fredericton chamber of commerce - insight mar/apr 2015

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PRINTERKKP Fredericton

PROJECT MANAGERWendy Morrell

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTWendy Morrell

PRESIDENTJoseph O’[email protected]

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERKrista [email protected]

POLICY & RESEARCH MANAGERMorgan Peters [email protected]

EVENT MANAGERStacey [email protected]

Director/Directrice, the Hive / la Ruche Business Immigrant Mentorship Program /Programme de mentorat pourentrepreneurs immigrants Intercultural Business Incubator /Incubateur d'entreprises intercultural Janet Moser [email protected]

OPERATIONS &COMMUNICATIONS MANAGERWendy [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT& MARKETING MANAGER Christine Little [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORSKrista RossStacey MurrayMorgan PetersSebastián SalazarJuan EstepaMark TaylorMike Hennessey

Insight is published by Emerge Designs.

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This publication may not be reproduced, all or in part without written consent from the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all content in this publication, however, the publisher nor the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce will be held responsible for omissions or errors.

Please address all editorial and advertising inquiries to the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 275, 364 York Street, Suite 200, Fredericton, NB, E3B 4Y9, Canada. The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is not held responsible for the loss, damage or any other injury to unsolicited material (including but not limited to manuscripts, artwork, photographs and advertisements). Unsolicited material must be included with self-addressed, overnight-delivery return envelope, postage prepaid.

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Fredericton Chamber of CommercePO Box 275, 364 York Street Suite 200, Fredericton, NB E3B 4Y9Tel: (506) 458-8006 Fax: (506) [email protected]

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State of the Province

CEO’s Message

Chamber WelcomesNew Members

Advocacy Update

The City Centre Plan:A Bold Vision For Fredericton’sThird Century

Joint Economic DevelopmentInitiative

Friendly Skies in Fredericton

East Coast Start Up Week

FIFA

Member Pro�ile

The Buzz

Chamber Events

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285 Canada Street, 3rd Floor, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3A 4A3

Ph: 506.999.3332 Email: [email protected]

www.emergedesigns.ca

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The City Centre Plan:A Bold Vision forFredericton’s Third Century

n January 28, 2015 the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce hosted its 41st annual State of the Province Address. Delivering his first address, Premier Gallant became the eighth premier to do so, beginning with Richard Hatfield in 1974. The event has grown in popularity and importance during the second half of its lifetime. What started out as an intimate event with a few dozen people now sees nearly 1,000 people attend.

Premier Gallant touched on many topics and ideas that matter to the Fredericton chamber and its members. Early in the speech he reiterated the Liberal Government’s mantra of creating jobs, getting the province’s finances in order and helping families - emphasizing the interconnectivity of those three priorities. He later went on to say that government doesn’t create jobs, rather it creates conditions for businesses to grow and increase hiring - a position supported by the chamber.

Working more closely with other governments, particularly in Atlantic Canada, will not only bring about the potential to collectively grow our economies and produce opportunities for savings on procurement and other expenses, but should also enable the four Atlantic premiers to being a more cohesive message when advocating for the region.

He spoke about several points that the Fredericton chamber made in its 2015 pre-budget brief, including continuing to lower the small business tax until it is the lowest rate east of Manitoba (2.5% in their election platform), closing the skills/experience gap - particularly for our recent graduates and providing efficient and effective access to primary health care through a combination of family doctors, community health centres and other outlets. Also encouraging in the speech were references to spending infrastructure funding strategically so that not only are short-term construction jobs created, but that the infrastructure itself would support economic development (in our brief, this is particularly emphasized in relation to developing natural resources).

On the natural resources file, the premier spoke about the need to “...play our role when it comes to stopping climate change” and that the government is “...going to ensure we preserve our environment and that’s why our government has put a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing until we fully understand the risks to our water, our environment and our health” and at several points reiterated the line that the government must make evidence-based decisions.

Protecting the environment is obviously a priority as citizens and businesses and the chamber is still hopeful that the government will act thoroughly, but swiftly in addressing the five conditions set out in the moratorium. The ‘social license’ condition remains perhaps the most problematic as it is in the premier’s words from the fall “hard to define.” The premier did maintain stated support for three critically important projects to the province’s economic future: the Sisson Brook mine, the conversation of the LNG terminal in Saint John and the Energy East pipeline. These three projects seem to have wide public support and presumably, the necessary social license.

There are risks involved in nearly any activity. The condition that “Clear and credible information about the impacts of hydraulic fracturing on our health, environment and water, allowing us to develop country-leading regulatory regime with sufficient enforcement capabilities,” seems to suggest that the government is willing to accept some amount of risk. We have encouraged the government to use the voluminous amounts of information already available to make these determinations and produce a regulatory regime that is satisfactory. One could argue that they were given the mandate to impose a conditional moratorium and therefore already have the social license to deal with that moratorium as they see fit.

The chamber is also eager for movement on the Sisson Brook mine project in particular. The Sisson Partnership / Northcliff Resources submitted its Environmental Impact Assessments nearly two years ago to the federal and provincial governments. The federal government has already completed its first round of public comment, while the province is still completing its technical review of the plan - a precursor to the public comment phase.

The other big initiative discussed that the government is currently engaged with is the strategic program review, lead by Minister Victor Boudreau. Many of the themes and economic vision of the current government align with Fredericton’s goals, priorities and strengths. The capital city will be an able and willing partner with the government to move the province forward. The premier spoke about the need to transfer New Brunswick into the “Smart Province,” particularly in reference to the information and communications technology sector. Fredericton is a known leader in this sector not only provincially, but on a national scale. The “largest tech deals in the country in 2011 and 2012” that the premier referenced both successful Fredericton companies. 15 years ago we became the first city in North America to provide free wireless Internet throughout the city with the Fred eZone and we haven’t looked back since, becoming one of the world’s top seven intelligent communities. This was (and is) a natural fit for Fredericton as we also host the hub of research and development in the province - the University of New Brunswick.

As the government moves forward with its strategic review and throughout its mandate, the chamber looks forward to being an engaged stakeholder on all issues that matter to our members. Insight

March - April 2015

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OState of the Province

h what a night! Nearly 1000 guests packed the Fredericton Convention Centre on January 28, 2015 to hear Premier Brian Gallant’s inaugural State of the Province Address. The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is the proud host of this event which we have held for 41 years! It goes without saying that the event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors! Particular thanks to Siemens as our Platinum Sponsor. Also to Emera and Rogers TV our Gold Sponsors, to Bell Aliant, Grant Thornton and Stewart McKelvey our Silver Sponsors and to TransCanada our Premier’s Reception Sponsor! If you did not get a chance to attend the event - Rogers TV has provided us with the link to both the french and english broadcasts which are on our website - I encourage you to take the time to watch!

The State of the Province is definitely one of my favourite nights of the year - and not just because chamber member and Bronze Sponsor Robert Simmonds Clothing gives me (and our President) a great outfit to wear and showcase their products!

The event gives us all a tremendous opportunity to make connections with new people and to reconnect with old friends and colleagues, but it is also an opportunity to reflect on where we are as a province and how best to move forward together. Over the years, as each premier has spoken, I take this time to think about how I can best contribute to New Brunswick’s success - as an individual, as a chamber of commerce CEO and as a citizen of the province.

Given our current economic situation, I don’t think there is any question we all have to do a better job of working together to pull in the same direction - but part of that collective effort is also taking personal responsibility. It is easy to say ‘someone else is going to do it’ or ‘it won’t make a difference anyway’ - but what is easy isn’t working. We need to focus on what is hard - hard work, hard decisions and hard-earned successes. We live and work in a wonderful province. It is our responsibility to make sure future generations can say the same.

In the coming weeks and months, the Province is undertaking a strategic program review entitled Engage NB. Your chamber has sent out a request to you, our members, for suggestions about government programs and services for the future and how you think that our government can address the very serious fiscal challenges we are facing. The aim of the process is to improve the province’s financial situation by between $500 and $600 million. This is an important time for us to discuss, engage and make suggestions…. take the time to contact us with your ideas. We will be meeting with government representatives to provide suggestions on behalf of the business community - make your voice heard!

Your opinions are valued - I look forward to hearing from you! Call me, email me, send me a tweet, text or drop in!

Krista Ross, CEOFredericton Chamber of Commerce

PS... few more “Thank Yous”… The evening would not have been complete without Marshall Button in the role of emcee, and this year, we were delighted to have Imelda Perley bring greetings on behalf of the Maliseet First Nation. Bronze sponsor Signature Sound once again went above and beyond in providing exceptional service leading up to the event and that night. More special thanks must be given to our Venue sponsor the Fredericton Convention Centre as well as our Bronze sponsors: Advocate Printing, Rob Blanchard Photography, University of New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, CMS Consulting / Eagle Eye One Solutions, Atlantic Lottery, New Brunswick Association of CBDC’s, BMO Bank of Montreal, Weddings and Events Designed by Sylvain, Delta Fredericton, Emerge Designs, the New Brunswick Medical Society, Clowater’s Plumbing & Heating, the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce and Robert Simmonds Clothing.

March - April 2015

Krista Ross, CEO

Insight

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St. Hubert Fredericton 22 Trinity AvenueFredericton, NB E3C 0B8Tel: (506) 457-5600Email: dennie.pope@st_hubert.qc.caMain Contact: Dennie Pope

iBooth Party Photobooth10 Mountain DriveIslandview, NB E3C 1K2Tel: (506) 999-0524Email: [email protected]: www.iboothpartyphotobooth.comMain Contact: Dennis Chiva

The Dock OutletFredericton, NBTel: (506) 449-2743Email: [email protected]: www.thedockoutlet.comMain Contact: Dennie Pope

Lexique45 Woodbine CourtFredericton, NB E3B 2N5Tel: (506) 455-3578Email: [email protected] Contact: Samira Farhoud

Allan Marshall & Associates Inc.212 Queen Street, Suite 102Fredericton, NB E3B 1J8Tel: (506) 460-8368Email: [email protected]: www.wecanhelp.caMain Contact: Rob Johnson

Occupational Concepts91 Driscoll CrescentMoncton, NB E1E 4C8Tel: (506) 382-6601Email: [email protected]: www.occupationalconcepts.comMain Contact: Nicola MacNaughton

H20 Bulk Water Ltd.26 Susan DriveLincoln, NB E3B 7G8Tel: (506) 461-2911Email: [email protected] Contact: Carey Carle

Atlantic Chamber of Commerce1272 Main Street, Suite 200Moncton, NB E1C 0P4Tel: (506) 866-9260Email: [email protected]: www.apcc.caMain Contact: Valerie Roy

Hardwired Communications880 Hanwell Road, Unit 206Fredericton, NB E3B 6A2Tel: (506) 363-3951Email: [email protected] Contact: Cliff Lyons

Synergy Training Centre Inc.559-5 Wilsey RoadFredericton, NB E3B 7K1Tel: (506) 454-5948Email: [email protected]: www.synergytc.caMain Contact: Chris Schnare

P R Gahan & Sons Ltd.115 Route 105Lower St. Mary’s, NB E3A 8P8Tel: (506) 458-1360Email: [email protected] Contact: Leica Gahan

Changes Non-Profit Enterprises Inc.1245 Hanwell RoadFredericton, NB E3C 1A6Tel: (506) 454-1734Email: [email protected]: www.changesstore.caMain Contact: Pat Carlson

Lux Tours Canada Inc.128 Poets LaneFredericton, NB E3B 9P7Tel: (506) 457-8158Email: [email protected]: www.luxtours.caMain Contact: Anita Jiang

Fredericton Craft Beer Festival Inc.9 Parlee DriveKilarney Road, NB E3A 4L1Tel: (506) 260-9274Email: [email protected]: ww.frederictoncraftbeerfestival.comMain Contact: Lloyd Chambers

Hello toourNewest

InsightJuly - August 2014

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New Members

MHM Property Management Ltd.480 Queen Street, Suite 200PO Box 1393Fredericton, NB E3B 5E3Tel: (506) 447-9559Email: [email protected] Contact: Marty Mockler

New Brunswick Health Research Foundation30 Knowledge Park, Suite 100Fredericton, NB E3C 2R2Tel: (506) 455-8886Email: [email protected]: www.nbhrf.comMain Contact: Leah Carr

NBTA Credit Union650 Montgomery StreetFredericton, NB E3B 5R6Tel: (506) 452-1724Email: [email protected]: www.nbtacu.nb.caMain Contact: Mark Gorman

Populus Global Solutions590 Brunswick StreetFredericton, NB E3B 1H5Tel: (506) 452-9780Email: [email protected]: www.populusgs.comMain Contact: Beth Webster

Atlantica Centre for Energy27 Wellington RowSaint John, NB E2L 5H4Tel: (506) 674-9439Email: [email protected]: www.atlanticaenergy.orgMain Contact: Colleen Mitchell

Nicholson’s Waste ManagementPO Box 971Doaktown, NB E9C 2P5Tel: (506) 476-0176Email: [email protected]: www.nicholsonwastemanagement.caMain Contact: Ken Robinson

Mighty 8 Stores Co. Ltd.22 Anderson StreetFredericton, NB E3B 7G1Tel: (506) 471-8188Email: [email protected]: mighty8store.comMain Contact: Henry Yang

Kindred Home Care73 Milltown Road, Suite 201St. Stephen, NB E3L 1G5Tel: (506) 467-7188Email: [email protected]: www.kindredhomecare.comMain Contact: Rebecca Moffatt

Dynamic Dental Hygiene Clinic850 Prospect Street, Suite 103Fredericton, NB E3B 9M5Tel: (506) 206-8550Email: [email protected]: dynamicdentalhc.caMain Contact: Chantal Nielsen & Jessica Ross

Dynamic Dental Hygiene Clinic, Fredericton's FIRST dental hygiene clinic, offers bilingual, affordable, alternative services such as professional dental cleanings, polishing, stain removal, fluoride, sealants, whitening, tooth gems! Chantal and Jessica have a combine 25 years in the dental hygiene profession.

Port Saint John111 Water StreetSaint John, NB E2L 0B1Tel: (506) 636-5377Email: [email protected]: www.sjport.comMain Contact: Kerri Leigh Nelson

Hawk Marketing Services77 Vaughan Harvey BoulevardMoncton, NB E1C 0K2Tel: (506) 877-1400Email: [email protected]: www.hawk.caMain Contact: Ruth MacDonnell

Fusion FrederictonFredericton, NBEmail: [email protected]: www.fusionfredericton.caMain Contact: Bruce Robinson

The Homestead1562 Canada StreetNashwaak Village, NB E6C 1M6Tel: (506) 459-3839Email: [email protected]: www.thehomesteadfredericton.comMain Contact: Norman Hamilton

InsightMarch - April 2015

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MembersNew Members

by Morgan Peters

Hydraulic Fracturing MoratoriumAfter the provincial government announced the details of its hydraulic fracturing moratorium on December 18, 2014, the Fredericton chamber issued a press release calling on the Province and Donald Arsenault, Minister of Energy and Mines to work on satisfying the five conditions outlined as expediently as possible. The release reads in part:

The five conditions appear to be a nebulous mix of objective and subjective standards that can only be fulfilled and satisfied by the government itself,” said Joseph O’Donnell, chamber president. “We are concerned that it signals that New Brunswick is closed for business - particularly given the hundreds of millions of dollars that have been invested in the industry, which may now never see a return for those companies. Our primary concern is that political agendas will get in the way of economic agendas and that the conditions attached and future policy will be motivated by politics and not by economics and the environment.”

“We feel that the debate has been mischaracterized as economics versus environment,” added Krista Ross, chamber CEO. “A healthy economy and a healthy environment are not mutually exclusive - we completely agree that a strong regulatory and enforcement regime are critical...”

“The chamber encourages the Minister of Energy and Mines to act quickly on gathering the information his government requires to satisfy the conditions to lift the moratorium and make clear how they define a ‘social license’ in this case,” Ross said. “The Premier has already acknowledged that the concept “is hard to define.” If it is hard for the government to define their own policies, then it will be hard for companies to make investments in New Brunswick based on these policies.

Commercial Property Tax IncreasesOn December 10, 2014, the provincial government followed through on its platform commitment to return commercial property tax rates to 2012 levels. The Fredericton chamber issued a press release in response to this decision, focusing on the persistent mischaracterization of the 2012 reduction as a break for big business:

The original reduction in the provincial portion of commercial property taxes has been mischaracterized as a handout to big business, most recently in the 2014 Speech from the Throne: “Other measures will be undertaken this year to increase government revenues. These include...rescinding a tax break previously granted to large corporations.”

According to a September 12, 2014 release by the New Brunswick Real Estate Association, “Government statistics show the cut in the commercial property tax benefited about 16,000 small and medium-sized business in the province.”

Chamber President Joseph O’Donnell added: “A few of the decisions made so far by the Liberal government appear aimed at reversing the policies of the former government. We hope that there is some recognition that not all of the policies enacted under the PCs were negative. As stated in the throne speech ‘Plans should be designed for the next generation, not the next election’.”

New Brunswick Drug PlanOn December 9, 2014, Health Minister Victor Boudreau introduced legislation to delay the implementation of the mandatory phase of the New Brunswick Drug Plan, which was set to begin on April 1, 2015. The minister announced that the program would undergo a comprehensive review, stating in part:

“Our government is committed to reviewing the New Brunswick Drug Plan to ensure that its costs are reasonable for individuals, its coverage is sufficient and employers are not subject to a required contribution,” said Health Minister Victor Boudreau. “Our government will also provide additional premium relief to lower-income individuals to ensure costs, for those that choose to join the New Brunswick Drug Plan, are fair and reasonable.”“This is a temporary solution,” said Boudreau. “The New Brunswick Drug Plan will continue as a voluntary plan until a comprehensive review is completed. Furthermore, it is not our intention to introduce any mandatory contributions from employers.”


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Advocacy

to the 20th Anniversary

Capital Exhibit CentreTuesday, May 5th, 2015

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

You’re Invited

he new Fredericton City Centre Plan initiated in 2013 by Downtown Fredericton Inc., in partnership with the City of Fredericton, and prepared by the consulting firm The Planning Partnership, was conceived with the various elements of Fredericton’s historic and contemporary identity in mind. The City Centre Plan contains recommendations for the public realm and open spaces, for new and existing buildings, and for all forms of circulation and mobility. It aims to reshape how Frederictonians experience the City Centre by placing greater emphasis on the quality of the urban environment.

Some of the “big moves” that are envisioned by the City Centre Plan include:

• The creation of a connected and activated downtown riverfront by turning Saint Anne’s Point Drive into a true riverside promenade with buildings containing active grade-level uses fronting onto a tree-lined street instead of a speeding highway. The addition of pedestrian crosswalks, relocation of the pedway to the west of the bridge, and the installation of public art in order create a safe and animated riverfront for all to enjoy.

• The replacement of the cloverleaf interchange at the south end of the Westmorland Street Bridge with an integrated street grid that is pedestrian-friendly will unlock riverfront development opportunities on the south side of Saint Anne’s Point Drive.

• The transformations of Queen and Carleton Streets into cultural corridors that, in unison, act as physical and visual axes and connectors across the downtown, will help cement their role as the key organizing elements for cultural, arts, and heritage attractions that the downtown depends on. Carleton Street, for one, is being proposed as a space where “cars are the guests” and pedestrians have priority, with the intention of creating a space that is readily available to host public events.

by Sebastián Salazar and Juan Estepa

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The City Centre Plan:


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The City Plan

• The achievement of consistent and high-quality elements of design throughout the City Centre with widened, pedestrian-friendly and tree-lined sidewalks, as well as articulated crosswalks and bike lanes will greatly enhance the public realm. One such proposal would install a bike lane along the north side of Queen Street to bring more people downtown in a way that pollutes less, takes up less space, and promotes good health and exercise for the users than if arriving by car.

• The knitting of the streetscape back together by actively identifying, prioritizing, infilling and/or retrofitting vacant or underutilized sites and buildings in order to encourage continuous activity along the street.

• The enhancement and activation of the Garrison District’s role as a key downtown mixed-use and cultural hub by improving the interaction between its diverse buildings and the public spaces in between. Also important is the preparation of these spaces for a more efficient and less erosive use during major festivals and events. For example, Barracks’ Square and Officers’ Square would undergo improvements in surface materials, storm water management, and urban design, while the Soldiers’ Barracks building would be opened up towards Queen Street to take advantage of the pedestrian dynamic.

• The creation of an enhanced transit experience and, at the same time, the improvement of King Street by integrating an intermodal transit hub in conjunction with new development potential for the Kings Place Shopping Centre.

By improving the streets to better accommodate different modes of motorized or non-motorized transport, by increasing the quality of design of streets and open spaces, and by giving prominence to heritage and insisting on the quality of new developments—among many other measures—the downtown can be rediscovered as a place to visit, live, work, play, and shop.

The benefits are substantial: increased tourism, an incentive to new business and development, an increased sense of identity and place, and a celebration of the City’s proud past are but a few. You are encouraged to read through the full document and investigate how each of the recommendations contributes to the vision for the City Centre. Change will not occur overnight, but over the coming years the downtown will transform itself according to the vision and principles that Frederictonians have articulated in this plan. The City Centre Plan will be the roadmap that will guide and inform these changes for the next couple of decades.

Sebastián Salazar is a city planner with the City of Fredericton. Juan Estepa is the Manager of Heritage and Urban Design at the City of Fredericton.

For more information visit the City Centre Plan’s webpage at www.fredericton.ca/citycentreplan or email [email protected].

A Bold Vision for Fredericton’sThird Century


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The City Plan

he next 10 years will bring both opportunities and challenges to the province of New Brunswick. An estimated 100,000 jobs will become available in the province over that time, but there will not be enough workers to fill those positions. Based on current trends, a skills gap of 40,000 workers will arise over that time span and the New Brunswick economy will be challenged to attract and retain talent in order to meet workforce demands.

One of the greatest opportunities to help meet this labour shortage in New Brunswick lies in the Aboriginal population. The First Nations of New Brunswick, which consists of 15 communities and the off-reserve population, are young and emerging. This is in contrast to the rest of the population in New Brunswick. Over the next ten years, over 5,000 Aboriginal people will be entering working age in New Brunswick.

While this presents an exciting solution to the challenge of an aging workforce, there are barriers to seeing this opportunity become reality. In the NB Jobs Summit 2014, Kelly Lendsay of the Aboriginal Human Resource Council (AHRC) stated that there was a “great disconnect” between New Brunswick employers and the Aboriginal population. This disconnect is one that must be overcome.

A major factor that contributes to this disconnect is cultural sensitivity. This is a two-way street. Employers need to be educated about the cultural differences First Nations people bring to the workplace and First Nations people entering the workforce need to be informed of expectations of the workplace. In 2010, the provincial government partnered with JEDI to develop an NB Aboriginal Workplace Essential Skills (NBAWES) curriculum and is presently working with Aboriginal communities to bridge the cultural gap through Workplace Essential Skills training.

Another barrier is that the First Nations people of the province continue to lag behind the general population in educational achievement. Low literacy levels form a glass ceiling that blocks many from entering or advancing in the workforce.

Moving forward, here are some recommendations for action:

• Aboriginal success stories should be communicated and applauded• Role models and mentorship programs play an important role in encouraging youth• Programs in the education system to encourage kids to stay in school• Career guidance can assist youth in making good career choices• Financial incentives for post-secondary education should continue until Aboriginal people are on an equal footing with the general population

The opportunity is there for Aboriginal people to play an integral role in the future of New Brunswick. Education and career guidance is the key to seizing the opportunity and easing the strain of the 40,000 worker shortage in the next ten years.

Mike Hennessey is the Aboriginal Labour Market Information Analyst with the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI). Learn more by visiting www.jedinb.ca or calling 444-5650.

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Joint EconomicDevelopment Initiative (JEDI)

JEDI


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by Mike Hennessey

Dynamic Dental Hygiene Clinic850 Prospect Street, Suite 103Fredericton, NB E3B 9M5Tel: (506) 206-8550Email: [email protected]: dynamicdentalhc.caMain Contact: Chantal Nielsen & Jessica Ross

Dynamic Dental Hygiene Clinic, Fredericton's FIRST dental hygiene clinic, offers bilingual, affordable, alternative services such as professional dental cleanings, polishing, stain removal, fluoride, sealants, whitening, tooth gems! Chantal and Jessica have a combine 25 years in the dental hygiene profession.

March - April 2015

Insight13

uilding an airline from the ground up takes time. It was a process many WestJetters were familiar with, after having built Canada’s most preferred airline from humble beginnings in 1996. It came as no surprise that these same WestJetters were up for the task when the question came down from the company’s leadership: Is it time to launch a regional airline? The concept was put to a vote by WestJetters and more than 90 per cent gave the project a green light.

That is when the real work began. A new president, a new aircraft, a new way of delivery a great guest experience were all questions that had to be answered before answering the biggest question of all: where will we fly? Luckily there were hundreds of communities across the country that were ready with an answer. So many, in fact, that WestJet decided to hold Encore Day.

Fredericton was an early contender, having taken part in Encore day at the WestJet campus. Encore Day followed the speed dating model, giving everyone a chance to pitch the many benefits offered by their community that would support air service. It must have been one heck of a pitch, because WestJet Encore tapped Fredericton as its first Maritime destination in July, 2014.

April 15, 2015, marks the big day when twice-daily, non-stop service between Toronto and Fredericton, New Brunswick begins, operated by WestJet Encore’s fleet of 78-seat, Canadian-made Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft. It is anticipated that air service into the area will bring about the “Encore effect”, lowering fares and increasing traffic in the regions that are often under-served or completely without air service.

The launch of service to Fredericton was the first in a series of firsts for WestJet Encore in Atlantic Canada, most recently with the announcement of four new routes out of Halifax. Encore service brings low fares, high value and a remarkable WestJet guest experience to the capital of New Brunswick, offering residents of Fredericton and the surrounding area the opportunity to take advantage of WestJet’s growing domestic, transborder and international network.

WestJet Encore‘s move eastward is part of a greater plan to continue to liberate Canadians in smaller communities from the high cost of air travel, just as WestJet has done throughout its 18-year history. Convenient, same-day connections are available via Toronto Pearson to a variety of WestJet’s domestic and international destinations including Montreal, Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Vancouver, New York (LaGuardia), Las Vegas, Orlando and Port of Spain,Trinidad and Tobago.

Below are the route details.See you in April!


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Commercial Property Tax IncreasesOn December 10, 2014, the provincial government followed through on its platform commitment to return commercial property tax rates to 2012 levels. The Fredericton chamber issued a press release in response to this decision, focusing on the persistent mischaracterization of the 2012 reduction as a break for big business:

The original reduction in the provincial portion of commercial property taxes has been mischaracterized as a handout to big business, most recently in the 2014 Speech from the Throne: “Other measures will be undertaken this year to increase government revenues. These include...rescinding a tax break previously granted to large corporations.”

According to a September 12, 2014 release by the New Brunswick Real Estate Association, “Government statistics show the cut in the commercial property tax benefited about 16,000 small and medium-sized business in the province.”

Chamber President Joseph O’Donnell added: “A few of the decisions made so far by the Liberal government appear aimed at reversing the policies of the former government. We hope that there is some recognition that not all of the policies enacted under the PCs were negative. As stated in the throne speech ‘Plans should be designed for the next generation, not the next election’.”

New Brunswick Drug PlanOn December 9, 2014, Health Minister Victor Boudreau introduced legislation to delay the implementation of the mandatory phase of the New Brunswick Drug Plan, which was set to begin on April 1, 2015. The minister announced that the program would undergo a comprehensive review, stating in part:

“Our government is committed to reviewing the New Brunswick Drug Plan to ensure that its costs are reasonable for individuals, its coverage is sufficient and employers are not subject to a required contribution,” said Health Minister Victor Boudreau. “Our government will also provide additional premium relief to lower-income individuals to ensure costs, for those that choose to join the New Brunswick Drug Plan, are fair and reasonable.”“This is a temporary solution,” said Boudreau. “The New Brunswick Drug Plan will continue as a voluntary plan until a comprehensive review is completed. Furthermore, it is not our intention to introduce any mandatory contributions from employers.”

Route Frequency Departing Arriving EffectiveToronto-Fredericton Daily 8 a.m. 11:09 a.m. April 15, 2015Toronto-Fredericton Daily 2:50 p.m. 5:59 p.m. April 15, 2015Fredericton-Toronto Daily 11:45 a.m. 1:16 p.m. April 15, 2015Fredericton-Toronto Daily 6:35 p.m. 8:06 p.m. April 15, 2015

West Jet

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FriendlySkies

The blossoming East Coast start-up scene will get a major boost once again with the second iteration of East Coast Startup Week, a series of events being held from March 16 to 22 in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

East Coast Startup Week gives the region the critical mass needed to support the growing community of entrepreneurs and attract investors and mentors from both inside the region and around the world. Startup week is a catalyst. When you bring entrepreneurs with good ideas together with mentors and investors, good things are going to happen.

The East Coast Start-Up Week features:

The Dialogue on Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17th, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Never has an evolving ecosystem to support social innovation and entrepreneurship in Atlantic Canada been more necessary to transform the way we tackle complex social challenges. This conference brings together thought leaders from all sectors alongside entrepreneurs to move big ideas forward for deep change in the region. Dan Pallotta, entrepreneur, author, human activist best known for his books and Ted Talk on changing the paradigm for non-profits and social ventures will keynote.

Speakers’ Series (Wednesday, March 18, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.) A number of prominent speakers will offer insights and guidance to East Coast entrepreneurs. Speakers will include John Stix, President, Fibernetics, Sean Power, Analytics and Product Manager, mentor at Google NEXT, HighLine, and Advisor at KISSMetrics, April Dunford, COO Tulip Retail, previously VP Marketing at Enterprise Products at Huawei, Director of Enterprise Incubation at Intel. Numerous other speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Startup Sleigh Ride (Wednesday, March 18, 7-10pm) A great evening with an exclusive group of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, speakers enjoying the great outdoors. This will be an incredible opportunity to mix and mingle while enjoying a sleigh ride through the forest.

20 Mentor Minutes (Thursday March 19) – This Mentor Matching event for early stage entrepreneurs provides the opportunity to connect with seasoned entrepreneurs giving the jumpstart needed to turn their ideas into action. Past mentors have included Gerry Pond, Desh Deshpande, Dan Martell, Andreas Souvaliotis and many others. Only 16 spots for mentees are available.

Breakthru (Thursday March 19, 5:30 p.m.) – This year, the ECSW full conference option includes tickets to the fifth Breakthru LIVE at the Fredericton Convention Centre. Hosted by the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), three aspiring entrepreneurs will become exactly that, overnight to the tune of $750,000 in prizes. The largest startup competition of its kind in Canada, this, year’s Breakthru began in October, 2014 with a call-to-action campaign for new startups. Fifty-six teams, representing 118 participants, made it through to the Breakthru Boot Camp in January. In the end, five finalists will be chosen.

With up to 600 business people expected to attend, Breakthru LIVE is one of the most anticipated events of the season. In addition to a cocktail reception and dinner, the audience will get to see each finalist pitch onstage, enjoy a live band, a special musical performance by the Calithumpians Theatre Troupe, and a inspiring keynote addressed by (to be announced).

Youth Entrepreneurship Summit (Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21) – The only youth entrepreneurship event in the region designed by students for students. This event brings together hundreds of high school and post-secondary students, and through insightful talks from young, successful entrepreneurs to experiential learning opportunities such as mentor matching and pitching, these students awaken a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship and begin to put their ideas to the test.

Start Up Weekend (Friday, March 20 at 6:00 p.m. to Sunday March 22) Start Up Weekend is a hands-on opportunity for entrepreneurs or aspiring entrepreneurs to experience first hand the process of pitching ideas, conducting hands on market validation, prototype development, team engagement, and leveraging mentorship, all in under 54 hours. Teams will pitch on the Sunday in front of a panel of judges for a chance to win prizes.

World class products and companies are being produced on the East Coast. East Coast Startup Week will help keep that momentum growing and support local entrepreneurs in making a critical contribution to the prosperity of the region.

All events will be held at the Fredericton Convention Centre. For more information on each event and how to register connect with the event coordinators at http://www.eastcoaststartupweek.ca or @StartupEast on Twitter.

March - April 2015

East Coast Startup Week Brings Entrepreneurs,Mentors and Investors to Fredericton in March

Critical Mass of Events Supporting the Growing Start-Up Scene

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East Coast Start Up Week

he province of New Brunswick will be in the limelight in June 2015, when it will host the largest tournament in the world for women’s soccer, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015. From June 6 to July 5, the best female players from the top 24 countries will be vying for the trophy. For the athletes and the organizing committee, this is a coast-to-coast experience, as matches will be played in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montréal, and Moncton. It is anticipated that viewers from more than 100 countries will be tuned in to watch this world-class event.

The recent Official Draw decided that Moncton’s seven matches would host countries from Group F – France, England, Mexico, and Colombia, as well as matches between Norway and Côte d’Ivoire, Brazil and Costa Rica, and a further round of 16 match.

The tournament will have significant impacts on Canada’s visibility, economy and sport tourism. The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance predicts the FIFA Women’s World Cup (and the lead up FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup) should generate 337 million dollars in economic

impact for the country, including 44 million dollars for New Brunswick alone. Canada’s sport tourism is worth about 3.6 billion dollars annually and is second only to China as the top sport tourism destination in the world.

Bobby Despres, Sport Tourism Coordinator for the City of Fredericton, sees the Women’s World Cup as a positive for all of the Maritimes.

“When world-class events like these come close to us, we in Fredericton, look at how we can be involved, and the value we can add in our own market. We do our own spinoffs, for example, by creating a soccer pre-event before we take a bus to watch a match or two in Moncton.” Businesses from all over the Maritimes are or can also be involved, as the organizing committee for the FIFA tournament is sourcing for everything from pageantry to temporary portolets and tent rentals.

The Fredericton District Soccer Association (FDSA) is also taking in this once in a lifetime opportunity. “Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Moncton has been a constant topic of discussion at our fields over the last year! Families are excited to have the opportunity to see world class soccer so close to home,” says Barry Morrison, Technical Director for the FDSA. The club has approximately 1450 members, and many have committed to buying Stadium Passports to see all seven matches and cheer on their favorite teams from the Moncton Stadium stands.

Since the Women’s National Team bronze medal finish at the 2012 London Olympics, interest in women’s soccer has continued to grow in the country. “Being able to expose New Brunswickers to the world’s top female teams and players can surely show people what an exciting sport we have. In return, exposing these FIFA athletes to New Brunswick is also very humbling,” shares Morrison.

Many Frederictonians have also raised their hand to be volunteers. The experience and learnings from volunteering for such an elite event will make them assets for the next big event in Fredericton, in New Brunswick, or in the Maritimes. For more information on the tournament or ticketing, visit www.fifa.com/canada2015 or call the Moncton office at (506) 853 7674 X4701. The world is coming, don’t miss it!

Fredericton to take inFIFA Women’s World Cupin Moncton

Photo Credit – City of Moncton: FIFA U-20 Women’sWorld Cup in Moncton in August 2014 – Nigeria against Korea (PKR)


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FIFA

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Photo credit - Fredericton District Soccer Club Association

Photo credit: Fredericton District Soccer Association

Photo Credit: City of Moncton - Crowds at the Moncton Stadium during the U-20 tournament

Randall Haslett CFPDivision Director Investors Group Financial Services Inc Fredericton

In his new role Randall will be looking to help other individuals come into the industry either from other careers or moving from other providers of financial services that may be frustrated by not having the right fit to offer full holistic planning to New Brunswickers. “I am very excited to help build a future legacy of new consultants at one of Canada’s leading firms before my ultimate retirement in the future. I want my legacy to be financial security in life and beyond for my clients and I want to ensure that there are high quality people joining Investors Group. My new role allows me to have a direct impact in both of those areas”.

If you are looking for a career change or working with a CFP, please contact Randall or Carol Haslett at the Fredericton office or via email.

1133 Regent Street, Suite 405Fredericton, NB506 458 9930

Email: [email protected]

Randall Haslett is a Financial Planner committed to helping area residents build wealth and security for themselves and their families. He has been doing so for over 21 years, since retiring from the Canadian Military.

Randall began his career with Investors Group Financial Services in 1994 and earned his Certified Financial Planner designation (CFP) in 1998. He

is joined in his practice by his wife Carol Haslett who has worked as his assistant for many years. Even though you may think that Randall and Carol might consider slowing down, the opposite has happened. Carol has upgraded her skill set to become a licensed consultant this year and Randall has taken on the added role of Division Director with the Fredericton Region.


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Member Pro�ile


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The Buzz

by Stacey Murray, Event ManagerThe Chamber and some of our members have takenadvantage of some wonderful events so far this year!

One of the greatest opportunities to help meet this labour shortage in New Brunswick lies in the Aboriginal population. The First Nations of New Brunswick, which consists of 15 communities and the off-reserve population, are young and emerging. This is in contrast to the rest of the population in New Brunswick. Over the next ten years, over 5,000 Aboriginal people will be entering working age in New Brunswick.

While this presents an exciting solution to the challenge of an aging workforce, there are barriers to seeing this opportunity become reality. In the NB Jobs Summit 2014, Kelly Lendsay of the Aboriginal Human Resource Council (AHRC) stated that there was a “great disconnect” between New Brunswick employers and the Aboriginal population. This disconnect is one that must be overcome.

A major factor that contributes to this disconnect is cultural sensitivity. This is a two-way street. Employers need to be educated about the cultural differences First Nations people bring to the workplace and First Nations people entering the workforce need to be informed of expectations of the workplace. In 2010, the provincial government partnered with JEDI to develop an NB Aboriginal Workplace Essential Skills (NBAWES) curriculum and is presently working with Aboriginal communities to bridge the cultural gap through Workplace Essential Skills training.

On Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Nick Norrad, partner at Spacek & Norrad Chartered

Accountants presented at our Lunch & Learn on tax

and accounting issues for small business owners.

This was a sold out event and those who attended

were satisfied with the presentation and learned

something new.

On Thursday, February 5, 2015

Ability New Brunswick and Enbridge Gas New

Brunswick co-hosted Business After Hours. These two

companies received a great turnout with nearly 100

people in attendance. Thank you to Cook In Services for

sponsoring the delicious food.

On Tuesday, February 10, 2015the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce hosted a free educational event called the Art of Networking, facilitated by Paul Kearley of Dale Carnegie Business Group. The attendance of this event was overwhelming, with nearly 100 chamber members in attendance. These members now have the knowledge and skills needed to network effectively and we look forward to seeing them at future networking events.

On Wednesday February 11 andFriday, February 13, 2015in partnership with LearnSphere Canada the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce hosted with sessions on Business & Entrepreneurial Leadership. This event sold out on February 11, so another event was added on February 13 that also nearly sold out. Thank you to Pierre Battah for putting on such a great session.

On Thursday, February 19, 2015

the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce and the Fredericton

North Rotary Club co-hosted a luncheon with guest

speaker John McGarry, President and Chief Executive

Officer of Horizon Health Network. Mr. McGarry discussed

Horizon Heath Network’s strategic plan for 2015-2020.

On Friday, February 20, 2015the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce hosted a Presentation Day with presenter, Richard Wunderlich, Director of Smart Grid Initiatives for Siemens Canada. Richard spoke on the importance of smart grid technology to NB Power’s long-term innovation strategy, its contribution to satisfying New Brunswick’s future energy demands, and why it matters to you.

On Wednesday, January 28, 2015the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce hosted the 41st State of the Province Address at the Fredericton Convention Centre with the Honourable Brian Gallant. There were nearly 1,000 guests in attendance at this event.

Thank you to the State of the Province Address sponsors! Siemens Canada Limited, Emera, Rogers TV, Grant Thornton, Stewart McKelvey, Bell Aliant, TransCanada, Fredericton Convention Centre, Advocate Printing, Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, Atlantic Lottery, BMO Bank of Montreal, Clowater’s Plumbing & Heating, CMS Consulting Inc. & Eagle Eye One Solutions Inc., Emerge Designs, Delta Fredericton, New Brunswick Association of CBDC’s, New Brunswick Medical Society, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, Robert Simmonds, Rob Blanchard Photography, Signature Sound, the University of New Brunswick and, Weddings and Events Designed by Sylvain.

Thank you, to everyone who attended the 2015 State of the Province Address, we appreciate your continued support of our events!

March 10, 2015Performance Excellence – Symplicity Seminars

March 12, 2015Business After HoursHosted by Massive Graphics

March 16, 2015Distinguished Citizen Awardsheld at the Crowne Plaza Fredericton Lord Beaverbrook Hotel

March 17, 2015Presentation Day – TransCanada Pipelineheld at the Fredericton Convention Centre

March 18, 2015Lunch & Learn – Building Strong Teamsheld at Kingswood Lodge

March 23, 2015Fredericton Rotary Luncheon - WestJetheld at the Fredericton Inn

March 24, 2015Business Over Breakfast hosted by Science East

March 25, 2015Performance Excellence – Symplicity Seminars

March 27, 2015Curling Funspielheld at the Capital Winter Club

April 9, 2015Business After Hourshosted by FreddyLink

April 14, 2015Performance Excellence – Symplicity Seminars

April 16, 2015Fredericton North Rotary Luncheonheld at the Fredericton Inn

April 16, 2015Tri-City Chamber Business Expohosted by The Chamber, Saint John Region

April 21, 2015Business Over Breakfasthosted by Cinnamon Café

April 21, 2015 Performance Excellence – Symplicity Seminars

April 23, 2015NEW Networking Event –Pecha Kucha Night held at the Station

April 29, 2015Presentation Day – David Campbellheld at the Fredericton Convention Centre

April 30, 2015Coaching & Mentoring - How to provideimpactful feedbackheld at Kingswood Lodge


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Chamber Events

For more information about our events visit www.frederictonchamber.ca

uilding an airline from the ground up takes time. It was a process many WestJetters were familiar with, after having built Canada’s most preferred airline from humble beginnings in 1996. It came as no surprise that these same WestJetters were up for the task when the question came down from the company’s leadership: Is it time to launch a regional airline? The concept was put to a vote by WestJetters and more than 90 per cent gave the project a green light.

That is when the real work began. A new president, a new aircraft, a new way of delivery a great guest experience were all questions that had to be answered before answering the biggest question of all: where will we fly? Luckily there were hundreds of communities across the country that were ready with an answer. So many, in fact, that WestJet decided to hold Encore Day.

Fredericton was an early contender, having taken part in Encore day at the WestJet campus. Encore Day followed the speed dating model, giving everyone a chance to pitch the many benefits offered by their community that would support air service. It must have been one heck of a pitch, because WestJet Encore tapped Fredericton as its first Maritime destination in July, 2014.

LET US WRITE YOU A PRESCRIPTION FOR AFFORDABLE GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE!

Call Blair or Robyn Corey 458.0102 or Ryan Boyer 452.1891 to tailor a plan suited to your needs. See what the Chamber Plan can do for you!chamberplan.ca

fredericton chamber of commerce - insight mar/apr 2015

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