August, 2015


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The Voice of Business in Saskatchewan

action! online In this issue...

• The summer of the Big Fires • Weyburn JA company wins national award • Members in the News ... and more!

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d 2015 e , t s u g Au

Members of Palletable Projects at a Junior Achievement tradeshow in December 2014. Palletable Projects recently took home the 2015 Canadian Chamber of Commerce Company of the Year Award. Social Media www.facebook.com/saskchamber www.twitter.com/SaskChamber

Get in Touch Tel: 306.352.2671 Email: [email protected]

Table of Contents 3

CEO’s Message

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Dates to Remember

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Photo: Dinner with Canadian Ambassador to Ireland

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Weyburn JA company wins national award

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CCPPP Conference

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SATCC Awards

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Advocacy in Action

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Members in the News

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Membership Central

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CEO’s Message 2015 - The Summer of the Big Fires

While I wanted to say something about the “Orange Summer” in this month’s column, I thought I would leave that line for the Alberta folks… on a more serious front, I’d like to address the issue of this summer’s forest fires. Considering the incredible challenge our province saw with fires, and especially for the 13,000 or so people who were evacuated from their communities, this was an issue that was definitely in the forefront. Some of those evacuees endured a two week (or longer) stay away from the comforts of their homes. Add in the factor of residents not knowing the condition of their houses and communities, and you have a real recipe for stress – and business wasn’t unscathed, either. The majority of business people from the 34 communities evacuated were left to trust in the good work of the fire crews and in their prayers to the weather gods that they would return to their communities and see them much as they left them. Unfortunately, some would only see charred remains, but considering the size and number of fires it is truly a blessing that no lives were lost. We must give full credit to the women and men who fought in the fire crews and the logistics services behind them in keeping the fires as well under control as they were. These people worked in very difficult conditions around the

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clock for literally weeks on end so we all owe them a heartfelt ‘Thanks’. The list is long - from the Wildfire Management Branch to The Red Cross, the military and the members of 43 local fire services from across the province (just to name a few). All deserve our thanks. Our Premier, the Leader of the Official Oppositon and several Ministers were onsite often and ensured all that was needed was quickly and easily secured and we acknowledge and appreciate their work. Many businesses were closed and forced to evacuate during these weeks, but others stayed open with only core staff to provide lodging, food, fuel and services to the crews and to ensure these folks were looked after. These people also worked double or triple time to accomplish what was needed. This was truly a Herculean effort and we owe them gratitude for going above and beyond. Many other companies provided assistance directly to the evacuees or to The Red Cross and other agencies. I was also very impressed with the use of social media by both La Ronge Band Chief Tammy Cook Searson and La Ronge Mayor Thomas Sierzycki in keeping not only their residents, but also much of the province informed. They, as well as Mayor Gordon Stomp of Air Ronge and many

CEO’s Message - Continued other leaders from the communities affected did a great job communicating, even while their communities were under great duress. The next phase will be an interesting one. The response to the fires, the number of northern people who were trained to fight fires, and the rule which requires a ‘clear area’ of 20 km around communities have all been discussed in depth and at length. There have been many lessons learned, and a suitable reaction to guide our future steps will come out of this effort; however, I can’t overstate the need to ensure that the business community is at that table while drafting these future plans. Business has both a personal and professional stake in the processes and the outcomes. The fires provided us ith a basis to respond to future fires. For example, in my mind it’s logical to use the military, and we should ensure they have what they need to be prepared to step in, at times when local services are stretched. They are the logical choice - no one else can deliver 1,000 people to a situation like this, fully independent of the host community for food, equipment or accommodation. Much like the National Guard are to the American people, we need to be able to rely on our military when the proverbial “%&*@ hits the fan”, whether it be fire, floods or earth quakes.

would form a long list of people to call into action when needed. I would go one step further and explore a crosstraining program to have people from across the province, trained to fight fires and also to fight floods or other natural disasters in a reserve capacity. We could have brought people into the southeast a few years ago if they were trained in creating sandbag dams or using high volume pumps and so on. They would need to know about a range of tasks and the use of equipment and doing so safely and often in harsh conditions. The line ‘A crisis is too good of thing to waste’ may sound crass but it’s true. We need to ensure we are better off after spending $100 million dollars in fighting these fires. I don’t think a single person in Saskatchewan will begrudge this expenditure, but we need to ensure that where gains can be found that they are secured. It’s important that communities, the public sector, and the business community are aligned on these opportunities so that from the ashes of 2015 we all see clearer skies ahead.

I also see the merit of exploring greater cooperation between forestry companies and fire protection services, to take out stands of trees in areas where fire is likely to hit. Old growth trees are desired by loggers, but are most likely to sustain a fire. Now is the time to put in the effort of getting these ideas into practical application as we can take advantage of the situation of having political attention on the issue of forest fires. There is clearly a need to train local people and even the military to fight forest fires safely and effectively. I think that it’s an obvious and very positive opportunity for Northlands College in La Ronge to become the Canadian centre of excellence for training forest fire fighters. Once people (military or civilians) are trained, they

Links to government information on fire protection http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/firesmart http://tinyurl.com/p3zqx36

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DATES to REMEMBER It’s that time of the year again - yes, ABEX 2015 is getting closer by the day! This year’s theme is “The Glitter of Gold”, so start thinking of ways to incorporate gold into your attire. Date: Saturday, October 24, 2015 Time: 5:00 p.m. Place: TCU Place 35 22nd Street East, Saskatoon And while you’re at it, better hop on over to our website to secure your tickets for the event! Tickets are available now at http://chambermaster.saskchamber.com/events/details/abex-awards-2015-200. They sell out quickly -- don’t miss out! We have reserved a block of hotel rooms for ABEX at the Hilton Garden Inn, at a rate of $189 per night. Call the hotel at 306-244-2311 and ask for the ABEX Group Rate. Cutoff is September 24. _____ Tickets for The Chair’s Invitational Dinner, to be held September 23 in Regina have sold out in record time. If you missed your chance to attend, please remember that Political Forum 2016 has been set for January 14th - watch your emails for event announcements and ticket opportunities!

Sask Chamber CEO Steve McLellan and Mrs. Dovell McLellan attended a dinner at RCMP Depot Division with the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Mr. Kevin Vickers. Pictured L-R are: Assistant Deputy Commissioner Louise LaFrance, Depot CO; Steve McLellan; Heather Dovell McLellan; and Mr. Vickers (a retired RCMP member)

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Weyburn JA Company Wins National Award Palletable Projects, a Junior Achievement company formed by 23 students at Weyburn Comprehensive School, in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, has been selected as the recipient of the 2015 Canadian Chamber of Commerce Company of the Year Award.

on their own,” said their teacher, Margot Arnold. “This JA venture provided the opportunity for my students to learn about all aspects of business. They were anxious and eager to learn all they could about starting and running their own company. With each product created, it inspired the company members The award is based on a number of criteria, including to improve and develop their creative skills, making attendance of team members, even distribution each product more outstanding than the last. It was of sales among all members, teamwork, financial a real-life experience that prepared them for the records and return on investment. world of business.” As students in the Junior Achievement company program, the team had to develop a product or service, name it, market their product and run their venture like a company. The team decided upon unique, custom-made home decor signs, shelves, wall hooks and fire-pit chairs made from barn wood and recycled pallets. The goal of their company, Palletable Projects was to lessen their environmental footprint by using recycled materials. The concept was a hit, generating many sales that returned a cash dividend to each student shareholder and enabled the company to donate $500 to two worthy Weyburn non-profit organizations: The Humane Society and The Family Place. Earlier in June in Regina, the team, led by its student co-presidents Hannah Hextall and Kauron Kooper, was also honoured with Junior Achievement of Saskatchewan awards for Company of the Year, Product Design, and individual awards for Spirit of JA (Jonjie Fellner) and Salesperson of the Year (Emma Chuckry).

Darren Hill, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Saskatchewan, says the national award speaks to the quality of JA programs for elementary and high school students throughout the province. “Our outstanding teachers, advisors and mentors, including businesses and financial institutions, help us deliver unique learning and experiences that inspire and benefit students throughout their lives. More and more forward-thinking communities like Weyburn are asking for these programs, and with the help of our sponsors we are striving to meet that demand.”

Students from the Weyburn Comprehensive School who were involved in Palletable Projects included: Khalil Anderson, Anna Beach, Hailey Boustead, Emma Chuckry, Hailey Clarke, Kauron Cooper, Jamie Deis, Hunter Dugan, Bethea Dultra, Jonjie Fellner, Kyle Frison, Hannah Hextall, Tanner Jensen, Maison Laird, William Ley, Gaege Mallory, Joyce Meija, Zach Neilmeyer, Karina Peterson, Chantel Ross, Austin “It wasn’t hard to motivate and guide the talents of Schlacter, Daylan Swanson, and Logan White. this team as they were highly motivated to succeed

The Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships will once again host its P3 conference, “P3 2015, Ground Breaking Partnerships” on November 2 and 3 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen Street West, Toronto. For more information visit the registration page at http://p32015.ca/Register-Now.

The 2015 Apprenticeship Awards will be held at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina on Friday, October 23. The annual Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission awards presentation and banquet celebrates success through apprenticeship training and trade certification. To become involved, or for more information contact Audrey Wolf-Kaminski at 306.787.5284 before August 30.

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2015 Safe Employer winners RH Electric saw the merits of implementing a formal health and safety program. Photo: Greg Huszar

IS IT YOUR MISSION? The recognition from the Safe Employer Award has meant a lot for us and our business. We all look out for each other, but you don’t always notice when there aren’t incidents. This award validates the hard work that goes into our safety program. Jason Hrywkiw 2015 Safe Employer Winner RH Electric

Proud of your safety success? Know an inspirational Safe Worker? Apply for the 2016 WorkSafe Saskatchewan Safe Worker and Safe Employer Awards, visit www.worksafesask.ca Apply for the 2016 WorkSafe Safe Worker and Employer Awards. Deadline is October 30, 2015

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ADVOCACY in ACTION By Curtis Hemming, Director of Government Relations

Federal election season is now upon us and with a campaign that will be historically lengthy, there will be plenty of opportunities for the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce to meet with federal MPs and candidates as they seek support from the business community. While many of the SCC’s policy resolutions are provinciallyoriented, we are looking forward to working with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, as well as other provincial and city Chambers across the country, as we collectively advocate for changes that will be beneficial to businesses throughout Canada. The next eight months are going to be particularly busy for the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce because following the federal election on October 19 there will also a provincial

election next April. During every election we put a significant amount of time and money into promoting the views of Saskatchewan’s business community so that all of the candidates, and the public are kept informed on our positions and we are continuing to do that over the summer. Over the summer, even though many politicians have returned home to their ridings, we are continuing to meet with them informally at barbecues and other summer events, as well as through formal meetings with the Ministers who must remain here in Regina. With the reality of having two elections within a seven month period, we are going to be doing a lot more work with the media to make sure your voice is heard amidst all of the campaigning. During the summer months we will also continue

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ADVOCACY in ACTION (cont’d) to promote our provincial/federal election strategy document called OnTrack 2016, which was released to local chambers on May 6 at our annual Conference on Business, as well as hold policy roundtables in new locations around the province. To continue having prudent positions on issues to discuss with politicians however, it is important that we continue to conduct research on issues

BUSINESS INDUSTRY + DINNERS 2015

of importance to our members. As always, if you have any thoughts about what future research projects the Sask Chamber should be looking at, please contact our office and let us know. While much of the research we do is based upon issues that have been previously identified in policy resolutions or advocacy initiatives, there are always opportunities for us to explore new issues that we have not focused on in the past.

Save these dates for networking with future employees: PRINCE ALBERT Wednesday, November 4 REGINA Thursday, November 12

SASKATOON Thursday, November 19 MOOSE JAW Thursday, November 26

Click for sponsorship and ticket information.

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For Saskatchewan Chamber members

Members in The News By Elissa LaLiberte, Director of Membership Engagement



The University of Saskatchewan announced a new bursary called Saskatchewan Youth from Care Bursary. This new bursary will pay for up to five years in order to help recipients complete their first undergraduate degree. The university has allocated $100,000 annually in order to provide support for up to five students per year. To view more about this new bursary click here.



The University of Saskatchewan has chosen their new President, Dr. Peter Stoicheff. Dr. Stoicheff as been Dean since 2011. His five-year term as President will begin October 24th. Dr. Stoicheff is taking over from Gordon Barnhart, who has been the interim president since May 2014.



Two Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce members were announced as finalists for the 2015 Prairies EY Entrepreneur of the Year. Please join us in congratulating Shane Olson of Shercom Industries and Shaun Semple of Brandt Group of Companies. The Prairies winner will be announced in October

2015. Both of these finalists are extremely deserving and we wish them the best. Click here to learn more about the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award. •

On July 1, 2015 the Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable David Johnston announced 100 new appointments to the Order of Canada. The Order of Canada is one of Canada’s highest civilian honours, it recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Paul James Hill, of The Hill Companies was recognized for his achievements as a business leader and for his generous contributions to community and education initiatives. More information about the Order of Canada Appointments can be found here.



We would like to give a shout out to our members who dedicated time and resources to helping those evacuated from the North due to the wildfires. We wish we could name them all, but the list is endless – thank you, thank you, thank you!

The 35th Annual TERRY FOX RUN for Cancer Research

SUNDAY September 20, 2015

1 888 836-9786 terryfox.org

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MEMBERSHIP Central

By Jesse Chatterson, Director of Membership Sales

Welcome to our new members! Serafina Energy Ltd. Calgary www.serafinaenergy.com

Canada Capital Energy Corporation Calgary www.capitalenergy.ca

Stealth Interactive Media Saskatoon www.stealthinteractive.ca

TransCanada Pipelines Calgary www.transcanada.com

Urban Systems Ltd. Saskatoon www.urbansystems.ca

The North West Company Winnipeg www.northwest.ca

Thanks to our returning members! Thank you to our members who renewed last month! Your continued support of the Chamber movement makes it possible for us to achieve on your behalf, and we want you to know we appreciate you as members! • • • •

Horizon Computer Solutions CAPP Western Alfalfa Milling Meridian Manufacturing Inc.

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• • • • • • • • • • • • •

HCL Construction SaskWater University of Saskatchewan Got Mold Custom Truck Sales Vern’s Pump House Benson Trithard Noren Balgonie Holsteins Anderson Pump House Dakota Dunes Golf Links Pacific & Western Bank Postmedia Network Van Heerden Medical PC

• • • • • • • • • • •

Redvers Agricultural & Supply Econo Lumber Yorkton Dodge Meridian Surveys Fabmar Communications Parkland College EECOL Electric Corp. Saskatoon Canadian Digital Network Dr. Radevski Scotiabank Concentra Financial

action! online is a monthly membership e-publication of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.

CHAMBER STAFF Steve McLellan CEO [email protected]

Kristin McKee Director of Policy Development [email protected]

Jesse Chatterson Director of Member Services [email protected]

Marilyn Leier Administrative Assistant [email protected]

Curtis Hemming Director of Government Relations [email protected]

Elissa LaLiberte Director of Membership Engagement [email protected]

Cindy Wright Director of Special Events [email protected]

Libbey Morin Research & Policy Analyst [email protected]

Dawn M. Barker Director of Communications [email protected]

CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair - Randy Beattie (PFM Capital Inc.) 1st Vice-Chair - Shawna Nelson (Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon) 2nd Vice-Chair - Patricia Warsaba (McKercher LLP) Immediate Past-Chair - Bruce Anderson (b-creative group)



Directors Trina Warren (MNP LLP) Greg Hanwell (Beer Bros. Gastropub & Deli) Ricardo Silva (Quickthree Solutions) Sean Young (Young’s Equipment) Monica Kreuger (Global Infobrokers Inc.) Kendal Netmaker (Neechie Gear) Peter Clarke (Seed Hawk Inc.) Clayton Veresh (Deloitte LLP) Michael Cossar (Federated Co-operatives)

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