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2015Winter Issue M A R K H A M ’ S E X C L U S I V E B U S I N E S S M A G A Z I N E

Preparing today’s students for the jobs of tomorrow CHANGING FUTURES

BUILDING ROBOTS

What’s Hot in Employment Law pg 10

Is LinkedIn the Platform for You? pg 13

Made in Markham: Your Family-Friendly Auto Shop pg 16

Culinary Trends: In Search of the Exotic pg 21

IN THIS ISSUE:

pg 6

IN THIS ISSUE

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The VOICE Winter 20153

IN THIS ISSUEYPC Are You Markham’s Top Young Professional? 4

TECH Winter is Coming! Apps to Help You Survive (or Love) the Cold 14

MARKETING Content Marketing 101 15

BUSINESS BOOKS Launching 2016: New Business Kick-Off 18

2015 ENTERTAINMENT MARKHAM WINNER Danny’s Fish & Chips 20

FOOD Culinary Trends: In Search of the Exotic 21

2014 BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENT PROFILE Folco’s Ristorante 22

INVESTMENT Succession Planning: It’s Your Retirement Plan 23

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS 24

WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS 26

10What’s Hot in Employment Law

13Is LinkedIn the Platform for You?

16Made in Markham: Your Family-Friendly Automotive Shop

Publisher Richard Cunningham

President & CEO

Editor Meghan Behse

Colborne Communications

Creative Director Katherine Pomykacz

Marketing & Events Coordinator Your comments are always

welcome. Please email [email protected]

Advertising information Christine Rogers

Advertising & Marketing Consultant 905-474-0730 ext. 3019

Cover and Cover Story Design: CS-Graphic Design Inc.

Design: Lisa Mervin, L.J. Sales

Editorial Cartoon: Robin Crossman

Printing: CanMark Communications

Circulation – 12,000© November 2015. All rights reserved.

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COVER STORY

6Building Robots, Changing Futures: Preparing Today’s Students for the Jobs of Tomorrow


Local entrepreneurs and business people under 40 now have a platform to recognize their achievements – YPC’s ASPIRE Awards.

Criteria:1. Nominee must be born on or after January 1, 1976AND2. Nominee’s company must be Markham-based or a Markham Board of Trade

member in good standing Nominations: www.markhamboard.com Boards and Committees tab YPC page

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Recipients will be announced at the YPC ASPIRE Awards in 2016.

Are YOU Markham’s Top Young Professional?

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BUILDING ROBOTS, CHANGING FUTURES:By: Sarah Sweet Photography: Logics Academy

Ramy Ghattas, Director of Business Development

Paul Giampuzzi, Director of New Projects and Innovation



The jobs of tomorrow have already arrived, and they’re only going to continue to get more technologically complicated and sophisticated. If

today’s students are going to find fulfilling employment – or perhaps any employment at all – they’re going to have to acquire skills we didn’t even have names for a decade ago.

And that presents a problem – a number of problems, in fact. Although it’s been estimated that 70 percent of top jobs require advanced skills in math and science, more than half of Canadian high school students drop classes in those subjects once they’re no longer compulsory. (In Ontario, that’s after grade 10.)

If Ontario is going to produce a generation of students equipped to take on these jobs, it has to somehow turn “math is hard” into “math is useful,” or perhaps more importantly, “math is fun.”

And while studies show that early engagement with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) promotes interest that lasts throughout secondary school and beyond, many elementary school teachers were among those who dropped out of the programs in high school as soon as they could.

Ontario’s school boards are well aware of these challenges: they’re updating their curricula, emphasizing the importance of hands-on learning, and introducing supports for teachers to keep them informed and enthusiastic about developments in STEM. In certain cases, they’re partnering with external educational specialists who’ve made “bringing science to life” their primary focus.

That’s where Logics Academy comes in. I recently had the opportunity to talk to Ramy Ghattas, the company’s co-founder and director of business development, about the Logics model – and how it’s invigorating students and teachers alike with its creative take on STEM education.

A former Toronto District School Board student, Ghattas had a life-changing experience when he participated in a robotics program in high school. All set to tackle a career in medicine, he found himself shifting his goals after getting hands-on with robots.

“It really intrigued me,” he told me. “It opened my eyes and made me wonder how

I could explore that out of the classroom.” Ghattas asked his teacher how he could make this experience a career, and later studied engineering at the University of Toronto, working to build its Robotics Association and participating in challenges around the world.

Ghattas knows first-hand how getting up close and personal with technology can spark a child’s interest, and a determination to ensure that other young people have hands-on opportunities led him and co-founder Paul Giampuzzi (now director of new projects and innovation) to establish Markham-based company Logics Academy in 2011.

Employing Ontario College of Teachers–certified instructors, scientists, and engineers, Logics Academy develops STEM content

for kindergarten to grade 12 students. The Ministry-created curriculum tells teachers what concepts their pupils should be learning, but it doesn’t provide road maps for the creation of lesson plans. Logics takes those curriculum expectations and uses them to design hands-on, collaborative classroom experiences related to robotics, aerospace, and coding.

“Educators are the individuals on the ground floor working with thousands and thousands of students,” Ghattas explained. Building on what Ghattas terms the “Cs of learning” – critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity – Logics aims, he said, “to bridge the gap for educators in terms of knowledge, developing real, in-depth lesson plans and content to develop the curriculum in the classroom.”

Logics’s focus is on the delivery of direct-to-student activities, whether through in-school,

after-school, or summer programs, and their partners include public and private schools, libraries, hospitals, and science centres. Although their in-class instruction takes place primarily in the GTA, they produce robotics kits – complete with lesson plans, learning expectations, experiment sheets, answer guides, and, of course, everything you need to build a robot – that teachers from across the country can use to deliver the curriculum-tailored content in their classrooms.

Ghattas’s voice crackles with enthusiasm over the phone, and it’s easy to see how that kind of excitement about the mysteries and complexities of science and construction could energize a classroom. Of course, the fact that the students get to engage in activities like building cars and designing their very own

Mars rovers doesn’t hurt. “Hands-on and project-based learning engage the students on a personal level,” Ghattas said, “because they become accountable for their own projects; they become responsible for their own education. They don’t feel like it’s the teacher’s role to teach them, and they’re just supposed to be sitting and listening to what the teacher has to say.”

Wanting to know more about how students and teachers respond to the Logics approach, I spoke with two educators about their experience with the company’s innovative STEM programming.

Remonda Ibrahim, a grade 7/8 teacher at Emily Carr Public School, had the chance to work with Logics at a STEM-focused summer school program. This past year, her 4/5 class was introduced to the concept of gear ratios. When I was that age, I would have read about the concept in a textbook, dutifully

“Hands-on and project-based learning engage the students on a personal level,” Ghattas said, “because they become accountable for their own projects; they become responsible for their own education. They don’t feel like it’s the teacher’s role to teach them, and they’re just supposed to be sitting and listening to what the teacher has to say.”

Technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate. Today’s teenagers are scratching their heads over rotary dial phones and tape cassettes; twenty years from now, they could be parents to children who are bewildered by desktop computers and cars that can’t drive themselves. Preparing our newest generation for jobs of the future is a vital and complex challenge. Journalist Sarah Sweet talks to Markham entrepreneur Ramy Ghattas about robots, hands-on education, and getting students excited about math and science.


transferred the information to a cue card, and then reproduced my knowledge of it on a test before promptly forgetting it altogether. These young people had a dramatically different experience.

“They worked on gear racers,” Ibrahim said. “They got to race their cars, figure out what they needed to change about their cars – they needed to know how fast their cars could go, and how they could make them faster.” She wasn’t simply impressed by the technical skills they were able to pick up. “My favourite part as a teacher was the collaboration amongst the students,” she noted. “That’s what lasts after they’re gone – they’re going to talk about the great experience they had building this gear racer and how great it was to work together.”

Ibrahim’s sentiments were echoed by Nandanee Sawh, program coordinator for science and technology at the Toronto District School Board. Her group is responsible for supporting professional learning for teachers, and she recently helped arrange a STEM initiative that brought together 13 different schools

to participate in a Mars rover challenge devised by Logics Academy.

“The energy in the room was just phenomenal,” Sawh remembered. “I just felt a sense of fulfillment at that time as an educator, saying, you know what, something’s happening in this room.”

I mention having watched a video of the event, which

involved students building robots to send on a mission to Mars, and being struck by the students’ obvious excitement. She hastened to mention, “Although it looked like everyone was chatting all at once, there was a built-in structure within the day. That’s an important thing as an educator, knowing

when the noise is productive and individuals are on task, working toward a common goal. The expectations are understood by everyone in the room, and everyone’s engaged.”

In that kind of environment, where collaboration is not only encouraged but vital, and students enjoy themselves so much they forget they’re

learning, it’s easier to make sure everyone can thrive. “They’re no longer thinking, ‘Oh, I’m really shy,’ or ‘I might fail at this,’” observed Ibrahim. “They’re so occupied with the task at hand – a task that’s innovative, a task that’s creative, a task that’s fun for them.”

Indeed, all three educators stressed the critical importance

of something that was actively discouraged when I was in school: failure. That’s right. These three motivated, dedicated, enthusiastic educators want their students to fail – but in the right way. “One of our cornerstones is fostering failure,” Ghattas explained. “The idea here is that embracing failure is part of a process of learning. If we don’t allow students to fail, we’re really not giving individuals an opportunity to learn from their mistakes in a safe environment.”

Letting students make mistakes encourages them to think critically and, perhaps surprisingly, helps build confidence. “You’ve got to fall so many times and fail so many times to build yourself up,” said Ibrahim. Sawh

agreed: “We want kids to be critical thinkers, we want them to be able to be innovative thinkers. [Not having all the answers] can be the start of something great.”

With the help of invigorated educators, teamwork, robots, and a whole lot of constructive failure, today’s Ontario students are poised to take on the world of tomorrow.

“My favourite part as a teacher was the collaboration amongst the students,” she noted. “That’s what lasts after they’re gone.”

“They’re no longer thinking, ‘Oh, I’m really shy,’ or ‘I might fail at this,’” observed Ibrahim. “They’re so occupied with the task at hand – a task that’s innovative, a task that’s creative, a task that’s fun for them.”

“One of our cornerstones is fostering failure,” Ghattas explained. “The idea here is that embracing failure is part of a process of learning. If we don’t allow students to fail, we’re really not giving individuals an opportunity to learn from their mistakes in a safe environment.”



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Making the Case for Employment Agreements and Workplace PoliciesBy Kathryn Willms

ian Ghomeshi. The Germanwings plane crash. FHRITP: the acronym that shall not be googled. Some of

the biggest news stories of the past year have had one thing in common: they cast new light on the legal relationships between employers and employees.

Employment law is ever-evolving. Laws change but not as fast as workplaces, employee expectations, technologies, and societal norms. As courts must continually interpret laws in new contexts, it can be difficult for businesses (especially SMEs, without in-house HR) to keep abreast of these changes.

As our legal experts point out, however, ignoring these issues can do significant harm to the bottom line, leading to lawsuits, client dissatisfaction, and lost productivity. “I sometimes hear employers

say, ‘HR is about soft issues,’” says Laura Williams of Williams HR Law with a laugh. In fact, she identifies this as the area where employers are most vulnerable to issues they could prevent.

“It’s making sure that you’ve got the tools in place to ensure that the standards, expectations, obligations, entitlements, and requirements in the employment relationship are clearly communicated,” she says. “And you do that through employment agreements and workplace policies.”

One trend our experts identified is that courts are interpreting employment agreements and workplace policies more strictly than ever before.

“The Supreme Court of Canada has said it views employees as being vulnerable,” says Ron Minken of Minken Employment Lawyers, “so as a result, any ambiguity is interpreted in the employee’s favour.”

J

WHAT’S HOT IN EMPLOYMENT LAW

“The Supreme Court of Canada has said it views

employees as being vulnerable, so as a

result, any ambiguity is interpreted in the employee’s favour.”


905.205.0496 | [email protected] | www.williamshrlaw.com

This means that employers lacking strong, valid agreements are at legal risk. A good employment agreement must be constantly updated to stay current with provincial and federal law. And it must be tailored to individual workplaces.

“An agreement that is good for one workplace may not be appropriate or suitable at another,” says Minken. “And if it’s inappropriate, the court may not uphold or enforce the agreement.”

While each workplace will have different focuses and challenges, our experts have identified three areas in employment agreements and policies that have become particularly “hot.”

Off-duty employee conduct has become a hot issue as the boundaries between public and private life continue to blur. One obvious culprit is social media. As people become more comfortable sharing personal details on public channels, employers can’t afford to ignore the effects this openness can have on their businesses.

The question becomes, how much can they do about it? Williams says it’s a delicate balance. Just because an employee engages in behaviour that the employer does not approve of does not mean that it is an actionable offence. On the other hand, she warns employers against taking “an ostrich approach.” Truly offensive behaviour should be evaluated for its effect on the organization and the workplace. Employers must consider whether there is a link between the conduct and the workplace, and whether they have clearly defined what’s acceptable to their employees, through a code of conduct. Putting tools such as a code of conduct and social media policy in place is vital, but they won’t hold up in court unless employers are consistent in enforcement.

“You can’t pick and choose when you enforce something,” says Minken.

Another hot issue is restrictive covenants, which ensure that the business is protected when employees leave. These

In this two-part series, we call on the expertise of two Markham law firms specializing in employment law to discuss common legal challenges employers face

and how best to navigate new laws and emerging trends that may affect your business.

Termination clauses are a hot issue because of how often they are

misunderstood by employers. Employers seeking to part ways

with long-term employees are often unprepared for their obligation to provide

notice.


covenants include contractual terms for non-competition, non-solicitation of employees, and non-solicitation of

customers. Minken says in tech-heavy Markham, these clauses are the most litigated over, and he has one simple piece of advice: “Don’t overreach.”

Sara Kauder of Minken Employment Lawyers explains that, even though it’s natural for employers to want to restrict former employees from competing, the courts are liable to disregard clauses that are overly broad – in time limit, geography, and types of businesses covered. Employers are better served by focusing on “what they really need to protect their businesses – and their customers,” and employing a lawyer to settle on appropriate ranges.

“It’s not one size fits all,” she says.Termination clauses are a hot issue

because of how often they are misunderstood by employers. Employers seeking to part ways with long-term employees are often unprepared for their obligation to provide notice, which can be anywhere from the minimum notice specified in the Employment Standards Act (one week/year for up to eight years), to a greater reasonable notice based on age, length of service, scope of responsibilities, and market conditions. Employers who have not specified minimum notice in their employment contracts or who have no

termination clause at all may find the results hard to swallow.

“Then it becomes a function of negotiation,” says Williams. “And you could be facing a demand of a year, or more, which could be crippling for a smaller employer.”

Kauder says that employers also risk trouble by being too restrictive. For example, calculating notice based solely on an employee’s base salary is a violation of the Employment Standards Act (which stipulates using total compensation) and will not be upheld even if it is included in the employment agreement.

For our legal experts, the takeaway message is clear: Employers should think of employment agreements and workplace policies not as a means to protect themselves from their employees, but as the conduits for communicating expectations and creating an engaging and productive work environment.

“It should be a win-win,” says Williams.

Part 2 of this article, which will run in February’s Voice, will discuss trends around accommodation and workplace safety.

As people become more comfortable sharing personal details on

public channels, employers can’t afford

to ignore the effects this openness can have

on their businesses. The question becomes,

how much can they do about it?


By Katherine Cummings

7676 Woodbine Ave., Unit 10, Markham, ON, Canada L3R 2N2

905-940-2378

1 “LinkedIn Hits 300 Million Users Amid Mobile Push” by Kurt Magner, Mashable (April 18, 2014): http://mashable.com/2014/04/18/linkedin-300-million-users/#Wy2FYwKbsZqO

2 “Internet Project August Tracking Survey, August 07-September 16, 2013,” Pew Research Center: http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/12/30/social-media-update-2013/linkedin-users/

3 “The Best Times to Publish on LinkedIn” by John Mitchell, Houston Chronicle: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/times-publish-linkedin-31109.html

4. “LinkedIn Usage by Country: 2014 [SLIDES],” Link Humans (August 2014): http://linkhumans.com/blog/linkedin-usage-2014

hen introducing my clients to LinkedIn, I ask them to consider it as the world’s largest cocktail

party – a place to network, play to your strengths, and make connections on every level.

And yet, it is also one of the most underused platforms, with more than half of businesses and individuals alike either not updating regularly or not completing profiles properly – which offers the perfect opportunity to set you and your business apart.

Who will you find on LinkedIn? It’s not just job searchers; in fact, the unemployed only make up an astonishing 12 percent of users. Industry experts seeking a platform to share their knowledge and skill sets are using LinkedIn to reach new audiences.

With more than 300 million users and counting (119 million in North America alone), it’s the best place to strut your stuff in front of millions of professionals daily. Through blog posts and group discussions, your business can find new followers – and generate leads – while showcasing what really sets it apart.

Paying close attention to studies on LinkedIn demographics and active times of use, you can decide whether LinkedIn hits your target market and then optimize accordingly.

W

Is LinkedIn the Platform for You?


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WINTER IS COMING! Apps to Help You Survive (or Love) the Cold

The Weather NetworkNothing helps you combat the ice and cold like being prepared. While the Weather Network’s app is no newbie, it continues to be the most reliable weather forecaster for your phone or tablet. Check current, short-term, and long-term weather, receive severe weather alerts, and track incoming storms with their radar maps. The

new follow-me function tracks a forecast within one kilometre of your location, and traffic maps are now available too.

NHLWhat’s a Canadian winter without hockey, really? Whether you’re a Leafs, Habs, or Flames fan, set alerts so you don’t miss a game! You can listen to live audio or watch live game simulations, with an active game clock and near real-time shift changes, box scores, and play-by-plays. You can also watch in- and post-game

video highlights. Have a subscription for NHL GameCentre LIVE? Log in and stream live games, catching the action from alternate camera angles.

GrubHubSo now you’re safe from the storm, curled up on the couch to watch a night of hockey, but you’ve forgotten about dinner. GrubHub’s got you covered. Order delivery or pickup from a restaurant in your area. This app lets you search by location, cuisine, menu item, even restaurant hours and reviews. Pay with cash, credit, or

PayPal at no extra cost, and keep an eye on your order with their Track Your Grub feature.

Ski & Snow ReportOr perhaps you don’t want to fight the cold. The Ski & Snow Report’s powder alerts will have you wintery outdoorsy types taking spontaneous daytrips to Collingwood. Planning a March Break trip to B.C.? Use the app’s GPS mapping for the best route to the province’s ski resorts, the snowfall tracker to hit optimal

mountain conditions, and trail maps to find the most challenging or family-friendly hills.

All listed apps are free and available for Apple and Android phones and tablets.

CBy Meghan Behse


Learn more at rbc.com/six or call 1-800-769-2520

® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. 1 Additional fees and charges will apply for services and transactions exceeding $6 per month. $6 worth of transactions could include, for ex-ample, making two (2) online bill payments and two (2) ATM transactions, writing one (1) cheque and making a deposit of two (2) cheques and $500 cash in branch. Go to rbc.com/six for examples. Certain limitations apply. 2 Channel savings only apply to standard account fees for credits and debits, and refl ect choosing to transact electronically versus in-branch orpaper-based. * Provided you meet all of Royal Bank of Canada’s eligibility and credit criteria. Royal Bank of Canada reserves the right to withdraw any pre-approved offer, even afteracceptance by you, should a change occur in your credit rating or other eligibility criteria since or before accepting such offer, or based on any additional information provided at time of application. VPS00000

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ontent marketing is the way of now. It embodies creating interesting content, publishing it across your distribution channels (social media,

website, blog), and sharing it with your customers and future customers with the sole purpose of generating conversions. Content marketing is proving to be the most effective way to capture and retain the attention of your future customers.

But what is it really? Content marketing replaces the traditional method of advertising to your customers. It’s a way for you to engage customers and keep their attention on your brand so you can communicate directly to interested, focused prospects. Consumers often hide behind mistrust and skepticism when faced with traditional advertising. Therefore, becoming a valuable and relevant resource for them to learn from and subscribe to gives you the chance to be seen as a trustworthy asset and an expert to revisit.

This method is effective because you will be seen as a resource for your customers, not a walking billboard. Your customers will lose interest in you if they know every time they come to your channel you are overtly trying to sell to them. Your customers will keep interested in content that they can gain something from, or see value in. Remember the last time you were at a trade show, and you walked past that booth with a sales person and their scanner standing there eager-eyed and beelining every attendee walking by, with a stack of fliers looking to tell you why their company is the best? Think of how you avoided making eye contact, even if you were interested in their product.

Make content marketing work for you by knowing your target demographics’ behaviour. This is the first step to understanding what they want to learn. Consider where your audience “live” online, what they read and are interested in, and what drives their buying decisions.

What should you publish? If you are a retail store, publish reviews, product photos and videos, weekly deals and steals, and trendsetting articles to keep your customers engaged. If you are an independent broker (financial, CA, lawyer), post weekly vlogs and supplement with blogs focusing on industry movement, free advice, and motivating facts. If you are a B2B firm, keep your target customer updated on money-saving tips and tricks, and show them ways to be more productive in their role. Each strategy and content mix is focused on the customer experience.

Ultimately, take that final step back and think about what you would rather read about – advertising or information.

Jason Wilton is the Creative Director of Boundless Productions Canada. See them online at BoundlessProductions.ca, or just check out the back cover of this Voice issue. To talk about your brand and your story, drop them a line at [email protected].

C

CONTENT MARKETING 101


AutoNiche: Your Family-Friendly Automotive Shop

Made in Markham AutoNiche

ometimes a simple curiosity can take someone down a path they had never imagined. That’s exactly

what happened to Emily Chung, founder of the Markham automotive service shop AutoNiche, after taking a service technician course while on maternity leave.

“I wanted to learn more about my car so I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable bringing it in for service,” says Chung. “At the time I worked in marketing for my parents’ automotive parts company, so I was familiar with selling product but not necessarily how to use it.”

On top of this Chung had bad experiences with automotive repair shops and technicians pressuring her into buying services even after refusing their offers.

“Since when did I have to justify my reasoning for not purchasing,” she says.

Chung enrolled in the Automotive Service Technician apprenticeship program at Centennial College and enjoyed it so much that she went back for the next two levels of certification. In Ontario, automotive service technicians must go through three levels of certification developed by the Ontario College of Trades.

In 2009 Chung opened AutoNiche. Originally the shop was marketed towards women. Despite this, 80 to 90 percent of customers were men.

“Guys were saying they came to our shop because they didn’t have to pretend to know anything about their car,” says Chung.

Taking this into consideration, Chung changed the business’s marketing to focus on “family friendly” messaging. The shop offers free child seat inspections for parents who are unsure whether they’ve installed theirs properly.

But with big car companies pushing maintenance services and many smaller mechanic shops located on the same street as AutoNiche, how does Chung stay competitive? She classifies automotive repair businesses into two categories: break shops and maintenance shops. The first refers to mechanics that deal with problems as they arise. The latter is what Chung considers AutoNiche to be, which is key to attracting customers.

“Our biggest difference is in the way we communicate with clients,” she says. “We ask the car owner what their goal is. Are they planning to keep the vehicle long term? Is it leased? This affects the types of services we recommend to them.”

Chung knows she won’t appeal to everyone and can’t always match the lowest price, but the shop’s tailored approach is winning over clients and grabbing the attention of big brands. Earlier this month Chung was invited to the launch of Chevrolet’s 2016 Volt in San Francisco, where she test drove the hybrid-electric vehicle. She’s also an automotive blogger and reviewer for popular parenting site YummyMummyClub.ca and until recently was a Hankook Tire brand ambassador.

Much of the business’s marketing strategy focuses on digital and social media,

By Samantha Sim

Originally the shop was marketed towards women. Despite this, 80 to 90 percent of

customers were men. “Guys were saying

they came to our shop because they didn’t

have to pretend to know anything about their car.”

S


something Chung says is an anomaly for smaller service shops. AutoNiche’s Facebook and Twitter accounts are regularly updated with videos on everything from road trip safety to reviews on the latest models from automakers like Honda and Mazda.

Despite the attention she receives, Chung is still a woman in an industry that is significantly male-dominated. At first she received mixed reviews when she told people about her apprenticeship.

“Most have been supportive, but there were both men and women telling me I shouldn’t service a vehicle,” she says. “I wouldn’t want those people as customers anyways if they don’t trust my abilities. I’m not here to change the industry, just fix cars.”

“It takes a certain mentality to work in the trades,” says Chung, and she’s learned to adapt to this new work environment. The biggest change she’s seen is in the way she approaches communication. Chung says service technicians are largely solution

focused. They like getting right to the point, diagnosing the problem, and creating a solution.

As AutoNiche enters its seventh year, Chung reflects on where she’d like the shop to go in the future. She’s not necessarily interested in expanding into more locations, but there is one thing she’s working towards.

“People still associate me specifically with the business. I’d like to see the brand stand on its own one day and separate from me personally,” she says.

“Our biggest difference is in the way we communicate with clients. We ask the car owner what their goal is. Are they

planning to keep the vehicle long term? Is it leased? This affects the types of services we recommend to them.”

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The New Business Road TestWhat Entrepreneurs and Executives Should Do Before Writing a Business Planby John MullinsDo you have an idea for a venture? Would you like your business to run optimally in 2016? In this engaging and practical read, John Mullins of the London Business School sets out a seven-part framework for any market or endeavour. With clear steps and checklists, he

outlines how to test and improve your idea by assessing both your industry and your business team. Highlighting examples of successful and unsuccessful companies, Mullins emphasizes how research and analysis will contribute to your confidence and help you deliver persuasive pitches and develop strong relationships with investors and customers alike.

From Idea to ExitThe Entrepreneurial Journeyby Jeffrey WeberCovering the mystery, fear, and risk of starting, running, and selling a business, Jeffrey Weber shares the inspiring and informative journey of business success for those with entrepreneurial envy. Through the four phases of idea, startup, running a company, and exiting a company, get ready to channel your innovative drive into business practices and processes to achieve your

professional goals. First-time entrepreneurs, innovative employees, small business owners, and corporate leaders will find motivation, insights, and actionable steps in this entertaining and comprehensive guide. Further support and local resources for market research are available for free through the Markham Small Business Centre and Markham Public Library.

HOW DO I SAVE $184,000IN TAXES WHEN I SELL MY BUSINESS?

THE LIFETIME CAPITAL GAINS EXEMPTIONYou may have heard of the exemption, but when an offer to purchase your business is made, are you properly structured to be eligible for the exemption? The partners of Kreston GTA can help. We are an experienced firm of Chartered Professional Accountants that advise businesses throughout their life cycle. Whether you need to structure your business for sale, or just need help setting up your business, we are there to provide strategic support.

Contact Spence Walker to set up a consultation.

krestongta.com | 905.474.5593 | 8953 Woodbine Avenue, Markham, OntarioA member of Kreston International | A global network of independent accounting firms

LAUNCHING 2016: NEW BUSINESS KICK-OFFBusiness Reading and Professional Development


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For Better or for WorkA Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and Their Familiesby Meg Cadoux HirshbergHow can someone consumed by his or her newborn company live happily with others who are not? In a 2009 US survey, nearly 70 percent of entrepreneurs were married and 60 percent had one or more children when they launched their business (Kauffman Foundation). In this supportive and compelling account, the spouse

of Stonyfield Yogurt president interviews hundreds of entrepreneurs and their families for tips and tools to help families and businesses succeed. From living alongside a home business and borrowing from family and friends to working with siblings, stories from every scenario are open for discussion. This personable and factual narrative discusses strategies to help you successfully pursue your passions at home and at work, and is a reminder that through late nights and financial challenges, entrepreneurs and their families are on the journey together.

MakersThe New Industrial Revolution by Chris AndersonBeginning in 1776, the first industrial revolution doubled the average human lifespan. Following developments in manufacturing, widespread access to desktop publishing revolutionized creativity, and Internet access changed distribution lines. Now Chris Anderson, editor of Wired magazine, shares how this digital shift has led to a third revolution. Small-scale

manufacturing with technologies like 3-D printers and laser cutters make custom creations and production more accessible than ever for entrepreneurs, innovators, and DIYers – while also supporting growth in local economies. If you have an invention you’ve been dreaming of prototyping, or a unique custom creation you’d like to make a reality, this read provides the background and big-picture insights to jump-start your venture. To see 3-D printers in action, and try them for yourself, head to the Cornell Community Centre Library.

Amanda Kelly is the Business Community Librarian at the Markham Public Library. You can email her at [email protected], or see the library’s website, www.markhampubliclibrary.ca

Rejuvenating and re-energizing, the new year is prime time for fresh perspectives and growth! Whether you’re an independent innovator or a seasoned professional, you can jump-start your business strategy and

professional ambitions with these dynamic and inspiring reads.


ENTERTA

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2015

2015

IT PAYS TO KNOWProfessional Development

Mark your calendar for payroll education!

With more than 190 federal

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Danny’s Fish & ChipsWinner of Entertainment Markham 2015By Caitlin Stewart

uring Entertainment Markham’s showcase of local restaurants, from May 1 to August 31, Markham residents dug into pizzas, oysters,

filets mignons, curries, and gelato. When all the plates were cleared and belts loosened, diners filled out a short online survey to

qualify for coupons distributed by other participating establishments. The Markham Board of Trade used the feedback collected to recognize the restaurant that went above and beyond.

Danny’s Fish & Chips had the highest scores in the categories of food, service, value for money, and overall experience. It was also the most frequently recommended by customers to friends and family. A Markham staple for 15 years, Danny’s has won reader’s choice awards for “Best Fish and Chips” on multiple occasions, but owner Ike Chatur wasn’t taking any chances this time. Once he decided to “go for it,” he handed out hundreds of coupons and drew large crowds.

Originally from Tanzania, Chatur moved to Canada in 1984 and became a real estate agent, but fond memories of helping out at a friend’s fish and chip shop stayed with him. He scouted Danny’s location for a client. When the deal didn’t go through, he jumped at the opportunity and bought the place himself, making fish and chips history.

Chatur credits the quality of his food for his success. He buys his fish fresh and whole, and slices and prepares them in-store. His special techniques lead to light, non-greasy fare and have won him plenty of admirers, even among those who claim to dislike fish. His conversion approach? Fish prepared “popcorn style, in small pieces and lightly battered.” Hungry, anyone?

Danny’s Fish & Chips (4721 Highway 7) is open Tuesday through Saturday.

D


one are the days when Thai and Indian cuisines were considered “exotic.” Diners are no longer looking for just the best [insert cuisine here].

“Where is the best Neopolitan pizza?” or “What is an Egyptian breakfast?” are the kinds of questions people are now Googling on the Internet. This is a move towards “hyper ethnic cuisine” – foods from specific regions or made with specific regional ingredients.

This trend was largely pioneered by Millennials. According to Suresh Doss, leader of Toronto’s food truck movement and author of StreetEats, Millennials are “more open to trying different things.” Many Millennials are first generation Canadians from immigrant parents and grew up alongside children from various backgrounds (and whose parents made delicious food unlike what they ate at home). This is especially true in Toronto, where in the most recent census (2011), 80 different languages other than English or French were listed as being spoken by the city’s residents. How’s that for diversity?

“We’re at least open to looking at the visuals,” adds Doss. So perhaps we have chefs’ Instagram feeds to thank for introducing foreign and delicious cuisine – many of these chefs are going outside the core to eat and gather inspiration from mom and pop shops, borrowing some of the flavours along the way and interpreting them at their own restaurants.

So what’s going to be the next hottest cuisine? If restaurant openings and pop-ups are any indication, Southeast Asian cuisine is going to be the next mainstream. Little Sister, an Indonesian food bar in North York, has been drawing in crowds one babi pangang (roast pork belly) at a time, and Soos Restobar on the Ossington Strip, which serves up Malaysian street food, makes a mean laksa.

Though perhaps the prize for the cuisine de jour goes to the Philippines. “Filipino food has been making waves little by little,” Doss observes. That trend started as early as 2012 when Lamesa opened on Queen Street West; it was the only Filipino restaurant serving up “modern Filipino cuisine.” Ex-Lamesa chef Rudy Boquilla, who opened Lamesa, adds that Filipino cuisine is the “original fusion food.” The country was geographically situated “in the middle of the spice route, and its cuisine draws influences from China, India, Malaysia, Spain, and America.” Boquilla adds that “Filipino cuisine is very [similar]

with other cuisines; it’s citrusy and acidic like Greek food,” for example. “It’s sweet, salty, fermented funkiness.”

Filipino chefs who were not previously cooking Filipino food recently started to go back to their roots. Robbie Hojilla, the executive chef of the short-lived Hudson Kitchen of 2013 TIFF fame, snuck adobo fried chicken and halo-halo onto the menu. Over at DaiLo, where they serve predominantly Chinese fare, hints of chef Dennis Tay’s Filipino roots are apparent in the sambal that’s listed in a few of the dishes on the menu.

Terry Mocherniak, U-Feast’s CEO (Chief Eating Officer), is capitalizing on the city’s food trends. The company, which hosts one-off pop-up dinners at some of Toronto’s top restaurants, each featuring a different theme, has Indonesian and Filipino dinners in their fall events line-up. Mocherniak considers these events a way to integrate people from diverse backgrounds, adding, “food is the universal language that brings everyone together at the table.”

Yvonne Tsui is a Toronto-based freelance food and drink writer and editor in chief of her food blog th3hungrycat. She’s also the Director of Operations for U-Feast. For more information on U-Feast events, contact Yvonne at [email protected] or visit www.ufeast.com.

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Danny’s Fish & ChipsWinner of Entertainment Markham 2015

G

Culinary Trends: In Search of the Exotic


FOLCO’S RISTORANTE2014 Business Excellence Community Relations & Cultural Enrichment Award WinnerBy Samantha Sim

ver the past twelve years Folco’s Ristorante has operated in Markham with not only a commitment to traditional Italian dining, but also a dedication to serving its community through charity.

“The restaurant is successful today because of this community, and we are proud to be in Markham,” says Deana Folco, chef and daughter of founders Mario and Ann Folco.

Children’s charities became especially important to the Folco family after Deana’s son had to stay at The Hospital for Sick Children. That experience opened her eyes to the number of families in need and she wanted to help.

Deana was approached by her former elementary school, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, for input on a hot lunch program. She loved the idea, and Folco’s Ristorante ended up supplying the meals. Now the program has grown to six Markham schools, with all proceeds going to each school’s council and a portion of the meals given for free to children without a lunch.

Folco’s has also partnered with The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada to sponsor a Markham child. During November a 30-foot tree is placed in the restaurant and guests are encouraged to write a wish for the sponsored family. Last year the event raised $10,000 in just three weeks. To add to that, Folco’s hosts a themed pop-up fundraiser with live music for which the location isn’t announced to the guests until the day of the event.

In addition to its commitment to children’s charities, the restaurant is a supporter of the farm-to-table movement. “Whenever we can, we purchase produce and ingredients from local farmers,” says Folco.

This involvement led to an offer from Rogers TV to be featured on one of its shows for a discussion on the farm-to-table movement and how the restaurant supports it.

The Folcos are busy getting ready for this year’s Children’s Wish event as they plan the pop-up fundraiser and tree lighting ceremony with Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

O

(From left) Presenter Amin Tejani, Weins Canada; Ann Folco; Mario Folco; Deana Folco.


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Succession Planning: It’s Your Retirement Plan

ou’ve built a sound and successful business – everything is running smoothly. But what are your plans for the future? When do you get to retire? What happens to the business when you’re no longer at the helm? Having a sound business

succession plan in place will help reassure not only you, but also your employees, clients, and family.

In a November 2012 report, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that 51 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises don’t have a plan in place. If you’re one of them, now’s the time to get familiar with succession planning – what’s involved, when to do it, and where to turn for help.

It’s ComplexThe technical aspects of succession planning – selecting and training successors, determining the value of a business, tax considerations, estate freezes, family trusts, redemption agreements, wealth management – can be complicated. They can also take a lot of time. When you’re running a business, you may not have the time it takes to handle these details on your own. A qualified advisor can bring together a team of specialists – accountants, tax consultants, human resource experts, and legal advisors. With an overview of your finances and an understanding of your goals, the advisor will work with these specialists to help you develop and maintain a succession plan that addresses all the technicalities.

It’s Never Too EarlyEven if retirement is years away, it’s never too soon to create a succession plan. Early planning gives you more opportunity to explore a broader range of transition options and choose the right successor.

Consider the benefits of critical illness and life insurance. Critical illness insurance can protect your company’s assets during difficult times, giving you more resources and choices. Life insurance can provide the money needed to complete a buy–sell agreement or hire a replacement.

It’s ImportantSuccession planning helps protect your business. It encourages financial security and allows you to deal with unexpected events and prepare for the future. Ultimately, it offers peace of mind.

Domenico Colussi* is a Sun Life Financial advisor who can be reached by phone at 905-294-4030 ext. 2345 or by email at [email protected]. For more information on Domenico, visit www.sunlife.ca/domenico.colussi.*Mutual Funds offered by Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2015.

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MBTSALUTES SMALL BUSINESS

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MBTSALUTES SMALL BUSINESS

The VOICE Fall 201525

Stronger. Faster. Smarter.HRPA is proud to introduce the CHRL designation.

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AJC & Associates Inc.

Alpha Force Security Inc.www.alphaforce

securityinc.com

Aptus Learningwww.aptuslearning.ca

Aroma Espresso Bar Downtown Markhamwww.aroma.ca

Artemir Digital Solutionswww.artemir.com

BizMetrics Inc.www.bizmetrics.ca

Bluewrist Inc.www.bluewrist.com

Broker Financial Groupwww.brokerfinancial.ca

Canadian Blood Serviceswww.blood.ca

Caryl Baker Visage

Cedar Brae Golf Clubwww.cedarbraegolf.com

DJiZM Entertainment Groupwww.djizm.org

Edward Jones Investmentswww.edwardjones.com

/en_CA/fa/index.html&CIRN=968318

Elan IP Inc.www.elan-ip.com

Enterprise Productivity Software (EPS) Corp.www.epsfamily.com

Evergreen College Markhamwww.evergreencollege.ca

Everyday Athlete www.everydayathlete.info

Fortune Metals Inc.

Fungke Imageswww.fungke.com

Golf Townwww.golftown.com

Great International Paper Inc.www.greatinternational

paper.com

Islandway Foods Canada Inc. o/s Islandway Sorbet Canadawww.thesorbet.com

J.Active Apparel Corporationwww.jactive.ca

Karen Lindsay-Skynner Barrister & Solicitor, Mediatorwww.klslaw.ca

Lake Harbor Co. Ltd.www.lakeharbourcanada.

com

Lendified Inc.www.lendified.com

Marlowe Restaurant & Wine Barwww.themarlowe.ca

Microsoft Canada

Norton McMullen LLPwww.nmcpa.ca

Novita Italian Cuisinewww.novitaitalian.com

Optimal Community Aid Serviceswww.optimalcommunity.ca

Phase Two Media Inc.www.phasetwomedia.ca

PY Studiowww.pystudio.ca

Right At Home Realty Brokerage Inc.

Shenglin Financial Group Inc.www.shenglin.com

T.S. Interactive Solutions Inc.www.tsinteractive.ca

The Art of Productions Inc.www.theartof.com

The CG Groupwww.cggroup.com

Trios College – Scarborough Campuswww.trios.com

Tyco Integrated Fire & [email protected]

UniFirstwww.unifirst.ca

Workwise Consulting Groupwww.workwiseconsult.ca

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