SaskBusiness

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

From the editor.(Editorial)
It was on a recent trip to Regina where it dawned upon me that the Queen City may want to consider changing its nickname to the Green City. And no, I'm not suggesting we change it in honour of the S . . .

Two tax reasons to "purify" your corporate structure: proper planning can help simplify, and even lessen, the tax burden.(Financ
It's possible to achieve a significant income tax deferral each year by retaining business income in your corporation, rather than paying out a bonus or dividends. The deferral is the difference bet . . .

Setback for wind farms? Four factors in municipal zoning.(Law)
Saskatchewan has exceptional renewable resources, including wind. Proponents have been busily working on developing wind power, and there are numerous wind farm projects across the province. This ha . . .

In search of a defining statement: whether in business or personal life, a defining statement adds value.(Calibration)
Recently I attended an all-day presentation titled "Grow Your Business." The speaker arrived here from Minneapolis with many helpful reminders as to the various disciplines and tools that can make o . . .

A room with a zu.
When growth at zu caused employees to double up at work stations and share phone lines, Ryan Lejbak and Tony Zuck knew something had to be done. In two short years, the business partners saw their 1 . . .

Thinking inside the box.
Retirement is when someone detaches himself or herself from the workforce completely. Typically a person who retires begins to unwind and gets some well-deserved rest and time to pursue hobbies and . . .

Bringing the world to the farm.(Enterprise NOW!)
Western Grain Trade Limited has come a long way since the inception of this family business 20 years ago. The business began when David and Vicki Dutton branched out from their 5,000-acre family f . . .

From music to multiple dimensions.(INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)
Tucked away in an unassuming north central Regina, studio is a highly successful, innovative entrepreneur whose work links him directly to the world of Hollywood feature films and TV sitcoms. Musi . . .

"I was the luckiest man in the province": Lyle Stewart--Enterprise Saskatchewan Board Chair, March 2008-May 2009.(INNOVATIVE PEO
In 1971, Lyle Stewart was a young but eager doorknocker. Nearly four decades later, his accomplishments resonate of experience and maturity. Stewart seriously forayed into politics in 1999; Thunde . . .

Gavin Semple.(ENTERPRISE SASKATCHEWAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
The mandate of Enterprise Saskatchewan is to make recommendations to the provincial government that will result in sustained growth in our economy and a perpetuation of the prosperity we currently e . . .

Crystal McLeod.(ENTERPRISE SASKATCHEWAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
I am supportive of the direction our Board has gone in since inception. Saskatchewan has set a clear economic mandate through the Enterprise Board and has met a number of key objectives. In the next . . .

Hugh Wagner.(ENTERPRISE SASKATCHEWAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
My purpose in being a Director of Enterprise Saskatchewan is to bring the perspective of someone from organized labour to the dialogue around the numerous economic challenges and opportunities facin . . .

Myrna Bentley.(ENTERPRISE SASKATCHEWAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
A critical enabler for any venture, whether private, business or government, is the ease of doing business. The reduction of regulatory barriers and enhancement of service delivery is an area I beli . . .

Bill Cooper.(ENTERPRISE SASKATCHEWAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
Enterprise Saskatchewan's new approach to policy development, along with support from colleagues and friends encouraged my interest in a Board position. Creating new opportunities for Saskatchewan a . . .

Michael Fougere.(ENTERPRISE SASKATCHEWAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
What is particularly gratifying for me as a member of the Board of Directors is to participate in the model of Enterprise Saskatchewan, which provides private sector advice to the government, and to . . .

The power behind Partner Technologies Inc.(ENERGY)
In 1989, Caron Hopfner and George Partyka started repairing transformers for SaskPower in a small garage in Regina. Both were electrical technologists who left good jobs in the transformer industry . . .

Can-do spirit alive and well at Esterhazy.(MANUFACTURING)
Darrel Tochor, General Manager and one of four local owners of Goodman Industrial in Esterhazy, loves a challenge. In 1987, when the company he worked for underwent a change in ownership, he took . . .

Homes going green.
"Go green. Reduce waste. Be environmentally friendly." Such are the bywords of our society these days. Everywhere, there is evidence of a growing desire to be more environmentally sensitive. In Fe . . .

Clean burning fireplaces.(HOMES GOING GREEN)
"Many people don't realize that wood is a green source of heat,'' says Martin Schweighardt, branch manager for Northern Fireplace in Saskatoon. "For one thing, wood is from a renewable resource, and . . .

Cozier, healthier homes.(HOMES GOING GREEN)
No one who speaks with Ed Singbeil can miss how enthusiastic he is about the product he sells. "It's about building healthier, more energy efficient homes," he says. "I hear back from my customers a . . .

Solar sense.(HOMES GOING GREEN)
"If people really want to go green, they need products that make financial sense and help the environment," says Bill Elliott, owner and president of WSE Technologies based in Saskatoon. "The paybac . . .

Investing in the long term.(HOMES GOING GREEN)
In the era of 'reduce, reuse, recycle.' Doug Goertzen's company helps to extend the life of existing houses. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The economic recession has been a big eye-opener," he says. " . . .

From the editor.
Has anyone else noticed how the identities of Canada's sisters of Confederation, Alberta and Saskatchewan, are becoming more blurred of late? Home of the Wild West, oil aplenty, free enterprise and . . .

Bright idea: Saskatoon's business incubator, Ideas Inc., is the beacon for development in the city's south downtown.
When Phyllis Lodoen looks out the south and west windows of her corner office overlooking the scenic and majestic South Saskatchewan River in downtown Saskatoon, she doesn't see the cleared and bare . . .

Breaking the mould: he's one of the most engaging and interesting Saskatchewan businesspeople you've never heard of. Floyd McMar
The embodiment of an attitude common in this province, McMartin puts it this way: "We don't toot our horn much." Agreeing to do an interview for this story was a big step for him, bending a philos . . .

Northern resources: ARNE Petersen's vision has made Elk Ridge Resort a jewel of the north.
AT AGE 73, ARNE PETERSEN FIGURES he's about 34 years away from the end of his third career. Saskatchewan to his very core, Petersen bleeds green and has devoted his third career to making this a b . . .

Easy rider.
IF HOLLYWOOD MOVIES can be taken with any air of conviction at all, one might assume that the roar emanating from the motors of a motorcycle gang was enough to strike fear into entire communities. U . . .

The business of leisure.
Trying to be diversified in a specialized industry may seem an oxymoron to most, but in terms of recreation-based products it's an essential statement often uttered to help a company strive in a com . . .

Open up and say spa: even if you're the type of person who doesn't have a cabin or cottage, motorbike, RV, or whatever else migh
"If you were to talk to 10 couples and you asked them if they've got a hot tub, and some might say yes," says Chuck Walker, owner of Arctic Spas in Saskatoon. "But if they say no, and you asked them . . .

Developing a healthy bottom line.
Chemistry was big stuff in high school for most baby boomers but has become somewhat passe in this century as biology and physics became the sexy sciences in a world where synchrotrons and genetics . . .

Capping nuclear liability: proposed federal bill would see significant liability increase.(Law)
Nuclear energy has always been important to Saskatchewan, given our vast reserves of uranium. It has become even more of an issue lately as the provincial government explores the feasibility of actu . . .

Price or value? Choose both: knowledge is power when it comes to employee benefit plans.(Financial Planning)
In relation to employee benefit plans, the distinction between price and value is many times under analyzed or even ignored. Over the years, business owners and senior managers of business have been . . .

Destiny and dependence: embrace both to find fulfillment.(Calibration)
Ever hear a young high school graduate, possibly your son or daughter, comment that they had no idea what they wanted to be? For some this is clearer and they forge ahead with a determination toward . . .

Back to the future: surging economy brings with it a sense of deja vu.(The Back Page)
When the Statistics Canada figures on economic growth in 2008 came out recently Saskatchewan's performance, not surprisingly, topped the list of provinces. Our growth rate last year was more than do . . .

Q&A.(Interview)
SMJ: Do you think the Saskatchewan public is aware of the mining industry in Saskatchewan? PS: The Saskatchewan public is increasingly aware of the Saskatchewan mining industry, as Saskatchewan mi . . .

Q&A.(Interview)
SMJ: Since taking over as Minister of Energy and Resources, what are the greatest changes that you have observed within the Saskatchewan mining sector? BB: The Saskatchewan mining sector has grown . . .

Q&A.(Interview)
SMJ: Given your schedule, involvement in SMA would necessitate a high level of commitment. How would you describe the value of SMA to member companies? KD: I believe that the SMA is the collective . . .

Mining facts.
Saskatchewan Mining Association represents approximately 40 mining and exploration companies active in the province. Mining was one of the first industries in Canada to adopt an Environmental Prot . . .

SATCC helps sask labour markets expand.
The Saskatchewan government continues to declare strong employment growth even as job losses in the rest of the country are increasing. The provincial mining industry, which is a driver of this grow . . .

Sask national leader of mineral production.
It's Saskatchewan's opportunity in the spotlight as Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) announced the standing of the provinces in their annual Information Bulletin on Mineral Production for 2008. Sask . . .

Environmental careers have high demand and bright future.
Announcements of expansion in the potash industry--along with developments in uranium, diamonds and gold--are great news for the mining sector in Saskatchewan. The province's newly acquired position . . .

Feeding the world is a priority for Saskatchewan potash industry.
"As long as people are eating, they're going to be buying potash," declares Steve Fortney, general manager PotashCorp, Rocanville, discussing the sustainability of the potash industry in Saskatchewa . . .

Safety still the major concern for mining.
Dark, dirty and dangerous is often the perception that the public has of the mining industry. Fortunately, the "modern mining industry in Saskatchewan and Canada has worked hard on making safety a p . . .

Report: industrial minerals.
The industrial minerals section has taken on a new look with the addition of Winn Bay Sand Limited Partnership as a new member in 2008. Winn Bay Sand Limited Partnership is a manufacturer of America . . .

Report: metallic minerals.
Growth in the economies of many developing countries is causing an increasing demand for many metals and minerals. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PRICES The exchange rate, base metal and precious meta . . .

Report: exploration.
Hewers of wood and drawers of water. This is often how Canada and, by extension, Saskatchewan has historically been characterized--as providers of natural resources. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But w . . .

From the editor.
As a business-to-business service provider, we are regularly in contact with a variety of businesspeople from around the province. Regardless of the sector, what we commonly hear is that many compan . . .

You can't always get what you want: debt collection is best served by preventative maintenance.(Law)
Many small businesses extend customer credit, which may mean dealing with unpaid accounts. You might choose to sue on the outstanding account and obtain a court judgment against the debtor. [ILLUS . . .

Picture perfect: Stuart Kasdorf is the architect behind his award-winning photographic company.
Though he's unlikely to admit it (and who can blame him), Saskatoon photographer Stuart Kasdorf has something in common with George Costanza, the character on the popular '90s sitcom Seinfeld. And n . . .

SATCC provides industry with a skilled workforce.(business profile)
The 10-year anniversary of the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) is testament to the success of an industry and government partnership in Saskatchewan. With its . . .