Member Notables

OCTOBER, 2007

James Buder from the Court at Laurelwood wins local Iron Chef Competition!

The Court at Laurelwood was proud to host the local Iron Chef Competition which featured top chefs from several retirement homes from across Ontario to an audience of 150. Judges of the event included; our own VP at the Chamber Mary Sue Fitzpatrick, MPP Elizabeth Witmer, Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran, and Paul McGough, Owner of Ali Baba Steakhouse. Each chef was given a mystery food basket and had 45 min to prepare a gourmet dish before the judges, which would be graded based on originality, flavor, and presentation. The competition, in part, was an effort to dispel stereotypes that retirement homes serve bland and flavorless foods; it was an attempt to entice prospective residents to The Court at Laurelwood and according to the judges it was a success!

Stevens Resource Group’s Brand New Image

Stevens Resource Group has launched a new brand identity, including a new logo and name, SRG. “It has been said that it takes a whole company to build a brand. At Stevens Resource group (SRG) this is truer now than ever before,” explained Sherri Stevens, President, Stevens Resource Group (SRG). The new logo is simple and clean, and incorporates the colour burgundy which was part of the previous logo. The new image is demonstrated throughout SRG’s communications including marketing collateral and their website. “In the future”, states Sherrie “instead of the name being associated with myself, our hope is that SRG becomes associated with quality, service and integrity.”

First Response Responds to an Increase in Business

October 1, 1997 was the day that First Response Restorations Inc. opened its doors for business. They started with 3 people, 2 trucks and a rental property in Waterloo. Shortly after, they expanded by opening a "Cleaning Location", another rental property in Waterloo. By their 5th Anniversary they were in their place, a 7000 square foot building, in Kitchener. Now, it is their 10th Anniversary. We are at approximately 30 staff members, 14 trucks and just opening a location in Guelph, our 2nd location. The new location will be opening on October 1, 2007. Way to grow First Response!

Ground Breaking for Gallery on the Grand

A new location is being built for Gallery on the Grand following their groundbreaking ceremony on September 4^th. The Gallery will find its new home on the Grand River in the heart of Bridgeport situated beside Golf’s Steakhouse, in January of 2008. Allison and David Burkett believe that the new location is perfectly appropriate for a business built on beauty; the new gallery is on a property with wide-angle views of a scenic stretch of the Grand River and the local landmark, the arched Bridgeport Bridge. The new gallery will occupy 4,500 sq feet with a framing workshop and a large display area on the main floor in addition to the second floor display mezzanine.

Congratulations on your ground breaking success Gallery on the Grand!

BLG and Shortt Hanbidge Richardson & Welch join forces!

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and Shortt Hanbidge Richardson & Welch announced that their Waterloo Region offices are combining operations. Shortt Hanbidge Richardson & Welch will join BLG to provide expanded legal services to Waterloo Region’s flourishing marketplace. The Waterloo region is undergoing a period of dynamic growth,” said Sean Weir, national managing partner of BLG. “As the region develops, its unique business and legal needs are becoming increasingly complex”. Congrats BLG and Shortt Hanbidge Richardson & Welch!

For more news and updates on the greater KW business community, see the Advocate!