the elgin advantage september 2010
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The Elgin Advantage September 2010 editionTRANSCRIPT
The 2010 summer has been great for Elgin County students! Once again, our students have given it their all and shown great initiative in starting their own businesses. The Elgin Business Resource Centre (EBRC) and the Elgin/St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) boast one of the largest Summer Com-pany groups in Ontario, including one of the largest groups of high-school level kids! Even larger than London! This year, a record number of students applied to Summer Company and we proudly, had 14 students work through this summer’s program.
Every year, students are introduced to mentors, who volunteer time to answer questions and make every student’s summer business experience great. On August 11, students attended a Mentor Meeting at the EBRC to share experiences and get some helpful tips from mentors. Eric Loewen, EBRC Board of Directors Youth Director, is a former Summer Company graduate and now mentor. At this meeting, Eric made a special presentation on the art of good Communications Skills.
The Summer Company businesses this year were quite varied. Many of our young entrepreneurs said they will continue with their enterprises part-time while at school. Elgin Summer Company businesses included:
• DigitalMemories-JoshThiessen converts old photos to digital; [email protected]
• RY-LOENTERPRISES-Ryan Lockner performs lawn maintenance; [email protected]
STUDENTSSUCCESSFULATBEINGBOSSES
INSIDE:Small Business Week / Bridges to Better Business 2International Plowing Match 2Success Story: Paul Thistle of Elgin County Cycle 3Buy Local, Buy Fresh Recipe 4Meet the Staff 4
www.elgincfdc.ca
SEPTEMBER2010
• CustomCritterCare;Scott Monteith takes care of pets; [email protected]
• HARKNESSLawnCare&HandymanServices; Tom Harkness; [email protected]
• Carzey’sTe-chieRepair;Taylor Carr’s Ipod/Iphone glass repair; [email protected]
• Julia’sFineArt; Julia Castrogiovanni provides art lessons and murals; [email protected]
• D3Dalton’sDigitalDesign; Dalton Risser performs computer tutoring/repairs; [email protected]
• Natalie’sArtStudio; Natalie Castrogiovanni provides art lessons and murals; [email protected]
Congratulations all students on your success this summer and all the best for the new school year!
Back, L-R: Josh Thiessen, Ryan Lockner, Scott Monteith, and Tom Harkness. Front, L-R: Taylor Carr, Julia Castrogiovanni, Dalton Risser, and Natalie Castrogiovanni.
NETWORKINGWEDNESDAYSJoin one of our Networking Wednesday meetings and hear informative speakers deliver information you can use right away. Meetings are held at our offices at 300 South Edgeware Rd. the last Wednesday of every month from 5:00-6:30 pm. Registration is required. A $10 fee applies. Call 519-633-7597. UPCOMINGMEETINGS:SEPTEMBER 29 – Pre-launch to eclub; ebusiness overviewOCTOBER 27 – Marketing through the seasonsNOVEMBER 24 – Keeping records for the tax man
SAVETHEDATE!OCTOBER21,2010The Elgin/St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Cen-tre and the EBRC are proud to host Elgin’s first ever Bridges to Better Business Conference. The one-day conference will be held during Small Business Week on Thursday, October 21at Malahide Community Place in Springfield.
The conference will focus on helping local businesses market themselves more effectively through the use of new, traditional, and social media. The day will offer a variety of seminars for attend-ees to choose from as well as well-known keynote speakers delivering timely information. Don’t miss it! The fee to attend is $50 and includes lunch.
Formoreinformationorregistration,contactRondaat519-633-7597ext.30.
BridgestoBetterBusinessConferenceOctober21,2010
MalahideCommunityPlaceSpringfield,Ontario
SMALLBUSINESSWEEKOCTOBER17-23,2010Canada’s National Small Business Week celebrates the spirit of our entrepreneurs. Events across the country encourage local small businesses to participate and showcase their talents or services in tradeshows and educational events.
On Wednesday, October 20, the St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Small Businss Sample Show at St. Anne’s Centre. The EBRC will be there with our booth so be sure to stop by!
The Sample Show will showcase St. Thomas’s very best businesses and associations, with 56 exhibitors and four special hospitality/food services businsses. Admission is free. Come by and learn all about local small businesses and what they have to offer! Several prizes are available to be won valued at $100-$200 each. Tickets available for purchase at the show.
SampleShow: October 20, 4 - 7 p.m. St. Anne’s Centre, St. Thomas
CHECKOUTEBRCHOME-GROWNBUSINESSESThe EBRC is a proud sponsor of the International Plowing Match this September 21-25. Join us! Stop by our booth to learn more about our services, meet staff, and learn about our homegrown successes right here in Elgin County. Our booth is located in the County of Elgin area in the Progressive Tent. The hours of the IPM are 8:30 am to 5 pm; Tuesday to Saturday. See you there!
SUCCESSSTORIES:DOINGWHATHELIKESBEST–PAULTHISTLEImagine your favourite hobby turned business.
That’s exactly what Paul Thistle did when Formet Industries initiated layoffs in September 2008. Paul witnessed the slowing economy and company down-sizing and took his severance hoping to start some-thing new when the layoffs occurred. “I was tired of factory work anyway,” says Paul, “When I heard about the Self-Employment Benefit Program, I decided to make a change.”
At Formet, Paul was an Industrial Millwright with eight years at the plant. He also had more than 20 years behind him as a Millwright in Newfoundland’s mining, paper mills, and hydroelectric industries. But through-out his career, Paul always found time to work on one of his true passions: riding and repairing motorcycles. As of Spring 2009, Paul had left factory life well behind to pursue his goal of operating a motorcycle shop, Elgin County Cycle. Today, his shop is just two minutes from where Paul used to work at Formet.
Paul visited the EBRC in January 2009 for counselling with Gordon Hall and entry into the SEB Program. “Taking the program was a huge leap of faith,” Paul says. “I’m in my fifties and the idea of striking out on my own was intimidating, but the program helped giving me steps on what to do and how to do it.” Paul admits he had his own ideas about business and how to get started before entering the program. “I thought I knew what I was doing, but the whole program un-dertaking was a complete revelation. Starting my own business was a bigger deal than I thought it was going to be,” Paul adds. In the SEB program Paul discovered the amount and type of insurance he needed, plus the environmental aspects and concerns that needed to be addressed when opening a business like his.
Paul’s business plan has also evolved since he opened his doors, concentrating more on motorcycle repairs and sales of used motorcycles than on the small en-gine repairs and retail sales as originally intended. “The more business I received, the more I realized that I wanted to sell used bikes too,” says Paul. With 17 motorcycles to his name, Paul thought that perhaps he should start to sell a few. “But, I didn’t want to be a curb-sider. I wanted to make sure everything followed
the law and regulations and build a solid reputation so customers would recognize good quality and service.” Paul says. Paul completed his Motorcycle Technician Course, plus took another to earn his dealership license from Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Coun-cil (OMVIC) for legally buying and selling used mo-torcycles. Paul also joined the Used Car Dealership Association of Ontario (UCDA), which has been very helpful and supportive.
To Paul’s knowledge, there are no commercial motor-cycle shops in the local area, which has been great for business. And while he enjoys working on all makes, Paul is partial to vintage Japanese bikes that are at least 25 years old. To his advantage, Paul combines his millwrighting experience with his motorcycle experi-ence to make or repair those hard to find parts with his own lathe and mill.
Elgin County Cycle offers customers repairs to all types of motorcycles and services include ultrasonic carburetor clean, tire change, wheel balance, valve adjustments, and complete tune-ups.
Paul Thistle of Elgin County Cycle works on one of his customers’ motorcycles. You can find Paul’s shop at 12 Laing Blvd., Unit 1B, in St. Thomas. website: www.elgincountycycle.com
The SEB (Self-Employment Benefit) Program is funded through the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.
If you would like to see a story covered in the Elgin Advantage, please let us know by forwarding your information to:
300SouthEdgewareRdStThomas,ONN5P4L1
(519)[email protected]
www.elgincfdc.ca
Limited ad space is available. Please call for rates.
Marilyn Crewe, Community Economic Development Consultant at the EBRC can be reached at [email protected] or 519-633-7597 extension 27.
MEETTHESTAFF:CEDCONSULTANT,MARILYNCREWEMarilyn has been with the EBRC since August, 2009. She orginally started in a Job Creation Partnership positon as the Newsletter Editor responsible for launching the first edition of the Elgin Advantage. By December 2009, Marilyn had proven her value to the organization and was hired as Com-munity Economic Development (CED) consultant to take on a larger role and work on initiatives that promote partnerships within the community.
As CED consultant, Marilyn works with the EBRC team to develop workshops and conferences in the community that increase the presence of EBRC and its services. Though she has only been with the EBRC a short time, Marilyn has been integral to making projects happen, such as the Business Expo and the upcoming Bridges to Better Business Confer-ence. “Part of my role is to identify potential projects or activities which could lead to increased employment in the County. It’s a very rewarding position,” says Marilyn. On behalf of the EBRC, Marilyn attends meetings, including Public Sector Liaison, Labour Force Development, and Aylmer Economic Development Liaison Committee.
The SEB (Self-Employment Benefit) Program is funded through the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities. The Elgin Advantage is brought to you by the Elgin Business Resource Centre in cooperation with:
The EBRC is a proud sponsor of the Elgin-St.Thomas 2010 International Plowing Match:
AUTUMNHARVESTVEALSTEW2 tbsp vegetable oil 2 tsp dried oregano 3 C chicken stock2 lb stewing veal, chopped 1 tsp dried thyme 4 ripe plum tomatoes chopped 3 carrots chopped 1/2 tsp salt 4 small potatoes quartered3 stalks celery chopped 1/2 tsp pepper 3 C peeled & cubed squash 2 onions cut in chunks 1/4 C all purpose flour
Directions: In large oven-proof pot, heat oil over medium heat. Brown meat. Add carrots, celery, onions, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir for about 8 minutes. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Pour in stock and tomatoes and bring to a boil, scraping any brown bits stuck to pot. Cover and bake in 325°F oven for one to 1 1/2 hours. Stir in potatoes and squash. Return to oven and bake, stirring occasionally for one hour longer or until veal and vegetables are very tender. Ian & Connie Foster, Elgin County Veal Producers, Aylmer. Flavours of Elgin IPM 2010 cookbook. Cookbook available at the EBRC.