fredericton chamber of commerce - insight nov./dec. 2015

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PRINTERKKP Fredericton

PROJECT MANAGERWendy Morrell

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTWendy Morrell

PRESIDENTStephen [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]

CONTRIBUTORSStephen HillKrista RossMorgan PetersJanet MoserStacey MurrayDr. Bronwyn MulherinJason PetersLeo CaverhillMary-Ellen & John Landry

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Fredericton Chamber of Commerce364 York Street, Fredericton, NB E3B 3P7Tel: (506) 458-8006 Fax: (506) [email protected]

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President’s Message

CEO’s Message

Chamber WelcomesNew Members

BIMP/Hive

Advocacy Update

Trans Paci�ic Partnership

Does your organizationwant to increaserevenues?

Full Pint softwaredevelopment ready foranother glass

SLS Health Coaching

Your Eyes and Digital Devices

The Chamber Buzz

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TRANS PACIFICPARTNERSHIP

InsightNov. - Dec. 2015

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Stephen Hill, President

ne of the highlights of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce’s event calendar is the annual Business Excellence Awards (“BEAs”). 2015 marks the 32nd time we have honoured the achievements of businesses and organizations in our community. We have adjusted our award categories and their criteria over the years (including this past year) to best reflect the perpetually changing realities of the modern business ecosystem, but the goal remains the same - to recognize and celebrate excellence in our community.

The BEAs are also a good reminder of the depth and breadth of our business community and organizations. This year alone our finalists come from various sectors/industries such as forestry, real estate, retail, auto sales, ICT, accommodations and a company that uses something called ‘nuclear magnetic resonance’ - which I cannot even begin to understand. All of this is to say that I fully support the city’s drive to be the startup capital of Canada and a hub of innovation and learning, but see excellence everyday from business and organizations of every type. We have a lot going on in Fredericton, but too much of it is behind the scenes - or maybe we are just so used to living and working in such a great community that we lose perspective.

I’d like to particularly recognize the Douglas Animal Hospital, this year’s recipient of the KPMG Resilience Award. In July 2011 the animal hospital was badly damaged by an overnight fire, requiring the structure to be rebuilt. Immediately, their staff, clients, other veterinary services providers and the general public stepped up with their time, supplies, space for surgery and much more. Less than one week later they were back up and running in an interim location on St. Mary’s Street (with an assist to the City of Fredericton’s planning/zoning division). And under a year later they were back in their original location. Throughout the ordeal, they (and their supporters) ensured ensured their animals continued to receive the best of care.

By the time this article runs, the recipients have been announced, but I think we should recognize all of our finalists any of whom could have been selected to take home the awards:

Small Business AwardAudioCorpGreen Imaging TechnologiesYard Gear Sales and Service Inc

Large Business AwardAV NackawicCrowne Plaza Fredericton Lord Beaverbrook HotelPlaza Retail REIT

Not-for-Profit Organization AwardCanadian Diabetes AssociationHabitat for Humanity Fredericton Area IncFredericton Playhouse

Community Leadership Through Business AwardBeaverbrook Art GalleryWear Your Label IncRiverview Ford Lincoln Sales Limited

Start-Up AwardHot Spot ParkingSimpTek TechnologiesSmartSkin Technologies

Business Person of the Year AwardKelly Richard, Kelly A Richard Bookkeeping Services LtdRivers Corbett, Relish Gourmet BurgersWendy Hallihan, Wendy Hallihan Realty Ltd

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Nov. - Dec. 2015

Krista Ross, CEO

Insight

What is excellence? My google search tells me it is “a talent or quality which is unusually good and surpasses all ordinary standards.” October 18 - 24th is the week that we celebrate Small Business Week in Canada. During that week, the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce has traditionally held our Business Excellence Awards banquet - this is how we recognize excellence and this year was no exception with our banquet and celebration on October 22. This year (as in the past) I was overwhelmed with the quality and quantity of nominations that we received from businesses & organizations, from employees who nominated businesses they work for, from peers of business owners, and from members who felt that other businesses needed to be recognized. Since the inception of the awards in 1983 up to and including this year, 137 businesses, organizations, and individuals have been recognized by the chamber for excellence. And we salute them!

But when I got thinking further about excellence, I realized that every day, business owners must be even better than excellent… because they have to be experts at so many things. I decided I would list some of the qualities of a business owner - things at which he or she must be unusually good and surpass ordinary standards… here’s what I came up with: brave, hardworking, creative, risk-taker, leader, determined, go-getter, multi-talented, role-model, passionate, resourceful, bold, decisive, honest, flexible, dedicated, social, planner, self promoter, tough, competitive, communicator, ambitious, reliable, likeable, persistent, strong. This coupled with the ability to be all those things while getting by on less than recommended sleep and, in some cases with less than recommended income! That, in my mind, constitutes excellence! And sometimes, when one of those businesses fail, business owners very quickly refocus, or… pivot and take their talents in a new entrepreneurial direction and try again! Could there be any greater representation of excellence and determination than that?

Now, some of you reading this article may be thinking… I certainly know a business owner or two who doesn’t have all of those qualities. For the most part, however, people who begin their own business and run them successfully have some or most of these skills, characteristics and talents. Or they find a way to surround themselves with a team who possess these skills, characteristics and talents. These business owners and entrepreneurs create a powerful engine in our economy. According to the Business Development Bank of Canada, SMEs represent 99.8% of all companies and employ 64% of private sector workers. They are the engine of our economy.

Let’s take some time to recognize the excellence in the business community around us. Not just those award-winning businesses and owners who are celebrated for their talents and success…. but for every person who is willing to take the risk and create an opportunity for themselves… and those of us they hire to work with them! Your courage and passion are to be commended and celebrated every day. And remember, one of the best ways to recognize a small business and their owner… is to do business with them!

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Loft 1 Inc.30 Knowledge Park Drive, Suite 230Fredericton, NB E3C 0J1Tel: (506) 262-7956Email: [email protected]: loft1media.comMain Contact: Tony Daye

Fire-Alert Fredericton3 Lindsay LaneBurton, NB E2V 0J7Tel: (506) 260-6203Email: [email protected]: fire-alert.caMain Contact: Brian Lollar

Color Trends Professional Painters33 Foster AvenueBurtts Corner, NB E6L 2C4Tel: (506) 449-3194Email: [email protected]: www.colortrends.caMain Contact: Desmond Griffiths

Atlantic Data Systems560 Main Street, Suite 100Saint John, NB E2K 1J5Tel: (506) 563-8484Website: atlanticdatasystems.comMain Contact: Kevin Lamb

Konsulati, Inc.14 Islandview DriveFredericton, NB E3C 1K5Tel: (877) 456-6785Email: [email protected]: konsulati.comMain Contact: Eric Mayfield

James West Photography285 Canada StreetFredericton, NB E3A 4E3Tel: (506) 440-6157Email: [email protected] Contact: James West

Hello toourNewest


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New Members

Fredericton Marathon Inc.527 Dundonald Street, Box 195, Fredericton, NB E3B 1X6Email: [email protected]: frederictonmarathon.comMain Contact: Paul Lavoie

Vu 22 Photography559 Smythe StreetFredericton, NB E3B 3E7Tel: (506) 476-2825Email: [email protected]: vu22.comMain Contact: Andrew McNamara

Special Olympics New Brunswick411 St. Mary's Street,Fredericton, NB E3A 8H4Tel: (506) 455-0404Email: [email protected]: specialolympicsnb.caMain Contact: Josh Astle

Corked Wine Bar & Lounge83 Regent StreetFredericton, NB E3B 3W3Tel: (506) 260-6010Email: [email protected] Contact: Charlotte Burhoe

University of New Brunswick Student Union21 Pacey DriveFredericton, NB E3B 5A4Tel: (506) 453-4955Email: [email protected]: unbsu.caMain Contact: Travis Daley

Newest

Nov. - Dec. 2015

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MembersNew Members

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by Janet Moser

n late September the Hive Incubator, home to the Business Immigrant Mentorship Program and Hive mentee clients, moved from 30 Knowledge Park Drive to 50 Crowther Lane (Knowledge Park Building 5). This move is extremely exciting and we are so pleased to be next door to our friends at Planet Hatch. We would like to thank Ignite Fredericton, Planet Hatch and Knowledge Park for the support and inclusion into their business development ecosystem.

So close in fact that we have a nest in Planet Hatch with an entry directly into our fabulous new office space. The move is in the best interest of our immigrant investors which now allows them full access and integration into the business development epicenter of Fredericton. Building a strong relationship between Planet Hatch, their state-of-the-art facility and high-growth start ups is a perfect marriage for our investors.

The advantage of the Hive Incubator is to foster the business development readiness of our provincial immigrant nominees. Newcomers are offered an office space, administrative support and removal from the isolation of their homes in order to accelerate their business startup.

With our ever-increasing aging demographic our reality is such that immigration will play a key role in the economic prosperity and population recovery of New Brunswick. If you would like to know more please contact the Hive office at [email protected]

Janet MoserDirectorFredericton Immigration Business Services


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BIMP

by Morgan Peters

Nov. - Dec. 2015

by Morgan Peters

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Advocacy

Connect Your Business with Medical ResidentsAs many people in the community know, one of the Fredericton chamber’s top priorities over the past decade has been our physician recruitment efforts. What these efforts have looked like in practice have evolved to reflect changing circumstances over the years, but the goal remains the same - to ensure that all Frederictonians have efficient access to primary healthcare. To further this goal, we are looking at piloting a new program that will leverage our greatest resource - our members.

One of the biggest challenges facing new physicians is the prospect of starting the business side of their practice, for which they receive scant formal training. We are looking for to create a “menu” of standing offers to medical residents that will help ease this transition to the business world and can be used as a recruitment incentive tool. Are you a lawyer willing to waive closing fees? Perhaps an accountant willing to do personal income taxes for free? Or maybe a daycare with a space reserved for a medical residents’ child? We want to hear from you!

If you have an offer that we can use for this purpose (or would otherwise like to get involved in our physician recruitment efforts), please contact Morgan Peters, Policy & Research Manager at [email protected] or(506) 451-9742.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Policy ResolutionEach year we attend the Canadian Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting to vote on policy resolutions submitted by local chambers. Approved resolutions form the basis of the national chamber’s advocacy and government relation efforts. The Fredericton chamber has submitted a resolution in 2015 regarding the regulation of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), with a focus on maintaining and expanding the relative regulatory advantage that currently exists in Canada - particularly in relation to the United States.

Canada has been a leader in the use of commercial drones, allowing such use since at least 1996. Since first issuing Special Flight Operation Certificates (“SFOC”) for commercial use in 2007, the number of approved applications has sky-rocketed in the past two years: 2007 = 44; 2008 = 64; 2009 = 66; 2010 = 66; 2011 = 149; 2012 = 229; 2013 = 945; 2014 = 1672. Commercial uses for UAVs in Canada currently include cartography/land surveying, environmental protection/monitoring, agricultural planning, weather forecasting, filming, mining, telecommunications and more.

In order to maintain this competitive advantage and fully exploit the potential benefits of UAVs, Transport Canada must not only carefully consider current or pending regulations from a medium- to long-term perspective, but also be prepared to quickly react to rapidly changing uses and circumstances. Safety, privacy and commercial needs will continue to evolve as the fledging commercial and recreational uses continue to proliferate. The creation of two exemption categories in November 2014 by Transport Canada is a signal that the government is cognizant of the need to adjust rules on the fly.

Maintaining a regulatory regime that is sensitive to business needs will not only allow Canada’s domestic companies to grow the economy and create employment, but may also attract foreign investment or relocation. Getting the rules right at this early stage can extend Canada’s position as an innovator and pacesetter with UAV technology use. For an innovation and technology hub like Fredericton, there could be opportunities to develop (or improve) uses in a wide variety of sectors.

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n early October, 12 countries, including Canada concluded negotiations of the long-awaited Trans Pacific Partnership. While we will have to wait for the complete details and ratification of the agreement to fully judge the deal, we can reasonably expect that it will produce a regulatory environment that is more conducive to trade on a massive scale. The signatory countries have a combined population of 800 million people and make up 40% of the world’s economy (lead by the United States and Japan) and the jurisdictions involved will surely want to add other economies to the deal such as China, India and the Philippines.

Here in New Brunswick, this cannot help but create a more positive situation as it relates to exporting. Changes to tariffs and duties make our goods and services more competitively priced in the global market. Also adding to the positive export circumstances are current market conditions which see the Canadian dollar at a lower value than in recent years - a significant plus in the export game) The TPP creates access to new markets in some of the fastest growing populations. New Brunswick has traditionally been the most export dependent province in Canada, with three-quarters of our GDP produced by exporting outside the province. Now, with these new access points - businesses must focus on value add in our resource sectors and indeed, with all export products to ensure that we are getting the most value for our products in the global marketplace. When we export, new money comes into our economy and this has a positive spin off effect for the prosperity of our provincial economy in its entirety.

But the advantages of free-trade are not just felt on the export side. Canada is now in a strong and unique position in North America - we have a trade deal with the Pacific Rim and Europe. As Finn Poschmann, President and CEO of APEC writes: “The Canadian opportunity is spectacular. The potential for a quick drop in domestic tariff and non-tariff barriers will lower costs for imported food and services. Our consumers, manufacturers and their employees get a straight-ahead win, because it costs them less to buy the things they need to go about what they do best.”

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been at the forefront pushing for free trade agreements generally and the TPP specifically. As CEO Perrin Beatty states: “This is an exciting moment for Canada; this is an agreement that will help create jobs, spur innovation and increase consumer choice across Canada, while positioning is at the forefront of global trade developments.”

As with any broad agreement relating to trade and leveling the regulatory environment, there will be some groups that do not gain as much advantage as others, or see themselves as disadvantaged. It is recognized by most the some measures must be employed to help these industries transition to an increasingly free market world and will somewhat mitigate the impact on them.

Partnership


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Mr. Beatty continues, emphasizing the importance on being players in the global economy: “Everyone can agree; we can’t let the TPP happen without us. Left out on our own, others would take out place in regional supply chains. And Canada would forfeit a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape the rules that will govern trade for the next 10, 20 and 30 years.”

Some of the key highlights for business identified by the Canadian chamber include: - Immediate elimination of import duties on the majority ofCanadian exports to TPP markets - Access to new markets like Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia,Singapore, where Canada currently does not have trade agreements - The potential for high-growth countries like China, Indonesia and the Philippines to join TPP in the future;New disciplines on state-owned enterprises to make sure that Canadian companies can compete on a level playing field - E-commerce rules that will nurture the growth of cloud computing and other data technologies essential to Canadian business competitiveness - Provisions that will make it easier for Canadian services companies to get their people in and out of foreign markets - Tools to help small businesses take advantage of the agreement and manage their supply chains - Enhanced protections for investment and intellectual property so Canadian companies have the confidence to expand their presence and license products across the Pacific

It is not by chance that the vast majority of Canadian trade currently takes place with countries with which we already have free-trade agreements in place. As the world continues to globalize, we as Canadians and New Brunswickers have to capitalize on new opportunities and paradigms as they arise. In short, we rely in part on our governments to create conditions in which business can thrive, but it is up to individual industries and businesses to take advantage of evolving opportunities.

Nov. - Dec. 2015

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As your community economic development organization, Ignite Fredericton can provide the rocket fuel to help you grow your business!

Our specialists offer free, confidential advice and resources on topics such as:

Marketing

506.444.4686 | [email protected] | www.ignitefredericton.com City of Fredericton Marketing Partnership

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IGNITE CHAMBER AD.indd 1 15-03-27 9:41 AM

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CCC AGM

t the recent Canadian Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting and conference in Ottawa, the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce acquired the support of 99.66% of delegates from coast-to-coast on a policy resolution that aims to accelerate development of regulations for unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) technology, commonly known as drones.

With the use of UAVs for recreation, law enforcement and commercial purposes expected to continue to increase rapidly over the next several years and decades, federal regulations need to anticipate and keep up with the rate of change. Canada has been a leader in the use of commercial drones, allowing such use since at least 1996. Commercial uses for UAVs in Canada currently include cartography/land surveying, environmental protection/monitoring, agricultural planning, weather forecasting, filming, mining, telecommunications and more. There are, however, legitimate safety and privacy concerns that must be balanced with encouraging commercial uses.

As an entrepreneurial community and centre of innovation, Fredericton is well-positioned to take advantage of technologies that have emerging commercial uses. This policy position asks the federal government to continually work on finding the right balance of safety, privacy and commercial interests with the goal of maintaining Canada’s and Fredericton’s position as a world leader in this important and evolving technology.

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Sept. - Oct. 2015

by Jason Peters

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AdvocacyWant to increase revenues?

mmigration and the exporting of goods and services provide new opportunities for Atlantic Canadian businesses. However, chances are your business has overlooked potential revenue sources in your own backyard. Maybe your organization should be considering looking within the borders of Canada for additional business and growth opportunities through productively engaging aboriginal communities and businesses.

Many First Nation communities are now following the examples put forth by St. Mary’s First Nation (Fredericton, NB), Madawaska Maliseet First Nation (Edmundston, NB), Membertou (Sydney, NS), Millbrook (Truro, NS), and Glooscap First Nation (Hantsport, NS) with their existing and planned business projects. They are becoming more engaged in the world of economic development, and are strategic with their opportunities. The Government of Canada, through Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, is assisting economic development programs targeted at developing First Nations capacity to generate own-source revenues.

The corporations provide great benefit with the provincial economy through the employing of First Nation community members and non-Aboriginal locals from surrounding municipalities. These dollars generated by the economic development pursuits are spent on goods and services at a local and regional level, building economic strength for the whole region.

An independence on ever-decreasing federal funding has led many First Nation communities to explore the benefits of community development corporations. These corporations provide a higher level of accountability for band councils, band members, potential partners and lending institutions. Even though no two are structured alike, many of their visions are the same — to become less reliant on federal government funding and achieve self-sustainable, responsible development.

In this way, First Nations can access funding that others cannot as the federal government has Aboriginal-specific funding pots. Many of these program dollars can be accessed in partnership with non-Aboriginal companies and organizations. In some cases, a partnership with a First Nation band, corporation or firm can greatly assist an organizations’s bid on government contracts due to set-asides, multipliers, and other project incentives. Having said this, doing business in Mi’kmaq or Maliseet territory is extremely complex as First Nation’s often hold rights, title and a very different way of doing business that may seem incompatible with the objectives of the non-Aboriginal business. Businesses require assistance in first identifying the challenges, and exploring and taking advantage of the opportunities presented to lead them in productively engaging aboriginal communities. This may in fact enable business to bridge the cultural, bureaucratic, and historical divides that have stymied aboriginal / non-aboriginal relations in Canada. Aboriginal demographic in Canada is the fastest-growing segment of the population with the number of Aboriginal people living in urban centres growing substantially. This demographic is not simply a rapidly expanding customer base, but a virtually untapped workforce. Perhaps the non-Aboriginal population is also not aware of the number of university, college and trade school graduates that live within the First Nation communities.

I encourage your business or organization to recognize that some businesses are beginning to see great value in developing strategic partnerships with First Nation communities, corporations and firms as this could be a tremendous opportunity for all parties invoilved.

Wela’lin (Mi’kmaq) / Woliwon (Maliseet) / Thank you / Merci,

Jason PetersPresidentNation2Nation [email protected]

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Does your organizationwant to increaserevenues?by Jason Peters

Nov. - Dec. 2015

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Insight 14

Nov. - Dec. 2015

Full Pint Software

wo Fredericton entrepreneurs are using their unique skill sets and resumes to bring revolutionary innovation to the service industry.

Luke Megarity and business partner Rae Tretiak have come together to create Full Pint Software Development, a company constructed on the principles of enhancing, optimizing and innovating the way employees and employers work together to create schedules and maximize efficiency.

Originally competitors with their respective companies, the two began working together when Tretiak moved to representing Red Bull. At the time, Megarity was representing Jaegermeister. A match made in heaven in the service industry.

On a seemingly normal night out in Halifax, Megarity and Tretiak found themselves waiting an abnormally long time for their refills. When they noticed the reason for the long wait, their innovative minds took over.

“When we noticed our waitress was behind the bar staring at her phone, we knew their was an opportunity,” Megarity notes, “we realized the dependency between the service industry and cellphones and came up with an idea to help the two work together.”

Their app, On The Floor, offers an opportunity for employees to schedule, and reschedule shifts with ease. With Megarity’s experience in the industry, he knows how difficult scheduling can be for staff, as well as managers and owners.

“Scheduling is a massive headache, so what we have been able to do is build a back office system,” a system he says is ten times easier than pen and paper, or even Excel. There’s also a built-in messaging system that allows staff members to request time off, trade shifts, as well as an automated system that will send messages to unscheduled staff members if a large reservation calls in or if someone needs to call in sick.

Megarity and Tretiak have teamed up with two Atlantic business moguls, Lee MacPherson and Martin Ferguson, to bring their vision to life. The app, which is being received with nothing but positive reviews from local bar and restaurants staffers, is also a tool for owners and managers to review how much time their staff are spending on their phones while on the clock at work.

“The way the system works is that we found a non-invasive way to monitor time spent on staff’s cellphones, without gathering information. All it does is grab initial time stamps,” Megarity clarifies, “On The Floor gathers 99% less data than any other app out there.”

Originally built for the hospitality and service industry, On The Floor has been gaining a lot of attention from retail stores, call centres, and any sort of company that is having issues with their staff being on their phones during office hours. The non-profit sector has also been using On The Floor for volunteer coordination and scheduling.

As far as the future is concerned, Full Pint Software Development wants to keep developing, “Everyone we’ve spoken to about On The Floor brings us new ideas. It’s constant innovation. We want to make our app the number one restaurant software in North America.”

To learn more about Full Pint Software Development and On The Floor, you can visit their website at www.fullpintdev.com.

- Leo Caverhill

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Full Pint Software DevelopmentReady for Another Glassby Leo Caverhil

Nov. - Dec. 2015

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Shawn Colpitts ofColpitts Developments presented a cheque for $1,600 to Mike Ross of Habitat for Humanity. These funds were raised at the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament on August 27th.

Funds Raised

Nov. - Dec. 2015

Are you frustrated and disheartened with loss in productivity while employee health deteriorates and sick days skyrocket? Are your profits plummeting while healthcare costs soar? Do you wish to do all you can for the well-being of your employees?

Productivity in business is not a matter of sheer brainpower, but rather a pyramid with physical well-being as its foundation, upon which rests emotional health, then mental acuity, and topped with a sense of purpose. 1 Since employee health is critical for productivity, the increasing incidence of chronic disease is a serious concern for employers. Employees with four lifestyle risk factors (such as obesity, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking, or high alcohol intake) report 50 percent more absences than those without these risk factors. 2 Further, treatments for chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer generate the majority of a company’s direct health-related costs. 3 Additionally, an unhealthy workplace is detrimental to learning, collaboration, and innovation.2

Imagine… Being respected as the employer who takes care of employee well-being Increased productivity from healthier and happier employees Decreased healthcare spending Attracting and keeping top talent Providing a caring environment where people thrive and exceed expectations

How can this be achieved? Many chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and 40 some cancers can be prevented and even reversed simply by adopting a healthy lifestyle – one that includes exercise, restful sleep, stress management, and, most importantly, healthy eating. 2,3 An employer can help employees improve their lifestyle behaviours through a corporate/workplace wellness program, which, when done properly, can provide significant return on investment (ROI). The keys to success include:

Organizational structure that understands it takes time to see ROISupported, if not role-modeled, by leadershipIntegrated, targeted, and comprehensiveHolistic approach that includes goal setting, exercise, stress management, and, most importantly, nutrition, guided by health coaches trained in methods that produce sustainable resultsBuilding in measurable outcomes and benchmarksEngage employees in activity developmentReward-drivenContinuous evaluation of programs and activitiesDedicated person assigned to workplace health and wellness programming or invest in a corporate/workplace wellness consultant to drive the investment to ROI

A healthy lifestyle results in more energy, more enjoyment, and improved productivity – essentially, the ideal employee (and employer). But as anyone who has tried to improve their health knows, temporary changes don’t produce long term benefits. The only true solutions are sustainable lifestyle solutions.

Mary-Ellen and John Landry are the owners and coaches of SLS (Sustainable Lifestyle Solutions) Health Coaching. They have over 50 years of experience as health and wellness leaders and are sought after for their knowledge, energy, and ability to communicate and connect with people. John is a certified coach with Tony Robbins’ Robbins-Madanes Training and Mary-Ellen is a certified corporate wellness consultant with Well.org. Their passion is to provide a supportive, non-judgemental community that empowers people to create positive life changes. To reach SLS Health Coaching please visit slshealthcoaching.com or call 1-800-705-1205.

1. Loehr, J. and Schwartz, T. (2001). The Making of a Corporate Athlete. Harvard Business Review, January, 120-128.2. Chénier, L., Hoganson,C. and Thorpe, K. Making the Business Case for Investments in Workplace Health and Wellness. Ottawa: The Conference Board of Canada, 2012.3. Please refer to the decades of work by leading medical experts such as Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. The documentary Forks over Knives is a great introduction.

Increase Your Productivityand Decrease YourHealthcare Costswith Sustainable LifestyleSolutions

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SLS Health Coaching

Your Eyes andDigital Devices

Nov. - Dec. 2015

ow many hours per day do you spend looking at a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, e-reader, smart phone, TV display or other digital display? Most of my adult patients estimate their screen time to be between 4 and 8 hours per day. This averages out to be between 20 to 40 hours per week and that doesn’t include what we might do at home. This represents a huge part of our lives and as such, is a big concern regarding the health and wellness of our eyes and vision. There are several hazards that long hours of digital device use can create. The first hazard is the cumulative lifetime exposure to High Energy Blue Light (HEBL) that is contributed by screen time. HEBL is a specific band of wavelengths of light that create glare, visual discomfort and, we now know, cumulative damage to retinal cells over time. This means that the light emitted from digital devices is damaging the inside of your eye. HEBL is emitted by digital displays, LED lighting and fluorescent lighting. Historically, we were only exposed to high levels of HEBL from sunlight, but with technology we are now exposed to it all day long indoors as well. The second hazard is computer vision syndrome or digital eyestrain. Digital eye strain encompasses several symptoms, such as: irritated eyes, difficulty focusing, fluctuating and blurry vision, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain.

The third hazard of digital devices is that if they are used within two hours before bed, the blue-turquoise light exposure from electronic devices can interrupt our sleep-wake cycle which affects the quality and duration of our sleep. Lack of quality sleep affects all facets of our life, including vision. Being well rested is important for general health, and that of our vision and eyes.

So, how can you counteract these hazardous effects? 1. New coatings available that are built into spectacle lenses. These advanced coatings are designed to block out 20% of the damaging high energy blue light of the visible spectrum. Studies have shown that this is the optimal percentage to relieve the eye strain and damaging light without altering vision.

2. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Basically, every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds and blink. This allows your eyes a break from the screen and the constant focusing and convergence required when looking at near objects such as the screen.

3. Limit screen time before bed to reduce its chances of interrupting your sleep cycle.

4. Finally, wear your sunglasses. Do you have to wear your sunglasses in the winter? Yes. Wearing sunglasses year round blocks out damaging blue light and UV light that is emitted from the sun’s powerful rays.

Questions? Go and visit your optometrist and see how you can implement these recommendations for better vision and better health.

Need an Optometrist? Downtown Optometry Clinic is accepting new patients. 506-454-4000

by Dr. Bronwyn Mulherin, Optometrist, Downtown Optometry Clinic, Co-Owner. Fredericton, NB

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Your Eyes and Digital Devices

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The Buzz

A RECAP OF EVENTSIN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER

• Mid-Summer Breakfast with Premier Gallant

• Chamber Golf Tournament

• September Business After Hours - Planet Hatch Turns 2!

• Attracting & Hiring the Best Employees

• Lunch & Learn - Business Management 201

• Federal Candidate Series - Matt DeCourcey

• September Business Over Breakfast

• Federal Candidate Series - Mary Lou Babineau

• Building New Brunswick's Innovation Ecosystem Together

• Presentation Day - NB Power/Mactaquac Dam Project

• October Business After Hours - Mandarin Palace

• Choose Fredericton - Student/Business Mixer

• Meeting with Petronila P. Garcia Ambassador to the Phillipines and Physician Recruitment Training


19

The Buzz

EVENTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS!

On Tuesday, November 24, 2015the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce will host the State of the City Address with His Worship, the Mayor of Fredericton, as guest speaker. This event is an occasion to learn about the initiatives being undertaken by the City. The Mayor addresses the major issues concerning the people of Fredericton and speaks on what we can expect in the future.

On Thursday, January 28, 2015the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce will host the State of the Province Address with the Premier of New Brunswick as guest speaker. This prominent event carries the premier’s message of the province’s accomplishments and future direction to the Fredericton business community. The State of the Province Address is broadcast live across New Brunswick.

For a complete list of upcoming events, visit our website at www.frederictonchamber.ca.

CANADA’S

PLANFOR

EMPLOYEEBENEFITS

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 nov./dec. 2015

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