TBB April 2022

Port of Thunder Bay Expect Better Year!

INSIDE Stay here!The Best Western, Crossroads Hotel!

FedNor investments create jobs for local youth in Northern Ontario Lakehead presents professors, students and partners with Year of Climate Action awards for research projects

North Superior Publishing

@tbay25

So Much Snow This Year!

Boobie Candles Spark Awareness: New Mom Diagnosed with Breast Cancer has Important Message to Share with Young Women

PAGE 2

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL 2022

FedNor investments create jobs for local youth in Northern Ontario economy.

FedNor funding supports youth retention, community strategic planning, business growth and tourism Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario – FedNor Providing opportunities for young graduates and connecting organizations and businesses with a skilled and enthusiastic workforce is precisely what a Government of Canada internship initiative is doing in Northern Ontario. Since its inception more than three decades ago, FedNor’s youth internship initiative has helped create 1824 jobs for youth in Northern Ontario.

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, and Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay–Superior North, today announced a Government of Canada investment of $312,500 to create jobs for young Canadians while growing and strengthening Northern Ontario’s

Provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, this funding will support eight separate youth intern initiatives throughout the region designed to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, while supporting sustainable economic growth.

Specifically, the funding will enable the recipients to hire a youth intern with expertise in a specific field for a one-year period, helping the employer to advance key projects. For the full list of projects, please see Backgrounder.

With backgrounds in science, communications and marketing, the interns’ responsibilities range from assisting with the development of communication tools and social media strategies, strategic plan implementation, market research, and municipal asset inventory and analysis.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has provided more than $7.4 billion specifically to support young Canadians through these difficult

times. Budget 2021 went one step further by building on Canada's investments in youth with over $5.7 billion over the next five years to help young Canadians pursue and complete their education, and to create 215,000 new skills development and work opportunities.

Quotes “Providing talented young graduates with critical work experience in their chosen fields is one of the many ways the Government of Canada is helping to develop our workforce of tomorrow and stem the flow of youth out-migration in Northern Ontario. Through FedNor’s youth internship initiative, we are assisting business and community partners to adapt to the quickly evolving social and economic realities, and supporting efforts to strengthen Northern Ontario’s economy and create good jobs for Northern Ontarians.”

• The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, and Member of Parliament for Thunder

Bay–Superior North “We are excited to welcome our business development intern to the team who is assisting us to help complete and execute a marketing plan, modernize business processes and implement post-COVID-19 operating practices. In addition, conducting outreach and fostering partnerships will aid in growing the region’s tourism footprint.”

• Mark Howey, President, Board of Directors, Tri Town Ski Village Quick facts • The funding announced today is provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, which supports projects that promote sustainable community economic development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation.

• Since its inception more than three decades ago, FedNor’s youth internship initiative has helped create 1824 jobs for youth across Northern Ontario.

Lakehead presents professors, students and partners with Year of Climate Action awards for research projects Lakehead University has awarded seven research teams with Year of Climate Action awards worth $5,000 each, which they will use to explore various topics related to climate change.

The first team is looking at improving the role and organization of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) Tribal Council in wildfire evacuations, with a focus on supporting and advancing community self-care and selfdetermination.

The research team is gathering perspectives, experiences, and recommendations from KO service providers and community volunteers who played a role in the wildfire-driven evacuations of several KO communities in the summer of 2019 and 2021.

This will inform emergency management plans and help identify emergency management practices, policies, and systems that prioritize and honour First Nations self-care self-determination while fostering research partnerships between Lakehead University and Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council.

The research team is comprised of Dan Duckert, Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council/Lakehead University; Dr. Lindsay Galway, Department of Health Sciences at Lakehead Thunder Bay; Anjali Mago, Luke Smyk and Josh Taylor, all from Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council; and Donovan Parenteau, a Lakehead University student in the Faculty of Natural Resources Management.

Dr. Francisco Ramos-Pallares and his research team are looking into developing alternative low-carbon technologies to produce chemicals, which he said is paramount for minimizing the effects of climate change.

For instance, new bioprocesses have emerged to produce bio-based alcohols from biomass that significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to the traditional industrial processes based on the complex conversion of hydrocarbons.

“Currently, my research team and I are investigating the salting-out of alcohols from an aqueous solution. The underlying idea of salting-out is to separate alcohol from an aqueous liquid mixture by adding salt,” said Dr. Ramos-Pallares, Assistant Professor in

Chemical Engineering at Lakehead Thunder Bay. The goal of this project is to understand the physics and chemistry of salting-out and to

map the effect of the amount and type of salt added on the purity of the alcohol produced.

To do so, the research team is combining experimental data collection and simulation to shed light on the salting-out phenomenon.

The expected outcome is to produce a physically sound model for salting-out-related calculations suitable for the design and simulation of alcohol purification operations in biorefineries.

Dr. Ellen Field, Assistant Professor in Education at Lakehead Orillia, is working with Dr. Muhammad Asaduzzaman, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, on a research project called Benchmarking Climate Change Policies across Canadian School Boards.

The research project, which will run from January-September 2022, will involve developing a web scraping protocol to collect data on climate change policies from school board websites across Canada; quantifying the number of school boards that have developed climate change policies; and publishing a report on climate change policies across Canadian school boards.

Currently, there is limited data as to how the formal education system is responding to climate change, and Dr. Field notes that this study will determine existing policies within school boards.

“After analysis, the findings will indicate where gaps in policy exist both quantitatively, in terms of number of school boards with policies, and qualitatively, in terms of content in climate change policies for ensuring education systems are responsive to preparing young people for the rapid change and uncertainty they will face in the next 30 – 70-plus years,” she said.

Dr. Ahmed Elshaer, Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at Lakehead Thunder Bay, and his research team will develop tailored solutions to control the influence of climate change – particularly when it comes to the built environment.

“One of the expected impacts of climate change is strong wind events and harsher cold temperatures, which will affect various sectors of our community, such as the Indigenous regions and the mining industry,” Dr. Elshaer said.

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL 2022

Publisher’s Note Scott Sumner

PAGE 3

Covid 19, Ukraine and So Much Snow This Year!

The business community still has a long way to go to get back to normal operations. Supply chain disruption is still a big thing for many. Have a look around at some car lots where they have little to sell.

The local airport travel I understand is at about 40% of previous levels with fewer flights per day. That is an economic indicator of our economy as well.

As I am writing this column and looking out my window the snow is piled so high you wonder how long it will take to melt!

It’s spring and we just received over 50 cm of fresh wet snow. The neighbourhood is full of the sounds of snowblowers in operation. There is no grass in sight and it’s difficult to shovel or ride my snowmobile even with a long track. Snowmobiling in fresh deep snow is fun and tests your skills as a rider. The wet snow is more challenging. The snow shoveling is good exercise.

We seem to be turning the corner on COVID 19 at least according to some.

Mask requirements were lifted to some extent in Ontario and most people are vaccinated so that’s a good thing. I think I’ll still wear my mask in some indoor settings for awhile which is each persons prerogative. Always remember YOU are responsi-

ble for your health so do what feels right for you. Good health is our greatest gift.

The world is still experiencing Covid 19

variants and who really knows what we can expect in the coming months.

The war in Ukraine is so sad and unnecessary. The world had enjoyed some relative peace for a good period of time but that is gone now. Seeing the utter devastation of many parts of Ukraine is really heartbreaking and I’m glad Canada and most of the world is doing as much as possible to help.

It’s hard to know what to expect in the weeks ahead but lets hope for peace and the ability for the Ukrainian people to get their lives back.

How To Keep Your Skeleton Strong Osteoporosis is a disease which causes low bone mass and bone deterioration, or brittle bones. It is most common in people over fifty years old. This can lead to an increase in fractures. Osteopenia is the milder form of osteoporosis. Fractures from osteoporosis or osteopenia are more common than heart attacks, strokes and breast cancer combined. In fact, eighty per cent of fractures in menopausal women over fifty years old is due to osteoporosis.

The most common areas of fracture include the hips, spine, wrists, and shoulders. Data shows that a year after fracturing a hip, many older people are still unable to walk independently and more then half need help with daily living. In Canada, 28% of women and 37% of men who suffer a hip fracture from osteoporosis will die by the following year. So, it is very important to take measures that will help increase bone strength.

Bone is constantly remodeling throughout our lives. We form new bone and then we resorb or dissolve it and then rebuild it again. This healthy and normal process is very import to maintain bone integrity because microfractures and vascular changes can make bones weaker. Until we

reach our peak height, we are laying down more bone than we resorb. By our mid to late twenties, we reach our maximum bone mass so there is a balance between bone formation and resorption. This stays stable for women until they reach menopause and for men until about 50 years old. At this point men will loose about one per cent a year for the rest of their lives. For women, they will loose two to three per cent per year for five to eight years, at which time it levels off to one per cent, like men. Osteoporosis Canada recommends a bone density test at 65 years old for women and 70 years old for men.

So, what can a person do to either reduce the effects or prevent low bone mass?

Standard medical approaches and research supports four strategies which include: optimal intake of vitamin D and calcium, acid balancing diets and weight bearing exercises.

It is very well established that people with low levels of vitamin D and calcium have a high risk of fractures, especially if you are over seventy years old. However, doubling or tripling the recommended daily doses have mixed results from no increased benefit to possibly increasing fractures for vit D or kidney stones for Calcium. The daily recommended intake of vitamin D is 600 IU if you are under seventy years old and 800 IU over seventy. The recommended intake of calcium is 1000 mg per day if you are younger and 1200 mg per day for women over 50 years old and men over 70 years old. Keep in mind that this includes both what you consume in your diet and any supplementation. It requires a little time and calculation on your part to understand how much supplementation you may need, if any. You should always talk to your health professional about what is best for you.

Your diet is and will always be the biggest influence on how healthy you are and whether you need to supplement with extra vitamins and minerals. A typical North American diet is very acidic due to the high consumption of grains like bread, pasta, tortilla, rice, cereal, and proteins, all of which

produce acid. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables produce potassium bicarbonate and other alkali. High acid levels in your blood causes you body to dissolve bone in attempts to neutralize the acid. The solution then is to increase your fruit and vegetable consumption which is chronically below recommended levels for most of us.

Protein intake appears to be adequate, and it is not recommended to reduce it. Many older people already are low on protein intake but very high on simple carbohydrate intake such as breads, pastries, and sugar.

Bone cells are very responsive to gravitational force. This means that exercise in a standing (weight bearing) position is highly effective at improving bone mass. It is especially helpful for those bones that carry most of your body weight, including your

hip, spine, and leg bones. Any exercise while standing is good, walking, aerobics, weightlifting, elliptical trainers, stairs, dancing, etcetera. But it is important to realize that standing and puttering around all day is going to be more beneficial for your bones than doing a thirty-minute jog and then sitting all day.

As with every other chronic condition, your best chances of preventing and or reducing the effects of these diseases and maintaining a high quality of life is to stay active daily and consume a moderate diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins.

James DiGiuseppe is a local chiropractor with a busy family and wellness practice. For more health information or to contact Dr. DiGiuseppe visit: www.portarthurchiropractic.com

Next Issue:

Thunder Bay Business Main Topic: CONSTRUCTION Ad Copy Deadline APRIL 22,2022 Contact Sylvia @807-629-7599 www.thunderbaybusiness.ca

PAGE 4

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL 2022

Boobie Candles Spark Awareness: New Mom Diagnosed with Breast Cancer has Important Message to Share with Young Women Last year, Kailey Elvish was happily living her life as a newly wed with a baby on the way, then her world turned upside down. At only 33 years old, and in the third trimester of her pregnancy she discovered a lump in her breast.

“I figured it was related to my pregnancy but as time moved on, I knew something wasn’t right,” says Elvish.

Elvish soon found herself sitting in the Linda Buchan Centre taking on several tests to investigate exactly what was going on. Her son Griffin was born in November of 2021 and on December 27th she was diagnosed with Triple Positive Breast Cancer. “It was a lot at once. I was the mom of a newborn, and then the cancer.”

Since her diagnosis Elvish has been encouraging young women to check their breasts regularly and to take action if they sense something isn’t right with their body. “I was always under the impression I was too young for this, but in reality cancer doesn't care how old you are. It affects younger people too,” Elvish continues. “None of my family has had breast cancer. I’m healthy, so this was something we never expected. There is definitely a need to break the stigma that breast cancer is an older person's disease.”

Although she would describe herself as a private individual, Elvish knew she had to duty to tell her story and started sharing her cancer journey on social media. “Even if I could just help one person, it would be worth it. Early detection means early prevention.”

Elvish was completely overwhelmed by the amount of messages she has received from younger local women with similar stories, along with the outpour of community support which included a customized candle created by Waxxed Candle Co. Today Elvish helped the local candle boutique present a $4,000 cheque to the Northern Cancer Fund. Waxxed Candle Co. created pink champagne scented Boobie Candles for Kailey with a goal to help raise awareness and funds. Owner and candlemaker Kate Strange explains the cause hit close to home.

“Boobs, breasts, boobies, hooters, knockers, melons…what ever you call them, we want you to check them. I have family that have had mastectomies and had a recent scare myself. This was an opportunity to produce something that supports others and shed light on a young woman’s cancer journey,” says Strange. “Waxxed sold 200 Boobie Candles in a week!”

Strange describes the Boobie Candle as an ‘in your face approach’. “The candle labels all feature different types of drawn breasts, including the option to sketch your own. We want to make this a comfortable subject for young women to discuss and this is a way to connect. People really care about this stuff, but a lot of the time we're afraid to talk about it."

Elvish goes for her fourth round of chemotherapy on March 15th and will have surgery later in the spring. She remains motivated by her four-month old son. "This is a part of Griffin's story too— and one day I'll tell him all about it. He helped me find the cancer and continues to help me fight through it.”

“I hope the candles and my story will encourage other women to get screened for breast cancer, learn how to do proper self-exams at home and also let those who have been diagnosed know that they aren't alone in the fight.”

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL 2022

PAGE 5

Port of Thunder Bay Expect Better Year

BY SCOTT A. SUMNER

Thunder Bay BUSINESS I sat down with Tim Heney, CEO Port of Thunder Bay to talk about how the 2021 season was for the Port and what we can expect for 2022.

Tim how was the 2021 season for the Port of Thunder Bay? “ 2021 was kind of a mixed year for the Port.We had a significant downturn in grain shipments, although we didn’t suffer as much as some of the other Western Canadian ports. It was certainly down from prior years due to the harvest which was the worst in 14 years so that was a bit hard on the grain tonnage. However we had some pretty good success at Keefer.

We have been working on this fertilizer initiative and have had three shipments of that and another one coming in April which is inbound material which is unusual for the Port.”

“We also had had a lot of increases of steel from Europe, rail materials and quite a bit of dimensional cargo (modular buildings, transformers and big pieces of equipment going west) So it was a positive year for us at Keefer.”

“The port did pretty well overall because of the diversity of cargo. Grain will always be the most important as we are basically a grain port but we do others things to compliment it on an inbound basis. We are mostly export.”

How do you feel things will go for the 2022 season?

“This year is going to be better as we have continued fertilizer shipments, more pipe coming and wind turbines components which we haven’t seen for awhile. The fertilizer goes to the prairies. There are potash phosphates which come from Morocco as well some in the US. We have developed a supply chain from Morocco to Thunder

Bay. It used to come up through the US. This year we will start to see a surge in potash coming because Russia and Belarus are usually high in potash exports which will be affected this year. Canada is right up there with potash as well so we will be making up the losses from Russia. We are the only potash load Port on the Great Lakes. The potash comes from Saskatchewan.”

What are expectations for grain shipments this season? “ I think the grain will still be down because each harvest affects two years.

There wasn’t much left to ship so the spring and the summer could be a little slow. The drought conditions with little moisture on the prairies caused low grain growth.” “ Grain will be down at the start of the year but we will have to see how the harvest goes. Hopefully it will be a better year than last year. There will be a lot of demand and prices will be high because of the Ukraine conflict as they are big producers of grain, wheat and corn.They say they (Ukraine) feed 600 million people.The majority of the black soil or most fertile soil in Europe is in Ukraine. They have said they are not exporting this year as they need to feed themselves and are at war and the ports are all blocked. More grain is being planted this year in Canada as well.”

How could the Russia Ukraine conflict affect the Port? “ The price of oil is high which could affect the ships. On the other hand without shipping from Ukraine there may be a surplus of ships which could drive down the shipping rates which could offset the fuel prices.” “ The Port is affected by world events, no doubt about it. The world economy is in some trouble as high priced oil is a huge drag on the economy and can create

Tim Heney, Port of Thunder Bay CEO stagflation which is inflation with no growth. Inflation usually happens with growth. There could be affects on the world economy especially in Europe.”

Do you think Canada could export oil or energy products say to Europe? “ Liquefied Natural Gas ( LNG ) can be transported by ships. They have gas trains

which means the ships arrive everyday and are filled with LNG and can carry a large amount. They run these out of the US now but I’m not sure if we in Canada have an LNG plant of that capability with a pipeline. I think you will see all of our oil and gas go to the US, it always has. There may be more pipelines built as well to the US who are getting off Russian oil.”

PAGE 6

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL 2022

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL 2022

PAGE 7

Navigation Season Begins with Arrival of Two Vessels Two domestic “Laker” vessels arrived in the early morning hours Wednesday, March 30, marking the official opening of the navigation season in the Port of Thunder Bay. MV Michipicoten came abeam of the light

marking the Mission Bay entrance to the Port at 04:31 a.m. local time. MV Captain Henry Jackman crossed the North entrance at 05:04 a.m.

The Michipicoten, namesake of the river that empties into Lake Superior near Wawa, Ontario, achieved the honour of

being the Port’s Top Hat recipient for 2022.

A seasoned vessel on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway, this is the first time Michipicoten has received Thunder Bay’s Top Hat. Michipicoten is owned and operated by Lower Lakes Towing, subsidiary of Rand Logistics.

Both vessels are taking on grain shipments.

Michipicoten is currently receiving 9,000 metric tonnes of oats at Superior Elevator and will depart overnight for Toledo, Ohio.

The Michipicoten crew is led by Captain Adam Barnes and Chief Engineer Ralph Reeves.

Due to weather and other factors, a ceremony was not held.

A winner has been declared in the Port of Thunder Bay’s Top Hats 2022 Laker Contest. With a guess of March 30 at 04:30 a.m., Michael Hull was the closest to

the actual date and time of the first vessel’s arrival. The contest for guessing the first Saltie remains open. Details are available on the Port of Thunder Bay Facebook page and at portofthunderbay.ca/tophatscontest

PAGE 8

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL 2022

The Superior Way West The Port of Thunder Bay is the Western Canadian terminus of the St. Lawrence Seaway System, the largest inland waterway in the world. The opportunities are largely determined by the Port’s strategic role as it relates to the Seaway corridor.

The Port was built to provide access to European markets for Western Canadian grain producers through the longest grain

supply chain in the world.

An integral part of the Port of Thunder Bay’s strategy is expanding upon the successful project cargo corridor, facilitating the movement of dimensional cargo to and from Western Canada and international markets. The Port coordinates the activities of stevedores, trucking companies, equip-

ment operators, railways and fabricators to ensure that project cargo is handled efficiently and that shippers derive value out of shipping cargo via Thunder Bay, The Superior Way West.

The Port of Thunder Bay’s strategy is broadly defined by three strategic objectives: • Diversify and increase marine cargo • Invest in strategic infrastructure • Promote partnerships & engagement

Mission Statement To promote and invest in the efficient integration of marine, rail, and road transportation systems and to support economic development.

Vision Statement The Port of Thunder Bay and the Seaway is the preferred marine route for European trade with Western Canada. Thunder Bay Port Authority is an important facilitator of commerce in the region.

The mission and vision of the Port of Thunder Bay will be realized through the strategic objectives, which form a framework for decision-making. The Port strives to diversify cargoes to reduce

dependency on select commodities.

Continuing to expand the Port’s profile through strategic partnerships and promotion is critical to its success in a dynamic global market. The Port has prepared a significant 5-Year Capital Plan in strategic investments. This includes the expansion and reconfiguration of the general cargo terminal to capitalize on future cargo growth opportunities.

Port Facilities The Port of Thunder Bay has world-class facilities that efficiently handle 9 million tonnes of cargo annually. Facilities include: • 8 grain elevators • 3 dry bulk terminals • 2 liquid bulk terminals • 1 general/project cargo terminal • 1 shipyard with drydock

Port Services Thunder Bay is a full-service port operating around the clock from season-open in mid-March to season close in January.

Port services include: • Two Class 1 Railways (CN & CP) • Highway Transport • Tug Operations • Stevedoring • Inspection & Testing • Ship Repair & Drydocking • Cargo Fabrication • Crane Rental & Operation • Ship Agents • Diving Services

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL 2022

PAGE 9

PAGE 10

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL 2022

Top Six Selling Bloopers and How To Avoid Them Sports bloopers often about preventable errors that favor the other team. The classic is when players score against their own side. In the world of business, there are similar blunders – particularly during buying conversations with potential customers – that end up favoring the competition. As I explain in my seminars for sales teams, it’s not always a shortfall in your company’s product, price, or service that ruins a potential sale. Often it’s inadvertent comments that put customers off just enough for them to choose your competitor.

Unfortunately, sales reps are usually unaware they commit these offenses so they keep repeating them. See if you or your team members ever make these top six selling gaffs.

1. Insulting their intelligence Let’s assume that if a customer is in a position of authority in their company (meaning they are trusted to make significant buying decisions) they must be somewhat streetwise and smart. That means that any kind of pushy, manipulative sales approach is going to backfire. You need to enter a buying conversation presupposing that this customer is an intelligent, well intentioned grown-up. Your comments should include a healthy dose of, “You probably already know…”, “At your level,

you’ve likely experienced…”, “For you this is obvious; the challenge is your staff may not be aware…”

tion is tantamount to telling the customer that he or she made a bad choice. (See point #1 – insulting the customer).

2. Not Listening

4. Ignoring objections

Contrary to popular opinion, the most important part of a sales pitch is not your value proposition. The most important part of a pitch is demonstrating your understanding of that specific customer’s unique circumstances. That requires asking pointed questions that help customers see for themselves where there are opportunities for improvement. Then verify your understanding with statements like, “Sounds like you…(summarizing their situation).”

If you propose a solution that ignores a customer’s objection or concern, you are essentially saying that you weren’t listening (see point #2 – not listening). That requires being transparent in how your proposal either addresses their concerns, or it provides extra value that could outweigh their concerns. The key is we shouldn’t pretend we didn’t hear or value their initial objections.

3. Insulting the competition If your potential customer is currently doing business with your competitor, it’s fine to compare your offerings, but be careful not to criticize the competition.

After all, the customer decided to do business with them. So slamming the competi-

5. Being a know it all It takes time and effort to gain trust. Yet it’s so easy to lose. It happens when we stray out of our own area of expertise and claim to be an expert in… politics, sports, raising kids, the weather, you name it.

Ironically, one of the easiest ways to gain trust is to quickly admit ignorance about anything the customer seems to know a lot about. Showing respect by deferring to your customers’ knowledge and expertise helps them become more receptive to yours.

6. Ignoring the influencer It’s easy to focus on the key decision maker – presumably the economic buyer.

After all, they are the people who will approve the payment. And yet by focusing on that ‘bag of money’ we are inadvertently insulting the people who may have more say in the matter than anyone. The father of the bride may be paying the bill, but imagine the consequences of a wedding planner ignoring the wishes of the bride and her mother! (We all know the groom has no influence – he just needs to do what he’s told). The lesson is no one should feel like they’re being ignored.

Bottom line – Effective selling has less to do with pushiness and manipulation, and more to do with good manners and respect.

Talk less. Listen more. Allow your competitors to blunder their way out of their customers’ good graces and send them into your capable hands. Here’s to you not dropping the ball.

Jeff Mowatt is a customer service strategist, Hall of Fame speaker, and bestselling author. For more tips, training tools or to inquire about engaging Jeff for your team visit www.JeffMowatt.com

THE EASTER BUNNY AND THE LAW ©2022 Brian Babcock The law is all around us, even doing its best to ruin fond memories of fuzzy-tailed favourites of childhood.

“How can this be?” you ask, after all

the Easter Bunny, unlike its real-life cousins, is not a thief, it brings treats to children and chocolate lovers of all ages.

Well:

1 References to the Easter Bunny abound in child custody cases allocating Easter access.

Legal Matters 2 Foster parents ended up in court arguing with the children’s aid society over whether they ought to promote the concept of the Easter Bunny to their foster children. The judge pointed out that the case was not about the existence of Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.

3 A justice of the peace suggested that you would have to believe in fictional characters like the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus to release the accused on bail. What a grinch.

4 An accused was convicted of trafficking for drugs she had purchased to share at an Easter party.

She testified that she had set aside

money to hire an Easter Bunny entertainer. Sad. 5 A speaker at an international law conference denied that believing in international laws like believing in the Easter Bunny. Right, because the Easter Bunny is real.

6 A judge determined that a child’s belief in the Easter Bunny did not prevent her from testifying in court because believing in a fictional character is different from not understanding the difference between truth and fiction. This is a good thing for us adults who believe in the Easter Bunny.

7 A party seeking that the judge removed themselves from a case referred to the judge’s appointment as a “ judicial Easter Bunny gift” . The court was not amused.

8 A workers compensation case uses the example that daffodils and Easter bunnies are prevalent at the same time of the year and rare at other times of the year as an example that association between them that does not involve causation.

9 An Ontario worker sought compensation for arm problems caused by working on the Easter bunnies assembly line.

10 A shoplifter was noted look at the Easter bunnies on display, but it was a chocolate bar that he stole. Like him, I often have a hard time deciding it is time to eat the Bunny.

All of us at Weilers Law hope that whatever you believe about the Easter Bunny, you enjoy a good April and that spring weather arrives soon.

Please think of us if you need legal services.

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL 2022

PAGE 11

Stay here!The Best Western, Crossroads Hotel!

By Sherry Hanes Appropriately named, the Best Western Crossroads Hotel, in Thunder Bay, is a most conveniently located, cost saving, great place to stay, for your family, friends or business accommodation needs.

You don’t necessarily have to be travelling to stay at the Best Western Crossroads Hotel…you may be a student who is await-

ing for your residency or a practitioner needing a few days for staying in the city as you are needed at the hospital, or you may be just waiting for a renovation to be completed of your private home, apartment or condo. No matter what the reason, the Best Wester Crossroads Hotel is here to serve you and provide for you, all the comforts of a ‘home away from home’.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts is a global network of approximately 4,700 hotels in 100 plus, countries and territories. Their Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Best Western Hotels & Resorts is proud to welcome over 400,000 hotel guests worldwide every night.

The rooms/suites, at the B/W Crossroads Hotel, are attractive, clean and as we mentioned earlier, so conveniently located, to just about anything you desire. Only five minutes to the Thunder Bay International Airport, a mall anchored by Walmart and Metro Grocery Store. Also, there is TD Bank, CIBC Bank, Scotia Bank, Canadian Tire Store and two Tim Horton’s withing walking distance. Car rental outlet, gas stations, Chinese restaurants, convenience stores, Boston Pizza, pharmacies, LCBO, on the main bus line and sooooo much more!

The Crossroads Hotel sits at the intersection of Canada’s Major highway to the West, Hwy 17 West, and to the East, Hwy 17 East and also South, to the U.S. Hwy 61, at Pigeon River, entering into Minnesota, via Grand Portage.

The Best Western Hotels and Resorts are World Wide accommodation specialists that understand customers and how just to keep them coming back and back to their line of this Brand of accommodation. Word of mouth has always been the best reviews and reviews are what this hotel chain invites, so you can tell all your friends, family and business acquaintances about your experience with Best Western and especially, this Best Western…B/W Crossroads Hotel.

Manager, Stuart Bagnel, has been providing, without fail, some of the best restful and stress-free stays in Thunder Bay for years now and he invites everyone, to come and stay for the rest and come back for that feeling of ‘home’. Anyone can say, ‘we treat

you just like family’ but, the people at this hotel, really do treat you like family!

They provide amenities, plus!

100% smoke-free hotel. Complimentary continental breakfast, choice of breads, cereal, fruit, eggs, yogurt, juice, coffee, hot oatmeal, fried eggs, sausage patties. Fitness Center Open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. equipped with a treadmill, elliptical machine, exercise bike, weight machine, exercise ball and mats, Universal gym, Stationary bike, Treadmill. Elevator and Interior corridors. Safe deposit box and Safes in each room. Free wireless internet access available in public areas and all guest rooms. Business center, 24-hour, network/Internet printing, pc and printer available, Internet connectivity. High speed Internet and wireless access.

Printer available, Fax services, Fax machine, Computer available.

84 rooms that provide Coffee/tea maker, Free local calls under 30 minutes, Free long distance access, Air-conditioning, AM/FM alarm clock, Hairdryer, AM/FM radio stereo, Microwave, Refrigerator, Iron, ironing board, Desk/work area, High-speed Internet access wireless in all rooms, also hard wired on the business floor, Direct dial telephone,

Speaker phone, Voice mail Non-smoking Rooms: 84, Visual alarms.

Photocopy, nominal fee Photocopy machine, Data ports, Courier Shipping. Cold weather

hook-ups, Ice/vending machines.

The Best Western Crossroads Hotel, located at, 655 Arthur Street W. Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7E 5R6, Canada.

PAGE 12

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS APRIL2022