Kamloops Business

An exclusive feature publication of The Daily News OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

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A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTHLOCAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OUTLOOK REMAINS STEADY — DESPITE CHALLENGES

2 KAMLOOPS BUSINESS OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

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Kamloops Business is published six times a year by The Kamloops Daily News advertising department, 393 Seymour St., Kamloops, B.C. V2C 6P6. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission.

Unsolicited material will not be returned. Publisher assumes no responsibility. For editorial information, contact Kamloops Business editor Robert Koopmans.

A division of Glacier Media Group. Publications Mail Registration No. 0681.

Phone (250) 372-2331

Publisher TIM SHOULTS

INSIDEBrent Ortwein, site superintendent for A&T Project Developments Ltd., checks the progress of a renovation at Kamloops Hot Yoga in the Brock Shopping Centre.

COVER STORY

A Clean Bill Of HealthWIth A StrONg cONtINgENt Of LOcAL BUILdErS ON BOth cOMMErcIAL ANd rESIdENtIAL PrOjEctS, ANd dEvELOPMENtS BUSILy UNdErwAy IN SEvErAL NEIghBOUrhOOdS AcrOSS thE cIty, A chEcK-UP ON thE LOcAL cONStrUctION SEctOr yIELdS A cLEAN BILL Of hEALth. /PAgE 12 Editor

ROBERT KOOPMANS

Contributing writersJennifer Sloan Jennifer Muir

Manager, Specialty Publications KESHAV SHARMA

The Daily News is a member of the B.C. Press Council. It is published daily except Sundays and most holidays at 393 Seymour St., Kamloops, B.C. V2C 6P6.

Advertising Director KEVIN DERgEz

MUrrAy MItchELL /KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

FEATURES

NSBIA Report, 25

By The Numbers, 26

KCBIA Report, 27

Tech Talk, 22

TRU Views, 19

Editor’s Message, 6

Q&A, 30

Chamber News, 20

Across The River, 18

Venture Kamloops, 28

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

Clash Of The ConsolesPlayStation 3 versus Xbox 360 versus Nintendo Wii: Which is best? /22

Consider Options For Strategic Plan

Classic Case Of Supply And DemandShrinking supply of industrial land a concern for Kamloops officials /8

One-size-fits-all approach fails to address ‘unique situations’ /10


Builders Liens:some basics

byJoaquinMariona

Builders Liens are an essential tool for those that need to collect monies owed to them in relation to an improvement to land in British Columbia. The Builders Lien Act (BLA) defines “improvement” as including “anything made, constructed, erected, built, altered, repaired or added to, in, on or under land, and attached to it or intended to become a part of it, and also includes any clearing, excavating, digging, drilling,

tunnelling, filling, grading or ditching of, in, on or under land”. The BLA allows those that do work and/or supply material in relation to an improvement to claim a lien. There are some exceptions to the type of “land” that is lienable, including highways and certain forest service roads.A claim is generally made by filing a Claim of Lien form at the proper Land Title Office. In order to complete the form correctly, it is necessary to have the exact legal description of the property in question. Setting out the civic address of the property on the form will not suffice. It is also necessary to include how much the claim of lien is for, as well as the name of the party that engaged the lien claimant and a general descript of the work done or the material supplied.It is very important to keep in mind that there are certain, very strict, limitations involved in properly filing the claim of lien. The BLA states that if a certificate of completion has been issued with respect to a contract or subcontract, the contractor or subcontractor and anybody hired by or under the contractor or subcontractor, has 45 days after the issuing of the certificate to file the claim of lien. If no certificate of completion has been issued, then a claim of lien must be filed no later than 45 days after the head contract is completed, abandoned or terminated, or if there is no head contract, no later than 45 days after the improvement is completed or abandoned. The office that receives claims of lien will not question

whether a claim of lien is filed in time. Thus, the mere fact that the claim of lien is accepted for filing does not necessarily mean that it was filed in time. Once a lien is filed against the title of a property, it can only be removed with the consent of the lien claimant or by court order. Since a lien is registered against the title of the property, it will have the effect of placing a stumbling block to prevent the sale or transfer of the property in question. Liens are enforced by commencing a lawsuit in Supreme Court. It is sometimes the case, however, that the property owner and lien claimant will solve the issue without reaching that stage. If, however, the parties involved are unable to reach some sort of agreement, the lien claimant faces a further limitation period in that a lawsuit must be commenced no later than one year from the date that the claim of lien was filed. Not only that, but a charge on title of the liened property, called a certificate of pending litigation, must also be filed at the proper Land Title Office within the same limitation period. Once the lawsuit is filed, the litigation process begins and follows its course until the parties either reach an agreement or a judge renders a decision as to what should be done.To say that the above summary is a very basic overview of how builders lien work in British Columbia is an understatement. The law surrounding builders lien is intricate and technical. If you are faced with a situation involving a builders lien, whether as a property owner, contractor or subcontractor, we highly recommend that you obtain independent legal advice to explore your rights and obligations. Call us. We can help.

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Building Our Past — and Our FutureConstruction industry provides flesh and bones of community

> EDiTOR’S MESSAgE

Of all the commercial activities that fuel a com-munity’s economy, perhaps none is as important as its

construction industry.Not for the dollars it generates,

which can be significant, but for a more important reason. Construction, be it residential or commercial, shapes the look and feel of a city or town in ways that other commercial activities cannot.

Builders create the structures that form the physical embodi-ment of a community. The build-ings that spring from the ground

under their tools and guidance are there for all to see. They are the flesh and bones in which a community’s spirit resides.

Look at the downtown core, with its many heritage build-ings, including brick structures like the Old Cigar Factory and the former Bank of Commerce building, now home to Venture Kamloops and The Brownstone Restaurant respectively. They were built more than a century ago, and still form a unique and important part of the personality of Kamloops.

Likewise for the impressive structures being erected at TRU. The Brown Family House of Learning and the newly renovated Old Main building are examples. The new TRU buildings are shaping the feel of Kamloops in ways that only a world-class post-secondary school can. And there are many new residen-tial neighbourhoods springing up that are just as distinctive.

New colours and styles, all built around an ecological standard that will ensure they are as functional as they are nice to look at. Kamloops’s builders are doing us proud.

The city has been experiencing a bit of a commercial con-struction boom lately, something evident in the numbers. This year, as writer Jennifer Muir discovered while researching her story about the construction industry for Kamloops Business, the City set near records for commercial building permits.

There is no greater sign of confidence in a community than a builder’s commitment to his chosen enterprise. So many of the houses and offices we come to accept as part of the city landscape were built not with a sale in hand but the hope of one in mind. There’s a big difference; builders and contractors are true entrepreneurs. They take risks with their money, and those risks inevitably benefit the community.

Robert Koopmans is editor of Kamloops Business. You can reach him at [email protected]. KB


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Healthy economies are built on planned and balanced growth initiatives and Kamloops’s economy has been built largely

on its industrial base. Heavy and light industry provides

a large portion of the City’s tax base and much of the payroll that finances the other facets of the local economy; they are an important piece.

But as residential and commercial development expands, the availability for industrial lands lessens. The shrink-ing land supply is increasingly a concern

for Kamloops officials.In February 2011, the City of Kamloops

partnered with the Chamber of Commerce, Venture Kamloops, real estate agencies, and other key develop-ers to examine the availability of industrial lands in municipal boundar-ies. They found that while there was an adequate supply of land, not all of it was necessarily desirable.

Eric Beach, planning and development supervisor for the City explains: “We require larger industrial parcels and smaller pieces that are near major trans-

port routes.”According to Dan Sulz, executive

director of Venture Kamloops, there are four key factors that determine the viability of industrial development — land ownership structure, location and accessibility, geographical and agricul-tural land reserve considerations, and infrastructure availability.

Sulz points out that Kamloops also lacks vacant industrial building space.

“We don’t have a ready supply of empty warehouses here, and that’s a good thing, but industries often look for existing facilities that they could move into.”

He goes on to explain the difficulty in drawing larger industrial operations.

“It’s difficult to attract major industrial companies because they go where the resources are . . . Our biggest opportuni-ty is to attract companies that supply the industrial base.”

Because Kamloops’s land prices are cost effective compared to other cities in the province — as well as the fact the city is centrally located, making travel to and from here easy — Sulz believes that the future of Kamloops’ industrial devel-opment is bright.

“I am a proponent that if we attract the right companies and the right jobs, we will create a strong, viable, diversified industry base that will support the (other) economic sectors,” he says.

But where can these companies locate?

Beach identifies the southwest of the city as a target area.

“The Iron Mask subdivision is the area we are looking at expanding industrial uses,” Beach says.

Of the 21 properties in the Iron Mask East Industrial Area, five are vacant. The remaining 16 are being used for indus-trial purposes or they have been used in the past and have vacant structures ready for occupancy.

In the Iron Mask West area, there are 11 parcels of land, eight of which are zoned for future development.

There is also talk about expansion in the Campbell Creek area, but Beach is hesitant.

“If you start putting in all that infra-structure for industry (out there) and there’s no demand, that’s not good for taxpayers.”

Mona Murray of MCM Real Estate has seen that Beach’s concern is valid.

> iNDUSTRY

IS THERE SUPPLY

INDUSTRIAL

LANDTO MEET THE DEMAND?

STORY BY JENNIFER SLOAN PHOTO BY KEITH ANDERSON

Absorbent Products Ltd., located at 714 Sarcee St. E. in the Mt. Paul Industrial Park.


“[Industrial developers] are envision-ing more of a planned park and the Campbell Creek area has not been as popular with people as the Iron Mask West development . . . It’s proximity to city centre,” she says.

MCM’s clients are looking for flat par-cels that cover two to 10 acres, according to Murray. They want good signage opportunities on highway corridors and easy access to travel routes.

“There isn’t the right type of [land] product available,” says Murray. “I’ve got a fellow who emails me every couple weeks asking if anything has opened up, but nothing has come available. The City needs to continue to pursue some more industrial land development.”

Such industrial development comes with a cost that goes beyond dollars and cents. To guide expansion, the City has developed a sustainability and air-shed quality plan that has three initiatives — economic development, social planning, and environmental stewardship.

What the City is trying to do is hold developers to a higher standard, right down to aesthetics.

Speaking about the Iron Mask

Development, Beach states “We are pay-ing close attention to the form and char-acter of industrial developments. It’s not, ‘This is industrial, we don’t care what it looks like,’ but about focusing in on a landscape presence, shielding of utility areas, and creating desirable-looking office spaces.”

Sulz believes strategies like these will

ensure Kamloops remains a sought-after market, but doesn’t think the focus needs only be on industrial develop-ment.

“At the end of the day, attracting industrial base isn’t the key. The key is creating a diversified economy and hav-ing an industrial base as part of that,” Sulz says. KB

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How many of you have ever been involved in a strategic planning process? It seems that the majority of businesses

and non-profits at one time or anoth-er have gone through an effort. From my end, our company gets numerous requests every year to help organiza-tions come up with and implement a strategic plan.

However, over the years it has become clear to me and my team that not all our clients need to go through a “traditional” strategic planning process, which can be quite expensive and lengthy. And as some of you could attest, a lot of strategic plans end up being stuffed in a file cabinet and never looked at again.

I encourage clients to consider a few different options. Here’s why.

In the simplest sense, strategic planning is undertaken to clarify the overall purpose of an organization, get clear on the desired results and then put together a plan on how those results will be achieved.

If the process was successful, everyone should know where the organization is going, how it is planning to get there and how they’ll know when they get there.

To go about doing this, most strategic planning processes have the client define a vision for the future, create or tweak the mission of the organization, examine its values, do a SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) and market analysis and then go about setting goals that will allow them to achieve their vision.

Now there are lots of different versions of this common model, but in the end, they pretty much stay the same.

The issue is that after a tremendous of amount of hard work, time and expense, the strategic plan soon becomes forgotten.

That’s why I have found it sometimes it is better to break away from the traditional method and instead develop a planning process that is designed specifically for my client’s “unique” situation. This allows for much greater flexibility and a far greater focus on what the client needs to get out of the planning process.

It can also be less expensive and time consuming depending on the client’s situation.

But the most important reason for why we have started changing the way we do strategic planning is that when we are finished working with our clients, they have what we call a “living document,” a strategic plan that works and is used on a consistent bases to help guide the organization toward success.

My suggestion to organizations considering doing a strategic plan is to stay cognizant of the fact there are many different ways to go about getting answers you need to ensure your organization will be successful for years to come.

If you can admit that you have not looked at your strategic plan for some time and its only purpose is to collect dust, then I suggest that you consider going about your next planning process differently to ensure that you end up with a living doc-ument that will create success rather than be a dust collector.

Shane Jensen, MA, ACC, CEC, is the senior principal for New Quest Coaching & Consulting. To learn more, see www.newquestcc.com.

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> COVER STORY

With a strong contingent of local builders on both commercial and residential projects, and developments busily underway in several neighbourhoods across the city, a check-up on the local construction sector yields a clean bill of health.

And that’s not a bad place to be when the potential impacts of recent global economic difficulties are considered.

A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTHLOCAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OUTLOOK REMAINS STEADY — DESPITE CHALLENGES

STORY BY JENNIFER MUIR PHOTOS BY MURRAY MITCHELL

Joel Setka of A&B

Boys Contracting Ltd.,

left, looks over home

plans while framing

in Pineview Valley. At

right, A&B’s Quintin

Wagler uses a nail gun

on some exterior walls.

Top 10 City of Kamloops building permit values submitted from January to August 2012: 1. Riverside Seniors Centre — 130-bed care facility, Tranquille Road, $12.2 million

2. Phase 1, Thompson Rivers University Old Main building, $9.9 million

3. Sandman Signature Hotel, 205 Lorne St., $8.8 million

4. Tenant improvements for Target, 945 Columbia St., $6.5 million

5. Addition and renovation to Wal-Mart, $6 million

6. 50 residential units, 689 Tranquille Rd., $4.9 million

7. Residential building over existing commercial, 376 Tranquille Rd., $3.7 million

8. Construction of commercial data centre (site servic-ing only), Bunker Road, $3 million

9. Royal Inland Hospital — renovation device reprocessing department addi-tion, $3.2 million

10. Partial demolition/ reconstruction of Westsyde Coopers, $3 million

Source: kamloops.ca/building/building-

stats.shtml#

TOP 10 building permits



Into its eighth year recognizing top developers, companies and part-nerships within the home-building

industry, the Keystone Awards pro-gram has created a local standard of excellence for others to strive toward.

Patsy Bourassa, executive director of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of the Central Interior, says any awards program, if adjudi-cated by relevant professionals, tends to raise the bar in that industry as it showcases what’s being done and gives others ideas as to what may be possible.

“The Keystones are quite well-known and, because of the integrity of the judging, they are a valuable tool for companies who wish to be seen for their excellence in the build-ing industry. They give builders a big-ger picture as well as an understand-ing of how winning an award can assist the company in giving them that extra advantage.”

The program was established to recognize excellence in the home-building sector in the Kamloops and Thompson-Nicola Regional District and finalists for this year’s awards were announced at the end of August.

Top entries were chosen from a group of more than 30 “silver” final-ists who, together, submitted 47 entries in various categories from new multi-family and single family devel-opments to complete renovation proj-ects, landscaping and special fea-tures categories as well as the cov-eted Customer’s Choice award, among others.

This year’s team of judges included Diana Robertson of Placemaker Marketing, John Friswell of CCI Renovations, Richard Kadulski, Architect, Chris Hartman, CEO Tsawwassen First Nations Economic Development Corporation and MJ Whitemarsh, of CHBA BC.

In support of continued excellence, Bourassa says every year judges make recommendations that are carried out and reflect positive changes to the program.

“Many of the judges have been adjudicating our awards for several years so they have a strong sense of what works for our area. Their exper-tise and knowledge from other provin-cial and national awards has been helpful in fine-tuning our own pro-cess.”

Keystone Gold Award winners were honoured during a Sept. 22 ceremony at the Delta Sun Peaks and can be viewed on the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Interior website at www.chbaci.ca.

KeystOne awards ‘raise bar’

“When you think about the world economy in the last four years, we have come through one of the hardest times,” says Dan Sulz, executive director of Venture Kamloops.

Despite it, Sulz says with a focus on a diversified Kamloops economy, the city’s ability to attract new business and support existing ones, as well as a robust group of developers, the local construction industry has remained stable.

He notes projects such as the new Telus Data Centre, Cityview Shopping Centre at Rogers Way and Hillside, and construction projects such as the House of Learning and Old Main renovation at Thompson Rivers University have all had a positive impact on commercial con-struction and job creation.

The construction industry makes up a significant portion of the local labour force, an estimated 7.9 per cent, according to Venture Kamloops figures, and is among the top four industry sectors alongside manufacturing (7.1 per cent), health care (11 per cent) and accommoda-tion/retail (12.7 per cent).

“We have really focused on trying to attract industries that create work,” says Sulz.

City of Kamloops building permit values help confirm this outlook.

Bruce Barclay, acting chief building inspector, says residential values will be slightly lower than last year, while commer-cial values, which include commercial, industrial and institutional projects, will end up significantly higher.

Construction value year-to-date is $73 million in 2012 , compared to $47.6 in 2011 for the same period.

“In the last few years, commercial growth has been strong. This year again year- to-date (January to Aug. 31), over last, we

are at $134.73 million compared to $126.11 million. We revised our construction value projection from $120 million to between $170 and $180 million.”

Meanwhile, residential values and dwelling units are down compared to last year for the same period January to Aug. 31. Barclay notes new housing construction started to slow in the last part of 2011 and the trend may continue until 2013.

But things could be looking up there, too. Earlier this summer, The Daily News reported the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation forecast for the Kamloops housing market was improving, with a predicted increase in new home

construction, sales of homes and stable prices starting in 2013.

CMHC also reported the average multiple-listings service (MLS) price rose by almost five per cent in the second quarter of 2012 compared to last year.

Earning commu-nity recognition, such as last year’s ranking through the B.C. Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) as the third best place in the province to invest in real estate and the top community in the Interior, has also helped the local construction sector. The community was included among all other B.C. cities and towns in the rank-

ing process, which takes into account pop-ulation growth, new construction, job growth activities and transportation, among other factors.

From a residential perspective, Matt McCurrach of Homex Developments and first vice-president of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of the Central Interior, describes the current construction situation as one that is in a “holding pattern.”

Bruce Tate (left) and Kris Tower, of Tate Construction, put up walls for a new home under construction on Primrose Crescent in the Pineview Valley subdivision.


“It’s certainly not hurting, overall.” “In Kamloops, we have a very

active industry right now and a lot of pride in our end products across the board. The best of our local builders are doing well and that is good news for our industry as well as homebuyers. There isn’t the extreme pricing of other communities.”

McCurrach predicts single-family housing starts will begin to rise, too, and attributes stronger demand for multi-family housing right now to the price point.

“It’s more affordable and there is still a big percentage of the home-buying market that is entry level. But the baby-boomer generation is also looking at downsizing, where they love their homes with a yard, but want to do other things and have the freedom to go.”

McCurrach also recognizes, overall, that house design has evolved with people moving away from the “monster” home and more into smaller house design with a greater focus on space usability, natural light and incorporating outdoor areas into living space.

“We continue to see a move toward open-concept design with fewer walls and smart space usage. People seem to more sensitive to where costs are incurred.”

Location wise, the focus on residential and commercial development is consis-tently dispersed across the city with a continued strategy of infilling areas where infrastructure exists. As part of Kamplan, the City’s official community plan, one of the goals is to move forward with creating more density through core centres such as Sahali, the North Shore and downtown areas, says Eric Beach, City planning and development supervi-sor.

“We continue to encourage more growth in those areas and less reliance on the automobile.”

D00

1104

455

Earlier this summer, The Daily News reported that the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation forecast for the Kamloops housing market was improving, with a predicted increase in new home construction, sales of homes and stable prices.

KB


Meet the TQM team, from left to right:

Eileen Crandall, Don Anderson, Shyann Vosper,

Pamela Young, and Marilyn Bohn

It may not be a household name (yet), but TQM Consulting has been delivering business and labour market services to Kamloops

employers, entrepreneurs, and job seekers for almost 20 years.

Immediately after graduating with his degree in Human Resource (HR) Management in 1993, current owner Don Anderson and three fellow graduates formed TQM Consulting with a mission to assist employers with their HR needs. Over 19 years and thousands of clients later, TQM continues to operate from their beautiful new facility in the Summit Centre building in Kamloops.

While offering a wide variety of services to both employers and individuals, there is one common element inherent in all of TQM's services – enjoyment and productivity in the workplace. “We have an exceptionally knowledgeable, experienced, and personable team, and we absolutely love working with our clients – employers and individuals alike”, says Anderson.

For employers, TQM provides HR services to assist with finding, hiring, and managing employees and independent contractors. Their primary focus is on employers who have staff but don’t have a full-time HR manager. “Our labour market has changed so drastically over the past decade that most small businesses just can’t keep up. Technology, changing family values, generational differences in workplace dynamics, economic conditions, and government regulations are constantly shifting. We can help smaller businesses to overcome these challenges and help stabilize their work environments”. Anderson parallels TQM’s HR services with those offered by IT specialists, accountants, and legal professionals. “When you have challenges with technology, you hire an IT expert. When you need someone to look after your bookkeeping and tax returns, you hire accounting specialists. And when you need help with legal issues, you hire a lawyer. It’s the same idea with our HR services…if you need help finding new

employees or managing existing employees and you don’t have the time, energy, or expertise yourself, contact us – we can help!”

For individuals, TQM offers career coaching, job search assistance, and self-employment services. Some of these individuals are already employed but are looking for a new opportunity (either with their current employer or with a new employer). Some are students who are looking for an objective voice to assist with mapping out their educational plans and long-term career paths. And some are unemployed and are having trouble finding the “right” job to match their qualifications and workplace preferences. “Regardless of their situation, we are happy to provide a free initial consultation to determine if we can be of assistance.”

What makes TQM unique from many other HR or employment agencies is that they work both with employers seeking HR assistance and with individuals seeking new career opportunities. As Anderson points out, "We have the skills and the experience, and both employers and job seekers will benefit in the long run because we can do a lot of internal cross-referrals with our own clients”.

Should a potential client be seeking assistance that is beyond the scope of TQM’s services, Anderson will recommend other local experts or agencies that may be able to help. “Kamloops has a wealth of highly-qualified people – it is a shame when an individual or an employer accesses the services of someone from Vancouver or Toronto to meet their needs when the reality is they can probably find what they are looking for right here in their own community.”

For more informati on, please visit TQM Consulti ng's website at www.tqmconsulti ng.ca.

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SHANE gOTTFRIEDSON

Tk’emlups Band Builds On Trading Traditionsleadership always looking for ways to participate in a modern economyBY SHANE GOTTFRIEDSON >> CHIEF, TK’EMLUPS INDIAN BAND

The Tk’emlups people have been here for thousands of years. Throughout that time, this region would have been a natural trading

hub for aboriginals much as it is today for people from all over the globe. Our skills in weaving and beadwork were well-known and we still take great pride in what our artisans produce. In the modern world, we continue to forge our reputation as people you can deal with.

For our people, trading and partner-ships have always been a key element to our success. We focus on the education of our people because we recognize that our skills and participation in economic development are vital to the future prosperity and opportunity for all of our members. As always, we have to be resourceful to ensure we advance this goal.

When the NewGold mine was pro-posed, we joined with our relatives at the Skeetchestn First Nation to negotiate a meaningful participation agreement. The core objective of our group was to explore ways we could derive a lasting benefit for our people in a manner that

allowed for a financially viable business on the part of the developer.

We built a successful working relationship with the mine developer and worked hard to ensure we could produce workers possessing the neces-sary skills to be productive additions to the NewGold employee group.

We started up partnerships to provide trucking, support services, security and other services to this mine with a view to developing skills and allowing First Nations people to have real opportuni-ties for meaningful employment.

Today, we are regarded as having built the model that other resource firms and First Nations can follow.

We have received delegations from across Canada and from as far away as Chile and other South American nations who are looking to implement our ideas and our model for responsible resource industry development.

Our Mount Paul Industrial Park is another example of how a First Nation can provide effective and reliable development land.

We work with multiple partners as we look to expand and improve our offer-

ings there. The lease revenue and taxes help support our operations as well as provide our leaseholders with quality public services and a consistent, dependable leasing environment.

We continue to explore different ways we can develop our lands and benefit our membership by helping them build skills to participate in a modern economy.

On the business side of operations, we have partnered with Petro-Canada to modernize and expand our band-owned gas station and convenience store.

We are actively exploring other devel-opment opportunities that make busi-ness sense.

While we continue on our journey to responsible stewardship of our territo-ries for the benefit of our members, we will always make the education and advancement of our people our No. 1 priority. KB


Better Benefits Equals Happier EmployeesA custom benefit plan that makes sure the health of your employees is looked after is vital in today’s workplace.

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Four years after the start of the current economic crisis, central banks are still busy buying gov-ernment debt to maintain a

sluggish recovery while the world de-leverages. When central banks buy government debt they inject new money into the financial system, which normal-ly stimulates economic activity. But once demand begins to grow on its own, this increase in the money supply can lead to inflationary pressures that are consider-ably higher than the two-per-cent target of most central banks — too much money is chasing too few goods.

Wise investors who remember run-away inflation of the 1970s and early 1980s — inflation peaked at 12.5 per cent in 1981 — are beginning to study options to defend their portfolios. The following represent a selection of viable “hedging” options.

Inflation-Protected SecuritiesInvestors receive an upward adjust-

ment of the principal or interest paid to offset inflation. Without protection, bond prices would fall as market interest rates rise and bond payments remain constant.

EquitiesStocks of “blue-chip” companies, par-

ticularly those selling consumer staples such as food, are thought to provide an inflation hedge as they can more easily pass on cost increases and have cash reserves to weather economic difficulties.

CommoditiesBuying oil, gas, gold, other metals,

timber, and agricultural products pro-vides investors with a stake in the very products that are rising in price provid-ing inflation protection. Gold may be overvalued, but strong demand for other commodities will likely continue with rapid growth in the emerging markets.

Real EstateThe prices of homes and commercial

properties generally rise right along with inflation. Canadian real estate may be overvalued, but in the U.S. there are still bargains to be found.

What hedging option is best depends on the time horizon of the investor. Long-term investors are probably well advised to maintain a high equity alloca-tion with a greater emphasis on quality,

dividend-paying stocks, and to reduce their allocation to long-term bonds.

Stocks generally do poorly during a period of inflation due to the economic uncertainty, but in the longer term they recover and generate real returns (returns after adjusting for inflation) that average six per cent compared to only two per cent for bonds.

For investors with a shorter time hori-zon, more attention needs to be paid to hedging for inflation. Evidence shows inflation-protected securities and com-modities offer the best short-term pro-tection.

All investors are encouraged to discuss with their financial advisors the steps being taken to address the prospect of rising inflation.

Dan Thompson is a CFA and associate dean in the School of Business and Economics at Thompson Rivers University.

DAN THOMPSON

> TRU ViEwS

Survival in Aftermath of the Financial Crisisdoes your investment portfolio have adequate inflation protection?BY DAN THOMPSON >> THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY

KB


Chamber NEWS

MAURICE HINDLE

Chamber Revved Up to Celebrate Successthis year’s Chamber excellence gala boasts ‘somewhat formal’ vineyard theme

The Business Excellence Awards will be handed out Oct. 13 at the Kamloops Convention Centre theatre.

In 16 different categories from resource industry to retail, First Nations business to home-based business, to a technology innovator award and more, Maurice Hindle, president of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, said business successes will be honoured.

“This is something that we’re very proud that it’s been successful, well attended,” Hindle said.

Tickets to the gala are on sale now for $125, or $105 for Chamber members, and can be purchased be calling 250-372-7722 or emailing [email protected]. Tickets generally sell out, Hindle said.

The event is vineyard-themed this year.

“It’s somewhat formal,” he said. “It’s nice because it’s a gathering of almost the total business community in Kamloops.”

p p p

The Kamloops Chamber has been governed by a board of directors for the past three years, and each spring board members go through a full-day seminar on the topic.

“It’s been so successful that we opened it up to other groups in the community,” Hindle said.

“We kicked off this approach of running a governance model. The reason we picked up on it is that it ensures our objectives are realized and resources are well-managed, and that the interests of our membership are protected and reflected in key decisions.”

Hindle said often boards tend to get involved in operations, which they

shouldn’t. A board, he

said, should hold awareness of an organization’s tar-gets, and make sure the staff is well-supported in achieving them.

The board gover-nance model removes the board “from day-to-day decisions that the

staff have expertise to execute,” he said.

p p p

Why join the chamber? It’s an opportunity to network in the

community and meet people with simi-lar interests to exchange ideas, said Hindle.

“Because of the chamber’s socials, I feel like I’m truly a part of the business community in Kamloops,” said David Parkinson of Verico Premium Mortgage Corp.

Members also get discounts on goods and services.

p p p

The Kamloops Convention Centre will play host to Chamber mem-bers for the November trade show and social.

Tables are available exclusively for members to exhibit holiday products. Space is available now and tables start at $100 plus HST.

For more information, contact [email protected]. KB


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Firm Offers Affordable Elegance‘we’re going to respect your time’

Chic and elegant furniture doesn’t have to be unaffordable. At Portfolio Interiors, beautiful designs and styles are readily

available to meet every person’s budget.Owner Dan Pan opened up the

independent furniture store in October 2010 after growing tired of travelling to the Lower Mainland for designer furniture.

“I was always passionate about furniture and decor and every time I lived in a new house, I want to shop and had to go to Vancouver,” she said. “I found there was no ideal furniture store in town, so I thought, ‘Why not Kamloops?’”

Teamed up with manager Kathy Underwood, and a knowledgeable staff of drafters, stagers, florists and interior decorators, the duo has built a business that unites style and affordability.

“We’re here to help people,”

Underwood said. “We’re non- commission, no there’s pressure. We are pretty much customer focused; we’re going to look after you and respect your time.”

If there’s a certain style or colour someone is looking for, the team at Portfolio Interiors has an extensive selection of fabrics and shades to give their customers exactly what they’re looking for in comfort.

“We can take furniture that’s off the

floor and change it slightly to something you’re looking for,” explains Underwood. “We could put three different densities of foam on one sofa.”

The bottom line at Portfolio Interiors is affordability.

“People have a perception of us being a high-end store and sometimes people aren’t coming in because they don’t think they can afford our furniture,” Underwood said. “We’re not just high end, we have something for everybody.”

From left, Nicole Redmond, Dan Pan, Kathy Underwood and Stevee Belli, of Portfolio Interiors, are ready to meet your needs for chic, yet affordable, home furnishings.

MUrrAy MItchELL/KAMLOOPS BUSINESS

KB


> TECH TALk

playstation 3 versus xbox 360 versus nintendo wii: which will take the glory? larkin schMiedl reports

clashconsoleB

usiness can’t be all work and no fun, can it? With winter around the corner, maybe you’re looking for ways to spend your free time indoors while you’re not

working.Maybe you used to play video games and want

to play some more but have no idea which new system is which. Maybe you’ve heard all the names, and maybe you’re even a bit familiar with the consoles, but want to know more about the advantages and disadvantages to each.

So you don’t have to do all the research your-self, we’ve talked to some local gamers and experts about the topic. Before you run out and spend hundreds on a new gaming system, check out the advice below.

Wii (Nintendo)Like the name sounds, this system is intended

primarily for children and families.“If it’s for a family or young kids, Wii is a good

thing to go with,” says Garrett Hodgson, who’s in charge of the gaming department at Kamloops Future Shop.

Wii is very interactive, and is actually designed for kids rather than hard-core gamers.

“If you’re playing a bowling game or a sports-related game,” Hodgson says, “you’re actually doing the physical motion of it, which is nice. It gets kids off the couch, and gets parents involved with them.”

Wii boasts the Wii Remote, a motion-sensing controller users hold in their hands. Wii also fea-tures the add-on Balance Board, used in games such as the wildly popular Wii Fit.

For children that need to get active or people who are trying to lose weight, it offers a fun way to make it happen.

The Balance Board is also great for snowboard-ing games since it’s pressure sensing, adds Darlene Dyer, an avid gamer and long-time sales associate at the North Shore Source. She person-

ally owns all three gaming systems.Unlike the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, Wii

doesn’t play movies.It does have the option to attach a camera, but

there aren’t many games that use it, says Dyer.She says the Wii has a microphone that can be

used for chatting with other people who are your Wii friends, and in the game Animal Crossing.

One big advantage is downloadable retro games from Super Nintendo, the original Nintendo and Game Cube. Mario games are only available on Wii. Other add-ons include a drawing tablet to be used with a stylus pen. The Wii’s memory space can also be expanded using an SD card. It’s the cheapest console, too.

“It’s more budget-friendly, so more people are willing to buy it,” says Jesse Bochek, sales associ-ate at The Source in Kamloops.

Nintendo will be releasing the portable Wii U before Christmas, which will be able to be used as a console as well as to play hand-held games.

Xbox 360 (Microsoft)Xbox 360 is the best-selling game system for

serious gamers, according to all three experts we spoke with. Both the Xbox and the PlayStation are targeted toward the teen-and-up audi-ence.

The Xbox user interface is more friendly and intuitive then the PlayStation’s, according to Hodgson and Dyer, which makes

Wii

Xbox

PlayStation


it easier for many people to use than a PlayStation.

Xbox includes a Bing search bar, and can do everything the PlayStation can in terms of having Netflix, MSN Live and Facebook. It also includes Zune, allow-ing users to purchase music and movies to watch and listen to later.

The motion-sensing accessory is called the Kinect, which Dyer says can also be used to voice command the Xbox and voice chat with other Xbox mem-bers. It’s hands-free.

“Kinect actually will track your body versus a controller, and that is awesome. Very, very awesome,” said Dyer.

The Xbox has a better game selection, said Hodgson, including exclusives Gears of War and Halo.

The big thing is online gaming via Xbox Live. It’s pay-to-play, however for about $60 a year, users get a superior net-work.

“The gaming servers are a lot more stable, so there’s less of a chance of you ran-domly dropping out of a game or

a connection dropping for a game and the game just ends,” said Bochek.

Xbox pulls out another advantage with interchangeable hard drives. Dyer said a four GB console, which can be expand-ed, starts at $199. The Xbox plays movies but not Blu-Ray.

PlayStation 3 (Sony)The big advantage of Sony’s

PlayStation is that it plays Blu-Ray films, thereby doubling as a full movie player.

Unlike the Xbox, the PlayStation 3

is not interchangeable, so buyers must purchase one size and stick with it. Dyer says the lowest-priced system is $249, for the 160 GB console.

Extras users would pay for include games, controllers and add-on peripher-als.

The PlayStation 3’s online network is free, which means free online gaming, but it’s not as high quality a network as the Xbox’s Live.

“You can just hook up your system, hook it up to your Internet at home, and play,” says Bochek, who owns the sys-tem.

The PlayStation’s motion controller is called Move, and it cannot track body movement without users holding a device.

Hodgson says it kind of fizzled, and there aren’t many games that use it.

Exclusive PlayStation games include Drake’s Fortune, Drake’s Revenge, LittleBigPlanet, God of War, Gran Tourismo, Twisted Metal and Uncharted. The PlayStation does not have voice command, said Dyer.

Bochek said the Xbox used to have technical problems; so many people bought PlayStation 3s for reliability. KB


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> NSBiA REPORT

Simple Matter of Perceptiondevelopment, renewal projects put ‘pride’ back in north shoreBY PETER MUTRIE >> MANAGER, NSBIA

PETER MUTRIE

The metamorphosis of the North Shore has awakened community pride and owner-ship of the neighbourhood

thanks to re-development and renewal projects that have revitalized and energized the area.

Sustainable, co-operative initiatives have been completed, are nearing completion or are in the develop-mental stages. This transformational evolution is indicative of the ongoing desire of North Shore residents, busi-ness owners, the NSBIA and its part-ners to challenge and change negative public perception and embrace the pride and potential of this culturally diverse area.

For too many years, negativity hampered business develop-ment and impeded the opportunity for the community to achieve recognition as a viable area in which to live and work. The North Shore BIA engaged business owners and residents to determine community direction, economic requirements and the processes necessary to generate and sustain them.

As a result of this collaboration, projects were decided, developed and delivered that addressed and resolved some of the issues or barriers perceived to affect business growth, per-

sonal safety and community pride. Project design was engi-neered to effectively address underlying issues, promote com-munity pride and be cost-effective.

Beautification projects are a valuable, creative tool used to make the area more attractive for residents and encourage business development and re-development. Consumer survey results from the April 2012 Home Show clearly demonstrated that these measures are not only successful and appreciated by North Shore residents, but for those who reside in other areas of Kamloops as well.

“Pride” in the North Shore community was cited by almost half of those surveyed — a far cry from the results of previous surveys where key “pride” indicators were negligible at best. Frequent and infrequent visitors who came to shop in the area were impressed with the friendliness and warmth of the peo-ple on the North Shore, the abundance of amenities, free park-ing and aesthetic ambience. These important accolades are vital factors in the North Shore’s transformation process.

Later this year, two specific initiatives will add to the renaissance of the North Shore. The Tranquille Road lighting project, a joint initiative of the NSBIA and City planning and development committee, will be integrated with other capital roadwork projects currently being considered for the area.

This incorporation of projects will help reduce overall costs and minimize public-traffic inconvenience while greatly improving safety and economic factors. One-third of Home Show survey respondents indicated that improved street light-ing on the Tranquille Road corridor was a priority as it addressed safety concerns and would encourage more walking.

The second enterprise, a phase of the airport corridor beau-tification project, will see the vacant lot on the southwest cor-ner of Fortune Avenue and Leigh Street converted into a land-scape of tasteful, floral mastery. Currently in the latter stages of planning, this colourful, botanical masterpiece will trans-form the intersection’s “eyesore” reputation into a “sight for sore eyes” work of art. This project awaits final irrigation quotes before planting commences. KB


> BY THE NUMBERS

New building permits are listed accord-ing to the date the permit was issued by the City of Kamloops.

Issued: June 22Value: $10,000Location/Work: A retaining wall in the RED zone, 1888 Parkhill Dr.

Issued: June 22Value: $12.2 millionBuilder: Kasper Development Corp.Location/Work: 130-bed care facility, Riverside Seniors Centre, 1955 Tranquille Rd.

Issued: June 22Value: $10,000Builder: Barbara D and Harold A McKayLocation/Work: Verify the stability of a dry stack rock wall, 466 Battle St. W.

Issued: June 25Value: $78,000Builder: Grant C and Gordon E ChoLocation/Work: Install new single-wide Z240 manufactured home, 8-1440 Ord Rd.

Issued: June 25Value: $67,000Builder: Grant C and Gordon E ChoLocation/Work: Place new modular home Unit 26, 1440 Ord Rd.

Issued: June 25Value: $429,340Builder: Metro HomesLocation/Work: Construct triple-wide modular home on concrete founda-tions, with roofs, dormers and decks added. Total 2,754-square-foot main, 323-square-foot basement, 1120-square-foot deck/entry; 7629 Barnhartvale Rd.

Issued: June 26Value: $1 millionLocation/Work: New building for restaurant and café, 125 Victoria St.

Issued: June 26Value: $421,000Builder: Brian M and Cynthia M HanghoferLocation/Work: Construct single-family dwelling with 1,616-square-foot main, 1,616-square-foot finished basement, 905-square-foot upper, double garage and 494 square feet deck/stairs/entry coverage; 1736 Primrose Crt.

Issued: June 26Value: $2,000Builder: Gourmet Kettle Fudge & Popcorn Company Ltd.Location/Work: Interior alterations, Gourmet Kettle Fudge, 2121 Trans-Canada Hwy. E

Issued: June 27Value: $58,554Builder: Richter Construction & RenovationsLocation/Work: Remove existing non-conforming basement suite and renovate upstairs bathroom, 892 Battle St.

Issued: June 28Value: $10,000Builder: Todd ConstructionLocation/Work: Construct gabion- baskets-style retaining wall, 2075 High Forest Pl.

Issued: June 29Value: $300,210Builder: Collins Bros & Sons Construction Ltd.Location/Work: Construct new single-family dwelling with 1,852-square-foot

main, 318 square-foot finished base-ment (1,197 square feet unfinished), double garage and 295-square-foot deck/entry; 2629 Briarwood Ave.

Issued: June 29Value: $224,420Builder: K&P Construction (1986) Ltd.Location/Work: Construct new single-family dwelling with 1,368-square-foot main, 265 square feet finished in base-ment, double garage, 100-square-foot entry; 2031 Saddleback Dr.

Issued: June 29Value: $300,000Builder: Thompson Valley Restoration Ltd.Location/Work: Construct single-family dwelling with 1,540-square-foot main, 105-square-foot finished basement (1,862 square feet unfinished), double garage with suspended slab, 317 square feet of deck/entry; 1971 Coldwater Dr.

Issued: June 29Value: $50,000Builder: Ernest G. Moses & Kevin G. BeedieLocation/Work: Convert finished base-ment into 874-square-foot secondary suite, 2211 Fleetwood Ave.

Issued: July 4Value: $148,200Builder: A&T Project DevelopmentsLocation/Work: Tenant improvement, 519 Victoria St.

Issued: July 4Builder: Damian Holdings Ltd.Location/Work: Demolition of existing building, 620 Battle St.

Issued: July 4Value: $490,430Builder: Bradley J and Ashley D TraynorLocation/Work: Build new single-family dwelling with 1,624-square-foot main, 1,601-square-foot upper, 1,624-square-foot finished basement, double garage with suspended slab

below, 472-square-foot deck/entry; 1198 Rockcress Dr.

Issued: July 4Value: $239,025Builder: Right at Home Construction Ltd.Location/Work: Construct single-family dwelling with 1,495-square-foot main, 194-square-foot finished basement (919 square feet unfinished), double garage and 139 square feet of deck/entry; 2177 Saddleback Dr.

Issued: July 4Value: $271,260Builder: Right at Home Construction Ltd.Location/Work: Construct single-family dwelling with 1,381-square-foot main, 946-square-foot finished in basement, double garage and 308 square feet of deck/entry; 2181 Saddleback Dr.

Issued: July 5Value: $2,000Builder: City of KamloopsLocation/Work: Move existing interior wall, 1525 Island Pkwy.

Issued: July 6Value: $85,000Builder: TNG Construction Ltd.Location/Work: Tenant improvement, Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt, 210-1210 Summit Dr.

Issued: July 9Value: $15,000Builder: Commercial Kitchens Ltd.Location/Work: Install commercial hood system, Pine Ridge Golf Course, 4725 Trans-Canada Hwy. E

Issued: July 11Value: $700,000Builder: Acres Enterprises Ltd.Location/Work: Facade upgrades and tenant improvements to existing build-ing (interior work), 430 Tranquille Rd.

Issued: July 11Value: $46,080

Builder: Norman St. OngeLocation/Work: Convert basement to 760-square-foot secondary suite, 815 Kitamoto Rd.

Issued: July 11Value: $15,000Builder: Polson Construction Ltd.Location/Work: Addition of new offices, 1172 Battle St.

Issued: July 13Value: $23,000Builder: A&T Project Developments Inc.Location/Work: Remove and reconstruct interior walls, Golder and Associates, 929 McGill Rd.

Issued: July 16Value: $2,000Builder: Jacques J. and Jamie A. ChretienLocation/Work: Create interior partition wall, 236 St. Paul St.

Issued: July 17Value: $284,000Builder: A&T Project Developments Ltd.Location/Work: Interior renovations, 17-1800 Tranquille Rd.

Issued: July 17Value: $30,000Builder: Rayleigh Renovating & Contracting Ltd.Location/Work: Construct a spray booth, 6-929 Laval Cres.

Issued: July 19Value: $209,000Builder: ANR Construction Ltd.Location/Work: Interior tenant improve-ment, Original Joe’s restaurant, 1801 Princeton-Kamloops Hwy.

Issued: July 20Value: $3 millionBuilder: Skanska USA BuildingLocation/Work: Construction of 33,887-square-metre commercial data centre, Site servicing only; 1458 Bunker Rd.

Construction moves forward on Riverside Seniors Centre in the 1900 block Tranquille Road.

MUrrAy MItchELL/KAMLOOPS BUSINESS


> kCBiA REPORT

Events Heat Up Sizzling Summermassively popular ribFest, Hot nite provide august actionBY GAY POOLER >> MANAGER, KCBIA

This summer was a busy time in downtown Kamloops! The Customer Care and Patrol team started up in May, jumping

straight into the Spring Arts Festival, before teeing up for their annual golf tournament and fundraiser.

CAP team ambassadors and safety patrollers were highly visible all summer, helping customers, merchants and visitors. They also assist with many events, especially the Downtown Merchants Market in July. This four-day sidewalk sale and entertainment extrava-ganza was well attended this year. We were blessed with warm, sunny weather, the entertainers were popular, and each day’s featured event attracted thousands of people (the Taste of Downtown likely being the most buzzed about). But who doesn’t love food! Net proceeds from the taste partici-pants resulted in both a cash donation of $1,900 to the Kamloops Food Bank as well as the creation of a “Foundation Fund” of $2,500 for the food bank as well.

Other noteworthy events included August’s Hot Nite in the City and the new, massively popular Rotary RibFest. On the heels of those followed once-in-a-lifetime bicentennial celebrations, called Rendezvous in Riverside Park.

This summer, we also hosted the Communities in Bloom International Challenge Judges Tour. VIP treatment and a jam-packed tour of the city left the judges happy and suitably impressed. With the help of the Kamloops CIB committee, City council and staff (this city has amazing staff, by the way) we put on the best tour possible. Results will be announced in October at the CIB symposium and awards show.

Our other ongoing project related to downtown parking strategies. In June, our parking solutions group presented its report to City council, including recommendations for managing our current parking and creating more.

Council discussed the report at a workshop in August and agreed on several items including putting out the expression of interest we submitted (with revisions to meet City protocols). Key to the overall strategy was an agreement to create a parking infrastructure fund.

Last, but not least, the third year of our Back Alley Art Gallery is well underway. Stop by the alley behind 219 or 353 Victoria St. to see the latest additions to our gallery come to life.

gAY POOLER

Issued: July 20Value: $25,000Builder: A&T Project DevelopmentsLocation/Work: Remove one partition wall, construct six, and create one office; 900 McGill Rd.

Issued: July 23Value: $20,000Builder: R&D ConstructionLocation/Work: 945 Laval Cres.

Issued: July 23Value: $300,000Builder: Acres Enterprises Ltd.Location/Work: Constructing interior partitions, 9989 Dallas Dr.

Issued: July 24Value: $450,000Builder: Tri City Canada Inc.Location/Work: Interior renovation, constructing offices for Service Canada; 520 Seymour St.

Issued: July 27Value: $200,000Builder: Thompson Rivers UniversityLocation/Work: Construction of a new single-family dwelling with 1,160-square-foot main, 891-square-foot upper, unfinished basement, double garage, 184 square feet of decks; 1363 Rockcress Dr.

Issued: July 30Value: $172,000Builder: BA Dawson Blacktop Ltd.Location/Work: Parking lot alterations, 315 Chestnut Ave.

Issued: July 31Value: $6 millionBuilder: Norson Construction Ltd.Location/Work: Additions and renova-tions to Wal-Mart, 1055 Hillside Dr.

Issued: Aug. 1Value: $15,000Builder: 598564 Holdings Ltd.Location/Work: Enclose parkade and install overhead door, 1350 Hillside Dr.

Issued: Aug. 1Value: $40,000Builder: City Furniture & AppliancesLocation/Work: Facelift of building, 150 Oriole Rd.

Issued: Aug. 2Value: $10,500Builder: RBI Construction GroupLocation/Work: Construct a small retaining wall, 438 Waddington Dr.

Issued: Aug. 3Value: $190,000Builder: Fulcrum Development (Kamloops) Inc.Location/Work: Construct a retaining wall, 1200 Aberdeen Dr.

Issued: Aug. 3Value: $263,940Builder: 0840250 B C Ltd.Location/Work: Construct new single-family dwelling with 1,638-square-foot main, 263-square-foot basement, double garage and 192 square feet of deck/entry; 2157 Saddleback Dr.

Issued: Aug. 8Value: $2.7 millionBuilder: Acres Enterprises Ltd.Location/Work: Construct a new com-mercial building and siteworks, 285 Peerless Way.

Issued: Aug. 9Value: $300,000Builder: Unitech Construction Management Ltd.Location/Work: Tenant improvement, Doctor’s office and pharmacy, 376 Tranquille Rd.

Issued: Aug. 10Value: $6.5 millionLocation/Work: Tenant improvements for Target, 180-945 Columbia St. W.

Issued: Aug. 10Value: $46,000Builder: Sandra M. NeillLocation/Work: Construct a 650-square-foot secondary suite, 1799 Foxtail Dr.

Issued: Aug. 13Value: $47,200Builder: Christopher B and Cara J DawsonLocation/Work: Construct 620-square-foot accessory building with 560-square-foot basement shop/stor-age space, 645 Garnet Rd.

Issued: Aug. 14Value: $466,920Builder: Trophy Developments Ltd.Location/Work: Tenant improvements for law office, Construct a residential suite; 620 Battle St.

Issued: Aug. 14Value: $232,720Builder: AIM Construction Ltd.Location/Work: Construct new single-family dwelling with 1,335-square-foot main, 389-square-foot basement, a double garage and 374 square feet of deck/entry; 2239 Grasslands Blvd.

Issued: Aug. 14Value: $25,000Builder: Norson Construction Ltd.Location/Work: Tenant improvements, creating retail space; 16-3435 West-syde Rd.

Issued: Aug. 15Value: $412,680Builder: Homex DevelopmentLocation/Work: Construct new single-family dwelling with 1,400-square-foot main, 1,278-square foot basement, 1,700-square-foot upper, double garage and 300 square feet of deck/entry; 1107 Prairie Rose Dr.

Issued: Aug. 16Value: $129,920Builder: Eagle HomesLocation/Work: Place Z240 modular home, 11-7805 Dallas Dr.

Issued: Aug. 17Value: $90,000Builder: Susan J and Lee A CharltonLocation/Work: Construct a 686-square-foot carriage suite, 944 Westminster Ave.

Issued: Aug. 17Value: $57,840Builder: Jodie L and Barry D BaconLocation/Work: Construct a 946-square-foot secondary suite, B2560 Young Ave.

Issued: Aug. 22Value: $80,000Builder: GC (Kamloops) Development Corp.Location/Work: Construct retaining wall for lot 60, 158 Fernie Pl.

Issued: Aug. 23Builder: Sharole Felker and Curt AndrosoffLocation/Work: Construct an access trail to rear of property, 950 Pine Springs Rd.

Issued: Aug. 24Value: $2,000Builder: Clarence D and Ruth ReinLocation/Work: Construct a 101-square-foot wheelchair landing.

KB


> VENTURE kAMLOOPS

DAN SULz

Industry, Resources Fuel Kamloops GrowthFinding the right balance will protect the tournament Capital’s quality of lifeBY DAN SULZ >> CEO, VENTURE KAMLOOPS

The Kamloops economy is long rooted in industry and natural resources. This town and region has prospered greatly from having

industry as a cornerstone of our econo-my. Kamloops was born from the rich resources we have in the area, be it agriculture, forestry or mining.

Over the past 20 years we have seen the economy diversify from single indus-try to an economy based on a rich diver-sity of businesses relating to manufactur-ing, education, retail, health, government services and tourism. We even have diversity within our different sectors, which helps as Kamloops still prospers when one sector is in a cyclical down-turn, others can buoy the economy.

If you look at our major industry sector, Kamloops benefits from having forestry, pulp and paper and mining, and has been able to work through the recent downturn in the forestry sector with a stronger mining sector.

The question I hear often around town is: “Do we still need industry? Is it rele-vant to our economy?” I would say yes, as long as it is balanced with the City’s sustainability plan.

We often measure the value of industry to the city as the amount of taxes paid,

the number of direct jobs created and the corporate donations offered. There is more to it than these three factors and we should be aware of all the benefits that Industry offers to a community and the local and regional economies.

One of the advantages that Kamloops can offer is the ability for workers to live in the same community as they work. This is very attractive to families in which families are not separated for long periods of time when one of the spouses is in a camp situation. This improves our quality of life in Kamloops, families living together.

Also these wages are spent locally, supporting our local professional, retail, construction, social and hospitality sectors.

There is a basic rule of for every job in industry there are four other jobs creat-ed to support the business or in the retail sectors. We get to retain these wages in our community. We all know people who have to leave their families and communities to find similar jobs in camp situations, Kamloops is unique in which we are able to retain a high percentage of the payroll within the community while providing for happy families.

Because of the industry located here, Kamloops is able to attract leading com-panies that support these major indus-tries. The cluster of diverse industrial companies, central location, and multi-ple accesses to the rest of the province provides a strong business case for com-panies to locate here to service industry companies throughout B.C.

These companies provide opportuni-ties for our youth and the students attending the university to stay and live in Kamloops. Many cities struggle with retention of skilled labour and attracting businesses. We have a natural draw for them.

If you have had a chance to tour one of our local industrial companies, you can see that there is much more to these businesses than digging rocks and har-vesting fibre. There is a lot of technology required to make these businesses effi-cient, sustainable and environmentally sound. There is an old saying that industry breeds innovation. We have an opportunity to create a technology sector that is connected and tied to our local economy while providing an opportunity to develop new key process-es and market them globally.

These are but a few of the key benefits that industry provides to our community. The key is to find the right balance of social, environmental and economic fac-tors that define and affect our city. Through a strong economy we can pro-vide a high quality of life, we need to ensure that all are working in balance. KB


Continued from Page 30Homes that were built before 2006

were built less stringently. As time goes on, our energy costs are going up, there’s concern about the use of resources. The fact of the matter is houses that are built today, just because of the building code; they’re a lot more airtight, which is important when you’re looking at energy efficiency. The provinces have to adhere to the national code. They can’t lower it, but they can up it. Depending on what province you’re in, people do different things. We have different weather. Generally the people (of B.C.) are very much into stewardship of the Earth.

Q: What are the main environmental standards in the building code now?

The type of furnace, and type of win-dows you have to have now, the type of insulation is much greater than it used to be.

Q: What are the benefits of buying new these days?

You get what you want in a new house, you get to pick your colours, your floor-ing. It can be more you. You get the war-ranty. You choose a builder, so you know what’s going into the house. And there’s lots more quality and safety now with the new building codes than there was 10, 20 years ago. And of course there’s the green features and the low mainte-nance costs.

Q: What’s the warranty about?There are very stringent guidelines,

and there is an excellent warranty that is mandatory in B.C. for all new houses, so you get that with a new house, so if things go wrong you can get them fixed under warranty. You legally cannot build a house in B.C. if you’re not licensed with the Home Owner Protection Office. If you’ve got a builder, you need to ask them for their HPO number and their warranty number.

Q: What are some of the green features being put into new houses?

The new houses that are built airtight are built with more than just a furnace. We happen to live in an area where a heat pump is a lot more energy efficient, and it takes the place of an air condi-tioner. But it works differently, in that the house is heated and cooled by the

heat pump. The furnace is just a backup. The furnace doesn’t even get used except for just a fan, unless it goes below 40-below. As long as it stays within a pretty generous range, the furnace really doesn’t work, the heat pump works. Heat pumps don’t work for Albertans, or Saskatchewan, Manitobans, where you get really cold winters, but we can. That’s an option for new houses. Because they’re airtight they also need what’s called a heat-recovery ventilator (HRV). What that does is it takes out the stale air but it keeps the heat, and it brings in the cold air but it heats it up on the way in, so it’s very energy-efficient and it gives you a much healthier environment

in your house. So that’s an additional cost, but the savings are pretty direct, because what you’re paying in hydro and gas is less. But a heat-recovery ventilator can only really be put in when you’re building a house, it’s nothing something you can put in afterwards.

I think inevitably if you built with pas-sive solar in mind, the appropriate-sized house, you wouldn’t need a furnace. You would just have a heat pump.

Q: What’s the cost of putting that in?Five-to-seven thousand dollars now

will get you a heat pump and probably your extra insulation.

Q: One of the principles of green building is not to contribute to sprawl. How does that relate to smaller houses and new developments?

That’s the whole thing. It’s tough though. It’s tough to get people, like when they get to the point where they can afford what they want, there is that mindset that bigger is better. But I can tell you, having built a 3,000-square-foot house, 1,500 on each level . . . just me and my husband, when we look at the space, we could build 1,000 square feet smaller, and still have pretty well every-thing that we’ve got.

Really, we used live in 1,000-square-foot houses. I came from a family of four. We had one bathroom, it had three bedrooms, and it was about 1,000 square feet. And it didn’t even have a garage.

It’s still an education process to

explain to people that you can live in a very nice home, and still make it energy-efficient.

Q: What are some of the green features in your home?

We don’t have any grass. There was a push on having xeriscape landscaping. And there’s the water issue, too. The city has passed regulations; they’re putting in water meters. We have a water meter, so you only pay for what you use. But because we have a drip system, we don’t even water the whole lot, you only water the plants in a drip method, and you don’t even see it.

We use very little water, so we will pay less than somebody who has a full lawn and is using an overhead sprinkler system.

Today’s heat pump is more efficient, satisfying both heating and coooling requirements.

KB


Green building is gaining momentum at a time when more attention is being paid to environmental impacts of homes

and the resources they use. Increasingly, Kamloops builders are becoming BuiltGreen certified, a voluntary standard run through the Canadian Home Builders’ Association. Builders take a two-day course for certification.

Kamloops Business spoke with Patsy Bourassa, the Central Interior builders’ association CEO, about green building and new homes.

Q: What have the trends been with green building in Kamloops?

(The CHBA has) been pushing (green building) since about 2004, but there was nobody in town that was a BuiltGreen builder then . . . We first started seeing builders becoming

BuiltGreen in 2006 . . . The only reason builders would look at BuiltGreen was because they had to, because the codes were going up a little bit. When you’re

building as many houses as you can, you just want to build them the way you’ve always built them, right? There’s money to be made, and builders had never seen that before, it was unheard of. So it was really tough to get them to look at build-ing differently than what they knew.

Q: Who are some of the companies doing green building here?

NexBuild construction is probably one of the premier ones. Homex Development built the very first multi-family BuiltGreen development on Summit Pointe. DW Builders, Hillside Contracting . . . about 22 builders have taken the courses and are BuiltGreen builders.

(Hillside Construction) actually built my home, and they built it in 2006, and it was the very first BuiltGreen house here. It was like slogging through mud, because you have a checklist when you’re doing BuiltGreen.

Q: Who makes the standards for new buildings in B.C.?

The building code is created by the provincial government in order to make sure that builders and contractors build appropriately. It was changed in 2006, and it was changed again this year.

Continued on Page 29

> Q&A

The first Builtgreen certified home in Kamloops, constructed in 2006 by Hillside Contracting, features an energy-efficient furnace, heat pump, low-energy windows, extra wall and under-slab insulation, a commercial fan, a roof overhang, xeriscape

low-water landscaping, a tankless hot-water system and Energy Star appliances. It is owned by Patsy Bourassa, chief executive officer of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Interior.

Leaner, Greener Houses a New Industry Standardrising energy costs, concern for planet provide boost for builtgreen movement

Patsy Bourassa’s house features a tankless hot-water system, which reduces energy use by heating only what you need to use.


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