Simcoe: The Year Ahead
January 4, 2011 Michael Lawson, www.simcoe.com
SIMCOE COUNTY - Battle-weary from the recent stretch of economic woes that had local businesses scrambling to change or die, a look back says it wasn’t all bad, according to entrepreneur Gini Stringer, whose year-long term as president of Orillia and District Chamber of Commerce ended Dec. 31. But it isn’t all over either.
“I wanted to come into 2010 with a very positive outlook, poising ourselves for recovery,” says Springer, who reports record attendance numbers at chamber events and a significant boost in memberships during her leadership tenure.
“We saw some store closures in downtown Orillia, but some openings, too. We’ve had a lot of positive things happen in 2010.” She points to the expansion of Home Hardware and Orillia Bakery, for example; the construction of a new Sunrise Toyota dealership and Orillia Common Roof, and the opening of the sports complex and Lakehead University’s new campus. “I think we’re sitting on the cusp of something wonderful,” Stringer added. “There is great opportunity.”
She’s not alone in that opinion. According to the national Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) that lumps together Orillia and Barrie under the regional moniker Simcoe Shores, the two cities ranked eighth among surveys investors on the 2010 top 10 Canadian cities in which to invest report. REIN president Don Campbell called them, “a hot bed for growth,” referring to the expansions of Georgian College and Lakehead University, the addition of GO trains, a respectable 4.7 per cent vacancy rate and the youngest residents on average.
Stringer also mentions the development plans for Lake Simcoe Regional Airport as an up-and-coming economic driver that further solidifies the area’s positioning going forward. That said, 2010 was also the time “reality hit” as consumers assessed the damage of 2009’s recession and acted accordingly, said Stringer. “People lost a lot of money and they were afraid, I think. They weren’t spending money,” she says, admitting to lower numbers in her own West Street business Sunshine Carpet & Flooring in 2010 in comparison to the year before. “That loss has not been recouped as of yet and I don’t think they’re spending their disposable income on home renovations.”
An added complication to fiscal planning in her industry was fall-out of the federal stimulus program that had home owners rushing to make the Feb. 1, 2010 deadline for applicable goods and services, which turned around the previously norm in seasonal timing. “Last year we were busy at a time which is typically slow,” she said, referring to the winter months. “And then we were very slow in what is typically the prime months.”
This was particularly tricky for renovators that rely on complementary seasonal careers to account for a steady year-round paycheque. Regardless, “recovery is ongoing,” says Stringer who holds fast to the Pollyanna Principal and looks to new mayor Angelo Orsi’s new approach to carry the community over the threshold from potential to prosperity. “His philosophy of running the city as a business, coming from the successful business man he is, is very encouraging,” she says, also looking forward to working with new chamber president Kathi Shropshire, who manages Orillia’s Meridian Credit Union branch.”
“Any time you’re dealing with adversity, you have to really focus on changing your priorities,” reflects Stringer, a cancer-survivor who refuses to dwell on the negatives. “You have to reevaluate and go from there. Things change.”
Planning for the future was on the agenda at the recent Ontario Economic Summit, hosted by the province’s chamber of commerce (OCC) in Niagara-on-the-Lake in November. More than 150 leaders from business, labour, academia, non-government organizations and government were invited to “lead Ontario to post-recessionary growth and a stronger future.” David Rosenberg, chief economist and strategist for Gluskin Sheff & Associates Inc. echoed the optimism of Stringer and REIN’s Campbell in his keynote address. “Canada, despite facing its own economic challenges, is in a better position than the United States,” blogged OCC’s Erin Riach summarizing Rosenberg’s speech highlights. “Investors are more interested in investing in our country as Rosenberg stated the Canadian dollar is expected to continue appreciating which is only beneficial as profits can be gained.”
Transportation, innovation, smart regulation and 21-century workforce strategies were topics highlighted on the agenda for discussion as provincial priorities. When reached for comment about a local perspective, Barrie’s new mayor Jeff Lehman, an urban economist by trade, didn’t hesitate to share his own priorities. “First of all, it's very relevant to be asking about the Ontario Economic Summit as I am looking at organizing a Mayor's Economic Summit for early in the New Year in Barrie,” he said. “This is something I talked about during the campaign - the need to re-energize the relationship between the city and the business community and get task forces working on key priorities.”
He explained Barrie gained strength 50 years ago with an industrial base that served a wide market. “Many large industrial employers in Ontario have since closed due to the forces of globalization, free trade and the high dollar – and Barrie has not been immune,” he said. “But the companies that have survived have durable business models that work in a tough economic climate. The city needs to focus on helping them expand – that’s my first new priority for economic development.”
New sector development (like finance, professional services, entertainment and technology) and the strength of the local workforce to serve these sectors are essential factor, according to Lehman. “That is why post-secondary education is so critical to our success - we need a full range of university and college programs to train the workforce for these sectors,” he said. “Research centres like Georgian's Centre for Sustainable Technologies are critical. That centre is helping to commercialize new products and is a great addition to Barrie's competitive advantage.”
He identifies small-business formation and growth as his third priority in his coming term at the helm of the city’s council. “We need to work on ensuring low-cost space is available for start-ups, and as a city, help where we can with ensuring the availability and access to financing.”
But Lehman is looking beyond municipal borders to seek strength for his city’s residents. “In terms the broader region, I think there are opportunities for us to work together with other cities for mutual benefit,” he added, also referencing the regional airport. Which “can become a magnet for investment in aviation related industries, particularly with the closure of Buttonville. “Although it's in Oro, it's a partnership between the City and the Township, and jobs created there will go to Barrie residents as well as residents of Oro and other County municipalities.” The coming summit will be a chance for new and returning municipal leaders to look forward at all the possibilities.