FALL 2014 issue - The Markham Board of Trade

2014
Fall Issue
M A R K H A M ’ S
E X C L U S I V E
B U S I N E S S
M A G A Z I N E
SAVING LIVES
THERE’S
AN APP FOR THAT
pg 6
PLUS
NEW TAX: Funding Stormwater Management – pg 10
GE’s $40M Commitment to Markham – pg 8
Outsourcing Tips for Marketing & HR – pg 11-14
IFC Websdepot
IN THIS ISSUE
Publisher
Richard Cunningham, President & CEO
COVER STORY
MARKETING
5 Questions to Ask When
Hiring a Marketing Pro
Editor
Dave Deeley
Director, Marketing & Communications
Your comments are always welcome.
Please email [email protected]
6
Advertising information
Christine Rogers
Advertising & Marketing Consultant
905-474-0730 ext. 30
Membership information
Mary Ann Quagliara
Director, Member Services
905-474-0730 ext. 16
Markham Board of Trade
Markham Convergence Centre
7271 Warden Avenue, Markham, ON L3R 5X5
T: 905-474-0730 • F: 905-474-0685
[email protected]
www.markhamboard.com
Charles Scott (Secretary), Community Volunteer
Zamin Baqar (Treasurer), KPMG Enterprise
GE’s Markham based
Grid IQTM Innovation Centre
Carole McAfee Wallace, Wilson Vukelich LLP
Bruce McMeekin, J Bruce McMeekin Law
Vito Marchese, Whiteboard Studio
Stephen Mathieu, Metroland Media
10
Rashpal Sahota, Powerful Mind Powerful You
Bruce Tilden, RE/MAX Realtron Realty Inc.
Erez Zevulunov, MIT Consulting
Andy Taylor, CAO, City of Markham Representative
Richard Cunningham,
President & CEO, Markham Board of Trade
Design: Angela Smith, Benjamin Designs
Cover Photo: Joel Robertson Photography
Printing: Canmark Communications
14
Satisfied Employees =
Better Bottom Line
15
3 Hot New Apps for Fall
8
Daisy Wai (Vice Chair), Ad2000 & Beyond Advertising
Cover and Cover Story Design: CS-Graphic Design Inc.
Key Considerations When
Outsourcing Your HR Needs
17
2013 BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD
WINNER PROFILES
OFFICERS:
Joe A. Salib (Chair), Sun Life Financial – Unionville
Dr. Peter Kim, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College
HUMAN RESOURCES
TECH GOODIES
Making Strides in
Lifesaving Technologies
Markham Board of Trade
2014–15 Board of Directors
DIRECTORS:
Shadi Aghaei, Times Group Corporation
11
NEW TAX:
Funding Stormwater
Management in Markham
Ceridian Canada
22
Neopost Canada
23
FINANCIAL ADVICE
Save with Family Income Splitting
ASK THE EXPERT
19
Dixon-Garland Funeral Home
19
BUSINESS BOOKS 12
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS
24
WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS 2 6
Markham’s exclusive business
magazine published by:
Circulation – 12,000
© August 2014. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or
copied in parts, or as a whole, without prior written
permission of the Markham Board of Trade
Publication Agreement Number 41245573
New Merchant Rate
Discounts Exclusive
to Board of Trade
Members
21
www.markhamboard.com
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
Premier:
Corporate:
Title Sponsor:
Breakfast Networking Series:
Y P C W H AT ’ S G O I N G O N ?
Are YOU Markham’s Top
Young Professional?
Local entrepreneurs and business people under 40
now have a platform to recognize their achievements –
YPC’s ASPIRE Awards.
Criteria:
1. Nominee must be born on or after January 1, 1975
AND
2. Nominee’s company must be Markham based or be
a Markham Board of Trade member in good-standing
Nominations: www.markhamboard.com, boards and
committees tab, YPC page.
Deadline: December 31, 2014.
Recipients will be announced at the YPC ASPIRE
Awards in April 2015.
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The VOICE Fall 2014
Don’t miss YPC’s next event!
Tuesday, September 16th
“Climbing The Corporate Ladder”
Featuring Guest Speaker:
Lucas Chang,
KnL interCHANG Business Consulting Inc.
at The Hub Climbing
165 McIntosh Dr.
Register: [email protected]
905-474-0730 ext 28
Stay connected: MBTYPC
Title Sponsor:
Ever wonder where the money goes?
$1.6 billion
In funding for the operation of hospitals
and other provincial priorities
$130 million
To support local and provincial charities,
as well as Ontario’s amateur athletes
$94.1 million
Towards community infrastructure
like community centres and college
campuses for host municipalities
That’s only part of the $3.4 billion* in economic
activity that OLG generated last year in Ontario.
Learn more about OLG’s modernization and how
it can benefit you at ModernOLG.ca.
*Based on period between April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013.
The VOICE Fall 2014
5
MAKING STRIdES IN LIFE SAVING
By Samantha Sim
Photography by: Joel Robertson
Imagine
having access
to all your
vital medical
information with
just the tap of a
wristband to a
smartphone
or tablet.
Sounds like a scene
straight from a sci-fi movie
right? Another Markham
Convergence Centrebased success story,
Code4Armour is making
that scene a reality with
its new waterproof silicone
band, which keeps medical
information a tap away.
66
The VOICE
VOICE Fall
Fall 2014
2014
The
Code4Armour’s Mark Litman (L) and Justin Phillips (R) are bringing
lifesaving to your fingertips.
Everything from the
concept to the company’s
name (when a dispatcher
says ‘code four’ it
means the ambulance
must respond with
lights and sirens) is the
creation of paramedic
Mark Litman, who knows
firsthand how difficult it is
for first responders to gather
medical information. When
paramedics first arrive on the
scene they know very little
about the individual(s) they’re
treating. They can try to grab
information from bystanders or
the victim, but if the person is
unconscious there’s no time for
conversation.
“The biggest issue any
paramedic has is gathering
medical information during
an emergency,” says President
and Co-founder Justin Phillips.
“The idea is that those with
serious illnesses would wear a
Code4Armour medical band,
which pairs to our app that’s
accessible on a smartphone or
tablet. A paramedic would get
to the scene, tap the wristband
with their phone and know if
the individual has an allergy or
other serious medical condition.”
There are other alert
bands on the market, but they
operate much differently than
Code4Armour.
“Other alert bands use
call centres for the transfer of
patient information, but this
requires paramedics to make a
call and speak to an operator,
a process which takes time, not
to mention their attention away
from resuscitating the patient
and every second counts when
a life is at stake” , says Phillips.
Smart wearable technology
is a hot tech trend – recently
Apple unveiled HealthKit, a
TECHNOLOGy
Servicing all
your accounting
and tax needs
• Bookkeeping Services
• Income Tax Preparation
& Planning
new app that’s designed to help
users keep better track of their
personal health and fitness
data. Not wanting to miss out
on this, Phillips says plans are
already underway to make
their product compatible with
HealthKit.
As smart devices become
more prevalent in all aspects
of our lives, issues of privacy
(especially regarding the
storage of personal data) have
become a concern. Phillips says
their wristband takes privacy
and data protection seriously.
The app will ensure data is
encrypted and users decide
how much information they
median age is 40.2 years - and
that number is expected to rise
rapidly. With a growing elderly
population, and rising rates of
illnesses such as Alzheimer’s
and dementia, the company is
turning to other markets for its
product.
“Let’s say an elderly relative
goes missing. You want them
wearing a band because the
police can simply scan it,
identify who this person is and
notify the family,” he says.
So far, the company has
focused on building its product
through paramedic, police and
firefighting associations. They
equip them with wristbands
• HST/GST
• Payroll Services
• Manual or Computerized
Tel: 905-471-7979
Email: [email protected]
www.jpaccountingtax.com
114 Anderson Avenue, Suite 7C, Markham, ON L6E 1A5
The biggest issue any paramedic
has is gathering medical information
during an emergency.
add to their profiles, including
which medical data is available
for emergency workers to see.
“The technology is coming.
It’s not a matter of if, but
when,” says Phillips. “We are
becoming more comfortable
with our lives being online.
But, data protection is still very
important and we’ve taken
steps to ensure users are the
‘owners’ of their information,
deciding exactly what they
want to share and with whom.”
The band isn’t restricted
to just individuals with life
threatening illnesses. According
to the most recent census, Canada’s
and train staff on how to use
it in conjunction with the app.
Phillips says these “functionality
reviews” have given the company
invaluable feedback on what can
be done to make the product
more user friendly.
In late September the
company will launch a
crowdfunding campaign
for individuals to preorder
their own wristband which
will cost $19.95, with a $3 per
month subscription fee to
store information on the
accompanying app (available
for Apple and Android
phones).
The
The VOICE
VOICE FAll
Fall 2014
7
Made in Markham
Our new series spotlighting innovative products and game changing technologies
developed in Markham
By Mary Teresa Bitti
“The Markham
facility is devoting
a lot of time and
energy to the
interconnectivity of
power grids … in
order to prevent
large-scale
blackouts.”
S
ince opening its doors
in 2012, GE’s Grid IQ
Innovation Centre, a
$40 million, 200,0000 sq. ft.
facility has become the Canadian
destination for business and
state governments looking to
improve the reliability and
efficiency of their energy grids,
the transmission network that
delivers electricity to end users.
It also clearly embodies GE’s
tagline: imagination at work.
A little bit about GE’s
history with Markham
GE’s Customer Experience Centre
where clients learn more about
grid modernization solutions
General Electric’s introduction
to Markham took place back in
1995 when it acquired Multilin,
a homegrown tech startup that
built relays, electronic devices
that automate and protect
electrical systems. The acquisition
was a perfect fit for GE, which
decided to do a reverse integration
and move its U.S. operations
to Markham. The new Grid IQ
Innovation Centre is a direct
offshoot of the acquisition and
the subsequent investment in and
growth of that business. There are
currently 450 employees – many
of them engineers – working at
the Grid IQ Innovation Centre, the
global headquarters for GE’s Grid
Automation business, which has
additional development sites in
Spain, Ireland and India.
“We’re involved in all aspects
of improving efficiency and
reliability and operating costs of
electrical power systems around
the world, for both government
utilities and large industrial
8
The VOICE Fall 2014
clients,” says Juan Macias, general
manager, Grid Automation at GE.
“The Markham facility is one
of our principal sites where
we develop and manufacture
products. We also have a
customer innovation centre here
where we train our customers
on our products and systems.”
Those products and systems
are sold in North America and
around the world in Europe,
Latin America, Africa, the Middle
East and Asia, representing a mix
of old and new infrastructures.
Protect, control, automate
The devices being developed in
Markham address the protection,
control and automation of
electrical grids and the assets of
those systems. One of the latest
innovations to hit the market from
the Grid IQ Innovation Centre is
the Multilin 8 Series platform, a
new line of relays that protect the
medium voltage system of the
power grid. These sophisticated
electronic devices are used to
monitor, protect and control
very large, multi-million-dollar
motors used by companies in the
chemical, oil and gas and mining
industries as well as distribution
utilities. In addition to the
hardware, the Markham facility
also develops the algorithms and
software necessary to provide
advanced diagnostics to enhance
reliability of their electrical
infrastructure and cut costs that
come with unplanned outages.
Improving energy
efficiency
The Grid IQ Innovation Centre
also produces a line of products
that support renewable energies.
In Ontario, for example,
individuals and businesses are
installing rooftop solar panels
and feeding power back to
the power grid. However, the
electrical distribution system
was not designed for a two-way
flow of power, which is what
happens when generation of
energy is distributed as it now
is. As a result, GE has created
a series of products that help
utilities integrate that power
into the distribution system and
to control the voltage swings
that take place with intermittent
distributed energy generation.
“Our products improve the
efficiency of the grid by ensuring
they are using the right amount
of power at the right time and that
they are compensating voltage
accordingly,” says Macias.
Groundbreaking research
As part of its focus on how best
to protect, control and automate
energy grids, the Markham
facility is also devoting a lot
of time and energy to the interconnectivity of power grids and
how to accurately measure what’s
happening in real time in order
to prevent large-scale blackouts.
“The research taking place here
has led to the development of
synchrophasors,” says Macias.
In the past, control centres
measured power flows through
the grid using a unit of measure
called a phasor in order to come
up with an estimate of just how
well it’s performing. Synchronized
phasors or synchrophasors are
phasors plus absolute time and
allow system controllers to access
real time data from across the
entire network in order to see
exactly what’s happening.
“Think of it this way: When you
get an X-ray, there is a certain
level of resolution. An MRI
or a CAT scan has a radically
improved level of resolution,”
says Macias. “Synchrophasors
allow utilities to increase
the level of resolution of the
measurements they take to
assess what’s happening in
the power system. This gives
them the ability to identify
disturbances and imbalances
between interconnected systems
and between supply and
demand in order to take action
much sooner and prevent any
cascading faults.”
Collaborating with
customers
One of the key aspects of the
Grid IQ Innovation Centre is
space dedicated to demonstrating
how the technology works and
to training its customers. In 2013,
about 2,000 people from around
the world came to the facility to
see firsthand the results of GE’s
research efforts in Markham and
to use its award-winning digital
tools such as Grid Explorer to
explore power systems up close.
GE’s 60 foot video wall where customers have an interactive look at grid
modernization products
Why GE chooses
Markham
“Markham has been a very good
home for us in terms of sourcing
top talent and suppliers” says
Macias. “We also undertake
research projects with York
University and UOIT. These
are key advantages over other
locations.”
GE’s Markham based Grid IQTM Innovation Centre
Professional Development IT PAYS TO KNOW
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payroll education!
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and provincial regulations
and changes each year,
staying payroll compliant
is one of the biggest
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Stay Current Stay Compliant
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penalties with help from Professional Development
seminars from Canadian Payroll Association (CPA).
CPA offers seminars for all levels from beginner to advanced. On
a variety of topics covering Learning Payroll, Taxable Benefits,
Employment Standards, Pensions and more. Check our calendar for
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Learn more at payroll.ca.
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Become a CPA member and get preferred rates on seminars.
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The VOICE Fall 2014
9
Stormwater
Management
in Markham
By Mary Teresa Bitti
E
ffective January 2015 a
stormwater fee will be
charged to all properties
with a water service
across the city. The annual rate
is $47 per household. You’ll see
it on your PowerStream bill,
or if you access multiple water
services, on a separate bill.
Condos will get a single invoice
that combines individual unit
fee amounts.
“Severe storms are taking
place more frequently and we
want to make sure we have the
right infrastructure in place
to deal with the intensity of a
100-year storm,” says Markham
Deputy Mayor Heath. “At the
same time, our infrastructure is
aging and we have some areas
that are only covered for a twoyear storm [a storm that is likely
to take place on average once
A flood control fee to upgrade
Markham’s stormwater
management system could add
thousands of dollars in operating
expenses for Markham businesses.
Businesses and all nonresidential properties will take a
more significant hit, with the rate
set at $29 per $100,000 of the
currently assessed value
of the property.
Why the different billing
approaches? According to
Deputy Mayor Jack Heath,
variable fees were adopted
for non-residential properties
because they vary so much
in size. Council tied the fee
to current value assessment
because it best correlates
to property size. How the
non-residential fee will be
implemented is still being
ironed out and a report will be
made to Council in September.
The reason for the planned
upgrades? Climate change and
the increase in serious storms
over the last decade. Thornhill
residents may remember
August 19, 2005, when a storm
produced torrential rainfall,
dropping 103 mm of rain in
one hour, golf ball sized hail,
and 72 km/hr winds, causing
$4 million worth of damage.
10
The VOICE Fall 2014
every two years]. Our requirements are different today.”
City Council has been
working on the stormwater
management plan since the
2005 storm but it has been
delayed by citizen opposition
to some of the proposed changes.
In 2013, Council managed to
put forward the new 30-year
$234 million city-wide initiative
that will be paid for by all
Markham rate payers and not
just affected area residents and
businesses. One quarter or $2
million of the annual $8 million
the City receives from the
federal government’s gas tax
fund will also be used to fund
the project. “We think that
protecting our infrastructure
and ensuring we don’t incur
more infrastructure costs is
a good use for this money,”
says the Deputy Mayor.
FOR UPDATES visit the publications
page at www.markhamboard.com
MARKETING
5 QUESTIONS TO ASK
When Hiring a
Marketing Pro
By Adina Zaiontz
H
ere are five tips to help
business owners when
choosing a marketing
professional, agency
or freelancer.
• Contract individual writers
or designers to work for you
while you manage the project
1.Are they focused on
understanding your goals,
or selling their solution?
The right choice will depend
on how much time, energy
and money you can devote
to marketing and project
management.
A professional marketer or
agency should demonstrate
an interest and passion for
what you do, and ask lots of
questions about your business.
It’s always a red flag if they’re
pitching their marketing ideas
and/or solution before taking
time to understand your
business.
2.Do they have experience in
your sector or industry?
The individual and/or
agency’s learning curve will
be shorter, and they’ll waste
less of your time, if they have
relevant marketing experience
in your industry.
3.Have you seen their design
and writing samples for
North American clients?
Ideally the agency will have
Canadian English speaking
writers and designers that
“get” the contemporary North
American design aesthetic.
Outsourced work to overseas
suppliers often results in low
fees, but what seems like a
bargain may end up costing you
extra time correcting badly
written releases or revisions
for cheap looking graphics.
4.Freelancers vs. a one-stop
marketing agency?
The three main options when
it comes to managing most
marketing projects are:
• Hire a marketing agency to
manage your entire project
• Add an on-staff marketing
specialist.
The agency advantage is “onestop shopping” as they usually
have a team of experienced
people. When you hire subcontractors or freelancers
directly, you will need to
manage their work and put
the pieces of the project
together yourself, which takes
considerable time and effort
away from your “day job” in
managing your company.
5.When hiring marketers for
your team, look for creativity
and strategic thinking, not
Photoshop skills
Adding a professional
marketing manager can be an
expensive hire, with salaries at
$55K–$100K and up. If you go
this route, it is recommended
to look for a business school
grad from a recognized
university, with at least 2 years
marketing experience. Tie a
portion of their salary to your
sales and business results.
Focus on finding someone
who is an excellent creative
thinker, strategist and project
manager. And make sure to
give them a realistic budget
so they can hire the additional
expertise they’re going to
need (graphic design and
programming) to execute the
projects.
HOW DO I SAVE $184,000
IN TAXES WHEN I SELL MY BUSINESS?
THE LIFETIME CAPITAL GAINS EXEMPTION
You may have heard of the exemption, but when an offer to
purchase your business is made, are you properly structured to
be eligible for the exemption? The partners of Kreston GTA can
help. We are an experienced firm of Chartered Professional
Accountants that advise businesses throughout their life cycle.
Whether you need to structure your business for sale, or just need
help setting up your business, we are there to provide strategic
support.
Contact Spence Walker to set up a consultation.
krestongta.com | 905.474.5593 | 8953 Woodbine Avenue, Markham, Ontario
A member of Kreston International | A global network of independent accounting firms
Business advisors with over 20 years of
experience servicing various industries
and providing personal services in:
Accounting & Auditing • Business Plans
& Start-Ups • Estate & Financial Planning
Taxation – Personal & Corporate
Jack Eigenmacht, CPA, CA, CFP
905.305.9722 x 228
E: [email protected]
www.eigenmachtcrackower.com
345 Renfrew Drive • Suite 202
Markham, Ontario L3R 9S9
Adina Zaiontz is director of
napkin marketing, a social media
management and web design agency.
Contact her at 289-597-6600 or
[email protected]
The VOICE Fall 2014
11
BUSINESS BOOKS
67 Automall Blvd (Millard & Hwy. 48)
905-888-7777 • stouffvillehyundai.com
CREATING NO-COST
MARKETING
FROM THE
MARKHAM
PUBLIC LIBRARY
V
isit The Cave – Markham Public Library’s digital media
lab for creating promo videos websites, logos and more.
The devices, resources, and editing software you need to
design your own marketing materials are now free for
members of Markham Public Library. For inspiration and tips, take
a peek at these reads:
Small Business Websites Made Easy
by Steve Holzer
Bring in more customers with your own
website with this highly visual, easy to follow
guide. This book covers fundamentals of webbased marketing, search engine optimization
and pay-per-click advertising.
30 days to Online PR & Marketing Success
by Gail Martin
A practical guide to making the most of Twitter,
Facebook, LinkedIn and blogging to develop a solid
online public relations and marketing plan that
creates visibility for your business.
Ultimate Guide to YouTube for Business
by Jason Rich (available in print or eBook)
490 million people log on to YouTube each month.
From video production to promotion this book
details how to capture those users to promote
your business brand, products or services.
2B
201
est Large Busine
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20 Automall Blvd (Millard & Hwy. 48)
905-888-6680 • stouffvillechrysler.com
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The VOICE Fall 2014
Killer Web Content
by Gerry McGovern
This eBook provides the strategies and practical
techniques you need to get the very best out of
your web content. The book helps readers to
provide website visitors with the right content
at the right time, write compelling web content
and make sure their website has the best possible
chance of getting into the first page of search
results.
For more information visit
www.markhampubliclibrary.ca
or thecavemarkham.blogspot.ca
WE HAD ONLY ONE THING IN
MIND WHEN WE BUILT OUR NEW
STATE-OF-THE ART DATA CENTER.
YOU.
CenturyLink is proud to announce our state-of-the-art data center opening in
Markham — an Uptime Institute Tier III certified multi-tenant facility.
With our multi-layer site security and proven 100% uptime commitment, we’re
doing even more to help your growing business in the GTA and beyond.
Come celebrate the grand opening of our Markham Data Center.
September 9, 2014 • 4-7 PM
We are rolling out the red carpet so RSVP today to tour one of the most innovative
data centers in your area.
RSVP at:
www.centurylinktechnology.com/toronto-opening
©2014 CenturyLink. All Rights Reserved.
The VOICE Fall 2014
13
HR ISSUES
SME’s: Key Considerations When
Outsourcing Your HR Needs
By Samantha Sim
S
creening job
applicants, handling
benefits paperwork
and payroll are just
some of the tasks an HR department takes care of. For small and
medium-sized businesses, these
duties often fall on team leads, –
and in some cases, the business
owner. That’s why many smaller
organizations turn to third-party
HR firms to take over these
functions. Do a quick Google
search for “HR firm” and you’ll
find a ton of choices, but picking
a company that understands your
businesses’ culture is much more
difficult. Shirley Marie Garcia,
Director of Career Management
and Community Engagement for
Human Resources Professionals
Association’s York Region
chapter, discusses best tips and
what to look for when choosing
a HR firm.
If business owners aren’t
seeing the outcomes they want
(revenue isn’t increasing as
expected, client base is waning,
marketing campaigns are getting
delayed) Garcia says it’s an
indicator that administrative
tasks are occupying too much
time. This means outsourcing HR
might be the right choice.
“SME owners have limited
resources, so by default they tend
to wear multiple hats. They’re
often the sales team, accounting
department and operations
manager all-in-one,” says Garcia.
“Delegating HR to a firm frees
up more time to focus on other
pressing tasks and decreases
stress .”
The Top 3 Things to Look for
In an HR Firm
1. Aligned With Company
Values and Goals:
This is a broad requirement, but
important not to overlook. HR
firms are the first filter when it
comes to hiring, they administer
employee benefits and handle
payroll. These are all essential
14
The VOICE Fall 2014
parts of your organization
and require a partner who
understands the industry
a business works in.
Maybe this firm is smaller
and understands firsthand
the different needs of small
businesses. Or, it focuses on
HR for specific industries.
Researching a firm’s clients
is a good way of determining
whether they’re the right fit.
and allows businesses to search for
everything from payroll solutions
to recruiting/staffing options.
3. Compliant with the Law:
Asking for vendors or suppliers
references is a good way of
determining whether a firm has
solid business ethics. This goes
one step further than just checking
an HR company’s website for who
it works with. References provide
“Delegating HR to a firm frees up
more time to focus on other pressing
tasks and decreases stress.”
2. Reputable:
The Human Resources
Professional Association (HRPA)
recently launched a new website
named HRPAtoday.com. Its goal
is to connect businesses and HR
professionals with suppliers of
products and services in the HR
industry. The “HR Suppliers
Guide” located on the site
organizes companies by the HR
products and services they offer
more detail as to what services
that HR company offers and how
it does them, and in turn, it will
help reveal whether they are up
to date on regulatory procedures
and practices.
How Much is Too Much
Outsourcing?
Garcia doesn’t recommend small
businesses outsource every aspect
of HR. One, it’s costly and two,
there are some things that can be
done a lot faster in house.
“When I’m looking for staff
trainers I’ll first conduct an
analysis of what we need, draw
up a proposal and then seek
out HR consultants,” she says.
“Business owners and employees
know their organization the best,
so it’s beneficial to just do these
things in advance.”
She also warns of outsourcing
so many functions that the core of
HR, human interaction, is lost.
Ensuring performance management, coaching and employee
engagement are handled by team
leads or management are some
ways to prevent this.
“People aren’t just a large
part of a company, they are
arguably the most important.
All the products and services an
organization offers are designed
and executed by its employees,”
says Garcia. “Finding a firm that
is the best fit to serve your most
important asset should be the
priority over cost savings.”
Your affordable response option when employees
allege harassment or human rights violations
Andrew J. Yu, CHRP
Independent certified harassment/human rights investigator
Workplace psychological health & safety system specialist
Human Resources Consultant
(416) 915-3723
[email protected]
http://www.rising-phoenix.ca
HR ISSUES
Satisfied Employees = Better Bottom Line
Engagement increasingly important to organizational success
By Kristina Hidas, HRPA, VP HR Research & Development
E
mployee engagement is a
human resources metric
that essentially tells an
employer how happy its
workers are.
A high engagement score
means workers are satisfied,
committed, proud, loyal and
who understand how their role
impacts the organization as a
whole. It translates into high
productivity and creativity in
peoples’ jobs. A low engagement
score often correlates with high
absenteeism and low morale
and is a clear indication of an
unhealthy workplace.
The Human Resources
Professionals Association
(HRPA) – Canada’s largest HR
association and the regulator of
the HR profession in Ontario –
recently polled its members on
the validity of the employee
engagement metric in the 21st
century Canadian workplace.
Eighty per cent of the 850 HR
professional respondents came
back with a strong affirmation
of the metric, with more than a
third saying it’s a concept that’s
increased in importance over
the years.
Engagement across
the generations
Seventy-six per cent of
respondents agreed that engagement means different things to
different generations: Mature
workers want to be valued as full
contributors, rather than people
nearing the end of their careers;
while millennials want continuous
learning and advancement
opportunities. They really want
to enjoy their work and want
their voices to be heard.
Building engagement
“Respondents said the most commonly
shared drivers of engagement are
supportive managers, compelling work,
career opportunities, good salary,
work/life balance and recognition,”
said Kristina Hidas, HRPA’s
VP HR Research & Development.
Through their comments, they
came back with five useful
tips on building an engaged
workforce:
“This means keeping employees
in touch with every aspect of what the
organization is doing and showing
them that we are all working to a
Mature workers want to be
valued as full contributors, rather
than people nearing the end of
their careers; while millennials
want continuous learning and
advancement opportunities.
KNOW THEM
It is vital for managers to know
their employees. Senior Leaders
should know, and understand,
their workforce, while every
Front-Line Manager should know
the individuals on her/his team.
“Executives, managers and
employers need to know who their
employees are. Not only names and
faces, but work experience, education,
outside interests, families. You want
someone to be engaged when they
show up at work? Know that they
have a sick parent, or kids, or that
they’re training for a race, or love to
play cards. Remember who they are
when they leave at the end of the day.”
GROW THEM
Help employees to improve
their skills, including providing
training and career development.
“Too often we think ‘growing
employees’ means developing a formal
internal career path, or doing courses
at night. Wrong. There are many ways
to grow employees, and they all make
them feel more engaged in their work
lives. Send someone who’s afraid
of public speaking to Toastmasters,
support someone’s hobby, encourage
a worker to do a presentation on
her favourite charity. These are all
growth opportunities and they make
all the difference in how people feel
about their work.”
larger strategy and vision. When
people feel they are part of something
bigger, they’re engaged in it.”
INVOLVE THEM
Solicit employee input to
leverage their experience and
foster creative problem solving.
“Get employees involved in
challenges that don’t directly touch
them. If they can give an opinion on
an issue that affects another team,
it’s good for everyone. It generates
ownership, and ownership leads to
engagement.”
REWARD THEM
Aside from compensation, reward
employees according to what
they value.
“Compensation means a lot of
things. We have to pay employees
fairly and competitively. But it
also means benefits and vacation,
flex hours and the ability to work
from home. One of the pillars
of engagement is the ability to
compensate individuals according
to what they value, and according
to what stage they’re at in their
personal lives.”
®
Part of the Markham community since 1986, this award winning
school offers an unique variety of programs.
Ages 2 to 6
Pre-School Montessori Program
TCMPS.com
905-474-3434
Grades 1 to 8
Private Elementary School
TCMPS.com
905-470-1200
Grades 9 to 12 and University Prep
Town Centre Private High School®
TCPHS.com
905-470-1200
No cost before school
program 7:00 to 9:00 a.m.
and after school program
3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
INSPIRE THEM
Every worker should know
exactly how their efforts support
the organization’s strategy.
The VOICE Fall 2014
15
16
The VOICE Fall 2014
C O R P O R AT E S P O N S O R P R O F I L E
F
ounded in 2011 by
Richmond Hill-native and
resident Laura Williams—
who has practiced exclusively in
the context of providing advice
and representation to employers
for more than 18 years—
Williams HR Law (WHRL) is a
boutique labour and employment
law firm. WHRL is focused
on helping employers build
better workplaces by delivering
proactive, practical, customized
and sustainable legal solutions
designed to meet the everyday
HR needs of its clients.
Our clients include
organizations ranging from
small-to-medium-sized
businesses and non-profits,
to government agencies and
major corporations. Our HR
3
law services include: hiring
strategy and implementation;
employment contract and
workplace policy design and
implementation; performance
management; employment
standards compliance; human
rights; workplace safety and
insurance; health and safety
compliance; privacy compliance;
labour board proceedings; pretermination advice and strategy;
wrongful dismissal litigation;
workplace culture recovery; and
HR and management training
and development.
We’re passionate about
providing industry-leading
service and delivering the results
employers need to build highlyengaged workplaces and boost
their bottom line—all while
delivering effective human
resources strategy and tactics
that give clients the tools they
need to design and implement
smart policies, train personnel
and manage potentially costly
HR law risk. That work was
acknowledged when we were
awarded the Richmond Hill
Chamber of Commerce Business
Achievement Award for 2013 in
the 6-to-10 employee category,
and recently named York
Region’s small business of the
year for 2014.
Since its founding, WHRL’s
growth has largely been driven
by client referrals, as well as
a media-driven marketing
strategy. Laura Williams is the
regular HR law columnist for
PROFIT magazine (now part of
Canadian Business magazine)
and she and members of the firm
appear regularly in publications
such as Canadian HR Reporter
and Canadian Employment
Law Today. Laura Williams’
appointment as a Labour
Relations instructor at the
University of Toronto’s Human
Resources program in the School
of Continuing Studies, has also
bolstered the firm’s notoriety in
the industry.
In addition, WHRL has grown
through the strategic decision
to add a sister company in 2013,
Williams HR Consulting Inc.
(WHRC), to provide HR policy
and best practice consultation to
our fast-expanding client base.
For more information, visit
www.williamshrlaw.com
TECH GOODIES
Hot New Apps for Fall
By Samantha Sim
1. CloudMagic
Having trouble keeping track of
all your email accounts in one
place? CloudMagic supports
up to five addresses in one
app and works with Gmail,
Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo and
Exchange accounts. The app
displays individual inboxes for
each separate account or users
can combine and view all new
emails in one stream.
If you’re a Salesforce,
Zendesk, Pocket, Evernote,
MailChimp or OneNote
user, you’ll love CloudMagic
because these platforms are all
integrated into the app. Now
add a sales lead’s info or launch
an email campaign without even
having to leave your email app.
Available for Apple iOS and
Android devices
Price: Free
2. Splashtop Business
Turn your smartphone
screen into your desktop
with this handy app. The
Splashtop Business app
allows users to access
their work computer
remotely and syncs
seamlessly with
Microsoft and Apple
iOS products. That
means the product works
even if you’re using an iPhone,
but have a Windows PC laptop.
The app also includes
encryption software, ensuring
private data isn’t shared with
those who shouldn’t have access.
Available for Apple iOS,
Android, Windows and
Blackberry devices
Price: $60/year (user is able to
access unlimited
number of
computers)
3. CamCard
the contact fields. It will then
place it in your address book,
which can be separated into
personal and business contacts.
Contacts are then easily
searchable through the app.
Say goodbye to business card
holders and incomplete contact
profiles.
Available for: Apple iOS,
Android, Windows and
Blackberry devices
Price: Free
This business card
scanner app makes
it easy to keep track
of business contacts.
Take a picture of a
business card you’d
like to save and the
CamCard app will scan
it, extract the text and auto fill
The VOICE Fall 2014
17
3
Sponsored by:
WOMEN’S NETWORKING LUNCHEON
Reserve your seats today!
Boo
Special Guest Speaker
Dr. Joey Shulman
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ign
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Cityline’s Nutrition & Weight
Loss Expert and National
Best Selling Author
Thursday, November 20, 2014 • 11:00am – 2:00pm
Angus Glen Golf Club 10080 Kennedy Rd (north of Major Mackenzie)
Boutique Vendors! • Networking! • Swag Bags!
Markham Board of Trade Members: $45 plus HST
Non Members: $65 plus HST
Corporate Tables Available
Pre-registration required at markhamboard.com or call 905-474-0730 ext. 28
18
The VOICE Fall 2014
ASK THE EXPERTS
Neil Garland, Managing Director, Dixon-Garland Funeral Home
905-294-2030
Q: Do you know you could pay up to $20,000 to return a
body home should a death occur while travelling abroad?
A: Although not common, and not a possibility we like to think
about and plan for, this can happen to anyone. If it does,
loved ones are left with their shock and grief, as well as
unexpected complications and significant expense—unless
the insurance to cover this was in place before the journey
started. Even a trip over 100 km can incur substantial cost.
Dixon-Garland Funeral Home
www.dixongarland.com | 905-294-2030
Dream
as if
you’ll live
forever.
Live
as if
Q: What kind of insurance covers this situation? How can
I get the maximum coverage?
A: Terms such as “return of remains” or “repatriation” may
be used to describe this coverage. If included within a
typical travel or medical emergency insurance plan, it’s very
important to know the details, because geographical areas
covered may be limited and reimbursement for expenses
could be far less than what actual costs may be.
you’ll die
today.
You can research plans available through insurance carriers
and/or your chosen funeral home. For example, families
who prepay their funerals with Dixon-Garland are able to
enroll in a plan that provides worldwide coverage. Our
plan handles all the details of documentation, disposition,
and return travel home. For a modest, one-time fee, this
permanent, lifelong coverage offers maximum peace of
mind. If you would like to know more, please give us a call.
James Dean
Actor
FAMILY INCOME SPLITTING
In
Canada, income splitting
is an important strategy
that can help reduce your
family’s tax burden.
Our graduated tax rate system
means that there is a higher
marginal tax rate on taxable
income as income increases.
Furthermore, each Canadian
resident can earn almost $11,000
(varies by province) of taxable
income every year tax-free due
to the basic personal tax credit.
As a result of these two factors,
if income can be shifted from
a high-income parent to a lowincome spouse or child, then the
family can realize tax savings
up to $15,000 per year (varies
by province). If there are four
members in a family, then family
tax savings of up to $45,000 per
year can be realized. Due to this
amount of potential annual tax
savings, families earning a high
income should strongly consider
family income-splitting strategies.
For business owners, you can
split income by paying reasonable
salaries to lower-income family
members based on the services
income with family members.
One such strategy, typically
done in combination with an
estate freeze, is called “dividend
… if income can be shifted from
a high-income parent to a lowincome spouse or child, then the
family can realize tax savings up
to $15,000 per year (varies by
province).
they perform. However, if a lowincome spouse or child is not
actually working in the family
business or their services are
minimal, then paying them a
salary or bonus that is in excess
of the services rendered simply
for income-splitting purposes is
not permitted.
If you own a Canadian
corporation, there are a number
of creative strategies to split
sprinkling.” Although there
are some attribution rules to
consider, this strategy involves
paying dividends from the
corporation to adult children and
spouse shareholders based on the
growth of the corporation after
the estate freeze. If the spouse
or adult children had no other
income, then approximately
$10,000 – $50,000 of tax-free
dividends (varies based on
province and new eligible
dividend tax rules) could be paid
to them from the corporation
every year if structured properly.
Gifting funds to minor
children is still an effective
income-splitting strategy. A child
with no other income can earn
approximately $15,000–$22,000
of capital gains every year taxfree (varies by province) due to
their basic personal exemption.
This article is provided by Sunil Heda,
CPA, an Investment Advisor with RBC
Dominion Securities Inc. Member
CIPF. This article is for information
purposes only. Please consult with
a professional advisor before taking
any action based on information in this
article. Sunil Heda can be reached
at 416 571 0369 or via email at
[email protected].
The VOICE
Summer
2014
The VOICE
Fall 2014
5
19
Does your Disaster Recovery
plan go something like this?
There are two types of companies:
those that have experienced a disaster, and those that will.
Which one will you be? Contact Mid-Range 1-877-940-1814.
If your IT systems went down, would your organization be able to get them up and running again within
a time- frame that meets your business requirements?
A natural disaster, technical interruption, even human error could bring your enterprise to a screeching halt.
Mid-Range, along with partners Vision Solutions and IBM, has what it takes to get you back to business.
Our comprehensive Disaster Recovery and High Availability solutions are designed to protect your business,
give you peace of mind, and save you money.
20
www.midrange.ca
The VOICE Fall 2014
Markham Board of Trade
members receive big discounts
on merchant rates!
F
irst Data Canada, a global
leader in electronic
commerce and payment
processing, recently announced
an agreement with The Canadian
Chamber of Commerce in which
First Data will offer Canadian
Chamber members exclusive
merchant processing services.
As part of this agreement,
Markham Board of Trade members
will receive preferred rates on
electronic payment processing
services, including credit, debit,
eCommerce, mCommerce, cheque
guarantee and gift cards.
“Payment card acceptance
is mission critical to most
businesses,” said Brian Green,
President, First Data in Canada.
”Selecting the right provider in
this complex market is no easy
task for time-starved business
operators. First Data’s program
offers the value, functionality
and respect that Markham Board
of Trade members demand.”
It’s no exaggeration to say that
nothing offers businesses a better
return than investment in a
Markham Board of Trade
membership. Members receive
fast payback by taking advantage
of our many cost saving benefits,
our First Data Merchant rates
being one of them, said
Mary Ann Quagliara,
Director, Member Services.
To learn more about
Markham Board of Trade
member benefits and to start
taking advantage of the exclusive
preferred merchant rates visit
www.markhamboard.com or call
905-474-0730 ext. 16.
Contact
Mary Ann Quagliara
Director, Member Services
Markham Board of Trade
[email protected]
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The VOICE Fall 2014
21
2 013 AW A R D W I N N E R
CERIDIAN CANADA
By Samantha Sim
W
hen it comes to
tailoring its services,
Ceridian Canada
approaches each
client with a segmentation
strategy. Recognizing that small
and medium-sized businesses
have many different needs than
larger corporations, the human
resources software and services
company uses a personalized
approach for each of its clients.
That’s why Ceridian is the
Business Excellence Award
winner for High Quality and
Service.
“Ceridian spends a lot of
time understanding the market,”
says Vice President of Business
Excellence Daniel O’Rourke.
“We’re always looking to how we
can support our services, because
at the end of the day we are a
people-based business.”
Recognizing the technological
advances that have changed how
corporations’ processes, Ceridian
has developed products to meet
these new demands. Whether it’s
a new platform for businesses to
handle HR functions or mobile
apps that allow SMEs to keep track
of payroll, Ceridian believes that
working hours aren’t necessarily
the traditional 9-to-5 anymore.
“Today the working world is
faster paced and it doesn’t mean
it’s in an office,” says O’Rourke.
“There’s a need for immediacy
of information. Business owners
need to know what’s going on in
the company through multiple
platforms.”
But the key to offering high
quality service doesn’t just mean
providing products that meet
industry needs. O’Rourke believes
there is a lot of value in how much
employees want to work for a
company.
Cande Dandele, EVP, Canadian Operations, Ceridian Canada, accepts the
High Quality & Service Award from last year’s recipient, Eric Tappenden,
the President of Chapel Ridge Funeral Home and Cremation Centre.
“There’s a distinct linkage
between happy employees and
successful businesses,” he says.
“The best businesses aren’t
necessarily those with the most
profit, they are the best places
to work.”
For over two decades Wilson Vukelich LLP (WV) has helped
businesses and their owners avoid and solve legal problems. The
WV team is recognized for its creative and effective solutions in
all its areas of practice:
• Tax and business planning – domestic and cross-border
• Purchase and sale of businesses
• Corporate finance and commercial real estate
• Commercial lending and asset based financing
• Wills, trusts and estate planning
• Planned giving and philanthropy
• Dispute resolution –commercial litigation, shareholder disputes
and estate mediation
• Dealing with the CRA – from objections to Tax Court and beyond
• Intellectual property – licensing, trademarks and related matters
• Employment law
22
The VOICE Fall 2014
60 Columbia Way, Suite 710
Markham ON L3R 0C9
Tel. 905.940.8700
Toll Free. 1.866.508.8700
Fax. 905.940.8785
www.wvllp.ca
Helping Business Help Itself
2 013 AW A R D W I N N E R
NEOPOST CANADA
By Samantha Sim
W
hen faced with
the challenge of
transformation,
many companies
look at how to boost sales and cut
expenses. For mailing systems
provider Neopost Canada, the
answer was reinvesting in its
foundation – people – and
increasing employee engagement.
Among the many positive results –
the 2013 Business Excellence
Award for Business Employer
of Excellence.
“We were doing a good job
explaining to customers why they
should choose us and stay with
us,” says Neopost President
Lou Gizzarelli. “But we weren’t
doing as great of a job in answering those questions when it came
to the employee experience.”
Starting with an employee
survey asking why they were
committed to the company,
management created a buzzword
cloud detailing what employees
valued most. That information
resulted in “Life as a Neoposter”,
a paper outlining the company’s
employee value proposition
consisting of four employee
platforms – working with great
people, leading with purpose,
building a collaborative culture
and innovating for growth.
“I’ve always said that we’re
very people-centric company,”
says Gizzarelli. “Life as a
Neoposter helped us express this
by unleashing our employees’
motivation to go above and
beyond.”
Proof of the platform’s success
isn’t just evident in how happy
the company’s employees are.
Neopost says its seen double-digit
growth in customer satisfaction.
A survey done by research
company InfoQuest found that
Lou Gizzarelli, (R) President, Neopost Canada accepts the Business Employer
of Excellence Award from Bill Hutton, Chair of the Board of Trade’s Young
Professionals Committee.
90% of Neopost’s customers would
recommend the organization’s
services, and 91% said they
would buy from them again.
Gizzarelli prides the high
satisfaction rate on keeping a team
who are Neoposters for the long
haul, individuals who love to be a
part of the team and share that
feeling with others. He’s even
coined the term “brand assassins”
to describe those who aren’t
interested in going above and
beyond for the organization.
canada’s
Call: 1-800-268-1677 or 905-773-3394
Email: [email protected]
www.sja.ca
plan
FOR EMplOYEE
BEnEFITs
The Chambers of Commerce Group
Insurance Plan® gives you affordable, flexible insurance
options, unbeatable guarantees, and value-added benefits.
see why over 25,000 business owners selected this plan!
The VOICE Fall 2014
23
MBT SALUTES SMALL
11 Allstate Parkway, Suite 206
Markham, Ontario L3R 9T8
Tel: 905.415.8800 Fax: 905.415.8875
Tol Free: 1.888.415.8802
905.642.0054
canmarkcommunications.com
Sunil Heda, cpa
Investment Advisor
RBC Dominion Securities
416-571-0369 | [email protected] | www.rbcds.com/sunil.heda
Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund.
24
The VOICE Fall 2014
905-305-7800
Hugo Pacific Commercial Centre
3601 Hwy 7 E. HSBC Tower, 10th Floor,
Suite 1005, Markham L3R 0M3
BUSINESS
Mark the Date!
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
4th Annual
Trade Show and
Networking Event
BOOTH SPACE NOW AVAILABLE!
905-474-0730 ext. 30
CALL TODAY!
York Downs Golf & Country Club
4134 16th Ave, Markham (between Warden & Kennedy)
Markham Board of Trade • 7271 Warden Avenue, Markham, ON L3R 5X5
T: 905-474-0730 ext. 30 | F: 905-474-0685 | www.markhamboard.com | [email protected]
The VOICE Fall 2014
25
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
1267070 Ontario Ltd.
416-822-0638
Bant Printocut Ltd.
bant.ca
Bernie the Computer Doctor
berniecomputerdoctor.ca
BGD Group LLP
bgdgroup.com
IT Works Co. E-Business
Solutions
itworksco.com
Desjardins Financial
Independent Network
dfsin.ca\MSHS
Ivy Canada Inc.
ivycanada.com
Peak Performance
Human Resources Corp.
peakperformancehr.com
Jamieson Y Recruitment
416-937-9341
Polaron Solartech Corp.
647-557-1207
Jay Financial Services Inc.
taxandfinancials.com
Saporito Foods Inc.
saporitofoods.com
KICKS Dance Studio Ltd.
kicksdance.ca
Sina Printing Inc.
sinaprinting.com
Lumawiz
lumawiz.com
SITP Social Enterprise Inc.
studentitprojects.com
Nadine Filo,
Chartered Accountant
nadinefilo.com
State Farm Insurance
laurievarcoe.ca
Dyma Inc.
dyma.com
Expert Speech
expertspeech.ca
Biyork (Canada) Inc.
biyork.ca
FASTSIGNS
fastsigns.com/2024
Century Signs
centurysigns.ca
Financial Solutions Link Corp.
financiallink.ca
Charisma Promotions
charismapromotions.com
CIBC (West Beaver Creek)
cibc.com
Granite Golf Club
granitegolfclub.ca
Corporate Traveller
corporatetraveller.ca
Great Clips Hair Salon at
Boxgrove Center
greatclips.com
CreativeWorks Marketing
creativeworksmarketing.ca
Intuitive Solutions Group Inc.
intuitivesg.com
Frustrated
with the lack
of return on
your marketing
initiatives?
Passion for Desserts
passionfordesserts.ca
Cruise Holidays
atyourservice.
cruiseholidays.com
Tired of
paying the
high cost
of group
insurance?
NLI Solutions Inc.
nlisolutions.com
Palma Structural
Engineering, Inc.
palma-eng.ca
Hate making
cold calls?
Virtual Footprints Synergies
virtualfootprintsstrategies.com
Workplace Safety and
Prevention Services
wsps.ca
Worried
that business
expenses are
exceeding your
budget?
If any of this resonates with you, call the Markham Board of Trade.
We’re here to help your business succeed.
GROW your business • SAVE money • NETWORK with prospects
Call Mary Ann at
905-474-0730 ext 16
www.markhamboard.com
26
The VOICE Fall 2014
Join us in celebrating the achievements of
exceptional businesses at the 2014 Business Excellence Awards
Markham’s Premier Business Event of the Year!
November 6, 2014
Cocktails 6pm • Dinner Gala 7pm
Hilton Suites,
8500 Warden Ave (at Hwy 7)
Book Your Tickets Today
www.markhamboard.com
[email protected]
289-844-3025
Special thanks to our sponsors:
Platinum:
Gold:
Decor:
The VOICE Fall 2014
27
A Premier Experience
TRADITIONAL BY DESIGN, SPECTACULAR BY NATURE
For those seeking an exclusive private club and world-class golf course,
Granite Golf Club’s controlled membership ensures easy access
to the tees. Escape the city and steal a quiet moment in our clubhouse
or enjoy a game of golf – whatever your pace and level. Granite Golf
Club provides an ideal and picturesque refuge from a busy, urban
lifestyle. It is well worth the short drive.
[email protected]
GraniteGolfClub.ca • 905-642-4416
Stouffville Ontario
Top 10 Best Conditioned Golf Course in Canada