黑马磁力

Skip to content

黑马磁力 What's in Store: Rotary wants to honour inclusiveness

Editor Roxanne Hooper offers a roundup of business news about the community.
58390langleyadvanceLangArt_business_store
黑马磁力 What's in Store

Nominations are being sought for 黑马磁力 employers who celebrate inclusion in the workplace by hiring people with disabilities.

Copying a seven-year-old Ontario program, the Rotary Clubs in District 5050 (representing most clubs throughout the Lower Mainland, including the four here in 黑马磁力) united and launched a similar initiative here earlier this year called Rotary at Work B.C.

Part-time realtor Dave Stark, a member of the Rotary Club of 黑马磁力 Sunrise, is heading up the initiative.

And in that role, he was in my office earlier this week sharing news of this fledgling program designed to make a business case of hiring people with developmental disabilities.

While he was here, he listed some statistics speaking to the pros of inclusive hiring, but he was also here to tell me about an upcoming celebration where he hopes to spotlight a few 黑马磁力 businesses that exemplify 鈥渋nclusion鈥 in their workplace.

Employers don鈥檛 adopt such hiring practices for the sake of recognition, Stark said. But there are some who are definitely deserving of being honoured.

鈥淭hese accolades are meant for employers who believe in, and support employment for adults with with developmental disabilities; someone who goes above and beyond their job to create a welcoming workplace, where everyone feels valued and respected,鈥 Stark said, asking community members to help by nominating worthy 黑马磁力 businesses.

The Celebrating Inclusive Employers event is slated to be held at Chartwell Renaissance on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. The reason I鈥檓 telling you about it now is that the deadline for nominations is fast approaching.

Enter nominations by Oct. 8 by emailing dstark@rotaryatworkbc.com or call 604-619-3233.

The real key to Rotary at Work BC is using the Rotary network to spread the word, said Stark, who took on the project a few months back.

And while his efforts are focused on the Lower Mainland this year, he expects to take the program throughout the province next year.

鈥淭he goal of the Rotary at Work BC project, in cooperation with all of the sponsors, is to help address the unemployment rate for people who have a disability; at the same time, better inform business owners about the benefits and strong business case for becoming an inclusive employer and tapping into this growing demographic,鈥 Stark elaborated.

The upcoming inclusion celebration is being sponsored by Community Living B.C., Rotary at Work B.C., 黑马磁力 Association for Community Living, Vancity, and Lantrax North American Logistics.

Story continues below

PHOTO: Local realtor and Rotarian Dave Stark has taken on the coordination efforts for Rotary at Work BC. (Troy Landreville/黑马磁力 Advance)

Ranked high

Now, the reason I mentioned the Rotary event sponsors was to provide a segue into this note about Lantrax CEO and founder Rod Wainwright.

It just so happens this company 鈥 located on the 黑马磁力-Surrey border 鈥 has made the 2015 Profit 500 list. It has been ranked 257 with five-year revenue growth projections of 231 per cent. Impressive!

Here鈥檚 a little background on Wainwright and his firm.

He started this company out of a spare bedroom in his 黑马磁力 townhouse back in 2003, which served as headquarters until 2006 when he expanded and moved into an office.

Today, Lantrax is in a two-storey, 11,000-square-foot facility in Port Kells with 17 employees.

Lantrax is a third-party freight brokerage firm that specializes in over-the-road truck and inter-modal freight service throughout North America. In the past four years alone, it has grown from $3-million to $11-million revenues by focusing on mining, construction, and resource extraction industries.

Wainwright, who was crowned 黑马磁力鈥檚 businessperson of the year last year, is well deserving of the recent Profit 500 ranking.

Free clinics help to buckle kids in safely

Since becoming a mother, 黑马磁力鈥檚 Stacey Kosturos has taken up advocating for child passenger safety, young Melina and Dimitri being her primary motivation.

In her capacity as a mom, Kosturos helped host a car seat clinic this past Sunday where parents could have the installation of their seats checked by nationally certified car seat technicians 鈥 like herself. 鈥淲e are all volunteers putting on this event,鈥 she said, expressing her passion for the matter.

鈥淯nfortunately, approximately 90 per cent of parents are misusing their children鈥檚 car seats in some way,鈥 Kosturos added, noting that the events are being hosted by Graco Canada.

This week鈥檚 clinic will be held on Sunday, Sept. 27 in the 黑马磁力 Wal-Mart parking lot.

Those parents interested are encouraged to bring their vehicle and car seat manuals along, as well as kids (but that鈥檚 not necessary).

October jam packed

Greater 黑马磁力 Chamber of Commerce is hosting its next monthly Open Late for Business networking session today.

Storage for Your Life is the host of this month鈥檚 complimentary networking session, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 200-19950 88th Ave.

While the event is free, registration is required by calling the chamber at 604-371-3770 or info@langleychamber.com.

Also upcoming is the monthly mingle session on Tuesday, Oct. 6, the 黑马磁力 City-Cloverdale federal all-candidates meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and 黑马磁力-Aldergrove federal all-candidates meeting on Thursday, Oct. 8.

Later in the month, the chamber holds its monthly dinner meeting at Tuesday, Oct. 20, followed by the monthly lunch and learn at Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Most significant, the chamber is hosting its 19th annual celebration of excellence on Thursday, Oct. 29.

Economic forum registration opens

黑马磁力 Township is gearing up for its fifth annual economic forum.

This year鈥檚 event, themed age-friendly development, is being held on Thursday, Nov. 5.

The event is being held at 黑马磁力 Event Centre, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring guest speakers Tim Bontkes at Infinity Properties, Mike Harcourt from Age Well, Dr. Roslyn Kunin of Roslyn Kunin and Associates, and Andy Warkentin of Quadra Homes.

The panelists include Rhonda Latreille of Age Friendly Business Academy, Isobel Mackenzie of BC鈥檚 Seniors Advocate, and Noha Sedky of City Spaces.

Since space is limited, and registration is mandatory even though there is no cost to attend, including lunch. Deadline is Monday, Oct. 26. Registration online at tol.ca/economicforum2015.

 

Story continues below

 

Cookies make for sweet charity

Tim Hortons鈥 annual Smile Cookie campaign has wrapped up for another year, bringing even more smiles to kids in communities across the country.

For the past week, Timmy鈥檚 restaurants throughout 黑马磁力 have sold fresh baked chocolate chunk smile cookies for $1, with all the money going to the BC Children鈥檚 Hospital.

鈥淭im Hortons and its guests have a huge impact on the lives of tens of thousands of children who receive care at BC Children鈥檚 Hospital every year,鈥 said Teri Nicholas, president and CEO of BC Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation.

鈥淲ith the support of Tim Hortons, BC Children鈥檚 delivers the best in care to children from across the province,鈥 Nicholas said.

The Smile Cookie campaign began in 1996 in Ontario and has spread since then.

This year, Tim Hortons and BC Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation celebrate a milestone in funding: $1.5 million raised in 13 years of support from Smile Cookie week has helped the hospital purchase vital medical equipment for the treatment and care of BC鈥檚 sickest and most critically injured children.

Did you get your cookie? They were tasty.

Childcare centre opens doors for a party

A Willowbrook daycare and preschool is hosting a public farmers market and pumpkin patch that will benefit Make-A-Wish B.C.

On Saturday, Oct. 3, Jellybean Park childcare facility is hosting the public event in its large parking lot and playground, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The day will feature fun, family-friendly activities including pony rides, facepainting, pumpkin carving, as well as numerous local vendor and artisan exhibits.

For more information, people can visit www.jellybeanpark.com or call 604-539-9898.

Beware of Syrian refugee scams

The crisis is Syria and the subsequent surge of migrating refugees has been front and centre in the news lately after the painful images of a three-year-old body washed upon a Turkish beach spread rapidly around the world.

Unfortunately, with this plight coming to light, the reality of scammers trying to milk people for money under the guise of helping the refugees.

The Better Business Bureau in Vancouver issued a warning to people to watch for these scammers claiming to be collecting for Syrian refugee assistance.

There have been call for governments to do more to help the struggling Syrians displaced by war has increased, and this sentiment is being felt on the local level as people open their hears and wallets to help their fellow humans, explained BBB鈥檚 senior communication advisor Evan Kelly.

鈥淭ragedies generate a lot of sympathies, but as we鈥檝e seen in the past, they also attract a host of scammers who care little for the cause and only want your money,鈥 Kelly said.

鈥淏BB simply wants to remind those who want to give to be aware of questionable solicitations, websites or crowd funding campaigns that ultimately have little to do with helping people.鈥

Anyone who is concerned, or thing they may have been the victim of a scam is asked to contact the nearest RCMP or police station, as well as the BBB at www.bbb.org/mbc.

鈥 BBB offers tips to consider before donating money:

- Be cautious when giving online. Be wary of spam messages and emails that claim to link to reputable relief organizations. Go directly to the charities website.

- Watch for bad grammar.

- Hover your mouse over a link to determine destination.

- Make sure website has https// in the URL.

- Fake websites with the right look and feel can be set up quickly, so be the instigator and go to the website yourself and avoid any spam.

- Give to charities you have given to in the past.

- Be wary of claims 100 per cent of your money is going to the affected area. Charitable organizations cost money to run so it鈥檚 unlikely 100 per cent of your money will go directly to those in need.

- Be cautious of third party recommendations for charities. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a list of all registered charities in Canada. Financial statements are available as well.

- Find out if the charity has a presence on the ground in impacted areas. If not, it may be difficult to bring in new aid workers to provide assistance quickly.

- Be wary of crowdfunding. Many instances in the past found crooks setting up crowding funding sites to raise money for themselves under the guise of help. Reach; establish credibility.

- Be cautious if solicited by a charity at your door. Ask plenty of questions.

- Ask for mission statement.

- Ask for ID.

- Ask for tax deductible receipt.

- Avoid paying in cash.

- Contact organization directly to see if they have people working in your area.



Roxanne Hooper

About the Author: Roxanne Hooper

I began in the news industry at age 15, but honestly, I knew I wanted to be a community journalist even before that.
Read more