Business Link-December-2020

VOLUME 18 ISSUE 11 DECEMBER 2020

HAPPY HOLIDAYS THE WORLD NEEDS MORE CANADA, BUT FIRST, CANADA NEEDS TO LOOK BEYOND THE U.S.

4 TIPS TO BOOST TEAM CONNECTIVITY AND PRODUCTIVITY

‘IT’S TIME FOR UTU’ SAYS LEGENDARY SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCER - BRUCE BUFFER

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PUBLISHER

Business Link Media Group 4056 Dorchester Road - Suite 101 Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6M9 Tel: 905.646.9366

CIRCULATION

The Business Link is published 12 times per year and distributed digitally to businesses in Niagara region and beyond.

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You can subscribe to our digital publication by following our social media and offical website or email us for subscription.

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Any reproduction or use of the content within this publiction without permission is prohibited. Opinions and comments within this publication reflect those of the writers and not necessarily that of The Business Link Media Group. All avertising is accepted subject to the Publishers’ discretion. The Publishers will not be responsible for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred. Any design, artwork, copyright or typesetting supplied by The Business Link Media Group is for the exclusive use by the Publishers. Any other use not authorized is an infringement of copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of the Publishers.

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE Dear Business Link Readers, 2020 Wrap Up, The Year in Review It is the last ten days of 2020, and many of us are looking forward to a brighter future, a better year, and more opportunities. 2020 presented us with major challenges, which have tested our mettle, awakened our inner resiliency, and driven new innovation.

Adaptation is the critical component of a long term strategy, and thanks to our ability to adapt to the changing circumstances of 2020, we are stronger now, and have more opportunities moving forward. 2021 and beyond look great for us and we want to take the time to thank our team, our wonderful partners and clients, and the Niagara community.

Like many business owners in the region, I had to make difficult decisions over the last 12 months. Business Link Media Group pivoted from traditional print publication to digital media, added video and television production, and introduced new customizable marketing solutions. Now we can reach more people, create media at a lower cost, foster more creativity, and add more value to both clients and viewers. Our new shareable videos link clients to their target market directly, saving them time and money; a revenue stream we are actively growing, and a representation of the new opportunities we will have in 2021.

In 2021, both Business Link Media Group and our clients will reach farther, develop a more valuable reputation, garner more positive attention, and reach new heights!

Here’s to the New Year, Marilyn Tian M.B.A | President & Co-publisher Business Link Media Group

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CONTENTS Publisher's Note

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The World Needs More Canada, But First, Canada Needs to Look Beyond The U.S.

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Options

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4 Tips to Boost Team Connectivity and Productivity

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‘IT’S TIME for UTU’ Says Legendary Sports & Entertainment Announcer - Bruce Buffer

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Covid-19 Business Update

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2020 with BLMG

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The BU Cana

Mauricio

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020 w doubts. sons lea businesses ar not just the with their cu Wineries an sanitizers ra convention c and car man ical ventilato of the adapta tries due to C In this a adapt their o new reality. came verbs, a word to de from home, party. To resu direct our liv time to do th want to play mal’ world.

The room been created ten-tense rel the Joe Biden

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World Needs More Canada UT FIRST ada Needs to Look Beyond The U.S

o Zuluaga

was an atypical year, no . But it was a time full of lesarned. The pandemic forced around the globe to switch, way they used to interact ustomers, but their nature. nd distilleries making hand ather than wine or whisky, centres serving as hospitals, nufactures producing medors, are just some examples ation made by some indusCOVID19. ame way everyone had to own habits to fit in with the The name of platforms beand ‘zooming’ was born as efine the action of working attending school, or join a ume, 2020 was a year to reves and business. Now, it is he same as a country, if we a key role in the ‘new nor-

m for a positive change has d. After four years of oflations with Donald Trump, n election as the new pres-

ident of the United States would bring cordiality to the bilateral relationship between Canada and the U.S. However, it doesn’t mean that protectionism will leave the global office. On the contrary, the trade agenda may create more challenges than the ones faced during the last four years.

The “Buy American” mentality took root in the people, and protectionism, as happened in the United Kingdom, became a powerful political weapon. In the campaign, Biden openly admitted to being in favor of prohibiting Canadian companies from bidding on public infrastructure contracts at the state and municipal levels. ‘No government contracts for companies that don’t manufacture in the U.S.’, Biden vowed to his electors.

This politic won’t be new to Canadians. In 2008, with Biden serving as Vice-president, Obama’s administration went through a similar pathway. On this occasion, it took Canada a year to negotiate some exemption. In this way, the promise made by the 46th president of the U.S is reason ISSUE 11 | BUSINESS LINK

enough to start looking for diversifying the international trade portfolio with a more ambitus plan.

Today, over 75% of sales made by Canadian companies abroad have the U.S as their final destination, and the bilateral trade is nearly USD$2 billion a day. Bearing in mind the commercial agenda, and the fact that the two countries share the longest international border (8,892 km), and 90% of Canadians live within 160 kilometers of one of the 120 land ports of entry, it is easy to understand why the U.S is the natural market for Canadians entrepreneurs. But beyond this reality, there is an urgent need for expanding the borders to international trade.

As happened to businesses and people during the pandemic, Canada needs to switch its international trade vision, and being more active at opening new markets. A popular phrase says: “The world needs more Canada”. But first, Canada needs to look beyond the U.S. BL. Mauricio Zuluaga is a Colombian financial journalist

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OPTIONS Dennis O’Neill

In a changing world, some modus operando’s may no longer thrive.

It happened to the Pony Express. Typewriters, VCR’s. Kodak cameras.

Even Empires have collapsed.

• Old options disappear • Some options become less workable • Some options become too expensive You can get reduced to what you are doing. but now you are left with declining progress When you have only one option you are imprisoned.“No options” is a prison. Freedom means having choice. Now you must devise and consider new options.

How do you get options?

• • • • •

Think.

Ask advice.

Break free from traditional thinking.

Brainstorm.

Reinvent

Use your reticular, your brain’s search engine (Be as specific as possible about what you want.

Ask your reticular and it will search subconsciously 24/7 until it comes up with options) Choice means options. Start now.

Get yourself new options.

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Give e Gift of Comfft This holiday season, we invite you to honour someone special with a beautiful butterfly.

For every donation, but a butterfly will be added to our virtual holiday tree along with your loved one’s name and special message from you.

hospiceniagara.ca | 905-984-8766 ISSUE 11 | BUSINESS LINK

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4 Tips to Boost Team Connectivity and Productivity Innovation Insight

Innovate Niagara supports innovative entrepreneurs and companies from a variety of industries start, grow and thrive through mentorship, market intelligence, workshops, connections and community. Visit innovateniagara.com/apply to become a client at no cost to you.

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s the year 2020 comes to an end, the idea of remote work has become more permanent for many companies and organizations due to the COVID-19 crisis. While some individuals and teams might thrive working from home, others may have experienced challenges along the way.

well-being, all of which contribute to a successful team and positive business outcomes.

It is essential for teams to find ways adapt to the changes this unique circumstance has delivered the workforce to ensure work performance, productivity and team connectivity remains high. Implementing strategies to assist teams in adapting to remote work can also nurture self-motivation, creativity and overall

Design incentive programs Give your team a common goal to work towards and offer an incentive to employees who meet or exceed the target identified. Get creative with incentives and introduce them often to boost employee motivation and recognize a job well done.

In this article you will find four strategies to consider implementing with your team to lead the way into 2021 with increased connectivity and productivity.

INNOVATION INSIGHT Recreate social interactions Due to COVID-19 restrictions, play at work may have declined as many networking and team bonding events are cancelled or postponed, if not able to become virtual. Although it is essential to deal with the tactical side of work, try making it a priority to focus on catching up with one another about life outside of work on a regular basis. If time is available, leaders can also have individual calls with each of their team members to check in.

Use a project management system Using a project management system and implementing it across your organization can help a team manage its tasks and deadlines effectively. But not only that, teams will likely see a boost in productivity and collaboration by keeping track of to-do lists and assigning specific tasks to team members.

Focus on maintaining purpose & potential Keep your team’s purpose in focus by sharing data or any information available to you to show how they have impacted clients, customers or the community they serve. This can lead to increased momentum, creativity and productivity as employees see the impact their hard work is making. Ensure each team member is fully engaged by ensuring they feel like they have a clear goal.

Every team is different and will need to plan and implement strategies that work best for their organization. Reach out to your team for their input and get started on practicing different strategies to further motivate them and drive productivity. BL.

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‘IT’S TIME for UTU’ Says Legendary Sports & Entertainment Announcer

Bruce Buffer UTU - Newswire

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echnology Inc. is excited to announce the company has advanced discussions on attaching Bruce Buffer to their social media platform. The legendary fight announcer, known best as the “Voice of the Octagon” with his catchphrase IT’S TIME©, embraced the opportunity to become part of the UTU team as a key presenter in preparation for UTU’s official 2021 launch.

“It’s Time for UTU’s global launch,” roared Bruce over a video conferencing call with UTU’s executive team. “It just sounded so official when Bruce made the announcement; everyone on the call just knew immediately he was the perfect choice and voice to represent the upcoming launch of the UTU App,” says Director of Marketing and Operations - Marilyn Tian.

The announcement comes in line with the company’s ongoing strategy to attract and register influential personalities onto the UTU social platform that will redefine the social value of its users. The platform will give influencers secure and direct access to their fan base, and, in return, fans will be able to interact with their favorite influencers in a way that has never been done before.

The UTU social platform is on track to launch in 2021 and is currently completing its Beta Test Stage.

To be one of the first to try the platform users can begin preregistering through the following portal: UTU beta sign-up link: https://www.utu.one/get-started

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About UTU Technolohy Inc.

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he company was originated in Australia with a group of experts in Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and IoT, with business executives from IBM, Alibaba, Apple, and Deakin University’s Blockchain Innovation Lab. The company developed the world’s first DAC (Decentralized Autonomous Community) App for iOS and Android on EOSIO, in addition to many other blockchain business solutions and decentralized applications.

In 2020, UTU Technology Inc. made the strategic decision to establish its HQ in Toronto, Canada to further the company’s business expansions worldwide.

Information on the company can be found at: https://www.utu.one/ The company has made a total commitment to privacy, security and transparency by making a significant investment in blockchain technology to develop a platform that is scalable, reliable and most of all, secure.

This is the UTU commitment that our User To User community (UTU) can expect from us. We would like to remind everyone the value of privacy and real connections. Together we will create amazing user experiences designed to redefine social values for the benefit of everyone. We look forward to welcoming you to “UTU” - Gordon Weiske, VP of PR and Marketing.

For all media inquiries, contact: gordon@utu.one https://www.newswire.com/news/its-time-for-utu-says-legendary-sports-entertainment-announcer-bruce-21274901 ISSUE 11 | BUSINESS LINK

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COVID-19 BUSINESS UPDATE December 18th, 2020 Your Business Guide to Red-Control Covid-19 CNCC News

NEW POLICIES

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ll organized public events, meetings, and gatherings are now limited to five people indoors and twenty-five people outdoors. People at work, performers, and staff do not count towards these limits. Previous limits were fifty people indoors and one hundred people outdoors for supervised events. “Organized public events” means events and gatherings where there is a staff complement who are not guests at the event and can supervise physical distancing, mask usage, hand hygiene, and so forth. In all cases, if the room or area in question cannot accommodate the maximum number of people while maintaining a two-metre distance between them, the occupancy of the space must be reduced until distance can be maintained.

A maximum of ten patrons may be seated indoors at a bar, restaurant, mall food court, or other food and drink establishments. This does not include staff, but does include any patrons

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in a private room (i.e. the limit is ten for the entire establishment, not per room or space). Outdoor dining is limited to the number of people that the outdoor space can accommodate while maintaining a two-metre distance (to count as “outdoors,” a tent, awning, or other shelter must have at least two sides open to the outdoors), as are take-out and delivery options. A dome is considered an indoor area. Dancing, singing, and live performance of brass and wind instruments are not Other music should be played at a level so that a patron does not have to raise their voice to hold a conversation. Raised voices carry droplets, which spread COVID-19, further in the air. In all cases, if the room or area in question cannot accommodate the maximum number of people while maintaining a two-metre distance between them, the occupancy of the space must be reduced until distance can be maintained.

Gyms, fitness studios, and other athletic/

recreational facilities may have: • Up to ten people in a class with distances of three metres between people.

• Up to ten people in an area with weights or equipment with distances of three metres between people.

• Up to ten people in a room with distances of two metres between people if not using weights, equipment, or in a class.

• Up to ten people in the entire facility at one time (not counting staff). It is not permitted, for example, to have ten people in a class and another ten people in a weight-training area. Only ten people may be in a facility in total, no matter how they are divided between activities or rooms.

• Up to twenty-five people in an outdoor area with distances of two metres between people unless they are in a class, or using weights or weight equipment, in which case the distance increases to three metres between people.

• In all cases, if the room or area in question cannot accommodate the maximum number of people while maintaining the specified distance, the occupancy of the space must be reduced until distance can be maintained.

• No team sports (except for training where distance can be maintained).

• No contact sports.

• No change rooms or showers.

It is strongly recommended that retail stores and malls limit their capacity. This is not a requirement beyond existing policies on occupancy limits and physical distancing.

All services requiring the removal of face masks are banned.

All cinemas are closed. Drive-in theatres may remain open.

Theatres are closed and performances for a live audience are banned. Rehearsal or performance for recording or broadcast is permitted, but singers and performers using brass or wind instruments must be separated by an impermeable barrier such as plexiglass. BL.

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22 00 22 00 BLMG

turning-point year

challenges & opportunities

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we are ready

unexpected year

2 Considerate Cremation & Burial Services Continuing to fulfill the need for services at addordable prices in the Niagara region.

Welcome to Made in Niagara The business world is changing every single day. But there’s one thing that will never change - and that’s our commitment to building relationships with people like you.

Let’s tell the world - together!

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STORIES ISSUE 11 | BUSINESS LINK

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Local Hotels and Casinos Shining Hearts of Solidarity A word of love from Niagara Falls, Canada. People from all over the world come to Niagara Falls to be inspired by the beauty and splendour, and the lifttime memories that Niagara Falls uniquely provides.

Spirit of Sound Multi-operator DJ service firm celebrates 40 years of serving Niagara’s enterrainment needs.

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5 2020 17th Annual 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Awards Each 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Awards is given to an individual under 40 years of age who consistently makes their mark in business and contributes regularly to their respective communities.

International Sew Right International Sew Right’s family, employees, business associates, volunteers and the community have joined together to start a program called ‘Cover Up Against Covid-19 Canada’.

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IN 2020 ISSUE 11 | BUSINESS LINK

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Nfrih Powered by Spark

The Atrium with Sheila DeLuca

Innovation abound in the Niagara region, and the opportunities have not ceased in the advent of Covid-19.

Now is a good time to be an entrepreneur. We sat down with Spark Niagara and the Niagara Falls Ryerson Innovation Hub to find out more.

Sheila DeLuca’s leadership journey began in 2012 when she fell in love with a vision, a dream, a goal, and a plan. She says, “That is about a love story, This is my love story, a true romantic battle.”

BLM

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Seamless Wall Covering

John Kokkinos - An Artist with A Mind of Future

Wall cloth is a new type of wall covering that replaces wall paper and paint. It has better features than those of tranditional wall covering materials on the market.

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Over the years his work has evolved from figurative to abstract. Since 2010 the subject of digital air waves transmitted by computers, has inspired him, as they are moving in all firections, speeds, and size.

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12 BLMG 2020 We Are Ready Year 2020 is a turning point for Business Link Media Group as we broaden our horizons with digital production, video production, and reaching out to overseas markets in Asia and Africa.

George’s Greek Village A shining example of resilience. I can’t say enough about the Niagara region. We have a very loyal customer base, we received so much support from many people.

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V V II D DE EO OS S

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40 Under Forty Business Achievements Awards Live Broadcast Ceremony

ners, this year’s group is truly exceptional, and we are amazed at the talent and initiative our winners demonstrate. Turning challenges into The 40 Under Forty Awards winners are the opportunities, BLMG has overcome the restricnext generation of business leaders who will tions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic by pave the way for the future of businesses in Ni- holding the award ceremony as an online event. agara. Carrying on the tradition of past win-

14 Made in Niagara 2020 most innovative and internationally inclined MADE IN NIAGARA magazine is a prestige firms. Find bigger market opportunities in publication that spotlights many of our region’s Made in Niagara!

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15 The Atrium

As you would think of growing, cultivating, and harvesting a garden, conversations on The All of us at DeLuca Leadership, The Business Atrium will focus on the planting of seeds for Link and Spark Niagara are extremely excit- a growth mindset and the rising to a healthy, ed for the launch of the program The Atrium. hopeful, and optimistic bright future.

16 Corporate Video - Chapel Heights

style for today, on-site care for tomorrow facility. Live your life on your terms. With our “it’s Get ready to experience the difference at Chap- your home” approach, our staff are dedicated to el Heights! Our Wellness & Hospitality Lifestyle being at your service, welcoming you home! and Enhanced Care will be Niagara’s first life-

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expected future

22 00 22 11 new challenges & opportunities

BLMG

together with us

Business Link Marketing Better Results Delivered

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