June 2013 Business in Calgary

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Distinguished Business Leader

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NEWS Summer 2013 • Page 57

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THIS IS NOT AN AD FOR ROCKY MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT. But it is an ad for everything we stand for. Things like honesty, integrity, and helping you put food on your family’s table. But above all, it’s an ad to let you know that none of those things are going away because we’re calling ourselves Rocky Mountain Equipment. Because even if the name on the sign is changing, our values won’t.

Introducing the new Rocky Mountain Equipment DEPENDABLE IS WHAT WE DO.

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n the waning days of summer 2011, the senior management team at one of Canada’s largest equipment dealership groups sat around a boardroom table in preparation for what would be the most important meeting in the history of their company.

Folders opened and papers slid out as they prepared to tackle the most challenging question in the history of Rocky Mountain Dealerships: how do you re-brand and re-position a billion dollar company for the next phase of its growth - while staying true to the smalltown, personal roots that brought it to here?

Rocky had grown from a mid-sized company with 12 dealerships in Alberta to the current publicly-traded (RME.TO) powerhouse of 38 dealerships across 3 provinces. Agriculture equipment & construction equipment dealers have a special relationship with their customers beyond just supplying equipment.

The dealerships provide a sense of stability and dependability to their customers through product support and knowledge earned over the course of generations. While it was clear that there was value in rolling the various merged and acquired store names into a single entity, there was also a need to maintain a sense of the local, personal relationships that had been built in each store.

The new rebranding initiative sought to capitalize on the new scale, while maintaining the deep local relationships with individual farmers and construction companies.

Rocky Mountain Equipment began with a simple idea: that Dependability was the key factor in those relationships, and Dependability needed to be the rallying call for the future. In a world where so many things are beyond the control of the end user, Dependability is a valuable currency. the differentiator in a marketplace filled with capable equipment and comparable pricing.

We will continue to honour the proud history of our stores as we move forward as a company, and our people will continue to carry the Rocky Mountain legacy with them. Our company Mission, Vision and Values have been laid out and form the basis of our company culture, and a guiding light for doing the right thing, the right way, for each other, our customers and our shareholders.

Introducing the new Rocky Mountain Equipment.

DEpENDABlE Is WHAT WE DO.

HOW DO yOu RE-bRAnD AnD RE-pOsITIOn A bIllIOn DOllAR COMpAny WHIlE sTAyIng TRuE TO THE sMAllTOWn, pERsOnAl ROOTs THAT bROugHT IT TO HERE?

Contents

Volume 23 • Number 6

PUBLISHERS

Pat Ottmann & Tim Ottmann

EDITOR

John Hardy

On our cover…

COPY EDITORS

Lisa Johnston & Nikki Mullett

Alan Norris, president and CEO of Calgary-based Brookfield Residential Properties

ART DIRECTOR

Cher Compton cher@businessincalgary.com

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER ADMINISTRATION

JUNE 2013 $3.50

Nancy Bielecki nancy@businessincalgary.com Sarah Schenx info@businessincalgary.com

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

www.businessincalgary.com

Jessi Evetts

Richard Bronstein Frank Atkins David Parker Lonnie Tate Mary Savage

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS

70

ADVERTISING SALES

45

Zoomers & Boomers

Boomers: Oil & Gas

The Theatre of Protests

EDITORIAL, ADVERTISING & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

1025, 101 6th Ave. SW Calgary, AB T2P 3P4 Tel: (403) 264-3270/Fax: (403) 264-3276 Email: info@businessincalgary.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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Bernie Cooke bernie@businessincalgary.com Kim Hogan kim@businessincalgary.com

Fixed-Base Operations

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DIRECTORS OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING

Aviation

pa

Evelyn Dehner evelyn@businessincalgary.com Renee Neil renee@businessincalgary.com Bobbi Joan O’Neil bobbi@businessincalgary.com Brent Trimming brent@businessincalgary.com Carla Wright carla@businessincalgary.com

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Distinguished Business Leader

Ca

PHOTOGRAPHY

Cover photo courtesy of Ewan Nicholson Photography Inc.

Alan Norris

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Camie Leard Heather Ramsay Jesse Semko Stewart McDonough Andrea Mendizabal Parker Grant Nerissa McNaughton Ben Freeland Debra Ward

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COVER 45 • Alan Norris - Distinguished Business Leader Played golf with Arnold Palmer but ...

By John Hardy

Business in Calgary is delivered to over 33,500 business people every month including all registered business owners in Calgary, Banff, and Canmore, and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce members.

The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement, and all representations of warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not of the publisher.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in all or in part, without the written permission of the publisher. Canadian publications mail sales product agreement No. 41126516 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to circulation dept.

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www.businessincalgary.com 6 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Find us online! www.businessincalgary.com

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Contents

50

Volume 23 • Number 6

THIS MONTH’S FEATURES 26 • The Theatre of Protests

By Parker Grant

33 • What’s this GPS Doing in my Tractor?

Farming Goes High-Tech

What’s in the cab of combines and under the hoods of tractors is a lot more complicated than it used to be. Technology in agriculture is turning farming from a weather-dependent industry into acres of mass efficiency.

By Nerissa McNaughton

38 • Corporate Responsibility and Environmental Stewardship: A Natural Collaboration Corporations put their money, time and resources into environmental sustainability

By Nerissa McNaughton

50 • Curb Appeal

Tightening market conditions may encourage some homeowners who have been waiting to list their home to finally get on the market.

Having good curb appeal will help leverage even more out of the sale.

By Heather Ramsay

67 • Economic Diversification: Alberta’s Quiet Transformation

By Ben Freeland

70 • Fixed-Base Operations

Business flying perfected

By Debra Ward, Canadian Business Aviation Association

96

75 • Boomers: The Suddenly Hot Consumers

By John Hardy

96 • Confessions of the Golf Whisperer

By John Hardy

BOMA CALGARY NEWS 57 • Summer 2013

67 REGULAR COLUMNS 10 • Living in the Age of Insecurity

By Richard Bronstein

12 • The Temporary Foreign Worker Program

By Frank Atkins

14 • How I Remember Ralph

By Lonnie Tate

101 • Leading Business

COMPANY PROFILES 24 • Bow Cycle North 31 • G.K. Hills Tank Inspection 80 • Regal Building Materials

Building Success by Finding the Perfect Fit: Aligning the right people with the right jobs

85 • Premiere Van Lines 35 Years of ‘Moving Excellence’

90 • Lynn Donaldson & Associates Celebrates 25 Years

94 • Alberta Boot Company Celebrates 35 Years

Centre feature • Renfrew Insurance Celebrating 65 Years

105 • The Calgary Report

Current developments for Calgary Telus Convention Centre, Tourism Calgary, Calgary Economic Development, and Innovate Calgary

110 • Marketing Matters

By David Parker

8 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

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Living in the Age of Insecurity • Richard Bronstein

By RichaRd BRonstein

Living in the age of insecurity

t

his fall will mark 12 years since the brazen terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

Although there have been mass terrorist attacks since then – the Madrid and London bombings come to mind, as does the recent Boston Marathon attack – there are signs that western nations are becoming stronger and more effective in dealing with terrorist threats.

Right after 9/11 the U.S. adopted a muscular military approach. President Bush called it the War on Terrorism.

It resulted in war in Iraq followed by war in Afghanistan.

America and its allies suffered thousands of casualties and squandered untold treasure for very meagre results. Eventually Osama bin Laden was located and killed but we practically destroyed two countries to do it.

A better approach is to invest in intelligence and law enforcement, especially since most terrorism is of the lonewolf variety – individuals or small groups acting alone.

The two Muslim immigrants arrested recently in Canada for allegedly planning to blow up a passenger train were turned in by a tip to police from a member of the Toronto Muslim community.

That tip came, in large part, because Canadian security services have realized that it must establish contacts and trust with key immigrant groups in Canada. That is not easy to do because it takes years of work to establish relationships with new Canadians, many of whom escaped countries where police, military and other agencies of government are more feared than respected.

A critical aspect of intelligence is the sharing of information across jurisdictions, across agencies and across borders.

If you read what terrorism experts say, we need to do a lot more on this front.

But another thing we have gotten right is new legislation in Canada that will allow for preventive detention and compelled testimony from suspected terrorists.

Some civil rights advocates argue this new legislation will harm the civil liberties of the accused. They point to the Maher Arar case, a Canadian who was mistakenly sent to Syria where he was tortured. Omar Khadr may have also been wronged by the judicial apparatus in the U.S. No matter how odious you think his actions, he was trained to be a

terrorist by his family while still a child.

On the other hand, the state does need a stern set of powers to prevent imminent mass catastrophe. In the age of terrorism, that is the greater good. And there are important safeguards built in to the Canadian legislation to limit even those powers.

The third leg of this stool is the most difficult. What do you do about Internet chat rooms that extol violence?

For example, it is said that the Boston bombers were influenced by the postings of Anwar al-Awlaki, the U.S./Yemini imam who was killed by an American drone attack in September 2011. Al-Awlaki was also the inspiration behind the Fort Hood gunman. There must be hundreds if not thousands of Internet sources of hate, violence and deranged ideas.

So far we have not had a reasonable discussion about the issue of policing the Internet. (Prevention of child pornography and sexual violence are also part of this discussion.)

The question is how much surveillance are we prepared to allow? We do permit security cameras in public spaces.

That’s how the Boston bombers were caught. But are we prepared to allow monitoring of all digital communication?

Not sure about that. But the government has an obligation to venture into this territory and seriously consult all stakeholders in what will be a long-haul effort to try and rein in those who use the Internet to encourage hate, rage and violence.

I think we all felt relieved that law enforcement agencies quickly solved the Boston bombings. And I think we all felt pride in how all of Boston rallied to carry on with life in the aftermath of a terrible disaster.

And that may be a key lesson for all of us. Fighting terrorism is a long-term occupation requiring many specific skill sets. But building a better society for all is also a lifelong endeavour. Our best security is a society that is based on the rules of law, on mutual respect, and on openness and inclusion.

We don’t delegate this responsibility to police, courts or any other public agency. We allow government to administer on our behalf, but society has to set the goals through involvement in political and social action and cultural expression.

That is our ultimate strength against rogue terrorists. BiC

10 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

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09/05/13 4:43 PM

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program • Frank Atkins

U

nfortunately, most students only take two economics courses – microeconomics and macroeconomics – both at the introductory level. I say unfortunately, because students come away with a somewhat misleading view of how an economy works. This is especially true of macroeconomics, which is my discipline. We teach that there is one market for labour, one wage rate and something that we call equilibrium. Notice the following facts. The unemployment rate in Canada is 7.2 per cent, which implies a considerable excess supply of labour. The unemployment rate in Alberta is 4.5 per cent, which is hovering near the mythical full-employment range. We do not seem to discuss this in introductory macroeconomics.

The problem here is that the labour market is not a homogeneous entity.

Canada is a highly regional country, with different industries operating in different regions. Even within a region and within an industry there are different types of labour; for instance, skilled and unskilled. This leads to the problem of matching specific job demands with the type of labour that is available. This is a little bit more of a complicated version of the introductory textbook supply and demand problem.

So, we seem to be in a situation where we have excess supply of labour

in some areas (high unemployment) and excess demand for labour in other regions (low unemployment). There are various reasons for this. Apparently a great number of people do not like to move if they cannot find a job where they are currently living. There is also the problem that government policy is creating a disincentive to move through the employment insurance (EI) program. The EI program essentially pays you to stay unemployed in the area in which you currently live.

Recently immigration policy has entered this discussion through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). One of the goals of this policy must have been to alleviate local labour shortages by bringing in foreign workers, at least on a temporary basis as the name of the program suggests.

Critics of this program argue that with unemployment very high (presumably just looking at the national unemployment rate), these temporary foreign workers are taking jobs that should go to Canadians. This begs the question of why are Canadians not taking these jobs that are being given to temporary foreign workers?

Some of the answer has to lie in the disincentives to move to where there are jobs that is created under the current EI program. This would not be the first time that one government program has created a problem that purports to be remedied by creation of

12 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

another government program. Some of the problem lies in the fact that some Canadians just do not want to take the jobs that are filled by foreign workers. This is actively supported by labour unions. A lot of labour union leaders are simply commissioned salespersons. As more individuals join the union, there is a higher overall level of collected union dues, not to mention more prestige for the union leaders. So the union leaders object to programs such as the TFWP because these foreign workers do not belong to their union.

There may be problems with the TFWP. For instance, the mandate that any foreign worker who comes in under the program must be paid 15 per cent less than a Canadian doing the job is just a recipe for disaster.

The federal government is currently trying to fix this type of obvious problem with the TFWP. Currently, it does not appear that we can solve the matching skills and jobs problem any other way. We should resist the predictable cries from the left and the unions that this program is harmful to Canadian workers. BiC

FrAnk ATkIns Is An AssocIATe ProFessor oF economIcs AT The UnIversITy oF cALgAry And A member oF The AdvIsory boArd oF The InsTITUTe For PUbLIc secTor AccoUnTAbILITy.

© 2013 Ernst & Young LLP. All Rights Reserved.

By Frank atkins

the temporary Foreign Worker Program

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how I remember ralph • Lonnie Tate

By Lonnie tate

how i Remember Ralph

i

t has been two months since Ralph Klein passed from this earth. I didn’t know him well, but I have two personal encounters that are worth repeating. And there is a really important moral for our politicians.

Twenty years ago, I was at a cocktail reception when I found Ralph standing alone in a big hotel room full of 300 people (which was surprising because he was the new premier of the province). I watched him for a couple of minutes and no one went near him. So I wandered over and introduced myself. After a minute of small talk, I asked a question about something the government was doing, and his answer was: “I really don’t know.” (I’m always impressed by people who say they don’t know.)

And then we shifted to issues in education and a dispute with teachers, and he knew everything. He didn’t need someone feeding him stuff; he had an in-depth understanding of the issues, the risks and the range of solutions for each of the issues. My casual introduction led to a half-hour discussion where he had answers to every question I could muster … I was blown away.

Turn the clock forward five or six years. While attending a charity auction, a friend of mine and I bought a box full of celebrities at a Flames game. To our great good fortune, Ralph was one of the guests. He was premier of the province and wandered in just like any other person. A couple of glasses of wine, some easy talk and 16 of us watched the first period.

At the end of the first period, Ralph and I were sitting in the outer seats of the box. The influx of well-wishers and autograph seekers began immediately. The crush of people (all well-intended) was uncomfortable for me. During a brief lull, I asked: “How can you stand this? Do you ever get a minute alone?”

Ralph’s response (while shaking yet another hand and signing another autograph): “My boy … I get a kick out of running things and solving problems, but the best part is doing this … I absolutely love it.”

It was a Saturday night game being covered by Hockey Night in Canada. HNC found out Ralph was in the crowd and the second intermission had Don Cherry in our box mugging for the national audience with Ralph. The interview was all 14 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

It is too bad we don’t have more Ralphs with vision and purpose.

All the anecdotes tell us he wasn’t perfect … but he was honest and worked hard at being honest. right; I watched it on television in the box. But while he hid it, I knew Ralph was uncomfortable with Cherry and the lights. He would have been far happier out shaking hands with his constituents or learning something from someone with serious thoughts.

And there is the difference between Ralph and today’s provincial politicians.

Ralph knew his stuff; and the stuff he knew was in tune with the sentiments of his constituents. He started from a base of real knowledge, tested it against reality and then led the province in achieving objectives that he believed in – as did most in the province. And so while he was endearing because of his style, he was even more likable because of his common-sense knowledge of the issues.

Our current provincial leaders are running around getting surveys done to find out what is needed. Incredibly, they don’t know! I’ve read and started to respond to two such surveys. In both cases, I was about halfway through when I realized that the questions being posed were predisposed to a solution that was unworkable. And when I dug a little deeper, the panel setting up the survey was heavily skewed to one side of the issue. What a bunch of nonsense.

It is my view that the leadership people in all our provincial parties are very much Americanized. They think their first job is to get re-elected. And the best way to do that is to carp on what they perceive as weaknesses in the other leaders’ personal makeup. They have cadres of bureaucrats who feed them gossip to achieve their goal (i.e., get re-elected).

It is too bad we don’t have more Ralphs with vision and purpose. All the anecdotes tell us he wasn’t perfect … but he was honest and worked hard at being honest. BiC

“Seems like regulations are increasing as fast as demand.”

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Assurance | Accounting | Taxation | Advisory Services Lorraine Walker Energy and Natural Resources Leader 403 213 2592 lwalker@bdo.ca www.bdo.ca BDO Canada LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership, is a member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO Member Firms.

off the Top • News

emdA Announces Winners of 2013 Awards Arlington street Investments snags commercial real estate deal of the year in 2011-12, so we bought it for our origiThe Exempt Market Dealers Assonal $2 million.” ciation of Canada (EMDA) recently Arlington was evaluated for the award announced the winners of the 2013 based on their leadership in the indusEMDA Awards - Exempt Market Deals of try, contribution to the deal, market the Year. The EMDA Awards are the only innovation, impact and the benefits of Canadian industry awards celebrating the deal for the issuer and for investors. prominent exempt market transactions Lonardelli says the return on investled by exempt market dealers. ment is probably what secured them as David Gilkes, EMDA vice-chair, states: this year’s commercial real estate deal “The EMDA believes it is time to start of the year. celebrating the success stories of the “I think our returns were probably a exempt market and honouring the leaders bit mind blowing to them – we returned driving those successes. EMDA awards back high triple digits to our inveswinners are helping to: (a) finance entretors on this development,” Lonardelli preneurs and innovators; (b) develop and explains. “And I think they just liked grow emerging businesses; and (c) creour whole investor-centric strategy. We ate successful alternative exempt market participate alongside our investors; we investment opportunities for Canadians.

Frank L. Lonardelli, president and CEO of Arlington Street Investments make money last and they make money Capital raised in the exempt market helps first. What I mean by that is that the finance economic activity across Canada investors get a preferred return generally speaking of 7.5 per and is an important contributor to creating wealth and fuelcent before we participate in any of the cash flow that comes ling our economy. The EMDA Awards celebrate excellence from the building.” and showcase examples of leadership in Canada’s exempt This is the 13th project Arlington has undertaken in the market.”

Calgary-based Arlington Street Investments was awarded manner – six of which have been located in Calgary – and the Commercial Real Estate Deal of the Year for a financare currently working on four new projects. ing syndication led by TriView Capital Ltd. through the 8th “I think every project we do is a win for three reasons.

Number one, investors do very, very well and when invesAvenue Limited Partnership. Essentially, they bought an tors do well, it is good for the whole industry. Secondly, we 18,000-square-foot languished building – located at 718 8 are taking really worn-down buildings in disrepair in vital Avenue SW – and converted it into a 35,000-square-foot intersections and vital growth nodes of Calgary, and we are boutique building for owner-managed business tenants. turning them into buildings that people are proud of. And “We actually put a bid on the building in 2007 when it then thirdly, I think it is a win for the development commuwas vacant,” says Frank L. Lonardelli, president and CEO of nity because we are letting people know that they shouldn’t Arlington Street Investments. “We bid $2 million, and some be scared of doing the types of things that we are doing. It syndicates here locally were far more optimistic than we were can be done and it can be done profitably.” BiC and bought it for $4.2 million. They were going into default

Pivot data centres Announces major expansion Largest and most advanced data centre ever to be built in Alberta Pivot Data Centres Inc. announced in April its construction of the largest and most advanced co-location facility ever to be built in Alberta. The data centre, which will be undergoing Uptime Institute’s Tier 3 certification process for design and construction, is planned for the greater Calgary area. Its size will exceed 80,000 square feet when complete, with capacity for over 1,000 racks. Phase 1, which represents 450 racks, is slated to open in late 2013. The expansion makes Pivot the largest co-location provider in Alberta.

“This is a very exciting day for Pivot Data Centres and we are proud to be announcing the construction of this state-of-the-art co-location data centre, the largest and most advanced of its kind in Alberta,” comments Michael Koury, chief executive officer.

Continued on page 20…

16 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Michael Koury, CEO of Pivot Data Centres

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ROD MCPIKE

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n the complex, vital and fiercely competitive oil and gas industry, Calgary’s Propak Systems Ltd. continues to not only earn a Canadian and an international reputation for excellence in oil and gas production packages, modularized processing plants and for being an innovative leader in engineering and fabrication but Propak manages to achieve tremendous success built on just three very basic and uncompromised principles: individual attention to every job; quality craftsmanship; and a solid commitment to deliver on-time and on-budget.

Formal corporate definitions (and the company’s comprehensive website) simplistically explain that Propak Systems Ltd. is “primarily an engineering, manufacturing and construction company.” Of course that qualifies as a gross understatement.

Technology, sophistication and new ways of doing things have drastically altered most aspects of the oil and gas industry during the past four decades. And Propak System’s growth is a credit to the company continually updating itself and its staff to stay solidly focused and on a steady course, assuring the industry with the latest and most efficient services.

Propak’s industry-leading specialties range from maximizing the use of modular design concepts as provenly effective methods to minimize overall project costs, improving project

schedules and allowing for thorough inspections in controlled environments; supplying engineering for oil and gas production, field gathering, midstream or product transmission; and providing custom-engineered products for all aspects of the oil and gas processing industry.

“It’s what we do and what we have done for more than 37 years,” says Patrick Dewey, Propak’s vice-president of sales.

“We are always up-to-date and change with the times and, aside from the tremendous growth to the point that we now have more than 1,300 staff, by far technology, computer capabilities and software have revolutionized not only the oil and gas industry but the processing supply and service side of the business. The biggest change in the engineering

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respected industry executive, McPike is also a notoriously self-effacing person who avoids any recognition and credit.

If the truth be told, according to his management team, industry leaders and some of the competition, Rod McPike’s exceptional understanding of the needs, wants and quirks of the oil and gas processing industry together with his tireless determination, drive and vision have guided Propak into its 37th year of being a truly remarkable, state-of-the-art oil and gas industry success story.

“Rod is actively involved and very hands-on,” Dewey says. “His involvement has not changed a bit. His expertise in managing the business is legendary and he gets involved in all aspects of the company. He’s consistently one of the first people in the office every day and he’s probably the guy making the coffee first thing in the morning.”

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aspects of our work is the 3D modelling of plant facilities and projects.

“It has revolutionized the industry and has made everything so much more efficient,” Dewey explains.

Propak has designed hundreds of oil and gas processing plants and thousands of process and compression modules worldwide.

To compliment it’s geographic diversity Propak has utilized it owned engineering and modularization capacity which has now grown to 450,000 SF of fabrication and offices located on 65 acres to expand into modularized turnkey SAGD (steam assisted gravity drainage) heavy oil processing projects.

When it comes to sheer engineering services, Propak continues to be a world leader, being involved as “engineering only” or “complete project” services for process, project, mechanical, civil, instrumentation, automation and electrical aspects of the industry.

“It’s very exciting in the oil and gas industry,” Dewey mentions. “There are so many big and sometimes exhilarating changes on a regular basis. Like the recent growth for Propak to supply natural gas compression systems both domestically and internationally. It’s a dynamic new area for us.”

One of the several solid constants in the world-renowned Propak success story is company president, Rod McPike. Although he is a tremendously

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off the Top • News …continued from page 16

With the highest concentration of head offices, per capita, in Canada, Calgary has been a tremendously robust market for the company and has drawn international attention.

“Beyond local interest, we are seeing a strong uptick from companies across Canada and internationally, who are looking for a data centre presence in Western Canada,” states Koury.

The data centre announcement comes just six months after Pivot opened a 40,000-squarefoot data centre in Edmonton, which is more than 50 per cent occupied. Additionally, the company has added a full megawatt of power to its centrally-located data centre in Calgary. Pivot’s growth is over 30 per cent year-overyear, compared to industry norms of 8-12 per cent growth.

With the new data centre, the company will have tripled its capacity in the last two years, and continues to have strong financial support to achieve its growth objectives.

Koury cites Pivot’s unique and expert approach to data centre design, its flexibility and its unparalleled private suite environments as key drivers for the company’s success. “We have been in business for almost a quarter century, and our success today is founded on our openness to listening and working with customers. As an example of that, we are agnostic to multiple Internet connection providers, which is something customers have told us is very important.”

The new data centre will include such features as indirect outside air cooling capability to maximize energy efficiency, biometric security systems, redundant power, redundant cooling and advanced fire detection and suppression systems, as well as 7x24 on-site security and technical support teams. The data centre will also house a fully-equipped business resumption centre for its customers and will be SSAE-16 and PCI compliant. BiC

Take Part in the 2013 greek Festival The greek Festival 2013 will take place June 21-23, 2013 at the hellenic community centre Festivals have been a religious and cultural tradition of Greek society since ancient times. Primarily held to honour or receive favour from the gods or to celebrate the changing of the seasons, this ancient rite was characterized by music, dance, athletic competitions, wine, and of course, food. It was an excuse for the entire community to join and celebrate the ideals of family, friendship and philoxenia – generosity towards strangers. The most famous of the ancient festivals was the Olympic Games.

For the two weeks during which the Games were held, wars were put on hold and enemies came together to compete honourably and to celebrate

their common gods and goddesses.

Once the games were over, soldiers returned to the battlefield. This pause is a testament to the power of friendship and celebration. Today, festivals continue in this spirit of generosity, education and sharing.

Calgary’s annual Greek Festival is the perfect opportunity to share the Hellenic culture with fellow Calgarians. When something works, why change it? So, this festival, too, is about music, dance, wine and food.

It’s also about coming together as friends, having a good time, and saying, “efharisto” (thank you) to Calgarians while supporting community youth projects, the development of

Souvlaki

20 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Baklava

the community and the official charity partner – Kids Cancer Care.

Kids Cancer Care is passionately dedicated to helping young people and their families affected by childhood cancer survive and thrive in body, mind and spirit. Their programs are uniquely designed to meet the needs of the whole family at each stage in the cancer journey, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

As members of the greater Calgary community, the Greek Festival has partnered with Kids Cancer Care as the official festival charity again this year.

Please come out, have some food and drink. More importantly, celebrate and have fun. BiC

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off the Top • News

children’s Wish Foundation drives Away with van donated by rotary club of calgary sarcee Following up on the hugely successful “Art from the Heart” live auction benefit gala in May 2012, the Rotary Club of Calgary Sarcee raised approximately $40,000 which went towards the purchase of a van for the Children’s Wish Foundation. The van, which hit the road in early 2012, provides trouble-free transport for children and their families while creating easier access for children to make their wishes come true.

According to Kyla Martin, chapter director for Alberta and the Northwest Territories, Children’s Wish was very thankful to be selected as the auction recipient and was honoured to work with Rotary members.

“The Children’s Wish Foundation has 12 chapters across Canada and prior to (the) generous gift there was only one Wish Mobile in Eastern Canada,” says Martin. “We are the envy of all the other chapters. Although we have only had it for a few months, we have already ventured to Drayton Valley, Lethbridge and Edmonton (a number of times). Driving the Wish Mobile is an experience all within itself. In addition to the friendly waves from complete strangers, we have been stopped at red lights for a multitude of questions: ‘Do you need any volunteers? How can we help? How do I refer a child for a wish?’ The Wish Mobile is really our travelling billboard.”

Martin adds, “In addition to creating awareness, the Wish Mobile has also assisted us with reducing some expenses. In the past, we would have to pay for courier service to transport some item wishes … now we can do it ourselves. Preparing for events is easier, as we only have to load up one vehicle and there is room for everything. We have even had some requests for the Wish Mobile to be at community events – it is like another mascot.”

The van was on display at a recent Rotary Club meeting at the Sheraton

(L-R): Joyce Halpenny, Kyla Martin, Janet Balfour

Hotel in Eau Claire. Members of both the Rotary Club and the Children’s Wish Foundation proudly showed off the newest vehicle that will be seen driving Calgary’s streets.

The talents of 30 members of this specific Rotary Club have resulted in donations of over one million dollars over the past 15 years. The 2013 “Art from the Heart” auction took place at the beginning of May and raised approximately $50,000 for Easter Seals Camp Horizon to buy 60 new camp beds and mattresses.

According to charter member, Doug Fosbrooke, it is imperative to give back to local charities. “It is important to contribute to charities and support them because charities in their own right need all the financial help they can get as well as expertise from groups such as Rotary. There are some wonderful charities in this city and they work very hard.”

When Fosbrooke came up with the idea for the auction 15 years ago, he set two criteria: to support children’s charities and to designate the money for capital expenses. Another key component was to highlight artists, and to ensure they profited from the auction.

Unlike other charity auctions, where artists are asked to donate their item for free, Art from the Heart gives the

22 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

artist 50 per cent from the sale price and 50 per cent in the form of a tax receipt. It is for this reason that Fosbrooke says the auction has become a premier event – instead of getting an item that hasn’t sold in five years, they are getting high-end and fresh art specially created for the charity event.

“It’s two for the price of one,” says Fosbrooke. “We raise money for charity and we give exposure to the artists.” BiC

Correction The Human Resources Institute (HRIA) would like to apologize for the incorrect of spelling the 2013 Rising Star winner - Celia Koehler in the Celebrating Excellence announcement in the May issue of Business in Calgary.

T

Rendering is an artistic representation only, may not be exactly as shown. Developer reserves the right to make changes.

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ish list, bucket list or just some enjoyable, recreational fun, Bow Cycle North is a 56 year tradition of excitement and good times in Calgary.

Recreational good fun was much different when Jim Sibthorpe Sr. first opened the doors of Bow Cycle and Motor in 1957. The customers were having good fun with ...bicycles, toys, simple sporting equipment, fishing tackle and the occasional Lambretta scooter and moped.

Fast forward to lots of ‘more serious’ and advanced fun and good times to about 1998, when Todd Starchuk---a long-time employee and sponsored racer whose grandfather had been friends with Jim Sr. ---started working in the sales deparment of Bow Cycle & Motor. The “sport” in power sports was in his blood and, although he enjoyed interacting with Bow Cycle & Motor customers (and comparing exciting experiences) he felt an irresistible urge to be ‘on’ the machines more than just selling them.

In 2002, the owner retired and Todd Starchuk bought the Bow Cycle & Motor family business which had become a Calgary landmark for fellow power sport enthusiasts.

Recreational good fun gradually became serious good

fun and Todd’s weakness for power sports solidified into a full-blown passion. Bow Cycle & Motor grew and continued to expand with the loyalty of Calgary power sport customers.

“There have been so many changes in the industry, even since I started working here 15 years ago,” he remembered.

“The products are so amazing and so many options at every level. Not only the motorcycles but snowmobiling, ATVs, side by sides and even watercraft has grown in popularity so much in the past 10 years. The snowmobile season is much longer than most people think, the snowmobile market is as strong as ever and it’s equal with motorcycles and maybe the backbone of our Calgary business.”

Literally ‘by popular demand’ and the Calgary tradition that Bow Cycle has become, this spring, Todd opened a second location in 2008 – Bow Cycle South, continuing to win industry and consumer awards for being Calgary’s best fullservice power sports dealership.

The two locations of Bow Cycle---Bow Cycle South on Flint Road SE and the new Bow Cycle North on Bowfort Road NW (adjacent to Olympic Park)---not only carry

8525 Bowfort Rd NW Calgary, AB T3B 2V2 • Phone: 403.288.5421 • Fax: 403.286.4014 • www.bowcyclecalgary.com

everything that’s power sports (the North location being a Ducati, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Can-am, Sea-doo, and Ski-doo dealership and the south just strictly BRP product Can-am, Sea-doo, and Ski-doo) but new Bow Cycle customers are sometimes blown-away by the expertise of the Bow Cycle service, parts and accessories departments.

Todd says that servicing power sports machines is quickly becoming a science and all the certified Bow Cycle technicians are constantly getting upgraded and can troubleshoot almost anything.

Selling new ‘machines’ is important but, as Todd admits, qualified, expert power sports service is much in-demand and very important.

The credibility of our Service Department is absolutely astounding,” he says. “We have some of the most qualified and experienced, factory-trained technicians on-duty during all business hours. And even the competition mentions that we have one of the largest accessory departments in Canada.”

Bow Cycle caters to the gamut of power sport needs and wants. There’s a full showroom of bike apparel---everything

from helmets to boots---and they also “customize the ride.”

Mostly bikes and sometimes even the occasional Sea-Doo and Ski-Doo can be customized however the owner wants it to look.

Of course the products---the machines---are tremendously popular with Calgarians but the Bow Cycle staff (including the boss) genuinely loves what they do and going out on-the-road to enjoy riding is almost part of the Bow Cycle job description. “When it comes to power sports, we all live it and feel it,” Todd says.

And that special kind of Bow Cycle enthusiasm is obvious when it comes to either answering power sports questions, talking about the machines or looking after customers in the Service Department.

“When I look back on it, owning this store and our tremendous growth and reputation is almost a dream,” Todd says. I still make time to ride about three days a week. And I urge the staff to ride regularly. It’s all about reinforcing the culture and it helps all of us relate to our customers.

“And most of our customers are repeat or referrals. And that really is the ultimate feedback and customer response!”

8525 Bowfort Rd NW Calgary, AB T3B 2V2 • Phone: 403.288.5421 • Fax: 403.286.4014 • www.bowcyclecalgary.com

The Theatre of Protests • Oil & Gas

The Theatre of Protests

BY PARKER GRANT

I

f there was an industrial version of Jeopardy, Oil and Gas for $200 would be: “Oilsands oil will be produced and find its way to refiners by rail, by barge, by truck or by pipe.” The answer (always in the form of a question) would be: “What’s the point of the protests, Alex?”

Whether it’s well-co-ordinated large groups or bused-in or random clusters of well-intentioned and concerned protesters with banners and placards outside Calgary head offices, at Fort McMurray job sites, in the lobby during board of directors meetings, outside the legislature building in Edmonton or in front of the White House in Washington, the leaks and rumours about Barack Obama’s imminent signature on the Keystone pipeline “permit” approval is triggering more bouts of carefully planned and impromptu protests.

To varying degrees, most openly-biased industry insiders, balanced and slanted media and provoked protest opponents respect the right and opportunity for people to protest but either realistically or begrudgingly acknowledge that a basic aspect of protest is theatre, for effect.

The basic strategy and tools of protests are also a given: cheering and jeering, catchphrases (“raping and pillaging the lands”), provocative words (dirty oil), out-of-context facts, details and numbers, hyperboles, animated and excitable spokespeople, noise and the fact of media-coverage life that the responses rarely get as much attention as the protest.

It happens about abortion, immigrants, mad cows, taxes, sugary pop, racism, baby seals, whales and polar bears, climate change and generally savaging the planet.

Unfortunately, while most protests are unconditionally well intentioned, the passion and the emotions of the protestors often misses the legitimate points, confuses the actual situation and must settle for cheap attention and fickle gut reactions from a small segment of the public they had hoped to sway or incite.

26 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Alex Pourbaix, TransCanada Corp.’s president of energy and oil pipelines

“Negativity always gets more attention than positivity,” shrugs Alex Pourbaix, TransCanada Corp.’s admittedly biased president of energy and oil pipelines. “But whether it is supposedly about the pipeline or any other hot issue, people ultimately know when they are being manipulated and when it comes to the frequent oilsand and Keystone

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The Theatre of Protests • Oil & Gas

protests, the average Albertan definitely sees through it.”

According to Philip Cross, a former Statistics Canada official and now research coordinator with Ottawa’s respected Macdonald-Laurier Institute think-tank, “Protestors on contentious social issues tend to be very simplistic and short sighted. Although the average person may politely respect the opinions, they invariably do see through the shrill claims.”

While the recent and ongoing protests, on both sides of the longest unguarded and friendly border in the world, chant concerns and outrage about oil polluting the environment and the mammoth pipeline that would be the allegedly hazardous to move the culprit oil to its refining destinations, the industry’s self-confessed, biased insiders and objective experts seem to agree that most of the rallying-cry protest issues are unrealistic, faulty, inaccurate, misleading and

t

Philip Cross, research coordinator with Ottawa’s respected Macdonald-Laurier Institute think-tank

Dr. Michal Moore, professor at the University of Calgary’s Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE)

sometimes naive, intended to excite more than convince.

“The facts undisputedly show that Alberta disposable incomes are way

ahead of the rest of the country,” Cross points out, “and it’s overwhelmingly due to the energy sector.”

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The Theatre of Protests • Oil & Gas

…most industry experts (and even some rational protestors) acknowledge that a true transition to renewable energy will take, at the very least, three or four decades. spoken Dr. Michal Moore, professor at the University of Calgary’s Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE) and a visiting professor at the iconic Cornell University in New York, most protests are a distortion of the truth. “They are usually silly and nonsensical and don’t recognize the realities of life. Protest rhetoric usually substitutes shorthand for the real issues. The battle cry is ‘I’m against taxes’ not against all the things that taxes provide for me.

“The recent pipeline protests are prime examples. Much of what we have, see and enjoy in Alberta is due, in one form or another, to the chemical industry,” he snaps. “Look, let’s face it, the industry supports us all.

“There are environmental and economic risks to extracting any natural resources – risks of getting it out, transporting it and processing it.

The undisputable bottom line is that pipelines are tested, documented and provenly the safest way to move product. Of course they must be (and are) very strictly regulated, regularly inspected and must comply with uncompromised safety and regulatory standards but pipelines are definitely a minimized risk. They are routinely used, without incident, to move water, waste, natural gas, other chemicals and, yes, oil,” Moore says as an adamant analogy.

The facts, figures and documented industry research and opinions make

an un-protestable case for reality when it comes to North America’s insatiable oil habit.

By all calculations, stats and projections about even well-intentioned and noble wishes and goals – like Barack Obama’s urge “to transition toward more sustainable sources of energy and greater energy independence” – most industry experts (and even some rational protestors) acknowledge that a true transition to renewable energy will take, at the very least, three or four decades.

“Electric cars, for example, need batteries and they don’t go nearly far enough for the average North American consumer and they require conveniently accessible recharging stations,” Moore

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The Theatre of Protests • Oil & Gas

Besides supporting long-term U.S. energy security, TransCanada’s multibillion-dollar oil pipeline system (just waiting for the American president’s signature) is a much-needed and major positive for the U.S. economy because it means – jobs. Lots of jobs. itemizes. “And now we know that electric cars are quite a bit more expensive and the consumer will likely not pay the premium. If electric cars catch on at all, it will be a very gradual penetration over a long period of time.

“We simply haven’t invented very many good substitutes for the way we prefer and are used to living. We need and must have a car.”

TransCanada Corp.’s Pourbaix uses basic facts and statistics to make his point about a somewhat simple answer to the familiar and contentious arguments of protestors.

“Every morning in North America, we turn the ignition key in 300 million vehicles. One day that may change but, for now and for the foreseeable future, that’s the way it is.

The marketplace has resoundingly said it needs oil.

“In Alberta we have over one million barrels a day of contract for an average term of 17 years,” he explains. “It may be frustrating for some protestors to deal with but the oilsands are definitely going to get developed irrespective of Keystone being built or not, and that oil will find its way to market. The question is “which market?” because the marketplace dictates what is produced and what is refined. The pipelines just transport it.”

Pourbaix chooses not to get baited into protest rebuttals but continues to plead his rational case where it counts: in Ottawa and Washington, as he did this April when he addressed the U.S. Congress, making the point that despite protests for alternate energies and accusations about oil

30 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

destroying the planet, “The U.S. consumes 15 million barrels of oil each day and imports eight to nine million barrels. For the foreseeable future, oil is a necessity.

“The vital question is: does the U.S. want its oil from a friendly neighbour like Canada and domestic sources like the Bakken play or does it want to continue importing higher-priced foreign oil from nations that do not support U.S. values. It’s that simple.”

While some protestors were getting some curiosity for their cause, Pourbaix and his diverse delegation were underscoring their Washington pitch with a potent American closer.

Besides supporting long-term U.S. energy security, TransCanada’s multibillion-dollar oil pipeline system (just waiting for the American president’s signature) is a muchneeded and major positive for the U.S. economy because it means – jobs. Lots of jobs. He is quick and passionate about explaining that TransCanada currently employs more than 4,000 American workers building the Gulf Coast Project in Texas and Oklahoma and that translates to thousands of welders, mechanics, electricians, labourers, safety coordinators, heavy equipment operators and others.

“Most people aren’t so gullible that they buy into the rhetoric of protests, but you can never be sure what some people are thinking,” grins the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Philip Cross. “Remember: 20-25 per cent of Americans don’t believe man actually landed on the moon.” BiC

PROFILE

O

f the many people working in importantly for its clients, however, Alberta’s oil and gas industry, the popular tank inspection company there are a handful like Beth delivers their unique 64-point (per Brueckner, to whom it is a passion. With tank) inspection reports in as little as 30 years experience in the sector, includinclud seven days (as opposed to the previprevi ing valuable experience as an Energy ous standard which was measured Resources Conservation Board inspector in months) all while meeting the clicli and more than 10 years as a sought-after ent’s Integrity Management and fiscal industry consultant, her enthusiasm is budget requirements. G.K. Hills Tank unrivalled. Brueckner, the focused and Inspection also assures peace of mind dynamic founder and principal of G.K. that the tank and associated equipequip Hills Tank Inspection, has an unmistakeunmistake ment is in regulatory compliance and able affection for the industry and her not in jeopardy of being shut down. company’s niche specialty.

Not only do they complete reports in In her quietly composed way, weeks, their system boasts more attenatten Brueckner explains that with the tion to detail and lower costs than the Beth Brueckner, Principal growing awareness of environmental competition. impact, more and more companies are The general consensus in western implementing Integrity Programs. Enter G.K. Hills Tank Canada is that G.K. Hills Tank Inspection is transforming Inspection, a company designed to meet the rising need for the way upstream tank inspection services are handled. streamlined processes in oil and gas industry. A little over “We are entering an interesting era – everyone expects a year since its official launch, the company is growing real-time results and information sharing has to be fast. quickly as it’s welcomed by industry thanks to an absolute Add to that a growing corporate and public awareness of adherence to quality, safety, efficiency and value. the benefit of reduced environmental impact. And it’s not With extensive experience reviewing inspection reports just local, we operate in a global market, as an industry, we for pressure equipment and tanks, Brueckner sensed more have to demand the best efficiencies.” and more industry demand for tank inspection services As Beth Brueckner intended it, the innovative comcom that were faster and more cost-effective for clients. She’s pany has uncovered a vital opportunity and responded still not sure if it was opportunity or intuition that trigtrig with a faster more reliable way to provide a cost-efficient gered the company. In any event, her unique ability to inspection service that has proven repeatable and consisorganize the work flow and see the big picture has given tent. Brueckner reiterates in her understated fashion, “the her a running start and she hasn’t looked back. The facts emphasis on excellence and proficiency is the cornerstone confirm it. There is a large gap in industry understandunderstand of our commitment to our clients.” ing and adherence in regulatory areas, specifically where With its unprecedented growth, the success story that upstream tank inspections are concerned. is G.K. Hills Tank Inspection begs only one question and Over the course of a decade, while working as a conit has nothing to do with the industry or the inspection sultant, Brueckner performed extensive research and of tanks. Clients (and even the competition) invariably eventually created customized proprietary systems which wonder about the company name! Did Brueckner buy the are unique to G.K. Hills Tank Inspection. “I bring to the company or does it belong to someone else? table an innovative and stream lined system that allows us “People are a bit surprised but G.K. Hills was my late to fast-track tank inspection services while aligning with uncle! He consistently stood for integrity and told me the Client’s Integrity Program,” she says. “Our little inside to always treat people with respect,” she explained. “He joke is that we can deliver completed reports faster than passed away but in a small way his legacy lives on. I the competition can dry their ink,” she adds, tongue in named the company after him because his values ARE the cheek. company’s values: integrity and respect respect.”

So how do they do it? For starters, G.K. Hills Tank Inspection applies state-of-the-art technology to the API 12 Series construction design, ensuring no inspection overkill. More

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What’s this GPS Doing in my Tractor? • Agriculture

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What’s in the cab of combines and under the hoods of tractors is a lot more complicated than it used to be. Technology in agriculture is turning farming from a weather-dependent industry into acres of mass efficiency.

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enry George has farming in his blood. His father started Parkland Farm Equipment in 1949 and the business, which sits just outside of Edmonton in Stony Plain, is still going strong today. George took over operations in 1972. During his 40-plus years of buying and selling farm equipment, he has seen many changes. “The machines are bigger and the farms are bigger. They have gone from a few acres to thousands of acres. Everything has changed.”

The question is, why?

The answer is technology.

The way we farm has changed dramatically in the past few decades. The most startling example of this change was seen in George’s shop. A massive tractor unit was in for repairs and it easily commanded nearly a third of Parkland Farm Equipment’s generously sized shop. Built-in steps on the cab allowed for entry into the behemoth while tank-style treads showed terrain was no challenge for this monster. A mechanic, a small spec of a man amidst the sheer size of the machinery, ran diagnostic tests by accessing the tractor’s inner computer systems.

Sitting humbly in the shadow of the great machine was a little yellow tractor.

So dwarfed by its contemporary peer was this small tractor that one nearly tripped over it before discovering it was there. Instead of using computerized diagnostics to fix this veteran of the field, a mechanic had taken her apart the old-fashioned way—with a wrench and a few other hand-held tools.

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What’s this GPS Doing in my Tractor? • Agriculture

“I like working on these older machines,” the mechanic points out with a smile. “They are easy. You don’t need to run diagnostics or use a laptop to fix them.” He says the tractor was from the ’60s, and although it was in for a bit of maintenance, it was still being used. The massive tractor towering over it was already aging at 10 years old.

Size is not the only thing that has increased for farm equipment. The price has, too. The biggest combine you could purchase in 1977 would put you back $41,000. The biggest one you can purchase today comes with a $500,000 price tag. “The cost is worth it, because it’s more productive,” George insists.

One of the things driving the prices and the productivity of these machines is also one of the biggest changes George has seen to date: the addition of global positioning systems, or GPS as they are better known.

Sanford Gleddie, the vice-president of operations for The Little Potato Company, is no stranger to the benefits of GPS in farm equipment. “I don’t think you’ll find a farmer anywhere in Canada without a GPS taking all the fun out of it!” Gleddie laughs. “You don’t have to work hard to drive a straight line anymore.”

But why GPS? Are the farms so big that you can get lost going from one end of the field to the other? Not exactly.

Gleddie explains, “GPS is used for driving a straight line.

The reason that is so important is that you get maximum yield out of your field. You don’t get gaps or overlaps.” As the machines grew in size, farmers lost the ability to pilot them efficiently. Imagine looking over a 60-foot boom while driving eight kilometres an hour. The cab is in the middle of the boom. Without the guidance of the GPS, it is easy to see how you can over-plant one area while completely missing another.

In addition to guidance, the GPS helps map the field.

When you know which areas produce the highest yield, you can determine what is going right in that area and how to apply those conditions to the underperforming sections.

That brings us to another technology: yield monitors.

“Yield monitors, like the ones for canola, have a weigh scale that measures on the go as you harvest. It ties into your GPS,” Gleddie says.

Yield monitors may not be relevant to potato producers, but precision planting equipment is, and that is a technology The Little Potato Company embraces with enthusiasm. “Precision planting equipment has improved,” Gleddie admits.

“Placement means accuracy of depth and spacing, and this affects the yield. Today’s planting equipment allows you to achieve [optimal] depth and spacing.”

The advancement of farming equipment also means increased flexibility. “There were no harvesters specifically

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What’s this GPS Doing in my Tractor? • Agriculture

A small yellow tractor from the ’60s is in for repair

A mechanic repairs the small yellow tractor

suited for little potatoes 10 years ago,” Gleddie recalls.

This was a problem for farms like The Little Potato Company, whose tiny gems are 1/10 the size of a baking potato. After years of making do with harvesters whose chains were too large and whose operations were not gentle enough for small spuds, he is pleased that the last decade has produced harvesters that can be adapted for non-standard produce.

Gleddie is also pleased about how technology has leaped from the field to processing and packing plants. Starting about six years ago, The Little Potato Company was able to take advantage of optical graders. An optical grader is a camera programmed to pick out produce under certain criteria. For The Little Potato Company, this criterion is substandard potatoes. “The potatoes fall in a stream in front of a bank of cameras, and the cameras photograph each one. It’s

www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 35

What’s this GPS Doing in my Tractor? • Agriculture

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programmed to pick out and kick out defect potatoes. Then a manual grade is done, but now it is so much faster.”

While GPS, yield monitors and cameras have brought farming equipment into the digital age, the mechanics of the equipment have benefited from advanced technology as well. Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME) is the largest independent dealer of Case IH equipment in Canada, and the second largest in the world. RME operates 40 dealerships across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. There are several locations in Calgary and the surrounding area, including Balzac and High River.

Darryl Priel is Rocky Mountain Equipment’s Western Canada Case IH specialist for high-horsepower tractors.

Some of the mechanical changes Priel has seen over the last decade include: • The Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) tier 4A emission control system: SCR benefits include cooler exhaust temperatures, increased power, improved fuel efficiency, greater durability, increased reliability and lengthened service intervals.

• The Steiger Rowtrac four-track system for Steiger tractors, which provides more power to the ground, greater flexibility for different cropping systems and increased efficiency.

36 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

• Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) in Puma and Magnum tractors provides smoother power to the ground through infinite gear ratios that allow the operating controller to find the perfect balance of power and efficiency.

• A self-levelling grain cleaning system (SLS) that features a full width grain pan and vast sieve area for superior capacity and efficiency.

• CVT rotor and feeder house drives on the flagship Axial-Flow combines, which provide the fewest drive components that allow for harvesting control, intuitive operation and maximum uptime.

• Diesel Saver Automatic Productivity Control (APM) systems, as seen in Puma, Magnum and Steiger tractors. The APM system automatically adjusts the engine speed and transmission ratio for maximum fuel efficiency.

Priel notes that revised emission control systems are particularly popular. “This has allowed Case IH to remove all of the pollution control systems from the engines manufactured

by FPT that are featured in AxialFlow combines, 4430 Patriot Sprayer, Maxxum, Puma, Magnum and Steiger tractors,” says Priel. “The emissions are now being controlled using SCR,

What’s this GPS Doing in my Tractor? • Agriculture

or post-combustion exhaust treatment. This allows the engine to utilize clean air for combustion, providing efficient power to the vehicle. An added bonus to this technology is extended engine oil service intervals out to 600 hours.”

Laird Munro, director of marketing and communications for Rocky Mountain Equipment, knows that farming still requires a great deal of physical, mental and financial fortitude. He also knows today’s farmers must also have vision.

“The modern, progressive farmer in search of higher yields, lower output costs and greater overall efficiency is likely to employ GPS technology to control and steer equipment that is linked to data-rich information sets on soil types, moisture levels and historical yields, while checking on global commodity prices and trends from a smartphone or tablet device,” says Munro. “It’s still hard work – but today, it’s much more about being smart and innovative as it is about having stamina and strength.”

GPS, yield monitors, cameras that pick out defective produce, power-train technology and Selective Catalytic Reduction. We’ve come a long way from two oxen yoked together to plow a field. These are big changes over a relatively short period of time. Is it worth it? According to the experts, it certainly is.

“Farmers can farm more efficiently with less labour,” George concludes.

“SCR provides cleaner air for future generations and helps to preserve and improve the global environment,” states Priel.

“The new technology improves efficiency through covering more land with less equipment, less manpower and less application overlap. This allows for improved return on investment for the food producers.”

Perhaps it is Gleddie who wraps it up best with his summary of the situation. “If you screw up planting, you can’t get it back.” BiC

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www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 37

corporate responsibility

Corporate Responsibility and Environmental Stewardship: A Natural Collaboration corporations put their money, time and resources into environmental sustainability BY neRissa McnaUGhton

c

orporations are interested in making profit. That is their ultimate goal and the reason they prosper from year to year. Gone, however, are the old stereotypes of corporate greed; the company that reaches for the almighty dollar at all costs. These days the biggest names in business are just as focused on taking care of their employees, on giving back to their communities and especially on minimizing their impact on the environment. When it comes to environmental stewardship, companies are taking precautions like never before – and they are finding creative ways to ensure the land left behind is a land that will sustain generations to come.

38 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Pius Rolheiser, a spokesman for Imperial Oil, is excited about the ways the company’s Cold Lake and Kearl projects have gone green.

The Cold Lake project has been in operation since 1985. It is the largest thermal in-situ heavy oil operation in North America. The bitumen at this site is buried more than 400 metres below the surface. Unlike surface mining, in-situ mining relies on well bores and injected steam to reach, mobilize and move the product. The company uses a process called cyclic steam stimulation, which was developed by Imperial at Cold Lake, for Cold Lake.

The process uses well bores drilled from centralized surface locations to

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A deer checks out the pipes at Cold Lake.

alternately inject steam and then produce the heated bitumen. New drilling technologies have enabled the same amount of resources to be developed using up to 40 per cent fewer wells.

The wells are connected to a central processing plant through insulated above-ground pipes.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

The pipes are eight to 10 feet above ground. Why? So animals can roam about freely. Cold Lake is known for its natural, picturesque beauty; the smallfootprint processing plant, minimal number of well bores, and aboveground pipes have done little to detract from the area’s natural splendour. It is not uncommon to see moose and deer

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corporate responsibility • Environmental Stewardship

Moose are not concerned about the pipes at Cold Lake

roaming under the pipes, feeding and frolicking in nature’s playground. As for the animals underground? Rabbits, gophers and even worms are not bathing in a steam sauna, since the well bores reach 450 metres below the

Mahkeses Plant

surface, including a 100-metre-thick impermeable shale barrier. At that depth, the only thing “disturbed” is the bitumen that has made so much of Alberta’s fortune.

Another feature of the Cold Lake site

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is progressive reclamation. Imperial Oil does not wait for the entire operation to finish producing before commencing reclamation efforts. As each phase is completed, the well pads, pipeline right-of-ways, roads and even the processing plants are dismantled and removed. The land is then returned to the same or equal to its original state.

Imperial Oil is even more proactive in its reclamation of the Kearl surface mining site. So excited that reclamation efforts at Kearl are already underway although mining has yet to commence.

“In developing the mine, we recognized we would permanently impact some creeks and water ways,” says Rolheiser. “To compensate for this, we are adding a greater quantity of fish habitat by increasing the size of the existing Kearl Lake by 25 per cent. We are also making it deeper so fish can survive over the winter. Right now, it’s too shallow for that.” The Kearl site is expected to operate for 40 to 50 years, but Imperial is already stockpiling seeds, seedling and native plants to replace what will be disturbed during the mining process.

Imperial is a massive oil corporation and open to the scrutiny and analysis of concerned environmentalists.

How do they handle the heat? “Certainly we recognize there are people and groups that would challenge our

corporate responsibility • Environmental Stewardship

Mahkeses Pad

efforts, but we are proud of the efforts and technologies we put in place,” replies Rolheiser. “For example, we now use 40 per cent fewer surface pads (in our current Cold Lake expansion) due to advances in horizontal drilling technology. We have developed the same resource with a greatly reduced footprint. We recognize our ability to continue to expand operations relies on our ability to meet the expectations of our stakeholders. Our stakeholders are the communities, First Nations, and society at large; and part of that is meeting their environmental expectations.”

Mahihkan Plant

An organization does not need to be a massive oil or gas company to put their best naturally shod foot forward. Another company that supports environmental stewardship is Calgary’s own Oak Environmental Inc. Oak’s cost-effective remedial solutions include a variety of unique techniques such as air sparging and soil venting.

Terry McNeill, owner of Oak Environmental Inc., explains: “Air sparging is a process where compressed air is bubbled into tanks or bodies of water that have dissolved hydrocarbons or other contaminants. Typically the contaminants have a greater affinity to air

rather than water so they will attach to the air molecules. The air steam can then be captured and cleaned using activated carbon or other media that will strip the contaminants from the air stream. If activated carbon is utilized, it can be heated to high temperatures to destroy the collected contaminants.

Soil venting is a similar process where an air stream is introduced to contaminated soil or fill. As the contaminants have a greater affinity for air, they are released from the soil and attached to the air stream. Again, the air stream can be captured and treated with activated carbon or other media which

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corporate responsibility • Environmental Stewardship

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can be heated to high temperatures to destroy the contaminants.”

If you have yet to hear of air sparging or soil venting, you are not alone.

However, as McNeill points out, “We are constantly changing and upgrading our processes to meet current requirements.” As processes and technologies in the way we do business change, so do the requirements of environmental remediation. Companies such as Oak find ways to reclaim with as little environmental impact as possible. In fact, their methods can leave the area in better-than-original shape. “A second benefit is that soil venting provides oxygen to the natural occurring bacteria in soils or fill which actually feed on the contaminants,” says McNeill.

“By increasing the population and hardiness of these natural bacterial, more contaminants can be reduced by the process of natural biodegradation.”

Clearly, the methods and means for environmental stewardship are in place, but how do companies feel about following the “rules”? TERA

42 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Environmental Consultants has that answer. TERA is a Calgary-based firm that provides environmental consulting services to the energy sector.

Recent TERA projects include the TMX Anchor Loop Project, the GroundBirch Mainline Project, the Horn River Mainline Project, the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, the Pacific Trail Pipeline Project, the Coastal Gas Link Project and the Spectra Energy Natural Gas Pipeline Project.

“Speaking from the perspective of an environmental consulting firm with over 30 years of experience working for pipeline, power line and oil and gas clients in Western Canada, it is apparent that most companies integrate environmental responsibility into every major project planning, construction, operations and abandonment decision,” says a spokesperson for TERA. “Most companies have learned that environmental responsibility is a byproduct of sound business management, rather than a standalone add-on at the end of the process.”

corporate responsibility • Environmental Stewardship

Gone are the days when sites could and would be built and abandoned. Be it an oil and gas operation, a textile factory or a road to a logging site, industries of all types have banded together to minimize their environmental impact.

It is not just the private sector enforcing environmental regulations.

The public keeps a stern eye on companies to ensure best practices are followed and as TERA points out, companies are aware of and even welcome the scrutiny. “Enlightened companies have learned the importance of working with local stakeholders including government agencies, environmental organizations, landowners and Aboriginal peoples. Companies have learned the value of listening to these people, learning and acknowledging their concerns and coming up with creative win-win solutions. There are many examples where pipeline or power line rights-of-way are managed as recreational trails or green space to the benefit of the local population.”

Like Imperial Oil, however, TERA admits there are naysayers to address.

“Despite recent highly publicized opposition by a minority of interests, the pipeline industry’s record of environmental protection and responsibility is unmatched by any

comparable Canadian industry. Fulltime environmental inspectors with activity shut-down authority have been standard on the construction of major Canadian pipelines for the past 20 years and procedures for water crossings, topsoil conservation and right-of-way reclamation are unsurpassed around the world.

I have been impressed to see how seriously the pipeline industry takes safety and pipeline integrity and how it is constantly striving to improve its operations.”

Gone are the days when sites could and would be built and abandoned. Be it an oil and gas operation, a textile factory or a road to a logging site, industries of all types have banded together to minimize their environmental impact. This positive trend in environmental stewardship will only continue as corporations willingly seek to protect the natural resources that sustain us. BiC

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Alan norris, distinguished business Leader • Cover

Alan Norris Distinguished Business Leader Played golf with arnold Palmer but ...

BY John haRdY

B

y all reports, Alan Norris has never quoted Confucius.

“Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” He doesn’t have to. The focused, driven and affable president and CEO of Calgary-based Brookfield Residential Properties glows it and lives it, every day.

Despite this year being the milestone (30th) anniversary of the fluke timing when Norris happened into his perfectfit job, he’s genuinely not counting. He’s not the type. It’s not his style.

Aside from memories and lessons learned, he rarely rehashes the past.

But in the early ’80s, just after the 23 year old Scottish chartered accountant was transferred to Calgary from Glasgow, he joined Calgary’s booming Carma Developers as Corporate Controller — at the worst possible time. The North American recession was taking its toll on most businesses and Carma was hard-hit. By 1985, just two years after Norris started his new job, things got worse and the company was forced to slash its workforce from 500 to less than two dozen.

This

is the twenty-first anniversary for the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary and the Calgary Chamber recognizing outstanding leaders in the Calgary business community and honoring exceptional demonstrations of vision and leadership, sound business sense, and commitment to the community — with the Distinguished Business Leader Award.

The 2013 recipient is Alan Norris, president and CEO of Brookfield Residential Properties Inc. “Alan Norris is a community builder in every sense. He has built a world-class company and then shared his expertise with the Homeless Foundation to provide housing options for all citizens in our society,” said Jim Dewald, dean of the Haskayne School of Business. “Alan’s approach to business, his personal life, and his philanthropic work exemplify a combination of community caring and the ‘can do’ spirit that make Calgary a great city.”

Business in Calgary spent some time with Alan Norris and shared his trademark straight talk about the fiercely competitive land development and home building business, integrity, a passion for Calgary, always doing everything 110% and playing golf with Arnold Palmer.

www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 45

Alan norris, distinguished business Leader • Cover

“I prefer to give people responsibility, make them accountable and try to make sure we’re all on the same page.”

Photo by Ewan Nicholson Photography

Even then, the trademark Alan Norris determination, high-energy and positivity looked and moved forward.

He is gifted with remarkable recall about random details and specifics and always has interesting, relevant and poignant — personal and professional — stories to tell.

“It was brutal during the ’80s recession,” he nods with emotion. “In post 18 to 20 per cent interest rates, most companies were really getting hammered and many had to either fold or re-structure from scratch. It was tough and, at times, discouraging. We were fortunate. We had land and in this business, land supply is critical.”

By 1994, Carma had solidly rebounded, Alan Norris was appointed Carma CEO and immediately set the company on a dynamic and ambitious growth curve. Brookfield Residential Properties Inc. was formed in 2011, from the merger of Brookfield Office Properties’ residential division (Carma Developers LP) and Brookfield Homes Corporation. The company is listed on the NYSE and TSX under the symbol BRP. It turned out to be an exciting and seamless merger and, as the cliché and the company annual reports vouch, neither the company nor Norris have ever looked back.

Then and now, he consistently credits two key factors for the remarkable business success: land and people.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about people. Staff, customers and our communities. One of the things we continue to stress for all new employees is ‘always do the right thing and always deliver on your promises,’” he says with subtle but sincere pride. “One thing all well-regarded companies have in common is integrity. It’s a must!”

As a former accountant who once seriously considered a pro golf career but earned his way into the corner office of the fifth largest residential developer in North America, Alan Norris continues to prove himself as one of the most 46 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

respected and accomplished executives in the homebuilding industry.

He’s awkward about acknowledging any special personal management skills or talents. “I like to think I use common sense in dealing with people and simply treat them the way I would like to be treated. I probably still stray into some of my comfort zone areas where I feel I’m pretty good but I realize that I’m not an engineer or a marketer by profession and I don’t pretend to be,” he says with characteristic Alan Norris blunt honesty.

It’s obvious that his management style and approach are working. The Brookfield success story and the more than 800 staff in 11 North American real estate markets reflect Norris’ potent combination of exceptional business smarts and tremendous people savvy.

“We have a lot of terrifically experienced people in our company and we share a strong corporate culture about what we think is right and what should be done. It’s not a top-down but a shared vision and part of my role as CEO is to set goals and a course for the company to follow.

“I prefer to give people responsibility, make them accountable and try to make sure we’re all on the same page. We can disagree on certain things as a management group, and sometimes we do,” he grins and shrugs with open palms, “but we’re not going off on different tangents from one another because we share the same common goal and culture.”

Contrary to the simplistic cliché about the home building and development industry (location, location, location) the true core of the business is also what Norris credits as the other of the two secrets of Brookfield’s success: land.

“Land supply is critical and no doubt about it, land acquisition is a dominant side of our company’s focus and

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Alan norris, distinguished business Leader • Cover

In many ways Norris is the consummate real deal, who not only likes but respects and genuinely enjoys the people in his dual (business and personal) life and he consistently exudes the wonderful but rare straight-shooter qualities so that colleagues, clients, friends and even family always know where he stands, says what he means and means what he says. always has been,” he says, reflecting back to Carma’s early years. And when it comes to dealing in land, it’s essential to understand and effectively manage trends, growth patterns and the dynamics of a specific area.”

Norris explains that the planning and actual development of land can be a kind of epic, long-term strategy unto itself. He cites Calgary’s sprawling McKenzie Towne: the massive parcel of land was bought by Carma in 1989; permits and approvals were given in 1994; Carma opened the community and started building in 1995; and today, 24 years later, Brookfield is just completing the popular Calgary community.

To further underscore the importance of land acquisition, planning and development, he is professionally cagey and tight-lipped, mentioning only that some of the land slated for Brookfield development next year was originally acquired in 1997.

“We are actually wholesalers and also retailers,” he says, making the fiercely competitive and complex land acquisition and development business sound simple and straightforward. “We will build on some of our land and, it may come as a bit of a surprise, we sell-off about 80 per cent of our land to third-party builders.

“No denying it. When land is moving and a market cycle is good, it is a very profitable business,” he says with a mischievous grin.

A timely and suddenly positive and exciting example of high-stakes land acquisition strategy was the tack Alan Norris set for Brookfield during the recent American housing downturn. The company invested heavily in U.S. land and now, as the turnaround has begun and the American home building industry is recovering, the company has almost 50,000 U.S. building lots, mostly in California, Austin, Denver, Washington and recently announced Phoenix.

Combined with the nearly 55,000 lots in Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto, BRP is now the fifth largest property developer in North America.

Not that 20/20 hindsight is ever an Alan Norris option nor does he work in an I-told-you-so world, he is both content and vindicated with Brookfield’s strategy and positioning during the 2008 American housing meltdown.

“We kept telling people land is going to become a big issue 48 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

as the recovery takes hold in the States. Now that it’s happening, it’s almost exactly as we projected.”

Late last year, a 2013 housing forecast done by the sometimes controversial American mortgage agency Freddie Mac projected that this year U.S home sales will grow by as much as 10 per cent. The forecast also cited the positive indicator that American housing starts rose 25 per cent in 2012 (compared to 2011) and could spike another 20 per cent or so before the end of this year.

The housing recovery is proving to be good news not only for the U.S but potent proof for Norris’ vision, professional gut feel and Brookfield’s solid and effective corporate strategy. “Now that the American situation is rebounding, we are terrifically positioned,” he says. “We don’t have to go out and buy a whole bunch of land to benefit from the recovery.

About a half of our lot supply is already in the U.S.” The gregarious Brookfield CEO, who smilingly shrugs and describes his job as just “setting goals and a course for the company to follow,” neither flinches or boasts about the BRP growth and success happening according to plan.

With a lively but formal tone of a CEO-addressing-a-Boardmeeting, Alan Norris speaks with pride and conviction that the stable Canadian housing market combined with the continuing American recovery will help Brookfield’s 2013 income to exceed 2012’s.

In many ways Alan Norris is the consummate realdeal, straight-shooter who not only likes but respects and genuinely enjoys the people in his dual (business and personal) lives and he consistently exudes the wonderful but rare straight-shooter qualities so that colleagues, clients, friends and even family always know where he stands, says what he means and means what he says.

In a sentimental moment, he leans back in his comfortable office chair and smiles and nods with noticeable warmth and affection about legendary Calgary business leader (and former Carma predecessor) Murray Fox “who taught me so much, not only about the company but about candor and openness.” He also credits much of his outlook on life and work ethic to his father, George Norris, who told his son to always do everything 110%.

Although 110% is not recognized by simple math or accountant-speak, it is so consistently Alan Norris!

Alan norris, distinguished business Leader • Cover

With his charming and fading Scottish brogue, he frankly fesses up to the several passions in his life: family, business strategy, beer, Sunday dinners with the family, business decisions, grandchildren, land, community, new developments, desserts, chocolate and ... golf.

Brookfield is completing the popular Calgary community of McKenzie Towne.

Solterra Retreat in Lakewood, Colorado Photos, this page, courtesy of Brookfield Residential Properties.

Above left: Gary Player and Alan Norris. Above right: Arnold Palmer, Darren Young (former Hamptons general manager), Alan Norris, and Gary Player.

With his charming and fading Scottish brogue, he frankly fesses-up to the several passions in his life: family, business strategy, beer, Sunday dinners with the family, business decisions, grandchildren, land, golf, community, new developments, desserts and chocolate and ... golf.

In his third-floor Calgary office, with an ‘executive view of the parking lot’ and a distant view of the Rockies, he is surrounded by a sea of framed family pictures of his wife of 30 years, Shelly, their four grown and married children (Andrea, Cory, Colin and Kirsten) and their spouses and, almost strategically in every direction he looks, a picture gallery of his three pride-and-joy grandchildren.

The mundane but remarkable Brookfield-success story documents, summaries and spread-sheets are on his desk, in drawers and cabinets, in the company data base and in his brain.

The office’s focal point is an oversized, framed pose of Norris in golf swing follow-through action, brilliantly done as a collage made-up of hundreds of smaller, individual family and life pictures. It’s an imposing Alan Norris life-statement, since he clearly considers golf both pleasure and therapy.

“I never thought of getting into the financial side of a business,” he grins. “I seriously toyed with being a pro golfer. Three of my friends made it into pro golf and I was a pretty good amateur but that was it. I went to university. But I’m still around a six handicap. I had the privilege of playing

with Arnold Palmer and, my idol, Gary Player. I didn’t play very well but, boy, it was sure a memory I’ll never forget.

Especially Palmer, he had such charisma, pure and simple.”

Alan Norris is an enthusiastic and tireless Calgarybooster with a long list of community involvements and pet causes. From working with SAIT to encourage interest in construction trades to being the current chair of the Calgary Homeless Foundation, co-chair of the Resolve Campaign to raise $120 million for affordable housing and numerous Calgary needs and causes in-between.

He denies traces of workaholism although some close Brookfield staff mention that Norris is already in workmode by the time they get-in around seven a.m. and still at his desk when they leave for home at the end of the day.

But Norris openly admits that the hard work, the demanding dynamics of the residential development industry and his still-growing and extremely close family have convinced him about the vital importance of balance.

“There has to be balance between workload and personal life. Otherwise, you’ll eat yourself alive.”

And he speaks from experience and with conviction.

“My wildest dreams could never have envisioned everything that has, and still is, happening to me personally and professionally. A fabulous, big family and a remarkable organization. I regularly remind myself that life is good ...and life is fun!” BiC www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 49

curb Appeal • Real Estate

Curb Appeal tightening market conditions may encourage some homeowners who have been waiting to list their home to ďŹ nally get on the market. Having good curb appeal will help leverage even more out of the sale.

BY heatheR RaMsaY

W

hen it comes to residential real estate, the first impression happens long before potential buyers walk through the front door of a home. In fact, it begins as potential buyers drive through a community, locate the listed property and then see it for the first time.

That is why, when it comes to selling a home, curb appeal is so important. The first impression should be a lasting one, and great curb appeal can substantially boost the value and salability of a property.

50 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

As single-family house prices reach a new high in Calgary, market conditions are beginning to favour the seller.

According to the Calgary Real Estate Board, the city continues to outperform other parts of the country and in April of this year, the average benchmark price for a single-family home was $452,900. Single-family sales performed two per cent higher than 2012 and the decreasing number of new homes coming into the market have driven prices above the peak seen in 2007. CREB is encouraged by the strength of

purple #7447 grey #431

PROFILE

Q&A What are the mortgage regulatory changes that took effect last year?

• Shortened maximum amortization period for insured residential mortgages – from 30 to 25 years.

• Reduced maximum amount of equity that can be withdrawn from a property – from 85 to 80 per cent.

• Mortgage insurance now limited to properties with a value of less than $1 million.

• Tightened mortgage qualifying criteria on all mortgage applications.

How will the new mortgage regulatory changes affect me?

• The reduction in amortization will increase the minimum down payment you will make on a property. For example, the minimum biweekly mortgage payment on a $500,000 home, with a five per cent down payment, would change from $1028 to $1154 – a difference of $126 (based on current market rates). Note: If you have a 20 per cent down payment (or greater) on your new home, you currently still have access to the 30-year amortization.

• The reduction in the amount of equity that you can withdraw may affect your ability to “tap in” to your current equity for renovations, consolidation or a down payment on your next home.

Based on a home value of $500,000, old rules allowed for equity withdrawal of up to $425,000. The new guidelines will now allow a maximum of $400,000.

• The limitation of mortgage insurance will be a significant change. Any

urple #7447 rey #431

Chairman’s Club

new homes purchased in excess of $1,000,000 will require a down payment of 20 per cent or greater, as the current insurers will no longer insure these properties. **Compliments of Trevor Yerema (403-466-6654) from TD Bank.

When selling a home, can I use my old Real Property Report?

You can use your old RPR if the current state of the property, or any improvements made, maintain the property in the same form as it was when you had purchased it. If you have added a deck, fence, air-conditioning unit or even a play set/shed that is attached to the ground, you will need to have the survey company come out and provide you with an updated RPR. If you contact the same survey company, you will just need to pay for an update instead of an entirely new RPR; this can save you up to half the cost of having a new RPR created. Call your real estate lawyer or realtor if you are unsure that your old RPR will suffice.

To ensure a smooth closing, what are the important steps I need to take once my home sale or purchase is complete?

- Set up an appointment with your lawyer for approximately one week prior to closing.

- Set up insurance or transfer insurance to your new property.

- If you are on TIPP for taxes, cancel your instalments at least two weeks prior to closing and/or set up your taxes for your new home.

- Cancel and or set up utilities at least three weeks prior to closing.

- If you have sold a home, leave instructions as a courtesy to the new buyer (i.e. mailbox keys, manuals, garage door openers) and any helpful tips that may help them to enjoy their new home.

Is my city assessment tax statement an accurate portrayal of value?

A realtor’s approach to determining value is detailed and specific to your home within the context of the greater market. We determine value by comparing similar properties that have sold in the recent months, using a plus or minus strategy for features and benefits, land size, location and in some cases, reviewing the price per square foot. In contrast, your assessment from the city is not created in a case-by-case approach, but in more of an approach using a mass and historical appraisal of a building or house that determines value for all properties regardless of individual features and benefits. The purpose of your tax assessment is to assess your tax amount, rather than the ultimate market value of your home. Some homeowners will also dispute their assessed value in order to lower their taxes, which can result in values that are lower than the actual “market value.”

To determine a more accurate value for your home, please contact your realtor to arrange a home evaluation.

curb Appeal • Real Estate

“Homes with good appeal both inside and out, have been receiving upwards of eight to 10 offers. The market we are in now is interesting and exciting.” ~Justin Havre, team leader with Justin Havre and Associates, of CIR Realty

the current market, and attributes employment sector gains, net migration, increased wages and overall low interest rates to its momentum.

“The first quarter of the year was very active. Quality properties were being snapped up quickly and we’re seeing

that trend continue. Homes with good appeal both inside and out, have been receiving upwards of eight to 10 offers.

The market we are in now is interesting and exciting. It’s not uncommon to see competing situations and homes selling for up to $50,000 over their list price,” explains Justin

Wolf Custom Homes

Imagine yourself in a brand new home by one of Calgary’s top luxury home builders and Sam Award winner www.wolfcustomhomes.ca 52 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

curb Appeal • Real Estate

Voted by you!

Havre, team leader with Justin Havre and Associates, of CIR Realty.

“Potential buyers recognize properties that look well cared for and great curb appeal creates an emotional connection, right from the first impression. Paying attention to the details and ensuring the front and backyards are tidy and well kept, can make a significant difference to the overall value of the house, what it will sell for and how quickly,” says Havre.

As market conditions continue to tighten, experts are hopeful that the shift to a ‘sellers’ market’ may encourage those who have been waiting for prices to recover to now list their homes. This year will be the first time that Calgary has seen this dynamic in the residential real estate market in over six years.

For anyone thinking about putting their house on the market, Havre suggests using a professional agent and ensuring that the home is in prime condition inside and out. “Trim, mow, rake, weed, edge, touch up paint, change the front door and consider additional accents such as low-voltage lighting and limited furniture in your outdoor spaces. The objective is to make all of your living spaces, be it inside or out, appear tidy and look well cared for so you make a positive and memorable first impression.”

Curb appeal is an important component to any house, be it one for sale, with new owners or longtime occupants.

David Abbott, owner of Chinook Landscaping and Design in Calgary, has been contributing to Calgary’s outdoor esthetics for decades. “Landscaping and curb appeal can be as simplistic or complex as you’d like, and can be completed in phases. The most important things to keep in mind are how you envision using your outdoor spaces, defining borders (sidewalks, flower beds, grass edges), incorporating plants/ trees/shrubs that do well in our climate and soil types, and your budget. Outdoor spaces are extensions of a home, espe-

2013 Consumers Choice Award Winner OPUS is the 2013 Consumers Choice Award Winner for General Contractor. Through an independent market research survey, consumers and businesses in our community have selected us as a top ranked organization. This award is considered to be the most distinguished award for business excellence in Canada.

Thank you to our clients, business ® associates and the community for considering us as their first choice for commercial real estate projects in Calgary. ® We are grateful you see the benefits of using a full service developer 403.209.5555 I leasing@opuscorp.ca as your contractor.

Visit opuscorp.ca for more info on current projects and services

www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 53

curb Appeal • Real Estate

cially in the summer months. They need to be well thought out, planned and constructed if they are going to give you return on your investment and last for years to come,” says Abbott.

He goes on to explain that there are three trends emerging within backyards in Calgary. More and more homeowners are moving to a low-maintenance yard. Many are having watering systems installed, flower beds scaled back or lawns removed and replaced with rock gardens, custom decks or stone patios. “People want their yard to look nice and be able to enjoy the space, while also having the convenience of being hands-off when it comes to maintenance. We are also seeing more and more people having full outdoor kitchens constructed for summer entertaining, that include 54 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

custom patios, built-in barbecues, stoves, refrigerators, granite-topped islands and seating areas. That’s the beauty of ‘your own backyard’. You can design, change and enjoy it as you like.”

There is also a trend with large trees that many in older more established communities such as Lakeview, Lake Bonavista and Altadore are contending with. Aged Colorado spruce trees and others are causing issues with their sheer sprawl and root systems. “When a spruce tree competes in a yard, it always wins. Not only are these trees tall, drop needles and tend to dominate a space above ground, they do so underground as well. We are seeing lifting sidewalks and damaged lawns more often.” When it comes to trees, Abbott urges that there are options. Some may choose to remove

curb Appeal • Real Estate

“Outdoor spaces are extensions of a home, especially in the summer months. They need to be well thought out, planned and constructed if they are going to give you return on your investment and last for years to come.” ~ David Abbott, owner of Chinook Landscaping and Design

these giants, while others bring in arborists or professional landscapers to prune and upgrade the tree space. “Creating borders around trees by edging them and then using decorative rock or mulch products to fill in around the base of the tree can make a significant difference to the overall look and appeal of green space,” says Abbott. “Oftentimes, less really is more.”

So as the short summer months are upon us and there is the opportunity to get outside and appreciate the sunshine, keep an eye out for new ideas and ways to enhance curb appeal. Many local greenhouses and landscape supply retailers carry growing inventories of trees, shrubs and plants that are conducive to Calgary’s climate and soil types, as well as supplies for water features, outdoor furniture, decor and more. Consider starting with a general and thorough clean up and maintenance, define borders and go from there.

A professional landscape and design group can always be helpful and the ideas and opportunities for adding to and enhancing your green spaces are endless. Whether you are prepping and improving your curb appeal for resale, or for yourself and your family – get out there and enjoy! BiC

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www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 55

CALGARY NEWS

SUMMER 2013

Page 1 - Too Much, Too Little or Just Right? | Page 3 - Is it Time to Think Differently About Education? | Page 5 - Inside the Industry Page 6 - BOMA Insider | Page 9 - Retail Frenzy Still Hot in Calgary

Too Much, Too Little or Just Right?

Calgary’s office market is at a pivot point Sandy McNair

O

xford’s recently announced Eau Claire Tower adds 588,324 square feet to the 3,356,004 million square feet of office space already under construction across Calgary. Other developers, including Brookfield, Aspen, Remington and OPUS, are actively pre-leasing additional projects that in theory could add as much as 8.1 million square feet in 47 additional new office towers located across Calgary.

Not including any of the towers currently unun der construction, 30.6% of Calgary’s existing inventory has been built since 2000. Calgary’s office inventory has grown much faster than Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, or Montreal at 21.0%, 11.3%, 15.4% and 10.3% respectively.

OFFICE SPACE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION Total Currently Under Construction (sq. ft.) % of Existing Inventory

Vancouver

Edmonton

Calgary

Toronto

Montreal

3,567,380

175,136

3,944,328

6,636,694

2,631,193

6.9%

0.8%

6.3%

3.9%

3.0%

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BOMA Calgary News

1

BOMA Calgary News BOMA Calgary News is a co-publication of BOMA Calgary and Business in Calgary.

Business in Calgary 1025, 101 - 6 Ave. SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3P4 Tel: 403.264.3270 • Fax: 403.264.3276 Email: info@businessincalgary.com Web: www.businessincalgary.com

BOMA Calgary 120, 4954 Richard Road SW, Calgary, AB T3E 6L1 Email: info@boma.ca • Web: www.boma.ca Tel: 403.237.0559 • Fax: 403.266.5876 COMMUNICATIONS COMMITEE Rita Reid, Chair, Cominar Jamie Zachary, Calgary Herald Siobhan Koroll, Calgary Herald Jay de Nance, Fairfield Commercial Real Estate Roger Hanks, Skyline Roofing Giovanni Worsley, MNP LLP Kim Bogner, 20 Vic Management Leah Stewart, Sizeland Evans Interior Design Bobbi Joan O’Neil, Business in Calgary Lia Robinson, BOMA Calgary

Board of Directors CHAIR Chris Howard, Avison Young Real Estate CHAIR-ELECT Ken Dixon, ATCO Group SECRETARY TREASURER Chris Nasim, GWL Realty Advisors PAST CHAIR Don Fairgrieve-Park, Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP PRESIDENT & CSO William G. R. Partridge, CAE, BOMA Calgary

New office towers are being added to Calgary and elsewhere for one (and possibly more than one) of three major reasons: a) Incremental Demand – new and current occupants are growing and committing to additional space; b) Pressure to Place Capital – among investors, commercial real estate is in favour and new development has become a desired alternative offering superior returns to acquiring existing buildings; and c) Obsolescence – in the Battle for Talent, new buildings with better design and performance characteristics are seen by some employers as distinctly different and more desirable than older buildings.

If no incremental leasing were to occur and no additional buildings are started the availability rate will climb to 8.2%, 10.2%, 11.1%, 11.7% and 11.7% at end of each of 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Each of these future availability rates are 100 basis points (1%) higher than they were 3 months ago based upon the situation at that time. This is not a forecast, but merely a reference point from which alternative demand and supply scenarios can be rationally explored.

Fortunately inventory, new supply, current availability and future availability is being carefully monitored and shared with many of the industry’s leaders. Will the energy sector continue to have access and appeal to equity capital? Will the outlook for access to global markets by pipe and rail improve? Will the gap between global pricing and Alberta bitumen continue to narrow? Will Calgary’s energy talent and technology remain competitive on the global stage?

The Calgary office market is at a pivot point because the answers to these and other questions are no longer a clear ‘yes’ which means developers, occupants, lenders and others all need to have their eyes wide open as the next wave of decisions relating to office space supply, demand and pricing are made.

Sandy McNair is the President of Altus InSite. The Altus InSite team leverage extensive industry wide experience and market information to provide perspective to clients in Canada’s Commercial Real Estate Investment, Development and Leasing communities. www.altusinsite.com

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Directors Fred Edwards, Servpro Cleaning Steve Weston, Brookfield Properties Marjorie Cone, H & R Property Management Ltd. Robert Brazzell, Altus Group Corrine Jackman, Hopewell Real Estate Services Cam Gresko, Cadillac Fairview Dustin Engel, Alberta Infrastructure Richard Morden, Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP Lee Thiessen, MNP LLP Loy Sullivan, 20 VIC Management

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. © 2013 by BOMA Calgary.

Printed in Canada.

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BOMA Calgary News

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President’s Report

By William G.R. Partridge, CAE, President & Chief Staff Officer

Is it Time to Think Differently About Education?*

Fully integrated tenant solutions

* (The opinions expressed may not necessarily represent the views or positions of BOMA Calgary)

T

here is no question that a good education is vital to the success of any society. We all support it philosophically and financially through our tax structure. Education is a defining principle, or value, of our sophisticated Canadian culture.

But is our education system failing us? Why pose this question? Why is a commercial real estate guy even talktalking about education? The answer is simple: I think we are slowly yet steadily falling behind. In certain circumstances, our industry is having difficulty attracting good people with the right competencies to perform various roles. Accordingly, it is worth questioning how we do things. This does not imply, nor should it, that there is something wrong. It is a matter of responsible management to review things from time to time.

By way of BOMA Calgary’s direct experience, we recently had to fill a staff position for a staff member who is on mama ternity leave. We happened along an organization called AIESEC, a student-run international organization seeking to provide students and recent graduates with workplace inin ternship opportunities to develop their leadership skills in an international context.

Within a few days, we had 200 applications that were filfil tered down to four. One took a position before we could interview them and we were left with three to interview: one from Belgium, one from Turkey and the third from the Czech Republic. The educational credentials were impressive, as were their work experience and interview skills. While English is not their first language all were multilingual and all were very articulate. From this talent pool we were able to find a suitable candidate. (We will be also hiring a Canadian stustu dent as part of our summer work program as we have been doing for the past several years.)

WE HAVE A STRONG NATIONAL PRESENCE TO HELP SERVE THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR TENANTS

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BOMA Calgary News BOMA Calgary News

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2

So here is the question: as currently structured, does our education system assure our competitiveness in the emerging global economy? Initially I may argue no. Here is why.

The structure of our industrial sector is changing as are the skills necessary to operate within it. Why then are we still training to and for obsolete jobs? Is there a tendency in a union environment to protect positions, and support a minimum standard by tolerating underperforming employees? How is this affecting the quality of teaching? Why aren’t we preparing our kids for the realities of a highly competitive international economy? If we don’t adequately prepare kids for the realities of the modern world are we not failing them? Those who defend the status quo say “it’s for the kids.” Really? Then how can you defend the “no grade,” “no fail,” “no zero” policies? The lowest common denominator is not an acceptable situation and it sets our kids up for failure later on in life.

We should champion nothing less than excellence from our invested public dollars. There is, as I am given to understand, more education dollars spent on workplace learning than is spent in the public education system. Why is that? Is it evidence that somehow the publicly-funded education has missed the mark? We must prepare our kids to excel in the world to be self-reliant and successful. Schools should be safe environments where failure is not seen as a negative, esteem-destroying thing to be avoided, but rather as a con-

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structive opportunity to learn from failures and mistakes and to develop the coping skills that real life will require of them.

This is for the kids.

It has been recently reported that there are more than six unemployed Canadians for every vacancy. Are their skills aligned with the needs of those available jobs?

The speed with which our industrial base is changing given technology and global economic forces is exciting and alarming at the same time. Progress is exciting in what it may bring, but it is alarming that we may be left behind if we do not adapt to the requirements of the new age.

BOMA is actively engaged in developing, for example, training programs specifically directed to increasing the supply of competent building operators. The competency set has been constructed around the defined needs of building owners, which has led to a de facto industry standard. One reason for this is the present mandated licensing course provides operators with about 10 to 15 per cent of the material they need to know to do the job proficiently.

It is important for industry to insist our education provides it with what it needs to meet its requirements now and into the future. We must not be left behind. Our world has never been about the survival of the fittest. The reality is the survival of the most adaptable. I have faith in our kids. And they deserve our help.

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Inside the Industry Andy Baxter, Yale Properties, Mentor & Roddrick Hofrichter, Cominar, Protégé BOMA Calgary offers a mentorship program for its property management members.

This month, we sit down with one of the mentor pairs to discuss their experiences and thoughts on mentorship.

BOMA Calgary News: How did you get into commercial real estate? Was there a defining moment or key person in your life that influenced you most in your career path?

Andy Baxter: My first exposure to commercial real estate was through working on the database for the BOMA Building Guide. As I was collecting the information by contacting owners and managers, I got the sense that this was a good business. I thought it was worthwhile to check it out. And it stuck.

Roddrick Hofrichter: I found my way to the industry through a tenant services and security position at Scotia Centre. Rita Reid and Ashley Phillips, who were part of the management team, were an important influence and they showed me the potential for growth in the industry.

BCN: Why do you feel mentorship is important?

AB: Mentoring isn’t necessarily about passing on specific technical skills; it’s about passing on business acumen, and developing the professional character of the protégé. It’s about helping the protégé to step back and see the bigger

picture in regards to business decisions. A mentor is there to be a sounding board and give options.

RH: Mentoring gives up and coming leaders support in an unbiased environment. A mentor increases a protégé’s confidence in their own abilities. Their feedback can help when a protégé is second guessing.

BCN: What would you advise or suggest for the future leaders of the industry?

RH: Don’t be afraid to ask for help and ask questions. The industry has many possible career paths and a lot of potential for growth and development based on your abilities and interests.

AB: 30 years in the industry is a long time, take that into consideration as you chose your path. I believe there are four cornerstones within the industry: operations; financial accountability and asset management; human resource related tasks; and leasing. Think about how your personality and skills align. You may have to fail at one to find your way.

There is something for everyone.

Bentall Kennedy Ranks 1st in Sustainability ( 2 years in a row! )

Bentall Kennedy is ranked #1 in the Diversified Commercial Real Estate category in the Americas by the 2012 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark Research Report. The survey findings represent 450 participants, 36,000 properties, and over $1.3 trillion in assets. But for us it represents a win / win for our clients and the communities in which we live and work: Clients Win

Communities Win

• Attracting the best tenants • Delivering extraordinary tenant services • Achieving higher and more sustainable value for our clients’ assets

• Creating healthier work places • Improving air quality due to lower CO2 emissions • Consuming fewer natural resources in high-efficiency buildings

www.bentallkennedy.com

BOMA Calgary News

5

BOMA Insider

Welcome New BOMA Member Companies!

• Apex Mechanical Plumbing & Heating Ltd., Robin Popowich • ATCO EnergySense, Jim Bos • Attivo Glass Contracting & Services, Jason Wiebe Chris Howard, Chair, and Bill Partridge, President & CSO, present the BOMA BESt Level 3 recertification for Plains Midstream Plaza to Jason Grieve, Bruce Dalsto, John Fisher, Graham Sidders and David Moore of Triovest

• Calgary Economic Development, Ramzieh Khalil • ProStar Cleaning & Restoration, Jodi Scarlett •Silvera, Brian Foley • Simran Canada - Water Treatment Co., Rav Dhanoa

The

2013-2014 Ahmet Memedovski, Sam Nijjar and Mike Glave, Strategic Group accept the BOMA BESt Level 1 certificate for Macleod Place I & II

BOMA Building Guide will be available in

September

Sign up for your copies at

info@boma.ca or 403.237.0559

Josh Rusnak and Dwayne Jans accept the BOMA BESt Level 1 certificate for Westmount Corporate Campus

Building

on the Bow

Landmarks in Calgary Commercial Real Estate

Golf Classic Co-Title Sponsor

See Calgary differently through this incredible photo collection, available at info@boma.ca 6

BOMA Calgary News

President’s Award for Sustainability, Alberta Infrastructure

BOMA Insider Excellence Awards Recipients Rite-Way Fencing Inc. 7710 - 40 Street S.E. Calgary, AB T2C 3S4

403.243.8733 • Chain link fencing • Ornamental Iron fencing Office Building 500,000 – 1 Million SQ FT, Jamieson Place, Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP

• Wood fencing Property Management Team of the Year, Suncor Energy Centre, Brookfield Properties

• Dog runs • Electric gate systems • Rent-A-Fence • Agricultural Fencing • Guardrail • Repairs • Residential / Industrial • Free Estimates

Pinnacle Innovation Award, Manorrlea Systems Inc.

Operations Team of the Year, Suncor Energy Centre, Brookfield Properties

Residential / Industrial Office Building 100,000 – 249,999 SQ FT, Calgary Board of Education Tower, Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP

EARTH Award, BP Centre, Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP

Operator of the Year, Cesar Villamaria, Brookfield Properties

Repairs

President’s Award for Young Professional, Dustin Engel, Alberta Infrastructure

Free Estimates Malcolm Bryce Award John Sargisson 20 Vic Management

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Climate Controlled Irrigation

1.46

Billion litres saved

1-2

Typical number of years for ROI

600

Clients and growing

Weather stations located across Canada

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BOMA Calgary News

Weather-Based Technology Takes Sting Out of Hike In Water Rates

T

he rapid increase in City of Calgary water rates – up 25 per cent over three years – is forcing property owners and managers to turn off the tap on money, literally and metaphorically, going down the drain.

Water is a key component of the BOMA Building Environmental Standard (BESt). Reducing water consumption through policy and action on conservation, and conducting an in-depth water assessment contribute to a better performing building.

In growing numbers, property owners and managers are therefore looking at climate controlled irrigation, which has a typical return of investment of less than two years.

In fact, over 60 per cent of local companies who received the coveted BOMA BESt certification in recent years have converted to the new ‘smart’ controllers as a way to efficiently conserve water.

As the name suggests, climate controlled irrigation is governed by the weather.

‘Smart’ controllers take into account the prevailing conditions (including rainfall, wind, sun and humidity) and also site-specific conditions such as soil type, slope, root depth and plants. They allow sprinklers to only come on when lack of moisture in the soil demands it.

In contrast, traditional timer-based irrigation systems operoper ate on a pre-set program (normally three times a week) and at pre-set times. In other words, the sprinklers still come on even if a seven-day deluge has us contemplating a modernday Noah’s Ark. As a result, plants and lawns are watered too frequently and/or for too long, which wastes water, wastes money, damdam ages plant and grass health, and can wash harmful lawn and garden chemicals into Calgary’s rivers. Trees too are often victims of over-watering.

Other benefits include reduced operating costs, public recognition for going ‘green,’ enhanced curb appeal and a smaller carbon footprint.

The normal cost for a ‘smart’ controller is between $3,000 and $4,000.

BOMA BESt – and by association, BOMA Calgary – is committed to the principles of conservation and efficient wawa ter management.

Climate controlled irrigation meets the criteria.

Bob Poole is Vice-President of Marketing and Media for ExactET Systems Inc., a Calgary-based company that specialspecial izes in climate controlled irrigation.

Retail Frenzy Still Hot in Calgary

By David Parker

C

ommercial real estate in Calgary is firing on all cylinders; downtown offices are rising, suburban offices are sprawling and industrial real estate is clawing its way further into the surrounding countryside.

But it’s the constant growth of and need for more retail that seems so amazing, and that is such a good indicator of the health of this city.

A recent Canada-wide survey by Return On Insight reports, “Calgary’s image as a tourist destination is changing positively in the minds of most Canadians, led by a perceived increase in great food and restaurants, western hospitality, and opportunities for shopping.”

It doesn’t seem that long ago that many were up in arms at the closing down of a trailer court to make way for Dalhousie Station and its Safeway store. “But there’s a Safeway in Brentwood and another at Market Mall, and Co-ops already in Brentwood and Dalhousie – how many more do we need?” was the bemused call.

Since then both of those chains expanded into not too far away Crowfoot and the Co-op to the nearby Hamptons.

And it’s the same in other communities.

People also scratched their heads when the decision was made to close Sears in Chinook Centre but lo and behold, management – and shoppers - are excited about our first Nordstrom, in a mall that now measures 1.2 million square feet and continues to break sales records.

Other big centres like Market Mall, Southcentre, Deerfoot Meadows and the just outside city limits Cross Iron Mills, all seem to be very healthy. So does downtown which makes us so much more attractive than a good many North American cities.

No doubt they are fuelled by the thousands of office workers who shop lunchtimes, after work and stand in lineups during work hours for coffees as well as an increasing number of people living downtown, but quality destination merchants are slowly beginning to entice people back into the core evenings and weekends.

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Certainly owners feel very confident, which is reflected in the tightness of the retail market. There are very few vacancies and new spaces are gobbled up in remarkably short times. A good example is the leasing by Taurus Property Management of all of the retail space available in The Bow building and, thank goodness, the available space in the majestic Bank of Montreal building on the mall that has been vacant for far too long.

The ‘burbs are just as busy with new construction and renovations to shopping centres.

Westhills will welcome to Calgary Mastermind Toys and another National Pub location, and Crowfoot, as well as undergoing a needed facelift, has added Community Natural Foods and a Keg Steakhouse to its tenant mix.

Thanks to the affluence of the area it is no surprise that 85th Street S.W. is attracting quality retailers.

At the south end Aspen Landing is a huge success, but so is the top of the hill towards Bow Trail where the Co-op will soon be joined by a Loblaws and diners can take a pick of delights such as Mercato West, Vin Room and Fergus & Bix Restaurant and Beer Market.

More retail is being added in the office block on the east side of 85th being built by Bri-Mor Developments, and it is already fully leased. I expect its second office/retail development planned between Phase 1 and St. Michael’s Catholic Church will be snapped up just as quickly.

Retail is rosy – just wish we could see some progress with Eau Claire Market.

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Economic Diversification: Alberta’s Quiet Transformation • Exporting

Economic Diversification: Alberta’s Quiet Transformation

BY BEN FREELAND

H

ere we go again. After five years of uninterrupted bullishness, Alberta’s boom-and-bust economic soap opera appears to have hit yet another plot snag.

Falling resource revenues are expected to result in a budget deficit of $4 billion for the 2013-14 fiscal year. An April 8 article in the Calgary Herald indicated that business leaders’ confidence in the economy was at its lowest level since the financial crisis, with the PwC Business and Consumer Confidence Indexes indicating similarly low levels of confidence among the province’s consumers.

As it always happens when Alberta’s economy goes south, the subject of economic diversification returns to the forefront in provincial media, with the underlying assumption being that diversification of Alberta’s oil and gas-dominated economy continues to be elusive.

University of Calgary economist, Ron Kneebone, recently upbraided the provincial government’s framing of the current fiscal conundrum as an oilsands problem (namely the so-called “bitumen bubble”), alleging the real culprit is the government’s long-standing over-reliance on petroleum revenues. “The financial problem,” he asserts, “is due to a decision to undertake a high-risk budgeting strategy of relying on a source of revenue they know they cannot rely on.”

Alberta’s image as an economic house of cards sitting precariously on the Athabasca oilsands, while rooted in reality,

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www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 67

Economic Diversification: Alberta’s Quiet Transformation • Exporting

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INC.

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only tells part of the story. The oftrepeated mantra that Alberta must diversify not only flies in the face of the province’s famous entrepreneurial spirit, but also masks an increasingly complex export picture. The oil and gas sector itself has proven a boon to a multitude of industrial and high-tech offshoots with international demand, ranging from pipeline and drilling equipment production to waste gas incineration. A crop of new tech firms producing everything from GPS instruments to classroom computing devices is on the up and up, as is the province’s pharmaceutical and bioscience sectors. Meanwhile, the agri-food sector continues to occupy a significant tranche of Alberta’s exports.

While crude oil represented a commanding 62 per cent of Alberta’s total exports in 2012 (with total energy exports representing 72 per cent), this lead is slowly narrowing. TroyMedia commentator, Warren Bergen, likens Alberta’s current economic landscape to that of Texas in the 1970s, a time when that state’s oil-dominated economy began to diversify into high-tech and other industries.

“In general, Alberta’s non-oil sectors are doing very well,” asserts Mathew Wilson, vice-president of national policy at Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters. “Petroleum will continue to be hugely important, but if you compare Alberta with where it was in the 1980s, oil represents a significantly smaller percentage of the province’s GDP today.”

While bullish overall on Alberta’s non-oil export sectors, Wilson concedes that much work remains to be done if

68 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Alberta is to reach its full economic potential. “Human resources are probably the biggest issue facing this province at the moment,” he says. “Worker shortages affect all sectors, oil and non-oil alike, but the impact to non-oil sectors is particularly acute as the oilpatch invariably draws workers from other industries.” He also notes that Alberta’s geographic isolation, particularly vis-àvis key export markets like East Asia and the European Union, makes infrastructure an ongoing priority.

Wilson remains optimistic that the Alberta government considers economic diversification a priority and is confident that these issues are being addressed; and while he concedes that boom-and-bust cycles will invariably continue to be part and parcel with Alberta’s economy for the foreseeable future, he predicts that forthcoming busts will become less and less severe. “The Alberta government has long been cognizant of the need for diversification and is actively promoting these growing sectors,” he asserts.

“This bodes well for a healthier, more diverse economy.”

Alberta’s oil and gas sector has paved the way for the province to become a recognized leader in the production and export of oil industryrelated industrial products ranging from rig to pipeline components.

Moreover, the province has also emerged as a leader in developing technologies aimed at making this much-maligned industry more environmentally friendly. One such company is Calgary-based Questor Technology, a world-leading producer of waste gas incinerators. Led by president and CEO

Economic Diversification: Alberta’s Quiet Transformation • Exporting

Audrey Mascarenhas, CEO, Questor Technology

Audrey Mascarenhas, a Kenyan-born petroleum engineer who first made a name for herself as Texaco’s first female field engineer, Questor began producing clear-air technologies for the oil industry in 1995. In recent years, she has seen its exports to the United States boom as a result of Washington’s stringent new anti-flaring regulations.

For Mascarenhas, who joined Questor in 1999 after a 17-year career at Gulf Canada, Alberta represents a wealth of human capital resources in the forms of research and development (R&D) and innovation; these are every bit as important as its subterranean resources. “We’re starting to build a reputation in this province as a world leader in oil and gas-related technology,” she asserts. “We still have a long way to go in terms of diversification, but there’s tremendous expertise here.” She also contends that Alberta’s role as a producer of world-class oil industry-related technology is better recognized outside Canada than within it, including in emerging markets such as China, whose leading oil and gas corporation, Sinopec, recently signed a $7.8 million contract with Questor. Mascarenhas says, “This has mostly been through word of mouth.”

Alberta’s vast storehouse of human capital is a direct result of the province’s educational system, which has long been recognized as one of the world’s best. Alberta has also been recognized as a world leader in information technology in the classroom, with the provincial government having made student laptops, electronic whiteboards and other classroom technologies a priority in recent years. This has proven a boon to Alberta’s small but growing high-tech sector as represented by companies such as SMART Technologies.

This innovative Calgary company developed the world’s first interactive whiteboard in 1991 and today produces a vast line of classroom and office technologies ranging from interactive tablets to conferencing software. SMART Technologies exports to 175 countries worldwide. Linda Thomas, vice-president of strategy and planning at SMART Technologies, asserts that Alberta is on the right track in terms of economic diversification. “Alberta continues to have a business-friendly political environment, which, combined with a growing economy, is enormously helpful to us and other companies like us,” she explains.

“The downside to this economy is tough competition for talent, especially in regards to the high-tech skills that our industry requires, as well as the compensation and benefits expectations set by the oil and gas sector. But with a good product, continuous innovation and a good global network of distributors, there’s a world of opportunity. Alberta’s economy will continue to diversify, with a business-friendly environment helping local businesses prosper, and in turn fostering new companies in new industries.”

Be it downstream from the oilpatch or wholly separate from it, Alberta’s economy is indeed diversifying and the province’s one-trick pony image holds far less water than it once did. While oil will continue to dominate Alberta’s export picture for the foreseeable future, the Alberta brand is already becoming increasingly multifaceted. BiC

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Fixed-base operations • Corporate Aviation

Fixed-Base operations Business flying perfected

BY DEBra WarD, CanaDian BUsinEss aViatiOn assOCiatiOn

i

f you fly often, on your way to the terminal, you may have noticed a clutch of nondescript hangars out of the corner of your eye. Maybe you filed the image in your brain as some kind of low-tech combination of gas station/ garage for small planes.

Boy, are you wrong.

Even if you are a triple-elite-four-star-and-heavenlychoir frequent flyer cardholder, chances are you’ve never experienced anything like what you’d find at these hangars – Fixed-Base Operations or FBOs. These corporate and private air terminals provide tailor-made services that run the gamut from most basic aircraft servicing and fuelling work to high-end concierge amenities catering to the most demanding needs of any client.

It’s a far cry from their origins almost 100 years ago, when Fixed-Base Operations were created to differentiate these legitimate businesses from fly-by-night operators. (Yep, that’s where the term came from.)

Shift to today, when private or corporate flights conjure up images of luxury. It’s true, but not in the way you may think.

FBOs don’t cater to champagne and indolence, or if they do, it is very rare. They do provide the luxury of preserving one of businesses’ most precious commodities – time.

Hart Mailandt, director, business development, for North Cariboo Air, which runs its own fleet and has FBOs at the Calgary and Edmonton airports, understands this very well.

“You cannot be late for your own flight,” he says. “The plane is at your command – it’s waiting for you, not the other way around.”

And, not all the planes are snug 12-seaters. North Cariboo owns and services a wide range of aircraft, including some 70 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

100-seaters and its FBOs are set up to deal with planes of every size. “Some of our clients have to move huge groups of people quickly – sometimes there just aren’t enough commercial seats out there to do the job for them.”

Rick Erickson, a Calgary-based aviation consultant, has been watching the evolution of FBOs. “The picture has changed dramatically in the past couple of years,” he says. “Everyone thinks ‘oil and gas’ but Calgary has the largest number of corporate 500 headquarters outside of Toronto, so it’s also banking, insurance and high-tech.”

An interesting outcome of this growth is the diversification of the FBOs themselves. “You are seeing FBOs servicing Boeing 737s that fly workers into the oilsands. On the other hand, you see them cater to smaller, more exclusive corporate jets.” While space is becoming tight at Calgary airport, Erickson predicts there will be new airside space once the new runway opens. “We’re going to see more corporate development and more development aimed at transporting the workforce.”

Whether you’re an oilsands worker or a corporate flyer, the FBOs’ greatest attraction is the elimination of the great passenger trek, the one that eats up hours of time and layers of shoe leather. You know the drill: search for a parking spot, haul yourself and your luggage onto the shuttle, get to the terminal, find the right check-in, line up at security, walk to the gate, line up to board, get to your destination, wait to disembark, wait for your luggage, repeat as necessary.

Today’s FBOs aren’t oil-stained Quonset huts with yesterday’s coffee stewing on a hotplate. They are state-of-the-art

CLIENT:

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ITEM:

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INSERTIoN DATE:

June 2013

Aviation Directory • Aviation

ALBERTA AVIATION OPERATORS ABITIBI HELICOPTERS LTD. Bertrand Perron, President/Director of Operations Toll Free: 1-800-247-9591 Aircraft Operated: (10) AS-350FX2, (1) AS-350BA + ADVENTURE AVIATION INC. Michael Mohr, Ops Manager Tel: (780) 539-6968 Aircraft Operated: (Cessna Skyhawk C172 One Piper Twin Comanche PA30 One Cessna Centurion P210N AGRIUM INC. Robert Garback, Aviation Manager Tel: (403) 216-5090 Aircraft Operated: (1) Citation Sovereign, CE680 AHLSTROM AIR LTD Kyle Wadden, Chief Pilot / Base Manager Tel: 403-721-2203 Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350 SD2 AIR PARTNERS CORP. Tim Morgan, President / Founder Toll Free: 1-877-233-9350 Alternate Number 403-291-3644 Aircraft Operated: Citation V, King Air 200, Learjet45, C-GAXX, C-FKBC, C-FTIL, C-GTGO AIRBORNE ENERGY SOLUTIONS LTD Roch Dallaire, President/CEO Toll Free: 1-888-496-3222 Aircraft Operated: (6) Robinson RH44, (16) Robinson RH44 Raven II (RH44 II), (6) Bell 206 B (B206),(1) Bell 206 L3, (4)(2) AS350 BA, (2) AS350 B2 (3) Piper Navajo A-31, (1) Cessna 208 Caravan, (4) Cessna 172, (2) Cessna 206, (1) King Air 200, (1) King Air 350, (1) Bell 205 A1-17, (1) Bell 212, (1) M1-26 ALBERTA GOVERNMENT AIR TRANSPORTATION SERVICE Rob Madden, Director of Flt Ops Tel: 780-427-7341 Aircraft Operated: (2) KA B200, (1) KA 350, (1) DH 8, DHC8, B3350, BE20 ALTA FLIGHTS (CHARTERS) INC David Robertson, President Tel: 780-890-1330 Aircraft Operated: CE208B, PA31-350, SW227 AVMAX GROUP INC Don Parkin, Executive VP Toll Free: 1-888-524-9444 Aircraft Operated: CRJ -8, King Air 350, Dash 8 BAR XH AIR INC Brent Gateman, President Tel: 403-381-8359 Aircraft Operated: (2) BAE Jetstream, (6) King Air 200 CALGARY POLICE SERVICE Cameron Dutnall, CP Tel: 403-567-4150 Aircraft Operated: (2) EC120 CAN-WEST CORPORATE AIR CHARTERS Natalie Hanczak, Flight Coordinator Tel: 780-849-5353 Aircraft Operated: Citation 560, King Air 200, Piper Navajo, Cessna 210, 206, 185 CANADIAN HELICOPTERS LIMITED Don Wall, President/CEO Tel: 780-429-6900 Aircraft Operated: (17) AS350B2, (27) AS350BA, (1) AS350D, (1) AS355F1, (1) AS355F2, (10) BH212, (1) BH407, (1) BH412, (3) EC120B, (4) R22B, (2) R22B2, (4) R44 II, (6) S61N, (10) S76A, (1) S76A++, B 407 CATHTON INVESTMENTS LTD/CRA INVESTMENTS LTD Ernie Poole, Aviation Manager Tel: 780-890-7443 Aircraft Operated: (1) Falcon 900C CCI/DIA Aviation Ernie Poole, Aviation Manager Tel: 780-890-7443 Aircraft Operated: (1) Hawker - Siddley 800

DELTA HELICOPTERS LTD Paul Stubbs, Ops Manager Toll Free: 1-800-665-3564 Aircraft Operated: (9) Bell 206B, (4) A-Star 350BA, (4) Bell 204b, (4) AF350-B2

RIDGE ROTORS INC. Hans Nogel, Ops Mgr Toll Free: 1-877-242-4211 Aircraft Operated: (2) B206B2, (1) A Star 350 B2, (2) R44

EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL SHELL AEROCENTRE Sarah Gratton, Aerocentre Manager Toll Free: 1-800-668-4766, Tel: 780-890-1337 Aircraft Operated: No Aircraft listed

ROTORWORKS INC. Adam Sloan, Office Manager Ryan Cluff, Comm Pilot/David Buckland, Comm Pilot Tel: 780-778-6600 Aircraft Operated: (2) R22 Robinson, (2) R44 Robinson, (1) Robinson r66

E-Z AIR INC Ezra Bavly, Pres/Ops Mgr/CFI Tel: 780-453-2085 Aircraft Operated: (1) Bell 206, (1) Robinson R44

WESTJET AIRLINES LTD Toll Free: 1-888-937-8538 Aircraft Operated: (13) Boeing 737-600, (65) Boeing 737700, (13) Boeing 737-800

EDMONTON FLYING CLUB Ralph Henderson, President Tel: 780-454-4531 Aircraft Operated: (3) C-152, (2) C-172, (1) 172SP, (2) DV-20, (1) MFD Simulator, (1) DA40, (2) DA42, (1) Eclipse 500 Simulator

ALBERTA CHARTER OPERATORS CHARTER FIXED WING

EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE Tel: 780-408-4218 Aircraft Operated: (1) EC-120 ENERJET Dave Lancelot, President/CEO Tel: 403-648-2848 Aircraft Operated: (2) Boeing 737-700NG GEMINI HELICOPTERS INC Roch Dallaire, President Tel: 780-402-2444 Aircraft Operated: (2) EC 120, (14) R44, (4) AS350, (2) Bell 205 GUARDIAN HELICOPTERS INC Graydon Kowal, President/CEO Tel: 403-730-6333, 403-232-1748 Aircraft Operated: (2) Bell205, (3) AS350BA, (3) Bell 206B, (1) PA31P, (3) Bell 417, (1) MD 530F INFINITY FLIGHT SERVICES William Vasquez, Ops Manager Toll Free: 1-877-VIP-7900 Aircraft Operated: (1) King Air B100, (1) Citation V INTEGRA AIR INC Brent Gateman, President/CEO Toll Free: 1-877-213-8359 Aircraft Operated: (1) PA31T Cheyenne, (1) Cessna 172 Floatplane, (2) BAE Jetstream – 3 KENN BOREK AIR LTD Brian Crocker, VP Operations Tel: 403-291-3300 Aircraft Operated: (4) Beech 200, Twin Otter DHC6, (2) DC3-T, (2) EMB-110 MOUNTAIN VIEW HELICOPTERS Paul Bergeron, President/CP Tel: 403-286-7186 Aircraft Operated: (3) R22, (2) R44, (1) Bell 206 NORTH CARIBOO AIR Hart Mailandt Toll Free: 1-866-359-6222 Aircraft Operated: BAe146, Dash 8, Beech 1900, King Air 200, Challenger, Citation www.flynca.com PEREGRINE HELICOPTERS Glen Hansen, President Tel: 780-865-3353 Aircraft Operated: (1) B206B3, (1) Bell 206 L3 PHOENIX HELI-FLIGHT INC Paul Spring, President Tel: 780-799-0141 Aircraft Operated: (2) Euro 120, (1) AS350B2, (1) EC 130B4, (1) AS355N, (1) 355NP, (1) 350B3 REGIONAL 1 AIRLINES LTD Luc Picard, Director of Operations Toll Free: 1-888-802-1010 Aircraft Operated: (1) Dash 8-100, (2) Dash 8-200, (1) Dash 8-300, (1) King Air 300, (2) CRJ200

72 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

ADVENTURE AVIATION INC. Michael Mohr, Ops Manager Tel: (780) 539-6968 Aircraft Operated: (3) C172, (1) Twin Comanche PA30 (1) Cessna Centurion p210N, (1) Precision Flight Controls “Cirrus II” Simulator AIR PARTNERS CORP. Tim Morgan, President / Founder Toll Free: 1-877-233-9350 Aircraft Operated: Citation V, Citation Ultra, Citation Encore, Challenger 604, Citation X, Citation XL, King Air 200 AIRBORNE ENERGY SOLUTIONS LTD Roch Dallaire, President/CEO Toll Free: 1-888-496-3222 Aircraft Operated: (6) Robinson RH44, (16) Robinson RH44 Raven II (RH44 II), (6) Bell 206 B (B206),(1) Bell 206 L1, (4)(2) AS350 BA, (2) AS350 B2 (3) Piper Navajo A-31, (1) Cessna 208 Caravan, (4) Cessna 172.

ALTA FLIGHTS (CHARTERS) INC David Robertson, President Tel: 780-890-1330 Aircraft Operated: (4) Metro 23, (3) King Air 100, (2) Grand Caravan, (2) Dornier 228, (2) Piper PA31, (4) Cessna 172, (2) Cessna Citation 501, (1) Cessna Citation 550 ARIES AVIATION SERVICE CORP Marvin Keyser, President Toll Free: 1-877-730-6499 Aircraft Operated: (2) LR36 Lear Jet, (4) PA-31 Navajo, (1) Cessna Caravan AVMAX GROUP INC Don Parkin, Executive VP Toll Free: 1-888-524-9444, 403-291-2464 Aircraft Operated: CRJ -8, King Air 350, Dash 8 CANADIAN NORTH Steve Hankirk Tel: 403-705-3118 Aircraft Operated: (4) Dash 8, (9) 737-200 Combi, (2) 737-300 CAN-WEST CORPORATE AIR CHARTERS Natalie Hanczak, Flight Coordinator Tel: 780-849-5353 Aircraft Operated: Citation 560, King Air 200, Piper Navajo, Cessna 210, 206, 185 CENTRAL AVIATION INC Colin MacLeod, Ops Manager Tel: 403-242-9130 Aircraft Operated: Cessna Citation 500 Executive Jet, (2) Piper Navajo Chieftain, Piper Seneca, (2) Waco ENERJET Dave Lancelot, President/CEO Tel: 403-648-2824 Aircraft Operated: (2) Boeing 737-700NG INFINITY FLIGHT SERVICES William Vasquez, Ops Manager Toll Free: 1-877-VIP-7900 Aircraft Operated: (1) King Air B100, (1) Citation V

Fixed-Base Operations • Corporate Aviation

facilities that offer luxury services for passengers and aircraft alike, with hotel-like amenities for pilots and travellers and full-service maintenance for aircraft. FBOs may offer meeting rooms, Wi-Fi, showers, gourmet catering and concierge service. Some of them look like high-end hotel lobbies.

Because the passengers are all known on a private flight, there is no CATSA-style passenger security line at FBOs. However, security is a critical element for many businesses, and some FBOs have installed the same equipment that CATSA uses – but it’s the client who determines what is being checked and why.

While FBOS have no equivalent to government-regulated commercial passenger security, Merlin Preuss, VP for government and regulatory affairs for the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA), works closely with its FBO members to help ensure it will stay that way. “With corporate flights, you know who you’re putting on the aircraft, so there’s no need for commercial-type passenger security,” he explains. “As the association that represents the needs of business aviation, one of our greatest tasks is to ensure that if any new regulations come down the pike, they don’t get in the way of why people use FBOs in the first place.”

With the number and range of international corporate flights increasing every year, access to customs clear-

ance at FBOs is an important part of the process.

“We’ve worked closely with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to help ensure that you can clear customs at FBOs,” says Preuss. “In many cases, the CBSA agent is waiting for you when the plane arrives.” However, with government budget cuts, it’s an ongoing battle. “The CBAA works with CBSA on a case-by-case bases, FBO by FBO, to make the argument for customs services.”

The CBAA has also succeeded in expanding the number of passengers allowed on international corporate flights.

“In the past, the maximum number of passengers entering Canada on a private flight was 15; we succeeded in working with CATSA to increase that number to 39. It’s made an enormous difference to our members’ ability to use corporate aircraft and FBOs,” Preuss says.

While FBOs and private flights may be a necessary part of business – albeit an efficient and often enjoyable one – the service isn’t the right match for every passenger. “If you’re flying to Vancouver from Calgary or Edmonton, which has great service and frequencies, your best bet may still be a commercial flight,” Mailandt cautions. But as Preuss explains, FBOs offer something that regular air service can’t.

“You arrive and there’s no gate. You go onto the ramp, into the plane and leave. Try that with an Air Canada flight.” BiC

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www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 73

Aviation Directory • Aviation

INTEGRA AIR INC Brent Gateman, CEO Toll Free: 1-877-213-8359 Aircraft Operated: (1) PA31T Cheyenne KENN BOREK AIR LTD Brian Crocker, VP Operations Tel: 403-291-3300 Aircraft Operated: (3) Beech 99, (8) Beech 100, (4) Beech 200, (41) Twin Otter, (2) DC3-T, (2) EMB-110, Twin Otter DHC6 NORTH CARIBOO AIR Hart Mailandt Toll Free: 1-866-359-6222 Aircraft Operated: BAe146, Dash 8, Beech 1900, King Air 200, Challenger, Citation www.flynca.com NORTHERN AIR CHARTER (P.R.) INC Rob King, President Tel: 780-624-1911 Aircraft Operated: Piper Navajo, (1) Aztec, (1) Navajo, (1) King Air 100, (4) King Air 200, (1) Beech 1900 SKY WINGS AVIATION ACADEMY LTD. Dennis Cooper, CEO Toll Free: 1-800-315-8097 Locations in Red Deer and Okotoks Aircraft Operated: Cessna 172, Piper Senaca I, Piper Navajo, Alsim 200 C REGIONAL 1 AIRLINES LTD Luc Picard, Director of Operations Toll Free: 1-888-802-1010 Aircraft Operated: (1) Dash 8-300, (1) King Air 300, (2) CRJ200 SUNWEST AVIATION LTD Richard Hotchkiss, President/CEO Toll Free: 1-888-291-4566 Aircraft Operated: (1) Falcon 900EX, (1) Challenger 604, (2) Cessna Citation Sovereign, (2) Gulfstream G150, (2) Hawker 800, (2) Lear 55, (4) Lear 45, (2) Lear 35A, (1) Citation V, (5) Beech 1900D, (4) Metro liner 23, (1) King Air 350, (4) King Air B200, Challenger 300, Dash 8 300 SWANBERG AIR INC Toll Free: 1-877-637-8977 Aircraft Operated: (1) PA31-350 Navajo Chieftain WETASKIWIN AIR SERVICES LTD. Ron VandenDungen, Director of Flight Ops Tel: 780-352-5643 Aircraft Operated: (1) Cessna 150, (2) Cessna 172, (1) Piper Twin Comanche ALBERTA CHARTER OPERATORS CHARTER ROTARY WING ABITIBI HELICOPTERS LTD. Bertrand Perron, President/Director of Operations Toll Free: 1-800-247-9591 Aircraft Operated: (10) AS-350FX2, (1) AS-350BA + AHLSTROM AIR LTD. Kyle Wadden, Chief Pilot & Base Manager Tel: 403-721-2203 Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350B1 AIRBORNE ENERGY SOLUTIONS LTD Roch Dallaire, Director Toll Free: 1-888-496-3222 Aircraft Operated: (6) Robinson RH44, (16) Robinson RH44 Raven II (RH44 II), (6) Bell 206 B (B206), (1) Bell 206 L1, (4)(2) AS350 BA, (2) AS350 B2, (3) Piper Navajo A-31, (1) Cessna 208 Caravan, (4) Cessna 172, (2) Cessna 206, (1) King Air 200, (1) King Air 350 Bailey Helicopters Ltd Brent Knight Tel: 403-219-2770 Aircraft Operated: Bell 212, Bell 206, Astar 350, Robinson 44 www.baileyhelicoptors.com BLACK SWAN HELICOPTERS LTD Linda Johnson, President Toll Free: 877-475-4774 Aircraft Operated: (1) FX 2, (1) B206B, (2) R44, (1) B204C

CANADIAN HELICOPTERS LIMITED Don Wall, President/CEO Tel: 780-429-6900 Aircraft Operated: (27) AS350BA, (1) AS355F2, (2) AS355N, (10) BH212, (1) BH407, (1) BH412, (1) BH412SP, (3) EC120B, (4) R22B, (2) R22B2, (4) R44 II, (6) S61N, (10) S76A, (1) S76A++, B407 DELTA HELICOPTERS LTD Paul Stubbs, Ops Manager Toll Free: 1-800-665-3564 Aircraft Operated: (9) Bell 206, (4) A-Star 350BA, (4) Bell 204, (4) AF350-B2 E-Z AIR INC Ezra Bavly, Pres/Ops Mgr/CFI Tel: 780-453-2085 Aircraft Operated: (1) Bell 206, (1) Robinson R44 EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE Tel: 780-408-4218 Aircraft Operated: (1) EC120B GEMINI HELICOPTERS INC Roch Dallaire, President Tel: 780-402-2444 Aircraft Operated: (2) EC 120, (14) R44, (4) AS350, (2) Bell 205 GREAT SLAVE HELICOPTERS INC Jeff Denomme, President, Tel: 867.873.2081 Todd Johnson, VP of Sales and Marketing Tel: 780.232.2589 Springbank Base Facility, Tel: 403.286.2040 Aircraft Operated: Bell 206B Jet Ranger, Bell 206 Long Ranger, Bell 206L1, Bell 206L3, Bell 206L4, Bell 205, Bell 212, Bell212S, Aster 350 BA, 350B2, 350B3, EC 130B4, BK 117B2, Bell 412EP, Bell 407 & 405 GUARDIAN HELICOPTERS INC Graydon Kowal, President Tel: 403-730-6333, 403-232-1748 Aircraft Operated: (2) Bell205, (3) AS350BA, (3) Bell 206B, (1) PA31P, (3) Bell 417, (1) MD 530F

RIDGE ROTORS INC. Hans Nogel, Ops Mgr Toll Free: 1-877-242-4211 Aircraft Operated: (2) B206B2, (1) A Star 350 B2, (2) R44 SLAVE LAKE HELICOPTERS LTD George Kelham, President Debbie Kelham, Owner Tel: 780-849-6666 Aircraft Operated: (4) AS350 B3, (1) Bell 206B-3 SLOAN HELICOPTERS LTD Troy Sloan, President Tel: 780-849-4456 Aircraft Operated: (1) RH44, (1) EC120B, A5350 THEBACHA HELICOPTERS LTD Kim Hornsby, President/DOM Tel: 780-723-4180 Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350B2 (1) Bell 206B, (1) AS350B2 WOOD BUFFALO HELICOPTERS Michael Morin, President & Operations Manager Tel: 780-743-5588 Toll Free: 1-866-743-5588 operations@woodBuffaloHelicopters.ca Aircraft Operated: (4) AS350 B2, (1) EC120B, (3) B206B JET CHARTERS AIR PARTNERS CORP. Tim Morgan, President / Founder Toll Free: 403-291-3644 Aircraft Operated: Citation V, Citation Ultra, Citation Encore, Challenger 604, Citation X, Citation XL, King Air 200, Citation 501 550 AIRSPRINT INC. Chris Richer, President Toll Free: 1-877-588-2344 Selling interests in Citation XL/S and CJ27

HIGH COUNTRY HELICOPTERS Hjalmar Tiesenhausen Toll Free: 1-877-777-4354 Aircraft Operated: Bell 206, 206 Long Ranger

AURORA JET PARTNERS - HEAD OFFICE / EDMONTON BASE 3759 60 Avenue East Edmonton International Airport, AB T9E 0V4 Phone: 888-797-5387 Toll Free: 888-797-5387 Fax: 780-453-6057

HIGHLAND HELICOPTERS LTD. Terry Jones, Ops Manager Tel: 780-459-5661 Aircraft Operated: (24) Bell 206B, (2) Bell 206 L-3, (2) AS350 BA, (15) AS350 B2

CANADIAN NORTH Steve Hankirk, Senior Manager Charters Tel: 403-705-3118 Aircraft Operated: (4) Dash 8, (9) 737-200 Combi, (2) 737-300

MOUNTAIN VIEW HELICOPTERS Paul Bergeron, President/CP Tel: 403-286-7186 Aircraft Operated: (3) R22, (2) R44, (1) Bell 206

ENERJET Dave Lancelot, President/CEO Tel: 403-648-2848 Aircraft Operated: (2) Boeing 737-700NG

MUSTANG HELICOPTERS INC Tim Boyle, Ops Manager Tel: 403-885-5220 Aircraft Operated: (11) AS350B2, Bell 212, A5350 B3E, Bell 205, MD 500 D

SWANBERG AIR INC Toll Free: 1-877-637-8977 Aircraft Operated: (4) Jetstream 31, (1) Challenger 601, (1) PA31-350 Navajo Chieftain

PEREGRINE HELICOPTERS Glen Hansen, President Steve Wotton, Chief Pilot, Ops Manager Tel: 780-865-3353 Aircraft Operated: (1) B206B3 PHOENIX HELI-FLIGHT INC Paul Spring, President Tel: 780-799-0141 Aircraft Operated: (2) Euro 120, (1) AS350B2, (1) EC 130B4, (1) AS355N, (1) 355NP, (1) 350B3 PRECISION HELICOPTERS INC John Carlton, GM Toll Free: 1-877-545-5455 Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350BA, (1) AS350D2 REMOTE HELICOPTERS LTD. Jeff Lukan, President Tel: 780-849-2222 Aircraft Operated: (1) AS350B2, (2) AS350BA, (1) Bell 204 – c model, (2) Bell 206, (2) Bell 212, (2) BA, (1) B2, (2) FD2

74 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

AIRCRAFT SALES PRAIRIE AIRCRAFT SALES LTD. Andrew Fletcher, President Blair Douglas, Sales Associate Tel: 403-286-4277 Email: sales@prairieaircraft.com Website: www.Prairieaircraft.com Aircraft Operated: (1) Caravan JOHN HOPKINSON & ASSOCIATES Andrew Hopkinson Tel: 403 291-9027 Fax: 403 250-2459 Email: sales@hopkinsonassociates.com Web: www.hopkinsonassociates.com Aircraft: Specializing in commercial and corporate aircraft

The suddenly hot consumers • Boomers & Zoomers

Boomers:

The Suddenly Hot Consumers

BY John haRdY

s

several downsides, boomers are on track to be the biggest ome call it the silver tsunami. drains of Canada’s health-care system.

Economists, financial planners and pension wizards call it a ticking time bomb. Marketers, who used to rudely shrug and write them off, are suddenly grovelling for forgiveHealth Care ness and scrambling to cash in. Investment gurus are revved Whether it’s Alberta, every other Canadian province or and busy. Specialists are overwhelmed and overbooked. the U.S., the medical profession is referring to some common The world’s biggest, most affluent, influential, spoiled and generational health problems as boomeritis. The numbers self-indulgent generation – the 88 million North American don’t lie and it’s unanimous: inside and outside of hospibaby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 – are finally tals and doctors’ offices, boomers are already consuming a growing-up and becoming either an opportunity or a big disproportionate share of public health resources. And it’s dilemma, depending which sideline you’re on. bound to get worse.

There is big business in sorting out boomer problems and This year, the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s (HSF) annual looking after boomer wants, needs and quirks. report on the health of Canadians chose to focus on the health It’s why the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute in facts of boomer life and showed a glaring disconnect between Calgary can barely keep up with the backlog of patients boomer perception of their personal health and actual realities. anxiously waiting for knee and hip replacements.

Many boomers are either in denial or ignoring the jarring It’s why marketing and especially ad agencies crawling fact that long life is not always equated with good health. with 20- or 30-something reps and creative geniuses are “The purpose was to shed light on the disconnects that scrambling to pitch boomer “gotta-haves” like exotic vacaboomers have between their health and their perceived tions, fine wines, SUVs, a grab bag of cosmetic nips and health,” explains Matthew Mayer, senior research specialist tucks, technology and fast food. And it’s why the financial with the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “While 80 per cent industry is tripping over itself to get a chunk of sockeddescribed themselves as ‘healthy,’ the poll showed a much away boomer nest eggs. different story.

Statistics Canada numbers show that this “Boomers live about 10 years beyond the year the oldest boomer turns 67, the youngtime their health has begun to deteriorate. est turns 49 and about 1,000 Canadians turn Unfortunately, because some boomers don’t 60 each and every day. take ‘the 10-year gap’ seriously, the final There’s undisputable strength in boomer decade is often spent in discomfort and disnumbers, 9.8 million Canadian reasons and satisfaction.” more than 252,000 Calgary reasons why Although the HSF report documents that boomerisms matter. boomers are the biggest risk generation for By sheer numbers, boomers have undisheart disease, overall health stats show that putable influence, impact and clout. They about 60 per cent of boomers have been own three-quarters of all financial assets, diagnosed with at least one chronic medical control more than half of today’s discretioncondition – diabetes, arthritis, heart disease ary spending, they will likely continue to or hypertension. flex as Canada’s most dominant generation “People are living longer and the boomer for at least the next 10 years and, among the generation were more active in their 30s and Matthew Mayer, Senior Research Specialist with the Heart & Stroke Foundation

www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 75

The suddenly hot consumers • Boomers & Zoomers

If the 60s is what Rod Stewart (68), Peter Mansbridge (64), Diane Keaton (67), Bill Clinton (66), David Letterman (66), Anne Murray (68) and Meryl Streep (64) look and act like, marketers beware!

40s and some consequences and problems are just showingup now,” observes Calgary’s Dr. Cy Frank, chief medical advisor at the respected Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute and one of the most highly esteemed orthopaedic surgeons in Canada. “Obesity and other lifestyle issues like diets and inactivity are factors in the drastic increase in osteoarthritis – the deterioration of knee joints, hip joints and other joints. The situation will only worsen for the next 15-20 years as boomers move into old age.”

Dr. Frank underscores the boomer problem by citing that more than 10,000 knee and hip replacements are done in Alberta each year. “Some people are simply worn out and may never had any risk factors or injuries but by far the most effective intervention and prevention is weight loss.”

Carole Kelly is a very savvy professional with a unique perspective and understanding about the boomer stage of contemporary life. She is the executive director of Calgary’s superb and popular Millrise Place Seniors’ Assisted Living Residence, where the staff prides themselves on genuine relationships and communication with residents and their families.

Although Millrise residents are likely the parents of boomers, Kelly’s seasoned people expertise and her unique exposure to boomers highlights some new dimensions.

Dr. Cy Frank, Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute. Photo credit Trudie Lee

Carole Kelly, Executive Director, Millrise Place

76 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

“Boomers tend to be much better informed than their parents were at that age but boomers have also been the ‘me’ generation, when everything was doable and OK and they usually got what they wanted. Boomers were not built to grow old gracefully,” she says with an amused chuckle.

She cites a recent, jarring example about a boomer couple whose mother is a Millrise resident. “I was so happy to let them know that, thanks to a recent change in the law, their mother could now have two baths a week. They were shocked. They didn’t know that Alberta’s Nursing Home Act provided only one assisted bath a week. Boomers will have to make some major adjustments in their lifestyle because today’s healthcare services could never satisfy boomer expectations.”

Marketing In the carefully strategic and calculatingly discriminating world of advertising, boomers used to be the insignificant and overlooked consumer. Marketers of many things and services suddenly embrace the undisputable fact that 50-plus consumers now control more than 70 per cent of discretionary spending. In marketing lingo, that more than qualifies them as suddenly hot prospects.

Ad agencies begrudgingly accept that today’s boomers do not consider themselves “seniors,” so marketing to boomers must be drastically different than marketing to seniors. As with any target group, imagery and messaging is key. No more clichéd images of smiling grey-haired people frolicking in golf-course communities.

If the 60s is what Rod Stewart (68), Peter Mansbridge (64), Diane Keaton (67), Bill Clinton (66), David Letterman (66), Anne Murray (68) and Meryl Streep (64) look and act like, marketers beware!

Dr. Les Harris is a popular boomer expert, author, guest speaker and creator of the boomer-marketing website, www. beyondboomers.com.

“Boomers represent about 25 per cent of the population; they are wealthy, healthy and open to new products. They consume loads of media and they remain optimistic,” Harris says. “They drove the housing boom in the ’50s, the educa-

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The suddenly hot consumers • Boomers & Zoomers

Boomers are realizing more and more that they will likely have to cut back on expectations and expenses. tions or economy factors – the golden years, living happily ever after and other retirement plans simply aren’t as cinchy or even likely.

The recently announced, thirdannual RBC Retirement Myths and Realities Poll confirms that 71 per cent of boomers can’t wait for retirement but the poll also shows that 42 per cent of those not yet retired expect managing their cash flow in retirement will be more difficult; 37 per cent are worried they do not have enough money to do what they always planned and wanted; and only 52 per cent of those expecting Financial to retire within a year have a detailed Money, grand plans, assumptions, budget as part of a financial plan. expectations and actual bottom lines According to Calgary’s Michael have become the most jarring of all Wood, RBC regional vice-president boomer reality check adjustments.

In Calgary – We Are A Creative.pdf 1 2013-05-03 4:14:42 PM of investment and retirement planWhateverBusiness happened private situation boom and the sexual revolution in the ’60s, racquetball and jogging in the ’70s, health clubs in the ’80s and the stock market in the ’90s. Even in their boomer years, they’re proving that they know what they want.”

Today’s marketing consultants agree.

Boomers are plugged-in, online and gung-ho consumers but they have been fooled enough times that they are cautious about advertising. Boomers respond to special offers but not gimmicks. They are not impulsive or gullible.

78 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Michael Wood, RBC Regional vice-president of investment and retirement planning

ning, “The average boomer expects that their retirement will cost them about 60 per cent of their pre-retirement income. Economists suggest it will be more like 50-80 per cent.

Boomers are realizing more and more that they will likely have to cut back on expectations and expenses.

“A third don’t feel they have enough money and they will have to make other decisions – like delaying retirement and working longer,” Wood itemizes from the RBC poll.

“But not all boomers plan to delay retirement for only cash flow reasons.

People are living longer (the current life expectancy for a 50 year old is 84.2) and retiring at the traditional 65 means 20 or so years of being productive. So some boomers plan to stay engaged in some kind of work – consulting contracts or something that they have been personally interested in.

“One thing for sure, especially in Canada, every economic and political decision has to consider boomers,” he cautions. “Hypothetically if every boomer suddenly decided to say, ‘See ya, I’m retiring!’ the world would have an enormous problem.”

After all, boomers are the original Survivors. Surviving in an unimaginable, pre-iPhone and iPad, pre-ATM, pre-bird flu, pre-dot-com, pre-Kardashian, pre-same sex marriage, pre 9/11 and pre-bin Laden, pre-global warming, pre-trans fat anxiety and pre-American Idol world. BiC

Thursday, June 20 | 6 p.m. | Metropolitan Centre Contact us for tickets

403-264-3270 Join us in celebrating Business in Calgary’s Leaders of Tomorrow.

We will be honouring 20 individuals for their business acumen, contribution to community and to their industry. These are the people that are making Calgary a great city to live and work in.

Business in Calgary will feature your Leaders of Tomorrow in our July 2013 issue.

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Gold Partners

HUMAN RESOURCES INSTITUTE OF ALBERTA

Building Success

by Finding the Perfect Fit: Aligning the right people with the right jobs Written and photographed by Mary Savage

W

hen Roger Cundy, Barry Hanna and Bonnie Dolan decided to go into business, it wasn’t because they had a brilliant new invention.

Simply put, they followed their passion: to provide extraordinary service and quality products in an industry they knew extremely well.

Roger and Barry met during the early ’80s while working in the lumber industry. Roger worked in contract sales and Barry worked in operations. During those years and while forging new business, they met Bonnie who was working in the manufacturing sector for a high-end mouldings company in sales and accounting.

And although none of them realized it at the time, the colleagues would come together – about 10 years later – to form their own business.

In 1993, the trio started Regal Building Materials Ltd. and they each brought about 20 years of experience to the table. It was the perfect partnership: contractor sales, operations and accounting, and their vision was to build the best business in the industry.

Roger believed that success – in any market – came down to having the right people doing the right jobs, and 20 years later their track record is proof positive.

Regal started as a modest five-person shop that operoper ated from two bays in a southeast Calgary business complex and it has evolved to become the city’s larglarg est supplier of interior doors, french doors, mouldings, locks, bathroom hardware and sheet goods.

The team at Regal Building Materials

Regal Building Materials Celebrates 20 Years | 1

The three owners of Regal Building Materials

The new management team

Since 1998, Regal has won numerous SAM awards (Calgary Home Builders’ Association) – solidifying their vision and drive to provide the best service and products available, and today, Regal proudly holds about 25 per cent of the total market share.

As the industry has evolved, one of Regal’s biggest challenges has been to continually educate their customers about the influx of new products, and they recognized the best way to solve this problem was to hold regular tradeshows. About 10 years ago, Regal started hosting such an event to showcase the new product lines.

“The difference between the way business was done in the 1980s compared to now is that 30 years ago, there were only a few choices when selecting baseboards, doors, locks and hardware,” says Roger Cundy, CEO and president. “Today we carry hundreds of product lines.”

Twenty years after opening the Regal doors, the business has become a sprawling operation that encompasses about 65,000 square feet, dispersed among 12 bays – all throughout the same complex.

As part of Regal’s evolution and growth, they established a multi-family department about 10 years ago – spearheaded

and led by Barry Hanna. This successful part of the business also includes a supply and install department with crews of outstanding finishers and installers.

As the city has grown and as it relates to the homebuilding industry, revised safety regulations have changed the way business is conducted. Regal was the first business – in their part of the industry – to become COR certified. They employ a full-time safety officer, John Geraldi, who is a 15-year employee.

Likewise, Bret Hanna, service manager, heads up Regal’s customer service department and has been with the company for 20 years.

Their staff of 70 brings a variety of skills, experience and knowledge to every job. And after spending a few minutes talking to the employees, it’s obvious every person who calls Regal home embraces the owners’ vision.

Regal caters to a diversified clientele: general contractors, homebuilders, renovators and designers. Barry Hanna, vice president, has observed you have to be ready to look after the customer’s needs on short notice. “We’ve been yes-men for many years and there’s always a way to meet the customer’s needs: it’s all part of the service we offer.”

Congratulations!!

Regal Building Materials on 20 years of business success from the Lo Gullo Group of Companies.

Regal Building Materials Celebrates 20 Years | 2

Regal’s biggest year was in 2008, which saw about $22 million in sales. “When the recession hit, we had just come off our biggest year and that’s a lot of product going out the door. To get those orders right every time, you’ve got to have the right people in place,” adds Roger. “Success is about finding the right combination of people with the right attitude, and then everything comes together.”

A Glimpse Inside the Regal Operation As you enter the main door, the 1,000 square-foot showroom provides their clientele with a never-ending selection of product lines. From mouldings and doors to locks and bathroom hardware fixtures, the showroom serves to showcase new products in an ever-changing market.

But the heart of the company is found beyond the showroom walls and the first stop is the shipping department, which is an integral component of the Regal operation. Matt Lewis heads up shipping and operations, and he has been with Regal for 13 years. “We like to keep our people around for as long as possible and we invest in our people to provide proper training,” says Roger. “In our industry, when a mistake occurs it’s a big deal and it means having to correct it right away.”

Around the corner is one of the sales departments where Susan Hanna oversees this aspect of Regal’s business. Susan, a 20-year employee, is joined by a sales team where they work with large homebuilders and contractors to facilitate a high volume of finish-

ing packages. Regal has seven such sales departments.

Across the parking lot, Regal has two more bays that warehouse all their mouldings – an expansion to accommodate their growing inventory. Standing inside the massive warehouse that out-stocks any big-box retailer: row upon row of mouldings fill the warehouse.

“These bays used to be stocked with oak and maple, but during the mid to late 1990s there was shift toward MDF. The majority of our mouldings are MDF now and it’s price that has driven the changes within the industry,” observes Roger.

Regal carries between 80 to 100 different profiles of mouldings, and many profiles turn over on a daily basis. The majority of their stock is pre-sold, but they still stock wood profiles in an MDF market.

Across another parking lot is the door warehouse and on any given day, Regal has about 3,500 doors in stock. The 14,000-square-foot warehouse carries over 20 different styles.

They stock, machine and deliver 85,000-plus doors annually.

Larry Ferris, door shop foreman, came to Regal about four years ago, but he’s been in the industry for 36 years. Larry oversees a team of five to facilitate the volume of doors that roll through Regal’s warehouse – with a capacity to machine about 400 doors per day.

When Regal started the business, they sold a lot of oak and mahogany doors, but Alberta’s semi-arid climate meant products like mahogany would warp, and these factors have played

Congratulations Regal Building Materials on 20 years of Successful Business!

From your loyal support team at ABBL Hardware!

Commercial

Congratulations on 20 years!

Proud supplier to Regal Building Materials for 20 years

Hollow Metal Doors and Frames Wood Doors Commercial Hardware Partitions Washroom Accessories Aluminum Store Fronts and Windows Installation Services

Residential

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403.291.0641 | www.abblbiz.com Regal Building Materials Celebrates 20 Years | 3

Congratulations

Regal Building Materials on 20 YEARS of SUCCESS! Regal has been an important customer to Taiga, we look forward to working with you for many years to come.

Whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes.

showroom to the right. Between the employees and customers, Regal’s front office is always on the move – helping customers, filling orders and assisting the clientele perusing the showroom.

Although many of the products lines have evolved and changed in 20 years, there are a few things that remain the same: Regal’s philosophy in providing the best service in town. “We still have the same customers, but the faces have changed,” reflects Bonnie Dolan, secretary/treasury. “With many of our long-standing customers, we are now working with the second generation. Internally, we are engaging our own succession plan.”

www.fsb.de/en

a role in the evolution of the moulded panel doors. “MDF doesn’t crack and warp the way wood does,” explains Barry.

“Wood has a memory whereas MDF has no memory – MDF retains its shape.”

Regal makes their own french doors – something they’ve been doing since the company’s inception. The department is headed by Steve Dodsley, who has been with the company for 18 years.

“French doors are such a detailed product that you’ve got to have the right systems in place to complete the order properly – it always comes back to controlling the quality of the product.

Our biggest cost with anything is having to redo a job, but we rectify a job faster than anyone in town,” adds Barry.

About 15 years ago, Regal had an opportunity to foray into the wire shelf and mirror business and it has proven to be an excellent addition to the company. Regal Shelf and Mirror Ltd. provides custom products that are cut, assembled and installed on site, offering a cost-effective storage solution for any space.

Additionally, they offer glass and mirrors for vanities, showers and closet doors, and in keeping with Roger’s philosophy, the glass division was introduced when a longtime colleague brought his expertise to Regal. Harris Glass oversees the glass department manufacturing and he has been with the company for 12 years.

Crossing the parking lot again, the tour finished back at the front door: the contractor sales desk to the left and the

Individuality and character are amongst our most elemental building blocks.

Congratulations to

Regal Building Materials Ltd. on your

TAIGABUILDING.COM

20th Anniversary

SEXTON GROUP LTD www.sextongroup.com

Regal Building Materials Celebrates 20 Years | 4

Bronco Industries Inc. In recent years, the Regal owners have been gradually folding the next generation into the business. “We’ve hired very capable young people to take over, their performance is excellent and they are running the business exactly how we envisioned it,” adds Bonnie. “We have instilled our philosophy in them – this is what has made us successful and this is what’s going to keep Regal successful. As the second generation takes the reins, we wish ‘good luck’ to Michael Cundy, Aaron Wilkins, James Aucoin, Matt Lewis, Dave Hanna and the team.”

And as Regal celebrates their 20th anniversary, they pause from the workday to extend a sincere ‘thank you’ to all the customers, employees and suppliers who have contributed to two decades of success.

403-253-2010Bronco | sales@regalbuilding.com Industries Inc.

www.regalbuilding.com

Roger and all the “Congratulations staff at Regal Building Materials Ltd. on your 20th Anniversary Clark Davies

”

Bronco Industries Inc.

Risk Services Coordinator

7988 - 82nd Street, Delta, BC V4G 1L8 Tel: 604-940-8821

) 4 03.62 0.2418 * clark.davies@federated.ca

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35 Years of ‘Moving Excellence’

By Mary Savage

W

hen you enter the double doors at Premiere Van Lines, your eye is immediately drawn to the wall of awards in reception. Most of the wall space showcases the awards that Premiere has won; in fact, they ran out of space several years ago. They have received recognition on both the regional and national level for outstanding quality, service and sales. are and General Hardware Premiere is a national franchise and also one of the largest agents under the Atlas Van Lines umbrella, and unequivocally, they represent remarkable business practices in a highly competitive industry.

Today, as Premiere celebrates their 35th anniversary in the Calgary marketplace, they are also recognized as one of the  largest and oldest moving companies in Calgary. And they  are proud of their reputation – guided by the leadership and  vision of Paul Phone, president and founder of the Calgary   branch.

Over the decades, Premiere has raised the bar and instilled   a level of excellence in everything from customer service to    industry standards. They are proud of their long-standing   A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and in the moving industry they are a tough act to follow.

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 

  

  

Originally, Premiere Calgary was established 35 years ago as Classic Moving and Storage Ltd. when Paul was presented with an opportunity to obtain a new agency approval under Atlas. With Atlas celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and Premiere Calgary celebrating its 35th anniversary, Paul reflects on this longevity – knowing the partnership continues to be a good choice.

Over the years, Classic Moving grew, but still operated very successfully as a smaller business that focused predominantly on the local and long-distance relocation market.

Since their inception, Classic Moving has always operated as an agent under Atlas, which granted them access to the services of other Atlas agents enabling them to facilitate long-distance moves for customers.

In 2005, Classic Moving was rebranded and the company became a franchise office of Premiere Van Lines, a coast-tocoast group of agents still under the Atlas Van Lines banner.

In the years that followed, this move proved to be a turning point for Premiere Calgary: inside of two years, the company had doubled their operation and then doubled again within another two years.

Premiere Van Lines represents the joining together of

Premiere Van Lines 35th Anniversary | 1

Premiere’s Residential Services

Premiere’s Commercial Services

Local Moving Long-Distance Moving International Moving Packing and Crating Packing Materials Appliance Servicing Auto Hauling Storage and Warehousing

Office Moving Office Services Installations Equipment Rentals IT Services Recycle and Disposal of Assets Project Management Storage and Asset Management

When it comes to office moving, Premiere has developed and positioned itself as arguably the largest and most recognized office mover in Calgary. It’s most recent project success includes the relocation of a major tenant into the Bow tower – Calgary’s tallest skyscraper that was also recently recognized as the world’s most spectacular corporate building according to Emporis.

Congratulations to Premiere Van Lines, Calgary On 35 Years of Serving Families on the Move Atlas Canada is very proud to have you as an agent and wish you continued success in the years ahead.

When a corporation moves, typically they have contents, electronics and furniture, but in Calgary, it’s not always as simple as just moving from one office to another. “Corporate Calgary is very generous when it comes to donating furniture and equipment to charities,” says Paul. Premiere is currently working with several companies to dismantle, remove, store and deliver excess furniture and equipment to the various charities. “There are many charities that have benefited from the corporate sector including schools, hospitals and like organizations,” he adds.

Looking back over 35 years, Paul attributes Premiere’s success to four key areas: leadership, adapting to change, having a vision and achieving goals. “In the service industry, it’s all about the people. You are relying on your staff, so I lead by example. We set goals and achieve them, and helping people achieve their goals is how we’ve built the business,” he says.

“Our company is a vehicle to help people achieve their dreams and for young people who are ambitious and want to be leaders, Premiere is an excellent place of employment,” he adds. “We have built our business via ‘word of mouth.’ We have worked hard to make Premiere a household name in the moving business and we are proud of the reputation we have earned.”

As Premiere celebrates their 35th anniversary, they would like to extend a sincere note of gratitude to all the business partners, employees and customers who have helped them achieve this milestone. As they look to the future, they are confident the next 35 years will be even more gratifying and successful.

“After 35 years, I am still excited about coming to work every day!” Paul says with an unrelenting passion in his voice. “I work just as hard as the young people and I still enjoy the challenge.”

www.atlasvanlines.ca Premiere Van Lines 35th Anniversary | 2

Premiere’s Leadership Team (starting top left): Shirley Leaming, Rod Schwartz, Kevin Phone, Lance Laliberte, Cyndy Trigger, Mike Phone, Charlene StJules, Paul Phone, Fawn Der, John Ba. Photo by Mary Savage.

offices led by individuals with the same commitment: to provide excellent service to their customers. Unlike many other franchise operations, ownership of the Premiere Van Lines head office is held by the individual branch offices.

Therefore it is the operating companies, such as Premiere Calgary, that control the future and direction of the Premiere group. The benefits of being part of this group include an increase in national exposure, name recognition across the country, the ability to draw upon each other’s knowledge and experience, and the common interest of promoting and developing the Premiere group and its reputation.

“Currently Premiere has 16 locations with 20 branch (franchise) offices from coast to coast,” explains Paul. “Customers who move long distance want to be able to deal with the same brand and same company when they arrive at their destination, and Premiere has that ability.”

Today Premiere Calgary employs over 70 full-time staff, which rises during the summer months to accommodate an increase in seasonal business. They have over 100,000 square feet of warehouse space in several locations throughout Calgary – from downtown to the four quadrants of the city.

Nationally, the Premiere Group employs over 1,000 staff with over 200 units within its fleet. Premiere is a full-service mover. “We are not just a typical moving company – we move

homes, businesses, special products and we offer a wide range of other services,” notes Kevin Phone, vice-president.

Whether it’s a residential or commercial move, Premiere offers specialty services that are not always readily available. “There are many secondary services that fall outside of what a customer would normally consider when moving, and we provide all those specialty services,” he adds.

“Moving is a sensitive service: it’s not every day that you have strangers come into your home and take your belongings whether it’s for a day, a month or into long-term storage,” remarks Kevin. “There has to be a level of trust with the moving company because they are packing and moving your life belongings.”

Unprecedented Accolades…

Years ago, Atlas Van Lines started a recognition program to acknowledge their top-performing agents within Canada. Every quarter, Atlas sends a letter of recognition to the branches that qualify and Premiere has received a letter – every quarter – since the inception of the program.

Premiere Van Lines 35th Anniversary | 3

Premiere Office Movers - another division of the company

When it comes to the commercial side of moving, there is just as much trust required. “Businesses depend on our promise of service in order for them to be up and running again. Timing is of the essence and accuracy of the relocation is crucial for their staff to come back to work with minimal downtime,” adds Kevin.

As Kevin has observed, most people have had a bad experience with movers largely due to the lack of regulations

Proudly Serving

Wishing you Great Success

Premiere Van Lines

for the next 35 years!

Providing tax efficient solutions to protect and safeguard your Business and Family

within the industry – meaning anyone who has a truck can advertise as ‘movers.’

“When you check the BBB, moving companies are always within the top three companies for filing complaints annually and moving is considered the second most stressful event in a person’s life – the first being the death of a loved one,” he says.

Given the stress associated with moving, it’s even more important Premiere delivers a consistently high standard when it comes to customer satisfaction. “It’s a personal standard: we believe in image and reputation, and in order to achieve this standard, we continually invest in the company.

Our fleet of vehicles are newer, our movers are trained and dressed in uniform and our salespeople are professionals,” Kevin adds.

“When you instil these standards from the top, it trickles down through the company and it doesn’t matter if we’re moving one piece of furniture or an office with 3,000 employees – we complete every job with pride and we always provide a high level of service,” says Kevin. •

www.premierevanlines.com

®Registered trademark owned by Desjardins Financial Security

Congratulations Premiere Van Lines on 35 Years!

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Congratulations to Premiere Van Lines on their 35th Anniversary!

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Premiere goes ‘Undercover’ Last year, W Network featured Premiere Van Lines on their reality television show, Undercover Boss Canada, and given the network only selects about 10 Canadian companies each year, it was a feather in Premiere’s cap. The network requires specific criteria and Premiere was a perfect candidate. The popular TV series takes an executive and places them on the front lines of the business – unbeknownst to the employees.

It was the first time Undercover Boss Canada had featured a moving company and it proved to be a popular profile. The Premiere episode originally aired in Canada on October 18, 2012. It re-aired in the U.S. in January 2013 and most recently, it aired again in the U.K. “Many of the national companies have been featured on the TV show and from a viewer standpoint, it shows you the heart and soul of the company, the people who are on the front lines and how committed they are to provide a high level of service,” asserts Kevin. “You have a new appreciation for what the employees do and how hard they work. As the leader of your company, you go undercover for your own benefit: to improve your company’s operations, but it also allows you to acknowledge the top-performing employees.”

Premiere Van Lines 35th Anniversary | 4

WestKey Storage, proudly providing Premiere Van Lines & Calgary with storage solutions

Congratulations Premiere Van Lines

for 35 years of outstanding service and success!

FAX: 403.455.1717

www.westkeystorage.ca

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Residential & Commercial wood packaging specialists Calgary Alberta www.cratingsolutions.ca

Congratulations on 35 years, from A1!

Tri-M Design 2009

Looking forward to a great future.

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MORE than a vehicle relocation

Wherever you are, we will meet you there

Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with choosing Canada’s number one vehicle relocation company.

Expect more from Hansen’s.

www.victorypackaging.com Congratulations Premiere Van Lines on your 35th Anniversary!

Proud to be working with you and wish you continued success.

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Premiere Van Lines 35th Anniversary | 5

Lynn Donaldson & Associates Celebrates 25 Years

By John Hardy

S

tyles and trends come and go. The choices and the options can be overwhelming. And guesswork and trial and error can be frustrating, disappointing and pricey.

The truly personal touch, the knowledgeable expertise and the personalized communication from the superb Lynn Donaldson and Associates team are reliable constants. And whether renovating the whole house, adding an addition or creating a dazzling kitchen, the possibilities have never been more exciting and up-to-date and experienced professionalism has never been more important.

There are many reasons why Lynn Donaldson and Associates is sought after, relied on and trusted as Calgary’s premier design-build-and-renovate professionals for 25 years. Most of all, because Lynn Donaldson and Associates is a family-owned Calgary business and because the award-winning interior designers, project managers, administrators, carpenters, custom millworkers and other skilled trades take their work very, very personally. Whether the project is big or small, every designbuild-and-renovate client is treated like part of the team.

“The communication process is part of the art of professional decorating and design,” says the personable, respected solid-pro Lynn Donaldson. “Of course the technical stages, the drawings, the renderings and AutoCAD are vital, but listening is an enormous part of our job.”

“Our most important role – from the addition, to the kitchen tiles to the cushions on the sofa – is understanding our client’s lifestyle. That’s the only reliable way to capture the feel and create the essence of their vision (not ours) and how they want the finished environment to look.”

Refreshingly, Lynn Donaldson and Associates genuinely considers the client as a vital member of the project team. The homeowner works closely with their designer, project manager and site supervisor to make sure all details go according to plan.

“We offer all our skills and expertise and co-ordinate all the details,” Donaldson says. “Designing, building and renovating is a collaborative process. It must be! At the end of the day, with the client’s vision and collaboration with our team, it is the client who approves every decision.”

The Lynn Donaldson and Associates team tend to avoid sweeping statements about what’s in and what’s out at any given time because it’s so individual and often so fickle and changeable. But the Donaldson pros acknowledge, when asked, that white kitchens, carerra marble, anything in reclaimed wood and the “new” colour of brass are trends for 2013; as is mixing the old with the new. But Donaldson emphasizes that what is truly trendy is what you love.

The kitchen is often the heart of a home and the most used area in the house. It also has the highest demand for efficiency, durability and beauty. The Donaldson goal is to ensure that their Calgary kitchens are functional, attractive and adaptable for a dynamic family. “A properly designed kitchen should be an inspiring, productive as well as an entertaining space,” she says with enthusiasm.

Judging by the Lynn Donaldson and Associates schedules and worksheets, luxurious ensuites are popular, especially with details such as heated marble floors, dramatic freestanding tubs, toilets in a separate room and strategically placed multiple-head showers and body sprays.

The design staff work to effectively transform spaces into custom spaces by striking the necessary balance between creative thinking and practical function. They work with the home’s existing “bones” (structure, architecture and strengths) and look to add the “wow factor” wherever possible. They emphasize that design must be appropriate: to the budget, to the lifestyle, to the architecture of the home and to the aesthetic sensibilities of the client.

Lynn Donaldson & Associates | 25 Years | 1

“The sign of great design and space planning is not being able to notice where the new begins and the old ends,” Donaldson explains. “Your house is an opportunity to express your individuality and to create a unique environment.

Ultimately, your home is about you!

You walk in, you smile and you belong.

Our designers respect that, and that’s what it’s all about.”

A key area in the Lynn Donaldson and Associates offices on Elbow Drive – aside from the brightly lit and modern workspaces The team at Lynn Donaldson & Associates. Photo by Bookstrucker Photography. and the backyard patio deck, complete with a patio table and an umbrella for the team to enjoy sunshiny breaks – is the all-important “meeting room” complex details, the craftsmen and trades and ensure that all where the clients are often treated to signature cappuccinos and of the day-to-day work is being done according to specificarefreshments while they are collaborating with their designers. tions, scheduling and budget.

Laughter is frequently heard echoing through the glass doors. But, After more than 25 years of satisfying Calgary clients, they also mean business. As part of the process, clients are given Donaldson is passionate with praise for her team. “We have “homework” to help the team understand their expectations and such amazing staff who really care and take great pride in the wants and needs of their specific project. the success of each project. They do tremendous research Downstairs is the “resource room” brimming with tile samand resource materials, and they’re not afraid to admit when ples, fabrics, wallpaper, wood finishes, paint … all of the bits they don’t know something,” she says. “At Lynn Donaldson and pieces that go into creating a cohesive, well-designed and Associates, good enough is simply not good enough.” space. The Lynn Donaldson and Associates designers also In addition to the award-winning design, build and meet on site throughout the duration of each project, to renovate expertise, (they have been honoured with five monitor the design vision as it is translated into reality. consecutive Consumer Choice Awards, SAM Awards, a It’s not uncommon that the interior design pros get most BBB Ethics Award Honorable Mention, amongst others) of the attention. They deal in what’s affectionately called and many testimonials from delighted clients and suppli‘the jewelry.’ But, the Donaldson team also provides other ers, Lynn Donaldson and Associations continues to earn an key client services. From Judy in accounting, Lianne at the excellent reputation, offering the skills of an exceptional front desk to Tobias in the millwork shop, they all manage team to transform each client’s wish list into the inspired the hundreds – sometimes thousands – of meticulous and home of their dreams. • Lynn Donaldson & Associates | 25 Years | 2

Contact us today to learn more about our unique services, or to discuss your next renovation. Call 403.263.6296, email renovate@lynndonaldson.ca, or visit www.lynndonaldson.ca

Congratulations on 25 GREAT YEARS!

Congratulations

on your 25th Anniversary!

From all of us at Laird’s Railing Phone: 403.258.1661 Bay D, 7056 Farrell Road SE Calgary, AB T2H 0T2

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PROUD TO BE A BUSINESS ASSOCIATE OF LYNN DONALDSON AND ASSOCIATES

Congratulations to Lynn Donaldson & Associates on their 25 years of sensational design and service.

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HAPPY 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Congratulations On 25 Years Of Excellence!!!

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Congratulations On Your 25 Anniversary th

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“Working with Lynn Donaldson & Associates is a pleasure in that their knowledge and understanding of the process is very high. We look forward to a very long partnership with them. Congratulations on 25 years!”

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F O R

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W E S T

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Lynn Donaldson & Associates | 25 Years | 4

Alberta Boot Company Celebrates 35 Years

By John Hardy

T

o say that loyal customers in Alberta, B.C. and around the world as well as the RCMP, the Calgary, Vancouver, Dallas and some New Jersey police “get a kick” out of the Alberta Boot Company would be factually accurate but ... much too corny.

“Of course it’s flattering and a thrill,” says Ben Gerwing, the personable thirdgeneration owner and operator of the legendary Calgary company that handmakes more than 3,500 leather western boots each year. “Two years ago we made boots for newlyweds William and Kate when they were on their 2011 royal tour through Canada.”

Most of all, Gerwing has tremendous The team at Alberta Boot Company. Photo by Bookstrucker Photography. pride about his family’s remarkable For 35 years, Alberta Boot Company has slipped the fabufabu tradition and the meticulous and uncomlously comfortable western boots on the feet and calves of promised high standards of boot-artistry involved in the 200 celebrities, athletes, public figures and even religious lead leadstages of hand-crafting each and every boot in the busy ers but most importantly, as Gerwing points out, ordinary southwest Calgary factory.

With our deep client relationships and multi-disciplinar y approach to service, we really get to know our clients both personally and professionally.

As a trusted advisor to our friends at The Alberta Boot Company for over 30 years, we are thrilled to see you reach this milestone of 35 years in business.

We thank you for allowing us to share in your journey and we look forward to being part of your continued success.

thecatalystgroup.ca Alberta Boot Company | 35 Years

www.albertaboot.com people from across Canada and literally all over the world who wanted to experience the legend and the mystique of authentic, quality western boots.

Aside from the glamour and excitement of the wonderwonder ful Calgary tradition, the Alberta Boot Company’s reputation and tremendous success is hard-earned by its uncompromised commitment to quality, durability and the special comfort that comes only from the unique and proper fit of a western boot.

Only those who have never worn a pair of handmade, all-leather Alberta Boot Company boots mistakenly think that (give or take) all leather boots are pretty similar. Simply and grossly wrong!

Gerwing paid (and is still paying) his dues in every aspect of the wonderful family business. “I started learning from my grandfather (who’s now 93 and still wearing boots) by doing odd jobs, including sweeping floors, when I was still in junior high school. These days I’m either in the store explaining about boots to customers or I’m working with our cobblers in the shop.”

His passion for the company and the world-famous CalCal gary product is a pleasure to sense.

“The boots we have sold the most are still the most popular,” he explains. “The dark brown Crazy Horse, an oil-tanned cowcow hide. The western walking heel is a favourite but so is the lower roper heel. They both make for comfortable walking.”

Either sharing his passion with an amused blue-jeaned visitor from Scotland or any time, anywhere at the drop of a (cowboy) hat, Gerwing glows and gushes whenever he talks about his company, the tradition and all the details about handmade boots.

About the crucial importance of leather care and products like oil-tan and mink oil cream (“it’s like a hand lotion”) important to keep boot leather from drying out and, almost like a boot

professor, he carefully lectures about the importance of the fit.

Contrary to city slicker stereotypes, new western boots should feel comfortably snug. The ball of the foot should be right in the widest part of the boot, indicating proper arch length and adequate toe room and the toes should sit flat and free. The boot should be snug over the instep (boot jargon for the top of the foot) since there are no laces or buckles.

Finally, there should be about a half-inch lift in the heel when walking but don’t worry, the ‘lift’ will subside as the sole starts to flex. If a boot is too tight it’s not good and there will be hardly any lift. If the boot is too big it’s also not good because the heel will annoyingly slip.

Since proper fit is essential for the enjoyment of wearing a genuine western boot, the Alberta Boot Company is convinced that an uninformed western boot wearer will be hooked on wearing leather western boots and, the www. albertaboot.com website has various consumer tips, including a helpful do-it-yourself foot measurement chart for determining the key aspects of a proper fit.

Gerwing admits that some people who think good boots are just like good shoes are surprised that, if the authentic Albert Boot Company boots are properly cared for, they can easily last 10-15 years or longer.

Alberta Boot customers can return their favourite boots when it’s time to resole them. First, the boot is placed on the original sized last (the mould they were made on) and then the heel, outsole, steel shank and leather welts are removed.

The boots then go back into the original assembly process where new welts, shanks, the cork filler, outsoles, heels and lifts are attached.

Gerwing knows authentic, proper-fitting, all-leather western boots. “And like a best friend, our boots are hard to give up.” •

Congratulations to Alberta Boot Company and the Gerwing family for 35 years of being such an integral part of Calgary and the Stampede.

Helping Calgarians, visitors, and cowboys to Walk Tall in Comfort.

www.buildpreserveprotect.com 403-298-4043

® Registered trademark used under authorization and control of The Bank of Nova Scotia. ScotiaMcLeod is a division of Scotia Capital Inc., Member CIPF.

Alberta Boot Company | 35 Years

confessions of the golf Whisperer • Golf

Confessions of the

Golf Whisperer

BY John haRdY

J

Pawliw usually ‘meets with her patients’ o-Ann Pawliw is a most unusual golf for a total of four sessions, once a week coach. She doesn’t really know about or every two weeks and routinely hears a drivers, wedges or bogeys. She doesn’t familiar thread: “I don’t know what hapanalyze stances, swings or follow-throughs. pens. Everything’s great warming up on Golfers don’t ask her to work on their disthe driving range but it all falls apart by tance or their putts. the time I get on the course.”

Jo-Ann Pawliw* is Calgary’s golf whisHer tools are the heart-intelligence and perer. The formal business card says: stress-management programs of the Cali“Emotional Fitness Coach, Priddis Greens fornia-based Institute of HeartMath (IHM) Golf and Country Club” but she works her Jo-Ann Pawliw, Emotional Fitness Coach, Workshop Leader & Certified which, for nearly 20 years, has developed magic all over town.

Emotional Fitness Instructor ways for professionals in high-pressure Leisure golfers, serious golfers, CEO hackfields – such as law enforcement, health ers, wannabes and weekend warriors hire care, the military and, most recently, professional athletes – her, not to get a grip on their clubs but to get a grip on to shift from what HeartMath calls “destructive and jagged their golf-game moods, their emotions, their frustrations heart rhythms brought on by stress-response emotions” to and their pent-up anger. more positive and smooth rhythms created by emotions like She listens, she asks and she listens some more. “The first love, enjoyment and appreciation. session we meet in my office, not on the course. I ask about The system is definitely not as easy as it sounds and their game and when they think the problems happen. It involves confusing physiological and psychological clinic helps to verbalize and get an emotional landscape of their lingo like coherent heart-rate patterns, motor skills and game.”

96 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Pitch Technique

S

elect the right club for the job! The sand wedge is not just for use out of the sand. Golfers are often stumped as they get within 60 yards of the pin and try to hit a pitching wedge a short distance. This is the wrong club selection! Often these golfers have a sand wedge in their bag, but the only time they take it out is when they are in a green-side bunker. It is important to know that the different wedges in the bag are there to be used off the turf as well as in the sand.

Consider the following from one of our students. He is an average male golfer, who hits his 7 iron about 150 yards. Here are the distances this golfer hits with a full swing off of the grass, when the ball is well struck.

Club

Degrees Loft

9 iron Pitching Wedge Gap Wedge Sand Wedge Lob Wedge

41 45 50 55 60

Equiv. to: Distance 9 Iron 10 Iron 11 Iron 12 Iron 13 Iron

130 yds.

115 yds.

95 yds.

75 yds.

50 yds.

You should know the above information about your own game in order to improve your approach and pitch shots. Knowing you have selected the right club is a great starting point and plays a large role in your confidence.

Most golfers do not have the gap or the lob wedge in their bag, but they usually sport a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. So assuming we hit our sand wedge 75 yards with a full swing, how do we make it go shorter while maintaining control of our shot? Let’s call this distance inside of 75 yards a pitch shot. We define the technique for a pitch shot as: “A small version of the full swing�.

You can progressively make the ball fly a shorter distance by learning to reduce the swing speed of the club through the impact zone. Sounds easy, but how do we do this while maintaining a small version of the full swing?

Therefore try to accomplish the following: Choke down on your grip approximately 1�. Shorten the swing, thus reducing your swing speed. Learn to reduce swing speed while accelerating through the impact zone.

The load (or back swing) – fig. 2 is where most golfers make their first mistake.

They change from making a small version of the full swing to making a back swing that is like a hybrid of a putt, chip, and pitch back swing. The proper

back swing should include loading the club, similar to the full golf swing, but shorter version. Learn to be committed to this type of back swing.

Your posture also plays a significant role. You should turn your chest away from the target, then through to the target, while maintaining your spine angle position throughout the swing. Notice how in fig. 3 the golfer’s spine angle is in the same position at the end of the swing as it was in fig. 1 – the start of the swing.

Pitch Technique – Golfers often change from making a small version of the full swing, to making a backswing which is like a hybrid of a putt, chip, and pitch backswing. The proper backswing should include loading the club, similar to the full golf swing, but shorter version, as well as maintaining your golf posture by maintaining your spine angle throughout the swing.

Feet Together Drill - Set up with your full swing stance and balance, now bring your feet together and make small versions of your full swing. If you come out of your posture position, or make too big of a swing, you will likely fall off-balance. Try to achieve a fluid motion while maintaining your posture and always accelerate through the ball. At your finish, your chest should be facing target, and your spine angle maintained (fig. 3). Try varying your swing speed; Fast, Medium, Slow. Now try to maintain the same technique with your normal stance. Try this without, and with balls.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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confessions of the golf Whisperer • Golf

“Those messages instantly determine what the brain tells the body to do, from a strong tee shot right down the middle to a badly botched putt.” ~ Jo-Ann Pawliw timing, hormones, neurons and the autonomic nervous system.

IHM also developed digital electronic devices that display active heart rhythms in real time, with coloured diodes that register heart rhythms in red, blue and green, as well as PC software that displays detailed feedback.

Reams of research confirm that emotion is a key factor for exam-cramming students, skydivers, first-dayon-the-new-job types, road-raged drivers, first dates, exasperated parents ... and tantrum-prone golfers. In fact, there is consensus among personal trainers, coaches and pros that emotions are golf’s most maddening mystery.

“It sounds convoluted and technical,” Pawliw admits, “but it’s been clinically shown that different emotions trigger different heart rhythms, which in turn send different messages back to the brain. Those messages instantly determine what the brain tells the body to do, from a strong tee shot right down the middle to a badly botched putt.

“It’s more complex but when we are in a positive emotional place, the heart sends out signals of calm. When we feel stress and anger, we get tight, our breathing gets heavier and we generally make bad decisions, we make mistakes and, ultimately, the golf game suffers,” the golf whisperer says from experience.

“Whether it’s subtle or obvious stress, most golfers reluctantly agree that they are aware of ‘something’ happening. Their breathing changes, they feel tension in their jaw and in their shoulders. Maybe subtle, noticing that they are suddenly driving the cart faster. Those are the times to take control and do heart math.”

According to the HeartMath manu98 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

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Two glorious courses gently carved from the best of Mother Nature.

Holes that will challenge your nerve and ones that leap your game to another level.

Fine dining that is an unexpected welcome. And service unmatched within the realm of an 18 hole day.

Is it any wonder that others envy our resorts?

But you can find it all waiting for you.

Join us for world-class golf and fine dining at Silvertip and Eagle Ranch Resorts.

Book your tee time or make reservations at SilvertipandEagleRanch.com or by calling 1.877.877.3889.

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www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 99

confessions of the golf Whisperer • Golf

The techniques have maximized emotional calm and they help increase concentration and mental focus for golfers. It develops a calm, dynamic internal state at will, especially under pressure. It also increases confidence and self-control and boosts energy levels.

als, and the basis for the golf whisperer’s coaching, it takes brutal honesty to recognize the effects of negative emotions.

“It’s called chameleonizing and it happens in most people: a normal outward appearance but breathing has changed.

Breathing is an involuntary function but is telltale about the body’s response to stress,” she explains. “HeartMath helps identify when the heart is racing and creates an opportunity to do something about it. The technique helps people control themselves in under-pressure and tense situations. It’s a skill set for better performance.”

Pawliw admits that HeartMath is unconventional and, at first, some find it a bit strange. She is upbeat and agrees that initially the concept may seem unusual and takes some practice and several repetitions to get used to.

Forced and conscious concentration, focusing attention on the middle of the chest. The unusual part of the concept is visualizing breathing slowly – through the heart. Once the visualization is mastered, the focus is on positive feelings like appreciation, being satisfied, caring and pleasure.

“It has been clinically shown that this initially peculiar mind trick produces an altered heart-rate pattern that triggers optimum performance potential in the brain. The results are terrific,” she says, enthusiastically. “The techniques have maximized emotional calm and they help increase concentration and mental focus for golfers. It develops a calm, dynamic internal state at will, especially under pressure. It also increases confidence and self-control and boosts energy levels.

“Once the golfer has mastered it, they can quickly and effectively rebound after almost any negative moment and they control themselves while under pressure – on the golf course and in life,” Calgary’s golf whisperer says with determination and pride. BiC * Jo-Ann Pawliw is Emotional Fitness Coach at Calgary’s Priddis Golf & Country Club and also has on office at the Golf Canada Centre on 15 Street SE; Jo-ann@heartofperformance.com

100 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

Business Golf Smarts Whether it’s at Shaganappi Point, Inglewood, McKenzie Meadows, Bearspaw, Calgary Elks or Fox Hollow. Whether it’s a potential client you’re trying to shmooz or a loyal client you want to reinforce and thank or maybe the boss or the boss’ nextof-office-kin, don’t pretend to be somebody you’re not but also don’t take the off-site and out-ofoffice opportunity too lightly.

Mixing business with business on the golf course has many unwritten and unspoken “rules.” Here are just some.

• If you’re playing an informal round, don’t be a stickler by being the first to holler about a penalty for taking a mulligan or a “gimme” on a two-foot putt. Keep your score however you’d like but leave the PGA Tour mentality at home and let your guest play the round they want to play.

• Be kind to the course and always repair your divots and ball marks. Being neglectful of your ‘golf manners’ may be taken as a sign of poor judgment.

• Leave (even the cleverly camouflaged) booze in the car. If your guests want a beer, offer it, buy it but don’t go overboard.

• Play by the rules and don’t cheat to try to make yourself look like a great golfer. Generating business is all about building trust. The quickest way to ruin your image is to get caught cheating on the course. Be fair and honest out there and let your sportsmanship be a testament to your character.

• Dress the part. You wouldn’t show up to a business meeting in jeans – so keep that in mind when selecting your slacks and top for the day.

JUNE 2013

Five Leadership Secrets to Succeed Against the Odds

B

usiness leaders today are faced with more challenges than ever to navigate their companies as economic uncertainty and ongoing banking collapses seem to be an escalating occurrence. Faced with these difficulties, the tenure of a CEO has decreased in the past few years from 9.5 years to three years due to the inability to successfully lead their companies throughout these obstacles.

Eric Beaudan, author of the renowned book Creative Execution, spoke to the Calgary Chamber on April 11, 2013 to share leadership insights from such great military leaders as Lord Horatio Nelson as well as innovative businesses such as Google and Toyota. These lessons can be used by business leaders to overcome diversity and execute a strategy so well-conceived that it guarantees a successful outcome, even when the odds are stacked against you.

Here’s a look at some of the things that Beaudan says business leaders and managers need to know:

Develop a unique compelling strategy This strategy needs to be understood and accepted by everyone. It clearly outlines what you will do – or won’t do – in order to achieve outstanding results. One of the best examples of a compelling strategy can be found in the case of Lord Horatio Nelson who broke with the prevailing naval strategy of the time which had two ships line up side

by side during battle, lobbing cannonballs at each other in order to sink the opposing ship. Nelson’s brilliance was the ability to see the limitation of this approach and have his entire fleet break through the enemy line at a right angle to overwhelm them in close-quarter combat which created an advantage in gunnery accuracy while simultaneously providing a double-hammer blow that splintered all the opposing fleets. The lesson that business leaders can take away from Nelson’s strategy is obvious – don’t be afraid to think outside-of-box and break from the established way of doing things.

Engage in candid dialogue While this may sound easy, it’s actually one of the hardest things to do.

Candid dialogue not only involves being open to other people’s ideas and being willing to take criticism on your own, but requires that ability to recreate this practice throughout an entire organization. This was a tactic that Nelson implemented throughout his fleet. He understood that if he was to achieve the tactical breakthrough he was seeking, he would need to lay down the Royal Navy’s tradition of silent disagreement, and encourage his captains to take the initiative and break established norms and debate his ideas. Only by doing this could Nelson create a culture of candour that drove innovation and resulted in military success.

Eric Beaudan, author of the renowned book Creative Execution, spoke to the Calgary Chamber on April 11, 2013

Establish clear roles and accountability Managers and employees need to understand how their individual roles and accountabilities connect to their company’s compelling strategy.

Knowing this helps to cement a person’s commitment to undertake the course of actions necessary to achieve a company’s goals. An example of this practice can be found in the Toyota assembly line which involved hundreds of people working together for the common goal of making sure Toyota regained its spot as one of the top automobile makers in the world.

www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 101

2013 Board of

Directors Executive Joe Lougheed – Chair

Dave Sprague – Immediate Past Chair Leah Lawrence – Chair Elect Rob Hawley – 2nd Vice Chair Denis Painchaud – Vice Chair, Finance Adam Legge – President & CEO Directors David Allen

To achieve this goal it was made clear that each employee had a vested interest in making sure each car was defect free and they were encouraged to pull the kill cord that stopped the entire production line to make sure a defect did not sneak through. Due to this practice, Toyota’s sales rose 22 per cent in 2012, helping it regain its spot as one of the world’s top carmakers.

Take bold action A bold action can generate an incredible amount of momentum. It can propel an organization toward its new direction and turn doubters into supporters. An example of this type of action can be seen in the bid of Google in its early days to become the search engine provider for AOL Europe. After losing the pitch to Yahoo Inc., Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin were on a flight back home when they took the bold action of having the pilot turn the plane around so they could tell AOL Europe they made the wrong decision, despite the fact the deal with Yahoo had been finalized. This action forced AOL to consider their early decision and pick Google instead, which established the forward momentum Google needed to be a success. It is possible that if this had never happened, Google would have never become the search engine superpower that it is today.

Bill Brunton Eva Friesen

Make leadership visible

Guy Huntingford

An organization’s senior leadership needs to be visible to act as an example to the rest of the staff and create a positive culture of learning, courage and perseverance. This is something that Admiral Nelson did very well. During a naval battle, Nelson refused to take cover despite the prevalence of enemy snipers on neighbouring ships. He opted instead to remain visible during the heat of the battle so his armada could be inspired by his courage. This gave his fleet a huge amount of confidence that carried over to victory.

So, what’s better than a leader who shows up in the middle of a crisis and says to his comrade: “I am here with you?” The answer is simple – pretty much nothing.

Rob Lennard Dilan Perera Linda Shea Paul Waddell Management Adam Legge, President & CEO Michael Andriescu, Director of Finance & Administration Kim Koss, Vice President, Business Development

Leading Business magazine is a co-publication of the Calgary Chamber and Business in Calgary Calgary Chamber 600, 237 8th Avenue S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2G 5C3 Phone: (403) 750-0400 Fax: (403) 266-3413 calgarychamber.com

For more great events, visit CalgaryChamber.com

Chamber Member Spotlights As Calgary’s leading business organization, the Chamber has the city’s top companies and business organizations as its members

SAIT Polytechnic As one of Canada’s leading polytechnics, SAIT Polytechnic provides relevant, skill-oriented education to more than 71,000 registrants each year. Approximately 1000 business and industry partners help shape curriculum by serving on more than 65 advisory committees, and SAIT is known as a trailblazer in applied research and innovation. SAIT was the first publicly funded institute of its kind in the country, and 96 years later, it is well on its way to becoming Canada’s premier polytechnic.

Learn more at Sait.ca.

102 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

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Chamber Member Spotlights

Tervita Tervita is a leading North American environmental and energy services company. More than 4,000 dedicated employees partner with natural resource and industrial companies that share values, and work with them to create a sustainable future. Safety is the highest priority: it influences actions, guides decisions and shapes culture. Tervita maintains a strategically located network of more than 95 state-of-theart waste management facilities and a fleet of specialized equipment and assets to help customers address production and operational waste challenges. Their highly effective, convenient and environmentally sound solutions help minimize environmental impact and maximize returns.

Learn more at Tervita.com.

CIBC CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada, and has offices in the United States and around the world.

Learn more at CIBC.com.

Upcoming Events Natural Resource Minister Joe Oliver – Canada’s plan for responsible resource development Wednesday, June 19, 2013 11:30 am – 1:15 pm | Fairmont Palliser | 133 9th Avenue SW Canadians are concerned about our country’s ability to build major energy infrastructure that directly impact Alberta’s energy economy.

The federal government’s plan for responsible resource development is helping address this issue by promoting Canada’s natural resources abroad. The Keystone XL pipeline is among the proposals at the forefront of the government’s list of priorities. America’s best friend is America’s best energy solution. That is why the Canadian government is working south of the border to promote the Canada-U.S. energy relationship and our nation’s strong environmental record.

Join the Calgary Chamber as Joe Oliver, Canada’s minister of natural resources, highlights the government’s plan to help Canadian resources reach new markets.

For more information, visit CalgaryChamber.com or call Jenna Trott at 403 750 0432.

104 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

PartnershiP Works for Calgary The Calgary TELUS Convention Centre (CTCC) is one participant in a partnership of organizations working to promote Calgary as the destination city for all types of events. By partnering with other groups in the tourism and economic development fields, the CTCC promotes the valuable “brand” of Calgary to an international audience of diverse stakeholders. The CTCC’s partners include Calgary Economic Development, Meetings + Conventions Calgary, Travel Alberta, Energy Cities Alliance, and the Canadian Tourism Commission. The organizations work together to develop key messages about the city and its amenities that create brand consistency when promoting Calgary to their specific target markets. This collaborative approach offers a cost efficiency to the partner organizations that leverages the expenditures made by each participant. By identifying key messages for an integrated marketing strategy, The CTCC and its partners ensure Calgary’s place on the international list of desirable destinations to meet, live, work, and visit.

The recently released promotional video “Right Here” is an example of the brand-building activities such partnerships produce. The video is the result of collaboration between the CTCC, Calgary Economic Development, Tourism Calgary, and the Calgary Hotel Association. The video markets Calgary as an ideal city in which to meet, to live, to visit, to work, to hold corporate or artistic events and festivals, and to study. Although the Calgary Stampede is an important and historical event of civic pride to Calgarians, the city is a vibrant modern city offering year-round events for both residents and visitors to the city. The video will be used to market Calgary to a diverse international audience and highlights Calgary’s unique blend of Western hospitality and vibrant, contemporary innovation and energy.

As an established and respected destination for conventions and events, the CTCC is dedicated to upholding the reputation of Calgary as a premiere place for visitors from Canada and the rest of the world. In addition, the CTCC is a centre for Calgarians to gather to celebrate and showcase important events such as graduation celebrations and charity functions that contribute to the spirit of community in a city known for its warm hospitality.

Partnerships in the Calgary “brand” work for our city and for Calgarians. The CTCC and its partners continue to promote this to their stakeholders with the goals of attracting people permanently to meet, live and work in our city and promoting Calgary as a premiere business and tourism destination. With a commitment to the aligned goals, the CTCC’s focus on attracting major meetings and conventions to their facilities in Calgary will play a key role in ensuring the success of their partner relationships. calgary-convention.com www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 105

Destination Calgary in 2020 – Part Two

BY STEWART MCDONOUGH

T

his is the second of a three-part series looking at what Calgary will look like in 2020 as a tourism destination.

At Tourism Calgary’s Annual General Meeting on April 23, 2013 Destination Calgary in 2020 was released. The document provides a clear perspective of where our industry is at today – the base we are starting from. It highlights the current challenges and opportunities within the destination and then provides key areas for action in order to achieve our collective vision.

The document is available in full in the industry section at visitcalgary.com. In this, the second of a three-part series of Business in Calgary articles, we will share some of the findings of the report. Here’s an excerpt from the report about the challenges and opportunities facing the Calgary and area tourism industry.

Downtown The downtown core is the destination’s storefront. The downtown gives visitors a perspective of the destination’s economic and social health. It provides travellers with insights into community spirit and safety. The pulse of a destination really can be felt at its heart.

For four to six months of the year Calgary’s downtown is vibrant and alive during the day light hours. Unfortunately, according to every group consulted in this study, this is only for part of the year and only during the day. Calgary’s downtown is seen as a weakness for the destination in terms of people activity, entertainment district, and gathering places.

Calgary is a suburban city. Our population density is low and especially in the downtown area. The City of Calgary is working to change this fact. There is an opportunity here. Stephen Avenue is a vibrant street during the day and on warm days. Eau Claire area is an appealing area but underutilized. The developing East Village can possibly become the community gathering place that animates the city’s downtown core.

Transportation Calgary does not currently offer a “hop on, hop off” tour bus or city tour service that would help to connect some attractions seen as less accessible including Spruce Meadows, Heritage Park Historical Village, Canada Olympic Park, Calaway Park and some of Calgary’s eclectic neighbourhoods. This type of service, even if offered only 106 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

during the summer season, would be an important addition to the city’s transportation options. Motor coach service from the airport to Banff/Lake Louise is well served and utilized. Service between Calgary and Edmonton and other communities is also sufficient. However, we need to improve motor coach parking and accessibility in Calgary to allow for more touring, longer visits and increased sales.

There is a perception that Calgary does not have enough taxis serving the community and its tourism needs.

However, a 2010 review of the taxi industry concluded that our city had adequate supply of taxis. There is excellent taxi service from the airport, which some Canadian cities cannot claim, but comments have been received about the cost of taxi service. Taxi shortages during key events and at certain times of the day can create a negative experience for tourists. Demand for car rentals in the city during the week is very high with a shortage noted on many occasions. The introduction of the Car2Go service in Calgary in 2012 has helped to ease demand pressures for taxi and car rentals.

Parking Parking in downtown Calgary is more expensive than anywhere else in Canada. Of the 5.1 million visitors who came to Calgary in 2010, 82% used a vehicle as their main mode of transportation, mostly their own cars. And of the 2.7 million overnight visitors to our city in 2010, 71% used a vehicle, again mostly their own vehicles. With 79% of overnight visitors to Calgary originating from Canada, Calgary’s high parking rates compared to their point of origin would be recognized – especially by regional travellers from smaller centres. High parking fees downtown are an obstacle to attracting visitors with vehicles to the city centre, and have an impact on the visitor’s value perception of the destination experience.

Calgary offers excellent complimentary parking opportunities in our suburbs and in hotel parking lots outside the core. For the price sensitive traveller concerned about parking fees, access to downtown via public transit from suburban areas becomes more critical. The Calgary Airport Authority’s complimentary half-hour parking policy and cell phone lot allows for visitors to be greeted by business colleagues or family and friends more often.

In the July edition of Business in Calgary we will share the developments we’ve learned about that will be realized by 2020.

Calgary Shines at Annual TEC VenturePrize Awards

BY ANDREA MENDIZABAL

C

algary technology companies shone brightly at the 2013 TEC VenturePrize Business Plan Competition, honouring Alberta’s top innovative, high-tech startups. TEC VenturePrize is an annual Alberta-wide business plan competition that provides coaching, mentoring and the tools necessary to develop a strong plan of action for startups, with $150,000 worth of cash prizes and services up for grabs. Three of the four awards went to Calgarybased companies during the awards ceremony held on April 17 in Edmonton.

Orpyx Medical Technologies – Fast Growth Grand Prize Winner Founded by medical doctor and University of Calgary MBA student Dr. Breanne Everett, Orpyx came into existence out of a desire to address the swiftly growing global diabetes epidemic and its related complications, specifically that of diabetic peripheral neuropathy – loss of feeling in the feet.

About half of diabetic patients will develop this complication, which can often lead to amputation due to severe damage.

“Oftentimes we wait until complications develop before anything is, or can be, done. Orpyx was born out of trying to find a preventative, not reactionary solution to this problem,” says Dr. Everett, President and CEO, Orpyx.

Orpyx’s flagship product, the SurroSense Rx, is a pressuresensitive insole, mobile app and wristwatch display system that relays information to the user, notifying them when damage is being done to their feet so that behaviour can be modified to avoid complications. The SurroSense Rx will be commercially available late 2013.

Orpyx became the first company from Calgary in TEC VenturePrize’s 11-year history to win the Fast Growth grand prize, the first female-led company winner, and the first company to win back-to-back the TEC VenturePrize Student Competition (in 2012), and now the Fast Growth grand prize.

“We are absolutely elated to have been awarded this year’s TEC VenturePrize Fast Growth grand prize. We could not be happier with the support we have received from the Alberta tech community, and this is really the culmination of that backing,” says Dr. Everett.

Surface Medical – People’s Choice Award Winner The inspiration for Surface Medical came from Dr. Jeff Schacter, Tom Collins and Barbara Potter who identified a significant, unmet problem in health care. They recognized that damaged surfaces in health-care environments are very

common and pose a risk to patient safety.

“One in every nine patients that enters a hospital leaves with a hospital-acquired infection,” says Fabrizio Chiacchia, President and CEO, Surface Medical. “It can cost hospitals an average of $20,000 to $35,000 per infection. CleanPatch is an elegant solution that keeps surfaces hygienic, patients safe and has the potential to save hospitals money.”

CleanPatch is a clinically tested and marketed infectionfighting repair technology for damaged soft hospital surfaces, such as mattresses. It effectively restores the surface to an intact and cleanable state, preventing the spread of infectious diseases within hospitals.

Surface Medical became the first People’s Choice Award winner for the inaugural TEC VenturePrize People’s Choice award category. More than 1,100 individuals voted, from 14 different countries, to pick the finalist.

“I believe the general public voted for us because they can quickly understand this story and the benefits of our products. It confirms the approach we have taken, which is to develop simple yet incredibly needed innovations in health care,” says Chiacchia.

StrokeLink – Screeners’ Award of Merit (SAM) When Morgan Moe entered her final year at the University of Calgary, she knew she wanted to make a difference and went on to co-develop StrokeLink, a mobile application tool that is well on its way to impacting the lives of many Canadians.

“StrokeLink is designed to empower stroke survivors and their family members throughout their care journeys by providing both the knowledge and tools for rehabilitation,” says Moe, CEO, Talem Health Solutions.

StrokeLink brings the knowledge a stroke survivor needs to know to their fingertips. It allows them to track progress, follow therapy programs and connect with caregivers directly from their own homes using an iPad, reducing reliance on a physiotherapist and hours spent in hospital.

TEC VenturePrize’s SAM Award encourages its winner to further develop a business plan for resubmission to VenturePrize the next year.

“Winning the SAM Award at VenturePrize is a step in the right direction for StrokeLink. We have worked really hard to get where we are today and are motivated by the enthusiasm and support of the judges, mentors and organizers of VenturePrize,” says Moe. To learn more about TEC VenturePrize, visit www. ventureprize.com. www.businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY June 2013 • 107

New Calgary destination video, Right Here, will be used to attract labour to the city.

There’s a lot of energy in Calgary.

C

algary’s energy sector is a well-known key economic driver and has been for decades. The rich resources available in Alberta account for the third largest reserves of crude in the world and the largest deposits of oilsands in the world. International energy companies are investing billions of dollars into Alberta – an estimated $48.5 billion of capital investment in 2012 alone; and that is exactly why the leading biennial event for the North American gas and oil industry is being held in Calgary: the energy capital of Canada.

The largest Canadian energy event of 2013, Gas and Oil Expo hosts hundreds of exhibiting companies and attracts 20,000 registered attendees from over 60 countries. This event offers opportunities for brand exposure, business development, education, recruitment and networking. Indoor and outdoor exhibits showcase emerging technologies, a diverse range of products and services, and leading expertise.

Calgary Economic Development will welcome 500 senior local and international delegates to the Gas and Oil Expo VIP Reception that will take place at the Glenbow Museum on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. This event will celebrate the industry and its leaders while exploring potential opportunities and connecting people in Calgary to “Be Part of the Energy.”

But there’s another kind of energy that’s Right Here.

Last month Calgary Economic Development, in collaboration with Tourism Calgary, the Calgary Hotel Association and the Calgary Telus Convention Centre, released the new Calgary destination video, Right Here.

This video is meant to change some of the widely-held perceptions of Calgary by showcasing many of the great attributes, demonstrating the diversity and exhibiting the vibrancy of the city. Quickly the video went viral and received more than 100,000 views.

But there’s more to the story.

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With Calgary’s five per cent unemployment rate and Alberta needing thousands of workers over the coming years, this video will help Calgary Economic Development address one of the most pressing issues in economic development for Calgary – attracting people to the city.

Forecasts still indicate that an additional 114,000 people are needed in Alberta by 2021 to meet the demands of the growing economy. With a global war for talent, people often choose their city first and job second and this video is crucial in this narrative when considering Calgary. People who are thinking about moving to Calgary want to know about the city, the people who already live here, and what their life could look like if they came too. They want to know that the recent ranking from MoneySense is true – “Calgary is the best place to live in Canada” and that it’s not only a great city to make a living, but a great place to make a life.

This video complements Calgary. The Be Part of the Energy brand is a tool that all businesses and recruiters can use.

The second part to this story is that everyone involved in making the video is from Calgary.

Calgary is home to award-winning crews and has a talented and experienced creative industries sector. This video not only represents the city, but also the incredible talent that calls Calgary home.

This includes the production company, crew, director, writer, composer and musicians. Over 11 shooting days and across 33 different locations more than 260 Calgarians participated (many of which were volunteers) in the making of this video.

For the first time, the city’s promotional agencies are working together to promote our city to business travellers, conference organizers, tourists and future Calgarians with one brand and one, unified voice, around the world.

Regardless of who you are, the new video invites you to be part of the energy, Right Here, in Calgary.

T

JOIN FORCES AT THE CENTRE OF ENERGY

IN 2012, THE CALGARY TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE HELPED 300,000 PEOPLE GET TOGETHER. –

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:

calgary-convention.com

david Parker • MarketingMatters

Marketingmatters

By DaViD ParkEr

B

ig Rock made a big decision by hiring an agency of record to help promote its craft beers and to tell the stories of the quality and flavour of its new seasonal labels.

The Calgary brewery had previously used a variety of creative people with different skills but president and CEO Bob Sartor’s strong retail experience, including his position leading Sport Chek, led him to search for a single agency that he felt would show passion about his brand and a full understanding as to where he wanted to lead his company.

After interviewing six agencies he chose CULT Collaborative as the one he thought had a real sense of his mission and one that would be a great fit.

CULT is the result of a joint venture between Chris Kneeland of Watermark and Ryan Gill of Suitcase Interactive, the merging of two companies to establish one to follow a different creed as an engagement agency.

They intend to actively pursue brands it believes CULT can help and has already been successful in winning Harley Davidson out of Vancouver, Ontario-based Pita Pit Canada, and Michaels – the major retailer based in Irving, Texas.

CULT is run by partners CEO Kneeland, president Gill and chief creative officer Geoff Butler with currently 22 full-time staff plus a number of “collectives.” Besides the 17th Avenue SW office in Calgary it has a satellite office in Kingston, Ontario, and is expecting to open a U.S. office later this year.

••••••••••••••

Mark Dixon is well known in the Edmonton advertising market, with his own Simply MARKeting and as a former director of marketing and public affairs at Alberta Health Services and Capital Health. He has also held senior positions with NorQuest College and Palmer Jarvis DDB. After three decades of broad-based marketing experience including teaching his craft at NAIT and the University of Alberta he has joined the Twist Marketing team as senior marketing consultant – but he ain’t leaving Edmonton.

And another new face with Twist – who resides in Vancouver – is Sherri Baumgartner, former director of marketing for Coast Hotels and Resorts.

Baumgartner brings a depth of knowledge and experience to Twist’s existing clients in B.C. including Lillooet, Castlegar, Elkford and Radium Hot Springs.

•••••••••••••• Trigger Communications bucked the trend by publishing the 2011 annual report of the Calgary Zoo in black and white that fit onto a single sheet of newsprint. In its commitment to developing conservation-focused annual reports it went a step further in the design of the 2012 edition by, for the first time, publishing it as an Instagram.

The idea came from the record number of visitors – 1.457 million in 2012 – who posted a huge amount of photos on Instagram #calgaryzoo. Trigger’s creative director Todd Blevins felt that if the audience was using the channel why shouldn’t the zoo – this time allowing it to go entirely paperless.

Trigger was also able to boast that in 2012 the zoo’s communications team was able to earn a record $6.7 million AVE (advertising value equivalency);

110 • June 2013 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | www.businessincalgary.com

more than 1,500 news items were generated and 20 new videos posted on YouTube.

•••••••••••••• Camie Leard studied journalism at SAIT Polytechnic and began her career as a business writer that included a spell from 2004 to 2008 as editor of this magazine.

She moved on to the marketing and communications realm as an independent consultant working with clients ranging from small business to corporate Calgary to non-profits before joining the National Music Centre as manager of marketing, communications and public relations.

Most recently she has been appointed as director of marketing and communications for the Better Business Bureau serving southern Alberta and East Kootenay.

•••••••••••••• Michael Harris of Mantaray Creative has teamed up with photographer, poet laureate, musician and painter Francis A. Willey to launch Soap Box Records. They are receiving requests to appear on their labels – including vinyl – from a wide variety of artists of all different genres and will use Mantaray’s creative expertise to market them via online sales, apps and web downloads. BiC Parker’s Pick: Metrographics’ fascinating 6’x10’ mural that will form the central image in the new town hall at Sylvan Lake, to help celebrate the community’s 100th anniversary.

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