Timmins Chamber of Commerce highlighted a full year’s worth of suc-cesses for the business community during the organization’s 66th Annual General Meeting and President’s Din-ner on Sept. 23.

Hosted at the Porcupine Dante Club, the event allowed more than 120 attendees to hear from immediate past president Al Thorne about the Cham-ber’s achievements through 2014-2015 in service of its nearly 750 members.

This included hosting more than 50 events in order to provide educa-tion and networking opportunities to local businesses, while offering more than 70 discounts to help members with their bottom line. This year also saw the Timmins Chamber achieve many policy and advocacy victories for members on such issues as the On-tario Retirement Pension Plan, min-ing taxation, energy rates and labour market information, due in part to the Chamber’s provincial and federal part-nerships.

The event also highlighted some lo-cal successes celebrated by the Cham-ber in 2014-2015, such as working with the City to provide better oppor-tunities to member businesses seeking to sell them goods and services, and successfully urging City Council to conduct a core services review. Due to be completed in mid-October, this re-view will allow the City to discover po-tentially significant savings for taxpay-ers, improve productivity, and identify opportunities for partnerships with the private sector.

Other milestones celebrated by the Timmins Chamber include contin-ued progress on its Business Takes the Lead program, which raises funds for

local post-secondary scholarships as well as one community project. This year, the Chamber saw the successful completion of construction for its Gil-lies Lake South Shore Promenade, and the launch of fundraising for two new City entrance signs to be built at High-way 655 and at the airport.

The Chamber’s successes also in-cluded the members’ election of a strong Board of Directors for 2015-2016, which joined Chamber Presi-dent Kurt Bigeau of Sun Life Financial in being officially sworn in by Tim-mins’ Deputy Mayor Noella Rinaldo as part of the evening’s proceedings.

Coming from a range of business

sectors and backgrounds, these six will now sit on the Chamber’s 21-member board, providing direction and guid-ance to its policy, advocacy and pro-grams on behalf of its 750-plus mem-bers.

The new additions to the Board include Daniel Ayotte, president of Paul Ayotte Insurance Brokers Lim-ited; Zachary Mayer, Manager of Mine Technical Services of Kidd Opera-tions; Dave McLaughlin, manager of the Timmins office of the Canadian Cancer Society; Jason Perratt, owner of Logikal Code; and Jean-Pierre Na-don, director of Collège Boréal in Timmins.

Two directors who served with the Board last year were also elected to return: Frank Haasen, co-owner of Haasen Farms Limited, as well as Ja-son Laneville, general/sales manager for CTV Television.

The annual general meeting also served to recognize individuals and businesses that have made significant contributions to the Chamber and the business community.

This year’s Service Award was given to Claude J. Gagnon of Claude J. Ga-gnon Professional Photography, in recognition of his six years of dedicat-ed service to the Chamber’s board of directors -- the maximum amount of

time someone can consecutively serve. “This is obviously a major invest-

ment of time and energy, and Claude has been steadfast throughout these many years in providing plenty of both to help advance the interests of busi-nesses throughout our region,” said Thorne.

“His presence at the Board level has always been appreciated.”

The Chamber also named Gagnon the recipient of this year’s Alex Kli-mack Award, which serves to recog-nize an outstanding volunteer for their hard work and commitment not only to the Chamber but the community as a whole. Gagnon dedicated countless hours in 2014-2015 to supporting the Chamber and its members through his tireless work on making it easier for employers to attract staff, on help-ing downtown businesses to better attract clientele, and on ways that the Timmins 2020 plan can better support the overall economy.

“Claude has long been an extremely active and vocal proponent on a broad range of business issues, and his years of sitting on and leading Chamber committees have quite rightfully given him a reputation as a strong advo-cate for Timmins’ business commu-nity,” said Thorne. “He has also been a tremendous representative for the Chamber by promoting the organiza-tion, participating in countless events, supporting our members, and gener-ally serving as a forceful, positive voice for change. The impact of the work that he has invested will be felt by the Chamber, our members, and the busi-ness community for years to come.” This event was sponsored by Eastlink and Porter.

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A Timmins chAmbER oF commERcE pUbLicATionChamber celebrates 66 years of success at Annual General Meeting

New 2015-2016 Board sworn in

The Timmins Chamber of Commerce’s 2015-2016 Board was officially sworn in at the 66th Annual General Meeting on Sept. 23.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your background and how you got involved with the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.

I am currently Chief Forester for Tembec Ontario operations based here in Timmins. Approximately five years ago, the Chamber approached me as they were looking with some forestry experience and I joined the Board of Directors soon afterwards.

Q: Which of your accomplishments from your year as Chamber president are you most proud?

I am particularly proud of the solutions-based ap-proach we take when tackling issues whether they are in the city, provincially, or nationally. This constructive approach has led to support on a variety of substantial policy initiatives such as workforce needs assessments, local budgets and regional procurement approaches with the city, and the ongoing discussion about the On-tario pension plan. In addition, I am grateful for all the member to member support and awareness within the

community that our 750 members receive through a variety of events and social media

Q: Are there any specific projects you were glad to see come to fruition?

The completion of the Gillies Lake promenade is a particularly great project and the use of this feature by area residents continues to grow, it seems. Also, it was good to be able to participate in the core services review and we look forward to positive results from that pro-cess as well, given that it will benefit all the residents in Timmins.

Q: What have you most enjoyed about your time as President?

For me, it was meeting so many people in this area and learning about the great work they do with their or-ganizations. In addition, seeing the generosity with local charities was also quite special. Finally, I am continually impressed with the variety of services we have here and the high standards of quality, safety, and environmental ethic that our businesses continue to demonstrate.

Q: What was the biggest challenge that you faced this year as Chamber President?

Perhaps the biggest challenge I would have faced was being able to find all the time to be present at as many events as I wanted to. All of us try to balance the many demands we have on our time but we are often not able to be there for all the requests. I normally never want to say I am too busy so it was difficult to admit at times I could not attend all the events I wished.

Q: What advice do you have for incoming presi-dent Kurt Bigeau?

I am sure Kurt will do an excellent job as president for this year so my advice would be minimal at best. That said, the one thing I would offer is to rely on our strong Board of Directors for support as they have been extremely helpful to me over the last year.

Q: Share a little bit about your background.I’ve been in the financial services field for

16 years, helping people build confidence and achieve their goals in retirement, education sav-ings for their children and protecting families and businesses with insurance. I’ve served on many boards in the community and get satisfac-tion in seeing the results of people coming to-gether to accomplish a common goal, regardless of the organization the boards represent.

Q: How and when did you first be-come involved with the Timmins Chamber

of Commerce?My first involvement with the Chamber came

about when Keitha proposed the formation of The Young Professionals Committee quite a few years back. I took pleasure in chairing that com-mittee for a couple of years and was encouraged by members of the board to put my name for-ward to become more active at the board level. I’ve enjoyed my time serving on different com-mittees and working my way up the executive to finish off my last two years in the most active way possible.

Q: How do you feel your background has prepared you to be successful in your role as Chamber president?

Working in financial services, my biggest re-ward comes from helping my clients develop a plan to satisfy their needs and achieve their financial goals. It’s no different working on the board. We work together to uncover needs of our members, and put forth plans and recom-mendations to fill those gaps that may exist in our members achieving their goals. I take pride in knowing I can serve as the voice of the board in helping our members find better ways to work, live and play in Timmins.

Q: What are you most looking forward to ac-complishing during your term?

I’m looking forward to helping our members become more engaged. As my theme for the year starts, it’s about letting everyone know what we do, how we do it and how it can benefit them. Whether you’re a member, non-member or new board member, the goal is to make sure that ev-eryone understands the value-added service that the Timmins Chamber of Commerce provides.

inside business2 - OCTOBER 2015

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Looking aheadWith 2015-2016 Chamber

President Kurt Bigeau

inside business OCTOBER 2015 - 3

As the Chamber year rolls on, the organi-zation’s many committees begin the work of advancing the interests of the organization’s 750 members on issues ranging from local purchasing to networking.

These groups guide the Chamber’s ef-forts to create a strong climate for business; the topics reflect the priorities expressed by Chamber members, and selected by the 21-member Board of Directors. Made up of volunteers, these groups meet regularly to discuss, advance, and develop policies and action plans on issues that affect Timmins businesses.

These committees and task forces also build on the work completed over the past year by the previous slate of advocacy groups, whose successes and foundational efforts help to strengthen this year’s projects.

If you’re interested in making a difference by participating in one or several of the fol-lowing committees, please contact the Cham-ber at (705) 360-1900, or via email at policy@timminschamber.on.ca.Municipal Affairs Committee

This standing committee continues to fo-cus on removing barriers to doing business in the City of Timmins, and promoting a healthy business climate at the local level. This is ac-

complished through a variety of initiatives, including lobbying, roundtables, as well as corresponding and collaborating with munic-ipal agencies, officials, and administration. The committee monitors municipal decisions and discussions that impact our members, and identifies issues that may be limiting the economic potential and/or growth of the city’s business community. The committee also serves to develop the Chamber’s presentation to city council on the municipal budget.Government Regulation and Policy Com-mittee

The Government Regulation and Policy Committee serves as an important umbrella group that will examine, develop and advo-cate for policies touching on legislative and regulatory

issues identified by members of the Tim-mins Chamber of Commerce. This advocacy work will be focused on addressing regula-tory issues affecting Timmins businesses; by representing members’ interests at the municipal, provincial and federal levels, this committee will ensure the stability and con-tinued growth of Timmins’ business climate. It will also examine and provide insight into government reports and commissions that could impact the regional business climate. Member Services and Events Committee

The Member Services and Events Commit-tee is a standing committee of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. It provides overall guidance and direction for the Chamber’s membership and promotional programs; this includes discount programs, Member of the Month program, fundraising, sponsorships,

and any Chamber member services. The committee also provides feedback for Cham-ber events and assists with event-specific vol-unteer recruitment as necessary.Business Takes the Lead

The Business Takes the Lead Committee provides overall guidance and direction for the Chamber’s Business Takes the Lead pro-gram, which raises funds for a community improvement project, as well as for scholar-ships for Timmins graduates.

After establishing a business centre at the airport, the program’s first large-scale proj-ect was to work with the Mattagami Regional Conservation Authority to raise $100,000 to build a new promenade on the south shore of Gillies Lake. With fundraising having completed last year and construction having wrapped up this summer, this effort to pre-serve Gillies’ shoreline is a testament to how our members have rallied around Business Takes the Lead.

The committee’s current project is the con-struction of branded entrance signs for the City on Highway 655 and at the airport, in order to enhance those already built by the city on Highway 101 East and West. This is in keeping with the Chamber’s past, as the orga-nization was once responsible for helping to build Timmins’ original entrance signs.Workforce Task Force

This committee seeks to develop solutions to the growing workforce gap that prevents businesses from accessing sufficient skills and staff to meet their specific needs. This issue remains one of the most consistently pressing barriers faced by the members of the

Timmins Chamber, as well as the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which in 2015 iden-tified the skills gap as one of the country’s top 10 barriers to competitiveness. Member Segmentation Hubs

The Member Segmentation project is de-signed to enhance the member experience by connecting individual entrepreneurs and businesses within each sector with the Cham-ber and with each other; this allows them to find greater value from the Chamber as they share information and best practices while working collaboratively to design events and programs tailored to their specific needs.

The work done by these groups over the last year has resulted in many new events and programs, all of which have been driven by the members themselves in response to their own business needs; this includes an informa-tion session on how to address specific HST issues, a number of promotional programs for what goods and services are available in the community, and a volunteer fair to help provide support for the Chamber’s non-profit members.

If you’re in the retail, hospitality, or non-profit sector, you should have already re-ceived an email from the Chamber inviting you to participate this year; if you haven’t and you’re interested, please be sure to reach out to the Chamber and we’ll be sure to add you to the appropriate mailing list and give you the details of the next meeting for your sector.

For more information on Member Seg-mentation Hubs or to join, contact Carmen Swartz at (705) 360-1900 or info@timmin-schamber.on.ca

Make a difference: join a Chamber committee

Ontario must act to mitigate rising electricity costs: Chamber reportSoaring electricity prices reach crisis point, according to new research

The impact of rising electricity costs on Ontario’s business community must be addressed by the provincial government, according to a new report from the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and 40 chambers of commerce and boards of trade.

With five recommendations that government and energy agencies should pursue to curb rising costs and keep businesses in the province, Empowering Ontario: Constraining Costs and Staying Competitive in the Electricity Market is the result of the most extensive consultations ever undertaken by the province-wide network. To produce the report, the OCC conducted a year-long research and consultative process with over 100 businesses, energy experts, and government agencies.

The report is a timely one, according to a new public opinion research from Leger, which cautions that soaring electricity prices have reached a crisis point for Ontario businesses and consumers. The research finds that 81 percent of Ontarians are concerned that rising electricity prices will impact the health of the Ontario economy and the same percentage fear that rising electricity prices will impact their disposable income.

These numbers rise to 91 percent in northern Ontario, where concern over the negative impact of rising electricity prices on the economy is the highest in the province. Northern Ontarians are also the most concerned about the impact on their disposable income, with 90.8% believing the price of power will be felt in their pocketbook.

“Our business members continue to identify the price of electricity as one of their greatest challenges, regardless of their size or sector,”

said Kurt Bigeau, President of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.

“We would urge the government to consider the recommendations in this report to mitigate the cost of doing business in Ontario. Such measures would make the province more competitive while helping to improve business confidence and protecting jobs.”

Industrial electricity rates have increased by 16 percent since 2013, and will increase by a further 13 percent over the next five years. Northern industries are particularly sensitive to these cost challenges, given the additional energy costs associated with the regional climate and distance to markets, said Bender.

According to a survey conducted by the OCC,

one in 20 businesses in Ontario will either shut their doors or move to another jurisdiction in the coming years due to these rising rates.

This has been particularly evident in Timmins, as rising energy rates were a factor in the relocation of Glencore’s Kidd Metallurgical Site to its Quebec facilities in 2010.

“We certainly applaud the Ontario government’s recognition of the unique conditions faced by businesses in our region, as it demonstrated when it made the $120-million Northern Industrial Electricity Program permanent earlier this year,” said Bender. “It was a welcome move to help the North’s large industrial firms by helping them to reduce electricity costs. However, more needs to be done to protect Ontario’s competitiveness, and this report stands as a good starting point.”

Among the report’s five recommendations is a push to improve the transparency of electricity pricing as well as factors contributing to increased system costs. By publishing average electricity rates and disclosing the costs of important investments, government will be held accountable for future decision-making. Currently, less than half of Ontarians understand the drivers that contribute to rising electricity bills.

The report also urges the government to consider moving away from a central procurement model, and look at a more competitive capacity market structure.

The report also identifies options that the government should not take or that have low potential for containing costs, such as importing hydroelectric power from Quebec to replace nuclear generation and cancelling feed-in tariff (FIT) contracts. Though common suggestions, the costs associated with such moves would

render either approach unfeasible. An analysis of all the options considered can be found at www.occ.ca

“The Ontario Chamber Network of 60,000 businesses consistently hears that the price of electricity is undermining their members’ capacity to grow, hire new workers, and attract investment,” said Allan O’Dette, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “The Government of Ontario has before them a number of decisions that must be made in order to bend the trajectory of soaring electricity costs.”

To further address the issue, the Timmins Chamber of Commerce has joined a coalition of 36 Ontario chambers of commerce and boards of trade calling on the provincial government to provide evidence that electricity prices will not increase as a result of its decision to sell off 60 percent of Hydro One.

“As the government moves forward with the sale of Hydro One, it is essential that it works to ensure that business operation in Ontario remains affordable by containing electricity costs,” said Bigeau.

A recent report by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), Empowering Ontario, called for increased transparency around electricity and system cost drivers from the provincial government. The partial sale of Hydro One should be subject to a similar level of scrutiny, the OCC-led coalition argues in a joint letter issued to the Government of Ontario on Aug. 20.

The Government of Ontario needs to ensure that the cumulative burden on business operation in the province does not increase due to the partial sale of Hydro One, the coalition’s letter states.

inside business4 - OCTOBER 2015

Ontario is joining a growing number of ju-risdictions who are taking action to address climate change, including large emitters like China and the United States.

The report, Clean Profits, highlights sev-en key recommendations that government should address through the development and implementation process of the cap and trade system. Adopting these recommendations will help to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of the system while mini-mizing the costs.

The report’s recommendations include:Conduct and publicly release the results of

an economic analysis of the proposed cap and trade system;

Direct cap and trade revenue to efforts that directly facilitate businesses’ transition to a lower carbon economy; and

Ensure that the structural realities of On-tario’s economy are reflected in the design of the system.

The OCC encourages the provincial government to continue engagement with all members of the business community throughout the system’s development. By working with businesses to address chal-lenges outlined in this report, the provincial government will be able to achieve its envi-ronmental goals while improving the growth and prosperity of Ontario’s economy.

Ontario Chamber of Commerce and coali-tion of employers call for clarity and express deep concern about proposed pension plan

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and a coalition of major Ontario em-ployers are calling on the provincial govern-ment to outline to the employer community the details of the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP).

In a letter addressed to Premier Kathleen Wynne, a coalition of more than 150 orga-nizations laid out five specific questions that reflect the collective concerns of Ontario em-ployers:

How will the ORPP impact Ontario’s GDP, jobs, and investment?

What assumptions has the Government made to arrive at its revised definition of comparability?

How will the government ensure that the ORPP is a cost-effective plan?

How will Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPPs) be implemented while preserving their advantages for employers?

How many current workplace pension plans are now considered comparable and how will employers verify the comparability of their plan?

The primary concern of the employer com-munity remains with the ORPP’s potential economic impact. This joint letter followed the government’s recent revision to the pro-posed plan’s comparability rules under the ORPP, which now include defined contribu-tion (DC) pension plans with a combined

contribution rate of 8 percent and where the employer contributes at least 4 percent.

Three Levels of Chambers of Commerce Concur that Canada’s Competitiveness De-pends On Access to Capital

Building a more economically competitive Canada requires innovative ideas, the busi-nesses to carry them and the capital to develop both. Three levels of chambers of commerce joined forces today to advise the campaigning parties that the next federal government has an important role to play in improving access to capital and supporting growing businesses.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal also requested that the federal parties unveil their strategies to grow the economy and to improve access to capital during a press conference held at Not-man House, a downtown Montreal business incubator.

“In Québec, there are many sources of venture capital, but businesses meet many challenges: long delays in getting the funds from providers to users, providers burden-ing the decision-making process, heavy legal and contractual obligations, and fear of losing controlling shares of the business. Business growth is the first step towards the economic

growth of the province. To remain competi-tive, we must go a step further by facilitating access to tax exemptions for capital gains and reinstating tax credits for the shareholders of labour investment funds,” said Françoise Ber-trand, President and CEO of the FCCQ.Linking Employers’ Needs with Education Is Crucial to Canada’s Competitiveness, Say Three Levels of Chambers of Commerce

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Alberta Chambers of Commerce and the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce all agree: there is a skills gap in Canada and we must act before the situation deteriorates.

Ken Kobly, President and CEO of the Al-berta Chambers of Commerce explained the situation: “With the recent downturn in oil prices, the pressures of a tight labour market are not as apparent, but even now, there are regions that are experiencing acute labour shortages. This problem is a chronic one and we need whatever government is elected on October 19 to have a solution to ensure that employers and workers are able to find each other, regardless of where we are in the busi-ness cycle. Business requires predictability and stability in addressing labour issues.”

Janet Riopel, President and CEO of the Ed-monton Chamber of Commerce, comment-ed: “The economic engines that power Cana-da are fueled by a skilled workforce. Without skilled people, we limit growth and we limit our potential. Now, more than ever before, we need action from all levels of government to address our workforce challenges.”

News from the Chamber network Ontario Chamber of Commerce Urges Province to Design Cap and Trade System in a Way that Protects Jobs

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Having spent $71 million in the Tim-mins area over the last 18 months, De-tour Gold is as positive about its local impact as it is about its future, accord-ing to Paul Martin, president and CEO.

Speaking to attendees of the Timmins Chamber’s Inside Their Business with Detour Gold at the Porcupine Dante Club on Sept. 17, Martin outlined the numerous local benefits provided by its Detour Lake mine, located 185 kilome-ters northeast from Cochrane.

This includes having more than 140 local businesses on its purchasing list, and employing more than 100 with an annual payroll of $136 million. This is anticipated to total $2.7 billion in sal-aries over the next 20 years, in which time Detour Gold expects to spend more than $10 billion in capital and operating expenses.

In fact, Martin revealed to the audi-ence of 120 that by deriving 90 percent of its labour locally and sourcing sup-pliers from within the region, the com-pany benefits from a 30 percent reduc-tion in operating costs.

“Investing locally is a key part of our sustainability strategy,” said Martin.

When it is feasible, Detour Gold sources jobs, labour and equipment lo-cally, but there still remains a challenge when it comes to procuring and repair-ing certain types of equipment. A lot of the equipment used by the mine is far larger, and exceeds the capacity of the

services, facilities and accessibility of equipment available through suppliers and contractors in the region.

However, this shortcoming in turn represents a positive opportunity for local businesses that are poised to ex-pand, said Martin.

As the second largest operating gold mine in Canada, Detour Gold is also seeing opportunities in the state of the Canadian dollar. While the market cur-rently reflects a declining Canadian dollar, Detour Gold is actually benefit-ting.

With a total of 80% of costs denomi-nated in Canadian dollars, the lower performing currency “is a huge benefit for a company that sells its revenue in US dollars,” Martin said, emphasiz-

ing the advantages of investing in and providing opportunities for local busi-nesses and suppliers.

With a declining Canadian dollar, the company ensures sustainability and certainty in the gold market by hedg-ing gold. The company’s hedged gold runs out this quarter, though Martin remains optimistic about hedging gold at $1,200 per ounce.

This advantage pairs well with the strong level of support the mine has received throughout the development and operation of the Detour Lake mine. Indeed, the receptiveness and support of mining demonstrated by the prov-ince and its communities proved to be advantageous to Detour Gold’s produc-tion, said Martin.

“It’s a good time to be a Canadian mine.”

There seems to be no better time or place for such a project, he added, given the “stable environment, good currency and regions that understand mining and its practices.”

As an example of that positivity, the Detour Lake Mine poured its one mil-lionth ounce of gold on Sept. 16, ap-proximately 30 months after pouring its first gold bar on Feb. 18, 2013. Similarly, the second quarter of 2015 saw a record gold production of 125,348 ounces. The company has also embarked on an $8 million exploration program for 2015, with 30,000 metres of drilling at Lower

Detour having started in June.Despite these successes, Detour Gold

continues to investigate new ways to reduce costs at its Detour Lake opera-tions.

Martin highlighted one such ex-ample: Detour’s introduction of In-pit Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling. In-fluenced by the Australian mining con-cept, RC drilling is not a new technol-ogy, but an innovative and uncommon one coming from mines in the region. An estimated 150 kilometres have been drilled this year using the technology as a method of defining the extracted material as high or low grade, or waste in pre-drilling.

In-pit RC drilling has proven an es-sential tool for a mine that digs for quality, not quantity, said Martin.

Looking to the future, Detour Gold hopes to leave a legacy in the North-ern Ontario mining industry. Martin’s hope for the company was that its in-vestments in training will materialize in skills transfers to the industry and to local service and supply firms.

Ideally, he suggested, technologies like In-pit RC drilling and the compa-ny’s valued aboriginal partnerships will contribute to the economic sustainabil-ity of Detour Gold and other mines in the region.

“Gold is alive and well in Canada.” This event was sponsored by Northern College.

inside business OCTOBER 2015 - 5

Detour Gold success benefiting local firms

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Paul Martin (right), President and CEO of Detour Gold, shakes hands with Barend Koorzen, an attendee of a Sept. 17 presentation at a Timmins Chamber Inside Their Business event. Martin outlined the economic benefits the Detour Lake Mine provides to the region.

inside business6 - OCTOBER 2015

inside business OCTOBER 2015 - 7

Having sold out its 160 spots nearly a month in advance, the Timmins Chamber of Com-merce’s Member Golf Tourna-ment, hosted in partnership with J&B Cycle and Marine, proved once again to be one of the organization’s most suc-cessful events of the year.

Held July 9 at the Spruce Needles Golf Club, the event saw 40 teams compete across the18-hole course, and includ-ed fantastic door prizes, raf-fles, and achievement-based prizes. The day closed off with a delicious meal at the Spruce Needles Clubhouse. While a specific few were celebrated for their achievements on the links, every player walked away with prizes in hand as a “thank you” for taking part.

Thanks to all participants, volunteers and sponsors for coming out and making this event such a success!

Chamber golfers hit the links for Annual Member Golf Tournament

inside business8 -OCTOBER 2015

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solutions for our clients and strive to better serve their needs. We also work with other local businesses to bring the highest quality heating and ventilation solutions.

Conveyors Plus Ltd.(705) 268-4466Manufacturing and Equipment Repair[www.conveyorsplus.ca]

Conveyors Plus, located in Timmins Ontario, specialized in the fabrication, assembly and installation of the patented Sure Align Tracker belt conveyor alignment system for the mining, oil and gas, and material handling sectors. Conveyors Plus’ Sure Align Tracker is an af-fordable and proven system that immediately increases safety, productivity and cost savings. Since its inception in 2004, the company has experienced significant growth by introducing this innovative and highly successful alignment system in major mines around the world. The company currently has systems installed with Newmont, FMI, Xstrata, BHP, Lafarge, Barrick, Rio Tinto, Vale, Goldcorp, Detour, Codelco, IOC, Brigus Gold, DeBeers Diamond Mines, Coal mines, CNRL Oil Sands and Potash Corporation.

D!Chef(705) 262-7658Catering[www.dchef.ca]

From an early age, Diane has had a passion for the culinary arts, and sought out opportuni-ties to practice her craft wherever she went. As a youth she would always be welcomed to visit in her friends’ homes because they knew she

would have something special in mind to make for dinner. Exclamations of “D!Chef has ar-rived!” would greet her as she came in the door. And so the D! Chef brand was born.

Like her own learning experience has been, Diane sees each menu she creates as a culinary journey that she shares with her clients. She seeks to get to know the people she is cooking for personally, and builds a meal to suit their tastes. She uses her varied experience to sug-gest dishes to suit how people are feeling that day, the weather conditions, or to correspond with an ethnic holiday, giving people a taste of something not otherwise readily available in Timmins.

As a Timmins entrepreneur, Diane maintains a close relationship with local farmers. This way she helps contribute to a healthy local food market, and can always ensure the quality of her ingredients by going straight to the source. In this way, D!Chef seeks to provide Timmins with a unique, local dining experience that is good for your taste buds, and good for our city!

Detail Media & Communications(705) 262-4960Marketing and Graphic Design[www.detailmedia.ca]

Detail Media offers the expertise of concen-trated implementation through some of the latest communication initiatives. Its wide range of solutions will incorporate and embrace customer relationships, by offering a hands-on approach to all marketing, consulting, and communications services.

Things get busy, but we must stay focused. We’ve got goals and they need to be met. We have set a few important objectives, which we strive to achieve for each and every client and project.

- Work within, fulfill and enhance contractual services

- Become a leader in customer service and client relationships

- Deliver the most professional and contem-porary services available

We want to be known for strong customer service at a respectable price, while delivering a hands-on approach to marketing and com-munication services for regional businesses and organizations. Hands-on means; to make sure clients are aware, understand and provide input into the plan, approach and movement towards better marketing tactics.

DSI Services(705) 268-2121Mining Contractors and Suppliers[www.dsiservices.ca]

Incorporated in 2013, DSI Services is owned and operated in Timmins, Ontario. DSI Ser-vices specializes in commercial and industrial heavy duty cleaning, non-destructive excava-tion, coating removal and application, landfill and waste disposal management, high pressure washing, industrial vacuuming, hydro-excava-tion and hot water thawing and steaming.

Duck in a Tub Bath & Body Products(705) 221-6845Health & Beauty[www.duckinatub.ca]

We are a small company based in Timmins, Ontario. We are a team of two that came together with the common interest and passion for creating natural, luxurious and fun bath and body products. Between the both of us, we bring to you over twenty years of experience and product knowledge in the beauty indus-try, a degree in engineering and business, a diverse multicultural background with strong influences from European culture and practices and also many years of product manufacturing using aromatherapy products.

We continue to learn every day through study and research as well as hands-on workshops. We consider ourselves modern-day artisans and are proud to say we make everything by hand using the finest ingredients available, including therapeutic-grade essential oils from around the world and bases that are free of harmful SLS’s, parabens, petroleum, and other toxins. Where some of our products may not include essential oils, we make sure to use phthalate-free fragrance oils to ensure that we provide the level of superior quality products that are safe for skin and irritant-free for our loyal customers.

Our products are always made in small batches to guarantee freshness and are hand-cut, packaged and labeled by us with our self-created designs. Although time consum-ing, we go the extra mile to make everything ourselves, while providing a beautiful spa-look and quality to all our products! We will always strive to give you, the consumer, the very best in all we have to offer and continue to expand our line with new and exciting ideas. We look forward to creating, developing and perfect-ing our products for years to come because we believe in what we do, so please follow us on this journey.

We thank you all for your continued support since you are the reason we are given the op-portunity to keep doing what we love to do on a daily basis and for this, we are truly grateful!

inside business OCTOBER 2015 - 9

Managing Editor: Keitha RobsonEmail: krobson@timminschamber.on.ca

Editor: Nick StewartEmail: policy@timminschamber.on.ca

Advertising Opportunities: Carmen SwartzEmail: info@timminschamber.on.ca

Published by:

Timmins Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 985, Timmins, Ontario, P4N 7H6

(705) 360-1900

Fax: (705) 360-1193

www.timminschamber.on.ca

Inside Business is an information package provided to members of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce and buinesses at large. The positions expressed in by-lined columns are the opinion of the subject editor and do not reflect the position of the Timmins Chmber of Commerce unless specifically stated. The Timmins Chamber of Commerce assumes no responsibility for statements or claims made by advertisers. “Inside Business” is published 6 times per year by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. Issues are published quarterly. Closing date is the second Friday of the previous month. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission.

New member profiles

To advertise in

Inside Business, please contact Carmen Swartz at

(705) 360-1900 or

info@timminschamber.on.ca

inside business10 -OCTOBER 2015

You’ve seen them at Chamber events, you’ve received their phone calls, and you’ve had them swing by your workplace; now in their fourth year, the dedicated volunteer Chamber Ambassadors continue to help businesses make the most of their membership.

Initially unveiled in Septem-ber 2011, the Timmins Cham-ber of Commerce’s Ambassador program consists of a motivat-ed group of entrepreneurs and business professionals acting as crucial liaisons between the Chamber and their fellow members.

This team of Ambassadors has been incredibly active in reaching out to the member-ship, whether it’s a personal call to congratulate a particular milestone, or a helping hand and an introduction or two at one of the Chamber’s many events. They graciously serve as front-line representatives, guiding new and seasoned members alike to get the most out of their involvement with

the Chamber. This service is invaluable for

both the Chamber and its mem-bers, while also providing the Ambassadors themselves with ample opportunities to increase their own professional recogni-tion and networks. By helping to be the face of the Chamber, Ambassadors also earn expo-sure for their respective busi-nesses.

If you’re interested in join-ing the Chamber Ambassador team, please contact Carmen Swartz at the Chamber at (705) 360-1900, or via email at info@timminschamber.on.ca

In this and the coming issues of Inside Business, the Timmins Chamber will profile individual Ambassadors to help members get to know this energetic team of volunteers.

Chamber Ambassador Me-lissa Pilotte

Q: What is your job/place of employment?

A: I am a Commercial Ac-count Executive at PBL In-

surance (formerly Davidson deLaplante Insurance) in Tim-mins.

Q: Why did you de-cide to become a Chamber

Ambassador?A: For the past few years, I

have thoroughly enjoyed at-tending numerous Chamber events as a member. They are always very informative, and provide great networking op-portunities. I decided to be-come a Chamber Ambassador as I wanted to do my part in helping to promote the Cham-ber to existing members and to those who have yet to become members.

Q: What work is involved in being a Chamber Ambas-sador?

A: Our Ambassador group meets on a regular basis to dis-cuss ways in which we can con-tinue to generate interest in the Chamber. We make a point of connecting with members, new and old, to encourage participa-tion in the wide array of social and educational events avail-able. We also help to educate our members as to the many other ways the Chamber can help them “do business better” in today’s market.

Q: What do you enjoy most about this role?

A: I really enjoy the social as-pect: meeting new people and connecting with familiar faces. It also feels great to help new Chamber members feel wel-come, and to see all members take part in the great social events and excellent education available.

Q: What benefit do you feel the Ambassador program of-fers to members?

A: Our Ambassador group helps to bridge the gap between Chamber members and the vast array of events and education available to them.

Q: How do you benefit pro-fessionally from serving in this role?

A: Being am Ambassador provides fantastic networking opportunities, and is a great way to learn more about busi-nesses in Timmins.

Q: How would you sum-marize your experience as an Ambassador thus far?

A: Fantastic!

Chamber Ambassadors making a difference

Melissa Pilotte

Erin Thomson Chiropractic Professional Corporation(705) 235-4255Physiotherapy, Chiropody and Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic Services - Manual Therapy, Soft Tissue Therapy, Orthotic Therapy, Acupuncture Services - Contemporary Medical Acupuncture

Feathers and Leathers Ltd.(705) 531-2281Health and Beauty[www.feathersandleathers.ca]

Adult novelty items available in store, at a home party or on the web. “Come in and Explore”

Genier Financial Services – Ryan Perkins(705) 360-5555Financial Institutions and Services [www.genierfinancial.com]

Everyone needs some guidance from time to time, and nowhere is this truer than when it comes to making decisions about money. That’s why, when Genier Financial Services was started, it was built on a simple but powerful idea: planning and believing.

Genier Financial Services provides complete financial planning for families in the Timmins area, with an additional expertise in addressing the needs of business owners. Planning ensures that you have a clear picture of what you want to achieve financially, and why that matters to you. With that in mind, we build practical financial plans to help you achieve your vision for the future. That might mean investing, put-ting insurance in place, disability and critical illness protection, group benefits, mortgage products, and any number of other solutions that would be sensible, based on your plan.

But, hand-in-hand with planning, comes be-lieving. Quite simply, we believe in our clients so much, that we help them hold themselves accountable to their own goals. We’ll encour-age you, remind you and believe in you along the way.

Handling your wealth shouldn’t be a chore, it should be an experience that builds confidence, clarity and a sense of personal worth, not just net worth. Let us help you build your compre-hensive plan so you can know your path, and act on it.

Hampton Inn by Hilton Timmins(705) 531-6000Accommodations [www.timmins.hamptonbyhilton.com]

Overlooking the beautiful Mattagami River, the 7-story Hampton Inn by Hilton Timmins hotel is situated directly between downtown Timmins and the main shopping district of the city and only steps to several popular restau-rants.  

Unwind in a spacious guest room or suite, prop your laptop on the handy lap desk and check emails with free WiFi. Relax on the clean and fresh Hampton Bed and browse over 60 HD channels on the 40” flat-screen HDTVs. Join us each morning for fresh-baked waffles, fruit, yogurt and more at Hampton’s free hot breakfast. If you’re heading out early, grab a free Hampton’s On the Run Breakfast Bag™, Monday-Friday. Buy drinks, snacks, sundries and souvenirs in the 24-hour “Treats” convenience store.

Energize with state-of-the-art Precor equip-ment in the 24-hour fitness center… the largest of its kind in the city, or swim in the sparkling indoor pool. The hotel also offers meeting and event facilities for up to 120 guests, a 24 hour Business Centre and guest laundry area.

Guests can also receive extra value by col-lecting points through the free Hilton Honors loyalty program.     

M.Y. Studio(705) 360-1711Beauty Salons, Spas and Tanning

Family hair care and barbering profession-als. Bilingual service and walk-ins welcome. Eyebrow tinting and waxing, cuts, colours, extensions, hot shaves, up do’s and more.

Radical Gardens(705) 465-3651Farms[www.radicalgardens.com]

Online Farmer’s Market, Local Farm, and epic eatery.

Timmins & District Humane Society(705) 264-1816Veterinarian Services[www.timminshumanesociety.ca]

Charitable organization providing Animal Control and Animal Welfare/Cruelty/Educa-tion services to Timmins and surrounding communities.

Timmins Rock Junior A Hockey Club Inc.(705) 232-0566Amusement and Entertainment[www.timminsrock.com]

The Timmins Rock Compete in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) and are one of the 131 Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) teams who compete for the RRC (National Title Hockey Canada). The twelve team NOJHL is one of ten CJHL mem-ber Junior “A” leagues Canada-wide. Notable franchise alumni - Steve Sullivan (1991-1992)

Unforgettables(705) 531-3924Home and Garden[www.unforgettables.ca]

Unforgettables Home and Garden Decor & Gift Shop is located in Schumacher, ON in an historic home on the Platt Vet Property. Own-er/operator Joseph Stanlake is gradually returning the home and grounds to its’ former charm and grandeur of days gone by, when the property was owned by the McIntyre Mines.

Joseph is always in search of new and unique items for the shop and will do his best to find custom pieces for his clientele. Old fashioned customer service is very important to him and he will go above and beyond to provide this. His experience in business is exten-

sive. People continue to talk about his first shop, The Greenery Fresh Flower & Gift Shop in South Porcupine. Joseph also has much de-sign experience that has included event decor for large weddings and corporate functions and the International Film Festival in Toronto and has worked in other parts of southern Ontario and also locations in the United States.

Joseph is also a certified Home Stager and offers in home consultations. Home staging is the only service performed in preparation for selling a home that actually brings measur-able value. It provides a huge edge over the competition in a highly competitive real estate market. Staged Homes sell faster and have fewer days on the market than homes that have not been staged. The cost for a Home Stag-ing Consult is far less than what the first price reduction will be when a home has not sold.

The Unforgettables Holiday Home Tour is quickly becoming one of the main events to start the Christmas Season. Homes are decorat-ed by local business to showcase their products and talent and with the purchase of a ticket, the public in invited to tour the homes. Once again this year, the Timmins and District Humane Society will benefit from the proceeds of the tour in support of “Buddy’s Fund”. 

Unforgettables provides a quality and relaxing shopping experience and will continue to offer unique and diverse merchandise at affordable prices. Unforgettables is the exclusive distribu-tor of the Original…. Picard Peanuts. 

“An Unforgettable Experience”

In 2015, La caisse populaire de Timmins is celebrating its 75-year anniversary. In order to celebrate this great milestone, the Timmins Chamber asked La caisse’s Emilie Deschênes a few questions about this achievement.

Q: Provide a brief description of your business.

This year, we are celebrating our 75th anniversary, having opened our doors to the community in 1940! This represents three quar-ters of a century of growth, success and friendships. Over the years, our financial institution has helped to achieve goals and make dreams come true while maintaining a strong connection with our mem-bers and our community.

In the past year, La caisse popu-laire de Timmins’ assets have grown by 9.12%. These assets now total $233 million. Moreover, our lend-ing portfolio has grown by 4.3%. Our current portfolio consists of $60 million in commercial lending, $102.6 million in mortgage lend-ing, $31.5 million in personal lend-ing and $182.8 million in deposits.

As a cooperative, it is one of the Caisse’s missions to contribute to

the betterment of what matters the most: our local communities, our citizens, our families and our chil-dren.

Q: How many employees do you have?

Our team consists of 37 full- and part-time employees in Timmins, Iroquois Falls and Val Gagné.

Q: What factors have helped you to successfully reach this par-ticular milestone?

Our excellent service, our friendly and devoted staff, our ex-emplary board of directors, our involvement in the community, our expertise and our competi-tive rates are some of the elements that make us a strong and success-ful financial institution. Moreover, the dividends that we return to our members make us unique! In 2014, La caisse populaire de Timmins granted $600,000 to its members. That means a total of $3.2 million has been distributed locally within the last seven years!

We are responsive to our mem-bers’ needs, and we always strive to offer the services and products that best suit their needs.

Financial decisions are made lo-

cally, and therefore the process is simple, the response time for ap-proval is prompt and our members are satisfied.

Q: What has been your most memorable moment in business?

The construction of our new building at 45 Mountjoy Street North in 1998 was a memorable moment. As we moved into our new office in November 1998, growth accelerated, new members joined, a new point of service was

added on Riverside Drive, and two branches were acquired in Iroquois Falls and Val Gagné.

Q: What’s one interesting thing about your business that people might not be aware of?

All of our services are offered both in French and in English.

Our service is personalized, all requests are considered on an in-dividual basis, and all calls are an-swered locally and returned within 24 hours.

Our head office at 45 Mountjoy Street North is open on Saturdays (from September to May) with ex-tended hours on Thursdays (9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Fridays (9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

When you join the Caisse, you become an owner. We are a coop-erative organization which means that we are owned by our members and it is our mandate to fully meet their needs and ensure their com-plete satisfaction.

Financial investments may entitle our members to potential dividends each year. Not only do we offer the best rates in town, but we always work towards the enhancement of our members’ investment returns. For example, under the new rules outlined in the federal budget, you can invest up to $10,000 in a Tax-Free Savings Account this year. We are helping you get the most out of your money by offering a 2.25% interest rate plus dividends, which could represent an extra 0.25%.

We offer free parking, and drive-thru ATMs are available at two different locations (45 Mountjoy Street North and 1465 Riverside Drive in Timmins).

inside business OCTOBER 2015 - 11

Chamber Ambassdor Brigitte Beaupré presents Jocelyn St-Pierre (left) and Anne Vinet Roy (right) of La caisse populaire de Timmins with a special Member Milestone plaque to celebrate their 75-year anniversary.

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inside businessOCTOBER 2015 - 12

Cutting the ribbon on YPBS Consulting

Advocating on behalf of Timmins businesses

Members of the Timmins Chamber Board of Directors met with Ministry of Northern Development and Mines Deputy Minister David De Launay on Sept. 29 to discuss key provincial issues that matter to the Cham-ber’s 750 members. Topics included mining tax rates, the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, the Endangered Species Act, energy rates, the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan, and cap and trade.Left to right: Val Venneri, Nancy Mageau, Zach Mayer, and Deputy Minister David De Launay.

Business Takes the Lead on Gillies Lake

Promenade

The Gillies Lake South Shore Promenade was officially open to the public following a ribbon cutting on July 22. The $100,000 project was completed as a joint effort between the Timmins Chamber’s Business Takes the Lead Committee and the Wintergreen Fund as a way of preserving the shoreline and beautifying the well-used community jewel.Pictured, from left to right: Ron Leduc, board member with the Trillium Foundation; Mike Doody, chair of the Wintergreen Fund; and Phil Barton, chair of the Timmins Chamber’s Business Takes the Lead Committee.

Lynne Groulx, owner of Your Professional Business Solutions (YPBS) Consulting, cuts the ribbon alongside City Councillor Walter Wawrzaszek as well as her family in order to mark the grand opening of the 11 Rea St. N, Suite 208 location on August 25. YPBS Consulting works with small and medium-sized businesses in order to support them to achieve their financial goals, such as personal or corporate tax preparation, accounting, and business plans.

Welcoming the new Hampton Inn by Hilton

Timmins

July 14 saw the official grand opening of the new Hampton Inn by Hilton Timmins, a seven-storey hotel located at 848 Riverside Drive. The new hotel includes a 24-hour fitness centre, a 24-hour business centre, an indoor pool, as well as meeting and event facilities for up to 120 guests.From left: Liz O’Neill, Sales Manager; John Crescenzi, General Manager; Steve Black, Mayor of Timmins; Steve Pocrnic, Owner/Developer; Darko Vranich, Owner/Developer; Karen McQuade, Regional Director – Sales and Marketing; Peter Tosh, Director of Operations