford-Brant. The Chamber looks forward to working with MPP Bouma over the next four years on many issues of provincial importance, including advancing planning on a renewed Brant Community Healthcare System, GO Transit, and as outlined in our policy paper, a provincial strategy on homelessness, addictions, and mental health.

Representatives from the Chamber will be attending the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM and Policy Convention in October, and are actively participating on the Ontario Caucus Team, reviewing proposals essential to improving the business environment across Canada.

David Prang

Ask a Lawyer Waterous Holden Amey Hitchon LLP

Buyer Beware: Backing Out of Real Estate Purchases

The housing market has shown an unprecedented boom in housing prices during the pandemic. The recent cooling of housing prices has led many buyers to back out of their agreement of purchase and sale. If a buyer is unable to close, they may find themselves with unexpected legal and financial consequences.

A deposit on an agreement of purchase and sale acts as security for the performance of the agreement. Once conditions to an offer, if any, have been fulfilled or waived, there are limited circumstances where a buyer may be entitled to a return of the deposit.

In Ontario, when a buyer fails to complete an agreement of purchase and sale, the seller is entitled to retain the deposit. A seller will not be required to demonstrate they have suffered damages. In some cases, a seller may re-list the property and receive a higher price, but they will still be entitled to keep the deposit. A court has discretion to grant a buyer relief from forfeiture of the deposit due to unconscionability or some other circumstances, but these arguments are rarely successful.

A seller may agree to accept the deposit as full compensation for the buyer’s failure to close or they may also sue the buyer for damages, if any.

Most commonly, a significant portion of a seller’s damages will be for loss

in value of their property on resale. Depending on the market and other factors, a seller may not be able to resell the property for the same price and a seller may sue the buyer for the difference in price on the resale. In a recent case, the buyers were found to have forfeited their $30,000.00 deposit and were ordered to pay $470,000.00 in lost value.

A buyer may also be responsible for the seller’s legal fees, mortgage carrying costs, storage costs, realtor commission and any other losses suffered due to the buyer’s failure to close on the sale.

Sellers should be aware of their obligations following a buyer’s breach of an agreement of purchase and sale. A seller cannot rely solely on their ability to sue. Sellers will have duty to mitigate their damages wherever

possible, which may include re-listing the property.

Prior to signing an agreement of purchase and sale, it is important for every party to understand the terms of the agreement. There are conditions that may be included in an agreement of purchase and sale to limit risk for buyers. If you are seeking advice on your real estate matters, the lawyers at Waterous Holden Amey Hitchon LLP have the knowledge and expertise to assist.

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

Courtney Boyd I

Exhibitors

2022 SEASON 2023

THE CLASSICAL VIOLIN with Lara St. John | Saturday, October 29, 2022 | 7:30pm

Christmas with THE TORONTO NORTHERN LIGHTS Saturday, December 10, 2022 | 7:30pm

THE COUNTRY FIDDLER with Shane Cook | Tuesday, May 16, 2023 | 7:30pm

SEASON For more information, visit our website: www.brantfordsymphony.ca

SPONSOR

Member Profile

Celebrating 35 Years Protecting and Promoting Local Grand River Watershed

Next year – 2023 – marks the 35th anniversary of Brant Waterways Foundation’s formation in 1988. The charitable, non-profit Foundation was established to provide funding assistance for projects that protect and enhance the Grand River and adjacent lands in Brant County, Brantford and Six Nations of the Grand River.

Today, the importance of our local trail system and access to our waterways has never been more evident than in the last few years. The residents of Brantford and Brant County are

fortunate to benefit from the many health, leisure and recreational opportunities offered by the Grand River and the adjacent trails within our local watershed.

Over the years Brant Waterways championed and helped fund the conversion of flood control dikes, abandoned rail lines and other trails into a river-based passive recreational trail system. Natural habitat restoration, tree planting, water and environmental education activities and the development of river access points for people to safely experience the river are among the many other initiatives supported. Brant Waterways is proud to be a long-time supporter and sponsor of annual community events such as the Children’s Water Festival and the Brant Tree Coalition’s Earth Day tree-planting activities.

To date, more than $5 million has been

invested in our local communities, spearheaded by Brant Waterways Foundation’s commitment and efforts in the areas of advocacy, fundraising and collaboration with visionary funding partners.

Fundraising is at the core of the Foundation’s activities and is critical in order to provide funds for eligible projects in the communities of Brantford, Brant County and Six Nations of the Grand River. Brant Waterways is grateful for contributions from its generous benefactors, friends and supporters and appreciates donations of all amounts.

Brant Waterways Foundation I

For more information please contact us at: info@brantwaterways.ca / 519-770-6000 / Facebook/Instagram: Brant Waterways Foundation

Cryptocurrency and Tax

With the expansion of the e-commerce and use of digital assets for trading and payments, there is a lot of uncertainty about using cryptocurrency. For income tax purposes, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) considers cryptocurrency a commodity. This means that using it can create taxable income.

When is income recognized with cryptocurrency? Some examples include but are not limited to:

n Sale of cryptocurrency

n Cryptocurrency exchanges

n Interest and dividend income from cryptocurrency

n Referral bonuses

n Selling NFTs you’ve created

n Earning units online by watching, browsing, playing, shopping, learning, etc.

The income generated may be considered ordinary business income or a capital gain. It is important to distinguish between the two as it will impact your tax liability.

What is the difference between how business income and capital gains are taxed?

Business income and capital gains receive different tax treatments under the Income Tax Act. Business income is

fully taxable on the net amount earned, whereas capital gains are taxable at 50% of the realized gain.

Net business income is taxed at your personal marginal rate of tax. If the business has more expenses than income, losses are deductible against all of your sources of income. Capital gains and losses, on the other hand, are only included in taxable income at 50 percent of the realized gains. If you incur a capital loss, it is only deductible against any capital gains you may have.

Whether the income is ordinary business income or a capital gain is a question of fact. Your intentions and conduct will determine the classification of your income. We recommend consulting with an accounting/tax professional to determine your specific situation.

When do you recognize income from mining cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrencies are commonly acquired in two ways: bought through an exchange or earned through mining. The CRA does not consider generating cryptocurrency

from mining to be income until the cryptocurrency is sold, or income is generated from the property where it is mined. As with other products, if you create something, it does not create taxable income until you sell it to a third party.

When cryptocurrency is generated through mining, at the end of the tax year you will need to determine and elect the value of inventory, either at its historical cost or fair market value. This can create income for the year if it is valued at its fair market value.

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

Skylar Turkiewicz I

Member Profile Child and Family Services of Grand Erie Foundation

We are very pleased to announce the launch of Child and Family Services of Grand Erie Foundation. With the amalgamation of Brant Family and Children’s Services and the Children’s Aid Society of Haldimand and Norfolk, the Brant FACS Foundation decided to make changes to reflect the expanded area served by the charity it supports by changing its name and including Haldimand and Norfolk in its mandate.

The CFS GE Foundation’s mission: To help children and youth reach their full potential through post-secondary education support, summer camp opportunities and special projects that promote healthy minds and bodies, life skills, learning and development. It now supports Child and Family Services of Grand Erie in serving the communities of: Brantford, Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

The Foundation was established to provide additional funds in support of the children who are in the care of CFSGE or children who are unable to ever return home.

Funding is also used to support programs, services and activities that fall outside of the Child and Family Services of Grand Erie funding criteria, but that are known to reduce the risks of child abuse and/or neglect.

Each summer, the Foundation provides summer camp funding for 400-plus community children. Camps are carefully matched to the child’s individual interests and needs.

Each year the Foundation assists with eductional costs for many of our former and current Youth in Care to continue

their post secondary education.

The Foundation also provides funding for community programs and projects that strengthen families and give additional opportunities to children and youth.

One hundred percent of the funds donated to the Foundation are applied directly to the programs that it supports.

If you are interested in more information or you would like to offer your support in the form of a donation, sponsorship, volunteering or a potential partnership please reach out to us:

Phone: (519) 753-8681

Email: FoundationInfo@cfsge.ca

Website: cfsgefoundation.ca

Instagram: Child & Family Services of Grand Erie Foundation

Facebook: @CFS GrandErieFoundation

Linkedin: lnkd.in/gzazZkww

Twitter: @CfsgeFoundation

The Paranormal is Our Normal!

In 2007, the Brantford Paranormal Society was co-founded by Tim Butterworth. In 2013, Tim became the group’s Director and re-branded as The Ontario Paranormal Society (T.O.P.S.)

Since 2013, T.O.P.S has been investigating the Paranormal in Brantford and across Ontario in residences, businesses, museums, libraries, hotels, theatres, and just about any place you can imagine.

T.O.P.S enjoys participating in community events and has been invited for the past 12 years to participate in the Scare in the Square event held each year in October by the City of Brantford. T.O.P.S chooses a location to investigate and during the two-day event, they run tours through the building and do a live paranormal

investigation. The buildings always have history and always have ghost sightings or stories attached to them.

You will be able to see and use some of the same equipment you’ve seen on TV shows, including cameras, recorders, trigger objects, laser grids, and spirit

Membership Renewals

n ACIC Pharmaceuticals Inc./ Methapharm Inc.

n Advanced Office Solutions

n BML Roofing Systems Inc.

n Bobcat of Brantford

n Braemar House School

n Brant Community Foundation

n Brant County Health Unit

n Brantford Granite & Quartz

n Careerlink Employment Centre

n Charlotte Villa Retirement Residence

n CIBC LPM Banking Centre

n Terry Collins

n Corner Motor Sales Limited

n County of Brant

n CPM Group Corp.

n Crossing All Bridges Learning Centre

n Easton Mechanical Contracting Limited

n Edward Jones-Sadeki Simpson

n GolfNorth Properties Inc.

n Grand Financial Planning

n Grand River Employment & Training Inc.

n Grand Valley Construction Association

n Hairways

n Hearth & Home

n Heron Head Bikes

n HT Industrial

n Impact DJ

n Itech Precision Group Inc.

n Krown & Leading Edge Auto Detailing

n Lansdowne Children’s Centre

n Lawrie Insurance Group

n Lococo’s-Brantford

n The Marco Corporation

n Mercasa Little Italy Eatery

n Mike Yarek Dodge Chrysler

n Colleen E. Miller Enterprises

n Mitten Inc.

n Mulrain Guitars

n Nancy Tomkins Implant & Denture Clinic

n Norlok Technology Inc. (ISO 9001

Registered)

n Octopus Red

n One Choice Logistics Inc.

n Patricia’s Ladies Wear

n Pioneer Family Pools

boxes. These locations are not staged haunted houses – they are places people work every day. T.O.P.S. can’t guarantee you will capture any evidence, but they do guarantee it isn’t fake. You hear and see what they hear and see!

T.O.P.S. is very excited to be invited to participate again this year and has a great location picked out, but isn’t ready to announce it just yet - keep your eyes out online and on social media for upcoming details and learn more about T.O.P.S. - who they are, where they’ve been, where they’re going and how to reach them if you think you need them. All T.O.P.S services are free of charge!

Visit our website at ontarioparanormal.ca or scan the Link-tree QR code to gain access to all our social media.

Member Profile The Ontario Paranormal Society I

n PQI Canada Limited

n Pynx Productions

n Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. Inc. Canadian Division

n Roots Marketing

n The Rotary Club of Brantford-Sunrise District 7090

n Seasons Brantford Retirement Community

n Sexual Assault Centre

n Simply Electric

n SongBird Marketing Communications

n SVS Greenhouses

n The Design Thinking Agency

n Tim Hortons Downtown

n VIA Rail Canada

n Wade Antenna, Inc.

n Whatcha Wanna Wear - Custom Logo Products

n Young Living Essential Oils

Member Profile St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation

St.Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation, established in 1980, is responsible for funding the delivery of quality, compassionate care at Stedman Community Hospice and St. Joseph’s Long-Term Care.

This includes creating awareness of the need for community support, building and maintaining donor relationships and overseeing the flow and distribution of funds received through estate gifts, memorial donations, foundation grants, sponsorships, and community events.

Stedman Community Hospice and St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre rely on donations, grants, and fundraising events to pay expenses not covered by the provincial government.

“The cost of operating Stedman Community Hospice in 2022 is approximately $3.1 million annually,” says Julie Powell, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation.

“Approximately $1.9 million, (61%), is covered by the government.

Through the Foundation, the Hospice relies on community support to fund the remaining 39%, or $1.2 million.”

The Foundation runs two major fundraising events for the Hospice: the Annual Hike for Hospice, now in its 18th year, and the Annual Handbags for Hospice, presently in its 9th year.

Planning is currently underway for the Handbags for Hospice event taking place on October 20th.

“This event has a strong following and so many of our supporters have been looking forward to returning to the traditional format,” says Julie.

The event will take place in the

beautiful new ballroom of the TownePlace Suites. Front and centre will be a large array of beautiful designer handbags to be sold at auction or won. The event features games of chance, a wine pull, silent and live auctions, raffles, dinner and more.

“Handbags for Hospice is very popular with businesses,” says Julie.

“Some businesses sponsor the event for its wide range of marketing benefits, others purchase a table to treat their staff and clients or to take advantage of the networking benefits a room of 400+ attendees provides. Primarily, businesses see it as a great opportunity to support a vital community resource, and we are extremely grateful.”

For more information about St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation or the Handbags for Hospice event, please call 519-751-7096, ext 2475.

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