The future direction of business in Estevan was the focus of a panel discussion Thursday during the Estevan Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural business summit at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus.
Ray Frehlick from Prairie Mud Services, Nathan Wilhelm with Wilhelm Construction, Dr. Sarah Sliva from South East Eye Care and Pete Sereggela from the Tower Café, 1124 Social House and The Tap House discussed their business backgrounds and their thoughts on the direction of the community.
They represented different business sectors in the community, and have varying degrees of experience as well.
Among the topics discussed during the summit was the future of Units 4 and 5 at SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Power Station, and how their pending retirement will affect the local business climate.
“We can’t lose the plants and expect this community to stay the same as it is, because it’s what built us, and it’s what’s going to keep us going,” said Jim Wilson, one of the people in attendance.
Wilhelm said it has come up at the economic development committee. Sliva, meanwhile, said it’s important to have a large and united voice on the issue.
While the closure of the plants might not have an direct impact on her, there would be an indirect impact on both her business and family.
“My kids’ friends would be moving away because mom and dad are leaving,” said Sliva. “It all affects us one way or another.”
Frehlick brought attention to another issue facing the local economy: the significant price differential between West Texas Intermediate oil its Western Canada Select counterpart.
“That’s a huge hit on all Canadians, the money we’re losing, because we have only one customer, and that’s the U.S.,” said Frehlick. “We have no pipelines to be able to supply the demand. Until we get pipelines, until we get the infrastructure to move our oil, we’re going to suffer.”
They also discussed agriculture in the community, and the possibility for a canola crushing plant. Frehlick questioned whether people would see a return on their investment on such a plant.
He noted he was the chairperson of Southland Pulse Inc. when it opened a plant northwest of Estevan in 2001, and he was previously involved an effort that studied an ethanol plant in Estevan.
“There’s tremendous risk, and even if you do feasibility studies and do all the homework you can, there are always obstacles that come up if you’re not prepared,” Frehlick said.
Sereggela said the more that can be brought to Estevan, the better off the community will be.
Other issues were discussed. Wilhelm pointed out the need to retain the businesses currently here, in addition to bringing new businesses to the city. One person in attendance clapped loudly in support of Wilhelm’s assertion.
“I think if we can put a little bit more effort and thought into the businesses that are here in the community, I think that’s going to go a little bit further,” said Wilhelm.
A geothermal plant that has been proposed for the southeast could be beneficial for greenhouse sales, he said.
There were also discussions on what the City of Estevan could do to bring more businesses to the community, and how Estevan can improve its image.
“I think everybody’s moving in the right path,” said Sereggela. “I think when everything was busy and everyone was booming and all the shops were open, and there wasn’t a single space to rent at the time. Nobody was really thinking about it. Maybe that was the time we should have been.
“As a city all together, or maybe as a downtown, we need to look at ways to make Estevan just a little more beautiful, a little more attractive, not just to people who are travelling through, but people who are living here.”
Wilhelm noted that earlier in the day, he was in Carlyle for the grand opening of a business that had been in Estevan but relocated to the town an hour away. The reasons they chose Carlyle were listed, and they included the land and the cost of development levies and taxes.
“I think the city is starting to take some of the right steps towards getting the right people in the right chairs at city hall, and it’s night and day doing business now with this administration as opposed to the previous one,” said Wilhelm.
Wilhelm believes it would be beneficial for people to get out and vote in civic elections.
Frehlick said it’s important for young people to get involved with their communities, particularly when it comes to service clubs.
“A lot of the communities we used to go to can’t find help anymore, or a lot of the old-timers have passed away, and a lot of the young people aren’t stepping forward and they have to cancel these fundraisers.”
Sliva said people should be proud to live in Estevan. When her family came here nearly a decade ago, she said the perception was that Estevan was filled with clusters of small town people living in a city.
But she is proud to have a business here and raise a family in Estevan.
The panel was the final part of the day. Other highlights of the summit were Nicole Davis from Daybreak Mill, who opened the event by discussing slow food values in a fast-paced world. Estevan MLA Lori Carr, who was named the minister of Highways and Infrastructure earlier in August, provided a political review.
Amy Groothuis discussed workplace impairment and the latest information for employers now that cannabis is legal. Her speech was timely since it came the day after recreational cannabis was legalized in Canada.
The first panel discussion of the day was held before lunch, and it featured insights from Trinda Jocelyn of Trinda Jocelyn Design, Brady Johnson from Encompass Fitness Studio, Josh LeBlanc from Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate Service, Sheena Onrait from Southeast College and Jeff Pierson from the Days Inn regarding online business.
Jasmine Gray from the Saskatchewan’s Centre for Entrepreneurship’s Square One program offered tips on starting a business, and Warren Jackson from the Business Development Bank of Canada provided an update on trends, transitions and technology.
The summit was offered in honour of Small Business Week from Oct. 14-20.
