May / June 2019
BEN VOSS
MORRIS INDUSTRIES The Long and Winding Road to Success
MORRIS INTERACTIVE
Image: Gina’s Portraits
The Trajectory of a Business
| Members in the News pg. 10 | Non-Prof its pg. 30 |
The StarPhoenix and The Chamber invite you to have lunch with Facebook
FIND, TARGET, ENGAGE & NURTURE BUYERS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS
Brian Sencich of Facebook, will talk about how to utilize effective campaign solutions to drive real business results on Facebook and Instagram beyond shares and likes. Thursday, May 30th | 11:30am-1:00pm | TCU Place – Gallery A Tickets $40 | Lunch included Seating is limited. Register today at FacebookYXE.eventbrite.ca
May / June 2019
Image: Gina’s Portraits
STAFF
Darla Lindbjerg, CEO Kendra Cruson, Vice President, Operations Lyndon Smith, Account Manager Terry Lawrence, Office Administrator Roz Macala, Executive Assistant Kate Dupuis, Events & Sponsorships Coordinator Janelle Kubica, Member Services Coordinator Trish Cheveldayoff, Communications & Marketing Coordinaor
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair Peggie Koenig - Koenig & Associates Inc. 1st Vice-Chair Chris Sicotte - AON 2nd Vice-Chair Carla Browne - Real Canadian Property Management Professionals Inc. Past Chair Kelly Bode - WMCZ Lawyers Sandra Ribeiro - Canadian Light Source Inc. Jason Aebig - Creative Fire Stacy Dybvig - ICR Commercial Real Estate Linda Exner - PCL Construction Management Ltd. Dale Lemke - Quicklinkt Solutions Inc. Adam McInnes - Med Hack Enterprises Incorporated Graham Snell - Saskatoon Aerocentre Trevor Thiessen - Redekop Manufacturing Inc. Colton Wiegers - Wiegers Financial & Benefits Chris Woodland - MLT Aikins LLP
PRODUCTION
Publisher: Kendra Cruson Layout & Design: Terry Lawrence Contributing Writers: Kendra Cruson, Peggie Koenig, Darla Lindbjerg, Trish Cheveldayoff, Elizabeth Ireland, and Joel Schwartzberg Sales: Kendra Cruson, Lyndon Smith Photography: Gina’s Portraits
Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 40052085 Return Undeliverable Addresses to:
Cover Story Page 14
Featured Content 4
Events
20
2019-2020 Board of Directors Candidates
6
New Members
24
Morris Interactive
11
Members in the News
30
Non-Profits
36
Chamber Happenings
38
Chair’s Message
Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce 110-345 4th Avenue South, Saskatoon, SK S7K 1N3
BUSINESS VOICE is a publication of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
February and March 2019
Members celebrating expansions, new ventures, anniversaries and more
14
Ben Voss
19
Advocacy
Copyright 2019 Phone: (306) 244-2151 Email: chamber@saskatoonchamber.com Website: www.saskatoonchamber.com Twitter and Instagram: @stoonchamber
Upcoming Chamber events
Morris Industries The Long and Winding Road to Success
The Trajectory of a Business
Chamber’s Events
Manufacturing and Human Resource Management Move Saskatchewan Forward
Vivian Krause - Anti-Pipeline Two budgets in two days Bill C-69 Senate Hearings
Disclaimer: BUSINESS VOICE makes no warranties of any kind, written or implied, regarding the contents of this magazine and expressly disclaims any warranty regarding the accuracy or reliability of informations contain herein. The views contained in the magazine are those of the writers and advertisers: They do not necessarily reflect the view fo the Business Voice magazine and its publisher the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce.
BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
MAY / JUNE 2019 3
EVENTS
Chamber Events
Invitational Dinner All Access will bring together City of Saskatoon senior department heads and the business community for an evening of great food and information sharing. The evening is designed to open the lines of communication between business and the city’s administration with the goal of improving and streamlining processes to enhance the city’s business friendly environment. This event will have limited seating; available to Chamber members only. DATE: Tuesday, October 22 TIME: 5:00 - 8:30 pm LOCATION: tba
Join your Chamber family for member appreciation night and the induction of the new board members, then plan to stick around for an evening of good food and entertainment. Seating is limited. Pre-registration is required. www.saskatoonchamber/events DATE: Thurday, May 23 TIME: 4:30 pm LOCATION: Louis' Pub
Jim Harris is a sought after expert speaker on the subject of disruption. Learn how you can pivot your business to make the most of the increasing changes coming your way and how Saskatchewan's leading academic institutions are preparing the workforce to excel. SPEAKER: Jim Harris, Peter Stoicheff, and Dr. Larry Rosia TOPIC: The Opportunity of Disruption DATE: Thursday, June 13 TIME: 5:30 pm LOCATION: World Trade Centre, Saskatoon Prairieland Park
Chamber Networking Events
Connect with the business community and enjoy great food and drinks at Chamber on Tap on the first Wednesday of each month. Learn Entrepreneur Insights when our host Mark Hawes interviews members of the business community. BUSINESS PANEL: Jordan Brown, Lift Accounting Irene Sieferling, Board Dynamics Randal Touet - The W Law Group DATE: Wednesday, June 5 TIME: Doors open 4:30pm, Speaker 5:00pm LOCATION: LB Distillers
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Ever wondered what the Chamber of Commerce does? Join the Chamber’s Lyndon Smith for a laugh-filled and informative session on “what’s in it for you” with a Chamber membership. This event is FREE of charge for future members and includes a light dinner.
This is your introduction or refresher on how you can make the most out of your Chamber Membership. Learn about the Chamber Group Benefits Plan; cost savings programs for Staples, First Data and more; marketing opportunities; advocacy; events and other info you need to know.
PLEASE REGISTER FOR THIS COMPLIMENTARY EVENT
PLEASE REGISTER FOR THIS COMPLIMENTARY EVENT
SPEAKER: Lyndon Smith DATE: Wednesday, May 15 TIME: Doors open 5:30 pm, Speaker 6:00 pm LOCATION: Chamber Office
MAY / JUNE 2019
DATE: Wednesday, June 5 TIME: 3:30 pm LOCATION: LB Distillers
FROM THE CEO
Your Voice in Business
Image: Gina’s Portraits
As the voice of business for Saskatoon, the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce worked diligently and in the best interest of our business community throughout a year that brought many challenges and changes. In this issue of the Business Voice we feature Human Resources Management and Manufacturing, both named Morris. While they share the name, these companies are unrelated and doing amazing work in their respective sectors. Regardless of the sector, the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce believes in leveraging our voice with partners in our community and from across our country, to promote the interests of our members and growth in our community. There are numerous examples of communities that have faced highly complex issues and reached their goals through sheer determination and a collaborative spirit. It is this spirit that Saskatonians embrace and embody. Our community will succeed in large part because community leaders are undergoing extensive, sometimes difficult, planning processes. Planning only has roots when a community rallies around that plan and perseveres through the plan’s implementation. This is not an easy feat as change is challenging for most people.
Darla Lindbjerg, CEO Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
Our community has persevered through the planning and implementation of developing our beautiful bridges, building our university, establishing the Delta Bessborough, along with many more projects. We have built our knowledge centers, innovations and technology around the bedrock of our resource-based economy to which seventy percent of our GDP is attributed. We have the opportunity to move our community forward by focusing on what has built our province to date as well as looking forward and diversifying our urban economy to become one that propels us into the future. It takes all sectors – government, business, education, non-profits and citizens themselves – to ensure the future of our city is carried through to completion. Some communities allow the future to happen to them. Successful communities recognize the future is something they can create. Achieving the future you desire is hard work, but Saskatchewan people are known for their work ethic and discipline. In Saskatoon, the future is something that we can create so let’s get at it and move forward for the benefit of everyone who lives in this city today and for those who will live here tomorrow!
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It could be argued that it is because of our community carrying out the vision of those projects to completion that we have the youngest city in Canada today and the fastest growing metropolitan area in Canada for the third year in a row.
Darla Lindbjerg, CEO Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
Darla Lindbjerg, President & CEO, Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
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MAY / JUNE 2019 5
NEWSMAKERS
NEW MEMBERS 102056027 Saskatchewan Ltd. We buy and sell antiques cars. Jennifer Moore 111-2834C Millar Ave, Saskatoon p: (306) 249-0088 w: www.carcollectorcanada.com Automobile - Lease / Rental / Sales
3D Safety Consulting
Safety consulting services including emergency management, mine rescue, mine safety, auditing, contractor management, safety leadership and occupational health and safety. Donavan Hebig 210 Lashyn Cove, Saskatoon p: (306) 229-7543 w: www.3DSafetyConsulting.ca Consultants
AON
AON is a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions. Our 50,000 colleagues in 120 countries empower results for clients by using proprietary data and analytics to deliver insights that reduce volatility and improve performance. Chris Sicotte 800-105 21st St E, Saskatoon p: (306) 975-8856 w: www.aon.ca Consultants
Astro Towing
The largest towing company in Saskatchewan. Warren Frie / Geoff Roller 126 Gladstone Cres, Saskatoon p: (306) 242-2030 w: astrotowing.ca Automobile - Other Vehicle Services
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Clear Cutt Landscaping Provides comprehensive landscape maintenance and is known for their high standards. Increase and protect your property value with a professional landscape maintenance program! Joseph Santiago 120 Sonnenschein Way, Saskatoon p: (306) 281-9637 w: www.clearcuttlandscaping.com Landscape Services
Connor, Clark & Lunn Private Capital
Independent discretionary investment counsellor managing portfolios for high net worth individuals, foundations, endowments and First Nations across Canada. Shane Biehn 322 Avenue C S, Saskatoon, p: (306) 222-8951 w: www.cclprivatecapital.com Investments / Venture Capital
Conway Consulting
Personal development consulting. David Conway p: (306) 717-0906 w: www.conway.consulting Consultants
Dan McEachern CPA Prof. Corp.
Dedicated to the recovery of past overpayment of tax, reduction of expenses and developing strategies to minimize your future bills. Maureen McIntosh p: (306) 270-8706 Accountants / Bookkeepers
Dynamic Agencies
Manufacture representative for plumbing and heating products. Nahanni Dearing 2306 Arlington Ave, Saskatoon p: (306)-343-1901 w: www.dynamicagencies.com, Plumbing / Heating / Air Conditioning
MAY / JUNE 2019
(February and March)
GreenSTEM Techology Corp.
Bioremediation- using microorganisms to remove (metabolize) contaminants in soil & water. Research for hire in bioremediation. Michael Cavanaugh 10-401 Pakwa Pl, Saskatoon p: (306) 262-4345 w: www.GreenSTEM.tech Biotechnology
Holly Decker Makeup Artistry
Holly Decker is a motivated entrepreneurial makeup artist. Clients range from bridal to corporate to fashion and celebrity. Holly's notable influence have twice placed her in the top five Canadian Makeup Artist of the year. Holly Decker 267 3rd Ave S, 2nd Flr, Saskatoon p: (306) 716-8287 w: www.hollydecker.com Hair Salon / Stylists
HomeStyles Home Show
Promoting the industry’s highest quality Home Service Experts and Certified Professional Home Builders. Operated by your local Home builders' Association for over 39 years. Jennifer Lamontagne 17-102 Cope Cres, Saskatoon w: homestylesonline.com Trade Show Service / Supplies
Hudson Energy
Natural gas supplier and energy management consulting firm. LED efficiency contractor. Adrian Leusink 99A-2366 Avenue C N, Saskatoon p: (306) 539-9882 w: www.hudsonenergy.net Consultants – Business AND Consultants - Environment
James Brown Interior painting. p: (306) 880-7884 Contractors
NEWSMAKERS
NEW MEMBERS K&K Swim School
A one-on-one private swimming lesson company that focuses on challenging, growing, and inspiring our swimmers through building confidence and skills in the water. Morgan Dufresne / Karim Zayed 1953 Herman Ave, Saskatoon p: (877) 350-7946 w: kkswimschool.com Education / Training
KatrinaGerman.com
Making good ideas louder through social media and digital marketing strategy. Katrina German 105M-111 Research Dr, Saskatoon p: (306) 261-5288 w: www.KatrinaGerman.com Consultants - Communications
KeyLeaf
A specialized ingredient R&D, commercialization and production company. Creates novel, value-added, plant based ingredients using years of industry experience and know how. Pamela Hammel / Jim Shields 118 Veterinary Rd, Saskatoon p: (306) 978-2800 w: keyleaf.ca Research & Development
Layer3 IT Business Solutions Inc.
Providing Managed IT Services and Cloud Solutions to small and medium sized businesses in Saskatchewan. Amir Zehtab-Jadid 107-120 Sonnenschein Way, Saskatoon p: (306) 808-0202 w: layerthree.ca Technology
Liberty Ventures Construction / real estate. Niall Conway p: (306) 203-0540 Construction
(February and March)
Lica Supply & Inspection Company Ltd.
Realty Executives Saskatoon
Marco's Restaurant Equipment
Richland Agriculture Group Corp.
Paul Maczek Real Estate P.C Inc.
Sandy Shores Resort
Sale of medical equipment from Canada and the US to northern African counties with certified inspections. Hussein Ramadan 5-401 Pakwa Pl, Saskatoon p: (306) 262-4345 w: lica.company Health Care - Services / Supplies
Manufacture and supplier of restaurant equipment. Assaad Dagher 4 -3603 Millar Ave, Saskatoon p: (306) 978-8833 w: marcosrestaurantequipment.com, Equipment - Leasing / Rentals
Commercial / Residential / Farm Real Estate Sales. Paul Maczek 111 Schumacher Bay, Saskatoon p: (306) 321-6688 w: paulmaczek.com Real Estate - Services
Phillips Enterprises inc.
M&M food market. Lisa Phillips 11-531 Nelson Rd, Saskatoon p: (306) 341-4494 Retail - Gift & Novelty AND Food Stores
Precedence Private Wealth
Full service wealth management firm. Specializing in all aspects of personal and corporate financial planning. Mike McKague 300-230 22nd St E, Saskatoon p: (306) 657-5733, w: www.PrecedenceWealth.com Financial Services / Planning
One of the fastest growing franchises in the real estate industry dating back to 1995. RenĂŠe Prpick White 3032 Louise St, Saskatoon p: (306) 373-7520 w: www.rexsaskatoon.com Real Estate - Residential
Saskatchewan Agriculture product Exporter of grains and pre-packaged products. Bill Yu 10-202 Edson St, Saskatoon p: (306) 979-8678 w: www.richlandagriculture.ca Agricultural Offers titled, serviced lakefront & lakeside lots on Lake Diefenbaker with exceptional location and services. Rauncie Kinnaird 923 Emmeline Terr, Saskatoon p: (306) 249-2939 w: www.sandyshoresresort.ca Real Estate - Developer
STC Industrial Contracting
A contracting services provider to the mining, power production, and oil and gas sectors specializing in mechanical, electrical, and steel fabrication services. Brad Darbyshire 40-214 Joseph Okemasis Dr, Saskatoon p: (306) 664-0814 w: stcindustrial.ca Construction
WELCOME TO ALL OUR
NEW MEMBERS
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MAY / JUNE 2019 7
NEWSMAKERS
NEW MEMBERS Trades Labour Corporation
Temporary to permanent labour agency providing quality skilled and general labour workers to the construction, warehouse, landscaping, greenhouse, and moving industries. Dale Wasko 1-325 3rd Ave N, Saskatoon p: (306) 952-0055 w: www.tradeslabour.com, Employment Agencies
UNO Printing Co.
Building hip print shops that go above and beyond to support clients. Blair Therrien 124 2nd Ave N, Saskatoon p: (306) 952-2866 w: www.unoprintingco.com Printing Services / Supplies
West 71st Street Storage Inc.
Provides short and long term storage for vehicles, commercial and personal goods, RV's and equipment. A licensed auction company also offering online auction at www.e1.ca David Greenwood 306511 Township Road 374, NW corner Twp 374 & RR 3065, Corman Park p: (306) 230-4654 w: www.71storage.ca Auctions / Auctioneers AND Moving / Storage
(February and March)
YXE Family Chiropractic
As co-founders, Dr. Sheila and Dr. Kim had a vision to create a truly family focused wellness centre. A space where clients feel at home from the moment they are welcomed. Family wellness chiropractors that provide gentle, effective chiropractic care for people of all ages from newborns to seniors. YXE Family Chiropractic’s wellness team or professionals has a shared vision of helping families optimize their health. Sheila Bonnett 10-3902 Miller Ave, Saskatoon p: (306) 978-7777 w: www.yxechiro.ca Health & Fitness AND Health Care Services / Supplies
Together Together We WeGrow Grow
....
Planting seeds for a better tomorrow.
Together We Grow
Stacy Sutherland
Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Treaty 6, Saskatchewan
Together We Grow
The seeds we plant today hold our dreams and aspirations. At Nutrien, we’re committed to expanding our relationships with Indigenous people globally, including Aboriginal people in Canada, knowing that diversity and inclusion will help us feed the future – together.
Together We Grow Together We Grow
www.nutrien.com
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MAY / JUNE 2019
NEWSMAKERS
MEMBER RENEWALS (Paid in
February and March)
101047819 Sask Ltd. 101293257 SK Ltd. 3twenty Modular 9 Mile Legacy Brewing Co. Ltd. 96.3 Cruz FM ACE Manufacturing Inc. AECOM Canada Ltd. Akzo Nobel Chemicals Ltd. Allegro Montessori School Alliance Energy Ltd. Animal Protection Services of SK Ashley Tilsley RMT ASL Paving Ltd. Associated Appraisal Co. Associated Engineering (Sask) Ltd. Association of Saskatchewan REALTORS® Athabasca Basin Development AutoLogics Repair Ayden Kitchen and Bar Basaraba Services Bath Fitter BBK Engineering Saskatoon Ltd. Benesh Bitz & Company Bill's House of Flowers Blucher Transport Ltd. Boston Pizza Braid Flooring and Window Fashions Brandt Engineered Products Braschuk Oilfield Breathe Cycle & Yoga Studio Breck Construction Broadway Theatre Bruce's Cycle Works Brunskill Pharmacy Buddwil Enterprises Ltd. Budgetcar Inc. Burnt Orange Solutions Canadian Bowling Center Canadian Corps of Commissionaires Canadian Red Cross Carter Holdings Ltd. Catholic Family Services of Saskatoon Central Services - Procurement Services Century 21 Fusion CGI CHEP Good Food Inc. CIBC Wood Gundy CLAC Co.Labs Cogent Chartered Professional Accountants LLP
Combine World Confederation Chiropractic Clinic Conscious Choice Personal & Professional Development Conseil économique et coopératif de la Saskatchewan Courtyard by Marriott Saskatoon Airport Cowan Imaging Group CRAVINGS maternity-baby-kids Crestline Coach Ltd. Cuelenaere, Kendall, Katzman & Watson D & I Health Naturally d'Lish by Tish Cafe DancEgypt Dance Co. Davis Machine Company (1960) Ltd. DCG Philanthropic Services Inc. Denis Design Works Inc. Derrick Stretch Realty Inc. Des Nedhe Development LP Donald Physiotherapy Dr. Christopher J. Strelioff Optometrist Prof. Corp. Dr. P. LaBelle Medical P.C. Inc. Dr. Petrus Jansen van Rensburg M.C. Dr. Robert Pekush Medical Prof. Corp. Dr. SanVicente Medical Prof. Corp. DreamsWork Counseling Dunmac General Contractors Ltd. Dynacare Insurance Solutions EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. Elizabeth Ireland, Communicator Elk Ridge Resort Evolution Audio Visual EY Family Service Saskatoon Farm Credit Canada FASD Network of SK First Nations Bank of Canada Five Corner Smoke Shop Fleet Guide Truck & Trailer Repair Ltd. Frayling Denture Clinic FSIN - Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Full Line Ag Ltd. furnaceguys Home Heating & Cooling Inc. Gabriel Dumont Institute Ghost Transportation Services Gibson Trucking Ltd. Gina's Portraits Global Gathering Place Global Infobrokers Inc.
Global Institute for Food Security Global TV Saskatoon, A Corus Entertainment Inc. Company Golder Associates Ltd. HairStyle Inn Salons Handy Special Events Hanson Lake Sands Corporation Hardpressed Print Studio Inc. Harris Greenaway Communications Ltd. Haven Builders Inc. Heagy LLP Heyday Communications Inc. Home Instead Senior Care Horizon HSBC Bank Canada Humboldt Electric Ltd. ICR Commercial Real Estate Imperio Plumbing & Heating InfraReady Products Ltd. Iron Mountain J & T Income Tax Service Inc. Jacuzzi Premium Home Leisure James Frost Luxury Outfitters Jami Young Jancy Holdings Ltd. Jazz Custom Cabinets Ltd. Jennifer Bain, B.Comm, CFP, EPC Jesjon Holdings Ltd. Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation Inc. Kayton Enterprise Ltd. Kristi Knippel Mortgage Broker L & L Transport Ltd. L & S Bookkeeping Services La Federation des francophones de Saskatoon Lambert Distributing Inc. Learning Disabilities Assoc. of Saskatchewan Legacy Bus Sales Ltd. Legacy Homes Ltd. Lift Accounting Linda Yu CPA P.C. Inc. Little Grouse Restaurant Inc. MacDermid Lamarsh MacMat Education Services Magnus Insulation & Fireproofing Marathon Construction (Sask) Ltd. Maximum Training Medicine Shoppe on 33rd Meidl Honda - Oakwood Nissan Metric Design Centre
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NEWSMAKERS
MEMBER RENEWALS (Paid in
February and March)
Midtown Plaza Mitchell & Sons Farm Ltd. MLCN Investment Management Corp. Momentum Clothing Moon Lake Golf and Country Club Morgan Palmer Search Directives Inc. Morris Industries Ltd. Morris Interactive MOTIF Marketing Ltd. Motum Consulting Mulberry's Restaurant & Lounge New Community Credit Union NICS Ltd. Nieszner Industrial Services Inc. Nine Yards Technologies North 49 Physical Therapy Prof. Corp. North Ridge Development Corporation North Saskatoon Business Assoc. Northern Factory Workwear NRTLP - Northern Resource Trucking Limited Partnership Nutrien Children's Festival Omnilogic Systems Original Joes 8th Street Pally Performance Products PGI Printers Pick Nic's Catering & Fine Foods Ltd. Pillar Properties Corp. Prairie Sky Outfitters Prehistoric Productions Inc. Primerica Prosper Financial Pure Zen Cleaning Solutions PWM Private Wealth Counsel Rainbow International Restoration Rayglen Commodities Inc. READ Saskatoon Ready Set Baby Planners Real Canadian Property Management Professionals Inc. Redekop Manufacturing Inc. Regan Meier Réseau Santé en français de la Saskatchewan Resident Doctors of Saskatchewan Riverside Country Club Road Coffee Co.
Rob Friesen Real Estate P.C. Inc. Robertson Stromberg LLP Rock Creek Tap and Grill Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate Royal LePage Varsity Sandman Hotel Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatchewan Polytechnic Faculty Association Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Saskatoon Cabinet Office Saskatoon Downtown Youth Centre Saskatoon Housing Authority Saskatoon Housing Coalition Saskatoon Metal Mfg Saskatoon Oral Surgery Saskatoon Smiles Saskatoon SPCA Inc. Saskatoon StarPhoenix, A Division of Postmedia Network Inc. Saskatoon Youth for Christ Saskatoon Zoo Foundation Saskatoon Zoo Society SaskEnergy Inc. SaskTel Centre SaskTel Scotia Centre Retail Store Scotia Wealth Management SED Systems Shakespeare On The Saskatchewan Festival Inc. Shark Club Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon Hotel Shoeless Joes Sports Grill Showtime Glass Inc. Simply Agriculture Solutions Inc. Sirius Health Small Group of Companies Ltd. Snap Fitness Saskatoon Soccer Locker Spinal Cord Injury Saskatchewan Spring River Holding SREDA Inc. SRF4 Market Mall Inc. Staples - 8th Street Staples - Betts Avenue Staples - Circle Drive
DO BUSINESS WITH
A CHAMBER MEMBER FIRST 10 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
MAY / JUNE 2019
Star Egg Company Steelmet Supply Sticks and Stones Restaurant Inc. Stuart Commercial Susan Walker Realty PC Swadesh Donuts Tisdale Ltd. Tanis R. Taylor Taverna Italian Kitchen TCU Financial Group Terminal Systems International The Bassment The Broadway Roastery The Chopped Leaf The Gallery / art placement inc. The Griffin Takeaway The Mosaic Company The Princess Shop The Sandbox in the City The Saskatoon Club Timeline Logistic Touchstone Development Corp. Towriss & Associates Workforce Solutions Ltd. Traeger BBQ Canada Ltd. Twitch Bodyworks Tyson Pederson Consulting Ltd. U of S - College of Engineering U of S - University Relations Uniglobe Carefree Travel Limited Untapped Potential Business Consulting Ltd. Vecima Networks Inc. Verdesian Life Sciences WEED MAN West Wind Aviation West-Central Machine Ltd. Western Development Museum Western Premium Property Management Inc. White's Pharmacy Wintringham Roofing Woodstyles Woodworking Co. Ltd. World of Spas Wrublnet Holdings Corp. Your Mortgage Link Inc. Zed Engineering Inc.
NEWSMAKERS
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS Ag-West Bio Thirty years ago, Ag-West Bio was created to serve as the provincial catalyst and connector for the commercialization of emerging technologies in the bioscience sector. Since then, the company has been actively growing bio-based business, supporting small companies through business advice and funding, and creating initiatives to grow the sector in the province. The focus has broadened over the years; Ag-West Bio’s members are active in a wide range of activities, including environmental sciences, crop development and value-added food processing. Ag-West Bio is celebrating its 30th anniversary on June 27th with an annual meeting and networking event that is open to the public. Website: www.agwest.sk.ca
Conscious Choice Personal & Professional Development Two years-ago I started my own consulting business after having worked in corporate learning and development for almost 10 years. At Conscious Choice, we help organizations diagnose learning gaps and develop customized solutions to meet their organizational needs.
College Pro Painters Founded in 1971 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, College Pro Painters has specialized in Exterior Painting throughout Canada and the Northern United States. However, in recent years we have turned our seasonal business in Saskatoon into a year-round business offering Interior Painting year-round. We offer competitive pricing backed by a two-
year warranty on our exterior work. We provide services for Saskatoon & Area as well as lakes in Saskatchewan. We are also involved with various charities throughout Saskatoon and have offered our services free of charge to those looking to spruce up their office or meeting space! Website: www.collegepro.com
We specialize in leadership development and the improvement of behavioural skills. Recognizing that businesses are busier than ever, we offer solutions that work with your environment – whether it’s in-person, virtual, online, or mobile learning. With a focus on learning retention and application, we help to ensure your employees continue to master their newly acquired skills and maximize your investment in their development. Website: aconsciouschoice.ca
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NEWSMAKERS
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Doepker Industries Since manufacturing our first trailer in 1972, Doepker has captured a large share of the trailer market in Canada. Given the high demand for Doepker products, we recently opened a fourth Saskatchewan manufacturing
facility located in Saskatoon. This action is the best way to meet our goals related to safety, quality, productivity, and, most importantly, customer satisfaction. Through innovation and by utilizing a build to order system, both standard and
custom trailers are manufactured to enable each customer to maximize their profitability and success. By listening to and investing in customer’s needs, Doepker offers the best value on the road. Website: www.doepker.com
The Flag Shop
Five Star Excavating Five Star Excavating was created in 2012. We are a family owned company with a big heart and extensive experience in a variety of different areas. Our company strives to connect with customers who value quality of service, dedication, and commitment to excellence. We stay up to date with safety standards, regulations and insurance. Services offered: residential, commercial 12 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
and rural excavations; water and sewer connections and trenching; septic mounds and tanks (new construction and rebuild of old systems); acreage driveway construction; golf course construction; large scale grading and shaping of earth. Call us for a quote and we will make your life easier! Website: www.fivestarexcavating.ca Phone: 1-306-491-9488
MAY / JUNE 2019
2019 marks 20 years serving Saskatchewan! The Flag Shop has and will always be the flag experts, supplying national, provincial, international, and custom flags to a wide range of customers. But there is much more to us than that! Over the last few years, The Flag Shop has added a variety of promotional products to its services. We provide everything from feather flags, logo mats, tents, and umbrellas, to smaller custom items such as lanyards, buttons, lapel pins, and more. There really is much more to us than flags! Website: www.flagshop.com
NEWSMAKERS
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS GT Glass Ltd. At GT Glass Ltd., we always try to be conscious of the upcoming trends and be prepared for anything people request! In February, we attended the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, and absolutely loved the new "vintage" brass and gold fixtures. They are so modern and sleek yet give a warm and cozy feeling to any bathroom. That customized shower door they've been dreaming of ? We can make it happen! Sourcing suppliers that can help us bring our customers' dreams to life is such an exciting part of our job, and that’s what we’re all about! Website: www.gtglass.ca
JNE announces new CEO As of May 1st, JNE Welding – renowned for its massive fabrications for the mining and oil and gas industries – will embark on a new era under the leadership of Adam Logue as CEO. Jim Nowakowski, the company’s founder and leader for nearly 40 years, made the announcement after months of careful deliberation. “I wanted to be sure the person we selected would continue JNE’s culture,” said Nowakowski. “That is why we decided early on to promote from within.” Logue joined JNE in 1998 as a journeyman steel fabricator and steadily progressed to become its vice-president of operations in 2011. Website: www.jnewelding.com
M.Y. Private Wealth of Raymond James Ltd. M.Y. Private Wealth is excited to be celebrating one year as a family firm. Phil Mamchur, daughter Celeste Yuzdepski, son-in-law Todd Yuzdepski and son Tyler Mamchur offer a unique and personalized client experience through 55 years combined experience in financial planning. This family team ensures their clients have consistent service and a relationship with the whole team.
At M.Y. Private Wealth you will always be able to speak with someone you know. Come have a coffee with us at 101-1406 8th St. East. Raymond James Ltd., member – Canadian Protection Fund. Website: www.myprivatewealth.ca
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admin@saskatoonchamber.com BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
MAY / JUNE 2019 13
COVE R STORY
BEN VOSS
MORRIS INDUSTRIES
The Long and Winding Road to Success by Trish Cheveldayoff
Image: Gina’s Portraits
COVE R STORY
Born and raised on a farm in Spiritwood, Saskatchewan, the oldest of four children, Ben Voss has never forgotten his rural roots. Farming is in his blood. So, it’s no surprise that today the 43-year-old is the President and CEO of Morris Industries, a farm equipment manufacturer with a 90-year history in Saskatchewan.
Bourgault was looking for an engineer who spoke German. “I happened to tick two boxes, so they offered me a job and I moved to St. Brieux. I learned a lot about designing farm equipment and the manufacturing industry.”
Education
Board Involvement
The path that lead Voss to Morris Industries was not typical. One might say he took the long and winding road. After graduating high school, Voss enrolled in the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Engineering. After his first year, he had to choose his discipline. He felt the pressure to go into mechanical engineering, as many people were leaving the province at that time to work in the oil and gas industry in neighbouring Alberta. Instead, he decided to take a year off.
Voss was only in his mid-twenties when he was approached to sit on the Board of Directors of SaskTel. At the time, SaskTel was looking to add diversity to the board and began the search for someone to represent a younger demographic. He spent six years on the board. “SaskTel was dealing with the changing evolution of the internet and smartphones at the time. So, who’s the target market for that? I brought that perspective.” Voss calls his time on the SaskTel board a gift…a gift he remains grateful for to this day. “I learned so much about all the inner-workings of government, plus how corporate governance works and how big corporations operate. It was really interesting.”
“I wasn’t in a rush to finish my degree so I paused and went and lived in Europe and got a job on a dairy farm in Germany and then travelled everywhere.” He also used that year to learn the language and get more in touch with his German roots. After the year was up, he returned home to Saskatchewan and back to his studies at the University of Saskatchewan. “I really wanted to focus on agriculture. It’s what I’m passionate about. So, I chose the path of Ag Engineering.”
Image: Gina’s Portraits
Voss took another break from University after his 3rd year. It wasn’t something he planned, but an opportunity was presented to work for Bourgault Industries for a year on an internship program.
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Entrepreneurship It was in his final year at the University of Saskatchewan when Voss made the decision to start up his own business after graduation. He became an engineering consultant for farm equipment companies. It was a company he operated for seven years. “They would hire us to develop their prototypes and design their products and help them with capacity if they couldn’t hire engineers themselves.”
Today Voss sits on the Board o f STARS Air Ambulance. “It’s been an incredible organization to be a part of. In rural Saskatchewan we don’t have emergency hospitals anymore and if there is ever an accident on the farm, that’s about the only way we can have a lifesaving experience. It’s extremely important to the future of maintaining any kind of rural health care.”
First Nations After parking his engineering consulting business, Voss became the CEO of the Entrepreneurial Foundation, a $50-million-dollar venture capital fund targeting small Saskatchewan businesses. It was during this time he developed relationships with several First Nations communities. That lead him to the Meadow Lake Tribal Council and the opportunity to oversee the tribal council’s for-profit arm. MLTC Resource Development was established to contribute to the community’s wealth. The timing was right. “Meadow Lake was not that far from where I grew up. I knew the community. I wanted to get closer to the farm.” He and his wife Cindy decided the opportunity would fit in with their long-term plan to build a home on the family farm. They were about to start their own family and the farm was where they wanted to raise their kids. He began the daily commute from Spiritwood to Meadow Lake.
COVE R STORY “It was an incredibly eye-opening experience working with nine First Nations and learning about the businesses that they owned. I was able to take some of my background from SaskTel, some of my background from the venture capital side and really merge those into all those opportunities they were working on.” Image: Gina’s Portraits
Along Came Morris Industries “Opportunities cross your path without you ever looking for them." Seven years after becoming the CEO of MLTC Resource Development, Voss found himself in a conversation with the then owners of Morris Industries. They were looking at a long-term strategy for the company and a succession plan. Voss’ farming background and business background were exactly what they were looking for. “I had an opportunity to take an ownership stake which was very attractive, so I left my position with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council.”
Innovation Voss came to Morris Industries in 2015. He took ownership two years later. This year marks the company’s 90th anniversary. While just about everybody in Saskatchewan associates Morris with the rod weeder, today, the company is world-renowned for its high-tech farm equipment. Its biggest seller is the air seeder.
The company employs about 350 people; 50 employees at its head office in Saskatoon, and the bulk of its employees stationed in facilities in Yorkton and Minnedosa, Manitoba. Many of them have worked for the company for a long-time; some as long as 45 years. Voss attributes that loyalty, in part, to the company’s willingness to let the staff take risks. “I’m okay with that. Tolerance in failure is a key ingredient to good leadership. If you are creating fear amongst everybody, all that will happen is they are never going to want to take a risk.”
Exports
Saskatchewan is a hot bed of innovation. We are known as the global headquarters of air seeding technology. 90% of all farm machinery that uses precision farming technology has been invented here and all the countries around the world know that and they don’t buy equipment unless it’s got origins from here. Ben Voss, Morris Industries
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Employee Loyalty
Taking risks has paid off. The company’s annual revenues are approaching north of $100-million dollars. Its largest market remains Western Canada. It also exports to 34 countries around the world including Australia. “We’re a bigger story in Australia now than we are in Saskatchewan.” Voss is also proud to say Morris Industries has sold product in South Sudan. “The Government of Sudan invited banks and said we’ve got all this land; we need technology; we want to grow more food for our growing population. So, this group of investors hired a farmer from Australia as a professional farm manager and we’re a household name in Australia. So, his first stop was Canada and he bought a versatile tractor, and a Morris seeder and a couple of other pieces of equipment and exported it out of Canada to Sudan.”
Legacy While a lot has changed from its humble beginnings in 1929, one thing has remained the same for Morris Industries. It is still committed to listening to the needs of farmers and helping them put seed in the ground and grow their crop. With Ben Voss at the helm, farmers in Saskatchewan and around the world can rest easy knowing they will be well cared for, for many years to come.
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ADVOCACY
Working for You The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce continues to actively advocate on behalf of its membership. Recent items to highlight include the following: Vivian Krause talks about “Anti-Pipeline” activism during Saskatoon visit Anyone who knows anything about the target on the back of Canadian oil and gas knows the name Vivian Krause. Krause provided a compelling presentation before a full house in Saskatoon March 19th. Her presentation “Anti-Pipeline Activism: Who Funds It and Why It Matters” makes the case the energy industry is the target of a multi-million-dollar U.S.-funded campaign that aims to land-lock Canadian oil and gas, keeping Canada out of overseas markets.
Two budgets in two days On Tuesday, March 19th Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau tabled the government’s 2019-2020 budget. While the Budget did deliver on some of the policy proposals put forth by the Chamber network, including funding mechanisms to ensure high-speed internet access is Canada-wide by 2030, and funding to expand Work-IntegratedLearning (WIL) programs with a view to create up to 20,000 new WIL opportunities outside of STEM-related fields, the budget failed to provide any meaningful solutions to the greatest concerns of Canadian business owners. There was no commitment to undergo a comprehensive tax review to make it fair and less cumbersome for businesses. The budget failed to include a broad-based commitment to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses and failed to include a renewed commitment to eliminating inter-provincial trade barriers. There was also no clear strategy to move the Trans Mountain pipeline forward, given the
significant investment made by Canadian taxpayers. On Wednesday, March 20th, Saskatchewan Finance Minister Donna Harpauer tabled the province’s 2019-2020 budget. The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce watched with great interest to determine what the provincial budget will mean for the Chamber’s 1,500 members, the business environment and the people of Saskatoon. The Chamber’s Budget Task Force, made up of several individuals representing a crosssection of business sectors, identified key issues of importance and created a Provincial Budget Scorecard. Based on feedback from our members, several indicators were scored to assess how the provincial government’s plan aligns with the mandates of competitiveness, efficiency and growth for local businesses within the province, and specifically Saskatoon. The Chamber’s Budget Scorecard gave the provincial budget an overall grade of B-. While the Saskatoon Chamber was pleased the budget was balanced and that corporate tax rate remained stable at 12 percent, the Chamber was disappointed the PST on construction was not pulled back, the low amount of investment into transportation infrastructure for the province and that the Saskatoon Freeway project is not expected to be completed for 10 to 20 years. Now that a balanced budget has been achieved, the Chamber would like to see the focus shift to laying out a clear and actionable growth plan for the province, addressing Saskatchewan’s borrowing debt of $21.7 billion and a review of the provinces tax tools to ensure that the provincial government is competitively positioning our province for growth and investment over the coming years.
Bill C-69 Senate Hearings make stop in Saskatoon The Senate Committee on Bill C-69 toured the country. Originally, there was no plan to stop in Saskatchewan. Due to advocacy efforts made by the Chambers across the province, including the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, as well as other
organizations, the Committee adjusted its schedule to include a stop in Saskatoon on April 11th. Bill C-69 is an act which will significantly put our resource economy at risk. The bottom line is that this bill as currently written will cost Canadians jobs. It will make Canadian resources less attractive to produce and export. C-69 is intended to change current legislation to create a new federal agency to manage environmental impacts and update the regulatory system for projects. This intent is admirable, as the current systems can be improved. However, the legislation as written seems to have been developed by an environment ministry with tunnel vision. There appears to have been little consideration for the many impacts the changes will have on broad areas of the economy. For example, the current environmental assessment model includes a clear timeline of assessment and offers investors a clear end-date for this stage of a project. The new model includes several open-ended delays including the ability for the Minister of the Environment to indefinitely delay a project at will. This legislation will also replace the National Energy Board (NEB) with a Canadian Energy Regulator (CER). The difference in these agencies is that NEB decisions currently can be reviewed by cabinet and decisions harmful to the Canadian Economy may be overruled. Further, the CER increases the ability of special interest groups who are not directly affected by a project to impede the approval and progress of the project. Although the government’s intent with this legislation is good, it needs to be changed before it is brought into law. The Chamber will continue to address the concerns of our members and businesses in Saskatoon and the surrounding area to ensure that Saskatoon has a thriving business climate and is the place to live and do business on the prairies.
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2019-2020 BOARD CANDIDATES Jason Aebig
Jordan Boyes
Creative Fire
Boyes Group Realty Inc.
Partner
Broker Owner / President
Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member; Board of Directors; Advocacy Committee Chair; Indigenous Business Task Force Co-chair. Current Roles in Other Organizations: Saskatchewan Arts Board Chair. Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: Communications strategy; Partnership development; Knowledge of Saskatoon community and Saskatchewan's corporate sector; Board governance; Government relations. For an overview of my professional skills and experience, please visit my
LinkedIn profile. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: Our city’s enterprising and community spirit. Few cities in Canada have our drive, ambition and determination to try new things and punch above our weight. It is a credit to Saskatoon's wealth creators, risk takers, innovators and entrepreneurs who see possibility and have the grit to get it done. Why the Chamber Board? Because there's more work to do. Working together over the last two years, we have introduced a fresh, member-driven approach to advocacy and policy development that is gaining traction and getting results. It would be a privilege to continue this work, building on the success and momentum we've already achieved, and solidifying the Chamber as Saskatoon's voice for business.
CeCe Baptiste Executive Director, Finance
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT) Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member Current Roles in Other Organizations: United Way of Saskatoon and Area Board Member and Past Chair; West Wind Aviation Finance Committee; SaskGaming Corporation Past Board Member; Saskatoon Aboriginal Professionals Association (SAPA) Founding Member. Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: I am a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA), and also have the ICD.D designation (Institute of Corporate Directors). I am Indigenous and can also bring that perspective forward. My career has focused on strategy formulation and execution. I am experienced in stakeholder relations, and bring a collaborative approach to leadership. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: I have spent my life in Saskatoon. I am especially proud of our scenic areas, our business community, and our focus on pathways to success amongst the various higher education institutions. Why the Chamber Board? This community is vibrant, and has a great amount of opportunities for communities to work together. Business and economic stability are important components of continuing to have a healthy city. The Chamber Board will provide me an opportunity to represent my perspective, from my education and personal background, as well as on behalf of my organization.
Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member Current Roles in Other Organizations: Airline Hotels Board Member; Big Brothers Big Sisters Board Member; Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS® (SRAR) Past Board Member Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: I have a background in business and as a certified professional business coach I have strong focus on leadership, boards, business and strategic planning, and succession planning. I am astute in financial aspects and focus on customer service and retention. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: Of course the people, I think we have some of the friendliest people living here, also love the ease of access anywhere in the city which is very important with my job. Saskatoon seems to have a great entrepreneurial spirit which is very nice to see. This city has given a lot to me over the years with my business and the success, and will always hold a special spot for me. Why the Chamber Board? I believe fully in what the organization represents in supporting local businesses and the environment surrounding them. I have been very blessed to run my business in this community and have learned a lot along the way owing it all to this city and the people involved here. It's important to always know where you came from and this gives an opportunity to see things from the other side. I wish to contribute to other companies and support them the way I have and continue to be supported.
Brad Darbyshire President
STC Industrial Contracting Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member Current Roles in Other Organizations: SREDA Board Member; SREDA’s Indigenous Pillar Founding Committee Member; SIMSA Board Member; Hands On Charity Chair. Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: As the President of one of Saskatchewan’s fastest growing wholly owned First Nations contracting firms I am very up to date on the engagement of Indigenous people and communities in the local and provincial economy. My strength is understanding engagement strategies for meaningful participation of Indigenous people in the economy. I am a strong advocate of Indigenous inclusion and diversity as a whole. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: Saskatoon is the greatest city in the province and its strong values and commitment to its people. The movement towards inclusive participation by Indigenous people is ahead of most places in Canada and its commitment to diversity is second to none. The Business community is also a proud, strong, and diverse group of leaders, and they continue to move forward to be the most creative and innovative business community. Why the Chamber Board? As a new company, STC Industrial is striving to be part of the economic community with an Indigenous point of view. Part of my role is to educate and influence the broader community to adopt and support the engagement of the Indigenous community through practicing good business principals and sound leadership, thus breaking some of the potential biases around the management and sustainability of Indigenous owned and managed corporate entities.
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2019-2020 BOARD CANDIDATES Kamanashis Deb
Katrina German
Royal Lepage Varsity
KatrinaGerman.com
Realtor
Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member Current Roles in Other Organizations: Bangladeshi Community Association Of Saskatchewan President; Swadesh Donuts Tisdale Director; SMART Learning Centre Director; YXE Immigration VP. Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: Strong management background. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: Great diversified city to raise our children, family, and business. I meet the most friendly and helpful people in Saskatoon. I support equal opportunity for everyone to grow their
family and business. Why the Chamber Board? I believe, if I became a Director of the Board for the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, I can build a stronger business relationship between our Chamber and immigrant communities. The Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce has a strong foundation upon which to construct continued prosperity. I would welcome the opportunity to actively participate in the Chamber to promote the interests of Saskatoon business and encourage continued investment in our community.
Todd A. Denzin
Vice-President Commercial, Potash
Nutrien
Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member Current Roles in Other Organizations: The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) Board Member: Sulphate of Potash Information Board (SOPIB) Board Member; Western Plant Health Association (WPHA) Board Member; Food Bank Volunteer; Kinsmen Telemiracle 43 Foundation Fundraiser; Sanctum Survivor Challenge Participant Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: With 30 years of career experience in Agribusiness and Mining sectors in Canada, the US and internationally, I will contribute strategic thinking and business development skills; networking, team building and people development skills; with strong sales, marketing and communications experience. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: My roots are in Saskatchewan. I grew up on the family farm near Tregarva and I am a proud graduate of the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. To me, Saskatoon has always demonstrated a strong spirit and positive energy that offers tremendous opportunity for all its citizens in education, recreation, arts and employment. Why the Chamber Board? I believe in hands-on leadership and a long-term, strategic approach to create opportunities for current and future generations of business leaders in Saskatoon. As VP Commercial, Potash with Nutrien, it is important for me to engage, given Nutrien’s position as a major employer and business partner in the Saskatoon community. As a member of the Chamber Board, I will contribute my knowledge, experience and skills to strengthen established relationships with community, business and government and affect important change by networking with businesses of all sectors and sizes.
CEO
Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member Current Roles in Other Organizations: UNICEF Canada, Strategy Review Committee Chair; Seeds for Dreams, Founding Committee. Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: I have a strong background in communications, specifically social media and digital strategy for businesses. I founded a tech company and provided guidance for over 70 tech startups. I enjoy making connections between the technology community and the wider business community in Saskatoon. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: We're a group of strong-willed, innovative and hard-working people. If there is a problem, we don't wait for someone else to fix it. If a neighbour needs a hand, we offer one. We see the benefit of working together and achieving goals as a community. We all rise together. Why the Chamber Board? I love business and I love Saskatoon. The Chamber is ambitiously raising the profile of the city and I wish to contribute to an environment where we can all thrive and grow.
Byron Mack
Regional Managing Partner
MNP LLP
Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member; Provincial Budget Task Force Committee Member Current Roles in Other Organizations: Southeast Regional College Foundation Board Member (Estevan); Huskies Football Foundation Committee 2019 Event Chair Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: Born and raised in Saskatchewan, I’m proud to be part of a firm with its roots in Western Canada that specializes in serving entrepreneurs at different stages in their business lifecycles. Working with some of this provinces most successful businesses of all sizes in various sectors allows me to bring a wide range of experience and perspectives of our business community. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: The passionate entrepreneurial spirit of our business community and the willingness of many to take a leap of faith and try something that is different. Aside from the pure beauty of the city, Saskatoon is the ideal place for me to raise my family, grow in my profession, work with likeminded individuals, and give back to our community. Why the Chamber Board? Working with the Chamber of Commerce would give me the ability to continue to help serve like-minded individuals that not only want to grow their business, but make both the business community and broader community in general grow and thrive not only now, but in the future.
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2019-2020 BOARD CANDIDATES Mike McKague
Joel Pedersen
Precedence Private Wealth
Fitness 2J2
Founder & CEO
Financial Advisor
Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member Current Roles in Other Organizations: Royal University Hospital Foundation Board Member; Nutana Community Association President Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: Strong leadership skills, volunteering with community associations and minor sports. Experience working with city staff and civic leadership. Financial sector knowledge regarding tax planning, finance, investment, and small business ownership. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: I am grateful to raise my family in Saskatoon. Everything we need to have a beautiful life is within 10 minutes. The Meewasin Valley corridor is the envy of many cities. Downtown Saskatoon is thriving day and night, and will only get better with a downtown arena. My children have all the freedom and opportunities I could hope for. We are on the path to become one of the great small cities in the world. Why the Chamber Board? I have volunteered for eight years to improve the quality of my community. The Chamber offers a great alignment between my passion for community development and my work helping individuals and business owners. As a Chamber Board member I can help foster a great business environment to continue to build a better Saskatoon.
Emmanuelle Morin Owner / Lead
Cambiar Consulting Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member; SABEX Committee Member Current Roles in Other Organizations: Office of Health Innovation Committee Member Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: Leadership development, strategic planning and measurement, change, innovation design and project management. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: After being away from Saskatoon for over a decade, my favourite thing is the people! While I have been planning to start a consulting business for many years, I waited until I could move back to Saskatoon to do so and I am so pleased I did. The support I have received from this community is unlike any other province. Why the Chamber Board? As someone who works with a number of businesses and organizations, I look to contribute my personal time to endeavours that embrace opportunities to grow and make a difference. The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce has demonstrated a unique blend of desire and skills to support growth and greatness – who wouldn’t want to be part of that!
Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member; Indigenous Business Panel, Chamber Summit Current Roles in Other Organizations: Sports Central Saskatchewan Board Member; Saskatoon Sports District Past Board Member Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: My background in leadership and business is very diverse; I served with the Saskatoon Police Service holding a number of internal leadership positions. I retired after 25 years of service reaching the rank and position of Detective Sergeant. I have also served with the Canadian Armed Forces, in the Army Reserves attaining the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. Within the Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan and Saskatoon, I have been working directly with corporate business and non-profit sector for the past eight years, building relationships to further the growth of my company both in the province and nationally. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: I have lived in Saskatoon my whole adult life, having had a successful policing career here I know this is a great city to call home. Through my one business I am able to provide healthy and positive lifestyle programming for community, provide employment opportunities for people who might not get the chance, to remove barriers for all to be active and to make our community a better and safe place to live. Why the Chamber Board? Being nominated for the Chamber board is an honour. I would truly appreciate the opportunity to be involved with the Chamber at the board level. I believe in integrity, honesty, compassion, fairness, commitment, respect, and professionalism. These values are shared with many leaders in our community of Saskatoon. We can be that leadership that shapes the business success for the future, through a collaborative and engaged Chamber that promotes the interests of Saskatoon business and investment in our community.
Sandra Ribeiro Communications Advisor
Canadian Light Source Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member; Board of Directors: Governance Committee Chair Current Roles in Other Organizations: Saskatoon Airport Community Consultative Committee Member; Usask On Campus News Advisory Board Member; CAP Communications Advisory Committee Member Strengths and Sector Knowledge I can Contribute: Extensive knowledge of the local science, technology, education and innovation sectors. Expert communicator and marketer. International work experiences allow me to “translate” to potential investors the value of
Saskatoon. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: Having lived in three continents and six countries in my not-so-short-anymore life, I really appreciate the wonderful quality of life we have, with great schools, growing small business sector, wide open spaces… and the short commute to work. Why the Chamber Board? It has been an enormously rewarding experience working with dedicated members of the business community to help keep Saskatoon a vibrant, welcoming and prosperous city. I would like to continue to contribute and believe I bring an interesting perspective and insight, having grown up and worked in other countries and cultures.
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2019-2020 BOARD CANDIDATES Brett Weese
Penny Yeager
BDC
MLT Aikins LLP
Director, Growth & Transition Capital
Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member Current Roles in Other Organizations: None Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: I am a CFA Charterholder with 10 years of corporate finance experience including four years in the Treasury department of a large financial institution followed by six years of private equity / banking experience, working with small and medium sized Saskatchewan businesses employing 10-500. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: Great place to raise a family. Both my wife and I grew up in Saskatchewan and wouldn’t have it any other way. Why the Chamber Board? Working closely with Saskatchewan entrepreneurs on a daily basis gives me insight into the issues and challenges they face both in their day to day operations and at a strategic level. Further, my client base contains businesses in two volatile stages: high growth or recently transitioned (buyout or merger/acquisition). These businesses tend to be particularly concerned with having the best local business climate possible as they are at heightened risk compared to mature companies with mature ownership groups. Being a small part of helping provide the best business community to all Saskatoon entrepreneurs is why I am running for the Chamber Board.
Sheri Willick
Real Estate Professional
Sheri Willick, REALTOR® RE/MAX Saskatoon Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member; SABEX Ticket Sales Past Chair Current Roles in Other Organizations: Saskatoon & Region Assoc. of REALTORS® President-Elect and SRAR Gov't Relations Chair; Hollandia Soccer Club Past-President, Board Director; Saskatchewan Soccer Association Board Director Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: Strong and diverse experience in board governance. Knowledge of, and experience in business and community. Expertise of a key economic sector – the real estate industry. Passion and determination for excellence and success. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: Born and raised in Saskatoon and growing up in an active volunteer family, I am very passionate about my city. Saskatoon is a vibrant, growing city that is a fabulous place to raise children, an inclusive city for all ages! Why the Chamber Board? We have a great business community in Saskatoon and area; I am extremely proud to be in their company. I welcome the opportunity to serve and lead our members of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, to continued success. Members’ vote for me translates to my assured commitment to serve in leadership with intelligence and integrity.
Partner
Chamber Involvement: Chamber Member Current Roles in Other Organizations: Advisor to Saskatchewan Industrial Mining Suppliers Association's Board of Directors; Global Gathering Place Past Director; BlackFlash Magazine Past Director Strengths and Sector Knowledge I Can Contribute: Strong legal background. I am a corporate commercial lawyer with more than 15 years of experience. I assist businesses on a regular basis, including those active in the resource and construction sectors. My Favorite Thing About Saskatoon is: Saskatoon is brimming with friendly and active people, and is a nice size to become well acquainted with many of them. Why the Chamber Board? Born and raised in Saskatchewan, I support local businesses through my purchasing decisions, and in providing referrals for professional services. I would like to make additional contributions to support and advocate the interests of Saskatoon businesses , and would be privileged to accomplish this through service with the Chamber.
VOTE for your
SASKATOON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, April 24 Ballots emailed to the membership Friday, May 10 Voting closes at noon Thursday, May 23 The new Board will take effect at the Annual General Meeting
saskatoonchamber.com BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
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PROFILE
Morris Interactive The Trajectory of a Business
Image: Gina’s Portraits
by Elizabeth Ireland
PROFILE
Image: Gina’s Portraits
Morris Interactive encourages its clients to invest in their employees and to reap the rewards. The company’s vision is “to transform organizations by inspiring people to be and achieve their very best.” Mathew Cey is CEO of the Saskatoon-based dynamic business consulting firm. With 12 full-time employees, Morris Interactive also has a presence in Edmonton, Fort Collins (Colorado) and Québec City. The company is a long-time member of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce. Cey grew up as the oldest of four children in Wilkie, Saskatchewan. He describes his childhood and teen years in a rural community as “lots of time in the hockey rink and playing ball.” He has a B.Comm. from the Edwards School of Business where he majored in Marketing. While Cey was recognized for his academic achievements, he admits he spent plenty of time playing sports and making social connections. Cey’s first full-time job after university was in sales at a trucking logistics company. “I was basically told to go find some new clients. I soon discovered that I have a fearlessness of meeting new people and I enjoy bringing in results.” The first iteration of Morris Interactive was a partnership Cey formed in 2003 to offer professional training seminars. “We quickly realized that we needed to offer more depth in our product offering and we began to engage contractors.” After the retirement of his original business partner, Cey brought on Taylor Ireland in January 2014 as an advisor and equity investor. In 2015, Morris Interactive also bought the north end building where its Saskatoon head office is currently located.
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Since 2014, our revenues have grown rapidly, and we’ve more than doubled our staff. Our clients include Indigenous entities, mining, oil & gas, agriculture, construction, healthcare, f inancial services, nonprof it organizations, and provincial and municipal governments. Mathew Cey, Morris Interactive
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Areas of Expertise Cey describes Morris Interactive’s three key focus areas. The first area is training workshops – with an emphasis on employees and leaders developing the emotional (and social) intelligence necessary to succeed at their jobs. The team also provides change management, customer service, sales and conflict resolution workshops. The second area is consulting – this includes strategic planning, governance policy development, feasibility studies, statistical evaluation and business development work. Growing in demand is consulting for clients who don’t have a human resources (HR) department but need to build out this capacity within their organization. The third area of expertise that Morris Interactive provides is assessment surveys and personality tests. Assessment surveys can involve completing a series of questions to produce a detailed report on personality and behavior. Other assessments include employee engagement surveys, diagnostic tools and exit interview surveys (taken when an employee leaves a company). In fact, one unique assessment can determine the likelihood of an individual being an unsafe driver or worker. Morris Interactive partners with assessment providers to help inform its own work. One of these partnerships is with McLean & Company, which is an advisory firm providing practical solutions to HR issues through predictive tools and research. Cey compares utilizing these tools to the concepts behind the 2011 Brad Pitt baseball movie Moneyball.
Indigenous Clients Since 2007, Morris Interactive has worked with more than 120 First Nations and Métis entities in Western Canada and, as a result, has developed considerable expertise. Services that the company offers include creating governance frameworks, sustainable business plans and business cases for federal funding. The company also collaborates with First Nations and Métis
PROFILE entities on health evaluations, community health plans and emergency preparedness. To drive positive outcomes, Morris Interactive collaborates with Chief and Council, band management, Child and Family Services and staff, as well as health and economic development organizations.
Image: Gina’s Portraits
On the growth and success of Morris Interactive, Cey concludes: “I know what we are good at. There have been times when I personally don’t want to play in a specific space, but I recognize that our company needs to offer that service to our clients. Over the years, we’ve excelled at finding the right people and tools to round out our suite of services and continue to build on our strong client relationships.” Chamber members can contact Morris Interactive to consult on growth strategies, creating HR capacity, and building the emotional intelligence of employees and leaders. Morris Interactive 106 - 4002 Arthur Rose Avenue info@morrisinteractive.ca morrisinteractive.ca
MEETING SPACE
RENTAL
Member Exclusive For more information: Janelle at 306-244-2151
janelle@saskatoonchamber.com
BOOK TODAY: • beautiful view • catering available • underground parking is available at Delta Hotels Downtown Saskatoon (formerly Radisson Hotel)
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TECHNOLOGY
Manufacturing Tech Steps to the Forefront by Elizabeth Ireland
Jordan Dutchak, Executive Director of Co.Labs, took a coffee break to update Business Voice on the latest news emerging from the Saskatoon-based technology incubator. He describes 2019 as a very busy year so far. As CEO of Brillist, Sheila Maithel leads an AI-powered project optimization software start-up company. Brillist has more than doubled its revenues in the past year. Brillist was originally called Clevor Technologies and founded by Sheila’s father Ravi to optimize project execution. Along with the new name, Brillist has pivoted to provide a product that is scalable. “Over 70 percent of projects are late and overbudget, leading to $790 billion in preventable losses every year. By contrast, Brillist's manufacturing and construction
customers enjoy finishing their projects up to 25 percent earlier, with a lot less stress, while boosting their profits by up to 12.5 percent,” says Maithel. Since joining Co.Labs in early 2018, Brillist was also selected as one of 11 companies in the Boston-based TiE ScaleUp startup accelerator. These types of accelerator programs can take a start-up to the next level – particularly in terms of reaching potential investors and raising capital. Brillist is trusted by customers ranging from large construction companies to professional services firms. Maithel was featured in a Financial Post article in September 2018 entitled “Saskatoon women take collective approach to entrepreneurship.”
Nelson Wani is the founder and CEO of Autumn and he thrives on the fast pace of start-up culture at Co.Labs. Autumn’s product is targeted at small manufacturing companies. “At Autumn, we’re a young and ambitious team, moving at what feels like lightspeed to get our product into manufacturing shops. We’ve just finalized our Advisory Board, composed of experts in manufacturing, investment and development. We also deployed our technology to two manufacturing firms at the end of January,” says Wani. “As a Co.Labs company, we’re surrounded by a community of ambitious founders and that translates into a competitive ‘can do’ culture. Collectively people want to see each other succeed, so we are constantly receiving resources and connections from the ecosystem to achieve our goals.” Co.Labs is Saskatchewan’s first technology incubator and has served as a creative collaboration space for 64 tech start-ups in its first 18 months of operation. Co.Labs is funded by the provincial and federal government through Innovation Saskatchewan and Western Economic Diversification Canada. Dutchak is excited for what 2019 holds for the tech community, the continued success of Co.Labs-based start-ups, and the further development of product-based hardware and software technologies. Co.Labs Innovation Place 229-116 Research Drive, Saskatoon www.co-labs.ca | @colabsyxe
Watch for future Business Voice columns on what's happening in Saskatoon's tech sector!
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ANNOUNCEMENT
Your Chamber business team has been hard at work to bring the Saskatoon Business Community new event series. We have talked to, and more importantly listened to what our membership wants access to, and feel that we have nailed it!
1
ALL ACCESS INVITATIONAL DINNER
All Access will bring together City of Saskatoon senior department heads and the business community for an evening of great food and information sharing. The evening is designed to open the lines of communication between business and the city’s administration with the goal of improving and streamlining processes to enhance the city’s business friendly environment. This event will have limited seating; available to Chamber members only for $110 per person.
2
LUNCH WITH FACEBOOK
The second event to launch is a new series in partnership with the StarPhoenix/PostMedia. This event series has been delivered by various Chambers across Canada in the partnership format. The presenter from Facebook, Brian Sencich, delivers very relevant and practical solutions using social media for real business growth beyond just likes and shares. This luncheon event is May 30th at TCU Place for just $40 per person!
3
PIVOT
The third event series known as PIVOT, will bring in well-known and relevant speakers to present to our Saskatoon Business Community. This year, in partnership with two of our academic institutions, Saskatchewan PolyTechnic and the University of Saskatchewan, we are presenting Jim Harris, The Opportunity of Disruption. Besides hearing from our keynote speaker on June 13th, we will also hear from Peter Stoicheff, President of the University of Saskatchewan and Dr. Larry Rosia, President of Saskatchewan Polytechnic and how the work they are doing and have done is preparing our future workforce for massive changes coming to how humans work. The evening will then wrap up with a three-way panel for a robust question and answer period with these leading experts. PIVOT will take place at the World Trade Centre at Prairieland Park starting at 5:30pm. Tickets start at $110 per person with discounts on corporate tables. BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
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NON-PROFITS
The Broadway Theatre is proud to be 100% community-owned from 125 seats all the way to TCU Place at 2,000 seats.
What does that mean? It means less than 5% of our sizable budget comes from public funders. It means we are very aggressive at keeping the venue as busy as possible. It means we serve over 80,000 patrons annually. It means these people come for many reasons
– live theatre, dance, comedy, podcasts, music in many genres, and the best in film from around the world. It means when we wanted to “do more” events that would not fit in the Broadway, we started to present live performances in 14 Saskatoon venues,
Being community-owned means, we build and maintain a LOT of partnerships, with artists, NPO’s and many private sector businesses. It means we want to reflect our ever-changing community in the programming and events we present. It means we are a “home” for dozens of other organizations and businesses every year – where they hold events important to them. It means we will see you or your neighbours, friends, family and coworkers here for something in 2019: for a wedding, a corporate event, a great concert, a comedy/dance/theatre show, for church, for a school group outing, a family matinee or evening film. So, when we say “community-owned”, we mean it. We look forward to seeing you in your Broadway Theatre this year.
Junior Achievement Celebrating 100 Years of Achievement Worldwide ……… and 42 years in Saskatchewan! JA has been inspiring students since 1919, when it was founded in Massachusetts. Now, with over 120 charters worldwide, JA is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating young people about business, and inspiring students to succeed in a global economy and reach their highest potential. Canada welcomed JA in 1955, with its first program in Vancouver. JA grew and was introduced in Saskatchewan in 1977, when a group of Saskatoon business people got together and set the foundation for what we have today. Since then, JA has expanded to every corner of our province and in the past 10 years, student reach grew by +600% to +31,000 youth and at less than half the national average cost per student delivery.
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This has been made possible by the generous support of our financial donors, teachers, volunteers, board members, partners, and incredible team of staff whose dedication to youth is unmatched! WHAT’S YOUR JA STORY? In celebration of 100 Years, we are collecting people’s stories. Were you on the board, a staff member, a volunteer, a donor? Did you have a class in school or in a Company Program? What was your company name, product, funniest story, best lesson learned? You get the idea …… whatever your story is, we want to hear it. Please email your story to info@jasask.org (and let us know if we can share it). On behalf of the entire JA Team, and over 300,000 Saskatchewan Youth … THANK YOU, for being part of JA’s history and part of JA’s future. Website: www.jasask.org
NON-PROFITS
International Artists Come to Nutrien Children's Festival The Children’s Festival is an arts-based festival where young and old alike are invited to Explore Their Senses! Our 31st annual Children’s Festival, June 1-4th, is in a new location this year, Rotary Park. The Children’s Festival introduces thousands of young children each year to cultural events and dynamic public spaces created just for them. Our 2019 shows, to name a few, include popular children’s musicians Splash n’Boots; a death-defying circus show by The Street Circus; the family-friendly magic performance Brent and Sarah’s Comedy Magic Show; Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch by Axis Theatre, a beautiful puppet show; and Koo Koo Kanga Roo, a high energy music duo who are used by teachers to get kids moving and dancing. We can’t forget about fan-favourite activities like Nutrien’s Fossil Find, always highly anticipated each year, and Nutrien
Seed Survivor station where youngsters can plant their own sunflower seed. Other onsite activities include participatory Circus Arts fun, KinderGarden free-play area, Push2Play Outside! and artistic experiences with Wanuskewin Heritage Park, face painting and more. Daily admission is $10
and includes all shows and activities. The 5th annual Sunset Party will take place Saturday, June 1st, from 4:30 - 9:30 p.m. It’s FREE to attend. We invite everyone to come out and take in the excitement!
Nutrien Wonderhub We'll be seeing you on opening weekend June 28-30! Nutrien Wonderhub is the province's first and only children's museum. You may remember us as the Children's Discovery Museum. With construction at our new state-of-the-art facility almost complete, we can't wait to welcome you through our doors on our Opening Weekend, June 28 - 30, 2019. You’ll find us in the Mendel building at 950 Spadina Crescent East, right across the street from Nutrien Playland. With scenic views of the South Saskatchewan River, a locally run café, and gift shop, our new museum has it all for families young and young-at-heart.
Our exhibits and programming will engage children and their adults by piquing creativity, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning through hands-on experiences, programming, and outreach. Our museum is designed to support intergenerational play and independent discovery. We are a safe space for children of all backgrounds and abilities to explore, experiment, and interact with the natural and built world. Head over to www.wonderhub.ca for more information and to join our e-newsletter list. Also, watch out for adult only nights once our doors are open!
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NON-PROFITS
Saskatoon Zoo Foundation The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation raises funds for the Saskatoon Zoo while connecting citizens to nature through education, research, and conservation. The Saskatoon Zoo creates memories and family traditions and hosts over 200,000 visitors of all ages each year. We welcome everyone! Each June the Foundation holds its annual ZOOGALA. A truly one of a kind experience featuring exquisite cuisine from Saskatoon’s finest Chefs, entertainment, silent auction and the true stars of the evening, the resident animals. This adult only event is so unique and makes for a great night out for a date, with a group of friends or coworkers. ZOOGALA is on June 14th and tickets are $130/each, corporate table $1000 and available at saskatoonzoofoundation.ca This event sells out early, get your tickets today and enjoy the Zoo at night.
Funds raised this year will go towards creating the biggest bear habitat in the world for Koda & Mistaya. The plans are amazing for this new habitat and you can help us Build for the Future by donating to
the Foundation. Also coming this spring will be Dingos! If you would like to sponsor these wonderful, interactive, adorable girls, contact us today, 306-975-2250! Check us out on Facebook!
SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival The SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is proud to deliver the 33rd annual festival to the community of Saskatoon with 10 days of music from June 21-30, 2019. For ten days each summer, the city of Saskatoon bursts into song as the SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival plays host to hundreds of world-class artists. Over 80,000 hungry music fans devour the sounds of jazz, blues, funk, pop, and world music each year, with a program that spans as many genres as it does continents. 2019 headliners include Walk off the Earth, The Roots, Johnny Reid, and Jann Arden. The first festival took place in Saskatoon during the summer of 1987. Today it has become the second largest festival of its kind in Western Canada, and since 2009 has been named Best Festival in Planet S Magazine Best of Saskatoon reader’s poll.
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www.saskjazz.com www.facebook.com/saskjazz
MAY / JUNE 2019
http://www.twitter.com/saskjazz www.instagram.com/saskjazz
SPECIAL FEATURE
Drop Those Crutches! How to Overcome Ahs and Ums in Your Speech by Joel Schwartzberg
One of my clients is a very strong speaker – she’s confident, powerful, and very aware of her points. Yet even with all that ability, she makes one mistake consistently and is mostly unaware of it. She begins nearly every sentence with the word “so.” “So, I thought we’d start by…” “So, I’d like to thank…” “So, my answer to that is…” “So” is her “crutch word” – a nonsensical word used typically as a filler between thoughts. Other crutch words include “and,” “well,” “but,” “so,” and “you know,” but also sounds like “ah,” “um,” and “er.” Sometimes, they’re more sophisticated words like “literally,” “actually,” and “basically.” Whatever form they take, crutch words typically have two attributes: 1) overuse and 2) meaninglessness. We may forgive ourselves and others for using crutch words – what’s the harm of a little um? – but they are never necessary and may even get in the way of you making your point.
Why Do We Use Crutch Words? There are many theories on why people use crutch words. In an article for The Atlantic, Jen Doll suggested we use them to “give us time to think, to accentuate our meaning (even when we do so mistakenly), or just because these are the words that have somehow lodged in our brains and come out on our tongues.” In a widely-shared Harvard Business Review article, Noah Zandan suggests that filler words come in handy when a speaker is “nervous, distracted, or at a loss for what
comes next… These may give us a moment to collect our thoughts before we press on.” I believe crutch words like “um” and “ah” happen when your brain anticipates a void or unsure moment in your presentation and freaks out, quickly plugging the hole with a pointless sound. It takes a lot of confidence to start a speech with a strong first word, so speakers sometimes begin with “so” or “okay” as a way of easing into a talk, which may seem less intimidating. In both cases – and regardless of the cause – the “fix” is unacceptable. Any part of your speech that doesn’t support your point will take away from it, even if in little pieces. And you always want to be making sense, never nonsense.
How to Overcome Crutch Words If you don’t have an Ah Counter handy, many digital apps now exist to help you discover and count your crutch words (the LikeSo App is one example). But merely knowing and counting your crutches may not be enough. For many, using crutch words is so routine and reflexive that asking them to stop saying “ah” or “um” by counting them is like asking someone to control his sneezing by having him count his sneezes. The trick to controlling your crutch words is substituting other behaviors in their place or at least adopting tactics that reduce their frequency. Think of it like verbal Nicorette. In my experience, these four tactics have the greatest chance of succeeding:
1. Embrace the Pause Most experts agree that the best replacement for a crutch word is a deliberate pause. Whereas
crutch words create a distraction, pauses have multiple benefits: They build suspense, slow down fast talkers, demonstrate confidence, draw audience attention, and give speakers the time they need to communicate with precision. Knowing these benefits, speakers should deliberately pause when they feel a crutch word coming on. It may feel awkward at first, but with practice, they will soon be pausing instead of using crutch words, and there's no penalty for pausing. Audiences rarely say, “that was a good presentation, but she paused too much.” Like your sophomore year of high school, pauses are so uneventful that they are quickly forgotten.
2. Slow Down Speakers often use crutch words because their mouths are outpacing their minds. Words are coming out erratically and nonsensically before the brain has a chance to organize them into points. But when speakers slow down, they have much more time to plan out the precise phrases they want to use and will not need nonsensical fillers to connect random and pre-baked thoughts. If you have trouble slowing down naturally, insert more deliberate pauses and raise your volume; both are countermeasures to fast talking. As a natural fast talker myself, it’s useless to tell myself, “go slower!” But raising my volume and adding more pauses is much more actionable and very effective.
3. Know Your Point When speakers don't have clear points, they're inclined to ramble. Crutch words are
Continued on page 35
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Whether you’re looking to learn, build partnerships and create a thriving business, or you dare to be a community leader that influences policy and makes an impact, it all happens at the Chamber.
Built by the creative minds at William Joseph Communications, the new website is now live! Check it out at saskatoonchamber.com
COMMUNITY
Bellman Dan Cardinal Retires After 50 Years at the Sheraton Cavalier by Elizabeth Ireland
Dan Cardinal began working at the Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon Hotel in 1969. While it has flown under different flags since then, the hotel remains owned and managed by the Leier family.
Two of Cardinal’s most memorable encounters at the hotel were meeting the singer Kenny Rogers (and seeing inside Rogers’ palatial tour bus) and meeting the legendary Johnny and June Cash. The Cash family was heading up north for an annual fly-in fly-out fishing trip. Cardinal is an avid Roughriders fan and
Image: Gina’s Portraits
Cardinal grew up in Ituna, Saskatchewan and spent his early years in an orphanage run by Catholic nuns. He was then in foster care on a farm near the village of Grayson. At the age of 18, he moved to Saskatoon and began working at the Sheraton Cavalier in maintenance. After five years, Cardinal became a bellman with the hotel: “I’ve always enjoyed meeting people and I like making new friends. I appreciate interacting with people face-to-face.” Dan Cardinal - now and then
still “follows the team strongly.” Although he has four children, multiple grandchildren and now two great-grandchildren, Cardinal remains a bachelor. “Perhaps I’m to highmaintenance, I don’t know,” he jokes. Cardinal is proud of his Cree heritage and his two and a half years in the Royal Canadian
Navy as “a Prairie boy on the ocean.” He plans to continue his volunteer work with the Army, Navy & Airforce Veterans club in his retirement (he serves on the organization’s executive committee). Happy retirement Dan!
Drop Those Crutches! Continued from page 33 then generated to connect these rambling sentences and ideas ("and um... so…"). But if speakers prepare their points in advance and know them well, they’re able to start them efficiently and wrap up once they’ve successfully delivered them, making rambling and desperate connections less necessary. After all, if you start talking before you know what you want to say, you’re bound to say something pointless.
4. Practice
When you’re nervous and anxious, saying anything – even a crutch word – may feel more comfortable than saying nothing.
Practicing mitigates that anxiety by making the speaker more familiar with the material. A comfortable and confident speaker has more control, enabling her to embrace pauses and deftly avoid the “um”s and “ah”s. Practice may not always make perfect, but it can give you the confidence to make good public speaking decisions. Crutch words are not an indication of your experience or ability. Some executives use crutch words all the time, while some interns never do. But if you know what your crutch words are and learn to control them, you’ll be a more precise and efficient point maker, and that’s always a goal worth targeting.
Originally published in Toastmaster Magazine. Joel Schwartzberg, is the Senior Director of Strategic and Executive Communications for a major national nonprofit and author of “Get to the Point! Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter.” A former national champion collegiate public speaker, Joel is also a professional speech trainer who has also written for Fast Company and The Huffington Post. He can be reached at www.joelschwartzberg.net or on Twitter at @TheJoelTruth.
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HIGHLIGHT REEL
Chamber Happenings
Chamber on Tap (March) Chamber on Business
When a man as passionate about feeding the world as Chuck Magro comes to town, you can bet it will be a full house. Thank you to Nutrien’s Saskatoon senior executives and staff for the time and opportunity for one-on-one conversations with our guests.
SABEX Finalist Announcement
Spencer Nikkel of Driverseat Saskatoon was the featured guest in March. A great crowd was on hand; eager to learn about the Driverseat smartphone app; a new option to get people and their vehicles home safe after a night out.
The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce went live on Facebook, to reveal the finalists for the 2019 SABEX Awards. The Chamber surprised each SABEX finalist with a special visit and a special song, written and performed by a group of talented and creative local musicians "It's Too Late Baby".
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HIGHLIGHT REEL
Chamber Happenings
Chamber on Business
Anyone who knows anything about the target on the back of Canadian oil and gas knows the name Vivian Krause. Krause provided a compelling presentation before a full house. Her presentation “Anti-Pipeline Activism: Who Funds It and Why It Matters makes the case the energy industry is the target of a multi-million-dollar U.S.-funded campaign that aims to land-lock Canadian oil and gas, keeping Canada out of overseas markets.
Pulse on Politics
Chamber on Tap (April)
Future Members Night
April’s Chamber on Tap featured Declan O’Reilly, owner and financial advisor of O’Reilly Insurance. Declan shared his story and talked about his successes and challenges working in the insurance industry in Saskatoon over the last 12 years.
Saskatchewan Finance Minister Donna Harpauer made a stop in Saskatoon following the tabling of the provincial budget. The noon luncheon attracted a good crowd, as Harpauer spoke on the balanced budget and fielded questions from the audience.
Chamber staff and service providers welcomed new members to the Chamber offices for a night to learn and discuss the many benefits of a Chamber membership. The event is held the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
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CHAIR’ S MESSAGE
Manufacturing and Human Resource Management Move Saskatchewan Forward
In Saskatchewan, the farm equipment industry is growing rapidly. That growth is due, in large part, to the fact we make the best agricultural machinery in the world. Saskatchewan is well positioned to meet the needs of the agricultural equipment sector. The province’s top-quality farm equipment can be found hard at work in Saskatchewan, in Canada and globally. Many in the sector including Ben Voss and his team at Morris Industries have been exporting their fine products all around the world.
to 2017, Saskatchewan’s manufacturing shipments increased by 53%, totaling $16 billion in 2017. In addition, food and fabricated metal manufacturing are also driving opportunities for Saskatchewan manufacturers. These industries and many more have contributed to Saskatchewan’s manufacturing success story!
Image: Gina’s Portraits
Spring has sprung and in Saskatchewan that means farmers are heading back to their fields to plant this year’s crop. In addition to deciding what to put in the ground, they must also ensure their equipment is ready to go and in good working condition to get the job done. Having the right equipment is crucial to their success.
As I close out my Saskatoon Chamber Board Chair Peggie Koenig message, I am saddened to say this will be my last as Chair of the Our annual member Summit roundtables, Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce. surveys and other feedback mechanisms As they say all good things must come to have helped us to identify key issues and Saskatchewan has what the world needs, an end and so too does my time as Chair. sort accordingly under the following pillars: and manufacturing plays an important part in I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve as competitiveness, efficiency and growth. the province’s economy. The sector accounts Chair this past year. It has been a busy year for 7% of the province’s GDP and is currently as we worked diligently to make changes As I pass the torch to incoming Chair experiencing one of the highest growth rates to our advocacy process and structure that Chris Sicotte, I leave the position knowing in the country. In the decade from 2007 is more reflective of membership interests. you will be in good hands. Chris’ longstanding service and experience on the board will provide the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce with valuable guidance as the Chamber moves forward and continues to be As owner of Koenig and Associates, I the voice of the Saskatoon and area business understand what workforce planning community. I have full confidence in Chris as he takes over his new responsibilities. is and why strategic workforce
“
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planning is becoming increasingly important to all organizations. Ensuring companies have the best employees for their business needs is simply good business! Peggie Koenig, Chair Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
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Best Wishes, Peggie Koenig Peggie Koenig is the Chair of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce and President & CEO of Koenig & Associates Inc.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Carla Browne Second Vice-Chair
AON
Broker / Owner Real Canadian Property Management Professionals Inc.
Kelly Bode Past Chair
Sandra Ribeiro Executive
Jason Aebig Director
Stacy Dybvig Director
Linda Exner Director
Dale Lemke Director
Dr. Adam McInnes, MD Director
Graham Snell Director
Trevor Thiessen Director
President / CEO Koenig & Associates Inc.
Communications Advisor Canadian Light Source Inc.
President & CEO Quicklinkt Solutions Inc.
Colton Wiegers Director
Business Development Wiegers Financial & Benefits
Chris Sicotte First Vice-Chair Indigenous Liason
Partner Creative Fire
Founder, CEO & Co-chairperson Med Hack Enterprises Incorporated
Chris Woodland Director
Managing Partner ICR Commercial Real Estate
General Manager Saskatoon Aerocentre
Lawyer / Owner WMCZ Lawyers
Manager, Finance & Administration PCL Construction Management Inc. Images: Gina’s Portraits
Peggie Koenig Chair
President Redekop Manufacturing Inc.
Chamber Board of Directors Working for You!
Partner MLT Aikins LLP
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“WE NEEDED THE MOST DEPENDABLE NETWORK AND THE FASTEST INTERNET – AND SASKTEL DELIVERED.” N O L A N
TA B A S H N I U K
INFINET Nolan Tabashniuk is the Chief Operating Officer at Century 21 Dome Realty. With the real estate industry relying so heavily on technology for access to information, he turned to SaskTel and the infiNET 300 service. “It’s allowed us to be able to transfer data back and forth from the cloud in a much more efficient manner,” says Nolan. “It’s actually a step toward going to a paper-free environment.” Nolan chose a solution from SaskTel that gave his business access to more high-performance service options including higher speeds, advanced features and functionality, and higher service reliability.
sasktel.com/c21