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COLDWELL BANKER PETER BENNINGER REALTY PRESIDENT WELCOMES CANADIAN MASTER FRANCHISE ACQUISITION
COLDWELL BANKER CANADA ACQUISITION BY U.S. PARENT A RETURN TO FAMILIAR ROOTS SAYS BENNINGER; NEW OPERATING STRUCTURE WILL ENHANCE RESOURCES AND RENEW FRIENDSHIP WITH CBREC CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER SHERRY CHRIS, WHO BEGAN HER REAL ESTATE CAREER IN KITCHENER-WATERLOO
KITCHENER – The recent acquisition of Master Franchisor Coldwell Banker Canada by Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation (CBREC) signals good news for the brand in Canada and in the local Kitchener-Waterloo market, says local real estate authority Peter Benninger. The U.S. parent acquired Coldwell Banker Canada on May 16, 2007 in a move that enables Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation to expand its network in Canada and help its affiliated Canadian brokers facilitate cross-border business leads and opportunities with its U.S. counterparts. The move represents a return to familiar roots for Peter Benninger, broker/owner of one Kitchener-Waterloo’s leading real estate organizations.
“When we first affiliated with the brand in 1992, the Coldwell Banker Canadian master franchise was owned by CBREC,” explains Benninger, “so for us, this event is like coming home. We’re very excited about having an even stronger voice in how the brand is marketed and gaining more immediate access to Coldwell Banker systems and tools. And on a personal level, I’m looking forward to working more closely with Sherry Chris, CBREC’s Chief Operating Officer. Sherry and I have known each other for over 25 years, since we both worked together here in Kitchener.”
Sherry Chris, who joined Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation as its chief operating officer in 2006 is a Canadian citizen who spent the first 23 years of her real estate career in Canada before moving to the U.S. in 2003 to accept the presidency of a regional real estate franchise operating in 10 states. A familiar face in Kitchener-Waterloo and throughout southern Ontario, Chris earned her undergraduate and MBA degrees from the University of Western Ontario.
In her current role, Chris directs CBREC’s operations, education, mortgage and field services programs. She also focuses on communication between Coldwell Banker corporate headquarters, Canadian operations, regional offices and an affiliate network of nearly 4,000 offices and 130,000 agents worldwide. Under the new operating structure, Gary Hockey and Ron Hunter, respectively president and COO of Coldwell Banker Canada will report to Chris.
“Sherry is intimately familiar with the Canadian real estate industry, our regulatory requirements and the unique characteristics of the Canadian marketplace,” confirms Benninger. “Now being more closely aligned with the brand, we will all benefit from Sherry’s active involvement in the Canadian operation.”
Recently, Chris had an opportunity to return to her Kitchener-Waterloo roots when she was the keynote speaker at the Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty annual awards breakfast on Thursday, April 5 at The Waterloo Inn and Conference Centre.
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Canada's Commercial Real Estate Leader Applauds 2007 ARC Awards Finalists, Honours Retail Visionaries with Scholarship to Ryerson University
TORONTO - The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited proudly presented its tenth annual ARC Award (Achievement in new Retail Concepts) to Salt Tasting Room which is based in Vancouver, B.C.
Peter Sharpe, President and CEO of Cadillac Fairview, was on hand at Toronto's Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery District to present the award and cheque for $50,000.
"This year marks the tenth anniversary of the ARC Awards," said Mr. Sharpe. "Cadillac Fairview is proud to honour Canadian retailers who offer exciting new retail concepts. The four finalists this year were of very high quality which presented a difficult challenge to our judges in selecting a winner. We are pleased to present the award to Salt Tasting Room."
Created by Cadillac Fairview in 1997, the ARC Award is unique to the North American real estate industry. Each year, a panel of judges short-lists four finalists from dozens of submissions, from which one recipient is selected. Last year, Cadillac Fairview presented the award to Joni Lien and Christine Wood, owners of SupperWorks in Oakville, Ontario.
Salt Tasting Room
Salt Tasting Room is situated in Blood Alley in Vancouver's historic Gastown, and bills itself as a tasting room or charcuterie as they are known in France.
Co-owners Sean Heath and Scott Hawthorn have kept the concept unusually simple, small and focused. Patrons design their own meals by selecting three items from small-batch cured meats, artisan cheese and extraordinary wines. All of the meats and many of the cheeses are produced by local farmers, butchers and cheese makers.
An 18-foot long spruce communal table, along with no kitchen and no chef are what make this concept distinctive and successful in the Vancouver culinary scene.
Salt Tasting Room was one of the big winners at this year's Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, capturing gold for best new informal restaurant and tying for silver in design.
In addition to naming the ARC winner, Cadillac Fairview also announced the other 2007 finalists: Crisca, Spring Rolls Go and Triple Flip.
Crisca
Crisca carries European inspired collections, designed for women between the ages of 40 and 60. Collections arrive every two weeks and are only available in small quantities. Once the pieces are sold, they are never repeated.
Crisca is located in Carrefour Laval, Quebec and is the brainchild of Canadian principals, Monte Perlman and Steven Belfer. The concept is patterned on Biba - the successful European retailer owned by Escada.
Crisca capitalizes on Biba's fast-to-market system. Styles go from design to the sales floor in just 12 weeks, as opposed to six to nine months (the norm for other retailers servicing this market segment). This fast turnaround ensures that the latest trends are at Crisca first.
Spring Rolls Go
The Toronto-based Spring Rolls Go restaurant is a unique concept created by executive chef Hai Hua and CEO Thai Hua. The "go" model appeals to both the lunch customer who demands "fresh food, fast" and the dinner customer who wants a more formal and leisurely dining experience.
By day "go," offers a quick service lunch where customers, who are surrounded by plasma TV screens, order at the counter, pay and wait for their lunch to be table delivered. Then magically at 4:00 p.m. "go" transforms into a uniquely chic dining establishment. This new variation on the original and highly successful Spring Rolls restaurant concept is looking to expand into many new locations.
Triple Flip: Flipwear for the Modern Girl
The original "flip girls", Linda Maslechko and Mona Rae Peterson, are the mothers of several fashion forward girls looking for "unique, cool and comfortable" clothes. Based on their own active lives, they developed designs for a new clothing line they hoped would appeal to and reflect the values of their discriminating target shopper.
Today, the 1,800 square foot Calgary store now carries a full range of the Triple Flip private label with complementary brands including shoes, bags, jewelry, loungewear and specialty streetwear. The shopping experience is enhanced by in-store special "brand ownership" events like the Flip Girl photo shoots and the "Designer for a Day" one of a kind experience.
Cadillac Fairview Visionaries in Retail Innovation Award and Scholarship
Aldo Bensadoun is the founder & CEO of the ALDO Group, a privately-held company, which operates over 800 retail stores in North America. He has successfully built a chain of stores, which includes Aldo, Aldo Accessories, Transit, Feet First, First, Stone Ridge, Spring and Globo Shoes.
Aldo Bensadoun is also well known for his philanthropy. ALDO has committed millions of dollars to AIDS awareness and research organizations, including CanfAR, AmfAR and YouthAIDS.
In creating the Visionaries in Retail Innovation Award, Cadillac Fairview hopes to sustain the tradition of retail originality by supporting the next generation of retail innovators. The 2007 recipient is Diana Pitassi, a graduating student from the School of Retail Management, Ryerson University in Toronto. Diana was chosen based on her high GPA and as a result of an excellent project she submitted on retail innovation. The scholarship is for $5,000.
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Nominations open for Waterloo Region Entrepreneur Hall of Fame
WATERLOO REGION - Nominations are now open for the 2007 Waterloo Region Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Nominations can be submitted at thewaterlooway.com, virtual home of the Hall of Fame, until June 30, 2007.
As many as 10 outstanding entrepreneurs will be inducted this year at a
gala held during Communitech's Entrepreneur Week in early October. A
distinguished panel of judges will select nominees of the past or
present who epitomize the incredible entrepreneurial spirit of Waterloo
Region. Winners will have created a lasting legacy by having a
significant impact on the Region and its economy.
"From whiskey and textiles to digital cameras and the BlackBerry,
entrepreneurs have shaped this community with their innovation and
perseverance," said Iain Klugman, co-chair of the Hall of Fame and
President and CEO of Communitech: Waterloo Region Technology
Association. "We're excited to find out who the public thinks should be
honoured as an entrepreneurial success story - who inspires them? Who's
a great role model for our next generation of start-ups? Who has helped
put this region on the map?"
The Hall of Fame is also seeking nominations for the Intrepid
Entrepreneur Award - a bold entrepreneur who already stands out for
capturing opportunities and overcoming challenges, but clearly is 'one
to watch.'
"Thewaterlooway.com is not only the home of the Hall of Fame, but we've
launched a Wiki there to tell the many stories of entrepreneurship in
Waterloo Region," added Steve Farlow, co-chair and Executive Director of
the Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurship at Wilfrid Laurier University.
"We're building the first comprehensive resource about our fascinating
entrepreneurial culture, from its early beginnings to the way it looks
today. It's a Wiki, so anyone can go online and share their story of an
entrepreneur, or add to one we've already posted."
The Waterloo Region Entrepreneur Hall of Fame was established in October
2006 by the Prosperity Council of Waterloo Region. It celebrates and
showcases inspirational individuals who embody the spirit of
entrepreneurship and inspire it in others. Electrohome's Carl Pollock,
one of the Region's first successful tech entrepreneurs, was the
inaugural inductee. He also helped found CTV Southwestern Ontario, the
University of Waterloo, and the Stratford Festival.
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2007 LaunchPad $50K Winner's Announced
Waterloo - Finalists in the 2007 LaunchPad $50K Venture Creation Competition competed this week to win a combined total of $50,000 in cash prizes and in-kind services. Founded in 2004 the competition is jointly delivered by Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Waterloo, University of Guelph, Conestoga College, and community entrepreneurs to encourage and support the creation and development of businesses.
"No where else in Canada can you find a group of universities and colleges collaborating together as a group," said Laurier dean of business and economics, Ginny Dybenko. "Our combined efforts make LaunchPad $50K so much more than a competition. We have created a powerful network of like-minded students, entrepreneurs, business professionals and community members who believe in formulating new ideas and making them a reality. As a group, we believe that there is no better place to found new businesses and opportunities than in Southwestern Ontario."
2007 Launch Pad $50K Finalists include:
Winner -- The Nesting Space , a parent-centric networking, education and wellness centre, which focuses on the early years of parenthood in a relaxing and welcoming environment. The Nesting Space was developed by Christine Robinson (Wilfrid Laurier University alumna), Andrew Kolb (Conestoga College) and Brent Steinmann (Wilfrid Laurier University).
1st Runner Up -- HealthSpoke Inc., an online portal that enables wellness professionals to connect with their clients, suppliers, and institutions. HealthSpoke was created by Dan Donovan (University of Waterloo), James Moncarz (University of Waterloo) and Tim Donovan (Wilfrid Laurier University).
2nd Runner Up -- Maxwell's Music House , a facility for musical networking, growth and development. Created by Paul Maxwell (Wilfrid Laurier University) and John Wall (University of Waterloo), Maxwell's Music House offers a full musical development package.
LaunchPad $50K brings together students, alumni, and others to develop business plans and turn their ideas into viable, sustainable and scalable new ventures.
Throughout the process, participants have the opportunity to take part in a variety of workshops and networking events to assist them with business development and team formation. In January 44 teams competed in the iGNITION $1K Pitch Competition where participants have 90 seconds to showcase their business idea. This fast paced and exciting event is the perfect stepping stone for entry into the 2007 LaunchPad $50K Venture Creation Competition.
Proud premier sponsors of LaunchPad $50K include Atria Networks, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, KPMG LLP, RIM, TD Bank Financial Group, Tech Capital Partners, and The Cooperators. Leading sponsors include the Accelerator Centre, Communitech, and the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.
"The new venture creations presented by this year's teams were all incredible," says Jacqui Murphy, Vice President at Tech Capital Partners. "I can see all of them developing into viable, long-term businesses."
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Profitability trend continues for Canada’s emerging software companies - Sales challenges still exist
Toronto — Sixty-three percent of Canada’s emerging software companies once again achieved profits in 2006. According to the fourth annual PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Report on Emerging Canadian Software Companies: The CEO Perspective this good news continues from the positive results seen over the past three years and is consistent with the 2005 and 2004 levels of 65% and 56% respectively.
“These results illustrate that these software companies are maturing and will likely continue to focus on the bottom line,” says Susan Allen, leader of the PwC Emerging Company Practice and an audit and assurance partner with the Canadian firm.
Consistent with past survey results, CEOs surveyed continue to predict significant revenue increases for the year ahead. However, while the majority of CEOs reported revenue increases of at least 10%, many fell short of their forecast. Last year virtually every company expected some revenue growth with 41% expecting an increase over 50%. In reality only 30% achieved a 50% revenue increase and over a third reported revenue growth of 10% or less.
Allen adds, “falling short of anticipated revenues is a key trend that has been seen in the past three surveys and CEOs are just as optimistic about their growth prospects for 2007. Nearly 90% are expecting revenue increases of over 10%—a rise of 25% from 2006 actual growth levels. While the companies are continuing to grow year over year, CEOs should seek to understand why their companies are not meeting revenue forecasts.”
Approximately 65% of emerging company CEOs surveyed reported revenues between $1 and $10 million. Fifteen percent were in a pre-revenue phase in 2006 and 6% had greater then $25 million in revenues. This is similar to numbers reported in 2005 and 2004.
CEOs did not meet their goal again this year to increase their sales through channel partnerships as opposed to direct sales. However, for the first time, CEOs do not foresee a significant decrease in their level of direct sales for 2007. In the 2006 survey, revenue was, on average, 85% from direct sales and there was an expectation to decrease this to 69% in the 2006 survey. This year the results were actually very similar to those of 2005 with approximately 85% of sales through direct sales. However, predictions for 2007 show that the CEOs no longer expect the level of direct sales to decline and now expect them to remain at a approximately 80% of total sales.
Last year, 84% of CEOs surveyed focused their sales efforts in North America. This year expectations for the target markets have shifted to the US, which is becoming more of a focus. In 2007, the CEOs expect 47% of their sales to come from the US versus less than 40% in Canada showing that more companies are seeking clients south of the border.
When looking to expand outside of North America for additional sources of revenue the survey found significant perception gaps between those companies that have already gone global versus those who had not. The gaps included concerns related to legal risks, language, culture, income taxes, local competition and commodity taxes. Approximately 40% to 60% of CEOs with only North American sales considered these concerns to be significant challenges, while less than one-third of CEOs with overseas operations did not view these issues as challenges at all. Also, 51% of CEOs consider lack of warm leads to approach potential partners to be a challenge outside of North America and 58% list lack of brand recognition with potential partners as a challenge.
Venture capitalists and angel investors continue to provide emerging Canadian software companies with the greatest opportunity to raise capital. Over 50% of CEOs surveyed who successfully raised funds in the last 24 months got this funding from venture capital firms. Of the CEOs who reported that they attempted to raise capital in the past 24 months, 65% were successful.
“Raising venture capital has and will likely continue to be a difficult task for many companies,” says Peter Matutat, partner and GTA leader of PwC’s Emerging Company Practice. “We’ve seen that Canadian venture capital investment growth has been flat and while funding rounds per company are larger, fewer Canadian companies actually getting the funding.”
While the survey found that only 11% of CEOs reported raising funds from the US venture capital market, market data from Thompson Financial shows that there has been a sharp increase in foreign venture capital (largely US) investment in Canada. Foreign venture capital investment grew to 32% of all capital raised in Canada—the highest level since 2001. Matutat notes, “the US markets are now a more viable option for raising capital than ever before.”
The CEOs surveyed continue to believe that their most likely exit will be by way of sale. In fact, this belief has now strengthened to the extent where 95% of CEOs expect to be acquired and only 5% see an IPO as a likely exit scenario. This is a sharp decline from the 2004 survey where 35% of CEOs considered an IPO a viable exit option.
“This decline is not unexpected, given that mergers and acquisitions have, and likely will, continue to be the overwhelmingly dominant exit option for Canadian technology companies in the near future,” notes Matutat.
The results of the survey were based on the responses, either on-line or in-person, from 155 CEOs. PwC identified a national cross-section of emerging Canadian software companies from publicly available lists, including the Branham 300, the Canadian Business Tech 100, the ROB 1000, R&B, Profit 100, Profit Hot 50, and others. For more information or to obtain a copy of the Report on Emerging Canadian Software Companies: The CEO Perspective visit www.pwc.com/ca/cv2r. |
Conestoga Student Part of Winning LaunchPad 50K Team
Andrew Kolb, a student in Conestoga*s Graphic Design program, has
used his skills to contribute to the winning team in what is known as
the LaunchPad 50K Venture Creation Competition.
In LaunchPad, emerging entrepreneurs, including students from Conestoga
and the three area universities (Waterloo, Guelph and Wilfrid Laurier)
develop and present plans for new ventures to a panel of judges from the
business and investment community. The idea for the competition,
promoted by Communitech, is to bring together students, alumni and
others, for the purpose of developing business plans that can be turned
into viable, sustainable and scalable new enterprises.
The three top winning proposals share $50,000 in money and in-kind
services.
The first-place proposal, called The Nesting Space, won $12,500 in cash
and a similar amount in business services. The proposal was developed by
Wilfrid Laurier graduate Christine Robinson, along with team members
Brent Steinmann, a current business student at Laurier, and
Conestoga*s Kolb.
The Nesting Space is a novel parent-and-child facility. The idea is to
establish a friendly, welcoming, accessible place that can serve both
parents and children. For the children, there are play areas and day
care services; for the parents, educational and learning resources, as
well as wellness programs. Robinson hopes to open her first centre in
Waterloo, but one of the strong features of her proposal is that it is a
concept that can be replicated in other neighborhoods and cities,
meaning that The Nesting Space could offer franchising potential.
Kolb is from Kitchener. His contribution to the team included concept
designs and applications with regard to the business logo, branding
campaign, wordmark, business cards and other business items. In
addition, he was instrumental in development of the business plan layout
and what was known as the techvibe presentation * an interactive
networking exhibition and competition.
Communitech is based in Waterloo Region. It is a business, industry and
education partnership organization dedicated to advancing Waterloo
Region*s technology sector through leadership, outreach alliances and
promotion.
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Emerging markets doing more to manage future energy cost pressures and environmental issues
- raw material and energy costs increasing pressure on global business
- businesses to lose competitiveness if no action is taken to combat
environmental issues
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TORONTO - Energy and raw material costs are an increasing worry for global businesses according to the latest findings from the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR). The biggest worry for businesses are raw material costs with 44% of global businesses identifying these as having a major impact on cost pressures in the next twelve months, followed by 41% who were concerned about staff costs, 37% about energy costs and 34% about transport costs. Property costs (15%) are expected to have a lesser impact over the coming year.
Raw material and energy cost pressures
Energy costs appear to be affecting Europe more than the rest of the
world with five of the region's top ten countries citing energy as having a
major impact on cost pressures: Germany (58%), Ireland (47%) and France,
Luxembourg and Italy (all 44%). Globally, companies in the Philippines (68%)
are due to be most impacted by energy cost pressures, followed by Botswana
(65%). Companies in Australia (18%) are least likely to be impacted by the
cost of energy.
In comparison, raw material costs are due to have a greater impact on
global businesses with companies from every continent appearing at the top of
the table. Businesses in Spain (61%) are due to be most impacted by the cost
of raw materials, followed by Botswana and Singapore (both 60%), and Thailand
and France (both 56%). Raw material costs are due to affect businesses least
in the Netherlands (29%), followed by the US, UK and Sweden (all at 31%).
The International Business Report covered the opinions of 7,200 privately
held businesses in 32 countries, representing 81% of global GDP.
Managing future energy cost pressures
Companies in the emerging markets have done most to date to manage future
energy cost pressures(*) according to the Grant Thornton International Business
Report. Out of a maximum score of 600, companies in the Philippines (410) lead
the way, followed by: Brazil (360), mainland China (341), Malaysia (307),
Germany (306) and Turkey (303).
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Main action taken by companies to reduce energy cost pressures:
- 58% of businesses globally have undertaken an energy review to
understand how they may be wasting energy, led by companies in the
Philippines (83%)
- 59% of businesses have reduced their energy consumption, again led by
the Philippines (85%)
- 60% of businesses have put in place measures to ensure all computers
and electrical equipment is turned off, top were Malaysian companies
on 85%. The least action taken was by businesses in Thailand (16%)
and Sweden (39%)
- 44% of businesses have spent most on energy saving equipment with
Brazilian businesses (66%) the most likely to invest
- 20% of businesses have invested in alternative fuel/energy supplies.
European businesses are more likely to have invested in these (24%)
- 22% of businesses have considered relocating to reduce transportation
costs with companies in mainland China (46%) most likely to have
contemplated this.
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Alex MacBeath, global leader of privately held business services for
Grant Thornton International, said:
"There is a simple clear message from our findings. Unless environmental
factors such as energy and raw material costs become issues that significantly
affect a company's profitability there is no incentive for it to take action,
and reduce its impact on the environment. There must be motivation to take
action on raw material and energy costs or companies will continue to focus on
other cost pressures such as salaries and wages.
"We are now at a tipping point in looking at climate change and
environmental management. It is time businesses recognised the fact that
unless they take action to reduce their impact on the environment, it will
harm their long-term competitiveness.
"There is also a role for national Governments to look at the long-term
competitiveness of their economies and factor energy and raw material costs
into that equation. Unless they take action to actively encourage businesses
to invest for the future and reduce their impact on the environment, they will
ultimately damage their economies."
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(*) Respondents were measured by whether they had undertaken six energy
and environmental initiatives:
- if they had undertaken an energy review
- reduced energy consumption
- put measures in place to turn off electrical equipment
- invested in energy saving equipment
- investigated alternative fuel/energy supplies
- considered relocating to reduce transportation costs.
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Each country in IBR was given a score based on the percentage of
businesses who had carried out each of the criteria. For each of the six
criteria, the highest score a country could receive was 100, with a total
maximum score for the management of energy and environmental issues league
table of 600.
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Canada's Accounting Standards Board seeks input on proposals for reporting by private companies
Toronto- Canada's Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) is asking for feedback on three options that will change financial reporting standards for privately-owned companies.
The proposals are contained in an Invitation to Comment and Discussion
Paper released today by the AcSB. Discussion and feedback received during the
comment period will inform the board's decision which, in turn, will
significantly impact the way financial reporting is carried out by private
companies in Canada.
"The fundamental premise is that 'one size does not fit all' when it
comes to meeting the divergent needs of Canadian reporting entities," said
Paul Cherry, Chair of AcSB, who noted that private companies are now subject
to the same Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as all other
companies in Canada.
"The transition in Canada to international financial reporting standards
for public companies, demanded a separate review of financial reporting
standards for private companies," said Cherry. "It is critical that
stakeholders get involved in this process, which will govern the course of
private company financial reporting for many years to come."
Following a comprehensive examination of the needs of users of private
company financial statements, the AcSB has identified three possible
approaches for ensuring high-quality, general purpose GAAP financial
statements for private enterprises:
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(a) A top-down approach based on public company GAAP (i.e.
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)). This approach
would entail eliminating and modifying a limited number of IFRS
requirements much as is done under the current differential
reporting model, although not necessarily with the same results.
(b) Adoption of the standard proposed by the International Accounting
Standards Board for small and medium sized enterprises - the IFRS-
SME, with perhaps some modification to address Canadian
circumstances.
(c) An independently developed set of Canadian accounting standards
for private enterprises. This approach could involve, to a large
degree, a fresh start, but it would share the same conceptual
framework that underpins current GAAP and IFRS.
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The Discussion Paper identifies the pros and cons of each of these
approaches. It also requests input on whether non-GAAP guidance should be
developed for those entities without significant external financial statement
users.
The AcSB plans to hold roundtable consultations across the country and
will carry out a program of communications to make stakeholders aware of the
proposals. All members of the public are entitled and encouraged to
participate. The comment period for the proposals is six months until
October 31, 2007. Individuals and organizations should send written comments
to the Board on the proposed approaches.
The Discussion Paper and Invitation to Comment can be obtained from the
AcSB web site at www.acsbcanada.org. For those without Internet access, the
documents can be obtained by writing to: Information Services Officer,
Accounting Standards Board, 277 Wellington Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V
3H2; Fax: 416.204.3412
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Ontario Centres of Excellence and the Catalan Institute of Photonic Sciences collaborate to commercialize leading-edge photonics research
TORONTO - Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Inc. has set the stage for joint technical, scientific and technology transfer activities with the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) in Catalonia, Spain. With members of a delegation from the Catalan region in Toronto this week for OCE's Discovery 2007: TO NEXT conference, OCE and ICFO signed a memorandum of understanding outlining increased partnership in photonics between the two regions.
The goal of the MOU is to stimulate innovation and expedite the
commercialization of technologies that will make businesses in both regions
more competitive globally. Together, OCE and ICFO will build industrial R&D
collaborations and seek mutually beneficial trade and business opportunities.
The two regions will also explore educational opportunities, including the
exchange of scientific expertise and personnel.
"OCE is very pleased to create with ICFO the first concrete expression of
the strengthening of broader research and commercial ties between Ontario and
Catalonia," says Mr. Mark Romoff, President and CEO, Ontario Centres of
Excellence. "This is a tremendous opportunity to build powerful synergies in a
priority technology sector - the partnership has real potential to boost our
respective economies."
ICFO Director, Dr. Lluis Torner noted that the formal agreement is
"recognition of the alignment between Catalonia and Ontario around the
potential of innovation, and a demonstration of the emphasis both governments
place on making advanced research benefit industry. Teaming up with OCE and
their Centre of Excellence for Photonics will create an exchange of ideas
resulting in high-value commercial output."
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Life of an entrepreneur defined by a number of key events
New research shows events with the highest impact on the life of a small
business owner
CHICAGO - Just like the birth of a child can be a life altering moment for a young couple, small business owners also experience events that may change them forever.
According to a new Warrillow & Co. research study among small business
owners with less than 100 employees, small business owners have experienced a
number of life altering moments in the past 12 months:
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- Read a self help book (29%)
- Created/started carrying a new product line: (26%)
- Grown top line revenue by more than twenty percent (24%)
- Experienced a personal illness which kept them away from the
business (23%)
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The Warrillow research went on to ask small business owners to rate the
events with the highest impact on their business lives (on a scale of 1-5
where 5 had the biggest impact) and the results are revealing:
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- Grown top line revenue by more than twenty percent (4.2 out of 5)
- Experienced a significant decline in cash flow (4.2 out of 5)
- Won a large new account 4.0 out of 5)
- Opened a new business location (4.0 out of 5)
- Acquired venture capital or other private investment (4.0 out of 5)
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"They say life is defined in a matter of moments and it appears small
business owners agree," said John Warrillow, founder of the Warrillow
Subscriber Network, a consortium of Fortune 500 companies that target the
Small & Medium Business Market.
The complete study will be released by Warrillow & Co., FedEx and
MasterCard International at the 8th annual Warrillow Summit on May 7-9 in
Chicago.
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Black Holes In Organizations shows organizations how to identify and eradicate debilitating and destructive forces
RICHMOND HILL - Corporate Streamlining Company Inc., announced the release of new book by Ron Lutka CMA, ACIS, P.ADM., CorpS - Black Holes in Organizations.
The book investigates the internal destruction of organizations and shows management how to identify and eradicate debilitating and destructive forces that often exist under management's radar.
According to Statistics Canada: "Almost half of the firms in Canada that go bankrupt do so primarily because of their own deficiencies rather than externally generated problems."
Corporate Streamlining has identified the most significant contributor to the internal destruction of organizations - "black holes" that, like termites, eat away at the organization, weakening its foundation. "Black holes - essentially, small repetitive failures that occur in volume unbeknownst to management - cause large problems, dim the aspirations of many executives and bankrupt companies," said Lutka, President of Corporate Streamlining.
In his new book, Black Holes in Organizations, Lutka identifies the causes of black hole-creating items and outlines the steps organizations can take to eradicate them. "The indifference to simple yet essential basic activities allows an accumulation of failures to occur unnoticed until at some late point the damage manifests itself on the financial statements, in operations, and elsewhere," Lutka writes.
Lutka's company, Corporate Streamlining, has developed Corporate Streamlining Technology(R), which addresses organizations at the micro level and helps them identify and eradicate black-hole creating items. Corporate Streamlining also conducts in-house courses to train streamliners on the characteristics of black holes and on techniques to identify and eradicate them.
Articles on Black Holes in Organizations written by Lutka have been published in Canadian Treasurer, the magazine of the Treasury Management Association of Canada and CMA Management, the magazine of the Society of Management Accountants.
Lutka will be the luncheon speaker at the InterDoc Symposium June 4, 2007 at the Mount Stephen Club in Montreal. His topic will be black holes in organizations. To register call Marie-Anne Grondin at 514-849-7338 or email magrondin@interdoc.com.
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Ontario Centres of Excellence Investment Accelerates Three Ontario Start-ups
TORONTO - Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Inc. announced the investment of $750,000 in three high-potential, innovative Ontario technology start-ups: Northern Nanotechnologies; Sketch2 Corp.; and Vennsa Technologies. The three companies each received $250,000 of pre-seed investment through OCE's Commercialization program, strengthening the companies' ability to bring advanced technologies developed in Ontario research institutions to the marketplace.
"OCE's investment will help realize the commerical promise of the three
new companies," says Mark Romoff, President and CEO, Ontario Centres of
Excellence. "Each of the firms is taking to market a technolgy that could have
a profound impact in a number of sectors critical to Ontario and beyond. OCE's
business planning and product development, and its extensive network, will
accelerate the growth of these firms, helping them turn research and
technology innovation into an economic driver for the province."
Northern Nanotechnologies (NNT) is a leading-edge nanomaterials company
whose key innovation is the NanoCrafting(TM) Process: a patent-pending,
scalable, and cost effective method to custom design nanomaterials for a wide
range of industries. Nanomaterials are on the scale of 1/10,000th the width of
a human hair and when materials become this small, they take on entirely new
properties. Manufacturers incorporating nanomaterial properties in their
materials can differentiate their products, increase revenues or reduce costs.
NNT is currently working on coating and catalyst applications, but the process
allows NNT to control the identity and structure of practically any kind of
nanoparticle. NNT helps its customers build better products, sooner -
improving their bottom line. The company is based on technology created
through research that OCE supported in the laboratory of University of Toronto
Chemistry Professor, Dr. Cynthia Goh. The firm will be led by Keith Thomas,
who has successfully directed a number of growth companies. Mr. Thomas is
working closely with Dr. Darren Anderson, Chief Technology Officer, who is
leading product development.
Sketch2 Corp. will bring the value of advances in information
technologies to the relatively underserved design and construction sector. The
technology will allow designers, vendors, contractors and developers to
communicate in a much more efficient, sophisticated and effective way. At more
than $1.2 trillion in annual revenues, the AEC (Architecture, Engineering,
Construction) industry is the second largest industrial sector in North
America. As much as 30 per cent of a given project's cost can be consumed by
the inefficiencies of facsimile communication, reproduction of drawings,
product sourcing and more. Sketch2 is poised to take a commanding role in the
market by brokering the relationships between the key players. The technology
was developed by Dr. Karan Singh, a computer science professor at the
University of Toronto, whose work in graphics software has been used by Steven
Spielberg and George Lucas. Put simply, the technology allows a designer to
begin a sketch - the software then suggests a template illustration, which if
acceptable, can then be fully finessed by the designer. The finished
illustration is then linked to vendor information, searching catalogues for
prices, specifications and ordering options. The sketches form the basis of a
fully integrated communications system between designers, suppliers, builders
and beyond. The spin-off company, Sketch2 Corp., is being led by architect and
entrepreneur Colin Graham.
Vennsa Technologies Inc. has developed fully automated debugging
solutions for several key stages of the design process. The hottest consumer
electronics products of today are all made possible by a semiconductor
industry that consistently creates smaller, faster and more powerful
integrated circuits to power these devices. Designing these increasingly
complex chips is an incredibly challenging process with costs expected to
reach $25M or more to design a single leading edge chip. Debugging - finding
and diagnosing errors in the design - follows the task of verification. Today,
debugging is still done manually and can account for 25% of the total design
cost and time. Vennsa's tools will cut this manual effort time by 30-50 per
cent. Vennsa's tools will be indispensable to managing more complex designs,
bringing them to market faster, and improving quality and reliability. Chips
designed with help from Vennsa's tools will power the next generation of
small, powerful, portable devices like video cell phones, MP3 players and
digital cameras - not to mention the devices we have not yet realized we
cannot live without. The company is a spin off from the University of
Toronto's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.
Mark Romoff will present OCE's investment to the leader of each of the
companies at Discovery 2007: TO NEXT - OCE's second annual conference on May
1. Discovery 2007 brings together leading scientists, entrepreneurs,
investors, students, business and government representatives - all in one
place, to explore what's new, what's needed, and ways to work together.
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Agile Unveils Next Generation of Combined Motion Control and Servo Amplifier
Waterloo, ON - Agile Systems, an international manufacturer of high performance motor drive and motion control systems, today introduced its next generation single axis microMAXR controller.
As demands for higher productivity and smaller footprints grow in the semiconductor, life sciences and electronics assembly industries, so does the need for progressive control systems.
Agile Systems’ microMAXR integrates the motion control, servo amplifier, networking capabilities and user I/O all within a very compact package. The microMAXR allows the customer to incorporate multiple controllers using a traditional connector or a backplane version that simply ‘plugs in’ to the user’s printed circuit board. This lego-style connection substantially reduces the interconnect wire complexity and the system integration time.
Agile has designed a unique Peer to Peer network architecture allowing the user to create individual distributed programs to interact with each other. With this true distributed control network scheme, register values are exchanged between controllers in a synchronized fashion, ensuring motion functions associated with each exchanged register value are executed at a defined point in time and synchronized between all axes in the system. Peer to Peer networking of motion tasks reduces the bandwidth requirement of the network connection between machine control and the motion system.
“Following Agile’s history of building state-of the-art controllers, the microMAXR was built for cost-reduced single axis applications. But with the new simple plug in style connector, it can be used as a superior multi-axis solution, ” says Ralph Steedman, President and CEO, Agile Systems.
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Waterloo Region tech firms take three of five Provincial Innovation awards
WATERLOO REGION - Three Waterloo Region tech leaders took top honours at the Premier's Catalyst, Discovery and Summit Awards held in Toronto at MaRS Discovery District held April 23, 2007.
Premier and Minister of Research and Innovation, Dalton McGuinty,
recognized the leadership of Slipstream Data Inc., DALSA Corporation,
and Research In Motion for revolutionizing business and industry in
Ontario.
Dr. En-Hui Yang, co-founder of SlipStream Data Inc., was named Innovator
of the Year. Dr. Savvas Chamberlain, founder of DALSA Corporation,
received the nod for Lifetime Achievement in Innovation. And Research In
Motion was named Company with the Best Innovation.
"These awards are a testament to the high quality of innovation that
happens throughout Waterloo Region's tech industry," says Iain Klugman,
president and CEO, Communitech: Waterloo Region Technology Association.
"There's a particular brand of entrepreneurial spirit and innovation
that thrives here. Slipstream, DALSA, and RIM embody that
entrepreneurial spirit."
The Premier's Catalyst Awards program recognizes individuals and
companies that demonstrate leadership in commercializing a new or
significantly improved product or service based on a breakthrough
technology. The awards are intended to help move creative ideas to
national and international marketplaces. Criteria include contributions
of the innovation to Ontario's economy, society and/or sustainable
development and the extent of national and international recognition of
the innovation and its impact.
Award winners were chosen by the Premier, based on recommendations from
a review panel of business and innovation leaders, and from the Ontario
Research Fund Advisory Board.
Premier's Catalyst Award for Innovator of the Year
Dr. En-Hui Yang
Dr. En-Hui Yang is a co-founder of SlipStream Data Inc., a
Waterloo-based company that develops and markets software that greatly
accelerates data transmission over digital communications channels. Dr.
Yang co-developed the technology behind the company, which has had a
tremendous impact on the data acceleration market. In just over 10
years, SlipStream has gone from a concept to a company that dominates
its sector worldwide and employs over 60 Ontarians in the high-tech
sector.
Premier's Catalyst Award for Lifetime Achievement in Innovation
Dr. Savvas Chamberlain
Founder of DALSA Corporation in 1980, Dr. Savvas Chamberlain embodies
every aspect of the successful innovator combining his pioneering
technologies in digital imaging with persistence in securing start-up
funding and a commitment to investing in research and development. DALSA
holds 22 patents for inventions that form its core technologies and its
image sensors are used worldwide and beyond, including on NASA's Mars
Rovers and on the Canadarm 2. Along with building a successful company
as a result of his own research, Dr. Savvas Chamberlain has built a
corporate culture of excellence and innovation.
Premier's Catalyst Award for Company with the Best Innovation
Research In Motion
Research In Motion is one of Ontario's great innovation success stories.
RIM faced numerous challenges in the creation of the first BlackBerry
introduced in 1999, having to combine a large amount of computing power,
a tiny but usable keyboard, and reliable interaction with desktop
computers. RIM met all of these challenges, and offered the breakthrough
of letting users access email through wireless data networks. Today, RIM
has over eight million subscribers and over 5,000 employees worldwide
and is continuing its commitment to innovation. RIM executives have made
substantial personal reinvestments in Ontario including the
establishment of Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, the
Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, and the
Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).
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GoodLife Purchases 10 Bally Total Fitness and Sports Clubs in Canada
LONDON - GoodLife Fitness Clubs today announced that the company has acquired the majority of the Sports Clubs of Canada and Bally Total Fitness Canadian operations with the purchase of the assets of 10 clubs, all located in the GTA. The addition of the 10 clubs will bring GoodLife's total across Canada to 139 clubs, solidifying GoodLife's position as the largest fitness provider in Canada. The transactions are subject to customary closing conditions including lease negotiations.
"The addition of the Bally clubs will not change our primary commitment which is to the health and well-being of our members and our pledge to make Canadians the fittest population on the planet, said David Patchell-Evans, CEO and founder of GoodLife Fitness." Our goal will be to continue the service provided to Bally and Sports Clubs members but with our own unique GoodLife branding, core values and a staff passionate about fitness."
London-based GoodLife Fitness is the leading owner and operator of fitness clubs in Canada. GoodLife is a privately held company ranking GoodLife in the top 10 for size and revenue growth in the world(1). GoodLife will have 151 locations by December 2007.
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Two of Kitchener’s Leading Engineering Firms - Merge
Frontline Environmental Management joins MTE Consultants Inc.
KITCHENER - The President of MTE Consultants – Mr. Greg Marks, P. Eng announced April 23, 2007 that Frontline Environmental Management has joined with MTE Consultants. Frontline will bring additional skills and specialized expertise in the environmental and building science areas, which will compliment MTE’s technical engineering team. Frontline Environmental and MTE Consultants share similar corporate values and vision with focus on staff empowerment, attention to detail and most importantly the merger will focus on innovative solutions and value added benefits for our clients’ projects.
“It is amazing that from an innocent comment regarding how difficult it is to find
good staff, the Principals of Frontline and MTE could move to quickly complete this
merging of technical talents. We both believe this marriage will serve to provide
benefits not only to our valued clients but will also provide growth opportunities for
our most critical resource…our staff”.
MTE Consultants located on 520 Bingemans Centre Drive is a Kitchener based consulting
engineering firm serving Waterloo Region since 1985. MTE has over 100 employees,
specializing in civil, structural and environmental engineering services, and more recently
mould and asbestos remediation.
Frontline Environmental located on 650 Riverbend Drive is a Kitchener based
environmental firm established in 1995 with 18 employees, specializing in integrated
environmental engineering, hydrogeology, land-use redevelopment and building health
sciences.
The President of Frontline Environmental Management – Mr. Peter Gray, P.Geo is a
Registered Professional Geoscientist and Senior Hydrogeologist with 20 years of
groundwater consulting, project management and client service experience whose talents
have been recognized in Canada, the U.S., and Africa. Peter will assume the role of Vice
President, Environmental at MTE Consultants and is looking forward to providing value
added services to our expanded client base.
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Small business is key to productivity growth in Canada - CFIB
TORONTO - Canada's small businesses is key to productivity growth in Canada, according to new research by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). The study, Building Business Success: A Survey of SMEs on Productivity, shows that smaller businesses are committed to efficiency.
"The productivity debate is based entirely on macro-economic data that
only gives the view from 30,000 feet. What has been missing, until now, is
information about productivity from the business owner's perspective," said
Ted Mallett, CFIB's Chief Economist. "Our goal was to uncover the drivers and
barriers to productivity growth at the micro level."
CFIB's research demonstrates that small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs)
are competitive and continually strive to improve by investing in new
equipment, training and technology. The majority of them say they have become
more productive and many are planning to expand or diversify their businesses
in the short-term.
The study looked at productivity gains during the past 12 months and the
following areas, linked to productivity: business plans, customer base,
capacity use, investment plans in capital and staff, technology adoption and
barriers, competition, and, vertical integration.
"Productivity doesn't just happen," Mallett said. "It only occurs if a
business owner makes a decision to invest in people, equipment or innovation,
and the truth is they are only going to do that if they feel confident that
those investments will pay off. From a public policy perspective, that means
governments have to look to create an environment that promotes those types of
investments."
<<
CFIB makes several recommendations to help small business increase its
efficiency:
- Governments should ensure that the right conditions prevail so
businesses are encouraged to grow by creating an environment of low
inflation, low interest rates and low levels of government debt.
- Governments should eliminate barriers that hinder business expansion
plans. A lower total tax burden will free-up business resources and
improve the investment climate for SMEs.
- Regulations and paper burden restrict business efficiency, undermine
competitive advantages and add compliance costs to business
operations. Reducing the regulatory burden and red tape will lower
compliance costs for SMEs, supporting prosperity.
- Inadequate access to financing can hinder investments and constrain
the growth potential of SMEs. Governments should take measures to
promote a higher level of competition in the financial services
sector so that SMEs ability to obtain credit financing is not
compromised.
- As the study shows, SMEs understand that competition can bring
positive spin-offs to their own business. In fact, many business
owners think international competition and free trade treaties would
create new market opportunities, investment growth and job creation,
and two thirds of the SMEs believe that governments should renew
their efforts to improve the flow of trade between provinces.
>>
The full report is available at www.cfib.ca
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Andrin Limited Moves On to Final Stage of Centre Block Redevelopment Process
KITCHENER - An impressive Canadian development firm with extensive experience in downtown reurbanization projects is moving forward in the Centre Block redevelopment process. The Centre Block Evaluation committee announced today that Andrin Limited, a Brampton based company best known locally for its Kaufman Lofts project, will enter the final stage of the selection process.
Andrin's Vision for Centre Block:
While the Centre Block Evaluation Committee was not looking for a formal, detailed proposal from firms submitting Expressions of Interest for the Centre Block project, the Andrin submissions did include some preliminary information about the company?s high level vision for Centre Block.
"It's really important that citizens keep in mind that the vision that Andrin Limited outlined in its original Expression of Interest for this project is a very preliminary design concept," said Rod Regier, chair of the Centre Block Evaluation Committee and the City's executive director of economic development. "The pictures that have been released are really only conceptual illustrations meant to give the public an idea of the possibilities for Centre Block. They don't represent the final design. We expect that as Andrin works with the evaluation committee and receives feedback from the public consultations over the coming months, the proposal will be refined."
Highlights of the Andrin vision include:
* Up to 400 residential units offering a range of residential types, including lofts, condominiums, larger family style dwellings and live-work units.
* Retail along King Street.
* Multi-level underground parking structure for up to 750 spaces with public parking and parking for retail and residential users.
* A boutique hotel and spa in the restored and renovated heritage structures at the corner of King and Young Streets.
* A podium building on King Street with at grade retail, a parkette and green landscaped element.
* Similar podium building at Duke and Young Streets.
One Proposal:
In January, the City received three Expressions of Interest for the Centre Block redevelopment project from Andrin Limited, Morguard Investments and Windmill Development Group. Both Windmill and Morguard recently withdrew from the process.
"We see a wonderful opportunity for the Kitchener Centre Block development to be a catalyst to further strengthen the revitalization of Kitchener's downtown core, which is well underway. Unfortunately timing on some other unrelated opportunities have precluded us from pursuing this further at this time," said a statement issued recently by Windmill Development Group.
Morguard Investments indicated to the Centre Block Evaluation Committee that after a careful reassessment of the scope of the project, it was determined that they would not have the capacity to meet the community?s vision for a residential component on the site.
"We are very, very pleased with the quality of all of the submissions that we received," said Regier. "We had no doubt that any one of these companies could create a successful development on Centre Block. I think our citizens will be thrilled when they see what Andrin has in mind."
The City is determined to find the best fit for Centre Block.
"If we don't get what we want this time, we can say no to Andrin?s proposal and reissue a Request for Proposals in the future when the market has picked up even further," said Regier. "The important thing is that we get the right development on Centre Block. We shouldn't rush that process and we shouldn?t be afraid to say no if Andrin's proposal isn?t right for our downtown."
Next Steps
Andrin Limited will now have approximately two months to develop their detailed proposal for the redevelopment of Centre Block.
In late June, Andrin will launch the City's six-week public consultation process by making a detailed presentation about their redevelopment proposal to a special meeting of City Council. Citizens will be invited to attend the meeting, view the model on display and provide written comments.
In addition, from June 25 to August 3, there will be several other ways for citizens to provide their comments on the concepts including: three public meetings; brochure questionnaires to fill out and return; a concept model display in various facilities across the city; on-line input; and feedback through email, a dedicated phone line and through regular mail.
"We are very fortunate to have a Canadian leader in downtown reurbanization projects express real passion about redeveloping the most prominent block in our downtown. This is very good news for Kitchener. I hope that citizens will be eager to view the proposal and share their comments with us during the upcoming public consultation process," concluded Regier.
Following the public consultation process, the Centre Block Evaluation Committee will review all of the feedback from Kitchener citizens, and will evaluate the Andrin proposal based on its approach to and treatment of: the overall Centre Block site; the open space on the site; the redevelopment/reuse of 11 Young Street and the adjacent 156-158 King Street building and the parking structure.
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Celebrating 25 years of Canadian entrepreneurship: PROFIT Magazine's special anniversary issue
Canadian entrepreneurship has come a long way since 1982, but there's
still work to be done.
PROFIT offers its prescriptions for the revolution, in the May issue on newsstands now.
TORONTO - Since its launch in 1982 as The Magazine That's All About Small Business, Profit has changed its name, its ownership and its look several times. What hasn't changed is PROFIT's intense focus on providing the information that can help readers' businesses grow, and its advocacy of the entrepreneurial cause.
"This 25th anniversary issue of PROFIT is no exception," says Editor and
Associate Publisher Ian Portsmouth. "As they leaf through this issue, readers
will find timely solutions and insights that Canadian entrepreneurs have come
to expect from us. They'll also experience our continuing celebration of the
critical role they play in making the world a better place. I hope more people
will join the party over PROFIT's next 25 years."
<< Featured in the anniversary issue on newsstands:
- ENTREPRENEURIAL NATION: The rise of Canadian entrepreneurship since
PROFIT's launch 25 years ago played an integral role in the salvation
of our economy. Although challenges to entrepreneurship remain, they
won't stop the revolution. They just might spur it on.
- GOLDEN RULES OF GROWTH: No one knows how to build a business better
than the entrepreneurs behind some of Canada's most successful
companies. Mike Lazaridis, Ron Joyce, Rebecca MacDonald and many
other prominent business leaders share their most powerful lessons
with PROFIT.
- BURIED TREASURES: Grow your business with timeless tips from the
PROFIT vault.
- THE BIZ QUIZ: How much do you know about Canadian entrepreneurship -
and about PROFIT? Test your knowledge with PROFIT's 25th Anniversary
Trivia Challenge, in the May issue and online at
PROFITguide.com/25contest. Good luck!
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Molson Family Honored for its Legacy of Entrepreneurship
Montreal brewing family joins Forbes family as 2007 inductees into Babson College Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs
WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS - Babson College, the number 1 business school for entrepreneurship in the U.S., today honors the entrepreneurial contributions of family businesses when it enrolls the Molson (Molson Coors Brewing Company) and Forbes families into Babson's Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs (ADE), the world's first entrepreneurship "hall of fame".
Since its inception in 1978, the Academy has recognized and honored world-class entrepreneurs who epitomize the success of entrepreneurship and have contributed significantly to the development of free enterprise throughout the world. Inductees are chosen not only for outstanding business accomplishments in their fields, but also for their contributions to society.
Many of the most successful and visible entrepreneurs in the world are members of the Academy, including Soichiro Honda, Honda Motor Car Company Ltd.; Ray A. Kroc, McDonald's Corporation; Anita Roddick, The Body Shop; and Michael R. Bloomberg, Bloomberg LP.
For the first time this year, the Academy is honoring families that have demonstrated their entrepreneurial leadership across many generations. The Molson family has maintained an entrepreneurial growth path as a family controlled organization over seven generations and in that regard has established a clear legacy of transgenerational entrepreneurship.
Honored entrepreneurs attending today's induction ceremony include Eric Molson, Chairman of the board, Molson Coors Brewing Company; Geoff Molson, VP of Marketing, Molson Canada; Andrew Molson, Partner and Vice-Chairman of RES PUBLICA Consulting Group and member of the board of Molson Coors Brewing Company; and Steve Forbes, President and CEO of Forbes and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine.
The Molson Family Business
With roots dating back to 1786 and a time-honored tradition of brewing quality beers, Molson Canada is proud to be the nation's preferred brewer. The Company proudly offers the most popular brands in Canada with an award-winning brand portfolio which includes Molson Canadian, Coors Light, Molson Export, Molson Dry and Rickard's. Molson Canada also partners with other leading brewers to offer such global brands as Heineken, Corona, Miller Genuine Draft, Foster's Lager and Tiger. Molson employs 3,400 Canadians and operates six breweries, including the boutique brewery Creemore, and invests in communities from coast-to-coast through its various charitable initiatives and sports and entertainment sponsorships. Molson Canada is part of the Molson Coors Brewing Company.
Founded by pioneering families, Molson Coors Brewing Company is one of the world's largest brewers, with combined annual volume of more than 49 million hectoliters, net sales of more than US $5.8 billion and approximately 10,000 employees worldwide. As well as being a leading brewer in Canada through Molson Canada, Molson Coors operates in the U.S. through Coors Brewing Company, and in the U.K., Europe and Asia through Coors Brewers Limited.
The Forbes Family Business
The Forbes flagship publication, Forbes, is the nation's leading business magazine, with a circulation of more than 900,000. Forbes combined with Forbes Asia and the company's eight local-language editions together reach a worldwide audience of over five million readers.
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Canadian New Media Awards Announces 2007 Finalists
- Industry entrepreneurs to be awarded at gala May 28, 2007 -
TORONTO - The Canadian New Media Awards (CNMA) announced the finalists for the 7th annual Canadian New Media Awards. Celebrity host, Debra DiGiovanni from the Much Music show Video on Trial and The Last Comic Standing will be joined by industry supporters on May 28th, 2007 to celebrate and present 14 Pixel Awards at The Carlu in Toronto.
"The CNMA recognizes great Canadian talent and work in the digital
interactive industry." said Adam Froman, Founder and Executive Producer of
CNMA and President and CEO of Delvinia. "This year 42 finalists from across 14
award categories demonstrate the innovation and creativity driving the success
of the Canadian interactive and new media industries."
Representing almost every province in Canada, the 2007 finalists will be
recognized for significant accomplishments in the digital interactive media
space and include individuals, students and companies that have contributed to
the design, development or implementation of new media projects. Finalists
represent a wide range of government, private and public organizations from
every facet of the new media industry including programmers, designers,
educators and advocates.
The 42 finalists hail from across Canada with 24 finalists from Ontario,
9 from BC, 5 from Quebec, 1 from Alberta, 1 from Saskatchewan, 1 from Manitoba
and 1 from Nova Scotia. Among the candidates are:
- The Nature of Quebec, Communications TerDor Inc., Saint-Lambert, QC,
for Excellence in Learning
- Hothead Games, Vancouver, BC, for Most Promising New Company of the
Year
- cafesonique.com, Winnipeg, MB, for Excellence in the Use of Social
Media
- Wmode Inc., Calgary, AB, for Company of the Year
More information about the 2007 finalists can be found on: http://www.cnma.ca/index_e/07finalists.html.
Every year the CNMA receive hundreds of nominations from new media
professionals. Finalists are selected by a panel of industry experts in an
online collaboration process. This year's cross-country Selection Committee
consisted of 140 judges, representing private, public and non-profit sectors
and included several finalists and winners from previous years. Over 500
professionals and aspiring industry members are expected to attend this year's
event.
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Three new donors get with the MCET program
Tim Hortons, Cadbury Adams and CTVglobemedia are the latest major companies to donate to the Marketing Communication Education Trust, a fundraising initiative that aims to create Canada’s first university chair and BBA degree in brand communication at Waterloo, Ontario’s Wilfrid Laurier University.
According to co-chair and trustee Mike Welling, MCET is now less than $650,000 short of its fundraising goal of $2.5 million. The MCET program was started more than two years ago and has received donations from companies such as Pepsi-QTG, Molson, Rogers and Unilever.
Welling, who is also president of Toronto’s Doug Agency, would not say how much Tim Hortons, Cadbury Adams and CTVglobemedia donated, but says the contributions are “significant.”
He also says that by donating, the three companies—as well as previous donors—have showed leadership that he hopes will inspire other organizations. “We’re 80% of the way towards our goal, and we’re hoping to get more leading brand builders to jump on board and support the program,” says Welling.
Such leadership appears to be making an impact. According to Welling, MCET is close to making an announcement regarding a new donor from the food service industry.
He adds that more marketing professionals are beginning to see the need for a university program that focuses on brand communication.
“The training just isn’t happening in companies the way it used to, so it has to happen more at the university level.”
Welling says he would like to reach the $2.5-million goal by summer but that no firm timetable has been set.
Matt Semansky
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UW arts students Bring Home Entrepreneurs' prize
Grinning for the camera are Jasmin Hofer and Ashley Smith, UW arts students and the brains behind Energrow, after winning first place in the national Wes Nicol Undergraduate Business Plan Competition in late March. As winners of the local contest, they went to Ottawa for the finals under the sponsorship of UW's Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology. Energrow designs and builds presses to process soybeans into livestock feed plus an oil that can be converted to fuel. "This is about being able to give farmers control of their own commodity," says Hofer, who developed the company out of a co-op work term job. The duo came home with a $5,000 prize thanks to entrepreneur Wes Nicol (who also financed the regional competition at UW) and memories of meeting billionaire Terry Matthews, an Ottawa business leader and donor of the March Networks Atrium in UW's CEIT building.
Photo courtesy of Photolux Studio.
Copyright University of Waterloo Daily Bulletin
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UAE Most Competitive Arab Economy: World Economic Forum
“The United Arab Emirates has the most competitive economy in the Arab
world, followed by Qatar and Kuwait, said a report released in Doha on
Tuesday by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The Arab World Competitiveness Report 2007, which is based on the WEF's
Global Competitiveness Report and classifies countries into three groups,
said the UAE came first among the Arab countries at the third and most
advanced stage of development. But oil-rich UAE came only 29th in the
group that included 40 countries, topped by Switzerland. Qatar followed at
32, while Kuwait and Bahrain came 35th and 39th, respectively. Tunisia,
meanwhile, came first among Arab countries in the second group which
included countries in the middle stage of development. Ranked third among
40 countries, Tunisia was followed by Oman as eighth in the group headed
by Malaysia. … In the group of the least advanced in development, Egypt
led three other Arab countries as it came fourth after India, Indonesia
and China. …” [Agence France Presse/Factiva]
AP writes that “… Most Arab economies have soared in the past five years
despite the war in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the brief
but ferocious battle in Lebanon last year. Many Arab countries are
enjoying the fastest growth rates seen for 30 years, the report said. …
The WEF said Egypt, Tunisia and Oman had grown more competitive because of
progress in their infrastructure, education and labor markets. The Arab
world still has much to do, the experts said. Arab economies are still not
integrated within the region and with the world beyond, said Forum
chairman Klaus Schwab. …” [The Associated Press/Factiva]
Mist News reports that “… Although the region’s economies are currently
very dynamic and offer tremendous business opportunities, there is no
doubt that improvements to national competitiveness and closer integration
with the global economy and within the region are necessary if this growth
momentum is to be sustained,’ said Schwab.
‘The report underscores the importance of a profound change in mindsets in
order to realize the region’s full potential,’ said Sherif El Diwany,
director, Middle East, WEF. ‘Entrepreneurship, an element that is often
cited as the key to unlocking the potential of the Arab economies, can
only take root in societies where freedom of thought, enthusiasm for
inquiry and critical thinking are popular values.’ …” [Mist News
(Egypt)/Factiva]
Dow Jones adds that “The WEF Tuesday suggested the region is some way off
being able to weather sustained lower oil income, highlighting
disappointing progress on employment, education and healthcare among even
the most successful economies in the Middle East. … Inflation among the
leading oil producers was also a long-term threat to balancing their
economies.
Elsewhere, the report warned progress on lowering unemployment rates in
the region masked profound problems - the state as a primary employer, and
a hefty reliance on migrant workers, with not enough progress on the
employment of nationals. … The Forum also raised serious concerns over the
healthcare outlook for Persian Gulf countries, mirroring similar
challenges across other successful non-Arab economies which face growing
and aging populations. …” [Dow Jones/Factiva]
Middle East Company News notes that “… This year's report has expanded
coverage to 13 Arab economies - Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait,
Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia and United Arab
Emirates. Libya, Oman and Syria are assessed for the first time. Rankings
are presented in three country groups according to the stage of
development to enable benchmarking against peers in other parts of the
world. …” [Middle East Company News (UAE)/Factiva]
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Brick Brewing expands agency business
Direct Cellars completes three new agreements to represent multiple
attractive brands
WATERLOO - Brick Brewing Co. Limited announcedthat it has significantly enhanced its sales agency business through its affiliate Direct Cellars Beverage Co. (DCB), which has completed three new representation agreements. The new brands to be represented are expected to add significantly to DCB's sales in the short term, with the potential for significant longer-term growth.
DCB's new agreements are with Diamond Estates Wine & Spirits Ltd. of
Beamsville, Ontario, Flat Rock Cellars of Jordan, Ontario and Wellington
County Brewery of Guelph, Ontario.
Under the agreement with Diamond Estates, DCB will represent Diamond
Estates' brands in licensed establishments in Ontario as well as joint venture
retail sales projects in select areas of Ontario. Among the portfolio of
brands are the wines of Niagara Cellars' Lakeview Cellars, East Dell Estates,
as well as imports Kendall-Jackson, Long Flat, Fat Bastard wines and Patron
Tequila. "This agreement enables us to leverage Brick's strength in Ontario
licensed establishments," said Murray Marshall, President and CEO of Diamond
Estates. "By partnering with Brick's sales force, we can ramp up our sales in
this segment much more quickly than would otherwise be possible."
The agreement with Flat Rock Cellars is for both the LCBO and licensed
establishments in Ontario. Flat Rock's high quality wines have an established
and excellent reputation with premium wine drinkers in Ontario and Brick's
distribution strength will bring these fine wines to a broader audience.
"Direct Cellars' commitment to selling excellence was a natural fit to our
unwavering commitment to producing the finest wines in Ontario," said Ed
Madronich, President of Flat Rock Cellars.
DCB's agreement with Wellington County Brewery is for LCBO distribution.
Wellington's brands, including Trailhead Lager, County Ale and Special Pale
Ale, are performing well in the licensee market and DCB's strong position in
the LCBO channel is expected to enhance Wellington's share of this important
sampling and take-home market for premium craft beers. "We are really pleased
to team up with another Ontario craft brewer," said Mike Stirrup, President of
Wellington County Brewery. "Direct Cellars' expertise in this important
channel will improve the availability of our brands at the LCBO."
"These agreements are part of our ongoing strategy to increase DCB's
portfolio of significant brands and to leverage DCB's growing strengths in the
licensee and LCBO channels," said Doug Berchtold, President and CEO of Brick
Brewing. "The addition of these brands both strengthens our current position
in the market and affords increased opportunities for market share expansion."
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Richard Dawkins Leads List of Speakers at ideaCity 07 -June 20, 21 and 23-
(xx)Speaking in Toronto for the First Time in 28 Years!(xx)
TORONTO - Internationally renowned scientist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins has joined ideaCity's elite roster of speakers for ideaCity 07. Speaking in Toronto for the fist time since 1979, Dawkins will address the issues inherent in his bestselling book, The God Delusion.
ideaCity, also known as 'Canada's Premiere Meeting of the Minds', is an
eclectic gathering of artists, adventurers, authors, designers, entertainers,
musicians, scientists and technologists. Fifty of the planet's brightest minds
descend upon Toronto to speak to a discerning and thoughtful audience of 500
influential folks each June. Audience members are also treated to 3 legendary
parties (one each night) and prizes from ideaCity's generous sponsors. Prizes
this year include an all-expense paid trip to the Dominican Republic and a
selection of state-of the art technological toys.
Produced and hosted by media innovator Moses Znaimer, past speakers
include Conrad Black, Barbara Gowdy, Deepa Mehta, Douglas Coupland, Pamela
Wallin, Pete Seeger, Robert Kennedy Jr., John Ralston Saul, Daniel Libeskind,
Clayton Ruby, Romeo Dallaire and the late Peter Jennings.
Richard Dawkins, Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of
Science at the University of Oxford and the author of nine books such as The
Selfish Gene, The Ancestor's Tale and The God Delusion joins an impressive and
eclectic roster that includes:
Ingrid Mattson: how did a young woman, born Catholic and raised in Canada
get to be the President of the Islamic Society of North America (NISA)? Ingrid
Mattson, the administrative leader of NISA and Professor of Islamic Studies
and Christian Muslim relations at Hartford Seminary will fill you in on her
journey to and through Islam.
Alexander Bock: has pioneered a unique way of propelling the human body.
Similar to the comic book dream of being able to 'leap tall buildings in a
single bound', Power Skip boots attach to the feet and create a bionic calf
extension that allows one to mimic the effects of jumping on a trampoline with
each step.
Anousheh Ansari: on September 18, 2006, Anousheh Ansari captured
headlines around the world as the first female private space explorer. She
also earned a place in history as the fourth private explorer to visit space
and the first astronaut of Iranian descent.
David Schurig: has not every child or hormonally driven adolescent dreamt
of owning a magical cloth that would render them invisible? David Schurig is
designing Invisibility Cloaks and other devices using mathematical and
scientific principles and implementing them in metamaterials, or materials
using synthetic substances with both positive and negative properties.
Helen Grenier: cofounder and Chairman of iRobot, Ms. Greiner envisioned
robots as the basis for an entirely new class of products that would improve
life by taking on dangerous and undesirable tasks. Greiner's vision has been
brought to life by products such as the iRobot Roomba(R) Vacuuming Robot,
which has sold more than 1.5 million units to consumers throughout the world,
and the iRobot PackBot(R) tactical mobile robot, which is helping to save
soldiers' lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Joseph M. Rosen, MD: with all the current advances in plastic surgery and
body transformation, what will the human form look like in 50 years? Dr.
Rosen, former Stanford and MIT plastic surgery specialist is currently
researching the addition of wings to the human body and will address these
issues and offer clues as to the reality of humans ever being able to fly.
Ron O'Dor: Blackberries for fish? Census of Marine Life (COML) Senior
Scientist, Ron Odor just received $45 million from the Canada Foundation for
Innovation to build the global Ocean Tracking Network. The OTN will spread
Canadian technology around the world that will revolutionize the way fish are
tracked and oceans are managed.
Jane Juska: taught English in California for more than forty years-in
high school, in college, and in prison. With the publication of her first
book, A Round-Heeled Woman: My Late-Life Adventures in Sex and Romance, Juska
became a spokesperson for the romantically active senior set, and she appears
frequently before book groups and women's groups.
For information on ideaCity's other speakers during the conference,
please log onto www.ideacityonline.com
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Are you a Canadian entrepreneur looking for nationwide exposure and recognition?
BDC wants top, young entrepreneurial talent for its 20th Young
Entrepreneur Awards
MONTREAL - BDC is looking for top business entrepreneurs aged 19 to 35 from across Canada for the 2007 Young Entrepreneur Awards (YEA), which will be presented on October 16th at a ceremony in Winnipeg, Manitoba, during Small Business Week. Thirteen award winners, one for each province and territory, will see their business and leadership accomplishments honoured under the theme "A world without boundaries, open to new markets".
This year, two special awards will also be presented during BDC's Small
Business Week. YEA winners will be eligible for the Export Excellence Award.
The prize will be presented to the winner with the most outstanding export
results. The Business Transition Award will also be awarded to highlight the
important generational change that is occurring among Canadian entrepreneurs.
It will recognize the seller and buyer of a business that has successfully
changed hands from one generation to the next. Entrepreneurs from all ages can
enter to win the Business Transition Award.
Selection criteria
The winners are selected by a panel of business people, entrepreneurs,
members of chambers of commerce and BDC representatives. The following
selection criteria apply to all nominees: the originality of the business
concept, its success, growth potential, and social involvement. The panel also
considers the entrepreneur's age when the business was started and any special
challenges that had to be faced. Nominees from previous years may enter again
for the same or another business. For detailed information on selection
criteria, visit www.bdc.ca/yea.
Nomination procedure
Entrepreneurs can nominate themselves. Application forms can be
downloaded from BDC's Web site at www.bdc.ca/yea. To obtain a printed version,
entrepreneurs may visit any BDC branch or send an e-mail to yea@bdc.ca.
Nominations must be received by June 6, 2007. For information concerning Small
Business Week or the Young Entrepreneur Awards, you may call 1-888-INFO-BDC
(1-888-463-6232) or visit www.bdc.ca.
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MedShare announces closing of second round of financing.
Firm raises $1.8 Million, plans to rapidly expand its team and aggressively target the U.S.
Waterloo - MedShare announced April 10 2007 it successfully completed its 2nd round of venture financing, raising a total of $1.8 million, led by a group of local technology veterans. Funding proceeds will be used to further develop its mobile electronic health record offerings for home care agencies, for U.S. expansion and for general working capital.
“Medshare has a very well thought out business model and has demonstrated innovation and execution abilities which are key success factors for any firm in which we invest,” said Al Foerster, investor spokesperson. “Our group will add value in both access to capital as well as providing assistance based on our many years of entrepreneurial success. We hope to be here to assist Medshare for years to come.”
“Medshare has made incredible progress in the past 12 months and I am very proud of my team, as their dedication to deliver on the vision is what has allowed us to attract this round of investment.” said J.Paul Haynes, CEO of Medshare. He added, “We plan to add many positons across the board starting in May, including development, professional service, sales and marketing.”
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PropertyGuys.com Opens in Cambridge, ON to Save Area Residents Millions
Cambridge - PropertyGuys.com, Canada’s leading private sale franchise network, has announced the opening of its new Cambridge, Ontario office. This announcement demonstrates the company’s strong commitment towards its aggressive Ontario expansion plan.
The company’s arrival in Cambridge is timely. Cambridge ranks high among Ontario cities in terms of its economic momentum. PropertyGuys.com estimates that over $30 million in commissions were shared among Cambridge area real estate agents last year, while the commission price tag across Canada was about $4.5 billion. The company’s goal is to put a minimum of $23 million in commission savings back in the pockets of local home sellers by 2010. The company is already on the right track to achieve its lofty goal. “We’ve already got some great success stories,” says Shanks. “Most recently, one of my clients saved nearly $25,000 in commission by selling her $500,000 home using the PropertyGuys.com system. She had tried the traditional brokerage route without success, and was just amazed how quick her property sold and how simple our system made the process”.
PropertyGuys.com President and founder Ken LeBlanc commented on the new franchise opening. "Cambridge franchise owner Mike Shanks is a talented and motivated individual which speaks to our objective of growing strategically with the right kind of people. Mr. Shanks has a phenomenal track record in sales and service that will definitely bare fruit for the PropertyGuys.com brand.”
“I am so happy to be associated with such a dynamic group of forward thinkers,” stated Shanks. “The company has first-rate people that promote a culture of professionalism and innovation that I support and respect.”
PropertyGuys.com estimates that nationally, 50% of all residential home sellers will abandon paying commission by the year 2010.
PropertyGuys.com Cambridge has already gained popularity by achieving positive results for many clients in a short time. “I love making such a huge impact on the people’s finances by helping them keep so much of their hard earned money”, says Shanks. “People I’ve been talking to prefer the transparency and honesty that we bring to an otherwise tainted industry. My customers aren’t generally excited about paying commission, and they are even more pleased to learn how easy the process is, so they obviously love what we offer.”
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Outlook positive for small business but challenges remain: TD Economics
TORONTO - Canada's economic and financial forecast bodes well for small business owners in 2007/08, but tight labour market conditions will remain a key challenge for many firms, according to a report published today by TD Economics.
TD's Deputy Chief Economist and author of the report, Craig Alexander,
states: "The economic backdrop, including solid domestic demand and
historically low interest rates, should be generally supportive for small
business, particularly those serving local markets. And, while export-oriented
firms will face headwinds from U.S. weakness, their fortunes will improve in
2008."
TD Economics expects the Canadian economy to grow by an annual average of
2.4 percent in 2007, and further strengthen to 2.9 percent in 2008. While this
year's pace of expansion is sub-par, it is the result of a "poor handoff"
created by extremely weak economic performance in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Domestic demand - which encompasses spending and investment by
households, businesses and governments - is expected to experience a robust
3.3 percent increase in 2007/08. This is slower, however, than the
unsustainable 4.7 percent gain experienced in 2006.
Other positive indicators include the national unemployment rate, which
is forecasted to remain near a 30-year low, and real personal disposable
income (i.e. after inflation and after-tax income), which is | |
