Profiles of Excellence

E NEW WESTMINSTER PROFILES OF

Excellence

2013 EDITION

E NEW WESTMINSTER PROFILES OF

Excellence

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” – ARISTOTLE Welcome to the inaugural edition of New Westminster Profiles of Excellence, a very special publication of the New Westminster Record.

With this edition of Profiles of Excellence you can scan each photograph and bring it to life with augmented reality. Each image in this magazine has been enabled with Layar.

Just download the Layar app, hover your iPhone, Android smartphone, iPad or tablet over each image to bring it to life with a video.

The women and men profiled in these pages come from a wide variety of backgrounds, education, experience and expertise. What they all share is what Aristotle described in the quote above: a commitment to excellence – an attribute that is not born, but bred in training and repetition, in years of service to their profession and to their community.

The awards these business leaders have earned are hallmarks of excellence, but the most important mark of excellence is the respect and loyalty of their customers.

As you will discover in these pages, New Westminster is a community steeped in excellence in a great many fields. We are very proud to present these Profiles of Excellence and look forward to many more editions in the years to come.

Brad Alden, Publisher, New Westminster Record

2013 EDITION

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Douglas College City of New Westminster Tracey Davies, Real Estate Professional Champagne Taste Home Consignment Accurate Lock, Safe and Alarm One Source Productions McLaren Trefanenko Inc. McQuarrie Hunter LLP Dublin Castle Neighbourhood Grill Hot Yoga New Westminster Southern Railway of BC Urban Academy Royal City Youth Ballet Gary Pooni, Brook Pooni Associates Inc.

Lara Graham

Jennifer Kastelein Christina Myers

DIRECTOR Of SALES & MARKETING

Kevin Hill & Lisa King

project leader

PhotographerS

editorial

For inquiries regarding the 2014 edition of Profiles of Excellence, please contact The New Westminster Record display@royalcityrecord.com or call 604.444.3451

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Douglas College

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lan today, be ready for tomorrow.

That could be the motto at Douglas College – for the institution itself as it continues to innovate and grow, and for the student body, who are being prepared with the tools they’ll need to step into the work world and reach for success.

“It is a great time to go back to school,” said Scott McAlpine, president of Douglas College. “Our 10 post-degree diplomas provide a new set of skills to students who hold bachelor’s degrees but require that extra boost to help them launch their desired career.”

McAlpine notes that there’s been plenty of debate lately about the value of a post-secondary education – yet the data is clear: there are not enough British Columbians getting the education they need to keep up to the jobs. That includes the trades, which have seen a resurgence in popularity as an educational choice, but also everything from human resources specialists, to managers and social workers – jobs that require a college or university degree or diploma.

McAlpine said Douglas College has been focused on growth over the past several years, specifically to address those demands – opening up more seats and offering new and unique programs.

“Douglas is growing as an applied institution and we are getting better and better at meeting our students’ needs,” he said. “We give them both on-the-ground skills and the academic knowledge to support them – two crucial components to turning out graduates who are ready to hit the

ground running.” Current programs on offer are as diverse as the student body: psychiatric nursing, business administration, performing arts, marketing, accounting, hospitality management, animal health technology and criminology, to name just a few.

There are also a variety of continuing education programs available through Douglas College.

Over the past three years, Douglas has added seats for more than 1,000 new students, and moved faculties between their New Westminster and Coquitlam campuses to help accommodate growth in both locations.

And more growth is yet to come.

McAlpine said they’re in the beginning stages of looking at a major expansion for the New Westminster campus and Coquitlam is expected to see more enrolment as the Evergreen SkyTrain line is built and improves transportation options.

“It is a great time to go back to school. Our 10 post-degree diplomas provide a new set of skills to students who hold bachelor’s degrees but require that extra boost to help them launch their desired career.”

They’re working with the province to expand applied degree and diploma offerings, and teaming up with business in the region to partner for applied research projects. As well, they’re working with post-secondary partners to improve course transfer options and to improve and increase student mobility.

McAlpine sees the role of Douglas College as a bridge – to help fill the education gap, but also to provide a path for students to change their goals and dreams into a positive future.

With some planning today, students – and B.C. – will be prepared for the future.

PHOTO: Scott McAlpine, president of Douglas College, photo by David Denofreo

Working teachers can up their skills with a Graduate Diploma in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Photo by David Denofreo.

Douglas College 700 Royal Avenue New Westminster, BC 604-527-5400 www.douglascollege.ca

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City of New Westminster

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t’s been a good year for the City of New Westminster – and there’s more to come.

Over the course of 2013, the City received several awards recognizing excellence across a spectrum of departments for work as wide-ranging as park development to social planning.

Mayor Wayne Wright says there are two key factors in the success they’ve had – the people working inside City Hall, and the residents living across the city.

“Quite frankly, I couldn’t be more proud of the staff who are here, and who are stepping up to do things that make a difference,” he said. “We’ve got great leadership in our departments, and a lot of pride for staff from top to bottom. We have skillful people, interested people, passionate people.”

But the flip side of the coin, he says, is the city itself.

“This is a growing place, a community of choice, and it’s just getting better,” he said. “The people here really are invested in what happens – they get involved, they tell us what they think.”

So far the combination is working. The City won the Planning Institute of B.C. 2013 Award for Excellence in Planning Practice for its Child Care Strategy, the 2013 Downtown Pinnacle Award for the development of Westminster Pier Park, and the 2013 NAIOP Award for Municipal Excellence in the Most Business Friendly category from the Vancouver Chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.

The City was also named a 2013 Green City Award finalist, for leadership in

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promoting a recycling program. For Lisa Spitale, the City’s Chief Administrative Officer, the awards speak to a culture of excellence that’s promoted and encouraged among city staff.

“It really points to the quality of the work, to the commitment to community consultation when working on public policy, it shows that we’re proactive and that we take these issues very seriously,” she said.

“This is a growing place, a community of choice, and it’s just getting better.”

She points to the example of the Planning Institute award that recognized the city’s efforts in creating a child care strategy.

“That is an example of having a City Council that is progressive, that sees city issues from a proactive view point, and then doing the work with the community to create something valuable,” she said. “Ultimately, the proof is in the pudding: what does it do for residents. The awards signal a certain culture of trying to do good work but what’s really at play is what the tangible actions are – that it’s a good place to live, a place to invest, a place that cares.”

For Spitale, it’s been an incredibly positive year for the city – but there are always new hills to climb and new challenges ahead.

“It’s a real reflection of the complexity of the work we do and of what it’s like to be a small urban historic city,” she said. “I say it every chance I get: I’m really proud of our team ... we have a community culture here of extensive collaboration, and that is going to continue. There’s more work to do, and more changes we can tackle and ways to improve.”

PHOTO: Mayor Wayne Wright, City of New Westminster, at Pier Park

Senior Social Planner, John Stark and Chief Administrative Officer, Lisa Spitale City of New Westminster 511 Royal Avenue New Westminster, BC 604-521-3711 www.newwestcity.ca

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Tracey Davies, Real Estate Professional

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eal estate, it seems, just runs in the blood for Tracey Davies. As the middle generation of what is now a family tradition, Davies says she’s not only proud to be following in her parents’ footsteps – but also to be watching her son now follow in hers. Equally special is the fact that it’s all taking place in her beloved hometown of New Westminster. “As a child, I remember outings with my Dad around New Westminster and we’d go five steps then stop to talk to someone then go another two steps bump into someone else and so on. I’d ask Dad if he knew everybody and he’d smile and say well maybe not everyone but I do know lots of people.”

Westminster and proudly serves the Greater Vancouver area. “I really enjoy my career which ensures a balance between family life and work.”

Her parents, Lowell and Anne Quesnel, have been licensed Realtors® in the Royal City for 43 and 25 years respectively; Anne worked as an assistant on the legal side with Lowell for the early years of his career before deciding to obtain her license as well.

Lowell is a Lifetime Member of the Medallion Club of the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board. Davies is consistently a Medallion Club Member in the top 10% of Realtors® of the same Board. Now, Davies’ son Sean is working with her as an assistant and will soon be a licensed Realtor® himself.

“Because of growing up as the daughter of Realtors®, it was just a part of our family life – we were always surrounded by it, and so I grew up being interested in it,” Davies says. “As far as I know, we’re the first three-generation family in real estate here.”

She says that being able to continue the family tradition in the Royal City, and having Sean work alongside her is just a wonderful opportunity and something she is excited about everyday. Tradition is something Davies (who was Miss New Westminster in 1984) knows a thing or two about – she’s still involved in the annual May Day events as a volunteer, and she and her parents sponsor both the Royal City Musical Theatre and the Salmonbellies. “We try to give back to the community, it’s a wonderful place and that’s important to us.”

She started out in the industry after an opportunity came up to work projects for her brother-in-law Dan Dawson, an award winning developer. Tracey specializes in re-sale real estate in New PHOTO: Sean Davies and Tracey Davies

“I think when you are working in a field that you enjoy, the pieces all come together. When you get up each day and are excited for what’s happening you can’t ask for more than that.

New Westminster is just a wonderful welcoming community and for homebuyers it makes sense, it’s very good value. The parks and recreation facilities are awesome, the schools are great, it’s centrally located. There are lots of strong traditions here - that is very important to people.”

Most important of all, she says, is what she hopes to give her clients: an individualized, personal experience finding their perfect home, or selling the family home. “It can be a stressful time for people, and it’s very important to me to be a good listener and find out what’s really important to them, what their goals are, and make it all come together,” she said. “When I hear back from clients that they had that positive experience, that means everything.”

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“When you are able to assist others and really enjoy your career you can’t ask for more than that!”

Tracey Davies, Real Estate Professional Park Georgia Realty Ltd. #BC - 435 North Road Coquitlam, BC 604-421-7275 www.traceydavies.com

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Champagne Taste Home Consignment

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or sisters Peggy Bellerive and Judy Wyker, there’s one thing above all others that has made their unique business bloom with success from the very beginning: people. And that includes not just their most loyal customers – many of whom come back to Champagne Taste year after year – but the entire community of New Westminster.

“Our business is absolutely built on relationships,” says Bellerive. “It’s about the people. ... Customer service is our strength, it’s our motto, it’s our everything. That’s number 1.” Wyker agrees: “It’s a different sort of experience shopping here than at a big chain store.

Our customers like that.” The city, too, has welcomed them with open arms, they say, since the doors first opened at the store at the corner of Royal Avenue and 11th Street in 2002.

“The reason we came to New Westminster was that it had such a sense of community – being here has been our biggest asset, no doubt. We’ve been embraced by the community and we love them right back,” said Bellerive. “This is a good town for small business: if you treat your customers well, they treat you well back. It’s very rewarding.”

Champagne Taste began as a high-end consignment store offering quality furniture and accessories; over time, the focus has shifted, with new items now mixed in amongst the consignment pieces. It’s an eclectic, stylish mix of home furnishings and decor, with new things coming through the door all the time. “When we started, we were primarily consignment – furniture and vintage items and collectibles. We’re at least 50 per cent new now. The cus-

tomers love it, because what we look for is the strongest possible value for them.” Wyker says that “freshness” keeps customers coming back over and over – and telling their friends to do so as well. “The consignment aspect really keeps the store interesting – there’s always new things to look at.” For that savvy shopper, there are amazing, quality items with good value.

The sisters decided to go into business together after a series of life changes for both of them: one decided it was time for a career change, the other was downsized from a longtime job. “I was in the U.S. at the time and had to part with a lot of things and took advantage of a consignment store in the U.S. – it was so great, and I thought ‘there isn’t really anything like this in B.C.”

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“Customer service is our strength, it’s our motto, it’s our everything.”

Both of them decided that the time was ripe to become their own bosses – and that they could turn the consignment store vision into something unique by taking it up a notch. They decided on a location in New Westminster and, with their special touch, the store was soon drawing customers from around the Metro Vancouver area. “We’re 20 minutes from anywhere really. Our customers make the trip here from all over the Lower Mainland” says Bellerive. “Sometimes people come looking for that one specific item; other times it’s to browse, get ideas, and find something new.”

With vaulted ceilings, skylight, and 5,000 square feet of shopping space – not to mention that continued focus on customer service - it’s no surprise that customers are willing to make the trip to find just the right piece for their homes.

PHOTO: Peggy (l) and Judy (r) in the showroom at Champagne Taste Home Consignment.

Champagne Taste Home Consignment 1101 Royal Avenue New Westminster, BC 604-524-6068 www.champagnetaste.ca

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Accurate Lock, Safe and Alarm

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ony Oljaca is a busy guy – and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

As the owner of Accurate Lock, Safe and Alarm in New Westminster, Oljaca oversees a team of nearly 70 employees including office staff, security monitoring call centre employees, locksmiths and technicians, all dedicated to providing top-notch security services to clients throughout the region.

“The reality is that a business is its people – we have employees who have worked here 10, 20, 40 years. We are our people and that’s what has made us successful – you have a quality team they’re going to give quality service,” he said.

Oljaca says many clients also appreciate that Accurate is a family-run and local business. “We’re actually one of the very few true family businesses left (in this field). In many instances you’re dealing with big corporations – people like knowing that we are an organization that has the family roots, that’s still here growing and providing what they need,” he said. “We’ve been here since 1968 – it was founded by my father, locksmithing originally, and has grown from there,” he said. “I’m the second generation and I’ve been here since 1986. I don’t think I’d do anything else.” What began as a small operation started by Tony’s father Mark, when New Westminster was still a mid-sized community, has grown immensely over the last 45 years.

The company maintains its headquarters in New Westminster on Sixth Street but also has satellite offices in Coquitlam, Burnaby and Langley, all to help support the growing demand from an ever bigger client base as

security technology changes. “We do everything – from a tiny little house to a major facility, locks to integrated access control with key fobs, video surveillance, security systems for businesses or private residence,” he said.

“We’re the complete security centre – we will do everything from your mechanical door lock to your integrated building systems.”

In all, the services Accurate provides includes a wide array of services depending on client needs: automotive locks and repairs, padlocks, high security locks, security systems, video surveillance, networked or standalone access control, elevator control, window and door locks, medical alert monitoring and fire monitoring – to name just a few. Nine mobile units, plus extensive experience on the part of staff, have given Accurate the ability to meet a spectrum of clients, from commercial to industrial and private.

Oljaca says it’s rewarding to see not just the growth of the company and get strong feedback from clients, but to see the team that makes it happen every day.

“It’s a family – our staff enjoy being here, we are very busy and that can be stressful but when you have good people working together and everyone doing what they need to, it makes it fun,” he said. “You can’t do this without the right people – if you want to do well, and grow, and really serve your customers 100 per cent, you need the right people,” he said. “We have that.”

Oljaca says he’s keen to see where the future takes them as security technology continues to innovate in new ways.

“You can’t stand still – you have to keep growing and staying on top of that.”

PHOTO: Mark Oljaca and Tony Oljaca, first and second generation of Accurate Lock, Safe & Alarm

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“The reality is that a business is its people … you have a quality team they’re going to give quality service.”

Accurate Lock, Safe and Alarm 439 Sixth Street New Westminster, BC 604-526-4291 www.accuratesecurity.com

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One Source Productions here’s no magic spell when it comes to operating a small business – but Carol and Michael Wierzbicki at One Source Productions seem to have taken a good lesson from fairy godmothers and genies in lamps that’s gone a long way in building continued success.

“Your wish is my command,” says Carol.

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That philosophy, combined with hard work, creativity, flexibility and a desire to provide customers with an incredible range of products has helped One Source Productions continue to grow and expand over the last half dozen years, with no signs of stopping any time soon. Carol and her then-husband Michael created One Source as a merger between two other companies in 2007 – an engraving company originally based in Richmond which they purchased in 2006, and Spectrum Graphics, a longtime New Westminster printer that Michael had been employed with since 1990 and which they also purchased in 2007. Bringing both companies under one name and one roof – on Twelfth Street in New Westminster – with experienced staff already under wing proved a recipe for success.

“There’s been ups and downs – it was a very good thing we were really diversified in what we offered during the (economic) crash of 2008-2009 because we might not have survived that otherwise. We kept busy and we kept going,” said Carol. She describes the business as a corporate branding specialist company – providing branded products as diverse as magnets, signs, t-shirts, mugs, pens and almost anything else one can imagine.

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“We do everything,” says Carol with a laugh. “I joke that I won’t make them breakfast but I can put their logo on the toast.” Just as importantly, that logo will be done quickly and correctly.

“We will bend over backwards to meet what they need and if it’s not done right, we will continue till it’s done right,” she said “I think customers feel like they’re part of the family, we’re easy to deal with, we’re happy – it’s a good environment here.”

The company’s size has allowed them to provide products not just to customers directly, but to other printing companies who want to expand their own offerings. Being based in New Westminster has been a convenient central location, with most of their customers in the Metro Vancouver area.

But it’s also part of what makes the business a pleasure to run, says Carol.

“We will bend over backwards to meet what they need and if it’s not done right, we will continue till it’s done right.”

“I love the community spirit in New West. We get involved in as many things as we can,” she says. “This is a good town, there’s always something happening.” They’ve recently decided to contribute to the “happenings” with a special award to local individuals and businesses that are adding to the spirit of the city.

“We’re calling it the ‘Attaboy Award’ – we are going to hand them out around town, for community spirit, to recognize that,” she said. The first crystal plaque went out this month, to KeyWest Ford, and Carol says they’ll be doing more throughout the year when they spot special community efforts in the city. “It’s just a way to help encourage and promote that, to make the city better,” she says.

PHOTO: Carol and Michael Wierzbicki and the team at One Source Productions.

One Source Productions 334 12th Street New Westminster, BC 604-521-1295 www.onesourceproduction.com

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McLaren Trefanenko Inc.

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xperience, knowledge, reliability, respect: those are just a few of the words one could use to describe the team at McLaren Trefanenko Inc. But there’s one other word that sums up their motto and their approach to the field of accounting in general: excellence.

“That’s a term we’ve really tried to focus ourselves around - excellence in what we provide our clients and in everything we do,” said Jason Trefanenko, managing partner. “I have a belief that the little things are as important as the big things. It all matters.”

Trefanenko says that mindset encompasses not just the importance they place in ensuring they are always ahead of changes to tax policy and law, but also to the way that they handle the concerns and goals of their clients - ensuring that each client is treated as an individual.

“We have a unique practice - we have your typical accounting clients: corporate clients, personal clients,” notes Trefanenko. “But we also have a very large focus on estates and trusts, working with individual executors or law firms. That often means working with family members who have just lost someone, and they may have no familiarity with the process – it’s important that we walk with them through that process.”

Trefanenko says the team’s expertise in that area has become a big component of its reputation and growth in part because of that personal touch. Heather MacLean, CGA with the firm, agrees.

“Sometimes a client meeting can be quite emotional. Many of the clients are family members or executors who

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don’t deal with this on a regular basis - it may be just a once in a lifetime situation. I really strive to guide them through that process, to help them through the details.”

She says that it’s become both personally and professionally gratifying to know that she has helped a family during a challenging time. Being able to provide that level of attention to clients also speaks to the culture at the firm.

“We have a passion for innovation with a disciplined approach to the quality of the work - we are excited about innovating and looking at new ways to approach things,” says Trefanenko.

“We have a passion for innovation with a disciplined approach to the quality of the work.”

For staff, it’s also a positive environment to come to work in. ”I think we have a great team here and we make an effort to have fun - it’s a positive place to be,” says MacLean. The company has been in the same location since 1979, when founding accountant Peter McLaren first opened up shop on Seventh Street; in 2004, Trefanenko merged his smaller practice with McLaren’s, creating a larger firm and ultimately paving the way for McLaren to retire knowing his lifelong clients were being taken care of.

“The transition really worked well, and provided some wonderful continuity for clients,” notes Trefanenko. It also provided Trefanenko with first-hand experience in succession planning, which he uses to advise his corporate clients.

“We are very happy here. New Westminster has a strong sense of community, of family, of tradition - but there are also big plans for the future. That’s a good mix.”

McLaren Trefanenko Inc. #350-522 Seventh Street New Westminster, BC 604-524-8688 www.mti-cga.com

PHOTO (L): Founding partner Peter McLaren (back centre left) and managing partner Jason Trefanenko (back centre right) with the team at McLaren Trefanenko.

Photo (R): Heather MacLean (left), Jade Tien (middle) and Jason Trefanenko.

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McQuarrie Hunter LLP

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early 50 years ago, a merger of several lawyers’ offices on Columbia Street in New Westminster created what has become one of the province’s leading law firms. McQuarrie Hunter LLP was formed in offices at 713 Columbia St. A secondary office owned by one of the founders was maintained through the years in Surrey, slowly growing along with the main office. Three years ago, the McQuarrie Hunter team came together under one roof in a new tower at Central City but its decades’ long ties to both cities – and its service to customers throughout the metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley region – continues unchanged. “It was a big transition but a good one – the benefits of being in one space are really immense,” notes managing partner Tako van Popta.

“Business continues to grow on both sides of the Fraser and we’ve picked up our fair share of that growth – and through the Fraser Valley. People are discovering that they don’t need to go downtown for a high-end, high quality legal team,” he said.

“We like to say that we exceed our clients’ expectations, in the delivery of services but also in the quality of services,” he said. “We think that excellence means that not just the lawyers on the file, but everyone involved, are informed and able to assist the clients in every way necessary.”

At the end of the day, Van Popta says they hope that every client – be it an individual requiring estate planning, family law services, or personal injury help, or a corporation working through real estate or business transactions

– has a positive experience at the firm.

“We hope we’ve shown them what a law firm can do for them, that we can add value – we don’t just solve their problems, but we add value in the process,” he said.

As to the firm’s continued growth and success, Van Popta says that part of it is owed to the environment at the company. “Work hard, play hard, give hard,” he says. “Work comes number 1 – we work incredibly hard here for our clients, every client. But we tell ourselves and our employees to also get out there, have fun, find things to be passionate about and take care of yourself. Workaholics aren’t the most productive people – people who are refreshed and excited to come to work on Monday morning are.”

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“We hope we’ve shown them what a law firm can do for them, that we can add value – we don’t just solve their problems.”

The “give hard” portion of that motto continues to impact both New Westminster and Surrey, in the form of community involvement in a variety of ways, most notably with significant and ongoing support for both Royal Columbian Hospital and Surrey Memorial Hospital, as well as scholarship programs in both cities and individual employee involvement on a variety of boards and organizations.

“That’s important to everyone here, it’s being part of the communities, and it’s critical,” he said. And the future looks even brighter, says Van Popta.

“We have a goal of actually growing at a faster rate than the city is growing, so we maintain our dominant position – and to bring on the best people,” he said. “This is a great place to work, it’s a good place for young energetic lawyers to come and build a lifelong career.”

PHOTO: Tako van Popta, managing partner, McQuarrie Hunter LLP

McQuarrie Hunter LLP #1500 - Central City Tower 13450 102nd Avenue Surrey, BC 604-581-7001 www.mcquarrie.com

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Dublin Castle Neighbourhood Grill red Bilawey hopes that guests walking in the door at Dublin Castle will feel a little bit like they’ve arrived in their own cozy living room – however, this living room has bigger tv’s, a bustling kitchen, a bar serving numerous draft beers and a great selection of wines and spirits.

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The pub boasts 270 degree views of the Fraser River that include vistas of Mt. Baker and a vast mountain range to the east. The 8’ high windows throughout the interior of the Castle allow for these views even from the inside interior. Complete with oak finishes, a large mahogany bar and original wood floor from the 40’s, the decor of the Castle makes you feel “right at home”.

“The interaction with the guest is paramount – the relationships that we build are very important,” says Bilawey. “We want this to be a first-choice destination – and so far, it’s become that.”

This unique bar/grill was opened just three years ago in the unquestionably unique former B.C. Penitentiary guard building in the Brewery District neighbourhood of Sapperton.

“It’s not always easy the first time to find the castle,” notes Bilawey with a laugh. “But it’s in a great location.

We’re in the middle of everywhere and nowhere” – noting that the Castle is only minutes from both Hwy. #1 and the Patullo Bridge.

Bilawey should know – he’s lived and worked in a few international locales to compare it to. In the last 20 years, he’s owned 14 pubs across the globe: Victoria, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, to name a few. He also managed the food service teams at Olympic Park

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Excellence

serving 40,000 people per day during the Whistler Olympics.

A Red Seal chef himself, he says “That gives me an advantage, I think, over my competitors because I have the knowledge in creating the menus, finding great kitchen staff – it makes a difference.”

What really sets us apart are the special events we’ve hosted throughout the years. “Producing” these events are very time consuming and takes a great level of “out of the box” thinking to make it happen. Our annual golf tournament gets 144 golfers each year complete with bus rides, huge breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets and a massive awards party after. Our annual birthday bashes have included a pig AND lamb on a spit, a Mexican themed patio party and a huge BBQ buffet for 800 people. St. Paddies Day is like no other with over 1,200 people coming through the doors and Irish Dancers performing eight times a day.

Mother’s Day sees over 350 covers each year and our Super Bowl Bash has people in the parking lot ready to go at 8 am.

With 80 seats inside, and up to 120 on the patio, they’re able to provide the space for plenty of customers – or for private events, like weddings.

“Who doesn’t want to get married in a castle,” he smiles, as he’s hosted both the nuptials and receptions to over two dozen groups over the past three years.

At the end of the day, he says business success in this industry comes down to three key factors: “It’s always great food, great value, and great service.

Easy to say, tough to execute. That’s what we focus on.”

PHOTO: Fred Bilawey with Dublic Castle servers: Anna, Megan, Violet, Mariel, Jenna and Erica.

“The interaction with the guest is paramount – the relationships that we build are very important.”

Dublin Castle Neighbourhood Grill 101-319 Governors Court New Westminster, BC 604-544-5020 www.dublincastle.ca

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Hot Yoga New Westminster

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ome people spend years wondering what they’re supposed to do in life – for Herminder Gossal it took just a single yoga class. “I took my first class – that was it, I knew that this was what I wanted to do,” she says. “One class – it gave me so much clarity, made me feel so good.”

That jolt of inspiration turned into a dedication to learning yoga that led to becoming an instructor and eventually the owner of Hot Yoga New Westminster. Now, she says, seeing her clients discover the same improved well-being that she did so many years ago is what makes all the hard work of being a business owner well worth it.

“When they come back and tell me how great they feel, or they say ‘you have no idea what this has done for me,’ that is the reward because I do know what it’s done for them because it was what it did for me,” she says.

Herminder lost weight, found herself better able to deal with stress, had improved focus and mood, and had a newfound glow to her skin. “People don’t believe me when I say I am a mother to a 29-year-old,” she says with a laugh.

That vitality and youthfulness is all due to the yoga, she says. Bikram, or hot yoga is performed in a room with a temperature of 40 degrees – the extra heat helps the muscles stretch and provides a unique environment to focus on a series of repeated postures.

Herminder says she often hears people say they won’t like it due to the heat, or because they might find it ‘boring’ – yet time and time again, those who try it tend to be hooked immediately.

“So many people say ‘it’s not for me’ – often the ones that are the most apprehensive are the ones that get the most from it, and they just fall in love with it,” she says. “Once they get into it, they see the benefits and they come back again and again,” Herminder says clients come from not just New Westminster but around the region, thanks in part to the reputation of the facility and the staff, but also because it’s convenient. “We’re right across from the SkyTrain station, so it’s very easy for people to come from all over, and they do,” she said.

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“When they come back and tell me how great they feel ... that is the reward.”

Herminder says she’s looking forward to seeing what the coming years will bring, as the business continues to expand and change. They have recently begun offering kickboxing classes and kettle bell classes, as well as shorter hot yoga sessions – 90 minutes for full length, or now 60 or 75 minute versions.

“Ninety minutes is wonderful and some people love it, but it doesn’t always work for people that are busy, sometimes they’re working two jobs, going to school. I wanted everyone to have an option that worked.”

As well, they’re now offering health food options and smoothies in the facility.

“We’ll have Fuel on location,” she says. It all comes down to doing whatever the clients need to live their best lives. “I just focus on continuously bettering my business for my clients needs, focusing on fulfilling those needs,” she says. That determination, combined with her own passion for the field, means Hot Yoga New Westminster is here to stay.

PHOTO: Herminder Dhesi, owner Hot Yoga New Westminster

Hot Yoga New Westminster 428 Columbia Street New Westminster, BC 604-523-9642 www.locktheknee.com

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Southern Railway of BC

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strong history and a bright future - that’s just one way to describe Southern Railway of BC, the busiest short-line railway company in Canada, branded across North America as SRY Rail Link.

“Our presence in New Westminster dates back to 1897, but the operation grew significantly in 1912 when the Queensborough Branch Line was opened, and then later in 1955 when it was extended to Annacis Island, enabling the development of the Auto Port Facilities and Annacis Industrial Park. Today, this rail corridor remains a vital trade link, supporting hundreds of jobs on Annacis Island,” notes Frank Butzelaar, CEO and president of SRY Rail Link. He notes that the Vancouver region is unique in that it is the only West Coast location that has three Class 1 transcontinental carriers.

“As the terminal railway, we are completely neutral, providing the same high level of service regardless of which long haul carrier the customers selects,” he said.

Though the freight business in the Lower Mainland continues to grow, SRY Rail Link continues to look for opportunities to expand its franchise and is currently working with the Island Corridor Foundation on Vancouver Island to upgrade the former E&N Rail Line and restore the railway’s freight and passenger service.

“Our first task on Vancouver Island is to bring back the passenger service and base it out of Nanaimo. It’s a really exciting project and one that is very important to the communities located along the rail corridor,” he said.

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No matter what they’re working on, though, the focus is always on providing the best service to their customers and being a vital part of the communities they serve.

“Being a small railway in a world of big railways, we have to remain focused on continuous improvement - and we’ve really seen how impactful this type of relentless quest for perfection can be in terms of advancing safety and customer satisfaction. At SRY Rail Link, safety is a core value - the safety of our employees and the communities we operate in is our number 1 priority,” he says.

“Being a small railway in a world of big railways, we’ve focused on continuous improvement.”

The organization has gone more than two years without a ‘lost-time’ injury – prior to implementing its Continuous Improvement initiative, the previous record was 197 days.

“That’s a great record, I’m very proud of the people in our organization for their commitment to eliminating work place injuries,” he said.

In fact, the employees of SRY Rail Link decided to tie their safety goals to community support - for every month without a lost-time injury, the company donates funds to the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. So far, $90,000 has been donated.

“So many of our employees live in New Westminster and the Fraser Valley, and RCH is very important to all of us,” he notes. “We take safety very seriously, and that we’ve been able to give back to the community as part of that has meant a lot to everyone here.”

PHOTO: CEO and President Frank Butzelaar, Southern Railway of BC

Southern Railway of BC 2012 River Drive New Westminster, BC 604-521-1966 www.sryraillink.com

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Urban Academy

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he best academic environments are about so much more than just the academics. At Urban Academy, learning is a gateway to helping children develop in every way: in knowledge, in problem-solving, in social and emotional growth, in understanding the world, in developing confidence and, most of all, a keen sense of themselves.

“It’s a profoundly engaging, active and interesting environment,” said Sonja Kennedy, Director of Admissions with the New Westminster school. “I think it really speaks to the early vision of the three founding families and what they wanted for their children and other children – I remember talking about the formation of the school with one of the founders and she said ‘you know, I might not be able to change the world, but I can certainly have an impact on students who attend our school and I really believe they are going to be the ones to go out there and change the world.”

The school, which first opened in 2001, has recently celebrated a major milestone: the opening of a second location for its middle and senior campus for students in Grade 6 through 12, in part because of the growth in the student population but also in anticipation for further growth in the coming years.

there to maximize the learning and the environment,” she said.

“People ask ‘if you’re a creative school, what about your academics’ – but we’re not a fine arts school, we’re an arts-infused school – we use the creative components to weave through the academics, to help engage the students, to help them explore the subjects in new and interesting ways,” she said. “So that might mean partnering music with math, or exploring history through art – maybe looking at the history of Egypt and creating ancient Egyptian newspapers and masks for a fashion show that tie into that. It can develop in a number of interesting and creative ways, and the teachers collaborate regularly throughout every subject area.”

The school also utilizes an “inquiry based” approach which encourages students to focus on topics and themes that interest them, asking questions and exploring the answers in creative ways.

“It is an exciting time for families seeking excellence for their middle and upper school students in a creative environment that encourages children to want to come to school.”

The approach is working: what began as the dream of a few families in a rented space in a church basement is now nearly 150 children across two schools, both housed in beautiful heritage homes – one built in 1939 and one in 1935.

When the school began, the primary goal of the three founding families was to provide an educational environment that was consistently excellent, year to year, with a solid creative base that would use the arts, drama, music and more to keep children engaged in their academic pursuits.

“They’re beautiful spaces, inspiring – when families come for a tour the first time, even the small children will look around and their eyes light up when they see some of the rooms, like the music space or the ‘messy art’ room,” she said. “It’s a wonderful space to spend a school day in.”

“Those were the two key factors: great, quality, consistent education, and ensuring that creative component was

The school also boasts some of the smallest class sizes in the lower mainland.

PHOTO: Head of School, Cheryle Beaumont, sits in front of the new Uptown Campus at 601 8th Avenue.

Urban Academy’s ‘Uptown’ campus for Grades 6-12 opened September 2013.

Urban Academy 101 Third Street

(Junior campus and head office)

601 Eighth Avenue

(Middle and senior campus)

New Westminster, BC 604-524-2211 www.urbanacademy.ca

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Royal City Youth Ballet

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s there any better pursuit in life than doing what you love and fostering the same for a new generation?

of course, The Nutcracker, which has become a holiday tradition for the organization.

For Dolores Kirkwood the opportunity to do just that for the last 25 years with the non-profit Royal City Youth Ballet has been a dream come true. “No matter what your career is, it’s wonderful to be able to pass it on to others,” she said. “And it’s not just about dance, it’s about life. No matter what you do in life, dance will increase the joy of it all. To think I’ve been part of that for young dancers, yes, that is truly wonderful.”

The point, she says, is not to churn out professional dancers – though some may go on to do just that – but to plant the seed of experience, achievement and possibility.

Kirkwood recalls that, as a ballet dancer in her youth, she had the opportunity to travel with some of her dance class members to a weekly session with the Vancouver Ballet Society.

“We learned from the dancers traveling through the city, who were here performing from perhaps the other side of the world – it was a chance to experience something new, and we were so enthusiastic for that,” she said.

Later, while teaching ballet, she discussed it with local pianist Donna Fishwick, whose two young daughters were in the class, proposing something similar to allow young dancers an opportunity to gather and perform. “Well, she said ‘let’s do it.’ And so, we did,” she says with a laugh.

From the very beginning, the Royal City Youth Ballet grew by leaps and bounds, drawing students from ever farther afield and putting on more and more productions each year.

This year, the ballet company will be doing 30 presentations –including,

“I always say to them – listen, maybe dance isn’t your thing, maybe once you’ve had the experience you’ll think ‘that was wonderful, but it’s not for me’ … or, like me, you might say ‘oh yes, I could do this every day for the rest of my life,” she said. “Either way, what you take away is a very unique experience, a rare opportunity, and it teaches them so many things about life.”

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“No matter what you do in life, dance will increase the joy of it all.”

Neil Lyons, vice-president of the ballet company, says it’s been astounding to him to see what a small non-profit society – supported by countless volunteers and by the ballet community at large – can accomplish.

“This is really the only ballet society that I know of in Canada that exists to provide a conduit for children to actually perform on stage,” he said.

“That’s very important to us – we sell out most of our shows, we perform in excess of 10,000 patrons a year – but the chance to bring that opportunity to children who might not get to see something like that otherwise is wonderful.”

He’s seen the impact of the company in the lives of his own two daughters.

“It’s that self confidence, that commitment – it’s really incredible. Whatever field they choose, that goes with them.”

PHOTO: Dolores Kirkwood, Artistic Director, Royal City Youth Ballet

Royal City Youth Ballet 500 Columbia Street New Westminster, BC 604-521-7290 www.royalcityyouthballet.org

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Gary Pooni, Brook Pooni Associates Inc.

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ary Pooni knows a thing or two about the unique history and nature of New Westminster.

Now president and senior planner with Brook Pooni Associates – an urban planning and development consultancy firm that’s been instrumental in the recent revitalization of the city – was born and raised right here in the Royal City.

“I grew up in New Westminster, went to school there, played soccer, most of my family still lives there,” he said.

“Now I have the very good fortune to be able to do business there.”

Pooni says the city is a special place in the region – central, with a strong history, unique traditions, an involved community and, most of all, an incredible future ahead of it.

Being part of both the city’s past, and now helping to lay the ground work for the coming years, is incredibly gratifying, both personally and professionally, he says.

“For (Brook Pooni) to have been a small part of that revitalization of the city – the transformation that has been happening, the economic upswing for business, the renewed interest in the area – that is one of the most satisfying things I have ever worked on in my career,” he said.

He and his team have been involved in a number of significant and groundbreaking projects in the city: the Port Royal development and the Wesgroup development in the Brewery District, to name just a few.

“We’ve worked with several projects in the downtown, which of course has changed a lot in the last few years – and now the master plan for the Braid SkyTrain station (area),” he said.

“It’s exciting for me, and for my team because we really like to focus on and work on projects that we think are bringing positive change to a neighbourhood.”

Chuck Brook first opened Brook and Associates 25 years ago; Pooni came on as a business partner and, in 2008, was named president. The firm now goes by Brook Pooni and has a reputation that’s grown beyond metro Vancouver’s borders with interest from developers around B.C. and in other provinces across Canada.

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“ To have been a small part of that revitalization of the city … is one of the most satisfying things I have ever worked on in my career.”

Pooni, who is the current chair of the New Westminster Economic Forum, says this is a fascinating time to be in the city.

“New West has all those pieces coming together now: a thriving downtown, excellent leadership – from council to city management – and a community and business people that are so genuinely vested in their city that they get involved and want the best here,” he said. “It’s the positive attributes of the city that has allowed me to have success in this work.”

Pooni says he’ll be pleased to see his firm continue to grow and flourish in the coming years, but more importantly, he hopes to see the communities he works in – particularly his own hometown – to do the same.

PHOTO: Gary Pooni, president and senior planner, Brook Pooni Associates Inc.

Gary Pooni, Brook Pooni Associates Inc. 410-535 Thurlow Street Vancouver, BC 604-731-9053 www.brookpooni.com

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2013 EDITION