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YOUR SOURCE FOR BUSINESS AND AGRICULTURE IN LANARK, LEEDS & GRENVILLEMARCH 2014 VOL. 12 NO. 11

University of Guelph confi rms Kemptville Campus to close in 2015By LAURA ARMSTRONG

The University of Guelph will close its doors at Kemptville Campus come 2015. The decision was confi rmed by the university on Wednesday, March 12.

According to North Grenville Mayor David Gordon, when he heard rumours about a closure of the local campus Tuesday, March 11, he and Leeds-Gren-ville MPP Steve Clark were intent on tracking them down.

“Steve and I confi rmed it,” Gordon said of the closure.

Losing the college, which Gordon calls a part of the fabric of the commu-nity, is a major hit for North Grenville, Alfred and all of eastern Ontario.

“We defi nitely want to have some an-swers,” Gordon said.

The University of Guelph is trying to curb a more than $30 million struc-tural defi cit projected over the next three years.

“We are operating in an era of scarce resources,” university president Alastair Summerlee is quoted in a press release March 12. “We must make diffi cult de-cisions together with changes that mini-mize duplication and preserve programs that are unique and central to our mis-sion.”

According to the release, the “consoli-dation plan” involves suspending intake to academic programs at the Alfred and Kemptville campuses for the fall 2014 semester. The delivery of academic pro-grams at the two campuses will cease by the end of 2015 and “currently regis-tered students at both campuses will be able to complete their programs.”

Closure of the Kemptville Campus will result in the loss 75 full-time posi-

tions as well as a number of part-time and casual workers.

“We regret that valued employees will be affected by this decision,” Sum-merlee said. “This action is in no way a refl ection on the importance of their past contributions. These are diffi cult decisions but ones that are necessary and unavoidable.”

Kemptville Campus cancelled its an-nual Discovery Day — an event wel-coming potential students to experience a “day in the life” on campus by taking tours, meeting staff and students and learning more about program choices — which was scheduled for Friday, March 7, in conjunction with the school’s 87th annual College Royal.

Kemptville College was established in 1917, making it one of Ontario’s old-

est agricultural colleges. The local col-lege, along with Ridgetown and Alfred colleges, became part of the University of Guelph in 1997. It was designated a campus in May 2006, recognizing its full integration with the university. About 550 students are currently en-rolled at Kemptville Campus.

According to a source on campus, faculty members were told March 4 the university was looking at closing the Kemptville site.

In early October, the university re-leased a report from an internal Program Prioritization Process (PPP) Task Force. The report outlined the university’s goals and priorities over the next fi ve years, necessary to reduce a projected funding

gap of $32.4 million over the next three

High hopes for medical marijuana plant

By DESMOND DEVOY Chuck Rifi ci is no drug dealer,

but he’s got a warehouse full of marijuana.

In fact, for a guy who has millions of dollars worth of weed at his business, it was a testament to just how far medical marijuana has come towards wider societal acceptance that a member of the Smiths Falls Police Service introduced Rifi ci at a recent conference in Blacks Corners near Carleton Place.

“How does one become a licensed commercial marijuana grower in the former Hershey plant?” Rifi ci asked rhetorically, during his presentation at the Lanark County and Town of Smiths Falls municipal drug strategy committee networking day on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Beckwith Township council chambers. “I view it as a pharmaceutical company coming to town.”

Rifi ci is the president and chief executive offi cer of Tweed Inc., in Smiths Falls, which was just licensed about a month ago and is now producing pot on site.

Medical marijuana has been legal, with a permit, since 2001. In 2002, according to Rifi ci, there were between 400 and 500 patients growing their own product at home.

“It made sense to allow home growing,” with such a small number, said Rifi ci. In time, however, that number grew to 40,000. “What made sense for 500 does not make sense for 40,000. People had concerns with the old situation.”

One reason was security while

another was that it was “very diffi cult to obtain consistent quality product.”

Under the old system, a grower would have to fi ll out between 20 and 30 pages of forms, “and it was very much a last resort… to make sure that (medically) everything else had been tried.”

While society’s outlook on medical marijuana has changed, so has Rifi ci’s outlook on some of the terminology associated with it.

See CAMPUS page 2See TWEED page 2

-Business Today photo by LIAM GROVE

Chuck Rifi ci, president and CEO of Tweed Inc. in Smiths Falls, speaks at the county municipal drug strat-egy committee meeting in Beckwith Township on Feb. 28, to assuage fears about his company’s product and how it is handled.

-Business Today photo by LAURA ARMSTRONGThe University of Guelph confi rmed it will be closing its satellite campuses in Kemptville and Alfred,

2 BUSINESS TODAY MARCH 2014

REGIONAL BUSINESS NEWS

“I used to bristle at using the term medicine,” he said, but he can certainly attest to his product’s benefi ts. While there are any number of jokes about medical marijuana, he has heard anecdotal evidence of people’s spinal and eye pain being relieved.

Under the new system, with a doctor prescribing the number of grams to be smoked or inhaled per day, “it’s a much more streamlined process.” With an aging population, “we do expect it to grow quite considerably.”

Already, Health Canada is predicting that up to half a million Canadians could be using the product soon.

While his company may be a benefi ciary of legalization for medical use, so-called compassion clubs may not survive the change.

“Compassion clubs operate in a grey environment,” said Rifi ci. “They are illegal but it depends on the local law enforcement in the area.”

The compassion clubs try to grow their own material, or dip into the supplies of people who used to grow at home. When it comes to buying from

the criminal drug world, “those are not people who these clubs like to deal with. They will dry up.”

With Colorado experimenting with the legalization of marijuana, Rifi ci hastened to add that “the Canadian market is very different from (what) we see in the United States. (There) people just go into retail outlets,” to make their purchases, much like Dutch patrons do at coffee shops in The Netherlands.

In Canada, there are “no retail storefronts. We grow from seed to sale. We are an online storefront.”

In fact, there are 25 varieties on site, though they can only sell dry cannabis, and “it’s growing up in a bank-like environment.” In fact, the old Hershey plant may now be more secure than your neighbourhood bank, with a secure perimeter, 24/7 video monitoring – which must be kept on record for up to two years – a restricted zone, swipe cards and even a thumb scanner. Employees have to be security cleared if they are ever going to be alone with any of the product, even momentarily.

“No one who hasn’t gone through the security check has been left alone with

the product,” said Rifi ci. The marijuana is then stored in a vault, which can store up to 15,000 kg.

“It is on lock-down when it is on site,” said Rifi ci. It is then “shipped directly to the customer,” to a specifi c address.

There have been concerns raised in the Smiths Falls community about the plant, including if any odour would emanate from the facility, but Rifi ci stated that no odour would leave the plant, “on pain of losing a license.”

Some doctors are also still hesitant to prescribe medical marijuana because “most physicians don’t want to tell people to smoke something,” though he fi nds that practitioners in British Columbia are more open to such a prescription than in other provinces. Nurse practitioners are also allowed to dispense the drug, but, so far, nursing groups do not allow it yet.

“They physicians are the gatekeepers to this,” said Rifi ci, with only an estimated seven per cent of physicians having prescribed it, though that number is estimated to go up to 20 per cent.

As for patients, they often purchase more than just one strain of marijuana,

as different ailments require different strains, to deal with anything from hunger, pain, sleep, depression, to anxiety.

But not everybody is rolling their own, so to speak.

“People can vaporize it,” said Rifi ci. “A lot of people don’t realize that.”

While patients have their own health concerns to deal with, even with public health care in Canada, “there is a fi nancial burden for people who need it,” as it is not free, and he would like to see it covered under health insurance plans.

On the business side of things, Rifi ci noted that two-thirds of the hires were local, with a master grower brought in from Maine. One of the unintended consequences of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) of 1993 was that the grower was granted a NAFTA exemption, and was allowed to move right across the border under the horticulturist column.

Even using Health Canada guidelines and even NAFTA, he pointed out that “it is because of the courts that this is legal. The government is very hesitant,” about

supporting it. On the marketing side, while he is

not allowed to sell directly to doctors, only providing educational packages, different strains of marijuana have different street names. Whereas one strain may be known as AK-47 on the street – because it makes a smoker sleepy – Tweed sells it both as AK-47 and as “Hound’s Tooth,” certainly a much softer name. “Our industry is not allowed to advertise because we are a controlled substance,” said Rifi ci.

As with any grown substance, the question came up about if the product was organic – which it is, for the most part.

“They are organic,” he said. “We do not use any pesticides. The manufacturing is organic except that we do not use organic fertilizer.” Also, because the marijuana has to be dried, “it’s not like an apple where you can wash it before you eat it.”

In closing, looking about the room, having heard all of the jokes, and thanking the community for its support, he jokingly had to admit that, no, “I have no samples.”

TWEED From front page

CAMPUS From front page

fi scal years. According to the university, the report’s ranking and recommenda-tions would be used in part to set initial budget targets to help the university ad-dress the gap.

Recommendations from the PPP re-port included restructuring and reorga-nizing regional campuses with regard to sustainability and duplication.

The report recommended 75 per cent of the necessary fi scal reductions, amounting to $24.2 million, come from the university’s seven colleges by 2017. A little more than 11 per cent of that number, or $2.7 million, was recom-mended to come from the Ontario Ag-ricultural College campuses in Guelph, Ridgetown, Alfred and Kemptville.

Changes have already begun on Kemptville Campus. Starting in the fall semester of 2014, the equine manage-ment major of bio-resource manage-ment (BBRM) degree is moving to the main campus in Guelph. Previously, students spent the fi rst two years of the program in Kemptville before transfer-ring to Guelph to complete their third and fourth years.

The decision, the university said in a previous release, was made to ensure effi cient and sustainable future delivery of the program, with the location change removing duplication of course offer-ings at two campuses.

According to the release, students currently in their fi rst year of the BBRM program will still be able to complete their second year at Kemptville Cam-pus.

MPP Clark said March 11, he was extremely concerned by the allegations he had heard surrounding Kemptville Campus. He was scheduled to speak with the university’s president Alistair Summerlee Wednesday, March 12, and said the university was to make an an-nouncement.

Clark said the cancellation of Dis-covery Day, the school’s choice not to participate in the annual Ottawa Valley Farm Show this weekend and allega-tions that a recently instituted food sci-ence program on the Kemptville campus will be cancelled, fuelled concerns that Wednesday’s announcement would be a negative one for the Town of Kempt-ville.

“There were so many pluses going

for us at the Kemptville Campus, that’s why I can’t understand why the univer-sity would walk away from education opportunities in eastern Ontario,” Clark said. “We’ve had a 97-year tradition at Kemptville; there was certainly a lot of enthusiasm that I saw (last) weekend at the (College Royal).”

Clark said members of the commu-nity have been updating him about their concerns surrounding Kemptville Cam-pus closure.

Though provincial parliament is not sitting this week, the MPP said he will be reaching out to Premier Kathleen Wynne in her capacity as Minister of Agriculture and he will speak on behalf of the agricultural community to spread the message that Kemptville Campus is something the province needs to keep. He expects a campus closure will prompt outrage throughout eastern Ontario.

“Agriculture is such an important in-dustry here in eastern Ontario, and in the province of Ontario in general,” Clark added. “The whole philosophy behind having campuses available to serve our agricultural population to me is some-thing that was a very big positive about the province.”

-Business Today photo by LAURA ARMSTRONGNorth Grenville Mayor David Gordon responds to the media Wednesday, March 12 at the University of Guelph Kemptville Campus after the southern Ontario school confi rmed it would be closing the satellite campus in 2015. At right is Rick Moccia, Associate Vice-President of Research at U of G.

Business coach emphasizesplanning at upcoming BR+E Alliance seminarBy LAURA ARMSTRONG

As the former owner of Flowers Brockville, Karen McDonald-Hurley knows what it’s like to open a small business.

“Whenever people start out in business, consistently they’re overwhelmed. They know everything that they need to do to be successful, but they don’t know how to do it, or what the order is for them to do it,” she said.

In an effort to help guide local small businesses through their fi rst steps, McDonald-Hurley, now a principal consultant with planning and evaluation company The Opportunity Group, will speak about the planning necessary to give a business the best chance of success at the upcoming BR+E Alliance business seminar. The free event will take place Wednesday, March 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Parish Hall on the University of Guelph Kemptville Campus.

After running the award-winning fl ower shop with her husband for nearly two decades, McDonald-Hurley said small business owners began asking for her advice. Her practical experience, she said, led her to be considered a subject matter expert on business.

Over the past seven years, McDonald-Hurley has developed into a successful consultant and mentor for businesses just starting out. She held a position as the administrator of the Ontario Self-Employment Benefi t Program, was a business consultant coach for employment service providers and has worked with the Enterprise Centre in Brockville, among other roles.

Her specialty, McDonald-Hurley said, is helping people get started.

“Quite often people will contemplate whether or not starting a business is the right solution or the right option for them in their live. I take them through a whole series of questions and self-examination to show what’s involved with running a small business and then quite often they make the conclusion, ‘Wow, this is great!’ or ‘Wow, this is so much more work that I ever thought, maybe now is

not the right time.’” The key to getting a small business off

the ground is having a plan, McDonald-Hurley said, but a lot of business owners skip the crucial planning stage.

“Although I know they know what needs to be done, I just really challenge them to organize their information in a different way.”

Through her presentation at the business seminar, McDonald-Hurley said people will come to understand why it’s important to plan.

“A lot of people say ‘Oh, I can’t plan and I can’t research because I’m just a one or a two person company, I don’t have a lot of people or expertise.’ Planning and research can be done at any level with the resources that you have.”

A business plan, she said, doesn’t have to be a long written document. During her presentation, McDonald-Hurley will give examples of different types of business plans based on varying considerations such as whom the business plan is being written for.

BR+E Seminar The BR+E Alliance, the seminar’s

host, is made up of the North Grenville Chamber of Commerce, the Old Town Kemptville BIA, the Grenville Community Futures Development Corporation, CSE Consulting, the Leeds and Grenville Small Business Entrepreneurship Centre, the Kemptville chapter of the Business Networking International, Kemptville Women in Business, the North Grenville Business Builders and the Business Development Department of the University of Guelph’s Kemptville Campus. The mandate of the Alliance is to fi nd creative ways to help out small businesses in North Grenville. The seminar series is one of those ideas.

To register visit http://brealliance.eventbrite.ca. For more information, contact Teri Devine at tdevine@northgrenville.on.ca or call (613) 258-9569 ext. 115. To arrange for a meal, contact events@kemptvillecampus.ca or call (613) 258-8336 ext. 61234.

MARCH 2014 BUSINESS TODAY 3

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REGIONAL BUSINESS NEWS

Almonte business to be featured at national Chapters Indigo locationsSometimes, all you have to do is

ask.That’s what local Almonte entre-

preneur Dan Fallak recently discov-ered when he approached a major Canadian company and simply asked them if they’d be interested in sell-ing his product. Now, people across Canada will be able to buy VersaTile coasters at every Chapters Indigo lo-cation in the country this Father’s Day – a major accomplishment for any small company.

“I think this is a great opportunity for me,” Fallak said in an interview. “Getting into the Chapters Indigo lo-cations could be a big boost for the business.”

Between Mother’s Day and Fa-ther’s Day this year, two of Fallak’s VersaTile coaster designs will be fea-tured in Chapters Indigo locations across Canada as part of their holi-day product collection. Both designs are dad-friendly and say either “Craft beer only,” or “Scotch snob.” Fallak says he hopes the two designs will do well in stores this year – and at the rate his success is going, he’s sure to meet that goal.

Fallak, 33, started VersaTile just two years ago after taking an interest in starting up his own business. With a background in both advertising and graphic design, and with some experience with entrepreneurialism already – Fallak co-founded the lo-cal organization called Small Town Thinking, started a company called AMAZEBALLS, which sells whisky rocks, and a company called Wood-Posters – it didn’t take long before he was selling handmade coasters out of his basement.

That’s what VersaTile does: they make high-quality marble coasters with a variety of designs, patterns and sayings. For a long time, each coaster was hand made by either Fallak or his wife; it was only recently that the sys-tem became automated.

“We played around with a lot of different techniques to transfer photos onto the stone until we got the quality we were looking for,” Fallak said. “It was a lot of trial and error but even-tually we had something we thought was good enough to sell.”

Fallak took his painstakingly-craft-ed coasters to the Urban Craft Market, a big Ottawa craft show, in March of 2012 to give his product its fi rst real test with the public. Much to his sur-prise, he said they sold well, giving him the confi dence he needed to begin approaching other shows and even stores.

Soon, Fallak’s product was featured in many local shops like Mill Street’s Hello Yellow and he was having trou-ble keeping up with demand.

“What started as a hobby that also

happened to supplement my income quickly turned into a burden,” he said. “It got to the point where I would go to work during the day and spend my whole evening make coasters. It was exhausting.”

So he took a leap of faith. When an opportunity presented itself, Fallak left his comfy, reliable government job to focus on VersaTile full-time.

“That was a big step,” Fallak said, “to leave the security of a regular pay-cheque to focus on my business.”

While it may look like his decision paid off, Fallak says it didn’t always feel that way.

“The summer of 2013 was rough,” he said. “Business was very up and down and I ended up having to take a part-time job to make ends meet. I felt like I had failed.”

His luck was about to change though. One day in early 2013 when Fallak was shopping at the Pinecrest

Chapters Indigo location, he had the idea that his coasters would be a good fi t for the store’s gift section. After scouting around for someone who looked like a manager, he simply asked her if the store accepted con-signment items.

“I was so surprised when she said yes,” Fallak said.

“I had really prepared myself to be shot down but was happy that I didn’t.”

After retrieving some coaster sam-ples from his car, the store’s manager agreed that VersaTile would indeed be a good fi t. He was in. His products would be featured at the store for Fa-ther’s Day in 2013.

Riding on his confi dence boost, Fallak approached each of the Ottawa locations and soon his product was featured in every Ottawa store.

“I was shocked that that was all it took to turn the business around,” Fal-

lak said. “All I had to do was ask.”With his hard work paying off and

his coasters selling well at Chapters, Fallak was soon approached by the marketing co-ordinator at the Na-tional Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa – they wanted 6,000 units to use as a promotional item in 2014.

“I knew I couldn’t handle an or-der of that size by hand,” Fallak said, “and so I decided to start researching ways to automate the system.”

After fi nding a $30,000 machine that could do what he needed, Fallak applied for a small business loan with the Valley Heartland Community Fu-tures Development Corporation, and ended up receiving the loan and an in-novation grant.

Now, he had the means to produce

much larger quantities of his prod-uct. He accepted the NAC order and looked to bigger things.

With the increased capacity he now had, Fallak decided to approach Chap-ters Indigo at a national level; once again, he asked them if they would be interested in featuring his product, and once again they agreed.

Fallak is currently working to fi ll both of his orders with Chapters In-digo and the NAC. He says he almost can’t believe the difference one year can make in a business.

“At this time last year we were al-most struggling with VersaTile,” he said.

“And now, one year later, we’re so busy it’s almost hectic. And all I re-ally had to do was ask.”

Submitted photos

Almonte entrepreneur Dan Fallak, above, scored a deal with Chapters In-digo locations across the country recently, and will have his VersaTile coasters stocked there for Father’s Day this year. Top right, two coaster designs will be featured in stores, including this “Craft beer only” set and right, this one with the phrase “Scotch snob.”

4 BUSINESS TODAY MARCH 2014

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SMITHS FALLS BUSINESS NEWS

Glenda Bak celebrates 25 years with one business at one downtown locationBy HOWAIDA SOROUR

Relatively few small businesses make it that long and fewer still can do so in the same location. On April 5 Special Greetings on Russell Street is celebrating its 25th anniversary at the same address with some special mo-ments.

“Every 25th customer will receive a $25 gift card with their purchase,” said Glenda Bak, proprietor.

There will be free draws and re-freshments, and every customer will get a free gift with each purchase, plus everything in the store will be 25 per cent off for the entire day.

“I keep going back because Glenda is such a wonderful gal and she’s so personable and she keeps lots of won-derful things for me to spend my mon-ey on,” said Ruthie Bullock a long-time customer who has since become a friend.

The shop fi rst opened in 1989 when Bak, who had been managing four card and gift stores in Ottawa, realized there was a need in Smiths Falls.

“So I purchased this building and opened this shop,” said the soft-spo-ken Bak.

Born and raised in Smiths Falls, Bak also married and raised her own children in town and works most days at her store on Russell Street.

“It’s more than just a card store, she has frames and gifts - I have lots of stuff from her store in my house and so does my mother,” said Bullock.

As Bak points out, how bad can it be? She gets to shop for a living, at-tending two major gift shows every year to stock her store in addition to the drop-in sales representatives.

“For the most part I pick what I like but sometimes I’ll get a sales rep who says ‘you have to carry this’ and sometimes it’s something I don’t like, but it sells,” she admitted.

Trends, she said, can sometimes be baffl ing. She remembers one particu-lar object that still has her shaking her head with the memory.

“I remember the circle of friends candle holders. I ordered a few and they fl ew out the door. It got to the point where I was ordering them by the skid,” she said with a laugh.

Beanie Babies were another such phenomena that sold like crazy and kept her on her toes.

“I had days in July when I’d be bus-ier than Christmas,” she recalled.

The real secret of her success is her

combination of professionalism and customer service.

“The number one thing that keeps me going back to her store is the pride she takes in it, just look at her window display, it’s professional and once you’re in there, there’s no turn-ing back,” said Linda Skinner, a loyal customer.

Her customers generally rave about her selection of gifts and cards but most of all they rave about the ser-vice.

“She’s really very current and often ahead of her time with her selections. We don’t have to go to Ottawa, and if you tell her you’re thinking of some-thing she doesn’t have, she’ll order it. If you need to fi nd a special card she’ll help you fi nd it,” said Skinner.

Maintaining that special touch with each and every customer is not easy to do, but it’s something that Bak is particularly good at and her customers appreciate it.

“My husband gets me a gift card for her store every Christmas because I love it so much,” said Marlene Ben-nett, another loyal customer.

That loyalty is partly a refl ection of Bak’s attitude towards her business and her customers.

“My customers are great,” Bak said. “I’m so grateful to them. They’ve been so good to me.”

It hasn’t always been easy to run a store in Smiths Falls while employers were laying off workers by the hun-dreds, and there have been ups and downs according to Bak. There have even been years when she’s thought she would have to close up shop, but every bad year has been redeemed by a better one and the store has contin-ued under Bak’s gentle guidance.

“She really represents the town with her professionalism,” said Skin-ner. “She’s exactly what you’d want a small business to be downtown.”

-Business Today photo by HOWAIDA SOROURSurrounded by the gifts and a huge selection of Hallmark cards that make Special Greetings a destination, Glenda Bak is proud to be celebrating 25 years with the same business in the same location.

“The number one thing that keeps me going back to her store is the pride she takes in it, just look at her window display, it’s professional and once you’re in there, there’s no turning back.”LINDA SKINNERLOYAL CUSTOMER.

MARCH 2014 BUSINESS TODAY 5

While travelling along the Rideau by boat,

canoe, or even car; if you are looking for a luxurious place to stop for a night or two, this is the place to stay. Backed on to the Rideau River, the sunsets are as spectacular as the sunrises. Katmors has been in business since 2011, and is inspected and approved by the Federation of Ontario Bed and Breakfast and Accommodations.

Katmors is a luxurious owner occupied private residential dwelling that provides temporary a c c o m m o d a t i o n s , amenities and services

including the preparation of a full breakfast and a packed lunch if requested.

Panoramic views from every room are incredible at any time of the year.

Kathleen Howlett is your hostess at this wonderful B&B; located within reasonable distance to many recreational actives including golf, boating, trails, shopping and art studios and theatres. No matter what you are

looking to do, Katmors will provide you with a relaxing base to travel from.

In the upcoming seasons, Katmors services can include pick up and drop off from the train, bus, lock, or airport while visiting the area. Also, Kathleen is considering partnering with local companies to offer inclusive promotional packages such as bicycling, boating and hiking. Customized stays help make your visit to Katmors an incredible experience, while travelling through the Smiths Falls area.

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SMITHS FALLS BUSINESS NEWS

Local inventor and entrepreneur to pitch to the dragonsBy HOWAIDA SOROUR

He has called Smiths Falls home for the past 25 years, and on March 29 he’ll be travelling to Toronto to present his invention and business proposal on the CBC’s Dragons’ Den.

“I’m really hyped about it,” said Prim Singh, local inventor and business entrepreneur.

The whole endeavor started almost 20 years ago when Singh and his family started making and selling wontons to supplement the family income. Fried wontons are a Chinese fi nger food, made from a batter that’s rolled fl at, fi lled and then folded to hold the fi lling.

“We couldn’t keep up with making the wont-ons, we supplied places from Ottawa to Mon-treal – but just couldn’t make enough to keep up with demand,” said Singh.

They eventually closed down the wonton making business but the idea remained with Singh.

“Every time you have a wonton in North America chances are it’s handmade,” said Singh. “So I set out to build a machine that could make wontons – I had never done any-thing like that and really hadn’t a clue.”

It took him seven years to develop a machine that would fi ll and fold wontons consistently.

Grace’s Goose as the machine is called, makes 1,000 wontons per hour, more than the family of four could produce by hand in the same amount of time.

On Jan. 29 this year, Singh with his son showed up at an open audition for the Dragons’ Den show at Trent University in Peterborough.

“The reason I’m going to the dragons is that I need guidance – I’ve never done anything this big before and I feel it has the potential to be-come huge.”

He will also seek some investment while he’s there but only 30 per cent of what he thinks his business is worth right now – so less than $100,000, but added, that picture keeps chang-ing every day.

The pitch“We were given a number and told to go to

a room when our number was called. There

would be two producers ready to hear our pitch,” said Singh.

Equipped with signage and product, father and son waited their turn to have their say.

“It was pretty nerve wracking because you have a very limited amount of time – you have 60 seconds to arrive and set up and then 90 sec-onds to make your pitch,” said Singh.

They managed to get through that ordeal and were told they would be called if they had been accepted. On Feb. 14 Singh received a call from the CBC telling him that he had been selected among thousands to make his pitch to the Drag-ons. He was given four dates to choose from.

“I chose March 29 and they confi rmed the date, so that’s when I will be meeting the Drag-ons,” said Singh.

PreparationIn the meantime he has a fair bit of prep work

to do. He’s been told that another producer will be in touch soon to go over the details of what to bring, wear etc.

“My plan is to have my two kids with me,

my son Dean will open our pitch with who we are and that we’re from Smiths Falls and what we’re asking for, then my daughter will step up to explain what brought us to manufacturing and selling wontons. Then both kids will offer the product to the dragons while I explain the business matrix, it’s future and exit plan and try to show them why they should invest - why it makes sense for them fi nancially,” said Singh.

In the meantime Wonton Crunch will contin-ue to operate from the small industrial kitchen sanctioned by Health Canada, from the Singh home.

He already supplies the K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Algonquin College, Pakenham Ski Resort and Sensplex.

He’s supplying the Local Heroes franchise, and will be the featured dish at Broadway’s Bar and Grills this month. Locally the wontons are available at Andress’ Independent Grocer and Garden Market.

-Business Today photo by HOWAIDA SOROURIt took him seven years and 500 prototypes to fi nally come up with a working wonton-making machine. Shown here, Prim Singh of Smiths Falls shows off his pride and joy, which he will be presenting on CBC’s Dragon’s Den at the end of the month.

Submitted photoLocal resident and inventor Prim Singh made the trip to Peterborough last month to audition for the Dragon’s Den show on CBC.

HUB sees municipal funding cutBy HOWAIDA SOROUR

Community grants have been disbursed and not all community groups got the funds they had asked for.

“We absolutely had to stop the onslaught of requests; it was getting out of control,” said Smiths Falls town councillor, Ken Graham.

This year’s community asks had reached $327,800 and after a look at the fi rst draft of the budget councillors realized community grants would have to be capped. It was agreed that $80,000 in community grants was the most the town could afford.

For some groups that has meant a signifi cant reduction in funding. One such group is the HUB community pool, which has proven its popularity in the short months since it opened.

“Our request to the Town of Smiths Falls was for $50,000 in operational funding and consideration for water cost reduction or forgiveness. This week it was announced that the Town of Smiths Falls will be contributing $20,000 to our operational funding, with no consideration for reduction in water costs. The public, and our members, are now wishing to know how this contribution will impact us,” said Robert Rodine,

president the HUB.As far as council was concerned

it would have been impossible to give the HUB any consideration for a reduction in water costs or forgiveness, after raising the water rates for residents.

At the same time with 600 registered users and many more drop-ins in just the fi rst six months of operation, the popularity of the pool is self-evident. However only 40 per cent are residents of Smiths Falls. The bulk of users live outside of town, so to spread the costs more evenly the HUB had approached surrounding municipalities whose residents use the pool.

“The HUB was asking us for $19,600 for a little more than 40 users, for each of the next four years at which time they would make a determination whether they would need more or less funding to cover their operational shortfall,” said Douglas Struthers, mayor of Merrickville-Wolford.

So far the HUB has only received an answer from two of the municipalities, Smiths Falls and Merrickville-Wolford.

‘’The Hub requested approximately $112,000 in contributions from fi ve regional municipalities and based the amount requested on proportional use from data collected during

our early months of operation. To date we have received offi cial responses from two municipalities, with Merrickville-Wolford unable to contribute to operational funding,” said Rodine.

According to Struthers, it was a hard decision but ultimately came down to town fi nances.

“We’re under a lot of pressure since the reduction in the Ontario Municipal Partnership funding. This year we’re dealing with $53,680 less in funding along with a $40,000 increase in Ontario Provincial Policing costs,” said Struthers, whose council also unanimously decided not to sign a recreational cost sharing agreement with Smiths Falls for the use of the arenas.

While the HUB did not receive the funding it had asked for it was the single largest grant given by the town to a community group.

“The town helped the HUB with $50,000 last year and this year with $20,000 and from memory. I believe only 40 per cent of users are from Smiths Falls,” said Mayor Dennis Staples.

In the meantime the HUB board is still looking at ways to fund operations and maintain services.

“The board is researching many ideas to address this fi nancial challenge,” said Rodine.

6 BUSINESS TODAY MARCH 2014

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First Business at Breakfast mixer a successBy KELLY KENT

On Feb. 26, dozens of busi-nesspeople came together for the fi rst Business at Breakfast event hosted by both the Carleton Place and District Chamber of Com-merce and the Mississippi Mills Chamber of Commerce.

Held at Fulton’s Pancake House and Sugar Bush, the two Chambers met for the fi rst time to give local businesses from the two areas a chance to network and get to know each other.

“Businesses are not an island unto themselves,” said Shirley Fulton Deugo, who is the owner of Fulton’s and who was also a guest speaker at the event. “We need to work together and use each other’s resources to help each other grow and succeed.”

That was the idea behind the event, said Nicole Guthrie, exec-utive director of the Mississippi Mills Chamber: to get the busi-nesses from the two neighbour-ing communities together to start relationships and possible part-nerships in the future.

“We’re so close together,” she said of Mississippi Mills and Carleton Place, “it only makes sense for our businesses to sup-port each other.”

The breakfast event began bright and early but was supple-mented with plenty of hot cof-fee and of course, pancakes. The real focus of the event, though, was the networking and

the guest speakers. First of three speakers was Ful-

ton Deugo, herself. She stressed the need for local businesses to cross promote each other and to form partnerships. She cited her own example, where Fulton’s works with Equator Coffee in Almonte to create a maple coffee blend, and in turn, Equator gives out a coupon for $1 off a coffee at the pancake house for every ma-ple coffee purchased at the coffee shop. Each business, she said, benefi ts from that partnership and gains customers as well.

Simply placing brochures for other local businesses in your lo-cation can be a great way to cross promote as well, she said.

“Also, though, we need to capitalize on the local maple syrup season,” she said. “It’s its own festival that we don’t have to create.”

She went on to explain that since this area is known as the ma-ple syrup capital, tourism could be increased during the season by creating a theme throughout the community. She said she wants to see store displays and promotions highlighting the maple season.

Next up were two represen-tatives from the Carleton Place branch of the Royal Bank of Canada, Shawn Pulikunnel and Ryan Hunt, to talk about small businesses succession and retire-ment.

“Seventy-one per cent of fam-

ily-owned businesses and 61 per cent of non-family-owned busi-nesses do not have a succession plan,” said Hunt, who works as a fi nancial planner at the RBC.

Pulikunnel said that small business owners should have a plan for the succession of their business at least three to fi ve years before they plan to retire, and that they have to take several factors into account.

The pair talked about gather-ing a team of advisors, such as a chartered business evaluator or an accountant to help you evalu-ate your business’s worth or a broker to help you fi nd a buyer.

“It can be helpful to lean on the skills of experts and profes-sionals in a certain aspect of get-ting your business ready for your retirement,” Pulikunnel said.

They also talked about the pros and cons of the four options for a business after the owner retires: a family member can take over, an employee can take over, an out-side party can buy in to the busi-ness, or the business can close.

Overall, they urged business owners to seek out professional help and implement a plan as soon as possible.

Since the fi rst Business at Breakfast event was such a big success and had such a great turnout, Guthrie says there is talk of having them a few times a year to allow the two communities to mingle.

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Thrifty is nifty at Carleton Place’s New2You thrift storeBy TARA GESNER

Finding a great bargain and helping three great causes is a lot easier for Car-leton Place and area residents now that New2You thrift store has opened its doors.

New2You, located at 10511 High-way 7, next to the Gourmet Restaurant, celebrated its offi cial grand opening on March 1, with a ribbon cutting ceremo-ny attended by mayor Wendy LeBlanc.

Owner Lauri Moussa said the shop has been abuzz with activity since open-ing three weeks ago.

“The reception from the community has so far been amazing,” she said, “and there has been a steady stream of people coming in.”

Lauri and her husband Sam Moussa Sr. have been thrift shopping for seven years, and the more they did it the more they loved it.

Today’s thrift stores are trendy, spe-cialized and in high demand. New2You is well stocked, offering residents gen-tly used, quality clothing and household goods. New clothing is also purchased and sold for half the price.

“We have clothing for babies, chil-dren, youth, women and men,” Lauri said, “and we even offer plus sizes.”

All merchandise in the store is orga-nized by colour.

“I go through everything,” Lauri said, “and anything that I can’t put out on the fl oor is shipped to Africa through a con-nection.”

Other items available for purchase in-clude purses, jewelry, shoes, coats, ties

and scarves. Too, silent auction show-cases are also located at the front of the store and feature unique collectibles.

“We accept donations at the store,” Lauri said, “and we also have drop boxes throughout Carleton Place and Almonte.”

Proceeds from items sold directly support three charities: Valérie’s Flutter Foundation, Lanark Animal Welfare So-ciety (LAWS) and Just 4 Kics.

Valérie’s Flutter Foundation, located in Orleans, raises awareness for all types of cancers, especially for the more rare

types that lack funding.As a child Lauri was diagnosed with

Neuroblastoma.“I am a cancer survivor,” she said.

“Also, there is a strong family history.”Situated in Smiths Falls, LAWS has

been caring for abused, abandoned and lost animals for more than 35 years. It is a no-kill shelter.

“Our store mascot – Maggie – is a rescue,” Lauri explained. “She’s part Shih Tzu, part Yorkie.”

Based out of Oakville, Just 4 Kics as-sists many Canadian families who are

unable to enrol their children in orga-nized sports due to a lack of income.

Lauri grew up in Nepean, resided in Carleton Place for 22 years, and moved to Almonte two and a half years ago. Previously, she worked for Air Canada.

New2You store hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and

Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.“We have a wonderful space with lots

of parking to make shopping that much more convenient for visitors,” Lauri said. “Everybody here is phenomenal.”

For addition information about New2You, call 613-807-1267, email new2you@gmx.us or visit www.face-book.com/New2You.HWY7.

- Business Today photo by TARA GESNER

New2You thrift store in Carleton Place celebrated its offi cial grand opening on March 1, with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by mayor Wendy LeB-lanc (second from right). Pictured from left: Sam Moussa Jr., owner Lauri Moussa and Sam Moussa Sr.

- Business Today photo by TARA GESNER

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PERTH BUSINESS NEWS

By DESMOND DEVOYThe Perth and District Com-

munity Foundation has cracked the one million dollar mark in assets.

The good news was announced at the foundation’s annual general meeting at The Stone Cellar res-taurant on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

Accountant Howard Allan was the fi rst to break the big news to the assembled after more than $29,730 in community grants were dispersed to several com-munity groups.

“This year was a great year in that net revenues were up over $200,000,” Allan said. As for the million dollars, “I expect our next million will come a lot quicker than the fi rst million.”

Executive Director Elaine Turner said that 2013 had seen the “best overall fi nancial per-formance of any fi nancial year,” save for 2011 when a one-off boost skewed the numbers, in a good way.

“(The year) 2013 has resound-ed with the power of philanthro-py…helping us help others,” said Turner.

Since 2003, the foundation has dispersed more than $280,000 into the community. Having more than a million dollars in assets now means that “we can contin-ue to grant in perpetuity for next year…and years to come.”

The foundation is also work-ing on a new, three-year strategic plan, an updated vision state-ment, and tweaking the mission statement. Their web site has also been re-designed, and they have added a new Facebook page.

“Our goal is to expand our so-cial media presence, to keep up to date with our younger donors, and to keep up with the times,” said Turner. “Together, we can continue to build a smart, caring, and vibrant community.”

The foundation is also sup-porting the annual volunteer fair on Tuesday, April 8, but this year, instead of the Civitan Hall, the proceedings will be moved to Perth and District Collegiate Institute. Students from St. John Catholic High School will also be bussed in for their own hour to look around before the room is opened to the public.

“They (organizers) expressed an active desire to have more of a student presence,” said Turner.

President Steve Hillier added that there was $166,000 in new donations made in 2013, a sig-nifi cant increase over the year before, and a fi ve per cent rise in fundraising revenue. This was partly attributed, he said, to a 10 per cent growth in the founda-tion’s investment portfolio.

Because of the good numbers, “we are anticipating we will be able to increase our grants in the future.”

Pointing to foundation events like the Christmas gala and the charity golf tournament, Hillier said that “all of our operating expenses have been able to be covered by fundraising events,” without having to dip into other money envelopes.

Look back to 2013Looking back on 2013, Hillier

said he was very happy with the Perth and District Union Public Library’s literacy fund.

“We are glad to have that growth,” said Hillier. “It bodes well.”

There were new additions to the list of groups that the foun-dation sponsors: the Perth Blue Wings.

“We are glad to welcome the Perth Blue Wings, with their bursary to high schools,” said Hillier.

The 13 community charitable

groups supported by the founda-tion this year include:

• Camp Merrywood, for a new arts camp session.

• Big Brothers, Big Sisters or Lanark County, to provide healthy snacks to participants of their programs like after-school mentoring, physical activities, and after-school care at several local schools.

• Classic Theatre Festival’s “Perth Through the Ages,” a col-laborative theatrical project in partnership with the Matheson House Museum.

• The Table Community Food Centre will use its funding to cre-ate a 3,500 square foot commu-

nity food forest. • The Lanark Highlands Youth

Centre Inc. will direct its funding towards its Summer Excursion Program.

• Lanark Highlands Public Li-brary will use its grant to lease an e-book program from Ontario Library Services.

• YAK, who is developing a Young Entrepreneurs Program with their money.

• The Perth and District Union Public Library will use the mon-ey to go towards its children’s literacy program.

• The Algonquin College Foundation, and the third year of a fi ve-year commitment to the

Perth campus’ capital campaign. • The Lanark County Thera-

peutic Riding program will use its money to train two new riding instructors.

• Lanark County Interval House will use its money to fund the “Where Is the Love?” proj-ect, bringing 220 young men and women from around the county for a youth summit on violence against women.

• Cornerstone Landing will continue to provide support to at-risk youth.

• The Friends of Murphy’s Point Provincial Park will use its money to deliver its Junior Mica Miner program to more than 200

students.

High school students will also benefi t from about $9,500 in scholarships and bursaries, hand-ed out to graduates at St. John Catholic High School, Perth and District Collegiate Institute, and the Perth campus of T.R. Leger alternative school.

Additional bursaries of $2,400 were awarded in early February to students at Algonquin Col-lege’s Perth campus.

And The Blue Wings’ also es-tablished a new scholarship fund which will provide a bursary at both PDCI and St. John, starting this year.

Community foundation surpasses million dollar mark in assets Perth Blue Wings junior hockey team latest members to join the high school bursary club

-Business Today photo by DESMOND DEVOY Recipients for grants this year from the Perth and District Community Foundation included Camp Merrywood, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lanark County, Classic Theatre Festival, The Table Community Food Centre, Lanark Highlands Youth Centre Inc., Lanark Highlands Public Library, Youth Action Kommittee, Perth and District Union Public Library, Algonquin College Foundation, Lanark County Therapeutic Riding. Scholarships and bursaries totalling $9,500 will be given to students at PDCI, St. John Catholic High School and TR Leger School. The Perth Jr. B Blue Wings Alumni established a new scholarship fund to provide a bursary at PDCI and at St. John beginning this year. Above are community members who represent each of the groups mentioned.

MARCH 2014 BUSINESS TODAY 9

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NORTH GRENVILLE/MERRICKVILLE BUSINESS NEWS

North Grenville Chamber holds 34th AGMBy JOSEPH MORIN

The North Grenville Chamber of Commerce held its 34th annual general meeting last Thursday morning at Hurley’s Grill in Kemptville.

The popular restaurant served up a warm breakfast for a room full of members and future members. The energy and enthusiasm in the room fi t in well with the chamber’s theme this year about making connections in the North Grenville business community.

“The board’s focus will be on engaging the membership in 2014, with directors making personal contacts and encouraging lots of participation by members in the many opportunities their Chamber has to offer them,” said Mark Thornton of Bell Alliant, the Chamber Board Chair for the 2014-15 term.

This year the board numbers grew to eight directors.

The hope is that with more directors available to the business community there will be more opportunity for members to connect with directors, and with each other.

The larger board will have positive effects on how the chamber connects with its membership and how programs and board policy is implemented.

“Our Executive Director (Wendy Chapman) is to be commended for her hard work and dedication and some of the sacrifi ces she has made over the past few years; with a fragile economy and the fl uctuation of the number of volunteers available to assist,” said Thornton. He thanked the Executive Director for her efforts in keeping the chamber on the right path.

“Wendy has done an excellent job of keeping the chamber moving forward; in some cases single handily organizing

and implementing chamber programs and events, while continuing the chamber connection to the membership, the community and the various areas of interest that a chamber engages in to make its community a better place to live, work, shop and play for all citizens

and visitors alike,” he said.Two directors stepping down this

year are John Wilson, the president of the board of the Ferguson Forest Centre, having served the maximum six years; and Claude Roy, owner of M5Digital, having served this past term. Volunteers

contributions and volunteerism was important to the Chamber’s mission and mandate.

The new board team for 2014-2015 includes: Mark Thornton, Bell Alliant, Cindy Charbonneau of Total Home, John Gray, Re/Max Connections Realty,

John Meharg, Kemptville Incubator and Investment Centre, Lynda Sharpe-Lalonde of Sharpe Decisions Inc./SDI Wellness Inc. Gerald Tallman, Tallman Truck Centre, Katharine Usher-Vollett, eQuinelle Golf Club, Melissa White, RBC Royal Bank.

“With the increased numbers of the board, along with board chair Mark, I am looking forward to having the individual board members’ support in helping to implement chamber initiatives during the 2014-15 term.” said chamber executive director Chapman.

Thornton pointed out that the chamber was also able to benefi t from its good reputation and relationship with the North Grenville community and municipality and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce as well as the Chamber page with the Kemptville Advance and the annual Welcome to North Grenville Visitor and Community Guide.

“In addition, our website provides a high profi le to our members and the Chamber eNEWS extends beyond our membership and network, onto twitter, LinkedIN and facebook, providing an even broader exposure to what our chamber is doing and profi ling our members and businesses in North Grenville as well,” said Thornton.

He said he was looking forward to working with the new board to continue to move the chamber forward.

“We need to support our executive director in rolling the various chamber programs out successfully, engaging the membership with their chamber and fulfi lling part of the chamber’s mandate to educate and help our businesses and organizations, grow in a growing community,” said Thornton.

-Business Today photo by JOSEPH MORINThe North Grenville Chamber of Commerce has had the support and help of many local businesses. Moving on from the board are Claude Roy and John P. Wilson. The two former directors were given gifts of appreciation. Left to right are: Claude Roy, Wendy Chapman, Mark Thornton and John P. Wilson.

-Business Today photo by JOSEPH MORIN

New board signs onThe North Grenville Chamber of Commerce has announced its new 2014-2015 term board of directors. Front row, left to right are: Melissa White, RBC Royal Bank; Cindy Charbonneau Total Home; Lynda Sharpe-Lalonde, Sharpe Decisions Inc./SDI Wellness. Back row (left to right) are John Meharg, Kemptville Incubator and Investment Centre; Wendy Chapman, Chamber executive director; Katharine Usher-Vollett, eQuinelle Golf Club; incoming board chair Mark Thornton, Bell Alliant; John Gray, Re/Max Connections Realty; and Gerald Tallman of Tallman Truck Centre. The swearing-in ceremony for the new board of directors will be on Monday March 24 at the North Grenville council chambers at 6:30 p.m.

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BROCKVILLE BUSINESS NEWS

Women’s local networking groups remain strongBy DOREEN BARNES

Who better to address the Brockville Women’s Network than an individual who believes in networking, breathes networking and lives networking?

Guest speaker for February’s meeting was Shelli Warren, whose passion is to enable people to become the person they want to be on the outside by fi rst becoming that person on the inside.

Through her many volunteer roles, Warren has been a mentor, a coach, an organizational leader, a team player, a supporter and the list goes on.

In her own words, she feels the happiest when she is with her tribe.

“I consider my tribe, women,” expressed Warren. “When I was younger, I started out teaching gymnastics and dance, got involved with women’s groups and for me this is when I feel alive. I get energy from you.”

Warren referred to the many women’s networking groups that are now in the local area.

“One of the up and coming networks is Kemptville Women in Business,” said Warren. “As well as Dawn Ontario, the DisAbled Women’s Network in Ontario, who have come together to support each other. There’s a lot of good work that is happening right in our own back yards.”

She mentioned the various clubs and organizations that are attended by women and men but feels that women like to do things differently.

“We like to have structure, we like to have a plan,” said Warren. “We like to sit down and feel like there’s a connection and we are going to learn something. Not men! They want to network after work, over a beer, watching a game or while putting their gear on to get ready to go on the fi eld or the ice. That’s cool and I’m glad they are different.”

Warren believes that women join networks because they want to share, to give, to receive and

to make a difference.Those organizations with specifi c criteria for

membership can be a challenge and lead some to frustration due to the division of class, especially for those that want to belong.

For those becoming a member in an organization without criterion may be more likely to feel welcomed.

Another point Warren mentioned was when an organization drifts off the actual mission.

“If you drift off course and cannot get back, the membership will feel that,” indicated Warren. “There’s a sense of uncertainty. The risk could be losing membership because they are not feeling a connection or living the mission.”

One of the latest networks that Warren has been working with and started a sister club here in Brockville is Sheconnex.

“We have 400 members in the Sheconnex community, based out of Cornwall, Ottawa, Brockville, Toronto and Montreal area,” said Warren. “When you have a membership that large, you really have to pay attention to what’s working and what’s not. We had to continue revising the website and introduce bloggers and feminars to be able to provide what was being asked for. We continue to evolve.”

Warren feels that the executive team of an organization should look at the network as a business.

“Women’s groups that are really propelled to the next level of success are the ones that understand themselves as a business,” said Warren. “You have

to offer some kind of end product.”Another aspect of women networking is being

able to communicate, to share, to learn and be with like minded individuals.

Brockville Women’s Network (BWN)According to president Deborah Souder, women

can attend the Brockville Women’s Network meetings twice as a guest, prior to joining.

The one year membership fee is $50 and members are listed in the BWN directory

This group usually has a guest speaker with exception to June and December.

“We do not have speakers in June because it is our AGM or we will do it from within the network group,” said Souder. “As well, for December we have a Christmas fundraising dinner and auction for the scholarships.

When asked why women should consider joining, Souder was very quick to say that it’s an opportunity for women to meet other women in our community.

“This is a great way to advertise their business, to make connections in the community for jobs or volunteering,” indicated Souder. “It’s (the meeting) a combination of entertainment, education and some fun.”

BWN supports Cunningham/Lor Scholarship fund which has existed since 1996. It is an award given twice a year to women pursuing post secondary education. Candidates must demonstrate and support the group’s motto, Women Supporting Women.

“As well, we do not have an offi cial charity, although we do support the food bank,” said Souder. “During the course of the year from time to time, for instance in September everyone was asked to bring some school supplies and we distributed those to two schools. In October, people were asked to bring hat and mitts for the Snowsuit Drive. So we do that periodically when there’s something going on in the community. But even with our charity work we try to focus on women helping women.”

Monthly meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month at the Brockville Country Club with networking at 5:30 p.m. and dinner served at 6:30 p.m. For reservation call Kim Fenn 613-924-0165 or email ktmg4@sympatico.ca.

To fi nd out more about Brockville Women’s Network, visit http://brockvillewomensnetwork.com.

-Business Today photo by DOREEN BARNESFebruary’s guest speaker at the Brockville Women’s Network meeting was inspirational Shelli Warren talking about the need for women to have their own networking group. She referred to the many all female networking organizations that now exist in this area as well as provincially. To learn more about Brockville Women’s Network, log onto http://brockvillewomensnetwork.com.

Lifetime Achievement Award presented to CJ’s Banquet Hall owner Sia Syrios

News - In celebration of International Women’s Day the Leeds and Grenville Small Business Enter-prise Centre is pleased to honour Sia Syrios of CJ’s Banquet Hall with their annual Lifetime Achieve-ment Award.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, presented during the International Women’s Day dinner and Spring Showcase, held at the Brockville Memorial Centre March 6, was created to recognize a woman who has been in business for many years and to celebrate her achievements as a business leader in the community. Last year’s award was presented to Pauline Marshall of Pauline’s Lingerie.

This year’s recipient arrived from Greece in 1957 and worked as a nanny in Montreal. She married her husband Chris in October of 1959 and they moved to Brockville in January 1960 where they purchased the Brockville Coffee Shop located on Buell Street with John and Jean Kalivas. Along with starting this business venture Syrios worked at the Brockville General Hospital in the cafeteria.

In 1961 she and Chris purchased HB Wrights res-taurant on King Street in Brockville and changed the name to Relax Restaurant while her brother oper-ated the Prescott Coffee Shop. In 1962 they decided to lease the Brockville Coffee Shop and she left her employment to work full time at Relax with Chris. Her daughters Toula, Lori and Louise were born in 65, 68 and 69 during which time she continued to work in the restaurant. Sia’s volunteer work with the Brockville Figure Skating Club was one of many activities she did to support her active girls and in

1975 the decision was made to close the restaurant on Sunday’s to allow more time with the family.

In 1986 her husband Chris died very suddenly, leaving her to run the business and continue to raise their girls. It was at this point that she began her volunteer work with Palliative Care at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital.

She decided in 1987 that she would start a catering business out of Relax Restaurant and through that discovered a need in the community for a Banquet Hall. Sia, began looking for property and fi nancing but was turned down by three banks. Undeterred she approached National Trust and the manager took a leap of faith and lobbied for fi nancing for her.

Her search for a location to build a banquet hall was decided and the location was a lot at the end of Chelsea Street. Her dream became reality when CJ’s opened their doors in November of 1989. This year CJ’s will celebrate 25years in business, having participated in thousands of families’ special oc-casions along with many events from the business community. Sia now works in partnership with her daughter Lori and son-in-law Luke. Sia still goes to work each day and continues to prepare her signa-ture items.

Sia’s other accomplishments include being hon-oured with the Helen Keller Fellowship Award from the Brockville Lions Club for outstanding Lionism.

She has supported co-operative education so stu-dents can gain experience in the hospitality industry and contributes to numerous charities.

MARCH 2014 BUSINESS TODAY 11

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Mark yourCalendar...The following is a list of some of the events taking place in the St. Lawrence Region of Business Today (Gananoque, Brockville, Prescott, Iroquois) that are of particular interest to businesses and industries in the area.

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Thursday, March 13

Tuesday, March 18

Thursday, March 20

Wednesday, April 9

Send us information on your business meetings or events for this monthly calendar. Information is required by the first Wednesday of the month. Email: wthornhill.@stlemc.ca

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Kathie Donovan delivers inspiration to Brockville womenBy MARLA DOWDALL

“Happiness is an inside job,” said Kathie Donovan, who brought her powerful message of inspiration to those in attendance at the third annual International Women’s Day event at the Brockville Memorial Centre, March 6.

“Inspiring Change” featured the annual Spring Showcase as well as dinner and speaker. It was put on by the Leeds and Grenville Small Business Enterprise Centre in conjunction with the Brockville Women in Business.

Donovan, a television producer, radio host, as well as journalist, is best known for her years co-hosting CTV’s popular Regional Contact. A sold out crowd of 128 people attended to hear Donovan speak about her book ‘Inspiration in Action A Woman’s Guide to Happiness’ and enjoy the evening.

She opened by saying the women in the room stood on the shoulders of their predecessors - those who fought for women’s right to vote, and women’s rights. She noted she has had 35 plus years in broadcasting, having left CTV in 2012 when the company changed the business model for Regional Contact.

She originally started out with a love for radio when only eight years old. Calling it a “seed” for community service, her love of broadcast was born.

As a youth, she was sent to a convent for four years, where she learned many things. Perhaps most importantly, she went in a follower, and came out a leader. She had so little self confi dence; she says she actually wet the bed until 13 years of age.

While in Ottawa, she attended McGill University, but dropped out when an opportunity in radio was presented to her. At the time CKCU FM, was launching and she wanted to try it. “Find what you love and work hard,” she said. “It’s not really work when it’s what you choose to do. Happiness has never shown up in a truck at my front door.”

From CKCU she went to Chez106. There she had a daily program called In the City. Suggesting to the crowd they need to be prepared for opportunity as well as have a grateful heart, she pointed to the Law of Attraction. What you think and focus on you end up attracting. The thoughts of today

manifest themselves tomorrow.It was J.J. Clarke who fi rst invited

her to CJOH. When the offer came back around a second time, she took it. She did the weather with Clarke and entertainment with Max Keeping.

“Fear will prevent us from bringing our dreams to life,” she said. “We need to be alert, but we can’t let it run our life.”

She urged the audience to call on courage in the face of fear.

With Regional Contact, again, she had no experience in taking on such a task. “I had no clue. No one helped me. They gave me the space to hang myself or fi gure it out,” she recalled. “I faked it till I fi t in.”

She urged the audience to appreciate when things are tough, as someday there will be a useful lesson come from those times.

“It is good for us to challenge what we think we know and what we think we can do,” she emphasized.

Asking questions and listening to the answers is important, she said. “Too often we are just waiting for an opportunity to speak.”

At the end of her talk, she broke

some key points down and noted they are:

• fi nd what you love and work hard,• be prepared for opportunity,• say yes even when you are scared,• appreciate everything,• ask questions and listen,.• hang with like-minded people,• make stuff happen,• be open to receiving support, • always choose happiness.Donovan now teaches workshops on

the various principles she teaches in her book. Her mission is to be the, “Best life artist” she can, and she wishes that for others. For further information on her courses, about Donovan or her book, please visit www.kathiedonovan.com.

“The turnout and success this event has achieved is absolutely wonderful,” Terry-Ann Hare, president of Brockville Women in Business, explained.

Deanna Clark, representing her husband, Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark, explained the evening and International Women’s Day is an important opportunity to celebrate the outstanding contributions women make to the economy.

-Business Today photo by MARLA DOWDALLKathie Donovan, author of Inspiration in Action A Woman’s Guide to Happi-ness, and former CTV Regional Con-tact host, spoke to a sold out crowd at the third annual International Wom-en’s Day “Inspiring Change” event at the Brockville Memorial Centre, March 6. The event featured the an-nual Spring Showcase as well as din-ner and speaker and was put on by the Leeds and Grenville Small Business Enterprise Centre in conjunction with the Brockville Women in Business.

12 BUSINESS TODAY MARCH 2014

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