Leadership - Nov 2017 News from St. Albert Economic Development

Nov 2017

This Month's Issue:
Leadership

Leading Your Business to Success

by Monty Killoh ([email protected])

While running a business may be the first line in the job description of a business owner/operator, leading the business may be the most important duty of a Business Owner. Below are 3 business leadership styles that can provide big benefits to your business.

The Visioneer

Business owners generally have a vision for where they want their business to go and how they see it succeeding; treat that vision as the future you're working towards. Compose a plan for achieving this vision, share this plan with your partners and employees, then lead by example in your efforts to accomplish this plan. The goal is to be an inspiration in your business rather than simply accomplishing the plan - if your employees see you exemplifying the values and effort that work towards to accomplishing your vision, they will link those same values and efforts as being key to their own individual success in the organization.

The Humble Guide

While you may be the owner and guiding hand for your business, it's important to recognize that you are just one cog in the machine that's keeping your business going. Accept that perfection is an unrealistic goal, and that mistakes are going to happen; use mistakes as learning opportunities instead of situations for revenge or punishment. In that same sense, learn from your own mistakes, and make learning in general a goal as important as opening and closing your doors each day; learn about your industry, your competition, new innovations and trends, your peers, and become an expert that people will know they can rely on.

The Community Steward

Being a successful business leader isn't only about leading your business - being a leader in the local community at large, and using community stewardship to help carve a positive perception of your business in the minds of the community is equally valuable. This can be as simple as volunteering at a charity fundraiser, to being a sponsor at a local marathon race, to being a volunteer-member of a business advisory council. While getting your name - and your business' name - out there in a positive light is one goal to strive for, striving to make a positive impact in the community is equally important. A healthier, supportive and more tight-knit community supports each other, and putting yourself and your business in the middle of it all will ensure it receives some of that same community support, and positive public perception.

Federal Government Expands on Smart Cities Challenge

by David Howe ([email protected])

The federal government released more details Monday of a mercurial program it initially pitched in early September. The Canadian Smart Cities Challenge is open to all communities to come forward with their best ideas to improve the lives of residents through innovation, data, and connected technology.

There will be three rounds to the challenge, each comprising of 4 prizes:

One prize of up to $50 Million- open to all communities, independent of population size

Two prizes of up to $10 Million each- open to all communities with under 500,000 residents

One prize of up to $5 Million- open to communities with under 30,000 residents

Each community will begin its challenge application by defining a "Challenge Statement": a measurable, ambitious, and attainable goal or outcome through the proposed use of data and connected technology. Communities will have until April 24, 2018 to engage their residents, define their challenge statement, develop their ideas, and submit their applications. A jury will select finalists for the summer of 2018, who will subsequently be granted $250,000 to preform technical studies and develop their ultimate proposals. Finally, the jury will award the prizes based on the final proposals in Spring 2019.

The judgement criteria are weighted to favor meaningful problem definition and community engagement; the more a project can demonstrate that it addresses a diverse range of needs of residents and community organizations, the more it will be favored. The jury will be comprised of 15 accomplished individuals from across the country who are publicly recognized in their respective field, and have a strong track record of interdisciplinary leadership. Application information for jury service can be found here.

The government also set out parameters for implementation. Winners must implement the projects over 2-5 year timelines, depending on the nature of the project. Infrastructure Canada staff will help to manage the project as it advances.

City staff will be engaging inter-departmentally and with local stakeholders to accommodate a comprehensive bid for the prize. More information on the process and the bid will be disseminated as the submission date draws closer. You can find more detailed information on the challenge here, or follow the Facebook page for more updates.

Employment Standards are Changing January 1st. Are You Ready?

by Dawn Fedorvich ([email protected])

For the first time in 30 years, a series of changes to the Employment Standards Code have been passed to support family-friendly workplaces, modernize decades-old legislation, and align the minimum employment standards with the rest of Canada. The code was last updated in 1988.

As there are quite a few amendments to the Act, we can't cover them all in this article. Please check out the Government of Alberta's website for full details.

Key Updates

Leaves - Updates have been made to the Compassionate Care, Maternity/Paternity leave allowances and several new unpaid leave

allowances have been added. The new leaves include Personal and Family Responsibility Leave, Domestic Violence Leave, Citizenship Ceremony Leave and Death or Disappearance of a Child leave.

Deductions - the new code clarifies which deductions will be allowed from wages and explicitly prohibits deductions for faulty work and cash shortages.

There are also key changes to Overtime, General Holiday Pay and dealing with Vacations. One major change is that employers will have to pay all employees Stat Pay whether they work the Stat Holiday or not. It's best to go directly to the site for this info. (Please see link above)

Minimum wage will continue to be $13.60/hr. until October 1, 2018 when it will rise to $15/hr. Starting in January though, minimum wage is the same for adults, liquor servers, adolescents, youth and disabled people. Employers will no longer be able to pay employees with disabilities less than the minimum wage. Wages don't include tips or expense money.

The Province of Alberta will be releasing instructional videos and hosting webinars specific to the new Employment Standards Code from mid-November through December. Be sure to check the Employment Standards website regularly and sign-up for email alerts about upcoming information sessions.

In This Issue

Leading Your Business to Success

Smart Cities Challenge

Employment Standards Changes

Business Licensing Updates

Indoor Christmas Market

Business Spotlight on... Konz Pizza... In a Cone

New Businesses in St. Albert

Monthly Growth Stats

Join the Conversation!

Upcoming Events

St. Albert Indoor Christmas Market

Dec 2, 9, 16

TEC Venture Angels Forum

Dec 7

St. Albert Chamber of Commerce Christmas Luncheon

Dec 13

New Year's Eve Fireworks

Dec 31

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce - 2018 Ball

Jan 27

Business Licensing Updates

All City of St. Albert Business Licences expire on December 31st of each calendar year - renewal invoices for the 2018 calendar year will soon be arriving by mail. New changes to St. Albert's Business Licensing program are listed below:

MyCity - E-billing and Email Notifications

St. Albert's MyCity web application allows residents online-access to their accounts for Utility Services and Dog Licensing; in 2018, Business Owners will be able to similarly access their Business Licence account online by creating a MyCity account. Linking a Business Licence account to MyCity will provide you with the following convenient features:

Sign-up for e-billing to receive all future renewal invoices by email
View your account's basic information
View your account's licensing fee balance
View your account and transaction history
View all current and previous renewal invoices

Detailed instructions on how to create your MyCity account and sign-up for e-billing will be included with all 2018 Business Licence renewal invoices. For more information, please view the MyCity webpage.

Vehicle for Hire Regulations

Starting in 2018, Vehicle for Hire businesses will have to follow a new set of regulations that have been added to the Business Licence Bylaw. The goal of these regulations are to improve safety for residents and users of local Vehicles for Hire (Taxis, Limousines, Ride-Sharing Services, etc); the new regulations do not include market regulations such as fare/rate regulations. To comply with the new regulations, Vehicle for Hire Businesses will have to submit the following documents to the Business Licensing department each year at the time of their annual Business Licence renewal:

Police Information Checks for all Drivers
Valid Class 1, 2 or 4 Drivers Licences for all Drivers
Valid Commercial Registration/Insurance for all Vehicles
Annual Mechanical Safety Inspections for all Vehicles

The above-documents can be submitted by providing physical scans of the documents to the Business Licensing department, or by doing an electronic file transfer of scanned documents (USB drive, email, etc).

Additionally, all Vehicle for Hire businesses are required to keep an accurate and up-to-date collection of the required documents, and the City of St. Albert will have the right to audit businesses at any point to ensure compliance. Vehicle for Hire drivers are required to keep copies of their police information check, driver's licence, insurance/registration and mechanical inspection report in their vehicle at all times.

For more information about the new Vehicle for Hire regulations, please view the City's webpage, or contact Monty Killoh, Business Licence Inspector at [email protected] or 780-459-1529.

2017 Indoor Christmas Market

The St. Albert Chamber of Commerce is about to fill St. Albert Place with the Christmas spirit. Each Saturday from November 25 to December 16, 80 vendors will set up shop in the space, ready to sell their handmade wares and home-baked treats to local holiday shoppers.

Not only is the Christmas market a perfect place to shop for the holidays, but it's also a great place to soak in some holiday cheer. Visitors will enjoy Christmas music playing, free hot chocolate with marshmallows and candy canes, an "ugly Christmas sweater" contest, and a different holiday craft activity each week.

For more information about the St. Albert Indoor Christmas Market, visit the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce website. The St. Albert Indoor Christmas Market supports the St. Albert Food Bank and will be accepting donations on-site.

Business Spotlight on... Konz Pizza... In a Cone

by David Howe ([email protected] )

Innovation seems to be the hottest topic of the last year: how will we innovate our cars, our cities, our energy production to better serve us? This focus on innovation has begun to mold the largest and most important elements of our society - and for the last couple weeks in St. Albert, one of the most important food items in the modern diet. Konz Pizza in a Cone has managed to innovate a staple food, changing the Pizza landscape forever (and in a modern mecca of pizza, no less).

Konz began as a food truck offering, as creator Kris Lawrie had identified that his favourite food just wasn't suited for outdoor consumption in its regular form. Without sacrificing flavor or quality, the reformed pizza is easier to carry, has less cheese and oil than its pie-brethren, and is spill and mess free.

Local owners Jackie Burkosky and David Gilmour brought the franchise to St. Albert, and have established themselves in the renovated St. Albert Place. Residing in the Spruce Grove area, they settled on St. Albert as a location for their business for a number of reasons: "The people here were a big reason; everyone is so nice and helpful!" Burkosky told us, while enjoying her first day off since opening. "The mall had a vacant space and had just undergone a major renovation, and we liked the feel of St. Albert more than something in Edmonton; it's a smaller place but it has everything, any amenity you need. We are just happy to be a part of it!"

The Konz themselves come in a myriad of varieties; from set menu favourites like Hawaiian or pepperoni, to a build-your-own, they are customizable, easy to eat, and delicious. Burkosky wants to stress that pizza isn't the only thing on the menu. "We want to change the quick-service food scene. We also do salad in a jar, where you pay a deposit ($1) on a sealable jar, we pack it with salad, and when you're ready you add the dressing, close the lid and shake! Then later, bring the jar back dirty or clean for your deposit." Another big favourite so far has been the Mac and Cheese, fully customizable with any pizza toppings- it's a comfort food that's sure to please. "The Mac and Cheese has brought back quite a few repeat customers already!"

If you're around St. Albert Centre this holiday season and feel the familiar urge for a pizza slice, have no fear. Konz is near and able to satisfy that craving without you having to sit down!

For more information, visit the Konz website, or the Konz facebook page.

Konz Pizza... In a Cone

161 - 375 St. Albert Trail

780-996-6736