derment (not unlike getting your prod-uct to market). Along the way theymeet the most fantastic cast of charac-ters, and some become great friends,who buy into her simple desire. TheMunchkins in this tale have a singledirective – “Follow the yellow brickroad” – for it leads to Oz, where shecan meet the all-powerful Wizard whowill make her wish come true.

In Dorothy’s case, one wish (idea)stood alone and shone brightest. Evenbefore the end we all rallied and knewher plea. We became her championsand as such, we cheered her on andunderstood her message that indeed“There’s no place like home.” That‘swhat your ad message needs to do aswell – build on your own unique idea.

Make it simple, make it understand-able, and make it yours. Present a con-sistently good and passionate messageand keep it on the path, one that willwin over customers, time and again.

But that’s not all Dorothy’s wish accom-plished. When she met the Scarecrowshe invited him to join her, for shebelieved his dream could be realized aswell. Ultimately he came along becausehe bought into her passion and heridea. She won him over. Likewise, theTin Man and the Lion joined her for thesame reason, a simple belief. Thoughthey shared one path, their end needswere different, and Dorothy was able todeliver them their heart’s desire. Shegave them what they needed most, aneed to feel good about themselves,and their decisions.

Ultimately our goal as advertisers isnot all that different. The Yellow BrickRoad, although fraught with dangerand peril, can direct us to success.

Deliver your message consistentlyand never waver. Along the way, makefriends who rise to your call. Give yourcustomers one idea that they cangrasp onto and hold as their own. Givethem one idea that connects themwith you, and you with them, just asDorothy did. In the end you’ll discoverwhat we all look for – a good storywell told, with a happy ending willbring your customers home... withToto, too.

WATERCOOLER

Linamar Corp., Canada's second-largest auto-parts maker, will spendmore than C$1 billion ($900 million)

with the help of a government grant tobuild a research and development centre.The center will be constructed in Guelph,where the company's headquarters arelocated, and the grant will contributeC$44.5 million to the C$1.1 billion project,the provincial government said in a state-ment on its Website.

Linamar will train about 3,000 employ-ees at the center during the next five years.In November, the company said it expect-ed 2006 to be a year of “growth preparation” as factory production is shifted to makenew engines and six-speed transmissions now being used in the auto industry.

The company operating in Canada, Mexico and Europe, had a profit of C$100 mil-lion, or C$1.41 a share, on revenue of C$2.16 billion last year.

Guelph Mayor Kate Quarrie said she is thrilled with Linamar and the provincialgovernment’s announcement about the company’s $1.1 billion expansion. “LinamarCorporation has long been one of Guelph’s outstanding success stories. [This]announcement – and what it means for this community – is extraordinary news forthe city.” Quarrie congratulated Linda Hasenfratz, President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Linamar Corporation, for her receipt of the Business, Labour, andEntrepreneurs Women’s Award as part of the Women of Distinction Awards.

A Waterloo Region automobile dealeris making Canadian automotiveretailing history. John Hanson isowner of Hanson Chevrolet-Pontiac-Buick-GMC in NewHamburg, Ontario. On June 17, thatbusiness celebrated the grand open-ing of the first General Motors “dualshowroom franchise” in Ontario. Thenew Hanson facility includes a fullChevrolet showroom, and a completePontiac-Buick-GMC showroom, allunder one roof. The attractive, glass-

fronted building is graced with two different “towers,” one the Chevrolet entrance,the other, Pontiac-Buick-GMC.

Allprint Ainsworth Associates Inc. iscelebrating its 30th year in business.Allprint Ainsworth is a Kitchener compa-ny, once known simply as a printing com-pany, but today offering “integrated mar-keting and communication solutions.”

Owner KlausErtle had servedas productionmanager atAinsworth Pressprior to foundinghis own company,Allprint, in 1976.He had worked inthe printing busi-ness since the1950s. By 1979,

Make it simple,

make it understandable,

and make it yours.

Linda Hasenfratz, Premier Dalton McGuintyand Frank Hasenfratz.

John Hanson owner of Hanson Chevrolet-Pontiac-Buick-GMC in New Hamburg

Klaus Ertle

JULY/AUGUST 2006 l exchangemagazine.com l 39

Volkswagen Waterloo

550 Weber Street North, Waterloo, ONTel: (519) 884-7470 info@vwwaterloo.com

www.vwwaterloo.com

2007 RabbitWhat’s up Doc?

exchangejulaug06_pgs22-48 6/19/06 4:25 PM Page 39

the company had moved to larger quar-ters twice, and employed 40 people. By1987, Allprint occupied a 36,000 squarefoot building on Ontonabee Street.

In 1993, Allprint acquired the sharesof the Ainsworth Group from SouthamInc., and the present company, AllprintAinsworth Associations Inc. came intobeing. The company now has morethan 80 employees in a 50,000 squarefoot facility.

Klaus Ertle characterizes the printingindustry in the 21st century as one of“constant change... the rate of changehas escalated.”

Guelph City Councillor Gloria Kovachhas been elected President of theFederation of Canadian Municipalitiesat the Annual Conference andMunicipal Expo of FCM held inMontreal. Over 1,500 delegates fromcommunities across the country attend-ed the conference. With CouncillorKovach chairing the event, Guelph was

given thenational spot-light.

“I know thatC o u n c i l l o rKovach will bean excellentrepresentativefor the City ofGuelph to therest of Canada,and that shewill be a strong

president in terms of representing theviews and needs of Canadian munici-palities to the federal, provincial, andterritorial governments,” Guelph MayorKate Quarrie said.

Councillor Kovach is eager to take onthis latest challenge. “I am truly hon-oured to be entrusted with thePresidency for the upcoming year and Ilook forward to working on a multitudeof issues including working with thefederal, provincial and territorial gov-ernments to find a solution to the fiscalimbalance.”

The Federation of CanadianMunicipalities has been the nationalvoice of municipal government since1901. With more than 1,300 members,FCM represents the interests of munici-palities on policy and program mattersthat fall within federal jurisdiction. FCMis dedicated to improving the quality oflife in all communities by promotingstrong, effective and accountablemunicipal government

The 2006 Guelph Awards of Excellencewinners were announced in mid-June, ata gala event hosted by the GuelphChamber of Commerce. For full informa-tion about all awards, visitwww.exchangemagazine.com/XQuarterly/associations.html

40 l exchangemagazine.com l JULY/AUGUST 2006

Gloria Kovach

Mayor Kate Quarrie presents the Mayor’sAward to Gil Stetler.

Mayor Quarrie presents the Mayor’s Award toJoyce Doyle, who received it in memory of herlate husband, Terry Doyle.

Presenter Bill Higgins, left, presents the UnitedWay Guelph and Wellington Campaign Awardto Linda Desando and Kristen Harron, repre-senting the Co-operators.

Guelph Mayor Kate Quarrie, right, presents theMayor’s Award to Mary DuQuesnay.

Photo at right, Sponsor Brent Barr presents thePeople Focus Certificate Award to Konnie Peet,of the Guelph Community Health Centre.

Mayor Quarrie presents the Mayor’s Award toRon Asselstine.

PH

OT

OG

RA

PH

Y:

BO

B H

OU

SS

ER

Let our professionals enhancethe value of your home.

519-664-1426 www.rileypainting.com

CleanResponsible

Efficient

44112255 WWeeiimmaarr LLiinnee,, RR..RR.. 33,, WWeelllleesslleeyy

((551199)) 550033--00669977EEmmaaiill:: kkrryynniicckkii@@ggoollddeenn..nneett

• Specialist in ResidentialDesign and Consultation

• Experienced in all types and sizes of new housing,additions and renovations

R I C H A R DK R Y N I C K I

B. Tech. (Arch. Sci.)

exchangejulaug06_pgs22-48 6/19/06 1:50 PM Page 40

Kitchener’s Environmental AdvisoryCommittee has presented City Councilwith a comprehensive report toimprove Kitchener’s air quality. Staffwill now develop a public consultationprocess to get residents’ feedback onthe report's recommendations. Thereport, which contains over 50 recom-mendations, urges Kitchener toimprove local air quality by identifyingseveral, key long term objectives andimplementingspecific strate-gies and initia-tives to meetthem.

“Air qualityremains one ofthe pressingproblems ofmodern cities,and the city ofKitchener is noexception. As

rapid urbaniza-tion continues atan increasingpace, health andenv i ronmenta limpacts resultingfrom air qualityd e g r a d a t i o ndemonstrate thebreadth and mag-nitude of the chal-lenge,” noted the advisory committee’sreport.

The report identifies three long-termobjectives:1. Reducing emissions from major

regional sources including cars,trucks, buses, construction and railequipment and industrial, commer-cial and institutional sources;

2. Development and implementation oflocal air quality initiatives (includingsupporting compact urban develop-ment and enhancing green spacemanagement);

3. Enhancing air quality information

JULY/AUGUST 2006 l exchangemagazine.com l 41

Sponsor Dr. Christopher McKenna with TanyaRiemann and Andrew MacKay of PlatypiDesigns, winner of the Planning, and PeopleFocus Certificate Awards.

Peter Hannam, left, received the Guelph Part-nership for Innovation Award from sponsor PaulAnderson.

Kevin Kelly, left, received the Guelph Chamberof Commerce President’s Plaque for for Exem-plary Service, presented by Paul Schmidt.

Riki Westrik receives the Downtown Volunteerof the Year Award, presented in memory ofSherry Hall, from Dennis Deters.

Michael Weinstein, left, presents the UnitedWay President’s Campaign Award to MarinoGazzola, of the Wellington Catholic DistrictSchool Board.

Suzanne Bone, of Guelph General Hospital,received the University of Guelph Managementand Workplace Education Award from presen-ter Fred Kuntz.

DENSO Manufacturing Canada won several Guelph Quality Awards: Planning, Leadership, PeopleFocus, Business Results, Process Management. DENSO President Ken Nagao is shown, centre, withthe 2006 Guelph Quality Award Trophy for Business Excellence.

Berry Vrbanovic

Claude Schneider

eldon galleryuptown waterloo

InnovativeSolutionsforCorporateGifts &RewardPrograms

14 King Street North, Waterloo(519) 886-0886bkheldon@rogers.com

exchangejulaug06_pgs22-48 6/19/06 1:50 PM Page 41

and public awareness (includingeducational programs and strategiesfor students and residents).“I’m really proud of this initiative, it is

moving us toward being an even moreresponsible, innovative, healthy andenergy efficient community,” saidCouncillor and EnvironmentalCommittee Co-Chair Berry Vrbanovic.Claude Schneider also Co-chairs thecommittee.

The report recommends that theEnvironmental Committee monitor theCity’s progress on the report’s recom-mendations on an ongoing basis andidentify five specific initiatives for theCity to undertake each year, know as“Best Bets.” The list of “Best Bets” for2006 include:• Continue work toward the City

becoming certified in the ISO 14001Environmental Management System.

• Reduce non-residential point-sourceemissions. This initiative involvesexploring potential emission reduc-tion strategies for major sources of

air pollution and will mean changeslike “Stop Idling” signs being postedat City facilities and in school zones.

• Increase green space.The City willfocus more on planning and buildingmore “green connections” providinggreater trail access to public greenspaces and more options for walk-ing, biking and other alternativemodes of transportation. The reportrecommends promoting a NaturalYard Care Program to residents.

• Reach out to school boards. Schoolsneed to provide a supportive, healthyenvironment for students.

• Promote residential energy conser-vation.

The Ontario Global Traders Awardshave honoured two Waterloo regionrecipients. At the provincial Global

Traders Awards, held at the ArcadianCourt in Toronto, SlipStream DataInc. won in the Market Expansion –Product category, and Rebecca Baxterwon in the Student Achievement cate-gory. Both were gold level winners atthe Southwest region awards held inCambridge on April 27, and won againstgold level winners from the other threeregions for the provincial award.

Tax advisors at Ernst & Young cau-tion that Canadian businesses are fac-

ing pressure to prepare for the changesrequired to handle the 1% reduction inthe GST announced in the federal gov-ernment's budget.

"The drop in the GST rate is going tobe more complex than originally antici-

pated," saysBruce Goudy,Tax partnerwith Ernst &Young. "Somesystems aresimply not setup to handlet r a n s a c t i o n sthat straddle theday the GSTchanges, lead-ing to chal-

lenges for businesses that now have lit-tle over a month before the rate is low-ered. Businesses should be aware ofthese problems and work quickly todeal with them."

For example, businesses whoseaccounting systems claim tax creditsbased on the date a purchase invoice isprocessed are finding they need to setup a "fix" to capture the proper amountof GST on invoices dated prior to July 1,2006 (and subject to the higher rate ofGST), but processed afterward.Similarly, businesses that collect theirrevenue using pre-authorized with-drawals from their customers' accountsmust adjust the amounts being with-drawn from all of their customers.

"The worry is that businesses couldbe short-changing either themselves orthe government if a structure is not inplace that plans for these transactions.Furthermore, employers need to ensurethat factors used on expense reim-bursements are accurate based on thetax rate in effect when the expenses areincurred rather than when the expensereports are processed. Businesses thathave activity in Quebec face an evenquicker turnaround time if revisedQuebec factors are announced forexpense reports and reimbursements,"says Mr. Goudy.

NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and Research InMotion announced that DoCoMo willstart marketing RIM’s BlackBerryhandheld devices to its corporate cus-tomers in autumn 2006. The BlackBerryhandheld devices to be sold in Japanwill operate on both W-CDMA (UMTS)and GSM/GPRS networks and will beuseable around the world for voice andpacket (data) communications. Thedevices will have QWERTY keyboards,

42 l exchangemagazine.com l JULY/AUGUST 2006

Bruce Goudy

Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneur-ship Harinder Takhar (left), with Lewis Megaw(right), Vice President, Ontario, Export Develop-ment Canada, presents the 8th Annual OntarioGlobal Traders Award for Market Expansion –Product to Ron Neumann, President, SlipStreamData Inc. of Waterloo, Ontario.

Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneur-ship Harinder Takhar presents the 8th AnnualStudent Achievement to Rebecca Baxter, astudent at the University of Waterloo.

Call (519) 888-0798Visit our website!www.shermanproductions.ca

Video That Works

Movies That Motivate

• Instructional • Promotional• Business and People

Profiles

DAN SHERMAN

30 Years Broadcast Experience

WeDo Video Better!

Call andfind out

why.

(519) 741-02711893 Ottawa St. S,

Kitchener, ON N2G 3W7

www.ctocproductions.com

exchangejulaug06_pgs22-48 6/19/06 1:50 PM Page 42

similar to those of PCs, for fast and easythumb typing.

COM DEV International Ltd. ofCambridge announced its second quar-ter results for the three-month periodended April 30, 2006. Revenue was$38.2 million, an increase of 17% from$32.6 million in the prior year period.Gross margin was 30%, compared to22% in the second quarter of 2005. Netincome was $5.4 million, or $0.09 pershare, compared to $1.8 million or$0.03 per share a year earlier. Neworders won in the second quartertotaled $42 million, compared to $29million a year earlier and $28 million inthe first quarter of fiscal 2006.

In late April the Company increasedits full-year 2006 revenue growthguidance from 10% to 15%, citing pos-itive market fundamentals and strongexecution.

“Our second quarter results demon-strate that our strategy of the past fewyears is succeeding," said JohnKeating, CEO. "We have the organiza-tional resources in place to take advan-tage of the cyclical upturn we are see-ing in the commercial satellite market,while at the same time continuing togrow our civil and military business.”

A University of Guelph English pro-fessor is helping to transform onlinehumanities research. Susan Brownand two co-editors at the University ofAlberta have created Orlando, a 5.5-million-word history of women’s writ-ing in the British Isles that uses anonline search and indexing system withcapabilities beyond Google.

“Everyone loves Google, but it’s real-ly not adequate for academics in thehumanities because often we need tobe able to search more effectively with-out having a specialized search term,”said Brown. “We wanted to push thelimits on scholarly research by creating

a resource thatuses the powerof computing innew ways.”

In creatingOrlando, namedafter the 1928Virginia Woolfbook, Brownand her co-edi-tors designedthe content and

the means of delivery of their textsimultaneously, allowing researchers tolocate answers to precise, complexquestions. Whereas most searchengines look for keywords without pay-ing attention to content, Orlando allowspeople to conduct searches that canreflect the ambiguity of the English lan-guage. The site includes entries on thelives and writing careers of about 1,000writers and allows students orresearchers to quickly look at the dis-cussions of a writer’s work and life sideby side on their screen. Users can alsocreate customized chronologies, draw-ing on more than 30,000 events, orsearch more than 20,000 bibliographi-cal references.

MKS Inc. announced its financialresults for the fourth quarter and fiscalyear ended April 30, 2006. Total rev-enue increased from $41.3 million to$48.3 million. Net income rose from$2.7 million, or $0.07 per share, to $9.1million, or $0.20 per share ($3.9 millionor $0.09 per share, before income taxrecovery). "We are pleased to reportanother year of growth for MKS, high-lighted by record revenue and profits,"said Philip Deck, CEO of MKS. "To fuelour continued growth, we are about torelease the most significant upgrade ofour market leading ALM platform ever– one that will extend our product lead-ership further, accelerate enterprise-wide deployments throughout ourgrowing base of Global 1000 accountsand deliver new levels of value to our

customers' senior management. MKSIntegrity 2006 will conclusively demon-strate the advantages of our one prod-uct approach to solving the key busi-ness issues in IT today – applicationrationalization, service oriented archi-tectures, and IT strategy alignmentwith business goals."

Since May 2001, Virtual Causewayhas been a leading outsource providerof integrated sales and marketing serv-ices for companies worldwide. And tocommemorate its fifth anniversary, thefirm hosted an exclusive event to thankthose who contributed to its success.After all, it wasn’t that long ago thatVirtual Causeway – with minimal staffand a rather empty office – opened itsdoors. But with the continued supportof clients and partners, the firm hasgrown significantly, recently acquiringadditional space in UpTown Waterloothat more than quadruples its operatingfacilities since inception.

Philip Deck, CEO Michael Harris, president andCOO and Doug Sawatzky, CFO.

JULY/AUGUST 2006 l exchangemagazine.com l 43

John Keating, CEO of Com Dev

Susan Brown

PROVIDING SUPERIOR FOREIGN EXCHANGE SOLUTIONS

Bruce M. EberhardtBranch Manager

Suite 1202, 20 Erb Street West, Marsland CentreWaterloo, ON N2L IT2

Tel: (519) 884-6006Fax: (519) 884-8220

Toll Free: 1-800-242-3096e-mail: waterloo@customhouse.com

www.customhouse.com

exchangejulaug06_pgs22-48 6/19/06 1:50 PM Page 43

“Here at Virtual Causeway, we’ve eas-ily exceeded our original expectations,”explains Rick Endrulat, COO andPresident. “I believe our success can beattributed to our location in Canada’sTechnology Triangle, community sup-port from our partners and clients, and a

top-notch work-force – truly anu n b e a t a b l ecombination.” Infact, VirtualC a u s e w a y ’ sa c c o m p l i s h -ments over thepast five yearscan only bedescribed asstellar: It wasnamed one ofCanada’s hottest

emerging growth companies in PROFITmagazine’s sixth annual HOT 50(September 2005); it increased revenuesby 124% over the past two years; and ithas generated more than 100,000 leads

for clients and partners.

Three of Ontario's leading centres forinnovation and technology are usheringin a new era of province-wide collabo-ration to foster innovation, promote thecommercialization of research, andsupport entrepreneurs and emerginggrowth companies. The MaRSDiscovery District (Toronto), OCRI(Ottawa) and Communitech(Waterloo Region) have signed a col-laboration agreement to build theMaRS Network – an initiative to joint-ly develop programs, share networks,knowledge and best practices, and sup-port national and international out-reach activities.

"All three organizations share a com-mitment to building robust entrepre-neurial communities, and by creatingthese unprecedented cross-linkages,we will all be more effective in support-ing innovation and its commercializa-tion," says Iain Klugman, president ofCommunitech.

The Descartes Systems Group Inc.released financial results for its fiscal2007 first quarter ended April 30, 2006.Key financial highlights for Descartesinclude: revenues of $11.7 million, upfrom $11.3 million in the year-ago quar-ter, and $11.5 million in the previousquarter.

Manulife Financial IndividualInsurance will make it easier for advi-sors across Canada to look up theirclients' policy information with a new

tool calledInfoDirect. Thisstate-of-the-artonline tool tosupport advi-sors with theiri n d i v i d u a linsurance busi-ness reflectsManulife's con-tinued commit-ment to bringtop-level distri-

bution technology to advisors.With InfoDirect, advisors will get

instant full-time access to: Policy detailsfor more than 1.7 million in-force insur-ance policies; Financial history; Billinginformation at a glance; 10 onlinereports; Online updates to outstandingunderwriting requirements; and more.

"We're really excited about InfoDirect

and think advisors will be too," saidMichael Doughty, Senior VicePresident, Individual Insurance. "This isa significant step forward from previoustools and advisors will be amazed howsimple it is to find their client informa-tion, and then run reports that are use-ful to their business."

Brick Brewing Co. Ltd. has recordedtwo wins for the new J.R. BrickmanFounders Series' Pilsner from twodifferent, well respected beer competi-tions. J.R. Brickman Pilsner took thegold medal at the Ontario BrewingAwards in the Pilsner category, a majorcoup for the brewery. As well, the J. R.Brickman Pilsner took the silver medalin the category of Best EuropeanStyle Lager (Pilsner) at the 4th annualCanadian Brewing Awards.

Competition is steep at the CanadianBrewing Awards, with a total of 225entries from 48 breweries across thecountry. "We are extremely pleased withboth of these wins," said DougBerchtold, President and CEO, BrickBrewing Co. "Our team put a lot of workinto the new Founders Series and theseawards provide a fantastic - and impar-tial - endorsement of our beer."

44 l exchangemagazine.com l JULY/AUGUST 2006

Rick Endrulat

Michael Doughty

Doug Berchtold, President and CEO of BrickBrewing Co. Ltd.

Jane Hewitt B.A.Sales Representative

Pager: 519.744.7133Fax: 519.744.8136

janehewitt@rogers.com

INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

5-4

21

Gre

enbr

ook

Dr.,

Kit

chen

er,O

N N

2M

4K

1

ww

w.k

-who

uses

.com

Professional Real Estate Services Specializing In:

Industrial/Commercial Sales & Leasing

Investments

Consulting

Mortgage Financing

76 Dawson Road, P.O. Box 923Guelph, Ontario N1H 6M6Tel: (519) 824-9900 Fax: (519) 824-2471Website: www.parkcapital.caE-Mail: info@parkcapital.ca

PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT SPECIALIZING IN:

MULTI-RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

INDUSTRIAL

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

LOCALLY BASED - ON CALL 24 HRS.

Website: www.orbis.ca

DIVISION OF I-A-C INC.

Website: www.parkcapital.ca

exchangejulaug06_pgs22-48 6/19/06 1:50 PM Page 44

JULY/AUGUST 2006 l exchangemagazine.com l 45

continued from page 46

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Aerial Celebration of Canada”. His otherbooks include “Where Light Speaks”,celebrating the indomitable spirit andlandscape of Haiti. “This Land I Love:Waterloo County”, is a photographicretrospective of our community, as is“The Grand River: An Aerial Journey”.“Us Little People” is a unique reflectionof the lives of Old Order Mennonitechildren in Waterloo Region. His booksclearly illustrate his great passion forhis community and his country, and hisphotos allow observers to see ordinary

things as they have never seen thembefore.

Hiebert is a recipient of the VanierAward, the King Clancy Award, theHonorary Guild Shield, Paul Harris Fel-low, the Paul Tessandier Award and anHonourary Doctor of Laws from WilfridLaurier University. On May 14, 2006Hiebert was inducted into the WaterlooCounty Hall of Fame.

He is also a tireless philanthropist.Several years ago he set a personalgoal of raising $1 million for charity.Already well past $800,000, he willundoubtedly reach his goal shortly.

Paul Born, founder of the TamarackInstitute and a friend of Hiebert, com-mented, “Carl dares life and then liveswhat life gives back on his own terms.If you look at Carl in a wheelchair youmight think that life has given him arough ride. But he is always dreamingabout how he might give back. He rais-es money for charity in everything hedoes, it is part of him. He makes moneyin the morning and gives it away in theafternoon.”

Retired engineer and financial plan-ner, Tom Jeary, is another kindred spiritto Hiebert. He custom-makes prostheticdevices for physically-challenged chil-dren. Jeary says, “Carl thinks outsidethe box and marches to a differentdrummer while expressing his creativegenius. The end result of his effortsleaves this world a better place.”

If Hiebert has one regret, he expressesit this way: “I wish I had attained theawareness I have now earlier in life. Theaccident certainly helped me focus onwhat is important in life.”

“We live in the most blessed countryin the world with endless opportunity,”Hiebert exclaims. “Life is a daring adven-ture or nothing,” he adds, citing hisfavourite quote from Helen Keller.Hiebert’s life has been a daring adven-ture indeed!

It takes optimism to be a farmer,always struggling against the vagaries of

the weather and the markets. Eventhough he’s no longer on the farm, CarlHiebert is the eternal optimist. StanRogers’ song concludes, “Put anotherseason’s promise in the ground.” CarlHiebert does that each spring. This sea-son it’s AgVenture. Next year? “I’d liketo do a book about hope regardingAIDS,” he says.

Stay tuned. Hiebert’s example assuresus that there will be a “next year”.For more information about Carl Hiebertvisit his website at www.agventurecana-da.ca.

“He makes money

in the morning and

gives it away in the

afternoon.”

YOU’VE GOT THE

REPORT CARD.

THE YEAR IS OVER.

NOW WHAT!

CALL US

MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR LIFE

AT

This September, begin your children’s preparation

for University, College and Life.

888 Trillium Drive, Kitchener

519888-6620

“where today’s successes become

a lifetime of achievements”

• Continuous education from Jk to 12

• Nondenominational

• Exceptional Teachers

• Strong Family Values

• Scholarship Fund for every student

• Outstanding University/College Acceptance

• Very small classes (15)

• Old School Standards of Student Conduct

• Affordable Private Educational Alternative

Scholars’ Hall

www.scholarshall.comwww.scholarshall.com

exchangejulaug06_pgs22-48 6/19/06 1:50 PM Page 45

46 l exchangemagazine.com l JULY/AUGUST 2006

Another Season’s PromiseSocial entrepreneur Carl Hiebert is driving a tractor across Canada to raiseawareness about Canadian agriculture and raise funds for charity

BY BR IAN HUNSBERGER

Watch the field behind the plow turn to straight darkrows,” the late Stan Rogers intoned in the openingline of his classic farming song, “The Field Behind the

Plow”.It’s a motif Carl Hiebert, raised by Mennonite parents on a

farm near Port Rowan on the shores of Lake Erie, strongly iden-tifies with. “It’s one of my favourite memories of the farm,”Hiebert nostalgically reflected, “a day of transforming a fadinggreen pasture into straight dark rows. Plowing. After awhileyou become part of the machine... And how I loved thatengine’s roar, steady and undaunted. There were other tractorsmy neighbour buddies bragged about, but in my estimation,nothing could touch my dad’s W4 McCormick.”

This indelible adolescent memory, combined with his acqui-

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

continued on page 45

sition of a 1949 McCormick W4 tractor that he retrofitted withhand controls and has christened Ol’ Red, inspired Hiebert’scurrent AgVenture tractor drive across Canada to celebrateCanadian farmers and raise money for rural charitable causes.

The tractor was purchased from another farm boy, classicalsinger and Laurier music professor Dan Lichti, who bought it atthe Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale in New Hamburg.

Hiebert left Vancouver aboard Ol’ Red on June 1, 2006 andexpects to reach St. John’s, Newfoundland by late August.Travelling flat out at 29 kilometres an hour, he has plenty oftime to use his renowned skills as a photographer and storyteller to capture the essence of the people and places heencounters. The end product will be a book of stories and pho-tos celebrating Canadian farmers that will be available for salein May, 2007. Proceeds from book sales will go to support

causes such as 4-H Clubs and Food Banks.Always a risk taker, Hiebert embarked on an around-the-

world adventure as a young man in the 1970s. After returning,he pursued his passion for adventure sports from scuba divingto sky diving, while working as a news reporter, photographer,salesman and entrepreneur. Then on September 18, 1981, afreak hang-gliding accident left him a paraplegic; it changedhis life.

Such a tragedy would have destroyed the spirit of most ofus, but not Hiebert. Just two months later, while still recoveringin hospital, he placed a “Gone Flying” sign on his door and withthe help of a friend made his way to a farmer’s field where anultra-light aircraft was waiting. “As I buzzed the field and sawmy empty wheelchair below I was overcome by this serendipi-tous moment,” Hiebert says in the introduction of his book Giftof Wings. “Even if I couldn’t walk, I could still fly.” Within twoyears he had opened a flight school and become Canada’s firstparaplegic ultra-light flight instructor.

In 1986 he became the first person to fly across Canada inan ultra-light aircraft. The flight took 58 days and culminated atExpo 86 in Vancouver. En route he took thousands of pictures.This landmark flight, conducted as a fundraiser for the Canadi-an Paraplegic Association, drew national media attention.Hiebert told Exchange that proceeds from Gift of Wings nowtop $350,000.

He is a dynamic motivational speaker and the author of sev-eral best selling books in addition to his first, “Gift of Wings: An

Carl Hiebert has moved from his beloved ultra-light to a tractor seat.

“There were other tractors my

neighbour buddies bragged about,

but in my estimation, nothing could

touch my dad’s W4 McCormick.”

PH

OT

OG

RA

PH

Y:

DE

BB

IE B

AT

TIS

TA

exchangejulaug06_pgs22-48 6/19/06 1:51 PM Page 46

Junior Achievement is proud to present the

22nd Annual Waterloo Region Business Achievement Awards!

Dinner and Presentations are to be held at

7 p.m. Thurs., November 2, 2006 at Bingemans

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Frank McKenna

Deputy-Chair, TD Bank Financial Group and

former Canadian Ambassador to the United States

and former Premier of New Brunswick

Nominees’ Private Reception: 5:00 p.m. I Open Reception: 6:00 p.m. I Dinner 7:00 p.m.

exchangejulaug06_pgs22-48 6/20/06 12:20 PM Page 47

exchangejulaug06_pgs22-48 6/19/06 1:51 PM Page 48