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This Month's Issue:
Networking |
Networking is a word that often gets thrown around as something "important" in the effort to make connections within a community, industry, or association of some sort. For business owners, networking might seem like something important due to the number of organizations and associations that exist to support networking, but the reasons as to why they should network may not be as obvious. The following are just a handful of benefits that business owners can obtain from effectively using available resources to network.
Finding Good Service Providers
Unless your business has a powerful marketing and research branch, finding the right people to help grow your business could be a struggle. You may end up paying more for a service than is reasonable, or you might be asking the wrong people to do it for you. Networking can help forge the kinds of connections you need to find cheaper, more efficient and more reliable service providers; it may not even be a case of finding someone to perform a service, but building relationships with people who can help point you in the right direction. For example, if your business were to consider a network upgrade, your network of other business owners could help point you in the right direction as to who can get the job done the best, for the most reasonable price.
Building a Customer/Client Base
Business owners are all customers/clients in their own right. Beyond being people who may purchase your goods/services, they may be working in an environment where they are talking and building relationships with their own clients/customers. If a business owner you've networked with happens to have your business card handy when their own client asks for a referral, you may have just gained a new customer that otherwise would have never known you existed. Beyond referrals to your business from other business owners, having your own network to share with your clients/customers can help brand your business as a provider of useful information in addition to whatever goods or services you're offering.
Gaining Knowledge & Finding Expertise
Networking can help you connect with experts who can be savvy enough to both help grow your business as well as seed your own knowledge. Networking involves relationship building, and teaching/learning are fundamental aspects of building any kind of relationship. Building a connection with the owner of a marketing firm may involve learning a few key tidbits regarding a new kind of demographic you should target, and could result in a friendly connection you can rely on if you need to get the word out that you have a new product/service to offer.
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Upcoming Events
May 1 - 6
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Local Networking Opportunities
Networking is a valuable endeavour for businesses and entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes. Below are some of the local and regional organizations that put together events, conferences, seminars, workshops and meet-and-greets where networking can help your business forge new relationships and connections.
The St. Albert Chamber of Commerce is a local organization that helps to represent the interests of local member businesses to various levels of government, and supports the local business community by organizing workshops, advocacy groups, and meet-and-greet events - all of which are great opportunities to network with other local businesses.
Northern Alberta Business Incubator (NABI) -
nabi.ca
NABI is a St. Albert-based business incubator that provides business planning programs, office space in a shared building with other entrepreneurs and small businesses, as well as networking events including everything from Lunch & Learns to an annual Christmas Party Potluck. As NABI is focused on entrepreneurs and small businesses, their events are a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to network with others in the same boat.
Business Link is an Alberta-based entrepreneurial Hub that provides resources and advice for everything from starting a business to how to increase your digital footprint. They also run webinars and small business events that provide great options for networking.
TEC Edmonton is a business incubator and accelerator focused on providing support to emerging technology-based companies. Similar to NABI, this incubator provides workshops and seminars to help new start-ups grow, albeit in a more technology-specific context. Events organized by TEC Edmonton are great places to network with other start-ups and learn about new emerging technologies.
The Alberta Women Entrepreneurs is an organization dedicated to enabling women to build successful businesses. They organize conferences and workshops on a provincial level where women entrepreneurs can meet and network.
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Development Update: Jensen Lakes Crossing & Ville Giroux
Commercial development continues to move forward at a fast pace in St. Albert. Two commercial/retail sites - Jensen Lakes Crossing & Ville Giroux - continue to see buildings going up and new businesses moving in.
Jensen Lakes Crossing
Melcor Development's Jensen Lakes Crossing development on the far north end of St. Albert Trail recently saw Landmark Cinemas open its doors, which is the first movie theatre complex to come to St. Albert since Grandin Theatres closed their doors over four years ago. Development on the site continues at a fast pace, with two restaurants - a new Canadian Brewhouse and a Browns Social House - scheduled to open within the next few months.
Jensen Lakes Crossings will eventually have nine commercial/retail buildings, with available square footage ranging from 1,200 to 12,000 sf. For more information about Jensen Lakes Crossing and potential leasing opportunities, contact Melcor Developments at 780-945-2795, or visit
https://www.melcor.ca/retail/alberta/st-albert/jensen-lakes-crossing/.
Ville Giroux
Located at the western edge of St. Albert on Giroux Rd near Ray Gibbon Drive, Ville Giroux will contain a mix of residential and commercial development when it's completed in the next few years. Apartment buildings have already been completed and are occupied by residents, with more multi-family housing planned to be built on-site.
The commercial development, "Shoppes at Giroux," is nearing completion, and will offer 15+ commercial units with options to combine units to create more floor space. Some businesses have already opened their doors at the site, such as Hopscotch Day Care and Binh's Nails. A Shell Gas Station and Convenience Bar, as well as a Liquor Store are also nearing completion.
For more information about leasing opportunities at Shoppes at Giroux, contact Omada Commercial at 780-540-5320, or visit
https://omada-cre.com/.
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Addressing Bylaw Grace Period Ends June 30
St. Albert's Addressing Bylaw came into effect in April 2017. It requires owners of all buildings to display an address so that it's clearly visible from the road. It also facilitates the orderly numbering of land, buildings, units and internal suites.
The grace period for the Addressing Bylaw ends on June 30.
So, what are your responsibilities as an owner of an office, commercial or industrial property?
- Ensure your address is clearly visible from the street.
- If your building has more than one internal suite or unit, address numbers must be displayed for each unit on, beside or above the front door.
- All buildings set back greater than 10 metres from the property line are required to use address numbers at least 15 cm in size. If it's smaller than a 20-dollar bill, it's too small.
All owners have a grace period until June 30, 2018 to comply with the Bylaw. This Bylaw also regulates residential and multi-family property as well.
If you have any questions regarding your property, please contact the City of St. Albert's Planning and Development, 780-459-1642.
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St. Albert's City Council approved the Water Conservation Bylaw in 2015, and it has now come into effect for 2018. The goal of the bylaw is to help promote the efficient use of water in the community and to reduce water waste, which will lower maintenance and upgrading costs to water and wastewater infrastructure.
There are two major rules to the bylaw, which apply to both residential as well as commercial/industrial buildings in St. Albert:
Low-Flow Fixtures
- Low-flow fixtures are now a requirement in any new development or renovation in residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional construction.
- Toilets, urinals, showerheads and restroom faucets are examples of the type of amenities that now require low-flow fixtures
Outdoor Daytime Sprinkler Use (From May 1 to October 1)
- Municipal-supplied water from a hose, pipe, sprinkler or permanent irrigation system is permitted only between the hours of 7:00PM to 9:00AM.
- Early-morning watering is the most effective and beneficial time to water plants, as evaporation-caused water loss is minimized, and plants have a chance to dry-off before evening, which helps protect them from diseases and pests.
The bylaw also allows for certain exceptions and exemptions to the above-mentioned rules:
- Watering is allowed at any time if done by a watering can, hose with a nozzle or drip-irrigation (as these devices control the amount of water used and do not use excess water)
- Recreational use of sprinklers and/or water toys is allowed at any time
- Newly laid sod and seeding lawn may be watered in any manner until the first cut only
- Other landscaping may be watered in any manner to the extent that there is a risk that a new tree, shrub or other vegetation will perish.
For more information about the Water Conservation Bylaw, please contact the City's Environment Department at 780-459-1735 or
environment@stalbert.ca.
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NABI Lunch and Learns
NABI is a St. Albert-based business incubator that provides business planning programs, office space in a shared building with other entrepreneurs, as well as networking events including everything from workshops on marketing strategies to general BBQ dinners for local businesses.
The use of video in your digital marketing strategy is becoming ever more popular. At this session, come and learn how to set your business apart from your competition by using the power of video.
Walk away understanding:
- How video and other multi-media imagery can be used to position yourself as an expert
- How to use video to leverage your brand
- The four necessary components of a compelling video message
- Simple tricks to clearly demonstrate your knowledge and mastery
Plus, you will leave with workshop handouts!
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2018 Cultivating Front Yards
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Business Spotlight On... ITR Polygraph
While networking and making connections are an important aspect of business, and we like to think we can trust the people we work and partner with, that isn't always the case. That is where Ken Donaldson can help. Donaldson makes his living by giving people the tool they need to prove they are telling the truth. He is a private polygraph operator who offers testing to people seeking the truth for everything from cheating spouses to drug-free body building competitions to employee theft.
Ken is one of a handful of private polygraph operators in Canada. Together with his wife Lesley, he owns ITR ("Is That Right?") Polygraph based out of NABI's Campbell Centre. When he started his business in 2003, he was living in St. Albert and wanted a location close to home so he chose to set-up in St. Albert. He moved into Campbell Centre when it opened in 2008; the location worked well for him - he could rent office space to conduct his polygraph examinations and use the shared boardroom space to meet with clients to first go over questions. They have been working out of an office on the second floor ever since, though at times people question why they don't have a store front location. Lesley explained that in their business they need to have the utmost discretion.
Donaldson's work includes testing for employers trying to deal with theft, insurance companies investigating fraud, and drug screening for athletic competitions. He is also hired by people wanting to test their spouses for infidelity or addiction issues, and counsellors use it to test whether their clients are telling the truth.
Before the lie detector test is administered, Ken and Lesley sit with clients to decide what questions will be asked. The wording of the questions is critical to ensure that the right information is tested. As Ken points out, you can't ask someone if they have ever stolen from their employee, because we have all ended up with pens taken from work at home.
"We all steal from our employers," Ken said. "It is the level of theft that we measure and what employers are worried about. We ask about whether they have stolen $20, $50 or $100".
Once the questions are determined, the subject is led to the
Polygraph Examination office. The subject is asked a series of ten questions, three separate times in order to obtain accurate data to render an opinion.
A polygraph machine measures changes in heartbeat, blood volume and galvanic skin response (the activity of sweat glands in the fingertips) while the subject answers a series of questions. Based on the body's response to the different questions, the examiner gets a reading on when the subject is being truthful or deceptive.
The results aren't always easy to share and Ken said it isn't always a fun job but he likes it when he gets to help people prove they are telling the truth and when he sees a change in behaviour because of the test.
One company who uses the services of ITR Inc. who has seen an improvement in behaviour for their Vanity Cup Walleye Tournament. The annual fishing competition, with prizes totalling over $300,000, tests their prize winners to ensure they followed the rules of the competition. They have been doing so for five years now and have found the amount of illegal bait they find when conducting their boat searches has reduced significantly because people know that they will be caught on the lie detector if they try to cheat.
ITR Polygraph
200 Carnegie Drive
St. Albert, AB T8N 5A7
Ph: 780-460-1040
www.itrpolygraph.com
The Spotlight on Business is a monthly feature wherein we highlight a local business and learn more about what they do and how they positively contribute to the identity and economy of St. Albert. If you, or someone you know, would like to be featured in a future issue, please contact npearson@stalbert.ca with a brief description of the organization.
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New Businesses in St. Albert
Commercial/Industrial Businesses
Binh's Nails 587-290-2292
125-4 Versailles Ave
Nail Salon
Cornerstone Drafting & Design Inc.
780-485-7765
2214-13 Mission Ave
Cad Drafting Services
Endeavour Brewing Company
780-860-2254
4A-215 Carnegie Dr
Commercial Brewery and Tap Room
Frilly Lilly
587-926-0594
106-150 Bellerose Dr
Esthetics / Manicure/ Waxing / Accessories
Healing Point Massage Therapy
780-394-7914
202-7 Perron St
Therapeutic Massage Therapy Clinic
Hopscotch Child Care Ltd.
780-680-1020
250-4 Versailles Ave
Early Learning and Child Care Services
K
aefer Industrial Services Ltd.
25 Corriveau Ave
Industrial and Commercial, Scaffolding, Fireproofing and Surface Protection Services
Kaefer Integrated Services Ltd.
780-484-4310
25 Corriveau Ave
Industrial and Commercial, Scaffolding, Fireproofing and Surface Protection Services
Kashaelle Louise Gagnon - Healthy Solutions
587-983-9777
101 - 14 Perron St
Phytotherapy, Herbalism, Massage, Healing Touch, Sound & Colour Treatments
Kneading Palms Massage - Canadian Healing Institute
780-720-4618
8 Perron Street
Registered Massage Therapist
Levy Birkin Master
780-904-9556
20-516 St Albert Trail
Shoe Repair and Tailoring
Love Within Pregnancy Massage and Women's Wellness Inc.
780-340-9330
Unit G, 70-161 Liberton Dr
Massage Therapy
Riverview Wealth Solutions
587-689-2450
#200, 35 Renault Cres
Wealth Management and Corporate Insurance Services
Signature Edge Realty International
780-721-4693
100-340 Circle Dr
Real Estate Brokerage
Sunshine Psychological Services
780-907-3835
2203-13 Mission Ave
Psychological Counselling & Assessment
Home-Based Businesses
Aura Home Staging
780-292-3774
Home Staging, Real Estate Marketing, and Interior Decorating
Dazzling Landscapes
780-680-2363
Landscaping, Yard Maintenance, Snow Removal
Eat Play Love Fitness
780-263-1235
Health and Wellness Through Teaching Live Fitness Classes and Online Coaching
Jmen Enterprises
780-719-2141
General Contractor Services, Handy-Man Services/Electrical
Naturally Perfect Skincare
780-460-9205
Natural Skincare Products
Ray of Light
780-952-7473
Yoga and Meditation
Screened Sanctuaries
780-803-7326
Construction of Screened In Living Areas
The Hair Boutique 780-245-4907
Hair Salon (Full Service)
The Lower Hair Lounge
780-232-8531
Hair Salon
Too Fit Fitness Inc.
780-982-1702
Personal Fitness Trainer (Mobile & Online)
Toroidal Energy
780-862-8622
Electrical Contractors
Twisted Extensions Ltd.
780-945-1229
Nail Technician (Artificial Nails)
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Monthly Growth Stats
Single Family Housing Starts
Single Family Dwelling Resales
Building Permits Issued
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City of St. Albert | info@stalbert.ca
29 Sir Winston Churchill Avenue | St. Albert, AB | T8N 0G3 |
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Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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