Issuu

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

EST.

years

2003

www.businesslinkmedia.com MAY 2018 | BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

WE CONNECT GREAT COMPANIES

TO GREAT PEOPLE

We offer highly-personalized service, from defining your needs to hiring new employees.

Two locations to better serve you! Downtown Office: 3 East Main Street Welland, ON L3B 3W4 P: 905-788-3751 F: 905-788-9397

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NIAGARA

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Family-owned media firm celebrates 15 years of informing, educating and supporting the Niagara business community. 18

2003 EST.

. EST

years

2003

Let's Get Social PUBLISHED BY

FORGING NEW PATHS WITH MEDICAL RESEARCH

NIAGARA’S PRIVATE SOCIAL CLUB CELEBRATES 140 YEARS

WISE GIRLS VOLUME 16

ISSUE 5

///

NIAGARA

This all-ladies event is guaranteed to be a fabulous day! |

MAY 2018

SEE THE BIG

PICTURE “We’re all connected. No one in this world is alone.”

CELEBRATING THIS YEAR’S WINNERS

B y G e r r y V i s c a

ne of my favourite things to do is venture out to the movies. I love everything about catching a cinematic adventure; the people, the popcorn and the experience of losing myself. Earlier this month, my life partner, Angela and I caught the flick: “I Can Only Imagine” based on the true story of Bart Millard; lead singer of MercyMe. There was an inspiring connection that waffled through the aisles of movie theatre number three that night. It was more than just buttery flavoured popcorn that heightened my senses. The movie stirred a deeper sense of human connection within the depths of my soul. Continued on page 5

READ ONLINE AT BUSINESSLINKNIAGARA.COM

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA | MAY 2018

Continued from cover page

The interesting thing is that the energy that really moved me came after the credits. As I stood up to make my way down the steep flight of steps, I whipped around and caught an older man who had lost his footing and stumbled to his knees. I couldn’t help but marvel at the way a dozen or so people including myself rushed to his aid. It was in that moment that I experienced the possibility for a deeper connection within the human race. For years, I’ve devoted my life to one of inspiration. I chose to transition from the field of architecture; from building buildings to building up people. As the Why Guy, I exist to inspire others to answer the only question that truly matters: “Why am I here?” As a group of us lifted the older man to his feet, I felt his spirit somehow elevating mine. In that moment, I was pleasantly reminded of the power of reaching out and inspiring one another. The man’s deep blue eyes stirred my soul. As he gripped my arm tightly, we slowly made our way down the steps and out into the hallway. Those of us surrounding him, quietly cheered as the man proudly walked out the theatre doors. He gazed deeply into my eyes and thanked me for my kindness, and I returned the gesture by thanking him for his gift of connection. That night, I decided to capture this uplifting experience through the gift of the written word. As a 17-time author and transformational novelist, I choose to create the space to share these insights with you through a belief that we’re all connected and no one is meant to walk this Earth alone. We live in a connection age, yet one only has to gaze upon a sea of buzzing devices to notice that our world is more disconnected than ever. Imagine a world where people look up and intentionally strive to connect with others. The outcomes would be limitless. A world that connects through compassion, empathy and understanding will create limitless outcomes.

MAY 2018 | BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA

This old man reminded me of the gift of connection and the “link” between all of us. It’s another reason why I appreciate publications like The Business Link. They help us look up and appreciate the verse that each human being contributes to the story of humanity. The gift of connection is about pausing to experience the daily miracles that present themselves in what may appear in seemingly insignificant ways. The key is to become aware of the significance of the “present moment.” Choose to connect to someone’s heart every single day. Push beyond your comfort zone and see another human being for who they really are. Feel your spirit connecting with theirs. It’s one thing to connect with people’s minds, however; it’s quite another to forge a bond with their heart. We deepen our connection with others by listening with the intent to understand versus replying. The world craves deeper connection now more than ever. It starts with a belief that all of us are here to help one another connect to something far greater than building more shopping malls. We are here to connect to the light of one another. Every single human being on this planet has a gift to weave into the very fabric of life. Every stitch is a connection to the quilt of humanity. So, as the opening credits for the next cinematic adventure begins, I smile at the phrase that fills up the screen and stirs my heart: “See the Big Picture...” BL Gerry Visca is the #Why Guy, a contributor to The Business Link, one of Canada’s top inspirational speakers, the author of 17 books, including the two new transformational novels Remembering Why and Why am I here? Visit www.gerryvisca.com. When you order three copies of Gerry’s latest books you receive the gift of one-on-one WHY Time. Email gerry@redchairbranding.com Follow Gerry on Twitter @gerryvisca www.facebook.com/gerryvisca

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

VOLUME 16

ISSUE 5

///

NIAGARA

MAY 2018

P U BLI S H E R The Business Link Niagara Ltd. 36 Hiscott St., Suite 200 St. Catharines, ON L2R 1C8 Tel: 905.646.9366 email: info@BusinessLinkMedia.com www.BusinessLinkMedia.com C O - P U BLI S H E RS Jim Shields, Adam Shields C O NT R I B U TI N G W RI TE RS S. Leslie, D . O'Neill, W.Marshall, G. Visca R. Davidson, T. Mackenzie, C. Rice - Strati,

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Locally Owned and Operated

Fax: 905.646.5486

CONTENTS

Forging New Paths with Medical Research

8 St. Catharines Club: Niagara’s premier private social club celebrates 140 years o f b e i n g “ t h e p l a c e t o b e .”

WHAT ELSE

J. Sillett, C.Thomson, J. Murray, T. Arnold C I R CU LATI ON The Business Link Niagara Ltd. is published 12 times per year and distributed to all businesses in the Niagara Region via Canada Post. S UB S C R I PTI ON RATE S $48 +HST for 12 issues. Send a cheque

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or money order to the address above. Any reproduction or use of the content within this publication without permission is prohibited. Opinions and comments within this publication reflect

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those of the writers and not necessarily that of The Business Link Niagara Ltd. All advertising is accepted subject to the Publishers’ discretion. The Publishers will not be responsible for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space occupied

PROFITABLE

by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred. Any design, artwork, copyright or typesetting supplied by The Business Link Niagara Ltd. is for the exclusive use by the Publishers. Any other use not authorized is an infringement of copyright. No part of this publica-

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Let's Get Social

POWERING WHAT’S NEXT IN NIAGARA AT BIG THINKERS

tion may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior

EIGHT WAYS TO MAKE YOUR BUSINESS MORE

79 33

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CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

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in the Niagara Region

905.682.2143 www.wacw.ca

272 Welland Ave., St. Catharines BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA | MAY 2018

One research project is evaluating the impact of serious illness on

Donor dollars are supporting research into the prevention

the children of adult cancer patients.

of frailty in older adults.

FORGING NEW PATHS WITH MEDICAL RESEARCH P r o v i d e d b y H a m i lt o n H e a lt h S c i e n c e s F o u n d at i o n Research helps to bridge the gap between aspirations for the future and the needs of today. This is particularly important for health care because new insights can lead to the groundbreaking medical treatments of tomorrow. As one of Canada’s top five research hospitals, Hamilton Health Sciences is committed to advancing excellence in health care to benefit the people and communities it serves. Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation raises funds to support important medical research. Through a network of internationally renowned research institutes, centres and groups, more than 500 investigators are conducting research ranging from basic laboratory tests to trials involving thousands of participants around the world. With the help of the Foundation, these researchers are addressing major global health challenges, translating new discoveries into efficient practices for prevention and patient care, and placing Hamilton Health Sciences at the forefront of medical research. Proceeds from the Foundation’s annual gala support important research projects across the Hamilton Health Sciences sites, and funds raised by the 2018 Gala are supporting four innovative projects that aim to enhance the patient experience for years to come. Hamilton General Hospital - One of these projects is a pilot study conducted by Dr. Niv Sne at The General that assesses the effectiveness of using LaparoGuard, a surgical platform that enhances a surgeon’s ability to navigate through minimally invasive procedures with greater accuracy and safety. The system employs infra-red probes to map “safety zones” around sensitive tissues and organs.

Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre - Gala proceeds are also supporting a pilot project led by Dr. Graeme Fraser. This project evaluates the impact of serious illnesses on the children of adult cancer patients, as well as the feasibility of Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre partnering with McMaster Children’s Hospital to provide consultation and support services from Child Life Specialists. McMaster Children’s Hospital - Another gala-supported project is being conducted by Dr. Karen Choong that involves the pediatric patient population of Hamilton Health Sciences. This study is focused on the implementation of “PICU Liber8,” an innovative group of practices targeted at preventing critical illness complications in children, and helping these children rehabilitate while still in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). St. Peter’s Hospital - The fourth project is being conducted by Dr. Courtney Kennedy and is focused on frailty in seniors. The FitFrailty App is a tool for assessing frailty that can be completed by older adults, family caregivers and health care professionals. This study aims to test the Fit-Frailty App’s ability to improve the detection and measurement of frailty in routine clinical practice. BL With projects like these, Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation is proud to support a culture of inquiry for medical investigators who are dedicated to advancing patient care through research. To make a real difference in the lives of patients by supporting important medical research projects, visit hamiltonhealth.ca/donate.

June 2, 2018

mackids.ca/walkandwheel CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

ST. CATHARINES CLUB Niagara’s premier private social club celebrates 140 years of being “the place to be.” By Scott Leslie

anada was still just a lanky teen when a group of businessmen in the lakeside community of Shipman’s Corners – also known as St. Catharines – shook hands and settled into their armchairs. It was 1878 and for weeks now, the modest group – doctors, lawyers, and merchants among them – had all got in the habit of meeting to discuss local goings-on. Eight years later, those same men would take their informal gatherings to another level. They applied for a certified charter through an act of the Legislature of the Province of Ontario. That charter was officially granted on March 25, 1886. And the dream of a “St. Catharines Club” became a reality. Coady Thomson has been general manager of the St. Catharines Club now since April of 2016. And he’s no stranger to the private member club industry. Over his career, Coady has had extended tenures working in food and beverage operations at the Burlington Golf and Country Club and the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club. But in his eyes, the St. Catharines Club is one of the best games in town. “It’s a very welcoming atmosphere here,” Coady says of the Club. “It’s a community within a community in a lot of ways.” It all begins with the venue itself. In the early days, Club meetings were held in the home of various members. That would continue for years until their growing numbers necessitated a more formal meeting place, and the St. Catharines Club acquired several rooms at 41 to 47 Ontario Street. By 1927, however, the Club was in urgent need of a permanent location and Club leaders purchased its current building – a small but impressive Georgian8

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

style mansion on nearby 77 Ontario Street. Built in 1874, this magnificent, two and a half storey home was originally the residence of local banker and insurance agent Daniel Curtiss Haynes. With its high ceilings, antique furnishings and rich wood decor, the St. Catharines Club has become the ideal setting for any kind of business or social occasion – from wedding receptions and birthday parties to staff meetings and business seminars. (The Club’s meeting and full-service dining rooms can handle anywhere from six to 70 people.) Take Club 77 for instance. Located on the second floor, this signature room features card tables, wide screen TVs, a billiard table and an After Five Social Bar, creating the perfect place for members to just kick back and unwind. Other rooms include the Birch Room, the Crystal Room, Coady Thomson and the Upper and Lower Cameo Rooms. When it comes to the food itself, Chef Leah Robertson and her experienced staff can handle nearly any kind of occasion. The Club offers a wide variety of menu options for members and their guests – everything from a casual hot and cold buffet to a more formal fourcourse meal. The Club can even offer catering and takeout food in many cases. “We have one of the best wine lists in the entire region,” Coady says. “All of it has been sourced through our membership affiliations.”

“It’s a community within a community in a lot of ways.”

BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA | MAY 2018

“The Place To Be” Private social clubs were once a familiar sight in the Niagara area – but one by one, they began to fall on hard times. By the late-1990s, several of them had closed their doors for good. Today, the St. Catharines Club is the last one standing this side of Burlington. But the leadership at the Club realized a long time ago that it had to make changes if it expected to stay in business. And that meant changing with the times – and turning it into “The Place To Be.” In 2016 for instance, Club management felt the building was in need of a facelift. That included extensive renovations to the main dining room and fireplace lounge. The downstairs area was also completely refurbished to brighten up the decor. More recently, the Club has even done some updating to Club 77, adding new flat screen TVs and other amenities. Building the perfect venue is one thing. But filling the building meant taking a hard look at their membership. “Every club goes through the ups and downs of membership,” Coady explains, “whether it’s people passing away or having financial difficulties. We’re lucky to have a very strong following with our membership these days.” The Club’s membership currently stands at a robust 350 members and counting. In recent years, however, the Club has made a concerted effort to attract a younger demographic. Coady points to new members like Max Bailey, director of property management at Collier’s Canada, who joined the Club after his late father Roger had been a member and president of the Club for many years. It’s just one example of many where the next generation of business professionals has brought a new vibe to the building. “We’re not an old boys’ club by any means,” Coady explains. “The average age of our membership was 60 when I started but we’re getting younger every day and with every new membership application.” That doesn’t mean the older guard is unappreciated by any stretch. Coady says long-time members like Archie Katzman, the Club’s general manager for nearly 20 years, is 88 but still a popular fixture around the place. Continued on next page MAY 2018 | BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA

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Continued from previous page “Archie’s here almost every day,” Coady says. “We have a very strong relationship.” Unlike the early years, both men and women are allowed to become members now at the St. Catharines Club. The Club is also encouraging women to take on a greater presence in the Club’s management. “This year, Reni de Verteuil and Holly Mundula have taken over as our president and vice-president,” Coady says. “We’ve never had women in these two positions before at the same time. That’s a first for us and we’re very proud of that.”

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Benefits and Perks - Of course, the key to the Club’s success has always been the membership benefits themselves. As part of its affordable membership package, the Club offers access to all dining facilities and conference rooms, and complete privileges for members and spouses alike. (Spouses also receive lifetime memberships in the event their partner passes away.) Members can even receive reciprocal privileges at countless private member clubs across the States and Canada, and as far away as Australia, Hong Kong and the U.K. And there’s never a dull moment at the Club with its abundance of special events. The Club’s packed social calendar often includes workshops, networking dinners, sporting event series, charitable events, and special seminars.

BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA | MAY 2018

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CHEERS TO 140 YEARS!

Fireplace Lounge

Each year, the Club holds an average of 20 Club-based events – often more than one a month. On April 20th for instance, the Club held its third “Beefsteak St. Catharines” – an ongoing fundraising banquet where members get to eat beef with their fingers, and a portion of all proceeds goes to various charities. (This time it was in support of Gillian’s Place.) Coady says fun and unique events like these are what make the atmosphere at the Club so special. “We offer a different experience than you’ll find anywhere else,” he says. “On any day of the week, you’ll find everyone meeting here – from lawyers and real estate agents to just all-round wonderful people.” With the St. Catharines Club’s remarkable 140-year legacy and its fortunes growing fast with the times, the Niagara community can rest easy knowing the much-admired social club has a bright future ahead. “We care about our members,” Coady say simply, “and that shines through in everything we do here.” BL The St. Catharines Club is located on 77 Ontario Street in St. Catharines. For more information about becoming a member of the St. Catharines Club, please call 905.684.1193 or visit www.stcatharinesclub.ca.

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MAY 2018 | BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

15TH ANNUAL

CONGRATULATIONS

TO THIS YEAR’S WINNERS LISA ALLAIN Talent 2 Design

ROB CHEEVERS Buffalo Canoe Club

KRISTINA GOTTLI Form & Affect

STEVE OSBORNE Osborne Law Group

MAX BAILEY Colliers International

Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

HUGO CHESSHIRE

TAMARA JENSEN Form & Affect

NICOLE REGEHR Gillian’s Place

JENNIFER BARRAZA CAA Niagara

KRISTI COLLINS Lancaster, Brooks & Welch

SHADAB KHAN Ledgers (Niagara Falls)

DR. JOE ROGERS My Care Dental

JEAN BEATON Lancaster, Brooks & Welch

MICHELLE CUTHBERT City of Port Colborne

NAOMI KNIGHT MoveRight Real Estate Brokerage

CAROLINE SHERK Verge Insurance Group

RYAN BISSONNETTE RBW (Root Bissonnette Walker) LLP

ZACH DADSON Office of Chris Bittle M.P

BRYAN LACHAPELLE B4 Networks

CHRIS SIDDALL Niagara Parks Commission

SANDRA BOOKER Any Old Task

JOHN DARCH The Co-operators

SABRINA LIMONCELLI FUSiON Studio of Performing Arts

Durward Jones Barkwell & Company LLP

MEGAN BRAUN Brand Blvd.

JENNIFER DOUGLAS City of St. Catharines

Sugarloaf Marina, City of Port Colborne

MARK MINOR

DOMENIC TRAPASSO Locomotive Marketing

LINDSAY CAIN FirstOntario Credit Union

JANET FARMER Niagara Region Police Association

TINA MYERS Winter Festival of Lights

PATRIZIA TRAPASSO Locomotive Marketing

CRISTOFORO CALABRESE N’ata Cosa Ristorante

JAY FAST C.R. Smith Financial Services

RICK NERO Grant Thornton LLP

LISA VANDENBERK LV Physiotherapy

PAT CHAPMAN Relentless MMA & Fitness

MELANNA GIANNAKIS Meridian Credit Union

JOHN NETHERWAY General Contractor (Self-Employed)

JENNIFER WARREN CAA Niagara

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

CAROLYN TEUTENBERG

BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA | MAY 2018

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Transforming Niagara Classrooms with Big Bandwidth & Cloud Computing By Rich Davidson

Students in classrooms today have never

The Niagara Catholic District School Board

Diversifying internet connections would be re-

known a world that isn’t fully connected, where

has made enhancing technology for optimal

quired to separate critical Board services from BYOD

everything from entertainment to information

learning one of its enabling strategies to fulfill

services to secure traffic and protect the Board from

can be gained at their fingertips. That’s changed

the mandate of the Board’s Vision 2020 Strategic

growing network security threats found online.

the way young people learn – and by extension,

Plan. Network bandwidth, internet reliability

NRBN provided an internet service delivered over

changed the way school boards have provided

and security, and cloud IP Transit topped Frost’s

a separate network that insulated the Board from

the technology required to teach them.

list of immediate priorities as the team designed

threats that could lead to service disruptions. This

A decade ago, school boards grappled with

a Technology Services Blueprint to take the Board

new service was spun up rapidly and delivered seam-

the notion of providing students with on-de-

from 2016 to 2020. An emerging opportunity had

lessly over the Board network to all sites.

mand access to the internet. As smartphones

also been born out of a newly formed Niagara pub-

The team also realized that many pur-

gained prevalence in the marketplace – and the

lic sector partnership to host the Niagara Catholic

pose-built cloud solutions had become far more

number of students with access to them became

District School Board’s information and communica-

cost-effective and scalable when compared to

younger and younger – school boards globally

tions technology infrastructure. Frost knew that the

traditional on-premises data centre solutions.

became faced with the challenge of ensuring

Board could benefit from this partnership with the

These developments would allow the Board to

safe, reliable access to the internet so 21st centu-

Niagara Region Broadband Network, among others,

provide key services at a predictable fixed cost

ry students could learn in a way that is unique to

to allow the Board’s IT services to keep up with the

while also eliminating hardware maintenance

their demographic.

rapidly changing demand, and credits NRBN and

fees. Realizing these cost savings would effec-

Four years ago, Grant Frost joined the

its value-added services with helping his team ac-

tively allow Niagara Catholic to finance the

Niagara Catholic District School Board as its Chief

celerate the Board’s technology projects and deliver

cloud solution and align with the Board’s finance

Information Officer. He immediately recognized

exemplary service to students and staff.

goals and objectives.

the challenges his new employer faced in terms

The Board’s IT services team knew that the

Through strategic initiatives, modern solu-

of providing the necessary technology within a

Board’s existing core network would soon choke

tions and key partnerships, the Niagara Catholic

limited funding packet. His first task was to tran-

if they didn’t upgrade its Wide Area Network

District School Board has created a technolo-

sition the Board to a cloud-first platform. The use

(WAN). They migrated the existing 1Gb core to a

gy-rich digital ecosystem that will service Niagara

of BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) and the acqui-

10Gb platform, while all high schools, Board of-

Catholic students and staff for years to come. BL

sition of nearly 1,000 iPads and hundreds of new

fices, and large elementary schools were upgrad-

desktops and laptops had the potential to put an

ed to 1Gbps network connections. This approach

enormous stress on an already aging network in-

allowed the team to resolve multiple simultane-

frastructure platform, and a cloud-based solution

ous bandwidth bottlenecks at once.

could alleviate much of the strain.

Rich Davidson is network architect at Niagara Regional Broadband Network on 623 South Service Road, Unit 5 in Grimsby. To contact Rich, please call 289.668.8864, email rich.davidson@nrbn.ca or go to nrbn.ca.

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BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA | MAY 2018

REALLY SMART BUSINESS HE SE T N R

By Dennis O’Neill What do Procter & Gamble make? Nothing. They farm that out according to specifications. P&G buy and sell brands. P&G do marketing. P&G Origin - An English candlemaker William Procter met Irish soap-maker James Gamble after immigrating to Cincinnati. They married sisters and followed their father-in-law’s suggestion to become business partners in 1837. They won a Union Army contract for candles and soap during the Civil War. The rest is history. How Less is More - In 2014, P&G sold 100 of their 165 brands. The 65 they kept did 95% of profits. Smart or what? Specializing in Marketing - Most local businesses don’t focus on marketing (i.e. gaining and keeping customers). That’s all P&G does. They’re darn good at it. Their best marketing lies in branding. Advertising is for now. Branding is forever. P&G has it figured out. A Local Lesson - Why don’t more local businesses do branding? Problem. They think they are in the “widget-fitting business.” They fit widgets. Wrong. Most local businesses either never knew or forgot that they have to act as marketers first. Since they seldom think marketing, they never even consider branding product/service. Simple Solution - Maybe you need help. BL Dennis O’Neill, The Business Growth Coach is located in Niagara-onthe-Lake. For more information on how to grow your business, please call 905.641.8777, email dennis@dennisoneillcoach.com or visit www.dennisoneillcoach.com.

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CORPORATE TRAINING

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PROTECT YOUR REPUTATION Invest in your team! SAFER DRIVERS SAVE LIVES, MONEY AND YOUR COMPANY’S REPUTATION.

We will customize a program specifically designed for your employee’s driving scenarios.

Safer Drivers saves lives You can make a difference and save money too! CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

EST.

years

2003

“

We would like to give a huge thank you to all our loyal advertisers and avid readers for helping us achieve our 15- year milestone. We couldn’t have done it without you and we look forward to helping Niagara businesses grow for another 15 years! Jim & Adam Shields

Business Link Media Group

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

BUSINESS LINK MEDIA GROUP Family-owned media firm celebrates 15 years of informing, educating and supporting the Niagara business community. By Scott Leslie

The business world is changing every single day. But there’s one thing that will never change – and that’s our commitment to building relationships with companies like yours. We’re Business Link Media Group. Serving the Golden Horseshoe, “The Business Link” is a leading media firm that develops direct mail B2B publications, magazines, specialty custom publications, event programs, social media and on-line platforms. Founded back in 2003 by the father-son team of Jim and Adam Shields, Business Link Media Group is an industry leader, specializing in enhancing your businesses performance through the delivery of knowledge, expertise and awareness. For the past 15 years, our media platforms have been designed to educate, inform and connect the business communities of Niagara and Hamilton. These platforms also give your business the opportunity to promote locally while offering global exposure. Over the past 15 years, our publications have been used by many firms and business leaders as a resource tool to grow their companies. Some of our publications include The Business Link Niagara, The Business Link Hamilton, All In The Family Magazine and HWS – Health, Wellness & Safety Magazine. Business Link Media Group is always working to give back and make an impact in the community. Each year, Business Link Media Group proudly sponsors, volunteers in and organizes a number of local fundraising initiatives. One of those events is our annual 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Awards which recognizes 40 business people under the age of 40 for their business success and contributions to the community. Business Link Media Group also recognizes the importance of helping the next generation of business leaders. With that in mind, we’ve established The Business Link Bursaries at Brock University and Niagara College to help fuel the entrepreneurial spirit in Niagara for years to come. Locally owned and operated from day one, Jim, Adam and the Business Link team continue to take great pride in providing companies with advertising platforms that can effectively promote their products and services and help their businesses grow. If you’re looking to increase the exposure of your company, call one of our marketing experts today. We’re in business for you. BL

BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA | MAY 2018

NUMBERS TO BACK IT UP STATISTICS AND DEMOGRAPHICS

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INFOGRAPHICS SOURCE: MAGAZINE MEDIA FACTBOOK MAY 2018 | BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

Numb influen *Includes Base: Top Category

Corporate & Party Catering Throughout Niagara Region cue ative barbee re c , g n ti s ta Great guarante d to is d n a y h lt a e that’s h

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CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

Come to see and taste for yourself: Niagara on the Lake Super Market

Every Wednesday from May 23rd Peller Estate Winery Food Truck Event BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA | MAY 2018

May 19 – 21st

EIGHT WAYS TO MAKE YOUR BUSINESS MORE PROFITABLE By Tracey Mackenzie

There is a lot of conflicting information out there to tell you how to become more profitable. Just Google it. Worse than that ask friends and family members and the information gets even more confusing! The domain of profitability and how to impact it seems about as muddy as a puddle that a three-year-old just stomped through. Is there even an answer? And if there is, is there a way to do this without killing yourself and spending long tedious hours away from the ones you love? The answer is “yes.” I’ve been working in the discipline of driving profitability for about 25 years. During this time, it has become very clear that there are eight key areas to drive profitability. These are: 1. Decrease fixed costs – The costs that don’t change, regardless of the business you do (or don’t do) daily. 2. Decrease variable costs – The costs that fluctuate with each sale, typically in direct relation to the cost of making the sale. 3. Increase leads – The number of conversations you have. 4. Increase conversion – The percentage of yes’s you get for each conversation. 5. Increase revenue per conversion (upsell / cross-sell) – The amount you sell to each person that says “yes.” 6. Price modification – How much you charge – are you charging the right amount?

ISO 9001:2015 is here. Are You Ready?

We can help.

REVITALIZE SOLUTIONS

Quality Management Dave Simplified Brown

DAVE.BROWN@REVITALIZESOLUTIONS.CA

DOCUMENTATION • TRAINING • AUDITS

Because your ISO 9001 system is an investment not an expense. “Dave assisted us in implementing ISO 9001:2015 for our SCADA & Instrumentation Operations. Our goal was to standardise our processes to improve efficiency. We have found that since implementing the quality management system, we are beginning to realise these goals. Dave not only provided us with knowledge and tools to effectively implement the system, but the confidence that we could manage the system with limited additional resources.”

7. Strategic Investment – Where are you spending your money to grow your business? 8. Emancipate working capital from operational holdings – How much money are you tying up in the running of your business (e.g. inventory) that could be better allocated? There is science and theory behind each one of these eight points; which ones will work for you and how they will work for you is dependent on your personal business dynamics. Over the upcoming weeks, I will expand into each of these key areas to drive profitability. Being profitable is important. Being profitable in smart ways is even more important. At the end of the day, we have limited time. What we do with that time affects our quality of life. When we take the time to figure out more effective ways to be profitable that are not draining time away from the important things in our lives, then we can be more effective with our time. This can give us time back for our families and friends, and allow us to grow the business we have always wanted. BL Tracey Mackenzie is the lead principal at Tracey Mackenzie Consulting. With over 25 years of experience making companies more profitable, Tracey and her team can help you find those extra hours in your days while increasing your profitability. Find out about her newest program at www.powerprofits.ca.

Power Profits

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Tracey Mackenzie Consulting www.traceymackenzie.ca 905-401-0765

Sean Alderdice, C.E.T., B.A., PMP SCADA & Instrumentation Division Manager at Procon

289.990.2525 | dave.brown@revitalizesolutions.ca | revitalizesolutions.ca MAY 2018 | BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

I N N O VAT I OIN NSIGHTS

Powering What’s Next in Niagara at BIG Thinkers: Innovation in Business 2018 By Catherine Rice-Strati

and

Julia Sillett

IG Thinkers: Innovation in Business was inspired by advertising legend Terry O’Malley. He would tell anyone that “There is outstanding talent in our community and we should be so proud of it.” We at Innovate Niagara agree whole-heartedly. O’Malley’s idea became the inspiration behind BIG Thinkers: Innovation in Business – an opportunity to gather our community so we can all exchange ideas, network and inspire our future leaders in Niagara. On Wednesday, May 16th, Innovate Niagara, in partnership with the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC), will present the second annual BIG Thinkers: Innovation in Business conference from 12 to 5 p.m. at PAC. Everyone is invited to attend so they can join the conversation and help advance Niagara. You’ll often hear Jeff Chesebrough, CEO of Innovate Niagara, emphasize the importance of community-building in Niagara. “Niagara is buzzing with cool innovative ventures,” he says, “and attending BIG Thinkers is a great way to learn about some of them – and the brilliant minds behind them. We are inspired by what local entrepreneurs are doing in Niagara to grow Niagara. We aim to build our community by inspiring and empowering people to think big and make things happen.” What can you expect to from BIG Thinkers: Innovation in Business 2018? During the first hour, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your network of local entrepreneurs, professionals, students and thought leaders over a marché-style lunch. Following the first of two networking opportunities, the vivacious Kate Carnegie, founder of KC Media, will MC the event, leading us through the keynote presentation and two panel discussions. We encourage attendees to continue the conversation during the reception to follow. Panel discussions will focus on trending topics in big data and life sciences.

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

After the keynote presentation, the first panel will facilitate dialogue around big data. Speakers will discuss how businesses are using and leveraging data, as well as managing its values and risks. This panel will bring together the insights and perspectives of business leaders: (moderator) Kevin Tuer, Managing Director, Open Data Exchange; Jennifer Beckage, partner, Leader, Data Security & Privacy Team, Phillips Lytle LLP; Meghan Chayka, Co-founder, Stathletes; Ransom Hawley, Founder and CEO, Caddle; Bob Lytle, Founder and CEO, Rel8ed.to. Experts from Canada and the U.S. will explore the vital role of research and technology in life sciences and how we can leverage cross-border relationships to advance the delivery of patient care. From both sides of the border, you’ll gain exclusive insights from (moderator) Barry Wright, Interim Dean of the Goodman School of Business, Brock University; Patrick Whalen, Director, Niagara Global Tourism Institute; Sime Pavlovic, Chief Information Officer, Niagara Health System; Franck Hivert, President & CEO, Oculys Health Informatics. O’Malley sums it up nicely when he describes BIG Thinkers as “an afternoon tribute to local entrepreneurs, revealing their successes and their experiences to encourage entrepreneurial activity in Niagara.” Don’t miss your opportunity to join in on the conversation and inspiration. Purchase your tickets at innovateniagara.com/events. BL Catherine Rice-Strati is the Outreach & Communications Coordinator at Innovate Niagara. As the Regional Innovation Centre for Niagara, Innovate Niagara is a member of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE), a network of regional and provincial not-for-profit organizations that deliver services and programs to help entrepreneurs start, grow and succeed. Julia Sillett is a student in the Public Relations Graduate Certificate program at Niagara College completing an internship at Innovate Email: Niagara.crice-strati@innovateniagara.com Web: innovateniagara.com Twitter/LinkedIn/Instagram: @innovateniagara

BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA | MAY 2018

Coady’s Corner – May 2018 The sun is finally out and the warmer days are around the corner… During the month of April, there were a lot of wonderful things happening in and around the club!...A big congratulations to Doug Smith (C.R. Smith Financial) for receiving Hall of Fame status from Sun Life Financial for a lifetime of hard work…Kudos also to Doug after a successful roast in support of his Wise Guys Charity! Look no further than the St. Catharines Club!...Congratulations to Jacques Dion (TIW Steel Platework Inc.) for taking home top prize in our annual Masters Pool…This month I am very proud to say that out of Business Link Media Group’s 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Awards…six of the award-winners are members of our club! Congratulations to…Max Bailey (Colliers International), Jay Fast (C.R. Smith Financial), Rob Cheevers (Buffalo Canoe Club), John Netherway (Self-employed Entrepreneur), Caroline Sherk (Verge Insurance) and Nicole Regehr (Gillian’s Place)…six wonderful reasons why we continue to be the “Place to Be” for the business community… Feel free to post pictures around the club, on our Facebook page or mention and follow us on Twitter @TheStCathClub #theplacetobe BL Cheers, Coady

THE WAY I.T. SHOULD BE

Simplifying Technology for Small Businesses THE WAY I.T. SHOULD BE

MAY 2018 | BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA

info@simplifiedtech.ca 905.327.6163

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

HAS RAISED AND ROLLED BACK

3.11 MILLION

TO WORTHWHILE CAUSES ACROSS NIAGARA

SOME OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF OUR EFFORTS ARE: Hotel Dieu Shaver Health & Rehabilitation Centre

Infinity Play Place Alzheimer Society

Women’s Place of South Niagara

Wellspring Niagara

Gateway of Niagara

Niagara Regional Health Department

Bethesda Community Services

Start Me Up Niagara

Niagara Children’s Centre

Big Brothers and Big Sisters

YMCA’s of Niagara

Pathstone Foundation Niagara Health System Family and Children Services (FACS) Heart and Stroke Foundation YWCA “Drug Awarness Program”

Norm Foster Festival Red Roof Retreat Niagara Regional Police Department

Bethlehem Housing & Support Services Gillian’s Place of St. Catharines

Lincoln Community Complex

Learning Disabilities Niagara

Hospice Niagara

Niagara-on-the-Lake Library

Hope Centre

Niagara Youth Orchestra

Hannah House

St. John’s Ambulance

Adolescents Family Support Niagara

Strive Niagara

i-CANTER Therapeutic Riding

Niagara Child Advocacy Centre Autism Society

CNIB

Community Living Port Colborne/Wainfleet

Kidsport Niagara

Boys & Girls Club of Niagara

Community Living St. Catharines

Links for a Greener Learning

Children’s Discovery Centre

Project Share

Children’s Safety Village

Brushed Aside Program

Port Cares

The Raft (a resource association for teens)

Scouts Canada Welland

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

Brock University Sports

Niagara Regional Sexual Assault Centre

Wigs for Kids Canada

Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold

Heartland Forest

Community Care of West Niagara

Brain Injury Association of Niagara Habitat for Humanity

Yellow Door Theatre Project

Fort Erie Performing Arts Centre

Niagara Furniture Bank McNally House Hospice Niagara Folk Art Multicultural Centre Friends of Roselawn Centre Equine Ability Therapeutic Riding Centre

UPCOMING EVENTS

28th ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT WEDNESDAY, JULY 18th, 2018 AT 7:15 AM

VALVANO ‘the RIDE’ FOR WISE GUYS Sunday, July 15th, 2018 at 8:00 am

12TH ANNUAL LEGENDS BOXING NIGHT FRIDAY, JULY 20th, 2018 AT 6:00PM

VALVANO SALON SPA • 134 NIAGARA STREET, ST. CATHARINES

MERRITTON COMMUNITY CENTRE • 7 PARK AVENUE, ST. CATHARINES

LOOKOUT POINT GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB • 209 TICE ROAD, FONTHILL

AUCTION & DINNER PARTY TUESDAY, JULY 17th, 2018 AT 6:00PM

4th ANNUAL WISE GIRLS TEE PARTY MONDAY, AUGUST 13th, 2018 AT 12:30PM

COPPOLA’S RISTORANTE • 203 CARLTON STREET, ST. CATHARINES

ST. CATHARINES GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB • 70 WESTCHESTER AVENUE, ST. CATHARINES

/WiseGuysCharity

@WISEGUYSCHARITY

WISEGUYSCHARITY

Donated by:

THANK YOU

TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS CHAMPIONSHIP SPONSORS

GOLD TEE SPONSORS

BLUE TEE SPONSORS

NIAGARA

WHITE TEE SPONSORS Salit Steel Trius Winery at Hillebrand Lookout Point Golf & Country Club

Premier Bailiffs Bosak Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities Liquid Entertainment Boldt Pools & Spas

CIBC Wood Gundy / The Carlomusto Financial Group Kully’s Original Sports Bar Royal LePage

RED TEE SPONSORS DJB Chartered Accountants Burtnik Printing Advanced Office Solutions Grant Thornton LLP Henley Honda Horton Automatics of Ontario

Trenergy Inc RBC Commercial Markets Rankin Construction Walker Industries Holdings Ltd. Lightning Circuits Latcham Marine Services / (PML Foods) Mike Hildebrandt / Verge Insurance

www.wiseguyscharity.com

Fidelity Investments JTL Integrated Machine Ltd. Niagara Clifton Group Niagara Tents and Events Clare’s Cycle & Sports Ltd Escarpment Advisory Team

Donated by:

Knowing Your Target Audience

I ENJOY IT ALL.

Set up your team meeting today 905.688.2324 | sales@honhotels.com

By Wendy Marshall

nternet marketing is the most popular advertising op-

tion available today. Using the internet to market provides you with a potential worldwide reach and a 24 hours a day audience. Potential customers are turning to the internet for a variety of reasons including researching products and services, making purchases and most importantly staying social. As more and more consumers turn to the internet for these reasons, it is important for your business to establish an online presence. This is so important because failure to do so will result in your competitors gaining an edge over you in competing for sales. While it is important for a business to begin online marketing campaigns, it is also important for your business to realize basic advertising principles still exist and they cannot be neglected. One of the most important things you can do if you advertise online is to be aware of who the target audience is and where your audience is spending their time online. Itâ€™s the same with any marketing campaign. You need to do some market research before you launch your new campaign or alert an existing one. Ideally, you will work side by side with a research consultant with a great deal of experience in conducting and evaluating market research. The results of this research should determine the basic demographic information for the target audience of your business. The results should also include information on how to reach this target audience. After you have compiled all your research, you need to use that information to tailor the online marketing campaign to appeal to your target audience. There are a number of different ways your message can be modified to make sure the message is reaching the right people in the right way so they can understand and relate to your brand. To make your marketing campaign tailored to your business and your audience is to make sure that the aesthetics of your website and/or social media accounts are compelling to them through copy, images and video. Finally, when having a website created for the purposes of digital marketing, it is important for the design of the website to appeal to the target audience. When you include audio and video on your website â€“ and most importantly social accounts â€“ make sure they appeal to the target audience. Keeping small details in mind is very important for your digital marketing campaign. BL

Wendy Marshall is the owner of Thumbtack Marketing and is located at 540 Eastchester Avenue East in St. Catharines. For more information, visit www.thumbtackmarketing.com or call 298.434.4874. 26

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA | MAY 2018

Take it to the next level in 2018

Service, Quality, Trust.... rvice, Quality, Trust.... Niagara’s Largest Supplier of New and Used Office Furniture

ra’s Largest Supplier of New and Used Office Furniture 166B Bunting Rd., St. Catharines | 905.641.4713 | sales@desksplus.com

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Bunting Rd., St. Catharines | 905.641.4713 | sales@desksplus.com 166B Bunting Rd., St. Catharines | 905.641.4713 | sales@desksplus.com

w.desksplus.com www.desksplus.com MAY 2018 | BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

BOOK REVIEW

THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY: HOW TO CREATE A TEAM OF LEADERS BY SHIFTING INWARD By Barry Kaplan & Jeff Manchester Greenleaf Book Group Press - 256 pages

“There’s an old-school belief that leaders are people who have all the answers, are bulletproof, and have no feelings,” say leadership experts Barry Kaplan and Jeff Manchester. But the real secret to unleashing power – for leaders, teams, and organizations – lies in vulnerability. The more that leaders open up their hearts, reveal their fears and show their authentic selves, the deeper the connections among team members will be, and the more the team will achieve. Kaplan and Manchester present this unique approach to maximizing performance in their new book, The Power of Vulnerability: How To Create A Team Of Leaders By Shifting INward (Greenleaf Book Group Press). Drawing on their decades of experience as entrepreneurs and advisers to hundreds of companies, Kaplan and Manchester contend that if vulnerability and authenticity are not viewed as desirable traits, then employees feel disconnected. “They show up for work, just to go through the motions,” the authors write, “and while they cooperate with others as necessary, their objective is simply to complete the task... They hold back from contributing their true value to their team. Only when people are open and authentically themselves can they bring their full power to their teams.” The remedy to complacency lies in leaders being willing to step back. Leaders must give permission to each team member to bring to life the highest and best use of his or her time and talent. The leader’s

focus can then shift from being the person with all the answers to ensuring that everyone’s voice is in the discussion. At the same time, this creates a safe space in which team members can be truly “INpowered.” In The Power of Vulnerability, Kaplan and Manchester share a number of key truths that leaders must learn including: The height of a team’s performance compared to its potential is directly related to the depth of connection among its members. The total power of the team will only be limited by each individual leader’s ability to step into his or her authentic self. The power of the team is directly related to the authenticity of the team. The only person whose authentic engagement you have full control over is you. Using dozens of examples from teams they have worked with, the authors provide hands-on tools for developing an environment of authenticity and vulnerability. These include steps for creating a safe space, key guidelines for team interaction, approaches for navigating rocky roads, and suggested actions to make these changes stick including integrating new communication processes into every meeting and interaction for three weeks, and scheduling regular offsite events. The Power of Vulnerability will give leaders the tools they need to revolutionize their organization. BL

PLAN FOR TOMORROW, TODAY • Employee Benefits • Personal/Corporate Life Insurance • Personal Financial Planning • Investment and Retirement Planning • RRSPs And Pension Plans • Critical Illness & Disability Insurance

community, respect, service & financial integrity 80 King Street, Suite 502, St. Catharines, ON p 905.687.4063 • w SMITHFINANCIAL.CA 28

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA | MAY 2018

RENTING IN ONTARIO Mandatory Standard Residential Lease Template rolled out – effective April 30, 2018. Provided

Lancaster Brooks & Welch

ffective April 30, 2018, landlords of most private residential rental units – from individuals to property management companies – must use the standard lease template, for all new leases. The use of this template does not allow you to contract out of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006.

What rental accommodations fall under the Act?

Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act applies to most private residential rental units, including those in single and semi-detached houses, apartments and condominiums, and secondary units (e.g., basement apartments). Some types of rentals aren’t included, such as university and college residences and commercial properties.

Rent increase limits set

Ontario’s implementation of its Fair Housing Plan is limiting how much a landlord may increase each year. A landlord may increase rent by up to 1.8% in 2018 and must give tenants 90 days written notice. A landlord can ask for a larger rent increase, but only in specific situations and with the approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board. Some rentals are exempt from rent controls, such as social housing and some non-profit housing.

Easy-to-understand standard leases

The standard lease template does not apply in some situations, for example, such as a retirement home, mobile home community or certain social and supportive housing. It is written in easy-to-understand language and includes information such as: • the rent amount and when it’s due. • what’s included in the rent (for example, air conditioning or parking). • rules or terms about the rental unit or building (for example, no smoking). It also has a section on renter and landlord rights and responsibilities and explains what can (and cannot) be included in a lease. For example: • who’s responsible for maintenance and repairs • when a landlord can enter your unit • that landlords can’t ban guests or pets

What happens to leases sign prior to April 18, 2018? A Template cannot be insisted upon unless the lease is negotiated with new terms on or after April 30, 2018. The same is true if there is a continuation of a month-to-month tenancy after April 30, 2018 where the original lease was entered prior to April 30, 2018.

Can Landlords refuse to provide the Template when entering into a tenancy arrangement after April 30, 2018?

If after 21 days of the tenant requesting the Template (after April 30, 2018), the landlord refuses to provide same, the tenant may withhold one month’s rent. While no more than one month’s rent can be withheld, the tenant does not have to repay the rent if the Template is not provided within 30 days of the withholding. If the Template is not provided within 21 days of a written request, the tenant may give 60 days’ notice to terminate a yearly or fixed-term tenancy. Eviction rules landlords can only evict in specific situations and must give tenants written notice in the proper form provided by the Landlord and Tenant Board. The form must provide the reason for eviction. Even with written notice, tenants don’t have to move out. Landlords must first get an order to end the tenancy from the Landlord and Tenant Board – which usually includes a hearing where tenants can present their concerns.

Conclusion

The Template attempts to create a simpler process for leasing residential properties. Landlords and tenants ready to lease properties from and after April 30, 2018 are well advised to become familiar with the Template, and to consider what additional terms and conditions need be added to the Template in order that same be properly vetted and memorialized. BL The legal team at Lancaster Brooks & Welch LLP can assist in the purchase and sale of commercial, residential, condominiums and land deals. They also handle corporate and commercial law and may be reached at 905.641.1551.

Buying or Selling Property? We are Niagara’s Lawyers since 1882. Trust your Real Estate transaction to the Team at Lancaster Brooks & Welch

800 - 80 King Street, St. Catharines, ON L2R 6Z1 | 905.641.1551 | TF: 1.866-835-3934 | www.lbwlawyers.com MAY 2018 | BUSINESS LINK NIAGARA

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

320

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30TH, 2018 Royal Niagara Golf Course

PROCEEDS FROM THIS YEARS EVENT WILL GO TO

Business Link Niagara ~ Anniversary Edition ~ May 2018