Download - Guelph Chamber of Commerce

Winter 2012
Return undeliverable items to:
Guelph Chamber of Commerce
111 Farquhar Street, 2nd Floor
Guelph, ON N1H 3N4
Publication Mail 40844077
Social Media
Conundrum
...Page 6
www.guelphchamber.com

Upcoming Events
Lunch and Learn
Economic Benefits of Charitable
Partnerships and Volunteerism
Marissa Teeter, Skyline Wealth Management Inc.
Glenna Banda, Children’s Foundation of
Guelph Wellington
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Cutten Fields
190 College Avenue East
Breakfast Academy
Employee Morale
Sylvia Plester-Silk, On Purpose Consulting
Friday, January 18, 2013
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Holiday Inn Guelph Hotel & Conference Centre
601 Scottsdale Drive
Business After Five
Metalumen Manufacturing Inc.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
570 Southgate Drive
Seminar Series
Sales Workshop - Get and Keep More
Customers with Ease
Sherri Griffin, DeliberateU
Wednesday January 30, 2013
8:30 a.m. - noon
Innovation Guelph
111 Farquhar Street, 3rd Floor
Pulse on Innovation Breakfast
Crop Protection & Production
Lorne Hepworth, CropLife Canada
Thursday, January 31, 2013
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Delta Guelph Hotel & Conference Centre
50 Stone Road West
Breakfast Academy
Managing the Baby Boomers’ Retirement
Sean Lyons, Department of Business,
University of Guelph
Friday, February 15, 2013
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Holiday Inn Guelph Hotel & Conference Centre
601 Scottsdale Drive
Business After Five
Guelph General Hospital
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
115 Delhi Street
111 Farquhar Street, 2nd Floor
Guelph ON N1H 3N4
Tel: 519-822-8081 Fax: 519-822-8451
E-mail: chamber@guelphchamber.com
Website: www.guelphchamber.com
CONTENTS
Advertisers’ Index..........................................................................................4
GCC Executive Committee/Board of Directors/Team.......................4
President’s Message.....................................................................................5
Social Media Conundrum........................................................................6
Grow Your Own HR Department..........................................................8
AODA Employment Standard Compliance.....................................9
Getting the Most Out of Your Tradeshow..................................... 10
Member Profiles.......................................................................................... 12
New Members............................................................................................. 13
New Member Profile................................................................................. 14
Member Milestones................................................................................... 15
Buzz on Business........................................................................................ 15
Members on the Move............................................................................. 15
The Motto for Karate Dojo’s................................................................ 17
CONNECT GCC - Your Place to Network............................................. 18
Why Your Home Costs More to Rebuild................................. 20
The Chamber Helps Strengthen Guelph’s
‘Creative Advantage’.............................................................................. 22
Winter 2012 www.guelphchamber.com 3

Advertisers’ Index
Andrew Somerville - PEAK Precision Realty Ltd .........17
Working on your behalf…
Your GCC Executive Committee:
The Athletic Club .......................................9
BDO Canada LLP ...................... Inside Back Cover
BenSol Consulting Inc. .................................16
Compugen Inc. ........................................20
Janet Roy
Dan Lawson
Premium HR Solutions Inc. Blount Canada Ltd.
Rob McLean
Sociable Communications
and Marketing
Amy Kendall
Conestoga College
Murray Short
RLB LLP
Downtown Guelph ....................Inside Front Cover
Your Board of Directors:
Erb and Erb Insurance Brokers Limited ..................6
Express Employment Professionals ....................21
GENIVAR Inc. ..........................................15
Green Solution Property Management ................17
Dawn Borho
RBC Royal Bank
Gord Bossey
Holiday Inn Guelph Hotel
& Conference Centre
Marc Brombal
Sidonio’s
John Burns
ABS Friction Inc.
Peter Cartwright
City of Guelph Economic
Development & Tourism
Guelph Hydro Inc ......................................11
HLB System Solutions ..................................8
Knapp’s Country Market ................................5
Montessori School of Wellington. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Greg Elliott
The Co-operators
David Estill
Estill Energy Inc.
Carly O’Brien
The Achievement
Centre
Ken Smith
University of Guelph
Graham Smyth
Scotiabank
Rogers TV. .............................................10
Your Chamber Team:
Solar Trends ........................... Inside Back Cover
St. John’s-Kimarnock School ........... Inside Back Cover
Sutherland Insurance ...................................5
Target Mechanical Services Ltd. .......Outside Back Cover
Lloyd Longfield
President & C.A.O.
Wendy Brousseau
Operations Manager
Bette Ann Cannon
Member Services
Coordinator
Kathryn Finora
Graphic Designer
Daryl MacDonald
Sales Associate
The UPS Store .........................................10
Waterloo Wellington Community Care
Access Centre .........................................21
Sean McLafferty
Executive Assistant
Connie McNeil
Administrative Assistant
Anne Stewart
Accountant
Jane Wielhorski
Event Coordinator
Heather Wright
Communication &
Project Coordinator
Thank you to our advertisers! Without your
support, we could not produce this magazine.
To be featured as a Member Profile,
New Member Profile, contribute an
Article or advertise in this magazine, please
contact Bette Ann at the Guelph Chamber of Commerce
by phone at 519-822-8081 or by email at
bette_ann@guelphchamber.com.
Moving Business Forward Magazine is published 4 times a
year by The Guelph Chamber of Commerce. Moving Business
Forward is the official publication of the Guelph Chamber of
Commerce and is circulated to its members as part of their
membership. Unsolicited material is not eligible for payment.
Opinions and comments contained herein reflect those of the
writer and not necessarily those of the Chamber, its Board of
Directors, its members or the publisher. © All rights reserved.
4
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
The Guelph Chamber of Commerce represents
the voice of business contributing to economic
growth, profitability, competitiveness and
community involvement for all types of
businesses and business people in Guelph.
OUR VALUES
Ethics
The GCC conducts business in a manner that is
ethical and honest in all dealings
Fairness
The GCC helps members to promote themselves
through advocacy and other membership
benefits
Environment
The GCC supports an environmentally sustainable
community in which we live and raise our families
Leadership and Innovation
The GCC conducts business that demonstrates
leadership and innovation for all members
Your Chamber Team: Phone: 519-822-8081
Lloyd Longfield, Ext. 224, lloyd@guelphchamber.com
Wendy Brousseau, Ext. 225, wendy@guelphchamber.com
Bette Ann Cannon, Ext. 222, bette_ann@guelphchamber.com
Kathryn Finora, Ext. 238, kathryn@guelphchamber.com
Daryl MacDonald, Ext. 251, daryl@guelphchamber.com
Sean McLafferty, Ext. 252, sean@guelphchamber.com
Connie McNeil, Ext. 221, connie@guelphchamber.com
Anne Stewart, Ext. 227, anne@guelphchamber.com
Jane Wielhorski, Ext. 223, jane@guelphchamber.com
Heather Wright, Ext. 226, heather@guelphchamber.com

President’s Message
Entrepreneurism is Alive and Well in
Guelph
The Guelph Chamber of Commerce is
pleased to be a key partner in fostering
entrepreneurship in Guelph. Our business
network is electric with connections to help
businesses of all sizes and types to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit.
The Guelph Chamber of Commerce has been helping businesses to
connect to each other and to resources to support business growth
and prosperity since the early 1800’s/ so where are we at today?
Getting Started
The World Bank recently ranked Canada as the third easiest country
in the world to start a business out of 185 countries (ref: http://
doingbusiness.org/rankings). Once your business is registered,
Guelph provides the Bizpal service, a collaborative effort of the City of
Guelph, Service Ontario, and Industry Canada. This one-stop, online
service helps local businesses start up or grow by providing access
to information on business permits and license requirements from
all three levels of government. The main goal of BizPal is to make it
faster and easier for entrepreneurs to get started by simplifying the
time consuming document research process. Bizpal can be found on
Guelph.ca under Business Licenses.
Getting Going
Since 1999, the Guelph Wellington Business Enterprise Centre has
been helping business startup, early growth businesses, and selfemployment.
Through the support and continued commitment
of the Municipal, Provincial and Federal Governments, Centre Staff,
Board of Directors, Founding Partners and Corporate Sponsors,
GWBEC has been able to provide direction and assistance to people
who are starting or operating small businesses. Innovation Guelph
helps businesses to start, grow, and thrive by offering programs
and services to address the needs of entrepreneurs, community
organizations, researchers and business leaders. Innovation Guelph’s
team of experienced advisors will help you determine which resources
best match you and your product, goals, and stage of company
development through programs offered by MaRS, local support, and
Lloyd Longfield
President and CAO
industry research collaboration programs. The Downtown Guelph
Business Association provides connections for businesses in the heart
of Guelph. The Guelph Chamber of Commerce connects businesses
and business people, and provides programs for peer to peer learning
and works closely with the other business support agencies.
Business Friendly
Guelph has an incredible support network for any stage of business,
with many local entrepreneurs having grown their businesses to
becoming players on the international stage. Guelph’s access to
talent from our leading school board, college, and university networks
has long been a key strength for our businesses. Guelph is also
becoming a landing site for newcomers to Canada who bring diversity
to our talent, and connections to other parts of the world. The coffee
shops, restaurants, and many cultural attractions give Guelphites a
place to connect and build friendships. Guelph is a friendly place – a
great place to meet people – and a great place to do business.
Business Growth in 2013
The Guelph Chamber wants to make 2013 a breakthrough year
for your business. Connect to us and we will help you to make the
connections to make this happen. Happy New Year!
Winter 2012 www.guelphchamber.com 5

Social Media Conundrum
Is your organization feeling threatened by
today’s technology advancements? Do you
feel you’re spending more on marketing than
you should be? Or perhaps not sure how to
pursue new methods of online marketing?
Have no fear. Here are a few simple
considerations to overcome those barriers and get your organization
online using social media.
What is Social Media?
Often times we wonder what ‘social media’ means. Let’s keep it
simple; social media is a form of online communication through an
interactive portal to connect to thousands of people. You can decide
to communicate through the use of multimedia – Ie. photos, videos,
audios, blogging or micro-blogging, writing articles, snippets of text;
or merely network with others with similar interests.
Does Social Media Work?
A 2012 Social Media Marketing Industry Report stated that, “85% of all
businesses that have a dedicated social media platform as part of their
marketing strategy reported an increase in their market exposure…
and 58% of businesses that have used social media marketing for over
3 years reported an increase in sales over that period.”
Social Media isn’t ‘one size fits all’. Just like everything else, we must
shop and choose the platform that best suits the organization. It may
be appealing to set-up multiple profiles, but by not fully utilizing the
platform, it may damage the organization’s image. It’s best to start
with one platform to learn its idiosyncrasies; capitalize on the audience
by figuring out what type of content works best, then leverage it with
other platforms that suit your goals.
In addition, it’s not all about product news; rather it’s an opportunity
to engage different social relationships in different ways. Online
marketing suites like www.Vengeo.com allow smart businesses
or non-profits to act like the big boys, with a ridiculously low cost
Do-It-Yourself all-inclusive solution to package content bigger and
richer than just ‘snippets of info’. Consider online feedback forms; or
acquire attendees through your social calendar; send email blasts and
newsletters, or simply showcase your brand with media in web pages
that you can control! The key is to use these tools to capitalize on a
breaking trend, and quickly create an adventure whereby followers
will organically multiply your brand for you.
Which Social Media Platform Should I Choose?
Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter, YouTube,
and more! “Which one do I start with?” is the most commonly asked
question. There’s a lot of social media platforms available, however,
let’s focus on the top 3 platforms:
“As a past business owner and entrepreneur I know
irsthand the long hours and frustration running a
business can be, especially when you found a new
business like I did. Let me manage your insurance
needs, because I understand the details and ine print of
insurance. I will make protecting your business a little
easier.”
“Call me and see what my
business and insurance
experience can do for you.”
Lars Rittmann
lrittmann@erb-erb.com
800-265-2634 ext 213
30 Queen St. N. PO Box 2670
Kitchener, ON N2H 6N2
www.erb-erb.com
Toll Free: 1 800 265 2634
Web: www.erb-erb.com
Follow us on Facebook & Twitter
1. Facebook - the most widely used platform for friends and family,
and with over one billion users, has evolved to also embrace
businesses to create a giant networking eco-system. Facebook is a
great tool to develop ‘relationships’ and ignite brand recognition.
2. Google+ - a relatively new platform, that’s quickly being identified
as the tool for businesses to increase their brand recognition in the
world of social media. It’s a tool that allows businesses to create
specific communities to market more strategically.
3. Twitter – a ‘texting’ platform to build relationships with customers
and the community. Twitter is used to post real-time comments
and news, special offers, and/or product updates. The Twitter
‘hashtag’ is a clever use of 140 characters to increase the
viewership of topic-specific searches within the ‘twitterverse’.
What’s the Cost of Using Social Media?
Joining social media sites is almost always free! The real cost is your
time and energy. Also, in order to maximize your impact, your content
delivery has to be timely. Online social trends, or ‘trending’, requires
you to be part of the short-term story, otherwise you have kind of
missed the boat. And, although supplementing your website is a
good idea, ‘pulling’ customers to entertain them there is much harder
as more and more people hang out at the social sites. So today, to be
more effective, you must PUSH relevant and timely content to specific
demographics.
6

Think of participating at a social media site like the way Walmart
prepares to open a new location – they evaluate the neighborhood
then build their presence, then they ship trucks of content depending
on the region, season and needs. For a small organization, competing
at that level can be an expensive proposition, especially if you’re using
third-party services. Online marketing tools like Vengeo help you put
that content together to populate your ‘social stores’, by yourself.
How do I Get Started?
As Nike would say, “Just Do It”! Take a small step and discover the
others along the way. Your fears are likely associated with not
knowing about social media, especially if you’re not ‘tech-savvy’. Get
over it. Turn on the computer, head onto the internet; perhaps visit a
couple sites or sign up to a social media tool. Social media can greatly
help organizations increase brand recognition, develop an online
digital footprint, and connect to billions of customers around the
world.
Author: Anna Nguyen
Front of House Manager
Innovation Guelph
Phone: 519-265-4495
Email: anna.nguyen@innovationguelph.ca
Website: www.innovationguelph.ca
for Not for Profits
Attract and Retain the Best Talent
The Guelph Chamber of Commerce has two Group
Benefits programs for members only: the national
Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan, and
the local Cooperators Group Benefits Plan. Both
programs offer outstanding value including
medical, dental, and long-term disability.
If you are a Not For Profit Business with Paid Staff and join
one of our group benefit plans, your membership will be
at the Non Profit with unpaid staff rate, presently a
savings of $196 off your Chamber membership.
www.guelphchamber.com
Winter 2012 www.guelphchamber.com 7

Grow Your Own HR Department
For many small businesses, the human
resources department resides with the owner
or office manager—typically people with
no formal HR training. They hire and fire,
do the payroll, help settle disputes, ensure
compliance with employment regulations
and maintain morale while juggling a million other tasks. HR is yet
another hat they wear in the day-to-day operations of the business.
But many small businesses—especially those in growth mode—are
discovering that it pays to create a formal HR function to oversee the
people side of the organization.
More and more, “small businesses are realizing they need a way to
bring people into the company, hire and onboard, assess performance,
recognize people and pay them properly and know how and when to
manage people up or out,” says Fiorella Callochia, a former Toronto HR
consultant who has worked with many small businesses (and is now a
Human Capital Specialist with Deloitte).
Two small businesses that have benefited from creating an HR
function are Precision Biologic—a Halifax-based medical diagnostics
manufacturer, and Summerhill Group, a Toronto environmental
consulting organization that designs information campaigns for
clients like Home Depot. Both have earned spots on the Great Place to
Work Institute Canada’s Best Workplaces list.
Precision Biologic created an HR function during a growth phase six
years ago. “We didn’t really have a centralized process for recruiting,
hiring and orientation of new employees so we decided to grow the
HR function internally,” says company co-CEO Jennifer Mills.
Mills approached Kathy McDonald, then a member of Precision
Biologic’s admin staff, about becoming the firm’s first HR manager
and her development into the role was organic. She found a reliable
recruiter, developed a standardized hiring process and created an
employee handbook to keep everyone on the same page. She also
developed HR initiatives around leadership and culture development,
workplace wellness, and performance management.
Since creating an HR department, “our retention rates are better and
we have better hires and better fits,” says Mills. “Kathy’s performance
management system has allowed the employees to be more
connected to our overall corporate objectives. People know their
personal goals are connected to team goals, which are connected to
company goals, which means we have an engaged workforce.”
At Summerhill Group, Coleen Colman grew into her HR role by
handling the recruiting and risk management/compliance necessary
in hiring part-time field staff for the firm’s cross-Canada campaigns.
Suzanne Karajaberlian, Summerhill’s operations director, said the firm
doesn’t have a formal HR department, but Colman’s human resources
know-how is key to the organization’s success.
In terms of talent management, Colman develops training and
development for both Summerhill’s part-time field workers and the
firm’s full-time staff.
“Externally we have an engagement and training program for our
program representatives that make them better reps when we deploy
them in the field,” she says. “And internally, we do everything from
employee opinion polling to social programs like a Spanish club; and
one year ago we started an onboarding program so new hires can get
up to speed on their job quickly.” She also recently implemented an
internal mentoring program to pair mentors with mentees outside
their job function for personal development.
Having an HR professional on your team gives you the human
resources practices and strategies you need to find and manage your
talent: putting the right people in the right places at the right time to
facilitate the growth and long-term success of your business.
Author: Duff McCutcheon, Communications Specialist
Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA)
HLB
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Our team wants to be part of your
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Guelph, ON N1K 1A9
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Your IT Management Team
www.hlbsolutions.com
Phone: (519) 822-3450
Fax: (519) 822-8861
sales@hlbsolutions.com
8

Fast and Easy AODA
Employment Standard Compliance
By now most of you will have heard about the Accessibility for
Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and its various accessibility
standards aimed at creating a barrier-free province by 2025. One
upcoming compliance deadline you should know about is for the Act’s
Employment Standard.
The Employment Standard makes accessibility in organizations a
regular part of finding, hiring, supporting and communicating with
employees who have disabilities. The deadline for Employment
Standard compliance is January 1, 2016 for large organizations
(50+ employees) and January 1, 2017 for smaller organizations (>50
employees). By 2012, all organizations must provide workplace
emergency response information and plans to employees with
disabilities.
HRPA’s free AODA Employment Standard videos
Understanding your compliance obligations doesn’t have to be
difficult. The Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) has
made it easy to understand and simple to execute with the Harold
Jeepers’ series of six short (five-minute) videos.
Set a date, invite your team to brown-bag it or order some pizza,
gather around a computer and enjoy! The videos cover:
• Developing and Documenting Individual Accommodation Plans
• Keeping Accessibility Needs and Plans in Mind When Redeploying
Persons With Disabilities
• Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
• Workplace Emergency Response Information
• Recruitment and Informing Employees of Supports
• Facilitating Return to Work
You can view the videos at www.youtube.com/user/HRPATV
Just watching the videos and following along with the CHANNELS
compliance guide will put you and your team well on the way to
AODA Employment Standard compliance. Download CHANNELS from
the HRPA website. The Harold Jeepers’ video series and guide are
produced by HRPA as part of an EnAbling Change partnership with the
Government of Ontario.
Author: Duff McCutcheon, Communications Specialist
Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA)
Phone: 416-923-2324 Ext. 324; Toll free: 1-800-387-1311
Fax: 416-923-7264
Website: www.HRPA.ca
Winter 2012 www.guelphchamber.com 9

Getting the Most Out of Your Tradeshow
In this article, you will learn:
1. How to generate leads from a tradeshow
2. How to use a professional email service
to gauge interest from your prospective
customers
3. How to integrate Sales & Marketing so you
can generate great revenue
This is a simple tradeshow strategy that can pay off big time if done
properly. The first key point here is ensuring that you are at a good
trade show. So understanding your target market is critical for making
your decision on where to spend your time.
Now that you know where you want to go, you should send an email
invitation to all of your contacts to come and visit you at the show. For
this strategy, you will need a professional email service so that you
can look at your email stats after each send out. This way, you can get
current and prospective customers to come check you out. The trade
show experience is a lot less risky for someone than coming to your
business or having you go visit them.
The next step is coming up with your strategy while you’re there. To
have people give you their contact information, you need to have
something available they want. A draw for a prize is an easy way to
generate interest, but you want to be careful with what the prize is.
YOU
ON THE
TUBE
Rogers TV presents programs made
by and for our community. We’re
interested in program ideas that
directly relate to the people of Guelph.
If you have a show idea for your
Make sure the prize is related to your business. Giving away product
from your business or a gift certificate of substantial value for your
business will generate leads from people that are interested in what
you do.
Now that you have all these fantastic contacts, put them into your
email list and send out a ‘thank you for visiting our booth’ email that
includes the winners of the draw, a personal blurb on the show and
some links to your services and products.
Now here is where it gets cool! Once you have sent your email, you
can now go in and look at your analytics. You can see how many
people opened your email and also where they clicked. Depending on
your business model, you can follow up with people based on where
they clicked in your email. The best part about this is that you only
follow up with people that are interested!
So, to recap:
1. Find a good trade show
2. Send out an email invitation to come and visit you there
3. Set up a draw that relates to your business to generate contact
information of prospective customers
4. Add those contacts to your email list and send out a ‘Thank you for
visiting our booth’ email with links to your products and services
5. Analyze your email stats and follow up with people that are
interested.
6. Generate revenue!
So now you have the tools to get out there and make the most of your
trade show.
Author: Rob Murray, Business Success Liaison, Intrigue Media
Phone: 519.265.4933
Email: info@intrigueme.ca
Website: www.intrigueme.ca
community television station, we want
to hear from you! Visit us online at
rogerstv.com
ROGERSTV.COM
Trademarks of or used under license from Rogers Communications Inc. or an affiliate.
© 2010 Rogers Communications.
10

Visit guelphhydro.saveonenergy.ca
for more information or contact us at:
Tel: 519-822-3017
Fax: 519-822-0960
Email: info@guelphhydro.com
Subject to additional terms and conditions found at saveonenergy.ca. Subject to change without notice. Funded by the Ontario Power Authority and offered by Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc.
A mark of the Province of Ontario protected under Canadian trademark law. Used under sublicence. OM Official Mark of the Ontario Power Authority. Used under licence.

Member Profiles:
Merchant 1 Payments
Merchant 1 Payments, Canadian owned, is considered one of leaders
in credit and debit card processing. We are registered and compliant
with all regulatory agencies, and associations. We put our facts on the
table with merchants; there are no surprises in rates or pricing. Our
service is rated the industry’s best, and none of our competitors can
produce a BBB A+ rating for over 15 years. Merchant 1 is also Canada’s
only processor to fully comply with the FCAC’s “Code of Conduct”.
Merchant 1 has much more to offer than just processing your
payments. We have the exclusive advantage of merchant options
which will keep you at least competitive, and usually ahead of the
pac. All our merchants have this option list with products like; next
day banking, 4 methods of payment, dual bank accounts with one
terminal, lifetime warranty on all equipment which includes updates
and replacements; and the Chamber’s lowest rates for members.
A GCC plus... all members qualify for 100 free electronic gift cards.
A free assessment with a local
representative, is available anytime.
Contact: Mike Seaton
Phone: 877-797-1783 #335
Email; maseaton@merchant1payments.com
Website: www.merchant1payments.com
N2 Compliance Ltd.
Focused on the agricultural and water
treatment sectors, N2 Compliance
works with you to understand your
specific needs and create customized strategies that work for your
business. Bringing together over 35 years of experience in regulatory
affairs and product development in these critical sectors, N2
Compliance can provide the expertise you need to get your product
to market, efficiently and cost effectively.
How can we help? It’s not just a question it’s the key tenet of our
business philosophy.
The answer to this question is entirely dependent upon your specific
application and needs. Understanding the true needs of each
business and application, and identifying solutions and strategies for
your business requirements is what we do.
Whether you have a new product or technology, an existing product
or technology that requires renewal support, expanding a products
market share by adding value with better alternative labeling
initiatives, or refining materials and operations to meet the growing
need of the new sustainability requirements, N2 Compliance can
provide you with the additional expertise you need.
Contact us for your free 1 hour consultation and let us show you how
we can help ease your compliance pain.
Compliance expertise when you need it.
Contact: Shawn Nielsen and Caroline Dykstra Nielsen
Phone: 519-837-0629
Email: shawn@n2compliance.com / caroline@n2compliance.com
Website: www.n2compliance.com
Sealy Karate School
Modesty, Courtesy, Integrity, Self-Control,
Perseverance, and Indomitable Spirit:
Celebrating 20 Years of Sealy Karate School
In 1991, Sealy Karate School (SKS) first
opened its doors in Guelph, Ontario, under the direction of Shihan
Kevin Sealy, a Sixth Degree Black Belt and lead singer of metal rock
band, Persist. Providing a unique combination of karate and Brazilian
jiu-jitsu, SKS teaches self discipline, respect and strength, to students
through the karate kata system and equips students with self-defense
abilities through jiu-jitsu methods. This blend of martial arts represents
one of the most complete systems of training available, and sets Sealy
Karate students apart for their comprehensive skills sets. Since its
inception, SKS has trained more than 200 black belts and hundreds
of students of all ages in martial arts skills and personal excellence. In
September 2011, Sealy Karate School celebrated its 20th Anniversary
of providing excellence in martial arts training, and Shihan Kevin and
the staff and students of SKS look forward to 20 more years!
Contact: Kevin Sealy
Phone: 519-821-5425
Email: sealykarate@sealykarate.ca
Website: www.sealykarate.ca
LMS PROLINK
LMS PROLINK Ltd. is a national, independently operated Canadian
Insurance brokerage and risk consulting company. For 30 years we
have been providing unique risk management solutions to meet the
needs of more than 40 professional associations and their members.
LMS PROLINK Ltd. proudly offers industry leading insurance solutions
for Associations, Companies, and Individuals. We aspire to deliver the
most comprehensive and cost-effective insurance solutions for all of
our clients.
At LMS PROLINK Ltd. we proudly offer a comprehensive suite of
insurance products in order to address the unique risks and exposures
of your business. We understand that in today’s business environment
you need to protect yourself from a wide array of external factors. You
are unique. Your business is unique. Your insurance solution should
be unique. As specialists we understand how to develop and manage
your business insurance in order to deliver exceptional value to you.
As an Independent Insurance Broker we don’t work for Insurance
Companies, we work for our clients. With access to more than 30
insurance markets, you can be sure you’re getting the best coverage at
the right price.
Industry leading customer service is our utmost priority. With 30 years
in the insurance industry, our experience is our advantage.
Contact: Contact: Paul Stevenson
Phone: 519-823-1707
Email: PaulS@lms.ca
Website: www.lms.ca
12

New Member Listing
Aerotek
4275 King Street East
Kitchener, ON N2P 2E9
Phone: 519-5731869
Toll Free: (877) 707-1080
Email: edoe@aerotek.com
Website: www.aerotek.com
Category: Employment Agencies
Anna Cobian Designs
Guelph, ON
Phone: 226-203-4815
Email: getintouch@annacobiandesigns.com
Website: annacobiandesigns.com
Category: Graphic Design Services
CpK Interior Products Inc.
500 Laird Road
Guelph, ON N2G 6N7
Phone: 519-767-4245
Email: terri.gander-rowe@cpkip.ca
Website: www.cpkip.ca
Category: Automotive Part Manufacture
DeliberateU
10 Brady Lane
Guelph, ON N1L 1A3
Phone: 519-362-1643
Email: Cassie@DeliberateU.com
Website: www.DeliberateU.com
Category: Business & Corporate Training
Mary Kay Cosmetics - Abbey Martin
40 Morris Street
Guelph, ON N1E 5M2
Phone: 519-362-1680
Email: abbeymartin.mk@gmail.com
Website: www.marykay.ca/abbeymartin/
Category: Beauty Consultants
Nick Bergmann, Century 21 Home Realty Inc.
25 - 340 Woodlawn Road West
Guelph, ON N1H 7K6
Phone: 226-343-2121
Email: nick.bergmann@century21.ca
Website: www.century21.ca/nick.bergmann
Category: Real Estate, Residential
Applied GeoLogics Inc.
111 Farquhar Street,
Guelph, ON N1H 3N4
Phone: 519-821-3262
Toll Free: (887) 433-9533
Email: info@appliedgeologics.com
Website: www.appliedgeologics.com
Category: Computer Software Information
Systems
Atlas Tax Consulting
314 Imperial Road South,
Guelph, ON N1K 1M2
Phone: 519-760-1520
Email: info@atlastax.ca
Website: www.atlastax.ca
Category: Tax Returns & Tax Services
Beneficial Insectary
60 Taggart Street Unit 1,
Guelph, ON N1L 1M5
Phone: 519-763-8653
Email: kathy@insectary.ca
Website: www.insectary.com
Category: Agricultural Producers
Burley & Griffin Industrial Inc.
47 Lewis Road,
Guelph, ON N1H 1E9
Phone: 519-763-9545
Email: kmclain@golden.net
Category: Plumbing Supplies & Services
Captured by Kristin Newborn Photography
Guelph, ON
Phone: 519-230-9957
Email: info@capturedbykristin.ca
Website: www.capturedbykristin.ca
Category: Photographers
College of Management and Economics
Students’ Association
50 Stone Road East, Mins Building
Room 145, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Phone: 519-824-4120
Email: commerce@uoguelph.ca
Website: www.cmesa.ca
Category: Business Associations
Costco
Guelph, ON
Phone: 519-650-3330
Email: w512mbr@costco.com
Category: Shopping Centres, Outlets & Department
Stores
Elite Cleaning Group
Guelph, ON
Phone: 226-820-5033
Email: elitecleaninggrp@gmail.com
Website: www.ecleangrp.ca
Category: Janitorial Services, Commercial
& Industrial
Finlay Electric
Guelph, ON
Phone: 519-222-0922
Email: steve@finlayelectric.ca
Website: www.finlayelectric.ca
Category: Electricians
FireHorse Consulting Inc.
Cambridge, ON
Phone: 519-635-4224
Email: admin@firehorseinc.ca
Website: www.firehorseinc.ca
Category: Business Coach
Genre Media Inc.
121 Wyndham Streeet North Unit 18,
Guelph, ON N1H 4E9
Phone: 519-362-5756
Email: info@genrecom.com
Website: www.genrecon.com
Category: Event Planners
GHC Safety and Security
P.O. Box 283
Fergus, ON N1M 2W8
Phone: 519-848-2171
Toll Free: (877) 810-2273
Email: corinne@ghcsafetyandsecurity.com
Website: www.ghcsafetyandsecurity.com
Category: Security Services & Locksmiths
Guelph Royals
Guelph, ON
Phone: 226-500-2255
Email: jjrooney@rogers.com
Website: www.guelphroyals.com
Category: Sports Clubs & Associations
Guelph Tool Repair
Guelph, ON
Phone: 519-993-3150
Email: rnzdriluk@rogers.com
Category: Small Engine & Assembly
Hanlon Convention Centre
340 Woodlawn Road West Unit 26
Guelph, ON N1H 7K6
Phone: 519-824-5076
Email: sanjeev@hanlonconventioncentre.ca
Website: www.hanlonconventioncentre.ca
Category: Conference Centre
Planet Realty Inc., Brokerage
806 Gordon Street, Suite 202A
Guelph, ON N1G 1Y7
Phone: 519-837-0900
Email: info@planetrealty.ca
Website: www.planetrealty.ca
Cagegory: Real Estate Brokers & Representatives
RAFFI Jewellers
550 King Street North Conestoga Mall Unit B7
Waterloo, ON N2L 5W6
Phone: 519-747-2444
Email: info@raffiwaterloo.com
Website: www.raffiwaterloo.com
Category: Jewellers
Re-Gain Health Care Products
332 Boxbury Drive
Waterloo, ON N2K 1W2
Phone: 519-888-0557
Email: heidy.regain@gmail.com
Website: www.regainhealthcareproducts.com
Category: Healthcare Products & Equipment
RTI Machine Design
5 Eugene Drive,
Guelph, ON N1L 1P6
Phone: 519-341-4799
Email: rilmonen@rtimachinedesign.com
Website: www.rtimachinedesign.com
Category: Custom Machinery
Sanimax Marketing Ltd.
348 Woodlawn Road West
Guelph, ON N1H 7M4
Phone: 519-824-2381
Toll Free: (800) 263-7430
Email: misti.korzenewski@sanimax.com
Website: www.sanimax.com
Category: Storage & Warehousing
Savoir Faire VAS
187 Grove Street
Guelph, ON N1E 2W8
Phone: 226-500-3163
Email: info@SavoirFaireVAS.com
Website: www.SavoirFaireVAS.com
Category: Professional Services
SEAZNTIME Business Solutions
P.O. Box 351
Fergus, ON N1M 3E2
Phone: 519-575-8686
Email: seazntime@gmail.com
Website: www.seazntime.com
Category: Professional Services
Continued on next page
Winter 2012 www.guelphchamber.com 13

New Member Listing cont’d
Solar Trends
106 MacLennan Street
Rockwood, ON N0B 2K0
Phone: 519-605-0237
Email: mark.hall@solartrends.ca
Website: www.solartrends.ca/
Category: Window Coverings
Steve Mills Design
202-121 Wyndham Street North
Guelph, ON N1H 4E9
Phone: 519-546-6891
Email: steve@stevemillsdesign.com
Website: www.stevemillsdesign.com
Category: Graphic Design Services
Steven Muralt Photography
Guelph, ON
Phone: 519-835-7250
Email: steve@stevenmuraltphotography.com
Website: www.stevenmuraltphotography.com
Category: Photographers
TD Canada Trust
496 Edinburgh Road South
Guelph, ON N1G 4Z1
Phone: 519-362-4700
Email: a.luthra@td.com
Website: www.tdcanadatrust.com/msf/anuluthra
Category: Mortgage Brokers
Thee Corn Stand & Northern Hardwood
Guelph, ON N1G 4X1
Phone: 519-763-2223
Email: steve@northernhardwood.ca
Website: www.northernhardwood.ca
Category: Agricultural Producers
UniglassPlus Ziebart
695 Woodlawn Road, West Guelph Auto Mall
Guelph, ON N1K 1E9
Phone: 519-827-0080
Email: pattenb@uniban.ca
Website: www.uniglassplus.com
Category: Automotive Cleaning & Detailing
Western Union Business Solutions
20 Erb Street West, Unit 1102
Waterloo, ON N2L 1T2
Phone: 519-884-6006
Email: waterloo@westernunion.com
Website: www.business.westernunion.com
Category: Financial Services
www.guelphchamber.com
Affordable Group
Insurance Rates for
Small Companies
Available to members of the
Guelph Chamber of Commerce
www.guelphchamber.com
Preferred
Merchant
Rates
1.59%
1.64%
$ 0.069
Per Transaction
Find out more at www.guelphchamber.com
New Member Profile:
SEAznTIME Business Solutions
SEAznTIME Business Solutions is a service based company specializing in a wide range of
office administrative services and organizational assessments. Monica McDonald opened her
doors in January 2012 offering office support to small and mid-size businesses, and recently
tendered her expertise to larger corporations for their special projects, assisting all with their
unique requirements and providing them options of performing her services either ‘virtually’
or ‘on-site’ at their location.
Esso Gas
Program
3.5 cents
per litre
Discount
www.guelphchamber.com
/affinity-programs
Monica has coordinated activities with Corporate Executives and Professional Specialists
bringing 30 years’ experience into her current role as proprietor. With a greater sense of
responsibility, unwavering values and integrity, she strongly believes client satisfaction is the
life line of any business holding respect and confidentiality in high regard.
SEAznTIME Business Solutions’ goal is to provide easy solutions to completing administrative
tasks in the most efficient, cost effective and time sensitive approach so clients can free up
their valuable time to focus on other priorities………….thereby …..…….
Contact: Monica McDonald
Phone: 519-575-8686
Fax: 519-843-9957
Email: monica@seazntime.com
Website: www.seazntime.com
’Seizing Time during Busy Seasons’
1.55%
1.60%
$0.05/transaction
$0.15/transaction
www.guelphchamber.com/affinity-programs
The Best
Group Health Insurance
for Small Business
www.guelphchamber.com
14

Member Milestones
Milestones start at 10 years, and then every 5 years.
In Business 50 Years and More
The Guelph Country Club Ltd..................................................................... 100
The Guelph Curling Club Ltd..........................................................................65
Blount Canada Ltd.............................................................................................60
KidsAbility Foundation.....................................................................................55
In Business 25 - 45 Years
Guelph Twines Ltd.............................................................................................40
ROY-AL Rentals Limited....................................................................................40
Hatch Industries Limited.................................................................................35
Unique Coffee Services Inc.............................................................................30
Chiron Compounding Pharmacy Inc..........................................................25
Guelph Community Health Centre..............................................................25
Marshall-Built Carpentry & Renovations..................................................25
PDI............................................................................................................................25
ScotiaMcLeod......................................................................................................25
The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital.........................................25
In Business 10 - 20 Years
Guelph Youth Music Centre............................................................................20
KMA Contracting Inc.........................................................................................20
First Response Restorations Inc.....................................................................15
Ontario Agri-Food Technologies...................................................................15
River Run Centre.................................................................................................15
Some Place Safe Self Storage Inc..................................................................15
Strategic Research Associates........................................................................15
The Athletic Club................................................................................................15
Vestige Consultants...........................................................................................15
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites..............................................................10
McElroy Enterprises - Complete Home Service.....................................10
Platypi Designs Inc.............................................................................................10
Schooley Mitchell Telecom Consultants....................................................10
Soy 20/20 Project...............................................................................................10
Travel Professionals International - Barbara Fisk...................................10
Congratulations!
Milestones/Anniversaries are gathered from information supplied to the
Chamber when a company registers for membership. If there are errors or
omissions please contact bette_ann@guelphchamber.com.
Buzz on Business
Taste Real has won the prestigious 2012 Ontario Culinary Tourism
Leadership Award. The award, presented to a community or
organization that has taken on a leadership role in promoting culinary
tourism in Ontario, was presented at the 8th annual Ontario Tourism
Summit in October. Taste Real supports local farms, producers and
small businesses to build stronger rural communities and its mission
is to grow one of the most vibrant, local food economies and tourism
destinations in Ontario. There are over 120 partners in the Taste Real
program. The City of Guelph Tourism Services department is one of six
founding partners that steers the strategic development. Taste Real
is built upon the many successes of promoting local food that have
taken place across the region, including the work originally started by
Guelph Wellington Local Food at the Guelph Community Health Centre.
The Framing & Art Centre is celebrating 35 years of business. Blair
and Donna Stewart thank all their corporate customers for their
continued support.
Hammond Power Solutions Inc.: This is the first time the local
maker has won in both the Canadian and U.S. divisions of Affiliated
Distributors, which represents independent manufacturers and
distributors of industrial and construction products.
Canadian Chamber of Commerce: October 2012: The Canadian
Chamber of Commerce welcomes today’s announcement that Canada
is formally joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, a
very important regional trade agreement which will support Canada’s
efforts to improve its ties to the world’s fastest growing economies.
Ontario Chamber of Commerce: November 2012: Ontario’s business
and civic leaders delivered a plan that will enable Ontario to emerge
stronger from this period of economic transition at the 9th annual
Ontario Economic Summit (OES). The OES is an initiative of the Ontario
Chamber of Commerce (OCC).
Members on the Move
TMS Graphics moved to 263 West Acres Drive, Guelph, ON N1H 7N9
Print Solutions moved to 3 Watson Road South, Unit 4, Guelph, ON
N1L 1E3
Directsave Promotions & Apparel moved to 69 Lewis Road, Guelph,
ON N1H 1E9
Municipal Infrastructure
Environmental
Transportation
Building
Industrial
Guelph (519) 827-1453 | www.genivar.com
Global Solutions in Engineering
At GENIVAR, we believe our success is based on our
clients’ success. We focus on building and maintaining
long term business relationships that enable us to
directly support our clients with all of their engineering
needs.
1-367 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, ON N1H 7K9
Winter 2012 www.guelphchamber.com 15

The Motto for Karate Dojo’s:
Modesty. Courtesy. Integrity. Self-Control.
Perseverance. Indomitable Spirit .
A choice to send your child to a martial
arts class means that they will receive
training not only in karate skills and
techniques, but also in personal conduct, moral development, and
self-discipline. As an adult, choosing to train in the martial arts
promises intensity, challenge, and community. For all, whether young
or old, new to karate or having trained for years, joining a karate dojo
is transformative. Students come away different, and changed in ways
that carry through all other parts of their lives.
As students and family members have explained, training in karate
means you come away with more confidence. You learn to strive to
do your very best. You learn discipline and respect for yourself and
others. You learn to help out at home and at school. You learn to
be more organized and focused, and to better communicate with
friends and family. And you learn to have pride in yourself, in your
accomplishments, and in those of others. As one student wrote,
“Training in karate has taught me that you can achieve anything if you
believe in yourself. …When you think you have reached your limit, you
are capable of going even further if you just push yourself.” As another
student shared, “My karate training has made me a better person,
always striving to do better.” Many karate dojo’s regularly remind their
students of the saying,”I can always do better than I think I can”. These
words are very true and martial arts students continually prove it,
pushing themselves to the next rank & belt level.
Karate not only helps develop the mind with positive thoughts, Karate
is also a great “Cross Trainer” for other sports. Hockey players, figure
skaters, skiers and swimmers have used karate as a part of their cross
training program and had great success (most recently, Canadian
Brent Hayden – Bronze medalist for swimming at the 2012 Olympics
is a black belt in karate). Karate not only builds confidence, it also
helps athletes to focus on their goals and develops respect. There
is no prerequisite to train in the martial arts, just a good attitude, a
willingness to learn and the ambition to get healthy. Like any other
sport, the martial arts take some dedication with the reward of Black
Belt.
There is a huge bonus for kids that train in the martial arts; children of
all ages are educated on how to deal with bullies. Most karate schools
teach kids a number of techniques on how to avoid bullies and shows
them that there is no tolerance for bullies, in school or out of school.
Another part of the karate curriculum teaches self defense techniques
to all students (both children and adults) and reminds participants to
always be aware and prepared. Kids will learn to set and accomplish
the goals that they set for themselves in all aspects of their lives, in the
dojo, at home or at school. Students learn to be accountable for their
actions and to be respectful of themselves as well as others.
If there is only one sport that covers all the bases where the athlete is
“training with a purpose” – that sport is KARATE!
Author: Kevin Sealy
Sealy Karate Schools
Phone: 519-821-5425
Email: sealykarate@sealykarate.ca
Website: www.sealykarate.ca
519-821-7325
Andrew Somerville
Broker/Co-Owner
andrew@source4homes.ca
Direct: 519-830-2891
Dita Somerville
Sales Representative
dita@source4homes.ca
Scan
Me
Winter 2012 www.guelphchamber.com 17

Connect
GCC
Your Place to Network!
October 23, 2012
Skyjack Inc.,
55 Campbell Road
November 16, 2012 – The Benefits &
Risks of Cloud Computing for your
Enterprise, Sharon Bennett, Bennett
Business Connections
September 21, 2012 – Economic
Outlook: Global Growth Moderates
Dr. Sherry Cooper,
BMO Financial Group
November 14, 2012
Bingemans
18

September 17, 2012 – Kelsey’s Guelph
October 15, 2012 – The Elliott Community
November 6, 2012 at Family
and Children’s Services
September 27, 2012 OMAFRA -
Setting the Foundation
Friday, November 16, 2012
GCC Partners Tabletop Night with the Guelph Storm
Winter 2012 www.guelphchamber.com 19

Confused About Why Your Home Costs
More to Rebuild than What You Paid for it?
You’re not alone. It’s confusing that there
could be so many different numbers
(listing price, home insurance rebuilding
cost, tax assessment) about the same
object; your home. Let’s look at each in
turn.
Market Value
Depending on the neighbourhood and city the market value for a
similarly sized home can vary dramatically. For example, a 2000 square
foot bungalow could go for $450,000 in Guelph, but that exact same
home could go for $1,000,000 in the heart of Toronto. The market
value of your home is the price you can expect to receive from a buyer
in a fair and open negotiation and has no effect on insurance.
Property Tax Assessment
The property tax assessment of your home in Ontario is based on work
by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation or MPAC. They
assign property values based on 200 factors such as sales of homes in
the same neighbourhood, the location, lot dimensions, living area, age
of the property, and quality of construction of the home in question.
Your municipality then assigns taxes based on MPAC’s property value
assessment of your home. Lot dimensions and sales of homes in the
vicinity do not affect your home rebuilding costs.
Rebuilding Cost
How do insurance companies determine the rebuilding cost of your
home?
Apart from knowing the age, size, dimensions (not including the lot),
and the quality of your home and the costs of labour and building
supplies (which constantly fluctuate) there are other important factors
that determine how much your home will cost to rebuild if it is totally
destroyed.
1. Demolition and Debris Removal
When a home is totally destroyed, there is a lot of work to be done
before a new home can be built. The whole structure must be
demolished and removed. The cost to transport and dispose of the
debris of a home can be expensive. If the damage is severe enough
even the foundation may require excavation and removal. Home
insurance bases the rebuilding cost on the worst case scenario to
ensure there is enough coverage in the event of a total loss.
2. Environmental Costs
Increasingly, we rely on electronics and technology in our homes.
From computers and smart phones to entertainment centres and
children’s toys there are a lot of electronic components. Once
the debris is removed the ground is tested to ensure it is not
contaminated. This increases a home’s rebuilding cost.
3. Access to the Work-site
Sometimes, homes in a neighbourhood are built very close together,
or have mature trees lining the boulevard. Home insurance
companies take these factors into consideration. This can mean
special equipment must be brought in to mitigate further damage to
the neighbourhood or property.
4. Special Features
Some homes have very unique and special materials. The more
unique the building material the more expensive and time consuming
it is to replace. That is why your broker should ask you detailed
20

questions about your home to ensure your home has the most
accurate coverage possible. If you have imported Brazilian Cherry
wood for your floors or Italian marble in your bathroom you can bet
it’s neither easy nor cheap to replace. The rebuilding cost calculations
must take all this information into account.
5. Other Costs
Sometimes a home is damaged so much that other costs creep into
the bottom line. Things like permits or draft and architectural fees all
increase the cost to rebuild a home.
6. Satisfying the Policy Holder
Finally, the insurance company’s primary goal is to get you back into
your home as quickly as possible. This can mean paying greater labour
costs to ensure contractors work on your home and not someone
else’s. Labour typically accounts for 50% of a home build, but if there
is a catastrophic event, such as the tornado in Goderich, this can
trigger natural disaster inflation.
Construction costs rise sharply after natural disasters because there
are labour and material shortages. Labour and materials must be
brought in from further away, causing costs to increase. That’s why
having Guaranteed Replacement Cost on your homeowner’s insurance
policy is so important. Any cost increases associated with labour or
supply shortages will still be covered by your home insurance policy.
So, what about our 2000 square foot bungalow? It would cost
approximately $480,900 as of June 2012 to rebuild in Guelph, and
approximately $488,250 to rebuild in Toronto. Not much difference
in rebuilding costs, but considerable difference in market value from
$450,000 in Guelph and $1,000,000 in Toronto.
Ontario home insurance is complex and getting more so each year.
The upside is, insurance brokers take the time to talk to you to make
sure your biggest investment is properly covered and that you
understand your policy.
Author: Albert Schmidt, B.A. (Hons),
Sales and Marketing Manager
Erb and Erb Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Phone: 519-579-4270; Toll Free: 1-800-265-2634
Fax: 519-741-1977
www.erb-erb.com
Business success hinges on the ability to quickly respond to the threats
and unexpected fluctuations faced every day. With Express Employment
Professionals’ Administrative Staffing, you can stay ahead of the
competition, keep costs down, and build the strongest team possible.
Build a Solid foundation
Growing your team isn’t just about adding people. If you’re ready for solutions
to your challenges, Express is ready to step in and meet your administrative
staffing needs in a myriad of ways including:
• Short-Term Flexible Staffing
• Long-Term Contract Staffing
(519) 821-4275
100-45 Speedvale Ave E
Guelph, ON N1H 1J2
• Evaluation Hire
• Direct Hire
www.guelphchamber.com
www.guelph.expresspros.com
Connecting You With Care
For more information:
310 CCAC Or 1 888 883 3313
We help you to plan and make
informed choices about health care
options available in our community.
Our role is to help you navigate
through the system to link to home
care, long-term care destinations and
other health and support services.
Winter 2012 www.guelphchamber.com 21

The Chamber Helps Strengthen
Guelph’s ‘Creative Advantage’
The Guelph Cultural Mapping
Project develops important
strengthening tool–
Successful cities have long identified the cultural
sector as the fourth pillar of sustainability and
prosperity.
As cities compete to gain the kind of
‘creative advantage’ that generates
jobs, attracts talent and drives a strong
economy, Guelph needs to strengthen its
‘creative chops’ in order to jump to the
front of the line.
Access to comprehensive cultural data is
foundational to the strengthening process;
that’s why the Guelph Chamber of Commerce is
partnering with the City of Guelph and Guelph
Arts Council on the Guelph Cultural Mapping
Project to develop – for the first time – an
inventory and database of Guelph’s cultural assets.
The Cultural Mapping project will:
• identify and record Guelph’s artists,
creative entrepreneurs and enterprises,
culture workers, events, cultural
organizations, volunteers, creative
spaces, venues and public art
• turn the collected data into a
searchable online cultural directory
incorporating interactive maps,
profiles, images and stories that
will be freely available to the public
The Cultural Map will be used to:
• SEARCH for information
• CONNECT people
• HARNESS resources
• PLAN Guelph’s future
The Cultural Map will help to:
• BROADEN our networks
• CONNECT creative initiatives
• CAPTURE our diversity
• SPUR collaborations
• LINK to Connect Guelph
• SUPPORT Guelph Prosperity 2020
To capture Guelph’s creative assets, we need everyone to stand
up and be counted. That’s why I’m inviting all Chamber
members linked to arts and culture – either through business
or personal interest – to help populate the database by creating
their own profile, in three easy steps:
1. Visit www.guelph.ca/guelphculturemap
2. Complete the online form
3. Click ‘SUBMIT’
Our business sector has greatly benefited from – and contributed
to – Guelph’s creative and cultural vibrancy, its quality of life and
sense of place. By strengthening our ‘creative advantage’, Guelph
will be poised to jump ahead of the competition as a premier
place to live, work and build successful businesses.
Lloyd Longfield, President and CAO
Guelph Chamber of Commerce
22

Installed
3M Di-Noc Architectural
Finishes
Resurfacing cabinets, counters,
tables & more – The look of
natural materials: wood grain,
metal, natural stone, and more…
At a budget friendly price.
Privacy and Decorative
Glass Finishes
Transform Plain Glass – to
etched, cut, sandblasted, textured
and other glass designs
519-605-0237
mark.hall@solartrends.ca
When you work with BDO, you can be assured that
you will receive good value. We operate with the
utmost efficiency and transparency to ensure that
there are no surprises.
Your TIME IS MoNEY.
AND WE WoN’T WASTE EITHEr.
After 90 years of experience, you and
your business are still our top priority.
BDO. MORE THAN YOU THINK.
Assurance | Accounting | Tax | Advisory
512 Woolwich St
Guelph ON
519 824 5410
www.bdo.ca
BDO Canada LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership, is a member of BDO
International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part
of the international BDO network of independent member firms. BDO is the
brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO Member Firms.
Winter 2012 www.guelphchamber.com 23