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PAUL BRANDT’S CAMPAIGN TO END SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND SEX TRAFFICKING
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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 27 | Number 12
REGULAR COLUMNS
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How Much Bad Policy Can the Economy Withstand? By Frank Atkins
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Alberta’s $15 Minimum Wage Puts a Hefty Price Tag on Creating EntryLevel Jobs By Amber Ruddy
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CONTENTS COVER FEATURE
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# NotInMyCity Paul Brandt’s campaign to end sexual exploitation and sex trafficking By Melanie Darbyshire
ON OUR COVER: ABOVE: PAUL BRANDT. PHOTO SOURCE: TANNER WENDELL STEWART
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Community leadership is a job for all By Brad Field
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Build Our Pipeline, For Canada’s Sake! By Cody Battershill
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Calgary Chamber of Commerce BOMA Calgary News Winter 2018 The Calgary Report
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Current developments for Calgary Telus Convention Centre, Tourism Calgary, Calgary Economic Development, and Innovate Calgary
Marketing Matters By David Parker
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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 27 | Number 12
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THIS MONTH’S FEATURES
CONTENTS COMPANY PROFILES
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Crestview Group
Celebrates 30 Years
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The Importance of Giving Back Much more than just writing a cheque By John Hardy
Calgary’s Changing Skyline The new architectural icons By John Hardy
Corporate Philanthropy Measuring the impact of contributions By Danyael Halprin
Continuing Education Programs What are the benefits? By Erlynn Gococo
NAIOP Calgary Chapter
Presents the 2nd Annual Real Estate Excellence (REX) Awards
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The new NAFTA By John Hardy
Calgary Enters 2019 with a Buyers’ Market
By Rennay Craats
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Business Aviation Means Big Returns for All Albertans By Debra Ward, Canadian Business Aviation Association
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HOW MUCH BAD POLICY CAN THE ECONOMY WITHSTAND? // FRANK ATKINS
How Much Bad Policy Can the Economy Withstand? BY FRANK ATKINS
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should not be surprised that Trudeau the Junior has made a real mess of economic policy in a manner that will particularly affect Alberta. It is as if the Liberals have spent so much time worrying about issues such as gender equality that they have no time to consider how the economy may be affected by economic decisions that have been made since taking office. Two recent events come to mind. First, there was the seemingly vacuous decision to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline. It is not clear to me what the original intention was in this regard, but it is turning out to be a bit of an economic and political mess. The pipeline now appears to be in limbo, which is bad news for Alberta. Further the fact we cannot seem to get any pipelines built is having a detrimental effect on business investment in Alberta. Canada is increasingly being viewed as a poor place to invest. This is especially damaging to the oil and gas sector in Alberta. Interestingly, there is more than just economic damage from this decision. The Canadian Press used an access-to-information request to discover that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service wrote a report that says many members of environmental groups and indigenous communities see the purchase of Trans Mountain as a “betrayal.” So, the Liberals have made a policy decision that is bad for the economy and alienates some of their core supporters. It is almost like a script from a bad movie. Second, Mr. Trudeau appears to be completely unaware his policies have backed Canada into a dangerous corner. In the United States, Mr. Trump has lowered business taxes, and the impact of this is beginning to be seen. Business investment is being driven back into the United States, and away from Canada. This, of course, is making the business investment problem created by the Trans Mountain
NO AMOUNT OF NAIVE CHARM AND EMPTY RHETORIC FROM THE PRIME MINISTER IS GOING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. ONE WONDERS HOW MUCH BAD POLICY IT WILL TAKE TO HAVE THE LIBERALS DEFEATED IN THE NEXT ELECTION. purchase even worse. Unless Canada matches this lowering of business taxes, we will suffer. It is perhaps true the government will attempt to address this problem through the economic update in late November, but I am skeptical. The problem is the Trudeau administration has such a fondness for increased spending and deficits, it would appear impossible to contemplate lowering taxes. Like father, like son, why didn’t the voters see this coming when they elected the Liberals? Trudeau the Senior instituted polices that discouraged business investment and while the economy performed poorly, he continued to increase spending and run large deficits. Interest rates went up, so the cost of borrowing increased, and thus more spending was required to maintain the large debt levels. In 2018, federal deficits and debt are large, spending continues to increase, interest rates are increasing and business investment is leaving the country. No amount of naive charm and empty rhetoric from the prime minister is going to solve these problems. One wonders how much bad policy it will take to have the Liberals defeated in the next election. Frank Atkins is Research Chair of Finance & Capital Markets at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.
BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // DECEMBER 2018
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ALBERTA’S $15 MINIMUM WAGE PUTS A HEFTY PRICE TAG // AMBER RUDDY
Alberta’s $15 Minimum Wage Puts a Hefty Price Tag on Creating Entry-Level Jobs BY AMBER RUDDY
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t’s just an extra couple bucks. Employers will barely notice the added cost. For those businesses that offer entry-level positions, nothing could be further from the truth.
According to analysis from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), provincial employers are facing a $10,739 increase annually per entry-level, minimum wage job compared to 2015. This is due to added wage costs and the higher payroll taxes (i.e. CPP, EI, WCB) that go along with it. That means a small business with 10 minimum wage employees will see their annual costs skyrocket by more than $107,000 as a result of the government’s policy. Across the province, the rapid rise in the minimum wage to $15 an hour is costing private sector employers an additional $284 million each year. For decades, Alberta’ job market experienced a massive net influx of young people who were ready to work hard for the opportunity to get their foot in the door. Alberta was a place where a young person could make a start, learn a trade or a skill, and feel secure about their first steps into the working world. Young people didn’t come for the minimum wage – they came for the opportunity to begin a career. Since the move to $15 began, the minimum wage has increased 47 per cent in just a few short years. Ultimately, the rapid increase in Alberta’s minimum wage has unintended consequences. Who is hurt by higher minimum wages? It’s young workers with limited skills. It’s small business owners who have to trim back plans for growth. It’s employees who face a reduction in hours or losing their jobs altogether.
When business owners were asked, “what are the barriers to hiring more youth in your business?,” 65 per cent of Alberta businesses responded that minimum wage increases have been the biggest obstacle, ahead of general motivation and attitude of youth in the workforce (57 per cent) and the cost of training (56 per cent). However, it’s not too late for the Alberta government to modify minimum wage policy to help jobseekers and small business owners. For example, a training wage could be introduced for new employees as a way to facilitate job creation for low-skilled youth and recognize the big investment small businesses make in entry-level jobs. Alberta could also freeze the minimum wage for the next term of the government to grant some predictability and reprieve to business owners who have been scrambling to keep up with such a big jump in the minimum wage during a recessionary economy that is struggling to turn the corner. If the Alberta government decides to remain firm in this punitive approach, they should immediately act to help employers in other ways. For example, the province could increase education and training opportunities to help employees upgrade their skills to obtain better-paying positions, or offer additional tax relief to low-income earners so they may keep more of their hard-earned dollars. No matter what the minimum wage is, small business owners won’t create jobs if they can’t afford the employees. At a time when small business optimism levels in Alberta remain subdued, the last thing the provincial government should be pursuing are policies that add big new costs for job creators.
Amber Ruddy is the director of provincial affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. She can be reached at amber.ruddy@cfib.ca. Follow her on Twitter @aruddy.
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DECEMBER 2018 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
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This LEED Platinum building opened the doors in 2016. Calgary City Centre is anchored in Calgary's remarkable Eau Claire area. The building has a first-class fitness facility, professional conference centre and more. • LEED Platinum Certified • Class AAA Office • 36 Floors • 26,695 sf Floorplate • Fully Connected to the Core via +15 Walkways • Breathtaking Finishes
645 7th Avenue SW 635 8th Avenue SW This vibrant building has a premier location offering effortless access, in and out of Calgary’s core. 635 8th Avenue is situated on Calgary's intricate bike lanes. The building offers efficient floorplates and an energetic atmosphere. • Class B Office • 25 Floors • BOMA BESt Certified • Cogeneration System • Located on Calgary's bike lanes • One block from the LRT Line
Unbeatable location with easy access, in and out of Calgary’s core. Encor Place offers an efficient floorplate providing prominent layouts for all sized tenants. The building's lobby is finished with stunning marble and granite making it bright and welcoming. • Class A Office • 29 Floors • BOMA BESt Certified • Located on Calgary's LRT Line • Connected to the Core via +15 Walkways (April 2017)
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IS A JOB FOR ALL // BRAD FIELD
Community leadership is a job for all BY BRAD FIELD
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hristmas is the season of giving, and it’s always reassuring to hear the food bank drive reached its target or to see “toy mountain” grow in the lobby of the office building. Most business leaders will plan some form of charitable endeavour to ensure the spirit of giving extends to the less fortunate. This is important and admirable. It’s also a time of year, though, to reflect on how we give back. Are we engaged in annual tokenism or are we stopping to think about our real social purpose both as businesses and as individual leaders? For decades, Calgary has benefited from business leaders stepping up to make our city a vibrant and positive community for all citizens, and a destination for people and companies to call home. We lost several titans of the Calgary business community in 2018, including Clay Riddell, Frank King and Sherrold Moore, and a next-generation leader in Suzanne West. These individuals had an enormous impact on our city, and not only on its business community. They were deeply engaged in civic life and they gave generously to the social and cultural institutions that make this not just a great place to make a living, but a great place to live.
Reflecting on my own career to date as an entrepreneur, I realize my periods of greatest financial reward do not correspond with my periods of greatest personal satisfaction – quite the opposite. As I have become more engaged in supporting important social causes, I have realized not only the enormous need that exists, but also the reward that comes from addressing that need even in some small way.
Those of us coming behind these great Calgarians must reflect on what we need to do to fill these very large shoes.
When I think about the legacies of these remarkable leaders, it inspires me to step up and be more engaged with the organizations I have had the opportunity to support – like Business Fore Calgary Kids, Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter and the Terminator Foundation – and to be more active to continue the tradition of business leaders building by doing. Getting involved with a social cause broadens one’s perspective, which in turn strengthens leadership skills. I encourage all my colleagues throughout the city to do the same in 2019 and beyond.
The standout leaders are those who give back throughout their careers, not only by making large tribute donations later in life. They also give more than money, offering time and valuable expertise that builds essential not-for-profit governance capability.
As Christmas approaches, how companies and individuals choose to engage in the community is up to them. I hope, however, that we can collectively decide to honour the memory of the leaders who came before us by building on their remarkable legacies.
While none of us can solve every social problem or give a dollar to every worthy cause that knocks at the door, I
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believe we must all step up and lead the response when we see a need in the community. Entrepreneurs solve problems big and small every day in our work lives, and we have the experience and resources to do the same for the organizations that do important work throughout Calgary.
DECEMBER 2018 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
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One of a kind opportunity in Elbow Park! The initial builder of this 1920s craftsman home wisely combined 4 oversized lots to create a large private space for a growing family. Since then, this historic home has been lovingly maintained, thoughtfully updated and completely renovated for today’s modern family. Beyond the sanctuary of 13,000+ sf of lush landscaping and secluded outdoor living areas you’ll find an ideal home for lovers of vintage details like eyebrow dormers, wide painted trim, French doors, and elegant fireplaces. The classic white kitchen with 48” Wolf double range, Subzero fridge and marble counters is perfectly designed as are the newly refurbished, subway tiled bathrooms. There’s lots of room in the spacious main floor living room, family room, office and sunroom. As well, the lower level includes a media room, playroom, wine room, two extra bedrooms, workshop and storage area. For those looking for a beautifully designed traditional home with pedigree, this is it.
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Modern Industrial Chic - With exposed brick details, industrial finishings, and large windows throughout, this home is truly the epitome of New York loft inspired style; built by Mission Homes. The large living room flows past brick pillars into the kitchen where the focal point is an oversized island offering seating for six. This space is also equipped with high end appliances and plenty of built in storage, while the dining area offers access out to the yard. A private patio, expansive lawn, and an adorable playhouse make this a space everyone can enjoy. A breathtaking stairway encased by two storey windows leads upstairs to the roomy master suite with a serene ensuite. Two more sizeable bedrooms, a 5 piece bathroom, and a fantastically dreamy office complete this level. Meanwhile, the basement is home to a recreation room, fourth bedroom, large laundry room, and a 4 piece bathroom. A welcoming family home with every inch exuding clean, minimalistic style. A true slice of the big apple!
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Contemporary elegance & exceptional quality define this custom build by award-winning builder Executive Homes by Cass. This well-cared for home provides all the benefits of an established home (window coverings, landscaping, etc.) while still looking virtually new. Sitting atop the high point in Marda Loop, this exemplary home features panoramic southern & mountain views from 2 levels. The modern design offers hardwood floors, open riser stairs & a living room w/sleek two-sided fireplace. The dining area offers a magnificent chandelier & floating sideboard. The kitchen is equipped w/high end appliances, including a 146 bottle SUB ZERO wine fridge, WOLF cooktop & walk-in pantry. Upstairs offers a luxurious Master suite complete w/5pc bath, walk in closet & sliding doors to your private south deck. Two bedrooms, 4pc bath & laundry complete the upstairs. Lower level boasts theatre room w/built in speakers, bar, guest bedroom & 4pc bath. Finished, dbl garage w/12’ ceilings, car lift & heated floors.
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BUILD OUR PIPELINE, FOR CANADA’S SAKE! // CODY BATTERSHILL
Build Our Pipeline, For Canada’s Sake! BY CODY BATTERSHILL
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t should come as no surprise that a nation as large as ours, with its comparatively small population by global standards, needs transportation infrastructure to succeed. The movement of goods to global markets is table stakes for a modern, developed country. Pipeline obstructionism is an attempt to upset that movement of goods, and to undermine our competitiveness against other jurisdictions. And it’s taking a toll. We know Canada loses as much as $100 million per day because various activists and their often-non-Canadian donors are blocking new pipeline infrastructure in Canada. We have to oppose this resistance. Through decades of strong performance as the country’s main economic engine, Canadian social programs were supported through the hard work and good fortune of the Alberta resource sector. Now things are different. Canada’s top export, oil and gas, is held hostage by a network of ENGOs and U.S. donors who force Canada to sell its product at a discount south of the border. So, the question is, what could Canadians buy with $100 million? Here are a few answers. • Over less than three days at $100 million per day, it would cover the cost of Calgary’s beautiful new Central Library ($245 million). • In a day, it would pay for 200 new nurse practitioners ($115 million) for B.C., or a new, $103-million Johnson Street Bridge for Victoria, a city not known for its pipeline boosterism.
WE KNOW CANADA LOSES AS MUCH AS $100 MILLION PER DAY BECAUSE VARIOUS ACTIVISTS AND THEIR OFTEN-NON-CANADIAN DONORS ARE BLOCKING NEW PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE IN CANADA. WE HAVE TO OPPOSE THIS RESISTANCE. • The $39-million Ottawa Art Gallery & Arts Court project could be funded before lunch on any given day. In less than two weeks, the $1.2-billion revitalization of Port Lands in Toronto would be fully covered. • And just six weeks of revenues from a new pipeline to tidewater could fund the entire $4.2-billion new Champlain Bridge for Montreal. Canadians should know pipeline obstructionism comes with a huge price tag. By 2020, we’ll have walked away from a projected $92 billion in foregone revenue. Meanwhile, global oil demand is growing and Canada, an acknowledged leader in the protection of people and the planet, is left in the lurch. But Canada was built on a few key commitments: as provinces, we work together to improve the lives of our citizens; we take our environmental obligations seriously, and we manage our natural resource endowment using the highest standards, the best people, the newest technology and the safest infrastructure. That’s why, for the benefit of the entire country, it’s time to build the pipeline.
Cody Battershill is a Calgary realtor and founder/spokesperson for CanadaAction. ca, a volunteer organization that supports Canadian energy development and the environmental, social and economic benefits that come with it.
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DECEMBER 2018 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK // URBANOMICS
THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK MUCH MORE THAN JUST WRITING A CHEQUE BY JOHN HARDY
T
here are many reasons for corporate philanthropy and giving back. It is invaluable support for the community and, as most business leaders agree, it’s just the right thing to do. “Social responsibility is critical for businesses to thrive,” says Randy Kraft, audit partner with KPMG Enterprise and a member of the BILD Calgary Region Foundation board of governors. “Whether it’s supporting the environment, education, social causes, not-for-profits or other community endeavours, it matters to our firm, our employees and the community. “The impact we can have in our communities is compelling and significant and we support our employees who get involved.” It’s not hollow nostalgia that philanthropy used to be as simple as saying “yes” and just writing a cheque. Especially in a dynamic and caring community like Calgary, corporate philanthropy and community support is very much a vital component of the business plan. “Calgary is known for being a collaborative and supportive city that works together to overcome challenges and adversity,” explains Wanda Palmer, vice president of marketing with Trico Homes, one of Calgary’s premier homebuilders and a member of BILD Calgary Region. “We saw how business and Calgarians came together to help out during the devastating flood in 2013. It is no surprise that Calgary has been recognized as the most livable city in North
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DECEMBER 2018 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
America and the fourth most livable city in the world even as we navigate through the rebound of a deep recession. “Corporate giving is a key component to every successful economy and is equally important in good times and in bad,” she adds. “When corporations give back and support their communities they help to enhance the overall quality of life and create better places for all of us to live and thrive.” Trent Edwards, COO, Alberta with Brookfield Residential and a member of BILD Calgary Region, agrees and emphasizes, “A company’s greatness has many measures. Profits and rising value are essential for success, as is being recognized as a top employer of choice for our people. But one of the most powerful reasons to give back to your community is the opportunity to leave a legacy in the communities in which we live, work and play in. “It is an opportunity to leave not only tangible outcomes like infrastructure but also the intangibles like belonging and connectivity, and healthier communities,” he says. The vital commitment of Calgary-area builders and developers to philanthropy and community support is reflected in the active work of the BILD Calgary Region Foundation, the charity of choice for the industry. The foundation has provided more than 7,000 beds for those in need, returned over $7.5 million back into the Calgary community and continues to directly impact important initiatives such as reducing homelessness and
THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK // URBANOMICS
“A COMPANY’S GREATNESS HAS MANY MEASURES. PROFITS AND RISING VALUE ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS, AS IS BEING RECOGNIZED AS A TOP EMPLOYER OF CHOICE FOR OUR PEOPLE. BUT ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL REASONS TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE A LEGACY IN THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.” ~ TRENT EDWARDS
providing expertise to those organizations that need new facilities or upgrades. As just one vital Calgary example about the value of corporate giving back, many BILD Calgary Region members were leaders, partners and contributors with Calgary’s RESOLVE Campaign to end homelessness, supporting the work of nine worthwhile Calgary and area agencies. Unlike most business priorities and corporate strategies, there is much agreement that it’s hard or impossible to gauge and measure ROI on philanthropy. “The biggest ROI in philanthropy is seeing the cities where we build become the best places to live, which everyone benefits from,” Edwards points out. “We measure our giving against business goals and align our corporate giving to how we go about developing sustainable communities that truly make a difference in people’s lives. Brookfield focuses on four key priorities – our pillars of sustainability: creating livable places, using resources efficiently, investing in communities, and valuing people and partners.” “ROI is subjective when you speak about philanthropic activity. For us it is about our values, relationships, community and people,” Kraft says with enthusiasm. “We can measure how our clients, partners and employees feel about our firm through their engagement.”
Palmer explains that, over time, philanthropy has evolved as part of the Trico corporate culture. “ROI on philanthropy is important and it is also complicated to measure in a traditional sense. Trico does not look at the investment solely from a dollar point of view but more of a longterm holistic approach to doing business and creating a competitive advantage. “Our culture of ‘doing well by doing good’ not only allows us to positively impact social issues but it benefits our business by helping to strengthen our brand and attract the best talent for our company and customers who seek out companies that do things that matter to them.” Edwards underscores that, in addition to the business aspects of corporate philanthropy, it ultimately comes down to people. “At Brookfield Residential, we care about the cities we operate in; it is also very important to our staff,” he points out. “When our communities are supported, it not only has a lasting impact on the economy and on people’s wellbeing and quality of life but we’ve also noticed that our team members are happier and feel more connected to the organization and their communities when they have a chance to give back or help people in need.”
ABOVE: TRENT EDWARDS, COO, ALBERTA WITH BROOKFIELD RESIDENTIAL.
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Canadian Legacy Project Stands in Support of All Veterans Sometimes a straightforward answer tells most of the story. “The Canadian Legacy Project was created when we realized that there wasn’t a group or a national organization that concentrated on the well-being of veterans and supporting veterans as they transition to civilian life,” says the passionately committed Dave Howard, founder and president of the Calgary-based Canadian Legacy Project (CLP). “Too many of our veterans are having a difficult time transitioning back to civilian life and are in need of vital support with matters like employment, housing and PTSD. These men and women stood on guard for our country and through CLP, we have taken up the role to stand up for them and be there in their time of need.” More than 2,000 veterans have been helped in 2018 through the Canadian Legacy Project’s diverse roster of programs such as the unique Homes For Heroes project, designed to build “tiny home” communities across Canada, with a specialized layout and lifestyle feel to assist homeless veterans with affordable housing and a robust support system. However, Howard explains CLP programs focusing on PTSD – peer-to-peer programming, service dogs, food donation for service dogs, and the outdoor group activities based on peer support – are in high demand. As the CLP fundraising season kicks into high gear, Howard highlights three ambitious and innovative new programs. First off, CLP is collaborating with the Canadian Armed Forces and Hockey Calgary to educate youth about the sacrifices made by veterans while teaching over 1,100 young people about leadership, resiliency, citizenship and community service. CLP has also created the new “Got Your Six” mental health support program. In the military, “got your six” means “I’ve got your back,” originating with First World War
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fighter pilots referencing the rear of an airplane as the six o’clock. “Got Your Six” will assist veterans and their families who are dealing with PTSD and transitioning into civilian life by providing coaching related to stress and mental health challenges. Also, in conjunction with the Prince’s Trust charity and its banking partners, CLP is offering entrepreneurship training and micro-loan programs for veterans to develop and help finance their business ventures. One of the highest-profile (and emotional) CLP initiatives is the annual Field of Crosses, when 3,400 white crosses are on display from November 1 until the day after Remembrance Day, in the park along Calgary’s Memorial Drive. Howard enthusiastically points out, “CLP is a small organization with a big mandate. We advocate for our veterans to support their transition from military to civilian life, and improve veteran well-being in important areas like employment and a sense of purpose, financial security, housing, health, life skills and preparedness, social integration, family stability, and cultural and social environment.” He adds CLP – a registered charity working throughout Canada – is 100 per cent volunteer managed and directed. “We do not have traditional expenses many charity groups have, which ensures that the donations made towards the Canadian Legacy Project go directly to supporting our veterans.” Calgarians can support CLP by donating online at www. canadianlegacy.org or by mail to The Canadian Legacy Project at #900, 2424-4th ST SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2S 2T4. Tax receipts are issued for donations over $20.
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A Love of the Community Darren Biedermann receives Small Business Philanthropist Award Darren Biedermann is genuinely touched and appreciative but he really doesn’t understand the reason for all the fuss. “Giving back is not only important, it is just the right thing to do,” he says with trademark enthusiasm and positivity. “It’s as important as a sail is to a sailboat. It is a duty and an honour. And love of community spawns philanthropy.” Last month, the National Philanthropy Day celebration of the Calgary & Area Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) recognized Biedermann’s Supreme Men’s Wear with the distinguished 2018 Generosity of Spirit, Small Business Philanthropist Award. Each year, the association honours Calgary individuals and groups who have not only made outstanding contributions to the Calgary community but who also demonstrate a commitment and passion for bringing positive change to the area. Calgary’s annual National Philanthropy Day celebration has grown to be one of the largest in North America. The formal citation notes that, for more than 23 years, Darren Biedermann, owner and creative director of Supreme Men’s Wear, has built more of a community gathering place than a retail clothing store. AFP points out that while Biedermann sells men’s fashion, he delivers connectedness. “Imagine operating a luxury men’s clothing store in downtown Calgary for 70 years,” Biedermann says with pride. “It’s the ultimate giving back. The strongest of community hearts made sure that ours kept beating. And it’s so much more than about business. It’s passion and it’s community. Calgary loves Supreme and believes in our purpose, and we love Calgary back!”
charities like KidSport and Inn from the Cold. Seven years ago, one of Biedermann’s loyal clients introduced him to Calgary’s Fresh Start Recovery Centre, helping people recover from drug and alcohol addiction and become independent. Biedermann avoids talking about the details and specifics of Supreme’s philanthropy and he is mellow but uncomfortable about recognition and appreciation. He prefers to quote the legendary Muhammad Ali, “The service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth,” and invariably deflects the positive feedback to a genuine love-of-community. He agrees with the consensus among true philanthropists that making a difference and giving back is so much more than just the familiar cliché of “writing a cheque.” It’s community. It’s caring. It’s being involved. It’s connecting. “Caring and philanthropy is definitely a key part of the Calgary spirit. And it’s deep,” Biedermann emphasizes. “It can be as simple as creating a daily habit of reaching out and connecting with a complete stranger through an act of kindness. That connection is an act of philanthropy.
Like many committed and involved philanthropists, Biedermann begrudgingly but candidly admits, “It’s harder to say no than yes.”
“Small, independent public-welcoming local businesses are the connecting spaces of the community. Without them we would lose the important glue that bonds us together. We will never connect through Amazon, Costco or Walmart in the future. And it’s time to step up, step out and support local businesses that are the future.
And although his list of giving back is long, it includes supporting many causes and generating awareness for
“We love this city and cannot imagine living and doing business anywhere else,” he adds with emotion. ABOVE: DARREN BIEDERMANN
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Haskayne School of Business Hosts Second Annual Progress Energy International Speaker Series On Tuesday, November 6, 2018 the Haskayne School of Business hosted the second annual Progress Energy International Speaker Series, this year featuring Harry Tchilinguirian, the global head of commodity markets strategy and senior oil market strategist at BNP Paribas. A downtown crowd of over 600 people (nearly double the inaugural event) attended the luncheon, held at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre. Tchilinguirian’s 30-minute speech was followed by a question-and-answer period moderated by Peter Tertzakian, executive director of ARC Energy Research Institute. A leading authority on the state of oil and energy commodity markets, Tchilinguirian drew on his extensive international experience to bring a broader perspective to the Calgary audience. The main theme of the day was oil. Tchilinguirian noted international divestment from Canadian oil plays by multinational companies and banking institutions is primarily due to perception challenges on the oil industry’s environmental impact. He highlighted signs pointing to the emergence of the United States moving towards energy dominance as opposed to energy security and the dynamics of international geopolitics between Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United States with regards to supply and demand. He noted Canada is one of the leading contributors to non-OPEC supply but much of Canadian reserves have a long time to production and logistic problems plague Canadian products. Tchilinguirian saw the future of gas being bright, and said the expected completion of the LNG project in British Columbia in 2025 is well suited to meet anticipated market needs. “Through our partnership with Petronas Canada, we are pleased to bring world-renowned international energy
experts to Calgary,” said Jim Dewald, dean, Haskayne School of Business. “The complexity of our global economy is increasing. By bringing an international perspective to a Calgary audience we are broadening the perspective of our students and the business community.” Last year’s event featured former U.S. secretary of energy, Ernest Moniz. Frequently sought after as a commentator on Bloomberg and CNBC, Tchilinguirian joined BNP Paribas Global Markets in August 2006 and is currently part of the firm’s Global Markets research group. Earlier, he was global head of commodity markets strategy with the firm’s commodity derivatives business line. He previously worked at the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris for six years in the oil markets and industry division. As senior oil market analyst, he was a contributor to the IEA’s benchmark monthly Oil Market Report. Prior to this, he worked at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the economic departments.
ABOVE: PETER TERTZAKIAN AND HARRY TCHILINGUIRIAN AT THE SECOND ANNUAL PROGRESS ENERGY INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER SERIES, NOVEMBER 6, 2018. BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // DECEMBER 2018
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Forging New Territory with Custom Cannabis Professional and personal passion, great timing and a tsunami of public interest are potent success factors for Calgary’s Custom Cannabis. The expertise and professional background results in the passion. The timing is Canada’s 2018 legalization of cannabis – and the invaluable and potent momentum of the media blitz that continues to generate tremendous public interest and awareness about cannabis. Controlling the quality of the cannabis from seed to processing to clients is at the core of Custom Cannabis’s success. The engineering technology, hydroponic growing techniques and unique innovation to produce the medicinal cannabis all takes place in a bright, state-of-the-art 60,000-square-foot greenhouse and processing facility in Claresholm, south of Calgary. Jeff Nielsen and Robyn Wytinck, co-founders of Custom Cannabis, make up the Calgary-born, educated, brotherand-sister team who developed the new technology to grow medicinal cannabis. “Canada is at the forefront of a monumental change in the attitudes and opinions toward cannabis,” CEO Jeff Nielsen says with enthusiasm. “The abundance of information and media leading up to legalization has clearly accelerated the cultural shifts that are taking place. In our many discussions on the topic, we’re seeing people of all types opening their minds to cannabis and having open conversations about its health benefits. “But the saturation of awareness is also a bit of a caution. Education is a large part of our business plan. When patients need to make decisions about their treatment and health, information overload can lead to confusion and add stress to an already difficult experience. “Our goal is to empower patients to cut through the confusion with high-value information, so they can make informed decisions about their personal path to wellness.”
From technical details to quirky basics, the innovative technology behind Custom Cannabis is redefining the medicinal cannabis industry – from engineering details to the meticulous attention around layout and location. Claresholm was chosen to capitalize on unique growing conditions for medicinal cannabis as the area receives over 330 days of sunlight – or 2,500 hours of bright sunshine – a year. The area’s 1,034-metre elevation, next to the Rocky Mountain foothills, also means drier air for better moisture control during the growing process. The large and bright Custom Cannabis production facility has 40,000 square feet of environmentally-controlled, sealed cannabis-specific greenhouses with another 20,000 square feet designated for processing, storage, packaging and administration. The hydroponic crop production uses supplemental lighting and computer-controlled HVAC and irrigation, without the use of pesticides and fungicides, to produce consistent, high-quality medicine. “Opinions and behaviours toward legal cannabis are changing,” Nielsen points out. “The change is happening among all demographics. Old stigma is being replaced by new thinking. Much hype has been centred on the new cannabis law and also on recreational use. And a boost in general awareness of cannabis doesn’t immediately translate into increased understanding of medical cannabis cultivation, plants, production, products or efficacy. “There is a need to break through the noise and give patients access to the information they can use to make quality decisions. One of our greatest opportunities is to empower patients to make decisions that are right for them.”
ABOVE: BROTHER AND SISTER ROBYN WYTINCK AND JEFF NIELSEN, COFOUNDERS OF CUSTOM CANNABIS.
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DECEMBER 2018 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
A GREAT MEAL IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS
403-269-1600 www.centini.com LUNCH | DINNER Breakfast & Office Catering by Appointment | Special Events | Offsite Retreats | Private Dining | Private Rooms & Discreet Meetings For professional attention to the details of your event please email events@centini.com or telephone 403-269-1605
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CALGARY’S CHANGING SKYLINE // CONSTRUCTION
CALGARY’S CHANGING SKYLINE THE NEW ARCHITECTURAL ICONS
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hen it comes to Calgary construction and the downtown skyline, as with so many other facets of contemporary life, change is not only good, it is inevitable. Imagine: the Calgary Tower, an iconic Calgary focal point – and a sometimes symbol of the downtown skyline – turned 50 this summer.
While some traditions live forever, the view from the street or from the air while making a final approach to the airport, shows just how much Calgary’s fabled 626-foot landmark is now dwarfed and upstaged by Brookfield Place (810 feet), The Bow (715 feet), the Suncor Energy Centre (705 feet) and soon, the 728-foot architectural design feat Telus Sky. That’s not to mention other contemporary Calgary-downtown landmarks such as the new central library, the National
ABOVE: CALGARY’S EVER CHANGING SKYLINE. PHOTO SOURCE: BOOKSTRUCKER PHOTOGRAPHY
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// CONSTRUCTION
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HASKAYNE
Executive
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// CONSTRUCTION
A InvItAtIon
value of commercial property sales during the first half of 2017 as a result of the ongoing stabilization of the oil sector. The total dollar value of commercial real estate sales in Calgary in the first half of 2017 was $1.43 billion, an increase of 55 per cent over the $932 million total in the first half of the previous year.
Call ahead to book your experience and for VIP parking
403 266 4417
Who
You and the wonderful people you want to share with us.
What
An original men’s fashion presentation.
When
10 - 6 ish Mon - Sat
Where
SUPREME Corner of 4th Avenue & 3rd Street SW Downtown Calgary
Why
Supreme is a catalyst for change, using fashion to connect aware & beauty-filled people who are making a difference.
“Alberta’s two largest markets have seen strong commercial property investment in 2017, as the worst of the recession that has defined the market over the last few years appears to be over,” says Elton Ash, regional executive vice president, Re/Max of Western Canada. “Oil prices have remained relatively stable and the outlook for the province’s economy overall is optimistic. As a result, there is renewed confidence among investors in Calgary and Edmonton and total sales value is up in both cities.” As a vital business strategy, it’s a good time to be part of Calgary’s downtown growth. An additional, potent boost was the recent global survey that ranked Calgary as the fourth most “livable” city in the world. The Economist’s 2018 “Global Livability Index” surveyed 140 cities around the world and ranked them based on 30 factors in five categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. With perfect scores in four categories, Calgary ranked fourth with an average score of 97.5, falling behind only Vienna, Austria; Melbourne, Australia; and Osaka, Japan. Architectural insiders and planners cite Telus Sky – the 60-storey signature tower – as a leading example of the new downtown norm to create dynamic buildings that provide a vibrant mix of residential, office, retail and public use space. “As building designs become increasingly more ambitious and innovative with towers now soaring to new heights and geometries becoming more challenging, our team has responded by utilizing leading-edge technologies and drawing on diverse experiences to provide innovative engineering solutions for new structures,” says Anthony El-Araj, principal at Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers, one of North America’s leading engineering firms that has provided structural engineering consulting for over 5,000 projects including residential, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. “A trend of notability in most major Canadian downtown areas is the increase in developing more complex and unconventional building sites as competition for typical sites has become extremely intense. This calls for more innovative approaches to building design.” Telus Sky promises to live up to this vision, becoming a dazzling focal point of Calgary’s transforming skyline. The superbly talented engineers and architects focus on the functionality and optics of spectacular and mega high-profile designs and achievements like Telus
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CALGARY’S CHANGING SKYLINE // CONSTRUCTION
ABOVE: THE 60-STOREY TELUS SKY WILL DOMINATE THE CALGARY SKYLINE IN 2019. PHOTO SOURCE: GLOTMAN SIMPSON CONSULTING ENGINEERS
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CALGARY’S CHANGING SKYLINE // CONSTRUCTION
Sky, explains Nick Maerkl, project engineer at Glotman Simpson. “Working on these unique designs draws on our team’s full range of abilities and creativity.”
While this is a major focus in quickly rising larger cities like Vancouver and Toronto, Calgary also has big downtown plans in motion.
When it comes to stunning skyline towers like Telus Sky or more conventional downtown architecture, there is a definite shift to incorporating residential with commercial (workspace) buildings.
“In addition to Telus Sky and Alberta Boot,” he says, “the West Village redevelopment project currently underway will further develop and enhance the vibrant river-front community in Calgary.”
He adds Telus Sky, opening early next year, will be a 761,235-square-foot mixed-use tower, Calgary third tallest building (behind Brookfield Place and The Bow) and the 13th tallest building in Canada.
Part of this important mix, will be the addition of the Telus Sky development.
“Mixed-use buildings are one of the most prevalent trends in new construction,” El-Araj adds. “With an increasing focus on a ‘live-work-play’ lifestyle, there is an emergence of a more all-encompassing approach to mixed use with large proportions of development projects incorporating functionalities other than solely purpose-built residential or office complexes. “The green benefits of mixed-use projects also ensure they remain a solid trend as they create more varied and walkable city centres; therefore, providing relief on transportation systems [and] having a major impact on reducing pollution from vehicle emissions.” As in many suburbs, builders and developers are aiming to create “neighbourhoods,” not just brick-and-mortar or glassand-steel infrastructure. “The trend toward renovating existing downtown areas, also known as urban infill, has caused an increase in mixed-use projects as developers attempt to accommodate new growth by reinventing underutilized and outdated properties such as the Alberta Boot site in Calgary,” Maerkl points out. “A new appetite is apparent for planning complete neighbourhoods and reinventing downtown areas to encompass residential, retail, entertainment and more.
“It will create a lively mixture of living and working in the heart of downtown Calgary,” El-Araj notes with enthusiasm. “The most fundamental aspect of the Telus Sky plan is to optimize the functionality of a building with two distinct building typologies. “The office levels on the lower half of the building necessitate an open concept and rectangular floor plans to enhance the use of the space. As the building rises, the floor plates slowly reduce in size and pixelate providing opportunities for offices with small balconies and terraces, and ultimately results in smaller residential floor plates with balconies above. It has been designed to unify the two distinct elements – working and living – at the mid-height of the tower without loss of efficiency, functionality or esthetic continuity.” Although “work of art” is a somewhat overused cliché in reference to architecture, Telus Sky will live up to the claim, featuring one of the largest public art fixtures in Canada. “Northern Lights,” designed by Canadian artist Douglas Coupland, will be a giant LED display with an infinite number of colour shades and combinations on the north and south facades of the tower which will go through five 12-minute sequences per hour mimicking the world-famous aurora borealis. A dazzling addition to the transforming downtown Calgary skyline.
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Congratulations to the class of 2018 When life happens, it’s good to know there are more than 18,000 Chartered Insurance Professionals (CIPs) working in the property and casualty insurance industry throughout the country.
Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional Caleigh Blackhall (New Track) Kelly Jobin Aviva Canada Inc. Mennonite Mutual Insurance Co. Ltd. Karen Flamand Jeremy Martyniuk The Co-operators Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. Advanced Chartered Insurance Professional Catherine Burgess Sherri Kirton Allstate Insurance Co of Canada Peace Hills Gen Insurance Co. Shannon Calderwood Anna-Marie Komarnicki Intact Insurance Company Economical Insurance Ryan Gussak Shauna Mamini Federated Insurance Aviva Canada Inc. Melissa James Steve Nitschke The Co-operators Aviva Canada Inc. Chartered Insurance Professional Ashiana Ali Intact Insurance Company Tyler Anderson Central Alberta Adjusters Sylvia Bargetzi Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. Olena Batuev Western Financial Group Andrew Bennett Intact Insurance Company Claire Boyle Gallagher Energy Risk Services Anneke Braat The Co-operators Sabrina Bruno AMA Insurance Scott Burgess SCM Insurance Services Matthew Carbert ClaimsPro Matthew Charbonneau Intact Insurance Company Tiezhong Chen PetroChina Canada Ltd Jared Collister HUB International Insurance Brokers Lynn Dunster Peace Hills Gen Insurance Co.
Jennifer Elvidge Royal & SunAlliance Insurance Co. Joshua Friesen Rogers Insurance Ltd. Brooke Halliday Rogers Insurance Ltd. Wendi Hill The Co-operators JoĂŤlle Howe The Co-operators Jewel Jersak The Co-operators Navleen Jhajj Intact Insurance Company Claire Johnson City of Calgary Janette Kaminski Bridge Financial Insurance Ltd Taesung Kim MKMK Risk Management Inc. Chew (Stephen) Leong Canada Brokerlink Inc. Edelyn Leong Intact Insurance Company Peng (Perry) Lin Alberta Insurance Council Jennifer Lunn Collegiate Sports Medicine
Kathleen Pederson The Co-operators Kristel Wilson Costen Insurance Evanne Shepherdson Peace Hills Gen Insurance Co. Rachel Tait Northbridge Insurance Nathalie Wright The Co-operators
Kristen Luu Canada Brokerlink Inc. Neil Major Ecclesiastical Insurance Group John Mccullough Allstate Insurance Co of Canada Sandra McMurray Michael Moorman Charles Taylor Adjusting Claire Mounsey The Co-operators Pauline Njoroge Desjardins General Insurance Group Latifat Ogunnowo The Co-operators Emmanuel Omotosho Willis Towers Watson Oluwakemi Oshatuyi Intact Insurance Company Kathleen Parsons HUB International Insurance Brokers Candice Popke BFL Canada
Chartered Insurance Professional Azmina Premji Rogers Insurance Ltd. Richelle Regier City of Lethbridge John Riad Braemar Adjusting Racquel Roberts The Co-operators Brett Robidoux The Co-operators Stephanie Robinson Aviva Canada Inc. Dana Sharp Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. Tessa Smith Westland Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Daisy Sutherland Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. Dave Tilstra Intact Insurance Company Grace Valencia Desjardins General Insurance Group Jocelyn Von Kaitz Aviva Canada Inc. Travis Wadham Rogers Insurance Ltd. Dawn Weightman Economical Insurance Jeffrey Wilkinson Arthur J. Gallagher Lindsay Wills Toole Peet Insurance
Chelsea Wong City of Calgary Yang Yang
Risk Management Certificate Odunola Aderounmu Intact Insurance Company Joanne Ballantyne Intact Insurance Company Beatrice Brown Westland Insurance Brokers Ltd. Hong Chen Willis Towers Watson Benedict Cheong The New Home Warranty Insurance
Nick Cooling Economical Insurance Derek Doel Economical Insurance Cayla Douglas Intact Insurance Company Breanna Gray Intact Insurance Company Sara Haberlin Intact Insurance Company
Brenden Hanvold Intact Insurance Company Muhammad Javid City of Medicine Hat Deanna Lawson The Co-operators Ka Yan (Angel) Lee Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. Samantha Scott Intact Insurance Company
General Insurance Essentials Certificate Jenna Crompton Trina Koops Nicole Garland Joseph Sarraino Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. Intact Insurance Company
Jeremy Yip Maxwell Claims Services Inc. Jody Zachary Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. Brandi Zinter The Co-operators Lamya Zubair Marsh Canada Ltd.
Patricia Wirsch Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co.
Why does the CIP designation matter to you? When disaster strikes, you want an educated, knowledgeable insurance professional with up-to-date information. Chartered Insurance Professionals help maintain the high standards of the industry, and can be found in many industry roles including brokers, underwriters and claims adjusters. They work to provide a better insurance experience for Canadians—like you—who depend on quality insurance service. www.preparedformore.ca
#NOTINMYCITY // COVER
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#NOTINMYCITY // COVER
#NOTINMYCITY PAUL BRANDT’S CAMPAIGN TO END SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND SEX TRAFFICKING
BY MELANIE DARBYSHIRE
S
ome of the oldest crimes known to humankind, sexual exploitation and sex trafficking are, unbeknownst to many Calgarians, alive and well in our city. Rarely discussed yet universally denounced, they are crimes perpetrated against some of the most vulnerable individuals in society: women and children. The extent of the horror is, for most, unfathomable. It’s this aspect of the crime – society’s awareness of what is occurring – that Paul Brandt means to change. The mostawarded male Canadian country artist in history, Brandt’s #NotInMyCity movement, launched in July 2017, aims to heighten awareness of child sexual exploitation and sex trafficking in our community. It has raised over $700,000 for the cause to date. “Most good-willed people would never, in a million years, imagine that this kind of stuff actually happens here,” says Brandt. “And when I tell people the stories, it takes time for the message to sink in. The response I get is about 24 to 48 hours later. My phone rings and they say: ‘Wait a minute, what did you say?’ And the next thing is: ‘How can I help?’” The Calgary-born country music superstar, who first worked as a paediatric nurse at Alberta Children’s Hospital,
was initially exposed to the issue 15 years ago. Travelling to Southeast Asia with a humanitarian aid organization, he and his wife, Liz Brandt, visited organizations fighting trafficking activity. “One of the organizations we visited had just enough money to go into this brothel and pay the rate that someone would pay to sexually exploit children,” he says. “They would take these kids out of the brothel for the day and let them just be kids. But at the end of the day, they had to take them back.” The experience, he admits, was life changing. The couple returned to Canada determined to do something. “I really believe that with knowledge comes responsibility,” he says. “We all have different capacities to effect change. But when it comes to situations like this – where children are being exploited – we all have the same responsibility.” And while it may not be surprising to hear these crimes happen on the other side of the world, it is shocking to hear they happen in Calgary. “The youngest victim that I’ve met in Alberta was seven years old when she was trafficked here,” Brandt says. “We know that trafficking activity is increasing in Alberta, and we know that the majority of human trafficking victims in Canada are Canadian.”
ABOVE: PAUL BRANDT. PHOTO SOURCE: TANNER WENDELL STEWART
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#NOTINMYCITY // COVER
While impossible to know exact numbers due to extensive under-reporting, the size of the global human trafficking market is estimated at around $32 billion, making it one of the largest sources of illegal income in the world. In Canada, the annual profit per female made by traffickers is around $280,000. The average age of children recruited to be trafficked is 12-13 years old.
BRANDT IN HIS ROLE AS STORYTELLER IN RESIDENCE AT MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY (WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS
“People at risk are those who are vulnerable,” Brandt explains, “and if you’re uneducated to this issue, you’re vulnerable. But if you have other social issues – a broken family, a home where there is drug or alcohol abuse, or have been physically or sexually abused as a child – that increases your risk. One of the biggest risk factors is simply being a girl.”
NURSING DIPLOMA). BRANDT TASKED
First Nations Peoples, who account for approximately four per cent of the Canadian population, are particularly at risk, representing over 51 per cent of trafficking victims in Canada.
OUT OF HIS MUSIC BRAND.
“One girl explained her story to me,” Brandt offers. “She was 13 or 14 years old, had a fight with her parents, snuck out of her basement window, went to a party, got in with the wrong guy. Wakes up the next day in a different city. She was chained to a bed for a month and injected with heroin. She was raped repeatedly by man after man that came into the room. At the end of that month, she was broken and addicted and would do whatever she was told to.” #NotInMyCity was conceived by Brandt in his role as storyteller in residence at Mount Royal University (where he received his nursing diploma). Brandt tasked his branding and marketing students with building social and business enterprise projects out of his music brand. (Brandt’s Buckspring Foundation, founded in 2010, has been involved with many community projects including the Build It Forward project, the Slave Lake fires, the Haiti earthquake, the Fort McMurray fires and the High River and Morley floods.) “I told them some of the stories about trafficking and we had this idea of how we could get the word out,” he recalls. “We knew that during large sporting and entertainment events trafficking often increases. And we knew that the Stampede was about to happen in Calgary. So we thought it would be a great opportunity to help our community understand that often trafficking activity increases around these events.”
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#NOTINMYCITY WAS CONCEIVED BY
DECEMBER 2018 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
HIS BRANDING AND MARKETING STUDENTS WITH BUILDING SOCIAL AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROJECTS
#NotInMyCity and its yellow rose emblem – designed by Brandt’s friend, Calgary fashion designer Paul Hardy – were conceptualized, as was the idea of having the emblem on a chuckwagon tarp. “The whole country would see it and it would show how the entire community is united in the fight against human trafficking,” Brandt says. The day before the tarp auction, Brandt reached out to chuckwagon driver Chad Harden and pitched him the idea. Harden, who has two daughters, was fully supportive. He immediately discussed the concept with MNP’s executives, who were planning to bid on Harden’s tarp. “MNP partnered with our foundation and supported #NotInMyCity by allowing the yellow rose to be on the MNP tarp,” Brandt smiles. “It’s a great platform for raising awareness about human trafficking,” says Trevor Winkler, regional managing partner of MNP. “We sponsored it two years in a row and we’re hoping to be able to continue to do it.” In addition to donating half the MNP tarp to the cause, MNP has provided significant opportunities for Brandt to discuss the issue. “We have 700 or 800 people at our Stampede breakfast and Paul attends. He sells #NotInMyCity merchandise and talks to many people about it. We’re making a lot of introductions that way.”
We Make It Our Business to Make Our Communities Stronger Innovation, hard work and resourcefulness – that’s how change is made in this city. MNP is proud to work alongside those who reflect our entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to enhancing the communities where we live and work. Contact MNP Calgary at 403.263.3385 or MNP.ca/Calgary
#NOTINMYCITY // COVER
As a facilitative organization, #NotInMyCity works to get the message across, pull organizations together and push forward best practices so that all parties involved are on the same page. #NotInMyCity merchandise, including pins, bracelets and bandanas, can be purchased in support of the cause. Bonnie Johnston sits on the advisory committee. The former director of the Alberta Children’s Hospital (where she was Brandt’s boss), CEO of Child and Family Services (Calgary Region) and CEO of the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre, Johnston is uniquely experienced in dealing with child sexual abuse cases. She applauds the work of the public bodies in this area, and also sees the value of corporatecommunity-public partnerships.
“My role is to look at all of those pieces from an operational systems standpoint – how do all the pieces connect?” she explains. “It’s a very, very complex issue of trying piece together who’s doing what.” Early this year, a key focus area of prevention and early intervention, particularly with high-risk youth, was delineated. “We believe the best scenario is to prevent it,” she says. “And if youth do get involved, we want to make sure we’re doing the very best we can in wrapping around them so that we can help them so they don’t continue down a path of harm.” Four strategic directions have been outlined: supporting high-risk youth; building community awareness and action;
ABOVE: PAUL BRANDT. PHOTO SOURCE: TANNER WENDELL STEWART
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#NOTINMYCITY // COVER
working in partnership with First Nations; and, advancing leading practice.
victims are moved into a market for a few days to a week, and then moved out of the market to avoid detection.
“Our job is to raise awareness and create a platform for collective action and then to mobilize community,” Johnston explains. “We bring all these systems to the table and then connect the dots so that in fact there will be coordination among agencies to provide those services on the other end.”
There’s also evidence of increased trafficking activity during large sporting and entertainment events. “Victims are pooled together and brought into areas to reach as many people as possible, where the demand is increased,” he says. “At the last Grey Cup in Ottawa there was a successful sting where a number of trafficking victims were recovered and a number of perpetrators arrested.”
Community support is key, she says, highlighting the partnerships #NotInMyCity has with various public and corporate bodies, including the Calgary International Airport. “The airport is uniquely positioned to provide a safe harbour,” says Brandt. “Victims can know they can immediately get help and are safe.” “As a major transportation hub, and a connection point to the rest of the country, YYC Calgary International Airport sits in a pivotal position to affect change for human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Calgary and across the country,” says Bob Sartor, president and CEO of the Calgary Airport Authority. “Given this, we were pleased to announce our full support as an official ally of #NotInMyCity in spring of this year.” The airport has engaged public awareness campaigns, does ongoing training of staff and volunteers, and raised the visibility of #NotInMyCity messaging. “In a visible stance of support, our White Hat volunteers have been proudly sporting branded #NotInMyCity bandanas to help build a tangible presence within the airport. Guests have also seen the iconic yellow rose throughout our terminals as we’ve rolled out public awareness campaigns.” #NotInMyCity also collaborates with the RCMP, the Calgary Police Service (CPS), the anti-human trafficking task force, the City of Calgary, the provincial and federal governments, Child and Family Services, and Alberta Health. “We recently had a specialist from the FBI come up to an event we hosted with the CPS,” Brandt says. “He outlined some of the things that are happening south of the border and police confirmed they are seeing some of the same issues here.” For example, there’s evidence of a circuit, where trafficking
Trafficking often occurs in connection with drugs and guns, but for the latter two crimes arrest and sentencing laws are more lax. “But right now in Canada, on suspicion of trafficking, you can immediately pull the suspected trafficker off the streets,” explains Brandt. “And if convicted, it’s a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in jail. So if you want to take the guys who are selling opioids and guns off the streets, get them on trafficking.” The Calgary Police Service is well versed in the issue, and has been a huge supporter of #NotInMyCity. “They’ve been an integral partner,” Brandt says. “Constantly encouraging me to keep going. And that tells me something – if the police are telling me to keep on going, it’s an issue. “But if the community doesn’t step up and say we want this taken care of – this is a priority for us – other issues are going to take precedence,” he continues. “Because this is such a hidden crime and a difficult thing to talk about, it’s easily pushed off the table. “In some ways it seems like a new issue, but it’s as old as time,” Brandt reiterates. “This is about people with power exploiting people without power. And until other people with power educate themselves and stand up to do something, it will continue to go on. I want to see that yellow rose as the banner that everybody in Canada gathers under to push this cause forward. I hope it’s one of those things Canadians will wear proudly and that they will continue the conversation.” For more information, or to purchase #NotInMyCity merchandise, go to notinmycity.ca.
BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // DECEMBER 2018
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CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY // PHILANTHROPY
CORPORATE
Philanthropy
MEASURING THE IMPACT OF CONTRIBUTIONS BY DANYAEL HALPRIN
A
Buddhist monk once said it’s not enough to have good intentions; they must also be wise ones.
Which means in this context that it’s not good enough to just throw money at a cause to feel altruistic. The act of philanthropy continues to evolve as businesses and nonprofits reflect on how to create maximum impact in order to holistically address the complex social issues in Calgary. Impact is ever so the buzzword in the world of philanthropy. The definition is broad, ranging from attending to immediate needs to eradicating systemic issues. Goodwill is indeed benevolent, and it’s easy; but creating impact, actually pushing the needle on an issue, is difficult. Calgary’s Gena Rotstein maintains that philanthropy should be a discerning, long-term investment resulting in significant, positive societal change. “I’m not discounting giving, but if money was the solution we’d have solved the challenges a long time ago,” says Rotstein, a philanthropy adviser with 20 years of experience. “We just keep throwing good money into a system without trying to solve the underlying issues.”
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Businesses leaders who strive to be strategic philanthropists must take the time to understand the issues in their community, she says, and determine how they’ll measure the impact of their contribution. Like an investor, they need to do their due diligence of the appropriate organizations and choose one that provides an effective solution. It is then important to evaluate over a timeline whether the philanthropy has shifted the issue in that demographic for that specific organization. “Impact is part of a continuum of care,” says Rotstein, co-founder of Karma & Cents, which supports family foundations and family enterprises in attaining their social and legacy objectives. Calgary’s United Way sees itself as a social impact organization that mobilizes corporate Calgary, government and volunteers to improve lives. It highly values stewarding resources and leveraging investments effectively and then measuring the return on those investments. It’s annual impact report details all of its work and it also produces an annual impact report for each business measuring how United Way invested its donation.
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In the area of poverty in 2017, for example, United Way invested $10.2 million, offered 27 programs and initiatives delivered by 22 agency partners and, with the support of 8,415 volunteers, it was able to help 40,703 Calgarians. Recipients indicated they were better able to meet their basic needs of food, shelter and clothing, achieve financial stability and access employment opportunities. “We believe in collective impact,” says Karen Young, president and CEO of United Way of Calgary and Area. That’s why it partners with 101 agencies that report back on the difference their respective programs are making. And, instead of just serving the issue, they’re trying to solve the root cause of it, be it mental illness, lack of employment, lack of education or domestic violence in the case of poverty. Says Young, “If you know what you’re trying to achieve and what outcomes you want then it’s easy to develop the measurements and generate that high return on community investment.” Calgary’s Stikeman Elliott LLC partner Gary Clarke isn’t advocating irresponsible charity but he thinks it’s important to be experimental and not get overly fixated on impact. “If we don’t try different things then we miss an opportunity to be innovative in dealing with challenging issues,” says Clarke, a longtime leader in the firm’s community involvement efforts. Last year the lawyers and staff expressed an interest in helping veterans in Calgary. So, in partnership with the Canadian Legacy Project, they contributed to the funding of service dogs for veterans by holding an internal fundraising contest to name the dogs. Such endeavours rally everyone together, raise workplace morale, honour employee causes and, in turn, help the community. In this circumstance, the contribution will enable veterans to be more mobile and interactive in society, decrease loneliness and depression, and improve quality of life. Calgary Foundation president and CEO Eva Friesen finds it remarkable the difference a small amount of money can make. In partnership with the RBC Foundation, the Calgary Foundation awards small grants on its annual Pitch Night to citizen-led initiatives that enhance their community. She was particularly enchanted with the project that created the longest mural in Canada. For three days in August, in the community of Northern Hills, 700 neighbours joined
“IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE AND WHAT OUTCOMES YOU WANT THEN IT’S EASY TO DEVELOP THE MEASUREMENTS AND GENERATE THAT HIGH RETURN ON COMMUNITY INVESTMENT.” ~ KAREN YOUNG together to paint a 17,000-square-foot mural along Coventry Hills Boulevard that reflects Calgary’s history. When people feel they belong, by contributing to something meaningful in their community, research shows they’re healthier mentally, physically and there are higher rates of job retention and staying in school. Says Friesen, “In this story, we know there was an impact. Neighbours formed relationships during the project and created a great pride of place.” One of the definitions of impact that the Calgary Foundation provides is quite simply – the difference that is made. There’s
ABOVE: KAREN YOUNG, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNITED WAY OF CALGARY AND AREA.
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beat the tax cut-off and do local good donate to united way before midnight on December 31 and get your tax receipt! Your gift may entitle you to receive nearly 50% of your donation back* at tax time. This year, first time donations of $1,200 or more annually will be matched.** By giving $100 a month, you can double the good you can do and solve the #unignorable issues in your community.
supply medications for 10 20 vulnerable, low-income seniors
or
provide personalized safety plans for 48 96 victims of domestic violence
or
help feed 576 1,152 homeless youth breakfast
calgaryunitedway.org/give *For more information, visit calgaryunitedway.org/leadership-giving/tax-info. **Thanks to local philanthropists, R.W. “Bill” Andrew, Michael & Donna Kanovsky, and Bill & Sharon Siebens, increased and new Leadership Donors’ gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar! Local people doing local good.
GIVING INTO THE NEXT GENERATION By Jennifer Friesen
E
very family has their own traditions – perhaps it’s making a gingerbread house together or playing board games on a Sunday night. The Gibson family embraces similar rituals, but they started a new tradition five years ago that will contribute to their community for generations to come. They gather once a year at Thanksgiving to discuss which charities they will donate money to out of a family endowment fund they opened through Calgary Foundation. Bob Gibson, current chair of the board of Calgary Foundation, opted to open the Gibson Family Fund after retiring in 2013. Along with his wife, Laurie, and their daughters, Nicole and Meghan, the family puts their minds together annually to decide which
charitable organizations will receive grant money. “A lot of people only think about what they can do philanthropy-wise when they die,” says Bob. “An endowment fund isn’t only for the next generation. It is structured so we as a family decide where the money goes now and our daughters and their families will continue supporting community into the future.” The Gibson Family Fund began with a lump sum of money given to Calgary Foundation with a percentage of that amount donated to various charities every year. The original investment amount has continued to regenerate and grow due to the impressive investing returns of the foundation’s endowment. Since setting up the fund five
years ago, the Gibson Family Fund has already granted onefifth of the original amount, with the money in the fund now greater than what they donated. “Essentially, that money lasts in perpetuity – assuming continued investment success,” Bob continues. “That is the power of an endowment.” When Bob first suggested the endowment, Laurie said, “Absolutely, let’s do this; this is exciting,” but admits to not really understanding what was involved. However, after meeting with the foundation donor engagement team and having them walk her through the process and offer resources, it’s been an “incredible experience.” The endowment fund also allows the Gibsons to reflect on
the needs of the community as well as their own diverse passions. From animal welfare to student legal services to education, they have each been able to find the best charities for their interests through the help of Calgary Foundation. “It’s good to be involved now and see what needs there are,” says Nicole, who has become the resident expert of the online resources. “Because down the road I’ll know what to do and be able carry it on.” Laurie was a teacher, and opted to focus on educational causes. One of her first donations was to Friends of Fish Creek Provincial
Park Society, which helps bring students from disadvantaged schools on field trips. “The joy these children have in getting out of the classroom and seeing things they would never have the opportunity to see is really rewarding,” says Laurie. “It’s been so meaningful to have the input now, see where the money is going, and see the impact it’s having.” In addition to having expert investment managers monitoring Calgary Foundation’s assets, as one of the 1,200-plus fund holders, Bob says there are countless resources available to help donors choose the most impactful organizations.
“Calgary Foundation’s knowledge of community needs sets it apart. Their 10-year investment returns, and expertise in grant making, make it a compelling partner for anyone looking to establish an endowment legacy,” says Bob. “They really put our money to work.”
“From the very beginning, Calgary Foundation has guided us, and that support has been invaluable. They have their finger on the pulse, they know what’s out there in the charitable sector. It’s really opened our eyes to the potential of what this fund could be.”
Find your place at Calgary Foundation calgaryfoundation.org
CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY // PHILANTHROPY
no hierarchy when it comes to doing good and creating impact, says Friesen, and the difference is about magnitude and time frame. “Do you want to make a change in one night for one person’s wounded soul, by bringing a meal to a neighbour who just lost a spouse, or do you want to make a difference for future generations forever in the whole wide world”? It’s important to not struggle with the metrics of measuring your contribution because it can create barriers to giving. And with that in mind, Friesen says sometimes we have to rely on the causal links we know are proven to exist between certain factors in society. Perhaps a donor was able to help one person living on the street to get housing, a job and their addictions under control. The statistics of homelessness in Calgary might not look any different, she says, but the donor made a big impact that’s transformational for one person. An optimal relationship between a business and a non-profit includes an open dialogue in which immediate needs are identified, requested and met. Stikeman Elliott has engaged in this type of discourse throughout its 10-year partnership with Inn From the Cold. In its Ugly Duckling program, the law firm specifically asks which issues are less popular with other donors, where it’s harder to measure impact or, simply, what projects haven’t been done. In response, it has funded fetal alcohol syndrome testing and diagnosis, speech therapy programming, and field trips for children and families. In 2016, Stikeman EIliott received the Generosity of Spirit Award from the Calgary chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. What Benevity is aiming to transform in corporate giving and, in the greater sense, charitable giving is to change the very notion of impact, from what has historically been a top-down focus to one that’s more grassroots and horizontal. In lieu of persuasive obligatory participation, companies should instead be embracing the idea of democratizing their goodness approach by emphasizing empowerment at the individual level, says Bryan de Lottinville, founder and CEO of Benevity, a global leader in corporate responsibility and employee engagement software. “The most successful programs we administer have a year-round orientation where people can volunteer their time or give to causes, which the company matches, that
“THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS WE ADMINISTER HAVE A YEAR-ROUND ORIENTATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME OR GIVE TO CAUSES, WHICH THE COMPANY MATCHES, THAT RESONATE WITH THEM PERSONALLY AND EMOTIVELY.” ~ BRYAN DE LOTTINVILLE resonate with them personally and emotively,” says de Lottinville. Benevity is seeing companies recognize that when impact flows from engagement, inclusivity and participation, the more likely they’ll be able to create positive outcomes on the charitable side. Small actions indeed create an immense ripple effect, across groups of employees, their professional networks, their social circles, their communities.... So by changing mindset and social behaviour, by creating a movement in which every individual is an agent of change – by gifting time, skills, network or money – that will be the force that ameliorates the philanthropy space.
ABOVE: BRYAN DE LOTTINVILLE, FOUNDER AND CEO OF BENEVITY.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS // CONTINUING EDUCATION
CONTINUING
EDUCATION PROGRAMS What are the benefits? BY ERLYNN GOCOCO
C
algary is home to five public post-secondary institutions, including two major universities. There are also several private institutions offering a variety of courses for adult learners. Courses range from business, technology, art and design to medical administration, IT, languages and project management. The list of continuing education programs is extensive and there are many benefits to enrolling, regardless of current career placement or past academic history.
BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // DECEMBER 2018
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CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS // CONTINUING EDUCATION
“WE LIVE IN AN INFORMATION AGE AND KNOWLEDGE IS INCREASING EXPONENTIALLY, AND MORE THAN ANY OTHER TIME IN HISTORY. ALSO, THE WORLD OF WORK IS CHANGING MORE RAPIDLY THAN EVER BEFORE.” ~ DR. SUSAN MACDONALD
Registered psychologist and career counsellor Dr. Susan MacDonald says people take continuing education courses to keep up with the times and the ever-changing workplace. “We live in an information age and knowledge is increasing exponentially, and more than any other time in history. Also, the world of work is changing more rapidly than ever before. Changes in technology, globalization and demographics mean that many new jobs and industries have created more opportunities and new careers. The benefits continuing education offers includes increased knowledge, skills and competencies, which makes people more marketable.” Janet Segato, dean of SAIT’s School of Business, says the reasons for taking continuing education courses varies, but for most, the flexibility of courses – delivered in the evenings or online – help maintain a work-life balance. “Many learners are looking to enhance their skills to grow their career or earn a promotion while others are looking to reskill in a new field. The benefit is flexible delivery and the ability to balance education with work and family responsibilities. Continuing education classes create a community of support by connecting learners to their classmates and faculty and often these learners continue to network and support each other after the course ends.” At SAIT, Segato says courses range from one-day options through to twoyear diploma programs. “Most are looking to enhance a specific knowledge area as professional development and to build their career opportunities or they are looking to change jobs and move into a new area. Others want to complete a certificate or a diploma and simply cannot commit their time to full-time studies. Through continuing education, students can take up to five years to complete a certificate and seven years to complete a diploma. Working students often get support from their employers for tuition and
ABOVE: DR. SUSAN MACDONALD, REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST AND CAREER COUNSELLOR.
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Your Education. Your Way. Academic Degrees: English Psychology Biology General Studies History Education (Elementary) Liberal Studies St. Mary’s University Calgary
Also Offering: Pre-professional Programs Continuing Education Programs Business Transfer University Transfers
@StMarysUC
@StMarysUniversityCalgary
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CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS // CONTINUING EDUCATION
“CONTINUING EDUCATION IS EXPERIENCING A RENAISSANCE IN 2018. THERE IS A VORACIOUS APPETITE FOR QUICK TURNAROUND PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE DEMANDS OF OUR INCREASINGLY COMPLEX WORKPLACES. ~ BRAD MAHON
study time and they can immediately apply the knowledge and skills they are learning adding value to their workplace right away.” Brad Mahon, interim dean of the faculty of continuing education and extension at Mount Royal University, says, “Continuing education is experiencing a renaissance in 2018. There is a voracious appetite for quick turnaround programs that meet the demands of our increasingly complex workplaces. Continuing education’s role is to be aware of immediate industry trends and labour shortfalls. It must respond to the sector’s skills gap by offering relevant, time-sensitive, flexible, accommodating programs that allows professionals to efficiently upgrade their abilities and see a direct return on their investment.” Mahon adds, “An example of CE’s market responsiveness may be seen in MRU’s cannabis education courses. Three online courses will equip students with the relevant knowledge they need to successfully enter this emerging industry.” Enhancing an individual’s skill set increases their employability and makes them more competitive. “For others, it can simply be for personal learning or growth, and a natural interest in a particular subject. Many professions require ongoing professional growth and development, so some are required by their employers or registered profession (such as nursing, for example) to take courses,” says Mahon. And while many continuing education students already have bachelor degrees, many do not but still wish to acquire skills that will be applicable in the workplace and make them more hireable. Quite simply put, says Segato, they want to advance in their current career or move into a new one. A “good” employer will invest in their employees – all their employees. “Continuing education supports career enhancers and
ABOVE: BRAD MAHON, INTERIM DEAN, FACULTY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EXTENSION, MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS // CONTINUING EDUCATION
“INVESTING IN EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT CREATES ENGAGED EMPLOYEES WHO WORK TO ALIGN THEIR SUCCESS WITH THEIR EMPLOYER’S SUCCESS.” ~ JANET SEGATO
career changers by offering courses that can be immediately applied by the learner. Faculty have industry expertise and ensure students learn how to apply their education to real business problems. Many of our continuing education students get support from their employers for tuition and study time. This truly is an investment for the employer as the student can start to apply what they are learning immediately to solve problems and advance the success of their employer. Investing in employee development creates engaged employees who work to align their success with their employer’s success.” Karin Vetter, an immigrant to Canada and a current continuing education student at Mount Royal University, understands the value of taking continuing education courses. “Continuing education courses here in Canada will allow me to get an education that is recognized locally. This is a common problem for immigrants to Canada. We studied back home and acquired bachelor degrees, however, they are not recognized in other countries. By taking continuing education courses, I will acquire skills that are specific to the local economy, market and government, which will, in turn, allow me to have better job opportunities and be more competitive.” Married with three children and working full time, Vetter adds that she enjoys and appreciates the flexibility of continuing education courses. “Continuing education courses don’t require the long-term commitment of a degree. They are more flexible and allow you to attain certificates in the area of your interest at a pace that is convenient for you. For others, they enjoy these courses as it allows them to explore different options, before entering a university program, for example.” Vetter is currently taking a business management course with the hopes of completing the marketing certificate program. “In my case, I am taking these courses for both personal and professional development. I believe that in
ABOVE: JANET SEGATO, DEAN OF SAIT’S SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. PHOTO SOURCE: SAIT.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS // CONTINUING EDUCATION
order to stay current in a competitive workforce, you need to invest in your education. I try to make sure that the courses I take not only allow me to comply with the certificate requirements, but that they are also relevant in my current job and in the job that I see myself doing in the future.” When it comes to employers and professional development support, Mahon says companies should invest in their employees because an employer’s greatest asset is their people. “Employees who engage in lifelong learning continue to bring that advantage to their teams. Companies who place a value on continuing education cultivate a workforce poised at the forefront of their field.” Continuing education, says Mahon, has never been more relevant than it is in 2018. MRU’s programming offers a variety of specialized professional upgrading – pathways that allow students to refresh their workplace competencies. MacDonald refers to research that shows employees have greater job satisfaction, commitment and productivity when employers help fund courses. “Employers should not just limit funding to courses that are related to their work. Funding other types of courses that are not work related increases worker satisfaction and can help improve cognitive functioning by using other parts of the brain.” “Investing in employee development creates engaged employees who work to align their success with their employer’s success,” says Segato.
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NAIOP Calgary Chapter presents the 2nd Annual Real Estate Excellence (REX) Awards
Thank You to our Sponsors
2018
OFFICE LEASE OF THE YEAR WINNER
Benevity at Meredith Block -
#700, 611 Meredith Road NE
Remington Development Corporation / Benevity Inc. / Colliers International / MAKE Design Lab / Western Securities Limited Benevity’s lease at Meredith Block was the largest transaction in the suburban office market, at the time, merging the company’s multiple Calgary offices at one prime location. Several major hurdles were overcome during the negotiations and design challenges were met in a collaborative effort resulting in a unique space. The lease deal included 79,000 square feet of space over three floors, and an expansion onto an additional floor in 2019 to accommodate the rapid growth of Benevity.
ISL Engineering FINALISTS
Sponsored by
4015 – 7 Street SE
Avison Young Commercial Real Estate / AGC Building Ltd. c/o Ronmor Holdings Inc. / ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.
AHS Program Addictions & Mental Health -
#300, 707 – 10 Avenue SW
Avison Young Commercial Real Estate / AGC Building Ltd. c/o Ronmor Holdings Inc. / ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.
OFFICE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Brookfield Place – East Tower -
FINALISTS
225 – 6 Avenue SW
Brookfield Property Partners / Brookfield Properties Canada Management LP / Arney Fender Katsalidis / DIALOG / EllisDon Constructions Inc. Brookfield Place – East Tower is a world class office building located in the heart of Calgary’s downtown core. At 56 storeys high, this building was the tallest in Western Canada at the time of completion. The 1.4 million square foot project is LEED Core and Shell 2009 Gold Certified. Brookfield Place was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, and has out-performed its peers on many levels while significantly adding public amenity to space through art installations and the urban glazed pavilion known as the Galleria.
The Edison -
150 – 9 Avenue SW
Aspen Properties / Gibbs Gage Architects / MAKE Design Lab / PCL Construction
RECA Office Building -
1506 – 11 Avenue SW
Enright Capital Ltd. / Real Estate Council of Alberta / Avison Young Real Estate / Dialog Architecture / Shearer Licensed Interior Design
INDUSTRIAL LEASE OF THE YEAR WINNER
Whirlpool Canada – CN Logistics Park -
Sponsored by 283080 Logistics Drive
Tribal Partners Inc. / Whirlpool Canada c/o Whirlpool Corporation, Whirlpool Canada LP / JLL / CN Tribal negotiated a 10-year lease with Whirlpool Canada for a 423,000 square foot design built, LEED Silver, distribution facility in Canada’s first, and only, intermodal business park – CN Calgary Logistics Park. Whirlpool’s lease represents Canada’s first distribution facility inside an intermodal yard. CN Calgary Logistics Park is located in Rocky View County, and is a park that integrates Class A distribution facilities and transportation.
Nose Creek Business Park FINALISTS
Sponsored by
293057 James Jones Way
QuadReal Property Group LP / Amazon Canada Fulfillment Services Inc.
TELUS Park Calgary -
2930 Centre Avenue NE
York Realty Inc. / TELUS / Colliers International / Lemay + Toker
NAIOP Calgary Annual Real Estate Excellence (REX) Awards • 2
Randy Magnussen Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Sponsored by
T
he NAIOP, the national commercial real estate development association, introduced the REX Awards to celebrate achievement in office, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate in Calgary. Its choice for this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award was a no-brainer; Randy Magnussen was a trailblazer in the industry for more than 35 years, offering his vast expertise to various projects in development, property management and leasing over the years. “It’s pretty humbling. It’s a nice way to cap off a career,” Randy Magnussen says. “I never expected it. It was a surprise but very nice to get that recognition.” The recognition is well deserved. Magnussen has done it all, starting in commercial real estate when he was 23 years old before moving into the red-hot Calgary housing market in the early 1980s. He was Cairns Homes’ sales and marketing manager and later vice president of marketing at Genstar. In 1990, Magnussen joined Beutel Goodman (which was later acquired by Bentall Kennedy) where he made his mark in the industry over the next 18 years with iconic, significant developments in Calgary and beyond.
cluding East Foothills Industrial Park, which boasts 2 million square feet of industrial space; Jamieson Place, a 38-story 890,000 square foot building on 4 Avenue and 2 Street SW; and Livingstone Place, which is a two-building downtown property measuring 880,000 square feet. The Livingstone project was the first spec office building erected in downtown Calgary in about 25 years and Beutel/Bentall was the first pension fund managers to get actively involved in major developments in the industrial sector. “We were leading edge. We were proactive and good at reading the market,” he says.
“When I started with them we had a half-million square feet of space in Calgary. When I retired I was responsible for 23 million square feet of space in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba,” he says.
After a successful tenure of growth at Bentall, Randy Magnussen became a consultant in 2008 and officially retired three years later, but his retirement has been anything but idle. He continues to be involved in the industry by sitting on various boards including the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation and Casadona Investments. Magnussen, along with last year’s Lifetime Achievement honoree Randy Remington, has organized the Remington Charity Golf Classic for 11 years, raising $600,000 last year for the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre for a grand total of $3.6 million for the organization since the tournament began.
Magnussen acquired more than $500 million in real estate and developed more than 7 million square feet of space with projects in-
From the boardroom to the links, Randy Magnussen has greatly impacted Calgary with his lifetime of incredible achievement.
NAIOP Calgary Annual Real Estate Excellence (REX) Awards • 3
Visionary development - a foundation of value
HEXAGON (NOVATEL) - 160,000 sq.ft. design build campus
Remington Development Corporation has been a fixture in Alberta development for decades. From office, industrial and retail, to design build, residential and community development, Remington’s breadth is unparalleled. Integrity, commitment and a visionary perspective can be found in every project we undertake.
THE QUARTERS
QUARRY CROSSING
CMG
MEREDITH BLOCK
Fully leased 199 units – executive residential rentals
Premium office space for lease campus setting - over 55% leased
Complete 90,000 sq.ft. Transit-based design build – University Research Park, steps to Brentwood’s LRT
Excellent downtown access on Memorial Drive & Edmonton Trail – over 90% leased
300, 200 Quarry Park Boulevard S.E. Calgary, Alberta (403) 255-7003 remingtoncorp.com
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR Glenmore Trail Corporate Centre Two -
6027 – 79 Avenue SE
WINNER
Beedie / CMN Calgary Inc. o/a Colliers International Glenmore Trail Corporate Centre Two was built by Beedie in 2017 as the second phase of a two-phase industrial condominium project. The project is 24 units ranging in size from 5,455 square feet to 10,192 square feet, totaling 199,439 square feet, making Glenmore Trail Corporate Centre Two the largest development of its kind in the Greater Calgary Area. Despite being constructed during a time of economic unrest, Glenmore Trail Corporate Trail Two has reached 90% commitment, with only one bay remaining available.
FINALISTS
Hyatt 57 -
1011 – 57 Avenue NE & 999 – 57 Avenue NE
Hyatt Auto Sales Ltd. / Target Realty Corp.
SAIT Polytechnic -
10490 – 74 Street SE
Barclay Street Real Estate / Centron Group of Companies / The Board of Governors of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT Polytechnic)
INVESTMENT DEAL OF THE YEAR Reliance Metals Portfolio -
Sponsored by
7805 – 51 Street SE & 1390 & 1401 – 17 Avenue SE
WINNER
Cushman & Wakefield / Hungerford Properties / Guardian Capital / Pure Industrial Real Estate Trust (PIRET) The Reliance Metals Portfolio was a portfolio of seven industrial assets located in Calgary, Vancouver and Winnipeg. This deal was unique in that two of the Calgary assets were heavy manufacturing buildings located in an inner city district which is undergoing gentrification. Cushman & Wakefield showed innovation in that they marketed the properties as a redevelopment to mid-density commercial/residential development.
FINALISTS
Dream Office Portfolio -
12 Office Buildings, Calgary, Alberta
CBRE – NIT Calgary / Slate Properties / Dream Office REIT / CBRE – NIT Toronto
Viking Air Portfolio -
1224 & 1312 Aviation Park NE, 3615 – 34 Street NE & 7757 – 8 Street NE
Cushman & Wakefield / Viking Air, Aero International / Enerflex Ltd. / Barclay Street Real Estate Ltd. / Williams Transfer Ltd., JLL
RETAIL / MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR WINNER
One6 -
1528 – 16 Avenue NW
Strategic Group ONE6 is a low-rise mixed-use retail/residential development developed by Strategic Group. The development contains 103 rental apartment units and 7,048 square feet of retail space. This development is innovative in that the land configuration provided numerous challenges. Overall, this project has been a success due to a combination of innovation, effective leasing strategies, efficient design and providing attractive suite features and amenities.
Fairmount Park FINALISTS
Sponsored by
9825 Fairmount Drive SE
Fairmount Drive GP Inc. / Opus Corporation
Ghitter Block -
4915 Elbow Drive SW
Certus Developments Inc. / Meiga Developments / Nam Dang Mitchell Design Inc, / Stephen Ho Architect
NAIOP Calgary Annual Real Estate Excellence (REX) Awards • 5
DEVELOPING LEADER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by
Carly Zapernick - 2018 Winner
Carly Zapernick began her real estate career in Washington D.C. with Thoron Capital in 2011. From there she completed a masters in Real Estate Development and Investment at Harvard University. In 2015 Carly came to Calgary where she joined the Development Team at GWL Realty Advisors. In 2017 she transitioned to QuadReal with the Development team. Carly became a member of NAIOP in 2017 and began volunteering shortly thereafter. In the past year Carly has been an integral member of various committees, including the Education Committee, the Golf Committee and the REX Committee. She is an incredibly hard working individual who is a valued member of the QuadReal team, as well as the NAIOP team. Carly is an emerging leader in the Calgary real estate community, and will continue to be strong leader for many years to come.
Stephanie Bird - 2017 Winner
Stephanie Bird began her real estate career in 2007 at CBRE in the Research Group. In 2008 she moved to Colliers International where she started working with the Appraisal Group. During her time at Colliers, Stephanie was awarded a top producer twice, and in 2014 completed her AACI designation. Stephanie joined NAIOP in 2009 and shortly thereafter began volunteering on various NAIOP Committees. In 2011 she joined the Developing Leaders Committee, and in 2012 and 2013 co-chaired the Golf Committee. In 2014 Stephanie became the chair of the Developing Leaders Committee, and then joined the Board of Directors as a Director at Large in 2015. By 2017 Stephanie moved into the role as Treasurer, acting as an executive member of the NAIOP Board of Directors. Stephanie has continuously emerged as a strong leader as an appraiser, but also as a NAIOP contributor, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
WITH SINCERE APPRECIATION WE CONGRATULATE NAIOP REX AWARD WINNERS
RANDY MAGNUSSEN ON HIS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2018 AND CARLY ZAPERNICK ON HER DEVELOPING LEADER AWARD 2018
Suite 301, 240 - 4th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 4H4 Tel: 403-202-7555 www.quadreal.com
NAIOP Calgary Annual Real Estate Excellence (REX) Awards • 6
USMCA // EXPORTING
USMCA THE NEW NAFTA BY JOHN HARDY
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DECEMBER 2018 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
USMCA // EXPORTING
A
fter more than a year of bluster, negotiations, standoffs, threats and controversies, it’s a deal.
Some Canadian analysts and economists are shrugging that while the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is little more than a reworked NAFTA, the newlyaccepted agreement does eliminate anxiety, fears, speculation and uncertainty that had built during discussions. Despite the bluster and posturing controversy, the deal is not actually a big deal and – borrowing from the overused historical cliché: NAFTA is dead … long live USMCA. “The two deals are similar in many ways,” says Calgarybased economist Trevor Tombe, associate professor in the department of economics at the University of Calgary. “There were already zero tariffs on almost all goods, so little
additional liberalization left to undertake. Dairy imports will be ever-so-slightly cheaper for Canadians, with a small percentage of U.S. products now eligible for zero tariffs. And the auto sector will become slightly less open to trade due to more restrictive rules of origin. “In the long run, the deal will mean little and Canadians may start buying more imported Japanese and European vehicles and less North American ones, as Canadian tariffs on those imports declines due to TPP and CETA while the cost of the North American production grows.” Although most economists and business leaders are reluctant to tread into the minefield world of politics and posturing, there was uncertainty ever since the unpredictable and often volatile U.S. president announced intentions to revisit and possibly scrap NAFTA.
ABOVE: THE KEY NEGOTIATORS FOR MEXICO, CANADA AND THE U.S. ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF THE USMCA.
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USMCA // EXPORTING
“WHILE CONCESSIONS WERE MADE, THE USMCA AGREEMENT DOES PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED CERTAINTY FOR BUSINESSES. THIS WAS NOT A TRADITIONAL TRADE NEGOTIATION WHERE THE THREE SIDES ARE LOOKING TO DEEPEN THE TRADING RELATIONSHIP.” ~ SANDIP LALLI
For more than a year, Canadian businesses were not sure what could or would happen. “While concessions were made, the USMCA agreement does provide much-needed certainty for businesses,” says Sandip Lalli, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber. “This was not a traditional trade negotiation where the three sides are looking to deepen the trading relationship. “We did not end up better off than under NAFTA, but we can consider this a success because the U.S. was trying to negotiate something that was less than the original NAFTA and would have negatively impacted the long-standing benefits of free trade.” Eliminating business uncertainty, Tombe agrees, is a key achievement of USMCA. “The largest short-term effect of the deal is not due to any of its provisions, but reaching a deal eliminates the business uncertainty created by President Trump. With withdrawal now off the table, businesses can plan their future with more security than before.” In September, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer made a formal joint announcement, explaining USMCA included key concessions important to both countries, giving
businesses, workers in various sectors and farmers a trade agreement that will result in “freer markets, fairer trade and robust economic growth.” Business leaders and economists are still referring to USMCA as “the new NAFTA,” suggesting the U.S. will have roughly the same access to the Canadian dairy market as what was given up by Canada after it signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade deal with 10 Asia-Pacific countries earlier this year. While the i’s are still being dotted and t’s crossed by both governments, there is already caution for Canadian farmers as the heart of the deal is a trade-off giving greater U.S. access to Canada’s dairy market, which is heavily protected by a system of supply management. Under the current supply management system, Canada imposes tariffs on dairy imports – which can run as high as 300 per cent – that exceed the established quota. The American president has rallied against the tariffs as unfair to American farmers, insisting that it keeps foreign products out while privileging Canadian sources. When it comes to the USMCA impact on farmers, Lynn Jacobson, president of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture, ABOVE: SANDIP LALLI, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CALGARY CHAMBER.
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USMCA // EXPORTING
explains there is good news and some not-so-good news for Canadian agriculture. “The most significant economic difference between USMCA and NAFTA are the market access concessions made in supply management, mainly the dairy, chicken, table eggs and turkey sectors. “While Canada almost doubled its sugar beet sugar access into the U.S. and received a fairly significant increase in access for sugar containing products, this mainly benefits the sugar processing industry with its cane sugar imports. At this time, we really don’t know how much our sugar beet industry will actually benefit. “In terms of trade,” he says, “the rest of the agreement for agriculture is status quo as there was never any indication that our integrated grain, pork and beef industries would experience any trade disruptions.” When it comes to how Canadian dairy farmers are affected, Jacobson underscores some concerns. “With his populous approach, President Trump seemed to zone in heavily on our dairy industry, creating a narrative that suggested an unbalanced trade relationship was the cause of a hurting American dairy industry and he promised his base that he would do something about it.” One contentious aspect of USMCA: U.S. exporters will now have access to roughly 3.59 per cent of Canada’s dairy market. “Unfortunately, without getting much in return, Canada gave up very significant dairy access,” he adds. Although it’s way too early to analyze specifics, Lalli says Canadian businesses in general will notice the difference. “Any Calgary company that does business in the U.S. will be positively impacted by the certainty provided by the USMCA. The agreement brings both positive and negative changes to Calgary sectors that are most specifically impacted: energy, agriculture and manufacturing.
“While wheat, beef and pork producers are happy that the status quo was maintained, egg, poultry and dairy producers will be negatively impacted through increased U.S. access to the Canadian market. “For energy, the elimination of a tax on diluent – that was a part of the old agreement on oil shipments containing less than 40 per cent diluent – will provide a monetary benefit to the industry.” However, she points out the energy industry as well as manufacturing will remain negatively affected by the steel tariffs that are still in place despite the new deal. As the media coverage of USMCA tapers off, the economic recovery in Calgary and Alberta will proceed in largely the same way prior to finalizing the deal, according to Tombe. “The biggest boost the economy here could receive would be through a reduction in the oil price discount currently caused by lack of pipeline capacity,” says Tombe. “That is a few years down the line, given legal delays to Keystone XL in the U.S. and the Trans Mountain pipeline here in Canada.” According to Lalli, there is positivity but also a call to action. “The agreement is good because it provides certainty around our trading relationship with the U.S. and Mexico. It illustrates to the world that the North American market still believes in free trade. “That being said, Canada still needs to improve our business competitiveness relative to other countries. As a country, we are falling behind both in corporate tax and regulatory competitiveness,” she cautions. “We must also look carefully at how we can break down unnecessary trade barriers that exist between provinces. It does not inspire confidence of our international trading partners if we can’t get our act together at home.”
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Chamber members champion Calgary, powering the growth that drives our city. Thousands of members work together to help make Calgary one of the best places to live and work in the world.
W
ow, what a year 2018 has been.
Although it has only been nine months for me at the Chamber, it has felt like a lot longer, because we have accomplished so much. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each one of you for the generous welcome you have given me. Whether you are an entrepreneur, business professional, student or a CEO, a dreamer or in the freelance economy, you have all opened your doors and minds to me. I also want to extend a sincere thank you to my team at the Chamber. Each of you have been instrumental in ensuring we move forward with the best in mind for the Calgary business community; THANK YOU. My first few days as president and CEO at the Chamber set the pace for the rest of the year. Daily advocacy on policy and government issues, weekly world-class events, new programs launching, and, amongst it all, a desire from the business community to see the Chamber redefine our vision and purpose for the future. It’s been one to remember. The Calgary Chamber of Commerce has been a cornerstone of our city’s business community for 127 years. We are 100 per cent member founded and funded and are honoured to be the voice of the business community. When I first began speaking to our business leaders, I heard a strong and unified message – we want to move forward, together. We will not be defined by our sectors. After hundreds of hours of conversations, in September the Chamber launched a new purpose – to build a business community that nourishes, powers and inspires the world. This new purpose is accompanied by a rally cry – It’s Grow Time. This initiative is all about doubling down on commerce and creating a mindset with a commitment to growth and improvement, whatever that may look like. It has been amazing to watch the business community embrace this challenge. To stand up, and publicly commit to growing. This rally cry has been the catalyst we need to join together under one tent and feel empowered to take the next step. To take a risk and feel supported in that journey. We are experiencing the impacts already, feeling our city get some of its grit and swagger back. Our ‘can-do’ attitude is in full force, and it is a force to be reckoned with. It hasn’t all been easy though. We are still struggling with layered costs from all levels of government. Struggling with uncertainty in the regulatory space, which impacts both our day-to-day business and our international reputation for competitiveness. We are much stronger when we work together; it won’t ever be smooth sailing. Next year, we will see both provincial and federal elections and be assured the Chamber will be front and centre, advocating for what is best for business. Now is the time to celebrate and reflect on what we have achieved. Thank you for being part of our business community and I am excited to see what else we can do, together, next year and beyond. It’s Grow Time! Sandip Lalli President & CEO Calgary Chamber
The GenYYC Founders Group are building a legacy that will grow and benefit Calgary for generations to come.
BRINGING CALGARY BUSINESSES TO THE WORLD As part of our new communications initiative It’s Grow Time, the Chamber is working to build Calgary’s reputation on a global stage as open for business. As part of this project, the Chamber developed several short videos that profile some of Calgary’s incredible and innovative businesses, as well as some of the business leaders committed to the initiative. It’s Grow Time is also supported by a new Chamber event series. Inspire debuted in fall 2018 and creates an opportunity for Calgary to hear stories from three global entrepreneurs as they highlight their path to success and the critical decisions they made. Audiences at the first two events heard inspiring stories from Dianne Wilkins (Critical Mass) and Bryan de Lottinville (Benevity). The final speaker in this series will be Ray Price from Sunterra Group on December 5.
BUSINESSES GROW AND TRANSFORM WITH THE CHAMBER The Chamber is here to be your department of innovation and connections. We enable innovation and growth through our programs Ignite, GenYYC, and CEO Peer Mentoring, and we create an environment for intelligent networking through our events.
From government leaders and policy-makers to industry-leading CEOs and business leaders, Chamber events bring together some of the world’s brightest minds, to keep you current with the latest business trends and fresh ideas needed to overcome the challenges of running a business. This year, we welcomed political speakers from all major parties; ran educational webinars on cannabis, intellectual property and Calgary’s possible bid for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games; and hosted world-class speakers at our signature events: ONWARD and Small Business Week Calgary. GENYYC Launched in 2018, GenYYC is a new program designed in partnership with the Calgary Foundation designed to help the next generation by combining the power of the for-profit and non-profit sectors. This year, a group of young business and community leaders came together as the founding group, working together to create a better economy and a better world. In 2019, we will see 40 more young people grow and nourish one another in their business and leadership journey.
Sandip Lalli on stage at ONWARD, a full day immersion event designed to inspire.
ONWARD
QUICK FACTS
In 2018, ONWARD, the Chamber’s daylong immersion into innovation, returned to Calgary for the third time. This year saw more than 1,000 local business leaders come together to hear from Blockchain expert Don Tapscott, Facebook Live creator Randi Zuckerberg and local intrepid adventurer Jamie Clarke. ONWARD is all about accepting the challenge, and attendees left with plenty of ideas to power their next business adventure.
303,829 views of It’s Grow Time video 30,231 social media followers 1,723 signatures on our It’s Grow Time flags 1,566 members 76 Chamber events 37 GenYYC founders 32 Small Business Calgary Award finalists
SMALL BUSINESS WEEK October welcomed the return of Small Business Week across Canada – a celebration of the huge contribution this sector of our community makes to our economy. The Small Business Calgary Expo was a resounding success, with over 150 exhibitors and 1,500 attendees connecting and learning from one another. The week culminated with the Small Business Calgary Awards Gala; a night full of festivities where finalists, winners and the wider business community inspire new dreams.
10 businesses completed the Ignite innovation accelerator in 2018 PODIUM OF RECORD As your Chamber, we are proud to be your podium of record where we bring issues to light, expand on them by hosting speakers with varied viewpoints, provide the facts and advocate for what’s best for the Calgary business community. Over the years, our efforts have driven business-friendly policies forward and in front of decision-makers, helping to
Sandip Lalli speaks to over one thousand business leaders at this years Small Business Week Expo.
lower taxes, remove red tape, keep government spending in check and make sure Calgary remains a great place to do business. In 2019, ahead of a big election year provincially and federally, we intend to double down on commerce and double down on advocacy by focusing on our five key policy areas: (1) building a competitive operating environment, (2) improving trade and access to markets, (3) supporting innovation, (4) reducing costs of government policy, and (5) advancing workforce and productivity. But first, let’s look back at what the major policy issues were in 2018. •Trade with the United States The business community faced significant uncertainty with the renegotiation of NAFTA, and the introduction by the U.S. of steel and aluminum tariffs. The resolution of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is good news for Canadian businesses and provides much-needed certainty. Unfortunately, the agreement did not result in the removal of the steel and aluminum tariffs, which continue to impact businesses. The Chamber continues to advocate that tariffs of any form are not good for business. The Calgary Chamber provided updates to the business community throughout the negotiations along with hosting a webinar with trade experts and a submission to the federal
government detailing how we believed Canada should respond to the U.S. tariffs. • Tax Competitiveness With the $1.5 trillion Tax Cuts and Jobs Act implemented in the U.S., Canada’s business competitiveness is at risk. In advance of the November 21 federal economic update, the Calgary Chamber provided four recommendations to Minister Morneau on how the federal government can improve business competitiveness in Canada: (1) reduce the corporate income tax rate, (2) introduce full expensing for new investments in machinery and equipment, (3) address broad business issues including lagging productivity and regulatory inefficiency, and (4) increase market access and incentivise technological innovation. •Bill C-69 The current uncertainty around building major energy projects in Canada is resulting in a chill on foreign investment, international companies divesting from Canada and a business
environment that has become increasingly uncompetitive. The country needs a regulatory system that provides certainty, predictability and is science-based. Bill C-69 does not accomplish any of these objectives and will make it more difficult to attract investment to Canada.
Lunch and a webinar with experts in the field that included topics such as health and safety, drug awareness, employee information and lessons learned from other jurisdictions such as Colorado.
On behalf of the business community, the Calgary Chamber submitted a letter to the Senate recommending the bill be sent back to the House of Commons for further amendments.
•Layered Cost
•Small Business Tax Changes In July 2017, Finance Canada announced some of the most sweeping changes to business tax laws seen in decades – a set of three major tax changes and increases for small business, including limiting income splitting, a higher tax rate on passive investments, and limiting the conversion of regular income into capital gains. After advocacy on behalf of the small business community, Finance Canada updated some of the proposals in October of 2017 and then in Budget 2018 announced they would also step back from their proposal to increase taxes on passive investments. This was a critical issue for small businesses and the Chamber ensured that the business community’s voice was heard. Along with several submissions, op-eds and blogs, we also hosted a webinar with experts from PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young outlining how the changes would impact businesses. Finally, we organized for several small businesses to appear before the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance and explain how the proposed changes would impact them. This process ultimately led to that committee recommending that the government withdraw their proposals. •Cannabis Legalization Leading up to legalization, the Calgary Chamber worked with the municipal and provincial government to ensure that a business-friendly approach was taken for the cannabis industry. We also provided opportunities for employers to learn how cannabis legalization will impact them, and what steps they needed to take to ensure their businesses were ready for legalization. The Chamber hosted two workshops, Leaders
In December 2017, the Calgary Chamber released our Layered Cost Assessment that outlined how policy changes, layered on from all levels of government, increase costs on business. Minimum wage increases, rising municipal property taxes and Alberta’s carbon levy have all been put in place at a time where unemployment remains high and consumer spending low. When businesses see an increase in costs, it can mean higher prices for Calgary’s households, fewer funds for Calgary’s businesses to reinvest and fewer job opportunities for Calgary’s workers. •Property Tax Relief Building off our work in 2017, the Calgary Chamber continued to advocate for non-residential property tax relief in 2018. This program – known as the 2018 Municipal Non-Residential Phased Tax Program (PTP) – capped 2018 municipal business property tax increases to five per cent and is estimated to benefit close to 7,500 business properties while providing $41 million in tax relief. As a recommendation in the Chamber’s Layered Cost Assessment, along with the policy team’s work to assist with the development of the 2017 tax relief program, the 2018 PTP illustrates how the Chamber’s advocacy directly benefits your business.
The Chocolate Lab powers Calgary as a Chamber member.
It’s like having your own Department of Kicking Butt. Chamber membership gives you access to a team of people who want you to grow and succeed as much as you do. Join us. | Find out more at calgarychamber.com
t Spot o H e v E ’s r a iere New Ye m e r P ’s y r a Calg Charities! l a c o L 3 1 io g ography Stud Benefitin m Cam Phot la G et ff t Bu oors Two Dance Fl
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Page 1 - Embracing Change at BOMEX 2018 Page 4 - Sharing Insights from BOMA Calgary Earth Award Recipients Page 6 - BOMA Insider
NEWS WINTER 2018
Embracing Change at BOMEX 2018 By Lloyd Suchet, Executive Director, BOMA Calgary
O
n October 1, commercial real estate professionals from across Canada and the United States converged on the Hyatt Regency in downtown Calgary for two-and-a-half days of learning and networking at BOMEX 2018. Delegates were challenged to engage with the session content and the theme of “Embracing Change.” Commercial real estate will continue to evolve as new technologies and entrants disrupt the status quo – and by being prepared for these changes, professionals can successfully shift to meet new demands. Not even a record snowfall could damper the spirits of delegates as the event kicked off with a futuristic look forward featuring speakers Ian Khan and Bill McGowan, who demonstrated the pace of technologi-
cal change in our society, and how this has and will continue to impact buildings and the built environment. Next, Arlene Dickinson regaled delegates with a
1
BOMA Calgary News is a co-publication of BOMA Calgary and Business in Calgary.
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Communications Committee Kelsey Johannson, Chair, TransCanada Corporation Christine White, Vice Chair, Oxford Properties Group Rita Borrow, Brookfield Lance Merrifield, Epic Roofing Enam Islam, Hines Jon Holmes, Camfil Aydan Aslan, BOMA Calgary
Board of Directors
CHAIR Lee Thiessen, MNP LLP CHAIR-ELECT Richard Morden, QuadReal Property Group SECRETARY TREASURER Rob Blackwell, Aspen Properties PAST CHAIR Chris Nasim, GWL Realty Advisors EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lloyd Suchet, BOMA Calgary
Directors
Jay de Nance, RioCan Management Inc. Steve Walton, Oxford Properties Group Todd Throndson, Avison Young Art Skow, Bentall Kennedy Canada LP Laura Newcombe, GWL Realty Advisors Irene Au, 51 North Productions Ltd. Candace Walker, Brookfield Blair Carbert, Carbert Waite LLP
The Building Owners and Managers Association of Calgary publishes BOMA Calgary News quarterly. For advertising rates and information contact Business in Calgary. Publication of advertising should not be deemed as endorsement by BOMA Calgary. The publisher reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to reject any advertising at any time submitted by any party. Material contained herein does not necessarily reflect the opinion of BOMA Calgary, its members or its staff.
story of her journey to success, all the while encouraging industry leaders to embrace uncertainty by approaching it with new ideas and perspectives. Afternoon sessions focused on creating a more resilient built environment to withstand catastrophic weather events, as well as the engagement of young professionals in modern workplaces. Ears were still ringing from the social night at the Palace Theatre the evening prior when the next day began with an executive roundtable featuring the industry’s senior leaders discussing the ever-changing trends and issues impacting the business of commercial real estate. There was a lively discussion on cybersecurity, resilience, environmental certifications, as well as the future of retail. All of these topics were examples of changes to the industry that panellists agreed require conscious attention to overcome. The day also saw a high-powered panel on sustainability with three speakers from vastly different sides of the industry: building management, urban planning and the public sector. Delegates left with a more fulsome understanding of the landscape, and the key lesson was the need for all parties within the private and public sector to collaborate on shared goals. After trudging through fresh snow for the BOMEX tours of the Edison building, East Village and the heritage buildings, participants dressed to the nines for the biggest night in Canadian commercial real estate, the BOMA Canada National Awards Gala. The evening was a true celebration of our industry’s best, and a great opportunity to recognize the way BOMA members continuously strive to improve their performance. A special congratulation goes to the six BOMA Calgary members who took home national honours. Earth Award winners include Eighth Avenue Place (owned by MATCO, Ivanhoe Cambridge, Epic Investment Services; managed by Hines Canada), Seton Gateway (owned by First Capital Realty Inc.; managed by FCR Management Services LP), and Calgary Courts Centre (owned by Alberta Infrastructure; managed by SNC-Lavalin O&M). TOBY Award winners include Livingston Place (owned by bcIMC Realty Corporation; managed by QuadReal Property Group), Cochrane Community Health Centre (owned by Grand Central Health Inc.; managed by Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP), and Park Place Shopping Centre (owned by H&R REIT; managed by Primaris Management Inc.). And with that BOMEX 2018 concluded with delegates leaving the Hyatt more inspired and connected than ever, and ready to embrace change! There were a lot of people who contributed to the success of BOMEX 2018, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t give specific mention to the exceptional volunteers on the BOMEX committee: Graham Halsall, Energy Profiles; Melissa Heer, Symmetry Commercial Real Estate; Jonathan Maynard, Restorers Group; Anthony Tran, AHT Projects; Brenda McManus, QuadReal Property Group; Dan Lindsay, GDI Integrated Facility Services; Aydan Aslan, BOMA; and Nichol Turner, The Event Group.
Client: SERV
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BOMA Calgary News
The evening was a true celebration of our industry’s best, and a great opportunity to recognize the way BOMA members continuously strive to improve their performance. A special congratulation goes to the six BOMA Calgary members who took home national honours.
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Sharing Insights from BOMA Calgary Earth Award Recipients
T
he BOMA Calgary EH&S committee’s mandate includes sharing case studies and best practices in sustainable building management. The committee sat down with some of this past year’s winners from the TransCanada BOMA Calgary Excellence Awards program to learn more about their experience. Eighth Avenue Place, managed by Hines Canada, won the BOMA Calgary Earth Award in the office building category, and then in October went on to win the National Earth Award. Similarly, Calgary Courts Centre, owned by Alberta Infrastructure, won the local Earth Award in the universal category, and also went on to win the National Earth Award. Here is what we learned. 1. How much time went into your application from start to finish? Enam Islam (EI), Hines Canada; Eighth Avenue Place: The project took place over many weeks to ensure that we captured all information in an accurate manner. Justin Smale (JS), Alberta Infrastructure; Calgary Courts Centre: A lot can be drawn out of the BOMA BEST application. After that, we spent about one week finalizing the online application. 2. What obstacles did you encounter and how did you persevere? EI: The main challenge was the process of gathering data, ensuring relevance/accuracy and then putting it all together in a concise format. JS: We have applied for awards in the past so we have learned a few lessons along the way. Anyone applying for an award should start early. The application process usually involves tracking down pieces of information from different sources and you don’t want to be in a position where you’re scrambling to find a policy piece at the 11th hour. 3. Were there any unique challenges your team experienced? EI: Having a relatively new team presented us with some challenges. As a project it really enhanced cooperation throughout the team and enabled us to work together cohesively. JS: The Calgary Courts Centre is a little different in that it’s a public space, so it has a lot of constraints that have impacts on how we present the building. One challenge we faced was the Aboriginal Courtroom which has a dedicated exhaust system that allows for the burning of ceremonial sweetgrass. However, the room itself is considered a sacred space by those who use it so we couldn’t include a picture in our application to showcase this. 4
SNC Lavalin & AB Infrastructure teams at Calgary Courts Centre
Hines Canada team at EAP”
4. Out of all that you have accomplished, what are you most proud of? EI: Being recognized in this manner is celebration of all the positive environmental initiatives we have undertaken as a team. Often the pursuit of environmental and ecological stewardship can be a difficult one, with the positive benefits only seen in the longer term, so achieving this award has reaffirmed we are on the right track. JS: I’m most proud of the effort everyone put into the application and the pride the ops team had in how well they operate the building. 5. How did you allocate duties? Were you able to fulfil all items in-house or did you hire a consultant? EI: We completed it using in-house expertise. A great deal of collaboration was required between departments and we set milestones for the project. It was a wonderful example of cross-team participation.
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JS: We split the workload so it was a joint effort and we were able to cover all the bases without seeking external help. When the application first opened, we had a meeting to identify strengths and weaknesses. 6. What would you recommend other buildings implement to increase their sustainability? EI: Waste, recycling and organics. Through partnerships with service providers and fine-tuning procedures, we have managed to attain high diversion rates. There are established legislative protocols and industry support to make this an achievable goal. JS: Going through the application process is a great chance to take stock of how you stand against industry best practices.
BOMEX 2018
7. Do you have words of wisdom to share about your success? EI: A cornerstone of our firm is that environmental and ecological stewardship is instilled throughout the entire team. Every decision has an environmental, social and fiscal component and it is important all team members conduct themselves with these values in mind. My advice is to concentrate on the values and the actions will follow. JS: Applying for an award is a great way to showcase your building to the rest of the industry, but it’s amazing what you can learn from judging other applications. My advice would be to volunteer your time as a judge as a way to see some of the great things that are being done.
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FCR management team at Seton Gateway
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CALGARY ENTERS 2019 WITH A BUYERS’ MARKET // REAL ESTATE
CALGARY ENTERS 2019 WITH A BUYERS’ MARKET BY RENNAY CRAATS
C
algary is no stranger to a boom-and-bust economy and the impact each has on both businesses and families. The most recent bust has significantly affected Calgarians in every area, notably in the ability to sell their homes. Calgary’s real estate market over the past year has mirrored the economy: slow to rebound after enduring years of recession. While there are signs of improvement, the road to recovery is expected to be a long and bumpy one. “It’s going to be a slow process of recovery,” says Ann-Marie Lurie, chief economist for CREB. “This recovery will feel really different. It’s going to take some time before prices are back to where they were, before we see more normal activity in the market, before we get rid of all this additional supply in the market.”
BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // DECEMBER 2018
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CALGARY ENTERS 2019 WITH A BUYERS’ MARKET // REAL ESTATE
As in every business, success boils down to supply and demand. In Calgary, the real estate market is experiencing oversupply and low demand as economic uncertainty continues to be a factor for potential buyers. Inventories have been rising on both the resale and new home sides resulting in more homes on the market, homes remaining on the market for longer periods of time, and downward pressure on home prices. “In September there were almost 2,100 units that were unsold in the market. That’s the highest inventories have been since we started collecting data in 1990,” says James Cuddy, senior analyst for CMHC.
“IN SEPTEMBER THERE WERE ALMOST 2,100 UNITS THAT WERE UNSOLD IN THE MARKET. THAT’S THE HIGHEST INVENTORIES HAVE BEEN SINCE WE STARTED COLLECTING DATA IN 1990.” ~ JAMES CUDDY
While nearly half of the unsold inventory in Calgary consists of apartment and condominium units, semi-detached and row units are also at an all-time high at 14 per cent and 11 per cent of the inventory respectively. Single-family units make up the remaining approximately 25 per cent of listings. Across the region the sales-to-listing ratio sat as low as 41.5 per cent in September, giving potential buyers plenty of options. Homebuyers are being cautious about purchasing for more reasons than just the weaker economy. Calgary’s unemployment rates have remained relatively high, hovering around eight per cent throughout the year, and the city hasn’t seen the job growth needed to stimulate the economy and ignite housing demand. On top of that, new rules on mortgage lending mandated a minimum qualifying rate for uninsured mortgages. Potential buyers are now required to meet a qualifying rate that is either the five-year benchmark rate published by the Bank of Canada or two percentage points above the mortgage holder’s contractual mortgage rate, whichever is greater. Today, those people looking to buy their first property or who are shopping around to renew an existing mortgage have to pass this stress test to show they will be able to afford their payments once interest rates inevitably rise again.
ABOVE: JAMES CUDDY, SENIOR ANALYST FOR CMHC.
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DECEMBER 2018 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
CALGARY ENTERS 2019 WITH A BUYERS’ MARKET // REAL ESTATE
“The mortgage eligibility rules were a real problem. They [the OSFI] wanted to fix a problem in Vancouver and Toronto but it didn’t need to be a national implementation, which has had a negative effect here, in a market that was hit harder than anywhere else and is looking to recover from the recession,” says Guy Huntingford, CEO of BILD Calgary Region. On top of the more stringent lending rules is the increasing benchmark lending rates, which were raised for the fifth time since last summer to 1.75 per cent in October. The Bank of Canada kept rate hikes at record lows for the past several years to stimulate the economy after the 2008 downturn, but more rate hikes are expected in 2019 as the Canadian economy continues to improve. These hikes further increased borrowing costs for potential homebuyers and in many cases delayed their entry into home ownership in 2018.
“THE MORTGAGE ELIGIBILITY RULES WERE A REAL PROBLEM. THEY [THE OSFI] WANTED TO FIX A PROBLEM IN VANCOUVER AND TORONTO BUT IT DIDN’T NEED TO BE A NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH HAS HAD A NEGATIVE EFFECT HERE, IN A MARKET THAT WAS HIT HARDER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE AND IS LOOKING TO RECOVER FROM THE RECESSION.” ~ GUY HUNTINGFORD
While it has been a sluggish market this year, 2019 is expected to improve gradually as the provincial and local economy improves. Developers are bullish about the market and continue to build in underserved areas while economic growth will eventually result in rebounding real estate prices and greater demand. “We’ve had positive net migration but it hasn’t translated to ownership demands yet. As the rental market starts to fill, that slowly filters through the whole aspect of the market,” says Lurie. Inter-provincial migration is trending up, with more than 11,000 people moving into the province this year. This influx will begin to absorb some of the excess inventory in the rental, resale and new home markets. In the meantime, challenges surrounding market access as well as diminished investment activity due to a volatile energy market will mean the real estate market will maintain a slow path to recovery in 2019. “We expect that population growth and employment growth will grow modestly over 2019 and 2020, and this will help to absorb some of these [inventory] highs. But the caveat is it’s going to take time for the market to balance,” says Cuddy. And real estate professionals are greeting 2019 with cautious optimism and patience to allow the market to do just that.
ABOVE: GUY HUNTINGFORD, CEO OF BILD CALGARY REGION.
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DECEMBER 2018 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
BUSINESS AVIATION MEANS BIG RETURNS FOR ALL ALBERTANS // CORPORATE AVIATION
Business Aviation Means Big Returns for All Albertans
BY DEBRA WARD, CANADIAN BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION
ABOVE: THE 7,700 NAUTICAL MILE RANGE BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 7500 AIRCRAFT. PHOTO SOURCE: BOMBARDIER
BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // DECEMBER 2018
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BUSINESS AVIATION MEANS BIG RETURNS FOR ALL ALBERTANS // CORPORATE AVIATION
E
ver thought of buying your own time machine? Perhaps you’re not aware of how powerful business aircraft are at connecting you with your customers, clients and future business potential.
FLIGHT COSTS MORE THAN AN
The Canadian Business Aviation Association’s (CBAA) CEO, Anthony Norejko, believes that how you measure its impact makes all the difference. “Commercial aviation is a lot more visible – more planes, more passengers, more activity, more noise,” he says. “In contrast, business aviation is almost stealthy – we are a consistent but low-key presence at hundreds of airports and aerodromes, moving people and high-value, time sensitive freight safely and efficiently across the province and around the world.”
AIRLINE TICKET, BUT IN REALITY,
Norejko posed this question: “What adds more to Alberta’s economy – an airline taking passengers to Las Vegas to spend money or a business aircraft taking employees to a worksite to earn money? The answer is ‘both have value in their own ways and should be treated equally.’”
AVIATION OUTPERFORM NON-
On the face of it, a business flight costs more than an airline ticket, but in reality, it generates far more than it costs, and helps deliver rock-solid financial returns. Research shows that S&P/TSX 60 companies that use business aviation outperform non-users by 43 per cent in “top line” revenue growth. The rewards don’t stop at TSX boardrooms. Small companies benefit even more than large ones. “With a private aircraft, a small business can locate where it is most advantageous without worrying about how far they are from a large commercial airport,” Norejko notes. Not only is business aviation a spark plug for the economy, it has a significant economic footprint in its own right. The 420-some business aircraft based in Alberta generate over $670 billion dollars annually and employ more than 2,500 people with an annual average wage of $96,000 (almost twice the national average). Norejko points out that the vast majority of business aviation flights are the opposite of glamourous – they are routine: ferrying employees into remote locations, supporting Northern communities and reducing the time needed for multiple sales and service calls from days to hours. “Canadian companies don’t make a big deal about
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ON THE FACE OF IT, A BUSINESS
DECEMBER 2018 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
IT GENERATES FAR MORE THAN IT COSTS, AND HELPS DELIVER ROCK-SOLID FINANCIAL RETURNS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT S&P/TSX 60 COMPANIES THAT USE BUSINESS USERS BY 43 PER CENT IN “TOP LINE” REVENUE GROWTH. having or using business aircraft, they just get on with it and get the job done.” Dispelling the notion that business aircraft are toys is only one of the CBAA’s responsibilities. “Bottom line, our job is to simplify business aviation operations and ensure that any company or community that wants to use this incredible asset can.” Options run the gamut from hiring a charter for a onetime flight to running a multiple aircraft corporate flight department. Between these extremes, there are options for every budget and need, many of them here in Alberta. Calgary’s AirSprint is a Canadian leader in fractional ownership, a kind of time-share for aircraft. Another option is to work with a management and charter company like Sunwest Aviation, headquartered in Calgary, or Aurora Jet Partners, based in Edmonton. With a business aviation fleet second only to Ontario in size, Norejko has a theory about why this type of aviation took off in Alberta. “An Albertan company may need to attend a meeting in Houston one day, promote a trade opportunity in Beijing the next and deliver tonnes of parts and equipment
BUSINESS AVIATION MEANS BIG RETURNS FOR ALL ALBERTANS // CORPORATE AVIATION
to a remote work site the day after. Business aviation features dozens of different aircraft designed to serve their specific needs – from a short-range single engine turbo-prop Pilatus PC-12 to a world-spanning Bombardier Global 7500 that can fly non-stop between Calgary and non-stop points across the globe. In contrast, commercial airlines flying out of YYC only offer 10 per cent of international traffic beyond transborder USA.” Canadian business aircraft are required to be federally certified and regulated, but when the regulations are too onerous, the CBAA works with its members and with Transport Canada to find ways to reduce red tape and support safe, responsible and efficient operations. “CBAA’s job is to make it simpler for business aviation to do its job, providing hands-on tools, expert advice and by lobbying the federal government for change and improvements,” says Merlin Preuss, CBAA’s vice president of government and regulatory affairs. Preuss, who previously served as Transport Canada’s director general of civil aviation, is familiar with the regulations affecting this sector and what is needed to satisfy safety and other regulatory needs, without going overboard with unnecessary complexity. One area where Transport Canada followed business aviation’s lead was in carbon emissions legislation. “Business aviation’s contribution to global aviation emission is not significant – it’s only 2 per cent, but its almostinvisible carbon footprint is not its only contribution to sustainability. New business aircraft feature cutting edge technologies and procedures that reduce their carbon footprint even further,” Preuss explains. “As well, in 2009 the international business aviation community committed to a comprehensive plan to improve fuel efficiencies, achieve carbon neutral growth and reduce CO2 emissions.” Because of business aviation’s proactive approach on climate change, the federal government incorporated existing international aviation emission standards into its carbon emissions backstop legislation, with only the largest and most heavily flown business aircraft subject to cap-andtrade. “It was a win for everyone who uses private business aircraft,” says Preuss.
The CBAA also helps business aircraft owners and operators with thorny, and potentially costly issues ranging from regulatory compliance to inspections to tax liabilities. One recent example is Canada Revenue Agency’s new policy on the personal use of business aircraft. “Not knowing the rules could result in a tax assessment of literally hundreds of thousands of dollars,” explains Norejko. “The CBAA can provide both the guidance and professional connections needed to avoid a nightmare scenario.” The association is also working to help ensure science flight and duty rules for on-demand flights as well as other operational issues. “Not all issues are national,” says Norejko. “Alberta’s business aviation community is very engaged with CBAA chapters operating out of both Calgary and Edmonton. The CBAA staff works with them on local issues with the same attention and commitment to their success as anything we do out of Ottawa. “For example, with the closure of the Edmonton Municipal airport we’re focused on ensuring Edmonton International costs are competitive and recognize the economic benefit business aviation brings to the area. In addition, we need to support our smaller airports like the Villeneuve Airport, which may offer a competitive alternative for the right company and their base of operations.” Alberta’s corporate executives who would like to experience the power of business aviation will have their chance when the CBAA holds its annual convention and exhibit at the Sunwest Aviation facilities at the Calgary International Airport, July 9 to 11, featuring Canada’s largest static display of corporate aircraft. “We are tremendously excited to hold our convention in Alberta,” says Norejko. “During the Stampede, Calgary is a huge attraction for aviation leaders from across Canada, but most importantly, the CBAA convention is an occasion for the Alberta corporate and business aviation communities to come together and celebrate our vibrant sector with us.” The convention will offer exclusive programming aimed at business aviation and corporate leaders, owners, managers and pilots. More information about business aviation and the CBAA 2019 convention can be found at www.cbaa-acaa.ca.
BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // DECEMBER 2018
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Crestview Group
30 YEARS STRONG by Rennay Craats
T
he late 1980s were not a time to start a business in Calgary; unemployment was up, oil prices were down and the economy was lagging. Despite the less-than-ideal business conditions, Tim Engel and Wes Smith took the plunge, merging their years of experience to create Crestview Electric in 1988. The duo worked hard to build their business from the ground up, working in the field for clients all day and then in the basement office in Engel’s home to take
care of administrative tasks at night. Their hard work and quality product earned them their first jobs, and then satisfied clients returned to them for a second and third. Within a year, Crestview had outgrown the basement and had found a home in a small bay in the Foothills Industrial Park. The successful company earned a solid reputation and grew exponentially over the next 17 years. By 2005, Smith was ready to retire and Engel had to decide where to take the company.
Crestview Group • 30 Years 93
Joane Cardinal Schubert High School, Seton, Calgary
“At this point I remember my dad asking me what I wanted to do,” says Ryan Engel, Tim’s son and current president of Crestview Group. “I told him I am an electrician and regardless of what happens with the [buyout negotiations], I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing. My dad said if that’s what we’re going to move towards then let’s make it happen.” That’s exactly what they did. Crestview was flourishing, the company had already taken over four bays in its original location and by 2010 it had outgrown the space yet again. Engel decided to build a space perfect for Crestview and in 2012 the company moved into the 8,000-square-foot office with 7,000 square feet of warehouse space on 50 Street SE. The new space ushered in new ways of moving the company forward. Ryan Engel worked his way up from doing inventory, threading conduit and painting scaffolding in his youth to working as a master electrician in the field, running jobs as a foreman, and then 10 years ago moved into the office to learn the ins and outs of the business from his father. Tim handed over the reins about five years ago and after his passing two years ago, Ryan has been working to honour the legacy his father left behind by building Crestview Electric into an even more successful, diverse, forward-thinking company. Ryan Engel has surrounded himself with the best employees in the business, and many of the staff have worked for Crestview for decades. Over the
Ryan Engel, president of Crestview Group
last 30 years, the Engels cultivated a fun, supportive work environment that encourages development and advancement. In the past five years, Crestview grew from a staff of 120 to more than 225 office and field personnel. Engel appreciates the hard work, dedication and expertise each employee brings to the company and credits the staff for the consistent growth the organization has enjoyed.
Crestview Group • 30 Years • 2
Congratulations to the Crestview Group on
30 Years
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CONGRATULATIONS TO CRESTVIEW ELECTRIC ON 30 YEARS!
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Crestview Group • 30 Years • 3
“As much as we’ve grown, we are still a tight-knit group,” Engel says. “For the most part everybody has worked their way up to the positions they hold now. Everybody knows the company inside and out, and everybody has contributed in one way or another to our growth. Our growth isn’t a reflection of just one individual – of my dad or myself – it’s been a team since day one.”
THE GROUP OF COMPANIES
Crestview’s growth has been deliberate and consistent, and the expansion has happened organically to ensure the company’s high standards are never compromised. As it grew, Engel created Crestview Group to better manage the organization’s diverse offerings. The group is made up of three divisions: Crestview Electric, Crestview Building Technologies and CVE Solar. The flagship company Crestview Electric is the commercial electrical division that caters to clients across Alberta with a service department that spans Western Canada. This division specializes in design built, invitational and public bid, management service and maintenance contracts for commercial and industrial projects.
Seton Commercial Development, Phase One
Crestview Building Technologies encompasses low-voltage projects including telecommunications, lowvoltage lighting and building automation systems. Partnered with Distech Controls,
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3420 - 12TH ST NE Calgary, AB T2E 6N1 403-291-0205
www.storoffice.ca
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CM
MY
CY
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CONGRATULATIONS
K
ON 30 YEARS!
Crestview Group • 30 Years • 4
this division focuses predominantly on providing building automation installations for clients, which has been an important value-add service for the electrical division. Introducing these services, especially at pre-construction drawing stages, can eliminate redundancy by providing clients with a single automation system in a build, thus saving them money.
Casadona Place, Seton, Calgary
“When it comes to cost savings, the value-add services that we can do now that we weren’t able to do before are a real benefit to owners,” he says. The CVE Solar division launched in January and provides renewable solutions to clients. This division is tied closely with the electrical division, as only a certified electrician can install solar panels, but it has proven lucrative enough to warrant a separate division. CVE Solar has been a timely addition to the group as governments are increasingly incentivizing conversion to sustainable energy options. Solar panel technology is improving, prices are dropping and installations are more streamlined making it more convenient and affordable for individuals and companies to combat high electricity fees with renewable energy technologies.
CHANGE IS GOOD
Since becoming president, Ryan Engel has implemented many changes in order to grow the company in the face of provincial economic uncertainty. While its business is Calgary-centric, Crestview has also established some national
Rooftop Solar Installation, Stoney Transit Facility
contracts that stretch the company’s scope from Vancouver Island to Manitoba. Crestview selected a qualified group of partner companies that share its philosophy and standards to represent them in these areas. Some of these contracts resulted from existing clients who have interests outside of Calgary while others arose from the solid relationships Crestview forged with former employees and clients who have moved on to other companies.
Congratulations Crestview Group on your 30th anniversary. Stoney Compressed Natural Gas Bus and Storage Facility
Buildings I Civil Infrastructure I Special Projects I Residential
SHARING YOUR VISION. BUIDING SUCCESS.
Crestview Group • 30 Years • 5
Gasoline Alley, Heritage Park
Growth is exciting but it isn’t the main priority for Crestview. Instead, the priority is to provide the best products and service to ensure clients are satisfied. The dedication to clients is what Crestview was built on in the 1980s and it continues to be the foundation upon which every new initiative is based. “Expansion and growth is good to a degree, as long as it’s controlled. We don’t want to turn into a company that is trying to take on too much. We don’t want to try to overachieve only to under-accomplish,” Engel says.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CRESTVIEW ELECTRIC ON 30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
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Crestview Group • 30 Years • 6
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Crestview Group • 30 Years • 7
All Chiefs Sportsplex, Tsuu T’ina Nation
To avoid that, Crestview ensures it has the right people in the right positions in order to pursue and excel at the projects they want to do. This adherence to high standards led the group to successfully complete its biggest project to date. The Stoney Transit Facility, built in partnership with PCL, was a 12-month pursuit and an 18-month project that produced a state-of-the-art facility to house 424 buses with 36 maintenance bays, two steam bays and an indoor compressed natural gas fuelling station. It is the largest indoor CNG fuelling facility in North America. The spectacular building is also a LEED Gold project featuring solar panels and a cogeneration backup generator.
“It’s one of the most complex electrical distribution systems in the city of Calgary. It was definitely fun to be involved with,” Engel says. Crestview is also proud to be associated with many other projects all over Calgary, working with Seko Construction on the new Desa Glass manufacturing facility, Elan Construction featuring the amazing outdoor lighting display at the Seton North commercial development, Krawford Construction on the Tsuu T’ina Nation All Chiefs Sportsplex, the incredible 254-unit Casadona Place apartment buildings with EllisDon in Seton and the recently opened Calgary Board of
CONGRATULATIONS CRESTVIEW ON 30 YEARS OF CONTINUED SUCCESS 403-264-0888
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Crestview Group • 30 Years • 8
Education’s beautiful and modern Joane CardinalSchubert High School in Seton. In three decades, Crestview has worked on many iconic legacy projects including Heritage Park’s Gasoline Alley, Nelson Mandela High School, the Calgary Zoo ENMAX Conservatory and the Calgary Stampede Agriculture Building renovation.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
Moving into its fourth decade in business, Ryan Engel and his team are happy to continue to lead in the industry, staying on the cutting edge of technology to ensure they are best serving clients. Crestview is looking at such technologies as lights that mimic the sun’s different colour temperatures throughout the day to improve users’ health as well as smart lighting that facilitates wireless connections. The low-voltage and wireless side of building technologies are pushing their way to the forefront and Crestview is proactive with updating its processes and certifications to accommodate
Desa Glass New Building, Rocky View County
Congratulations Crestview on 30 years!
CONGRATULATIONS C REST VIEW ELEC TRIC CRESTVIEW OFFICE DESIGN BUILD BY ELAN EWCL will gladly quote and supply all of your electrical requirements – anything from a small residential renovation to a mid-size commercial job to a large industrial project.
Elan Construction is Your Building Partner and then some.
1323 36th Ave NE Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2E 6T6 Phone: (403) 250-7060 | info@ewcl.net www.ewcl.net
Crestview Group • 30 Years • 9
ELANCONSTRUCTION.COM 403.291.1165
these developments in the industry. “There’s a lot of advancement and if you’re not on board with it you’re five years behind,” he says.
impoverished areas. Using the money the turbine will save, Crestview will put it towards providing green energy to areas in need.
Instead, Crestview wants to be years ahead and to achieve that it has partnered with Bluenergy Solarwind (BSW) on renewable energy. Engel requested a development permit from the City of Calgary to install a BSW turbine outside the office and hopes to have it installed in the early New Year. The two-storey unit features both solar panels and a wind turbine to generate power. This would be the first commercial turbine within the city limits and the first of its kind in the country. These turbines don’t take up a lot of square footage and look like works of art that also save users significant money. Engel hopes this will attract interest and investment from the city.
The Crestview Group has changed since opening its doors 30 years ago, but even as the organization continues to grow, clients can always count on the same quality and service. Whether clients have an electrical project to complete, are installing an automation system or are going green, one call gets it all at Crestview Group.
Crestview is excited to install a BSW turbine to study the power output and promote the benefits so other corporations can get involved with their own turbines. The company is also looking at it as an opportunity to support charity initiatives like Light Up The World, which provides electricity to remote or
10805 - 50 Street SE Calgary, AB T2C 3E5, Canada P: 403.279.6661 | F: 403.279.6604 24/7 Service: 403.279.6661
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Congratulations Crestview in your 30 “years of success, it is inspiring to work with companies like you, that are always looking to increase the performance so that you can keep bringing value to all your stakeholders while achieving sustainable success and growth. We are looking forward to continuing supporting you in doing that! -Claudia Velandia-
”
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Congratulation to the Crestview Group
on 30 years of success!
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Crestview Group • 30 Years • 10
Photo by Riverwood Photography
Linus Murphy, David Symons, Peter Streith, Brian Corkum, Robert Spaetgens and Genevieve Giguere.
S2 Architecture Celebrates
a Quarter-Century of Success O ver the past 25 years, Calgary’s skyline has transformed. Its size, shape and colour have, at varying times and to varying degrees, morphed to include new homes, office towers, apartment buildings, schools, hotels, churches, hospitals, malls, fire halls, recreation centres, community spaces and other prescribed edifices. Each new building has, in its own way, altered the face of the city. The Calgary of 1993 looks little like the Calgary of today.
Behind much of this change is S2 Architecture. The firm – which has grown from a single-man operation in 1993 to an 88-person full-service architectural and interior design firm with offices in Calgary, Edmonton and recently Vancouver – has designed a multitude of projects in an array of sectors in Alberta and beyond. Throughout all the growth and change, S2 has remained true to its roots. “Our core is design, both architectural and interiors,” says Robert Spaetgens, founding partner and Principal. “We believe in the continuity of design. It’s not just the building, it’s the experience you have in the building. The continuity of a comprehensive experience.”
S2 Architecture || 25 Years 103
David Symons and Robert Spaetgens
It’s this approach that has guided S2 since inception. Twenty-five years in, the firm has completed over 1,600 projects in a variety of sectors including commercial, education, emergency services, health care, hospitality, mixed-use, public works, religious, residential, retail, seniors, and sports and recreation. Clients run the gamut from public bodies to private developers. No matter the type of project, design is always based on what the client wants. “As a firm we don’t have a signature type of building,” David Symons, Principal, explains. “We really respond to the client in terms of what their needs are. That flexibility and collaboration is one of the key reasons we have seen a lot of success.” Together, Spaetgens and Symons have led the firm through all of that success. Both from Calgary, the young men met in the 1970s on the first day of classes at the University of Manitoba. They were both obtaining their masters in architecture. “He was the only other guy from Calgary,” Symons reveals with a chuckle, “so we became roommates and went on to work together at another firm in Calgary. Bob then went on his own and the following year I joined him. It’s been steady growth ever since.”
PARTNER. PERFECT. COLLABORATION IS THE LEDCOR WAY. We are proud of our 25-year partnership with S2 Architecture. Working together to construct better buildings. And building stronger communities. Congratulations!
2 || S2 Architecture || 25 Years
RJC Engineers extends our sincere congratulations to our long-time friends at S2 Architecture on 25 years of design excellence! Structural Engineering
rjc.ca
Parking Planning
Structural Restoration
Building Envelope
Structural Glass Engineering
s Congratulations Congratulations To To S2 S2 Architecture Architecture For For 25 25 Years Years Of Of Service Service TTHE V HEVogue VOGUE OGUE The
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Anniversary
It has been an honour to transform spaces into extraordinary places with you over the last two and half decades
N EW ORIZON N EW H HHorizon ORIZON M MALL ALL New Mall
Congratulations!
Design Excellence • Sustainability • Teamwork
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A ALBERTA LBERTA OFFICE OFFICE (Head (Head office) office)
O ONTARIO NTARIO OFFICE OFFICE
#208, #208, 1212 1212 1st 1st Street Street S.E. S.E. Calgary, AB Calgary, AB T2G T2G 2H8 2H8 Phone: (403).264.8495 Phone: (403).264.8495 Fax: (403).233.8663 (403).233.8663 Fax:
#101, #101, 135 135 Bayfield Bayfield Street Street Barrie, ON Barrie, ON L4M L4M 3B3 3B3 Phone: (705).737.9286 Phone: (705).737.9286 www.mmpengineering.com www.mmpengineering.com
3 || S2 Architecture || 25 Years
Livingston Homeowners Association
Vogue Condos
Originally Robert Spaetgens Architect Ltd. in the beginning, transformed to Symons Spaetgens Evans in 1994, and in 2003 the firm name was changed to S2 Architecture. Today, there are five partners in addition to Spaetgens and Symons: Linus Murphy, Brian Corkum, Genevieve Giguere, Peter Streith, who joined as the Edmonton partner in September 2018 and Robert Lange, who joined as the Vancouver partner in November 2018. Opened in 2013, S2’s Edmonton studio was its first outside Calgary and a major milestone for the firm. “Much of the work we were doing in Calgary brought in clients from Edmonton,” Symons explains. “We eventually had enough work there that we could open an office.” “But we needed a resident partner in Edmonton,” adds Spaetgens. “Linus [Murphy], who established the Edmonton office, put a lot of effort into it and was on the road a lot. So we really did need someone in Edmonton with boots on the ground.” Streith, an accomplished architect from the Edmonton area, joined S2 from another firm and now leads the Edmonton studio. S2’s partners joined in different ways. Giguere has been with the firm for 18 years, beginning as a junior architect and became a partner in 2016. Corkum and Murphy both came from other firms and have been partners at S2 for five and 10 years respectively. S2 is all about its people. “The success of the firm over the last 25 years has been largely attributed to the people,” Spaetgens says. “We have a lot of exceptional projects, a great reputation for design and technology, but really, the key has been attracting the right people.” S2’s culture, which is one of inclusion, respect and collaboration, helps attract those star recruits. So does the fact that S2 is a legacy firm. “We’re a firm that lasts longer than the two founding partners,” says Spaetgens. “When people join they know that after the old guys leave, a strong firm will remain. Getting in on the ground floor of a growing, sustainable firm is very attractive.” Of its 88 employees, many are core people who have been with S2 for many years. “We promote from within where possible and as often as possible,” Symons says.
4 || S2 Architecture || 25 Years
Attracting and maintaining the right people, in turn, has led to growth in various sectors. “We’ve been able to bring on high-end people who have attracted the clients,” Spaetgens explains. “It’s a bit of a risk and a bit of an investment to bring on these high-end people before the projects are there, but it’s worked.” One growing sector is emergency services. To date, the firm has designed 39 projects including fire stations, EMS response centres, and emergency vehicle and equipment maintenance facilities in Alberta and B.C. The Royal Vista Fire Station, a
four-bay, 23,680-square-foot multi-services facility, completed in 2016 for the City of Calgary, is just one example. In addition to responding to prairie-style design guidelines established for the industrial park, Royal Vista showcases a rain garden as a storm-water management technique. It is designed to LEED Gold standard and houses a fire service and prevention bureau, animal bylaw services, EMS, police services and community space available to the public. Twenty-five years is a good chunk of time, and S2 has seen its share of ups and downs. “The economy has really influenced
CONGRATULATIONS TO S2 ON 25 YEARS OF DESIGN EXCELLENCE
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Congratulations S2 Architecture on your 25th Anniversary!
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5 || S2 Architecture || 25 Years 8/2/2018 10:21:21 AM
The Royal Canadian Legion North Calgary
New Horizon Mall
Royal Vista Multi-Service Facility
how we’ve grown over the years,” Symons explains. “We’ve managed to plow our way through some bad economic times by foreseeing the problem before it became a problem. We’ve always been fairly proactive, watching for signs in the economy.” As the senior partners, Symons and Spaetgens view part of their responsibility as anticipating where future work may lie. “It varies,” Spaetgens explains. “There were times when retail was strong, and then mixed-use residential, and now the seniors sector is strong. In fact, we have eight projects related to seniors in the office right now.” One of these is Cambridge Manor, a 240-unit state-of-the-art senior living facility within Calgary’s University District. The thoughtfully designed, innovative complex will provide a lively community for residents and seniors. The project just broke ground this year and is set to open in 2020.
Strong partnerships build the best spaces. We’ve been proud to call S2 Architecture, one of Calgary’s most respected firms, our partner over the past number of years. Here’s congratulating S2 Architecture on the past 25 years and looking forward to another quarter century of great spaces. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT • GENERAL CONTRACTORS
403-252-9991 • labbeleech.com 6 || S2 Architecture || 25 Years
Continued success and best wishes to all the Staff & Management Team at S2 Architecture.
Municipal Engineering | Project Management | Infrastructure Design Storm Water Management | Erosion and Sediment Control p: 403.276.1001 |F: 403.276.1012 | jubileeengineering.com
CONGRATULATIONS
S2 ARCHITECTURE BEST WISHES TO OUR FRIENDS AT S2 ARCHITECTURE FOR THE
25TH ANNIVERSARY !!!
NAVAGRAH landscape architecture + urban design
The way S2 embraces creativity and innovation, this isn’t a milestone, it’s a stepping stone. DIRTT and Element are thrilled to be part of your journey.
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Congratulations to S2 Architecture on 25 years in business!
200, 1422 Kensington Rd NW Calgary, AB T2N 3P9 • Phone: 403.984.6960 www.remedyeng.com 7 || S2 Architecture || 25 Years
West District Truman
In addition to architectural and interior design, S2 provides master-planning services, as it has with the West District – a master-planned project comprised of 95 acres within an established community in west Calgary. “We started with the master-planning stage and now there are two buildings under construction and four in the process of development permit or working drawings,” Symons says. “We’ve been part of that vision from the beginning and are now working with the developer [Truman] to realize that vision. That’s a project that will probably be on the books for another 10 years.” West District is a mixed-use project, one of several designed by S2. These projects blend commercial, office, retail, hospitality and residential. Vogue, a 35-storey mixeduse residential development located in the west end of downtown Calgary, is a notable example. Completed in 2017, the concept design is based upon developing a symmetrical contemporary art deco esthetic. In addition to designing from the ground up, S2 undertakes many improvement projects as well. One such project is an approximately 2,300-square-foot tenant improvement project for CivicWorks Planning + Design. S2’s interior design solution involved an open floor plan that utilized demountable partitions to designate private offices and meeting rooms, and a custom millwork ‘work wall’ running the length of the space was created to provide essential storage and office functions. For all projects, the firm uses leading technology and sustainable building practices, including LEED rating systems. “But our greatest differentiator is our people and our culture,” Spaetgens reiterates. “You go to another architectural firm and they offer what we offer and we ask the same questions. But we ask the client what they are looking for. We try to be empathetic to the client as opposed to selling us. Part of us getting the work is us understanding the client and what it is that they do.” Accordingly, S2 enjoys an approximately 85 per cent client-return rate. “We’re not out looking for clients on every job; they’re coming back to us,” Spaetgens says. “That’s the beauty of having your market spread over the private and public as much as you
8 || S2 Architecture || 25 Years
can,” Spaetgens smiles. “You’re not putting all your eggs in one industry or one type of client. Because when one is busy the other one probably is not.” Geographically too, S2 has diversified. “We’ve worked in Russia, Europe and down in California [the firm designed the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego],” says Symons. “Today our focus is Western Canada and we have a lot of work in B.C. Our new Vancouver office is anticipated to be very busy.”
The partners will continue to grow both the Edmonton and Vancouver offices now having resident principals in those cities . “And then world domination,” Symons grins. “But that’s a few years down the road”. Neither partner articulates plans for retirement though. “We love doing what we’re doing,” Symons says. “Our profession is very fortunate. Once we’ve completed a project it’s there, we can see it. We help build your city and that’s a fulfilling thing to be able to do.”
Tronnes Geomatics would like to congratulate S2 Architecture on 25 years of excellence!
6135 – 10th Street SE | Phone: (403) 207-0303 | Fax: 403 248 0466
www.tronnessurveys.com 9 || S2 Architecture || 25 Years
Spaetgens offers a seasoned perspective, “With age comes a bit of wisdom perhaps. We’ve been through the ups and downs in the economy so many times before so we’re more relaxed about it. We can sit amongst the partnership and calm everyone down: don’t worry we’ve been through this many times before, we’ll go through it again, here’s what we have to do. But relax and enjoy yourselves.” With 130 projects (in all stages from initial concept to warranty) on the books right now, S2 will no doubt continue to build Calgary, in addition to other locales, for many years to come. The entire S2 team has as much to be proud of as to look forward to.
Congratulations to S2 Architecture on your 25th year anniversary.
Suite 900, 110-12th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2R 0G7 T. 403.670.7000 || F. 403.670.7051
www.s2architecture.com The team at Lear Construction would like to congratulate S2 Architecture on 25 years!
We are proud to have provided structural engineering services to you on a wide range of projects!
100, 1615 - 10th Avenue SW P (403) 244 -4944 & associates F (403) 229-2110 tomecek roney little & associates ltd. consulting structural engineers www.trleng.ca
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Proud to work with S2 Architecture
Congratulations on 25 years!
ROYAL VISTA FIRE HALL
Congratulations S2 Architecture on celebrating 25 years of success!
1200-59th Avenue SE, Suite 350 Calgary, AB T2H 2M4 Tel: 403-319-0470 www.bird.ca
10 || S2 Architecture || 25 Years
SMP ENGINEERING
integrity • knowledge • innovation smpeng.com
COMING TOGETHER AT THE CENTRE OF IT ALL. It’s the time of year when many reflect on the past and prepare for the future. It’s a time to look back on what’s been accomplished and review what’s left to be done… to account for investments and focus forward to an improved tomorrow. At the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, we’re proud of what we see. A year ago we committed to improving our future. We refocused our organization to be where it needs to be: serving our clients and creating the most memorable experiences for them and their guests. We had some tough conversations to figure out how that looked, and we chose to do what needed to be done to be the centre of it all for those whose reputation demands the best for their events. With a renewed sense of purpose, we began delivering on our mission. We renovated a number of our spaces to foster collaboration and enhance innovation.
We improved our services and the spaces that encourage our clients to meet, connect and interact. Our team worked with our clients to better understand their goals so we could better help achieve them. As a city, we continue to grow as a hub for innovation. As a centre, we recognize that innovation happens when people come together to connect and collaborate. For us, our focus in 2019 is stronger than ever to be more than just four walls and a roof. Through our collective focus on the people and spaces needed to support great events, we aspire to be the centre of it all for those great events. At the Centre of it all is the fundamental desire for our full team to come together for you. To innovate. To collaborate. To work together to build a more prosperous future. We look forward to having you join us to see what’s happening. Together, let’s make some amazing things happen at the centre of it all.
calgary-convention.com BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // DECEMBER 2018
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Innovation Week Celebrates GameChangers in Calgary
F
orget minding the gap. It is the innovative thinkers among us who are bridging the gap between ideas and impacts that change the world and are transforming our city who were celebrated during the first Innovation Week in Calgary.
Fifteen up-and-coming local companies in a number of sectors were selected to showcase how they are leveraging technology to solve problems. The “party” this year was preceded by the inaugural Start Alberta Tech Awards to celebrate innovative companies provincewide.
The people, communities and companies shaping the economy and driving Calgary and Alberta forward came together from November 12-17, 2018 around the city to honour success, share best practices and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The exposure helps take companies to the next level of growth, says Gordon.
Innovation is one of four pillars of the economic strategy released this fall titled Calgary in the New Economy and sets a goal for Calgary to be Canada’s leading B2B innovation city. It commits Calgary to embracing innovative thinking to create solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Innovation Week and events like it are important to expanding the ecosystem. “There can be a lot of toiling in anonymity as an entrepreneur or innovator. This week is a moment in the limelight for some of the companies helping to usher in a more diverse economy in Calgary while showing the way for others,” says Kari Gordon, director of ecosystems development and trade for Calgary Economic Development, who oversees Startup Calgary. Startup Calgary is an advocate and champion for the entrepreneurial community in Calgary and one of its most important roles is to facilitate connections and collisions among people to leverage their ideas and skills. Launch Party is Startup Calgary’s signature annual event to celebrate technology and innovation. With more than 800 people in attendance this year, Launch Party was held at the Big Four Building on the Stampede Grounds during the heart of Innovation Week.
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In the last 12 months, more than 3,000 people have contacted Startup Calgary seeking help, guidance, education or advice on the next steps to take an idea to a business. The ecosystem is growing fast but there’s still a gap with the leading tech centres. “We have seen an increase of new people coming to the community month over month,” Gordon notes. “It is moving in the right direction but to be in line with per capita numbers for Vancouver or Waterloo, we need thousands of incorporated startups.” There was something for everyone during Innovation Week. From the League of Innovators and Rainforest Alberta to SAIT’s School of Business, there were daily sessions on everything innovative for the entrepreneurial mindset. The week concluded at the New Central Library in the East Village with Chic Geek’s two-day Geeky Summit to recognize women who are advancing technology while also offering hands-on technical workshops providing practical learning opportunities. There’s always a gap between bright ideas and gamechanging impacts but it’s the people at Innovation Week who are building a bridge.
Calgary Played Host to GoMedia 2018, Canada’s Signature Travel Media Event Top travel media and influencers experienced Calgary’s unique offerings and developed stories that drive consumer demand and visitation BY BRIDGETTE SLATER
G
oMedia Canada Marketplace (GoMedia), Destination Canada’s signature travel media event, is about leveraging storytelling to showcase the best of Canada. Hosted by a different Canadian destination each year, the annual event connects top international and domestic media with Canadian tourism organizations through one-to-one meetings, networking events and preand post-show tours across the country and host region. GoMedia was hosted in Calgary, for the first time, at the end of September. Tourism Calgary and Travel Alberta worked in joint partnership to plan unique experiences and events that would showcase Calgary’s offerings, community spirit and hospitality. Tourism Calgary partners and stakeholders also played a vital role in bringing GoMedia to Calgary and in making the event a success. Throughout the four-day event, over 150 top travel media and influencers from 10 countries networked with over 85 tourism industry leaders and 75 partner organizations. On the first night, delegates attended an event that showcased many of Calgary’s art, culture, music and culinary offerings. The next morning, the city woke up to 25 centimetres of snow – breaking a 63-year-old October 2 snowfall record of five centimetres. As it turned out, many delegates hadn’t seen or encountered snow before, so the opportunity to experience both fall and winter in Calgary was a welcome surprise. Through a selection of city tours, delegates experienced many of Calgary’s unique offerings including, but not limited to: A Panda Breakfast at the Calgary Zoo; Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre; the luge track at WinSport;
THROUGHOUT THE FOUR-DAY EVENT, OVER 150 TOP TRAVEL MEDIA AND INFLUENCERS FROM 10 COUNTRIES NETWORKED WITH OVER 85 TOURISM INDUSTRY LEADERS AND 75 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame; and culinary offerings that spanned 10 Calgary neighbourhoods. The experiences travel media and influencers had at GoMedia 2018 will inspire stories that build Calgary’s reputation as the Ultimate Host City and drive visitation for many years to come. While results from 2018 are still being calculated, stories inspired by GoMedia 2017 in Nova Scotia have reached over 850 million travellers worldwide. As a vital economic driver, tourism contributes $1.6 billion in visitor spending to Calgary’s economy annually. Hosting events like GoMedia is a unique opportunity to showcase Calgary’s offerings, generate even more profile and inspire future visitation among local, national and international audiences. In turn, this visitation stimulates the economy, builds the city, amplifies experiences, enhances quality of life, intensifies the city’s vibrancy and fosters community spirit. To learn more about Tourism Calgary, see visitcalgary.com.
BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // DECEMBER 2018
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Critical Time Management N
ow more than ever, effective time management is critical for business success. While technology and 24-7 connectivity receive much of the deserved credit – and blame – for everyday challenges, some things never change. Small armies of timemanagement consultants provide endless tips for prioritizing, procrastination, delegation, stress, unplugging and even learning to say no. The bottom line: time management is a skill that must be developed but it is different for each person and organization. To proactively deal with time management, many successful business leaders opt for walking-the-walk. “It’s important to be credible when it comes to clients and delivering on time and on budget is critical in our business,” says Jason Hardy, and EO Calgary member who serves as the managing partner of Chatterson Drive, a purposefully-assembled team of strategy-building, campaign-creating, web-developing, problem-solving, research-gathering, content-producing and marketing specialists in Calgary and Edmonton. “We live and die with deadlines and our time commitments, so we must be successful with managing our time.” For EO Calgary member Kyle McLaughlin Friedman, founder and CEO of the Wallin Company – Calgary-based professional contractors specializing in the innovation and technology of commercial and residential painting – effective time management is not only a key to success but a constant challenge. “It has always been critical,” he notes. “In the beginning, I wanted to do everything myself, but eventually there were not enough hours in the day. I had to choose where I wanted to spend my time and delegate the rest.” He admits that his company’s leadership staff also prioritize time management. “Even though they may be the most qualified to do something,
Contributing Members:
Jason Hardy
Kyle McLaughlin Friedman
managing partner of Chatterson Drive
founder and CEO of the Wallin Company
they delegate responsibility to maintain deadlines and the overall success of the organization.” Hardy underscores the crucial importance of effective time management and points out Chatterson Drive’s focus on team members. “Our environment is unique. It may be a bit unorthodox but we believe in flexibility, encourage our team to come in and leave when they want and choose the time management that suits their lifestyle.” Although some major North American and global companies have recently implemented rules banning after-hours work emails, many contemporary business leaders agree that 24-7 technology makes it difficult to realistically enforce rules about connectivity and downtime. “It’s impossible to mandate it,” Hardy adds. “But we strongly suggest that when our staff leave work, they disconnect and recharge their batteries. When they come back in, it’s with a fully-charged battery.” “We found the best solution is to set boundaries,” Friedman says. “It started with no phones during meetings, lunches or dinners, and progressed into no phones from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. I’m convinced that you can measure success or freedom by how much of your day you can truly disconnect.” Hardy mentions several Chatterson Drive time-management boosters like a designated “quiet room” – fully soundproof with a reclining chair and a “do not disturb” policy – where staff can go, any time, to take a break and disconnect. Friedman admits with a smile that urging his staff to disconnect involved some self-reflection. “Part of it was realizing that it was me who needed to have the rules, so I just stopped sending staff action items too early in the morning or late at night. It’s all about respecting that time is critical to the company culture.”
Upcoming Events: Dec 5
• Leadership Breakfast Series
Dec 11
• Accelerator Learning Day-Strategy
Dec 13
• EO Christmas Party
The international Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is the respected, world-wide business networking group — with more than 10,000 members in 35 countries — where business leaders meet informally to brainstorm, compare notes, learn and share relevant discussions about business. EO has 122 chapters around the world, including the Calgary chapter which is the fifth largest and one of the most active EO chapters in the world.
www.eocalgary.com
|
For membership inquiries: membership@eocalgary.com
As we reflect on 2018, we’ve reviewed all that’s been done. For the thousands who’ve come through our doors to experience the amazing events hosted, we’re happy to have brought more than expected. As a team, we’re honoured to be the one you count on for professional, personalized and customized experiences, done all ways. We can’t wait to show you what’s in store for 2019.
calgary-convention.com
MARKETING MATTERS // DAVID PARKER
Marketing Matters BY DAVID PARKER
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wo of Alberta’s leading marketing and communications companies, ZGM Modern Marketing Partners and Edmonton-based Calder Bateman Communications, have united their talents to form a single company under the ZGM banner.
SKY Residences is located in the heart of Edmonton’s ICE District. Brookline was selected as a partner of choice to assist in the creation of a strategic marketing communications campaign for the urban-living project in Western Canada’s tallest tower.
ZGM COO Mario Amantea says, “Combining the two talent pools uniquely positions us with equal-strength offices in both cities, helping us provide better solutions and services to our clients.”
The successes have been celebrated with the promotion of Sophie Pilon to account director, Angela Cabucos to senior account manager and the welcoming of Katie Temple as account executive on her return from a PR career in London, England.
Paula Worthington founded Worthington PR & Story in February of this year working out of her home office but she has become so sufficiently busy that she applied – and was accepted – into Trico Changemakers Studio at Mount Royal University. She says leasing space at MRU has enabled her to gain access to the incredible collaborative spirit of studio members, along with use of boardrooms and meeting space. And she has also been asked to be a guest teacher in the university’s PR classes. Coinciding with her move, Worthington also launched a subsidiary brand called Noble Arrow Projects, providing PR and communications expertise to companies and organizations that are defined as changemakers, with the help of two MRU PR students.
Brookline PR is finishing off the year with another burst of business having won new client partnerships in real estate, non-profit, tourism and the cannabis industry. Shauna MacDonald and her team welcomed SKY Residences, Compass Cannabis Clinic (and its retail arm Starbuds Canada) and KidSport Alberta, and she says she is thrilled to be working with Tourism Calgary once again to launch its Ultimate Host 2026 campaign.
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DECEMBER 2018 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
Welcome home Bill Watson who moved to Riverview, New Brunswick in 2008 after many years in Calgary working with the former FWJ Advertising/Public Relations and Communications Incorporated. He maintained his working relationship with the Saskatchewan Association for Resource Recovery Corp. while down east and during his move back to Alberta in 2014 to live in Sherwood Park. Now back in Calgary, he continues working with the Alberta and Saskatchewan used oil materials recycling associations with the support of TAG Advertising, Bamboo Shoots and Victoria-based DB Broadcast.
After nearly eight years as senior communications strategist with the mayor’s office, Daorcey Le Bray has joined Strategic Group as director, brand and community, to manage the company’s brand and reputation, community investment, an external and internal communications.
Parker’s Pick Exciting plan to convert Scotia Centre to Stephen Avenue Place.
When it comes to a relationship with your banker, don’t settle. Dr. Alan Ulsifer, FYidoctors CEO Grew from a single location in Calgary, to the largest eye care provider in Canada.
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