O T R

On The Road In Whitchurch–Stouffville is the Monthly Journal of the Towntownofws.ca/otr

GIRL’S GOT FITNESSFitness Gear that can be

Sourced Affordably

PAGE 12

January 2019

16

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KEY FEATURES

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4 GB GDDR5 memory with NVIDIA GPUDirect™ DMA

Operating power default: 25W; configurable hard cap

from 20 - 60 Watts

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Additional inputs: CVBS (STANAG 3350 optional)

Additional outputs: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0b, DVI

DisplayPort 1.4 digital video outputs:

□ support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) video

□ 4K at 120Hz or 5K at 60Hz with 10-bit color depth

Pascal GPGPU parallel processing:

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PCIe x4 Gen3

Windows and Linux drivers

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CHIP-DOWN DESIGN

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XMC VPU (Video Processing Unit) modules and XMC FGX

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provides multiple video input and output connectors.

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sales@wolf-at.com | International: +1 (905) 852-1163 | USA Toll-Free: 1 (800) 931-4114

WOLF-30D0 Dev Board

January 2019 townofws.ca/otr

From the EditorThis is the first issue of OTR in the New Year

- and it’s all around entrepreneurial. First up is Brian the Ballantrae Geek, who offers person-alized services to those needing help to master those technological Christmas presents. Then, in The Son of Concorde we learn about a fantastic high-tech business headed by Craig McLaren at WOLF Technology. Entrepreneurship classes available for the first half of 2019 are listed on Page 8, while an entrepreneurial approach to Communications is the focus on this month’s JOURNAL. Girl’s Got Fitness and Beacon Hill Physiotherapy will round the slate of new busi-nesses in this edition.

The Holiday Edition of OTR (Nov/Dec 2018) was well received. It was great to feature so many local businesses. However, I made an egregious copy-and-paste error in that issue: three of the addresses in the Christmas farm list were wrong - the map, web address, and phone numbers were right; however, this is inexcusable, and I apologize - especially to the hard working, independent tree farmers! David Tuley, Editor | ecdev@townofws.ca

O T REVOLVE | Son of ConcordeOTR visits WOLF Advanced Technology, a new high-tech industry in Stouffville. WOLF is rapidly growing and will likely become one of the top employers in Whitchurch-Stouffville. We interview the CEO Craig McLaren.

NEED TO KNOW | Community ConnectionsThis month’s Need To Know explores free business classes and consultations with York Small Business Enterprise Centre, and then explores the notion of compassionate transportation.

JOURNAL | A Day in the LifeIn this Journal OTR explores the Anatomy of a Communications Campaign, featuring Town Communications Specialist Glenn Jackson in Making Sense of Roundabouts.

BUSINESS | The First Business of 2019Beacon Hill Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation is probably the first new busi-ness to open in Whitchurch-Stouffville in 2019. The clinic is located at 175 Mostar Street, across the hall from Beacon Hill Family Practice.

4 8 10 14

12

In Focus

15

Community News

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Complex video boards designed locally, see EVOLVE Pg.4

03

Insight

3INSIGHT

“as the resident geek, this is the time of year that when visiting some of my senior clients, I encounter a host of great holiday gifts that seem to have

been sitting idle ever since the children and grandchildren have departed back to their everyday busy lives. This is largely because the “mature folks” who have received these gifts haven’t really had the instruction they require to properly understand and use them. And let’s face it, the ‘younger generation’ are not the best teachers either. They just don’t have the time, patience or necessarily the skills to break things down into an easy set of steps for those far less familiar to follow,” said Brian Freedman.

Brian is the owner of the Ballantrae Geek, a one-person company that provides techni-cal assistance with computers, tablets, audio and visual equipment, and all manner of

InfoBallantrae Geek905-640-0874brian@ballantraegeek.ca ballantraegeek.ca

technology. Given the amount of technology that is handed out as gifts over the holidays, a visit with Brian seemed prudent.

He continues, “There is no reason whatsoev-er for Stouffville area seniors to feel shut out from all the wonderful conveniences, enter-tainment and, yes, even safety benefits that today’s technology enabled devices have to offer. Many of my clients are seniors who feel a little left behind by the digital age that they did not grow up through. Nevertheless, with a little assistance, most are surprised how quick-ly they can come up to speed. This is primarily because of the advances made in recent years to make these devices increasingly simpler to use.”

“Today’s iPads and tablets are a great exam-ple of this. Those who participate in my work-shops for new iPad owners quickly come away feeling confident with all the basic functions of

their new device and eager to learn much more. This is in stark contrast to the traditional ‘com-puter’ which just seemed to take a lifetime to master,” said Brian.

The Ballantrae Geek services are available in-home to Stouffville, Ballantrae, Aurora and Uxbridge area residents at the very moderate cost of $30.00/hour. Small group workshops are also provided in the community, with no more than 4 in attendance, on a variety of popular interests, such as ‘iPad and iPhone for beginners’, and ‘A simple way to manage all of your photos’.

Don’t Let Them Become-Ghosts of Holidays Past

4

“ NASA’s mission to revolutionize air travel has taken a significant step forward as the space agency starts building its X-59 QueSST supersonic jet. The X-59 airplane is dubbed by some as ‘the son of Concorde’ and is being manufactured, on behalf of NASA, by

security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin. NASA’s X-59 isn’t a prototype for a commercial airliner and can’t carry passengers -- but its quiet, supersonic tech could be adopted by aircraft manufacturers in future designs.” [CNN: 19 Nov 2018].

The Concorde’s demise was largely due to the fact that supersonic disruption was banned over land by most countries, because the resul-tant sound booms disturbed people and was thought to damage prop-erty. Flights of the Concorde were therefore limited to over sea routes, whereby the Concorde became economically non-viable. The X-59 is a $247.5 million quest to build a supersonic aircraft that doesn’t produce sonic booms. If NASA’s experimental project works, it should help make supersonic flight more economical.

The design of the X-59 is intended to reduce noise, minimizing and redirecting the sonic boom upwards. “This aircraft has the potential to transform aviation in the United States and around the world by

Son of Concorde

making faster-than-sound air travel over land possible for everyone,” NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a press statement about the Lockheed deal.

The X-59’s designers required rugged video graphics modules to help develop the quiet supersonic technology. “They found their solution from WOLF Advanced Technology in Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario,” according to Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine. The chosen products provide video capture, process, encode, and display capabilities to help enable NASA’s windowless cockpit display system.

WOLF Advanced Technology relocated to Stouffville from Uxbridge in 2018. WOLF took over the 2nd floor of the Beacon Hill Professional Building at 175 Mostar, the same building where the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library was temporarily located in 2017-18 during reconstruction of the Leisure Centre.

WOLF’s technology will allow the pilot to “see” the world outside of a windowless aircraft.

the

and why it is relevant to Stouffville

EVOLVE

5EVOLVE

On a snowy early December afternoon, Town Photographer Julie Williams and I [Dave Tuley, Editor OTR] paid a visit to WOLF Advanced Technology on Mostar Street. We brought a stack of Ballantrae’s famous Nonno Crupi’s Pizza as a holiday gift and

general welcome for WOLF’s staff. Pizza smell had filled the corridors as we followed Patrick Lannigan, Director of Marketing, on our way to interview CEO Craig McLaren. Patrick is familiar to many locally as a fellow resident in Stouffville, and in association with the Verve Theatre Company.

Many of the accent walls within WOLF’s headquarters have been clad in wood, adding a warm tone to the atmosphere. Craig was sitting at a medium sized meeting table in his office awaiting our arrival. Patrick had a video camera trained on Craig’s position - “practice -” he said, “always good to practice interview skills.”

Patrick wired us up with mics and let the cameras roll. The interview commenced with me asking Craig questions.

DT: What does WOLF Advanced Technology do?CM: We are a leading-edge high-tech engineering company that does four things: video capture, video processing, video encoding, and video display. Our primary market is military and aerospace. 8 out of the top 10 military and aerospace companies in the world are customers of Wolf and we’ve sold our products in 22 countries.

DT: What kind of devices do you design?CM: Products that we build are very complex video boards. These are boards that have been used in chassis that are air-cooled, conductive cooled, liquid-flow-by type technologies. What you’ll find is that these products don’t look like anything that you would recognize as a computer board from a normal place... these are designed to be rugged, design for long-life and designed to meet military and aerospace standards. That

puts us in an area where we are charging a premium price for a premium product even though people would not normally assume that a board would command that price.

DT: Who are your other customers?CM: I’d love to be able to tell you, but the programs we are in, because the majority of them are in military and aerospace, we are limited in what we can tell you. You know the names, you’ve heard them before. They are on the TV and anyone doing a quick search on Google will pretty well find a large contingent of them.

DT: What were you doing in 1985? Just to name a year. Were you thinking ‘I’m going to be involved in a business selling products to aerospace companies’?CM: ’85 was a period of time when I was more thinking what am I doing with two kids, but that’s another story. At the time I was a young man who found himself in a situation where I had to get out and get a job to support a family. I appeared to be good at selling. I got involved in building and selling component product.

By the time I was 30 I already had three businesses that I was running while working full time. Shortly thereafter I was driving one particular business that became quite successful. I was tired of selling components. I didn’t want to do that type of technology anymore, so had created a dis-tributor and a value-added reseller building and customizing systems. I did that for 15 years out of my house, where I had 15 people working for me, up until about 8 years ago.

During that time, we realized we had to add value and do more things. I got a few of my friends together that were engineers. We won a contract with Rockwell Collins to develop the flight entertainment system for the

[below] WOLF Advance Technology at 175 Mostar as seen from Soccer City

6 EVOLVE

Boeing 767. It was our first major program, where we instituted graphics processing units (GPU) and different technologies to be able to get rid of rotating media. Many people have flown in a 767 – the original one had a screen at the front of the aircraft where you could see a plane going across (in map view), that was all generated through us. They added other capabilities that we added onto the board. It was the first non-rotating media device with no CD drive - flash drives and GPUs drove the video.

From there, other opportunities came about. We continued to add value. We developed this process involving video capture in code and display. Today, we are one of the premier companies in the world. I know this - all the people who are competitors are basically our partners, and we allow them to sell our products worldwide.

DT: How about WOLF’s growth rate?CM: This has been an interesting time for growth. For the last 5 years we have gone from 70% growth per year on average to this year – we went 100% growth. That entails not only a company that is quite successful and driving a market, but it also means that we are hiring people. In the last year alone, we have doubled the number of people. In this particular facility we now have 55 people, and I fully expect that we will continue to be hiring. We’re actually wondering if we should buy a building.

One of the interesting things about us as a company, because Stouffville is located as a bedroom of the eastern Toronto area, we have access to a lot of really talented people. The broadcast video industry in Canada has had a really tough time. Many of those engineers are who we want, and they live in Newmarket, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Ajax and Whitby. We’re sitting in a situation where we are 30 minutes drive near fields and on really nice roads to come to work. Instead of someone spending an hour and a half on the Parkway going south, they get to stay in local areas coming to us and have a far more enjoyable drive.

We are hiring constantly. We are hiring at a rate of 4 people every month. We are looking for senior hardware design engineers, firmware design engineers, and programmers.

We are shifting the company from what was originally configured as an ISO 9001 to a company that will be AS9100. What that really means, from a quality standpoint is that we are a company that is at the level of companies like Boeing and other very large companies – their expecta-tions and being able to supply them a quality level technology is what we are able to do today.

DT: You export the products?CM: Yes, right now about 95% is exported to the US and a significant amount of business in Europe. We’re headed into the first quarter of 2019 and we’ll be doing a lot of work for Scandinavia, Germany, and France, plus seeking opportunities in Portugal and Spain. We are continually looking to expand. We will be double what we were last year. We look like we will be expanding and adding a manufacturing capability. This is a new thing for us. We are going to start looking for people with surface mount technology expertise… We continually look to raise the bar on everything we do.

DT: Why did you move here from Uxbridge?CM: Uxbridge was a very nice place to work and had the same sort of benefits as Stouffville. Stouffville has clear advantages to us in that more physically capable buildings are available for us, there’s a lot more infra-structure available and it’s closer to the people we want to be in contact with – the bedroom communities and university and colleges that allow us to attract talented people to continue to grow our business. Stouffville is really a great place for high-tech. We should have a high-tech campus here. Please tell everyone that we are looking for top notch talent.

[right]

WOLF’s staff enjoys Nonno Crupi’s for lunch

[opposite]

WOLF CEO Craig McLaren

7EVOLVE

8 NEED TO KNOW

York Small Business Enterprise Centre is offering free Group Business Consultations on the following topics: Types of busi-ness ownerships and registration; Licensing and permits at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels; How to calculate and track your business expenses for taxation purposes; and Tips for writing effective business plans. This is a terrific networking opportunity to meet with others who are thinking of entrepreneurship or are a new business start-up. Group sessions will run from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library on the following dates: January 24, March 28, and May 23.

York Small Business Enterprise Centre is also offering free One-on-One Business Consultations. Whether you are a new business, or you are already established, this is a chance to review your ideas and business needs together. Consultations cover information on

Free Business Consultations York Small Business Enterprise Centre with Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library

InfoYork Small Business Enterprise CentreDaniela Mazzaferro, Small Business Consultant1-877-464-9675 ext. 71584Daniela.mazzaferro@york.ca

marketing, business planning, and financing to help you move forward and grow your business. Registration secures your spot for a private one-hour session with a Small Business Consultant. Appointments are scheduled between 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and spaces are very limited at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library on the following dates: February 21, April 18, and June 20.

Routes Connecting Communities Compassionate Transportation is Expanding to Whitchurch-Stouffville

In the December 2018 issue of the Stouffville Free Press, Editor Bruce Stapley ran an article about Routes Connecting Communities, an organization that provides compassionate transportation. We were curious to learn more, so OTR conducted an interview with RCC Executive Director Danielle Koren (DK:), as follows:

DT: In a nutshell, what does Route Connecting Communities do and why?DK: Routes Connecting Communities is a York Region communi-ty-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people get to where they need to go on their journey since 1988. Our ser-vices provide people who are dealing with life challenges a way to get around through timely, safe, affordable and compassionate transportation. We improve access to basic needs and special des-tinations, enhance community engagement and improve social connections. We help those who are experiencing social, physical, mental and financial limitations to using common transportation methods, and are there in times of need for members of our com-munities. We connect people to their community with a caring con-versation along the way. With our network of partners and drivers, we help you create a resilient future during turbulent times.

DT: Routes Connecting Communities was originally formed as Georgina Mobility Transit by volunteers. How did it evolve to an organization with staff?DK: In 1988, a group of concerned local citizens formed Georgina Mobility Transit to address the transportation challenges faced by some of the local community residents. A year later, Georgina Mobility Transit was incorporated as a registered charity, and thanks to support from the Town of Georgina, it operated a Mobility

9DEVELOPMENT 9NEED TO KNOW

Bus for 12 years. In 1994, Transit Georgina was formed by a group of local citizens who were concerned about the special transporta-tion needs of people who were at high risk of social isolation. These needs would include parents with sole support of their children, youth, frail elderly people, and people suffering from serious acute and chronic illnesses. Transit Georgina grew from an initiative of the Premier’s Council on Health, Well-being and Social Justice. Transit Georgina, which was initially called “The Transportation Club,” was made up of a Rider-Driver matching system. In 2005, Georgina Mobility Transit and Transit Georgina amalgamated to form one consolidated non-profit charity with the goal of improving the transportation needs of Georgina residents.

DT: Why did the name change to Routes Connecting Communities? DK: As Routes Connecting Communities continued to evolve and grow, it was time to reimagine the organizational identity and rebrand the RCC logo. The new logo, We Connect Communities, encompassed the heart of what we do. It allowed for a visual representation of all of the workers, volunteers, and Board members that worked tirelessly to make a dif-ference in the community. Moving people has always been our primary goal, and we now realize we can move people in many more ways than providing rides. Helping people develop and grow is what led to the idea of roots and roads. The word Routes speaks to so many of our ideas and hopes for our community. We’re here to help people discover the routes available in life and to develop strong roots that empower them to inde-pendence. Our organization was known as Georgina Mobility Transit/Transit Georgina for many years. In 2013 we officially became “Routes Connecting Communities”. This more accurately reflects our work while honouring the remarkable roots from which we have grown.

DT: Routes has drivers, staff and administrative overhead – how do you pay for all that?DK: We are currently funded by York Region Transit, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Town of Georgina and CHATS. We also fundraise.

DT: Does the Town of Georgina fund part of your budget? How much?DK: Currently the grant from the Town of Georgina is 10% of our total budget.

DT: You mentioned that Routes is expanding beyond Georgina in two phases – where to and why?DK: We are expanding to all N6 municipalities, especially the ones that show a need (W-S, EG and King). It is part of our mandate to help more York Region residents who are experiencing social, physical, mental and financial barriers to timely, safe and compassionate transportation.

DT: So some Riders pay? How do you decide who pays and the amount charged?DK: Either a client reimburses the driver for the mileage or the office bills a third-party organization (e.g. ODSP, an insurance company or another community organization). A client can also apply for Fee Subsidy Assistance. In addition, all rides to all Food Banks and Food Pantries are free of charge.

DT: Give me an example based in Whitchurch-Stouffville. If a Rider

needed a ride from Ballantrae to Southlake Regional (SRHC), or Stouffville to Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH)? What would it cost and how would the arrangements be made?DK: Ballantrae to SRHC would be around $20 and Stouffville to MSH would be around $12. All rates include a return trip, a two-hour wait time and a maximum of three stops. One extra stop can be arranged for $1. Rates for rides to other destinations are $0.47 per kilometre and a $2 administrative fee per booking.

DT: There are social trips too? What might those look like in W-S?DK: Yes, we offer bus trips to shopping centres (Upper Canada Mall, Cookstown Outlet Mall, Markville Mall), local special events (Christmas Show in Markham) and attractions (ROM, Ripley’s). Cost would be $5 or $10 depending on the destination and the pick-up location(s).

DT: What is Routes’ greatest need for expansion into W-S?DK: Our greatest need is recruiting volunteer drivers in W-S. Currently, our volunteer drivers located in Newmarket and Aurora are providing ride services for W-S residents. DT: How does a person contact you and when can they begin?DK: Our services are provided to residents of York Region who can-not, because of their financial, physical or mental challenges, travel by conventional transit or taxi. Eligibility for our services will be assessed during an intake. Anyone can call the office and request an intake. Registered clients can book rides to destinations within, as well as out-side, the York Region for medical, social, banking, recreational purposes and activities of daily living requirements. However, the driver cannot transport you to an LCBO or a Beer Store as those stops are prohibited. When booking a ride, you will need to provide all details including the date, time, exact address, suite number and, if applicable, the doctor’s name. We offer curb-to-curb service; the driver cannot enter a home so riders must meet our drivers outside. Transportation services are pro-vided on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be booked 48 hours in advance. We will attempt to accommodate last minute emergencies. Pick up times and fees will be confirmed the day before. Clients are respon-sible for any additional parking fees, if applicable.

InfoRoutes Connecting Communities905-722-4616info@routescc.org www.routescc.org

Making Sense of RoundaboutsThe Anatomy of a Communications Campaign by Glenn Jackson

A couple of weeks ago, a fellow staff member came up to me and said, “I wish I had your job.” In a way, I couldn’t disagree with her - communica-tions is fun, challenging and rewarding all at the same time. It is our job to inform you of everything you need to know about what is going on in town. This includes everything from Council proceedings, to upcoming events, to notices about construction. It is our job to find the best possi-ble way too get that information to you.

Your communications team at the Town consists of myself and my part-time assistant Cassandra Papas. Together we try to find the best way to help you stay informed. I guess you can say that is one of the chal-lenging aspects of our jobs.

A communications campaign is a project which is larger in scope than our day-to-day work. Usually they take weeks, and sometimes months, to plan with the ultimate goal of informing as many people as possible. They are both challenging and rewarding. And in the case of our recent Roundabout Etiquette campaign, extremely fun!

This past summer was the perfect opportunity to do such an initiative - we are building more roundabouts within our subdivisions and we were on the verge of a new ‘giant,’ multi-lane one built by the Province at the intersection of Highway 48 and Bloomington Road.

Putting a roundabout campaign together cannot be done overnight. All of our collective communications knowledge needed to come togeth-er into this one big project. We needed to define our audience, our mes-sages and determine our methods.

After researching what other municipalities had done, we concluded we were going to start from scratch. We wanted to make this campaign

with Whitchurch-Stouffville’s stamp on it. We then had to figure out how to get the message out. The first thing

we did was to dedicate one specific information outlet to publicize and house the majority of our roundabout information. We did that by enhancing our Roundabout section on the Town’s website. It would be our central repository of roundabout information.

To compliment this webpage we wanted to make a fun, two-minute educational video, produce a brochure people can carry with them, and purchase newspaper ads in local papers.

For the video, we needed more than an iPhone, so we called our go-to guy Dave Lawlor at Stanley Park Creative in Toronto. Formally from Stouffville, Dave has made some of the Town’s best video productions over the past few years.

For the graphic work - brochures and newspaper ads - the Town’s graphic designer Levi Nicholson of Biohazard Design in Stouffville, was called. His talents (with his amazing eye for professionalism and details) have been seen all over town since the summer and this would be his first big project with us.

With the website revamped by myself, the ball was rolling.Dave was full of ideas for the video, as were we. We nailed down a sto-

ryboard, and for a three-minute video, it is not as easy as it sounds. We wanted a personalized video - with real people and not an animated short (costs skyrocket for those). And we wanted it filmed at a real roundabout in town. So we had to find one.

Again, that may sound easy, but not really. Number one priority is safety while filming. It also has to be attractive. After some reconnais-sance, it dawned on us that the Ballantrae Golf and Country Club has two within their grounds.

After a couple of site visits and emails with Olta Lagji, the Property Manager with FS Residential who oversees Ballantrae G&CC, we were granted permission to film at the course.

To keep costs affordable, we elected not to hire external camera crews to film fancy shots, we didn’t hire a voice-over actor for narration and we didn’t hire professional actors to be in the video. Hence why you see Cassandra and I doing all the talking. We even drove some of the cars!

This video would be the first time the Town’s new drone would be uti-lized. We purchased one earlier in the year for projects like this and the two people who have been trained to fly it, By-Law Enforcement Officer Dave Chatwell and Engineering Technologist Paul Mercer, gave it a whirl. It was flawless.

The complete video, including the drone footage, was completed in a (sunny) one-day shoot. This even included a last minute call to Fire Station 52 in Ballantrae to see if a fire truck could drive around in circles a few times! Thank you to the great firefighters that showed up and Chief Richard Renaud for doing that for us.

The editing process went well, even with some very last minute chang-es that needed to be made. I now have a greater appreciation of why motion pictures take years to make. Editing is not quick.

With the newspaper ads done and submitted, the video complete and uploaded to vimeo.com, the brochures completed and the website over-hauled, we now needed to get the word out.

10 JOURNAL

One of the most cost-efficient methods of getting information out to the public is by social media. Afterall, if you don’t purchase advertising in Facebook or another platform, it’s free.

We used Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to help promote the web-site and the video. The original campaign brought in an audience of close to 8000 views with more coming when we re-launch in the first few months of 2019.

The trusty media release came next. We had a couple of options on how to write the release - we elected to promote the campaign and drive traffic to the video and website as opposed to reiterating the rules of roundabout etiquette. This helped greatly as the Stouffville Free Press and the Stouffville Review ran the story along with the ads.

We were missing something though - I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then… mobile signs. We needed big bright mobile signs on the sides of roads to spread the word. One email to Stouffville’s Mr. Mobile (Phil Barker), and we got one at the corner of Main Street and Ninth Line and one on Hoover Park Drive near the train tracks. Motorists couldn’t pos-sibly miss those!

I had a chat with Stouffville Sun-Tribune reporter Simon Martin when the original media release came out and he mentioned that they would hold off on a story until the Bloomington roundabout was open. That story was published in early December and it helped boost the campaign again. Not only did we use page two for the Roundabout Etiquette ad, but the story, with an accompanying photo, appeared on the prime real estate of page one. Time to order more brochures!

We also used our weekly radio show The Talk of the Town, our Council eNewsletter and our Town LED signs to help promote the campaign.

For a communications campaign with limited budget, limited resourc-es and some strict deadlines, I say it was mission accomplished. We used a personalized approach at conveying information that though universal in nature, featured our home of Whitchurch-Stouffville.

In theory, we could do this campaign again and again. And we might just do that. Roundabouts will not be going away anytime soon. We need to embrace them and learn the proper etiquette while in them.

InfoPick up the “Roundabout Etiquette” brochure at Town facilitiesWebpage: townofws.ca/roundabouts Video: vimeo.com/288070764

[above] Stanley Park Creative’s Dave Lawlor instructs Cassandra Papas on her next shot in the roundabout video[opposite] Dave Chatwell and Paul Mercer maneuver the drone

11DEVELOPMENT 11NEED TO KNOW

12 IN FOCUS

Y es, affordable fitness gear - it exists as provided by Girl’s Got Fitness. As a matter of fact, the business is headquartered right under your nose in a residential neighbourhood in Stouffville. I met with Jannah Cadogan, founder of Girl’s Got Fitness, at the

Main Street Bakehouse where she is often found with her laptop, catch-ing up on business between child drop-offs and pick-ups.

I had sought Jannah out, being simply surprised that an online apparel storefront existed in Stouffville that no one seems to know about. Jannah isn’t secretive - she and family are in plain view, locally and online; you just have to know where to look.

Jannah’s path to where she is now was unplanned, although looking back - she followed a logical progression. She was raised in Oshawa, attended university in Guelph, and then landed a hospitality job in Barbados, where she lived 7 years. In Barbados, she had access to a beau-tiful gym facility - she got a taste for fitness and loved it. Upon returning to Ontario, she got a job at a fitness studio in Cannington. The owners

Girl’s Got Fitness Affordable Fitness Gear

InfoGirl’s Got Fitnessfacebook.com/GirlsGotFitnesswww.girlsgotfitness.com

13IN FOCUS

of the facility were C.H.E.K certified, a respected and advanced training certification program that takes two to four years to complete. She too became C.H.E.K certified as a Level 2 Practitioner.

With training and experience under her belt, Jannah moved to Toronto and operated a Boot Camp program for just under 10 years. She met her husband while in Toronto - ironically, his roots were in Barbados, a place that Jannah knew well. After having a second child, the Cadogans moved to Stouffville in pursuit of a family atmosphere. While on maternity leave, Jannah found it difficult to justify her passion for purchasing top fitness wear from the malls - the $100 price tag for quality leggings was simply too much, yet anything cheaper was too low in quality.

Jannah started to research fitness gear suppliers around the world. When she located good quality merchandise at half the price, she knew she was onto something. She decided to launch her own business. Girl’s Got Fitness began in earnest as an online storefront last May. She recalls panicking when they went live -would she get customers? It took time and lots of social media, but “My sales are good,” says Jannah, “especially when I have time for marketing, but - I’m a mom first.”

The focus of Girl’s Got Fitness is primarily leggings and sports bras. She shows me some photos of her leggings - “These have the proper waistband width and have the hidden pockets, good quality for $39-50,” she said. When a purchase is made from the online portal, the items are shipped direct from the factory globally. Currently shipping is free.

Jannah’s approach to business is lifestyle oriented. On the Girl’s Got Fitness Facebook site, she presents who she is - family photos, ravine walking, an occasional glass of wine, travelling. She concluded, “Curating this collection of fitness apparel has been nothing short of fun. I want my customers to love our pieces as much as I do and am excited for our products to become part of their workout wardrobe.” She is currently looking for ambassadors around the world to help push the products.

14 BUSINESS

Beacon Hill Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation is probably the first new business to open in Whitchurch-Stouffville in 2019. The clinic is located at 175 Mostar Street on the main floor, below WOLF Technology (featured on Page 4). At the forefront is Physiotherapist Phil Genesis - this will be the 2nd clinic he has opened. For Phil, this is a homecoming, as he grew up in the Markham-Stouffville area and has always aimed to bring a premier facility to his hometown community.

Phil graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy in 2012. His clinical internships were completed with distinction for exemplary performance in orthopaedic rehabil-itation. He has a strong academic and clinical background and has advanced training within The Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapy, medical acupuncture, concussion rehab, and athletic taping.

The focus of Beacon Hill Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation is, says Phil, “The quick treatment of pain through a full array of physio and rehab services, and offering convenience so the patient can focus on getting better.” He says that the team is available late and on weekends

First Business of 2019Beacon Hill Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

[above] Phil Genesis of Beacon Hill Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, sitting beside neighbour Dr. Efosa of Beacon Hill Family Practice[left] Phil Genesis in his new clinic

to help schedule appointments. “We aim to book your initial assess-ment within 24 business hours.” They also offer direct billing to almost every insurance company to eliminate out of pocket expenses.

Phil says that he consciously co-located across the corridor from Beacon Hill Family Practice. “Your doctor is always our partner, it takes a team approach to provide high quality health care. That is why we never take your doctor out of the equation.” Dr. Efosa Igbinovia opened the adjacent family practice in the spring of 2018. They are both accept-ing new patients.

InfoBeacon Hill Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation 175 Mostar St., Suite 107905-591-5588beaconhillphysio.ca

Notice of Council Meetings

Agendas for Council and Public meetings will be available for review at the Municipal Offices, Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library and on our website at 12 p.m. (noon) the Thursday prior to the meeting.

Upcoming Council Meetings:• Tues., January 15, 2019 - 5:00 p.m.• Tues., January 22, 2019 - 3:00 p.m.• Tues., February 5, 2019 - 7:00 p.m.• Tues., February 19, 2019 - 3:00 p.m.

Upcoming Public Meetings:• Tues., January 22, 2019 - 7:00 p.m.

(if required)• Tues., February 19, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. (if

required)

Council Meetings take place in the Council Chambers, 111 Sandiford Drive, Stouffville, unless otherwise noted.

To listen to the Council meetings live, visit townofws.ca/cmlivestream. Also follow our Twitter account @ws_townhall for live updates during council meetings.

Join our Council E-Newsletter at: eepurl.com /cKPNg9

Town Hall: 111 Sandiford Dr., Stouffville ON L4A 0Z8 Customer Service: (905) 640-1900 or (855) 642-TOWN (8696) townofws.ca

COMMUNITYNEWSJanuary 15 - February 14, 2019

THE TOWN OF WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE

Library News

P.A. Day Workshop: Kitchen Creations Friday, January 18, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.What creations can be made in our kitchens? Participants will conduct experiments – both culinary & scientific. Workshop includes games, crafts, and a tour of the Museum. Cost: $50.00. Recommended ages: 5-12. Pre-registration is required. Workshop Barcode: 5993; Before Care: 5994; After Care: 5995

Exhibit: A Stitch in TimeFebruary 5 through April 27Created to demonstrate virtue, achievement and industry, samplers have an important place in early Canadian history. Enjoy examples of intricate hand stitched samplers from the Museum’s collection. Included with general admission.

Sweets & Treats WorkshopSaturday, February 9, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Spend the day creating apple roses and other treats. Make your own Valentine’s Day cards, play games, and tour the Museum. Cost: $50.00 Recommended ages: 5-12. Pre-registration required. Barcode: 5996

Family Fun DayMonday, February 18Visit the Museum between 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. to see what it was like to be a settler in York Region. Included with general admission.

In partnership with York Regional Forest, register for free snowshoe walks at the Hollidge Tract in York Regional Forest (16389 Hwy. 48). Walks at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Register online: www.townofws.ca/museum.

Call 905-727-8954 for more information.Register online or in person at the Leisure Centre or Museum.

Museum News

Teen Study HallWe’re staying open late on six dates in January just for Stouffville’s high school students to study for exams! Show us your High School student ID and we will give you a wristband for proof of entry. Coffee, bottled water and snacks will be available for a nominal fee.

Thursday, January 10, 8:30-10:00 p.m.Saturday, January 12, 5:00-8:00 p.m.Sunday, January 13, 5:00-8:00 p.m.Thursday, January 17, 8:30-10:00 p.m.Saturday, January 19, 5:00-8:00 p.m.Sunday, January 20, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

YSBEC Group Business ConsultationsAre you thinking of starting a business? Participating in a group consultation by the York Small Business Enterprise Centre at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library is a great way to navigate the initial steps. Group consultations will be held on January 24 from 10: 00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Please register at www.yorksmallbusiness.ca/services/consultations/group-consultations/

Adult Paint NightGet creative with the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library! Join us as we follow a YouTube tutorial and create our own artistic masterpieces. Classes are limited to 12 people. January 24, 2019 at 6:15 p.m. $10 per person; pre-registration required.

Family Craft Join us for a fun, creative craft that the whole family can enjoy on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 11:45 a.m. All ages are welcome! $5/child. Pre-registration required.

STEAM Launch Join us on Sunday, January 27 for Family Literacy Day as we kick-start our STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts & Math) Certificates with a launch party! Attend STEAM based programs at the library and get a certificate after completing programs based on all the different aspects of STEAM. Watch for more details and opportunities at the library on how you can earn a STEAM certificate through library programs.

News, events and happenings around town with hosts Glenn Jackson and Cassandra Papas

What’s going on in Whitchurch-Stouffville?

New episode every Monday on:Facebook - SoundCloud - townofws.ca

PODCAST

O T R

On the Road in Whitchurch-Stouffville tells the story of businesses, tourism and agriculture in Whitchurch-Stouffville. It is the official monthly journal of the Town, produced by the Economic Development Department. Circulation 18,000. Published since November 2016. Contact the editor David Tuley at ecdev@townofws.ca

O T RThe above sponsors answered a call for support and have graciously provided OTR with funding for 2019. They do not endorse or control the content within these pages.

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The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville seeks sponsors to support OTR