AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
JOHN’S LUNCH AN ICONIC EAST COAST DINER EXPERIENCE
BEAUSOLEIL FARMSTEAD CIDERY & WINERY COMBINING SUSTAINABLE FARMING WITH CELLAR EXPERIMENTATION
GO NORTH TOURS UNCORKING QUALITY, IT’S WHAT WE DO!
TATTINGSTONE INN
WHERE DETAILS MATTER
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE IN THE SPOTLIGHT NATASHA STANISZEWSKI BROADCASTER, MEDIA PERSONALITY & SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS
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Editor’s Spotlight Enjoying summer is what this time of the year is all about especially for a region like the Annapolis Valley, which is located along Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy from Windsor to Digby and boasts some of the best soils and climatic condi- tions in eastern Canada. In fact, it’s recognized as the third most important fruit growing region in the entire country. The Annapolis Valley is also gaining recognition in Canada and around the world for high quality wines. Because the success of any vineyard is closely linked to location, and because climate plays such an important role in grape production, the Annapolis Valley is a perfect location for this industry. Location is one thing, but promotion of an industry is another. That is where Laila North comes into the picture. She has been able to merge her back- ground as a professional ballet dancer, with her deep knowledge of the wine industry and guiding experience into creating Go North Tours, which was the first and currently longest running wine tour company in Nova Scotia. One of the stops on Go North’s Uncork Nova Scotia tour is at Beausoleil Farm- stead Cidery and Winery. Melanie Eelman, owner of Beausoleil Farmstead Cidery & Winery talks about her and her family’s journey back to Nova Scotia and how sampling a flight of wines with her husband, Jake, changed their lives, in addition to creating vinous ciders to share with the rest of Canada and beyond. Like many, Erika Banting and her husband’s love for the Annapolis Valley began during a visit to the region over twenty years ago. Erika was so struck by the authentic beauty and vibrant energy of the area so much that she and her husband would eventually move to Nova Scotia and acquire the elegant Tat- tingstone Inn and the desire to create a unique and extraordinary experience for her guests. Natasha Staniszewski is in the spotlight this month as we talk about her personal and professional journey from the early years as a small-town journal- ist and broadcaster to her becoming a true pioneer in the industry and what the future holds for this amazing and truly genuine broadcaster, media person- ality and sports enthusiast other than hitting the green for a little golfing. A lot has changed in Halifax over the last fifty plus years, but thankfully one thing has stayed the same, John’s Lunch, which is a legendary, no-frills diner that is a landmark near the Woodside ferry terminal wharf known for Canadi- an’s best fish ’n’ chips. We chat with Kathy Hilchey and Irene Baltas long time employees that have transitioned into co-owners and are the first women to own the iconic brand since it was started by Greek Immigrants in the late 60’s. As always, we want to thank everyone that made this issue possible, and we look forward to sharing more stories about successful businesses and brands, while spotlighting the people behind making it all happen. Remember to vote on September 20th! Lee Ann Atwater Editor
MANAGING DIRECTOR Rod Gregg EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Lee Ann Atwater COMMUNICATION, RESEARCH & ADMIN Ashley Tanner
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Janice Buckler
Megan Callahan Shannon Ferguson Calli Gregg Taylor Evans Hendrix Deborah Jaremko Lennie Kaplan Mark Milke Ceiledh Monk Dan Monk Ryan Myson Lee-Anne Richardson Teresa Siqueira Elizabeth Spencer SOCIAL MEDIA Troy Gregg GRAPHIC DESIGN Aaron Jeffrey
WEB DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT Joe Uttaro PUBLISHER AIDACA Media
P.O. Box 35007, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3M 0G3 P: 902 405 2000 E: info@spotlightbizmag.com spotlightonbusinessmagazine.com
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
What’s in the Spotlight on the cover
TATTINGSTONE INN WHERE DETAILS MATTER
GO NORTH TOURS UNCORKING QUALITY, IT’S WHAT WE DO! A lot of things have changed in Halifax over the last fifty plus years, but thankfully some things have stayed the same. One of those things is John’s Lunch, a legendary, no-frills diner that is a landmark near the Woodside ferry terminal wharf known for Canadian’s best fish ’n’ chips and top- notch customer service. We chat with Kathy Hilchey and Irene Baltas, long time employees that have transitioned into co-owners and the first women to own the iconic brand since it was started by Greek Immigrants in the late 60’s. JOHN’S LUNCH AN ICONIC EAST COAST DINER EXPERIENCE Laila North has a conversation about her entre- preneurial journey and how she was able to merge her background as a professional ballet dancer, a deep knowledge of the wine industry and her tourism experience to create Go North Tours which was the first and currently longest running wine tour company in Nova Scotia. We get a better understanding of the unique excursions she offers those looking to explore Nova Scotia as a staycation or while visiting the province on vacation. 22
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04 WHAT’S IN THE SPOTLIGHT 08 UPCOMING EVENTS
20 SPOTLIGHT ON INDUSTRY 28 CONTRACTOR’S CORNER Renovation Planning Process - Design, Engineering & Estimating 34 DESIGN OF THE TIMES Occupied Home Staging 101 40 GOVERNMENT ENERGY SUBSIDIES Parsing through energy subsidy estimates 42 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS 44 THE POWER OF NETWORKING Why You Need to be Connecting with More People 48 EPIC EATERIES & SWEETERIES Our Reader’s Recommendations for Epic BBQ!!! 76 SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION 84 THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY Billions in oil and gas expansion underway – just not in Canada 86 SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH & WELLNESS 88 HOLISTIC HEALTH Adrenal Exhaustion 90 KNOWING YOUR LIMITS Is Your Relationship with Alcohol Worth Examining? 96 PERSONAL HEALTH & WELLBEING Life is what it is, so live and enjoy it! 100 ULTIMATE DIGITAL DETOX How to Unplug Your Home 106 MOM TO THE RESCUE True Moms are Moms forever!
Erika Banting began her love for the Annapolis Valley during a visit to the region with her husband over twenty years ago. She was so struck by the authentic beauty and vibrant energy of the area that she would eventually move to Nova Scotia and acquire the elegant Tattingstone Inn in the university town of Wolfville. During our conversa- tion with Erika we discuss her journey back to Nova Scotia as an innkeeper and her desire to create a unique and extraordinary experience for her guests.
BEAUSOLEIL FARMSTEAD CIDERY & WINERY COMBINING SUSTAINABLE FARMING WITH CELLAR EXPERIMENTATION We had the opportunity to chat with Melanie Eelman, owner of Beausoleil Farmstead Cidery & Winery, about her and her family’s entrepre- neurial journey back to Nova Scotia and how sampling a flight of wines with her husband, Jake, in the Annapolis Valley has changed their lives, in addition to offering vinous ciders as an emerging category in both the cider and wine worlds for Nova Scotians to share with the rest of Canada and beyond. 78
NATASHA STANISZEWSKI BROADCASTER, MEDIA PERSONALITY & SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS in the spotlight
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We had the absolute pleasure to chat with Edmonton, Alberta born and raised, Natasha Staniszewski about her personal and professional journey. We learn about how her early years as a small-town journalist and broadcast- er shaped her craft and passion for sports which led to her being a pioneer in the industry as the host of TSN’s SportsCentre, the channel’s flagship news programme, for the better part of a decade. We also look into what the future holds for this amazing and truly genuine broad- caster, media personality and sports enthusiast.
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
UPCOMING EVENTS
INTERNATIONAL VISION EXPO AND CONFERENCE September 22nd – 25th, 2021 Sands Expo & Convention Center | Las Vegas, NV, USA International Vision Expo and Conference brings the industry’s premier Optician Lens Technician education program to the largest gathering of eyewear and eye care professionals in America. This event envisages the extraordinary scope of education, products, trends, and solutions. International Vision Expo West expands the field of vision and keeps one updated on best prac- tices for the care and treatment of patients. Vision Expo West is the complete event for ophthalmic profession- als, where eyecare meets eyewear and education, fashion and inno- vation mingle. Learn about the latest industry innovations in eye care, lenses, therapeutics, and cut- ting-edge diagnostic and medical equipment.
GROCERY INNOVATIONS CANADA (GIC) October 26th – 27th, 2021 Virtual | Online Event The GIC is the premier and must-at- tend B2B grocery & speciality food show. The grocery sector is all about building relationships to grow your business, and this is the only show that brings together all facets of the grocery trade together under one roof. From the conference andworkshops to demos, live and on-demand, get immersed in the latest trends and market shifts. Network with some of the best retailers and manufac- turers in the industry, while explor- ing the interactive virtual exhibition focused on key grocery & specialty categories from front end to back end including equipment, technolo- gy, food service, tech, financial and insurance and more! For more information on this event go to https://virtual.groceryinnova- tions.com/
MJBIZCON October 19th – 22nd, 2021 Las Vegas Convention Center | Las Vegas, NV USA Marijuana Business Conference will focus on the near future of the expanding Cannabis industry. For executives growing their compa- nies and emerging industry pro- fessionals looking at cutting-edge innovations, new technologies and how cannabis businesses grow in a rapidly advancing market. Every year, more cannabis industry deals get done at MJBizCon than any other event by far. If you are seeking partnerships, business advice, investors, career connections, new products and services or to network with industry peers, MJBizCon is the place to do it plus they’re offering digital-on- ly registrations to those who can’t make it to Las Vegas.
AMERICAS FOOD AND BEVERAGE SHOW AND CONFERENCE September 20th – 24th, 2021 Virtual | Online Event Americas Food and Beverage Show and Conference operates to assist companies in growing their market share within the US and throughout the Americas. It provides exhibiting companies and visitors unparal- leled opportunities to discover new markets, creates new products, ideas, and innovations. For more information on this event go to https://www.americas- foodandbeverage.com/
CANADA INTERNATION- AL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH (CICHMR) September 6th – 10th, 2021 2478 Pegasus Road North- east | Calgary, AB Canada The CICHMR provides a platform to share the knowledge, promote industrial collaboration and honour the future prospects in these research areas. CICHMR is an extraordinary event that invites participants from dif- ferent leading universities, clinical research institutions and various diagnostic companies to share their research experiences in all aspects of this rapidly expanding field and provides an opportunity to com- municate with leading doctors, surgeons, scientists, academic pro- fessionals and students from around the world and listen to top speakers on new developments that impact and advance future of health and medical science. For more information on this event go to http://cichmr.canadainterna- tionalconference.com/
ELECTRIC & HYBRID VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY EXPO September 14th – 16th, 2021 Suburban Collection Show- place | Novi, MI, USA The #1 Advanced Battery and Electric Vehicle Event in North America as engineers, innovators, and thought leaders converge in Novi, Michigan, for a conference and expo focused on keeping up with the fast-moving advanced battery and automotive industries. The battery hasn’t changed since 1748, but its technology, materials, and applications sure have. While first widely used to power elec - trical telegraph networks, today’s battery applications in automobiles, consumer electronics, medical devices, and stationary storage don’t just power our daily lives — they transform how we travel, interact, and manufacture. For more information on this event go to https://www.evtechexpo. com/
For more information on this event go to https://west.visionexpo.com/ en-us.html For more information on this event go to https://mjbizconference.com/ WANT TO HAVE YOUR EVENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT? Send an email 4 weeks in advance to production@spotlightbizmag.com with all the details of your event.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
BROADCASTER, MEDIA PERSONALITY & SPORTS NATASHA STANISZEWSKI
ENTHUSIASTS by Lee Ann Atwater
W e had the absolute pleasure to chat with Edmonton, Alberta born and raised, Natasha Staniszewsk about her personal and professional journey. We learn about how her early years as a small-town journalist and broad- caster shaped her craft and passion for sports and lead to her being a pioneer in the industry as the host of TSN’s SportsCentre, the channel’s flagship news programme, for the better part of a decade. We also look into what the future holds for this amazing and truly genuine broadcaster, media personality and sports enthusiast. Spotlight: Tell us a little about yourself and growing up in Edmonton, Alberta? What do you like to do in your spare time when you are not in front of the camera or covering an event? Natasha Staniszewski: Well yes I was born and raised in Edmonton like you said. I played a lot of sports growing up from an early age. My parents always wanted my brother, sister and I to be active so we were always at the gym or at the hockey rink. So I guess that is kind of where I
a big Oilers fan; I like the Eskimos and I just remember watching ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ every weekend and thinking you know I could probably ask a few valid questions during the intermission. I think I could probably be a decent reporter, but I never seriously considered it at the time. It just seemed like a wild dream to try and be on tv in any capacity and there were not that many women on tv covering sports at the time, so it just didn’t seem like a great idea really. So, I did the practical thing and went to the Uni- versity of Alberta and got a business degree and I worked for a few years doing HR and marketing and I just didn’t like it. I was pretty unhappy, and I did not want to be unhappy any longer and so at that point I obviously had a degree under my belt and I really felt like I had nothing to lose so I decided to change it up. I was 25 or 26, quit my job and went back to NAIT and got my tv broad- casting diploma.
developed my love for sports. I guess currently as an adult my sport now would be golf. I just started playing about five or six years ago and I absolutely love it. I still like to run and in my spare time I like to bake a lot, to read and I like to travel. I have a nephew who I love to spend time with. He lives in Edmonton so that is one of the reasons I moved back to Alberta as I am looking forward to spending time with all my family not just my nephew. So ya I guess that is me in a nutshell. Spotlight: We understand that you earned a business degree from the University of Alberta but then decided at the age of 26 not to pursue a career in business, but rather a career as a sports broadcaster and went on to complete your broadcasting degree at NAIT in Edmonton. Can you tell us what motivated that change in career path? Do you find having a business degree has
helped you when it comes to branding yourself? Natasha Staniszewski: Well, I would say the seed had been planted when I was in high school like I mentioned I really enjoyed sports. I was
“My parents always wanted my brother, sister and I to be active so we were always at the gym or at the hockey rink. So I guess that is kind of where I developed my love for sports.”
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Spotlight: Now we are kind of curious as we have always considered anybody like yourself, that you yourself are your own professional brand. Has that business degree helped you when it comes to branding yourself especially where you say you did a bit of HR and marketing has it been a benefit to have that especially when it comes to promoting yourself as a brand? Natasha Staniszewski: It is a great question, I would say probably early in my broadcast- ing career I would like to think that employers looked at my resume, noticed a degree along with my tv diploma and thought okay this girl is a hard worker at the very least. She went to school and accom- plished that degree, but in terms of pro- moting my brand or using it to build my brand, I am not really sure. The fact that I am not currently working in the sports broadcasting industry I think maybe now it might come into play a little bit more, but I would say it is a little too early to know one way or another. Spotlight: You began your career in 2006 as a news reporter at CTV Yorkton in Saskatchewan, before moving to sports reporting at CTV Prince Albert. Was it always your intention to become a sports reporter? How did your stops at CTV Saskatoon as the station’s sports anchor and reporter covering the WHL and uni- versity athletics get you ready for your return back to your hometown to cover the Edmonton Oilers, the Edmonton Eskimos for CTV Edmonton in 2009? Natasha Staniszewski: That was exactly right. I accepted a job in Yorkton just so I could get a job basically. The news director there highly encouraged it, he said the quicker you can get on tv and get anchoring experience regardless if it is covering sports, weather or news, the better. So yes I took that advice, but yes I always had the intention of moving into sports as quickly as I could.
“It just seemed like a wild dream to try and be on tv in any capacity and there were not that many women on tv covering sports at the time, so it just didn’t seem like a great idea really.”
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Spotlight: How did covering the 2010 Grey Cup change your career? Natasha Staniszewski: Ya when I was, exactly like you said, covering the Grey Cup and I was out at some sort of gala event or some sort of welcome event or something like that I bumped into the Vice President at TSN, I think we had spoken on the phone previously I had sent him a tape a few months previous looking for some feedback in ways to improve so, he already knew who I was so we bumped into each other and met face to face for the first time. It wasn’t long after that he phoned me and asked if I would be interested in coming to Toronto and auditioning for a materni- ty leave position. And to be honest I hadn’t really been seeking it out and I was pretty comfortable in Edmonton that is where I was born and raised like I said, but the opportunity was presented to me then and I thought I would give it a shot, but the rest is kind of history from that moment on. Spotlight: Once with TSN you became a broad- casting trailblazer. What was it like to be part of the morning SportsCentre show and co-hosting with Kate Beirness, becoming the first regular female duo to anchor the show for the network? Natasha Staniszewski: Well at that point by the time we had kind of got together, Kate and I, I had already been on TSN for three or four years before then so I was sort of a regular anchor at that point as was she and we had already worked many shows together and so when we were put together sort of permanently it honestly didn’t feel really different or anything it was just normal, it was fine for myself to be anchoring and normal for her to be anchoring. It didn’t feel like any big deal to throw us together. We got along well, we had good chemistry, viewers seemed to like us and I know it is significant for sure to have two females working together for the first time on that national show and it is very cool to have been one half of that team, but in the moment it just felt like the most natural normal thing. Spotlight: What advice do you have for females or any readers for that matter when it comes to getting into broadcasting?
“The great thing about working in small towns is that you get to learn sort of everything in a business from the bottom up.”
I mean every single thing you do gets you ready I would say in one way or another. The great thing about working in small towns is that you get to learn sort of everything in a business from the bottom up. So like I mentioned previously I was a videographer when I first started so I was responsible for shooting my own material, editing my own material, writing my own stories, doing the interviews, doing the research all that kind of stuff. Then a little bit later in my career when I started anchoring at Saskatoon I was in charge of building the whole show, what was the lead story, what goes first, what goes second all that kind of stuff. So, I think being in a small town and getting the opportunity to do everything and work with other videographers,
you get to work with produc- ers, you just get to know the industry a little bit better. So, all of those experienc- es helped. I mean a story is a story is a story whether you are writing it about a garlic farm in Yorkton or whether you are writing about Connor McDavid winning the Hart Trophy. It is still a story and you build it the same way. So all those skills you learn in small towns will help you do that much better when you get on the bigger stages.
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Spotlight: What is the biggest lesson you have learned along the way in your professional journey? What was your biggest surprise? What was your biggest disappointment? Natasha Staniszewski: I would say the one thing that I really had to work at or the one thing I really learned was try and be the best version of yourself on tv. It doesn’t serve you or anybody else to be fake or just to be something that you are not. So the more comfortable that you are with who you are I think the more comfortable you are on camera and the more people will relate to you, I think. So trying to be funny when you are not a funny person or you know trying to do some jazzy highlights in some sort of loud or crazy way when that is really not who you are is not going to work on camera and I think people sniff out fake really quickly. People can tell when you are trying to be somebody who you are not. So the quicker you can figure out who you are and get good at that on camera the better off you will be. “It doesn’t serve you or anybody else to be fake or just to be something that you are not. So the more comfortable that you are with who you are I think the more comfortable you are on camera and the more people will relate to you,” As for big surprises there weren’t any along the way I would say. Sorry that is a boring answer for you. Fortunately, I have not hadmany disappointments either. I feel so fortunate I am so lucky I had jobs open up right when and where I needed them to at the time. I moved up the ladder fairly quickly. I would say the only thing I feel is a little bit unfin - ished business is I always wanted to cover or have some sort of show that was just hockey focused.
Hockey is my favorite sport to cover, the NHL. I never really had the chance to do something just hockey focused, which isn’t to say I won’t in the future, but that is one thing I will say I haven’t quite done yet in my career. Spotlight: So, you are looking for a full-time hockey gig is what you are telling me? Natasha Staniszewski: I would definitely be open to it 100% yes. That is what I am telling you. Spotlight: Since we follow you on social media we see that you have become a brand ambas- sador for the upcoming RBC PGA Scramble and are doing some promotional work with Windmill Golf Group. Are you open to other similar opportunities in and out of the sport industry? If so, how would someone go about contacting you about these opportunities? Natasha Staniszewski: Definitely. I still haven’t, I mean how long has it been since I got laid off, six months, so it hasn’t really been that long. It has been a whirlwind. I moved provinces obviously and I am still trying to settle in, that sort of thing. So at this point I am still open to anything, I am hoping that opportunities may present them- selves that I have not even thought of. I don’t think I am finished in the broadcasting industry. I would like to think that I am not. I am hoping that there is something still out there, but maybe not. Maybe there is something else out there that will come my way so I am all ears at this point. I “ I don’t think I am finished in the broadcasting industry. I would like to think that I am not. I am hoping that there is something still out there, but maybe not. Maybe there is something else out there that will come my way so I am all ears at this point. I haven’t ruled anything out.”
“It didn’t feel like any big deal to throw us together. We got along well, we had good chemistry, viewers seemed to like us and I know it is sig- nificant for sure to have two females working together for the first time on that national show and it is very cool to have been one half of that team, but in the moment it just felt like the most natural normal thing.” Natasha Staniszewski: Well, I think I touched on it already a little bit in that I just think the benefit you get from working in smaller markets is huge. I would say that the tendency is that as soon as you finish school you just want to get into a big market and you want to get on tv as fast as you can and you want to become a big star or whatever, but I think there is such value in going into small markets and gaining all that experience that I spoke about earlier. The chance to build all those skills from writing highlights, interviewing to shooting your own footage are huge and I think they will make you a better reporter as you advance in your career. I loved my time in those small towns, they are not for everybody, but I would say enjoy the journey it is a great experience and it’s a great chance to experience new places. To move away from home you get the opportunity to experi- ence something different where you have never grown up or lived, I think the experience you get from that will be valuable. So I would say for sure think about the small towns. I think, I mean the industry has changed a lot I would say since I got into it. There are so many different ways now to break into the industry so be open minded and be prepared to work hard because it is so com- petitive and you will need to do the little things and you will probably have to put your time in, but if you are good, people will see you eventu- ally. They will 100% see you.
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just hit that and you will be in touch with him, plus there is also their website https://oneelevenmg. com/. Spotlight: Any chances that we will be seeing you on the small screen any time soon and where do you see yourself professionally in the next 5 years? Natasha Staniszewski: No plans at this moment to be on the tv screen but like I said I am definitely open to it. I am hoping something will transpire in let’s say in the next year or so. For the next 5 years I have no idea. I just feel like I could be anywhere I am really not sure career wise. I wish I knew, but like I said I am doing some consulting work with this golf company. I really enjoy golfing so I wonder if I will still be in this industry in five years. I definitely won’t be surprised if I am. But I think I do hope that I am back on tv sooner rather than later.
Spotlight: We have gone through a very unique time and think that everything is still balancing itself out and it will only be a matter of time and we will see you on the tv screen again. That is our opinion, we know you are missed. There are a lot of opportunities out there on different media platforms, have you ever thought of a sports blog or something like that, as Don Cherry has done very successfully with that transition? Natasha Staniszewski: Ya a little bit. Blogs and podcasts aren’t the first thing that jump to mind
but I’m trying to stay open to everything so never say never if the right opportunity comes along. It goes with out saying that the last six months have been crazy times for Natasha, but one thing that we are very confident in is that this truly genuine person, broadcaster, media per- sonality and sports enthusiast has yet to show her full potential on the industry and we are very exciting to see what the future holds for her and we know that it will be bright.
Spotlight: For businesses and organizations that are interested in reaching out to you and having you be part of their project as a quest speaker, brand ambassador or anything of that nature, what would be the best way to contact you about these opportunities? Natasha Staniszewski: So, I have somebody who helps me with that stuff. His name is Jeff Dykeman and he works for One Eleven Manage- ment Group Inc. so if you go to my instagram page the link is right there on my bio so you can
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
Spotlight on Industry Headlines
AMAZON IS REPORTEDLY PLANNING TO BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATIONS
C onsumers make up nearly 70% of all activity in the U.S., so retail sales are watched closely as a gauge to overall economic health so when shoppers in the U.S. cut back their purchases in July even more than expect - ed as worries over the delta variant of Covid-19 dampened activity and government stimulus dried up it is reason for concern. Retail sales for the month fell 1.1%, worse than the Dow Jones estimate of a 0.3% decline and below the upwardly revised 0.7% increase in June. Excluding automobiles, sales declined 0.4%, according to Commerce Department figures. RETAIL SALES DROP WORSE-THAN-EXPECTED FOR JULY
R umours are buzzing that Amazon is planning to open large retail locations that resemble department stores. The locations will take up roughly 30,000 square feet, around the size of a typical Kohl’s or T.J. Maxx store, but only about the third of a size of a traditional department store. The move would mark Amazon’s latest experiment with physical retail stores after steal- ing market share in the retail landscape from incumbents with its e-commerce business. The department stores are expected to help Amazon sell more clothing and technology products, according to the Journal. The newspaper reported the company started approaching U.S. ap- parel brands about large-scale stores about two years ago, al- though it’s unclear which brands would be stocked. The e-com- merce giant also plans to sell its own private label goods.
U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS HIT NEW PANDEMIC-ERA LOW
F irst-time filings for unemployment insurance hit a pan - demic-era low last week, a sign that the job market is improving heading into the fall despite worries over the delta Covid variant. The Labor Department reported that jobless claims for the week ending Aug. 14 totaled 348,000. That was below the Dow Jones estimate for 365,000 and a decline of 29,000 from the previous week. The last time claims were this low was March 14, 2020, just as the Covid-19 pandemic declaration hit and sent the U.S. economy spiraling into its deepest but briefest recession on record.
ALL FEDERAL PARTIES MAKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AN ELECTION TOPIC. A s Canadian voters get ready to hit the polls in September, they will be hearing a similar message from each of the fed- eral parties during the current election campaign: housing has grown too expensive, and we have a plan to fix it. The consensus reflects the increasingly dire state of housing in Canada, experts say, which affects everyone from prospective homeowners feeling squeezed out of the market to lower-income families languishing on waiting lists for affordable housing.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
UNCORKING QUALITY, IT’S WHAT WE DO! GO NORTH TOURS
professionally, she was able to chaseé in the liquor industry as a sales representative for E & J Gallo Winery from 2001 to 2003. It was also at this time that Laila decided to head back to school to become a travel agent. It was as a travel agent in Winnipeg that she had the opportunity to work with a tour company from 2004 to 2008 guiding excursions to Churchill, Manitoba during the short Polar Bear season. It was during Laila’s time as a tour guide to the polar bears that this daughter of an entrepreneur was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug herself and got the idea that she would head to the East Coast where she could offer guided tours that didn’t involve 5 AMmornings and that she could operate for more than six weeks out of the year.
by Ryan Myson
L aila North has a conversation about her entre- preneurial journey and how she was able to merge her background as a professional ballet dancer, her deep knowledge of the wine and her tourism experience and create Go North Tours which was the first and currently longest running wine tour company in Nova Scotia. As we get a better understanding of the unique excur- sions, she offers those looking to explore Nova Scotia as a staycation or while visiting the province on vacation.
If you are like me, you are the one that usually does the driving when out exploring with family and friends. Don’t get me wrong, I like being the chauffeur however, as I am focusing on the driving unfortunately, I do not get to have the same experience as those that I am with. Well thanks to Laila North, owner, and professional tour guide, of Go North Tours there is a solution. You simply book a tour, and Laila will be happy to pick you and your group up in Halifax, Windsor or Wolfville so you can leave the driving and adventure up to her. Laila is used to being in the spotlight and performing for an audience as she was a professional ballet dancer in Toronto, and she still teaches ballet in the off season today. After deciding to stop dancing
So, you ask why the East Coast to start a tour company? Well, the answer is simple, Nova Scotia has something to offer tourists in every season making it much more feasible to operate a tour business given your window of opportunity for potential customers is much larger than six weeks as it was in Churchill, Manitoba. Interesting fact is that it was not until Laila arrived in Nova Scotia in 2008 that she learned about the emerging wine industry in the province. During her four years with E & J Gallo, Nova Scotia wines were not even a whisper in the wine industry.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
The Go North Tour brand officially became a company in January of 2009. The focus of the brand was to offer tourists the opportunity to see the many wonders that the province had to offer with the vision of becoming the premier company offering quality tours of the region specifically Peggy’s Cove and what was then a relatively new Annapolis Valley wine region. Peggy’s Cove was an easy sell as it is known worldwide as a tourist destination for those coming to Nova Scotia. The wine industry, well that was a different story. At that time, the wine industry was just starting to blossom, so Laila added these tours not knowing what might happen with the industry, but it be these wine tours that would eventually become the main focus of the company. In the beginning many wine enthusiasts were not sure or even under- stood what wine from Nova Scotia was all about, and it had a bad reputation, as Laila said, “There was a story that needed to be told and I was going to tell it.”
“Therewas a story that needed to be told and I was going to tell it.”
As mentioned in the beginning when Laila first started the company not a lot was known about Nova Scotia wines or the industry. So, a major challenge for her and the brand was to start edu- cating not only tourists coming to Nova Scotia but many of the hotels and those in the hospi- tality industry about what was happening in the Annapolis Valley wine region and wine industry in the province in general. Laila was able to convince them to allow her to display brochures so she could promote her Go North Tours to those visiting the area. The second major chal- lenge was getting the locals on board, as back in the 70’s and 80’s Nova Scotia wine was con- sidered cheap and low quality which is no longer the case today. Laila is quick to acknowledge the success of her business is truly because of
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
the quality of the products that are now being offered by these wineries. She goes on to say that ‘Tourists are now building vacations around coming to Nova Scotia to visit the amazing wineries of the region.’ “Tourists are now building vacations around coming to NovaScotiatovisit theamazing wineries of the region.”
sonalized service and a comfortably paced day trip where guests have the opportunity to visit smaller wineries that are less commercial and give you a truly intimate experience. “I have really watched this industry grow from the humble beginnings of eleven wineries back in 2009 when I started, to twenty-four wineries now and wine tourism becoming extremely popular,” said Laila. “I have really watched this industry grow from the humble beginnings of eleven wineries back in 2009 when I started, to twenty-four wineries now and wine tourism becoming extremely popular,” Wine tourism is not just about jumping in a van or on a bus and heading to Annapolis Valley to drink wine, it is more than that. Wine enthusiasts want more than just to taste the wine, they want to understand where it comes from and what makes it unique. They want to feel connected to the product and the producer. Laila is a member of the Wine Growers Nova Scotia (WGNS) formerly known as The Winery Association of Nova Scotia, which was formed in 2002 and works to build awareness of the types and brands of wines that are available and serves as a voice for wineries as they work with government to grow the industry and expand market opportunities for the sale of Nova Scotia wines. “Because of that, I have a deep knowledge of the wine industry and I tell the story of the industry’s growth in a unique and interesting way on my tours. It’s not about dates and facts - it’s about how the wineries have worked together to get to the place we are today. It truly is a great story, and you’ll have to take the tour to hear it!” “Even as the wine industry and wine tourism have grown so quickly, I’ve kept my model the same. Wine is an intimate experience to be savoured among friends and family,” says Laila.
“I tell the story of the indus- try’s growth in a unique and interesting way on my tours. It’s not about dates and facts - it’s about how the wineries have worked together to get to the place we are today. It truly is a great story, and you’ll have to take the tour to hear it!” Go North Tours’ Uncork Nova Scotia experience is not about large groups of people gathering at a winery, craft brewery, cidery or distillery. The Uncork Nova Scotia experience is about an intimate experience as a small group, visiting small wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries with a high-quality interactive experience and an educational component of the products and the industries that are second to none. Laila was very confident when stating that, “With the connec - tions I’ve built with the breweries, cideries, dis- tilleries and wineries I work with; guests will see they are getting the utmost in VIP treatment.” “Even as the wine industry and wine tourism have grown so quickly, I’ve kept my model the same. Wine is an intimate experience to be savoured among friends and family,”
We recommend that you book your tour today, to experience Go North Tours’ VIP service as well as “skip-the-line” and “behind the scenes” interac- tion with the owners and producers. Then all that you have to do is sit back, relax, enjoy the wine, cider, beer and spirits while leaving the driving to Uncork Nova Scotia! We recommend that you book your tour today, to experience Go North Tours’ VIP service as well as “skip-the-line” and “behind the scenes” interac- tion with the owners and producers. Then all that you have to do is sit back, relax, enjoy the wine, cider, beer and spirits while leaving the driving to Uncork Nova Scotia! “Withtheconnections I’vebuilt with the breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries I work with; guests will see they are getting the utmost in VIP treatment.”
It is because of the growing industry and popu- larity of the wines from this region that in 2015, Laila created Uncork Nova Scotia, a division of Go North Tours dedicated to giving wine enthu- siasts an extraordinary look at Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley wine industry offering unique itineraries and intimate interactive experiences for their customers. Some people think that taking a wine tour is stuffy and boring, well they are going to soon find out that Laila is a true per - former and in fact, these top-quality wine tours are educational but are also loads of fun with a lot of laughs along the way. All tours are private with a maximum of 8 people travelling in a spacious air-conditioned passenger van. It goes without saying that each tour offers friendly, per-
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
CONTRACTOR’S RENOVATION PLANNING PROCESS - DESIGN, ENGINEERING & ESTIMATING
by Dan Monk
I f you want a little advice on how to initiate the renovation planning process without going through the stress of having to figure it out alone, listen up! The planning process is equally as important as the renovation project itself. Skipping steps tends to achieve a less than satisfactory result and a whole lot of stress. The following are the first critical steps, based on a few years of
personal experience as a Professional Engineer and Red Seal Carpenter: DESIGN The process of designing a renovation is critical for several reasons, starting with brainstorming and organizing your thoughts with the advice of an experienced professional! Right from the get-go, sitting down with a design consultant
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
and offload all your wants and desires is a fan - tastic idea. You get the designer’s undivided attention, and they get an understanding of your lifestyle, which helps them shape an idea of how to make this renovation work best for you and your existing space. Understanding the purpose of the renovation is as important as the renova- tion itself.
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We offer over 13 online courses to keep you safe and your training up-to-date during these challenging times. Most recently we have grown our online training and take home training to include: ▶ Emergency First Aid ▶ Standard First Aid ▶ Fall Protection Renewal (Self Study) ▶ Transportation of Dangerous Goods ▶ H2S Awareness ▶ Confined Space Renewal (Self Study)
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With that baseline established, the next step is creating a design that embodies your style and vision by combining your must-haves and biggest dreams. The client and designer collaborate by gathering inspiration photos, samples from sup- pliers, or whatever helps you best. After meeting with the client, the designer can begin to work their magic and start developing the design, using design software to allow the picture in the client’s head to become visual on paper or the computer screen. An independent designer or one who works with a contractor can assist you with anything from a basic floor plan to many additional design services such as lighting and electrical location, flooring, wall colours, fur - niture selection, cabinet design, and appliance selections. Important to note: if you pay for the design service, it is my advice that you ensure the product becomes your property once complete, to do with as you wish. ENGINEERING
The structural integrity of your home is import- ant to the long-term value of your home and your personal safety. As a Professional Engineer, I’m always looking at the building structure and how the building systems work together to make a safe and efficient home. Many lead carpenters have the highly valued-skill of understanding building science and structure as it relates to the National Building Code and may make sugges- tions as the project progresses. Unfortunately, you must look out for the DIY’ers (I would call them carpenter imposters…) in our busy industry who do not have the same level of understanding of buildings science or carpen- try. Hiring these people can pose a serious threat to the structural integrity of your home and the living environment. Buyer beware! A key indicator of a professional is their sense of resourcefulness – I will often consult with my engineering colleagues, subtrades and suppli- ers to ensure the best result is achieved for my
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
ESTIMATING This is the process of taking the combined expe- rience of the contractor, their subtrades and sup- pliers, reviewing plans, completing site visits and determine the cost of all aspects of the project. This requires extensive hands-on experience to accurately estimate the time to complete each task. This is the reason all our estimators are carpenters! An estimate should have details of all aspects of the project, including any specific request from the client and price allowances for all products to be selected by the client and supplied by the contractor. When we prepare an estimate, the same estimate becomes the work order for our crews, therefore, what the client has seen and approved is the same for the crew executing the project. This helps minimize con- fusion and ensures the client gets exactly what they requested. I have been asked on many occasions, “Why is your price higher than the other guy?” The simple answer is “I don’t know.” I am confident that our estimate is accurate based on how we plan to complete the project and we use all our combined experience to ensure we cover all aspects of the project. This may result in a com- paratively higher price, but in the end, our goal is to be accurate and reduce the unknowns for the client, not just be the low bid. The process of planning a renovation project is filled with details, which a professional renova - tion company can and will assist with all aspects - design, engineering, and estimating. A process can appear complicated for a client however, after doing thousands of renovations, the process is second nature, and a professional should be able to reduce the stress and uncertainty of the process. Thank you for reading my two cents regarding the initial steps in the process of planning a reno- vation, I hope you found them helpful as you plan your next renovation project. Please remember, regardless of the size of the renovation, a pro- fessional knows it makes a significant impact on you and your home and should always have the client’s best interest at heart.
clients. Another key is their inclination to share their knowledge and reasoning – A professional knows what can be done within reason and is not afraid to be upfront and admit when client’s desires can create difficulty, thus increased cost. As opposed to non-professionals who can more easily say, “no problem” or “anything can be done!” However, anything comes at a cost and may end up being a much bigger problem than they led off to be. Most things are possible, but at what cost?
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