Category Archives: Article

Mar 01 2013
Leave a comment
Article

Small businesses face tough challenges adapting to access laws

Eight weeks ago, the 360,000 businesses in Ontario were supposed to have been in compliance with legislation under the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Standard, part of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

No one is sure how many businesses have completed the process.

What is known is that while many businesses agree with the principle, many know little about it or what they need to do to comply.

The purpose of the Customer Service Standard is to identify and remove barriers that would prevent people with disabilities from accessing goods and services. But communication between the government andbusinesses could be better, said Lisa Lehmann, a business development manager for PATH Employment Services.

“I’m finding that businesses really don’t know much about their responsibilities and a lot of work can be done in that capacity,” she said. “More can be done to engage businesses.”

PATH Employment Services and its new program Accessibility 360 is assisting businesses wade through the paperwork each standard requires.

The Customer Service Standard requires small businesses with fewer than 20 employees to fulfill 10 requirements, including the creation of an established policy, practice and procedure manual that conforms to the principals of the legislation. The manual includes the use of assistive devices, service animals, notice of disruptions (for any renovations and a timeline), and a feedback process.

For businesses with more than 20 employees, there are three additional requirements: the manual must be documented and available, businesses must register online with the Minister of Community and Social Services, and must notify customers that all policies are available. The manuals should be available upon request.

Companies must also take the time to familiarize their employees with the standards in the policy manual.

Lehmann noted businesses could register to complete a group session ($100 to $1,000), a webinar (at the cost of $35 per person), or purchase a disc that allows employees to complete training in their own time.

“At most it’s an hour training,” she said. “We try to make the process as least cumbersome as possible for the employer and employees. For example, with the disc, employees can take an hour of their time to complete the training whenever possible.”

The disc also has a pre- and post-test for an employee to confirm they’ve completed the training.

It’s a mandatory task but it can be a tedious task for small- and medium-sized companies to complete the necessary forms, noted Cheryl Bowden, office administrator for Hamilton’s Allegra, a marketing, printing and copying company.

“It wasn’t anything I didn’t expect and we’re not in retail so we don’t have a lot of walk-in clients or delivery, but we do have to post the information and take the time to do so,” she explained.

As a company with more than 20 employees, including full-time, part-time and contract workers, Allegra isn’t big enough to have its own human resources officer to assist with completing the necessary forms.

“It takes a lot of extra time but it does need to be done,” she said. “We’ve always been accessible and accommodating with our clients. If someone is in a wheelchair we would meet them downstairs instead of in our boardroom because our building doesn’t have an elevator.”

Hamilton’s Downtown BIA marketing and communications co-ordinator Kerry Jarvi said many businesses are unaware of what needs to be done to comply with AODA.

“People don’t understand how much it will affect them,” said Jarvi. “There are changes that need to be made and they need to be made aware of the changes. Right now it’s more about educating businesses about what affects them.”

Maxine Carter, the access and equity co-ordinator with the City, noted both public and private businesses are required to implement and complete all the standards as they roll out.

“The Information and Communication Standard, along with the Employment Standard, are the next to be phased in,” explained Carter, noting the city is working to update its website to comply with the Information and Communication Standard. “(The standards) did have certain items that had to be implemented for January 2013, but those were fairly easy things to do. In my view, the public has been given an ample amount of time to complete most of the items to date.”

Some small businesses may disagree and may find some requirements difficult to complete, but the province does provide a lot of support for the small businesses and private sector, she added.

Members of the public can notify the province if they feel businesses aren’t meeting their needs as outlined in the legislation.

“The number (of people with disabilities) is always rising because as people age they do develop some disabilities,” Carter said. “Our aging population is quite significant and not just in Hamilton.”

By the year 2036, one in five Ontarians will have a disability as the population ages. Enforcement of the accessibility standards will be ensured by the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment.

Implementation of the standards will be monitored through audits and inspections, with a system in place to track compliance by reviewing the mandatory submitted reports. Companies and organizations persistently in non-compliance would face other enforcement measures, including monetary penalties or prosecution.

Though the government noted its focus is to provide assistance to organizations, a penalty can be issued with fines starting at $200, up to $15,000. This depends on the severity of impact the non-compliance could have on people with disabilities.

“Customer Services Standards is just the start and we’re really encouraging employers to start thinking about focusing on the current and future standards,” said Lehmann.

Changes to AODA began in 2005 with the implementation of different standards beginning with the customer service standard. This will be followed by information and communication, employment, the built environment, and transportation.

The goal is to make Ontario fully accessible by 2025.

Twenty years may seem like a long time, but changes within the act are huge. They include:

Timeline for compliance to AODA standards:
Customer Service Standard
Public Sector deadline was January 1, 2012
Private Sector, Non-profit, non-designated public sector businesses and organizations was January 1, 2012 with an on-line reporting of December 31, 2012

Information and Communications Standard
For the Government of Ontario and the Legislative Assembly, January 1, 2014
For large designated public sector organizations, January 1, 2015
For small designated public sector organizations, January 1, 2016

In this regard, the City of Hamilton is working to update its website by 2015.

Employment Standard
Large designated public sector organizations, January 1, 2014
Small designated public sector organizations, January 1, 2015
Large organizations (50 or more employees), January 1, 2016
Small organizations (at least one but fewer than 50 employees), January 1, 2017

The Transportation and Built Environment Standards have yet to be announced.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz. 

Tagged , , ,
Feb 14 2013
Leave a comment
Article

Innovative REfficient first in Hamilton to be certified B Corp

Through its company policy of recycling telecom and audiovisual equipment, Hamilton’s REfficient is the first in the city to be labeled as B Corporation certified.

Stephanie McLarty, CEO of REffiecient.

Stephanie McLarty, CEO of REffiecient.

In its third year of operation, REfficient is one of 50 companies in Canada to become B Corp certified, said CEO Stephanie McLarty.

Along with an assessment of practices towards employees, environmental initiatives and governance, McLarty explained a company has to reach a minimum score to become certified.

“You also have to include a statement in your articles of incorporation that you will not only take the interests of your shareholders into account, but also the interests of the employees, community and environment,” she said.

To become B Corp certified, a company has to earn 80 out of 200 points in four areas, said Joyce Sou of the Toronto Mars Centre for Impact Investing, the Canadian coordinator for B Corps.

“A lot of companies that are certified are already leaders and innovators in their own area,” said Sou. “By signing onto this movement, it shows that businesses are fundamentally shifting the way businesses operate by showing that they are doing what they say they are doing.”

A B Corps certification verifies that a business is completing the standards of social and environmental performance, and is also making a positive impact to the society, Sou added.

McLarty noted her company’s goal is to help organizations be efficient and effective with their resources.

“Our online marketplace allows organizations to go shopping in other companies’ surplus inventory for telecom and AV product, of which over 50 per cent is new never-used surplus,” she explained. “Ultimately this helps companies save money, keep product in use, and increase waste diversion.”

With customers across North American and seven other countries, REfficient aims to provide sustainable solutions for companies from Hamilton, she said.

The number of companies using her platform to source telecom and audiovisual equipment will continue to grow, McLarty added.

“As we’ve seen with large cable companies like Cogeco, REfficient serves both a fiscally responsible role, as well as an environmentally responsible one,” McLarty explained. “This innovative new green model benefits everyone by reducing waste and increasing resource efficiency, lessening the $20 billion of goods that go to landfill each year, of which anywhere from 25-60 per cent could be reused.”

Sou noted REfficient is one of many companies in Hamilton that are working to make a difference in the city.

“We had a chance to visit Hamilton and we were inspired with all the small and medium enterprises coming out of Hamilton,” said Sou. “The companies we saw and spoke too were not only trying to make a name for themselves but also wanted to make a difference in the city. You can tell there’s a love of the city from the entrepreneurs that are working and living in Hamilton.”

There will be many more companies in Hamilton signing up to become B Corp certified, she added.

B Labs, the non-profit organization behind B Corps certification, began in 2006. It began certifying companies in Canada three years ago.

There are currently 690 companies certified globally.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

Tagged , , ,
Feb 07 2013
Leave a comment
Article

Small businesses nickeled and dimes with transaction fees

Next time you are at your favourite small business you may notice a sign asking you to pay cash or use your debit card.

Some stores are putting up signs asking customers to pay via cash or debit, rather than credit.

Some stores are putting up signs asking customers to pay via cash or debit, rather than credit.

You’ll find one of those signs at Cake & Loaf bakery on Dundurn Street South.

Bakery co-owner Josie Rudderham said that as a consumer she didn’t realize the impact credit card use had on a small business.

“It’s about $300 in an average month for us to pay for transaction fees,” she said. “That’s $300 that could have gone to employees, training, equipment, and it’s a big deal for small businesses.”

Canadian Federation of Independent Business president Dan Kelly says a consumer alert campaign aims to help consumers understand how significant the new fees are to small business owners.

Using a credit card may be convenient, but the fees for each transaction end up costing a lot to small business owners, he said.

“We have little signs that many merchants are starting to put up in their businesses that say, ‘Would you consider paying with cash or debit?’” Kelly said. “It’s encouraging consumers and giving them a little narrative that you may not know. Anything that can be done to help consumers understand that if they pull out their credit card, especially a premium credit card, they’re imposing higher costs to the system.”

Depending on the credit card used, the base rate is around two per cent, Rudderham explained.

“If anyone is using a premium card, let’s say a PC card that you get points on or a travel Visa, or RBC points, businesses actually have to pay for the points,” she said. “We get a percentage added onto our costs to pay for those points, which can be another two to three per cent on top of the two per cent we already pay (for the initial transaction).”

An example Rudderham used was the purchase of a coffee.

A $2 cup of coffee would incur an additional 10 cents for the transaction fee, she pointed out.

“It’s a cost that we have to pass on to the consumers because we really don’t have a choice,” said Rudderham. “It’s an illusion for many that they’re getting all these points when they use their credit cards and it’s not costing them anything – but it has to be passed down to the consumer at some point. That’s something we really struggle with because I’m not going to add it to your bill just because you used a credit card.”

Kelly said fees like this are crippling for small businesses because merchants have limited options.

An increase in Visa and MasterCard fees is another reason for the campaign, he added.

“Larger merchants have bigger bargaining power so they can negotiate lower rates for all sorts of supplies,” said Kelly. “A small merchant has a narrower margin even if the fees are largely in the same category, whether you are from a large or small business.”

Though there are benefits to using a credit card, Kelly noted interact debit cards offer the same amount of security but at a much lower cost.

“There are benefits to using credit cards and merchants don’t have a problem accepting them, but the fees are driving merchants crazy right now,” he said.

Visa Canada Corporation announced last fall it would implement a pricing adjustment to take effect April 2013 for banks used by business owners in Canada.

The fee is an increase of two cents for every $100, or 0.02 per cent, which is the first increase in five years.

However, Visa Canada noted it is up to the bank to decide how much of the increase to pass on to its customers.

If a merchant currently pays a merchant discount rate (MDR) of two per cent, it would see a rate increase to 2.02 per cent. “The MDR rate is negotiated directly between acquirers (banks) and merchants,” Visa Canada said.

MasterCard International Incorporated also announced a smaller fee hike would go into effect next year.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz. 

Tagged , , , , , ,
Feb 04 2013
Leave a comment
Article

A 15-foot salad bar opens on James Street North

Shane McCartney has something no one else in Hamilton has: a 15-foot salad bar.

Shane McCartney and his 15-foot salad bar.

Shane McCartney and his 15-foot salad bar.

The four-and-a-half metre salad bar offers more than 70 items, including organic and local foods.

McCartney & Son Salad Emporium at 282 James Street North opened on Tuesday and McCartney, the chef, has been rocking ever since.

“In my eyes there isn’t a proper salad bar here because it’s always a secondary thing and isn’t featured (in a restaurant),” he said when asked about opening the restaurant in Hamilton.“I think there w as a huge void in Hamilton for something fresh, quick, easy and from scratch.”

The salad bar features organic and local produce, and a lot of healthy options such as quinoa, edamame and kale, he said.

Dressings for salads and the soups are also made from scratch. The bread comes fresh from the Dundurn Street bakery Cake and Loaf, McCartney added.

McCartney’s restaurant is on James North just south of Barton in an area where he has lived for the past eight years.

“I’ve been doing this for about 10 years and it’s something I learned on the job – I didn’t have any schooling,” he explained. “I sort of fell into it and found that I had a passion and palate for it.”

Over the years, McCartney has worked in various cities such as Halifax and Toronto, where he fed many high profile stars. He was the head chef for Jack & Lois, a restaurant on James North, for the past year, and continues to act as their food consultant.

In addition to the bricks and mortar restaurant, he offers full service catering from fine dining weddings and deli platters, to a mobile salad bar.

The salad bar is open Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It will be closed on Sunday’s.

There will be a grand opening in a couple of weeks.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

Tagged , , ,
Feb 01 2013
Leave a comment
Article

Competitors gearing up for Target

Hamilton stores are altering their facilities and stocking their shelves to prepare for the arrival of Target in Canada.

Target Canada opening one of its first stores on Barton Street in Hamilton.

Target Canada opening one of its first stores on Barton Street in Hamilton.

Giant Tiger Stores Limited has seen several changes recently, including the redesign and renovation of its stores to make it easier to shop, said Julia Knox, vice-president of strategic planning and market research for Giant Tiger Stores Limited.

“We have more brand name grocery products and on-trend fashions at unbelievably low prices,” she added. “We’re continuing to grow by adding more locations and expanding in existing markets.”

Along with renovations to its current stores, Giant Tiger will be opening 10 stores across Canada starting in March this year.

McMaster University professor Marvin Ryder told YourHamiltonBiz that big stores are already undergoing several changes to prepare for Target’s arrival.

“Since they know when Target is opening, they have ample time to prepare for its arrival,” he said.

Stores are relabeling and reinventing themselves, he added.

Knox noted Giant Tiger offers unique products with fantastic deals.

“Everything is in a friendly store that is easier to get in and out of, and more fun than big box stores,” she explained. “We are also very focused on our local communities – we tailor assortments to better meet our customers’ needs. We also support local causes such as sports teams, community groups and food banks.”

Vincent Power, vice-president of corporate affairs and communications for Sears Canada, noted many improvements have been made over the past year but is not related or connected solely to the arrival of Target.

“We rebalanced prices across the company with our ’5,000 New Lower Prices’ program which we launched in 2012,” said Power.

“This provided increased day-in and day-out value prices which meant customers could buy with confidence every day on some of their most favourite items and brands. We complemented this with an on-sale strategy for other items because sales are still very popular with Canadians and they expect department stores like Sears to offer sales on great items from time to time.”

Sears also launched its LOOK! report, a quarterly magazine-type flyer, revamped its customer service and returns policy, its infants and nursery products department called “The Baby’s Room,” and online site.

“We dramatically began a store refresh program and revamped nine stores last year, including Lime Ridge, to modernize our selling spaces and provide a space to properly showcase our product, with an emphasis on women’s, men’s and kids apparel,” said Power. “For 2013, we have some stores scheduled for the same kind of refresh, and dozens of stores scheduled for a version of a refresh, but will provide visual presentation elements that will allow the merchandise to be shown in a much improved manner than we have today.”

Power noted that much of these initiatives to Sears are in part to address the competitive retail store industry in Canada. The renovations are scheduled to be complete by the end of spring and early summer of2013.

A spokesperson for Future Shop added nothing could be said at this point, but the Canadian Tire Corporation told YourHamiltonBiz they remain focused on delivering exclusive brands and innovative products to Canadians.

“Canadian Tire understands life in Canada,” noted the corporation. “We’re confident that our unique product assortment and the increasing number of exclusive brands we offer throughout our seasonal, automotive, living, fixing and playing categories, will continue to set us apart.”

There will be five Target Canada stores opening in Hamilton starting in the spring of 2013 with one at Centre Mall and at the Flamborough Power Centre in Waterdown. Three stores will be opening up in the summer at South Hamilton Square on Upper James, Meadowvale Power Centre in Ancaster, and Queenston Place in Stoney Creek.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

Tagged , , , , ,
Jan 31 2013
Leave a comment
Article

Reminiscences: Elsie Picone had a huge impact on her community

Though small in stature, Elsie Picone left a big impact with her community involvement and dedication to Dundas.

The matriarch of Picone Fine Food passed away on Jan. 29 at 85 surrounded by family.

Elsie Picone.

Elsie Picone.

Daughter Theresa Picone recalls her mother as community-minded and someone who was mentor to many people, especially women.

“A lot of women really appreciated her smile, her stamina, and seeing her cooking,” she said. “She lived her values, she had strong beliefs and she was challenging at times; but she instilled in me the strength to believe in your convictions and to never waver.”

She was diagnosed with cancer more than a year ago, and hadn’t been working in the store this past year, her daughter said.

Her mother was able to do a lot of things and many people were generous with their time so she was able visit many places, she added.

“We knew cancer was just one of those things,” her daughter said. “At the very end it was quick and she didn’t suffer a lot. All of us were at the end for almost two days until she passed.”

Fara Mintz recalls working at the Picone Fine Food throughout high school.

Now a lawyer working in Toronto, it was her first job and the foundation of what she provides to her clients today.

Many high school students from Dundas and west Hamilton worked at the food store, she said.

“She really instilled in me the value of hard work and also the value of respect and being respectful to the customers – it was about giving the level of customer service you would want to receive,” she said. “It was a phenomenal experience and the foundation of the success I’ve had since then. It is a huge hole for Dundas – anyone who knew Mrs. Picone, was truly blessed.”

Peter Hargreave worked at the store throughout high school and university, and said Picone and the store are a huge part of the community.

“She was somebody that put absolutely everything into her work, her store and into the community,” said Hargreave. “She was a woman small in stature and small in voice but she had a huge impact on the community. She treated us as family and always thankful and always gave back.”

Picone was a real pillar in the community and there are many political leaders in the province who stopped into her store for a piece of pie, added Hargreave.

MPP Ted McMeekin knew Picone for more than 30 years and noted she was a staple in the community.

“I’d go to her store and buy a pie because she makes the best pie in Dundas. If she wasn’t in the front then I would search her out just to say, ‘hi,’” he said. “When it comes to pies, she’s a real sweetie pie. She’s loving, kind, genuine, and the most friendly person there is.”

Picone received many community awards throughout her life, including Citizen of the Year, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and Paul Harris Fellowship. She was a founding member of Dundas Community Services and an active member of her church.

The Dundas Community Services recognized Picone in December for her outstanding volunteer work in the community.

She was one of the founding members of the group when it started 40 years ago and she remained committed to helping organizations and clubs, even donating a couple of pies, said McMeekin.

Picone’s son, Mark, also initiated an award in her name called the Elsie Picone Award. It is given to a graduating high school student for voluntary contributions to the community.

Dundas councillor Russ Powers she had been extraordinary.

Powers knew Piccone for nearly 50 years and met her when he moved to Dundas with his family.

“It was one of the few places in Dundas to go to if you lived downtown – it’s where my parents shopped, and ultimately where my wife and I shopped,” he said. “But it’s her personal contributions and, by extension, the contributions of her business, along with her mentoring to the youth in the community, that will be remembered.

A funeral will be held on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church (58 Sydenham St.) in Dundas.

Visitation will be held at the Cattel, Eaton and Chambers Funeral Home (53 Main St.) on Jan. 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Vigil prayers will be on Friday at 8 p.m.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

Tagged , ,
Jan 28 2013
Leave a comment
Article

Hamilton businessman finds niche in the stars

A growing interest in astronomy has prompted a Hamilton business to switch from cameras to telescopes.

When Roger Burrough opened Camtech in 1976 he sold and serviced cameras. Now his company is called the Scope Store and while he still sells cameras, his specialty is optics – telescopes, binoculars and microscopes.

Roger Burrough and some of his telescopes.

Roger Burrough and some of his telescopes.

“The industry has changed over the years, and it’s become more and more about electronics so we decided to put our emphasis on optics,” Burrough explained. “After the recession of the early ‘90s, we had a good growth with the new digital age. With the new millennium we started to experience rapid price erosion, as was the case with all electronics, and with increased competition, our business model wasn’t sustainable.”

The decision to switch its focus more to optics and astronomy began four years before the last recession hit and slowed Camtech’s recovery, he says, though last year fared well.

The only other businesses that sell gear tailored for astronomy are in Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo. Burrough hopes to become the third major store in the Golden Horseshoe.

Steve Kinsella, one of four part-time employees at Camtech, is an amateur astronomer, a member of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Burrough says the relationship with the two groups will help promote astronomy.

Burrough’s said the past year was his best ever for optics sales. He thinks some of the success was due to the addition of apps on smart phones and the growth in technology.

“Due to the proliferation of technology, more people are getting more interested,” he said. “It’s bringing more attention to the skies.”

The success of Burrough’s reinvented store demonstrates the popularity of astronomy , said Dr. Robert Cockcroft of McMaster’s Physics and Astronomy Department.

It is also a way to make astronomy accessible, said Cockcroft, who is also manager of McMaster’s McCallion Planetarium.

There has been an increase in attendance at the planetarium since the facility was relaunched with a new projector in 2008, he said.

“The (digital) projector has more capabilities, so now we can zoom in onto objects to view them as if we were looking at them through a telescope . . . we can show events such as meteor showers and many more,” he explained. “Apps certainly make astronomy more accessible. With a few tips, you can know very quickly what that bright object is in the sky that you’re looking at.”

Apps such as Star Walk, Starmap or SkyView allow the user to easily find constellations and planets in the sky simply by lifting their phone’s camera to the sky.

Apps such as StarMap have become popular.

Apps such as StarMap have become popular.

The application takes a GPS coordinate of your current location and calibrates where you are in relation to the stars and planets.

Cockcroft says astronaut Chris Hadfield’s venture into space and outreach initiatives with the elementary school in Mississauga have also been great for astronomy.

The transit of Venus was very popular, he said.

“I brought in 300 pairs of the solar glasses and sold every single one. They were coming in from Niagara because no one else had them,” Burrough said.

More than 500 people used special glasses at the planetarium, Cockcroft added.

Free telescope viewing sessions were started after that and they will re-start later this year.

Along with meteor showers, this coming year will feature the path of two comets. The first comet will be brightest in early March (designated C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS after the telescope in Hawaii that discovered it) but scientists note it is difficult to predict, stated Burrough.

A second comet (ISON) will appear in November and may become the brightest comet ever and even be visible during the day.

“During the night it will be brighter than the moon,” said Burrough.

Burroughs hopes to offer Astronomy 101 classes with the Hamilton Public Library, hold

drop-in sidewalk astronomy nights, and a trade show in May. Discussions are still under way for hosting a Star Night again at the Binbrook Conservation Area, after the first event was washed out several years ago.

Though many events are done on fairly short notice due to unpredictable weather, Burrough hopes this year will bring many more interested astronomers out to look at the night sky.

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

Tagged , ,
Jan 18 2013
Leave a comment
Article

11 new restaurants open in downtown Hamilton

Downtown and want something Peruvian for lunch? Maybe some Pollo a La Brasa and Aji Sauce? How about some Empanadas?

Culantro Peruvian Cookery on King William, a block west of the Lister Block, is just one of a growing number of independent restaurants popping up in the core. Last year, the city says 11 restaurants operated by independent owners opened downtown, not including the growing Ontario-established Burrito Boyz chain.

Kathy Drewitt, executive director for Hamilton’s Downtown BIA, explained they are all independent mom and pop shops rather than the typical restaurant chains.

“There are a lot of new restaurants coming in offering very eclectic palates that will appeal to anyone who likes different flavours of food,” she said. “We just had a new Peruvian restaurant open up and who would’ve thought a Peruvian-themed restaurant would appeal to those in Hamilton?”

Culantro Peruvian Cookery opened up on Dec. 1 and Drewitt has been told the restaurant keeps running out of food because they have become quite popular.

Another popular restaurant is Jack & Lois on James Street North, which was voted best new restaurant by Hamilton Magazine last year.

Named after his grandparents, owner Eric Bowden opened his retro-styled restaurant in February and has seen a steady increase in clientele.

“I wanted to open on James Street North particularly because of what was going on down there,” he explained. “I was working in downtown Hamilton at the time and decided to look up some properties on Craigslist. I looked at the neighbourhood and I decided I wanted to make this happen because Hamilton is far more interesting right now in terms of rejuvenation.”

He said it is easier to operate in Hamilton than Toronto because costs, such as rent, are lower.

“There is a lot of undiscovered gems in Hamilton,” Bowden said. “It’s a great place to shoot films, the arts is developing, there is a music scene; it’s burgeoning. The city is setting itself for success right now and councillors are changing antiquated laws for new business owners. They’re not perfect but they’re listening and making changes.”

Drewitt pointed out the usual corporate models, such as Kelsey’s or Jack Astors, don’t fit well in downtown storefront units.

“They usually want bigger spaces and lots of parking,” she said.

The proximity to entertainment facilities, including Copps Coliseum and Hamilton Place, is also a plus, she added.

There are more than 180 restaurants in the Downtown BIA, which is the area within MacNab, Rebecca, Mary and Hunter streets, as well as James Street North and South.

“You can see all the different flavours of restaurants that we have and you don’t have to go far to find a good restaurant downtown,” Drewitt said. “There’s a lot of variety, which is great for everyone.”

New restaurants that opened in 2012:
Culantro Peruvian Cookery, 47 King William Street, 905-777-0060
Baltimore House, 43 King William Street, 905-526-3408
U Shao BBQ, 27 John Street S., 905-521-8880
Corner Tea House & Asian Bistro, 29 John Street N., 905-527-0739
8090 Tea House, 149 King Street E., 905-525-8788
It’s a Food Thing, 49 King William Street, 289-808-2155
Jack & Lois, 301 James Street N., 289-389-5647
Ben & Thanh Thai & Vietnamese Restaurant, 113 James Street N., 905-528-6888
Appleberry Café, 312 King Street E., 905-962-8488
Radius, 151 James Street S, 905-393-1658

Originally posted in Your Hamilton Biz.

Tagged , , ,
Dec 19 2012
Leave a comment
Article

City of Grand Forks to replace collapsed culvert

A collapsed culvert under Boundary Drive has caused rising water levels in neighbouring homes and concern from city staff.
The city became aware of the problem when affected residents expressed concerns about high water tables north of Central Avenue and along 17th Street in an environmentally sensitive wetland area.
Hal Wright, manager of operations for the city’s public works and operations, pointed out they originally thought it was due to the record high levels of precipitation this year.
“Especially in June when we had almost three times greater than the recorded record, as well as in November there was quite a bit of moisture,” he said. “Just to be sure I had the crews go out and check the flows under the roadways and blockages so we’re sure there was free flow.”
During the inspection, city workers found the pipe blocked under Boundary Road, just south of the Triangle Gardens subdivision.
“We were unable to get through with our equipment, and we used a camera on both ends of the pipe and found that it had collapsed,” Wright explained.
“The actual pipe had collapsed with earth on top of it. We’re unaware of when this happened, whether it was the high rains in June, but the fact remains that we have a block in there and we have to clear that.”
Wright pointed out this particular culvert is a corrugated metal round pipe that goes from one side of the road to the other and actually connects to two manholes. Pipes from the upstream side and also pipes on the downstream side connect to the culvert so that it completes the passageway beneath the road.
This allows water to flow from one side to the other without damaging the road. The water comes from Ward’s Lake, through the city and eventually ends up in the Kettle River.
City staff are currently working to replace the culvert immediately to avoid potential flooding and/or damage to and upstream of Boundary Drive.
Though the culvert has collapsed, Wright added there is no concern for a sinkhole or collapsing of the road.
“The pipe is two feet in diameter, and six to nine feet (two to three metres) below grade,” he said. “From the camera, it looks like it has been there for a while (and) it shouldn’t affect the road surface.”
Additionally, the existing culvert system is old and does not incorporate recommended best practices, including a proper inlet/outlet structure. The replacement of the pipe would also include entrance barriers to prevent animals and small children who may be attracted to exploring the culvert.
According to a staff report presented at Monday’s city council meeting, estimated costs of the remedial work, including survey, engineering, procurement and construction is $55,000; however, prices are subject to change.
“We’re in the planning stages and we’re out for tender,” said Wright. “This is also an important time to make sure we don’t add to the problem.”
Two options to replace the pipe include tearing up the road and replacing the entire pipe before burying it again, or tunneling a new pipe to replace the existing one.
They are still discussing costs of the repair, as this amount has not been budgeted for 2012, Wright added.
Coun. Gary Smith noted city staff is working very hard and diligently to make sure the city’s infrastructure levels are maintained.
“We’re doing the proper things and the proper time,” said Smith. “These things happen, and it’s almost impossible to predict. It’s like doing renovations on a house: sometimes when you open things up you think, ‘Oh my God, what did I get myself into?’ Sometimes you have to deal with things as they come up and this is one of those cases.”
The site of the damaged culvert is also located within an environmental sensitive area (ESA).
The staff report noted, “Given the proximity of the culvert to sensitive terrestrial and aquatic habitat within the ESA, best management practices and site specific environmental mitigation measures will be implemented during construction to help minimize the overall environmental impacts of the culvert replacement on adjoining sensitive environmental habitat.”

As such, a qualified environmental professional will be on-site during construction.

Wright noted the Ministry of Environment would dictate the timeline for replacement of this culvert, but the estimated timeline for commencing this project is in February 2013.

Originally posted in the Grand Forks Gazette.

Tagged , , , , ,
Dec 12 2012
Leave a comment
Article

City of Grand Forks to spend $67K to replace computer servers

City council has voted to spend $67,000 to replace the city’s computer servers.
Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the City of Grand Forks’ servers and data storage will need to be repaired or replaced over the next couple of years.
The current equipment (Sun Tape Library and IBM Data Storage Array) are approaching its five-year life expectancy, with the storage components and networking servers approaching nine years of service.
At the moment, the city is using Symantec Backup Exec, which stores backup data from file servers but does not connect to the city’s virtual servers. The city’s uninterrupted power supply (UPS), normally used to keep the equipment running, is also out of service.
To maintain services at city hall for 2013 and 2014, the city will invest around $67,000 to upgrade the equipment.
City Chief Administrative Officer Doug Allin pointed out the computer equipment located at city hall would soon be eliminated.
“The equipment will all be kept and shared through the school district. Our data storage is very much tied to the fibre optics program,” explained Allin. “It is a requirement under the school district that we’re partnering and sharing resources for our data backup and our service needs. Everything will tie in together.”
The city and School District 51 (SD51) have a joint partnership for the fibre network that has been constructed and developed over the past two years, that allows them to share computer knowledge, including emails and backup servers, as well as document storage facilities.
“Basically we have all the equipment downstairs in city hall,” Allin said. “This would move all of it to one central location at the school district. The city will then share the same equipment with the school board because it will run with the same equipment.”
SD51 Superintendent of Schools Michael Strukoff noted all larger organizations have the responsibility to back up its data.
“In the past, the City of Grand Forks had a small unit they were using and SD51 had one as well,” he explained. “We were backing up all of our data from our schools and the board office daily. However, two things were happening: these things get old over time and they wear out so you have to replace them. The amount of data they were storing was also growing.”
Rather than the city and school district purchase two additional storage units, Strukoff pointed out they took advantage of the situation and worked together to purchase one larger unit.
“What we’ve tried to do is purchase one that will have additional capacity for expansion, including the possibility of offering services to the community,” he said. “This places us on the next level where we can meet our own needs cost effectively and then possibly provide the service to others over time.”
Strukoff noted the process of involving other businesses, which is the next phase of the project, is slow work.
“Part of that is that we don’t have huge resources to work with but we are working on it,” he said. “The other part that has made this a little more challenging is the transitions. The city has a new individual (Allin) who is being brought up to speed and at the same time I’m going to be leaving and another person (Kevin Argue) will take my spot.”
The hope is to also connect the service to the schools and city operations at the Village of Midway and the City of Greenwood.
“As the organizations go through transitions with the senior people, we have to rework this and bring everyone up to speed,” he added. “These things take time and we are slowly working to get everything all lined up.”
The fibre optics network program began in December 2010 when city staff and SD51 staff collaborated to connect the school district and city facilities with high-speed fibre optic network capability. The network was finally completed this year, with the district and city co-operating on managing and creating the network.

Tagged , , , , ,
← Older posts
Newer posts →