DIGITAL ISSUE
March/April 2021
University of Saskatchewan Colleges
Image: University of Saskatchewan's Instragram (@usask)
Shine Through the COVID-19 Pandemic
HELPING OUR CLIENTS SUCCEED I was surprised and overwhelmed by the success of Wave’s digital and print Postmedia campaign. Seriously, once the promotion started, I couldn’t keep up! My phone was ringing off the hook with bookings for tours. Great work Postmedia. A special thanks to the Postmedia team for making the process painless from start to finish. Bradley Oke Owner, Wave Limo & Tours
CONTENT
DIGITAL DISPLAY
WEB DEVELOPMENT
SEARCH
SOCIAL
DIGITAL AUDIO
VIDEO
Learn how companies across Canada use Postmedia’s full suite of print and digital marketing solutions to grow their business. BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION AT POSTMEDIASOLUTIONS.COM/SUCCESS
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March/April 2021
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair Carla Browne, Real Canadian Property Management Professionals Inc. 1st Vice-Chair, Graham Snell - Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan 2nd Vice-Chair, Colton Wiegers - Wiegers Financial & Benefits Past-Chair, Chris Sicotte - AON Reed Stenhouse CeCe Baptiste, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT) Todd A. Denzin, Nutrien Katrina German, KatrinaGerman.com Joseph Gill, McKercher LLP Juan Godinez, ViviGro Sustainable Solutions Ltd. Tara McKeown, Conexus Credit Union Adam McInnes, Med Hack Enterprises Incorporated Sandra Ribeiro, Canadian Light Source Inc. Heather Ryan, Federated Co-operative Limited (FCL) Tanis Taylor, CCA Consulting
STAFF
Jason Aebig, CEO Margot Orr, Director of Policy and Government Relations Terry Lawrence, Office Administrator Roz Macala, Office Coordinator Treena Skaalid, Events Coordinator Henry Buitrago, Creative Coordinator Pamela Kenny, Member Support & Outreach
PRODUCTION
Layout & Design: Henry Buitrago Contributing Writers: Véronique Loewen, Jason Aebig, Carla Browne, Margot Orr
Photography: Henry Buitrago
BUSINESS VOICE is a publication of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce Copyright 2021 Phone: (306) 244-2151 Email: chamber@saskatoonchamber.com Website: www.saskatoonchamber.com Twitter and Instagram: @stoonchamber
Image: Edwards School of Business (Photo taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic)
Featured Content 4
Events
Upcoming Chamber events
6 New Members
January - February 2021
10 Members in the News
University of Saskatchewan Colleges Shine Through the COVID-19 Pandemic College of Agriculture & Bioresources College of Arts and Science College of Engineering Edwards School of Business
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies SIIT Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon Business College Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools
Keith Willoughby
Non-Profits
Cover Story
26 Profile
15 Leadership Profile 16
18
AIM (Ability in Me) Global Gathering Place Saskatoon Open Door Society Sask Abilities Council
34 Advocacy 36 Chair’s Message
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
MARCH / APRIL 2021 3
EVENTS
CHAMBER EVENTS Downtown Entertainment District
POWER
LUNCH Thursday, March 11th 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
$15 plus GST
Open to Members and future Members
Via Zoom
POWER BREAKFAST
Thursday, March 24th 8:00 am - 9:30 am
$15 plus GST
Open to Members and future Members
Via Zoom
MICHAEL SHUGARMAN Shugarman Architecture + Design Inc
BOB BLACK
WILL LOFDAHL
MLT Aikins
SaskTel Centre
PROMOTING SPONSORS:
TAMMY SWEENEY TCU Place
PARTNER SPONSORS:
No Jab? No Job?
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Vaccine Impacts on Employers Supported by/Avec l'appui de :
Wednesday, April 7th
VIA ZOOM
5:15pm Entertainment Sheldon Corbett - Pianist 5:30pm Networking 5:45pm Program Starts
Speaker:
Kevin Sharfe Sherwood Chevrolet inc. SERIES SPONSOR
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 4 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON MARCH / APRIL 2021
TO STAY INFORMED OF NEW EVENTS AND DATES
FÕd
FROM THE CEO
Here’s to Unsung Heroes COVID put the brakes on many aspects of lives this year. Last March, we were required to stop doing many of the activities we took for granted. Suddenly, sending our kids off to school or going to the store for groceries or eating in our favourite restaurants or grabbing a coffee with friends was not only offside; it was unsafe. In the months and weeks that followed, restrictions were loosened and then tightened again, leaving us in a near-perpetual state of change and uncertainty. In spite of these limitations, life had to go on – and much has been said about the selfless and tireless work of our front-line heroes in healthcare, policing, retail and restaurants. Because of the vital role they play in our economy and our lives, they were required to show up and press on to keep vital programs and services going. In this mix, there was another set of heroes who have gone largely unsung and deserve recognition: the providers of education, training and skills development in our city and province. As COVID thrust our lives into uncertainty, and challenged every way that we work, learn and engage with each other – the individuals, programs and institutions featured in this issue of Business Voice continued the work of developing and growing our workforce and educating the next generation of business owners and skills professionals. Like many of us, they had to rethink what they do and how they do it. Service and program delivery, operating models, technology platforms, communication channels – everything was suddenly and unexpectedly on the table for a rethink. While the pandemic raged on, they continued to focus on the needs of learners, businesses and our economy in a post-COVID world, knowing that demand for talented and skilled people would return again. The stories featured in this issue recognize and celebrate their perseverance and achievement. Against seemingly impossible odds, our largest education institutions and smallest training
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Jason Aebig, CEO Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce agencies were able to “pivot” in record time and keep workforce development rolling across our city and province. Today, and every day, we are grateful for the vital role they play providing people with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time to grow our businesses and economy.
Jason Aebig, CEO Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
There was another set of heroes who have gone largely unsung and deserve recognition: the providers of education, training and skills development in our city and province.
BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
MARCH / APRIL 2021 5
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NEWSMAKERS
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(January - February 2021)
The Chamber is an invaluable partner to us. Membership helps us keep in touch with trends and concerns faced by local entrepreneurs. As a full-service digital marketing agency, it is crucial we understand how to best meet the needs of our clients; being in on the conversation is key. The top-notch, professional team at the Saskatoon Chamber delivers valuable networking and learning opportunities every year. You shouldn't miss 'em! Heath Mulligan, Sales Manager Postmedia - Saskatoon StarPhoenix
ADESA Saskatoon Largest vehicle auto auction in Saskatchewan. Accepting public consignment and selling to over 100,000 qualified buyers. There is an auction every Friday, therefore guaranteed offer in 7 days or less. Kyle Mutch
37507 Highway 12 North, Saskatoon phone: (306) 242-8771 website: www.adesaauctions.com Automobile - Lease / Rental / Sales Basic Truck & Trailer Repair Incorporated Truck and trailer repair shop for heavy duty, semis and trailers.
Garnet Anderson / Leanne Rouseh
115 Apex St, Saskatoon phone: (306) 384-9692 Transportation Industry AND Trucks Parts / Repair
Belong Lifestyle Making shopping fun again for women of all ages, sizes, shapes and lifestyles. Come explore the new collection and curated consignment and find the perfect piece. Abbie Ginther
1-117 Centennial Dr N, Martensville phone: (306) 933-4371 website: www.thebelonglifestyle.com Retail - Clothing / Costumes
WELCOME TO ALL OUR NEW MEMBERS
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NEW MEMBERS
Cambridge Homes Inc. We have been in the Saskatoon real estate market for many successful years. This longevity and confidence comes from our real estate services to a great many buyers and sellers.
GP Miller Strategic Finance Experienced financial director and CPA providing strategic advice in the areas of financial analysis, project management, process improvement, change management and not-for-profit governance.
1106 8th St E, Saskatoon phone: (306) 381-0406 website: www.cambridgehome.ca Home Builders / Renovations
1130 Paton Lane, Saskatoon phone: (306) 371-7631 Consultants – Business
Arifur Rahman
Daycome Pharmaceuticals Ltd. A Canadian company dedicated to promoting mental nutrition management solutions based on scientific data support. Committed to developing mental nutrients, improving mental health and quality of life. DaYong Zhang
33-901 1st Ave N, Saskatoon phone: (639) 470-2153 website: www.daycome.ca Wholesale Fitness 2J2 Health and wellness programming for all ages and abilities. Fitness, self defence, sport conditioning for corporate to small groups, and personal training. Joel Pedersen
phone: (306) 281-5338 website: www.fitness2j2.com Health & Fitness Globex Management Corp. Hotel management and general business consulting and management. Lynn Flury / Jaret Waddell
211 4th Ave S, Saskatoon phone: (306) 220-0525 Hotels / Motels
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Gwen Miller
International Indigenous Speakers Bureau A bridge building platform, providing valued solutions to the world’s challenges, via Indigenous perspectives which have been non-accessible until now. Shannon Loutitt
1624 33rd St W, Saskatoon phone: (306) 584-4472 website: www.iisb.ca Education / Training Jill Sauter Marketing & Communications Helping businesses create and execute strategic marketing plans that lead to increased sales and profitability. Jill Sauter
115 Christopher Rd, Saskatoon phone: (306) 717-5945 website: www.jillsauter.com Communications Kingsmere Financial Full financial planning services helping clients to identify their financial goals and guide them in reaching these goals. Allan Howat
601 2nd Ave N, Saskatoon phone: (306) 954-9707 website: www.kingsmerefinancial.com Financial Services / Planning
NEWSMAKERS
NEW MEMBERS Laserology Skin Clinic You deserve to feel your best. Customized skin solutions that focus on your satisfaction and safety. Laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation, facials, micro-needling, and photo-facials. Raelene Perlitz
37-810 Centennial Blvd, Warman phone: (306) 374-7546 website: www.laserologyskinclinic.com Cosmetic / Esthetic - Services / Supplies AND Health & Fitness Prairie Road Solutions Inc. Engineering services firm providing design, tender, and construction administration / management for highway and roadway projects throughout Saskatchewan. Chris Cotton / Brian Stang
134 Robertson Cove, Saskatoon phone: (306) 361-5965 website: www.prairieroadsolutions.ca Consultants – Engineering Protein Powered Farms Inc. Operating a state-of-the-art high-capacity dry protein extraction facility in rural Saskatchewan. Heidi Dutton Weber / Cheryl Klein
PO Box 69, Perdue phone: (306) 371-0675 Agricultural
(January - February 2021)
Saskatoon Dermatology Centre Medical, surgical and aesthetics clinic providing Saskatoon with a wide array of dermatological services.
Kyle Cullingham
3-303 Stonebridge Blvd, Saskatoon phone: (306) 373-0040 website: www.saskatoondermatology.ca Health Care - Services / Supplies SMT Business Strategies Teaching, facilitating, and coaching teams on business principles and real-world tools that help entrepreneurs get what they want from their business. David Robinson
1415 Ontario Ave, Saskatoon phone: (306) 230-9042 website: www.smtstrategies.com Consultants – Business
Stardust Clothing and Accessories Created for all the dreamers out there. A platform in which creativity was celebrated and greatly explored. Products: manufacturing/designing clothing, tie dyeing, seamstress alterations, and printing.
Natasha Seeseequasis
1926 Easthill, Saskatoon www.stardustclothingandaccessories.com Manufacturers AND Retail - Clothing / Costumes Symmetry PR An Indigenous consultancy that specializes in strategic communications planning, execution, research and measurement, Indigenous engagement, media relations and training, digital marketing strategies. Ben Borne
St. Paul's Hospital Foundation The foundation that advances St. Paul's Hospital's and Hospice at Glengarda's vision by raising, managing and allocating funds in keeping with donors' wishes.
phone: (306) 251-0554 website: www.symmetry-pr.com Communications AND Marketing / Market Research
Lecina Hicke
1702 20th St W, Saskatoon phone: (306) 655-5821 website: www.sphfoundation.org Non-Profit Organizations
Fast and reliable shipping you can trust. #BeyondSavings
UPS is here for you:
www.membersbenefitprogram.com/SaskatoonCC BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
MARCH / APRIL 2021 7
NEWSMAKERS
MEMBER RENEWALS
Ashraf Mirmontahai (She/Her) Director, Employment Services Unit (ESU), Saskatoon Open Door Society
101065586 Saskatchewan Ltd. 3D Safety Consulting 617311 Saskatchewan Ltd. 628495 Saskatchewan Ltd. A1 Accounting Group LLP Adecco Employment Services Ltd. Ag-West Bio Inc. Alliance Energy Ltd. ASL Paving Ltd. Assante Capital Management Ltd. Assemblée Communautaire Fransaskoise Associated Appraisal Co. Associated Engineering (Sask) Ltd. AutoLogics Repair Avenue Living Communities Bath Fitter Booster Juice Braid Flooring and Window Fashions Ltd. Brunsdon Lawrek & Associates Brunskill Pharmacy Buckingham Security Cambiar Consulting Canadian Corps of Commissionaires Canadian Elite Basketball League / Saskatchewan Rattlers Canadian Indoor Air Quality Investigators Canadian Light Source Inc. Canadian Linen and Uniform Service Captain Taxi Ltd. Cargill Limited CBI Health Group CCA Consulting Chef de Partie Catering CHEP Good Food Inc. Choice Nutrition Choice Payment Solutions CIBC CIBC Wood Gundy
City of Saskatoon - Assessment Branch City of Saskatoon - Saskatoon Land CLAC Commerce Holdings Limited Compugen Inc. Con-Tech General Contractors Ltd. Connect Energy Costco Wholesale Inc. Custom Trenching Ltd. D’reen’s Catering and Kitchen Socials Dakota Dunes Golf Links LLP Daniels Wingerak Engineering Ltd. DDJ Accounting Services Deloitte LLP Des Nedhe Development LP Desta Consulting Ltd. DK Security Solutions Inc. Dr. Christopher J. Strelioff Optometrist Prof. Corp. Dream Home Appraisal Co. Ltd. Drop Dead Gorgeous Day Spa Dynamic Agencies EcoStrategies Consulting Essence Recruitment EY Farm Credit Canada Farms and Families of North America Inc. FASD Network of SK Filosophi Wise Cuisine Final Draft Co. Ltd. Firesign Holdings Corp. First Nations Bank of Canada FlexNetworks furnaceguys Home Heating & Cooling Inc. Glenwood Auto Service Global Infobrokers Inc. Golder Associates Ltd. Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre Inc. Grant Thornton LLP
8 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON MARCH / APRIL 2021
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We are a member of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce because, like the chamber, we believe that the business community matters, and that our local businesses have a key role to play in our work of helping newcomers to Canada integrate and making Saskatoon a welcoming and inclusive community. This collaboration with businesses results in events celebrating workforce diversity, such as our Annual Diversity Awards Gala, and programs and spaces like the Women's Business Hub.
(January - February 2021)
Handy Special Events High Arc Electrical Hope Hair Recovery Horizon Houghton Boston Printers Hudson Energy Hughes Recruitment Inc. ICR Commercial Real Estate InfraReady Products Ltd. Inland Audio Visual J & T Income Tax Service Inc. Jazz Custom Cabinets Ltd. JMK Massage Therapy KatrinaGerman.com Ken Cheveldayoff - MLA Saskatoon Willowgrove KeyLeaf Kinzel Cadrin & Associates Consulting Inc. Lana Wickstrom Separation Specialist Ltd. Lawson Heights Mall LB Distillers Inc. Legacy Developments Inc. Lift Accounting Luna Metal Works Ltd. Market Mall Auto Service Market Mall Inc. Mayfair Diagnostics Meewasin Valley Authority Metis Nation - Saskatchewan Secretariat Inc. Midtown Plaza Miller Thomson LLP MLCN Investment Management Corp. MNP LLP NexGen Energy Ltd. Nine Yards Technologies North 49 Physical Therapy Prof. Corp. NSBA
NEWSMAKERS
MEMBER RENEWALS Nu Vu Auto Glass & Repair Omnilogic Systems Paddock Wood Brewing Payworks Pillar Properties Corp. Polar Refrigeration Service Ltd. Popeye's Supplements Saskatoon Prairie Crane Inc. Prairie Harm Reduction Prairie Proud Prairie Records Prairie Roots Dental Studio Pritchard & Associates Professional Computer Services Pure Zen Cleaning Solutions PWM Private Wealth Counsel PWP Holdings Inc. Quality Sheet Metal Inc. Rainbow International Restoration Rawlco Radio READ Saskatoon Refresh Inn and Suites Remai Modern Richland Agriculture Group Corp. Ricoh Canada Inc. Riide Rosler Construction Salon Vibe SARC Saskatchewan Abilities Council Saskatchewan Construction Association Saskatchewan Health Authority Saskatchewan Indian Institute of
Technologies Saskatchewan Intercultural Association Saskatchewan Rush Lacrosse Club Saskatoon Agri-Auto Parts Inc. Saskatoon Cabinet Office Saskatoon Clayworks Saskatoon Downtown Youth Centre Saskatoon Fastprint LP Saskatoon Folkfest Incorporated Saskatoon Import Auto Service Saskatoon Industry Education Council Saskatoon Media Group Saskatoon Metal Mfg. Saskatoon Pediatric Dentistry Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation Saskatoon Women's Network Saskatoon Zoo Society Scirulìn Site Services Ltd. Scotia Wealth Management Simply Agriculture Solutions Inc. Smokes Poutinerie Soccer Locker Special Olympics Saskatchewan – Saskatoon Spicers Canada ULC SREDA Inc. SST Trucking St. Paul's Hospital St. Volodymyr Villa Corporation Star Egg Company STC Industrial Contracting Stuart Kasdorf Photographics Inc. SunLife Financial
(January - February 2021)
Super 8 Motel Supreme Basics Susan Walker Realty PC Sutherland Beer & Wine Store TAM International Inc. Targeted Strategies Limited TCU Place TD Commercial Banking The James Hotel The Optimist Club of Saskatoon Inc. The Saskatoon Club The Wireless Age Thurston Engineering Services Tourism Saskatoon Transwest Air Twisted Goods Inc. Tyson Pederson Consulting Ltd. Uniglobe Carefree Travel Group University of Regina - University Advancement & Communications Voce Developments Corporation Welldone Mechanical Services Inc. Westcrest Embroidery Corp. Western Economic Diversification Canada Western Heritage Western Information Management Inc. Western Premium Property Management Inc. Woodstyles Woodworking Co. Ltd. Zed Engineering Inc.
BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
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NEWSMAKERS
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Filosophi Restaurant Active AgriScience Inc.
Active AgriScience Inc. recently announced it has signed a Licensing Agreement with Hydrite Chemical Company of Brookfield, Wisconsin. The agreement will see Hydrite manufacture Active AgriScience branded products for sale to customers in the USA. Hydrite Chemical, established in 1929, is one of America’s largest Chemical manufacturers operating numerous production facilities spread across 6 states employing over 1,000 people.
Active AgriScience is a leading technology provider to the global agriculture industry focused on creating innovative seed treatments, foliar fertilizers and nitrogen stabilizers. Founded in 2013, its research facilities are located on the UBC Campus in Vancouver, its corporate office is in New Westminster and its new head office and manufacturing faculties in Saskatoon. www.activeagriscience.com
Black Fox Farm and Distillery
Black Fox Farm and Distillery debuts SE Eleven Canadian Whisky It was worth waiting for. After years of patience, Black Fox released its first whisky. Actually, its first three whiskies: single grain, cask finish, and a limited-edition blend. SE Eleven, is a nod to the farm’s legal land description (SE 11-36-6 W3) fostering a relationship to the land. Listed in the Top Whiskies of the World, this continues the Black Fox tradition of crafting world-class spirits including the World’s Best Cask Gin. Black Fox celebrates excellence, history and heritage and strives to nurture a connection: to self, to each other, and to the world around us. www.blackfoxfarmanddistillery.com 10 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON MARCH / APRIL 2021
Filosophi Restaurant is a collection of culinary experiences, delivering authentic food made by genuine people with meraki in mind. Meraki, the love and enjoyment one has for what they do, and by extension, the great result their work produces. Inspired by the West Coast, Filosophi restaurant draws inspiration from the diversity of fresh ingredients and the tradition of humble family feasts to create an unforgettable wise cuisine experience. Pull up a chair and be part of the Wise Family. www.filosophi.ca
NEWSMAKERS
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Hope Hair Recovery & Scalp Clinic.
Freshslice Pizza
Freshslice Pizza was founded in 1999 by Ray Russell in Vancouver, BC, when he decided to find a better way to prepare the pizza he loves. Starting with a single restaurant, Freshslice quickly grew into a thriving ‘by the slice’ and delivery business. The goal was simple – offer customers delicious pizza, made from fresh, healthy ingredients at prices lower than most
competitors, so people can enjoy the pizza they love more often. The company has grown to 75+ locations across BC, Alberta, and Ontario. Of course, COVID-19 remains an ever-present obstacle, but it has not slowed expansion down enough to pause what is already underway in Saskatoon. Freshslice Pizza will be opening near you very soon. www.freshslice.com
Logia Consulting Inc.
For over a decade, we’ve coached and mentored hundreds of organizational leaders and their teams ‘in-person’, wherever they preferred. With COVID-19’s arrival early last year, we swiftly turned the page and ramped up our virtual delivery capabilities to serve clients struggling to embrace the remote working environment. New growth began last May as we co-founded a Canadian company called Virtual Leadership Matters Inc.™. Combing our extensive experience in leading remote teams, we’ve helped leaders across the country turn the page and successfully navigate the unknowns of leading virtual teams to maintain healthy team climates, solid engagement and productivity. www.logiaconsulting.ca
Jennifer McCowan is an award winning hair loss and scalp care specialist and the owner and founder of Hope Hair Recovery & Scalp Clinic. As a retired hair stylist, Jennifer now specializes in hair loss and scalp issues. Her hairdressing career took a major turn after her father was tragically killed in a car accident, one month after her second child was born. The stress and trauma from the circumstances caused Jennifer to lose a significant amount of hair. She then began on her life’s path as a hair loss and scalp expert. Currently, she is a Professor and the Canadian Director of Cosmetology for the prestigious World Trichology Society. Her memberships include the American Hair Loss Council, International Trichological Congress, The Argentinian Trichological Association and is a National Hair Loss Affiliate. Jennifer loves to educate, inspire, and empower people by sharing her own experiences and by providing world class products and services. She maintains a strong community presence by supporting causes such as Pink Wig Foundation and WeConnect, a mental health initiative. Within Hope Hair Recovery, she has created a one stop shop for hair loss sufferers to come and be given a multitude of options to help with their whole body health. www.hopehairrecovery.com
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NEWSMAKERS
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS NuFab
At NuFab, our purpose is simple: we develop great building solutions with our customers and deliver completely on all our commitments every time. Over 40 years ago we began as a small truss plant in Saskatoon. Today, we still build trusses — as well as custom KitchenCraft kitchens, framing packages, floor systems, finish trim packages, windows, accessories, and more. Sure, we sell more than lumber but the “more” is also providing the very best customer service,
Royal University Hospital Foundation
Did you know the average Canadian has three surgeries in their lifetime? It’s not if you or someone you love will need surgery, it’s when. Royal University Hospital Foundation is home to The Saskatchewan Stroke Program, advanced trauma care and cardiac excellence. We want the people of Saskatchewan to have the world’s best surgical care. We have the expertise. What we need is to replace the 43-year-old operating rooms with state-ofthe-art facilities. YOUR MISSION: Join Mission Possible: Operation New O.R to help raise $20 million to build and equip state-of-the-art operating rooms and help save more lives, right here at home! Maybe even yours. Visit us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! Donate now at ruhf.org
customer experience, and company culture. We started off small but have grown to be the largest truss manufacturer in Western Canada with operations in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Minneapolis. How have we done this? By working hard to simultaneously deliver happiness to our customers, employees, vendors, and the community in a long-term, fair and sustainable way. www.nufab.com
Welldone Mechanical Services Three Farmers Foods Inc.
Three Farmers Foods, a Saskatchewanbased manufacturer of pulse snacks, has received C$2.65M in funding, a round led by Golden Opportunities Fund and Export Development Canada. This investment will allow Three Farmers to continue bringing pulse based snacks to Canadians and the world. Products sold in over 4,000 retailers across North America include Three Farmers Camelina Oil and Three Farmers Roasted Snacks featuring roasted chickpeas, roasted peas and roasted lentils. The Company was founded by three farmers, who are second and third generation local farmers, and two local sisters – Natasha Vandenhurk, CEO and Director, and Elysia Vandenhurk, Chief Revenue Officer and Red Seal Chef. www.threefarmers.ca
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With the health and safety of its customers and the community as a driving force, Welldone Mechanical Services Inc., HVAC preventative maintenance specialists since 1965, is installing Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) devices in ventilation equipment at businesses across Saskatchewan. As we’re spending more time indoors, breathing clean air inside is imperative. Using your existing HVAC system, this needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI) technology releases ions to form a barrier. Particles are energized and clump together to be removed with your filter changes. NPBI technology carries a 99.4% kill rate for COVID-19 and is used in schools, hospitals, airports, offices, daycares, and homes. Give us a call to improve your Indoor Air Quality. www.welldone.com
The Raj Manek Business Mentorship Program provides: 1. One-on-one mentorship with an experienced mentor whose skill sets compliment your targeted areas of improvement.
The Raj Manek Business Mentorship Program (RMMP) has been operating since 1998 and is accepting applications for their March intake.
2. Monthly seminars on topics of interest create an environment where participants can feel comfortable asking questions. 3. Technical advisors available one-on-one in the areas of Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, IT, Legal, Sales, and Strategic Planning. 4. Program affiliations to access databases and resources from other programs including PCensus, Reference Canada, Hoovers, iSell, Kompass. 5. Access to RMMP databases including e-Statement Studies, First Research, and Profit Driver. 6. Peer-to-peer mentorship service where business owners can congregate and share their thoughts, ideas, and jointly solve problems with the guidance of a technical expert. 7. Networking opportunities. This relationship is an interactive sharing environment which results in an enriching, mutual learning experience.
E-mail us at info@manekmentorship.com or call us at 780.758.1189
manekmentorship.com JOIN US IN CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL MENTORSHIP 25th Annual Raj Manek Memorial Banquet Thursday, June 17, 2021 5:30pm - 9:30pm Prairieland Park
Featuring Keynote Speaker
Dr. Angus Reid
CEO, Angus Reid Institute FOR TICKETS PLEASE VISIT:
manekmentorship.com/ networking-events/ BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
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SHOW YOU CARE Get a FREE QUOTE at
CANADA’S
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#
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PLAN
14 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON MARCH / APRIL 2021
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Chambers Plan through YXE Benefits is just so easy. The benefits and coverage it provides are exceptional. I can’t speak highly enough of Chambers Plan and YXE Benefits.
Jim Beck Owner, Rock Creek
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
Keith Willoughby Helps Build Business Professionals as Dean of the Edwards School of Business By Véronique Loewen
Starting his studies at the University of Saskatchewan and graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in quantitative methods and finance, he earned his Master of Science in management science from the University of British Columbia and his Doctorate of Philosophy in operations management from the University of Calgary. With his doctorate in hand, he started his academic career as a professor at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, USA in the early 2000’s. Although he thoroughly enjoyed his time at Bucknell, he jumped at the opportunity to return to his home province to join the Health Quality Council as a Senior Operations Research Specialist. This hiatus from academia, working directly with industry, gave him the direct hands-on experience of business practices he had been teaching. He returned to academia as an Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan’s Edwards School of business in 2008 with a broader vision. Now, the Dean of Edwards since 2017, whether through his administrative duties or his teaching, he focuses on providing students with the tools to live out the school’s mission – to develop business professionals to build nations. “It is particularly important to me that our students be provided with a transformative experience while at our school through enriching education and value adding research,” says Keith Willoughby. Willoughby’s teaching and research often focus on operations management and
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supply chain, two business areas on which the COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight. Understanding and using analytical methods and technology to support the optimization of processes, materials management, logistics, and transportation are some of the key areas of his research and the courses he teaches. “I have been trying to demonstrate to students the value of the supply chain and how understanding it and improving it can have huge impacts on business. The pandemic quickly made that case,” states the Dean. Willoughby explains that for a school of business such as Edwards, it is particularly important to have a strong relationship with the business community. This is why he has continued to nurture the relationship, established decades ago by his predecessors, with the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce and its members. For example, since the inception of the co-operative education program in 2007, there have been about 100 annual placements of Edwards’ students interning within Saskatchewan companies. “There is a connectivity that is vital for the school to remain relevant and for students to witness entrepreneurship and business operations, and have community engagement opportunities,” he says. “When I think of the school, I like to refer to the two “V’s” – visibility and value. “Visibility” when we bring leadership together to share knowledge, contribute best practices and understand the business community’s needs. That’s why I thought it was important for me to serve on the provincial budget taskforce, for example. And “Value” because I believe that we don’t have to export our talent. Edwards brings value
It is particularly important to me that our students be provided with a transformative experience while at our school through enriching education and value adding research.
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Growing up in Melfort, Saskatchewan, about 180km northeast of Saskatoon, Keith Willoughby had no idea that some day he would be returning to his alma mater as a professor and Dean.
Keith Willoughby by having 85% of our graduates employed right here in Saskatchewan, contributing to the local economy.” When discussing with Willoughby, it is quickly evident that he’d rather highlight the school’s successes than his own, yet some of his research gives a glimpse of his personal interests. For example, he used his expertise in analytics and tools such as spreadsheets to focus some of his research on sports and pen articles such as “Who’s on First: Simulating the Canadian Football League Regular Season” and “Does the Number of Days Between Professional Sports Games Really Matter?” As a professor, when asked about some of the lessons he has learned from the pandemic, Willoughby is quick to respond: “It has been a wild ride for sure, but it also gave me a clear picture of what is possible -that we (academia) can be nimble and enable business management innovation. And mostly, it has taught me to focus on what I can do rather than what I can’t.” Learn more at www.edwards.usask.ca
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NON-PROFITS
AIM (Ability in Me) The AIM (Ability in Me) program is a provincial non-profit, charitable organization located in Saskatoon offering specialized therapy and innovative programs that support individuals between 0 and 22 years of age with Down syndrome and their families. Changes in routine are difficult for many AIM learners; therefore, when the pandemic hit with such an abrupt disruption to everyone’s life, it was devasting. The AIM office was closed on March 18th and staff continue to provide services remotely. The team created a pandemic plan that incorporated transforming the delivery model to online in a week’s time. This also included purchasing cyber insurance with a big learning curve around cyber security features to consider and put in place. The team has been resourceful and creative in engaging the children online. Families can access online individual speech and literacy sessions, music group programs for the early years, and speech and occupational therapy group programs for teens and young adults. School teams can also observe these sessions virtually.
The team has so far created over 1000 individualized online interactive activities to engage the learners during sessions; 121 videos have been posted on AIM’s YouTube station with a total of 1105 views. Virtual services have allowed out-of-town families to access their child’s programming more frequently. Weekly speech sessions being accessed has increased by 144% and literacy sessions by 110%. The team and families are missing the inperson connection and we cannot wait till it is safe for us to move back to in person. At the same time, we have had some great
learnings and will carry over some of the online services we offer now. This has been a truly unprecedented year for all non-profits and I am grateful for the continued support in these very difficult times. We value our partnerships with parents, government, schools, healthcare, professionals, community members and businesses. Not only did we have to look at changing our delivery for our program we also had to look at how to move online for our fundraising. www.aimprogram.ca
Global Gathering Place For 22 years, Global Gathering Place (GGP) has been a bridge connecting refugees and immigrants with the Saskatoon community. We help clients improve their English, make social connections, navigate practical matters, and build key skills for life and work in Canada. Until last March, clients could drop in for settlement support or join one of our many in-person programs. When the pandemic hit, we pivoted overnight to mainly online programming while continuing to connect one-on-one with the most vulnerable and isolated clients. We are proud that the pandemic has neither reduced the quality nor scope of our programs and services and we continue to be a lifeline to our clients. Recognizing this sprint has become a marathon, we continue to focus on the mental health and wellbeing of clients. We closely monitor and regularly check in with isolated clients, organize grocery and medication drop-offs, and provide tablets so clients can stay engaged with our agency and their own learning. We offer several programs focused on well-being and have cautiously and
safely re-introduced some in-person group programming. Going forward, we will continue diversifying the ways newcomers engage with
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us and strengthening our relationships with local organizations. www.globalgatheringplace.com
NON-PROFITS
Saskatoon Open Door Society The Saskatoon Open Door Society’s response to COVID has been two-fold: sanitary and technological. It has involved partnerships with Saskatoon-based video production, IT and broadcast companies and janitorial services. Many SODS staff members are working from home, offering services and programs via phone, email and online. At the office, wearing a mask is mandatory, and we partner with a janitorial services firm to use their electrostatic disinfection technology. Leanne May of our Childcare Services Unit explains that, “At our two childcare facilities, we follow strict sanitary guidelines set out by the provincial government and complete daily health assessments for anyone entering the facility.” Since March 2020, we have held several hundred web classes, webinars and public events on various video-conferencing platforms, one of them custom-designed for our annual virtual job fair. And on January 20-21, 2021, over 963 registrants from across Canada and over 20 countries participated
in our online event called Threads: Cultural Conversations. Finally, participants in our Women's Business Hub created 10,000 cloth face masks, sterilized and packaged by Willows
Dental and the U of S College of Dentistry, for distribution to all our employees and to grassroots community organizations throughout Saskatoon. www.sods.sk.ca
Sask Abilities Council For over 70 years, SaskAbilities has worked to enhance the lives of people experiencing disability in Saskatchewan. The global pandemic has challenged us to quickly adapt our programs and services, which are predominantly in person, to accommodate the new reality. Internally, this has meant modified staff schedules, altered workspaces, remote work, and the options for virtual meetings and support services. Across our organization, a willingness to embrace change has enabled the SaskAbilities Training Centre to remain operational. Our Metalwork, Wood Shop, Assembly and Sewing departments have all continued to meeting customer demands. We are extremely proud of our Sewing department, which pivoted operations to manufacture desperately needed PPE early in the pandemic. Double layered cotton face masks were sold to large corporations, civic and provincial agencies, and individual customers province-wide and beyond. Our Partners in Employment services have also continued to connect job seekers facing barriers to employment with employers
looking to hire and retain staff. Over the past year, SaskAbilities staff have demonstrated remarkable resiliency, embracing change and developing innovative new ways to virtually deliver services and programs. We
will continue to use these innovations postpandemic to build inclusive communities for people of all abilities. www.saskabilities.ca
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COVE R STORY
University of Saskatchewan Colleges
Shine Through the COVID-19 Pandemic By Véronique Loewen
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) counts over 25,700 students and 11,000 staff and faculty – that’s nearly 13.5% of the population of Saskatoon studying or working in one location. When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, it meant that by their sheer number, this segment of the city became top of mind for many.
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Image: University of Saskatchewan (Supplied).
There was the realization that many students found themselves quickly out of work and in precarious situations as businesses were forced to shutdown. Similarly, international students’ challenges came to the forefront, as they had to navigate living arrangements when campus dorms closed and also their return to their home countries quickly before borders closed. And USask staff and faculty became keenly aware that the usual pace of change and the ways in which student services were administered and courses and research opportunities were delivered had to change drastically very quickly. These were some of the challenges faced by the colleges of Arts and Science, Agriculture and Bioresources, Engineering and the Edwards School of Business.
COVE R STORY
Image: Dr. Angela Bedard-Haughn (PhD) Credit: Christina Weese
College of Agriculture and Bioresources
Angela Bedard-Haughn, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and a professor in the Department of Soil Sciences recalls how she and her colleagues had to quickly turn their attention to helping students get through the end of the semester once the colleges’ physical doors were shut. “The college closed on Friday and by the following Thursday, we were back in business, essentially teaching online within days of vacating the campus. We had to adapt quickly.” The hands-on training provided by the college was a lot tougher to replicate virtually, for both teaching and research. “Our researchers had to review all the field and lab protocols to see what we could keep, needed to change, or could no longer do. Technicians and graduate students prepared for the field season at home. They adapted workflows. They learned to collaborate differently, outside of the lab environment. Plants don’t wait to grow, so we had to improvise fast,” continues the Dean. 20 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON MARCH / APRIL 2021
In addition to the difficulties in maintaining the experiential side of the students’ learning, Bedard-Haughn highlights that it became quickly apparent that students were missing the opportunity to engage with their peers, staff and faculty. In response, they developed the “Virtual Coffee Row” – an online meeting room – to provide the opportunity for casual interactions. “It was important to take care of people because these conversations were no longer happening organically at the coffee station or in the hallways. We needed to make sure they would not lose their sense of community, and that they could support each other,” she says. Outside of the college, the pandemic has put a spotlight on the pinch points and some of the issues related to food security in Canada and abroad. For Bedard-Haughn and her colleagues, it has further demonstrated the importance of research that engages deliberately with industry. “The pandemic has elevated the focus on food production and distribution systems and their challenges, which are areas that we are constantly working on. This is part of the essential value our college provides society as we cooperate with industry and serve the broader community. I am proud of everyone within the college – faculty, staff and students – we have demonstrated our resilience and our ability to adapt to a changing environment, be it a pandemic or changing climate,” concludes Bedard-Haughn. www.agbio.usask.ca
COVE R STORY
College of Arts and Science At the largest college on campus - 9,000 students, 300 faculty and 200 staff – Peta Bonham-Smith, Dean of Arts and Science and a member of the faculty in the biology department and her team ensured students had the right equipment at home to be able to continue learning and take exams.
Image: Dean Peta Bonham (supplied)
“Many students use on-campus computers to do their work. This was no longer an option for them, so we had to find equipment to help them out. And for many students and staff who went back to their rural or northern communities internet speed could also be an issue. We had to make allowances for that,” states Bonham-Smith. Other technological concerns emerged. In first-year biology there are about 500 students; would allowing them to all take online courses and exams all at once crash the system? To address bandwidth worries, faculty made most of the courses asynchronous – meaning that students don’t have to all log in at the same time but rather can view the class whenever they want. “Luckily, we found out that the system was more robust than we had originally thought and with feedback from students that they were missing the direct interaction with their instructors, we decided to mix synchronous with asynchronous teaching for as many classes as we could. We are learning as we go,” explains the Dean. Getting graduate students back on campus so they could complete their research, write and present their thesis, meant finding ways to provide them with access to the buildings, while following all pandemic protocols. “We selected indispensable labs and equipment and established rotations depending on the size of the lab to provide the necessary physical distance to a small number of students. For the arts, we were able to acquire “singing masks” and gather students in small groups in large spaces so they could still practice and perform live to be able to graduate,” says Bonham-Smith. Many of the undergraduate hands-on lab work was video recorded so students could see the manipulations and then receive datasets to perform their own analysis. Others were able to connect into the lab remotely, as described by the Dean: “Astronomy students can operate a telescope located off campus from their home and take pictures of the skies, geography students can log-into on campus computers to access Geographic Information System software, and biology students can use electronic kits and their own computers at home to determine their own heart activity and perform other analyses. Once we focused on the learning outcomes rather than just on the manual aspects of labs, we were able to design video and remote labs so students could progress in their learning even if
they weren’t the ones performing some of the manipulations. And we will hopefully be able to offer “bootcamps” to allow students to catch-up on some of the hands-on learning when we can come back on campus.” With the pandemic still a concern, college faculty and staff are already thinking about the future. “One of the benefits of offering courses remotely is that there are few classroom size restrictions. In some graduate classes we have gone from 8 students to 80 students enrolled now from all other the world. We need to assess which classes are best served online and those that truly benefit from an in-person presence. We’re also thinking about different work arrangements, with some staff and faculty working from home more often. It might mean shared on campus office spaces. These are some of the conversations we’re having within our team and also with other USask colleges and Canadian universities,” says Bonham-Smith. www.artsandscience.usask.ca
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COVE R STORY
Image: Technician Brennan Pokoyoway (Supplied)
College of Engineering
For Suzanne Kresta, Dean of the College of Engineering, this is the most dramatic pivot she has ever been part of in the academic world.
we can get everyone back on campus. However, there have been many silver linings, such us building a stronger bond the university and the business community,” states Kresta. Through the pandemic, community partners are honouring co-op placements for the college’s students and also providing in-kind and cash support for students who suddenly found themselves in vulnerable situations.
“The university is a very structure and process-oriented environment – change usually takes time. But one of the advantages of academia is that nothing can get between professors and their students, not even a pandemic. They have a passion and commitment to teach students who want to learn,” she says.
Kresta describes one of her proudest moments during this pandemic as an opportunity for academia and industry to share their energy and passion for the greater good. She received a call in March 2020 from Jim Boire, USask mechanical engineering graduate and the founder and president of Saskatoon-based RMD Engineering. “He wanted to develop a made-in Saskatchewan ventilator to address the looming shortage. He wanted to draw on our expertise and partner with us on this project. We didn’t hesitate; we immediately shared specialized equipment and helped Jim partner with our co-op office to add students to his team. Some of our recent grads were part of the RMD team that put together the prototype that was approved by regulators in December 2020, with the first units delivered to Saskatchewan hospitals in January. We get a whole lot more done when we work together.”
Like other colleges on campus, committed to upholding the standard of learning in a digital environment, the college of engineering recorded lectures and labs and offered opportunities for students to log in remotely and use lab equipment from home. They offered an “avatar” learning model, whereby students directed the work of a technician or instructor streaming live from the lab. In the winter semester, certain students were allowed back into the labs to build the project prototypes required to fulfill class requirements, of course following all COVID-19 protocols. “Every college has its own challenges, but it will be exciting when 22 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON MARCH / APRIL 2021
www.engineering.usask.ca
COVE R STORY
Image: Pre-COVID-19 Classes (Supplied)
Edwards School of Business
At the Edwards School of Business, Dean Keith Willoughby and his team have been trying to live by Winston Churchill’s famous line “never let a good crisis go to waste”. The pandemic has allowed them to quickly deploy over 250 classes and labs online. Continued investments in course development, remote teaching technologies, and software have eased the transition. For example, Gordon Rawlinson’s sponsorship of a new trading and finance room featuring 16 Bloomberg terminals, ensured finance students have been able to continue their studies through access to critical software and data by logging in remotely. Edwards was one of the first business schools in Canada to partner with Mitacs on the Business Strategy Internship program to support local employers in enhancing their business capacity during COVID-19. The partnership ensures students are receiving realworld experience in a global economy dramatically affected by the ongoing pandemic, while assisting businesses in scaling up their operations in response to the new economic realities.
Edwards has also been able to increase and enhance its executive education offerings to meet the heightened demand of industry to re-skill, upgrade and train many of their employees. The shift to online delivery has been received positively, with many individuals enjoying the flexibility, adaptations, and access to government subsidies. “After going through the initial bumps and bruises associated with learning different platforms and teaching methods, we are using the pandemic to transition to and fine tune more efficient and effective course delivery and engage further with the business community,” states Willoughby. For the Dean, a key lesson of the past year has been the value of every single person within Edwards and the university. “Staff members at every level, faculty, and the eminently capable IT staff who quickly became highly visible and sought after – it takes hundreds of individuals to run this school every day, it has never been clearer that all of their contributions are consequential,” says the Dean. “Together, by providing innovative education opportunities, we all help Edwards’ students stay ahead of the curve in their learning and for their future in business,” he concludes. www.edwards.usask.ca
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PRO MOTIONAL FEATURE
Customer Experience Always Wins by Mouneeb Shahid, CEO of 2Web.ca Businesses of all sizes are fighting for one thing; CUSTOMERS. Some companies try to wow prospects by offering better deals on products, giving discounts, and other promotions to make a sale. Reducing prices, however, is not a viable long-term strategy. The impact of providing a discount can make the customer experience more transactional rather than memorable, further commoditizing your products and services. The best way to win over customers and getting them hooked on your brand is by offering them an experience they cannot forget. Why Customer Experience? In a nutshell, customer experience is what a customer's perception is of your brand based on their interactions. It is the "feeling" that they get when they engage with your content, your service, your product and any message you put out there. Customer experience is paramount to your organization's success because it can impact your customers' lifetime value (LTV). Offering a high-quality product or service that does what it is supposed to do is not the benchmark for a great customer experience. You can meet customer expectations by providing them with what they want, but you can easily exceed their expectations by how you deliver. If a business wants to WOW their customers, there needs to be a jaw-dropping moment in the customer journey that makes your brand memorable. The Rise of Customer Expectations In an ever-increasing competitive marketplace, another major challenge that organizations face is the rise in customer expectations. As a result, businesses need to develop newer and better strategies to get
more prospects to convert to customers. By focusing on customer experience, not only does it bring a viable long-term growth strategy, it encourages positive endorsements and has an impact on social marketing. You cannot undervalue your customers' social circle if you aim to earn repeat business. Businesses nowadays cannot ignore customer service since having faithful customers has immense advantages. Unhappy customers will stop buying from a brand that offers them a poor experience, even if the transaction was minimal. Accenture's study showed that 54% of customers started engaging with a rival business after receiving a less favourable experience from the initial transaction. Hence, organizations today have to give more attention to improving their customer experience strategy if they do not want to lose their customers to other competitor brands. For many businesses, having a customer experience strategy is an afterthought when it should be at the forefront as it is a requirement to retain their customers. You don't need to fret if you have no idea where to begin, as almost every business faces this challenge, especially during the startup and growth phase. It doesn't end there either. Consider the obsession that Amazon has with customer experience. By making every decision revolve around customer experience, Amazon continues to win the retail battle. The success of Amazon is proof that customer experience always wins. Where to Begin? Start by getting a deep understanding of
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your customer. You can start by building a customer profile (or buyer persona) and mapping out the customer journey using measurable key performance indicators. There are numerous platforms and systems you can utilize to track customer behaviour effectively across the digital landscape. We can then understand, "what makes your customers tick?" providing you with the outcome your customer experience strategy needs to deliver. For example, when we approach a website redesign project, our goal is to design an experience for the target audience. Therefore, we start by evaluating the current website analytics, usually available for free through Google Analytics. We also install some advanced screen recording tools such as Lucky Orange and utilize A/B testing tools such as Unbounce. To evaluate whether the approach we are taking will work, we use an Artificial Intelligence analysis that delivers predictive user behaviour data before completing the design process. The analysis not only saves us time but significantly enhances our ability to ensure the end result meets expectations. To demonstrate in real-time, we can also recruit people as part of a focus group from UserTesting to gather results from a smaller audience before the project goes live. The above example primarily relates to digital experiences, but it is essential to make every customer interaction count, online or offline. To learn how we can help enhance your customer experience, visit 2Web.ca
CAMPAIGN
TotaIIy LocaIIy The Chamber and Saskatoon Media Group have recently partnered to provide radio exposure to Chamber members to get Saskatoon shopping, buying and eating Totally Locally. Supporting local means
that your hard earned money stays within our community and will go towards local economic stimulus including the support of the local workforce. Your local retailers are diverse and here to serve you. Be sure
to check out the featured businesses below who have been apart of the Totally Locally radio campaign.
For more information contact Pam Kenny (306) 664-0704 membersupport@saskatoonchamber.com
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PROFILE
The Future of Education:
Innovative thinking, adaptation and an endless supply of hand sanitizer...
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Educational institutions have shifted their delivery models over the past year, f inding ways to enhance programming in a safe and eff icient manner. Logistical challenges had tested these institutions creating lasting change for the future of education.
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PROFILE
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies SIIT
Overall, how have you changed your model to continue delivering training/instruction to students? With three campuses, nine career centres and numerous program sites in First Nation community, SIIT is accustomed to adapting program delivery based on environmental conditions. This agility has proven an asset as we’ve shifted programming over the past 12 months. We also understand that building community and fostering relationships are critical factors in our students’ mental health and academic success. With this knowledge in hand, we made the decision to keep as much in person instruction as was safely possible under the SHA recommendations. Throughout the 2020/2021 academic year, we have also provided additional attention to the IT literacy of our students so that when/if we have to transition to online learning, they have the tool to make that shift with as little disruption as possible to their studies. How have you adapted to deliver some of your more “hands on” programs in light of COVID restrictions? Most programs begin with full-time in person delivery and then slowly transition to a blended model. This blend of online and in person takes many forms: some programs have in person classes 28 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON MARCH / APRIL 2021
Monday, Wednesday and Friday with online learning on Tuesday and Thursday; others move all theory to online learning and only have practical or hands-on programming in person with social distancing, PPE and reduced class sizes. All on campus programs have staggered start and end times to reduce crowding in common areas. Whatever the model, it has been gradually introduced to ensure no students are left behind. When things return to normal, will you be keeping any of the changes you’ve made to providing training/instruction? I think the pandemic has given us the additional space to think creatively about the structure of programs. They don’t necessarily have to run in person, Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4:30pm. The successes of this year have shown that some alternative models do work for our students and their families. This experience will definitely influence program plans going forward. www.siit.ca
PROFILE
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Overall, how have you changed your model to continue delivering training/instruction to students? In alignment with other post-secondary institutions in the province, Saskatchewan Polytechnic moved to a two-pronged approach—a combination of online/distance instruction for theory, and inperson learning for hands-on training that cannot be completed online—giving students the best chance of academic success in the ever-changing environment of the global pandemic. Those structural changes are the short answer to how Sask Polytech adapted to the pandemic; the longer answer speaks to a culture of creativity and innovation. Our employees and industry partners have shown remarkable initiative and ingenuity in exploring ways to do things differently—from technological solutions that enable remote learning to innovative hands-on assignments allowing for alternative or at-home execution. How have you adapted to deliver some of your more “hands on” programs in light of COVID restrictions? Sask Polytech has been offering limited in-person learning experiences where needed, following COVID-19 safety protocols that include small, in-person cohorts, social distancing and strict use of PPE. Where in-person delivery is not possible, programs have had to
adapt—imagining, then realizing alternative, virtual work placements for Occupational Health And Safety program students, for example, and cook-at-home assignments for Culinary Arts students. In other cases, high-tech solutions, from virtual blood-cell slides for Medical Laboratory Technology students, to a partnership with technology platform Riipen, have meant hands-on learning could continue at a distance. When things return to normal, will you be keeping any of the changes you’ve made to providing training/instruction? Business and industry have had to pivot quickly to virtual ways of doing things over the past year, and the pandemic, like any time of great disruption, has created new opportunities. Sask Polytech recognizes this and is ready to help individuals and employers upskill and reskill. Our new School of Continuing Education will help businesses ensure their employees continue to have the skill sets they need to stay competitive as their industries change due to new technologies, shifting demographics and other unpredictable factors. New and creative approaches to education delivery have been necessary this past year. These new approaches are a positive outcome Sask Polytech plans to build on for years to come. www.saskpolytech.ca
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PROFILE
Saskatoon Business College Overall, how have you changed your model to continue delivering training/instruction to students? April 1, 2020 SBC College transitioned 90% of classes to an online learning management system (LMS). While initially it was quite disruptive for students and staff, everyone has transitioned well to the LMS and “new norm.” Our ability to adapt was a testament to SBC College management team, Instructors and students. Many students have commented they enjoy the convenience of attending classes from home. How have you adapted to deliver some of your more “hands on” programs in light of COVID restrictions? A few of our health care diploma programs (specifically the supervised clinical labs) must be taught on campus. We deliver in small group settings and it has worked out fine. When things return to normal, will you be keeping any of the changes you’ve made to providing training/instruction? Absolutely. The global pandemic has accelerated what was inevitably coming down the road….the use of LMS’s as a tool to deliver post-secondary education. Some colleges were early adopters of the technology but others had to adapt quickly (back in April 2020) in order to remain operational. Today’s learners desire flexibility where they take classes and on their schedule. There will always be a strong demand for “on campus” learning; however, we are experiencing a solid uptake in online learning inquiries. If a student has a good experience taking a single on-line class, it can be a gateway to a full diploma program. On the flip side, students and staff have indicated they miss the informal group discussion and “one-on-one” aspect an in-person classroom experience provides. www.sbccollege.ca
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PROFILE
Saskatoon Public Schools
Overall, how have you changed your model to continue delivering training/instruction to students?
When things return to normal, will you be keeping any of the changes you’ve made to providing training/instruction?
From the start of the pandemic, Saskatoon Public Schools has remained committed to making decisions with the safety of students and staff members as the priority. With the lockdown of schools in March, our school division had to swiftly move to remote learning. This meant not only setting up our more than 2,600 staff members for working and teaching from home, but to support our more than 26,000 students and their families to adapt to learning at home. A shift this massive would have normally required a year’s worth of planning, but our school division did it within two weeks.
The pandemic has led to the full implementation of K-12 education through our Online Learning Centre, which previously only offered courses from Gr. 10-12. This was another massive shift in our work but one that was made possible through the innovative thinking of our educators and operational support of our information services staff. Online learning, especially for our youngest learners, relies on the engagement and support of families at home. While every school day includes a few hours of synchronous learning with the teacher, there is an equal portion of activities and assignments for students to complete on their own. Through online learning, and the experiences of our in-school teachers making connections with families virtually, our school division has a greater understanding of parent engagement in their child’s learning. Unquestionably, this is an area that Saskatoon Public Schools hopes to build on as we consider our post-pandemic operations.
How have you adapted to deliver some of your more “hands on” programs in light of COVID restrictions? With the reopening of schools in September, every aspect of school operations that staff members would do by rote needed to be reimagined. Staggered recess and lunch times were scheduled, school assemblies were conducted via Zoom, lessons moved outside, hand sanitizer took up residence beside pencil sharpeners, and virtual connections to families were fostered. Different ages of students provided different challenges. However, the return to the routine of the school day and to connecting with classmates and school staff has been overwhelmingly positive for students.
www.saskatoonpublicschools.ca
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PROFILE
Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Overall, how have you changed your model to continue delivering training/instruction to students? Everything changed to some degree. We now examine everything through a safety lens. Online delivery of education accelerated significantly. Our Cyber School has been operating for 20 years, but the pandemic forced all of our almost 20,000 students and about 1,700 teachers to use online learning tools, some of whom had not used those tools much. When we returned in the fall, in-class instruction changed significantly too. Educators have spent decades evolving past the “sit in your desk, eyes forward, take notes” model of education. The layers of safety measures are sometimes at odds with current teaching methods, so in some ways, it was a step back. Our teachers are amazingly creative, and students and families adapted incredibly well. How have you adapted to deliver some of your more “hands on” programs in light of COVID restrictions? Early-years instruction probably saw the most change. Handson learning is critical for early development. We purchased more learning equipment so children don’t have to share resources, and we’ve adapted instruction to decrease contact with others.
Other experiential learning opportunities were modified through that safety lens. We go through a lot of sanitizer and disinfectant to make sure equipment is clean and students are safe during handson activities. When things return to normal, will you be keeping any of the changes you’ve made to providing training/instruction? The sudden shift to everything online forced us to get better at using tools—now! Some had used things like Google Classroom, but few in a remote-classroom setting. We’ve gotten pretty good at integrating tools at our disposal, and I can see us continuing that to make learning experiences better. We’ve developed a lot of good relationships as we adapted. It may seem counter-intuitive, but I think the enhanced communication with families has developed a sense of community in ways. Working together toward a common goal improved relationships—with other school divisions, various levels of government, partners and the SHA—and I hope we’ll be able to maintain that momentum to advance education as a whole. www.gscs.ca
St. Michael Community School students in Michif class.
Staff at Holy Cross High School took porch pictures of 2020 graduates. 32 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON MARCH / APRIL 2021
After schools closed, nutrition kits were bused to families who would normally receive breakfast, lunch and/or snack in school.
HIGHLIGHT REEL
Chamber Happenings
(Through a webcam)
A Shot in in the Arm
Giving Saskatoon's business community a positive start to the new year! With the arrival of a vaccine and the beginning of our economic recovery, the panelists shared their outlook for the year ahead and reasons to be optimistic.
Shawna Nelson
Chris Dekker
Evan Drisner
Brendan King
Jason Aebig
Did you miss "A Shot in the Arm"? click here to watch it Chamber on Tap
Big Ideas. Lessons Learned. Advice from those who have started up and started over. It’s all on tap in this series of social events where our business community comes together to hear from our city’s movers and shakers. February's Season Premiere featured Wally Start from Bamboo Shoots as speaker and Fabian Minnema as entertainment.
Power Lunch: Resiliency & Workplace Wellness
One year since the COVID-19 pandemic has required all businesses to rethink how they operate, serve their clients and customers, and get their products and services to market. Doing so has presented new challenges never before seen, including the stress from working from home, working within remote teams, serving customers from a distance or moving products and services online. This has brought mental health and awareness to the forefront of conversations in the workplace.
Leon Ferguson
Heather Ryan
Jana Danielson
Missed "Power Lunch: Resiliency & Workplace Wellness"? Click here BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
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ADVOCACY
Working for You Business Confidence Survey The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce continues to actively advocate on behalf of its membership.
• Regulatory Concerns/ satisfaction with all levels of government • Businesses experience with all levels of government Not surprisingly respondents indicated a sense of mixed concern over the economic recovery of the City with 39% of respondents remaining neutral in their level of confidence for economic recovery and 27% being not confident. A variety of challenges were cited to economic recovery in Saskatoon and region with demand and finances ranking the highest among participants as well as regulatory issues. Overall, the results of this survey will be used as a baseline as the Chamber plans to continue forward with an in-depth look into business confidence within the region. Be sure to participate in the follow-up survey being released at the end of March 2021.
Municipal Property Tax: The final wave in the COVID storm that sinks them
Business Confidence Survey
The one-year anniversary of the COVID pandemic is upon us in Saskatoon and all aspects of people’s lives including social, financial, physical and mental have been affected. As the city continues to move into a period of economic recovery, uncertainty still looms large, which has been a theme throughout the pandemic affecting economic confidence both consumer confidence and business confidence. In early spring the Chamber was fortunate to receive funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada to complete a research study to assess the efficacy of the federal COVID-19 support programs and business confidence in the Saskatoon region. The first phase of the survey was deployed in December with 276 respondents. The confidence of a community both on the consumer and business side are extremely important indicators in determining strategic opportunities, future growth and overall planning. As a somewhat subjective term there are various concrete measurables that contribute to and can help gauge and measure business confidence. In the survey conducted through Fast Consulting the Chamber asked participants a series of questions centered on the following topics: • Overall economic performance • Economy recovery • Barriers to economic recovery • Supply chain concerns/ ability to acquire goods and services • A firm’s ability to be competitive • The current approach to taxation • HR concerns/ availability, access and ability to hire employees 34 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON MARCH / APRIL 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has required strong leadership from all levels of government to limit both the health and economic impacts of the crisis. Much of the attention has been rightly focused on addressing the challenges of the moment. As we begin to emerge from the crisis, however, we have an opportunity to lift our eyes to the future, focus on the post-pandemic well-being of our city, and take steps to recover the jobs, incomes and growth lost to COVID-19. Over the past several months the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce has been meeting with both elected officials and the city’s administration regarding the 2021 commercial property tax reassessment and the impacts a change to the commercial to residential tax ratio would have on our city’s economic recovery at this critical time. We have strongly urged Saskatoon’s City Council to avoid increases to the ratio for this tax cycle. In 2013, City Council adopted a progressive, growth-oriented policy to move the commercial-to residential tax ratio from 1.75 toward 1.43 over 11 years (starting in 2014 and completed prior to the 2025 revaluation year). Then, as now, this ratio strikes the right balance between residential and commercial property owners given the income tax differential between the two. At the same time, this business surcharge helps to reduce the taxes residents would otherwise pay. The last four years proves the point. Saskatoon’s business property tax base grew faster than the residential property tax base over this period, generating vital tax revenue to support municipal programs and services valued by residents and creating good-paying jobs and career paths for our citizens. A business-friendly tax environment enables both businesses and citizens to flourish. Growing the pie – rather than debating how to divide it – should be our ultimate goal.
ADVOCACY Thanks to the strong leadership and vision of successive Councils, Saskatoon has taken meaningful steps toward the 1.43 commercial-toresidential tax ratio. Today’s ratio of 1.59 has strengthened Saskatoon’s standing as a preferred destination to build, scale and expand a business. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial toll it continues to exact on our economy, an adjusted increase to the ratio would be ill-timed and lead to unintended consequences. Increases to commercial property taxes would slow Saskatoon’s rate of economic recovery, weaken the ability of our current businesses to reopen, rehire and reinvest in their operations, make us less competitive within our region, and ultimately less attractive to any new businesses looking to establish here. Critically, it would most adversely affect the small and medium businesses already here – like those in our Riversdale, Sutherland, Broadway, Mayfair and Downtown Business Districts – that are essential to the safety, vibrancy and quality of life in our core and historical neighbourhoods. For those businesses operating on the periphery of our city, a change could push them to neighbouring municipalities where the tax regime is advantageous. Saskatoon’s business owners, their employees and their families have weathered the COVID storm for the last 12 months, bailing water and doing their best to stay afloat. For many at this critical time, a change in the property tax ratio, and any corresponding increase in
taxes, could be the final wave that sinks them along with the local jobs, products, services and taxes they currently provide. Bluntly, Saskatoon’s businesses cannot afford an increase in taxes. By avoiding an increase to the current ratio, we can avoid a setback where we lose the progress made over the last 7 years, erode our commercial and residential tax base, and stall our post-COVID economic recovery. Our city’s economic recovery will be business-led. With capital to reopen, reinvest and rehire, our current businesses will help Saskatoon rebound stronger than ever.
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BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
MARCH / APRIL 2021 35
CHAIR’ S MESSAGE
Like many, I am sure there were times through the past year that seemed to drag but for me it has been moving at lightning speed. As the saying goes “all things shall pass” and that most definitely has happened in the last 12 months as we see many parts of this pandemic finally passing. In speaking to many in the business community there is such a positive vibe these days. Our COVID numbers are declining, vaccines are being distributed, and spring is finally in the air. I am not sure about you but I am truly feeling a sense of renewed energy. It is still a time to ensure we remain cautious and as our friend Dr. Shahab enforces daily we are on the right track but still need to remain vigilant!
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When I think about the past year as Chair alongside the Board of Directors it has been an amazing experience and have seen so many accomplishments. With a new CEO, a renewed plan, reenergized events, and advocacy initiatives on key items we are ready to serve the business community of Saskatoon like we never have before. We know that not all businesses have been affected equally and we know that different members have different needs. In a recent Chamber project, in December and January, we reached out to almost every member to ensure all voices are heard. No matter the size of your business you have an important role within Saskatoon Chamber Board Chair Carla Browne our organization and do shape our relevance. We understand some are still adjusting, some are this past year. Special thank you to two in recovering and some are thriving. We truly particular, Sandra Riberiro and Chris Sicotte who will be leaving at the end of this term care about you all. as they have served their maximum number I would like to take this opportunity to of terms with the Chamber. Thank you for thank the business community for allowing giving your time to better our members for me to serve during this past year; one that the past six years. You both have truly have has been full of so many firsts and really is been a gift to the Chamber and you will unprecedented on all levels. I would also be missed. like to express my gratitude to the Board of Stay Strong Saskatoon. Directors of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber Sincerely, of Commerce for all the work they have done
No matter the size of your business you have an important role within our organization and do shape our relevance. We understand some are still adjusting, some are recovering and some are thriving. We truly care about you all. Carla Browne, Chair Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
36 BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON MARCH / APRIL 2021
Image: Gina’s Portraits
ell, here I am again reflecting on things as I do when I sit to write this article. During this reflection, the most significant on my mind is it is exactly to the day one year since I boarded a plane to return home after traveling for business. During this last trip, I was fortunate to be in a few cities, eat at some amazing restaurants, and also catch some great entertainment as well as an NHL hockey game. These are all things I took for granted previously and know that when the time comes for me to travel again I will look at them with much more appreciation. Previous to last March my business had me traveling frequently and it is hard to believe a year has passed with no travel and as with many; my business adjusted and has continued to operate with me remaining in Saskatoon. With that, I also have a deeper appreciation for this city we live in. Saskatoon over the past year has truly shone - we have all the business, stores and services we need, we found ways to still experience amazing food and entertainment, and the business community bonded together to be as strong as possible.
Carla Browne, Chair Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce
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Carla Browne is the Chair of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce and the Owner of Real Canadian Property Management Professionals Inc.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Carla Browne
Chair Real Canadian Property Management Professionals Inc.
Colton Wiegers Second Vice-Chair Wiegers Financial & Benefits
CeCe Baptiste
Todd Denzin
Juan Godinez
Tara McKeown
Director Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT)
Director Nutrien
Director ViviGro Sustainable Solutions Ltd.
Director Conexus Credit Union
Heather Ryan
Tanis Taylor
Director Federated Co-operative Limited (FCL)
Director CCA Consulting
Graham Snell First Vice-Chair Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan
Katrina German
Chris Sicottee Past-Chair AON Reed Stenhouse
Joseph Gill
Director KatrinaGerman.com
Director McKercher LLP
Dr. Adam McInnes
Sandra Ribeiro
Director Med Hack Enterprises Incorporated
Director Canadian Light Source Inc.
Chamber Board of Directors: Working for You! BUSINESSVOICE SASKATOON
MARCH / APRIL 2021 37
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