Ridley Terminals, Prince Rupert, BC – North America’s shortest shipping route to China.

China’s emergence as an economic power and the rapid growth of its manufacturing sector has made it a perfect fit as a customer for goods from British Columbia’s resource sectors.

BC Stats took a look recently at the goods exported from the province. For example, did you know the share of BC’s exports shipped to China has increased seven-fold in the last decade, from just over 2 per cent in 2001 to 14 per cent in 2010.

You may be surprised by a couple of other BC Stats findings presented here in these excerpts from their March 11 feature called “Year in Review: A Change in Direction for BC’s Exports.”

Last year, more than $5.1 billion of coal was shipped from British Columbia to destinations around the world. China has provided a new market for BC’s softwood lumber. BC shipped $668 million worth of lumber to China in 2010. That’s more than double the value shipped a year earlier. The growing Chinese market helped push BC’s overall softwood lumber exports up 29.4 per cent last year. But coal is king where BC exports are concerned. In the last three years, coal has ranked first in terms of goods exported from the province, surpassing softwood lumber shipments.

China’s phenomenal economic growth has also had an impact on the economies of countries around the world, not just that of BC.In the last few years, China has surpassed Canada as the leading source for imported goods into the United States. However, Canada remains the top destination for American goods exports. In terms of two-way trade, Canada kept its position as the top trading partner for the United States in 2010. However, Mainland China has gained significant ground in the last several years and now ranks a close second.

Did You Know?

• BC is wrapping up a week-long forestry trade mission to China this week. A delegation led by Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, is promoting BC wood for sustainable housing in China.
• Flickr photo set. Have a look at an energy-efficient wood-frame apartment building, a magnificent western red cedar canopy, a truss factory and wood-frame research centre and more.
• BC Stats publishes a weekly statistical digest called Infoline. Subscribe for free.
• An April 12, 2012 story in The Northern View looks at the impact of increased economic activity at the Port of Prince Rupert since 2009. The value of wages attributed to direct jobs (2,330) has jumped from $80M in annual ages in 2009 to $130M in 2011.

In March 2011, Ridley Terminals loaded ships with 885,770 tonnes of M and T coal, and petroleum coke — up about 40 per cent over March 2010 last year.

Rick Burns with fresh catch and his Pacific Provider, shown here by Lisette Falls, northwest of Bella Coola.

Athletes often identify an Olympic performance as a launching pad for the next stage of their career, but a Vancouver-based fisherman is one of many B.C. entrepreneurs telling the same story about their experience at the Vancouver 2010 Games.

Rick Burns provided pink salmon for “The Canadian Food and Wine Affair” hosted by the Province during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics to showcase and promote B.C. foods and wine.

Legendary Vancouver Chef Tojo featured Rick’s salmon in a sushi dish, which won the Affair’s People’s Choice Award. The delicate and fresh flavours left the audience of 200 chefs, restaurateurs, growers and producers and media wanting and asking for more: more of Rick Burns’ pink salmon, and more information about its award-winning taste.

Investing in freshness
Preserving the flavour of each pink salmon starts as soon as the fish lands in Rick’s boat, the Pacific Provider, but it really began 15 years ago when Rick and his wife Lynn Prestash upgraded their vessel’s hold into a state-of-the-art freezer. Within one hour of being caught, the salmon are cleaned and placed in the freezer where, after four hours, they are frozen to a core temperature of -27⁰ C. The frozen-at-sea salmon retains the same fresh taste and texture as when it is caught, whenever and wherever the meal is served.

“The Canadian Food and Wine Affair placed my pink salmon in the minds and kitchens of some of Canada’s most influential chefs, many of whom were difficult to meet independently,” says Rick. “The Olympic event brought them and our salmon together. Once they tasted the possibilities, their interest and orders soon followed.”

Rick’s menu of frozen-at-sea fish includes much more than pink salmon. Over the years it has included direct sales of Chinook, sockeye, coho and chum salmon at the public fish sales docks in Steveston and False Creek, as well as Chinook and coho salmon to seafood restaurants across the city.

In rare company
On Feb. 18, 2011 Pacific Provider-caught coho salmon was served at the Canadian Gold Medal Plates competition in Kelowna, which celebrates and crowns Canada’s best chef.

Rick attended the competition with the Coho as his one-way travelling companions, and left with another major Vancouver hotel requesting he exclusively supply their kitchen.

“Having our salmon at the Canadian Food and Wine Affair changed everything,” says Rick Burns. “From the perspective of a small businessperson, it was the meal of a lifetime.”

In the year since the Games, Rick’s salmon sales have expanded in Vancouver, as well as to Whistler, Calgary and Edmonton.

In addition to being a mainstay on lunch and dinner plates in Canada and across the world, B.C.’s fisheries are an integral part of B.C.’s economy. More than $757 million of wild B.C. seafood was caught and sold in 2009.

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Provider-caught Coho salmon served at the 2011 Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna last month. Rick’s coho was prepared by Chef Duncan Ly from Calgary and served with duck torchon and the Okanagan’s 2009 Tantalus Vineyards Riesling.

Tourism is one of British Columbia’s largest and most sustainable industries. Did you know it’s worth $12.7 billion? More importantly, tourism provides work for nearly 129,000 people in the province.

This infographic is a snapshot of 2010. But we all know that the most enjoyable “snapshots” are the ones visitors take with their cameras during their time in Beautiful British Columbia!

Click the image below to see the full infographic of 2010 travel picture. Download a PDF version.

Your comments on this article are most welcome. Find us on Facebook, too.

Did You Know?

• British Columbia has posted its seventh straight month of gains in international overnight visitors, including a jump of 6.2 per cent in people arriving from the U.S., a key market for the province’s tourist industry.
• Figures released Feb. 17, 2011 by Statistics Canada show a 6.6 per cent increase of overnight visitors entering B.C. in December 2010 compared with the same month in 2009 – nearly triple the 2.4 per cent rise across Canada.
• This brings the province’s total increase in 2010 to four per cent, compared with 2.3 per cent for the country as a whole.
• Overnight visitor arrivals from Asia-Pacific countries rose 10.5 per cent in December, compared with December 2009, while entries for the entire year were up 11.1 per cent, representing 806,901 visitors.

Tourism is seasonal, so year-over-year comparisons are used instead of month-over-month. For more information, visit www.tti.gov.bc.ca/research.

From beach to Oyster Bar: B.C. oysters have become part of romantic dinners around the world.

This week, crews from Fanny Bay Oysters will harvest over 200,000 oysters from the pristine waters of Fanny Bay off Vancouver Island. There is a high likelihood the peculiar looking crustacean will play a part in romantic dinners in B.C. and elsewhere.

Fanny Bay Oyster general manager Brian Yip says oyster sales spike about 30 per cent around Valentine’s Day as people create special culinary experiences to celebrate the occasion.

“Oysters are very much part of B.C.’s culinary tourism landscape. Visitors recognize that we produce some of the best seafood in the world, and it is sustainable.”

In addition to tasting great, oysters are great for you. They are high in zinc, calcium and iodine and low in cholesterol.  Indeed, eating an oyster a day will provide close to the daily requirement of zinc, which boosts immunity.

Last year, Yip and about 20 other B.C. oyster producers exported close to $7.5 million worth of oysters. The Comox Valley is known as Canada’s Oyster Capital, and oysters from the region are coveted for their taste derived from the nutrient rich and pristine ocean waters.

International trade is a critical factor in B.C.’s economy, creating both businesses and jobs for British Columbians. Exports of agricultural and fishing products totaled $2.375 billion in 2010, up 3.9 per cent from the year before.

Did you know?

• Modern refrigeration and handling methods have ended the old notion that oysters should only be eaten during the months with “R” in them. B.C. oysters are available year round.

• Where to buy B.C. oysters direct? British Columbia Shellfish Growers Association has a list of places you can buy B.C. oysters in your region.

• An oyster’s flavour reflects the environment it grows in. Tastes range from salty to sweet and may even hint of other flavours such as melon, cucumber and kiwi. For a taste description of B.C.’s oysters, see Pacific Kiss Buyer’s Guide

Walking tours right into this old growth forest on Vancouver Island captured travel writer’s attention.

A driving tour of Vancouver Island so impressed travel writer and editor Janeen Christoff that she’s ranked her visit right up there with a safari in South Africa, a visit to Tuscany and a stay in a Turkish hotel built in a cave.

Christoff (pictured right) writes for TravelAge West, whose 27,000 subscribers are travel agents seeking new ideas for their hundreds of thousands of clients. The print version reaches B.C., Alberta and 14 western U.S. states, which is B.C.’s largest international tourism market. The online magazine receives about 100,000 views a month. Christoff has now published five stories (see list below) about her island road trip and is writing two more.

“The whole thing was a highlight,” Christoff says of her visit to the Island. “And we love Vancouver and Whistler. I’m coming back!”

Service ‘above and beyond’
Besides the many travel attractions, Christoff credits the success of her trip to a broad spectrum of B.C. tourism professionals. They enticed her to explore and made her trip memorable with service she calls “above and beyond” – but is actually pretty much standard procedure, according to the folks involved.

After Christoff arrived at Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim by taxi from YVR, she realized her work camera was missing. Hotel bell captain Travis Lee immediately Googled Greater Vancouver’s taxi listings (42 in all), and with the help of concierge David Lall, pinpointed the 10 or so that serve the airport. Together, they left messages at every lost and found department. They also checked with the airport.

Even after Christoff checked out, Lee kept her up to date. Sadly, the travel writer’s camera was never found, but Travis Lee’s efforts made a huge impression on Christoff, so much so she wrote about it in one of her stories.

It was all part of a day’s work for Lee, though. “I don’t think I went above anything I would normally do,” he says.

Capitalizing on conferences
Christoff initially came to B.C. for Cruise 3Sixty, a cruise industry travel agency conference. Tourism BC, Tourism Vancouver, Port Metro Vancouver and Vancouver International Airport, lobbied together to bring the conference to B.C. from Florida.

Several weeks before Cruise 3Sixty, Tourism BC’s travel media relations manager, Mika Ryan, connected with Christoff at the annual Canadian Media Marketing conference in San Francisco, where select American journalists are invited to learn about Canadian destinations.

“It’s almost like speed dating,” says Ryan, who had a strategic plan for meeting her targeted travel writers.

When Ryan found out Christoff was coming to Vancouver for Cruise 3Sixty, she pitched the idea of adding some side trips. Christoff, who was bringing her husband and their two young daughters, liked the idea.

Building the itinerary
Over to Cindy Burr, a travel media relations specialist at Tourism BC, who helped Christoff develop an itinerary. A slew of organizations including Tourism Vancouver Island, Tourism Victoria, Tourism Vancouver, Tourism Whistler, BC Ferries, several hotels and transportation companies chipped in to produce a detailed itinerary, honed to perfection. At the end of the day, the document weighed in at 28 packed pages.

“It was amazing,” Christoff says. “There were millions of suggestions. We didn’t have to look at a guide book or anything else.”

The results of Christoff’s trip?
These five stories:

1. Fave Five Travel Excursions of 2010
2. Beachcombing Along Canada’s Shores from Tofino
3. Pride of the Pacific Rim – The Fairmont Pacific Rim wows visitors with stellar service and  state-of-the-art rooms
4. Victoria, B.C., for the Family
5. Princess Tea at the Empress

Christoff is writing two more pieces – one focused on the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and one highlighting the Sea to Sky Climb, formerly known as Whistler Mountaineer.

The payoff?
Media coverage like Christoff’s – especially in trade magazines – is a huge boon to B.C.’s tourism industry, helping the sector recover from the worldwide economic downturn.

In fact, the most recent figures from Stats Canada show the number of international overnight visitors to B.C. climbed for the eighth straight month compared to 2009, when the tourism sector was worth $12.7 billion in revenue to B.C. It employed nearly 129,000 British Columbians across the province that year.

Meanwhile, Tourism BC is hoping for even more stories when Christoff returns to Vancouver for a Disney cruise with her eldest daughter. Cindy Burr from Tourism BC has suggested Christoff also visit the Okanagan for a few days – to see another side of Super, Natural British Columbia.

Your comments on this article are most welcomed. Find us on Facebook.

Did You Know?

British Columbia’s targeted marketing campaigns are paying off:

• Total international overnight arrivals to B.C. rose 4.6 per cent in January of this year, compared with January 2010, while Canada reported growth of 2.4 per cent.
• Two of every seven international overnight visitors to Canada entered the country in British Columbia.
• Overnight customs entries from the U.S. rose 3.2 per cent in January, compared with January 2010.
• Overnight visitor arrivals from Asia-Pacific countries rose 11 per cent in January, compared with January 2010.
• Arrivals from China rose 22.8 per cent in January, compared with January 2010.
• Visitors from Australia were up 22.6 per cent, compared with January 2010.

Note:  Due to the seasonal nature of the tourism industry, year-over-year comparisons are used instead of month-over-month comparisons.

Source: Statistics Canada.

Various views of the foundation work on the women’s unit at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre.  The new 20-cell unit opened last fall.

David and Ken Watson know the importance of a solid foundation — in construction, in business and in family.

Prince George’s Wayne Watson Construction (WWC) was founded by David and Ken’s father Wayne in 1972. It’s a family-owned general construction company that specializes in commercial, industrial and institutional construction.

In 1995, operations expanded to include a Civil Division, which is responsible for the completion of subdivisions, earth fill lagoons, water systems, sewage systems, and  lift stations.

The owners are long-time Prince George residents and the company has been building on that groundwork for over 30 years—becoming a northern success story, with branch offices serving Terrace and Kitimat.

WWC won the bid for the foundation work for the new women’s unit at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre (PGRCC). That work began in September 2008 and was completed in March, 2009.

• Find out more about the unit.  Photos here.

• Watch the foundation take shape in this brief slide show.

“Anybody who works in construction in the north knows how difficult it can be in the winter.  The weather brings additional factors like snow, ice and frozen ground, making foundation work all the more challenging,” said Ken Watson, president WWC.

“At WWC we’re  fortunate that we have experienced management and staff who ensure that no matter what the challenges of the working environment may be, we get the job done and done right.”

Working at a correctional centre also has the added challenge of an environment with security requirements not found on other job sites.

Coming off the success of the women’s unit project, WWC put in another bid to work on other renovations in the main building at PGRCC—and won.

“Having previous experience working at PGRCC gave WWC the knowledge, skills and confidence to work in an environment where security is equally important as safety,” said Alanna Love, Assistant Deputy Warden, Capital Projects Coordinator. “ Their willingness to adapt to conditions, take on challenges, and find solutions made my job as project coordinator that much easier.”

Every day, local companies are building B.C. and at the same time, building local economies. Keeping people employed close to home helps B.C. communities thrive and at the heart of PG’s local community, you’ll find a strong foundation.

Here are some other companies that worked on the new women’s unit:

• All West Glass
• Equity Plumbing
• Houle Electric
• Rolling Mix Concrete
• Cana Steel
• Heartland Steel Doors
• Excel Acoustics
• Admiral Roofing
• Pyramid Walls and Ceilings
• McElhanney Surveys
• JFK Enterprises
• All North Consultants Limited
• Littler Floors
• Decorum Painting
• Zettl Masonry
• RF Klein

The BC Aboriginal Business Awards were launched in October 2008 to honour and celebrate business excellence.

Three of the 2010 recipients share their stories. Congratulations to one and all. Very inspiring. Thanks to the BC Achievement Foundation for sharing these videos.

Kekuli Café Aboriginal Foods and Catering

Kelowna

Don’t panic – they have bannock Sharon Bond has found her niche: The owner of Kekuli Café Aboriginal Foods and Catering is determined to meet Kelowna’s need for bannock. Her cafe cooks up about 300 a day: some are topped with cream cheese, sugar and cinnamon or Saskatoon Honey Butter; others find their way into bannock breakfast sandwiches and bannock burgers or get served up with buffalo stew. Kekuli Café was honoured with a Business of the Year award at the 2010 BC Aboriginal Business Awards.

Little Kingdom Gas and Grocery

Vernon

How to succeed in business by counting cars In 1984, when Robert Marchand was thinking about opening a gas station near Vernon, he took a straightforward approach to market research: he sat by the side of the road over three days and counted how many cars passed by. If that approach sounds too simple to be true, consider this: 26 years later, Marchand’s Little Kingdom Gas and Grocery is still going strong; not only that, but his business has expanded to include a grocery store, bakery, hardware store and ladies’ fashion boutique. This year, Little Kingdom received a BC Aboriginal Business Award in the Business of the Year – two-to-10-person enterprise category.

Robert Ellis of Ellis Excavating Ltd.

Nanaimo

Playing in a big sandbox all day At the age of six, Robert Ellis announced that he was going to be an excavator operator, just like his father.  Now 24, Ellis has made good on that promise. He’s the proud owner of Ellis Excavating in Nanaimo, the company he founded four years ago. He hasn’t lost the sense of fun that first inspired him, describing his job as “like playing in a big sandbox all day.” The money’s not bad, either: When Ellis started his business, he took out a $250,000 bank loan to buy an excavator. Within three years, the loan was paid off. Ellis’ determination also landed him the Young Male Entrepreneur of the Year award at the 2010 BC Aboriginal Business Awards.

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There’s hot chocolate, cookies and a fire to keep warm. Now all you need is a saw.

Volkmann Christmas Trees in Kelowna will lend you one, or you can leave the sawing to them. With her husband and son, Regina Volkmann has run the tree farm  for 14 years. Business is good. “It’s becoming a tradition again to choose and cut your own tree,” she says. “We see the same families coming back each year and their children are always so excited.

“I’ve had people tell me they keep our trees up till March because they smell so good. With ready-cut trees, you don’t know how fresh they are.”

“I thoroughly enjoy working outside and seeing all the families,” Loewen says. “I’ll continue to work with my son.”

Even through the busy holiday season, both Volkmann and Loewen’s enjoy their jobs.

“The farm is beautiful right now,” Volkmann says. “This past weekend there was lots of fresh snow. The skies were blue and the trees smelled so good.”

So, what’s your preference?  A ready-cut tree from a nursery or corner lot?  Or a fresh-cut tree of your choosing? Your comments on this article are most welcomed. Follow us on Facebook, too.

Did You Know?

• Real Christmas trees are a renewable, recycable product that continually benefits our environment.
• Each spring, Christmas tree growers plant an average of three trees for every tree that was harvested during the holiday season.
• Christmas tree recycling programs mulches trees to be used for hiking trails and public parks.
• Christmas trees are grown for 5-15 years before they are cut down.

Quickway Paint & Drywall Inc. company president Rod Marsh recently discovered one more reason to appreciate membership in his local Chamber of Commerce.

As a small employer, Rod is always looking for ways to grow his business, improve customer service and the range of jobs his employees can take on.

For more information, visit Quickway When the B.C. Government’s $15 million Workplace Training For Innovation Program was announced, word spread through local chambers of commerce about the opportunity to get employee training. As a chamber member, Rod was quick to take advantage.  Quickway was the first company on Bowen Island to apply for funding. Rod has been enthusiastic about the results. “This training is an opportunity that my employees have been asking for,  and a boon for the whole company,” noted Marsh. “Everyone is very enthusiastic about putting their new knowledge to work, and I’ve really noticed how much pride members of my crew are taking in what they are able to do.”

With 15 years of experience in the painting and decorating field, Rod already had an appreciation for the link between education, training and business success when he came across WTIP.“My degree in forestry and wood products science gave me an edge when it came to understanding protective wood finishes, ” he explains. “So when I saw this program,  I thought it would be a great chance to grow our business by adding some new skills.” Two employees have now participated in an industrial wood finishing course offered through the University of British Columbia’s Wood Science Department, bringing skills and experience normally found only in  production facilities directly to the job site.

Another employee took a course in manufacturing concrete countertops,  creating a new niche for the company, and several are taking on-line training through the Painting & Decorating Contractors of America.

“As a small company, this program is probably the only way we could afford this sort of training,” says Rod.  “The flexibility in picking the mix of courses was great, and we were able to fit this in during the winter, when our workload is usually lighter.”

The results of his employees’ experience have also inspired Quickway’s president to seek out additional training opportunities and has also helped his company consider taking on more complex jobs.

Building Connections at T.L. Timber

Clayton Hillman, co-owner and manager of T.L. Timber, is set on three goals:

• growing his business;
• providing a good life for himself and his employees; and
• creating high quality log homes in B.C.

T.L.’s custom-milled log home facility is a family-run operation located in Cawston, B.C., just south of Keremeos.

With his many years of experience in all aspects of millwork, Hillman has been transforming standing dead timber (both fire-damaged and beetle-killed trees) into stunning log homes since 1997.

T.L. works closely with another local company, Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd., which supplies much of the Lodgepole Pine and Spruce logs used for the posts, beams and walls of the homes.

The 13 years Hillman has spent building his client base is paying off. “When we started out, we were shipping two homes a month to our U.S. market,” says Hillman. “Over the past five years, we’ve doubled the number of clients we serve. In this global economy, that’s really good.” The company’s biggest strength is quality. B.C.’s world-renowned reputation for excellent value-added wood products helps as well.

Over the past few years, the company has focused on domestic sales. It now has more clients in Canada than ever before.

The owner also knows that there’s a tremendous potential for custom log homes in Asia. “Right now we have three or four interested parties in China, including the Chinese government.”

Importance of the Internet

It’s said that a great product sells itself, but Hillman credits much of the company’s success to broadband Internet. “Before broadband we had so many problems with dial-up. One day it would be down and the next day it would be back on. I would go to send a large file and it wouldn’t make it to the client. I unknowingly thought it was there and I lost that client.”

High-speed Internet and a good company website have helped expand T.L. Timber’s business and serve their customers.

“With the Internet, we can connect with both clients and people interested in our products. We can receive and send large files in architectural and engineering formats” says Hillman. “And in this day and age, being able to do that quickly and reliably is essential.”

Cawston gained access to broadband Internet in 2004 through support of the federal and provincial governments. Communities like Cawston have benefitted from the Province’s Network BC and their collaborative approach.

Network BC focuses on the strategic use of telecommunications, including increasing broadband connectivity for citizens and business in rural and remote areas of the province.

This story was adapted from a short video. If you’d like to learn a bit more about how broadband is helping bridge the digital divide, have a look at this series of video vignettes. You’ll find the T.L. Lumber story under the ‘E-business’ link.

Did You Know?

• Today, 93 per cent of British Columbians have access to high-speed Internet.
• B.C. is one of the most connected jurisdictions in the world.
• Bridging the digital divide increases access to health information, education, economic opportunities and government services.
• $1.5M to connect more B.C. residents to broadband. [Oct. 12, 2010 information bulletin]
• Related stories: Network BC and the West Lake Community and Wells, B.C. Sparks a Modern Day Gold Rush.

Graduating from BladeRunners, Edward Johnson (left) is now a carpenter apprentice.

For some people, finding your dream career can take a lifetime.  For Nuu-chah-nulth father of four Edward Johnson, all it took was a lunch date.

“I was taking lunch to my wife who was attending the Vancouver Island University,” Edward explained. “I happened to walk by the construction site of Shq’apthut, A Gathering Place, and spoke with an employee who told me about the Aboriginal construction program offered through Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo by the Industry Training Authority. I looked into it and knew it was right for me.  But I wasn’t very happy with the idea of going back to school.” Describing his high school years as “not the greatest,”  Edward first enrolled in BladeRunners, a provincial government employment readiness program that offers youth experience and entry-level training for the construction sector.

Through BladeRunners, Edward was diagnosed as dyslexic.  “I could never read well and I didn’t understand why,” Edward said.  “I finally got the support I needed to help with my reading, and my confidence started to grow.”

After completing the BladeRunners program, Edward was accepted into the Aboriginal construction program.

“The program was life-changing,” he said.  “My sense of accomplishment was so exciting.  It made me believe in myself and what I am capable of doing.

“After writing and passing the carpentry level 1 exam, I came home to a pile of books spread over the table, left there from studying.  My first thought was, ‘I don’t want this learning to end.  What’s next?’”

During the program, participants worked on a number of projects that related to their Aboriginal heritage.

“We graduate students every day on this campus,” VIU Dean of Trades Fred MacDonald said.  “But this program has been special.

“It has motivated us to learn more about ways to deliver successful programs like this one for Aboriginal students.  The Aboriginal construction program and the students’ work on A Gathering Place has inspired all of us.”

Now a registered carpenter apprentice, Edward was one of the first students hired after graduation from the 10-month program by PenBay Construction, Nanaimo.

PenBay Construction’s Brad Turner also started his career through a similar program at VIU.

“Edward reminded me of myself when I first began my career – green, but willing to ask questions,” Brad said.  “He came out of the VIU training program with a strong work ethic and good base of essential skills.”

The world explored all manner of innovative ideas and architectural wonders at 2010 Shanghai Expo.

The many breath-taking attractions included a cathedral of seeds encased in 60,000 fibre optic filaments. A pavilion in the shape of a giant apple emphasized the importance of green cities. And an “Urban Sanctuary” introduced thousands of visitors a day to the beauty of Vancouver and the advantages of building with B.C. wood.

Urban Sanctuary

That’s the title of the Vancouver Pavilion. Anchored on one side by a geodesic dome, the three-storey building showed the world the versatility, energy efficiency, sustainability and seismic stability of wood. The pavilion’s eye-catching design drew upwards of 5,000 visitors on the busiest days. More than 600,000 people from across China and numerous other countries passed through during the six months it was open. As well as highlighting Vancouver, the pavilion welcomed visitors into a spectrum of wood products: glulam beams, stud wall construction, wood-frame trusses, and a full-scale demonstration apartment complete with a spiral staircase, flooring, cabinets, and other decorative furnishings. The exposure generated by the Urban Sanctuary will continue to boost international interest and increase demand for B.C. lumber products, which in turn represents additional production and more jobs for B.C.’s forest sector. Val Chuy, a Vancouver financial planner, flew more than 9,000 kilometres to visit the Shanghai Expo in late May. He made a special point of tracking down the Urban Sanctuary and agrees the building’s unique design and displays are getting the desired messages across to Expo-goers.

“The idea behind the pavilion is fantastic. It’s a good experience. The people who see it are really impressed,” said Chuy. “For somebody from China who may not be all that familiar with Vancouver, this is an outstanding way to introduce them to British Columbia as well as our forest products industry.”

The pavilion told Vancouver’s success story as one of the world’s most liveable cities. It also showcased Vancouver’s legacies – from hosting major international events like Expo ’86 and the 2010 Winter Games, to its goal of becoming the world’s greenest city by 2020.

The tribute to B.C.’s recent experience as Olympic host was one of the more popular exhibits. People were able to proudly pose for photographs standing on top of one of the wooden podiums used at the 2010 Winter Games.

“The pavilion reinforces the reputation and image earned by the City of Vancouver as one of the most desirable places in the world to live, work and play,” said Joseph Li, a City of Vancouver communications coordinator who helped staff the pavilion for several weeks. “Many visitors are interested in finding out what B.C. and Vancouver have to offer in the areas of tourism, immigration and education.”

Urban planners are seeking renewable materials to create buildings that are seismically safe, comfortable and energy efficient. They found the building solutions they need in the sanctuary of the Vancouver Pavilion.

More photos from the B.C. Asian Trade Mission

Forestry Asian Trade Mission

Pacific Gateway Asian Trade Mission

Discarded tires are transformed into indoor and outdoor flooring.

With a vision of reducing the amount of tires destined for the landfill, Dinoflex Group LP emerged. They are now a leading provider of innovative rubber-surfacing products for indoor and outdoor applications. Dinoflex uses tire castings to create surfacing products used in everyday life – on gym floors, community arenas and residential playgrounds.

For more information, visit www.dinoflex.com

Products designed for: stain resistance shock absorbency noise reduction aesthetics

Based in Salmon Arm, they produce a range of products known for their appearance and easy installation – products sought out by architects and designers.

Under the leadership of CEO Terry MacLeod, the majority of Dinoflex’s products contain about 90 per cent post-consumer waste.

What sets Dinoflex apart is their in-house ability to produce polyurethanes, the agent used to bind rubber crumb.

This helps ensure quality control through all stages of product development.

Customers, seeking environmentally sustainable flooring, have noticed.

“A lot of companies take the approach of ‘build it and they will come,’ but starting a small business requires much more – it requires research and dedication to understand the market and the needs of the customers,” says MacLeod.

“Dinoflex is committed to taking care of our customers and understanding their needs.”

Did You Know?

Innovation and market research created a platform for Dinoflex, which is one of nearly 400,000 small businesses in B.C. creating jobs.

B.C. was first among the provinces in terms of small business contribution to GDP.

B.C. small businesses employed over 1 million people in 2009.

Read more on the state of small business in B.C. in the 2010 Small Business Profile [3.8 MB PDF].

View the BC Small Business Highlights infographic.

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Frank Varseveld’s vision is to globally increase the quality of food and water.

With a passion to improve water and food safety around the world, EnvirEau Technologies set out to protect these basic human needs, one mineral-based protection product at a time. For more information, visit www.pureprotection.ca Frank Varseveld, EnvirEau Technologies president, orchestrated the commercial development of a natural mineral-based technology capable of controlling organisms that cause water and food-borne diseases in humans, livestock and plants.

As an entrepreneur with no background in chemistry, he did the research, sought advice from experts and led the company to bring this technology to market.

Incorporated in 2005, the East Richmond-based company is now a thriving Canadian corporation owned by its employees, directors and associates. EnvirEau’s corporate vision is to grow a manufacturing and distribution network that increases the quality of water and food. Their technology is capable of efficiently making water and food biologically safe, thus reducing reliance on environmentally stressful synthetic pesticides and chemicals.

Their products have garnered interest from world markets including Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

When asked what advice he has for new entrepreneurs, Varseveld says, “Allow yourself to dream, be willing to risk more, expect more than others think is reasonable – but most of all, have a supportive wife!”

Did You Know?

EnvirEau Technologies is like many companies that started with a dream and now operate on the world stage.

In 2008, approximately 83% of B.C. exporters were small businesses.

Check out EnvirEau’s Success Story.  And this feature in the Richmond Review.

Read more on the state of small business in B.C. in the 2010 Small Business Profile [3.8 MB PDF].

View the BC Small Business Highlights infographic.

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More than 15,000 people returned home from the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with a stand-out memory: ziplining six stories above Vancouver’s lively downtown.

For Ziptrek Ecotours co-founder David Udow, setting up an urban zipline during the world-class event produced standout benefits for both his company and B.C. tourism. For more information, visit www.ziptrek.com “We were featured on the Today Show, the Oprah Show, and in national and international media, and viewers got a taste of how vibrant Vancouver is as a city, and how beneficial low-impact ecotourism can be,” said Udow.

Watch Ziplining in Whistler, BC

The friends follow a sustainable business model creating an educational and adrenaline-fueled zipline tour that celebrates and supports the surrounding environment.

Ziptrek Ecotours Founders Charles Steele and David Udow set up the first North  American zipline tour in 2002 between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains The company has expanded its Whistler operation to 10 ziplines, seven suspension bridges and 28 treetop observation platforms Ziptrek has partnered with the Province of British Columbia to set up a 183-metre zipline in San Francisco’s Embarcadero Square as part of the BC Experience showcase to attract U.S. travelers to the province

They have also opened a zipline tour in Queenstown, New Zealand, sharing technology, knowledge and staff with what Udow considers the home of adventure tourism.

“By entering an established eco-tourism market like Queenstown’s, we came in as a complementary player,” said Udow.

“Certainly, the exposure from the Olympics has caused the phone to ring a lot more than before,” said Udow. “But our vision remains the same: provide a superb experience that resonates so well with guests, they are compelled to tell others about it.”

Did You Know?

Ziptrek Ecotours, which gave 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games visitors a big high with its urban zipline suspended over Robson Square in downtown Vancouver, is one of eight B.C. companies featured in the 2010 Small Business Profile released October 18. [Download 3.8 MB PDF.]

The company is making inroads in other countries, too, an example how B.C.’s small businesses are going global.

Between 2007 and 2008, the Vancouver Island and Coastal region added 87 new tourism establishments, more than triple any other B.C. region.

View the BC Small Business Highlights infographic.

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Click on the image above to see the full infographic on B.C.’s natural gas and petroleum sector. Printable version [PDF].

• October 10-16 is Oil and Gas Week in British Columbia. Proclamation.
• Factsheet.
• BC Energy Conference in Fort St. John October 12-14.
• Connecting Workers with Opportunities in B.C.’s Northeast.
• Watch a video from May 2010 Opportunity BC Energy Expo.

If you’re not able to reach Laurie Dolan on the phone right away, it’s probably because she’s busy helping a B.C. service sector company from one of the two procurement offices in Northeast B.C.

“Things are moving fast,” she says. “Only people living in this area can understand how busy it is here.”

A Booming Time
So what’s booming? Local employment, new economic opportunities – all a result of the natural gas and petroleum sector in B.C.

Laurie Dolan.

“The magnitude of the work, especially with the emergence of the Horn River Basin, has really escalated this year” Laurie explains. “The projects are bigger and people are increasingly aware of the jobs available. Everyone is working!” The Horn River Basin is one of B.C.’s premier natural gas and petroleum resources, with studies indicating potential gas in place could be in the vicinity of 700 trillion cubic feet. To put that into perspective, at the moment, the entire province of British Columbia produces just over 1 trillion cubic feet of raw natural gas per year.

Making Connections for B.C. Workers
As the Fort Nelson office procurement specialist and acting executive director for Energy Services BC, Laurie works with natural gas and petroleum companies to find a connection with B.C. companies who supply goods and services for the sector.

And how does Laurie help make these connections happen? “Whatever needs to be done to get workers for the companies in the area,” she explains.

Working Together
Industry is getting more involved, too, connecting with local businesses in the northeast. More and more, large-scale companies are adding regional offices in northeast communities. The Horn River Producers Group, a collection of 11 companies who operate in the Fort Nelson area, are an example of the activity taking place and the efforts to create more local opportunities.

“They work together to decrease their environmental footprint and have monthly meetings to discuss their social commitment to the local area,” explains Laurie. “These are companies that becoming part of the community and care about finding work for people.”

• October 10-16 is Oil and Gas Week in British Columbia. Proclamation.
• Factsheet.
• B.C.’s natural gas and petroleum industry infographic.
• BC Energy Conference in Fort St. John October 12-14.
• Watch a video from May 2010 Opportunity BC Energy Expo.

Just Getting Started
With the increase in jobs and influx of industry involvement, there are many new opportunities for people find work in the region. With investor confidence in unconventional resources like shale gas reaching new levels and areas like the Horn River Basin establishing international appeal, the economic prospects will increase, and they are increasing quickly.

• Has your business explored the options available the natural gas and petroleum sector?
• Are you or someone you know looking for a new opportunity in B.C.’s northeast?

If so, contact Energy Services BC’s Procurement Help Offices in Fort Nelson or Dawson Creek.

The Province of British Columbia provided support and funding for Energy Services BC, including $100,000 in June 2009 to set up the Procurement Help Offices in Fort Nelson and Dawson Creek.

Through its products and services, Coquitlam-based Beediverse hopes to boost bee populations.

Margriet Dogterom is a biologist who has been researching bees for 20 years. She started Crop Pollination Consultants Ltd. (CPC) in 1999 to consult with farmers on bee management, seed production and pollination challenges. The company aims to address the growing concern of diminishing bee populations and the resulting impact on the environment and agriculture.

• For more information, visit www.beediverse.com

Beediverse, a division within CPC, uses the power of bees to assist growers, orchardists and gardeners to improve their pollination and fruit harvest.

Beediverse offers a variety of products and services including workshops, interactive seminars and field days — all to assist people raise bees in both urban and rural settings.

Margriet’s holistic approach to client care has helped launch Beediverse into an exporting success. The company receives orders daily to ship products to the United States and European destinations — expanding sales beyond the traditional peak season in March. As a biologist, switching to a business mindset was very challenging, but Margriet’s love and dedication has played a vital role in the success of Beediverse.

“…Do something that you really like that excites you – never give up…”

She has found a niche in a market that contributes to the wellbeing of agriculture, and continues to create innovative ideas to further her journey.

As for her motto for success, Margriet replies, “Do something that you really like that excites you – never give up.”

Did You Know?

Beediverse in Coquitlam is among small businesses in BC successfully exporting its products.

About $12.5 billion worth of merchandise was shipped by the province’s small businesses. That’s 41 per cent of the total value of goods exported from the province.

Read more on the state of small business in B.C. in the 2010 Small Business Profile [3.8 MB PDF].

View the BC Small Business Highlights infographic.

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October is Small Business Month across B.C.

Guess how many jobs in B.C.’s small business sector. One million! That’s right…1,000,000 (six zeros).

Not bad for a province of 4.5 million people. It’s one of the reasons so many people like to say, “Small Businesses drive B.C.’s economy.”

And, as one entrepreneur put it last week during the launch of Small Business Month, if you’re looking for a very practical way to support any of B.C.’s 400,000 small businesses, it’s really pretty easy: “Shop local, eat local, support local.”

Click on the image above to see the full infographic on B.C.’s small business sector. Printable version [PDF].

Related Information

October is Small Business Month in British Columbia. [Oct. 1, 2010 news release] Small Business report to guide government. [Oct. 4, 2010 news release] Read more on the state of small business in B.C. in the 2010 Small Business Profile [3.8 MB PDF].

Have a look at the eight posts in the small business profile series, Export Success: Takaya Tours | Acro Media |  Beediverse | Adventure Engine | Canadian Electric Vehicles | Ziptrek Ecotours | EnvirEau Technologies | Dinoflex

Watch a short video of the launch in Vancouver Oct. 1 of Small Business Month.

They’re all pursuing their dreams and at the launch of Small Business Month entrepreneurs George Hunter, CEO Small Business BC; Shanda Jerrett, Owner Gum Drops Rainwear; Dean Gagnon, president of City Max.com; and Carlie Smith, Owner of Portobello West Market talk about why they do what they do. Iain Black, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, was on hand to salute their contributions to B.C.

Did You Know?

October is Small Business Month in British Columbia. [Oct. 1, 2010 news release] There are nearly 400,000 small business driving B.C.’s economic engine. Small businesses account for 98 per cent of all businesses in B.C. Small Business report to guide government. [Oct. 4, 2010 news release] View the BC Small Business Highlights infographic. For more on the state of small business in B.C., watch for the release later this month of the 2010 Small Business Profile. Have a look at the first two posts in our small business profile series:  Takaya Tours |  Acro Media

Click to read Proclamation.

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Started in 1998, Acro Media of Kelowna has accumulated an impressive client list within B.C.

“One thing about being in business for over 11 years is that you learn what clients expect when it comes to service. Simply put, it’s trust,” said Shae Inglis, CEO of Acro Media Inc., a full service corporate web design firm based in Kelowna. And how does Acro earn this trust?

By understanding the challenges clients face and the business goals they’ve set out to achieve.

To accomplish this, Acro asks a lot of questions and listens to gain a full understanding of what companies are seeking and the results they expect.

• For more information, visit www.acromediainc.com

Started in 1998, Acro Media has accumulated an impressive client list within British Columbia that includes companies like Telus and B.C. Liquor Stores.

Clients within other Canadian markets such as Canada Egg Farmers of Ontario and McGraw-Hill Ryerson Canada have caught on to Acro’s unique client service approach as well.

Acro works with these companies to engage various international markets, using innovation to convert them into customers. The company has grown by 40 per cent every year for the last four years. The journey wasn’t always so smooth. With little background in business, differences in working styles and so forth, the original company lasted merely eight months.

But through perseverance and dedication, four of the five initial partners, including Shae Inglis, Jason Poole, George Andres and Shane Spraggs, continued and together launched Acro Media Inc.

When asked what the most important thing is about starting a company with partners, Inglis responds, “Sharing a strong commitment, agreeing on the same principles, working as a cohesive bunch and ensuring that the larger picture is always placed above whatever differences may arise.”

Did You Know?

Acro Media is in the Thompson-Okanagan — a region that recorded the highest net growth in the number of small businesses in B.C. between 2007 and 2009.

Acro Media Inc. is among the nearly 400,000 small business driving B.C.’s economic engine.

Small businesses account for 98 per cent of all businesses in B.C.

Read more on the state of small business in B.C. in the 2010 Small Business Profile [3.8 MB PDF].

View the BC Small Business Highlights infographic.

How are you celebrating Small Business Month?

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Company is making waves with global customers and strengthening community’s economy.

Takaya Tours is making waves with international tourists, a testament to British Columbia’s growing Aboriginal cultural tourism industry. The company, operated by Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, is revitalizing and sharing local culture, while at the same time building the community’s economy. For more information, visit www.takayatours.com

“Visitors from around the world come to experience these waterways from a Coast Salish perspective…the medicinal plants, ancient village sites, and the songs and stories we share to keep our history alive,” said Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief Leonard George.

The Tsleil-Waututh founded the ecotourism company in 1999, initially giving about 400 customers interpretive canoe and kayak tours up the Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm in North Vancouver.

By 2012, the Aboriginal tourism industry is expected to contribute over $50 million to B.C.’s economy, up from about $35 million today. It is one of the fastest growing sectors in the B.C. tourism industry.“To bring the most benefits to our communities, First Nations must focus on outside relationships,” said Chief George. In 2007, Takaya Tours entered into partnership with its Cates Park neighbour, Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Centre, giving the tour company the benefit from the rental and lesson shop’s 25-years of business expertise, while solidifying the company’s reputation as a community builder. “We want Deep Cove to gain recognition as an eco-tourist destination and are happy to work with the Tsleil- Waututh First Nation as it provides jobs in an environmentally-sustainable way,” said Bob Putnam, Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak co-owner.

“…More than 2,000 people are attracted to the tours annually, from Germany, China and Japan…”

“At the end of the day, we share the same goal: for more people to experience the West Coast from its waters.”

Chief George agrees. “These ancient waterways have much to share, and as people from across British Columbia and the world learn of the Coast Salish, our culture is strengthened, and so is our economy.”

Did You Know?

Takaya Tours is among the nearly 400,000 small business driving B.C.’s economic engine.

Small businesses account for 98 per cent of all businesses in B.C.

View the BC Small Business Highlights infographic.

Throughout October, B.C. is celebrating small businesses.

Read more on the state of small business in B.C. in the 2010 Small Business Profile [3.8 MB PDF].

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YVR: a gateway for air cargo, linking to 39 international and 23 U.S. scheduled non-stop destinations.

Vancouver hosts international Routes forum Sept. 19-21

Once a year the people who plan and run airlines, airports and tourism authorities the world over meet in one place to do business. This year, for the first time, that place is Vancouver.

The big event is called the 16th World Route Development Forum. It runs Sept. 19-21.

Routes is the largest annual meeting for the world’s route development industry. How big? Last year’s get-together in Beijing attracted 400 airlines, 500 airports, tourism authorities and industry suppliers worldwide.

It’s also the most important because air industry executives meet at the Forum to:

• expand air services;
• sign contracts; and
• start new business.

Loads of local business benefits
The benefits of showcasing Canada’s Pacific Gateway to the world airline industry gathered here for a global forum are obvious.

Naturally, the Vancouver Airport Authority wants to attract more flights through YVR.  It’s great for business.

So Canada’s second busiest airport is adding capacity for 5 million new passengers and 441,000 tonnes of air cargo over the next 10 years.

And, as Vancouver airport goes, so go the supporting regional airports.  That’s why they’ve invested more than $200 million in runway and terminal expansions. March 2011 update: YVR was named best North American airport for the second year in a row, capturing the 2010 Skytrax award in its rating of the world’s best airports. Skytrax polls 11 million passengers from 100 different countries in its annual survey.

The Forum is also a major opportunity for B.C.’s businesses to expand, or begin new import or export trade by air.

So, during Routes 2010, the Province’s Pacific Gateway staff will be introducing many B.C firms to these international carriers and industry execs — and to what they call “your connection to opportunity.”

Routes 2010 news and views

• Province supports increased international flights to B.C. [Sept. 20 news release]
• WestJet applauds B.C. government announcement on aviation fuel tax.  [Sept 20 news release]
• Air Canada boosts international flights from Vancouver, applauds BC’s move to eliminate provincial fuel tax. [Sept. 20 news release]
• Vancouver Airport Authority comments on Premier Gordon Campbell’s announcement of aviation fuel tax relief.  [Sept. 19 news release]
• Tourism Vancouver and Vancouver Convention Centre welcome World Routes 2010.  [Sept. 16 news release]
• Follow happenings at Routes 2010 in the Airline Business Daily News.

Did You Know?

• Canada’s Pacific Gateway is the preferred gateway for Asia Pacific trade.
• Vancouver International Airport has frequent and convenient connecting flights to major centres in Asia and all across North America.
• Vancouver was named North America’s best airport in 2009 and 2010 in the Skytrax World Airport Awards.  Skytrax carries out a global survey of about 11 million passengers from 100 different countries.
• Routes 2010 hashtag is #RoutesYVR. Follow on Twitter.
• Berlin plays host to the Routes 2011.

During the Routes 2010 forum in Vancouver Sunday, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell greets Chairman of Beijing Airport Dong Zhiyi, President and CEO of Beijing Airport Zhang Guanghui, President of Guangdong Airport Management Corp, Liu Zijing and Executive Vice President of China Southern Airlines Chen Gang. That’s Dora Kay of the Vancouver Airport on the far right.

NK’Mip Cellars’ assistant winemaker Justin Hall.

A trip to the Okanagan wouldn’t be complete without a visit to NK’Mip Cellars.

Opened in 2002 by the Osoyoos Indian Band, NK’Mip Cellars is North America’s first Aboriginal owned and operated winery.

• NK’Mip, pronounced in-ka-meep, means “land where the river meets the valley.”

“The Osoyoos Indian Band welcomes the world to NK’Mip to experience our culture and wines,” says Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band. Last year, there were more than 100,000 visitors to the winery and the adjacent resort and cultural centre.

“I am proud that NK’Mip has been so successful, bringing both economic benefits and job opportunities to our members,” Chief Louie says.

Hard work and determination

Assistant winemaker and Band member Justin Hall can attest to that. He works with acclaimed winemaker Randy Picton to craft award-winning wines.

“I love working in the wine business,” says Justin. “I studied at UBC Okanagan for two years to get my winemaking and vineyard managing diploma before travelling to New Zealand to get my viticulture and enology diploma from Lincoln University.

“I’ve also spent six years training in the cellars, working towards my goal of becoming a chief winemaker.”

Justin attributes much of his success to support from NK’Mip Cellars and the Osoyoos Indian Band, but believes that “only with honest hard work and determination can you truly reap life’s rewards.”

• Visit the NK’Mip Cellars’ site on Facebook.
• Here’s one of their photo albums, called “Around the Winery.”
• There are even photos of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay @ NK’Mip.

Terry Bremner surveys his organic blueberry crops.

The word “blueberry” is practically synonymous with “British Columbia”.  We grow more of the plump round, sweet berries than any other province in Canada and the second most in the world.  That means the blueberries you see at the grocery store every August were almost certainly grown in a sunny B.C. field and not imported.

Terry Bremner at Bremner Foods in Delta says word is getting out that we grow incredibly tasty berries in this province.

“Not even five minutes ago, I was on the phone with a buyer in Korea,” says Bremner.  “There is enormous potential for the blueberry market in Asia, China especially.  We were there earlier this summer and we’re now getting a lot of serious inquiries.”

Nine years ago, Bremner started making juice from the blueberries his father planted on the family’s South Delta farm in the late 1970’s.  That decision turned out to be a good one.  Bremner has since shipped orders of his company’s 100 per cent pure fruit juice all the way to Korea, Japan, and soon China.  He’s excited about his company’s new opportunities overseas.

“Produce in China can be expensive and there are concerns about pesticide use and water contamination,” says Bremner.  “B.C. has a great reputation.  They can trust that our food is organic when we say it is.  They know our air is clean and that we grow and make outstanding food.  That’s why there’s so much interest.”

Like Bremner, the Province sees the potential for new markets in Asia.  Last year alone, farm sales of B.C. blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries totalled an estimated $123 million.  More than 40 per cent of those sales were blueberries.  That’s great news for the industry’s more than 5,000 workers who are busy this month picking and packing ripe B.C. blueberries.

August is blueberry month in B.C.  For recipe ideas, visit the BC Blueberry Council online.

Did You Know

Blueberries are Canada’s largest fruit export! Most exported Canadian blueberries wind up in the United States.  The second largest importers of Canadian blueberries? Japan!

A small Vancouver company that brings temporary power to special events has seen a surge in business since the 2010 Winter Olympics put them on all event planners’ “go-to” list.

Mark Lawton, president of Viridian Power Corp., described the Olympic experience as “a confidence- building exercise for us. We had to grow our company explosively from 12 or so people to around 140 people…. We now recognize how successfully we can do that.”

Others have noticed as well. In June, the company nailed a contract to supply power for the Lilith music tour. While providing the juice to concerts is not new, this is the first time the company will go on tour cross Canada and US, opening up a new area of business.

While demonstrating that it could supply all the temporary power for an event as large as the Olympics, Viridian also had to have a sustainability component to win the latest contract. The company’s green direction was key to getting the Lilith deal hooked up.

Viridian offsets its carbon footprint and now uses biodiesel to fuel generators.

“We constantly have our ear to the ground for new technology so we can be more environmentally friendly,” says Lawton.These steps have put Viridian on the front end of a sustainability wave. According to a recent RBC survey, half of Canadian small business owners now have, or are considering implementing, a green plan or environmental policies for their business.

Mark Lawton, president of Viridian Power Corp

In British Columbia, 82 per cent of small business owners claim a commitment to recycling, and 60 per cent are committed to reducing their energy use.

The economic downturn and the escalation of security costs has put a crimp on entertainment events in recent years, but Lawton believes that’s starting to reverse, with organizers asking around about events, particularly in the Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

Lawton, an electrician by trade, started his chain of temporary power businesses after taking a job in 1993 at the World’s Fair in South Korea. The Commonwealth Games followed in Victoria in 1994.

Today, he operates two other electricity-related businesses – Willpower Design Group and Willpower Systems  – Electrical Contracting – in addition to Viridian. He’s developed a niche in the high-voltage ski resort industry after living in Whistler. The design group works with new resorts opening up.

The domino effect

Here’s an understatement: Business has been booming since the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West building expansion project opened in April 2009.

The convention centre now has 341 major events booked post-opening.  Translated into “economic-impact” dollars, that’s an estimated $2.9-billion lift to B.C.’s economy.

The centre’s not the only organization gaining from this boost in business.  Handling larger international conferences means the influx of thousands of delegates are spending lots of time in Vancouver’s downtown core.

Convention Centre General Manager Ken Cretney characterizes the domino effect nicely: “Local hotels, restaurants and attractions tell me all the time: ‘When the Centre’s busy, we’re busy.’”

Working from their expanded, world-class facility, convention centre staff now sees a remarkable number of delegates coming through their doors. They’ve expanded their Guest Service Ambassador program from one to six dedicated individuals.  Other departments have also increased in size to meet the increased business demands.

Beyond the employment and economic activity an expanded convention centre means to the city and B.C., every convention goer takes home a lasting impression of their Vancouver experience.

Olympic exposure

And speaking of exposure, in case you missed this amazing stat, the Vancouver 2010 Games were the most watched Winter Games in history.  Something like a 3.5 billion people — half the world’s population — watched on TV, the Internet or a mobile device.  And 99 per cent of Canadians caught some part of the Games, it’s said.

It certainly didn’t hurt to have over 10,000 international media working out of the Vancouver Convention Centre during the Games. “The world (literally) watched the Games through our windows,” Cretney says.  “The international media, especially those from the United States, gave us such positive coverage — exposure you can’t buy at any price.”

Easy mobility

Delegates are choosing Vancouver not only its the world-class convention facility. “We have an amazing infrastructure here,” Cretney points out.  “We have one of the best airports in the world; we have the new Canada Line which transports delegates (from the airport) into the heart of the city in under 30 minutes.  Our hotels are easily accessible — you can walk to the convention centre in a matter of minutes from so many of them.”

People and service first

Learn how a dedicated team of service-minded professionals keeps the newly expanded Vancouver Convention Centre running smoothly. Get a sense of why this remarkable addition to the Vancouver skyline has become one of the top convention destinations in the world.

“The people are the best part of my job. We have an amazing team who are passionate about providing great service. We’re an enthusiastic bunch! One day we are hosting the president of a country, the next day, it’s a skate board show—we go above and beyond for every group we host, no matter how big or small.” - Andrea Horton, Director of Human Resources, Vancouver Convention Centre

• Follow Vancouver Convention Centre on Facebook . Find out what’s going on and become an ambassador to the facility!
• Have a look at videos and photos. Visit the Vancouver Convention Centre YouTube channel and web gallery.

Even in a challenging economic climate, Western Canada’s first and only full-service Aboriginal communications agency had one of its best years in 2009.

“There are a number of interesting opportunities right now,” says CopperMoon Communications President and founder Jacob Beaton.“We’re looking at a number of options, including expanding into other provinces. The future definitely looks bright.”

Thompson Rivers University journalist grad Juli Holloway has worked at CopperMoon since 2008.“During my time at CopperMoon, I have witnessed this business grow and adapt to different climates,” says Holloway.“One of the newer areas we’ve focused on is social media. For many of our clients, an online presence can be a fairly new and foreign concept, so it is a pleasure to see these tools work for their unique needs.” Beaton won the Young Male Aboriginal Entrepreneur of the Year award at the 2009 BC Aboriginal Business Awards. Read more about CopperMoon Communication’s portfolio and recent growth.

Welcome to CopperMoon’s boardroom

In the spirit of keeping work playful, this company’s business cards and vehicles carry staff baby photos.

Ever since Bob Wells and Scott Swanson joined forces in 2006, their computer service and sales business has done nothing but expand. That’s great news for them and B.C.

Their company is part of B.C.’s mighty economic engine; small businesses make up 98 per cent of all businesses in the provinces and employ over one million people.

My Tech Guys started out with a couple of hundred customers and $300K in revenue. Today they have over 5,000 Comox Valley customers and $1.3 million in revenue, earning them the coveted Business Growth Award from Small Business BC for 2010.

And they did it during the recession – while voluntarily putting in a shortened work week.

“We both had a hard time taking holidays when we were running our own businesses,” says Wells, who describes himself as ‘The Extreme Geek’ on his business card. “We both loved camping and hiking, and there was no way to do that effectively” while running a service company by themselves.

Today, My Tech Guys has 12 employees, and Wells and Swanson each work four days a week. They spend their three-day weekends with their families. The extra day off also gives them time to support local non-profit organizations including Rotary, the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre, Habitat for Humanity, Hospice and YANA (You Are Not Alone).

Their family-first motto extends to staff, some of whom work flex days, accommodating working couples, day care schedules and music gigs. Wells and Swanson give bonuses to employees when the company is doing well. And there’s a party fund that gets topped up so everyone can kick back together, whether at the go-cart track or on a wild ropes course.

“But the number one thing in our culture is family,” says Wells. “If you have a kid sick at home, then we want you to look after them. The company is the second most important thing. The third thing is looking after yourself and volunteering in the community.”

Swanson and Wells have kept residential service the cornerstone of their business, something that was a wide-open market in the valley when they started. “Nobody did home computer services.”

But they’re also opening the door for other small business owners  — realtors, doctors, lawyers and restaurateurs – most of who came calling for service on their office computers after being pleased with the company’s residential service.

But their primary focus will remain residential customers. We don’t do calls at nights or weekends.” Indeed, up until recently they were booking calls two weeks out, something customers accepted as part of getting service from a crew calling themselves “the friendliest geeks in town.”

Wells, now 36, makes running a successful business sound easy. But, when pressed, he reveals that he took his first financial planning course at 15. “For whatever reason, I get really excited about budgets.” Not surprising that when Small Business BC judges looked at the company’s plan, they were impressed by My Tech Guys’ proven concept, well-defined corporate culture that includes business cards with baby pictures, and a fleet of funky Nissan Scargo vans.  Judges also noted that Wells and Swanson had a strong and loyal client base and ability to recognize and capitalize on competitors’ service gaps. Join the Small Business BC community, your business resource!  Learn how to grow your business. Check out tips, tools, or subscribe to the  newsletter.

Employees Kevin Klassen (left) and Adam Farr at the Best Western Inn in Kelowna. The hotel recently won the Sustainability Leader of the Year Award from the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.

Adam Farr and Kevin Klassen are playing a big part in British Columbia’s plan to make energy conservation part of everyone’s normal work routines.  Both work for the Best Western Inn in Kelowna and both are proud to have an employer who has been recognized as the Sustainability Leader of the Year by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.

“I feel proud and privileged to work for employers that are so conscious about the wellbeing of our environment,” said Farr, who works in the guest services department.  “It’s nice to know that we are part of the growing population of ‘green’.”

In order to win the Kelowna Chamber’s prestigious Sustainability Leader of the Year, the organization had to have implemented innovative practices to reduce negative environmental impacts and must have achieved significant results in environmental stewardship. The Chamber also noted that Greg Salloum,  president of the Best Western Inn, has demonstrated initiative in energy conservancy and has been a catalyst for change within their industry sector.

With assistance from the B.C. Government’s LiveSmart program, the hotel recently installed 101 solar panels to power 145 guest rooms, two hot tubs and a swimming pool. The retrofit will permanently reduce 90 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year.

Klassen adds, “Just a few days ago, a representative from Safeway mentioned how great it was that we used solar power. I think that the people who are environmentally conscious are more apt to be our customers.” Farr noted that guests are especially curious about the solar panels and geothermal power. He’s even had people call just to ask general questions about how the panels work.

Employers like this make us all want to initiate green initiatives both at work and our personal lives. How can you make a difference at work to ensure energy is available for everyone?

Read more information on how the Best Western Inn in Kelowna participated in the LiveSmart program.