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| EDITORIAL |Paddy KamenEditor-in-chief1.888.661.0404|Retail is evolving. We’re in the age of “power centers”and “super centers”, but we’re also in the age of trendycity streets with funky used clothing shops (who wouldhave thought that “used” would be “in”?), hip restaurantsand high-fashion eyewear retailers. We’ve seenchains that specialize in bagels, wraps (the kind youeat), hosiery and bikinis and we’ve also seen a rise inthe one-stop-shop where you can buy milk, socks andgarden tools as well as get your eyes examined!Is there a place for everyone? Lorne Kashin thinksso. The president of the Canadian Opticians Associationobserves that many people are happy to shop at chains,while others prefer to do business with their local independentoptician. As the proud owner of one store –The Eyeglass Factory – in Toronto, Kashin has enjoyedbuilding a clientele around personalized service. “After30 years in business I’m now fitting glasses on thegrandchildren of my first customers. I’m also noticingadult clients bringing in their elderly parents. It’s verysatisfying to build these long-standing relationships.”Some ECPs will be well suited for employment atWal-Mart Optical, New Look or any of a number of otherlarge chains. Some will want to work for the owner offour-to-ten stores who prides himself on the fact thateach store serves its neighbourhood as if it were anindependent (like Bruce Van Leeuwen of Crown Optical)and others still will have the drive and desire to opena practice of their own where they can specialize inone-on-one service to a select or general clientele.If anyone can predict where the market will go overthe next ten years then that person may end up wealthy.But the market evolves and individual entrepreneursand corporations try different things – some of themthrive and others don’t. As Robert Grimard, proud ownerof four stores in Quebec says, “Those who deserve tobe in business because they have professionalism anda true entrepreneurial bent will succeed.”And speaking of success, Breton Communicationsand the OAC are pleased to announce the creation of anew optical magazine for French readers. La Revue isthe first French Canadian publication for the opticalprofessions, created for French speakers across thecountry. La Revue will address and respond tocultural realities within the French-speaking eyecarecommunities. If you would like to subscribe to this freepublication, please contact Breton Communications byemail at: yvonne@bretoncom.com.Thank you for sharing your time with us. ISI6VISION | jul_aug | 2007

| Feature |8VISION | jul_aug | 2007

The Opticians Association of CanadaAssociation des opticiens du Canada2706-83 Garry StreetWinnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4J9(204) 982-6060 • 1-(800) 847-3155E-mail : canada@opticians.caWeb site : www.opticians.caOptical ChainsVary WidelyFrom the little store that grew to the publiclytraded corporation, chain storescome in all types,shapes andsizes.By Paddy Kamen| What exactly is a chain store? Weíre all familiar with chainslike Gap Inc. where the stores have the same appearance,product and ambiance. People know what to expect at a chainand, to a certain extent, thatís why they work.Wal-Mart is definitely a chain and theiroptical offerings are huge in Canada, with156 in-store departments. Other chainsoffer an upscale experience and still othersare locally-owned operations that grewand who pride themselves on serving distinctneighbourhoods really well – takeCrown Optical for example. And yet Crownowner Bruce Van Leeuwen doesn’t think ofhis ten stores as a chain because theydon’t have a set appearance profile, nordo they all carry the same products.Here are four examples of chains withdifferent structures, histories, marketingstrategies and clientele. If you’re lookingfor job opportunities you can learn aboutsome options here that may be availablein your part of the country. And if you’re aretail owner/operator you will learn wherethese chains are headed.2006-2007PROVINCIAL DIRECTORS /ADMINISTRATEURS PROVINCIAUXLORNE KASHINPresident/PrésidentThornhill, Ontario(905) 881-1276AlbertaDAVID MCGOWANSecretary Treasurer / Secrétaire-trésorierRed Deer (403) 347-1020British Columbia / Colombie-BritanniqueCindy KoszegiVictoria • (250) 920-5911ManitobaTODD SMITHWinnipeg • (204) 788-4571New Brunswick / Nouveau-BrunswickROBERTA MCLAUGHLINSaint John • (506) 634-0016Newfoundland / Terre-NeuveMARIAN WALSHSt. John’s • (709) 579-2605Nova Scotia / Nouvelle-ÉcosseROBERT DALTONVice-President/vice-présidentHalifax • (902) 455-4305OntarioLORNE KASHINPresident/PrésidentThornhill • (905) 881-1276Prince Edward Island /Île-du-Prince-ÉdouardDALIE SCHELLENCharlottetown • (902) 566-2020SaskatchewanJAMES HOLSTEINRosetown • (306) 882-3511VISION | jul_aug | 2007 9

| Feature |Canadian Optical Market - Chains vsindependent73%27%Ratio: Number of habitants for eachoptical door per province35 000■ Independent doors■ Chain doorsPROVINCE POPULATION* "TOTAL OF RATIOOPTICAL DOORS"AB . . . . . . . . 3 435 511 . . . . . . . 530 . . . . . . 6 482BC . . . . . . . . 4 338 106 . . . . . . . 759 . . . . . . 5 716MB . . . . . . . 1 180 004 . . . . . . . 152 . . . . . . 7 763NB. . . . . . . . . . 748 582 . . . . . . . 132 . . . . . . 5 671NL . . . . . . . . . . 508 548 . . . . . . . . 79 . . . . . . 6 437NT . . . . . . . . . . . 41 777. . . . . . . . . . 3. . . . . 13 926NS. . . . . . . . . . 933 793 . . . . . . . 139 . . . . . . 6 718NU. . . . . . . . . . . 30 947. . . . . . . . . . 1. . . . . 30 947ON. . . . . . . 12 726 336 . . . . . 2 134 . . . . . . 5 964PEI . . . . . . . . . 138 632 . . . . . . . . 26 . . . . . . 5 332QC . . . . . . . . 7 676 097 . . . . . 1 213 . . . . . . 6 328SK. . . . . . . . . . 987 939 . . . . . . . 135 . . . . . . 7 318YK . . . . . . . . . . . 31 032. . . . . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . 7 758Canada . . 32 777 304. . . . . . 530730 00025 00020 00015 00010 0005 00030 94713 9267 7636 482 6 4376 7185 716 5 6715 964 6 3285 3327 318 7 758AB BC MB NB NL NT NS NU ON PEI QC SK YKNumber of Chains and Independentsin Each Province394583136176117 97112353 0 1 023 4 0AB BC MB NB NL NT NS NU ON PEI QC SK YK35 55 2495 44159853679741610VISION | jul_aug | 2007

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| Feature |26%74%ALBERTA TOTAL : 53023%77%BRITISH COLUMBIA TOTAL : 75977%23%MANITOBA TOTAL : 15227%73%NEW BRUNSWICK TOTAL : 13270%Grimard OpticiensIt was the need for a challenge that prompted RobertGrimard to expand his practice to four stores.“I operated one store in Montreal from 1980 to 2004.There were three factors that influenced my decision toexpand: one was the fact that my son was studying opticianryand seemed to like the business, the second was myobservation that chain stores were taking more market share,and the third was that I was getting bored. I wanted to growmy business and build on my success rather than just standstill.Three years later, Grimard has three stores in Montrealand one in St-Sauveur, Quebec.The fact that there are many opticians in private practicegetting ready to retire has helped Grimard. “Over three yearsI bought five existing stores. I closed two of them and mergedthem with existing stores. This meant there was less competitionin the area and of course I saved money by cutting downon expenses.”Grimard found that he could often retain existing staff,who moved into the merged location and helped withcustomer continuity. “And existing staff often want to workless than they did in the past, so we had the option ofkeeping the person, retaining many of their customers andproviding better service in a larger location.” Moving ormerging a location can result in a client loss of from 20 – 50percent depending on the distance of the move, he adds.Each store under the Grimard Opticiens banner does itsown purchasing, with about 75 percent of the framecollections consistent from store to store. All stores carry thesame lens selection. One store is in a medical clinic, so it hasa distinct clientele. All frames are chosen by the opticians tosuit their particular neighbourhood.Independent opticians need to find a niche and have anentrepreneurial spirit in order to succeed, says Grimard. “Youcannot serve everyone but there will always be a customerwho wants to be serviced by a professional they have cometo know in a personalized retail environment. I see lots ofopportunity for independents in this market but you have tobe a true entrepreneur. My goal is to offer business-partneringopportunities to those who work with me. That’s where I’mheaded over the next five years.”100%30%NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR TOTAL : 79NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TOTAL : 3NUNAVUT12VISION | jul_aug | 2007

32%Wal-Mart OpticalWal-Mart has 156 optical departments in 290 stores, supercenters and Sam's Clubs across Canada. According to JimCaldwell, vice-president of specialty divisions and operationsdevelopment, these departments began as leased operationsunder Public Optical, but were taken over in 1998.Some smaller Wal-Mart stores have optical departments,depending on draw and location, and virtually all of the largerstores sell optical. Purchasing is done by a buying team in theCanadian home office. Pricing is consistent, however storesare allowed to reduce pricing based on competition in the localmarket.Caldwell finds more people responding well to theone-stop-shop concept. “People find it very convenient to havetheir eyes examined while doing regular shopping. And theytrust the price and the quality of the product at an everydaylow price.”Most Wal-Mart optical departments are set-aside withinthe store and have offices for eye examinations, which areopen for set hours that are different than the rest of the store.Optometrists come in for appointments. “It’s an excitingopportunity for optometrists because we have such a hugemarket. The doctors see value in the offering because we’reable to fill appointment slots for them. And with theemergence of new technologies like retinal scanners andcameras we are piloting a program to provide top-of-the-lineequipment in select stores for the optometrists.”Caldwell adds that the number of examinations at thestores is growing in the double-digits.The number of opticians in each store varies based onvolume and the size of the department. “We’re shifting tohaving more opticians rather than non-certified associates,”explains Caldwell. “In order to dispense eyeglasses andcontact lenses we need qualified individuals. Right now wehave two or three opticians per location. Overall we want moreeye care professionals who can talk to customers about eyehealth. This helps to grow the business.”68%NOVA SCOTIA TOTAL : 375%25%ONTARIO TOTAL : 2 13481%19%PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND TOTAL : 2666%34%QUEBEC TOTAL : 1 21317%100%100%TOTAL : 1YUKON TOTAL : 483%SASKATCHEWAN TOTAL : 135■ Independent doors■ Chain doorsVISION | jul_aug | 2007 13

| Feature |14List of Chains *Across Canada andtheir LocationVISION | jul_aug | 2007IrisAlberta ________________17British Columbia ________38Ontario _________________2Quebec________________97TOTAL _____________154Wal-Mart Vision CentreAlberta ________________26British Columbia ________17Manitoba _______________9New Brunswick __________6Newfoundland andLabrador ________________1Nova Scotia _____________8Ontario ________________71Prince Edward Island______1Quebec_________________2TOTAL _____________151Hakim OpticalManitoba _______________6New Brunswick __________3Nova Scotia _____________5Ontario _______________108TOTAL _____________122Pearle VisionAlberta ________________21British Columbia ________15Manitoba ______________10New Brunswick __________5Newfoundland andLabrador________________2Nova Scotia _____________6Ontario ________________54Saskatchewan ___________7TOTAL _____________120Sears OpticalAlberta ________________12British Columbia ________13Manitoba _______________4New Brunswick __________4Newfoundland andLabrador ________________1Nova Scotia _____________2Ontario ________________44Prince Edward Island______1Quebec________________27Saskatchewan ___________2TOTAL ______________72Greiche & ScaffQuebec________________97TOTAL ______________72LenscraftersAlberta ________________13British Columbia ________10Manitoba _______________3Ontario ________________36Quebec_________________6TOTAL _____________68Costco OpticalAlberta ________________10British Columbia_________11Manitoba _______________2New Brunswick___________1Newfoundland andLabrador ________________1Nova Scotia _____________1Ontario ________________23Quebec ________________17Saskatchewan ___________2TOTAL _____________68New LookOntario _________________5Quebec________________50TOTAL ______________55Vogue OpticalBritish Columbia _________1New Brunswick _________17Newfoundland andLabrador________________9Nova Scotia ____________17Prince Edward Island _____5Saskatchewan ___________2TOTAL ______________49Lunetterie F. FarhatQuebec________________49TOTAL ______________49Bay OpticalAlberta _________________6British Columbia _________5Manitoba _______________2Nova Scotia _____________1Ontario _________________9Quebec_________________6Saskatchewan ___________1TOTAL ______________30Laurier OpticalOntario ________________19Quebec ________________10TOTAL ______________29Sunglass HutAlberta _________________1British Columbia _________6Ontario ________________14Quebec _________________1TOTAL ______________22Zellers Vision CentreManitoba _______________1Ontario ________________13Quebec_________________3TOTAL ______________17Richard Giguère, OODQuebec ________________14TOTAL ______________14I VisionOntario ________________12TOTAL ______________12Image OptometryBritish Columbia ________12TOTAL ______________12Crown OpticalAlberta ________________10TOTAL ______________10* 10 doors and more

| Feature |The intention to hire more licensed personnel is in linewith a Wal-Mart move to higher quality products in optical,and indeed throughout the store. “Our customer surveys showthat they want more selection and quality in our productofferings,” explains Caldwell. “The average price per pair ofeyeglasses is climbing based on the fact that customers arechoosing better products and more lens finishings likeTransitions and anti-glare coatings than they did a few yearsago.”Caldwell sees the optical marketplace as very robust.“There are some very strong optical retail networks in Canada.And for the customer, it’s all about trust, whether they go to achain or an independent. If the chains don’t do a good job inensuring that the customer is taken care of they won’t do well.In the end it’s all about the customer.”New LookNew Look is a chain founded by a Quebec City-basedoptician in the 1980s and has gone through some ownershipand management changes over the years. It is now a publiccompany, listed on the TSX. Two years ago it became anincome trust – Benvest New Look Income Fund.President Emmett Pearson characterizes New Look as avalue eyewear retailer. Stores are between 3,000 and 4,000square feet and their sales volume is more than one millionper store annuallyWhile not a discount retailer, New Look does periodicallyoffer promotions with a limited number of frames on offer forunder $30, and inventory sales with 50 per cent off. Havingtheir own laboratory for lens production ensures qualitycontrol and helps them stay competitive. All merchandising isdone centrally and stores carry the same frames and lenses,with the exception of some more upscale stores in downtownmarkets that may carry more designer frames.“Our stores are designed to be attractive and large – anoptical superstore, if you will,” explains Pearson. “When youwalk in you get the feeling that this is a professionallyrun-up-to-date retailer. Our demographic is the large middlerange of income earners who are 35 years old and up, and wemarket more to women than to men because women tend tobe the decision influencer even with respect to men’s frames.Most New Look stores have one or two optometristsworking full time giving eye exams and some have as many asthree examination rooms. Other staff include opticians andsales associates.Last year New Look opened eight stores and plan to openat least six in 2007, giving them almost 60 stores by the endof this year. Forty of their stores are brand new or recentlyrenovated, and while New Look has taken over a fewpractices, most of the stores have been start-ups in malls orpower centres, with some street front locations as well.“Our first objective was to cover the market in Quebec,”says Pearson. “We market mainly through television and thoseads are seen by the whole province. So if we don’t have storesin some areas we’re wasting advertising dollars. We’re nowfocusing on eastern Ontario, and expect to have eight storesin Ottawa-Hull by the end of the year. At this point we will stickto contiguous expansion.”Crown OpticalBruce Van Leeuwen comes from an optical family. “Myfather started in the business in Calgary in 1961. I grew up inoptical and became an optician, like my dad.”In 1988, Van Leeuwen junior joined the business, takingit over in 2000. His father is now a silent partner.There are ten Crown Optical stores in Calgary and one inVictoria. And although they all operate under the Crown name,VanLeeuwen doesn’t consider his group of stores to be a chain.Some are in malls, others in professional buildings and two arein the downtown core.“Each store has different personality and character. Moststaff have been around since mid-70’s, and they’ve been ableto stamp their personalities on the stores,” he explains. “Thisdifferentiates us from our major competitors. Customers valuehaving long-standing relationships with our staff, who are trulyexcellent practitioners.”This approach allows Crown Optical to be responsive tolocal areas. “If a neighbourhood has a lot of seniors we caterto them. We also have a small store in a professional buildingthat has two ophthalmologists, one of whom is a children’sspecialist, so that store functions in a somewhat differentfashion. Each location offers a unique blend of frame and lensselections. We carry well-recognized name brands as well asour quality house brands. This diversity enables us to meetour customer’s needs while maintaining our family-styleatmosphere.”The optical world has changed dramatically since VanLeeuwen senior started Crown Optical. “When my fatherstarted, being an optical retailer was more of a vocation thanan entrepreneurial enterprise. I see things becoming muchmore business-oriented and it is becoming harder for theindependents to compete. On the other hand it is exciting froma business point of view.”Opening a store in Victoria is a positive move for VanLeeuwen. “We were able to purchase an existing business, andwith our eye on the future we can start to build on that. Wedon’t want to force anyone out of business but because somany are starting to look at retirement there are opportunitiesfor us.”ISIData provided by Opti-Guide 2007 (All rights reserved Breton Communications Inc.)16VISION | jul_aug | 2007

| Practice Trends |What Are You Going to DoTo Win?By Mary Field|Competition in the optical marketplace is at an all time high. Independent owners of dispensaries, andowners of small, medium and large chains are sparring with each other to gain their share of the marketplace.The vision care business changes at such a rapid pace that even if you started off with a well-developed plan,it’s often hard to find the time to re-assess and make modifications to meet the altered landscape.This article bulletins a workshopopportunity for owners of opticaldispensaries. The workshop will beheld in conjunction with VisionCanada 2007, which takes place thisyear in Kelowna, B.C. from October 12to 14 at the Grand Okanagan Resortand Conference Centre. This is a halfdaycon ed accredited workshopsponsored by Transitions OpticalInc., entitled, “Navigating UnchartedWaters – Developing a BusinessStrategy.”Common perception may be that large corporationscontrol the lion’s share of the dispensing business but there isincreasing evidence that small business entrepreneurs are notgiving up without a good fight. In a 2006 interactive surveyconducted by Yahoo Small Business and Harris (the pollingorganization), 66 per cent of respondents said they wanted tostart a company some day and 37 per cent of those peoplesaid they hoped to do so within the next five years. The reasonsfor this interest were not measured by the survey.Perhaps it’s the illusion that by owning your own business youare out of the rat race. You can set your own hours, make yourown rules, and put the fruits of your labour into your ownpocket instead of making somebody else rich. And that’s anillusion, as any owner of a small business will tell you.18VISION | jul_aug | 2007

| Practice Trends |What Are You Going to Do To Win?20Interestingly, women entrepreneurs make up a significantsegment of small business owners. This is particularly evident inthe optical business where the data show that women arebecoming the most dominant part of the workforce. In Canadawomen own and operate 35 per cent of small businesses.New immigrants are often risk takers. It makes sense, whenyou think about it. People who immigrate to Canada areembarking on a huge adventure. Often language and professionalqualification equivalency are a challenge. Family support has beenleft behind either by choice or by necessity. But, according toCanadian Newcomer Magazine, 16 per cent of immigrants(approximately 40,000) employ themselves.But sadly, 23-25 per cent of Canadian small businesses failin their first year, a further 22 per cent fail in their second yearand at the end of five years, less than one third of new businessessurvive (Key Small Business Statistics: Stats Canada).Statistics are interesting but why so many new small businessesfail is the more important issue. Another Stats Canada surveyfound that management deficiency, financial management andpoor marketing strategies were a common thread. Underestimatingthe amount of start-up capital required is another pitfall.But failure is not necessarily the future of independentbusiness. The title of this essay is a sub-title taken from thespecial workshop for business owners and aspiring entrepreneursthat will be given at Vision Canada 2007 in Kelowna on October12th. The actual title of the workshop to be facilitated by GradyLenski is “Navigating Uncharted Waters – Developing a BusinessStrategy.”VISION | jul_aug | 2007This half-day workshop is sponsored by OAC CorporateFellow, Transitions Inc. Grady Lenski is senior director fornational retail, sales, marketing and customer service. He holdsa bachelors degree in chemistry from the Illinois State Universityand an MBA from Arizona State. Grady first worked for Transitionsas director of the Asia-Pacific region and returned to Transitions’North American office in 1999. Since 2004 he has providedcohesive marketing, strategic planning, technical andoperations support to the integrated sales organization.In keeping with the Transitions philosophy of providingenabling marketing and sales tools to the profession, Gradywill take registrants on an interactive journey from learningwhat elements go into developing a successful business strategyto helping them discover their niche in the marketplace,to working with a limited budget and – most important –building into the business strategy the key milestones thatwill allow measurement of success.Whether your goal is increased sales, organizing yourbusiness more efficiently so you can spend more time withyour family, targeting a new demographic or starting your ownchain of stores, measurement of success needs to be built intothe strategy. Is your aim to increase sales by a specificpercentage? Are you going to focus more on increasing your“second pair” sale? Maybe you’d like to retire in five years andwant to groom someone within your organization to take overfrom you.Deciding on the measurement of success is a verypersonal exercise but the work you put into your strategy atthe beginning will set the stage for realizing your ambition. It’seasy to fall into the trap of saying; “I will be successful if Iachieve my goal.” But how do you decide if your goal isrealistic? What if circumstances beyond your control throw yourstrategy off course?The five steps of learning are:• Exposing your lack of knowledge – “There are things Idon’t know.”• Acknowledging what knowledge you lack – “I didn’trealize I needed to do that.”• Learning.• Following instructions to apply your newfound knowledge– “I checked off each step as I performed thetask.”• Applying what you learned automatically because it’sintegrated into your thinking – “I am confident enoughto apply this knowledge without needing to refer to mycheck list.”Goal-setting sounds easy enough but try this exercise. Fillin the following statement, “I will (state your goal + the measurementof performance) by (state how you will achieve thisgoal).” Don’t be easy on yourself. It’s not good enough to say,“I will increase my business by the end of the year.” Or, “I willlose weight in time for my sister’s wedding.” Quantify howmuch you are going to increase your business (will you useyour gross figures or your net figures?) and state how you planto do it (by adding a new service? By revising your price list?By pursuing contract work?).A workshop is an excellent environment for going throughthis process. Joining other registrants with a targeted interestin the theme enhances the experience. The setting is intimateand interactive and needs to be because the learning processis often a humbling experience. There is a limited subscriptionto this workshop and first refusal will be given to thosewho are currently owners of businesses or who have aninterest in starting a business.Sign up now by going to the Vision Canada website atwww.vision-canada.ca.ISI

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| COMPANY PROFILE |By Paddy KamenRonor Excels Globally| From its humble beginnings in a Montreal basement in 1980, Ronor has evolved into a leader in theoptical field as a major manufacturer, importer and distributor of eyewear accessories and frames, withmarkets all over the world.The company enhanced its international presence in April when its newfactory in Dong Guan province in the Greater Southern China area beganproduction of eyeglass cases, cleaning cloths and cleaning liquid. Thefacility of 10,000 square meters, which currently employs 100 people, plansto add another 300 by year-end. This will further extend Ronor’s Asianfootprint, which also includes a sales and sourcing office in Hong Kong.“Going forward, most of the company’s accessories will be manufacturedat our Chinese facility,” says CEO Robert Charbonneau, Ronor’sfounder. “It’s labour-intensive work and we needed to reduce labour coststo remain competitive. However, in order to maintain standards at westernlevels, we transferred five Canadians, including product designers,engineers and salespeople, to oversee the start-up and ensure continuedhigh quality as we move forward.”Ronor’s ascent has been a gradual one: for the first five years of itsexistence the company manufactured only soft eyeglass cases. In 1985, itbegan manufacturing micro fibers wiping cloth made from a patentedJapanese textile. Ronor was a pioneer in offering this new type of cloth towestern markets. The Multi Clean lens cleaning solution, micro fiberwiping cloth and care kits are now sold worldwide.With its strength in the accessory business firmly established, Ronornext set its sights on the frame business. To that end, it acquired OptiqueNordic, a Canadian frame maker and distributor, in January 2000.“We wanted to expand into frames and the acquisition of Nordic gaveus an immediate entrée,” explains Charbonneau. “Today, our eyeweardivision offers frames from many well-known brands in a wide variety ofmen’s, women’s and unisex styles. The diversity and originality of thedesigns, combined with very high quality and exceptional service, make usthe ultimate destination to fulfill the needs of all market levels.”Ronor stands behind all of its products, regardless of price point, addsJames April, vice-president of sales. “All of our frames come with atwo-year warranty,” he notes.22VISION | jul_aug | 2007

The Humphrey’s brand is currently Ronor’sbiggest seller. Humphrey's is an established brandon the leading edge of contemporary style andfashion. “Humphrey's eyewear is for those whoselove to be individual and love to have fun,” saysApril. “With the very latest looks and styling, it iscreated in colourful, distinctive designs for men andwomen in the 20-40 year age range.”Brendel, a collection for 40-60-year-old women,features plenty of detail and is designed to fit adeeper progressive lens. The Brendel collection issimplicity and sophistication combined with confidentfemininity, manufactured from ultra-light, anti-allergytitanium, classic metal or colourful acetate.Other Eschenbach lines include OiO, for kids, Crush, foryoung adults, and TITANflex, for 40-to-60-year-olds. All threeof these modern collections are made with TitanFlex, a superelastictitanium alloy, which achieves perfect comfort and fit.Ronor house brands include Nordic and King Size. Nordicfeatures great contemporary styles for men of all ages, whileKing Size are larger frames designed to fit the king size facewithout sacrificing style and comfort. They are available inmonel and non-allergenic titanium models.But that’s not all. In January, Ronor launched Voila VisionInc., a joint venture with GROSFILLEY Lunettes S.A. of Oyonnax,France, that country’s third largest frame manufacturer.Voila Vision Inc. is now the exclusiveCanadian distributor for the Azzaro, ThierryMUGLER, IKKS and X-ONE collections, saysApril, adding that, “These prestigious Frenchbrands are bringing the trendiest new ‘FrenchLook’ to the Canadian eyewear market.”Launched in 1977, Azzaro’s eyewearcollection is an extension of its successful lineof perfumes and colognes. Constructed around two focalpoints—“chrome spirit” (metallic grey) for its generalcollection and “vintage spirit” (black and silver) for its couturecollection, Azzaro eyewear features conservative contemporarymen’s and women’s designs.Thierry MUGLER, which is also known for its Angelperfume, is designed for women aged 40 to 60 who need adeeper frame to accommodate a progressive lens. “They arefashion forward for the progressive wearer,” says April, addingthat collection features a French look with the Angeltrademark on the temples. There are 20 different styles,available in three colours.The IKKS eyewear collections include IKKS Kid, IKKSJunior and IKKS Women. Created in 1987 by Gérard Legoff,IKKS has always focused on the young in body and spirit,both in its designs and its communications approach. All IKKSKid and IKKS Junior frames feature spring hinges, durablesoldering and scratch-resistant colours.X-ONE is a young, colorful collection based on the revivalof pop art colours. It has 14 models in four colours. The monelframes are fashionable and sensible, according to April, andwill particularly appeal to active, modern urban women whoare looking for reasonably priced, stylish designs.Thanks to such outstanding offerings, frames are now asimportant a part of Ronor’s Canadian business as accessories,says Charbonneau.“Our frame sales have grown 15 per cent annually overthe past four years and in the first four months of itsexistence, Voila Vision Inc. has far exceeded expectations.”Much of the credit for that success goes to Ronor’s teamof 20 sales reps, he notes.“We’re very fortunate to have outstanding sales people,including six anchors, each of whom has at least 20 years inthe business. Two are located in Western Canada, two inOntario and two in the East.“These people know their accounts and the industry verywell. They have a customer focus and provide excellentservice. Plus, our anchors mentor, coach and train our lessexperienced reps, who gain the benefit of their experience inthe optical field.”The combination of great products and good reps makesit easy to succeed, says Charbonneau, adding that Ronorplans to add four additional reps by the end of the year.In addition to its accessory and frames divisions, Ronorexports and sells to 500 major accounts, says April. “This isa private label program involving custom collections for theirstores,” he explains. “We provide them with turnkey productassortment that they can customize to meet their needs.”Wherever they work, Ronor’s 80-plus Canadian basedemployees are committed to delivering a superior customerexperience at all levels. That commitment will be needed tomeet the challenges the company faces in the years ahead.“Our major challenge is to maintain leadership inproduct and grow market share,” says Charbonneau.“To help us attain that goal, we will invade further marketsgeographically.”He acknowledges that the accessories business haschanged tremendously in the past 25 years. “The total volumeof complimentary cases has dropped steadily over the past15 years: there’s greater pressure on the number of units youcan move so we have to navigate faster.”In June, the company added optical-quality readingglasses to its line of accessories and April says Ronor willexpand its product offerings as opportunities presentthemselves.Regardless of its product mix, Ronor will continue to beguided by the philosophy that has steered its first quartercentury of success.“Our prices are not the cheapest,” says Charbonneau.“We will continue to offer innovative, high-quality opticalproducts and accessories in a timely manner and at the bestpossible price on the market.”ISI| COMPANY PROFILE |VISION | jul_aug | 2007 23

| Business Management |Are You a Leader? A Manager?Or Both?By Mary Field| You might think that leading and managing are the same thing but think again. Does a good leadernecessarily have to be a good manager? It would be useful if one person could wear those twodifferent hats but it’s not absolutely necessary. Leading and managing are essentially two differentways of organizing and administering.A good leader is a visionary who recognizes trends,identifies opportunities, and encourages change where changeis appropriate. A good leader is able to think ‘sideways’, tochallenge common thinking and originate new concepts. Agood leader questions, “Why do we do things this way insteadof that way?” The hallmark of a good leader is the ability todraw people to an idea and motivate them to rally to a cause.Pick the name of somebody you consider a good leaderand examine why you made that choice. Here’s an example.Winston Churchill is on Time Magazine’s list of the top 100most important leaders and revolutionaries of the 20 thcentury. Many people believe it was Churchill who won theSecond World War single-handedly because his speeches tothe people were so inspirational. He kept their spirits up inspite of bombing, deprivation and a growing body count.Read, for example, the lines of his famous speechfollowing the British defeat at Dunkirk:"We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. Weshall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, weshall fight with growing confidence and growing strength inthe air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landinggrounds,we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shallfight in the hills. We shall never surrender!"24VISION | jul_aug | 2007

| Business Management |Winston ChurchillW.K. KelloggWinston Churchill: House of Commons, 4 June 1940.With a rousing speech like that and with the “let’sget on with it” face that Churchill always wore, whowouldn’t pick up the Union Jack and follow him intobattle?But was Churchill a good manager? Evidencesuggests that he was not. In fact Churchill’s failures weremonumental. His military decisions, such as those hemade at Gallipoli when he was First Lord of theAdmiralty, were questionable and his economic analysisand forecasting were anything but visionary. ButChurchill had great passion for the British Empire and itwas this that energized him, his speeches, the Britishpeople and ultimately the rest of the Allied powers.A leader dreams and motivates. A leader needs to:• Inspire trust and loyalty• Recognize team commitment and applaud it• Be able to give credit rather than accepting credit• Be able to take blame instead of assigning blame• Establish an ethic• Lead by example• Be passionate and charismatic• Be an original thinker• Have self-confidenceWhile leaders innovate and motivate change,managers take what exists and make the most of it.Here’s an example of a leader who combined bothleadership and management skills. W.K. Kellogg, whowas trying to find a bread substitute for people whowere hospitalized, invented Kellogg’s Corn Flakes‚ in1894. He had the vision and the motivation and througha fluke he invented something he recognized as havinggreat potential not just for patients but also forconsumers at large. He changed forever the way peopleeat breakfast. Dry cereal is more convenient thanporridge because it needs minimal preparation. It can bestored without refrigeration, unlike eggs and bacon. It’sversatile. You can add a sliced banana and some fruit,use granulated sugar or brown sugar.It’s one thing to come up with a new idea but it’squite another thing to realize what needs to be done tofollow through and implement the idea. Early on in thehistory of the company, Mr. Kellogg’s management skillsprompted him to innovate marketing techniques such asdiscount coupons, free samples, and children’s artcontests. As the company grew, Kellogg no doubt reliedon a team of managers to grow the business. Goodmanagement led Kellogg’s to develop the recipe forKellogg’s‚ Rice Krispies‚ Marshmallow Treats‚ in the1940’s. What better way to sell more cereal than to turnit into a type of cookie?Good management in business maximizes outputby wringing the most out of what’s available in order tokeep existing market share and attract new markets.A good manager will:• Buy into the dream• Respect ethics• Be organized• Understand how to plan• Be able to assess employee skills• Understand targets• Be able to solve problems• Promote efficiency• Control processes• Be logical and rational• Be collaborative and approachable• Be consistent and positiveMost people have a combination of these qualitiesand skills in varying proportions and they use themselectively according to the circumstances. For example,at work you may take on the role of leader because youare the regulated professional in your environment andyou have to set a standard and motivate people toexcel. At home you may need to use your managerialskills more. Working mothers know all about beingorganized and efficient, as well as solving problems. Inyour church, synagogue or mosque you may take onmore of a support role. But how effective are you? Thereare lots of self-analysis books and websites available toassist you in deciding on areas requiring improvement.Although the bulleted lists above are by no meansa complete list of qualities, you can use them as a start.Go down the checklists and estimate your skills andabilities. On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the most), howmuch of each of those qualities is present in your workpersonality? Perform the exercise again but now imagineyourself in an environment outside of work. You’ll likelybe surprised to find that the number assignment willchange.And now that you’ve done a self-assessment, arethere qualities in yourself you’d like to change? Are therenew leadership or management skills you’d like to learn?Check with your local Chamber of Commerce or yourprovince’s Small Business Bureau. They often haveexcellent seminars that will help you self-actualize andbe better able to move your career and your professionforward. And, as always the OAC office is glad toprovide resource and mentorship where possible. ISI26VISION | jul_aug | 2007

TrySOLOCARE AQUA ®All-In-One SolutionLock in the Moisture.Block out the Bacteria. *The MicroBlock lens case is madeof a special plastic infused with anantibacterial agent throughout thelens case and lens cap. 1The MicroBlock antibacteriallens case not only kills bacteriabut also inhibits the growthof microorganisms in thelens case.** 1*INCLUDES THE MICROBLOCK ® ANTIBACTERIAL LENS CASE*The MicroBlock lens case should not be used by persons who are allergic to silver or other metals.** Test organisms evaluated after 24 hours of exposure to the lens case.1. Amos C, George M. Clinical and laboratory testing of a silver-impregnated lens case. Contact Lens Anterior Eye. 2006;29:247-255.

| DESIGNER STORY || 002 |A Passion to beBy Paddy Kamen| 001 || 005 || 001 Giovanni Vitaloni || 002 Tornado || 003 V3200-A718e || 004 V8726_Rings || 005 Chinaglia |Passion. It’s what separates the great from the merelygood. And passion is what drives the dynamic designteam at Nico-design in Torino, Italy.“Our mission is to lead the Italian eyewear industry interms of design and we bring great passion to what we do,”said Giovanni Vitaloni, the company’s CEO, when Vision interviewedhim and chief designer Irene Chinaglia in Nico’s fabulousbooth at Silmo last October.The company has its roots in Italy’s auto industry, ofwhich Torino is the capital. Vitaloni’s grandfather designed andsupplied automobile mirrors for FIAT and Ferrari’s formula onecars, along with helmets for racecar drivers.“From the start it was all about design,” says Vitaloni,who launched Nico-design with his father, Alberto, in 1987,after the original firm was sold to FIAT.Chinaglia, a former student of design and architecturewho finds inspiration in contemporary art, says her distinctivebackground stands her in good stead.“When you study architecture you learn how to projectan idea. And whether it’s a house, a car or an eyeglass frame,the general idea is the same.”The company’s first collection, Derapage, reflects Vitaloni’spassion for fast cars. “We developed the first frame made withcarbon fiber sheets, which reflects the spirit of the racingworld,” he notes.Derapage means to maneuver a car on the edge, whichrequires both daring and focus, says Daniel Laoun, director ofGeorges et Phina portent des lunettes, the Montreal-basedcompany that has represented Nico-design in Canada since1996. The commercial success of Derapage has been matchedby critical acclaim, with the collection winning a Silmo d’Or fortechnological innovation and an IOFT-Tokyo award in bestmen’s design.28VISION | jul_aug | 2007

| DESIGNER STORY || 003 |the Best:Nico-design of Italy| 004 |“We wanted to distribute Nico-design collections becausewe liked how the company was evolving. They’re a familybusiness, like ours, and we’re very comfortable with the productsand with those who make and sell them,” says Laoun.“Nico-design is continually reinventing itself and developingmore interesting styles. Their designs are wearable anduser-friendly as well as original.”For Derapage’s new Tornado series the company haspatented a unique method of frame manufacturing that hasno soldering points. Laoun explains: “It’s a non-welded, multilayerframe with three different layers of ultra thin stainlesssteel secured by an innovative system of micro-rivets. Theframe creates a powerful, assertive look with great solidity ofstructure while being surprisingly lightweight. The constructionis unique and quite beautiful.”Given the collection’s technical orientation, it’s notsurprising that most Derapage styles are masculine, with asprinkling of feminine and unisex styles. Colours tend to bebasic, with an emphasis on black and grey.“They tend to appeal to men in the 30-60-year agerange,” Laoun says. “The main market is guys who liketechnical, clean, unique styles. They have a cool, exclusivelook that’s easy to wear.”The frames retail for about $380 to $400, he adds.Nico’s Vanni collection is playful with an emphasis oncolour and detail. Many Vanni styles use high-qualityhand-made Mazzucchelli acetates, which ensure that thebeauty of the vibrant colours lasts longer, says Laoun. “And,in a stroke of ingenuity, they have used the same beautifulacetates to create rings, bracelets and other jewelry thatcomplement the frames. The accessories have been a hugesuccess: people sometimes buy them even without theframes.”Vanni, which won the “Eyewear of the Year 2007” prizein the Ladies Design category at IOFT-Tokyo last Fall, isprimarily designed for 15-40-year-olds. About half the stylesare feminine with the balance divided between masculine andunisex. The retail price is in the $250-$320 range.“It’s a dynamic collection that’s constantly evolving,”Laoun says. “The style and quality make it very competitive.”In recent years the frames’ reach has expanded to includesome designs suitable for progressives, he adds. “The coloursand themes are the same but they can accommodateprogressive wearers who want something special.”Colour is one of Vanni’s strengths, and the collection isvery strong in vibrant blues, purple, burgundy, and chocolatebrown both in matte and shiny finishes. Recently, ivory hasbeen a big success within the collection.“In the past they used mainly solid colours but they’vestarted using gradients, which change from green to brown,for instance,” explains Laoun. “The temples are amazing: theyincorporate plastic temples with a 3-D finish or leather for arefined, elegant look.”Both collections are slowly incorporating more cat eye,butterfly and oval shapes, which weren’t popular for a longtime, but are up and coming once again, says Laoun.“Both collections are creating families of frames for eachnew concept that they develop,” he adds. “Each has a colourscheme on a unique temple and they develop five or sixmodels with the same detailing for men and women usingdifferent shapes. That means there’s a style for each type ofwearer within the same frame family.”With outstandingly gorgeous acetates, innovative metalsand Italian passion, Giovanni Vitaloni and chief designer IreneChinaglia of Nico-design are making amazing eyewear: fromItaly, for the world.ISIVISION | jul_aug | 2007 29

| OAC News |Issues and News from your AssociationBy Mary Field30| Did you Know? You didn’t? Well now you will. The OAC is developing an electronic bulletin called “Did You Know?”that will consist of brief tidbits of information from the trivial to the critical. Often the OAC receives informationthat would be useful to Canadian opticians if we could circulate it quickly. The recent recall of Complete ® andMoisturePlus by AMO is an example of this. Another would be those times when someone calls to tell us that they’vehad 25 designer frames stolen from their display and they’d like us to let the opticians in their area know about it.We know there are other sources for obtaining timely information but they ordinarily have a weekly or monthlycirculation. Timeliness of the information is essential and e-mail is the answer to that. Through the OAC’s databaseengine we are able to do mass e-mailing in an instant but in order to do that we need to have a reliable e-mailaddress for you. Many of you have already supplied us with that information but if you want to be certain you’re keptin the loop, send us your e-mail address, at canada@opticians.ca.VISION | jul_aug | 2007New MagazineThe OAC along with Breton Communications is launchingan official French publication for Quebec Opticians and Frenchspeaking opticians across Canada. La Revue will be the firstever French Canadian optical publication.La Revue will not be a simple translation of VisionMagazine. It will have its own editorial staff and writers andalthough they may deal with the same topics that appear inVision Magazine they will deal with those topics in a fashionthat best respects the cultural uniqueness and professionalenvironment of Francophone opticians. There will no doubtbe themes appearing in La Revue that will be transported toVision Magazine thus providing its readers with a window intothe world of dispensing as it is practiced in Quebec.OAC Board Invests in the FutureThe future for opticians is in unity of purpose. Togetherwe are strong. That was the focus of discussion andcommitment at the recent OAC board of directors meeting inEdmonton. The challenge is to find ways to make opticians inCornerbrook, Newfoundland feel connected with opticians inSudbury, Ontario and North Battleford, Saskatchewan andNanaimo, British Columbia. Technology is part of the answer.The OAC board decided to make a considerable investment inequipment and other programs that will address this issue.With the use of electronic communication the OAC will bring

| OAC News |enhancements to the delivery of its primary educationprograms. Stuck on a math problem? You’ll be able to watchthe online tutor write out the steps to calculate the solutionusing the new PC tablet. You’re six hours away from thenearest continuing education event? The OAC will now be ableto electronically link you and others who are in the same bindand hold a remote continuing education session. This sametechnology can be used to hold focus groups so we can hearyour opinions.Vision Canada in Kelowna Set to Tickle Your FancyOctober 12, 13 and 14 are the dates for Vision Canada2007 in Kelowna, British Columbia. In addition to the tradeshow and traditional continuing education menu, there will bespecial day-long workshops. On Saturday there will be aneyeglass workshop for students in the NAIT/OAC eyeglassprogram. On Sunday the student workshop will be dedicatedto contact lenses. On Sunday afternoon you can register toattend the business workshop, “Navigating Uncharted Waters– Developing a Business Strategy.” All require pre-registration.Dr. Deborah Gold, associate director, research for the CNIB willprovide one of the feature presentations along with TerriHulett, project coordinator, CNIB, research department. Thetheme will address the ways in which opticians can becomeinvolved in rehabilitation and long term care of persons whohave experienced vision loss.The Buying GroupWhere YOU Come First !!Full Supplier DiscountsSupplier’s Dated BillingExclusive PromotionsFlexible / ReputableTo receive a no obligationinformation package call:1-800-263-0010Serving Optical Professionals with integrity for over 18 years.The regular con ed track for registrants will include theOpticians of British Columbia (OBC) presentation of MCE ona budget. When Cindy Koszegi facilitated this seminar inVictoria it was very well received, and it is the 2007traveling road show for the OBC. Cindy and her team aremaking it their business to show opticians in their provincehow to supplement con ed acquired from live events withcustom-developed education of their own using studygroups.What a great idea! Canada has geographical andweather challenges that often make it awkward to travel toan event. Now you’ve got Virtual Vision Canada where youcan tune in live to the conference events or do the workafterward via the Internet OR, as Cindy suggests in herpresentation, you can get a small group together in your ownregion and pick your own study topic.You think it was hard to learn how to verify aprogressive lens? How do you verify a lens that’s been madeusing W.A.V.E. technology? That and other issues related tothe new generation of precision lenses will be the topic ofEssilor’s Scott Kling. And in this age where everyone fromkids to seniors seems to be using text-messaging and blackberries,Visual Fatigue – Scott’s second presentation – willbe timely and informative.But Vision Canada is also about having a little fun. OnSaturday night Tickle Trunk is organizing Casino Royale witha James Bond theme. There will be games of chance (no realmoney changing hands so if you’ve brought your kids youdon’t have to worry), and prizes galore. Who knows? Maybeone of the 7 James Bonds will make an appearance. Can youname all seven? (No. I didn’t make a mistake. There havebeen seven.) Visit the Vision Canada website for eventupdates at www.vision-canada.ca.Legislative UpdateThe Competition Bureau has been doing a study of theprofessions. Stakeholders have been asked to comment ontheir initial study, which has focused on the profession ofoptometry. To be specific, we have been asked to identifyways in which restrictions imposed by optometry impactopticians. The deadline for this submission is July 6, 2007.Once the OAC has made its submission it will be available foryou at our website.The OAC is also preparing to submit commentary on theCollege of Opticians of Ontario Draft Registration Regulation.Coming in October, Maclean’s Magazine will once againbe featuring the Opticians Association of Canada in a specialsection on the aging eye and low vision. Sharing thespotlight in this issue will be the CNIB. The OAC has had thegood fortune to work with the CNIB on other projects suchas the National Coalition for Vision Health and the V.O.I.C.E.project – an initiative to study the impact of healthpolicy gaps on low vision services in Canada. Theirparticipation in this special section will provide welcomeconsumer impact.ISI32VISION | jul_aug | 2007

VISION CANADA 2007KELOWNA, BCOctober 12 – 14, 2007 The Grand Okanagan ResortREGISTRATION FORMVIRTUAL VISION CANADAREGISTRATIONSMUST BE COMPLETED ELECTRONICALLY AT www.vision-canada.ca ALL INFO SECUREOne registration form per registrant. Forms cannot be processed unless fully completed.First Name: _____________________________________________________ Last Name: ___________________________________________________________(THIS IS HOW YOUR NAME WILL APPEAR ON YOUR NAME TAG - PRINT CLEARLY)Optician ❐ Optometrist ❐ Student ❐ Supplier ❐ Media ❐ Other ________________________________License #_______________________________Business Name (If providing business address)__________________________________________________________________________________________________Street Address ( H❐ B ❐ ) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________City & Province________________________________________________________________________________________P/Code: _________________________Daytime Phone: ________________________________Fax: ___________________________________E-Mail: _________________________________________Guest Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Guest may not attend lectures)BECOME AN OAC MEMBER NOW FOR BEST CONVENTION RATES AND RECEIVE4 FREE CON ED MODULES - CALL 1-800-847-3155REGISTRATION OPTIONS AND FEES✔ Fees include con ed credits and foodvouchers.✔ Students are N/C to the lectures &trade show BUT registration doesnot include food vouchers.✔ Students are non-licensedindividuals enrolled in an opticaltraining program in the 2007/08academic years.✔ NO CANCELLATIONS WILLBE ACCEPTED AFTEROCTOBER 1, 2007TRADE SHOW HOURSFri: 5 – 10 PMSat: 11 AM – 3 PMLECTURE HOURSSat: 9 – 11 AM & 3 – 5 PMSun: 9 AM – 5 PM❐ YES I AM A BUSINESS OWNER AND WILL ATTEND “DEVELOPING BUSINESS STRATEGIES”WORKSHOP ON SUNDAY (LIMITED TO 30 - SEE LECTURE SCHEDULE FOR DETAILS)REGISTRATION FEESMARK YOUR EVENTS OAC Members Non OAC MembersFull Weekend _________________ $100.00 + $6.00 GST = $106.00 __________________ $175.00 + $10.50 GST = $185.50 _________________________Saturday Only _________________ $60.00 + $3.60 GST = $63.60 __________________ $125.00 + $ 7.50 GST = $132.50 __________________________Sunday Only _________________ $60.00 + $3.60 GST = $63.60 _________________ $125.00 + $ 7.50 GST = $132.50 __________________________Student – N/C – Student # ______________________________________ Trade Show Only (No Con Ed Credits) – N/C _____________________Saturday Night Casino (food, prizes, live entertainment, auction) $ 75.00 x __________ =________________________ $Lunch tickets per day for students or trade show only (full lunch buffet) $ 25.00 x __________ =________________________ $TOTAL: ____________$TERMS OF PAYMENTCHEQUES & MONEY ORDERSMUST BE MADE PAYABLE TO“VISION CANADA”Please return form by fax to (204) 947-2519or mail to : Vision Canada2706-83 Garry St.Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4J91-866-377-3636❐ Cheque ❐ Visa ❐ MasterCard ❐❐Money OrderI authorize the Opticians Association of Canada to charge my credit card in the amount of $ _______________________________CARD # ________________________________________________GST NUMBER 12325 5028 RT0001EXP. DATE: _____________________________SIGNATURE: _____________________________________________________________________________________HOTEL RESERVATIONS:Contact The Grand Okanagan at (250) 763-4500 or 1-800-465-4651 and mentionVision Canada for special group rates of $174.00.REGISTRATION FORMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AT THE VISION CANADA OFFICE AFTER OCT 5, 2007.REGISTRATION MUST BE DONE ON SITE AFTER THIS DATEWIN A COMPLETE SET OF SKI EQUIPMENT – ALPINE OR CROSS COUNTRYPLUS A CHANCE TO WIN A TRIP TO THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICSSPONSORED BY VISION CANADA AND LANCTÔT – REGISTER EARLY FOR MORE CHANCESREGISTER BY JULY 31 – 5 CHANCES REGISTER BY AUGUST 31 – 3 CHANCES REGISTER AFTER AUGUST 31 – 1 CHANCESURPRISE CHANCES DURING THE TRADE SHOW AND LECTURESTHE WINNERS OF THE SKI PACKAGES FOR THE 2007, 2008 AND 2009 VISION CANADA WILL HAVE THEIR NAMES PUT IN A DRAW AT THE 2009 VISION CANADA FOR THE TRIP TO THE2010 WINTER OLYMPICS. FULL DETAILS AT WWW.VISION-CANADA.CAAny personal identifying data on this document will not be sold for commercial purposes and will be used to process your registration to this event but may also be used to contactyou with pertinent follow-up information or optical related subjectsVISION | jul_aug | 2007 35

| What’s New |At the Top, and Staying ThereBig Style for Little PeopleVenus Eye Design has launchedthe sequel to its metal kids line withthe plastic qt-pie by Venus collection.This amazing new line featuresmodels in five or six stunningcolours. Colour flavors like lemonlime, blueberry frosty and cookiesand cr_me will appeal to bothtrendy young people and theirparents.The collection ranges from38-48 eye sizes, made to fit the mostchic little child to the stylish youngadult. Styles are fun and current,offering little people big choices.Venus continues to offer anunbeatable kids warranty with their“qt-pie” collection. The “anythinggoes” warranty will replace any“qt-pie” frame damaged for anyreason as many times as necessaryin the first year after purchase. Thestandard manufacturers warrantycontinues for another full secondyear.The entire new collection isnow available to order. Through acontinuing partnership with theStollery Children’s HospitalFoundation (part of the Children’sMiracle Network), Venus EyeDesign will donate $5 from eachframe sold at the retail level to thisamazing charity. These funds helpsick children receive the crucialmedical technology and care theyneed.Silmo, the international optics andeyewear exhibition, is preparing for itsfortieth anniversary by keeping itsspecial features while looking forwardto the future.With 46,618 visitors to its 2006 event, Silmo has proved therelevance of its positioning and the benefit to professionals worldwidein making the annual trip to Paris. Located within the bounds of Paris,the exhibition is easily accessible, enabling visitors to make appointmentswithout losing valuable time travelling, while at the same timetaking full advantage of the attractions that the City of Light offers.To celebrate 40 years of the international optics and eyewearexhibition, organizers will be consolidating all the aspects that give thefair its unique style and, at the same time, strengthening the values andphilosophy of an event shared by professionals – breadth of productrange, selectivity, originality, diversity, comradeship and internationality– just some of the aspects that are likely to maintain Silmo’s positionas the recognised leaderIntroducingNikon i and Nikon Goin 1.60 PolarizedPopular Nikon i and Nikon Go progressive lenses in 1.60 indexare now available in polarized brown and gray (total sphere +5.00D to-10.00D , cylinder up to -4.00D). Nikon Optical Canada also introducedNikon i and Nikon Go in 1.60 Transitions® V brown and graylast March.Furthermore, the 1.60 index version of Nikon i and Nikon Gopolarized and Transitions is manufactured with Nikon DigitalSurfacing, a state-of-the art production process that optimizes theentire surface of the lens.36VISION | jul_aug | 2007

| What’s New |Seiko Free-Form Lens ExtendedAvailabilityNew and ImprovedPlastic Plus, the exclusive Canadiandistributor for all Seiko brand products,announces the newest addition to their lineof SEIKO free-form lenses. Now bothSucceed and Supercede Internal Free-Formlenses are available in 1.50 and 1.67 polarized – true gray.The patented 100% back-surface design technology places thepatient’s entire Rx onto the back surface of the lens, leaving the frontsurface a perfect sphere. This technology eliminates front-curvedistortion and significantly expands all visual zones, offering billionsof customized lenses based on optically precise prescriptions.Emilio Pucci SignsExclusive Eyewear Licensewith MarchonMarchon Eyewear has concluded an exclusive licensing agreementwith Emilio Pucci for the worldwide manufacture and distribution ofboth sun and ophthalmic eyewear. The Pucci Eyewear collection willdebut in January of 2008.“The collection will offer both sunglasses and optical framesthat truly exemplify the legendary Pucci prints, designs and colorsthat have become a trademark of the brand,” stated Al Berg,Marchon CEO.Created by Italian Marchese Emilio Pucci in the late 1940’s,the brand is synonymous with bold, brightly colored powerfulpatterns inspired by rich Mediterranean colors. A member of theelite LVMH Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton luxury group, Puccicurrently produces a range of products through the Pucci Collection,including evening wear, ready-to-wear, swimwear, accessories, shoes,and beauty products for women.MODEL 190 col 3 PHOTOGRAPHY / MAZZUCAGREAT TASTEIN ITALIAN EYEWEAREXCLUSIVELY DISTRIBUTED BY SIMI EYEWEAR.FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT1 866.590.6954www.simieyewear.comTheraTears ® Gains Dry-EyeThe International Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS),in its final report released on May, says TheraTears®Brand Lubricant Eye Drops uniquely mimic the saltand electrolyte composition of the human tear film,and promote healing of dry-eye irritation. The DEWScommittee consisted of 70 dry-eye experts fromaround the world, who met for three years to developa consensus document on the state of the art in dryeye science, diagnosis, definition and treatment.The opening paragraph of the report thatassesses current dry eye therapies states: “The term‘artificial tears‘ is a misnomer for most products thatidentify themselves as such because they do not mimicthe composition of human tears. Most function as38VISION | jul_aug | 2007

| What’s New |PureVision Spherical Contact Lenses in 8.3 and 8.6 Base CurvesBausch & Lomb announces the launch ofthe new and improved PureVision ® Sphericalcontact lens in 8.3 and 8.6 base curves. Bothbase curves have now been re-designed andenhanced to offer all day comfort withoutcompromising its aspheric anterior surfacedesign.PureVision’s aspheric anterior surfacesuccessfully reduces spherical aberration andis clinically proven to improve vision,especially in low-light conditions. PureVisionlens wearers reported the following improvementswhen they switched from their hydrogellenses: better overall vision (81%), betterlow-light vision (70%) and better vision whiledriving at night (69%).The latest improvements made to thelens include a smoother anterior surface and alower modulus. The re-designed surfaceresults in significantly improving comfortupon insertion, at 4 hours and at the end ofday. The lower modulus offers a more flexibleand softer lens without affecting its DK/tvalue for healthy oxygen transmission tothe eyes.The addition of the new base curveprovides eye care professionals with morefitting options. The new 8.3 base curve launchparameters are from -0.25D to -6.00D in0.25D steps. In the 8.6 base curve, parametersrange from +6.00D to -12.00D in 0.25D and0.50D steps above -6.00D.Doing it right means only doing it once.Small is BeautifulVision Optical announces the arrival ofits new Petite Collection of fashionforward acetate and stainless steelframes to its GO Eyewear and IchiroTokyo lines.Designed especially for the mostfashion-conscious and discerning youngadults, thiscollection, crafted from the finestthree-colour laminated acetate andmulti-coloured stainless steel, hascreated a buzz.All models feature spring hinges,modern styles and carry a two-yearwarranty against manufacturer’s defects.Experts Recognitionlubricants, although some more recentformulations mimic the electrolyte compositionof human tears (TheraTears ® ).”Furthermore, the report states thatelevated tear film salt concentration, or osmolarity,causes morphological and biochemicalchanges to the corneal and conjunctival epithelium,as well as inflammation that may occur onthe eye surface. TheraTears lubricant eyedrops, manufactured by Advanced VisionResearch, have been shown to lower elevatedtear film osmolarity and reverse cell changes onthe eye surface, according to the consensusreport.LET THE MODULAR DISPLAY SYSTEM WORK FOR YOU.Simply put, the patented Modular Display System is the industry’s quickest,most cost effective way to rejuvenate your frame dispensary. If you’re lookingto increase your bottom line with minimal effort, then give MDS a call.1-800-663-8527 www.modular-design.comVISION | jul_aug | 2007 39

| What’s New |40Ontario OpticiansAssociationHonors TransitionsOptical’s TimSchmidtTim Schmidt, account manager of TransitionsOptical in Ontario, has been named the 35 thannual optician of the year by the Ontario OpticiansAssociation (OOA) in Canada. The awardis granted each year to an Ontario optician whohas performed an outstanding deed or service,either in the optical field or toward humanity.“We wanted to acknowledge Tim for all ofhis hard work and dedication throughout 2006 –from the public education initiatives he has establishedthrough the support of Transitions, to thepassion and enthusiasm he demonstrates whenworking with eyecare professionals and industryorganizations,” said Lorne Kashin, RO, president,Ontario Opticians Association. “Tim is aleader, a teacher and a mentor for the entire opticalindustry, and is well deserving of this award.”Inspiring VioletThanks to the continued efforts of PacificMedical and DGH Technologies, the numberone-selling pachymeter in the world, Pachmate,has now obtained Health Canada certification.A breakthrough in technology enables true "onehanded" operation.The Pachmate is designed specifically toassist in glaucoma and lasik screening byproviding accurate and reliable cornealthickness measurements that can be taken in lessthan two seconds. This new hand-heldpachymeter weighs 3.6 ounces and measures6.9 inches long, so it can easily fit in a pocket.VISION | jul_aug | 2007| A0740 ||left to right: Ali Badreddine, president, Ontario OpticiansAssociation; Tim Schmidt, account manager, Ontario, Transitions;Lorne Kashin, outgoing president, Ontario Opticians Association. |One of Schmidt’s biggest accomplishmentswith the OOA in 2006 was the establishment of aseries of Neighborhood Eye Care Fair events. Asa result of funding and educational display materialsprovided by Transitions, the OOA has beenable to provide the public with this unique forumfor learning about opticians and overall eyehealth, including the importance of UV protection.One event was successfully hosted at thebustling Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, withtwo more events being planned for later this year.The Violet Collection, introduced by AlainMikli at the last Mido trade fair, is nowavailable. The line is not only offered in tengraphic patterns but also in solid acetate fromviolets to rich purple.These deep hues present impacting anddramatic results as the collection features anarray of ambiguous styles for the person whodesires change. Shapes range from powerfulrectangles to softened cat eyes as well asover-sized sunglasses.In true Alain Mikli form, these framesfocus on aesthetics and technology which aredelicately combined to create this distinctivelook. Incorporating the AMFLEX ® hinge thatcontours’ to the wears face and providessuperior comfort, the Violet collection isunsurpassed in quality.The World’s Smallest, Single-HandedPachymeterNow HealthCanadaApproved| Pachmate |The Pachmate is simple to use: just powerup and start taking measurements. It featuresautomatic intraocular pressure adjustment,one-touch binocular reading, an exciting varietyof colours – red, blue, green, black and white –and no corded probe.A perfect balance of performance andconvenience, the DGH Pachmate, distributed byPacific Medical, is recommended by educatorsat CE events across Canada.Darren BerreclothSigns anadidas ModelCanadian mountain bike freerider,Darren Berrecloth, has worked in collaborationwith adidas eyewear to develop asignature model for the legendary evil eyeClimaCool sports range.Darren, or “Bearclaw” as he is mostoften referred to, has worked closely withadidas eyewear since the takeoff of hismountain bike career. He played a majorrole in the design of the evil eye Clima-Cool, contributing to all aspects rangingfrom the styling to special technical features.The new evil eye ClimaCool modelcomes in Darren’s personal choice ofcolours – a Mud and Pastel Bluecombination – and bears his signatureon the right lens.Darren attributes part of his ridingsuccess to the exceptional technical featuresof adidas eyewear: “Riding is a littlebit like free fall, as the bike spends moretime in mid-air than on the ground. I amfull of adrenaline and every muscle in mybody is stretched to the limit. Stones, dust,water from puddles and everything elsethrown up by the front wheel flies towardsme, but in such situations I have toconcentrate totally on my ride and nothingcan distract me. Above all, I must haveclear vision and I know that I can rely onmy equipment, including my eyewearwhich is without a doubt essential, so thatI can perform to the maximum.”Darren Berrecloth and his teammates Matt Hunter, Steve Romaniuk andGeoff Gulevich are continuously collaboratingwith adidas eyewear’s productdevelopment unit in order to ensuremaximum performance of the eyewear.“Above all, says Darren, “the patentedClimaCool ventilation system is outstanding.The airflow is so cleverly conductedthrough the frame and lenses so thatmoisture is transported away from theinside of the lens without irritating theeyes. Clear vision is always guaranteed.”The wraparound Vision AdvantagePC lens ensures complete optical integrityand an unlimited field of vision. In addition,the filter safeguards the eyes againstswirling dust particles, glare, insects,draughts, and UV radiation. adidaseyewear also offers Light StabilizingTechnology (LST) – a lens shadedeveloped at Silhouette’s Linz researchcentre that enhances contrast andharmonizes the rapidly changing lightconditions created by brightness andshadow. As a mountain bike professional,Matt Hunter emphasizes, “This technologyis excellent for forest trails.”| Bearclow |

FEATURING G MOMA

| What’s New |Launching of Charles-Albert Poissant Chair in CornealTransplantation|First row: Dr. Isabelle Brunette; Charles-Albert Poissant; H_l_ne Boisjoly, director of Universit_ de Montr_alOphthalmology Department and Anne Jarry. second row: Luc Vinet, Universit_ de Montr_al president; Dr.Jean Lucien Rouleau; Carole Deschambault, HMR director and Jean Picard, CNIB Quebec. |42VISION | jul_aug | 2007The Université de Montréal has inaugurated a first chair devotedexclusively to research into improving and even restoring vision, withthe ultimate goal of curing blindness. “This new chair allows theUniversité de Montréal, the Faculty of Medicine and its Department ofOphthalmology, already internationally renowned in this field, to offeroriginal and top-level expertise so as to develop new advancedtherapeutic approaches,” noted Dr. Jean Rouleau, dean of theUniversity’s Faculty of Medicine.“The whole research program for the Chair is exciting,” said AnneJarry, director of services and operations at CNIB Quebec. “One of thefactors we found particularly attractive is that it will greatly reducewaiting lists for corneal donations. This isa concrete outcome that shows the importanceof supporting research.” Ms. Jarryherself lives with vision loss and givesfreely of her time to the Institute. TheCNIB is devoted to promoting autonomyand equality for blind and visuallydisabled people.The Chair’s research work will beconducted at the Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont (HMR), where ophthalmologyis a well-established specialization – infact, ophthalmology is one of the hospital’sfour priority fields of research. TheHMR Ophthalmology Department wasfounded in 1954 by Dr. Michel Mathieuand has grown steadily since then. Itremains at the cutting edge of ophthalmology,offering various specialized ophthalmologicservices. Its clinic is verybusy, and now receives 60,000 visits ayear.This is a unique example of knowledgetransfer in which the fruits of researchinto laser technology (femtosecond laser)will be applied directly at the clinic. Theprogram relies on close collaborationbetween the INRS (Quebec Institute ofScientific Research) and the University’sDepartment of Ophthalmology.“We now know that this technologywill make it possible to replace traditionalcorneal transplants with laser surgery, atechnique that is much less invasive,leaves no stitches on the cornea andmeans much faster and easier recovery.This progress will be very important forthe 40,000 corneal transplants done inCanada and the United States everyyear,” said Dr. Isabelle Brunette,associate professor with the Université deMontréal Ophthalmology Department.The chair is named for Charles-AlbertPoissant, a corporate director who made apersonal contribution of $225,000; it alsoreceived valuable support from JeanPicard, chair of the board of CNIBQuebec (a personal donation of $125,000),the Fondation Jacques-Francoeur($100,000) and CNIB Quebec ($50,000).“I wish to sincerely thank all thesegenerous donors,” says Mr. Poissant.“They understood the importance of thisinitiative for people’s lives.”

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| classified ads || BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY |Excellent opportunity in Victoria, BC. Opticaldispensary for sale. Complete with Eyelogicand finishing lab. Fifteen years at samelocation and located next door to Starbucks.Excellent lease in place and locatedonly two blocks from non-dispensingoptometrist. For information please contactfaireye@telus.net____________________________________Optimetric/Optical business and buildingfor sale - Across from Downsview Subway.Upscale area. Income generating tenantnext door. Plus well established business1,800 sq. Ft. 5-7 Parking spaces. Askingprice: $650K negotiable. E-mail: moosavimustafa@hotmail.com.____________________________________THE OPTICAL GROUP - Over 500 opticiansand optometrists from across the countrybenefit everyday from their membership inone of Canada’s largest buying groups. Formore information on how we can helpincrease your profitability with discountsfrom over 50 of the industry’s leadingsuppliers, call 1-800-263-0010.____________________________________| EMPLOYMENT |C & C OPTICAL LABS - HERE WEGROW AGAIN ! Due to tremendousgrowth, we are hiring experiencedpersonnel: Lab Mgr • Sales Reps• Lab Technicians • Customer ServiceReps. Must be fluent in English.Please send resume to: TonyCivello, fax 905-475-8333 or email:civellot@aol.com.Courtenay 1Hr Optical (BC) seeks locumlicensed Optician for maternity leave relief.To start approx. Oct.'07 to approx. Jan.'09.Wage negotiable. Please fax r_sum_ to(250) 338-0723.Increase your income. Agents wanted.La Moda Canada. Manitoba,Saskatchewan, Alberta. TABU, LaModa, i-LOOK, Glanni Po. Agents withcompetitive lines accepted. Pleasesend résumés to: armick@sympatico.caor fax (905) 828-7726. www.eyefashion.ca.Highest commissions paid.Licensed Optician required for established,high-end Optical Store downtown Toronto.Experience is a must. Please reply tooptician55@hotmail.com.________________________________________________________________________Low Vision Opportunity - The Low VisionRehabilitation Centre of Montreal (LVRCMontreal) is looking for a licensed optician,full or part-time. We offer incredibly rewardingwork in a unique and professionalenvironment where the focus is on meetingthe very special needs of our low vision patients.The ideal candidate will be bilingual,organized, experienced in dealing witholder adults and above all, possess a caring,helpful attitude. We will provide low visiontraining as necessary. For the rightperson, there is plenty of room to grow atLVRC Montreal. Find out more about us atwww.lowvisioncanada.com. If you're interestedin this exciting opportunity, contactus at info@lowvisioncanada.com.____________________________________Perfect Optical, a distributor of qualitybrand name products in the Canadianmarket for over 40 years, has an opening inthe greater Toronto area. We are seeking aself-motivated, highly energetic and experiencedsales representative. Competitivecommission structure applies. Please faxr_sum_s to (416) 635-1505.____________________________________Refracting MD with own Zeiss-Humphreyautorefractor, Raynor Trial lenses etc.wishes to associate with Mid/DowntownToronto optician, especially if equippedwith Eyelogic system, for one day a week.Scandiamed@aol.com.____________________________________The Estevan Eye Clinic in Estevan,Saskatchewan, is seeking a permanent fulltime optician in a well established, veryprofitable office with a solid client base,edging lab and more; offers great workingenvironment. Applicants must be a careerminded team player and have excellentcommunication skills. Base salary is$60 000 to $90 000 per year dependingon education and qualifications. There isalso the potential for additional bonuspay. Please email résumé to tippingchernoff@hotmail.com.____________________________________| EQUIPMENT |FOR SALE: Essilor Gamma edger/tracerin very good condition. $9 000.(819) 764-4747 or normand.turcotte@iris.ca.____________________________________| SERVICE |Titanium Eyeglass Repair! Our laserweldingtechnique creates a seamless result on allmetal frames. Please send $40.00 paymentwith each frame which includes : laser repairing,return priority shipping and oneyear guarantee to: Laserfix Ltd., 13 MissionAve., St. Albert, AB, T8N 1H6 or call Darrelat (780) 460-2943 to set up a commercialaccount.____________________________________VISION +$499.00Comprehensive software at a reasonable price.Point-of-Sale Software, Inventory Control, Automatic order pricing,Patient Invoicing, Marketing Tools, Sales Reports, DemographicsAbility to submit orders electronically to various labs(519) 749-0374MSF Computing Inc.PLEASE NOTE...Our classified ad section is a free service forall optical practitioners, in the canadianoptical industry.All submitted classified ads will be includedon the Breton Communications Web site :www.bretoncom.com/classifiedPLEASE SEND YOUR CLASSIFIED ADBEFORE AUGUST 30, 2007 TO:c/o Vision MagazineBreton communications Inc.495 St-Martin Blvd. West, #202Laval, Québec H7M 1Y9Fax : (450) 629-6044E-mail : yvonne@bretoncom.comwww.visionplus.cc| Advertisers Index |Canadian Optical Supply Co. _______36Centennial ______________________17CIBA Vision _____________________27DeluxEYEwear ___________________20Elite Eyewear _______Inside Back CoverGerber Coburn___________________37J.F. Rey Eyewear Canada ___________15Luxottica __________Inside Front CoverMarca Eyewear __________________33Modular Design Systems __________39Nikon Optical ____________Back CoverOPTI-NEWS _____________________43Optiq Frames / On-Guard Safety ____11Signet Armolite __________________31Silmo ___________________False CoverSimi Eyewear ____________________38Split Vision Eyewear ________7, 26, 42The Optical Group________________32Timon Lunetterie __________________6Transitions _______________________5Venus Eye Design ________________19Vision Canada ___________________34Viva International Group________21, 41Voila Vision _____________________25Western _________________________3OPTICIANS ASSOCIATION OF CANADATo become a member of the Opticians Association of Canada and takeadvantage of its many membership benefits please call1-800-847-3155 • canada@opticians.caOPTICIANS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA : 2706-83 Garry Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 4J9 • www.opticians.ca44VISION | jul_aug | 2007