minding our business sept 09
DESCRIPTION
business marketingTRANSCRIPT
M I N D I N G O U R
PUBLISHED IN COOPERATION WITH THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER
CENTRE WELLINGTON VOLUME 2 ISSUE 9
Women inBusiness
September2009
PAGE 2 | September 09
MILE STONES
MINDING OUR
BUSINESS is mailed to all registered businesses in Centre Wellington. Not registered as a business with Canada Post? Misplaced your copy?
Pick up a copy of Minding Our Business at: Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce, The Wellington Advertiser, Fergus BIA, Elora BIA,Wellington-Waterloo Futures Development Corporation
New LocationMinute Man Press has moved to 820 Gartshore
Street, Unit 107, Fergus. George, Ann andElizabeth Satory may be reached at 519.787.2332
or by mail at [email protected]
New LocationFamily Dentistry has relocated to 390 TowerStreet South, Fergus (corner of Albert, across
from the tourist information building). Dr. Wooand Dr. Park may be reached at 519.787.8088.
New Business DreamWood Ltd. - Quality Solid Wood Furniture
recently opened at 920 St. David Street North(Victoria Plaza), Fergus. Ron Reaume may be
reached at 519.787.7676.
New Business Dreamland Pet & Equine is now open at 6480
Wellington Rd. 7, (next to the Grand RiverRaceway), Elora. Contact Oscar Meier at
519.846.1313.
New Business The Second Story, a women’s fashion
consignment boutique, has opened on thesecond floor of The Elora General Store,
15 Mill Street East, Elora. For information callBarb Lee or Rhoda Lipton at 519.846.2600.
aboutMINDING OUR
BUSINESSMinding Our Business is a business magazinefocusing on items of interest to commercial,
retail, industrial and service businesses inCentre Wellington.
Enjoy our pictorial review ofwomen in Centre
Wellington who haveventured into theworld of business.
Dave Meyer speakscandidly with four women
who have demonstratedtenacity in a changingbusiness climate and
earned success in thelocal marketplace.
On the coverJanette Noecker of
Carson Wagonlit Noecker Travel.
general policyAdvertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event oftypographical error, that portion of the advertising spaceoccupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonableallowance for the signatures, will not be charged for, but thebalance of the advertisements will be paid for at theapplicable rate. In the event of a typographical erroradvertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods orservices may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell,and may be withdrawn at any time. Persons wishinginformation regarding circulation, rates and additional serviceare invited to contact our office for further details. Thepublisher accepts responsibility for claims and honorsagreements made by himself or by regular staff on his behalf.No responsibility is accepted for actions by person(s) not inthe employ of the paper, or otherwise over whom thePublisher has no control. All Advertising accepted is done so ingood faith. The Publisher maintains the right to approve orreject advertising and articles submitted for publication.
contactMINDING OUR
BUSINESSBox 252, Fergus, Ontario
N1M 2W8519-843-5410 telephone
519-843-7607 [email protected]
Sales: Sherry ClarkeGraphic Design: Helen Michel
September 09 | PAGE 3
THISISSUE
2 MILESTONESOpenings | Awards | Moves
4 FERGUS BIABIA Newsletter
5 ELORA BIAThe Drimmie Dam
7 ARE YOUR COMPUTERSSAFE?Garth Green
8 WOMEN IN BUSINESSDavid Meyer
THE CHAMBER PAGES
12 Meet the Members:THE VILLAGE OLIVE GROVE
13 Events Calendar
ON THE WEB:Choose Quality over Quantity
THE IMPORTANCE OFMAKING MISTAKES INENTERPRISESarah Mersereau
14 EDCGuest article - Deb Dalziel
15 CONTACT LISTING &BUSINESS DIRECTORY
COVER
MINDING OUR BUSINESS JULIA TYNDALE-BISCOE SEPTEMBER 2009
It was a brilliant addition to
downtown Fergus’ events to
celebrate the Fergus Scottish
Festival weekend. Suggested by
George Mochrie, (Cherry Hill
Entertainment), it was hoped that
the movie goers would do a little
shopping, and the businesses that
were open did brisk trade.
Michael Kavanagh of SunArt
commented that the movie event
accomplished its aim of bringing
families to the downtown
shopping area. However, by
failing to
remain open, SunArt missed an
opportunity to gain new
customers. SunArt plans to stay
open for future BIA events,
including the Antique Car Show
on September 11th & Bridal Tour
on the 26th September.
Thanks for all the support
George - Fergus can’t wait for the
next one....
Thanks to FSF for the extra music
downtown during the weekend!
350 movie goers enjoy “Stone of Destiny” on St. Andrew Street
ART IN THE STREETBLACK OUT DAY
FERGUS BIA
g
Antique & Classic Car Show
Friday September 11th is the 14th annual car show. This event
brings hundreds of people downtown, so lets rev up the town as well as the cars. As
usual, along with fantastic cars, we have great music, door prizes and a BIA draw. See you then!
www.fergusbia,ca
35
350 THUMBS UP FERGUS!
r
he
ic
r
Our BIA’s newest event.... Fergus’ RED CARPET BRIDAL TOUR. Everything a bride needs in one stop. We will host 3 annual shows, the first is on Sept. 26th from 9 - 3 pm. There will be 2 bridal shows at 11 am and 2 pm.Lots of fun, knowledgeable staff, great service. Come and follow the red carpet on the 26th....
PAGE 4 | September 09
As submitted by the Fergus BIA
MOVIE NIGHTAN OSCAR WINNERFOR FERGUS!
September 09 | PAGE 5
THE DRIMMIE DAMWHAT YOU DON’T KNOW…
by Tim Horton
For the last six months or so there hasbeen a quiet debate going on about thefuture of Elora’s Drimmie Dam. Havingbeen branded earlier this year as “asignificant hazard dam” by engineersconsulting to the GRCA, the watershed’sdirectors must decide what to do with it,and they’ve asked the community to assistthem with the introduction and analysisof various solutions.
At stake, of course, is the dam’s verysurvival. At roughly 110-years-old, it’sstarting to come apart in places,threatening the safety of tubers, anglingenthusiasts and other recreationists whomight be enjoying the day down-river ifand when it decides to collapse a rapiddisintegration of the dam would putanyone less than 200 meters downstreamdirectly in the path of a two-meter wallof water. The chance that this mighthappen has prompted some to suggestthat the dam be permanently removed onour own terms and our own schedule –with strict supervision from the GRCAand the careful work of an experiencedengineering firm.
There are others, as you might imagine,who insist that the dam be replaced. (I’dhave included “repaired” as well if it werean option: Dave Schultz, the GRCA’sManager of Communications, has alreadysaid that the structure, in its current state,is well beyond repair.) This group isparticularly concerned about howremoval of the dam would effect tourismto the area, since Elora’s signature “MillPond” would cease to exist if this man-made barrier disappeared – leaving twobroad and muddy river banks on eitherside of a much thinner body of water. Theflow of water through the Elora Gorgewould also be significantly altered,reducing or perhaps eliminating certainrecreational activities.
In addition to the issues raised by these
two camps, there is the cost of building anew dam to consider, and the potentialimpact that each decision would have onthe ecological health of the river and theplants and wildlife that live in its water andon its shores.
When you put all these issues together,what you get these days, apparently, is aSchedule C, Class EnvironmentalAssessment.
Since the City of Hamilton has already puttogether an excellent synopsis of what aSchedule C, Class EnvironmentalAssessment actually is, I’ve decide toinclude a few snippets from their websiteto explain it all a bit further:
ONTARIO ENVIRONMENTALASSESSMENT ACT
The purpose of the OntarioEnvironmental Assessment Act (EA Act)is to provide for:
"…the betterment of the people of thewhole or any part of Ontario by providingfor the protection, conservation and wisemanagement in Ontario of theenvironment."
"Environment" is applied in a broad senseand includes the natural, social, cultural,built and economic environments. It isdefined in the EA Act as:
air, land or water;plant and animal life, including human
life; the social, economic and cultural
conditions that influence the life ofhumans, or a community;
any building, structure, machine orother device or thing made by humans;
any solid, liquid, gas, odour, heat,sound, vibration or radiation resultingdirectly or indirectly from humanactivities; or, any part or combination ofthe foregoing and the interrelationshipsbetween any two or more of them. There are two types of environmentalassessment planning and approvalprocesses…. The process typically usedby municipalities, including the City ofHamilton, is the Class Environmental
Assessment. This process is used forprojects that are approved subject tocompliance with an approved classenvironmental assessment process withrespect to a class of undertakings, such asroads, water and wastewater.
The key principles of successfulenvironmental assessment planninginclude:
- consultation with affected partiesearly in and throughout the process, suchthat the planning process is a co-operativeventure;
- consideration of a reasonable rangeof alternatives, both the functionallydifferent "alternatives to" and the"alternative methods" of implementingthe solution;
- identification and consideration ofthe effects of each alternative on allaspects of the environment;
- systematic evaluation of alternativesin terms of their advantages anddisadvantages, to determine their netenvironmental effects; and
- provision of clear and completedocumentation of the planning processfollowed, to allow "traceability" ofdecision-making with respect to theproject.
CLASS EAThese projects are broken down intothree schedules:
SCHEDULE A projects are limited inscale, have minimal adverse environmentaleffects and include a number of municipalmaintenance and operational activities.These projects are pre-approved and mayproceed to implementation withoutfollowing the full Class EA planningprocess. These projects generally includenormal or emergency operational andmaintenance activities.
SCHEDULE B projects have the potentialfor some adverse environmental effects.The proponent (municipality) is requiredto undertake a screening process,involving mandatory contact with directlyaffected public and relevant review
continued on next page
PAGE 6 | September 09
agencies, to ensure that they are aware ofthe project and that their concerns areaddressed. If there are no outstandingconcerns, then the proponent may proceedto implementation. These projects generallyinclude improvements and minorexpansions to existing facilities.
SCHEDULE C projects have the potentialfor significant environmental effects andmust proceed under the full planning anddocumentation procedures specified in theClass EA document. These projects requirethat an Environmental Study Report (ESR)be prepared and filed for review by thepublic and review agencies. These projectsgenerally include the construction of newfacilities and major expansions to existingfacilities.Long story, short: because any decision
about the future of the Drimmie Dam willhave a significant impact on the natural,economic, social and cultural life of Eloraand its residents, all of us have been giventhe opportunity to study the issue, listen towhat the experts have to say, consider thealternatives (or suggest new alternatives),and weighin – officially – with what we feelis the best solution.
By the time you read this, SanchezEngineering and the GRCA will havealready hosted their first public open house,but a second one will be held sometimeafter Thanksgiving, and the members of thepublic have been encouraged to providerelevant input at any point over the nextfew weeks.
For more information regarding theprogress of the Class EA planning process,
or to register your concern, contact:
Leonardo SanchezSanchez Engineering Inc.
8440 Danforth Road West,Cobourg, ON
K9A 4J9Tel: 905-372-9594Fax: 905-372-7812
September 09 | PAGE 7
Computers, the information they containand their associated hardware and softwareare primary targets for business theft dueto the ease with which most computerequipment can be transported and theirhigh resale value. The loss of a computerand its contents can seriously impact yourbusiness and create significant liability issuesif the information contained within thestolen equipment is highly sensitive.
To safeguard computers and businessinformation, first ensure that your business’premises are secure. Solid doors anddoorframes and deadbolt locks on allexterior access doors are critical.
Depending on the location and nature ofyour business, it may also be appropriate toconsider additional security for groundfloor windows, such as bars or mesh.
An alarm system creates a second line ofdefense, but may not deter experiencedthieves. It may only reduce the amount oftime the thieves remain on your premises,and thus reduce the volume of items theyare able to steal. With that in mind, youneed to ensure that additional measuresare in place to protect your informationsystems.
Locate computer systems (servers etc.)away from public view, preferably in asecure area. Consider attaching cables tolock PC’s to desks or workstations anddocument serial numbers for all computerequipment.
Data and programs should be backed upregularly. The frequency can be determinedby asking ‘what if?’ - in other words, if yourcomputers were all stolen and you couldonly access data up to a certain point, whatwould that point need to be? The previousday? The previous week? Your choice willreflect the nature of your business and theinformation that you store. In any event,weekly or other regular backup schedulesshould be strictly maintained and the datastored off site in a secure location.
Laptop PCs are the most attractivecomputer hardware item to steal, giventheir convenient size and high dollar value.They should be secured to office furniturewith an appropriate locking system, orstored in a secure area or cabinet.Employees should be advised never to let acompany laptop out of their hands in apublic place, including when traveling by air.
A laptop should never be checked asbaggage, nor should it be left in anautomobile unless it is placed out of site inthe trunk and locked.
The best defense against computerequipment theft is to be prepared.Educating employees in that regard is
critical. Employees carrying laptops orhandheld computers should be required tosign upon receipt of the equipment andaccept the terms and conditions of theiruse. Those terms should include taking allnacessary precautions to safeguard theequipment.
If your business experiences computertheft due to a break-in, take immediateaction to improve the security of thepremises. Unfortunately, thieves frequentlystrike the same business a second time,knowing that all of the computerequipment will have been recently replacedwith newer models of greater value.
Tracy Group Benefits
& Financial Services
Tel: (519) 820-1283
Fax: (519) 886-8562
P.O. Box 31141,
Guelph, On N1H 8K1
Tel: (519) 866-1283
Fax: (519)886-8562
330 Coleridge Dr.,
Waterloo, ON N2L 2V6
Barney TracyCFP,FLMI
email: [email protected]
www.groupbenefits.on.ca
Garth Green
BBA, AIIC CIP
Associate
57 McNab St.
Elora, ON N0B 1S0
Tel: 519-579-333 ext. 324
Fax: 519-579-1151
1-800-265-2625
ARE YOURCOMPUTERS SAFE?
“The average corporationspends more on coffee and
soft drinks than oncomputer security”
- Internet Security Systems 2002Garth Green
PAGE 10 | September 09
Sinkeldam belongs to different women’s groups,and said a balance is “a constant struggle. You only
dedicate so much time to your business.Family has to come first.”
She said having first rate staff anda top support team in her
business really helps, and shehas learned, “You don’t haveto do everything [at home].I gave up cleaning myhouse a long time ago. Myfamily and my spousereally support me.”
Sinclair said in her retailworld, the balance is“tricky. I have great
support from myhusband.” She said at
certain times of the year, shehas to be away during the
week for several nights becausebusiness requires it.
She summed up the balance in life stating,“It’s certainly possible - but it’s a challenge.”
When it comes to decision making, all fourwomen take full responsibility, but they also conferwith staff, friends and customers. They attendtrade shows specific to their businesses and saiddeveloping rapport with suppliers is a big plus inhelping them with business decisions. But, in the
end, they have to make the final call.
Of course, all businesses have theirunpleasant sides. When asked what is theone part of the job they dislike, the fouroffered four different opinions.
Sinclair said it is doing the books. Shedoes her own payroll and day to daybooks, but hires experts for the rest.
Sinkeldam has adifferent difficulty.
She has up to 50staff to deal
with, and shesaid thereare a lot ofType As inthebusiness. “Idon’t likebeing the
mediator. It’snot generally a
huge problem.”
For Noecker, wholaughed, it is Air Canada.
She said dealing with large companies can betrying. She prefers smaller airlines, like West Jet.
For Beale, modern technology is something sheuses, but does not love. “I’m not terribly mediasavvy, - and up to date and technical,” she said.
When it came to revealing secrets of success, thefour are unanimous. The customer comes first andservice is the only way to succeed.
“We try to remember the most important partof the day is helping the customer,” Beale said.
Service is also Noecker’s biggest asset, and, shesaid with a laugh, “tenacity.”
She noted some think the internet can providecheaper and better airline ticket service - but shedisputes that. She said if companies like Sun QuestVaca tions did go under and people try to visittheir websites to get home from, say, Thailand,they will wait a long time - even with high speed.
“We’re the liaison between the client and theairline,” she said of her services, wondering whyanyone would take a chance on a major trip.
For Sinkeldam, success comes because thepartners in the clinics are working right beside theemployees helping people get well.“We’re all wearing the clinical hat and wanting toput the patient’s interest foremost,” she said.
Sinclair said, “It all goes back to service - puttingthe client first. It’s how we survive.” She addedthat it really helps that, “We have wonderfulcustomers.”
When it comes to business groups, all the womenare involved in them to some extent. Beale is partof the Canadian Booksellers Association, whichmeets three times a year.
Noecker said Carlson Wagonlit is one of thelargest travel companies in the world, and it has alot of power to help clients when they need it. Shealso noted she has been involved with communitygroups, too, and served as president on the EloraChamber of Commerce.
Sinkeldam said with a laugh that she supportsWorkaholics Anonymous, and added she isinvolved with Toronto Strategic Coaching, whichoffers tips on managing business and life. As well,she is involved with professionals for health,manufacturing and insurance.
“We’re all dealing with the same businesschallenges,” she said.
For Sinclair, she said she meets twice a year withthe Ontario Fashion Exhibitors, which provides
Janette Gajic, Portrait Studio& Art GalleryNatalie Airdrie, Elegant Affair& Bridal Boutique.
Kayte Armstrong &Shawn McKenzie,Definition Fitness
Danielle Hildrebrand, Carmen Mooney &Mary Chester,Carmen’s Sequel Cafe
September 09 | PAGE 11
her with good sources for anything she needs.The four have been in business for many decadesnow, and their success can likely help point theway for others - men as well as women.
The pictorial overview for this articlewas from MOB archives as we celebratedthe openings, anniversaries and achievementsof women in business in Centre Wellington.
If you are interested in making a difference locally & internationallyJOIN ROTARY!BREAKFAST MEETINGS - THURSDAYS 7 A.M.At the Gorge Country Kitchen, EloraCentre Wellington Centennial Rotary ClubFor info. call 519-846-0971
Make Dreams RealCentre WellingtonCentennial Rotary Club
Laura Demers,Jammed Lovely
Julia CantinWood & Charm
Maria AzeredoBelwood PinesRestaurant
Jennifer ShriveSalon Chique
Dr. Linda FranchettoElora Gorge
Animal Hospital
Pam Edmunds,Just For You Signs
PAGE 12 | September 09
THE VILLAGE OLIVE GROVE
David Medeiros and his wife BarbaraAnderson opened The Village OliveGrove in Elora on Easter weekend2009. The store offers a full line ofexceptional extra virgin olive oilsand vinegars from around theworld - including the muchsought after hand-crafted icewine vinegar and Verjusproduced from the Niagarawine region of Ontario.The Village Olive Grovecarries more than 50selections of olive, avocadoand grape seed oils as wellas over 50 selections ofvinegars. Other productsoffered include imported oilcan drizzlers, artisan cruetsand pottery, dipping plates,books and olive pitters.
“Customers new to the use of fineextra virgin olive oils often do notrealize that extra virgin olive oils havedifferent taste profiles depending on whicholives are used, where they are grown andhow they are processed,” David says. “Andas a result, some customers do notunderstand why fine extra virgin olive oilsare priced higher than mass produced oilsoffered in most grocery stores.”
To take the risk out of the purchaseexperience, The Village Olive Grove offersaward-winning extra virgin olive oils at awide range of price points, and allowscustomers to taste before they purchase.Not only will the customer know that theylike when they have selected, but it alsomakes the buying experience fun. With aspectacular view of the Grand River, alarger tasting room is located at the backof the century old building, where groupworkshops (during the weekends) andguest experts will educate customers onthe fine art of tasting and cooking with oils,vinegars and verjus.
“Our inspiration partly came from wherewine knowledge was 20 years ago. Backthen there was limited selection and therewere many tasting events and workshopsto help educate folks about the different
grapes andthe distinct flavours associated with thegrape and where it was grown,” David said.
David and Barbara are really enjoying theinteraction they have with their customersto provide them with the opportunity toexplore the different products which aresourced from a wide variety of countriesand regions.
It is not always easy bringing great artisanextra virgin olive oils and vinegars fromaround the world to their customers,because many of the products areproduced in small quantities and/or notavailable for importing into Canada.
The unique and exceptional selectionmakes it easy to find a fine wedding orbirthday gift. But many people also buyextra virgin olive oils because of the healthbenefits. Olive oil is the richest source ofmonounsaturated fat – 77 per cent of itstotal fat is derived from this type of fat.Other excellent sources ofmonounsaturated fat include canola, peanut,
avocado and almond oils. Adding these toyour diet helps to lower blood pressure
and LDL cholesterol, and raise HDL(good) cholesterol. It is also thought
to improve how the body usesglucose among people with
diabetes. “We see that eventhough some of ourcustomers are feeling theimpact of the currenteconomic situationthere is always roomfor small indulgences –especially if thatproduct adds flavourand health benefits totheir diet,” David said.
David and Barbarawould love to tell you
more about the benefitsof using extra virgin oils.
“We are big into educatingour customers,” David said.
One of the reasons Barbara andDavid chose Elora is because it is
central to their customers, who comefrom the Guelph, Fergus/Elora, and
Kitchener/Waterloo areas. It is also afavourite spot for day trips so they getmany folks from Toronto and fromsouthern Ontario as well. Medeiros andAnderson are very happy that Elora hasbeen designated a Culinary TourismDestination. “We believe that The VillageOlive Grove fits with this theme and as thebusinesses of Elora continue to evolve tosupport the designation, it will provide agreat opportunity for growth,” David says.
“We joined the Centre WellingtonChamber of Commerce to connect withother local businesses,” David says. “We tryto work with local businesses as much aswe can for the services we need, or topartner with for promotional activities.”
So come over to The Village Olive Grove at8 Mill Street West in Elora to treat yourtaste buds. You can contact David Medeirosand his wife Barbara Anderson at 226-384-7000, or visit their website atwww.thevillageolivegrove.com.
MEET THE MEMBERS
September 09 | PAGE 13
the chamberOF COMMERCE
ON THE WEB
THE IMPORTANCE OF MISTAKESIN ENTERPRISE
CHOOSE QUALITY OVERQUANTITY
Many website owners are complainingthat their website does not receiveenough visitors. Maybe rightly so – I cansee how 50 visitors a month is not
something to cheer about. That is, withaverage conversion rates...
But what would happen if you hadextraordinary conversion rates?
Then maybe those 50 visitors a monthwould be more than you could handle.
Not all website traffic is created equal.What matters most is how targetedthose visitors are: how many of yourvisitors are good prospects of what youare selling? How many will actually readyour information pages and your offers(rather than just skim over its contents)?
For an effective website you need toknow what your conversion numbers are– so you can improve on them. Whatpercentage of people actually contactsyou, subscribes to your newsletter, orbuys from you?
Another important metric is Time-Spent-On-Page (or Time-Spent-On-Site): what isthe average time that people spend onyour website, what are the best-viewedpages, and what is the trend (up ordown)?
Then you need to know the average valueof a customer or client. How much woulda website-visitor-turned-customer add toyour bottom line?
Armed with this information you can goout and try to get more (targeted)visitors to your website. You can advertiseyour site using banners or Pay-Per-Clickads, such as Google AdWords. You can trygetting more free traffic using organicsearch engine optimization. You can doemail marketing, article marketing, pressrelease marketing, video marketing, createpodcasts, Facebook pages, Twitterupdates… options galore.
Which promotion tools work best foryou will depend on how targeted thesemedia channels are for your idealcustomer. What gets their undividedattention? The goal is not just findingmore visitors, but rather to connect withmore potential customers. Choosewebsite quality over quantity.
For more information: contactNardo Kuitert
at [email protected] 519-787-7612.
NARDOKUITERT
Anyone claiming to have built a successfulenterprise without making a mistake ismisrepresenting the truth. Businessesgrow - not despite making mistakes butoften because of making excellentmistakes. What creates a culture ofsuccess within the firm is what became ofthat mistake. In a society that holds lowvalue for the mistake, the entrepreneurlooks at this outcome of risk-taking as avaluable asset.
However, not all successful businesses canbe attributed to good decision-making.You know it, I know it. Sometimes we justget lucky (don’t worry, you don’t have toadmit this out loud). And sometimes, weget more than lucky: we make mistakes.
We make flat out bad decisions that formour business’ future – for the better.
As the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said,“The only constant is change.” He wastalking about the universe, but since yourbusiness is part of the universe, thestatement still applies. Innovation anddevelopment are essential to staying afloatin this and any economy. New productsneed to be purchased, or developed. Newcustomers need to be found. Staffmembers come and go over the years.With all of these opportunities fordecision-making, even when you’reequipped with the best market researchand an air-tight business plan, you’rebound to make a mistake or two. It’s part
of the thrill of business. It doesn’t have toput you under.
Join us on Wednesday, October 7th in theLighthouse Restaurant at the EloraRaceway for CWCC’s annual BusinessLuncheon. Geoff Malleck from theUniversity of Waterloo will inspire uswith The Beauty of Mistakes in Enterprise:a requisite for success.
Geoff teaches in the Department ofEconomics, is the Director of theManagement Studies Program, andDirector of the International TradeSpecialization in the faculty of Arts atUniversity of Waterloo. His passion is in
(cont’d on page 14)
Summer time - the peak season for visitorsto the local area - is coming to a close andin spite of a less-than-banner summer, ourinformation centre staff remains very busyand excited about new initiatives taken onthis season. The two centres of Elora andFergus provide information on attractions,coming events and local business to bothtourists and citizens of Centre Wellington.Despite the rough economy and the poorweather that decreased the number ofvisitors to the area, staff counted 7,100walk-in visitors to the centres this summer,a decrease of only 5% from last year’s7,500. Though both the number of tourismphone calls and emails also decreased sincelast year, we’re hopeful that this is the result
of recent improvements and additions toour website, meaning that more peoplefound answers to their inquiries on theinternet and fewer people had to call toclarify or request information not listed onthe website.
The new information building that openedin Elora this past March has become a hubfor local activity. The new address at 9 MillStreet is the new home not only for theElora Information Centre, but also thepublic washrooms, Elora O.P.P. Office,Centre Wellington EconomicDevelopment, Elora Fergus Tourism, theElora BIA, and the Sensational Elora Office.The close proximity of all of theseorganizations means that information canbe distributed very quickly and easily. Theboard room in the new building is anotherwelcome addition to the community and isbeing used not only by the differentorganizations in the building, but also bylocal community groups such as the Eloraand Salem Horticultural Society.
This year the Elora Information Centrewas involved in a local initiative to stayopen until 7 pm, along with a number oflocal shops and restaurants, on Thursdays,Fridays and Saturdays. The longer hourswere very well received by visitors, and wehave greeted over 700 visitors justbetween 4:00 and 7:00 on the extended-
hour days in the past two and a halfmonths. We're hopeful that this new pilotproject will assure both visitors and localsthat there will be open stores andrestaurants in Elora in the evenings,prompting not only more visits to the area,but also encouraging local residents toshop close to home. Information Centrestaff in both centres have been handing outspecial 10% discount cards for certainElora shops during the new hours to helpto try and boost public interest in this newproposal.
Tubing in the gorge was a popular visitoractivity this year, thanks in part to somegreat coverage by the London Free Press anda Global news segment on the activity andthe village. The distribution of this year’s"Recipes to Experience" in a May issue ofthe Globe and Mail also helped to spreadinformation about Elora and Fergus to over50,000 homes in the Greater Toronto Areaand other targeted areas, helping to almostdouble the number of visitors we sawcoming from these regions.
Our information centre staff would behappy to answer any questions you mayhave on the local community. Contact usby calling 519-846-9841 and 519-843-5140for the Elora Centre and the FergusCentre respectively, each open seven daysa week.
PAGE 14 | September 09
SUMMER TIMEeconomicDEVELOPMENT
This month’s articleby Deb Dalziel
Elora Fergus Tourism
the areas of entrepreneurship andeconomic development. He recognizes theimportance of creativity, innovation andnew venture creation, and takes thispassion to the classroom, where he is avery popular lecturer in entrepreneurshipat the University of Waterloo.
In this interactive discussion, Geoff willcover several topics including:
- ositive outcomes from mistakes (lessons learned);
- good mistakes vs. bad mistakes;- creating a culture for mistake-making;- how education contributes to mistake-
phobia; and- how economic prosperity requires
mistakes.
An example of a bad mistake: missing thisevent.
To reserve your seat (I’ve got mine!) -contact the Chamber office at
519-843-5140 or [email protected]
Cost is $25 for members and$35 for future members.
Sarah Mersereau(Dreamridge Tack Shop)
CWCC Events & Affairs Committee
the chamberOF COMMERCE
(continued from page 13)
September 09 | PAGE 15
CONTACT LISTINGMinistry of Labour
www.employeradviser.caWCB - 1.800.387.0774
Employment Standards 1.800.531.5551
Ontario Government www.gov.on.ca
Revenue Canada www.cra-arc.gc.ca
Service Canadawww.servicecanada.gc.ca
Township of Centre Wellington 519.846.9691
www.centrewellington.ca
WCB1.800.387.0774
www.employeradviser.ca
Waterloo-Wellington M.P.P. 519.787.5247Ted Arnott
Wellington - Halton Hills M.P. 519.843.7344
1-866-878-5556Michael Chong
The Centre WellingtonChamber of Commerce
Phone: 519.843.5140E-mail: [email protected]
BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada)519.571.6680Don Cubbidge
Elora BIA519.846.2563
Fergus BIA519-787-1384
Centre Wellington Economic Development519.846.0971Dave Rushton
Minding Our BusinessThe Wellington Advertiser
Box 252, Fergus, Ontario N1M 2W8519-843-5410
BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY
Promote your business or service in the Business Card Directory for just $28/month
Paul KellyMarketing Coordinator
Mobile: [email protected]
We b D e s i g n
Graphic design
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P r o m o t i o n a l I t e m s
O u t d o o r A d v e r t i s i n g
519-843-1365 (bus)519-766-6384 (cell)519-843-2202 (fax)888-268-2268 (toll free)[email protected]
Debbie KurtSALES REPRESENTATIVE
840 Tower Street SouthFergus, OntarioN1M 2R3
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7445 County Road 21, RR2, Elora, ON (519) 846-2022Open 24 hours a day,