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Networking Opportunities for Business Growth Abound
September 2010
Harold Wilson, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce President
Developing new business leads is a prized activity for most all enterprising firms, and this fall your Chamber is working to provide a range of opportunities to help you to seek out growth. Here is the latest, from last to first, chronologically:
From October 20-22, more than 500 small to medium sized businesses from around the world will gather in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for an event called Centrallia. Its mission is to facilitate new business relationships of mutual benefit. This global business to business forum is your company’s opportunity to forge profitable alliances with companies located throughout the Americas and across the world. Championed by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, we have been promoting this event to our business leaders, and we are working to have at least a dozen of our members make the trek to Winnipeg. Each participating company will have the up to a dozen one-on-one meetings scheduled for them with delegates that are identified as meeting their interests. There will also be excellent opportunities to learn about the nuances of exporting to numerous global markets. For more information, or to sign up, (Mark - the link on our website).
Chair of the Board, Craig Urqhart, and I will be attending the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Annual General meeting September 25-27. The Canadian Chamber released their latest report in August entitled “Canadian Businesses Go Global for Growth”, and many of the points for business development will be part of the discussions that weekend.
Prior to that, on September 15-16, the latest Northern Networks Trade Conference (NNTC) will be in Fort Frances. This cross-border, multi-national trade event began in Thunder Bay in 1994, and returns to our side of the border after several years in Duluth. The agenda provides the opportunity to tap into the experience of a range of presenters from Vermont, California, Minnesota and Wisconsin, Oysoyoos and our own region. This includes: Adam Sherman of BERC, a leader in community scale biomass energy projects, Terry Garrett of Sustaining Technologies from the Sonoma Valley about their local rewards card for small businesses program that includes community credit clearing and investment capital; David Abaz of Round River Farms, Minnesota on sustainable farming and energy production; and Chief Clarence Louie of Osoyoos, who has moved his band into economic prosperity, owning nine businesses that employ hundreds of people.
And finally (and therefore first on your calendar), is our upcoming After Business September 15 at Performance Kia at their new location, 545 13th Ave. Following the great event we had at the Bearskin Airlines hangar in June, we expect a strong turn out as our members “catch up” after the summer.
See you there (and everywhere),
Harold
Chamber Office Active Over Summer
August 2010
Harold Wilson, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce President
Well, with the World Junior Baseball Championships now in our rearview mirror (after a huge congratulatory job well done to the organizers, volunteers and the athletes), remember to enjoy August, even while the many demands of the fall begin to weigh in. While summer has traditionally been a time for catching up at your Chamber, I am happy to report that new memberships continue to come in, and I thank Gina Poulin for her excellent success in answering inquiries and signing up businesses. Our upcoming 25th annual Golf Tournament is also nearly upon us, and Nancy Milani informs me that we have a small waiting list for spots. Thank you to all who have made the commitment to participate, either as golfers, sponsors, or both. It promises to be a fun event with some great networking too, and we know that Whitewater will make it memorable.
I had the opportunity to attend an announcement in late July by Northern Development, Mines & Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle about the record amount of highway construction dollars for Northern Ontario this year. This transportation infrastructure investment is critical for business in Northwestern Ontario, and the range of highway and bridge projects was impressive. And as I embark on a driving vacation that takes me through Northeastern Ontario, I can see this year’s construction up close, as I contemplate further improvements in the years to come.
We are also getting ready for a busy fall, and I will be outlining in my September article several solid business development networking opportunities coming up soon, including more on Centrallia this October in Winnipeg. As in the past, we will be preparing our Municipal Election Chamber survey for the candidates for Mayor and Councillors, which will be sent out to them for completion immediately after the closing date for registrations. With our final payment for the Thunder Bay Regional Science Centre now received, there are likely to be some wide ranging opinions on what comes next. The business community has opinions on how to improve our City. If you have some thoughts on what questions we should be asking on our survey, please forward them to me. I greatly appreciate your advice.
I look forward to catching up with you soon,
Harold Wilson
Moving the North forward, by many steps
July 2010
Harold Wilson, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce President
As I look back over the last six months, where municipal issues for the Chamber have, by necessity, been eclipsed by the torrent of challenges and opportunities coming from the Provincial government, it occurred to me that some context always helps. The proposed Northern Growth Plan that is being re-packaged, the slow progress of the Wood Supply Competition that will benefit new and existing wood companies and create investment, Forest Tenure Reforms that may inhibit investment, and a Far North Act, opposed by the First Nations, the business community and others, which could significantly curtail business investment, are just a few of the larger initiatives. They affect development in the North, and this in turn has both a direct and indirect impact on the businesses of Thunder Bay, not only the suppliers of goods and services to the resource sector, but our retailers, restaurants, business services, not –for-profits and the balance of our members.
The work to ensure that our economy moves forward is ceaseless, and it is the tireless energy, expertise and insight of many people that are largely responsible for whatever progress we achieve. I recently attended a memorial service on June 28 for one of those long-serving individuals, Wayne McLellan. I worked for and with Wayne for 5 years at the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Technology in Thunder Bay, beginning in the Fall of ’86. He was incredibly supportive, and a great coach and mentor, as I learned about the economy of Northwestern Ontario, how it worked and how forces could impact, including impede, its potential.
Wayne strove to make our region better, and that is a noble vocation, which I have sought to emulate. At his memorial, it was appropriate to see among Wayne’s many friends and colleagues, Bob Michels and Bill Lees sitting and talking together, two individuals who have also been both inspiring to those that know them, and always focused on and contributing to tangible ways to make progress for Northern Ontario. They are still at it, still working to make the North better, despite the history of obstacles along with the successes. On the way to the office after Wayne’s memorial, I heard about the passing of Leo Bernier, another giant, and memories of a time in a Soo hotel listening to Leo recount stories of past battles came flooding back. There will always be much to do, but we will build on the solid evolution. Our community, and its business lifeblood, will benefit.
Harold
Nearly Summer Reflections
June 2010
Harold Wilson, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce President
On a very sunny Friday at the end of May with the lilacs in full bloom, there is a lot going on, and I thought I would offer a snapshot of some of the items that caught my attention today.
1/ Centrallia. Understanding that you have never heard the term before, it is a very interesting and potentially profitable gathering which will take place this October 20-22 in Winnipeg. Basically, it is bringing business owners from around the world together to talk about strategic partnerships and opportunities. Given that they already have contingents coming from Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and of course, North America, our proximity does give us an advantage. The Chamber will have Centrallia information from the organizers in June, and I hope that when you come out to our After Business event at the Bearskin Hangar, you will want to learn more.
2/ Attending a Provincial funding announcement for Contact North, I had the chance to hang out with the always energetic Doug Smith, past Chair of the Chamber in the mid ‘90’s, and now concluding 8 years as Chair of the Board at Contact North.
3/ The grand opening of Wiskair’s much expanded hangar facilities at the airport, a place for servicing Mark Wiskemann’s growing helicopter fleet, which is a leading indicator of Ring of Fire activity.
4/ Enjoying a tangible show of support on our Chamber window for this July’s World Junior Baseball Championships, courtesy of Manny Fors of Ricklan Designs.
5/ Preparing for a discussion on how the Province’s centralized approach to procurement in the educational sector impacts our small business community.
6/ Some nostalgia as I look over the twisted remains of the former Twin City Gas Building, recalling the excellent CD player I purchased in 1991, and will enjoy again tonight, as well as a few enjoyable meals at the former Sea Palace Restaurant in the basement.
7/ And finally, a brief acknowledgement to two non-chamber members. Thunder Bay Bookbindery did a fantastic job on a formerly very worn and tattered book of my wife’s. I also had a fine lunch at McKellar Confectionary on Friday, and learned that Gus is feeling much better. I know his many thousands of patrons wish him well.
Have a great month.
Building the Housing Opportunity in Thunder Bay
May 2010
Harold Wilson, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce President
A few weeks ago, I attended a morning Housing Industry Roundtable put on by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. While attendees included bankers, realtors, and several people involved with social housing coordination, there was minimal representation from our development community. That was unfortunate, because most of the discussion was about opportunities, and I would have greatly appreciated their insights.
One slide during the presentation by CMHC Northern Ontario Market Analyst, Warren Philp, depicted the Sales-to-New-Listings Ratio, an indicator of the relationship between supply and demand. While several Ontario cities such as Sudbury, Toronto and Ottawa were identified as a “balanced market”, Thunder Bay was definitely a “seller’s market”, as many an anecdote over the past year will attest. One of the contributing factors is a shortage of new listings, while another is the influx of new residents from the region. The average price rose in one year from $133,700 to $152,300 (this past January to March), a 14% increase. Overall, prices are up and expected to hold over the next couple of years. However, single-detached housing starts are still forecast to be well under 200 for the next couple of years. The last time starts of this type were above 200 was 2004. There is also a story out there in the rental market. The vacancy rate for rentals is also quite low, at 2.3 % the past 2 years (although not as low as North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins or Kenora). All of this timely information resulted in optimism. I just hope that many of the developers that did not attend were busy getting their plans together for increasing our housing stock. It looks like we are on the right side of the curve.
Harold
PS – Just as a follow up to last month’s column, your Chamber was successful with two of our resolutions at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce AGM – Urging the Provincial Government to Withdraw the Far North Act, and that the Province permanently protect a minimum of 26 million cubic metres/year of available fibre (for utilization of existing mills and new entrants). We did not get our energy resolution, but we did generate a very valuable discussion amongst the delegates from across the Province on the need to assess the cumulative impact of continuous increases to the electricity rates on industry in the Province. The OCC has agreed to set up an Energy committee tasked with this and other policy analysis.
Making an Impact Provincially
April 2010
Harold Wilson, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce President
While your Chamber of Commerce works to represent the business community to various levels of Government, we tend to have the best opportunity to make solid recommendations and achieve change at the municipal level. However, there are often issues that have significant impact on how businesses operate, or on developing opportunities for business growth, that require our voice to be heard at senior government levels. We work to gather information on the issues and their impacts, and actively recommend changes in legislation or practice directly to our elected representatives and members of the Provincial and Federal Cabinet, when the opportunity arises. In addition, your Chamber also works to get support from other Chambers of Commerce to effect positive change.
At the Chamber’s February Board of Directors Meeting, four resolutions were considered and approved to be forwarded on to the Ontario Chambers of Commerce (OCC) Annual Meeting in late April. The main issues recommended to the Province of Ontario are:
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Withdrawal of the Far North Act to help encourage investment and development of the Far North, in effective partnership with First Nations;
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Ensure that there will be 26 million cubic metres of available fibre for industrial use on a sustainable basis for the creation of wealth in the Province of Ontario;
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Address the use of energy developed in the North as a powerful and compelling investment attraction and retention tool;
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Adopt a 50% “Final Assembly” policy for the use in the Metrolinx $17.5 billion Rapid Transit initiatives and for additional options on the TTC Light Rail contract.
Several representatives from Thunder Bay, including Chair of the Board Craig Urquhart and I will be heading to Windsor for the OCC meeting to have our resolutions supported by the business community province-wide. By getting our recommendations adopted, they stand a much better chance at government action. To view the full resolutions, click here.
We are also seeking to have these resolutions supported by our Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce at our Sioux Lookout meeting next week. It should be a lively meeting, which will now include Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Diane Finley, Federal Minister of Human Resources & Skills Development, and Michael Gravelle, Provincial Minister of Northern Development, Mines & Forestry. We finish first thing Saturday morning April 17, then head back to Thunder Bay for our much-anticipated 16th Annual Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. If we are successful in our pursuit of our recommendations to the Province, more business should flourish for our community, and that will be rewarding for all.
Diversifying Thunder Bay
March 2010
Harold Wilson, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce President
For many communities, growing the economy and population growth are two sides of a coin; Thunder Bay has not seen population growth for a long time. One method is though attracting and retaining newcomers to our region. There are considerable economic benefits for attracting new residents, but challenges can be many. Two aspects of this will be front and centre the morning of March 24.
Diversity Thunder Bay is organizing the 4th Annual Celebration Breakfast as a tie in to the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a day to focus attention on the problems of racism and the need to promote racial harmony. Bearskin Airlines’ Cliff Friesen recently mentioned to me that he noted at last year’s event that there should have been a larger turnout by the business community. I think that is a worthwhile invitation.
The breakfast runs from 7:30 am to 9:00 am at the Italian Cultural Centre, and features a guest speaker. But do not plan on leaving at 9! You will want to stay for a brief time after the first event to attend the launch of the new Northwestern Ontario Immigration Portal website. Led by the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, this website will promote Thunder Bay and the communities across Northwestern Ontario to newcomers in a multitude of languages. I understand that this website will really make an impression, and hopefully be a key to attracting and retaining new families to Thunder Bay. We have a great deal to offer, as the website ably demonstrates, and our economy will benefit from this initiative.
Tickets for the breakfast are $20. To register, click here.
Now to get my family ready for the upcoming St. Urho’s Day parade, another local celebration.
Building our Civic Pride 2010
February 2010
Harold Wilson, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce President
There have been many activities underway in the past month, and it has occurred to me that one way to characterize them relates to pride in our community. We had a great turnout for the Chamber’s State of the City Address with Mayor Lynn Peterson on January 13, with almost 200 in attendance. The Mayor’s speech was very optimistic and grounded in many of the new economic drivers propelling our community, related to the health sciences sector, exploration and mining, and also our traditional strengths, such as forestry.
There are a great many other opportunities for us to express our civic pride, both individually and collectively. One of the ways I start my mornings at home is to vote daily for Thunder Bay on the Monopoly Votes Canada contest. Having Thunder Bay grace game boards across the country is one more way to draw attention to our city. The World Junior Under 18 Baseball Championships, hosted in Thunder Bay July 23 - August 1, is another opportunity to showcase our community to a large number of international visitors. There is also the 1st annual Thunder Bay Marathon, Miles with the Giant September 19 (both events are supported by your Chamber’s Economic Development Fund), where we will be partnering with the Marathon, tying in our newly expanded Superior Living show, our health, wellness and leisure expo, September 17-18.
My 14 year old niece remarked the other day as we passed City Hall about how impressive it looked, and we discussed how the outdoor front plaza could be a great meeting place, although maybe not in February. The proposed Multiplex, which the Chamber is encouraging the city to pursue through a comprehensive plan, could be another boost to civic pride and our community as whole.
And what can we do as a community? Everything from cleaning and sprucing up our businesses and surrounding grounds, to taking the time to welcome the new people moving into our community who will be working our many new and existing enterprises. These many acts of civic pride will exponentially build our reputation. With pride, I look forward to working with you.
“Ring of Fire” to be highlighted at our 125th AGM
January 2010
Harold Wilson, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce President
I am very excited about our keynote speaker for this year’s Annual General Meeting on February 3rd at the Valhalla Inn. Mr. Frank Smeenk is a key individual in the development of the mining claims in the “Ring of Fire” area due north of Greenstone. While his company, KWG Resources, and its subsidiary, Canada Chrome Corporation, is one of the most talked about mining plays of the past year, most people in our community remain unaware of the activity that is taking place. An even bigger challenge, which has been mentioned to me, is “Why would our business community, especially our small business members, care about this development, and how could it help them?” OK, let’s go…
This mining development is one of many that are in an area of Northwestern Ontario that is still largely untapped. The Chromite deposit, described as one of the best high-grade bodies in the world, is an essential element in production of stainless steel. We were looking for a speaker who had three attributes: dynamic, knowledgeable; writes cheques; Mr. Smeenk covers those bases. In September, he commissioned an engineering firm to prepare for the construction of a 350 km rail line from Nakina north to the Ring of Fire. Many of us remember when, as a business community, we got largely scooped by other communities, including Sault Ste. Marie, when Hemlo opened up – we sat back and expected to reap the work. This time, we need to be a lot more proactive about ensuring that the resulting expenditures to develop these mining sites comes to Northwestern Ontario, and that Thunder Bay maximizes the benefits that will come. Billions of dollars of expenditures. This is new money that can flow into our economy, and this will find its way throughout our business community, regardless of where business fits in, including our mining suppliers, local retailers and also our not-for-profits.
This project and others surrounding it are huge opportunities for Northwestern Ontario. We all need to find out how to help. See you February 3rd.
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