comox valley business gazette august/september 2012
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THE COMOX VALLEY
APRIL 2011
GBAUG/SEPT 2012
New ‘HospitalityCommunity’ takesoff in Comox Valley
New opportunities lie under the ocean for research, conservation and growth
Business owners inthe Comox Valley’shospitality industry
have joined forces in agrassrootseffort to promote theValley and all ithas to offer. The stated
objective ofthe newComox ValleyHospitalityCommunity(CVHC) is to raise the pro-file of hospitality servicesavailable in the region,including local events,attractions and activities. Comprised of independ-
ent, locally owned
businesses, the “leader-full” group will focus onworking together toachieve common goals.
“It’s a factthat, to date,there has notbeen a lot ofcommunica-tion betweenthe varioushospitalitybusinesses inthe Valley, bethey accommo-
dations, restaurants ortour operators,” saysHaideh Jordan, owner ofBelle Vue B&B and a rep-resentative of the Comox
A "leader-full" group of local business people in the hospitality industry has formed to promote all the great things the ComoxValley has to offer - like Goose Spit. Photo by Derek Vallintine (derekvallintine.com)
Nancy Miller, Business Gazette
Dan Bowen, Green Ocean Sea Cucumbers
Kassandra Dycke, NDP Candidate for the Comox Valley and Adrian Dix, leader of the BritishColumbia New Democratic Party outside North Island College.
British Columbia haslong enjoyed anabundance of fresh
seafood from its coastalwaters. However, with many wild
species stocks now declining at an increasingrate, as seen in thesalmon, herring and codfisheries, new conserva-tion, enhancement andfarming initiatives haveevolved to help ease thisdownward trend. The wild fishery of BC’s
Giant Red sea cucumber,which is exported to Asianmarkets for its high protein value and medicinal use, is alsodeclining. Our ComoxValley-based team, withexpertise in maricultureand aquatic research, hasrecently proposed a sea
cucumber pilot project inBaynes Sound to addressthis particular concern. It is time to start
implementing sustainableaquaculture practices forharvesting our native seacucumbers. Working withDFO, BC LandTenures andVancouverIslandUniversity’sDeep BayMarine FieldStation, wehave puttogether acomprehensivesea cucumbermanagementplan thataddresses the project’slocal environmental, socialand economic impact.Global pressure to find
alternativeand sustainablesources oflow-cost protein ismakingaquacultureone of theworld’sfastest-growingindustries,and BC hasbecome aleader in theresearch anddevelopmentof innovativeaquaculturepractices.Demand foraquacultureproductscontinues toincrease and,with our proximity to
In June, BC NDP leaderAdrian Dix hosted a dis-cussion at North Island
College. We wanted toknow what he’d do to helpsmall businesses succeed.Here’s what he said:“First, by listening and
hearing what some of the problems are; it’s one of the reasons I had this meeting. “Here are a few things:
one, I think we need tooffer stability. So we needto tell people what we’regoing to do before theelection and not changethings all the time. TheHST, whatever everyonethinks about it, disruptedthe BC economy for fouryears. So we have to letpeople know what we’redoing beforehand; stabilityis important because youneed to plan. And whenyou’re in business you really need to plan. “Secondly, government is
a big spender in communi-ties; it needs to ensurethat it benefits local smallbusinesses. Right now,often the relationship
between small businessand government is therelationship of the ‘regula-tor’ and ‘the person whohas to deal with all the reg-ulations.’ A governmentshould try and use its purchasing to support localsmall business, whetherthat’s through capitalexpenditure or operatingexpenditure. Food in hospitals is an example.The Comox Valley is a goodagricultural area and couldsupport local agriculture.You have to use the toolsyou have.
“I think we should havehigh standards; high environmental standards.But we have to get to decisions more quickly — Ithink that would make iteasier for a lot of people.Sometimes we haveprocesses where people
are stuck in limbo for waytoo long. If the communityis fighting a project theyspend a lot of energy fighting it, so we need tohave high standards and away to enforce them. “Finally, and this is really
important, we need tomake sure young peoplehave the skills they needfor the jobs of the future,because one of the impediments to peoplegrowing in communities isthe lack of skilled labour,often. And young peopletoday haven’t got access tothe post-secondary education they need to getthe jobs of the future, andto be the entrepreneurs ofthe future. “Those are things we can
do; just little things. Inwine and agriculture tobreak down barriers; toallow local wineries, forexample, to sell across thecountry. I’ve been workingon that issue and ensuringpeople buy local, and thatthe tourism industry controls its own advertising again in BC.”
How would Dix support small business?
See ‘Tourism’ Pg. 4
“We're workingtogether to make abigger pie versus
competing to get abigger piece of the
pie.”
growing markets, this project has the potentialto create a tremendouseconomic opportunity forthe Comox Valley. There isgreat potential for expan-sion to meet worldwideshortfall.A 2002 report on the BC
shellfish industry, which islocated mostlyin BaynesSound, statedthat it account-ed for $66 million in economic output and956 direct andindirect jobs. Additionally,
78 cents ofevery dollar
spent in direct industrypurchases remains in thelocal economy.Renowned marine biolo-
gist Jacques Cousteauonce said, “We must plant the sea and herd its animals, using the sea as farmers instead of hunters.” That is what this sea
cucumber ranching project is about. The seedfrom native Baynes Soundsea cucumbers will begrown in a local hatchery.Juveniles will then beplanted on tenures indeep sub-tidal waters, togrow undisturbed in oyster shell refuge nurs-eries for eight months.Sea cucumbers are har-vested in the second year. Of the proposed tenure
area, only one per centwill be used for the deepwater nurseries. The restof the area will remainuntouched and allow forDan Bowen is one of the applicants behind
two proposed sea cucumber tenures inBaynes Sound. ww.GreenOceanSeaCucumbers.com See ‘Sea Cukes’ Pg. 4
“... JacquesCousteau oncesaid, ‘We mustplant the sea and herd its animals...’”
“A governmentshould try and use its purchasing to
support local smallbusiness.”
Page 2 Comox Valley Business Gazette — Aug/Sept 2012
www.businessgazette.caThe Comox Valley Business Gazette is delivered eight times per year to every business address in the Comox Valley.
Associate Publisher: Jim McQuillan Executive Editor: Ryan Parton
Advertising Inquiries: 250.897.5064 / 250.702.1103 or [email protected]
Editorial inquiries: [email protected]
Left Coast Publishing. 2440 B First Street, Courtenay BC, V9N 8X9
The opinions, ideas and advice of columnists and contributors to the Comox Valley Business Gazetteare theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper.
WordStreet
onthe
“Return the 2009-2011 CCA class wherecomputers/dataprocessing areFULLY taxdeductible in theyear purchased.Computers, tabletsand smartphonesare the backboneof small business,with technologychanging so fastnew models arealmost obsoleteafter a year.”Sherri-Lee Mathers,Balsam WayBookkeeping
“That’s not a simple question. There’s a lotof things that need to be looked at.”
Mark Duncan, Union Street Grill & Grotto
“I work with tech and government clients acrossCanada and the States. I’ve seen success whenfederal governments boost funding for start ups,and I’ve seen growth when local governmentsinvest to attract knowledge industry companies bysupporting - even in principle - tech park facilities orincubator programs for small business.” MarciHotsenpiller, ZINC Strategies
“I’m a proud supporter of ‘buy local.’ As part of that, I think allVancouver Island municipalities should use local suppliers as part ofa greater sustainability strategy.” MartinHagarty, Martin Hagarty Architect Ltd.
“Reduce the commercial propertytax rate. It’s quite high comparedto residential. If property taxes arelower, overall costs are lower, andthat frees up money to hire morestaff.” Marg, Hitec Screen Printing
“I worked for government for 37 years but I didn’t real-ize until I got to the business side how onerous the
paperwork is. If they could do something to streamlineit, or somehow make it more user friendly and easier to
find what you need, that would be helpful.” NormaDean, Off the Loom Custom Weaving
“1. Pursue a more competitive tax structure
2. Continue to simplifyand streamline the
regulatory environment.Small biz is the backbone of the
B.C. economy, after all... Itneeds to be an ongoing priority
for government at all levels.”Jennifer Emslie Uptown Yarns
Question of the Month:“How can government help small business?”
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Comox Valley Business Gazette — Aug/Sept 2012 Page 3
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New rules set out bythe CanadianMortgage and
Housing Corporation(CMHC) directly impactanyone requiring a mort-gage for more than 80 percent of a property’s value.Indirectly, they affect theentire market by puttingdownward pressure onproperty values. The most significant
change is the reducedmaximum amortization,from 30 years to 25. This change significantly
lowers the maximum purchase price for mostbuyers.It will make it more
difficult for first time buyers to get into the market, and for those currently living in a“starter home” to upgradeto their “forever home.” A family with a household
income of $60k and noother debts, for example,could comfortably qualifyfor a mortgage of $320kwith a 30-year amortization, but now willonly be able to support amortgage of $285k with a25-year amortization.That’s $35k less purchasing power practically overnight. If you have any questions
about your own purchas-ing power, give me a call.
Find today’s rates online atcomoxmortgages.com. Fora free personalized quotecall Mackenzie at250.331.0800.
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New CMHC mortgage rulesmean less purchasing power
Island Technologies expanding
The One PageBusiness Plan
Just a couple of weeksago I finished my first-ever One Page
Business Plan, and it wasamazing! In fact, I foundthis new business-planning tool so helpfulthat I’m devoting thisissue’s entire column tosharing it with you. Sure, I’ve done business
plans before — haven’t weall? Pages andpages that,quite frankly,have a certain‘blah blahblah’ component. Yes, business
plans are use-ful — essential,in fact. But intoday’s super-busy,information-rich and fast-changing businessworld, who really has timeto write such a complexdocument — let aloneread it and use it as anongoing guide?Author and business
consultant Jim Horanoffers a great alternativein his book The One PageBusiness Plan, which Iused as my guide for myown hyper-truncated plan.The One Page Business
Plan (the document you’llcreate, not the book) hasa clear, simple structure:five sections, each withfive or six bulleted points.The first section lays outyour vision: what you wantto be and the businessyou want to create. The
next section is your mission, or why you dowhat you do.The third section lays
out your objectives, or theresults you’re trying toachieve. These need to beconcrete and measurable,such as “to build a milliondollar business in twoyears.”The next section is your
strategies, or how youplan to get to the finalresult, and the final section is your action plan- what specifically you’regoing to do to tomorrowreach your objectives. The resulting document
is very tight, very well-organized and very visually effective. It’s easyto consult, easy to changeand easy to refer to asyou move forward with
your business. It’sshort, to thepoint and dis-penses withall jargon.While I love
the result, Ialso got a lotout of theprocess ofcreating it.The need forbrevity really
forced me to focus — Ithought about it a lot andput at least eight hoursinto the actual work.In case you decide to
create your own One PageBusiness Plan, an exercise I highly recommend, here are acouple of tips based onwhat I’ve learned:
1. Don’t plan morethan one or two years intothe future. You can holdyour long-term vision inyour mind, but if you plan that far out you’llnever do it. This is a planning tool that getsyou doing things.
2. Put it in writing.
Ann Scott, Presley &Partners CharteredAccountants
“The One PageBusiness Plan
confirms both yourclarity... and your
confusion!”
Staying in the realm ofthinking allows you tokeep things vague.Putting things into wordsbrings a discipline thatpushes you toward clarityand accuracy. A quote from the book
itself says it all: “The OnePage Business Plan doessomething outrageous —it causes very busy peo-ple to stop and think. Asthey start to write... it confirms both their clarityand their confusion!”
Ann Scott is a charteredaccountant, businessadviser and a partner with Presley & PartnersChartered Accountants.She can be reached at250.338.1394 [email protected].
Island Technologies, a local comput-er manufacturer and reseller, justdoubled in size. “We were cramped
and bursting at the seams,” saysowner Rick Asselin. “When the next-door tenant left, the landlord made us
‘an offer we can’t refuse!’” The newside, he says, is for sales, leaving theold side for service — which is busy.“Lots of viruses,” says Asselin. “Makesure you update your antivirus regu-larly!” Rick adds that he can beat big
box stores on items like laser printertoner by 20 per cent. Congratulations,Rick and Andy — two great guys whoknow computers. Island Technologiescan be reached at 250.334.3825 orvisit www.islandtechnologies.bc.ca
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8 — Guaranteed Approval: With three or morefull-time people, you can choose options that guar-antee coverage to you and your employees.
7 — Guaranteed Renewable: The ChambersPlan guarantees your firm can renew coverage aslong as you pay your premium each month.
6 — Rate Stability: Claims are averaged overmore than 20,000 companies just like yours.Higher than usual claims one year? You won’t besingled out for a price increase.
5 — Not-for-Profit: The Chambers Plan operatesunder the direction of the not-for-profit ChamberInsurance Corporation of Canada, by Chamberpeople, for Chamber people.
4 — Outstanding Service: The plan’s service cen-tre works in concert with your exclusive, localChambers Plan agent to give you answers to allyour questions.
3 — Fast, Accurate Payments: Most health anddental claims turn around under 48 hours. You canalso opt for pharmacy card and electronic dentalclaim submission, even direct deposit to employeebank accounts.
2 — You Choose the Coverage: Every firm par-ticipating in the Chambers Plan has a customgroup benefit program, based on the coveragesyou, the owner, select.
1 — You Control the Cost: Why pay for a pack-age with benefits you don’t want when you cancustomize? Customization puts you in control soyou get top value for your dollar.
Small businesses. Self-employed entrepreneurs. Homebased companies. Year-round farms and ranches.
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Your local benefit planexpert, Darren Kardynal
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Comox Valley Business Gazette — Aug/Sept 2012 Page 4
Printer - con’t from pg. 1
Strategies and templates for small town success
Chemainus welcomesthe world to itsdoorstep as it hosts
the 8th Global MuralConference (GMC).For four days in
September the conferencewelcomes economic development executives,tourism boards, municipalCEOs and decision makers,artists and painters toexplore methods to createa competitive edge in economic development and tourism utilizing thearts and culture. “This conference is not
like all those other eco-nomic development confer-ences you may have heardabout or attended,” saidLou Roelofsen, Co-Chair ofthe 8th GMC. “We have atotally unique approach toeconomic development,which has been successful,and is continuing to beimplemented in our regionand in Chemainus, BC.”
The conference runs Sept.10-13 and draws uponinternational as well asregional expertise fromlocal Vancouver Islandcommunities, includingmunicipal government officials, Randal Huber ofthe highly successfulChemainus TheatreFestival, Dr. Karl Schutzwho spearheaded theChemainus mural program,international artist DanSawatzky, and keynotespeaker Bill Baker, authorand international tourismbranding expert.Baker said cities of all
sizes will have to workharder at marketing themselves and developinga competitive identity.“Chemainus is an excellentexample to experience howpublic art can be used asan economic developmentstrategy,” said Baker. Some points Baker covers
during his keynote address
include: how tourism andpublic art can benefitinvestment; new businessrelocation, and recruitmentof new residents; howsmall cities can increasetheir competitiveness; and,how to get “more bang”from marketing.Chemainus boasts a
booming arts scene whichconverges its history andlocal attractions, andproudly showcases localand international talents.“Against commentary thatsuggested we couldn’t doit, Chemainus has shown itis the Little Town ThatCould. ...and Did,” said Tom Andrews, ChemainusFestival of Murals SocietyPresident. “We are in agood position to sharewhat we have learned.” For Further Information contact Tom Andrews at250.210.2402 or [email protected]. Orvisit www.muraltown.com/globalconference.html
Bill Baker, tourism branding expert, and Lou Roelofsen, GMC Co-Chair and Chemainus Inn GM
Haideh Jordan, owner of Belle Vue B&B, Tricia St. Pierre, ownerof Locals Restaurant started the ball rolling after lamenting thelack of promotion for the region's ever-growing hospitality sector
Valley Bed and BreakfastAssociation. “We are allafter the same thing:enticing people to comeand spend time here.”By communicating, coor-
dinating and combiningparallel marketing initiatives, she says, CVHChopes to increase awareness of the varioushospitality opportunitiesavailable from Bowser toOyster River and the outlying islands.“There’s so much going
on in the Valley, but it’sfragmented,” agrees TriciaSt. Pierre, owner of LocalsRestaurant and a repre-sentative of the NorthVancouver Island ChefsAssociation. “This is notsomething you can expectVancouver Island Tourism,or any government-fundedagency, to keep their finger on the pulse of, interms of the day-to-daygoings on of the Valley.”The idea for the new
group came about in Junewhile Jordan and St.Pierre were lamenting thelack of promotion for theregion’s ever-growing hospitality sector. Theydecided they could eithertalk about it or actually dosomething about it. Opting for the latter, the
two women began discussing the idea with
other associated businesspeople, and before longthe CVHC was born.Just weeks later, the
group’s membershipincluded more than 30business owners, including restaurateurs,accommodation providers,tour operators, wineriesand artists. Organizershad also connected withaboutcomoxvalley.com,a community-driventourism informationwebsite.“The site has been
designed so that locals,tourists and ComoxValley tourism and hos-pitality operators canfind and share information easily,” saysDarcy Lefebvre, thesite’s creator. “Essentially, the web-
site’s role is to act as ahub for all members ofthe hospitality community and beyond.To share informationabout their businesses,local events and attractions in and aroundthe Valley, supporting thephilosophy of businessesworking together to ‘makea bigger pie’ versus competing to ‘get a biggerpiece of the pie.’”“We’re open to a broad
assortment of businesses,and we work on a needs
base rather than a mem-bership base,” explainsJordan. “So while we areworking in concert withorganizations like CVEDS(Comox Valley EconomicDevelopment Society,which handles destinationmarketing for the region),I would say we are morefocused on individuals aswell as networkingamongst ourselves.“Unlike some of the other
tourism promoters,” sheadds, “it’s free to becomea member of our group —you can add your event orbusiness to the websitedirectory for free.”The “Community” plans
to meet again once thebusy summer season haswound down a bit. Thatmeeting, slated forSeptember 18, will comprise discussionaround creating a mastercalendar, a presentationon how the tourism sectorcan utilize the features ofaboutcomoxvalley.comand a brainstorming ses-sion on how best to collectively promote theComox Valley.
“It’s really exciting to seethings develop,” says St.Pierre. “It’s just going tokeep morphing as we allbecome ambassadors tothe whole Valley.”
For more information onthe group, and to getinvolved, visit www.aboutcomoxvalley.com/comox_valley_hospitality_community.
Chef Ronald St. Pierre of Locals Restaurant
the natural movement ofthe sea cucumbers asthey mature. Sea cucum-bers are considered the“earthworms of the sea”and play an important rolein maintaining a healthymarine ecosystem. This pilot project will not
only monitor their growth,but study their sub-tidalhabitat and ways torestore the local kelpbeds.An innovative project like
this, where we’re lookingto introduce “Green OceanConcepts,” takes a greatdeal of time and capital toplan, research and implement. We’re fortunate to have
built a strong team with avision beyond tomorrow.
.For more information, or tofind out how you can sup-port this pilot project, visit
www.GreenOceanSeaCucumbers.com or contact DanBowen at [email protected]
Sea Cukes — con’t from pg. 1
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Aug/Sept 2012 Page 5
Getting your incorporated smallbusiness to fund your retirement
If you’re a small busi-ness owner consideringincorporation, there are
obviously a lot of factorsto take into account. Butjust in case you don’t haveenough to consideralready, here’s one more:retirement planning.When it comes to strate-
gic planning for retire-ment, shareholders ofincorporated companieshave many tools availableto them to help sheltertheir income and cashflow from taxa-tion. Some of the
more commonadvantages ofbeing an incor-porated profes-sional or busi-ness personinclude:• Lower corpo-rate tax rates, which giveyou an enormous headstart to wealth accumula-tion• Planning opportunitiesthrough income splitting,which can lower your over-all tax bill• Tax tools like your com-pany’s Capital DividendAccount, which canreduce the tax bill whenyou eventually sell yourbusiness• Estate planning bene-fits to minimize theamount CRA takes out ofyour estateOne of the biggest chal-
lenges for incorporatedprofessionals and busi-ness people is managingtheir cash surplus andretained earnings. Often,business owners areadvised by their account-
ants to keep as muchcash in their business aspossible. The problem with doing
so is that idle cash gener-ating interest income ishighly taxable within anincorporated business,thus eating into the abilityof shareholders to growwealth. Fortunately, both for
investors and businessowners alike, companieslike NexGen Financial pro-vide some unique invest-
ment strategiesto minimizeyour tax liabilityon your corpo-rate cash sur-plus. In my practice
as an advisorwithDundeeWealth,I confront these
kinds of situations regular-ly. Some of the things I’mcommonly asked to do,and which I’m happy toassist with, include:• Identifying the financialneeds of my clients andtheir businesses• Showing clients theopportunities within theirbusiness that can reducethe tax liability of theirgrowing cash surplus• Customizing comprehensive strategiesand integrating investment tools to solvetaxation issues• Talking with my clients’accountants at leastannually to ensure a teamapproach is taken in orderto mutually optimize theirtax situation• Increasing wealth bydeferring taxes and
compounding the growthof capital• Showing clients howthey can use their corporation to fund their retirementThere’s a good chance
you don’t need to pay asmuch tax as you think youdo on your corporate cash.If that sounds like anintriguing proposition, let’sarrange a time to discussincreasing your corporateinvestment tax efficiency.
Robert Mulrooney is theSenior Investment Advisorat DWM Securities Inc. inCourtenay. He can bereached at 250.338.5222or www.investmentcoach.com. Please consult a professional investmentadvisor and your accountant before actingon any information presented in this column.
Robert Mulrooney,DundeeWealth
“Idle cash generating
interest incomeis highly
taxable.”
This article is solely the work ofRobert Mulrooney for the privateinformation of his clients. Althoughthe author is a registered InvestmentAdvisor with DWM Securities Inc., aDundeeWealth Inc. Company, this isnot an official publication of DWMSecurities Inc. The views (includingany recommendations) expressed inthis article are those of the authoralone, and they have not beenapproved by, and are not necessarilythose of, DWM Securities Inc.
BNI Olympic Gold: EveryThursday; 7:00 am — 8:30am; Westerly Hotel. Keynotespeaker, networking andreferrals. FMI, call RobertMulrooney at 250.338.5222.
Comox Valley BusinessNetwork: Every Wednesday;7:30 am — 8:30 am; WhiteSpot. Supporting businessgrowth through networkingand referral partnerships.FMI, visit www.cvbn.ca.
8th Global Mural Conference(GMC):September 10-13, 2012 ACongress on EconomicDevelopment Through theArts, Culture & Tourism.Keynote speaker Bill Baker,author and internationaltourism branding expert.Contact Tom Andrews250.210.2402 or go towww.muraltown.com/globalconference.html
6th Annual VIEA State of theIsland Economic Summit:Oct. 15 and 16 at the VIConference Centre,Nanaimo. A forum for busi-nesses and stakeholders tounderstand the state ofVancouver Island's economy.Opening address from Bankof Canada Governor, MarkCarney. Registeratwww.viea.ca; early birdpricing thru July 31st.
Comox ValleyBUSINESS
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Promote your events in the Business Gazette for as little as
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Comox Valley Business Gazette — Aug/Sept 2012 Page 6
In Olympic year, Courtenay Glass is already golden
IvesBurger name turns five; firm's exact age unknown
Alot has changed inthe Comox Valleyover the past 50
years. So much, in fact,that it’s actually more significant to look atwhat’s stayed the same —like the caring service andunrivaled commitment toquality of Courtenay Glass,which celebrates its gold-en anniversary this year.“When my parents start-
ed Courtenay Glass in1962, it was basically alean-to against the side ofthe house,” remarksRichard Gibbs, who tookover the family business20 years ago. “We’ve seena lot of glass shops comeand go over the years.What we’ve done well isoffered consistent, profes-sional service while build-ing solid relationships withour customers.”A full-line glass shop,
Courtenay Glass is equally
trusted by both its resi-dential and commercialclientele. Its products runthe gamut from tilt-and-turn windows, customtabletops and shelvingsolutions to automaticdoor controls,custom high-endshower enclosures androlling shuttersand screens.
“We stick withquality ratherthan try to com-pete on price with the bigboxes,” says Gibbs. “Somecompanies will bouncearound with the flavoursof the week, but that’s notour business philosophy.We’ve stayed with thesame product lines foryears. We’re not going totake part in the price-driv-en race to the bottom.” Consistency, says Gibbs,
has been integral to his
company’s success. It alsoapplies to nearly everyfacet of its operations,from the products it carries to the long-termemployees its customershave grown to love.
“Word of mouthhas always beenone of ourbiggest advertis-ers. That’s something that50 years in busi-ness has beenable to bring us,
because the credibilityand product confidencehave been there from thestart. People know we’llbe around to service themif there’s ever a problem.”So what do the next 50
years have in store forCourtenay Glass?According to Gibbs, a lotmore of the same. “You adapt a bit as the
market changes, but you
Though the IvesBurgername officially turnsfive this year, the
roots of the iconic ComoxValley law firm go backdecades. “In the early 1970s,
David Gibson joined TerryRyan, who had inherited alaw practice founded byMurray Mitchell in the1950s,” explains PaulIves, a partner inIvesBurger Barristers &Solicitors since 1993. “In the early ‘80s, Mark
Kelly joined the firm,which became known as‘Gibson Kelly.’ I joined in1992 to make it Gibson,Kelly & Ives, which finallymorphed into Ives Burgerfive years ago.“Some of our staff have
been with the firm over 30years, and many of ourclients have known us fordecades,” he adds. “Inmany cases, we’re doinglegal work for second- oreven third-generationclients.”The firm’s longevity plays
a big role in maintainingits reputation as a
reliable, cost-effective andcommunity-based firmwith a staunchly loyalclient base. Although certain thingshave changed over thedecades — the firm hasgrown considerably in thepast five to 10 years — thefundamentals haveremained constant.
“Our firm’s goal is to provide a full range oflegal services, from incor-porations and real estatetransactions to ICBCclaims, estate settlementand divorce,” explainspartner Mark Burger, whojoined the firm in 2002. “Hiring a lawyer and navi-
gating the legal landscapecan be intimidating tosome people, so wealways do what we can to
make our clients feel ascomfortable as possible.” The company’s central
location at the corner ofFifth Street and Fitzgeraldfor the last 25-plus yearshas also been a factor inits success, he adds.For Ives, the five-year
anniversary of theIvesBurger name is animpetus for personal celebration. Joining thecompany 20 years ago, he says, was a great move both for his careerand his life.“From my perspective,
coming from a big city lawfirm in Vancouver, thepractice of law atIvesBurger has allowedme to become a better,more practical lawyer,” heexplains. “I also value theopportunity to give back tothe community throughRotary Club involvement,not to mention beinginvolved in local government for the last10-plus years!”
For more information, visitwww.ivesburgerlaw.com orcall 250.334.2416.
“Some of ourstaff have been
with the firm over30 years.”
“We stick with
quality...”
Richard Gibbs took over Courtenay Glass from his parents 20 years ago. The company turns50 this year.
Samudra Weight Loss grows;customers shrink
After one year, businessat Samudra WeightLoss Health &
Wellness is growing — buttheir clients are shrinking.
Registered nurse KristinBjarnason opened the studio after employing amedically designed program to lose 25 pounds.
Kristin Bjarnason, of Samudra Weight Loss Health & Wellness,is offering a $25 discount to anyone who mentions this article.
Family businesscelebrates17 years inValley
While 17 years inbusiness may notbe considered a
milestone, when your company helps people savemoney and reduce theirenvironmental impact,every year is another stepin the right direction.Pro Star Mechanical
Technologies, a family-runbusiness in the ComoxValley since 1995, doesjust that. “We tailor each comfort
solution to provide themost efficient way of heat-ing water and heating andcooling your home,” saysMikhail Pronick, who man-ages the Courtenay branchwith his wife Kristen.“Ductless heat pumps, for
example, don’t requireexisting duct work,”explains Kristen’s fatherWilf Scheuer, who founded
Mikhail (& daughter Brielle), Kristen Pronick, along with techni-cian Mike Nesbit, run Pro Star Mechanical with family valuesand an eye for conservation.
Pro Star in Victoria in 1988.“They’re a great retrofit forhomes or offices with baseboard heating.”In the industry 43 years,
Scheuer was honoured witha lifetime achievementaward from the MechanicalContractors’ Association ofBC. He even worked withNASA for more than adecade designing on-board
water purification systemsfor space travel.
Check out Pro Star’sCourtenay showroom, fea-turing a geothermal heatpump, in-floor heating andductless split in action, at212-2459 Cousins Avenue,or call 250.331.0888and/or visitwww.prostarmech.ca.
have to stick with yourmain business principles,which for us means stick-ing with consistent,
high-quality products and service.
Courtenay Glass is located
at 1025 McPhee Avenue inCourtenay. To learn more,call 250.334.3522 or visitwww.courtenayglass.com.
“My husband and I did thediet ourselves and werethrilled with the results,”she says. “But what I reallyliked was the healthyapproach to losing weight.”As a nurse, Bjarnason
valued the decreased bloodpressure and blood sugarlevels that came with theweight loss. She knew shehad to share the program,so she opened the studio. “We use a four-phase
approach that begins withIdeal Protein supplementsand custom meal plans,and we work with clientsone-on-one to educatethem about dietary habitsand lifestyle choices. Our mission is to motivate,
educate and inspire themto achieve their weight loss,health and wellness goals.”To celebrate, Samudra offers$25 off initial consultationsto new clients who mentionthis article. Located on 6th St.between Tulio’s and AtlasCafé, Wednesdays at noon features no-obligation information sessions. www.samudraweightloss.com forinformation, or call 250.334.7008 for appointment.What have you got to lose?
To these great businesses,and people, in the Valley
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Aug/Sept 2012 Page 7
When creative, pas-sionate peoplestart brainstorming
about portable nutrition onthe front steps of an artisan bakery, great things can happen. Chloe Peake and Matthew
Traynor talked about pro-ducing organic real-foodenergy products and soonrealized they were on tosomething great. Theirrecipes for standout realfood energy bars led to arecipe for business suc-cess. In March 2012, TheEdge Food Energy Inc. wasfounded; by June, they’dsold their 10,000th bar.“It started with a great
product,” says Peake. “Wesampled over 200 otherbars, experimented, andgot feedback from familyand friends. The bars are100 per cent organic andenergize the body withwholesome, real foodingredients. Ancient grains
provide easily digested,clean-burning, quicklymetabolized carbohy-drates; healthy fats comefrom hemp, flax, sunflowerseeds and coconut oil. Weget the proteins fromvegan sources such aspumpkin, quinoa and nutbutters, and the bars arelow in unrefined, quickly-metabolized sugars.”A professional consultant
prepared the businessplan and provides mentorship; the owners ofla Boulange, a well-estab-lished Qualicum Beachbakery, provide access to astate-of-the-art kitchen,and they hired a marketingand sales professional whois an outdoor enthusiastwith a proven record ofbusiness excellence. Witha solid team that sharestheir vision and passion,the two young entrepre-neurs have had no troubleattracting investors.
The first line of bars is atrilogy called “the athleticline,” with a carb-to-pro-tein-to-sugars ratio that fortifies, maintains andreplenishes the body. Withstrong branding, a greatnew logo and new packaging with a 100 percent compostable wrapper,Peake and Traynor arelooking to expand intoother product lines. They’re not interested in
competing for grocery storeshelf space, though.Instead, they strive to create unique value thatwill attract the savvy,active, health-consciousconsumer by selling theirproduct in yoga studios,surf shops, golf pro shops,fitness centres, wellnessclinics and organic foodstores throughoutVancouver Island and theLower Mainland. For more information, visitwww.theedgefoodenergy.com
Tucked on the sideentrance of the “build-ing with the boats” at
Suite 103B, 1705 ComoxAvenue lies Indigo Lounge. Elton and Heather Joseph
moved to the Comox Valleymore than a dozen yearsago. If you had told themthat one day they wouldown and operate a successful hair salon insmall town BritishColumbia they very likely
would have laughed outloud. “I was going to be ateacher!” smiles the Fiji-born father of four. “Our vision for Indigo
Lounge was to create ahair salon that was trulydifferent,” explains Elton.“We pictured a modernambiance but still wantedit to feel like part of thecommunity of ‘Comox Bythe Sea.’ And we wanted tobe sure that it would be
comfortable and welcom-ing for all people, regard-less of age or economicstatus.” Today’s well-estab-lished hair salon has overtwo thousand guests. Areal success story.
Celebrate with Heather,Elton and staff at their 5thAnniversary open house onFriday, August 3rd from3:00 – 5:00 p.m. CallIndigo Lounge at250.339.0500 for details.
Energizing the Energy Bar IndustryDiana Lundine
Indigo Lounge mark’s 5th Anniversary of ‘brilliance in hair’
NeNew Business Profilew Business Profile“The healer opens the gates ofheaven for others, for simple reasons: because she likes people and it feels good.”
— Haven Trefino
Lucia Brodie Clairvoyant and HealingTouch Practitioner — offering longdistance healing, aura readings, past
life and rose readings, energy channelbalancing, land and house clearings.
$70/session 250-338 1440 www.deeppeace.ca
Photo by Seadance Photography.
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Aug/Sept 2012 Page 8
Adding to the silvermedal it won lastyear, The Wine
Cottage has brought homegold and bronze from theworld’s largest consumer-made wine competitionthis year. “We’re still days away
from the LondonOlympics,” says WineCottage owner Lyle Brodie,but already we’re owningthe podium!”The Wine Cottage’s first-
ever gold at theWine MakerInternationalAmateur WineCompetition wasfor a 2011SpanishTempranillo, afull-bodied redmade by WineCottage employ-ees Alison Crawford andPeter Hoefgen. The wine competed against more than 500 otherentries in the Red Vinifera Varietal category.“Tempranillo is the main
grape that goes intoSpanish Rioja wines,” saysBrodie. “It’s a very full-bodied, mature wine withflavours of blackberry,raspberry and plum.”The wine, says Brodie, isone of six varieties of pre-mium wine kits that comewith a two-litre package ofgrape skins, which givesthe wine a robust body and
more depth of flavour.“The skins kits have been
proving extremely popular,”he says. “Customers arecommenting on how goodthey are without any aging. More times that not, they’re re-orderingright then and therebecause they taste sodarned good!”The gold medal
Tempranillo can be madeat the Wine Cottage for$140 plus a $55 in-store
processing fee.The kit yieldsapproximately 30bottles of wine.Though The
Wine Cottagestaff tweakedthe recipe of lastyear’s silvermedal-winningwine, a 2010
Montepulciano, this year’swinner was made according to the standardinstructions; further proof,says Brodie, that it’s simplya great wine.“Anyone can come in and
make this award-winningwine,” says Brodie. “It boggles my mind howmany people still buy full-priced commercialwine when they can makeone that’s every bit asgood, or even better, for afraction of the price.”The Wine Cottage also
won a bronze medal in theRed Vinifera Blends
Courtenay Applebee’s has taken the pancake
breakfast fundraiser to awhole new level. Its“Flapjack Fundraiser” program provides an easilyaccessible method for non-profit communitygroups to raise money fortheir worthy causes. “It’s incredibly simple,”
explains Linda Thomas,who heads community relations for CourtenayApplebee’s. “We open therestaurant for your groupfrom 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday, orboth. Our staff volunteerstheir time to cook up a delicious breakfast of pancakes, bacon,sausages, orange juice andtea or coffee. Your groupsells $10 tickets and provides volunteers toserve, and you keep 80 percent of the revenues.”“We were totally taken
care,” says Alan Dack, amember of the AverageJoes’ Slo-Pitch team, whichparticipated in a FlapjackFundraiser earlier this summer. “We sure appreciate this opportunityand Applebee’s’ supportgenerally, not just for ourteam but also other teamsin the Comox Valley Slo-Pitch League.”“It’s so important to us to
give back to the community,” says Thomas,noting that Applebee’s alsohosts a number of otherfundraising events for localnon-profits. “We live hereand want to see the Valleygrow and thrive. We all really love doing this.”
Any non-profit organizationinterested in hosting aFlapjack Fundraiser isencouraged to contact LindaThomas at 250.650.4258 [email protected]
“It boggles mymind how manypeople buy full-priced commer-
cial wine.”
The Wine Cottage ‘ownsthe podium’ at international competition
Applebee's gives back with‘Flapjack Fundraisers’
Wine Cottage owners Pamela and Lyle Brodie (centre), flanked by employees Alison Crawford and Peter Hoefgen, show offtheir gold, silver and bronze medals from the last two Wine Maker International Amateur Wine Competitions.
category, which attracted663 entries, for its 2011Luna Rossa. One of theWine Cottage’s most popu-lar wine kits, the LunaRossa is a complex, robustred with rich fruit flavoursand a long oak finish. Itcan be made in-store forjust $125 plus the $55processing fee. Again, theyield is about 30 bottles.The 2012 Wine Make
International AmateurWine Competition attracted more than 4,300entries from seven differ-ent countries. Judgingoccurred in April, but winners weren’t notifieduntil last week.
To make your own award-winning wine, visit TheWine Cottage at 312-130Centennial Drive, near thecorner of Back and RyanRoads, or call 250.338.2686. To learn more, go towww.thewinecottage.ca
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Aug/Sept 2012 Page 9
Four principles of Effective office space planningPart 1 of 3
In February, I moved ourbusiness from animpressive co-working
office space (Studiopolis)to a decidedly less impres-sive building in Tin Town. While many of my
colleagues cautioned meon the obviousdowngrade inestheticimpressions,the new location boastsfantasticfrontage, iszoned forfuture business developmentand comeswith a flexible and appreciative landlord.We primarily made the
move because, quitefrankly, we’d run out ofspace. If you’re feelingyour workspace close inaround you like I was,here’s my best piece ofprofessional advice: it’snot about how muchspace you have, it’s how
well you organize it.Yes, every item and every
person needs a space.But if you simply addsquare footage you’remissing the mark. In this first installment of
my three-part series onhow to effec-tively organizeand outfit yourworkspace, Ishare my topprinciples forcreating aprofit-makingenvironmentthrough basicspace planning.
Office Space Planning 1011. You need sufficientdesk space. The optimalsize for many is roughly 3’by 6’8” — conveniently thesize of a flat-slab interiordoor. With a desk thissize, you can work efficiently on your computer while still havingspace for reference
Bethany Pearce, CapstoneDwellings Design-Build
books, large drawings/printed material and evena scanner or printer. 2. Your desk is your cock-pit. Keep the things youfrequently need at arm’slength. This could includeyour printer, scanner, fre-quently referenced books,pens, a stapler, stickynotes, a phone, etc.3. Keep things you needonly a few times a daywithin one or two stepsfrom your desk. Thinkgeneral office files, in-boxes, stationery/stampsand promotional material.4. All other items, likepast year’s accountingfiles, closed project filesor trade show materialsshould be stored out ofsight to keep your environment as clutter-free as possible. These four principles are
your starting point fororganizing your space sothat it maximizes yourpotential to earn money. Ifyou and your staff are fre-quently wasting timesauntering across the
“The biggest bang for your
buck, as far as business is
concerned, is to organize
the individual.”
Contact me at:Roy GrantCoast Realty Group (CR) Ltd.1211 Cypress St. Campbell River, BC V9W 2C3
250-287-2000 1-800-563-7322 Cell: [email protected]
Interested in buying or sellingan investment, commercial orindustrial property?
As an experienced Commercial Division member ofthe Vancouver Island Real Estate Board I can helpyou. I have successfully marketed numerous apartment buildings, hotels, motels, mobile homeparks, tenanted industrial and commercial buildings and shopping centres. I most recentlysold the Port Alice Shopping Centre.
Our mission is to offer you high quality printer supplies
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Wouldn't it be greatif you could controlhow much your
customersare willing topay for yourproducts?Too bad thatcould neverhappen ...or could it?
This is the first of a seriesof articles on some of thesubtle things you can do toinfluence your customer'sbehaviour simply by under-standing the irrationalforces behind consumerdecision-making.
In this issue we look atrelativity, and how tostrategically position yourproducts so you sell theones you most want to sell — at the prices they'rereally worth. In his bestselling book
Predictably Irrational,behavioural economistDan Ariely tells the classicstory of the world's firsthome bread-makingmachine. When units firsthit the shelves for $275,consumers didn't bite. Noone was willing to spend
that kind of money on aproduct they'd never heard of. Stuck with a sur-plus of stock that no oneseemed to want, manufac-turer Williams-Sonomadesperately hired a marketresearch firm. Its proposedsolution? Introduce a new model priced 50 percent higher.Ridiculous, right? If no
one's willing to pay $275for a bread maker, who'sgoing to pay more than$400? Suddenly, however,bread makers were flying
off the shelves.But it wasn't thehigh-end modelthat was selling— it was the origi-nal $275 model.
Let's look at what hap-pened: When the initialmodel was introduced,consumers had no ideahow much a bread makershould cost and so $275seemed steep. But whenthe second model waslaunched, suddenly thelower priced modelbecame relatively inexpensive. Because wehumans rarely view thingsin absolute terms, butrather compare the relative benefits of oneoption over the other, the$275 model began sellinglike hot cakes. This same principal
explains why adding ahigh-priced entrée to arestaurant's menu canincrease sales of the second-most expensiveitem and why companiesthat offer several packages
“ Humans rarelyview things in
absolute terms. ”
generally show you thehigher priced option first. Next issue, I'll discuss the
Triad Rule, a specific formof relativity that you canharness to gently steeryour customers toward theexact product you mostwant to sell. In the meantime, if you
happen to be heading outon the town in hopes of
meeting a new specialsomeone, think about whyyou might want to bring aslightly less attractivefriend along with you.
Ryan Parton is a profes-sional copywriter and ownerof Ryan Parton WritingSolutions. He’s also execu-tive editor of the ComoxValley Business Gazette.Visit www.ryanparton.ca orcall 250.702.1103.
The Comox ValleyAirport (YQQ)announced today that
it served 81,188 passengers in the secondquarter of 2012, the equivalent of 597 Boeing737 planes. This new data shows an
increase of nine per centor 6,676 passengers overthe same quarter in 2011. Growth was heaviest in
the month of June whichachieved a 17 per centincrease or 4,451 passengers more over thesame month in 2011. The airport’s strategic
plan calls for an annualincrease of three per cent,which could place YQQ’s
annual passenger num-bers as high as 344,125by 2015. Data for the first half of
2012 puts YQQ well on itsway of accomplishing thatgoal, with the first quarterachieving 11 per cent ingrowth followed by nine percent in the second quarter.“We are progressing well
and achieving the steady,sustainable growth laid outin our strategic plan,” saidFred Bigelow, CEO of theComox Valley Airport. “We are optimistic about
our future growth as wecontinue to focus ourefforts on securing addi-tional air service at YQQ.”
The secret to higher sales: it's all relative(Or, why you should always take your ugly friend to the bar)
597 Boeing 737 planes!YQQ Continues Steady Growth
Ryan Parton, Ryan PartonWriting Solutions
office for a stapler orlooking for misplaceditems, you’re losingmoney. Period.The journey toward
optimal office organiza-tion is continual. Hiring aconsultant, or a design-build team with an understanding of officeenvironments, is a goodfirst step. Next issue, I’llprovide my advice onselecting office furnish-ings and equipment.
Bethany Pearce is principaland lead design consultantat Capstone DwellingsDesign-Build in Courtenay.She can be reached at250.331.9004 or online atCapstoneDwellings.com.
Unique, versatile, well-zoned, centrally located commercialspace for lease
Possibly the best commercialspace, location and zoning inthe Valley. 2640 sq. ft. Boasts
a loading bay with overhead door.Totally renovated with wood-beamvaulted ceilings. Everything is new.Beautiful interior. Great location,right across from Value Village andLewis Park. High exposure from 5thstreet off the bridge. Five minute
stroll to downtown. Wiredto Shaw cable and Telus.
Zoned Public Assemblyallowing anything from aschool, truck parts, fitnesscentre, could workextremely well for retail...
the sky is the limit. Bring your ideas and
imagination. Reasonablerent, low triple-net, gasheating. Come have a look.
Contact Cat Keylock250-897-2201.
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Aug/Sept 2012 Page 10
Open 7am-7pm4985 Cotton Road • Courtenay • 250-338-2440
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Are your company’s values truly valuable?
The topic of corporatevalues has beengiven much attention
since managementexperts Tom Waters andBob Peterman began popularizing the conceptin the latter part of the20th century.Although clearly articulat-
ed corporate values havebeen successfully used bycompanies like Apple,Marriott and Sears, thereis a risk of these valuesdegenerating into uselessplatitudes and tag lineswith little meaning to thecompany’s managementor employees. Even worse is when
these stated values are inconflict with the real goalsof the company.Do you know your compa-
ny’s core values? Has yourteam integrated them intoeveryday business opera-tions? Is it time to conductan audit of the core values of your company to
see if they have becomeskewed away from thegoals of your business?Here’s a quick list of what
experts say will help tomake corporate valuesmeaningful:• Values are drawn froma basic philosophy aboutwhat “constitutes thegood for people insideand outside the organiza-tion.” That was
one findingof a 2010study byEdwin Giblinand LindaAmuso ofCaliforniaStateUniversity.These arecalled “first order values.”• Values must be internal-ized by every member ofthe company, starting withyou as the leader. Theyalso need to be compati-ble with the team’s personal values. Today’ssophisticated workforcesees right through slogansand corporate jargon.Instead, involve youremployees in the valuesdetermination process toensure they are meaning-ful for all. Then, as thebusiness leader, it’s up toyou to lead the way.• Values are meant to beacted upon. They shouldbe able to help with thetough decisions, even ingood times, and they must
Lourdes Gant, LourdesGant International
be especially reliable during tough times. Truevalues are those weembrace even when itmight not be comfortableor convenient to do so. Inshort, they are enduring.• Values encompassmorality and ethics. Whileprofits are the goal of anybusiness, they should notbe the sole defining valueof an organization. Thiscan be plainly seen in thedecisions made by com-panies over the years toprotect their reputation, or
to chooseinnovationover shortterm profit.• Valuesshould beconcise andput into anorder of priority. Thisis the practi-cal aspect of
values - people don’t justintegrate a list of endlessvalues. This idea has been
validated by a KenBlanchard Companiesstudy, which stated, “Itestablishes a priority thatwill guide decision-makingand behaviour, especiallyin a situation that involvesconflict and choicesbetween a multitude ofalternatives.”
Lourdes Gant is a professional internal auditor, international business strategist andhuman relations special-ist. To download a copy ofher Five UltimateBusiness Audit Checklist,visit www.LourdesGant.com/freegift.
“Is it time to conduct an audit of
the core values of your
company?”
My first piece ofadvice is this: ifyou’re going on
vacation this summer,don’t let your mobiledevices suck all the “holiday” out of your holi-days. My second is this: “If you travel for business,be smart about how youstay connected.”Leaving your mobile
devices behind is probablynot the best option,unless you want to returnhome to a backlog ofproblems and an inbox so full it makes you wantto smash your computerinto pieces. So yes, bring along the
laptop/iPhone/tablet —but beware, if you haven’tgot the right set up, usingthem from the road canbe a major headache.There are a number ofways you can make stay-ing in touch from afar simple, easy and glitch-free, and they can mostlybe summed up in one
word: Gmail.The big Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) - Shaw,Telus and Uniserve —don’t always work efficiently from distantlocations. They try to getaround this by offeringwebmail services, whichtend to be sketchy at best.They don’t necessarilygive you access to yourcontacts, folders, sentitems and other emailsyou have stored on yourhome computer. On the other hand,
Gmail, whichis Google’sfree emailservice, canbe accessedjust aboutanywhere inthe world.Whetheryou’re on thebeach inTofino or atan Internetcafe in Istanbul, you haveaccess to everything — allyour emails, folders, con-tacts and even calendars.And because Gmail is “inthe cloud,” it enablesautomatic synchronizationacross all your devices.Send an email in Portlandon your iPhone, pick upthe response in SanFrancisco on your laptopand get home to find it allaccessible from youroffice in Tin Town.But what if you have an
email account with Shaw,Telus, or another ISP, andyou don’t want to changeyour address? There’s an
easy remedy: create a free Gmail account andset up automatic forward-ing so that no one evenneeds to know there’sbeen a change. You can also choose to
let people know your newaddress by setting up anautoreply, which can evenbe configured with a filterso it isn’t sent in responseto junk mail. You can get yourself aGmail account pretty easily, but to set up for-warding and synchroniza-
tion we recommendworking withsomeoneexperiencedto make theprocess gosmoothly andto make sureyou don’t loseany emails.One final tip:
invest in a protective casefor your smartphone.These are expensive itemsand they are very fragile.Any case over about $50is likely to provide protec-tion; anything cheaper ismainly decorative. Take this advice, and your mobile devices arelikely to serve you on your holiday or businesstrip, rather than you serving them.
Bob Wells is the “ExtremeGeek” and owner of MyTech Guys. He can bereached at 250.890.1065or www.mytechguys.ca
Staying connected while on the road
Bob Wells (The ExtremeGeek), My Tech Guys
“Don't let yourmobile devices
suck all the “holiday” out of your holidays.”
New relief for acute and chronic pain sufferers.Local physiotherapist returns from training. Looking for new patients wanting non-surgical, drug-free pain relief.
Patti Doyle, aka “The Organic Mechanic” ‘listens’ tothe body. Patti has a strong reputation for being able tofix pain sufferers who supposedly can’t be fixed or havebeen told, “we can’t find anything wrong with you.”
ADVERTORIAL
Patti Doyle is a physiother-apist who specializes inpatients suffering recur-
ring sub-acute and/or chronicpain. She practices in a veryunique manner.“I like to describe the body andits layers like an M&M candy,”Patti explains. “The outer layerconsists of skin, muscle and thefascia that covers the muscles(the hard candy coating). Thenext layer is the skeleton, con-sisting of bones and ligaments(chocolate). The deepest layercontains organs, blood vesselsand nerves (the nut). All threelayers are inter-connectedthrough the fascial system.” Most muscle or joint problems
that have been around formonths or even years will haverestrictions in the nut layer. Which is why Patti jokes she
tends to attract ‘nut cases’ —the not-easy-to-fix people. Patti'sunique physio-therapy treatmentis based on herphilosophy thatmuch acute andchronic pain iscaused by prob-lems in the con-nective tissue. Think of this connective tissue,fascia, like a spider web running through the entirebody; connecting the outermostlayer to the innermost layer.The longer your symptoms
have been around themore restriction found inthe fascial system.
All toooften, theserestrictionsgo undetect-ed on s t a n d a r dMRI's or x-rays, so theyelude diag-nosis.
“It's all in your head,”has to be one of the mostfrustrating statements aperson can hear,” says Patti. Who may beable to find your problem.
These restrictions cancause all kinds of prob-lems. Often in seeminglyunrelated areas, whichcan be important in casesof overuse injuries, post-trauma or motor vehicleaccidents.
Patti has just returnedfrom advanced trainingclasses and eager to tryher new skills. If youneed help with your painrelief, Patti is the personyou need to see.
Call Patti atP a t t i w h a c k e r sPhysiotherapy at 250-890-9063.
“Life's more fun when
you're livin’ pain free!”
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Aug/Sept 2012 Page 11
‘Mind your Own Business’“When feeling overworked in small business, ifyou got a weekend away on Vancouver Islandwhere would you go and what would you do?”Submit info to: [email protected]
When Tara stopped by ACS Computer Solutions to talk to theowner Andre she found out he was already away on a stayca-tion on Vancouver Island! He was at Rathtrevor BeachCamping with his family. His two employees Thom and Paulstayed back to clear out the inventory without Andre’s knowl-edge and spent their spare time dreaming about where theywould holiday on the Island. Thom wanted to be hiking at CapeScott and Paul wanted to either be walking Cathedral Grove orspelunking at Horne Lake Caves.
Scorpios: Katie — Comox Lakewith the dog, and Musicfest...just enjoying the Valley
Four years, 420Ducky tickets givento clients and final-
ly... a winner!! Traceyfrom Blinds Billiards
and Baubles pres-ents theticket for
a 42” LCDto the
Haslemfamily inComox!
Thank youComox
Rotary!!!
Later in the week I ran into the Uniglobe Travel ownerJulie Huff and was puzzled as to what her answer wouldbe as she sends people all over the world. Her responsewas surprising, as she plans more vacations for peopleon Vancouver Island than what I thought......Her favoriteplace to spend some holiday time is at a 5 star hotel inthe heart of Victoria and shop till she drops.
Prestige Painting:Mike — My family
took us toParksands RV
Resort inParksville when I
was young so nowI take my kids and
then we go toQualicum Bay
Resort
My TechGuys: Erica
- ButtleLake, it isso beauti-
ful, you aresurrounded
by silenceand nature
Glow Beauty Bar:Trish — My favourite
spot is Sydney inVictoria..great bed
and breakfasts!
I met Moppit and the staff at South Country Feed and askedthe owner Carol where she would like to spend her time on theisland. Her immediate response was "anywhere she wouldn’tneed the Rat Zapper!” After a quick laugh she got serious andshared about all the great places she enjoys on Hornby Island;Hornby Island bakery, Fords Cove, Whaling Station Bay,Helliwell Park and of course Middle Mountain Meadery....”Itwould be a full weekend affair” she said.
Church Street Wood FiredBakery: Tanis — Right herefor the Vancouver IslandMusicfest of course!
Tara Laderoute of Engrave It! and TraceyMcGinnis of Blinds, Billiards and Bubbles
Still a buyer’s market, but high-endhomes making gains
Chamber ofCommerceAnnouncesNew AwardsProgram
July is here, and with itthe kind of weatherthat makes the Valley
the amazing place it is.This is also a great time tocompare real estate salesfor this first six months ofthe year with last year’snumbers. Let’s look at a few of
the numbers: 1. Listing inventory isabout 16 per cent higher,but the number of sales is down just under five per cent2. There have been gainsof up to 50 per cent inhigher-end sales volumes(over $500,000) inCourtenay North, thePeninsula, CourtenayWest, the Town of Comoxand Crown Isle3. Sales volumes are offby 20 per cent, on average, in every pricepoint under $350,000. So what does it all mean? Gains in homes over
$500,000 suggest areturn of the out-of-townbuyer and continuedgrowth in the retiree market. Out-of-townretirees see great valuefor their money in our realestate market, especiallysince many homes in thisprice range are selling forless than they would havea few years ago.These retirees, and the
family and friends whocome to visit them, spenda large portion of theirincome on local business-es and contribute taxes tothe immediate area. In short, they support a
lot of small businesses inthe Valley and keepingmany of our entrepre-neurs in business and ourworkers employed.
On the other end of thespectrum, it’s still abuyer’s market for entry-level homes under$350,000,and sellersmay need toaccept thatthe currentmarket is notopen to highersale prices.The Valleyreally doesn’thave the sort of privatesector economy that produces the high-payingjobs first-time buyers needto enter the real estatemarket with confidence.This despite the fact thatmost single-family homesrent for $1,300 a month,and anyone paying over$1,100 a month is likelyable to buy. So what’s the bottom
line? If you have a high-end home on a great
street, you have a betterchance of selling nowthan you’ve had in years.And if you are a renter,
you should beseriously con-sidering buyingyour first homeor getting backinto the market. Mortgage
rates are low,there are more
homes to choose fromthen ever and many sellers are getting desperate to unload theirproperty while they’re stillable to walk away withdecent capital gains. To review all the stats for
the first half of 2012, visitmy blog at: www.jamessmith.ca. James Smith — RoyalLePage in the Comox Valley.Call 250.218.2324 or [email protected].
“... high-end homeson a great streets,
have a better chance of selling
now than in years.”
Comox Valley Business Gazette — Aug/Sept 2012 Page 1 2
James Smith,Royal LePage
Laura Brown, Office Coordinator at the Comox ValleyChamber of Commerce, has been instrumental in the creation of the new ‘40 Under 40’ awards program.
After months of planning and weeks ofbuilding excitement as
to what ‘secret’ the ComoxValley Chamber ofCommerce has been keeping ‘under wraps’ —Chamber president andCEO, Dianne Hawkins, isthrilled to finally reveal anexciting new communityawards program.“The Comox Valley ‘Top 40
Under 40 Awards’ havebeen modeled after similarinitiatives hosted in variouslocations across NorthAmerica,” explainsHawkins. “These awardsare designed to recognize40 individuals in our com-munity who are under theage of 40, and who aremaking a difference in theComox Valley and beyond.Nomination forms will be
available July 20 on theChamber of CommerceWebsite: www.comoxvalleychamber.com/awards, orcall 250.334.3234.