Download First Nations partnerships key for Ontario economy

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MARCH 2013
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A TIMMINS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PUBLICATION
First Nations partnerships key
for Ontario economy
Relationship-building on the rise
The future of resource
development in Canada
will depend on building
strong relationships
between businesses and
Aboriginal communities, a
prominent First Nations
entrepreneur told a
Timmins Chamber crowd
at a Feb. 27 event.
“The boom of resource
development going on
across Canada is all on
Aboriginal land,” said
Robert Dickson, president
and CEO of Attawapiskat
Resources, a workforce and
skills training organization
wholly owned by the community of Attawapiskat.
“We’ve got to do a better
job of working with
Aboriginal groups. If we
don’t learn to work together and understand one
another, the country is
going to hurt.”
Dickson’s perspective was
a common thread throughout the day at the
Porcupine Dante Club,
which featured a series of
presentations to provide
Chamber members with
perspectives on First
Nations partnerships.
Representatives from industry and government alike
stressed the vast opportunity inherent to partnering
with First Nations communities and the patience necessary to the process.
This included Compass
Carriers President Chris
Chris McKay, left, president of Compass Carriers, spoke to Art
Pultz, president of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, and a
crowd of 60 attendees on the subject of Aboriginal partnerships.
McKay, who told the 60+
attendees about the process
through which the
Mattagami First Nation and
Timmins-based BazCorp
Inc. partnered to form
Compass Carriers, a trucking and transportation
company.
The philosophy of mutual understanding was key
when the First Nation communityselected its business
partner, said McKay.
“We wanted to choose a
partner that would want
First Nation involvement
and participation in busi-
ness decisions, rather than
try to run everything themselves.”
This agreement was not
without its challenges,
however, as trust had to be
built between the company
and the First Nations community, a process which
took several years.
This has led to a promising future, as McKay is
optimistic about Compass
Carriers’ paced growth. He
confirms that the company
is currently engaging in an
agreement process with
IAMGOLD Corp. — new
owners and developers of
the Gogama-area Côté Gold
Project — and is “looking
forward to forming a fruitful relationship with
them.”
An ongoing, larger challenge is the public perception of the nature of First
Nations business, said
McKay.
“Some people don’t
understand what we’re trying to do. We’re not trying
to take over business in
general; we just want to be
part of the mainstream
economy. If we’re going to
grow and be considered
equal, I think that’s a big
step forward.”
This point of view was
reinforced by Dickson, who
commented on the number
of progressive partnerships
springing up across the
North. Such joint business
ventures are also “a great
leveller in terms of relationships — when you start getting your paycheques from
an Aboriginal companies, it
changes the perspective
around what Aboriginal
people are all about.”
He added that these
arrangements will be
increasingly important in
light of resource development projects such as those
in the Ring of Fire, a
chromite deposit located
northeast of Thunder Bay.
ROSS, POPE & COMPANY LLP
Chartered Accountants
101 Cedar St. South
Timmins ON P4N 2G7
Tel: (705) 264-9484 Fax: (705) 264-0788
E-mail: [email protected]
“Helping You Achieve Your Goals In Your Business Is Our Goal In Our Business”
Continued on page 8
Tickets now available
Tickets are officially on sale for the city’s biggest celebration of entrepreneurial excellence: the Timmins
Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 Nova Business
Excellence Awards, set to take place Thursday, April
11 at the McIntyre Arena.
Now in its 11th year, the Nova Awards recognize
the best of Timmins’ business across 15 categories at
this prestigious annual gala event. More than 600
people attended in 2012, and this year’s event promises to uphold its reputation as a unique and glamorous way to honour the business community,
according to Gary Marriott and Joel Bergeron, cochairs of the Nova Awards organizing committee.
“For more than a decade, the Nova Awards have
been a very special way to shine a spotlight onto
Timmins’ best and brightest entrepreneurs, who really are second to none,” said Marriott.
This year’s Nova Awards will feature the theme of
“We Are the World,” highlighting the knowledge,
expertise, and products that are created in Timmins
and carried across the globe. This time-tested international reputation for quality across a broad range of
sectors and services will be on full display throughout
the evening, as the McIntyre Arena will once again be
transformed into a stylish and elegant setting.
“The people we have in Timmins really are worldclass, and what better time than the Nova Awards to
highlight that fact?” said Bergeron. “With the business community expected to be in full attendance,
we’d like to take what makes our people famous globally, and for one night, celebrate that locally.”
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Chamber
offices at (705) 360-1900, or by downloading a ticket
order form at
www.timminschamber.on.ca/Nova2013-Ticket.pdf.
To get a glimpse of the glamour involved in this
fantastic event, check out more than 90 photos from
the 2012 Nova Awards on the Timmins Chamber’s
Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/TimminsChamber.
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Consultants
inside business
2 - MARCH 2013
Major gold project on the horizon for IAMGOLD
Company eying $1.2 billion in capital costs
Timmins service and supply
companies may want to take
note of a new $1.2-billion openpit mining project IAMGOLD
Corporation is developing near
Gogama, according to company
executives.
Speaking to 150 local businesses during a Chamber luncheon on Jan. 29, IAMGOLD
Manager of Corporate
Environmental Assessment and
Approvals Steve Woolfenden
emphasized the size and scope
of its Côté Gold project.
With the company currently
doing its due diligence surrounding environmental regulations, construction is tentatively
slated to begin in 2015, at
which time the mine will
employee 1,200 employees, sliding back to between 400 and
600 employees when it moves
into its operational phase in
2017.
Currently, the open-pit project
is projected to be comparable in
size to the Detour Lake project,
and is expected to produce
60,000 tons of low-grade ore per
day once the project reaches
operation stage, said
Woolfenden. At its current
resources, the project is expected
to run until 2032, producing
400,000-500,000 ounces every
year.
He also assured the audience
of the project’s importance to
the Toronto-based company,
which operates five gold mines
around the world, producing
830 million ounces every year; it
also operates Niobec, one of the
world’s top three producers of
niobium. It acquired the former
owner of the Gogama-area property, Trelawney Mining and
Exploration Inc., for $608 million in June 2012.
“IAMGOLD actually sold
property in Ghana in order to
work on this project. Moving
this project forward is a big priority.”
IAMGOLD was attracted to
the project through its many
positive attributes, which
include proximity to road, rail,
vendors, suppliers and expertise
in the Sudbury and Timmins
regions, as well as easy access to
water and energy.
“We’re also proposing some
major expansion of the utility
corridors between our site and
Timmins, so that’s something to
look out for.”
Despite the hot-button issue
of energy having a significant
impact on industrial operating
costs in the North, as best exemplified by the closure of the
Xstrata Metallurgical Site,
Woolfenden asserted that energy
reliability was more important
to the company than price.
The company’s foremost commitment is to “zero-harm,” a
concept the management applies
to the health and safety of its
workers as well as to the areas in
which they operate, he said.
The company is committed to
ensuring they operate within all
environmental regulation
parameters throughout the
entire process, which will
include a removal of Côté Lake
itself. While the company is currently focused on readying the
site for construction, IAMGOLD
will be “looking for expansion
opportunities in the future.”
First Nations remain a signifi-
Steve Woolfenden, manager of Corporate Environmental Assessment and
Approvals for IAMGOLD, took a few minutes to chat with Art Pultz, president,
Timmins Chamber of Commerce following a Jan. 29 presentation.
cant aspect of the project’s
ongoing development. As the
company moves through the
environmental assessment
process, it has established an
exploration agreement with the
local Mattagami First Nation,
and has expressed an interest in
partnering with businesses that
boast a high percentage of First
Nations employees or related
partnerships.
“Our expectation is that First
Nations employees will be participating in this project, and
that’s what we will be looking
for when we are hiring contractors and suppliers.”
Learn about your local purchasers
More than 50 businesses
turned out to make contacts and
learn about purchasing policies
at the Timmins Chamber’s
annual Meet the Purchasers
event, held on Jan. 15 at the
Days Inn and Conference
Centre.
Designed to help businesses
forge relationships with purchasing agents and increase the clarity and transparency of their purchasing procedures, the event
included brief presentations by
each participating company.
After explaining their policies
and providing contact information to suppliers interested in
the buying process, presenters
then met with attendees who
were invited to visit their booths
to exchange business cards and
network with peers.
In attendance were representatives from Goldcorp-Porcupine
Gold Mines, Lake Shore Gold,
De Beers Canada — Victor Mine,
Detour Gold Corporation,
Dumas Contracting Ltd.,
Northern College of Applied
Arts and Technologies, Redpath
Mining and Xstrata Copper Kidd
Operations.
Representatives also shared
their companies’ purchasing and
contact information, which has
been shared below as available:
Xstrata Copper
— Kidd Operations
Who to contact:
➤ Mill On-Site Services:
Peter Deadman
[email protected]
cies, consulting work, design work, and
legal work.
Who to contact:
➤ Senior Contracts Manager:
Mark Leavoy
[email protected]
www.alarie.com
De Beers Canada
— Victor Mine
Purchasing agents and business representatives from a variety of large
and medium-sized companies gathered on Jan. 15 to meet with Chamber
members.
➤ Mill Materials and Equipment, Parts
and Equipment Divestiture:
Ashley Wojtus
[email protected]
➤ External Repairs (both sites):
Belinda Brunet
[email protected]
➤ Mine On-Site Services:
Dan Bonsall
[email protected]
➤ Mine Materials and Equipment:
Sandra Laviolette
[email protected]
Goldcorp
— Porcupine Gold Mines
Goldcorp-PGM uses an electronic bidders list with pre-approved vendors.
Who to contact:
➤ Materials Management Supervisor:
Peter Pecore
➤ Hoyle and Dome Mill:
Darren Etmanski, Buyer
➤ Dome and Hollinger Project:
Lynn Alexandre, Buyer
➤ Phone: (705) 235-3221
www.porcupinegoldmines.ca
Aecon Mining Inc.
(Formerly Leo Alarie and Sons
Construction Ltd.) Aecon Mining Inc.
subcontracts for the following types of
work: rock excavation, clearing, trucking, operated equipment, specialty
trades, work outside of core competen-
De Beers Canada reminds potential
suppliers to keep transportation considerations in mind when bidding, as
supplies can be transported via air or
ice road only.
Who to contact:
➤ Services:
Sherri Lapointe
Sherri.Lapointe@debeers
canada.com
➤ Materials:
Paul Holman,
[email protected]
www.debeerscanada.com
Detour Gold
Corporation
Detour Gold Corporation
Detour’s major service contracts are
for camp catering, bus transportation,
local trucking, and skilled labour.
Who to contact:
➤ Senior Buyer:
Tony Garito
(647) 847-2089
www.detourgold.com
Dumas
Dumas specializes in mine development, production, infrastructure and
construction, services, and engineering.
Who to contact:
➤ Purchasing:
Jennifer Dorval
[email protected]
(705) 360-5373 ext. 4228.
www.dumasmining.com
Lake Shore Gold Corp.
Who to contact:
➤ Purchasing Manager:
John Labine
(705) 269-4344 x4228
www.lsgold.com
Northern College
Most or all bid opportunities as well as
recent bids awarded are posted online
at www.northernc.on.ca/rfp. Any procurement contracts valued at
$100,000 or more are advertised
online at www.merx.com.
Who to contact:
➤ Purchasing Officer:
John Harrington
[email protected]
www.northernc.on.ca
Redpath Mining
Redpath has supply contracts for
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),
tools, spare parts, and safety items. All
companies bidding on service contracts require proof of WSIB coverage,
liability insurance coverage, and valid
GST/HST registration. RFQs are sent
out electronically.
Who to contact:
➤ [email protected]
(705) 474-2461
www.redpathmining.com
inside business
MARCH 2013 - 3
Chamber releases report
on municipal development improvements
From streamlined communications to stronger staffing, the
Timmins Chamber of
Commerce has officially released
its recommendations for potential improvements to municipal
development services in a report
released last month.
Entitled Business Climate
Improvement: Report on
Development, the document was
presented to City Council on
Monday, Feb. 11, and offers the
City seven specific recommendations to enhance the businessfriendliness of municipal development services.
“Every business — regardless
of sector or industry — needs to
consistently examine its operations to determine whether any
changes are required to increase
effectiveness and to better serve
its clients,” said Phil Barton,
vice-president of the Chamber
and chair of its Municipal
Affairs Committee.
“It is a process of continuous
improvement that allows for
better business performance,
and an ever-stronger reputation
for service and excellence. The
same holds true for the City of
Timmins, whose clients also
include local companies seeking
to expand their operations, as
well as companies looking to
establish themselves in the
region.”
As an initiative of the
Municipal Affairs Committee,
the report was crafted over an
eight-month period following
extensive research and consultation with the Chamber membership through roundtable discussions, surveys, committee outreach, and countless one-on-one
interviews.
With a specific eye on solutions rather than challenges,
feedback focused on specific
service improvements to the
City’s development services, and
the most common and pressing
recommendations were drawn
for the final report.
This led to the report’s seven
recommendations, which
include bringing the development services department’s
staffing levels in line with
Timmins’ needs and geographic
area. The report also recommends the development of a
streamlined communications
framework between and within
relevant City departments to
ensure consistency in the
requirements for permitting and
development applications.
The Chamber’s presentation
of the report was well-received
by Council, which bodes well
for implementation of the recommendations in the coming
months, according to Barton.
“We’re extremely pleased that
the City has been so open to the
recommendations in our report,
especially given the crucial role
the development services
department plays in Timmins’
economic well-being,” said
Barton. “This is a great city in
which to do business, but as
with any organization, improvements can always be made. We
feel that our suggestions would
bolster Timmins’ ability to continue providing quality service
to businesses looking to invest
in our community.”
In the months and years to
follow, the Chamber will work
with the City to help monitor
the municipality’s progress on
these changes, while periodically
gathering feedback from its
members on their impact.
“The City has long proven its
commitment to business-friendliness, as can be seen through
such efforts as the Community
Development Committee, so
we’re confident that real progress
will be made on these recommendations,” said Barton. “We
look forward to working with
the City to help make these
important changes a reality.”
This development of the
report is part of the Municipal
Affairs Committee’s annual,
ongoing efforts to ensure that
Timmins is a great place to do
business. In years past, its efforts
have included the development
of a municipal vision, which
helped to feed into the current
Timmins 2020 plan. It has also
sought to find ways to increase
local purchasing by regional
businesses and organizations,
which has laid the groundwork
for the current Buy Local
Committee.
The report is available on the
Timmins Chamber website at
www.timminschamber.on.ca/BC
I-Development.pdf.
Tourism, housing, development among Chamber recommendations for city budget
City spending should be
directed towards properly planning for the future of tourism,
housing and development while
making the most of existing
resources, according to the
Timmins Chamber of
Commerce.
These ideas formed the core of
the organization’s annual presentation, made by Chamber
President Art Pultz and its
Municipal Affairs Committee
Chair Phil Barton on March 4 in
advance of the city’s approval of
the municipal budget.
“Traditionally, the Chamber
has argued that measured
spending is acceptable when it is
done with specific plans in
mind, with an eye to the future
and a sense as to how individual
spending projects fit into the
larger picture,” said Pultz.
“Although the sticker shock
cannot be ignored, the development of master plans in
tourism, culture and recreation
— and of course, housing — are
invaluable for this kind of measured, consistent approach.”
These overarching strategies
are due to be developed this
year as initiatives of the City’s
Timmins 2020 plan, which the
Chamber continues to support,
said Pultz. This work will
include an inventory of local
housing, which will feed into a
long-term plan for addressing
the problems surrounding
accommodations — something
in which the Chamber has been
deeply involved in recent years.
The Chamber also supports
the ongoing efforts to provide a
specific scope and direction to
Tourism Timmins, which continues to reinvent itself following the recent sale of the Shania
Twain Centre to Goldcorp.
“Given the need to refocus
tourism spending in the wake of
this development, the Chamber
would ask that related funds be
allocated to strengthening
Timmins’ tourism product based
on a factual awareness of market
needs, local strengths, and fiscal
responsibility,” said Pultz.
“Investment in tourism is
important for this community, a
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reality its businesses understand
quite well, and so we would ask
that these funds be spent in support of ideas driven by sound
research and an overall plan.”
The presentation also reinforced that the City would prove
to be an optimal partner for taking over management of the
Tourism Information Centre,
something which the Chamber
has long operated for free in
service to local residents and
businesses. As the City continues to look for ways to revamp
its tourism strategy in light of
the sale of the Shania Twain
Centre, its adoption of the
Tourism Information Centre
would allow municipal staff to
directly offer the products it creates to the travel-minded public,
said Pultz.
City staffing also stood as a
budget priority for the Chamber.
Given the proposed hires in
tourism and development, the
municipality should consider
conducting a city-wide staffing
audit to determine the full range
of needs across all departments,
said Pultz.
This is particularly crucial
given the added budgetary pressures the City faces this year,
though Pultz cautioned against
raising commercial tax rates as
an easy fix. Instead, revenue
should be generated by collecting taxes already owed to the
municipality by addressing the
backlog of tax arrears, and by
aggressively investigating and
assessing illegal construction
projects which would add to the
local tax base.
Municipal revenues could also
be enhanced in the long term
by further expanding the
Community Improvement Plan
funding and scope, said Pultz.
This program offers grants to
support further private-sector
investment, something which
has already proven to bring
about significant visual refreshing to Timmins’ downtown
businesses. By expanding the
program to include brownfields,
the City should be able to further encourage development of
derelict properties, said Pultz.
Every year, the Chamber’s
presentation to council is assembled through an extensive
process of consultation, with
member input being provided
through a wide variety of venues. This includes surveys,
roundtable discussions, several
Chamber committees, and
numerous one-on-one interviews conducted by Chamber
staff. The finished presentation
represents the majority view as
expressed by members throughout that consultation process.
The Chamber makes every
effort to be as inclusive as possible of its members’ views so as
best to represent their interests
at all levels of government.
Members who have business
issues — municipal, provincial,
or federal — that they would
like to see addressed are encouraged to contact the Chamber.
For the full text of the
Chamber’s presentation to council, visit the Chamber website at
www.timminschamber.on.ca/do
cuments/2013-BudgetPresentation.pdf.
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inside business
4 - MARCH 2013
Confidence, persistence key for female-driven
success in mining industry
Confidence can make the difference for women seeking success in the male-dominated
mining industry, according to
renowned entrepreneur Barb
Courte.
Speaking at a Chamber-hosted
Women in Business luncheon
held at the Porcupine Dante
Club on Jan. 24, the owner and
CEO of Cobra Diamond Drilling
Ltd. and Northstar Drilling Ltd.
outlined her own challenges in
the field.
Throughout the years, she has
endured her share of comments
about everything from her
blonde hair to her intelligence.
To combat these attitudes, confidence is key, she said, as most
mining conventions and events
are attended almost exclusively
by men with traditional attitudes about women.
“I’m kind of cocky. I have to
build up every ounce of selfesteem I can to represent my
company.”
While she admits that it is a
nuisance to have to expend time
and energy battling stereotypes,
Courte admits that those very
same stereotypes can be advantageous at times.
“When they think [women
are] dumb, we are in a better
place to outsmart them. I got a
lot of comments about being a
woman with blonde hair while I
Left to right: Keitha Robson, CAO, Timmins Chamber of Commerce; Barb
Courte, owner and CEO of Cobra Diamond Drilling Ltd. and Northstar
Drilling Ltd.; Christine Bender, Board member, Timmins Chamber of
Commerce.
was in Timmins, because there is
a rough miner crowd here. But I
got tough in Timmins, and I
learnt not to let it bother me.”
After moving to Timmins
from Montreal in 1986, Courte
worked as a nurse at St. Mary’s
Hospital, until she and her hus-
band — a diamond driller —
bought their own drill rig, forming Northstar Drilling, and
decided to relocate to Thunder
Bay.
During the move, tragedy
struck as Courte’s husband suffered a fatal heart attack, an
Make the most of trade shows
with proper booth design
With trade show season almost in full
swing, members of the Timmins business
community came out to learn what would
give them an edge over the competition at
these events by attending a Chamber-hosted Lunch ‘N’ Learn on Jan. 22 at the
Schumacher Lions Club Hall.
Led by Logikal Code owner and
Chamber Board member Jason Perratt, the
session focused on booth design and dos
and don’ts for trade show goers to keep in
mind.
If you weren’t able to make it, some of
Jason’s suggestions for making the most of
your trade show display are as follows:
Booth design
➤ Research the type of venue your booth
will be in and how much space you have
been allotted, as this will affect your layout.
➤ Your company name and logo should
always be easily visible. “If there will be a
table sitting in front of your booth, be sure
its placement doesn’t cut off any banners
or graphics,” said Perratt.
➤ Plan several months ahead of time.
“One week before the show isn’t enough
time to have quality graphics created and
printed,” so be sure to start planning for
your display materials a few months ahead
of time. “A lot of people forget to make
shipping arrangements for materials early
on, too. Not everything will fit in the
plane’s overhead compartment!”
Graphic design
➤ Be seen by using bold colours wherev-
er possible.
➤ Keep it simple: communicate your
business/brand’s main points, sticking to as
few words or phrases as is possible.
➤ Be consistent by ensuring that any
graphic and lettering that appear on your
promotional materials complement your
brand.
incident from which she has
since drawn strength.
“At the time, I didn’t realize
the amount of strength I had in
me. You just have to look at
your children, and move forward.”
Initially, she faced 20-hour
work days while raising two
children and getting settled in
Thunder Bay, but the effort bore
much fruit. Northstar Drilling
now boasts eight drill rigs, several of which are stationed in the
Dominican Republic, where
Courte lends her support to
those communities by donating
food and clothes to the locals,
and employing several as drill
helpers. Courte has also demonstrated her commitment to community improvement closer to
home through donations to
children’s programs and
women’s shelters.
Above all, Courte stresses that
hers is a family-oriented business. She knows first-hand how
tough it is to have a loved one
working for many months of
the year, and strives to not put
her workers or their families
through similar trials.
“I treat my guys with respect.
I try to explain to them that
their families come first. I know
that my husband worked three
months on and two weeks off,
which can be unfair for their
families.”
Courte acknowledged the way
in which the hard nature of the
mining industry can wear on its
workers, and keeps that in mind
during the hiring process.
“I hire guys who want to do
well for themselves,” Courte
said. “I find that through showing them respect, they respect
themselves now too, and I base
my success on the dedication of
my employees and my family.”
Despite the challenges she’s
faced, Courte reiterated her
enduring fondness for the mining industry several times
throughout the afternoon,
describing the industry as one
with endless opportunities that
fosters determination, strength,
and confidence. Spurred by this
love, Courte recently formed the
Women in Mining group in
Thunder Bay, of which she is
the vice-chair, and is all-tooeager to help other women get
into the industry.
Courte is also looking towards
a future of mining education in
south Ontario, believing that
women may be ideally positioned to change southern attitudes about mining in the
north.
“We in the mining industry
need to teach the south what
we’re all about. Women could
do that.”
Working to solve
staffing problems
Giveaways
➤ Giving away a special item, like a Tshirt, through business card or ballot draw
is a great way to both draw people to your
booth and gain contacts. “By holding a
draw that requires people to drop a business card at your booth, you draw attention to your business and more importantly, you leave the trade show with a stack of
business contacts to follow up on.”
Remember to:
➤ Take the time to look at the other displays at the show. This will help you determine who your competitors are, who you
could consider partnering with, while giving you an opportunity to “borrow” any
booth design ideas that catch your eye.
➤ Brand your booth attendants and
choose outgoing individuals who don’t
mind striking up conversations with
strangers
➤ Be sure to bring extra business cards,
promotional materials, and giveaways; you
don’t want to run out halfway through the
show.
➤ Give yourself plenty of time to plan
for creating, printing, and shipping your
booth materials.
Adam McCarty, operations manager for Workforce International, spoke to a crowd of
Timmins Chamber members on Feb. 28 on the growing staffing shortages businesses
will face in the years to come. The skills shortage is said to be the second biggest
business risk for the mining and metals sector for the next two years, according to
McCarty.
inside business
MARCH 2013 - 5
Ontario Chamber releases
new economic agenda for the province
Focus on workforce development, Ring of Fire, Aboriginal education as priorities
The Ontario Business
Confidence Index shows that
most Ontario businesses are
confident in their own outlook
(72 percent) and are planning to
expand over the next five years
(60 percent). However, the same
businesses are unsure about the
overall direction of Ontario’s
economy — 41 percent express
confidence.
The index is the result of a
survey of 2,386 businesses, conducted as part of Emerging
Stronger 2013, a business-driven
economic agenda for Ontario. It
was released Jan. 30, 2013 by
the Ontario Chamber of
Commerce and the Timmins
Chamber of Commerce, along
with their research partner, the
Mowat Centre at the University
of Toronto.
“This Index is one of the
largest surveys ever conducted
of business opinion in Ontario,”
according to Dave Scholz, Vice
President of Leger Marketing,
the pollster. “Business sentiment
is very much ‘glass half-full’ in
the province right now.”
Emerging Stronger 2013 is a
transformational agenda aimed
at accelerating Ontario’s economic growth. It identifies
Ontario’s challenges and advantages, and sets out practical and
detailed recommendations for
government and business.
Some of these key recommendations include enabling better
access to capital for startups and
small businesses through crowd
funding, allowing more employers to participate in training,
and opening up more government services to private-sector
and not-for-profit delivery.
The report also offers several
recommendations that focus on
encouraging Ontario to identify,
champion and strategically
invest in the province’s advantages in the global economy.
This means making the Ring of
Fire a priority, according to the
report, which said governments
must work together to address
infrastructure, transportation,
processing, electricity pricing
and availability, as well as
Aboriginal education and labour
market access.
Many central aspects of the
report touch on the issue of
workforce enhancement, something has been a growing issue
for members of the Timmins
Chamber. Related recommendations include making better use
of immigration to address hiring
gaps, allowing more employer to
participate in training, and
changing the apprenticeship system to become more flexible.
The report also suggests closing
the funding gap for on-reserve
Aboriginal education, a move
that would encourage a much
greater participation of
Aboriginal peoples within the
labour market — a recommendation based on policy the
Timmins Chamber submitted to
the Ontario Chamber in 2011.
“As many Timmins businesses
continue to struggle with workforce challenges, we’re glad to
see the issue featured prominently within Emerging
Stronger 2013,” said Art Pultz,
President of the Timmins
Chamber of Commerce.
“Provincial action on these and
other recommendations will go
a long way to helping businesses
in our community and throughout Ontario.”
The agenda was released mere
days after Liberal leader
Kathleen Wynne was named
Ontario’s next premier. It is
intended to provide a non-partisan platform that should appeal
to all three parties.
“The Ontario Chamber of
Commerce has criss-crossed this
province engaging and hearing
from local chambers and their
60,000 members,” said Allan
O’Dette, CEO of the Ontario
Chamber of Commerce. “We are
confident that Ontario has all
the assets to prosper, but we
need to act collectively, strategically, and with purpose.”
Among the survey’s findings
are:
➤ Chief among the concerns
of businesses in the northeast —
which includes Timmins,
Sudbury and North Bay — is the
need to close the skills gap by
fixing the disconnect between
the education system and industry reality (supply and demand),
and reforming the apprenticeship system.
➤ Ontario is falling behind on
productivity: Only 10 percent of
respondents believe their sector
is a global leader in productivity.
➤ Some sectors are much
more confident than others: The
financial services sector is the
most confident in their own
outlook (74 percent say their
business will expand in the next
5 years).
➤ Businesses are struggling to
diversify their exports: 45 percent of Ontario businesses view
China as the most critical market in the next 5-10 years. Yet
only 1.4 percent of Ontario’s
exports are bound for China.
➤ Some regions are more confident than others: Greater
Hamilton Area businesses are
most likely to respond that the
economy is heading in the right
direction (48 percent), while
Eastern Ontario businesses are
the least likely (36 percent).
Visit http://goo.gl/Z9fc7 to
read Emerging Stronger 2013.
Canadian Chamber releases reports on competitiveness, mining
Skills a major barrier to business
competitiveness: report
The national skills shortage remains
one of the biggest barriers to Canadian
business competitiveness, according to a
new report issued by the Canadian
Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 13.
Released through the nationwide network of chambers of commerce, including the Timmins Chamber of Commerce,
The Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness
for 2013 is an initiative undertaken last
year to draw attention to the barriers that
are holding back Canada’s progress. All
levels of governments are being urged to
swiftly act on these issues in order to
increase Canada’s ability to compete
globally.
This includes a renewed focus on fighting for action on the skills shortage,
which stood as the Canadian Chamber
network’s number one in issue in 2012,
and which remains its primary focus in
2013. This will require that governments
and businesses work collaboratively and
aggressively in four key areas: upskilling,
immigration policies, education-employment alignment, and Aboriginal education and workforce development.
“As Timmins businesses continue to
face considerable workforce challenges,
we must concur with the Canadian
Chamber in its national call for action to
down the barriers to our competitiveness
and for creating more opportunities and
greater prosperity for Canadian businesses and families.”
To read The Top 10 Barriers to
Competitiveness for 2013, please visit
http://bit.ly/WOwVGR.
be taken in addressing this mounting
skills shortage,” said Art Pultz, president
of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.
“Solutions to this growing problem will
not be easy, and we join the national call
for creative, collaborative efforts in helping to ensure that our businesses are able
to employ the people they need.”
Addressing the Top 10 Barriers to
Competitiveness will go a long way
towards restoring Canada’s competitiveness, according to the Canadian
Chamber. The Canadian Chamber network is calling on its membership, as well
as governments, labour organizations,
educators and others to tackle and overcome these barriers as “tolerating them is
simply not an option.”
“The need for action is urgent,” said
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
President and CEO Perrin Beatty. “The
standard of living of every Canadian
depends on how well we respond to the
challenge. We must identify and implement real, tangible solutions for breaking
Mining also being affected
by skills crisis, says CCC
While Canada has successfully transformed its resource advantage in metals
and minerals into a competitive edge
across several connected industries, we
need to ensure that the factors that made
us the global leader in the sector are
strengthened, according to a report
issued today by the Canadian Chamber
of Commerce.
Entitled Mining Capital: How Canada
Transformed Its Resources Endowment
Into a Global Competitive Advantage,
the report details how Canadian mining
companies have provided the leverage
for finance, insurance, speciality
manufacturing and other related industries to succeed in highly competitive sectors.
Employing more than 320,000
Canadians, the core mining industries
contributed $36.2 billion to Canada’s
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2011.
Mining exports in 2011 reached $102 billion, over a fifth of our nation’s total
exports.
Toronto is the global capital of mining
finance, British Columbia has the largest
concentration of mining exploration
firms in the world and northern Ontario
has a century of history as a mining center. Moreover, the Canadian mining
industry is highly integrated into the
global economy and is one of the few
sectors where Canada has a strong external investment presence.
“We have leveraged our metal and
mineral endowment not just by extracting and processing raw material but also
by creating and selling the knowledge of
how to develop these resources,” said
Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the
Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “What
we need now is to ensure that the factors
that made us the global leader of the sector are strengthened.”
Beatty said one of the dark clouds on
the horizon for the mining sector is the
growing skills crisis that is becoming a
significant constraint on the industry.
The Canadian Chamber also argues that
governments are critical to the mining
industry’s success. New investments in
both physical and intangible infrastructure are needed to exploit our resource
endowments.
To read the Canadian Chamber report,
please visit http://bit.ly/117IsFF.
inside business
6 - MARCH 2013
A tradition of safety
When loved ones go to
work every day, it’s important to know that they’ll be
safe on the job with the
proper equipment and training.
By providing both, the
staff and owners of Soucie
Salo Safety (Timmins) are
keenly aware of the role that
a safe workplace plays in
every aspect of a person’s life.
“When you’re laid up, you
have less time with your family,” said co-owner Helene
Poirier.
“When a worker gets hurt,
the whole family gets hurt.”
Being able to help to prevent these kinds of costly and
draining workplace injuries
played a big part in Poirier’s
decision to operate this stillyoung company, she said.
Born and raised in the
Timmins area, Helene and her
husband Ray Poirier always
wanted to own a business.
When the opportunity came
along to partner locally with the
Sudbury-based Soucie Salo
Safety, “it was a perfect fit,” said
Poirier.
With Helene’s background as
an HR/operations manager and
a health and safety professional,
and Ray’s experience as an
industrial sales specialist, the
pair were well positioned to take
JANUARY MEMBER OF THE
MONTH
Jason Laneville (third from left), chair of the Chamber’s Marketing and
Communications Committee, stands with Helene Poirier (third from right),
co-owner of Soucie Salo Safety (Timmins), and her staff.
a leap into the business of owning a business. With this, the
two founded Soucie Salo Safety
(Timmins) in 2010.
To help provide excellent customer service, the store carries a
large amount of inventory. As
such, customers don’t have to
wait on a special product to be
ordered in, and can have all of
their safety needs filled at this
one-stop shop.
In order to enhance the customer’s experience, Soucie
Salo Safety employees undergo extensive training to help
them become health and safety professionals. Having a
knowledgeable staff is key,
said Poirier, meaning that
each employee learns the legislated safety requirements as
well as the ins and outs of
each product on the shelf.
“They aren’t only sales
clerks, they’re safety specialists. We offer our employees
not only a job, but an education.”
With a staff of just seven,
Poirier acknowledged that
finding the time to provide
this heightened level of
training can be a challenge. However, having a
team well versed in how
each product is best used
has had a tangible effect
on Soucie Salo Safety
(Timmins)’s business success.
The value in having such a
knowledgeable staff is especially
strong in the customer service
industry. Customers notice and
appreciate the level of service
and expertise they are met with
each time they stop by the store,
said Poirier.
The company’s focus on education is one it also extends to
its customers and clients. The
company offers a full gamut of
workshops, run by certified
trainers, to which employers can
send their employees. Training
and certification courses offered
through Soucie Salo include: fall
protection, WHMIS, CPR/First
Aid, safety performance and
leadership, and sprain and strain
prevention.
The company also offers legislative compliance services to
help businesses ensure they are
adhering to occupational health
and safety regulations at all
times. This involves a wide
range of technical services, ranging from the development of
specific safety programs, to
training in fall arrest equipment
and procedures.
Through these efforts, the specialized safety store has wasted
no time in making a name for
itself through above-and-beyond
customer service, a firm commitment to safety education,
and a wide selection of stock fit
for any and every worker,
regardless of industry.
“Everybody works somewhere,
and we try to find ways to keep
everyone safe.”
To learn more about Soucie
Salo Safety (Timmins), call them
at (705) 360-7233, visit them in
person at 993 Riverside Drive, or
visit them online at
www.souciesalosafety.com.
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inside business
MARCH 2013 - 7
Carving the snowy path to success
Upon becoming Resort
Manager of Kamiskotia
Snow Resort three years ago,
Lorne Haveruk noticed that
certain changes could help
Timmins’ beloved winter
sport destination to reach
new heights.
“The fellow who ran things
before had done it well for a
very long time, but it needed
new vision,” said Haveruk.
“That’s what I brought here.
The vision now is to continue
to make Kamiskotia an affordable Northern Ontario mountain ski resort where people
can come and play.”
With Haveruk’s expertise
and input from board members, the resort’s customer base
has grown from 290 members
to more than 1,100, thanks to
several initiatives that have
allowed the resort to play a
stronger role in the region’s
recreation sector.
There are now more than
30,000 visits to Kamiskotia each
winter, a number that continues
to grow as word spreads that the
hill is the place to ski in
Ontario. Kamiskotia draws skiers
and families from throughout
northeastern Ontario, including
Sudbury and North Bay, and
from as far away as Toronto and
Whitby.
This has been partly due to a
change in the resort’s service
pricing, which Haveruk
E
FEBRUARY MEMBER OF TH
MONTH
Left to right: Lorne Haveruk, resort manager, Kamiskotia Snow Resort;
Jason Laneville, chair of the Timmins Chamber’s Marketing and
Communications Committee; Art Pultz, president, Timmins Chamber of
Commerce.
launched following a close look
at Kamiskotia’s books. With the
support of the resort’s board of
directors, more competitive pricing was put into place to help
position it as an affordable destination for winter activities.
“Nothing against hockey,
hockey is great, but I understand
that getting a child started in
hockey is quite expensive,” said
Haveruk. “Getting somebody
going in skiing is much more
affordable now.”
This move has been further
helped by additional efforts to
make Kamiskotia an easier place
for families to visit and enjoy.
Shuttle buses are now available
weekends and holidays, with
special shuttles offered on Friday
and Saturday nights to accom-
modate the new evening snow
tubing and skiing.
The resort has been mindful
of future generations, installing
energy-efficient LED night lighting wherever possible, with continued upgrades on the horizon.
Along with new on-site lockers for gear and equipment storage, these measures have taken
the hassle away from parents
and have made a “huge difference,” said Haveruk.
“Now it’s easy to come and
play at Kam.”
To capitalize on the rise in
attendance, one run was added
in 2011 with another two in
2012, meaning that all four
sides of the mountain can now
be skied upon. The resort has
also been expanding its facilities to draw in people beyond
downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. Cross-country
skiing and snowshoeing trails
have been groomed, and a large
outdoor skating rink on the
resort’s south side might become
reality. The new south side sunset outdoor licensed deck is also
expected to be a great draw once
the weather warms.
“People can play outside,
come in for a bite to eat, sit by
the fire, eat at the sundeck BBQ
on weekends and holidays and
head out again for more fun
once they have warmed up.”
Haveruk has been sure to honour Kamiskotia’s past by repur-
posing old equipment and keeping the public aware of its rich
history, which dates back to the
1920s, a time when ski enthusiasts used to cross-country ski to
the renowned mountain to
enjoy the slopes before skiing
back home.
“I want people to know that
this isn’t a brand new ski area; it
has a long history and is one of
the only mountains in Ontario.”
Haveruk also noted that the
close-knit nature of Timmins’
business community and within
the Chamber membership has
been a big help in exposure,
support and marketing, making
it easy to spread the word about
all the new happenings at the
hill.
“Chamber membership is definitely good for business with its
many offerings, meetings, educational seminars and functions,” he said.
“Thanks to all the businesses
and individuals in the community who have helped us stay
operating, we've turned
Kamiskotia into a sustainable
business. We're a non-profit, so
we really rely on that support to
keep our doors open.”
Kamiskotia Snow Resort is
located at 5050 Kamiskotia Road
in Timmins, Ontario. Visit them
online for daily conditions,
prices, and services at
www.kamiskotia.com, or give
them a call at (705) 268-9057.
8 - MARCH 2013
inside business
Chamber committees: March 2013 update
As the Chamber year rolls on, the organization’s many committees continue to
be hard at work on advancing the interests of the more than 800 members on
issues ranging from energy to local purchasing to networking.
These groups guide the Chamber’s
efforts to create a strong climate for business; the topics reflect the priorities
expressed by Chamber members, and
selected by the 21-member Board of
Directors. Made up of volunteers, these
groups meet regularly to discuss,
advance, and develop policies and action
plans on issues that affect Timmins businesses.
These committees and task forces also
build on the work completed over the
past year by the previous slate of advocacy groups, whose successes and foundational efforts help to strengthen this
year’s projects.
If you’re interested in making a difference by participating in one or several of
the following committees, please contact
the Chamber at (705) 360-1900, or via
email at
[email protected].
Government Regulation
and Policy Committee
With the Ontario Chamber of
Commerce (OCC) annual general meeting set to occur in Chatham-Kent this
May, the Policy Committee has been
hard at work to develop policies to submit to the provincial chamber on your
behalf. Based on member feedback, the
committee has chosen to address the
problem of soaring energy prices and
restrictions around future energy-related
opportunities.
Their efforts have led to the development of two policies, one of which recommends that the government make
Ontario prices more competitive with
neighboring jurisdictions while continuing to build incentive programs for
industry. The second recommends that
the government address transmission
shortfalls throughout the province,
which particularly hamper energy generation in the North. These policies will be
debated by the other local Chambers at
the OCC AGM, and if successful, will
form part of the organization’s platform
in the months and years to come as it
works with the Ontario government.
Municipal Affairs Committee
This standing committee continues to
focus on removing barriers to doing business in the City of Timmins, with its latest effort being the development of
Business Climate Improvement: Report
on Development. Presented to City
Council in January, this document outlines various recommendations for
improving the municipality’s development services, based entirely on feedback
from Chamber members. More details on
this report can be found on Page 3.
Marketing and
Communications Committee
This standing committee continues to
oversee the Chamber’s marketing communications, such as publications,
fundraising, sponsorship, member services, and promotional programs. The committee has overseen the new Chamber
Connections casual networking series,
which is now free to attend by all mem-
Relationship-building on the rise
Continued from page 1
The area is estimated to contain up to
$50 billion dollars in minerals, and
whose development would create
upwards of 5,000 direct and indirect jobs
in Northern Ontario.
The sheer potential of this deposit has
led to the federal government’s appointment of Tony Clement, Treasury Board
president and FedNor minister, as its lead
for Ring of Fire development. Clement
will coordinate between FedNor,
Aboriginal Affairs, Natural Resources,
Environment Canada, Health Canada,
Infrastructure Canada and the
Department of Finance.
According to Monique Godin, director
responsible for Program Delivery in
Northern Ontario, this is a reflection of
the need to responsibly bring all parties
to the table.
“We are seeking to support Northern
businesses, and position them to take
advantage of the Ring of Fire,” said
Godin. “This includes being committed
to working with First Nations communities, and helping to facilitate talks
between development groups and those
communities.”
The provincial government also realizes the full extent of the impact that the
Ring of Fire will have on First Nations
and businesses, according to David de
Launay, assistant deputy minister for the
Ministry of Northern Development and
Mines.
“It’s going to take the provincial, federal, and First Nations governments working together to make this happen,” said
de Launay. “Resource development
should be shared by all impacted municipalities, including First Nations, and we
are committed to doing that. The devil’s
in the details.”
In working through the more intricate
details of partnering with First Nations,
de Launay advocated for an understanding of treaty and harvesting rights, an
awareness that different considerations
will apply to different communities, as
well as a more general sense of empathy
throughout the process
“[First Nations partnerships are] part
business and part understanding where
the other party is coming from,” said de
Launay. “There’s no set way of doing
this, but what is set is that it has to be
done. It has to be part of your thinking.
When you get down to it, early outreach
and communication makes the difference. If you think of how you would
want to be treated, you’re not going to
go far wrong.”
However, this communication must be
consistent in order to build trust and loyalty on both sides of an agreement,
according to Colin Webster, Goldcorp
Inc.’s director of Aboriginal,
Government, and Community Relations.
Businesses should educate themselves
prior to engaging in these conversations,
which should be focused on collaboration rather than the concepts of
“impacts” or “benefits,” he said.
“There are a lot of preconceived misperceptions about the Aboriginal people’s
relationship to Canada that is built-in
and frames minds. It’s important to go in
with a clean slate, and it takes time,
patience, and understanding to make
things work.”
bers; the next event will be held at the
Lion’s Den in Schumacher on March 21,
from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The committee has also seen the addition of three new volunteers to the
Chamber Ambassador team, which helps
to ensure that businesses are making the
most out of their Chamber membership.
Work is also underway to conduct a
series of focus groups to determine how
the Chamber can better address member
needs with regards to communication,
events, programs and policy.
Young Professionals
Committee
The new meeting format of this
Committee continues to be a success,
with young professionals from throughout the community meeting for casual
networking with their peers at Boston
Pizza on the first Thursday of every
month, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The group hosted their “Get Outside
with the Timmins Young Professionals”
social event at the Porcupine Ski Runners
on Feb. 28. This evening featured cross
country skiing, snowshoeing, an obstacle
course and of course a bonfire accompanied by some hot chocolate. Future
efforts for this committee include working with the Timmins 2020 Youth
Engagement project, and organizing the
third annual Young Professionals Awards
for Fall 2013.
Buy Local Task Force
As the Timmins 2020 plan as specifically identified the need to increase local
purchasing in our region, the Chamber
has spearheaded the creation of a Buy
Local Committee. This sizeable group is
made up of a broad number of community partners, including local businesses,
non-profit organizations, as well as city
councillors and Mayor Tom Laughren.
Although still in the process of determining the full range of its actions in the
coming year, the group has already determined the catchment area of what it
considers “local.” All communities lying
within the District of Cochrane boundaries will be considered local, ranging
from Gogama and Foleyet to the south,
Chapleau and Hearst to the west, the
James Bay Coast to the north, and
Kirkland Lake to the east.
TARGET ALL BUSINESSES
IN TIMMINS
by advertising here!
Contact Carmen Swartz to book your ad.
[email protected] • 705-360-1900
inside business
MARCH 2013 - 9
New member profiles
Bodhi Tree
Hot Yoga Studio
FITNESS CENTERS AND RECREATION
FACILITIES
(705) 264-2900
Bodhi Tree Hot Yoga Studio will provide services to the health and wellness
industry. Bodhi Tree Hot Yoga will offer
several classes of yoga a day, along with
meditation workshops to help achieve all
of your yoga goals. Hot body, warm soul,
cool mind.
[www.bodhitreehotyoga.ca]
Canadian Bearings
MINING COMPANIES AND
CONTRACTORS
(705) 264-3545
For over 60 years, Canadian Bearings
(CB) has focused on delivering products
and solutions efficiently to our customers. We have become the industrial
supplier of choice for many of Canada’s
manufacturers because of our proven per-
formance, continuous improvement, and
ability to deliver consistent cost savings,
and commitment to our customers.
Today, CB is a lot more than bearings.
We offer one of the most comprehensive
lines of products in the industry with
nine categories of product solutions. Our
customers have the choice of getting one
part, fulfilling their entire needs in each
of the categories. At CB, we have continuously improved our ability to help customers save money through technical
solutions and are ready to deliver more.
Canadian Bearings has pioneered many
supply chain solutions that have enabled
our customers to achieve significant cost
savings, compress cycle time and
improve asset utilization. We have a
comprehensive range of solutions culminating in an integrated supply system
with dedicated sales and implementation
teams, and all the necessary processes.
Product and service selection includes:
good/better/best choices; technical
expertise across all product lines with
continuous cost savings; customized supply chain solutions resulting in signifi-
The voice of business
since 1949
cant savings in time and money Smart
Program Solutions offering synergy of
product solutions, technical solutions
and supply chain solutions; and the ultimate in cost savings, CB Innovative
Enterprise Solutions.
[www.canadianbearings.com]
Eastview RV
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE SALES AND
SERVICES
(705) 264-7837
Eastview RV has RV sales and service
centers in Kapuskasing, Cochrane, and
Timmins, Ontario. Eastview RV is a division of Eastview Chevrolet, Pontiac,
Buick, GMC Ltd, which has been in business for over 32 years. CrossRoads RV
quality is unsurpassed in its class. Our allaluminum construction is the foundation
of our lighter-weight half-ton towables.
Hung walls, seamless one-piece roof,
Filon fiberglass exterior, plywood decking, and more are all construction features found typically in higher-end products. These are all standard and affordable in CrossRoads RVs at Eastview RV in
Kapuskasing, Cochrane, and Timmins,
Ontario.
[www. eastviewrv.ca]
Frontier Diesel
HEAVY EQUIPMENT SALES AND
SERVICES
(705) 264-9863
Frontier Diesel provides sales and service of all makes of onsite power systems
engines, generators, transfer switches,
switch-gear control systems, and fuel systems.
Midas
(1836133 Ontario Limited)
Timmins Chamber of Commerce
Questions about a particular program? Interested in having a presentation
about membership benefits for your staff?
Contact us at 705-360-1900.
AUTOMOBILE SERVICES
(705) 264-4301
Midas Auto Maintenance Centre is a
locally owned and operated business
which provides automotive services to all
makes of motor vehicles. We would like
to invite all Chamber members to visit us
for their vehicle maintenance needs.
Midas’ services include oil/filter/lube
service, battery sales and services, brake
service, engine repair/overhaul, emissions/tune-ups, exhaust/muffler/catalytic
converter, steering/suspension service,
wheel alignment/wheel service, A/C service, cooling systems/ radiator service,
diesel engine service, tire sales/service,
scanning/diagnostic, and transmission/
clutch service.
Toshont
Power Products
ELECTRICAL SERVICES
(705) 523-1759
Toshont Power Products is the Toshiba
partner distributor responsible for the
sale, warehousing and application of
Toshiba Industrial Electrical Products for
Ontario and the northern region of
Quebec. Our area of responsibility
extends just west of the Ottawa Valley up
into the Abitibi region of Quebec and
then over to the time line just west of
Thunder Bay. We have offices in
Burlington and Sudbury with motor and
VFD stock in these locations plus motor
stock in other parts of Ontario. We pride
ourselves in being AC motor and drive
experts applying this equipment as integrated systems or individually on their
own. From Toshiba’s factory in Houston,
Texas, Toshont is involved in a vast array
of low voltage and medium voltage products from motors to VFD’s, control and
switchgear, plus UPS units. Our Custom
Control Panel shop builds all types of
panels that include VFD’s, starters, PLC
and control equipment with CUL/UL and
CSA approvals.
[www.toshont.com]
Wacky Wings
RESTAURANTS/DELIS AND CATERING
SERVICES
(705) 531-2000
Our vision at Wacky Wings was to
build the perfect relaxed atmosphere
where you could enjoy a meal in a fun
environment. We pride ourselves on having the friendliest, most caring staff
around who will go above and beyond to
ensure your dining experience with us is
nothing short of a treat. We cater to families, large groups, sporting teams and
sports enthusiasts alike. Come for the
food, stay for the fun! We carry a full
menu consisting of burgers, ribs, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, wraps, pizza
and of course chicken wings. With over
100 flavours of chicken wings on our
menu we had to be creative, so mouthwatering, sticky, messy wet sauces and
delicious dry seasoning flavours was the
call to action!
[www.wackywings.ca]
Winmar
CONTRACTORS AND CONSTRUCTION
COMPANIES
(705) 268-2828
Winmar is a Canadian property restoration company devoted to serving the
insurance industry and their clients. We
are committed to excellent service, quality workmanship and cost effective pricing. Our strongest assets are our employees who are well trained professionals,
dedicated to teamwork.
[www.winmar.ca/Timmins]
Managing Editor: Keitha Robson
Visit our Facebook page
facebook.com/
TimminsChamber
www.timminschamber.on.ca
Published by:
Email: [email protected]
Timmins Chamber of Commerce
Editor: Nick Stewart
P.O. Box 985, Timmins, Ontario, P4N 7H6
(705) 360-1900
Fax: (705) 360-1193
Email: [email protected]
Staff Writer: Kim Wakeford
Email: [email protected]
www.timminschamber.on.ca
Advertising Opportunities: Carmen Swartz
Email: [email protected]
Inside Business is an information package provided to members of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce and businesses at large. The positions expressed in by-lined columns are the opinion of the
subject editor and do not reflect the position of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce unless specifically stated. The Timmins Chamber of Commerce assumes no responsibility for statements or
claims made by advertisers. “Inside Business” is published 6 times per year by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. Issue dates are January, March, May, July, September and November.
Closing date is the second Friday of the previous month. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission.
inside business
10 - MARCH 2013
New recruits added to
Chamber Ambassador team
With spring right around the corner,
the dedicated team of volunteer
Ambassadors continues to grow as it
helps businesses make better use of their
Chamber membership.
Initially unveiled in September 2011,
the Timmins Chamber of Commerce’s
Ambassador program consists of a small
but motivated group of entrepreneurs
and business professionals acting as crucial liaisons between the Chamber and
their fellow members. In recent weeks,
the group has seen three new additions
to its ranks, as Brigitte Vanderloo,
Marlene Johnson, and Jessica Hardy have
joined Debbie Browne, Amanda Dyer,
Julie Belanger-Racette, Nancy Mageau,
Terri Scott, Mary-Lou Pollon and Brooke
Ballantyne.
Now in their second year, the team of
Ambassadors has been incredibly active
in reaching out to the membership,
whether it’s a personal call to congratulate a particular milestone, or a helping
hand and an introduction or two at one
of the Chamber’s many events. They graciously serve as front-line representatives,
guiding new and seasoned members alike
to get the most out of their involvement
with the Chamber.
It’s a service that is invaluable for both
the Chamber and its members, while also
providing the Ambassadors themselves
with ample opportunities to increase
their own professional recognition and
networks. By helping to be the face of the
Chamber, Ambassadors also earn expo-
experience as an Ambassador thus far?
A: Being an Ambassador has been such
a positive experience, especially when
volunteering with fellow Ambassadors at
promoting Chamber offerings. I’ve been
able to meet so many different members,
and I’ve enjoyed interacting and being
able to participate in so many different
events. I have gained a deeper understanding of all that the Chamber has to
offer its members, and I would really recommend members who are looking for
additional networking and wanting to
promote the Chamber to look at joining
the Ambassador team. You benefit a lot
from this role, and I hope fellow members find our help to be beneficial to
them as well.
sure for their respective businesses.
If you’re interested in joining the
Chamber Ambassador team for the 20122013 Chamber year, please contact
Carmen Swartz at the Chamber at (705)
360-1900, or via email at [email protected]
In this and the coming issues of Inside
Business, the Timmins Chamber will profile individual Ambassadors to help members get to know this energetic team of
volunteers. Each will be presented with
questions that help to explain their reasons for participating, and their experience with the program to date.
Chamber Ambassador:
Julie Belanger-Racette
Q: What is your job/place of employment?
A: Outside Account Manager at Grand
and Toy for Timmins and Area.
Q: Why did you decide to become a
Chamber Ambassador?
A: Being an active member of the
Chamber, I saw this as an opportunity to
help promote the chamber and all that it
has to offer its members, to network with
existing members and new members, and
to give back to the Chamber who has
given me so many networking opportunities.
Q: What work is involved in being a
Chamber Ambassador?
PROFESSIONAL VIDEO SERVICES INCLUDING
• Industrial, Corporate And Event Video Productions • Audio/Video Duplication Services
• Mobile, Multi-Camera Production Facilities
• Audio/Video Rental Services
• Film Transfer Services
• Wedding Videos
Professionally Creating Your Vision
(705) 235-8663 • (705) 365-8801 www.nearnorthvideo.com
M.O.E. COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTING
Professional Bookkeeping • Personal & Business Tax Returns
M.O.E. = Profits
204-670 Airport Road, Timmins
Phone: 268-4474 • Fax: 264-0011
Maurice E. Proulx email: [email protected]
Julie Belanger-Racette
A: The work involved in being a
Chamber Ambassador is really about giving a little of your time. You are there to
help bring more information to fellow
members about what the Chamber has to
offer its membership. You attend various
events, help with set-up, and serve as a
point of contact for members should
they require additional information. You
deliver membership packages, and make
calls to fellow members to inform them
of upcoming events. You are there to
help out in any way you can.
Q: How would you summarize your
Q: What do you enjoy most about
this role?
A: What I truly enjoy the most is getting to meet fellow members and gathering a better understanding of their business. I enjoy meeting new people that I
may otherwise not have had the opportunity to get to know. Attending events and
being able to help is terrific.
Q: What benefit do you feel the
Ambassador program offers to members?
A: The Ambassador program offers
members an extra point of contact — a
fellow member, at that — for more information about all the Chamber has to
offer.
inside business
MARCH 2013 - 11
12 - MARCH 2013
inside business
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