1. 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 EWinter Issue
2014
Is Your Business Ready
for a 4 Day Work Week?
– pg 10
Why Do You Need a
Social Media Strategy?
– pg 12
Smart Devices for
Your Home – pg 13
Cool Yule Tips:
Your holiday party
planner – pg 18
P L U S
ROBOTS
REVOLUTIONIZE
HOMECAREpg 6
4. The VOICE Winter 2014
4
YPC WHAT’S GOING ON?
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Learn more at payroll.ca.
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Become a CPA member and get preferred rates on seminars.Stay Current StayCompliant
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Congratulations to the
2014 ASPIRE Award Recipients!
The Search for the 2015 Top Young Professionals Begins Now!
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 1, 2014.
Recipients will be announced
at the ASPIRE Awards in
April 2015.
Nominations may be made by any
member of the community. Some
of the qualities that will be used
to determine the recipients are:
• The level of excellence,
creativity and initiative they
bring to their profession
• Do they serve as a role model
for their peers both personally
and professionally?
• Does the nominee demostrate
the ability to improve the
quality of life for others in the
community through volunteer
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Stay connected: MBTYPC YPC Title Sponsor:(from left) George Arabian, President CEO, nvision solutions;
Andy Chan, Partner, Miller Thomson LLP; Robert Martella, President,
New Line Incentives Inc.
5. The VOICE Winter 2014
5
Ever wonder where the money goes?
To support local and provincial charities,
as well as Ontario’s amateur athletes
$130 million
Towards community infrastructure
like community centres and college
campuses for host municipalities
$94.1 million
In funding for the operation of hospitals
and other provincial priorities
$1.6 billion
*Based on period between April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013.
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.
6. The VOICE Winter 2014
66
F
rom Rosey the robot maid on the Jetsons
through to Sonny the robot assistant at
the heart of the Will Smith blockbuster
(which was very loosely based on the short
story collection I, Robot by Isaac Asimov),
artificial intelligence has long been the
stuff of science fantasy.
Since the 1980s, researchers
have made great strides in
turning that fiction into real-
ity and robots. In fact, in 2013
robots assisted in 422,000
surgeries in the U.S., but there
has never been an affordable
personal assistant-type robot
for individual consumers.
That could soon change.
Stephen Sutherland, Dale
Wick and John-Paul Gignac,
serial tech entrepreneurs and
founders of Markham-based
CrossWing, have created a
patented interactive personal
robotics platform called
virtualME that just might
move Rosey and Sonny out of
fiction and optimistic dreams
and into people’s homes in
the next few months.
This November they will
be launching a Kickstarter
crowdfunding campaign that
will run for 60 days. The goal
is to sell about 1,000 units at
about $1,000 each in order
to fund the creation of an
injection mold dye that would
boost production volumes,
bring down costs and attract
venture capital. It will ship
with telepresence which
means wherever the robot
is you can see what the
robot sees. To this point,
the founders have
invested $6 million of
their own money and
make the modular
units using a 3-D
printer, which means
it costs about $20,000
to produce a virtual
ME robot – far too
much for them to
deliver on their
mission.
“When we
launched the
business in 2006,
the goal was to
make an afford-
able robot that
would help
people,” says
Sutherland.
“We’d
like the
price point
to be about
$2,000 retail
but to make
that happen
we need to
work with a
manufac-
turer and
standardize
production.
Investors
like what
we’re doing
but every-
one we’ve
approached
wants to see
an existing
market. There
is no existing
market for as-
sistive robots.”
The hope is for
the Kickstarter
campaign to
create that market.
There is certainly
precedentforturning
to crowdfunding.
Social robotics
pioneer Dr. Cynthia
Breazeal at MIT
in the U.S. just
completed a
successful
crowdfunding campaign for
JIBO, the world’s first family
robot that looks like a futuristic
speaker, reminds people of
important appointments,
relays messages to the right
person at the right time
thanks to its face recognition
capabilities and interacts with
the rest of the family. From
July 16 to September 14, the
campaign presold 4,800 JIBOs
raising US$2.3 million dollars.
The big difference between
CrossWing’s robot and JIBO
is that virtualME-supported
robots can undertake physical
tasks. This initial version is
targeted specifically to help
seniors live independently
longer.
The background: Stephen
Sutherland started writing
software for personal computers
when he was an undergrad at
the University of Waterloo in
the late 1970s and early 1980s.
He and his cofounders in
CrossWing went on to build
and sell software companies
in the desktop publishing
and imaging space. When
the Internet emerged, they
launched a company called
TrueSpectra an online imag-
ing and dynamic composi-
tion software company
(since purchased by Adobe).
They followed this up with
OpenGraphics, a startup
that provided solutions for
online photo finishing and
sharing. Best Buy acquired the
company in 2003 and Suther-
land became Best Buy’s vice
president of next generation
products and services. “Best
Buy was looking for a new
category of products for its
website, which offers a similar
product mix as Amazon.
That’s when we started to
think about creating robots
that would help people.”
By Mary Teresa Bitti
(L) Stephen Sutherland, President
CEO, CrossWing Inc. and
virtualME photo by Dale Wick,
CTO, CrossWing.
TRyING TO BRING ROBOTS TO
The VOICE Winter 2014
7. The VOICE Winter 2014
7
The business case for
CrossWing: By 2036, seniors
will make up one-quarter of
Canada’s entire population.
That’s 10 million people –
up from five million today.
“The market is screaming
for devices to help people
live independently longer,”
says Sutherland. That said, he
knows it won’t be easy – as
evidenced by the reluctance
of inv estors to participate at
this early stage. At the same
time, tech giants Google and
Facebook are acquiring and
consolidating companies in
the home automation and
immersive communication in-
dustries, creating competition
for CrossWing’s robots. In
aviation, a cross wind blows
across the runway making
landings and takeoffs more
difficult. “We knew it would
be a challenge to create robots
that could assist people. We
also knew it was a good thing
to do,” says Sutherland.
Creating an ecosystem:
CrossWing’s key differentiator
is the virtualME platform,
which is built for collaboration
thanks to its patent pending
modular hardware and soft-
ware design that enables
third-party developers to
add specialized hardware
components and cloud-based
applications. CrossWing is
currently working with the
University of Toronto, UOIT,
Waterloo, Ottawa, Western,
McGill and York universities
with each university talent
pool working on specific
projects in the areas of
man-machine interface
design, computer vision,
navigation, task planning,
object identification and
mapping. “The platform is the
foundation of an ecosystem.
In Canada there are all these
researchers working on
applications on everything
from healthcare to personal
security but they have no way
of distributing their software.
They need a low cost mass
produced physical platform
that will allow them to deploy
applications. Once we get
our platform into production,
it becomes a catalyst for
researchers to finish their
work faster.”
For Stephenson, that means
seniors could soon have access
to assistive robots that will
help them with day to day
tasks, like doing dishes,
carrying groceries, taking
medication at the appropriate
time, contacting family
members if they need help.
Of course, the elderly and
home care represent just
one market. virtualME can
expand into many verticals,
including education,
entertainment, travel and
security, for example.
“We’ve proved to investors
that there is a market, but they
all end up saying to us come
back when you are starting to
sell,” says Stephenson. “Then
the question becomes, how do
you get a physical device into
production? ”He’s hoping the
Kickstarter campaign is the
answer.
Location photo arranged with the
cooperation of Professor Goldie
Nejat, Director of the Autonomous
Systems and Biomechatronics
Laboratory, University of Toronto.
Photo by Dave Starrett
The VOICE Winter 2014
7
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8. The VOICE Winter 2014
8
magine a world where,
at first glance, everyone’s
smartphone looks exactly
the same. The only
difference between models is the
cloud-based apps and software
that come along with each
device. To some it may sound
odd, considering the current war
between smartphone makers
one up each other with newer
hardware features and design.
But, Andre Vittorio, President of
Markham-based IT-consulting
firm Idealogical, believes
common smartphone designs
aren’t that farfetched.
“It’s not something that will
happen in the next two years,”
he says. “But with the increasing
popularity of wearables and the
prevalence of cloud technologies
this will eventually become a
reality. Any information you want
will be available to you on all
your devices and in any location.”
What we see now are the
primitive stages of our world in
10 years. Vittorio pictures a scene
out of The Minority Report, a film
featuring Tom Cruise where the
main character lives in a world
where everyone’s information
is online and accessible from
anywhere, as a foreshadow of
our future. Technology still has
a ways to go before we reach that
stage however.
“The tech industry is slowly
marching towards this world. In
the meantime that slow march
makes them money,” says Vittorio.
“But behind the scenes they’re all
building their data centres.”
Vittorio says that
infrastructure is what’s holding
back a complete change. In
metropolitan areas Internet
connection is fast for the most
part. The same can’t be said about
other communities. When a fast
enough connection is established
in a majority of areas then the
world Vittorio pictures can
become a reality.
As we share more and more
of ourselves online what does
that mean for privacy and
security? That’s the question
users, government and business
are all trying to answer. With
breaches increasingly becoming
hot news topics, the idea of
online privacy and security has
never been more widely debated.
Vittorio sees the responsibility
for securing data starting with
the user themselves.
“These systems are generally
very secure. The problem can
often be traced back to the user,”
he says.
There are two major types of
“hacking” that are used on
regular users. The first deals with
weak passwords. Individuals
use large-scale programs to test
many different word and number
combinations to see if they can
crack a password. Using generic
passwords is something I’m sure
all of us have been told not to do,
but Vittorio says many still do
it and they’re risking their data
when they do so.
The second type of hacking
scheme, and one Vittorio believes
will become more common in the
future are what he calls “man in
the middle attacks”. That’s because
many programs have responded
to the first type of hacking by
setting up controls notifying users
of their password being changed
or locking an account if there are
a number of consecutive failed
logins. To combat this, hackers
have started phishing schemes.
Users receive a legitimate-looking
email asking them to update their
account. It then prompts them to
do so by clicking a link. They’re
led to a legitimate-looking
company page where individuals
enter their username and
password to login, but then
nothing happens. But far from
nothing happens on the other
side. A system stores your login
details, which are now accessible
by strangers. That’s how they
access your account.
cont’d on page 18
Web 2.0:
Safety and Security Concerns
By Samantha Sim
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TECH
10. The VOICE Winter 2014
10
ive years ago Lorne Marr
made an unorthodox
decision about his
employees’ working hours.
At the time, Marr’s Markham-
based firm LSM Insurance was a
small business with six employees.
He wanted a way to incentivize
his staff but couldn’t afford to give
a pay increase, so he introduced
four-day workweeks.
“Our team still loves it,” says
Marr, Director of New Business
Development. “They’re spending
less time commuting to work,
they’re saving on gas and it’s
reducing their stress.”
Marr’s employees may only
work four days, but they still put in
40-hour weeks. LSM Insurance is
open five days a week, employees
rotate their day off so that the
company can still serve customers.
Marr says his employees like the
shorter weeks because they’re
getting more value for their work,
taking away a day’s commute
saves them money, meaning they
make more per hour.
The four-day workweek isn’t
a new concept. It originated in the
19th century as labour theorists
predicted new technologies would
make workers’ lives easier. They
believed these new machines
would take over most of the grunt
work and leave workers more
time for leisure. More recently,
during 2008–2009, it was touted
as a way to prevent layoffs
during the recession.
Under this new plan the LSM
Insurance team can also adjust
their working hours to avoid
peak traffic, have the freedom of
working from home or office and
decide which day off best works
for them. As long as their work
gets done, each person’s schedule
is really up to them.
Marr acknowledges that
this system is more conducive
to smaller, more nimble teams.
However, he does believe that
larger companies could achieve
something similar to what
he’s done.
For teams looking to
implement a four-day workweek
Marr says it’s very important
to have a tracking system in
place to evaluate the productivity
of employees.
“You should ensure there’s
a system in place to measure
an employee’s work results.
Productivity should be better
when you switch to a four-day
workweek,” says Marr. “But, you
still want to make sure there’s
measures in place to make sure
productivity isn’t slipping.”
Another important factor,
Marr says, is to ensure your
organization has a team
environment that is suitable
for a four-day workweek.
“It takes a team effort to
create a schedule of rotating days
off. The team has to be willing to
work together so that everyone
gets the day they need and the
business still stays open, ” he says.
Despite additional scheduling
needs, Marr says the four-day
workweek is worth it because
it gives value to employees and
allows for more focused work.
“I don’t think people have to
work 24/7,” he says. “Nowadays
people are always checking
their emails and working at all
different times of the day. That’s
not necessarily productive.
Working a lot doesn’t mean
you’re working productively.”
Is Your Business
Ready for a 4 Day
Work Week?
F
By Samantha Sim
The four-day work week
isn’t a new concept.
HR ISSUES
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: jack@eigenmachtcrackower.com
www.eigenmachtcrackower.com
345 Renfrew Drive • Suite 202
Markham, Ontario L3R 9S9
11. The VOICE Winter 2014
11
the population ages
and more Canadians
find themselves
caring for dying
family members, many Canadian
workplaces are helping to “care for
the caregivers” by implementing
compassionate care leave policies
that provide comfort to employees,
while boosting engagement and
retention at work.
A recent survey by the
Human Resources Professionals
Association (HRPA), in partner-
ship with the Canadian Hospice
Palliative Care Association, found
59% of 692 organizations polled
had formal compassionate care
leave policies that recognize
and accommodate employees’
family and dependent care
responsibilities for providing
end-of-life care to loved ones.
As one respondent put it, “being
there for your employees when
they need it the most speaks
volumes about your culture.”
Business benefits
Providing compassionate care
benefits is also good business
practice according to the survey.
A majority found there were clear
business benefits to providing
these policies, including increased
employee engagement (61%) and
retention (56%). And almost half
(49%) said having a policy makes
it easier for employees to return
to work and re-integrate in the
work team after caring for a
loved one.
“These numbers speak to the
fact that not only do compassionate
care policies help employees
through very difficult times, they
also make good business sense,”
said HRPA CEO Bill Greenhalgh.
“Providing accommodations
for employees caring for family
members at end of life is one of
the ways to reduce caregiver
stress and avoid burnout.
Workers who are supported
through situations like this are
more loyal and are more likely to
stay with the company.”
Legal implications
There are also more legal risks
to failing to grant compassionate
care accommodations. A recent
decision by the Ontario Human
Rights Tribunal awarded an
employee $15,000 after they had
been terminated after continued
absences from work to care for
his terminally ill mother. The
tribunal rejected the employer’s
claims that the employee’s
absences were having a negative
effect on the performance.
Best practices
• Avoid offering compassionate
care accommodation on a
case-by-case basis. A formal
policy ensures the policy will
be provided consistently across
the organization.
• Where possible, a
compassionate care policy
should include provisions for
flexible work hours or work-
from-home arrangements.
• When an employee returns
to work after providing
compassionate care, it’s
appropriate to ask if they
have discussed their loss with
colleagues and to provide
coworkers with information
about how to support a grieving
co-worker (often available from
local funeral directors).
• Understand that grieving is
not a linear process: Bereaved
employees may still be grieving
a year after returning to work.
Ultimately, compassionate care
policies tell an employee that the
organization is there for them
and that they don’t have to make
the choice between their job and
providing end-of-life care to a
loved one.
Duff McCutcheon is Communications
Specialist with the Human Resources
Professionals Association (HRPA)–
Canada’s largest HR association and
the regulator of the HR profession
in Ontario.
HR ISSUES
As
By Duff McCutcheon
HOW DO I SAVE $184,000
IN TAXES WHEN I SELL MY BUSINESS?
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Compassionate
Care Policies:
Care for Caregivers
12. The VOICE Winter 2014
12
seems easy, right? Just
choose which social
networks you want to
appear on and then post
away! Wrong. Unfortunately,
many businesses have taken
the approach of tactic before
strategy and the results are, not
surprisingly, poor. A tactical
approach to social media lacks
focus, approach, and direction,
which are the crucial first steps
you need to drive your business’
success.
Think of social media as
another marketing tactic much
like your website, advertising,
special promotions, and
campaigns. All your marketing
tactics need to be held together
to keep your positioning and
messaging consistent. I am sure
you wouldn’t send out a postcard
mailer and expect good results if
your clients are all online, so too,
we need to understand where
your audience is, and how you
can consistently engage them
online via networking sites.
To do this, you need to look
at creating a social media strategy
BEFORE you decide on which
network to use (Facebook,
LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter,
Instagram, etc.). Tactics need to be
considered last, not first. Why?
Because tactics change. They
always do. There was a time when
Netscape seemed invincible.
Yahoo, too. And how can we
forget about MySpace. If you
fall in love with tactics,
you’ll constantly be changing
directions, with no real plan to
guide your way.
Like any specialized area
of your business, it is strongly
recommended to engage the
services of a strategic marketer to
help you create your strategy.
You’ll want to make sure your
social media strategy is aligned
with your overall marketing
strategy and includes answers to
these five key questions:
• What is your relationship with
your audience?
• How does your audience use
social media?
• How you’ll deal with
unfavourable comments?
• What resources will monitor
the conversations?
• What metrics you are going
to use to determine your
success?
Doug Hohener is the President
of CreativeWorks Marketing,
a Markham based, international
award-winning agency with a
trusted, strategic process
that delivers proven results.
Doug can be reached at
416-653-3053 or via email at
dhohener@creativeworksmarketing.ca
It
Why Do You Need a
Social Media
Strategy?
MARKETING
By Doug Hohener
...you need to look at creating a
social media strategy BEFORE you
decide on which network to use
13. The VOICE Winter 2014
13
his year technology
became even more
entrenched into our lives
with the rising popularity
of smart-wearable devices. Now
a watch isn’t just a watch, it’s an
extension of your smartphone.
Another area of tech that’s
gaining increasing attention is
smart-home devices. Whether it’s
the temperature you like to set
your furnace at or the time you
turn the lights on at night, these
gadgets study your living habits
to personalize every aspect of
your home.
Spotter
At first glance this simple white
circular device doesn’t look like
it could be very smart. But the
Spotter is actually a multi-purpose
sensor with almost limitless
possibilities for how it’s used.
Spotter can monitor a variety of
things (including: motion, sound,
light, temperature and humidity),
and this can all be tracked
through your smartphone.
Spotter customers have used
the device for baby monitoring,
security and even washer/dryer
notifications. Its uses are really
up to your imagination.
Price: $49.99
Nest Learning Thermostat
Nest is arguably the leading
company right now in smart-home
technology. Its acquisition by
Google has only made interest
surrounding Nest grow. The
company’s most well-known
product is the Nest Learning
Thermostat. This sleek, cylindrical,
stainless steel device learns your
heating and cooling preferences
so you don’t have to program it.
The thermostat connects to your
Wi-Fi network and it can be
controlled remotely through your
smartphone.
Nest also has a range of smart
products (including a smoke and
CO2 detector, alarm system and
garage door opener), as well as
partnerships with Mercedes and
other companies so you can keep
tabs on your smart-home devices
anywhere, even when you’re in
your car.
Price: $249.99
Philips Hue Personal
Wireless Lighting
Philips new Hue lighting system
redefines what light bulbs can
do. On vacation and you want
to make it look like someone’s
home? Running late from work
and don’t want to pull into a dark
driveway?
Through Philips smart light
bulbs and smartphone app you
can control your home’s lighting
system remotely. The system
works through your home’s Wi-Fi
connection where you can link
up to 50 light bulbs to the Philips
smartphone app. Philips says their
hue light bulbs use 80 per cent less
power than traditional lighting.
Bulbs also come in different
colours and fit into existing
fixtures.
Price: Starter Pack – $199.95
(includes three Hue light bulbs
and Hue bridge – the device that
connects the light bulbs to your
Wi-Fi network)
Smart Devices
for Your Home
By Samantha Sim
Call: 1-800-268-1677 or 905-773-3394
Email: york.region@on.sja.ca
www.sja.ca
T
TECH
14. The VOICE Winter 2014
14
...to SAVE
money
...to GROW
my business
...to NETWOR
withprospect
K
s
I JOINED...
JOIN today!
Call Mary Ann
905-474-0730 ext.16
maryann@markhamboard.com
www.markhamboard.com
BUSINESS BOOKS
The Up Side of Down
by Megan McArdle
Most new products fail. So do most small businesses.
And most of us, if we are honest, have experienced a
major setback in our personal or professional lives.
So what determines who will bounce back and follow
up with a home run? If you want to succeed in
business and in life, Megan McArdle argues in this
hugely thought-provoking book, you have to learn how
to harness the power of failure. Dynamic and punchy, Megan McArdle
teaches us how to recognize mistakes early to channel setbacks into
future success.
Made to Stick
by Chip Heath Dan Heath
Why do some ideas thrive while others die? And how
do we improve the chances of worthy ideas? Educators
and idea collectors Chip and Dan Heath reveal the
anatomy of ideas that stick and explain ways to make
ideas stickier. In this fast-paced tour of success stories
(and failures), we discover that sticky messages of all
kinds – from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax
to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to a vision for a new product at
Sony – draw their power from the same six traits.
The Dip: A little book that teaches you
when to quit (and when to stick)
by Seth Godin
Winners quit fast, quit often, and quit without guilt –
until they commit to beating the right Dip for the
right reasons. Winners seek out the Dip. They realize
that the bigger the barrier, the bigger the reward for
getting past it. If you can become number one in
your niche, you’ll get more than your fair share of
profits, glory, and long-term security. Losers, on the other hand, fall into
two basic traps. Either they fail to stick out the Dip or they never even
find the right Dip to conquer. This fun little book will help you figure
out if you’re in a Dip that’s worthy of your time, effort, and talents.
Contagious: Why Things Catch On
by Jonah Berger
Berger reveals the secret science behind word-of-
mouth and social transmission. Learn how a luxury
steakhouse found popularity through the lowly
cheese-steak, why anti-drug commercials might
have actually increased drug use, and why more
than 200 million consumers shared a video about
one of the seemingly most boring products there is:
a blender. If you’ve wondered why certain stories get shared, e-mails get
forwarded, or videos go viral, Contagious explains why, and shows how
to leverage these concepts to craft contagious content.
For more information visit www.markhampubliclibrary.ca
FROM THE
MARKHAM
PUBLIC LIBRARY
15. The VOICE Winter 2014
15
Thursday, November 20, 2014 • 11:00am – 2:00pm
Angus Glen Golf Club 10080 Kennedy Rd (north of Major Mackenzie)
WOMEN’S NETWORKING LUNCHEON
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
Sponsored by:
Boutique Vendors! • Networking! • Swag Bags!
Special Guest Speaker
Dr. Joey Shulman
Cityline’s Nutrition Weight
Loss Expert and National
Best Selling Author
Book Signing
after the
Presentation!
Reserve your seats today!
16. The VOICE Winter 2014
16
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.
www.midrange.ca
17. The VOICE Winter 2014
17
Risk Management:
Be prepared in 3 key areas
ou have worked hard to
accumulate your assets,
so it’s important that
you take precautions to
protect it from the various risks
that are a part of life. When it
comes to protecting your wealth,
there are three primary risks
that you should plan for. Here
are some ways to get ahead of
the risk – so you can sleep better
at night.
1. Risk of lawsuit
Protecting your assets from
lawsuits is not about defrauding
legitimate creditors – it’s about
segregating your assets using
common and legal strategies at a
time when you have no existing
or foreseeable claims. In addition
to any professional, business, car
or house liability insurance you
can purchase, the following are
some typical strategies to protect
your assets:
• Gifts. Although giving assets to
a family member reduces the
amount of assets you have that
are subject to creditors, it also
increases the assets subject to
the family member’s creditors.
Furthermore, other than gifts
to a spouse, the gift is
considered a sale at market value
for Canadian tax purposes,
potentially triggering a taxable
capital gain.
• Trusts. Transferring assets to a
trustee of a formal trust results
in a loss of legal ownership and
some control of the funds, thus
reducing your assets subject to
creditors. However you may also
be subject to capital gains/loss
taxation. So you need to be
confident that the trustee is
someone who will protect and
manage your assets in your best
interests. Consider a corporate
trustee for this purpose due to
their reputation and expertise
in managing trust assets.
Offshore trusts may provide
greater creditor protection
than domestic trusts due to
a specific country’s creditor
protection laws and the
potential unwillingness of a
domestic creditor to chase after
assets in a foreign jurisdiction.
• Life insurance. Based on
provincial laws and court
precedents, if an insurance
policy is structured properly,
the investment component
of an insurance policy is not
subject to creditors.
• Holding companies. If you are
a business owner and you have
accumulated surplus assets
in your business that are not
needed for operating expenses,
then consider transferring these
assets to a holding company.
This can help protect the assets
from the operating company’s
creditors.
2. Risk of market downturns
Diversification is one of the golden
rules of investing to reduce your
risk of losing capital due to
market downturns. Traditionally,
diversification has meant
allocating your assets between
the three main asset classes (cash,
fixed income and equities) as well
as between different geographic
areas and sectors of the economy.
More and more people with
$1 million-plus investment
portfolios are considering
alternative investments for
further diversification to protect
assets and boost returns. Speak
to your advisor about different
alternative investment options
such as hedge funds, segregated
funds and principal-protected
structured notes.
3. Risk of income loss
If you become disabled or die, are
you confident that your family
will have adequate financial
resources to maintain their
lifestyle? Adequate disability and
life insurance coverage should be
a top priority when it comes to
planning your finances. Without
the proper coverage, you risk
rapidly depleting assets you have
worked so hard to accumulate and
having a much lower standard
of living. You should also have a
discussion with your insurance
advisor on the costs and benefits of
critical illness and long-term
care insurance, which are
becoming increasingly necessary
as more people survive illnesses
and diseases than ever before,
and require additional care and
financial support as a result.
This article is provided by Sunil Heda,
CPA, an Investment Advisor with
RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Member
CIPF, and is for information purposes
only. Please consult with a professional
advisor before taking any action based
on information in this article. Sunil can
be reached at 416-571-0369 or via
email at sunil.heda@rbc.com
By Sunil Heda
Y
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You have worked hard to accumulate
your assets, so it’s important that you
take precautions to protect it from the
various risks that are a part of life.
18. The VOICE Winter 2014
18
Web 2.0:
Safety and Security Concerns
(cont’d from page 8)
The lesson in all of this is to
keep a rotating set of passwords.
Ironically, Vittorio suggests
keeping a notebook with all your
usernames and passwords,
logging it each time you create a
new account, and changing your
passwords on a consistent basis.
This is extremely important
for small businesses as well,
especially those who use cloud-
based software. For organizations
with less than 20 employees it
doesn’t make sense to invest in
private-cloud systems. Therefore,
many of these businesses use
public cloud networks, which are
fine, but security is something that
everyone must be cognizant about.
Cloud-based technologies and
dumb mobile devices becoming
the norm isn’t a question of if, it’s
just a matter of when.
“There’s no either route at
this point, says Vittorio. “The
tech industry has done a good
job converting people. Each day
we’re trading more of our data
for more access online. It’s either
you get on board, or get left
behind.”
oliday season is fast
approaching and it’s
the time of year many
companies gather staff
together for celebration. If your
team is looking for something
that’s a bit out of the box, we
have a few ideas for a memorable
holiday party.
1. Paintlounge
Ideal For: Small groups (5–10 people)
Located: 118 Main Street,
Markham ON (Paintlounge has
an additional two locations in
Toronto/GTA)
Feeling artistic? Paintlounge
offers “social painting” parties
for corporate teams looking to
add a creative flair to their get
together. The idea is that team
members can get to know each
other better while painting in
a casual environment. There
are different party options for
corporate teams; packages
include group-style or solo-style
painting. Parties can also choose
a set painting design that an
instructor will provide step-by-
step instruction for, ensuring all
members leave with a their very
own masterpiece.
Cost: $22.50–$40.00/guest
(Some packages have a
minimum number of guests.
See www.paintlounge.ca for
details on corporate rates)
2. Rock Climbing
Ideal For: Small groups
Located: Hub Climbing
(165 McIntosh Dr., Markham)
For the outdoorsy group rock
climbing might be the perfect way
for a team to bond and build
morale. Markham’s Hub Climbing
has 18,000 square feet of rock walls
for climbers of all levels. No
climbing experience is necessary
and staff will be assigned to assist
during the party to ensure a safe
experience.
Cost: Contact Hub Climbing at
905-604-4588 for corporate rates
3. Sgt. Splatters Paintball
Ideal For: Small to larger groups
(10–60+ people)
Located: 54 Wingold Ave.,
North York
This option is definitely for
high-energy, adventurous groups.
Sgt. Splatters offers corporate party
packages for teams looking for
a unique teambuilding activity.
Have departmental teams duke it
out or mix up the pairings so
unfamiliar colleagues get to know
each other. There’s even the option
of hosting a mini-tournament
with prizes and trophies.
Cost: $15–30/person (The
larger your party, the smaller
the cost per person. Email
Sgt Splatters Corporate Events
Manager for further details
sarge@sgtsplatters.com)
4. Mixology/Bartending
Workshop
Ideal For: Any size group
Located: Various organizations
across Toronto and GTA. Often
they will come to wherever
you’re located
Bond with colleagues
while enjoying great drinks
and learning about the art
of mixology. Mixology and
bartending workshops are a
great way for teams to break the
ice (literally and figuratively).
Add an element of competition
by having teams put their new
knowledge to the test to see who
can create the tastiest concoction.
Cost: Varies
5. Battleaxe Throwing
League (BATL)
Ideal For: Small to larger groups
(A minimum of 12 people is required)
Located: Three locations
across Toronto and GTA.
Check www.batl.ca for details.
Just like paintballing and
rock climbing, this option is
for teams that are looking for
something out of the ordinary.
Events receive a private throwing
area where staff will be on hand
to provide coaching and target
practice before the group playoff
tournament. Parties can also bring
drinks and food for their guests.
Cost: $40/person
6. Teambuilding With Wine
(The Wine Sisters)
Ideal For: Small to larger groups
Located: Varies. Depends on the
type of event.
The Wine Sisters offer
corporate parties where guests
learn the basics of wine tasting
and food pairings, all while
sampling some great drinks.
In addition, the Wine Sisters have
an event planning service, which
does all sizes of parties, and
they also provide guided wine
tours for private groups of up
to 50 people.
Cost: Check out
thewinesisters.com for more
details on corporate rates
7. Corporate Cooking
Competitions (Richmond Hill
Culinary Arts Centre)
Ideal For: Contact
culinaryarts@rogers.com for details
Located: 1550 16th Ave.,
Richmond Hill
Does your office love food?
The Richmond Hill Culinary Arts
Centre offers corporate team
building events, where guests
can boost their cooking prowess.
The Iron Chef Challenge lets
teams feel like contestants on the
reality-TV show. The culinary arts
centre’s version even includes a
mystery box challenge where
teams are presented with a random
food item during the competition,
which they must incorporate
into their dishes. A three-course
dinner is served at the end of the
event and winners are announced
over dessert.
Cost: Contact culinaryarts@
rogers.com for details on
corporate rates
H
Cool Yule Tips:
Your holiday party planner
By Samantha Sim
19. The VOICE Winter 2014
19
Thank you to
our Sponsor:
HAVE YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY WITH US!
Turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9 • 12:00 p.m.
York Downs Golf Country Club
Cost: $50 +HST (members)
$75 +HST (non-members)
REGISTER NOW!
online: www.markhamboard.com
email: vtran@markhamboard.com • call: 289-844-3025
Please bring an unwrapped toy or food bank donation
Entertainment by Pianist Robert Scott
20. MBT SALUTES SMALL
The VOICE Winter 2014
20
CREATIVE DESIGN PRINTING BINDERY FINISHING
Tel: 905.415.2799 info@stellar-print.com 2651 John St, Unit 6, Markham, ON L3R 2W5
905.642.0054
canmarkcommunications.com
11 Allstate Parkway, Suite 206
Markham, Ontario L3R 9T8
Tel: 905.415.8800 Fax: 905.415.8875
Tol Free: 1.888.415.8802
HARRIS ASSOCIATES
BOOKKEEPING SERVICES
Specializing in Bookkeeping,
QuickBooks Training and
T1 Tax Returns
Yvonne Harris
yvonne@bookkeepingsupport.ca
58 Lincoln Green Drive
Markham ON L3P 1R7
Tel: 905-948-0009
Fax: 905-948-9993
Hugo Pacific Commercial Centre
3601 Hwy 7 E. HSBC Tower, 10th Floor,
Suite 1005, Markham L3R 0M3
905-305-7800
21. BUSINESS
The VOICE Winter 2014
21
Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund.
Sunil Heda, cpa
Investment Advisor
RBC Dominion Securities
416-571-0369 | sunil.heda@rbc.com | www.rbcds.com/sunil.heda
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
16th Ave Animal Hospital
905-554-7210
Allegoro Communications
www.allegorocommunications.com
Ann’s Flowers
www.annsflowers.ca
Assante Capital Management Ltd.
www.marylouheenan.com
Beehaf Network
www.beehaf.com
B-Line Technical Services Inc.
www.b-line.ca
Bluesky Technology Partners
www.blueskytp.com
Booked Solid
416-816-4302
Change Connect Inc.
www.changeconnect.ca
Daniel Zanzonico–Vincent Cottone
Freedom 55 Financial/Quadrus
Investment Services
freedom55financial.com
Donorworx Inc.
www.donorworx.com
FileBank IT
www.filebankit.com
Folco’s Ristorante
www.folcos.com
Hampton Inn Suites
by Hilton Toronto-Markham
www.markhamhamptoninandsuites.com
Holistic Acupuncture Clinic
www.drtomfungclinic.ca
HSBC Canada
www.hsbc.ca
Intelletto Technologies Inc.
www.intelletto.com
International Alliance Traders Inc.
www.alliancetraders.ca
J. Addison School
www.addisonschool.com
Liberty Tax Service
1-800-790-3863
Lifetime Music Learning Studio
416-769-8685
Markville Chevrolet Buick GMC
www.markvillechevrolet.com
Mi5 Digital Communications Inc.
www.mi5print.com
nvision Solutions
www.nvisionsolutions.ca
Officescape
www.canada.officescape.com/markham
Physiobility
www.physiobility.com
Pop-A-Lock of Toronto and York Region
www.popalock.ca/pop-a-lock-toronto-
york-region
Ripplepak
www.ripplepak.com
Silver Leaf Day Spa Skin
Rejuvenation Clinic
www.silverleafdayspa.ca
Stouffville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram SRT
www.stouffvillechryslerdodgejeepram.com
Teqtronix International Inc.
www.teqtronix.com
22. The VOICE Winter 2014
22
CorporatePremier
2014 Business Excellence Awards
Women’s Networking Luncheon
Breakfast Networking Series
Mayor’s Lunch
Bell • City of Markham
Weins Canada Inc. (formerly Don Valley North Automotive Group)
Minken Employment Lawyers (Reception Sponsor)
Christmas Lunch
Weins Canada Inc. (formerly Don Valley North Automotive Group)
Hole:
ALS Canada • Ashgrove Spa • CanMark Communications
City of Markham • Cushman Wakefield Ltd.
Dixon-Garland Funeral Home • Jiffy Lube • Longo’s Boxgrove
M.I.T. Consulting • POI Business Interiors Inc.
Rai Grant Insurance Brokers • RBC Insurance – Sandra Maikawa
Stouffville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram SRT
Stouffville Hyundai Equus • Team Tilden – RE/MAX Realtron
Wilson Vukelich LLP • Zigomanis Commercial Realty Inc., Brokerage
Golf Day
Platinum Gold
Decor
After-Party
Mascot
Title Sponsor
Title:
Scorecard: Putting Contest:
Golf Cart: Beverage Cart:
Special thanks to our
2014 Sponsors
24. 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.
membership@granitegolfclub.ca
GraniteGolfClub.ca • 905-642-4416
Stouffville Ontario
