Welcome to Business Weekly

Hi, and welcome to Business Weekly. I joined the Winnipeg Free Press as a business reporter in 1989, and for the last 25 years have been working mainly behind the scenes as a copy editor, production editor and, for nine years, automotive editor.

One of my first stories for the Free Press led to the creation of the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg at the old Canadian Pacific station on Higgins Avenue. The historic landmark, built in 1904 and through which waves of immigrants came to build this city, was for sale, listed by realtor Joe Diner.

I was assigned to write a story, but it went beyond that: after Diner mentioned he thought First Nations groups might be interested in the building as a cultural centre, training centre or for offices, I reached out to Wayne Helgason, who was then executive director of Ma Ma Wi Chi Itata. I could almost hear the light bulb going off above his head as we spoke. Shortly after, he connected with Diner and in December 1992, history was made.

It’s an ironic result, considering the role the station played in the colonization of Canada. Today, the Neeginan Centre houses the Neeginan College of Applied Technology, the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg, Shinnecock Native Printers, Canadian Plains Gallery, the Aboriginal Community Campus and the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development.

Today, I’ve been tapped to bring you this weekly newsletter about the city’s thriving business community.

Each week, I’ll be dropping by your inbox with notes on the previous week in business, from our top business stories to interesting anecdotes and some analysis.

If you have thoughts about what you’d like to see in this newsletter, if you are organizing an upcoming event we should include or if you know about something our Business section should cover, reply to this email or drop me a line at kelly.taylor@winnipegfreepress.com.

Kelly Taylor, Reporter

The week that was

The week to come

Today, the Bank of Canada released the fourth quarter issues of the Business Outlook Survey and the Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations. Each offers insight into expectations for the country’s economy and monetary policy going forward.

Read: As Canadians cut back, mortgage holders say they can make higher payments: BoC survey

Tuesday, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition for Opportunity, Diversity and Equity hosts Lionel Laroche, president of MultiCultural Business Solutions Inc., for a discussion on how hiring newcomers to Canada can bring new perspectives to businesses. Tickets are $100 for chamber members, $200 for guests.

Friday, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce hosts a conversation with Mary Ng, federal minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development, who will discuss the role of business in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and how businesses can leverage the Team Canada Trade Mission initiative to foster market opportunities in the region. Tickets are $10.

Upcoming

Jan. 29: Sustainable Building Manitoba hosts Andrea Kraj, CEO and president of CORE Renewable Energy, on smart electrical demand management, and how it enables electrification, community power and reduces dependency on fossil fuels. Tickets are $22.63.

Biz news that caught my eye

Is this what the Tragically Hip meant with Blow at High Dough? Chip and Pepper Foster, the tie-dyed twins who rode sportswear to fame and fortune, are finding that riding to the rescue of an iconic Winnipeg brand, KUB Bread, is no cakewalk.

Malak Abas:

Chip and Pepper struggle in plan for KUB to rise again

Any way you slice it, there’s plenty of disappointment to go around a year after Chip and Pepper Foster announced their purchase of Winnipeg’s iconic KUB bakery brand. Read More

This business is sweet

You’ve seen them roasting on sticks and squished into s’mores, but a Selkirk Avenue business is turning them into gold. Read all about The Marshmallow Factory, as told by Gabrielle Piché.

Gabrielle Piché:

Sweet success

Gourmet marshmallow maker opens shop on Selkirk Avenue Read More

'I’ve never really seen such a strong tenant market'

The exodus from downtown continues to pick up speed. Gabrielle Piché reports that downtown vacancy rates continued their upward climb from record highs sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gabrielle Piché:

Downtown vacancy rate hits record high

‘Strong tenant market’ forms as businesses leave core before their leases end Read More

Real estate

Joshua Frey-Sam:

2024 looking better for buyers, sellers

Strong finish for 2023 city housing market an encouraging sign for this year Read More

Gabrielle Piché:

Tesla opening store in Waverley Automall

Get the charging stations ready — Tesla is opening its first Manitoba store in the Waverley Automall. For now, the trailblazing electric vehicle maker’s building stands unmarked beside Crown Acura.... Read More

Joshua Frey-Sam:

The densification of Pembina Highway

Residential building on site of former Legion branch Read More

Tips for success

Tory McNally:

The lost art of motivating employees

Wayfair’s CEO urges work ethic, but sparks controversy Read More

Joel Schlesinger:

New year new financial foresight

Your best resolution may be investing more for retirement Read More

Tim Kist:

Think like a marketer to develop great people for a winning team

Successful organizations know that employee development, just like product or player development, must be a structured approach. Read More

Politics

Malak Abas:

Stefanson denies she pushed for mine approval post-election

After announcing she would be stepping down as the head of the PC party, former premier Heather Stefanson denied any prior knowledge of an alleged attempt to approve a proposed silica sand mine by an ... Read More

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press:

Manitoba Tory leader to step down Monday as delegates set rules for leadership race

WINNIPEG - Manitoba Progressive Conservative Leader and former premier Heather Stefanson has announced she will resign as party head on Monday. Stefanson had already indic... Read More

Danielle Da Silva:

NDP changes course on medical air charters after subjecting Tories to turbulence before election

The Kinew government is clearing the runway to continue contracting medical flights to the private sector after slamming the Progressive Conservatives for privatizing provincial air services. The p... Read More

Katie May:

Manitoba window of opportunity open to boost accessibility standards: advocate

Manitoba is in a “sweet spot” to advance accessibility standards and the time for action is now, says a leading disability rights advocate and constitutional law expert. David Lepofsky is a member ... Read More

Kevin Rollason:

City’s projected deficit up to $7.1M

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said although the city’s projected deficit for 2023 continues to balloon, he and councillors are diligently working to keep this year’s property tax increase to no more... Read More

Opinion

Tom Brodbeck:

Political direction bigger issue than leadership process for Manitoba Tories

No matter which process Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative party picks to select its next leader, the most important decision it will have to make is what political direction the party plans to take ... Read More

Dan Lett:

This intersection was catastrophically unsafe; how many others are there?

Until the RCMP finish their investigation, nobody will know for sure exactly who or what was responsible for the tragic death of 17 senior citizens who perished last June near Carberry when their mini... Read More

Dan Lett:

PM didn’t learn from last vacation-largesse fiasco

All leaders must possess self-awareness to be successful. Whether its politics, business or even professional sports, effective leaders need to know how they are seen by others, and when their words o... Read More

Tom Brodbeck:

Ruinous Tory ‘reforms’ left ERs on life-support in gravely ill hospitals

The latest emergency-room wait-time numbers for Winnipeg hospitals are catastrophic. There’s no other way to put it. ER wait times, no matter how you measure them, have never been this high, at lea... Read More

Niigaan Sinclair:

How about a look at Winnipeg from someone who lives here?

I think I speak for more than a few Winnipeggers when I say I am tired of reporters from other Canadian cities flying in for a few days and making some pronouncement about our city being the dud or da... Read More