MBiz | November 2012

November 2012 Vol . 2 business is booming. B iz MB

AFTER THE GOLDRUSH SNOW LAKE PREPARES FOR A BIG BOOM P12 Top of the World WTC Winnipeg in the spotlight P20

Taking Care Of BUsiness A Salute to MBiz award Winners p6

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Decisive. Direct. That’s Fillmore Riley. Know your best options. At Fillmore Riley we’re dedicated to providing exceptional legal services. We strive to learn everything we can about your legal situation because more insight means that we can offer you the best solutions for your legal challenge. When you want more, look to Fillmore Riley. insight.

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November 2012 Vol. 2 B iz MB Manitoba Chambers

of Commerce mbchamber.mb.ca President & CEO Graham Starmer Director, Policy and Communications Susan Barkman

sbarkman@mbchamber.mb.ca Winnipeg Free Press winnipegfreepress.com Publisher Bob Cox Vice President Sales Laurie Finley Manager of Niche Products Edith Bonner edith.bonner@freepress.mb.ca Editor: Pat St Germain pdstgermain@gmail.com Writers: Rick Groom

Bob Cox, Publisher of The Winnipeg Free Press shakes hands with Graham Starmer, President of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.

From a rock ‘n’ roll high school to tundra tourism and global business networks, MBiz gets around. The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and the Winnipeg Free Press joined forces to bring you news about businesses and business people across the province when we launched MBiz in June. We discovered a wealth of diversity and we’re delighted to continue our exploration of Manitoba’s business interests in our second issue.

Jennifer McFee Holli Moncrieff Judy Owen David Schmeichel Pat St. Germain

Along with stories about cutting-edge entrepreneurs and small- town innovators, you’ll find exciting news about a modern- day gold rush, an oil boom and World Trade Centre Winnipeg, whose board was introduced at global business-to-business forum Centrallia in October. And — drum roll, please — we’re delighted to have the opportunity to salute the winners of the 2012 Manitoba Business Awards. Enjoy!

David Square Lindsey Ward Photography: Darcy Finley Numerous organizations

supplied Design: Jane Chartrand Printing: Quantum Graphics

Featured this Month in MBiz:

• Mbiz Awards Feature.... 6 • Norman ...................... 10 • Parkland .................... 14 • Pembina Valley ........... 18 • Capital ....................... 20

• Central ....................... 32 • Eastern ...................... 36 • Interlake ..................... 40 • Midwest ..................... 42 • Western ...................... 44

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Winners’ Circle The 2012 Manitoba Business Awards by Pat St. Germain

The 2012 Manitoba Business Award winners were the toast of the town at a gala celebration of excellence at the Fairmont Winnipeg Oct. 18. We salute the winners. Standard Aero (Long-Term Business Achievement in Winnipeg) The Sopwith Camel had yet to be invented when Standard Aero launched as Standard Machine Works in 1911. Its roots in Winnipeg and more than a century of success as it grew into one of the largest, independent aviation service businesses in the world earned it a spot on the MBiz stage. A leader in military, commercial and business aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, Standard Aero has more than 1,400 employees in Winnipeg and operates a global service network in Canada, the U.S., Europe, Singapore and Australia. www.standardaero.com Finalists: Poulin’s Pest Control, Westeel. Hemp Oil Canada (Outstanding Small Business) A true trailblazer, Hemp Oil Canada hit the ground running in March 1998, incorporating in the same month hemp cultivation was legalized in Canada. An innovative approach to creating a niche market led to rapid growth. Today, 21 employees at its Ste. Agathe seed processing facility produce, package and distribute hemp food products to global markets. www.hempoilcan.com Finalists: Brandon Wheat Kings, Half Pints Brewing Co.

Murray Automotive Centre, Brandon (Long-Term Business Achievement in Rural Manitoba) Born in Souris during the Roaring ‘20s, Murray Automotive Centre has set the pace in vehicle sales and service for 85 years. Now based in Brandon, the third-generation family-owned company has 20 dealerships and more than 1,000 employees across Canada. www.murrayautogroup.ca Finalists: Elias Woodwork, Smooth Freight. Tribal Wi-Chi-Way-Win Capital Corp. (Outstanding Medium Business) Committed to providing opportunities for aboriginal entrepreneurs, Tribal Wi-Chi-Way-Win Capital Corp. was established in 1993 through the combined efforts of five Manitoba Tribal Councils and several independent First Nations. It has provided financial advice and services to more than 725 First Nations innovators, along with more than $45 million in loans. www.twcc.mb.ca Finalists: Epic Information Systems, Gislason, Taragownik and Peters. Bison Transport (Outstanding Large Business) Named for the hardy, social animal that symbolizes the pioneering prairie spirit, Bison Transport has been based in Winnipeg since 1969. With a fleet of 1,050 tractors and 3,000 trailers, along with 1,800 employees, Bison’s transportation services now range throughout North America. www.bisontransport.com Finalists: Cargill Ltd., HyLife Ltd.

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Toast of the town: Opposite page: (from left) MBiz Award winners Rob Penner (Bison Transport), Lieutenant Governor’s Award winner Gregg Hanson, Troy Davis (The Dufresne Group), Shaun Crew (Hemp Oil Canada), Mike Scott and Kim Olson (Standard Aero), Chuck Eliot and Lyndsay Murray (Murray Automotive Centre), Grand Chief Morris Swan-Shannacappo and Chief Glen Hudson (Wi-Chi-Way-Win Capital Corp.) Above: Lt-Gov. Philip Lee and Manitoba Chambers of Commerce president Graham Starmer. Above Right: Celebrants raise a glass at the gala. Right: The awards were created and handmade by upcycled glass artist George Klassen. Photos by David Modor

Gregg Hanson (2012 Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to the Community )

Universally admired in the service and business communities, Gregg retired from Wawanesa Mutual in 2007 after a 28-year career, the last 15 as president and CEO. He sits on the boards of Wawanesa, James Richardson and Sons Ltd., the Insurance Bureau of Canada and Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. Previous honours include the University of Manitoba Distinguished Alumni Award and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba Lifetime Achievement Award. Gregg has served the Salvation Army Grace Hospice, The Winnipeg Foundation and Habitat for Humanity. He was chair of finance with the 1999 Pan American Games and 2010 United Way of Winnipeg campaign chair. Gregg and his wife Mary also raised two accomplished children. Son Adam is the 2012 United Way campaign chair at Great-West Life Assurance, and daughter Janine won a silver medal in rowing at the 2012 Olympics in London. The Dufresne Group (2012 Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Business to the Community) One of the largest independent regional furniture chains in Canada, The Dufresne Group has been a success for 25 years, thanks to a philosophy

that places high value on its people, promises, performance and passion. A member of the 50 Best Managed Companies Platinum Club, with 13 consecutive wins, the company works to improve the quality of life in the communities where its employees work, live and play. The Dufresne Foundation supports the United Way, Habitat for Humanity, A Hope To Dream and the Children’s Hospital Book Market, among other groups. In 2011, TDG contributed more than $1.6 million to charities across Canada. www.thedufresnegroup.ca

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After 125 years, some things have only gotten better Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP celebrates a milestone anniversary by David Square

THOMPSON DORFMAN SWEATMAN LLP LAWYERS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Elmer Gomes, Scott Hoeppner and Renée Lemieux Howard (in stairway); John Stefaniuk, Melissa Beaumont and Laura Workman (in boardroom); and Don Douglas (in office)

T hompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (also known as TDS Law) has never let anything get in the way of its commitment to clients. Not even a raging fire. In 1955, a blaze destroyed the firm’s Huron and Erie Building offices on Christmas Day, causing $1 million worth of damage. It was devastating, but it didn’t stop the tenacious firm – then called Thompson, Shepard, Dilts & Jones – from re-opening in a temporary location 48 hours later. That’s client commitment – something TDS Law prides itself on today, as it celebrates 125 years of service to the community. While the scent of smoke still lurks on some of the books in the firm’s library, TDS Law’s quasquicentennial anniversary provides an opportunity for the firm to thank

its clients, some of whom have been entrusting their legal matters to the firm for decades. “While we’re proud of our past, the celebration of this anniversary is more about looking to the future — also recognizing that we want to thank our clients because without them, we would be nothing at all,” says Don Douglas, TDS Law’s CEO and Managing Partner. The firm’s future focus, says Douglas, will be to stay close to clients and their changing legal needs. “If our clients succeed, we’ll succeed.” A hands-on approach is one way TDS Law stays in tune with its clients. At the firm level, it contributes to community initiatives that support the arts, the environment, medical care, children’s initiatives and entrepreneurs, among others. And, it’s not uncommon for individual members of the firm’s 75-plus strong team of

B iz MB milestones Its not every day that a firm

celebrates 125 years of success. Congratulations to Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP! MBiz salutes this milestone achievement.

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lawyers to volunteer their time to further those initiatives. Dedication to clients and community has been a firm trait for decades. After becoming senior partner in 1953, D.A. Thompson maintained a strong commitment to providing high quality legal work and client service, and to giving back to the community. He was honoured with the Order of the Buffalo Hunt (now the Order of Manitoba) in 1969. Thompson’s high standards are embedded in the firm’s culture and the main boardroom in the firm’s headquarters at Portage & Main bears his name. Students who wish to launch careers at TDS Law enjoy the benefit of a year-long “interview” through the firm’s articling program. Their dedication is rewarded with challenging legal work, strong administrative support, a competitive compensation package and the benefit of becoming part of a culture that has evolved over the passing decades. TDS Law offers services in six languages. “You need to have flexibility if you’re going to be able to attract and retain diverse talent,” says Keith LaBossiere, Chair of the TDS Law Articling Students Committee. Historically, TDS Law has never been afraid to stand out from the crowd. In the 1960s, Guy Kroft (who was subsequently appointed to be a Judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench and, later, to be a Judge of the Court of Appeal) became the first member of Winnipeg’s Jewish community to be invited to join one of the old-line established law firms in the City. Another example of the firm’s involvement in change to the social landscape occurred in 1985 when Cheryl Davidson (a partner at the firm until 1989), was elected the first female president of the Manitoba Bar Association. In 1989, TDS Law became a founding (and Manitoba’s only) member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms, which adheres to a strict admission policy and audits member firms every few years. Going forward, TDS Law plans to build on its reputation in Manitoba’s legal profession by continuing to innovate, while remaining true to D.A. Thompson’s traditional ideals of providing quality service and overall value to clients. One thing that hasn’t changed in the past 125 years is TDS Law’s client-centric view of the world, which is most important in terms of the firm’s overall success, and even more importantly, the success of its clients. www.tdslaw.com

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP: a brief History

Hough & Campbell’s location on Main Street in 1887.

A fire on Christmas Day, 1955 tore through the offices of Thompson, Shepard, Dilts & Jones, causing a reported $1 million worth of damage.

Irwin Dorfman became a partner in 1966, and was the first Jewish president in the Canadian Bar Association’s history.

Aside from being a highly respected firm partner, D.A. Thompson was a notable community figure, earning the prestigious Order of the Buffalo Hunt in 1969.

An announcement in the Winnipeg Free Press in 1971 following Alan Sweatman’s appointment as central Canadian chairman of National Brotherhood Week.

For an extensive look into the history of TDS, visit www.tdslaw.com/125

A partner in the firm until 1989, Cheryl Davidson was the first female president of the Manitoba Bar Association.

A Winnipeg Free Press article details partner Guy Joseph Kroft’s appointment to the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench on February 22, 1979.

TDS Law is excited to embark on a new chapter in its history.

In 1990, TDS Law moved its offices from the Bank of Canada building to the newly built 33-storey Toronto-Dominion Centre at 201 Portage Ave.

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Bear Necessities Frontiers North is committed to conservation of great white bears by Rick Groom (with files from Pat St. Germain)

M erv Gunter has seen a lot of polar bears in his time. But the wonder of it never ceases for the owner of Churchill’s Tundra Buggy Tours and Frontiers North Adventures. Thirty years after his first northern exposure, the height of the bears’ social season in October and November is still a thrill, as mothers tend their cubs and males roughhouse on the shores of Hudson Bay before winter freezeup. “They have this sparring behaviour that’s totally atypical of bears. They’re a very solitary animal, but they socialize and they wrestle about,” Gunter says. “Every time I see that it just causes me to stop yet again and watch them, and it’s a thoroughly exhilarating experience even today.”

Polar Exploration: Tundra Buggies

give people closeup views of bears, and vice-versa. Photo courtesy of Frontiers North Adventures

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Norman Churchill Chamber of Commerce FLin flon & District Chamber of Commerce Gillam Chamber of Commerce The Pas & District Chamber of Commerce Thompson Chamber of Commerce

Preserving the fragile ecosystem that supports polar bears and other Arctic wildlife is a priority for the company Gunter runs with his wife Lynda and son John. “We are very definitely committed to and focused on the sustainability part, because this is our passion and this is what we do for a living,” Gunter says. The polar bear has become an international symbol for global warming. They rely on the Arctic ice as a hunting ground for ring seals, but shorter winters and ice depletion are a threat. Gunter says his company is doing everything it can to minimize its environmental impact and support conservation efforts. A founding strategic alliance partner with conservation organization Polar Bears International (PBI), it supports scientific research for ecosystems, along with educational and outreach programs, with reduced fares for schools and non-profit groups. Gunter says he’s sensitive to everything scientists learn about polar bears and supports anything that will help the population remain sustainable. Over the past three years, the company has replaced the engines in most of its all-terrain Tundra Buggies, reducing emissions by at least 50%. Two new sleeper units that let tourists spend the night under the Northern Lights are more heat efficient, with water management systems that allow for recycling of water to supply the toilet system. As much waste as possible is then returned to Churchill’s waste management system. The trail system the buggies travel on in the Manitoba Conservation Wildlife Management Area was established by the U.S. military in the 1950s and ‘60s, and great care is taken to maintain those trails rather than contribute to erosion of tundra. “We’ve had to invest an awful lot and we really believe that we have an opportunity to show the rest of the world how it can be done in this unique and challenging environment,” Gunter says, noting

there are no roads to Churchill. While Frontiers North — which lobbied the province in 1998 to put a cap on the number of vehicle permits issued for the wildlife management area — has won awards for responsible tourism practices and as a champion for polar bears, it doesn’t call itself an eco-tourism company. “We try to walk the walk instead of talking the talk,” Gunter says. The company is also committed to educating guests about the North’s indigenous peoples, culture, history and environment. And Gunter says guests usually spend a bit of time in the wolf capital of Thompson and in Winnipeg, which will soon be home to the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre at Assiniboine Park Zoo. Polar bears were not on the agenda when the Gunters moved to Churchill in 1982. At the time, Merv was a Royal Bank manager, and he laughs at the extent of the transition he’s made. “There’s times I often ask myself what the hell I’m doing,” he says. “We really just fell in love with the town and the North.” When he was transferred back to Winnipeg in 1986, Lynda started the tour company, which is based in Winnipeg and Churchill and allows them to enjoy both environments. Gunter says guests come from the U.S., Asia, Europe and Australia, and they often wonder if they’ll really see a polar bear when they head out on a Tundra Buggy tour. “And they see one and they burst into smiles and laughter and rushing to the windows and getting out the cameras and they turn into children,” he says. “It’s just wonderful to watch the emotional reaction of people and what they experience when they see this — it’s truly phenomenal. That’s enjoyable to me sometimes as much as watching bears.” www.frontiersnorth.com

>> The Thompson Economic Diversification Working Group (TEDWG) is creating a branding strategy for the city. TEDWG’s local and regional identity subcommittee has launched a community engagement exercise aimed at gathering input from local and regional stakeholders. The group will use the information it gathers to develop a logo and formal branding strategy to be rolled out over the next few years. www.thompson.ca >> The first International Wolf and Carnivore Conference in Thompson drew experts from around the world to share information on research, wolf management and ecotourism opportunities. The October conference is among several Thompson Spirit Way initiatives that will support a plan to build a wolf economy for Manitoba by 2015. >> A former aircraft hangar at Cranberry Portage has been transformed into The Northern Technical Centre for students at Frontier Collegiate Institute and surrounding communities. Students in power mechanics and building and construction trades programs have access to state-of-the-art facilities at the centre, which is expected to help ease a province-wide shortage of skilled tradespeople. New & Noteworthy

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Golden Opportunity Snow Lake mines open doors for new business by Jennifer McFee

“We’re going to be short of everything, which is why there is a lot of opportunity up here,” Fisher says. “You have massive amounts of investment going into the ground around this community. It’s definitely an exciting time to be here.” Economic development officer MaryAnn Mihychuk anticipates the community will enjoy at least 30 years of boom time, with a Development is snowballing, with road, waste-and-water upgrades, land clearing for a new subdivision and construction of the Golden Vista condominiums. Photos courtesy of Snow Lake Economic Development

The boom has begun. Snow Lake is on an economic upswing thanks to $1 billion in mining investments. And with the population set to triple over the next few years, the northern town needs an influx of businesses to meet the needs of residents and guests. For Mayor Clarence Fisher, the focus is on a bright and sustainable future. “It’s the beginning of a rebirth for the community,” Fisher says. “It’s a whole new time.” This renaissance stems from the discovery of a massive gold deposit in the area, along with zinc and copper. Two new mines are being developed and an existing gold mine is set to reopen. In addition, Snow Lake will be home to North America’s first bioleach remediation facility, which will use new technology to extract gold residue from mining waste. These projects are expected to create more than 450 mining-related jobs, plus spin-off employment in other industries. But first, Snow Lake needs to attract companies to the community. “We’re a very small town. Right now, we’re only about 1,000 people and, really, there’s almost nothing that we don’t need,” Fisher says. “There’s a few gas stations in town. We’ve got one grocery store, one hardware store and a number of home-based businesses.

But when it comes to retail, we could use almost anything. “We’re also in need of professional services. For people to have an optometrist appointment, they need to go two hours down the road. For dental appointments, same thing.” Because of the demand, Fisher says, almost any business would prosper in Snow Lake. “We’re certainly only at the beginning right

Mining their business: Snow Lake councillors (from left) Aldon Kowalchuk, Brenda Forsyth-Flamand, Rupert Klyne, Angela Enright and Dave Mayer welcome HudBay’s Lalor gold, copper and zinc mine. (Councillor Chris Samborski and Mayor Clarence Fisher are missing)

260 % increase in mining jobs alone. “We are open for business,” Mihychuk says. “There’s a real opportunity in Snow Lake for companies that are looking for expansion or new opportunities.” Like Fisher, Mihychuk stresses that Snow Lake needs support in almost every sector, since each mining job is expected to create another four service jobs.

now. We’re going to get a lot busier in a few years to come,” he says. “It’s a place where people make a good wage. There is money in the community.” Tradespeople are also in high demand. New homes are being built and current homeowners are pouring money into renovation projects they postponed during difficult financial times.

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SnowLake land of opportunity The future of Sustainable Mining lives here.

Several mining projects beginning in the next 4 years creating vast opportunities. Proven deposits will see over 1 billion dollars invested into the future of Snow Lake. The result, is the ongoing revitalization of Snow Lake’s downtown and a community where you can work and raise a family with confidence.

Snowlake.ca 204-358-2551 • 204-299-4036 • Office Hours: Mon. to Fri. 8 A.M. - 5 P.M. Email: snowlake@mts.net Call or Visit us online today!

business is booming. B iz MB

“Every business person will have to look at when it’s the most expedient to come in,” she says. “Right now, land is available and prices are low. If you wait too long, you’ll be paying a lot more. If you come too early, you’ll be waiting.” Entrepreneurs are already expressing interest. And Mihychuk hopes skilled immigrants will also consider sharing their talents with the town. In particular, she expects the remediation facility to garner international attention. “We’re going to have people from around the world coming to Snow Lake for the bioleach project who are going to be enjoying a lifestyle of the rich and famous,” she says. “When you work for a mine now, you make a six-figure salary, so you work hard and you play hard.” Mihychuk has a plan in place to bolster long-term economic stability. She envisions Snow Lake as a hub to provide core services and supplies for the exploration mining industry. She says it’s also an ideal location for a world-class mine remediation research centre. And she anticipates the town will become known for its business recruitment. “In the next two to three years, Snow Lake will experience a resource boom like Fort McMurray, except on a smaller scale,” she says. “Instead of a Big Mac, we’re a Mini Mac. It’s a billion dollars. It’s an amazing thing that will occur for Snow Lake, Manitoba.” Mihychuk invites workers and business owners to visit the town’s website. “The door is open,” she says. “Come and talk to us in Snow Lake. There’s lots of opportunity.” www.snowlake.com

For Advertising Inquiries: Contact your MBiz sales consultant or Edith Bonner at t: (204) 697-7389 e: edith.bonner@freepress.mb.ca

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This young mom’s business is blooming by David Square Labour of Love

Photos courtesy of Kelly Hunter

A s a child, Kelly Hunter loved to duck in to Rossburn’s Heritage General Store to buy candy on her way home from school. She recalls how the old store, with its selection of merchandise on one side and a grocer with a meat counter on the other, ignited her young imagination. “I used to wander the aisles, fascinated by the shoes, fabrics, clothes and, of course, the bright jars of candy. The store seemed enormous to me. I remember dreaming how wonderful it would be to own it.” Today, that dream is reality for the 33-year-old owner of eclectic business Gone Scrappin’ in Bloom — a café, flower shop, gift and scrapbooking centre that’s been housed in the historic store since 2007. A vivacious mother of three, Hunter started small, opening a scrapbooking business out of her mother Val White’s flower store in 2003. For a few years, she kept her day jobs — first at the Russell Inn and, later, as marketing director for Russell’s Vanguard Credit Union.

It was while she was on maternity leave that she decided to “make the leap,” and rent the old general store, with an option to buy. Her husband, Brett, wasn’t enamoured of the idea at first. The 1939 building had been vacant for a few years and he feared it had suffered structural damage. However, it proved to be sound, although it needed renovations to meet modern building codes. Hunter applied to Manitoba Hydro for insulation grants and secured a low-interest loan of $10,000 from a community development program. Hometown Manitoba, which provides funds to fix up building exteriors, also kicked in $1,000. It was only after she took the plunge and bought the store in 2008, that Hunter discovered she was pregnant with her third child. It was the most stressful time of her life. Along with keeping the store stocked with new merchandise, she had a mortgage and staff to pay, and to top it off, she bought Val’s flower business and moved it into the building.

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Parkland Dauphin & District Chamber of Commerce Roblin & District Chamber of Commerce Rossburn & District Chamber of Commerce Russell & District Chamber of Commerce Swan Valley Chamber of Commerce New & Noteworthy >> The Main Street revitalization in Russell is getting another boost Nov. 10, with the grand opening of the Russell Regional Multiplex. The multiplex includes retail space and joins a number of other businesses on the street. Donn & Doffs Original Pub & Grill, Apple Betty’s Tastee Treats, the new Vanguard Credit Union complex, a new clothing store and a gallery run by artist Tyler Kilkenny have all set up shop or are in the process of moving businesses to the street. Parkland Computers converted to The Source in August. In October, decorative lighting was unveiled on the eight massive wood arches that grace the street’s major intersections. >> Swan River - A new heavy duty mechanic shop is under construction in Swan River. It will serve students at Swan Valley Regional Secondary School and surrounding area, as well as students from University College of the North. The 7,150 sq. ft. facility built next to the high school will have five working bays, classroom space and state-of-the-art tools. It was designed to be easily adaptable for training in other vocational trades in future.

Specialty blend: Entrepreneur Kelly Hunter minds four of her own businesses in one location.

“But I’d go through the stress and headaches I experienced all over again,” she says. “I love being a business owner, especially as it includes my original love of scrapbooking.” Hunter now has a staff of six. Val still manages the flower shop and is chief chef for the café, which offers espresso coffees, specialty teas and simple meals such as flatbread pizza, quiches, sandwiches and wraps, along with a variety of desserts. The gift section holds an intriguing selection of homespun and boutique items, such as gourmet preserves, candles, jewelry, pottery, linens and baby gifts. And there’s a digital photo-printing kiosk and design centre along with the large scrapbooking supply centre. “In October and May, I host scrapbooking retreats at which people spend most of a weekend in the store working on their projects,” Hunter says. Proceeds from the October retreat are donated to charity — Ronald McDonald House in Winnipeg was the recipient this year. Hunter finds time to work on community projects with the local chamber of commerce and to run the local golf course’s clubhouse restaurant during tourist season. And she’s still dreaming up new goals for her business. After attending a gala celebration in Winnipeg as an emerging business finalist for the 2010 Manitoba Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, Hunter has her sights on the big prize. “I want to be the woman who won Entrepreneur of the Year in another 10 years.” www.gonescrappin.ca

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M ark Twain quipped that a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on. A tall tale propelled by a bout of reefer madness took down North America’s hemp industry in the 1930s, when industrial rivals stoked rumours that hemp and marijuana were synonymous. As one proponent said at the time, “You’d have to smoke a joint the size of a telephone pole to get even a slight high from industrial hemp.” But the lie had nearly circumnavigated the globe before the industry could defend itself, and by 1938, hemp production was discontinued. Sixty years later, the Canadian government reversed its ban on hemp, and soon afterward, Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers (PIHG) was founded in Dauphin. Initial plans to build a processing plant stalled, but PIHG president Chris Dzisiak says the 25-member farmers co-op remains determined to grow the best hemp possible to ensure its reputation as a reliable supplier throughout North America. After a difficult start in 1999, diversification specialist Keith Watson of the Manitoba Department of Agriculture (MDA) was enlisted to breed better hemp plants with large seeds and high- quality fibre. The Comeback CroP Homegrown expertise makes Dauphin a hotbed for hemp production by David Square

Photo courtesy of Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers

they’re so nutritious, a vegan could likely exist on hemp alone. The hemp stalk’s fibre can be processed into fine paper, and hemp-based textiles are among the softest and most durable clothing materials produced from any natural product. Recently, U.S. underwear giant Hanes showed interest in mixing hemp and cotton fibres to produce women’s wear. Hemp strengthened the material and increased its wicking properties, making it more comfortable, as well as reducing the amount of dye required to colour the fabric. “We missed out on an $18 million contract because Hanes decided it was too risky to rely on a single Canadian producer of hemp fibre,” Dzisiak says. The company inked a deal with an American flax producer instead. But Dzisiak says Hanes lost out, because flax produces about one and a half tons of fibre per acre, while new varieties of hemp developed at Dauphin produce ten tons per acre. “We could easily have met or exceeded their demand for fibre.” Another hemp byproduct called hurd, a pithy substance extracted from the stalks, can be mixed with lime-based mortar to make a concrete-like material dubbed hempcrete. Lighter and less brittle than concrete, it has a higher insulation value and it’s porous, so it allows moisture to pass through walls, eliminating the need for a vapour barrier. “In Britain, there are entire subdivisions being built of hemp hurd panels and blocks.” Seeds, stems and stalks: Healthy hemp plants are a priority for PIHG board members (from left) Robert Baker, Jim Pavlin, Canda Chafe, Derek Sydor, Troy Storey, Chris Dzisiak and Chris Federowich.

Hurds can also be used as an ingredient in plastic and to make stuffing for mattresses. Pellets are used as cat litter and small seeds are sold as bird feed. Though PIHG is focused on marketing, it has been working on a new plan for building a hemp processing plant in Dauphin. “It’s a logical place to locate the facility because we have some of the best hemp-growing land and ideal hemp-growing weather anywhere,” Dzisiak says. The plant would require a $10 - $14 million investment, but convincing banks to lend that kind of money requires

Thanks to the MDAs Parkland Crop Diversification Program, more research and development has been devoted to hemp in the Dauphin area than anywhere else in Canada, Dzisiak says. “We’ve worked diligently to produce varieties of hemp that have a male and female flower on the same plant,” he says. “This type of plant produces lots of good quality fibre as well as commercially viable grain volumes.”

stronger prices and signed contracts. “It’s a chicken and egg scenario. You can’t have one without the other,” Dzisiak says. Still, he’s confident there’s a lucrative future for hemp growers as the plant’s star continues to rise. It seems the truth has finally caught up with the lie. www.pihg.net

Remarkably sustainable, industrial hemp has many uses, including clothing, paper, building materials and nutritional super foods. For example, hemp hearts (shelled seeds) have a perfect balance of omega-3 and omega-6 oils. Dzisiak says

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E-waste Terminators Total destruction is guaranteed at Morden plant by David Square

Before

Photos courtesy of Exner E-Waste

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M aking sure sensitive information is deleted from hard drives is a priority when business computers are recycled. That’s why Morden-based recycler Exner E-Waste allows clients to be present when computers are destroyed. For a $5 fee, the company will even issue a certificate of destruction, listing serial numbers and other essential information on the hard drives. “We have one customer who had 500 computers demolished in this manner,” says human resources manager Dave Wilkinson. “Owners of household computers are also eligible for the service.” Exner opened for business in July, 2011 when it received an environmental licence from Manitoba Conservation to recycle electronic waste. In May, the plant bought a new shredding machine capable of reducing a washing machine into scraps in 40 seconds. “Though it’s a very expensive machine, the shredder will speed up our processing line and save us money in the long run,” Wilkinson says. After shredding, residual material is pulverized in a hammer mill and separated into steel, copper, aluminum, lead, iron, gold, plastic and other valuable materials.

A small percentage of non-recyclable waste, such as thin plastic from computer labels, is sent to a landfill. “We’re obviously in business to make money,” Wilkinson says. “But we’re also helping to prevent provincial landfills from being swamped by e-waste. It’s all part of our contribution to saving the planet.” Indeed, washing machines, fridges, microwaves, computers, cell phones, televisions, stereos, CD and DVD players, ovens and fax machines are all grist for the mill. “Basically, we recycle anything that can be plugged into a wall,” Wilkinson says. “Though we do refine pop cans as well.” In 2010, Germany’s Hubertus Exner partnered with Paul Wegner of Canada to bring his e-waste technology to Manitoba. Wegner says many of the machines used in the recycling process were invented by Exner himself. Morden was chosen because of its central location and its road and rail connections to all regions of Canada and the U.S. Without the benefit of government startup grants, the Morden plant was privately financed, and the specialized machinery was built by the local workforce. The company has applied to Electronics Product Stewardship Canada to become Manitoba’s first EPSC-verified recycler of end-of-life electronics. Wilkinson is optimistic the application will be successful. It would allow the company to increase its workforce from eight to 38 to cope with additional volumes of e-waste delivered through the industry-led Manitoba Electronic Products Recycling Association. Currently, e-waste collected through the non-profit program is sent to processors in other provinces. Exner already processes e-waste from the universities of Manitoba, Winnipeg and Brandon, several school divisions and health authorities, along with the RCMP, Manitoba Liquor Board and the general public. The next stage of development calls for construction of a new recycling centre and crushing facility on a 13-acre site in the Morden Industrial Park. When the plant is up and running in 2013, it will allow the company to move into full-scale vehicle and heavy equipment crushing, with retrieval of raw materials from vehicles. Hubertus Exner wants the plant to be his innovation centre for waste management technology in North America, and Wilkinson believes the company is positioned to become a world leader in e-waste recycling. www.exnerewaste.com

Pembina Valley Altona & District Chamber of Commerce Morden & District Chamber of Commerce Morris & District Chamber of Commerce PLum Coulee & District Chamber of Commerce Rosenort & District Chamber of Commerce Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce

After

>> CBC’s The National anchor Peter Mansbridge was invited to be the keynote speaker at the 2012 P.W. Enns Business Awards Gala, presented by the Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 1. Award winners are Janzen’s Paint & Decorating Ltd. (customer service award), Pembina Valley Auto Service (business builder award, less than 10 employees), D.A. Loewen Electric Ltd. (business builder award, more than 10 employees) and Access Credit Union, Winkler Branch (business excellence award). >> The town of Morris will host the 55Plus Games June 11 - 13, 2013. The three-day program includes events ranging from carpet bowling to swimming and track competitions. The 2012 Games in Arborg attracted almost 900 participants. www.alcoamb.org New & Noteworthy

Gone in 40 seconds: Exner E-Waste’s shredder reduces electronics to byte-size bits.

At full capacity, three to five tons of e-waste can be processed per hour. The refined e-waste is sold to “upstream users” who use the recycled materials to manufacture new goods. “The aluminum and other metal nuggets we turn out are up to 98% pure, which saves the end user a lot of money in productions costs,” Wilkinson says.

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Tout Le Monde World Trade Centre Winnipeg positions Manitoba on global stage by Jennifer McFee

Photo by Darcy Finley

T el Aviv. Moscow. Zurich. Shanghai. Winnipeg. The bilingual World Trade Centre Winnipeg officially launched in October at international business-to-business forum Centrallia 2012, where New York City-based WTCA CEO Eric Dahl welcomed Winnipeg to the fold. “We are very excited about Winnipeg for several reasons. The first reason is that it is a strategic location, getting us a much better coverage in central Canada. We have good presence on either coast, but we’ve been weak in the middle. So it’s a strategic location that fills out our Canadian network,” Dahl told more than 700 business leaders gathered at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. “Secondly, which I think is even more important, is the team. I’m extremely impressed by their motivation and enthusiasm.” We’re all part of a global family linked through one prestigious network — the World Trade Centers Association. The WTC project is a joint venture of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and ANIM, Manitoba’s bilingual trade agency. Also collaborators on Centrallia, the organizations shared the

$200,000 cost for the license, which was privately funded. ANIM and its staff will transition to operate the content and activities of WTC Winnipeg, while the Chamber will determine its location. ANIM and WTC Winnipeg president and CEO Mariette Mulaire says membership raises Winnipeg’s profile on the world stage. It’s another tool to get Manitoba and Manitoba companies on the map. “It might not be direct, but it’s certainly another way to position the province and the city,” Mulaire says. “We do have a challenge of not being known out there. Being part of an international network helps elevate our brand, whether it’s for tourism, for immigration, for business, for investment, for site selectors, for international students. I think that’s the biggest immediate impact and long-term impact.” Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Dave Angus hopes to find an ideal location within the next year. “Our objective is to use the license to stimulate the development of a new building in Winnipeg called the World Trade Centre,

20 MBiz November 2012

Capital Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce Chambre de commerce

francophone de Saint-Boniface

Headingley Regional Chamber of Commerce La Salle & AreaChamber of Commerce Selkirk & District Chamber of Commerce STONEWALL & DISTRICT Chamber of Commerce Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce

>> The fourth annual Spirit of Winnipeg Awards will be held at the Fairmont Winnipeg on March 1, 2013. Presented by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, co-founder BDO Chartered Accountants and Advisors and presenting sponsor Fillmore Riley, the awards recognize companies, charities and not-for-profits for innovation. The application deadline is Dec. 13. www.winnipeg-chamber.com >> C&T Rentals and Sales Ltd. opened a new head office and facility at CentrePort Canada in September. C&T is among more than 23 companies located in the Brookside Business Park or Brookside Industrial Park. CentrePort’s inland port and logistics hub offers investors easy access to air, rail and trucking routes. www.centreportcanada.ca New & Noteworthy Inspired Business InteriorS 185 Hawthorne Avenue 204-414-9410 www.inspiredbusinessinteriors.com

Thinking big: WTC Winnipeg president and CEO Mariette Mulaire and Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Dave Angus announced the inaugural board at Centrallia 2012.

which will be a meeting place for international companies and international delegates,” Angus says. “It will be a showcase of industry. We’ll have state-of-the-art technology and meeting space.” Angus says the timing was right for the project, coming as Winnipeg is riding a new wave of confidence and vitality. “I’m not sure it would have been the right time five years ago,” he says. “We don’t settle for anything second-best anymore. We have seen a reinvention of our city in so many ways.” Mulaire says that positive energy is evident throughout the city. “It’s like the NHL, the Museum for Human Rights, the beautiful zoo, the airport, the CentrePort. This is just one other thing that says ‘We’re here. We’re happening,“ she says. “I personally find the business community has really come behind a lot of major projects. And when the business community comes behind, they mean business. I think you see the effects a little bit quicker. The governments are more willing to invest when they see that they’re not alone, that it’s not just government investment for a short-term project.” The province is already onboard and Mulaire will also seek federal funding. She expects WTC Winnipeg to be a valuable resource for anyone involved in incoming and outgoing trade missions, since membership provides access to all 330 world trade centres in 96 countries. On a local level, it can link businesspeople interested in sharing knowledge and experience. And WTC Winnipeg will host events such as Centrallia, which acts as a matchmaker for businesses looking to increase international trade. Continued on page 23 >>

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Winnipeg isn’t the most glamourous city in the world. We’re not the biggest or the richest, either. And that’s OK. Centrallia 2012 keynote speaker Malcolm Gladwell says being an underdog city has its advantages. “Underdogs tend to triumph more often than you’d think,” Gladwell told a full house of international delegates to the global business-to-business forum at the Winnipeg Convention Centre in October. The bestselling author of The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking and Outliers: The Story of Success, Gladwell says his next book will explore how underdogs win and attempt to figure out why. Every Underdog Has Its Day Malcolm Gladwell tells Winnipeg being first is overrated by Pat St. Germain

Photo courtesy of ANIM

Centrallia co-hosts Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce CEO Dave Angus and World Trade Centre Winnipeg CEO Mariette Mulaire with keynote speaker, author Malcolm Gladwell.

Macintosh personal computer. He wasn’t the first to create a smart phone, laptop or tablet computer, either. But he was able to take other people’s ideas and turn them into affordable, user-friendly tools that appeal to a mass market. Gladwell says a key element to Jobs’ success may have been his underdog status. When Jobs visited Xerox PARC in Silicon Valley in 1979, he was instantly able to see how the mouse and icon technology under development at the think tank could be marketed. He didn’t have a Xerox budget for research or production, but he was able to improve upon their ideas, and it probably helped that he was desperate to succeed. Xerox had money and talent, but lacked his vision. Eventually the company marketed a personal computer, but it had a $16,000 price tag and failed to launch.

“We’re obsessed with being first in our society and being first is overrated,” Gladwell says.

Gladwell says he’s interviewed billionaires whose hardscrabble youths drove them to succeed. And he points to a high rate of dyslexia among successful entrepreneurs, saying they’ve learned something from their ability to engineer their way around it that puts them ahead of the curve on other fronts.

Part of the focus will be on Manitoba and the Mennonite culture of forgiveness, personified by Winnipeg’s Wilma and Cliff Derksen, who forgave their daughter Candace’s killer after the 13-year-old was abducted in 1984.

Born in England and raised in Ontario, Gladwell was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2005, but he says he wasn’t the first to come up with all the ideas he explores in his books. “I talk to smart people and write down what they say,” he told the Centrallia audience. It’s not that simple, of course. Like Jobs, Gladwell has a knack for distilling ideas and delivering them to the masses in an appealing format. Centrallia itself is a new take on an existing idea, patterned on the French Futurallia. But Gladwell says its face-to-face business matchmaking structure beats high-tech alternatives, in the same way face-to-face dating is essential in personal relationships. “This is the best way to find each other. Everything else is an approximation of this.”

Gladwell suggests a history of persecution gave Mennonites the strength to forgive, and he says overcoming obstacles makes us all stronger. Citing Biblical wisdom, he says the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. “We’re obsessed with being first in our society and being first is overrated,” he says. A prominent example is Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs. Gladwell says Jobs wasn’t the first to come up with the idea of using a mouse and screen icons to navigate the

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