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- 1. M A R K H A M ’ S E X C L U S I V E B U S I N E S S M A G A Z I N EWinter Issue 2014 Is Your Business Ready for a 4 Day Work Week? – pg 10 Why Do You Need a Social Media Strategy? – pg 12 Smart Devices for Your Home – pg 13 Cool Yule Tips: Your holiday party planner – pg 18 P L U S ROBOTS REVOLUTIONIZE HOMECAREpg 6
- 3. IN THIS ISSUETECH Web 2.0: Safety and Security Concerns 8 Smart Devices for Your Home 13 HUMAN RESOURCES Is Your Business Ready for a 4 Day Work Week? 10 Compassionate Care Policies: Care for Caregivers 11 MARKETING Why do you need a Social Media Strategy 12 BUSINESS BOOKS 14 FINANCIAL ADVICE Risk Management: Be prepared in 3 key areas 17 SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS 20 WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS 21 Corporate Title Sponsor Breakfast Networking Series Premier THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS 4 The Search for the 2015 Top Young Professionals Begins Now! Publisher Richard Cunningham, President & CEO Editor Dave Deeley Director, Marketing & Communications Your comments are always welcome. Please email ddeeley@markhamboard.com Advertising information Christine Rogers Advertising & Marketing Consultant 905-474-0730 ext. 30 Membership information Mary Ann Quagliara Director, Member Services 905-474-0730 ext. 16 Markham Board of Trade Markham Convergence Centre 7271 Warden Avenue, Markham, ON L3R 5X5 T: 905-474-0730 • F: 905-474-0685 info@markhamboard.com www.markhamboard.com Markham Board of Trade 2014–15 Board of Directors OFFICERS: Joe A. Salib (Chair), Sun Life Financial – Unionville Daisy Wai (Vice Chair), Ad2000 & Beyond Advertising Charles Scott (Secretary), Community Volunteer Zamin Baqar (Treasurer), KPMG Enterprise DIRECTORS: Shadi Aghaei, Times Group Corporation Dr. Peter Kim, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College Carole McAfee Wallace, Wilson Vukelich LLP Bruce McMeekin, J Bruce McMeekin Law Vito Marchese, Whiteboard Studio Stephen Mathieu, Metroland Media Rashpal Sahota, Powerful Mind Powerful You Bruce Tilden, RE/MAX Realtron Realty Inc. Erez Zevulunov, MIT Consulting Andy Taylor, CAO, City of Markham Representative Richard Cunningham, President & CEO, Markham Board of Trade Cover and Cover Story Design: CS-Graphic Design Inc. Design: Angela Smith, Benjamin Designs Cover Photo: Dave Starrett Photographer Cover photo of Casper shot on location in the Autonomous Systems and Biomechatronics Laboratory at the University of Toronto. Printing: Canmark Communications Circulation – 12,000 © November 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in parts, or as a whole, without prior written permission of the Markham Board of Trade Publication Agreement Number 41245573 COVER STORY 6 Trying to Bring Robots to the Masses. www.markhamboard.com Markham’s exclusive business magazine published by: 18 Cool Yule Tips for planning your Christmas party.
- 4. The VOICE Winter 2014 4 YPC WHAT’S GOING ON? IT PAYS TO KNOWProfessional Development Mark your calendar for payroll education! With more than 190 federal and provincial regulations and changes each year, staying payroll compliant is one of the biggest challenges employers face. Ensure compliance and reduce the risk of audits and penalties with help from Professional Development seminars from Canadian Payroll Association (CPA). CPA offers seminars for all levels from beginner to advanced. On a variety of topics covering Learning Payroll, Taxable Benefits, Employment Standards, Pensions and more. Check our calendar for a seminar in your area. Learn more at payroll.ca. Call 416-487-3380 ext 118 or 1-800-387-4693 ext 118. Become a CPA member and get preferred rates on seminars.Stay Current StayCompliant www.payroll.ca CPA_PD Ad 7x4.5.indd 1 14-01-02 1:16 PM Congratulations to the 2014 ASPIRE Award Recipients! The Search for the 2015 Top Young Professionals Begins Now! Local entrepreneurs and business people under 40 now have a platform to recognize their achievements – YPC’s ASPIRE Awards. Criteria: 1. Nominee must be born on or after January 1, 1975 AND 2. Nominee’s company must be Markham based or be a Markham Board of Trade member in good-standing Nominations: www.markhamboard.com, boards and committees tab, YPC page. Deadline: December 1, 2014. Recipients will be announced at the ASPIRE Awards in April 2015. Nominations may be made by any member of the community. Some of the qualities that will be used to determine the recipients are: • The level of excellence, creativity and initiative they bring to their profession • Do they serve as a role model for their peers both personally and professionally? • Does the nominee demostrate the ability to improve the quality of life for others in the community through volunteer time or energy? Stay connected: MBTYPC YPC Title Sponsor:(from left) George Arabian, President CEO, nvision solutions; Andy Chan, Partner, Miller Thomson LLP; Robert Martella, President, New Line Incentives Inc.
- 5. The VOICE Winter 2014 5 Ever wonder where the money goes? To support local and provincial charities, as well as Ontario’s amateur athletes $130 million Towards community infrastructure like community centres and college campuses for host municipalities $94.1 million In funding for the operation of hospitals and other provincial priorities $1.6 billion *Based on period between April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013. That’s only part of the $3.4 billion* in economic activity that OLG generated last year in Ontario. Learn more about OLG’s modernization and how it can benefit you at ModernOLG.ca.
- 6. The VOICE Winter 2014 66 F rom Rosey the robot maid on the Jetsons through to Sonny the robot assistant at the heart of the Will Smith blockbuster (which was very loosely based on the short story collection I, Robot by Isaac Asimov), artificial intelligence has long been the stuff of science fantasy. Since the 1980s, researchers have made great strides in turning that fiction into real- ity and robots. In fact, in 2013 robots assisted in 422,000 surgeries in the U.S., but there has never been an affordable personal assistant-type robot for individual consumers. That could soon change. Stephen Sutherland, Dale Wick and John-Paul Gignac, serial tech entrepreneurs and founders of Markham-based CrossWing, have created a patented interactive personal robotics platform called virtualME that just might move Rosey and Sonny out of fiction and optimistic dreams and into people’s homes in the next few months. This November they will be launching a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign that will run for 60 days. The goal is to sell about 1,000 units at about $1,000 each in order to fund the creation of an injection mold dye that would boost production volumes, bring down costs and attract venture capital. It will ship with telepresence which means wherever the robot is you can see what the robot sees. To this point, the founders have invested $6 million of their own money and make the modular units using a 3-D printer, which means it costs about $20,000 to produce a virtual ME robot – far too much for them to deliver on their mission. “When we launched the business in 2006, the goal was to make an afford- able robot that would help people,” says Sutherland. “We’d like the price point to be about $2,000 retail but to make that happen we need to work with a manufac- turer and standardize production. Investors like what we’re doing but every- one we’ve approached wants to see an existing market. There is no existing market for as- sistive robots.” The hope is for the Kickstarter campaign to create that market. There is certainly precedentforturning to crowdfunding. Social robotics pioneer Dr. Cynthia Breazeal at MIT in the U.S. just completed a successful crowdfunding campaign for JIBO, the world’s first family robot that looks like a futuristic speaker, reminds people of important appointments, relays messages to the right person at the right time thanks to its face recognition capabilities and interacts with the rest of the family. From July 16 to September 14, the campaign presold 4,800 JIBOs raising US$2.3 million dollars. The big difference between CrossWing’s robot and JIBO is that virtualME-supported robots can undertake physical tasks. This initial version is targeted specifically to help seniors live independently longer. The background: Stephen Sutherland started writing software for personal computers when he was an undergrad at the University of Waterloo in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He and his cofounders in CrossWing went on to build and sell software companies in the desktop publishing and imaging space. When the Internet emerged, they launched a company called TrueSpectra an online imag- ing and dynamic composi- tion software company (since purchased by Adobe). They followed this up with OpenGraphics, a startup that provided solutions for online photo finishing and sharing. Best Buy acquired the company in 2003 and Suther- land became Best Buy’s vice president of next generation products and services. “Best Buy was looking for a new category of products for its website, which offers a similar product mix as Amazon. That’s when we started to think about creating robots that would help people.” By Mary Teresa Bitti (L) Stephen Sutherland, President CEO, CrossWing Inc. and virtualME photo by Dale Wick, CTO, CrossWing. TRyING TO BRING ROBOTS TO The VOICE Winter 2014
- 7. The VOICE Winter 2014 7 The business case for CrossWing: By 2036, seniors will make up one-quarter of Canada’s entire population. That’s 10 million people – up from five million today. “The market is screaming for devices to help people live independently longer,” says Sutherland. That said, he knows it won’t be easy – as evidenced by the reluctance of inv estors to participate at this early stage. At the same time, tech giants Google and Facebook are acquiring and consolidating companies in the home automation and immersive communication in- dustries, creating competition for CrossWing’s robots. In aviation, a cross wind blows across the runway making landings and takeoffs more difficult. “We knew it would be a challenge to create robots that could assist people. We also knew it was a good thing to do,” says Sutherland. Creating an ecosystem: CrossWing’s key differentiator is the virtualME platform, which is built for collaboration thanks to its patent pending modular hardware and soft- ware design that enables third-party developers to add specialized hardware components and cloud-based applications. CrossWing is currently working with the University of Toronto, UOIT, Waterloo, Ottawa, Western, McGill and York universities with each university talent pool working on specific projects in the areas of man-machine interface design, computer vision, navigation, task planning, object identification and mapping. “The platform is the foundation of an ecosystem. In Canada there are all these researchers working on applications on everything from healthcare to personal security but they have no way of distributing their software. They need a low cost mass produced physical platform that will allow them to deploy applications. Once we get our platform into production, it becomes a catalyst for researchers to finish their work faster.” For Stephenson, that means seniors could soon have access to assistive robots that will help them with day to day tasks, like doing dishes, carrying groceries, taking medication at the appropriate time, contacting family members if they need help. Of course, the elderly and home care represent just one market. virtualME can expand into many verticals, including education, entertainment, travel and security, for example. “We’ve proved to investors that there is a market, but they all end up saying to us come back when you are starting to sell,” says Stephenson. “Then the question becomes, how do you get a physical device into production? ”He’s hoping the Kickstarter campaign is the answer. Location photo arranged with the cooperation of Professor Goldie Nejat, Director of the Autonomous Systems and Biomechatronics Laboratory, University of Toronto. Photo by Dave Starrett The VOICE Winter 2014 7 THE MASSES 114 Anderson Avenue, Suite 7C, Markham, ON L6E 1A5 Servicing all your accounting and tax needs • Bookkeeping Services • Income Tax Preparation Planning • HST/GST • Payroll Services • Manual or Computerized Tel: 905-471-7979 Email: info@jpaccountingtax.com www.jpaccountingtax.com
- 8. The VOICE Winter 2014 8 magine a world where, at first glance, everyone’s smartphone looks exactly the same. The only difference between models is the cloud-based apps and software that come along with each device. To some it may sound odd, considering the current war between smartphone makers one up each other with newer hardware features and design. But, Andre Vittorio, President of Markham-based IT-consulting firm Idealogical, believes common smartphone designs aren’t that farfetched. “It’s not something that will happen in the next two years,” he says. “But with the increasing popularity of wearables and the prevalence of cloud technologies this will eventually become a reality. Any information you want will be available to you on all your devices and in any location.” What we see now are the primitive stages of our world in 10 years. Vittorio pictures a scene out of The Minority Report, a film featuring Tom Cruise where the main character lives in a world where everyone’s information is online and accessible from anywhere, as a foreshadow of our future. Technology still has a ways to go before we reach that stage however. “The tech industry is slowly marching towards this world. In the meantime that slow march makes them money,” says Vittorio. “But behind the scenes they’re all building their data centres.” Vittorio says that infrastructure is what’s holding back a complete change. In metropolitan areas Internet connection is fast for the most part. The same can’t be said about other communities. When a fast enough connection is established in a majority of areas then the world Vittorio pictures can become a reality. As we share more and more of ourselves online what does that mean for privacy and security? That’s the question users, government and business are all trying to answer. With breaches increasingly becoming hot news topics, the idea of online privacy and security has never been more widely debated. Vittorio sees the responsibility for securing data starting with the user themselves. “These systems are generally very secure. The problem can often be traced back to the user,” he says. There are two major types of “hacking” that are used on regular users. The first deals with weak passwords. Individuals use large-scale programs to test many different word and number combinations to see if they can crack a password. Using generic passwords is something I’m sure all of us have been told not to do, but Vittorio says many still do it and they’re risking their data when they do so. The second type of hacking scheme, and one Vittorio believes will become more common in the future are what he calls “man in the middle attacks”. That’s because many programs have responded to the first type of hacking by setting up controls notifying users of their password being changed or locking an account if there are a number of consecutive failed logins. To combat this, hackers have started phishing schemes. Users receive a legitimate-looking email asking them to update their account. It then prompts them to do so by clicking a link. They’re led to a legitimate-looking company page where individuals enter their username and password to login, but then nothing happens. But far from nothing happens on the other side. A system stores your login details, which are now accessible by strangers. That’s how they access your account. cont’d on page 18 Web 2.0: Safety and Security Concerns By Samantha Sim I Start Today...Save A Life Tomorrow ✓WSIB and HRSDC approved First Aid, CPR and AED training ✓Only WSIB Approved Blended Learning Standard First Aid Program ✓Exclusive Canadian Distributor of the HeartSine SAM-PAD Evacusafe Chairs ✓Professional Emergency Response Instructors Rescue 7 Inc. www.rescue7.net Tel: 1-888-294-4208 TECH
- 9. The VOICE Winter 2014 9
- 10. The VOICE Winter 2014 10 ive years ago Lorne Marr made an unorthodox decision about his employees’ working hours. At the time, Marr’s Markham- based firm LSM Insurance was a small business with six employees. He wanted a way to incentivize his staff but couldn’t afford to give a pay increase, so he introduced four-day workweeks. “Our team still loves it,” says Marr, Director of New Business Development. “They’re spending less time commuting to work, they’re saving on gas and it’s reducing their stress.” Marr’s employees may only work four days, but they still put in 40-hour weeks. LSM Insurance is open five days a week, employees rotate their day off so that the company can still serve customers. Marr says his employees like the shorter weeks because they’re getting more value for their work, taking away a day’s commute saves them money, meaning they make more per hour. The four-day workweek isn’t a new concept. It originated in the 19th century as labour theorists predicted new technologies would make workers’ lives easier. They believed these new machines would take over most of the grunt work and leave workers more time for leisure. More recently, during 2008–2009, it was touted as a way to prevent layoffs during the recession. Under this new plan the LSM Insurance team can also adjust their working hours to avoid peak traffic, have the freedom of working from home or office and decide which day off best works for them. As long as their work gets done, each person’s schedule is really up to them. Marr acknowledges that this system is more conducive to smaller, more nimble teams. However, he does believe that larger companies could achieve something similar to what he’s done. For teams looking to implement a four-day workweek Marr says it’s very important to have a tracking system in place to evaluate the productivity of employees. “You should ensure there’s a system in place to measure an employee’s work results. Productivity should be better when you switch to a four-day workweek,” says Marr. “But, you still want to make sure there’s measures in place to make sure productivity isn’t slipping.” Another important factor, Marr says, is to ensure your organization has a team environment that is suitable for a four-day workweek. “It takes a team effort to create a schedule of rotating days off. The team has to be willing to work together so that everyone gets the day they need and the business still stays open, ” he says. Despite additional scheduling needs, Marr says the four-day workweek is worth it because it gives value to employees and allows for more focused work. “I don’t think people have to work 24/7,” he says. “Nowadays people are always checking their emails and working at all different times of the day. That’s not necessarily productive. Working a lot doesn’t mean you’re working productively.” Is Your Business Ready for a 4 Day Work Week? F By Samantha Sim The four-day work week isn’t a new concept. HR ISSUES Business advisors with over 20 years of experience servicing various industries and providing personal services in: Accounting Auditing • Business Plans Start-Ups • Estate Financial Planning Taxation – Personal Corporate Jack Eigenmacht, CPA, CA, CFP 905.305.9722 x 228 E: jack@eigenmachtcrackower.com www.eigenmachtcrackower.com 345 Renfrew Drive • Suite 202 Markham, Ontario L3R 9S9
- 11. The VOICE Winter 2014 11 the population ages and more Canadians find themselves caring for dying family members, many Canadian workplaces are helping to “care for the caregivers” by implementing compassionate care leave policies that provide comfort to employees, while boosting engagement and retention at work. A recent survey by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), in partner- ship with the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, found 59% of 692 organizations polled had formal compassionate care leave policies that recognize and accommodate employees’ family and dependent care responsibilities for providing end-of-life care to loved ones. As one respondent put it, “being there for your employees when they need it the most speaks volumes about your culture.” Business benefits Providing compassionate care benefits is also good business practice according to the survey. A majority found there were clear business benefits to providing these policies, including increased employee engagement (61%) and retention (56%). And almost half (49%) said having a policy makes it easier for employees to return to work and re-integrate in the work team after caring for a loved one. “These numbers speak to the fact that not only do compassionate care policies help employees through very difficult times, they also make good business sense,” said HRPA CEO Bill Greenhalgh. “Providing accommodations for employees caring for family members at end of life is one of the ways to reduce caregiver stress and avoid burnout. Workers who are supported through situations like this are more loyal and are more likely to stay with the company.” Legal implications There are also more legal risks to failing to grant compassionate care accommodations. A recent decision by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal awarded an employee $15,000 after they had been terminated after continued absences from work to care for his terminally ill mother. The tribunal rejected the employer’s claims that the employee’s absences were having a negative effect on the performance. Best practices • Avoid offering compassionate care accommodation on a case-by-case basis. A formal policy ensures the policy will be provided consistently across the organization. • Where possible, a compassionate care policy should include provisions for flexible work hours or work- from-home arrangements. • When an employee returns to work after providing compassionate care, it’s appropriate to ask if they have discussed their loss with colleagues and to provide coworkers with information about how to support a grieving co-worker (often available from local funeral directors). • Understand that grieving is not a linear process: Bereaved employees may still be grieving a year after returning to work. Ultimately, compassionate care policies tell an employee that the organization is there for them and that they don’t have to make the choice between their job and providing end-of-life care to a loved one. Duff McCutcheon is Communications Specialist with the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA)– Canada’s largest HR association and the regulator of the HR profession in Ontario. HR ISSUES As By Duff McCutcheon HOW DO I SAVE $184,000 IN TAXES WHEN I SELL MY BUSINESS? THE LIFETIME CAPITAL GAINS EXEMPTION You may have heard of the exemption, but when an offer to purchase your business is made, are you properly structured to be eligible for the exemption? The partners of Kreston GTA can help. We are an experienced firm of Chartered Professional Accountants that advise businesses throughout their life cycle. Whether you need to structure your business for sale, or just need help setting up your business, we are there to provide strategic support. Contact Spence Walker to set up a consultation. krestongta.com | 905.474.5593 | 8953 Woodbine Avenue, Markham, Ontario A member of Kreston International | A global network of independent accounting firms Compassionate Care Policies: Care for Caregivers
- 12. The VOICE Winter 2014 12 seems easy, right? Just choose which social networks you want to appear on and then post away! Wrong. Unfortunately, many businesses have taken the approach of tactic before strategy and the results are, not surprisingly, poor. A tactical approach to social media lacks focus, approach, and direction, which are the crucial first steps you need to drive your business’ success. Think of social media as another marketing tactic much like your website, advertising, special promotions, and campaigns. All your marketing tactics need to be held together to keep your positioning and messaging consistent. I am sure you wouldn’t send out a postcard mailer and expect good results if your clients are all online, so too, we need to understand where your audience is, and how you can consistently engage them online via networking sites. To do this, you need to look at creating a social media strategy BEFORE you decide on which network to use (Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, etc.). Tactics need to be considered last, not first. Why? Because tactics change. They always do. There was a time when Netscape seemed invincible. Yahoo, too. And how can we forget about MySpace. If you fall in love with tactics, you’ll constantly be changing directions, with no real plan to guide your way. Like any specialized area of your business, it is strongly recommended to engage the services of a strategic marketer to help you create your strategy. You’ll want to make sure your social media strategy is aligned with your overall marketing strategy and includes answers to these five key questions: • What is your relationship with your audience? • How does your audience use social media? • How you’ll deal with unfavourable comments? • What resources will monitor the conversations? • What metrics you are going to use to determine your success? Doug Hohener is the President of CreativeWorks Marketing, a Markham based, international award-winning agency with a trusted, strategic process that delivers proven results. Doug can be reached at 416-653-3053 or via email at dhohener@creativeworksmarketing.ca It Why Do You Need a Social Media Strategy? MARKETING By Doug Hohener ...you need to look at creating a social media strategy BEFORE you decide on which network to use
- 13. The VOICE Winter 2014 13 his year technology became even more entrenched into our lives with the rising popularity of smart-wearable devices. Now a watch isn’t just a watch, it’s an extension of your smartphone. Another area of tech that’s gaining increasing attention is smart-home devices. Whether it’s the temperature you like to set your furnace at or the time you turn the lights on at night, these gadgets study your living habits to personalize every aspect of your home. Spotter At first glance this simple white circular device doesn’t look like it could be very smart. But the Spotter is actually a multi-purpose sensor with almost limitless possibilities for how it’s used. Spotter can monitor a variety of things (including: motion, sound, light, temperature and humidity), and this can all be tracked through your smartphone. Spotter customers have used the device for baby monitoring, security and even washer/dryer notifications. Its uses are really up to your imagination. Price: $49.99 Nest Learning Thermostat Nest is arguably the leading company right now in smart-home technology. Its acquisition by Google has only made interest surrounding Nest grow. The company’s most well-known product is the Nest Learning Thermostat. This sleek, cylindrical, stainless steel device learns your heating and cooling preferences so you don’t have to program it. The thermostat connects to your Wi-Fi network and it can be controlled remotely through your smartphone. Nest also has a range of smart products (including a smoke and CO2 detector, alarm system and garage door opener), as well as partnerships with Mercedes and other companies so you can keep tabs on your smart-home devices anywhere, even when you’re in your car. Price: $249.99 Philips Hue Personal Wireless Lighting Philips new Hue lighting system redefines what light bulbs can do. On vacation and you want to make it look like someone’s home? Running late from work and don’t want to pull into a dark driveway? Through Philips smart light bulbs and smartphone app you can control your home’s lighting system remotely. The system works through your home’s Wi-Fi connection where you can link up to 50 light bulbs to the Philips smartphone app. Philips says their hue light bulbs use 80 per cent less power than traditional lighting. Bulbs also come in different colours and fit into existing fixtures. Price: Starter Pack – $199.95 (includes three Hue light bulbs and Hue bridge – the device that connects the light bulbs to your Wi-Fi network) Smart Devices for Your Home By Samantha Sim Call: 1-800-268-1677 or 905-773-3394 Email: york.region@on.sja.ca www.sja.ca T TECH
- 14. The VOICE Winter 2014 14 ...to SAVE money ...to GROW my business ...to NETWOR withprospect K s I JOINED... JOIN today! Call Mary Ann 905-474-0730 ext.16 maryann@markhamboard.com www.markhamboard.com BUSINESS BOOKS The Up Side of Down by Megan McArdle Most new products fail. So do most small businesses. And most of us, if we are honest, have experienced a major setback in our personal or professional lives. So what determines who will bounce back and follow up with a home run? If you want to succeed in business and in life, Megan McArdle argues in this hugely thought-provoking book, you have to learn how to harness the power of failure. Dynamic and punchy, Megan McArdle teaches us how to recognize mistakes early to channel setbacks into future success. Made to Stick by Chip Heath Dan Heath Why do some ideas thrive while others die? And how do we improve the chances of worthy ideas? Educators and idea collectors Chip and Dan Heath reveal the anatomy of ideas that stick and explain ways to make ideas stickier. In this fast-paced tour of success stories (and failures), we discover that sticky messages of all kinds – from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to a vision for a new product at Sony – draw their power from the same six traits. The Dip: A little book that teaches you when to quit (and when to stick) by Seth Godin Winners quit fast, quit often, and quit without guilt – until they commit to beating the right Dip for the right reasons. Winners seek out the Dip. They realize that the bigger the barrier, the bigger the reward for getting past it. If you can become number one in your niche, you’ll get more than your fair share of profits, glory, and long-term security. Losers, on the other hand, fall into two basic traps. Either they fail to stick out the Dip or they never even find the right Dip to conquer. This fun little book will help you figure out if you’re in a Dip that’s worthy of your time, effort, and talents. Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger Berger reveals the secret science behind word-of- mouth and social transmission. Learn how a luxury steakhouse found popularity through the lowly cheese-steak, why anti-drug commercials might have actually increased drug use, and why more than 200 million consumers shared a video about one of the seemingly most boring products there is: a blender. If you’ve wondered why certain stories get shared, e-mails get forwarded, or videos go viral, Contagious explains why, and shows how to leverage these concepts to craft contagious content. For more information visit www.markhampubliclibrary.ca FROM THE MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
- 15. The VOICE Winter 2014 15 Thursday, November 20, 2014 • 11:00am – 2:00pm Angus Glen Golf Club 10080 Kennedy Rd (north of Major Mackenzie) WOMEN’S NETWORKING LUNCHEON Markham Board of Trade Members: $45 plus HST Non Members: $65 plus HST Corporate Tables Available Pre-registration required at markhamboard.com or call 905-474-0730 ext. 28 Sponsored by: Boutique Vendors! • Networking! • Swag Bags! Special Guest Speaker Dr. Joey Shulman Cityline’s Nutrition Weight Loss Expert and National Best Selling Author Book Signing after the Presentation! Reserve your seats today!
- 16. The VOICE Winter 2014 16 Does your Disaster Recovery plan go something like this? There are two types of companies: those that have experienced a disaster, and those that will. Which one will you be? Contact Mid-Range 1-877-940-1814. If your IT systems went down, would your organization be able to get them up and running again within a time- frame that meets your business requirements? A natural disaster, technical interruption, even human error could bring your enterprise to a screeching halt. Mid-Range, along with partners Vision Solutions and IBM, has what it takes to get you back to business. Our comprehensive Disaster Recovery and High Availability solutions are designed to protect your business, give you peace of mind, and save you money. www.midrange.ca
- 17. The VOICE Winter 2014 17 Risk Management: Be prepared in 3 key areas ou have worked hard to accumulate your assets, so it’s important that you take precautions to protect it from the various risks that are a part of life. When it comes to protecting your wealth, there are three primary risks that you should plan for. Here are some ways to get ahead of the risk – so you can sleep better at night. 1. Risk of lawsuit Protecting your assets from lawsuits is not about defrauding legitimate creditors – it’s about segregating your assets using common and legal strategies at a time when you have no existing or foreseeable claims. In addition to any professional, business, car or house liability insurance you can purchase, the following are some typical strategies to protect your assets: • Gifts. Although giving assets to a family member reduces the amount of assets you have that are subject to creditors, it also increases the assets subject to the family member’s creditors. Furthermore, other than gifts to a spouse, the gift is considered a sale at market value for Canadian tax purposes, potentially triggering a taxable capital gain. • Trusts. Transferring assets to a trustee of a formal trust results in a loss of legal ownership and some control of the funds, thus reducing your assets subject to creditors. However you may also be subject to capital gains/loss taxation. So you need to be confident that the trustee is someone who will protect and manage your assets in your best interests. Consider a corporate trustee for this purpose due to their reputation and expertise in managing trust assets. Offshore trusts may provide greater creditor protection than domestic trusts due to a specific country’s creditor protection laws and the potential unwillingness of a domestic creditor to chase after assets in a foreign jurisdiction. • Life insurance. Based on provincial laws and court precedents, if an insurance policy is structured properly, the investment component of an insurance policy is not subject to creditors. • Holding companies. If you are a business owner and you have accumulated surplus assets in your business that are not needed for operating expenses, then consider transferring these assets to a holding company. This can help protect the assets from the operating company’s creditors. 2. Risk of market downturns Diversification is one of the golden rules of investing to reduce your risk of losing capital due to market downturns. Traditionally, diversification has meant allocating your assets between the three main asset classes (cash, fixed income and equities) as well as between different geographic areas and sectors of the economy. More and more people with $1 million-plus investment portfolios are considering alternative investments for further diversification to protect assets and boost returns. Speak to your advisor about different alternative investment options such as hedge funds, segregated funds and principal-protected structured notes. 3. Risk of income loss If you become disabled or die, are you confident that your family will have adequate financial resources to maintain their lifestyle? Adequate disability and life insurance coverage should be a top priority when it comes to planning your finances. Without the proper coverage, you risk rapidly depleting assets you have worked so hard to accumulate and having a much lower standard of living. You should also have a discussion with your insurance advisor on the costs and benefits of critical illness and long-term care insurance, which are becoming increasingly necessary as more people survive illnesses and diseases than ever before, and require additional care and financial support as a result. This article is provided by Sunil Heda, CPA, an Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Member CIPF, and is for information purposes only. Please consult with a professional advisor before taking any action based on information in this article. Sunil can be reached at 416-571-0369 or via email at sunil.heda@rbc.com By Sunil Heda Y canada’s plan FOR EMplOYEE BEnEFITs The Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan® gives you affordable, flexible insurance options, unbeatable guarantees, and value-added benefits. see why over 25,000 business owners selected this plan! You have worked hard to accumulate your assets, so it’s important that you take precautions to protect it from the various risks that are a part of life.
- 18. The VOICE Winter 2014 18 Web 2.0: Safety and Security Concerns (cont’d from page 8) The lesson in all of this is to keep a rotating set of passwords. Ironically, Vittorio suggests keeping a notebook with all your usernames and passwords, logging it each time you create a new account, and changing your passwords on a consistent basis. This is extremely important for small businesses as well, especially those who use cloud- based software. For organizations with less than 20 employees it doesn’t make sense to invest in private-cloud systems. Therefore, many of these businesses use public cloud networks, which are fine, but security is something that everyone must be cognizant about. Cloud-based technologies and dumb mobile devices becoming the norm isn’t a question of if, it’s just a matter of when. “There’s no either route at this point, says Vittorio. “The tech industry has done a good job converting people. Each day we’re trading more of our data for more access online. It’s either you get on board, or get left behind.” oliday season is fast approaching and it’s the time of year many companies gather staff together for celebration. If your team is looking for something that’s a bit out of the box, we have a few ideas for a memorable holiday party. 1. Paintlounge Ideal For: Small groups (5–10 people) Located: 118 Main Street, Markham ON (Paintlounge has an additional two locations in Toronto/GTA) Feeling artistic? Paintlounge offers “social painting” parties for corporate teams looking to add a creative flair to their get together. The idea is that team members can get to know each other better while painting in a casual environment. There are different party options for corporate teams; packages include group-style or solo-style painting. Parties can also choose a set painting design that an instructor will provide step-by- step instruction for, ensuring all members leave with a their very own masterpiece. Cost: $22.50–$40.00/guest (Some packages have a minimum number of guests. See www.paintlounge.ca for details on corporate rates) 2. Rock Climbing Ideal For: Small groups Located: Hub Climbing (165 McIntosh Dr., Markham) For the outdoorsy group rock climbing might be the perfect way for a team to bond and build morale. Markham’s Hub Climbing has 18,000 square feet of rock walls for climbers of all levels. No climbing experience is necessary and staff will be assigned to assist during the party to ensure a safe experience. Cost: Contact Hub Climbing at 905-604-4588 for corporate rates 3. Sgt. Splatters Paintball Ideal For: Small to larger groups (10–60+ people) Located: 54 Wingold Ave., North York This option is definitely for high-energy, adventurous groups. Sgt. Splatters offers corporate party packages for teams looking for a unique teambuilding activity. Have departmental teams duke it out or mix up the pairings so unfamiliar colleagues get to know each other. There’s even the option of hosting a mini-tournament with prizes and trophies. Cost: $15–30/person (The larger your party, the smaller the cost per person. Email Sgt Splatters Corporate Events Manager for further details sarge@sgtsplatters.com) 4. Mixology/Bartending Workshop Ideal For: Any size group Located: Various organizations across Toronto and GTA. Often they will come to wherever you’re located Bond with colleagues while enjoying great drinks and learning about the art of mixology. Mixology and bartending workshops are a great way for teams to break the ice (literally and figuratively). Add an element of competition by having teams put their new knowledge to the test to see who can create the tastiest concoction. Cost: Varies 5. Battleaxe Throwing League (BATL) Ideal For: Small to larger groups (A minimum of 12 people is required) Located: Three locations across Toronto and GTA. Check www.batl.ca for details. Just like paintballing and rock climbing, this option is for teams that are looking for something out of the ordinary. Events receive a private throwing area where staff will be on hand to provide coaching and target practice before the group playoff tournament. Parties can also bring drinks and food for their guests. Cost: $40/person 6. Teambuilding With Wine (The Wine Sisters) Ideal For: Small to larger groups Located: Varies. Depends on the type of event. The Wine Sisters offer corporate parties where guests learn the basics of wine tasting and food pairings, all while sampling some great drinks. In addition, the Wine Sisters have an event planning service, which does all sizes of parties, and they also provide guided wine tours for private groups of up to 50 people. Cost: Check out thewinesisters.com for more details on corporate rates 7. Corporate Cooking Competitions (Richmond Hill Culinary Arts Centre) Ideal For: Contact culinaryarts@rogers.com for details Located: 1550 16th Ave., Richmond Hill Does your office love food? The Richmond Hill Culinary Arts Centre offers corporate team building events, where guests can boost their cooking prowess. The Iron Chef Challenge lets teams feel like contestants on the reality-TV show. The culinary arts centre’s version even includes a mystery box challenge where teams are presented with a random food item during the competition, which they must incorporate into their dishes. A three-course dinner is served at the end of the event and winners are announced over dessert. Cost: Contact culinaryarts@ rogers.com for details on corporate rates H Cool Yule Tips: Your holiday party planner By Samantha Sim
- 19. The VOICE Winter 2014 19 Thank you to our Sponsor: HAVE YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY WITH US! Turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9 • 12:00 p.m. York Downs Golf Country Club Cost: $50 +HST (members) $75 +HST (non-members) REGISTER NOW! online: www.markhamboard.com email: vtran@markhamboard.com • call: 289-844-3025 Please bring an unwrapped toy or food bank donation Entertainment by Pianist Robert Scott
- 20. MBT SALUTES SMALL The VOICE Winter 2014 20 CREATIVE DESIGN PRINTING BINDERY FINISHING Tel: 905.415.2799 info@stellar-print.com 2651 John St, Unit 6, Markham, ON L3R 2W5 905.642.0054 canmarkcommunications.com 11 Allstate Parkway, Suite 206 Markham, Ontario L3R 9T8 Tel: 905.415.8800 Fax: 905.415.8875 Tol Free: 1.888.415.8802 HARRIS ASSOCIATES BOOKKEEPING SERVICES Specializing in Bookkeeping, QuickBooks Training and T1 Tax Returns Yvonne Harris yvonne@bookkeepingsupport.ca 58 Lincoln Green Drive Markham ON L3P 1R7 Tel: 905-948-0009 Fax: 905-948-9993 Hugo Pacific Commercial Centre 3601 Hwy 7 E. HSBC Tower, 10th Floor, Suite 1005, Markham L3R 0M3 905-305-7800
- 21. BUSINESS The VOICE Winter 2014 21 Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Sunil Heda, cpa Investment Advisor RBC Dominion Securities 416-571-0369 | sunil.heda@rbc.com | www.rbcds.com/sunil.heda WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS 16th Ave Animal Hospital 905-554-7210 Allegoro Communications www.allegorocommunications.com Ann’s Flowers www.annsflowers.ca Assante Capital Management Ltd. www.marylouheenan.com Beehaf Network www.beehaf.com B-Line Technical Services Inc. www.b-line.ca Bluesky Technology Partners www.blueskytp.com Booked Solid 416-816-4302 Change Connect Inc. www.changeconnect.ca Daniel Zanzonico–Vincent Cottone Freedom 55 Financial/Quadrus Investment Services freedom55financial.com Donorworx Inc. www.donorworx.com FileBank IT www.filebankit.com Folco’s Ristorante www.folcos.com Hampton Inn Suites by Hilton Toronto-Markham www.markhamhamptoninandsuites.com Holistic Acupuncture Clinic www.drtomfungclinic.ca HSBC Canada www.hsbc.ca Intelletto Technologies Inc. www.intelletto.com International Alliance Traders Inc. www.alliancetraders.ca J. Addison School www.addisonschool.com Liberty Tax Service 1-800-790-3863 Lifetime Music Learning Studio 416-769-8685 Markville Chevrolet Buick GMC www.markvillechevrolet.com Mi5 Digital Communications Inc. www.mi5print.com nvision Solutions www.nvisionsolutions.ca Officescape www.canada.officescape.com/markham Physiobility www.physiobility.com Pop-A-Lock of Toronto and York Region www.popalock.ca/pop-a-lock-toronto- york-region Ripplepak www.ripplepak.com Silver Leaf Day Spa Skin Rejuvenation Clinic www.silverleafdayspa.ca Stouffville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram SRT www.stouffvillechryslerdodgejeepram.com Teqtronix International Inc. www.teqtronix.com
- 22. The VOICE Winter 2014 22 CorporatePremier 2014 Business Excellence Awards Women’s Networking Luncheon Breakfast Networking Series Mayor’s Lunch Bell • City of Markham Weins Canada Inc. (formerly Don Valley North Automotive Group) Minken Employment Lawyers (Reception Sponsor) Christmas Lunch Weins Canada Inc. (formerly Don Valley North Automotive Group) Hole: ALS Canada • Ashgrove Spa • CanMark Communications City of Markham • Cushman Wakefield Ltd. Dixon-Garland Funeral Home • Jiffy Lube • Longo’s Boxgrove M.I.T. Consulting • POI Business Interiors Inc. Rai Grant Insurance Brokers • RBC Insurance – Sandra Maikawa Stouffville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram SRT Stouffville Hyundai Equus • Team Tilden – RE/MAX Realtron Wilson Vukelich LLP • Zigomanis Commercial Realty Inc., Brokerage Golf Day Platinum Gold Decor After-Party Mascot Title Sponsor Title: Scorecard: Putting Contest: Golf Cart: Beverage Cart: Special thanks to our 2014 Sponsors
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- 24. A Premier Experience TRADITIONAL BY DESIGN, SPECTACULAR BY NATURE For those seeking an exclusive private club and world-class golf course, Granite Golf Club’s controlled membership ensures easy access to the tees. Escape the city and steal a quiet moment in our clubhouse or enjoy a game of golf – whatever your pace and level. Granite Golf Club provides an ideal and picturesque refuge from a busy, urban lifestyle. It is well worth the short drive. membership@granitegolfclub.ca GraniteGolfClub.ca • 905-642-4416 Stouffville Ontario