Business in Calgary

March 2014 $3.50 

www.businessincalgary.com 

The Hectic 

but Gung-ho Life of a 

Dynamic Calgary 

Entrepreneur 

NEWS 

Spring 2014 • Page 79 

+SOLID: 

+ +Calgary’s Commercial 

Real Estate Market 

2014 

+CAL 

CALGARY 

INTERNATIONAL 

AUTO AND TRUCK SHOW 

Section 

page 101 

Calgary Chamber

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MARKETING 

& 2 bedrooms with Jack & Jill ensuite. 

One key to SAM’s success is his belief in quality advertising. His ad 

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COMMITMENT 

SAM is committed to giving WOW service to all of his clients during 

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on developing relationships with his clients... for life. In fact, some families 

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his commitment ASPEN to his RIDGE CLIENTS TERRACE FOR LIFE. SW 

52 

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366 214 

PATTERSON BOULEVARD SW 

On the ravine with pool, hot tub & outdoor fireplace! Extensively updated, beautifully 

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SPRINGBANK HILL | $2,900,000 

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216 24 

SOMME AVENUE SW 

Inner city townhome in pedestrian friendly Garrison Woods, walking distance 

to local shops & services. This unit offers a rare & much sought after feature: a 

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open concept main floor has a living room & dining room with 2 sided fireplace, 

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ensuite & private balcony with downtown views. The basement is fully finished 

with an open games/media room with bar.

Contents 

volume 24 • number 3 

PUBLISHERS 

Pat Ottmann & Tim Ottmann 

EDITOR 

John Hardy 

COPY EDITORS 

Lisa Johnston & Nikki Mullett 

ART DIRECTOR 

Cher Compton 

cher@businessincalgary.com 

On our cover… 

Barry Ehlert, owner and managing partner of golf courses in 

Calgary, Edmonton, and Montana. 

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER 

Jessi Evetts 

ADMINISTRATION 

Nancy Bielecki 

nancy@businessincalgary.com 

Kim Hogan 

kim@businessincalgary.com 

Melissa Arthur 

info@businessincalgary.com 

March 2014 $3.50 


REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS 

Richard Bronstein 

Frank Atkins 

David Parker 

Lonnie Tate 

Mary Savage 

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS 

Heather Ramsay 

Stewart McDonough 

Andrea Mendizabal 

Parker Grant 

Nerissa McNaughton 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Cover photo courtesy of 

Ewan Nicholson Photography Inc. 

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The Hectic 



Entrepreneur 

NEWS 

79 

COVER 

Spring 2014 • Page 79 

+ 2014 

+SOLID: 

+Calgary’s Commercial 


+CAL 

2014 

CALGARY 

74 

INTERNATIONAL 


Section 

page 101 

Calgary Chamber 

44 

57 

101 

44 • the Hectic but Gung-ho Life of a Dynamic Calgary Entrepreneur 

Golf courses are an asset-based business, and they’re not making any more land 

By John Hardy 

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6 • March 2014 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | businessincalgary.com

SCHOLARSHIPS 

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Contents 

volume 24 • number 3 

THIS MONTH’S FEATURES 

57 

53 • alberta: Upgraded 

Everything you wanted to know about the North West 

Redwater Partnership’s refinery in Sturgeon County 

By Nerissa McNaughton 

57 • sOLiD: Calgary’s Commercial real Estate 

Market 

Calgary is well on its way to earning the ranking of an 

international market 

By Parker Grant 

62 • Condominiums are on the rise 

Real estate in our city continues to be robust and tightening 

inventory in the single-family resale market is good 

news for condominium owners and developers 

By Heather Ramsay 

62 

66 • renos as a solid investment 

From dazzling kitchens and hardwood to energy-efficient 

plumbing and lighting, renos have a solid ROI 

By John Hardy 

74 • 2014 Calgary international auto and 

Truck Show 

BOMA 

79 • spring 2014 

COMPANY PROFILES 

REGULAR COLUMNS 

10 • train à Grande Vitesse 

By Richard Bronstein 

12 • How Mainstream Became Extreme 

By Frank Atkins 

14 • Looking Back on (and Forward to) retirement 

By Lonnie Tate 

101 • Leading Business 

105 • the Calgary report 

Current developments for Calgary Telus Convention Centre, 

Tourism Calgary, Calgary Economic Development, and 

Innovate Calgary 

110 • Marketing Matters 

By David Parker 

89 • Pinnacle Group 

Drawing on three decades of experience 

93 • sunik roofing Continues Legacy of 

Leadership at 25 th Anniversary 

97 • kahane Law 

Not Your Average Law Firm… 

74 


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dependable is what we do.

train à grande vitesse • Richard Bronstein 

By RICHARD BRONSTEIN 

train à Grande 

Vitesse 

Years ago I rode France’s excellent fast train, the TGV, 

from Lyon to Paris. It was an amazing ride – fast, 

smooth, comfortable and competitively priced. This 

is a train that actually does 300 kilometres per hour. What 

is remarkable is that when you go into a curve, you can still 

walk down the aisle of the train without feeling like you are 

being thrown against the side. I think this has something to 

do with the suspension system and track design. 

It would be my fervent wish that we could duplicate 

something like that in Alberta. If we did, I would even take 

a trip to Edmonton just for the ride. 

But…the current discussion we are having about the costs 

and benefits of a fast train in Alberta seem more about 

smoke and mirrors than hard-headed analysis. 

The TGV is very successful and profitable in France 

because it serves a population of 60 million people in a 

country that is 100,000 square kilometres smaller than 

Alberta, with a population of four million. There are about 

12 cities in France with a population between 500,000 and 

200,000 in addition to Paris (three million) and Marseille 

(one million). There are another 20 cities with populations 

between 100,000 and 200,000. 

Bless the Van Horne Institute at the University of Calgary 

for doing its part to keep hammering for an Alberta bullet 

train. I think the institute should be commended for trying 

to make us think big and there may be merit in its argument 

that a high-speed train link between Edmonton and Calgary 

would open new and creative development synergies in the 

province. 

Unfortunately, given our lack of critical mass, such a project 

could also be a huge train wreck. I don’t know. Let one 

thousand consultants rule, as Chairman Mao might have 

said if he were a capitalist. 

The real thing that is wrong about this discussion is that it 

is too closed. We should not be talking about whether Alberta 

needs a bullet train or not. What we should be asking is for 

public input to develop an Alberta transportation plan for 

the future. The bullet train guys can come and talk. The city 

mayors can pitch the need for urban transit. The municipality 

of Crowsnest Pass can argue to relocate Highway 3. Cyclists 

can talk about bike paths. Ranchers can vent about hikers 

not closing fences. And we still haven’t finished with Highway 

63 yet. 

Instead we get a government committee responding to a 

particular interest group that wants to refloat the fast train 

balloon. 

This really shows the lack of wit and leadership in the 

Alberta government. 

There is absolutely no point in considering rapid rail as 

a single item in Alberta’s transportation mix. This is dull 

thinking. 

What the Alberta government should have done when it 

came under pressure to revive the idea of a bullet train is 

to say, “OK. Let’s talk about the train and everything else at 

the same time.” 

By having a broad public hearing process about future 

transportation needs in general, it would have given the fast 

train people a fair opportunity to make their case. It also 

would have given others the opportunity to make their case. 

At the end of the day the government would not have to 

make a commitment to anything. It can say, “There are some 

wonderful ideas here but sorry, we don’t have the money for 

any of this now.” 

That might disappoint some people, but at least the government 

would have a better baseline of knowledge about 

Alberta’s future transportation needs. 

What are the estimated vehicular volumes on the QE2 in 

five, 10 and 20 years from now? What is the impact of technological 

change such as the driverless car? What is a fair 

way to finance urban transit needs? The list goes on and on. 

To hold government hearings only on the bullet train, 

without considering the whole field of transportation needs, 

is rather shabby. 

If Richard Branson happens to go to an Oilers game and 

bumps into an Alberta cabinet minister, are we going to 

have government hearings about building a spaceport in 

Red Deer? 

That’s what this bullet train hearing is like. Completely 

irrelevant to the lives of most Albertans. 

C’mon government. Surely you can do better than this? BiC 


WOOD 

AUTOMOTIVE 

WOOD 

AUTOMOTIVE 

Wood Automotive Group: 

All Makes Collision Centre 

When accidents happen, Woodridge All Makes Collision Centre is the team you want working with you 

No one ever wants to be involved in 

an automotive accident, but unfortunately 

they do happen. Especially on 

snowy and icy roads in and around Calgary. 

Unexpected and unintentional vehicle 

incidents are a reality for drivers and the 

team at Woodridge All Makes Collision 

Centre has seen the damage, and are thankfully able to 

make the repairs. 

For over 30 years, the Wood Automotive Group has been 

providing quality products and services to Calgarians. Part 

of that service includes auto body repairs for all makes 

and models of vehicles, completed at their location just 

off of Barlow Trail and 46 th Street SE. “This state-of-theart 

facility enables us to deliver even more services to our 

customers. Our passions are people and vehicles, and sometimes 

those vehicles need repairs. We have the team, talent 

and logistical aptitude that helps make that process smooth 

and convenient for every customer we see,” explains Gerry 

Wood, president of Wood Automotive Group. 

The Collision Centre offers some of the most advanced 

technologies, techniques and experienced trades in the 

industry. It is the responsibility of the technicians and the 

shop to provide quality repairs, and to bring the vehicle 

back to same condition as prior to the collision. This is no 

small feat when a vehicle has experienced varying degrees 

of impact and decimation. 

As changes in the industry continue and new processes 

and standards are introduced, the Woodridge Collision 

Centre prides itself on being ahead of the curve. Their 

dedication to customer compassion, finite detail and environmental 

stewardship, sets them apart from the rest. The 

28,000-square-foot shop features numerous computers and 

diagnostic tools, leading-edge equipment, on-site paint 

Cailean Wood, manager at All Makes Collision Centre, and Gerry Wood, president of Wood Automotive Group. 

“Don’t find fault, find a remedy.” ~ Henry Ford 

calibration centre with advanced colour matching, and a 

great team. In fact the team includes dedicated estimators, 

administrative staff, body technicians, preppers, painters, 

detailers and porters. 

Safety and environmental consciousness are always top 

priority and that’s why all staff are adequately trained, 

water-based paints have replaced toxic solvents, and proper 

ventilation and breathing apparatus are standard in the 

shop. Furthermore, the Wood Group is always reassuring 

employee development and training. Licensed body technicians 

and painters are encouraged to mentor apprentices, 

and some, due to the RAP (registered apprenticeship program), 

can start as early as high school, giving the students 

an opportunity to understudy in the auto body industry. 

“Auto body repairs and painting are an art all unto 

themselves. The training, hands-on experience and problem-solving 

approach of our entire team is what makes the 

customer experience something positive after an oftentimes 

catastrophic event. We always aim to put ourselves in our 

customer’s position and offer empathy for their situation. 

Our dedication is to help customers through every step 

of the process, from dealing with the towing, insurance 

agency, rental car company and beyond. We’re here and 

we’ll do everything we can to complete a quality repair in a 

timely fashion, to put your vehicle back on the road as soon 

as we can,” says Cailean Wood, collision centre manager 

with All Makes Collision Centre. 

For more information, please visit www.woodauto.ca 

and www.allmakescollision.ca, or call 403.536.0518 

WOOD 

AUTOMOTIVE 

WOOD

How Mainstream Became Extreme • Frank Atkins 

By Frank atkins 

How Mainstream 

Became Extreme 

I 

consider myself to be a moderate 

conservative economist. I advocate 

market solutions where viable, I 

do not like chronic deficits and debt 

and I believe that smaller government 

allows the private sector to flourish. 

Ten years ago these were considered to 

be mainstream ideas. I do not have any 

solid evidence of this, but I am willing 

to bet that if someone had polled 

the economics profession 10 years ago 

and asked, what do you think of this 

Keynesian idea that without government 

intervention the economy will 

collapse into chaos, the overwhelming 

majority of economists would 

have said that this is an outdated idea. 

Then came the downturn in 2008, 

which appears to have revived the 

Keynesians, who now call themselves 

progressives. 

The interesting feature of the 2008 

downturn in Canada is that it was not 

as bad as the downturns of the early 

1980s or the early 1990s. If you are 

interested in this, you should read Statistics 

Canada’s publication, How did 

the 2008-2010 recession and recovery 

compare with previous cycles? by 

Philip Cross, published in January 2011. 

The new progressives do not want to 

read articles such as this, as it takes 

away their belief that big government 

is the only counter to the economic 

chaos created by the 2008 downturn. 

It gets worse. These new progressives 

then tell us that they are open to hearing 

all opinions, but then they are 

shocked to learn that some people may 

disagree with them. Their answer to 

this is to dismiss their critics as sadly 

misinformed individuals who cannot 

see the truth. This is much the same 

tactic that is used by the man-made 

global warming catastrophe crowd. 

Here in Alberta we have (at least) 

two perfect examples of this new 

breed of progressives. First we have 

our minister of finance, Doug Horner, 

who believes in deficit spending and 

accumulation of debt. Mr. Horner 

appears to believe that the whole budgeting 

process is just a bit too difficult 

for us to understand, as we (the taxpayers 

of Alberta) do not seem to be 

able to grasp that debt is not really 

debt in the traditional sense, as we are 

issuing debt to pay for infrastructure. 

Apparently, if we ever get into serious 

financial difficulty we could always 

sell a road or two. Further, Mr. Horner 

has made the whole budgeting process 

so convoluted that it is difficult to tell 

the actual size of the deficit that the 

government is running. He dismisses 

his critics without ever really giving 

any indication that he understands 

that there may be problems associated 

with this type of fiscal policy. The idea 

of responsible fiscal policy advocated 

by the Wildrose, the Canadian Taxpayers 

Federation and the Canadian 

Federation of Independent Business is 

now considered to be extreme. 

Second, we have Mayor Nenshi who 

has a long wish list of government 

projects, and an apparent unlimited 

desire to raise taxes to pay for these 

projects. Mr. Nenshi is perpetually 

exploring what he calls new ideas for 

raising revenue. Apparently, if city 

hall finds a new method of raising 

money, they will no longer have to 

raise property taxes every year. Mr. 

Nenshi calls this tax reform, and 

implies that somehow this is not the 

same as raising taxes. In response to 

criticism of this, Mr. Nenshi responded, 

“As politicians, we have to ignore 

those fringe elements and focus on 

what’s right for the community.” Mr. 

Nenshi does not entertain the notion 

that higher taxes may not be right for 

the community. Apparently, those of 

us who advocate low taxes and less 

government are now fringe elements 

and espouse extreme views. BiC 

Frank atkins is an associatE proFEssor 

oF EconoMics at tHE UnivErsity oF 

calgary, a sEnior FEllow at tHE 

FrontiEr cEntrE For pUBlic policy 

and a MEMBEr oF tHE advisory Board 

oF tHE institUtE For pUBlic sEctor 

accoUntaBility. 


Calling all 

gravity-defying 

entrepreneurs! 

Canada’s top entrepreneurs defy 

gravity and the odds. They elevate 

themselves and countless others — 

and we’re proud to celebrate their 

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National sponsors 

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© 2014 Ernst & Young LLP. All Rights Reserved. 

EY is a proud supporter of entrepreneurship

looking Back on (and Forward to) retirement • Lonnie Tate 

By LONNIE TATE 

Looking Back on 

(and Forward to) 

retirement 

Forty-two columns ago, the publisher of BIC and I 

agreed that I would write a column to focus on issues 

from an old guy’s perspective. Somewhere back there 

is a column on retirement. This is another one. I am in my 

15 th year of retirement ... so I think I qualify as something 

of an expert. 

I have learned that retirement is personal and entirely 

unique to the individual. I know you should retire at the 

first opportunity. In saying this, I assume you have some 

capacity to survive without employment income. 

I know the question: “How much is enough?” has little 

relevance. I also know if you last as long as me, there will be 

little similarity between what you used to be (and did) and 

what you are today. If you have more than two clues, you 

will grow (or shrink) into a stable financial state where your 

lifestyle fits your means. 

So if you know you are going to be different, why not 

start now? And if not right now, then develop a plan that 

will get you there in a short period of time. You can do stuff 

today that will start you on the trail to retirement without 

disrupting your working life. 

I was lucky ... I loved work. And when I had enough, I was 

ready to branch out and do different things. And now, I like 

the things I do even better than the fun time at work. 

There will be lots to do. The successfully retired people 

I know do not have enough hours in the day to do everything. 

Among other things, you will learn to do things on 

your own. I remember one of the first inconveniences after 

quitting work was figuring out how to get a copy made. The 

answer then was to go to the drugstore, stick a quarter in a 

machine and get a copy. Now you scan it in your (less than 

$200) multifunction printer. 

You will not be missed at work! Honest! 

While you may think that your clients, customers, business 

associates or whatever hang on your every word ... they 

do not. Incredibly, they will find a way to get by without 

you. Yes ... they will even flourish. I will never forget going 

to see one of my former partners at Ernst & Young after 

retiring. I gave the receptionist my (newly minted and prepared 

by me) CA card and she asked: “With what firm did 

you get your CA?” I had left just three months prior after 34 

years with the firm. 

If you have stayed with this column to this point, the 

majority of your life is likely behind you. Yes ... you are 

getting older. No one likes to dwell on it, but the amount of 

time we have on this planet is finite. My wife and I have a 

wide circle of friends as we live in two places. In the past 

year, we have lost eight. For the most part they went quickly 

and that is a blessing. Remember – the only sure things are 

death and taxes. 

Finally, you will be one of the rare ones if your health 

remains consistent and you are completely robust until the 

end. All the things you would like to do may not be doable 

a few years down the road. So you should get on the retired 

road sooner than later. 

In the first few years of my retirement, I continued to burn 

the candle at both ends. I was on a board or two and worked 

at some charitable fundraising in addition to trying to be 

retired. In a few words, I still was trying to be accepted as a 

working person. It didn’t work and five years ago, I ended 

up at Foothills Hospital where some really good folks in 

emergency and intensive care kept me alive. Now, with the 

help of some pills, I work on one candle at one end and lead 

a normal (and somewhat less frenetic) life. I proved no one 

is invincible; it can happen to you. 

Hopefully this has got you thinking. Next month I’ll detail 

some of the steps for successful retirement and share some 

anecdotal experiences that can get you into really good 

golden years. BiC 


Computer-friendly 

Available exclusively at

Rush, Revamped 

Full speed ahead for evolved upscale restaurant 

The brains behind Rush know a thing or two about pleasing 

Calgarian palates. The restaurant is part of Vintage 

Group, an iconic collection of award-winning eateries 

including Vintage Chophouse and Tavern, Redwater Rustic 

Grille, Bookers BBQ and Crab Shack, and Rise Bakery and Café. 

Vintage Group first opened Rush in 2008 as a true fine dining 

offering. Lance Hurtubise, the company’s president and 

CEO, travelled overseas to source out the best talent and 

trends in exquisite cuisine, which he brought back to launch 

the restaurant. 

Rush opened to excellent reviews, but something was 

missing. “Rush could have fit in at any international dining 

hot spot, such as New York or Paris,” explains Patrick Soul, vice 

president, premium brands at Vintage Group. “We were the 

definition of fine dining, but we lacked Calgary flavour.” 

Both born-and-raised Calgarians with ample experience 

in the dining business, Hurtubise and Soul understand the 

recipe for a truly successful eatery in Calgary – the ability to 

evolve to the city’s tastes. 

After attempts to tweak small details at Rush over the years, 

Vintage Group began to conceptualize a larger-scale change 

for the restaurant. Rush planned a strategic evolution of its look 

and menu in the summer of 2013. But the unforeseen fallout of 

the flood caused delays for many non-emergency construction 

projects, including the work at Rush. The scheduled completion 

date of September 2013 moved to early 2014. 

Now, Rush is back and better than ever. “We’re describing 

the new Rush as bold, brash, evolved,” says Soul. “Bold describes 

our new decor and menu, and we’re brash in a good 

way – not afraid to stand out.” 

As for the “evolved” part, Rush’s new mission is to put the 

customer first with a down-to-earth, egoless downtown dining 

experience. “We really want to give Calgarians what they 

want,” says Soul. “In researching this project, I sat down with as 

many people as possible to find out their favourite food and 

dining must-haves.” 

He learned one such necessity is accommodation for large 

dining groups. Thus, the new Rush has an expanded, customizable 

private dining area. The space can be set up boardroom-style 

for business presentations or configured banquetstyle 

for celebrations of up to 50 people. 

The restaurant’s new look is chic, yet cosy, and modern, yet 

timeless. Soothing neutral colours and sleek fixtures enhance 

the layout. “In line with our ‘customer-first’ philosophy, we redesigned 

the restaurant to provide the most attentive service 

and comfortable experience,” explains Soul. “We concentrated 

on making the space functional before we made it look great.” 

The functional details add up to what Soul describes as “practical 

fine dining. ” Through research, Soul and his team learned that 

diners want excellent food, but they also want to feel authenticity 

and a sense of welcoming at the restaurants they choose. “Just 

because you’re in a suit doesn’t mean you don’t want a burger 

and beer, and just because you’re in jeans and T-shirt doesn’t 

mean you don’t want a steak and red wine,” says Soul. 

Authenticity is evident in the new menu items as well. As 

part of the rebrand, the moniker “Ocean Prime” now accompanies 

Rush’s name. “Ocean Prime speaks to our variety of 

land-to-sea menu items, but it’s also representative of the 

high quality of our food,” says Soul. “We source out the best 

possible ingredients – period – and we prepare everything in 

the most authentic way we know.” 

For example, Rush Ocean Prime makes red velvet cake the 

old-fashioned way – using beets for rich colour, flavour and 

texture. Even the drinks are made using traditional recipes, 

such as whiskey sours with real frothy egg whites. 

The menu is eclectic and inspired by conversations with 

Calgarians. “We have appies like half-inch thick bacon, grilled 

and served with our signature barbecue sauce,” says Soul. “We 

also have house-made sushi rolls such as smoked beef tartare, 

braised short rib, lobster and yellowfin tuna.” 

In terms of entrées, the 32-ounce Canada Prime porterhouse 

is perhaps one of the most impressive dishes. “Canada 

Prime represents less than one per cent of graded beef; it’s 

the highest grade available in the country,” says Soul. “We also 

import our lamb from Colorado, which is arguably some of 

the best in the world.” 

With best-in-class cuisine and an authentic dining philosophy, 

Rush won’t be slowing down any time soon. “Our goal 

with the evolution of Rush Ocean Prime is longevity,” concludes 

Soul. “We want to satisfy and surprise the tastebuds of 

Calgarians for years to come.” 

For more information, visit www.rushoceanprime.com. 

100, 207 9 Ave. SW. • 403-271-7874 • rushoceanprime.com

Rush Seafood Tower 

Ahi Tuna 

Prairie Heritage Tomahawk Chop 

Colorado Rack of Lamb 

Mon - Fri: 11:30am - CLOSE • Saturday: 5:00pm

off the top • News 

Trico Homes’ Wayne Chiu Donates $3 Million to 

Bow Valley College 

Wayne Chiu, founder and owner of Calgary-based Trico Homes. Photo credit Bow Valley College. 

On January 22, 2014, Bow Valley College received 

an unprecedented donation in the amount of $3 million 

from Calgary businessman and philanthropist 

Wayne Chiu. Founder and owner of Calgary-based 

Trico Homes, Chiu was a board member with Bow 

Valley College for six years until November of 2013 

and has long been a supporter of social enterprise 

and innovation. 

In honour of Chiu’s donation, Bow Valley College’s 

School of Business has been officially 

renamed the Chiu School of Business. Although the 

community college has been offering business programming 

for several years, the School of Business 

officially opened in September of 2012 and offers 

non-credit continuing education as well as one-year 

certificates and two-year diplomas in fields ranging 

from business administration to interior design. 

“I really believe in lifelong learning,” says Chiu. “Because 

I am an entrepreneur and a businessman, I really believe 

for anyone to advance their career or life, they need to be 

continually learning.” 

Chiu adds, “It makes me feel really proud as a local businessman 

that we are able to donate money to the school 

where my passion lies, and at the same time, it makes me 

extremely fortunate to be able to give back to the community 

in this way.” 

According to David Allwright, dean of the School of Business, 

the donation will allow Bow Valley College to develop 

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(Left to right): Eleanor Chiu, Wayne Chiu, Sharon Carry (president and CEO, Bow Valley College), David Allwright (dean, Chiu School of Business, Bow Valley College). 

Photo credit: Bow Valley College. 

some programs and initiatives that will help enrich the student 

experience. 

“We will be able to provide mentorships with industry, 

providing opportunities to develop the soft skills that students 

need to be successful in the workplace,” says Allwright. 

“It is easy to teach the hard skills and most post-secondary 

institutions do that well, but the things that allow the students 

to be successful in the workplace are those soft skills 

– the motivation, the attitude, the behaviours, the desire, the 

intuition – all of those things that employers value that are 

the hardest to teach. They cannot really be taught; they can 

only be experienced.” 

Allwright says that in addition to enhancing the whole learning 

experience for students, the School of Business will also 

gain recognition and endorsement from receiving a $3 million 

donation from one of Calgary’s most respected businessmen. 

“A lot of students do go on to other post-secondary institutions 

for degree completion,” explains Allwright. “So this 

is recognition by somebody who the other post-secondary 

[institutions] know and respect. It says, ‘Yes, we are doing 

the kind of job the industry wants.’ Other post-secondary 

institutions view that endorsement very seriously.” 

Established by Chiu in 1992, Trico Homes builds new 

single and multi-family homes, offering an extensive selection 

of starter, move-up and semi-estate models in Calgary, 

Okotoks, Cochrane and Airdrie. While Trico homes has 

been recognized as one of Calgary’s top builders, their chief 

executive and founder is also being recognized as a top philanthropist 

– and one that will be revered at Bow Valley 

College for years to come. 

“This is a fairly major event in the life of any school of 

business so we are thrilled,” concludes Allwright. “This is a 

great celebration for us and something that will be cherished 

for quite some time.” BiC 


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worldwide. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the Web at www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml. © International Business Machines Corporation 2013.


Game On – Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer 

The Alberta Cancer Foundation invests in things 

that matter to Albertans: earlier detection, better prevention 

strategies, improved treatment and enhanced 

quality of care. As part of their commitment to making 

a difference, they look for events and projects that will 

make an impact for cancer patients here in Alberta. 

With that in mind, they are launching the Alberta Cancer 

Foundation’s inaugural Road Hockey to Conquer 

Cancer. 

Taking place on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 

WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, Calgary’s first Road 

Hockey to Conquer Cancer kicks off. Imagine – five 

exciting games and more than 50 teams coming together 

for a cause that is so close to so many. With every player 

united by one common goal to redefine the future for 

Alberta cancer patients it is sure to make a difference. 

Funds raised from this event will be invested in 

research led by the most motivated scientists across 

the country – research teams that can accelerate 

breakthroughs and deliver transformative new treatments to 

Alberta cancer patients through clinical trials. 

This dawn-to-dusk fundraising event features hundreds of 

spirited road hockey games, as well as musical acts, celebrity 

Photo courtesy of the Alberta Cancer Foundation 

appearances, interactive activities, food and beverages, and 

so much more. If you enjoy a challenge, being part of a team 

and donating your time and effort to an amazing cause, this 

is the perfect event to attend. BiC 


www.pwc.com/ca/dbia 

Great people 

to grow with 

People are a company’s most important 

competitive advantage. 

Through activities that keep your people informed 

and engaged, we can help move your private 

company towards your vision of the future. 

Darren Speake 

Business Advisor 

403 441 6216 

darren.speake@ca.pwc.com 

© 2014 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership. All rights reserved. 3705-03 0214

DR 


3D Cityscapes Collection 

30 x 48 The Past is Back - oil on linen 

24 x 30 Olympic Plaza - oil on linen. Photos, these two pages, courtesy of Webster Galleries. 

Réal Fournier’s vision oscillates 

between two worlds: one is found in 

[Réal Fournier’s] larger-than-life paintings reality, the other is a blend of intuition 

and imagination. As an artist, there are 

are sought around the world, yet he chooses few things Fournier is never without: a 

pair of 3D glasses, a bicycle and small 

to make Calgary home. 

sketchbook tucked into his pocket. 

His larger-than-life paintings are 

sought around the world, yet Fournier 

chooses to make Calgary home. Last 

RAWLYK 

year, while working on a series of 

uncompromised 

hockey portraits, Fournier had a vision 

craftsmanship for 

and it resulted in a collection of paintings 

that are unmistakably “Calgary.” 

over 20 years... 

Twenty years ago, Fournier captured 

Calgary’s homeless people through a 

series of paintings – feeling mythical, 

T yet S steeped I in N real C people . and 

D E V E L O P M E N 

their lives. The paintings came to 

life through his “Eyes Closed Sketch” 

method – a method that draws on pure 

imagination. 

Today, Fournier has returned to the 

city’s core to capture 20 years of evolution. 

He has discovered a new layer of 

curves, colours and citizens – amidst the 

steel, glass and concrete. Fournier captures 

the details that many people miss. 

This time, his eyes are wide open. 

Much like the city, Fournier’s style has 

also evolved and all of his cityscapes 

are painted in 3D. But his style is still 

whimsical – even magical … it is his 

signature. 

RAWLYK 

Young and old move about in 

D E V E L O P M E N T S I N C . 

the foreground while highrise towers 

soften and sway in the www.rawlyk.com 

sunlight. 



48 x 30 Dancing on the ice - oil on linen 

Fournier captures a movement that is 

youthful and vibrant. Animals blend 

into the layers with exacting precision 

– it’s only when you ‘dig deeper’ the 

depths start to surface. 

“Justice is served at city hall yet there 

are horses running free in front of the 

building,” observes Fournier. “Someone 

plays music on a street corner, your eye 

catches an outdoor sculpture and there 

is activity all around – it all represents 

the city – and I want to be a part of the 

journey,” he continues. 

“Seeing the city in 3D reveals an 

inner world … a new world,” he notes. 

“It’s much harder to paint a city in 

3D because you have to work with an 

existing environment. To paint authentic 

colours, you have to manipulate 

the colours – making them recede and 

advance – depending on the objects 

and position,” he says. 

From the Centre Street Bridge to 

Olympic Plaza, Réal Fournier has created 

a new generation of images – preserving 

both the young and the old landmarks. 

Fournier’s collection of 3D cityscapes 

are on display at Webster Galleries during 

the month of March. BiC 

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businessincalgary.com | BUSINESS IN CALGARY March 2014 • 25


ICON Business Park Transforms Foothills Neighbourhood 

into Bustling Business Centre 

Business partners Andrew (left) and Michael Hungerford (right) took invited guests on a tour of the ICON Business Park. 

For almost 20 years, the Haworth building was the 

heart of a thriving corporate campus in southeast Calgary, 

employing over 600 people in furniture manufacturing. But 

in 2009, the American company moved the base of its operations 

back to Michigan, leaving the area devoid of activity. 

Then, last summer, Vancouver developer, Hungerford 

Classic Bearspaw Views. Brand New Villas Lifestyle. 

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Client: MacDonald Development 


Oldest. Newest. 

Coolest. Warmest. 

What was once old is becoming very new and will be ‘cool’ in countless ways; 

East Village is transforming before our eyes. 

Change. It comes in all shapes and forms, for various 

reasons and is often met with resistance and scepticism. 

Yet when dedicated and dynamic people champion an 

idea, adopt a solid methodology, and garner community and 

municipal support, significant things can happen. 

One particular area of Calgary has seen and endured much 

change since its early beginnings. Once a thriving community 

that gave birth to downtown Calgary over a century ago, East 

Village (EV) has since endured cycles of boom, erosion and 

unfortunate decline over the generations. Yet it has always told 

an important story. 

In more recent years, private and grass-root efforts have been 

made to revitalize the area, but were unsuccessful. Thanks to the 

vision of many and the fortitude of former mayor Dave Bronconnier 

and city council, something significant and ingenious happened. 

In 2007, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) was 

created and formalized as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the city. 

Lead by a board of directors (who are accountable to the city 

council), CMLC was mandated to execute the Rivers District 

Revitalization Plan (which includes East Village) by delivering a 

robust public infrastructure program. This was to be no small 

feat, given the state of the area, longstanding perceptions and 

the substantial capital investment required. 

The plan was made possible by an innovative funding 

mechanism called a Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) which 

required both municipal and provincial approvals. The first of 

its kind in Canada, CRL is similar to what’s known throughout 

North America as ‘tax incremental financing’. It’s a mechanism 

by which property tax revenues – which result from increased 

assessment value of property and new development in the 

area – are accessed by CMLC to put approved infrastructure 

neighbourhood in town. 

improvements in place. 

In other words, the CRL creates a new tax base for the city. 

CMLC is not accessing current tax dollars or the City of Calgary 

tax base to put infrastructure improvements in place within 

the community. Rather, for a defined period of time CMLC can 

access funds that are being generated from new development 

to put necessary critical infrastructure in place. 

The CRL encatchment area includes the Rivers District area 

of Calgary, a 309-acre region in Calgary’s east end; the East 

Village community is 49 acres of that. 

As part of the CRL formula, tax dollars would then continue 

to be allocated to CMLC for the duration of the 20-year EV 

project, and would then flow back into the City of Calgary upon 

completion. 

With the CRL in place CMLC began the ultimate task of creating 

a sought-after community, and igniting a movement to downtown 

living and urban exploration. The project was developed to include 

a multitude of condominium buildings, high-end hotel, hybrid 

shopping experience (which includes both an urban shopping 

complex on one site and niche service-oriented retail throughout 

all other mixed use buildings), featuring restaurants and great 

gathering spaces. The new Central Library and the National 

Music Centre would also be showcased. 

“The East Village is going to be an exceedingly vibrant and 

revered place to live and visit year round. The forethought, 

considerations and planning that have gone into the entire 

project are unbelievable. An initiative of this size, using a funding 

model of this nature is very powerful and will complement the 

city in ways we have yet to experience,” explains Lyle Edwards, 

chairman of the board of CMLC. “We are immensely proud of 

how the project is evolving and the accolades and awards it 

has already received. How people see and experience the East 

Village will be forever changed for the better.” 

Relief. Recovery. Resolve. 

Calgary is strong. And so is East Village, the place where Calgary was founded 

and where the future of downtown living is being built today. 

Since 2006, Master Developer CMLC has led the transformation of East Village, and flood-proofing was 

an integral part of the master plan – in the past five years, we’ve raised the floodplain by up to four feet. 

That important investment paid off this summer: our two major residential projects sustained little or 

no damage, and construction continues. Our pride at the efforts of our neighbours and our community 

knows no bounds. Our commitment to delivering the master plan vision of the community is intact and 

our resolve is unwavering. We look forward to welcoming you to the newest, oldest, coolest, warmest 

INSPIRING COMMUNITIES TO BUILD, GROW AND BELIEVE. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT CALGARYMLC.CA OR CALL 403.718.0300. 

east village ® is a trademark owned by Calgary Municipal Land Corporation.


Properties, made headlines with the purchase of the Haworth 

building, Calgary’s largest manufacturing plant and one of 

the city’s largest buildings. 

The 761,000-square-foot facility sits on 45 acres of land 

and has been called one of the most beautifully-created 

office environments in the country. 

In February, Hungerford unveiled its plans to redevelop and 

redesign the building, transforming the site into a bustling 

business centre once again. At an exclusive media tour and 

open house at the facility on February 5, partners Michael 

and Andrew Hungerford took invited guests on a tour of the 

property, now called ICON Business Park, and discussed how 

the company plans to revive the area. 

“This is considered one of the choicest commercial real 

estate properties in the city,” says partner, Michael Hungerford. 

“But it’s been a dormant shell for many years. We’re 

bringing back the trucks. We’re bringing back the people. 

We’re bringing business back.” 

New renderings revealed at the ICON open house showed 

how Hungerford plans to turn the current, state-of-the-art 

building into a multi-tenanted, commercial and industrial 

hub offering easy access to air, truck and rail transportation. 

The building’s strategic location will allow it to take 

advantage of Calgary’s growing reputation as a logistics hub 

for Western Canada, and will appeal to manufacturing and 

logistics enterprises and suburban office tenants. With an 

investment of more than $10 million in refurbishment, the 

property will get a redesign including more than 60 new 

dock doors, exterior landscaping and customizing the interiors 

to meet the requirements of new tenants. The building 

will offer flexible workspace of up to 676,000 square feet in 

warehousing and 85,000 square feet in office space. 

“Hungerford’s renovation repositions the largest block of 

underutilized industrial space in Calgary,” says Bruce Graham, 

president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development. 

“This vibrant, reimagined space will be a welcoming home 

to a variety of new businesses in the heart of Calgary’s thriving 

industrial sector, thanks to the visionary shepherding of 

Hungerford Properties.” 

“We’re excited about breathing new life back into the 

building and revitalizing what is already an award-winning 

property by investing in it and making it attractive to businesses 

who can then, in turn, revitalize the neighbourhood 

with jobs and business activity,” says partner, Andrew Hungerford. 

Dubbed “southeast Calgary’s most intelligent 

workspace,” the building will now offer an unprecedented 

opportunity to lease award-winning warehouse and class A 

office space with a unique mix of quality, flexibility and 

amenities with great transportation access. Former building 

owner, Haworth, will be the first office tenant and new leasing 

opportunities in both office and warehousing are 

available now. BiC 

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Airdrie: The Booming City 

Genesis Land Development has been building communities 

across Alberta for more than 15 years. As the province 

continues to boom, they’ve focused on key areas, such as the 

city of Airdrie, to not only build homes but communities. 

Airdrie is one of the fastest growing municipalities in 

Alberta and Canada, with an average annual growth rate of 

7.78 per cent over the past five years. The city offers affordable 

home prices, good schools and easy access to major 

highways and Calgary’s downtown core. Airdrie is attracting 

first-time homebuyers looking to live in family-friendly 

communities with nearby access to goods and services, 

shops, restaurants and lifestyle amenities. 

Reflecting the company’s vision of building a bright and 

vibrant community is Canals Landing, a residential community 

nestled into the canals in central Airdrie. This thriving 

neighbourhood features an abundance of green space with 

close proximity to golf courses, shopping malls and most 

importantly, an elementary and new junior high school. 

To meet the growing need of affordable housing solutions, 

Genesis unveiled semi-detached homes that start in the low 

$300,000s. Buyers will enjoy the value of a semi without 

having to share common walls as the connections are only 

between the garages, delivering the benefits of a detached 

Showhome in Genesis Land Development’s community of Canals Landing, in Airdrie. 

home with the savings offered by smart design. The number 

of semi-detached homes is increasing in Calgary, but offered 

at high prices. In Airdrie, Genesis can offer these homes to 

consumers at affordable prices, not comprising on privacy, 

space or design. As the city continues to grow, housing 

options like these will continue to surge in popularity. 

Also, contributing to this thriving neighbourhood is Crystal 

Creek Homes, Genesis Builders Group, McKee Homes and 

ReidBuilt Homes. BiC 

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Competition Showcases Top Talent Emerging in the Energy Sector 

startups pitched for cash and in-kind prizes at inaugural Energy new venture competition 

Would-be energy sector entrepreneurs and emerging 

energy tech companies competed for a grand prize worth 

$25,000 at the inaugural Energy New Venture Competition 

on January 21, 2014. Finalists had 10 minutes to make their 

case, Dragons’ Den-style, to a panel of judges consisting of 

investors from Bluerock Ventures, Schlumberger Technology 

Corp, Fronterra Ventures, Collins Barrow and Altira Group. 

Created by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and 

Innovation at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of 

Business and Innovate Calgary, and supported by Cenovus, the 

competition was designed as a platform to help advance emerging 

energy technology companies and concepts to the next level. 

“We wanted to create an opportunity to help drive Calgary 

forward as a leader in energy technology and development, 

giving emerging companies a major hand-up with 

their ventures,” says Kim Neutens, director of the Hunter 

Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “We provided 

finalists with mentorship from experts in entrepreneurship, 

innovation, company creation and investment development 

leading up to the competition as well as the opportunity to 

pitch for cash prizes and network with potential investors.” 

FREDsense Technologies secured the top prize, taking 

home $15,000 in cash, $10,000 of in-kind services and the 

opportunity to pitch at the PROPEL Energy Tech Forum 

to more than 100 investors. The company edged-out the 

competition with their Field-Ready Electrochemical Detector 

(FRED), a novel electrochemical biosensor allowing for 

on-site, rapid detection and quantification of toxins in the 

tailing ponds. Started by a team of University of Calgary 

students and alumni, FREDsense Technologies hopes their 

biosensor solutions will be used in water quality monitoring 

across the oil and gas sector. 

“Winning this competition really starts to make things 

real in the whole process of the startup. We can start reaching 

our goals for the year, and that is huge,” explains David 

Lloyd, co-founder, FREDSense. “We’ll be using the money to 

help develop a prototype, establish connections to take the 

product forward and file for a full patent.” 

Placing second in the competition and pocketing $12,500 in 

prizes was Luxmux, a company that has developed a technology 

that enables real-time and accurate steam-quality measurements 

for in-situ thermal heavy oil productions. ENVrecon took third 

place and $5,000 in prizes with its software application that 

automates the process of collecting data for environmental 

reports, reducing the processing time from a five- to 10-day process 

to one that takes only five to 10 seconds. BiC 


want 

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Entrepreneurship: more than a buzzword • Entrepreneurship 

Entrepreneurship: 

more than a buzzword 

Entrepreneurship is an attitude and a mindset 

By John hardy 

Buchanan Barry LLP is pleased to welcome Rick Laycock 

and Greg Hesla 

as new Partners for 2014. Rick returns to Buchanan Barry from another 

Calgary firm where he practiced for 12 years. Greg joins Buchanan Barry from 

that same firm and brings with him over 15 years of progressive experience. 

Founded in 1960, Buchanan Barry LLP is an established presence in the 

Calgary business community. We offer audit and assurance, accounting, 

tax, valuation and advisory services to large and small enterprises, non-profit 

organizations and individuals. Our client relationships often span decades, 

reflecting the quality of our informed approach to the professional services we 

provide. 

www.buchananbarry.ca (403) 262-2116 

Entrepreneurship is not only the 

latest business buzzword in 

conventional organizations and 

a wide range of startup businesses, 

entrepreneurship is a hot and exciting 

new business concept. 

The newness is that entrepreneurship 

has caught on, gone mainstream 

and achieved bona fide legitimacy. 

The business world and academia now 

embrace and value entrepreneurship. 

“We may not have called it that 

until about 10 years ago, when most 

institutions were offering enterprise 

MBAs, but the concept has been 

around for generations,” explains 

the upbeat and plugged-in Kimberley 

Neutens, director of the Hunter Centre 

for Entrepreneurship and Innovation 

at the Haskayne School of Business. 

“It’s basically the process of identifying 

an opportunity (innovation), what 

resources are available (human and 

financial) to bring the product or the 

service to market.” 

No surprise that it has become a 

much-in-demand and vital component 

of the business school curriculum. 



Is waiting 

for your 

In the last decade or two, there has 

been a seismic shift in demand for a 

new breed of slightly or dramatically 

different and even alternative 

business education, especially ones 

that teach the basics and specifics of 

entrepreneurship – education that is 

tapped into everything from startup 

ecosystems to accessing venture 

capitalists and startup incubators. 

taking way 

too long? 

We have a 

solution for that. 

For years, most business schools 

offered courses or student clubs on 

the vague and fringe topic of entrepreneurship 

although it was inevitably 

a small part of the courses which 

were designed to teach business students 

the basics in economics, finance, 

accounting, marketing and operations, 

usually getting qualified for specific 

management roles in existing, large 

organizations. 

Schools had to make significant 

adjustments, in some cases re-invent 

themselves, to better serve a rapidly-growing 

base of gung-ho and 

aggressive entrepreneurs. 

In the last decade or two, there has 

been a seismic shift in demand for a 

new breed of slightly or dramatically 

different and even alternative business 

education, especially ones that teach 

the basics and specifics of entrepreneurship 

– education that is tapped 

into everything from startup ecosystems 

to accessing venture capitalists 

and startup incubators. 

Respected business schools – from 

Calgary’s Haskayne and Chiu School 

of Business at Bow Valley College to 

Schulich, Harvard, Kellogg, Wharton 

and others – acknowledge the role and 

impact of entrepreneurship in today’s 

and tomorrow’s business world. 

“Although entrepreneurial aspects 

are now a routine part of many business 

courses, we have emphasized 

‘experiential learning,’” Neutens points 

out. “Not just reading about entrepreneurial 

skills but living them, live. We 

invite successful Calgary entrepreneurs 

to come into our classrooms, meet our 

students and talk openly about their 

successes and their failures.” 

Various aspects of entrepreneurship 

are already entrenched and expanding 

as vital parts of contemporary MBA 

and other business programs. In fact, 

some business schools are so committed 

to the potential of entrepreneurship 

that they have actually begun to offer 

master of entrepreneurship (MEntr) 

degrees as an alternative to MBA. 

There is caution in tempering (not 

discouraging) the trend and excitement 

about entrepreneurship. 

As some academics, conventional 

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http://southern-alberta.jacan.org/economic-futu... 

Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta 

is proud to recognize the Founding Members 

of the Economic Futures Council at a 

special luncheon on April 17, 2014 

at the Hyatt Regency Calgary. 

John and Cheryl Aldred 

David A. Bissett 

Jim Davidson 

Jack and Joan Donald 

N. Murray Edwards 

Richard F. Haskayne 

Wayne Henuset 

Sam Kolias 

Hal Kvisle 

Alvin Libin 

Ronald N. Mannix 

David O’Brien 

Todd Poland 

Clayton Riddell 

JR Shaw 

Guy Turcotte 

Mac Van Wielingen 

Anonymous 

To reserve a spot at the luncheon or to join the Council, 

please contact Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta 

at 403 781 2582. 

Members of the Economic Futures Council, through their participation 

and generous financial support, are committed to helping youth succeed 

in a global economy. 

Economic 

Futures 

Council 

36 • March 2014 BUSINESS IN CALGARY | businessincalgary.com 

http://kaywa.me/9oxWQ


Kimberley Neutens. Photo by Kai Hochhausen. 

There’s consensus that while entrepreneurship is 

appealing and (for some) the clichéd chance to 

‘be your own boss,’ to be an original, to create 

and cash in on a revolutionary new idea has always 

been tempting and irresistible, it is not easy. 

business executives as well as solid, 

established and successful entrepreneurs 

point out: entrepreneurship is 

often misunderstood and misleading. 

The stereotypical perception still lingers 

that entrepreneurs are mavericks, 

fringe players and gung-ho creative 

types who buck the system. 

Despite celebrated stories about some 

high-profile examples, not all entrepreneurs 

can be Jeff Bezos (Amazon), 

Richard Branson (Virgin everything), 

Phil Knight (Nike), Clive Beddoe (West- 

Jet) and Howard Schultz (Starbucks). 

“TV reality shows like Dragons’ Den 

and Shark Tank can’t be underestimated,” 

she shrugs. “They showcase 

ingenuity, innovation and entrepreneurship.” 

There’s consensus that while entrepreneurship 

is appealing and (for 

some) the clichéd chance to ‘be your 

own boss,’ to be an original, to create 

and cash in on a revolutionary new 

idea has always been tempting and 

irresistible, it is not easy. 

As iconic celebrity Dolly Parton consistently 

says about her stage persona 

appearance: “It takes a lot of money to 

look this cheap.” 

Neutens cites a recent Haskayne 

new-student survey done by assistant 

professor Derek Hassay. “Misconceptions 

about being an entrepreneur can 

cause unrealistic expectations. Our 

survey showed that, at the start of our 

program, six out of 10 students wanted 

to open their own business. By graduation, 

it was one out of 20. 

“Reality had set in. It’s challenging 

and the fact that being an entrepreneur 

often involves much risk.” 

Track records indicate that the hot 

and current business term “startup” 

was hatched about 20 years ago, with 

the launch of the dot-com era. When 

the dot-com bubble burst, it took a lot 

of startup casualties, while the business 

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businessincalgary.com | | BUSINESS IN CALGARY January March 2014 •• 375


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More than a buzzword • Entrepreneurship 

There’s so much more to it than 

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what the pros call ‘the plan and 

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formula survived and continues, even though not all serious 

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independent startup businesses. And despite the myth, not 

all contemporary startups involve cutting-edge technology. 

The business world has had an entrepreneurial reality 

check. 

Academics do their practical best to design targeted curriculums 

and teach that entrepreneurship is “not” management. 

There’s so much more to it than launching a new service, 

developing new technology, a bright idea or what the pros 

call ‘the plan and pitch approach’: market research and writing 

a business plan to pitch to potential investors. 

“Every business still needs the trinity,” stresses Neutens. 

“Technical, marketing and finance.” 

Unlike during the hotter-than-hot dot-com craze, 

today entrepreneurial startups range from tech solutions 

to products, services and gadgets and the timing for true 

entrepreneurs couldn’t be better. The world is a now one 

seamless, single market. Entrepreneurs can (and do) think 

globally about the opportunity, even if they start ‘local.’ 

Regardless the trendiness of entrepreneurship, today’s startups 

are still in the first stages of operations and often (not 

always) bankrolled by their entrepreneurial founders, as they 

work hard to capitalize on developing a product or service they 

passionately believe in and trigger market demand. 

Besides, North American startup stats show that about one 

per cent of all new startups use venture capital. About 90 

per cent of today’s successful startups are bootstrap. 

Business consultants and analysts warn that, due to limited 

revenue or high costs, most small-scale startups are not 

sustainable in the long term without additional funding, 

invariably from venture capitalists. 

Entrepreneurship is conspicuously finding its way into 

conventional corporations. Large or well-established companies 

are doing whatever it takes to attract ‘intrapreneurs.’ 

Budding innovators and entrepreneurs are getting hired 

to focus on creativity, change management, new product 

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Shashi Behl, Twisted Goods 

Troy Sedgwick, REC Media 

Susan & Holly Brattberg, Brattberg Group of Companies. 

Photos, this page, by Ewan Nicholson Photography 

Some still call it entrepreneurial spirit 

but many agree that entrepreneurship is an attitude and a mindset. 

development, entrepreneurial finance, customer-focused 

design and business development and setting up internal 

startups – new business divisions that harness the fresh 

approach of entrepreneurship but sometimes operate at 

arm’s length from the rest of the existing, structured company. 

Entrepreneurship, while it’s being heard and used more and 

more often, is so very much more than a trendy buzzword. 

It is not only transforming what is taught in business 

schools and impacting contemporary business. Some still 

call it entrepreneurial spirit but many agree that entrepreneurship 

is an attitude and a mindset. 

“The current generation is not so focused on income as 

much as impact, making a change and making a difference,” 

Neutens says. 

From legendary entrepreneurs who created Apple, Google 

and Facebook to closer-to-home – the popular Perogy Boyz, 

Cheezy Bizness and other clever and delish Calgary food 

trucks and the gush of many other dynamic and determined 

Calgary entrepreneurs. 

Like Shashi Behl, who took a chance on a retail store specializing 

in quirky, original, different but really neat stuff 

and now boasts five busy and successful Twisted Goods 

retail stores. 

Or Troy Sedgwick and his unique, Calgary-based REC 

Media ad agency, specializing in selling advertising in 

community hockey rinks, ice surfaces, arenas, soccer and 

baseball fields and rec facilities throughout Canada. 

Calgary sisters and innovative entrepreneurs Susan and 

Holly Brattberg, who continue to revolutionize global 

e-learning. 

And the other gung-ho entrepreneurs who have or will 

soon parlay their entrepreneurial bright idea into a viable 

business. BiC 


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dynamic calgary Entrepreneur • cover 

The Hectic 



Entrepreneur 

Golf courses are an asset-based business, and they’re not making any more land 

BY JOHN HARDY 

Barry Ehlert at the Hamptons Golf Club. Photo by Ewan Nicholson Photography. 

While Calgary’s oil and gas industry vigorously 

tries to reduce its carbon footprint, gung-ho Calgary 

entrepreneur Barry Ehlert increases his golf 

shoe print. 

After all, what’s more therapeutic in March than to think, 

talk and read about golf? 

While wishful thinking and daydreaming is always good, 

especially in an area like Calgary with a four- to (maximum) 

five-month golf season, March is unfortunately too early 

and premature to think about fun stuff like tee times, new 

drivers, perfecting swings and hanging out at the 19 th hole. 

By all rights, browsing a definition of “dynamic” should have 

a picture of Calgary golf course entrepreneur, Barry Ehlert. 

But Wikipedia only has words: “vigorously active or 

forceful; energetic; continuous change or activity; force of 

personality, ambition, energy, and new ideas.” 

All appropriate descriptions of Barry Ehlert. 

In hard-core corporate detail, Ehlert is the president of 

Scratch Golf. He shrugs and chuckles that his company is neither 

high profile or well known. “In fact, it probably doesn’t 

ring any bells with most people.” Scratch Golf (and Ehlert) are 

in the business of the golf business and are much better known 

by their popular Calgary brands than a formal corporate name. 

The high-energy and passionate 35-year-old Calgary 

entrepreneur is owner and managing partner of the Hamptons 

Golf Club, Springbank Links, Boulder Creek Golf 

Course, Harvest Hills Golf Course, Silverwing Links, the new 

7,585-yard Copithorne Club (which will soon be breaking 

ground in Springbank), the Wilderness Club in Montana, 

also manages the Northern Bear Golf Club in Edmonton and 

he is busy working on a few possible deals he excitedly grins 

but refuses to talk about. 



Top: the Wilderness Club in Montana 

Bottom left: Boulder Creek Golf Course in Calgary 

Bottom right: Northern Bear Golf Club in Edmonton 

The stereotypes of manicured, rolling green hills dotted 

with glaring white bunkers, clusters of trees and sprawling, 

open countrysides spotted with foursomes of casually 

dressed people, relaxed, walking or bouncing along in a cart, 

enjoying summer days, good company and celebrating good 

putts camouflage the demanding, unpredictable and complicated 

business of golf. 

As Canadian golf and golf course stats – and Barry 

Ehlert’s calendar – solidly prove, being a successful golf 

course owner and managing partner in the big business of 

golf is very much a year-round business. 

Despite realities and quirky business factors like Canadian 

winters creating five to eight long months of down time and 

misleadingly uneventful off-season lulls, Canada still manages 

to impressively rate as a documented golf hot spot with 

more than 2,400 places (from driving ranges to public and 

private courses) where the sacred seasonal game is played. 

A remarkable business performance, considering that in 

just about six or so months of actual play, the business of 

golf accounts for some $12 billion of Canada’s gross domestic 

product (GDP) and – seasonal or not – Canadian golf operations 

are a major employer, involving some 342,000 jobs. 

Last year, from balmy Victoria to cold and long-winter 

places like Newfoundland, Edmonton and Calgary, 5.7 million 

Canadians played over 70 million rounds of golf. 

Detailed business data comparisons show that – even 

comparing to the mega-hyped popularity of golf in the U.S. 

– Canadian golfers are a determined bunch and the numbers 

show that Canada has (by far) the largest per capita golf 

participation rate in the world. 

This time of year – at least a month or more before actually 

slipping into the shoes and stashing the bulky bag 



Top: Springbank Links 

Bottom left: Silverwing Links 

Bottom right: Hamptons Golf Club 

permanently in the trunk (just in case) or lining up tee shots 

and replacing divots – it’s all about the business of golf. 

The negotiations, business plans, dealmaking, meetings, 

and prepping and more planning; yield management strategies 

for revenue expectations; sales strategies to optimize 

facility usage by pitching for Calgary banquets, seminars, 

team building and corporate days, and wedding receptions; 

and staff training on merchandise, retail selling and stock 

level management. 

And before Barry Ehlert knows it, he will be crunching 

daily, weekly and monthly Hamptons, Springbank, Boulder 

Creek, Harvest Hills and Silverwing numbers, making visits 

in the mud as Copithorne takes shape this spring and crossing 

fingers and hoping for perfect sunny days and rain only 

at night. 

By the time Calgary golfers are happily into the season, 

grunting about their swing and celebrating amazing putts, 

Ehlert will still be juggling 12-15 hour days of meetings, 

endless cellphone sessions, negotiations and managing the 

short- and long-term golf and non-golf business matters of 

his popular Calgary area golf properties. 

“The golf business is a passion. I genuinely love it,” he 

says with infectious, trademark enthusiasm. “Sounds crazy 

but it’s kind of a sexy, exciting and fun business to be in. It’s 

a business that’s all about being with people, people enjoying 

themselves and having a good time. And there is a lot of 

business done on a golf course. 

“If the goal is solely profit, golf is the wrong business. 

There are much higher profit-yield businesses. Golf courses 

are not cash-flow valued,” he explains. “Owning and managing 

golf courses is demanding but very, very rewarding. 

“Golf courses are definitely niche businesses and assetbased 

businesses. If managed efficiently, owning and 

operating golf courses is a strong business and a great way 

to make a living, in the long run. 

“Hey! Cliché or not,” Ehlert snaps with keen business 

savvy laced with a sharp wit, “they are NOT making any 

more land.” 

Like CEOs of conventional businesses, golf course owner/ 

operators like Barry Ehlert are not likely to talk openly about 

budgets, revenues or expenses. 

“It’s cheaper to buy a golf course than build one,” he grunts 

a laugh, without a hint of ongoing deals or divulging any 

property acquisition strategy. “One thing is for sure. It is getting 

much easier to acquire golf courses than it has been.” 

Without Calgary specifics and strictly according to North 

American industry stats, the cost of owning and operating 

just one, 18-hole golf course facility depends on various 

key business factors like: location; seasonal or year-round; 

private, semi-private or public; number of staff/payroll; 

marketing; maintenance and capital expenses; membership 

or annual revenue figures; the viability of club facilities 

for non-golf event use (like weddings, meetings and conferences); 

and the extent of the club’s food and beverage 

operations can easily set operating costs from $600,000 into 

millions of dollars a year. 


SUCCESSION PLANNING ISN’T JUST 

ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE LEAVING BEHIND — 

IT’S ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD. 

An ExitSMART succession plan can help you take care of your family, finances and stakeholders when you’re ready to move on from your business. 

MNP’s succession professionals work closely with you to create the peace of mind and financial security you need to enjoy the next phase of your life. 

To ExitSMART, contact Dave Zimmel, CA at 403.537.8416 or dave.zimmel@mnp.ca 

ExitSMART.ca


Barry discusses upcoming plans with Kevin Heise, general manager of Springbank Links Golf Club. Photo by Ewan Nicholson Photography. 

Professional groups like the National Golf Course Owners 

Association of Canada (NGCOA), a not-for-profit trade 

association providing business support to Canadian golf 

course operators, explains and underscores that no matter 

how complex or simple the business plan, balance sheets 

and actual performance – from six digits or into the doubledigit 

millions – the basics of the golf course business mostly 

(not exclusively) come down to rounds played. 

Aside from the detailed business and operational plans 

and budgets, the simplified formula is straightforward: 

[# rounds played] X [$ per golfer] for greens fees, carts, 

food and beverage and merchandise. 

It’s the make it or break it factor for the business of golf. 

Any extras or bonuses, like facility rentals for special events, 

are additional revenues. 

The golf business – from Calgary’s Hamptons or Springbank 

Links to Florida and Palm Springs – is vibrant but dealing 

with typical business factors like increasing costs, razor-thin 

margins and (unique to the business of golf) the weather and 

trend-reliant factors that impact total rounds played. 

The industry is unanimous. Now more than ever, business 

savvy and efficient management of golf courses is the key. 

And Barry Ehlert’s approach is proving to be a Calgary template 

and Midas touch. 

“I have grown up in the golf course business and learning 

the golf course business. I am fortunate to be third generation, 

always in Calgary, working in the business. 

“Things have changed and continue to change so quickly. 

As crazy as it sounds,” he smiles and cringes, “our core 

business is not golf. It’s entertainment. We’re competing for 

people’s recreational spending with the Flames, the Stampeders, 

restaurants, movies and more. 

“We have created a successful niche business here in 

Calgary and owning multiple courses actually makes the 

management potential more effective. We have a foundation, 

an infrastructure and it allows us to centralize many 

of our management functions, like marketing, accounting 

and bookkeeping systems, as well as developing good revenue 

streams and new concepts at all properties. Operations 

are, of course, specific and individual to each course,” Ehlert 

points out. 

“It’s not only a matter of increasing revenues and cost savings 

but efficiency. Besides, owning a single course can have 

many unknowns. Owning and managing multiple courses 

can be challenging but definitely has its advantages.” 

Barry Ehlert is supercharged, focused, bold (not brash) but 

also candid and introspective. 

“At the beginning I had a tough time acknowledging one 

big obstacle to business success: thinking I can do everything 

and do it better than anyone else. I was reluctant to 



Barry and his wife Kathy with their children (left to right) Macy, Myles, Tommy and Kyla. Photo by Ewan Nicholson Photography. 

delegate and I didn’t trust people. In my mind I was sure I 

was doing things better. I was wrong. I was just doing things 

differently, not necessarily better. 

“Now I have more than 400 staff and they are terrific. I trust 

them, I rely on them and I can only hope my energy and enthusiasm 

rubs off on them. It’s crucially important that they not 

only feel empowered but that they enjoy what they do.” 

Despite admitting to “living out of a laptop” and being 

on his cellphone for most of his 12- to 15-hour Calgary 

workdays, Ehlert is a tireless, focused and self-confessed 

multi-tasker who also works hard at maintaining balance in 

his gung-ho life. 

“I can’t fight it. I’m an entrepreneur at heart. I work hard 

at being strategic and creative but it rarely stops. I can’t 

turn it off so easily,” he says with mellow sentiment. “I’m 

definitely an evening type. It’s when the emails and phone 

calls stop – but I don’t. 

“I think and make notes about deals I’m negotiating, 

about creative marketing possibilities or how we could utilize 

that 30,000-square-foot clubhouse asset smarter and 

better. Maybe pitch it at the upcoming bridal show.” 

Ehlert good-naturedly bristles and abruptly denies being 

a workaholic. 

“Of course we keep growing and building on our success. 

There’s always more to be done and better ways to do it. Part 

of the problem is that it’s really not work, it’s my life,” he 

says with conviction. “And I am determined to keep it prioritized, 

because there are four important aspects to my life. 

“Family is absolutely number one. My immediate family 

is four terrific kids (one, three, five and 11) and a remarkable 

wife. Being home to put the kids to bed is unconditionally 

top priority. And my parents, my three sisters, one brother 

and 30 nieces and nephews are an extremely close family 

and we have such good times together. 

“Then church,” he continues the short list. “Then the Dallas 

Cowboys” – a hobby/ passion Ehlert acquired early in his 

career, after getting his business degree in entrepreneurship 

and briefly working in the furniture business in Texas. “The 

Cowboys are a very important part of my life. 

“And then the golf courses.” 

So as Barry Ehlert keeps his hectic business-of-golf pace, 

readying to clinch more deals and, together with his 400 

Calgary staffers, anxiously waits for the end of Calgary winter 

and the Hamptons, Springbank, Boulder Creek, Harvest 

Hills and Silverwing turf to properly dry out and be playable, 

waiting for the legals and the permits so the dozers can 

start on the new Copithorne course, he does have a dream: 

“To one day work for or volunteer for the Dallas Cowboys. 

Even as a water boy!” BiC 


alberta: Upgraded • Energy 

3D Refinery Model 

Alberta: Upgraded 

Everything you wanted to know about the 

north West redwater Partnership’s refinery in sturgeon County 

BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON 

There is something big going on 

in Alberta’s heartland. Alberta 

has built several upgraders in 

the past, but the Surgeon refinery is 

the first in approximately 30 years. 

With new technology and the introduction 

of several green processes, 

the refinery is poised to be a triumph 

in Alberta’s energy sector. Yet, this 

multi-year, multi-billion dollar project 

is not without its challenges, or 

its misconceptions. Following is what 

you should know about the project 

and its anticipated impact on a local 

and national scale. 

Who is involved? 

The North West Redwater Partnership 

(NWR) is comprised of North West 

Upgrading Inc. (NWU) and Canadian 

Natural Resources Limited (CNRL). 

Both organizations have a 50 per cent 

stake in the partnership. 

NWR has and will continue to employ 

a variety of contactors for the many different 

process areas of the first phase of 

the project. To date, most of the contracts 

have been for jobs related to mass 

earthworks, deep undergrounds, nonprocess 

buildings, pipelines, and site 

infrastructure. Notable contractors for 

this work include Voice Construction, 

PCL, CCI, Willbros and Taurus Site 

Services. Contracts are currently being 

awarded for engineering, procurement 

and construction of the various process 

units. 

Don’t Call it an Upgrader 

For many, the project is simply 

known as the “Redwater Upgrader.” 

The term upgrader, however, is misleading. 

Doug Bertsch, vice president 

with the North West Redwater Partnership 

(NWR) explains, “An upgrader 



NWR will capture 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 per year from Phase 1 

of the refinery, equivalent to taking approximately 300,000 cars off the road. 

The refinery will also minimize its fresh water use with the use of leading 

water treatment technologies, allowing maximized water recycling within 

the process, and maximizing air cooling for process needs. 

converts bitumen into synthetic crude 

oil that in turn becomes the feedstock 

for a refinery which converts synthetic 

into diesel. The NWR Sturgeon 

Refinery converts bitumen directly 

into ultra-low sulfur diesel, which is 

the highest value product that can be 

made from bitumen.” 

How Will the nWr 

sturgeon refinery 

impact albertans? 

Ian MacGregor, chairman and CEO of 

North West Upgrading (NWU) explains 

the long-term economic impact, “A 

refinery like this lasts for 100 years. 

You have to keep replacing and building 

new things, but the economic 

activity lasts for a very long time. [We 

expect the facility to generate] more 

than $3 trillion of economic activity 

in Alberta over its life. One small 

example of why it’s good for Alberta 

to have these types of facilities here is 

property taxes; we will pay will pay 

about $2 billion in property taxes over 

its life.” Obviously, the economic benefits 

of converting bitumen are a lot 

more than property taxes. 

As Bertsch points out, the value to 

Alberta extends deep into the landscape 

– literally. “By using the most 

environmentally conscious processes 

to minimize waste and emissions, 

NWR will set the environmental gold 

standard and demonstrate to the world 

that Albertans can be environmentally 

responsible stewards of the oil 

sands resource, ensuring its sustainable 

development. The single-step, 

bitumen-to-diesel process will move 

bitumen as high up the value chain as 

possible, significantly enhancing the 

economic return to Alberta’s economy. 

To illustrate, if the NWR Sturgeon 

Refinery had been operational last 

year, the Government of Alberta would 

have benefited by an additional $500 

million over shipping raw bitumen. 

That additional economic activity 

keeps the value here and the taxes and 

additional revenue can help to pay for 

schools, health care, and other things 

that Albertans need. Transferring this 

economic activity down the pipe just 

doesn’t make sense for Alberta. 


Alberta: Upgraded • Energy 

“Although the Sturgeon Refinery is 

being constructed in Alberta, a significant 

amount of the project capital 

will be spent procuring materials and 

services from other provinces. The 

socio-economic benefits to Albertans 

and Canadians from the construction 

and expected long operational life of 

the Sturgeon Refinery will be many 

billions of dollars.” 

The NWR Sturgeon 

Refinery Is Eco-Friendly 

“The single-step bitumen to diesel 

process being used by NWR maximizes 

the conversion of the bitumen 

resource and minimizes waste or low 

value products such as coke. The process 

produces a high-purity CO 2 

stream 

that is a feedstock for downstream 

industries,” explains Bertsch. “Because 

we capture high-purity CO 2 

stream 

from the gasifier (about two-thirds of 

the CO 2 

from the facility) the diesel 

fuel produced will meet low-carbon 

fuel standards. NWR will capture 1.2 

million tonnes of CO 2 

per year from 

Phase 1 of the refinery, equivalent to 

taking approximately 300,000 cars off 

the road. The refinery will also minimize 

its fresh water use with the use of 

leading water treatment technologies, 

allowing maximized water recycling 

within the process, and maximizing 

air cooling for process needs.” 

MacGregor agrees, “Gasification 

means we don’t consume natural gas. 

We convert the bottom of the barrel 

that is pretty much worthless into 

high-value hydrogen. Our process is a 

really environmentally friendly solution 

to bitumen production. If you do 

what we do, our bitumen feedstock 

goes from being one of the worst from 

CO 2 

to the best.” MacGregor continues, 

“Making diesel here in Alberta will 

avoid the annual shortages that have 

become a regular part of life. By them 

making 40,000 barrels a day in phase 

one, we will solve the problem.” 

Money is an Issue 

Any project of this size runs the 

risk of overshooting the financial 

contingency, and the NWR Sturgeon 

Refinery is no exception. But as 

MacGregor states with a laugh, “Our 

costs have gone up a lot. We’ve been 

working on this for 10 years. There 

is always someone squawking somewhere!” 

What he means is that there 

is always opposition when the media 

breaks news about the increased costs 

of the refinery. However, these costs 

are not reported in line with the overall 

project scope. 

In admitting the project is over 

budget, MacGregor continues, “Both 

CNRL and the province have provided 

more support, approximately $300 

million each as a loan. That caused 

some squawking because it’s a big 

cost, but it is $300 million in an $8 

billion project. People aren’t focusing 

on the margins. It’s easy to focus 

on costs and ignore revenues, but 

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Stampede Park 

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For MacGregor, the benefits that get overlooked include job creation. 

There are 1,000 – 1,500 working on the project right now and when field 

construction starts, that number will approximate 5,000. 

it makes sense to look at both at the 

same time. [For example], we tendered 

on an Alberta Government initiative 

called bitumen-royalty-in-kind. We 

won the tender and that resulted in 

a contract to process 37,500 barrels/ 

day of royalty bitumen. When we 

tendered, the margin was about $10 

per barrel. In the last year, it’s been 

averaging $50/barrel. The province 

receives that extra revenue.” 

For MacGregor, the benefits that 

get overlooked include job creation. 

There are 1,000 – 1,500 working on 

the project right now and when field 

construction starts, that number will 

approximate 5,000. “This project is 

close to Edmonton; you can work at 

this site and sleep in your own bed at 

night,” MacGregor explains that if the 

subsequent two phases of the project 

are built, jobs will be created that can 

run for more than 10 years. “It’s the 

people in Edmonton who will do this. 

We are not bringing in a big transitory 

work force and putting them in 

a camp. We’ll be working with people 

that can go home at night and see 

their kids in the morning. 

albertans are Excited 

about the refinery 

Reg Curren, with media relations 

for Cenovus Energy Inc., states that 

despite Cenovus’ decision to invest in 

refineries closer to their main markets 

in the United States, “Overall we view 

the addition of upgrading capacity 

in Alberta as a positive move for the 

entire oil sands industry.” 

Bertsch, who points out that NWR 

is an active participant in regional 

community advisory panels, economic 

development groups and multi-stakeholder 

environmental initiatives is 

pleased to say, “Our experience is that 

the general public welcomes NWR’s 

responsible approach to building this 

refinery. The consistent theme is one 

of welcome and excitement for the 

opportunities created by this project.” 

the Decisions of today 

affect alberta’s Future 

The NWR Redwater Upgrader is a 

large part of Alberta’s future as an 

energy-centred economic powerhouse. 

“It’s true, Alberta is an expensive to 

build it,” concludes MacGregor, “but 

it’s expensive because the revenue is 

here. It’s not smart to transfer benefits 

or jobs to other locations like the Gulf 

Coast. I really believe we shouldn’t be 

selling our raw materials of any sort to 

foreign nationals. We should be processing 

them here and selling finished 

products to whomever wants them. It’s 

difficult, but worthwhile.” BiC 


solid: calgary’s Market • Commercial Real Estate 

SOLID: 

Calgary’s Commercial 


Calgary is well on its way to earning the ranking of an 

international market 

BY ParkEr Grant 

Commercial real estate in Calgary isn’t exactly the cliché of apples and oranges but it’s close. 

Commercial real estate in Calgary is virtually one industry with four distinctly different 

divisions. And the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the performance results, the impacting 

influences and the focus of the professionals, rarely, if ever, overlap. 

Although most Calgary-based commercial real estate professionals have expertise in all aspects 

of the commercial real estate market, even they consider it as four distinctly different portfolios: 

industrial, office, retail and investment. 

The situations are distinctly different. The supply and demand are different. The rates, terms and 

market factors are different. And, most importantly, the wants and needs of the clients are entirely 

different. 

Calgary’s industrial clients have drastically different needs and space requirements than office 

tenants. Retail clients are in a special commercial real estate category of their own. And the strategy 

of Calgary real estate investors is also unique. 

In any given period, in any of the four commercial real estate categories, it could be a weak 

market, a lull, a stable market or a growing, strong and boom market. Each specific market situation 

– at any given time – depends on many variables. 

Photo courtesy of Colliers International 



Photo courtesy of Colliers International 

Overall, Canadian and Alberta stats and sources agree that 

Calgary’s commercial real estate market is solid, despite (from 

the 2008 jolt, the natural gas price crunch to anxiously waiting 

for a Keystone verdict) weathering a bumpy eight years of 

national, provincial and global economic challenges. 

“In most of Calgary’s commercial real estate (industrial, 

office and retail) sectors, there is a consistent, five to eight 

per cent vacancy rate. The industry calls that a basically 

‘balanced market’ and that’s a healthy place to be,” is the 

upbeat positivity from Susan Thompson, business development 

manager, real estate and location, with Calgary 

Economic Development. 

“It gives the market space to breathe, grow and expand. 

It’s kind of a golden zone for us.” 

The industrial sector details tell a similar, encouraging 

and good story. 

Calgary’s industrial real estate sector is hot and getting 

hotter (some are actually concerned about land shortages 

in certain locations) from not only Calgary’s oil and gas 

Susan Thompson, Business Development Manager, Real Estate 

& Location with Calgary Economic Development 

Greg Kwong, executive vice-president and regional managing 

director of CBRE in Calgary 

industry but oilfield services, warehouse, transportation and 

distribution businesses. 

A strong leasing market keeps industrial vacancy levels 

low and the availability of large parcels of developable land 

in most areas continues to provide industrial real estate clients 

with plenty of availability and good choices. 

Recent commercial real estate numbers show that Calgary 

has now officially surpassed Toronto as the biggest 

office development market in the country. Due primarily (no 

longer exclusively) to the oil and gas industry and the emergence 

of the city’s high-tech, financial, environmental and 

professional services sectors, Calgary has more head offices 

than any other Canadian city, except Toronto. 

“Office space fluctuates the most,” Thompson says. “Absolute 

premium AA space vacancy, predominantly downtown, 

is below the Calgary average, under three per cent. Most of the 

downtown and suburban vacancy is A, B and C class space.” 

“In some ways, 2013 was a soft year for Calgary office 

space. More space came on the market than is being 

absorbed. A big part of the problem is the 

oilpatch, still Calgary’s dominant sector. It 

has slowed considerably but there are high 

hopes for an upswing and a pipeline decision,” 

according the Greg Kwong, executive 

vice-president and regional managing director 

of CBRE in Calgary. 

The crunched numbers show that the 

overall (AA, A and B) office vacancy rate in 

Calgary was 7.8 per cent at the end of 2013, 

up from 6.6 per cent at the end of last year. 

The prime, downtown office market had a 

6.1 per cent vacancy rate for year-end 2013, 

up from five per cent the year before. 

“All indicators are that 2014 will be a 

stronger year. Nothing like the glory days 

of 2007 and 2012 but a good year,” Kwong 

offers the positive and professional hunch. 


www.Pidherneys.com 

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• Lease Building 

• Trucking 

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Pidherney’s Head Office 

Rocky Mountain House, Alberta 

403-845-3072 

Civil Construction 

• Water & Sewer Installation 

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Hauling 

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• Site Grading 

Pidherney’s Blackfalds Construction Office 

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403-885-9101 

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• Easy access highway networks 

• 8 kms north of Red Deer 

• Lot sizes range from 3.1 acres to 17.3 acres 

Contact Ralph Salomons 

www.salomonscommercial.com 

403-343-3023


Rendering (above) and current development site (below) for the Walmart at East Hills, along 17 th Ave SE. 

Photo and rendering courtesy of Urban Systems. 

“Industrial leasing factors 

are vitally important and give 

Calgary a significant edge… 

It’s why Walmart and Target 

are strategically taking even 

more industrial real estate 

space in Calgary.” 

~ Paul Marsden 

As a generalized pattern, the downtown core office market 

tends to target and draw mainly ‘large tenants’ that 

need sprawling (100,000 - 200,000 square feet) office space, 

while prices and smaller square footage needs are keeping 

the suburban markets like Quarry Park and others, strong 

and growing. 

“Calgary is still very much a downtown-centric office real 

estate market,” Kwong says from experience. As examples, he 

cites traditional office space areas like around Bankers Hall 

and good, new supply and demand in areas like Eau Claire. 

There are some new and trendy office areas like Kensington 

and a few others populated by lawyers, ad agencies, 

architects and small high-tech startups but, aside from being 

nice and eclectic, Kwong explains, they simply don’t have 

the size of space many companies require. 

In Calgary’s office real estate market, anything less than 

100,000 square feet is often considered insignificant but 

Kwong touches on a quirky, generational aspect to the supply 

and demand of contemporary office space. 

“When I started in the business, some 30 years ago, office 

staff measured success and rank by having a private office 

and the size of the office mattered. The current office generation 

is changing all that. Only presidents and CEO still 

expect 400- to 500-square-foot corner offices. 

“Today’s office demographics don’t want to be enclosed 

in a confining little office. They are comfortable but space 

conscious. And more and more offices encourage and offer 

telecommuting with fewer people working ‘in the office.’ 

“The trend is definitely to cubicles,” he observes, “which ultimately 

factors out for the company to need less office space.” 

Calgary continues to be a magnet for institutional investors 

like REITS, pension funds and public companies, as well as 

private investors who are attracted to Calgary’s commercial 

real estate products, often thanks to Alberta’s low corporate 

tax rates and the extra break of no provincial sales tax. 

Although investors gravitate to Calgary’s office real estate 

sector, they also continue to show confidence and invest 

heavily in Calgary’s industrial and retail markets. 

The city’s retail real estate market is in a category and 

league of its own. 



Paul Marsden, vice president / partner - industrial sales and 

leasing with Colliers International 

Mostly as a result of Calgary’s enviably 

high employment and income 

levels, and the 36.6 average age being 

in the potent demographic range for 

retailers, the retail sector has grown 

steadily over the past 10 or so years. 

The good (retail) news? Not only 

do many Canadian chains often have 

several Calgary locations but the city 

continues to draw more and more U.S. 

retailers. 

The bad news? Calgary’s retail 

attractiveness is causing a slight 

retail real estate drought with a lack 

of desirable, suitable and good retail 

space, especially in the northwest and 

southwest. 

Commercial real estate experts and 

clients agree. Calgary’s industrial real 

estate market is booming. 

The positive momentum of Calgary’s 

industrial real estate situation 

is spurred primarily by stability and 

growth, especially among the key 

industrial real estate clients in the 

warehouse, transportation, distribution 

and manufacturing sectors, and 

most usually need expansive space. 

A unique bonus is that, unlike most 

other Canadian cities, Calgary is not 

limited by a lack of industrial land. A 

strong leasing market keeps vacancy 

levels low while the availability of 

large parcels of developable land 

ensures a steady source of new supply. 

“The Calgary numbers show that 

2013 was a very good year for industrial 

space and activity for 2014 is 

already strong. There’s about 2.5 

million square feet of tenants looking 

for industrial space in Calgary,” 

says a confident and buoyant Paul 

Marsden, vice president and partner, 

industrial sales and leasing, with 

Colliers International. 

“A key driver of industrial space is 

consumer confidence. When consumer 

confidence is strong, the demand for 

warehousing, distribution and manufacturing 

space increases,” Marsden 

explains. 

“Calgary is already considered a 

major Canadian distribution centre. 

The city’s geographic location is also a 

major factor for industrial real estate. 

One of the industry’s criteria is the 

ability to reach a desired population 

base (by truck or rail) within a 10-hour 

range.” 

Also, in industry lingo, Calgary is 

considered an “inland port,” with loads 

coming from a ship (in Vancouver) by 

rail, direct to the Calgary warehouse. 

“Industrial leasing factors like that 

are vitally important and give Calgary 

a significant edge. It’s why businesses 

giants like Lowe’s and Nordstrom are 

consolidating warehouse facilities from 

other markets in Calgary and why 

Walmart and Target are strategically 

taking even more industrial real estate 

space in Calgary,” Marsden says with 

enthusiasm and a hint of pride. 

The news is also good when it comes 

to “new space” for Calgary. 

According to Statistics Canada, 

investment in non-residential building 

construction topped $973 million in 

the core area in the fourth quarter of 

2013, and the positivity further shows 

that the amount was a 3.4 per cent 

year-over-year gain. 

The national trend fares nearly 

as well as Calgary, with investment 

jumping to $12.9 billion in the fourth 

quarter, up by only 1.3 per cent from 

the same quarter the year before. 

Calgary’s commercial (industrial, 

office, retail and investment) real 

estate numbers are the true indicators 

that Calgary is well on its way to earning 

the ranking of – an international 

market. BiC 

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Condominiums are 

on the Rise 

Real estate in our city continues to be robust 

and tightening inventory in the single-family 

resale market is good news for condominium 

owners and developers 

BY HEATHER RAMSAY 

The downtown condominium development of Keynote, 

located at 1 st Street SE and 12 th Avenue SE. 

Photo by Cher Compton. 


condominiums are on the rise • Real Estate 

Residential real estate in Calgary is big business and 

condominium living continues to gain popularity. 

In addition to location and access to amenities, ease 

of maintenance and enhanced security, affordability is the 

primary factor as to why more Calgarians are moving into 

this market. 

Overall housing sales and pricing in 2013 exceeded 

expectations, with stronger gains in the second half of 

the year. Ongoing net migration and improved economic 

outlook were direct contributors to the momentum that 

pushed sales volumes up by 11 per cent. That equated to a 

7.9 per cent increase in the average benchmark price. 

As pricing began to creep and inventory continued to 

tighten in the single-family market, more and more people 

turned to condominium apartments and town houses as 

they offered more affordable options and lifestyle choices. 

In 2013 the combined condo sector contributed to 30.6 per 

cent of the resale housing market, totalling 7,187 units sold. 

Ann-Marie Lurie, chief economist with CREB, says the 

trend is anticipated to continue, although not likely at the 

same rates as last year. “We have seen high net migration 

over the past two consecutive years as well as employment 

growth and overall improvement in the economy. There 

are a limited number of affordable single-family properties 

As pricing began to creep and inventory continued to tighten 

in the single-family market, more and more people turned to 

condominium apartments and town houses as they offered 

more affordable options and lifestyle choices. 

Meet Tanya. She’s been one of Calgary’s top selling Real Estate 

Agents for years. She’s a true expert on Calgary’s Inner City Real Estate 

market, and she understands every client is as unique as their home. 

Tanya takes the time to listen; to understand your wants and needs. She 

doesn’t expect your trust, Tanya earns it by consistently remaining honest, 

accessible and tenacious. That’s what sets Tanya apart. 

The Tanya Eklund Group was founded on Tanya’s principles. The 

professionals within her group don’t work for Tanya—they work for their 

clients. They provide unparalleled expertise, skill and service to Calgary’s 

inner city. 

purple #7447 

grey #431 

And their clients know it. 

www.tanyaeklundgroup.ca 

CALGARY REAL ESTATE “MLS MILLION DOLLAR CLUB” REMAX HALL OF FAME 

Real Estate (Central) 

A division of 4th Street Holdings Ltd. 

Each office is independently owned and operated. 



Revitalization in East Village will add dynamic living, shopping, dining and entertainment to the spirit of Calgary. Rendering courtesy of Calgary Municipal Land Corporation.Illustration of VERVE project by Fram+Slokker. 

on the market, which has prompted greater activity in the 

condo markets. It has also prompted increased sales in communities 

surrounding the city.” 

This year, industry experts anticipate further gains in 

condominiums, as the need for product continues to rise 

and long-term lending rates increase. “Pricing has yet to 

fully recover in the condo market, as we’re still six per cent 

below the peak,” says Lurie. “Year to date, we have seen a 

nine per cent price increase on a typical 

property and it is likely pricing will 

continue to climb.” 

During the peak in July of 2007, 

the average benchmark price for a 

condo apartment hit $296,700 and 

a condo town house hit $331,800. In 

contrast, the average benchmark price 

of a condo apartment and a condo 

town house in December 2013 were 

$278,600 and $307,100 respectively. 

It is projected that key areas, especially 

within the inner city, will see 

ongoing demand for quality residential 

properties. Joel Gwillim, real estate 

agent with CIR Realty, specializes in 

condominium sales and explains that 

the activity in resale as well as new 

“There is certainly incentive to living in the core and 

growing interest in higher-end condominiums. It is also 

noteworthy that loft living continues to be popular and more 

and more people are opting for nicer condos and foregoing 

vehicles, and therefore parking spaces. When you live and 

work in the core, everything is within walking distance, and 

Car2Go is there when needed,” says Gwillim. 

As projects continue to develop and new buildings reach 

up into the skyline, there are even more 

options for great places to live. The 

downtown core has and will always 

remain popular, the beltline offers a 

different flavour, and revitalized centres 

such as East Village add dynamic 

living, shopping, dining and entertainment 

to the spirit of Calgary. 

Another area to watch for in the 

coming few years is 10th Avenue, as 

plans for a new commercial tower, 

high-end hotel and other retail locations 

come on stream. “It is exciting to 

see Calgary start to make a thoughtful 

transition from being ultra conservative 

to modestly contemporary. There is 

so much personality in this city. No 

wonder it’s a destination for Calgarians 

properties is encouraging. 

Joel Gwillim, real estate agent with CIR Realty 

as well as visitors,” says Gwillim. BiC 



Forecast Summary ~ 2013 vs. 2014 Forecasts 

Economic Indicators 2013 Forecast 2014 Forecast 

Calgary GDP Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.35% . . . . . . . . . . . .3.68% 

Calgary Net Migration . . . . . . . . . . . 19,067 . . . . . . . . . . .15,000 

Calgary Employment Growth . . . . . 2.80% . . . . . . . . . . . .3.12% 

Average Residential Mortgage 

Lending Rate 5 Year . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.07 . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.88 

MLS Resale Market 2013 Forecast 2014 Forecast Change 

Single Family Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,302. . . . . . . . . . . .16,693 . . . . . . . . . . .2.4% 

Price Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.85% . . . . . . . . . . . .3.8% 

Condo Apartment Sales . . . . . . . . .4,007. . . . . . . . . . . . .4,207 . . . . . . . . . . . .5.0% 

Price Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8.72% . . . . . . . . . . . .5.8% 

Condo Townhouse Sales . . . . . . . .3,180. . . . . . . . . . . . .3,434 . . . . . . . . . . . .8.0% 

Price Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.32% . . . . . . . . . . . .4.75% 

crEB® 2014 EconoMic oUtlook & rEgional MarkEt ForEcast 


Renos as a Solid Investment • Construction/Renovation 

RENOS 

AS A SOLID 

INVESTMENT 

From dazzling kitchens and hardwood 

to energy-efficient plumbing and 

lighting, renos have a solid ROI 

BY JOHN HARDY 

Renos are a national trend. In Calgary, design, 

architectural and construction renos are hotter 

than hot. 

From the cosmetic, ‘beauty stuff’ like ripping out worn 

carpets and installing dazzling hardwood floors, quartz 

counters and sinks, oversized and fancy stand-alone tubs, 

steam showers and other touches to transform a basic 

bathroom into a luxurious ensuite spa; gutting a tired, 

old kitchen and installing stunning cabinets, stainless 

steel appliances and a large granite countertop island; 

to knocking out walls to make small rooms bigger and 

transforming a cramped, 40-year-old living room, dining 

room and kitchen layout into one open family room area. 

The recent Scotiabank Home Renovation Poll underscores 

that 2014 promises to be a good year for the 

remodelling and home improvement industries. 

The surveys says: the most common reasons for renos 

are (45 per cent) adding comfort and enjoyment to a home, 

(22 per cent) increasing value and (19 per cent) due to necessary 

repairs. 

In some Calgary areas, last year’s flood resulted in some 

renos that are still ongoing. 

Other recent real estate and reno tracking suggests 

other reasons why people are opting for major home 

makeovers versus moving, such as sustainability factors 



– making the home energy-expense efficient or environmentally 

friendly both in terms of contemporary lifestyles 

and boosting resale values in an increasingly green-conscious 

real estate market. 

There’s also the proven social trend of “aging in place” 

with the 60-plus baby boomer age group opting to live 

carefree and happily ever after in their 30- to 60-year-old, 

mortgage-free homes. 

“Our national survey resoundingly shows that over 70 per 

cent of Canadians see their homes as a good investment,” 

says David Stafford, Scotiabank’s managing director of real 

estate secured lending. 

“For the past three years, reno plans have been consistently 

trending upward. This year, 65 per cent of Canadian 

homeowners (63 per cent of Alberta homeowners) say they 

plan to renovate.” 

He points out that although the report is detailed facts and 

information about current reno trends, the bank is also in the 

savings and lending business and it comes as very good news 

that a majority of Canadians are investing in their homes. 

According to the most recent Central Mortgage and 

Housing Corporation (CMHC) stats, renovation spending in 

Alberta is about $6.5 billion. 

Whatever the reason for the reno momentum, Calgary 

area architectural and interior designers and contractors are 

busier than ever. 

“The rough times of 2008 are more and more a distant 

memory and people again have faith in the economy,” is 

the positivity from respected Calgary designer-builder 

Lynn Donaldson at Lynn Donaldson Associates. “There is 

a definite increase in business and especially homeowners 

choosing major renovations.” 

The volume of the demand for renos and the kinds of 

things people want are a telltale reflection of changing times 

and different priorities. 

Calgary designer-builder Lynn Donaldson of Lynn Donaldson Associates 

“Now, more than ever, reno decisions are lifestyle driven,” 

she cites from 25 years of Calgary design, construction and 

reno experience. “From the start of a reno construction project, 

we assess both the physical structure of the house and the 

family’s individual lifestyle. Then we design and reallocate 

space to suit their lifestyle. 

“The traditional house layouts of the 1950s and 1960s, 

with choppy, small rooms are long gone. Today, people 

want to live in homes with fewer but larger open spaces 

and rooms. Opening up the space of the living room, dining 

room and the kitchen and creating one large and open family 

room is very popular.” 

Aside from individual motivation for choosing a major 

reno or construction project and despite dazzling pictures in 

magazines, experts agree that people thinking about renos 

and additions have varying degrees of carefully thought out, 

Internet-researched or sometimes just impulsive ideas and 

wish lists. 

“Some people have great intentions and they are gung-ho 

– not practical or realistic – about what they want and what 

“For the past three years, reno plans 

have been consistently trending upward. 

This year, 65 per cent of Canadian 

homeowners (63 per cent of Alberta 

homeowners) say they plan to renovate.” 

~ David Stafford 

David Stafford, Scotiabank’s managing director of real estate 

secured lending 


WORKFORCE WHIZZES 

Matrix Labour Leasing Ltd. the source for skilled staff 

Born and raised in Rexton, New Brunswick, Shannon Warren moved to Vancouver 

in the late 1990s to work as a house framer. A few years later, in the early 

2000s, he relocated to Calgary for something the city is famous for – job opportunities. 

Today, job opportunities form the framework of Warren’s business, Matrix 

Labour Leasing Ltd., a full-service human resource company. 

Founded in 2002, Matrix grew from the ground up. Warren was working on the 

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Heritage Hall project when his employer 

asked him to source more local carpenters. “Having lived in Calgary for a 

couple of years at that time, I knew a few guys,” says Warren. “When the workers I recruited 

came on to the project, the company asked me to handle the billing for their 

hours.” It was a new experience for Warren, but it didn’t take him long to recognize 

the need for such a service for other construction companies. “It just made sense to 

turn the concept into a business,” he adds. 

Nearly 12 years later, Matrix is a trusted source of skilled trades for firms across 

Canada. The company has connected workers and contractors for iconic projects 

such as the West LRT Calgary transit line, the southeast leg of the Calgary Ring Road, 

and the BHP Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan. 

Matrix takes care of human resource matters from end to end, including payroll, 

workers compensation management, wage negotiation and benefits. “Our business 

model is very appealing to clients,” says Warren. “They may not have time to worry 

about HR details for large or concurrent projects.” 

While Matrix primarily focuses on the construction industry, the company plans to 

expand into the prolific Alberta oil and gas sector. “We are fully set up to service oil 

and gas clients,” Warren explains. “We have tried-and-true quality controls in place to 

ensure the employees we send to clients meet their exact needs.” 

Matrix’s internal database includes more than 10,000 skilled tradespeople. For new 

workers, Matrix handles background checks, safety training, and whatever else employees 

need to perfectly match clients’ requirements. “We are big on safety, training 

and technology,” says Warren. “Workers can come to us and find job opportunities 

and education in one place.” Matrix is innovative in its approach to attracting and 

retaining the very best staff, offering incentives such as RRSP programs and tuition 

reimbursements through Merit Contractors Association. 

The company celebrated a milestone year in 2013, ranking on both The Fast 

Growth 50 and PROFIT 500 lists of fastest-growing companies. To top it off, Warren 

was named one of Business in Calgary’s Leaders of Tomorrow for 2013. Even the company’s 

office space grew, with a move to brand new headquarters. 

Matrix has stayed true to its Calgary roots, hosting an annual Stampede party 

for 11 years running. In 2013, the company turned the soiree into a fundraiser for 

the Children’s Wish Foundation, raising more than $10,000. “Ten thousand dollars is 

about the cost of granting one child a wish through the foundation, so we set that as 

our goal,” says Warren. The company also hosts regular fundraisers during the winter 

holiday season. 

“It’s our corporate culture I’m most proud of,” concludes Warren. “We look after our 

clients and our workers, and we give back to our city too.” 

For more information, please visit www.matrixlabourleasing.com or contact 

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[title] • [section] 

John Haddon of John Haddon Design 

“Some people have great intentions and they 

are gung-ho – not practical or realistic – about 

what they want and what is possible in terms 

of the work, the materials and how much it will 

cost. Sometimes they are misled and deluded 

by American reality TV. Their expectations are 

way off about what’s doable and especially 

about real timeframes and actual costs.” 

~ John Haddon 

is possible in terms of the work, the materials and how much 

it will cost,” according to Calgary’s John Haddon of John 

Haddon Design, who has been creating spectacular Calgary 

custom homes, renovations and additions for 30 years. 

“Sometimes they are misled and deluded by American reality 

TV. Their expectations are way off about what’s doable 

and especially about real timeframes and actual costs. 

Photo courtesy of RDM Interiors Ltd. 

“I try to politely explain that we get jaded because so 

much of the work and materials shown on those TV shows 

is promotional or donated,” he explains. 

“I’m an architectural designer and I know ‘the bones’ of a 

house. Whether it’s knocking down bearing walls to create a 

fabulous grand room or changing the style and size of windows 

– some choices make sense and some don’t.” 

Although many Calgary makeovers and renos are major 

projects that involve transforming roof lines, elaborate 

additions, window retrofits and precast concrete trimmed 

entranceways, Calgary’s reno wish list is mostly consistent 

with the national trend. 

According to the Scotiabank report, bathroom makeovers 

top the wish list of home renos (38 per cent), then kitchens 

(33 per cent), structural and outdoor renos (26 per cent) and 

basements (24 per cent). 

The report also notes that 84 per cent of those planning 

renovations in the next 12 months will hire a professional. 

And the survey results echo John Haddon’s opinion about 

reno expectations. More than 35 per cent of the inspiration 

for real-life home renos is from TV programs. The rest from 

family, friends, magazines and big reno supply stores. 

Whether a complex exterior or structural reno – involving 

trusses, studding, build-outs or even a solarium, interior 

designs and renos like creating spacious open areas or decor 

touches like showcase kitchens and spa-like bathrooms 

– specific Calgary reno projects, details, specs and style 

preferences can also be interesting reflections of what’s in, 

what’s out, contemporary trends and even demographics. 

“Continuous and one type of flooring is popular,” says 

experienced interior designer and seasoned Calgary real 

estate professional Rod MacDonald at RDM Interiors. “Everybody 

is moving away from wall-to-wall carpeting and wants 

hardwood, even throughout the kitchen and engineered floors 

in the basement. It makes the area look bigger.” 


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Most architectural, construction and interior design experts share a 

resounding consensus about the definite and undisputable ‘green factor’ 

impacting many contemporary reno projects. 

MacDonald and other Calgary-based 

interior design professionals agree 

about other contemporary decor trends. 

Consumer choices and demand indicates 

that closet renos are hot. Whether a 

reno or buying a house, people want more 

spacious closets. For walls, taupes and 

greys are still vogue but lighter shades 

than a few years ago. The raised panel 

cabinet doors of stunning kitchens are 

giving way to simple but luxurious slab 

cabinet doors with modern hardware. 

The granite countertop rage may be 

cooling off a bit because granite has 

become so common and it’s no longer 

special. There may be a shift to the new 

caesarstone, occasionally (pricey and 

fragile) quartz and even some new arborites. 

“Age groups are definitely a factor when it comes to 

interior design and decor,” MacDonald explains. “Especially 

when it comes to furniture, lighting and accessories. 

Younger clients tend to be more trend-conscious but they 

are also from a more disposable society. They don’t care if it 

will be out of style in five years. They will just go out and 

get a new one.” 

Most architectural, construction and interior design 

experts share a resounding consensus about the definite and 

undisputable ‘green factor’ impacting many contemporary 

reno projects. 

The Scotiabank poll finds that 65 per cent of reno clients 

are likely to consider green renos and 70 per cent are likely 

to consider them even if they are more costly than nongreen 

renos. 

Surveying Alberta homeowners also charts that 55 per 

cent are convinced that green reno choices will lower the 

operating costs of their home in the long run, 53 per cent 

agree that it will increase the value of their home and 82 per 

cent are likely to go green with major reno details such as 

solar heating and insulation and would also choose green 

products – like ultra-low flush toilets and LED lighting – for 

smaller reno jobs. 

Scotiabank’s Stafford underscores the popularity of green 

reno choices. “If you’re doing a reno anyway, consider various 

aspects behind the walls – energy-saving options like 

lighting, heating and ventilation systems. 

“Replacing windows used to be the biggest energy saver. 

Today it’s ventilation, insulation, lighting, heating and water.” 

He also makes a case for proven and legit renovation ROI. 

“People are paying more attention to what’s behind the 

Interior designer and Calgary real estate professional 

Rod Macdonald at RDM Interiors 

walls. There’s a long-term payback, not 

only for resale value but in energy cost 

savings and lowering the operating 

costs of their home.” 

Calgary’s Lynn Donaldson agrees. 

“Green has become a bit of an overused 

buzzword. We prefer energy efficiency 

or sustainability. When the reno is 

being done anyway, it only makes sense 

to include options like R-factors and 

upgraded insulation, water conservation 

with low-volume toilets, energy-efficient 

light fixtures and appliances. 

“It’s not necessarily more expensive. 

Besides, the payback is guaranteed!” 

From major additions, creating a 

spacious, open grand room to luxuriously 

decadent spa ensuites, the 

balance of the year will have many Calgary renos on the go. 

For various reasons, mostly the terrifically Internet-informed 

and savvy homeowner and consumer, it’s no longer about 

matching throw cushions and paint colours. 

Today’s informed-consumer research reinforces the point 

that a contemporary house is more than just four walls and 

a roof. It’s a complex system of different components that 

interact and impact overall home performance, the longevity 

of materials (from roof shingles and windows to flooring 

and faucets), energy costs and the health, safety and enjoyment 

of the people living in it. 

The building industry has long recognized the importance 

of “the house as a system” domino concept – that 

changes to one part of the system will affect other systems 

and eventually the entire house. 

That temperature distribution, ventilation, humidity and 

moisture levels (mould and mildew), rate of deterioration of 

building materials, the building envelope air-tightness, the 

efficiency of heating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, 

structural integrity, drainage patterns and more, matters. 

Calgary reno and construction professionals work with an 

integrated, house-as-a-system (HAAS) approach, so renovations 

in one area won’t create problems somewhere else. 

New high-efficiency windows won’t prevent condensation 

problems if your furnace airflow is inadequate, the humidifier 

is adjusted incorrectly or your kitchen’s range vent was 

not installed correctly. Proper drainage and run-off has been 

altered by renos like additions and decks and is not keeping 

outside moisture away from the house. Just two random 

examples of the intricate HAAS logic. 

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2014 • Calgary Auto and Truck Show 

2014 

CALGARY 

INTERNATIONAL 


ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF CALGARY MOTOR DEALERS ASSOCIATION 

A 

popular annual event, the Calgary International Auto and 

Truck Show is being held March 12-16, 2014 at the BMO 

Centre, Stampede Park. 

The year 2013 saw a record 1.74 million in Canadian auto 

sales. Forecasts for Alberta 2014 automotive sales see this trend 

continuing and that translates to a competitive automotive buying 

climate for consumers. 

The Calgary International Auto and Truck Show is one of the 

largest exhibitions of new cars and trucks in Western Canada 

and it gives consumers the perfect opportunity to check out the 

absolute latest in automotive technology. 

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Highlights from the 2013 Calgary International Auto and Truck Show. 

This year marks the 34 th year for this event and promises 

to offer something for any automotive enthusiast. More than 

300 vehicles of new domestic and imported cars and trucks 

will be on display. 

For those leaning towards the luxurious, come down and 

see the 2014 Bentley GT V8 S that just debuted in North 

America at the Detroit Auto Show or the Lincoln MKZ. For 

those looking to see something more exotic, visit the IP 

Lotus Evora, the Ferrari F12 or check out the 2014 Aston 

Martin Vanquish Coupe that was used on Top Gear and Jay 

Leno’s Garage. For those interested in the ultimate in speed, 

be sure to see the Red Bull Infiniti F1. The all-new 2015 Ford 

F-150 with its nearly all aluminum construction will also be 

on display. There really will be something for everyone, no 

matter what automotive taste. 

The Calgary International Auto and Truck Show has partnered 

once again with the Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun 

for two new car giveaways. Mazda and Toyota are the generous 

sponsors for this year’s contest. 

In addition to the countless hours and funds that Calgary 

dealers put toward different charities throughout the year, 

the Calgary International Auto and Truck Show donates the 

majority of all proceeds from the show to local charities. 

As well, the funds raised at the Vehicles and Violins Gala 

are awarded to committee-selected charities that this year 

includes the Canadian Cancer Society, Inn from the Cold 

and KidSport Calgary. This year marks the 15 th anniversary 

of the gala – an event that has raised over $2.5 million since 

its inception. 

Tickets for the Auto Show can be purchased at the door, 

through kiosks at the BMO Centre, online or at local Safeway 

stores. Follow the Calgary International Auto and Truck 

Show on Twitter, Facebook or their website for more details 

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Official Nomination Form 

Go Online to www.businessinCalgary.com/lot 

Submissions Directions: Please complete the application in its entirety. Send the form via fax to 

403.264.3276; or scan and email to leaders@businessincalgary.com 

Eligibility: All nominees must own, be a partner, CEO, or President of a private or public company, and be 

a primary stakeholder responsible for the recent performance of the company. In addition, the nominee’s company 

must be Calgary and area based and have been in existence for a minimum of three years. 

Judging Panel and Criteria: The independent panel of judges will consist of a selection of 

successful business leaders from the community. The judges will analyze an extensive list of criteria that will include 

finances, strategic direction, product or service innovation, company leadership (including personal integrity, values 

and key employee initiatives), community involvement and philanthropic activities. 

Nominee Print or Type Only Please 

Nominee’s Name: 

Title: 

Company Name: 

General Company Phone: 

Business Address: 

City: Province: Postal Code: 

Company Website: 

Nature of Business: 

Nominee’s Phone: 

Nominee’s Email: 

Assistant’s Name: 

Assistant’s Phone: 

Assistant’s Email: 

Has Nominee previously been nominated for Consideration? Yes / No 

Year(s): 

For any questions or follow up related to this information, please designate a contact, or confirm 

nominee or assistant as primary contact. 

Platinum Partner 

Gold Partners

TOC 

Page 1 - Will Calgary’s Office Markets Land Softly 

or Continue to Push Ahead? 

Page 4 - What is Work Anyway? 

Page 6 - BOMA Insider 

Page 8 - On the Ground at YYC 

NEWS 

SPRING 2014 

Sandy McNair 

Will Calgary’s Office 

Markets Land Softly or 

Continue to Push Ahead? 

Looking at the history of Calgary’s real estate markets 

provides valuable perspective as we anticipate 

our future. Calgary’s office markets experienced 

a hard landing in 1982. On a single Friday afternoon, 

the architectural firm I worked for received news from 

four different clients that each of their 50-storey office 

towers were now cancelled. But by then it was already 

too late for a soft landing. As the 60-year completions 

chart shows (Figure 1), more than 20 million square 

feet of office space had been completed in the previous 

five years (1978-1982). This compares to a very similar 

amount, 22.6 million square feet of office space that 

had been, or will be, completed in the much longer 

11-year period from 2007-2018. 

Unlike today, the office inventory in the late ’70s 

and early ’80s was growing faster than the economy 

1

BOMA Calgary News 

BOMA Calgary News is a co-publication of 

BOMA Calgary and Business in Calgary. 

Business in Calgary 

1025, 101 - 6 Ave. SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3P4 

Tel: 403.264.3270 • Fax: 403.264.3276 



BOMA Calgary 

120, 4954 Richard Road SW, Calgary, AB T3E 6L1 

Email: info@boma.ca • Web: www.boma.ca 

Tel: 403.237.0559 • Fax: 403.266.5876 

Communications Committee 

Chair - Leah Stewart, 

Sizeland Evans Interior Design 

Bobbi Joan O’Neil, Business in Calgary 

Giovanni Worsley, MNP LLP 

Jay de Nance, Fairfield Commercial Real Estate 

Kim Bogner, 20 Vic Management 

Rita Reid, First Capital Realty 

Roger Hanks, Skyline Roofing 

Lia Robinson, BOMA Calgary 

Board of Directors 

CHAIR 

Ken Dixon, ATCO Group 

SECRETARY TREASURER 

Chris Nasim, GWL Realty Advisors 

PAST CHAIR 

Chris Howard, Avison Young Real Estate 

PRESIDENT & CSO 

William G. R. Partridge, CAE, BOMA Calgary 

or the population of office workers could grow. As the inventory growth 

chart shows (Figure 2), inventory growth rates in the late ’70s ranged 

from 10 to 20 per cent or more. The economy, the population and the 

pool of office workers could not grow that fast and, as a result, the Calgary 

office markets experienced a very hard landing. Interest rates that 

spiked at 21 per cent, oil prices that failed to reach the anticipated $60 

and bad energy policy from Ottawa made matters worse. 

The office inventory growth rate in the current cycle of roughly 2.5 to 

3.5 per cent is very close to actual economic growth rates, actual population 

growth rates and the office worker growth rates that Calgary has 

experienced during the past decade. 

The outlook, however, is less clear. The wind is no longer at our collective 

backs. Even though the longer-term outlook for energy is positive, 

the global declines and subsequent muted rebounds in business and consumer 

confidence, economic activity and access to capital are being felt 

in Calgary’s office markets, too. Leasing activity has slowed as some 

energy firms’ plans to grow and invest are delayed or scaled back. Yet, 

some energy firms are continuing to invest billions in expansion projects. 

Calgary’s energy firms and their suppliers have assembled and invested in 

uniquely talented people, so letting huge numbers of them go would be 

both painful and expensive. 

Looking ahead, many different scenarios are possible. As only a reference 

point we have generated one scenario focused on downtown Calgary. This scenario 

assumes no incremental demand: that all the commitments to lease that 

are in place are honoured; the buildings that are currently under construction 

are completed; that the tenants respect the forward leasing commitments they 

have made and move out of their existing space and into new space; and that 

there is no new growth or reduction in demand for space, effectively everyone 

simply trades places. Figure 3 shows the total vacant rate for the downtown 

Directors 

Fred Edwards, Servpro Cleaning 

Steve Weston, Brookfield Properties 

Marjorie Cone, H & R Property 

Management Ltd. 

Robert Brazzell, Altus Group 

Corrine Jackman, Hopewell Real Estate Services 

Cam Gresko, Cadillac Fairview 

Dustin Engel, Alberta Infrastructure 

Richard Morden, Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP 

Lee Thiessen, MNP LLP 

Loy Sullivan, 20 VIC Management 

Jay de Nance, Fairfield Commercial Real Estate 

Pearl Madryga, Sun Life Assurance Company 

The Building Owners and Managers Association of 

Calgary publishes BOMA Calgary News quarterly. For 

advertising rates and information contact Business 

in Calgary. 

Publication of advertising should not be deemed as 

endorsement by BOMA Calgary. The publisher reserves 

the right in its sole and absolute discretion 

to reject any advertising at any time submitted 

by any party. Material contained herein does not 

necessarily reflect the opinion of BOMA Calgary, its 

members or its staff. 

© 2014 by BOMA Calgary. 

Printed in Canada. 

| | 

2

Calgary office market rising from its 

current level of 4.5 to 6.4 per cent 

by the end of 2014, increasing again 

to 9.4 per cent in 2015 and 2016, and 

continuing to rise to 12.6 per cent in 

2017 and then to 15.3 per cent in 2018. 

While the overall vacancy rate is 

important there are other factors to 

consider. First, there are several different 

office markets within Calgary. 

Downtown, beltline and suburbs all 

have distinct features and drivers. 

However, within downtown the options 

for tenants vary by size of space – 

small, mid-size, large and very large 

tenants have very different choices. 

The number of appropriate choices 

matters. Second, the velocity in the 

leasing market can affect pricing as 

much, or more than, the vacancy rate. 

A market that completes a lease transaction 

each week will have different 

pricing than a market that completes 

only one leasing transaction a quarter. 

While most landlords benefit from a 

tight market, as it softens, the pain 

will not be felt equally. 

When we compare today to the 

mid-1980s a few key differences add 

perspective: a) inventory growth 

rates are more modest and closer to 

actual growth in demand for space; 

b) better market information leading 

to better decisions; c) lower vacancy 

and availability rates today; d) stronger 

landlords and in many cases 

stronger tenants; e) capital budgets 

are in many cases being scaled back, 

not eliminated; f) the energy industry 

is now better able to focus on 

production and technology efficiencies 

rather than exploration risks; g) 

better alignment of goals nationally 

and internationally and an apparent 

willingness for government and 

industry to take positive action. 

So while there are still lots of risks 

and room for significant positive and 

negative surprises, I see an environment 

where better managers, better 

strategies and better buildings will 

outperform the rest of the market. • 

Figure 1 

Figure 2 

Figure 3 

SANDY MCNAIR IS PRESIDENT OF 

ALTUS INSITE, CANADA’S LEADING PROVIDER 

OF MARKET DATA AND PERSPECTIVE TO 

THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT 

WWW.ALTUSINSITE.COM. 

3

By William G.R. 

Partridge, CAE 

President & Chief 

Staff Officer 

President’s Report 

What is Work Anyway? 

As a business person who travels a reasonable 

amount, I am sometimes amazed at how we 

have progressed with our communications tools. 

And having just returned from our national governance 

meetings, I am still fresh with the realization that I could 

do just about everything I needed to do work-wise with 

my portable technology devices. And then I reminded 

myself how technology changes our world – how we 

work, where we work and quite possibly what work is 

– and how this dynamic might influence the commercial 

real estate sector in the years ahead. 

As I see it, there are two principal drivers of this 

change: the evolution of technology itself and of its 

capabilities; and secondly, the generational influence 

that determines how people use the technology. 

The Swedish technology firm Ericsson has completed a 

survey that suggests by the year 2020 – that is six years 

from now – there will be 50 billion connected devices in 

the world. So how do we come to terms with how these 

connected devices will change the way we work, learn 

and communicate? 

Such a degree of connectivity suggests that the future 

focus of IT, human resources and real estate must collaborate 

and create a shared vision for the corporate 

workspace to address the desire of people from multiple 

generations and their ability to work when and where 

they need to work. 

This is important as the trends reported in multiple 

surveys strongly suggest that workplace flexibility will 

evolve from a simple perk to a norm and a corporate 

culture imperative. Those companies that have 

made a decision to embrace workplace flexibility have 

seen tangible business results from making workspace 

innovation a strategic priority. Improved worker productivity 

and reduced real estate costs – $10 to $15 

million annually for American Express – are clear 

advantages. Another company, Aetna, has 47 per cent 

of its workforce employed remotely and shed 2.7 million 

square feet of office space, realizing $78 million 

in savings. It is significant for them and significant for 

the real estate sector. 

In the hospitality sector, Marriott’s Workspace on 

Demand allows anyone to book “office” space in the 

hotel lobby as easily as they can book a room for overnight 

stays not only increasing the place where work can 

be done, but virtually eliminating “downtime” associated 

with business travel. 

4

As I see it, there 

are two principal 

drivers of this change: 

the evolution of 

technology itself 

and of its capabilities; 

and secondly, the 

generational 

influence that 

determines how people 

use the technology. 

Soon airlines will have Wi-Fi as a standard amenity 

(some U.S. airlines already provide it) and it will be possible 

to utilize that time in the air in more productive 

ways. 

Our industry, just as our corporate culture, is evolving 

quickly and in significant ways that will force the industry 

to adapt to these changes. Now is the time for us to 

have the discussion and to consider the ways to adapt to 

the future industry drivers. • 

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5

BOMA Insider 

Excellence Awards Co-Title Sponsor 

Ken Dixon, chair-elect and Bill Partridge, president, present 

the BOMA BESt Level 3 Recertification for Western Canadian 

Place to Suzy Mah, David Middleton and Robin Needham, all 

GWL Realty Advisors. 

Ken Dixon, presents Dundee Realty Management Corp. team 

with their BOMA BESt Certificates for 606 Fourth, Level 3 and 

441 5 Ave SW at Level 2. 

Caroline Newton, Cadillac Fairview accepts the BOMA BESt 

Level 2 Certificate for Market Mall 

The GWL Realty Advisors team for First Canadian Centre receive their BOMA BESt Level 3 

Certificate. 

The Arcturus Realty team accepts their BOMA BESt Level 3 Certificate for 639 5 Ave SW. 

The Dundee Realty Management Corp. team accepts the BOMA BESt Level 3 Certificate for 

444 Seventh, Level 2 Certificate for Northland Building & Park at Fish Creek and Level 1 for 

Westview Building and Horton Park A, B & C 

The GWL Realty Advisors team accepts the Level 4 Recertification for Gulf Canada Square. 

6

Golf Classic Co-Title Sponsor 

Carmel Smetschka and Steve Walton, Golf Committee 

co-chairs present the ENMAX BOMA Golf Classic donation to 

The BOMA Calgary Foundation. 

Ken Dixon, ATCO Group and Bill Partridge thank Boaz Shilmover, 

ARTE Group for his three years as BOMA Calgary Corporate 

Partner. 

The BOMA Calgary Foundation presents a $15,000 donation 

to Canadian Red Cross for Alberta Flood Relief. 

Western Canada’s leading 

janitorial and maintenance service provider 

Preston Manning addresses BOMA Calgary members at the 

January 49 th Annual General Meeting 

We’re doing it right...Everyday 

SerVantage Services Group 

(toll free) 1.888.985.7141 

calgary@servantage.ca 

The BOMA team (L-R) Bill Partridge, Aydan Aslan, Lloyd Suchet, Lia Robinson, Ashley Grennier 

and Liz Krill at the BOMA Christmas Luncheon 

www.SerVantage.ca 

7

On the Ground at YYC 

By David Parker 

Those who can remember just what our international 

airport looked like when the Calgary Airport 

Authority assumed responsibility for its operations 

and expansion in July of 1992 must be amazed at its 

growth. To those of us who remember walking out onto 

the tarmac to climb the steps into a plane at the old 

terminal located at the end of Aviation Blvd., it’s just a 

big “WOW – who’d a thought.” 

Like Topsy it seems to never stop growing and 

there is a lot more to come; the 10-year plan calls 

for another 700 acres of aviation, industry and recreational 

development. 

The authority has done a magnificent job in managing 

the controlled, physical growth of the airport lands, but 

what is just as exciting to me is the economic impact – 

and the prestige – it has brought to this city. 

YYC is busy. 

Consider that 14 million passengers per year use the 

facility and it employs more than 24,000 people, helping 

to provide an economic impact in the area of $6 billion 

annually. 

There’s lots of construction going on today with the 

two big ones being the new north/south runway and the 

new International Facilities Project. 

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8

The $620-million runway – that is 14,000 feet long and 

200 feet wide and capable of handling the world’s largest 

aircraft – will be operational in June. A huge job 

that required some 260,000 cubic metres of concrete, 

500,000 square metres of gravel and required the installation 

of over 5,000 runway and taxiway lights. 

An easier construction project to follow by passengers 

has been the new international terminal that will rise 

five levels above the ground to the south of the current 

airport terminal. 

Scheduled to be in service by the fall of next year, its 

peak on-site workforce sits at 1,600. As a green building 

it can boast of 660 kilometres of in-floor radiant heating 

tubes, cogeneration will save almost 5,000 tonnes of 

CO2 per year and 10 million litres of rainwater will be 

harvested and recycled annually. 

It will provide 22 additional aircraft gates and 300 

more airport hotel rooms on its north end. 

But there’s lots more development underway within 

airport lands. 

A new 125,000-square-foot air cargo facility has been 

built and is already fully leased in the Deerfoot north 

area and plans are to replicate it on an adjacent site. 

Fully integrated 

tenant solutions 

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9

Construction at the Calgary Airport. Photo by Ewan Nicholson Photography. 

The northwest is also where Sunwest 

Aviation opened its new Aero 

Court location with three contemporary 

departure lounges and 

Thank you 

Wayne Chiu 

Wayne Chiu brings a brand of 

leadership in the business sector and 

community that is equal parts 21 st 

century innovation and classic Calgary. 

Along with wife and business partner 

Eleanor, Wayne has grown Trico Homes 

and the Trico Charitable Foundation into 

major successes for both their business 

and community achievements. 

parking for over 600 vehicles. Next 

door is the home of Million Air 

with plans for three hangars and a 

classy FBO (Fixed-Base Operations) 

We thank them for their longtime and 

generous support of Bow Valley College. 

In honour of this record of leadership 

we are proud to introduce the 

newly named Bow Valley College 

Chiu School of Business. 

Chiu School of Business 

building. Two 40,000-square-foot 

hangars are built and fully leased. 

North West Geomatics is in an 

adjoining free-standing building 

and a new Acclaim Hotel on the 

far northwest corner of the airport 

overlooking Deerfoot Trail is to be 

built offering 105 rooms and a restaurant 

in Phase 1. 

Over on the south side fronting 

onto McKnight Blvd., at Aviation 

Blvd., Atlas Development is well 

underway with its commercial 

developments where the drive-thru 

portion of a McDonald’s is open. 

And to the east of the Art Smith 

Aero Centre, Norcal Group is building 

Airways Crossing; an 88,000-squarefoot 

facility to accommodate 18 bay 

units. 

I see as much activity at the airport 

as I see in many cities, but 

there is much more happening on 

lands surrounding YYC. 

Oxford, Melcor, Hopewell, Enright, 

Trinity, and WAM are some of the 

developers that will benefit in being 

close to the airport, the Queen Elizabeth 

II Highway and Stoney Trail. 

And with 96th Avenue NE now open 

over the Deerfoot to Airport Trail, I 

expect the city to begin looking at its 

stalled Aurora Business Park in Harvest 

Hills again. • 

10

Drawing on three decades of experience 

Written by Mary Savage 

The Pinnacle Group team at the design studio in Calgary, 

with their fleet of company vehicles. 

Photo by Mary Savage. 

Paul Klassen grew up swinging a hammer; something 

he’d learned from his father. In fact, by the age of 

nine, he landed his first construction job under his 

father’s tutelage – reroofing his grandfather’s house. 

Klassen could have pursued another field, but he found his 

passion in construction and by the time he was 23, he had 

his journeyman’s ticket in one hand and a newly established 

custom home company in the other. He was full of ambition 

and drive, and he knew he could achieve whatever he desired. 

Fast-forward three decades later, Klassen is still in the 

business, running the highly successful Pinnacle Group of 

Companies. However, he has traded in his tools for a tablet and 

now focuses his time on marketing and business development. 

Pinnacle’s progress has been a combination of many 

influences: insight gained from the honest feedback gathered 

from every client upon project completion by a 

third-party survey firm; Klassen’s involvement founding 

the Calgary chapter of RenoMark – dedicated to providing 

Calgary consumers with honest and ethical renovation 

companies; establishing long-term trade partnerships that 

share in Pinnacle’s goal of providing an unparalleled cus- 

tomer experience; and Klassen’s own personal growth that 

has most certainly influenced Pinnacle’s vision. 

It was Klassen’s quintessential ‘aha’ moment on New Year’s 

Eve 2000 that definitively redefined Pinnacle’s design process 

and validated Klassen’s own motivation for continuing the 

business. It was the realization that he could actually change 

the way a family lives and interacts within their home and 

ultimately support and encourage healthy family relationships. 

Enter Pinnacle’s DNA process. 

The Pinnacle Group has a very distinct approach when 

it comes to renovating or building a custom home; their 

philosophy is based on the principle of “creating homes for 

life.” This ideology is rooted in the concept that each space 

in a home should be an authentic representation of the client 

family, designed to complement each family member’s 

unique present and future lifestyle needs. 

This methodology begins with an in-depth dialogue to reveal 

how the client family wants to use their home, what’s important 

to them and evaluates their present and future needs. 

The result is the uncovering of the family’s DNA: their Design 

requirements and their Needs both in Alignment. 

Pinnacle Group of Companies | 30 th Anniversary | 1

222 -35 Ave N.E. Calgary,Alberta t2e 2k4 

222 -35 Ave N.E. Calgary,Alberta t2e 2k4 

“When you think about the home being the favourite 

place for a family, surprisingly for many it’s not. It’s simply 

not set up that way and in order to change that, you need 

to understand the family’s ‘DNA,’” expresses Paul Klassen, 

City 

Pinnacle to complete Group of Companies, founder and CEO. 

“The DNA means really understanding your customer’s 

needs,” asserts Klassen. “We focus on the family first: 

what they need and how they interact, both today and in 

the future. We affect people’s lives and support the family 

nucleus by building better spaces, and in doing so, we create 

HONOURS & AWARDS 

homes that foster a sense of wholeness, safety, relaxation 

and support.” 

Pinnacle continues to raise the bar and is the only Reno- 

Mark Renovator to guarantee their clients start date, 

completion date and cost, known as the Pinnacle SCC 

Guarantee. In 2011, their efforts were recognized when 

they won the BBB Ethics Award; the only renovator to ever 

receive this accreditation. 

Today when Klassen looks at the company that he has 

spent his entire life building, shaping and growing, a few 

adjectives come to mind, “Pinnacle Group is passionate, an 

industry leader, intuitive and original,” he notes. 

YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPING INC. 

After spending a lifetime 222 in -35 the Ave N.E. industry, Calgary,Alberta t2e there 2k4 is one 

thing YEAR-ROUND Klassen still enjoys LANDSCAPING tremendously: turning INC. 

over the 

keys upon project completion. “If we can impact one family, 

in one neighbourhood, in one community, what kind of 

ripple effect will that have in the long run?” he asks with a 

hint of excitement. • 

YEAR-ROUND LANDSCAPING INC. 

Congratulations to Pinnacle Group! 

Wishing you many more decades of success. 

GARY, CALGARY, AB T2E 2K4 

AB T2E 2K4 

Congratulations to Paul and the 

Pinnacle Group! 

We wish you continued success. 

CALGARY, AB T2E 2K4 

www.digilife.ca 

C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M 

10510 46 th Street SE 

Calgary, AB 

403-238-1100 

www.pacificstone.ca 

M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M 

C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y 

Congratulations, Pinnacle Group! 

Proud to be working with you, 

and we wish you continued success 

in the years ahead. 

www.prestigerailings.com 

2777 Hopewell Place, NE Calgary | sales@prestigerailings.com 

403.250.1020 | Toll free: 1.800.382.8502 

Congratulations to the team at Pinnacle! 

Van Go Artisans (Calgary) Inc. congratulates 

 

 

403.620.6542 

Paul and THE PINNACLE GROUP 

 

on many successful years in business, fulfilling the home 

renovation dreams of many Calgarians. It has been a 

pleasure working with you making those dreams come true. 

As always, your high standards and ethical approach to the 

home renovation industry has set the standard. We wish you 

continued success. 


C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K 

It started with a conversation … 

A glimpse inside two case studies uncover smart, insightful and highly 

functional solutions. 

Case Study: Spec Home Turned Spectacular 

Overview 

This client family bought the house because 

of its location within the estate community of 

Bearspaw and their desire for an acreage lifestyle. 

However, they wanted to transform what was 

originally a builder spec house into a contemporary, 

tailored home that enriches their family’s 

lifestyle for years to come. 

Criteria 

• Convert a builder spec house into a custom 

home with curb appeal appropriate for an estate 

acreage community. 

• Increase the square footage to support this family’s 

present and future needs. 

• Move the master bedroom to the main floor to enable a 

lifetime of living. 

• Designate a separate floor and study area for their two 

preteen sons. 

• Create a ceiling enhancement inspired by the dining room 

light fixture purchased by the client three years prior. 

How was The Criteria Met? 

Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K 

Through the intensive Design Discovery process, 

Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y Kreplaced C M Y K C M Y K C with M Y K C M a Y Kthree-car C M Y K C M Y K C attached M Y K C M Y K C M garage. Y K C M Y K C M The Y K C M universal 

Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y 

K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y 

they were able to determine this client family’s specific 

requirements of their renovation. This two-storey home 

was gutted to the studs adding 800 sq. ft. to the main 

floor; this accommodated the main-level master bedroom 

as well as a larger open-concept kitchen. The additional 

square footage also afforded a dining alcove that features 

Visit Gallery 30 at PinnacleRenovations.ca for the entire Before/After Gallery 

a raised ceiling and unique accent ceiling tray and grid, 

integrating the previously purchased light fixture. The 

second storey is now a dedicated space for their sons’ bedrooms, 

bathrooms and study-loft, offering both a retreat 

and future study space through high school and beyond. 

An expansive mud room was developed to support acreage 

living from the yard and garage entrances and a 

uniquely designed and beautifully furnished front foyer 

welcomes visiting guests and family alike. As well, the 

previously detached single-car garage was torn down and 

design initiative with the location of the master bedroom 

on the main floor ensures this is a ‘forever home.’ Every 

design detail in this stunning makeover perfectly complements 

this client family’s lifestyle and truly accomplished 

their wish to have a home designed to evolve with the 

family’s changing needs for a lifetime of living! 

Call us today for all of your 

heating and air conditioning needs 

403.477.3810 

www.DistinctHVAC.ca 

Congratulations to Paul and the Pinnacle Group! 


Case Study: Second-Generation Home Gets Revitalized 

Overview 

This second-generation walkout bungalow held many 

fond memories for the client family who desired to modernize 

the home and create an open-concept floor plan 

that would support the integration of future lifestyle 

requirements. Aging-in-place was identified as a priority 

during the Design Discovery process. The result was a 

total transformation that required a complete “gut to the 

studs” makeover with every wall relocated. 

Criteria 

• Create a design rooted in timeless tradition with a hint 

of vintage. 

• Incorporate aging-in-place design initiatives. 

• Open up site lines. 

• Reduce the carbon footprint of the home. 

How Was the Criteria Met? 

Essential to this universal design was an open-concept 

main floor plan that would accommodate all future 

living needs. The sunken foyer was raised to one level 

and various features were incorporated: widened doorways, 

curbless showers, wiring for future intercoms and 

rough-ins for wheelchair lifts. The kitchen was doubled 

in size providing full sight lines from the dining area 

into the kitchen. The stairwell to the lower level was 

Visit Gallery 24 at PinnacleRenovations.ca for the entire Before/After Gallery 

opened up with an open railing system and a doublesided 

fireplace was added in the master and living room. 

The carbon footprint of this aged home was reduced by 

thickening outside walls and replacing windows, attic 

insulation, and the furnace and hot-water tanks. The 

end result was an innovative, custom-designed living 

space that better reflects the client’s current and future 

lifestyle needs, at the same time preserving the exterior 

integrity found in homes located in the esteemed neighbourhood 

of Willow Park. 

www.pinnaclerenovations.ca | 403.720.8789 

Congratulations to 

Pinnacle Group! 

403-248-0037 | service@4starelectric.com 

www.4starelectric.com 


Sunik Roofing 

Continues Legacy of 

Leadership 

at 25 th 

Anniversary 

By Shelly Brimble 

Calgary-based Sunik Roofing has been 

building a business based on introducing 

innovations and becoming a leader in the 

slope-roofing sector which is a formula for success 

as they celebrate their 25 th anniversary. 

Founder and president, Nick Sims, began roofing 

in the 1970s in the United States where he learned 

and developed innovations that were years ahead 

of practices used in Calgary. There he built his skill 

foundation by running roofing crews and learning 

the operational tools for success. 

Upon returning to Calgary, Nick envisioned a 

new career path, but his background soon drew him 

back to roofing. So in 1987 he opened Sunik Enterprises 

with his wife, Sue Sims, creating a name that 

combined theirs. Together they subcontracted work 

from other contractors until they changed the name 

to Sunik Construction Incorporated in 1989. 

Above: the team at Sunik Roofing. 

Below: the company fleet and office in Calgary. 

Sunik Roofing | 25 th Anniversary | 1

A founding principle of Sunik is to build the team from 

the ground up. They look for young ambitious candidates 

and spend the time to train them and develop their career. 

This philosophy led to the addition of co-owner Lowell 

McNichol, who came on board in 1990 as a labourer and 

later a partner in 1996. 

Since then, Nick’s sons (Nicholas Sims and Nathan Sims) 

have also joined the Sunik team and become an integral 

part of the company. “We have created a legacy that will 

continue to grow through the next generation,” adds Nick. 

Sue has taken the reins in the office, implementing innovative 

operational solutions while Nick and Lowell manage 

the crews, introducing groundbreaking practices that continue 

to impact the slope-roofing industry. 

Throughout the last 25 years, Sunik has serviced almost 

15,000 customers throughout Calgary and surrounding 

areas. The company now operates a fleet of vehicles from a 

10,000-square-foot combined office and shop on a half acre 

with a fenced yard. 

A majority of their business is reroofing through customer 

referral. “We pride ourselves on providing exceptional 

customer service,” Nick says. This focus on customer satisfaction 

is reflected in the fact that they are a four-time 

recipient of the Consumer Choice Awards. 

Sunik ensures each job, sending qualified journeymen to 

inspect the final product. This double-checking continues to 

reduce leak ratios year over year while further enhancing 

the customer satisfaction. 

“Anybody can do a great job, but when there is a screw up, 

that is when you find out how great a company is,” adds Nick. 

Sunik goes the extra mile with their warranties ensuring 

that when they are at fault, the customer’s house is put back 

403.291.1013 | www.shoemakerdrywall.com 

403.560.4024 | tritonext@shaw.ca 

Congratulations to Sunik on 25 great years 

of business! Wishing you many great years to come. 

~ from all of us at Triton Exteriors Inc. 

Congratulations 

to Sunik Roofing 

on their 

25 th 

Anniversary! 

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25 


Sunik Roofing 

on 25 years! 

Malarkey’s quality roofing 

products are located at 

Sunik Roofing locations 


to its original condition. Most roofing contractors will only 

repair the roof, but Sunik repairs all of the damage, including 

replacing damaged personal belongings. 

Sunik Roofing is four-time recipient of the Consumer Choice Awards 

Innovations 

When they began their partnership they had a unified 

vision of becoming a leader in the slope-roofing industry. 

Throughout the years, they continued to strive to not only 

enhance their business, but also volunteer in positions that 

would also impact their entire sector. 

“When I started here, I introduced pneumatic nailers 

into roofing installations that significantly impacted the 

workflow of roofing crews,” says Nick. At that time, crews 

were manually nailing each shingle, so it would take them 

several days to complete each house. This technique has 

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Color Tec’s would like to 

congratulate Lowell and the 

entire team at Sunik Roofing for 

their great accomplishments!! 

Always a pleasure working together! 


www.sunik.com | 403.280.2803 

optimized roofing crews that can now complete up to 1.5 to 

two houses per day. 

Lowell also developed a specialized spreadsheet program 

to simplify the estimate process. “This enabled us to become 

one of the first companies to be able to provide a professional 

bid with a wide product selection printed in the trucks 

on site,” says Lowell. 

Throughout the years Sunik has specialized in residential 

roofing, however, they have done many commercial projects 

with slope-roofing architecture. In addition, Sunik has 

become a preferred cedar shingle roofer and are an active 

member of the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau ensuring 

they keep pace with industry innovations and practices. 

Leadership 

Throughout the years, the Sunik partners have also 

become leaders in training, safety and education throughout 

the industry. 

Nick served three years as president of the Alberta Allied 

Roofing Association (AARA). He then served six years on 

the provincial apprenticeship committee (PAC) where he 

played an important role in the development and implementation 

of slope-roofing content for the apprenticeship 

program for roofers. Lowell continued the tradition serving 

on the PAC for six years and as a director for the AARA for 

three years. Nicholas Jr. is starting his first term on the PAC. 

Nick has also served as a Better Business Bureau (BBB) 

executive director for more than 13 years and in his role 

encourages other roofing companies to join the BBB. “I 

welcome new members because I also believe it makes our 

industries better as BBB members must adhere to a strict 

code of ethics,” Nick adds. Sunik has also been a recipient 

of the 2000 BBB Ethics Award for small business. 

Safety 

Sunik has always had a focus on safety. Nick has served 

on several government safety committees, they have implemented 

a formal safety program and are members of the 

Alberta Construction Safety Association. Lowell says, “This 

means that all of our crews must comply to strict safety 

practices.” 

Each crew must have at least one member of their roofing 

crew certified with St. John’s first aid training and all must 

have fall protection certification. But they also take this one 

step further making sure any subtrades are properly trained 

and have a safety officer. “We have even coordinated this 

training for others because we believe in making this a safer 

industry,” adds Lowell. 

Expanding 

Sunik continues to broaden its service zone around Calgary 

and now serves from as far north to Airdrie, east to 

Strathmore, west to Banff and south to High River. 

Their service region expanded further south in 2013, when 

Sunik began their goal of expanding throughout Alberta by 

opening their first regional office in Lethbridge where they 

also service Pincher Creek and Fort Macleod. 

The new location, headed by co-owner Ruben Guimond, 

is growing rapidly serving surrounding areas that are in an 

area prone to strong wind and hailstorms. This led to the 

use of new innovations such as asphalt-based shingles that 

have rubber content to help them stand up to hail and wind. 

“They can also be installed in cold weather and actually last 

in Alberta’s unique weather system,” says Lowell. 

“This is our first move into another market outside Calgary 

and it will not be our last,” adds Nick. • 

Congratulations Sunik on 25 Years! 

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Not Your Average Law Firm… 

Written by Mary Savage 

Photos by Bookstrucker Photography 

“I love taking something cognitive - like 

systems - and pulling it apart to make it 

more efficient, and that’s what law is all 

about. You have to figure out how to best 

represent your client within the framework 

of the legal system and rules.” 

- Jeff Kahane, Kahane Law Office, 

founder and managing partner 

Inside Kahane Law Office, there are 

no false airs – nothing pretentious – 

just ordinary people who have chosen 

a career in the legal field and take great 

pride in helping other ordinary people 

build or rebuild a better life. 

Ten years ago, Jeff Kahane started with 

a paralegal, a small rented space and 30 

files a month. Over the past decade, he 

has grown the firm with a mix of precision 

and passion. Kahane’s goals are simple: 

to provide the best legal guidance possible 

while cultivating an environment that 

makes clients feel welcome and at ease. 

“You have to know the ‘rules’ and case 

law to understand the framework you’re 

operating within. I’m always amazed at 

the number of lawyers who don’t know 

the rules, so when someone comes along 

and tells you what the rules are – that 

you’re not aware of – you’ve just lost,” he 

adds. 

Not surprisingly, the majority of Kahane’s 

business is referral-driven and 

today, the thriving firm has a staff of 

22 people. They have a loyal following 

among social media and post a new video 

on ‘YouTube’ every week. At last count, 

they had in excess of 16,000 ‘YouTube’ 

followers. 

Kahane Law Office | 10 th Anniversary | 1

The Right Fit 

Along the west wall of their building sits an empty 

office; they have room to hire one more lawyer, but 

according to Kahane it has to be the right fit. 

Credentials aside, one of Kahane’s favourite questions 

asks the following, “If you were a cheese, what kind of 

cheese would you be?” 

Don’t be fooled, it cuts to the chase. 

“The question tells us a lot about the candidate’s personality, 

sense of humour, logic and like traits. Some 

people laugh and refuse to answer it, others tell us what 

kind of cheese they like to eat and some give us a very 

logical, detailed description. My staff now understand 

the value in asking the question,” adds Kahane with a 

twinkle in his eye. 

And Kahane’s business practices have not gone unnoticed. 

In year’s prior, the firm was selected among the 

Calgary Choice Awards and recognized by Calgary Inc. 

magazine as one of the ‘best places to work.’ 

As Kahane has observed, there are two things he truly enjoys 

about law: the people and the intellectual component. “I am 

motived – 100 per cent – by internal drivers and if I’m passionate 

about something, I simply run with it,” notes Kahane. 

He has become one of the most sought-after lawyers 

when it comes to real estate transactions – fielding calls 

from across the country because he is so well-versed. “On 

any given month, we touch about 10-15 per cent of the 

total real estate transactions in the city – up significantly 

from the real estate boom in 2007,” adds Kahane. 


Kranq Courier is proud to congratulate 

Kahane Law on 10 years of excellence. 

We offer our best wishes to you and 

your continued success, 

from your dedicated delivery team. 

Congratulations to Kahane Law 

on your 10 th Anniversary! 

www.bowriverfoods.com | 403.253.8423 


www.kahanelaw.com | 403.225.8810 

The firm has also established itself as a formidable team 

when handling commercial and corporate matters, family 

law and guardianship orders, probate, wills and estates, 

immigration, litigation and labour employment – they are 

a full-service firm. 

“In an industry that’s notorious for unreturned phone 

calls, I return every call and try to do so by the close of 

every day – that alone contributes to a significant part of 

our growth,” asserts Kahane. “We provide a very personal- 

ized level of service, so when my phone rings, I answer the 

call and the same applies for email. Our mandate is to keep 

our clients happy and we maintain those relationships for 

a long time, but I couldn’t have built this firm without the 

exceptional people that are around me.” • 

FCT is proud to partner with 

the Kahane Law Office 

And congratulates 

them on 10 years 

of excellence 

u FCT.ca 

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Leading Business 

Connecting to solve business challenges 

MARCH 2014 

Supporting Calgary’s 

Mid-Market Companies 

Over the past five years Alberta has held the highest 

rate of business growth per capita throughout 

the country. Mid-market companies (companies with 

50-500 employees) play a very significant role in Alberta’s 

economy with over 6,600 mid-size businesses in Alberta. 

Stemming from our entrepreneurial culture, Calgary has 

a special breed of mid-market companies that don’t always 

receive the recognition they deserve. This is a place where 

family run businesses can turn into 100 million dollar companies. 

These are the companies that through hard work and 

determination, have risen from the ranks of small business. 

Increasingly, Calgary based businesses in industries like 

technology, natural resource extraction, biotechnology and 

software are discovering that they are among the best in the 

world in their respective area, and that they can and must 

compete on a global scale. To do this they need to grow. 

Statistics show that mid-sized firms are declining in Canada: 

17 per cent between 2006 and 2010. We have to stop 

this. To stop this we need to address some critical issues facing 

mid-sized companies – primarily access to capital and 

availability of human resources according to BDC. 

These issues result in far too many mid-market companies 

shrinking back into small businesses, or getting stuck at a 

mid-size rather than turning into the large world-competing 

companies they should be. 

Mid-market companies often need substantial capital to 

move their business forward. Access to capital can be a challenge 

for companies of all sizes, but mid-sized companies 

are affected even more. There are a variety of capital pools 

exclusive to small businesses, and large companies have the 

reach to access larger capital markets due to their size, balance 

sheets and covenants. This leaves mid-sized companies 

feeling in need of help. This past year has been particularity 

difficult for mid-sized companies as investment in Alberta 

has been slow, and the bar to be considered keeps rising. 

Solutions to this might be the establishment of innovative 

capital funds, pooled from a variety of investors and 

sources that target highly qualified mid-sized firms. Midsized 

companies can often be less risky than start-ups, and 

may therefore be a more attractive investment. Pooled funds 

that invest in a variety of sectors can spread the risk across 

different economic drivers. 

Finding and retaining quality employees is particularly 

concerning for mid-sized firms looking to grow quickly and 

expand their expertise. When growing a mid-sized company 

you need to add top-notch employees quickly; high performers 

that can function right away with limited onboarding 

time. In addition, many mid-sized businesses are often fundamentally 

changing and there is a need to develop new 

expertise in running a larger company: maintaining margins, 

ensuring regulatory compliance and managing risks 

at scale. 

We must continue our efforts to train and educate Canadians 

in the necessary roles and occupations, as well as 

tapping into overlooked pools of labour, such as Aboriginal 

people and mature workers. We also need to ensure skilled 

immigrants are able to get to work quickly in their trained 

field. 

We, as a city need to support and empower our industry, 

especially our essential mid-size companies. In light of this, 

the Calgary Chamber has developed programing specifically 

to assist mid-market companies in the coming year. The 

Chamber is conducting research, hosting roundtable sessions, 

and networking events to allow leaders in Calgary’s 

mid-market the opportunity to grow the segment and support 

each other’s development into new markets. 

For more information on the Chamber’s mid-market initiatives 

visit: CalgaryChamber.com 


2014 Board of 

Directors 

Executive 

Chair: Leah Lawrence, President, Clean 

Energy Capitalists Inc. 

Immediate Past Chair: 

Joe Lougheed, Partner, Dentons 

Canada LLP 

Chair Elect: Rob Hawley, Partner, 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 

Second Vice Chair: 

Denis Painchaud, Director, International 

Government Relations, Nexen Inc. 

Vice Chair, Finance: Bill Brunton, 

President, Stratus Marketing Inc. 

CEO: Adam Legge, President 

and CEO, Calgary Chamber 

Directors 

David Allen, President, Calgary Land, 

Brookfield Residential Properties Inc. 

Carlos Alvarez, Audit Partner, KPMG 

Lorenzo DeCicco, Vice-President, TELUS 

Business Solutions 

Rob Hawley, Partner, 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 

Wellington Holbrook, 

Executive Vice-President, ATB Financial 

Guy Huntingford, Chief Executive 

Officer, Urban Development Institute 

Bruce Okabe, Chief Executive Officer, 

Travel Alberta 

Phil Roberts, Vice-President, Axia 

NetMedia Corp 

Linda Shea, Senior Vice-President, 

AltaLink 

Mike Williams, Executive Vice-President, 

Tervita Corporation 

Management 

Adam Legge – President and CEO 

Michael Andriescu – Director of Finance 

and Administration 

Kim Koss – Vice President, Business 

Development 

Scott Crockatt – Director of Marketing 

and Communications 

Rebecca Wood – 

Director of Member Services 

Justin Smith – 

Director of Policy, Research and 

Government Relations 

Chamber Member 

Spotlights 

The Calgary Chamber is proud to represent many Calgary businesses large and 

small; this month we are highlighting some of our industry leading members. 

ConocoPhillips Canada 

ConocoPhillips Canada (CPC) is one of the country’s largest oil and natural gas production 

and exploration companies. Headquartered in Calgary, the company is a leading producer of 

natural gas and liquids, with a world-class portfolio of assets in Western Canada, the Arctic, 

and oilsands interests near Fort McMurray. 

ConocoPhillips Canada began over 100 years ago. Today, the company has 2,400 full-time 

employees and contractors. With a talented workforce, an integrated asset base and a proven 

record of production success, the company is poised to become Canada’s leader in the discovery 

and responsible development of oil and gas assets. 

For more information visit ConocoPhillips.ca. 

Saipem Canada 

Saipem Canada Inc. is a leader in turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) 

projects with a particular focus in the oil and gas industry. With its headquarters located in 

Calgary, Saipem Canada is focused on becoming the principal source for refinery and gas plants, 

chemical, petrochemical, fertilizer plants, onshore pipeline systems, infrastructure, power and 

environmental plants. Saipem Canada has been operating nationwide for over 20 years. 

With innovations in research and development, a diverse and expanding workforce, a commitment 

to health and safety, and with the goal of reducing their environmental footprint, the 

future of Saipem Canada is bright. 

For more information visit Snamprogetti.ca. 

Leading Business magazine is a 

co-publication of the Calgary Chamber 

and Business in Calgary 

Calgary Chamber 

600, 237 8th Avenue S.E. 

Calgary, Alberta 

T2G 5C3 

Phone: (403) 750-0400 

Fax: (403) 266-3413 

calgarychamber.com 

SPECTACLE 

Bureau for Architecture and Urbanism 

SPECTACLE 

SPECTACLE is an internationally oriented architecture office working across the fields of 

architecture, urbanism, landscape and object design. The company approaches diverse project 

types and scales with a balance of expert knowledge and innovational thinking, constantly 

re-evaluating the potential and manifestation of architectural types and hybridizations. 

SPECTACLE enthusiastically seeks out the ambiguous gaps between the sublime and the 

everyday, strategic tactics and intuitive reactions, theory and execution, high and low culture, 

opportunistic maximization and long-term strategies, the study of history and the pursuit of 

progress, and the discipline of architecture and its professional practice. The founding partners 

have worked with notable offices in Calgary, Montreal, Barcelona and Rotterdam. 

For more information visit Spectacle-Bureau.com. 


Upcoming Events 

Wednesday, March 26, 2014 

PeerSpectives 

7am - 11am | meets monthly 

For more information, and to apply to this session, or another PeerSpectives roundtable group, 

please contact ericajago@calgarychamber.com. 

Are you a business leader struggling with the unique challenges of a fast-growing company? Are you looking for a 

high value/low cost way to learn to run your business more successfully in order to take it to the next level? Are you 

encountering decisions that you have never had to face before? As a leader of an organization you may wonder 

where to turn for help. Our new PeerSpectives roundtable program may just be the thing you need. 

This month, the Calgary Chamber has introduced a unique, world class CEO roundtable program called PeerSpective 

to assist companies in their growth stage. 

PeerSpectives developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation, and based on the principles of peer learning is a roundtable 

format that is designed particularly for leaders of second-stage companies (companies that have moved beyond 

the startup phase and are focused on steady, sustainable growth). 

PeerSpectives is delivered by a certified facilitator that ensures a balanced discussion that is not dominated by any 

one issue or individual. In a trusted and confidential environment, participants gain real-time feedback on sensitive 

business issues from their peers who are facing, or might have faced a similar issue. 

A key element that sets PeerSpectives apart from other roundtable programs is the no advice rule, where participants 

share experiences rather than give advice, which dramatically changes the dynamics of the discussion. 

Issue topics include: 

• Company culture 

• Personnel decisions 

• Customers 

• Direction of the organization 

• Marketing 

• Product development 

• Succession planning 

• Finances 

Criteria for Program 

• A Calgary Chamber member in good standing 

• A second-stage business owner, CEO, president or 

partner of a high growth company 

• Have 10 – 99 employees 

• Yearly revenue is between $1 million and $5 million 

• Committed to being available for 4 hours once a 

month 

Annual investment is $825 plus GST (depending on membership level you may qualify for an additional discount). 

• Includes eight four-hour sessions and a hot breakfast 

Roundtable Information 

The Calgary Chamber plans to run PeerSpectives roundtable groups throughout the year. 

The first roundtable group will commence on March 26, 2014, and will take place on the last Wednesday of each 

month from 7:00am - 11:00am with breakfast included. 

If you or someone you know would like to participate in one of the PeerSpectives Roundtable groups, please contact 

Erica Jago at ejago@calgarychamber.com or 403-750-0440. 

For details and to purchase tickets for any of the Calgary Chamber’s events please visit CalgaryChamber.com. 


Calgarians support 

Convention Centre 

expansion 

In December 2013, The Calgary TELUS Convention Centre (CTCC) conducted 

a public perception study. The aim of the study was to assess public opinion 

related to the proposed expansion of the facility. 

Highlights of the study include: 

• The CTCC is well used and liked by Calgarians. Almost 40% of research 

participants have attended at least one event at the Convention Centre 

within the last year. This is a high percentage for a city the size of 

Calgary and demonstrates the importance of the Centre to Calgarians 

and visitors to our city. 

• Calgarians continue to appreciate the value the Convention Centre 

brings to the city’s vibrancy and economic prosperity. 

• Calgarians believe our convention centre should be able to compete 

with convention facilities located in cities of similar or larger size. 

Calgarians also recognize our competitiveness is eroding due to the 

size limitations of our current Convention Centre. 

• Almost two thirds of those interviewed believe that the CTCC will be 

too small for Calgary’s needs within the next decade. 

The survey questions focused on a number of different areas of interest and 

perception. Support for expansion remains high with 71% of participants 

agreeing that expansion of the existing facility is a good idea. The inclusion 

of a Canadian Energy Centre into an expanded Convention Centre is well 

regarded by Calgarians, and 80% of survey participants support its inclusion. 

Interest in an Energy Centre aligns with Calgary’s brand as an Energy city. 

The Convention Centre is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2014 and 

continues its role as a centre for social and business activity in our city. 

Calgary has more than tripled in size since the original Convention facility 

was built in 1974 and the Centre has not kept pace with the city’s growth. 

The CTCC expanded in 2000, but no longer meets the needs of our dynamic 

and growing city. 

Calgary continues to thrive and the city’s managed growth continues to 

be recognized by a variety of media organizations. In 2013, MoneySense 

magazine ranked Calgary as the top Canadian city to live in and the best 

place to raise a family in Canada. The Economist Livability Survey has ranked 

Calgary as number five on the best places to live in the world for the last 

four years. Maintaining Calgary’s dynamic growth and prosperity requires 

a vibrant and energetic downtown environment. The support and interest 

for an expanded convention facility reflected in our most recent survey 

demonstrates the CTCC’s importance to Calgarians as an economic driver 

and a place to bring people together in our city. 

calgary-convention.com 

expandthecentre.ca 


NEXT - Turning Business Ideas 

into Scalable Startups 

BY ANDREA MENDIZABAL 

is a foundation program that aims to help 

early-stage entrepreneurs turn their ideas into 

“NEXT 

full-fledged startups by validating the market, 

acquiring customers and building minimum viable products 

through a series of hands-on workshops and mentor 

feedback,” says Steven McIlvenna, director, entrepreneur 

development, Innovate Calgary. 

An international program developed by Startup Weekend, 

Techstars, Google for Entrepreneurs and Steve Blank – a 

serial entrepreneur from Silicon Valley who pioneered the 

Lean Startup movement – NEXT is uniquely built around 

face-to-face interactions with potential customers and is 

driven by mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. 

The program offers participants a valuable opportunity to 

undergo face-to-face customer situations with a group of 

peers who are tackling similar entrepreneurial challenges. 

“While developing new programming for entrepreneurs we 

found we already had a great alignment with Steve Blank’s 

approach and thought leadership, and Innovate Calgary has 

been fortunate for his direct support and endorsement in 

the past,” says McIlvenna. “However while listening to our 

entrepreneur customers we realized a program like NEXT 

was also needed. With this program in Calgary, and great 

collaboration with Startup Calgary, the power of this alignment 

can benefit the Calgary startup community.” 

The Calgary NEXT program is delivered in partnership 

between Innovate Calgary and Startup Calgary. NEXT spring 

2014 is comprised of intensive three-hour weekly sessions, 

running Wednesdays beginning March 19 to April 16. 

Customer Discovery – March 19, 2014 

Customer Discovery is an ongoing learning process. The 

series starts with an overview of the theory and tactics for 

customer development and will introduce the power, art and 

tactics of customer interviews. You will validate your ideas 

through in-person customer interviews using Steve Blank’s 

Customer Development methodology and tactics from customer 

development practitioners. 

Big Markets, Big Ideas – March 26, 2014 

All entrepreneurs imagine building the next billion-dollar 

company. Good ideas are not always targeting huge markets, 

but if your ambition is attacking a huge market, learn 

the entrepreneurial mindset you need to build a good idea 

into a great company. This week will help determine if you 

should be dedicating the next seven years of your life to 

your idea. Start to think like great entrepreneurs such as 

Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg; they all understood 

their idea was changing the world. 

Fundability – April 2, 2014 

This session will show entrepreneurs how investors think 

about deals and how they evaluate what they are looking 

for. Investors place a heavy weight on major areas like team, 

traction and scalability. Begin to understand an investor’s 

thought process and the milestones you need to hit for them 

to pay attention. Gain insights on why thinking about money 

too early (or at all) can be detrimental to your company. 

Pitching your Idea – April 9, 2014 

Communication of ideas is an often overlooked area by 

entrepreneurs. Every bad pitch is a lost opportunity. Don’t be 

like other entrepreneurs; value the communication of your 

idea. Your ability to communicate your idea effectively will 

help you sell your vision. This session will provide entrepreneurs 

with the valuable tactics of pitching or communicating 

an idea. Communication matters whether you are recruiting 

a co-founder, selling to your customers, applying to an 

accelerator or pitching an investor. 

Go to Market – April 16, 2014 

Getting a startup to market is challenging. There are many 

strategies and approaches you can follow, but do they all 

provide a high ROI? Once a startup gets to market, it needs to 

capitalize on that opportunity. Entrepreneurs need to always 

be delivering tremendous value to customers, businesses 

and their stakeholders. The final week will cover strategies 

and tactics that entrepreneurs can implement to reach more 

customers and sales. Before launching your product, you 

should have a basic understanding of models and what go to 

market tactics work and don’t work with each model. 

For more information about the Calgary NEXT program 

or to apply, contact: Steven McIlvenna, director, entrepreneur 

development, Innovate Calgary at smcilvenna@ 

innovatecalgary.com, (403) 284-6419 or visit innovatecalgary. 

com/growing-a-company/NEXT. 


Spotlight shines on Calgary 

with the announcement of $5 million 

grant funding for the Calgary Film Studio 

As Canada’s fourth-largest film 

jurisdiction, Calgary boasts 

award-winning crews and 

locations. The Calgary region benefits 

from an average of $100 million in 

film, television and digital production 

each year and is responsible for 80 

per cent of all filming in Alberta. In 

addition, the Calgary region has garnered 

more Oscar, Golden Globe and 

Emmy® Award nominations than any 

other jurisdiction in Canada. 

In response to this ever-growing 

industry, four years ago, Calgary Economic 

Development established the 

Alberta Creative Hub Corporation – a unique non-profit 

and non-partisan organization established for the specific 

purpose of growing the local film, television and creative 

industries through the development of state-of-the-art, purpose-built 

facilities. 

On February 4, 2014, after an in-depth submission and 

evaluation process, the Alberta Government, through the 

Ministry of Culture, announced that Calgary Economic 

Development was the successful proponent of a one-time, 

$5-million grant towards building the Calgary Film Studio. 

“We are very pleased to have been selected as the proponent 

for the Calgary Film Studio,” says Bruce Graham, 

president and CEO, Calgary Economic Development. “By 

working with industry and post-secondary partners to 

develop purpose-built facilities, we envision the studio will 

allow the creative industries sector to realize significant 

growth potential, increase the retention of local talent and 

support the diversification of our economy.” 

Here are some of the details of the plan: 

• The total projected cost is approximately $22.8 million. 

• The studio will feature two purpose-built sound stages 

(20,000 sq. ft. and 30,000 sq. ft.) with the ability to subdivide 

the larger studio. 

• The studio will also include 18,000 sq. ft. of warehouse 

space with an additional 10–15,000 sq. ft. for workshop/ 

production, props, sets, wardrobes, etc. 

• It will be governed by a board of directors. 

• William F. White International will be the anchor tenant. 

The creative industries sector has 

reached a critical tipping point… 

The creative industries employ 60,000 Albertans who 

work in industries that generate billions of dollars into the 

provincial economy on an annual basis. Of that 60,000, 

approximately 3,000 of them work in film and television 

production. With some adjustments and enhancements to 

incentives, there is the opportunity to grow this sector to a 

half-billion dollars in the next five to seven years. The creative 

industries sector has reached a critical tipping point, 

with terrific growth opportunities driving the need for purpose-built, 

permanent facilities. 

“It’s an incredible opportunity to diversify our provincial 

economy with a one-time capital investment in an industry 

that we have already proven to be very successful in,” says 

Luke Azevedo, commissioner of film, television and creative 

industries. “The Calgary Film Studio will help ensure our 

industries remain viable and provide jobs for Albertans.” 

Moving forward, Calgary Economic Development and the 

Alberta Creative Hub Corporation are entering the planning 

phase, and will be working swiftly to determine next steps, with 

plans to secure land and break ground in the spring of 2014. 

Alberta has vistas, award-winning crews and now the 

infrastructure to support both international and indigenous 

creative projects. 


Calgary’s Path to 

Ultimate sports City 

BY STEWART MCDONOUGH 

In January of this year, Calgary was added to the Sport- 

Business International 2014 Ultimate Sports Cities short 

list. The Ultimate Sports Cities awards are the de facto 

benchmark of sports cities around the world with acknowledgment 

on the list influencing decisions taken by sports 

federations, tour organizers and multi-sport event rights 

holders. 

The rankings of the 30 cities will be announced at the 

SportAccord Convention in Antalya/Belek, Turkey in April. 

Calgary has a variety of strengths that have been recognized 

by event rights holders over the years and, more recently, by 

SportBusiness International. 

Sport is at our core, it’s in our DNA, and we care about 

it for the right reasons. We see sport as a way to build 

community, inspire youth to action and create social, 

facility and cultural legacies to last for generations. We have 

a focused strategy and the support of the public and private 

sectors. We are a pre-eminent winter sport city with the rare 

ability to host a diversity of major events year-round. 

WE ARE A SPORT CITY 

Sport is part of our city’s identity, our history, our source 

of pride and at the centre of our vision for the future. 

Calgarians love to participate, spectate, support and engage 

in sport at all levels. 

We show up in record numbers to revel in major events: 

• Spruce Meadows’ two main events draw a combined 

180,000 spectators 

• Calgary Stampede welcomes 1.1 million visitors every 

year 

• 100,000 people lined Calgary streets to watch the final 

leg of the UCI 2.1 Tour of Alberta 

• 40,000 spectators witnessed golf’s legends at the Shaw 

Charity Classic PGA Champions Tour 

WE ARE WINTER 

Calgary is at the heart of Canada’s Olympic Winter Games 

ambitions. One hundred and twenty of Canada’s 221 member 

2014 Olympic team trained or competed at WinSport Canada 

facilities. At the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver 

20 of 26 Canadian medals were won by athletes who honed 

their skills at WinSport. The path to Canadian Winter 

Olympic gold runs through Calgary. Canada holds the record 

for most gold medals in a single Winter Olympics. 

We have hosted 32 World Cup or international winter 

sport events from 2010 to 2013. Few cities in the world, if 

any, can host freestyle aerials, moguls, halfpipe, skeleton, 

luge, bobsleigh, speed skating, hockey, sledge hockey and 

curling World Cups or major international events within city 

limits and Nordic and alpine World Cups within an hour 

from those same city limits. 

SPORT 365 

We claim winter as our domain, and yet our energy is 

boundless. We are the world’s horse capital with new events 

every year, Spruce Meadows, the Calgary Stampede, major 

ranches in close proximity and herds of wild horses still 

roaming the surrounding prairies. New major anchored 

summer events with the UCI 2.1 Tour of Alberta and Shaw 

Charity Classic PGA Champions Tour join Spruce Meadows, 

the Calgary Stampede and a host of incredibly well-attended 

summer festivals as Calgarians quench their thirst for action. 

strategy, purpose and looking forward 

We attract events for the right reasons. We care about sport, 

we care about what it can do for children, how it can break 

down barriers and how it unites and lifts. It’s our experience 

that sport organizations care about their sport, the growth of 

their sport, the reputation of their sport, and yes the financial 

viability of their sport. 

We have established a national best-practice model in the 

Calgary Sport Tourism Authority for attracting major events. 

The CSTA strategy has proven successful with more than 

250 events supported since 2007 resulting in far-reaching 

community, grassroots sport, economic and legacy. 

The CSTA strategy is founded in collaboration; it is 

passionate, progressive and selective; and devoted to the 

delivery of the broad range of benefits derived from hosting 

major sport events. 


WE SERVE CANADA’S 

FOURTH-LARGEST CITY, 

BUT THE CALGARY 

TELUS CONVENTION 

CENTRE RANKS 

TENTH IN SIZE 

HOW DO WE CATCH 

UP? WHAT’S NEXT 

AT THE CENTRE 

OF ENERGY? 

– 

calgary-convention.com

MarketingMatters • David Parker 

MarketingMatters 

By DaViD ParkEr 

The chance to respond to an RFP 

for a major client is always an 

exciting opportunity for advertising 

agencies and it says something 

for the importance the industry holds 

in Travel Alberta in that the organization 

received over 100 downloads to 

the request it sent out last October. 

It was by necessity a lengthy process 

but the new agency of record for 

Travel Alberta for the next three-year 

period is a consortium pitched together 

by Critical Mass and Copithorne and 

Blakely Advertising. 

Royce Chwin, Travel Alberta’s chief 

marketing officer, says agencies had 

to adhere to strict criteria which cut 

down the number of real submissions 

to 10. After responding to a business 

case and in-person presentations in 

which much strength was put on the 

ability of the respondents to fit as a 

partner with the marketing organization 

the consortium was chosen to 

take over from incumbent Venture 

Communications. 

A focus will be in the growth of the 

international market and Critical Mass 

has years of experience in the worldwide 

digital arena while Copithorne 

and Blakely were both involved in the 

very successful Remember to Breathe 

campaign and understand the local, 

regional and Canadian market. 

They have an interesting challenge: 

2013 brought $7.8 billion tourism dollars 

into the province and the target 

set for 2020 is $10.3 billion. 

•••••••••••••• 

We are fortunate to have a facility 

like The Beach in this city where 

owner/producer Lanny Williamson 

constantly upgrades his equipment to 

ensure locals have the best available. 

Latest addition to his advanced 

audio production house along 11th 

Avenue SE is the installation of a 7.1 

surround sound system that is compatible 

with Blu-ray video systems 

and theatrical, HDTV and TV audio 

production. 

Williamson consulted with the 

Dolby Labs designer to customize his 

purpose-built new system to the latest 

and best standards available so that 

the Beach can handle any production 

in-city. His 7.1 is the only one available 

between Vancouver and Toronto, 

complementing his three studios that 

are kept busy with some excellent 

productions including post-production 

and sound for a current feature 

film and a travelogue bound for U.S. 

audiences for Calgary singer/producer 

Jewelle Colwell. 

•••••••••••••• 

The 10 th Sara Scouts are celebrating 

its centennial year and are looking 

forward to holding the event in its 

Rideau Park Scout Hall. 

Kevin Mullen of Empire Homes and 

Empire Kitchen and Bath is a neighbour 

and came to the rescue of the 

historic 1927 landmark building that 

was in dire need of fixing up. It had 

served eight decades of use by countless 

youth but was showing its age. 

Plans were well underway when 

the flood made matters much worse 

and the decision was made to rebuild 

it on a new foundation. Mullen was 

able to count on his architect, DeJong 

Design Associates, and his suppliers 

who donated materials and labour but 

he also called on the creativity of his 

agency, Tandem, to help with additional 

fundraising. 

The result was a Be Prepared invitation 

to be part of Calgary’s history 

designed as a booklet after the Boy 

Scouts badge book. 

•••••••••••••• 

Since joining the two-year-old Calgary 

office of Edelman – the world’s 

largest PR company – last September, 

general manager Laurie Stretch has 

doubled the staff to 10 and continues 

to grow its list of clients here. 

One of the newcomers is Mathew 

Hayes who relocated from the Toronto 

office to launch Edelman Canada Digital 

in Calgary. 

•••••••••••••• 

I was delighted to catch up with 

Luiza Campos over coffee and find out 

what was new with her Marca Strategy. 

Marca is the Spanish name for 

trademark and Campos has been busy 

with branding strategies for a number 

of her clients that include the Calgary 

Counselling Centre that has reacted to 

the heartaches due to last year’s flooding 

in opening a counselling centre in 

High River. 

She likes working for non-profits 

and has been helping Alberta Theatre 

Projects to focus on a new vision, but 

has also been a big help to companies 

like Highlander Wines and Spirits that 

opened its third Calgary location in 

the new district Seton, just to the west 

of South Health Campus. 

Parker’s Pick: 

Love the AMA TV commercial 

with the family in the pickup 

truck. 


Thank you 

Wayne 

Chiu 

Wayne Chiu brings a brand of leadership 

in the business sector and community that 

is equal parts 21st century innovation, and 

classic Calgary. Along with wife and business 

partner Eleanor, Wayne has grown Trico 

Homes and the Trico Charitable Foundation 

into major successes for both their business 

and community achievements. 

We thank them for their longtime and 

generous support of Bow Valley College. 

In honour of this record of leadership we 

are proud to introduce the newly named 

Bow Valley College Chiu School of Business. 

Chiu School of Business

Business in Calgary

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