KEEPING CANADA SHINING Swish Maintenance Limited NEW GROWTH AS DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRY STAKES THEIR CLAIM IN THE MINING STATE Northeastern Nevada Regional Development Authority (NNRDA) AHEAD OF THE GAME Leck Waste Services BUSINESSINFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM FE B RUA RY 20 242 COLOR PATCH SustainabilitySustainability SustainabilitySustainability 2023 Award Winner ESG RIF 23-outlines.indd 1ESG RIF 23-outlines.indd 17/25/23 10:03 AM7/25/23 10:03 AM 2 COLOR PATCH SustainabilitySustainability SustainabilitySustainability 2023 Award Winner ESG RIF 23-outlines.indd 1ESG RIF 23-outlines.indd 17/25/23 10:03 AM7/25/23 10:03 AMEDITOR’S CORNER 2 COLOR PATCH SustainabilitySustainability SustainabilitySustainability 2023 Award Winner ESG RIF 23-outlines.indd 1ESG RIF 23-outlines.indd 17/25/23 10:03 AM7/25/23 10:03 AM 2 COLOR PATCH SustainabilitySustainability SustainabilitySustainability 2023 Award Winner ESG RIF 23-outlines.indd 1ESG RIF 23-outlines.indd 17/25/23 10:03 AM7/25/23 10:03 AM 3 Like many in my area, my power meter was recently upgraded to a “smart” version. While I’m hearing a lot of complaints from the neighbours who are inclined to think the gov- ernment is spying on them or complicating lives with “peak and off-peak” rates, I think it’s a step in the right direction. Efficient energy is going to be cheaper (and very possibly more reliable) in the long run, especially with the growth of wind, tidal, and solar generation, and this is as true for the commercial sector as it is for residential. Alternative energy sources output energy in a less predict- able way. Hours of sunlight, the strength of the wind, and the pattern of tides all change throughout the day, so matching supply and demand is becoming more difficult. There are more variables at play, and thanks to smart meters, much more data available. Processing that data to manage the system efficiently, however, is a colossal task (at least for humans). But with advancements in AI and machine learning, as well as a general acceptance of such technology by society without an immediate comparison to The Terminator’s Skynet, we might be able to build a system more efficient and robust than ever before. In this issue, Alan Tughan looks at this topic in depth in his latest piece, Making the Smart Grid Smarter – AI is Powering Innovative Efficiency. Tim Hocken Editor Suite 300, 7071 Bayers Rd. | Halifax, NS | B3L 2C2 | Canada P: 1-647-479-2163 | E: EDITOR Tim Hocken DEPUTY EDITOR Jaime McKee COPY EDITORS Thora Smith | Allister Havercroft CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alan Tughan | Allison Dempsey | Claire Suttles Jessica Ferlaino | Karen Hawthorne | Margaret Eaton Robert Hoshowsky | William Young Nate Hendley | Pauline Müller DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS James Corbett OPERATIONS MANAGER Severina Gachparova OPERATIONS ASSISTANT Marc Arsenault CONTENT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Scott Forbes SENIOR CONTENT DEVELOPERS Wendy Hood-Morris Erin McWhinney | Taylor Dunne CONTENT DEVELOPERS David Bombata | Dean Lucas | Donnie Dahr Jamal Francis-Anderson | Lily Mitchell | Raj Singh SALES TEAM LEAD Pamela Taylor SALES TEAM Morgan Culpepper | Luke Simms GRAPHIC DESIGN TEAM LEAD Laura Pratt GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ashley Dowling | Ebic Tristary Isaac McWhinnie | Yoana Ilcheva SENIOR STAFF ACCOUNTANT Christi Lingard OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Julia MacQueen BUSINESS COORDINATOR Abigail Potter IT ADMINISTRATOR Rebecca Sanford PUBLISHER Jeff Hocken “With advancements in AI and machine learning, we might be able to build a system more efficient and robust than ever before.”WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNITED STATES TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION (USTOA) INSIDE FEBRUARY FOCUS ON: MINECONNECT 4THE SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA (SWANA) SERVICES AI is Powering Innovative Efficiency The traditional power grid wasn’t built to be smart. It was built with one purpose in mind: generate massive amounts of power in a few locations and get that power as efficiently and reliably as possible to users. 5 BUSINESS IN FOCUS CROSS SECTOR SUPPLY CHAIN AND OPERATIONAL RESILIENCE 12 – 14 February, Houston, TX This GFMI conference will provide attendees with practical solutions and rich perspectives to better adapt their supply chain and operations to improve their resilience, account for the impact of current complexities and global instability, and minimize exposure to threats. Key chal- lenges to be addressed include geopolitical concerns and interdependencies, monitoring different links of the supply chain, IT and cyber resilience, and more. For more information MAGIC LAS VEGAS 13 – 15 February, Las Vegas, NV MAGIC Las Vegas is an entire fashion experience. The largest go-to market event offers a must-attend, high-energy, all-encompassing fashion experience for brands and retailers alike. Find must-have trends, exclusive collection launches, thought-provoking education panels, engaging networking opportunities, non-stop entertainment, countless happy hours, and more. Co-located with SOURCING at MAGIC, where you will find the latest in apparel and footwear supply chain services, materials, and technologies. For more information BETTER WORKPLACE CONFERENCE 26 – 28 February, online At the 27th annual Better Workplace Conference, Human Resources professionals will discover impactful, research-based solutions to a variety of issues in the workplace. This virtual event from the Conference Board of Canada offers three days of captivating keynote speakers, panel discus- sions, and best practice showcases, with the aim of shining a light on improving workplace culture and responding to employees’ changing needs. Topics include the future of mental health in the workplace, integrating psychological safety, wellbeing and inclusion, and more. For more information NATURAL PRODUCTS EXPO WEST 12 – 16 March, Anaheim, CA Natural Products Expo West is the leading trade show in the natural, organic, and healthy products industry. Unearth your next big seller among the largest collection of emerging and pioneering brands! Get ready to be inspired through product discovery, elite education, and sustainable innovation. For more information SUPPLYSIDE EAST 16 – 17 April, Secaucus, NJ Connect with more than 250 leading health and nutrition suppliers and service providers at SupplySide East, the East Coast’s leading ingredi- ents and supply-chain solutions trade show. Network with over 3,000 decision-makers and industry experts from the global health and nutrition space, and discover the newest and most innovative ingredients and solutions on the market. Delve into the latest science and trends in key categories including beverages, women’s health, and healthy aging. For more information INDUSTRY EVENTS 6 Are you planning an event relating to North America’s growing Business Industry? To get your event listed in Business in Focus, please contact us at least six to eight weeks before the event takes place or call 1-647-478-5724INDUSTRY NEWS UNITY SOFTWARE LAYING OFF A QUARTER OF ITS WORKFORCE Unity Software, the world's leading platform for the creation and operation of interactive, real-time 3D (RT3D) content, has announced plans to lay off a quarter of its workforce, represent- ing 1,800 jobs, as part of a corporate restructuring plan. This is the latest round of layoffs for the company, which laid off 600 employees in May to generate long-term, profitable growth. That announcement was followed by a pricing change in September, which left a wake of unhappy developers who rely on its cross-platform game engine technology for video STARBUCKS TO ACCEPT REUSABLE CUPS IN MARKET FIRST Tall, Grande, Venti and reusable to-go? Starbucks recently announced that it will accept reusable cups at its cafés, drive- throughs, and via the Starbucks app at its company-operated and participating licensed stores in Canada and the U.S. The only catch? It needs to be clean. Customers now have the option to use a clean personal cup when they place their orders for all drinks and sizes, which is a demonstrable step toward the coffee chain’s sustainability goals—chiefly, reducing waste headed to the landfill. Starbucks is committed to halving its waste by 2030 and offering the option of reusables is a good step in that direction. This marks the first time a national coffee retailer has offered this option in the U.S., and it is the first in Canada to do so for mobile orders of all drinks and sizes. Customers who bring a clean, personal cup for their order will receive $0.10 discount on their beverage order and Starbucks Rewards members in the U.S. will also receive 25 Bonus Stars via the app. game creation, followed by the retirement of its CEO John Riccitiello in October, leaving James Whitehurst as the interim CEO and Roelof Botha as the Chairman of the Board. While the impacts of the latest round of cuts are not yet known, the announcement resulted in a five percent stock increase. Unity has intentions to implement a comprehensive assess- ment of its product portfolio, which could result in the discon- tinuation of certain products as well as the potential for greater reductions of staff and its office footprint. mariakray / shutterstock.com 7INDUSTRY NEWS SPIN MASTER CLOSES MELISSA & DOUG ACQUISITION Spin Master, the Toronto-based multi-category children’s entertainment company that produces toys and games (digital and otherwise), has completed its acquisition of Connecticut-based Melissa & Doug, a leading manufacturer of wooden preschool toys, for US$950 million, the largest acquisition in its history. Acquisition plans were first announced in October 2023. Already the tenth best-selling toy brand in the U.S. in 2022, business synergies are expected to improve the toy manufac- turer’s profitability further by 2026. While the deal was initially proposed to be an earn-out deal that would have seen a bonus of US$150 million if certain financial performance goals were met in 2024 and 2025, the transaction ended up closing with a US$450 million cash payment and the rest in debt financing. LULULEMON FOUNDER IN HOT WATER FOR TAKE ON COMPANY’S DE&I EFFORTS Chip Wilson, founder of athletic wear company Lululemon, has gained media attention for his comments to Forbes about the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) efforts, which includes his objection to the use of models showcasing a range of body types, particularly those that he felt looked “unhealthy,” “sickly,” and “not inspirational.” Wilson, who founded the company in 1998 and resigned in 2015 because of a similar situation where controversial comments about larger body types were made, believes that, “You’ve got to be clear that you don’t want certain customers coming Lutsenko_Oleksandr / shutterstock.com in,” which is why there is public uproar, including threats of boycotts of the brand. Lululemon has responded publicly to distance itself from the controversy, issuing a statement that Wilson does not speak for nor reflect the brand’s views, though he maintains an eight percent stake as the largest individual shareholder in the company. It stated, “Lululemon is committed to creating and fostering an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming environment throughout our organization and across our communities.” Jonathan Weiss / shutterstock.com 8INDUSTRY NEWS AIR CANADA WORST IN NORTH AMERICA FOR BEING ON TIME According to a new report by Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, Air Canada ranked as the worst for on-time performance among large airlines in North America in 2023. Canada’s largest carrier landed 63 percent of its flights on time last year, which means approximately 140,000 flights were 15 minutes late or more for their scheduled arrival. Even JetBlue Airways and Frontier Airlines were five points ahead in this category. WestJet, its direct Canadian competition, ranked seventh with 69 percent, while Delta Air Lines topped them all with 85 percent of its flights arriving on time and Alaska Airlines on its heels with 82 percent, proving that Air Canada has some work to do. RBC’S HISTORIC TAKEOVER OF HSBC CANADA APPROVED The Canadian government has approved Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC) $13.5 billion acquisition of HSBC Holdings Plc’s Canadian arm, which includes $120 billion in assets including wealth management, personal, and commercial banking, the largest acquisition in the bank’s 160-year history. The deal, in which RBC, Canada’s largest bank, sought out control of the country’s seventh largest bank, was made in November 2022 and has since undergone scrutiny by the country’s competition watchdog. The Competition Bureau Urban Images / shutterstock.com approved the deal in September on the findings that the purchase would not prevent or lessen competition. The decision also received no objections from the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. The approval of the finance minister comes with several con- ditions including job protections, the maintenance of at least 33 HSBC branches, transition plans, and support for afford- able housing with a commitment of $7 billion in financing. 9Next >