Gala Chair Andrea Duggan and BBOT President Wayne
Waters, are ready for a night of dancing at the
annual President’s Gala April 13.
Photo by Ken Hay |
The Brampton Board of Trade (BBOT)
launched its Resource Guide for Employers at its Skills
Challenge Workshop in March, targeting companies that
have labour needs and require assistance hiring skilled
immigrants. READ MORE
The Guide is part of the Board’s “Skills Without Borders
- connecting employers and skilled immigrants” project,
which is a program designed to raise awareness about
labour needs in North Peel and the ability of skilled
immigrants to meet those needs.
The BBOT has partnered with a number of organizations
and agencies, including the Ontario Ministry of Training,
Colleges and Universities (with funding support from
Service Canada) to help connect employers in North Peel
with skilled immigrants.
The Guide is intended to increase employer awareness
about the programs and services available to facilitate
the employment of skilled immigrants, including job
placement services, language and accreditation programs,
co-op and internship programs, wage subsidies and mentorship
programs.
BBOT CEO Sheldon Leiba says “this Resource Guide is
the culmination of a year-long project. We asked employers
to identify their labour needs over the next three to
five years and what barriers exist that might prevent
them from hiring skilled immigrants. They clearly told
us they needed help in understanding the complex world
of skilled immigrants, unraveling language and cultural
differences, education and credentials. This Guide will
connect employers with the services they need to overcome
some of the barriers they face in hiring skilled immigrants.”
Mike Colle, Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration,
who was the keynote speaker at the launch event, said
the BBOT’s work was invaluable to employers who face
growing labour shortages. “This Resource Guide helps
small and medium size businesses save time and it provides
great value.
“You do get it in Brampton.” He praised all three initiatives
of the Board including its two reports - Labour Needs
in North Peel and Barriers to Hiring Skilled Immigrants
as well as the Resource Guide. “Your reports are concise
and to the point and address one of the major issues
facing Ontario over the next 10 years. We have a growing
labour shortage and unemployment is at an all-time low.
By 2011 all new net growth will come from immigration
and it is imperative that we recognize that if we want
to do business and grow our economy.”
He said that Ontario gains 140,000 immigrants a year
and called Brampton’s immigrant population growth “a
“dynamic and positive” opportunity to be at the cutting
edge of economic expansion. He said Peel Region should
aggressively market these advantages.
He identified Peel as one the “gateways” to economic
prosperity, capitalizing on its exponential growth of
immigrants to create a positive synergy for economic
development.
“You are walking the walk when it comes to diversity
in Brampton,” the minister said.
Dr. Yamil Alonso, author of Guide and Skills Without
Borders Project Coordinator, said The Guide provides
an exhaustive list of programs and services available
to employers who may need help in hiring skilled immigrants.
“Employers told us they were looking for specific resources
and we think the Guide meets that need.”
The Resource Guide is available online at www.skillswithoutborders.com.
Hard copies are also available by contacting The Brampton
Board of Trade at 905 451 1122 or by sending an email
to info@skillswithoutborders.com.
Business
Person of the Year
Celebrating Scott Goodison
Wayne Waters BBOT President, left and Mayor Susan
Fennell offer their congratulations to The Brampton
Board of Trade Business Person of the Year Scott
Goodison and his father Jack at a special celebration
in March. |
Scott Goodison was celebrated as The Brampton Board
of Trade’s Business Person of the Year before 250 friends,
family and business associates at the Courtyard by Marriott
Brampton last month. READ MORE
Scott, President of Goodison Insurance and Financial
Services Limited, shared the evening with his wife Marty
of 28 years, and his three children, Tyler, 26, Garrett,
21 and Adrienne, 19.
Scott was toasted and roasted by friends Wayne Percy,
Paul Armstrong, Jim Balmer and his son Tyler.
“I am deeply honoured by this recognition,” Scott says.
“When you look at the list of past winners that were
selected, all quality people and some of them my customers,
I wonder why I was selected. I feel very humbled.”
He quoted a line from the poem Ulysses – ‘I am a part
of all I met.’ “For me, the reality is in reading that
line in reverse, ‘all I have met are a part of me.’
I am not thinking of the influence I had on others but
the influence that others have had on me.”
Scott said he has been influenced by family, friends,
business associates, staff, and customers: “all have
influenced me in some way, and I owe this award to all
of them.”
Scott revealed his business secret, first learned from
his father Jack. “Nice guys don’t finish last. You may
not always be rewarded in dollars and cents but we are
rewarded in many different ways. Meaningful ways. The
hallmark of Goodison insurance, is to look after the
customer, to make sure their premium is competitive,
to give them good advice, but most importantly, to be
there when they need us most. I learned this first from
my father when he told me to take good care of the customer
and spend time with them.”
Scott has been involved in the family business for 33
years, the last 26 as President.
Scott has had significant impact on his profession.
He has served in numerous capacities with the Insurance
Brokers of Brampton, including president, and has been
a member of the Insurance Brokers of Ontario for 33
years, serving on many committees.
Scott has been a member of the Brampton Downtown Business
Association for 15 years, where he also served as chair.
He has been and a member of the executive committee
of Governing Council at The Brampton Board of Trade.
He is also a founding member of the Brampton chapter
of CAFÉ, the Canadian Association of Family Enterprises.
In community, Scott has served at St. Paul’s United
Church, John Knox Christian School and coached minor
baseball for 9 years.
Scott’s father Jack is a founding member of the local
YMCA, where Scott has been a member for 48 years. He
also served on its regional council for six years.
Scott was the winner of the Arthur W. Parker award
for Community Service.
In fact, the Goodison family has volunteered many hours
with organizations that are dedicated to the growth
and improvement of the city. Brother Brad is past president
of the Rotary Club Brampton. And throughout the years,
Goodison Insurance and Financial Services Limited has
been a strong supporter of community sports teams.
The company continues to make lasting contributions.
Most recently they opened their newly renovated office
space on Queen Street in downtown Brampton. The building
exterior has been completely remodeled with the help
of Desiree Doerfler of Dzign Interior Planning &
Project Management and is a stunning contribution to
the downtown, a compliment to the new Rose Theatre.
Last year Goodison Insurance and Financial Services
celebrated 50 years in business. For more information,
please visit www.goodison.com
.
POLICY PRIORITIES
SURVEY REPORT
Click
here to download the report
Transportation infrastructure, traffic gridlock and
growth management are of vital importance to Brampton
Board of Trade (BBOT) members, according to a survey
of key policy issues that most concern the business
community.
Related to growth management, is a strong desire to
see local political decision makers preserve employment
lands, attract more business, develop jobs, and rein
in residential development.
The BBOT’s Policy & Government Relations Committee
initiated a Policy Priorities survey to poll BBOT members
on key policy issues of concern. The survey was delivered
electronically to BBOT members in November and the findings
are based on the responses of 94 business leaders, representing
member businesses and organizations of various sizes
and sectors.
The survey was comprised of a combination of 10 open
and close-ended questions, and respondents had an opportunity
to provide additional comments. The full survey report
is available online at www.bramptonbot.com
The report says transportation, traffic gridlock and
growth management are the issues most likely to affect
economic development and quality of life in Brampton.
Employers also raised concerns about a looming shortage
of skilled labour and the need to better capitalize
on the growing pool of skilled immigrants that are settling
in Brampton. Editor’s Note: See Page 3 for related story
on The Brampton Board of Trade’s Skills Without Borders
project, which explores labour needs in North Peel and
Barriers to Hiring Skilled Immigrants.
The Policy & Government Relations Committee, recently
renamed from Public Affairs Committee to reflect the
broad-based nature of the work performed, asked members
to help it focus on the top local/municipal issues.
Transportation infrastructure was identified by 76%
of respondents as a “top five” priority, followed by
crime/safety (58%), growth management (54%), government
accountability (53%) and property taxes (48%).
48% of respondents also identified the redevelopment
of the Peel Memorial Hospital as a much-needed second
health care facility in a large and growing city as
a “top five”. And 46% said downtown redevelopment should
be a priority to create an attractive and vibrant economic
and community centre.
Preservation of Employment Lands and Economic Development,
including lack of commercial/industrial space, attracting
large business to Brampton were also high priorities
for business leaders.
The survey also asked respondents to rank the top five
provincial and federal issues.
Health Care, education, transportation, taxation and
government accountability were ranked as the top provincial
issues. Government accountability, taxation, health
care, the fiscal imbalance between Ontario and the Federal
Government and the environment were identified as the
top five federal issues.
Overall, business believes that government should and
must do more to support business development and be
less of an impediment through its policies, regulations
and actions/inactions.
When specifically asked to list any “unique policy
areas or issues,” where The Brampton Board of Trade
could be a leader, respondents answered:
• Transportation/Traffic Gridlock
• Growth Management
• Taxes/Taxation (personal and business)
• Employment Integration of Immigrants
• Preservation of Employment Lands
• Brampton Downtown Development and Revitalization
• Health/Hospital Care
Of the respondents, 99% strongly agreed or agreed that
policy advocacy is “a very important function” of The
Brampton Board of Trade. And 77% indicated that they
were well aware of The Brampton Board of Trade’s involvement
in the area of policy advocacy.
“We’re pleased that our members believe that policy
advocacy is a key function of the Board of Trade and
that a significant majority are aware of the work we
have done on their behalf,” says Sheldon Leiba, CEO
of The Brampton Board of Trade. “This focus is entrenched
in our Mission and Strategic Plan.”
“The Policy Priorities Survey results will be extremely
useful to our Policy & Government Relations Committee
as they develop priorities for our business advocacy
work. We also want to keep an open dialogue with members
so that we can continue to be their voice with government
and other agencies,” Leiba said.
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