speciaL douBLe issue

Transcription

special double issue
Be
Local
Friday, June 14, 2013
Paying it
forward
10% Rule
Saving the Earth and
supporting local businesses
PREMIERE ISSUE
Be Canadian
on flip side
BUSINESS PROFILE
COMMUNITY NATURAL FOODS
BE LOCAL
Growing the spirit of giving, supporting the planet
Community Natural
Foods, purveyor of organic
and sustainable foods and
products, has been serving
Calgary for more than 30
years and has been serving
the community for just as
long. As it has grown it has
increased its level of giving
as well, working to support
the community, people, and
the planet.
“It’s a conscious choice
we make to give back to the
community, to be a good
neighbour, a good citizen,
to treat our planet with
respect, to support the base
values of our industry,” says
marketing manager Chandra
Morice.
Community Natural
Foods sponsors annual
fundraisers for the Calgary
Humane Society and donates produce clippings to
RASTA rescue to help feed
stray, abandoned and abused
animals. The store helps foster a healthy community.
Last year, it donated about
$24,000 to 36 organizations
through its Change for The
Earth campaign, where it
matched 100 per cent of the
$12,000 customers donated
through the five-cent bag
credit donation program. It
also donated close-to-date
fresh and prepackaged grocery items to The Mustard
Seed to help feed Calgarians.
Community Natural
Foods supports people in
many ways, too, from gift
cards at Arusha Centre for
lower-income Calgarians to
providing raw ingredients
for the Calgary Progressive Lifestyles Foundation’s
Cookies on the Go program
to sponsoring local triathlete
Jordan Bryden.
“We also donate to organizations that our staff is
passionate about,” she says,
contributing $3,000 to 21
local and national organizations and charities on their
behalf last year.
Through various event
sponsorships and donations,
Community Natural Foods
promotes healthy living and
respect for the earth we all
The Calgary Humane Society receives a donation cheque from the
Community Natural Foods Change For The Earth program.
share. Over the past three
years, it has given more than
$1 million in sponsorships,
product, and donations.
“We are a for-profit business but we try to take a
philanthropic approach to
how we do business, and the
decisions we make to give
back to the community, its
people and the planet,” says
Morice.
L
Back Cover
��
Shop Locally.
As a locally owned and operated business, Community Natural Foods
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through the products we carry in our markets.
Did You Know?
� ��
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in the community in which it does business. This is demonstrated
��
the community, and the planet.
� ��
��
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purchasing decision you make because small changes in shopping habits
really can create BIG impact in our community.
june 14, 2013
Our Customer Care 403.930.6363
2
www.communitynaturalfoods.com
Friday, June 14, 2013 PREMIERE ISSUE
A publication of the Calgary
Herald Special Projects
Department in partnership with
REAP Calgary
EDITOR/
DESIGNER:
Karen Petkau,
403-235-7513
kpetkau@
calgaryherald.com
4
nside this issue
The 10% shift
20
All it takes is a 10% shift to local
businesses to make a difference.
6
Getting to know your digs
Neighbourhoods have hidden
treasures, from food to clothes.
8
Supporting local producers
Local producers offer fresh and
local products.
10
Profile: Beans brew art
16
User guide to markets
Local coffee shop brews support for
artistic community.
New to the market scene?
Find out how to navigate.
ADVERTISING:
Margo Moore,
403-235-7382
mmoore@
calgaryherald.com
11
What’s in a label?
18
Profile: NeighbourLink
Localize Project helps consumers
determine which products are local.
Community association helps needy
families get back on their feet.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Wil Andruschak
Adrienne Beattie
Barbara Balfour
Rennay Craats
Meghan Jessiman
Angus Macdonell
Jessica Patterson
Paula Trotter
Gavin Young
Alex FrazerHarrison
12
Paying it forward
20
Profile: Calgary’s Walk-in Closet
Locally owned businesses have
a history of contributing.
Initiative gives women chance to dress
the part for interviews, jobs.
14
Supporting Calgary businesses
22
Profile: Between Generations
How small changes can have
a great economic impact.
Mentoring program gives grandparent
chance to help children interact.
COVER:
Lilian Jourieh and
three-year-old
daughter Ayla shop
at the Calgary
Farmers’ Market.
BE LOCAL
Be
Local
I
L
Photographer:
Gavin Young
by adrienne beattie
I
t’s the reason Calgarians cringed when
Spanish “starchitect”
Santiago Caltrava was selected to design the Peace Bridge (likewise
when a Spanish firm was chosen to build
it).
It’s why Inglewood residents balked
when Tim Hortons wanted to set up shop
in their neighbourhood.
Many people inherently prefer to support local, and a growing body of evidence
confirms buying local makes sense.
“Think global, act local” asks us to take
action in our communities with the health
of the planet in mind.
A New Zealand Honeycrisp apple may
have a similar price tag as the same apple
grown in B.C. but that’s because hidden
costs (economists call these external effects) such as climate change impacts from
greenhouse gases emitted during transportation are not reflected in the price.
Essentially, it’s a market failure.
Buying local products reduces external
effects.
Meanwhile, buying locally increases
economic strength and resiliency.
An American research firm, Civic Economics, found when consumers choose a
locally owned business $73 of every $100
spent stays in the community compared
to $43 that stays in the community for
every $100 spent at a non-locally owned
business.
Locally owned businesses tend to support other local businesses, create higher
value jobs and support the tax base.
Because local business owners live in the
communities where they work, they have
more of a vested interested in seeing their
communities prosper.
The Calgary Co-op, a local grocery store
with 24 locations across the city, donated
more than $4 million (of $1.164 billion
revenue) to mostly local recipients in
2012. Walmart’s Canadian operations, in
comparison, with more than 300 locations across the country donated a relatively small $10.3 million (of an estimated
$20-billion revenue) in 2011.
Locally owned businesses and products
increase economic diversity and help shape
a community’s character.
Think of sipping mate from a traditional
calabash gourd in Argentina, zashiki-style
seating at a restaurant in Japan or enjoying
a brew in a one-room German pub.
A Starbucks, McDonald’s or Hard Rock
Café couldn’t duplicate those experiences.
Restaurant and retail chains reduce variety, arguably hindering cultural expression
and tourist appeal.
The New Economics Foundation, an
independent “think-and-do tank” based
in London, England, labels areas devoid
of neighbourhood shops and services as
“ghost towns” and areas where Main Street
looks like every other Main Street are
called “clone towns.”
It’s not a pretty picture.
A marketplace of unique small businesses ensures competition, job creation,
diversity, independence, innovation and
long-term community viability – compelling reasons to buy local.
L
Adrienne Beattie is a Calgary writer
who has covered urban environmental issues for more than 10 years.
ocal file
June 14, 2013
Local businesses contribute, give unique service
3
The 10% shift factor
BE LOCAL
by angus macdonell
Proudly suppor ting
Canadian Growers
L
Northern Lights Orchard
Naramata, B.C.
Country Fresh Farms
Medicine Hat, Alberta
O
ne great reason
to shop at locally owned and
operated merchants is the
positive economic benefit it creates for the
city and its residents.
All it takes is a 10 per cent shift in your
spending habits — or one shopping trip in
10 to a local retailer — to help boost the
city’s ongoing prosperity and vitality.
How big is the impact?
A 10 per cent shift in a person’s spending “can generate thousands of additional
jobs in Calgary, tens of millions of dollars
in new wages and hundreds of millions of
dollars in incremental economic activity
— each year,” according to REAP Calgary,
a green business association representing
more than 100 locally owned and operated
companies, including Community Natural
Foods, Enmax, First Calgary Financial,
and Swizzlesticks Salon Spa.
Research has shown that the reverse is
also true; a shift in spending away from
local business has an equal, but opposite,
impact.
In British Columbia, CUPE-BC president Barry O’Neil initiated that province’s
Ten Percent Shift initiative after seeing
mills closing as companies moved work out
of the country, factories closing for cheaper
production elsewhere, stores boarded up
and people having to leave home for work.
To date, BC’s Ten Percent Shift has
spoken to Chambers of Commerce, City
Councils, Rotary Clubs, Business Improvement Associations and Community
Organizations, taking its message to a
growing audience throughout the province
and spawning likewise movements across
Canada.
Using $100 as a base to represent a the
10 per cent shift, the agency notes that
right now, if consumers spent that $100
at a non-locally owned business, $57
automatically goes to corporate offices
around the world rather than stay within a
community. Shifting the spending of that
$100 to a local business would mean $68
stays within the community.
Continued on 21
BUSINESS PROFILE
calgary co-op
Providing life’s essentials
june 14, 2013
Paradise Hill Farm
Nanton, Alberta
4
Since its humble beginnings as a downtown
grocery store in 1956,
Calgary Co-op has grown
into a business that includes grocery, petroleum,
wine, spirits and beer, travel
and home-health care,
with more than 440,000
members.
When it is the community that has made it
as successful as it is today,
giving back to it comes
naturally, says Co-op’s
events marketing manager
Sarah Boutron.
“We have always supported the communities in
which we live and work,”
says Boutron.
“We contribute to causes
that provide life’s essentials
to people in need and organizations that help support
them.”
In 2012 alone, Calgary
Co-op gave more than
$4 million to community,
Calgary Co-op presented a cheque for $20,463.71 to the Kerby
Centre last year.
not-for-profit and charity
organizations, including
the Mustard Seed, the
Kerby Centre, Meals on
Wheels, Brown Bagging for
Calgary’s Kids and the EMS
Foundation. It also holds
events throughout the year,
including Stuff-a-Bus every
November, where city
transit buses at all locations
are stuffed with items for
the food bank.
A charity golf tournament held each June raised
more than $329,000 for
charity last year, while a
sponsored seniors’ day
event at Heritage Park
always sells out.
Watch for future events
as the launch of the Co-op
Community Foundation last
February will enable them
to become even more active in the community. first calgary financial
Financial co-operative invests in communities
First Calgary Financial is
a little different than other
financial institutions — actually, it’s a lot different.
The financial co-operative
offers full banking services,
including daily banking, online and mobile apps, mortgages, investing and business
banking. But, it also serves
70,000 members, including
500 employees who live and
work in the greater Calgary
area. First Calgary Financial
doesn’t exist to feed profits
to public stock holders. Instead, it exists for its members’ financial health and the
vitality of its communities.
Being locally owned means
it has the unique opportunity to be closely involved
in a range of projects that
strengthen its communities.
To get an idea of how it
plays a role, one needs only
to look at a few of First
Calgary Financial’s favourite
partnerships.
Together with The Calgary
Foundation, First Calgary Financial co-created Stepping
Stones — a grassroots grant
program to help Calgarians
bring their small project
ideas to life, from neighbourhood knitting circles and
bike swaps to community
info sessions on how to
vote. Through a partnership
with Green Calgary, First
Calgary Financial hosts rain
barrel and composter sales
in its branch parking lots
in the spring and summer.
Through this initiative, it
helped sell more than 800
rain barrels and 143 composters last year.
As proud members
and supporters of REAP
(Respect for the Earth and
All People) Business Association, First Calgary Financial
celebrates and promotes
Calgary businesses that are
sustainably operated and
locally owned.
The financial co-operative
loves to play a role in
greening the city’s festivals
and streets — whether it
is reducing waste at the
Calgary Folk Music Festival,
The First Calgary Financial Celebration Team
promoting cycling at Sled
Island or helping Calgarians
re-imagine our public spaces
with Open Streets Calgary.
This is just a small
sampling of First Calgary
Financial’s involvement. To
learn more, visit one of
First Calgary Financial’s 16
branches or firstcalgary.com.
BE LOCAL
BUSINESS PROFILE
L
Big Bank savings,
Big Bank mortgages,
Big Bank investing,
no Big Bank.
With sophisticated investment advice, highly competitive mortgages,
free chequing accounts, and a range of other products, you can now
satisfy all your financial needs at a place whose head office is close
June 14, 2013
to home. Give us a call at 403-520-8133 or visit firstcalgary.com
5
L
BE LOCAL
by angus macdonell
T
Wicker Land Patio
Calgary’s Largest Patio Furniture Selection
here can be no better way to see the
city than by walking
its extensive sidewalks and
paths.
There are more than 700
kilometres of recreational
pathways offering virtually
unlimited opportunities to
explore the city’s 10,000
hectares of parkland, while
strolling city sidewalks
reveal the diversity and
charm of Calgary’s neighbourhoods.
One initiative that gives
a grassroots feel for the
city through the eyes of its
residents is Jane’s Walk.
Jane’s Walks are about
“knitting together our
connections to this place.
Calgary is a city many
of us have moved to, so
this is about setting down
deeper roots,” says Calgary
Carrying the Best Names in Patio Furniture
◆
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www.WickerLand.ca
Wicker Land Patio South
403-258-2506
6125 Centre Street South
Wicker Land Patio North
403-258-2809
4625 Varsity Drive NW
co-ordinator Julie Black,
adding it helps residents see
more of their city, as well as
help build a stronger sense
of community.
Jane’s Walks were created in 2007 in memory of
Jane Jacobs, a pioneering
urban observer and activist
who chronicled numerous
popular books about ways
to make cities more viable,
livable communities.
The walk’s purpose is to
get people out exploring
their neighbourhoods and
meeting their neighbours.
To that end, local
residents organize the walks
during the first weekend of
May each year.
Jane’s Walks can be taken
to parks, neighbourhood
gardens, market areas, historical sites or any Calgary
location that someone is
willing to share their experience and knowledge about.
Swizzlesticks, a locally-
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Ratana, Ebel, Homecrest, OWLee, Telescope
june 14, 2013
ocal file
Neighbourhood walks
knit community ties
L
6
When spending $100 at a non-locally owned business, $57 goes to corporate offices around the world. When spending that $100 locally, $68 of
it stays within your community. — tenpercentshift.ca
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403-265-CHEF (2433)
owned and operated salon,
sponsored a consumerfocused Jane’s Walk last year
in the Kensington area.
Tim Neis of Swizzlesticks
acted as guide, leading a
group to visit popular area
vendors.
“All of them had to be local, independent businesses,
with a single location, and
they had to have a sustainability policy in place,” he
says.
Such a policy reveals a
company is working to
practise social and environmental responsibility, an
attractive option for many
consumers.
“Our walk started at
Swizzlesticks, where we
talked about our environmental initiatives, as well
as what we give back to the
community, and then we
went to Higher Ground,
where the merchant talked
about what he does, how
long the business has been
around, and its community involvement,” explains
Neis. “All the other various
business owners met us at
their stores, too, to give
their talk on what they’re
about. It was very cool.“
For more information or
to organize a Jane’s Walk,
visit janeswalk.net.
Annual Jane’s Walks are
held in 75 cities worldwide,
and is constantly growing.
“It’s about people wanting to be active citizens,
and making the city a better
place to live,” says Black.
Audree Iffrig led a tour of Inglewood on one of 44 Jane’s Walks
around Calgary this past May. —
Gavin Young photo
Willow Park Wines & Spirits
Seniors top fundraising efforts by family business
From an orphanage in Haiti and water wells in Africa,
to donations of wine baskets
and affordable housing for
seniors – Willow Park Wines
& Spirits contributes half
a million dollars to charity
every year.
More than 300 charities
benefit from the philanthropic efforts made by
this family-owned business,
which also happens to be
the largest private liquor
retailer in Canada. But its
No. 1 cause — one it always
felt was being ignored — is
support for seniors in the
community.
“Seniors are at risk with
inflation and high cost of
housing, and we wanted to
bring focus to this area of
concern while supporting
a charity that was not as
popular,” says Peggy Perry,
vice-president of purchasing
and marketing.
“We do feel strongly that
seniors are not given the
recognition they deserve.”
Their efforts came to
fruition in 2010 with the
opening of Willow Park on
the Bow, a 150-unit home
for low-income seniors for
which they helped fundraise.
But this is just the tip of the
iceberg.
“Once you start the train,
it’s hard to slow it down,”
says Perry. “We might be at a
charity event because we’ve
given away $20,000 of wine,
and before you know it,
we’re giving to some other
charity. It all started because
we are in a hospitable industry, where you receive many
wonderful product gifts, so
we decided we can turn this
around and share it.”
Staff are proud of what
Willow Park does in the
community; every year they
donate their time to host
the company’s signature
event, the annual Charity
Wine Auction, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary
this year. “More than 1,000
people come. We serve only
the world’s best wines, great
restaurants from all over
Calgary and Banff come to
Willow Park Wines & Spirits staff.
serve food, and amazing musicians perform in-house,”
says Perry. “The idea is to
show our charitable and giv-
ing audience the best night
of their lives.
“We raise about $250,000
from this night alone.”
WILLOW PARK WINES & SPIRITS
20
th CHARITY WINE
BE LOCAL
BUSINESS PROFILE
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AUCTION
SATURDAY
NOV. 9
7:00 PM
Best dressed in
‘Viva Las Vegas’ attire wins
$10,000
For charity of choice
June 14, 2013
in support of the
7
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BE LOCAL
By shifting 10% of your spending to local,
independent businesses rather than chain
stores keeps the local economy vibrant
and sustainable. — tenpercentshift.ca
june 14, 2013
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8
ocal file
Producing
results
by adrienne beattie
S
display at her small market
in December, but Nowlin
says her customers aren’t
demanding this kind of
product much anymore.
“The 100-Mile Diet was
pivotal in getting people
to think about local and
seasonal eating,” she says.
The 2007 best-selling
memoir written by the
Vancouverites Alisa Smith
and J.B. MacKinnon,
documented the couple’s
al Howell, owner of
treat our animals differently
The River Café, anhere.”
ticipates this time of
Loree encourages people
year. For eight short weeks,
to get to know her ranch
Edgar Farms of Innisfail
and its cattle.
delivers asparagus to her
“It’s incredibly valuable
restaurant — farm to plate
to
know where your food
in one or two days. It’s the
comes from,” she says.
only time asparagus makes
“Our cattle are clean and
the menu.
healthy, and we use a small
“It tastes fabulous,”
butcher who
Howell says.
She champions You need to support local only works on
one animal at a
local, seasonal,
farmers
or
they
will
not
time.”
naturally raised
Loree worries
food from small continue to exist.
that while many
producers.
people imagine farming
yearlong experience only
When she took over an
as family-run with rolling
eating
food
grown
within
aging park concession on
green fields and a red barn,
100
miles
of
their
home.
Calgary’s Prince’s Island
the reality is big agriculture
It received critical acin the summer of 1991,
claim and furthered discus- is taking over a growing
she had a vision to create
percentage of food producsion about food produca restaurant inspired by
tion.
tion.
its surroundings and serve
“If you value the producIt was concerns about
what swims in the rivers,
tion of local food, then
food production that led
grazes on the plains and
you need to support local
Linda Loree to transform
grows in the fields.
farmers or they will not
her
family-run
historic
Across the river, Patty
continue to exist,” adds
ranch, located in the
Nowlin, owner of SunTony Marshall of HighPorcupine Hills west of
nyside Natural Market,
wood Crossing, a certified
Nanton,
into
a
small
grassalso says: “supporting
organic grain farmer.
finished
beef
operation.
direct family farms is of the
Exist Marshall’s family
She’s no longer a vegetarian
utmost importance.”
farm has — for 120 years.
because of the change.
She, too, stocks food
It’s an ever-evolving busi“It used to tear me up to
in season. You won’t find
ness.
see
calves
sent
off
to
auccherries in the produce
In 1989, he switched to
tion and hear the
organic farming methods
cattle crying
and in 1996, after a trip
for them,””
to Germany where he saw
Loree says.
a company making cold
“We keep our
presses, he created a new
calves for an
value-added product line
extra year.
— cold pressing canola and
They’re
flax oils — for direct sale
sentient
to restaurants and stores.
social be“We’re very pleased. Our
ings. We
client base grows every
year, as does our product
line,” says Marshall.
Fresh, local and organic
is the Marshall family’s
niche.
“Chefs can call in their
orders on Monday and
we’ll press quantities based
on what they need,” he
says. “What’s in seed on
Monday is delivered to
L
their door by Friday. It’s a
fresh, wholesome product.”
Today’s customers are
demanding such attention
to freshness and quality,
says Nicole Schon, owner
of Bite Groceteria & Café
in Inglewood.
With a dining room,
open kitchen, sushi centre
and bakery, Bite offers
customers the opportunity
to learn to use raw ingredients to make or take
home meals. “We connect
farmers to customers in an
extraordinarily beautiful
way,” she says.
Patty Nowlin, owner of Sunnyside
Natural Market, is surrounded by
local produce and products.
— Calgary Herald file
Where to buy local food
ocal file
Markets
• Amaranth Whole Foods Market
• Bite Groceteria & Café
• Blush Lane Organic Market
• Calgary Co-op
• Community Natural Foods
• The Cookbook Company Cooks
• Forage Farm to Fork Foods
• Janice Beaton Fine Cheese
• Lina’s Italian Market
• Market 17
• Planet Organic
• Second to None Meats
• Spolumbo’s
• Sunnyside Natural Market
• Walt’s Produce Sales
Farmers’ Markets
• Calgary has both year-round and
seasonal farmers’ markets.
• Blackfoot Market
• Calgary Farmers’ Market
• Grassroots Northland Market
• Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers Market
• Kingsland Farmers’ Market
• Parkdale Community Association
Farmers’ Market
• Rocky Ridge Ranch Farmers’ Market
• South Fish Creek Recreation
Association Farmers’ Market
• Triwood-Mountain View Lions
Farmers’ Market
Community Supported
Agriculture
These local farms sell “shares” of their
harvest to customers that, in return, receive
a weekly share of vegetables and sometimes
fruits and other items either to be picked up
at a Calgary location or delivered.
• Billyco Junction
• Blue Mountain Biodynamic Farms
• Buckler Farm
• Eagle Creek Farm
• Eat Food for Life Canada Farm
• Green Eggs and Ham
• Heritage Market Gardens
• Leaf and Lyre Urban Farms
• New Oxley Ranch
• Noble Gardens
• Oxyoke Farms
• Seeds to Greens
• Spruceview Family Farms
Co-operative
“We’ve taken our experience manufacturing and applied it to all of the
product lines we bring in,” says Renee
Amber, Amber’s Furniture’s buyer and
manager. “We look for exciting new
designs with substance – both style
and quality have to be there for us to
feature a line.”
Local suppliers
suppliers have been a priority for Amber’s
Amber’s
Furniture
Furniture since the beginning,
beginning, cultivating relationships
relationships
with local upholsterers
upholsterers and lumber yards
yards to support
Calgary’ss economy
economy.. Amber’
Amber’ss is also dr
drawn
Calgary’
awn to other
incorporate
Canadian companies that incorpor
ate
great
environmental
gr
eat envir
onmental policies and
sustainability into their
businesses.
It’s all about choices,
Amber’ss Furnitur
Furniture
and Amber’
e
takes
tak
es their rrole
ole on the
frontlines
fr
ontlines of consumer
choice very seriously.
furniture
more
After all, furnitur
e is mor
e tthan
han
meets the eye.
eye. It can be difficult
difficult
for consumers to discern what
Not only does the furniture they bring
products
are well-made and
Soft and Stylish
in have to be durable, stylish and wellethically
sourced.
Amber’s does
Our living room collection features fashion forward designs
priced, but it also has to complement
that legwork to ensur
ensuree there’s
there’s
without compromising quality. This top grain leather swivel
Amber’s Furniture’s business philosochair by Décor-rest adds a touch of spring to a room. Amber’s
a wide selection of furnitur
furnituree on
phy and practices.
Décor-rest gallery is home to designs by Steven & Chris and
display that represents
Cobi Ladner. Customize yours with fabric & leather options.
their dedication
“We showcase Canadian-made and local
to quality and value while
products as much as possible,” she says, which includes
reflecting what customers are looking for.
everything from large items like bedroom suites down to
small details like the stain used on Amber’s own tables. In fact,
What
What customers
customers are
are looking for is great
great design, comfort
most of their
and affordable
affordable choices,
choices, and the second generation
generation of the
supplierss ar
are
supplier
e
Amber family is making sure
sure they get it.
Canadian.
BE LOCAL
Since 1981, family-owned Amber’s
Amber’s Furniture
Furniture has been
giving Calgary customers great selection and quality
furniture that is made to last. Building on their passion
for solid wood furniture, the company
began manufacturing tables and chairs
as a response to Alberta’s unique and
fluctuating climate.
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June 14, 2013
2878 32nd St. N.E. Calgary,
Calgary, Alberta
9
BE LOCAL
L
L
Non-profits receive an average 350% more support from local businesses
than they do from non-locally owned businesses. — tenpercentshift.ca
ocal file
Beans brew artistic
talents, initiatives
by meghan jessiman
arts community — especially in
the underfunded dance world.
“The dance community is small
in Calgary and we are striving to
offee with a conscience
create dance works that are chalusually refers to the use
lenging and innovative,” she says.
of fair trade beans in your
“Local support is critical to the
brew, but local artisan hub Caffe
community’s success in putting
Beano takes a more Calgary-cendance on the map in this city.”
tric approach to the concept.
Lewandowsky is quick to note
Having always been an unofthat there are also a few benefits
ficial gathering place for the city’s
of localized support as
arts community, owner
Having local companies
opposed to national or inMargie Gibb gradually
became a fairy godmother support our art connects ternational contributions.
When local organizaof sorts to small, local cretions and businesses take
ative projects that struck them to the community.
a supporting role with
her interest.
Calgary’s arts groups they truly
“I kept hearing about the pro“We aren’t in a position to
take a stake in a creative work
duction they were doing at the
make huge monetary donations
and can see the results of their
time, Dubbyk, from Megan and
to the arts,” Gibb explains. “But
contributions first-hand. They are
we try to support where and how Maya,” Gibb explains. “It was
also contributing to the overall
such an ambitious project that
we can, be it with free latte cards
vibrancy and culture of their city.
I just had to lend some support
or silent auction donations, we
“Having local companies supto it.
do what we can.”
port our art connects them to the
“I’m fully behind those in the
Over the past few years, Caffe
community and to the work that
arts that are so creative and willBeano has supported local
is emerging from it,” Lewaningly to step into new territory.”
initiatives from the Sled Island
dowsky says. “It creates partnerAccording to Lewandowsky,
Music Festival to Alberta Theatre
ships within the community and,
support, both financial and othProjects and the Calgary Spoken
therefore, we all contribute in
Word community. Most recently, erwise, is invaluable in Calgary’s
C
Gibb has taken an interest in La
Caravan Dance Theatre under
the direction of Artistic Director,
Maya Lewandowsky.
Interestingly, the pair met
when Gibb began taking voice
lessons from Lewandowsky and
the relationship was strengthened
when a member of La Caravan’s
ensemble, Megan Gole, joined
the staff at Beano.
making Calgary a world-class city
that features outstanding creative
work.” Coffee with a communityminded and cultural-boosting
conscience, indeed.
good
coffee,
IT’S A
ReLIgIoN
june 14, 2013
1613 9TH STREET SW
10
(JUST OFF 17TH AVENUE)
SUppORTiNg lOcAl ARTS & cUlTURE
La Caravan Dance artistic director Maya
Lewandowsky, right, and Caffe Beano
owner Margie Gibb in front of the Beltline
cafe. — Gavin Young photo
M
eghan Dear was
frustrated with
her grocery
shopping experience. As
someone who’s passionate
about food, she wanted to
buy local food but found it
was hard to identify, so she
created Localize.
Almost two years later,
bright orange Localize
labels simplify the process of finding local food
and learning about who
produced it.
The labels
can be
found
on
products
in more than 30 grocery
stores throughout Alberta,
including the Calgary
Co-op.
Localize is a good fit
for the local retailer, says
Cindy Drummond, Calgary Co-op communications manager.
“This is a great opportunity for us to be able
to give customers and
members the ability to
choose local products,”
she says. “We know that
our customers are always
looking for the freshest,
best products and we’re
excited to help them make
informed eating choices —
it’s good for them and it’s
good for us.”
Dear has put a lot
of thought into eating
choices. She’s an accredited
professional biologist and is
completing a post-graduate
certificate in food security.
While she has seen other
local campaigns, she doesn’t
feel they tell the complete
story of the product.
Localize doesn’t just label
products as local, it also
provides a weighted rating
based on a number of factors. “The score is made up
of people’s perceptions of
what local means to them,”
Dear says.
Using a crowd-sourcing
exercise, Dear found four
components — ownership,
production, ingredients
and sustainability — were
most important to consumers.
Continued on 19
Retailers turn to national sources for products
Britannia Plaza in the
city’s southwest is an assortment of unique shops
and services offering
everything from fashion
and giftware to wine and
hair care.
The 15 independent retailers that make it up may
be diverse in nature but
they are united in philosophy: support their customers, their community, their
city and their country.
“When we go buying,
the majority of us are very
interested in sourcing out if
not locally-made products
then Canadian-made ones
for sure,” says Katie Pearlman, spokesperson for Britannia Plaza and owner of
Pacey’s….real life clothes.
Whether it’s the optical
outlet turning to Canadianmade eye glass frames or
fashion retailers seeking
out clothing lines from
Canadian designers or
BE LOCAL
by adrienne beattie
Britannia plaza
Britannia Plaza in southwest Calgary has 15 independent retailers.
Britannia Ornamental
Hardware and Gifts sourcing Nova Scotian pewter,
Britannia Plaza retailers are
determined to deal with
domestic suppliers and
manufactures as much as
possible.
“We believe in this very
strongly. We live in the
community, our staff lives
in the community and we
want to contribute to the
Calgary and the Canadian
economies,” Pearlman says.
She also takes it a step
further at Pacey’s; she
seeks out Canadian- or
American-made clothing
but she also looks beyond
by finding products that are
free trade, fair wage, and
organic to help support the
planet and its citizens.
L
June 14, 2013
Labels help consumers
make informed choices
BUSINESS PROFILE
11
BE LOCAL
L
More local businesses mean a stronger tax base, and that pays for better
public services for your family. — tenpercentshift.ca
ocal file
Neighbourly approach
keeps communities healthy
by angus macdonell
M
L
any Calgaryowned and operated businesses
work to make the city a
better place by sponsoring
local charities, fundraising
for local causes, or spearheading local get-involved
activities.
As part of Community
Natural Foods’ dedication
to giving back, it provides
daily deliveries of shortdated foodstuffs to the
Mustard Seed, a Calgary
charitable society that helps
the impoverished.
“We have a relationship
with them going back eleven years, and our customers
can contribute through our
Scan-Away Homelessness
program. Last year, it raised
$24,000,” says CNF’s
Chandra Morice.
CNF’s level of community involvement includes a
yearly Stampede Breakfast,
as well as programs that
provide support to the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank,
the Arusha Centre (which
provides resources and
programming on social justice issues), Green Calgary
(teaching eco-conscious
living), REAP (a local green
business association), the
Calgary Humane Society
and many more.
“Part of our mandate is
that while we are a forprofit business, we behave
very much like a not-forprofit, in that the more
we make the more we give
away,” says Morice. “We
figure that if we can be
good neighbours — and
good members of the com-
munities we do business
in — it helps keep the
communities healthy, and
that keeps us healthy, honest and active.”
Cardel Homes, a local
business for 40 years, also
makes giving back to the
community a priority.
“We try to touch as many
people as we can through
our community programming, like with our Kids’
Captures program through
the Calgary Board of Education,” says Linda MarekKoski, Cardel Homes’
marketing and community
relations manager-Calgary
sales and marketing manager.
“We send CTV’s Lisa
Bowes into schools to teach
the children of low-income
families how to become
news reporters.”
Cardel’s list of initiatives
includes contributions to
Breast Cancer campaigns,
food drives and funding
participation of underprivileged kids in sports.
Continued on 13
Five-year-old Josh Rowe works
on his table tennis skills at Cardel
Place, which received a $1.25 million donation from Cardel Homes.
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BUSINESS PROFILE
From 12
Cardel homes
Eco-Initiatives program
to encourage events such
as Folk Fest or Sled Island
to practice environmental
stewardship; supporting
civic engagement through
Civic Camp and Mayor
Nenshi’s Three Things for
Calgary initiative; organizing rain barrel sales for
Green Calgary; and promoting volunteerism.
DeBoice aptly captures
the spirit of giving that
helps First Calgary Financial and other local
businesses attract and keep
clients: “We’re focused on
outcomes, and are all about
people helping people.
Our members drive our
community engagement
process, and the feedback is
highly positive.”
Supporting local businesses helps them give back
to their community, and at
the same time builds better
communities.
First Calgary Financial sponsors
events such as Sled Island, which
attracted renowned singer/songwriter Leslie Feist last year.
When school teachers
Del and Caryl Ockey set
out to build a new home
40 years ago, what began
was the seeds of a major
home-building company
that operates in four cities
and has donated more than
$15 million to charities.
“(Del) had a friend of his
who at about three-quarters of the way through
this home building process
said: ‘Gee, I really like what
you’re doing — would you
build one for me, too?,’”
says Ryan Ockey, son of
Caryl and Del and CEO of
Cardel Group of Companies.
In the 1990s, Cardel
expanded into three new
cities: Ottawa, Tampa, Fla.,
and Denver, Colo.
And in 2000, it opened its
multi-family division, Cardel
Lifestyles.
Thanks to its success,
Cardel Homes’ first home takes root in 1973.
the company has earned
the resources to give back,
donating 10 per cent of
its annual profits through
major donations to a
number of causes, including
Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Calgary, the Alberta Sports
and Recreation Association
for the Blind and Dreams
Take Flight.
Other Cardel-sponsored
charitable events include
Hang with the Hitmen, the
Cardel Special Olympics
Golf Classic and Run with
the Roughnecks.
“We do it because we
think it’s the right thing to
do,” says Ockey.
The company also committed $1.25 million for
naming rights to the independently owned Cardel
Place recreation facility in
2004. For more information
on Cardel Homes visit
cardelhomes.com.
BE LOCAL
Forty years of giving back to the community
L
After 40 years our family
keeps on growing.
Check out Cardel and see how we do it all under one roof.
Since 1973.
Built for real life.
CARDELHOMES.COM
June 14, 2013
Marek-Koski estimates
Cardel has donated more
than $15 million in the last
four years, and adds that,
“The Ockey family (founders of Cardel Homes)
believes it’s their social
responsibility as a successful
builder in the city to give
back.”
First Calgary Financial is
another local business that
makes community involvement and giving part of
their mission.
“Everything is about the
community,” says First
Calgary Financial’s Dani
DeBoice. “It’s ingrained in
our values as a co-operative
to truly be a part of our
communities, both at the
branch level and as a corporation.
That includes partnering
with local entities Thrive
and Momentum to support community economic
development and financial
education; sponsoring the
13
BE LOCAL
What is
‘local?’
by jessica patterson
L
Caring about communities
by angus macdonell
W
june 14, 2013
e’re used to hitting the malls or big
box stores to satisfy our shopping
needs, and while that has its place
there are good reasons to patronize locallyowned and operated merchants, too.
“Buying local includes food, finance,
fun, and many different areas, and is key to
building a sustainable, local economy,” says
Courtney Hare of Thrive, a Calgary-based
organization
that supports
community
14
economic development. “Local business owners are our friends, neighbours, colleagues,
community members, and they’re here to
see the environmental, social, and economic
impact of their business decisions.
“Local businesses also buy more locally
themselves, keeping more money in the local
economy.”
Using a restaurant as an example of a local
business cycle, Hare says the eatery may buy
foodstuffs from an urban spin farm or rural
farm.
“They may use a local accountant to look after their financial books or hire a local marketing firm to create and maintain its website,”
she adds. “Those individuals also shop or hire
locally, so there’s a chain of positive economic
benefits — unlike when we shop at a chain
store where most of the money directly exits
the city.”
The economic impact of buying local is
huge, says Hare, “and it also creates a stronger,
more sustainable city to live in.”
”People have a tendency of looking at it as,
if ‘I don’t shop locally all the time then I’m a
bad person.’ Or, they feel they’ll be judged for
shopping at a big box store,” says Stephanie
Jackman, founder and president of REAP Calgary (Respect for the Earth and All People), a
green business association boasting more than
100 local business members.
“The reality is that we’re all consuming, all
the time, so we have multiple opportunities
every day to make that choice, and when we
do, it positively impacts the local economy.”
All it takes is a 10 per cent shift in our
spending habits, she says.
“Or one shopping trip in 10 to a local
merchant — that looks like $160 million dollars staying in the local economy each year,”
explains Jackman, adding that shift would
also equate to “1,600 new jobs created yearly,
a lower environmental impact and greater
money going to community organizations that
are creating social change, as well as solving
environmental problems.
“There really are lots of great outcomes from
shifting just 10 per cent of our spending.”
Supporting local businesses also contributes
to Calgary’s growth as a city, she says, as well
we have multiple
opportunities every
day to make that
choice and when we
do, it positively impacts
the local economy.
as fosters a stronger sense of community.
“We really want people to think about the
10 per cent shift,” she says. “Lots of research
across North America has demonstrated the
positive benefits if everyone did it. A coffee
every other Friday from a local vendor, or a
trip to the farmers’ market every two months,
is all it really takes to make a difference. If
everyone was doing that, the economic and
social benefits to the city would be immense.”
AT LEFT: Susan Copley, owner of Galleria Inglewood,
which has been supporting local- and Canadian-made
products for the past 30 years. The arts and crafts store
represents more than 450 Canadian artisans, the majority of whom are from Alberta, with the youngest being
13 and oldest artisans into their 80s. CENTRE: Jean
Whitehead, has make-up applied by Krystal Mowat during
an Oprah Day at Aveda Institute Calgary earlier this year.
Mowat, who works at Swizzlesticks Salon Spa, volunteered
her services for the free event, which gave back to the less
fortunate women in the city through such organizations
as YWCA, Inn from the Cold and the Calgary Women’s
Emergency Shelter. INSET: Stephanie Jackman, founder and
president of REAP Calgary.
— Calgary Herald files
As Calgarians, many
of us buy local, shop
local and eat locallyproduced food. But,
what does “local” really
mean?
“If you are a consumer, local is close to where
you live as possible.
If you’re a producer
or store owner, you’re
thinking more regional,”
says Mike Fotheringham, research manager
at Calgary Economic
Development.
Shopping and supporting locally owned
businesses is good for
the local economy and
the community, he says.
“Revenue that’s
generated through that
business is likely to stay
in the local economy, to
a greater degree than a
non-locally owned enterprise,” Fotheringham
says. “What you get is
called a multiplier effect.
“Essentially, every dollar that is spent at locally
owned store will stay
in the economy, some
studies say, three to four
times that of a dollar
that is spent at a nonlocally owned store.”
Buying local is good
for communities, when
everyone benefits as a
result.
Locally owned businesses also give back to
the communities they’re
in, participating and
getting involved in the
community.
Continued on 17
BE LOCAL
ocal file
L
June 14, 2013
L
Local businesses can make better use of community space and empty
spaces, such as heritage buildings, to conduct business, adding to the
esthetics of a city. — tenpercentshift.ca
15
BE LOCAL
L
Locally business owners are your friends and neighbours, and they work
and invest in their communities — just like you. — tenpercentshift.ca
ocal file
Local artisans create
unique pieces
by paula trotter
D
L
raped around
Sandy Angle’s wrist
is a well-decorated
heart charm bracelet.
The charms are slightly
different in size and jingle
like a wind chime when the
local jeweler takes a gentle
swipe at them, sharing
the story of what inspired
her to make her first heart
charm bracelet — she
wanted to give something
meaningful to a friend who
had lost her young son.
Angle has continued to
make heart charm bracelets
since then, but none are an
exact replica of the original,
nor have any two been
exactly the same.
Unique pieces and the
stories behind them seem
be the main reasons for
why people purchase their
art, glassware, jewelry and
much more from artists at
a variety of markets and
festivals in the city.
“I have many pieces
that have a lot of meaning
behind them and why I
designed them the way I
did,” says Angle, owner of
Silverwater Designs, who
has sold her sterling silver
and semi-precious stone
jewelry at popular festivals
such as Lilac Festival, Sun
and Salsa, Sunfest and the
Spruce Meadows International Christmas Market
for 20 years before setting
up shop at the Calgary
Farmers’ Market in December 2012. “So I’m able to
tell that story, whereas in a
retail location, there’s not
that personal touch.”
Her customers are conscious shoppers who want
to know where and how
things are made, so hearing
these stories matters to
them.
Amanda
Bonner agrees.
“I recently
bought
a photograph from
our resident
photographer A heart pendant
made by Sandy
Ursula Krol,
Angle
and she told
me that the photo took
her 10 years to capture it
at just the right moment,”
says Bonner, director of
marketing for the Calgary
Farmers Market.
“That little fact has made
this photograph one of my
favourites because I know
how special it is. These are
not connections and information you can get from a
big box store.”
Calgarian Taylor Poitras,
24, is an avid antiquer and
market shopper, and finding one-of-a-kind treasures
with good back stories is
just as alluring to her.
june 14, 2013
organic food-to-go
salads + sandwiches
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16
“As soon as I started
shopping at the local
markets, the gifts that I
give have so much more
meaning and are so much
more interesting,” she says.
“When you give it to someone, you have the whole
story behind it because you
spoke with the artist.”
But the community atmosphere is also appealing
for many patrons.
“It’s more of social event,
newly expanded
fresh meat
ar tisanal cheese
in the heart of kensington
338 10 St NW | tel 403.270.7477
www.sunnysidemarket.ca
find out what’s fresh
not just a market for selling
and buying,” Poitras says,
speaking specifically of
Market Collective.
Co-founders Angela
Dione and Angel Guerra
started Market Collective
in 2008, fueled by their
passion to bring people
together through the arts.
“It’s a valuable experience even if you don’t buy
anything,” Guerra says of
wandering through markets
and talking with artists.
Guerra and her team are
working to secure a new
permanent location in time
to celebrate Market Collective’s fifth anniversary this
summer.
Born and raised in Calgary, Sandy
Angle is a jewelry designer who,
through her company Stillwater
Designs, sells her wares at the
Calgary Farmer’s Market.
— Michelle Hofer photos
Representing Canadian
Artisans for over 30 years
907 9th Ave. S.E.
Calgary, AB
403.270.3612
www.galleriacalgary.com
“By and large, locallyowned stores are more
embedded in their communities in terms of giving
back to local sport teams or
supporting local initiatives,”
Fotheringham says.
Local doesn’t mean just
within walking distance, or
within Calgary city limits,
or within 100-miles of the
city.
“We don’t take a hard and
fast geographic perspective,
when it comes to local,”
says Carolyn Davis, community relations associate
director at Momentum.
“At Momentum, we really care about ownership.
We care about who owns
the business, because it’s the
owner makes the decisions.
And if they live in the community, they’re more likely
to invest locally.”
Momentum works with
individuals in Calgary who
live on low incomes to start
their own small businesses,
Davis says.
“That is a
way, for us,
to create a
pathway out
of poverty,”
she explains.
“They get to
make their
own business
decisions; they
get to become
their own
bosses; and
they add valuable service to
the community.”
Local
businesses are impacted
by the decisions consumers make, “whether that’s
environmentally, socially
or economically,” says
Courtney Hare, community economic development
co-ordinator with Thrive,
Calgary’s community
economic development
network.
“It’s really cool when
someone makes the com-
BUSINESS PROFILE
SUREWAY WINDOW FASHIONS
Family-owned business helps shape industry
mitment to small changes
that have a really big
impact,” she says.
“So, maybe once a week,
they buy from a local coffee
shop instead of the chain
coffee stores.”
Sureway
Sureway
Window
Mary Ellen Grueneberg, the
owner of Greens eggs & Ham, a
kiosk at the Crossroads Market.
Her stall specializes in selling vegetables, eggs, and meat produced
at her own farm.
For more than three
decades, Sureway Window
Fashions has offered quality
blinds, shades, draperies and
shutters to residential and
commercial clients across
Calgary.
The experienced staff at
this family-owned business is knowledgeable
and committed to quality
customer service through
free in-home consultations
and an impressive on-site
showroom.
“We have samples of
everything — functioning
large samples — so people
can see what the window
coverings are going to look
like,” says owner Ricia Allard, whose company also
supports local businesses,
with about 85 per cent
of the manufacturers and
suppliers she features being
proudly Canadian.
Sureway’s design consul-
Fashions
Sureway Window Fashions owner Ricia Allard looks over samples.
tants go above and beyond
for clients, and Allard does
the same for the industry.
She is actively involved
in education and safety in
the industry; she is on the
technical committee for
the Canadian Standards
Association on Window
Coverings and the Interior Decorating Advisory
Committee for Bow Valley
College.
Allard is also an instructor for Bow Valley’s con-
tinuing education window
coverings course, as well
as mentoring practicum
students on the industry.
“I’m able to give back
to the community, helping
the young and upcoming
students by giving them
practical experience and
knowledge,” she says.
Through both design
excellence and industry
involvement, Sureway
Window Fashions is a true
leader in the industry.
BE LOCAL
From 15
L
Your Office, Home or Get Away
Place – Your Space – Your Way!
At Sureway we focus on working with you to
match window coverings to your lifestyle.
We invite you to visit our showroom to see
all of the features and benefits available,
from Automation, to Light Control, UV
Protection, added R-Value for heat and cold
protection, sound absorption - All combined
with Beauty, Colour and Style to fit your
individuality.
3 Blocks east of Chinook Shopping Centre
www.surewaywindowfashions.com
P 403.253.1688
June 14, 2013
6049 Centre Street South,
Calgary AB
17
BE LOCAL
L
L
Study after study shows that local small business is the greatest
source of job creation.. — tenpercentshift.ca
ocal file
NeighbourLink helps
struggling families
by meghan jessiman
W
hen times get
tough, Neighbourlink gets
going.
“The people we help are
some of the most vulnerable in Calgary: single
mothers, seniors, recent
immigrants, individuals living with physical or mental
illness and the working
poor,” explains director
of development Melissa
Nelson. “During times of
economic prosperity, lowincome families are often
those most affected by lack
of affordable housing and
the rising cost of food and
transportation.
“More and more of their
take-home pay goes towards keeping a roof
over their heads
causing families
to struggle just to
cover the cost
of their family’s
basic needs. This
is where we come
in.”
NeighbourLink
works to connect
the members of
Calgary’s community who
are in need of
a hand with agencies they
may not know exist.
By collecting, storing and
re-distributing simple items
like formula, diapers, cribs
and beds, they are able
to make a hugely positive
impact on the wellbeing of
people in a state of crisis.
Operating since 1993,
this year marks NeighbourLink’s 20th year of service
in the community.
While the organization
does receive some funding
from the provincial government, The United Way and
The Burns Foundation,
it is largely due to annual
fundraising efforts and the
generosity of local businesses like Kacz’ Kids that allow
this organization to help
as many people as they do
— more than 26,000 calls
were answered last year
alone, with over 36,000
items being delivered.
“Kacz’ Kids has been an
incredible supporter and
a home. It has given us the
her five children, one
partner to NeighbourLink
confidence and hope we
for a number of years now,“ NeighbourLink recipient
need to start again.”
was overwhelmed by the
Nelson says. “Through this
NeighbourLink provided
prospect of starting life
relationship, we been able
her and her
to provide
kids with
cribs, car seats through this relationship,
peace of
and strollers
we have been able to provide the
mind they
to families in
need. Kacz’
cribs, car seats and strollers needed to
start again
Kids generosto families in need.
— without
ity helps us
any friends
to stretch our
or family to fall back on —
over from scratch.
dollars, and with waitlists
in a new city.
“I’ve tried to leave bethat sometimes exceed 50
“I feel relieved. No stress,
fore, but it was so difficult
families waiting for a crib,
no worries, just gratitude
this relationship has proven to think of the next steps
for the help we received.”
and how to take them,”
invaluable.”
she says. “Being able to get
With the help of services
my own place, a home for
like NeighbourLink, desmy children, that was one
perate times don’t need to
Miattia Samboia got help from
thing, but with the help
lead to desperate measures.
NeighbourLink after being
displaced by a fire. — Calgary
When fleeing an abusive of NeighbourLink be we
Herald file
were able to really make it
domestic situation with
International
Avenue
june 14, 2013
by Laureen Rama
18
Eco-friendly landscape
design & installation
Compost tea spray
Maintenance
Dance to the beat of a different drum
....shop local !
400 shops & services
26-61 Streets on 17 Avenue SE
www.internationalavenue.ca
Pushmowing
Bed maintenance
ORGANIC, HANDMADE, LOCAL
Eco-yards book and video
B L AC K S H E E PM AT T R E S S .C O M
www.eco-yards.com • 403-969-1176
From 11
BUSINESS PROFILE
The Localize label helps consumers make informed
choices on grocery store options. — Thinkstock photo
Jayman
Homebuilder helps fight homelessness in city
L
ON THE LABEL
ocal file
The Localize label provides a weighted
score out of 10 based on four components:
• Location of food production/
processing, up to 45 per cent of
score.
• Location of business ownership, up to
35 per cent of score.
• Location/source of ingredients, up to
25 per cent of score.
• Sustainability, up to 1.8 bonus points
that can be added to the
ingredients score Sustainability, up to 1.8 bonus
points that can be
added to the ingredients
score.
To Jayman, a culture of
philanthropy means that
a key way it gauges its
success as a company is by
how it consistently gives
back to the community
and other people. “Business and community
are intertwined,” explains
director, marketing Careen
Chrusch. “The health of
one ultimately affects the
health of the other. It is in
this spirit of community
giving that we bring these
initiatives alive at Jayman.”
The homebuilder is in
a unique position to give
back, as shelter is one of
the most fundamental of
human needs. Over the years, it has
contributed millions of
dollars to initiatives that
prevent homelessness
among vulnerable Calgarians, including those with
disabilities and medical
challenges, addictions and in
Jayman employees volunteer at the Mustard Seed as part of the company’s efforts to support the fight against homelessness in the city.
abusive situations.
Jayman has committed
$250,000 towards the
Mustard Seed Affordable
Housing Initiative and
countless volunteer hours
from its employees toward
finishing the community
building project.
Jayman also contributed
$1 million to the Resolve
campaign, which saw Calgary homebuilders pledge
to construct $11.2 million
worth of housing, equivalent to about 200 units.
In addition, Jayman also
supports Camp Kindle for
children with cancer, is a
provincial sponsor of the
Forzani Foundation Mothers Day Run and Walk, and
gives to countless community organizations, ranging from Big Brothers Big
Sisters and Theatre Calgary
to the Calgary Women’s
Shelter.
BE LOCAL
Dear collects information from producers to determine a score for each product,
which is then put on that product’s label
and her website.
“Gathering and vetting information
from producers is the bulk of our work,”
Dear says.
Despite the volume of work involved,
Dear doesn’t charge producers for participation. Her goal is to tell the story of as
many local producers as possible.
A QR code on each label also allows customers to scan the label with a smartphone
and pull up a story about where the product came from on the Localize website.
“We now have the ability to share the
stories of local producers and farmers in an
innovative way when customers scan the
Localize QR codes,” says Drummond. “It’s
a unique way to tell a story.”
More than 400 products have been
profiled since Localize launched in January of this year. Dear, who now works on
the Localize project full-time, is looking
to expand throughout Alberta and into
Saskatchewan.
L
Building great homes starts
with building
ing grea
great communities.
At Jayman,
yman, w
we know homes are only as good as the communities they’re
built in. We strive to strengthen our local communities by supporting
initiativ
tives that prevent homelessness, assist those with disabilities and
promot
omote healthy families. It’s part of our promise to our homeowners and
jayman.com
June 14, 2013
our unc
uncompromising commitment to building the best communities.
19
BE LOCAL
L
L
Buying your daily hot drinks from a locally owned coffee shop can inject
more than $1,000 per person a year back into the economy.
— tenpercentshift.ca
ocal file
Walk-in Closet
opens doors
by meghan jessiman
A
nyone who has
interviewed for
a job they really
wanted can attest to what
a nerve racking experience
it can be.
Add to that stress the fact
that you just immigrated to
Canada with your young
daughter and you don’t feel
that any of the clothing
you bought with you from
your home
country
measures
up in
Canada’s corporate culture,
and you have some idea
what Svetlana Vernigora
was feeling when she arrived in Calgary in the fall
of 2012.
Relocating from the
Eastern European nation
of Moldova with the hope
of creating a better life
for herself and her child,
Vernigora was overjoyed to
learn about Calgary’s WalkIn Closet program which,
with the help of donations
from citizens and local
boutiques such as Blu’s,
make dressing for success a
little easier for female immigrants.
Fortunate to learn about
the Walk-In closet from
the Calgary Immigrant
Women’s Society very soon
after arriving in Calgary,
Vernigora says the program
was a great relief during her
whirlwind integration into
Canadian society.
“Where I came from,
+
june 14, 2013
• Organic Mattresses + Bedding
• Healthy Home Building
• Sustainable Beauty
• Natural Baby
20
1237 9TH AVENUE SE
(403) 452-1001
www.rivasecostore.com
professional clothing was
not emphasized and I
almost always wore jeans,”
she says. “ It was very pleasant to find out that there is
an organization that would
help me with the newcomer’s problem of dressing
professionally and beyond
that, it was a great support
system provided by women
to women.”
Created by the Making
Changes Society, the WalkIn Closet Program provides
90-minute individual consultations on professional
business attire to women
facing financial barriers
who want to join the local
workforce, return to school
or engage in volunteer opportunities.
In addition to information on business culture
and appropriate dress,
participants are offered
gently used clothing and
accessories, at no cost, to
help them look and feel
their best. Once or twice a
year, Blu’s hosts a clothing trade-in where it asks
its customers to bring in
donations of new or gently
used professional clothing in exchange for a store
voucher to use towards
their next purchase.
It’s an initiative that has
proven extremely successful
and in turn has boosted the
confidence of innumerable
women in need — more
than 1,600 in 2012 alone. Vernigora believes the
Walk-In Closet played a
substantial role in helping
her ultimately land her
dream job as a sales and
service representative for
Canadian Western Bank.
“Their educational
process and the clothes
and extras they gave me,
of course, made me feel
special and confident in my
interview,” she explains.
“You wouldn’t necessarily
think this is the kind of
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thing immigrants need to
prioritize, but looking and
feeling good when seeking
employment is vital. I will
forever be thankful for the
help I received.”
Svetlana Vernigora immigrated
to from Moldova last fall and
utilized the services of the Calgary
Walk-In Closet to have a professional wardrobe, which helped
her obtain employment. — Gavin
Young photo
From 4
blush lane organic market
Thousands flock to the 4th Street Lilac Festival each
year, many of whom check out the locally made
merchandise — Calgary Herald file photo
might have continued to languish indefinitely, never becoming the destination
experience it is today — celebrated for its
historical heritage, walking opportunities,
and unique shops.
Angus Macdonell is a Calgary-based freelance
writer who sits on the board of directors
of REAP Calgary, writes for its website
and participates in many city initiatives.
L
ocal file
Blush Lane Organic
Market may be a small
company but over the
past decade it has grown
to include a location in
Edmonton, the store in
Aspen Woods, and farmers’
market stands. It has also
grown profitable, which
allows the organization to
give back.
“Being involved in organics, we look at everything
as being connected so
to be able to be involved
with charity is something
that is really exciting,” says
Blush Lane president Rob
Horricks.
For the past few years,
Blush Lane and its customers have supported
the Community Kitchen
Program in Calgary and
Youth Empowerment
and Support Services in
Edmonton.
Customers are invited to
donate to these causes and
L-R Jerome Koebel, Blush Lane Organic Market store manager
Judy Stevens and Willy Zumbado.
the store proudly matches
each donation.
“It’s great to bring
everybody – customers,
employees, and management — toward a goal,”
he says.
In May, Blush Lane
donated nearly $3,000 to
the Community Kitchen,
whose initiatives help feed
Calgary’s hungry.
The store also regularly donates food to the
YWCA and actively opposes GMOs.
Giving back is important
at Blush Lane. Horricks
himself supports the
Canadian Youth Business
Foundation, the organization that gave him his first
loan to start a business.
He now mentors other
young entrepreneurs, paying the assistance he enjoyed forward to the next
generation.
BE LOCAL
Holistic approach basis behind helpful hands
L
June 14, 2013
“And if more people shift their spending, you start to see the same original
$100 bouncing all around your community being spent in different ways,” says BC’s
Ten Percent Shift’s website. “So suddenly,
your $100 is becoming worth a lot more
to the community.”
Other benefits from spending locally include the ongoing prosperity of Calgary’s
business revitalization zones in neighbourhoods like Bowness, Montgomery,
Victoria Park or Inglewood.
Without the support of vendors in
those areas, who in many cases voluntarily
pay extra taxes to promote their respective BRZs, there would be no annual
events such as Lilac Fest or Marda Gras,
nor would these places be as fun to visit
or hang out in — they would struggle to
attract people to them, to thrive and to
contribute back to the city.
Some BRZs, such as Victoria Park for
example, which is located between downtown and the Stampede grounds, have
only begun to come into their own, and
the transformation is astounding.
It’s only with local support from the
business community and residents alike,
however, that the change has been possible. Without that support, ‘Vic Park’
BUSINESS PROFILE
21
BE LOCAL
L
june 14, 2013
L
22
When local stores are kept in business, it not only keeps jobs in town, but
the money spent in your town in a local small business usually stays in
town. — tenpercentshift.ca
ocal file
Between Generation mentor
helps ‘her kids’ feel important
by meghan jessiman
W
hat can you accomplish in an
hour? As part of
the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Between Generations
mentoring program, a lot.
One hour, once a week
can change a local Calgarian child’s life, something
68-year-old volunteer Mary
Anne Gates can attest to.
A mentor with the program since January 2007,
this retired psychiatric
nurse originally learned
about Between Generations
through her own granddaughter and saw it as an
opportunity to get involved
as a “grandparent” to
children in local schools
who may be lacking that
type of relationship in their
own family. Supported by
First Calgary Financial, the
program mandate is for
mentors to spend quality
one-on-one time with their
mentee doing activities like
crafts, art projects, playing
games and baking — typical grandparent territory.
Mary Anne goes above
and beyond the standard
commitment, opting to be
matched with four children, one of which she has
been mentoring for the
past four years.
Each Tuesday spent with
“her kids” reinforces her
belief this is exactly what
she is meant to be doing
and the jokes and stories
her mentees share remind
her it’s also what the children want to be doing.
“When we say goodbye
each time, my hope is that
I have taught them something, helped them realize
how important they are to
me and to others and that
we have shared a laugh or
two,” says Gates. “A genuine friendship with a child
builds resiliency and this
Central Memorial Park
in the Beltline
340 13th Ave. SW
stays with them always.”
Between Generations
program has been a great
way for her to build friendships with others her own
age, as well, since the mentors connect socially before
the program and during
recess at their schools.
The benefits of this
program for the children
involved are obvious: they
feel cherished and important, worthy of an adults
time and attention. Gates
insists the rewards she reaps
each week as a mentor are
just as sweet, however.
“Every week there is
something that someone
says or does that warms
my heart and makes me
feel how worthwhile the
time that I spend with
the children is,” Gates
says with sincerity. “For
instance, the children were
asked recently: ‘If you had
one magical power what
would you want it to be?’
every week there is
something that someone says or does that
warms my heart
One child answered, ‘I
would make people able to
fly so Mary Anne
would not have
to walk with a
cane.’ I cried,
of course.”
Mary Anne Gates has been
involved in the Between Generations mentor program since
January 2007, and has been a
“grandparent” to students lacking
that tight-knit connection within their
own families.
— Submitted
photo
L OCAL FILE
RIVER CAFE
EMPLOYEES: 85
YEARS IN CALGARY: 22
LOCATIONS: 1
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Academic collaboration/sponsorship include: SAIT Culinary
Internship Program, Slow Food
Calgary, Montessori and CBE
elementary school classes, garden apprenticeships, donations.
L OCAL FILE
BOXWOOD
EMPLOYEES: 30
YEARS IN CALGARY: 3
LOCATIONS: 1
Charitable donations, sponsorships, educational programs/
memberships, including: Slow
Food Calgary, The Poppy Fund,
Alberta Theatre Projects, Vine
Arts, as well as fund raise.
L OCAL FILE
BUNDLES OF ENERGY
EMPLOYEES: 3
YEARS IN CALGARY: 3
LOCATIONS: 1 plus online
Online programs across North
America; workshops throughout Alberta. Give whole-food
nutrition workshops/speeches
to schools, athletic teams, businesses, associations.
L OCAL FILE
BLACK SHEEP MATTRESS
COMPANY
EMPLOYEES: 2
YEARS IN CALGARY: 3
LOCATIONS: 1
Green Calgary member and
sponsor, BullFrog Powered and
Uend Poverty sponsor.
L OCAL FILE
CALGARY CO-OP
EMPLOYEES: 3,500
LOCATIONS: 24 food centres,
28 gas bars, 23 liquor stores, 2
health care centres
Donated more than $4 M in 2012;
Localize participant; supports
include The Mustard Seed, food
bank and Meals on Wheels.
L OCAL FILE
CARDEL HOMES
EMPLOYEES: 220
LOCATIONS: 56
Has donated more than $15 M
to charities. Supports 50+ agencies each year, including: Cardel
KidsKasters, classroom lacrosse,
Special Olympics Calgary, MADD,
Dreams Take Flight Calgary.
L OCAL FILE
GREENGATE GARDEN
CENTRES
EMPLOYEES: 30-150
LOCATIONS: 2
Support includes Calgary
Horticulture Society, Calgary
Drop-In Centre, Calgary Homeless Foundation.
L OCAL FILE
HEARTH & HOME
EMPLOYEES: 22
LOCATIONS: 2
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Support includes:
Calgary Children’s Foundation
($50,000+), Back the Blu, Arc,
local communities, firefighters,
EMS services, Jaycees, Kingsmen
Cancer Camp, Ride for Cancer.
L OCAL FILE
WICKER LAND PATIO
EMPLOYEES: 9
LOCATIONS: 3 (2 in Calgary)
Support includes: Hot Heels
Fashion Show and Silent Auction, Made by Mamma, AARC
and Habitat for Humanity.
WILLOW PARK WINES
& SPIRITS
EMPLOYEES: 100+
LOCATIONS: 2
Support includes: Charity
Wine Auction, Vintage Fund
(endowment fund focusing
on education, health care and
seniors’ needs in the city). To
date, raised $2.5 M+ for local
charity.
L OCAL FILE
INTERNATIONAL
AVENUE BRZ
LOCATION: Business district
from 26 and 61 streets on 17th
Avenue S.E.
Food tours of the area, local
shops and manufacturers in the
community of Greater Forest
Lawn, one-time events.
L OCAL FILE
AMBER’S FINE FURNITURE
EMPLOYEES: 20
LOCATIONS: 1
The Mustard Seed, Mennonite
Central Committee, Loose Moose
Theatre Co., Alberta Theatre
Projects (Bob Edwards Event),
Blue Mountain Bio Dynamic
Farm (hail damage fundraiser).
L OCAL FILE
COMMUNITY NATURAL
FOODS
EMPLOYEES: 346
LOCATIONS: 3
Donated more than $1 M in last
five years. Support includes local athletes, The Mustard Seed,
food bank, local events and
Change for the Earth campaign.
L OCAL FILE
JAYMAN
EMPLOYEES: 320 (Calgary and
Edmonton)
Support includes: MS research,
Big Brothers Big Sisters, The
Mustard Seed’s Affordable
Housing Complex, The GRIT Society, Kids Cancer Care, Mother’s
Day Run, Women’s Shelter.
L OCAL FILE
SUNNYSIDE NATURAL
MARKET & SIDEWALK CITIZEN BAKERY
EMPLOYEES: Market: 20;
bakery: 20
LOCATIONS: 1
Support includes: community
initiatives and charities, Mustard
Seed Roof Top Garden, Organic
Alberta, schools, Jane’s Walk.
L OCAL FILE
ECHO-YARDS
EMPLOYEES: 9
YEARS IN CALGARY: 7
LOCATIONS: At client sites
around the city (no store front)
Participate in local and corporate eco-fairs, supported
the campaign to phase out
pesticides in Calgary.
L OCAL FILE
BLUSH LANE
EMPLOYEES: 50-70
YEARS IN CALGARY: 9
LOCATIONS: 6 (4 in Calgary)
Include: Community Kitchen
Program, Youth Empowerment
an Support Services (Edmonton), Canadian Youth Business
Foundation, various events/
fundraisers and mentorships.
L OCAL FILE
DIRTT ENVIRONMENTAL
SOLUTIONS
EMPLOYEES: 350
YEARS IN CALGARY: 8
LOCATIONS: 1
Supports include: Calgary Folk
Music Festival, Canadian Parks
and Wilderness Society, Adopta-Family.
L OCAL FILE
RIVAS A CLEAN ECO
STORE
EMPLOYEES: 7
YEARS IN CALGARY: 5
LOCATIONS: 1
Support includes: Inglewood
BRZ, the Area and Pith Gallery
and Studios, plus organizations
in line with mission and values.
L
L OCAL FILE
HEALTH CHEF
EMPLOYEES: 5
YEARS IN CALGARY: 2
LOCATIONS: 1
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Supports local farmers,
ranchers and sustainable food
production practices. Donations include: Veteran’s Food
Program, Calgary food bank,
Alberta Theatre Projects.
L OCAL FILE
BRITANNIA PLAZA
EMPLOYEES: 200+
RETAILERS: 22 (stores and
services)
LOCATIONS: 1
Include: Britannia Community
Association, women’s health
issues, abused women prevention and art groups.
L OCAL FILE
FIRST CALGARY
FINANCIAL
EMPLOYEES: 460
LOCATIONS: 16 retail branches
Supports include: financial
literacy, environmental advocacy,
child mentoring, promoting
volunteerism, investing in community (in 2012, $722,000; 1,200
employee volunteer hours).
L OCAL FILE
SUREWAY WINDOW
FASHIONS
EMPLOYEES: 6
LOCATIONS: 1
Support includes: Canadian
Standards Association, Bow Valley
College (advisory committee
member; instructor), Canadian
Federation of Independent Businesses (member).
L OCAL FILE
REWORKS UPCYCLE
SHOP
EMPLOYEES: 2
YEARS IN CALGARY: 1
LOCATIONS: 1
Specializing in one-of-a-kind
items made from recycled or
upcycled material, locally made
decor, accessories and gifts.
Supports local businesses, culture, food, art and bicycling.
L OCAL FILE
CAFFE BEANO
EMPLOYEES: 20
LOCATIONS: 1
Include: supporting local arts
and culture, with focus on
great coffee, local food, good
conversation and creating
community.
BE LOCAL
L OCAL FILE
REAP
members
L
L OCAL FILE
GALLERIA INGLEWOOD
EMPLOYEES: 10
YEARS IN CALGARY: 30+
LOCATIONS: 1
Represents more than 450
Canadian artisans, potters and
artists, many of whom are local.
L OCAL FILE
SWIZZLESTICKS
SALON SPA
EMPLOYEES: 55-60
LOCATIONS: 56
Support includes: Appointments for the Earth, grassroots
organizations, gifting an average $80,000-$100,000 annually,
Alberta Ballet, Green Carpet
Gala, Pink Ribbon Fundraising
Campaign (Aveda partner).
Founded in 2006, REAP Business Association’s
vision is to create a vibrant and sustainable local
economy where citizens understand and value the
impact of shopping locally. — reapcalgary.com
ocal file
RESPECT FOR THE EARTH AND ALL PEOPLE
Promoting a positive change in the way we live by supporting “be local” initiatives. www.reapcalgary.com
June 14, 2013
Be Local
Get to know your independently
owned Calgary businesses with
our Be Local directory!
23
special double issue
Be Canadian
Friday, June 14, 2013
PREMIERE ISSUE
Economic
Equation
Support equals a
healthy national
economy
Be Local
on flip side
BUSINESS PROFILE
Canadian tire
BE canadian
Jumpstart helps kids realize sporting dreams
What kid doesn’t love to
swim, dance or play soccer,
baseball or hockey?
Not only are those
activities fun, but research
shows physical activity and
access to sports for children
leads to increased selfesteem, strong leadership
skills and improved school
performance in children.
The reality is that one in
three Canadian families can’t
afford to enrol their sons
and daughters in sports and
recreational programs.
That’s where Canadian
Tire Jumpstart comes in.
By covering the cost of
registration, equipment
and/or transportation, the
national charitable program
has helped 580,000 (and
counting) kids ages four to
18 participate in the sports
of their choice.
“Our vision is more than
getting children involved in
sports and recreation — it’s
to have a country where
C
all kids have a chance to
fulfill their dreams,” says
Johnny Misley, president of
Jumpstart Charities.
Jumpstart has 332 local
chapters across Canada,
all built on the support of
volunteers. These chapters
work closely with more
than 2,600 community
partners to identify families
with financial needs whose
children would benefit from
the programs.
Locally, Jumpstart
supported 3,882 kids from
the Calgary area alone
last year, and has helped
15,788 kids since 2005. This
is possible thanks to the
generous support from the
Canadian Tire Corp. and all
Canadians who support the
program.
The next fundraising
event in Alberta is
Jumpstart’s Pedal for Kids,
a five-day, 500-kilometre
bike ride from Hinton to
Calgary. Set for July 13-17,
cyclists include Canadian
Tire dealers, corporate
employees from across
the Canadian Tire Family
of Companies and friends
from beyond the
enterprise who
will pedal their
hearts out to
raise more than
$200,000.
To celebrate
the ride, and all
the Jumpstart
Jumpstart has helped 3,882 Calgary kids last
work, July 18 will be
year alone.
the second annual
Jumpstart Games in
a barbecue lunch. Help
Carstairs Memorial Park,
kids from your community
hosted by FGL Sports. The
today by visiting your local
Jumpstart Games provide
Canadian Tire, Sport Chek,
a fun day for more than
Atmosphere, Mark’s and
500 children where they
Canadian Tire Gas+ stores.
can acquire teamwork
Learn more at jumpstart.
skills, interact with other
canadiantire.ca or call 1-877children their age and enjoy
616-6600.
Calgary Canadian Tire Stores
Locally Owned & Operated
Supporting Local Community Initiatives
• THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF C
CALGARY
ALGARY • HULL CHILD AND F
FAMILY
AMILY SER
SERVICES
VICES • DISCO
DISCOVERY
VERY HOUSE • YMC
YMCA
A • KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY
AND AREA • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER • THE CALGAR
ALGARY
Y LEARNING VILLA
VILLAGE
GE COLLABORA
COLLABORATIVE
TIVE • CITY OF C
CALGARY
ALGARY • HULL CHILD AND F
FAMILY
AMILY SERVICES
SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA
• KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY AND AREA • BO
BOYS
YS & GIRLS CLUBS • T
TALISMAN
ALISMAN CENTER • THE C
CALGARY
ALGARY LEARNING VILLA
VILLAGE
GE COLLABORA
COLLABORATIVE
TIVE • CITY OF C
CALGAR
ALGARY • HULL
CHILD AND F
FAMILY
AMILY SER
SERVICES
VICES • DISCO
DISCOVERY
VERY HOUSE • YMC
YMCA
A • KID SPOR
SPORT
T • BIG BR
BROTHER
OTHER BIG SISTERS OF C
CALGARY
ALGARY AND AREA • BO
BOYS
YS & GIRLS CLUBS • T
TALISMAN
ALISMAN CENTER • THE C
CALGARY
ALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF CALGARY • HULL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA • KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY AND AREA • BOYS
Canadian Tire has a strong track record of acting in a socially responsible
& GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER • THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF CALGARY • HULL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA • KID SPORT
• BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY AND AREA • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER • THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF CALGARY • HULL CHILD AND
manner as we work in partnership with our employees, communities, customers
FAMILY SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA • KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY AND AREA • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER • THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE
COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF CALGARY • HULL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA • KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY AND AREA • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS •
& suppliers. In addition to our donations and sponsorship programs, we give
TALISMAN CENTER • THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF CALGARY • HULL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA • KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG
SISTERS OF CALGARY AND AREA • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER • THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF CALGARY • HULL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES •
our time & financial resources to a variety of social & community causes, with
DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA • KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY AND AREA • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER • THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE •
CITY OF CALGARY • HULL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA • KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY AND AREA • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER
the largest single beneficiary being Canadian Tire Jumpstart.
• THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF CALGARY • HULL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA • KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY
AND AREA • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER • THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF CALGARY • HULL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA
• KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF C
CALGAR
ALGARY AND AREA • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER • THE C
CALGAR
ALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF C
CALGAR
ALGARY • HULL
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA • KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY AND AREA • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER • THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF CALGARY • HULL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA • KID SPORT • BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY AND AREA • BOYS &
GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER • THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE • CITY OF CALGARY • HULL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES • DISCOVERY HOUSE • YMCA • KID SPORT • BIG
JUNE 14, 2013
BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF CALGARY AND AREA • BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS • TALISMAN CENTER • THE CALGARY LEARNING VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE •
2
3,884 Last Year 15,788 Since inception in 2005“Our growing national network of 332 local chapters play a key role in making the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program successful. Each chapter is volunteer-based and includes representatives from Canadian
Tire stores, Canadian Tire dealers and petroleum agents, a variety of non-profit organizations and charities, and community leaders. Collectively, they work with over 2,500 organizations across Canada (including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Canadian Parks and
Recreation Association and YMCA-YWCA) to discreetly identify financially disadvantaged children that might benefit from the program. This model helps us ensure that the funds are directed to those who need it most.”
MACLEOD TRAIL
(403) 278-4040
MCKENZIE TOWNE (403) 257-4729
PACIFIC PLACE
(403) 248-6400
DEERFOOT
DALHOUSIE
SHAWNESSY
(403) 295-2800
(403) 288-1100
(403) 201-2002
SARCEE.
COUNTRY HILLS N.E.
BEACON HILL
(403) 246-1461
(403) 226-9550
(403) 456-6428
The Great Canadian
‘made in Canada’ quest
— Thinkstock photo
ronment and increased global competition” as major issues affecting
the declines.
Indeed, the majority of clothing
imports now come from China.
From 2004 to 2008, Canadian
clothing manufacturers and textile
product mills saw almost half of
their jobs disappear. Market share
of clothing imports from China
over the same period grew by more
than 50 per cent.
It’s a simple equation, really.
Buying Canadian-made clothing
supports Canadian jobs. And buying Canadian-made clothing is as
simple as checking the label.
Likewise, Barefoot realized of 61
films he’d seen one year, none of
them were Canadian.
“I used to go almost once a
week,” he says. “The reality is there
are very few Canadian movies in
theatres.”
Barefoot started watching Canadian television shows, attending
Canadian art exhibits, going to
Canadian live music and reading
Canadian authors.
The yearlong Canadian diet
included food as well, of course.
Without being much of a cook or
foodie, Barefoot broadened the
food category to include locally
owned restaurants.
Eating a seasonal diet from
Canadian producers helps sustain
Canadian farmers, but also reduces
greenhouse gas emissions from
foods flown around the world to
arrive on your plate.
Barefoot’s challenge
introduced one category
each month — household
goods in January, clothes in
February and his challenge
was cumulative — by the end of
the year he was buying exclusively
Canadian. Changes like these that
can influence the economy, one
Canadian at a time.
C
Adrienne Beattie is a Calgary
writer who has covered
urban environmental issues
for more than 10 years.
anadian file
A publication of the Calgary
Herald Special Projects
Department in partnership with
REAP Calgary
EDITOR/
DESIGNER:
Karen Petkau,
403-235-7513
kpetkau@
calgaryherald.com
ADVERTISING:
Margo Moore,
403-235-7382
mmoore@
calgaryherald.com
CONTRIBUTORS:
Adrienne Beattie
Barbara Balfour
Alex Frazer-Harrison
I
5
COVER:
Community Natural Foods
marketing co-ordinator Nicole
Boisvert, left, Amber’s Fine
Furniture’s Renee Amber with
and Noble Ridge Vineyard and
Winery owner Leslie D’Andrea
with some of their Canadian
made products.
Photographer:
Gavin Young
BE canadian
V
ancouverite
Darren Barefoot embarked
on a year of what he called
“thoughtful consumption” to buy
only Canadian.
His quest raises some intriguing
questions about where we buy our
goods and services from.
Buying Canadian isn’t as straightforward as one might think.
Many iconic Canadian companies have been sold to foreign
investors.
Founded in 1670, the Hudson’s
Bay Company, was acquired by
American Jerry Zucker in 2006.
Established in 1847 Canada’s
largest brewer, Labatt Brewing
Company, was purchased in 1995
by Belgian brewer, Interbrew.
Historic hotel properties, such
as the Banff Springs Hotel and the
Chateau Lake Louise, once owned
by Canadian Pacific Hotels, were
taken over by the foreign-owned
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in
1999.
Foreign-owned companies may
fly the maple leaf and affix Canada
to their name but that doesn’t
mean they’re Canadian
either.
Walmart Canada, Target Canada, General Motors Canada,
Shell Canada and Parmalat
Canada are again, just a small
sampling of companies some
might think are Canadian, but
aren’t.
Thoughtful consumption,
therefore, becomes more challenging. Buying Canadian means doing
a little research to identify where
businesses are run from.
Barefoot’s journey included food,
clothing, entertainment, investments, household items — every
purchase he’d make for the year,
purchases many don’t think about.
Barefoot says finding Canadianmade clothing was one of the most
challenging aspects of his year. He
says, “very, very few clothes are
manufactured in Canada.”
He says he couldn’t find hiking shoes or running shoes made
in Canada, and only two styles of
men’s dress shoes from Roots.
Industry Canada notes the
Canadian apparel industry has
experienced “significant declines in
shipments, gross domestic product
and employment.” It
identifies “the liberalized trade
envi-
Friday, June 14, 2013 PREMIERE ISSUE
C
nside this issue
4
Getting the ‘Jump’ on hunger
Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank gets
help from local businesses.
4Affects of Canadian philanthropy
Much of our nation’s economy, charity
and sponsorship has leafy roots.
5
Giving the gift of camp
Canadian coffee giant gives kids a summer to remember.
JUNE 14, 2013
by adrienne beattie
Be
Canadian
3
C
When we buy Canadian, we know that the products have met this country’s health and safety standards. The manufacturing
industry in Canada is highly regulated, from the factories’ environmental emissions, to the quality assurance practices, to the
materials used and beyond. — buycanadianfirst.ca
anadian file
Canuck
power
BE canadian
by barbara balfour
JUNE 14, 2013
C
4
Getting the ‘Jump’ on hunger
by alex frazer-harrison
K
eeping kids active
and healthy requires
good nutrition as
well as sports and activities.
That’s why the Calgary
Inter-Faith Food Bank and
Canadian Tire Jumpstart
Charities have been a good
fit since Jumpstart started
supporting initiatives
such as Theatre Calgary’s
Toonies for Turkeys fundraisers in support of the
food bank.
“The Calgary food bank
receives no government
funding — we depend 100
per cent on everyday Calgarians, businesses and corporations to come through
and help with feeding
people who need that little
bit of support,” says D.D.
(Dolores) Coutts, manager
of communications and
development.
Toonies for Turkeys was
organized as a
way to raise
funds for the
Food Bank
during
Theatre Calgary’s holidayseason performances of
A Christmas Carol. “A
Christmas Carol is all
about feeding other people
— spiritually, or with
food,” says Coutts. “So
they thought it would be a
great collaboration between
Theatre Calgary and the
Calgary food bank.”
Coutts says Jumpstart
was brought on board
as a supporter and
to date, its share of
funds raised through
Toonies for Turkeys
is about $384,000,
though she expects
it to top $400,000
once the final tally
for 2012 is in.
“The money
went directly to
hampers that were
given out at Christmas
If you think of undernourwhen we include those
ished children trying to play
little extras like turkeys,”
says Coutts. “It’s a time of
sports — it’s so much more
year when everyone sees
challenging.
all the abundance and if
you can’t share in that, it’s
pretty hard.”
nourished children trying
Now in its 30th year,
She says the food bank
to play sports — it’s so
and recently relocated to a
sends out more than 5,200
new facility, the food bank’s much more challenging.
hampers
Good, solid nutrition is
mission aligns
each year.
well with Jump- valuable to growth and beanadian FILE
The
ing able to participate fully.
start’s mandate
CANADIAN TIRE
EMPLOYEES: 68,000
funds
“Organizations (like
of giving kids a
YEARS IN CANADA: 91
were also
Jumpstart) are the lifeblood
chance to take
LOCATIONS: 488 stores
used for
of a food bank.”
part in healthy
Support includes: Jumpstart
buying
activities, says
(national charitable campaign
milk for
Coutts.
helped 58,000 kids), Pedal for
teens and
Kids, fosters employee engage“Out of
ment and environmental
children.
136,000 people
D.D. (Dolores) Coutts, manager of
practices.
“We
who come to
communications and development
can’t wait
us every year, 43
for the Calgary Inter-Faith Food
for donated milk — it has
Bank, says without local support
per cent of them are kids,”
the bank wouldn’t be able to help
to be fresh milk and fresh
she says.
families in need.— Don Molyneaux
(baby) formula,” she says.
“If you think of underphoto
C
Even during the economic uncertainty of
the last five years, Canadian companies have
not cut back on the
amount of investment
they keep pouring into
their communities.
This is just one of
many notable findings
from the Conference
Board of Canada’s
first national survey of
corporate community
investment activity,
released in April. The
Canadian Community
Investment Benchmarking Report
covered 180 companies
that represent a third
of all corporate philanthropy in Canada
— estimated at $2.5
billion dollars.
In 2011, these companies alone contributed $710 million to
their communities.
“This overview
looked at how companies give — where the
investments go and
some of the motivations behind it,”
says Mike Meadows,
director of corporate
engagement and membership at Imagine
Canada.
“Canadian companies are an integral element of communities
across the country and
contribute significantly in many ways
to the sustainability of
our standard of living
and quality of life.”
He says over the last
five years, 85 per cent
of companies either
held the line in community investment
budgets or increased
them.
Continued on 5
anadian file
by barbara balfour
W
henever Chantal
Chenard needs a burst
of confidence before
walking into a patient’s room for
the first time, she draws upon her
experiences attending summer
camp with the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation.
Now a nurse in the general surgery unit at the Foothills Medical
Centre, Chenard attended the
10-day summer programs for
youth from financially disadvantaged backgrounds between the
ages of 12 to 17.
Part of the experience included
six-night canoe trips where they
strategically packed and carried
their own gear from one lake to
another – sometimes crossing
three lakes in one day.
“It’s physically challenging and
mentally exhausting, and not
everyone can do it. Being with
the same people in the middle of
From 4
“It’s the litmus test,” says
Meadows. “If a company says
(community investment) is a
part of its corporate values and
traditions, it doesn’t toss that
overboard in bad times.”
The survey also reveals that employees are becoming a key driver
of that activity.
Companies are deliberately
engaging their employees and
sharing the responsibility through
a variety of tools like donation
committees and matching gift
programs.
In the past, community investment was mostly a management
decision, says Meadows.
nowhere for
six days really
pushed us to
our limits,”
says Chenard,
now 22 and
transferring those
skills into her nursing career.
“Organizing patient workload, completing tasks on time,
working towards a goal, conflict
resolution — my experiences at
work are mirrored by my camp
experiences. Taking that moment
to be afraid, think rationally step
by step, and go with your gut –
I’m able to do all that as a result
of going to camp.”
More than 180,000 children
have attended these camps since
the Foundation was established
in 1974.
Each Tim Hortons’ restaurant
sponsors two children every year
to attend the camps, which include two separate programs for
nine- to 12-year-olds and 13- to
While the number one way
companies give is through cash
donations, this is followed by
sponsorship and marketing
contributions, in-kind services,
goods or resources and employee
volunteerism.
Civic and community organizations receive the most, followed
by health care, higher education,
and culture and the arts.
Today, employee volunteerism
is the fourth most common community investment activity.
“Companies supporting employees who volunteer on their
own time with certain organizations might, for instance, make
a donation in their name to the
program of their choice. It’s an
BE canadian
Camps change
kids’ lives
C
be positive contributors in their
community.
“We work on things like building relationships, understanding
the consequences of their actions,
gaining hope and optimism, and
understanding what persistence
looks like.
“Many of our campers go on
to live a different reality as adults
than anyone in their family prior
to them had realized.”
Today, Chenard is a graduate of
the University of Calgary’s nursing program, thanks to a $3,000
annual bursary which all graduates of the Tim Horton leadership program receive toward
their post-secondary education.
She is engaged to be married and
excited about the future.
“I’ve always known my future
goals — to start a family, be independent and have a career,” she
says. “I didn’t always know if this
was achievable but I’m so grateful
this is turning out so well for me. “Look at where I have gotten in
such a short time.”
if a company says (community investment) is a part of its corporate
values and traditions, it doesn’t
toss that overboard in bad times.
versity is launching Canada’s
first Master of Philanthropy and
Nonprofit Leadership degree and
graduate diploma program. They
received double the number of
applications expected.
“Everyone told us this is the
right time to do this,” says Phillips.
“I think corporate philanthropy is changing enormously.
I think we don’t yet fully understand the strategies, motives, and
ways in which effectiveness can
be enhanced. We can be even
more creative if we really put
some effort into understanding
that broad spectrum of activity
we loosely call corporate philanthropy.”
18-year-olds.
They also support a group-oriented program targeting schools
and service groups in low-income
communities.
“What we have built is based
on comprehensive research on
what it means to be growing up
in an economically disadvantaged
home,” says Heather Bates, senior
manager of program development
for the Tim Horton Children’s
Foundation.
“If we can support them in
becoming responsible, caring and
motivated, they will be more apt
to see economic success, go on
to post-secondary education and
example of how a company can
invest in what I believe in as an
individual,” says Meadows.
“It also helps opens the eyes
of their employees to many of
the needs in an organization that
they were not aware of. This can
extend a charity’s reach in ways
they hadn’t imagined.”
The definition of corporate
philanthropy is changing as we
know it, and it’s important to
ensure it covers a range of things
— not simply giving donations
to charities and non-profits,
says Susan Phillips, director of
Carleton University’s School of
Public Policy and Administration.
“Corporate knowledge and
expertise are also extremely important – in-kind contributions
of talent would cost organizations
a lot more if they had to buy
these services,” says Phillips.
This summer, Carleton Uni-
Tim Horton Children’s Foundation has
sent more than 180,000 children to camp
since it was established. — Courtesy, Tim
Horton Children’s Foundation
JUNE 14, 2013
C
When Canadian businesses are successful, they give back
to the communities they serve by supporting local charities, cultural associations, etc. — buycanadianfirst.ca
5

speciaL douBLe issue

Transcription

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