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March 2014 $3.50 businessinedmonton.com

THERE’S A LOVELY DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Developer John Day takes us back to the future

Alberta: Upgraded Everything you wanted to know about the North West Redwater Partnership’s refinery in Sturgeon County

Build Something Edmonton Edmonton’s mighty construction sector looks forward to a busy 2014

Don Iveson Really Means Business

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MARCH 2014 | VOL. 03 #03

View our elect ronic issue of this mon th’s mag azin e onlin e at www .busi nessi nedm onto n.com

Features

Regulars Each and every month

Edmonton is under construction. John Day revitalizes downtown, the new refinery takes shape and the construction sector is booming. Learn all this and more in this issue of Business in Edmonton magazine.

ECONOMIC FACTORS BY JASON BRISBOIS

Dramatic Energy Shift Backstage at Camrose Theatre

Cover THERE’S A LOVELY DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

OFF THE TOP Fresh News Across all Sectors

BY MARK KANDBORG

Developer John Day takes us back to the future

53 E DMONTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Company Profiles 41 D UST QUEEN MAID SERVICE

Changing the Face of Maid Service

NEXGEN GRAFIX INC. BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

The Evolution of Print Technology

Features

20 BUILD SOMETHING EDMONTON BY BEN FREELAND

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

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March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

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ECONOMIC FACTORS JASON BRISBOIS

DRAMATIC ENERGY SHIFT BACKSTAGE AT CAMROSE THEATRE BY JASON BRISBOIS

nergy conservation is most often associated with homeowners and industry, but what about a high-efficiency performing arts theatre? The University of Alberta’s beautiful Augustana Campus is soon to be home to the Camrose Performing Arts Centre (CPAC). Just over 4,000 square metres in size, CPAC will feature a 550 seat performing arts venue, multipurpose space, dressing rooms and an orchestra pit. The facility will serve community groups, visiting performers and students. University of Alberta students and faculty will also use it for academic purposes. CPAC began as an idea in 2005 when the City of Camrose commissioned a study to support a business case for a performing arts centre. Public infrastructure energy costs are always an issue, so this venture was intended to lead in energy efficiency. In 2008, the University of Alberta joined Camrose as a partner in the initiative. It was a natural marriage. CPAC’s energy efficiency and renewable energy elements are part of the university’s sustainability plan and the visionary energy management program called Envision. CPAC’s secret weapon is its “fly tower,” which houses the theatre’s rigging and lighting equipment above the stage. The fly tower’s external skin will include 122 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, which will generate about 95 megawatts of electricity per year, making it the largest building-integrated PV system in Canada. This equates to an annual reduction of 90 tonnes of greenhouse gasses (CO2 equivalents). Solar power will significantly reduce electricity required from

CPAC is one of many initiatives under UAlberta’s Envision program. Since the mid-1970s, Envision has saved the university almost $290 million in energy expenditures and prevented over two million tonnes of CO2 emissions from entering our atmosphere.

Alberta’s grid. When there are no performances, CPAC will potentially be a net generator, providing electricity into the grid. Energy conservation was considered across all design elements. Building fittings were selected for their ability to reduce energy consumption. These include LED theatre lighting, LED front of house lighting, high efficiency boilers, high efficiency chillers, and high R-value roof insulation. All told, the solar and efficiency measures will save approximately $50,000 annually compared to a traditionally equipped building. CPAC is well on its way to earning its first Globe award, but this one has nothing to do with the Golden Globes. The internationally recognized Green Globes system is a building environmental design and management tool. It provides an online rating system, which guides green building design, operation and management. Under the Green Globes system, official recognition of a building’s environmental attributes is provided through thirdparty verification. CPAC is being built to achieve four Green Globes, which is

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

equivalent to the LEED gold standard. The systems incorporated into CPAC are already gaining attention and will be featured in the 2014 edition of Canada’s National Survey Report of PV Power Applications for the International Energy Agency – Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme. If you are interested in seeing the building in progress, go to www.camroseperformingarts. ca/live-webcam. The images you will see are refreshed every 10 seconds, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CPAC is one of many initiatives under UAlberta’s Envision program. Since the mid-1970s, Envision has saved the university almost $290 million in energy expenditures and prevented over two million tonnes of CO2 emissions from entering our atmosphere. In addition to CPAC, Envision is helping with the installation of solar PV panels on the Innovation Centre for Engineering, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Research Facility and Engineering Teaching and Learning and the Chemical/Materials Engineering Building just to name a few. BIE Jason Brisbois is an economist and Managing Director of the University of Alberta Water Initiative.

OFF THE TOP Professional Development

IT PAYS TO KNOW

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NEWS FROM THE MONTH

LOCAL BUSINESS

WANDERER ONLINE CELEBRATES EDMONTON BUSINESS WOMEN

The Wanderer Online is a frequently updated e-zine dedicated to inspiring Edmontonians to be active and engaged citizens. Dedicated sections of the e-zine explore business, culture, politics, science, sports and education. Last year Wanderer Online selected their top 100 women in business. Women were selected from all industries, including communications, infrastructure and development, technology, not-for-profit, services and retail. Among the chosen were Northlands’ vice president of corporate relations, Cathy Kiss, and Northlands’ board of directors members, Linda Banister and Christy Morin. “I’m pleased that Wanderer Online is recognizing women for their outstanding contribution to the Edmonton business community,” says Richard L. Andersen, Northlands’ president and CEO. “The list demonstrates the scale and scope of talent within our city and profiling these women celebrates the importance of recognizing female business leaders. I’m proud that three of these women are leaders at Northlands.” At Northlands, Kiss oversees over 1,400 active volunteers in addition to her duties in community relations, government relations, marketing and communication. A recent employee survey at Northlands showed Kiss’ team to be thriving under her leadership. With Kiss’ involvement, Northlands has been able to significantly expand its community investment program, investing over $2.3 million in cash and value to over 50 non-profit groups and causes in the Edmonton region. Kiss is on several boards, including Make Something Edmonton, the Edmonton Rodeo Cowboy Benevolent Foundation, United Way Campaign Cabinet, and the Glenrose Hospital Foundation. Banister is the president of Banister Research & Consulting. Her

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

CATHY KISS

CHRISTY MORIN

firm provides market research, program evaluation and performance measurement across all sectors. Banister’s staff of over 50 includes full and part-time consultants, surveyors, and administrative personnel. A former YWCA Women of Distinction award winner in the category of business, management and the professions, Bannister presides over two professional associations and sits as a volunteer on several non-profit boards. She holds Bachelor of Commerce and

OFF THE TOP

NEWS FROM THE MONTH

Dedicated sections of the e-zine explore business, culture, politics, science, sports and education.

LINDA BANISTER

Masters of Public Management/ Masters of Business Administration degrees from the University of Alberta, along with several professional designations.

Morin is the founder and executive director of Arts on the Ave. Arts on the Ave is a grassroots arts organization dedicated to the revitalization of Alberta Avenue. Morin’s leadership helped to produce two of Edmonton’s signature festivals: Kaleido Family Arts Festival and Deep Freeze, A Byzantine Winter Festival. Morin has received several awards for her work, including the Champions for Children award, the Paul Harris Community Policing award and was named one of Edmonton’s top 40 under 40 in 2009. In a news release, Northlands congratulated all of Wanderer Online’s top 100 women in business recipients and said, “Northlands recognizes the importance of women in

leadership positions. Northlands’ executive leadership team is almost exclusively made up of women. All of Northlands’ three vice president positions are filled by women and Northlands’ board of directors is chaired by a woman.” To see Wanderer Online’s full list of recipients, go to www.thewandereronline.com/top100-edmonton-women-in-business. BIE

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OFF THE TOP

NEWS FROM THE MONTH

FARM SAFETY AWARENESS IN ACTION.

AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL SAFETY WEEK IN CANADA: MARCH 9-15, 2014

Agriculture is vitally important to Canada. The industry provides one out of every eight Canadian jobs, providing employment for approximately 2.1 million people. The agriculture industry accounts for roughly eight per cent of our total gross domestic product (GDP). While those are impressive facts, there are some agriculture statistics that are not as pleasant. Agriculture is Canada’s third most hazardous industry, especially for men. Recent reports show 91 per cent of fatal farm-related injuries are male, with machine rollovers and drowning as the top causes of death. Alberta alone averages 18 farm fatalities a year; four of which involve children aged 18 or younger. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), Ag for Life and initiative partners aim to

change those unfortunate statistics through Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW). This year’s CASW will be showcased in Olds, Iron Springs and Grande Prairie. The 2014 theme, “Let’s Talk About It,” encourages communities to engage in conversations about farm safety. The topic is not an easy one to discuss, especially for the many families that have been affected by a farm accident or death; but it is through clear and open communication that things can – and will – change for the better. “One of Ag for Life’s goals is to increase awareness of our programs,” says Ag for Life’s chief executive officer David Sprague. “In 2014 we expect to reach 10,000 children through CASW and other safety programs. That’s double from last year.” The popularity of CASW and other related farm awareness programs is growing rapidly thanks to word of mouth and social media. “We are hoping that from the three programs (Olds, Iron Springs and Grande Prairie) other communities will get on board,” says Sprague. “They will see the program is impactful and easy

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT FARM SAFETY.

to do. Communities understand that safety programs must be continually reinforced.” Helping to get this message across are Ag for Life’s founding members: Agrium Inc., ATB Financial, ATCO Group, Penn West, Rocky Mountain Equipment, TransCanada Corporation, UFA Co-operative Limited, and contributing members: AdFarm and Glacier FarmMedia. “Farm safety

OFF THE TOP

NEWS FROM THE MONTH

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is important to Ag for Life and our founders,” says Ag for Life’s director, development and communications, Luree Williamson. “They live, work and employ in and from rural areas.” CASA, CFA, Ag for Life and the Ag for Life members strongly believe in collaborating with community-based programs to provide long-term support and funding for the growth and development of safety programs. Working together, they plan to implement sustainable programs in every province to significantly reduce the number of rural and farm-related injuries and deaths. Many farm accidents can be prevented – and that is the message they will work tirelessly at presenting so they can preserve the precious lives contributing one of Canada’s greatest industries. To learn more about Ag for Life, find a safety day funding application or to host a safety day in your community or school, visit www.agricultureforlife.ca or call 1-888-931-2951. BIE

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COVER

THERE’S A LOVELY DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

THERE’S A LOVELY DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Developer John Day takes us back to the future BY MARK KANDBORG

t’s the 1980s. It’s one of those magical summer days in Edmonton when you feel like you are the keeper of a wonderful secret: that you live in one of the most perfect cities on earth. You’ve just stepped out of what was then simply called Edmonton Centre, and you’re headed south onto Rice Howard Way. The sun, directly overhead, is blinding. The air feels like a blanket straight out of the dryer. On your left, cobblestone. On your right, the character-laden brick facade of the Kelly Ramsey Building,

its patios alive with some of the city’s best and brightest, drinking wine and sharing ideas, their matching Wayfarers protecting them from the golden rays reflecting off glass towers that surrounds them. Developer John Day remembers those days fondly. “You knew you were in the core,” he says, and he’s working hard to bring that kind of energy, that kind of ‘there-ness’, back to Rice Howard Way – to polish a once gleaming gem in Edmonton’s crown. www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | March 2014

COVER

THERE’S A LOVELY DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Day has a knack for these things, for plunging his hands into the dirt, pulling out what’s valuable and cleaning it off with his shirt sleeve. He’s even pulled a Phoenix or two from the ashes. His Kelly Ramsey project on Rice Howard could certainly be described that way. A fire broke out in the original building one dreary March afternoon in 2009, forcing the smattering of tenacious tenants, such as the Bistro Praha and Coco Di Restaurant, to find new homes. The event marked the end of an era and the gutted, silent building began to symbolize, for some, a kind of bridge between our downtown’s half-forgotten past and its yet to be fully realized future. “We spent nearly five years walking that yellow chain link perimeter, glancing up at blackened windows that seemed to stare back and say: make up your mind.” John Day heard that plea, and he answered it with certainty. “I got into the Kelly Ramsey because I care a lot about the core of the city,” he says, “and I was fearful that the way things were going there was no guarantee that a substantial building was going to be built there, or that people wouldn’t try to renovate a beat up old building.” Day knew that the main floor tenants had always done pretty well, but the floors above, you might say, were different stories all together. “Whether it’s on Whyte Avenue or whether it’s downtown, the upper floors of old buildings struggle,” Day says. What he had in mind was a new, fully realized structure that would exemplify that bridge between the old and the new, one that would encourage and support the city’s dynamic new core, while at the same time acknowledging its past. “I think it’s important in our downtown to retain some history. Our plan is to demolish the building, which has happened now, but to maintain the east and south façades, so that when it goes back up again it will be a replication of the façades of both the Kelly and the Ramsey buildings,” Day explains, pointing out that the two structures began their lives separately but became enmeshed over the years due to “people cutting holes in the walls.” While retaining a sense of the city’s history is clearly a priority for Day, so is fulfilling Edmonton’s promise for the future. “I feel it’s very important to have life in the core, that it survives and thrives,” he says, echoing the sentiments of urban planners in general and Edmonton’s city council in particular. “That means people. People who are living there, which means more apartments, but we also need good quality office space so that we can attract good quality tenants.” The new building, rising from the ashes even as you read this, will go a long way toward satisfying that need. At 25 floors, it will bring more than half a million square feet of first class office space to the very heart of the city, something we haven’t seen in a while. It will have a much more significant footprint than the two original structures it transcends. “After we acquired the Kelly Ramsey, my partner and I thought, maybe we should keep on going and try to acquire the corner building (which was the old Sony store) and then the Swedish Jewellers,” Day says. “Then

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

you’ve got a real site, something that’s substantial and isn’t going anywhere.” Anywhere but up, anyway. As I said, Day has a knack for this type of thing. While this current resurrection may be his most ambitious and transformative yet, it’s certainly not his first. In fact, whenever you think of commercial development and local history going hand in hand in this city, you’re very likely thinking of this real estate lawyer turned real estate developer, whether you realize it or not. Take the Garneau Theatre block, for example, which Day and his partners acquired several years ago. “We tried to figure out what the real history of the building was,” he says, “because history is often a bit of a moving target.” The structure has sported different looks, different facades over the years, so Day decided to renovate back to its original 1940s incarnation, which is what you see there today. Again, Day knew that the only way to do the job right was to tear much of the building down, in order to build it back up. He kept the theatre, but built new infrastructure and a new building to replicate what was already there. The coffee shop on the corner, the barber shop, the poutine store, the restaurant and the cake shop, while feeling a bit like an elaborate set from the movie Pleasantville, are newer than some of the city’s more modern condominiums. It’s one of Edmonton’s most charming retail destinations, a real entrepreneur’s dream. But it didn’t have to be that way. Take Transcend Coffee, where Hollywood celebrity Jessica Biel was recently spotted enjoying a quiet moment and, as she happened to tell me an hour later (small world/long story), a perfect cup. “We were going to do a deal with one of the big chains,” Day admits, “but my partner and my daughters both independently suggested I try the coffee at Transcend’s little location just off Argyle.” He did, loved the coffee and owner Poul Mark’s story, and opted for some local flavour over the more obvious choice of the international big guns. Such fondness for quality over quantity, as well as his respect for local history and local business, describes John Day the man and the developer better than can words alone. They also ignite in Day a passion for what he does. “We wanted to see the theatre survive,” he says, adding that he’d seen what had happened to the Varscona down the street. “And not just the Varscona. The Odeon, the Strand, the Paramount, the Rialto, on and on.” Luckily for the Garneau, Day made sure that the too often heartless and indiscriminate wrecking ball of progress stopped there. “We wanted it to continue to operate as a theatre.” All he had to do was find a tenant who would do that while fulfilling Day’s predilection for quality, history and local flavour. He couldn’t have found a better fit than the Metro Cinema Society. “Metro is a not-for-profit group, so we’re obviously not making a lot of money with this, but they’re a good operator. They really care about making all kinds of films available to the community,” Day says. “They’ve really put their heart and soul into that theatre.” Something he can appreciate, to be sure.

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COVER

THERE’S A LOVELY DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

THE KELLY RAMSEY BUILDING, SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN 2016.

Will the resurrection of the Kelly Ramsey Building be another of John Day’s 124th Street before and after moments? Will it bring sexy back, in this case to a gapheavy downtown struggling for a glorious rebirth? Only time will tell.

THE NEW FACE OF KELLY RAMSEY, A VIEW FROM THE STREET.

Day is aware that the approach he’s taken to developing the Garneau property isn’t for everybody. “It’s not the type of thing everyone wants to do, because you’re not going to get rich with a project like that,” he says, “But it’s a good, steady investment and there haven’t been any business failures there since we did it, which we’re very happy about because they’re all local.” Day seems to specialize in developments that not only improve, but come to define, the neighbourhood they’re

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

in. I’m thinking specifically of his replacement of the nefarious Cecil Hotel with the upscale Sobeys urban grocery store and of the cascading effect the transformation that corner had, not only on 104th Street, but on Jasper Avenue itself in both directions. “There was a lot of vagrancy in that old building,” he says. “Lots of crime. The best way to deal with that is to create life.” Day’s contribution to the area was so compelling and the resulting renaissance so complete that only a few years later, it’s difficult even to

COVER

THERE’S A LOVELY DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

recall that the street once repelled visitors and potential residents alike, rather than attracting them as it does now. The very air seems different. Such is the power of determination and foresight. But Day points out that the success of projects like this are achieved neither alone nor in a vacuum. “I think Stephen Mandel was a very transformative mayor. I look at the determination he showed on the airport issue, which was so important for the city. I give him a lot of credit for that.” What of the coming four years? Is it too early to tell whether that Mandel momentum will continue? “Our new Mayor is an intelligent guy. I think he cares about the city and I think this new council cares about the city. I expect they’ll do the right thing for downtown. I hope they really listen to the public when it comes to spending government money, and I hope that they encourage growth in the gaps.” The ‘gaps’ in development he’s referring to here may not be something the average Edmontonian is concerned with or even aware of, but Day most certainly is. “To me, that’s the most important thing downtown.” If you don’t fill in all the gaps, he says, you’re going to make them look worse by developing on the periphery of the core. “If you stand on the top of some big office building and you look

at the downtown, it’s disappointing. I remember when the city was barely 200,000 people. There wasn’t much to Edmonton, but there was a downtown. There was a Kresge’s. There was a Woolworths. There was a Strand, a Rialto and an Odeon. People got dressed up to go to the Bay. You went to Johnstone Walkers and they had an elevator operator. It was a high class store. These were institutions downtown.” Lest you think Day is wandering hopelessly through memories of a world gone forever, what he’s sharing is not nostalgia. It’s frustration. “We somehow lost that along the way,” he says. “We had so much pulling us into downtown and we need to get some of that back.” Will the resurrection of the Kelly Ramsey Building be another of John Day’s 124th Street before and after moments? Will it bring sexy back, in this case to a gap-heavy downtown struggling for a glorious rebirth? Only time will tell. But imagine for a moment if it was. Instead of looking back to Wayfarer-wearing patio jockeys basking in the sun, or even further back to a man in a tailored suit smiling at the elevator operator of a high class department store, maybe we should be looking forward to something in the deceptively near future. Something yet to be imagined, except maybe by men and women like John Day. Something that will draw us, once again, to the core of our city. BIE www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | March 2014

CONSTRUCTION/RENOVATION BUILD SOMETHING EDMONTON

Build

G N I H T E M

Edmonton

Edmonton’s mighty construction sector looks forward to a busy 2014

BY BEN FREELAND

hat a difference a year makes! After what felt like an eternity of bellyaching and consternation, construction of the Edmonton Oilers’ new downtown arena will begin in March of this year and will be hockey-ready in time for the 2016-2017 NHL season. Moreover, the city of Edmonton announced in late January that the PCL-led project is set to meet its projected cost of $480 million. While some uncertainty remains as to the level of funding the province will provide, the project, which promises to radically revitalize the city’s downtown core, appears to now be a certainty; and for Edmonton’s large and small construction contractors, it’s a sign that the brief ‘pause’ that set in last year is officially over and that very busy times lay ahead.

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

CONSTRUCTION/RENOVATION

BUILD SOMETHING EDMONTON

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | March 2014

CONSTRUCTION/RENOVATION BUILD SOMETHING EDMONTON

The new arena, while the most high profile of Edmonton’s upcoming construction projects, is but one piece of the capital’s latest building boom. In August of 2013 Premier Alison Redford broke ground for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (NAIT) new Centre for Applied Technology (CAT) building, a glittering new student hub due to open for the 2016-2017 student year. In November, wrecking crews began demolishing Edmonton’s old downtown to make way for the much-anticipated new Royal Alberta Museum, which is scheduled to open in 2017. Elsewhere in the city, demolition work has begun at Edmonton’s now decommissioned City Centre Airport for redevelopment as the new mixed-use commercial-residential Blatchford neighbourhood, while at the International Airport, yet another big project is getting underway, this time a new outlet mall spearheaded by Montreal developers Ivanhoé-Cambridge due to open in 2016. Meanwhile, LRT expansion and other ongoing projects continue unabated. News last year of closure on the arena and other major projects was, not surprisingly, music to the ears of Edmonton’s forever overachieving construction contractors. The year 2013 saw the completion of several major infrastructure projects, notably airport expansion and the new

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

University of Alberta Hospital, leading to a much talked about “pause” within the sector, which coincided by a brief period of budgetary anxiety at the provincial level. But with several high-profile projects now moving to the execution stage and a new municipal council that promises to carry on Stephen Mandel’s infrastructure development mandate, the city’s building mandarins could scarcely be happier. “We’re looking at a very busy year ahead,” says John McNicoll, executive director of the Edmonton Construction Association. “A lot of our companies are already completely booked for 2014 and are now booking into 2015. That’s very unusual. So you could say the mood is pretty upbeat in our industry.” For McNicoll and other industry leaders, the Edmonton region – and indeed most of Alberta as a whole – is in one of those rare sweet spots conducive to an aggressive building agenda. High oil prices are continuing to be the primary catalyst for construction in the province, with mass migration to Alberta providing both the need and the manpower for this upcoming building boom. On the real estate front, land prices and rental rates are high enough to create value for owners, but not so high as to drive away business. On the political front, the current city council and the provin-

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CONSTRUCTION/RENOVATION BUILD SOMETHING EDMONTON

cial government have repeatedly stated their commitment to funding infrastructure and development, and the resounding electoral victories of pro-development Mayors Iveson and Nenshi in the province’s two largest cities suggests that public support for development is widespread. For Stephen Kushner, president of the province’s largest open shop construction association, Merit Contractors Association, this municipal political shift is a clear indication of a paradigm shift in regards to construction and infrastructure development in Alberta, from a hesitance to build to recognition of its importance for continued economic vitality. He cites the example of the mid-2013

flooding in southern Alberta, which notably did not result in a scaling back of major building projects as the province and the affected municipalities grappled with the rebuilding challenge. “There’s a widespread recognition now that you can’t stop building infrastructure,” asserts Kushner. “Especially when you have this kind of population growth. A healthy industry is dependent on a predictable level of investment in infrastructure without big swings, and in this regard we’re very pleased with what we’ve seen from the city and from the province.” While bullishness abounds across the industry, construction leaders are forever mindful of the ever-present

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March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

CONSTRUCTION/RENOVATION

BUILD SOMETHING EDMONTON

For the time being at least, Edmonton’s construction leaders could scarcely be happier with current industry conditions and with the strength of the provincial economy. threat of labour shortages, but even on this front the labour crunch panic that pervaded the industry a year or so ago appears to have subsided somewhat. This toned-down tenor on manpower is primarily attributable to Alberta’s phenomenal population growth, with the province in the midst of its biggest growth spurt in decades, exceeding even the peak years of the pre-2008 boom, which in July pushed its population over the four-million mark. While the energy industry is without question the primary economic driver of this growth, recent city and industry reports suggest that the oil sands are proving to be less of a drain on the urban construction sector than was previously feared. Mayor Iveson has expressed his confidence in the current round of megaprojects’ capacity to continue drawing skilled labour to the city, while industry leaders like Kushner have, to a degree, moderated their tone on labour. “On the whole we really haven’t seen too much of an out-flux of workers to the north,” Kushner explains. “The industrial sector is strong at the moment, but not so strong that it’s taking too many workers out of the city to Fort McMurray and Cold Lake. In Edmonton in particular we’re seeing a good labour supply and many areas of full employment.” McNicoll, however, cautions that construction labour dynamics are highly unpredictable and are liable to turn on a dime. “We have the workers we need for the time being, but we never know when that will change,” he says. “The oil sands operators could put out a call for people tomorrow, and if they’re offering double the money companies in the city are offering through overtime, double-time and travel pay, that’s what they’re going to be choosing. We’re also in an unprecedented situation where one

of our key sources of labour, Newfoundland, is undergoing a boom of its own. With projects there ramping up, we’re waiting to see if there will be an exodus. So far we haven’t seen that, but we still don’t know.” Nevertheless, McNicoll is encouraged by what he sees on the demand side in Edmonton, which he suggests has the potential to overcome such shortages. “There’s going to be a crunch one way or another, but if the demand is high enough people will pay what they need to pay to get that labour.” For the time being at least, Edmonton’s construction leaders could scarcely be happier with current industry conditions and with the strength of the provincial economy.

“I continue to be stunned by the ongoing strength of our energy industry here, even in the face of all the transportation issues we’re dealing with,” Kushner adds. “It’s very clear that the industry is confident that these problems will be resolved.” As for the city of Edmonton, he contends that economic factors coupled with the tremendous capability of the city’s builders are creating the perfect climate for construction. “Back in the pre-2008 boom you had too much work and not enough qualified builders, which made it unsustainable. But now you have lots of competition and pricing that reflects this, as well as workable schedules. In sum we’re very pleased with what we’re seeing. BIE

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www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | March 2014

ENERGY

ALBERTA: UPGRADED

Alberta: Upgraded Everything you wanted to know about the North West Redwater Partnership’s refinery in Sturgeon County BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON

here is something big going on in Alberta’s heartland. Alberta has built several upgraders in the past, but the Surgeon refinery is the first in approximately 30 years. With new technology and the introduction of several green processes, the refinery is poised to be a triumph in Alberta’s energy sector. Yet, this multi-year, multi-billion dollar project is not without its challenges, or its misconceptions. Following is what you should know about the project and its anticipated impact on a local and national scale.

Who Is Involved?

The North West Redwater Partnership (NWR) is comprised of North West Upgrading Inc. (NWU) and Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL). Both organizations have a 50 per cent stake in the partnership. NWR has and will continue to employ a variety of contactors for the many different process areas of the first

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

phase of the project. To date, most of the contracts have been for jobs related to mass earthworks, deep undergrounds, non-process buildings, pipelines, and site infrastructure. Notable contractors for this work include Voice Construction, PCL, CCI, Willbros and Taurus Site Services. Contracts are currently being awarded for engineering, procurement and construction of the various process units.

Don’t Call it an Upgrader

For many, the project is simply known as the “Redwater Upgrader.” The term upgrader, however, is misleading. Doug Bertsch, vice president with the North West Redwater Partnership (NWR) explains, “An upgrader converts bitumen into synthetic crude oil that in turn becomes the feedstock for a refinery which converts synthetic into diesel. The NWR Sturgeon Refinery converts bitumen directly into ultra-low sulfur diesel, which is the highest value product that can be made from bitumen.”

ENERGY

ALBERTA: UPGRADED

“An upgrader converts bitumen into synthetic crude oil that in turn becomes the feedstock for a refinery which converts synthetic into diesel. The NWR Sturgeon Refinery converts bitumen directly into ultra-low sulfur diesel, which is the highest value product that can be made from bitumen.” ~ Doug Bertsch

How Will the NWR Sturgeon Refinery Impact Albertans?

Ian MacGregor, chairman and CEO of North West Upgrading (NWU) explains the long-term economic impact, “A refinery like this lasts for 100 years. You have to keep replacing and building new things, but the economic activity lasts for a very long time. [We expect the facility to generate] more than $3 trillion of economic activity in Alberta over its life. One small example of why it’s good for Alberta to have these types of facilities here is property taxes; we will pay about $2 billion in property taxes over its life.” Obviously, the economic benefits of converting bitumen are a lot more than property taxes. As Bertsch points out, the value to Alberta extends deep into the landscape – literally. “By using the most envi-

ronmentally conscious processes to minimize waste and emissions, NWR will set the environmental gold standard and demonstrate to the world that Albertans can be environmentally responsible stewards of the oil sands resource, ensuring its sustainable development. The single-step, bitumen-to-diesel process will move bitumen as high up the value chain as possible, significantly enhancing the economic return to Alberta’s economy. To illustrate, if the NWR Sturgeon Refinery had been operational last year, the Government of Alberta would have benefited by an additional $500 million over shipping raw bitumen. That additional economic activity keeps the value here and the taxes and additional revenue can help to pay for schools, health care, and other things that Albertans need. Transferring this economic activity down the pipe just doesn’t make sense for Alberta.

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www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | March 2014

ENERGY

ALBERTA: UPGRADED

“Although the Sturgeon Refinery is being constructed in Alberta, a significant amount of the project capital will be spent procuring materials and services from other provinces. The socio-economic benefits to Albertans and Canadians from the construction and expected long operational life of the Sturgeon Refinery will be many billions of dollars.”

The NWR Sturgeon Refinery is Eco-Friendly

“The single-step bitumen to diesel process being used by NWR maximizes the conversion of the bitumen resource and minimizes waste or low value products such as coke. The process produces a high-purity CO2 stream that is a feedstock for downstream industries,” explains Bertsch. “Because we capture high-purity CO2 stream from the gasifier (about two-thirds of the CO2 from the facility) the diesel fuel produced will meet low-carbon fuel standards. NWR will capture 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 per year from Phase 1 of the refinery, equivalent to taking approximately 300,000 cars off the road. The refinery will also minimize its fresh water use with the use of leading water treatment technologies, allowing maximized water recycling within the process, and maximizing air cooling for process needs.” MacGregor agrees, “Gasification means we don’t consume natural gas. We convert the bottom of the barrel that is pretty much worthless into high-value hydrogen. Our process is a really environmentally friendly solution to bitumen production. If you do what we do, our bitumen feedstock goes from being one of the worst from CO2 to the best.” MacGregor continues, “Making diesel here in Alberta will avoid the annual shortages that have become a regular part of life. By them making 40,000 barrels a day in phase one, we will solve the problem.”

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

“Making diesel here in Alberta will avoid the annual shortages that have become a regular part of life. By them making 40,000 barrels a day in phase one, we will solve the problem.” ~ Ian MacGregor

Money is an Issue

Any project of this size runs the risk of overshooting the financial contingency, and the NWR Sturgeon Refinery is no exception. But as MacGregor states with a laugh, “Our costs have gone up a lot. We’ve been working on this for 10 years. There is always someone squawking somewhere!” What he means is that there is always opposition when the media breaks news about the increased costs of the refinery. However, these costs are not reported in line with the overall project scope. In admitting the project is over budget, MacGregor continues, “Both CNRL and the province have provided more support, approximately $300 million each as a loan. That caused some squawking because it’s a big cost, but it is $300 million in an $8 billion project. People aren’t focusing on the margins. It’s easy to focus on costs and ignore revenues, but it makes sense to look at both at the same time.

ENERGY

ALBERTA: UPGRADED

[For example], we tendered on an Alberta Government initiative called bitumen-royalty-in-kind. We won the tender and that resulted in a contract to process 37,500 barrels/ day of royalty bitumen. When we tendered, the margin was about $10 per barrel. In the last year, it’s been averaging $50 barrel. The province receives that extra revenue.” For MacGregor, the benefits that get overlooked include job creation. There are 1,000 – 1,500 working on the project right now and when field construction starts, that number will approximate 5,000. “This project is close to Edmonton; you can work at this site and sleep in your own bed at night,” MacGregor explains that if the subsequent two phases of the project are built, jobs will be created that can run for over 10 years. “It’s the people in Edmonton who will do this. We are not bringing in a big transitory work force and putting them in a camp. We’ll be working with people that can go home at night and see their kids in the morning.”

Albertans are Excited About the Refinery

Reg Curren, with media relations for Cenovus Energy Inc., states that despite Cenovus’ decision to invest in re-

fineries closer to their main markets in the United States, “Overall we view the addition of upgrading capacity in Alberta as a positive move for the entire oil sands industry.” Bertsch, who points out that NWR is an active participant in regional community advisory panels, economic development groups and multi-stakeholder environmental initiatives is pleased to say, “Our experience is that the general public welcomes NWR’s responsible approach to building this refinery. The consistent theme is one of welcome and excitement for the opportunities created by this project.”

The Decisions of Today Affect Alberta’s Future

The NWR Redwater Upgrader is a large part of Alberta’s future as an energy-centred economic powerhouse. “It’s true, Alberta is an expensive to build it,” concludes MacGregor, “but it’s expensive because the revenue is here. It’s not smart to transfer benefits or jobs to other locations like the Gulf Coast. I really believe we shouldn’t be selling our raw materials of any sort to foreign nationals. We should be processing them here and selling finished products to whomever wants them. It’s difficult, but worthwhile.” BIE

www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | March 2014

CITY POLITICS

DON IVESON REALLY MEANS BUSINESS

DON IVESON REALLY MEANS BUSIN BY MARK KANDBORG

dmonton is moving. That doesn’t mean that we’re packing up and heading to warmer climates, although at this time of year it’s a thought not entirely absent in the minds of many Edmontonians. No, it means that the city itself is moving forward toward a brighter, more urban and globally competitive future. To get a sense of our current coordinates on this journey, already well underway, we at Business in Edmonton sat down with newly elected Mayor Don Iveson to get his take on the future of, well, business in Edmonton. On first meeting and speaking with Iveson, certain impressions present themselves very quickly. He’s bright, fiercely committed, insightful, surprisingly forthcoming and even taller than you might think. He’s also very, very passionate about the role that council should play in supporting and encouraging the local business community to succeed. “I think it’s critical that business sees value in what happens at City Hall,” he says. “They may not get their way, and they may not speak with one voice, but it’s important that business gets heard in our decision making process.” Iveson is quick to point out that he’s far from a lone wolf in this scenario. “I think every one of us on council understands that without business creating jobs, a lot of the other things that we want to do in our community can’t happen. You need prosperity and entrepreneurship to attract people here, to keep people here and to generate the wealth that helps pay everyone’s salaries, which in turn pays the taxes that keep the lights on at City Hall.” Council is so firmly committed to the support of local businesses, he says, that during conversations regarding the city’s economic development plan, approved only last year after years of work, “the only feedback from new councillors was, are we doing enough? Enough to support economic diversification, enough to support the startup of new businesses, enough to support the growth of existing businesses? There was no suggestion that this shouldn’t be

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

a priority for us, or that we’re going in the wrong direction.” Iveson is keenly aware of the ever more ubiquitous presence of the entrepreneur in the city’s business landscape. “Edmonton’s been a really entrepreneurial place for a long time, but I think it’s surging again and I think it’s surging with the enthusiasm of a new generation of entrepreneurs coming forward,” he says. “There’s a lot of interest and buyin to Startup Edmonton and what’s happening in the Mercer Building. That excitement is spreading out to other places.

CITY POLITICS

DON IVESON REALLY MEANS BUSINESS

ESS

Meanwhile, you’ve got companies like Intuit moving downtown, which is a good sign. They want to be part of a startup city and a vibrant downtown. So the value of entrepreneurship and the push to create new things and not just rest on our laurels, to not just hunt for a job but to make your own, that seems to be alive and well in Edmonton.” A major landmark already rising above the horizon on this city’s economic journey is the mega-project spoken of in hushed tones (or barely restrained shrieks depending

on your particular viewpoint) known simply as The Arena. While the importance of this extremely high-profile event in Edmonton’s rapidly evolving downtown story is not lost on the mayor, he is, nonetheless, very aware that a considerable degree of stewardship will be required for success. “The decision’s definitely been made to build the arena, but there’s a bit more than I’s to dot and T’s to cross to get to the finish line,” Iveson says. “We’re committed to moving ahead and to keeping it on time and within the budget, www.businessinedmonton.com | Business In Edmonton Magazine | March 2014

CITY POLITICS

DON IVESON REALLY MEANS BUSINESS

and if we’re successful with that we’ll be able to put a shovel in the ground this spring, which I think many people will be relieved to see. And I’ll look forward to dropping the puck in 2016.” Iveson is optimistic about the impact the new Arena District will have on Edmonton business, and sees it as a critical component of a whole package of downtown revitalization. “This city council is committed to downtown just like the last one was,” he says, adding that a big part of that commitment includes moving ahead with a number of other, less tantalising, but no less important projects like sewer and streetscape upgrades. “It’s really hard to forecast, but at a general level the city’s relying on a lot of new private investment and growth in our assessment for property tax purposes, because that new assessment is part of what pays for the arena through the community revitalization levy tool,” Iveson says. “There’s a tower being built right now, there are two more towers potentially going up, and that’s very exciting for Edmonton because it’s been a long time since we’ve been in the hi-rise business. And then there are some other residential projects moving ahead as well, and some more behind who are waiting to see how the sales go. It’s been encouraging so far, and I’m optimistic that we’ll see at least moderate growth, and hopefully strong growth.” Although Edmonton has demonstrated an affinity for entrepreneurial growth in what Iveson refers to as “the

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

mainstream,” there is a segment of the populace he feels has largely been left out. “I think about the potential for entrepreneurship in immigrant and refugee communities,” he says. “There’s a lot of work to do, but there’s a real opportunity for established business leaders to support that. The same thing in the Aboriginal community. I think there’s great possibility there. I’d love Edmonton to be known as the place where everyone can be an entrepreneur, not just members of the dominant culture. That’s a value for everybody, and that’s something I’ll be working on in the coming years.” So what is Iveson’s vision of the ‘long now’ for Edmonton businesses? “Edmonton is already a globally competitive city in many ways, but we’ve got to work even harder to stay that way and to become competitive in other areas. So I encourage people to move past the idea of being world class. It was a good goal for a few years, but it’s not quite the right goal, in my mind, because it’s very dangerous,” he says. “If you start to think you’re world class, you might lean back a little bit. If PCL had done that 20 years ago, we wouldn’t have this global giant today. So if you want to stay globally competitive, you’ve got to work hard and strive hard every day. That’s how Edmontonians are programmed. I like to think about how we build a globally competitive city as opposed to settling for world class. It’s a subtle shift in language, but for me, it’s an important one. BIE

Intelligent Real Estate Solutions

BOYLE STREET COMMUNITY SERVICES BY JULIAN DALY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Downtown Proud Crew

couple of years ago I made a presentation to a group of Parliamentarians who were touring the country to learn more about poverty in Canada. I told them that the people we work with seek a recognition of their worth; of their value as human beings. That they seek a revitalization of their spirit. At Boyle Street we recognize that maybe we can’t end poverty, but we can make our centre a place of warm welcome where people can seek out services, where they can feel empowered to take control of their lives, where they can recapture their cultural identity…and where they can feel valued without being judged. We have a variety of programs aimed at supporting our clients or, as we call them, our community members. That’s the name we use because we recognize that we are all part of the same Edmonton community.

We’re a 40-year-old agency, and we have programs that help people get housed, or find support for their mental health or addiction issues. We have a drop-in where people can find warmth and good food and access counseling and cultural services. We have more than 30 programs, in fact, together with four residential group homes and offsite housing – and each year more than 9,000 people visit Boyle Street for some sort of support. About 75 per cent of those people are Aboriginal. One of these programs is called Water Wings – and it helps people get jobs. It does this in two ways: by supporting them in taking trades exams and correspondence courses and by helping them to look at job options, prepare for interviews, get safety tickets and develop resumes. Lots of our community members don’t have much formal education and some don’t have basic computer skills.

Edmonton

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Overall-Vacancy:

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Edmonton-Vacancy:

2.8%

Southeast: Northwest: Northeast: Central:

2.6% 3.1% 1.3% 3.9%

Surrounding-Vacancy: Acheson: Spruce-Grove: Stony-Plain: Sherwood-Park: Nisku/Leduc:

2.9% 0.6% 0.7% 0.0% 0.7% 4.8%

2013 Industrial Absorption Edmonton: 793,041-sf Surrounding: (30,945)-sf Total: 762,096-sf

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www.bomaedmonton.org | BOMA Edmonton Newsletter | March 2014

So we give them a lot of one-on-one support, including with basic literacy. But their success is based on the fact they want to find work. Their determination, with Water Wings programming, helps them achieve that goal. Water Wings is a fairly new program. But its successes are already impressive: • More than 50 safety tickets are being secured by clients every month. • We have had 600 participants • Between September and December, 93 clients found jobs Tickets which can be obtained include the Construction Safety Training System, H2S, first aid, forklift, basic food safety, confined space, fall arrest and transportation of dangerous goods. It’s a great moment when one of the “graduates” of Water Wings, someone who may have been homeless and unemployed for several years, finds a job which supports him in his desire to be an equal and contributing member of our society. We have, happily, many such moments. We have also partnered with the Downtown Business Association and, with the support of 15 corporate and government sponsors, we are now in our fifth year of a social enterprise program called Downtown Proud! Five Boyle Street community members – all previously homeless and unemployed - clean up a 30-square block area in

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March 2014 | BOMA Edmonton Newsletter | www.bomaedmonton.org

the downtown. And they have done so consistently five-days-a week, three-hours-a-day in all kinds of weather. They will probably collect about 144,000 litres of litter and garbage this year. The crew has been stable during the last 12 months and has taken on a number of additional assignments, including litter clean up during MacEwan University and Norquest College’s welcome back to school event, Alberta Culture Days and the Christmas Tree Light Up event sponsored by the Downtown Business Association. They also continued collecting recyclable bottles from two condos in the downtown area. There are plans to increase the hours of the crew, and, with anticipated funding, this should happen soon. In fact, BOMA has offered to help in many different ways including putting a fundraising committee together so we can work full time during spring, summer and fall. If we raise $58K from the private sector, the City will provide $50K. Recently, we have developed a partnership with Progressive Waste Solutions (also known as BFI Canada). They will be providing new carts for the crew as well as work clothing, toques, gloves and pickers. Our crew members continue to report how meaningful the work is to them. This is especially the case as business owners and pedestrians continue to offer words of encouragement to the crew as they do their work, offering coffee and even meals, at times. This feedback is priceless and really adds to the sense of self-worth. One of our relatively new crew members recently sat down with his partner and realized that with the regular work he has with us and the steady employment income that they could actually afford an apartment. This means not staying in a shelter and now having a home. This was a moment of complete joy and relief – and we have yet another community member who is housed as a result of working with Downtown Proud! Employment programs such as these, and the ever growing support of the greater Edmonton community, go a long way to help our community members recognize their own worth and revitalize their spirit. But there are still more than 2,000 people who are homeless in Edmonton and we at Boyle Street will continue to build on programming, and seek out partnerships which will help those still out there to move from their daily battle for survival to the richness of a life which is fully inclusive. Since 2008 Julian Daly has been the Executive Director of Boyle Street Community Services, an inner city organization working with Edmontonians who are experiencing extreme poverty, mental health challenges, addictions and homelessness. Born in Ireland, Julian has over 23 years experience working in nonprofit, government and private sectors in Canada, the UK, Indonesia and his country of birth. He has managed programs and projects that have focused on a range of areas including housing, poverty reduction, community engagement, health, education and children and family services.

LOOKING TO AVOID GETTING SOAKED DURING SPRING THAW?

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ast summer’s floods were a wake-up call for Albertans. Images of Highway 1 washed away, entire towns cut off, and the Scotiabank Saddledome submerged are still fresh in our minds. Though geographically removed, Edmontonians contributed everything they could − supplies, funds and boots on the ground − to our neighbours in the south. As if we didn’t know it already, the provincial government called it the worst flooding in the history of the province. Many Albertans will also remember the massive strain placed on construction, trades, and restoration suppliers. The demand stretched local capacity to the absolute limit, and required huge amounts of imported additional support. FirstOnSite experienced this degree of resource pressure when responding to the Slave Lake wildfire a few years ago. Then, as was the case this past spring, we were able to draw on and mobilize equipment, manpower and resources from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, in order to scale up and meet the disaster’s enormous needs.

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Fast forward to 2014 in Edmonton, and the impending spring thaw. It could be a memorable one. If the ten-foot snow drifts and ice damming don’t convince you, maybe this will: Environment Canada has said that 2013 was the third worst year for snowfall in Edmonton since 1996. It snowed 37.2 centimetres in December and 45 centimetres in November. This is double what Edmonton usually expects in the last two months of the year. Very simply, when temperatures warm, snows melt and water starts flowing. We would be wise to be wary as we look ahead - with this season’s amount of snowfall, a city’s drainage system could be put to the test. If it is overwhelmed both residential and commercial properties are in danger of flooding. And lots of it. It is, of course, impossible to predict the future, which is why it’s important for commercial businesses to have an emergency plan in place - one that takes their unique business considerations into account. By developing an emergency response plan, businesses will be better prepared to survive when the next disaster strikes. By taking planning one step further, and including a partnership with a restoration company in that plan, several things can be achieved: • The restoration partner is already familiar with the site and its important stakeholders before an event takes place −

March 2014 | BOMA Edmonton Newsletter | www.bomaedmonton.org

very important to an efficient restoration effort. • Restoration response time will be reduced and work started more quickly as a result of the pre-planning, ultimately saving costs and minimizing business interruption. • Property managers have a partner on speed dial when their property is in need - and significantly – receive priority service in times of major crisis. It’s very easy to push emergency planning aside when things are running smoothly. But having a plan in place that will ensure the smoothest management possible through a disaster will ultimately maximize business continuity. It’s time well spent that will pay off if disaster strikes. FirstOnSite’s PREP Program can help businesses prepare before a disaster takes place, and provide businesses priority service in times of crisis. Please contact Andrew MacKechnie at amackechnie@firstonsite.ca or 780.733.3399 for more information. As we say in the restoration business: “Plan for the worst, and you’ll come out the best.”

CLEAN AIR IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY The Filter Shop helps its customers achieve BOMA Building Environmental Standards practices. BY ROBERTA MACGILLIVRAY, PRESIDENT, THE FILTER SHOP AT B.G.E.

he question of Environmental Responsibility is something we face every day in all aspects of our lives. From how we dispose of our garbage to leaving our car idling too long. The question is raised… “What are you doing to help the environment?” Building owners, property managers and building operators face this daily challenge of trying to meet the health and comfort needs of their tenants while at the same time trying to meet energy efficiency and environmental sustainability objectives.

The Building Owners and Managers Association of Edmonton (BOMA), introduced the BOMA BESt (Building Environmental Standards) program to provide a set of best practices to assist and recognize buildings that have those best practices in place and have achieved environmental excellence in their building objectives. The BOMA BESt is a certification program that recognizes excellence in energy and environmental management and performance in commercial real estate through a questionnaire and survey based as-

www.bomaedmonton.org | BOMA Edmonton Newsletter | March 2014

sessment spanning 6 areas: energy, water, waste reduction, emissions and effluents, indoor environments and ultimately their overall environmental management system. A BOMA member since 1986 and a proponent to the BOMA BESt program, B.G.E. Service & Supply Ltd. (The Filter Shop) has been a trusted advisor to help with all things related to clean air. We’ve worked with numerous property managers and building owners/managers across western Canada in achieving their BOMA BESt certification. When it comes to clean air, the proper filter goes a long way to taking the guess work out of ensuring buildings offer clean air to the tenants. The steps to achieving clean air are:

SURVEY A thorough air filtration system survey always uncovers important information about the existing air filtration system and helps identify areas of concern from filter integrity to source contaminants or even indoor building activities such as renovations or construction. Also, the survey technician verifies the filters are doing their job when it comes to providing a building and its occupants with clean air.

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March 2014 | BOMA Edmonton Newsletter | www.bomaedmonton.org

contaminants that need to be removed and prevented from polluting fresh outdoor air sources. They also search for other contaminated sources such as fouled coils, worn-out equip-

ment and the many other variables affecting air quality. This is a daunting task especially in an aging building. In partnership with the building manager and their team, the technician can advise where remediation is needed and sometimes even get involved in the remediation restoration process.

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE As we all know the best way to protect the building is with a consistent preventative maintenance (PM) program. A filter PM program is no different. The Filter Shop helps ensure the right filter choice, the right frequency of filter inspections and change outs while reducing overall energy consumption. The single largest cost of electricity for a building, approximately 36 per cent, is heating, cooling, conditioning and moving air in the building. Itâ€™s important the building has the right combination of air filters (stages of filtration) to ensure a reduction in energy costs while still maintaining overall indoor air quality. The cost of a filter (including installation and disposal) is only a fractional cost of your overall energy spend but can have a significant impact in overall energy consumption, making air filters a key component of a buildingâ€™s conservation program.

MONITORING Once the building has determined the right filters and has a PM program in place, it is important to verify that indeed clean air is being delivered to the occupied space. Filter Shop technicians help the building manager conduct periodic particle counts and indoor air quality monitoring to verify that the filters are working and that clean air is being delivered to the tenant space. The technicians also help prove energy savings from the filter choices. These steps will help building managers achieve the BOMA BESt certification and will provide environmentally friendly air quality for the tenants. Clean Air is BESt! B.G.E. Service & Supply Ltd. (The Filter Shop) is a family owned and operated Canadian business. Since 1968 it has been headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta where it is also home to our manufacturing and distribution warehouse operations. With 8 locations across Western Canada, The Filter Shop understands the unique climate and dust holding conditions that play a factor when building and plant managers are trying to keep the air clean for their operations. Give us a call today if you would like to know more about Clean Air Everywhere and our quality products and services.

Canadaâ€™s Top Security Company | paladinsecurity.com www.bomaedmonton.org | BOMA Edmonton Newsletter | March 2014

ACG Edmonton Network Presents

Northern M&A Conference 2014 Please join us for our second annual ACG Northern M&A Conference Edmonton Event focused on oil and gas technology. This event is a full day of networking and business development opportunities with a key-note speaker, economist and a government representative, as well as panel discussions on oil and gas technology, M & A trends and related topics.

OIL AND GAS TECHNOLOGY March 19th-20th The Sutton Place Hotel March 19th 5pm-8pm March 20th 7am-5pm

President's Reception Northern M&A Conference: Oil and Gas Technology

keynote speaker: Jeff Rubin

Jeff Rubin, one of the world`s most prominent experts on the future of oil, explains why the end of cheap supply means the end globalization as we know it. Rubin was the former Chief Economist at CIBC World Markets (for almost 20 years), is a frequent columnist for The Globe and Mail, and is the bestselling author of Why Your World Is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller and The End of Growth.

for more information and for tickets, please contact:

www.acg.org/edmontonnetwork

Pearl Stadelman, Lindsey Barber, Ashley Ramsey, Shelly Barless, Colleen Auret, Marlene Rennis and Bill Barless.

Changing the Face of Maid Service Dust Queen celebrates 25 years of serving the Greater Edmonton community

ith a bucket in hand, Shelly Barless began cleaning two houses per day in 1989. She had no idea that 25 years later she would be sitting at the helm of Edmonton’s largest residential cleaning service. President and CEO of Dust Queen Maid Service, Barless and her team are excited to celebrate 25 years of success as they look ahead to further growth in the future. With the tireless drive of an entrepreneur, Barless expanded her cleaning service only two years later, moving into her first office and hiring additional staff in 1991. Today, that office is a stunning, bright and modern 5,200-square-foot building located in Edmonton’s south side. It is the hub of all business activity where 35 cleaning technicians and seven office staff – including Barless – start their day with the aim of being the best cleaning service in the city. “It is so much more than just going out and cleaning a house,” says Barless. “From our manuals, procedures, polices and best practices to our job descriptions it is about being the best at what we do. I would describe myself as a passionate entrepreneur with a vision and that vision is making a difference

in people’s lives, and that is what we do every day. Every day we are helping people, and our staff takes great pride in knowing that.” Barless is quick to point out that Dust Queen’s success cannot be attributed to one person. It is the result of the entire team and their enthusiasm for sharing the company’s core values of teamwork, service excellence, integrity, respect, accountability, professionalism, reliability and growth. “Yes I am leader of the company, but it certainly takes a team to get to where we are today. It is commitment and accountability that has made Dust Queen a multiple-year recipient of the Consumer Choice Award for Business Excellence and a Top Choice Award winner.” In addition, Dust Queen is a 20-year member of the Better Business Bureau and maintains an A+ rating. Barless was also awarded the 2011 Consumer Choice Business Woman of the Year Award and this year has been nominated for the Alberta Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award. “We have changed the face of maid service,” explains Barless of the company’s growth and success. “We have a very structured professional system that

Dust Queen Maid Service | 25 years

Marsha Cameron and Annie Poulin

Shelly Barless has been developed over the past 25 years. From our administrative staff to our field technicians, we have the system down pat.” Barless continues, “We see all our staff every morning at 7:30. The day starts with a change out of all previous day’s cleaning supplies and a 15-minute meeting. As part of our inventory system, they drop off their duffel bag from the previous day and each team receives another duffel bag of clean cloths and full bottles of cleaning solutions – that are environmentally safe and biodegradable. If there is a problem with any hardware it too is switched out. Then they are out the door by 8:00 a.m. cleaning over 60 homes per day in the Edmonton area.” Since Dust Queen recognizes that every client has unique needs, they offer a number of cleaning options from their “complete cleaning package” to a more customized solution. And whether clients have booked a regular schedule of service or a onetime cleaning request, the guarantee is always the same – clients can depend on Dust Queen each and every time and if they are not satisfied, the company will gladly send a crew to redo whatever is in question at no extra charge. Barless has worked hard to engage staff in every

facet of the business. Several years ago, she developed official job descriptions. New hires begin as cleaning technicians – following an extensive twoweek training program – and through hard work and dedication can move up to more advanced roles including team leader and certified trainer. The company also boasts a field supervisor as well as an office administrator, customer service representatives and administration associates. Having a full office complement to support the technicians working in their clients’ homes every day ensures the phone is always answered by a live and knowledgeable person during office hours. “What is exciting to me is that as we grow that creates more opportunity for our staff both in the field and in the office to further their career,” says Barless. There is no doubt that Barless is just as committed about her staff choices as she is about ensuring every clients’ house is squeaky clean. The company boasts an extensive interview process and all staff are subjected to background checks, reference checks and a police clearance. According to Barless, any potential employee has to fit with the company culture, and once hired must comply with a strict safety code compliant with Occupational Health and Safety. However, in addition to growth opportunities, employees are rewarded consistently for their hard work. “There are many things we have developed to engage our staff,” says Barless. “There are five criteria for our outstanding performance bonus program for safety and exceptional service, and we present awards

Dust Queen Maid Service | 25 years | 2

at the end of the year. We also have an employee of the month and our staff receive extra bonuses.” While success in the past is obvious by looking at the well-oiled machine that has become the Dust Queen empire, Barless and her team are not finished yet. Two years ago, they hired a consultant to help develop a strategic growth plan and business optimization process. Barless says the process was life changing and altered every facet of the business going forward. “Our strategic growth plan is to double in size by the year 2017,” says Barless. “As we continue to grow, we create more opportunities for our staff and that to me is really exciting.” While the 25th anniversary celebration plans are currently being finalized, Barless is grateful for the community support over the years – and returns her gratitude by supporting a number of local charities including WIN House, the SPCA and numerous others with financial donations and gift certificates for cleaning services to use in fundraising efforts. “One of the things that is really important to me is to give back to the community because without the people of Greater Edmonton, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We are truly grateful to the thousands of customers who trust us with their home-cleaning needs every day.”

2907 Ellwood Drive SW Edmonton, AB T6X 0B1 Phone: 780-448-4973 info@dustqueen.com • www.dustqueen.com

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Dust Queen Maid Service | 25 years | 4

Two gen erati o n s o f DeJon gs wi th n exGen ’s fl agsh i p Komor i pr i n ti n g press .

nexGen Grafix Inc.

The Evolution of Print Technology By Nerissa McNaughton

The next generation takes over Edmonton’s long-standing premier printing company

ome things get better with age. Cheese, wine, knowledge, experience and, in the case of nexGen Grafix, the fine art of digital and offset printing. The company formerly known as DeJong Printing Ltd. is in constant evolution. Stuart DeJong is the son of a printer, who emigrated from the Netherlands to Canada in 1977. His son, Henk DeJong, enrolled in Computer Science at the University of Alberta. “I thought he’d be a second Bill Gates or something,” Stuart laughs with pride. Bill Gates’ job is secure for now, because Henk veered off his original career path in 1987 when he decided he preferred to work in the family business. Henk’s enthusiasm, computer knowledge and fresh ideas ushered in a new era for the company. To make a bigger point of this evolution and given Stuart’s retirement, in 2012 Henk changed the company name to nexGen Grafix Inc. Henk builds the next generation of print technology on a

solid foundation. The company was launched in Edmonton in 1979 with Stuart as entrepreneur, owner and sole worker. Today the company has over 15 employees, all of which the DeJongs describe with the words “fantastic,” “loyal,” “well-trained” and “we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.” When Stuart’s plans with a business partner in Ontario fell through, he simply changed direction, moved to Edmonton and set up shop. His entrepreneurial spirit never waned, leading to a branch opening in the Okanagan during the early 1990s. While the venture there did not turn out exactly as planned, the British Columbia branch’s smaller operation drove plenty of business to his large format presses in Edmonton. Always one to recognize a great idea, Stuart decided to reduce overhead by maintaining only a sales presence in B.C. – a presence that still funnels work to Edmonton today.

nex G en G r a fi x I n c . | 35 Ye a r s

T h e o r ig in al He idelberg d iec ut t ing p re s s : 6 0 ye ar o ld t ec hnology, st ill in u s e t od ay.

Th e Ko dak NexPress: to day’s tech n o l o gy pro du ci n g l eadi n g-edge di gi tal pr i n ti n g.

Henk, who grew up watching his father run the presses, was more than happy to take over the reins of the family business. Knowing he could use today’s technology to take the company to the next level, Henk came into the ownership position bursting with energy and zest for change. As Henk proudly states on the nexGen Grafix website, the company has the “same quality, same ethic, new generation, new stuff.” This “new stuff ” includes the 2011 addition of the Komori LSX629c as nexGen’s flagship offset printing press. “Compared to our previous Komori Lithrone 628c, this unique mid-size press can run six letter-size pages on one 24” x 29.5” sheet at a rate of 16,000 per hour,” says Henk. This powerhouse of a press is highly

Congratulations to nexGen Grafix on your 35th Anniversary. From your partners at Spicers.

automated, and loaded with features to reduce excess waste, making it one of the more eco-friendly presses in the industry. nexGen Grafix has also evolved in environmental practices. The company is committed to using products that minimize environmental impact, not just in ink, papers and solvents, but also in packaging and plastic materials. Plate processing chemicals are neutralized, and they safely recycle as many materials as possible. The notion of environmental accountability is also evidenced in the second major equipment investment made in late 2011, the Kodak NexPress 2700SX digital production press. “While other digital presses may use toners, which are environmentally very harmful (or even non-destructible), the dry inks

Congratulations, nexGen Grafix. For 35 years you’ve been getting it right, and we’re proud to be helping you unlock your potential for future growth. GrantThornton.ca Audit • Tax • Advisory

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nex G en G r a fi x I n c . | 35 Ye a r s | 2

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used in the NexPress are fully recyclable,” says Henk. “Similarly, the NexGlosser accessory uses the same dry ink to produce a high-gloss finish, which is a far more environmentally friendly process than the equivalent UV coating or laminating.” Henk has already made a number of changes to the equipment and processes, but there are some things he is content to leave the same. One of nexGen Grafix’s founding principles

might be worded as “do more with less, but do it better,” which has served the company well since its inception. For nexGen Grafix, doing more with less means being able to provide better quality, better service, better sales consultants and better equipment; which in turn leads to less waste, lower turnover and fewer meetings (more time to be productive) and ultimately, greater customer satisfaction. nexGen Grafix works only with what and who they need, keeping away from any excess to ensure a smooth, tight, well-run operation. Both senior and junior DeJong can certainly attribute the success of the company to hard work, careful planning and forward-thinking gradual evolution, but the humble past and present owners attribute much of their success to their Christian beliefs. They know they are guided and blessed by God in the opportunities that allowed them to grow the company into what is today. Their beliefs also play a very big part in how the company is run – morally, ethically and honestly at every level. This year nexGen Grafix celebrates 35 years in business. Many thousands of projects have been produced during those years, and the impact of some of them still resonate within the city today. Few know about the mystery surrounding a civic election that almost didn’t happen until DeJong Printing literally saved the day; and doubtless there will be many more fascinating stories as Henk takes nexGen Grafix into the future at the head of this energetic first-rate company.

11661 - 163 Street 780-451-0571 or 1-800-268-3421 website at www.nexgengrafix.com

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Congratulations, nexGen Grafix!

Congratulations nexGen Grafix on 35 years! Look to Ernest Green for everything green in the printing industry. We help you achieve your green objectives with environmental products and solutions throughout your operation.

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Proud to be working with you, and we wish you continued success in the years ahead.

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Congratulations nexGen Grafix! We wish you many years of continued success!

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Congratulations nexGen Grafix on your 35 years!

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nex G en G r a fi x I n c . | 35 Ye a r s | 4

Official Nomination Form

Go Online to www.businessinedmonton.com/lot Submissions Directions: Please complete the application in its entirety. Send the form via fax to 587.520.5701; or scan and email to pat@businessinedmonton.com Eligibility: All nominees must own, be a partner, CEO, or President of a private or public company, and be

a primary stakeholder responsible for the recent performance of the company. In addition, the nominee’s company must be Edmonton and area based and have been in existence for a minimum of three years.

Judging Panel and Criteria: The independent panel of judges will consist of a selection of successful business leaders from the community. The judges will analyze an extensive list of criteria that will include finances, strategic direction, product or service innovation, company leadership (including personal integrity, values and key employee initiatives), community involvement and philanthropic activities. Nominee’s Name: Title:

Nominee Print or Type Only Please

Company Name: General Company Phone: Business Address: City:

Province:

Postal Code:

Company Website: Nature of Business: Nominee’s Phone:

Nominee’s Email:

Assistant’s Name: Assistant’s Phone:

Assistant’s Email:

Has Nominee previously been nominated for Consideration? Yes / No Year(s): For any questions or follow up related to this information; please designate a contact, or confirm nominee or assistant as primary contact.

Platinum Partner

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WWW.EDMONTONCHAMBER.COM SECTION TITLE

BUILDING THE CAPITAL BY JAMES CUMMING, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE EDMONTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE @CUMMINGK

JAMES CUMMING

n January, remarks I made in a speech to the Edmonton Real Estate Board caught the attention of the local media and many residents of the region. I spoke about the idea of a strengthened Capital Region Board and the need for our local politicians – in Edmonton and neighbouring municipalities – to have an in-depth discussion on how to provide better services and planning throughout the region. I also said that if amalgamation of certain services and entities in the region was the right choice in order to create better regional governance, then we all need to talk about it. The Edmonton Chamber came out in favour of a big, deep discussion on this issue of good regional governance because it is important to business and residents. The fact is that talking about big ideas, advocating for policy change and starting a discussion is a core part of who and what the Edmonton Chamber is. This organization is the voice of business. The role of the Edmonton Chamber is to be active on issues of significant consequence to the business community. We will not back away from our mission to create the best environment for business. The benefits of success in this mission are too great to not speak out on the issues. The best environment for business creates sustainable prosperity for business and their employees. Disjointed, expensive and poorly planned infrastructure service delivery is a drag on this future. Whether we agree on the issues surrounding strengthening our region with a better level of service, with better levels of taxation and better decision making, is not the point. The point is that it is in the best interests of business and in the best interests of their employees that our regional and provincial politicians come together, start a dialogue and solve some of the lingering issues around regional governance and service delivery. In order to thrive in the long term, businesses throughout the region require reliable, efficient provision of service from all municipal governments. Right now there is a golden opportunity to start this conversation. The Municipal Governance Act Review is

March 2014 | Business In Edmonton Magazine | www.businessinedmonton.com

Effective cooperation between municipalities can deliver better planning, decreased costs and improved delivery times. happening right now. The province is mandated by law to open the Municipal Governance Act every 20 years. This process is the perfect time to make adjustments to the regulations that mandate how municipal governments cooperate, decide to spend infrastructure funds and plan for the future. We need to take this opportunity to have a thoughtful, meaningful discussion on what our future as region can look like. There have been clear indications from the provincial government that there is not an endless supply of funds for every dream of every municipal councillor in our region. How we prioritize and plan today will affect how we live and build our economy for the next 20 years. Infrastructure is one of the biggest expenses at the municipal government level. Effective cooperation between municipalities can deliver better planning, decreased costs and improved delivery times. Edmonton is at a great point in history; the generous wealth of our resource industries enables us to make decisions on how and when to spend money that most jurisdictions on the planet cannot dream of. But, all of this wealth can cover up the fact that our local governments are not delivering infrastructure and other services as efficiently or effectively as they could be. The Edmonton Chamber will continue to speak on behalf of its 2,800 members, supported by our active and engaged volunteers, on this issue. It is not going to go away. It is important that we take a long-term look at where we want greater Edmonton to be in 20 years. Let’s talk about it.

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EVENTS

Thursday, March 27, 2014 Jubilee Auditorium

15th Annual

11455 - 87 Avenue 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Admission (includes GST): Members: $15.00 Non-Members: $20.00 Food & beverage tickets available at the door

of the Chamber Food & Beverage Mixer