entrepreneurial spirit • community values getting to plan b · entrepreneurial spirit •...

FOCUSFirst Quarter 2010

Entrepreneurial Spirit • Community ValuesManitoba Third Quarter 2010

Getting to

How to discover the best business model for any venture

PLAN B

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Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. The views and opinions expressed in this

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Please Return Undeliverable Copies To: Manitoba Chambers of Commerce

227 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3B 2A6 Phone: (204) 948-0100

Fax: (204) 948-0110

THE MCC’s VISION:

• Policy development that brings together businesses of all sizes, from all sectors, and communities across Manitoba.

• Non-partisan public debates of integrity, that criticize government where necessary, praise government where warranted, and disdain personal attacks and exaggeration.

• A Business community that demonstrates high ethical standards in all it does.

• Businesses dedicated to the vitality of their communities, the prosperity of their employees and the sustainability of the environment.

• A province that understands the nature and value of entrepreneurship and promotes the competitive enterprise system.

• A provincial government with sound, long-term economic strategies that are focused without ignoring opportunity, flexibility and diversity.

• Government policies and spending that are efficient and effective, delivering the programs that Manitobans need and helping the disadvantaged.

• A Manitoba that promotes the progress of all its citizens toward individual freedom, dignity and prosperity, and opposes any form of negative discrimination or needless control.

OFFICERS

Chair Mr. Wayne McWhirter

Immediate Past Chair Mr. Dennis Brownlee

Vice-Chair Mr. Frank Sottana

Vice-Chair Mr. Ken Jones

Vice-Chair Ms. Carol A. Paradine

Treasurer [April-August] Mr. Ken Thomas

Treasurer [From August] Mr. Darren Barfus

Corporate Secretary Mr. Jim Forestell

Legal Counsel Ms. Tracey L. Epp

REGIONAL VICE-CHAIRS (ALPHABETICALLY BY REGION)

Interlake Region Mr. Lorne Floyd

Parkland Region Mr. Ron Clement

Pembina Valley Region Ms. Judith Sawatzky

Western Region Mr. Stuart Olmstead

CHAMBER REPRESENTATIVES (ALPHABETICALLY BY CHAMBER)

Assiniboia Chamber Of Commerce Mr. Gerry Glatz

Brandon Chamber Of Commerce Mr. PJ Crane

Chambre de Commerce de Saint Boniface Mr. Guy Noël

Dauphin & District Chamber Of Commerce Mr. Brian Chita

Flin Flon & District Chamber Of Commerce Mr. Doug O’Brien

Morden & District Chamber Of Commerce Mr. Ross Ariss

Portage & District Chamber Of Commerce Mr. Daniel Bolton

Thompson Chamber Of Commerce Mr. Keith MacDonald

Winkler & District Chamber Of Commerce Ms. Judith Sawatzky

Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Ms. B.J. Reid

DIRECTORS AT LARGE (ALPHABETICALLY)

Mr. Gurpreet Brar

Mr. Tom Frohlinger

Ms Lesley Hamilton

Mr. Wadood Ibrahim

Mr. Richard Jaques

Ms. Jamie Alyce Jurczak

Ms. Michelle Painchaud

Treasurer [April-August] Mr. Ken Thomas

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PAST CHAIRMAN (ALPHABETICALLY)

Mr. Brian Kelly

Mr. David Newman

Mrs. Julie Turenne-Maynard

Mr. Ken Wilk

Capital Region Mr. Jack Wilson

Contents4 Manitoba Matters

News and Notes Relating to our Province and its Business Community

6 The MCC: Making a Difference

10 Prototype Manitoba

12 Three Areas Businesses Often OverlookAnd the Manitoba companies that help keep them in line By Kelly Parker

16 Getting to Plan BHow to discover the best business model for any venture

18 Five Questions an Employer Should Ask before Hiring a Foreign Worker By Sofia Mirza, Fillmore Riley LLP

20 The Idea Board

22 Self-Employed and SecureBy James Pollard, Penncorp Life Insurance Company

26 Postcards from the Business Edge- Axiom Freight Management Inc. and StrategyMakers Consulting

30 Advertisers Index

Third Quarter 2010 Manitoba FOCUS • 3

Manitoba GrEEEn Trucking Program Re-Launched

Participants are required to invest a minimum of $2,000 in technologies to be eligible for rebates. These rebates range from

15 per cent up to 25 per cent (maximum $2,500 per unit) of the company’s capital investment.

Deloitte Wins Four Oracle Partner Network North America Titan

2010 Partner Awards

This is the fifth consecutive year that Oracle has honored Deloitte with multiple Titan awards as a systems integrator (SI). Deloitte

received the awards for the following categories: Consumer Industry Solution, Global SI Applications Momentum, Manufacturing and Distribution Solution and Oracle Red Stack Solution.

International Executive Search Firm to Bring World to City:

People First Founder Helps Seal Alliance with Boyden World Corp.

Boyden Global Executive Search, a world-class professional search firm with 80 offices in 43 countries, will open an office in

Winnipeg as part of an integrated strategic alliance with Winnipeg’s People First HR Services. As one of the best-connected firms of its kind in the world, Boyden Global Executive Search will recruit professional candidates from its worldwide network for businesses in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario.

Premiers of Nunavut and Manitoba Meet on Joint Priorities

The meeting provided the occasion to streamline the existing MOUs by consolidating them into a single Memorandum of Understanding

with one Nunavut-Manitoba steering committee, co-chaired by repre-sentatives of both Governments. This master agreement will allow for a more focused approach with practical outcomes.

Manitoba Increases Animal Protection Through Animal Care

Amendment Act: Struthers

“Manitoba is considered a leader on animal welfare in Canada with laws and legal requirements based on high standards

of animal care,” said Struthers. “Today our standards are moving even higher as we secure further animal welfare policies into law to ensure the well-being of animals in our province.”

TD Waterhouse Discount Brokerage Announces Canada’s First Major Bank-Backed Online Global Trading Service

“This powerful new platform will provide Canadians with the speed and control they need to continue to diversify their

investments and maximize their returns in today’s global markets,” says John See, President, TD Waterhouse Discount Brokerage. “Through our Global Trading platform, Canadian investors are now able to act on these investment opportunities online.”

Governments of Canada and Manitoba Support Research Centre to Spur

Technology Use by Livestock Producers

The Governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing $999,500 in a new research facility to support the province’s livestock

producers in addressing production efficiency and environmental challenges.

Cargill Honoured With Prestigious Food Science Award

“Cargill has been recognised for its food safety leadership, its collaboration and commitment to improving access to food

and to ensuring food safety through education,” stated Geoffrey Campbell-Platt, International Union of Food Science and Technology President.

Governments of Canada and Manitoba Take Action to Help

Newcomers Succeed

To start, the pilot initiative will provide Manitoba nominees in China and the Philippines with pre-arrival settlement orientation and

labour-market preparation services. These services will include the development of a career plan based on Manitoba-specific labour-market information and guidance on qualifications recognition procedures. It will then be adapted for provincial nominees destined to other provincial jurisdictions as well as for Manitoba nominees in other parts of the world.

University of Manitoba Physicists Win the Prestigious Manning Innovation Award

Physics professors Kenneth Standing and Werner Ens have won the Manning Innovation Award because they advanced a tool

many biological researchers rely upon to study diseases such as SARS.

News and notes relating to our province and its business community

For more details on these stories and other Manitoba News, go to www.mbchamber.mb.ca

ManitobaMatters

4 • Manitoba FOCUS Third Quarter 2010

Governments of Canada and Manitoba Complete First Knowledge

Infrastructure Project in Canada

Canadian Mennonite University students now have a new 1,200-square-foot teaching laboratory, a preparatory lab and

improved storage facilities. The specialized space will allow the institution to grow its course offerings and teach advanced-level science courses with lab components in biochemistry, organic chemistry, physics, genetics, cell biology and microbiology.

Fahr Group Launches New Website

This new layout is very different and embraces a number of modern web design and usability features. Visitors to the site

are welcomed with fresh, positive visuals and information that, at a glance, allow them to intuitively understand the services Fahr Group provides.

Viterra Expands International Marketing Network to Italy

Mauro Ambrosio will manage relationships with key customers on behalf of Viterra. He will work with Viterra’s International Grain

Group as they extend the company’s value chain and create deeper connections between orgination points in North America, Australia and New Zealand and leading food manufacturers and consumers in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Two New Value Chains Focus On Organic Sunflowers and

Manitoba Lamb

Value Chain Manitoba is a collaboration initiated by the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council (MRAC), with funding from Agriculture

and Agri-Food Canada, in partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI). VCMI encourages and assists Manitoba’s agri-food industry to become more competitive through value chain development.


THE MCC: MAKING A DIFFERENCE

In October Manitoba Chambers Announced Finalists for the 2010 Manitoba Business Awards

Outstanding Large Business BDO Chartered Accountants & Advisors Granny’s Poultry Cooperative Manitoba Blue Cross

Outstanding Medium Business Payworks Westman Communications

Outstanding Small Business Hilderman Thomas Frank Cram Productions Rivard Tiber River Naturals

Outstanding Long Term Business – Rural George F. Loewen Enterprises - CT Loewen Building Centre Leech Printing Ltd. Zeke’s Jewellers Ltd.

Outstanding Long Term Business – Winnipeg GNR Camping World MacMor Industries Welders Supplies

Lieutenant Governor’s Awards Outstanding Contribution to the Community by a Business Peak of the Market RBC Royal Bank Vickar Auto Group

Outstanding Contribution to the Community by an Individual Art Mauro, O.C., O.M., Q.C.


Historic Chamber Partnership Hosts National ChiefThe Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce were proud to jointly host an event featuring National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo.

National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo is a Hereditary Chief from the Ahousaht First Nation. In July 2009, A-in-chut was elected to a three-year mandate as National Chief to the Assembly of First Nations.

It was the first time the two chambers came together to host an event and it seemed as if the 350-plus leaders from the business community, aboriginal community and public sector could tell it was a special occasion.

National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo did not fail the moment, giving a passionate and engaging speech that interwove his personal history, the history of the aboriginal peoples and a vision for the future.

Videos of the speech are now available, including:

• Preliminary Remarks

• Economic Development and Education

• Energy and Closing Remarks

Bonus coverage features greetings from Andrew Clarke, Chair of the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce. See www.mbchamber.mb.ca for more.

Premier Selinger Presents Manitoba Literacy AwardA wide range of private and public sector leaders attended what has come to be known as one of the most inspirational of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce’s annual events, the presentation of Manitoba’s Council of the Federation Literacy Award by Manitoba’s Premier.

Premier Selinger was honoured to present the 2010 edition of the award to Angela Keno.

Coverage includes videos of:

• Greetings from event sponsor, Literacy Partners of Manitoba

• Remarks by Premier Selinger

• Acceptance Speech by Angela Keno

Thanks to Literacy Partners of Manitoba for making this event possible and congratulations to Angela Keno.

Find out more at www.mbchamber.mb.ca

Granny’s Talking Turkey on Added Value

Look for Granny’s Omega-3 products at your local grocer and get coupons at

www.grannys.ca

Great Taste, Healthy LivingA local farmer owned cooperative

These products are approved by the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Omega-3 Breaded

Turkey Breast StripsOmega-3 Breaded

Turkey Breast Strips with Fibre

Omega-3 StuffedTurkey Breast

Omega-3 FedYoung Turkey

Andrew Clarke, Chair of the ACC, (l); National Chief Shawn Atleo, (c); and Wayne McWhirter, Chair of the MCC


Issue Watch:The MCC is using its Virtual Network to track ‘hot button’ issues that could affect your business. Now in one spot, you can access and share information, news, media cover-age and thoughts on these important issues.

To Find a Discussion: simply go to the MCC Virtual Network (http://manitobachambers.ning.com/), click on the “Forum” header and then go to “Business Virtual Networking.”

To Follow a Discussion: You will receive updates automatically by email once you reply to a post, or you can simply subscribe to get updates by clicking the “Follow” button at the bottom of the page, or you can just check out the site from time to time.

Some of the issues we have targeted to date:

• HST

• New West Partnership Agreement

• National Single Securities Regulator – Yes, No, Partly?

• CentrePort

Manitoba Chambers Announces Twitter Page“The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce has led the way in using the Internet for the benefit of our members and I am pleased to announce that we are now utilizing Twitter as another platform to promote our members and get them the information they need,” explained Dan Overall, Director of Policy and Communications, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.

How the MCC Twitter page helps raises our members’ profile:

• All posts on the main MCC website - all the news, profiles and ‘think pieces’ we post about our members - automatically go to the MCC Twitter and Facebook pages;

• The MCC Twitter page follows direct corporate members of the MCC – displaying their logos and links to their page (we are going through the list of our members to see if they have a Twitter page, but if we aren’t following you yet feel free to email [email protected] and let us know if you have a page).

How Twitter Can Particularly Benefit Small/Busy Members:

Have you ever had some news - a new site, a new move, a new client, an award, a community initiative - and you didn’t have the time or patience to draft a full news release about it?

Create a Twitter page (it’s easy!), let us know so we can follow you, and describe the news item in one line. Then the MCC will retweet it – which means it is posted on the MCC Twitter page and goes out to its 260 and growing list of followers!

Here’s a sampling of some of the members news the MCC has retweeted:

• modernearth Congratulations to our client - CABP - on the launch of their new website. http://cabplan.org/

• JohnathanFahr Fahr Group is Sponsoring the East St. Paul Summer Soccer Classic http://members.shaw.ca/espsummersoccerclassic/Schedules.htm

• winnipegfdn Most of the projects in the Foundation’s Green Spaces Strategy are underway. Check out our commitment to downtown Wpg: http://ow.ly/2oHhe

• Acrodex Acrodex is a finalist for CDN’s 2010 Channel Elite Awards for Best Enterprise Solution. Winners announced in Sep! http://bit.ly/baIRlE

Find the page at http://twitter.com/mbchambersofcom.


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Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard

More Editions of Meet the Ministers:Learn how an M&M dispenser helps the Minister of Labour and Immigration keep a work/life balance; the role Pierre Trudeau played in getting the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives into politics; and how a duck helps the Minister of Health with office management.

The Meet the Minister’s video series is dedicated to helping Manitobans find out a bit more about their political leaders. The Ministers answer:

• What was the biggest surprise when you took over your department?

• What is the biggest challenge in relation to your department?

• What is the biggest opportunity in rela-tion to your department?

• What inspired you to get into politics?

• What is your favourite office knick knack and why?

Learn more at www.mbchamber.mb.ca

Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Stan Struthers


Who ensures you pay only your fair share of property and business tax?

The answer is the people of Altus Group.

altusgroup.com

For more information on the Property Tax Services we offer throughout Manitoba, contact:Doug Betker, AAM Managing Director, Altus Group [email protected]

Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, Smartpark, University of Manitoba. Contact: 204-298-5483; Email: [email protected]; Website: http://www.rcffn.ca/home

The Centre is dedicated to the discus-sion, discovery and development of functional foods and nutraceuticals, with a focus on the crops of the Canadian Prai-ries. Two of it’s main goals include: lead discussion, discovery and development of new products, analytical techniques and technology innovation; promote and support the development of an econom-ically viable industry in Manitoba and western Canada.

The University of Manitoba’s Nano-Systems Fabrication Laboratory (NSFL)Website: http://www.ece.umanitoba.ca/research/nsfl/NSFL_site/NSFL_Home.html

Contact: Cyrus Shafai, Director NSFL, 204-474–6302 Email: [email protected]

According to principal researcher Cyrus Shafai, one can think of the Nano-Systems Lab as a full-service “machine shop” for custom made micro-devices with features ranging from tens of nanometers to several microns in size (about one hundredth the width of a single strand of human hair).

Rapid Prototyping Laboratory, University of Manitoba, Faculty of EngineeringContact: Paul Krueger, technician, 204-474-8823. Email: [email protected]

For more information: http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/engineering/departments/mechan i c a l / pd f /U_OF_M_RAP ID_PROTOTYPING_SERVICE_SI10_2.pdf

The University of Manitoba (U of M) has a 3D Systems SLA 3500 solid imaging system, also referred to as a Stereolith-ography Apparatus (SLA). Essentially, it’s

a 3-D printer. The lab can also reverse engineer.

The SLA offers industry the following:• Multi-Purpose Models or Prototypes • Form/Fit/Function Testing• Master patterns For Secondary

Processes• Fluid Flow Visualization (excellent

optical clarity)• High Humidity Applications

The CAD Lab, also in the Faculty of Engineering, offers similar services as the Rapid Prototyping Laboratory, but since it is a teaching facility it will do projects for a tenth of the price but on a slower timescale.

Prototype ManitobaManitoba has a wide range of facilities that can help entrepreneurs

develop their ideas. Unfortunately, many budding business-types and innovators don’t know these facilities exist. Prototype Manitoba

is the Manitoba Chambers’ effort to cure that. Each issue of the Focus will spotlight some of these incredible resources. You can find the full list of facilities we have covered, along with links, on the MCC Virtual network at http://manitobachambers.ning.com/forum/topics/prototype-manitoba.



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By definition, entrepreneurs start or buy businesses in order to generate a profit. That quest, of course, involves offering a product or service that fills some need in the marketplace, and maximizing the profit margin on that

widget while at the same time keeping costs as low as possible. Business 101, to be sure, but to a large extent, profitability will take care of itself if three key areas are properly addressed at the outset and on a continual basis, namely: taxes, finance and insurance. On these fronts, Manitoba businesses are lucky to have firms like FBC (fbc.ca) and MGI Financial (mgiwealth.com) working in the background on their behalf.

Each of the two firms is decidedly local in their focus. FBC, for example, is a family-owned Canadian company whose Winnipeg office is its largest by far, due to the company’s focus on agriculture, transportation and construction – Manitoba’s three largest industries. The three local offices of MGI Financial, on the other

By Kelly Parker

Three Areas Businesses Often Overlook

And the Manitoba companies that help

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hand, are part of a national chain, but think of themselves as local in the sense that they were known as Rice Financial before being bought, integrated, and changing the name over the door.

While both MGI and FBC offer services for larger business, both are smaller busi-nesses focused in the services they provide.

“We focus on long-term tax strategies for our members, which are businesses that do about five million dollars per year or less, and we consider ourselves to be tax experts in this area of small busi-nesses,” explains FBC sales manager Brent Lechner. “That expertise allows us to take a proactive approach in dealing with our members’ affairs. We typically contact them, for example, if there is an introduc-tion of new tax legislation that might benefit them before they are even aware of it themselves.”

MaryAnn Kokan-Nyhof CFP CSA, vice president of the Kilcona Branch for MGI Financial Inc. is proud of her company’s local focus in looking after the financial affairs of smaller companies right from the get-go, understanding that the financial side of the business is often not that business owner’s forte. “The goal of the business owner might be to open a business,” she explains, “selling birdseed, for example, because they know birds and birdseed really well – but they don’t know a lot about this other stuff and they don’t have time for it, so it’s crucial that they connect with a company that will give them all of that information and advice in the planning stages or in the early days of the business so that all of this gets set up properly.” Kokan-Nyhof adds that there are so many things to consider when running a business, and that most often, the business owners are busy running the day-to-day affairs of their business, “so we’re the people operating behind the scenes, answering their questions and advising them.”

Beyond helping companies to properly set the financial table in the early stages, MGI offers services that run the gamut, from cash flow and budgeting, insurance funding

on buy-sell agreements, to working closely with accountants and lawyers to make sure that the legal and accounting aspects of their business is properly dealt with, and

“...there are so many things to consider when running a business, and that most often, the business owners are busy running the day-to-day affairs of their business, ‘so we’re the people operating behind the

scenes, answering their questions and advising them.’” - Mary Ann Kokan-Nyhof CFP CSA, MGI Financial


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that there is an effective succession plan in place. “And of course, we have talent right here in Winnipeg to do all of that,” emphasizes Kokan-Nyhof.

One area of specialization for MGI is insurance – an area Kokan-Nyhof says is too often overlooked. “People are not, in our experience, as focused on what happens if they get sick or if they die,” she says, “because people don’t want to think about that. MGI, remember, is independent, objective and unbiased, so we have all insurance companies in Canada at our disposal to find the best product or solution for their situation here in Manitoba to make sure that they are covered in the event that they become ill, get injured or even die suddenly, and our job is to offer them solutions and ideas to be able to deal with those scenarios.”

Beyond those services, Kokan-Nyhof explains that MGI helps its clients in other, less tangible ways. “Because we’ve got such a good network of other businesses, we often put them together so that they can assist each other. If one client is looking for a particular product or service,” she says, “we will put them together with another of our clients who offers that product or service, so all of that referring that we do helps to build and strengthen this home-grown sense of community. We often find

that we are answering questions from clients that are totally unrelated to finance, but can help that business out in more esoteric ways.”

The services that FBC offers are mostly in the tax realm, but Lechner details that his firm too, does things a little differently – beyond, that is, the somewhat unique approach of offering its services on a membership basis. “We’ve determined that in order to properly plan for the future, a four-tiered approach is necessary, and we utilize that approach in planning for business – whether they be the mom and pops, or larger businesses,” he says. We take a year-round integrated approach to maximize our members’ tax savings – tax preparation is really only one tier – we also provide ongoing tax planning, on-site tax preparation right at the members’ place of business and year-round consultation and a service guarantee that includes audit protection.”

Lechner notes that the FBC philosophy is based on the notion that tax planning is something that should be done at the beginning of your tax year this year, and it has to be monitored against the state of affairs of your business throughout the year. Because the firm is in touch with its clients throughout the year, it’s confident that it always has a clear picture of the

clients’ tax affairs, which is why it offers audit protection. In fact, Lechner says FBC is different from other tax service providers in that it will deal with Canada Revenue Agency on behalf of our members in any audit situation – at its own cost, and all the way up to tax court, if necessary.

Lechner says that the FBC approach, “kind of rolls into a long-term plan.” Initially, he says, when a member comes on-board, FBC will look at their last 10 years of taxation information, which gives a really good idea of where they’ve been and where they need to go in the future. “We take that information into account as we look forward, ultimately, to the point in the future when the member is going to sell their business or pass it on to a family member,” he says, “and we want to put them into the best position to limit the tax implications of doing that.”

Although their services differ, as companies like FBC and MGI work on behalf of their clients here in Manitoba, their method is ultimately focused on the individual. As Kokan-Nyhof puts it: “It’s the same as financial planning for individ-uals, but for businesses, it’s much more complex, and that’s partly because you are dealing with that individual’s needs within the business (context).”


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I agree with the authors that the original busi-ness plan is undoubt-

edly flawed, and this holds true even for the subsequent revisions of the plan. This is because as entrepreneurs we know business plans become obsolete as soon as they are completed – the market has changed, our competitors have changed and even the consumers have changed.

The four main ideas in the book, analogs, antilogs, leaps of faith and dashboards, can be found in the real life business development world. When I first consummated the PeerFX idea, I looked towards analogs, and in our adjacent industry, there were peer-to-peer lending websites in both Europe and the United States. On the other hand, our antilogs were the banks, which often declared their love for small businesses, but just as often fail to deliver on their promises. The PeerFX idea required that I make many leaps of faith; since there was uncertainty with regards to the level of user acceptance we would get with a totally new idea to the industry in the North American market.

I would think that the book focuses a bit too much on business plan writing and revision, even though it does encourage entrepreneurs to go out into the field and Do, Test, and Experiment. As you dive into building your own business, you will find that it is tough to find time to revise an entire business plan, correctly and effectively anyway, and I would agree that having a few key measures for your business, much like what the authors refer to as dashboarding, is a more efficient business monitor.

Prepare yourself for the fact that to build a great business, you will continually reinvent your business. Great businesses are built by those that aspire to provide something entirely different AND necessary to the consumer market. You should look towards what others are doing for inspiration, and figure out what they are not providing at the moment. PayPal changed their business model at least three times before landing on online payments, and PeerFX changed their model three times as well before gaining signifi-cant customer traction.

PeerFX is an online peer-to-peer currency exchange, changing exchanging by bringing people together to exchange with each other and cutting out unneces-sary fees in the process. Additional information may be found at: www.peerfx.com.

Getting to Plan B: Breaking through to a better business model

Seeing too many business plans that are all theory and no reality and too many busi-nesses floundering instead of adapting Mullins and Komisar have set out a process for discovering the best business model for any venture.

Don’t think your real-world focus can come from a handful of focus groups or surveys; they aren’t likely to uncover the answers you need. Nor should you think of this as contingency planning. “… put only one plan on the table and devote all your scarce resources and energy to rigorously stress-testing that plan, as quickly and inexpen-sively as you can, at its most critical points of vulnerability. If emer-ging evidence says to move on to Plan B, move on,” say the authors.

The process involves four key building blocks:

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel: AnalogsArguably the most fundamental building block. Once you have your idea, consider successful companies that are worth mimicking in some way and do what they did right.

Be Different: AntilogsThis is how you are going to set yourself apart. It involves examining companies and choosing how you are going to do things differently. Often this involves learning from the mistakes of others or pinpointing the markets they have ignored or missed.

The most useful and revolutionary analogs and antilogs may come from industries other than your own.

Ask the Right Questions: Leaps of FaithThe questions you cannot answer from historical precedent lead to your leaps of faith – beliefs you hold about the answers to your questions despite having no real evidence that these beliefs are actually true. Rest assured, leaps of faith are unavoidable if you are truly doing something new.

“To address your leaps of faith you must leap! That is to say, you must experiment. That may mean opening a smaller shop than you aspire to operate, just to see how customers respond. It may mean trying different prices for your newly developed gadget to see what price makes sales pop.”

Florence Leung, President and CEO, PeerFX


The jargon in Getting to Plan B is a major turnoff. Try explaining your business by mentioning “analogs”

and “antilogs” and watch the room clear out.

That said; the concepts are bang on.

The inspiration for 360 Replays came from an anilog. My son was watching the Matrix movie with a friend and they thought the effect of holding an object in time and then spinning the view around from all sides was really cool. They were both sports fans and thought it would be really something to apply the concept to that area.

We did scope out antilogs. One company was doing something similar to what we wanted but they relied heavily on hardware. They had a hyped debut at a Super Bowl and it didn’t work that well. We learned two things: focus on software rather than hardware and don’t build hype until you can deliver.

We really had two leaps of faith: a) Could we produce what we wanted in a way that worked and was affordable and b) Was there really a market for it?

Here again the book is right - you need to do staged experiments to make sure you are on the right track without betting the farm.

We moved from four cameras up to 16, and then on to 40 to be sure the system worked and was manageable no matter how many cameras were used.

Next, we sought “customer” input by doing free demos and going to conventions and trade shows. The feedback was crucial.

Some couldn’t believe our success given the limited resources and small team we had. We were told larger companies hadn’t been successful because they mandated timelines and when they weren’t met, moved away from the project. Timelines and dashboards are good but make sure you aren’t throwing the baby out with the bathwater if you don’t meet a target.

Although the feedback was great I must admit we were caught off-guard by the advent of hi-definition. Hi-Def didn’t appear on the radar when we started 360 Replays and we were surprised at how fast it took over the industry and became mandatory.

We are now at the stage of looking for investments to help make the shift to Hi-Def and perfecting our pitching techniques.

Let me tell you, investors are a whole other type of customer. Know your numbers backwards and forwards, be up-front on everything, and have that elevator pitch ready because investors lose interest quickly. My holy grail is an investor that cares as much about the idea as making a buck.

The key insight of Getting to Plan B is to constantly test your idea against the real world. Even then, be ready for curve balls. Often the biggest asset you can have is a willingness to persevere.

360 Replays system is a new technology providing enthusiasts with never before seen , 360 degree coverage of the action, which is accom-plished by surrounding the action perimeter with motion cameras.

Guide and Track Your Journey: Dashboards“The final step in the process is to adopt a structured, disciplined, and systematic way to guide your set of experi-ments, track the results as they arise, and provide insight and answers to questions that underlie your leaps of faith. You need metrics that will yield tangible, measurable evidence capable of telling you whether your leaps of faith are proven or refuted, and whether you are on the path to a strong business model, or a flop.”

The key isn’t so much to be right or wrong (that creates paralysis); the key is to be learning.

Sample dashboard:

Relevant analogs & the numbers they give you

Relevant antilogs

Leaps of faith around which you will build your current dashboard

Hypotheses that will prove or refute your leaps of faith

“In the early stage many of the questions are funda-mental. They are about whether your idea will work techno-logically and whether it holds any value in the marketplace. As you grow and evolve, your questions become founda-tions for how you refine your plan for greater success. They help you focus on the right pricing and payment strategy, the right distribution channel, the right financial model, the right partners.”

The three things that matter most:

1. The quality of the questions you ask to identify your leaps of faith

• Which questions about your company make you feel uneasy and keep you up at night?

• What would you like to know that you don’t?

• What assumptions have you made that might be wrong?

• What information would lead you to a different conclu-sion than the one you are operating under?

2. What you do with the data

3. The speed at which you get on with your next steps

Note: This is just the tip of the iceberg. “Getting to Plan B” provides a wealth of ‘real world’ examples and extensive tips on developing the revenue, gross margin, operating, working capital and investment models that are also key to your success. To learn more go to www.getting-to-plan-b.com.

Larry Brown, President, 360 Replays


As an immigration lawyer, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard new clients say, “I wish I had known that before.” Or “If I had just consulted you before I filed the application, this

mess could have been avoided.”

Some examples of complications that may occur when a step is missed in the work authorization process include lengthy delays in the hiring process, officer’s rejecting applications and interrup-tions in the work term of a valuable foreign national employee.

Many of these situations may have been avoided if the right issues had been considered first and the proper steps have been taken in the process at the right time. Correcting mistakes after they happen and retaining a lawyer at that time to assist is often significantly more costly than retaining one before the process starts and getting it right the first time.

Here are five questions to ask which may help you to avoid some of the more common errors:

1. Does the position and candidate fit within a legal exemption that could simplify and speed up the process of hiring the foreign worker?

Generally, before an employer may hire a foreign national, the employer must first prove they tried to hire a Canadian citizen or

Canadian Permanent Resident (landed immigrant). However, in certain cases, this step may not be necessary.

The general “proof” must be demonstrated in accordance with specific advertising and other requirements and varies depending on the position in question. For instance, the require-ments for hiring a foreign national for higher skilled work are different than what is required for lesser skilled work. The nature of the position also affects what other supporting docu-mentation may be required for certain application processes.

Some work permit categories are exempt from the afore-mentioned proof step. Knowing that an exemption exists can save the employer time and money as certain steps in the general process may be avoided completely.

2. Does the candidate have a criminal record?If the foreign national candidate has a criminal record, it may have an impact on his or her ability to obtain Canadian work authorization. The type of criminal charge(s), what conviction was entered, when the conviction was entered and when the sentence was completed are all relevant factors in the analysis of assessing whether the inadmissibility may be overcome.

In some cases, and depending on the seriousness of the crime(s),

By Sofia Mirza, Fillmore Riley LLP

Five Questions an Employer Should Ask before Hiring a Foreign Worker

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Decisions matter. Like when you decide to move from one-of-a-kind designs to having designs on global success. As you expand into new and uncharted markets, will your creativity be compromised? Or will it be unleashed? Making decisions like these is how you’ll determine the future of your business, which is why you should turn to Canada’s leading business designation. With unequalled education and training, Chartered Accountants can help you make every decision a better one.

Decisions matter.

Boutique? Or Mass Market?

the inadmissibility may be overcome in a timely fashion; in others, an officer may choose not to permit entry to Canada.

When it comes to criminal records, you don’t want any surprises. So being aware of a candidate’s criminal record is important because in certain cases steps can be taken to resolve the criminal inadmissibility, at least temporarily, for the duration of the work authorization.

3. Does your proposed candidate require a medical exam?

Depending on the duration of the work term, citizens of some countries may have to undergo an immigration medical exam as part of the work authorization process. Only designated medical practitioners author-ized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada may perform such immigration medical exams. If your candidate requires a medical exam, this may increase work authorization processing times by a few weeks while the medical results are processed.

4. Where is the candidate eligible to apply for their proposed work authorization?

Citizens of some countries, such as the United States, do not require a visa before they apply to enter Canada. When it comes to applying for work authorizations, this can speed up the total processing time significantly as certain work authorizations may then be adjudicated at specific ports of entry to Canada instead of applying outside of Canada first. Citizens of some other countries must have their work permit applications adjudicated outside of Canada first. If the candidate is resident in a country that is not their country of citizenship, other filing location options may also be available.

Of course, all supporting documents required must be in order and the candi-date must still meet all requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada and amendments thereto.

5. Have you considered the long-term picture for your proposed foreign worker?

Let’s assume your foreign worker has successfully obtained Canadian work authorization and settles in nicely only to learn a few months into the job another work permit is required. Knowing in advance what steps are required and how

long they take is critical to avoiding costly and unexpected interruptions in employ-ment. You also need to be aware in advance that some work permits may be renewed and others may not. This knowledge will help you plan for the long term, giving you time to consider what options are available to you and your employee.

Knowing the factors to consider before hiring a foreign worker helps to avoid costly

errors in the process and will help move the process forward in the most cost-effective and efficient way possible. Doing your homework ahead of time, and asking the right questions so you can determine what options are available, will make the process easier on both you and your employee.

Sofia Mirza practises immigration law at Fillmore Riley LLP. You can reach her at [email protected] or (204) 957-8335.


Dallas Transport LtdDallas Transport LtdCall 1-800-665-0473 or 1-204-239-5979Coast-to-Coast Hauling in Canada & U.S.A.

204.272.2262www.fahrgroup.ca

Land Development

Real Estate Services

Business Ventures

We offer high quality service with an innovative and unique combination of skills. Our knowledge and expertise in the land development process will assist in your project and benefit you in your goals.

Safe Work for an Aging WorkforceAre you in a workplace with less than 50 employees and have

potential ergonomic issues affecting older workers?

Contact Andrew Dolhy, Ergonomist for information on a free ergonomic service

Ph: (204) 299-9132 Email: [email protected] more information: www.dolhyergonomics.com

The Idea Board The Invincible Apple: 10 Lessons from the Coolest Company Anywhere by Farhad Manjoo**

• Gointoyourcave(setyourownagendaandtuneoutthe‘experts’)

• It’sokaytobeking(top-downleadershipcanwork)

• Transcendorthodoxy• Justsayno(thepoweroffocus)• Serveyourcustomer,no,really• Everythingismarketing• Killthepast• Turnfeedbackintoinspiration• Don’tinvent,reinvent• Playbyyourownclock

How to Make Sure Your Meetings Aren’t Time-Wasters by Robert Half International*

• Question habit

• Keep it focused

• Select location wisely

• Limit participants

• Streamline the presentation


Employees Deserve Help, But in the End Must Do Job by Barbara Bowes, President of Legacy Bowes Group*

Strategies when employ es experience a major psychological or emotionally traumatic event in the workplace:

• Move the employees to a separate and private location and ensure each person has a buddy with whom to talk things over.

• Allow each individual to express themselves in their own way.

• Share your reactions with them and listen attentively and acknowledge their reactions.

• If possible, arrange for a counsellor to attend your workplace and invite employees to speak confidentially with this individual.

* to find out more go to www.mbchamber.mb.ca ** Fast Company July/August 2010***Harvard Business Review September 2010 ****“The CEO’s Innovation Nightmare: When chief executives yell ‘innovation’ in the forest, but their management teams cover their ears, did they really yell anything at all?” in Bloomberg Businessweek.

But it doesn’t have to. Call 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and we’ll get rid of it for you. Just point to the stuff you want taken away and we’ll do all the loading, clean up and recycling so you can sit back and relax.

Call 1-800-468-5865 or go to 1800gotjunk.com to book an appointment.

WINNIPEG_220910_SMALLAS.indd 1 10-10-06 9:30 AM

The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce tracks a wide range of publications in pursuit of the best ideas and strategies designed to help entrepreneurs. Here are highlights from some items that recently caught our attention:

TenIssuesthatMatterbyKPMG*•Speedsourcing•Internationalfinancialreportingstandardsasanopportunity•Smarterlogistic•Isreverseinnovationthewayforward?•Filthybusiness(businessgettingabadrep)•Softwaremanagement•Changinghabits(whenchangeishard)•Virtualmanagers•Transparentleaders•Justask(learningtoasktherightquestions)

Mistakes Leaders Keep Making

byRobertH.Schaffer***

• Failingtosetproperexpectations

• Excusingsubordinatesfromthepur

suitofoverallgoals

• Colludingwithstaffexpertsandco

nsultants(allowingexpertsto

offersolutionswithoutbeingrespo

nsibleforoutcomes)

• Waitingwhileassociatesprepare,pr

epare,prepare(endlesspreparation

givestheillusionofprogress)

How to Encourage Innovation in Your Business by G. Michael Maddock and Raphael Louis Vitón****

• Recruit believers• Hire objective senior managers• Promote failure• Fail forward• Control the framing• Quit (move on if you don’t believe a big idea

is about to happen in your industry).


Can Canada’s self-employed and small business owners, (and by small business I don’t mean with

sales of five million or less, I mean with four employees or less) get insurance protection that truly provides peace of mind?

If we look at business owners like yourself and those working in blue and grey collar occupations, which includes trades people and farmers for example, it is safe to say that disability insurance is one of the most important types of coverage available – yet many people know very little about it.

Disability insurance can be complex and challenging for the average consumer to understand. There are many options,

definitions, exceptions, limitations and exclusions that a purchaser of disability insurance needs to comprehend.

A lack of understanding about the specifics of their disability coverage has caused tremendous frustration, confusion and upset to many policyholders, who believed they were fully protected and find out after making a claim that things are not as they thought.

Why focus on disability for this article? I’ll answer that with another question – how would you pay the premiums on your life insurance or benefit plan or any of your other expenses if you were unable to run your business because of an injury or

Self-Employed and Secure

illness? The answer is a disability plan that meets your unique needs and situation.

I sincerely believe that disability protection is the most important insurance available. It allows you to continue your life with the least amount of financial hardship on your family if an injury or sickness strikes. If the financial picture is okay, there is less stress and that, in turn, helps your recovery from injury or sickness.

The features, needs and benefits that a self-employed/small business owner should seek in a disability plan are not always the same as a white-collar worker.

I will attempt to highlight the most important features, benefits and definitions

By James Pollard

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that you, as a self-employed or small business owner, needs to both look for and watch out for when considering disability insur-ance or reviewing existing coverage you may already have in place.

Definition of DisabilityMost policies available to this market have a definition of disability stating that you are totally disabled if you are unable to perform the duties of your “regular occupation” – this normally lasts for 24 months in most cases. After 24 months the definition of disability changes to your inability to perform the duties of “any occupa-tion” for which you are suited by reason of education, training or experience.

There is nothing wrong with this definition for most people in this market. As a self-employed/small business owner you can be assured that “any occupation” is an often-used definition. However, if you come across any differences in the market, it is important to ask questions.

Benefit PeriodIt is also important to think about when you want your disability benefits to begin. In most cases I would argue the first day. Let me explain: few claims last more than six months and most minor injury claims have an even shorter duration of two months or less. The premiums that can be saved by opting for a waiting period are much less than the benefit you are giving up.

If you’re a sole proprietor and do not have a 3 to 6 month emer-gency fund then first day coverage is necessary. If an emergency fund is in place then a 30-day waiting period may be appropriate, but no longer. How long did it take you to save up that emergency fund? The additional money you could save by extending the waiting period beyond 30 days is negligible, and not worth having your emergency fund depleted.

If you’re a small business owner, I would offer the same advice. Your business in some cases may be able to continue paying you temporarily. The additional financial strain on your business without your productivity makes this a short-term option at best.

The next important question is how long should the benefit period be? Lifetime coverage is the best, in my opinion, for this market for the following reason: if you become permanently disabled and are forced to live on a disability benefit, how much money do you think you could save for your retirement? My guess is not much. A plan that has a lifetime benefit period will supplement the government provided retirement benefits you would be entitled to. Remember if you are not working you are not contributing to the Canada Pension Plan. Depending on how many years you had contributed prior to becoming disabled, you may be entitled to very little.

In conclusion, if you are a self-employed/small business owner, you should look for a disability plan that provides first day to lifetime coverage. Only in cases where a business owner is well established and financially sound would I recommend a short waiting period, but never longer than 30 days.

By James Pollard

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Wok Box is one of the fastest growing, diverse Asian Style franchises in North America. With dishes ranging from Chinese to Thai, East Indian to Malaysian, this franchise can be mastered and managed by all, even franchisees with little or no retail experience.


Space for Growth

Southport is a property management and development company supporting aviation, training and commercial initiatives.

Tel: 204-428-6030Toll free: 1-800-558-4680email: [email protected]: www.southport.mb.ca

Airport FAcilitieS:4 active runways with aTransport Canada approved air traffic control tower, ground support services, and light aircraft parking.

commerciAl SpAce & educAtionAl FAcilitieS:Customized space isavailable in existingbuildings for commercial& educational facilities.

commerciAl lAnd:80 hectares of prime land (groundside and airside) are available for new commercial & industrial development with low taxes & competitive lease rates.

eASy AcceSS:Centrally located in Canada, with easy access to major transportation routes and the USa.

Integration of Benefits When you are considering disability insurance, the reason you go through a needs assessment (or at least you should) is to deter-mine how much coverage you actually need. You may qualify for a $4,000 per month benefit, but a needs assessment may show you that you only need $2,800.

After determining the required level of benefit, you should be assured that it is the benefit you are actually going to receive if you become disabled. What you want to be cautious of in your plan is the clause “integration of benefits,” which means your benefits are reduced because of other insurance or compensation payments. All insurance companies ensure that the client has an incentive to get back to work. If the underwriting process is too simple when you apply for coverage there may be unwanted surprises at the time of claim.

When is the Policy UnderwrittenThe only way to know exactly what you are and are not covered

for is for the policy to be fully underwritten, medically and finan-cially at the time of application. If you are honest with the insurance company, in most cases you should not need to provide proof of income at the time of claim. Again, it depends on the contract and whether the claim is contestable or not. If you do, there is a chance that the level of benefit you have been paying for is not what you may receive. Make sure you ask the questions!

In addition, all the medical questions should have been handled at the time you applied for coverage and any restrictions or impair-ments fully divulged and explained before you accepted the policy. If you are not sure, ask to see a copy of the claim form you would need to fill out to make a claim. One page double sided should be all that is required. Claim forms that resemble books to fill out should cause you to ask more questions.

Guaranteed RenewableThe policy should be guaranteed renewable to at least the trad-itional retirement age of 65. It should also contain the option to renew beyond that age as many business owners love what they do and work beyond 65.

Non – CancellableTo most people this sounds the same as guaranteed renewable, it is not. A non–cancellable policy means that as long as you maintain your premiums, the company cannot take the coverage away or make any changes to it. Most companies have guaranteed renewable policies, but not all are non-cancellable.

Who Decides You Are DisabledYour own doctor or chiropractor should be the only one deciding on your ability to perform your occupation, fully or partially if partial disability is required.

Standard FeaturesFeatures that are for the most part standard, include 24 hour a day coverage, on or off the job, anywhere in North America.

In more than a dozen years working almost exclusively with self-employed and small business owners in both Ontario and Manitoba, I have found that the more time we spend educating our clients, the better the experience for that client if they have the misfortune of becoming injured or ill. As a corporate member of the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, Penncorp Life Insurance Company has become the provider of choice: for self-employed and small busi-ness owners. With a product line designed for the self- employed/small business market, Penncorp has responded to the needs of more than 110,000 clients. As an Agency Manager with Penncorp Life in Manitoba, I have personally worked with hundreds of clients. In co-operation with our advisors, I have assisted in the recom-mendation of customized insurance protection for thousands of clients in Manitoba. I believe that as advisors it is our responsibility to make sure our clients get the best possible protection. We need to maintain extremely high standards. If the client does not feel confident in what we offer them, (and it better work as we say it will), they will not protect themselves and that does not serve the needs of the client or the advisor.

James Pollard is the agency manager at Penncorp Life Insurance Company, located at 2140 Pembina Highway in Winnipeg. He can be reached at 204-985-1580, toll free at 1-800-670-1911, by fax: 204-697-0823 or by email at [email protected].


For more information contact: Jennifer Pfuetzner, (204) 988-0442 [email protected]

Cynthia Hiebert-Simkin, (204) 988-0354 [email protected]

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada tmlawyers.com

Make the right moveWealth Planning

Trusts · Wills · Probate · Tax Planning · Estate Planning

www.cusb.info

BilingualStrong language skills in both French and English. A distinctive advantage in today’s competitive job market.

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CUSB 12066-MB Focus Ad-FIN.indd 1 9/30/10 1:50:31 PM Third Quarter 2010 Manitoba FOCUS • 25

Axiom Freight Management Inc. 1-1596 Regent Avenue West Suite 321 Winnipeg, MB R2C 4H4 www.axiomfreightaudit.com

What they do: Freight bill auditing, logistics consulting and logistics management. Our goal is to help our clients save money on their freight expenses by: auditing freight bills for erroneous charges; uncovering freight savings by way of an internal review of current practices, procedures and carrier contracts; and managing all of the logistical requirements.

Claim to Fame: Our services allow business owners to focus on what makes them successful. We want to share our knowledge of the transportation and distribution industries to ensure all businesses and business owners are powered with the knowledge to make informed decisions and achieve their goals.

Best Business adviCe: “There is a very famous quote that relates very well to the success of any business – ‘If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.’ Goals and targets that are not measured and managed are simply wishes and dreams.”

POSTCARDS FROM THE BUSINESS EDGEStrategyMakers Consulting PO Box 21094 RPO Charleswood Winnipeg, Manitoba R3R 3E0 www.strategymakers.ca

What they do: We provide advisory and support services in three areas: organizational strategy and leadership, environmental strategy and business development.

Claim to Fame: We offer our clients an independent perspective that has been built through 20+ years of experience in non-profit organizational management and environmental policy, combined with a strong business and entrepreneurial background and top-of-class MBA training.

Best Business adviCe: “To be effective, strategy must be action-oriented. It’s not just about ‘planning.’ It’s understanding, planning, then executing! This is the same regardless of whether you are an entrepreneur trying to establish and grow your business, a not-for profit creating social value or a community pursuing environmental sustainability.”

Eldon Beer, President

Mike Fernandes, Founder


Commercial InsuranceGroup Insurance Solutions will tailor a commercial insurance package to suit your needs with a wide range of products from Property Insurance to Surety Bonds.

Our guarantee to you includes:• An understanding of your business,• Low-hassle administration, and• Reasonable rates.

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TotalGUARD offers you:• Pooled rates for immediate and long-term savings,• Low-hassle administration, and• Flexibility.

Call 1-800-665-8990 today or visit us online at www.westernfgis.caCommercial Insurance – Justin Friesen ext. 7211 Employee Benefits – Scott Stewart ext. 7287

Choosing the right amount of coverage to protect your independent business and your employees can be confusing.

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Winnipeg

grand Forks

HoW to best expand your business in tHe united states

Tapping into the U.S. market is a critical step in your company’s growth. Starting close to home makes your U.S. growth easier and more profitable. Where should you begin? Grand Forks, North Dakota.

701-746-2721 • [email protected] • www.grandforks.org

Grand Forks is close to home, only 220 kilometres from Winnipeg. Spend the day at your US office and still make it home in time for dinner.

Grand Forks is home to an International Soft Landing Incubator. This Incubator helps foreign companies access capital, develop export entry strategies, and cut through governmental red tape.

Grand Forks and the state of North Dakota offer valuable business support programs. Grand Forks also has virtual tenant space so you can work in Manitoba and have a presence in the U.S.

Take the next step into the U.S. market. Contact the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation to learn more about expanding your business in Grand Forks, ND.


BUSINESSEDGE

Landscape ArchitectHILDERMAN THOMAS FRANK CRAM 500-115 Bannatyne Avenue East, Winnipeg MB R3B 0R3 Maggie Martin, Tel: 204-944-9907 / Fax: 204-957-1467 Email: [email protected] Website: www.htfc.mb.caHilderman Thomas Frank Cram is an award-winning landscape architecture and planning collaborative, founded in 1969. Located in the heart of Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District, the firm is known for thoughtful, timeless and sustainable work in the landscapes of the North American Prairie, Northwestern Ontario Boreal Forest and Tundra Regions.

Cardlock

CO-OP RED RIVER 1960 Notre Dame Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2H7 Gordon Grainger, Tel: 204-631-4600 / Fax: 204-631-4647 Email: [email protected] Website: www.rrcoop.comCardlock Advantages: Volume discount pricing. 24hr fuel service at your fingertips. High speed pumps. Detailed weekly, monthly, by unit # or Card # invoicing. Control fuel expenditures. No fuel storage worries such as insurance or environmental concerns. Simplify your accounting - streamline all your driving expenses to one convenient card. Receipts issued immediately listing all the necessary details.

Packaging Materials

SYN-TEX A DIVISION OF ITW CANADA 211 Hutchings Street, Winnipeg, MB R2X 2R4 Gary Smith, Tel: 204-632-5667 Fax: 204-633-4125 Email: [email protected] Website: www.syntexgeo.comShoreline erosion? Seasonal flooding? Frozen pipes on your work site? Time to dewater the sludge? Garbage at your construction site? Disaster Clean up? Food/chemical or mineral bulk packaging? Try one of our high strength polyethylene / Geotextile Enviro solutions or our polywoven packaging products.

Construction Equipment Dealer

MAZERGROUP1908 Currie Blvd, Brandon, MB R7B 4E7 Tel: 204-761-8835 / Fax: 204-726-9158 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mazergroup.caMazergroup is the largest privately owned CNH dealership group in Canada. With 13 dealerships across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, we offer award winning service that is always close to home. Mazergroup offers full line agricultural, construction, and commerical turf equipment sales, parts and service. See us for all of your equipment needs.

Engineering ConsultantsGENIVAR 10 Prairie Way, The Waters Business Park, SW Corner of Mazenod & Dugald Roads, Winnipeg MB R2J 3J8 Tel: 204-477-6650 Website: www.genivar.comWinnipeg I Other offices in over 85 communities in CanadaGENIVAR is a Canadian leader in engineering delivering solutions based on a global approach to projects. We provide services including:• Studies • Engineering • Project Management • Environmental


Toronto 1.866.216.0860

Winnipeg 1.866.201.3096

Vancouver 1.604.739.2115

Gainesville 1.877.234.1863 www.med iaedgepub l i sh ing .com

Give yourself the EDGE

IT’S YOUR MESSAGE.

GIVE IT THE EDGE.

A fter twenty-three years in the association-

publishing fi eld, Kevin Brown and I decided

eight years ago to establish MediaEdge Publishing.

We wanted to use our skills, knowledge and love

of publishing to build a business with a focus on

providing exemplary customer service and leading

edge association communication solutions.

Today, MediaEdge is the leader in quality custom

publishing for associations. We treat every client

like our only client, and their agenda is our agenda.

These have remained our guiding principles since

we fi rst opened our doors.

Customer service is our number one priority.

Robert Thompson Senior Vice-PresidentToronto 1.866.216.0860 ext. 229Fax: 416.512.8344

1-800-GOT-JUNK? ..........................21www.1800gotjunk.com

A. Dolhy Ergonomics Inc ...................20www.dolhyergonomics.com

Altus Group .....................................10www.altusgroup.com

BDC ......................... Inside Back Coverwww.bdc.ca

Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan ......Outside Back Coverwww.buychambers.ca

Collège Universitaire De St-Boniface ..............................25www.cusb.ca

Dallas Transport Ltd. .........................19www.dallastransport.com

Fahr Group ......................................20www.fahrgroup.ca

FBC.................................................13www.fbc.ca

Fillmore Riley LLP ..... Inside Front Coverwww.fillmoreriley.com

ADVERTISERS INDEX

First Canadian Hospitality .................23www.wokbox.ca

Genivar ...........................................28www.genivar.com

Grand Forks EDC .............................27www.grandforks.org

Granny’s Poultry .................................7www.grannys.ca

Hilderman Thomas Frank Cram .........28www.htfc.mb.ca

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba ...................................19www.icam.mb.ca

Investors Group ..................................6www.investorsgroup.com

Manitoba Blue Cross ..........................5www.mb.bluecross.ca

Manitoba Hydro .................................9www.hydro.mb.ca

Mazergroup .....................................28www.mazergroup.ca

Penncorp Life Insurance Co. .............11www.penncorp.ca

Place Louis Riel Suite Hotel ................9www.placelouisriel.com

RBC Royal Bank of Canada ...............11www.rbcroyalbank.com

Red River Co-op ...............................28www.rrcoop.com

South Beach Casino and Resort ........14www.southbeachcasino.ca

Southport Aerospace Centre Inc. .......24www.southport.mb.ca

Syn-Tex, A Division of ITW Canada ....28www.syntexbag.com

Taylor McCaffrey LLP. .......................25www.tmlawyers.com

Vickar Automotive Group ..................14www.vickar.com

Western Financial Group...................27www.westernfgis.ca

Workers Compensation Board ...........15www.safemanitoba.com

Zyme Fast Inc ..................................25www.twoobvious.com


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POWER UP YOUR BUSINESSINVEST. INNOVATE. GROW.

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK®

OCTOBER 17-23, 2010

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1101-381_Manitoba_Focus_Mag.indd 1 20/08/10 11:07 AM

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