Should you use a personal loan for businesses?

 Have you ever considered taking a personal loan to drive your business? In contrast to business loans, personal loans fall in the category of unsecured loans that will be given to individuals based on their credit scores and income. Most importantly, personal loans provide you with the flexibility of using

Four tips for investing success

 Successful investing is a slow and steady journey. It requires patience and dedication over the long term. The good news is that the longer you invest, the greater the opportunity to grow your savings. A sound understanding of your investments will serve you well on your path to long-term financial

Tipping Etiquette 101

 Tipping has always been a mystery to me. At the end of every restaurant experience, I have a moment of dread when the server brings the bill – how much do I tip? I never know if a dining experience has been pleasant because it was supposed to be, translating

Eight practices to be an effective executive

 Peter Druker used to say that it is valid to find diverse leaders in terms of personality, attitudes, values, strengths and weaknesses which means that an effective executive does not need to be a leader in the sense that is currently given to this term. The leader is not necessarily

Connect the digital dots in your business during the holidays

 The festive season is an important period for many small businesses. Demand for goods and services tends to be at an all-time high, and if you can deliver a great experience during a peak period, you may wind up with some very loyal customers. Getting this right is more vital

Ontario Looks to Bolster Laws on Corporate Uniforms

 If your business operates in the retail, travel, event production and/or hospitality industries, or in any other industry that requires employees to wear a uniform, be sure to make note of proposed Ontario legislation that seeks to limit what your company can mandate what its employees must wear as part

FranNet President Gary Prenevost says Ottawa is great place for small business

 Gary Prenevost, President of Southern Ontario and Eastern Canada at FranNet, conducted a franchise information seminar this past week at Invest Ottawa, and presented and exhibit at the Franchise Expo in Ottawa. As one of Canada’s top franchise matchmaking experts and a franchisee himself, Mr. Prenevost provided his insights on

The ins and outs of renovation warranties

 When you hire a contractor to renovate or improve your home, there are many details that need to be spelled out in your work order or contract. These include a thorough description of the work to be done, the work schedule to be followed, and what amounts you will pay

Should You Turn Your Hobby into a Business? 5 Questions to Ask

 The legendary Reg Park, mentor to Arnold Schwarzenegger and 3-time Mr. Universe was a British bodybuilding icon. He went on to star in several feature length movies as Conan and even had a brief stint in Hollywood. But his fame and fortune was built on humble foundations: He did what

Blackiron Takes Shape

 Gerry McGillvray, the founder and president of Blackiron. With a sleek new name, an airy office overlooking the Ottawa River and some fresh faces amongst its staff, Ottawa’s new Blackiron advertising agency has found its shape. Formerly BBandM Advertising + Media, Blackiron was forged out of the older agency’s smoothest

Why Your Business Needs a Jib Crane

 Most people underestimate how hard owning and operating of a small business can be. Although running any small business is challenging, running an industrialized small business can be even harder. There are many different variables that can affect how your  and neglecting any one of them can be disastrous. A

Algonquin College Plans Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship

 Marie-Cecile Nottaway, photo credit to Wawatay Catering. As graduates made their way to the stage at Algonquin College’s recent convocation ceremonies, there were no violins. Instead, the graduates’ processional moved to the powerful beat of the pow-wow drum. It was a way for the College to acknowledge that the ceremony, and

Poking the Hive

 In this era of elevator pitches, sound bites and speed networking, you might think that everything in life has become instant, optional, superficial and fleeting, including our connections. Everyone seems to be overwhelmed and in transition, so there is no time or need to grow deep roots anymore, right? The

Killing the Goose

 What continues to puzzle me is the human compulsion to ruin a good thing by wanting too much, pushing too hard, poisoning wells and destroying resources. Among the root causes are recklessness, opportunism, arrogance, greed and folly. An unfortunate aspect of human nature is that, often, enough is not enough.

Dedication to Community and Real Food Fuels New OCCO Kitchen

 All photos courtesy of Justin Counter. Ottawa’s number one restaurant on Trip Advisor just got a big upgrade.  For the past year, Ottawa residents have been crowding a tiny takeout restaurant on St. Joseph Boulevard in Orleans called OCCO Kitchen. The restaurant is the vision of Chef Mark Steele, the former

Taking Care of Business With Janice McDonald

 Photo courtesy of Paul Couvrette Janice McDonald is a powerful entrepreneur. So powerful, in fact, that McDonald has made the top 100 in Women's Executive Network’s Canada’s Most Powerful Women List for the past three years. After congratulating her for such a feat, McDonald chuckles. “I can tell you this,

A Corporate Stay is a Cozy Stay

 Whether you're travelling for business or for pleasure, homesickness is out of the picture with Corporate Stays. With multiple options in every major Canadian city, as well as locations in NYC, Miami, Mexico, Europe and South America, a Corporate Stay’s executive apartment provides you and your family with a comfortable, luxuriously furnished and

Algonquin College is making waves and winning awards

 Cheryl Jensen is making an impact. Jensen became Algonquin College’s eighth President just over one year ago in August, 2014. She brought 31 years of experience as a professor, dean and vice president and a reputation for  creating strategies that responded to both industry trends and to the needs of students, employees,

Learning about the Middle Kingdom with the Canada-China Friendship Society of Ottawa

 The  relationship  between  China and  Canada  is  complex.  For starters, China  is  Canada’s  second largest trading partner. Over 80,000 Chinese  students  are  studying  in Canada. Chinese visitors are the third largest group of tourists in Canada and more Canadians than ever are going to China to do business, work, study

Kayla Pongrac: Bringing Local Flavour to Life with Art and Design

 Photo credit: Blair Pongrac  When you head to one of Ottawa’s top restaurants, like Ace Mercado on Clarence Street, you go for the experience. It’s not just about the great food, but also the atmosphere, smells and sounds. A lot of thought, planning and passion go into creating that atmosphere

Former PM John Turner and the Arctic Youth Corps

 Should Justin Trudeau’s Liberals revive a 1965 Throne Speech promise? "I really became a Canadian when I got to know Canada north of the 60th parallel... I have never felt more Canadian than when alone with my thoughts in the remote northern vastness." —Former Prime Minister John Turner Former Prime

Let’s Go on an Adventure

 Canada is a big place. If you’ve ever travelled to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal, you know there is a vast amount of culture that makes each city unique. The same can be said for all of the smaller towns across the country. The only difference is you probably haven’t

Ottawa Socialites Gather Over Shoes, Fashion and Business

 Stilettos and Martinis, a social club for women who love shoes, martinis and networking, hosted its second event in the Nordstrom shoe department on Thursday, May 21. The series of Stilettos and Martinis events are organized by Bri Anderson-Jackson, photographer and owner of Voulez-Vous Boudoir Photography. Organizer Bri Anderson-Jackson and guest.

Latin Expo 2015: Visit Latin America Without Leaving Ottawa

 Culture, community and commerce are coming together for one high-powered event that’s sure to spice up your Sunday. The third annual Latin Expo will take place at Ottawa City Hall on Sunday, May 17, 2015. “It’s like going to Latin America without getting out of Ottawa,” says Red MELOG public

An Exclusive with U.S. Ambassador Bruce A. Heyman

 The United States Ambassador to Canada, Bruce A. Heyman, arrived in Ottawa last summer and has been one of the most active U.S. ambassadors in decades. In less than a year, Heyman has hosted seven senior United States cabinet members in Canada, including several visits by Secretary of State John