Business in Edmonton - February 2021

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Positive IMPACT:

ELAN MACDONALD’S PLANS FOR HER ROLE AS CHAMBER CHAIR

I NVESTING IN 2021

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EDMONTON CHAMBER SECTION

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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time.

Volume 9 | Number 2

REGULAR COLUMNS

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Do We Take Risks or Try to Eliminate Them?

By John Liston

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What Trump’s Fall, Biden’s Rise May Mean for Manufacturers

By David MacLean

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Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

CONTENTS COVER FEATURE

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Positive Impact: Elan MacDonald’s plans for her role as Chamber chair

By Nerissa McNaughton

ON OUR COVER: ABOVE: EDMONTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S 2021 CHAIR, ELAN MACDONALD. PHOTO SOURCE: EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY INC.

FIND US ONLINE! B US I N E SS I N E DMONTON.COM BUSINESS IN EDMONTON

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STORY TITLE // SECTION

Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time.

Volume 9 | Number 2

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CONTENTS THIS MONTH’S FEATURES

COMPANY PROFILES

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O nsite Blast

Celebrating Business Excellence

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By Bethany Neufeld

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P M Signs

Celebrates 55 Years

Investing in 2021: A Cautiously Optimistic Outlook

Active Ageing: What it Means and How to Achieve it It’s a term that means different things to different people.

Here’s what three senior care professionals have to say.

By Nerissa McNaughton

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Senior Supportive Living Christenson Communities discusses private care and the COVID-19 response model in Alberta

Increased Admission, Digital Classrooms and Transnational Learning How MBA programs are responding to COVID-19

By Bethany Neufeld

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Innovation in Construction Leading the Way to Economic Recovery

By Will Porter

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS David MacLean John Liston

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Nerissa McNaughton Bethany Neufeld Will Porter

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

DO WE TAKE RISKS OR TRY TO ELIMINATE THEM? // JOHN LISTON

Do We Take Risks or Try to Eliminate Them?

BY JOHN LISTON, PRESIDENT, ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP

I

was attending a meeting with my colleague, Ralph, when somebody said to him, “I hear you gamble,” to which Ralph responded, “No, I don’t gamble. I play poker.” With a look of confusion, the inquirer asked, “Aren’t they the same?” Ralph went on to explain the time and energy he has invested in understanding the odds and opportunities associated with playing poker. He knows the risks and chooses which hands to play. Ralph has both lost at the first table and gone on to win an event on the Canadian Poker tour.

Entrepreneurs, by design, are willing to take a risk in exchange for an opportunity. It is inherent in their makeup; they calculate the risk and do everything they can to mitigate it. If their calculations are correct and conditions play out as expected, there is an opportunity to have a gain commensurate with that risk. They also bear the loss of miscalculation and changed conditions. This risk/reward pairing is a fundamental characteristic of a free market economy, and we see it played out every day in an example called the stock market.

Entrepreneurs, these salt-of-the-earth people who had no choice but to make it work, are the people who built Alberta through the 1800s, through our joining Confederation in 1905, and continue to drive our province today. In Alberta the pioneering spirit is in our blood!

As long as we want to progress, as a province, as a country, and as members of the world economy, we need the risktaking entrepreneurs and the environment that encourages them to take the risk in hopes of a potential reward. A recent celebration of the Apollo mission points to this.

In his speech, Kennedy characterized space as a new frontier, invoking the pioneer spirit that dominated North American

“We choose to go to the moon! We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win…..” ~ Excerpt from a speech John F. Kennedy gave before Congress on May 25, 1961

folklore. He infused the speech with a sense of urgency and destiny, and emphasized the freedom enjoyed by Americans to choose their destiny rather than have it chosen for them.

As Albertans, we need to be mindful that the advancements of our future, whether it be renewable energy, artificial intelligence, oil and gas, or blockchain, will be best nurtured in an environment that removes the roadblocks for the risk-taking entrepreneur, and allows them to take us into the future. We will never remove risk completely; government, and its role in society, is to encourage those who take the risks and put in place regulations that still allow progress, while helping mitigate risk while we create a future for us all.

Our kids deserve an entrepreneurial Alberta that has been the underpinning of what so many of us have experienced over the last 115 years!

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // FEBRUARY 2021

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WHAT TRUMP’S FALL, BIDEN’S RISE MAY MEAN FOR MANUFACTURERS // DAVID MACLEAN

What Trump’s Fall, Biden’s Rise May Mean for Manufacturers

BY DAVID MACLEAN

D

ear reader, For the sake of our collective sanity, the following article will make no mention of the pandemic. You’re welcome!

President Donald Trump was no friend of Canadian manufacturers. His unjustified tariffs on steel and aluminum hammered Canadian industry and created investmentsapping uncertainty. His aggressive tax reforms succeeded, to some extent, in drawing investment away from countries like Canada to the United States.

So, President Joe Biden will be welcome news for Edmonton’s vibrant manufacturing sector, right? Well, not necessarily.

One of President Biden’s signature promises is to reverse Trump’s corporate tax reforms. Trump slashed corporate tax rates to 21 per cent. Biden’s plan is to hike it back up to 28 per cent. If he follows through, this will give Canadian manufacturers a bit of an advantage on this one measure.

On the other hand, the United States is Canada’s largest market for manufactured goods and a healthy US economy is generally good for Canadian business.

Biden’s platform also includes a 10 per cent advanceable tax credit for companies on a broad range of investments designed to create manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Things like re-opening closed facilities, re-shoring manufacturing jobs and expanding facilities may qualify for this credit. This may make the US a more attractive place to invest and incentivize US companies to move their Canadian facilities back to the United States. Naturally, this will be balanced against the increase in corporate taxes and other policies. Regardless, the Canadian government may want to match this policy.

Biden promises in his first week in office to enforce the 1933 Buy American Act. Among other things, this will tighten

and expand Buy America rules for public infrastructure projects. He will issue an executive order to ensure American steel, aluminum, and other critical materials are used across federal-funded American infrastructure products while eliminating current loopholes in implementation of the Buy America Act that covers public transportation projects.

The new administration plans to create a new “Made in America” Office within the White House Office of Management and Budget tasked with managing American procurement policy to ensure compliance with Buy American rules. It will review all potential Buy American waivers to ensure compliance with the Administration’s objectives to protect American jobs. The mission of the office will be to create more high-paying American jobs through procurement policy.

This would have major implications for Canadian manufacturers. Ottawa appears to be pushing back by emphasizing the complex supply chain linkages between Canada and the U.S., and how a “Buy American” plan would be unworkable. We wish them luck.

Finally, Biden promises to rescind federal approval for the $8 billion Keystone XL pipeline project. For this reason alone, Biden is bad news for a wide swath of Alberta manufacturers and the Alberta government’s bottom line.

There are plenty of reasons for Edmonton manufacturers to be both optimistic and concerned about the Biden administration. Good riddance to Trump’s disruptive and protectionist trade policies. Biden’s higher taxes and more regulation may make Canada more competitive, but the fate of Keystone XL will dominate Alberta-US relations for months and possibly years to come.

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APP & Associates LLP Provides Niche Service Based on Entrepreneurial Roots APP & Associates LLP Chartered Professional Accountants serves the Edmonton region with a range of services, including business accounting and audit; corporate, personal and estate taxes; financial and estate planning; accounting software implementation; and financial management consulting. In operation since January 1, 2005, APP & Associates LLP has grown consistently over the past 15 years.

“We founded APP on the basis that we wanted to do more for our clients,” says Dwayne Pohranychny, CPA, CA, one of the founding members of the firm. “My fellow (now retired) founding business partner and I were both entrepreneurs involved in other businesses, so we had intensive first-hand knowledge of the specialized services and tax advice entrepreneurs would need. Kristin Bureau, CPA, CA, joined in 2009 and brought her own experience as a business owner as well as an accounting contractor and consultant. She became an associate partner in 2015 and an equity partner in 2018. APP stands out among our competitors because of our niche position, in-depth understanding of business ownership from personal experience, and our ability to be more agile and flexible in assisting our clients.”

“We don’t have a lot of staff turnover,” confirms Pohranychny. “Our clients work with the same people they have always dealt with, not someone new on their file every time. This allows us to have continuity, have strong customer service, and build relationships. Our long-term team enables the agility for which we are known. We started out as nimble and able to adapt rapidly to evolving client situations. That is how we started and that is how we will continue.”

The relationships APP & Associates LLP builds extends to a network of external resources such as legal tax advisors, specialized accounting advisors, and business valuators. “Our resources allow us to serve our clients exceptionally well,” notes Pohranychny.

Bureau adds, “Part of showing respect and value to our clients while building long-term relationships is our ability to be firm and honest while remaining professional at all times. “We never shy away from being very honest with our clients, even when that means sharing news they may not want to hear. We keep our clients advised about all the accounting and tax issues that affect their business so changes and adjustments can be made – changes that can profoundly impact the success of the company.”

The firm remains on the forefront of its industry by investing in training and professional development – over and above what is required to maintain their professional standards.

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Innovate Edmonton Names Catherine Warren as New Chief Executive Officer Innovate Edmonton’s board of directors has recruited media-tech, investment and entrepreneurial powerhouse Catherine Warren as its new CEO. Warren’s comprehensive understanding of digital and sustainable economies, longstanding service to major Canadian innovation funds and leadership in top startup ecosystems will be powerful assets for Innovate Edmonton and its partners.

To champion innovation in Edmonton, Edmonton’s City Council approved Innovate Edmonton’s formation and confirmed $5 million in annual funding, following an extensive community consultation.

“This pandemic has stressed that innovation and diversification will be essential to building a more resilient economy. I’m glad Innovate Edmonton has selected an entrepreneurial CEO with a global approach to join our community. Thanks to the board’s efforts, we welcome Catherine as a convener and change-maker in this new role,” said Mayor Don Iveson.

Warren reports to the chair of Innovate Edmonton’s independent board of prominent business and investment stakeholders. Chosen in a competitive national search, she brings to the table an extensive international network and distinguished career contributions to Canada’s business, finance, academic and community-engagement ecosystems.

Moving ahead, Warren will build a team focused on supporting Edmonton’s entrepreneurs, impact businesses, universities, cultural organizations, First Nations and other groups, united in growing Edmonton’s innovation economy and positioning Edmonton on the global stage. To reinforce the city’s climate resilience goals, Innovate Edmonton will also help companies making significant advances in clean energy, decarbonization, and green buildings. Additionally, it will support many others engaged in the resource economy’s “just transition,” where no opportunities are left unchecked.

“I am incredibly honoured to join a community of experimentalists, thinkers and disruptors as we take on the world’s greatest innovation challenges — from health to sustainability to social equality — where Edmonton’s leadership and values shine, and are needed most,” said CEO Warren. “As a start-up and venture catalyst, Innovate

Edmonton is embarking on an exciting trajectory at a pivotal time. I look forward to building collaborative relationships and making real gains together for innovation across all sectors and communities.”

Living and working in Canada, the US, UK and Europe, Warren has served as a C-suite executive for publiclytraded companies, academic institutions and governmentbusiness enterprises. Most recently, as chief executive officer of Vancouver Economic Commission, she led the team in attracting $3 billion in foreign direct investment to the region, with a portfolio including the Vancouver Film Commission, the world’s largest animation and visual effects sector, smart cities technologies such as AI, 5G and quantum computing and the green and impact economies. In more than two decades as a tech advisor, Warren’s track record includes mergers and acquisitions for digital distribution and digital IP, raising capital and liquidity events for tech companies, consulting to national media funds, hedge funds, crowdfunds and coaching executives on strategic growth and monetization. Earlier in her career, she was the startup COO of a broadcast software company that she and her partners took to the Nasdaq and grew to a $300 million market cap.

Warren has a bachelor’s degree in physics from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, with a focus on climate change, and a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York, where she did her original thesis work onsite at MIT covering the launch of its digital Media Lab. ABOVE: CATHERINE WARREN, INNOVATE EDMONTON, CEO.

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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NAIT Instructor, Alumni Named to Alberta Trades Hall of Fame A Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) instructor and a pair of alumni were among the inaugural inductees into the Alberta Trades Hall of Fame for their exceptional contributions to advancing the skilled trades, and to supporting the success of others.

The Dec. 1 virtual ceremony honoured Heavy Equipment Technology instructor Bobby Haraba and alumni Herman Bruin (Plumber/Gasfitter ’70, Steamfitter ’73) and Doug Golosky (Welder ’65, Bachelor of Business Administration Hon. ’15) for their contributions to the success and growth of the skilled trades and apprenticeship training.

Haraba has taught at NAIT for more than 20 years and has been a driving force behind the inclusion of heavy equipment technology in skills competitions at Skills Alberta-Canada and WorldSkills. In an interview for his hall of fame induction, he credited such competitions for changing perceptions about the skilled trades.

Bruin was recognized after a 50-year career that includes starting his family’s business, Bruin’s Plumbing in Red Deer, and his leadership in industry training and safety.

He helped launch the Alberta Safety Construction Association, which he once chaired, and served on boards for Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training, Workers’ Compensation Board, among others.

After 20 years of working for others, Golosky and his wife Carol founded Clearwater Welding & Fabricating Ltd. in 1984. His business ventures expanded to include eight companies that now employ more than 1,000 skilled tradespeople in the Wood Buffalo region. Golosky, whose grandmother was Cree, would turn one of those companies into an initiative called Lynco Eagle, a First Nations and Métis partnership that provides training and employment for Aboriginal peoples in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Two NAIT honorary degree recipients were also recognized: Eric Newell (Engineering Technology ’00) and JudyLynn Archer (Construction Management Technology ’06). Archer

was also a member of NAIT’s Board of Governors from 2015-17.

“It’s inspiring to see these individuals who have all made amazing contributions to Alberta’s skilled trades being recognized with an Alberta Trades Hall of Fame induction.

I was taken aback by their dedication and passion for their trades. So many of them were also connected to NAIT, highlighting how important NAIT and its devoted staff is to the province’s skilled trades. Congratulations to all of the recipients,” said Matthew Lindberg, dean of NAIT’s School of Skilled Trades.

NAIT is a leading Canadian polytechnic, delivering education in science, technology and the environment; business; health and skilled trades. With nearly 34,000 credit and non-credit students and a 98 per cent employer satisfaction rate, NAIT grads are essential to the provincial economy. NAIT also contributes to Alberta’s prosperity by helping business and industry become more competitive with Industry Solutions offered through its Productivity and Innovation Centre, including technology adoption, business and product innovation and industry-driven research. Recognized as one of Alberta’s top employers, NAIT provides outstanding returns on investment for its graduates, partners, the provincial government and the people of Alberta.

ABOVE: NAIT HEAVY EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN INSTRUCTOR, BOBBY HARABA - NAIT.

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

INVESTING IN 2021: A CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK // INVESTING

INVESTING IN 2021 A CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK

BY BETHANY NEUFELD

W

hile we may have left 2020 behind us, the impacts of the global health pandemic linger. The year was marked by rounds of public health orders, business closures, and economic stagnation for many. As we enter into the new year, many (if not all) of us are looking for the silver lining, or any sliver of good news really.

As explained by Keith Reading, director of research at Morguard, investors are approaching 2021 with cautious optimism.

“Investors are looking for some degree of certainty in an uncertain environment. To some extent, investors are still concerned about the economic outlook, as we’ve been hearing we’re not out of the woods yet, so they’re looking for stability.

They’re looking to maximize their return on investment. At the same time, investors have become more risk-averse with

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the unfolding of the pandemic and have looked to real estate as a relatively low-risk investment alternative.”

After a year of unyielding economic strain, it should come as no surprise that many investors are taking a conservative approach to investing. While the arrival of the vaccine in Canada signals the first step past the COVID-19 haze, there is still much work to be done and while industries rebuild, investors will be looking for stability.

“What are the most likely sources of stable returns? Blue chip or AAA rated companies offer a higher probability of stable performance. Investors will prefer investing in companies that are financially secure and those that are going to be around after the pandemic. Typically, investing in the most secure premium assets tends to be more expensive. Depending on an investor’s risk profile, however, they may also want to take

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INVESTING IN 2021: A CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK // INVESTING

a portion of their investment portfolio and take a position in some riskier investments,” Reading notes. “Perhaps in the past they had a portion in riskier or growth assets, but I think the share in those types of investments will be lower until the global economic picture improves significantly.”

Reading continues, “In 2021, I think a lot of investors will be somewhat hesitant initially, but toward the end of the year when the vaccine has been distributed to the masses and the global economy is on more solid footing, that’s when we will see investors take on more risk. There are opportunities that could be considered contrarian in 2021, but of course investing in these assets comes with higher levels of risk and I’m not sure investors are thrilled about taking on more risk at this time.”

The beginning of 2021 may be off to a sluggish start, but financial experts are forecasting more activity as we head toward the end of the year. Echoing Reading’s insights on the role the vaccine will play on national and international economies, Todd Coleman, vice president & market leader of BMO Private Wealth, shares a brighter outlook for the tail end of the year.

“While none of us will soon forget 2020, we’re cautiously optimistic about the prospects for economic recovery in 2021.

COVID-19 vaccines are starting to be deployed across the country, we’ve learned more about the virus, and any ongoing restrictions will likely have less negative impact through more targeted economic shutdowns,” Coleman explains. “A lot of our optimism rests on a smooth global rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, and this could have significant distribution challenges that may make the timing of mass vaccinations uncertain. That’s why we’re expecting brighter economic prospects in the second half of 2021 and into 2022 when we can return to normal activities like social gatherings, attending sporting events, travel, restaurant dining, and so on.”

With consideration to the global health pandemic’s unpredictable nature and long-term impacts on industries throughout the country, confidence in financial markets remains unsettled; however, within the turbulent landscape is also opportunity for those who seek it.

Coleman explains, “Downturns like we’ve experienced in 2020 may shake people’s confidence in the financial markets, but

READING CONTINUES, “IN 2021, I THINK A LOT OF INVESTORS WILL BE SOMEWHAT HESITANT INITIALLY, BUT TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR WHEN THE VACCINE HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO THE MASSES AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IS ON MORE SOLID FOOTING, THAT’S WHEN WE WILL SEE INVESTORS TAKE ON MORE RISK.” that volatility can also create tremendous opportunities for brave investors. Many of our successful clients recognize this as a great time to double down on their investment portfolios with smart moves, because a lot of solutions in the financial market are essentially ‘on sale’ at times like this.”

While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, Coleman shares a few key considerations for prospective investors looking to make the most of 2021.

“First, be patient because this recovery will take time. And speaking of that, don’t try to time the recovery. None of us ABOVE: KEITH READING, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT MORGUARD.

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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INVESTING IN 2021: A CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK // INVESTING

have a crystal ball, and the best strategy is almost always to stay invested because you might miss out if your money is sitting on the sidelines while the markets are moving. The other thing I’d like to add is that even though the markets like the certainty of US government stability coming from the November election, Canadian oil and gas production could be challenged if President Joe Biden follows through

on his campaign promises. Diversification is even more important for Albertans in this backdrop.”

After the year that was 2020, risky investments may not be enticing for investors but there are opportunities for those with the appetite. If there is anything we can take from last year and carry forward with us, it is a recognition of the importance of planning ahead and having a safety net in place.

Maximizing Savings with a TFSA With 2020 being a year of unprecedented economic strain due to the global health pandemic, many Albertans have found themselves holding their wallets a little closer and a lot tighter. The economic impacts of COVID-19 have Albertans reassessing their personal savings and looking to banking opportunities such as the Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA).

According to BMO’s annual TFSA survey, approximately 68 per cent of Canadians have a TFSA, a figure on the rise across the country. As Nicole Ow, director & head, term investments, BMO Financial Group, explains, regional numbers tell a similar story unfolding in the prairies with 67 percent of Albertans utilizing TFSAs. “Across the country, the findings stayed fairly consistent with the national average. The popularity speaks to the flexibility of the TFSA, as it provides a great option for both short and long-term savers,” Ow says. “The biggest advantage with a TFSA is that the money invested in it grows tax-free. Another nice perk is that, when withdrawing the money invested in the TFSA, you also don’t pay taxes – unlike with the RRSP.” While more than half of Albertans have a TFSA in their financial portfolio, Ow notes not everyone is making the most out of their account when it comes to diversifying holdings. In addition to cash, TFSAs can also hold stocks, mutual funds, guaranteed investment certificates (GICs), bonds, and exchange traded funds (ETFs). One of the greatest qualities of a TFSA is its versatility.

Ow continues, “The flexibility of the TFSA makes it an ideal choice for more uncertain economic times. More than ever, 2020 has highlighted the importance of maintaining a savings plan to build rainy day funds or invest for longerterm goals, and a TFSA is the right vehicle for these

scenarios – giving Canadians the flexibility to contribute and withdraw as needed.”

Albertans over the age of 18 not yet invested in a TFSA can start the process by contacting a financial institution, credit union, or insurance company (issuer). If planning out your savings seems intimidating, take solace in knowing there are financial advisors to help you navigate the process.

“COVID has put a lot of downward pressure on Canadians’ finances, but it’s encouraging to see the resiliency of Canadians when it comes to their savings. It’s important to remember saving isn’t something that has to be done on your own – lean on different resources to help. Financial planners are a great resource that can be tapped into to help with building a tailored financial plan, and there are a lot of great online resources as well – either available from your financial institution or from third parties.”

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

POSITIVE IMPACT // COVER

Positive IMPACT: ELAN MACDONALD’S PLANS FOR HER ROLE AS CHAMBER CHAIR

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

E

dmonton Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 chair is Elan MacDonald and she’s perfectly poised, thanks to being a visionary with a wealth of in-depth business experience, to help the Chamber evolve to embrace a rapidly changing world.

With more than 130 years of service, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce is one of the oldest business organizations of its kind in Canada. It represents more than 1,900 members who, in turn, employ more than 100,000 people across all industry sectors. The Chamber’s mandate is to help businesses grow through advocacy, education, and connections.

The foundations of what the Chamber stands for have remained firm over time but, as MacDonald knows and is taking head-on as a challenge during her time as chair, those very foundations could impede future growth. She’s not going to let that happen.

MacDonald began her career in government and spent the first 15 years advising cabinet ministers, two premiers and shaping public policy direction.

“What struck me all along was the need for translation,” she says, “as I met with private sector companies and other organizations trying to explain to the government what they were looking for, be it policy change, funding, etc. I spent time advising them on how to be successful in aligning their requests with governments’ goals.”

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // FEBRUARY 2021

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POSITIVE IMPACT // COVER

Realizing the need for this service, she decided to start her own company, IMPACT Consulting.

“I started at home in my basement, pregnant and a mother to toddler twins,” she smiles. “We grew quickly year over year, a fact of which I’m very proud. We had a diversity of clients from not-for-profit, to the health sector, energy companies and those in the post secondary sphere. I grew familiar with their challenges, their work, and their issues.”

This work with post secondary institutions would later play a big role in a massive career opportunity, but before that opportunity came along, she sold her firm.

“I sold IMPACT Consulting two years later to Global Public Affairs,” says MacDonald, who would go on to work with the organization as the senior vice president, national client development. “The industry evolved and clients’ needs were becoming increasingly complex, often requiring a national approach. My choice was to grow my firm or join a wellestablished firm with an existing national footprint that shared my values. So, my team at IMPACT joined Global Public Affairs, where I worked to grow our Alberta presence and lead national business development. I greatly enjoyed the challenge and as throughout my career, I loved the direct interaction with my clients.”

Then she was approached about the University of Alberta (U of A) who was looking for a new vice president of external affairs.

“I wasn’t looking for a new role but when I was approached about the U of A position, I was intrigued,” admits MacDonald. I am impressed by the vision of President Bill Flanagan for the University of Tomorrow and the U of A’s desire and commitment to transformation that will fundamentally change the way the university operates. It will be leaner, more student focussed and connected to the community and industry.

I found the challenge to be incredibly exciting. To be a part of this type of change… these opportunities don’t come along that often. I thought, ‘I can help and this is something I want to contribute to!’”

Throughout her career trajectory, from employee to employer and now as the U of A’s vice president of external relations, there has been one factor that underscored it all: the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

“I STARTED AT HOME IN MY BASEMENT, PREGNANT AND A MOTHER TO TODDLER TWINS,” SHE SMILES. “WE GREW QUICKLY YEAR OVER YEAR, A FACT OF WHICH I’M VERY PROUD. WE HAD A DIVERSITY OF CLIENTS FROM NOT-FOR-PROFIT, TO THE HEALTH SECTOR, ENERGY COMPANIES AND THOSE IN THE POST SECONDARY SPHERE. I GREW FAMILIAR WITH THEIR CHALLENGES, THEIR WORK, AND THEIR ISSUES.” “I was drawn to the Edmonton Chamber because of my ongoing desire to help businesses,” says MacDonald. “I feel like I have done that my whole career from inside government or with my own firm. From being an entrepreneur and building my own company, I understand how hard it is to build a brand through good and challenging times. I had a lot of mentors along the way and a lot of people that helped me. I also made my share of mistakes. I wanted to share those experiences with others, and this is what the Chamber enables. It provides a community to share ideas and advocate for the right conditions for job creation and business growth. I bring business experience, but I also bring political acumen and knowledge of how policies are developed to the table.”

MacDonald sat on the Edmonton Chamber’s policy and government relations committees. “There is a strong connection between the two, so it made sense for me to be on both,” she explains. “There is often a direct tie between policies that can help or hinder business and the levels of government that creates them. Understanding this and how to navigate government is part of the value I bring to the Chamber.”

Although the Edmonton Chamber has been helping grow businesses for more than a century, MacDonald knows that

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POSITIVE IMPACT // COVER

in order to continue it’s important work, its time for things to change.

“During my role as board chair, my biggest challenge will be helping the Chamber maintain relevancy. We are watching our business community evolve rapidly, in response to the triple whammy of the economic downturn, drop in energy prices, and the pandemic. Everyone has had to evolve and change; the ability of the Chamber to meet members where they are now is the challenge. How do we connect with this newest generation of business leaders and what makes them feel connected to an organization like ours?

What can we do to ensure we are interesting and relevant to them; for example, for those companies in our region’s rapidly emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and machine learning? Edmonton has a competitive advantage; how do we as a Chamber help to capitalize on it?

“I’ve long been an advocate in ensuring we are relevant in the startup and innovation space. A year ago, the Chamber put together a round table to talk to innovators in tech. I was invited to sit in on the meeting. There were about 12 people in the room. It was a mix of new entrepreneurs that hadn’t participated in this type of policy conversation and others were more established entrepreneurs. The interaction was incredible. What became clear to me is the incredible talent and entrepreneurial minds we have in this space in our region. In terms of outcomes, this was just one of many ongoing conversations. The opportunities and the barriers to growth this group identified have informed our meetings with cabinet ministers and the chambers policy positions.”

MacDonald continues, “New, established, and emerging industries are all facing a lot of uncertainty and the Chamber needs to support them with ideas and a voice that speaks to all levels of government. It’s going to be a challenging year ahead for the entire region; we need to come together and leverage all our partnerships and ideas.”

She is more than ready to meet the challenge and take the Chamber, and all its members, in a new, fresh, and positive direction. MacDonald knows her previous work with government and policy will be critical.

“Advocacy is one of the Chamber’s most important roles,” she points out. “The Chamber has the ability to be a

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

single, strong voice with direct access to all three levels of government. We have strong partnerships there and we are very fortunate to have a great president and CEO in Janet Riopel who has the ability to put these collective thoughts forward to government in a clear and concise way.”

Despite the disruption by the pandemic, the Chamber has been working harder than ever on behalf of its members and the business community. During the summer of 2020, the Chamber called on a diverse group of 200 people representing businesses in all sectors, from new to established, tech to manufacturing, corporate to non-profit, and everything in between. The Chamber asked the group to identify their greatest strengths and challenges.

“We received some of our most widespread engagement to date,” says MacDonald. “A lot of businesses said they felt helpless and unheard, especially when faced with COVID-19 restrictions. From this interaction we developed recommendations for all levels of government. Our report and these recommendations are vitally important, and we need to push for them to be implemented. This is just one way that the Chamber will continue to assist the business community during, and after, COVID-19.”

MacDonald arrives as Chamber chair at a crucial point, not to mention a turning point in the history of how Edmontonians do business, and she can’t wait to make an impact.

“I’m excited to come in at a time when I think we are starting to see hope. I’m looking forward to helping businesses with the recovery process. It’s a critical time for Edmonton and our region. I will work with our board and the Chamber staff to support our members’ economic recovery with advocacy and policy. Our board will work to grow our membership and ensure the Chamber remains relevant for the new and emerging sectors. I will continue to support diversity and inclusion on our board and in the business community.”

In her personal and professional life MacDonald has always been a strong supporter of community initiatives; giving back is another value of the Chamber that aligns with her goals.

“Through COVID-19 the Chamber has made significant efforts to support any and every charity in the city because the Chamber recognises that non-profits have a high need, just

// COVER

like the businesses. We have programs planned to continue and enhance this support. I’m very proud of this.”

If MacDonald could tell the business community one thing, it would be this: “If you are a small business owner and stretched for resources, know that the Chamber is a resource.

The Chamber has great insights, programs and networking, more than many people are aware of. The networking is not just about growing your business but being around other entrepreneurs and having peer support. We are really known for our advocacy but less known for the relationships we build. The Edmonton Chamber is part of the greater Edmonton Region Chambers of Commerce (GERCC).

We are connected with all the regional Chambers so we can collaborate and advocate to the levels of government together. The more we can do together, the better.”

Becoming the Chamber chair is one step in a long and successful career, and MacDonald couldn’t be happier about her chance to continue to inspire lasting change in the Edmonton region.

“I came from rural Alberta but have lived in Edmonton longer than anywhere else. I moved here for my first real job at the Alberta legislature and I fell in love with the city. I married my husband who was born and raised here, and this is where we are bringing up our children. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I love the river valley, the culture, the entrepreneurial spirit and the sense of community. I love the community connections and the opportunities to give back.

“In terms of the Chamber, I enjoy continuing to evolve to meet businesses where they are. I understand and value the necessity of that. As our economy evolves, we need to understand how things are changing, and be there to meet new sectors and help them grow. As chair, my desire is to do this while continuing to strengthen relationships with other entities in the city like Edmonton Global, post secondary institutions, Invest Alberta, and the new Edmonton Economic Development Corporation.”

Few people have the chance to be at the forefront of a massive change, but MacDonald comes equipped, ready, and willing to lead the charge and boldly take the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce into a new era.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // FEBRUARY 2021

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ACTIVE AGEING: WHAT IT MEANS AND HOW TO ACHIEVE IT // SENIOR LIVING

Active Ageing: WHAT IT MEANS AND HOW TO ACHIEVE IT

IT’S A TERM THAT MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. HERE’S WHAT THREE SENIOR CARE PROFESSIONALS HAVE TO SAY.

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

A

lberta’s senior population is booming. As of March 2020, seniors were the province’s fastest growing demographic with 640,000 over the age of 65.

Within the next two decades, that number is expected to double. Today’s seniors are healthier than ever and living longer. Study after study points to the benefits of being active. What does this mean for our ageing population?

Three experts in senior care weigh in.

Dawn Harsch, RN, BScN, MBA is the founder, owner and operator of ExquisiCare where home/family style living is offered in three local facilities. ExquisiCare provides longterm care under a very special model; each home is located in a residential community and the seniors integrate, as much as possible, in the community. Each has their own bathroom and bedroom and can participate in meals served at a family-style table. For Harsch, this model allows the senior to best maintain their sense of normalcy and independence while getting the assistance they may need with the Acts of Daily Living (ADLs: ambulating, feeding, dressing, hygiene, continence, toileting).

“The benefit to our model is connecting seniors to existing communities,” explains Harsch. “When we were building our Cameron Heights location, I got a call from the president of the community league. I thought they were calling to complain but it was the exact opposite! They called to say

PHOTO SOURCE: CDL

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

ACTIVE AGEING: WHAT IT MEANS AND HOW TO ACHIEVE IT // SENIOR LIVING

“HEALTH LEADERS AND INNOVATORS ARE SAYING THAT THEY LOVE THE MODEL AND SEE INTEGRATING SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY AS A WAY FOR THOSE SENIORS TO REMAIN ACTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, SAYS HARSCH. “TO ME, ACTIVE ADULT LIVING IS CONTINUING TO VALUE SENIORS, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR HISTORY.” how happy they were to be welcoming us to Cameron Heights. They wanted to offer us a garden plot. They saw benefits to having seniors in their community for the younger people and children to be able to see and talk to the seniors and learn from them.”

for many years, inspired us to want to walk beside families so they could have family time instead of mainly being a caregiver. We created Serving Hands to help share the load,” says Thiessen of the company she co-founded with her husband Allen in 2016.

This integrative model has attracted interest across Alberta and in Ontario.

Serving Hands’ in-home care includes personal care (shower assists, daily medicine, etc.), companionship (playing games, watching TV together, etc.), light housekeeping, laundry,

“Health leaders and innovators are saying that they love the model and see integrating seniors in the community as a way for those seniors to remain active members of society, says Harsch. “To me, active adult living is continuing to value seniors, their contributions, their knowledge and their history.”

While some seniors move to facilities for long-term assistance, others age in place at home. For Tamra Thiessen, co-founder and owner/operator of Serving Hands Senior Care, active living is closely tied to physical mobility.

Thiessen opened the business after seeing her father-in-law struggle with Parkinson’s and dementia.

“We saw the impact on the family, and especially on my mother-in-law.

This, along with the experience we went through when my dad had a quadruple bypass as a senior, and my mom’s struggle with depression

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ACTIVE AGEING: WHAT IT MEANS AND HOW TO ACHIEVE IT // SENIOR LIVING

linen changes, meal prep, and assistance with shopping. In addition to these, the team helps its clients remain active by taking them for outdoor walks and (pre-COVID) taking them to the Tri Leisure Centre during the winter for indoor walks on the track.

“A big part of why we work to keep them active is to have seniors stay safe at home with their partners and pets for as long as possible. They can lose a lot of their independence when they move into a facility.” Thiessen continues, “When we think of active seniors, in our context, we try to keep them physically active as long and as safely possible. This is so they can maintain their mobility because when they lose mobility, they lose even more independence and freedom.”

Christenson Communities encourages active aging, living well and lifelong learning through scheduled and non-scheduled activities such as culinary arts, music therapy, dance, yoga, cardio, balance training, strength training, games night, movie nights, wellness seminars, quilting/knitting clubs, happy hours, morning coffee talks, educational seminars, and a wide variety of other social events.

“One of the challenges with COVID is that lots of places are closed,” says Thiessen, but that doesn’t stop them from helping their clients stay active. “Some of the ways we work within the COVID restrictions is by using different tools, like the Cubii®, and assisting seniors in doing simple movements like sit-to-stand and range-of-motion exercises in their own homes. The Cubii® is like a little pedal bike that you can put on the floor to work your legs, or on a table to work the arms.

This helps to keep the blood flowing and muscles moving.”

“Our team works diligently at developing ongoing social outlets, activities and programs to provide our residents with engagement in our communities,” says Christenson. “Several programs have continued but have moved to digital versions.

Other recreational activities have been adjusted to ensure we are practising physical distancing. Some of the more recent programs have been made possible through a private channel where residents can log in and view live streamed events, shows and activities.”

Thiessen is pleased to see that most seniors take their fitness and wellbeing seriously and do their best to stay healthy, mobile and strong. However, age does mean having to adapt when needed.

Streaming and distanced entertainment includes in-suite exercise classes, courtyard concerts/balcony bashes, social distanced dance parties and birthday celebrations, hallway bingo and tea at a distance.

“There are things that happen, and you have to live with the outcome,” she cautions. “Sometimes a fall cannot be avoided; if you need tools like a walker to get around safely, use the walker. Another good and valuable thing is to ask for help.

Let your family love you. We rob people of blessings when we need help but do not ask. Just as you love your children, let your children love you.”

There have also been surprise deliveries to the door of our residents’ suites, virtual church services, scheduled one-on-one assistance with video calls with family, virtual singalongs, brain teasers and word game sessions, digital crib tournaments, virtual spiritual stories, special occasion celebrations and more.

Christenson Communities provides independent and supportive living across Alberta. For Christenson Communities, the opportunity to be social plays a big part in active senior living.

Greg Christenson, president and co-owner, Christenson Group of Companies, notes, “We recognize the importance

32

of community and having the option and resources for a social outlet, which is why our communities include a combination of the following amenities: large bright common spaces, party/social rooms, theatres, sewing/ craft rooms, fitness rooms, a woodworking shop, salons, communal dining rooms.”

FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

Aging is a part of life and when we are active throughout our lives, our physical and mental health are better as we head into our latter years. To be an active senior, one must remain connected to your community, prioritize fitness and mobility, and ensure social interactions are maintained – even if at a distance. With providers like ExquisiCare, Serving Hands Senior Care, and Christenson Communities, there are options and assistance for happy, healthy senior years.

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PRIVATE CARE AND THE COVID-19 RESPONSE MODEL IN ALBERTA // SENIOR SUPPORTIVE LIVING

Christenson Communities Discusses Private Care and the COVID-19 Response Model in Alberta

W

hile no one disputes the current need for lockdowns, particularly those targeted on protecting seniors and those with comorbidities, Christenson Communities feels lockdowns cannot be the only strategy and points out that prevention, mental health, and reducing depression are also of high importance and need attention during these times. Long-term care (LTC) and designated supportive living (DSL) beds definitely need heightened protocols, but independent living seniors, adult condominiums, and rental apartments must also balance quality of life alongside medical models of protection.

Suggestions around using empty hotels and using publicly funded private surgeries for isolation are common and sensible options.

“I just want to bring to everyone’s attention that a better alternative is available: using vacant purpose-built seniors’ apartments, ultimately reducing pressure on hospitals. We

need to use all available resources, both staff and buildings, with a balanced COVID-19 and quality-of-life strategy and outcomes as our common priority. We all need to work together,” says Greg Christenson, president, co-owner, Christenson Group of Companies “Christenson Communities currently has over 150 new and nearly-new residential units designed for aging in place, in communities with attractive areas for isolation (and socialization when appropriate), on-site meals or in-suite kitchens, balconies or patios and 24-hour on-site care available,” continues Greg. “These buildings have fire sprinklers and two-hour concrete block fire walls to provide horizontal egress and staged evacuation from upper floors for persons with limited mobility. Many are B2 longterm care treatment occupancy, or B3-assisted living care occupancy in the Alberta Building and Fire Codes. These residential homes and communities have more space per resident, better ventilation and better ability to isolate when ABOVE: NURSING TEAM AT GLASTONBURY.

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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PRIVATE CARE AND THE COVID-19 RESPONSE MODEL IN ALBERTA // SENIOR SUPPORTIVE LIVING

HE CONCLUDES, “ALBERTA NEEDS TO LEVERAGE ALL RESOURCES TO MEET THESE TYPES OF URGENT CHALLENGES, BOTH NOW, IN THE SHORT TERM, OVER THE LONGER TERM AND IN THE FUTURE, AS DEMAND FOR MORE CHOICE AND ALTERNATIVES IN SENIORS CARE IS GROWING.” Christenson Communities has controlled and managed each case that has developed with the utmost attention to detail.

“We continue to navigate our way through these unprecedented times and move forward with confidence in our knowledgeable and skilled team,” confirms Greg. “We are following all guidelines under the provincial health authority and have implemented our own additional precautions in all of our communities. As a local company, deeply rooted and invested in the province, we continue to ensure our residents receive comfort, attentive care, and enhanced safety while maintaining a high quality of life. While eliminating and minimizing COVID-19 cases is something we strive for, our residents and their families take peace of mind in knowing that if and when cases are identified, our team is there to support and protect the residents and staff.” compared to many institutional long-term care facilities or acute care hospitals.”

Greg further notes, “Our communities experienced great results from March to October during the pandemic where no positive tests and no deaths were present among our 1,200 residents and 400+ professional staff. After October, cases and or symptoms have developed organically in some of our communities, although we do have communities across the province that have not seen a case to date.”

He concludes, “Alberta needs to leverage all resources to meet these types of urgent challenges, both now, in the short term, over the longer term and in the future, as demand for more choice and alternatives in seniors care is growing.

Residential models are proving to be both more appealing to seniors and their families, safer than institutional models and offer greater choice overall.”

The Christenson Communities pandemic response can be viewed at: https://www.cdlhomes.com/covid19/response

PHOTO SOURCE: CDL

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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INCREASED ADMISSION, DIGITAL CLASSROOMS AND TRANSNATIONAL LEARNING // EDUCATION MBA

INCREASED ADMISSION, DIGITAL CLASSROOMS AND TRANSNATIONAL LEARNING: HOW MBA PROGRAMS ARE RESPONDING TO COVID-19

BY BETHANY NEUFELD

F

rom online meetings to physical distancing, COVID-19 has changed the everyday routine of many across the province. For most students, the global health pandemic has meant switching to fully virtual curriculums. While students may not be heading into classrooms or touring campus, that hasn’t stopped eager learners from applying to Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs.

For the University of Alberta, applications for Alberta School of Business’ MBA programs saw a fairly large increase in fall 2020 according to the senior director of the Master’s Programs Office, Chris Lynch. The increase was concentrated amongst Canadian students looking at full or part-time MBA programs while international admissions decreased with students abroad deferring their studies.

“While the pandemic has impacted everyone, the impact is quite varied. For those who have been lucky enough to continue working and found themselves with more free time, education is a great way to put that free time to use. For those who have found themselves out of work, downtimes in the economy are an ideal time to retrain or upskill,” Lynch explains. “The opportunity cost of being out of the workforce is lower during a downtime than it would be when the economy is going strong, and you will be well prepared to re-enter the workforce in a new role.”

Like many programs around the province, the Alberta School of Business has shifted the majority of courses to online delivery. In some cases, classes have made the move to fully asynchronous models, allowing students to

“THE OPPORTUNITY COST OF BEING OUT OF THE WORKFORCE IS LOWER DURING A DOWNTIME THAN IT WOULD BE WHEN THE ECONOMY IS GOING STRONG, AND YOU WILL BE WELL PREPARED TO RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE IN A NEW ROLE,” LYNCH EXPLAINS. progress through the course without the need to follow the usual lecture schedule.

Lynch continues, “The pandemic has also greatly impacted the student experience outside of the classroom. Traditional

ABOVE: CHRIS LYNCH, SENIOR DIRECTOR, MASTER’S PROGRAMS OFFICE, ALBERTA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA.

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INCREASED ADMISSION, DIGITAL CLASSROOMS AND TRANSNATIONAL LEARNING // EDUCATION MBA

experiential learning opportunities have moved online where possible and we have tried to include opportunities for students to interact and build relationships with their peers in the program. However, things certainly looked very different in 2020 than they had in previous years.”

The University of Alberta isn’t alone in seeing an increase in admissions for MBA programs. As explained by Martin Halek, PhD, associate dean of Graduate Professional Programs at the University of Calgary, higher than normal admission rates come as no surprise.

“Anytime there is significant disruption or shock to the economy, there tends to be an uptick in MBA applications as people look to invest in themselves in order to upskill or reskill.”

Heading back to the classroom comes with a number of benefits for learners and pandemic or no pandemic, MBA programs continue to provide a nuanced business education for current and prospective industry leaders.

“One of the main benefits of obtaining an MBA in this environment is that students are truly experiencing and navigating this environment in real time as opposed to simply observing from the sidelines. While some aspects

of the economy should and will return to pre-COVID operations, other parts of the economy will not, as they will adapt efficiencies learned during the pandemic,” Halek explains. “Organizations will benefit from employees who have these adaptable skills; who are capable of getting the job done whether it requires physically being in the office or home or somewhere in between.”

With the global health pandemic, programs have had to adjust not only the delivery of content, but also the delivery of cocurricular and outside-the-classroom learning opportunities, which are key to the MBA experience. Though adjusting to virtual programming comes with its own challenges for both instructors and students, the digital academic environment has its own unique benefits to bring to the table.

“Another significant benefit is the flexibility in learning opportunities. Guest speakers from around the world are becoming common practice in many courses. Further, students can choose where to be when attending synchronous learning activities and can choose when to engage in asynchronous learning activities.”

Western programs aren’t the only ones experiencing increased admissions. Business schools to the east report a similar trend

ABOVE: TRSM BUILDING – RYERSON UNIVERSITY.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // FEBRUARY 2021

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INCREASED ADMISSION, DIGITAL CLASSROOMS AND TRANSNATIONAL LEARNING // EDUCATION MBA

with MBA admissions on the upswing. Donna Smith, graduate program director of MBA Programs at the Ryerson University Ted Rogers School of Management, provides insight into their own school’s latest admission figures.

“Despite COVID-19 and the challenges faced by the program and students, the Ted Rogers MBA program received a 32 per cent increase in domestic applications this year compared to the previous. The program also noticed an increase this year in students choosing to pursue their studies on a fulltime basis versus part-time.”

Navigating academic learning during a global health pandemic is certainly no small task. Like their Albertan counterparts, the Ted Rogers MBA program has shifted to online learning and alternative methods for curriculum delivery.

Smith explains, “In a typical year, our students benefit from in-person events where they meet employers, alumni and business leaders. This year, the program is hosting a series of career-related workshops and webinars, as well as fireside chats with our alumni to discuss the changing workplace.

Recruitment sessions with our industry partners are also being offered online.”

The global health pandemic has turned a number of industries and programs on their heads. Between public health orders and gathering restrictions, the in-person learning environment and networking aspect of MBA programs has required fine-tuning. As Smith shares, the updated curriculum has been molded to resonate with students living, studying, and working in the COVID-19 environment.

“There are many exciting initiatives being integrated into the virtual classroom space. Students will work on live consulting projects with companies around the world, connecting with their executive teams virtually. We will have executives from across Canada come into the classroom virtually as guest speakers,” Smith says. “Students also have an opportunity to hone their soft skills through live actor simulations in our leadership course virtually.”

The shift to virtual learning environments connects learners to industry leaders around the country and beyond.

Universities are honing in on the digital doors being opened

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

by the move to online learning environments. For the Ted Rogers School of Management, this is showcased by the development of a Conference & Case competition engaging schools around North America. For some Canadian students, the digital classroom has created rich opportunities including employment offers from beyond national borders.

“The benefit of getting your MBA during the current environment is you can now be exposed to the world, and through virtual delivery it’s easier to connect to the world and global companies through global guest speakers. People are now getting hired in different countries than they live in! We have a couple examples of this in our MBA program – students living in Canada, hired by companies in different countries – and the opportunities are growing,” Smith says.

“We have seen that virtual delivery can have benefits and some aspects are here to stay.”

In addition to creating a global learning environment, the program has introduced mental health and wellbeing as a program centrepiece. As the Ted Rogers MBA curriculum illustrates, incorporating workplace wellbeing and social responsibility into academic learning is essential for training future leaders.

“Leading for performance and wellbeing is central to the new Ted Rogers MBA curriculum, as we believe these skills are important to succeed in today’s business world. The principle is driven by four themes: diversity, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship guided by ethical corporate governance, socially responsible decision-making and stewardship of the environment,” Smith says. “With the impact of COVID on individuals’ wellbeing and the workplace, the focus on these themes is more relevant than ever.”

While COVID-19 may have forced the syllabus to move online, MBA programs around the country are finding innovative ways to provide learners with high quality academic programming. Though virtual learning comes with its own challenges and no shortage of calls to tech support, the increased concentration on transprovincial and even transnational learning provides students with transferable skills they will be able to carry with them into the future world of business.

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INNOVATION IN CONSTRUCTION LEADING THE WAY TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY // CONSTRUCTION

INNOVATION IN CONSTRUCTION LEADING THE WAY TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY

BY WILL PORTER

T

he world may have changed in the last year with the outbreak of COVID-19, but as always, business must continue in order to keep the world going. Industries have adjusted, and innovation has been at the forefront to adapt to the new situations, whether it is ensuring the safety of employees and implementing remote work, to being able to cope with changes in operational techniques and streamlining to handle less employees in one place.

Architecture and DIALOG known as FRAMEWORK Design Partners (FRAMEWORK) in order to ensure support for the renewal of government research facilities across the country.

The potentially CAD$100 million contract will assist in designing architecture, engineering and laboratories. As well, over the next five years FRAMEWORK will help develop functional programming, develop laboratory standards and concept designs for federal research and laboratory facilities.

Edmonton has always been at the forefront of innovation in many industries, and during the COVID-19 era it has stepped up to the plate in a strong way. Many construction companies within Edmonton have developed new innovative techniques or have taken existing techniques and deployed them to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and better manage assets and time. As well, companies within Edmonton, the government of Alberta, and the government of Canada have all invested in diversifying and renewing Canada’s facilities and industries in a significant manner.

Speaking on the new contract Leonard Castro, Stantec’s executive vice president for buildings said in a recent press release, “As a global leader committed to sustainable design that positively impacts the communities around us, this transformational program allows our team to support the evolution of science for the next generation. This team of design partners has previously collaborated on 25 projects and brings an extensive pool of resources to achieve Canada’s goals.”

The government of Canada recently awarded a contract to the joint venture of Canadian design firms Stantec, Merrick

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This funding for FRAMEWORK is just a small portion of the CA$2.8 billion commitment by the government for an enterprise-wide portfolio to reinvigorate federal science in

INNOVATION IN CONSTRUCTION LEADING THE WAY TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY // CONSTRUCTION

Canada through Laboratories Canada. The goal of the funding is to renew aging science infrastructure through innovative delivery models to create modern platforms supporting sustainable scientific and research program delivery.

PCL Construction, working in concert with WZMH Architects and Citizen Care Pods Corporation, have been collaborating with Insight Enterprises and Microsoft to create a new, innovative project that allows for fast and remote deployment of COVID-19 testing pods. The project, called Citizen Care Pods, retrofits 20-foot by 40-foot shipping containers and outfits them with customizable health care modules in order to create a pod that is capable of rapid delivery and installation for testing for COVID-19 practically anywhere. Each container includes four to 10 testing stations for healthcare workers to administer testing to patients with proper distancing protocols in place. Testing can be done on patients outside of the pod, while the test interpretation work is done within the pod. Each pod is equipped with hand sanitizer for those outside and inside.

solution that can be rapidly deployed to support the safe reopening of our economy.”

Citizen Care Pods can be deployed on any job site easily, and one of the key innovations in Edmonton that is helping keep the construction industry on track, while ensuring the health safety of essential workers. The pods can be customized to the needs of the company deploying them, with additional intelligent technologies available, such as AI-powered cameras that ensure distancing and mask policies are being followed, and minimize contact between health care workers and patients for minimum transmission potential and maximum peace of mind. Eventually Citizen Care Pods are expected to be deployed for vaccination purposes at a massive scale.

In the city of Edmonton, throughout the pandemic construction has still been going strong, and a building

Through the use of advanced technologies such as PCL’s Job Site Insights™ platform (powered

by Microsoft Azure) healthcare workers can monitor wait times and ensure proper distancing among patients waiting in line, as well as monitor climate conditions within the pod such as temperature, pressure and humidity.

From PCL Construction, Kelly Wallace, vice president and district manager explains, “At PCL, we anticipate challenges and are proactive in developing solutions that make construction safer, more efficient and more sustainable. The Citizen Care Pod’s modular construction and integrated technology make it a sustainable, plug-and-play

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // FEBRUARY 2021

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INNOVATION IN CONSTRUCTION LEADING THE WAY TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY // CONSTRUCTION

project by the Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) has been showing how recent innovations even before the pandemic have been essential for the continued progress of the industry. Beginning in 2019, the EPSB started construction on a new facility, Dr. Anne Anderson School, for grade 10 to 12 students. The school is named after a well-known linguist, teacher and writer of the Cree language. The school is expected to be completed in early 2021 and ready for opening in the fall 2021 school year, and because of its deployment of the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) model, it was able to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic without affecting the construction timeframe; in fact, the project is a few months ahead of schedule.

The IPD model* is an innovative new way to deliver construction projects that is beneficial to all those involved.

Darryl Wiebe, president of KERR Interior Systems Ltd., the drywall and steel-stud acoustic ceiling contractors on the project said, “At a normal job, where you bid on the project, everybody and every subtrade in general are butting heads because we want to protect our own profit and we want to be as fast as we can be.”

Wiebe continues, “In an IPD project, it’s just a very different approach where we do what is best for the project. It might cost me more money, but it might save somebody else more than what it is costing me. It’s better for the project, and at the end of the day we are all going to make more money.”

The IPD method has been heavily used in the US but is relatively new to the Canadian construction scene. Aaron Corser, senior project manager with Clark Builders, mentions that it’s highly collaborative, and requires a lot of trust among all the companies and contractors involved on the project, and must be embraced by the owner in full.

“It’s fun. As a team, you consult the team’s problems,” says Corser. “People quite often will say ‘we did it this way once and it worked, or we tried this on another project.’ It’s quite a lot of fun; very little of the command-and-control type of approach to either solving problems or just purely managing and executing the work.”

While on the administrative side, IPD results in a lot of extra time consuming management with everybody sharing all their information at the same time, but as companies get used to this new style through experience the shortfalls will quickly fade away.

Innovation has always been the key to advancing in all industries, and while the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into a lot of business forecasts, innovation from many Edmonton companies ensures that economic recovery is around the corner, leading to stronger and more resilient industries for tomorrow. *Information and quotes regarding the IPD provided by Edmonton Construction Association.

ABOVE: CITIZEN CARE POD. PHOTO SOURCE: PCL

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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Looking Ahead to Brighter Days

2021 Board of Directors Board Executive

Chair: Elan MacDonald Vice President (External Relations), University of Alberta Vice Chair: Jeffrey Sundquist Chief Executive Officer, EDC Environmental Group of Companies Inc. Secretary-Treasurer: Craig Thorkelsson Head of Tax, PCL Constructors Inc. Past Chair: Bryan DeNeve Senior Vice President, Business Development and Commercial Services, Capital Power Janet M. Riopel President & CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

Board Directors

Haydar Al Dahhan President and CEO, Design Works Engineering Aziz Bootwala Managing Principal, Edmonton, Vice President, Business Development, Kasian Architecture Interior Design & Planning Ltd. Nathan Carter Vice President, Operations Audit, ATCO Sandy Jacobson Vice President, Richardson Executive Search Annemarie Petrov President and CEO, Francis Winspear Centre for Music Jason Pincock CEO, DynaLIFE Medical Labs Dennis R. Schmidt Principal, ALTURA Legal Advisory

Edmonton Chamber Executive

Scott Channon Director, Marketing and Communications Brent Francis Director, Advocacy and Outreach Christen Rumbles Director, Finance

By Janet M. Riopel, President & CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

A

s vaccines roll-out across the country, we are finally able to see a postCOVID future clearly on the horizon, and take stock of the impacts we’ve seen to date. Businesses have seen significant revenue losses, extensive layoffs, and—in the worst cases—some have had no choice but to make the brutally difficult decision to close their doors permanently. We cancelled group activities, worked remotely, and closed our homes to the outside world. Many of us experienced our first, and hopefully last, virtual Christmas.

The pandemic exposed the weaknesses and deepening divisions within our society.

Our political discourse has become an exercise in talking past one another, instead of talking together. We need to urgently address the growing homelessness crisis and social disorder on our streets.

We have so much to be proud of! We’ve been overjoyed to see so many step-up and help each other over the past year—whether through mentoring, providing advice, or just giving a hand up to someone in need. The end of COVID may be in sight, but we know that we can’t simply go back to the way things were before. We must work together to build a stronger society—with more tolerance, understanding, compassion and opportunity for all.

We have so many opportunities on our horizon. Edmonton is becoming a global hub for transportation and logistics. We have incredible natural resources that can be developed responsibly and ethically. Our crops feed us here at home, and fill hungry bellies around the world. We have the expertise to weave artificial intelligence throughout all of these to best advantage and maximize efficiency and effectiveness.

We have so much to look forward to. Albertans have made it through tough challenges before, and we’ll do it again thanks to our entrepreneurial “can do” attitude. We’ve demonstrated the compassion and determination needed to take care of each other and build our community—we must continue to carry these virtues forward in a post-pandemic landscape.

I truly believe that we’re only just getting started on realizing our true potential.

But we can’t do it alone. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that when we work together, nothing is impossible.

Amin Samji Director, Member Services Kevin Thomas Director, Operations

Contact

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce #600 – 9990 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 1P7 T: 780.426.4620 | F: 780.424.7946 edmontonchamber.com

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FEBRUARY 2021 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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ARC Business Solutions Inc. Member Profile Gopan Kurup, Director ARC Business Solutions Inc. ww.arcbus.com and www.arcmanagedservices.com What’s your story?

ARC Business Solutions Inc (ARC) is a local, home-grown success story. Started in 1998 by four friends working in IT consulting, ARC has grown over the last 22 years to open offices in Calgary, Regina, Toronto and Nevada with our head office based in Edmonton, Alberta.

We employ a strong team of certified, talented professionals and focus on building relationships with our employees and clients.

We use proven methodologies to deliver IT solutions of the highest quality to both the private and public sectors.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce?

As a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, we can influence policies for Edmonton Business’ and can take advantage of a handful of various networking opportunities.

Also, we are able to put forth concerns and suggestions from small and medium-sized businesses in Alberta.

What is one thing people are surprised to learn about your business?

People are surprised by the vast variety of IT related services that we provide. Additionally, people are often stunned by the long-term relationships we have forged with both clients and staff in this competitive marketplace. In some cases, we have been working with clients for over 20 years as well as internal staff. People are surprised that a company from Edmonton has provided solutions for such a wide range of organizations. From the major banks, CSIS, the Department of Homeland Security in the US, to the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton—we’ve worked on a diverse range of projects for a diverse group of clients. We have a wide variety of clients including pipelines, utilities, private, public, and not-for-profit organizations.

Who is your ideal client?

An individual or business who wants to build a long-term mutually beneficial relationship. Clients who believe in driving technology and business solutions through business needs. Ultimately, we are successful when our clients are successful.

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Gopan Kurup, Director, ARC Business Solutions Inc.

What has been your biggest challenge in business, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge we have faced was the downturn in the local economy. We have overcome a lot of that challenge by diversifying our services, creating recession-proof software products and mobile apps, and growing our offices and client-base outside of Alberta.

What is your favourite thing to do in Edmonton?

Two of Edmonton’s best-kept secrets are the quality of our restaurants, and the number of festivals and events that happen here. A meal at Uccilino, a drink at Woodwork or Red Star, breakfast at Pip, lunch at Farrow, there really is no end to the great options for food we have. We want these businesses to thrive and grow; therefore, as a fellow local business, we believe we have an obligation to support them and keep the restaurant scene resilient. As for festivals, there really is something for everyone to look forward to from the giant ice carvings in the winter to those summer nights sitting on the hill at Folk Festival overlooking the city skyline and everything in between!

If you could make one substantial improvement to Edmonton’s business environment, what would it be?

Our business environment can thrive if we continue to find qualified, quality resources and get them here easier if necessary. Also, while this movement is gaining momentum, continue to encourage local businesses to support local businesses. We all thrive when everyone is successful!

Darrin St. Pierre & Devin Formaniuk.

Photo by Rebecca Lippiatt

“We strive to exceed customer expectations and alleviate any stress regarding corrosion protection.

Our customers, our people, our future – together.”

50

ONSITE BLAST CELEBRATES A STRONG START AND SUSTAINED GROWTH

By Nerissa McNaughton

O

nsite Blast combines technology, innovation and experience to help prevent equipment and asset corrosion in the commercial and industrial sectors. Services include abrasive blasting, coatings (including underground coatings), spray foam insulating, sealing and painting for industrial, energy and water service providers; commercial and infrastructure facilitates; and for concrete sidewalks, driveways, barriers and bridges. Services are offered throughout northern and western Canada. Work is guaranteed and coatings are third-party inspected.

The company was founded by Devin Formaniuk, CEO and Darrin St. Pierre, COO in 2017.

“We founded Onsite Blast after working at a competitor’s facility,” says Formaniuk. “We both felt there were better ways to operate and room for growth towards customer service, so we ventured out on our own.”

Formaniuk and St. Pierre’s vision was accurate; Onsite Blast landed its first major project just two months after incorporating.

“Since then we have been involved in multiple projects including coating services for the IPPL PDH project, YVR expansion, and DOW Chemical expansions. We are also involved in abrasive blasting all the concrete for ICE District including the logo outside the Ford Hall, as well as Jasper Avenue streetscapes. We are heavily involved in coating services for all major energy companies,” says Formaniuk. “We emphasize customer satisfaction as being extremely instrumental in our continued growth. We are easy to deal with and believe open communication is the best recipe for success. This, complimented with our outstanding safety record and high quality control processes, positions us to be a proven and trusted partner with our customers.”

It was this safety record and outstanding reputation of Onsite Blast that lead to the company being awarded a contract to provide coating services on the heaviest vessel to cross Alberta’s highways for the propane dehydrogenation (PDH) project.

Although the current pandemic and economic situation are challenging, Onsite Blast is pleased to sustain growth while giving back to the community.

Formaniuk explains, “We started Onsite Blast in the middle of a recession on one acre of land and in two small Quonsets. Within three years we grew into a 30,000 square foot facility on three and a half acres.

We have two blast and paint plants; both are 65’ x 200’. Our plants are equipped with overhead cranes, make up air units, fire suppressant and dust collection systems. Both plants have been inspected and approved for coating use by an engineer.

We are proud and humbled to have been able to grow the business and increase our service offerings while still in a recession, and now dealing with a global pandemic.”

He continues, “We are also proud of our extremely strong team who are able to lead themselves without any micromanaging, and of our safety record, which is currently at zero incidents. We have been carrying a zero incident rating since we opened in 2017.”

Formaniuk and St. Pierre are grateful to, “every person, company, and supplier that has supported us through this journey. They have all been instrumental in our success and we share this with them. We are only as strong as the customers and employees who believe in Onsite Blast.”

They look forward to continued growth and expansion into new markets, while developing additional service offerings.

3608 69 AVE NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2V2 587-414-0292

onsiteblast.com

PM Signs Celebrates 55 Years as a leading Canadian Sign Manufacturer and Installer

By Nerissa McNaughton

S

ince 1966 PM Signs has manufactured, installed, and retrofitted letters, pylons, interior and exterior commercial signs across Canada. Wayfinding, decals, branding on skyscrapers, neon, projecting – this company is responsible for some of the most iconic signage coast to coast. Recently PM Signs was awarded the full signage scope for the Premium Outlet Collection, which included the pylons, monuments, wayfinding, tenants, and directories.

“My grandfather, Poul, was an electrician and he started the electrical side of the company first,” says Cody Mathiesen, vice president. “We did all the electrical work for gas stations, which eventually translated into manufacturing their signage.

From there we moved towards other markets and expanded nationwide. Now we are a thirdgeneration family owned and operated company.

We don’t just build signs, we offer full solutions from logo design to the finished installed product.

Everything is manufactured in one of our facilities and we always encourage client collaboration.”

PM Signs prioritizes sourcing from local suppliers and testing all the implements before installation, guaranteeing a high-quality result every time.

c i p E o D

.

T # h S

Award Winning Canadian Digital Agency

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WEB SOCIAL GOOGLE DESIGN VIDEO

#200, 10355 Jasper Ave Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 1Y6 T. 780-475-7545 W. sosmediacorp.com

Cody Mathiesen, vice president, PM Signs.

“Every sign starts at the design department,” explains Mathiesen. “We help guide clients in the best design that will make their logo stand out as a finished product. With the concept phase we show them layouts of how their sign will look during the day, at night and even how the sign will be put together. There is a lot of collaboration with the design and fabrication teams so we can dial in the correct details and come up with cost savings for the client.

“After the design is approved, we finalize the price and go over all the payment options including financing and payment plans. Upon approval we move into the permit process, which is determined by each municipality, zoning or local bylaws. Once we receive an approved permit, we are clear to move the project into production.

“During this process the sign will be built in-house which involves cutting, welding, printing, painting, structural, lighting, and testing. When the sign is complete it is safely loaded onto a trailer and delivered

electrical hookup. From start to end it’s a PM team project and everyone is involved from start to finish!”

PM Signs is agile, changing with the times as customers look for eco-friendly solutions or embrace trends.

Mathiesen adds, “Increasingly, our clients are looking for ways for their signage to stand out in the crowd, as well as environmentally friendly sign solutions. Think LED signs with a retro neon look, solar power to light up your sign, apps that integrate with your sign, digital elements, and more.”

What all started with a young couple who immigrated from Denmark with one truck is now, 55 years later, a thriving corporation with the largest sign vehicle fleet in Western Canada, an employer of more than 100 employees, and an establishment with four locations including one that has just opened in Regina.

to site. Depending on the sign type, the sign is installed into the ground, onto the building, inside an office or even applied to a window. Being that we do full turnkey for each project, we also handle the final

“I attribute our growth to our team. We have some great people with innovative ideas and we try to tap into our staff as a resource and for inspiration wherever possible. I really value each individual’s contribution to keeping us moving forward,” says Mathiesen. “To the team and to our clients, I say a heartfelt thank you.”

PM Signs looks forward to continued growth in 2021 and beyond.

12925-148 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5L 2H9 1.780.454.6490 | www.pmsigns.ca facebook.com/pmsigns linkedin.com/company/pm-signs-ltd

PM Signs Celebrating 55 Years

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