 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON April 18, 2012 Look upon it as Burlington’ version of the Dragon’s Den – the prize, or the investment in your company, is a $2000 creative branding package to be done by one of the best branders in the business.
Gerry Visca runs creative workshops – he refers to them as TANKS . The next one, at which you will be inspired, get ignited and be with fellow entrepreneurs enjoying cocktails and great people, takes place April 26th.
 What Gerry Visca does is inspire. He does move a room and there are people out thee who swear by the changes he has made in their lives. Twenty bucks gets you in the door. That sounds like a pretty good deal – it’s happening at 3310 South Service Road Suite 300, The Coffee Office, 6:00 – 9:00pm. You have to register with Visca beforehand – he needs to know how much hooch he has to bring in.
Visca swears it’s going to be a blast – a Dragon’s Den style night with entrepreneurs pitching to a panel of my brand ambassadors.
Just listening to Gerry Visca talk about branding and how you can make it work for you is worth the $20.
Here is the way Visca explains his event: Every last Thursday of the month – Canada’s Creative Coach Gerry Visca hosts an exclusive event series known as [Thursday TANKS]. These consistent events are Gerry Visca’s creative vehicle to connecting recently ignited entrepreneurs with the world. It also provides individuals access to one of Canada’s Top Inspirational Speakers. “These are inspirational and intimate get social gatherings that allow people to connect in a very meaningful way” notes Visca. Gerry Visca is a master at helping people be ‘in-spirit’ with their life purpose. He connects like-minded people at his Thursday TANKS in a ‘fun, high-energy and thought provoking way’. Gerry Visca typically highlights several recently ignited entrepreneurs providing them with a platform to showcase their intentions/creations. Thursday TANKS also include one of Gerry Visca’s 10 Creative Laws/Teachings – a question is tabled to each delegate and facilitated by one of Gerry Visca’s brand ambassadors who have become quite skilled at working within the group.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON April 16, 2012
Well the good folks over at Carriage Gate – the people who are behind the Medica One project planned for the intersection of Caroline and James, do have a problem on their hands. After being given the zoning changes they wanted in 2009 on the properties they had assembled, they then had eighteen months to get a handful of documents signed and they were on their way to construction.
 The developer had approval in principle for the zoning he wanted - then he lost it. How did that happen? But that didn’t happen. For reasons which are not yet clear, Nick Carnacelli seemed to have lost his ballpoint pen or his banker’s telephone number, and the documents the city had to have in hand – weren’t in hand and so what Carnacelli had in the way of a zoning change – he no longer has.
Carnacelli pushed very hard to get the project approved back in 2009. A number of people in the Planning Department put in long hours to get all the reports in place so that Council could approve the development in principle back then.
After that, all it took was for the developer to sign the development agreement, pay funds into the Section 37 agreement account, pay the rezoning fees required and after that it was a case of “Bob’s your uncle”. The developer had 18 months to get all this done – and once it was done the Planning Department would report to Council that everything was A – OK and the rezoning the developer had asked for, which had been approved in principle, would be made legal.
 Pearl Street Cafe was a recent Carnacelli property acquisition - part of a small land assembly that reaches down to Lakeshore Road. But the developer either forgot – or couldn’t deliver on his part of the deal. With deadlines passed, the developer, according to everyone who can speak with any authority on this, has to go back to square one. The developer doesn’t see it quite that way. Carnacelli thinks it is just a matter of clearing up some paper work. Was Tony Millington on vacation or did Carnacelli lose his phone number?
City Hall wants downtown development and has expressed some anxiety at the rate at which developers actually put shovels into the ground. Carnacelli holds four prime downtown property assemblies and other than some Ontario Municipal Board hearings on what density is permissible – nothing has happened.
 The Carnacelli interests own the property that currently houses a Bank of Montreal Wealth Management office - prime development spot. He holds the piece of land at what is sometimes referred to as the “football” that area where Old Lakeshore Road and Lakeshore Road converge at the east end. He owns the buildings that were once the Pearl Street Café plus the single story medical building at the foot of Pearl Street.
Add to that the property at the intersection of John Street and Brant and the property he assembled for the Medica One project.
The Mayor’s office would send a case of single malt scotch to Nick Carnacelli if he were to put a shovel in the ground on any of the properties and probably personally nominate the man for the Citizen of the Year Award. Burlington needs office space that is at least Class B. There was a strong case for a medical centre in that part of town along with affordable apartments.
The developer has to return to a Council that is quite a bit different than the one he was before last time. During the debate at Council committee in 2009, the development was opposed by then citizen Marianne Meed Ward, who of course went on to get herself elected as the council member for ward two which is where the development is taking place.
 Marianne Meed Ward was just a citizen when this picture was taken - now she is on the other side of the podium, sitting as a Council member. Should make for great political theatre when the Medica One zoning matter comes before committee. There are people arguing that Meed Ward didn’t have quite the community support she claims to have had back in 2009 – but that is rather moot at this point in time. She has developed a strong following within her ward and has perhaps the best relationship with her constituents of any other council member. She is certainly active. Now she has an issue that she fought against as a citizen – expect her to be just as dogged this time out.
The question however is this – will Meed Ward manage to get the support of her fellow Council members in forcing the Medica One people to make changes or accept changes in what was given several years ago? Or does Burlington want development in the downtown core so badly that Carnacelli will promise whatever he has to promise to get back the zoning he once had?
Will Council follow the Meed Ward approach and be very hard-nosed or will the city fold with the hope that they will see a shovel in the ground?
You can bet the telephone calls are being made to all the Council members. The Planning department people had many conversations with Carnacelli during the months leading up to the point at which the zoning was lost. The Mayor has had a conversation with the developer.
We have not had a conversation with the developer however, we did learn just over a month ago that the developer was fully committed to the housing development he has going in Stoney Creek and that they were “working” on some promotional material for Medica One. We were not able to actually talk to Nick Carnacelli.
Something’s not quite right here.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON April 14, 2012 Leadership and the ability to see the big picture and the long term goal is the heart and soul of every organization – be it a multi-national corporation, a large metropolis or a social organization. There have to be people with an idea and the energy and willingness to go forward with it.
Thursday evening many of Burlington finest business people gathered at the Convention Centre to recognize the best in each of six categories – all well deserved.
There were other awards given out as well for different kinds of leadership. Two joint awards in particular were given out that deserve additional recognition beyond the 450 people in the Convention Centre.
 Keith Strong took the big cheques that came in and used his unique way of getting people to do things to get the Performing Arts Centre built on time and under budget. Keith Strong and Gary DeGroote were awarded the Tourism Ambassador Award for their tireless efforts to get the Burlington Performing Arts Centre off the paper plans and to the point where there were shovels in the ground and construction cranes putting steel beams into place. DeGroote wrote big cheques and Strong made sure the money got added to and was then used in such a way that they could say the building was on time and under budget. Not something seen all that often in the municipal world and certainly not something Burlington sees that much of – the city still suffers the pain and looks at the scars of a waterfront pier project not yet completed and millions over budget but now under control and on track.
The people who are part of the crowd that is in the know and at the centre of much that happens in Burlington know what DeGroote and Strong managed to pull off but the larger community, the citizens that will benefit from the building, haven’t a clue as to who these two men are or what they did.
 Walter Mulkewich with his best smile, was awarded the Tourism Ambassador Award for his early and untiring efforts in getting the Performing Arts Centre to the point where it was a building and not just an idea. Two other very public figures – former Mayor Walter Mulkewich and former city council member Mike Wallace shared the Tourism Builder Award. These two men aren’t joined at the hip, certainly not politically, but they have run side by side and kept the embers at least glowing until the city was ready to commit to building a Performing Arts Centre. Mulkewich, a lifelong socialist and Wallace who came to realize he is a conservative as blue as the waters of Lake Ontario.
Mulkewich and Wallace were part of the group that saw the need and did the low level community committee work to get the idea fixed in the minds of the community and kept fanning those embers that grew into flames that produced the heat and energy that got a community to get behind the project.
Wallace went on to higher office while Mulkewich went on to retirement but the two of them worked closely in the very early years, as far back as the 70’s, to grow the idea that Burlington was big enough to handle a centre for the performing arts.
 You always know when Mike Wallace is in the room - you hear him. He brought his inherent energy and humour to getting the Performing Arts Centre off pieces of paper and feasibility reports and to the point where it could become a reality. Wallace was then able to finagle things in Ottawa and got the Prime Minister’s office to include a trip to Burlington to inspect a high tech research operation on, Ecosynthetix Mainway and spend some time at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre where Wallace preceded him on taking to “the boards” and then forgetting his lines.
What many will not fully appreciate for some time was that while the Prime Minister was in Burlington (the first time a Prime Minister had ever visited the city) he also made a policy statement on the arts and the role they play in the health of a community and the economy of a country. That sort of got lost with the crowd that was very busy having their picture taken with the Prime Minister.
That event would not have taken place has Mulkewich and Wallace not done the very early work and the building would not have gone up the way it did without DeGroote’ s financial contribution and Keith Strong’s unique way of convincing someone they really can do what he has asked of them.
We are fortunate to have all four men in this community. Although I don’t think we always have to send one of them to Ottawa.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON April 13, 2012 More than 450 people walk the red carpet at the Burlington Convention Centre where the Chamber of Commerce puts on its annual celebration and recognition of people and companies who were chosen as the best amongst us for 2011.
The event has taken place since 1986 and has gone through improvements and upgrades along the way. The celebration is for those that were deemed to be the best during the 2011 calendar year. The best were chosen in six categories with three finalists given a thorough, rigorous review by members of the Chamber Task Force that did all the heavy lifting.
While the spotlight and the actual awards went to others – it was the Business Awards Task Force that deserves gobs of credit for the hours they put in meeting and discussing the finalists in a way that neither their lawyers or their accountants look them over.
The Task Force is headed up by Peter John VanDyk who is joined by Lynn Ferguson, Scott Henderson, Irene Lis, Penny MacKenzie, Bruce PAyn, Rosalene Phillips, Michael Scime, Rod wright, John Doyle, Chantal Copithorn, Gaetan Chabot, Lynn Beechey, Sharon Jackman, the Board Liason and Diana Tuszynski, the vice chair.
The Chamber labels the event the Business Awards Gala and for 2011 had finalists in six categories:
Manufacturer; Capo Industries Ltd., Heron Instruments Inc., Kontek Ecology Systems Inc.
Retail / Wholesale: Brant Florist, Snuggle Bugz,
Services: Deloitte, Global Mobility Products, O.C. Tanner Recognition Company Limited
Small Business: Onward Computer Systems, Poolscape Inc., Sold Right Away
Young Entrepreneur: Ryan Barichello of LinxSmart, Trevor Bouchard of QuickContractors.com Inc.
Employer of the Year: AXYZ International, Pink Elephant.
The winners in each category were:
Trevor Bouchard in the Young Entrepreneur category.
O.C. Tanner Recognition Company Limited in the Service Category
Konteck Ecology Systems Inc. in the Manufacturer category
Snugle Bugz in the Retail/wholesale category.
Sold Right Away on the Small Business category.
Employer of the Year, which is a new category for the Chamber of Commerce, went to AXYZ International.
The Heritage Award went to Capo Industries Ltd for staying in business for 119 years. The firm started out in Hamilton and moved to Burlington where they settled on Fairview Street when it was just a dirt road.
Who are these people and what do the companies do and why were they recognized The story was different for each and early next week we will come back to you with more depth and detail on each winner. For this morning just a quick comment from the Task Force that did the selection.
Trevor Bouchard: The Task Force was impressed with how Trevor led Quick Contractors innovative and progressive growth and his ability to adapt his business to the growing needs of its customers, clients and employees.
OC Tanner: The Task Force was impressed with their evolution from a recognition hardware company to becoming consultants to large business on how employee recognition can be a catalyst for achieving corporate goals and aligning vision.
Kontek Ecology: The Task force was impressed with their focus on preserving one of our scarcest resources through management and redeployment of waste water using local suppliers for most parts, materials and labour. Kontek is a small company with clients that stretch across the globe in a market where their competitors are very large multi-national companies.
Snuggle Bugz: The Task Force was impressed with Snuggle Bugz disciplined and savvy approach to marketing, HR and operations, that in a few short years has made them a leading retailer as well as a national online supplier of everything baby.
Sold Right Away: The Task Force was impressed with the way Sold Right Away created, through technology, an innovative collection of tools that have proven results in the real estate market helping sell homes faster, with less effort and attract new clients.
AXYZ International: The Task Force was impressed with this company’s genuinely inclusive and authentic culture that, not surprisingly, was reflected in high ratings for employee engagement, teamwork and overall satisfaction by the employees in the survey of the company.
Additional awards were presented and will be reported on later in the week.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON April 12, 2012 Literally hundreds of people continue to register for the Business in Burlington MeetUps that are currently being held at the Waterfront Hotel in Burlington. But no one, not even the man that made it all happen, is really certain where this is all going to go.
It’s clear that the people who take part have decided against organizations like the Chamber of Commerce; they don’t see any value in the $400 membership fee. The Chamber argues that there is a lot of value for that membership fee. We will let the different opinions stand.
James Burchill is delighted with the growth in his membership which has reached more than 1,000 individuals following his grouping. That’s pretty close to what the Chamber has.
 They shouldn't have worked - but they are most certainly working. For how long - no one knows.. Until they no longer serve a purpose says James Burchill. So what’s going on? Why do people want to be part of this and why do they register for MeetUps that are taking place more than two months later? Well they want to be certain they can get in, space at the MeetUps is limited, mostly because the size of the room they use.
Burchill thinks there is more to it than that. “I’m meeting a need. These people have chosen what I have to offer over what organizations like the Chamber offers. Burchill doesn’t have a membership fee and he doesn’t make a dime out of what he has created.
He is also very quick to tell you that when he started this – less than four months ago he “didn’t know what he didn’t know”. This has been like flying in the dark with no instruments and as you listen to Burchill you get the impression he just loves it that way.
“We are all in this together” claims Burchill – he just wants to mobilize people and thinks social media, which means different things to different people, is a tool that can be used. At this point everyone is dipping their toes into social media. The big brand corporations are pretty sure there is something going on out there – but they really don’t know – have decided to throw some marketing dollars at it anyway.
Burchill is putting time and energy into this because he thinks there is a group of people who want to be part of something – even if they aren’t sure what it is they are becoming a part of. There is no membership, they aren’t asked to be on a committee – it’s all quite loose. And yet every month a couple of hundred people arrive at the same place, spend a couple of hours together and go their own way when it’s over. The cash bar is open but you can walk in and not spend a dime – and throw back some of the nibbles that are set out by the hotel. They love the traffic – they fill a space that is close to empty on a Wednesday between five and seven.
 It's 50% business and 50% social - and that's about all I can tell you, says Burchill Burchill did little to no research on this project. “They shouldn’t have worked he will tell you. They aren’t a “will I manage to make out” evening – even though there is a bit of that evident. Burchill thinks his MeetUps are 50% business and 50% social and behaving like the “benevolent dictator” he describes himself as – he thinks he can guide this in a direction that will become a service to people who aren’t part of any of the mainline social groupings. A MeetUp is certainly not a Rotary meeting, nor is it a country club. There are no rules – you just show up and be who you are.
He does think that in the not too distant future he might be able to offer this crowd services and information that they need and can opt into if they wish. Burchill who has a publishing background thinks the people who attend his events have a need for information but don’t want to spend a fortune on accountants or lawyers.
Take the HST rules – Burchill thinks he could put together a document that would sell for a couple of bucks – would have everything you needed to know without all the “what does this mean” words that the bureaucrats drop into what they write.
Less than the cost of a beer for the report – but something that would produce revenue for Burchill who strives to make the point that he isn’t in partnership with anyone and is not working his way through some grand plan.
There is a vision but it isn’t crystal clear. The vision is being shaped by what he sees from the people that turn up for his events. “There’s something going on here, that much I know” says Burchill. Other than that – he’s just riding the wave and having fun along the way.
Having fun – that could be the vision.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON April 11, 2012 The Fraud Unit of the Halton Regional Police Service, with the assistance of the Ontario Securities Commission, has completed an 18 month investigation into the following companies, North American Carrier Services, Hillcorp International Services, Hillcorp Wealth Management, Suncorp Holdings (no relation to Suncor Energy), Exxon Holdings (no relation to Exxon Mobil) and Petro Properties (no relation to Petro Holdings).
The investigation resulted in the arrest of four individuals in relation to a $16 million investment scam that duped approximately 150 investors who were led to believe the investments they made were poised to generate large profits over a short period of time. The loss to investors has reached $8 million.
 Money doesn't grow on trees and fabulous returns are rare - ask questions and try to stifle the greed. The investigation into the investment companies revealed that investors were told the companies were investing in offshore oil securities. Using names very similar to well know multi-nationals, investors were probably thinking they were with a solid organization.
Financial Planners are required to file documents showing that they know their clients and fully understand their clients financial needs and their tolerance for risk. Investors need to make sure they know who they are dealing with – and if the deal they are offered sounds to good to be true – that’s because it was too good to be true.
The following individuals have been charged:
Paul DiNardo (52 yrs) of Burlington, charged with Fraud Over $5000 (two counts); Money Laundering (two counts); Possession of Proceeds of Crime (two counts). Presently in custody next court date April 13th 2012
Rita DiNardo (64 yrs) of Milton is charged with Fraud Over $5000; Money Laundering, Possession of Proceeds of Crime. Next court date April 23rd 2012
Danny DeMelo (43 yrs) of Milton is charged with Fraud Over $5000, Money Laundering, Possession of Proceeds of Crime, Next Court date April 23rd 2012
Steven John Hill (52 yrs) of Burlington is charged with Fraud Over $5000, Money Laundering, Possession of Proceeds of Crime. He is presently in custody next court date April 12th 2012
Anyone with information that would assist in this investigation or other persons who may have been victimized are asked to contact Detective Constable Mallinson, Regional Fraud Unit, 905 825-4747 x8740, Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes).
 By Gerry Visca
BURLINGTON, ON April 10, 2012 Gerry Visca, an inspirational speaker who works out of Hamilton and has presented to the Burlington Economic development Corporation luncheons and worked with numerous people in the city on developing their personal brand.
He is always intrigued by the unique differences between entrepreneurs that succeed and those that cease to exist. In his book, The Innovation Gap® he set out ten creative laws designed to cultivate creativity in life and business. In this article Visca expands on creative law No.5 Building the Brand Experience. Visca will tell anyone who will listen that if you are not being seen then you’re not being heard.
Buzz, bzzzzz buzz.
 Visca, an internationally recognized inspirational speaker, has been helping people build their personal brand for more than five years. It’s about generating momentum and driving clients and customers to your hive. Strive to create a culture of brand ambassadors dedicated to shouting you from the roof tops. Do whatever it takes to get the word out, but do it with impact. Tease your market with a strategies like: ‘Its coming’, be focused on creating market awareness. Remember the incredible frenzy generated around Apple launch of the iPad in 2010? Over 300,000 were sold on the first day. The strategy deployed by Apple was deliciously simple: ‘Tell the world we don’t have enough and use the media to spread the word’. Build buzz, means you need to try something new that you haven`t already done.
Visca is a huge fan of guerilla and buzz marketing techniques with the intent to impact your audience with blasts of shock power. A great example: the launch of the season finale of The Soprano’s. Over 5,000 yellow cabs in New York had an arm hanging out from the trunk with a pinky ring and a yellow label that simply read: Sopranos – Season Finale.
I love getting into the trenches with my clients and helping them live their brand. A great hands on example of BUZZ marketing is one of my past large-scale construction clients and how they won the building of the ROM Crystal in Toronto. They delivered their bid in an ancient style crate, a replica of ‘raiders of the lost arc’. My client filled the arc with straw, ancient artifacts and a leather-bound proposal with tea stained edges. The overall impression was one of passion and dedication in winning the contract. t.
Believe – and let them `feel` your belief.
You have to move yourself though the fear and recognize that fear and doubt are simply energy. Recognize that energy flows where your attention goes so a great way to move through the fear is to create. Work your plan and continue taking action. Affirm every day that you have created what you desire most. Believe it is possible for you and allow it to flow into your life. If you’re not passionate about your brand then you will not have enough power to create an engaging experience.
You are the queen bee of your brand and the conductor of your life so shout it out to the world with powerful intention. Ask yourself; ‘How do I or we want to be perceived? Strive to create ‘sticky strategies’ that project you to the world with confidence, passion and enthusiasm. Project yourself as average and you’ll never stand out from the competition or get your message to stick to the minds of your target audience.
Get them to `belong` to you.
I love the words; ‘Together we’re better’. The power of collaboration is key to building momentum and getting your message to buzz across multiple channels with greater impact. Within the mathematics of collaboration {1 + 1 = 11}. Belonging is about striving to cultivate an inspired colony around your brand. It’s about cross pollinating with the many and cultivating a culture of initiation. Recognize that the sum of the parts work together to create a coherent whole. There are many great examples of top brands that strive to create communities around their brand; Lulu Lemon, Facebook, YouTube, Apple, Nike and one of my favorites Starbucks. The genesis of the Starbucks brand stems from a movement focused on ‘creating a third place’.
Be Brief,
How many times have you participated in a networking session where you are asked to give a 30 second pitch on you or your business? Did you panic or had you mastered the art of being brief? If you want a sure way to kill your brand, just continue driving 500 word mission statements to your audience.
The way that you marketed several years ago is no longer relevant in today’s swarm of viral messaging. Being Brief is about say more with less. A great way to engage your target market is focusing on your why. Ask yourself; ‘Why do we exist? What pain are we taking away from our clients? How are we being of service to the world?
Its questions like these that help you communicate like a champion and stand out. Use your instinct when being brief and focus reach the sensing and feeling side of your target audience. Those hearing your words will rarely remember what you said however they will recall the feeling that they had. Strive to be brief and focus on the essence of your brand’s purpose. When delivered in this way you will be powerfully perceived as sweet nectar to your audience.
Bang, bang!
 Visca wisdom: if you are not being seen then you’re not being heard. The fifth B in the killer B’s of branding is titled bang. When I’m asked to deliver an inspirational key note I strive to put on the ultimate show. When I first launched my inspirational tour back in 2009, I branded my full day workshops as Branding Boot Camps® and received praise for inspiring people out of their seats to create their lives.
I wanted to deliver a feeling of inspiration at multiple levels. Making a bang with your brand is about learning how to fail, fail again and eventually fail better. If you’re not trying new things then you are not making a strong enough impact with your customers. You need to ask yourself; ‘Are my current strategies making enough impact on my audience?
Am I continually raising the bar in everything I do? Am I communicating like a master and getting my message out with passion and enthusiasm? Successful leaders continually seek new and innovative ways to create a surge of momentum around their brands. Making a bang with your brand is about standing out, participating, leaning in and raising your hand.
Gerry Visca is a “brand developer” who can be found at www.redchairbranding.com He is focused on igniting the inner genius that lies deep within individuals.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON April 5, 2012 –Ontario Ministry of the Environment staff have identified the product that polluted Sheldon Creek earlier this week as well as the company that let the pollutant into the water – guess what – it was a company that deals with produces materials for the treatment of water and wastewater. Ouch!
Samples of the spilled material have been analyzed by the ministry laboratory and identified as aluminum chloride hydroxide sulphate, which is used in the treatment of drinking water. The source of the spill has been identified as ControlChem Canada Ltd., located on John Lucas Drive which is where Environment ministry officials believed the spill originated from – the just didn’t know which company was the source.
Ministry officials have inspected the creek and the water is now running clear.
Scott Stewart, the big guy at city hall who knows how to get to the root of a problem commented on the way his staff handled the problem when it was first reported. “The response from the team on site was text-book ideal,” said Stewart, general manager of community services. “Roads and parks maintenance staff were on site immediately and helped the Ministry of the Environment contain the spill in a quick and efficient manner.”
 Sheldon Creek took on a milky look earlier in the week when a pollutant was found to be in the water. Water is now running clear.. The ministry is requiring the company to take measures to prevent future spills. This matter has also been referred to the ministry’s investigations and enforcement branch to determine if charges are warranted. This is what you call a public relations disaster.
Halton Public Health has indicated the public can return to the area. As always, residents are reminded to wash hands with soap and water before eating or handling food after coming in contact with creek water or any untreated water in general. Untreated water may contain E. coli bacteria, which is found in the intestines and feces of warm blooded animals.
 On its web site ControlChem states:
Our concern for the environment is so serious, we have committed to an Environmental Management System that is certified in meeting the requirements of ISO14001.
The Environment is an important consideration when planning or arranging your facility’s water treatment program. In a corporate situation, one should be considering Due Diligence and Sustainable Development issues as they relate to your Company, Management, Employees and other Stakeholders.
ControlChem has recognized these issues as very important for now and the future. We have invested heavily to achieve our ISO 14001 Environmental Registrations.
They can now invest in some legal talent to manage their conversations with the Ministry’s Enforcement branch.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON April 5, 2012 An exceptionally successful fund manager couldn’t decide which she wanted to be when she went to university; a business person or a lawyer. Her Dad asked which she wanted to do: write the cheques or ask for the cheque. I want to write the cheques the woman decided and she became an entrepreneur. Her Father explained that lawyers ask for cheques – business people write cheques.
Burlington lawyer Rick Burgess, a former candidate for the office of Mayor has decided that he just might be able to have it both ways by putting on a seminar for entrepreneurs ” like you”.
Burgess points out that entrepreneurs start their company with a great idea and work many, long hours to build a successful company. They have a few successes. They also make costly mistakes that could have been avoided if they had known what the experts Burgess has assembled have known for some time
Burgess believes that time, money and frustration can be saved if you have the right information before you start and he has put together a seminar at which you can gain that valuable insight.
Burgess wants to:
Let our panel of experts and colleagues share with you how to avoid costly, common mistakes entrepreneurs make at different stages in their business. They have seen it before and can help you identify future opportunities so that you are better prepared to meet those challenges.
The panel will discuss:
• Getting Started Right
• Managing Growth
• Preparing for Times of Crisis
• Planning Your Exit Strategy
Come and join this interactive panel discussion. Learn how to take advantage of the opportunities these milestones create. Turn the unexpected into opportunities with the help of our experts and other entrepreneurs like yourself.
The Panel of Experts includes:
Richard Burgess. BA (Honours), LLB, Burgess Law Office Professional Corporation
Doug Gowman, HBA, CFP, Investment Advisor and Financial Planner, RBC Dominion Securities
Greg Clarke, BCom., CA, Partner SB Partners
Stan Lang, Senior Account Manager, RBC Royal Bank (Halton)
Doug Robbins, President, Robbinex Business Intermediaries
Spaces are limited to 25 attendees per meeting to allow for participation and discussions. Please register early to avoid disappointment. If you have any questions please contact Kristine at 905.523.7510 x217.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON April 5, 2012 When federal Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty announced that the copper penny we all use was going to go out of production in the fall and suggested those of us that have jars of the things in the house should donate them to charity there wasn’t a charitable organization in the country that didn’t go into “get creative fast” mode real quick.
 Fill this house with pennies so that Habitat for Humanity Halton can build a home for someone that works hard but just can't afford what's on the market today. Halton’s Habitat for Humanity seems to be the first out of the gate in this neck of the woods with announcement of their plan to collect 10 million pennies so they can build a Habitat house. Ten million pennies equates to $100,000 which will go a long way to paying for the building of a house. They want to have the pennies in hand by the end of May.
You’re invited to drop off your unwanted pennies and help Habitat for Humanity Halton fill a house to build a home at the Habitat ReStore located at 1800 Appleby Line, Unit 10 or at any branch of Prosperity ONE Credit Union in Halton Region.
The store on Appleby Line is open Monday to Wednesday and Friday 9am-6pm • Thursday 9am-8pm • Saturday 9am-5pm
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON April 4, 2012 He did it again and plans on yet another run at a Business in Burlington Meet Up – one of these social media things where you learn on line about an event, register so they know what the count is going to be and you show up.
James Burchill drew 175 people with a pocket full or business cards into a large room at the back of The Beaver and Bulldog at the Waterfront hotel where they all assiduously worked the room. A cynic would think the event was funded by the business card printing industry.
You know the event is popular when the politicians show up – the Mayor decided he needed to get a look at social media up close and personal like and – well you know what happened – the people who wanted to bend his ear headed towards him like a sucker seeing a plump thigh in a swampy bit of water.
 Good crowd at the fourth Business in Burlington Meet up - politicians have moved in - good sign? Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward was on hand – she doesn’t hand out business cards but say your first and your last name and she has her smart phone out keying in the essential data and you’re on her list – which is not a bad place to be – she puts out the best Newsletter from a politician in this town.
It’s two hours out of your life and if networking matters to you – and it should if you’re going to grow whatever it is you are up to these days, then Business in Burlington is the place to be. Google the name and you’ll get James Burchill and his smiling face. James does send out a lot of email – so be prepared for that. It was by working social media that he made this happen.
The question I had as I walked to my car was – OK, now what? Burchill holds the event and I did meet a lot of people and I was able to get some face time with someone I have been wanting to chat up for some time but wasn’t able to land on his radar screen. Are these things going to become a bit like Rotary minus the doing anything for someone else? The age spectrum ran from early 30’s to the sixtyish set with no one demographic dominating.
What was pleasant to see was the diversity in the audience – you don’t see the same mix in the public sector.
Where does this go? Beats me – not something I would plan on doing every month but if you wanted to dip into the small business entrepreneur crowd – this was the place to be. Could the Chamber of Commerce develop membership with this crowd?
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON April 2, 2012 The flyer reproduced below was handed out at the Mayor`s Economic development luncheon last week where a group of students from different Burlington schools listened to an invigorating speaker who buzzed the crowd with a solid presentation of information bombardment.
 Not exactly inclusive or all that "politically correct is it? There was a certain irony to a presentation on information and a flyer that surely gave the wrong information to the audience
The Halton District School Board was one of the sponsors of the event and were entitled to have some of their promotional material put out on the tables in the room. It wasn’t a pretty picture.
We have people from dozens of countries sharing the community with us and while Burlington is, for the most part, a pretty white community there are many people of colour who have chosen to make Burlington home. They are for the most part quiet and unassuming. We don`t hear a lot from them.
Bringing about a sense of inclusion is not something the private sector is very good at – it is not in their immediate best interests. They don`t avoid changes in the social make up of a community – they just adapt to the change.
The leadership in bringing about more inclusive community has to come from the public sector in its hiring and promotional practices.
The police hire men who wear turbans; the school boards strive to hire teachers who are people of colour who reflect the change taking place in the community.
Thus it was with some surprise and concern that we see a flyer being handed out at an Economic Development luncheon promoting a Pathways program, which in itself appears to be an excellent way to tie the private commercial sector to the educational system. The problem with the flyer was that everyone in the pictures was white – and mostly male. It was as politically incorrect as you can get.
If people of colour and diverse backgrounds do not see themselves in the literature put out by the public sector – it doesn’t take them very long to translate what it means – if you don`t see yourself in the picture it`s because you are not in the picture.
Burlington needs to take another picture.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON,ON March 31, 2012 Nick Bontis, one of the uber prof’s at McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business on the South Service Road in Burlington, told a business audience that there are currently 2.1 billion IP addresses in the world that has a population of 7 billion when Nick last counted.
An IP address is the unique address given to your computer when it goes out into the internet.
The premise of the presentation Bontis was giving is that if you think you are being bombarded with more email than you can manage now – get ready for the tidal wave, because we are about to have mail from – wait for it – your car, your refrigerator and dozens of other devices that will have a level of computerization built into them
 Bontis told an Economic Development network meeting how to prepare for information bombardment. Bontis is energetic, speaks faster than anyone I’ve ever heard and still be understood. He is certainly informed and while there is a big entertainment quotient to what he does – he makes his point and explains where changes have been made in the way we communicate and suggests what we are going to have to do to cope with the change that is already on its way.
For those who can’t cope or don’t want to cope with the change Bontis doesn’t suggest a cave somewhere but he doesn’t seem to have any other option for them. But let’s be optimistic and go with the flow Bontis creates.
Here is a scenario he painted for the audience at the Burlington Economic Development Corporation’s Mayor’s I “Imagine-Ignite-Innovate” luncheon series.
You’re driving along in your car and the car talks to you – “running a little low on gas – the lowest price ahead is $1.27 a litre – GPS has you three minutes away.”
Seconds later the fridge calls and says: “If you’re turning in for gas cross the road when you come out and pick up three litres of milk – none left in the fridge and the price is very good. GPS has you just a minute or two away.”
You come away from the gas station with a full tank, the milk is in the cooler in the trunk and as you drive north the GPS pipes in and tells you “ there has been an accident three minutes away” and gives you two alternate routes to avoid the traffic delay. You make a left turn and you’re passing a mall and Holt Renfrew calls to say “there is a very good deal on a jacket that will go very well with the slacks you bought a month earlier” and then photo shops a picture of you in your slacks with the jacket they are suggesting you buy and puts the image up on the small screen in the car – when you are at a stop light -and then advise you that “you have enough points in your Holt Loyalty card to get the jacket for next to nothing.”
That’s the world Dr. Nick Bontis sees coming our way – and he should know – he teaches graduate students at McMaster on just how to do this. All the pieces to put an information flow like this exist today and some of them are already in place and operational – and it will be privacy be damned,
Bontis made another strong point – 80% of the world’s population speaks, read and writes either Hindu, Chinese and Arabic – “which we don’t understand. And we are arrogant enough to think that if it wasn’t thought about in English or written up in English then it isn’t important. We are letting a lot of information and ideas get away on us.”
Yet another point made with his audience (this guy delivers value for money) was that time wasn’t the thing that was scarce – it is our “attention span” that is scarce. How much attention span do you have – can you increase that span?
Like any good prof there was homework and a quick quiz. Bontis gave out a link to his web site with a special extension for the people at the BEDC luncheon. How many people actually clicked on the link? If you missed noting it: Here you go – www.nickbontis.com/BEDC.htm
How do we deal with the massive flow of data? We create sort acronyms that convey information: BYOB, LOL, FYI, FTE – there are thousands of the things that allow us to communicate faster.
Bontis explains that we have to learn how to work “smarter” and that means controlling the flow of information that comes to us.
If the rate at which you read is the average of 200 words per minute (I could have written WPM) and you use acronyms like FTE for Full Time equivalent – you’ve just goosed the rate at which you read. The kids have taught us how to do this – they know the direction things are going in. Do you?
Google Alerts – use them says Bontis, one of the most popular prof’s in the country and you just know after five minutes with this guy that the students love him.
Training and development – critical says the prof. He uses the formula T&D/FTE – which will tell you how much money a corporation spends on training and developing its staff. When looking for a job says the prof, look for a company with a high T&D/FTE ratio – you know you’re going to get grown there.
Given that information is coming at us a tonne at a time Bontis tells you – learn to read faster. And you can learn to read faster he assures you.
 Dr. Nick Bontis explains how we can begin to deal with the information bombardment coming our way. While email is a great way to communicate – it will never replace face to face. “Bontis tells of the boss he had while he was in the securities business who told him: “I want you to take someone out for lunch every day. That way you will build up a network that will serve you very well in the future.
And, he added, don’t forget alumni. Remember the people you used to work with, or the people who once worked for the company you are with now. They have all kinds of institutional knowledge that is available to you – especially over lunch.
During the BEDC luncheon Mayor Goldring made mention that Gillian Sheldon was leaving the organization after eight years. He wished her well on the new direction she was taking. Gillian was the longest serving staffer at the BEDC – when she goes out the door a lot, if not all, of the institutional memory goes with her. Will the BEDC head honchos do a solid exit interview with her and keep in touch or will they sulk over losing a good one and lose touch.
Bontis has a number of goodies on his web site. If you want to extend the value of the fifty bucks or so you spent for that lunch, create a Google Alert and keep in touch with this guy. Begin an email relationship with the guy – he wants one with you. www.nickbontis.com
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON March 30, 2012 Somewhere around 5:00 pm, March 29th, 2012 the Ministry of the Environment was alerted to an unknown chemical spill in the Sheldon Creek area at Sherwood Forest Park in the City of Burlington.
What the makeup of the spill is – not known yet, but the team on sight managing the problem believes the spill originated from the area of John Lucas Drive. The chemical in the water has yet to be identified however the Halton Regional Police Service, Ministry of the Environment and the City of Burlington are urging residents and their pets to stay clear of the waterway until the Ministry is able to determine the nature of the chemical and the possible potential dangers.
 A chemical spill into the Sheldon Creek has resulted in the watercourse being cordoned off from John Lucas Drive to Sherwood Forest Park. The contaminated area of Sheldon Creek has been cordoned off from John Lucas Drive to Sherwood Forest Park and it is believed that this is the only affected area. The Ministry of the Environment, City of Burlington and NEWALTA Environmental Services are actively treating the waterway and surrounding embankments.
At 2:30 am police report that the experts on site believe this is the only affected area. The Ministry of the Environment, City of Burlington and NEWALTA Environmental Services are actively treating the waterway and surrounding embankments.
Cities across Ontario have well-rehearsed protocols for handling situations like these and contractors are on standby to move in with spill cleanup equipment. The Ministry of the Environment and their chemical investigators are on site as well attempting to determine what the chemical is and where it came from.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON March 30, 2012 It’s tough getting the respect you think you deserve. Dave Miller, Executive Director Sound of Music (SOM) Festival seems to find himself facing hurdle after hurdle. It started with city council committee rejecting the SOM request for an additional $34,000 spread out over two years – $17,000 each year.
Miller delegated at two committee meetings and a council meeting and while he came close the best he could do was a “we will work with you on this for the 2013 budget”. Miller limped away resolved to do the best he could with what he did have.
At a council committee meeting last night, Wednesday, Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward commented that some of the material in the Festival and Events report that was being discussed would have had an impact on the budget discussion if it had been available. Staff agreed that it was unfortunate that the information in the report had not been made available to people just as soon as it was known rather than wait until it was published in a report. It is not immediately clear just what was in the report discussed last night that could have significantly changed the budget discussions.
 Two of the more than 125 Sound of Music volunteers driving in stakes as they set up for Sound of Music. While not getting the funding he felt SOM had actually earned left Miller with a hard case of indigestion, it was water under the bridge; he had more important issues to deal with. He learns that the fire department doesn’t want him to use the East Lawn – that space on the Waterfront to the east of the “in progress” pier construction. Two years ago the SOM people added a “community stage” and was in the process of building up this feature. SOM also had plans to move the “bike coral” to this area – that’s the place where people with bicycles can tie up their “wheels”.
Being told that the fire department didn’t want the SOM people in that area because it would impede their ability to get in if there was a fire. Miller takes a deep breath and meets on the East Lawn with people from the fire department and they look around and decide – no problem – you can be here.
Miller wonders why he gets told that he can’t use the space but when he chases after the people who make the decisions they tell him – it’s OK. So the East Lawn will be used by SOM in 2012. Those that take in events on that side of the waterfront will get an up front and personal look at the construction of The Pier.
Feeling that he has put out one fire Miller turns around ready to press on and then learns that the parking the SOM has rented for many years is not going to be available in 2012.
SOM rents 110 spaces in the parking garage on Lotus Street. “We used that space for our sponsors and vendors who need to be as close as possible to the venue.” Miller says he put in his application last September and asked for 140 spaces this year. The response – you can’t have 140 spaces – in fact you can’t have any space in the Lotus Street garage – but we can give you space in two different parking lots in the area.
Miller doesn’t understand what has changed. And he doesn’t understand why he is told now that he can’t have the parking spots. “They could have called me in for a conversation last September.” Miller wants to know what’s changed and “who is making all these decisions that are really hurting the event we run”.
Miller points out that the Sound of Music Festival has won awards for the past ten years on being one of the top two events in the province; one that Miller maintains contributes $4 million to the Burlington economy. And the event is free to anyone who wants to walk down to Spencer Smith Park on those nice easy going summer evenings in early June.
To add insult to injury Miller tells people that Hamilton almost showers the events in their community with funding. The Crawl – an increasingly popular event on North James Street in Hamilton that has the public visiting dozens of art galleries in the area. The Crawl got more for their event than SOM was asking for from the city.
 Hugely popular music event running into static and facing hurdle after hurdle, Line up for 2012 will be announced early in May. Something has gone amiss with the relationship between the city and an event that is hugely successful from any metric you use to measure. The SOM was originally a city run event and when it got too big for city hall staff to handle it got spun off to a non-profit. Miller has been with the event since his early days as a volunteer.
Heading up an operation with more than 125 volunteers, the organization draws tens of thousands to the city, Miller works from his kitchen table and uses space at city hall when they have to hold a meeting. This is an outfit that is very skinny in terms of staff and facilities – everything goes into the event.
On the surface it would appear the Sound of Music Festival deserves more and better consideration.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON March 29, 2012 The first hint came when the city manager said: “This might not be the best model for the organization. The Burlington Economic Development Corporation is currently an arm’s length one and they have a specific mandate and we have to decide if that is the mandate it should have and then determine how well it is being met.
The comments were made during a Special Council meeting that had the words “Board of Directors” at the top of an Agenda rather than the words City Council.
 Kyle Benham, Executive Director, Burlington Economic Development Corporation. Thinking through a Prosperity Index. Burlington Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Kyle Benham was explaining how his organization works with the different economic sectors to keep an eye open for new business opportunities for the city as well as keeping in touch with those already here and growing. With a Strategic Plan in place that calls for a prosperous community – Benham and his crew are expected to kick in and be a large part of creating that prosperity. So far it hasn’t worked and many are wondering if the city manager might have a point – the model we are using may not be quite right.
There hasn’t been a major new business brought to the city for some time, and worse, several we may have had a chance with that got away on us. There doesn’t seem to be a solid, credible program in place to attract people to this city.
When Money Sense magazine declared Burlington was the 2nd best city in the country to live in the BEDC put out a special press release labelled Important Announcement! That seems to be the level at which the organization works; putting out press release “full of sound and fury but signifying nothing”. Many realize that the Money Sense “listing” is a public relations game and not something that one takes seriously or builds a marketing campaign on.
Mayor Goldring however is going to trot out that listing every opportunity he gets – he did it today at the networking luncheon.
Earlier in the day that Benham delivered his presentation the city’s Auditor, Sheila Jones, had given the meeting a solid explanation as to just what her job was and what she wasn’t there to do. While most tend to see auditors as people who count the money and make sure it was spent properly and then, as Councillor Blair Lancaster commented: “They tell you what you can and cannot do.” Jones explained that auditors do much more than that. We will tell the Jones story in more detail on another occasion – it’s impressive and if followed through on Burlington will see a much more professional level of accountability.
The BEDC is in an awkward situation. The model they work within has them holding events to raise much of their revenue. The organization is reported to raise more than 55% of its revenue through various events it holds which range from the four Imagine, Ignite, Innovate Luncheons which are known generically as the Mayor’s Networking Series. Then there are the two Economic Outlook Breakfasts and the Signature event – the Entrepreneur of the Year Celebration which is really more of a Lifetime Achievement Award.
These events suck up much of the available staff time and many wonder if these events are really a meeting of the mandate – which is to bring new business to Burlington. Each of the events are good networking occasions – but just how many networking events does the business community need each year and isn’t this something the Chamber of Commerce is already doing?
With PROSPERITY a key word in the Strategic Plan it was felt it would be useful to have a Prosperity Index that would pull together a collection of reliable data that would, in an instant, tell business people how the city was doing economically. Benham struggled with explanations as to how such an index would be put together; one didn’t get the sense that we were going to see anything useful very soon.
 There is development taking place but too much of it is public sector development that creates jobs until the task is done - doesn't create long term well paying jobs - and that is what economic development is all about. In one part of the presentation Benham asked: “What are the key objectives of an Index? And then went on to list the following: Common Focus on Strategic Objectives, Greater Accountability, High Performance Governance, Evidence based decision making.
These are first year commerce student platitudes. An Index is a measure. Show how many widgets were made last month and how many were made this month and ask why the difference. And did we manage to sell the widgets we made.
These are the questions and answers the manufacturers along Mainway want and it is what they are entitled to from an organization in place to aid in the development of the local economy. It isn’t an easy job. Everyone out there realizes that manufacturing as we have known it in Ontario is a thing of the past. And everyone wants those high paying, high tech, clean jobs. Those jobs will go to the community that offers the most to the companies looking for a place to live and a place to grow – and they aren’t all that impressed with a sign that says -We are the 2nd best place to live in the country.
Economic development may indeed be more efficiently and effectively delivered if it is run from City Hall.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON March 19, 2012 – Gerry Visca, an inspirational speaker takes the view that each of us has a brand and we can advance our personal interests, our job prospects and career aspirations if we define, refine and promote our individual brand.
Visca works with people who want to create their own brand. Among people he has worked with is a woman who is a “divorce coach”. She created a brand and works with people going through a divorce. These assignments are short term but very focused and intense. The Divorce Coach explained that people going through a divorce don’t have much in the way of a skill set to fall back on for what is a very emotionally traumatic experience for both men and women. A person needs access to very specific skills that are experienced in the world of managing ones way through a divorce.
 Gerry Visca turns a skill set into a brand. Brands, according to Visca are not just for the big names. He asks: “Ever wonder why certain brands like Amazon, Nike, Apple and Starbucks generate incredible momentum and buzz while other ones like Nokia find themselves standing still? There isn’t what I refer to as a culture of initiation driving their momentum. What I mean by that is there isn’t a culture of starting, raising your hand, speaking out, leaning forward, screwing up and learning from it.”
Well, let’s let Gerry Visca tell his own story.
The role of your brand in the lives of your client’s is more important today than ever before. I want you to view your brand as an invisible aura of meaning and emotion, a living entity if you will with the ability to create choice, build trust and establish loyalty. One of my goals as a branding expert in Canada is to help my clients ‘inspire to action’ and kick start a strong foundation by creating a culture of initiation within their brand experience. There is something special about getting out there and being recognized for taking action. Ask yourself the following questions right now as you contemplate building a culture of initiation: How can we stand out? How can we engage our target audience? The two key elements in those questions stem from the art of differentiation and meaningful engagement. Too often I see the start of what can be an incredible branding platform only to then witness a leader pulling back and pumping the breaks. The following are tips designed to help you build a culture of initiation within your brand:
Adapt to whatever changes the marketplace throws at you.
Design marketing strategies that stir a sense of emotion Why? To connect emotionally with your audience. A great example of this is ‘Coca-Cola’s Celebration Mix’ – a remix of previously unknown Somali Canadian artist K’Naan’s song “Waving Flag’ – became the unofficial anthem of the World Cup which made a powerful impact on individuals at the event. It resulted in more than 13 million web site hits. Worth looking at. hits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTJSt4wP2ME)
Understanding the behavior of your brand will help you lay a stronger foundation for your marketing efforts going forward. Another great tactic is using feedback with your clients and weaving their insights into your practices. Think of creating brand ambassadors with your key clients by making them a part of your process.
Create something that connects and your story will travel faster than ever before.
Visca runs a Branding Boot Camps® and claims it became a world-class product that brought him to the point where his reputation became international.
Visca has been an inspirational speaker at Burlington Economic Development lunches where he had everyone in the room on their feet hugging each other. For Burlington – THAT is inspirational.
You can reach Gerry Visca at gerry@redchairbranding.com
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON March 20, 2012 Spencer Campbell grew up in Burlington and lives here now. He’s done some amazing things but it is his latest initiative that you might want to hear about. Keep the words TEDx Burlington in mind and you might want to reserve May 27th for a possible outing.
TED stands for a Technology, Entertainment, Design. It is a known as a group that pulls together people who have Ideas Worth Spreading and Campbell is bringing a version of that program to Burlington. The local version is called TEDxBurlington.
 TED'x's have been held all around the world - Waterloo Ontario recently held a TEDx - now Burlington. TED is an international organization created to get people talking about ideas and then spreading those ideas as far and as wide as possible and then putting them on a web site. It is a non-profit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences — the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh UK each summer — TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site.
TED has thousands of filmed talks from the likes of Sir Richard Branson, Bill Clinton, Jane Goodall, astronomers / physicists to philosophers/performers to many, many less known but just as inspirational speakers. The intent is to get highly motivated speakers –those who are professional and those who are not – from various walks of life to share their personal passion on issues that matter for audience discussion.
The TEDx program gives communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level. TEDx events are planned and coordinated independently.
 Spencer Campbell, entrepreneur and Burlington resident is heading up the group bringing a TEDx event to the city. Spencer Campbell is bringing TEDx to Burlington to do the same thing and has so far confirmed four speakers for his May 27th event. Get to TEDxBurlington for more details.
On the platform so far are:
• Dr. Jean Chamberlain – distinguished McMaster Medical Professor and Founder of www.savethemothers.org an organization that focuses on reducing maternal mortality in African developing countries.
• Patrick O’Neill – CEO of www.extraordinary conversations.com a leadership expert who has been involved with the Middle Eastern Peace Process
• Michael Jones – a Juno nominate Pianist who will perform during the session and ask us to explore the heart of our own creativity
• Josh Nelson – a childhood cancer survivor. Three years ago Josh asked the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride cycling team to ride for him until the day he could ride with them. Two years ago Spencer Campbell cycled with 41 others across Canada in 15 days to raise more than $1.5M for childhood cancer patient needs – Josh joined them from Woodstock to Toronto. He gave an incredibly moving speech when they stopped in Burlington. Last year Josh cycled – from Vancouver to Halifax.
• Scott Graham – author, sought after speaker who focuses on helping kids develop character, confidence and budding leadership.
• Trish Barbato – author, inspirer and career planning expert
 TEDx events have taken place in cities around the world. The advent of a TEDx in a city is usually a sign that it has grown up and has an engaged informed population. TEDx Burlington will take place in the Community Studio at the Performing Arts Centre. Each speaker gets a maximum of 16 minutes. The event runs from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm with a reception after the event at Thinkspot!, a three minute walk from the Performing Arts Centre.
The event is limited to 100 thinkers/doers/humanists. All the “talks” are videotaped and streamed online.
Campbell feels Burlington is ready for a TED event. They do tie in nicely with Mayor Goldring’s Inspire series where experts in different fields come to the city to engage the community in subjects that relate directly to Burlington.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON March 17, 2012 There are rumblings on the waterfront – people at Conservation Halton along with people at city hall were getting frustrated with the pace – actually the lack of any pace, with the development slated for the Riviera Motel site on Lakeshore Road currently zoned to hold two seven storey buildings and a 22 storey tower – but nothing is happening.
 Looking from the eastern end of the Mayrose Tycom property you see the Riviera Motel that will get torn down, with the unfinished Pier in the background and the walkway at the edge of the lake. The set back the Conservation authority is threatening to invoke would relate to this area. The Waterfront Access and Advisory Committee was given an update last week on a project that got approved back in 1994 – that was seventeen years ago. The critical piece of information in the update was that the Conservation Halton people put the developer on notice that “development of the property must proceed by the end of 2012 or else the new Ontario Regulation 162/06 will take effect, increasing the required shoreline set back.” Ouch!
Set back means less space for the developer. Less space to develop translates into less height and less height means less density, which then translates into fewer condo units that can be built and that comes down to the number of dollars in sales. And dollars is what development is all about. As Albert Facenda put it during a delegation to Council, “when a developer can tear down one building and put up two buildings in the same space, that’s pure gold”. A few weeks later Facenda got appointed to the Burlington Heritage Advisory Committee. Facenda didn’t manage to get to the first meeting he was entitled to attend as a full member.
 This is the beginning of a pathway on the east side of the Mayrose Tycon property where a pathway leads to the waters edge The Pier is visible in the background with the Riviera Motel showing as well. The plan for what is known as the Mayrose Tycon project, that exists on paper, and perhaps in the heart of an architect somewhere, was to have a hotel at street level – along the south side of Lakeshore Road. Behind the hotel and closer to the lake would be a 7 story condo and to the west of both buildings there would be a condo/mixed uses building that would soar 22 storeys into the air and completely obliterate the view for the folks across the street, who paid big dollars for the condos they own.
The design was to have an open space from Lakeshore Road down to the lake and there was talk of an open garden area but there isn’t a site plan for anyone to look at so no one knows what we are going to see down there.
There is a pathway down the east side of the property that will give access to the walkway that is now in place. This will eventually connect up to the lawns in front of the Beaver and the Bulldog which is at the base of the existing Waterfront Hotel, which is next to Pier, that will go into its final phase of development in the Spring. The end result, if we ever get there, will be an even nicer stretch along the water-front that will allow walking from the canal in the west to what is basically the bottom of Martha Street.
 The football shaped piece of property seen from the west end with Lakeshore road on the left and Old Lakeshore Road on the right. It is adjacent to the Mayrose Tycon property. Lovely idea – but there has been no development at the Riviera site. The most recent flurry of activity was the trade the city made for a spot of land where the existing Lakeshore Road and the Old Lakeshore Road meet. The city exchanged land they own for a public pathway right along the water’s edge – that gave the developer a better shaped piece of property to develop and the city got ownership of a strip of land along the edge of the water.
Chatter amongst the people who know something of what`s taking place development wise was that the Minto Group were talking to the Mayrose Tycon people about developing the lands that had been assembled but nothing seems to have come of that. The thinking was for some kind of high end condo development but the Minto people who certainly know how to build and operate high end condos was that the market wouldn’t support the thinking.
Delta Hotels were reported to be talking to Mayrose Tycon about a hotel – but the economy had not yet come out of the doldrums that American mortgage market greed put the world economy into – so that didn’t come to pass. Mayrose Tycon, the company that assembled the property, now wants to find someone to develop and finally get a return to the very patient investors who are reported to be Austrian.
Both the city planning department and most members of city council are getting frustrated and kind of fed up with the delays. Mayrose Tycon has zoning along the waterfront that they would not be able to get today given the changed view of the way the waterfront should be developed. At the time, back in 1995, the thinking was that the city needed a landmark development and a 22 storey tower would certainly be a landmark – so Council at the time went along with the proposal.
 The Riviera Motel and the land to the right of it plus a bit to the left of this picture would house two seven storey buildings plus a 22 storey tower. The pathway seen here was built by the developer in exchange for some land along the edge of Lakeshore Road. The property was the only commercial waterfront land in the downtown and was to house a landmark building with continuity on the waterfront trail and a strong urban design. The Official Plan designation set the maximum footprint for the taller building at 600m2
At the time the lands had an H for hold designation – that got removed when a shoreline Environmental Assessment was completed. The shoreline protection features and a public walkway were approved in 2000 with construction to begin in 2004. Believe it or not a Fisheries Act Permit was needed and granted – it was valid until December of 2004.
Zoning for the lands that was proposed to be amended in 1999 lapsed when conditions were not met. It came back to Council in April of 2004 when the heights were taken to the current 22, 7 and 7 storey buildings. They were originally 30, 7 and 7 with vehicle access to a center courtyard. Neighborhood meetings were held in February and April of 2005.
There were meetings with Conservation Halton in 2005. At that time Conservation Authority regulations did not apply to the shore line of Lake Ontario. Conservation Halton evaluated the shoreline protection works and provided positive comments to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The shoreline protection work was completed in 2004/5 at a cost of approximately $2 million.
Required zoning was approved in June 2006 for a design that included:
A 22 story tower with 100 units
A 7 story tower with 50 units
A 7 storey hotel
2,270 m2 of ground floor commercial space
A publicly accessible center courtyard with a water feature and stairs to the lake
188 residential plus 272 non-residential parking spaces
A narrow floor plate for the 22 story building
All this was approved subject to:
A cash in lieu of parkland payment
An agreement of purchase and sale for land exchange.
Section 41 and Section 37 Planning Act Agreements being signed.
The H (Holding) designation requires land acquisition, utility planning, Record of Site Condition and wind study to be completed before it can be removed.
All this was done and the implementing by-law was approved by Council on June 15, 2009.
Can you see …
You can see where all this is going. The rules and regulations that apply to this site and this development are getting stiffer and more stringent, which puts the developer in a bit of a bind. You can expect the developer to be hiring planners, lawyers or other advocates to plead for the time and other considerations needed to get this project done.
 Mayor Goldring has an opportunity to show a different kind of leadership and take the city in a direction former Mayor MacIsaac wasn't able to take it. He has a very full plate with the Pier, which is now under control, the hospital that isn't under control, the Beachway which has all kinds of potential and then the Mayrose Tycon property and the Old Lakeshore Precinct. Well since 2009 The Pier took over the front pages and while it has cost us a bundle, it will become the landmark the city has been looking for – and The Pier is at least being built.
When the Conservation people served their notice on Mayrose Tycon they were upping the anti and telling Mayrose Tycon that if you don`t do something by the end of December you will be subject to a bigger set back from the edge of the lake – which could be as much as 15 to 20 feet. That means the developer has less land to build on – and the last thing a develop wants is to tangle with regulators, especially Conservation people.
The Mayrose Tycon people have been given more than a handful of breaks and the city along with the Conservation people want to see some movement. This is certainly putting some pressure on the owners of the property but there are other events taking place that have the possibility of the city losing all control over the development of the Old Lakeshore Precinct of the city – which is the land from about Brant Street east to about Martha Street.
 The waterfront file was once THE Councillor Meed Ward domain but she has backed a bit away from this one of late. Within the area there is a piece of land referred to as the football because of its shape. The western tip is currently occupied by a real estate office; that land is owned by a family trust. The eastern tip is now owned by the Carnacelli group that also owns the property on the corner of John and Brant Streets, right opposite city Hall.
Carnacelli also has a property in Hamilton that is under active development – and while developers like to build things they do so only when the economy is favourable to profitable development and right now the economy isn’t capable of absorbing all that the city would like to see developed.
Also developers have to raise the money needed to bring these opportunities on line. The people with money are reluctant to put their money at risk these days.
Has the Burlington market for high end condo`s been maxed out? The city certainly needs class A office space but developers look for a client before they put shovels in the ground and Mayrose hasn’t, at least not to date, managed to find someone who want to locate in Burlington on the edge of the lake.
The developers are now realizing that the different civic authorities they have to deal with do have some clout. The Conservation Authority has basically said to Mayrose Tycon – get a wiggle on.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON March 14, 2012 The Mayor has suddenly become a “social draw”. Last week James Burchill, Burlington’s best mind on social media, held a MeetUp that pulled together 165 people at the Beaver and the Bulldog. It was one of the better local examples of social media making something happen.
The event was made to happen when James Burchill used his LinkedIn account to broadcast a MeetUp. He pumped and promoted like crazy and got a more than decent turnout. Well let’s let Burchill tell his own story about the “happening”. “Last week” gushes Burchill, “our third Business in Burlington networking group MeetUp happened … and boy oh boy did it happen! We figured on getting 100 people to attend but blew through that and ended up with 148 confirmed and 165 finally accounted for.
 Attendees at the March MeetUp “The energy was awesome and people are still buzzing about it. So what’s the scoop today? Simple … it took us 3 weeks to reach 100 RSVP’s last time and about 3 days this time!”
“Yes, we’re well past the two thirds point for the April 4th event and yesterday we confirmed that Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring will be attending to show his support for our networking group.”
“Bottom line, there’s three weeks left until our next networking event and I’d say (if I were a betting man) that we’ll have filled all 150 available spaces before then.”
“Are you in?, asks Burchill. “ Don’t wait. It you want to attend the “hottest networking ticket in town” .
RSVP today
Clearly Burchill is on to something. By using his LinkedIn account and telling his network of the event that network broadcast for him and they all just appeared.
A contributor to Our Burlington mention she was going to attend and asked if she could do a write up on the event for us. She did and we published the piece. Within two hours our analytics were telling us that the 150 some odd people who had attended the event read the article and then passed it along to others. The analytics tell us that about 350 people read the piece. Normally that kind of an article would attract maybe 200 people.
If you’re a business person – what does this mean to the way you sell widgets? How can you use these social media tools to drive people to your web site and then to the point where they buy your product or service?
Burchill hasn’t said how he is going to “monetize” what he is doing. Having a bunch of people who have nothing else to do or who are on the make, show up for an event where they know there will be a crowd of like-minded people isn’t anything new. We all did that at university. What Burchill has done is create a happening for people who for the most part don’t know each other. What happens during his fifth and tenth event? Does the novelty wear off? How many people are there in Burlington that fit the demographic Burchill seems to be drawing?
 Financial planners and insurance agents dream about getting their hands on this many business cards. Did anybody do any business at the March MeetUp? From a business aspect – what Burchill has done is pull those 150 people together at a cost of less than $25. – plus his time. There isn’t a financial planner or an insurance agent who wouldn’t love to know how to make something like this happen for them.
It will be interesting to know how many people learned something they didn’t know about social media due to this event and understand how they can use it. Did anybody do any business? And how many new clients does Burchill now have?
Ivey, the hot new spot out on the South Service Road gave away tickets galore to free offerings at their new establishment and that worked for them. Could a meet up work for them? What is it you have to do to get some kind of a lift off and reach beyond the best 20 or so friends you have?
The politicians seem to be able to make it work for them – why do you think the Mayor is going? He wants to see for himself what the results are and hear what others have to say.
What about you – will you go again and why would you go again? Leave a comment.
The photography is © M.L.Holton 2012 / https://canadadaPHOTOGRAPHY.blogspot.com
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