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A S P O N S O R CO N T E N T F E AT U R E I N C A N A D A S # 1 N AT I O N A L N E W S PA P E R A N D # 1 N E W S W E BS I T E THE GLOBE AND MAIL ATTRACTS CANADA’S INFLUENTIAL ADULTS AND EXECUTIVES* Our weekday readers are: 89% more likely to be senior managers/owners 2x as likely to work in professional positions Nearly 3x as likely to have household incomes of $200,000+ FIGHTING BREATHLESSNESS A PRINT REACH YOUR MARKET** IN PRINT... + DIGITAL + SOCIAL MEDIA FEATURE Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the world’s most prevalent respiratory diseases and World COPD Day – organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease in collaboration with health care professionals and patient groups throughout the world – raises awareness about the condition and aims to improve COPD care throughout the world. GOING LIVE IN PRINT AND ONLINE: NOVEMBER 16, 2016 GET INVOLVED BY: OCTOBER 5, 2016 893,000 WEEKDAY PRINT/PDF READERS 1,032,000 SATURDAY PRINT/PDF READERS MATERIALS DUE: NOVEMBER 9, 2016 Published on World COPD Day, November 16, 2016 and produced in co-operation with leading medical experts and advocacy groups, this special feature will include the following editorial highlights: ONLINE... 3.7 million UNIQUE VISITORS 3.9 million MONTHLY MOBILE READERS ADVOCACY. Who are the champions in the fight against COPD? DIAGNOSIS. Short of breath? Take a simple breathing test called spirometry to evaluate your lung health. OUTLOOK. Learn about new treatments and medications that cause optimism for patients and their families. PREVENTION. Explore the causes and conditions and learn how to minimize environmental risk factors. + Increase your reach and audience with SOCIAL MEDIA AMPLIFICATION... See page 2 for details... We’ve had a long history of producing engaging print and digital features. Select a link below to view a previous feature. NEXT STEPS? Contact Globe and Mail Project Manager RICHARD DEACON at 604.631.6636, or via e-mail at [email protected] Sources: *PMB 2015 Spring Study 18+; **NADbank 2015 48 Mkts; comScore & Omniture 3 mos av to June 2015 A S P O N S O R CO N T E N T F E AT U R E I N C A N A D A S # 1 N AT I O N A L N E W S PA P E R A N D # 1 N E W S W E BS I T E FIGHTING BREATHLESSNESS PRINT DIGITAL SOCIAL CHOOSE YOUR AD SIZE AND FREQUENCY PUBLISH AMPLIFY We will boost your investment value by presenting custom content opportunities designed to deliver readership value and support your strategic interests. See your special feature content housed in the globeandmail.com special features hub: Mobilize content, conversations and build your social media influence, engagement and audience. Choose from a suite of services: S P ONS OR CONT ENT THE GLOBE AND MAIL CONNECTING THE TRANS CANADA TRAIL SECTION GPTW F R I D AY , A P R I L 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 “Our goal is to create great places to work where talented people know that they will be challenged, and can bring their passions to life on a global scale.” Sam Sebastian, Managing Director, Google Canada Tri Fit Inc. 360Incentives “The spirit is great, the leaders are inspirational and they seem to be passionate about fostering the culture as a top priority…while we grow.” THE GLOBE AND MAIL 99% YUKON NUNAVUT Leerom Segal, Co-founder & CEO, Klick Inc. 10 YEARS! NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Yellowknife 59% ALBERTA 80% “Our success as a company – and our success in Canada – begins and ends with our people!” Traction on Demand 71% BRITISH COLUMBIA 92% SASKATCHEWAN MANITOBA Edmonton “Employees are at the heart of our strategies. They really make our success in the core areas that we’re focused on: to become the small business platform around the globe and do the nation’s taxes.” Jeff Cates, VP and Country Manager, Intuit Canada 99% 99% Whitehorse DNE Resources CELEBRATING > STRATEGY > DAILY UPDATES and will very soon link nearly 1,000 municipalities. Over the next two years, Canadians will donate time, effort and resources to bridge all the remaining gaps, so that, on the sesquicentennial of Confederation in 2017, the Trail will be a glorious birthday gift for Canada and a legacy for future generations. It takes a community to connect the Trail. And we want everyone to be part of it. It is refreshing to work for a company that truly values their employees. At Big Viking all of us are encouraged to grow professionally and various resources are invested to achieve employee happiness.“ BEST WORKPLACES LIST SECTION TCT S AT U R D AY , J U LY 4 , 2 0 1 5 under way. With two years left before Canada’s 150th birthday, the Our Canadian journey isTranswellCanada Trail is now 80 per cent connected from coast to coast to coast NetApp Canada Employee Vega Big Viking Employee “Without question, we’ve become one the country’s greatest places to work simply by putting our employees first.” > CUSTOM CONTENT (ARTICLES, BLOG POSTS, VIDEO) SP O N SO R CO N TE N T CANADA’S BEST WORKPLACES Iqaluit 80% CONNECTED 97% QUÉBEC Klick Inc. PLUS St. John's NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR Charlottetown NEW BRUNSWICK 61% ONTARIO Winnipeg Regina 100% 100% PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 73% Victoria Québec Come on, Canada! Join us on our Canadian journey: Help connect your Trail! Halifax Fredericton NOVA SCOTIA 38% Connected land or water trail Ottawa Gaps in trail Toronto 0 150 300 600 km Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic. Sources: TCT, DMTI Spatial, ESRI. Production: Montréal, Trans Canada Trail. INSIDE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRUST AND PERFORMANCE. GPTW 2 TOP 50 LARGE AND MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES. GPTW 5 TOP 50 MEDIUM COMPANIES. GPTW 4 Shane Holdaway, President, Capital One Canada PHOTO BY GORDON MCKEEVER Habanero Consulting Group This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with The Globe and Mail’s advertising department. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved in its creation. Online? Visit globeandmail.com/adv/bestworkplaces2015 for more information. PHOTO BY TCT PHOTO BY ANDREW PENNER Squamish, British Columbia Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories Kilometre Zero North Duck Mountain Provincial Forest (Crocus Trail), Manitoba Lévis, Quebec Nova Scotia The TCT reaches its Pacific Ocean destination in Clover Point, Victoria, after travelling 3,000 kilometres through beautiful British Columbia. B.C.’s section of the Trail is already 80 per cent connected, with only a few key gaps left to develop. It includes scenic cycling paths, mountainous hiking trails and breathtaking paddling routes, such as the Sea to Sky Marine Trail, a 40-kilometre water route through Squamish Nation traditional territory, from Squamish to Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver, that allows paddlers to observe bald eagles and whales along Howe Sound. The TCT’s three Kilometre-Zero sites – east, west and north – serve as powerful symbols of Canadian unity from coast to coast to coast. Our Arctic Ocean Trailhead is the historic Inuvialuit community of Tuktoyaktuk, NWT. The TCT travels more than 4,600 kilometres, through all three Canadian territories, before reaching this northern terminus. As we fully connect the TCT in Canada’s North, we will refurbish Tuk’s existing KilometreZero-North marker, located near the trailhead of the majestic Mackenzie River Trail. PHOTO BY ADAM HILL STUDIO In the land of 100,000 lakes, the TCT links historic prairie towns with Winnipeg, traversing rolling plains, boreal forest and tallgrass prairie. Manitoba’s 1,500-kilometre section of the Trail is already 92 per cent connected, leaving less than 120 kilometres to develop. One of the few remaining gaps is a remote wilderness trail in Duck Mountain Provincial Forest. Once the Crocus Trail is re-established in Manitoba, it will link to Saskatchewan’s Duck Mountain Provincial Trail for crossborder walking/hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing. In Quebec, the TCT presents the very best of la belle province – cosmopolitan Montreal, historic Quebec City, pristine boreal parks and charming rural regions, plus a distinct language and culture. The Parcours des Anses, in Lévis, Quebec, is a popular cycling trail with a view of Quebec City, the oldest walled town in North America. The province’s 1,500-kilometre portion of the TCT is currently 97 per cent connected, leaving only a few dozen kilometres to develop in time for Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017. Nova Scotia’s 900-kilometre section of the Trail may be only 38 per cent connected, but it already boasts spectacular paddling and hiking routes through bucolic countryside. The eightkilometre section in Pictou County links Trailside communities from Pictou to New Glasgow, known as “the birthplace of New Scotland.” With designated sections for walking, hiking, cycling and paddling, this active transportation corridor will prove vital for the area’s rapidly growing communities. Sea to Sky Marine Trail PHOTO BY TRAILS MANITOBA Parcours des Anses Pictou County Trails Online? Visit globeandmail2015.tctrail.ca INSIDE 1/3 This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with the Trans Canada Trail and The Globe and Mail’s advertising department. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved in its creation. TCT interviews Martin Short, Rick Mercer, Sarah McLachlan and Tom Jackson. TCT 2 Make the TCT your ‘Giving Moment.’ TCT 3 A salute to those who love the Trail. TCT 4-5 Working together to connect the Trail. TCT 7 BANNER FB 1 SPONSOR CONTENT CANADIAN T H E G L O B E A N D M A I L • F R I D AY , A P R I L 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 S PON S OR CON T EN T COLLEGES & INSTITUTES THE GLOBE AND MAIL SECTION CICan T H U R S D AY , F E B R U A RY 2 6 , 2 0 1 5 Building a thriving entrepreneurial eco-system Students mingle with industry representatives at ‘Schmoozapalooza,’ an annual BCIT school of business networking event. BCIT\SCOTT MCALPINE hen it comes to early-stage entrepreneurship activity – the United States, according to the 2013 in equipping the country’s entreprepercentage of working-age Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). neurs with the means to succeed. In addition to a solid knowledge base, people either starting a new business This comes as no surprise to Denise or involved in one that’s less than 42 Amyot, president and CEO of Colleges she believes that “passion, patience, months old – Canada ranks second and Institutes Canada (CICan), who says resilience and the ability to connect with in the world and closely behind the colleges and institutes are instrumental others” are defining characteristics of W successful entrepreneurs. While colleges increasingly build “entrepreneurial approaches” into their curricula, they already have the advantage of small, hands-on classes, says Ms. Amyot. This coupled with strong industry connections can help budding entrepreneurs determine whether there is a viable market for their ideas. Part of the training for students at the British Columbia Institute for Technology (BCIT) in Burnaby involves networking, says Harj Dhaliwal, associate dean, marketing management and business administration, BCIT school of business. He mentions frequent “mingler events” where students meet oneon-one with industry representatives in a trade show format. In situations such as this, “students get to know the industry and industry gets to know the students,” Dr. Dhaliwal says, adding that while some of BCIT’s graduates are expected to go into business for themselves, entrepreneurial skills are also useful in an employment setting. To prepare graduates for the demands in the workforce, much of BCIT’s programs “mimic real work experience,” says Dr. Dhaliwal. “Many students also work with industry partners on reallife problems, and they have access to internships and practicums where they can practice their skills.” One of the success stories coming out of BCIT involves Procurify, a Vancouver-based cloud procurement software firm that made the cut for the Deloitte Fast 50 Companies to Watch. In the past year, Procurify’s user base grew to include clients in more than 53 countries worldwide, some of them high-profile companies like Hootsuite. Aman Mann, BCIT alum and cofounder and CEO of Procurify, says that while his entrepreneurial inclination was already evident in high school, Entrepreneurship, Page CICan 3 This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with The Globe and Mail’s advertising department. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved in its creation. Family business LEADERSHIP Where family dynamics and business interests intersect T ake a close look at Canada’s estimated 1.1 million businesses and you’ll see many husband-and-wife owners, management teams that share a family name, and children of founders in apprenticeship for the top posts their parents are set to relinquish in the coming years. Family businesses are a collective powerhouse driving the economy, accounting for a significant percentage of the country’s aggregate business sector. While there are no current statistics measuring the prevalence of family ownership among Canadian businesses, previous estimates peg this at between 70 and 95 per cent of all companies in Canada. “Some of the biggest and most successful businesses in Canada are family-owned,” says Paul MacDonald, executive director at the Canadian As- “Families that are successful tend to operate like a business, and different parts of the family elect a representative who will go to the council to get their requests or opinions heard.” Arthur Salzer is executive director, CEO and CIO at Northland Wealth sociation of Family Enterprise (CAFE), a national not-for-profit organization that promotes the well-being, understanding and success of families in business. “People often think of family business as the small mom-and-pop operation, but the reality is family businesses range from the very small to the very large, and they run across all industry sectors,” adds Mr. MacDonald. Like all businesses, family enterprises face a host of challenges as they strive to grow and remain competitive, says Arthur Salzer, executive director, CEO and CIO at Northland Wealth, a Torontobased family office that provides investment and strategic guidance to some of Canada’s largest family businesses. But unlike other businesses, family enterprises must deal with the complexities created by the presence and influence of a business partner or executive who is Online? Visit globeandmail.com/adv/colleges for more information. INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE Educating global citizens W hat are Canadian colleges doing to prepare the next generation of young Canadians to work and prosper in the global economy? Quite a lot, says Paul Brennan, vice president, international partnerships for Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan). “We live in a globalized world with linked economies, cross-border problems and an increasing number of jobs that take you around the world,” says Mr. Brennan. “At the same time, we have people from abroad coming to Canada to do business. In this global market, international experience and understanding is critical to success.” Canadian colleges are preparing students to be global professionals, entrepreneurs and international citizens in two ways. The first is by inviting foreign students to mix, mingle and learn at institutions here in Canada. The second is by offering Canadian students the opportunity to study and/or work abroad. International study programs help students develop cross-cultural skills and the ability to work in multicultural environments. It’s good for the students, and it’s good for the economy. “European research indicates that students who take part in these programs have better job prospects and move up in organizations faster that those who do not,” he says. Humber College in Toronto has a distinguished history of engaging in international initiatives going back to the 1970s, says Diane Simpson, dean of international. “Humber’s internationalization strategy is very important in a city like Toronto because it’s so globally connected,” she says. International, Page CICan 7 INSIDE ESSENTIAL SKILLS: Fostering creativity. CICan 7 BUILDING RESUMÉS: Soughtafter graduates. CICan 8 HIGH IMPACT: Colleges meet industry needs. CICan 9 SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS: Making a difference. CICan 11 Building a successful and competitive family business takes continual planning, and that includes planning for the handoff to the next generation of family owners, says Allen Taylor, CAFE chair. ISTOCKPHOTO.COM BY THE NUMBERS According to research from the University of Alberta, family businesses generate approximately 60% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product, employ 6 million people in Canada, create 70% of all new jobs in North America and account for 55% of all charitable donations. 1/2 1/4 just as likely to be seated at the family Thanksgiving dinner as they are at the next sales meeting. Addressing these complexities effectively is key to keeping the business healthy, competitive and sustainable over generations, says Mr. Salzer. Because it’s too easy for personal dynamics and issues to spill into the business, it’s important that the family learns to view itself as an institution complete with formal rules and mandates – basically a family constitution – as well as a council, says Mr. Salzer. “Families that are successful tend to operate like a business, and different parts of the family elect a representative who will go to the council to get their requests or opinions heard,” he says. “When families work together like this and feel they have the ability to have their say, then it’s easier to get consensus on decisions.” It’s a good idea to bring in third-party counsellors or consultants who have experience working with family businesses, says Mr. Salzer. Another critical challenge that can make or break a family enterprise is the integration of other relatives into the business. That’s why it’s important for family business leaders to define the criteria and process for bringing in a child, sibling or other kin, says Mr. Salzer. “You need to do this in a way that makes sense for the business and won’t be seen by other employees or relatives as being incredibly unfair,” he says. Some families require all incoming relatives to have post-secondary education and work experience in another company. The new family employee may also be required to start at the bottom, or to hop from department CNY 1 This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with The Globe and Mail’s advertising department. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved in its creation. ONLINE? See globeandmail.com/adv/familybusiness2015 ENGAGEMENT The collaborative approach to succession planning S uccessions can be fraught with risks, especially for family businesses, where a lot of expectations may be attached to the decisions – and performance – of the junior generation. When it comes to succession planning, the focus is often on the senior generation, but Niki Kux-Kardos believes discussions around the topic have to happen in a collaborative way. When she explains that it is equally, if not more, important for members of the next generation to step up to the plate, Ms. Kux-Kardos speaks from personal experiences as well as from her perspective as a family business coach at Nexus Facilitation and Coaching. “After all, the younger generation will have to deal with the issues that are not resolved when the senior generation retires,” she says. While succession is often seen as an event, it is a process that can take years, says Ms. Kux-Kardos. For the next generation, she advises, “You have to be clear about who you are and what you stand for. Because if you are planning to take over the business, you need to be sure there is an alignment.” Clarity around the role of the junior generation is also useful when it comes to “collaborative mentorship” – a method that encourages the exchange of wisdom between generations when younger family members take on increasing responsibilities. “Collaborative mentorship is about embracing differences,” Ms. Kux-Kardos explains. “Rather than allowing conflict to be destructive, it’s a matter of finding the opportunity conflict presents.” When different views are communicated in a respectful manner and collaboratively used as drivers for reaching a common goal, synergy happens, says Ms. Kux-Kardos. To achieve that, nextgeneration leaders need to be clear on their guiding values – they also need to be ready to learn while the senior generation needs to be willing to listen. T H E G LO B E A N D M A I L • W E D N E S D AY , F E B R U A RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 SPONSOR CONTENT Celebrating a new beginning with age-old traditions “Since the holiday marks fresh beginnings, this is a time when shoppers traditionally buy new clothes and shoes.” Meghna Srinivas heads the multicultural practice at MacLaren McCann Cultura the 15-day holiday more frequently takes place out of the home. “These days, families often meet in restaurants,” he says. “And more people take advantage of the time off to go on vacations.” The holiday remains a focal point for Canada’s Chinese communities, and the many related public festivities attract large audiences, says Meghna Srinivas, who heads the multicultural practice at advertising agency MacLaren McCann Cultura. Businesses that get involved in community events can earn their clients’ appreciation, says Ms. Srinivas. “Whenever you show community members that you’re with them, they appreciate it,” she explains, adding that Chinese New Year presents an opportunity for brands to “leverage the holiday, its traditions and the seasonal shopping spirit.” Marketing research by Environics points to a higher brand recall for businesses that participate in Chinese New Year celebrations, says Ms. Srinivas. Eighty per cent of Chinese customers remember seeing targeted advertising during the holiday, and more than 40 per cent say they feel closer to Canadian companies that advertise with a message in their language. MULTICULTURALISM Embracing diversity and helping new Canadians realize their potential C licking on a scroll conjures up a bouncy brush-paint animation of a goat that takes the viewer on a tour of Chinese New Year festivities. The beautifully produced video clip is part of the Royal Bank of Canada’s ecard that conveys best wishes for the year ahead. Christine Shisler, RBC’s director of client strategies, sees it not only as an acknowledgment of the important holiday, but also as a gesture of appreciation for clients and staff of Chinese heritage. The Chinese New Year celebration is something the whole organization gets behind, says Ms. Shisler. “We have exciting things planned. The individual branches will be decorated and, in addition to the e-greeting card, we have in-branch signage as well as celebratory advertising and collateral.” The celebration is an example of how RBC embraces multiculturalism, Ms. Shisler explains. In a country where population growth is driven by immigration, it’s an ethical responsibility to make sure everyone is included. But it’s not only the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense, says Ms. Shisler. Immigration not only increases the pool of talent from a recruitment perspective, it also brings potential customers. Ms. Shisler has no doubt that immigrants make an important contribution to our society. For the last three years, she’s been involved in the annual RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards. “The awards celebrate the cultural, economic and social contributions of immigrants,” she explains. “Looking at the examples of nominees and winners, you realize what kind of impact one individual can have – it is inspiring.” In order to help newcomers realize their potential, RBC aims to improve programs and services that can help meet their needs, says Ms. Shisler, who is responsible for the newcomer segment. Last year, for example, one of the biggest issues that came to the bank’s attention related to clients without a credit history. “We’ve made improvements to make it possible for newcomers to get their first credit card, their first car loan or their first mortgage, even when they don’t have a credit history,” says Ms. Shisler, adding that “experts who are qualified to give sound advice and have a good understanding of all available financial solutions” are part of what sets RBC apart. Client feedback has been very positive, she says. “When you come to a ADVERTISE Co-branded digital ads on globeandmail.com promote brand awareness and drive to your site and special feature content: Chinese New Year U > INFLUENCER ENGAGEMENT to department to gain experience in all facets of the business. While there are no hard and fast rules for integrating a family member into the business, what’s most important is to ensure job appointments match skills and experience, says Mr. Salzer. Continuity and succession are big concerns for any business, but in a family-owned company, this challenge is often compounded by feelings of entitlement to the leadership based on family hierarchy, rather than merit. As the founders’ children start their own families, the stakeholder structure also becomes more complicated. Allen Taylor, CAFE chair and president of Taylor Pipe Supports in Burlington, Ont., says it’s critical to start talking as early as possible to the next generation of family owners. The talks don’t have to be formal or concrete when the kids are young, but rather just “blue sky” discussions about the business and what the children see themselves doing in the future. When their children become adults, business owners should sit down at least once a year to assess the skills and interests of this cohort of potential owners and managers, says Mr. Taylor. “Businesses should not look at this as a process they wait to do until there’s a need for it,” he says. “Building a successful and competitive business takes continual planning, and that includes planning for the handoff to the next generation of family owners.” 1/8 niting Chinese communities across the globe in a celebration of cultural identity, Chinese New Year is an auspicious time to exchange best wishes for the year ahead. It also offers unique opportunities for businesses to engage with Chinese audiences. Like many festivities in Chinese communities, the 2015 Chinese New Year celebrations that start on February 19 involve large family reunions, special foods and symbolic traditions. Robert Hung Ngai Ho, who grew up in Hong Kong, remembers the celebration as an elaborate affair. There was a big dinner on New Year’s Eve or the day before, and families would pay respect to their ancestors and receive blessings. He says the streets were filled with the sound of firecrackers set off to scare away evil spirits. On New Year’s Day, relatives visited each other’s homes to exchange best wishes for good health, prosperity and peace. For children, the highlight was receiving hongbao – “lucky money” stuffed into little red envelopes, and Mr. Ho recalls exchanging tips with his cousins on which grand-uncle was the most generous. He notes that some traditions have shifted. The socializing that dominates OR for added global visibility, publish on a custom special feature website: > PAID SOCIAL AMPLIFICATION The 2015 Chinese New Year heralds the arrival of the Year of the Goat, with community members participating in public events, such as Vancouver’s Chinatown parade. LEFT, SUPPLIED; ABOVE, ISTOCKPHOTO.COM “Since the holiday marks fresh beginnings, this is a time when shoppers traditionally buy new clothes and shoes,” she says, adding that research shows that 87 per cent of Chinese consumers made special shopping trips during this period. However, while Chinese New Year is a good time to engage with customers, building relationships in the multicultural market needs to be a sustained effort, explains Ms. Srinivas. “If the holiday greeting is just a ‘one off,’ it doesn’t benefit the brand. “MacLaren McCann Cultura’s focus group research indicates that companies that participate in Chinese New Year celebrations elicit an emotional and somewhat nostalgic response from Chinese audiences,” says Ms. Srinivas. This deep connection to cultural heritage is also evident in the wide support for public events celebrating the holiday, says Mr. Ho, who is involved in the Vancouver Society for the Promotion of Chinese Art and Culture as well as the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. Metro Vancouver – a city where people of Chinese background represent 17 per cent of the total population – boasts a wide range of festivities. A highlight is the parade in Chinatown that features 3,000 performers, including 50 lion dance teams, marching bands and more. Tens of thousands of spectators are proof of the event’s appeal. Mr. Ho has also noticed growing interest in Chinese culture, such as music, dance and visual arts. This is something he welcomes and actively promotes through the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, which he founded in 2005 to “foster the appreciation of Chinese cultural heritage and the application of Buddhist insights.” The foundation recently sponsored The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperors – an exhibition curated by the Royal Ontario Museum that enjoyed popular runs in Toronto and Vancouver. The inspiration for this work, as well as Mr. Ho’s many other philanthropic efforts, came from his grandparents, Sir Robert Ho Tung and Lady Clara Ho Tung, who are also the source of his fond childhood memories of Chinese New Year celebrations. Says Mr. Ho, “We have a family motto that started with my grandfather: ‘Before you receive, you must learn how to give.’” FULL This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with The Globe and Mail’s advertising department. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved in its creation. INTERVIEW Holiday closures and travels impact businesses in China Q&A with Sarah Kutulakos, Executive Director, Canada China Business Council Images of Chinese New Year celebrations are part of the popular holiday greetings video RBC sends to clients and staff. SUPPLIED “We’ve made improvements to make it possible for newcomers to get their first credit card, their first car loan or their first mortgage, even when they don’t have a credit history.” Christine Shisler is RBC’s director of client strategies new country, there are many things to take care of, such as looking for employment, finding a school for your kids, finding a home. Banking and financial solutions aren’t things people want to spend a lot of time on.” She considers it a “big win” that new Canadians say the bank has helped to reduce stress by providing advice and solutions that allow them to settle more easily. In addition to customer-specific advice, RBC offers financial literacy workshops for newcomers, such as understanding credit in Canada and investing for the first time. Part of RBC’s strategy is paying attention to branch staffing to ensure clients can be served in the languages they are most comfortable with. “Service is available over the phone and in branches in over 200 different languages,” says Ms. Shisler. “That’s something we are proud of.” Offering custom advice in preferred languages shows a commitment to partnering with the client, she says. “It’s not just about one transactional process – it’s about building a relationship and helping clients meet their goals.” What should Canadians – and Canadian businesses – know about Chinese New Year? It’s the most important holiday in places like China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and the lunar new year is also celebrated in Vietnam and some other countries. Just as everything stops for us around Christmas, in China, everything stops for Chinese New Year. It’s a very familyoriented holiday, and people who work elsewhere through the year will take this time to go home and visit family. Most companies use the opportunity to celebrate with their employees, for example hosting parties with games, contests and gifts. How does the statutory holiday affect businesses? In China, people officially get five days off, and it’s usually combined with weekends, but some businesses close for longer. Since many migrant workers have to travel far to get home, they plan to stay an extended time. In highly labour-intensive factory situations, it sometimes happens that people don’t come back after the holiday, so there’s a lot of recruiting going on. Companies doing business in or with China, especially if they are planning a trip or event not long after the holiday, should know that it can be hard to reach people in a timely manner. And if somebody is working in China and has that week off, it’s very difficult to get anywhere because hundreds of millions of people travel at the same time. What is an example of a business building on Chinese New Year traditions? One of the traditions of Chinese New Year is to give red envelopes full of money to children. This concept was incorporated into a popular online service called WeChat. Last year, just before Companies doing business in and with China need to know how the holiday impacts scheduling, says Sarah Kutulakos. SUPPLIED Chinese New Year, WeChat developed the capability of sending a red envelope to individuals or to groups of people. This practice was widely adopted – people created contests among their colleagues and their friends around red envelopes. Companies were also using this service to say thank you to their customers. Chinese New Year is also a time for reflection and renewal. What are last year’s highlights, and what’s ahead? Last year, we were pleased to see more Canadian engagement in China, particularly with the visits of the Prime Minister and some of the premiers. There’s a long list of outcomes that our governments are following up on. For companies that are trying to do more business with China, 2014 was very successful in terms of creating a supportive environment. China just continues to grow – it currently contributes almost a quarter of the GDP growth in the world. Opportunities for the coming year are for companies to further their understanding of China, to evaluate their channels of distribution and look at China as a market. > REPORTING AND ANALYTICS NEXT STEPS? Contact Globe and Mail Project Manager RICHARD DEACON at 604.631.6636, or via e-mail at [email protected] Sources: NADbank 2013 48 Mkts A18+; PMB Fall 2014 A18+; comScore & Omniture 3 mos av to September 2014