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ALBERTA’S LARGEST INDEPENDENT PAGING COMPANY

with Marty & Mark

S

ummer in Festival City means great

concerts, great food, great fun. One of my all time favourites is the annual Heritage Festival.

Headed by Jack Little, the August long weekend extravaganza in Hawrelak Park has enjoyed huge response, showcasing our diverse cultures, customs and cuisine.

I had the opportunity to spend time with Jack to find out more about him and what we can expect at this year’s fest.

When did you become an Edmontonian, Jack?

Last year saw several changes.

How did that work out?

Every year we bring in something new, different and exciting. Two years ago, it was the traveling entertainment: stilt walkers, balloon walkers, cartoonists. Last year for the first time we brought in a paid performer in the way of Natalie MacMaster …and this year we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Shumka with two shows.

There may be conflicts and situations around the world that directly affect Edmontonians who participate in putting on this Festival… and yet, I have never experienced one Perform ers negative act or word that would reflect this or jeopardize the unity of the Festival. All participants pull together and, by making this little Festival the huge success that it is, we are trying to use this as a small example to be emulated worldwide.

I came to Edmonton with the Air Force and when my time was up, I got out and found I could not get much of a job What are the biggest challenges without an when you have 400,000 people e tl education… so I in the park?

Jack Lit graduated from On the underside, it is always a NAIT on the long challenge to keep the park clean… weekend of May and every morning every piece of and the following paper is picked up. Last year, we Tuesday I started recycled 57,000 bottles and cans. at CFRN Television as a You’ve been a leader in junior salesman. green applications.

A few years later, Correct?

I acquired a wife, and This year we plan to be very green. We will be a mortgage and I was introducing 60 recycle positions in the park; they promoted to retail will consist of three separate coloured sales manager. A few containers: one for bottles years later, I became and cans, one for garbage, the general sales and one for biodegradable manager and then I products. replaced the legendary The green emphasis George Kidd as station continues with the continuing manager. I stayed at expansion of the use of ETS. CFRN for 27 years and Last year, 105,000 used ETS— then published sports and leisure we are the single largest magazines before retiring. customer of ETS. We have two After three months of retirement, my bicycle compounds that are being wife asked me to leave and get a job. At expanded due to pressure from that time, I was the chair of Edmonton’s users. For the first time, Enmax has Food Bank and Order of Canada introduced wind power to the recipient Marjorie Bencz lobbied me Festival. We will also be having a to apply for the executive director’s green display by Earth’s General H e ri tage Fes position at the Heritage Festival.

Store. Lastly, we are encouraging all tiva of our pavilions to use biodegradable Hawrela l crowds at k P ark products to serve their food. This How do you keep the peace includes plates, bowls and utensils in such a worldly setting? made from corn and sugarcane.

When I started the participants were fractured. There was disagreement over selling food tickets and 19 countries did not participate. My very first job in my first week (six years What’s the main mandate of the Heritage ago) was to bring the warring factions back together. I was Festival? able to do it and subsequently we have had dramatic Our Festival mission statement is to promote public growth. We have moved from 45 pavilions to a maximum awareness, understanding an appreciation for cultural of 62 countries that represent 85 cultures. diversity through an annual summer Festival.

What are the highlights for this year’s event?

We have two very new interesting countries: one is called Canada—you may have heard of it—and the other is called Somalia. We hold mentoring meetings with all new countries and the experienced countries give generously of their time.

Edmonton’s business community has embraced the Festival by sponsoring various aspects.

This festival works thanks to Edmonton’s amazing volunteer philosophy, right?

This naturally goes a long way to defray our costs. We have virtually no problem attracting volunteers—we treat them like gold. They are given clothing, great meals and, for post secondary students, their names are put in a draw for scholarships.

What about your media pals?

Our relationship with the Edmonton media is nothing short of fantastic, virtually every radio station and television station partners with us, and the print media (both traditional and ethnic) are great supporters.

We’re praying for sun, again. Any idea how many guests will arrive this year?

Although we do not sell entrance tickets, we estimate the attendance to be between 300,000 to 400,000 people which, as you know, represents about one-third of the population of Edmonton.

See you there. √ Marty Forbes is the recently retired VP and general manager of The Bear, EZRock and The TEAM 1260 Sports Radio. Contact marty@edmontonians.com

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THAT WAS THE JUNE THAT WAS PC MLA Peter Elzinga… “rose in the [Legislature] and said New Democrat Derek Fox ‘walked funny’ because of all the slivers in his crotch from walking both sides of the fence. The place broke up. Elzinga is not noted for singing counter thrusts.” ~ Don McMann/George Oake Power Players 1990

T

hursday May 21...

What a night in Edmonton.

Weather was grand. Telus Field damn near sold out the house to eager baseball fans. The newly minted Edmonton Capitals put a beating on Victoria 10-6. Super.

The gig of gigs though, was held at the Empire Ballroom—the one at the Hotel Mac, not the one at the West Edmonton Mall. The second annual Evening of Wine and Words in support of the Centre for Family Literacy was a smashing success, raising funds to get the C.O.W on the road. The C.O.W is a bookmobile that offers an opportunity for families with few resources to borrow from a collection of 3,000 children’s books for free.

The main event of the night was an intimate performance by Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo. Greg talked about how reading James Joyce helps him write music. Then they played some tunes. Greg’s Dark Angel was a magical moment. Both Greg and Jim were auctioned off to sit at peoples tables for supper and then again for desert for thousands of dollars.

I caught up with two outstanding Edmontonians. Ian Mulder is the artist behind two great public murals in our city. One is of Lois Hole on 95th Street and the latest, of Joey Moss, is on 99th Street. They are both part of the Giants of Edmonton Series. I, for one, think they are great.

I like that Joey is looking over what should have been called Gretzky Street. Ian is currently working on a historic mural in the Highlands on 112th Avenue and 66th Street. The mural is a montage of the Highlands over the years. He’s also working on painting the Varscona theatre tower, a multi-media project that will include abstract colour, LED lighting and aluminum that should be done in time for the Fringe. Check www.mulderstudios.com.

Hanging with Ian was Jonathan Williams. He owns EcoLogic Builders which does environmental home improvements. Jon brought a fantastic live auction item to the event: He arranged for 10 people to have a poker night with singer/songwriter Corb Lund. The cash that Corb wins—and he don’t suck at poker—goes to the Centre for Family Literacy. Corb will be bringing a bag of goodies to the game, including CDs and a case of Pil. Jon will be the dealer and, to top it off, the folks at Sobeys threw in some drinks. The item went to a consortium of people for $8100.

Finally, I have to give a shout out to ‘Scholzie’s Angles’. Somehow I was placed at a table of nothing but beautiful women including: Sheryl Maik, Gloria McKee, Sharon Mackinnon, Lyn McKee, Pat Kelley, Sarah Kelley, Cristin RavenJackson, Sam Ernst, Shona Muller and Erin Gaudet.

As I said off the top…what a night in Edmonton. I would highly recommend you get in on the third annual. There’s info on the organization at www.famlit.ca

“I think it keeps Albert in our midst. He was taken from us too early.

He was so well loved… this weekend keeps him in the music scene.”

That is what Lynn Wells told me at the press conference. He and the members of the Albert Blain Performers Aid Society announced the line up for their second annual Celtic Festival. The ABPAS was formed in the memory of musician Albert Blain to assist performing artists in time of need. The Celtic Festival is a way to raise funds and take in some good music. Andy Donnelly, host of CKUA’s Celtic Show, booked this year’s acts and will handle hosting duties at the festival. He has put together a snappy and lively lineup including Calgary’s Stephen Green, Newfoundland’s The Fables, Scotland’s Maura Hagen, Alberta’s own McCuaig, the Mudmen from Ontario and, after a long time off, Rawlins Cross. The 2nd Annual Celtic Festival runs Friday and Saturday, August 14th and 15th at the Hawrelak Park Amphitheatre. Tickets are $30 a day and are available at, God help us, Ticketmaster.

Bring your dancing shoes. More info at www.albertblain.com

Saying Goodbye…

Edmonton’s arts family has taken a few massive hits of late. First our city lost Edmonton legend Joe Bird and, most recently, Gilbert Bouchard.

There was a special gathering for Joe at the Black Dog Freehouse on May 17th. I dropped by briefly and the place was packed in the early afternoon. The memorial tribute and birthday bash for Joe—he would have been 42—featured a pile of entertainment including Ayla Brook, The Wheat Pool and Captain Tractor. Donations were made to the Joe Bird Memorial Fund. You can still donate by calling the Theatre Network at 780.453.2440.

I know Gilbert Bouchard best as a listener. He was CBC Radio Active’s cultural guide. He brought Edmonton’s visual arts to the air waves. His level of passion for the arts was and remains unsurpassed. I have been a listener to Radio Active for as many years as I have been in the city. Because of Gilbert I went to plays, art galleries, films, music events and theatre.

I recently met and worked with Gilbert at CBC where I have been guest hosting Peter Brown’s show. We did a few segments together, and went to the Art Gallery of Alberta to view and discuss the John Freeman: The Horizon as It Should Be exhibit. I only had to ask one question about the handful of landscape photographs on display, and Gilbert brought them to life for me and our listeners in a way I couldn’t imagine. His view of the arts was truly unique and special, as was his energy. I was blessed to spend a small moment in time with him. Rest in Peace Gilbert Bouchard.

Too soon gone. √

Septuagenarian Ivor Petrak is “the man who added 30.000 square feet of income-earning space to the Jasper Park Lodge by fininshing the basement, and who engineered the Banff Springs Hotel’s showy new conference centre.” ~ Joan McAuley Busniess File 1991 Linda Bodo, the “president of Prop Abilities Corp., remembers her own work-from-home days with a mixture of fondness and chagrin. ‘I was always wrecking something. Once I was cutting a display and didn’t notice I was also shredding the carpet.’” ~ Lois Bridges Cover Story 1992 “Laurie Pelkie… enjoyed 15 minutes of fame when a garbage truck—so big it had its own postal code—drove into the posterior of Mizz Pelkie’s luverly red Accord.” ~ Dick MacLean On the Town 1993 “Here’s my advice to would-be entrepreneurs: don’t bother trying to impress potential investors with your Business Plan. It’s like going to NASA and bragging about your Nintendo scores. Instead of trying to find an investor, find a customer. And another and another. Do that for a while and investors will find you.” ~ Dale Dauten, The Corporate Curmudgeon 1994 “I’ve been accused of being a conservative political hack, and nurses have refused to speak with me. [Campbell] Miller is completing his two-year term as chairman of the board of the Capital Health Authority… and he’s definitely not seeking another term.” ~ John Charles Edmontonians Profile 1996 “Our local star developer Greg Christenson is set to go on a 170-unit garden-style apartment complex on the old Canadian Pacific site, north of Jasper Avenue between 110 Street and 111 Street. The cost will probably exceed $20 million.” ~ Howard Pechet Who’s Who 1997

“And, for those who say we don’t need an expanded LRT, we can only say you have your heads in the sand— 2004 LRT is efficient and effective…” ~ Dr. James Murray/David Norwood Smart City 2000 Shippers Supply founder Ron Brown “believes in today’s world “you can’t just be good.

Everybody out there is good. Good is a given.

You have to be exceptional. The customers won’t accept okay.” ~ Catherine Carson Managing the New Economy 2001 “In all the fuss over Whyte Avenue drinking—a fuss that has existed since long before the Canada Riot—what has largely been overlooked is that of the more than 10,000 seats in Old Strathcona available for imbibing, a significant number of them are in restaurants, bistros and small pubs.” ~ David Norwood In MY View 2002 Gerry A. aka Cactus says, “It might sound sexist, but women just can’t golf as well as men.

They’re slower, they can’t hit as well…” ~ Marg. Pullishy Teeing Up Business 2003 “Dr. Ollie and I are off to Italy for awhile so I thought about getting into shape to follow her down those narrow alleys on her hunt for shoes.” ~ Muggsy Forbes Funny Pompous & Unfair 2005 “The prosperity Albertans are enjoying is evident. At stop lights you’re surrounded by an Escalade, Explorer, Beamer and Benz… you notice a Lexus and a Land Rover in the oncoming lanes. Housing prices are at an all time high… Builders can’t keep up 2008 with demand. The Oilers made a remarkable run for Lord Stanley’s Cup, and bars were running out of beer.

“Does it get any better?” ~ Talea Medynski Advantage: Job-Seekers 2006 “Much of what a leader says and does these days is stage-managed for public performance. You’ve probably heard it described as ‘spin control’.

Frankly, in my view, it’s mindless trash.” ~ Don Hill Managed Leadership 2007

“A local businessman who shall remain nameless visited Diamori in Commerce Place… He left with a diamond jewelery ensemble for his wife… The ice rang in at about $70,000. “Nameless” read about Dr. Roger Morton’s store… in the March issue of Edmontonians.” ~ Barb Deters Hot Flashes 1998 “…automobile traffic along 114 Street has developed into a foreseeable nightmare and is going to get worse as southwest Edmonton grows. The LRT may extend to Heritage Mall someday, but that is not yet a certainty.” ~ Bill Pidruchney Investment 1999

Mark Scholz, owner of MES Communications Inc. offers a variety of services including production, creative and entertainment. For more information or to suggest a story idea, email mscholz@edmontonians.com

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Poll

CELEBRATING

20

STATION

YEARS

With Linda Banister

FOUNDER DICK MacLEAN

JUNE 2009

Vol. XX

T

he City of Edmonton has grown exponentially over the past decade, causing the city to embark on numerous projects in order to sustain the growing population. Specifically, the city recently began construction on the Quesnell Bridge and Whitemud Drive Rehabilitation Project, with the goal of increasing traffic management and ensuring traffic safety for motorists. This month’s Poll Station focused on Edmontonians’ usage of the roadway and how construction has impacted their driving habits, and gauged respondents’ support for the Quesnell Bridge and Whitemud Drive expansion project.

No. 6

SHARON MacLEAN Publisher and Advertising Director Telephone: 780.482.7000 Fax: 780.488.9317 e-mail: info@edmontonians.com edmontonians.com

INSIDE

habits, having to use alternative routes to avoid construction and increased traveling time were mentioned most frequently. In addition, respondents who used the roadway daily were asked if the length of their commute to and from work had increased since the expansion project began. Four respondents each reported that their daily commute increased less than 15 minutes or between 30 and 60 minutes, while three respondents indicated their commute is 15 to 20 minutes longer due to the construction.

HOW OFTEN TO YOU USE THE WHITEMUD/QUESNELL CORRIDOR?

VOX POP Marty Forbes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Mark Scholz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 POLL STATION Quesnell Construction/Banister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 MEDIA MINUTE Shaw Profits/Hogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Percent

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

28%

27%

DO YOU SUPPORT THE PROJECT?

MY E-SPACE Pinnacle/Rayner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

16%

15%

CIVIC BUZZ Jasper Avenue/Norwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

VISIONARIES Coole/Gazin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 BioAlberta/Croucher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Briefs/Croucher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 LIVELY LIFESTYLES MenuMagic/Berry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Absolute Bodo/Bodo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 BARB DETERS Editor

editor@edmontonians.com COLUMNISTS Linda Banister John Berry Linda Bodo Cheryl Croucher Marty Forbes Bruce Hogle David Norwood Erin Rayner Mark Scholz Walter Schwabe Nizar J. Somji FEATURE WRITERS Barb Deters Greg Gazin Rick Lauber Peter Drake McHugh Marg. Pullishy PHOTOGRAPHERS Terry Bourque Barb Deters David Norwood SPECIAL PROJECTS Edmontonians Transformers Tom Bradshaw Les Brost Steffany Hanlen Larry Ohlhauser GRAPHIC PRODUCTION Rage Studios Inc.

THIS MONTH’S COVER

Indicated that they used the route at least once a month

Indicated that they used the route at least once a week

Indicated that they used the route at least once a year

Indicated that they used the route once a day

9% Indicated that they never use the route

To begin the survey, respondents were asked how often they used the Whitemud Drive and Quesnell Bridge transportation corridor. Similar proportions indicated they used the transportation route at least once per month (28 percent) or on a weekly basis (27 percent), while 16 percent reported using the roadway at least once per year. Fifteen percent were daily users of the Whitemud Drive and Quesnell Bridge transportation corridor, while nine percent indicated they had never used the roadway.

HAS CONSTRUCTION IMPACTED YOUR DRIVING HABITS?

Percent

FEATURE Candian Economic Summit/McHugh . . . . . . . . . . .8 Investing vs. Speculating/Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Transportation Report/Deters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Campbell Profile/McHugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

57% 43%

Next, respondents were asked to indicate their level of support for the Whitemud Drive and Quesnell Bridge construction project.

Approximately two thirds (67 percent) strongly supported the project, while one quarter provided a moderate support rating and only one percent were opposed to the project. When asked to identify the biggest benefit of the construction project, respondents most frequently mentioned improved traffic flow or reduced traffic congestion (53 percent), safer roadways or reduced number of accidents (15 percent), additional traffic lanes (eight percent) and increased ability to access many communities across Edmonton (eight percent).

WHAT OTHER PROJECTS SHOULD THE CITY START? Finally, respondents were asked to identify any additional construction projects that the City of Edmonton should start in the next five years.

One quarter mentioned that the city should finish the Anthony Henday project including building on and off ramps and overpasses, followed by improving the transit system or expanding the LRT lines (22 percent), and improving maintenance on roads such Fort Road and the Yellowhead (seven percent). Fifteen percent were unable to identify any additional construction projects. Reasons for these additional projects included lessening traffic congestion or improving traffic flow (20 percent) and making it more efficient to get around the city (11 percent). √

Monthly Poll Station Online Question Visit www.edmontonians.com to register your opinion

Said the current construction project impacted their driving habits.

Want a question included in the Edmontonians Poll?

Said the current construction project has not impacted their driving habits.

Respondents who indicated they had used the Whitemud Drive and Quesnell Bridge transportation corridor were then asked if the current construction project impacted their driving habits in any way. Fortythree percent stated it has, while 57 percent mentioned it has not.

When asked how the construction project impacted their driving

Contact Linda at 780.451.4444 or e-mail lbanister@edmontonians.com.

Linda Banister is a certified management consultant and the owner of Banister Research and Consulting Inc., a full service provider of market research and program evaluation services.

Visit www.banister.ab.ca.

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Speakers at the Economic Summit Aerial photo by Terry Bourque Published by 399620 Alberta Ltd. on the first day of each month at C-100 Park Side Tower, 8920-100th Street Edmonton AB CA T6E 4Y8. ©All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

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All stories Copyright ©Edmontonians Publications Mail Agreement No. 40023292 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Department C-100 Park Side Tower, 8920-100th Street Edmonton AB CA T6E 4Y8 Email: info@edmontonians.com

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www.suddenlyslimmerdayspa.com EDMONTONIANS JUNE 2009

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M

edia Minute with Bruce Hogle

As a former newspaper editor of two Canadian dailies, I know conflicts always exist between newsrooms and sales departments. In the current economic times, some salespeople (electronic as well as print) will push for stories and/or pictures of non-news items on behalf of their high-spending advertising customers.

It could be a client sponsoring a golf tournament, new store opening, the wife’s election as head of a sorority or a miniscule charity donation. Or they’d try and get a story buried on the back pages if said client had run afoul of the law. In my era, salesmen were simply told to get lost. Not so today in too many cases.

That’s pretty evident with Canwest Global Communications head office obviously orchestrating a series of six “rah rah” stories on the value of newspapers—all of which had to be prominently displayed. One such headline in the Edmonton Journal declared “Newspapers Deliver for Advertisers”. That may be why one of my deep throat contacts within Canwest told me there’s now a lot of “directed content” in its 13 daily newspapers.

That’s likely attributable to what Maclean’s Peter Newman describes as Canwest being on the brink of

insolvency because of its $4.1-billion debt, and its three-month delay in making a $30.4-million interest payment. It’s a challenging time for Canwest president/CEO Leonard Asper, who succeeded his late father Izzy 10 years ago.

Shaw immediately responded, saying his Kenora station made $200,000 last year and he felt he could easily turn the three stations into money makers.

Shaw made news on another unreported front when he discussed Shaw Communication’s first quarter

Jim Shawʼs cable stores clocked $900 million in profit last year.

The media mogul says his people live on another planet; tells TV networks to suck it up.

Meanwhile, another son of a prominent media mogul is in the news these days—namely Shaw Communications CEO/Vice-chair Jim Shaw, whose father J.R. Shaw remains as chairman of the company he founded.

Jim Shaw has always loved a good fight and challenge. That was evident when he and Ivan Fecan of CTV both appeared before the CRTC recently.

Fecan said his network was losing money at its Brandon, Windsor and Wingham TV stations and offered those stations to anyone for $1 each.

financial results in a conference call with analysts Adam Spielman of PPM America and Jonathon Allen of RBC Capital Markets.

Allen asked Shaw, “Following the $600-million bond issue you did last month, are you looking to tender or pre-finance some of the other bonds coming due next year?”

In one of the most hilarious responses ever heard concerning any company’s first quarter financial results, Shaw replied: “We’re going to have a bit of a

E

my

negative carry here for a bit. But we decided that we wanted to have the money. And just so you know how things work here, we had like a group hug yesterday. We hugged the satellite guys and we were hugging the cable guys and we were hugging everybody.

And you know what: I don’t know if you’re not feeling the love, but you know what, it is coming down really quick.”

Shaw added, “So I can tell you the one thing you deal with our group is totally anal, and last I looked, we all live on Uranus. That is our planet. And the good thing is that even if I am not around and I have to leave for a week, Peter is here, Brad is here. And if you do not think the love ain’t coming out of here, you don’t know much about our shop.”

While one may chuckle at Shaw’s response, you can’t laugh at Shaw Communication’s $900million in operating profits last year. That also explains why Jim Shaw couldn’t care less about the financial viability of the three small market TV stations he bought from CTV. √ Bruce Hogle is the former news director at CFRN TV and recently retired head of the Alberta Press Council. Contact bhogle@edmontonians.com

space

For Young Entreprenuers

Pinnacle Machine

By Erin Rayner

& Design Inc.

J

ohn Cooper, a first time entrepreneur, founded Pinnacle Machine & Design Inc. in November 2008. Originally from Camrose, the 37 year-old journeyman machinist accumulated experience in his trade by working at more than 10 machine shops. He paid special attention to each company’s strengths and weaknesses in the areas of corporate culture and project management. John went into business for himself “to give someone the opportunity to apprentice as a machinist in a place that they look forward to coming to.

“Coming in, I knew my weak part would be the business side, not the technical side,” he admits.

Knowing this, prior to starting his business, he worked in sales with a local distribution company. John credits his time in sales with helping him build his entrepreneurial side—that and being well coached by his father, a business planner with the Alberta government. He also received funding support from Apeetogosan Development Inc., a Metis funding branch that works hand-in-hand with Aboriginal business owners.

Having just started his company when the Alberta economic situation was slowing down, I was curious about how John planned to grow his

business. He has a professionally designed logo and business card as well as a presence on the web.

Although the look of the website is clean, creative and easy to navigate, the content falls short.

Pinnacle could benefit from a professional content writer to help flesh out the intricacies of the business and differentiate it in a very competitive industry. I’m a fan of getting a lot of mileage out of marketing initiatives by having promotional

materials that are flexible while also being targeted to a specific audience.

In this regard, the content developed for the website, with a few tweaks, could also be the jumping point for an information page or brochure and/or a direct mail piece. Also, current content on the site focuses on the oilfield industry’s needs, but showing diversity in the components and industries that Pinnacle can produce and serve would be a benefit when the oil sector is slow.

So far, John has been successful leveraging his personal connections and fortunate to work with other machining companies to help fill their orders. He plans to look outside Edmonton and Alberta for more business. Part of that geographically challenging strategy will require updating the website and promotional materials to reach new markets.

When asked about starting a machining business in this type of economic situation, John said, “It could be a blessing in disguise, (it will) build on my sales skills and focus more on various ways to generate revenue.” √ Erin Rayner is president of ED Marketing and Communications Inc. You can submit marketing materials for review; suggest young entrepreneurs to be profiled; nominate a Top Three; or ask a business developement question. Contact erayner@edmontonians.com

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C ivic Buzz with David Norwood

D

owntown revitalization seems to be a chronic theme in Edmonton and, although the situation has improved over the past decade, much remains to be done. As I’ve noted previously in this column, the downtown “renaissance” began in 1997 when Christenson Developments boldly started developing Railtown on the former Canadian Pacific Railway yards—“boldly” because there was no guarantee that the housing units would sell. But they sold, quickly, and more development followed.

The City of Edmonton did provide incentives ($4,500 for every new unit built and sold) for downtown housing development—almost all in the form of condos—over a period of years, and to no one’s surprise, development continued unabated after the incentives program ended. A decade or so ago, less than 5,000 people lived in the downtown core. Today that number is closer to 14,000. The economic boom certainly helped, but what was different this time was that, while new condos were being built all over the city, downtown was a conscious focus for residential construction. Even with the recent economic slowdown, that trend continues today, as was noted in a recent column here.

Now the focus of attention is Jasper Avenue. On a personal note, I grew up in Edmonton, and remember when downtown was a bustling, vibrant district. Theatres, shops, department stores—The Bay, Eaton’s, Woodward’s, Zellers, Kresge’s, Woolworth’s—and restaurants abounded (does anyone else remember Ciro’s on the lower level of the lovely Strand Theatre?). But regional malls—starting with Westmount, Meadowlark, Londonderry, Southgate, and subsequently West Edmonton Mall— and suburban development slowly sucked the life out of downtown. No really conscious effort was made to

Ode to the Ave eet 104th Str Market

reverse the trend.

Like so many cities in North America, Edmonton surrendered itself and the soul of its downtown to the culture of the mall and the automobile.

Jasper Avenue was particularly hard hit.

Historic buildings with unique architectural features were demolished for architecturally inferior developments, killing the special feel of the Avenue. While some new office towers in the early 1980s were located on Jasper (Principal Plaza – now the Canadian Western Bank Tower, the Standard Life Centre, the Enbridge Tower, Energy Square), many more were concentrated north of Jasper along 101st Street. Buildings torn down for potential office towers (like the Johnstone Walker building at Jasper and 102nd Street) were left as vacant lots as the oil crash of the 1980s descended on Alberta. Those vacant lots remain today.

Over the next two decades, more and more of Jasper Avenue became derelict.

When Waterloo Motors and Healy Motors vacated Jasper, they left large, empty lots, and between 106th and 107th Streets only a Boston Pizza, occupying the former Healy showroom, fronts the north side of the Avenue. East of 101st Street, the Hotel Macdonald closed and more vacant spaces appeared toward Thornton Court (remember Podersky’s Furniture?). Again, potential office towers or apartments never came to be.

The Hudson’s Bay Co. struggled valiantly for years to maintain two downtown stores, one in Edmonton Centre (as it was then called) which replaced the defunct and much-missed Woodward’s, along with its Edmonton flagship store on Jasper. The City Centre store was relocated in the former Eaton’s store and renovated, while the Jasper

Avenue store closed and remained vacant for more than a decade, a pathetic symbol of the destitution of the Avenue.

The Paramount Theatre, once the pride of Edmonton cinemas, closed in the early part of this century and today remains vastly underutilized, awaiting a proposed redevelopment.

Retail space along Jasper virtually dried up for lack of human traffic—though a few worthy survivors have maintained their presence, including Audreys Books, Wener Shoes, The Silk Hat restaurant and the Russian Tea Room. Enough has been written about how the mall-ification of the downtown core turned people inside, off the streets, and it happened to Jasper Avenue as well (think Telus Plaza and Commerce Place). The actual avenue itself, with its horribly ugly meridians and overhead traffic light fixtures, give it the appearance of an unloved and neglected means of getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible. It does nothing to draw people to it.

In fairness, recent years have seen a concerted effort to bring back civilization to pockets of Jasper. The redevelopment of the 104th Street area, with new condos, loft conversions, the spring-to-fall Saturday market, new retailers, cafés and restaurants has brought vibrancy to the warehouse district. The University of Alberta’s Enterprise Square, which occupies the former Bay site on Jasper, has brought new life, not to mention bodies, to that area. The revitalized Fairmont Hotel Macdonald is now one of the most attractive and elegant hotel properties in Canada.

But so much more remains to be done and the City of Edmonton recognizes the need. Along with the Downtown Business Association, the Downtown

Community League and other stakeholders, the City has begun the planning process “to develop an innovative urban design for the area” which ultimately will stretch from 97th Street to 111th Street. Urban Strategies Inc. of Toronto is the prime consultant for this project, working with Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg of Vancouver, along with local firms ISL Engineering & Land Services, Armin A. Preiksaitis & Associates and HIP Architects.

Public sessions were held in May to gather ideas and suggestions. Virtually everyone agrees that what the downtown core needs is more people—many more people. Urban Strategies has suggested that another 40,000 to 50,000 people should be living in or within walking distance of the core, and that means many more condos and rental units must be developed. Those people will attract new retailers and restaurants—and more people—as has been demonstrated by the redevelopment of the warehouse district.

Urban Strategies will be holding a second round of consultations in June, and hopes to have a preliminary plan for the City by September. The first phase of the project will focus on Jasper between 100th and 102nd Streets, coinciding with the rehabilitation in 2013 of the Central LRT Station directly beneath.

Of course, the renewal of Jasper Avenue will cost money. But let’s hope that City Council understands the importance of investing in a project such as this. Edmonton has had comprehensive plans before but, in most instances, has not acted on them. This time it must be different. A city is defined by its downtown, and right now Edmonton’s core remains largely undefined.

It’s time to change that. √ David Norwood is a freelance writer/editor.

Contact dnorwood@edmontonians.com

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Advertising Editorial

RENOVATION

resurgence

By Janice Turley-Douville, B.Comm

F

or many people, renovating properties is more attractive than the idea of selling their homes. Even a casual mention of my specialty in home renewal while I’m in the grocery line-up can prompt the clerk to perk up and ask for reno tips. It seems everyone is renovating something. Here’s why.

Renovation defines the idea of making a less expensive but wiser choice during tough economic times.

Homeowners still love the endearing features and potential of their properties and are not willing to “give away” their houses in today’s market.

They now prefer to think about the process of transforming their residences and just need an experienced eye to get them there.

I generally see two types of deficiencies: structural and aesthetic.

Most structural renovations are covered by the new renovation tax benefit, making it a great time to repair and replace things. Structural improvements protect the integrity of the interior and exterior of the house. Delaying repairs—think leaky roof—can lead to costly financial woes if not addressed.

Aesthetic improvements, on the other hand, relate more to emotional feelings of comfort and well being. You can create visual pleasure from design, shape, colour, style or feel. The most popular aesthetic changes are painting, flooring, tile, drapery panels and window coverings. A wonderful option is to introduce new materials— something as simple as fabric or art—that still work with what you already have and bring them together for a cost effective fresh look!

There are so many hot, new renovating products on the market now that can make upgrading your home easy .Wafer thin “overlay” tiles are a perfect example as well as do it yourself Faux rock click system panels that require just a handsaw and a drill. Try the hot new energy efficient aluminum backed “verisol” blinds that look like silk but have the integrity to keep most of the heat out of south- and west-facing rooms.

RENOVATION CONSIDERATION LIST Here are some important points to keep in mind:

Determine how long you plan to live in your home • In many cases, quality products require only a few more dollars to stand up until you decide to sell. Inferior products could mean you will need to repair or replace items before putting your house up for sale.

• Alternately, if you intend to flip a property, there are products that offer exceptional aesthetic makeovers at a fraction of the cost: laminate flooring rather than hardwood… or a basic tub with tile versus a tile shower base.

Invest in the area where you own a home • This may depend on whether you own the property for rental or as a principal residence.

Rental properties tend to be more conducive to lower cost renos.

• But, if you are living in the home, a walk or drive around the neighborhood helps determine market appeal. When you see garbage disposal containers popping up all over the neighborhood, it means other residents are upgrading their homes. A new generation may be moving into the older neighborhood or retirees are choosing to

renovate before they move on to condos or seniors’ housing. If you choose not to follow suit, you may have to settle for a much lower selling price and take a financial loss. Instead, consider investing money in upgrades now so you can enjoy the benefits before getting full market value when you sell.

Make better product choices • Many decisions are based on a compilation of supply and labour.

On labour-intensive projects, spend a marginal amount more to get a great product. In these cases, the actual product may only constitute 20 percent of the total cost of the project, while the remaining 80 percent is labour.

• Don’t spend a lot of money on materials that won’t last. This especially applies to items like paint where high wash-ability and lasting wear costs marginally more.

Hardwood flooring is another great example: Poorly milled discount products can have up to 20 percent waste because boards don’t fit together or are so flawed they can’t be used. It’s more cost-effective to spend more on product and save on labour with a well-milled product.

It’s not always about price.

Sometimes, there are hidden costs that make that product a poor deal.

• Always consider using better or more durable products on well used surfaces and high traffic areas that will show their wear first.

Also, assess any special needs. For example, there are certain high gloss hardwoods that are easily marred by Fido’s nails or Mom’s high heels.

These are just a few insights that a professional can give you as well as price point options.

Entrepreneur, musician and car enthusiast Janice Turley-Douville owns Direct Home Décor.ca. The one-stop, one-time fee design and renovation centre works with 50 manufactures and all the trades.

www.directhomedecor.ca 10307 - 174 Street, Edmonton. Telephone: 780.443.3021 EDMONTONIANS JUNE 2009

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Canadian Economic Summit…

focus on Edmonton “ W

By Drake McHugh

e as Canadians have been inundated with negative headlines for almost two years now—especially in Alberta. Ever since the sub prime crisis of 2007, we’ve been hit with an endless stream of negativity as we muddled our way through the global credit crunch of 2008 and the recession of 2009. For the average Edmontonian, it can be very difficult to distinguish between the doomsday theorists and the Pollyannas of the world. The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle… as it always does.” So says Peter Kinch, president of the Peter Kinch Mortgage Team and Dominion Lending Centres. Based in Port Moody, BC, his firms are among the top mortgage brokerages in Canada.

Finch will be one of the panelists at the REIN Canadian Economic Summit at the Shaw Conference Centre on Friday, June 26th. A number of experts are predicting that Edmonton is the unpolished gem in a diamond drawer of

opportunity for real estate investment in the province.

Interested? Hundreds are. The summit is expected to draw about 800 people, 50 percent from the Real Estate Investment Network membership of 21,000 across Canada and 50 percent from local delegates.

“This is for people looking for answers and we’ve put a team of experts together, some of whom won’t agree with each other,” Don Campbell, founder of REIN says good naturedly.

“We’re trying to cut through the hype and express in a way that an intelligent layman can understand what the economics mean to the market and to the individual. It is fairly detailed, but it is something everyone can come away from knowing what they can’t control about the markets and what they can. For a lot of people, it will provide a sense of calm. They will know what’s going on. It’s not get rich quick… but it will equip you to make intelligent decisions

and to meet a lot of people who are already doing that.”

Long-time Edmontonian Patrick Francey, now vicepresident of operations for REIN, says the summit allows investors to get advice from experts who might otherwise be unavailable to them. “We call it ‘behind the headlines’. It allows you to examine the real issues from many different points of view and makes you to ask, ‘Am I basing decisions on the past or should I be looking at what’s coming?’

“We have an in-depth look at The Edmonton Transportation Effect which deals with the impact of transportation improvements on housing values in greater Edmonton. This is the sort of information that is crucial if you want to buy or sell, or if you are just curious as to why your house is valued at what it is.”

Think about it. What and where will values increase before and after the Anthony Henday bridge or LRT to the south side, and before and after the northeast ring road?

Through the Eyes of the Experts...

PETER KINCH President Peter Kinch Mortgage Team Dominion Lending Centres From 2004 to 2006, there were many people in Alberta who were making foolish investment decisions based on the fact that the market would continue to go up in a straight line.

They became overleveraged and the decisions they made then look foolhardy in hindsight. The thing about hindsight, though, is that it is a cheap commodity when doled out in retrospect. We all know that nothing goes up in a straight line forever—the thing to remember today is that nothing goes down in a straight line forever either.

So to say that Alberta is on the verge of a colossal collapse is as foolhardy a prediction today as thinking that the great times would last forever in 2006.

MARY MACGREGOR Chief Economist & Executive Director Economics & Statistics Alberta Finance and Enterprise The last year was an exceptionally challenging time for forecasters—a financial crisis that turned into a global recession and, of particular interest to Alberta, rollercoaster oil prices. Despite low unemployment and record high oil prices, Alberta’s economy contracted last year for the first time since oil prices crashed in 1986, in large part because of the sharp correction in the housing market.

Although Alberta is facing a recession this year, its strong resource base and the government’s enviable fiscal position mean that Alberta is well placed to capitalize on the global economic recovery that should get underway toward the end of this year. People may hold off buying a new car, but they still need to fill their gas tanks and heat their homes.

After all the bad news that we have seen lately, we are now starting to hear talk of ‘green shoots’.

Financial markets have picked up, energy prices have strengthened, and even the housing market is showing signs of stabilizing. There is no doubt that good news stories are on the rise, but it is still very early days.

CARL GOMEZ Vice-President Research Bentall Capital Going back to the fundamentals looks at what caused the current global recession and why this one is very different from others we have experienced. Essentially, this is a ‘balance sheet recession’ which means that you typically don’t get a V-shaped recovery given the forced de-leveraging that needs to occur. To this end, certain indicators highight what we should be watching to give us the best insight into when a recovery might emerge.

Canada is not immune to global recessionary forces, but our domestic fundamentals are fortunately in better shape than they are in the U.S. and compared to previous recessions. These healthier domestic fundamentals should help cushion Canada from some of the distress that the U.S. is currently seeing.

The economic backdrop frames the housing market discussion. My view is that in a world of de-leveraging, the fundamental forces that drive house prices ultimately matter again. These forces suggest little scope for housing price appreciation in the medium term.

TODD HIRSCH Senior Economist ATB Financial Keeping up with the changes in the global and local economies has been an enormous challenge for everyone. With the precipitous drop in financial markets last fall came a sense of nearpanic—everything we thought we knew about the economy proved to be wrong. And the consequences were devastating.

In the spring of 2009, we find our economy showing some very encouraging signs of hope. But what can we make of these ‘green shoots’ of optimism? Do they suggest that this global recession is finally losing its grip? Or do they provide nothing more than false hope?

How will this recession play itself out, and when can we expect things to return to ‘normal’?

RON GILBERTSON President & CEO Edmonton Economic Development Corporation Most experts agree that Edmonton has one of the most exciting economic futures of any mid-sized city in North America, if not the world. The Edmonton region is firmly established as the service and supply centre for oil sands and related petrochemical developments in northern Alberta. And, it is developing an increasingly diversified economy with world-class capabilities in such sectors as health care, education and a range of advanced technologies.

It has also become a major regional centre in Western Canada and is a leader in such areas as retailing, financial services, manufacturing, transportation, and government services.

From a real estate industry perspective, it appears to be a fairly safe bet that the Edmonton region can expect robust economic growth over the longer term.

The real question appears to be when the current economic downturn will end and how long it will be before regional, national and global economies begin growing again.

While there is still a lot of economic uncertainty, the general consensus is that we should see a return to at least modest growth in 2010, with the rate of growth being determined by a number of variables including interest rates, the price of oil and a moderation in input costs.

DON R. CAMPBELL President Real Estate Investment Network™ Investing with a Telescopic View vs a Microscopic View will discuss the impact of market sentiment on national and regional real estate market performance.

Economic fundamentals play a major role in the direction that a property market moves.

However, they are not the only drivers of market performance. Based on detailed research and analysis, I will be revealing the sentiment pendulum and how these swings can turn positive markets into dangerous territory and negative markets into opportunity.

I will delve into the five key fundamentals that drive the property markets, how to analyze them, and then how to factor in the market sentiment to ensure you are identifying markets with a future not a past. √ EDMONTONIANS JUNE 2009

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Investing vs Speculating What really drives property values

Up and Down

By Don R. Campbell

J

ust like the stock market, not all towns see real estate values increase in a booming market and many actually under-perform. Your job as an investor is to pick areas providing the best returns for the lowest risk. There is a simple and easy strategy for doing this: Focus on the fundamentals, not emotions.

Successful real estate investing is all about identifying a town or neighbourhood that has a future, not a past. Sadly, many investors like to invest based on past performance so they’re constantly chasing the market. That’s called speculating—not investing.

To dramatically reduce your risk, ask key questions, and don’t fall in love with a property. There are 13 major influences on the long term values of property.

Each of these affects real estate prices in both directions, and each one is an important component in finding which way real estate values will be going. The more yeses you get, the better the market will perform.

1. Is the area’s average income increasing faster than the provincial average?

2. Is the area’s population growing faster than the provincial average?

3. Is the area creating jobs faster than the provincial average?

4. Does the area have more than one major employer?

5. Is the real estate booming in the surrounding region more than where you’re looking?

6. Will the property value benefit from a major new development nearby?

7. Has the local and provincial political leadership created a growth atmosphere?

8. Is the region’s economic development office helpful and pro-active?

9. Is the neighbourhood located in an area of renewal or gentrification? Or is it in a war zone?

10. Is there a major transportation improvement occurring nearby?

11. Is the area attractive to Baby Boomers?

12. Is a short-term perceived problem (negative media stories, short term layoffs) occurring that will disappear?

Finally, and most importantly of all: Do you have someone to impeccably manage the property? Without quality management (even if it is you)—no matter how good the area—the property will always under-perform and be undervalued. √ Don R. Campbell is the best-selling author of Real Estate Investing in Canada & 97 Tips for Canadian Real Estate Investors, and president of the Real Estate Investment Network™—REIN .√

Proposed Land Development Concept Source: Edmonton Transportation Master Plan, 2008

Transportation Report Overview

E

dmontonians got a sneak peak at The Edmonton Transportation Effect—The Impact of Transportation Improvements on Housing Values in Greater Edmonton. The report was prepared by Cutting Edge Research Inc. for the Real Estate Investment Network™ and will be presented at the upcoming REIN Economic Summit and Expo.

Based on information contained in the report, we’ve extrapolated a few stats and comments that underscore the undeniable fact that Edmonton is a driver’s city: • 77 percent of Edmontonians use cars as their primary mode of transportation.

• Between 1995 and 2005, the population increased 13 percent… while the average amount of kilometers traveled increased by 32 percent.

• Citizens living in suburban developments are more likely to use private vehicles than public transportation.

• Our reliance on cars and increased suburban development will lead to increased car trip lengths, though the amount of trips themselves will not change.

• In 2008 there were more registered vehicles in Edmonton than residents in the City.

Movement of the masses is a priority. Edmonton’s Transportation Master Plan outlines extensive infrastructure improvements, and numerous projects are underway or being planned. The Edmonton Transportation Effect focuses on the impact of the Anthony Henday Ring Road and extensions of the LRT on real estate values. Here are the executive summary and report highlights, reproduced with permission from REIN™.

• Edmonton transportation improvements will deliver a 10 to 20 percent enhancement of real estate values in the regions most affected. In the future, these areas will outperform the rest. If the market goes up everywhere, these areas will increase by about 10 to 20 percent more. If the Alberta values drop, these will drop by 10 to 20 percent less.

• With the completion of the Ring Road and the extention of the LRT, real estate prices in key neighbourhoods will increase more quickly than other regions of the city due to improved

transportation linkages. Improved accessibility drives real estate demand.

• Values in older and more established neighbourhoods are impacted more significantly than in newer developments.

• In studies of the effect of transportation improvements on real estate in other jurisdictions around the world, it was found that real estate value increases occur for properties located within 800 metres of stations on the new transportation and 800 metres from exits on new major highway improvements.

• The areas that will be most significantly impacted by transportation upgrades are divided in to the ‘Four Tiers of Impact’.

First Tier: Areas which will witness the most positive impact of the transportation improvements, most of which are located on the 111th Street corridor. This region will enjoy the twin impact of the Ring Road access and LRT expansion: Blue Quill, Ermineskin, Sky Rattler, Twin Brooks, Park Allen, McKernan, Belgravia Second Tier: Areas which will also feel a strong positive impact with one of the major improvements significantly increasing long term demand: South Mill Woods, Pleasant View, Lendrum; West End including, Jamieson, Glastonbury, Aldergrove, Thorncliff and Belmead.

Third Tier: Areas which will feel the impact in years to come once the northern section of the Ring Road is designed and completed: (NW) Castledowns neighbourhoods, Lago Lindo; (NE) Miller, Casselman, Kirkness, Fraser, Rundle Heights, Abbotsfield Fourth Tier: Regions which will feel the ripple effect outward from the main impact areas. These include St. Albert, Ft. Saskatchewan, Devon, and Sherwood Park The report notes that “residents now measure their commute distances in minutes, not kilometres, a process that leads to higher demand for properties that are located farther from their jobs in distance, yet closer in terms of commute time.”

Edmonton tops the REIN list of the best places to invest in residential real estate, and The Edmonton Transportation Effect pinpoints specific areas with detailed information for the prediction. A must-read for investors. √ ~Barb Deters

Stars in a firmament of possibilities So where is the best place in Alberta to make money on residential real estate? According to information compiled by cutting Edge Research Inc. for REIN™, in order, they are:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

Edmonton Grande Prairie Calgary Red Deer Sturgeon and Strathcona Counties Lacombe Sylvan Lake Okotoks High River Devon Fort McMurray St. Albert Cochrane Lethbridge

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I

t is the worst of times, it is the best of times. It is a time of total collapse of an unregulated system of capitalism to the south and a worldwide recession. It is a tale of many cities and towns and the investment that drives them everywhere, including here in Alberta through B.C. It is the story of investing in real estate and into every life a little REIN™ must fall. The Real Estate Investment Network™ is an organization from which you cannot buy real estate but from whom you can learn anything you want to know about the market.

It is the brainchild of Don R. Campbell, a 46-year old entrepreneur who cut his teeth in residential real estate at 22, walked away from any number of deals he didn’t like,

of owning their own homes. Campbell says they are tempted to invest in more real estate, but lack the training, knowledge, contacts and confidence to do so. The unsatisfactory truth is that nobody knows when a rebound will occur but it doesn’t stop people from thinking they know the market. “We research in-depth, so that the investor doesn’t have to.” He also heads up Cutting Edge Research Inc. which regularly conducts major studies and produces unbiased analysis of findings.

“If somebody comes to me and says they want to get rich quick, I don’t want to talk to them. It’s slow and steady… increases of five to eight percent are good. Everyone’s goals are different

Promised guarantees?

Don’t walk—Run away

By Drake McHugh

and realized that many Canadians were buying real estate without the proper due diligence or even any idea what they should be looking for. So he created the Real Estate Investment Network™ to help buyers make informed decisions about how, where and when to buy residential properties.

Today REIN has more than 3,100 members who range in age from 16 to 70; many have been members for more than 100 months. What they buy from REIN is education and unbiased economic research and analysis.

It is the foundation upon which all good real estate ventures are based. “You can never know too much,” Campbell says and evidently many agree. His education programs, in combination with extensive economic research, are seen as effective, down-to-earth and practical in a business sometimes driven by hype and emotions.

Campbell shares his strategies and economic research at monthly meetings and on-line events. Business is brisk. To date, REIN members have purchased well in excess of 25,000 properties valued at more than $2.7 billion with about 220 properties added each month. Much of his business comes from word of mouth.

Investing in your future with REIN is not without cost.

There is a sign-up fee plus a monthly charge of $199 (taxdeductible against rental income). People are signing up in droves. Members can cancel after the first meeting, but seldom do. They know, or strongly suspect, that residential real estate offers far better returns and a steady, predictable revenue stream during retirement.

For most, their only real estate experience is usually that

but I want to hear what that goal is or our client will never reach it. There are no guarantees in this business and if somebody says they guarantee, run, don’t walk.”

Campbell is big on the hockey analogy.

“Our investors are just as enthusiastic as sports fans,” he says. “They keep a count of the number of goals and assists their favourite player makes.

Homeowners and potential buyers are well aware of what the prices of single-homes and condominiums are doing on a daily basis, but a part-time coach can cost your team and you might miss the playoffs.”

But why do people suddenly want to be in real estate? “I think people are tired of not having control,” Campbell muses. “With your money in mutual funds or in the hands of financial planners, you run a risk. In real estate, you can control revenue and add value and that’s comforting.”

REIN members are invited to an evening workshop once a month, and an all-day version every three months.

According to Campbell, the workshops offer a structured, consistent, proven environment for learning how to successfully invest in residential real estate. There’s a macro overview and micro examination and the possibility of joint ventures with other members.

Any free advice? “You need a goal,” he says. “And it’s not good enough to say ‘I want to be a millionaire. “You need to have a plan to meet that goal.

“Second, if you want to go back to college, do that, but remember your time is important. It is not a renewable

resource… so make sure that fits with your goal.

“Third, surround yourself with like-minded, positive people because when you hit speed bumps you’re going to need them.

“And I’ll give you a fourth. We all know people who go to a hockey game and won’t shut up. Their goal is to hold court. They miss the experience. Learn to listen.”

Many of Campbell’s clients have been doctors, dentists, lawyers and other professionals who recognize the value of investing in real estate, but lack the knowledge and skills to capitalize on good opportunities.

REIN encourages members to invest in at least three real estate properties during their first year—a seemingly daunting challenge, but one that most members meet and many surpass.

REIN is not involved in retail, commercial or industrial properties but duplexes, fourplexes, single family homes and condominiums are all thoroughly researched for members.

Don Cam After 20 years and more in pbell the business Campbell is getting pretty good at it. He is the author of three books: Real Estate Investing in Canada with over 41,000 copies sold is the all-time best-selling real estate book in Canadian history. This year, Real Estate Investing in Canada 2.0 was released with an update on current market conditions. This version includes a section on property management to help investors better manage their portfolios. His second book 97 Tips for Canadian Real Estate Investors has become another best seller with 20,000 copies sold—a new testament, if you will. His third book Success Stories of Canadian Real Estate Investors, chronicles real estate investors’ stories and follows their journeys with detailed analyses so that readers can mirror the successes and avoid the pitfalls.

He donates all of his royalties from his books directly to Habitat for Humanity. So far he and the members of REIN have raised more than $411,000 to build homes in various communities.

This month, Campbell and company will be in Edmonton to host a special Canadian Economic Summit prior to the REIN Advanced Landlording and Investing Fundamentals Expo. √

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Coole Immersive:

By Greg Gazin

A

“Where no man has gone before”

bout six years ago, after a long hard week and a jug or two of Alexander Keith’s Ale, business partners Terry Smith and Kevin McNulty’s discussion intensified about the abysmal state of training in the resources industry.

“These injuries can’t continue,” said Smith. McNulty, a safety consultant in the oil and gas sector who had spent much of his working life in the mining industry, added that the problems went beyond injuries. He was referring to the 1992 Westray Coal Mine disaster in Plymouth, Nova Scotia which resulted in the deaths of 26 miners.

“There’s too much pain and suffering… so let’s build a Holodeck,” said Smith. It was an idea he had been mulling over for a number of years.

Of course, Star Trek fans would immediately recognize the reference: simulated environment or virtual reality location on a Starship or Starbase used for recreation, training and simulation purposes that incorporate safety protocol so no harm is done to the characters.

It wasn’t the beer talking, simply the realization that something had to be done. Smith felt, “the industry wasn’t doing enough to help people understand how equipment works.

Workers don’t understand consequences of actions.”

“We realized we couldn’t build a Holodeck with what we had, but we did start on that long road,” said McNulty.

A long road, indeed— and a dream that seemed light years away for McNulty, now 53, and Smith, 58.

“In the beginning— the truth is, we were subject matter experts— we knew how to convey info and teaching in a way that transferred knowledge but wasn’t that effective. We could get them to do the job, but not in terms of regulation and understanding the dangers so they didn’t put themselves at risk and damage equipment.” McNulty admits that workers were easily trained to do the job, but

efficiency was dodgy. To reduce risk on the oil rigs, the workers really needed to understand some of the process engineering theory: “the physics principles like temperature and pressure.”

McNulty cites the example of using a cyclone process by pumping a mixture of water, minerals and ore into a hole using a centrifugal force. The possible consequence of not being able to totally visualize what’s going on inside could be catastrophic. “Not fully grasping the principles could lead to assumptions that could prove to be harmful both to individuals and equipment.”

Typical training methods tried pictures and drawings and even video to illustrate simple tasks, but they weren’t enough. Workers do not work by themselves… they work as a team and the whole system is set up as a process.

“It’s like an assembly-line and there is a sequence of events that needs to occur. One person cannot pull lever A until another sequence along the critical path

was complete. They needed to learn within the context of a crew.”

Other challenges that sometimes hampered effective training included a heavily unionized environment, the maturity level of the individuals and language barriers.

Furthermore, regulatory pressures became more stringent under Bill C45 which grew out of the mining disaster.

There were new regulations around due-diligence and competency-based training. The onus was on employers to demonstrate their training delivery with respect to protecting workers, or risk penalty. At the same time, the video game industry was starting to drive the enhancement of video technology, and oil prices were ramping up.

Timing couldn’t have been better. The challenge was to convey the benefits to business to fund the development of this technology. Smith shopped it around with limited success.

“It was a challenge to sell vapourware,” he says, referring to a system or software that, while conceptualized, hadn’t yet been developed. They did manage to get into some Calgary boardrooms. “We have this really cool gaming technology,” he would tell the assembled executives. “But we were promptly shown the door.”

When they switched to the simulation angle rather than games, people showed more interest—just not enough to buy in. Even when Smith and McNulty built a proof of concept that was mostly video-based, it didn’t fully convey the idea.

The partners needed a cheerleader… and found one Terry Smith and in Gordon Vivian, Kevin McNulty president of Concord Well Servicing.

Vivian, a pilot, understood flight simulators and how they added to the learning process… and how the concept could be applied in the service rig industry.

Concord was able to provide subject matter expertise.

Smith and McNulty brought in game designer experts and instructional Continued on page 14

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“If you look at the top ten performing stocks of last year, the ones that are doing very well, five or six of them are life science companies.

Because people still get sick, people still need to be treated.

People, if they have an additional dollar, probably want to spend it on a quality of life.

So these are companies that I expect will continue to do well despite the economic meltdown.” ~ Juan Enriquez in Edmonton, 2009

By Cheryl Croucher

L

ife sciences are the underpinning of the new economy. This is a view espoused by American venture capitalist and life sciences guru Juan Enriquez and it’s a pillar of the new innovation framework the provincial government is formulating.

It’s the kind of talk that puts a smile on Ryan Radke’s face. As president of BioAlberta, his job is to both promote and support the development of a life sciences industry in the province.

“We realize—and I think the current government realizes—that oil will not sustain Alberta forever. We do need to diversify the economy. And I think life sciences, ICT, some of these innovative sectors are ways we can diversify our economy. But we need to set the groundwork so these industries can be successful.”

Established in 1999, BioAlberta is an industry association representing over a hundred life sciences companies in

BRIEFS

Alberta. Their interests cover the full gamut of biotechnology.

Alberta’s life sciences sector is rooted in the research of pioneers like Dr. Ray Lemeiux, Dr. Bob Church, and Dr. Tony Noujaim. And Radke credits the creation of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research in the 1980s by Premier Peter Lougheed as critical to the evolution of the industry.

“That drove a lot of innovation, a lot of research within this province and funded a lot of opportunities at the university that later spun out into companies.”

Radke now sees a diversification from the traditional ‘drugs-andbugs’ perspective of biotechnology into applications that impact every aspect of our lives. “What we’ve seen probably in the last five years

Ryan Radke

Gordon McKinley

Ken Bautista and Jason Suriano

On-line products cash in at

VenturePrize

competition

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AST GROWTH WINNER

The prize for the 2009 TEC VenturePrize Business Plan Competition goes to a start-up company with an educational, web-based children’s game.

CIE:SeekYourOwnProof.com is the brainchild of Ken Bautista and his partner Jason Suriano. The two young entrepreneurs parlayed their backgrounds in education, history and museums into a game that is rooted in spy chasing and sleuthing. Kids register on-line to play with cyber agents at the Central Institute for Exploration—CIE—and their sleuthing territory is the hidden treasures of our museums.

Bautista believes the company has huge potential for growth. “Our big market is going to be kids in the States. There are 10 times as many kids in the U.S. than there are in Canada. And so part of our market strategy now is keying on major cities in the U.S. that do have a large concentration of museums… a lot of young 10 to 13 year olds who are interested in becoming agents there. And so we think there is a lot of growth potential because there are 11,000 museums in the U.S. alone.”

Bautista says the $90,000 award in cash and services the company receives for winning the VenturePrize Fast Growth category will go toward marketing CIE: SeekYourOwnProof.com

S

TUDENT WINNER

Pets are great except when you have to travel. And it’s not always easy finding a kennel to look after Fido at the last minute.

Well, that may soon change with the creation of KennelSeek.com.

This Internet based reservation system for pets is the invention of student entrepreneur Gordon McKinley. And it’s the winner of the 2009 TEC VenturePrize Business Plan Competition for Students.

McKinley estimates, “The online market is a $100-billion market in U.S. and Canada, so the growth is almost unlimited, really. And then the pet care

provider market is $3.5-billion a year— so yeah, the sky’s the limit.”

McKinley is taking a Masters of Engineering degree at the University of Calgary. His business plan beat out student competitors from across Alberta.

He believes entering VenturePrize competition helped him hone his business and presentation skills. “We had a boot camp and had lots of training doing that. Without all that training, I definitely would not have won the competition. “ McKinley says he will use the $6,000 prize to develop more features for his KennelSeek.com service. √ ~ Cheryl Croucher EDMONTONIANS JUNE 2009

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is it’s expanding more out of the medical application, which is still a good core strength, and into medical devices, agricultural biotechnology, nutraceuticals, functional foods, and more lately on industrial and environmental applications.”

Among Alberta’s current biotech stars is Cold-fx, a biologically based medication to prevent colds. Developed

by Dr. Jackie Shan at the University of Alberta, and one of a series of products from the spinoff company CV Technologies, Cold-fx has been flogged by hockey celebrity Don Cherry and is available in retail stores across North America.

There are many other companies anxious to step into the spotlight as they move from initial discovery through the trials and tribulations of commercialization. One such rising star is Picomole Instruments which is developing a diagnostic tool that will detect disease based on a chemical analysis of your breath.

The road to commercialization is a long and hard one. As Radke observes, “This is an industry that is actually fairly dependent on capital injections to get the companies going.

Many of the larger drug discovery companies can easily take 10 to 15 years to get a product to market. It can take about a billion dollars to get there. That’s a pretty substantial commitment if you are going to get your product along the commercialization pathway.”

The current economic environment is a challenge. Banks, venture capital, and public markets are tight as people hang onto their dollars. Says Radke, “Many companies over the last year have realized it is a tough time for financing and they’ve had to make a few changes within their business strategy to accommodate for that.”

He points out the importance of helping companies to not only survive in this climate, but also to encourage them to stay in the province or attract investment to Alberta.

One initiative that has taken years to put in place is the Science, Research and Experimental Development tax credit.

“All of the other provinces in Canada have a program like this to help sustain early stage companies. We have not had

anything in Alberta. It was implemented in January 2009.

So that’s a positive step and, really, what that does is bring us up to that baseline of being equitable with other provinces across Canada. And when you’re talking about where a company should locate, if you don’t have that equitable stance with the rest of the world, you’re not going to attract those innovative companies to locate.”

As Radke explains, if a company spends $4 million on research and development, it can access 10 percent of that back as an SR&ED tax credit: “about $400,000 back to the company to help further their R&D, provide more jobs, and essentially move the company forward.”

Hooking up inventors with investors is a critical component to building a viable life sciences industry in Alberta. So several times a year, Radke and BioAlberta make their presence known at biotechnology conferences around the world.

At the end of May, he hosted 29 Alberta companies at Bio 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. The largest biotech event in the world, it attracted more than 20,000 scientists, executives, investors and industry leaders from over 60 countries.

For events like this, BioAlberta organizes the delegation for the pavilion and the tradeshow so participating companies can showcase their products and expertise. Most importantly, there’s the networking and meetings with the who’s who of life sciences.

Radke recalls that, at last year’s Bio 2008 in San Diego, “We had a couple of companies who put in a lot of homework prior to the event. Over the course of the three days, they got to probably 120 meetings. So it’s very intense.”

The payoff is worth it. “You may be looking for a certain service provider or partner, someone who can move a certain product forward in its development. But many times our companies are looking for that big partner. They may be looking for a Merck or Frosst or Pfizer. So really it comes down to partnering, investor relations, looking for investment or, for some of them, selling products and services.”

Ken Brizell

On the JUNE

The global competition in life sciences is fierce and Alberta’s companies are up against giants like Dupont, Johnson and Johnson, and Pfizer. Radke acknowledges that it’s especially tough for those in contract research or contract manufacturing. “They’ve got to be pushing really hard right now to drive new contracts, to stay cost competitive. And you’ve got to offer the same services as the neighbour south and the neighbours across the ocean.”

But, ever the optimist, he also has this to say about the current economic environment as it relates to Alberta’s emerging biotechnology sector.

“It makes it very tough, but there’s always opportunity.

There’s always something. If a company is in the right mindset, has the right product, has the right service, they can always find some point of differentiation. And because it is such a global market, there are always niche markets where they can fit in to provide their service or product.”

When thinking about what the future holds for the biotechnology industry in Alberta, Radke sees life sciences integrated into all parts of the economy.

The development of biofuels and the use of microorganisms in processing will change the oil and gas industry. Biotechnology will improve environmental remediation. New foods and bio-based processing will enhance preventive medicine.

“This is very exciting to me,” says Radke. “I think those types of applications could be outstanding—and they’re going to impact the end use and everybody involved.” √ www.bioalberta.com To hear Cheryl’s conversation with Ryan Radke, visit www.innovationanthology.com Cheryl Croucher hosts Innovation Anthology which is broadcast on CKUA Radio at 7:58 am and 4:58 pm Tuesdays and Thursday. Or download the podcasts at www.innovationanthologyy.com

HORIZON

June 1 2009 ASTech Awards Nominations Deadline www.astech.ab.ca

TINY MACHINES draw Scientists

S

to Edmonton

cientists from 20 countries gathered in Edmonton recently for the 15th World Micromachine Summit, sponsored by ACAMP, the Alberta Centre for Advanced MEMS and Nanotechnology Products.

According to Ken Brizell, ACAMP’s CEO, tiny micromachines operate at near atomic scale. They are a functioning part of many products, from GPS systems to Nintendo Wii to lab-on-a-chip technology.

As well, advances in micromachine technology have great potential for harnessing new energy sources and reducing environmental degradation.

For example, says Brizell, “There are new technologies that are being created right now for molecular level solar energy where you are putting down solar cells onto plastics, you’re rolling it out and making large sheets of plastic.

Basically, you can cover large areas and have solar panels to generate energy back to your homes and businesses.”

Brizell also points out developments in micro and nanotechnology have particular application to Alberta’s oil sands. These advances will help reduce water usage, tailings pollution, and enhance recovery of bitumen. √ ~ Cheryl Croucher

June to September DaVinci: The Genius An Inspirational Exhibition Telus World of Science 11211 – 142 Street www.edmontonscience.com June 6 10th Annual Eco-Solar Home Tour Noon to 4 pm Locations available on website www.ecosolar.ca June 9-11 Global Petroleum Conference Building a Sustainable Future Cohosted by PTAC Guest moderator Peter Mansbridge In Calgary Register: www.pretroleumshow.com

June 23 The Future of Nanotechnology Lecture presented by Dr. Paul Burrows Author and inventor from Washington State Hosted by Alberta Ingenuity University of Alberta Room 117 ETLC RSVP by June 18 Email: RSVP@albertaingenuity.ca Phone: 780-702-2725 June 23-26 Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry Hosted by Tappi and Alberta Ingenuity www.tappi.org

JULY July 21 Business Link Networking Event 2:30 to 4 pm #100, 10237 – 104 Street www.canadabusiness.ca/alberta/events

June 16 Business Link Networking Event 2:30 to 4 pm #100, 10237 – 104 Street www.canadabusiness.ca/alberta/events

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Continued from page 11 designers. They went through a rigorous task analysis process, identified desired learning outcomes and built a system—a combination of gaming technology and video—that optimized the learning experience. It became apparent that immersive simulation technology would be the ideal solution from an instructional design process.

Finally, in 2007, their vision became a reality. The Service Rig Training system was unveiled at their Coole Immersive offices in Edmonton Research Park. It comprises complete modules for junior and senior floor hands, derrick hands and operators. In addition to almost 60 competency-based work methods for each of the four positions, the program includes an illustrated, interactive glossary of over 700 service rig industry terms.

What’s unique is that their system is based on Serious Games, using immersive simulation technology.

During an e-media course in 2001, McNulty was introduced to Serious Games, a software application

employing game technology and game design principles for the primary purpose of training, marketing, simulation or education. “It was something the U.S. military was using to convey learning and knowledge in a way that wasn’t done before.”

McNulty says to think of it as a game where you are a first person shooter with the first person perspective. You are the avatar in the game; you control the avatar to pull levers and push buttons, interact with the equipment and become acquainted with a whole new vocabulary.

“You have a disembodied coach who’s directing you with voice to do a specific task. You follow directions and as you mouse over a piece of equipment you learn what it is on your coach’s instructions,” McNulty explains. To clean the threads on a pipe, you click on the pipe, select the option and you’ll see your hands wiping the threads. Then you inspect the threads. When you’ve completed the task, you can go on to the the next level.

“We use the scaffolding approach,

directing you each step of the way.”

This method helps build confidence.

Once a task is mastered, you can go into assessment mode, performing the task without the coach. The back end records metrics—completion time, accuracy times—and after you have achieved a certain level, you’re qualified to go into field to do hands-on training.

As training progresses, you become more engaged. While it doesn’t make you an expert, it definitely accelerates learning and time to competency. It will also make you more productive and safer in the field.

Having been involved in industrial training systems, both men agree the use of video gaming technology has taken training to a new level… “where no man has gone before.”

And it works.

Smith points out that the Canadian service rig industry experiences a staggering accident rate of approximately 50 percent for new hires in the first three months of employment. This figure drops to about five percent within six months.

“Our system created an unexpected outcome,” says McNulty. “The benefits of the training are evident within two to three weeks.”

“Using new workers trained on the Service Rig Trainer is like getting a worker with six months experience.

[These are the] best prepared new workers ever to set foot on a service rig,” says Shawn Primosch, rig manager at Concord Well Servicing.

McNulty and Smith have created their own Holodeck—a technology wonder.

The significance of “Coole” in Coole Immersive goes beyond chic. It’s a nod to the Irish heritage of both McNulty and Smith: It’s a place in Ireland, a park where literati like James Joyce hung out—and the word means “knowledge” in Gaelic. √ Greg Gazin, “The Gadget Guy”, is a serial entrepreneur, freelance technology columnist, small business speaker, an avid Podcaster and producer of Toastcaster.com.

Greg can be reached at 780.424.1881, gadgetgreg.com or greg@gadgetguy.ca

lifestyles

Visit Chef Johnʼs blog for this monthʼs recipes for Chef Feenieʼs Tuna Tataki

johnberry.wordpress.com

Got questions or comments on Lindaʼs project? Go to her blog: lindabodo.wordpress.com

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lifestyles LIVELY WALL q q q FLOWER

MENU

C

hef Rob Feenie is a Canadian food icon. He made his mark in Vancouver owning and operating Lumiere Restaurant, a true culinary leader in Canadian cuisine. He’s left the AAA Five Diamond Vancouver hot spot, and is now the corporate chef for the ever popular Cactus Clubs in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary.

While some may see that as a slight step down, you have to understand Chef Feenie: His passion is creating and experimenting. His creations are nothing short of brilliant. He is a true master at his craft.

In fact, he’s Canada’s only Iron Chef, defeating Masarharu Morimoto a Tataki nie’s Tun on Food Chef Fee TV’s Iron Chef America.

For the Cactus Club to snag him, and turn him loose in their test kitchen in Vancouver is either pure genius or the biggest stroke of luck to ever hit the chain.

Chef Feenie was in Edmonton recently to open our first Cactus Club at West Edmonton Mall. It’s a very elegant free standing structure, right next to Sears. The moment you walk through the doors you get a very distinct, yet subtle, West Coast feel.

From the Cactus fine art collection on the walls—boasting such artists as Andy Warhol, Jean Michel-Basquiat, Sol Lewitt, and Edmontonian Tony Baker—to the architectural lighting designs at around $5,000 a pop, it’s a warm and inviting atmosphere.

with Linda Bodo President and founder Richard Jaffray launched the casual dining concept, which embodies his Cactus Clubs, 20 years ago. Now with Chef Feenie, that concept is being redefined.

We sampled some of the mouthwatering items from lunch and dinner menus. By far the rave of the night was the pan seared scallop ravioli. It’s a Rob Feenie original: butternut squash ravioli, with seared scallops, truffle beurre blanc, amaretti and fried sage. Another delightful surprise was his BBQ duck clubhouse.

The duck is married with panseared chicken and prosciutto on pecan fruit bread with sea salted fries. Lunch entrees run from $12 to $23, and dinner entrees run from $12 to $31.

Judging from the evening, Cactus Club is now the place to b lu Cactus C be, and to be Kitchen seen. Don’t be surprised to see Chef Feenie pop out of the back. He’s in town every now and then, especially since he is NAIT’s first Chef in Residence in its renowned culinary arts program.

Be sure to visit my blog— https://livelylifestyles.wordpress.com/ —to view more photos from the opening, and Chef Feenie’s recipe for Tuna Tataki—seared tuna over green papaya slaw. Fantastic. √ For recipes, go to Edmontonians.com and visit the Lively Lifestyles Blog.

Contact Chef John Berry at jberry@edmontonians.com

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with Chef John Berry

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Magic

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atrick Blanc loves gardening but not the plant beds, containers, or hanging basket variety; he prefers to lush up building facades with vertical plantings known as living walls.

Blanc pioneered the idea of creating gardens that explode from upright planes, sending tendrils and arced flower stems into the empty air. The French botanist expertly Salad Wall weaves a green bedding mix that graces Parisian museums, Manhattan boutiques and Berlin department stores.

This type of cultivation is sometimes referred to as urban gardening, since it is well-suited to city environments where limited horizontal areas are endowed with generous vertical space. Scaled down, this standing garden is the perfect solution for balconies or petite outdoor footprints.

I did a little research and found a source that retails a 22” x 31” unit for a whopping $400. My version (same dimensions) combines coconut liners, cedar boards, stucco mesh and, yes, ice cube trays to create a similar unit that is sow inexpensive: around $50.

My Wall Flower is planted with lettuces and herbs which I keep near the kitchen door

all A living w

for fresh salads or aromatics.

But, it could easily morph into a floral masterpiece that Monet would envy.

Envision a living painting, abloom with low-growing annuals like ageratum, pansies or alyssum, or a variety of trailing plants/hanging basket stuffers that will mimic Blanc’s large-scale walls.

You’ll find my complete list of materials and tools, as well as step-bystep instructions and photos and scale drawings on my blog— https://livelylifestyles. wordpress.com This is an easy project that will take only a few hours to put together—and a full summer to enjoy. √ Linda Bodo is author of Enjoy Life Outside.

Visit www.absolutebodo.com for upcoming appearances and project demonstrations; view other DIY projects; or order her book.

Contact: lbodo@edmontonians.com Go to edmontonians.com and visit the Lively Lifestyles blog.

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