1999 Canadian Facilities

Did you know that Ontario’s Niagara region is a leading producer of fine wines? It is. And while we at Site Selection don’t know whether 1999 was a particularly good year for Cabernet Sauvignon, one thing is clear: Business expansion in Ontario — and across Canada — was very strong last year.
Following are brief profiles of some of the larger new and expanding corporate facilities that made headlines across Canada last year.

Ontario: Cisco Systems expanded its Ottawa operations, moving into a US$2.7 million, 55,000-sq.-ft. (5,100-sq.-m.) office and laboratory facility. The company, though, isn’t through growing in the increasingly high-tech city.

At press time, Cisco had plans to add an additional 15,000 sq. ft. (1,400 sq. m.) of space in Ottawa by the end of 1999, and another 70,000 sq. ft. (6,500 sq. m.) by fall 2000. “We’re finding we’re able to hire quality people here, and that’s what’s driving our growth,” reports Site Manager Blair Colquhoun.

“Given the strategic role of telecommunications networks in the 21st century and the ever-increasing world market in this field, we are proud to back the development of a company like Primetech Electronics,” says Deputy Premier and Minister of State for the Economy and Finance Bernard Landry.

British Columbia: Construction has begun on Conair’s state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Abbotsford. The 242,000-sq.-ft. (22,500-sq.-m.) center will create 800 new jobs.

“The global commercial aircraft maintenance market is huge,” Farnworth says. “B.C. has the facilities, skilled workers, location and reputation in the industry to continue building our market share.”

Alberta: Supreme International completed a $1 million expansion of its Wetaskiwin farm equipment plant, creating 20 jobs. CEO George Hunerfauth says sales have been brisk, despite an overall depressed global market for farm implements.

Manitoba: Gage Marketing Support Services is opening its second facility in Manitoba with support from the provincial government. The company has committed to the creation of 226 new jobs during the next three years at a new inbound call center in Selkirk.

“We have already exceeded our five-year business target in Winnipeg, and we’re impressed with the quality of the work our employees are providing,” says company President Joe Thomas. “We’re delighted with the success we’ve had, and we hope to replicate it in Selkirk.”

Saskatchewan: Mitchell’s Gourmet Foods announced a $31 million expansion of its Saskatoon plant that will create more than 160 jobs. The company will build a new smoked sausage and wiener facility adjacent to its current factory. The provincial government is contributing more than $670,000 to bring new technology to the plant and train new employees.

Nova Scotia: Scotiabank announced an expansion of its Halifax call center that will create more than 300 new jobs and double the facility’s size during the next three years.

“This expansion will support the phenomenal growth in the number of calls — over 100 percent during the past two years — at Scotiabank call centers across Canada,” says Albert Wahbe, Scotiabank executive vice president of electronic banking and president of e-Scotia.com.

“I’m thrilled with this expansion,” Economic Development Minister Gordon Balser says. “We’re investing in Nova Scotians by supporting training and recruitment in this center. Scotiabank’s decision is concrete proof that our work force, infrastructure and our community colleges are among the best anywhere.”

New Brunswick: RMH TeleServices, a U.S.-based teleservices company, will open a second provincial call center in Saint John, ultimately creating 600 new jobs for the region. The company’s first New Brunswick center opened last year in Oromocto.

“We have been extremely pleased with the employees in the Oromocto center, and judging from what we have seen so far in Saint John, this center will be equally as impressive,” RMH Executive Vice President Mike Scharff says.

Prince Edward Island: Canshop.com Corp., a new e-commerce firm based in Ottawa, is opening a customer relations management (CRM) center in Montague that will employ some 40-plus Islanders within a year. The firm plans to be a world leader in e-commerce retail and online customer service.

“We are excited to be moving our CRM center to Prince Edward Island and plan on creating tremendous employment opportunities in the Montague area,” says company CEO Matt Ebbs. “We would like to thank all the partners involved for being so supportive in making

SS