Premiere Edition

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i n t r o d u c t i o n

Publisher: Dee Dhaliwal | Director of Sales: Tara LalanneManager, Special Projects: Keshav Sharma | Editor: Helen Peterson

Articles by Jan-Christian Sorensen | Photography by Kyrani KanavarosDesign: Adrian Cunningham | Production: Barbara Farley

Videography Team: Romina Puno, Caitlin Hawley, Jordan Smysnuik, Stephen Smysnuik, Jesse Tanaka

hat do you think of when you hear the word “excellence?”

For many who live and work in Vancouver and have businesses here, we think of the people — our neighbours, friends and partners — who make this city the vibrant place the world knows it to be. they define excellence, and they are the reason why, when the Vancouver courier started this project, we could think of no better name than Profiles of Excellence. it’s a project we’re proud of.

the Vancouverites we’re showcasing here come from a wide variety of backgrounds comprised of a wealth of education, experience and expertise. What they share is commitment, the ability to keep

struggling to reach their goals and to make their professions and community better. Many have won awards and succeeded brilliantly, but the most important evidence of their excellence is the respect they are shown: from clients, shareholders, employees and the public.

As you read these profiles, you will be struck by our city’s diversity. You will see how individuals in a wide variety of fields and markets succeed, often despite significant challenges. And you will find inspiration for your own work and life in pursuit of excellence.

dee dhaliwalPublisher, The Vancouver Courier

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Download the free Layar App & scan the left hand photo pages in this magazine to discover interactive content.

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coPEMAn HEALtHcArE cEntrE ................................................................................5

FruiticAnA ................................................................................................................................7

BrooKs corninG .................................................................................................................9

tPd (formerly the Peronnel department) .........................................................................11

YorK HousE scHooL ...................................................................................................... 13

tHind ProPErtiEs Ltd. ................................................................................................. 15

coMMErciAL ELEctronics ...................................................................................... 17

sPrott sHAW coLLEGE .................................................................................................. 19

tot 2 tEEn dEntAL ............................................................................................................21

PAris cLiniQE ........................................................................................................................ 23

PoLinsYs .......................................................................................................25

J&M coin And JEWELLErY Ltd. .............................................................................. 27

roBin’s PHArMAcY .......................................................................................................... 29

PErForMAncE construction ...............................................................................31

triuMF ....................................................................................................................................... 33

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ince 2005, copeman Healthcare centre has been breathing new life into the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

A family owned business that has grown from one facility in Vancouver to four federated clinics and a staff of 150, copeman’s mission remains the same as the day it opened: to improve the quality and longevity of people’s lives by providing unparalleled standards of prevention-focused healthcare and by giving each patient the time and attention they deserve.

copeman offers a collaborative, complementary approach to personalized health management and disease prevention. Physicians work in conjunction with family health nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, kinesiologists, registered dietitians and lifestyle coaches to provide every patient with their very own team of experts that help them develop a personalized prevention plan and keep them on track.

Where many clinics focus primarily on treating patients after they become ill, the caring team at copeman takes a proactive approach — understanding that on the continuum of prevention, early detection and treatment, it is prevention that offers the best health outcomes and has the potential to reduce the demand for costly medical interventions down the road.

“if a patient comes to us with a health issue we’ll treat them and get them on the path to lasting wellness,” says don copeman, Founder and chairman of copeman Healthcare, “if they come to us and they’re already healthy, our job is to keep them that way for a very long time.”

“We have an expression here: ‘Medical expertise when you need it, prevention when you’re ready for it’. Primary prevention is always the best option, but it also requires therapeutic lifestyle change. We understand that not everybody is ready to make those changes so we can offer them early detection, which is a close second.”

in addition to a wide range of personal wellness programs that are focused on promoting physical, psychological and brain health, copeman is also dedicated to nurturing healthier workplaces through its custom-designed corporate healthcare plans. Health programs for employees can offer companies a competitive advantage. As a coveted benefit they help attract and retain star performers. And by investing in the physical and mental well-being of the workforce companies can also increase productivity and lower expenses associated with absenteeism and turnover.

copeman’s forward-thinking philosophy of prevention has met with resounding success at its Vancouver location, which has grown steadily and cared for thousands of executives and their families in the eight years since inception.

“our client and employee satisfaction scores meet or exceed published benchmarks of the best companies,” says Les Jickling, copeman Healthcare’s director of Marketing and communications. “Every day i am inspired to help make copeman a world-class organization and to do that we need to be continuously looking for ways to improve.”

in response to client feedback, copeman has introduced innovative programming such as “copeman Kids” to optimize children’s physical, mental and emotional development. new clinical pathways have been added to augment disease risk stratification and a targeted seminar series developed for corporate audiences.

At the heart of the copeman Way is a steadfast commitment to provide honest, ethical and compassionate care to every one of its clients.

“those principles should be central to every business, but even more so when dealing with something as personal as someone’s health,” says Jickling. “regardless of our business imperatives we must never forget that we exist to care for our clients.”

ScoPEMAn HEALtHcArE cEntrE

“We have an expression here: ‘Medical expertise

when you need it, prevention when you’re

ready for it.” – Copeman Healthcare

Centre Founder and Chairman Don Copeman

Suite 400-1128 Hornby StreetVAncouVer, bcteL 604.707.2273

web copemanhealthcare.com

PHOTO: Dr. Peter House - Corporate Medical Officer, Don Copeman - Founder and Chairman, Dr. Beth Donaldson – Clinical Medical Director | Right: Dr. Rhonda Low �

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n 1994, indo-canadian entrepreneur tony singh carefully planted and nurtured a seed by establishing a small produce store in surrey called Fruiticana.

nearly 20 years later, that seed has blossomed into a grocery-store empire that now encompasses 500 employees, 18 locations across B.c. and Alberta and annual sales of more than $100 million.

While singh initially launched Fruiticana, to fill a hole in a market that was neglecting the thriving indo-canadian community in Vancouver, and to cater to their specific tastes, today his clientéle is as diverse as the myriad products he stocks on his shelves.

one thing hasn’t changed, however — singh’s commitment to provide his customers with an ever-changing selection of the freshest produce possible, as well as a wide array of unique and specialty spices, legumes like lentils and hard-to-find items from far-off corners of the globe.

Earlier this year, Fruiticana was honoured with the fifth annual international trade Award for Large Business by the surrey Board of trade, and the company is currently nominated in four categories for the 2014 small Business Bc Awards.

“there’s no secret to our success,” says singh. “it’s the same now as when i started my first store. You find out what people want and fulfill their needs, and what they’re looking for is better quality at the best price possible.”

singh, who still keeps his shoulder to the wheel by working ten hours a day, six days a week, has also made superior customer service a key pillar of the Fruiticana business philosophy.

As if to underscore that dedication on a personal level, singh still spends time on the ‘shop’ floor and in the aisles whenever he pays a visit to one of his stores.

“Just last week i was in my first store for an hour or so and met some people who started shopping there 20 years ago and are still coming in,” he says. “they moved away, but they still make a special visit to my store, so i’m able to chat with them, and i really do miss that — talking to my customers on a daily basis.”

Fruiticana leases large farms in Mexico to keep its stores well stocked with premium products picked at the peak of ripeness, but singh also places an emphasis on sourcing a large selection of fresh fruit and produce from local growers and farmers throughout B.c. whenever possible.

“our produce is different than other stores or supermarkets because we grow our own product and we work closely with our growers on a daily and weekly basis and we tell them when to pick it. We don’t pick it when it’s still green and doesn’t have any taste, even though it would last longer on the shelf. ours is a perfect, ripe product.”

singh, who also moonlights as a small-business advocate, firmly believes in giving back to the communities that have contributed to his success. to that end, Fruiticana is a regular supporter of various sport and community programs, sponsors local scholarships and contributes to Bc children’s Hospital and surrey Memorial Hospital.

“if you take from the tree, you have to fertilize it and water it and give back. You have to take care of your environment as well as the people around you. no matter how small, we all have to play our part,” says singh.

IFruiticAnA

“If you take from the tree, you have to

fertilize it and water it and give back. You have

to take care of your environment as well as the people around you.” – Fruiticana owner Tony Singh

12758 80tH AVenueSurrey, bc

teL 604.502.0005web fruiticana.com

PHOTO: Tony Singh, Founder and President of Fruiticana�

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or the past century, governments, corporations and architectural-design firms of all stripes have turned to Brooks corning to provide organic

workspace and office furniture solutions.

What first began as a small store founded by tom Brooks on seymour street has now evolved into a spacious, well-appointed 8,000-sq. ft. showroom on Homer street and a 16,000-sq. ft. operations centre and warehouse complex located in Burnaby. instead of contracting out delivery and installation services, Brooks corning employs its own installation crew and dedicated fleet of vehicles, ensuring it remains hands-on from the initial proposal phase through to delivery and set-up.

While the company has certainly changed in 100 years, one aspect has remained a constant — Brooks corning’s sterling reputation for providing dependable service and customer satisfaction.

“We have to remain focused on continual improvement because it’s a very competitive industry, the margins are challenging and we have to run pretty lean, so we look at every aspect of our operation and ask, ‘What can we do better and faster, and how do we make the experience as positive as we can for our customers’?” says Brooks corning vice-president, Bob ross.

that experience begins with allowing each client to remain focused on their business while Brooks corning works behind the scenes with architectural firms and interior-design experts to customize flexible workplace solutions that fit the unique needs of each client, allowing them to create spaces that mirror their culture while maximizing worker and organizational productivity.

“We need to be the experts in our field and our customers need to be able to trust

us to work with them to analyze their business and their space needs and guide them through the process,” says ross.

While Brooks corning has always carried a wide array of office furniture to satisfy any style and price point, for the past 23 years the company has enjoyed a partnership with one of the world’s foremost designers and manufacturers of cutting-edge office interior solutions and technological innovations in Haworth. Brooks corning has been designated a Best in class dealer by Haworth and remains the sole distributor of its products for the Lower Mainland and interior B.c.

While Brooks corning primarily does the bulk of its business with clients in Vancouver’s downtown core, it has also been involved in a number of projects at the university of British columbia as well as delivering office solutions for various levels of government and corporate clients throughout the province.

one of the company’s largest contracts to date was completed last year, when Brooks corning secured a multi-million dollar contract to outfit the new headquarters of Kal tire in Vernon.

ross is quick to credit the dedicated staff at Brooks corning for helping to ensure the company stays true to its principles and holds firm to its reputation as one of the most trusted and sought-after local providers of workspace and office furniture solutions. it’s that team, says ross, which will continue to set the pace for the company as Brooks corning embarks on its second century as a Vancouver mainstay.

“it’s all about the team you put together,” says ross. “We’ve got a strong team here at Brooks corning and we all share the knowledge that we can get better. that’s always motivating us. if you can establish a great team and everybody has the same conviction it helps to make the path forward that much easier.”

FBrooKs corninG

“We look at every aspect of our operation and ask ‘What can we

do better and faster, and how do we make

the experience as positive as we can for

our customers?”– Brooks Corning

Vice-President Robert (Bob) Ross

1038 Homer StreetVAncouVer, bcteL 604.688.6655

web brookscorning.com

PHOTO: Brooks Corning Vice-President Robert (Bob) Ross | Right: A workspace solution by Brooks Corning�

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Behind every successful company is a team of employees diligently working behind the scenes. And helping companies connect with the ideal

candidates to fill jobs and develop lasting and viable human resource strategies is tPd.

tPd — formerly known as the Personnel department — first launched in calgary in 1980, founded by cEo Leslie Meingast. three decades later it has grown from a staffing and recruiting firm into a multi-faceted Hr and consulting giant that has seen its influence extend throughout Western north America, Australia, new Zealand and Europe. the third largest organization owned by a woman in Bc, Meingast has managed tPd’s evolution into a full-service workforce and Hr solutions provider.

As tPd has evolved, so too has its own resume. today, it offers public and private companies a host of workplace solutions ranging from temporary staffing, permanent recruitment and executive search services, to performance assessment, payroll, succession planning, and immigration consulting and processing. on the other end of the spectrum, tPd also connects job seekers with the right companies.

At present, tPd is undergoing an exciting rebirth process of sorts by way of rebranding; officially changing its name from the Personnel department to tPd, altering its logo, and redesigning its website to better reflect its exciting, innovative and unique approach to Hr.

What makes tPd unique is that it does not employ a “cookie-cutter” approach to Hr solutions. rather, tPd tailors its services to fit the individual needs of each client.

“We’re in a fairly unique position in terms of size and flexibility,” says tPd President Paul tournier. “there are a lot of small operators and a lot of large multinationals and we fit perfectly in the middle, which

makes us large enough to deliver but small enough to care and be flexible towards the needs of each of our clients.”

Beyond simply trying to fill vacant chairs at desks, tPd delves into each company it represents to try and properly understand their business needs and how to create appropriate, long-term Hr solutions.

“the trick is to do a bit of digging and make sure we properly understand context,” says tournier. “Why this is happening, what they are asking for and how we are best able to help them. “if we’re talking recruiting then we try to find out what the culture is, what are the required skills and abilities and then look at our candidate pool and try to find the best match. We use different sets of tools in terms of assessments, but at the same time there’s always the personal touch to it and a certain magic that happens when a recruiter interviews a number of people and identifies who the best fit as a candidate would be.”

tPd also helps its clients successfully manage strategies to tap into and reap the rewards of maintaining a strong presence on burgeoning social-media platforms such as twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and Flickr. no matter how successful a company is at tackling those social-media issues, however, what inevitably dictates success or failure boils down to the quality of people and system of governance a company employs, says tournier.

“Most clients we work with see that technology is a great enabler but at the same time if you don’t have the right people and the right structure and organization you’re basically getting nowhere, and that has changed the function of Hr within the business community.

“For me, being at tPd and working on our own development is really ensuring that we stay in sync with that evolution,” tournier states, “and i think that’s reflected in our history, how we operate today and what we’re building towards in the future.”

BtPd (Formerly The Personnel Department)

“(We are) large enough to deliver but small enough to care and be flexible towards the needs of each of

our clients.”– TPD President

Paul Tournier

1205-595 Howe StreetVAncouVer, bcteL 604.685.3530

web tpD.com

PHOTO: President Paul Tournier and CEO Leslie Meingast of TPD11

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s York House scholars are encouraged to contribute to their community by embodying the school motto, ‘not for ourselves alone,’ so too

does the independent school pride itself on giving back to its students.

since its inception in shaughnessy 81 years ago, the independent school for girls has empowered its students to develop their abilities and pursue their passions by providing challenging opportunities in academics, fine arts, athletics and community service.

However, even the best and brightest students sometimes require a helping hand to achieve their goals, and that’s where the York House school Foundation comes in.

the Foundation, which was established in 1976 with $5,000 and has now surpassed $7 million in capital endowment funds, regularly provides financial assistance to York House school families as well as enabling capable students who might not otherwise be able to attend the school to enroll.

Each year the Foundation supports eight students with full-tuition scholarships and two students with partial scholarships, but a number of other bursaries and funds are also available to both current and prospective students.

Looking at the York House honour roll you’ll find a number of success stories of students who went on to even bigger and brighter things thanks to the support of a foundation scholarship.

Alisha roberts, who attended York House on a full scholarship for five years, graduated from York House in 2012 as the athlete of the year and accepted a full-ride scholarship to Pepperdine university, where she is studying sports medicine and playing guard for the school’s ncAA div. 1 Wave.

“the YHs Foundation opened up a new world in our perception of what education really means,” said Alisha’s father, norman roberts. “We’ve watched Alisha grow at York House, knowing that this experience would not have been possible for us without the Foundation scholarship.”

“the whole point of the scholarship program is to allow girls who otherwise cannot afford to be here the opportunity to come and experience what we have to offer,” explains York House director of Admissions, Mabel Lim.

“the school motto, ‘not for ourselves alone,’ underscores why people choose York House in part because of that outward-looking vision,” adds Assistant Head of school, Kathy Kealey. “We want our young women to go out and have a sense of commitment and purpose to themselves and to the broader community as well.”

Lim admits that, often, word of mouth is the most effective means of spreading the message to parents of potential students about the opportunities available through the Foundation, which in turn spurs them to explore the possibility of enrolling their daughter.

sometimes, it’s even the prospective students themselves who prove to be the catalyst in making the switch from the local program to becoming a proud ‘Yorkie.’

“typically at the Grade 8 level, i meet a lot of families where it’s the child herself that is driving the process,” says Lim. “Parents seem so astounded that their 12-year-old has made up her mind that this is what she wants to do and says to them, ‘i don’t want to just go to the local school like everyone else. there’s something more that i want.”

AYorK HousE scHooL

“The whole point of the scholarship program is to allow girls who

otherwise cannot afford to be here the opportunity to come and experience what

we have to offer.”– Mabel Lim, York House

School Director of Admissions

4176 ALexAnDrA StreetVAncouVer, bcteL 604.730.2419

web yorkhouse.ca

PHOTO: York House scholar, Skylar Gordon 1�

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ince 1997, thind Properties Ltd. has established a hallmark for building quality and creating value for homebuyers in the Greater Vancouver area.

Launched by indo-canadian entrepreneur daljit thind, thind Properties has since put its distinctive stamp on a wide range of single-family, townhouse and condominium projects in the Lower Mainland and continues to build its brand by blending quality developments with affordable prices and environmentally friendly practices.

A true study in self-made success, thind first emigrated from india in 1993 and quickly found his niche in canada, completing his first single-family home in Vancouver four years later.

“Families turn to us to experience the dream of home ownership,” says thind, cEo and founder of thind Properties Ltd., “and we pride ourselves on providing architectural innovation, tremendous quality and superior customer service.”

While his company has grown by leaps and bounds, thind remains as hands-on as the day he oversaw his first project, shepherding each aspect of his signature developments from the foundations to the rooftops.

He credits honesty and an unshakable work ethic as the keys to his success. “We operate with the understanding that each and every home we build will eventually become our customer’s castle,” says thind.

“We began this company with a vision of building quality homes and creating value for our customers. it’s a motto that we stand to this day.”

Billed as a “Landmark thind signature Gold development”, skyway tower on Kingsway in Vancouver is daljit thind’s current premier project.

A landmark development located in the heart of Vancouver’s new norquay community, skyway tower is a 12-storey

high-rise and four-storey mid-rise project that combines quality, form, function and affordability in spacious one-to three-bedroom penthouse units that boast high-end laminate flooring, durable ceramic tiles, textured carpeting, designer lighting and fixtures and stainless-steel appliances. the project, slated for completion in september of 2014, is already 70 per cent sold out.

But skyway tower is not the only marquee development in thind Properties’ portfolio at present.

thind is also promoting View 388 — a 53-unit, luxury condo project currently under construction on Kootenay st. in East Vancouver — as well as the Metro one and two condominium buildings on Grimmer st. in Burnaby and the 46 two- and three-bedroom townhouses available in the casa d’oro project on Gilley Ave., conveniently located near Metrotown centre in central Burnaby.

in previous years, thind built his brand — and reputation — by developing such projects as the scena at 2239 Kingsway and the View at 2150 Hastings street, and has a half-dozen projects currently slated to break ground in 2014.

“My dream is to continue to take my company to the next level,” says thind, who is excited by the opportunities available for homebuyers in the Vancouver and Burnaby real-estate market. “it’s an exciting time to be a real-estate developer in Vancouver. it’s the best place to be working right now.”

thind also places a premium on being a good community citizen both here in his adopted homeland as well as in his native india.

in addition to sponsoring local children’s clubs and homeless-outreach programs in Vancouver’s downtown East side, daljit is the vice-chair of an all-girls school he helped to build in Punjab state in northern india and is actively working to help export the B.c. school curriculum to the institution.

StHind ProPErtiEs Ltd.

“Families turn to us to experience the dream of home ownership, and we pride ourselves on

providing architectural innovation, tremendous

quality and superior customer service.”

– Daljit Thind, President and CEO of Thind Properties Ltd.

2245 KingSwAyVAncouVer, bcteL 604.451.7780

web thinD.ca

PHOTO: Daljit Thind, President and CEO of Thind Properties1�

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uperior products, service and expertise... since 1957, those qualities have helped commercial Electronics set the gold standard for audio and video aficionados throughout Vancouver.

Founded by German immigrant, entrepreneur and inventor Henry von tiesenhausen and originally located on Burrard street for 42 years, commercial Electronics was home to the very first flat-screen tV in north America in the early

‘90s — which sold for $25,000 at the time.

today, commercial Electronics continues to feature a wide array of state-of-the-art audio and visual technologies for commercial and residential clients alike in its spacious retail showroom on West 7th Ave. in the south Granville district, which is also home to its repair and video duplication and conversion centres. Besides sound and home-theatre rooms, the showroom also features a new

“Experience centre” that introduces clients to creative ways to hide technology through art or within the existing interior design of their home.

“that is something that we promote strongly with our customers, so that they are able to get a feel for what we offer not only on a qualitative but also an aesthetic level,” says Hal clark, director of the residential systems integration Group at commercial Electronics. “our company, especially at the retail level, is much more lifestyle-oriented than a box store.

“We don’t promote ourselves as a big-box store and turn over lots of single product sales. it’s most always ’systems’ that go out into peoples’ homes. some of them are relatively simple and some feature total home integration, including lighting, HVAc and motorized shades,” says clark, who lists a $1.5-million job his division oversaw in a single-family home as evidence,

“but we always cater to each client as if they were a millionaire.”

commercial Electronics’ Pro division —

which custom-designs, installs and integrates audio/visual, lighting, digital mixing and control systems for houses of worship, corporate offices and boardrooms as well as schools and various levels of government

— operates out of a separate warehouse on industrial Ave. that also houses the company’s rentals and engineering divisions.

the company showroom is also the exclusive B.c. home of Bang and olufsen, a boutique danish electronics and lifestyle solutions company, famous for marrying unrivalled sound quality with modern design aesthetics. the latest cutting-edge Bang and olufsen products on offer at commercial Electronics is the triptych of BeoLab nos. 17, 18 and 19 series of speakers that stream music over a proprietary network and feature Bang and olufsen’s groundbreaking immaculate Wireless sound.

Audiophiles also tend to flock to commercial Electronics’ selection of high-end ELAc speakers, while the eyes of adoring videophiles have been caught by Keleidascape — a movie-storage solution that also allows users to organize their existing collection of dVds, Blu-rays and music cds, as well as download first-run movies from a dedicated online store without compression or degradation concerns.

As it was when commercial Electronics first opened its doors, keeping the customer satisfied always rules the day.

“our client base is golden,” says clark, who sees referrals come in on the residential side from friends, family and neighbours of existing customers, the design community, and on the commercial side via good word-of-mouth from institutions, corporations, architects and builders.

“For us, it’s all about connecting with and developing relationships within the community. i think that’s been one of the main things that has sustained commercial Electronics over the years — not only our visibility but our work within the community itself.”

ScoMMErciAL ELEctronics

Always on the cutting edge of its industry,

Commercial Electronics was home to the very first flat-screen TV in North America, in the early ‘90s

1565 weSt 7tH AVenueVAncouVer, bcteL 604.669.5525

web commercialelectronics.ca

PHOTO: Commercial Electronics Director of Retail Systems Integration, Hal Clark | Right: The showroom’s “Experience Centre”

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prott shaw college is a textbook example of a local school with a global reach.

What originally began as a business institute in Victoria 110 years ago has

now evolved into a college boasting 13 campuses across B.c. that offer degrees and diplomas for domestic and international students alike, in over 120 programs.

With flexible start dates and scheduling options, employment support services and lifetime upgrades and refresher courses, sprott shaw has always attracted its fair share of local students for training in the trades and healthcare disciplines. However, the college has also seen a groundswell of international students coming through its doors in recent years to enroll in business and technology as well as tourism and hospitality programs.

Word of sprott shaw’s success in building a bustling hub for international students is spreading far beyond canada’s borders, thanks to the college establishing its own career-preparation programs in licenced partner institutions located in countries in the Middle East, china, Japan and southeast Asia.

to act as a welcoming committee for those new arrivals, the college is actively involved in assisting international students with securing accommodations and medical insurance, dealing with immigration and banking issues as well as organizing group outings and student activities.

the school is further developing its international appeal through its involvement in a series of “Global Education cities,” currently under development in richmond and the south cambie district of Vancouver. When completed, the sites will host a number of public and private colleges and universities and provide amenities such as student housing, retail outlets and restaurants as well as travel agencies and immigration lawyers and consultants.

sprott shaw’s commitment to its students doesn’t simply end at graduation. the college employs a team of career-placement specialists at each campus to assist students with resumés, preparing for interviews and sourcing out job opportunities for them. in keeping with that support system, sprott shaw has also established its own call centre where specialists connect graduates with full- and part-time jobs in their chosen field.

“We go the extra mile to prepare our students for interviews, to make sure we talk to employers to source out job leads, and to ensure that students are lined up with opportunities so there’s an even better chance for them to secure good jobs quickly,” says sprott shaw president Patrick dang.

nurturing and supporting a student body that can exceed 2,500 each year can be a tall order, and dang is quick to credit the school’s roster of dedicated faculty and staff for helping to spur the continued growth.

“our faculty form the foundation here,” says dang. “Without great instructors, you cannot have great students. i’m very pleased and proud to say our instructors go out of their way and our smaller class sizes allow them to really get to know the wants and needs and learning patterns of each student, which helps us produce solid graduates.”

dang is firmly convinced that r.J. sprott and W.H. shaw — the two men who founded the venerable institution in 1903

— would be proud of both how the school has thrived and the direction in which it continues to head.

“As our new mandate states, we provide relevant skills for meaningful jobs. We’ve been here for 110 years, we’re tried, tested and proven and we stand by our graduates,” says dang. “We want our students to believe in us as much as we believe in them and their chosen path or career.”

SsPrott sHAW coLLEGE

“We’re tried, tested and proven and we

stand by our graduates. We want our students

to believe in us as much as we believe in them

and their chosen path or career.”

– Sprott Shaw President Patrick Dang

13 Sprott SHAw LocAtionS in bcteL 604.683.7400

web sprottshaw.com

PHOTO: Sprott Shaw President Patrick Dang | Right: A Sprott Shaw student in the classroom1�

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he best referrals tot 2 teen dental owner dr. Anita Gartner receives are, the word-of-mouth variety.

it’s an affirmation that dr. Gartner and her staff are providing the best possible quality of care and succeeding in their desire to help ease the anxiety some of their young patients may have in the dental chair.

“that is the best recommendation i can have,” says dr. Gartner, “When one parent tells another, ‘i think you should go here,’ i’m absolutely grateful because it’s a privilege for a parent to come to you and say ‘i trust you, please help treat my child.’ it’s a huge responsibility.”

dr. Gartner, a pediatric dentist with 16-plus years’ experience, conceptualized and then opened tot 2 teen dental four years ago. she has since carved a niche for administering state-of-the-art, individualized care for children and special-needs patients of all ages in a warm and welcoming environment.

Besides offering a full range of diagnostic, preventive, restorative and interceptive orthodontic services, dr. Gartner and her staff also specialize in patient-specific behavioral management techniques ranging from tell-show-do, positive reinforcement to hypnosis and pharmacological techniques which include nitrous oxide, oral and iV sedation as well as general anesthesia.

Herself a mother of two daughters, dr. Gartner knows full well it requires a deft touch to both allay patient fears and build a solid foundation for a lifetime of successful visits to the dentist’s office.

“if you look at the statistics, a great number of adults are anxious and fearful of the dentist and, unfortunately, it’s because they have likely had a bad experience or their needs were not met when they were children,” she says. “thirty years ago it

was just, ‘sit there and be quiet,’ but now you need to be able to make adjustments based on the needs of each patient.

“My ultimate goal is to make the intolerable dental visit more tolerable for children and develop the skills and knowledge that promote good oral health and well-being.”

dr. Gartner is also committed to continually re-educating herself and her staff in new and emerging dental techniques as well as community education and outreach initiatives. this expertise will help her, and the overall practice, to fill a much-needed niche in Vancouver.

in January, 2014, dr. Gartner will move into a new and expanded tot 2 teen dental clinic in the sunrise community of East Vancouver. the new office will also feature easier access for parents with strollers and patients in wheelchairs.

treating patients with special needs has always been a personal priority for Gartner, who has a sister and mother who use wheelchairs. “i’ve learned to be inclusive and aware of the unique needs of patients with special needs because i’ve lived with it my whole life,” says dr. Gartner. “it gives you a unique perspective.”

tot 2 teen regularly pays visits to local daycares, schools and community centres and dr. Gartner donates her time and services to community-wide dental days that offer free treatment for those with access-to-care issues.

“there are many children who need their fears put to rest the first time in the dentist chair,” says dr. Gartner. “When they give you a big hug afterwards and say,

‘thank you,’ it just melts my heart. it’s a wonderful thing to be able to empower children and build lasting and fulfilling relationships that promote good oral health and well-being.”

T

tot 2 tEEn dEntAL

“My ultimate goal is to make the intolerable

dental visit more tolerable for children and build lasting and fulfilling relationships that promote good oral health and well-being.”

– Dr. Anita Gartner, owner of Tot 2 Teen Dental

2651 eASt HAStingSVAncouVer, bcteL 604.569.3669

web tot2teenDental.com

PHOTO: Dr. Anita Gartner of Tot 2 Teen Dental�1

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You’ll have to pardon ilan Givon if he fancies himself something of a modern-day Ponce de Leon.

But quite unlike the famed spanish explorer, Givon has successfully established his own Fountain of Youth at Paris cliniqe, a boutique esthetics clinic devoted to providing customers with state-of-the-art anti-aging technologies and treatments.

since 2010, the staff at Paris cliniqe have offered both male and female clients an array of comprehensive, natural and non-invasive procedures to promote slimming, skin tightening, muscle toning, body and facial rejuvenation and hair stimulation, regrowth or removal in a soothing, spa-like setting in Vancouver’s south Granville district.

For Givon, it’s not simply about improving the cosmetic appearance of each customer— it’s about improving lives. He prides himself and his staff on providing superior care and personalized service for each customer that pays a visit to Paris cliniqe.

“We know our customers by name and we work very hard to provide a very personal approach here, and most of our customers really feel that we are different. We are not a place where you just come and get a treatment and go. We talk to our customers. We listen. We care. We want to feel involved in their lives. i think that is the most important part of what we offer here, and what sets us apart.”

the host of cutting-edge treatments at Paris cliniqe include Bella contour, a skin rejuvenating and slimming technology that safely and effectively shrinks fat cells by stimulating the body’s natural metabolic process; the regen XL, which targets wrinkles, fat and cellulite while regenerating collagen and Givon bills as the “Lexus of skin therapy solutions”;

and the Mistral (LHE – Light Heat Energy technology), which promotes long-term hair removal and improves both the look and feel of skin.

“our machines are all non-invasive and they induce the same processes that occur naturally in the body when you work out,” explains business partner dori Paicu.

“unfortunately, genetics determine where fat gets removed in each person when they work out, but our machines allow our customers to choose exactly where they want to lose inches.”

Paicu and her fellow technicians know that it’s a priority to keep each client satisfied at Paris cliniqe, and it’s a responsibility they never take lightly.

“the business brings people in but our clients are either coming back or not coming back because of us,” she says. “When i see our clients gain more self-esteem and feel better about themselves, it makes me smile. it’s the best feeling when someone has a problem or a challenge and i’m able to help fix it or make it better for them.”

For Givon, the greatest satisfaction his job provides is when his customers finish a treatment and leave with a smile on their faces.

“their satisfaction — and the feeling that we helped them — that is what inspires us everyday. it may not sound genuine because everybody says it, but we really mean it. When our clients are happy, we’re happy. We change lives here, and we never forget that fact.”

Y

PAris cLiniQE

“We talk to our clients. We listen, and we care. I think that is the most important part of what

we offer here, and what sets us apart.”– Paris Cliniqe owner

Ilan Givon

102-1668 weSt broADwAyVAncouVer, bcteL 604.568.9909

web mypariscliniqe.com

PHOTO: Ilan Givon and Dori Paicu of Paris Cliniqe | Right: Customer receiving facial treatment��

C

arving out their own spot in the vibrant, multicultural canadian tapestry can be an exciting yet daunting task for immigrants at the best of times.

However, that path to canada can be fraught with fewer pitfalls when immigrants seek out the sound advice and trustworthy assistance provided by Polinsys.

Polinsys consultant rhonda Williams regularly lends her 20-plus years of experience in immigration to assist international students, skilled workers, investors and entrepreneurs and those seeking permanent residence in starting their new lives in canada.

Williams, a member of both the canadian Association of Professional immigration consultants (cAPic) and immigration consultants of canada regulatory council (iccrc) and an instructor in immigration laws, policies and procedures at uBc, brings a unique set of skills to the job.

For the better part of a decade, Williams worked as a visa officer and a canadian diplomat in Asia, which gives her an unparalleled insight into the immigration process and the inner workings of citizenship and immigration canada.

“i have a lot of insight into what the visa officers are looking for — what the procedures are, what the processes are

— so i know how they’ll be looking at each application and am therefore better able to help (immigrants) position their application in a more substantive way,” says Williams. “i help them present the same information, but in a more effective way, and by specifically referencing the legislation that the visa officers rely on to make their decisions.”

Williams is one of four canadian-based consultants for Polinsys, which has established offices in india, Malaysia, the Philippines and the uK.

What sets Williams apart from other consultants are her impeccable credentials, reliable track record and an unwavering commitment to provide each of her clients with ethical and dependable advice at every turn.

“i’m a firm believer in the canadian tapestry and am absolutely delighted to live in a place that embraces multiculturalism,” says Williams. “i’m so pleased when i can help people come to canada and see them settle and enjoy their lives here.

“Most people you meet in canada are children of immigrants or immigrants themselves and i think we really have that embedded in our national consciousness,” she says. “We’ve embraced multiculturalism as a policy in canada, and i think that makes it easy for us to be amenable to diversity. People around the world see that in canada there are no barriers to what you can do if you have the ability and the drive to achieve.”

Whatever path to canada immigrants might ultimately choose, Williams encourages any and all applicants to seek out the services of either a lawyer or authorized member of the iccrc to ensure they are receiving reputable, sound representation. she also advises applicants to ask whether their chosen consultant has had any complaints lodged against them with the iccrc.

All too often Williams has either seen or heard of stories where immigrants have either been misled or experienced costly setbacks in the application process due to unethical consultants whose practices are long on promises but short on success.

“this is a life-changing event and applicants need to seek out the very best and most ethical assistance. they’re investing their money, yes, but they’re also investing their dreams, and that’s priceless. if those dreams get taken away by someone who misrepresents them, that breaks my heart.”

CPoLinsYs

“People around the world see that in

Canada there are no barriers to what you can do if you have the ability and the drive to achieve.”– Polinsys Consultant

Rhonda Williams

Suite 229, 7164 - 120tH StreetSurrey, bc

teL 1.888.553.4833web polinsys.com

PHOTO: Consultant Rhonda Williams of POLINSYS��

W

hen it comes to local stores that consistently place a premium on quality, service and selection over profits, J&M coin and Jewellery is a true

diamond in the rough.

it’s been that way since 1970, when owner and President Joseph iorio opened his first location in Vancouver on richards and Hastings. today, iorio operates a flagship store and showroom on 127 East Broadway, with a second facility located on the third floor of Metrotown at Metropolis in Burnaby.

Because iorio and his staff of 25 do a steady business buying, selling and trading coins, bullion, gemstones and exchanging foreign currencies, it’s easy to overlook what is fast becoming the cornerstone of his venerable operation: a superlative, second-to-none selection of GiA-certified diamonds, engagement rings and wedding bands, and new and reconditioned high-end watches such as rolex, omega, cartier and Patek Philipe.

iorio is keen to eschew the notion that J&M deals only in buying and selling estate jewellery. to that end, both his stores employ certified goldsmiths and master craftsmen who are experts in helping clients custom-design 10- to 19-carat white or yellow gold or platinum engagement rings and wedding bands. J&M also has three certified gemologists on staff for appraisals, and professional staff to create that special, personalized, custom design and, not to be forgotten are repairs: nothing is too small or too difficult.

With each purchase, peace of mind is included free of charge; every diamond measuring one carat or above in J&M’s wide selection includes an official Grading report compiled by the Gemological institute of America (GiA) — the world’s foremost authority on diamonds — that

details the “4cs” (colour, clarity, cut and carat weight) of each stone.

Further adding to the intrinsic value of each precious stone is the fact that iorio offers his diamonds at only ten-per-cent over cost, choosing instead to focus on volume rather than exorbitant mark-ups common to other jewellery stores.

that approach — combined with a rock-steady commitment to providing top-notch service and everyday low prices in a friendly, welcoming environment

— is what sets J&M apart from the competition, says iorio.

“We don’t mark up our inventory 200 or 300 per cent like most retailers, and we very rarely have sales. instead, we offer consistently low prices and small margins and work on volume. We pride ourselves on being honest with our customers and providing them with true value and fair grading. Quality and satisfaction has always been our primary concern at J&M, and it’s something that i’ve maintained since i first went into business back in 1967.”

customers will soon be able to browse J&M’s extensive selection of engagement rings and wedding bands from the comfort of their home or on their mobile device, as iorio is in the process of rolling out a redesigned website that will allow buyers to visit a virtual showroom and select and order items online.

Besides their wide selection of jewellery, watches and gemstones, J&M also offers repair and refinishing services on all types of custom and antique jewellery and watches, and is one of the few canadian jewellery houses with a high-tech laser welding system on premises.

“We run the whole gamut here at J&M. no job is too small or too difficult for us, and we offer very competitive prices,” says iorio.

WJ&M coin And JEWELLErY Ltd.

“Quality and satisfaction have always

been our primary concern at J&M, and

it’s something I’ve maintained since I first

went into business back in 1967.”

– J&M Coin and Jewellery President Joseph Iorio

127 eASt broADwAyVAncouVer, bcteL 604.876.7181web janDm.com

PHOTO: Joseph Iorio, President of J&M Coin and Jewellery Ltd. RIGHT: Iorio and staff member hard at work��

obin’s Pharmacy comes by its community-oriented approach to customer service quite honestly.

owner robin Manweiler grew up on his family’s farm in chilliwack, where he learned firsthand the importance of community values, as well as cultivating a strong work ethic. it was after earning his Master’s degree and while working as a locum for various big-box pharmacies in smaller cities throughout the province that he decided to strike out on his own and open his own independent pharmacy in order to provide a loftier level of customer care.

in 2009, Manweiler chose to establish his namesake pharmacy on commercial drive, citing the vibrant enclave’s close-knit community and small-town ambiance.

He aligned himself with the Medicine centre — a collective of independent pharmacists serving B.c., Alberta and the Yukon — after discovering that his personal philosophies dovetailed perfectly with the Medicine centre’s mandate of focusing on community before commerce and putting healthy neighbours above healthy profits.

“one of the biggest advantages to operating an independent pharmacy is that you get to provide care the way you want to provide it,” he says. “in the big-box pharmacies, their focus is the bottom line. At an independent pharmacy, you have much more freedom to provide better patient care through the relationships that you develop and, in turn, a more personalized version of pharmacy care.

“We know the names of all of our customers and have very good relationships with them. i think they appreciate the level of personal service we give them, as opposed to feeling like they’re just another number at one of the larger chain stores.”

Manweiler has also become well versed in catering to the specific needs and issues of the diverse population that resides in the commercial drive area.

“We have a wide spectrum here — small families, professionals, the LGBt population, the elderly, First nations and the mentally ill — so we have to understand the needs of each distinct group because it’s definitely not a homogeneous community,” says Manweiler. “We pride ourselves on being able to speak to each of those groups based on what their unique needs are. Every one of our customers has different needs, so we are very focused on providing advice or solutions that are specifically tailored toward them.”

Among the many long-standing and personal relationships Manweiler has cultivated in his time on commercial drive, he counts a close association with the Kettle Friendship society (which has been providing outreach and support services for people living with mental illness in Vancouver for more than 35 years) as one of his most personally rewarding.

“the Kettle took me on as their preferred pharmacy provider nine months after i opened, and it has been very humbling for me to work with a great group of people that i have come to care deeply about,” he says. “i feel very blessed to work with the Kettle society and to play a small role in supporting the great work that they do in the community.”

Beyond the wide range of products, friendly atmosphere and prompt service Manweiler provides to all his clients lies a quality that he prides above all others — empathy.

“When people come in my store they can be upset about something or just not feeling well but when they leave, if they’ve learned something and feel more positive and better off, then i feel like i’ve done my job.”

R

roBin’s PHArMAcY

“At an independent pharmacy, you have much more freedom

to provide better patient care through

the relationships that you develop

and in turn, a more personalized version of pharmacy care.”

– Robin’s Pharmacy owner Robin Manweiler

908 commerciAL DriVeVAncouVer, bcteL 604.876.3784

web meDicinecentre.com

PHOTO: Robin’s Pharmacy owner and pharmacist Robin Manweiler��

P

assersby have undoubt-edly taken notice of a new building that was recently developed at 1249 Howe street in downtown Vancouver. Performance construc-

tion had the honour of being selected as the General contractor by the McLaren Housing society of British columbia, to undertake this inspiring project.

the 12-storey concrete building was particularly challenging as it was constructed on a busy street situated mid-block between two existing housing developments. Performance appreciated being part of the McLaren development as it was built to achieve LEEd Gold standard (Leadership in Energy and Environmental design,) which required very close collaboration with the Architect (GBL Architects inc.) and their consultants to realize the required energy reduction initiatives and the requirement to reduce water consumption by 40 per cent over conventional buildings. other initiatives included rooftop solar panels to supply hot water to the building.

“We are considered a medium sized General contractor and construction Manager,” says Business development Manager Allan deans,

“which works throughout the Lower Mainland on a variety of projects. We place an emphasis on - but are not exclusive to private market and public multifamily housing. Most of our projects are in the broad range of $2 to $25 million, but what sets us apart from our competition is our belief in giving personal attention to all our clients.”

deans explains: “We believe in having a positive working relationship with all our clients and their architects and consultants, which leads to a more collaborative effort to complete the project on time and in line with the construction budget. We also believe in a positive working relationship with our trades and suppliers, thus ensuring a harmonious job-site.”

By personal attention, deans is referring to company president Bernie Godler, who has a very hands-on approach to all of the company’s activities. Although there are very talented individuals who work both at the site and in the office to look after the day-to-day operations of each site, Godler who is a Professional Engineer and has been in the industry since the early 80s, brings his unique insight to each project.

other projects undertaken by Performance which stand out are the northlands development in north Vancouver, the Lux theatre site on East Hastings, Vancity Branch 6, also on East Hastings and the Mode building on smithe street.

Performance construction is co-owned by Bernie Godler, olga ilich and Milo ilich. Both olga and Milo are related to the late Milan ilich, who founded the Progressive Group (the predecessor to Performance) and was well known throughout the Lower Mainland for his business and philanthropic endeavours.

As is evidenced by some of buildings listed earlier, deans added that Performance construction is a productive member of the construction community by helping to build affordable housing while at the same time being actively involved in market projects throughout the Lower Mainland.

“sustainability also plays a large factor in the construction industry,” deans says, “whereby many buildings seek LEEd certification, and partner up with waste management companies that practice responsible disposal and recycling of construction waste.

“We do pride ourselves on being part of the team, not just doing things on our own without regard to the other stakeholders. We are very particular about the environment, and the quality of what we build, thus ensuring that we leave a positive legacy for our children and grandchildren.”

PPErForMAncE construction

“We believe in having a positive working relationship with all our clients and their architects and consultants, which

leads to a more collaborative effort.”– Allan Deans, Business

Development Manager for Performance Construction

213-21300 gorDon wAyricHmonD, bc

teL 604.628.9620web perfcon.ca

PHOTO: The Performance construction team | Right: The Performance St. George project�1

t the triuMF labrotory, big things come in small packages – at a subatomic level, to be precise. this uBc-based consortium is striking

with major impact on scientific innovation, and it’s causing quite the ‘reaction.”

Founded in 1968 by British columbia’s three major universities, triuMF is canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics, as well as medical and materials science, and is leading the charge to find a viable solution to the world’s medical isotope crisis.

traditionally, a handful of nuclear reactors around the globe — including the chalk river Laboratories facility in ontario

— have been responsible for the creation of medical isotopes such as technetium-99m, the mainstay of nuclear medicine and cardiac and cancer imaging the world over. However, with shutdown and supply issues plaguing those aging reactors, a safe alternative to creating isotopes was desperately needed.

through work at triuMF and elsewhere, a network of small medical cyclotrons (particle accelerator that traditionally make specialty isotopes) is already in place across canada. drawing on expertise garnered over decades of experience, triuMF researchers dusted off a decades-old idea and set it into motion with a national team. instead of using centralized nuclear reactors, why not upgrade the existing network to make the key missing isotopes?

triuMF is involved not only in research, supply and delivery of isotopes and the development of smaller-scale cyclotrons

— such as the one currently being used by the Bc cancer Agency to create their own supply of technetium-99m — but is shepherding the creation of a global hub here in the Lower Mainland known as

“isotope Valley.” in the style of california’s silicon Valley or Waterloo, ont., it has been colloquially dubbed Quantum Valley due to its involvement in developing cutting-edge nano- and quantum-related technologies.

today, Vancouver is home to a number of innovative researchers, cyclotron developers such as Acsi and isotope manufacturers such as nordion, inc., which shares laboratory space with triuMF and is one of the world’s leading commercial exporters of medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals.

“We’re really starting to see that when people think about where isotopes are produced and where the solution to the medical isotope crisis is going to come from that triuMF and B.c. are at the top of the list,” says tim Meyer, head of strategic planning and communications at triuMF. “With a network of regional partners, we’re at a tipping point of having a whole hotbed of discovery and innovation centred around isotopes.”

triuMF, which is funded by both the federal and provincial governments (and notably represents one of canada’s largest science investments,) is clearly the nucleus of the drive to develop isotope Valley.

“We’ve noticed that the government thinks of triuMF when it thinks of isotopes, and we’ve been approached by groups in the uK and Germany as well as Australia and Japan that would like to get access to some of this isotope technology,” says Meyer.

“We’re getting requests across the board for conversations and arrangements that if everything works out will both add value to the canadian economy and make these solutions available in other countries as well.”

Meyer says that while triuMF researchers used to worry that the lab was “B.c.’s best-kept secret,” word is slowly but surely spreading of the innovative and groundbreaking work being done at the 13-acre facility located on uBc’s south campus.

“triuMF is making a name for itself and for Bc in the world of nuclear medicine and isotopes; we’re proud to be a part of canada’s leadership in this area,” says Meyer.

AtriuMF

“At TRIUMF, we’re at a tipping point of

having a whole hotbed of discovery and

innovation centred around isotopes.”

— Tim Meyer, TRIUMF head of strategic planning

and communications

4004 weSbrooK mALLVAncouVer, bcteL 604.222.1047web triumf.ca

PHOTO: Paul Schaffer, Head of Nuclear Medicine Division, TRIUMF��

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K Y r A n i K A n AVA r o s

yrani Kanavaros is a portrait photographer based in Vancouver, Bc. she has been shooting professionally since 2005 and has had the pleasure of photographing memorable personalities such as musicians,

broadcasters, business people, journalists, artists, actors and models. Kanavaros is also known for photographing modern portraits of children and families.

named as one of Vancouver’s 50 Essential Portrait Photographers by vancouvermom.ca, she has also been a guest contributor on ctV news, offering photography tips to viewers, and her work has been published in many prestigious local publications.

K

teL 604-808-6642emAiL KyrAni@KLiKpHotogrApHic.com

web KLiKpHotogrApHic.combLog KLiKpHotogrApHic.bLogSpot.com

profiles of excellence edition 1 - published Dec. 2013. For inquiries regarding the next edition, contact Keshav Sharma at the Vancouver courier: email KSharma@vancourier.com or tel: 604-630-3543.

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