The Mission Record Thursday, December 13, 2012 B1

BusinessTRACKc o n n e c t • i n f l u e n c e • p r o s p e r

M i s s i o n C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

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By John LiangClickMedia Works Inc.

This was the year of cooperatives. Often seen as alternative,

yet with a successful his-tory locally and in Cana-da, this business model is gaining mainstream acceptance worldwide as the economy continues to struggle.

Better control of operat-ing costs, increased flex-ibility and efficiency, plus higher community profile and involvement are just three reasons why coop-erative businesses world-wide survived the global financial meltdown better than their entrepreneurial counterparts. Even more impressive, according to the International Cooper-ative Alliance (ICA) they managed healthy growth as well.

“This new data dem-onstrates that not only do cooperatives have significant scale, but that this scale is sustainable even in the face of dif-ficult global economic conditions,” said Charles Gould, ICA Director General. “More than this, with $2 trillion USD in annual revenue among the 300 largest coopera-tives alone, this is a sector that is no side-player, but a major global economic force.”

For small business own-ers and operators trying to manage through un-certain and difficult times, awareness of the coopera-

tive business model could be of critical importance. Set against a business model where maximum return to sharehold-ers trumps almost all other considerations, the governance structure of cooperatives is signifi-cantly more democratic, inclusive and transparent. While acknowledging that profit is essential to sur-vival, cooperatives place higher value on service to members, including environmental and social sustainability, ahead of

profit. In addition, they return surplus revenues to their members, not according to numbers of shares held, but propor-tionate to member use of their products or services.

Five basic categories of cooperatives allow the model to fit almost every business need. The best known of these are consumer-owned (credit unions, food co-ops, housing co-ops) and producer-owned (agri-cultural co-ops, craft pro-ducer co-ops). There are

purchasing co-ops (Ace Hardware is an example) where small independent businesses band together to enhance purchasing power and lower operat-ing costs. Finally, there are examples of multi-stakeholder cooperatives where conflicting needs are resolved in order to achieve a higher purpose, such as to reduce duplica-tion of services and create efficiencies.

Creating business hubs can provide sup-port, growth and scale

that benefits all business stakeholders. Capital and the Debt Trap reports that "Cooperatives tend to have a longer life than other types of enterprise, and thus a higher level of entrepreneurial sus-tainability." Studies have shown that the rate of survival of cooperatives after three years was 75 per cent, whereas it was only 48 per cent for all enterprises, and after 10 years, 44 per cent of cooperatives were still in operation, whereas the

ratio was only 20 per cent for all enterprises.

ICA president Dame Pauline Green addressed the first ever International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec City, an event that attracted more than 2,800 delegates from 96 countries around the world. She put her finger squarely on the aware-ness problem facing co-operatives. “We represent over 1 billion co-op mem-bers around the world. Cooperatives employ over 100 million people, and in aggregate they form the world’s ninth largest economy."

The cooperative busi-ness model has caught the attention of major accounting and financial consulting firms world-wide. McKinsey & Com-pany, KPMG, Deloitte and PWC all contributed to the Summit program. Op-erating on the principles of honesty, transparency, democracy and concern for community, includ-ing environmental and social issues, cooperatives continue to prove their flexibility and adaptability to meet the economic challenges of our modern world as well as the inter-est of many young entre-preneurs. Once viewed as being on the fringe of mainstream business, the cooperative model has matured to be worthy of attention and consider-ation of small business owners looking to grow their business.

Cooperatives have proven successful

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The cooperative business model boasts a number of advantages over other types.

B2 The Mission Record Thursday, December 13, 2012

Chris Calverley, branch manager of Scotiabank, will be retiring this

month after 24 years of finan-cial mentoring in Mission.

With more than 39 years of banking experience, Chris has worked through many changes both in industry practice and Mission’s ever-changing economy.

Originally pursuing a ca-reer in teaching, Chris left teaching college to find work in Prince George. He fell into finance in 1973 and moved his way up the corporate lad-der at the Bank of Nova Sco-tia by working in small towns like McBride, Mackenzie, Vernon and Lumby. In Octo-

ber 1988, he transferred to the Mis-sion branch of the bank with a continued

focus on commercial/small business development.

His clients included mills, farms and retail.

Though opportunities to move on in his career had come up, Chris chose to stay in Mission and continue to support the many commer-cial/small businesses that he had helped develop.

“I really enjoyed helping

businesses start and helping them through the economic hard times.” notes Calver-ley. “Most of the deals I put together were done at the kitchen table, on the golf course, or at the customer’s place of business. Seldom did business owners find their way into the bank. That was the fun part of my job. It has been rewarding to be part of success and succession here.”

Chris feels Mission is on the verge of significant change, reflecting on how the town has doubled in size since he arrived.

An active community builder, Chris plans on con-tinuing being active as a vol-

unteer. Serving over 22 years on the board of Fraser House and the Mission Rotary Club, this Rotarian has lived ser-vice over self.

He expects to stay an active director of the Fraser House, Rotary, and the Mission Community Foundation after retirement, where he finds his work most rewarding. Chris encourages community members to get involved just as Stan Lim (Riverside Chev-Olds) invited him to do when he first arrived in Mis-sion back in 1988. His parting words of wisdom, “find bal-ance between work, com-munity and family, it is vitally important.”

BusinessTRACK

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Helping People Changing Lives Building Community

33179 2nd Avenue Mission, BC V2V 1J9604.826.3634

info@missioncommunityservices.com

www.miss ioncommunityserv ices.com

10¢ donated to the Mission Christmas Bureau for every

receipt sent to the Mission Chamber showing a purchase

made at a Mission business.Nov 16- Dec 15

www.missionchamber.bc.ca

Christmas BureauMISSION COMMUNITY SERVICES

Christmas BureauWE NEED HELP:• Help-a-family • Hamper Construction

• Wish Trees • Offi ce Help • Special Events

• Food, New Toys, Cash Donations Gladly Accepted

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Pay it Forward… Shop Local Let us thank you for shopping in Mission

during the holiday season.

Christmas Bureau 32646 Logan Ave.604.814.3333

2012

BOA

RD O

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Elyssa Lockhart PRESIDENT

Sean MeliaVICE PRESIDENT

Trevor GirardDIRECTOR 2012

Satti GrewalDIRECTOR 2012

Attila DavalovskyDIRECTOR 2011

Cal CrawfordPAST PRESIDENT

Pam AlexisDIRECTOR 2012

Vicki GouldDIRECTOR 2012

Ann HarperDIRECTOR 2011 Long-serving Scotiabank

manager retiring this month

2012 has proven to be a successful year at the Chamber, with initiatives designed to provide our members with the stepping stones you will need to continue building your business.

The Chamber has advocated for business in several key areas this year. For the first time ever, we successfully developed policies that were accepted for adoption both by the B.C. and Canadian Chambers of Commerce. Our two policies, related to the use of the Fraser River as a sustainable transporta-tion route and to the flood management practices on the river, are vital to the trade and commerce of the Fraser Valley. These policies have caught the attention of the provincial Ministry of Transportation and some test work will be done at critical areas above Mission bridge in 2013, to improve flood man-agement in a habitat-friendly manner.

Additionally, in concert with other Chambers in the Fraser Valley, we have successfully brought inter-municipal licensing from Hope through to Surrey on both sides of the Fraser. In fact, Mission’s mayor and council were the first to approve this initiative. While this is a pilot program for trades and contrac-tors in 2013, we foresee the program broadening to all businesses, which will build our economic zone.

We also brought forward the issue of equal application of bylaws across commercial/industrial zones. All businesses should need to meet local re-quirements, notwithstanding federal or provincial licenses that may be in place.

I look forward to beginning our 120th anniversary celebration in the New Year, and I hope to see you at our Christmas luncheon Dec. 20.

Merry Christmas to you all and have a prosperous New Year!

Allan MainLIAISON, C.F.N.F.

MayorTed Adlem

DOM LIAISON

President's message

Chris Calverly

The Mission Record Thursday, December 13, 2012 B3

By Kathleen RakeClick Media Works

Laura Sigurdson, owner of Iron Lotus Yoga, started her business in

December, 2010 after training at Prana Yoga Teacher College with Shakti Mhi and spending six months researching and business planning.

“You really have to know what you’re stepping into,” commented Sigurdson. “At least you do if you want to be successful.”

Iron Lotus Yoga is situ-ated in a converted garage

on Grand Street, a few steps up from First Avenue. The studio was constructed and finished with mostly recycled or “up-cycled” materials. For example, the doors were col-lected from a hotel on Gran-ville Street, mouldings came from a construction toss-away bin and furniture was sourced from thrift stores. The bath-room has loose stones as its floor and the toilet takes advantage of a rooftop rain barrel and gravity for its daily operation.

The Iron Lotus Yoga rooftop hosts more than a rain bar-

rel; Sigurdson converted it to accommodate yoga. She used old barn windows for railings and sewed drapes to create walls for privacy. To that she added pots filled with blueberries, grapes, and vegetables.

“One day it will be like a forest up there,” she said.

Yoga classes are designed so there is something for everybody: restorative and gentle sessions; beginner or advanced sessions; and, specialty yoga. The Saturday gentle yoga is free when you bring a non-perishable dona-

tion for the food bank and the hot yoga sessions are under new infrared lights.

“This hot yoga class is the one you want to take if weight loss is your goal,” said Sigurdson.

In addition to yoga, you’ll find massage therapy at Iron Lotus. Registered massage therapist Linda Sangwine specializes in myofascial massage and uses it to help clients through a “healing journey.”

Stop by the studio, visit IronLotusYoga.com or call 604-287-7282 for more infor-mation.

BusinessTRACK

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Our constituency office is here to assist you with:•GOVERNMENT RELATED ISSUES •INFORMATION ON GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS

•CERTIFYING YOUR COPIES •ARRANGING CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES

Randy HAWES, MLA Abbotsford - MissionMarc DALTON, MLA Maple Ridge - Mission

Marc DaltonMLA

Maple Ridge - Mission

Randy HawesMLA

Abbotsford - Mission

33058 First Avenue Mission, B.C. V2V 1G3 PHONE: 604-820-6203 TOLL FREE:1-866-370-6203 FAX: 604-820-6211

EMAIL: randy.hawes.mla@leg.bc.ca www.randyhawesmla.bc.caEMAIL: marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca www.marcdaltonmla.bc.ca

CHAMBER COM

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TSDec. 20

Chamber LuncheonChristmas Luncheon

Place: Chapel Room, Rockwell's Bar and Grill,

32281 Lougheed Hwy.Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dec. 25-Jan. 2Chamber will be closed

Jan. 17Speaker: Maria Gallo

Speak! Grow Your BusinessChamber luncheon

Place: Chapel Room, Rockwell's Bar and Grill,

32281 Lougheed Hwy.Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jan. 22Interested in joining the

chamber? Come by!Place: Chamber

boardroom, 34033 Lougheed Hwy.

Time: 11 a.m.

Scan this QR code with your

smart phone to see

details on our website

Iron Lotus Yoga renews the mind, body, soul, and building

Laura Sigurdson watches participants hold a yoga poseCLICK MEDIA WORKS

Chamber Snapshots: A close-up look at members that keep Mission humming

B4 The Mission Record Thursday, December 13, 2012

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BusinessTRACK

INTERIOR DESIGNR inside and out • Commercial & Residential • Colour Co-ordinating• Design - Advice - Assistance • Renovations - Construction• Decorating - Furnishings • “Staging” to sell

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• Mission Community Pro� le• Commercial and Industrial Property Inventory

• Business Opportunities34033 LOUGHEED HWY., MISSION, BC V2V 5X8Tel: 604.820.3789 • Fax: 604.820.6738 • Toll Free: 1.866.814.1222

email: edc@mission.ca • www.mission.ca

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2012

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Whatever your question, you can now get customized research help in a one-on-

one session with Mission Library information experts.

“People have big questions, and little time for quality research,” says Diana Marshall, Mission librarian. “We want to save you time. That’s why we’re so pleased to be launch-ing this service.”

Of a recent appointment with a local business person, Diana says, “She came to the library quite over-whelmed — there’s so much market information, she just didn’t know where to start. My colleagues and I set her up with a nice stack of mate-rials, personalized to her needs, and a list of resources to go to next. She was so relieved.”

The service is new to the library, launched this September as a way for the library to address the com-munity’s evolving computer and technology needs. It has since

expanded from computer help to downloading eBooks, job hunting, market research and more. While each customer is different, the for-mat works well for business and homework questions alike.

Thirty-minute one-on-one ses-sions are available by appointment to get you started, whatever the question. Library staff are trained and experienced at finding quality information. Simply contact the li-brary and ask your question.

Many questions can be answered on the spot. For questions requir-ing more time, library staff will be happy to book an appointment.

Book a Librarian appointment times are available throughout the week.

For more information, call 604-826-6610 or visit them in person at 33247 Second Ave.

Mission Community Library is a founding member of the Fraser Val-ley Regional Libraries.

Allison JackAdministration

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in@M

ission

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c.ca

Athena GreenMember Services

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Michelle FaveroManager

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ager

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bc ca

Clare SeeleyVisitor Services

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