What's New @ CAFE VI
CAFE Vancouver Island Newsletter - Fall 2015
In This Issue...
- Message from CAFE VI President, Stewart Story
- Event:
- Event: Fireproofing Your Business with David C Bentall
- Member Profile: Country Grocer
- PAG Retreat Experience by Kathy Tough
- Member Profile: Serenity Home Care
- Celebrating the Role of Family Business in the Economy: Photo Gallery
- Growing Your Business Success
- Member Profile: McCall Bros.
- Welcome New Member
- Thank You Program Sponsors
- CAFE Members In the News
- This is Where You Come In
- CAFE VI Board of Directors
- Get Social with CAFE VI
- Become a Member
CAFE Canada & Centralization Plans
Message from CAFE VI President, Andy Spurling
The chapters work with CAFE Canada according to a Chapter Agreement and since the current agreement expired on May 20, 2015, CAFE Canada has asked the chapters to enter into a one year Chapter Agreement while reorganization is under discussion.
2015/16 Season At A Glance
Save the Dates!
September 24, 2015 – Member Appreciation & AGM @ the Capital Iron Outdoor Patio Area, 5:30-7:30 pm
October 13, 2015 – Fireproofing your Business with David C Bentall @ the Victoria Golf Club, 5:30-8:15 pm SEE BELOW TO REGISTER
November 2015 - Meet the Business; An inside look at how a CAFE VI member does it!
5:30-7 pm (date & member TBA)
December 2, 2015 – Xmas Cheer @ the Holiday Inn Express (member). New hotel tour, wine & cheese & a draw for a luxury stay in the Jacuzzi Suite, 5:30-7:30 pm
February 11, 2016 – Family Enterprise of the Year Award (FEYA) @ the Victoria Golf Club, 5:30-8 pm
March 24, 2016 – Family Business Stories on Happy Staff; Getting & Keeping the Best Staff @ Harbour Towers, 5:30-8 pm
May 18, 2016 – Employment Law; What do you need to know? @ the Cedar Hills Golf Club, 5:30-8 pm
Jun 9, 2016 – Family Business Celebration; Celebrating the Role of Family Business in the Economy, 5:30-7:30 pm (location TBA)
Dynamic Event to Kick-off the New Season!
Tuesday, October 13, 2015, 5:30-8:15pm
Gourmet dinner & presentation
Victoria Golf Club, 1110 Beach Drive, Victoria
All attendees receive a copy of David's book Leaving a Legacy
CAFE Vancouver Island Family Business Profile
Country Grocer Family
by Toni Graeme, CAFE VI Feature Writer
Country Grocer (once called Food Country) first opened in Nanaimo, BC in August 1984 as an independent store buying from a wholesaler. The business was developed with a key set of values in mind. First and most importantly, customers would receive the best in meats, seafood, deli items, baked goods, fresh produce and a wide variety of grocery products at reasonable prices.
Secondly, Country Grocer would provide support to community groups, sports teams, schools and local charities in the neighbourhoods surrounding the stores. Furthermore, team members would be committed to getting to know customers better in order to deliver on their expectations and desires. READ MORE
PAG Retreat to Pender Island
By Kathy Tough
Our PAG group met for our annual retreat on beautiful Pender Island. With this being my first PAG retreat I wasn’t too sure what to expect but I certainly learned a lot about my fellow PAG members.
Some of the members are into fitness so they rode their bikes to the ferry terminal and then took on the challenging rolling hills of Pender Island. For those of you who have not been to Pender Island even the cars groan at the steep hills and winding roads. The final hill up to the house we had rented for the weekend was so steep that you felt you were in a roller coaster car, as all you could see was sky while you made it up the driveway. So when we set out for a morning walk/run we all got a good workout.
The theme of our retreat was “Strengths”. We all have them, but we don’t always recognize them in ourselves so our PAG did the online quiz from the Gallup Corporation that would reveal our top five leadership strengths. We also did the Gallup Entrepreneurial Strength Finders which was very interesting to see how we each stacked up in the 10 talents of highly successful entrepreneurs. Both of these assessment were helpful in allowing us to understand the strengths we bring to our businesses.
We also spent Saturday playing “Frisbee golf”. I have never seen a hole in one on the golf course but I was present for a hole in one on the Frisbee golf course which in my opinion is much more difficult. Trying to fly a Frisbee through a forest of trees into a tiny basket is no small feat!
With our accommodations being one very large house I got to learn about the good cooks who liked to fuss about with the preparations. We had a lovely first meal of homemade chicken pies followed by a large BBQ the next day. The next thing I learned from my PAG members was their keen interest in music. I should have been told this was a pre-requisite for joining my PAG group. Both evenings were filled with music both of the recorded kind and the let’s make our own music ambience. There were guitars, drums and an ugly stick! I will definitely have to pick up a musical instrument before next year’s retreat.
Click photos to enlarge
CAFE Vancouver Island Family Business Profile
SERENITY HOME CARE
Murray & Kathy Tough
Nearly five years ago Murray and Kathy Tough decided to take the plunge and leave successful careers in Calgary. Murray was an engineering consultant, while Kathy worked in recreation and home staging. What was next for the couple? A move to Victoria to start Serenity Home Care - a non-medical, in-home care service -something they'd both wanted and been equally passionate about for years.
"Many years ago my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and he chose to die at home. My mum wouldn't have had it any other way. A few years later a good friend's sister was diagnosed with cancer. He quit his job to go live with her for the last months of her life, and came back saying that if he hadn't been willing to do that, she wouldn't have been able to die at home with dignity," Murray says. "He said to me, there's got to be a business in that.' We just didn't go through with it at the time."
Murray says the seed for Serenity Home Care was planted after these two occasions, but the decision to do it finally came to fruition after watching Kathy's father battle Alzheimer's, and the terrible strain it inflicted on her mother. READ MORE
Celebrating the Role of Family Business in the Economy
Left to Right - Click photos to enlarge.
Growing Your Business Seminar Success
A room full of CAFE members and guests enjoyed a dynamic panel presentation on April 8th by CAFE Vancouver Island members: Mandy Farmer (Accent Inns), Rod Parker (Parker Johnston Industries), Mike Black (Capital Iron) and Adam McLean (Bank of Montreal) along with the capable facilitation of Derrold Norgaard (Norgaard Kratofil).
The panelists covered various aspects of business growth and answered some very interesting questions. CAFE seminars have a history of capturing the attendees’ attention and this one was no exception. The theme of learning from each other is a signature CAFE offering.
CAFE Vancouver Island Family Business Profile
MCCALL BROS. FUNERAL DIRECTORS
L to R: Trevor McCall, David McCall & Craig McCall Williams
Though it's one of the oldest businesses in Victoria, McCall Bros. operates with an eye to the future. Now with a history of 93 years, David and James McCall started the business in 1921 at the site's present downtown location at 1400 Vancouver Street. Today, David Alexander McCall represents the third generation of family to take the helm of McCall Bros. Working alongside him are his nephew Craig Williams and son, Trevor McCall, who represent, incredibly, the fourth generation of family members directly involved in the business.
"Everyone in the family gets along extremely well. I love having my son involved, as well as my nephew, Craig. Family plays a large role, obviously," David says, “but my staff is just as important in offering compassion and support to the many families we serve."
McCall's is more than just a local family business however; it is also an important member of Victoria's community and a huge supporter of civic interests. READ MORE
Welcome New Member
Thank You 2014/15 CAFE VI Program Sponsors
Have a look at this season's PROGRAM SPONSORS - Thanks for your generosity!
CAFE Members In The News
Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce annual Business Excellence Awards named Seaflora Wild Organic Skincare for the Manufacturing and Industry Excellence Award.
Dan Dagg, president of Hot House Marketing has been appointed as the new chairman of the Greater Victoria Development Agency.
Winners of Vancouver Island’s 3rd annual Top 20 Under 40 Business Awards include Matt Peulen of Metropolitan Capital.
Tourism Victoria presented the 32nd Annual Miracle Award to Mandy Farmer, President & CEO of Accent Inns.
CAFE Vancouver Island Board of Directors
This Is Where You Come In
Just Having a Look Around
Does your business lend itself to a tour by CAFE members & Friends? If so, let us know, we’d be happy to design a visit with a splash!
Who Could Benefit from CAFE Membership?
YOU likely have a good idea! Recommend a business, we’ll provide them with information on CAFE. The best way to promote this excellent organization is through word of mouth. You have our consent to TALK IT UP.
What’s new with your business?
Let us know and become part of our next newsletter!
Stay in touch
Contact Bernadine Rudichuk, Managing Director at vancouverisland@cafecanada.ca or 250-532-2402 on questions, concerns or any thoughts you may have about CAFE Vancouver Island.
Become a Member
Email: vancouverisland@cafecanada.ca
Website: http://cafecanada.ca/chapters/vancouver-island
Phone: 250-532-2402
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CAFE-Vancouver-Island/162964777099687
Twitter: @CAFEVanIsland
250-532-2402