April 2014 - Business in Edmonton

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ROD TAVERNER –

TURNING GRAINS OF SAND INTO INDUSTRY GOLD What Comes After

Edmonton Motor Show

With City Centre Airport now closed, Edmonton’s property developers look to the future with great anticipation.

Invest(igating) Company Perks

Ladies and Gentlemen: Start Your Engines!

Environmental Stewardship: Honouring Those that Honour our Environment

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APRIL 2014 | VOL. 03 #04

View our elect ronic issue of this mon th’s mag azin e onlin e at www .busi nessi nedm onto n.com

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Features

Each and every month

As winter gives way to spring, Edmonton pushes ahead with growth, innovation, and philanthropy.

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Cover

ECONOMIC FACTORS

BY JASON BRISBOIS

What to do With Oil Sands Tailings Ponds?

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ROD TAVERNER – TURNING GRAINS OF SAND INTO INDUSTRY GOLD BY MARK KANDBORG

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OFF THE TOP Fresh News Across all Sectors.

61 E DMONTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Company Profiles 49 JATEC

BY MARK KANDBORG

Thinking About Street Lights, Freeway Signs and Electricity So You Never Have To

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T HIERMAN CONSTRUCTION LTD.

BY MARK KANDBORG

Taking on the Toughest Renovations for Thirty Years... and Counting

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Features

VAN HOUTTE COFFEE SERVICES Van Houtte Coffee Services Brews It Right Every Time

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

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INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE: REAL ESTATE THAT WORKS

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

Edmonton’s industrial parks are part of the real estate boom

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As winter gives way to spring, Edmonton pushes ahead with growth, innovation, and philanthropy.

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TELECOMMUNICATION AND THE MODERN WORKSPACE

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| BY FAY FLETCHER

Ladies and Gentlemen: Start Your Engines!

42 H ONOURING THOSE THAT HONOUR OUR ENVIRONMENT | BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

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With City Centre Airport now closed, Edmonton’s property developers look to the future with great anticipation.

The Alberta Emerald Foundation and past Emerald Award recipients inspire others to embrace environmental stewardship.

46 GOLFING FOR A CAUSE

| BY RECHELL MCDONALD

Have you ever wondered how some charitable organizations manage to make ends meet? Here we take a look at the important relationship between big business and local charities.

58 EDMONTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | BY JAMES CUMMING

April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

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ECONOMIC FACTORS JASON BRISBOIS

WHAT TO DO WITH OIL SANDS TAILINGS PONDS?

BY JASON BRISBOIS

M

uch has been written about the environmental impacts of oil sands development. Some articles focus on air quality or land disturbance, some on water quality, and others on combined impacts. From a scientific standpoint, probably the greatest challenge in the oil sands today is the fate of tailings ponds. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) defines a tailings pond as an engineered dam and dyke system, which is used as a settling basin and storage container for the mixture of water, sand, clay and residual oil that is left over after oil sands processing. Once in the pond, the sand quickly sinks to the bottom, and the water from the top three metres is recycled for use in oil sands processing (it is not returned to the ecosystem).

As CAPP notes on its website, tailings ponds present a number of challenges, one of which is the propensity for the water in tailings ponds to leach into the underlying substrate. This was the subject of a highly publicized Environment Canada study in February, which concluded that some tailings pond water is moving out of the ponds through the substrate and into the Athabasca River.

While the methodology and quantification in the study were new, the issue has long been long acknowledged by the oil sands industry as a serious problem.

Another problem is that the tailings are a mixture of water, sand, silt, clay, contaminants and unrecovered hydrocarbons. The exact composition of the tailings can vary among ponds due to differences in processes used by oil sands companies. This makes it very difficult to come up with a single method of identifying all the components,

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Contaminants can include dissolved organic compounds such as naphthenic acids and other organic acids, suspended solids, salinity, trace metals, and other dissolved organic and inorganic compounds. then removing them from the water so that it can be returned to the ecosystem. As a result, the number of tailings ponds continues to increase. Today, they cover over 176 km2 (67 mi2) and contain trillions of cubic metres of tailings water.

That is where the work of Dr. Mohamed Gamal El-Din and his colleagues at the University of Alberta comes in.

Dr. Gamal El-Din and his team are taking a multidisciplinary approach to decontaminating and detoxifying tailings water. By working with biologists, chemists and engineers, the team is investigating the use of “multi-barrier” strategies that include applying physical, chemical and biological processes to treat water that has been affected by oil sands processing.

Funded through the National Science and Engineering Research Council Senior industrial Research Chair (IRC) Program in Oil Sands Tailings Water Treatment and the Helmholtz-Alberta Initiative, the ultimate goal of the research is to help promote and protect the environment and public health.

Partners in this collaborative endeavor include Syncrude Canada Ltd., Suncor Energy Inc., Shell Canada, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Total E&P Canada Ltd., EPCOR Water Services, IOWC Technologies Inc., Trojan Technologies, Meidensha Corporation, Alberta

April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, and Alberta Innovates Energy and Environment Solutions.

As mentioned above, tailings water contains many substances.

Contaminants can include dissolved organic compounds such as naphthenic acids and other organic acids, suspended solids, salinity, trace metals, and other dissolved organic and inorganic compounds. The result is that coming up with the best treatment systems and protocols will take time. Currently, novel approaches at the bench-scale level are providing valuable insights, which are leading to new materials, treatment processes and technologies for remediating tailings waters. For example, Dr. Gamal El-Din’s group is working on physico-chemical processes such as coagulation/flocculation and adsorption processes. They are also investigating advanced oxidation biological processes, solids-liquid separation techniques using settling and filtration, and membrane separation techniques.

There are many challenges ahead, but thanks to the research generated

by Dr. Gamal El-Din and his team, and others working on the same problem, Albertans can look forward to a day when the tailings pond challenge has been conquered. BIE Jason Brisbois is an economist and Managing Director of the University of Alberta Water Initiative.

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NEWS FROM THE MONTH

FUNDRAISING

GAME ON – ROAD HOCKEY TO CONQUER CANCER

The Alberta Cancer Foundation invests in things that matter to Albertans: earlier detection, better prevention strategies, improved treatment and enhanced quality of care. As part of their commitment to making a difference, they look for events and projects that will make an impact for cancer patients here in Alberta. With that in mind, they are launching the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s inaugural Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer!

Taking place on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, Calgary’s first Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer kicks off.

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Imagine – five exciting games and over 50 teams coming together for a cause that is so close to so many. With every player united by one common goal to redefine the future for Alberta cancer

April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

patients it is sure to make a difference!

Funds raised from this event will be invested in research led by the most motivated scientists across the country – research teams that can

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NEWS FROM THE MONTH

Funds raised from this event will be invested in research led by the most motivated scientists across the country – research teams that can accelerate breakthroughs and deliver transformative new treatments to Alberta cancer patients through clinical trials.

accelerate breakthroughs and deliver transformative new treatments to Alberta cancer patients through clinical trials.

This dawn-to-dusk fundraising event features hundreds of spirited road hockey games, as well as musical acts, celebrity appearances, interactive activities, food and beverages, and so much more. If you enjoy a challenge, being part of a team and donating your time and effort to an amazing cause, this is the perfect event to attend. BIE

REAL ESTATE

WAYNE W. HEINE WINS RAE’S INAUGURAL MARKETING EXCELLENCE AWARD

Wayne William Heine of Realty Executives Leading is the winner of the Real Estate Association of Edmonton’s (RAE) inaugural Marketing Excellence Award. The award was presented to Heine by Jon Hall, manager of marketing and communi-

cations at RAE, and Ronda Nedelec from Zag Creative Group on February 21 during the Fire and Ice Dinner and Dance Ceremony held at the Westin Hotel.

“One individual stood out from all the others with his product-related marketing plan that really promoted both himself and the communities he worked in,” says Ronda Nedelec, the marketing expert brought in to evaluate the six nominees.

Also praised during the event was Heine’s mobile office. The office on

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www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

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OFF THE TOP

NEWS FROM THE MONTH

JON HALL, WAYNE HEINE AND RONDA NEDELEC.

Heine does not intend to slow down in 2014. He aims to be the first to offer aerial photographs on all lake listings with his new helicopter drone camera. wheels took over a year of planning to bring the concept into reality. “This mobile office offers the best solutions when it comes to high technological real estate services,” says Heine via a statement on his website, edmontonlakeproperty.com. “Join us on an Edmonton Lake Property tour… We tour Lake Wabamun, Lac Ste Anne and Lake Isle on a regular basis.” Clients are especially appreciative of the mobile’s clean washroom as they view, visit and discuss lake real estate from the comfort of the unit.

Pioneering this mobile office is just one of the reasons Heine was nominated for and won this prestigious award. Heine sold just under 100 homes in his first two seasons and finished among the top five per cent in production among all board members

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in 2013. This is an amazing feat considering this was done through the narrow market of lake property sales.

Heine, who knows Edmonton west’s lake country better than most, wanted to provide buyers with a comfortable, enjoyable experience. He launched Edmonton Lake Property in 2012. The 2014 Marketing Excellence Award shows that his experience, enthusiasm and knowledge of this niche industry are definitely on the right track.

Heine does not intend to slow down in 2014. He aims to be the first to offer aerial photographs on all lake listings with his new helicopter drone camera.

He wants his buyers to have a better view of the properties, as well as routes to the lake and other amenities.

These aerial photos will complement the videos already on his website.

April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

“Many city dwellers will be busy planning their summer vacation in the Okanagan or the Island to either go to their lake property or join the rental train and compete with thousands of others to get a piece of summer,” says Heine. “My question is, why? Our three main lakes 50 miles west of Edmonton enjoy 90 per cent of the frost-free days of the Okanagan, yet you can leave work at five p.m. on Friday and be at your lake house by six p.m. The good news is you only have an hour to drive home on Sunday, so most stay over until Monday morning.”

Heine invites everyone to consider investing in our local lake paradise. Learn more by calling 780-991-5107, emailing wayneh@edmontonlakeproperty.com or visiting edmontonlakeproperty.com. BIE

INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE

INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE: REAL ESTATE THAT WORKS

INDUSTRIAL

REAL ESTATE: C

REAL ESTATE THAT WORKS

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

Edmonton’s industrial parks are part of the real estate boom

ommuters in Edmonton’s suburbs commonly drive past giant landscapes of warehouses, yards, cranes and machinery. Just what is going on in these industrial parks and how does their development affect us?

Thomas Braun is an associate at Royal Park Realty in Edmonton. “Industrial real estate is a type of commercial real estate,” Braun explains, “similar to condos being a type of residential real estate. Commercial real estate is split into office, retail, industrial and multifamily.”

Braun points out that demand for industrial real estate has increased substantially over the past five to seven years, and that demand is greater than the readily available land. “Companies that service the energy industry are driving the demand. Those companies include machine shops, steel fabrication, rental companies, drilling companies, rolling service companies, etc.”

“Industrial growth is enabled by the development of industrial parks,” continues Braun. “Meaning, if the park is built out (no more land or buildings for sale or lease), the growth in that area will slow even though demand might still be strong. Hence, the growth is constrained by the availability of land and buildings.” www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

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INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE

INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE: REAL ESTATE THAT WORKS

Braun explains the shortage, “Southeast Edmonton was the hotspot for many years, but most of the land has been snapped up. Growth in this area depends on developers bringing land to market (converting farm fields into fully serviced industrial lots). Recently, we’ve seen companies simply move to parks where land or buildings are available. Generally, those areas include Acheson, and Nisku/ Leduc. Edmonton suffers from demand exceeding supply.

While developers are busy bringing the next phase of their parks, they have run out of ready-to-go land in the short term and the prices have risen accordingly. In the future there will be considerable growth of industrial real estate between Nisku and Edmonton as a number of developers (WAM, Hopewell, Remington, Camgill, Rohit, Melcor, Cameron Developments and more) are bringing hundreds of acres of land to market.”

Let’s take a closer look at this commodity. Tom Koep, manager/economic development and tourism at Parkland County, has a front row seat to witness the growth of Acheon’s industrial park. Although the park’s land was not named “Acheson Industrial” until 1978, the first business opened in that area in 1973. Following the official naming, the first area structure plan was approved in 1979. The current plan was approved in 1997 and set out the boundaries of just over 10,000 acres and 16 square miles. Attempts to update the current plan have not yet received approval by the Capital Region Board.

“The park has grown from two quarter sections (320 acres) in 1979 to over 10,000 acres now, and the new area structure plan would increase it to over 11,000 acres,” says Koep. “Building permit growth has gone from $27 million in 2010 to $39 million in 2011, $71 million in 2012 and to $98 million last year, so it has more than tripled since 2010. Overall, assessment in the area has tripled in the last nine years and there has been over a half a billion dollars in building permits since 2006, and over $200 million in the last three years alone.”

These amazing figures are due in part to the many advantages of Acheson. It boasts the region’s lowest property taxes; connections to highways 44, 16, 16A and 60; CN rail access and a short 15-minute drive to the Edmonton International Airport. Low land prices, a council supportive of business and a proactive economic development strategy round out the area’s appeal.

Acheson Industrial Park has attracted nationally-known powerhouses such as AltaLink, Flynn Canada, Fortis Alberta, Kal Tire, SMS Equipment, Standard General, Supreme Steel, Viterra, Sysco Edmonton and Suncor Energy Inc. (which is one of the largest energy companies in Canada).

“As impressive as the growth has been in the Acheson industrial area in the last nine years, the best may yet be to come,” explains Koep. “With seven active developers in the area controlling almost 3,000 acres of land and almost 300 acres already sold with development coming in the next two to three years, Acheson is ready to grow. This includes several well known world-wide companies and numerous

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE

INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE: REAL ESTATE THAT WORKS

Canadian ones. The Acheson Industrial Park has grown from 2,300 employees in 2006 to over 7,000 now, with an estimated 2,000 more coming in the next three years, taking it to almost 10,000 people – a small city by some standards!”

Acheson Industrial Park’s history goes back over 30 years. On the other side of the city resides a new park that is just emerging onto Edmonton’s landscape. The Edmonton Energy and Technology Park’s (EETP) area structure plan was approved in 2009, and this park is very unique.

“The EETP was approved as a fully eco-industrial area structure plan,” explains Ken Mamczasz, who is with the City of Edmonton’s Sustainable Development branch. “Although those concepts are still not completely finalized, the eco-industrial requirements mean that developments with the area must pay special attention to water use, efficient use of land, energy efficiency, and building design.

Special attention will be given to retaining and protecting the network of creeks and natural areas that feed into the North Saskatchewan River Valley lands.”

Another unique feature of this park is the encouragement of logical clustering driven by the EETP’s specialized land use zones. Mamczasz explains, “For example, transportation and logistics are guided into the special zones near the major transportation routes on the outside of the central chemical cluster zone where materials can be processed and then moved to the logistics areas for storage, packaging and loading on to trucks or rail.”

Four zones were created to accommodate EETP: • EETB: the business park zone • EETC: the chemical cluster zone • EETL: the logistics zone • EETM: the manufacturing zone

The majority of the land is currently zoned AG (agricultural). The four special land use zones were approved under the City’s Land Use Bylaw. Since the start of this year, over 360 hectares of the over 5,000 hectares that make up the park have been zoned for development.

Although the EETP is still young, the park will benefit Edmonton far into the foreseeable future. “For Edmonton, it will result in growth of its industrial sectors, create jobs and wealth,” says Mamczasz. “Industry is finding it more difficult to find the right parcel of land to build on and the EETP is well positioned to serve northern Alberta’s industrial needs. The ecology of the city will benefit because eco-industrial principles will be used to build the infrastructure and industrial facilities in the park. The City will benefit from the growth in its industrial tax base and the region’s chemical cluster will expand.”

The benefits go beyond what Edmonton will reap. “The provincial and federal governments benefit from economic and industrial growth through corporate and income taxes. To the extent that petrochemicals are processed in the EETP, the province will also benefit from the royalties paid for petroleum-based feedstocks.”

Acheson Industrial Park and the EETP both embody what Braun knows to be important factors for industrial real estate investors. “Location to current and planned freeways, highways and access corridors; industrial customers; future development or re-development,” he says of what parks need to be successful. The park should also have “broad functional appeal – the more potential users for the property, the greater the demand and the higher the rental rate or return. The more flexible and appropriate the zoning, the greater the pool of potential tenants and buyers.”

Real estate expansion is evident in all sectors in Edmonton, and it is great to know that real estate is booming in Edmonton’s industrial parks as well. BIE

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

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COVER

ROD TAVERNER – TURNING GRAINS OF SAND INTO INDUSTRY GOLD

ROD TAVERNER – TURNING GRAINS OF SAND INTO INDUSTRY GOLD

BY MARK KANDBORG

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

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COVER

ROD TAVERNER – TURNING GRAINS OF SAND INTO INDUSTRY GOLD

R

od Taverner is terrified of the beach.

This the energetic and passionate president of RMC Business Group admits to me as we sit in his office, an impressive view of one of his company’s four concrete plants through the windows behind him. At first, I think he’s talking about a real beach, the kind with sand and umbrellas. He’s not. The beach he’s referring to is a metaphor for sitting back and watching the world go by. This idea is in stark contrast to what he loves: to be on the crest of a wave, carving a path, moving forward.

Always moving forward. I can’t speak to how many in the concrete business make their points as eloquently as this, but I think it’s safe to say that Taverner may be in select company.

You’ve heard the expression, “mind like a steel bear trap”? Taverner’s is a lot like that, although I’d describe it as more of a steel bear trap that chases you. Case in point: partway through our interview, Taverner politely points out that I’ve misspelled a name. This confirms what I’ve already been thinking – that he’s been reading my notes from across a fairly large table as quickly as I can scrawl them. Reading them upside down. While talking. I don’t mind, of course, but the revelation is a bit startling. After all, they say Mozart used to do that.

So, everything went perfectly from the start, right? Not exactly.

In 1994, when Taverner’s mixers started rolling in interest, the market wasn’t exactly booming.

He and his partner were basically all dressed up with no place to go.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s take a look at the origins of that Taverner wave. “I always knew I wanted to do something that mattered, that would make a difference in the community,” he says. What that ‘something’ was wasn’t immediately apparent, but as standing still has never been an attractive option for Rod Taverner at any age, he enrolled in the chartered accountant program at Simon Fraser University. “The two most important things I learned were how little I knew, and how to learn it. To this day, I hold those lessons very dear to my heart.”

It is said that the teacher will appear when the student is ready, and a very important teacher was about to appear to Taverner in the form of Calgary concrete magnate

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

Tony DiStefano. “He said, ‘I want to open up another Rolling Mix division in Edmonton and I need someone to run it. How much money you got?’” Taverner remembers. “I said, ‘Including my student loan?’ So my father-in-law, god bless him, he gave my wife Patty and I the initial investment to partner with Rolling Mix Management. Together, we bought an old, rundown plant in Edmonton, five trucks and away we went.”

True to form, Taverner took this opportunity very seriously. “I didn’t want to fail, so I went back to school and I learned everything there was to know about concrete. I took every course I could find. I studied everything from concrete basics all the way up to what I do today like mix designs and material engineering.”

So, everything went perfectly from the start, right? Not exactly. In 1994, when Taverner’s mixers started rolling in interest, the market wasn’t exactly booming. He and his partner were basically all dressed up with no place to go.

“We were persona non grata,” he explains. “The big guys didn’t like seeing us because they had just come through a time of turmoil. We were not welcomed anywhere.” So they took work where they could get it and, ever so slowly, five trucks became eight, eight became 12. And then, overnight, the script was revised.

“Rick Forest of Forest Construction gave me a job, and it was huge. Not only did that open a lot of doors for us with other big companies, but eventually Forest Construction got purchased by PCL.” There’s your game changer, right there. How much of a game changer? “As soon as I got the purchase order From PCL for the air-port expansion,” Taverner says, “I ordered a new concrete plant.” Rolling Mix Edmonton had been in business five years.

With the new plant, production ability quadrupled. Taverner was up on his board and the wave he was riding was beginning to look like a classic; but every good surfer knows that this is no time to look at your board. You look at where you’re going.

“We decided that we were going to supply the labour as well for the flat work. Driveways, garages, basement floors, that kind of thing. There are no other ready mix companies that do that. They just sell the concrete. We were going to pump it as well.” Taverner was changing the game again.

No longer did builders have to get their concrete from one company and pumpers from another so that a third could do the flatwork. Now, supplier, pumper and flatwork specialist could move as a unit. “Suddenly, we were offering one-stop shopping.”

Taverner believes that this versatility, this mobility, has become a kind of trademark of his company. “We can make decisions right then, right there in somebody’s office. Most of my competitors are large multi-nationals and it’s hard to turn that ship quickly. We’re locally owned. That makes us very adaptive, very quick. I took that advantage and exploited it.”

The wave was growing. Taverner continued to scan the ever changing water for new opportunities for growth – and he found it. The next big thing for Taverner’s compa-

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COVER

ROD TAVERNER – TURNING GRAINS OF SAND INTO INDUSTRY GOLD

“Things were happening fast, but it’s a funny thing about growth. It’s exactly what you want to achieve, but you’d better be able to manage it. Now you can see that what’s starting to evolve here is, we’ve got three separate brands selling concrete in the city and we weren’t at this point achieving efficiency.” ~ Rod Taverner

ny, as it turns out, wasn’t in the water at all. It was the kind of thing that might go over it. “No one wanted to do bridge work here in town. It’s really difficult, technical work,” he says. “But we’d done one, then another, and I said if somebody wants to embrace this kind of work, they’ll do well by it. So we did.” They did indeed. Taverner and his people retrained their staff and made massive changes to the plant.

“We were able to fine tune the batching sequences to a level that wasn’t available prior to that. We chased the work

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

and we got it.” You could say that. Of the 70-odd bridges and overpasses built in the Edmonton area in the last five years, Rolling Mix has done more than 60.

Was Taverner getting ready to look at that beach yet? Far from it. He was starting to look at other waves. “We bought Alliance Ready Mix in 2009. With it came a bunch of good people, two other facilities, one of which was brand new, and a huge presence in the commercial market,” he says.

“We’d also developed another company by this time, Cap-

COVER

ROD TAVERNER – TURNING GRAINS OF SAND INTO INDUSTRY GOLD

ital Concrete, to service what we like to call the weekend warriors. That’s a guy that wants to build a little patio in his back yard and needs three metres. He can’t get that from anybody else, they’re too busy. We chased that market, it grew, and now Capital has 14 trucks.

“Things were happening fast, but it’s a funny thing about growth. It’s exactly what you want to achieve, but you’d better be able to manage it. Now you can see that what’s starting to evolve here is, we’ve got three separate brands

selling concrete in the city and we weren’t at this point achieving efficiency. We had three dispatchers, three batch men, we had three sets of everything. And quite frankly, the customer wanted concrete. Service and quality with their primary objectives. At 3 o’clock on a Friday afternoon they wanted their concrete. Having three companies working together allowed us to be very efficient. We were like brothers, helping each other out.” They consolidated the billing, the safety and the mechanics, garnering effiwww.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

21

COVER

ROD TAVERNER – TURNING GRAINS OF SAND INTO INDUSTRY GOLD

ciency by sharing those resources. But out of this solution, an interesting problem was beginning to emerge.

“Who were we becoming? What are we? We now had an aggregate hauling division, a cement hauling division, we had three Ready Mix companies, we had a flat work company, and we’re hauling cement for companies other than our own. You know, do I introduce myself as Rod at Ready Mix or Rod at Alliance? Who the heck are we?” Out of this enviable dilemma the RMC Group of Companies was born.

What had happened was that this ambitious rider on a single wave had organically split and grown to the point where he was riding, not just with a group, but with a platoon. “The RMC Group of Companies is now a purchasing and management group for all the Ready Mix companies, all the sand and gravel companies.”

Not surprisingly, Taverner has a very clear idea of how to keep this group of companies thriving. “My role has changed,” he says. “I’m delegating now, which historically I haven’t done a lot of. I’ve had to bring in and train good, young people.” Taverner’s inclination was to do what his colleague and mentor Tony DiStefano had done for him, years ago. “Get ‘em young and train ‘em. Instead of trying to convince somebody what our brand or our style means,” he thought, “let’s just grow them.” As a result of this approach, the oldest member of Taverner’s

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

entire management team today is 38 years old. His youngest executive is 27. The general manager of his new Fort McMurray Rolling Mix division is 31. It seems unnecessary to point out how unusual an age range like that is in this type of industry. Record companies have executives older than that.

“I’ve got a lot of great people on the operations side who’ve been working here since the day the doors opened, which I’m pretty proud of. They’re running my shop, they’re running my plants.” Taverner describes them as the backbone of his operations. “But with the kind of growth we’ve had, with all the new companies we’ve started, we needed guys who were young and hungry, too,” he explains, pointing out that this infusion of young blood has invigorated the more experienced team members as well, as they’ve taken on the roles of mentors. The combination, he says, has brought a whole new level of stability to his workforce.

One of the great things about my own job as a journalist, is that once in a while I get the chance to ask people with extensive knowledge, with inside information, the big questions. As our interview came to a close, I took the opportunity to ask Rod Taverner about something that had been nagging at me for years. What, I asked him, is the deal with those colours?

“You have no idea how often people ask me that,” he says, laughing. “You either love them or you don’t, but let me tell you, you never miss them. A couple of Italian immigrants started Rolling Mix, Guido and Hector DiStefano, Tony’s dad, in 1955. They didn’t have any money. So they bought a Ford truck and a Ready Mix truck, and they couldn’t afford to paint them so they embraced both colours, and they’ve never changed since.”

As you might expect, there’s a great story that goes along with this. “Tony tells a story of playing hockey with a bunch of guys in Calgary, and one of the guys in the dressing room asks, ‘What is with your colours? Why do you not have colours like the other guys?’ Tony says to him, ‘Like what other guys? Tell me who you’re talking about.’ And the guy says, ‘you know...’” Taverner pauses for effect, relishing the punch line. “The other guys.”

Taverner especially loves the fact that it looks like they have three times as many trucks running around the city as they actually do. “Because you never miss a one. I’m ridiculously proud of the colour combination.”

So now you know the story behind Thunderbird green and Ford pickup yellow, and it’s unlikely that you’ll ever miss one of Taverner’s time travelling trucks again, if you somehow managed to before. You’ve also done a little time travelling yourself, back almost exactly 20 years to the day Tony DiStefano made a portentous phone call that prompted a young articling accountant to paddle out to that first wave.

“Tony DiStefano has been the best guy that ever was, and not just for giving me the opportunity. If I woke up with a thought or a problem or an idea, he’d listen and we’d figure it out,” Taverner says. “It’s been a great partnership.” BIE

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS

TELECOMMUNICATION AND THE MODERN WORKSPACE

Telecommunication and the Modern Workspace

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

I

am an office. No, I’m not having an identity crisis. My office is the combination of my laptop and smartphone and with these two devices I connect to a staff of over 20 and a client base that spans the globe. Headquarters is wherever I connect to WiFi, be it a picnic table in a park on a sunny summer day, a coffee shop patio, the local library or the designated workspace in my home. I have no printer, scanner or fax but thanks to the “magic” of telecommunication, my business has thrived in this manner for years.

It is not too much of a stretch to call it magic. After all, how much do we really understand about the technology that keeps us connected? Imagine explaining it to someone that has never existed in our modern world. How would that go? Well, you might say, you take your computer (a robotic machine that obeys commands) and you access the Internet (the sum of all our collective knowledge kept in a digital format and accessed through portals), and sometimes you use apps (pictures that you tap on to access entertainment, services and information). Wait, isn’t that the basis of every science fiction movie prior to 1985?

It is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Technology has allowed us to get up from our desks, out of our offices and work from more comfortable and engaging locations. For Samantha Snyder, technical assistant at CD Computers, the most important part of this “freedom” is found in the cloud.

“Cloud storage is a game changer in how and where we work,” says Snyder with unbridled enthusiasm. “Now you can buy a $200 system and use it until it dies because you don’t have to worry about data storage.”

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS

TELECOMMUNICATION AND THE MODERN WORKSPACE

Telecommunication – the transmission of information such as words, sounds or images, usually over great distances, in the form of electromagnetic signals as by telegraph, telephone, radio or television. –dictionary.reference.com

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS

TELECOMMUNICATION AND THE MODERN WORKSPACE

What is this “cloud storage?” Basically, cloud computing uses a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data – as opposed to using a local server or your personal computer. For some companies, this means not having an onsite server where files are kept, backups are run and software is installed. Instead, each employee connects to the cloud to access their files and the information they need for work. Since the server is no longer part of the office, the employee does not necessarily have to be either. As long as he or she can access the cloud using an Internet connection, they can access the tools for their job.

As Snyder points out, you are probably already using this technology. Reading Chrome Books, working off Google Drive, saving family photos on SkyDrive or Dropbox – this is all cloud-based technology.

“We always tell people to go by specifications rather than the brand name,” informs Snyder of the many technologies used to access the cloud. “What’s inside is the same. However, for mobile devices you want it streamlined and easy. If you want to work at home, look at Apple. If you

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

are networking across the nation, check out Android. It’s all about the customer, not the device.”

CD Computers has been in business since 1999 and the rise of computing technology, along with their excellent business practices and outstanding customer service, has seen the independent computer shop double in size since its opening.

“Buying mobile devices used to be rare,” says Snyder, “but now everyone wants a tablet or a smartphone.”

Not everyone, however is thrilled with life in the cloud.

Tim Christiansen, senior sales associate at the north Edmonton Memory Express, says their clients prefer something that is more secure – not to mention on site.

As Christiansen points out, online server hosting is more vulnerable to hacking, and anytime you access that information over the Internet, you are exposed. “A server is much more secure,” he points out. “The set up includes user accounts to limit access.”

While SkyDrive and Google Drive are great for students and small business, law and accounting firms and others that deal with a large volume of high-profile or sensitive

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS

TELECOMMUNICATION AND THE MODERN WORKSPACE

information turn to places like Memory Express for custom-built servers. But this doesn’t stop employees from having remote access.

Christiansen says you can think of having an on-site server as having your cloud in a “housed environment.” Basically, it’s a private cloud used only by those with access, rather than the Internet cloud that can be accessed by anyone. Server access is granted, denied and monitored by the company’s IT services. Remote access still gives employees the option to work off-site, but within certain limitations.

No matter if your cloud is outside or inside your office, the devices you use to access it perform another very necessary function for the telecommuter, and that is communication.

Teamwork is the backbone of any successful organization and in order to achieve that, you must connect to your team. This can happen in a boardroom, but thanks to technology, this can just as easily happen with your team flung far and wide. Thanks to innovations such as Go ToMeeting, team members can connect to a video meeting from a Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone or Android device. Using your computers, you can share your screens, which allows for simultaneous viewing and editing of documents. There is no “I will email it to you for your revisions,” since everyone can collaborate at the same time, regardless of distance.

For my company, I rely heavily on Skype to have meetings with clients. Since it would be impractical (no matter how

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much I wish otherwise) to fly to Thailand or New Zealand to discuss the client’s various projects, Skype brings us face to face. Like Go ToMeeting, Skype has the ability to share links, documents and even screens during the meeting. Communication with my team is handled via email and SkyDrive.

You might think that the technology behind telecommunication drives people apart, but I disagree. I am certainly not opposed to office life and enjoyed it for a great many years. I also realize that to properly service clients, some companies/industries must have their team and equipment on site or at designated field locations. But, while there is great value in human interaction and certainly times when only being face-to-face will do, I think telecommunication actually brings people closer together. I have met and interacted with more people during the course of this career than I did over the 15+ years I enjoyed as a corporate secretary. If you told me five years ago I would be interacting with clients overseas or working with a team of my own, I wouldn’t have believed you; but thanks to mobile devices, the cloud, online programs and apps, this is my reality.

For people like me and my team, telecommunication allows us to have that work/life balance we all strive for. The ability to work and play, work and travel, work and stay home or work and volunteer all at the same time comes to many of us through the technology and the “magic” of telecommunication. BIE

RECREATION & INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

INVEST(IGATING) COMPANY PERKS

Invest(igating) Company Perks What works and what doesn’t? Are luxurious company perks like a condo in the mountains a surefire way to get reliable employees? According to the professionals there is merit in the concept but, like communism, it may only work on paper.

BY RECHELL MCDONALD

T

here is no doubt you have heard of the practice where companies rent condos, or condo-style hotels as an employee perk – some businesses may even buy them.

These rentals and purchases are usually in areas not too far from home, but just different enough to make a stay at one feel like a vacation. Prime locations for such things in Alberta are Jasper, Canmore and Banff, but you may be surprised to learn that we were hard-pressed to actually locate a business that participated in such practices.

It’s funny because when you think about it, it seems like it would be an incredible perk. Being able to pop down to Banff and stay at a company lodging free of charge? Dream come true! But according to the experts at HR Group Management Consultants, this type of setup is a superficial offering that doesn’t hold that much water with serious employees.

“Many companies today, especially in the Alberta economy where there is a shortage of skilled labor at all levels, attempt to buy their staff and their loyalty,” points out Dimitri Pojidaeff, partner at HR Group Management Consultants. “From our perspective, this approach only works in the very short term. What really attracts qualified staff, retains them and secures their loyalty is what we refer to as a productive workplace with a fully participative management culture.”

So is this “getaway on the company dime” thing a total hoax then? Not exactly, but it’s not necessary the free-forall vacation you might have imagined. Falcon Crest Lodge,

rated the number one hotel in Alberta, is located in Canmore and features condominium style suites that provide guests with all the amenities of home. Farra Gillis, sales manager with Clique Hotels & Resorts (the management company for Falcon Crest) explains that it’s not as common for business-related guests to show up just for a vacation, but rather as a group with a purpose.

“We see business from a variety of corporate clients and organizations, small, medium and large. We also see a mix of markets types, from oil and gas, to church groups, to financial institutions. Many companies seek the mountains as a refuge for corporate retreats or team building events.

It is a great break from the norm and the big city life.”

In many cases these visits aren’t a one-off sort of deal.

According to Gillis, they have many repeat business customers that value what their establishment offers, and aren’t afraid to make the regular investment for their employees, as a group. Beyond that, oftentimes Falcon Crest can offer its guests much better prices than what they would find at a hotel in the city. With Canmore and Banff being within earshot of each other, it’s not shocking to imagine that room rates in area can be high in the peak season; but for Falcon Crest their pricing is part of their allure and not a sales gimmick.“Our rates are very affordable and there is such value in what we offer when compared to a standard hotel room, which could cost the same or more.” Gillis further comments that it’s not an easy market www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

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All the Benefits of Lake Living… in Less Than an Hour’s Drive

E

Sailing, family gatherings, boating, fishing, golf and more!

dmontonians may not realize how lucky we are when it comes to our recreational home ownership options. In less than an hour we can be at our trilake oasis west of the city consisting of Wabamun Lake, Isle Lake and Lac Ste Anne.

It is difficult to believe that we as Edmontonians are so close to over 70 miles of shoreline, much of it with public and private beaches. It is even more amazing to consider how many people will drive three hours from Calgary or five hours from Fort McMurray to enjoy the beauty of our lake country that many Edmontonians have yet to discover.

Does it make sense spending your precious vacation time and dollars travelling 10 hours to many vacation spots especially when our frost-free season or growing season is comparable? In comparison, Kelowna has 151 days, Calgary’s is Wayne William Heine only 87 days, while Lake Country benefits from over a 128 day frost free day growing season, making this region the perfect summer vacation spot.

Even better, living so close to the lake means that summer doesn’t have to end with the “season.” You can benefit from three distinct lakes that offer four beautiful seasons with the flexibility to enjoy year-long fun. There is no reason to take a long road trip when you can comfortably enjoy your own lake property all year round.

The lakes west of Edmonton are extremely diverse, offering many unique options for those looking for a second place to call home. In fact, many love it so much they commute to work and live at the lake all year. Wabamun Lake is a great place to swim and fish (Whitefish and Walleye) due to its ever-present supply of fresh mountain water. There are various summer villages surrounding this lake, with Seba Beach being a popular destination on the west and Kapasiwin Provincial Park to the east. Many of the subdivisions around the lake have neighbourhood swimming areas as well as boat launches or piers

where you can get a boat slip and leave your boat ready for the summer fun. Anyone who has tried to launch a boat from a public pier in the Okanagan knows what a benefit this truly is.

You will never be bored in the tri-lakes area. Options abound including: three sailing clubs, boating, local libraries, curling, hiking, Skidoo fun, miniature golf, and over half a dozen incredible golf courses. Alberta Beach and Wabamun offer a small town atmosphere with many year-round services.

Consider your typical day at the lake: breakfast on your deck with the family, a mid-morning round of golf with work colleagues, an afternoon sail with a neighbour, a barbeque with your extended family and a relaxing evening around the fire pit. Summer days are long, providing plenty of time for your guests to visit and drive home so you can quietly watch a little premium cable.

Your kids will love the lake life because there are plenty of activities or programs available for them as well. Children of all ages can enjoy miniature golf, going to the general store for ice cream, fishing and participating in the summer parades and community activities.

Buying a tri-lake home can be quite affordable; in fact, it can cost less than a three-week annual family vacation. Not to mention, owning a lake house could be considered one of the safest ports for your investment funds. Unlike other investments fluctuating in accounts you have no control over, a lake property gives you an active useable investment. Financing is easier than you think considering you can leverage up to 95 per cent of your entire purchase. Not to mention, there is a lake house option for everyone with homes ranging from $100,000 to 1.5 million.

You owe it to yourself to check out what we consider “fun land” the tri-lakes region west of Edmonton. Hopefully we will see you this summer.

www.edmontonlakeproperty.com

RECREATION & INVESTMENT PROPERTIES INVEST(IGATING) COMPANY PERKS

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RECREATION & INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

INVEST(IGATING) COMPANY PERKS

Venues like the Falcon Crest Lodge prove that there is a healthy market for the business looking to sweep its employees away on a retreat. While a yearly retreat can not necessarily justify the purchase of condos en masse, it may be enough to suggest at the purchase of just a handful.

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

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RECREATION & INVESTMENT PROPERTIES INVEST(IGATING) COMPANY PERKS

Company retreats and team building exercises are great ways to show your employees that you are investing in them. In many ways financial incentives are the best possible way to motivate your employees, but that’s not to say that there is no benefit to the company condo concept.

As with anything in business, it’s all about implementation. either as the area is rife with accommodations. “We have a lot of competition in the area, however, Clique Hotels & Resorts is able to offer top rated luxury accommodation with a guarantee of service excellence at all four of our resorts: Falcon Crest Lodge, Stoneridge Mountain Resort, Blackstone Mountain Lodge and the Copperstone Resort.

Our success rests on the fact that we understand our clients’ needs and we are able to offer a variety of different options to fit within every budget.”

Pojidaeff’s position on the idea of the ‘company condo in Banff’ seems to be clear, but he does believe in the merit of performance-based rewards in the work place. “Many such companies reward their employees with a bonus that is based on the company’s performance. This practice also means that everyone has a stake in the company and how it performs. Companies that have this type of culture are not easy to find as it takes a lot of work and dedication to create such a culture.”

The argument Pojidaeff makes is that companies who fall back on offering their employees perks like free golf and access to the elusive company condo, are simply cutting corners. It’s easier for a company to implement such superficial perks, but said perks may only appeal to a select number of employees, making the incentive fall more than a little short of effective.

According to the 2013 Fourth Quarter Cap Rate Report released by Colliers International, the general mood of investment in all sectors is quite good – which means, despite how hard it may be to actually locate a business that owns its own condos in a picturesque setting – businesses are out there buying them.

“Overall investment volume has stayed very strong during 2013. Looking at significant transactions of $10 million or greater, within the four major asset types; office, industrial, retail and multi-residential, the volumes at Q4 2013 are within two per cent of the 2012 year-end figures.” This is great for the economy and investments in Edmonton overall, but newly added to the 2013 reports are the figures on the lodging industry, which are particularly helpful in this respect.

“Volume and pricing continued to improve through 2013 with Colliers forecasting just over $2 billion in volume

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for the year. Cap rates have compressed by 50 to 100 basis points over the last 12 months as investor appetite for hotel real estate continues to strengthen.” The forecast for 2014 is just as positive as the sector continues to attract equity.

This could mean that investment in lodging real estate (especially full-service venues such as condos) is gaining more and more strength; that more companies may in fact invest some cold hard cash into these properties. In part it is a great, albeit superficial, perk to offer your employees but for the savvy business owner with the capital necessary to purchase that kind of real estate, it can be an amazing investment opportunity.

Venues like the Falcon Crest Lodge prove that there is a healthy market for the business looking to sweep its employees away on a retreat. While a yearly retreat can not necessarily justify the purchase of condos en masse, it may be enough to suggest at the purchase of just a handful. Owning investment property of this nature serves a far greater purpose than simply showing an employee they’ve done a good job, although it is nice to be able to offer that on occasion. For the right business, this sort of investment could show real returns, depending on how it is managed, and is always a guaranteed place to take clients, or participate in meetings.

Pojidaeff makes very valid points by stating that a superficial perk may only attract a superficial employee.

Every business wants a dedicated staff that feels invested in the success of their workplace, and there is no doubt more than one way to find those types of employees. Company retreats and team building exercises are great ways to show your employees that you are investing in them. In many ways financial incentives are the best possible way to motivate your employees, but that’s not to say that there is no benefit to the company condo concept. As with anything in business, it’s all about implementation.

If the current lodging investment market keeps on pace with the predicted trends for 2014, the industry will continue to boom, particularly in Edmonton where revitalization projects are underway, but destinations spots such as Jasper, Canmore and Banff, all have vast potential for the right investor. BIE

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

WHAT COMES AFTER

WHAT COMES AFTER

BY BEN FREELAND

With City Centre Airport now closed, Edmonton’s property developers look to the future with great anticipation.

T

he year 2013 will go down in Edmonton’s history as the year the city’s longest, most intractable debate was finally put to bed. After over half a century of debate and consternation, the last aircraft departed from Edmonton’s venerable Blatchford Field (a.k.a. Edmonton City Centre Airport, or ECCA) on November 30, 2013.

While many Edmontonians mourned the end of the line for one of western Canada’s most storied aerodromes, others expressed relief over the end of a seemingly interminable argument that had effectively held 144 acres of prime urban real estate hostage for decades. To the latter contingent, the closure of the airport was less the end of an era, but the beginning of a new one characterized by high-density building and less of the urban sprawl that has defined Edmonton’s growth for the last 50 years.

The ECCA debate is considerably older than the average Edmontonian, dating back to the dawn of the jet age.

By the mid-1950s it became clear that ECCA lacked the space for the runway extension necessary to accommodate large jets, leading to the construction of the Edmonton International Airport (EIA), which opened in 1963. While ECCA was originally slated to close following the opening of EIA, the development in the 1960s of smaller regional jet aircraft like the Boeing 737 and the DC-9 led the city to keep the airport open for regional traffic, most importantly the increasingly popular Edmonton-Calgary route. But increased range and weight demands steadily reduced the airport’s practicality, and by 1996 all scheduled traffic was consolidated at EIA. After a decade of debate, the city finally approved a phased closure of ECCA in 2009. www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE WHAT COMES AFTER

CORY WOSNACK

With the phased closure of the airport now complete, work is expected to begin this year on the construction of the new neighbourhood of Blatchford (named after early Edmonton mayor Kenny Blatchford, for whom the old airport was also named), a development lauded by the city of Edmonton as “a walkable, transit-oriented, and sustainable community.”

The plan, according to the Blatchford Master Plan, is for a 536-acre mixeduse urban community that will house up to 30,000 residents and provide jobs for up to 11,000 Edmontonians.

Plans include family friendly urban homes, a town centre featuring retail, offices, roughly 183 acres of parkland and open spaces, easy LRT access, student housing for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and a raft of measures to promote sustainability. While Blatchford’s development is expected to take decades, the plan calls for the first residents to move in by 2016-2017.

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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE WHAT COMES AFTER

For the time being, the primary impact of ECCA’s closure to Edmonton’s real estate market is the removal of the height restrictions that have long kept Edmonton’s skyline decidedly shorter than Calgary’s. From a downtown development standpoint, this is likely to make an immediate difference.

For Edmonton’s property developers, who for the past few years have seen a rapid revitalization of the city’s once repudiated downtown core, this new development is a dream come true. “I don’t think Edmontonians have yet to fully appreciate what this means for the city,” asserts Cory Wosnack, principal with leading Edmonton commercial real estate developers Avison Young. “It’s a story that really needs to be told. We’ve seen some high-level plans, but this is going to be a massive, generational development that’s going to radically reshape the city.” While some have expressed worry that the Blatchford development will compete with Edmonton’s resurgent central business district, Wosnack dismisses such concerns. “This is going to be an offshoot of what makes the downtown successful, and one that’s going to be complimentary rather than competitive with it. It’s going to create tremendous opportunities for residents to be close to downtown, particularly for younger people looking for affordable yet central options.”

For the time being, the primary impact of ECCA’s closure to Edmonton’s real estate market is the removal of the height restrictions that have long kept Edmonton’s skyline decidedly shorter than Calgary’s. From a downtown development standpoint, this is likely to make an immediate difference.

“With the removal of height restrictions on certain areas of the downtown core, buildings will be able to devel-

op, which will not be impacted by height and flight path restrictions,” says Myron Keehn, vice president of commercial development at Edmonton International Airport (EIA). “There are numerous buildings downtown which do not have the main elevator head to the top floor because the elevator equipment could not be placed on the roof.

With these same restrictions, the main lobby interfaces have been kept low, as space has always been a premium.”

While the removal of height restrictions will invariably make building easier, others doubt it will result in any spectacular changes to Edmonton’s skyline – at least in the foreseeable future. “I don’t think you’re going to see a skyscraper boom in Edmonton like we’ve seen in Calgary, primarily because we don’t have as many large corporate offices here,” explains Wosnack. “Most of our tenants are under 5,000 square feet, whereas most of their Calgary counterparts are more than double that. We might see a few taller buildings than before, but you’re not going to see anything like the Bow here because it’s outside our clients’ risk profile; and from a density-building perspective, I think we’re better off with two 30-storey buildings than one 60-storey one.”

From a real estate market standpoint, Edmonton’s developers anticipate little direct impact from the closure of ECCA for the next five years or so, but with the city continuing to enjoy an enviable balance between commercial www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE WHAT COMES AFTER

real estate supply and demand and work underway on several major downtown projects (most notably the new arena), there’s no impetus to accelerate the Blatchford development.

“You’re certainly going to see an impact, but it’s still a ways off,” says Wosnack. “For the time being what you’re going to see is a further maturation of the downtown core, which still has a ways to go before it reaches its full potential.” EIA’s Keehn concurs, pointing to massive amount of expansion planned for the post-secondary education sector, with Norquest, MacEwan, NAIT and the downtown University of Alberta campus all in growth mode. “There are huge opportunities for growth tied to our post-secondary institutions, including student housing, residential developments, retail and office space and of course, arts and entertainment.

It’s a very exciting time to be in this city.”

A further consequence of the closure of ECCA has been a renewed focus on developing the airport that supplanted it in 1963 and now fulfills all its former day-to-day functions. While the majority of ECCA’s functions had been shifted to EIA long before the closure, the year ahead of its full closure saw a new raft of facilities open at the EIA, including an integrated medical services facility for Medevac operations, a new fixed-base operator and a new dedicated hangar for STARS Air Ambulance’s helicopter fleet. EIA

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continues to develop into a bona-fide aerotropolis, with a new outlet mall scheduled to open in 2016 and further hotel and retail business to come. In the meantime, major upgrades to the Edmonton region’s other functioning airport at Villeneuve, including an instrument landing system and a 5,000-foot runway extension, have expanded this northern aerodrome’s usefulness as a general aviation facility in the absence of ECCA. Looking forward, Keehn notes that Edmonton can look to the examples of Denver and Austin, both of which have successfully established new urban communities where airports once sat, as examples of things to come. “The redevelopment plans for ECCA are well thought out with a strategic vision to create a sustainable community with a unique sense of place,” he contends. “The plans are impressive and offer a unique opportunity to our community to develop a world-class community adjacent to world class education and health facilities.”

For the time being, however, it looks to be business as usual in Oil City. “The year 2014 looks to be another year of steady, manageable growth in the commercial real estate sector,” says Wosnack. “We’re not going to see a repeat of the sort of runaway 2006 – 2007 type growth, and we’re still a ways off before we see a direct effect of the Blatchford development. But once we do, it’s going to be very exciting!” BIE

Amee sold her own paintings and raised more than $28,000 for the Be Brave Ranch.

Read the whole story and tell us yours online.

lit tle war rio r s . c a

EDMONTON MOTOR SHOW

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: START YOUR ENGINES!

Ladies and Gentlemen:

START YOUR ENGINES!

T

BY FAY FLETCHER

he 2014 Edmonton Motorshow is rolling into town in April and there is plenty to get revved about. New cars and trucks, a new commercial zone, a collector’s auction and a charity gala are just some of the things show goers will enjoy.

Show manager Bob Vilas is particularly excited about the 2015 series trucks, and for very good reason. “We will have two brand new pickup trucks to show folks,” Vilas explains. “We have the new F150 from Ford. What’s really exciting about this particular product is that it’s the first of its kind to be in aluminum. This sheds 700 pounds. The aircraft-grade aluminum very strong against denting.

Combine that with a more efficient engine and you know the fuel efficiency is also improved.”

Of course, a little friendly competition just makes things even better! “Our friends at Dodge RAM don’t want to be outdone!” laughs Vilas.

“They are going to unveil their new RAM 1500 diesel. The engine will be the first of its kind to be offered in a diesel pickup truck. It’s touted to give a range of 1,200 – 1,400 kilometres in a tank!

For the folks here, especially in Northern Alberta

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

where we have a tendency to get our trucks dirty working them, this is big news!”

While car shows are popular in many of Canada’s big cities, manufacturers pick and choose which vehicles they will send, if they decide to show any at all. Ford and Dodge RAM’s decision to show trucks from their 2015 line is a major compliment to the Edmonton show; and they are not the only manufacturers that rushed to provide products for Edmonton.

Vilas explains, “We are one of the very few shows that has the opportunity to show off the new Hyundai Genesis from their luxury line, and there are lots of new products coming from Toyota, Highlander and others. There will be a slew of 2015 products, including the new Ford Mustang.

We are very, very pleased; manufacturers know this is a very big and important market, especially in the truck range. We are so pleased to see these products make their way to our show.”

You don’t have to be truck enthusiast to enjoy the show. Luxe Lane’s 77,000 square foot zone will feature premium brands such as Ferrari, Audi and

EDMONTON MOTOR SHOW

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: START YOUR ENGINES!

Porsche; and the 100,000 square foot Auto Emporium zone is the place to find every auto accessory you can imagine.

This year, the Edmonton Motorshow has created a new zone – Commercial. “This whole section is one-stop shopping for anyone that has a plumbing, welding or pipe fitting business. Any type of commerce in the trades will be very well treated in that area and will see the latest innovation in putting their shop on wheels,” says Vilas. Mercedes, Chrysler, Nissan and more have provided vehicles for this specialized zone. It’s sure to be a hit for any tradesman that needs a mobile unit for their job.

The show is treat for collectors as well. The car collector’s auction is an added attraction that you can view or participate in for the price of admission. Last year over five vehicles sold at over $100,000 each. Operated by Electric Garage, the auction is just as much fun to watch if you don’t have six figures handy for bidding.

The Edmonton Motorshow kicks off with the Precious Metal Gala on April 9th. The Gala benefits schools in Edmonton, including LY Cairns, which is a specialized learning environment for junior and senior high students with a diagnosis of mild cognitive disability. Years ago, Vilas was shocked at the condition of the LY Cairns’ shop and the plight of other Edmonton high schools that lacked shop programs or struggled to keep them running. He gathered his administration and board members and fought the uphill battle for change. “We addressed the minister of education and explained that we were not asking for money,” Vilas points out, “but that the shop conditions were just terrible!” It wasn’t easy, but after many years, piles of paperwork, and unwavering determination, schools’ shops across Edmonton were upgraded from “terrible” to “you wouldn’t recognize it as the same place.”

Today, thanks to the Precious Metal Gala (along with some funds from the Edmonton Motorshow) high schools receive financial support to keep, create and/or improve shop programs. In 2014, over $100,000 will be donated to local high schools. The Gala and Motorshow also provide a Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) scholarship.

Vilas, who has been hooked on cars and vehicle technology since he was a young boy, has the excitement of a kid in a candy shop about the 2014 Motorshow, and his enthusiasm has merit. This is a show for all ages and all levels of car enthusiasts, so mark April 10 – 13 on your calendar and come on down to enjoy the show. BIE

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

41

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

HONOURING THOSE THAT HONOUR OUR ENVIRONMENT

HONOURING THOSE THAT HONOUR OUR ENVIRONMENT The Alberta Emerald Foundation and past Emerald Award recipients inspire others to embrace environmental stewardship.

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

VOLUNTEERS AT GLORY HILLS.

T

he Alberta Emerald Foundation (AEF) traces its roots back to former Premier Ralph Klein. “As Minister of Environment from March 1987 to December 1992, Ralph Klein envisioned a community where everyone was working together to make a better province,” says Joshua Buck, communications and outreach coordinator at AEF. “This vision contributed to the establishment in December 1991, of the Alberta Emerald Foundation as an independent charitable organization. The Ministry of Environment along with two other partners, McLennan Ross LLP and Deloitte & Touche Chartered Accountants, came together to establish the Alberta Emerald Foundation that would celebrate Alberta’s environmental leaders and encourage action from others. The inaugural Emerald Award event was held in June of 1992.”

AEF’s programs focus on following Klein’s vision of recognizing, celebrating and inspiring environmental excellence in Alberta. Buck explains, “Our biggest active programs are the annual Emerald Awards, which recog-

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

nize the best environmental initiatives from all levels of Alberta; the Emerald Days program brings a forum for environmental organizations and businesses to showcase their work to their local community; and finally our Youth Environmental Engagement program, which last year provided funding to projects that involved 77,000 youth from around the province, helping to create a new generation of inspired and environmentally aware youths.”

The Emerald Awards honours those working tirelessly to ensure the Alberta we leave behind will sustain future generations. Recognizing the movers and shakers in the environmental sector and telling their stories is how AEF inspires future generations. The recipients are selected from a panel of 10 independent judges. Deliberation lasts two days to determine the recipient (winner) of each category.

The Edmonton Area Land Trust (EALT) was nominated in the not-for-profit category in 2012, and won in that category in 2013. “To say we were all thrilled would be a

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

HONOURING THOSE THAT HONOUR OUR ENVIRONMENT

LEFT: AT GREEN SCHOOL, THE CLASSROOM IS OUTSIDE YEAR ROUND. MIDDLE: EAGERNESS TO CATCH CRITTERS LEADS TO AMAZING DISCOVERIES IN THE POND. RIGHT: STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DIRECTLY ENGAGE WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT, THIS CHILD IS HOLDING A LEECH. THE PHOTOS BY PAUL SWANSON.

complete understatement!” laughs EALT executive director Pamela Wight.

The EALT is a nature conservancy dedicated to upholding the Edmonton region’s conservation values and preserving its natural beauty. “We conserve ecologically significant land by accepting donations of land or arranging protective notations on the land, which are called conservation easements,” explains Wight.

Long-term residents of Edmonton and greater Edmonton will remember the dramatic development that took place in the 1990s. Sixteen percent of Edmonton’s natural areas vanished between 1995 and 2005. As the vanishing

Where organizations meet their match for beverage container recycling.

And I pick up the empties

green spaces were affecting quality of life as well as natural resources and wildlife habitats, the City of Edmonton, along with a number of local organizations, banded together to support conservation efforts. In 2007, EALT was founded by the City of Edmonton, Edmonton Community Foundation, Urban Development Institute – Greater Edmonton Chapter, Edmonton Nature Club, Legacy Lands Conservations Society and Land Stewardship Centre.

“EALT’s active projects continue to increase in proportion to our success in securing lands, Wight says. “We have acquired six properties in the region and are working on finalising a conservation easement in Edmonton to pro-

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LoveToRecycle.ca matches organizations that want to recycle their beverage containers with the many compatible recycling resources and services available in Alberta.

Find your perfect partner or sign up to be a Pick Up Service at:

- Jorge Campusano Calgary Drop-In Centre

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

43

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

HONOURING THOSE THAT HONOUR OUR ENVIRONMENT

EMERALD AWARD RECIPIENTS ROB & LORETTA SCHAUFELE WITH PAST MAYOR STEPHEN MANDEL AT THE 22ND EMERALD AWARDS IN EDMONTON ON JUNE 6, 2013.

vide an additional level of protection and stewardship on a creekland in the city. Almost all EALT’s active projects relate to stewarding our properties. EALT has also teamed up with an Emerald Award winning small business, The Carbon Farmer, to restore forests on our lands. They have now planted hundreds of thousands of native trees on our lands to restore previously degraded or cleared forests. We also worked with Enbridge, who provided volunteers to help on a tree planting day, to enable us to further leverage a grant.”

EALT has many projects and collaborations on the go, but that doesn’t mean they overlook the importance of utilizing Alberta’s rich natural resources. “Keeping some areas natural is a good way to offset the use of natural resources that takes place in other areas,” says Wight. “[Conservation] helps to create the kind of diverse and vibrant city region that makes the Edmonton region an attractive and healthy place in which to live, work, and play!”

Last year’s Emerald Award winner in the category of Education: School or Classroom was Green School & Kids in the Garden. “I was honoured with the nomination, but I was shocked and humbled with the win. I fully believe that we are only a small piece of the puzzle. The event itself encouraged my heart that there are many individuals doing

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

their bit to better this province and its people,” says Deb Greiner, Green School coordinator at the University of Alberta Devonian Botanic Garden.

Green School is a full-day, week-long program. The students arrive on site every day for a week to experience unplugged time in nature. The effects of observing and focusing on the natural world extend into all aspects of the children’s lives. “Perhaps I could summarize things with this quote from Bradley Miller,” smiles Greiner. “‘Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar.’”

Greiner continues, “The teachers see changes in students and these things affect the class as they return indoors. Just recently, one teacher remarked, ‘I was amazed at how many students started to notice details of plants, animal tracks, and patterns in the natural world.’ Kids learn very well outside and some teachers are motivated to continue to take the classroom outside, no matter the weather.”

One example of how Green School positively affects the students is seen in the story of a grade four boy whose mobility, and motivation to strive for increased mobility, was severely lacking. “I love to have the kids choose one tree to journal by,” explains Greiner. “I had to select his for

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

HONOURING THOSE THAT HONOUR OUR ENVIRONMENT

It is no secret that Alberta is driven by the resources that literally come out of the ground, but both the industries that extract these resources and the organizations that champion green practices have one thing in common – both sectors see environmental stewardship as a priority and a responsibility. him not too far down the path. I was afraid for him. That was unwarranted because by Thursday, with all the treks through the forests and gardens, this boy was running. He ran ahead of me and came back. I saw that boy when his class came back a half year later for a picnic. He had grown and changed. It wasn’t me, it was the fresh air and activity. I cannot predict how this trip will affect his future, but I can see the change the week made on him.”

Like Wight, Greiner’s respect for the environment extends to the natural resources that power Alberta’s economy. “We have many opportunities because of our industries, both in agriculture and oil, but we have many challenges as well. The trick is to develop a sensitivity of our impact on the world around us. If one is amazed by the world around, somehow one will develop habits that will protect or create new ways to coexist with the world.”

It is no secret that Alberta is driven by the resources that literally come out of the ground, but both the industries that extract these resources and the organizations that champion green practices have one thing in common – both sectors see environmental stewardship as a priority and a responsibility.

“The role of environmental stewardship is important in Alberta where a large portion of our economy is derived from natural resource development,” concludes Buck.

“Stewardship is something that every member of our society can play a role in to ensure that Alberta continues to grow in a sustainable manner. At the Alberta Emerald Foundation, we get to see firsthand the stewardship efforts from all levels of Alberta, starting from individuals at home all the way up to the large corporations and government initiatives who are developing and implementing profound changes in how business is conducted in Alberta.” BIE

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www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

45

GOLF BUSINESS GOLFING FOR A CAUSE

Golfing FOR A CAUSE

BY RECHELL MCDONALD

H

ave you ever wondered how some charitable organizations manage to make ends meet? Here we take a look at the important relationship between big business and local charities.

A strong business means a strong community. It is a symbiotic relationship which is absolutely necessary for both to thrive. A healthy business will provide jobs and a disposable income that can be reinvested into the community and its businesses. However, it’s not all about the give-and-take for most businesses. A healthy business is much more than just a functional piece of the community puzzle. It is an entity with the potential and power to bring about real change.

Have you ever noticed the important relationships that form between businesses and charities? Almost every successful business you can imagine has an ongoing bond with one or more charities in their community. Whether the business is participating in regular events that benefit the charity, donating directly or running an event themselves, it is one of the most positive epidemics of kindness that every community enjoys.

For years, one of the most popular ways to attract donors and raise funds has been through golf tournaments. Surprisingly, many of these golf tournaments aren’t headed by the charitable organization itself, but rather a business.

The Motor Dealer’s Association of Alberta (MDA) is one such business. For the last 29 years they have run their Charity Golf Classic, the results of which have totaled $5.5 million to date.

“New car dealers in Alberta are great sponsors for a variety of charities,” explains Denis Ducharme, president of the MDA. “The automotive industry has always given back

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

to their communities and as a result, a number of charities have benefited.”

While we can only imagine the multitude of charities each individual car dealership may sponsor, the MDA itself has always focused on one specific organization, an organization that touches the lives of millions of Canadians – Special Olympics Alberta.

The MDA Charity Golf Classic has been held in Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary – all with great success. It all began with the idea that provincial dealer associations nationwide should choose a charity to support. Murray Koch and a group of dealers across the province were responsible for spearheading the project and getting it off the ground. What made them choose Special Olympics? In the end it all boiled down to just how many people within the organization were touched somehow, either through families or friends, by those with disabilities. Koch had a particular passion for the cause as he knew an employee who had a child affected by a disability, as well as some family members of other dealers. This knowledge made him more effective in his pursuit of success.

Ducharme and the MDA are passionate about their choice and efforts to support Special Olympics Alberta, particularly because of how many people they can help through this worthy organization. “We truly believe the tournament has made a big difference for Special Olympics Alberta. We know that the funds we have raised have helped approximately 3,500 athletes and families right here in Alberta. The average year raises approximately $225,000-$250,000 towards these sponsorships.”

And Special Olympics Alberta feels the same way about it.

“The MDA is a big reason why we are here today,”

GOLF BUSINESS GOLFING FOR A CAUSE

admits the president and CEO of Special Olympics Alberta, John Byrne.

“We cannot define our MDA partnership purely through the dollars it has raised. The relationship was founded on the auto dealer’s connection to, and leadership within, their community. The belief they have shown in our athletes has helped build communities and create champions within both of our organizations.”

The impact that the MDA has had on Special Olympics Alberta, and vice versa, is truly inspiring. The Special Olympics is a critical organization for many Canadian families, and it works very hard within communities across the country to build strength in its athletes. While any charity is grateful for whatever contributions the government can give, most organizations rely on donor dollars to function. As MDA has shown repeatedly over the decades, most companies are happy and willing to assist with collecting donations. “We receive only 10 per cent of funding from the government, making our partnerships critical to our ongoing growth, which helps us reach new athletes and communities each day,” say Byrne as he extols the virtues of businesses like the MDA. The pride that both of these organizations have for one another is evident when discussing their longstanding bond, and Byrne couldn’t be more grateful than he is with his closing remarks.

“Thirty years ago they made a conscious effort to invest in their community and make bold statement about their support of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Since its inception, the MDA Charity Classic has played a critical role in providing financial stability for Special Olympics Alberta.”

The relationship between the MDA and Special Olympics Alberta is just one great example of how businesses support their communities, but this certainly isn’t the only example.

Driving Force, an Edmonton staple in the automotive industry, is another big contributor to causes throughout the city. Similar to the MDA, Driving Force has held a charity golf tourna-

AL HAMILTON SPEAKING WITH ROD PHILLIPS HALL OF FAME BROADCASTER AND OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE OILERS FOR 30 YEARS.

ment since 2002, with the proceeds being earmarked for a variety of worthwhile causes.

“Driving Force has been the lead sponsor of the “modern era” golf fundraiser for the Edmonton West Rotary Club since 2002, supporting the many charitable projects of Rotary both locally and internationally,” says John Blimke, vice president of sales and marketing, while explaining that the current tournament has adapted over the last decade. Currently called the Al Hamilton & Friends Golf Classic, after the first captain of the Edmonton Oilers, it was originally the Jamie Salé, David Pelletier & Friends Golf Classic up

until 2008. Hamilton stepped in to offer his name and support after the original tournament spokespeople, Salé and Pelletier, moved on to other endeavors.

To date the Driving Force tournament has raised over $384,000 for charities, including the World Wide Polio Eradication effort, Stollery Children’s Hospital, Student’s Inner City Lunch program, Air Cadets, McCauley Inner City Rink Project, and the Fort Edmonton Legacy Project (Selkirk Hotel Expansion). Much of their efforts clearly stem from the philosophy that Blimke shared with us, a philosophy of what it means to Driving Force to be a good business.

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

47

GOLF BUSINESS GOLFING FOR A CAUSE

2013 MDA CHARITY CLASSIC COMMITTEE MEMBERS WITH THE WINDSHIELD CHEQUE.

“It’s our philosophy that we must give back to all the communities we do business in. It is part of the DNA of our staff! While this is a high-profile event, it is just one of many community projects and events supported by us.”

It’s easy to get down on big or growing businesses, it’s also communally beneficial to support small and local business; however, sometimes the smallest and most local business can catapult itself into a big business with the right kind of success. Every business started somewhere, after all. The critical thing to remember about any busi-

ness, fledgling or not, is that they contain the potential to commit real change in their communities – and they do, more often than most people realize.

The next time you find yourself in a building such as a library, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra or a local YMCA – look at the walls. What do you see? Business names. Some of those businesses have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars towards programs, expansions and facilities in return for their name etched on a wall. The best part about it is, that’s all they want in return – a simple plaque and a happy, striving community. BIE

As good as it gets... bring all your clubs!

Located at the Edmonton International Airport 780-890-7888 • www.RedTailLanding.com

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

Thinking About Street Lights, Freeway Signs and Electricity So You Never Have To

I

By Mark Kandborg

magine you’re gliding along one of Edmonton’s freeways late at night. What are some things you would have a hard time living without? Street lights and road signs would definitely make the list. What about at home? Electricity, certainly. Yet street lights, road signs and electricity are probably things you rarely think about, if ever. Why is that? Because JATEC thinks about them for you, then gets the job done.

Now that you’re thinking about lights, road signs and electricity, here are some numbers for you to consider. When JATEC recently completed work on a 21 kilometre section of the Anthony Henday, they had moved over a quarter million kilograms of steel, poured nearly 3,000 square metres of concrete, drilled 114 piles more than 1,200 metres into the earth, erected 76 structures and well over 3,000 square metres of signage (enough to cover an NHL hockey rink twice) and brought the whole thing in on time and on budget. After racking up 27,408 man

hours, JATEC’s number of lost time incidents on the project was exactly zero.

The completion of huge projects on time with no time lost to injury or property damage is more than just impressive. It’s JATEC’s signature and a testimony to the company’s commitment to safety in all aspects of the job. “Safety is a huge concern for us,” says JATEC owner Jim Allen, “so we put a lot of our energy into training and teaching to ensure it. The way we see it, safety equals efficiency.” As with all equations, this one works equally well in either direction. Not only does working safely make you more efficient, working efficiently keeps you safer. Over the years, the name JATEC has become synonymous with efficiency.

One very important key to JATEC’s achieving such a high level of efficiency on these big projects has been their ever-increasing ability to ‘self perform’. “It can be difficult to get sub-contractors with the right equipment to the job site when you want them,” Al-

Jatec • 30 Years

Jatec

len explains. They might need pile trucks or big cranes on a Monday, but couldn’t get them until Thursday. “It was really starting to hurt our schedules,” he says. “We needed more control.” The solution? Acquire the equipment and the operators yourself. This means the equipment and operators work for JATEC and no one else. “We’re one of the few construction companies with the ability to self-perform. We don’t have to wait. It’s worked out well.”

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That simple phrase, “it’s worked out well,” is one that Allen could easily apply to just about every aspect of JATEC’s business. He started the company with a friend 30 years ago this month after the two electricians found themselves laid off and looking for work. “It was either get a job or start a company, and there weren’t a lot of jobs,” Allen recalls. So the decision was a fairly easy one. There was only one problem. “We couldn’t pull permits, so we had to hire a master electrician who could. He’d pull the permits and we’d go to work.” From its beginnings working out of a garage in 1984, JATEC now employs more than 130 people.

Much of the company’s success is due to Allen’s focus on working directly with large developers in the

Jatec • 30 Years

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A N N I V E R S A R Y

Jatec

What do you get when you build a company on a culture of mutual respect, learning, safety and efficiency?

In JATEC’s case, you get loyalty from employees and customers, thirty years of continuous growth and a proud business owner.

Jatec • 30 Years

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A N N I V E R S A R Y

city. “You want to get as high up the decision making pyramid as you can,” he says. “You learn a lot more that way. You get to see things. You’re not bidding, you’re negotiating, dealing with the owners. The relationships we’ve developed are built on trust, on years of service. This allows us to put a personal touch on problem solving and I think it’s another thing that sets us apart. It also gives us control of our own destiny.”

If JATEC’s overall efficiency and attention to safety, its ability to self-perform and its familiarity with the top of the decision making pyramid are what sets Allen’s company apart, he believes it’s those 130plus employees that bind it together. “They’ve all got the same idea. Everyone works together. Everyone learns together. They teach each other. We say to our people, train your replacement to be able to sit in your seat, then you can move on to a different seat,” Allen says. “No fear. That’s a big part of the culture that drives our company.”

What do you get when you build a company on a culture of mutual respect, learning, safety and efficiency? In JATEC’s case, you get loyalty from employees and customers, 30 years of continuous growth and a proud business owner. “I sure didn’t see myself running a company of this size when we were working out of that garage,” Allen says. “I’m very proud of our people.”

Here’s to the next 30 years. Happy Anniversary, JATEC!

7224 50th Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2J8 Phone Number: (780) 466-5832 Fax Number: (780) 465-7020 Email Address: info@jatec.ca www.jatec.ca

Macroe

congratulates Jatec on their 30th!

Wishing theM Many years of continued success.

Congratulations to Jatec on their 30 th anniversary!

Nova Pole International Inc. is proud to be the sign structures supplier to Jatec Electric for the Anthony Henday and South East Stoney Trail projects.

Nova Pole International Inc. wishes you continued success.

Toll Free: 1-866-874-8889 • www.novapole.com 4

Jatec • 30 Years

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A N N I V E R S A R Y

H.O. Concrete Supplies Ltd.

Congrats Jatec on 30 Years!

659825 Alberta Ltd. operating as

ARCOM ENTERPRISES

Congratulations Jatec on 30 Years!

Phone: (780) 913-4695 • FAX: (780) 440-9477 email: arcoment@interbaun.com

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Congratulations on 30 years Jatec

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Jatec • 30 Years

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A N N I V E R S A R Y U n d e r g r o u n d C a b l e Te r m i n a t i o n s H i g h a n d Lo w Vo l t a g e A p p l i c a t i o n

Way to go Jatec!

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Congratulations to Jatec on your 30th Anniversary! www.epcortechnologies.com

G Bannerman Contracting Ltd. 406 Lee Ridge Rd, Edmonton AB • 780.953.1084 • 780.469.3730

BYRON INDUSTRIAL SALES INC.

Dragster would like to send our warmest Congratulations to Jatec on their 30th anniversary, a great company with a wonderful group of people.

Proudly Serving the Street-Lighting Industry Since 1991

Congratulations to Jatec on 30 years.

We wish you continued success as you celebrate this important milestone.

836 Millburne Road East Edmonton AB T6K 0G3 780-915-2742

We are proud to be a part of your success!

9726 - 27 Avenue • 780.448.1282 • byronind@telus.net

Congratulates JATEC on its 30 Year Anniversary!

Congratulations Jatec!

Happy anniversary Jim, Dave and team!

Wishing you many more years of success as you celebrate your 30th year in business. #201 8403 Coronet Road NW Edmonton, AB T6E 4N7 Phone: (780) 801-2700 • Fax: (780) 801-2701 info@deseng.ca • deseng.ca

Address: 3515 76 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB Phone: (780) 413-1826

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Jatec • 30 Years

Thursday, June 19 | 6pm | The Sutton Place Hotel Contact us for tickets

Kim Hogan - 780-638-1777 ext. 318 Join us in celebrating Business in Edmonton’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 Edmonton a great city to live and work in.

Business in Edmonton will feature your Leaders of Tomorrow in our July 2014 issue.

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HUMAN RESOURCES INSTITUTE OF ALBERTA

Don Thierman

Taking on the Toughest Renovations for Thirty Years... and Counting

D

By Mark Kandborg

on Thierman, founder and president of Thierman Construction Ltd., has a gift. “I seem to have some kind of knack for estimating, which is actually the most important part of any construction project,” he explains. “If you don’t get the job for the right price it’s an uphill battle from that point on, which is where people start cutting corners.” Thierman points out that a lot of companies neglect to put the emphasis on the estimate, thinking it’s not as important as project management. “But the fact is, if the job is bid too low it won’t matter what you do as a project manager. You’re not going to make the profit you bid.”

Before starting his own company in 1984, Thierman bid on contracts for his former employer. “We bid on all kinds of projects, but the kind of jobs I’d end up getting were the renovations.

There’s something about the way I look at it.” This seemingly innate ability to look at a renovation proposal and see exactly what it requires has served Thierman well, and now his com-

pany, Thierman Construction, handles renovations almost exclusively. “The messier, the better,” he says, with a smile. “We’re probably the most competitive renovation company in the city.

If someone puts in a bid that’s any lower, they’re losing money.

So if you want the best value, come to us.”

When Thierman says “the messier, the better,” what he really means is that he likes a challenge. In fact, he and the members of his team embrace it. What kind of a challenge? The large trial court room in the Law Courts building certainly fits the bill, and not just because of the jail cells, the bullet-proof glass and the steel walls, or the fact that the renovation was the only one of its kind in the province. No, there was one particular challenge that stands out in Thierman’s mind as he looks back on it. “The whole thing’s in the basement,” he says. “And nothing would fit in the elevator.”

You might say that the Thierman Construction team has learned a thing or two over the years about overcoming obsta-

Thierman Construction Ltd. | 30 Years

Left: Painting the Forest Heights Gym. Above: East Glen School Window Replacement.

cles to access. Like the time they took on the job of converting a University of Alberta (U of A) gymnasium into a two-story premise. “We had to bring in all of the structural steel, 50-foot steel beams, steel deck, concrete and drywall,” Thierman explains, adding quietly, “through a window.” Makes sense, even if the added level of difficulty boggles the mind a bit. After all, getting 50-foot steel beams up a staircase isn’t exactly an option and even for components where an elevator might be of assistance, a luxury like that wasn’t available until they built one – which they couldn’t do until much of the work had been done.

Clearly, there are some disadvantages to working in and around a structure that’s already been built.

Just as clearly, Don Thierman has learned what it takes to get jobs like these done in the three decades that he’s been in business. One of the keys to his success is insuring that his approach to every project is both flexible and efficient. “We used to be bigger, actually,” he says, “but I found that bigger isn’t necessarily better. You can burn yourself out. Doing 20 jobs at once means project managers who don’t have the focus. With us, you get hands on from the owner.” When you hire his company to do a job, you get Thierman himself running the show with his superintendent, from bid to completion.

That’s focus. That’s attention. That’s Thierman Construction Ltd.

Congratulations Thierman Construction!

1700, 10235 - 101 Street NW Phone: (780) 426-5220 • Fax: (780) 420-6277 • Toll Free: 1-866-212-5220 www.emeryjamieson.com

10353 - 71 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T6E 0W9 Phone: (780) 438-5938 • Fax: (780) 437-7096 www.thiermanconstruction.com

Steel Stud, Drywall, Taping, T-Bar Suspended Ceilings and Masonry

Congratulations Thierman Construction!

We wish you many years of continued success!

15847-116 Ave. Edmonton, Alberta T5M 3W1 Office: 780-756-6101 • Fax: 780-756-6102 northcancontracting.com

Thierman Construction Ltd. | 30 Years

WWW.EDMONTONCHAMBER.COM SECTION TITLE

THE VALUE OF LONG-TERM STRATEGY

BY JAMES CUMMING, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE EDMONTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE @CUMMINGK

JAMES CUMMING

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trategy is important for any business to develop and execute as it grows and improves. My personal experience would be that in the start-up stage, most strategy is more related to short-term objectives, which are more focused on survival and immediate priorities. These strategies are owner driven and are likely not documented. The objectives become longer term, and in some cases documented, as some level of success is achieved and the size of the organization increases.

Experience also tells me that regardless of the size of the business, leadership needs to spend time and effort on longer-term strategies and goals for the business.

It is important to have a long-term goal so that owners, managers, and team members understand what they are reaching for. The goal and strategy may change over time, but it is still important to have a road map. Once a goal is set and strategies are developed, the hard part begins in execution.

I believe most businesses like to develop strategic plans but have greater difficulty with execution. After developing the strategy, many people are back focusing on the day to day and have difficulty taking the time from their busy day to work on the longer-term objectives. In a business, there are tactics to execute strategy while pursuing growth: break it down into manageable time frames, have your team understand their roles, and clearly define your milestones.

The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce believes that the discipline that business has on strategy should also apply to all levels of government. This is why you see that the Edmonton Chamber develops policies and advocates for business to ensure that government at all levels consider both the long-term and short-term priorities of the business community. Government policy should not be just developed with an election cycle in mind. Recent positions we have taken on access to markets, regional governance, red tape reduction and simplified tax structure all have both short-term and long-term implications to our community.

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

Businesses in Edmonton rightfully have the expectation that our region can and will compete on the global stage. To ensure our continued prosperity, our policy makers need to come together to create the framework for a region that is tax competitive, attracts a vibrant workforce and has excellent infrastructure.

How all levels of government work to solve the issues that impact service delivery, infrastructure and costs is a clear opportunity for a long-term strategy. Our recent policy on regional cooperation is an example of encouraging elected officials to look for efficiencies, making sure that we are competitive and efficient on the long-term. Members of the business community are looking for a strategy that has manageable time frames, a team that is focussed on a common goal and clearly defined milestones for our regional growth and development. We appreciate that the City of Edmonton has put effort into a long term vision in The Ways documents.

Businesses in Edmonton rightfully have the expectation that our region can and will compete on the global stage.

To ensure our continued prosperity, our policy makers need to come together to create the framework for a region that is tax competitive, attracts a vibrant workforce and has excellent infrastructure.

I can assure you that the Edmonton Chamber will be a passionate and thoughtful voice on your behalf.

Van Houtte Coffee Services Brews It Right Every Time

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n most cases, a malingering business is bad thing, but for French immigrant Albert-Louis Van Houtte, the demise of his horse importing business led him to seek a career in food retailing. For this, millions of coffee drinkers give thanks. It is difficult to imagine a world in which Van Houtte® coffee does not exist and for that matter, Van Houtte Coffee Services.

Drawing upon nearly a century of master roasting experience and 30 years of café-bistro experience, Van Houtte Coffee Services has grown to become the largest coffee services network in Canada. Today, Van Houtte Coffee Services provides coffee service to over 50,000 offices across Canada as well as cafeterias, grocery and convenience stores, restaurants and hotels.

As Canada’s leading coffee service provider, Van Houtte Coffee Services has over 30 branches across Canada and serves up more than 1 million cups every day at offices and a variety of business partner locations. So what makes them unique? Van Houtte Coffee Services, a division of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, is a fully integrated coffee service provider. From sourcing beans, to roasting, to manufacturing brewing systems, to distribution and service, Van Houtte Coffee Services is part of the most integrated coffee company in North America. As well, they service a geographical area that covers all major Canadian markets providing total coffee solutions customized for every business need.

Keurig® is synonymous with coffee and Van Houtte Coffee Services was quick to recognize the value of this singlecup brewer. Keurig® took the world by storm in 1998 with its revolutionary idea of brewing a single cup of gourmet coffee without the hassle of grinding, measuring, or having to clean up afterwards. Today, Keurig® is the top singlecup brewing system in North America and Van Houtte Coffee Services is very proud to offer Keurig® commercial brewers to business customers. To compliment this brewing technology, Van Houtte Coffee Services offers over 100 blends of K-Cup® Packs under popular brand names such as Van Houtte®, Timothy’s®, Green Mountain Coffee®, Tully’s®, as well as other well-known K-Cup® brands.

Although Van Houtte Coffee Services is a major player in the provision of coffee services, their success is not at the expense of the people in coffee-growing communities. As

a firm supporter of sustainability, they integrate Fair Trade and eco-friendly initiatives into all of their business practices by offering a wide range of Fair Trade, organic coffees and teas, and single-cup brewers that reduce overall waste. As well, they provide eco-friendly auxiliary products and water filtration systems that help minimize office dependency on employee bottled water consumption.

Today, Van Houtte® coffee can be enjoyed either at home or at work. Contact one of Van Houtte’s Coffee Services experts today to set up a no-hassle coffee program for your business. Any way you enjoy it, it’s always a great cup of coffee.

7620 Yellowhead Trail, Edmonton, AB T5B 1G3 • (780) 474-8551

EVENTS

45th Annual Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

Golf Tournament Texas Scramble Thursday, June 19, 2014 The Quarry Golf Club 945 – 167 Avenue C

8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start $235.00 + GST per golfer

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Network with business leaders and your corporate colleagues at Edmonton’s most prestigious corporate golf tournament event.

Registration fees include 18 holes of championship golf, power carts, full breakfast, a delicious BBQ banquet, plus special gifts and terrific prizes. Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to get “on course” with the best of Edmonton’s business community.

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The Quarry Golf Club is Edmonton's newest top end public golf destination. The latest Les Furber design boasts 27 holes of championship golf ranging in yardages from 5100 yards to 7600 yards, and caters to golfers of all abilities.

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

EDMONTON.COM

ENTREPRENEUR PROFILE: MARY BAILEY, EDMONTON’S ORIGINAL FOODIE

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ith Host Edmonton around the corner, it is a great opportunity to look around Edmonton at some of our home-grown hospitality success stories. Mary Bailey, founder of The Tomato Food and Drink, is someone who has made her mark on Edmonton’s hospitality landscape by sharing the stories of Edmonton’s food scene and local culture.

When it started in 1996, The Tomato Food and Drink, originally The City Palette, was deemed a “rag,” but over the past 16 years, The Tomato has built a reputation for speaking authentically and innovatively about Edmonton’s food scene, and has managed to stay current in a world of first-person bloggers.

“We’re not talking about our opinion — we are talking about a point of view. Our point of view comes from ‘we live in Edmonton.’ It’s a Northern Alberta city; we have

four seasons, we have usually terrible winters and what do we do around food in that community,” says Mary Bailey, The Tomato’s founder.

Bailey was profiling Edmonton’s foodies before bloggers popularized the local food movement. She has written two books on Alberta’s food culture, The Food Lovers Trail Guide to Alberta Volume 1 in 2003 and Volume 2 in 2005, founded Slow Food Edmonton in 2002 and won the Growing Alberta Leadership Award in 2007 for community spirit.

The Tomato started with a narrow demographic of passionate food lovers. “They had wonderful knives. They went to Italy to eat. That was our direct audience,” Bailey says of The Tomato’s first readers. “I would say that’s still our core audience, but that group has grown quite a bit.” www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | April 2014

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EDMONTON.COM

“You pick up a magazine, a glossy on the rack, you pay five, six, sometimes 10 dollars for a food magazine and it’s all about what is happening in New York, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. So all of our wonderful local stories were not being told [16 years ago],” she says. “It’s a little bit better now, but I still don’t feel like they are being told the way we tell them — which is pretty thorough.”

That’s why, despite the financing and press deadline challenges that come with publication, Bailey keeps The Tomato going. Bailey believes it serves a pivotal role in communicating Edmonton’s local culture. “Our food culture isn’t a chain. Our food culture is our local grocery stores, our farmers, and our local, independent restaurants.”

The Tomato’s January 2013 egg issue is the perfect example of the stories the Tomato breaks — they’re innovative; they’re interesting; they’re timely. The egg issue was released when the City of Edmonton was considering whether people should be allowed to keep chickens in their backyard.

“I’m extremely happy with the heritage egg story because we broke that story. It was brand new. No one else even knew about this project. Here are these wonderful people, scientists, doing their job and then all of a sudden someone says ‘look, we don’t think we need you anymore because we don’t really need these old chickens.’ They found a way to make it work and how they made it work was to offer the eggs for sale.”

The Tomato also brings Edmonton foodies together at special events featuring local chefs and farmers, of which Indulgence is the one Bailey is the most proud of. It took a while to hit its stride; at the start, some producers acknowledged that they had never worked with a Canadian farmer and customers complained about the local nature of the dishes. But thirteen years later, the event has a waiting list, and has given a name to local restaurants like Culina and Café de Ville. In addition, Indulgence has

“I’m extremely happy with the heritage egg story because we broke that story. It was brand new. No one else even knew about this project. Here are these wonderful people, scientists, doing their job and then all of a sudden someone says ‘look, we don’t think we need you anymore because we don’t really need these old chickens’. They found a way to make it work and how they made it work was to offer the eggs for sale.” ~ Mary Bailey raised over $200,000 for junior-league children’s charities and over $30,000 for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s culinary bursaries.

Bailey is proud of the role the Tomato has played in evolving Edmonton’s local food scene. “The local movement has been going on for 25 years. In Edmonton, it’s been going on for about five,” she explains. “People are catching up beautifully. We’re just starting to really come into our local colour and culture.”

Bailey will be one of the local experts featured at Host Edmonton from May 22-24, 2014.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR HOST EDMONTON EVENT

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f you are passionate about food, drinks and hosting, get your tickets now to the inaugural Host Edmonton event taking place during May 22-24, 2014. The combined trade, food and educational show is the perfect opportunity for hospitality professionals and home kitchen masters, for whom there is nothing better than the thrill of creating an amazing all-round experience for guests, customers, clients, friends and family.

Top hospitality professionals from Edmonton and across Canada, including Marc Murphy (Chopped), Christine Cushing (Food Network) and Kevin Brauch (Thirsty Traveler), will be in Edmonton to share their experience and expertise in a mix of fun and engaging tastings, sessions

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April 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

and events. If you are passionate about being a good host, whether for five people or 500, Host Edmonton will help you bring your skills to a whole new level.

Tickets are on sale now! For more information, please visit www.hostedmonton.com to sign up for updates, like Host Edmonton on Facebook and follow @HostEdmonton on Twitter.

Be the first to meet Alberta’s

2014 EXPORT CHAMPIONS The Alberta Export Awards are the province’s most prestigious awards, paying tribute to the success and innovative approaches of export companies in Alberta.

JOIN US! May 23, 2014

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Extending across industries and including both rural and urban representation, the awards are a celebration of the contributions exporters have made to both the provincial and national economy.

With over 400 delegates—many of whom hold executive leadership roles—the Alberta Export Awards provide a premier networking opportunity for attendees. Attending this event will allow you and your business to connect with leading and emerging industry decision makers within the Alberta export sector.

AWARD CATEGORIES INCLUDE: Exporter of the Year • Emerging Exporter • Business Studies Student Award • Technology and Media • Services Explorer Manufacturing: Oil & Gas • Agriculture and Consumer Products • Leadership Award • Manufacturing: Other

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