Thunder Bay Economic Developments

In this issue:
CEDC Board Welcomes New Director
Thunder Bay Economic
Developments
Vol. 6 Issue 2
CEDC Welcomes Stacia Kean
TBAYTEL – Bundle your Business Services
Summer Company 2013
The Bitter Sweet Taste Of Success
Love What You Do and Let The Money Flow
BDC: Entrepreneurs First
Mining Readiness Strategy Update
Economic Indicators
On the Cover:
Mining Reasdiness Strategy
See page 8

Contents
CEDC Board Welcomes New Director
CEDC Welcomes Stacia Kean
TBAYTEL – Bundle your Business Services
Summer Company 2013
The Bitter Sweet Taste Of Success
Love What You Do and Let The Money Flow
BDC: Entrepreneurs First
Mining Readiness Strategy Update
Economic Indicators
Photo of Thunder Bay Regional Health
Sciences Centre - TBRHSC by: Paul Morralee
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9

The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) is pleased to
announce the appointment of Barb Courte Elinesky to its team as a Community Director
for the Board of Directors of CEDC.
Barb Courte Elinesky is the CEO of Cobra Drilling & North Star Drilling and is a strong
business leader.
Her ability to make quick business decisions, acquired through years of hands-on
management experience, and her close connection to the mining industry in the Thunder
Bay region makes her an asset to the CEDC team.
“My goal is to help local businesses be the catalyst in making Thunder Bay the hub of
Mining and economic activity.”
CEDC WELCOMES NEW ENTREPRENEUR CENTRE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Stacia Kean is the new Development Officer at the Thunder Bay & District
Entrepreneur Centre (EC). Prior to joining the Entrepreneur Centre, Stacia held the
position of Regional Business Counsellor with the PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise.
There she worked with entrepreneurs in all aspects of business development and
oversaw the expansion of PARO's business services throughout Northeastern Ontario.
Past experience also includes serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the
Canadian Community Economic Development network, board member for the
Canadian Committee for UNIFEM, and as a member of the Advisory Council for the
Entrepreneurship Program at Confederation College. With a background in social work
(BSW) and business administration (MBA), Stacia brings a wealth of experience to the
Centre, including working with First Nation and Francophone communities throughout the
region.
Interests
THE CEDC BOARD WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR
Stacia's interests include kayaking, supporting the businesses at the Thunder Bay
Country Market, and walking with her Bernese Mountain Dog Burt.
Page 1

“ My Business is going places.
I need fast, reliable in-office
solutions with the power to
keep me moving in the right
direction.”
We Can Do That
Tbaytel’s customizable Business Phone and Internet plans are loaded with
essential features and services, designed to increase your productivity,
without increasing your operating costs. Call today and talk to a
dedicated Tbaytel business relationship manager – you’ll be surprised at
what we can do for you.
Tbaytel – taking care of business
BUSINESS PHONE | BUSNESS INTERNET | BUSINESS SECURITY | BUSINESS MOBILITY
Call your Dedicated Customer Relationship Manager
807-623-4400 | 1-800-264-9501
tbaytel.net/business
BUNDLE YOUR
BUSINESS SERVICES
AND SAVE
Save up to 10% when
bundling your Business
phone with other
Tbaytel services.

Page 3

The proverbial phrase, “when life gives you lemons, make
lemonade” is exactly what Thunder Bay locals, Irene Kozlowski
and Joe Quaresima did back in the 2001 when the company
they worked for suddenly closed. Now 12 years later, the
partners head up one of North America’s most innovative
web-based businesses, Sencia Canada Ltd.
Specializing in online application development, Sencia
Canada boasts 18 employees and over 400 clients
worldwide. Ninety-six percent of annual revenues are
recurring, which offers stability to Sencia’s employees and
clients.
SIMS, best known in Thunder Bay, provides businesses with
the ability to update their websites with powerful, easy-to-use
tools using latest technologies but the company’s highest
revenue product is the Informetica System; a learning content
management system enabling clients to train students, staff or
customers online. With Informetica, users can access course
or topic libraries, transcripts and certifications significant to
their job roles or program of study. The system provides
powerful reports to managers and instructors.
“We have clients worldwide using Informetica, including
renowned Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company with
over 90 years of innovation in diabetes care,” says Kozlowski.
“Another large client here in Canada trains over 50,000
long-term healthcare workers in conducting patient
assessments. Sencia’s largest client has over 80,000 students.
They use the system to certify students in their coureware
offerings, including those at the University of Phoenix, the
world’s largest online university.”
Sencia is thriving in the competitive information technology
industry and is proud to be in Thunder Bay. Kozlowski
attributes these significant triumphs to the entire team. “People
who work here are passionate about what they do. We hire
professionals who will listen and learn about our client’s needs
and then transform or configure our systems to help them
achieve their goals. We totally understand that if our clients
do well, we do well. In recent years, technology has evolved
dramatically and clients are looking for companies that can
provide solutions specific to their needs.
Page 4
THE BITTER SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS
Staying on top of the latest trends, and investing in Research
& Development is something that the Sencia team focuses
on every day. Mobile trends and accessibility remain a top
area of focus today.
In terms of advice for budding online entrepreneurs, Kozlowski
is humble and recommends asking for help. “We as people
are always so hard on ourselves, especially as new entrepreneurs.
We need to listen to clients and partner with complementary
businesses to provide expertise from all angles. It is
pivotal in today’s market.” The Sencia story is proof positive
that a sour situation can really become something sweet!
Irene Kozlowski,
Co-founder of Sencia Canada Ltd.
Sencia's attention to client's business needs by providing
excellent support and services is Sencia's strength. Sencia
works with many clients, large and small, offering an excellent
mix of
e-business solutions.
Visit www.sencia.ca

In 2010, there was a huge phenomenon inspired by the
self-help bestseller and blockbuster called “Eat, Pray, Love”.
The story inspired millions of women to travel around the
globe in search of self-discovery and happiness. This is a
journey that Izabela Wozniczka, yoga instructor and owner of
“Life is Precious Yoga”, knows so well. The answer to finding
happiness, she discovered, is right in our own back yard.
Originally from Poland, Izabela fell in love with yoga by
surprise. With the goal of becoming a Master in Hapkido (a
Korean Martial Art), Izabela travelled to South Korea. To
gain strength, she started practicing yoga every morning.
Although she found it to be more of a chore at first, it is now a
passion she lives and breathes every day. “I had a black belt
in Hapkido and Tae Kwon Do, and graduated from
Kinesiology. Yoga was just a side dish for me at first, but then
it hit me-I had it all wrong. Ever since that moment, yoga is my
life; it is not something I do, it is how I live.”
This past September, Izabela opened the doors to the ‘Life
is Precious Yoga Studio’ in Thunder Bay. She wants to teach
people the roots of yoga as she feels many people only
practice for physical exercise. Hatha yoga is a holistic path
that includes postures, poses, breathing and meditation. “My
whole focus is to bring the yoga philosophy to my students
and to ensure they know why they do what they do in yoga
classes. I want to provide an understanding of the poses.”
At the studio, classical Hatha Yoga is practiced. It has many
physical, psychological and energetic benefits. “Yoga helps
create space for Prana (life energy) to move within the body.
When you see people who are 80 and 90 years old and
don’t seem to age, and are always on the move, you know
they have built up a lot of prana.”
Izabela explains that the human body develops clusters over
time, composed of negative emotions, lack of
self-esteem and negative life experiences. This prevents
energy and breath from travelling to every cell in the body.
Yoga helps clear blockages and prevents disease
manifestation.
“You should respect your body. If people understand how
precious their body is, how precious life is, they would never
engage in activities that harm their body.”
LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND LET THE MONEY FLOW
Izabela is convinced that the community is open to learn
more about yoga and as a result, she experiences
continued growth in the number of students coming to her
classes. With full classes every day of the week, most people
would consider the yoga studio to be a successful business
venture. For Izabela, having a full studio makes her happy,
yet she doesn’t use the word success in her business. “I don’t
even think about business; I think about teaching yoga. I am
a strong believer that if you do what you love, money will just
flow.”
Izabela has lived in Canada for the last ten years. A
Masters Program brought her to Thunder Bay and she
instantly fell in love with the community. “I like the fact that it is
a small city and you can drive from one end to another in ten
minutes as opposed to two hours.”
If students could only take one thing from the Life is Precious
Yoga Studio, Izabela explains she would want it to be selfawareness.
The Life is Precious Yoga Studio is located in the Centre of
Change in the old Hillcrest Highschool building and offers
classes Monday-Friday and on Sundays. For a class schedule
please visit www.lifeispreciousyoga.com
Namaste.
(In Sanskrit-the language of yoga- the word is namah + te
which means “I bow to you” - my greetings, salutations to you.)
Page 5

At BDC, our innovative solutions can help you invest in equipment.
Our consulting and financing services work hand in hand to offer
entrepreneurs made-to-measure solutions, which may include
financing that matches investment needs or customized repayment
periods that extend over an asset’s entire life. It’s just the flexibility
you need to free up cash flow and grow your business on your
own terms.
www.bdc.ca/equipment
expand your premises?
Are yOu reADy tO INVEST IN EQUIPMENT?
Thunder Bay Business Centre
102–1136 Alloy Drive, thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6M9
807 346-1795
enTer neW marKeTs?
buy a business?

BDC: ENTREPRENEURS FIRST
SERVING ENTREPRENEURS IN THUNDER BAY FOR OVER 50 YEARS
BDC Thunder Bay’s Business Centre is celebrating its 52nd
anniversary this year. We are proud to have been a part of
Thunder Bay’s growth for more than half a century.
Much has changed since the Industrial Development Bank
— as the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) was
known back then — first opened a branch in Thunder Bay in
1961. But our commitment to the community and
entrepreneurs success has remained strong.
BDC is the only bank dedicated exclusively to entrepreneurs
and we serve 28,000 of them across Canada. We help
build resilient, profitable companies by offering financing and
consulting services that are tailored to the needs of each
business.
Financing
• In terms of financing, companies can look to BDC for a
variety of solutions, from extra money to protect cashflow
while implementing new projects, to financing real-estate
acquisitions, equipment purchases and market expansion
at home or abroad.
• Our financing complements that available from
• private-sector financial institutions.
Consulting
• Entrepreneurs need more than financing. They also need
advice they can count on at a price they can afford.
That’s where BDC Consulting can help.
• BDC’s business experts advise entrepreneurs on
overcoming key challenges including in such areas
as market development, strategic planning, transition
planning, financial management, operational efficiency
and innovation.
Accelerate your company’s success with technology
• Study after study has shown that investing in technology
can boost a business’ sales, productivity and profits.
That’s why BDC has launched a series of consulting
solutions and set aside $200 million for loans to help
entrepreneurs gear up with technology.
Aboriginal Banking
BDC’s Aboriginal Banking offers customized, long-term and
flexible solutions specially designed for Aboriginal
entrepreneurs. Under the Growth Capital for Aboriginal
Business program, Aboriginal entrepreneurs can obtain
financing to a maximum amount of $25,000 for start-ups
and up to $100,000 for existing businesses. If your business
requires additional funds, BDC offers other financing options.
Our team in Thunder Bay is dedicated to accelerating
entrepreneurs’ success.
• John Guarasci – Business Centre Manager, Northern
Ontario (Thunder Bay & Sault Ste. Marie)
• Erin Laine – Account Manager
• Madora Moshonsky – Account Manager
• Lori Desimone – Senior Client Relationship Officer
We’re proud of the long-term relationships we have fostered
over the years in this community, working side-by-side with so
many great entrepreneurs to build strong businesses. Thank
you for trusting us.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you think we can help:
1136 Alloy Drive Suite 102
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6M9
Phone: 807 346-1795; Fax: 807 346-1790
www.bdc.ca
Page 7

The City of Thunder Bay, together with Fort William First Nation
(FWFN) and the Thunder Bay Community Economic
Development Commission (CEDC) has initiated a Mining
Readiness Strategy to address and strategically plan for
growth in Thunder Bay and the Northwestern Ontario Region.
The Strategy is a major step forward to help guide all of
Northwestern Ontario in capitalizing on the many
opportunities that mining development is expected to bring
to the Region.
The Strategy has been developed to assess and present
recommendations on the following:
• Economic impact of mining development;
• Mining supply chain;
• Energy infrastructure;
• Transportation infrastructure;
• Municipal infrastructure;
• Available labour;
• Education and training;
• Project development;
• Finance strategies
The Draft Final Report was posted, on April 5, on the CEDC
website at www.thunderbay.ca/miningreadiness, in order to
allow for public input. Input is an important step to ensuring
the relevance and applicability of the Strategy. Public
Information Sessions were held on April 9 and 15. The
purpose of these information sessions was to present and
discuss key project findings and recommendations of the
Strategy, and obtain public input and feedback.
Page 8
MINING READINESS STRATEGY UPDATE
The Final Report will be released at the Northwestern Ontario
Municipal Association (NOMA) Annual Meeting &
Conference on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Victoria Inn at
1:55pm.
The Report will also be available on the CEDC website at
www.thunderbay.ca/miningreadiness
From left to right
Stephen Lindley, Project Manager – SNC Lavalin
Tim Commisso, City Manager – City of Thunder Bay
Chief Peter Collins, Fort William First Nation
Mayor Keith Hobbs – City of Thunder Bay
John Mason, Project Lead - CEDC

ECONOMIC INDICATORS
MONTHLY BUILDING REPORTS
March 2013 YTD
Permits Units $ Value Permits Units $ Value
Apt Blocks 0 0 0 2 0 2,600,000
Duplex Dwellings 0 0 0 5 5 790,000
Single Dwellings 9 9 2,398,050 18 18 4,217,050
Res. Add. & Alts 60 0 362,000 155 3 1,710,900
Shed & Garage 5 0 75,000 10 0 153,000
Commercial 2 0 261,000 6 0 5,172,000
Comm. Add & Alts 11 3 3,041,000 36 3 5,660,500
Industrial 0 0 0 5 0 239,000
Ind. Add & Alts 1 0 10,000 7 0 492,000
Institutional 0 0 0 0 0 0
Inst. Add & Alts 3 0 875,000 10 0 2,545,000
Totals 91 12 7,022,050 254 29 23,579,450
Source: City of Thunder Bay ‐ Development Department, Building Division
LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS, SEASONALLY ADJUSTED, THUNDER BAY (CMA) (3 month roaming average)
Feb 2013 Mar 2012 to Mar 2013
Thousands
Change
(Thousands)
% Change
Population 103.1 103.1 0 0.6 0 1
Labour Force 64.2 65.2 1 ‐1.1 1.6 ‐2
Employment 60.4 61.1 1 ‐1.8 1.2 ‐3
Unemployment 3.8 4.1 0 0.6 7.9 17
Unemployment Rate (%) 5.9 6.3 0 1 ‐‐ ‐‐
Participation Rate (%) 62.3 63.2 1 ‐1.5 ‐‐ ‐‐
Employment Rate (%)
Note: Population 15 and over
58.6 59.3 1 ‐2.1 ‐‐ ‐‐
Source: Statistics Canada ‐ Labour Force Information
THUNDER BAY ‐ CONSUMER PRICE INDEX & SELECTED SUBGROUPS (By Urban Centre, 2002=100)
Indexes
% Change from
Feb 2012 Jan 2013 Feb 2013
Jan 2013
to Feb 2013
Feb 2012
to Feb 2013
All‐Items 117.3 116.8 118.4 1.4 0.9
Shelter 108.6 109.2 109.4 0.2 0.7
Rented accommodation 106.4 108.1 109 0.7 2.3
Owned accomodation 102.9 102.6 103 0 ‐0.3
Water, Fuel, Electricity 142 143.8 144 0.4 1.7
All‐items (1992=100)
Source: Consumer Price Index
139.9 139.3 141 1.4 0.9
Page 9