Business in Edmonton - July 2020

JULY 2020 | $3.50 BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

SHIELD CRUSADER: COWAN GRAPHICS HELPS TO SAVE ALBERTANS PM42455512

COWAN GRAPHICS BOUGHT ENOUGH MATERIAL TO MAKE 100,000 FACE SHIELDS. LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LATER THEY HAD SOLD MORE THAN A MILLION.

CONSULTING’S ROLE IN ALBERTA’S PRESENT AND FUTURE

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STORY TITLE // SECTION

Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time.

Volume 8 | Number 7

REGULAR COLUMNS

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Ottawa Needs to Be More Assertive About Agriculture

By Terry O’Flynn

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Industry Needs Transparency from Ottawa on Clean Fuel Standard

By David MacLean

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CONTENTS COVER FEATURE

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hield Crusader: Cowan S Graphics Helps to Save Albertans Cowan Graphics bought enough material to make 100,000 face shields. Less than three weeks later they had sold more than a million.

By Nerissa McNaughton

ON OUR COVER: ABOVE: BLAINE MACMILLAN, PRESIDENT, COWAN GRAPHICS PHOTO SOURCE: EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY INC.

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dmonton Chamber of E Commerce

LIFTBOSS

WHISPERING CEDARS RANCH

L

iftboss Inc. was established in May 2006 by four partners John and Andre Gagnon, Dale Ryan Greir, a full-time powerline technician in Calgary, and wife Beatty and Marc Tougas to be a oneAlta., stop shop Janna, a registered nurse in Chestermere, enjoyneeds. raising their flock of 250 dealership for all material handling Having Rideau Arcott ewesindustry in their spare time. the four partners, worked in the before, pooled all there resources, previous experience Ryan’s passion fordesigned farming developed a young agemodel while heto worked together and a newatbusiness fill the that industry needed. alongmuch side hisneeded great uncleniche Howard withthe horses and cattle.

In 2012 they Liftboss is an Alberta owned operated establishedInc. Whispering Cedars Ranch just 10and minutes east of Strathmore. dealership, offering new and used equipment sales, aThe total department, forklift rentals, of forklift ranchparts is a tribute to the memory and dedication Howard who training, and to perform instilled his trained love for the landcertified and animalsmechanics in Ryan. repairs in shop and service vehicles to handle on site repairs.

Liftboss it’s lamb self and on quick Ryan and Janna’s goalInc. is to prides raise Alberta provide response the industry time to customer’s breakdowns. with healthy and proven purebred replacement breeding stock. They are also excited to be involving their one-year-old son Finnegan.

adding JCB construction equipment in 2017 has been a great addition, and has made Liftboss Inc. even more They are of the Alberta Lambindustry Producersin and work closely with visible inmembers the heavy equipment Alberta. the University of Calgary, as wellhandling as other They will always stay GenOvis, true toFarmWorks, their material organizations to better sheep industry in Canada. roots, but having anthe established and well respected construction line has solidified the fact that Liftboss Ryan found being ato powerline technician Inc. ishas here formany the similarities long haulbetween and ready compete. and rancher.

Whether you are looking for a new machine, a rental, service parts on an existing unit, or simply want “It comesordown to planning ahead and completing a task that can be a very second option on something, give them a call and that dangerous, sometimes during a major storm or other elements they be happy point says youRyan. in the rightcan direction. makeswill it difficult to stayto focused,” “Farming be very similar, As a group, Liftboss Inc. do what do based from the dangers of running various piecesthey of equipment to making on fourerrors coreinvalues: do whatcalculations you say you will in a an critical feed or medication that could cause timely manner; be open and honest; do whatever it animal to die.” takes; and service the customer above all else. As each grows, each is held Jannadepartment naturally has compassion for theteam welfaremember of people and animals. accountable to those principles, their focus She has always had lot of interest in the health of the flock. She uses her isnursing to beknowledge a qualityascompany well as advicethat frompeople the veterinarian to develop are proud work for for.prevention and treatment of ailments in sheep flock health to protocols

Customer service was the reason the company was born, and has captured an impressive share “We put the health and safety of our animals at the forefront,” says Ryan. of business for Liftboss. In the past 3 years, the downturn in thetoAlberta has small definitely The couple decided raise sheepeconomy because of their size and gentle affected the sales comparatively or lambs. nature. Specifically, they activity, raise Rideaubut Arcotts, which were developed at the service and Centre parts inbusiness has in the 1980s. Arcott used the Animal Research Ottawa (Arcott) noticed substantial growth.

The Ryan and Janna are excited to expand their sheep farm and involve several breeds to develop the line which have improved maternal sales team builds portfolios their family. characteristics.

Certain breeds used infor the development include Finnish each client’s service Landrace, Suffolk,needs Dorset, and Shropshire and East Friesen. preferences; this way, they can have “Janna and I would not be successful with sheep if it weren’t for our aThe conversation with a client instead Introducing of construction equipment. extremely helpful and supportive family,” says Ryan. “Even though our improved characteristics include high prolificacy, excellent the future of simplyability, walking them the family isn’t in agriculture, they have been quick mothering increased milkaround production, extended lambing season The new JCB Hydradig is the world’s first wheeled excavator and to support us and eager showroom.

Their clients appreciate to learn what we do. They are always coming to visit and help out.” and the ability to breed out of season. They also excel in crossbreeding tool carrier designed for purpose and built without compromise. the attention and reward them with programs with terminal sire breeds which emphasize meat production.

Travel to—and around—work sites faster than ever, maneuver into repeat business and referrals.

With limited chore time and a young child, the family needed to find a tight spaces with greater apply theofright attachments singleand versatile piece equipment that would take care of all their As their ewes average 250 to 300 per cent lambing, Ryan and Janna love safety, Material handling and forklifts werewhere and continue to be they’re needed. needs. From moving large bales of feed and bedding, building much this truly Canadian breed. a huge part of what Liftboss Inc. has grown from, but accessing pens and clearing snow in the winter, Contact Liftboss JCB for needed more infrastructure, information. their search soon lead to the choice of a compact track loader. With One of the biggest challenges for Ryan and Janna is marketing their sheep. research, JCB stood out as the obvious choice. JCB’s wide tracks, excellent cab visibility and side-entry cab have made their lives much “Everyone has tried lamb once, more often than not, this has been a bad easier, more comfortable and most importantly, safer. experience,” says Ryan. “Sometimes it can be difficult to convince them that our lamb is delicious.”

“The staff at Lift Boss, Calgary have been there whenever we need them; answering our questions, providing maintenance and repairs as needed Ryan and Janna have tried different avenues such as direct marketing, and encouraging us as young entrepreneurs,” says Ryan. private buyers and auctions.

EDMONTON BRANCH 7912 Yellowhead Trail Edmonton, AB (780) 474-9900

CALGARY BRANCH 8010 40 Street SE Calgary, AB (403) 301-0041

LiftbossJCB.com

STORY TITLE // SECTION

Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time.

Volume 8 | Number 7

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THIS MONTH’S FEATURES

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he Never-Ending Saga of the T Keystone XL Pipeline

By Anthony Ladipo

CONTENTS COMPANY PROFILES

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Garden Concrete Celebrates 25 Years

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Consulting’s Role in Alberta’s Present and Future

With consulting on the rise locally and around the globe, three experts weigh in on the present and future of the industry, and how consulting can help your business succeed

By Zachary Edwards

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How the Future of Tech is Changing the Way We Learn

By Jamelie Bachaalani

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Christenson Communities Provides Innovative, Exceptional Care

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JULY 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

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OTTAWA NEEDS TO BE MORE ASSERTIVE ABOUT AGRICULTURE // TERRY O’FLYNN

Ottawa Needs to Be More Assertive About Agriculture

BY TERRY O’FLYNN, CHAIRMAN, ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP

T

he history of our country is rooted in agriculture and is a $7.5 billion dollar industry in Alberta.

Farmers are the ultimate expression of free enterprise entrepreneurs.

If you have ever doubted the importance of our farming community, just look at what happened during the thick of the pandemic. The agriculture sector stepped right in, even when challenges such as access to workers and threats of outbreaks posed real and prevalent dangers. Despite all this, Albertans were able to go to the store and get the meat and produce they needed.

But, while our food supply chain is (thankfully) intact, our entire agriculture sector may be, once again, be taken for granted.

Our agriculture sector has not taken the last few months off. They’ve been challenged, but as they have done throughout the history of our country, they have met the adversity and delivered.

In an age where reality TV is more and more popular, the Prime Minister is playing the role of celebrity more than he has taken the traditional role of Prime Minister. He has spent a large number of weeks working from home, stepping outside daily for press conferences, rather than having a presence in parliament and in the community, unlike some other world leaders. Every day he doles out taxpayer money to different groups, and the federal deficit has ballooned to more than $252 billion. The free flow of cash has been a financial boom for some workers. For example, we’ve seen $9 billion for students. This provides students with $1,250 a month in place of a summer job, and that’s a problem.

Students are ready, willing, and eager to work, but like all

of us, there are bills to be paid. With the added burden of student debt, what seems like the best choice? Work part time hours where they can earn less than $1,250 monthly or keep receiving the benefit as long as possible? It’s not just students faced with this decision. Its everyone that is receiving money while at home.

Yet, in the midst of it all, Trudeau’s Minister of Agriculture told Canadian farmers that they should “make better use of existing support.” Given that our struggling agricultural sector has kept Canadians supplied throughout this unprecedented crisis, don’t they deserve to be spoken to in a less condescending tone? Is this spending really that wise as Ottawa leaves Canadian farmers to fend for themselves?

In this crisis Ottawa relied on our agricultural sector, but it looks like our farmers can’t rely on Ottawa.

The tone needs to change from Ottawa. Our farmers should be respected, and their needs should be considered as important to our government as their sector is to Canadians.

Just as much as the Prime Minister should show up and do his work in parliament, he should show up for our agricultural sector.

Until that time, it’s important for Canadians to lean in to support our farmers. Regardless of where you come from it’s important that everyone remains vocal in support of our farmers. At Alberta Enterprise Group we are “in on Ag!”

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JULY 2020

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INDUSTRY NEEDS TRANSPARENCY FROM OTTAWA ON CLEAN FUEL STANDARD // DAVID MACLEAN

Industry Needs Transparency from Ottawa on Clean Fuel Standard

BY DAVID MACLEAN

I

t’s now clear that we’re facing strong economic head winds as the world re-emerges from the pandemic lockdown.

Getting back to the pre-pandemic “normal” is going to take some time. We need to handle Canada’s economy delicately so we can come out the other side as strong as possible.

That’s why Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters is urging caution as the Federal Government forges ahead with consultations on Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) regulations.

The proposed CFS, following the national carbon price policy, is intended to cut GHG emissions by an additional 30,000 tonnes by 2030 by steering homeowners and industrial facilities toward the use of less carbon-intensive fuels (namely renewables). The regulations will apply to any fuel source – including natural gas, propane, coal, biomass and gasoline.

Specifically, the CFS would force fuel distributors to meet emissions intensity reduction targets for the fuel they sell for credits, which they can then sell to distributors who are unable to meet those targets. Additional costs, naturally, would be passed on to consumers – businesses and individuals.

Here’s the biggest problem – even though the CFS has been discussed and consulted on for several years now, we still don’t know how much this will cost Canadian businesses and their customers, but we do know that it won’t be cheap.

We do know that this is the most significant climate policy since the implementation of the federal carbon tax. Some industry experts estimate that the CFS cost would be equivalent to a $200 per tonne carbon tax (the current price on carbon is $50). And yet, the development of this policy continues to fly under the radar for most Canadians and even some Canadian manufacturers.

Last month in this space we called for a national industrial strategy focusing on international competitiveness. It’s increasingly likely that there will be no speedy recovery from pandemic-related economic malaise. Canadian businesses, including value-added exporters, will be scratching and clawing for market share for years to come.

In March and April, 300,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared, and total hours worked in manufacturing fell by nearly 30 per cent. To make matters worse, manufacturing sales fell by 9.2 per cent in March, while merchandise exports tumbled by 4.7 per cent. These numbers tell the story of a sector that needs stimulus and investment, not additional business costs.

In June, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters wrote Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson calling for exemptions for businesses, clarity on what we are trying to achieve with the policy, and a life-cycle analysis modelling tool, which would help industry determine the carbon intensity of fuels they use. Finally, and most importantly, CME called for a comprehensive economic and regulatory impact analysis for both individuals and industry.

We aren’t suggesting Canada should abandon its climate targets due to the pandemic, but at minimum Canadians deserve to know how much this policy will cost – both financially and in terms of jobs lost to competing countries.

CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS & EXPORTERS (CME) IS THE VOICE OF CANADIAN MANUFACTURING. CME REPRESENTS MORE THAN 2,500 COMPANIES WHO ACCOUNT FOR AN ESTIMATED 82 PER CENT OF MANUFACTURING OUTPUT AND 90 PER CENT OF CANADA’S EXPORTS.

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Tom Sanderson, founder and president of Summit Property Group.

SUMMIT PROPERTY GROUP

Looks to Expand

W

hen life sends us curveballs, sometimes we are able to hit them out of the park. This is true for Tom Sanderson who came out swinging when he moved to Calgary 20 years ago. Ready for a fresh start, he arrived with little more than a duffel bag, an unrivalled work ethic and an openness to whatever came his way.

Within a few months he had created a fledgling company that he and his wife (Adrienne) have now grown to employ a staff of 70 people in Calgary and Edmonton as well as earned, a solid reputation in the industry. As the founder and president of Summit Property Group, Sanderson has carved out a property management niche in government services and is tackling the next stage of his business: franchising to expand the business model nationwide.

Moving to Calgary at 44-years-old, broke and broken, Sanderson says “I had enough business experience and documented successes and failures”. He realized he just couldn’t rely upon one source of income or any one employer. A livelihood must be layered with multiple sources of income to allow proprietors to pull from Peter to pay Paul to keep a business moving. So that’s what he did.

“I identified a niche Government Services market that could grow a successful business that affords a crisisproof business and a sustainable living for employees,” says Tom Sanderson.

He credits some good fortune with his start in facility management and dogged entrepreneurial determination for his success. Coming off a painful divorce and business failure, he arrived in Calgary and stumbled upon a part-time job with an affordable housing group as a resident manager at a small building, which gave him a modest income and a place to live. It was also fortuitous timing, as the city was changing its business model from an employee-based system to a contracted one. This

opportunity gave Sanderson the freedom to be an owner/ operator and let his entrepreneurial spirit thrive.

Within a matter of months from starting in this entrylevel position he established a business through which he contracted the property management services for at first one building and then additional locations. By his second anniversary he was managing 20 City affordable housing properties out of a home office, and as the company grew in scope and size he rented a residential garage, then a small office in the northeast, and for the past seven years the Summit team has worked out of a comfortable space in Ramsay on the outskirts of downtown Calgary. There, he and the Summit team coordinate the operation of two offices managing nearly 3,000 doors in Edmonton and the business touches around 10,000 doors in Calgary with annual revenues of over $5.5 million.

As a not-for-profit business, Summit performs a multitude of facility management services for affordable housing locations in two Alberta cities including snow and landscaping management, janitorial services, garbage pick-up, handyman services, HVAC, building envelopes and tenant management services primarily for municipal, provincial and federal public sector customers.

“We’re not a one-trick pony,” he says. “Our core business is Government services maintenance and that’s where the sustainable revenue streams grow from. We understand how to navigate the public work environment, which can be challenging, and our not-for-profit model resonates well with our mission and the government services sector.”

Despite securing multi-year contracts in a variety of service areas including tenant management, eavestroughs, dryer vents, large item removal, grounds maintenance, parking lot cleaning, handyman contracts and capital asset management,

Wyatt and Tim Sanderson.

Photo by Riverwood Photography.

Summit takes nothing for granted. The team focuses on providing quantifiable value-add services beyond any client scope of work. Unlike any of the competition, Summit offers Property Management brokerage expertise with licensing in British Columbia and Alberta. While not required for government services, Property Management industry experience is one of many value-adds Summit can offer clients. Since the beginning, Sanderson and his team have gone above and beyond for client agencies and stakeholders.

It is this reputation and high standards that clients say have made Summit their Go-to-Guys and One Stop Shop facility management company since 2000.

Summit has shared its extensive expertise in the affordable housing market throughout Alberta and now Tom Sanderson is looking to duplicate his successful business model and expand the reach of the company across the country. As Summit was building out their property management division, Sanderson was retained as Managing Broker by Real Property Management, and while in that position Sanderson learned about the benefits of franchise business development and owner operator partnering.

He realized that he could no longer profitably grow his business geographically in Alberta so finding like-minded entrepreneurs to duplicate his model across Canada was the next transforming journey for the brand.

government services and, given the frequent enquiries Sanderson fields from jurisdictions across Canada looking for his services, it is in demand.

“I don’t need to sell anyone a franchise to pick up a sale. I have no desire in that. I want to be able to mentor, help, guide, coach and provide tools that are going to help you grow your business. There is a real need for our services and opportunity with Summit to expand the brand nationally,” says Sanderson.

Another exciting change, Sanderson’s two sons Tim and Wyatt will be taking over the day to day operations as he focuses on the franchising.

With Summit’s crisis-proof proven business model, the opportunities are extensive, offering a good, sustainable living in today’s marketplace. Tom Sanderson is excited to enter the next chapter of Summit Property Group’s story: welcoming entrepreneurs to the Summit family with the imminent launch of his franchise program. The sky truly is the limit with Summit.

Summit is now prequalifying business partners prior to the formal launch of the Canadian franchise. For more information, please call Tom Sanderson or Brent Park at 877-669-1052 or email at franchise@spgmgt.com

“Franchising works. People want to be part of something bigger than themselves while still retaining their own independence as entrepreneurs. Owner/operators are the best partners,” he says.

Potential partners are a diverse lot: mature business people looking to finally work for themselves, young entrepreneurs forging a path and people of any background regardless of education or skills training who are willing to work hard. Summit’s model makes it easier.

It’s a proven facility management model geared toward

845-24 Avenue SE | 877-669-1052

www.summitpropertygroup.ca

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BDC’s Progress on the Support it has Delivered to Business Owners Impacted by COVID-19 The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), is taking stock of the situation and is looking forward to how it will further support economic recovery in the months ahead.

The bank was early to market in March, when the novel coronavirus began its spread across the country, offering impacted businesses working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible repayment terms. Its goal: to bridge these businesses through to a more stable time.

“Businesses have been hit hard in the face of this public health crisis. As Canada’s bank for entrepreneurs, one of BDC’s most important roles is to supply credit in times of difficulty,” says Michael Denham, President and CEO, BDC. Since March 2020, when compared to pre-COVID times, BDC has: deployed more than $1 billion in new financing (not including reporting from BCAP programs) to Canadian SMEs of all sizes; authorized 10 times more working capital loans, in dollars; and, processed nearly 40,000 postponements for its clients representing $771 million in postponed payments.”

The bank also initiated the BDC Capital Bridge Financing Program—convertible notes for eligible Canadian startups with a current financing round being raised through qualified existing and/or new investors.

More recently, the Bank launched new programs in coordination with its shareholder, the Government of Canada, as part of the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP). Denham says, “The scale of the crisis made it important for us to act together with private sector financial institutions and federal government partners to respond to as many entrepreneurs as possible.”

These programs include: the BDC Co-Lending Program—up to $12.5 million per company, for smaller businesses with cash flow needs. These loans can now be accessed through Canada’s financial institutions. The BDC Mid-Market Financing

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Program—up to $60 million in junior loans per company, for larger businesses with greater liquidity needs, done jointly with the borrower’s primary financial institution.

Looking forward, “We know there has never been a more difficult time to run a business. However, we also know the recovery will come,” says Denham. “We have more than 60,000 entrepreneurs as clients across Canada and while the situation is still very difficul when we talk to them and see how innovative and resilient they have been over the past weeks, I can tell you that it makes us both hopeful and proud at BDC to be by their side and to contribute to the recovery.”

BDC is the only bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs.

It provides access to financing, as well as advisory services to help Canadian businesses grow and succeed. Its investment arm, BDC Capital, offers a wide range of risk capital solutions.

For 75 years and counting, BDC’s purpose has been to support entrepreneurs in all industries and all stages of growth. For more information and to consult more than 1,000 free tools, articles and entrepreneurs’ stories, visit bdc.ca.

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This year, we celebrate 50 years of providing safe and affordable housing to Edmontonians. We’re proud to be part of this vibrant city, contributing to the local economy, creating jobs, regenerating social and near-market housing and transforming communities.

Here’s to the next 50 years.

www.crhc.ca

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NorQuest Welcomes new President and CEO After an extensive recruitment campaign, the NorQuest College Board of Governors has unanimously chosen Carolyn Campbell as the new president and CEO. Ms. Campbell joined NorQuest on July 20, 2020.

“Carolyn’s passion for education, leadership style and strong community connections were among the many outstanding factors that stood out for the Board,” says Carla Madra, Chair of NorQuest’s Board of Governors. “We are thrilled to have Carolyn join NorQuest College as our new President and CEO and we’re confident she is the right fit at the right time for NorQuest.”

Campbell has served as a Deputy Minister with the Government of Alberta, a Deputy City Manager with the City of Edmonton and an Associate Dean of the University of Alberta School of Business. She comes to NorQuest College having been the most recent Chair of United Way of the Alberta Capital Region and Vice Chair of the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

She has two undergraduate degrees in art and an MFA from the University of Alberta, is a practicing artist, and has considerable strategic, operational, and crisis management experience.

Campbell is no stranger to the city. Growing up in Edmonton, she has seen NorQuest grow into a comprehensive community college that is a key player in the post-secondary sector. The College now offers more than 30 programs and serves over 19,000 students across its downtown and regional campuses.

Campbell is thrilled to lead NorQuest College and describes this as her dream role. She recalls her first time walking into NorQuest’s newest downtown building, the Singhmar Centre for Learning. “I was absolutely captivated by the energy and the sense of belonging here, and remember thinking ‘this is where I want to be.’ NorQuest is a special place where you

can hear languages from every corner of the world being spoken – it represents a true global community.”

Recently, Campbell had the opportunity to meet over a hundred students from NorQuest during a United Way event, and was moved by their compassion, skills, and desire to enhance their studies with work to serve their communities.

She loves the classroom and counts her teaching experiences as among the most rewarding in her career.

“Every time I enter NorQuest, I’m greeted so warmly by students, and I feel their hope and optimism,” says Campbell.

“I can’t wait to get to know them better.”

Joan Hertz, who stepped in as interim President and CEO, continued the interim presidency until July 20, 2020.

“We are fortunate that the College has attracted remarkable leaders and we are extremely grateful for Joan Hertz’s leadership as interim CEO,” says Madra. “Joan has led us through unprecedented times and made a lasting impact on the College.”

ABOVE: CAROLYN CAMPBELL NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NORQUEST. PHOTO SOURCE: NORQUEST

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WE WORK

WHERE YOU WORK EPIC Photography Is aN ALBERTA BASED full service photo agency, SPECIALIZING IN advertising, editorial, portrait, sports, food or arts PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY. epicphotography.ca // @alwaysepicphotos

SHIELD CRUSADER: COWAN GRAPHICS HELPS TO SAVE ALBERTANS // COVER

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SHIELD CRUSADER: COWAN GRAPHICS HELPS TO SAVE ALBERTANS // COVER

SHIELD CRUSADER:

COWAN GRAPHICS HELPS TO SAVE ALBERTANS COWAN GRAPHICS BOUGHT ENOUGH MATERIAL TO MAKE 100,000 FACE SHIELDS. LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LATER THEY HAD SOLD MORE THAN A MILLION.

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

S

o far, 2020 can best be described as interesting – and by interesting, we mean being caught off guard by an energy war that was eclipsed by a global pandemic that was followed by murder hornets as a swarm of locust devastated parts of the world. Yes, this is the year of plague and pestilence, but even all that is not enough to get Alberta’s entrepreneurial-focused businesses down. Despite enforced closures and social distancing, this province’s businesses found ways to adapt on the fly, and Cowan Graphics is one of them.

This family-owned and operated graphics manufacturer provides complete services for vehicle markings, retail graphics solutions, wayfinding signage, tactile and Braille signs, building murals, window graphics, event signage, decals, tags, magnets and regulatory and construction compliance signage. With 135,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space across Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatoon, and with everything from the most sophisticated machines to the most precise hand-finished products in play, it’s no wonder this local company has had made a big impact in Alberta for 75 years.

You may not know the name, but you know their work.

Cowan Graphics has been the manufacturer of everything from massive vinyl ad wraps at Edmonton and Calgary’s international airports to the large department signs at your local Safeway and Sobeys stores. They do the small things too: banners, fridge magnets, decals, coroplast signs, etc.

There are too many products to list. Basically, if you need graphic work done, Cowan Graphics has the experience and equipment to bring your ideas to life – and all of the manufacturing is done completely in house.

It all started in 1945 when World War II ended.

“We started out by bronzing baby shoes, hand painting silk ties and manufacturing crests,” says Blaine MacMillan, the company president. From there Cowan grew to service an international market with hundreds of products for every industry and in every medium. “We were able to grow rapidly because we are creative,” he continues. “We are committed to asking what our customers need, and we provide innovative solutions for those needs.”

This year, what customers desperately needed was PPE, and Cowan Graphics delivered.

“When the first signs of the outbreak were shared and the gravity of the global challenge was identified, I was very challenged to see how our company could survive going forward,” MacMillan admits. “We felt we needed to be considered as an essential service provider so we could remain at work (at least a portion of the plant). We were very concerned for our staff, both for their personal wellbeing and the ability to earn an income through the pandemic. We also felt strongly that there had to be products we could build that were relevant and useful, so we set about trying to find what those products might be.”

Everything changed on March 23rd. MacMillan had reached out to a friend’s business in California (Image Options) to see if they were still open and if they possibly needed any help.

“I had assumed they were shut down fully, but he shared they were still open,” says MacMillan. “They were hobbling along and had started to build face shields. I asked him to send me a photo. We said, ‘we can build these.’ We looked at

LEFT: BLAINE MACMILLAN, PRESIDENT, COWAN GRAPHICS PHOTO SOURCE: EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY INC.

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SHIELD CRUSADER: COWAN GRAPHICS HELPS TO SAVE ALBERTANS // COVER

As the pandemic swept the world and the need for PPE skyrocketed, transportation routes were not the only issue.

Supply shipments of all sorts were being outbid, even after they were bought and paid for, some orders simply disappeared in transit. Cowan Graphics, who knew the benefits of a globally connected market, was suddenly now a victim of it, along with everyone else that relied on resources abroad to supply raw materials, products and goods.

But that wasn’t enough to stop them. Not even close. Cowan Graphics always had a can-do attitude, and with Albertans in desperate need of PPE, everyone rolled up their sleeves and got busy… literally.

“We have sent the actual assembly home to over 150 families who were taking boxes of the components home and returning the next day with a completed product,” explains MacMillan. “We have had help from many family and friends who are very resolved to do their part to put an end to this crippling pandemic. We even had a church (Salisbury United, whose members were doing the work and donating the monies earned back to the church) as an example of the creativity used to help us through the supply and manufacture of this product. At our peak we sent 210 boxes home (240 shields per box) so that equates to 50,400 shields per day. All this in about six weeks time. Crazy!”

the build closely and made a few changes to improve on the design. With our own face shield now in place, we purchased enough material to make 100,000 face shields (without having pre-sold any).”

Two and a half weeks later they had sold 1.2 million.

For MacMillan, who had thought the shields would be the only product they could possibly sell to keep the doors open, the realization was staggering – and daunting.

“It was a great result, but how in the heck were we going to build all of these?” MacMillan shakes his head. “The raw materials were getting increasingly hard to source and the transportation of goods had largely been shut down, so the going got really tough.”

Crazy? Absolutely. But did it work? Yes it did, and MacMillan quickly states that the only reason it did was on account of his staff and management. “Without our team, we are nothing. The commitment shown and the level of resolve given was incredibly humbling to me, personally. Our entire staff rallied and did everything that was needed to make this happen. I am an incredibly lucky business owner and have my entire team to thank for the result.”

Now, in addition to face shields, Cowan Graphics is manufacturing a full range of COVID-19 safety products such as banners, floor graphics (decals), plexiglass sneeze guards and a wide range of safety signage.

Their new pandemic-themed graphic on their homepage shows their characteristic optimism during the midst of overwhelming odds. Front and center are the words, “Let’s do our part.”

ABOVE: COWAN GRAPHICS’ FACE SHIELD DESIGN.

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JULY 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

Navigate Uncertainty Everyone has a role to play during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ours is helping you make sense of government programs, tax policy and providing insights and strategies to guide you forward.

Visit our COVID-19 Business Advice Centre

MNP.ca/COVID-19

SHIELD CRUSADER: COWAN GRAPHICS HELPS TO SAVE ALBERTANS // COVER

MacMillan says, “We understand that this is a very difficult time for all, and the health and safety of our customers and staff remains a top priority.”

To truly understand the impact of what Cowan Graphics has achieved, let’s revisit the roots of the problem. Roots, because this is a multi-pronged issue that only starts with the virus itself.

Coronaviruses include a large group of viruses that affects humans and animals. Typically, these viruses are very mild and it’s rare for a type that infects animals to have the ability to also impact humans.

And yet, here we are.

COVID-19 is a type of virus that is “novel” because it is new to us. Until 2020 we didn’t know about it and now, even months into the pandemic, we are still learning about. It’s been a steep learning curve.

We do know that since COVID-19 mainly affects the lips, throat and lungs, and since it is mostly transmitted through droplets caused by coughing, sneezing, or even exhaling moist air, the need for face shields was apparent from the get go. Breathing is fundamental to being alive, but at the same time the very air we are breathing in and out could be transmitting the disease to other humans.

With just an inkling about how fast COVID-19 was about to spread, the world went into a panic. Everyone wanted – needed – PPE. Shields, masks, gloves, ventilators… you know it’s a hot commodity when the doodads we order by the millions on Amazon all but stop shipping so there can be faster movement of soap, sanitizer, (toilet paper for some reason), and of course, PPE. This brought us to the second root of the problem. Over the years the world has become increasingly global. This was a great thing, until it suddenly wasn’t. Most countries, ours included, couldn’t look within their own borders for a full supply of necessary PPE and with everyone around the world wanting it, well, you know what happened. You lived through it, after all.

MacMillan sums up the problems best when he says, “We are all challenged with how our lives have been changed

ABOVE: INDUSTRIAL PRINTERS ARE JUST SOME OF COWAN GRAPHICS’ TECH-FORWARD EQUIPMENT.

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JULY 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

SHIELD CRUSADER: COWAN GRAPHICS HELPS TO SAVE ALBERTANS // COVER

the shutdown of the province, while facing unprecedented interruptions in the supply chain.

But they did it. They did it because it was the right thing to do.

and the severity of the actions required to put this pandemic behind us.”

Swift action, drastic measures, and protection became the norm, but protection was a weak link – until that good old Alberta entrepreneurial spirit came roaring back to the forefront.

The Government of Canada put out a cry for help to its own manufacturers, along with guidelines on how to create safe PPE products, noting, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for certain medical devices, including personal protective equipment (PPE), may exceed the available supply in Canada. Health Canada recognizes that organizations may seek innovative manufacturing approaches to produce PPE for healthcare workers, including 3D printing, to respond to increased demand and overall interruptions to the global supply of these products. These organizations may include those that do not traditionally manufacture PPE, such as research and academic institutions, and other industry sectors.”

Cowan Graphics was one of many companies to respond, even though it was never a simple matter of just assembling some products and creating face shields. The Government of Canada’s list of requirements to meet the necessary safety standards is extensive. Not only did Cowan have to meet these exacting standards, they had to do so with record speed, while keeping their staff safe, while battling

Alberta, as much as it claims to be businessfriendly, has stumbled over the past years in how to best protect, promote and support its many businesses. Cowan has had many opportunities to uproot the company and replant in an easier environment, but for MacMillan, that would be turning his back on his local community, his valued staff and the province he loves. He and his company have always been among Alberta’s strongest champions, and he has done everything in his power to not only supply the best quality products locally and abroad, but to also nurture a local workforce and help them provide for their families. With a pandemic threatening the people in the province he loved, let alone the threat to his business, MacMillan and the team at Cowan immediately stepped up and subsequently overcame overwhelming odds.

They are really humble about it too, but that’s nothing new.

As noted above, you know their products, but you may not know their name. Now, you may be one of the health care workers that received a face shield. You may not know who made it, you are just grateful it is helping to save lives. For Cowan Graphics, that is all the thanks they need.

“It has been a long journey so far and its definitely not over,” MacMillan concludes. “We hope our products are helping to bring safety and security to a world that is rapidly changing.

Things will not go back to the way they were. From supply chain management to producing products locally, from how we gather and be social, to how we support our healthcare system, everything is going to change.

“Cowan isn’t going to be the next ringer that puts their mark on the world. We are going to leave that to Bezos, Zuckerberg, Branson and Musk. What we can do is what we have always done – supply the products that inform, educate, direct, and in a small way, help save lives. Nothing makes us prouder than to supply personal protection products from right here in Alberta.”

ABOVE: COWAN GRAPHICS MANUFACTURES PRODUCTS ON SITE.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JULY 2020

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LEADERSHIP ABUNDANCE // RICK TIEDEMANN

Leadership Abundance

BY RICK TIEDEMANN

I

never thought that I would go from being a Baby Boomer to a Baby Zoomer in less than a week. If the COVID-19 experience has taught me anything, it is that I have the ability to adapt and more readily identify solutions than what I may have previously thought. My daily interactions with business owners and leaders inspire me as I am continually exposed to talented individuals who are true possibilitarians in that they have chosen to look at this uncertain business landscape through a lens of opportunity.

Their pivotability index from a business perspective has been outstanding. My focus on my health has also allowed me to stay energized and optimistic as we navigate the turbulence.

What I also witness, however, is the absence of what I believe to be an essential behavioral dimension. A pattern that I have identified is that as many business leaders bury themselves further into their business, they have reduced or let go of many of the wellness related behaviours that they say they now don’t have time for. When these leaders need to be strong and resilient, they are all too often abandoning the behaviours that create/support these very leadership qualities. If we are pivoting our business, should we not also be pivoting our wellness behaviours in a manner that will keep us strong and healthy so that we have the capacity to lead and inspire accordingly?

The best of the best in the athletic world employ a practice that is known as interval training. They stress their bodies enormously during their training sessions, but then apply unbelievable discipline around nutrition, sleep and psychological wellbeing. They have learned that it is the healthy oscillation between periods of dedicated energy exertion and energy recovery that allows their body to perform, heal, strengthen and then perform again. What

can we as business leaders learn from this and how can we create executive intervals that will allow ourselves to heal, strengthen and get back on the business podium?

During these difficult times, I would encourage the business community to reflect on whether or not we are getting enough pure recovery time. If you want to perform at a high level on a sustained basis, recovery must be part of your performance recipe. The data is well established that recovery time and regular and healthy sleep are actually performance enhancing. If the goal of all leaders is to perform at a high level, maybe it is time that we actually add “take dedicated recovery time” and “prioritize sleep” as defined dimensions of a leader’s job description. Rather than rationalize why we aren’t able to fit time for wellness into our day, we need to learn to appreciate that wellness and sleep are essential parts of the job. So if you are not taking time for wellness, you are actually not fully executing on one of your primary responsibilities as a business leader.

Fundamentally, a leader’s job is to be of service to others and to inspire them to achieve meaningful outcomes. In order to do this well, we need to create a world of abundance for ourselves first. Then and only then will we have the capacity to create abundance for others. One of the key cornerstones to creating abundance is being healthy. This is not about selfishness, but rather more about self-preservation so that our families, friends, colleagues and the community at large can benefit from our gifts and talents.

I wish you all the best of health.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN IMPLEMENT A LEADERSHIP WELLBEING PROGRAM, PLEASE CONTACT RICK TIEDEMANN AT 587-402-1286.

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JULY 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

2020 Board of Directors

Come what may, the Chamber has your back

Board Executive

Chair: Bryan DeNeve Senior Vice President, Finance and CFO, Capital Power Vice Chair: Elan MacDonald Senior Vice President, National Client Development, Global Public Affairs Secretary-Treasurer: Craig Thorkelsson Head of Tax, PCL Constructors Inc. Past Chair: Dawn Harsch President and CEO, ExquisiCare Senior Living and Care at Home Janet M. Riopel President & CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

Board Directors

Haydar Al Dahhan President and CEO, Design Works Engineering Nathan Carter Vice President, Engineering, ATCO Natural Gas Sandy Jacobson Vice President, Richardson Executive Search Scott McEachern Vice President, Pipeline Control, Enbridge Pipelines Inc. Annemarie Petrov President and CEO, Francis Winspear Centre for Music Dennis R. Schmidt Principal, ALTURA Legal Advisory Jeffrey Sundquist Chief Executive Officer, EDC Environmental Group of Companies Inc. Dr. Jenelle Trenchuk-Saik President and CEO, Parker Ford and MacKay Specialty Opticians

Edmonton Chamber Executive

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

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

A

t the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, we’re in the business of helping business. In this time of uncertainty, we’ll continue to do everything we can to be a powerful advocate and a trusted resource for business owners like you.

At the onset of the pandemic, we launched a series of surveys to better understand the impacts of COVID-19 on businesses and help us advocate to government decision makers. When you told us that your business was falling through the eligibility cracks in government support programs, we worked with government decision makers to help redesign criteria and cover more businesses. When you told us the 10 per cent federal wage subsidy wasn’t nearly enough, we urged government to do more – leading to a 75 per cent wage subsidy. When you told us you needed help paying your rent, we worked with a stakeholder task force to develop recommendations to government, leading to the creation of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program.

We’ve hosted webinars with thought leaders to help educate business owners, and we’ve welcomed leaders from every order of government to speak at virtual events and roundtables, giving our job creators the opportunity to share their experiences with elected officials. When charities reached out for assistance, we created the Skill Share and Volunteer Program, which matches businesses with charitable organizations in need.

Now that the reopening of Alberta’s economy is well underway, we’re redoubling our efforts on behalf of businesses. We recognize that reopening poses new challenges and that navigating this business landscape is no easy task. As a result, we’ve released a Business Relaunch Toolkit to help our job creators get people back to work safely and securely.

If we want a more prosperous future for Alberta, we can’t simply go back to the way things were before COVID-19, where we faced years of slow growth, limited access to global markets, and record-high levels of unemployment. From investing in innovation to strengthening internal trade, we must embrace the transformational change that will allow us to emerge from COVID-19 stronger than before, so that we’re able to withstand the impacts of low oil prices and the many other obstacles that will no doubt arise. That’s why we will host a series of industry roundtables throughout the summer to explore key issues surrounding our province’s economic recovery and transformation. By bringing together experts from various sectors, we’re working to develop targeted recommendations focused on driving growth and creating long-term, sustainable jobs, which are crucial to our economic recovery.

We all understand Alberta faces a very long road ahead. Fortunately, Albertans are resilient, determined and entrepreneurial people, and I know that we’ll tackle this challenge head-on, just as we always have.

As we begin to take the first steps towards Alberta’s economic recovery, I encourage you to share your ideas and concerns with us at policy@edmontonchamber.com.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JULY 2020

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Powerful Play Experiences Member Profile Robert Manolson, Creator & Facilitator, Powerful Play Experiences www.powerfulplay.ca What’s your story?

Just over thirteen years ago, I did not believe that owning a small business was in my future.

But, if I was going to take a huge leap into entrepreneurship, I quickly decided to reinvent myself. Afterall, my goal was to launch Powerful Play Experiences as a successful business.

Today, I am fully engaged with my business.

Fun at work continues to inspire those around me and my business continues to evolve. I continue to advocate that positive workplace mental health for teams is easy to attain at work – and when management/leaders commit to more fun at work, the result is happier and more engaged teams!

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

Living with and managing depression and anxiety while owning a small business has impacted both my work and my personal life. But through it all, I continue to surround myself with like-minded business owners.

Being a member of the Edmonton Chamber provides me with the opportunity to connect with business owners that I would not have been able to meet through my networks.

The Chamber delivers a range of events that allow me to build business relationships with incredible people from Edmonton and surrounding areas. Not to mention, the staff at the Edmonton Chamber are simply awesome!

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

People are often surprised to learn that the business owner of Powerful Play Experiences, the workshop facilitator with the infectious energy and enthusiasm, is also the guy talking about his mental illness. I do have fun which often seems to be contradictory for people.

I am proud to continue to shatter people’s perceptions of what mental illness looks like – with the hope that this can be one step closer to addressing the stigma attached to mental illness.

Robert Manolson, Creator & Facilitator, Powerful Play Experiences

I am very proud of what I have achieved as a small business owner and entrepreneur. I am committed to my work and continue to have trust in this journey even during times of uncertainty.

Who is your ideal client?

If you want a happy and engaged team, then you are my ideal client. Mental health is so important in our always busy, always stressful world of work. When those in leadership positions take responsibility for building happier and mentally healthier people, we realize that this notion of “work to be done” requires positive mental health. At the end of the day, if mental health levels are raised, this transfers to increased productivity. You will see more positive relationships – and ultimately, happier and more engaged teams.

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

Throughout my journey as an Entrepreneur and owner of a small business, I have often found myself overwhelmed, stressed or challenged by the pressures to make sure Powerful Play Experiences is a successful business. When I consider the daily demands and priorities as a small business owner, I often ask myself the following important questions: “How am I doing today? Am I giving attention and energy to being positive and enthusiastic? What am I doing to be the very best Mental Health Champion for me?”

What is your favourite thing to do in Edmonton?

I always look forward to driving the Yellowhead with my wife Sharon for our next big adventure to Jasper!

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

Empower organizations to continue to place importance on team building, staff engagement, and fun at work as a positive workplace mental health strategy. While we may be up against “there’s work to be done” and “we have a lot going on” – there’s great value (and even returns) in positive staff experiences and fun at work!

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JULY 2020

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THE NEVER-ENDING SAGA OF THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE // OIL & GAS

THE NEVER-ENDING SAGA OF THE

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE

BY ANTHONY LADIPO, PROJECT ENGINEER

A

s oil and gas pipelines go, none has faced as much pushback as the Keystone XL (KXL) pipeline, a planned 1,210-mile, $8-billion structure expected to carry 830,000 barrels of oil, per day, from Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Nebraska. Angered that the pipeline will transport oil across environmentally sensitive areas of the Great Plains, threaten some states’ water supply, and contribute negatively to climate change, environmentalists have sought to stop it in its tracks. Encouraged that it will stimulate the U.S. economy, put the U.S. further along a course to energy independence, and provide a cheap and safe means of crude transport, backers of the pipeline have sought to push forward despite the opposition.

Montana that revokes a state water-crossing permit needed for continued construction. It’s a major setback for TC Energy Corp. and comes just weeks after the company’s pipeline was given $7 billion in financial support from the government of Alberta to keep building. Given the last decade of such legal, political and regulatory whiplash, how can a project that promises so much, economically, move forward?

The delay from the judge’s decision will not immediately affect the project schedule, as other activities and sections of the pipeline can be constructed while TC Energy works through the legal and regulatory proceedings to secure the permit. The company still proposes completion by 2023, regardless of the anticipated year-long delay the ruling

Embattled since its proposal in 2008, the long-delayed project has, most recently, been slapped with a federal court ruling in ABOVE: THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE HAS FACED STRONG OPPOSITION FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS BUT PROPONENTS ASSERT IT WILL MOVE THE U.S. TOWARD ENERGY INDEPENDENCE WHILE PROVIDING A SAFE AND COST-EFFECTIVE MEANS OF CRUDE TRANSPORT.

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THE NEVER-ENDING SAGA OF THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE // OIL & GAS

poses and the potential to lose up to what some had placed at nearly $1 billion should such a delay occur. This also is regardless of the turnout of the 2020 presidential election, which might bring other regulatory hurdles should President Donald Trump, a pipeline proponent, be defeated.

Lending Perspective Opposition to the pipeline has little to do with its technical or even regulatory complexity, as thousands of miles of lines have been approved in the past 10 years. The challenges TC Energy faces are symptoms of a larger, underlying issue—the negative narrative and drive to eliminate Alberta’s oil sands.

KXL is simply a means to achieving that end.

The groups in opposition to the extraction of the oil sands genuinely believe KXL is not in the best interest of society and the environment, and they have developed a strong coalition against the line. These individuals and groups might have good intentions, but their means to achieving their ends are questionable to some. After all, is disrupting this pipeline going to reduce reliance on fossil fuels? Probably not. If people intend on maintaining their current lifestyles and driving habits, then the cancellation of the KXL line will only change their oil supplier. The question then becomes, does the U.S. want to import the oil it uses from a country with a strong regulatory system (i.e., Canada), or from countries with little or no regulatory oversight (i.e., those in the Middle East)? An underlying assumption in this entire conversation is that all alternatives would be better than the Alberta oil sands; however, this line of reasoning could also be questioned. The increased scrutiny of the oil sands has led to the development of stringent regulatory frameworks in Alberta and this cannot be said of many competing sources.

The KXL has been heavily scrutinized from day one and in a world where regulations are open to subjective interpretation, their enforcement will depend on the leanings of the enforcer.

If the body enforcing the regulations is opposed to the project, there are many ways it can interpret the regulations and develop ways to delay or halt the pipeline’s construction. There is a saying that goes, “If a police officer follows you for long

enough, they will find a reason to pull you over.” KXL has been followed and pulled over by regulators, activists and special interests for the past 10 years and there is no guarantee this will stop with the resolution of the ruling in Montana.

Ultimately, this is about the ability of TC Energy to go the distance and persevere; to ensure that capital and contracts are set up to withstand delays; and to resolve as many conflicts as possible, taking into account that favoring governments might change hands.

ULTIMATELY, THIS IS ABOUT THE ABILITY OF TC ENERGY TO GO THE DISTANCE AND PERSEVERE; TO ENSURE THAT CAPITAL AND CONTRACTS ARE SET UP TO WITHSTAND DELAYS; AND TO RESOLVE AS MANY CONFLICTS AS POSSIBLE, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT FAVORING GOVERNMENTS MIGHT CHANGE HANDS.

ABOVE: ANTHONY LADIPO IS A PROJECT ENGINEER WHO HAS WORKED IN ALBERTA AND IN THE U.S. ON PIPELINE OPERATIONS, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION FOR 12 YEARS. HE HAS A STRONG APPRECIATION FOR THE INDUSTRY AND THE BENEFITS IT PROVIDES TO THE COMMUNITIES WHERE PIPELINES OPERATE. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE SEND EMAIL TO ANTHONY. LADIPO@GMAIL.COM. BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JULY 2020

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THE NEVER-ENDING SAGA OF THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE // OIL & GAS

WE’VE SEEN THE ECONOMIC DAMAGE THAT ONE WORLDWIDE EPIDEMIC, COVID-19, HAS CAUSED IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE. PERHAPS THE STORY, TOO, IS THAT KXL CAN HELP JUMPSTART A COMMUNITY’S ECONOMY IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME. CERTAINLY, IT CAN BE NO LESS EFFECTIVE THAN OUR GOVERNMENT SPENDING BILLIONS ON A SHORT-TERM STIMULUS PACKAGE TO KEEP BUSINESSES RUNNING THROUGH THIS CHALLENGING AND HISTORIC TIME.

Perception is everything It also is a public-relations issue. The question TC Energy faces is, “How do we influence public perception and change the narrative?” Because media plays a critical role in the debate, one might go so far as to suggest that TC Energy create a documentary. Invest in a high-quality, interesting story that gives an honest perspective on the oil sands. Showcase the real issues as well as the positives including how oil and gas production benefits people (actual flesh and blood). Forego statistics and numbers; instead of indicating how many jobs will be produced, let’s see a family that has benefitted from oil and gas work. Show the damage that the cancellation of a project does to people who live in the affected towns along the pipeline.

We’ve seen the economic damage that one worldwide epidemic, COVID-19, has caused in communities across the globe. Perhaps the story, too, is that KXL can help jumpstart a community’s economy in this difficult time. Certainly, it can be no less effective than our government spending billions on a short-term stimulus package to keep businesses running through this challenging and historic time.

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JULY 2020 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM

Many environmentalists have called the Keystone Pipeline the “Zombie Project” because no matter how many times it gets knocked down, it keeps coming back. While the word “zombie” has a negative connotation to it, it does attest to TC Energy’s commitment to getting the pipeline built. What TC Energy must now attest to is its commitment to reduce pipeline leaks – to show that the newest refining technology won’t give opponents further ammunition.

The Keystone XL pipeline won’t be the last pipeline to face opposition, but it is the first major infrastructure of its kind to be met by an economic crisis of global proportions. The developer of the pipeline has an opportunity to strike while the iron is hot and demonstrate its potential contribution to the economy of Central U.S. and Western Canada, and its potential role in providing market access to oil producers in these areas once the demand for energy rebounds. Now is the time to step up its PR game, primarily by educating the American public on its potential ability to help spark and even prolongate an economic recovery.

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CONSULTING’S ROLE IN ALBERTA’S PRESENT AND FUTURE // MANAGEMENT

CONSULTING’S ROLE IN ALBERTA’S PRESENT AND FUTURE WITH CONSULTING ON THE RISE LOCALLY AND AROUND THE GLOBE, THREE EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY, AND HOW CONSULTING CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS SUCCEED

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BY ZACHARY EDWARDS

T

oday consultants are brought in to help in almost every situation, from businesses struggling to those growing too fast to know what to do. In every circumstance, consulting experts bring in an outsider’s perspective and years of experience.

They help companies get leaner, grow larger and find new and innovative ways to do what they do best as efficiently as possible.

CONSULTING’S ROLE IN ALBERTA’S PRESENT AND FUTURE // MANAGEMENT

“WHEN THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN CAME, MANY BUSINESSES CUT THEIR EXTERNAL SPENDING AND FOCUSED INWARDS, AND THIS INCLUDED CUTTING OUT CONSULTING,” MELLENBERG SAYS, “BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PRECISE MOMENTS WHEN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS HELP.” 300 employees making three products a day for $150,000 in sales. After ProSolve’s consulting, they were up to five products a day. That jump alone justified the cost. “If you can increase your income by $100,000 a day,” he says, “it doesn’t take long to pay off the consulting.”

While many companies in Edmonton use management consulting firms for efficiency help and a valuable outside perspective, there are many local consultants that specialize in the public sector.

For Michael Melenberg, an associate at Western Management Consultants (WMC), the critical points in Edmonton’s changing economy is the precise time when companies should be reaching out to consultants.

“When the economic downturn came, many businesses cut their external spending and focused inwards, and this included cutting out consulting,” he says, “but this is one of those precise moments when management consultants help. We are experts in efficiency and ways to save time and money. For the businesses that did come to us, we figured out ways to weather the storm and manage their business through those tough times.”

Consulting helps during times of prosperity as well as challenging times.

“Doubling the work doesn’t have to mean doubling the labour force,” says David Hall, Prosolve Consulting’s founder and president. “We help companies change the way that they’re doing things so they can gain these advantages and eliminate waste, making them a lot more productive.”

Hall points to a recent client that approached ProSolve for consulting. The company, according to Hall, was roughly

According to Melenberg, “It’s not just directly consulting with governments, but with companies and governments and between governments. There are situations like Amazon coming to town and, in the case of municipalities, working together to share resources. Consultants help figure out these relationships for better effectiveness and efficiency.”

A type of consulting that is often misunderstood is government relations or, one of its facets, lobbying. For Elan MacDonald senior vice president, national business development with Global Public Affairs, part of the job is breaking down the stigma of lobbying, especially for businesses that can benefit from working with the government.

“All orders of government recognize [lobbying] as an imperative part of developing sound public policy and good government,” says MacDonald. “Governments make better decisions when they are informed by stakeholders that are the experts closest to the issues and the people impacted.”

Government relations for many enterprises are becoming increasingly important, especially as policies and regulations impact the ways they do business. For MacDonald, and ABOVE: MICHAEL MELLENBERG, ASSOCIATE, WMC.

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CONSULTING’S ROLE IN ALBERTA’S PRESENT AND FUTURE // MANAGEMENT

AS COMPANIES LEARN TO OUTSOURCE indeed the entire consulting industry, their services are becoming a vital part of running a company.

MORE EFFECTIVELY AND BECOME LEANER AND MORE FOCUSED

“More and more we’re finding the demand for our services is growing,” MacDonald says. “The importance of a fullyintegrated public affairs offering that emphasizes government relations, strategic communications and stakeholder engagement programs, all managed in tandem, is increasingly critical to organizations in any industry segment.”

OPERATIONS, CONSULTANTS CAN

While the reasons for using consultants varies, there remain some constants in how businesses can get the most out of their relationships.

IN THE LATE 1800S, IT HAS EVOLVED

“At the start of a relationship with a consultant, two things are imperative,” explains MacDonald. “First, clients should define the help they think they need and most importantly, the desired outcome, and articulate that to prospective consultants. Second, clients should discuss expectations early, ask many questions and set a deadline for the consultant to provide them with an initial proposal that scopes out the work, timelines, costs and evaluation measures.”

Melenberg agrees, “Coming with some sort of idea helps and you have to have a clear idea of your needs,” he says. “At WMC we really believe in a collaborative approach. That means open and honest communication and clear expectations of what can be accomplished inside of their budget.”

Hall also cites clear and open communication as a key to success, especially with the employees most affected by the proposed changes. Since consulting inevitably leads to change, it’s important that employees understand that change. Likewise, leadership must understand that underperforming workers may not be an employee problem, but a problem with the system.

“I don’t like when people are blamed for poor work when it is the system that is causing poor performance,” says Hall.

“We’re asking people to change the way they perform, think, do their work and more. It takes a lot of communication to show what it means for them and their job and life. The key is being open, patient and understanding.”

While many other industries are looking over their shoulders for the next great disruptor, those in the consulting world are expecting more business.

HELP THEM FIGURE OUT THEIR BEST PLANS MOVING FORWARD. SINCE MANAGEMENT CONSULTING BEGAN TO HELP NOT JUST STRUGGLING ENTERPRISES, BUT TO HELP GROWING ONES AND PUBLIC ENTITIES LEARN HOW TO BEST SHARE AND MANAGE THEIR RESOURCES. “We are in the business of change and guiding people through that change,” says Hall. “People will be the most critical factor in anticipating or responding to change. Our services will only be more necessary in the future even if they change to meet the demands of new technologies.”

For MacDonald, technology will play a role in the future of consulting but not in taking it over. As technology continues to connect us, consulting will play a bigger role. “I don’t anticipate a computer taking my job just yet,” she says. “I do see a growing need for our services as a result of technology, however – specifically in our practice area of crisis and reputation management.”

As companies learn to outsource more effectively and become leaner and more focused operations, consultants can help them figure out their best plans moving forward.

Since management consulting began in the late 1800s, it has evolved to help not just struggling enterprises, but to help growing ones and public entities learn how to best share and manage their resources. Looking to the future, these consultants may be the key to helping companies learn to stay efficient while keeping their invaluable human resources happy and productive. Change, after all, can be a very good thing.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JULY 2020

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HOW THE FUTURE OF TECH IS CHANGING THE WAY WE LEARN // CONTINUING EDUCATION

HOW THE FUTURE OF TECH IS CHANGING THE WAY WE LEARN

BY JAMELIE BACHAALANI

U

niversities across Canada have experienced tremendous growth over the last 35 years. Fulltime enrolment has more than doubled since 1980, rising from 555,000 to 1,075,000, according to estimates published by Universities Canada in 2018. What has driven this growth? The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) believe it is due to the country’s ever shifting labour market. Since the 1970s, Canada has been moving away from a resource-based economy to a service-based

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one, with the creation of 1.5 million new professional and management jobs in the last 20 years alone, the majority of which were filled by university students.

To cite a report published by the AUCC in June of 2011, while the labour market is demanding a more highly skilled and educated demographic, the working population, ranging from 25 to 64 years of age, will grow by just eight per cent by 2030 while the population over the age of 65 will double.

The AUCC believes that in order to respond to the lack of

HOW THE FUTURE OF TECH IS CHANGING THE WAY WE LEARN // CONTINUING EDUCATION

“WHETHER A COURSE IS OFFERED FACE-TO-FACE, ONLINE, OR AS A BLEND OF THE TWO, THE USE OF A LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS) FACILITATES A STRONGER LEARNING EXPERIENCE BY SUPPORTING STUDENT LEARNING ANYWHERE, ANYTIME,” SAYS CHRISTIE SCHULTZ.

population growth available to support the predicted, and drastic rise in Canada’s aging population, post-secondary institutions will need to expand their reach, primarily to untapped segments of the population and international students, and increase the overall quality of education that students receive. Schools across the province and country are already working towards this goal.

One way that post-secondary institutions in Alberta are doing this is by developing and implementing online courses, advanced learning management systems and educational apps. The University of Alberta, for instance, operates the MyUAlberta app, which allows students to quickly access UAlberta essentials like the library, the UAlberta GSuite and even Bear Tracks where students can register for courses or check their grades. The university also operates a learning management system known as eClass that can be accessed through a web browser, so it functions more like a web app than one that you might download through an app store. eClass is powered by Moodle, a free and open-source learning platform.

“Whether a course is offered face-to-face, online, or as a blend of the two, the use of a learning management system (LMS) facilitates a stronger learning experience by supporting student learning anywhere, anytime,” says Christie Schultz, assistant dean (academic) of the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Extension.

Schultz’s first experience with learning management systems was at the University of Alberta in the late 90s.

Then, LMS were primarily used as document repositories, but now systems like eClass go above and beyond by offering a range of possibilities for learning and interaction — from live discussions to quizzing tools and much more, in addition to providing sophisticated course management tools for instructors.

The University of Alberta migrated to eClass in the 20122013 academic year, replacing the older LMS that were in place. The system is updated regularly, with significant annual upgrades taking place every summer. Tools within the system are evolving and emerging all the time. Badges, a gamification feature in eClass intended to make learning more interesting for students, was introduced last year and allows students to receive badges when they complete specified activities.

“At the Faculty of Extension, we make a point of producing a quality experience for our students, and technology helps us to do that. We use educational technology to better support lifelong learning at a time and pace that works for educators and learners.”

One example of this is the Health and Safety Law course offered by the Faculty of Extension. Schultz explains that this course is taught in two formats: a blend of both face-

ABOVE: CHRISTIE SCHULTZ, ASSISTANT DEAN ACADEMIC, UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA FACULTY OF EXTENSION.

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HOW THE FUTURE OF TECH IS CHANGING THE WAY WE LEARN // CONTINUING EDUCATION

to-face and online components, and an online synchronous format which uses eClass and eClass Live to provide content, instruction, and assessments. Students have the week to work on any readings, discussion postings, assignments and quizzes that may be due, and they all meet virtually once a week to attend a lecture that is recorded for future reference.

The instructor can then read work and assign grades directly within eClass. Assessments can even be designed to be auto graded with pre-programmed feedback.

“The beauty of this format is that students can revisit and review all course content at any time and as many times as necessary,” says Schultz. “For continuing and professional education to be as accessible as possible for our students, it needs to be available to them when they need it, where they need it.”

Technology is also intertwined with learning through student projects at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Extension.

“Earlier this year we launched a project — developed alongside graduate students, Indigenous knowledge keepers and Rob McMahon who teaches in the Faculty of Extension’s Master of Arts in the Communications and Technology program — that placed augmented reality video stories alongside Sweetgrass Bear, a sculpture by artist Stewart Steinhauer. Sweetgrass Bear is permanently displayed at the Faculty of Extension’s building. These stories come to life with the help of a phone or tablet and an AR app, serving as a place-based learning experience that contributes to improving Indigenous-settler relations.”

You can learn more about this exhibition at SweetgrassAR.ca To take online learning to the next level, a group of visionaries from Alberta founded Onlea — a software company located in downtown Edmonton on a mission to advance quality online learning experiences around the world. Onlea has been producing flexible, mobile-friendly, interactive learning courses, educational experiences, and assessment solutions since 2014.

“The integration of apps and e-courses in post-secondary institutions has removed some of the existing barriers to education,” says Adriana Lopez Forero, president. “In the past, many learners were left behind by traditional teaching

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models, but online learning and mobile devices have created unique opportunities to reach as many learners as possible on their own terms.”

Onlea has developed over 45 different online learning experiences, reaching over 400,000 learners in 167 countries around the world. The creative studio helped create some of the highest quality MOOCs (massive open online course) released by the University of Alberta, including Indigenous Canada, named the most popular Canadian course in 2017 on Coursera; Bugs 101: Insect Human Interaction; and Mountains 101, which has remained one of the top 100 online courses worldwide on Class Central since its inception in 2017.

Onlea’s educational collaborations span further than the University of Alberta. They have partnered with NorQuest College on a new goal to professionally train and re-skill workers for emerging markets in hemp and cannabis production. They are also in the midst of a partnership with Athabasca University and the Rick Hansen Foundation, located in the British Columbia Institute of Technology, to develop an online course focused on assessing public spaces for accessibility.

“According to Statistics Canada, 1 in 7 Canadian adults will experience a disability in their lifetime, whether it is permanent or temporary. This course is designed to train architects, property developers, and construction workers on how to make public spaces accessible to everyone,” Lopez Forero explains.

In order for users to fully understand what it feels like to be a person with a mobility disability, the course begins with a virtual reality simulation that explores the daily challenges someone in a wheelchair faces when public spaces are not designed to be accessible.

“Supporting and developing partnerships with each of these institutions has been a great honour to our team. It’s our way to contribute to Alberta’s economic development by supporting, training and re-skilling our workforce to ensure no learner is left behind.”

Outside of Alberta, Onlea has developed MOOCs for Georgia Tech in the United States, the University of Tromso in

HOW THE FUTURE OF TECH IS CHANGING THE WAY WE LEARN // CONTINUING EDUCATION

O’GORMAN BELIEVES THAT THE INTEGRATION OF APPS IN POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS IMPACTS NOT ONLY THE WAY STUDENT LEARN, BUT THE WHOLE EDUCATION SYSTEM BY CONNECTING EVERYBODY WHO IS INVOLVED WITH THE STUDENT LEARNING PROCESS. Norway, and most recently the George Brown College in Ontario, where the team at Onlea developed an online course to teach citizenship concepts to newcomers of Canada who are deaf or have a hearing impairment.

“The future of education lies in convenient, personalized, and accessible lifelong learning experiences,” says Lopez Forero, who believes we all need to become lifelong learners in order to adapt to an ever-changing world. “Each one of us will be faced with changing careers multiple times during our lifetime, and we need access to new skills when we need them, without any imposed barriers to education. In this context, learners need to be able to build their own learning curriculum.”

This is a trend known as micro-learning, where learners are able to build their own curriculum based on their specific interests and passions instead of following a traditional, standard career path that involves large sums of student debt, often associated with a skillset you may or may not be able to use.

“Imagine a world where you are able to take the accounting courses you need and combine them with a passion for data science and biology, to become an expert in biology accounting for a research lab. Imagine being able to learn these skills from any location, like at home as the parent of a newborn baby, or an individual with a mobility disability or even at the airport as someone who constantly travels for work. Imagine getting the specific skills you need for the job you love with no pre-imposed barriers. That is personalized and accessible life-long learning and that is the future of education that Onlea is building,” concludes Lopez Forero.

“Since we haven’t yet discovered a way to add more hours to the day, the best we can do is be more efficient with the time we have. The use of mobile devices expands the boundaries of anytime, anywhere learning,” says Vince O’Gorman, CEO and president of Vog App Developers. “Mobile technologies offer learners different levels of engagement and provides active learning activities not only inside the classroom but also in out-of-school environments, which provides an easy and fast way to access information.”

Since 2012, Vog has developed approximately 145 mobile applications across many industries such as oil and gas, health and safety, and education.

O’Gorman believes that the integration of apps in postsecondary schools impacts not only the way student learn, but the whole education system by connecting everybody who is involved with the student learning process.

“Technology also has the ability to enhance relationships among teachers, educational institutions, and students.

When teachers effectively integrate technology into subject areas, they can grow into roles of advisors, content experts, and coaches by adopting new learning methods, tools and scenarios, as well as new motivation, monitoring and evaluation approach. The future of education is already here — with all the necessary tools and resources at our fingertips.”

O’Gorman isn’t wrong either. After all, students are already able to attend classes by going to campus or by connecting remotely. Features like the integration of collaborative classrooms, where students can help one another by sharing and learning with their colleagues and monitors; pre-recorded lessons which allow students to get help with reliable references, focus on the parts they are struggling with, and catch up in case they missed a lesson; and gamebased learning, where simulated training modules of real workplace situations allow students to develop their practical skills and reach their educational goals, are also available in classrooms today.

“We see all of these features together in the palm of every student’s hand and extensions of these tools growing more specific and interactive. We also believe that the use of virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, and robots will increase and facilitate the learning process when integrated into educational apps.”

When it comes to continuing education, technology is the way forward.

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JULY 2020

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GARDEN CONCRETE SERVICES Celebrates 25 Years Integrity, commitment, safety and teamwork enable Garden Concrete Services’ growth and success By Nerissa McNaughton

G

arden Concrete Services is the commercial, municipal and residential contractor of choice for high quality sitework, structural flatwork and decorative concrete in Edmonton and the surrounding area. Owner Brett Garden and his team are pleased to be celebrating 25 years of service.

Garden Concrete has enjoyed many successes over the past 25 years, from working on notable projects to promoting best practices within the industry. One of the many highlights that stands out for Brett was when his father came to work with him.

“Many people think I took over my father’s company, but this isn’t the case. I built this from the ground up,” Brett smiles.

“Years after I left my father’s company, he came to work for me and handing him his first paycheck was the moment of having my decision to strike out on my own validated. Even better was seeing that he was proud of me. He saw that the work ethic and knowledge he instilled in me paid off, and I was able to pay it back to him, and pay it forward in the industry, to the team, and in the community.”

“We do it all,” Brett says, “from curb repair to standalone buildings, FAC and MIA work, sidewalks, curbs, pads, swales, stamped concrete, decorative, remove and replace, maintenance, speciality work, and more. We focus on taking away headaches, not creating them. We put integrity at the forefront of everything we do. With our customer-based focus, our reliability and our experience, we have the ability to see the entire project and how it comes together with other contractors on the job, and we can identify and prevent issues before they arise.”

He credits the strength of the company and its rapid growth to the team, noting, “I couldn’t be happier with our long-term employees. In the past some have left in search of other opportunities, but most have returned after discovering how Garden Concrete Services’ methods, quality control, safety, and innovation stand out in the industry. Our high expectations are a source of pride for the team. We have a great corporate atmosphere. We have endeavored to increase employee buy-in, and they have responded. Each year our returning employees show our new employees that Garden Concrete is a great place to work. Safety, respect,

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Brett Garden, owner, Garden Concrete Services. Photo by Rebacca Lippiatt.

training, advancement, and of course, competitive wages and benefits are all reasons why employees stay long-term.

I believe that if you treat your employees right, and they will treat your clients right.”

Treating clients right is top of mind for everyone at Garden Concrete Services.

Brett notes, “Many competitors will quote extremely low, yet fail to show up once awarded the work because a higher margin job came along, or they won’t show up because they are working through a backlog. This puts the general contractor in very tough situation. At Garden Concrete Services, we don’t overbook or turn our back on awarded work. We treat every project as though it is the most important one we have – because we feel each project is equally important.

“We were able to expand and grow through the 2008-2010 economic crisis, and 2019 was a record year for revenue even with a terrible provincial economy,” Brett says. We

William Ainsworth, Brett Garden and Art Champagne.

Photo by Rebecca Lippiatt.

don’t expect to break records now with the pandemic, but we still are poised to grow and expand through the present circumstances. We have a team in place that allows us to identify new markets, implement strategies, and procure new business based on competitive pricing, a proven track record, and commitment to safe work sites.”

It’s been 25 years, but for Brett that is just the start of the journey. He knows the team he assembled has the experience and integrity to keep going into new markets thanks to the company carrying virtually no debt, having an outstanding reputation, and having business practices that make Garden Concrete the first number many contractors call.

He concludes, “Longevity is a rare commodity in the concrete contracting business in Edmonton, which is why we are excited to be a service provider of choice for 25 years.

Don’t be the contractor that relies on a warranty from a contractor that may not be around in a year. At Garden Concrete Services we believe that it is only by exceeding our customers’ expectations with the quality of our work, the professionality of our personnel, and the inherent value we provide, that we ensure growth and a presence in the future.

I appreciate my team and I thank our many loyal clients.

Without them, we would not have succeeded.”

Learn more about Garden Concrete Services at gardenconcrete.ca online and @GardenConcreteServicesLtd on Facebook.

9211 48 St NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6B 2R9 Call: 780-818-7591 Email: sales@gardenconcrete.ca gardenconcrete.ca

CONGRATULATIONS GARDEN CONCRETE SERVICES ON YOUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY!

22121 112 Ave NW Edmonton, AB T5S 2T8 Ph: 780-732-5550 • www.edmontonconcrete.ca

CHRISTENSON COMMUNITIES PROVIDES INNOVATIVE, EXCEPTIONAL CARE // SENIOR SUPPORTIVE LIVING

Christenson Communities Provides Innovative, Exceptional Care

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

F

or more than 50 years Christenson Communities Ltd. has worked tirelessly across Alberta from its headquarters in Edmonton to provide innovative, long-term, active living solutions for the province’s adult and senior population. Now, as long-term care grows as a discussion point in the media and in politics, Christenson Communities is happy to share how and why its progressive and inclusive private model is succeeding – and how it is giving families and seniors a choice.

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“It is a mistake to lump all models of care into one category,” says CEO Izabella Roth who joined Christenson Communities earlier this year. “While the public model is based on ward-style facilities, Christensen Communities is based on more of a condo-style living. It resembles a much more home-like setting where privacy is assured and residents have options for their own kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. This not only greatly increases the quality of life for our active adult and senior residents, it dramatically

CHRISTENSON COMMUNITIES PROVIDES INNOVATIVE, EXCEPTIONAL CARE // SENIOR SUPPORTIVE LIVING

Izabella Roth, RN, BSc, BScN, MBA CEO, Chief Executive Officer

lowers the chance of transmission during times of outbreaks, be it the common cold, the seasonal flu, or a pandemic like COVID-19.”

When most people think of long-term care, they picture the government ward model. What Christenson Communities offers is an alternative that allows couples to stay together, more accessible due to reducing wait times/lists for accommodations, provides a range of living and care options, and where pets – which are very important to patients’ wellbeing – are allowed.

“Our communities distinguish ourselves as a provider with a difference. It’s not long-term care; with Christenson Communities it’s about living life to the fullest, even if you need a little assistance.”

Founder Greg Christenson has been adamant since he developed the first concept for his communities that residents would live full, active, enriched lives with all the dignity and respect each member deserves. Now, with three

BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // JULY 2020

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CHRISTENSON COMMUNITIES PROVIDES INNOVATIVE, EXCEPTIONAL CARE // SENIOR SUPPORTIVE LIVING

styles of residency (active adult, active senior, quality rental) available and a variety of payment options that includes life leasing, Greg and his team are proud to have options that

support seniors, adults, couples, singletons, and families.

Even the care workers have the option to live within some of the communities and walk to work.

If you or someone you love is in need of assisted living, look into the choices that Christenson Communities provides: • Independent living facilities have options for seniors’ rentals and life lease ownership. The entrances and exits are security enhanced, and a customer service concierge is on site. Vehicles can be scheduled for appointments. Social, cultural and leisure events are the norm. Light housekeeping is available upon request.

Spacious living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms are accessible and pet friendly.

FIRE ALARM ▪▪▪

CCTV ▪▪▪

SECURITY ▪▪▪

CARD ACCESS ▪▪▪

NURSE CALL 780·448·1025 | mark@mmcisafety.com

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Excellence in Medication Management for Seniors Clinical Expertise for Better Health Outcomes

Pharmacare Pharmacy was founded in Edmonton over 40 years ago. Today, Pharmacare Pharmacy, a division of Centric Health is one of the largest providers of independent, supportive living and long-term care medication management for seniors in Alberta.

With over four decades of experience, we have constantly been innovative leaders in the early adoption of technology for resident safety, including eMAR, electronic medication administration records software that replaces paper-based medication records; PACMED, an automated medication pouch packaging system to enhance accuracy and ensure patient safety; and the PACVision medication pouch packaging inspection system that photographs each pouch, checking the contents with advanced pill shape and colour recognition software. PACVision also provides a traceable record of all the medication packages that have been checked.

Our highly respected clinical team members are passionate about geriatric care and work as integrated members with the on-site nursing care teams. Additionally, they are required to have specialized education to become prescribing pharmacists.

Many have additional training in disease state management such as diabetes, and medication management in dementia care.

Our teams pool their individual knowledge for best practices in geriatric pharmacy programs. Clinical pharmacists provide vital recommendations to prescribers and caregivers on medication regimens, best practice training and medication distribution services in a community setting. Pharmacare Pharmacy is an integrated partner in care with residents, families and senior care providers such as Christenson Communities.

Inspired Leadership in Pharmacy Practice • Extensive, industry leading reporting, medication assessment, monitoring and prevention of adverse effects • On-site employee medication management education tools and online web-based programs • Automated reporting metrics/analytics for quality benchmarking drive performance excellence • Collaborative policy and procedures for infection prevention and control, equipment requirements and risk assessment to manage COVID-19 for vulnerable older adults

• Our mobile clinical pharmacists embrace a philosophy of person-centered care, providing expertise and guidance around the individual residents’ medication needs • Continuous quality improvement meetings with community operators results in successfully meeting the ever-changing needs and expectations of all stakeholders • In-house accreditation team to support regulatory excellence • Innovation leaders in quality and safety, utilizing leading edge technology in medication management

www.mypharmacare.ca

CHRISTENSON COMMUNITIES PROVIDES INNOVATIVE, EXCEPTIONAL CARE // SENIOR SUPPORTIVE LIVING

someone recovering from an injury or a woman in need of postpartum support. As Izabella noted in an earlier Business in Edmonton interview, “We do something unique and different in homecare. We do personality matching. We find out what our clients like, and we go out and find a caregiver to match their needs. We can match clients to providers that speak their language and understand their culture. We can match vegan clients with someone that understands their food preferences. We can match outdoor enthusiasts with a care provider that loves the great outdoors. Our homecare program is designed around each patient’s physical and emotional needs and can be anything from meal support to pregnancy and postpartum support to full palliative care.”

Christenson developments are located across Northern Alberta and each one is focused on being a walkable, accessible, welcoming community where mental, physical, spiritual and social needs are met. There is no compromise when it comes to safety and dignity, and a variety of options including quick possession, couples’ facilities, and a range of rental/ownership options to ensure inclusive access.

The health of the care models across Canada are being called into question, but Christenson Communities is proud to show a record of outstanding success and resident wellness that stretches back 50 years. Christenson is different, has always advocated for more progressive care models, and every day exemplifies the ways residents in care can thrive.

• Supportive living facilities put the residents’ health and comfort first. From reminders to take medications to assistance drawing a bath, help is always close at hand without any compromise to the patient’s dignity. The Designated Supportive Living program is operated by Alberta Health Services. The care is performed in the resident’s studio home.

The affordable accommodation charge includes rent, meals, housekeeping, laundry, and some recreational services.

• A unique style of homecare provides support for anyone in need, be it a senior aging in place, a disabled adult,

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TOGETHER WE BUILD SUCCESS.

Stantec Tower At PCL Construction, we are more than builders. We are your construction partners who apply our experience and expertise to ultimately exceed your expectations. Our Special Projects division meets the specialized needs of our clients and their unique, smaller projects.

Watch us build at PCL.com