march 13, 2014

timesChilliwack

CHILLIWACK PROFILES OFExcellence

“Excellence is an act won by training and habituation. We do not

act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have

those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” - Aristotle

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Profiles of Excellence, a

very special publication of the Chilliwack Times.

The women and men profiled in these pages come from a wide

variety of backgrounds, education, experience and expertise. What

they all share is what Aristotle describes in the quote above: a com-

mitment to excellence—an attribute that is not born, but bred in

training and repetition, in years of service to their profession and

to their community. The awards these business leaders have earned

are hallmarks of excellence, but the most important mark of excel-

lence is the respect and loyalty of their customers.

As you will discover in these pages, Chilliwack is a community

steeped in excellence in a great many fields. We are very proud to

present these Profiles of Excellence and look forward to many more

editions in the years to come.

Nick Bastaja

Publisher, Chilliwack Times

timesChilliwack


EEEEInside

AlgraBros. Development Ltd. .................................. 3Auburn Seniors Residences .................................... 5Canadian Tire ......................................................... 7Chartwell Residences ............................................. 9Chilliwack Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery ............ 11Little Mountain Veterinary Clinic ......................... 13Fraser Carpets ...................................................... 15Great Glasses ....................................................... 17Patten Thornton Barristers & Solicitors ................ 19

Stories by Paul J. HendersonPhotography by Cornelia Naylor

Design by Ken Goudswaard

Director of Advertising: Nick BastajaDirector of Creative Services: Kyra Sweatt


EW

hether the Algra brothers are rebels in the development community or avant garde leaders on the cusp of new

urbanism is a matter of perspective.

How about both?

“Without question we are operating outside the industry norm, but we are doing so because we believe there is a better way forward for land development, for homeowners, and for communities,” says Dave Algra who, along with brothers Peter and Phil are founders of AlgraBros. Developments Ltd.

Th e AlgraBros. emerged on the development scene in 2009 at a time when the industry was facing a major crisis. With the economy in a free-fall and the housing market on the verge of collapse, some might have questioned the wisdom of starting a development company in such an uncertain fi nancial environment. But where some saw risk, others saw opportunity and it was from there that the AlgraBros concept fi rst took hold.

“We didn’t get into this business because we have a high tolerance for risk,” explained Peter, the creative force behind AlgraBros. award-winning designs. “Rather we believed that there was room in the development industry for new thinking and innovative design concepts.”

Th is ‘new thinking’ stems from AlgraBros. set of shared core values that strive for quality of form and practicality of function. Th ese ideals are brought to life through the complementary and synergistic skills that Peter, Phil and Dave Algra each bring to the table.

Dave is in charge of property acquisition, zoning, the in-house investment group, as well as marketing and sales. Peter is an Ivy League-educated journeyman carpenter and a draftsman who oversees the site layout, home designs, building material selection, and building methodology training and supervision. Phil manages all aspects of construction, accounting, and supervises the master schedules for the Algra Bros. group of companies. Bringing these diverse skills to bear on a project allows for the type of in-house vertical integration that most developers can only dream of. As Phil points out: “By providing in-house solutions for land acquisition, all aspects

of the zoning and development process, product design, production, and sales and marketing, we are able to control the entire development process. We do not outsource any of these things.”

As a result of this vertical integration, the AlgraBros. are able to pass incredible value on to their customers. As one of three current developers in Chilliwack’s prestigious Garrison Crossing area, the AlgraBros. have quickly shot to the forefront in the sought-after neighbourhood. One of their recent ventures, the Brownstones on the Boulevard, are high-end, freehold townhouses with innovative fl oor plans.

“Th is is a completely diff erent and unique product in the Chilliwack market,” Dave says.

Th e project has already won the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) of B.C. award for best townhouse development, and the project is nominated for best single attached home for the CHBA National SAM Awards. Another aspect of the Garrison Crossing project that appealed to the AlgraBros. was the sense of community that Canada Lands planned for the area.

“A great house is one thing,” says Phil, “but when you put that house into a master-planned neighborhood that is built around the concept of ‘walkability’ and community, well, then you’re really on to something.”

In another example of innovative thought and design, the Algra Bros. recently fi nished a unique project of micro-suites for low-income seniors in Abbotsford. Th e project comprises two apartment buildings each with 32 units at just 295 square feet. Th e brothers designed and built the project for the non-profi t Lynnhaven Society and it serves as an inspiring illustration of how practical, quality housing solutions can be achieved even in relatively modest spaces. At the core of the AlgraBros. work is a four-pronged philosophy: sustainable land use; functional design; quality materials and construction; and transparent marketing.

“Th e land-use examples that we’ve followed for the last 30 years are not sustainable, and we feel there is a way to develop land more responsibly while simultaneously improving the quality of people’s lives and the communities in which they live.”

PHOTO: Dave, Peter and Phil Algra on the steps of one of their iconic Brownstones in Garrison Crossing.

“We believe the built

environment you exist in is probably one

of the top three variables of your

happiness.”

3

AlgraBros. Developments Ltd.www.algrabros.com

Administration:5848 Sappers Way

ChilliwackEmail [email protected]

Sales team:301-B 30721 Simpson Road

Abbotsford604-798-6169

Email [email protected]

AlgraBros. Developments Ltd.


EV

isitors to Auburn Seniors Residences would be forgiven for not realizing it’s a retirement home at all.

From the Hollywood ‘50s decor in the lobby to the exquisitely appointed boutique living suites, guests and residents feel a sense of home and quiet elegance all at once.

Th e Auburn’s upscale feel is important for residents who enjoy the best parts of independent living while having access to three meals a day, weekly housekeeping and an emergency pendant if health becomes an issue.

But the biggest appeal for many people, according to marketing manager Carol Vorderman, is simply that many people out there are lonely.

“Th ey might be in perfectly good health,” she says. “Th ey don’t particularly need any care services, but they sit there all day by themselves and it’s depressing.

“People are telling me more and more they just want to be around people.”

Th e Auburn is one of two Retirement Concepts properties in Chilliwack. Just down Young Road is Waverly Seniors Village, which has both assisted living and residential care.

Th e independent living seniors at Auburn appreciate that when, one day, they may need another level of retirement care, it’s available within a stone’s throw.

Parent company Retirement Concepts has grown to include 3,000 staff members caring for 3,100 residents at 20 seniors communities across British Columbia and in Quebec.

But it all started right here in Chilliwack when founder and chairman Abdul Jamal built McIntosh Lodge with partners in 1988.

Jamal’s road to retirement care was an interesting one. Born in Tanzania, he took over the family grocery business when his father passed away in 1964. Seven years later he moved to Canada where he and his wife again got into groceries and then the egg business.

After the McIntosh opened and into the

1990s, Jamal wanted to overturn the perception people have that retirement residences were depressing, institutional settings. McIntosh Lodge got into some hard times, Jamal purchased the business and eventually purchased a second seniors community in Victoria in 1996.

From there, joined by his son, Dr. Azim Jamal, the family-oriented business has grown, and the rest is history.

“At Retirement Concepts it is our mission to improve the quality of life for seniors,” the company’s mission statement says. “We strive to fulfi ll our mission by providing seniors with elegant, comfortable surroundings and by giving them a choice of services and programs to suit their lifestyle.”

At the Auburn visitors are met with activity and joie de vivre: people bringing their children to visit, grandchildren, or even the family dog, which is also encouraged.

Many Auburn residents are still active in the community, pursuing outdoor activities, attending classes, volunteering and enjoying a full life.

Th e two-bedroom or one-bedroom-with-a-den suites have air conditioning, maple kitchens, fi ve appliances, in-suite laundry and private balconies. For those moving from a single family home where gardening was a hobby, the Auburn features raised garden beds that are lush with fl owers and vegetables all summer.

Amenities in the facility include a library/lounge, a multi-purpose room and a hair salon. From the ‘50s Hubcap Diner and the European-style patio to the well-appointed dining room, residents have the dining experience of their choice.

Th e independence allows residents to cook any meals they like in their own kitchen, or head to the dining room, get together with new friends, stay active and be part of a community.

At Auburn, residents really can have it all.

PHOTO: Auburn marketing manager Carol Vorderman relaxes in one of the boutique suites.

Auburn Seniors Residences“We strive to fulfi ll our mission by

providing seniors with elegant, comfortable

surroundings and by giving them a choice of services and

programs to suit their lifestyle.”

5

Auburn Seniors Residenceswww.retirementconcepts.com

8531 Young Road604-792-3545cvorderman@

retirementconcepts.com


EW

hen Marcel Nadeau talks about the products, people and the shopping experience at his

Canadian Tire store, what emerges is a bubbling enthusiasm that’s hard to ignore.

“I’m having fun,” Marcel says from his offi ce overlooking the 50,000-square-foot store. “I enjoy coming to work every day.”

Canadian Tire is an established, big-box store known across the country as the go-to shop for automotive, household, hardware, recreational and outdoor living products of all kinds.

But make no mistake, this is a family business with individualized, locally focused products.

“Th is started as a family business and it still is today,” he says.

Th e company was started by the Billes brothers in 1922. It started as a family business, and the brothers believed in that model even when they expanded.

“Th e brothers believed that an independent owner would have a lot more vested interest,” he says. “We know it is one of the reasons of this company’s success.”

Canadian Tire is in Marcel’s blood.

“My grandfather shopped at Canadian Tire. My dad did. And my son does.”

Th e 51-year-old Marcel was born and raised in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. His fi rst job as a 15-year-old was installing cross-country ski bindings at a Canadian Tire store in his home town. While going to school, he worked weekends and summers at Canadian Tire. His father became an owner in 1981, and for 14 years Marcel worked as a general manager of his stores in Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario.

“My fi rst and only job has been with Canadian Tire.”

Marcel became an owner in 1995 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and arrived in Chilliwack in 1998 to build the local Canadian Tire, which opened its doors at 27,000 square feet in May 1999. In 2006, the store doubled in

size and in 2010 it grew yet again.

Next up, is an expansion and redesign of the store’s hunting and fi shing department, an area where Marcel is seeing a resurgence. Independently operated Canadian Tire stores mean owners can tailor their products to the local market’s needs.

“You won’t see another store like Chilliwack in the country,” he says. “It is merchandised to what we think our customers’ needs are.”

Something else that is individualized with Canadian Tire stores is sponsorship of local sports organizations and other programs.Th e Chilliwack store is proud to sponsor many organizations in Chilliwack.

“Th e fi re department, the police, schools, sports, the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, it goes on and on,” he says. “You have to give back to the community. Chilliwack will be my home forever, so we just think it’s the right thing to do.”

One important nationwide program is Jumpstart, which provides the ability for kids to enrol in sports and activities who otherwise couldn’t aff ord it.

“From karate to hockey to softball to gymnastics, JumpStart is still our major focus. We are fortunate to have the YMCA and the Big Brother and Sisters as the administrators of the program.”

Marcel’s commitment to operating a quality Canadian Tire store was rewarded internally with the 2012 Award of Excellence, the highest honour an owner can receive.

At the end of the day, Canadian Tire doesn’t just sell products, it creates memories and experiences. Marcel frequently hears stories from people of all ages who got their fi rst bike or their fi rst skates at a Canadian Tire.“It’s a family operated business looking out for the needs of families in our community,” he says.

“Our staff is the true reason for our continued success. All our team has pride in our store and in our service department. We Care.”

PHOTO: Chilliwack Canadian Tire owner Marcel Nadeau knows tires and everything else his local community needs.

“You won’t see another store like

Chilliwack in the country. It is merchandised to what we think our customers’

needs are.”

7

Canadian Tirewww.canadiantire.ca

Dealer Store 4337560 Vedder Road

Chilliwack604-858-9055

Canadian Tire


EL

ong gone are the retirement home days when seniors would be cooped up, hoping for a visit from a family

member.

At Chartwell’s three Chilliwack retirement residences — Hampton House, Lynwood and Birchwood — the residents fi nd such a sense of community, they have to fi nd time in their busy calendars for family and friends to visit.

“It works the other way around, backwards here,” says Lynnwood’s Marie Lashley. “Before, it was trying to fi t in time for mom and dad, but now the adult kids are saying ‘When do you have time for me to visit?’”

At Chartwell the focus is on “making people’s lives better,” and it’s more than a corporate catchphrase.

Chartwell Residences in Chilliwack off er a wide spectrum of choices for seniors from independent retirement residences to assisted living. Th eir residences are communities, and the philosophy is that the right support services can help prolong independence while satisfying individual needs.

Many seniors and their families struggle with deciding when is the right time to move into retirement living. Misgivings and misunderstanding are all put aside once they see what Chartwell has to off er.

“Many family members say ‘Why didn’t we do this years before when Mom and Dad can really take in what they have to off er?’” says Jillian Poole from the Birchwood.

Often adult children want their parents to live with them, feeling a sense of guilt at “sending” them to a “home.” What many overlook is that places like Hampton House, Lynnwood and Birchwood off er so much social interaction, so much community involvement and so many activities, that some will fi nd they are more alive than ever.

“Th is is where you go to live,” says Marie.Retirement living isn’t what it used to be. Residents of the Lynnwood, Birchwood and Hampton House participate in activities that contribute to all areas of development:

physical, mental, cognitive, spiritual, emotional and relational. Participating in all that Chartwell residences have to off er is no small feat. Glancing at the monthly calendars of all three residences, for example, there are half a dozen activities every day. Some of the options include site-and-be-fi t exercise, bus trips, movie matinees and happy hour in the lounge—these are busy places.

On the other hand, residents can take part in as much or as little as they like. Some remain independent while others are front-and-centre signing up for everything that’s off ered.

“One of our residents goes golfi ng every day in the morning,” says Crystal Collins of Hampton House. “In the afternoon he visits friends and family and comes and goes as he pleases. Th en there are other residents who are taking in as many activities as they can and they basically live in our main living room.”

All three of Chilliwack’s Chartwell residences are located within easy access to medical offi ces, Chilliwack General Hospital, shopping, library, parks and restaurants.

Th e three retirement residences off er a diverse mix of accommodation choices, from independent cottages to studios and one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. Th e broad spectrum of services, from independent to assisted living, allows residents to select the lifestyle that best suits their needs.

If you or someone you know would like to know more about retirement living, call your local Chartwell retirement residences today to book your own personal visit. Lynnwood: 604-792-0689, Hampton House: 604-703-1982 and Birchwood: 604-792-8793 or visit www.chartwell.com.

PHOTO: Chartwell’s Crystal Collins, Jillian Poole and Marie Lashley in the Lynnwood Residence dining room.

“Many family members say, ‘Why didn’t

we do this years before when mom

and dad can really take in

what they have to offer?’”

9

Chartwellwww.chartwell.com

Birchwood 45650 Patten Avenue

604-792-8793Hampton House

45555 Hodgins Avenue604-703-1982

Lynwood9168 Corbould Street

604-792-0689

Chartwell Residences


EB

efore Dr. Prabhjot Singh’s arrival in Chilliwack last year, anyone needing any kind of oral, facial or dental

implant surgery had to travel to Abbotsford or beyond. From wisdom teeth extraction to corrective jaw surgery, Dr. Singh is literally and fi guratively bringing smiles to a community that has never had someone with his experience and expertise before.

Not only is Dr. Singh the sole oral surgeon in the community, his Young Road clinic is the only authorized facility to provide deep sedation and general anesthesia, so that patients can be completely asleep for their procedures.

Th e sedation spectrum ranges from oral sedation, where the patient is still conscious, to deep sedation and general anesthesia, where the patient is completely asleep. Many dental offi ces provide conscious oral sedation, which helps with the patient’s anxiety but the patient is not asleep for their treatment. Dr. Singh not only performs treatment under conscious sedation, but can also provide treatment while a patient is asleep in the offi ce.

Dr. Singh was born and raised in Kitimat, studied dentistry in Edmonton, and moved to New Jersey to complete a residency in oral surgery. His training includes medical and surgical rotations in ICU, trauma, emergency and anesthesia.

Dr. Singh practised in the U.S. for several years, but always dreamed of returning to British Columbia. After extensive research and a few visits, he came to realize what a vibrant community Chilliwack was and knew that it was the perfect fi t for him.

“I lived in New York and New Jersey, both of which were too busy. I lived in Kitimat and found it to be too small. Th is community is the perfect medium. And since we’ve opened, everyone has been so welcoming and very grateful that they don’t have to travel for treatment anymore.”

Dr. Singh provides full scope oral and maxillofacial surgery, including dental extractions (including wisdom teeth),

treatment of traumatic injuries, treatment of pathology and dental implants. Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth.

Dr. Singh has a particular interest in orthognathic surgery—basically resetting the jaw into the proper position.

“In some cases, you can only do so much with braces,” he says. “It’s really gratifying and it has a huge impact. Biting into food properly is something you and I take for granted. Th ere are people going through their daily lives who are embarrassed to eat or smile. After the surgery, they are just so happy and they look more confi dent.”

Dr. Prabhjot Singh’s arrival in town not only brings important oral surgery treatment to the community, he is literally creating smiles every day.

“Our motto at Chilliwack Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery is ‘Community. Comfort. Care.’ Our goal is to provide quality oral surgery care in a safe and comfortable environment to the wonderful people of Chilliwack.”

PHOTO: Dr. Prabhjot Singh at his desk (left) and with his staff at his Young Road clinic (right).

“This community is the perfect

medium. And since I’ve opened

everybody is so wonderful and everyone is so grateful they don’t

have to travel for treatment

anymore”

11

Chilliwack Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery

www.chilliwackoralsurgery.com 303-8705 Young Road


Email [email protected]

Chilliwack Oral, Facial & Implant Surgery


EV

eterinarian Dr. Josephine Banyard is committed to a long-overlooked area of pet health: teeth.

Many pet owners take their cats or dogs in to the vet for check-ups and regular maintenance, just as humans see their family doctors once in a while.

But another thing that people do is brush their teeth regularly and make regular visits to the dentist.

How many dog or cat dentists do you know?

As of May 2013, there were just two licensed and practising veterinarians in all of British Columbia with a specialty in dentistry. Th at’s when Dr. Banyard made it three.

“It’s a very new fi eld,” she says. “Dentistry is distinct from medicine. It’s very complicated. Th ere’s a reason you’ve got medical doctors and dentists; there is too much to know in each fi eld.”

Dr. Banyard’s focus on the overlooked mouths of cats and dogs is helping pet owners realize that what is sometimes misinterpreted as old age in an animal is actually undiagnosed pain.

“Th ere is a lot of pain going on in our animals that people don’t realize,” she says. “Th ere are many overlooked signs of pain. When you touch a dog’s head and it fl inches, that could be pain. When you have a bad smell about a dog it could be the teeth.”

Th e number one disease of dogs and cats is periodontal disease, and that’s why Dr. Banyard wanted to take it on.

“Th ere is so much more that we can do for our animals. But it starts with the owner bringing the animal in.”

Dr. Banyard has been doing dentistry for 15 years, in serious study for the last eight. She has worked as a veterinarian since 1981, starting with large and small animals and moving to Chilliwack with her veterinarian husband in 1985.

Dr. Banyard is going to great lengths to educate the public about something that should be obvious: dental health is just as

important for animals as it is for humans.

“If you go the cheap route you are not going to have teeth.”

Th at “cheap route” is the increasingly pervasive practice known as anesthetic-free dentistry. Dr. Banyard points out that not only is there a real dollar cost to anesthetic-free dentistry, but it amounts to money for nothing.

“I’ve had some people come to me after they’ve had their pets teeth cleaned with anesthetic-free dentistry and I’m taking out teeth because the time they have lost in proper maintenance care. With this false hope the disease has been going deeper and deeper and deeper,” she says.

“Th e best anesthetic-free cleaning is brushing your pet’s teeth every day.”

She’s so passionate about educating pet owners — as well as her fellow veterinarians — about the subject of pet dentistry that she self-published a book “What’s in my mouth?” Th is was eventually picked up by a publisher, and the title changed to “Healthy Pet, Healthy Mouth: Why Dental Care Matters.”

“I’m trying to do what human dentists do except for animals,” she says. “We go to a dentist twice a year. We brush our teeth twice a day. For cats and dogs, I want to have owners brush their teeth once a day and see their veterinarian for dental assessment and treatment annually. I’d be thrilled with that.”

Before she got so deep into the fi eld, Dr. Banyard said she never thought people would brush the teeth of their cats and dogs.

“But they do.”

Slowly but surely Dr. Banyard is bringing the common if complicated human practice of dentistry into the realm of pet health here in the Fraser Valley.

Pets are increasingly forming an integral part of people’s lives. Th e teeth simply can’t be overlooked and Dr. Banyard is changing minds and changing the way people think of going to the vet.

PHOTO: Dr. Josephine Banyard sits in her clinic’s dental operatory (left) and checks a client’s teeth (right).

“There’s so much more that we

can do for our animals. But

it starts with the owner bringing the animal in.”

13

Little Mountain Veterinary Clinicwww.littlemountainvet.com

46793 Yale Road EastChilliwack

604-792-2844

Little Mountain Veterinary Clinic


EIf you live in Chilliwack, chances are you’ve

walked on a Fraser Carpets fl oor.

In fact, chances are you’ve done it more than once since the local company hasn’t only helped put down carpet, vinyl, hardwood, laminate or tile in thousands of rooms in homes in the community, Fraser Carpets is also a go-to for big corporate and government jobs.

“When I think of fl ooring a high school, just think of the hundreds and hundreds of kids that have walked on that fl oor,” says manager Rick Cartwright. “Th at’s kind of neat. We’ve done quite a number of schools in the community.”

Like an expertly laid hardwood fl oor, Fraser Carpets has been installed for more than 30 years in the same location on Airport Road.

“We’ve been in the community quite a long time,” Cartwright says. “And we like to be actively involved in the community.”

Fraser Carpets provides fl ooring to upwards of 800 businesses and homes every year.

Th e company’s longevity and commitment to the community means customers get a personalized experience when they walk in the door of the showroom.

Th e employees are experts in fl ooring sales and design who daily help homeowners and business owners alike fi nd the perfect fl oor for how people live, work and play.

When it comes to diff erent fl ooring types, all the major brands are represented.

Not only do Fraser Carpets customers get a more personalized experience than they might fi nd at big box stores, but the company’s membership in Flooring Canada, a 500-store nationwide buying group gives them purchasing power that they can turn around into prices other retailers can’t off er.

“We are ensured that we get the best price whenever we make purchases from the mills and other suppliers,” Cartwright says. “We can certainly guarantee the best prices in the market for the products that we sell.”

Fraser Carpets is a company that is

trusted for its work fl ooring homes across Chilliwack but also commercial, government, restaurants, First Nations housing and other buildings.

Part of the reason is that they specialize in a personalized service and off er free estimates and measurements.

Deciding what type of fl ooring is needed for a home can be daunting. With over 17,000 choices, the panoply of colours, themes, designs of carpet, tile, hardwood or laminate is near endless.

One Fraser Carpet customer service bonus is its website, linked as it is with Flooring Canada, to various tips, photos and videos to help users negotiate the options out there for the modern homeowner.

Floors and how they look and feel is an important part of any home or offi ce. Part of the Fraser Carpets sign of excellence is that they only work with senior installers and qualifi ed journeymen. Th at, and they guarantee what they install.

“Let’s face it, installers are the last contact our company has with the customer and it’s essential they show the company in a good light and they represent us,” Cartwright says. “Pretty well in all cases they do a good job. If somebody gets an installation from us, they know it is going to be done well and if there is an issue, it will get resolved.”

Whatever it takes to get it done properly.

What more could you ask for in such an essential aspect of your home or business? Fraser Carpets is a locally owned and operated business where “friends send friends.”

PHOTO: Fraser Carpet manager Rick Cartwright stands amidst some of his store’s plentiful stock.

“We’ve been in the community

quite a long time. And we

like to be actively involved in the community.”

15

Fraser Carpetswww.frasercarpets.ca

45855 Airport RoadChilliwack

1-877-764-3971

Fraser Carpets


EG

reat Glasses founder Bruce Bergez has spent the last few years as a reluctant David fi ghting against a

powerful Goliath.

“I didn’t seek the rebellious nature associated with David and Goliath, somebody versus the incumbent, but that characterization was kind of thrust upon me,” Bergez says. “When I was incarcerated, many of the guards had been customers and they called me Robin Hood. I don’t take these titles from an ego standpoint. I embraced it because the consumer embraced it.”

Th at’s right, incarcerated!

What caused so much turmoil in the eyeglass industry and pushed Bergez to highs and lows and everything in between, is two seemingly simple businesses practices: Using disruptive technology to give consumers the information they need, and giving three for the price of one.

In his home province of Ontario, Bergez was fi ned millions of dollars for contempt of court, served one year in jail and battled the incumbents for ten years by off ering free eye tests and using the information to retail glasses.

What’s so wrong with that you ask? In B.C., nothing at all. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t get some predictable heat from the competition when he arrived in the Fraser Valley two years ago.

After numerous threats and criticism from other retailers in town, he certainly hasn’t met the same challenges in B.C., and the “cartel” seems to have backed off .

From a consumer standpoint, “We’ve been received very well in Chilliwack,” says Bergez.

Bergez’s story begins in Ontario where his chain of stores began to use automated eye-testing equipment that allowed customers — for free — to receive the information they needed to then get a great deal on glasses.“But here in B.C., the consumer was given the choice to go where they wanted,” he says. “It follows the taxicab warfare in New York City. Th e taxicabs don’t like it when you call

a carrier who has a vehicle who says he is going to drive you from here to there for a fee but doesn’t call it a taxicab.”

Ever wonder why a piece of plastic, two screws and two pieces of glass costs so much money? It’s because one company controls one end of the business and the old guard of optical gatekeepers control the other.

Th e question of quality always arises when a retailer is off ering value. Th e answer is simple, says Bergez: “I achieved 24 stores in Ontario by selling great quality, never upsetting the customers, but I did outrage the competitors”.

On the subject of quality, “We let the consumer make that determination,” Bergez says. “I’ve been under that microscope for 25 years.”

Quality is not an issue at Great Glasses, as they purchase all lenses and frames in bulk on a yearly basis to drive down unit costs. Bergez buys from all the major manufacturers. Th at’s how the store can off er three for the price of one, and all along consumers have embraced the idea.

His motto: “You are a complex individual, you can’t get by with just one pair of glasses. Th ree for one is right for you.”

Great Glasses only exists in Chilliwack and Maple Ridge for now. Bergez has his sights on every major market in the Lower Mainland, later the Interior and the west-coast of the USA.

For now, this “David” is growing organically and slowly, fi ghting the small battles while providing a service that irritates Goliath but has him reaching hero status among Great Glasses’ constumers.

PHOTO: Great Glasses owner Bruce Bergez stands by his business’s three-for-one model.

“You are a complex

individual, you can’t get by with just one pair of

glasses. Three for one is right for

you.”

17

Great Glasseswww.greatglassesbc.com1-45695 Hocking Avenue


Great Glasses


EW

hen something in your life has gone wrong or needs fi xing, often times you need to hire a lawyer.

Th at’s why it’s critically important you hire a lawyer with experience, expertise and a commitment to the client.

Add to that a legal team with deep roots in the community, a fi rm that knows its way, literally and fi guratively, around the city, and you could hardly do any better than Patten Th ornton, Barristers & Solicitors.

“We have a really great history in town,” partner Kristen Mundstock says. “We’ve been around for a long time and we know a lot of people and we know our way around.”

Th e team at Patten Th ornton is made up of senior partner, Donald Patten, partners, Michael Th ornton, Kristen Mundstock and Andrew Briscoe and associates, David MacLachlan and Peter Th ornton.

Th e fi rm has expertise in many areas of the law. From civil litigation to employment law and from family law to personal injury, the team’s trial experience and legal expertise is broad.

Don Patten was born in Chilliwack, he was called to the bar in 1964 and he has been practising at an offi ce on Main Street in downtown Chilliwack ever since. His father was a doctor in Chilliwack and his grandfather was one of the fi rst doctors in the community. Don is a past president of Rotary, past chair of the Chilliwack Foundation, past director of the Downtown BIA, the Chilliwack Family YMCA and Chilliwack Restorative Justice. He also served in elected offi ce as a member of the school board for 14 years and chair for eight of those years.

Partners Michael Th ornton, Kristen Mundstock and Andrew Briscoe have similar commitment to the community.

Michael Th ornton became a partner in 1991. Kristen Mundstock became a partner in 1999, when former partner, Th omas Crabtree, was appointed a Provincial Court

judge. Andrew Briscoe joined the fi rm as a partner in 2002.

With its feet set fi rmly in the community, Patten Th ornton also practices a brand of law that sees that the lawyers have their eyes and hands right in your fi le.

“We are basically all hands-on as lawyers,” Th ornton says. “We’ll take a case from start to fi nish—do the interviewing, look at the documentation, decide if it’s relevant—those decisions are being made by lawyers rather than paralegals.”

A lot of law fi rms these days are using paralegals to do much of the important legwork in a court case. Paralegals are not lawyers and they do not have the same skills and knowledge that lawyers possess.

“Th at was the way we were taught,” Mundstock says. “We don’t get our staff to do things that require a legal mind.”

Th e practice of being so hands-on means the fi rm handles fewer cases than they might otherwise, but for the clients they do represent, that representation is as solid as it could be.

“I think the quality of service is better at the end of the day,” Th ornton says.

Hiring a lawyer in personal injury matters can be an intimidating experience for some people. To that, Th ornton says two things: fi rstly, they won’t charge you a nickel to come have a chat about personal injury claims, and secondly, the diff erence between representing yourself and having a lawyer is night and day.

When it comes to personal injury, for example, dealing with ICBC without a lawyer often means settling claims for under $10,000.

“Very often that is not even in the ballpark for compensation,” Th ornton says.

Putting your case in the hands of experienced, home-grown lawyers such as the team at Patten Th ornton means giving your case the best possible shot.

PHOTO: The Patten Thornton team has deep roots in Chilliwack.

“We’ll take a case from start to fi nish—do the interviewing, looking at the documenation, deciding if it’s

relevant—those decisions are being made by lawyers rather than paralegals.”

19

Patten Thorntonwww.pattenthornton.com

9245 Main StreetChilliwack

[email protected]

Patten Thornton Barristers & Solicitors


EPaul J. Henderson is an award-winning journalist who works for the Chilliwack Times.

He has been in the business of writing for more than 15 years, and his work has appeared in magazines and newspapers from Toronto to Vancouver as well as in the U.S.

Paul has an honours degree in philosophy from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont., and he graduated from the journalism program at Langara College in Vancouver.

He lives with his wife and two children in the Garrison Crossing neighbourhood of Chilliwack.

Paul J. Henderson


E CHILLIWACK PROFILES OFExcellence

Cornelia Naylor

Cornelia Naylor has worked as a reporter and photographer for the Chilliwack Times since 2009.

Her love of storytelling—in words, photos and video—lured her away from a teaching career and into journalism seven years ago.

Cornelia has English and education degrees from the University of Alberta in Edmonton and was trained in multi-media journalism at Vancouver’s Langara College.

A mom with three grown children, she currently lives in Cultus Lake with two cats.

EtimesChilliwack

march 13, 2014

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